Love and Papers (2)
Flans had been a senior whose family circumstances were difficult.
Despite struggling with financial hardship, he had entered the physics department with nothing but the determination to explore nature, surviving on a meager salary from a theoretical research lab.
“Th-this much?”
He no longer needed to live that way.
“Flans, we made a promise.”
“We didn’t enter on the same day, but let’s graduate on the same day.”
Two more were recruited the same way.
Ian, who came from a relatively wealthy family, had resisted fiercely, but when a bundle of cash three times his family’s entire fortune was shoved up his rear, he finally surrendered.
“Idel.”
Stranoff’s surprised expression was understandable.
It had been a somewhat unilateral decision on my part.
“You always exceed my expectations. How did you even think of poaching all of Feynman’s students?”
“I thought that was what you wanted, Professor. Was I wrong?”
“Why did you think that?”
This wasn’t a scolding. It was simply how professors spoke. I just needed to answer honestly, yet pleasantly.
“Because Professor Feynman suits you perfectly, Professor.”
“Oh my.”
“You’re a match made in heaven.”
At least when it comes to your research labs.
Stranoff began humming to herself. She seemed to be in a much better mood than yesterday.
Even after sending those texts badmouthing Feynman, her true feelings were another matter. After all, it was a crush that had lasted over ten years.
Apparently, the reason she had brought me here in the first place was to provoke him. Something about how Feynman should also know the pain of heartbreak.
Since it was already too late for marriage and she believed a physicist’s prime began in their thirties, this was the least she could do to change his mind.
“Ah, a call came for the professor.”
“What are you going to do? Answer it?”
“Don’t pick up.”
Stranoff took Mercury’s phone and set it down.
“Everyone, aren’t your communicators quite outdated?”
“It is about time we replaced them.”
“Then just remove the chips and give me the bodies. I’ll get you new ones.”
It was her way of easing the guilt over ignoring calls by using the phone replacement as an excuse.
“Shall we start preparing, then?”
“Professor, I hope you succeed.”
“I……”
There was no need to say or hear the rest. She was ready.
Yet a trace of fear lingered on her face.
“This will be the fifth time. Honestly, I think I’ll be exhausted if it happens again.”
“You can do it, Professor. They say persistence pays off.”
“So I have to knock six more times?”
“Professor Feynman might be the kind of tree that falls after five knocks.”
“That’s right. We’ll become your sharp axes.”
The seniors quickly chimed in.
We had prepared excuses, but if things went wrong, there was no telling how the seniors would be treated in academia.
That was why.
We had to succeed.
“What am I even looking at?”
Zernya was still tearing into her popcorn.
The quantum gravity theory lab had been gutted.
Professor Feynman wandered the lab entrance in a daze, occasionally touching his phone before letting out heavy sighs.
Stranoff’s graduate students offered him tributes like corn or coffee, but he barely touched any of it.
Honestly, it was pitiful.
I felt sorry too.
But this was the path that was best for everyone.
For the Graviton Bomb research. To prevent the end of the world.
I had to play matchmaker between the two, using myself as bait.
The day of the decisive battle.
Professor Stranoff took the lead, and we graduate students became the lead bullets loaded into her gun.
All preparations were complete.
Only one thing remained.
For the professor to pull the trigger.
“Richard, you still haven’t left?”
Feynman, who had been staring blankly at the ceiling, lowered his head.
Stranoff set down two cups of black tea.
Incidentally, black tea symbolized reconciliation and reunion in the southern regions.
“Professor Stranoff, have you seen my graduate students by any chance?”
“Ah, those kids?”
Feynman’s face hardened as if he had noticed something.
After sipping her tea, Stranoff gestured.
It was time to go out. I pushed the three of them forward.
“Professor.”
“You’re talking about them, right?”
“……!”
— The God of Wisdom and Curiosity chuckles while holding their forehead.
The grand chaos had begun.
“Why are my lab’s students coming out of there?”
“Actually, Professor Stranoff called us over to discuss the method of discovering gravitons.”
“We were so absorbed in the discussion that we lost track of time.”
“We’re truly sorry, Professor.”
It wasn’t unusual for graduate students to discuss with professors other than their advisor. In fact, it was common and encouraged.
But how would it look in Feynman’s eyes right now?
His expression visibly crumbled.
“Why did you take my students without saying a word?”
The kind professor questioned Stranoff instead of scolding his students. Stranoff responded with a tone that was half apologetic and half annoyed.
“I like these students too.”
“What!”
“If they want, I’ll transfer them to my lab. Of course, keeping their doctoral qualifications intact. I’ll even consider their years of study and move up their graduation date.”
“Calice!”
Feynman pointed at the ceiling and shouted.
“Aren’t you afraid of the academic world?!”
“It doesn’t matter. I just need to offer them better incentives.”
Changing labs wasn’t an ethical issue if the students themselves desired it. The problem was that Feynman was simply too good a professor.
And he had already been told “your students are amazing” four times.
I could almost hear his mentality being threshed.
— The God of Wisdom and Curiosity doubts your humanity.
I hadn’t intended to go this far either.
The whip had been used enough. Now it was time for the carrot.
“Professor.”
The most delicious and powerful carrot stepped forward.
“You gave me the opportunity to be the first author on a journal paper when I was just an academy first-year. I haven’t forgotten that kindness.”
It was me.
“The memories of writing papers together. The days we spent discussing. I remember them all. I cherish them.”
Evoking memories to set the mood.
Once they were immersed, I brought up the main topic.
“On the other hand, after meeting Professor Stranoff, I was able to learn so much more. That’s why I came to respect both of you professors at the same time.”
Guiding Feynman to view Stranoff favorably.
“I want to be advised by both of you.”
A request for co-advisors. In other words, playing both sides.
Feynman moistened his cracked lips and lowered his head. After a brief silence, he spoke.
“Stellarium and Yuel are different schools. In such cases, Stellarium doesn’t allow applications for co-advisorship.”
“Professor.”
I took Feynman’s hand. Sensing the cue, the other three seniors joined in, heightening the emotion.
“There are plenty of ways around it.”
“What is it?”
“Richard, look at me.”
Professor Stranoff answered in our place.
She pulled up a chair and sat across from him in a slightly crooked posture. Her sleek bare legs peeked out from under the dress she wore to stimulate male desire.
“Can’t you think of a good method when you look at me?”
“Calice, I……”
“We’ve known each other for almost fifteen years. At this point, we should understand each other without words. Surely you’re not that stupid.”
There were three choices he could make here.
First, run away as is.
Second, skillfully retrieve his graduate students and return.
And third.
“Just marry me.”
“……I just want to research freely and leave. I have no thoughts of marriage. No, I did have thoughts, but it’s already too late for that story.”
“It’s not too late yet.”
Both were still in their early thirties.
It seemed like the perfect age, but in this world where people died by the tens of thousands per second, the average marriage age was early twenties.
But so what?
As long as there was love and papers, honestly, what did age matter?
“Marry me.”
“Calice.”
“If we marry, I’ll give you all the research funds and labs you want. I won’t do anything this dirty ever again.”
“……”
“But if you refuse this time, our relationship is completely over. These kids here—I’ll take full responsibility for bringing them over, so keep that in mind.”
This time, she had burned all bridges. Professor Stranoff knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
I winked at Professor Stranoff. She nodded and delivered the confession line we had prepared in advance.
“I’ll make sure your name appears on every paper I write from now on.”
Wow.
That was absolutely perfect.
“……Give me a moment to think.”
“Idel, can you really return to my lab?”
“The reason I was in Professor Stranoff’s lab was, shamefully, because of the research funds. I’m truly sorry for deceiving you, Professor.”
“No. That’s fine. It’s because I was lacking.”
An angel. An angel had appeared.
“Anyway, it’s a problem that can be solved if I just permit the marriage.”
“I have nothing to say.”
I bowed my head in apology.
“But if the two of you at least improve your relationship and conduct joint research, wouldn’t that save more people? Just like when you created the theory to restore the Ether barrier.”
“……”
Feynman swallowed a sigh.
He, who preferred a free and pastoral atmosphere, wasn’t compatible with Stranoff. She was someone with an extremely strong attachment.
Even so.
She was pretty, had a great figure, was rich, and had excellent lab equipment.
“You absolutely have to collaborate with a lab like this.”
So if they married, this would truly be love.
Named thesis pure love.
Feynman sighed and stood up.
“Marriage isn’t something you can decide as easily as dating. I’m not from a promising family like the Stranoffs, and my income isn’t great either. I don’t even know if I can maintain a household smoothly.”
“You’re thinking of the other person.”
“Yes. She’ll have a better match.”
“Even after waiting fifteen years?”
“……”
Feynman hesitated before speaking.
“But every time we met at conferences, we fought……”
“Married couple’s quarrel.”
“……”
“Ah, I finished the popcorn.”
Zernya folded the bag and tossed it before sitting beside me. She offered advice.
“I’ll tell you just this one thing. A woman won’t even stay near a man she dislikes. She won’t even talk to him.”
“……Is that so?”
“You’re completely clueless. All my friends have verified this.”
“Zernya, you don’t have any friends.”
“Shut up. I have more than you.”
Professor Feynman nodded. He looked at Professor Stranoff, who was waiting for his answer.
“What do you all think?”
“If it’s okay with you, Professor……”
“We also want to work with Professor Stranoff.”
Ah.
Feynman let out a quiet sigh.
I’m already bound. I’ve become someone who can’t research without Stranoff. He was probably thinking something like that.
Unable to withstand all the scheming, Feynman finally declared his surrender.
“Alright, let’s do it.”
“Huh, ah……?”
“Let’s get married.”
Professor Stranoff blinked blankly for a moment before—
“Honey!”
—rushing toward Feynman and giving him a passionate deep kiss.
Wow, damn, wow.
Did this mean I could use both labs now?
“So, both of them couldn’t come out today?”
“Yes.”
Something was strange. We had planned to file the marriage registration after the resonator research was finished.
“They both injured their backs.”
“H-huh?”
I sat down in my seat, pressing my forehead. Zernya looked at me with a pitiful gaze.
“Anyway, the resonator research is suspended this week. Since it’s a rare vacation, why don’t you take a break too, Rheinland?”
“Ah, no. My vacation……”
“?”
I couldn’t just sit still like this.
I had to use my spare time to take care of things I hadn’t been able to do.
I decided where to go.
“Hey, where are you going?”
“The Spirit Temple.”
It was time to check on Ire Haslen’s condition.