Chapter 11: Resonance and Entanglement
Blue's leather mechanic hat tilted slightly as she tried to force her feet to stop tapping against the floor tiles. The overwhelming wave of overstimulated energy was still humming through her veins, her mind racing at lightspeed.
Across the room, the rest of Team 7-A watched her nervously... except for Riley.
Riley took a hesitant step forward, her eyes fixed on Blue. The quiet, guarded look she usually wore melted away, replaced by an intense, analytical focus.
"If the observer changes measured states..." Riley said softly, "...then the wave function collapses when it's measured."
Blue's eyes went wide.
"Which means reality isn't completely decided until interaction!" she blurted, nearly bouncing off the floor. "Quantum superposition!"
Riley's lips curled into a small, genuine smile.
"Exactly."
Blue gasped loud enough to make the vendor jump.
"You understand me!"
She grabbed Riley's hands before remembering personal space and awkwardly let go.
"Oh my goodness! Your brain is operating on an entirely compatible wavelength!"
Maya stared at the pair.
"...Wait."
She slowly looked toward Suki.
"Is Riley secretly a super genius?"
Suki didn't even look up.
"She has been reading theoretical physics books for years."
Maya blinked.
"...And you never told us?"
"No one asked."
Meanwhile, Riley had completely forgotten everyone else existed.
"If the suppression field works by interfering with magical energy..."
"...then our connection isn't local," Blue finished instantly.
"It's entangled!"
Riley nodded enthusiastically.
"Exactly."
From a table in the corner, another magical girl suddenly lowered the science magazine she'd been reading.
"...Wait."
Everyone looked toward her.
She adjusted her glasses.
"...They're actually right."
The entire break room became even quieter.
The background magical girl looked around awkwardly.
"I... um... I'm studying quantum mechanics..."
She slowly raised a finger toward Blue and Riley.
"They're skipping a few details..."
"...but they're surprisingly accurate."
Blue let out the loudest gasp yet.
"WE HAVE A THIRD SCIENCE NERD!"
The poor girl immediately regretted speaking.
Miss Marcy clutched the confiscated bag of energy drinks tighter against her chest.
"Absolutely not."
Maya looked hopeful.
"...You don't even know what I was going to ask."
"I do."
"...Can I have one?"
"No."
Alice smiled warmly as she watched Riley and Blue enthusiastically chatter back and forth.
"Looks like Blue found someone who speaks her language."
Riley actually laughed.
Not a polite chuckle.
A genuine laugh.
Alice noticed immediately.
"So that's what it takes...
"Blue gasped again, turning back to Riley with a gleam in her eyes.
"Do you want to calculate the probability of us breaking the server mainframe?!"
Riley smiled.
"Already did."
"...It's ninety-eight percent."