Chapter 841 The True Kihara
"I have a question... do you think my achievements are fake?" Hirata Kotomi asked, pointing at the documents on the table.
"Since you dared to come, I believe you wouldn't falsify anything in this regard," Terestina shook her head, "But..."
Terestina picked up the file next to her with her fingertips, and nearly a hundred pages of documents rustled through.
"Since these results are real, then why have I never heard of the name 'Hirata Kotomi'?"
The scientific research community, especially the top-tier research community, is actually a small circle. Famous scientists, even if they don't know each other personally, would basically have heard of each other's names.
Even if Terestina's own level and qualifications at the time hadn't reached that tier, Kihara Gensei's connections and channels would have been enough for her to get acquainted with those famous great scientists.
But Terestina searched through her memories and still couldn't find any mention of a "Hirata Kotomi."
Moreover, upon closer reflection, the research results mentioned in these documents also gave her a sense of déjà vu.
"Ah..." Terestina suddenly pressed down on the stack of documents, "I remember now."
"Remember what?" Hirata Kotomi looked over with a smile.
"These are Grandpa's research results," Terestina murmured to herself.
To be precise, what she was familiar with were these research topics, which Terestina had seen on Kihara Gensei's personal computer.
If one or two topics overlapped, it might be a coincidence, but if most of the topics were identical...
"Who are you?" Terestina put down the candy box and reached her hand under the table.
"As a researcher, hiding a gun under the table is not a good habit—that's not an Item we should use," Hirata Kotomi looked over with a smile, "Or, do you want to follow Kihara Gensei's path?"
"It's not a gun," Terestina said, "It's the switch for 'Ability Decline'—I think this should be more useful."
Terestina stared into the eyes of the woman opposite her: "Lin Wuming's recent actions prove that 'doppelgangers' do exist, and considering that you have also long held the right to use the esper ability 'Mental Out,' doing such a thing is actually not difficult... right, Grandpa Kihara Gensei?"
Hirata Kotomi shrugged: "You might be mistaken about one thing. You can turn on that switch now and see if your 'Ability Decline' is actually useful."
Terestina was not polite and actually pressed the button.
There was no change; Hirata Kotomi's expression remained unchanged, still looking calm and composed.
Terestina snorted. Although this move failed, the other party's reaction precisely proved her guess.
—This woman named Hirata Kotomi is one of Kihara Gensei's "doppelgangers"!
"Esper abilities are a profound subject," Hirata Kotomi said then, "It's not something a single device can solve everything."
"That's right," Terestina also nodded, "For brainwashing and manipulation, deep hypnosis combined with pre-setting can achieve personality replacement. Because it has become an established fact, there are no AIM Diffusion Field fluctuations, and naturally, it won't be affected by 'Ability Decline.'"
It made sense, after all, Kihara Gensei frequently needed to enter various high-end research institutions or seminars, where AIM interference devices were standard. If he were truly so easily interfered with, his doppelganger plan would have been exposed long ago.
"Heh heh, your analysis is correct," Hirata Kotomi said with a smile, "If you want to know, I can tell you the entire experimental procedure."
"However, this old man's method can no longer be used." Although the voice hadn't changed, the tone and manner of speaking had completely transformed into another person—Terestina's very familiar grandfather, Kihara Gensei.
"This time, this old man lost the gamble," Kihara Gensei said, looking at what was originally his office, "So the losses are immense, and the loophole on the External Brain side has also been completely sealed by Shiokishi, so it's no longer possible to continue using 'Mental Out.'"
"However," he changed the subject, "Your relationship with Shiokishi and them is quite good now. Perhaps you can ask her for help to recreate this old man's experiment."
"The so-called experiment, is it to occupy other people's bodies and create 'doppelgangers'?" Terestina showed undisguised disgust, "Sorry, I really still can't accept such a thing."
She was even more unable to accept her grandfather, who had suddenly turned into a middle-aged woman.
"Are you very concerned about such things?" Kihara Gensei looked down at his current body, "It's precisely because you always cling to these insignificant superficial issues that you are not considered a 'Kihara.'"
"Kihara is a family of mad scientists, not perverts," Terestina said with a straight face.
"Don't be angry, Terestina," Kihara Gensei waved his hand like an old man, then slowly said, "Speaking of which, the current result is this—you sit above, and this old man can only sit below in this posture. Without a doubt, you won."
"Having taken everything from this old man, Terestina, you can undoubtedly be called a Kihara," Kihara Gensei applauded, "Congratulations, your dream has come true."
"Dream come true..." Terestina frowned, with no joy on her face, "Does this count as gaining your recognition?"
"Yes, this old man acknowledges your achievements."
"Heh, you think saying such things now..." Terestina was not swayed. She was no longer the naive little girl she used to be, who would be happy for half a day because of a compliment.
"You misunderstood, that's why this old man used to say that you are not a true Kihara," Kihara Gensei said, "'Kihara' is not such a narrow thing."
Indeed, the Kihara family has always given the impression of "mad scientists," as if one couldn't live up to the surname without producing some shocking scientific achievements.
"In reality, anyone who reaches the pinnacle in their professional field is a 'Kihara.' As for what specific field... no one has ever clearly defined that."
In other words, from the perspective of the Kihara family, Terestina's series of actions this time, taking everything that originally belonged to Kihara Gensei, this achievement alone was enough for her to earn the title of "Kihara."
—The Kihara who is least like a Kihara.
But then again, which Kihara isn't like this? Extremely selfish, completely following their own ideals and desires, and possessing the ability to implement and carry them out—this collection of highly individualistic existences is the Kihara family.
"Having no common ground" is the only common ground of this family. In this world, there probably isn't a "Kihara who is like a Kihara," is there?
"You have earned this title with undeniable achievements," Kihara Gensei commented, "Academic and research achievements are important, but combat results and victories are the most powerful arguments. One could even say that as long as one can keep winning, even an illiterate idiot can add the name Kihara to themselves."
Terestina, however, felt that this old man was still mocking her.
She had gone to great lengths to prove herself, but after succeeding, this guy then said things like "even an idiot can become a Kihara"... he was indeed mocking her research level, wasn't he?
