James left.
And I was alone in the hallway, thinking.
What the hell is going on?
I could still see the bonk hammer.
Still waving. Still floating.
Following me like a cursed balloon.
No one else seemed to notice.
Which meant...
"…James can't see this, can he."
I scanned the area. Empty enough.
Screw it.
I tapped the hammer.
Tap!
!!!
It shrank—rapidly—then clung to my index finger like a bug.
"Wh—what?! Get off!"
I shook my hand violently.
Didn't work.
It stuck like glue.
No pain, no weight. Just… there.
Then James peeked out again.
"Sir? Their desks still have all their stuff. Should I move it?"
"Their stuff?"
"Yeah. Looks like they just left everything behind yesterday."
…I was starting to get it.
James can't see the hammer.
"Let me check their desks myself."
"Okay."
Break time was almost over. I had to be quick.
If this thing—this bonk hammer—wasn't a dream,
Then this was real.
All of it.
I walked to Alek's desk.
Students stared.
His spot was perfectly clean.
Suspiciously so.
I placed my hand gently on the surface.
The hammer bobbed.
And tapped the desk.
BOOP.
A translucent screen exploded into view.
☆ BONK-HAMMER SYNC Lv. 1 (57%)
Target: Class 2-4, Student #18 — Alek's Desk
Status: 7 interactions detected. Battle record unknown. Sync level up required.
Recent trace: Writing residue detected 15 hours ago on a memo pad.
[🔎 View Record ▷]
"…Level up? What is this, a game?"
15 hours ago?
That was... yesterday afternoon. Around the time of the counseling room incident?
I held my breath.
Pressed the record button.
[Playback: Visual feed — classroom POV. Darkened filter. Glitched colors. Unsteady hand. A red pen writes jagged text on a small memo.]
Nikky. RED is on the move.
We're relocating.
I see RED's traces everywhere.
I'm leaving first.
Sasha's on board.
Stop trying to fight this.
I only contacted you here to pass on our status from over there.
Don't drag Tel into this.
–Alek
"…What?"
My chest locked up.
That wasn't a joke.
That wasn't a kid scribbling.
That was real.
And whoever wrote it—his thoughts were still embedded in this thing.
That's probably why I could read it.
I was still frozen when I felt something buzz.
From Sasha's desk.
I reached into it.
A pen rolled into my fingers.
And the bonk hammer—still bobbing—tapped it.
☆ BONK-HAMMER SYNC Lv. 1 (62%)
Target: Class 2-4, Student #10 — Sasha's Pen
Status: 2 interactions detected. Battle record unknown. Sync level up required.
Warning: This item contains RED contact residue.
RED traces detected within proximity.
"...Detected?"
They're already here?
That's why Alek left that note.
Because I'd held Nikky up too long yesterday…
"Um, sir? It's second period now."
I flinched.
A history teacher was standing by the podium, blinking at me.
"Oh—sorry. I'm done here."
I hadn't even heard the bell.
I stepped out into the hallway and collapsed into a chair.
My legs felt numb.
The yellow hammer floated beside me.
Like it was… waiting.
And for the first time,
That thing looked terrifying.
I couldn't just sit there.
People would start staring.
Whispers. Questions.
I needed to hide.
Think.
"…Bathroom. I'll go to the bathroom."
I headed for the one at the far end of the second floor.
As I opened the door—
☆ BONK-HAMMER SYNC Lv. 1 (77%)
Target: Whitestone High, 2nd Floor Staff Restroom Door
Status: 155 interactions. No combat record. Sync level up required.
Trace: RED signal detected 1 hour ago.
[🔎 View Trace ▷]
"Are you serious?!"
The hammer must've brushed the door.
I leaned on it.
Tapped the button.
[Playback: Visual feed — outside the bathroom. A hidden camera angle. Screen dark and fragmented. Voice message begins.]
This is Fritz1313.
Currently embedded... bzzz... under the alias Robert.
Tracking homeroom teacher linked to Sasha, Alek, and Nikky.
Subject may have prior knowledge of us.
Request backup around 10:00 AM.
Over.
"…Robert?"
"Are you alright?"
A voice.
Too familiar.
I turned—and froze.
Robert was walking toward me.
"Whoa, you look pale. Everything okay?"
"Oh—uh. I was about to use the restroom. Door startled me."
"You sure? You looked... really freaked out."
"I'm fine. Just need a minute."
Robert looked me over. Something in his eyes.
"…Okay. I'll wait.
Just thought it was weird.
You didn't come back after the bell."
I gave him a weak nod and slipped into the bathroom.
Locked the stall.
Collapsed on the seat.
That bastard.
So that's why he offered to help with Nikky.
That's why he dumped it on me yesterday.
He's one of them!!