#Chapter 2: The Logic of Peace
(2 years back from the original timeline)
I secured my usual spot by the window. Best light, best views, and most important
maximum separation from the noise of the lecture hall. My mind was elsewhere, probably lost in the simple logic of a clean loop structure, which was infinitely more appealing than the required "Introduction to networks."
I’m Hiki Kitoshi , a sophomore in the Computer Science department. I love two things: code that compiles cleanly and absolute peace.
"Hiki," Boy whispered, barely moving his lips. "My parents called. They’re starting the placement pressure early. Asking about company shortlists."
Next to me was Kaito. He was my friend—our friendship was based almost entirely on shared silence and a mutual disdain for mandatory college events.
I didn't even bother turning my head from the window. The thought of company shortlists and future career plans felt heavy, like a bloated program I had no intention of debugging.
"Still two years away," I muttered. "They want us to optimize our lives before we even finish the user manual." "They say it’s about 'networking' and 'building connections.' Social tasks that clearly violate our service agreements with the universe."
I nodded slowly. Kaito understood. We were in our own small realm, watching the ambitious students around us as if they were performing some high-stress, unnecessary social experiment.
The final bell was a gift. We didn’t exchange words, just a synchronized nod, and we were out.
We bypassed the crowded main entrance and headed straight for our sanctuary.
Elevation Point was the unofficial name for the deck on the administrative building's roof. It wasn't beautiful or well-maintained, but it was open, elevated, and blessedly empty.
The wind hit me instantly. It was a perfect, clean breeze, a forced reset button for the mind.
All the chatter, the academic pressure, and the illogical demands of the human world were washed away.
We walked to the stone railing. Below us, the campus looked distant and small, the students moving like ants in a chaotic simulation.
"This," Kaito stated simply, "is better than any job fair." "Logically, yes," I agreed. "Maximum relaxation for minimum effort. High efficiency."
the twenty minutes where I wasn't required to perform, speak, or worry about anything outside the sound of the wind rushing past. I closed my eyes, content.
For now, the world could wait. I had achieved peace.
Suddenly, a loud, cheerful voice—a true, unhandled exception in my serene environment—shattered my single-threaded peace.