On a chilly winter morning, a young woman with the name Youko Usami, graced the EMC halls of Dainan with one agenda in her mind: to attend the EMC's annual international convention featuring the brightest scientists of the world. A scientist herself, she recognized the urgency to update her mind through mind blowing discourses that one could only find in a convention. She was with her brother figure Ryuji Iwasaki, who worked in Dainan too just as herself, only as a system engineer.
Ryuji was ahead of her discussing state of the art mecha designs when Youko sneaked out from their group to check the nearest snacks at a table nearby. Her nose wiggled when she smelled the data analyst/Usada Lettuce's freshly baked jelly buns. Having sensed that Youko was careful in her steps towards the coveted table, Ryuji pulled the collar of her blazer. Youko let out a small shriek.
"You have to mingle with at least 10 scientists in your field before you talk to the jelly buns, Youko," the brother figure said, crossing his arms in slight disappointment, "besides you have taken your breakfast only 30 min ago"
Yes, i need to concentrate now, Youko thought, gaining more resolve.
She said her apologies to Ryuji and proceeded instead to a group of scientist-pilots who were discussing about recent breakthroughs in their career. Now that's something Youko would like to know.
Another 30 min passed and Youko excused herself from the group to go back the jelly bun business. As she approached the table, she felt her heart sunk like the ship, Titanic. The jelly buns were gone~for good.
Feeling her legs becoming like jell-o, she supported herself by seating on the nearest metallic chair from her right.
"No more jelly buns" she sighed heavily.
Her solemn expression took the attention of a young man who was drinking from a plain cup of black coffee.
Child, he muttered under his breath. Nevertheless, he offered his own bun to her. When she looked up at her benefactor, she smiled widely.
Not only was he kind hearted, but he was a looker himself! His eyes were beautifully shaped like almonds. His short cropped hair shone like silk. His immaculate lab gown perfectly matched his fair skin. To her, he was a gem in the batch of scientists of her generation.
She was smiling at him like an idiot that she never felt him lose the jelly bun to her hands and walked away after performing a slightly angled bow at her. Her consciousness returned thanks to a gentle slap from Ryuji.
"Wow!You just met the future center chief of Dainan!" Ryuji said in disbelief.
"T—that's Hiromu Sakurada?" Youko asked, her eyes getting wide. She had heard about him in magazines, newspapers, and journals. She never expected that he would look like someone who got out from a photo op.
Ryuji nodded at her, as if confirming her thoughts.
"Do you know him?" She prodded and removed the wrapper of the bun, folded it, and inserted it to her lab gown. She took a bite of the bun as Ryuji wondered why she never threw the wrapper to the bin.
"Yes, he's a pilot scientist like you, just transferred from Tokyo Subfacility 2 to your department"
Youko giggled like a high school student student. She held the bun close to her heart and smiled silly at her brother.
"Ryusan," she said, her cheeks shifting from pink to red, "You're going to have a brother in law."