Supervillain Idol System: My Sidekick Is A Yandere

The lady had just begun explaining one of the monitoring stations when a gravelly voice called out, "Harriette? What brings you to this section?"

An elderly scientist with wispy white hair and thick-rimmed glasses approached them. His weathered face bore deep laugh lines, and his lab coat had clearly seen better days. He walked with a slight stoop, hands clasped behind his back as he gave Don and Donald a cursory glance.

Harriette gestured toward Don. "Just escorting Mr. Bright and his associate to join Dr. Rajesh's tour group."

The old scientist nodded slowly, his glasses catching the fluorescent lights. "Ah, I see. Dr. Rajesh is conducting his tour in pod hall A-9."

"Thank you, Charles," Harriette said with a warm smile.

The old scientist waved them off, already turning his attention back to a tablet in his hands. tap tap tap His fingers moved across the screen as he shuffled away.

Harriette proceeded to led them through a maze of corridors, each more impressive than the last. They passed a high-tech gymnasium where robotic assistants monitored athletes on treadmills, their metallic forms gliding smoothly between stations.

After several minutes of walking, they arrived at massive metallic doors marked "Pod Hall A-9." The doors loomed over them, their brushed steel surface reflecting the overhead lights.

Harriette swiped her keycard through the security panel and The doors parted with a soft hiss.

The interior was a marvel of modern technology. To their left, a row of pods lined the wall, each connected to sophisticated monitoring equipment.

The center held a spacious lounge area dominated by a massive curved screen that wrapped partially around the walls. To their right, a rest area featured comfortable seating and what appeared to be private washing facilities.

"The pods are our latest in human enhancement technology," Harriette explained, her heels clicking against the polished floor. "And the lounge area-"

She paused as they caught sight of a group gathered near the large screen. At their center stood a distinguished man in his sixties, his salt-and-pepper hair neatly combed and his wire-rimmed glasses perched precisely on his nose. His lab coat was pristine, and he stood with perfect posture.

Beside him, a middle-aged couple held hands - the woman wore an elegant blue dress while her husband sported a tailored business suit. Their attention was focused on two younger men: one a towering figure of 198cm with broad shoulders and muscled frame, the other slightly shorter at 189cm with a stockier build and friendly face. A little girl, no more than seven, clutched the woman's hand, her bright yellow dress a splash of color in the otherwise sterile environment.

Dr. Rajesh turned toward them, adjusting his glasses with one hand while keeping the other behind his back. "Harriette?" he asked, his Indian accent thick but his tone warm. "Is there being some problem?"

Harriette climbed the few steps to the lounge level, her movements graceful despite her age. "My apologies for the interruption, Dr. Rajesh," she said, gesturing toward Don. "I've brought a special guest who I believe would benefit greatly from your tour."

Donald shifted his weight nervously beside Don, while the assembled group turned their full attention to the newcomers. The little girl peered around her mother's leg with undisguised curiosity. Enjoy exclusive chapters from mvl

Dr. Rajesh's eyes narrowed as they fell on Donald, showing no recognition. When his gaze shifted to Don, however, his expression transformed. His eyes widened behind his wire-rimmed glasses, and he took a small step forward.

"Oh my... you're that chap from yesterday's evaluation, very nice to meet you," he said, his thick Indian accent coloring each word. He adjusted his pristine lab coat with one hand.

"Sorry if I'm not too clear, my English isn't very good, but you are welcome to join the tour."

Harriette stepped forward. "Allow me to properly introduce Dr. Rajesh. He worked as a core data engineer for the first VR-FPS release." She gestured toward him with an elegant sweep of her hand. "He's been a senior figure and one of the geniuses who made the VR-FPS league what it is today."

Dr. Rajesh chuckled, his shoulders shaking slightly as he waved off the praise. "Oh stop, Harriette, you're boring the children." Despite his modest words, Don noticed how the older man's chest puffed out ever so slightly, his posture straightening with unmistakable pride.

Don recognized the telltale signs of a man who took great satisfaction in his accomplishments - and rightfully so. He knew exactly how to approach such a person. With a warm smile, he extended his hand toward Dr. Rajesh. "It's an honor to meet you, Sir."

The gesture hit its mark perfectly. Dr. Rajesh's face lit up, and he stepped forward to grasp Don's hand firmly. His head bobbed in approval as he shook Don's hand. "It is me who should be honored. I'm well aware how much effort Gregory put into that android. Beating is no small feat."

Don's brow furrowed slightly as he released the handshake. "Gregory?" he repeated, the question clear in his tone.

Harriette laughed, the sound echoing softly in the room. She crossed her arms, amusement apparent in her eyes. "He's referring to Dr. Gadget. Us oldies at SHU usually address each other by first names." She glanced at her watch and took a step back. "Anyway, I should be getting back to the lobby. Enjoy your tour."

As she turned to leave, her silver hair catching the light, Don called out, "Thanks for the help."

Donald, who had been standing stiffly beside Don throughout the exchange, finally found his voice. "Yeah uhm, thanks a lot," he added, shifting his weight from one foot to the other.

"My pleasure," Harriette replied as she made her way back through the massive doors. They closed behind her with another soft hiss.

The little girl in the yellow dress had edged closer during the exchange, her curiosity finally overwhelming her shyness. The two muscular young men exchanged glances, while their father in his tailored suit checked his watch with discretion.

After Harriette departed, Dr. Rajesh motioned Don and Donald toward the lounge area, where a family group.

Don's gaze swept across the group and noticed he adults' faces were twisted with obvious displeasure, their eyes narrowing as Don and Donald drew closer.

Don caught Donald's subtle head tilt in his peripheral vision - it was clear he had noticed the hostility too. Yet when Don glanced at Dr. Rajesh, the man maintained his warm smile, seemingly unbothered.

'Let's pretend those death glares don't exist,'

Don thought to himself, matching Dr. Rajesh's pleasant expression.

As they joined the group, Dr. Rajesh clasped his hands together. "My sincerest apologies for the stepping away. I had to-"

"Yeah, you best be sorry," the woman cut in, shifting her designer purse on her lap. She leaned forward, her jewelry jingling as she jabbed a manicured finger in their direction. "We flew out of province to see what ya'll have to offer my little darlings here and I'm not impressed. More importantly, we were told this would be a private tour."

Her eyes raked over Don and Donald with undisguised contempt, as if they were mud on her expensive shoes. Don's eyebrows rose slightly at the unprovoked hostility, but he kept his posture relaxed, watching to see how Dr. Rajesh would handle the situation. Given Dean Sanchez's display of spinelessness the other day, Don wasn't optimistic.

Dr. Rajesh's smile never wavered as he gestured toward Don. "The young man here is also a valuable student at this school. A member of the Elite Hero Program and-"

"We don't care if he's the president's son," the older man interrupted, straightening his tie with sharp movements. His polished shoes clicked against the marble as he took an aggressive step forward. "You reached out to us and offered this private tour, and now you're bringing interruptions. Our agent already warned us that SHU puts its Hero Program above all other programs and it seems that's true."