Intruder Alert

Slowly, Kaden opened his eyes again, fighting off the pain from the fall.

Besides the regular few, who rarely worried about anything, being Amene, Satoku, and Shisu, everyone was in a complete state of panic. An alarm went off throughout the school, and the windows closed off with metal shutters. Everyone was running around the classroom. Some tried to pry open the shut windows, but with no luck.

Shaking off his daze, he tried to pull himself up by a fallen over desk, but fell back down when someone ran into him.

Kaito hurried over to Kaden, when he noticed him.

“What’s happening?” He asked, panicked, while trying to help Kaden up.

“I don’t know.” Kaden groaned, feeling his head, which was now throbbing.

Presumably, he had hit it during the fall.

Satoku ran over to them too.

“You alright, buds?” He asked.

Both Kaito and Kaden nodded, though Kaden wasn’t feeling as “alright” as he let on.

“Everyone, please calm yourself!” Yelled professor Slechtsnor.

It seemed he needed some time to collect himself too. His mechanical eye was darting around to everyone, but landed, for some reason, on Kaden.

“This is standard procedure for intruders!” He explained loudly, over the ringing alarm.

Everyone slowly and gradually grew more silent, though they were visibly still on edge.

“On such an occasion, all transport functions shut down, and the school goes into lockdown! We have merely needed to use this on one other occasion, so this is somewhat new to most! However, there are protocols in place for events like these, to ensure the school does not get caught! I urge everyone to stay calm, and get into your villain costumes! We will show the intruder not to underestimate my villain students! Please, gather in the cafeteria when you are ready!”

Everyone broke out into a panicked murmuring. Shisu, however, did not hesitate to leave the classroom. Kaden grabbed Kaito’s shaking hand and also made his way to the door. Satoku and Amene followed his lead.

“Where are we going?” Kaito asked hesitantly.

“We’re getting into our suits.” Kaden said determinately.

“Y-You don’t think we’ll have to fight, do you?” Kaito whimpered.

“I don’t know,” Kaden responded quietly, “a hero wouldn’t harm students like us, I think, so if it were a hero, that would be the best case scenario. We should be prepared for the worst, though.”

He looked back at Kaito and saw panic in his eyes.

“You’ve fought before, right?”

“That was just against other students. Against Shisu.” Kaito mumbled. “What if it’s a real villain this time? Besides, I always had all of you and big sis to help me.”

“You have us now too.” Amene said encouragingly.

“Team Not-So-Bad always sticks together!” Satoku exclaimed.

“But–” Kaito protested.

At that moment they ran into Haido. She was already in her suit.

When she saw Kaden’s hand holding Kaito’s, she swiftly slapped them apart, and seized Kaito’s hand for herself. She gave Kaden an intense look, but didn’t say anything.

“We should get ready.” Amene said dreamily.

Kaden nodded.

“Let’s meet back up at the Square Cavity.” He said determinately.

He gave Kaden a meaningful look, and they nodded in response.

Kaden and Satoku ran to pick up Kaden’s suit, which was still in the tailor’s room. He had asked for a few changes in the design, when requesting a new one. It was now mostly black, with only a few white highlights on the arms, chest, shoes, and hood. The coin more seamlessly blended into the design now. Kaden held it out in front of him, and inspected it thoroughly, then felt the coin on his chest.

“It seems fine.” He said nervously.

“It was well guarded this time.” Satoku assured him.

Both of them quickly changed into their suits and made their way towards the Square Cavity, where the others were waiting for them.

“I don't like this…” Kaito groaned while covering his ears.

“There, there, it's alright baby brother.” Haido said, while patting him on the head.

The alarm was still ringing loudly. Some other students were in the cafeteria as well, and they seemed to be just as bothered by this as Kaito.

“Now what?” Satoku asked, looking at Kaden.

Kaden stared at him confusedly, then looked at the others, who were also looking at him.

“I'm not sure.” He then said nervously. “The professor didn't say what to do after gathering here, or anything like that, so I guess we just… wait…”

The others nodded silently in agreement, and they all sat down in their usual places.

After a while, the alarm stopped. Although, Kaden could still hear it ringing in his head, even in the silence. Not only that, without the constant loud noise to distract them, it was easy to feel the silent panic emanating from everyone.

More students had gathered in the cafeteria now, not knowing what to do, or where to go. They all seemed on edge, which Kaden didn’t find unlikely. They had just been told there was an intruder, which means any one of them could betray the other at any moment.

“Who do you think it is?” Amene asked dreamily, after some time of waiting in silence.

“What?” Kaden asked surprised.

He had been deep in thought, thinking about what to do if something were to happen.

“Who do you think the intruder is?” She asked again.

Kaden stared at her.

“It’s gotta be Shisu, right?” Satoku said.

Kaden shook his head.

“He needs the school on his way to be ‘number one’,” Kaden explained, “he wouldn’t do anything like this. Not yet, at least.”

Satoku looked down, and put his hand to his chin.

“We might not even know them.” Said Kaito quietly.

“It could be a shapeshifter.” Suggested Haido.

Kaden turned his gaze towards her.

“They could be one of us, even!” She continued, with a hint of excitement.

“I don’t think we should start mistrusting each other, Haido.” Kaden said awkwardly.

“We could have secret questions to test each other.” Amene proposed. “I saw it in a film once. We just ask each other something only we would know. That way we won’t have to mistrust each other.”

All of them looked at one another, then nodded in agreement.

“I’ll start!” Amene said excitedly. “Kaden, what type of villains are my parents?”

Kaden thought for a moment before answering.

“You never told me…” he mumbled, “you don’t like talking about them.”

“Correct!” She exclaimed, clapping lightly.

“I thought it was supposed to be something we did know.” Haido complained. “You’re getting the rules of your own game wrong!”

“It’s not supposed to be a game!” Kaden exclaimed.

“Well, this works too.” Amene said, putting a finger to her lip.

“Let me show you how to do it.” Haido said confidently. “Kaden! What was in my baby brother’s bedroom when we went there?”

“Uhm, teddy bears, but…” Kaden stammered.

Kaito nodded shyly, and turned slightly reddish.

“See, that way I’ve tested both of you.” Haido said proudly.

“Maybe we should ask someone other than me.” Kaden sighed.

At that moment, professor Slechtsnor walked into the room. His eyes darted around, looking at every single student there, before landing on Kaden. Slowly, he paced towards them.

“You're here, good.” He said, once he stood before them. “If you would come with me.”

The professor didn't gesture or point at Kaden, but he knew he was addressing him, because his mechanical eye was piercing right through him.

“Alright.” Kaden said softly, and jumped out of the Square Cavity.

Before walking with the professor, who was already briskly striding away, Kaden took one look back at the others. Amene waved at him, but the others looked slightly worried.

Professor Slechtsnor led him towards the hallway. Kaden noticed that the mechanical eye kept glancing backwards, as they walked through the cafeteria.

“It’s not me, I haven’t done anything.” Kaden said quickly, when the professor closed the door behind them.

“I do not think it is you, who is the intruder.” Professor Slechtsnor said briskly.

“Then why–” Kaden started.

“We believe you can help us with finding out whom it actually is.” The professor told him.

Kaden narrowed his eyes as he looked at his professor.

“Why me?” He asked. “Didn't you say I was 'quite disappointing'?”

“While it is true that this was my belief at the time, you have since improved.” The professor answered.

Kaden looked surprised.

“It was I who convinced the other judges to let you pass, while having shown little to none of your skill, back in the Gym examination. I had seen that what you showed was a vast improvement, and especially after retrieving the King’s Sapphire, I took notice of your skill. I did not say anything, for I knew that the drive to prove me and any other wrong, would only fuel your desire to be better. The first day’s assessment was not judgement, Mr Ryoman, it was merely as I said it; To show me what I’m working with. Your motivation to ‘show the world’, as you put it, told me exactly what to do to push you forward.”

Kaden did not know what to say. Maybe it was because he subconsciously did want to prove his professor wrong, or that he was just complimented by someone other than his friends, but he felt a sudden sense of pride in his chest.

“Regardless, that is not why we need you.” Professor Slechtsnor added promptly.

“Oh…” Mumbled Kaden softly, the pride fading away already.

“We have narrowed down where the imposter could hide, and have come to the conclusion that they are hiding amongst the students.”

Kaden gulped.

“We believe one of your friends–”

“No.” Kaden refused.

“It can't be one of them.” He said firmly.

Professor Slechtsnor stared at Kaden intensely and scraped his throat.

“You have to understand that we have to be absolutely certain of this.” He said.

“It’s not one of them.” Kaden said determinately.

The professor narrowed his eyes and looked deep into Kaden’s.

“Very well then.” He then said slowly. “If you do find out who it is, come to me immediately.”

Kaden nodded and returned to the cafeteria. He could feel the mechanical eye of the professor piercing the back of his neck, as he walked away. Uncomfortably, he sat back down with the others.

“What did he want? Are you the intruder?” Haido asked excitedly.

“N-no, you just tested me before I left!” Kaden stammered in response. “He just wanted my help.”

“Help with what?” Satoku asked nervously.

“It seems your theory was right, Haido, the intruder is hiding as a student.” Kaden explained. “The professor believed it could be one of you.” He said looking around at them.

Suddenly, besides Amene, they all looked nervous.

“But I told him it can't be one of you.” Kaden continued, shaking his head.

“Well, in theory, it could very well be one of us.” Amene reasonably pointed out.

Kaden looked at her.

“I trust all of you.” He said softly.

“Aww, thanks, little man,” Satoku said, patting Kaden on the back.

“What?” Kaden quickly blurted out.

“I said thanks,” Satoku repeated.

“Oh…”

He must have misheard it. Yes, he was just thinking about home. His family had been on his mind since he left, after all. Kaden looked at Satoku, and nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

“Uhm, should we continue the questions, just to make sure?” Kaden asked slowly.

“We already did them while you were gone.” Satoku told him.

Kaden nodded nervously.

He took another glance at Satoku.

“Yes, it's just in my head.” He convinced himself in his head.

Satoku stood up suddenly.

“Where are you going?” Kaden asked jumpily.

“I gotta go pee…” Satoku told him awkwardly.

“Me too!” Kaden said quickly, jumping up himself.

Amene's mouth opened, and she looked at both of them curiously.

“Alright then.” Satoku responded awkwardly.

They walked towards the hallway together, Kaden very tensely. Once the doors closed behind them, Kaden grabbed Satoku’s arm.

“What’s up?” Satoku asked confusedly.

“What was the name you gave to your plan, during our entrance exam?” Kaden asked.

“What? We already did the questions.” Satoku chuckled and tried to move forward.

Kaden tightened his grip.

“Only Satoku and I heard it.” Kaden insisted.

“It was a while ago, I don’t think I remember.” Satoku laughed nervously.

“Satoku would've remembered.” Kaden said firmly.

“Come on now, little man.” Satoku said.

Kaden let out a quivering sigh and let go of his arm.

“I know it's you, uncle Morey.”