"Interesting, the concept of a giant robot?" Mei adjusted her glasses and wrote something down on the paper. It was a few fantastical ideas that had emerged from her discussion with Lin. "A fictional creation that often appears in science fiction. However, I think building a weapon into a humanoid shape is actually a limitation, and it would reduce efficiency."
Lin crushed his coffee can and tossed it into the trash bin: "But giant robots often aren't designed to deal with humans, so versatility is also a factor to consider."
"Giant monsters? A humanoid form also has the effect of boosting morale; it's a similar reason why most of the gods in ancient legends and myths were humanoid. What about a name?"
"Titan."
"A race from mythology as well…"
The words in each of their sentences were few, but they were able to accurately convey the intended information.
After their first conversation, Lin and Mei seemed to have quickly grown close. Mei did not maintain the reserved demeanor she showed in front of others when she was with Lin, and she had also adapted to Lin's cold indifference toward everyone.
This was an odd pairing: Lin was generally disliked, and Mei rarely interacted with others, yet they got along exceptionally well.
Of course, it depended on how one defined "getting along." If one considered Lin's cold tone and the oddity of never showing his face as his normal behavior, then he was actually quite easy to deal with.
"Assuming that the technology is capable of creating such a complex Titan, the biggest obstacle would be energy," Mei discussed this almost jokingly topic with serious sincerity. "A kind of energy that is highly malleable and has high utilization efficiency. Based on current energy forms, there is no energy that meets this condition."
Lin pinched his elbow: "Is it achievable…"
"You can try to conceptualize it. There are actually quite a few energy-related problems proposed in academia. Perhaps building a Titan in this era is not just a fantasy."
"…Perhaps."
After the class bell rang, Lin opened his book, pretending to be listening to the lecture.
The discussion with Mei was not meant to accomplish anything; or rather, Lin had no goal. It was only after Mei showed considerable interest in the subject that he occasionally talked to her about similar issues.
He didn't even realize that, unconsciously, he was fulfilling Mei's wishes.
"Today, we have a student transferring into our class…"
The first sentence the teacher spoke after entering the classroom sparked a discussion among the class, but neither Lin nor Mei paid attention. They were both engrossed in their own thoughts, so much so that it wasn't until the transfer student, after being welcomed by the cheers of the girls in the class, walked up to Lin's right side that he reacted.
Fortunately, the other person's attention wasn't on him either.
"Wow…" The white-haired boy's gaze was firmly fixed on the quiet, black-haired girl from the moment he entered the classroom.
He couldn't wait to lightly tap Mei on the back, revealing a wide, toothy grin as he greeted her: "Hello, my name is Kevin, and starting today, I'm your classmate. May I ask your name? Also, could I ask for your contact information? Oh, and is it too much to ask if you have a boy…"
Even when caught chatting during class, and even when Mei awkwardly rejected him, he wasn't discouraged. He continued to ask for her information after class.
This made Mei feel a bit awkward and troubled; she had never experienced anything like this before.
Until Lin stopped him.
"You can ask me any questions you have," Lin said to him plainly.
But after saying that, Lin immediately left the classroom, giving Kevin no chance to ask him anything.
"Haha, don't mind those two, they're just a couple of oddballs," the other students, who were exceptionally fond of this new, cheerful, and handsome boy, advised him. "That Mei is glued to her books all day; she's just a bookworm and doesn't interact with anyone except Lin. Lin is even weirder. When he first enrolled, he was a busybody and knocked someone out, and he looks at everyone as if they were his enemy. No one wants to approach him, but it works out since the oddballs stick together."
They said these things for Kevin's sake. Mei and Lin were like two ghosts in the class, and interacting with ghosts would bring misfortune.
The will of the group often dictates the will of the individual.
However, their words had the opposite effect on Kevin.
"That is truly…" Kevin stared blankly in the direction Lin had left. "So unique."
…
"Hi, I'm Kevin. Let's be friends."
Lin rarely felt confused by a person's abnormal behavior, but when Kevin appeared before him with his wide, toothy grin and uttered the line above, he was "rarely" perplexed.
He had said that to Kevin only because Mei was not good at dealing with others. That's why Lin sternly told Kevin—who seemed to have a million questions on his mind—to ask him anything he wanted and not to bother Mei, even walking out the door to wait for Kevin.
But Kevin didn't come to him. The scene above happened in the hallway a day later.
Friends?
Lin knew the meaning of the word. By the standard definition, he was a person without friends.
Lin ignored Kevin. He didn't want to make friends, and there was no need to.
So, Lin walked around Kevin, pulled his hood lower, and continued on his way.
However, he didn't expect that this was only the beginning.
"Lin, let's be friends." Kevin poked his head out from beside the desk.
"Long time no see, my dear friend. How coincidental that we meet in the bathroom." Kevin poked his head out from beside the urinal.
"Bro, I'm in trouble. Can I copy yesterday's homework?" Kevin poked his head out on the way to school, a look of solemnity on his face.
"…"
Lin had to admire his persistent willpower. When it came to pestering, Kevin was definitely the most proficient person he had ever met. Whether it was his relentless pursuit of Mei or his request for friendship with Lin, he displayed astonishing effort… If he had used even a tenth of that effort on his studies, he wouldn't be at the bottom of the class.
Gradually, Mei got used to having a sunny boy, so different from her, by her side, but Lin did not; he maintained his original solitary demeanor.
However, after being ambushed by Kevin once again, Lin decided to ask the boy who seemed different in his eyes.
"Why exactly did you choose me?" Lin tore open the packaging of the bread. This time, the bread inside was a soft, stir-fried noodle bun, which Kevin had bought for him while getting his own lunch. "You must have heard that I'm an oddball. They weren't wrong; I really am an abnormal person, different from the norm in personality and spirit."
"Huh? Do you need a reason to make a friend?"
Kevin scratched his hair, looking bewildered as he took a big bite of the stir-fried noodle bun.