Lilly Cross made a decision.
A professional one.
A survival one.
Keep your friends close…
and your enemies even closer.
She adjusted her posture, smoothed her uniform, and followed Noah Sato into the school building.
Not because she trusted him.
Because she was terrified of losing sight of him.
"Why Are You Following Me?"
Noah stopped at the lockers.
He turned around.
"…You're still here?"
Lilly froze.
He noticed already.
Her instincts screamed DETECTED.
"I—uh—I thought we could… walk together?" she said carefully.
Noah blinked.
"Oh. Sure."
That was it.
No suspicion.
No hesitation.
Just acceptance.
Lilly's blood ran cold.
He's allowing it.
That means he wants me where he can watch me.
I've stepped directly into his kill zone.
Behind the scenes, government analysts stared at the feed.
"He allowed proximity."
"That means he has absolute confidence."
"He's baiting her."
Noah opened his locker.
Something fell out.
A coil of rope.
Lilly's breath hitched.
Rope?
In a school locker!?
Noah scratched his head.
"Oh—this. Nana made me carry it. For emergencies."
Lilly heard:
"Capture equipment. On handler's orders."
Her mind raced.
Extraction rope? Restraint tool? Silent takedown?
She nodded slowly. "I… see."
Noah smiled. "You never know when you'll need it."
She absolutely agreed.
For body disposal.
They climbed the stairs.
Halfway up, Noah suddenly stopped.
Lilly's muscles tensed instantly.
Ambush point.
He looked down at the floor.
"There's a loose step here."
Then he gently tugged her sleeve.
"Careful."
She froze.
He just tested my reaction speed.
He touched me without triggering my defense reflex.
He's evaluating my threat level.
Her heart pounded.
"Thank you…"
Noah nodded, already moving again.
Government analysis:
"He identified environmental hazard in under 0.3 seconds."
"He protected the target while maintaining dominance."
"Textbook escort behavior for high-value detainees."
The teacher announced:
"Take your seats."
Noah sat down.
Lilly hesitated.
Then chose the seat behind him.
I need to monitor him.
Noah glanced back.
"Oh—this seat's fine. You can sit here."
He moved his bag.
Making space.
Lilly's throat tightened.
He's controlling my position.
Front-left blind spot.
He's limiting my movement options.
She sat.
Perfectly straight.
Sweat slowly formed at her temples.
Noah dropped his pencil.
It rolled under her desk.
"I'll get it," he said.
He leaned down.
For half a second—
Lilly felt it.
That pressure.
That suffocating, predatory focus.
Her vision blurred.
Her body screamed DANGER.
Then it vanished.
Noah stood up with the pencil.
"Thanks."
He smiled.
Lilly's hands trembled.
He released killing intent intentionally.
Just enough to remind me.
A warning.
The government feed exploded.
"He emitted controlled killing aura."
"That was deliberate intimidation."
Noah leaned back.
"So… Lilly."
Her spine stiffened.
"Yes?"
"Do you like this school?"
The simplest question.
Yet her mind spiraled.
Is he asking if the operation site is acceptable?
If I plan to stay?
If I'm comfortable before execution?
She chose her words carefully.
"It's… quiet."
Noah nodded.
"Yeah. Quiet's good."
She nearly swallowed her tongue.
Quiet.
As in no witnesses.
The Bell Rings
The bell rang.
Students flooded out.
Noah stood.
Lilly followed.
Unconsciously.
He stopped again.
Turned.
"You don't have to follow me everywhere, you know."
Her heart skipped.
He knows.
He absolutely knows.
She forced a weak smile.
"Oh—sorry. Habit."
Noah laughed.
"It's okay. You can stick around if you want."
That laugh.
So light.
So human.
It terrified her more than any threat.
He's confident enough to let me stay.
That means I pose no danger to him.
Which meant only one thing.
If I make a single wrong move…
I will not survive.