The phone rang again
this time
it was not a notification
it was a call
I stopped in place
looked at the screen
Riko
I hesitated for a second
then answered
"Ginsu"
his voice came calm
too calm
"where are you now"
I looked around
the road outside the university
students leaving
cars passing
everything normal
"outside
I just left the lecture hall"
he went silent for a moment
I could only hear his breathing
"were you alone in the lecture"
he asked
I frowned
"what do you mean"
"did you notice anyone
new"
my hand froze on the phone
"a student ?" I said
"he entered the hall suddenly
he did not reply immediately"
I continued
"he did not speak
did not ask anything
but he knew
where to sit"
Riko's voice came low
cautious
"did you try to use your ability"
I answered without hesitation
"it did not work"
he went silent
then said
"that is good"
I stopped walking
"good!?"
"yes"
he said
"because that means you were not provoked yet..."
I did not like what he said
nor the way he said it
"Riko"
I said
"is this related to what happened yesterday"
he took a deep breath
I heard it clearly
"Ginsu"
"the university is not as safe as we think"
I looked behind me unconsciously
as if someone could be close
"what do you mean"
"the organization does not move directly"
he said
"they observe
they enter your life naturally
a student
an employee
a neighbor"
I felt cold in my limbs
and this student
I do not know
he said it honestly
but his appearance
is not a coincidence
he paused for a moment
then added
do not try to approach him
and do not try to watch him
act as if you never noticed him
I swallowed
what about you
I am watching from afar
he said
and Miyuko is doing the same
I asked in a lower voice
am I being tested now
he did not answer immediately
then said
yes
one word
but it fell heavily
Ginsu
he continued
if you feel tired
or a headache
or any attempt of sensation returning
I interrupted him
I will stop
no
he said
you will leave the place immediately
and call me
he ended the call
the phone remained in my hand
and I felt its weight double
I raised my head
the university was still the same
buildings
students
an ordinary sky
but I knew now
that the eyes watching me
were no longer far
and that the student who entered the hall
was not just a student
but the first step
in a quiet
calculated approach
and for the first time
since all this chaos began
I felt
that the exhaustion preventing my ability from working
might be
the only thing protecting me now