"So here I am... I hope you're watching me, Father."
She stood in front of the campus's gigantic gates, her shirt neatly tucked into her pants. Her hair, though cut short, still brushed the nape of her neck.
"This time, I just have to get close to him... no killing... no killing... no killing—until I get the signal."
She huffed softly and stepped through the gates.
To her surprise, every girl's gaze snapped to her. And it wasn't disdain—it was adoration.
"Oh my God, do you see that?"
"Which section is he in??"
"He's so tall... and handsome!"
"Mission accomplished."
A smirk tugged at her lips before she quickly replaced it with a flirty smile and turned to the girls.
"Hello, ladies."
She waved smoothly, her tall, slim figure gliding past them as a wave of squeals erupted.
"He just waved at us!!"
"How can someone be that beautiful?!"
"Beautiful... psh—"
She scoffed under her breath and walked toward her locker.
As she opened it, a shorter girl appeared beside her—barely reaching her shoulder.
"So... you a man now, 'One'?"
"Hm?"
She glanced down, only to see the top of the girl's head.
"Seven? Is that you?"
Her voice softened. There was familiarity in it. Clearly, they knew each other well.
"Woah... I didn't even recognize you with your hair cut. And are you wearing contacts?"
"Ha... Oliver~ How could you not greet your own girlfriend? Lily is sad!"
Seven pouted dramatically, her tone playful and overly sweet.
"Eh? Excuse me—"
She leaned down and whispered in Seven's ear.
"Since when was that our setting? Did the Ringleader tell you to act like this?"
"Hmph. No, he didn't. But I'm making this our setting now."
She crossed her arms smugly.
"Starting now, I'm your girlfriend."
"Uh... I suppose we can do that. But—"
Her tone suddenly dropped, eyes narrowing coldly.
"If it gets in the way of the mission..."
Seven's smile faltered for a beat. But then her expression darkened to match.
"You're underestimating me, you know that?"
"Well… it's a collective mission this time," Oliver said with a shrug, scanning the courtyard. "I don't want any of us screwing it up."
"Tch. Like we don't know that already?" Lily huffed, crossing her arms as her eyes flicked around lazily.
Then her gaze stopped on Oliver.
"Wait. Why the hell are you so damn tall today?"
Oliver smirked and gave a casual head pat.
"Hehe… you know me. I've always been taller than you."
Lily's eyes narrowed.
"May I remind you, my love," she said sweetly, grabbing Oliver's hand,
"I know quite a few skin-absorbing chemicals that can kill someone from the inside out."
Her smile didn't falter.
"E-Eh?!" Oliver flinched, sweatdropping.
"Honestly?, She might actually do it."
Oliver laughed sheepishly and tapped her foot on the ground.
"Eheheh... yeah, uh—look at my shoes."
"Pfft—no way," Lily cracked, crouching slightly to inspect. "So how many inches are we talking here?"
Oliver turned red. "…Four."
Lily burst out laughing.
"FOUR?! Bro, you're cheating height at this point!"
Oliver groaned and quickly changed the topic.
"Anyway—wasn't there a third person we were supposed to meet here?"
Her tone shifted. She leaned in, voice dropping to a whisper.
"…And who the hell has been watching us for the last twenty minutes?"
Lily's expression darkened just slightly.
"Ah. So you noticed too."
That subtle tension—the kind you only develop growing up under blood and bullets—flashed between their eyes.
They could feel it.
That razor-sharp intent clinging to them like static. Someone was watching. Calculating.
"We can't kill anyone inside the academy," Oliver muttered. "But if it's a threat, we lure them out and—"
She paused.
A boy stepped toward them.
Shorter than Oliver, a little hesitant.
His expression was calm—but his eyes were alert.
He leaned in close, just enough for her to hear—
"…Blue Blood."