2. Quantum Romance

Or wasn’t it?

Who knows.

Actually…

Alright, never mind. This omniscient narration is getting annoying, whoever made it.

Like... seriously, who even approved this script? It looks absolutely horrendous.

So let me pause and take over. So pay attention to what I'm about to say.

Yes, yes. This is Akira Kamiya speaking.

Allow me to summarize the situation properly, from my completely unbiased point of view.

So, may I? Alright. Here we go.

I sat down on a chair and opened a book. 

The afternoon sun slipped through the classroom window, spreading accross the book's pages.

There was no dramatic lighting. No special effects. Just a perfectly ordinary scene.

Technically speaking, it was supposed to be for Nakamura’s exam.

Realistically speaking…

That exam was easy enough that it didn’t deserve my full attention.

My real focus was elsewhere.

Quantum physics.

Richard Feynman once said: 

“No one truly understands quantum physics.”

And he was absolutely right.

Which, in itself, feels comforting.

Because if even a Nobel Prize winner physicist doesn't understand it, I don't have to feel guilty either.

Quantum physics is basically cosmic absurdity wearing a lab coat and pretending to be mathematics. An old-running cosmic gag served cold.

Statements such as...

Particles behave like waves.

Waves behave like particles.

Observation changes reality.

All of these were extraordinarily ridiculous.

Which basically implies the universe runs on a carefully curated system called “trust me bro” physics. 

Source: Peer-reviewed research conducted by absolutely no one in recorded human history.

But do you know something even more confusing than quantum physics?

Romcoms.

Yes.

Romantic comedies.

No, wait. Just think about it.

Either as stand alone subjects, physics and romance should both make sense, right?

Physics explains nature, or doesn't it?

While romance, well… It explains humans, right?

Both follow certain specific rules and regulations.

Both have certain specific laws and patterns.

Therefore, both should be understandable. That's the gist of this argument.

But then all of a sudden someone decided to add two unrelated ingredients.

Comedic SNAFU.

And quantum uncertainty.

The result?

Peak absurdity. Chaos logic.

Romcom logic makes quantum physics look inherently stable.

Or naturally, it should. And that alone is saying something.

Which is statistically alarming.

Yet somehow quantum uncertainty still explains romcom logic perfectly.

And ironically better than any psychology branch ever could.

Anyway.

Forget everything I just said.

That explanation was completely unnecessary.

Pretend it never happened.

Good.

Now it's time to go back to reality.

Just follow the script.

“H-hey! Don’t you think that’s too harsh?!”

Shiro Hanase puffed her cheeks, looking like a president about to declare war.

“Also… it’s not like I’m that prideful! Hmph. I just know how smart I am!”

Really? Is that even true at all?

Right. Observation time.

Her arms folded across her chest.

Her head turned away from me.

Her body leaned backward slightly.

Classic defensive posture. Almost tsundere-alike.

Conclusion: Hanase-san was absolutely prideful. And almost rightfully so.

Margin of error, 0.000000000001%

There was no uncertainty in that measurement.

Unlike quantum when included into classical physics.

However… measurements can change depending on the conditions.

For example—

“Huh, what is it? Overthinking again?”

Hanase-san suddenly leaned closer, staring directly at me.

Her cheeks were puffed out in a pout I had never seen before.

Which was unfortunate.

Because that single expression completely interrupted my internal monologue.

Just like that.

Derailing my train of thought with remarkable efficiency.

See?

This is exactly what I meant earlier.

Romcom logic.

In a romcom manga, the protagonist begins thinking about something important—

Then the heroine suddenly interrupts with something completely unrelated.

Conversation hijacked.

Logic abandoned.

Emotional chaos begins.

To be fair, quantum physics operates under a similar principle.

Particles behave unpredictably.

Observation alters outcomes.

Reality refuses to follow common sense.

Romcoms follow the same system.

Except instead of particles…

It’s girls like Hanase Shiro.

Which brings me to a final conclusion.

Quantum physics and romcoms operate under identical laws.

And both make absolutely no sense.