Finally the school ended with the last bell ringing through the hallways. Children's voices instantly swelled with excitement as they began stuffing notebooks and pencil cases into their bags. Some were eager to rush home, others already whispering plans about stopping at the park or candy shop before heading back.
Ryu quietly closed his notebook, slid it into his satchel, and slung the strap over his shoulder. His steps were calm as he moved toward the door, blending in with the other kids filing out of the classroom.
At the side of the hallway, Naoka stood with her usual bright smile, bowing her head and waving as she said goodbye to her students. When Ryu stepped out, her gaze shifted to him.
"Stand beside me," she said with a gentle smile, her tone leaving no room for refusal.
Ryu blinked, then walked over, standing quietly while she continued her goodbyes. One by one the children disappeared down the corridor until the once-lively hallway was empty, filled only with the fading echoes of chatter and footsteps.
Naoka's smile softened into something more serious. She turned to him.
"Follow me."
Ryu nodded without a word.
They walked together through the quiet school until they reached the Consultant Room—a modest space with a glass wall that allowed the interior to be seen but not heard from outside. A place meant for private talks.
Ryu stepped inside first, taking a seat on the cushioned couch. Naoka followed, closing the door carefully behind her before settling into the chair across from him.
For a moment, she simply studied him. The quiet hum of the air conditioning filled the silence. Finally, she leaned forward, folding her hands.
"Can you tell me about your situation?" Her voice was calm, but her eyes carried the weight of worry. "What's going on? Don't worry—I'll keep it to myself."
Ryu leaned back against the couch, a sigh escaping his lips. He closed his eyes briefly, then opened them with a steady look.
"I'm a mutant."
Naoka's eyes narrowed, a faint flicker of surprise before she regained her composure. She gave a small nod, her voice gentle. "I see… Who else knows?"
"Only me." Ryu paused, then added, "And now you. I haven't told anyone else."
Naoka nodded again, her expression thoughtful. "Why not your parents? They'd want to know. They'd want to help."
Ryu's gaze lowered for a moment, his voice quieter. "I don't want them to worry. And also…"
He stopped mid-sentence, lifting his eyes to meet hers.
Naoka tilted her head slightly. "Also?"
"There are dangers in knowing about my ability."
Her brows drew together. "What do you mean?"
Ryu's tone grew heavier. "My ability… it's different. Different enough that it puts me in another category of mutation altogether." He exhaled slowly, his young face carrying a weight far older. "So I have to ask—do you really want to know about me? Because if you do… your life will change."
Naoka straightened unconsciously, the seriousness in his voice pulling her upright. "What do you mean by that?"
Ryu looked away for a moment, then sighed, meeting her eyes again. "Knowing about me comes with a price. And the price is heavy."
Naoka stared at him in silence, her lips curving into a faint smile even as her eyes narrowed. "You're joking, aren't you?"
Ryu chuckled lightly, but there was no playfulness in it. "No. I'm not. This is serious."
The shift in his tone settled into her chest like a stone. The air felt heavier, different somehow. Naoka's smile faded as she studied him, realizing she was no longer speaking to just a nine-year-old boy, but someone carrying a truth she couldn't yet see.
Her voice lowered. "Alright, Ryu. Then… tell me. I'm listening."
Ryu nodded slowly, as though weighing her words. "If you say so…" He leaned forward, his young face shadowed by something far older. "Then let me ask you something, Sensei. Imagine—how would you feel if there were a group of people who had the whole world under their control… and their last goal was the extinction of humanity? What would you do in that situation?"
Naoka blinked. The question caught her completely off guard. She had expected him to talk about himself, maybe his ability, not some… conspiracy. For a moment she hesitated, then answered as a teacher would.
"If people like that really existed… then I would try to stop them."
Ryu's lips curved in a small smile. "Good. But how?"
His voice was steady, almost too steady for a nine-year-old. "They control everything—governments, the military, corporations. Even mutants. They can monitor anything, anywhere in the world. They can even predict what every single person will do—past, present, future—until their death. With that, they erase threats before they can even grow. They kill trouble in its infancy. Now… how would you stop them?"
Naoka's mouth went dry. She stared at him, unable to form an answer. It was absurd. Terrifying. And yet, the way he spoke made her feel trapped in his scenario, unable to dismiss it as a child's game. Finally, she drew in a shaky breath. "Why are you telling me something like this?"
Ryu's smile deepened, but his eyes stayed calm and serious. "Because that kind of group really exists in this world."
Her breath caught. She stared at him, searching for some sign that he was joking, exaggerating, playing make-believe. But his face was utterly composed, too composed. He nodded once.
"I know it sounds strange, out of place. But it's true. That group is real." His voice was quiet but firm, carrying weight despite his small frame.
"Thankfully, they don't care much about the lives of normal people. People like us, with no power or influence. You're a teacher. You'll teach for years, maybe marry, have children, grow old, and pass on. I'm a child—just another boy registered in their system. Nothing about me stands out. Nothing worth their attention."
He leaned back, his eyes never leaving hers. "That's why we're safe. Because they don't care. But if you start acting suspicious, or if you tell anyone about me…" His voice dropped, almost a whisper. "…then we can say goodbye to all of humanity."
Naoka froze, her heart thudding painfully in her chest.
All she wanted was to understand her student, to help him if something was wrong. But this? What was this? A warning? A delusion? Or a truth too big for her to even comprehend? Her thoughts spun in circles, colliding with one another.
She pressed her hands together, trying to steady herself, but her mind was in complete disarray. 'Is he serious? Is this real? Or… is he imagining things?'
Her eyes flickered back to him. His expression hadn't changed—calm, unshaken, almost reassuring. And that only made her more unsettled.
***
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