25. Teacher

I walked into the school; the corridors were empty because there were lessons. I got to the teachers' office and found someone inside.

"I need to speak to Professor Atkins, the history teacher."

"Oh, he is in a lesson; he will soon come back." The teacher or whatever answered.

"Ok." I turned around and sat on the floor before the teacher's office, waiting.

Henry was at the end of the corridor; he just arrived after me, now leaning against the windowsill.

I could try my luck in the school forum. I bet Henrietta was the hot topic. Maybe someone would mention some of her friends; perhaps some of her friends even posted something, but I didn't want to. The forum was anonymous, and I doubt someone would reveal themselves with their name and address through it.

Tomorrow, the female detective said that she would come as well. Then I could get additional information about the case. Should have done that already when shaking her hand, but yeah, I did not.

Henry is right; I have to give it to him. Everyone is in for themselves, and you have to use the resources you have on hand.

He had a plan. I did not. But now this changed. Can't stay a wimp.

The bell rang, one teacher came by and looked at me sternly, another telling me to go away, but I said that I needed to talk to Prof. Atkins asap.

When he came, I stood up.

"Professor, I need a bit of your time."

"Howard. Follow me." He made a grimace but gave in, leading me to an unused teacher office—not the big shared office space.

Before I stepped in, I saw Henry's eyes watching me like a hawk, through the buzzing corridor of students that walked out of the classes.

"Mr. Atkins, I am sorry how I behaved; I was unsure if I could stay in your lessons this school year?"

I walked to him; he had already leaned against his desk. He was young and seemed easily bullied, but he was easily annoyed as well.

"Howard. What are you playing at? I don't have your class this year."

I looked at him stunned, I really didn't know that.

However, I wasn't here because of that. I wobbled and let myself fall. Mr. Atkins did not try to help me like I thought he would; instead, he looked on unfeelingly.

"What is this?"

"Damn, I am dizzy." I said holding my hand in his direction without looking up. I need to touch him to flip the coin.

He sighed deeply and took my hand to pull me back up. I flipped the coin and repeated in my mind while doing so,

'Emilia Henrietta Devin's friends. Emilia Henrietta Devin's friends.' It was a real tongue-breaker, and I didn't know if it would work; I have never tried it before.

The coin stayed golden, and the woman's eyes, ears, and heart were uncovered.

A man sitting on a desk with a coffee. It was break. He looks at the students who stayed in the classroom; there weren't many. A thin, tall black-haired girl stood in a corner, her face stony. She leans to the side and talks with a smaller girl.

The man asks himself if this was a girl from this class before remembering her name. Haruka Nanomi.

Coming back, I was already on my feet and stared into an annoyed face. I didn't let go of his hand, instead shaking it.

"Sir, thank you for teaching me. I apologize for annoying you all the time." I flipped the coin again as I tried to find out more about Haruka Nanomi, repeating her name like I did before.

But I was unlucky. I knew it the moment I caught it in my hand that the coin would turn black. And instead of slapping it on the back of my other hand to reveal it, like I always did, I just opened the hand I caught it with.

I had hoped, because of not turning it, I could finally interfere. But no. Why is it still black?

I heard a lock spring open, and the woman's eyes, ears, and heart were uncovered.

There is fire; there are sirens. The thin man that runs and is terrified, knowing that his death is near. So much smoke, he is unable to see. He stumbles over something and crashes on the ground, in the middle of the street. He blinks and finds himself face to face with a dead woman… Wasn't this someone he had known? The almond eyes that were widened in horror, wasn't this…

...his former student?

"Howard! What's wrong?!" I gasped for breath so heavily after coming back, still feeling the terror and the shock.

"Nothing, sorry, I am sick but wanted to have this sorted out." I creaked out, letting go of his hand. I turned and walked to the door and left the room.

I jogged down the stairs, out of the school again, two streets further. In a dark side street, I leaned against a wall and took deep breaths.

"Fuck fuck fuck." Still heaving and coughing from what I had suppressed until now, I immediately understood something.

I had never gasped how my fucking ability even works.