"I should be out hanging out and making new friends here, but no.......here I am quietly installing hidden cameras across the campus of Edgewood Academy. Nothing out of the ordinary, I see....."

Ophelia groaned to no one in particular, as she quietly slipped behind one of the campus's many tall hedges, her fingers lightly gripping the small device she had been instructed to install. The school was eerily quiet in the late afternoon, with most students wrapped up in their after-school activities, unaware of the quiet surveillance operation unfolding beneath their noses.

It's been around a month plus since her encounter with The Deer, and so far, their relationship is merely like a older sister younger brother sort of situation. As she crouched down and adjusted the tiny camera beneath the hedge, Ophelia glanced around, making sure no one was watching.

While her name had been cleared and life had resumed, the fear and suspicion from her peers were palpable. She had always been a quiet, reserved student, but now there was a distance between her and the others—an unspoken barrier that made her feel more isolated than ever. The old her would've been sad if such a thing takes place.

Then again, life is a lot better compared to the past.

When she was being mocked, humiliated, and pushed to the edge, she often wish that all of those morons will disappear for good. In a way, after their expulsion, the silence was almost comforting. The pressure, the constant scrutiny, the feeling of being trapped—it had all lifted in an instant.

Compared to being falsely accused while being followed and taunted, this is a peace Ophelia is more than happy to accept.

Even so, a frown etched onto her face.

The campus of Edgewood itself is big, and since she is installing these hidden cameras all on her own, it is probably going to take her months to finish.  As Ophelia crouched beneath the hedge, her fingers adjusting the tiny camera into place, she couldn't help but let out another sigh. The task ahead of her felt endless, like a spider weaving a web that could never truly be finished.

The cameras weren't large or particularly noticeable, but they had to be installed with precision. She had to ensure they were hidden just enough to capture the necessary angles without alerting anyone.

After this block is completely covered, she would need to do the same for the rest of the blocks within the premises of Edgewood. 

Ophelia's sigh echoed softly in the empty space as she adjusted the last camera, her movements methodical, almost robotic. The task was tedious and draining, but she had learned to push through. After all, if it wasn't for The Deer, not only she would've remain murdered, the same could've applied for her adoptive family. 

It was pretty lucky that she wasn't charged financially when The Deer handed her case, just needed to run a couple of errands here and there. A lot of noble children in particular in this neighbourhood are unreasonable, as they are raised into thinking that the sky is the limit.

The teen stood up slowly, wiping the sweat from her brow as she surveyed the area, the sunlight began to fade, casting long shadows across the empty campus. According to The Deer, her future death was meant to be a catalyst for his terrible arrange fiance, some ambitious 5-year-old royal name Ernestine.

This same little girl apparently....somehow was responsible for having The Deer removed from Edgewood Academy.

The first time Ophelia heard of this, she was that close to confronting this Ernestine girl.

In Edgewood, it isn't a secret that Ernestine is someone one who is born with everything. A royal relative, a family with influence, wealth, and power beyond what most could even imagine. It was almost laughable how easily she was able to get things done without lifting a finger. But to think that this child was somehow connected to The Deer—her role in all of this—left Ophelia unsettled. Was this little girl really responsible for so much of the turmoil that had unfolded in her life?

Sure, Ophelia knew of some 5-year-olds in Edgewood are unusually intelligent. That itself she didn't doubt, given most of their prestige background being their head start in life. Even The Deer is no different.

But this situation was different— she knew, and yet, never bothered to inform Ophelia to prevent this tragedy? Why is it The Deer describes Ernestine as if she was a psychopath?

The idea that a mere 5-year-old could be responsible for such vast and intricate manipulations, for pulling the strings behind The Deer's removal from the academy— it was unsettling, almost unfathomable.

....................................................................................

But the more she thought about it, the more the pieces started to align in a disturbing way. 

Around a day after The Deer sorted out her future and all of that, Ophelia decided she was walking home from school, until she accidentally overheard a disturbing conversation.

Edgewood Academy was located in a well-off, peaceful part of the city, with cobblestone streets lined with carefully manicured lawns. The air was cool, and the late afternoon sunlight filtered through the trees, casting long shadows on the pavement. It should have been a calming walk, but Ophelia's mind couldn't settle.

As she neared a familiar street corner, the soft murmur of voices reached her ears. At first, it was nothing more than background noise, but then one of the voices caught her attention. It was low, but there was something about it that made Ophelia stop in her tracks. The voice was distinct, with an almost too-sweet lilt, as if the person speaking was carefully choosing each word.

"...What do you mean she didn't get murdered!? Are you joking!?" the voice said, and Ophelia instinctively crouched down behind a nearby lamppost to get a better view.

This voice however, was unfamiliar. She couldn't quite place it, but it sounded younger, sharper. Like a voice of a little girl, who is seemingly talking on speaker phone.

"She didn't get stabbed by her bestie's scumbag boyfriend unfortunately, it seems like someone had intervene," the second voice replied. 

Ophelia's breath hitched. She leaned in closer, straining to hear. As far as the public had known, the bestie is the supposed 'mastermind' who attempted to murder Ophelia as reported on the news.

But in reality, only Ophelia herself and The Deer knew through police reports that her attempted killer and the real schemer behind Ophelia's attempted assassination is none other than the scumbag boyfriend who got her bestie pregnant. 

They hid this part from the press, because Ophelia's former bestie who was in prison literally begged Ophelia not to disclose her scumbag boyfriend's identity, fearing that the baby would eventually be force to live a life as a daughter of a criminal. Since her former bestie knew her name will never make it to the press since she is a minor, she literally begged her to lie and said she schemed Ophelia's attempted assassination.

Honestly, when Ophelia heard her pleas, she was shock: How can she protect her own scumbag boyfriend? Especially after what he did to her? Ghosted her after getting pregnant!

The voice continued, oblivious to Ophelia's presence. "It's clear someone knew that you will make use of Ophelia's death as a stepping stone to your dream, so whoever that person is, it's got to be the one who stole our projector."

A cold shiver ran down Ophelia's spine. "So she did knew about me being murdered in the future afterall..." she murmured, her heart starting to race. 

Ophelia was told beforehand by The Deer about the projector and was told to keep it quiet, which she did. When she first heard about the projector's ability to project the future, she was assuming it was some story he conjured out from a sci-fi story.

But now, after hearing this conversation, Ophelia's mind raced, her pulse quickening as the truth settled over her like an icy wave. The projector. It wasn't just a whimsical invention or a strange tale—there was something real about it, something far more dangerous than she had imagined.

Her stomach churned as she thought about the implications. The idea of her death being used as a stepping stone for someone else's gain is one thing, but to do the same onto her adopted parents' death as well ... It made her feel sick to her core. 

The conversation continued, as Ophelia cautiously peeked around the lamppost to get a better view, her eyes locked onto the little girl. She was standing there in her Edgewood Academy uniform, looking every bit like the kind of sweet, innocent child one would expect in a prestigious institution. Her platinum blonde hair shimmered in the fading sunlight, and her face appeared almost angelic—a stark contrast to the words she was speaking.

But beneath that innocent exterior, Ophelia could see it. The cold, calculating look in the little girl's eyes. The kind of look that made Ophelia's skin crawl after she spoke the following sentence. 

"And all of her future killers are in prison too!" the little girl said, almost sounding irritated. "So that means no criminal biography to write in the future, no money for all of us."

"Us?" Ophelia muttered to herself, her heart beginning to pound.

A sickening realization sank in. This little girl not only is an active participant, there were others as well! The same ones The Deer warned about!

"Should we try to frame it on someone? Instigate someone to murder Ophelia again?" The second voice asks.

She had to fight the instinct to recoil, to turn and flee from the conversation, but she couldn't tear herself away. Her mind raced, piecing together the fragments of the conversation with horrifying clarity. The second voice—whoever they were—seemed almost casual, as if discussing the murder of a person was just another business transaction.

"Forget it, can't you read the situation now?" Ernestine said, her voice tinged with frustration. "Because her families are nobodies having thrown a couple of supposedly powerful, wealthy and influential people, all of her peers distance themselves from her for a month plus! Even those who quietly speaks ill of her, for some strange reason, all got kicked out of Edgewood the following day! As if she has some invisible hand protecting her!"

The teenage girl's breath caught in her throat as she processed Ernestine's words. 

So that is what The Deer meant when he said Ernestine is a psychopath.

Speaking of invisible hand, Ernestine has no idea The Deer is behind it, huh? Otherwise, Ophelia dreads what other sort of evil cruelties Ernestine would do to him.

"Anyway, Ophelia is just one of our pawns. There are always better cash grabbing pawns than Ophelia, after all." The little blonde girl smirked.

By this point, her last words ultimately made Ophelia feel like she was nothing more than a disposable commodity in the eyes of these people.

And then, she realizes something tragic about this whole thing.

The Deer is of same age as Ernestine, who is also her fiance.  She feels a stab of pity at that thought.

He.....has no way out, being tied to be married to a future murderer!

The thought made Ophelia feel an overwhelming sense of helplessness for The Deer. Honestly, with all of the harsh words that came out of the 5-year-old boy, he was a victim in his own right, trapped in a marriage that could only end in tragedy. His life, his choices, were being controlled by forces far beyond his control, and Ophelia realized with a heavy heart that he might never truly escape.

Before, Ophelia used to think that he was too heartless to be human because of his upbringing, but now, after hearing Ernestine's words, Ophelia's perception of The Deer began to shift. 

Beneath that sharp, detached exterior, he too was a prisoner of his circumstances— attempting to save his fiance's misdeeds with his harsh words.

While Ernestine uses her sweet words to manipulate and deceive, The Deer uses harsh words as a form of defence for the people he chooses to save, keeping their distance from the chaos forming around Ernestine's victims. That was in his own way of 'caring' for someone.

With renewed resolve, Ophelia knew what she needed to do.

Glancing in anger at the little girl from afar, she turned away from her hidden position behind the lamppost.

....................................................................................

Months went by, and so far, it is going according to The Boy's plan.

After settling Ophelia's case, she became a big help. Owing to her, he is now able to easily map out multiple routes to enter in and out of Edgewood Academy without getting discovered.

The CCTV system Ophelia had installed provided an unexpected advantage too, as it captured not just the comings and goings of the students and staff but also the subtle interactions that spoke volumes about who was loyal to whom, who could be trusted, and who was already under Ernestine's thumb.

In return, he would text her a list of names of the students around her grade. So far, a lot of her classmates has been saved so far.

And then as time fled by, things had change for Ophelia.

Naturally, the wariness towards Ophelia had toned down a lot as her peers began to see her in a different light.

Though her 'secret job' with The Deer remains a secret, perhaps it was her attitude that change, or how she handle things after witnessing so many stories of the projected future of every child Ernestine has ever targeted, ranging from old to young, or how she dealt and balance those superior rich kids within the campus who used to bully her by stating harsh blunt facts, or that her time with The Deer thought her to learn how to skirt around situations, making her more confident and composed. Whatever the reason, Ophelia began to notice a shift in how people treated her. The whispers and side-eyes that used to follow her everywhere were slowly replaced with cautious respect and, in some cases, even admiration.

Her ability to stand her ground, paired with her sharp wit, made her less of an easy target for bullies and more of a figure people approached for guidance or advice. 

Of course, some still harbored distrust, but she'd learned to recognize those faces and avoid unnecessary conflict. As The Deer once said to her, "There are people as idiotic as donkeys, don't bother conversing with them. After all, donkeys can never understand a person's language."

Ophelia couldn't help but chuckle softly at The Deer's words, recalling how blunt and unapologetic he could be. But as much as his sharp tongue sometimes stung, she had come to appreciate the kernel of truth in his advice. He had taught her not to waste time on those who were unwilling or incapable of understanding her, instead focusing her energy on the things that mattered— especially spend time with people who are worth her time.

The weeks turned into months, and with each passing day, Ophelia became more adept at navigating the treacherous waters of Edgewood Academy. She'd learned to read between the lines of conversations, to detect the subtle manipulations Ernestine employed to ensnare her victims. And more importantly, she'd learned how to counteract them, often preemptively, without raising suspicion.

Her partnership with The Deer had also evolved. What had started as a reluctant alliance born out of necessity had grown into something more. Though they still maintained a professional distance, there was an unspoken camaraderie between them now—a mutual respect forged through shared struggles and victories.

One day, as they sat in his secret office, Ophelia noticed something. "It's almost going to be January by next year, right? How is.....that girl doing?" she asked in her usual casual tone, as they have grown familiar with one another.

The girl in question is none other than 2-year-old Kudo-no, he shook his head to remind himself she is turning 3 next year.

He turned to eye at the calendar on the December page, noting the the days he had personally crossed. By next year, that girl, 3-year-old Kudo Ranran, will be interviewed by the school. It has been months since he had personally tipped Miss Isadora about her great-grand-daughter, and she was able to convince the family to move here in the neighbourhood without alerting Ernestine.

And so, the results are unsurprising.

"Still agitated that she is being send to school against her will," He sighed.

"Not surprising, when I was growing up around your age, the first time I was send to a normal kindergarten, I use to hear kids crying as there will be left alone without their parents, and that there are scare of that sort." Ophelia chuckled as she muses about her fond childhood memories.

"Really?" The Deer blinked behind his deer mask.

"You looked....shocked? I mean...." Ophelia is a bit taken-aback by his response to this, "How was your time like?"

"Mine? Hmmm....." He hummed before disclosing, "When I was drop off there, now that I think back, the kids cried."

"Right?"

"But....I recalled they cried for different reasons." 

Ophelia tilted her head, intrigued. "Different reasons? Like what?"

The Deer leaned back slightly in his chair, folding his arms as if the memory were both amusing and distasteful. "No more luxury holidays every month anymore."

The absurdity of it catching her completely off guard. "Wait, they do that?"

"The families here? Yes they do. I even recall one child sobbing because they wouldn't be flying to Switzerland for skiing that winter." The Deer tilted his head, his expression unreadable behind the deer mask, but the tone of his voice carried a hint of bemusement.

"I mean to be fair, if I were raised with such....lifestyle, I too would whine." She pouted.

The Deer raised an eyebrow, the glint of amusement in his voice betraying the otherwise cold tone. "You? Whining over missing a ski trip to Switzerland?"

"I mean in case the projector didn't bother to mention, I come from a middle income family. We don't have that luxury to travel overseas." Ophelia smirked, shrugging casually before adding, "I mean from a kid's perspective, a lot of fun things to look forward to. In a school however, you can't go out the classroom for many hours."

The little boy chuckled, his tone a rare hint of warmth in the otherwise detached demeanor. "I suppose that makes sense. Children from different walks of life experience things in vastly different ways. Though...." He frowned a bit, "I ain't sure if this is normal behaviour for a child raised from the slums."

"Eh?"

"I mean....how should I put this?" He isn't sure how to make of it, before disclosing, "When I was still a student in Edgewood, I told you before about how our neighbourhood had tons of illegitimate children brought from those poorer neighbourhood by their fathers or mothers who are born wealthy, right?"

The teen nodded.

"Most of the behaviour I notice was that they easily want this or that. I mean, after having been raised in a pigsty only to be brought into a mansion, they end up becoming so happy, even the thought of ending up in a luxurious school would be a dream come true for them." The Deer's tone softened as he recalled the contrast between his own upbringing and the children he'd observed at Edgewood. "They'd never complain about something like missing a luxury vacation. To them, the idea of luxury is a distant, almost unreachable fantasy. So I can't really understand....why that girl behave that way."

"I mean to be fair, kids around that age don't always know what's best for them, especially when they're suddenly thrown into a completely different environment. I mean, her whole life is probably being flipped upside down, and she's not used to it. That is all." Ophelia reasoned with him.

"Is it really the case?" The Deer paused, considering her words.

"Or else why would she scheme to fail her school interview in the future? Also, you mentioned that she hates studying." Ophelia brought this up. A brief silence fell between them as The Deer mulled over her words. Ophelia watched him carefully, "Deer, I always wanted to ask....when you asked me the other day to collect the candidate list that will be attending the school interview starting next year, since you already went through all of their futures in the projector....between a child who love Edgewood and one who doesn't.....why did you pick the one who dislike it?"

The Deer's expression was unreadable behind his mask, but Ophelia could sense the slight tension in his posture. He leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers rhythmically against the desk as he processed her question.

"The one who like Edgewood.....she is equally as bad as Ernestine."

Ophelia raised an eyebrow, surprised by his reasoning. "What?"

"The other girl you brought up, she may seem like the ideal candidate at first—someone who fits in, who's eager to please, who excels in every way expected of a student at Edgewood. However, there are.....issues about her."

"What kind of issues?" she asked, her voice quiet but tinged with curiosity.

"She isn't right in the head," The Deer paused, his gaze flicking to the calendar on his desk as if seeking a moment of clarity.

For a moment, the girl processed his words in silence. Finally, she figured, "As in...the same kind like Ernestine and Ranran?"

"Yes, but worst than Ranran."

Her eyes widened in surprise at the Deer's words. She could hardly believe what she was hearing. "T-that bad?"

"Extremely bad, that she became a serial killer."

Her breath caught in her throat at The Deer's words, but not before pressing, "Didn't Ranran in the future do that too?"

"Oh no, her reasoning was rather justifiable. She didn't kill out of malice or pleasure. She killed out of necessity, out of a twisted sense of survival."

"And let me guess....you investigated Ranran's future victims already to prove a point, correct?"

The little boy didn't answer immediately, but his body posture was enough to tell Ophelia she was right.  

"Damn, that is a lot of scumbags in Ranran's life. Even for me as a normal person...." Ophelia gulped as she recalled her darkest period with her former bestie, "I think I wouldn't even able to handle even one person in general if one were to provoke me to kill someone."

Absorbing the gravity of their conversation, Ophelia had to ask one thing from him.

"Deer, let's say if.....your plan worked well," she said quietly, "And that Ranran finds out you sabotage her plans of escaping Edgewood, do you....not worried she may murder you in the future?"

His  posture stiffened slightly at Ophelia's question, his fingers ceasing their rhythmic tapping. He stared at her for a long moment, as though contemplating the weight of her words. 

"Don't get me wrong, I know you genuinely meant well for the others, including Ranran. But you know....those kinds of people who are medically dangerous to end up taking the life of the other...."

"I will regulate, don't worry about it," he said quietly, his voice steady but with a trace of conviction that was rare for him. "If I can give them a chance to choose, even just a small one, then I will. I won't let them fall into the hands of people like Ernestine, or worse... become like them. Cause to me.....if Ranran ever fall in her hands, our lives we have changed, and so will the others....will be a lot worst than if I do nothing. Also...."

He slumped a bit as he finished his sentence, "She got pushed into becoming a psychopath because so many people kept refusing to listen to her, let alone, force to do things she didn't like by her own family, feeling isolated and had everything ripped under her hands while powerless to do a thing....."

She glanced at him, seeing the rare vulnerability in his posture. "But technically, are we not doing the exact same thing to her right now?"

"We are, just manipulated differently,"  He shot her a sharp look, "If you manipulate one to love you, that itself is wrong. But if you are manipulating one into becoming the best version of themselves without harm, then other people would be happy, right?"

The Deer's shoulders slumped slightly, and for a brief moment, he seemed less like the enigmatic figure she had come to know and more like a young boy weighed down by a responsibility far beyond his years.

"Then again, if she ever resents us... then I'll bear that. Not you."

"Huh?"

"In the first place, this entire idea began because of me. And I will accept that. But I can't stand by and do nothing, when Ernestine is busy plotting how to reap profits from all of our misfortunes." he replied, his voice carrying a quiet resolve. 

"You're taking on too much, Deer," she said softly, her voice cutting through the silence. "I get it. You're trying to fix everything, trying to protect everyone. But you can't do it alone. You don't have to bear all of it by yourself. Let alone, blame yourself. If anything, it was that damn fiance of yours fault! Not you and I!"

....................................................................................

Finally, the day of the incident took place.

As predicted, 3-year-old Ranran schemed to play the role of a mentally challenged little girl in front of the stunned teachers and headmaster, dismissing her not eligible for Edgewood.

However, she didn't realize at the hall where the interview was taking place, there was one of Ophelia's CCTV installed in the building.

And The Boy is able to witness the entire thing on his computer in his bedroom.

Ophelia should be in classes, so it is him alone to handle everything.

The quiet hum of the computer was the only sound filling the room, as he waited to get the golden footage to prove that she is very much sane and normal.

He leaned forward, his fingers tapping lightly on the desk, waiting for the moment that would confirm his suspicions. It was a waiting game now. He could sense the tension in the air, the stakes too high to allow himself to look away for even a second.

Then, it happened.

As soon as the doors of the school building shut behind her, she glanced around, scanning for any signs of watchers or observers. It was a moment of vulnerability, where the illusion she had so carefully constructed during the interview would quickly dissipate.

The Deer leaned forward, his eyes narrowing as the CCTV feed captured her slipping into the shadows near the school gates. His heart raced, each second dragging out with a weight that felt suffocating. This was the moment he had been waiting for—the truth he needed to see with his own eyes.

Ranran's posture shifted once she was certain no one was around. She straightened up, no longer the meek, mentally challenged little girl she had pretended to be. The act fell away like a mask, and in its place stood a child who seemed composed, her movements sharp and purposeful.

She glanced at the ground, almost checking for something—perhaps ensuring that no one was following or had noticed her switch. Her expression flickered briefly between tension and relief before she began to run away from the gates, her steps firm and confident.

"I thought so, what a cunning little girl."

His eyes never left the screen as he clicked through the footage, rewinding and watching the moments leading up to this point once again. Each frame confirmed what he had suspected—the disguise was just that, a well-thought-out ruse. 

"Just because she dislike studying....it's extreme."

Then again, it wasn't really.

There had been multiple incidents of children escaping Edgewood, but this is after passing their school interview. With such overwhelming pressure academically, it wasn't surprising, really.

But for Ranran, hers it's a little different. It was as if she knew this place was overwhelming.

Then again, The Boy huffed to no one, "This is someone who is able to notice things they shouldn't know."

Now that he thinks back of the projector having shown what sort of person Ranran is in the future, she can't orchestrate and scheme so meticulously unless she knows her enemy well.

He rewound the footage again, this time focusing on her body language during the interview. She had flawlessly mimicked the mannerisms of a child struggling with comprehension—a nervous glance, a stuttered response, the awkward tilt of her head. It was as if she had studied the role meticulously. The teachers and headmaster had bought the act entirely, their expressions softening with pity.

She knew....the rules of this school is that they don't accept such children here. How did she figure out by the way? Her family is from the slums.

Perhaps this is a question that will never be answered to The Boy. 

A small notification pinged on his screen, jolting him from his thoughts. It was from the security system linked to the school—an alert that someone had tampered with the side gate leading to the main road. He clicked on the notification, switching to a live feed of the area. There she was, darting out into the open, her figure small but unmistakably determined.

"Where are you running off to now?" he murmured, his curiosity piqued.

Switching to a separate monitor, he pulled up a map of the area surrounding the school. If Ranran had planned this escape, she likely had a destination in mind. The nearest park, bus stop, or even a quiet alley—where would she go? His fingers flew over the keyboard as he cross-referenced her location with possible escape routes.

Then it hit him. The Boy's eyes widened as he realized her likely destination: Her house.

Cause in the end in the eyes of the 3-year-old's logic, with no school to go to, she can watch cartoons the entire day!

The Boy let out a soft laugh at the absurdity of it all.

Despite the ridiculousness of the motive, he couldn't help but admire Ranran's determination and ability to execute such a plan at her age.

Even so, unfortunately, her plan is not going to head her way.

With his smartphone having received the notification from Ophelia, his smirk widened. He turned into a sly grin as he tapped the screen of his smartphone.

His fingers hovered over the keyboard.

"Sorry, Ranran," he muttered, "But you going to have to remain there....whether you like it or not."

He tapped on his phone before pressing his phone to his ears, having the other app to tune his voice to a point it is unrecognizable before the receiver picked up their phone, "Hello?"

"Hi, are you Mr Kudo?"

"Yes, speaking. May I know who is this?"

"Hi, I am calling from Edgewood to let you know that your daughter failed the school interview."

There was a pause on the other end of the line. The Boy could almost hear Mr. Kudo's confusion through the silence. Then came the hesitant reply:

"Failed the interview? Well, I guess it ain't surprising, given that their standard in Edgewood kept going up every year." The man could be heard sighing.

The Boy chuckled silently to himself, imagining Ranran's father scratching his head in confusion. He pressed the advantage, maintaining his cool, altered tone.

"Oh no, sir, she barely even made it to the test rounds, given that your daughter is....not normal."

There was another long pause, this time heavier with tension. The Boy could almost see the gears turning in Mr. Kudo's head, trying to process what he had just been told.

"Not... normal?" Mr. Kudo repeated, his voice tinged with disbelief and a touch of defensiveness. "What do you mean by that? My daughter is perfectly fine!"

"She isn't, sir," The Boy's grin deepened, trying not to laugh at his confusion. "The assessment panel felt that she displayed behaviors inconsistent with our academic requirements. She seemed... unfocused and, well, not quite ready for the challenges Edgewood demands."

"Could you....be more specific?"

The Boy leaned back in his chair, enjoying the unfolding conversation. He adjusted the voice modulation settings slightly, ensuring his tone sounded professional yet firm.

"Of course, Mr. Kudo," he said smoothly. "During the interview, your daughter exhibited behaviors that raised some concerns. For instance, she struggled to maintain eye contact, seemed easily distracted, and even made... unconventional responses to our questions. These are not traits we typically see in students who thrive in our rigorous environment."

"And, your point is-"

"Your daughter is autistic, sir."

There was a pause on the line, and then the man's voice rose, "Her!? Autistic!?" Mr. Kudo's voice rose, disbelief turning to frustration as he laughed as if this was the funniest joke he has ever heard in years, "Ranran is many things, but the last thing she can ever be is autistic! I mean even my wife took her to see a child specialist at that time-"

Then, it took a while for the man to realize, "Of course, that damn girl! She acted, didn't she!?"

The Boy stifled a laugh as Mr. Kudo's realization hit. He could practically see the man pacing, piecing it all together. The frustration, disbelief, and dawning clarity on the other end of the line were immensely satisfying.

"Sir, I can assure you," The Boy continued, keeping his tone calm and professional despite his amusement, "our team's assessment is thorough and based on the behaviors your daughter exhibited during the interview. If she was... acting, as you suspect, then I must say, she's quite the performer. However, if she wasn't acting-"

"Oh no, she definitely was acting, alright! I know she has been whining over and over on how she was going to rebel if we sent her to school because we 'sacrificed' 2 years of her childhood without her permission!"

"Huh?"

"I am sorry, but I think my wife and I mentioned to one of your staff members before that in our previous neighbourhood, we couldn't afford to send her to school at that time, so back then....."

As the man poured his woes to The Boy, he learned that Ranran who was 2 at that time somehow figured out that in the U.K, education rules states that only children of 5-years of age are required to have an education as it is mandatory. Kids around her age group between 2-4 however are optional.

Since at that time, her parents were not financially stable, there was no need to send Ranran who was then 2 at that time to preschool. Which means supposedly Ranran had '2 years' of childhood to spare as in sitting in front of the TV the whole day watching cartoons instead of remaining in a boring classroom studying. And this part itself was not mentioned in the projector, so The Boy had no idea that would be the reason as to why she failed the school interview on purpose.

But because The Boy messed around with the current timeline, the situation was starting to spiral in ways he hadn't anticipated.

"Oh, 2 years of her childhood......" The Boy said, keeping his voice neutral, even though his mind was whirring with new information. "I am sorry, how was she able to put this together, again?"

"Honestly, even to this day my wife and I have no clue how she was able to figure things out," The man replied, his voice tinged with frustration but also a hint of admiration. "But ever since she found out we are sending her to Edgewood whether she like it or not, she....." The man continued, his voice growing more animated as he recounted the story. "For pete sakes, I wasn't like that when I was around 2! Where in the hell did she get this idea from!?"

This girl isn't just rebellious. She's a calculative strategist in the making. No wonder Ernestine targeted her.

If anyone recognized a child with such potential—someone who could think several steps ahead—it would be someone like Ernestine, who thrived on the motivation of greed.

"Anyway, Mr err...."

"Tyler," The Boy came up with a name.

"Right, Mr Tyler, about my daughter.....she lied to everyone during the school interview," The frantic father continued, his voice now tinged with helplessness. "I know.....that your school has strict policies, but perhaps....if possible-"

"Sure."

"Eh?"

"Sure, we can reschedule another one. 3 pm, if you can prove your daughter isn't autistic." 

Mr. Kudo's voice cracked in surprise. "Wait, you'll reschedule? Just like that?"

"Yes, Mr. Kudo," The Boy said smoothly, his tone all business. "If you can provide evidence that Ranran is, in fact, mentally and emotionally ready for Edgewood—proof that she isn't suffering from any developmental issues in front of the same teachers and headmaster from the school interview earlier at 3 pm, sharp. You'll have a chance to reset the situation."

"Okay, okay," Mr. Kudo finally stammered, his voice filled with a mix of hope and skepticism. "But... proof? You want me to bring proof? How exactly am I supposed to do that on such short notice?"

The Boy's smirk was barely contained. "I believe you've mentioned before that you took Ranran to a specialist, correct? If you can provide the relevant medical records or a letter from the child specialist confirming her developmental status, that would be sufficient."

"But I have another problem..." Mr. Kudo hesitated, his tone now laced with a hint of desperation. "The child specialist my wife used to take her to had shut down since they moved away.....also...."

".....yes?"

"My wife....didn't take the document, since she found it unnecessary at that time, as we had no means to send Ranran to school at that time. Well, that was before her estranged grandmother found her and had us relocated here...." 

"Ok, then let me suggest a proposal." The Boy suggested.

There was a long pause on the other end of the line as he shared his thoughts on this. The silence stretched, punctuated only by the faint hum of the phone's static. Finally, Mr. Kudo's voice returned, less frantic, but still tinged with disbelief.

"Well... that's unexpected," Mr. Kudo muttered. "I guess....no harm trying."