At Daimon high school, students swarm over every inch of the building as morning classes start. Yuto walks into class and is instantly met with awkward stares from Kuro, Riku, and Choji.

“Yuto where the hell have you been? You weren’t answering any of my calls or texts.”

“My bad Kuro, I haven’t been feeling good lately. I could barely even muster the strength to get out of bed.”

“Oh are you fine now? Do you need my medical expertise! I may not look it but I’m very knowledgeable when it comes to these things.”

“Uh Riku… You’d probably only make Yuto worse.”

“Wha- screw you Kuro, I was being serious. Anyways I’m glad you’re okay Yuto.”

“Yeah, heh heh, with all the action lately like the ‘Black Knight’, the serial killings, and the radiation victims, one of us thought you were dead.” Choji says sarcastically looking at Riku.

“Agh! Be… Quiet… CHOJI!” Rikus says flustered.

“ALL RIGHT CLASS, EVERYONE TAKE A SEAT!”

Everyone makes their way to their seat and awaits the teacher's instruction.

“Okay class, today we’ll be focusing on the quadratic equation. I hope you have your notes from last class, you’re gonna need them.”

Yuto turns to Kuro on his right and taps his shoulder.

“Can you lend me your notes so I can copy them?”

“Yeah I’ll hand them to you after class. I can catch you up on everything you missed as well.”

“Oh oh I can help!”

“Oh please Riku the last thing he needs is your help.”

“Agh! Choji… that’s two strikes now.”

“AHEM!”

The four quickly sit straight in their seats and lock their gaze on the teacher with a nervous sweat.

“Please refrain from talking while I am. Oh, Yuto? I didn’t know you were back. Good, you have a lot of work you need to catch up on.”

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“Yay, I can’t wait.”

“Don’t try to be sarcastic with me. You all know there is a huge punishment for missing class time.”

“But sir, I was sick.”

“Yeah, sick for five days without a note huh? And I won the lottery yesterday.”

After some time, the bell rings and class eventually ends. Everyone gets up and prepares to leave for their next class. A beautiful redheaded girl with long thick curly hair, faint red eyes, and glasses is surrounded by two boys at her desk.

“LEAVE ME ALONE! HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO SAY NO!”

“FUCK YOU BITCH!”

The two boys hurry and leave. The girl quickly packs her backpack and storms out of the room.

“Who was that? I’ve never seen her before.”

“Yeah Yuto, that'd be because you’ve missed the entire week. She’s a new student who started class here this week. Her name is Chiori Hirayama, you may not have heard of her but she actually has quite the reputation. She’s a one of a kind tech specialist. She’s won many awards for youth tech companies and already has job offers from some of the best tech businesses and offers from prestige colleges all over the island and the world. Hell, if she wanted, she could leave the island and go to college or work on the mainland in an instant. Truly one of a kind.”

“So she’s good with tech huh? Interesting.”

***

At Shunji’s house, Yuto opens the door and walks in. Shunji is lying down watching a movie in the living room while eating popcorn.

“How was school?”

“It was good like usual. Although I’m gonna have to study with Kuro since one of my teachers wants to be so strict.”

“Well, you did miss four days.”

“Yeah but I told him I was sick.”

“What and you thought he’d believe that. Maybe he would if you had a note that officially said you were sick but nooo, don’t do what Shunji tells you right?”

“Yeah yeah… Hey, have you heard of Chiori Hirayama?”

“Can’t say I have.”

“Can you do some research on her? I want to know more about her.”

“Uh… I knew I’d eventually have this conversation with you.”

“Huh?”

“Look Yuto, when you’re interested in a girl, it’s best to actually talk to her instead of creeping around for all her information. I get you’ve never really had a chance to gain experience, but I thought you’d at least realize that much.”

"Damnit Shunji!… That’s not why I’m asking! I heard she was insanely good with tech, I just want to know exactly how good she is. If she really does have the skills everyone else thinks she has, then she might be able to break the encryption on the recorder.”

“Oh I see. Are you fine with involving a random girl into this?”

“If she does prove to be the real deal, I’ll just have her break the encryption and she’ll never hear from me again. I don’t plan on involving anyone else into this Shunji.”

“Good, well it’s a long shot but it might be our only shot. With Shoma pressing harder on the press and the police saying the ‘Black Knight’ broke into his house which is true I guess, things are bound to get ugly. We need to get him arrested and fast.”

“And we’ll know more about the truth of my parents death.”