Knock. Knock.
Kevin opened the door.
"Hello, breakfast is here," Daisy said brightly the moment the door swung open.
She stepped in first, Caroline right behind her, both carrying a large paper bag that smelled unmistakably good.
Kevin reached out to take the bag automatically. "You can keep your shoes on," he said, noticing Caroline bending to remove her sneakers.
Caroline straightened halfway and looked at him. "It's uncomfortable to sit and eat with them on."
She slipped them off anyway and placed them neatly beside the door.
Daisy lingered near the entrance for a second longer. Her eyes drifted past Kevin, toward the bed.
"Is that him?" she asked quietly, nodding toward the unmoving figure sprawled there.
"Don't worry," Marcus said, setting his phone aside. "He won't wake up even if you splash water on him."
That seemed to reassure her—at least a little. Daisy nodded once, light and careful, and removed her heels before stepping further in.
The carpet had already been spread out on the floor, a tablecloth laid neatly over it, turning the middle of the room into an improvised breakfast spot.
Caroline dropped her bag toward Marcus without warning. He caught it by reflex.
Without another word, she walked straight toward Derik's bed.
Daisy followed, curiosity outweighing caution.
Caroline leaned in and opened Derik's eyelids the same way Jim had earlier. His eyes were bloodshot, unfocused even in sleep.
She straightened immediately. "Marko," she said calmly, "cover him completely with a bedsheet."
Marcus was already on his feet. "Is that really necessary? I don't want to waste my bedsheet on him."
"You can wash it," Caroline replied, glancing around the room. "If not, I have a spare."
Marcus sighed but didn't argue further. He pulled the sheet up and covered Derik fully, leaving no skin exposed.
Daisy exhaled quietly, tension easing from her shoulders.
Kevin and Daisy moved back toward the carpet, placing the breakfast bag in the center. They sat on Kevin's bed instead of the floor, close enough to join but still slightly removed.
Kevin opened his mouth. "Did you—"
"I did," Caroline interrupted, still scanning the room. "Check my bag. The game app is on the desktop."
Kevin closed his mouth and nodded.
"Why don't we play some music while we eat?" Daisy suggested, trying to lighten the cautious mood.
"Nice idea," Marcus said immediately.
Caroline took out her phone and typed quickly in their group chat.
Charming Four:Place one camera and recorder for now.
Kevin noticed the small devices only then.
It was his first time actually holding a spy camera and recorder in his hands—not hearing about them, not seeing pictures, but touching them. For a moment, he genuinely felt like he had stepped into a spy movie.
Daisy read the message and slipped into her role without hesitation. "Why don't you guys show me the room?" she said casually, as if she had just thought of it.
Marcus and Kevin exchanged a brief glance, then nodded slightly.
Kevin picked up the spy camera and recorder—one slipping into his pocket, the other held loosely in his hand.
Marcus opened Caroline's laptop and pulled up the recording software, his fingers moving confidently.
Caroline sat down on Marcus's bed, near Derik's head. "I'll sit here while you finish the tour and set up the carpet," she said evenly.
She made no effort to hide that she was sitting directly on the blanket covering Derik. If he moved even slightly, she'd feel it first—and warn them.
Kevin stared at her.
Marcus frowned. "Don't you have a better place to sit?"
"What's better than sitting near a log?" Caroline replied, resting her chin lightly on her hand, a faint smile on her lips.
Marcus shook his head and didn't argue. He returned his focus to the laptop.
Kevin placed the camera near the entrance, disguising it behind a shelf and partially covering it with a poster. He stepped back, carefully checking the angle, then turned to Marcus, waiting for his response to the view.
Daisy followed Kevin as he adjusted and hid the camera. "Your room is clean," she commented lightly. "Unlike the messy boys' dorms."
Marcus lifted his head briefly. "Thanks for the compliment," he said, giving a thumbs-up without turning around.
Then he took out the recorder and raised an eyebrow at Marcus—Where?
Marcus gestured under the bed.
Kevin slid it into place and returned to sit beside Marcus, both of them watching the live feed and the audio levels side by side.
All three turned their attention to Daisy.
"I'm getting a call," Daisy said, adjusting her heels again. "I'll be back. You guys start with breakfast."
She put in her earphones, opened a voice recorder app, and started walking toward the girls' wing stairs.
A few students passing through the boys' wing slowed and stared. Seeing a girl walk out of a boys' dorm in the morning was unusual enough to draw attention.
Daisy ignored them completely.
"I came to my friend's place to have breakfast," she said aloud, her tone casual and convincing, as though she were talking to someone on the other end.
She reached the emergency exit near the girls' wing, opened the door, and leaned against the wall.
Inside the dorm room—
"Did you get what I asked for?" Marcus asked Caroline, closing the laptop and moving toward the washroom.
"Why don't you see it for yourself?" Caroline replied.
Kevin placed the breakfast bag neatly on the tablecloth. "Where did you get this from?"
"Since we woke up late too, we grabbed something from Apple," Caroline said.
"Hm. I haven't eaten at Apple yet," Kevin said, settling in, hands already itching to open the bag.
"Where should we have lunch today?" Marcus asked from near the washroom, already thinking ahead.
"You guys want homemade food today?" Caroline asked casually.
A message popped up on all their phones.
Charming Four — Daisy:Can't you guys think of anything apart from food? I'm fine with any place, as long as it's tasty.
All three burst into soft laughter.
"I'll go to the washroom," Marcus said. "You guys start."
Inside, he muttered under his breath, "If you can hear me here, it would be a surprise."
He waited a moment, then called out, "Cheez, play some music. Kevin, don't even think of touching anything until I'm back."
A message arrived.
Daisy:Is Marcus far away? The sound is faint but clear if others don't speak.
Caroline:That should be fine. You can return now.
Daisy slipped back into the dorm.
Everyone was seated on the carpet.
No one had opened a single item.
They all looked up at her and waited.
Daisy sat down beside Kevin, touched by the gesture.
"Let's start now," Marcus said, picking up his sandwich.
"Thanks for waiting," Daisy said softly.
"That's what we should say," Kevin replied. "You got us breakfast."
The room felt warm then—safe.
Even with a log sleeping behind them.