Sweet. Oh. Sugar.

Kemiko walked in step with her senior, her hands swinging slightly at her sides. Her senior kept glancing back toward the boys' housing complex, his face relaxed, but his jaw tight.

"Everything okay, Irazú-san?" Kemiko asked innocently.

"Yeah." he said a little too quickly. "Just... thinking about how much homework I haven't started yet."

Kemiko narrowed her eyes. “You're too good to lie good, Senpai."

"'Senpai' am I now?" He laughed nervously, ruffling her hair. "I know, I know. Hey, you hungry? Maybe I can treat you to something from the convenient store by the station?"

...~•~...

Her kemi senses tingled like static beneath her skin. Something was happening, and they didn't want her to know. The friendly smiles and calm words were a shield—just as her father had taught her to wear her own.

She glanced sideways at her senior. He was doing what he could to keep things normal for her. Sweet, but unnecessary.

The golden hour painted everything in soft hues, masking the tension beneath the calm scene.

But Kemiko still feel it. Her kemi senses prickled harder. Her smile remained intact, sunny and bright, even as she felt eyes on them. Following. This one felt like a blade against her skin.

She giggled suddenly, startling her senior. "What's funny?" he asked.

"Nothing!" she chirped, her expression perfectly oblivious.

Act normal Miko, she told herself. Her face the picture of innocence.

Her senior shook his head. "You're a strange one, Kiddo."

"Thank you!"

A grin curled her lips. This school was supposed to be a place for the best and brightest, but it was clearly filled with secrets waiting to be uncovered.

Kemiko's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she walked beside her senior.

"Senpai," she said, her tone light, "this place is really interesting, huh?"

He looked down at her, puzzled by her sudden excitement. "...I guess you could say that."

Kemiko just smiled.

Interesting, indeed.

...~•~...

🇯🇵 "Irazú senpai?"

🇨🇷 "Yes, kiddo?"

🇯🇵 "Do they have candies with pictures or little notes at the convenient store?"

🇨🇷 "Well, I don't go often. So I'm not sure." — "But they did have candies with emojis."

[💡]

🇯🇵 "Can I get the candies if there are in stock, senpai?"

🇨🇷 "Oh I was thinking of better snacks for you."

But when he looked down and saw her pleading, shimmering kitty eyes. He sighed and chuckles.

🇨🇷 "Okay we'll get the candies."

🇯🇵 "Yatta! Thanks for the bag of candies in advance, senpai!"

🇨🇷 "My very very welcome!" —Wait what— "A bag!?"

🇯🇵 "Yes! Ōkini Gozaimasu!" 😺

🇨🇷 "You're welcome!" — "No! I mean..." — "A bag of candies, is a bit much." — "Don't you think?"

🇯🇵 "I share!" — "I promise!" — "I will share with everyone!"

• • •

🇨🇷 Dang~ this kid knows my weakness.

🇯🇵 (Irazú-san can't resist sweet & well behaved kids 😸 *winks*)

🇨🇷 "Alright. A bag of candies it is..."

...~•~...

After waving Joaquín a goodbye.

Kemiko enters the Housing Building with a tap of her card and a quick eye scan.

She popped a red candy to her mouth. Holding the rest of the bag in her hand.

Safety Rule Number Two: If you feel followed, NEVER go straight to your destination.

Don't give them what they want.

If it's not possible to not give anything away... There goes Rule Number Three: Throw them off.

Because remember, don't give them what they want.

Her kemi senses prickled—maybe it was paranoia, or maybe it wasn't. Either way, she knew better than to brush it off. Her hand tightened around the bag of candies. Bracing herself.

Alright, Miko... time to throw them off. Make your parents proud.

She plastered a smile on her face as if she had nothing on her mind but sugary treats, and began her playful march. Her footsteps echoed lightly as she stopped at the first door.

She knocked. ~And oops! I dropped a candy~ 👀

"Oh well!" she chirped.

Then off to the next door. She moved from room to room, tapping her knuckles here, dropping a candy there, sometimes pretending to check a room number as if confused.

Her heart raced under her sunny façade, but she kept her movements light. Floor to floor, door to door. She walked. She marched. She skips, jog, or even do a little run.

She imagined a swirl of invisible questions forming around anyone trying to track her—

Where is she going? Which one is hers? Wait, is she even a resident here?

The bag of candies swung in her hand as she pivoted on her heel at the top floor, heading back down another hallway.

Please let this be working...

Her kemi instincts whispered uncertainly, but she trusted her parents' training.

"Overwhelm the observer with too much information to process."

The hope was that they would give up — The fear was that they wouldn't.

...~•~...

Kemiko popped another candy into her mouth. It's probably nothing, she thought, trying to calm her racing heart. I'm just being cautious.

Because if I were caught in trouble... I might be able to safe myself. It's not my first time on the run after all. But Jisoo... I promised her safety. I need her help. But I need her safe more.

Her smile didn't waver, her footsteps steady even though her nerves weren't.

Just keep going. Keep them safe. You've got this.

Knock the door—Drop a red candy—Leave & repeat.

But on one door... She "accidentally " dropped one of her hair clips along with the red candy.

Please... Please get my message, Jisoo.

...~•~...

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