Chapter 61: Living In A Completely Different World
Am I truly... safe? Is Sister... safe? I’m walking with these people—and yet they have no idea they are being followed by a murderer. These people, whose dreams and goals revolve around becoming heroes. Are they... safe? Safe from someone who lives in a completely different spectrum than they do?
Riley trailed behind the newly formed, though not yet official, Baby Crew. They were walking casually across the bustling city street, laughing and talking without a care for the crowd around them. He found it mildly perplexing that they’d already named their group despite barely knowing each other for a little over a week—and that didn’t even count Gary and Victoria, who had only joined yesterday.
The ability of people my age to make friends so instantly remains a mystery. But if it makes Sister happy... perhaps it is one of life’s better mysteries. Now, where was I? Ah yes—am I truly safe? It—
"Mr. Riley."
Right—there is one that knows who—what I am. And it makes sense that she is the only one walking beside me. But what does she want? Why is she talking to me while we are walking with the rest of these people, when the only conversation we have that is worth having should be kept from them?
"What is it, Tomoe?" Riley tilted his head.
"I... don’t think it’s safe to go ahead with our plans for now," she whispered, walking closer to him so that the rest of the Baby Crew wouldn’t be able to hear them, "With the police frequenting the Academy, and your sister’s connection to Steph... my parents’ deaths would be a catalyst for them to link the cases and start pointing it to you... or me."
"You don’t need to worry about being blamed, Tomoe," Riley shook his head. "Framing someone for murder is illegal. I do not want to do that."
Tomoe blinked and stared at Riley for a moment as she heard that—her already expressionless face, turning even more blank. Her mild stupor, however, was broken as she heard Hannah and the others laughing about something.
She looked at them, her eyes showing a bit of emotion as they saw them laughing with each other.
"Let’s... talk more later," she muttered, quickening her pace. "We should stay close. We don’t want them to get suspicious."