Shinji: Well, no need to trust me blindly. I'm not someone who would harm anyone. As I mentioned before, I just want some information from you guys — nothing more than that. Trust me, you won't be harmed by anything I do. In fact, I think you all are awesome.
Shino: (I don't fully trust this guy, but he does seem trustworthy… still, I should stay careful.)
We trust you. But what do you want to know about us?
Shinji: It's nothing complicated… I just need some information about your eyes.
Shino: Wait — your knowledge about eyes is already way greater than all of ours combined.
Shinji: It's specifically about your eyes. There's something I need to confirm.
Shino: Alright… so what is it?
Akaimo: Sorry to interrupt, but doctors said I don't even have unawakened powered eyes…
Shinji: No need to apologize. Momoshimo already told me that you don't have powered eyes. But you're still a very important and beloved member of this team.
Shino: Then tell us — what do we have to do for you to learn about our eyes?
Shinji walked into his chemical lab. Shino warned everyone to stay on guard.
Shinji came back holding five cups filled with a pink liquid and told everyone to drink it.
Akaimo: Is this safe to drink..? It smells like strawberry and banana.
Shinji: It's 100% safe, no need to worry.
Shino: (Don't drink it, guys… it could be dangerous— WAIT! Akaimo, why are you drinking it!? Momoshimo too?? Shizuku?! Even you?? …I guess I have no choice now.)
Shino looked nervous but eventually drank it too. He didn't feel anything strange.
Akaimo: AHHH!! It may smell like banana and strawberry, but it tastes like garbage! It's insanely sour!
Momoshimo: Yeah… it's super sour. I've never tasted anything like that.
Shizuku: Is this some kind of medicine,professor?
Shinji: Kind of. And Shino, don't worry — just drink it.
After everyone finished, Shinji told them to follow him into the backyard. They followed.
Akaimo: Isn't that the advanced machine we saw before? Why is it here? Does it have anything to do with our eye information?
Shinji: Yes, you're right.
He continued:
Although Momoshimo, Jeisuke, and Akaimo don't need to take this test — we already know about your eyes. The drink was simply an important formula to extract specific information.
Jeisuke, Momoshimo, and Akaimo: Then why did you make us drink that sour stuff?! It was trash!
Shinji: Sorry about that… but you can sit on the bench and watch the process.
Shinji asked Shizuku to enter the machine, wearing an eye device connected by many cables. The machine made strange noises. After 15 minutes, Shinji told her to come out. Then Shino went in, and the same thing happened.
A paper came out of the machine.
Shinji looked at it… and froze.
Shinji (thinking): How is this possible…? This is extremely interesting… I should protect them and awaken their eyes as soon as possible…
While he was staring at the paper, Shino asked:
Shino: Can we see the paper?
Shinji: Well… it's nothing special. Just some basic readings.
Shino (thinking): What's up with this guy…
Akaimo: Sorry to interrupt, but can I also get inside the machine like Shizuku and Shino? It looks fun! Please, professor!
Shinji: It's pointless for you since you don't have unawakened eyes… but since you want to, go ahead. Enter the machine and wear the glasses.
Akaimo went inside. The machine took longer than usual to print the paper. That had never happened before.
He came out and sat with his friends, casually talking about the POX exam.
At first, Shinji didn't care about the paper. He thought about throwing it away since Akaimo supposedly didn't have unawakened eyes. But for some reason… he still decided to check it.
And then—
Shinji (internally screaming):
(HOW CAN THIS BE…?! WAIT—IS THIS REAL?! AM I SEEING IT WRONG?! NO… NO, THIS CAN'T BE WRONG… LET ME CHECK AGAIN— NO, IT'S THE SAME… AM I DREAMING? I'M AN OLD MAN, WHY AM I THINKING LIKE THIS… WHAT IS THIS… IS THE MACHINE BROKEN?! NO… IT HAS NEVER GIVEN ME WRONG RESULTS IN MY ENTIRE LIFE… THIS HAS TO BE REAL… AKAIMO… YOU ARE THE BOY I HAVE BEEN SEARCHING FOR OVER 150 YEARS… I FINALLY FOUND YOU… NOW I CAN BE FREE FROM THE TASK I WAS GIVEN… BUT BEFORE THAT… I MUST AWAKEN HIS EYES…)
It was very late, so the group asked if everything was finished so they could go home. Shinji let them leave.