Chapter 50 - The Meaning of Love

After separating from the others, I started walking toward Susy-sensei's lab. Her lab was in the teachers' wing, so it wasn't too hard to find. Walking for a few minutes, I easily spotted a door with a sign that read Susy Harvis Solaris.

(Well, I guess it was obvious that she would be a noble)

I thought as I looked at the door. Putting those thoughts out of my head, I knocked twice and waited for a response.

"Who is it?"

Said a voice coming from inside the lab, probably from Susy-sensei.

"It's me, Ren"

I said.

"Oh, Ren, you can come in... just don't notice the mess too much"

Said Susy-sensei. Following her words, I tried to open the door, but there seemed to be something from inside stopping me. Forcing my way in, the door finally started to move. Using all my strength, I managed to open the door. As soon as I looked inside, I was surprised at the state of the place. There was dirt everywhere, and the place had many books on the floor. There was even a mountain of books in front of the door. This was probably what was preventing the door from opening. Susy-sensei was at her desk, fiddling with something. I slowly started walking around the room while dodging the garbage bags on the floor.

"Susy-sensei, what are you doing?"

I asked her as soon as I approached.

"Oh, you made it this far fast"

She said with a sincere look of surprise.

(What does she mean by that? Is it normally more difficult? Well, with all the junk spread around here, I wouldn't be surprised)

I thought as I glanced around the place. After that, I looked again at the table where Susy-sensei was standing and noticed that there was something being built there.

"What is that?"

I asked, pointing to the strange object on the table. It seemed familiar, like something I had seen before.

"Oh, that? I'm doing an experiment that, in theory, will be able to measure gravitational force"

She said. As soon as she said this, something clicked in my head. The experiment she was doing was exactly the Cavendish experiment, but on a smaller scale.

"I heard your theory about gravity and found it quite interesting. To tell you the truth, I share the same view as you... but how did you come to the conclusion that there was something pulling us down?"

I asked, curious. This part was really intriguing me. If you go by logic, just the fact that we're not flying through space right now proves that there is a force holding us to the ground.

"I was walking past an apple tree, and one of them fell to the ground. Seeing that, I started to wonder why it fell down and not up"

She said, looking at me immediately afterwards.

"I know it sounds silly"

She said with a strange smile on her face.

"Not really, I believe that it is by pondering illogical things that great geniuses are born"

I said with a soft smile on my face. Hearing my words, Susy-sensei let out a laugh.

"I think you're right"

she said.

"Anyway, it was from this that I started to theorize that there was some invisible force keeping us stuck on the ground"

Susy-sensei said. I thought what she said was funny since that was also the way Isaac Newton discovered gravity.

"But... this is gratifying... to know that there is another person sharing the same vision as me"

She said with a soft smile on her face. Although I originally came here to try to assist her through tips, she doesn't seem to need any help. She could probably complete the experiment in a few weeks even without my help.

"Oh, it's getting late"

I said, looking at the window that showed the outside.

"Anyway, I am waiting for the results of your research, Susy-sensei"

I said with a smile. After that, I left the lab and started walking towards the boys' dorm. A cold wind was hitting my face, making me snuggle even more into my coat. Although I say "coat," it's actually the clothes that were provided by the school. The leaves were swaying, making a pleasant and relaxing sound. As I walked, I noticed a white hair fluttering in the wind on one of the benches. That hair color was one I would never forget. The hair swaying in the wind gave Emi an ethereal beauty that didn't seem to be of this world.

"Emi, are you okay?"

I asked as I approached. Emi shivered a little as she heard a voice suddenly behind her and slowly turned back. At that point, I stopped. Emi was looking at me intensely for some reason. I could see doubt in her eyes, although I didn't know why. After looking at me for a few seconds, she turned forward again, making the sound of the wind be the only sound in the place. I slowly walked over to Emi's bench and sat down next to her. The bench gave a view of the sunset.

"Ren... what do you think love is?"

Emi asked suddenly, leaving me a little surprised at the topic. However, as soon as I looked at her face, I realized that she was serious. Her serious face, in contrast to the light the sunset gave off, made the scene a little strange.

"Well... I guess that's up to each person. I mean, each person has their own way of loving... right?"

I said. Emi was silent for a few seconds before she spoke.

"Yeah... I guess so"

Said Emi without any specific expression. For some reason, I was feeling that was a monotonous and standard answer, which left me with a bad taste in my mouth.

"But..."

I said, getting Emi's attention.

"Love is not something you can put into words"

I said as I turned my gaze to Emi.

"I think love is the feeling of wanting to share your moments with someone... wanting to understand and know more about that other person, and wanting to make them feel loved as much as they make me feel"

I said in a serious tone as I looked at Emi.