3 - Part B:

Another normal day in this prestigious academy.

It must have been almost four months by now since I first boarded this giant ship.

Although there a lot of events I have experienced so far which is not normal, today is really a normal day.

It is too normal that today is a boring day.

I really hope that something happens like a space pirate suddenly high jacks this ship and holds everyone hostage or a space monster suddenly appearing out of nowhere and start rampaging around this school or an alien invasion.

Alright! That last part was a joke since technically, we are all aliens in the first place.

To think I was so bored that I have to tell myself a joke to cheer myself up.

Sigh! I wonder if they have any interesting MMO in the app store right now.

It's been along since I played an MMO.

Maybe I should go check it out later at lunch break.

Anyway, better focus on Professor Maybel's pop quiz or else I might end up becoming her lab rat after school if I fail.

I wonder what's with this if you fail, you will be punish policy in this school.

Lunch break...

While I was getting ready to go to the convenience store to have a quick bite, Lokki approaches me and did his daily routine.

"Hey Linel! Wanna hit the cafeteria together? I heard that they are serving steak today."

To think that's the exact words he said yesterday.

I refute him.

"I doubt that they'll ever serve steak."

Lokki tries to convince me.

"Come on Linel! Have some faith! You never know unless you try."

"Eating steak in this school is just a pipe dream. All they serve here is hospital food and health junks."

And I refuted him once again.

By the way, I can eat what ever I want as long as I visit the cooking club but I'll keep that to myself.

"Well... Uh... The more the merrier?"

Looks like he's not giving up.

"Well that's also true, but I don't feel like eating with anyone today."

Because I want some alone time to play some MMO.

Though I didn't say that out loud since I don't want to hurt his feelings.

"Suite yourself then."

Lokki approach someone else.

"Hey Roc! Wanna hit the cafeteria together? I heard that they are serving steak today."

"Steak? You serious man?"

"Of course I'm serious!"

"Hell yeah! Let's go man!"

"Sweet!"

Lokki and Roc left the classroom.

Roc is gullible as always despite looking like a delinquent.

If someone sends him a message which says "Congratulations! You have won one million credits! Please send 500 credits on this account to avail your price", he'll probably fall for it.

(Meanwhile)

At the classroom hallway...

Bvvvv*

Roc takes his cell phone out and checks the notification.

"Hell yeah! I won one million credits!"

Roc screamed in joy.

Lokki, who is with him reacts.

"Seriously?"

"Seriously man! Check it out for yourself."

Roc shows the screen of his cell phone to Lokki.

Lokki reads the message intently and gives his verdict.

"That's most probably a scam."

"What the hell?!"

(Now back to Linel)

Time to go to the convenience store I guess...

Outside the convenience store...

After I had bought some random junk, I sat on the bench and place the stuff I bought beside me.

For today, Ace, who always eats alone here, is nowhere to be seen.

She must have something to do since I cannot think of any other reason why she would not be here.

Anyway, I grab a calorie bar with my right hand and peel the wrapper off.

After I peel the wrapper off, I took a bite while browsing the app store on my phone using my left hand.

...

There's a lot of interesting MMO I say.

...

A dating MMO?

...

While I was doing some browsing, I feel uncomfortable all of a sudden.

It feels like someone is watching me.

I wonder if this what Ace felt when I was observing her the other day.

I turn my gaze away from my cell phone screen and try to look around to see if there's anyone watching me.

....

And I couldn't find anyone.

This is so weird.

Maybe it's the side effect of the pancake with the strange green syrup I ate earlier this morning.

Note to self: Never eat that ever again.

I continue browsing the app store.

...

There it is again.

This time it feels like someone is about to stab me at the back.

Naturally, it's impossible because there's a concrete wall behind me.

Unless... This place is hunted?

Now that I mentioned it, it's strangely empty here.

Usually, there's a lot of students come and go to the convenience store.

Not only that, some students who are a regular here are nowhere to be seen.

Another strange thing is, a maidbot is the one managing the store instead of the owner.

I felt a cold chill coming down from my spine.

Holy freaking crap!

I stood up from the bench, grab all the stuff I bought and walk away.

While I was walking towards the escalator that leads to the second floor, I felt that someone is following me.

It might just be my imagination since there's a lot of people here right now but I really can't get it off my mind.

I wanted to shout "Who's there!" like in those horror movies but I would look like an idiot if I did.

So I try my best to ignore it.

Suddenly, someone taps my right shoulder.

I couldn't see who it is since the person who tapped my shoulder is behind me.

Is this the culprit?

I grab hold of his hand and squeeze it tightly, so he will not be able to escape.

Strangely, his hand is soft and small.

Suddenly I heard a high pitch voice behind me.

"Ow ow ow ow!"

I ignore that and started interrogating.

"Who are you and what do you want?"

"Ow ow ow! Linel let go! It's me, Sophie!"

Sophie? That sounds familiar.

Since I couldn't remember who Sophie is, I decided to ask about it.

"Sophie who?"

"Me, Sophie, from the occult club. Ow ow ow! Please let go!"

Oh! Sophie! The crazy eccentric girl.

I let go of Sophie's hand and turn around to face her.

As I did, Sophie is swinging her hands like a rapper who's getting into groove.

You know what I mean.

"Linel! That really hurts you know!"

I ignore her rant and went straight to the point.

"Are you the one who's been following me?"

"Following you? No, I just got here, and I saw you going down the escalator. Since we are heading towards the same direction, I decided to say hi."

"To say hi by tapping someone's shoulder from behind?"

"Isn't that normal?"

"Normal my ass! I thought you were going to mug me or something!"

"Mug you in this military school full of security cameras?"

She got a point.

It must be because I'm paranoid that's why I thought that way.

I decided to apologize.

"Sorry about that."

"Wait a sec... Mug... Mug..."

But she ignored me and starts mumbling to herself.

"Mug... That's a great idea!"

Did she just think of something crazy?

Before I was able to react, she suddenly hugs me.

Because of that, I became all flustered.

"Thanks a bunch Linel!"

After she said her thanks, she let go of me.

"I'm sure they will love this!"

She said cheerfully and runs down the escalator.

I'm pretty sure when she said "they", she meant the occult club.

Though, I wonder, what's Mugging got to do with the occult?

When she got off the escalator, she suddenly turns around and shouts.

"Oh! I almost forgot! I forgive you Linel! But if you do that again next time, get ready to be spook! Got that?"

I just nodded in response.

"Good! See you later Linel! And love you!"

She said cheerfully while waving goodbye and walks away.

L-love me?

It's just her way of saying goodbye I guess.

But being told that a cute girl loves you even though she didn't mean it makes me feel good for some reason.

Most probably because I'm a hermonial teenager.

Anyways, I hope she doesn't drag me to her crazy idea later on.

Sigh! Peace at last...

Now it's boring again.

Suddenly, I felt like someone is about to stab me at the back.

Bzzzt*

Because of that, I covered my whole body with electricity and shout...

"Who's there?"

"..."

But there was no response.

I turn around to see if there's anyone behind me and in fact there is.

A bunch of students are staring at me awkwardly while talking among themselves.

"What's his problem?"

"He is probably high."

"High? High on what? Caffeine?"

"High in love!"

"I don't get it."

"You know that chick a while a go from the occult club who said love you to him?"

"Yeah?"

"That's what I meant."

"Oh yeah! I get it now!"

"The rumors are true! He is a mega playboy!"

"I'm so jealous right now, I want to kick his ass."

"Same, I wanna kick his ass so badly right now."

This is making me feel embarrassed, so I disperse the electricity and silently walk down the escalator.

I wonder, why am I so paranoid today?

Is there really anyone following me?

If there is, who is it?

If I think too much about it, I might not be able to sleep tonight.

(Meanwhile)

A silhouette who is hiding at the shadows, mumbles to himself angrily.

"That bastard dare hurt my Sophie and on top of that got a hug and a confession! I'll teach that bastard a lesson!"