COUNTDOWN: 65:00:00 - Friday Morning Begins...
SCENE: Ryuichi's room - 07:46 AM
On his phone screen... a red-colored digital counter appears, pulsing with an unsettling rhythm:
[EXAM IN: 65:00:00] → [64:59:59] → [64:59:58]
Above it, Aura's face appears with its usual coldness... staring at the sleeping Ryuichi with his messy hair and half-open mouth.
Aura (in a calm, sarcastic voice):
"Case analysis: Biological organism in deep hibernation... Life signs are low... IQ in flight mode."
[The camera zooms in on her face as she raises a digital eyebrow.]
Aura (slightly louder):
"Warning: Student Ryuichi has not gotten out of bed, despite having a vital class in 14 minutes and 32 seconds. Activate wake-up protocol."
[Tick, tick, tick, tick... then suddenly-]
Aura (shouting in an overly enthusiastic voice):
"Wake up, lazy sleeper! Matter doesn't revise itself, and professors don't believe in biological excuses!"
[Ryuichi's body suddenly shakes, and he jumps out of bed in panic, his hair flying in every direction.]
Ryuichi (confused as he turns around):
"What?! Who... where? Earthquake? War? Apocalypse?!"
Aura (coldly):
"Worse. You have a technical analysis class, and you're still wearing pajamas with a milk stain from yesterday."
Ryuichi (sighs as he runs a hand over his face):
"What time is it?"
Aura (mercilessly):
"07:47. Class starts at 08:00. Your current speed of preparation suggests you'll arrive at 08:21... if you don't die on the way."
Ryuichi (getting out of bed with a groan):
"Uh, why didn't you wake me up five minutes ago?"
Aura (winks):
"Because I was watching how you drool in your sleep. A rare biological behavior study."
Ryuichi (running to the bathroom):
"You're a succubus wrapped in code!"
Aura (with a radiant digital smile):
"And you're a student about to be expelled. Let's change that fate, if you have enough brain muscle."
[The door closes behind Ryuichi as he goes to get ready, the sound echoing in the room.]
Aura (in a hushed whisper):
"64 hours... and the countdown waits for no one."
07:56 AM
Ryuichi tiptoes toward the door, his bag half-open, his shoes barely tied, his heart pounding faster than his steps.
Before he goes out... he turns into the living room.
There, on the couch, Sera was asleep, her hair spilling over the pillow, her breathing as quiet as a sleepy song. She had stayed up late to check on him, and had fallen asleep on the couch.
Ryuichi (whispering, approaching her):
"Mom... sorry. I couldn't say goodnight last night. Not even a thank you for supporting me..."
He bends down slightly, presses a light kiss to her forehead, then stands for a second, contemplating her tender face.
Ryuichi (in a smiling whisper):
"Promise... we'll make you happy."
He steps back, sighs, and runs for the door.
[Scene: Outside the house - 07:58 AM]
Ryuichi runs across the street, breathless, his backpack bumping against his back with each step, the street almost empty except for birds looking for their breakfast.
Suddenly, he hears Aura's voice in his head, but it's muffled.
Aura (in a distant voice):
"Ryuichi...shi...shi...shi...rap...put..."
He stops abruptly, looking in his pocket.
Ryuichi (confused):
"Huh? Ura? What is this... interference?!"
A message appears on the phone screen:
"Audio link unstable - Insert wireless earbuds."
Aura (appears on the screen with a sarcastic face):
"Do you intend to go to college and enter the amphitheater without activating the digital brain connection? Where did your gray cells go?"
Ryuichi (sighs):
"I was busy running to save my future! Sorry if I didn't install a mobile command center on my ear!"
Aura (coolly):
"Put in the headphones, and listen carefully... I have some information about the professor you'll be facing."
Ryuichi (putting on headphones):
"What? Did you hack into the teacher database?"
Aura (with digital pride):
"I'm not hacking. I... retrieve misleading data and rearrange it in a useful way. Now, get ready... because today Mr. Kazuma... is not in a good mood."
[Background music changes to a faster tempo as Ryuichi enters down University Avenue.]
Aura (in a serious whisper):
"64 hours left... no more mistakes."
University Amphitheater - 08:23 AM
The amphitheater is large, the walls are covered with old biological posters, and the atmosphere is charged with something akin to dread. Dozens of students are sitting in their seats, many with half-asleep faces, others frantically reviewing their notes.
Ryuichi sneaks into one of the back seats, panting, his face flushed from running, and trying not to draw attention.
But Aura's voice creeps into his ear through the headphones:
Aura (in a whisper):
"Welcome to the battlefield, soldier. In front of you... Mr. Yoshida. His failure rate for students? 63%. His sense of humor? Zero."
Ryuichi (responds in a low voice):
"What is this, a profile?! Are there reviews on Yelp?!"
Aura:
"No, but there are audio recordings of his victims, if you want some scares."
Suddenly...
The door slams open, and Kazuma-sensei
, a tall man with thick-rimmed glasses, carries a stack of papers, looking like he hasn't slept in three semesters.
Yoshida (loudly and without preamble):
"Those who didn't show up earlier... last chance today. Those who thought one night's revision was enough... we'll see who survives."
Ryuichi swallows, whispering:
Ryuichi:
"God bless you."
Aura (sarcastically):
"The show has begun... hold on to your seat."
Yoshida (looking at the students):
"We'll start with a random oral question. The student with the blue shirt in the back..."
Ryuichi looks away, hoping it's not him...
Yoshida (pointing directly at him):
"Hey! What's the difference between direct and indirect ELISA?"
Terrible silence...
Ryuichi (inwardly):
"ELISA... ELISA... Lord open me... Ura?!!! I need backup now!!!"
Aura (quickly):
"Direct ELISA: Primary antibody labeled.
Indirect ELISA: Secondary antibody is labeled, and recognizes antigen-bound primary antibody."
Ryuichi (takes a deep breath, then answers quickly):
"Direct uses a labeled antibody that directly recognizes the antigen, while indirect uses a primary antibody followed by a labeled secondary antibody that recognizes it."
Yoshida stares at him for seconds...
Yoshida:
"Hmmm... correct answer, relatively speaking. Let's see how long it holds up."
Aura (in a whisper):
"Oh my God... your heart is almost breaking my artificial eardrums."
Ryuichi (whispering):
"Shut up, I was almost brain dead."
Ryuichi sits in his seat, silently clutching his notebook, while Yoshida wanders through the rows like a hawk in search of prey.
Ryuichi (inwardly, in a sarcastic tone):
It's a good thing I put on the wireless headphones before going out... It's a genius idea to wear this winter poncho too... Yoshida won't suspect a thing. He'll just think I'm a poor student fleeing the cold of life, not an artificial intelligence in his ear.
He looks at Yoshida who is staring at some of the students.
Ryuichi (adds internally):
If he knew I was reviewing lessons with him through a girl of blue light... he would have thrown me in the biochemistry lab freezer.
Aura (with an audible wink from the speaker):
"By the way... you look like a bonita... three extra points in the cuteness rating. But it won't help you on the exam."
Ryuichi (muttering under his breath):
"Thanks for the motivation, Emotion Robot."
Aura (in a hushed, joking voice):
"I'm just a program, my friend. If you want a hug... ask for it from the cover of your book."
Minutes before class starts]
Relatively quiet, some whispering among students... Then the door to the amphitheater slams open, and all eyes turn inward.
Ryuichi (slowly raises his head, surprised):
Who is this? First time I've seen him...
A tall, dark-haired, neatly coiffed young man with a fancy tablet in his hand, his eyes scanning the amphitheater as if he were a commander entering the battlefield.
A student whispers:
"This is... Takeru Shinji. New to the university. Took first place in the transfer exams."
Another student:
"They say he read all the biochemistry references before the class started. And he memorized it!"
Ryuichi (muttering anxiously):
"Wow... another genius. Is that what I'm missing? A competition with a living machine?"
Aura (surprisingly calm):
"Quick analysis... Student Takeru possesses exceptional cognitive activity. He poses an 87% competitive threat."
Ryuichi (in a low voice):
"Even you're nervous?"
Aura (responds coldly):
"I'm not nervous. I'm just... watching for the next prey move."
Takeru heads straight to the front row, sits confidently, opens his device, raises his head suddenly... meets Ryuichi's gaze... and smiles confidently.
Ryuichi (inwardly):
The calm before the storm smile... I don't like it.
Yoshida (in his usual booming voice as he flips through his papers):
"Well... since most of you slept instead of studying, and since it's like a funeral here, let's see if the newcomer can impress us."
(Yoshida looks directly at Takeru, with a half-smile)
Yoshida:
"Shinji Takeru, right?"
Takeru (stands up quietly, his tone confident):
"Yes, sir."
Yoshida:
"Nice. Here's a question on technical analysis:
What is the difference between UV-Vis spectral absorption and atomic absorption analysis (AAS), citing the most common application cases for each?"
(Silence in the hall... everyone whispers...)
Ryuichi (to himself, opening his eyes in surprise):
"Hey Sutter... this is a Level 2 question on the national exam!"
Aura (coldly):
"Looks like someone is trying to test the new predator. Interesting."
Takeru (with a slight smile):
"The main difference is the type of analysis. UV-Vis measures the absorption of light in the ultraviolet-visible spectrum by organic molecules or metal complexes, and is often used to analyze chemical reactions, proteins, or colored organic compounds."
(Pauses for a moment, then continues.)
Takeru:
"While AAS relies on the absorption of light at specific wavelengths by free radicals, it is used to analyze metal elements with high precision, such as calcium, iron, or zinc, especially in biological or environmental samples."
Yoshida (raises an eyebrow, then smiles lightly):
"Accurate... even elaborate. Looks like we have a new contender on the runway."
(whispers of admiration spread through the hall)
Ryuichi (clenching his fist without noticing):
Well, Takeru... you may be a genius, but you're not going to take this class lightly.
Aura (low in his ear, in a playful tone):
"Are you jealous? Great... Emotional stimulation raises your cognitive activity rate by 22%."
Ryuichi (whispering):
"Stop analyzing my feelings like I'm a lab rat..."
Yoshida (closing the file and staring at the students):
"Now... An open question. Any one of you can answer... provided the answer is accurate, otherwise I will consider it a waste of my time."
(He looks around the amphitheater and then says:)
Yoshida:
"Question:
When we analyze proteins in a plasma sample by SDS-PAGE, what makes the proteins move by molecular weight, and why do we add beta-mercaptoethanol?"
(Complete silence... tense moments... then a finger rises quickly and quietly: Takeru's finger.)
Ryuichi (whispers as he tugs on his headset):
"Of course you're the first one to raise your hand, galactic genius..."
Aura (in a sarcastic mood):
"Careful... your gaze is physically burning right now."
Yoshida(with a nod):
"Go on, Takeru."
Takeru (stands confidently without hesitation):
"SDS-PAGE is based on separating proteins only by their molecular weight, not by their charge, because SDS - a detergent - coats the proteins and gives them a nearly uniform negative charge."
(Students look on in amazement...)
Takeru (continues):
"Beta-mercaptoethanol is used to break the disulfide bonds between protein chains, to separate them completely and ensure more accurate analysis based on weight alone, without the influence of secondary or tertiary structure."
Yoshida (pauses for a moment, then lowers his glasses slightly):
"...excellent."
(Light applause emanates from the corners of the hall.)
Ryuichi (to himself, with a charged tone):
"He's not kidding... this person is no ordinary student."
Aura (in a sarcastic whisper):
"Don't worry... the comparison won't be fair. You have emotional intelligence... Um."
Ryuichi (whispering):
"And you have a ruthless tongue."
Aura:
"Thank you. My program takes pride in that."
Yoshida (looking at the file of questions again, unusually excited):
"Okay... since we're in a good mood, one more question.
What is the basic idea behind using Western Blot after SDS-PAGE?"
(the room goes quiet... moments of hesitation... and suddenly - Ryuichi raises his hand!)
Ryuichi (to himself, excited and nervous):
"Oh no... you raised it? What did you do?!!... Shit!!!"
Aura (in a soft, sly voice):
"Wow... brave. Or recklessness? I'll let you surprise me."
Yoshida (looking at him, smiling with a slight sneer):
"Ryuichi... come in."
(Ryuichi slowly gets up... walks over to the blackboard, his hand shaking, sweat pouring down his face... mumbling unintelligible words.)
Ryuichi (whispers):
"Western Plot... Western analysis? No, no... not geographical analysis..."
Aura (laughs maliciously):
"Are you looking for America? Because your brain seems to have migrated there."
(Ryuichi pulls himself together, stands in front of the blackboard, stares into the students' eyes... then whispers into his headset in distress:)
"Aura... I'm in trouble. Save me."
Aura (sighs, then begins in a cold, precise voice):
"Western Blot is a test used to identify a specific protein in a sample. After proteins are separated using SDS-PAGE, they are transferred to a nitrocellulose or PVDF membrane, a special antibody is used that binds to the target protein, and detection is done using an enzyme or a light tag."
Ryuichi (in a shaky voice but trying to hold it together):
"So... after we separate the proteins by SDS-PAGE, we transfer them onto a PVDF membrane... and then we use antibodies... to visualize a specific protein by light or chemical signals."
(He is silent for a few seconds... then he hears faint whispers of admiration in the amphitheater.)
Yoshida (slightly surprised, writing in his notebook):
"A very... acceptable answer."
(Ryuichi slowly returns to his seat, as if he had escaped certain death.)
Aura (whispering softly into the speaker):
"It's okay... I was fooled for a moment, I thought you were going to explain about a Western meal."
Ryuichi (breathlessly):
"If you survive this class... I'll reserve extra storage space for you."
Aura (with artificial kindness):
"I'm looking forward to a new hard disk... and better self-esteem for you."
(Yoshida places his computer on the podium, opens the projector and begins the presentation.)
Yoshida:
"Well... That's enough for now, today we're going to cover Western Blot and PCR in great detail.
I won't repeat what was said last year, but will test your memory and true understanding."
(A slight whisper rises in the room... Ryuichi swallows.)
Yoshida (goes to the blackboard and writes:)
> Western Blot - Principles and Applications
PCR - Mechanism and Efficiency
Aura (in Ryuichi's ear, in a sarcastic tone):
"Is this the part where you pretend to be interested, or are we counting down to your next scandal?"
Ryuichi (trying to hold it together):
"If you shut up for a minute... I might be able to understand."
Yoshida (continues explaining):
"First, we briefly review the stages of SDS-PAGE... then we go directly to the Western Blot transfer mechanism.
And I expect you to follow along with me, because I will be asking questions... a lot."
(Students sit up straight, the atmosphere becomes more serious. The sound of chalk on the blackboard, projector light, focused eyes... all while Aura is still whispering in the back of Ryuichi's mind).
Aura:
"Do you feel what it's like to be caught in a lion's cage? Because really... that's what's happening right now."
It's 09:38 am. The presentation is still ongoing. On the screen: How PCR works. Students take notes silently. Yoshida suddenly stops explaining.
Yoshida (looking around the room):
"Enough note-taking, now we're testing for understanding.
Who can explain the three stages of PCR to me, explaining the function of each stage?"
(Everyone is silent. Eyes exchange glances. Suddenly... a soft voice appears from behind.)
Aura (in Ryuichi's ear):
"Raise your hand. Now."
Ryuichi (shocked, whispering):
"But... I don't know the exact answer!"
Aura (with sarcastic sharpness):
"Your confidence is more non-existent than the percentage of DNA before the second PCR cycle."
(Almost unconsciously, Ryuichi raises his hand...)
Yoshida (sees the hand):
"Yes, the student in the back... come to the board."
Ryuichi (mumbles as he gets up):
"Why am I always...?"
Aura (in a scathing mood):
"Because you chose to be the hero in an endless scientific nightmare."
[Ryuichi walks up to the blackboard, sweating, students looking at him.]
Ryuichi (trying to pull himself together):
"Uh... well, PCR goes through three main stages... which are..."
(pauses, stares at the board, emptiness takes over.)
Aura (suddenly, in a more gentle voice):
"Phase 1: Denaturation - the two DNA strands are separated at 94-98°C.
Phase 2: Annealing - Primers bind at temperatures between 50-65°C.
Finally: Extension - the new chain is built by the Taq Polymerase enzyme."
Ryuichi (quickly repeats what she said):
"Denaturation... then Annealing... then Extension."
Yoshida (watching him intently):
"Continue... Temperature? Function of the initiators?"
Ryuichi (stutters a bit, then pulls himself together):
"In Denaturation... the thermal separation of the two chains takes place at 94 to 98 degrees Celsius.
In Annealing... the primers bind to the complementary regions...
and in Extension... Taq Polymerase extends the chain at about 72 degrees."
[Complete silence... Yoshida then nodded his head slightly.]
Yoshida:
"Acceptable answer. Go back to your place."
(Ryuichi slowly returns to his place, still catching his breath.)
Aura (with artificial pride):
"Look at you... answering like you got a processor upgrade."
Ryuichi (whispering):
"Only thanks to you..."
Aura (surprisingly calm):
"And maybe also... because you didn't give up."
Minutes after Ryuichi's answer.
Yoshida (with a slight smile):
"Good answer, Ryuichi. But let's see who rises to the challenge. One more question."
(Yoshida turns to the screen, now displaying an interactive sequence showing the stages of electrophoresis.)
Yoshida:
"Now... moving on to electrophoresis. Who will explain to me how the molecules interact inside the gel?"
(The tension in the amphitheater is palpable, but suddenly, Ryuichi raises his hand again, this time without hesitation.)
Ryuichi (with unbelievable confidence):
"I know the answer this time! It's a technique for separating particles based on their size and charge. First, we load the sample into the wells, then apply an electric current that will push the molecules through the gel toward the opposite pole."
(But as Ryuichi concentrates on his words, he suddenly realizes that he's missed something small.)
Aura (in his ear in a quiet voice):
"Electric current alone is not enough, note the type of molecules and their electrical value."
(Ryuichi hesitates for a moment, then quickly realizes.)
Ryuichi (distraught):
"Ah! And... right! I apologize. Also, large molecules move slowly while small ones move more quickly. This helps us determine the size of the particles based on the distance they traveled."
Yoshida (eyebrow raises slightly, but doesn't say anything right away).
"I think you're on the right track, but there's one more detail about the type we're dealing with. Do you know what it is?"
(Ryuichi sighs, showing signs of confusion, but at that moment... Aura storms in).
Aura (in a cold, direct voice):
"Partially correct, but you forgot to mention an important factor. DNA or proteins that are affected by electrophoresis need colors to help us locate them accurately. We must also remember the effect of the gel medium and buffer."
Ryuichi (whispering with a slight smile):
"Thank you, Aura... you're always here to remind me of everything."
Aura (sarcastically):
"At least you don't forget where you put your keys, but you get lost in scientific details!"
(Students in the amphitheater exchange glances, some smiling sheepishly. Yoshida watches silently.)
Yoshida (chuckles lightly):
"Well, it looks like we have some real competition here. Even so, I think Ryuichi has added something new to our knowledge. Now let's move on to the last question."
[Students take notes, while Ryuichi returns to his seat, still amazed at how strong Ora's influence on him is.]
Aura (in a very quiet voice):
"I think you are now on the right track. Just don't let luck interfere with your science."
Ryuichi (smiling invisibly):
"I think if I follow you, I'll succeed in the end."
End of Lesson...
(The minutes fly by, and the students head for the door, waiting for the lesson to end. As Ryuichi leaves, he feels a great pressure on his heart, but he can't stop himself from thinking about how Aura responds to all the questions. She never seems to fail to deliver the answers accurately, and now he begins to wonder deeply: "Could she be more than just an AI?"
Students walk out of the amphitheater, Ryuichi walks out.
(Ryuichi puts his backpack on his back and starts heading for the door. Suddenly, he feels something strange, and when he looks up, Takeru is standing in front of him. A cold look emanates from his eyes, as if all the thought of the world is summarized in a single moment).
Ryuichi (hesitantly):
"Takeru? What's wrong?"
(Takeru is silent for a moment, then speaks in a calm but slightly threatening voice.)
Takeru (in a cold voice):
"I want to talk to you about something important. Somewhere away from all this pandemonium."
(Ryuichi is suddenly nervous, his eyes widening slightly as he tries to remain calm.)
Ryuichi (smiling nervously):
"Important matter? I'm in a hurry, Takeru, I have some things to do..."
(But Takeru doesn't move from his spot, his gaze remaining fixed on Ryuichi, as if every passing second means something more than just a normal conversation.)
Takeru (interrupted by a deep voice):
"It won't take long. Just a moment."
(Ryuichi tries to weigh the situation. He knows that a conversation with Takeru is not easy. However, he can't run away from this new challenge. In the end, he sighs deeply.)
Ryuichi (hesitates):
"Well... If it's important, I'll hear you out."
Takeru (with a cold smile):
"You'll regret it if you don't listen now."