Genius

The dinner had happened but not for the sake of the food. Akina wanted to know what he actually wanted to do with his technology.

"So why not the Yakuza?" Akina had actually brought up the subject by way of mentioning investors with deep pockets, as they discussed possible means of funding the project's development.

"Because I just figured they would want to keep their money local. Besides, they have a sordid past."

Akina scoffs lightly. "Benjiro. Surely you recognize that the past doesn't define the future. Money is money. You take it where you can get it and you say, 'Fuck you very much, you greedy shit, it's mine now.' It's just how the world works."

Benjiro grins and says, "What, and end up missing a finger and owing them a favor?"

Akina titters, her voice the tinkling of bells. "No, Benjiro. I mean you don't actually see people walking around like that, and they employ, what, a fifth of the city? Maybe in old TwoVees from before the war, but the Yakuza is just another name for a big corporation these days with a lot of smaller corporations under their control. It's just smart to do business that way. You don't screw yourself on your own price by keeping transactions in-house. Everyone gets paid fairly, everyone has access to everything at fair prices, and the market moves accordingly. You know this. You want to go back to the corporate wars where everyone was out for blood and all prices were manipulated?"

Benjiro sighs and says, "No. I just think we can do better."

Akina grins like a cat. "Of course we can do better."

Benjiro shakes his head. "No, I don't mean the Yakuza. I mean we can do better than Tokyo. We can build bigger."

Akina says, "I mean, if you need more land, it's basically there for the taking... but building bigger means scaling the infrastructure."

"No, I mean we can build higher."

Akina nods, her interest piqued. "You mean taller buildings."

Benjiro waves his fork mindlessly at her, unaware he's still holding it, and says, "Sure, but that's of limited use. I mean we can actually create more usable development space."

"What... on the ocean?"

Benjiro shakes his head and says, "Vertically, in layers. Instead of one level, we could have four or five."

Akina scoffs. "What's the point of that? Just to keep it within the city walls? What about increasing radiation and decreasing air quality as you build higher?

Benjiro grins. "A dome can cover the structures to preserve the air quality and protect from radiation."

Akina frowns, "No one would want to walk from dome to dome though, you would eat up space with all the walls and tunnels."

Benjiro practically shouts at her, "No! Don't you see? Not many domes, one! One city-sized dome, four-cities-tall, stacked on top of each other! All sharing infrastructure, all of it connected, all of it powered by the energy in the ground! Forever!"

Akina looks at him, bemused, and says, "Not forever. The Earth would crash into the sun first."

Benjiro says, "Think about it. It's not like the Yakuza is the final step, it's just a point in the graph, and the graph..."

"...can be pruned in polynomial time. I get it." She finishes for him. "You are missing the point here, Benjiro. The point is this is a pipe dream unless you can get the money to build it. You have to think big if you want to see this happen, and that means going after the big money. That means one of the big three."

Benjiro shakes his head adamantly. "No. They would want to run the place. It would just be more of the same, where innovation is gobbled up and meted out so everyone can get paid fairly, and everyone has access to fair prices. The prices are fair because they are fixed centrally, and everyone has a job, but no one can get promoted. No. They don't see that AI can actually solve the problem and they can still be the rich players they are. They would actually benefit long term because instead of centrally fixed prices we could have an actual arbitrage market that makes prices fair, and if they took the arbitrage themselves they could instantly correct prices while making a profit doing so. The little guy would be free to innovate with unlimited upside potential, and they would profit every step of the way. It's a win-win for everyone, and they should do it, but their inertia is so strong, I don't think they will ever change."

Akina smiles and says, "You may be right. But what I'm pointing at here is that let's say you take on Yakuza money. Let's say they do the AI-powered arbitrage market. Let's say they do actually run the city, like you are saying. Is that worse than it not getting built? Or is it another stepping stone in the technological development of the master plan?"

Benjiro shakes his head defiantly. "No. It's like I said, it's not like the Yakuza are the last step..."

An hour later, feeling like she had just run a marathon, they dismissed the waiter a fifth time, that evening, and wandered out under the cover of a large awning in the rain-soaked night. "So, are you going to invite me back to your place?" Akina asks, pulling on the lapels of his double-breasted suit. "It's still a stupid suit, but it's growing on me."

Benjiro looks down at her and says forcefully, "No." Akina, wise to his demeanors this time, waits in silence. He doesn't make her wait long. "You should come with me. There's something I want you to see. Are you tired?"

Akina smiles at him bemusedly. "Tired? I have been up since this morning, so I guess?"

Benjiro nods. "Good. Come on." He takes her hand and starts walking out into the rain, and she follows.

"Where are we going? Why is it good that I'm tired?" she asks, a little confused.

Benjiro just says, "You'll see!" As he dives into the back of a waiting car.

Sleeptight Airways had pioneered the industry of mass transit absent the tedium and boredom of things like having to stop for eating, drinking, bathroom breaks, sightseeing, tourists, layovers, or even having to actually be conscious at all for anything. You simply arrived at your departure, went to sleep in a soft, if cramped eight-foot-by-four-foot-by-three-foot Sleeptight chamber, and woke up at your destination. A constant supply of gas would ensure you didn't wake up mid-trip, and for this service, this cattle car treatment, people would, for a while, pay a premium. Eventually the trends shifted, as more and more companies started to compete in the marketplace of hassle-free transportation, and what once was premium became standard, and now people pay to not be rendered medically unconscious for no reason other than they can't cope with a four-hour flight. Sleeptight Airlines: Delivering sweet dreams to you too.

Akina watched Benjiro get into his coffin aboard the Hyperjet to New Vegas then got into her own. Despite her position in logistics, she had never actually had to travel outside of Tokyo, and had never had the pleasure of a coffin. She lasted about six breaths before smacking the exit button and climbing out. She pounded on the panel Benjiro had climbed into, and it slid out of the wall. "What?" he says, but no words leave her lips as she climbs inside, squeezes up next to him, and hits the close button.

"Uhh... are you sure..." Benjiro starts, but she silences him as her hands reach out hungrily for his body, running over his clothes; and she kisses him full on the lips. She was sure.

Four hours later they arrive in New Vegas and rent a car. The GPS takes them to the city limits before the auto-drive refuses to take them any further, so Benjiro shifts into manual drive, and they set out south by southwest across the desert as the sun begins to rise on the horizon.

Dawn in the desert is a beautiful sunrise, but Akina is still a bit groggy, so she curls up on the bench seat and lays her head in Benjiro's lap. The three-hour ride passes uneventfully, never seeing another occupied car, but plenty of derelict ones, with rapidly decreasing frequency the further from the city they get. Eventually the road just opens up into long stretches of empty highway, and the boredom of the long drive begins to set in.

Around the two-hour mark, Benjiro sees the first signs of life he's seen since the city: smoke from what looks to be an old campsite on the side of the road, and a large armored truck, square and boxy, parked nearby, but no people anywhere visible. Another hour out, and the GPS informs him they have arrived, although why this constitutes a destination might have been anyone's guess.

They were, by any measure, in the middle of bumfuck nowhere. Surrounding them on the horizon were miles of unimpressive mountains, hills, and desert terrain, and a good fifty square miles area of flat cracked dirt stretched out before them, save one massive structure seemingly stuck at the edge of the plain. In the distance a few miles off, a dirt road wound to a tall fence surrounding the large warehouse-sized building with several large satellite dishes pointing at different points in the sky, but Benjiro has stopped well short of the building and pulled the car to the side of the road. He gently shakes his date awake and says, "We're here."

The heat of the day had set in, but the car's air conditioning kept the cabin ice cold and the wind blew back Akina's auburn curls as she sat up. "Mmm. Ok," she mumbles sleepily. "So, show me it in action," she says as she looks around.

Benjiro nods, shrugs out of his suit jacket, and wraps it around his head, clumsily tying the arms to secure it. Akina giggles at the sight, as Benjiro reaches into the back seat and grabs three bottles of water. "Stay here." He says. "The sun here can burn you alive. Watch." She nods, as he throws the door open, his phone in one hand and the bottles of water in the other. The harsh wind empties the cabin of the cool air in a blast of oppressive heat as Benjiro charges out and slams the door shut. He charges forward onto the plain, his phone held in front of him as he scans it left and right, looking for something unseeable with the naked eye. It only takes a few seconds for him to locate his target, and he charges forward in a run. After a few beats of running, he stops, and scans the ground carefully with his phone, then puts it away, and sets the bottles down in a triangle, all touching each other. He then turns and runs back to the car and dives inside, completely covered in a fine layer of tan dust.

Together they sit in silence for a minute; then Akina asks, "How long will it take?"

Benjiro looks deeply into her green eyes and says, "I don't know."

Akina asks, "Wait, this was your idea. Haven't you done this before?"

Benjiro shakes his head. "No." After a second of silence he says, "I just wanted to go on an adventure with you."

Akina looks back at him and takes his hand in hers. "Look..." she says, but he interrupts her.

"I know." He says and stares at her, as she looks back at him. "You were sent here by the Yakuza to recruit me. Your job is to steal the secrets of my technological advancements. Seduce me, get me to do whatever you say, and ensure the Yakuza get the spoils. I don't care. I think I love you and if you told me to cut off my left testicle I would do it. You are the smartest, most beautiful woman in the world, and a facsimile of being loved by someone like you is better than the real thing from anyone else. I would build an entire universe and put you at the center of it because you deserve it. Just don't leave me. Don't let this dream come true end!" His eyes shine with the light of the afternoon sun as he stares at her pleadingly.

She blinks as she tries to take in everything he just said, and goes, "Ben... I mean look..." and points at the bottles on the ground. The bottles had initially started to deform and expand, but at this point their lids had come off, and the contents had started to visibly bubble, with steam rising out of them, and they were slumping down like fallen soldiers.

"How hot is it there?" Akina asked, wide-eyed at the sight.

Benjiro looks back at her and says, "Just under five hundred degrees Fahrenheit."

She says, "And this is why you brought me here? To show me this?"

Benjiro smiles softly and says, "I actually didn't think it through. I just knew I needed to be with you, and if we just went back to my place, you would leave eventually. I figured if we went on an adventure, I would get to be near you."

Akina studies his eyes carefully, searching them for meaning. They are full of pain and longing, and in that moment she knows she has lost herself in them. She says, "Well, cowboy...", and reaches up to slide his suit jacket off his head, and it falls into the back seat with a light thud. "I'm here." She continues. "What are you going to do with me now?"

Benjiro practically pounces on top of her, as she lets out an involuntary squeal.

The sun was hanging low on the horizon by the time they decided that while refilling used water bottles was an interesting lesson in body-eye coordination, it might make sense to think about food. Besides testing the car battery, which had started at eighty-two percent when they first parked, and was now at thirty-two percent from running the air conditioning all day, and might not be the greatest idea, since without the sun, there was no other way to refill it.

The silence of the drive lasted about three minutes; then Akina broke the deadlock. "So, how much of that did you mean?" She half whispers.

Benjiro glances over at her, then focuses back on the driving. "Everything."

Another minute of silence, and another question. "How did you know?"

Benjiro answers plainly, "I hacked your computer." Akina purses her lips, unsure how she feels about that, but Benjiro continues, "Akina, we're talking about the Yakuza, right? You don't think they tried to hack me first? The problem was there was nothing to find, and yet the marvels continued. And by now, you have figured out why. Haven't you?"

Akina glances at Benjiro. "You can't fake what you pulled off with that algorithm of yours, and I'm betting programmable metamaterials are real too, so, no. At this point I'm still trying to figure out how exactly you do it."

Benjiro smiles. "Come on, Akina! Think! Where is the data being stored if not in my computer? How am I doing it? What's the only thing that makes sense?"

Akina waves her hand in a grandiose gesture and exclaims, "What, you expect me to believe you actually have a quantum computer already?"

Benjiro grins broadly. "And why not? It would explain everything, wouldn't it?"

Akina frowns. "A couple of reasons, actually! First of all, they cost an absolute fortune, and while you have money, you don't have THAT kind of money! Second, the capacity of such a device simply doesn't exist. Research in that area ground to a halt in the thirties, and third, that's not even how they work! They don't solve problems like a human does!" She looks over at him, a bit frustrated and angry.

Benjiro just shakes his head. "All the intel of the Yakuza, and you guys still see nothing. They happen to be a lot more common than you'd expect."

Akina punches his arm in anger, and he winces slightly. "Bullshit!" she yells. "We control half the ones that do." She stares at him angrily.

Benjiro asks quietly, "So why do you still need me?"

Akina flares in anger. "Because you have the magic! Whatever you are doing, it's obviously working!" She stares at him, suddenly feeling less in control than she thought she had been.

Benjiro shakes his head. "It's not magic, Akina."

Akina spits, "No shit, asshole. So you got me beat. Is that what you want me to say? I don't know? I can't figure it out?"

Benjiro looks over at her with a concerned look on his face, and says, "No, Akina. I want you to figure it out."

An hour of silence passes; then Benjiro speaks up. "If I actually had a quantum computer, what would it look like? How would it work? What would it do?"

Akina says quietly, "Well, it would probably be very cold."

Benjiro laughs, "That's probably a bad assumption, and it doesn't answer the question."

Akina says, "Ok, well, it would probably have to be some sort of hybrid. Something with logic gates for traditional programming, but then a programmable quantum topology that can be optimized."

Benjiro smiles. "Now we're getting somewhere. And if I ... crap ... grab my jacket out of the back seat, hand it to me, and climb in the back!"

Akina doesn't take her eyes off him as she asks, "What? Why?"

Benjiro demands, "Trouble! Do it now!"

Akina looks out the window, and in the near distance, thick smoke rises from a campsite bonfire. The leaping flames cast flickering light across the large tree branches set as a barricade across the road on either side of a large armored vehicle. She scrambles behind the bench seat and throws the jacket over it. Benjiro slows down as he approaches the vehicle, and a loudspeaker addresses them with a voice that echoes around the area. "Alright, let's make this easy on each other. Leave the car, walk between the truck and the bonfire, and be on your way. It's a ten-hour walk into town, you can make it before sunrise."

Benjiro stops the car and shifts it into park, but leaves the lights on and just sits there in silence. For a moment nothing happens, then a burst of automatic gunfire lights up from the right of the truck, casting long shadows in the dim haze of the pre-dark night. The bullets rip into the pavement directly in front of them, sending up sparks. The loudspeaker announces, "Just in case you thought we were fucking around. We don't actually care about you. Just the car, and we will kill you for it. It's just easier when there's no bodies to clean up, you know? It's horrible to get those blood stains out, and it's not like laundry detergent is in great supply these days. Not to mention the cost of ammo; I mean have you seen..." the voice is unexpectedly interrupted by another burst of automatic gunfire, then continues, "Right! Anyway, let's go. You and the girl in the back. Before we change our minds."

Benjiro glances into the back seat and says, "Do you trust me?"

Akina peers up at him from her hunkered down position on the floorboards. "What?!?" She demands angrily.

Benjiro insists, "Do you trust me?"

Akina hisses, "Yes! I trust you!"

Benjiro snaps, "Then do exactly what I say, when I say it. And don't say what! Get out, my side."

Akina shakes her head. "What?!? No! I'm not..."

Benjiro whisper-screams, "What did I just say? Do it!"

Akina sighs and says, "Fine, but I swear if you get us killed I will haunt your ghost from beyond the grave!" as she gets up and reaches for the driver's side door.

"I believe it..." Benjiro says, as he opens his own door and steps outside. As he opens his door, Benjiro raises his free hand high and calls out, "We don't want any trouble!" His voice echoes around the clearing as he steps outside. He keeps his eyes locked onto Akina as she reaches for the driver's side door.

"Get moving!" booms the voice over the loudspeaker, "Between the truck and the bonfire, and be quick about it."

Benjiro raises his voice, "Don't you want our phones or wallets?"

The voice from the loudspeaker barks a laugh. "Phones and wallets? They ain't worth much out here, boy. But since you're offering, drop 'em by the front of the truck as you pass."

Turning his head towards Akina, Benjiro whispers harshly, "Close your eyes. And don't open them, no matter what." His gaze is firm and serious, emphasizing the gravity of his words.

"What..." Akina starts, but the fierce insistence in Benjiro's gaze silences her. Her eyes flutter shut, sealing away the reality of their danger like a padlock on a steel door.

Suddenly, Benjiro's hand plunges into his jacket, his fingers searching for something hidden within its lining. With an abrupt surge of movement, he lunges at Akina, knocking them both to the cold ground. Simultaneously, a series of shouts is heard from the direction of the armored truck, followed by a hailstorm of wild, indiscriminate gunfire. The world around them erupts into chaos, punctuated by their gasping breaths, rasping harshly against the frosty night air.

From the armored vehicle, the sound of panicked shouting becomes frantic and disoriented, accompanied by the discordant cacophony of gunfire. The muzzle flashes become irregular and aimless, illuminating desperate faces contorted in confusion and fear. "I can't see, damn it!" one of the voices wails, spraying bullets wildly at the mere echo of his own shout.

Amidst the chaos, a sudden, more desperate cry cuts through the air. One of the men, shooting blindly, has hit one of his own. A woman's scream shatters the night as she falls. A second pained howl joins her voice as a stray bullet finds its mark, grazing his leg. All at once there is now one standing, one on the ground nursing a bleeding leg, and the woman still blindly firing into the night. Benjiro lunges forward, his form a shadow cutting through the stroboscopic chaos of flashing gunfire. He collides with the still standing blinded man, and they are locked into a struggle of desperation and survival. In one swift, brutal motion, Benjiro wrests the rifle from the man's grip and turns it against him. The gunshot echoes sharply through the dark of night, and the man's shocked gasp is almost swallowed by the report, a violent punctuation in the cold light. Blood flowers from his chest, and life drains from his eyes as swiftly as his knees buckle beneath him. He collapses, the harsh whisper of his final breath lost to the wind.

Turning briskly, Benjiro aims the stolen weapon at the remaining assailants. The deafening retort of the firearm fills the air twice more, and the panicked cries from behind the vehicle abruptly cease. With a grim determination etched on his face, he turns back to Akina, the stolen gun still warm in his grip. His breath heavy, he steps over to where she lies, her eyes still tightly shut as instructed.

As Benjiro approaches, Akina recoils, her body tensing up. "Don't!" she pleads, her eyes staying firmly shut.

"Hey, it's me. It's okay," Benjiro says, his voice soft but carrying the weight of the ordeal they'd just experienced. His hand hovers over her shoulder, offering a comforting presence amidst the aftermath of chaos. Tentatively, Akina's eyelids flutter open. The first thing she sees is Benjiro, his figure brightly outlined by the intense, crackling glow of the bonfire. His silhouette is sharp against the backdrop of dancing flames as he extends a hand to her, his fingers outstretched in offering. Akina takes it, and with his help, she rises slowly from the dusty ground. Together, they move towards their car. He helps her into the passenger seat; then tosses the stolen gun onto the backseat.

With a last glance at their assailants, Benjiro then turns to the trees blocking their path. He begins the arduous task of clearing them, his movements fueled by the adrenaline still coursing through his veins. After creating an adequate passage through the barricade of trees, Benjiro slides back behind the wheel. The car silently starts to creep forward, leaving the grisly scene behind them.

In the passenger seat, Akina sits silent and shaking, her body curled into itself as she tries to process the shock of their narrow escape. Benjiro attempts to engage her in conversation, his voice cutting through the hum of the road. "Akina?" he prompts gently. However, her eyes remain fixed on an invisible point in the distance, her shivering figure attesting to her trauma. She gives no response, so Benjiro pulls the car over to the side of the deserted road. He reaches across the bench seat, pulling Akina into a comforting embrace. She buries her face in his shoulder, her body wracked with the sobs that pour out of her, unchecked, into the quiet night.

As they approach the city limits of New Vegas, Benjiro discreetly discards the stolen gun, leaving the tangible evidence of their encounter behind. They arrange their travel back to Japan in the now familiar confines of their shared coffin, the journey marked by a silence that hangs heavily between them.

Once in Japan, Benjiro guides the still mute Akina to his home, her steps small and hesitant, her eyes mirroring the shock that lingers within her. The homecoming is quiet, almost serene, and together they fall asleep on his couch, creating a quiet sanctuary in a world that seemed to storm around them.

As evening shadows creep into the room, a call of nature rouses Benjiro. He quietly untangles himself from Akina and heads towards the bathroom.

When he returns, he finds Akina awake. Her eyes, no longer hollow, are alert and scanning the room. It's a small change, but a promising one. "Benjiro," Akina's voice is quiet but firm, her eyes meeting his. "What exactly happened back there?" The question is simple, but the weight of it fills the room.

Benjiro draws in a deep breath, his gaze steady on Akina. "One of the projects I've been working on," he begins, "involves the use of lasers and motion tracking technology, along with nanoscale mirrors and motion actuators. The ultimate goal is to project holographic images directly into people's eyes. But," he pauses, running a hand through his black hair, "all I've managed to do so far is find a quick way to burn out their retinas."

"Benjiro," she begins, her voice softer now, more measured. "I need to understand. How all this... how your innovations come to be." She gestures around them, encapsulating the world of technological marvels he's created. "It's important to me." There's a truth in her words, even if the reasons behind them are far from innocent.

Benjiro regards her with a quizzical tilt of his head, his gaze probing. "Akina," he says, a slow smile creeping onto his lips, "You're asking for my secrets. It's not as simple as telling. If you want what I have, you need to meet me halfway here." His words hang in the air between them, a challenge and a promise intertwined.

Frustration flickers in Akina's eyes and her voice sharpens with anger. "What is it that you want, Benjiro?" she demands, her understanding of his intentions still obscured. "Just tell me already!" Her words echo in the room, a testament to her growing impatience.

A frown creases Benjiro's forehead, confusion clouding his features. He shakes his head, baffled by her outburst. "Akina, I've already told you," he says, his voice soft but insistent. "What I want... is you. Here. With me." His words hang in the silent room, raw and honest.

"In exchange for what?" Akina fires back, her brows furrowed in a mix of frustration and confusion. Her voice is firm, demanding an answer to the as-yet unspoken deal she senses between them.

"Everything," Benjiro replies without hesitation, his voice filled with conviction. "My loyalty, my love, my technology, my abilities... all in exchange for a dream. Our dream. The chance for us to realize our true potential together. Because together, Akina," his eyes intent on holding hers, "we could rule the universe."

At first, Akina scoffs, a sound of disbelief escaping her lips. But as she meets Benjiro's steady gaze, the humor drains from her expression, replaced by surprise as she realizes the depth of his sincerity. Her brow furrows in thought before she finally speaks, "So, you just... want me?" Her voice carries a hint of uncertainty, as if she's trying to grapple with the simplicity of his desire.

Benjiro's lips part as if to answer, but no words escape. Instead, he nods silently, his eyes reflecting the sincerity of his emotions. With a soft yet resolute voice, he finally speaks, "Akina, I love you. With all that I am, all that I have, and all that I will ever be."

Akina's confusion deepens. Her voice is filled with skepticism. "But that doesn't make any sense," she insists, her eyes probing the depths of his for answers.

Benjiro takes a deep breath, his determination unwavering. "I know it may not make sense now, but I'm willing to prove it to you," he responds earnestly. "I'll show you through my actions, through my unwavering devotion to you. Just give me the chance."

A spark of hope flickers in Akina's eyes as she grasps the sincerity in his words. "You're serious, then? You want to move forward, with everything, all the way into orbit, and beyond," she murmurs, her voice laced with cautious anticipation. Her gaze intensifies as she poses the pressing questions: "But how? How are you doing it? And where is the computer that drives it all?"

Benjiro's expression softens, a mixture of vulnerability and determination in his eyes. "Akina," he begins, his voice gentle yet resolute, "if I reveal all my secrets, it means you would have them too. And if you choose to leave, you would take them with you." He pauses, his gaze unwavering. "But if you stay, we can uncover the answers together and build something extraordinary."

Akina's features soften in turn, and her voice carries a newfound sense of conviction. "I promise, Benjiro. I will stay," she declares, her eyes locked with his. The weight of her words fills the space between them, and he nods, believing her without reservation.

A smile dances on Benjiro's lips as he gathers his thoughts, his expression steady and resolute. "Akina, the reason you couldn't find my quantum computer is that you've been staring at it this whole time," he reveals, a touch of excitement in his voice. "Remember what I said about them being more common than you thought? It's true. It's embedded within the very fabric of reality, intertwined with the quantum nature of our existence." The revelation hangs in the air, the magnitude of their proximity to this revolutionary technology sinking in.

Akina's expression shifts, a mix of wariness and curiosity replacing her initial reluctance. "Benjiro," she says cautiously, "I don't want to be toyed with. If you're serious about this, then explain how it works." She searches his face for sincerity, as she steels herself for the explanation.

Benjiro takes a deep breath, his enthusiasm reignited. "I'm not playing games, Akina," he assures her. "Imagine a system that combines the precision and logic of traditional programming with a programmable quantum topology. This allows the computer to harness the power of quantum states, optimizing calculations and solving problems that would be infeasible for classical computers. It's a fusion of both worlds, paving the way for revolutionary advancements. They are so incredibly common; you have one!"

A flicker of surprise dances across Akina's face as she absorbs Benjiro's revelation. "Me?" she asks, her voice a mixture of disbelief and intrigue. "My brain is the quantum topology?"

Benjiro nods, a gleam of excitement in his eyes. "Yes, Akina, you possess remarkable potential within you. All I've done is to advance the existing neural uplink technology to tap into the full capabilities of the brain, allowing us to utilize its quantum properties for computations and problem-solving. I am the embodiment of this extraordinary fusion of technology and biology. That's why you can't find it. It's right in front of you. It's me."

As Akina absorbs the information, her mind races with newfound clarity. The puzzle pieces start to align, and the pieces of the grand design fit together. She performs the mental calculations, connecting the dots and realizing the truth in what Benjiro has revealed. The doubts and skepticism begin to fade, replaced by a growing sense of awe and excitement. "And you want me at the center of this new universe you are going to build."

Benjiro gazes at Akina with unwavering conviction. "Yes, Akina," he affirms, his voice resonating with sincerity. "I want you at the center of this new universe we can create together. Your mind, your abilities, combined with the advancements we can achieve, hold the potential to shape a future beyond imagination. I love you, Akina. You are my everything. You are my future."

Akina initially tries to deny the growing emotions within her, but unable to resist the pull any longer, she rises to her feet, her movements guided by a mix of uncertainty and determination. With each step, a whirlwind of emotions converges until she finally reaches Benjiro. Without uttering a word, she leans in and presses her lips against his, a passionate kiss that speaks volumes of her desires and the unspoken connection between them.

A week has passed since their profound kiss, and the air is filled with the palpable excitement of new beginnings. The once-separate lives of Akina and Benjiro have started to intertwine, two galaxies merging into one.

Boxes of Akina's belongings labeled "bedroom," "living room," "library," etc. are carried, dragged, and wheeled through the door of Benjiro's place, the sounds of their (mostly Benjiro's) exertions echoing with the promise of a shared future. Laughter dances through the air as they unpack together, their interactions infused with the glow of a couple in the early stages of a blossoming relationship, a vibrant mosaic of love and partnership.

"Careful with the Deetz, it's an original, and very expensive!" Akina calls after Benjiro, as he wrestles with an ungainly and precariously weighted statue in the form of an upright organic-looking claw sticking out of a solid block of stone.

"It's kinda hideous, isn't it?" Benjiro sets it down carefully, but manages to catch his toe under one corner and yelps in pain.

Akina barely suppresses a mild giggle and runs over to help. "More like dangerous... are you ok?" She rubs his back with genuine concern.

Benjiro grimaces and says, "I'm fine. How many more of these are there?"

Akina stifles another giggle and says, "That's the only one. The rest of the pieces are all worthless trash. I just like the way they look."

"Nothing," Benjiro says softly, "when seen through your eyes, is worthless trash" and gazes longingly into her eyes.

Akina's cheeks grow warm but she manages to avoid visibly blushing as she kisses him on the lips. "Then surely you are the most precious of all I see."

In the cluttered comfort of their shared space, amidst stacked boxes and the lingering aroma of ramen takeout, Akina looks at him, curiosity glinting in her eyes. "So, cowboy, you got me here. Now what?"

Benjiro smirks, swirling the remnants of his tea around the cup, then sets it down with a gentle clink. "Alright," he leans back, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. "Are you ready to take the next step towards immortality?"

Akina nods solemnly. "I'm guessing there's surgery involved?"

Benjiro shakes his head as he reaches for his laptop. "It's a software update for the existing SimStim hardware you already have implanted. It works exactly like you think it does. Logic gates from the computer and an optimizable quantum topography. It's already reading and writing to your sensory input, modulating a carrier wave to the tiny input/output processor already installed so you can watch Holos and use your computer in private. Upgrading the firmware breaks the warranty, but it's a small price for this kind of upgrade, right?"

Akina frowns. "But we tried all those experiments."

Benjiro looks at her seriously. "You tried them?" He snaps incredulously.

"Benjiro, you know how this works," she says. "You didn't even bother to hide those. You had to know that The Yakuza accessed your work..."

"Of course, but you tried them? On people?"

Akina holds her hands up in front of her defensively and quickly explains, "This is well beyond my pay grade! I'm just a logistics manager!"

Benjiro shakes his head and says, "Akina... surely they realized the initialization vectors are going to be specific to my brain."

Akina nods slowly. 'Yes, they figured that out eventually.'

Benjiro stands up suddenly, and his laptop clatters to the floor, his face a pale shade of white. "How many people did you screw up?" He stares at her, alarmed.

Akina says defensively, "I didn't..."

Benjiro cuts her off. "How many, Akina?" he demands.

Akina stammers, "Benjiro, I don't know..."

"HOW MANY?!?" he is now screaming at the top of his lungs, his eyes flashing with disbelief, alarm, and rage.

Akina pulls back, startled. She looks up at Benjiro in silence, tears welling up in her eyes. Finally she says, "Three," very quietly.

"FUCK!" Benjiro kicks his computer, and it goes skittering across the room. "How bad?"

Akina speaks quietly, her eyes downcast. "One died that night. The other two... are hoping to recover their sight and hearing."

Benjiro shakes his head. "You know, I almost wish it were more? Stupid people installing untested software into their brains without even consulting the author of the code first for what it's supposed to do?"

Akina says, "It was obvious what it was supposed to do. It just didn't actually do it. It never worked, even with good IVs."

Benjiro shakes his head. "So you thought. But you never installed all the versions on one person in order, did you? Or tried to use the first version to do the one thing it's actually good at doing?"

Akina blinks. "What? No, we had failures, and so we just moved on to the next volunteer with the next version you released. We had to spend a week each time calculating the IVs. How did you get yours?"

Benjiro stands up, walks across the room, grabs the laptop, and walks back to the couch. "I brute forced it. Took me six months. Takes you a week, huh?"

Akina scratches her head, confused. "But you were doing updates all the time... and all the first version does is compute optimized IVs for the existing bioprint. We knew that, but we figured that was a failure of the software. We had to calculate the initial IV for the first version, and in the same amount of time we could do the same for subsequent versions. It didn't occur to us why that first version would be important, and it didn't make sense to waste a week we could use to calculate the IV to install an IV calculator. And in any case, we wanted to study them in isolation, so we never tried different versions in one person. Overlapping different versions would have muddled that, so we just calculated the IVs each time."

Benjiro shakes his head and says, "What you didn't consider was that each version leaves behind some additional functionality that will be used later. A limitation of the hardware I expect to remove in the future, but a required step in the process."

Akina blinks a few times, the gears turning in her head rapidly. "So each individual version has this uninteresting thing it does for us to study in isolation, yet when overlaid together, it forms a larger program? And we never realized it because we kept installing it on... holy shit. But that would require so many IVs which is why you did that first! You are the overlap!"

Benjiro nods, pulls a datajack out of his laptop, and hands it to Akina, who jacks in. He types a few things on the keyboard, and looks over at her. "Ok. Jack out."

She reaches up and undoes the jack in her neck, and the cord retracts automatically.

Benjiro smiles and says, "No. I just needed your bioprint. I'm going to optimize your IVs myself," and sticks the jack in his own neck. "Give me a minute," he says confidently, and closes his eyes.

Akina waits patiently for him, and after a minute he opens his eyes again. "Alright. Ready?"

Akina nods. "Just like that. From months to weeks to less than a minute. All you had to do was just not erase the old version when installing the new, and you could keep progressing while we were stuck in your maze." She takes the jack and slots it once again in the base of her neck.

Benjiro nods. "All according to my plan."

Akina chuckles lightly. "You really had all this planned out?"

Benjiro shrugs. "Everything except falling in love with you."

Akina leans over and kisses him sweetly; then Benjiro taps a key, and Akina's world shrinks to a pinpoint microcosm; then bodily throws itself in all directions at once.

That night, after a long night of exploration, Akina slips out of the bed where Benjiro snores peacefully away, slips into her robe and slippers, grabs her phone from the nightstand, and walks silently through the hallway, out the front door, down the driveway, and into her car. Once inside with the door closed, she dials a number from memory, who picks up on the other side.

From inside the house, Benjiro, roused by her lack of presence, pulls up an app on his phone. After a few attempts, he finds the audio feed he's interested in as Akina's voice is clearly audible.

"...eighty four. Checking in."

"Yes."

"I have your promise, right?"

"Yes. I have it now."

"No, that wasn't ever going to work, and I've already explained why."

"Because I can't do what he does. You need him."

"That's irrelevant."

"That's also irrelevant! I'm on a mission!"

"Don't."

"Because I..."

"No! That's bullshit!"

"You want to screw this up? No. You let me do it my way."

"Look, the sooner this is over, the better, ok?"

"Because I..."

"Fine."

"Confirmed."

"Acknowledged."

"Fine. And Nate? If you fuck this up for me, you will regret it. You just keep your promise. Otherwise, I'll disappear him so fast you will wonder if we ever actually existed. And you know I can."

"I remember. That doesn't mean we want the same thing."

"I don't believe that for a second."

As she hangs up and opens the door, Benjiro scrambles to put his phone back and resume the sleeping position he was in before. Two minutes later, Akina returns, undresses, and climbs back into bed. Together, they fall asleep and dream of the future.