Behind Her Identity

Hatchling 4: The Ones Who Won’t Let Go

By the time I reached the stairs, my lungs were burning.

I bent slightly, catching my breath.

I didn’t expect the special class building to be that far.

Good thing they gave me bread before I left. My stomach had already been protesting earlier—loud enough to embarrass me. If not for that, I probably would’ve passed out halfway back.

“Where did you go?”

I jolted.

“Ah—Hotaru!” I groaned, pressing a hand to my chest. “Can you not scare me like that?”

“Where did you go?” she repeated, her voice even colder this time.

I winced.

Yeah… she was definitely not in a good mood.

She circled me slowly, her sharp eyes scanning every inch of me, like she was checking for injuries. It reminded me of before—how she’d always assume someone had picked on me again.

That’s why she never liked leaving me alone.

“I-I just went somewhere… to get some air,” I said, forcing a small laugh.

A lie.

But how could I possibly explain?

Falling from the sky.

Landing in a crater.

Being summoned.

Hotaru’s gaze locked onto mine.

She knew.

She always knew.

Still… after a few seconds, she looked away and said nothing more.

______________________

The next day—

I was running late.

Again.

I barely got any sleep. The stone on my forehead kept heating up randomly throughout the night, and no matter how hard I tried to ignore it—

That guy kept appearing in my thoughts.

The rude one.

I didn’t even know his name.

And yet…

There was something pulling me toward him.

Something I couldn’t understand.

And the worst part?

This strange, ridiculous feeling—

Like I needed to protect him.

I scoffed under my breath.

Yeah, right.

As if someone like him would ever need me.

I snapped out of it when I saw the school gate slowly closing.

Panic hit me instantly.

“No, no, no—!”

I sprinted.

Faster.

Closer—

And just before it shut completely, I dropped low and slid through the gap.

Clang!

The gate slammed shut behind me.

“…That was too close.”

A grin spread across my face as I wiped the sweat from my forehead. Sometimes, I really wondered about myself.

This speed.

This agility.

It wasn’t normal.

Straightening up, I dusted off my uniform and adjusted my bag.

Then I looked ahead—

And immediately regretted it.

The special class.

All of them.

Standing there.

Watching me.

…Great.

They saw everything.

And for some reason—

My eyes found him.

The rude one.

We locked gazes.

Neither of us looking away.

One of his companions stepped forward, clearly stunned.

“How did you just do that?”

“What exactly are you?” a girl with green streaks in her hair asked, her eyes narrowing as she examined me like a puzzle.

I opened my mouth—

But the bell rang.

Perfect timing.

“I’ll explain later—I’m really late!” I said quickly, trying to slip past them.

No luck.

They blocked my path instantly.

“Not until you answer us,” said another girl, this one with white streaks, her voice calm but firm.

I frowned.

Were they serious right now?

“Move! I’m going to be late!” I snapped, trying to push through.

It didn’t work.

They didn’t even budge.

Like walls.

I’m dead…

Aunt Glenda was definitely going to kill me.

I glanced at them again, mind racing.

Think. Think—

Then it hit me.

I stepped back.

They looked confused.

“Hey… what are you doing?”

I smirked.

Then ran straight at them.

Fast.

Really fast.

I expected them to dodge.

They didn’t.

Fine.

Then I’ll do it my way.

At the last second—

I jumped.

High enough to clear all of them.

“What the—?!”

Their shocked voices echoed behind me as I flew over their heads.

I landed cleanly on the other side, already grinning.

Got you.

Without wasting another second, I ran—ignoring the sound of them shouting after me.