He then strode towards the sixth building, thinking to himself that Mr. Tanaka should be free as almost all classes were over.
Checking the time at 2:25 pm, he headed inside the building where he was confronted by a security guard.
Noah explained to the guard that since exams were coming up soon, he had a gift for Mr. Tanaka for helping him out.
Recognizing Noah as the school's librarian and having seen him with Mr. Tanaka multiple times, the security guard allowed him to pass.
Upon arriving at Mr. Tanaka's office, Noah greeted him. Mr. Tanaka, buried in his work, seemed confused as to why Noah was there.
Feeling uneasy, Noah asked Mr. Tanaka if he knew anything about an envelope. Mr. Tanaka shook his head in confusion.
Fear gripped Noah's heart as millions of thoughts ran through his head. Who could it be? Before he could lose his sanity, Mr. Tanaka pulled him out of his downward spiral and asked why he was there.
Noah's head went blank for a moment, but then he remembered the instructions from the note. He told Mr. Tanaka that he had something for him as a token of appreciation.
Surprised and happy, Mr. Tanaka received the gift. He then reassured Noah that nothing would happen to him, as he could handle the drink without getting drunk, and his coworkers wouldn't mind either.
Unaware of Noah's discomfort, Mr. Tanaka quickly downed the drink.
Noah, feeling increasingly anxious, watched as Mr. Tanaka began to drink the bottle's contents too quickly. "Slow down, Mr. Tanaka," Noah stammered, concerned.
Lightly laughing, Mr. Tanaka reassured him, and they began to converse.
However, after a few minutes, Mr. Tanaka suddenly had to go to the restroom, not surprising given how much he had drunk. "I'll be right back," said Mr. Tanaka as he left the room, leaving Noah alone.
As Noah's head began to race with thoughts once again, he looked at Mr. Tanaka's computer, feeling unsure of what to do.
He had never been a troublemaker and was afraid of betraying Mr. Tanaka's trust or getting caught. However, adrenaline coursed through his body, and he rationalized that he had come this far and could get more money.
He quickly plugged in the USB drive, installed the program, and clicked through every warning and checkbox.
In a rush, Noah completed the task in two minutes, although it felt like an eternity. Afterward, he closed the window and the program, returning to his original position and unlocking the door.
Thoughts raced in his mind, questioning his actions and why he followed the instructions of an unknown person who seemed to know everything about his circumstances.
Mr. Tanaka then walked in through the door, surprised to see Noah still there. "Shouldn't you be preparing for the upcoming midterms?" he asked. Unable to meet his gaze, Noah nodded and swiftly left the building.
* * *
As I assisted Valentina with her math, my phone suddenly vibrated, drawing my attention away momentarily. Pulling out my phone, I anticipated the notification.
— New remote access available.
— Connect to new device?
Gazing at the screen, I marveled at how smoothly everything was going. Money truly did make things happen, I mused before Valentina's voice brought me back to reality.
"Urgh.. how do I solve this?" Valentina grumbled, clearly frustrated with her math problems.
Glancing at her, I half-expected her to bring up my 'stalking' yesterday, but it seemed she was too preoccupied with her current struggles.
"Which o-" I began to ask, but we were interrupted by a knock at the door. I glanced towards it, puzzled by the lack of preceding footsteps.
Only two people in this school could move so silently.
'Thomas.'
"Coming in," I called out, prompting an irritated response from Valentina as she turned away from the door.
Sure enough, Thomas entered, his steps as soundless as ever. Clad in the standard school uniform and blazer, he exuded an effortless charm.
"Ah, pardon my intrusion. Am I interrupting?" Thomas inquired with his smooth voice.
"Not at all," I replied, rising to greet him. I had to tilt my head up slightly to meet his gaze. Thomas offered a friendly smile and extended his hand for a handshake.
"I am Thomas Anderson," he introduced himself, his grip surprisingly gentle.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Edward," I responded, attempting to withdraw my hand, only for Thomas to hold onto it a beat longer than necessary. His doll-like blue eyes seemed to hold a secret.
"Don't try anything funny, Thomas," Valentina's sudden icy tone cut through the air, causing a chill to descend.
"Ah, my apologies," Thomas muttered, releasing my hand and sheepishly scratching the back of his head.
"Sorry, I was just checking in on Valentina here," he explained.
"Oh, I see. Are you two siblings?" I inquired, trying to ease the tension.
"No, just acquaintances," Valentina replied coolly, her demeanor softening slightly.
"I see. So, is there something you need from her?" I directed the question at Thomas.
Shaking his head, Thomas smirked mischievously. "No, I was just scoping out my 'prey,'" he quipped, his gaze flicking towards me.
"Prey?" I repeated, raising an eyebrow, sensing his implication.
"Get out," Valentina's voice sliced through the air like a knife, her eyes flashing with an uncharacteristic shade of purple.
I couldn't help but wonder why.