The days that followed felt surreal to Kenn. The weight of his decision to fight against the system pressed heavily on his shoulders, but there was a strange sense of relief in his chest, as if he had finally allowed himself to breathe after holding his breath for far too long. Lynn had stood by his side, offering unwavering support, and that had made all the difference. He couldn't deny that her belief in him had become a beacon of light in the darkness.
But the storm wasn't over. Far from it.
As much as he wanted to forget about Yaoi's poisonous words, her obsession continued to gnaw at the edges of his mind. There was a part of him that feared her retaliation, the twisted lengths she might go to in order to maintain control over him. He had seen what she was capable of. But even that fear didn't shake the resolve he felt when he was with Lynn.
They sat together on a bench by the school's garden, the late afternoon sun casting a golden hue over everything. Birds flitted between trees, and the peacefulness of the moment made Kenn feel like he could almost forget the turmoil within him.
Almost.
"Are you okay?" Lynn's voice broke through his thoughts. Her gentle gaze was warm, but there was a flicker of concern in her eyes.
Kenn gave a small, almost imperceptible nod, offering her a faint smile in return. "I will be. It's just… everything feels so out of my control sometimes. Even after everything, the system still feels like it's always watching."
Lynn took his hand, her touch grounding him. "I know. I feel it too. But you're not alone in this, Kenn. We're going to figure it out together."
He squeezed her hand, comforted by her presence. Yet, despite her words, doubt still lingered at the edges of his thoughts. What if the system was more powerful than they realized? What if Lynn was wrong? What if Yaoi's warnings had been true all along? But the part of him that had chosen to fight for his freedom refused to listen to that voice. He wouldn't go back. He couldn't.
"I'm not sure how we're going to do this," Kenn admitted quietly. "But I know I can't keep pretending I don't care. I want to be free. And I want us to be free."
Lynn smiled softly, her thumb brushing over his hand in a soothing rhythm. "We'll find a way. We're stronger than we think."
The moment was interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching, and Kenn's heart skipped a beat as he turned to see Kil walking toward them. The ever-relaxed, easygoing demeanor he usually wore was gone. Kil's expression was serious, his eyes narrowed with something that looked uncomfortably like worry.
"Hey, you two," Kil greeted, but his voice lacked its usual warmth. There was a tension in his words. "We need to talk."
Kenn's chest tightened. "What's going on, Kil?"
Kil hesitated, glancing around before he sat down beside them, lowering his voice. "It's about Yaoi."
Kenn stiffened at the mention of her name, but he said nothing. The emotional scanner flared up, the pressure of her emotions still lingering in his mind. Even from a distance, he could feel it—her anger, her obsession, her sense of betrayal.
"What about her?" Kenn asked, trying to keep his voice steady.
Kil's eyes flickered uneasily, and he leaned in slightly. "She's been… acting strange. More than usual. I've seen her around school, and she's been talking to some of the others. I don't know what she's up to, but something feels off. You need to be careful. The way she looks at you… It's like she's planning something."
Kenn's stomach turned. "What kind of something?"
"I don't know," Kil admitted, his voice low. "But she's been getting close to some of the people who are part of the system. People I thought were… neutral. It's like she's trying to rally them, get them on her side."
Lynn's grip on Kenn's hand tightened. "That's not good," she muttered, her face pale with concern.
Kenn felt the weight of her words settle heavily over him. Yaoi had always been dangerous, but now it seemed she wasn't working alone. The system wasn't just something he could fight against on his own; there were others involved—others who might still be loyal to it.
"Do you think she's trying to bring the system down on us?" Kenn asked, his voice low and heavy with dread.
Kil ran a hand through his hair, frustration in his eyes. "It's hard to say, but it's possible. Yaoi's obsessed with you, Kenn. If she can't have you, she'll want to control you. If she's working with the system…" He trailed off, not needing to finish the thought.
Lynn leaned in closer, her voice steady but edged with urgency. "What do we do?"
Kenn's mind raced. There was no clear answer, no simple solution. He couldn't just run from Yaoi—he knew she wouldn't let him. But if he faced her head-on, what kind of danger would that bring? What if the system was stronger than they anticipated? What if they weren't ready to face it?
"I don't know," Kenn admitted finally, his voice strained. "But I can't let her win. I can't let the system control me. I wont let it."
Kil's eyes met his, a flash of determination behind them. "Then we fight. Together. Whatever it takes."
Lynn nodded firmly, her gaze unwavering. "We're in this together, Kenn. No matter what happens, we'll get through it."
Kenn felt a surge of warmth in his chest at their words. They weren't just fighting for freedom anymore—they were fighting for each other. And for the first time since he'd gained the emotional scanner, since his life had been turned upside down, he felt a glimmer of hope.
But in the back of his mind, the reality of the situation loomed larger than ever. Yaoi's obsession was only growing stronger, and the system was still lurking in the shadows, manipulating every move they made.
The battle for freedom was only just beginning.