GIFTED ACADEMY: THE PERFECT STUDENT

I made my way into the locker area.

I already checked outside to make sure that no one was nearby. The last thing I wanted was to be caught in the act—however, I had made plenty of preparations.

As I walked into the empty halls, I quickly checked the security to make sure it was still covered.

After that, I scanned my surroundings once more before grabbing the bolt cutters out of my bag. The ruffling noise echoed through the empty school, but I was pretty sure that no one could possibly be nearby.

Ayato, this is all your fault—I really do hate you.

I can't believe that I managed to put the seafood in the wrong locker yesterday. I'm definitely not the type of person to make a mistake like that. This morning, I felt as if I was going to burst out with anger; I never make mistakes.

In one clean strike, I managed to cut off Ayato's lock. As it fell, I caught it in my hand and gently placed it on the ground. As I opened his locker, I noticed that there were only a few workbooks inside.

Oh well, I guess he doesn't have many belongings.

I grabbed some pens out of my locker and held them over his books.

You deserve this, Ayato.

After cutting off the tips with the bolt cutters, the thick black ink leaked all over his books. I made sure to swirl them around a little to make sure that everything was lathered.

"Hey now, why have you done this."

What?!

In shock, I dropped the bolt cutters onto the ground, smashing into the hard vinyl floor.

W-why are you here...?

"Why have you done this... Tachibana Emi-san."

Mizuhara Ayato...! This is why I hate you so much.

"Tell me, why have you come to this school?" I asked.

"Why do you want to know."

I can't stand your nonchalant expression! That was the same face you made when you...

In anger, I kicked the lockers as hard as I could. There was a dent where my foot slammed into the door. The loud sound echoed throughout the empty halls.

"Y-you! Even this many years later, you still let my father's words control you?"

"Who says his words control me."

You... you really think that your mission was made for any reason aside from my father's selfishness?!

"You have so much power, yet you simply listen to a dumb mission and follow it naively like a stupid little duckling!"

"Tachibana-san, you understand just as much as I do."

"The Ideal Human Project was years ago! It's in the past, just forget about it." Anger was building up in my chest like a balloon, "I fucking hate you, stay away from me! I don't give a shit whether it's your mission or not!"

"Tachibana-san, you don't seem to understand. The reason I follow my mission is not because of any affection I have for you."

I breathed all of the oxygen in the world into my lungs.

Ayato... one day, I'll make sure you get what you deserve.

After what you did to them...

After what you did to me...

I've watched you longer than anyone else has—even longer than my father.

And I thought I could trust you.

Unforgivable.