"I want to kill her myself," Fina murmured darkly.
In the bustling cafeteria, the noise was almost deafening as students chatted and laughed, filling the room to capacity. Amidst the chaos, Kaede, Yumi, and Shina sat at a corner table, eating together. Trays clattered, and the murmur of conversations created a lively yet overwhelming atmosphere.
While they were eating, Lary entered the cafeteria, dragging his feet as if burdened by exhaustion. He made his way to the food counter, bought his meal, and spotted the trio. Noticing an empty seat next to Kaede, he walked over and plopped down.
"Hey guys! Hehehe," Lary greeted them with a tired smile.
Yumi glanced at him, her face scrunched up in mild disgust. "Woah! what's with your face?! You look terrible!"
Lary's eyes had dark circles under them, evidence of a sleepless night. He scratched his head sheepishly. "Hehehe... I couldn't sleep last night. I was trying to beat that stupid game boss. Spent hours on it but kept losing!" He made a face of exaggerated frustration, earning a laugh from Yumi.
After lunch, the four of them headed back to the classroom. As they walked, Kaede noticed something unusual through the window: several black cars parked at a distance and some suspicious-looking men gathered around. Among them, he spotted Fina. They seemed to be discussing something.
A feeling of heaviness settled in Kaede's chest. He glanced at Shina and his friends, who were laughing and chatting as they walked. He couldn't shake off the uneasy feeling. Kaede took a deep breath and continued walking.
Once they reached the classroom, they took their seats. Kaede remained unusually quiet, lost in thought. Lary noticed his friend's change in demeanor.
"Yo, Kaede!" Lary called out, noticing his friend's distant expression. "What's with the gloomy face again? Who broke your heart this time?"
Startled, Kaede forced a chuckle, scratching his head awkwardly. "No, it's nothing... just tired, I guess."
Yumi, who had been observing Kaede's odd behavior since lunch, grew more concerned. Kaede had been acting differently since Monday—his movements, personality, even his way of speaking seemed unfamiliar. Though she tried to ignore it at first, Yumi couldn't help but worry.
Class resumed, but Kaede kept glancing out the window. The cars were still there, and the men seemed to be patrolling near the gate. His anxiety grew.
Suddenly, Shina's phone rang. She answered, looking puzzled. "Hello? Who's this?"
"Father said you need to go home immediately," Fina's voice replied.
"Fina?"
"Just go home now. The car is waiting for you outside."
The call abruptly ended, leaving Shina confused. Kaede overheard the conversation and felt a rush of unease. He knew something was wrong—this didn't happen in the original timeline.
When Shina was about to leave, Kaede instinctively stopped her. "Wait."
Shina looked at him curiously. "What is it, Kaede?"
Trying to mask his worry, Kaede hesitated. Yumi, sensing his anxiety, quickly interjected. "Hey, Shina! Why don't we all go home together?"
Relieved, Kaede nodded. The three of them headed out while he gathered his things, glancing out the window again. The men were still there, seeming to wait for someone.
As they left the classroom, Kaede made a quick decision. He pointed to a side path leading to the back gate. "Let's take that route. It's faster."
anxious expression
Yumi, catching on to Kaede's urgency, agreed. "Yeah! That other gate is fun too!"
Lary, though confused, followed along. As they exited through the less crowded gate, Lary marveled at the unfamiliar path. "Wow! I didn't know this exit existed."
Meanwhile, at the main gate, Fina was pacing impatiently, her temper flaring. "Why is she taking so long?! She usually rushes out when Dad calls!
As the group walked down the path, Kaede couldn't shake off the feeling that they were being watched.
Just then, Shina's phone rang again. Seeing Fina's name, she hesitated but picked up.
"Hello?"
There was only silence,
but Fina heard Lary talking about the they go to other exit
and then the call abruptly ended.
Realizing that Shina wasn't at the main gate, Fina ended the call without saying a word, her anger intensifying.
One of the men approached cautiously. "Ma'am, she's not here. We've checked the usual spots."
Fina glared at him, frustration etched on her face. "She must have used the other gate. Find her, now!"
The men scattered, heading towards the alternative exit.
Kaede's instincts screamed danger. He urged his friends to hurry, his voice trembling. They were about to reach the road when they noticed several masked men blocking the path ahead.
"Shhh," Kaede whispered, signaling everyone to hide.
One of the masked men seemed to receive a call. Fina's voice barked through the phone, "FIND HER!"
Kaede's heart pounded as the men split up, some heading in their direction. Trying to stay calm, he gestured for his friends to stay low.
As one of the men approached, Kaede accidentally stepped on a branch, snapping it. The man turned sharply, alerted by the sound.
"Someone's over there!" one of the men shouted.
Kaede's heart raced as the men approached, his mind desperately searching for a way to protect his friends.
Lary, thinking quickly, pick up the stone on the ground and throw it away at different direction and it creates loud sound that distract the men. The men rushed toward the noise, giving the group a chance to move.