Behind Her Identity

Hatchling 3:The One Who Fell

“I’m Kaori Trovato,” I said, forcing a polite smile as I faced my new classmates.

“Hotaru Wynter.”

Her introduction was brief—flat, almost emotionless.

The room fell into silence.

But even in that quiet, I could feel it—the shift in attention. The way their eyes lit up.

Not because of me.

Because of her.

It was obvious. Hotaru was beautiful in a way that didn’t try too hard. But what truly set her apart was her presence—cold, distant, like something you could admire but never touch.

Meanwhile, I became the subject of an entirely different kind of attention.

Their gazes drifted toward my forehead.

Toward the bandages covering it.

I kept my smile in place, though it felt more fragile by the second, subtly lifting my hand to shield it from view.

“You may take your seats,” our teacher instructed.

I let out a quiet breath of relief.

At least we were seated together.

Facing this class alone would’ve been… difficult. It reminded me too much of how things used to be—how people kept their distance.

Everyone, except Hotaru.

She was the only one who stayed.

The only one who didn’t leave me behind.

But when I glanced at her, something made my chest tighten.

She was staring at my forehead.

At the bandages.

Even now… I couldn’t bring myself to show her what was hidden beneath it.

Because what if—

She saw it…

And walked away too?

___________________

Time passed quickly.

Soon, it was lunch break.

And there I was—

Slumped over my desk.

Of all things to forget…

It had to be my lunch.

I must’ve left it at home in my rush earlier.

A low groan escaped me as I pressed a hand to my stomach. It twisted in protest.

I hadn’t eaten breakfast either.

Not after helping Aunt Glenda and Rikka.

“Here.”

I looked up.

Hotaru held out her lunch toward me.

I stiffened.

Then slowly leaned back, forcing an awkward smile.

It wasn’t that I didn’t trust her cooking.

But the last time I ate it…

I got sick.

Badly.

“Hehe… I’m okay, Hotaru. I’ll just grab something from the canteen,” I said quickly.

Before she could respond, I slipped out of the room.

The moment I was alone, my expression fell.

Because the truth was—

I had forgotten my wallet too.

“…Seriously?” I muttered, clutching my stomach again.

Maybe I should just disappear for a while.

The rooftop.

That sounded good.

No one would think of looking for me there.

When I got there, I smiled.

Empty.

As expected.

No one would willingly stand under the harsh midday sun.

Except me.

I stretched my arms out, inhaling deeply. The warm air filled my lungs, and the sunlight pressed gently against my skin.

It felt… nice.

Comforting.

I closed my eyes, letting myself sink into the warmth.

For a moment, it almost felt like enough.

Like I didn’t need anything else.

But then—

Something changed.

My brows drew together.

The ground beneath me…

Was gone.

I shifted my feet, testing—

Nothing.

No solid surface.

Just emptiness.

My eyes snapped open.

Clouds.

Endless clouds stretched around me.

My breath hitched.

Slowly, I looked down.

I wasn’t standing.

I was suspended in midair.

“No… this can’t—”

The memory hit me all at once.

That dream.

This was exactly how it started.

And just like before—

I began to fall.

“AAAAHHHH!!”

I flailed helplessly, my arms cutting through empty air.

It didn’t help.

Nothing did.

The ground rushed closer—

Faster—

Until I couldn’t take it anymore.

I shut my eyes tight.

Calm down…

It’s just like before…

A dream… this is just a dream—

BOOM!!

The impact shattered that thought instantly.

Pain exploded through my body.

“Ow…!” I groaned, curling slightly.

That was no dream.

That hurt too much to be one.

When I opened my eyes, my breath caught.

I was lying in the middle of a crater.

“…What?”

I sat up slowly, my mind spinning.

How high had I fallen?

And why was I still alive?

Looking around, I realized something else.

I didn’t recognize this place.

At all.

I was on the rooftop just moments ago.

So how did I end up here?

“…Did I seriously just teleport?”

“Tch. Move! You’re crushing me!”

Before I could react, I was shoved aside, my face hitting the ground again.

“Hey—!”

I pushed myself up, glaring at the guy who had just thrown me off.

I stood, brushing off my white uniform.

Then—

A deliberate cough echoed through the room.

I looked up.

An older man stood ahead.

And behind him—

My chest tightened.

The students in black uniforms.

The same ones from earlier.

All of them were staring at me.

Not casually.

But like I was something to be examined.

“…Okay, this is getting weird,” I muttered.

“I’m really sorry for interrupting,” I said quickly, bowing slightly as I searched for an exit. “I’ll just—”

A hand clamped around my arm.

“Where do you think you’re going?” the same guy snapped.

I blinked at him.

“My class is about to start,” I said. “I need to go back.”

At that, their attention shifted again—

To my uniform.

White.

Their expressions changed instantly.

Shock flickered across their faces.

They exchanged looks, as if something didn’t make sense.

What is wrong with them?

But instead of releasing me, his grip tightened.

“Master,” he said sharply, his voice edged with frustration, “something’s wrong.”

He gestured toward me.

“Why is she the one who came out of my summoning?”

Summoning?

I froze.

The man he addressed remained silent, studying me carefully.

I didn’t want any part of this.

I pulled my arm free.

“I’m really sorry, but I have to go,” I said firmly.

No one stopped me.

They only watched.

I turned—

Took a step—

Then paused.

“…Wait.”

I glanced back at them.

“How did I get here?”

They looked at each other.

But no one answered.