As the group proceeded past an array of sophisticated experiments, Hensudo reached out impulsively to touch one of the displays. The apparatus shattered with a sharp crack. Mr. Hoshino turned and fixed him with a stern glare. Hensudo quickly withdrew his hand and resumed walking, chastened.
An elderly scientist paused, his gaze settling on Saki. He murmured under his breath, "How can she still be alive? I must report this at once." He hurried away to inform the senior staff.
Yudashi spoke defensively, his voice low but firm: "Why are they so fixated on my Saki?"
Hensudo coughed dramatically. "Your Saki, is it now, Yudashi?"
Saki looked at Yudashi in confusion. He met her eyes, took a steadying breath, and confessed, "Saki... I believe I have developed feelings for you."
Michi gave Saki a gentle elbow nudge while Hensudo playfully made exaggerated kissing faces.
Saki held Yudashi's gaze steadily and replied with quiet sincerity, "Yudashi, I appreciate your feelings, and I do not wish to hurt you, but my heart already belongs to someone else."
Yudashi's smile faltered; his voice cracked as pain flickered across his features. "Wh—what do you mean? You're... you're joking, aren't you?"
Saki shook her head gently. "I am glad you care for me, but I cannot offer you something I have already given to another. I hope you understand."
Hensudo let out a heavy sigh. Dave muttered dryly, "Heartbreak."
Yudashi shot Dave a brief glare before turning back to Saki. He nodded slowly, accepting her words with visible effort.
Hensudo, recovering his usual energy, asked eagerly, "So... who's the lucky person?"
Saki's ears flushed faintly pink. She looked away. "I cannot tell you that now."
Hensudo pouted theatrically but respected her privacy and did not press further.
The group continued onward. A worker wearing a black face mask approached and distributed pairs of rubber gloves to each student. Once everyone had donned them, they were led into a darkened chamber. At its centre glowed a single prominent experiment. As Saki passed beside it, her eyes caught a faint, otherworldly glimmer. A nearby girl shrieked, "Aa— a monster! A monster!"
Panic rippled through the group. Lights snapped on. Saki blinked in bewilderment. "What happened?"
The trembling girl pointed. "Your eyes—they were glowing!"
Michi stepped forward calmly. "It was merely the light from the experiment reflecting in her eyes. Really, such dramatics."
The lights were switched off again, and the tour resumed. Unnoticed by the others, Saki's eyes resumed their subtle glow in the dimness.
Eventually the group reached the cafeteria, a spacious and eerily quiet facility that stood in stark contrast to their school's lively dining hall. Mr. Hoshino selected a seat and placed an order for the entire class, motioning for them to sit and settle.
As staff members distributed the meals, several of them cast lingering, almost reverent glances toward Saki, as though she were a distinguished guest.
Irritated, Michi spoke sharply, "Stop staring at her."
The workers immediately averted their eyes and continued serving.
Saki leaned close to Michi and whispered—while Dave and Yudashi discreetly listened—"Michi, I feel certain I have encountered these people before. The woman earlier... she was a friend of my mother's, but the memory is incomplete—"
Michi interrupted gently. "We will discuss it later. For now, try to relax."
Saki nodded. The class began eating. One of the boys remarked aloud, "Is this supposed to be five-star cuisine?"
A worker nodded politely.
The boy continued, "Even two-star food tastes better than this. It's like eating raw vegetables."
Mr. Hoshino shot him a warning look. The other boys burst into laughter. The worker, visibly annoyed, collected the remaining untouched trays and departed.
As the sun began to set, most students returned to their assigned rooms, though a few lingered idly in the cafeteria. Saki and her group made their way to theirs.
Hensudo asked with genuine concern, "Saki, are you really all right being here?"
She replied quietly, "It is more difficult than I expected. It feels... strangely familiar, yet unfamiliar at the same time."
Michi said firmly, "Let us get inside the room first. We can talk properly there."
Upon entering, Hensudo and Dave immediately inspected the beds, each claiming one with enthusiastic shouts of "This one is mine!"
Michi watched them with visible irritation. Yudashi jumped onto another bed and declared, "This one is mine!"
"Really?" Michi said dryly. She leapt onto the remaining unoccupied bed. "Then this is my territory."
Saki quietly claimed the last bed. Dave grinned and called, "Hey, princess!"
Michi turned and realized her bed was positioned directly beside his.
Hensudo turned to Saki. "So, what were you going to tell us earlier?"
Saki answered thoughtfully, "I believe I have been to this place before."
"Don't leave us hanging," Dave prompted.
Saki continued, "I remember coming here with my parents. Someone called my name. When I turned, it was the woman we saw earlier. After that... the memory becomes unclear."
Michi sighed softly. "Try not to dwell on it too much right now. Just rest."
Saki nodded. Yudashi switched off the lights without changing out of his uniform. One by one, the others drifted into sleep amid the soft rustle of sheets.
Outside, patrolling workers maintained their vigil. In the moonlight, Saki's hair shimmered with a faint, ethereal glow. Yudashi stirred in his sleep, half-opening his eyes. He caught the subtle luminescence and froze in momentary shock before convincing himself it was a trick of the light. He closed his eyes again and slept.
At sunrise, golden light streamed through the window and fell across Saki's face. She awoke, rubbed her eyes, and climbed down from the bed. Her hair had returned to its normal appearance. She went to freshen up.
Yudashi soon woke and headed to another washroom. Hensudo, still half-asleep and unaware that Saki had left her bed, decided to play a prank. He positioned himself outside what he believed to be Yudashi's door. When Saki opened it, Hensudo unleashed a dramatic, fearful howl.
Saki screamed in fright and slammed the door shut. The edge caught Hensudo squarely in the face, leaving a vivid red mark.
Yudashi emerged from the opposite washroom, yawning. Seeing Hensudo's injury, he asked with barely concealed amusement, "Who did that to your face?"
Hensudo snatched Yudashi's towel in frustration and stomped away.
Saki peeked out cautiously. Seeing only Yudashi, she assumed he had been the one to scare her. She marched over, delivered a sharp slap across his cheek, and walked away without a word.
Yudashi stood stunned, eyes watering. "What did I do, Saki...?"
The clear imprint of her three fingers remained on his cheek. As he covered it with one hand and stepped into the hallway, Dave—waiting for his turn in the washroom—burst into laughter at the sight.
"Oh my god! Who did that to you, Yudashi?"
Yudashi pouted and ignored him, though Dave continued laughing.
Michi appeared, glanced at Hensudo's reddened face, and immediately started laughing as well. Dave caught sight of Hensudo and laughed even harder. "Did you two get into a fight?"
"No!" Yudashi protested.
Michi, still chuckling, asked, "So who marked both your faces? Saki?"
Saki answered calmly, "Yudashi tried to scare me, so I slapped him."
Yudashi protested immediately, "No—it wasn't me! It was Hensudo!"
Saki turned to Hensudo. "Why did you scare me?"
"I... I thought Yudashi was inside!" Hensudo stammered.
"You were going to scare me?" Yudashi demanded.
"Enough—calm down," Michi interjected, raising a hand for peace.
Saki looked at Yudashi with regret. "I'm sorry."
Yudashi forgave her quietly and walked away.
A short while later, the group stepped into the hallway. They froze. Every other student—and even Mr. Hoshino—stood completely motionless, as though frozen in place.
"What's happening to them?" Dave exclaimed.
"They're... immobilized," Hensudo said in disbelief. "But how?"
Dave turned and saw that Michi, too, had become rigid. "MICHI...!"
Saki reached for Yudashi's arm just as he began to stiffen. Her eyes glowed faintly for a brief instant. The immobilizing effect seemed to bypass both her and Yudashi entirely.
Yudashi stared, stunned, but quickly dismissed it as mere coincidence.
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