The café felt warmer today, filled with the usual noise of students hiding between classes. But at the back table, Kai sat with Felix, Evan, and Jonah, their voices low, eyes sharp.

  Felix leaned in closer, glancing around before he spoke.

  “There’s a girl named Iris.”

  Kai looked at him, curious but silent, waiting.

  “You probably don’t know her. She’s from another faculty. Real quiet — keeps her head down. But there’s something going on.”

  Kai’s fingers drummed softly against the table.

  “What kind of something?”

  Felix took a breath, glancing at Evan for a second before speaking again.

  “It’s Harland. You know, the physics teacher.”

  Kai’s gaze sharpened.

  “Yeah. I know of him.”

  Felix’s jaw tensed.

  “Word is, he’s been targeting girls for years. And now? Now he’s got his sights on Iris.”

  Evan leaned forward, voice low.

  “It’s worse than just rumors, man. People say if you don’t go along with him, he ruins you. Gets other teachers to turn on you, spreads stuff around.”

  “Makes sure you fail,” Felix added. “Or worse.”

  Kai sat back, processing, a cold calm settling over his features.

  “And no one’s doing anything?”

  Felix shook his head.

  “People are scared. Or they pretend not to see.”

  Evan exhaled sharply.

  “But we see it. And we knew we had to tell you.”

  Kai’s fingers stilled on the table, his mind already moving ahead, setting the first lines of a plan.

  “Alright,” he said quietly. “If it’s true we’ll do something about it.”

  The afternoon sun filtered weakly through the library windows, but Kai wasn’t there to read.

  From a quiet corner, he watched — Mr. Harland’s office, just across the courtyard. His eyes tracked every move, calm but sharp.

  For days now, Kai had been watching. And what he had seen made his blood simmer under his cold exterior.

  “So it’s true.”

  Harland had a pattern — always the same.

  Calling girls in “for help” during office hours.

  Getting too close. A hand on the shoulder that lingered too long. A smile that wasn’t a smile.

  Some girls went along, afraid to push back. Others froze, eyes darting to the door as if searching for a way out.

  And then there was Iris.

  Kai had watched her sit stiffly across from Harland — head down, speaking as little as possible, flinching every time Harland leaned in too close.

  “You’re a coward,” Kai thought coldly, eyes narrowing. “You only pick the weak because you think no one will notice. But I see you.”

  Kai sat alone in his room, the glow of his laptop casting shadows across the walls. His pyramid posterloomed behind him like a silent witness to everything he had done — and everything he was about to do.

  On his screen, a live video call was running.

  Felix was sitting on a bench near the teacher’s office, phone tilted casually as if he was watching something — but the camera was carefully aimed.

  “She’s here,” Felix whispered, adjusting his grip on the phone slightly.

  “Right on time, like you said.”

  Kai didn’t answer. His eyes were sharp, locked on Iris as she hesitated in front of Mr. Harland’s door.

  She looked pale, smaller than usual under the weight of whatever she was carrying.

  “Hold on, Iris.”

  The door creaked open. Mr. Harland appeared, all smiles — that fake, too-smooth smile that Kai had seen too many times now.

  “Ah, Iris, come in. Don’t worry, we’ll take care of that grade situation.”

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  Kai leaned forward slightly, tension winding through him.

  Felix muttered in his ear:

  “You think he’ll try something?”

  Kai’s was calm, razor-sharp.

  Inside Harland’s office, the door clicked shut with a soft finality.

  Inside, Iris sat stiffly on the chair across from Harland’s desk, her fingers twisting together in her lap.

  Harland leaned back in his chair, smiling as though this was nothing but a friendly conversation.

  Slowly, Harland stood up, walking over to a small table in the corner of the room. There, a bottle of water and a glass sat waiting.

  “You look pale, Iris,” Harland said smoothly, glancing back at her over his shoulder. “You sure you don’t want something to drink?”

  Iris tensed, shaking her head quickly.

  “No, I’m fine… really. Why did you ask me to come here?”

  Harland uncapped the bottle, pouring water into the glass, and as he turned slightly to reach for something else on the table, his fingers slipped something into the drink — a movement so casual, so practiced, that Iris didn’t notice.

  Harland turned back, walking over to Iris with that same soft voice.

  “Come on, now. Don’t be like that,” he said, holding out the glass. “You look like you could pass out any second. Drink a little. It’ll help.”

  Iris shook her head again, more firmly.

  “I don’t think I should. I’m okay.”

  Harland’s smile grew thinner, but he leaned in closer, lowering his voice like he was sharing some kind of secret.

  “Look, Iris… I wanted to say sorry.”

  “I realize now maybe I pushed too hard. So let me make this right. After today, I’ll stop bothering you.”

  Iris glanced up at him, uncertainty flickering across her face.

  “You mean that?” she asked, her voice quiet, wary.

  Harland nodded, pushing the glass toward her.

  “Of course. Just… relax. You’ll feel better, okay? Then we’ll never have to talk about this again.”

  She hesitated — and then, finally, she reached for the glass, fingers trembling slightly.

  “Okay. Thank you… for understanding.”

  She raised the glass to her lips, taking a small sip.

  Kai’s phone vibrated — a message from Evan, who was waiting nearby with Felix.

  “All set. Just say the word.”

  Kai didn’t reply. His gaze never left the screen.

  Inside the office, Harland sat down again, leaning back with a satisfied smile, watching Iris as she blinked slowly, her posture wilting slightly as whatever he had put in her drink took effect.

  “Just take it easy, Iris,” Harland said softly, leaning in, his hand brushing her ankle under the desk, creeping higher.

  Inside the office, Harland’s hand inched higher, brushing up Iris’s leg as she sat slumped in the chair, clearly dazed.

  Suddenly —

  Bzzz. Bzzz.

  Harland’s phone buzzed loudly against the desk, the vibration sharp in the heavy silence of the room.

  He frowned, glancing down.

  Unknown Number.

  He hesitated, glancing at Iris — who seemed barely aware.

  Slowly, he picked up the phone and answered, irritation clear in his voice.

  “Yeah? Who is this?”

  On the other end, Kai’s voice came through, cold, low, altered — unrecognizable but steady.

  “Stop what you’re doing, Harland.”

  Harland froze, blinking.

  “What? Who is this?”

  Kai’s voice was calm, cutting.

  “Check your messages.”

  Harland’s frown deepened, but curiosity got the better of him. He lowered the phone for a second, opening his messages — and then his whole face drained of color.

  Because there it was.

  A video.

  Clear as day.

  Him. Pouring something into Iris’s drink. Leaning in too close.

  Everything caught on camera — all angles, like someone had been watching the whole time.

  Harland’s hand started to shake.

  “Who are you?” he whispered, voice cracking now.

  Kai, watching from his room, leaned back in his chair, his eyes cold and sharp.

  “Doesn’t matter.”

  Harland swallowed hard, glancing at Iris, still blinking slowly, her body swaying a little.

  “What do you want?”

  “You’re going to stand up,” Kai said quietly. “You’re going to walk to the door. Right now. And you’re going to hand Iris to the two people waiting outside.”

  Harland blinked fast, looking at the door like he was praying there wasn’t anyone there.

  “I—”

  “Do it,” Kai snapped. His voice still low, but sharp as glass.

  “And Harland? If you say a single word to her, or anyone else, that video goes everywhere. Understand?”

  “Yes,” Harland whispered.

  “Good. Walk.”

  Outside, Felix and Evan stood waiting, glancing at each other when they heard Harland’s door click open.

  Harland appeared, his face pale as a sheet, sweating.

  “Iris… isn’t feeling well,” Harland stammered. “She… needs to go to the infirmary.”

  Felix stepped forward, gentle but firm, taking Iris by the arm as she stumbled slightly.

  “We’ve got her.”

  Evan gave Harland a cold glare.

  “We’ll take it from here.”

  As they walked Iris out, Felix glanced back — Harland still standing frozen in the doorway, shaking.

  Later, in a quiet hallway, away from other students, Evan and Kai stood together, watching as Iris was safely led away to rest.

  Evan turned to Kai, still clearly rattled.

  “Dude…” Evan shook his head. “How the hell did you know? You told me to plant that camera like two days ago. And you knew today was the day.”

  Kai was quiet for a moment, his hands in his pockets, leaning against the wall.

  “Sometimes you don’t need to know every detail,” Kai said calmly.

  Evan looked at him, frowning slightly.

  “Still… it’s like you knew it before it even happened.”

  Kai didn’t respond, but in his mind, the memory of sitting in his room two nights before was sharp —

  Picturing it.

  Seeing Harland, Iris, the drink, the hand on her leg, the call interrupting it all.

  “If I see it clearly enough… it becomes real.”

  Kai’s lips twitched into a faint smile.

  “Let’s just say I believe in cause and effect.”

  Back in his office, Harland sat behind his desk, head in his hands.

  His phone buzzed again.

  He picked it up slowly.

  Another message:

  “If you ever touch another girl — if you ever even think about it — everyone will know who you are. The first time you fail me, this video will go to every teacher, every parent, every student. You work for us now.”

  Harland’s hands trembled as he read it, realizing the noose now firmly around his neck.

  The soft beeping of the infirmary monitor was the first thing Iris heard.

  Her eyes fluttered open, the harsh white lights above making her squint.

  As her vision cleared, she realized she wasn’t alone.

  Sitting beside her bed was a boy she didn’t recognize — sharp eyes watching her carefully, calm but unreadable.

  Behind him, three other figures stood.

  Iris blinked, trying to sit up, but her body felt heavy, weak.

  “W-what happened?” she croaked, her voice barely above a whisper.

  The boy sitting beside her — Kai — leaned forward slightly, his elbows resting on his knees, fingers interlaced.

  “You’re safe now,” Kai said quietly, his voice steady, gentle but firm. “But what happened to you… was never supposed to happen.”

  Iris stared at him, confused, her heart racing.

  “Safe? From what? I—I don’t understand…”

  Kai nodded slowly, like he had expected that answer.

  “I know you’re confused. But there’s something you need to see.”

  He reached into his pocket, pulling out his phone. After a moment, he turned the screen to her, pressing play.

  The video was short — but it was enough.

  It showed everything.

  Harland pouring something into her drink.

  Harland leaning in too close.

  Her drinking.

  Him reaching toward her.

  Iris’s hand flew to her mouth as her eyes widened in horror, tears rushing to her eyes.

  “Oh my god…” she whispered, her voice breaking.

  She looked at Kai, tears now spilling down her cheeks.

  “You… how did you—?”

  Kai’s expression softened, but his voice stayed calm, like steel under velvet.

  “We’ve been watching you for a while now. Not because we wanted to spy on you — but because we knew something was wrong. We knew he was hurting people. And we were instructed to protect you.”

  Iris broke then, the tears falling faster as she buried her face in her hands.

  “I thought no one saw… I thought no one cared…”

  Kai sat quietly, letting her cry for a moment. Then, when her sobs quieted, he leaned closer, lowering his voice.

  “You’re not alone anymore.”

  Iris looked up at him, her eyes red and wet.

  “But… but he canceled my scholarship,” she whispered, her voice raw. “He told the other teachers things about me — things that weren’t true. They believe him. My grades… I’m failing. And now I have nowhere to go. I can’t afford to stay here.”

  Kai’s jaw tensed for a moment, but he forced himself to stay calm, offering her a small, steady nod.

  “We’ll take care of you.”

  Iris blinked at him, confused.

  “What? But how? You don’t even know me.”

  “Maybe,” Kai said softly. “But I know what it’s like to be pushed down and left alone. And I know what it’s like to think no one’s coming to help.”

  She stared at him, breathing shakily.

  “But why would you help me?”

  Kai leaned back slightly, glancing at Evan and Felix before turning back to her.

  “Because there are people in this school who think they can do whatever they want. People like Harland. People who hurt others and think no one will stop them.”

  “But we’re going to stop them.”

  Iris’s hands shook in her lap, but for the first time, she seemed to be breathing a little easier.

  “You don’t have to worry about money,” Kai said firmly. “We’ll handle it. You’ll stay in school. You’ll keep going.”

  Iris blinked again, stunned.

  “But… how?”

  Kai gave a faint, almost secretive smile.

  “Let’s just say we have friends in the right places. And people who owe us favors.”

  Felix smirked slightly behind him, while Evan crossed his arms and nodded, as if to say “Yeah. Believe it.”

  Iris swallowed hard, more tears coming — but this time they weren’t just from fear.

  “Thank you,” she whispered. “Thank you… I didn’t think anyone would ever help me.”

  Kai stood then, glancing down at her.

  “You don’t need to thank me.”

  He took a small breath.

  “Just promise me one thing.”

  She looked up at him, wiping her eyes.

  “What?”

  “Stay strong. We’re going to need people like you soon. People who’ve been hurt, but didn’t give up.”

  Iris hesitated, then nodded slowly.

  “I promise.”

  Kai nodded once more, his eyes softening — but deep down, already calculating his next move.

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