I thought I could ignore it.
I was wrong.
Kira appeared outside the classroom, waiting. Not at the desk this time. Standing. Calm. Like she had all the time in the world.
I froze for a second. Pretended not to see.
"You were seen again," she said quietly when I passed. Her eyes didn't leave mine. "By the right people this time."
I blinked. "I don't care."
She smiled faintly. "That's a shame. They care. And they notice talent."
I kept walking. Pretended not to hear. Didn't want to deal with whatever this was.
"You saved someone, didn't you?" she said, stepping in front of me. Her tone wasn't accusatory. Just… knowing.
I froze. Not because I feared her. Not because I cared. But because… she was right.
"Yeah. So what?" I muttered.
"Talent like yours… doesn't go unnoticed. And neither does it stay idle for long. I can help you. Or they'll come anyway."
I shook my head. "I don't want help. I don't want heroes. I don't want… this."
She tilted her head, studying me. Calm. Serious. Unmoving. "You have a choice. But it's only one. Step away, and they still come. Step forward… and maybe you get to control how they see you."
I didn't answer. I wanted to walk away. Pretend like nothing mattered. Pretend the streets, the games, the world outside my room… could stay quiet forever.
But it wasn't quiet. Not anymore.
And I knew… it never would be.