Chapter 225: 225. A Confession
Two days later, Izumi packed the things he needed. He wanted to go to Tabane's laboratory for the manufacture of a hologram computer which Tabane had promised to help him with. Not just that, he also wanted to research the things he got from Danzo's laboratory.
Not long after, Izumi arrived at a place that was surrounded by foreign buildings that had a construction that was much different from his world even though it was the same as Japan in his world. Izumi still remembered where Tabane's laboratory was, so he didn't need to contact her. But when he arrived, he sensed that there was no one inside her laboratory.
"Where did that girl go? She even took Karin away."
Izumi then contacted Tabane and asked her. It was just that he got a surprising answer.
"I just moved after bringing Karin here while carrying the loot from the previous mission, there's nothing to be seen in my old laboratory."
"Wtf, why didn't you tell me?"
"You're the one who didn't ask me, hehehe. Just hang in there, I'll pick you up real quick!"
Tabane immediately hung up the phone without waiting for Izumi to say something. Izumi resignedly waited because he didn't have to bother making a detection radar that could detect Tabane.
Tabane arrived an hour later in front of him while driving the car. And then, Tabane drove the car and took Izumi to her new laboratory location.
When Izumi arrived at Tabane's new laboratory, he was quite surprised. It looked like an ordinary building from the outside, but when he got inside, he didn't expect the place to be so spacious. This wasn't because of space magic or anything like that, but because Tabane's laboratory was underground.
There were several reasons why Tabane had moved to that vast laboratory.
First, after Izumi gave her the idea of creating artificial intelligence like in SAO, she started to prepare a system, software, or even hardware for the mass production of artificial intelligence. Despite knowing that she currently doesn't have any idea about artificial intelligence at SAO which is too complicated, Tabane is trying to develop her own based on her experience. And she decided to build a new laboratory.
Second, Tabane needs a place for research from the loot that Izumi got from Danzo's laboratory.
And lastly, Tabane needed a training ground which perhaps Karin wanted to use.
According to Izumi, Karin should be talented in a certain field which is none other than Fūinjutsu. Although Izumi didn't really need Karin's talent, at least he wanted Karin to have the strength to take care of herself.
Izumi feels sorry for the Uzumaki clan. Just because the Uzumaki clan was considered dangerous because of the only bloodline capable of unleashing the highest level of Fūinjutsu, all countries felt a threat that would eventually end in the Uzumaki clan's destruction.
They are innocent, but their abilities are considered a crime by others. That's why Izumi is willing to help Karin get stronger because the ninja world is so unreasonable.
Izumi was amazed at how much it cost Tabane to build this place. And it seems the construction of the laboratory is quite a secret.
"Welcome Izumi-chan."
"I need help." Izumi asked straightly.
"Sure, sure. Just tell me what you need!"
Then, Izumi told Tabane about his conversation with Kakashi the other day. After he told everything, he added by asking how to make a holographic computer.
"Sure, I'll teach you. As for the eye for Kakashi, I'll use my connection to get a donor."
After that, Tabane turned on her holographic computer. Seeing Tabane wasn't going to teach Izumi how to make a holographic computer for that moment, Izumi called Karin.
"What's wrong, Izumi-nii?" Karin asked.
Izumi smiled lightly.
"Let me train you. You've never had proper teachings, have you?"
Hearing Izumi's question, Karin smiled bitterly.
Not hearing Karin's answer, Izumi asked one more time.
"What's wrong?"
"You are willing to teach me?"
"What a silly question. Come with me!"
Izumi walked away. Tabane bought the entire building. So, Izumi didn't really need to worry about being found out by strangers.
First and foremost, Izumi had to test her chakra control. And after knowing her chakra control was good, he taught her a lot of ninjutsus. Karin has a water chakra aptitude, so he taught her a lot of water-release ninjutsus. And knowing she had an Uzumaki bloodline, he taught her Fūinjutsu as well.
Karin was taught by Izumi until the clock struck five in the afternoon.
"Karin." Izumi called out. Karin turned her head while tilting.
"What is it, Izumi-nii?"
"Truthfully, I brought you from the ninja world because I need you to do something for me. Of course, you can refuse. That's why I need your consent."
"I won't refuse if you ask me." Karin replied straightly.
"Duh, your words sound dangerous." Izumi secretly said. Then, he told Karin why he needed her help.
In essence, the Uzumaki clan is a distant relative of the Senju clan which is a direct descendant of Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo. The Uchiha clan is also one of the descendant clans of Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo which was founded simultaneously with the Senju clan.
Since the Uzumaki clan, Senju clan, and Uchiha clan are related by blood, Izumi wanted to create a pair of Rinnegan which he would transplant the Sharingan into Karin's eye sockets. And Izumi also said that he would transplant cells and blood that had DNA from Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo.
"How is it? I'm not forcing you. If you don't want to, you can just say no." Izumi asked. Izumi could see that Karin's face looked a little scared after hearing Izumi's story.
"For Izumi-nii, I will do anything." Karin replied firmly. Honestly, she was really scared, but ever since she found out about Izumi and Tabane's characters, the girl believed that helping them was the right thing.
— — — —
Needless to say, a week has passed.
Izumi was still in front of the monitor screen for software development. He had finished manufacturing the chip used for the core of the holographic computer thanks to Tabane's help.
While Izumi was busy typing, Tabane's soft voice sounded from behind him.
"Lend me your back!"
Without getting a response from Izumi, Tabane leaned her back on Izumi's back. Izumi froze on the spot in that instance. He asked without turning his head.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, I just don't feel bored anymore."
"I see."
"You know, I used to feel a very deep emptiness. I am known as a genius, but because of my peerless genius, everyone can only respect me. No one dared to be my friend except Orimura Chifuyu. Even my little sister avoids me because she hates it when she's always compared to me. Chifuyu never had free time because of her busy life in the military. You must know I hacked and fired hundreds of missiles at Japan. Because of what? I did that on the basis of my boredom and the emptiness of my life."
Izumi didn't make a sound and just listened to Tabane's outpouring. Izumi more or less understood. Indeed, being someone different and superior to others, that person was avoided by many because they felt they were not equal or comparable to a genius. This is what might make Tabane feel lonely and do unnatural things such as helping two parties to fight each other.
Tabane continued.
"But everything changed since I joined the chat group. I'm quite happy because I don't feel alone anymore, I also don't feel special anymore because everyone in the group is quite special as well. Spending a lot of time with you guys was great, especially with you, Izumi-chan. I've had feelings for you from the first time you came to my lab. It's just that I'm trying to hold it in because you like another girl, so I don't want to mention it."
Just as Izumi expected, Tabane confessed her feelings. He was silent because this was quite a heavy thing for him. Even after breaking up, he found it difficult to love someone else in a short time.
"I knew this would happen. Kuroneko did that because she knows you like me, right? She wanted to worsen my relationship with Kyouko so you would have a chance. And in fact, Kuroneko succeeded."
"That's, I'm sorry…"
"It's not your fault. I know Kuroneko did it herself. She did it for you. It would be stupid if I didn't notice that. Honestly, my feelings are quite complicated right now. So, for now, I can't give you an answer. Sorry."
Tabane was slightly disappointed by Izumi's answer. Even so, she didn't force him. She knew that Izumi had just settled the matter with his ex-girlfriend, so it was only natural that his feelings were a little complicated. Perhaps Tabane was too hasty. She felt that the atmosphere was suitable enough to express her feelings, so she dared to say them. Yet, the timing wasn't right.
Suddenly Tabane turned around. He felt a soft sensation on his back. Tabane wrapped her arms around Izumi's body. Izumi seemed to feel guilty about his previous answer. There was no reason for him to refuse the woman who was hugging him. She is a high-spec woman whose wish in her world can come true, but everyone thinks she is too special. Even her own country considered her a valuable asset.
However, if Izumi accepted her, he would feel that Tabane was just someone who replaced no more than his ex. He didn't want to be like that, so he asked for time to answer her confession.
"Tabane-chan, why did you choose me? You might be able to find someone better than me."
Tabane fell silent, she answered a moment later.
"Do I need a reason to choose you other than loving you?"
Izumi shook his head.
"No. I think I understand a little that you don't need any other reason. Love can come at any time and the unexpected. And certainly, it's hard to get rid of that feeling."
"So you…"
"Yeah, as you think, I still can't forget my previous love. Give me some more time."
"No, it's fine. I should be the one apologizing for not realizing how you feel right now."
Tabane felt a little disappointed, but she still gave a smile. Knowing the feelings of the man in front of her, she thought that she should act more aggressively to let him forget his old love and turn to her. If Tabane kept trying to get close to Izumi, it was likely that his feelings for Tabane would grow naturally.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone