“Lynn, do you really think Lumina’s gonna come to school today? Or was that just something she said to pcate us?” Ruby asked, her eyes flicking toward the cssroom door with a hint of doubt.

  But I didn’t even need to think about it.

  “Of course she’ll come,” I said firmly. “When Lumina says she will, she means it. No question.”

  She might be awkward sometimes, and not the best with words—but she’s honest. She cares about her friends, even if she has trouble showing it.

  Monna let out a mischievous hum. “Aww, it really sounds like you like Lumina~”

  My face flushed, and I immediately shoved a hand over her mouth. “You’re such a jerk, Monna!”

  She snickered beneath my palm while Ruby just sat back, smiling like she was watching a show. It was embarrassing, but also kind of nice. Familiar.

  Then the door opened.

  I straightened up fast, expecting the teacher.

  But it wasn’t.

  It was Lumina—and Ellen—walking in together.

  “…Huh?” I let out without thinking.

  It wasn’t that they couldn’t show up together. It’s just… highly unlikely. Ellen’s not the type to drag someone out of bed, let alone from their apartment. She’s usually te herself, always half-asleep in the first period.

  But there they were. Standing side by side. Looking oddly close.

  My stomach did this weird twist I didn’t like. It’s probably nothing. Just… coincidental timing. They couldn’t possibly—

  “Yo! Ellena, Lumina—you guys are cutting it close!” Ruby called out, but her voice faded into the background as my thoughts took over.

  Something felt off.

  I didn’t like it.

  “Lynn.”

  My name pulled me out of my spiraling thoughts like a sudden spsh of cold water. I blinked and turned my head. Lumina was standing right next to me.

  “Good morning,” she said, voice a little awkward, a bit shy. But the morning sun behind her framed her like something out of a dream—her straight blue hair flowed freely, catching the light just right. And those orange eyes… they lingered on mine for a moment longer than necessary.

  Just like that, I fell for her all over again.

  “G-Good morning, Lumina,” I replied, trying my best to sound calm and not at all like my heart was thudding in my ears.

  She gave a small smile—the kind only I get to see—and took her seat beside me.

  Yes, Lumina is my seatmate. And no one knows her better than I do.

  The cssroom door slid open again as the teacher walked in. Without missing a beat, they began calling roll.

  “Present,” Lumina answered when her name was called, voice clear and even. The teacher didn’t seem the least bit surprised to see her—must’ve been informed in advance.

  A few cssmates turned their heads, noticing her return. But after a few seconds of whispering, their attention faded. Just another day.

  The lesson began, and I did my best to focus—eyes forward, pencil in hand.

  But every now and then, I’d gnce at Lumina out of the corner of my eye. And even though she was paying full attention to the teacher’s lecture, her presence next to me felt warm. Calming.

  Like maybe… things were finally starting to return to normal.

  Maybe.

  “Boss! We’re ready to bring the chaos!!” one of my henchmen shouted with manic energy.

  I grinned. “Good. Let’s not disappoint our generous sponsor.”

  Some mystery backer wanted that Lumina High reduced to rubble—and everyone in it dead. Why? Beats me. But they gave us powered armor, ammo, high-grade weapons, and even a few mechs. With this gear, we looked more like Defense Force elites than your average Hollow Raiders.

  I didn’t question the deal. Money’s money.

  Thirty men loaded up into our armored convoy. All systems green. Weapons charged. We rolled out with death in our hearts.

  Then—everything died.

  The hum of engines. The glow of HUDs. The automated targeting systems. Gone.

  “What the hell—?!” I barked, smming my fist against the inside of the APC. “Check diagnostics!”

  “My suit’s frozen—Boss, I can't move!”

  “The mechs aren’t responding—wait, they’re—!”

  Screams erupted.

  Our tactical mech turned its cannon toward our own forces. And fired.

  Explosions tore through the convoy. Metal screamed. My men—shouting, panicking, burning—died one after another.

  I smmed my fist on the exit release, but it was no use. Without power, this armor was a coffin. Heavy. Useless.

  “DON’T PANIC! FIGHT BACK, YOU COWARDS!!” I roared, voice shaking with fury and fear.

  Just as suddenly, my suit powered back on.

  But something was wrong.

  My limbs refused to obey. I couldn’t even raise my arm. My body moved on its own.

  Then—her voice.

  “Hello there~ You seem to like that armor,” a calm, pyful girl’s voice rang in my helmet.

  “Who are you?! You bastard!!” I snarled.

  “Aww, don’t be mad. You did accept this job, didn’t you? You were ready to kill a school full of people… So, isn’t it fair someone kills you first?”

  “YOU—!”

  “Call me Elf,” she said sweetly, her voice cold beneath the smile. “And I hope you enjoy merging permanently with that precious armor.”

  “No! I’ll kill you! I’ll—”

  But the words never finished.

  The st thing I saw was a mech’s psma bde carving through the cabin.

  Above the fming wreckage, a lone drone hovered silently, recording the aftermath.

  Elf watched through its camera, her synthetic eyes narrowing as she confirmed the mission: thirty hostiles neutralized. All weapons destroyed. Tactical mechs self-destructed.

  “Attempting to ruin Lumina’s life… I won’t allow it,” she said, voice now ft and robotic.

  She accessed the lead raider’s data, scanning through messages and files. Another dead end.

  But a fragment remained. A trace.

  “No matter who you are… I will find you,” Elf said softly, her voice carrying a calm rage as she triggered the drone’s final protocol.

  A soft beep.

  Then nothing but silence.

  We were eating outside, sharing a table under the soft sun. Lynn sat to my left, Ellen to my right, while Ruby and Monna sat across from us—both giving me teasing looks I chose to ignore. Sitting close to friends is normal... right?

  “Can I take a bite of yours?” Ellen asked casually—but she didn’t even wait for an answer. She chomped right into my sandwich.

  “H-Hey—!” I blinked.

  “Here.” She shoved her tuna spread sandwich into my hands.

  Without thinking too much, I took a bite. It wasn’t bad—though I couldn’t help but notice the jagged bite marks on both sandwiches.

  Those teeth of hers are terrifying. What kind of species bites like that?

  “Maybe you’ll like mine better, Lumina. I made it,” Lynn said quietly, holding up a homemade burger in her palms and offering it to me.

  Out of respect, I took a bite—and savored it.

  “It’s good. Feels like you’re still practicing, though,” I said with a small smile.

  Lynn nodded shyly, staring down at the burger like it was suddenly too interesting to look away from.

  Across the table, Ruby and Monna were whispering again, their eyes flitting between me and the girls beside me. The moment I looked at them, they both turned away, whistling innocently.

  I sighed, then took out a small wad of dennies and handed it to Monna.

  “Go grab the veggie burger you’ve been eyeing,” I said.

  “Whoa! Thanks a bunch, Lumina!” Monna beamed and dashed off toward the food stalls.

  “I think you’re spoiling Monna a little too much,” Lynn said gently.

  “It’s just ghost pay from the st two weeks,” I replied with a sheepish smile.

  “Ehh? So what about meee~?” Ruby asked, leaning forward and trying to act cute.

  I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Here,” I said, pulling a fancy chocote bar from my pocket and handing it to her.

  Ruby squealed. “Oh my god, this brand?! Wait till I post this—”

  She whipped out her phone, already snapping photos like she won a prize.

  Beside me, Ellen leaned in closer, still munching on her sandwich with rexed, shark-like calmness.

  I looked at the half-eaten sandwich that used to be mine.

  ...Guess I’ll just eat this one instead.