Strange Memories With You, My Dear

Sensei spent the following few days reading without going home, and he appeared to understand what was going on in the world now.

Then we started working on creating our D-F quantum computer capable of transmitting data to the other side of the world. The reason for this was to avoid the possibility of not being able to make contact with the other side if there was another development in the matter and we needed to contact them. Five people, including me, worked on the project with the help of Komada-senpai, Matsumoto-senpai, and Nagasawa-sensei.

When Komada-senpai, a second-year PhD student and student leader, Matsumoto-senpai, a first-year doctorate student, and Associate Professor Nagasawa became aware of the situation, we passed on some of the information and materials provided by the e-mail. I called them to Fukuhara-sensei’s office and detailed the sequence of events. When they learned that they could communicate with a parallel world, all three were taken aback, but as they listened to the teacher’s detailed explanation, their emotions became solemn.

If we told too many people, the chance of information being leaked would grow, but Sensei determined that it was more vital to persuade the three of them to collaborate and work together as soon as possible.

“For the time being, I would like to ask you to keep information on this matter at least within this laboratory. I’m sorry to say that this is information that could confuse the public, as this is a personal matter concerning my daughter who is in a state of unconsciousness…”

All three nodded at Sensei’s words.

I worked on my graduation research during the day, improved the D-F quantum computer with my Senpais and Senseis in the evening, read neuroscience and neuromedicine books in my spare time, and browsed the Internet for articles in those fields until midnight when I got home, looking for any hints to help Yuuko recover from her unconsciousness. After roughly 10 days of such labor, I came upon a paper written by a guy named Alan Burley. The article raised the possibility that a quantum phenomenon was taking place in the brain’s micro-intracerebral cells, known as EP organs, and that this was influencing consciousness and memory.

The phenomenon in which information from parallel worlds interfered with our parallel selves in our brains was called the “Quantum Brain Effects Hypothesis” by Sensei and I, and his “EP Organ Hypothesis” was analogous. I subsequently sent him an email. I composed and sent an email in which I revealed my identity, acknowledged my interest in the “EP Organ Hypothesis,” and asked if I could speak with him for a few minutes about it.

The response, which arrived half a day later, questioned the specifics of the appointment and said that he was scheduled to visit Japan for a conference in mid-December, approximately a week from now, and that we could speak with him personally then if necessary. I went to the Sensei’s office, gave him the document I had printed off on Alan Burley’s “EP Organ Hypothesis,” and said, “I was wondering if I might ask him for his view on this entire series of events?” After looking over the paper, Sensei said, “It certainly looks just like the ‘Quantum Brain Effects Hypothesis.’ I’m surprised you found it.”

“If I were to meet this Alan Burley in person, may I ask Kobayashi-san to help me?”

“Kobayashi-san?”

“Yes. She speaks fluent English, so I thought I’d ask her to come with me as an interpreter. If we get into a technical discussion, we may not be able to communicate well… I’ll tell her what’s going on, if you allow me to.”

“Okay. But wait a minute to make an appointment. Later, I will try to contact this Alan Burley guy personally. And we have to be sure he is someone we can trust. If he promises to keep the secret, I will explain Yuuko to him then.”

“I understand.”

I nodded and returned to the laboratory, where I called Kobayashi-san to accompany me to the Welfare building. It was now after 6:00 P.M., and there were only a few students in the welfare building, which was usually crowded throughout the day. We sat in a quiet part of the lounge, I grabbed two coffees from the vending machine, and we started conversing. I got a similar response when I spoke with Nagasawa-sensei and the others. She was taken aback at first and said, “What a joke!” But when I gave her the documents and described everything in detail, she became silent, like she had with the others, and calmly listened to me to the end.

“Why did you keep such valuable information from us?”

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to deceive the people in the lab, but information is classified.”

“… I see. That’s right. It’s kind of upsetting to me that they thought I was out of strength.”

“Sorry,” I apologized once more.

“It’s not that, and I’m sure that Sensei trusts Kobayashi-san and the others. But it was something that would affect Yuuko, who was in the hospital.”

“I’ll not tell anyone else, don’t worry. I would be happy to help your girlfriend, Sensei’s daughter, if it would help her.”

Kobayashi-san told me so.

“Thanks.”

“For the time being, I’ll need Asano-kun to compile the experimental data of the graduation project for us on his own.”

She said this jokingly, sipped the last of her coffee, and sat up.

“Get back to the lab as soon as possible and do some prep work. In the meantime, I need to get that Alan Burley guy’s paper and the basic terminology used in brain science in my head.”

I then returned to the lab and handed the data of Alan Burley’s paper I had downloaded to Kobayashi-san.

◇

“Nakayama, let’s go to the cafeteria for a meal. Is Kobayashi-san coming too?”

Three days later, in the evening, Asano, who was sitting next to me in the living room compiling research data, said. It was soon after 6:00 P.M., It was now dark outside, and the senior graduate students were getting ready to go out to eat.

“I bought bread, so it’s fine.” as she, who was sitting a little away from us at her computer, shook her head.

“Roger.” Asano responded. Asano and I left the Physics Research Building and went to the cafeteria on the first floor of the Welfare Building after I put on my jacket and grabbed my wallet. Dinner is less packed than lunch, and there are plenty of seats available. I ordered the curry set meal, and Asano chose the croquet set meal, and we sat beside the window. I could see the buildings on campus with the lights turned out and people heading home, hunched in the cold, through the window. As Asano and I were chatting and eating together, he suddenly asked me this question.

“You and Kobayashi-san have been reading books that don’t seem to have anything to do with research for the past few days. Is that what you study when you go to graduate school?”

A little flustered by the unexpected question, I answered, trying as much as possible not to show it.

“Recently, Sensei has started work on improving the D-F quantum computer, and we, too, have been working on something related to that…”

“Really? Brain science and the like?”

“Un…”

“Well, never mind. It sounds like the higher education group has a lot to learn as well.”

Asano said this while drinking the soup that came with the set meal. Sorry, I mumbled, inwardly apologizing to Asano for not telling him the truth, and put the last of the curry into my mouth. Then Asano stood up and handed me two cups of hot tea from the automatic server.

“Want some tea? Then shall we go back?”

“Yes. Oh, I’ll stop by the store on my way home. Since I want to buy a drink to make me less sleepy.”

“Ahh, I’ll go with you then. By the way, are you going to stay late again today?”

“Maybe.”

“Seriously ? Don’t push yourself too hard.” He said.

After eating and shopping, I went to the Physics Research Building to find the third-year students just exiting their labs.

“Pardon me for leaving.” I returned their greetings as we passed each other on our way into the lobby. We worked on each of them for a little longer before shutting down the computer, greeting those who remained, and leaving the lobby about eight o’clock. Just then, Kobayashi-san rose from her seat and said, “Nakayama-kun, I think it’s time to begin.”

I nodded, and we moved to a larger desk in the lab where we could lay out a great deal of information. I began reading papers and books in preparation for my conversation with Mr. Burley. Kobayashi-san placed a blanket over her lap and buttoned up the gray parka she was wearing to her neck, maybe because she had become cold on the way there. Then Matsumoto-senpai entered the lab, came to a halt in front of us, and asked, “What are you reading?” She’s dressed in a cozy sweater, spectacles, with her hair in a ponytail.

I looked up from my paper and answered.

“I’m going to meet with a scholar who is conducting a study on a phenomena that is quite similar to the ‘Quantum Brain Effects Hypothesis.’ highlighted in the email the other day, so I’m preparing myself to have at least a basic understanding of the subject.”

Matsumoto-senpai glanced at Kobayashi-san and said, “So, you told Kobayashi-san”

“I heard,” Kobayashi-san replied, stopping her work. Then Matsumoto-senpai told her, “It surprised me.”

“Yes. I was amazed. I honestly thought it was just a fictional thing that was created to be consistent with the theory, like parallel worlds, or a fated world, and so on.” Kobayashi-san said.

Matsumoto-senpai nodded her head in agreement, then turned her head toward me and began to speak.

“Nakayama-kun, the day before yesterday, you and Komada-san made some improvements, and it seemed to be working well. I just heard that from Nagasawa-sensei.”

“Is that so? I’m glad. I just did what Komada-senpai told me to do, so I don’t really know what I did.”

“Ehh? What’s that?” Kobayashi-san said in dismay.

“No, because I didn’t have any advance preparation, and I didn’t have time for it.”

“Next time, ask me what you didn’t understand and I’ll make sure you understand. If we’re going to continue the research in graduate school, it will be a positive thing.”

Matsumoto-senpai also chided me, to which I replied, “Yes.”

“Well, good luck to you.” Matsumoto-senpai said as she went to the laboratory desk she was using, sat down on the chair with her own cushion on it, and faced the computer monitor

“So, what kind of work did you do with Komada-senpai?”

She asked me, her eyes downcast, but with an air of curiosity.

“We sorted out the mechanism by which the quantum on our side was interacting with the quantum on the parallel world, referring to the data sent from the other side, and created an environment that would make it easier for this to happen in our D-F quantum computer.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“No, but I didn’t understood what each of the tasks I was helping him with meant.”

“Ask them on the spot.”

“I didn’t want to worry about that, I just wanted to work on it and get it done as soon as possible.”

“—I see. She’s a higher priority for you, isn’t she?”

As if teasing me, Kobayashi-san said, “I’m sorry I’m not very perceptive,” and turned her sideways glance at me.

“… I’ll ask next time.”

After that, I returned to reading the material. My mind was hazy at this time of day since I had been helping Sensei and completed my thesis earlier in the day. I pushed the lid of the tea to keep me wake I had on hand open in one motion.

I’ve been so busy lately that I haven’t had much time to see Yuuko. However, according to Yuuko’s mother’s call, she was still the same as before, and she was still sleeping. I thought of her. I wonder what kind of state Yuuko is in now? Is she in a state of total numbness, or is she dreaming?