The second floor of the cafeteria, which already had an oppressive design, now felt even more suffocating under the invisible pressure radiating from two groups… of abnormal beings.

Ruby began to grow restless. She stood upright, arms crossed over her chest. Anya and Yara flipped their pastel-colored hair and did a graceful half-turn like runway models, stepping behind Ruby to form a formation that looked both solid and dangerous.

“Why does the Little Fox always show up just in time to ruin all our fun? What kind of weird hobby is that?”

The Femme Fatale trio glared at Autumn and Royce with deathly, hostile eyes—but the mocking smiles on their lips remained unchanged.

“Okay, okay… girls, let’s all calm down. Take a sip of water, nibble on something sweet, and then we can talk things out nicely.”

Royce stepped forward, placing himself between the two groups. For someone who constantly acted terrified of girls, this was already an extraordinary effort.

“Back off, Gorilla! This is between us and the Little Fox!”

Anya and Yara aggressively approached Royce, pushing him away from the center of the confrontation—without even needing to lay a finger on him.

“Don’t—don’t touch me! Stay away from meeee!”

Hearing Royce scream from afar, Ethan had to try really hard not to laugh, despite the tense atmosphere.

Now, only Ruby and Autumn remained face-to-face. Ruby stood at least 20 centimeters taller, her presence seemingly overwhelming.

Ethan had witnessed the speed and power of Autumn’s punches and kicks on the boxing ring when she trained with the dummy. But just earlier, he’d also experienced Ruby’s terrifying grip. His wrist still bore the red, bruise-like imprints of her fingers, and it throbbed with a dull ache.

He had no idea who would win in a real fight. Maybe only Royce—with his god-given talent for gambling—could calculate the odds.

But Royce was busy covering his ears as Anya and Yara unleashed a diss track filled with the foulest language Ethan had ever heard.

Ethan closed his eyes. He took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled. His heart was gradually returning to a steady rhythm, and his limbs no longer trembled as badly.

“Sigh… You girls really are the source of all trouble. Just a little thing like ‘a bleeding finger’ and you’re turning the whole lunch break into a battlefield. I give up on you all.”

Ethan finally spoke. The entire group of abnormal beings froze in place and turned to stare at him.

He slowly rose from his seat, trying to keep his posture strong—anything to avoid looking like prey about to flee from predators. With calm, deliberate steps, Ethan made his way toward the staircase without offering any explanation.

“Who said you could leave? We’re not done here!”

Ruby moved to chase after him, but Autumn blocked her path.

“I’m done being part of your catfights. I need to get to the nap room before lunch break ends. I’ve got a packed schedule this afternoon. You girls go ahead and keep debating. Bye!”

Ethan could feel the burning stares of both factions searing into his back. He tried to keep his pace natural, even as he reached the middle of the stairs.

“Royce! Go get rid of those BLOOD-STAINED tissues! And stop playing the gentleman and letting GIRLS push you around on my behalf!”

“Ruby! Don’t eat that blood-covered apple!”

As Ethan reached the bottom of the stairs, he could still hear Autumn’s voice echoing from above—giving Royce orders and shouting at Ruby.

His hair stood on end all over again.

Just what kind of monstrous creatures were these people?

After just one class, Ethan’s index finger was still bleeding and throbbing with pain. At this point, the wound should’ve already clotted on its own.

“Damn it.”

Could there be something strange about that fruit knife? Something that’s preventing his blood from clotting?

That possibility couldn’t be ruled out—because right now, anything seemed possible.

As soon as the bell rang to end the class, Ethan dashed out of the room. He hurried to the infirmary before the second period started.

Nurse Trina wasn’t in the infirmary when Ethan arrived. Strangely, lying asleep on one of the beds was Flora, while Autumn sat beside her with a deeply regretful expression.

“Royce and I accidentally bumped into her at the bottom of the stairs.”

Autumn explained briefly, then she drew the curtain around Flora’s bed to let her rest in peace.

“Where’s Nurse Trina?”

“She had to go to the hospital. They’re severely understaffed right now.”

“Mm.”

Ethan turned to leave the infirmary, but Autumn quickly followed and grabbed his arm, pressing him down into a nearby chair.

Without asking for permission, Autumn examined the cut on his index finger. She cleaned it with iodine, dabbed on some kind of medicine Ethan didn’t recognize, and carefully bandaged it.

“Can I ask you something?”

Ethan finally spoke, breaking the silence between them. Autumn got the hint and led him outside so they wouldn’t disturb Flora’s rest.

“The Femme Fatale… what are they?”

He cut straight to the point.

“I can’t answer that.”

“What about you… and Royce? Are you like them?”

“You’re better off not knowing.”

“What are you guys hiding?”

“The less you know, the safer you’ll be, Ethan.”

Autumn mumbled, biting her lip. Her eyes dropped to the floor instead of meeting his gaze.

“It was just a nightmare. Forget everything you saw this morning… You told me that yourself—back when I saw Felix’s body and ended up in the hospital after catching a glimpse of Royce’s cat eyes.”

Ethan paused before continuing with everything that had been bothering him.

“And now you probably want me to forget everything that happened at lunch too, don’t you? But for some reason… it feels like your little ‘mind tricks’ don’t work on me.”

Autumn remained silent. She didn’t deny it, but she didn’t confirm it either.

“Guess you’re not so trustworthy after all, huh, Little Fox?”

“I just want to keep you alive, Ethan!”

“I don’t need anyone to protect me. I’m not that weak. And I hate being expected to keep your secrets when I don’t even know what’s going on!”

His voice was cold, but also tinged with the sadness of someone being kept in the dark.

“You’re such an idiot!”

Autumn snapped, frustrated and hurt. Her eyes filled with tears, glistening like they were about to spill over, making Ethan want to punch himself.

“From now on, I won’t care what the Femme Fatale do to you anymore!”

Autumn bolted like the wind—so fast it couldn’t have been human. And this time, she didn’t even bother to hide it.

“Sigh… I’m not an idiot…”

Left alone, Ethan cursed himself.

“…I’m a damn fool.”