New Student

Later that night, IM had successfully charmed his way into my parents' good graces. My father, initially wary of the stranger with amnesia, had warmed to IM's polite demeanor and seemingly harmless nature.

"You can stay here until your memory returns," my father had said, his voice filled with empathy.

Little does he know, that IM's memory loss is just a convenient lie.

Now, IM was sprawled on the bed in my room, which I had subtly expanded using my Imagination Manifestation power.

"You have school tomorrow, right?" IM asked, his voice a low rumble.

"Yeah, why?" I replied, not looking up from my phone.

"Enroll me as a student there," he said matter-of-factly.

"...How?" I asked, confused.

"Use your power, Mind control the headmaster IM suggested.."

Mind control, huh? I guess it could work... I thought, considering the idea.

"Alright," I agreed, setting my phone aside and opening my laptop.

IM got up and walked over to my desk, peering at the screen. "Still stalking that girl?" he asked, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Yeah, I haven't been able to crack her school password yet, but I know her email address."

IM leaned closer, examining the screen more closely. "Hmm... why don't you try searching for her password elsewhere?"

"Nah, I already have a way to figure it out, The password is simply the student's ID number followed by their birthday. It's just... not working for some reason."

I navigated to the student login page on the university website. IM leaned closer, his eyes scanning the screen.

"What's this 'Need information?' link for?" he asked, pointing to a small link below the password field.

"It's probably a guide for new students on how to log in," I replied, clicking on the link.

The page displayed a screenshot and instructions on how to log in using the school-provided email address.

I scrolled down to the password section. "For the password, use your student ID number followed by your birthday, For example, 21043759/01/01/2000." I read aloud

IM nodded, then pointed to another line of text. "Hmm, but what's this other option? It says, 'If you're using the old website, the password is N@s/dd/mm/yy.' What's that about?"

I leaned closer, my interest piqued. Could this be the password format I've been missing?

"... I didn't see that before," I admitted. "What old website?"

I opened a new tab and searched for other student-related websites for Nas University.

After a few minutes of searching, I stumbled upon an archived version of the university's old website. The design was a blast from the past, with clunky buttons and pixelated graphics, but it held the information I needed.

I navigated to the student login page and confirmed the different password format.

"Found it!" I exclaimed, a triumphant grin spreading across my face. "The old password format is N@s/dd/mm/yy."

"Let's try it," IM urged.

I carefully entered Hana Putri's student ID and date of birth, replacing the forward slashes with the '@' symbol.

Click.

The screen flashed, and then... success! I had gained access to Hana Putri's student profile.

"Yes! We're in!" I exclaimed, pumping my fist in the air.

I quickly scanned her profile, searching for any information that could help us locate her. Her address, phone number, emergency contacts... anything that could lead us to her.

"I found her address!" I announced, my voice filled with excitement. "She lives in Tangerang."

IM looked at me, his brow furrowed. "What are you going to do with her?"

"I don't know," I admitted, my cheeks flushing slightly. "I just... find her kind of cute..."

A moment of awkward silence hung in the air.

"You'd better forget about her for now," IM said, his voice stern. "We need to focus on dealing with Asmar. We need to make him pay for what he did."

I nodded, realizing the gravity of our mission. "Okay, okay," I agreed. "We'll focus on Hana's case first. But wait... their names are almost the same, Hana and Hanna..."

IM shrugged. "It's a common name," he said.

IM stretched out on the other bed, a yawn escaping his lips. "I'm going to sleep," he announced. "You should too."

"Just a few more minutes," I replied, my eyes glued to the screen. "I'm going to screenshot her information for later."

"Don't be a creep," IM chided, a hint of amusement in his voice.

I chuckled, but I couldn't deny the thrill of uncovering secrets. Iquickly saved a few screenshots of Hanna's profile, then closed the laptop and turned off the lights.

As I lay in the darkness, the events of the day replayed in my mind. The school festival, the encounter with the albino boy and his Seer guardian, the revelations about my family's past and my own growing powers... it was all so much to take in.

But one thing was certain: my life would never be the same again.

***

The next morning, IM and I walked across the schoolyard towards the main building. The students parted like the Red Sea as we passed, their eyes wide with curiosity and a hint of awe.

"People are staring at us," IM remarked, his voice a low rumble.

"Of course they are," I replied with a shrug. "You're the new kid on the block. So, what class do you want to be in?"

"Yours," IM said without hesitation.

"Alright, then," I sighed. "Let's go see the headmaster."

We entered the headmaster's office, the familiar scent of old books and polished wood filling the air. The headmaster, a portly man with a receding hairline and a kind smile, looked up from his paperwork as we entered.

"Ah, Xian Ying. And this must be your... friend?" He glanced at IM, a hint of curiosity in his eyes.

"This is Eem," I introduced him, using the pronunciation IM had suggested. "He's a... distant relative who recently moved here from overseas."

The headmaster's smile widened. "Welcome to our school, Eem," he said, extending his hand. "I trust you'll find our school a welcoming and nurturing environment."

< Chapter 081 > Fin.