[Scene: Friday. Computer class. Umino is sitting behind El, who is sitting next to her brother Dev.]
Teacher: Ok, class, today we are going to write a program called "Hello World" in Java. I want you all to open your compilers and copy the code I am about to write on the whiteboard.
[Umino already knows Java, so he watches El, because he thinks she's cute.]
[Dev opens the Java compiler, but El opens one for C++. Umino opens his mouth to let her know that she has opened the wrong program, but closes his mouth again when he realizes she is working on something else.]
[Her fingers fly across the keyboard. She glances at the board from time to time as if pretending to follow along with the rest of the class, but the software she is writing is monstrously complex. She is calling a lot of graphics, physics, and mathematical libraries, and when it compiles on the first try, an image of what appears to be a glowing spherical diamond with hundreds of facets appears on her screen in stunning 3-D.]
[She taps her brother on the shoulder, and he smiles at her. She smiles back at him, then goes back to typing out complicated mathematical formulas.]
[Umino has no idea of what to make of any of this.]
[On El's screen a wire thin coil wraps around the gem and a beam of light shines through the crystal. Numbers appear on the right side of the screen. As the beams change shape, the numbers change. El jots these numbers into a notebook.]
[The bell rings, Dev gathers up his sister's books and stands over her shoulder so she can continue working for a few minutes. Umino gets up and goes to his next class.]
[When she is done, she pulls a page out of her notebook and walks with him into the hallway.]
El: Here are the supplies we'll need for The Death Ray. I've written the exact measurements. It's important you don't skimp on the quality of mirrors or the fiber optic cables since that could end in tragedy for one or both of us. We'll need scientific grade for everything on the list. Nothing less will do.
Dev: [Staring at something past El's shoulder with a goofy smile on his face] Yeah, sure.
El: We can sneak into the machine shop during the weekends to do most of the construction, but the mirrors will need to be professionally cut and measured, which means we're going to need some money.
Dev: Uh-huh.
El: I say we swipe it from somewhere far away so as not to cause any suspicion.
Dev: Yeah, no problem.
El: Are you even listening to me?
Dev: Absolutely.
[El looks to see what Dev is staring at, and sees a girl with two long blond pigtails sipping on a Starbucks cup, leaning up against a locker.]
[Dev is watching her with a goofy grin on his face.]
El: Her? Really? She looks like she's had a few too many caramel frappuccinos.
Dev: She looks like she could use a few more caramel frappuccinos. You know how I like my women big and beautiful.
El: [waves her hand in front of his face] Could you focus on the mission for even a second here?
Dev: [Not taking his eyes off Usagi] I don't see what your big hurry is. We literally have all the time in the world.
[He wanders off and walks up to Usagi, just leaving El there, standing agast]
Dev: Excuse me, miss…I'm new here. Would you mind telling me where the library is?
Usagi: Sure. You just go out that door and make a left-
Dev: [shrugs innocently] I'm not good with directions. Would you mind walking me there?
Usagi: Ah…ok.
[As they walk away, Dev gives El a wink and an a-ok sign over his shoulder]
El: [under her breath] Idiot.
[El turns and rounds a corner and almost bumps into Mamoru. She stares up into the most amazing sapphire blue eyes she's ever seen and her cheeks flush bright pink as her blood warms in her veins. She swears she can hear angels singing at the sight of such a handsome young gentleman]
Mamoru: Excuse me…my name is Mamoru Chiba.
El: I'm Eleanor Heltry. El for short.
Mamoru: Have you seen a blonde with buns in her hair? She was supposed to wait for me here.
El: Your girlfriend?
Mamoru: Yes.
El: Does she have really long pigtails?
Mamoru: Yes.
El: Oh, her. [sneers] She left. She said she got tired of waiting for you and she took off with another guy.
Mamoru: [disappointed] Oh. Ok. Thanks for your help. [turns to leave]
El: Wait… I'm a new student here, and I was wondering if you could help me…
Mamoru: Oh?
El: Is the nurse's office next to the library?
Mamoru: Actually, no. It's in the opposite direction.
El: [smiles and takes his arm] Good. That's where I'm going.