Cold water splashes against my face.

“haaa...”

Again and again. It's indescribably refreshing. Every drop reinvigorates my pores, driving back the drowsiness. This was the wake up call that I needed.

I'm gazing into the bathroom mirror with hands resting firmly against the sink. Water trickles from my nose and chin with every staggered breath. For a second it looks as if a little colour has returned to my cheeks. The mirror glares back, I focus my attention toward the young man standing before me. He looks awfully tired. His eyes seem distant and empty, as if his gaze was stretching on forever. Just what exactly are you staring at?

While growing up, I would often marvel at the worlds within mirrors. What if we are the reflection from their perspective? Before long you end up doubting your own perception of reality. What is real and what is fake? Does it even matter? A separate me... A different person... Yet somehow, exactly the same...

“The time is 7:00 AM. Good morning Sir!”

In that instant I nearly soil myself. A mechanical voice erupts from my pocket.

“Here's a quick rundown of today's reminders: Hand in thesis, Purchase medication, Stop by at-”

My moment of terror is short lived. I find myself feeling a little humiliated. What part of me seriously thought that the mirror started speaking for a second there? Come on... I need to pull myself together...

“Sir...? Are you there?”

“Ah! Yeah, sorry Ravi... Here-”

I hastily yank my phone out of my trouser pocket and hold it up to my face.

“...Pardon me Sir, was I interrupting anything...?”

“No! No! I was just... kinda zoned out again.”

“Oh my, you aren't overworking yourself again are you Sir? You know what the Mistress would say if she found out.”

This is... Ravi.

At least that's what I call mine. In reality he's just an AI (Artificial Intelligence) built into my smartphone. I guess you could say they're the new fad these days. They call them Virtual Assistants, designed to help you throughout the day by setting reminders and offering advice when you need it, basically a level of human input to make your life easier. But ever since they were released their usage has grown much more versatile, to the point where people are using them as stand-in friends, business affiliates and even idealised romantic partners. We really are victims of our own engineering sometimes. Something tells me this may be 'the beginning of the end' for future generations.

“A quick warning for your own safety Sir: The Professor will most likely be displeased to see yet another incomplete thesis.”

“I know... don't remind me...”

“But reminding you is my job Sir. I can't help it.”

Everyone wants one, and those who have one usually put great effort into changing their appearance and making them unique. But not me.

Ravi is... well... plain, to say the least.

While most guys my age would rather have a cutesy female assistant inside their phone or perhaps their favourite fictional character, I left mine at default. Absolute 100% factory settings, that's what Ravi is. Just a blue sphere on a blue screen, with the monotone voice of a young man playing through cheap speakers. But it didn't bother me at all, in truth I didn't care. I don't see the fun in making it look pretty. It's just a machine after all.

“By the way Sir, that was quite the scolding you endured last night, if it weren't for my lack of legs I would have surely fled for my artificial life.”

“Hehe... Don't even start, we're on good terms now anyway.”

But I have to say. There's something strangely human about Ravi. It's always felt that way, but I can't place my finger on it. The way he talks, the way he listens, the way he picks up on the stupidest of details and throws them back at you. Even his sophisticated vocabulary. I know it's just me overthinking things again. Or even worse, perhaps I'm starting to grow attached to my phone too, now there's a scary thought.

“Right, best not keep her waiting.”

“Affirmative Sir, I'm sure that she's made you a delicious breakfast. If I had a nose I'd surely be drooling!”

Bacon sizzling. The rich aroma of salt fills my nostrils. Chisaki is standing with pan in hand, shielding her eyes from the burning fat as it spits into the air.

“Need some help?”

“Eh-! As if! A-And even if I did, why on earth would I ask you? You don't know a thing about cooking...”

Sharp words coming from someone who isn't even wearing an apron over her uniform. But yeah... I've never made anything more advanced than toast, if toast even counts as cooking.

Natural light illuminates the house as the morning sun shines. Believe me when I say, it's certainly a breath of fresh air from the stuffy man-made lightbulbs that decorate the basement. Chisaki's kitchen is one of those fancy modern ones that merges into the living room to make one giant space. Of course, this makes the rule of 'No TV at the dinner table' kind of a grey area. I lazily reach for the TV remote and lounge onto the sofa. There's nothing good to watch. There never is. Why is modern television so crap? Even commercials sound more appetising in my boredom...

Stolen story; please report.

“The revolutionary wireless earpiece brought to you by HiVE. With improved battery life and speech recognition control, say goodbye to the days of tangled wires and cumbersome buttons. Science-fiction is within your grasp-”

Ah, that's right. I remember Yuuto mentioning something like this once. I really need to keep up with the trends, or I'll end up like Chisaki's grandfather...

“-keeps you up to date with everything the world has to offer! Don't get left behind. Stay connected! With the new 'MiND NeuroPod', trademark of HiVE industries. ~HiVE, engineering humanity~”

Their logo fades onto the screen along with a flashy animation, everyone who hadn't been living under a rock for the last 30 years would recognise it. That iconic orange hexagon.

“NeuroPod huh? They'll call it anything just to sell another pair of wireless earpieces won't they...”

HiVE are the masters of modern technology marketing, with a monopoly over the digital industry unrivalled by anyone else. Everything from TVs, Microwaves, Vacuum Cleaners, Smartphones, you name it, they make it. I'm sure this comes as no surprise but they were also the masterminds behind the Virtual Assistant Application. You'd better believe that the world as we know it couldn't survive without them.

“Hayden! Quit watching TV, your food's going cold!”

She doesn't have to yell. Although, I guess you never know when I might be spacing out these days... Fair enough...

In the kitchen I find her grandfather shuffling around with a giddy smile beaming across his face.

“Ah Hayden! H-Have you seen those new 'earpod' gizmos? It's amazing what these gadgets can do these days eh?”

“Well... it's not that amazing. Wireless technology's nothing new-”

“Oh ignore him paps, he thinks he's a lot smarter than he is~”

Her playful wink puts me in my place. Darn you Chisaki. Can't you let me be good for something?

“Be safe poppet!”

Chisaki's grandmother waves us out the door with a chubby face and a wrinkly smile. Chisaki smiles back, but it's painfully obvious that she wants her to go away.

“Hayden! Make sure you look after my girl! And don't forget to buy those meds either!”

“No worries Mrs Ogawa.” You'd think after eight years she'd trust me.

“...*sigh*...You really need to do something about those geezers...”

“They're just old, they mean well. And besides, they are leaving me in the care of Hayden Reed. If it were my granddaughter I think I'd be worried too~”

“Erk-! ...Surely you jest?”

“Mmm... I wonder...”

I wish I could humour her like this forever, but as soon as I look away I'm reminded of my situation. If we could make it to University without further incident, I'd be grateful beyond words. Then, only then, will I finally have a chance to shed some light on this calamity. The club will be in session today, and I have the photos to back my story. I can only hope that their genius minds will be able to infer more than I could. Of course I have faith in them, they're my friends after all...

“Nerd-society at lunchtime today right? I'm guessing you all want me to bring bentos again?”

“A-Ah... That'd be great, if it's no trouble for you.”

“Don't sweat it, I wouldn't expect you nutcases to be capable of self-catering, someone's gotta do it.”

{Reader Note: A 'Bento' or 'Bento Box' is a carefully crafted Japanese lunch box containing a well-balanced meal with a variety of tastes and textures. In other words, real food, unlike the lazy diet of instant noodles customary to most University students.}

The piercing ringing of a bell slaps me from my daydream.

“And that concludes today's lecture on the wonderful theory of Hyper-Combustion. I'm sure you all had a splendid time and simply can't wait for next week!”

Ah, that's right, the head of physics was giving a lecture. A scrawny young man in his late twenties with a spring in his step, every so often he would habitually tilt his glasses to illustrate a complicated point. A model geek.

At least I have yet to bump heads with Professor Rutherford, you could say I've been purposefully avoiding him. No doubt he'd show no mercy and grill me alive for my incomplete thesis.

Students mumble about their desks as they shovel mountains of books into their bags. The collective rustling of paper is so loud, like a cluster of needles to my weariness.

“Fret not! For I have taken it upon myself to prepare some additional study material, which you can use to get ahead...”

You're not making any friends here Professor, but I admire your enthusiasm for the subject...

“Remember class, we're scientists! If we have a problem, we find a solution! The curiosity should run rampant in your very blood, there's nothing we cannot do if we set our minds to it!”

Lunch break. That busy hour at noon when every lecture is dismissed. Students leave their classrooms to stretch their legs and gossip with their friends, usually over a sandwich or Ramen bowl. Even those who are only timetabled for afternoon lessons might still arrive early to eat. The canteens were good, albeit expensive. The amount they charge for a soda is basically highway robbery...

But am I the type to spend my lunch break laying back in the communal parks with a group of good-looking youths?

Absolutely not. My time is far too valuable to waste on such nonsense.

The only other alternative to hanging around the campus was to join a lunch society. To sum it up, lunch societies are essentially 'clubs' that run three days a week in specific classrooms. 'Created by students, for students!' The general idea is to give undergrads a way to find friends with similar interests and pursue their hobbies in a friendly environment. Yes I am aware that it seems a bit nerdy, but the benefits that come with running a society are nothing to scoff at. For a start you have permanent access to the University's cutting edge equipment and resources, as well as being able to participate in competitions to win prizes. If your society shows enough constructive potential, you can also receive funding from the University to pay for club activities and better assets. If you play your cards right, you can profit something fierce.

But as I browsed the list of existing clubs:

Sewing...

Gaming...

Writing...

Cooking...

Literally nothing decent.

So that's why I decided to compose an application, and start my own society. A club that would actually be useful, a club where dozens of brilliant minds could get together and pitch ideas that would one day lead humanity to greatness.

The Engineering Society.

Well I thought it was a good idea anyway...