Cocktails and Margins: 08 [The Poet of Mathematics] 🥕🥕 Side Story 🥕🥕

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[Summary so far + Ichika-san joins the fray]
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Click here for the previous article ⬇️
Cocktails and Margins 7
[The Poet of Mathematics] Snowy Berlin-4

🎼🎹 I chose this as the theme song ① for Sofia Kovalevskaya. Please enjoy listening to it if you'd like.
(Please be careful with the volume) 🔽
Lee Oskar - 'Promised Land'

[Summary so far]
Winter, 1870. Abandoning her status as a Russian noble and committing the sin of a 'sham marriage' before God, the 20-year-old genius girl Sofia Kovalevskaya arrived in Berlin.

However, every door was closed to her. In Russia and Germany at the time, women were not even granted the right to study mathematics.

But her outstanding talent moved the 'Father of Analysis,' Karl Weierstrass. The old master did not hesitate to recommend her for a doctoral program at the University of Berlin.

However, the university's secret committee rejected her solely because she was a 'woman.' Weierstrass was enraged. On the spot, he stripped off his 'full professor's gown,' the symbol of his authority, and slammed down his resignation.

'There is no place for me in a venue that discriminates intelligence based on gender.'

Sofia's cry echoes against the thick wall of a world that rejects her.

'Am I...'
Am I not allowed to love mathematics?!'

Teacher and student chose a lonely battle. A holy war of intellect, just for the two of them, had begun. (This will continue for two more parts)

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The story returns to the Akasaka bar 'OLD TIME.' At the counter are Colonel Daiden and Producer Katori.

The bar was especially quiet tonight. Other than the two of them, there was only one female customer.
The lingering resonance of the passionate story of Sofia and Weierstrass, told by the Colonel, drifted through the bar along with the faint sound of melting ice.

Then, Master Yokose, who had been quietly wiping a shaker behind the counter, raised his lowered eyes and cast a soft gaze toward the woman drinking alone right next to them.

The master and the woman signaled to each other with their eyes, and the woman nodded.
Master Yokose stood before the two and spoke quietly.

'...Colonel, Katori-san. It seems this lady here has also been completely captivated by your conversation.'
The master introduced her with fluid movements.

'This is Ichika-san, a regular at this bar. Ichika-san works in customer service at a nearby lounge, but she is a valued customer who loves my cocktails during her brief breaks from work.'

The woman introduced... Ichika, was wearing a deep blue dress with a wide-open back, as if she had cut out a piece of the night's veil. Is she about 40? She possessed the mature beauty that age brings.

'...I'm sorry. It was such a wonderful story that I couldn't help myself. I've been eavesdropping here since the other day.'
Tonight, too, Yokose-san's cocktail has soaked in deeper than usual.'

Ichika turned to face them with a slightly embarrassed, yet dignified smile.

The Colonel pulled out a chair, inviting her into the circle of conversation.
'Come to think of it, I have seen you in this shop a few times.'
No, perhaps our voices were too loud? My apologies.
However, if Master Yokose introduces you, you are most welcome.'

Ichika took a sip of her blue cocktail and asked with sorrowful eyes.

'Actually... listening in on the side, there are two things I've been curious about.'
'What might those be?'
Colonel Daiden turned his chair slightly toward Ichika.

Producer Katori laughed.
'Ichika-san, please don't pay it too much mind. This is just a story made up by this drunkard.'
'What was that? Katori! Well... but, it is indeed something like that.'

'Hehe... But couldn't that also be considered a respectable 'hypothesis'?'
Ichika laughed.

'A hypothesis... I'm not sure if I can go that far...'
Colonel Daiden scratched his ear.

'I wonder... Sofia, that woman. She followed such a harsh fate... I wonder if she regretted being born a 'woman.'

As a woman myself, I couldn't help but be curious about that. And also...'

That question spread like ripples through the silence of the Akasaka night.

'Ah... that is...'
As Colonel Daiden was about to answer, Ichika shook her head and suddenly shouted.

'And... one more thing! I can't take it anymore!'
'I've been holding it in for so long, but...'
Ichika leaned over her chair and pointed at the Colonel at close range.

'.........In the first place, why is a rabbit talking and drinking alcohol with a straight face!?'

'Wha...!?'
The Colonel was speechless.
'I've been curious about it for so long... no, I just wanted to scream it out. I love rabbits! They're cute, too cute!'

Those ears! Fluffy 🎵 Could I... perhaps touch them?'
'No way!!! In the first place, I am not a rabbit!'

Ichika's eyes were no longer those of a mathematician mourning Sofia's tragedy, but held the glow of a hunter in pursuit of pure 'fluffiness.'

The question, the passion (?), and Colonel Daiden's scream shook the silence of the Akasaka night violently in a different sense.

❄️ Continued
Click here for [Cocktails and Margins 9] ⬇️
Returning to the main story.

[Afterword: Image Song During Writing] This is the theme song the author imagined as the background for the main story. If you have time, please listen to it along with the lingering emotions after reading. ⬇️

[Tutor Control Tower 'Mugendo']
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🥕 Illustration of Daiden by Ryo Higashi