Naradi Yosef.
Him... I want to avoid him as much as possible—especially right now.
"Hey, you over there. The class starts in five minutes. Get back to your room," Bahuwirya scolded.
"Eh?" I responded, startled.
"What's wrong, Sahabi?" Bahuwirya asked, puzzled.
"Oh, it's nothing."
Naradi didn't say a word. He simply stood there silently. After a few moments, he nodded and began walking past us. Just as he passed by me, he whispered:
"Janitor's closet, third floor. Five minutes. Or die."
A chill shot down my spine. I didn't know why, but I felt a terrifying, murderous aura coming from him.
"…."
I clicked my tongue. He was serious. Looks like I have no choice but to meet him.
"Bahuwirya, do you know that guy?"
"Hm, not really. But I think he's a student here. He does look kind of scary, but as a member of the Disciplinary Committee, I had to say something," Bahuwirya answered firmly.
"Um… well, Bahuwirya, you're amazing," I said, genuinely impressed.
We started walking back to class. Before we reached the classroom, I parted ways with Bahuwirya, using a trip to the bathroom as an excuse. From there, I headed straight to the place Naradi mentioned.
Standing in front of the janitor's closet door, a wave of nerves and confusion washed over me.
Okay, this is scary... but I don't have a choice.
"Well, let's do it."
I opened the door and stepped inside. The janitorial supplies were neatly arranged along the walls. After glancing around, I noticed someone standing in the far corner.
Naradi Yosef.
He saw me and walked over. I had no idea what he wanted, so I stayed quiet.
"…."
"…."
Uh… is he trying to read my mind or something?
"…."
"…."
Okay, this is getting weird.
"…."
"…."
Ugh, this is crap. Say something already!
"…."
"…."
Alright. I'm done. I give up.
"What do you want?"
"…."
He continued staring at me. His red eyes were intimidating, sure, but I wasn't about to back down.
"…." He nodded.
"Huh?"
"If you think you can stop Cornelia, you can't," he said seriously.
Ugh, how does he know?! Wait… is this a trap?
"I don't understand what you're talking about."
"This world is destined to fall into chaos." he continued.
Hold it.
"Sorry, but I—"
"People will slaughter each other."
Stop...
"I—"
"You won't be able to change anything."
Damn it.
"Enough!!!" I shouted.
As he stops talking, I continue...
"I know! Even before I started all of this, I knew the chances of stopping the incident were slim—maybe even nonexistent!"
Even if it's impossible.
"But that doesn't mean I'm giving up. As long as there's a chance, no matter how small, I'll do whatever it takes to save my friends."
Even if it costs me my life.
"You may have super analysis abilities and all kinds of skills, but that doesn't mean everything you say is true. Maybe you believe chaos will consume everything, and nothing can stop it—but I believe, no matter how bad it gets, hope will always remain."
Even if I'm not around to see it.
"Because I believe that no matter how hard the test, there's always a way through. I believe she can be stopped."
As I stopped talking, He watched me closely.
"You're… quite the optimist."
"Well, optimism is the only thing I'm really good at."
He chuckled.
"Um, what is it?" I asked, confused.
"When I thought this would be boring, something interesting happened. I think I owe you a thank you," he said with a faint smile.
"What do you mean?"
"The future. I don't know why, but I can't read or predict yours."
"Is that… weird?"
"My analysis ability allows me to predict every possible future with exact numbers, which, honestly, makes life boring. But after meeting you, the numbers have become inconsistent. One of the only possible explanations for this anomaly… is luck," he explained, looking genuinely intrigued.
"Um…"
"But this feels different. I don't think it's just luck. There's something else about you."
Crap. I didn't expect him to analyze me this deeply. Well… as expected of him. Still, I've got a bad feeling about this.
"…."
"…."
He suddenly looked lost in thought… then chuckled again.
"Hm… of course. You're just like her but from the opposite side."
Now he's talking to himself?
"…."
He walked past me toward the door.
"Naradi Yosef," he said suddenly.
"Huh?"
"I don't know how you know who I am, but may I ask—what's your name?" he asked politely.
"Sahabi. Sahabi Pratama."
"Okay, Sahabi. Then let me tell you this—I'm your enemy. I stand on the side of chaos. One day, we'll meet again. And when we do, show me the future you believe in."
"…What?"
He walked out of the room.
"…."
Okay, that's definitely bad news.
I was hoping to persuade him to help me, but… well, he just said he'll be my enemy. Man, talk about bad luck—I didn't even get the chance to say what I wanted. It's like he already knew.
"Phew… I don't even understand what just happened. Am I going to be okay?"
I left the room and hurried back to class.
"…."
Alright… now I really need to focus on stopping the Delusional Parade.
I have to figure out how Cornelia is spreading delusions so quickly among the public class students.
The hallway buzzed with the usual noise—shuffling feet, conversations that rose and faded like waves. I walked through it all without really hearing any of it, my mind somewhere else entirely. The hallway felt longer than usual, stretched out by the weight of everything running through my mind. I had something I needed to figure out, something that kept looping in my head like a thread I couldn't quite untangle. Every few steps, I caught myself going over the same thought again, hoping a different angle might suddenly make it all click. It didn't.
"Hmm… how is she doing it? She couldn't possibly be threatening them all one by one, right? So there has to be a trick. Could she be using some kind of device? But what kind?"
As I passed a row of windows, the sky caught my attention. Bright blue, clean, and open, like someone had painted it just to remind the rest of us what stillness looked like. For a moment, I kept walking but let my gaze linger. There was something about the way the sunlight filtered through the glass and stretched across the hallway floor that made things feel quieter—like the sky was telling me to breathe, even if just for a second. I wondered, just briefly, how the world could look so calm when my thoughts were anything but. Still, I held onto that sky like it was a small anchor—something steady, something untouched.
By the time I reached the front of my classroom, the problem, the questions in my head hadn't gone anywhere, but for a few quiet seconds, it felt like I wasn't drowning in it. Maybe that was enough—for now.
"Hmm... not good. I still don't get it… ugh," I muttered in frustration.
Suddenly, I heard someone call my name from behind.
"Sahabi?"
"Huh?"
I turned around and saw Harjasa standing there.
"Um… are you okay?" he asked, concerned.
"Oh, Harjasa. Yeah, I'm fine."
"That's a relief. I'm glad to hear that," he said, visibly comforted.
"…."
"Hm? What is it, Sahabi?" he asked again.
"You showed up at just the right time, Harjasa. Can I ask for your help?" I said, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Eh?!" he exclaimed, clearly startled and panicked.
That's right. He's right here.
The one who creates the super AI that ends up saving me.
I'm sure he knows something.