Chapter 25: Elite Sociopaths
I was still lying on the floor.
My neck ached from Reika's chokehold, and every person in the room was staring at me.
Then Hina slowly walked toward me.
The soft tapping of her cane echoed across the silent room.
She crouched until we were almost eye level.
With that same gentle smile everyone always talked about, she asked,
"What's wrong?"
"You look like you've seen a ghost."
I instinctively scooted backward.
"I know who you are."
"You're Hina."
"I've heard people talk about you."
"They always say the same two things."
"They either call you..."
"...a sweet angel..."
"...or a cunning demon."
Her smile never changed.
Slowly, she lifted one finger and pressed it against my forehead.
Right on my temple.
Her eyes never left mine.
"Tell me something."
"Which one do you believe?"
"As you look into my eyes..."
"...what do you see?"
"Am I the sweet angel..."
"...or the cunning demon?"
I opened my mouth.
Nothing came out.
Before I could answer, another voice interrupted.
A girl with her hands buried in her pockets let out a loud yawn.
Nozomi.
"Can you just tell us why you're here already?"
I swallowed.
"The administration..."
"They're throwing knockout gas into different rooms."
...
Nobody reacted.
Not one person.
Some girls continued chatting.
Others were braiding each other's hair.
A few simply sat against the wall as if nothing important had been said.
"...You already knew?"
Nozomi shrugged.
"I overheard the principal talking with some staff."
"Apparently the knockout gas was meant to weaken us."
I blinked.
That was it?
That was their reaction?
Hina smiled.
"You see, Jun?"
"We're in complete control here."
"...How?"
"How are you going to stop it?"
Before Hina answered, Nozomi spoke instead.
"Dude."
"You're the guy crawling through air vents."
"We're asking the questions here."
...
I glanced downward.
Something caught my eye.
Her shoes.
"...Why are your shoes uneven?"
She rolled her eyes.
"Seriously?"
"More questions?"
Before anyone could say another word...
Hina looked toward the ceiling.
A metal canister suddenly crashed through the vent.
"...!"
"Gas!"
I immediately dropped to the floor and held my breath.
The room filled with white smoke.
I squeezed my eyes shut.
One minute.
Two.
Finally...
The gas dispersed.
I stood up slowly.
Everyone else was still awake.
Everyone...
Except Reika.
She had thrown herself in front of Hina the moment the gas appeared, covering Hina's mouth with her own hand.
Now she lay unconscious on the floor.
Hina looked down at her.
"Hmm..."
"So they know you're crawling through the vents now, Jun."
Her voice sounded almost...
Curious.
Not worried.
Not guilty.
Not even surprised.
I stared at Reika.
She had just protected Hina without hesitation.
Yet Hina didn't seem remotely shaken.
Nozomi stretched lazily.
"Well."
"You should probably get going."
I nodded.
Without another word, I climbed back into the ventilation shaft.
The metal creaked beneath me as I crawled deeper into the building.
Eventually...
I heard voices below.
I stopped moving.
"...That crazy psycho could've harmed you, Sobu."
"Are you sure you're okay?"
A familiar calm voice answered.
"Yes."
"I'm fine."
"You should all focus on operating the exam."
...
Sobu.
The principal.
Another unfamiliar voice spoke.
Their Japanese carried a noticeable accent.
"So psychologically breaking children..."
"...counts as an exam?"
"You people must be sick."
Another voice immediately cut them off.
"Silence, Paul."
"Don't question Toshiro."
My heartbeat sped up.
I leaned forward for a better look.
...
Crack.
The metal beneath me gave way.
"...!"
The entire vent collapsed.
I fell straight into the room.
Everyone looked up at me.
For one brief second...
Nobody moved.
Then someone rushed toward me.
Before I could even stand—
Something sharp pierced my neck.
"...!"
I reached toward it instinctively.
My vision blurred.
The room spun around me.
Voices became muffled.
The lights above me stretched into long white lines.
Then...
Everything went dark.