บท 12: School Days

As the last bell rang, signaling the end of the final class, students began bustling out of their classrooms, eager to reach their respective club activities.

Adam sat at his desk, gathering his belongings with an unusual calmness, his gaze drifting around the room.

With his deep, intense eyes set in a piercing gaze, Adam turned towards his classmate, Leo.

Leo, who was busy stuffing his swimming gear into his bag, noticed Adam's stare and raised an eyebrow.

Leo was striking in his own way—his hair and eyes a vibrant shade of orange, matching his fiery personality. A star swimmer at PK Academy, his confidence was unwavering.

Adam called out to him just as he was about to leave, halting him in his tracks.

"Hey, Leo," Adam's voice was steady, with a hint of something hidden behind it.

Leo turned, mildly surprised but clearly interested. "Yeah, Adam? What's up?"

Adam scratched the back of his neck, glancing away for a moment before meeting Leo's gaze again. "I... I could use your help with something," he said, his voice firm yet tinged with a subtle vulnerability.

Leo's curiosity was piqued. He slung his bag over his shoulder and crossed his arms, assessing Adam. "Help? From me? Alright, I'm in," he said with a casual grin. "What do you need?"

After a moment's hesitation, Adam decided to be mostly open with Leo.

There was a strange camaraderie between them, built on unspoken trust and a mutual respect.

Adam glanced briefly at the far side of the room, where a girl sat absorbed in her work, unaware of the conversation taking place. "I need to stay back at school for a while."

Leo followed Adam's gaze and smirked knowingly. "Ah, I see," he said, his tone teasing. "Is this about Ani?"

Adam rolled his eyes, trying to play it off. "No, it's... just something I need to do on my own," he muttered.

But Leo was relentless. "Right, right. But what about the fact that, not so long ago, you couldn't even talk to her? And now you're staying back, maybe hoping for a bit of one-on-one time?" He gave Adam a cheeky nudge.

Adam sighed, offering a half-smile as he looked away, a bit embarrassed. Leo laughed, slapping Adam on the back. "Fine, fine," he said, a mischievous sparkle in his orange eyes. "I'll make up something if Eric asks. But you owe me the full scoop later. All the details," he said, his tone teasing.

Adam scoffed, giving Leo a grateful smile. "You're a real friend, you know that?"

Leo shrugged, grinning. "I know. But, hey—remember, if you do anything interesting, I want details." Adam shook his head, amused, and with a final grin, Leo turned and left.

Adam waited for a moment, watching as Leo disappeared down the corridor. His eyes drifted back towards Ani.

She was still seated, working quietly, oblivious to his thoughts. He allowed himself a small smile, then slung his backpack over his shoulder and made his way out of the classroom, choosing a path that led up to the school's rooftop.

The sky was a cool shade of twilight blue, the first hints of evening settling over the world. As he stepped onto the rooftop,

Adam took in a deep breath of fresh air. He pulled out his earbuds, positioning them carefully before activating a familiar voice in his ears.

"Welcome, Lord Adam," the AI creature voice, known as Pratham, greeted him.

"I've been waiting for you," Adam replied in a low tone, more to himself than to Pratham. He cut straight to the point. "Can you tell me where Ani is right now?"

Pratham's response was immediate. "Lord Adam, I've located Ani. She's heading toward the teachers' office."

"Good," Adam said, nodding slightly. "Let me know when she's done."

"As you wish, sir," Pratham confirmed.

Adam settled down on the edge of the rooftop, allowing himself a rare moment of relaxation as he waited. But before long, Pratham's voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Lord Adam, three students are currently making their way to the rooftop. They're on the stairs and will be arriving shortly."

Adam's eyes narrowed in mild surprise. I didn't think anyone else came up here. He quickly surveyed his surroundings, looking for a discreet spot to hide.

"Perhaps you could hide on the adjacent roof ledge, my lord," Pratham suggested smoothly.

Without hesitation, Adam followed Pratham's advice and crouched on the narrow ledge, skillfully concealing himself from view.

Adam waited silently as three figures emerged onto the rooftop, their steps slow and careful.

He watched them with curiosity, observing each one with a calculating eye.

One of them, standing in the middle, appeared to be the leader. He had a cocky demeanor and an easy confidence, motioning for the others to check the area.

"Look around. Make sure there's no one else here," the leader ordered. The other two fanned out, glancing around but finding nothing.

Pratham's voice came through Adam's earbuds. "I've gathered information on these three. The one in the middle is Toshiro Ishida. The one on his right is Kazuki Ito, and the one on his left is Hiroto Suzuki."

Adam's eyes narrowed as he watched Toshiro reach into his pocket, pulling out a cigarette. Toshiro looked over at Kazuki and asked, "Got a lighter?"

Kazuki nodded, retrieving a lighter from his pocket and lighting Toshiro's cigarette. They settled into a casual conversation, laughing and exchanging comments as smoke curled up into the cool air.

After a few minutes, Adam grew bored of watching. He leaned back, his mind drifting as he considered the day's events. Just as he was about to close his eyes, Pratham's voice rang in his ear once again.

"Lord Adam, the three students are leaving the rooftop."

Adam exhaled quietly, relieved. Once the coast was clear, he stood, stretching out his limbs before beginning his descent back into the school.

Meanwhile, Ani had just left the teachers' office, muttering to herself as she walked down the hallway. "I don't understand why they keep giving me all this work. There are other class representatives too, aren't there?"

She sighed, adjusting her backpack as she made her way to the now-empty classroom. As she entered, she looked around, realizing that everyone else had already left. "Well, I guess it's just me," she murmured, moving towards her desk.

Just then, a voice from the doorway startled her. "I figured I'd find you here."

Ani turned quickly, recognizing the voice at once. Adam stood there, leaning slightly against the doorframe, his breathing a bit labored from running down the stairs. His usual mask was off, revealing his intense expression.

Surprised, ani stood up, closing her book. "Adam? Why are you still here?"

Pratham's voice buzzed in Adam's ear, offering advice. "Lord Adam, tell her that she mentioned she'd be staying late, so you decided to wait for her."

Adam smirked, remembering her earlier words. "I thought I'd wait for someone," he replied, stepping into the room. "Some girl mentioned she'd be staying late, so I figured I'd keep her company."

Ani blinked, momentarily thrown off guard by his unexpected answer. Her lips curled into a small smile as she tilted her head. "Don't you have things to do? Why waste your time waiting around?"

Pratham interjected, offering a suggestion. "Why not invite her to walk together and continue the conversation?"

Adam grinned, glancing at her bag. "Why don't we talk about that on the way? Ready to go?"

Ani surprise softened, replaced by a warm smile. She quickly packed her belongings, and together they made their way out of the classroom, side by side, blending seamlessly into the evening's quiet.