Chapter 12: The Nutty Discovery

Henry sat at his desk, surrounded by a mess of notebooks filled with scribbles, research papers, and half - empty glasses of cold tea. The room was dimly lit, with only the soft glow of his desk lamp illuminating the chaos. For weeks, he and Emily had been poring over every piece of information they could find on brain health and cognitive enhancement, trying to find a way to increase the mysterious 3.15% figure that haunted his mind.

One evening, as Henry was flipping through an old scientific journal, a particular article caught his eye. It was about the nutritional benefits of various nuts and their impact on brain function. The study claimed that nuts were rich in omega - 3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and other nutrients that could potentially improve memory, focus, and overall cognitive performance. Henry's heart skipped a beat. Could this be the key he had been looking for?

He immediately started researching more about nuts and their effects on the brain. He discovered that walnuts, in particular, were often referred to as "brain food" due to their high content of DHA, an omega - 3 fatty acid that was essential for brain development and function. Almonds were packed with vitamin E, which helped protect brain cells from damage, while pistachios contained antioxidants that could improve blood flow to the brain.

Henry decided to conduct an experiment. He bought a large variety of nuts - walnuts, almonds, pistachios, cashews, and hazelnuts - and started incorporating them into his diet. He made a strict schedule, ensuring that he ate a small handful of mixed nuts every day at the same time. Emily was curious about his sudden interest in nuts but didn't question him too much, assuming it was just another part of his research.

For the first few days, Henry didn't notice any significant changes. He felt the same, and there was no difference in the way he perceived the 3.15% in his mind. But he refused to give up. He continued to eat the nuts religiously, recording every detail in his notebook - how he felt before and after eating them, any changes in his mood or concentration, and even the time of day he consumed them.

On the seventh day, as Henry was sitting in his room, trying to solve a complex math problem, he suddenly felt a strange sensation. It was as if a fog had lifted from his mind, and the numbers and equations became clearer and easier to understand. He closed his eyes and focused on the 3.15% in his mind. To his astonishment, he saw the number tremble slightly, and then, ever so slowly, it changed to 3.16%.

"Finally!!...even if it's only a little, at least it's increased hehehe," Henry exclaimed, unable to contain his excitement. He jumped out of his chair and started pacing the room, his mind racing with possibilities. He couldn't believe that something as simple as eating nuts had made a difference.

But as quickly as the excitement came, a sense of caution washed over him. He knew that he couldn't tell anyone about his discovery, not even Emily. After all, who would believe that eating nuts could increase his brain power in such a way? It sounded too far - fetched, like something out of a science - fiction movie. He imagined the looks on their faces, the questions, the doubts. No, he decided, it was better to keep this a secret for now.

Over the next few weeks, Henry continued to eat the nuts, carefully monitoring the changes in his mind. Slowly but surely, the number in his mind increased. It reached 3.17%, then 3.18%. Along with the increase in the percentage, he noticed other changes as well. His memory improved significantly. He could remember entire passages from books he had read months ago, and he found it easier to recall names and faces. His concentration also improved, and he was able to focus on tasks for longer periods without getting distracted.

But keeping the secret wasn't easy. Emily would often ask him about his research, and he would have to come up with vague answers and excuses. He felt guilty for lying to her, but he knew it was for the best. He didn't want to put her in a difficult position or risk anyone else finding out about his extraordinary discovery.

One day, as Henry was sitting at the kitchen table, eating his daily handful of nuts, his mother walked in. "Henry, what's with all the nuts?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "You've never been a big fan of them before."

Henry quickly thought of an excuse. "Oh, I read that they're good for you, Mom. You know, for school and stuff. To keep my brain sharp." His mother seemed satisfied with his answer and didn't ask any more questions. But Henry couldn't help but feel a little nervous. He knew that he had to be more careful if he wanted to keep his secret safe.

As Henry continued on his journey to increase his brain power, he realized that he had only just scratched the surface. There was still so much he didn't know, so many questions he needed to answer. But for now, he was content with the small progress he had made. He knew that every little increase in the percentage brought him one step closer to unlocking the full potential of his brain and discovering what lay at 100%.

Henry sat in his room, poring over his latest set of notes and EEG readings. The small increment from 3.15% to 3.16% was a minuscule blip on the grand scale of his goal to reach 100%, but it was a victory nonetheless. He couldn't help but let out a sigh as he calculated the fraction in his head - a mere 0.01 out of 100.

"Yeah... it's better than nothing. Plus reading and learning step by step," he muttered to himself, leaning back in his creaky desk chair. The room was filled with the soft hum of his computer and the occasional rustle of paper as he shuffled through his research materials. Outside, the afternoon sun cast long shadows through the window, painting stripes of light and dark across his cluttered workspace.