The morning sun spilled across the Nova-1 dormitory courtyard. Students rushed to breakfast and morning drills, but Taiyashè and I were already waiting, notebook and sticky notes in hand.
"Kaito, it's… serious," I said quietly. "Last night wasn't a joke. She left another note, and I… I read her mind."
He gave me a sharp look. "Renny-Penny… you mean you actually read her mind?"
I nodded, grim. "Too much info. Files. Quirks. Dorm records. League of Villains. I only wrote down the girls' files, but…"
Taiyashè ran a hand through his hair. "Okay. That's… scary. Definitely serious."
I took a deep breath. "We need Crowe."
We found Elias Crowe in the homeroom, reviewing some student reports with his usual calm, piercing gaze.
"Crowe," I said, stepping forward, "can you come to our dorm? Something… happened last night. Notes. Observers. Someone unusual."
He raised a dark eyebrow. "Unusual?"
Taiyashè jumped in, grinning nervously. "Sticky notes. Midnight. Weird handwriting. Someone's leaving messages… outside our window."
Crowe didn't flinch. He nodded slowly. "Lead the way."
Back in our dorm, the room felt… smaller under Crowe's gaze. He surveyed the whiteboard, the notebook, the sticky notes carefully pinned on the desk. His eyes swept over the words we'd written:
Pro Heroes — None of a MatchLeague of Villains — Toga???Other?????
He didn't speak immediately. Just observed. Every line, every scribble. Every question mark.
Then he spoke. "You've done well documenting. The heroes you interviewed are not the source. That narrows it. But… this," he said, pointing to the sticky note, "is deliberate. Someone is testing you, watching. Possibly learning. And they are bold enough to leave a mark without being caught."
I swallowed. "She… I got her mind. I know her name, dorms, quirks… even some of her past activity."
Crowe's dark eyes sharpened. "Careful. That is… not trivial. You have accessed information beyond normal means. Very few students can do what you've done. Very few would even attempt it."
Taiyashè muttered, "So… it's dangerous?"
Crowe gave a faint nod. "Potentially lethal. League of Villains' involvement would elevate it from prank to serious threat. Himiko Toga… if she is indeed our suspect, her quirk alone is highly dangerous in a school setting. Transformation based on blood… ability to impersonate others… she is cunning and unpredictable."
I jotted down notes furiously. "What do we do?"
Crowe walked closer to the window, scanning the grounds outside. "For now, observe. Document. Do not confront. Do not reveal your awareness of her presence. Let her think she is unnoticed. That is key. We will analyze the patterns, her movements, and possible connections to anyone on campus."
He turned to us. "Your dorm is safe. But vigilance is required. Every action, every reaction, could be telling. And Renny-Penny…" His dark eyes lingered on me. "…do not underestimate the pull of your own powers. You may have seen more than anyone else. But that also makes you a target."
Taiyashè gave me a sharp nudge. "See, Renny-Penny? Detective Crowe says you're hot property. Awesome, right?"
I groaned. "I'd rather not be."
Crowe's gaze remained steady. "This is only the beginning. Take careful notes. Prepare. Watch. And do not act recklessly. That will keep you alive. That will keep Astra intact."
We nodded silently, the weight of his words pressing on us. Outside, the sun shone on the courtyard. Inside, the whiteboard, sticky notes, and notebook were a battlefield of possibilities.
And somewhere in the shadows, I knew… Toga was still out there, watching.