[MORNING – JOURNALISM CLUB ROOM]
Mika, the President of the Journalism Club, pinned the last photo to her corkboard.
It was a blurry shot of Noah handing a mysterious black bag (trash) to a SWAT team.
Next to it was a photo of Daisuke bowing to Noah.
Next to that was a photo of Noah entering the Antique Shop at midnight.
"I have him," Mika whispered. "The scoop of the century."
She adjusted her glasses.
"Noah Sato is not just a student. He is the Shadow Emperor of Shinohara District."
She pulled out a USB drive labeled "PROJECT SERPENT".
"This goes to print tomorrow morning," she declared. "The world will know the truth."
[CLASSROOM 3B – LUNCH]
Lilly was eating her bento when her phone buzzed.
ALERT: JOURNALISM CLUB LEAK.
SUBJECT: SATO NOAH.
STATUS: EXPOSURE IMMINENT.
Lilly choked on her rice.
She looked at Noah. He was happily eating a melon bread.
"Noah," Lilly hissed. "We have a problem."
"What? Is the melon bread expired?"
"No. Mika from the newspaper. She knows."
"Knows what?"
"Everything. The Yakuza. The Token. The Trash Mission."
Noah blinked.
"Oh! You mean she's writing an article about my community service?"
Lilly stared at him.
"Community service? Noah, she thinks you're a crime lord!"
"That's silly," Noah laughed.
Lilly stood up. "I have to stop her."
She signaled to Daisuke, who was guarding the door.
Daisuke nodded. He understood the mission.
OPERATION: KILL THE STORY.
[AFTERNOON – HALLWAY]
Lilly and Daisuke moved through the school like shadows.
"Target location: Journalism Club Room," Lilly whispered into her earpiece. "Objective: Secure the USB drive."
"Understood," Daisuke growled. "I will distract the sentries."
(The sentries were two freshmen handing out flyers).
Daisuke walked up to them.
"FLYERS!" Daisuke barked. "GIVE ME ALL OF THEM!"
The freshmen screamed and ran away.
"Path clear," Daisuke reported.
Lilly slipped into the club room. It was empty.
She scanned the desk. The computer was locked. The USB drive was gone.
"It's not here," Lilly said. "Mika must have it on her."
"Where is she?"
"She was last seen... heading to the rooftop."
Lilly froze.
"The rooftop? That's where Noah eats lunch."
[ROOFTOP – THE INTERVIEW]
Mika found Noah sitting on a bench.
She approached cautiously, camera ready.
"Sato-kun," she said.
Noah looked up. "Oh, hi Mika!"
Mika's heart pounded. He knows my name. He's been watching me.
"I... I have questions," Mika stammered.
"Okay," Noah said, finishing his bread.
Mika pulled out her notepad. Her hands shook.
"Is it true... that you command a legion of men in black suits?"
Noah thought about the Yakuza at the gate.
"Oh, them? Yeah, I guess so. They're really enthusiastic."
Mika scribbled furiously. ADMITS TO COMMANDING LEGION.
"And the... the incident at the warehouse?" Mika pressed.
"That was a misunderstanding," Noah explained. "I broke a case. I felt really bad about it."
Mika gasped. HE BROKE A 'CASE'? IS THAT CODE FOR SOMETHING?
"One last question," Mika whispered. "What is your ultimate goal?"
Noah looked at the sky.
"Honestly? I just want to finish high school."
Mika stared at him.
"Thank you, Sato-kun," Mika said, bowing. "I have everything I need."
"Wait!" Noah said. "Do you want a scoop?"
Mika froze.
"A... scoop?"
"Yeah. Write this down."
Noah leaned in.
"The cafeteria is serving mint chocolate chip ice cream tomorrow. It's a secret."
Mika blinked And started thinking rapidly in her head.
"Ice cream? tomorrow, if I wrote this article he'll freeze me to death "
"Yeah. It'll be quite a scoop. Spread the word."
[THE NEXT MORNING]
Lilly rushed to the school entrance. The newspapers were out.
She grabbed a copy, terrifying the distribution boy.
THE SHINOHARA TIMES
HEADLINE: SATO NOAH REVEALS SWEET SECRET!
Exclusive Interview: The Student Council's 'Shadow' opens up about his love for Mint Chocolate Chip! "It keeps me cool under pressure," Sato says.
Also inside: Is the 'Men in Black' Flash Mob returning for the Cultural Festival? Sources say yes!
Lilly stared at the paper.
There was no mention of crime. No conspiracy. Just a photo of Noah smiling with an ice cream cone.
Daisuke looked over her shoulder.
"The Boss is a genius," Daisuke wept. "He controlled the narrative with dessert."
[CLASSROOM 3B]
Noah was reading the paper.
"Hey, look!" Noah pointed. "I made the front page!"
"You did," Lilly sighed, slumping into her chair. "You really did."
"I told you she was writing about community service," Noah said. "Service to ice cream lovers everywhere."
Lilly closed her eyes.
"Never change, Noah."
"I won't," Noah promised. "Unless they run out of mint chip."