Hidden Layers and Promises

"Takahashi-kun?" Ichinose's soft voice broke through his thoughts.

"Hmm?" Aiden turned to look at her, his expression neutral but curious.

"I wanted to say thank you," Ichinose said, her blue eyes earnest as she smiled warmly. "For giving up your seat to the senior earlier. It was very kind of you to do that."

Aiden tilted his head, a playful glint in his eyes. "Why are you thanking me on her behalf? Don't tell me…" He gasped dramatically, clutching at his chest and crouching slightly as though in mock pain. "Don't tell me you're her granddaughter or something! Oh no, Ichinose-san, I've been played!"

Ichinose blinked in surprise before bursting into laughter, her hand flying up to cover her mouth as her giggles spilled out. "No, it's not that!" she managed between fits of laughter. "I just thought it was a nice thing to do, and I wanted to acknowledge your sacrifice."

Straightening up, Aiden fixed her with a mock-serious expression, his lips twitching as he tried to suppress a grin. "A nice thing? Oh no, Ichinose-san…" He glanced down at his legs with exaggerated horror, his voice rising theatrically. "Where are my legs? They're gone! I sacrificed them for the cause, and I didn't even notice until now!"

Ichinose doubled over with laughter, her shoulders shaking as she struggled to regain her composure. Her bright, musical giggles filled the air, drawing a few curious glances from passing students.

Aiden grinned, his expression softening as he watched her laugh. "But seriously, no need to thank me," he said, his tone light yet sincere. "I'd probably do it more often if I knew angels like you would appreciate it."

Ichinose's laughter faltered, and her cheeks flushed a brilliant shade of pink. She quickly averted her gaze, her fingers brushing a strand of strawberry-blonde hair away from her face. "You… you shouldn't say things like that so casually, Takahashi-kun," she muttered, her voice flustered but tinged with amusement.

Aiden's grin only widened, and he tilted his head playfully. "What can I say? I can't stop myself from telling the truth," he replied with a wink, his electric-blue eyes gleaming mischievously.

Ichinose let out a huff, shaking her head, though her smile lingered. "Let's just focus on not being late," she said, her tone exasperated but carrying an unmistakable note of fondness.

As they continued walking toward the main building, Aiden glanced at Ichinose, his smirk softening into something more thoughtful.

"Ichinose-san, I've been wondering about something," he said, breaking the comfortable silence.

Ichinose turned to him, tilting her head curiously. "Huh? What are you wondering, Takahashi-kun?"

He slid his hands into his pockets, his grin returning. "I've been wondering how we make such a great team."

Ichinose blinked, her brows furrowing in confusion. "Team? What do you mean?"

"Well," Aiden said, his tone teasing, "you caught on to my signal on the bus pretty quickly. It's like we're Bonnie and Clyde."

Ichinose's cheeks flushed pink at the comparison. She knew the infamous duo's reputation as criminals, and while the compliment held charm, the mention of crime sent a faint ripple of unease through her. Memories of her own past—ones she worked hard to bury—stirred faintly in her chest.

Aiden, sharp as ever, noticed the subtle change in her demeanor—the slight downward flicker of her gaze, the tightening of her smile. Hit a nerve there. Let's steer this somewhere else.

He gave her an easy grin, snapping his fingers as though remembering something. "Anyway, what did you notice about their reactions on the bus? Those employees weren't exactly subtle."

Ichinose visibly relaxed, grateful for the change in topic. She adjusted her posture, her tone turning thoughtful. "Well, compared to the elderly woman, they were much less composed. Their reactions weren't as sharp or controlled. You could tell they were trying to stay neutral, but it wasn't perfect."

Aiden nodded, intrigued. "Go on."

"The older woman," Ichinose continued, "she was something else. Her expression barely wavered the entire time. It was like talking to someone who was used to being under pressure, someone who had spent years perfecting their poker face. The others, though—they had small giveaways. Their eyes shifted, their hands twitched, even their posture changed slightly when we asked certain questions. It wasn't obvious, but it was enough to notice if you were paying attention."

"Not bad, Ichinose-san," Aiden said with a low whistle. "You've got a good eye. I guess I wasn't wrong about us being a great team."

Ichinose smiled at the praise, a faint blush dusting her cheeks. "Thanks, Takahashi-kun. But their reactions also raised more questions. Like… if not everyone will graduate from this school with a guaranteed job, does that mean they're lying about their statistics? It doesn't make sense. This is a government-funded school—they wouldn't risk their credibility by falsifying something like that, would they? Unless…"

Aiden's voice cut in smoothly, finishing her thought. "Unless students are expelled before graduation."

The words landed heavily, like a pebble dropping into still water, sending ripples through the conversation. Ichinose's bright expression dimmed, her brows furrowing as a look of quiet horror overtook her features. Her kind nature couldn't reconcile with the idea of students being cast out of a system that was supposed to ensure their future success.

Aiden noticed the shift immediately. Her normally radiant aura now carried a shadow of worry. With a flick of his wrist, he lightly tapped her forehead with his finger, a playful grin tugging at his lips.

"Oww!" Ichinose exclaimed, her hand flying up to rub the spot he'd flicked. A faint blush bloomed on her cheeks, her surprise melting into a mix of embarrassment and amusement.

"Don't go spiraling on me, Ichinose-san," Aiden said, his voice warm but teasing. "It's just a theory. Nothing's confirmed yet, and worrying about it now won't do any good." He paused, tilting his head as though a thought had just struck him. "Besides, I'm pretty sure there's a way to stop your friends from being expelled—if that's what you're worried about."

Ichinose blinked, her wide blue eyes locking onto his. For a moment, she seemed startled by his perceptiveness. But as his words sank in, her lips curled into a soft, grateful smile. The shadow of worry eased, replaced by her usual brightness.

"You're right, Takahashi-kun," she said, her voice regaining its characteristic cheerfulness. "There's no point in jumping to conclusions. And if it ever comes to something like that… I'll do everything I can to make sure no one is left behind. That's a promise."

Aiden chuckled softly, his electric-blue eyes sparkling with a hint of mischief. "Sounds like something an angel would say," he teased. "But I believe you, Ichinose-san. You've got that kind of aura about you."

Ichinose's blush deepened, and she turned her head slightly, her hair falling forward to hide her reddening cheeks. "T-Takahashi-kun, you did it again," she muttered, though the exasperation in her tone was undercut by the amusement glinting in her eyes.

Aiden's grin widened as he adjusted the brim of his cap. "Can't help it. It's in my nature."

As they approached the imposing glass doors of the main building, Aiden's sharp eyes roamed over their surroundings one last time. The structure towered over them, its gleaming exterior reflecting the sunlight in blinding flashes. The steady stream of students filing inside barely registered in his mind.

What caught his attention were the cameras—dozens of them. Mounted discreetly on lampposts, perched on corners, embedded into walls. Every angle of the area was covered, their dark lenses staring unblinking at everything and everyone.

Aiden's smirk faltered for a moment, replaced by a look of dry amusement. 'Great. More cameras, Are we in a Supermax prison or something?'