Aozaki Aoko [612-613] (Patreon)

Chapter 612: Charm Offensive

By November, Aoko's paper was still snowballing, turning into the hit of the year. Her advisor cheerfully told her she might become his fastest student ever to finish and earn a PhD in artificial intelligence.

Of course, the formalities still had to be done; but since Aoko had already earned a PhD in mathematics from the University of Tokyo, she was more than familiar with the process.

Although she hadn't yet graduated, Aoko's paper had become the topic of the AI world, so her advisor brought her along to a multidisciplinary academic summit in Paris. Also present there was one of the key figures: Naoko Akagi.

"From what's publicly available online, I already knew you were very young, Dr. Aozaki," Naoko shook Aoko's hand, staring in surprise at her soft, youthful face. "But I didn't expect you to look this young in person—you look about the same age as my daughter!"

Wow, way to burnish your daughter's image. Aoko glanced past Naoko at the blonde young woman behind her—Ritsuko Akagi. Personally, Aoko felt she looked younger than the still-green Ritsuko—after all, the latter would later become the very picture of a mature, cool beauty in EVA.

"Hehe, I only have a baby face—I'm not actually that young," Aoko replied with a squinting smile. "And I'm not a doctor yet. I still have some time to go before I graduate."

"For you, that won't be a problem. I can tell," Ritsuko said, studying Aoko seriously. "It's just a matter of time—and not a long time at that."

"Thanks for the kind words," Aoko said. "Academic research isn't easy. 

Quite a few of my senior labmates extended their studies. Before things actually happen, who knows what the future holds?"

"Exactly. The world is unpredictable," Naoko said with the air of a seasoned veteran, sighing in agreement. "But as a dissertation topic, Dr. Aozaki's deep neural network algorithm is, in my view, absolute overkill—in the best way. If I were your advisor, I'd award your degree on the spot."

Ritsuko was a little shocked. It was her first time seeing her mother praise a scholar this effusively—let alone a fellow graduate student who hadn't even finished yet. A tiny prick of jealousy rose in Ritsuko's heart.

"Dr. Villani is a very rigorous and strict person," Aoko said with a cheerful squint. "But even someone like him can't stop praising your MAGI system, Dr. Naoko Akagi. He hopes I'll stay humble in my future research and learn from you."

Knowing Naoko's personality well, Aoko's flattery clearly delighted the rather emotional Naoko. She pulled Aoko into a conversation that ranged from industry news to life in France, and they agreed to tour some famous Parisian sights together after the conference—a real meeting of kindred spirits.

As for Aoko's advisor, Fields Medalist Cédric Villani, he was a "werewolf" who existed simultaneously in both the Type-Moon and EVA worlds.

His proof of nonlinear damping and convergence to equilibrium for the Boltzmann equation, in fact, provides important theoretical underpinnings for further optimization of deep learning algorithms. That was one of the reasons Aoko chose him as her PhD advisor—their research paths were similar: starting from mathematics and extending into AI.

STEM fields don't permit castles in the air. 

As Villani's student, Aoko writing a deep neural network algorithm paper built on his results looks perfectly reasonable—an orderly transmission of knowledge. When SEELE comes to audit someday, that's one more piece of solid evidence.

…

While Aoko successfully connected with Naoko and Ritsuko Akagi, on the other side Touko quietly pulled off something big. In another session hall of the same summit, she happened to run into Yui Ayanami, who was also attending.

Leading their group was Dr. Kozo Fuyutsuki, professor of Metaphysical Biology at Kyoto University.

Yui came along as his student, accompanied by her classmate and close friend Mari Makinami, and Yui's newlywed husband—Gendo Ikari.

Gendo still looked relatively young at this point—no signature beard or glasses yet. And his gaze didn't yet have that scheming, world-weary glint. If anything, he looked like a big kid—half cynical, half green.

Touko could understand why Kozo Fuyutsuki disliked the guy. Compared to the mature, composed, saintly-seeming Yui, Gendo looked exactly like the school's resident bad boy at first glance. But it was precisely that bad boy who won the heart of the reserved professor's dream goddess—a neat little jab of realism.

Among the group, Touko—closest to Fuyutsuki in true age as the older woman—deftly used her mature, steady social graces to converse with Yui and Fuyutsuki, making them both feel right at home.

Even the younger junior, Mari Makinami, picked up a vibe from this senpai that felt a lot like her own beloved Yui-senpai's aura. For someone whose orientation was already in question, Mari blushed, mind racing—she was this close to shipping a new CP on the spot.

Sadly for them, this whole impression was a crafted illusion spun by the calculating Touko. When it finally came time to lay cards on the table with SEELE, who knew what these people would think then?

That said, Touko's achievements and contributions over the past few months in the field of Metaphysical Biology were very real. Especially after she presented her technique for localizing parts of formal magecraft theory, the shockwaves in this small circle were no less than Aoko's in her field.

The reason Touko wasn't as publicly famous as Aoko was simply that Metaphysical Biology itself was tightly controlled and monitored by SEELE. Any talent emerging from this circle entered SEELE's sights immediately.

"I'm very interested in your research, Dr. Aozaki," Yui said, holding Touko's hand, her smile blossoming. "I've long wanted a deep exchange with a scholar like you, and now I finally have the chance~"

"I've heard of you too, Miss Ayanami… no, I should call you Doctor now, correct?" Touko replied flawlessly. "Also, I'd prefer you call me Touko. After all, I'm not the only Aozaki at this conference."

Chapter 613: Artificial Evolution Laboratory

"You have a sister?" Yui raised a hand to her lips—very ladylike—showing just a touch of surprise. But Touko could swear Yui 100% already knew that Aoko was her sister.

That's because even before she met Fuyutsuki or Gendo, Yui had already accepted SEELE's sponsorship. Gendo's initial purpose in approaching Yui was to connect with the organization behind her. He didn't expect that, while deploying his honey trap, he'd get caught himself and fall for Yui's charm.

From this angle, Yui could be called the biggest mastermind behind the EVA saga. Neither SEELE nor Gendo escaped her design; both danced in the palm of her hand.

"That's right," Touko said, wearing a complicated expression that mixed slight exasperation with familial warmth. "My younger sister, Aoko Aozaki. We study and work at the same university, though our fields are rather different."

"Oh?" Fuyutsuki rubbed his stubbled chin, as if recalling something. "The name Aozaki has been very hot in the AI world lately. Sisters who are both geniuses—impressive enough to leave one without jealousy…"

"You flatter us. Aoko's field is hardly as niche as ours," Touko said with disarming candor, spreading her hands. "From that angle, she's much smarter than me. Otherwise, I wouldn't be worrying about basic survival after graduation… If not for that, I'd just stay in Paris as an ordinary lecturer. My sister's pretty good at making money, after all."

Hearing this, Fuyutsuki and Yui exchanged a discreet glance. Gendo, meanwhile, kept his focus entirely on his wife and didn't care what Touko and Fuyutsuki were saying.

"If… I mean if," Yui chose her words carefully, speaking cautiously to Touko, "if, after you graduate, I invite you to join our institute, would you accept?"

"Of course, since you and your sister grew up in France, you might not be very familiar with Japan. We'll do our best to accommodate your needs," Yui added with a gentle smile.

"Are you serious, Dr. Yui?" Touko asked, studying Yui's eyes. "You do realize the future application prospects for my line of research are quite uncertain. I chose this path out of pure passion. If you can't guarantee the compensation… I might as well stay in Paris and muddle along as a lecturer. My sister's the one who's good at earning, anyway."

"Please rest assured," Yui said in a soothing, gentle tone. "Our compensation is top-of-the-line in the industry. We would never let anyone with talent struggle in life."

"With the talent you've shown in Metaphysical Biology, only the Artificial Evolution Laboratory can give you the fullest scope. I'm absolutely confident in that."

Touko didn't answer right away. First she put on a look that said, "So you're the one calling the shots among the three?" Then she studied Yui's face while adopting a pensive pose.

This level of micro-expression control was child's play for a Third Magician who can reshape her entire body. Among Aoko's circle, Touko's acting chops were undoubtedly the best.

"…I'll need some time to think it over," Touko said slowly. "It's not a simple choice, after all."

"I completely understand," Yui replied without the slightest impatience. She calmly produced a simple business card and handed it to Touko. "Once you've decided, please call this number. We'll be ready to welcome you anytime."

Touko silently accepted the card, then shifted the topic, chatting with Yui and Mari about young women's interests. With the two men—Fuyutsuki and Gendo—lingering, things started to feel awkward, so they teamed up to wander nearby instead. Touko warmly invited Mari and Yui to visit her home. Mari was a bit shy, but Yui happily accepted.

---- divider ----

If Aoko's relationship with the Akagi mother and daughter was, for now, still at the mutual admiration of academic philosophies stage, Touko's progress could be called a rapid advance.

Yui's personal charm and high EQ aside, Mari's attitude toward Touko was a happy surprise. Or rather, the persona Touko presented hit Mari's exact sweet spot.

After Yui and Mari visited Touko's Paris home once and ate a big dinner cooked by Aoko, it was all over.

For almost every remaining day they were in France, Mari would pull Yui along to drop by Touko's place. Touko was extremely gracious, never showing the slightest hint of refusal or annoyance. The Aozaki sisters quickly became familiar with these two hometown girls from Japan.

What surprised Aoko and Touko most was how things developed between Alice and Mari. They'd assumed that with Alice's personality, she'd have a hard time accepting an outsider invading her private space—even if that outsider was a target they'd planned to approach.

But as soon as Mari learned that Alice was also a Japanese–British mixed-race girl who grew up in the UK, a feeling burst forth from her heart—"She's basically another me in this world!"

At this time, Mari wasn't yet the exuberant ray of sunshine she would later become. She was just a sensitive girl who adored her cool senpai, sometimes a bit self-conscious in Japanese society because of her mixed-race looks.

Though one of them was a lab-dwelling science girl who wore thick glasses every day, and the other a literature-department ojou-sama sequestered in a palatial Western-style mansion, their differences didn't impede their ability to connect.

Maybe that's just how denpa-type girls are, Aoko thought privately, having played cook for quite some time now.

…

Time flew by, and in a blink the half-month-long academic exchange was drawing to a close. The day arrived when Yui and Mari were about to leave France.

"…I have a request that might be a bit forward," Yui suddenly said to Aoko and the others. "Could I bring my son, Shinji, over for a visit?"

"Of course," Aoko smiled. "I'll prepare some desserts kids like. But why bring it up only now, Sister Yui? Touko's told me several times your son is adorable~"

"Maybe I'm just indecisive," Yui said with a small smile. "The fear of being hurt and not daring to get close—that's probably the greatest barrier in human relationships."