"Kaito... is that you?" The person said,
Kaito turned, his gaze locking onto a familiar face. "Hinata?!" he exclaimed, surprise etched on his features.
Hinata's warm smile spread, his eyes crinkling. "See you still remember me."
Kaito's expression softened, "It's been a while."
As they reminisced, Zarek leaned against the wall, eyes closed.
Hinata's inquiry broke the nostalgia. "What brings you to my school?"
Kaito's smile faltered for an instant before he recovered. "Oh, nothing. We might end up transferring here soon."
Hinata's eyes sparkled. "Oh, wouldn't that be great?!" He draped an arm around Kaito's neck.
"It'd be like us when we were kids, remember?"
Kaito's response was measured, his emotions guarded. "Yeah, I remember, Hinata. Those were great times..."
Hinata's gaze searched Kaito's face, concern flickering. "How are you holding up? You left after your parents died..."
Zarek's left eye snapped open, observing.
"I'm good," Kaito said, forcing a smile.
"Now I just want to continue my life knowing they're watching me, ya know."
Hinata took an assuring smile, "I know you will."
As the bell signaled the approaching class, Hinata stepped back. "Well, I'll leave you to it. Class is about to start anyway."
With a wave, he disappeared into the crowd.
Kaito's smile lingered, his eyes following Hinata. "Yeah, later..."
He turned to Zarek, "A close friend?" Zarek asked, his voice low.
Kaito nodded. "Yeah, a childhood one."
Zarek pushed off the wall, and together they headed to class, their footsteps blending with the bustling hallway.
"You can go ahead and introduce yourselves now," the teacher said. Kaito stepped forward, chalk in hand. "I'm Kaito. It's nice to meet you," he wrote on the board.
Before he could turn back, Zarek sprang onto his shoulders, snatching the chalk. "While I'm Zarek!" He scribbled his name with a flourish.
The class murmured, some giggling at the sudden display.
"Get off me!" Kaito tossed Zarek off, who crashed to the ground with a dramatic thud.
Zarek pouted, rubbing his back. "Well, that's not friendly..."
The teacher intervened, gesturing to the back of the class. "Well, both of you can sit at the back of the class."
As they walked to their seats, Zarek bounced with excitement. "I wonder if we'd get the main character seat in anime?"
Kaito raised an eyebrow. "What are you blabbing about?"
Zarek's grin widened. "The seats only main characters in anime get to sit in, like Death Note or Classroom of Elites. Where the character is either mysterious or smart, or both!"
He spread his arms. "I mean, I'd be living one of my biggest dreams!"
Turning back to Kaito, he found... space.
"Huh? Kaito?" Zarek scanned the room, his eyes locking onto Kaito's figure by the window.
Kaito rested his chin on his hand, lost in thought, gazing outside.
Zarek's face froze in shock. "I guess he's the main character..." he whispered, his voice laced with awe.
Slipping into the seat beside Kaito, Zarek nudged him. "Hey, main character, mind trading seats?"
Kaito's response was curt, his gaze still fixed outside. "No."
Zarek's voice took on a whiny tone. "But why not? It's just a seat."
Kaito's jaw clenched, his words clipping. "No."
Undeterred, Zarek rested his head on the table, his voice muffled. "Fine, be that way... The main character gets the best view, as usual."
Kaito's silence was palpable. The classroom's gentle hum and scribble of pens on paper filled the space between them.
Kaito's soft voice broke the quiet, "Hey Zarek..."
Zarek's muffled response came from the tabletop. "You feel it too."
He raised his head, eyes scanning the front of the class. "Climax energy is dense in here."
Kaito's gaze followed Zarek's, locking onto a group of four boys laughing and chatting.
"It's coming from there..." Kaito's voice trailed off.
"One of the four of them is a Climax user...?" Kaito's eyes narrowed.
Zarek's voice was laced with intrigue. "Or a Spec."
"What should we do?"
Kaito smiled mischievously. "Just leave it... I'll think of something."
Zarek's eyes widened.
"But we need to find out about the victims," Kaito continued, his gaze shifting to Zarek.
A sly grin spread across Kaito's face. "Looks like we're going to investigate in school."
Zarek felt Kaito's gaze and turned, his eyes locking onto the unsettling smile. "Why do I feel I'm in trouble?"
Kaito's grin grew, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Don't worry. It's just a hunch."
Zarek's skepticism was palpable. "A hunch that'll get us killed, right?"
Kaito's chuckle was low and reassuring. "Not if we're careful."
As the teacher droned on, Kaito's attention drifted back to the group of boys.
Zarek's uneasy feeling lingered, his eyes never leaving Kaito.
Meanwhile, in the other building of the school,
Yukiko settled into the back of the class. A cluster of girls surrounded her.
"Wow, Yukiko, your hair looks amazing! What's your secret?" one girl asked, touching Yukiko's silky locks.
Yukiko's cheeks flushed. "Oh, it's just... regular conditioner, I suppose."
Another girl chimed in. "And your skin! You're glowing. Do you have a skincare routine?"
Yukiko's smile was self-effacing. "Just the usual cleanser and moisturizer... nothing special."
A third girl, with a trendy bob, asked, "Are you a transfer student? We haven't seen you around before."
Yukiko nodded, her eyes cast downward. "Yes, I... transferred from a different school."
The girls exchanged excited glances.
"Welcome to our school! We're so glad to have you," the first girl said, beaming.
Yukiko smiled "Thank you... it's nice to be here."
Girl with Bob asked, "Do you have any hobbies?"
Yukiko replied, her face flushed "Uh, just reading, mostly."
A girl with curls said, "What kind of books do you like?"
Yukiko replied, eyes closed and a reassuring smile, "Whatever's available, really... nothing particular."
The girls laughed, charmed by Yukiko's unassuming nature.
A girl with straight hair said, "We should show you around school! Introduce you to some people."
Yukiko's smile faltered for an instant. "That's... very kind of you. Thank you."
As the teacher began the lesson, the girls reluctantly returned to their seats, still casting admiring glances at Yukiko.
Yukiko let out a soft sigh, her gaze wandered, and her eyes scanned the classroom as the teacher's voice droned on.
Her attention landed on a girl sitting near the window at the edge of the room.
She had long, dark hair and piercing brown eyes. The girl's gaze was cast downward, her eyes fixed on her hands clasped together.
As the teacher departed, the classroom erupted into chatter. The girls who had surrounded Yukiko earlier converged on her empty seat.
Their eyes scanned the room, locating Yukiko standing by the window, beside the timid girl.
The girls' faces reflected surprise and curiosity.
Yukiko's attention remained focused on Katsuragi. "Hi, I'm Yukiko... what's your name?" she asked, her hand extended in greeting.
Katsuragi's eyes widened, her face flushing. She hesitated for an instant before placing her hand in Yukiko's.
"Katsuragi," she stammered, a shy smile spreading. "It's nice to meet you."
Yukiko's handshake was firm but gentle. "Nice to meet you too, Katsuragi." She let out a dazzling smile,