Visitation of Quantum Technology (1)

Four months had slipped by since the school year kicked off, and everything had settled back into a familiar pattern. The visit from the three gods had become a memory, marked by strolls through town, visits to the local bakery, and subtle warnings they passed on to Yasushi.

After Yasushi's group departed, only a handful of days stood between them and the start of their college lectures. Now, with the semester well in progress, Yasushi sat in his room, eyes glued to his email inbox. His lectures had ended early — just four in the afternoon — leaving him with the rest of the evening. One email stood out.

It came from Jingliu's father, and Yasushi couldn't ignore the intriguing invitation inside. He, Jingliu, and Xinyi were asked to visit one of the family's research labs. The message detailed an opportunity to witness a set of inventions — the kind of tech that, while still in development, would eventually be showcased to the public after they finished their schooling. Yasushi's focus sharpened as he read the email twice, absorbing every line.

Yasushi studied the email, eyes moving across the screen. He felt a pull of interest. It wasn't just about technology; this was about pushing the limits of what was possible, blending science with techniques that felt like magic or ki manipulation.

Shiva's words echoed in his mind, hinting that what they were working on could stand side by side with ancient powers. Yet, he figured they'd likely start with practical applications instead of combat.

He glanced at his wristband — a device capable of storing items in a pocket of reality, compact and simple. The mechanics behind it remained a mystery to him, though he understood it had room to evolve. It had been a gift, handed over with little fanfare. At the time, it had sparked his interest, but he never expected it to become a cornerstone of something larger.

"What's got you so focused?" Xinyi asked, her voice light. She had appeared out of nowhere, draping herself over him and setting her chin on his head.

"An email from our parents. Well, this one's from Jingliu's dad," Yasushi explained, tilting the screen so she could see. "It's an invite — for the three of us. Says we can each bring one of the house staff."

"Oh? Only one?" Xinyi's brow furrowed as she scanned the message, sounding a bit disappointed.

"Maybe I'll ask if I can bring both Nandini and Yunxue," Yasushi said, glancing at Xinyi as he started typing a response. Before he could finish, she interrupted.

"I'll handle it," Xinyi said. She pulled out her phone and shot off a text to her father, asking him to pass the message along to Jingliu's dad.

Yasushi chuckled, closing the laptop. "Yeah, that's faster. Thanks for that. Don't you have any classes today?" He turned to look at her.

Xinyi vaulted over the couch and landed next to him, flopping down casually. "Two of my lectures got cancelled, and I already did the rest. I've got the whole day off," she said, tapping the phone with a satisfied look. "What about you?"

"Free, too. Though I was planning to spend it checking in on the homelessness problem," he said, moving his attention to her. "Sakura told me to let her handle it, and Nandini promised to update me. But I think I could make some progress myself if I take another look."

"You've been doing that every day since the semester started, Yasushi. How about you take a break, just for today?" Xinyi said, leaning back on the couch. She looked up at him, her expression almost daring him to argue.

Yasushi hesitated, his fingers still resting on the keyboard, until Sakura's voice came from the doorway.

"She's right, you know," Sakura said, stepping closer. "I told you to let things play out at their own pace. No need to rush it, Yasushi."

He blinked and turned to face her. "Wait, when did you get back? I thought you were off at that internship."

Sakura gave a quick nod. "I was, but something came up at home, so I took the day off. Had to deal with a family matter." She moved past them, making her way to her office, barely glancing over her shoulder.

After a few minutes, she returned with a file tucked under her arm. "Listen to Xinyi, alright? Take it easy. You look like you got something surprising in your inbox earlier, right? Whatever it was, it's probably going to make you overthink. Just let it sit for now, take a break, and don't dive into work right away." She gave him a knowing look before heading back towards the door.

Sakura turned without another glance, heading down the hall. Yasushi watched her go and then looked over at Xinyi, who waited with her arms crossed and a grin on her face.

"Alright, fine," he muttered, tossing his laptop into his bag and zipping it shut. "I'll leave the rest for later. It's not due until the end of the day anyway. Let's just go find a spot to chill for now."

"Great!" Xinyi chirped, springing up from her seat. Without a second thought, she grabbed his wrist and tugged him towards the exit.

'She's way too excited about this. Guess I'll text Jingliu,' Yasushi thought as he fished his phone out of his pocket. With one hand, he typed a quick message, letting her know he'd be out for a while, explaining that Sakura had pushed him to take a break. He added a note to keep her updated about where they'd end up, just in case.

+-+

They reached the largest mall in the city after a while. Once they stepped inside, Xinyi turned to him and asked, "So, how's the whole ki collection thing going?"

"Huh? Oh, that," he said, scratching the back of his neck. "I've been picking it up little by little. Nothing huge yet, but it's working. Meditating every night helps a bit. It's kind of... gradual, I guess. Not like there's been any big changes so far."

Yasushi had been careful with his ki training. He gathered it at his own pace, not bothering with intense sessions. He had no intention of repeating what had gone wrong during summer break, preferring a slow build instead of rushing things.

They turned left, heading for an escalator that carried them up to the next floor. From there, Xinyi tugged him toward a restaurant that looked half full. They ordered their food, not bothering to spend time over the menu, and grabbed an empty table by the window.

"Doesn't seem like there's a crowd today," Xinyi said, her voice trailing off as she leaned against Yasushi. Her shoulder pressed into his, and she let out a small sigh, as if she'd been waiting for a chance to relax all day.

"It's still school hours, after all," he said, glancing past the window at the quiet mall. The few scattered patrons hardly looked like students. "It'd be weirder if more of them showed up right now."

Xinyi gave a soft laugh. "Yeah, true. But about that email... what do you think they'll show us?"

Yasushi lifted his arm, showing off the band around his wrist. "Probably more stuff related to this. And other experiments with quantum tech, I guess. Who knows, really. If you've seen any of those sci-fi stories, we might get a hint."

"Good point," Xinyi said, her eyes lighting up with interest. They jumped into theories, throwing ideas back and forth about what might be revealed or what they might get to experiment with.

The conversation took a natural turn, leading them to imagine the kinds of jobs they'd land in the future, especially since they'd be working side by side. That idea of being partners, tied to each other for the foreseeable future, settled into their talk, somewhere between excitement and uncertainty.

+-+

Later that night, Yasushi gathered Jingliu and the people he intended to take along with him, pulling up the email on a larger screen for everyone to see. The display cast a dim light in the room, pulling their attention to the cryptic message. It stirred questions about what they were walking into.

"Quantum… what does that even mean?" Yunxue asked, tilting her head. Her foot tapped against the floor in an irregular rhythm, betraying her unease.

Yasushi turned to her, his expression firm but patient. "From what I understand, quantum technology relies on the strange rules of quantum physics to create extremely powerful and secure tools. Let me simplify it.

"Think of regular computers — they use bits, which are like tiny switches that can be either ON, representing a 1, or OFF, representing a 0. Quantum computers, on the other hand, use something called 'qubits.' These can be ON, OFF, or both simultaneously. That allows them to process unbelievably complex problems much faster than a regular computer ever could."

"Quantum communication is about sending messages that are nearly impossible to intercept or tamper with," Yasushi began, his voice calm but focused as he broke down the concept. "It uses something called 'entanglement,' where two particles are connected in such a way that if one changes, the other reacts instantly, no matter how far apart they are. If someone tries to intercept the message, the connection breaks, and you know immediately."

He paused for a moment, scanning the room to ensure the explanation was landing. "Quantum sensors, on the other hand, are tools that can measure things like time, magnetic fields, or even gravity with far more precision than anything we have now. Imagine a GPS system that's pinpoint accurate or devices that can detect the slightest changes underground."

"It all comes down to using the strange properties of particles at an incredibly tiny scale to accomplish things that regular technology just can't," he added, leaning back slightly as Yunxue processed his explanation.

She closed her eyes for a second, her expression tightening as she worked through the explanation in her mind. "So... it's just really advanced, futuristic stuff?" she asked, her tone somewhere between curiosity and frustration.

Yasushi let out a short laugh. "Pretty much. It's so advanced it almost feels like magic. But it's science, just at a level we're only starting to understand. This technology can do amazing things now, and it'll only get more impressive as development continues."

"…when are we going there? Did the email mention it?" Jingliu asked, her eyes fixed on him, unblinking. 

"Uh…" Yasushi mumbled, pulling his phone out again. He tapped it a few times, scrolling quickly. "No, it doesn't say the date. I probably should've clarified that. I got so caught up in how exciting it all sounded that I didn't even think to double-check," he admitted, typing out a response with fast, purposeful taps before pressing send. 

Sliding his phone back into his pocket, he added, "But honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if it's during the Halloween break. That's an entire week off, and it would make sense to use that time. We could get a proper look at everything there and start learning about what we'll actually be doing." 

"A whole week just to look around?" Xinyi asked, tilting her head slightly as her eyebrows raised. "Doesn't that mean we'll actually have to start working then? Like, dipping into the real thing? I mean, I'm guessing we'll have someone watching over us, but that still sounds like the beginning of actual work." Her gaze shifted between Yasushi and Jingliu, waiting for confirmation. 

"Maybe, but even if it's just for observing, I wouldn't mind getting something more hands-on," Yasushi replied, nodding as he considered the idea. "It'd give us a clearer idea of what's ahead. Better to have a trial run now than stumble into it later." 

"My father mentioned that Xinyi and I will be focusing on administrative stuff, mostly," Jingliu added, her brow furrowing as her words trailed off for a moment. "But I have a feeling they'll want us doing the same work as you at first. I'm fine with that, honestly. I don't think sitting behind a desk suits me — at least not all the time. I want something… I don't know, practical." 

Xinyi stretched her arms out, locking her fingers behind her head with a shrug. "I don't mind admin work. It's easier on the body and all, but if I don't move around once in a while, I'll probably lose my mind. Sitting still for too long? Not really my thing." 

The three of them kept talking, tossing around guesses about what their roles might actually involve. They speculated, joked, and debated late into the night, balancing uncertainty with curiosity, their anticipation for the visit growing with every passing thought. 

Later that night, as Yasushi and Jingliu were getting ready to sleep, the soft vibration of Yasushi's phone broke the quiet. It rested on the nightstand, its light cutting through the darkness of the room. He grabbed it, squinting at the screen before opening his email. 

"Who's it from?" Jingliu's voice was muffled as her face pressed into his back, her breath warm against him. 

"Xinyi's dad," he replied, tapping to open the message. "He got back to me about my question. Says we'll be there for the whole Halloween break. Apparently, we'll also be helping out with the job and testing a bunch of the stuff they've made." His tone carried a mix of fatigue and eagerness. 

Behind him, Jingliu tugged lightly on his arm. "That's good," she murmured, her words punctuated by a long yawn. "But let's just think about it tomorrow. I'm too tired now…" Her voice trailed off into another yawn. 

Yasushi nodded, setting his phone back on the nightstand before turning to wrap his arms around her. Within minutes, their breathing synced as sleep overtook them both.

+-+

"We're going to the United Kingdom~" Xinyi's voice carried an unmistakable excitement as they sat comfortably inside the private jet. The digital display above the aisle indicated they were still eight hours away from their destination, but that didn't dull her energy in the slightest. 

Months had passed since they first received news of this trip. Yasushi, Jingliu, and Xinyi had devoted themselves to their studies during that time. The focus of their efforts — what they believed to be quantum physics — demanded a level of concentration that left little room for anything else.

The seriousness with which they approached their lectures seemed to pay off, as now they were en route to one of the most prominent scientific hubs in the world. Halloween break had arrived, marking a turning point for all of them. 

"You're acting like a kid who just got told they're going to Disneyland," Yasushi remarked, his tone carrying a blend of amusement and exasperation as he glanced between Xinyi and the others. "Anyway, I made sure to drill English into all of you before this. How confident are you about using it? We're heading to a country where everyone speaks it. Plus, the researchers and scientists we'll be working with are from all over the world, so it's non-negotiable." 

"I think I'll manage well enough," Yinhaie responded calmly, her expression as composed as ever. 

"I was tortured by Yinhaie to learn it!" Yunxue exclaimed, throwing up her hands in mock frustration. Her theatrics were interrupted as Yinhaie reached over and pinched her arm without breaking her composure. A high-pitched shriek followed, leaving Yasushi shaking his head. 

"I'm fine…" Layena replied, her tone respectful and her words as straightforward as always.

Xinyi turned her face away, her words hesitating as she spoke. "I-I worked really hard to improve. I can… talk to people, at least… Reading English is still kind of tough for me, though." 

Jingliu didn't miss a beat, her response direct. "I'm basically fluent," she said, her attention shifting to Xinyi. "But listen, don't try anything if you're not sure about what it says or what someone means. I don't want any problems while we're there, got it?" 

"I-I won't! Seriously, you don't have to worry so much!" Xinyi blurted, her nervous laugh slipping out right after. "Yasushi already hammered that into my head — over and over! Hahaha~" 

Yasushi exhaled slowly, reclining against the back of his seat. "As long as nothing goes wrong, that's all I care about," he said, his tone even. "Oh, and by the way, a few gods will be at the event too. Just so you know." 

His comment landed with a weight that even Xinyi couldn't brush off with laughter. The atmosphere among them turned cautious, their minds racing with possibilities. Still, there was no hiding the eagerness they felt about what awaited them. The opportunities ahead were undeniable, and they couldn't stop imagining what they might discover during their time there.