Raindrops fell as I recalled my past. In my mind, a single affirmation echoed like an undeniable truth: Trust will always prevail. Trust will always prevail. Trust will always prevail. Trust will always prevail.
The signal being abruptly cut off… the possibility that Steven could have been the author of that post… No… Trust will always prevail in the end, just as it always… has.
After arriving at my dorm, I ate lunch and completed my assignments. I gazed at the cloudy sky as other students walked to their dorms or the school cafeteria.
Ugh… I feel a bit lonely.
I took a shower and checked my pantry. As I suspected, my supplies were running low, so I decided to head to the school's market. My walk was slow, and my mind was empty of thoughts. That was okay… I couldn't think of anything other than the events unfolding around me, and doubting Steven was something I had no intention of doing. Given that, not thinking at all was a reasonable option.
The cafeteria had a limit on the number of students allowed during lunch hours, so I didn't expect to see a large group or anyone I knew. I was wrong.
"Miss Kindness, I'd like to speak with you."
It was Charles, the vice-president of the student council, accompanied by a girl who seemed to be a first-year student.
"Oh… Do you need something?" I asked as the girl beside him stared at me.
"Do you trust Steven Honleast?"
I was a bit surprised. After the second post, it was logical that some at the school would conclude Steven wasn't the author of the first one, but it was also reasonable to suspect he might have written the second. Perhaps that's why Charles was asking me this.
"Yes… I… trust him."
Charles glanced at the girl beside him and asked, "Is she lying?"
Lying…? Why was Charles asking her that…?
"She doesn't believe she's lying."
"I see."
She doesn't believe I'm lying…? But… I do trust Steven. Why had Charles suddenly appeared with this girl to ask me something like that?
"Miss Kindness, has it ever crossed your mind that Steven Honleast could be the 'manipulator'?"
"N-No…"
"Is she lying?"
"She is."
It was inevitable that the thought had crossed my mind, but why did they want to know that? And how? Was this petite girl with pink hair some kind of psychic or something?
"I see, Miss Kindness. It's perfectly normal to have that kind of behavior given everything that's happened. Don't you agree?"
"No… I shouldn't doubt him."
"Is she lying?"
"She doesn't believe she is."
The situation repeated itself. Where was Charles going with this?
"Miss Kindness, is someone forcing you through some kind of contract or document?"
There was someone, but it was William, not Steven. I figured there was no harm in saying it was him.
"Yes… But it wasn't Steven—it was William!"
Charles looked at me with a suspicious yet conclusive expression.
"William forced you to sign a document, and it involved Steven, correct?"
Ugh…! The situation was really pointing toward Steven, and that wasn't good… But how could I dodge the topic? After thinking for a moment, I realized that whether I answered or not, both responses could lead to the conclusion that Steven might be the "manipulator." But if I spoke, Charles could ask more questions and corner me. So, not responding was the best option…?
No… If I explained a bit more about the situation, it might sound better for Steven. Plus, I could say I wouldn't answer further to avoid being cornered again.
"Why are you taking so long, Miss Kindness?"
"W-William said Steven would eventually manipulate the class, while implying he wasn't the 'manipulator.' The document obligated me to report to the school coordinator when my friend started manipulating the class. Now I'm a bit tense with all these questions, and I might accidentally say something foolish about my friend, incriminating him… So I won't answer any more, o-okay?"
"Is what she said true?"
"Yes."
"I see… Miss Kindness, what about Carol Winter? Do you know anything suspicious about her?"
Carol?
"I don't think Carol is the 'manipulator'… It doesn't suit her."
"Is she lying?"
"No."
Ugh… Could they stop scrutinizing my every sentence for once…?
"Curious. Everyone says the same… Perhaps Miss Winter is indeed a great actress."
Huh…?
"But why are you so sure Carol is the 'manipulator,' Charles…? Aren't you friends with her and Larry?"
"I never said I was their friend. I was in that group a few days ago just to observe you, Miss Kindness."
Charles sounded a bit strange, but surely it was just his way of speaking. Still, how could he be so certain Carol was behind everything happening in the shadows?
"Hey, Charles, you sounded really weird."
"I certainly didn't. You kids tend to overreact to everything…" Charles said with a sigh.
"Tsk! I'm not a kid."
"Only a kid would get upset at being called a kid."
"H-Hey… Charles…"
Charles and the girl turned to me in sync, breaking the slightly lighthearted atmosphere.
"How can you be so sure Carol is the one Steven said he'd unmask…? The 'manipulator'… it couldn't be her, right?"
"Good, I was expecting you to ask that. It's quite simple, Miss Kindness. You see this girl beside me?"
"Yes… She's a first-year, right?"
"Correct. My assistant has exceptional skills in reading body language, so she can easily tell if someone is lying. She's never been wrong, at least as far as I know."
"Nice to meet you. My name is Emily."
Emily… The same name as my old friend who apparently sabotaged me.
"Nice to meet you…" I looked at the floor, slightly uneasy from the memory.
"What's wrong, Miss Kindness? Why do you seem so uncomfortable all of a sudden? Could it be my assistant's name?"
Those two were too perceptive. I needed to get out of there as quickly as possible.
"I-I have to go… See you…"
I hurriedly walked to the school market, leaving them behind. Ugh…! So much information had been extracted from me in such a short time… Charles was truly a powerful figure.
Suddenly, Jack entered the market, looking down. As if he hadn't noticed me, he continued shopping normally without looking up.
Jack… What's going on in his head…? Despite his average grades, something told me he was smarter than he let on. Plus, along with first-year Emily and Steven, he was one of the few who seemed able to easily read my thoughts.
"H-Hi, Jack…"
"…"
He didn't even glance at me, continuing his shopping. His behavior was quite peculiar. I had suspected he might be the "manipulator," but based on our conversation in literature class, Jack thought Steven was behind everything, so it couldn't be him.
My classmate was slowly picking items from the shelves, uncomfortably staring at the floor. I tried to stop looking at him, but the things he was grabbing were so unusual that they piqued my curiosity.
"What?" he said with a slightly irritated tone.
"N-Nothing… I… didn't know you liked flowers, Jack…"
He looked at me directly with disdain.
"Mind your own business."
"Okay… Sorry."
"Tsk. Still tense about that 'little game' from earlier?"
"A little… You seem pretty calm, though…"
"You're really stupid. Unbelievable."
Stupid…? That reminded me of our conversation in literature class. Jack had called me stupid, probably for not associating Steven with the manipulator.
"Why…? Is this because of my closeness to Steven…?"
Jack sighed, his gaze becoming more serious.
"I'm talking about everything. The way you trust others, especially after what happened before. You know… with your parents."
…No.
"Why do you look so shocked, Bonnie? I can see it's something you want to forget, isn't it? The moment your trust was broken, and reality hit you hard. You know it'll happen again if you keep going down this path, right?"
…
"Denial? I guess you want it to happen again…"
Steven appeared, stepping between Jack and me. His posture was protective, though seemingly calm and kind. With eyes exuding excitement, he said in a controlled voice, "What are you doing, Jack?"
Jack slowly backed away, showing frustration, and said, "Ignorant. You're truly an idiot, Bonnie. The wolf is right in front of you, and you can't even distinguish it from a lamb… just like in the past."
Those words resonated deeply within me, but I didn't know exactly why. No… I didn't want to know why. The wolf from the past Jack was referring to… it wasn't Emily. But how did he know about that…?
"Are you okay, Bonnie?" Steven looked at me, seeming concerned.
"Y-Yes… I'm fine."
"Bonnie, don't worry about what others say to you. Remember your own goal."
My own goal… If I trusted, everything would work out in the end…
"And remember, Bonnie, in the end, everything will be okay. I promised I'd find the 'manipulator,' and I will. I already have my plan in mind."
"Can you… tell me?"
"Unfortunately, I can't. If I do, you might accidentally reveal your knowledge to them and become a target."
"C-Could it be… Carol…?"
Steven looked at me calmly, as if unsurprised that I had someone in mind.
"Charles and Emily talked to you, didn't they?"
He quickly deduced what had happened. Maybe they spoke to him too?
"Yes… And you?"
"No. They probably want to know about my interactions with others before approaching me directly."
Wait… If they didn't talk to Steven, how did he connect them to my suspicion? Could it be that, due to their reputation at the school, everyone knows about Emily's skills, and since I got it right, he deduced I had spoken to them? That would also mean Carol really was the "manipulator." At the same time, if that were the case, Steven could tell me, because even if I accidentally accused her, I'd likely do so anyway due to my conversation with the vice-president and his assistant. Both scenarios pointed to opposing outcomes, so I couldn't be sure. The most likely scenario was that someone else had told Steven about Charles and Emily's words.
"Wrong. No one told me, and I don't think Charles is spreading that kind of information to others."
Steven had read my mind again, but I was getting used to it. What intrigued me was the question… Why not confirm, given that everything pointed to Carol…? Wasn't it obvious, or was there something else…?
"Remember, Bonnie… I can't confirm, and that's for your own safety," he said with a kind smile.
"Yes… Of course…"
Safety… Yes… This situation was indeed more delicate than it seemed, considering someone had even been killed because of the "manipulator." A murderer was in our classroom, and Steven was facing them directly… At the same time, he didn't seem scared or show even a hint of sadness for his friend. At first, I thought he was vengeful, channeling all his energy and emotions into destroying whoever destroyed Craig, but the more I saw how he acted, the more it seemed like everything was under his control… Even, perhaps… his friend's death. No… No… That was too much.
"You seem restless, Bonnie. Try to stay calm and organize your thoughts… You're very distressed."
"Distressed…?"
"Yes. Your thoughts are shifting constantly. They always gravitate toward something specific involving trust, don't they? Try to organize your thoughts and stay calm."
"Y-Yes… I think I'm overthinking, indeed… Thanks, Steven."
I finished buying my things and paid for the items at the counter. I placed them in a bag I brought, slowly, and started walking.
"Let me carry that for you, Bonnie."
"No need, it's light…"
"I know it's not," he said, taking the shopping bag.
"Well… Thanks."
Steven walked me near the girls' dorm and handed the bag back.
"I can't go past here. See you, Bonnie!"
"See you… Thanks again…"
Steven slowly disappeared toward the boys' dorm, and I walked to the girls' dorm.
When I arrived, I prepared my food and made a dessert. My stomach felt odd, probably from eating a bit off-schedule. It's amazing how the human body picks up on these things.
I'll make sure to eat earlier next time.
After eating, I did my assignments and studied the day's material. The class had been considerably harder, and some external thoughts distracted me, so it took longer to study.
Why did Jack say that to me…? And how could he…?
In all the days I've spent at this school, I've been extremely worried or tense at least twice each day. It was taking a toll on my health, so I should try to relax a bit.
What should I do…? And how could I do that in this school…?
In the past, hanging out with Emily and the others was quite relaxing. Even though I was betrayed in the end, the feeling of being in a group was great. But at this school, I didn't think there was any specific group…
Steven definitely wasn't the right person if I just wanted to relax, plus he only showed up in specific situations.
Larry was probably with a big group of friends, and I'd feel out of place.
It was the same with Carol, and besides, I couldn't relax after what Emily said about her.
And Charlotte… Well… She was at her music club.
Club…! Yes, I should join a club! Maybe there was a study club or something else I was good at! I had thought about joining one earlier, but with everything that happened, I forgot.
I changed out of my uniform into more formal clothes and walked to the school building where the clubs were.
So many things… There were all sorts of clubs… Literature, martial arts, cooking, sports, the student council itself, and many others.
"E-Excuse me… Is this the study club?" I said when I found the place I wanted to join.
"Yes! We started a while ago, but if you want, you can join! I'm Kimberly Olseen, from class 3-B. You are…?" A girl with gray hair and pink eyes said kindly.
"M-My name is Bonnie Kindness. I'm from class 2-A."
Suddenly, Kimberly's eyes shifted from welcoming to disdainful.
"Unfortunately, you can't join, dear. Now go, don't cause trouble."
Huh…? What happened…? Just because of my name…?
"Oh… Okay…"
I left the study club area, crestfallen. My participation had been denied, probably because of the mess involving Steven.
Ugh…!
I sighed and kept walking. The one club I wanted to join had rejected me, and the same might happen with the others. I decided to just leave.
Suddenly, a familiar voice reached my ears.
"You're the girl from earlier… 'Miss Kindness,' right?"
It was Emily, the first-year girl who was with Charles earlier.
"Oh, yes… That's me."
"What's with that face? Don't you want to check out my club?"
"Huh…? You have a club? I thought you were part of the student council…"
"I help Charles sometimes in exchange for rewards, but I'm not on the council. I got popular because of my amazing fortune-telling club!"
"I see… You use your body language and analysis skills to simulate a psychic…?"
Emily smiled and blushed, placing her hands on her cheeks.
"Hehehe… When you put it like that, it almost sounds like I'm some kind of genius… Not that I'm not!"
"Haha…" I laughed nervously.
"Do you want to join my club, Bonnie?"
"No, thanks…" We both said in sync.
"H-Huh…?"
"Hahaha. Obviously, you wouldn't be looking for a club like this, especially since it involves me, which indirectly involves Charles, which involves most of the school's drama… Right?"
"Yes… But…"
"And you thought of that because of the mess involving the student named 'Steven'… You want a club where you can relax, and this definitely isn't it."
Emily had read me like a book, but this observation didn't seem "supernatural" like the others. Still, with my guard down, I couldn't help but be shocked.
"Power Shapers isn't for naïve people like you, Bonnie."
"W-What are you saying…? How do you…?"
I tried to back away, but Emily grabbed my arm. Despite being smaller and younger, the pressure on my wrist was strong.
"Ouch! Why are you doing this… Em-Emily…?"
"Don't take it personally. This is a warning. An alert. Or better… a prediction, hehehe. Leave Power Shapers, or else…"
Since Jack had already warned me about something similar earlier, I felt a chill. Everything pointed to one thing… Reality.
"Or else you'll break."
A fleeting memory of my mother in tears flashed in my mind. And also a blurry memory I couldn't quite recall. But I remembered my decision: I would trust Steven. No matter the situation, that was the path I had chosen at my peak of confidence, and making decisions now while tense or overly emotional wouldn't be good. Normally, I wouldn't act this way, but remembering my father helped me be a bit more rational.
"Sorry, Emily… I've already made my decision."
The small girl looked at me with disappointment and sighed.
"Well, there's nothing to be done. But remember, if something happens, you must make the most logical decision."
"I don't think we have anything more to talk about… Goodbye."
I walked away from the club area as Emily waved at me. I saw a figure hidden in the shadows near where I had been standing.
Jack…?
The figure I glimpsed vanished suddenly, leaving me confused. Something about it bothered me, but I couldn't figure out why. Whether it was Jack or not, it shouldn't matter… But something in my subconscious warned me this was abnormal.
But why? Why did the idea of my classmate being there bother me? Maybe it was the tension he caused earlier… Or was it because Jack seemed so mysterious? No… That wasn't it. What didn't add up was why he was in the club area. After all, someone as antisocial as Jack would have no reason to be there.
Indeed… If that's considered, the possibility that Jack was the one manipulating everything behind the scenes was highly plausible. The first warning about Steven possibly being the "manipulator" came from Jack, plus the incident at the market. Thinking about him being in the club area… Could what Emily just said also be his doing? I needed to stay calm… That scenario implied a lot.
It suggested that maybe Steven had been trying to protect me from the "manipulator" all along, like in the market earlier today. But if that were true, what was that meeting with William about? Could even the school coordinator be manipulated? If that were the case, my situation was dire, considering I signed a contract with him.
There was yet another possibility to consider: the "manipulator," whoever they were, was a genius who could easily anticipate the thoughts of someone ordinary like me. If Jack was someone like that… would he have made such a mistake at the exact moment of executing part of his plan? That didn't seem consistent. Either way, the thoughts I was forming now could also be something planned by the "manipulator," so I couldn't be certain of anything. The most likely suspect, in my view, was still Jack.
After leaving the club area, I walked back to my dorm again, as my attempt to go out and relax had been thoroughly frustrated… My room was the only place where I could avoid thinking so much about this school, which was ironic since I'd be studying there.
Ugh… There's still dinner tonight… Should I go…? Even though Charlotte would be there, which would help me have a relaxed moment, there'd probably be another "power clash" between Steven and the "manipulator."
After finishing my studies, I lay in bed and stared at the ceiling. Without company, without happy thoughts… There was a vast emptiness in my mind as I drifted into sleep, but a fleeting image of Steven and my father appeared suddenly before my consciousness faded.
It felt…
BZZZ!
I woke up in tears, breathing heavily. My emotional state was critical, though I didn't know why.
Huh…? How strange… I feel bad, but I don't know why…
What had woken me was my phone. I had received a call from Charlotte, and I felt strangely grateful for it.
Thank goodness it's over…
"Hey, Bonnie! You okay?"
"I'm fine…"
"Your voice sounds a bit off. Were you crying?"
"I just woke up like this… I don't think it's something to worry about."
"Are you sure? It doesn't seem normal to me… Well, anyway, we're going to dinner at the cafeteria tonight! I'll meet you there!"
"Huh? Wait…!"
Charlotte had hung up.
She's always going to do that…?!
I went to the bathroom and wiped my face, wet from tears. I looked directly at my reflection.
What am I doing…?
I checked the time, took a shower, and headed to the cafeteria. Many students were going there, as usual.
"Tsk! You're trash, Sam!" Peter said with a furious look as he walked to the cafeteria.
"Shut up! You weren't much better than him, Peter!"
"What?! Who scored two goals, huh?! That was me. I'm way better than losers like you!"
"Either way, idiot. If you don't pass the ball, we'll keep losing to the other classes, even with the great Larry on our team."
"Exactly. And besides, those goals were pretty ugly. I'm sure you scored them by accident."
"Tsk! Now you're both ganging up on me?"
"You started complaining, after all."
"Shut up. I'm pissed, so if either of you says one more thing, you'll be unconscious in less than a second!" It was Andrew, sweaty and dirty.
Even though violence was prohibited at the school, the boys were intimidated by the threat. Andrew had an imposing presence and could easily tap into people's primal instincts. Plus, it was easy to imagine him losing his temper and breaking the rules without much thought.
"Ugh! You stink, Andrew! And what are you doing here again?! Aren't you 'superior' to us or something?" It was Tina, with a disgusted expression.
"Sigh… Actually, I'm just here to see how this weird story ends. The 'manipulator' thing. When I find out who it is, they're getting beaten up!"
"Hahaha! You've really become Steven's little dog after he decided not to report you, huh?"
"On second thought, maybe I'll beat you idiots up first!"
"N-No, don't come closer!"
Andrew was about to do something but seemed to remember something and stopped.
"You're lucky I'm in a good mood today."
"Huh? Didn't you say you were pissed or something?"
"Peter…! Want to die?"
"Hahaha, no, sorry!"
"These boys are so dumb… At least Larry manages to be minimally decent…"
While Tina and the others talked, I started looking for Charlotte. I entered the cafeteria and soon found her, talking with… Steven? And more importantly, why was everyone looking at them and whispering?
"Hi, Bonnie. You okay?" Steven was the first to greet me, with a kind smile.
"Bonnie!" Charlotte came and hugged me, laughing.
So energetic…
"H-Hi… Are you guys okay?"
"Yeah. We were just talking about you!"
"About… me? Really…?"
"Of course. After all, you're a friend we have in common, right?"
"Steven's right! What's so strange about that? Hahaha!"
"Nothing… It's just that…"
"You seem unaccustomed, Bonnie. Know that many students talk about you when you're not around. That's my fault… Since many of them do it because of your involvement with me. Sorry."
I remembered when Kimberly barred me from joining the study club. People really were talking about me behind my back… But that wasn't Steven's fault!
"Don't worry about it, Steven…"
"Huh? So some students are bothering you, Bonnie? I had no idea! Don't worry, I can easily help with that."
"Thanks, Charlotte… But I'm used to it, don't worry."
"I will help you, Bonnie!"
"Hey, Bonnie, did someone happen to stop you from joining a club or something today?"
I froze. How could Steven know something like that? Was he there…? Or maybe someone told him…?
"Yes… How did you know?" Charlotte and I looked at him simultaneously.
"It was just a guess. I figured you'd want to join a club eventually, and you seemed to recall something when I mentioned students talking about you behind your back, so I couldn't help but imagine a scenario where that would happen."
"Wow! That was creepy, Steven! It reminds me a bit of Emily!"
"Yeah… He's very… observant…"
"And who was it that stopped you from joining, Bonnie?"
"Kimberly, right?"
"Yes… It was Kimberly…"
At that point, I wasn't surprised anymore by how quickly Steven deduced things, unlike Charlotte.
"Wow! You're really good! At this rate, I'm sure you'll find the 'manipulator' in no time!"
Steven smiled and thanked her. While I was happy we were getting along, something bothered me… No, I shouldn't doubt my friend's intentions.
"Alright, then I'll talk to Kimberly."
"Huh? You don't need to, Steven! That'll only…!"
"Don't worry. I'll say I want to join the club, so it won't seem like I know what happened earlier. Leave the rest to me, okay?"
Steven quickly slipped away, and Charlotte dragged me to chat with the others. But something bothered me… Steven never seemed to do anything just for the sake of it. After our conversation, my reputation would likely improve because of Charlotte. Consequently, so would Steven's. It makes me wonder… Was this all planned? And more importantly… What would he do next?