Kaito stood in the middle of the Service Center as the noise finally faded. The scent of metal and dust still lingered in the air. He watched Maxim and Alps checking their weapons.
"Maxim," Kaito called, patting the student's shoulder. "Continue the shooting practice for Alps. Focus on grip technique and mid-range control. Don't force the speed yet."
Maxim straightened up, still with his usual laid-back attitude, an MP5 slung over his shoulder.
"Alright, flying teacher. I'll make sure this doctor girl doesn't mess up his grip again."
Alps sighed, raising his weapon with a slightly annoyed but embarrassed look.
"I'm a doctor, not a soldier."
"In the future, you'll be both," Maxim replied with a smirk.
Kaito smiled faintly, then turned toward the exit. His shoes clicked softly against the concrete floor — his steps calm but his mind heavy. He knew there was something unusual about this school — and it wasn't just the dusty military atmosphere.
Once outside the building, the warm light of Akarius' afternoon greeted him. The pale-blue sky was turning orange at the edges. Distant chatter of students mixed with the hum of passing vehicles near the academy gate.
Kaito walked toward the front fence of Marry Academy, intending to return to the Amiratul Hukm Tower for rest. But just a few meters from the gate, a voice called out from behind.
"Flying teacher! Wait!"
Kaito turned. Gaguk jogged toward him, slightly out of breath, wearing his dark blue jacket stained with oil and dust. In his hand was a small, rectangular, black object — a data chip.
"What is it, Gaguk?" Kaito asked, lowering his bag.
"When I was cleaning the mess in the Service Center... I found this," Gaguk said, handing him the chip.
Kaito took it. The chip looked old but intact, no label, just a glossy black surface with a thin line across it.
"Maybe it's yours," Kaito said after a glance. "It might've fallen when you were fixing the equipment."
"No, teacher." Gaguk shook his head quickly. "I know every chip made in the Service Center — all of them have the gear logo on the back. This one's... completely plain. No logo, no code. Like... it's made by someone outside this city."
Kaito paused, his gaze turning sharp as he examined the chip from every angle.
The afternoon light hit his face, highlighting the faint lines near his eyes — not from age, but from instinct.
"I see," he said quietly. "Thank you, Gaguk. I'll check this later."
"Teacher..." Gaguk looked at the chip again, lowering his voice. "When I found it... the machine beside it turned on for a second. Even though it wasn't plugged in. It's like... a short signal passed through."
Kaito stared at him for a moment, then patted his shoulder.
"You did the right thing bringing this to me. Don't tell anyone yet — especially students from Primanoel or any other school. Understood?"
"Yes, teacher."
Kaito nodded, then slipped the chip into the inner pocket of his jacket.
He walked out through the academy gate calmly — though his mind was anything but calm. The sound of passing cars grew distant, even the evening breeze seemed to stop.
❝A chip without a logo... an electric pulse without a source... this isn't a coincidence.❞
he thought.
❝Are those two Primanoel students involved... or just pawns in a bigger game?❞
Meanwhile, from a second-floor window of Marry Academy, an unknown figure watched Kaito walk away.
In their hands — a tablet displaying flashing static codes... and in the lower-right corner, a message flickered:
[OO-34: Files to victory...] In DANGER
---
That night, the Amiratul Hukm Tower stood silent. The city lights of Akarius shimmered beyond its massive glass windows, like stars trapped inside a steel cube.
Kaito walked down the upper corridor, his steps tired but steady. His shoes echoed against the cold marble floor, and in his hand, he still held the mysterious black chip given by Gaguk.
"Finally made it back…" he muttered softly, letting out a small yawn.
He stopped in front of his room. Just as he reached for the doorknob—
Click.
The door opened from the inside.
Out stepped Mira, holding a small stuffed bunny in her hand.
"Oh, hello, flying teacher," she greeted casually, closing the door with her foot.
Kaito froze for a second, frowning.
"Mira? Wait... what were you doing in my room?"
Mira looked at him for a moment, then shrugged.
"I was just keeping Miraka company. Since Natasya's busy, Mila's out patrolling her school, and Mita's at her apartment, Miraka was alone, so I stayed with her until her father came home."
Kaito rubbed his forehead lightly.
"Miraka… she still thinks I'm her father, huh?"
"Yep," Mira said with a small giggle. "She said... if you're the Flying Teacher, you must be able to fly up and grab a star for her. She wants to keep that star to protect you from bad dreams."
Kaito gave a crooked smile.
"Ha… if only being a flying teacher were that simple."
Mira was about to leave, but her eyes caught the small black chip in Kaito's hand.
"Eh? What's that chip?" she asked curiously.
Kaito raised it, showing the smooth, logo-less surface.
"Found it at Marry Academy. Gaguk gave it to me. He said a machine suddenly turned on by itself when this thing was nearby."
Mira narrowed her eyes, her expression turning serious — something rare for her.
"A chip without a logo… and it can activate dead equipment? That's not a normal chip."
"I feel the same," Kaito replied flatly. "Probably an old code or an encrypted system. But unfortunately, I'm not a tech expert."
Mira tapped her chin thoughtfully.
"In that case… I know just the place."
"The place?"
"Yeah. Aethertech Academy. The students there specialize in technology, robotics, and data encryption. Some of them even work part-time on the city's defense systems."
Kaito looked at her, slightly intrigued.
"Aethertech Academy, oh... that's the school on the aircraft that looks like a carrier, right?"
"Exactly. And if that chip has an active signal, they'll be able to trace where it came from." Mira smiled faintly, then gave Kaito a teasing look.
"But be careful, teacher. The students there aren't ordinary. They can uncover your secrets just from the fingerprint on your coffee glass."
Kaito looked at her for a long moment before chuckling.
"Hah, looks like education in Akarius is getting more absurd by the day. We've got war schools, elite schools, and now a hacker school."
Mira laughed along.
"Well, if Akarius is still standing, it's because of that absurdity."
The air fell quiet for a while. The ventilation carried a faint scent of coffee. Kaito spun the chip on his finger, the light glinting off its smooth surface.
❝Aethertech Academy… if this chip truly isn't local, then maybe that's where the answer lies.❞
He tucked the chip into his jacket pocket.
"Alright then, I'll head there tomorrow morning."
Mira smiled as she walked past him.
"Don't forget to bring coffee, teacher. Everyone there only drinks grape-flavored energy drinks."
"Haha… noted."
Kaito stepped into his room. Miraka was already asleep on the small sofa, hugging her white plush toy, her face peaceful. He smiled faintly, watching the little girl.
❝This world is far too cruel for a child her age.❞ he thought.
The room lights dimmed. Outside the window, blue lights from other towers in the city flickered — like signals calling out to someone.
And in Kaito's jacket pocket... the black chip blinked once — as if waiting for a touch.