keep connecting the dots/not done by a long shot

(Gento's perspective)I appeared behind Rai without a sound, just like I always did. It wasn’t hard to sneak up on him, considering his mind was probably still occupied with Naoki’s reckless attempts to socialize with that kid, Taro. Rai jumped like I’d been a ghost or something. He’s always been jumpy.

"AHH—oh, it’s just you, Gento..." he muttered, catching his breath. "What’s up?"

I gave him a flat look, calm as always. "Let me guess... Naoki couldn’t shut up again?"

He nodded, clearly still worked up over it. "Yeah, she was talking to that kid with black hair, red highlights, and the white at the back of his hair."

Ah, him. "So, it’s that PTSD kid."

Rai frowned, confused. "What do you mean by PTSD, Gento?"

I sighed, like I was explaining something simple to a child. "You know the TV in one of the rooms over there? I hacked it. Been monitoring footage from all the other rooms. I did it again an hour ago. I saw his room." I paused, letting the weight of my words sink in. "He was suffering the most. Hallucinating. He pressed the button during one of his hallucinations."

Rai looked skeptical, like he always did when I started piecing things together. "And how do you know he has PTSD and was hallucinating?"

"Simple." I crossed my arms, feeling that usual thrill when I was about to lay out a theory. "I’ve been watching the patterns, Rai. Watching *him*. Remember when I told you the next part of the entrance exam would involve critical thinking? Well, that’s not just for the tasks ahead. It’s already started, but on a psychological level."

I paused for dramatic effect, noticing how Rai was still trying to process my words. "If you didn’t know, he was talking to people who weren’t there, until the man came. Then, like a wild animal, he lunged at the guy. Looked like he was trying to kill him."

Rai rolled his eyes. He was always dismissive when it came to my deeper theories. "Gento, you always say a lot of insane stuff. Like that one time you claimed the government is secretly trying to control society through phones to distract us."

I didn’t let that phase me. "And I’m still right about that. You’ll see. Every theory I’ve come up with makes sense if you take the time to connect the dots. I’ve known you since kindergarten, Rai, when we lived in that crappy apartment building. You should know by now that my mind is always working."

Rai sighed, shaking his head. "For such a lazy, emo guy like you, you sure spend a lot of time making up theories."

Lazy? Sure. But my mind never rests. "There’s something dark about that kid, Taro," I said, my voice lowering. "Something dangerous. And I can already deduce his motive."

Rai raised an eyebrow, clearly doubtful. "And what exactly is that ‘motive,’ Gento?"

I smirked, knowing what I was about to say would blow his mind. "Revenge. He’s here to get revenge for his parents’ murder. And he’s here to kill the man running this twisted experiment. Somehow, the two are connected—his parents and this whole spy program."

Rai stared at me like I had just spoken in tongues. "Gento, I don’t understand a single word you’re saying right now."

Of course, he didn’t. Rai was smart in his own way, but not like me. Not a *thinker*. I could see the bigger picture, the web connecting all the parts of this insane experiment. I could see how everything was orchestrated from the shadows.

I continued, unable to stop myself. "Think about it, Rai. This entire program, this prestigious high school... it’s all part of a grand plan. What if we were chosen for this from birth? What if this school isn’t just a school, but a front for training future agents—spies molded by the Japanese government? There’s a reason they’re keeping it hidden under the guise of a normal school. They’re grooming us, Rai. Preparing us for something bigger. And Taro? He’s an anomaly in their plan, someone they didn’t anticipate."

Rai groaned, rubbing his face in frustration. "Okay, I’m tired of hearing your weird, crazy theories, Gento. You’re insane."

I shrugged, unaffected by his words. He always thought I was crazy, but I knew better. I was closer to the truth than anyone here. And soon, he’d see it too.

As I looked across the room, my eyes landed on Taro, sitting in the back, silent and brooding. He wasn’t just any kid. He was a key. To what, I didn’t know yet. But I’d figure it out.

For now, I’d keep watching. Keep connecting the dots.(taro perspective)The door to the lounge creaked open, snapping me out of my thoughts. Men in white coats entered, their faces blank, robotic. They all spoke at once, like they were reading from some twisted script.

"The first part of the entrance exam has now concluded. We will now introduce you to the second part of the entrance exam..."

I wasn’t paying attention to their rehearsed lines. My mind was locked on one thing. Him.

I stood up, pushing myself off the couch. The others were still sitting, probably exhausted or broken from that first part. But I had no time to rest. I marched straight toward those men in white.

I didn’t care about the exam anymore. I didn’t care about this school. I needed answers.

"Where is he?" I asked, my voice was low but threatening.

One of the men, trying to maintain a neutral face, responded, "I'm sorry, but what man?"

I could feel my blood boiling. Did they think I was a joke? Did they really think I didn’t know what was going on? I leaned in closer, my eyes narrowing into a glare. "Don't bullshit me. Does it look like I'm playing around?"

Silence. The man didn’t respond, but I could feel their unease.

I knew the others were watching me. I could feel their eyes on my back. Rai was probably sighing to himself, thinking I was overreacting. "Man, Taro is a pain..." I bet he was saying. And Gento? That guy was always analyzing. I could imagine him watching me closely, probably thinking, *Taro is acting impulsive. He's pulling dangerous stops for his goal...*

But none of them mattered. Not right now.

I stared into the man’s eyes. "Let me rephrase the question then..." My voice grew colder. "Who and where is the man that brought us here?"

The man in white blinked, and for the first time, I saw a flicker of fear. That’s right. They knew. They all knew who I was talking about. And they were hiding him. Hiding *him* from me.

"Please, remain calm," the man stammered. "You will have all your questions answered in due time."

"Due time?" I spat. "You think I can wait any longer? You’re the ones who trapped us here! You *lied* to us!"

The others in the room shifted uncomfortably. I could feel their tension rising. But I didn’t care. The rage bubbling inside me had been brewing for years. It had started the day that man took everything from me. And now, now I was close. Too close to stop.

"You tell me where he is," I hissed, "or I’ll tear this place apart to find him myself."

The man in white exchanged a glance with the others. They were scared. Good. They should be.

"Please," the man said, his voice cracking slightly, "we are only following instructions. The second part of the exam will begin shortly, and you will receive more information then."

I clenched my fists, my knuckles turning white. I wanted to break something. Break *them*. But I couldn’t afford to lose control. Not yet.

"Fine," I said through gritted teeth, stepping back. "But if I find out you’re lying to me..." I let the threat hang in the air. They knew what I meant. I didn’t need to spell it out.

I turned on my heel and walked back toward the lounge, my mind still buzzing. I wouldn’t let this go. I’d get my answers, one way or another.

As I sat back down, my heart was still pounding. The man who brought us here, the one who took my parents from me... he was close. I could feel it. And when I found him, I’d make him pay.

But for now, I’d wait. Play their game. Let them think they were still in control.

But I wasn’t done yet. Not by a long shot.

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