I washed my face with cold water and began thinking about everything that happened to me in the past month, trying to remember anything useful that might serve as a lead, but five minutes had already passed and I hadn't achieved any results. Trying to remember something valuable was like playing a memory game.
I continued thinking but to no avail.
Damn it! I didn't get any notable results to find another way besides this. I looked at my watch and noticed that I was already fifteen minutes late, so I returned to the classroom.
Teacher: What's the reason for your long delay?
Alfred: I was in the bathroom, what did you expect?
The teacher replied in an annoyed tone: Is this the best way to answer my question?
Alfred: Sorry, but your sudden question made me unable to think of a better response.
The teacher let out a sigh and said, "Fine, sit in your seat."
I actually sat down, and while the teacher was explaining the lesson, I was trying to find anything that would help me catch whoever put me in this predicament. I closed my eyes and started trying to think of a plan.
"Flashback"
The best way to catch the victim, Alfred, is to lure them.
But even if you found a way to catch them, what guarantees that it will succeed or that they don't have a counter-plan?
Yes, and that's why, Alfred. As soon as she said it, he put his index finger on his head and said, "You need to think outside the box."
"End of Flashback"
I opened my eyes, leaned back on my wooden seat, and took a thorough look at each student. Like the previous time, none of them showed any signs of suspicion. If I stayed this way, I wouldn't reach any result. I need to find a means as quickly as possible. True, I was deceived and lost some points, and the way to get them next month is now known—I need to economize and work, interact well in the academy, but... wait, that person stopping their attack on me is not guaranteed. Do they have a grudge against me, or did I do something wrong before entering the academy? I don't think so. If I had, they would have tried to harm me in a more terrible way than just deceiving me about money that I have many opportunities to earn.
"Bell ringing 🔔"
Teacher: Well, after the break, we'll continue the lesson.
The students began to stand up one after another, and only a few students remained in the seats next to me while I was still deep in thought.
Until I heard a voice close to me calling me:
"Alfred, hey Alfred, can you hear me?"
I turned my head to find that same girl, and she said to me, "What's wrong? You seem distracted."
"What about it?"
"Nothing, but from your face and the way you sit while thinking, you seem to be in trouble. So I wanted to ask you about this problem to help."
"No, I..." I was silent for a moment, and an idea started forming in my mind to resort to this girl. Maybe somehow I could find out who did it.
"Well, I'll accept the help."
"Great, so what's your problem?"
Two minutes later
"So that's the problem. But how did things get to the point of deceiving you and your inability to earn points? Are you sure you didn't do anything wrong towards someone?"
"No, all I did this month was keep to myself, away from conflict with people."
"Well, do you suspect anyone specific?"
"No, they all seem normal, which makes the reality of being able to catch the perpetrator very difficult. Do you have any plan... wait, what's your name?"
"My name is Olivia."
"Well, Olivia, do you have a plan?"
"Watch each student individually, maybe you'll find suspicious behaviors from someone."
"Wait a moment."
"W-what?"
"A while ago, I examined the students and noticed a student I hadn't noticed despite his presence in the academy throughout the month."
"Well, which seat does he sit in?"
I pointed my index finger towards the seat, and she said:
"You mean Halcon?"
"Halcon?"
"Yes, he's a quiet student and most of the time doesn't talk. If you want to monitor him, you'll most likely find him at the beverage vending machine."
I got up from my place and said, "Well, I'll follow your advice." I left the classroom and started walking towards the nearest vending machine, but I didn't find him. I searched around, entered the bathroom, and the electricity was cut off. A prestigious academy and yet the electricity gets cut off? How shameful. As soon as I finished my thought, I felt footsteps nearby. Seriously, this is a bathroom, there's no place to hide, and as soon as that person entered, it turned out to be Halcon, and he was heading towards the sink while I had my hands gripping the ceiling.
I swallowed hard, and he seemed a bit tense.
Any movement from me and he would discover me, but without warning, a drop of blood fell on Halcon as a result of my hands gripping the ceiling. Before he could look up, I put on a mask that I always carry with me, then I directed a kick at him, but he blocked it and retreated a little backward and said in a firm tone, "Who are you?" Then I took a stance suggesting I was ready to fight and said, "The one who will destroy you." As soon as I finished speaking, I moved towards him quickly and, as a start, initiated with a punch, but he blocked it easily and responded with a kick, which I blocked with the palm of my hand.
And both of them said to themselves, "He's strong."
Then we both retreated, and Halcon initiated the conversation, "May I know the reason for your attack on me?" I answered in a serious tone, "I have my reasons."
"Is this the simplest way you have of saying 'none of your business'?"
"Yes."
"You're strange."
"Let it be." Then I advanced towards him again, but this time I kicked, but he blocked it and said, "Changing the attack method didn't work against me." Then I threw a punch with my hand, and he blocked it with the other hand.
"I think you didn't hear what I said well." As soon as he finished his words, he found that the fingers of my other hand were at a short distance from his eye, and luckily for him, he avoided it at the last moment, but Alfred managed to cause a slight scratch to him. Then Halcon let go of both Alfred's hand and leg and said with a tone suggesting annoyance, "So you want to play like this? You got what you asked for." Then he advanced towards me and delivered a blow towards me. Although I blocked it, it was so powerful that I felt the bones of my fingers breaking. I held my hand while looking at him with a slight grimace as a result of trying to bear the pain I was feeling now, and I said in a tone followed by a laugh resembling a psychologically disturbed person, "It seems you're insistent on resistance, but remember, no matter how hard you try and no matter how solid your determination is, remember that an ant cannot defeat an elephant." Then he took out a knife from his pocket and said, "I'll be serious with you now, so prepare yourself well for what's coming."
To be continued...