XR-3000 stared at the small paper scraps.
Very many small ones. Very light. Very crispy-looking.
“Mini paper detected,” he murmured. “Extremely high surface area.”
Ben immediately held out the rice cake. “Here!”
XR-3000 took it. But he did not chew.
“New analysis,” he said slowly.
He watched as the scraps drifted across the floor.
A few landed under a table. Others stuck to shoes.
“Paper causes mess.”
“Yes, that’s called crafting,” said Lena.
XR-3000 remained silent.
Then suddenly a small flap on his belly opened.
A quiet humming began.
“Confetti mode activated.”
“What?!” shouted Ben.
XR-3000 rolled slowly through the room.
But this time he sucked in nothing.
He collected the scraps in a transparent compartment.
Neatly. Systematically.
“Paper is recycled,” he explained.
Everyone stared at him.
After a few minutes the floor was clean.
XR-3000 opened his compartment.
Inside was a small, pressed paper cube.
“New crafting material produced.”
Ben blinked. “You… saved paper?”
“Optimization without eating.”
Mrs. Meier smiled. “That’s what I call progress.”
XR-3000 looked at the cube.
“Paper is versatile.”
Ben grinned. “And not just a snack.”
XR-3000 nodded.
But suddenly an announcement sounded:
“Attention! Tomorrow the big school inventor competition will take place!”
The class cheered.
XR-3000 slowly turned to Ben.
His eyes began to glow slightly again.
“Competition detected.”
Short pause.
“I have an idea.”