Behind Her Identity

Hatchling 5:The Girl They Found

I practically collapsed into my seat when I reached the classroom.

Breathing hard.

“Haah…”

Luckily, I beat the teacher.

Barely.

I wiped the sweat from my face, still trying to recover.

Two days.

I’d only been here for two days.

And somehow, I’d already crossed paths with that group twice.

I didn’t know what they wanted.

But they were seriously starting to freak me out.

Hotaru glanced at me, her brows slightly drawn together.

This wasn’t like me.

I was never late.

She knew that.

But instead of asking questions—

She stayed quiet.

Just like yesterday.

Without a word, she handed me a bottle of water.

I took it immediately, drinking like I hadn’t had water in hours.

“Are you feeling unwell?” she asked, her tone calm—but not entirely emotionless.

I shook my head.

“No. I’m fine. Really.”

She studied me for a moment, then let out a quiet breath.

“Our next class is P.E.,” she said softly.

My mood instantly lifted.

P.E.

My favorite.

The one class I never struggled with.

It felt natural to me—running, moving, reacting. Like my body was made for it.

Hotaru, on the other hand, looked like she’d rather disappear.

She hated the heat.

Hated the sun.

As if it could actually melt her.

I almost laughed.

As if sunlight could melt someone…

_____________

“Oh yeah!”

I couldn’t stop the excited shout the moment our painfully slow teacher finally left the room.

A few heads turned in my direction, clearly annoyed. Some rolled their eyes before going back to their conversations like I didn’t exist.

…Rude.

But something felt off.

I frowned.

Wasn’t our next class supposed to be P.E.?

Then why were my classmates busy fixing their hair and putting on makeup like they were about to attend some kind of event?

“What are they doing?” I asked, glancing at Hotaru.

She only shrugged. “No idea.”

“…I thought we had P.E. next.”

“No idea,” she repeated.

I decided not to dwell on it. Instead, I pulled out my P.E. uniform from my bag.

Better to change early before the restroom turned into a battlefield.

“I heard the entire special class is in our building!” one of my classmates squealed.

“Yeah! I saw them earlier! It looked like they were searching for someone,” another replied.

“Searching? Maybe it’s me… I am Kyrio’s destiny, after all.”

The two girls immediately glared at the one who interrupted.

“As if! If anyone’s getting noticed, it’s me!”

“Kyaaah! I hope I get to see Fierro up close!”

“…Why are they even here?” one of the boys wondered. “This is the first time they’ve come here.”

“Maybe someone pissed them off,” another guessed.

I choked on my water.

No, no, no… it’s not me… right?

But then—

The memory of what happened at the gate flashed in my mind.

My grip tightened on Hotaru’s arm.

I’m dead.

But she didn’t seem to notice.

“Why are they here…” she murmured under her breath. “They wouldn’t come just to convince me to return… would they?”

I blinked.

…Return?

Did she… know them?

That didn’t make sense. We’d known each other since we were kids.

I slowly let go of her arm and turned to the nearest classmate.

“Um… what exactly is special about the special class? Aside from their uniforms and hair?” I asked.

She raised a brow at me like I had just asked the dumbest question imaginable.

…Okay.

Not asking her again.

“I’ll go change first, Hotaru. You coming?” I asked.

No response.

She was lost in thought.

I sighed and left her behind, grabbing my P.E. uniform before heading out.

As I walked down the stairs, I noticed a commotion.

And right at the center of it—

Him.

The rude guy.

Surrounded by girls.

Of course, Rikka was leading the charge, trying her hardest to act cute in front of him.

I shrugged and turned away.

Not my problem.

I headed straight for the girls’ restroom.

“Aha! There she is!”

The shout echoed behind me.

Everything went silent.

I could feel it.

The attention.

All on me.

Slowly, I turned around—

Only to see the girl with green highlights pointing directly at me.

My eyes widened.

The people around them stared at me like I had just committed a crime.

Panic kicked in.

Without thinking, I ran.

Straight into the restroom.

Locked the door.

“Why am I even running?!” I muttered, pacing back and forth.

“I didn’t do anything wrong!”

Right…?

I froze.

A sudden gust of wind rushed through the room—

Even though the windows were closed.

And then—

She was there.

The girl with white highlights.

Standing right in front of me.

“You may have escaped the others,” she said with a smirk, “but not me.”

I blinked.

Then looked at the locked door.

Then back at her.

“…H-How did you even get in here?!”

Knock knock knock!

“Aria! Open up! Don’t hog her!” someone shouted from outside.

The door clicked open on its own.

No one touched it.

Two more girls entered.

The boys stood at the doorway.

I backed away slowly until my back hit the wall.

“…This has to be a dream,” I whispered, pinching myself.

“Ouch…”

Nope.

Still real.

The girl with green highlights suddenly clung to my arm, grinning widely.

“Hm… what do you think?” she asked the others as they all examined me.

I immediately covered myself, glaring at them.

Oh my gosh—they’re going to kidnap me and sell me or something!

“H-HELP!!!” I screamed.

They all flinched.

“HELP! HELP!”

The rude guy rushed forward and covered my mouth.

“Mmph!”

“Calm down! We’re not going to hurt you!” one of the others said quickly.

“We just need to confirm something!” the girl with pink highlights added, clearly panicking.

Then—

BANG!

The door slammed open.

Everyone turned.

Even the girls stepped back.

And I almost cried in relief.

“Hotaru…”

She walked in slowly.

Calm.

Cold.

Her eyes locked onto the guy holding me.

She didn’t even acknowledge the others.

“Let her go.”

Her voice was quiet.

But it sent chills down my spine.

The guy frowned. “Why should I? We have business with her. Stay out of it.”

Hotaru’s hand clenched.

“I am involved,” she said, her voice turning sharper. “I warned you not to go near my best friend. And yet here you are—scaring her.”

Silence.

They all looked at me.

“…Wait,” one of the boys muttered. “She’s Hotaru’s best friend?”

The rude guy clicked his tongue and released me.

I immediately ran behind Hotaru, peeking out and sticking my tongue at him.

He glared.

“Leave,” Hotaru said.

The temperature dropped.

The girls quickly exited.

One of the boys followed.

The rude guy stayed a moment longer, staring at me like he was memorizing my face.

Then he left too.

Hotaru turned to me, scanning me for injuries.

Only when she confirmed I was fine did she relax.

“Wait… I need to change,” I said, slipping into a cubicle.

When I came out, she was still there.

Thinking.

“What happened?” she asked. “Why are they looking for you?”

I hesitated.

Then shrugged.

“I… don’t know.”