Noel: “I...okay.”

{...How stupid. Being depressed doesn’t change anything! It fixes… nothing!}

Yet, the awkward atmosphere still remained as tense as ever. Noel turned around, planning to walk out and leave directly thanks to the mood making it hard for the two of them to talk.

One step.

Two steps.

...Noel managed to take 5 whole steps before Mr. Abrams’s serious voice rang in his ear canals. The man wasn’t affected in the slightest by this awkward atmosphere, and merely watched his student’s steps in soft amusement.

Mr. Abrams: “What’s wrong? Did my question scare you so bad that you need to pay a visit to the nurse? Is it for stomach ache or a change of clothes? Either way, I haven’t finished speaking yet. could I trouble you to kindly wait until then?”

Noel: “Mr. Abrams. If I really DO need to change clothes or visit the bathroom, then asking me to wait for even a second longer is detrimental to my safety! My health would be at risk!”

Mr. Abrams: “...I see.”

Noel: “Be- ...Besides, heheh, your question isn’t even that big of a deal.”

Mr. Abrams: “Oh? Is took you a moment of silence and quite a bit of stuttering to overcome it, though. What’s your answer then? Care to share?”

Noel: “Fine, if you must know. Killing is bad, but if he also killed, then it… it doesn’t matter if he’s dead, right? It should be the same as delivering justice! After all, he’s a killer. The world won’t… Nobody would miss him.”

After listening up to this point, Mr. Abrams’s expression turned sharp and solemn. his countenance became serious once again before retorting in a seemingly casual tone: but there was a clear underlying sarcasm to each carefully chosen word.

Mr. Abrams: “Ah, yes. You are absolutely right Noel. When a murder occurs, the police just allow the twelve year old witnesses to run around with weapons in their hands acting out as the judge, jury and executioner. There’s surely nothing wrong with somebody your age wanting to stab his hand through another human body. No, it’s not like we have an official task force filled with super powered elites to catch, prosecute, uphold justice as well as defend it against criminals and accomplices alike. Wouldn’t THAT be a swell idea? Rather, your idea really begins to feel a tad… refreshing. just say ‘screw the laws!’ And do it yourself, without a guilty conscience.”

Noel: “…”

{‘Swell’? And who ever said that I wouldn’t have a guilty conscience? I’m not heartless!}

Noel: "...But what if he comes back and does it again? The jail cells...can they hold him?”

Mr. Abrams: “Well, I don’t know about the mercenary leaders, but I can certainly vouch for the prison warden and claim that anybody at that man’s level would be stuck inside for a very long time. Gadget experts and intellectual strategists maintain the place with various masters of combat that are each an equal match for top ranking heroes or villains. At least at the 15th ranked spot,their strength is a requirement before being selected to join.”

Noel: “Mercenary leaders? Was he not the leader? Were their multiple ‘leaders’ in charge of that day?”

Mr Abrams: “…Don’t worry about it. It’s nothing. Stop asking about what’s already come to pass.

Moving on, there is also rule number 3:) Don’t cause trouble. Control yourself properly and only move around in the vicinity of our special non – combatant division’s building. There are plenty of places to research and quite a few students or teachers to visit. I’ll write you each a pass to make sure others know that you aren’t sneaking about in order to cause trouble.”

Noel: “Okay, thanks a lot, Mr. Abrams.”

{…Can I go yet?!}

…

Mr. Abrams was just about to contact Mr. Reeds when the assistant teacher himself took the initiative to make the call instead. And why, you may ask?

It’s because once he came back from the bathroom trip he endured all morning before being forced to take, one of his students actually went missing!

Going back a few moments, prior to the conclusion of Mr. Abrams’s and Noel’s conversation…

Elijah continued looking around the classroom left and right, while wearing a slight frown. This was noticeable to the lone girl in class that always gave him her undivided attention.

Oliviera: “T- To think that even his restless face could be so cute… *Haaah*

I-I mean, Elijah~ Prince_ no, wait, no… he doesn’t like that anymore. King--!

…

Former King Eli- … No, wait, that sounds offensive.

...Classmate Elijah! (THAT one was definitely a LOT better.)

Is something, may-haps, troubling-

*GRROOOWLLL*

…

.

.

.

*Suddenly grabs a bag of chips after pausing*

*Munches*

...Twubling yuh? *Gulp*”

Alyandrea turned to face Elijah at Oliviera’s words. The students each seated themselves wherever they wanted to sit, so there was no order to their seating positions. Alyandrea sat in the middle row, while Elijah sat diagonal from her, in the first row. There were 5 rows of 3, so Alyandrea was positioned in the third seat of the third row, and Elijah enjoyed the first seat of the first… row.

Oliviera was like Elijah’s shadow, sitting directly behind him as the first seat of the second row. She had a front row seat to his seemingly worried actions and responded according to her hidden worry over his well being. Like some sort of overprotective fan that fears for her idol’s safety.

Could he be worried that those bullies, Savannah or Harvey would kick him while he’s down again?

But just then, his following spoken words at such an inquiry shocked not only her, but everyone in the classroom.

Elijah: “Did anyone see… where Noel disappeared to? I seemed to recall, only looking away to grab something from my bag, but after a few minutes of typing, he was gone.”

Wayne: “Huh, that IS weird. I stared at him for a second only, wondering if he was bound to get in trouble for sleeping instead of studying. But after that I turned to look at my own paper since I am still, heheheh, not done yet.”

Leos: “I was staring into space and trying to finish the last paragraph of my essay, which I’m still trying to do right now. but before that, I happened to look his way with similar thoughts to Wayne, if he was… ...going to get into trouble or something…”

Ian: “I looked at him just now too! But that was because I was stretching. I kept quizzing myself almost immediately after.”

Brennan: “I was also-”

Alyandrea: “Y’all need to mind your own business and not busy yourselves stalking that kid. What if he felt your gazes and ran away? Or maybe he just went to the bathroom after waking up. Anyways there isn’t much reason to worry. Mr. Reeds is coming back from the bathroom most likely, so they’d just meet up in there.”

Brennan: “--looking at him because I wanted help with… ah forget it.”

Li Shun: “Pfff~ Bro, are you okay? I know that must have felt embarrassing. But it wasn’t as bad as you think! I swear! I….

Heheheh, I barely noticed.”

Brennan: “Then why are you giggling back there…”

Oliviera: “Don’t worry Classmate Elijah, she didn’t mean it.

.

.

.

And even if she did, it surely doesn’t apply to you~ Teeheehee~!”

Alyandrea: “You…

‘Teeheehee~’ MY ASS! My words apply to EVERYONE!”

Li Shun: “*Rolls eyes* including yourself?”

Alyandrea: “OBVIOUSLY!!”

Li Shun: “...(What’s obvious… That sorta thing isn’t obvious at all…)”

Elijah: “Okay okay~ Haha~ everybody, relax~ it wasn’t meant to be that big of a deal~ I was only asking in passing, nothing more. Recent circumstances lately have made me, and probably a few of you guys as well, slightly jumpy.”

Ian: “Guys and girls.”

Elijah: “Yes, you’re right. I apologize for that.”

Ophelia: “…(Noel left, but I never even noticed… I thought he was right in front of me the entire time I looked away from him.) *scans around the room*”

…

*Clack* … *Clack* … *Clack* … *Clack* … *Clack*

The echoing sound of a clack, surrounded these students’ eardrums. They all simultaneously turned to face the gradually loudening sound, before taking note of an unnoticed detail that left the classroom feeling out of place.

‘Mr. Reeds surely closed the door… didn’t he?’ ← This thought filled the forefront of their minds.

...And then, just as the realization that this ‘open door’ was most likely connected to Noel’s disappearance, Mr. Reeds walked directly inside.

Mr. Reeds: “Hmm? Why is the door… I’m sure that I closed this door before leaving.”

His first action was taking a scenic survey of any changes to the room. One tiny detail didn’t fail to escape his grasp: they were too quiet! And they were all staring at him as well! Something feels… different.

Brennan: “...Hey, hey Aly, you were totally wrong about Noel being with him. Your deduction skills stink…!(Heheh, take that! This is what you get for calling us all stalkers and being mean! Also for interrupting me! Yeah…)”

Li Shun: “Pfff~”

Aly: “Ah, quit complaining! I never said he was DEFINITELY with Mr. Reeds! Just that it was a possibility was all, that’s what I meant…!”

Brennan: “Uhuh, Suuure~”

Alyandrea: “*Rolls eyes* More importantly… Does that mean he-”

This large detail finally caught Mr. Reeds’ notice. One of his students were missing! And it would appear these students thought that the missing twelve year old prodigy was actually with him… but how could that be? He didn’t see anybody on the way back from the bathroom, so the missing student didn’t come to find him.

---