The next morning, the school atmosphere remained the same. The morning air was still cool, and students slowly began filling up their respective classrooms. Yeager and Noel walked into class together. As usual, Noel went straight to his seat—this time a little calmer, since Yeager was sitting right next to him.
Yeager was flipping through his book when the sharp sound of footsteps echoed in the hallway. The classroom door swung open roughly, and Zico Palma entered with his ever-arrogant gang in tow.
Zico strolled casually to the front, then sat carelessly on the desk of a tall, well-built boy with cropped hair—Mick Hyuri, the school's basketball star and martial arts champ.
"Yo, Mick," Zico said loudly, making sure the entire class could hear. "You're good at basketball, right? Let's have a match today... or are you just good at sleeping in class?"
Mick was sleeping with his legs resting on the desk. He opened one eye lazily, glanced at Zico, then turned his head away in silence.
One of Zico's gang members, a skinny guy in a red jacket, laughed and mischievously threw Mick's lollipop out the window.
"C'mon, Mick! Don't be lazy—show us what you got!"
BAM!
A book suddenly flew across the room and smacked the red-jacket guy in the head. He staggered back in shock.
Mick was now sitting up straight, eyes locked on Zico and his group. His voice was calm, but there was a sharp edge to it:
"You disturb my sleep, throw away my candy, and now you wanna start a fight? Go find trouble somewhere else."
Zico grinned, slowly standing up from the desk and stepping closer. The room's tension thickened.
Yeager, who had been silent all this time, turned slightly and glanced at the scene. He whispered to Noel,
"Interesting… one's wild, the other's calm but deadly."
Several students looked nervous, bracing for a fight to break out any second. But just before anything happened—
"HEY!"
The booming voice of the gym teacher entering the room caused everyone to scramble back to their seats.
Zico spit on the floor, shooting Mick a final glare before casually walking out and heading to his own class with his gang.
Mick leaned back in his chair again, shutting his eyes. But before he dozed off, he muttered just loud enough to be heard:
"Touch me again, and you'll be sleeping longer than I do."
Yeager smirked quietly to himself. This school was full of drama—and possibly more danger than he'd expected.
Class had started. The teacher's voice echoed through the room as students took notes. Yeager sat quietly, though his mind was busy—still spinning from Anne's sudden death.
Suddenly, his phone buzzed softly in his pants pocket. Yeager glanced down discreetly.
A message from Darren:
"We found DNA on Anne's body. It belongs to someone connected to the school's inner circle. We need to talk now. I'm disguised as a delivery guy at the front gate."
Without hesitation, Yeager raised his hand.
"Miss, excuse me—may I go to the restroom?"
The teacher nodded absentmindedly. Yeager stood and walked out quickly. A few classmates gave subtle glances toward his slightly loosened collar, as if becoming a bit suspicious.
From the second floor window, Mick Hyuri—resting near the window—watched Yeager leave, eyes narrowing in quiet curiosity.
Yeager reached the school gate and spotted a man in a delivery uniform, holding a large box casually—Darren.
Yeager approached calmly, pretending to receive the package.
Yeager: "Whose DNA was it?"
Darren: "You're not gonna like it. Someone with full access to the teacher's lounge... someone who knows every corner of this school."
Yeager fell silent. His mind instantly started listing names.
Darren: "This isn't just a murder. It was planned. We need physical proof before we move."
Yeager nodded subtly, took the empty package as cover, and began walking back into the school—ready to dig deeper into the conspiracy surrounding Anne's death.
In the school's old auditorium, Zico Palma sat casually on a dusty table, his legs swinging lazily. Fayo Nickle, one of his cronies, paced back and forth with a worried look.
Fayo grumbled, "Damn it... the cops are already here. They're starting to question the staff about Miss Anne's death."
Zico stayed silent for a moment, then looked at Fayo sharply. He finally spoke, "Relax. As long as they don't have solid proof, we're fine. Everything's still going according to plan."
Fayo stopped pacing. "But what if someone talks, Zi?"
Zico smirked. "We make sure no one dares to."
In the school cafeteria, Zevanya and Noel sat together. Noel looked cheerful, munching on his food while watching puppet videos on his small tablet. Zevanya ate slowly but felt someone's gaze.
From across the cafeteria, Ariana Manosel sat with her group. She kept glancing over at Zevanya with a look that was hard to read—part curiosity, maybe a bit of surprise.
Meanwhile, down the hallway toward the teachers' room, Yeager and Raon were walking quickly.
Raon looked over hesitantly. "Why are we going to the teachers' room? We could get in trouble if we're caught."
Yeager whispered, "There's something I need to see. If there's any clue about Miss Anne's death, it's probably kept in there."
As they opened the teachers' room door, Yeager froze mid-step. Inside, Valerie, David, and their superior—Mr. Justine—stood around a desk, scanning documents.
Yeager and Valerie exchanged a quick glance, but said nothing. They all pretended not to know each other.
Yeager quickly said, "Sorry, sir. We thought this was the archive room."
Mr. Justine looked at them with a calm smile. "The archive is down the hall."
Yeager gave a short nod and pulled Raon away. Once they were at a safe distance, Raon whispered, "Do you know those people?"
Yeager shook his head, though inside, he knew—things were starting to move faster than he expected.
Inside the teacher's office, Valerie opened an old drawer that was locked. She pulled a small pin from her bracelet—a tool she always kept on her—and picked the lock carefully. With a soft click, it opened.
"Got it," she murmured, pulling out a red folder labeled Staff Confidential.
David leaned in. "Is it about Anne?"
Valerie nodded, eyes sharp. "And maybe about the previous victim too—Jinny Baldwin."
Mr. Justine stood near the door, keeping watch. He peeked out occasionally to make sure no other teachers got suspicious.
Meanwhile, outside in the school courtyard, Yeager and Raon sat on an iron bench under a large tree, sipping cold soda.
Yeager leaned back, exhaling. "You're quiet in class, but you ask a lot of questions."
Raon shrugged. "Quiet people notice more than you think."
Before Yeager could reply, a loud shout erupted from the open field nearby. Both of them turned their heads at the same time.
Mick Hyuri and Sam Artur were in the middle of a fight, pushing each other. Sam swung a punch, but Mick dodged with ease and grabbed his arm. The sound of cheering students echoed from the school windows above.
Crowds of students rushed to the windows, screaming and cheering.
"Go, Sam!"
"Mick, don't lose!"
"They're both so cool!"
The fight escalated. Just as Sam moved in for another strike, Yeager sprinted toward them and stepped in between.
With a firm voice, Yeager shouted, "That's enough!"
Both boys froze, panting heavily, their fists still clenched.
From the windows, the spectators groaned in disappointment.
"Ugh, the new kid again?"
"Why does he always ruin the fun?"
"Right when it was getting good!"
Yeager scanned their faces from below, then turned to Mick and Sam. "If you wanna fight, don't do it at school. Unless you're both ready to get suspended."
Sam huffed and backed away. Mick simply took a deep breath and walked off, not saying a word.
Raon approached slowly, standing beside Yeager. "Are you trying to be a hero, or are you just allergic to drama?"
Yeager smirked. "Maybe a little bit of both."
Inside a dimly lit building, a thin man sat in front of a wide laptop screen. His fingers moved swiftly across the keyboard as school CCTV footage popped up—showing the hallways near the teacher's lounge, the school garden, and the old auditorium. He squinted, then fast-forwarded the video until the scene where the police exited the teacher's lounge, greeted by a calm nod from Mr. Justine.
The man moved his cursor, opening a folder labeled "Target – Eren/Unknown", revealing several candid shots of Yeager, secretly taken from various corners of the school.
Meanwhile, the school bell rang, signaling the end of the day. Students began spilling out of their classrooms—some rushing toward the gates, others lingering in the halls.
Yeager stood outside the classroom with Zevanya and Noel. His gaze drifted toward the schoolyard.
"You two go on ahead. I've got something to take care of," he said, patting Noel's back gently.
Zevanya narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "Another one of those errands?"
Yeager just grinned and adjusted his collar. "Don't wait up. Your brother's full of secrets."
Once his siblings had left, Yeager strolled casually toward the garden path. From the opposite direction, Raon appeared with a book in hand. He glanced at Yeager.
"Hey. Your bike?"
"Parked near the field," Yeager replied, stifling a yawn.
Raon's ride pulled up down the street. He nodded briefly before hopping in and disappearing down the road.
Yeager continued walking, hands in his pockets. As he approached the parking lot, his eyes landed on Mick Hyuri walking alone, cigarette in hand. His posture was stiff, his steps slow but deliberate.
Yeager quickened his pace to match him.
"Yo, Mick!" he greeted lightly.
Mick turned his head, his expression as flat as ever. "What?"
"You walking home?"
Mick gave a wordless nod.
Yeager pointed toward his dark blue Vespa, parked neatly under a large tree. "If you don't mind, hop on. Evening breeze's perfect to cool your head."
Mick glanced at the Vespa, then back at Yeager. "A Vespa, huh?"
Yeager raised an eyebrow. "Classic, comfy, and stylish. No reason to say no."
Mick let out a quiet sigh. "As long as it's not slow as hell."
Yeager smirked. "Relax. I know when to cruise, and when to floor it."
The two of them headed toward the Vespa as the soft light of the setting sun stretched over the school grounds. Two students from vastly different worlds—but perhaps, that afternoon was the start of something unexpected.
That afternoon, a soft breeze swept through the quiet streets as Yeager and Mick Hyuri rode on a deep blue Vespa. The roads were starting to clear, and the sun hung low, painting the sky in golden hues.
Suddenly, Yeager pulled the brakes and stopped in front of a small retro-style café on the corner.
"Why are we stopping here?" Mick asked, glancing at the place with his usual disinterested expression.
"I'm hungry," Yeager said casually. "Aren't you hungry too?"
Mick scoffed, saying nothing. But the low grumble of his stomach was a clear answer.
Without further words, Yeager hopped off the Vespa and entered the café. Mick followed behind reluctantly, clearly unsure.
Inside, the café felt warm and cozy. The smell of fried noodles and soup lingered in the air, making their hunger even worse.
They took a seat in the corner. A few minutes later, their food arrived—but the one serving them made Mick Hyuri's face tighten instantly.
Sam Artur.
The guy he fought with earlier that day.
Sam placed the plates down with a little more force than necessary and shot Mick an unimpressed look.
"If you don't eat, my aunt's café is going to go out of business, you know," he muttered.
Mick lowered his head slightly, his appetite instantly gone.
Yeager raised an eyebrow, then said in a calm but firm tone, "Well, in that case, you should eat with us, Sam."
Sam blinked. "Seriously? The new kid's inviting me to eat?"
Yeager rolled his eyes. "New kid, new kid… I have a name, you know. It's Eren. Use it. What's the point of being classmates if no one knows my name?"
Sam grinned and sat down immediately. "Alright, Eren."
Mick looked at the two across the table, disbelief in his eyes. But his stomach overruled his pride. Finally, without a word, he started eating.
Three very different students, now sitting at one table. In the quiet moments that followed, small bits of conversation started to form.
And without realizing it... a strange new friendship had just begun.
The atmosphere inside the small diner had grown warmer. Three plates were nearly empty, and their drinks were halfway gone. Outside, the sun had begun to set. Yeager, Mick Hyuri, and Sam Artur sat at an old wooden table, looking like an ordinary group of friends—though their conversation was anything but ordinary.
Leaning back against his chair, Yeager looked at Sam seriously.
"I'm curious about something," he said in a low voice. "About Ariana, Zico Palma, and Fayo Nickle. Their backgrounds… and also about Jinny Baldwin."
Sam lowered his gaze, wiping his hands with a napkin. Mick glanced over, seemingly interested too.
"Ariana is the daughter of Victor Manosel, the school owner," Sam began. "Zico Palma? His dad's a high-ranking official—partners with Victor. They run joint projects. Fayo? He's Zico's cousin. Rich kid. Thinks he owns the place."
Yeager gave a slow nod. "And Jinny?"
Sam took a breath.
"Jinny… used to date Fayo. But after they broke up, he started blackmailing her with some… private photos. Stuff from when they were together. Not many people know this. Just a few from our class. After that, the bullying started. Subtle at first. Then cruel. She was being pushed to the edge… and then, well… you know."
Mick looked down, his expression darkening.
"And who told you all of this?" Yeager asked, his voice sharper now.
Sam went quiet for a moment, then looked Yeager in the eye.
"Raon," he whispered. "Everything I know… I heard it from him."
Yeager froze. His heart skipped a beat. Raon? The quiet kid with the sharp mind? The one who seemed innocent, always reading books? The same Raon who just helped him investigate the teachers' office?
Damn. Yeager's thoughts raced. That's a serious plot twist.
He leaned back in his chair, staring at the diner ceiling. "Raon… you're not as harmless as you look."
Manipulative. Silent. Two-faced. And maybe... more dangerous than anyone imagined.
Yeager sat in silence, staring at the leftovers on his plate. The thought of Raon kept spinning in his head until Mick finally spoke between bites of his last spoonful.
"By the way," he said slowly, "isn't Raon also kind of important at school? I heard he's always with Ariana, involved in student council stuff. He's like… her right-hand guy, isn't he?"
Yeager turned his head sharply. "Ariana's right hand?"
Sam nodded quickly and chimed in, "Yeah, that's true. Some teachers even consult him when it comes to school events. They say he's a genius, dependable. But weirdly, he always seems to know everything before anyone else."
Yeager gripped his glass tightly. A bad feeling crept up inside him.
"So he's not just a quiet observer... he's a player."
Mick nodded. "And if he's close with Ariana, Zico, and Fayo… and knows about Jinny..."
Sam leaned back in his chair, saying quietly, "Then he's one of them. But whether he's the actual killer, or just a silent enabler… we don't know."
Yeager stood up slowly, eyes focused on the darkening sky outside the café window. The wind blew gently against the glass.
"Tomorrow, I'm gonna follow Raon," he said calmly. "It's time we find out who he really is."
Mick Hyuri glanced at Yeager with his usual deadpan expression as he scooped the last bit of rice from his plate.
"Why are you so nosy, huh? You sound like a detective or something."
Yeager froze for a split second, his eyes flickering with surprise before he quickly recovered with a casual smile.
"Oh... nah," he shrugged, trying to sound nonchalant. "I just have an uncle who's a detective. Guess I got the curiosity from him."
Sam, who was sipping his drink, let out a small laugh. "That explains it. You've got this... vibe. Not like a regular student."
Yeager chuckled lightly, masking the nerves bubbling beneath his cool exterior. That was a close one.
Mick kept staring at him, eyes unreadable. "An uncle who's a detective, huh... Hmm." He didn't say more, but it was clear something was stirring in his mind.
The table went quiet for a moment until Sam raised his glass dramatically.
"Alright, before you two keep staring and accidentally fall in love, let's toast. Welcome to the chaos, Eren!"
Yeager and Mick both rolled their eyes, but couldn't help the small smirks tugging at their lips.
Yeager knew… this was just the beginning. And the deeper he dove, the more masks he would have to tear off.
That night, their little house felt warm and quiet. Zevanya was drying her hair after a shower, sitting on the couch with a bag of chips in hand. Noel sat on the floor, watching his favorite puppet show with big headphones covering his ears.
Yeager sat at the dining table with his laptop open. He played back the voice recording from dinner with Mick and Sam Artur. Sam's voice clearly mentioned Raon as the one who had revealed details about Jinny—a revelation that made Yeager frown.
He immediately sent the audio file to the secret group chat shared between him, Valerie, and Darren.
Yeager (group chat):
"Got this from dinner. Sam spilled some info, and... Raon's name came up. This could be our way into their inner circle."
Moments later, the notifications came in.
Valerie:
"Whoa… This runs deeper than we thought. Raon? That kid looks way too chill for something like this."
Darren:
"I'll dig through the school archives and see what I can find on him. If Raon's involved, we need to move fast."
Yeager closed his laptop and stood up. He glanced over at Noel, then at Zevanya—who had fallen asleep on the couch, still holding her half-eaten chips. A small smile touched his lips.
"I'll protect you both… no matter what," he murmured, pulling a blanket over them one by one.
Outside, the night had grown quiet.
But for Yeager, this investigation was only just beginning to burn brighter.
That night, inside the lavish Palma residence, everything was quiet. The dim lights cast long shadows across the modern, elegant living room. Zico Palma sat on the long sofa, eyes closed, flicking a lighter open and shut repeatedly. In the corner, Fayo Nickle lounged with his legs on the table, earphones plugged in, head bobbing to music only he could hear.
Suddenly, the soft sound of footsteps echoed from the staircase.
Ariana Manosel appeared, her expression as unreadable as ever. She wore simple but elegant clothes, her long hair loose. Without a word, she took a seat at the far end of the sofa, keeping a quiet distance. Her fingers played with a thin bracelet on her wrist as her eyes calmly gazed out the window.
Zico glanced at her, then muttered,
"Didn't expect you here tonight. Curious about the school mess?"
Ariana didn't answer right away. She leaned back slightly and spoke in a calm tone,
"I don't care about what's going on. As long as no one bothers me, I won't bother anyone."
Fayo gave a quiet chuckle without removing his earphones.
"Still the same… cold and neutral."
Ariana turned her head slightly, tone unchanged.
"Better to be neutral than to get dragged into a pit."
Zico opened his eyes again, watching her. There was a flicker of something in his gaze—annoyance or maybe caution—but he didn't say anything for a while.
"You should be careful, Ariana," he finally said. "Someone's been poking around. That new guy… Eren."
Ariana tilted her head just a bit.
"The one who smokes in the morning?"
Zico nodded.
"Yeah. He's suspicious. And I don't like suspicious people hovering around us."
Ariana stood slowly, brushing her hair behind her shoulder.
"If he really is suspicious, he'll get exposed eventually. I won't interfere... unless he interferes with me."
She walked off, heels clicking softly against the floor. After a moment, Zico leaned back again, and Fayo spoke while scrolling through something on his phone.
"She's calm… but if she ever decides to speak, she could be dangerous."
Zico stayed silent, his grip tightening around the lighter.
That night remained quiet. After Ariana had left, Zico and Fayo were still lounging in the spacious living room of the Palma family's luxurious home. The chandelier above glowed dimly, casting an elegant yet cold atmosphere.
Fayo stood up, pulling out his phone.
"I'm calling Raon," he said, tapping the speed dial and holding the phone to his ear.
It didn't take long for Raon to pick up.
"Hello?"
"Raon, come over to Zico's. Let's play some PS. Might help take the edge off," Fayo said casually.
"This late?" Raon replied, sounding slightly groggy.
"Relax, man. You're part of the crew, right? Don't vanish on us," Fayo said with a half-laugh.
There was a brief pause before Raon finally answered,
"Alright. I'll be there in fifteen."
After the call ended, Zico stood up and walked to a wall decorated with old photos—four teenagers in various happy moments: posing at a school camp, sitting together in a park, laughing in a late-night café.
Ariana. Zico. Fayo. Raon.
A circle of friendship that once seemed unbreakable. But now, the vibe was different. The smiles were just memories. Since the death of Jinny Baldwin… and the arrival of the mysterious "new student," Eren Yeager, things had started to shift.
Zico stared at the photo for a moment before muttering,
"We used to be tight. Now... it's like everyone's changing."
Fayo joined him, also looking at the wall.
"If Raon starts talking too much, we're screwed."
Zico scoffed.
"That's why I called him over. We need to make sure he's still on our side."
Not long after, the doorbell rang. A butler opened the door, letting in Raon Muro, dressed in a dark hoodie with a sling bag, his expression unreadable as always.
As he walked in, Fayo tossed him a PS controller.
"Let's go. Just like old times—the three of us."
Raon sat down without saying much, though his eyes occasionally flicked toward the photos on the wall. There was something in his gaze—nostalgia, guilt… or maybe fear.
That night, in the quiet of their home, Yeager sat at a small desk in his room, staring seriously at his laptop screen. In the same room, Noel was already asleep, while Zevanya listened to music in the next room, reading a book.
His phone buzzed. Darren's name appeared on the screen. Yeager quickly answered.
"Hello, Darren?"
"Yeager, I just got some important info. Listen closely," Darren's voice was low and serious, like he didn't want anyone to overhear.
Yeager sat up straight.
"What is it?"
"Raon Muro… he's the son of a high-ranking judge. Judge Edrick Muro. Big name, heavy influence in the justice system. That's why no one dares to touch his kid, even though… he's like a shadow in school."
Yeager was stunned.
"That explains how he slipped into Ariana and Zico's circle without raising suspicion."
"Exactly. And get this—he's extremely manipulative. It's very likely he was the one who leaked the info about Jinny to Fayo and Zico. He's not just some quiet guy... he's a major player."
Yeager fell silent for a moment, staring at a CCTV screenshot on his laptop showing Raon's face.
"We need to watch him more closely from now on. He could be behind everything."
"I agree," said Darren. "But be careful, Yeager. Getting tangled with the son of a top judge could make us targets too."
Yeager slowly closed his laptop, his eyes narrowing.
"If he's involved... I won't let him walk away free."
That night, in her elegant and quiet room, Ariana Manosel sat alone at the edge of her bed. The dim lighting cast a soft glow on her thoughtful face. In her hand, she held an old photo—one taken secretly, showing her and Jinny Baldwin back when they were still close as deskmates.
She unlocked an old phone and opened the random dating app she and Jinny once used just for fun. Ariana squinted as something caught her eye.
"That guy..." she murmured softly. She zoomed in on a screenshot—an image of a young man in a black hoodie with a half-smile on his face.
"He looks just like that new student… 'Eren'?"
Ariana stood and walked over to her desk, quickly opening her laptop. She tried searching the school's student database for the name, but no real information came up for "Yeager" or "Eren." Just a vague placeholder file—cleverly forged.
Still, her gut told her something was off. She clearly remembered how Jinny once showed interest in a guy from that dating app—a guy who was smart, mysterious, and somehow seemed to know a lot... even about the people at their school. Ariana had even briefly seen him during a video call.
And now, after seeing "Eren" around campus...
"No way... could it really be him?"
She stared at the screen for a while, then looked at one of Jinny's old messages:
"Ari, this guy is different. I think he knows something about the people in our school…"
Ariana took a deep breath and whispered to herself,
"If you're really him... what are you doing here, Eren?"
That night, Yeager sat on the second-floor balcony of his house, staring at the cloudy sky while sipping a mug of bitter coffee. The evening breeze tousled his messy hair, and faint sounds of cartoons came from the living room, where Zevanya and Noel were watching together.
In his left hand, Yeager kept spinning a small black flash drive between his fingers—Jinny Baldwin's flash drive.
His eyes stared blankly ahead, but his mind wandered deep into the past.
He remembered meeting Jinny, the bright but fragile girl he had come across on a random dating app, while he was undercover in a different city. Jinny wasn't just a random "match." She had quickly opened up to him.
"I don't know why… but I feel like I can trust you," Jinny had once said in a voice note.
"My school... it's messed up. Too many secrets. Too many powerful people who can erase the truth."
Yeager recalled their last conversation. Jinny had sounded scared. She had been threatened—someone had compromising photos of her. Someone had cornered her.
Back then, Yeager couldn't act fast enough. He had been too focused on another case…
Too slow.
Now, she was gone.
"I'm sorry, Jinny," he muttered under his breath.
"This time, I won't be too late."
Clutching the flash drive tighter, he stood up and went back into his room. His laptop screen displayed an open investigation folder. Photos of Zico, Fayo, Ariana, and Raon were neatly arranged—lines connecting them, pieces of a tangled web.
The night was growing darker. But for Yeager, the real work was only just beginning.
In a spacious, industrial-style bedroom, Fayo Nickle sat on the floor, leaning against the edge of his bed. The room was dimly lit, illuminated only by the bluish glow of his laptop screen. In his hand, he held an old photo—Jinny Baldwin, smiling brightly with long, flowing hair.
His face showed little emotion, but his eyes—sharp and distant—spoke of something deeper. Quietly, he stared at the photo as if waiting for the guilt and memories to crash over him.
"I told you not to share those pictures…" he muttered under his breath, barely audible.
Then he let out a small, bitter laugh.
"But you made it easy… too easy to trust. Too easy to fall in love," he said, almost accusingly, as if Jinny could hear him.
Fayo placed the photo on the desk beside him and lit a cigarette. Thin white smoke drifted upward, curling in the still air. Behind him, the low sound of a PS5 game echoed through the room—Zico and Raon were playing in the living room, laughing, unaware.
Fayo pulled out his phone. With a few swipes, he opened a hidden folder—filled with digital files: old pictures, messages… and one video that looked like it hadn't been touched in a long time.
His thumb hovered over the "delete" option.
But then he paused.
"Not yet," he whispered.
Beneath the laid-back exterior, Fayo carried secrets—ones heavy enough to destroy not just reputations, but lives.
And for the first time in a while, he felt truly uneasy.