The rain grew heavier as Ren followed Mira down the hallway. Students moved around them in loud groups, talking about homework, lunch plans, and the rumor spreading across the school about the student who had supposedly jumped from the roof. To everyone else it was just shocking news, something tragic but distant. To Ren it felt completely different. Someone in his classroom had killed a person, and that same person was now walking these halls pretending to be normal. The thought settled heavily in his chest. Mira slowed her steps so Ren could walk beside her, her eyes calmly scanning the students around them like she was analyzing every movement. "Tell me something," she said quietly. Ren glanced at her. "What?" She kept her gaze forward. "When you felt that intention… how strong was it?" Ren thought carefully before answering. "Strong enough to notice. But controlled." Mira nodded slightly, as if that confirmed something she had already suspected. "That means they're experienced," she said. "Or at least careful." Ren looked ahead at the long hallway. "Careful enough to push someone off a roof and make it look like suicide." "Exactly," Mira replied.
They stopped near the stairwell as rain pounded softly against the windows beside them. The sky outside had darkened, turning the hallway dim and gray. Ren crossed his arms slightly. "You said the killer is scared now." Mira leaned against the wall beside the window. "Yes." Ren frowned. "If they're that careful, why would they panic?" Mira smiled faintly. "Because something unexpected happened." Ren looked at her. "And that is?" She pointed lightly toward him. "You." Ren blinked. Mira continued calmly, "The killer planned everything—the fall, the timing, the story the teachers would believe. But they didn't plan for someone who could feel their intention." Ren looked back toward the direction of their classroom. Even from here he could still sense faint emotions drifting through the building—students talking, worrying, laughing—but the killer's intention felt different now. It was unstable, like someone struggling to remain calm. "They're thinking," Ren said quietly. "About what?" Mira asked. "About us." Mira pushed herself away from the wall and began walking down the stairs. "Good," she said. Ren frowned slightly. "Good?" She glanced back over her shoulder. "Fear makes people careless."
When they reached the lower floor, the hallway was quieter since most students had already returned to class. Mira suddenly stopped walking, causing Ren to nearly bump into her. Her eyes were fixed on someone ahead. A boy stood near the lockers across the hall. He looked completely ordinary—average height, messy brown hair, a school bag hanging from one shoulder—but the moment Ren sensed his intention, his chest tightened. It was the same cold presence from earlier. Weaker now, but unmistakable. The boy noticed them looking and casually turned back to his locker as if nothing had happened. Mira studied him silently. "Did you feel that?" she whispered. Ren nodded slightly. "Yes." For several seconds they stood still. Then, without warning, Mira walked straight toward him. Ren's eyes widened slightly but he followed. By the time he reached the lockers, Mira was already standing beside the boy. He looked up in mild surprise. "Oh… Mira, right?" he said casually. His voice sounded perfectly normal. Too normal. "Yes," Mira replied calmly. "And you're Yuuto Tanaka." The boy blinked once. "Yeah…?" Mira tilted her head slightly. "I wanted to ask you something. This morning, before class started, where were you?" Yuuto shrugged. "Cafeteria." Mira nodded thoughtfully. "That place was crowded. Someone must have seen you." Yuuto hesitated for a fraction of a second. It was barely noticeable, but Ren felt the sudden spike of tension in his intention immediately—the moment a lie formed. Yuuto scratched the back of his neck and laughed lightly. "Probably," he said. Mira watched him for a few seconds longer before stepping back. "Thanks," she said casually. Yuuto nodded, closed his locker, and walked away down the hallway until he disappeared around the corner.
The moment he was gone, Ren turned toward Mira. "You think it's him." Mira remained silent for a moment, her eyes still fixed on the empty hallway. Rain thundered against the windows outside. Finally she spoke softly. "I don't know yet." Ren frowned slightly. "But I do know one thing." Ren waited. Mira's faint smile slowly returned. "That boy just told us a lie." Ren crossed his arms. "A lot of people lie." Mira shook her head slightly. "Yes… but most people don't lie when they're innocent." Ren felt a chill run down his spine because the intention he had sensed from Yuuto earlier hadn't disappeared. It still lingered somewhere nearby, hidden among the many thoughts moving through the school. But now it carried something new—not fear and not calm. Something darker. Suspicion. The game had already begun, and someone had just made their second move.
End of Chapter 3