The dark room was still trembling from the echo of the gunshot.
Dust drifted down from the fragile ceiling, falling like pale-gray snow.
In the center of the room, Miraka—who had shut her eyes in fear—slowly opened them again, very carefully, like a rabbit peeking out from hiding.
Her faint yellow eyes quivered as she searched for one person:
Kaito.
And when her gaze finally found him—
"…Dad…?" she whispered softly.
Kaito stood upright, his dark blue coat completely untouched.
No injury. No harm. His face remained calm and unreadable—his silver-gray eyes reflecting the darkness of the room around him.
Miraka let out a long breath of relief, a tiny "haaah…" slipping from her tense chest.
But then her eyes shifted toward the pistol in Lex's hand.
No smoke.
No bullet.
No heat.
Instead—
From the barrel fell a tiny pink paper flower, drifting gently to the floor.
Miraka blinked.
Levi even leaned forward a little, his silver glasses reflecting the fallen paper flower.
"A… a flower?" Levi murmured.
"Huh…?" Miraka tilted her head in confusion.
Lex closed one eye dramatically, like a professor judging an incorrect answer.
"Did the Flying Teacher really think," Lex said as he lowered the toy pistol, "…that I would actually shoot you?"
Kaito didn't move.
Didn't flinch.
Didn't react defensively.
He simply looked at Lex with his usual straight expression and replied quietly:
"I didn't think so."
His tone was steady—neither rising nor falling. Calm, like a steel floor.
Lex exhaled, long and composed, as if releasing workplace stress.
He slipped the toy gun back inside his coat.
"Even if your decisions often look wrong to us," Lex said, adjusting the white fringe of hair that had fallen out of place,
"none of us have the right to harm the Flying Teacher. It would be unethical… and uncivilized."
The armed people behind him exchanged glances and slowly lowered their weapons.
The soft clacks of metal filled the room like a fading tension.
Levi held his chest and finally breathed out.
Miraka subconsciously hugged Kaito's arm.
Harisa stayed silent, head lowered, as if the world could not reach her.
Lex continued in his precise, formal tone:
"In truth… I'm not someone trusted by Mila. I'm not even part of the Juantice Team."
He stepped forward once, his black shoes echoing sharply.
"I am only a Bronze student. My personal mission is to uphold class equality in Oxoford."
Kaito shifted slightly, his blue coat swaying.
"What do you want from me?" he asked.
Lex straightened his posture like an analyst in a confidential briefing.
"I want you to help resolve the problem in Oxiom."
Kaito opened his mouth, but—
Levi hurriedly stepped forward half a step.
"B-but why would you need the Teacher to solve the Oxiom issue?" Levi asked quickly, panic in his voice.
"I-I mean… isn't that the duty of the Student Council and Juantice Team? They're the ones who—"
Lex's narrow eyes opened a little wider, staring sharply at Levi.
Levi froze instantly.
"You… sound suspicious," Lex said flatly.
"Restrain him."
One of the armed men stepped forward, pulling out slim metal restraints.
Levi panicked, stepping back.
"W-wait! I'm not a traitor! I was just asking!!"
Miraka clung tighter to Kaito's sleeve.
Kaito still hadn't moved—his face remained steady.
Before the man could grab Levi—
Harisa suddenly stepped forward.
She moved in front of Levi, blocking the man.
Her motion was quick, though her voice was soft.
Her eyes were still unfocused, but she lifted her head slightly.
"Please… don't detain him," Harisa said quietly.
"I know what he's like…"
The man paused.
The room fell silent.
The breeze slipping through the cracks in the wall sounded like a faint whisper.
Lex stared at Harisa for a moment.
Then he turned to Kaito.
"What does the Teacher think?"
"Should I detain a student who seems suspicious?"
Kaito didn't move.
Didn't blink.
The old air unit in the corner hummed faintly—suddenly sounding too loud in the quiet.
Then Kaito responded:
"No."
Just one word.
Calm. Firm. Not open for debate.
Lex nodded slightly.
"Very well."
He stepped back and gestured with his hand.
"You may all leave. But remember this… it is very likely that among us, a traitor exists."
The dim lamps flickered softly.
The old door creaked open with a long, uneasy groan.
Kaito stepped out first, his long blue coat fluttering.
Miraka held his hand.
Levi followed nervously.
Harisa walked last, eyes down, silent.
One by one, they exited the dark room—
…leaving behind its secrets
…its hidden intentions
…and the unseen eyes still watching them.
[Oxoford School Garden – Afternoon Approaching Evening]
A gentle breeze moved through Oxoford's tall trees, carrying the faint scent of warm metal mixed with the dry smell of spent training powder. Far off, the soft click–clack–click of students assembling equipment echoed.
Kaito, Miraka, Levi, and Harisa sat on a garden bench facing a small fountain.
Sunlight glinted off Kaito's dark-blue coat.
Miraka sat closest to him, her small legs dangling as she leaned slightly to the left, seeking comfort.
Levi sat stiffly, arms crossed.
Harisa sat on the far end, head lowered, fiddling with the sleeve of her white-blue jacket while watching passing students.
The atmosphere was calm…
…but full of unspoken questions.
Levi adjusted his glasses, then turned toward Kaito.
Levi (soft but tense):
"Teacher… why were you so calm back there? You looked terrified earlier."
Kaito didn't answer immediately.
He exhaled slowly, his shoulders shifting ever so slightly. His gaze drifted far away—toward something not in Oxoford's garden.
Finally, he spoke.
Kaito (steady, calm):
"Because I wasn't afraid of Lex shooting me."
He turned his head slightly toward Levi and Miraka.
Kaito:
"I was worried about the people around me.
You three."
Miraka looked up, her yellow eyes widening.
Miraka (innocent, confused):
"But… why is Teacher worried about us?"
Levi leaned in.
Levi:
"Yeah, Teacher. We're resistant to bullets… but you're not."
Kaito fell silent.
The breeze lifted the edge of his coat.
His silver eyes narrowed—cold, but burdened.
Then he took a deep breath.
Kaito (low, weighted):
"Because I don't want you to end up like… Battalion 4."
Levi and Miraka exchanged confused looks.
Levi:
"Battalion 4? What happened to them?"
Kaito lowered his head slightly.
One hand tightened unconsciously.
The garden went quiet—almost too quiet.
Kaito (quiet, firm):
"I won't describe it in detail."
He turned his gaze aside, toward the stone path.
Kaito:
"What I saw… after they were captured…
…no one should ever experience."
Levi went still.
Miraka swallowed.
Kaito (soft, pained):
"I remember their voices. Their cries for help. Their last words… things no one their age should ever have to say."
Nearby Bronze students paused, sensing the heavy air.
Kaito continued, his eyes distant:
Kaito:
"In the end… the Major General ordered us to eliminate Battalion 4.
Including their commander's remains."
Levi (shocked):
"Wh—What!? Even their commander's remains!? What does that mean, Teacher!?"
Kaito didn't answer.
Instead, he stood slowly, his coat swaying.
He didn't look at Levi or Miraka—he looked at Harisa.
She still sat quietly at the end of the bench.
Her hands clenched lightly on her lap.
Her tired eyes watching students walk by with equipment, flinching faintly at the noise.
Kaito observed her…
…and understood exactly what she felt.
Kaito's thought:
❝She's still afraid. Her voice is gone. Her breathing is shaking...
If she stays here, she'll only sink deeper.❞
Kaito tapped his shoulder lightly, as if confirming something.
Then he spoke:
Kaito:
"You three. Come with me."
Miraka immediately stood, grabbing his coat like a child afraid of being left behind.
Miraka:
"W-Where are we going, Teacher…?"
Levi stood too, adjusting his glasses, still confused.
Levi:
"Teacher… what are we—"
Kaito turned, his silver eyes firm—not angry, but certain.
Kaito:
"We're going somewhere… quieter."
He looked last at Harisa.
She lifted her face slowly, dark circles under her eyes stark in the light.
Kaito began walking toward the garden gate, his steps firm and deliberate.
Levi and Miraka exchanged looks—then followed.
Harisa rose at the end, unsteady, but quietly walking behind the Flying Teacher.