Hyde sat across from her, folding his arms. “Now then, Aki… tell me about the accident.”
Aki opened her mouth — but nothing came out.
Her throat tightened, her mind screamed to speak, yet no words formed.
Hyde frowned. “How odd,” he muttered under his breath.
Aki’s pulse quickened. “W-What? What accident? I don’t know what you’re talking about!”
Her voice cracked, panic swelling in her chest.
How do they all know about my dreams? And where are my parents? I’ve been patient with their antics, and they still won’t show their faces?
Hyde tilted his head. “Could you tell me anything about the slimy black thing?”
Aki blinked. “What? Like in anime? But… they’re usually transparent, right?”
Hyde’s lips twitched. “Did you see any red-haired person?”
“Red hair?” Aki repeated. “Oh—like the trend these days? Everyone’s dyeing their hair red now, right?”
Hyde stared at her for a moment, then sighed. “…Okay. Look at this matchstick.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Matchstick? What are you going to burn now?”
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“Just look here,” Hyde said, patience thinning.
Aki narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “What’s it going to do to me? Are you trying to burn me or something?”
Hyde’s smile finally cracked. “Look. At. The. Matchstick.” His voice dropped, low and commanding.
Without meaning to, Aki’s gaze snapped toward the small flame. The matchstick flickered for a moment, then went out.
She blinked. “Are you done?”
Hyde frowned, eyebrows lifting slightly. He mumbled to himself, “So he was right after all…”
Then, in a more composed tone, he said, “We’re done. You should go to the Chancellor’s office.”
He turned away, rummaging through a drawer, but then paused mid-motion. His tone changed — distant, thoughtful. “Actually… I’ll take you there myself.”
And Aki followed — blankly, mechanically.
Like a doll being guided by invisible strings.
They stopped before a tall wooden door marked with an ornate crest. Inside, the office was unexpectedly… childish.
Stacks of books and papers sat beside piles of cat plushies. Real cats lounged lazily across the desk, chairs, even the windowsill.
The figure behind the desk looked up — delicate features, long lashes, and hair brushing their neck. The cat-shaped hat didn’t help Aki decide if they were a boy or a girl.
The Chancellor smiled warmly. “You’ll be our new student.”
Aki said nothing. Her mind was foggy again — no thoughts, just quiet confusion.
“Don’t worry,” the Chancellor continued. “You’ll receive a full scholarship. You won’t have to pay a dime.”
Aki blinked, still unable to respond.
“You already know Professor Nicolas,” the Chancellor said cheerfully. “He’ll show you to your quarters.”
A knock sounded, and Dr. Nicolas entered soon after. Hyde motioned for Aki to follow, and she did — wordlessly.
As they walked down the corridor, Nicolas spoke softly. “I know this must be confusing — being placed in such an… awkward position.”
His voice was unexpectedly kind, almost soothing.
Aki managed a small, uncertain smile. “I still don’t get it… Why does a psychiatric ward have a school? And why am I a student here?”
He chuckled, as if to avoid answering. “You’ll understand soon enough.”
Before she could press further, a student hurried over.
“Dr. Nicolas! There’s a student — he’s badly injured. You’re needed immediately.”
Nicolas frowned. “Injured? There wasn’t a mission scheduled today.”
The student hesitated, lowering his voice. “It… happened during class.”
With a sigh, Nicolas turned to Aki. “Wait for me here, in the hallway. I’ll be right back.”
She nodded faintly as he left.
But minutes passed.
Then longer.
No one came back.
The hallway was quiet — too quiet.
And suddenly, Aki ran.
She didn’t know where she was going, but her legs moved as if they remembered.
Her heartbeat thundered in her ears.
Every turn, every shadow — felt familiar.
She wasn’t running randomly.
She was escaping.
