"Because we're dangerous."
He had answered with such simplicity that Gu Luo remained silent for a moment, not knowing what to say.
Yoeel, who noticed Gu Luo's discomfort, burst out laughing.
"I'm joking! Hahahaha!"
"..."
"Well, not completely."
Gu Luo sighed.
He thought at that moment that Yoeel was probably the kind of person who lived in lies just like him. In a way, perhaps it was because they were so similar that Gu Luo was able to understand him so easily.
"You're really an indecisive person."
"You could say that."
A subtle, faint smile formed at the corner of Yoeel's mouth.
"I prefer to never say what I think. By staying in the ambiguity of the moment, I make sure that nothing changes."
Yoeel slightly turned his head to his left to look at Gu Luo.
"You must find that weird, haha..."
Gu Luo remained silent.
Only, he didn't remain silent because he disagreed with what Yoeel had just said, but rather because he thought the same thing.
Yoeel and Gu Luo continued on their way until they reached a building much more imposing than the others.
Unlike the buildings they had seen so far, this one seemed almost entirely new and had a modern appearance.
A large glass and metal facade rose behind the traditional structures, giving the whole place a rather strange contrast.
Gu Luo raised his eyes toward the windows reflecting the blue of the sky.
"What's that?"
"The main building."
The appearance of the structure reminded Gu Luo of the hospital next to his home.
"It looks like a hospital, doesn't it?"
"..."
"That's what I thought the first time I saw it too."
Yoeel pushed open the glass doors.
"They do a lot of medical examinations here. That's probably why the building was built like this, to make it look welcoming."
Gu Luo stopped for a few seconds in front of the entrance.
"Medical examinations?"
"Yeah."
Yoeel looked at him over his shoulder with a surprised look.
"You haven't had yours yet?"
"No."
"Then you're probably going to have it today."
Gu Luo felt his stomach tighten.
Yoeel, who noticed that Gu Luo's expression had changed, reassured him.
"You'll get used to it quickly. Everyone here tries to understand the ABSURDES, so we're treated a little like movie stars."
Yoeel entered the building and Gu Luo followed behind him.
"Since you arrived yesterday, they're probably going to want to run a few tests."
Gu Luo didn't answer.
He was thinking about yesterday.
He slightly clenched his fists.
"I see."
Yoeel seemed to notice the change in his expression but didn't ask any questions.
He simply continued walking.
After crossing the lobby, they took a long white corridor.
Gu Luo watched the doors pass by one after another. He didn't understand what was written on most of the doors. Everything was written in English.
Finally, Yoeel stopped in front of a large double door.
"Here we are."
He pushed one of the doors open and an immense room opened up before them.
A few employees were already seated around several tables. Some were quietly eating their breakfast, while others were talking among themselves.
Gu Luo immediately recognized several faces.
Lǐ Xīnyí was sitting at a table with a bowl in her hands. Shěn Yán, meanwhile, still seemed half-asleep and had his head resting on the table.
Leolia was there as well.
As soon as she spotted Gu Luo, her face lit up and she waved at him enthusiastically.
"Ohhh! Little Luo is here!"
Gu Luo immediately felt a bad premonition.
Leolia got up from her chair. "Come here and let me give you a hug!"
Gu Luo instinctively stepped back.
"No! No! No! It's fine..."
"Uh?" Leolia stared at him with a worried look.
"I already had my dose yesterday..."
Leolia remained silent for a few seconds before placing a hand on her chest with a deeply wounded expression.
Shěn Yán slowly raised his head, drool dripping from the corner of his mouth.
"Don't let yourself get fooled."
Lǐ Xīnyí nodded. "She always does this."
"You're all really mean to me."
Leolia went back to sitting down, sulking, and Gu Luo sighed in relief.
Yoeel gave him a big smile and lightly slapped him on the shoulder.
"I see you're learning quickly."
"Haha..." Gu Luo laughed slightly, forcing a smile.
Then he joined everyone by sitting down at the table.
He looked around once again.
For the first time since his arrival, he felt like this place almost resembled a normal school.
Almost, because at the back of the room, several adults wearing the same black suits as them were silently watching the students.
Gu Luo couldn't help but wonder why so many people had been deployed for only a few maintenance staff and five ABSURDES.
He picked up the disposable chopsticks in front of him and separated them.
Shěn Yán, who stretched for a long time while yawning loudly, called out to Yoeel.
"What are we doing today?"
Yoeel picked up a piece of meat with his chopsticks.
"Classes start in about thirty minutes."
Gu Luo called out to him.
"Normal classes?"
Yoeel stared at him.
"Yes and no."
Gu Luo frowned and Yoeel smiled.
"You don't have to worry. You're probably going to have your medical examination this morning anyway, right, Leolia?"
"Yes. The lab guys have been bugging me since six this morning, asking me to tell you that you have an appointment at ten."
Gu Luo remained silent.
He looked at his breakfast.
For a reason he didn't understand himself, he suddenly felt much less hungry.