Ishigawa Ren had three rules for surviving his final year of high school:

Don’t get involved in drama.

Never make eye contact with a teacher who looks like they’re hunting for volunteers.

Stay invisible.

And for two years, it worked like magic.

But the moment he stepped into Class 3–B that morning, his peaceful era died instantly.

The classroom felt unusually loud. People were buzzing, whispering, vibrating like a kettle about to explode. Ren lowered his head and walked to his seat, ready to disappear inside his novel.

Then the door slid open, and the room froze.

A girl stepped in.

Short silver hair.

Hazel eyes sharp enough to cut oxygen.

A posture that said, I don’t care if the world burns, I’m here for the spectacle.

The teacher cleared his throat.

“Class, we have a transfer student.”

Ren closed his book. Transfer student… great. Another walking disaster.

“My name is Aihara Kira,” she said. “Don’t talk to me unless I talk to you.”

The class gasped.

Ren smirked. Bold. I respect that.

The teacher looked around. “You can sit… um… next to Ishigawa.”

Ren instantly regretted breathing oxygen today.

Kira walked over and sat beside him without a word. He tried to ignore her. She seemed like someone who carried trouble like perfume.

Halfway through the lesson, Ren noticed Kira glancing sideways at him.

He whispered, “Do you need something?”

“No,” she said.

Pause.

“…Maybe.”

Ren raised a brow.

Her eyes scanned the room. “Your class… stares too much. It’s annoying.”

He shrugged. “Welcome to 3–B. Gossip central. Just pretend they’re trees.”

She blinked. “Trees?”

“It helps.”

Kira actually looked around and muttered, “Trees… okay.”

Then she silently nodded like she had just unlocked a secret ninja technique.

Ren bit his tongue to avoid laughing.

During break, the class circled Kira like hungry reporters.

“Where are you from?”

“Do you have a boyfriend?”

“What’s your type?”

Kira frowned, overwhelmed. Ren watched from his desk, sipping juice like it was premium entertainment.

Then Kira suddenly stood up, pointed at him, and said:

“He’s my friend. Talk to him instead.”

Ren choked on air.

Wha—

WHAT?

Instantly, the class stampeded toward him.

“Ren! How long have you known her?”

“Is she staying at your house?”

“Are you two dating?!”

“Kira,” Ren whispered harshly, “What are you doing?!”

She shrugged. “You looked bored.”

“That doesn’t mean I want a death sentence!”

The class’s questions kept firing like bullets. Ren felt sweat collecting on his soul.

Finally, the bell rang, and the crowd scattered.

Ren leaned back, exhausted. “You’re… chaotic.”

Kira tilted her head. “Is that bad?”

He sighed. “Not… necessarily.”

She smiled faintly — the first genuine smile he’d seen from her. It was small, warm, and weirdly soft.

“Thank you,” she said quietly.

“For what?”

“For helping me breathe.”

Ren blinked, unexpectedly caught off guard.

Before he could respond, the school speaker crackled.

“Student Ishigawa Ren, report to the principal’s office.”

The class gasped dramatically.

Ren froze.

What did I do now?!

Kira whispered, eyes narrowed, “Want me to come with you?”

Ren swallowed.

“Why… why would I need backup?!”

Kira stared.

“…Because your face looks like you’re walking to your own funeral.”

Ren couldn't deny it.

Ren stepped into the principal's office like a prisoner entering court. Principal Moriyama sat behind a mountain of documents, sipping tea like a wise dragon guarding treasure.

“Ah, Ishigawa,” Moriyama said with grandfatherly menace. “Have a seat.”

Ren sat. “Sir, if this is about the vending machine incident last month, I swear I didn’t—”

“It’s not,” Moriyama said calmly.

Ren exhaled. Thank God—

“It’s about the explosion on the rooftop.”

Ren coughed. “THE WHAT?!”

Moriyama stared. “So you don’t know?”

“No! What exploded?!”

“Hmm…” Moriyama tapped his chin. “Interesting.”

Interesting?

Ren was having a heart attack and this man was collecting data.

Moriyama folded his hands. “This morning, before classes, someone accessed the rooftop. A small detonation sound was heard. Smoke was seen.”

Ren blinked. “And… what does that have to do with me?”

Moriyama smiled too peacefully.

“Because the security camera captured two things.”

Ren leaned forward, terrified.

“One: a flash of silver hair.”

Ren froze.

Kira.

It had to be her.

“And two…” Moriyama slid a photo across the table.

Ren stared.

His own jacket.

Hanging on a railing.

Ren gasped. “My jacket—?! How did—?! Sir, I was at home sleeping! I didn’t even come to school early!”

“So you say.” Moriyama narrowed his eyes. “Tell me, Ishigawa… do you know the new transfer student?”

Ren gulped.

“Define ‘know’.”

Moriyama stared harder. “Are you assisting her?”

Ren shook his head so fast his neck cracked. “NO! I don’t even understand her!”

Moriyama leaned back. “She requested to join your class specifically. She transferred without documents. And when asked for her previous school, she wrote: ‘classified.’”

Ren wanted to scream.

Classified? In high school?!

Moriyama placed both palms on the desk.

“I don’t think she’s dangerous… yet. But watch her.”

Ren blinked. “Watch her? Me?! Why me?!”

Moriyama smiled like a man who just gave someone a mission their soul wasn't ready for.

“Because she talks to you. She doesn’t talk to anyone else.”

Ren rubbed his face. “Sir… I’m literally the most average student here. Why would someone like her—”

“Exactly,” Moriyama said. “You are too average. That is why she chose you.”

Ren stared at the principal as if the universe was pranking him.

Finally, Moriyama waved. “You may leave.”

Ren walked out, brain fried.

Kira leaned on the wall. “So? Are we expelled?”

Ren groaned. “No. But apparently I’m supposed to… watch you?”

Kira blinked. “Oh.”

Ren raised a brow. “Do you even know why you were on the rooftop?”

Kira hesitated.

For the first time, she looked uncertain.

“I heard something,” she said quietly. “Something… familiar.”

Ren frowned. “Heard what?”

Kira didn’t answer.

Instead, she began walking away.

Ren called out, “Hey—wait! At least tell me if you’re planning to blow up anything else!”

She stopped.

Looked back.

“If something follows me, you’ll know,” she said.

“Something… follows you?”

Kira put a finger to her lips.

“Shh.”

Ren felt a cold shiver run down his spine.

But before he could ask again, someone burst into the hallway.

A boy.

Tall, energetic, grinning like he ran on caffeine and chaos.

“REN! BRO!” he shouted. “Did you hear?! There’s a girl with silver hair who almost caused an explosion! We HAVE to find her!”

Ren closed his eyes.

That was his best friend — Tanaka Hiro.

Professional bringer of trouble.

Ren pointed at Kira.

“There. Found her. She’s right there.”

Hiro froze.

Kira stared back at him like a cat analyzing whether he was edible.

Hiro whispered:

“…Ren.

Why is the explosion girl standing next to you?”

Ren sighed.

“Because apparently… my life is over.”

Ren turned slowly.

Three men in black suits stood at the end of the hallway.

In school.

In broad daylight.

One wearing sunglasses indoors.

Hiro whispered, “Bro… did we… enter a spy movie?”

Kira frowned. “They found me faster than I expected.”

Ren’s voice cracked. “FOUND YOU?! Those are adults! Why are ADULTS looking for you?!”

Kira ignored him and stepped forward like she was used to this.

Suit #1: “Aihara Kira. Stop right there.”

Kira: “No.”

Suit #2: “Return with us.”

Kira: “No.”

Suit #3 stepped forward. “Don’t make this difficult. You know the rules.”

Ren whispered to Hiro, “What rules?”

Hiro whispered back, “I don’t know, but it sounds like she’s in a cult.”

Ren choked.

Kira raised her chin. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Suit #1 reached into his jacket.

Ren panicked.

“WAIT WAIT WAIT—THIS IS A SCHOOL—YOU CAN’T JUST—”

Suit #1 pulled out…

A detention slip.

Ren blinked.

“…What.”

Suit #1: “You were involved in an unauthorized rooftop entry. This is a school violation.”

Ren stared. “I STRESS FOR NOTHING IN THIS LIFE—?!”

Hiro burst into laughter. “Bro I thought they were going to shoot us—”

Suit #2 glared. “Silence.”

Hiro shut up instantly.

Kira stepped beside Ren. “He had nothing to do with it. Leave him out.”

Suit #1 adjusted his tie. “We have footage.”

Ren groaned. “Of my jacket, not me!”

Suit #3 eyed Kira. “You left evidence again.”

Kira looked away, cheeks puffing slightly. “It was windy.”

Suit #1 held out the detention slip. “Both of you. After school. Room 4–C.”

Ren’s soul left his body.

“I… I have cram school…”

Suit #2: “Not anymore.”

Hiro whispered, “Bro, you’re done.”

Kira snatched both slips, crumpled them, and threw them in the trash.

The men stared.

Suit #1: “…You know we can print more.”

Kira: “I know. But it makes me feel better.”

Suit #2 sighed deeply. “Just… don’t run this time.”

Kira crossed her arms. “I never run.”

Ren whispered to Hiro, “She DEFINITELY runs.”

The men finally turned around and walked away.

Hiro exhaled. “WHAT WAS THAT?!”

Ren massaged his temples. “I don’t know. I don’t want to know. I just want to graduate.”

Kira glanced at him.

“You okay?”

“No! I’m in detention with you! That’s the opposite of okay!”

Kira looked at the floor. “I’m… sorry.”

Ren froze.

She sounded genuinely upset.

He sighed. “It’s fine. I… guess it’s not your fault.”

Kira looked at him — surprised.

Hiro nudged Ren. “Bro… she looks like you just saved an orphanage.”

Kira ignored Hiro and whispered, “You’ll understand soon.”

Ren raised an eyebrow. “Understand what?”

But she didn’t answer.

And then—

The lights flickered.

All three froze.

Kira’s expression changed instantly — sharp, alert, serious.

Hiro whispered, “Bro… why does the hallway suddenly feel like a horror movie—”

Kira grabbed Ren’s sleeve.

“They’re coming back.”

Ren panicked. “Who?! The men in black?!”

Kira shook her head.

“No.

The ones from the rooftop.”

The lights flickered again.

A loud thud echoed from upstairs.

Ren’s heartbeat spiked.

“What… what was that?”

Kira whispered:

“…You heard it too.”