The following day, Reina returned to her lab to find several packages stacked neatly by the entrance. Delivery drones had already left, and the lab's security systems had signed off on the shipments. She walked past most of them without a glance.
But then her eyes stopped on one.
A bold logo printed across the box read: RTX-5070.
Reina sighed, her shoulders dropping slightly. "…I really did buy it, huh."
She crouched down, inspecting the seal but not bothering to open it. The decision had been impulse—half curiosity, half annoyance at herself. She didn't need this thing. Her systems were compact, built for efficiency, not bulky display monsters. In her lab, it was practically useless.
But it wasn't worthless.
She straightened, dusted her hands, and without a second thought, tucked the box under her arm. It wasn't for her anymore. Someone else could make better use of it.
Her steps echoed through the hall as she crossed into the upperclassmen's wing. Unlike the usual quiet of her lab, this part of the building was noisier, livelier. She turned a corner and stopped at a door marked:
Independence Research Society.
Knocking twice, Reina slid the door open and stepped inside.
The room was as chaotic as she remembered. Arisa hunched over a desk, her magnifier lamp illuminating a collection of beetles pinned neatly in rows. Her eyes sparkled with the kind of enthusiasm only she could muster when talking about insect joints.
Across the room, Sei worked at a portable stove, the sharp aroma of fried rice wafting through the air. He flipped the pan with practiced motion, humming softly to himself.
Mei sat nearby, goggles perched on her head, carefully dripping a pale liquid into a set of glass vials. Small bursts of colored smoke occasionally puffed out, making her cough but grin all the same.
And there was Ren. Slouched on the couch, his laptop balanced on his knees, screen filled with code and endless graphs. His concentration didn't waver even as Reina entered.
Reina made her way straight to him. Without a word, she placed the box on the low table in front of him.
Ren finally glanced up. "Hm?"
"A gift," Reina said flatly.
He blinked. "Gift?" He reached forward, pulling the box closer. With a quick motion, he tore through the seal.
When he saw the contents, his eyes widened. "…No way."
Inside lay the pristine RTX-5070, gleaming in its casing like treasure.
Ren's hand froze halfway, his brain catching up with what he was seeing. "…Holy shit."
The expletive slipped out before he could stop it. Then he looked up at Reina, genuine shock flashing across his face. "You're serious?"
Reina simply nodded. "I don't need it. Too large for my systems. You'll use it better."
Ren stared at her for a beat longer, then let out a laugh—half disbelief, half joy. "Reina… this thing costs a fortune."
Before Reina could respond, Arisa leaned over from behind her desk, curiosity dragging her closer. "What is it?" She peered over Reina's shoulder, and the moment she recognized the card, her jaw dropped. "Wait—that's the new graphics card? The 5070? Reina, you actually bought one?"
Reina's expression didn't change. "I buy what I need."
"But you're giving it away?" Arisa's voice pitched upward in disbelief.
Reina just gave a short shrug, as if the matter was already settled.
Ren's grin only widened. He cradled the box like it was sacred, eyes gleaming with excitement. "Thank you, really. This'll boost my simulations like crazy. I can run models I've only dreamed of."
Sei glanced over from the stove, shaking his head but smiling faintly. "Lucky bastard."
Mei didn't even look up from her bubbling vials. "Don't fry it. Or she'll kill you."
Reina waved her hand dismissively, turning on her heel. "Do whatever you want with it. It's yours now."
Without waiting for more protests or thanks, she made for the door.
As the handle clicked behind her, Ren leaned back into the couch, still staring at the card. "…She just dropped a miracle on my lap."
Arisa exhaled dramatically. "That's Reina for you. Cold as ice, but she moves mountains without blinking."
Sei chuckled, stirring the fried rice. "Guess even gods give offerings sometimes."
Ren smiled to himself, already imagining the experiments he could push further with his new hardware.
And Reina? She was already halfway back to her lab, her thoughts quiet, her mind already searching for the next problem to solve.