"Sir Hanon, is there something wrong?"

Eline secretly winked at Mira, which the latter put a thumbs up, after asking that question to Hanon.

"Hm? Something wrong?"

Hanon didn't expect that answer. He was just going with the flow, singing while Dan was playing his guitar, and didn't let his true emotions come to light. He was different from Mike and Catherine who have paled expressions.

However, when they went out, the others just thought that a romance was blossoming and they were just shy to each other. What else are they worried for? Teren again? But didn't they already apologized to him which he accepted? Isn't he actually a nice classmate? So that shouldn't it be, right?

That cleared up their worries. But as the only adult among the group, if Hanon showed worries, the younger ones will felt it too.

That was why, even though he tried not to let it out, Eline have felt it. At least that's what Hanon thought.

But in actuality, Eline and the others haven't noticed anything. She just asked that as an opener for a conversation. This might be her one and only chance to personally get close to Hanon, her crush. As a fierce and bold girl, she wouldn't let this chance slip from her hands.

Relationship between a teacher and a student is forbidden? Pfft- who cares about that?

"Oh, is there nothing wrong? I thought you just need someone to talk to."

Eline mischievously laughed. However, she didn't expect Hanon to put down his guard.

"Yes, there is something wrong."

He replied with a sad smile. Seeing this, Eline internally panicked for a moment before toughening herself.

'This the moment where he will lean on me! He must've been carried by the atmosphere!'

Instead of being confused, she was determined.

"Eline," Hanon looked at her, now it was her turn to be caught off-guard. But to her disappointment, he called the others too.

"Mira"

"Josh"

"And Dan"

"..."

The four of them looked at each other before they looked at Hanon who called them with a melancholic face. Dan stopped playing his guitar so everyone could listen to what he was about to say.

Nick watched this with a serious expression too. Although he's an accomplice, instead of the future victim, he wasn't feeling good about it. He knew they were about to do a crime. He was not even a legitimate gangster yet. Bullying was already the best he can do. Crime? That's just too much for him, especially that their target is their own classmates.

'It's harder now since I learned they're good people and have accepted me into their group. Though I wouldn't say that they have accepted me as their friend.'

Iesa heard this and nodded. She was here for about some time now. She just silently sat a bit far from the main group as if excluded. However, she chose her spot herself.

No one talked to her. She was that hard to approach just like at school. The only one who can talk to her normally is Hanon but he didn't notice her return either because of the pressure.

She was just waiting for Teren to return and watch the scene unfold.

'I'm... a bit excited...'

Teren and her talked for quite a while because they were unable to separate. There, she learned his plan. He omitted nothing from her since Iesa was the first 'partner' he had ever made. Now that they have agreed to something and her memories returned, there's no need to hold back just because she's there.

Back to the scene, Hanon finally spoke after getting their attentions.

"I'm sorry."

He said which was filled with emotions, leaving the four stunned.

"Eh? What are you apologizing for, Sir Hanon?"

Eline asked.

"I have no choice. This is the only way to save you all."

Hanon continued as if he has his own world.

"I hope you don't hate me for what will happen."

Although his eyes were resolute, tears were forming. The atmosphere was becoming awkward as none of the four know what Hanon was saying.

"I... we don't understand."

Josh said, wanting to get the context.

"You will soon."

Right after Hanon's words, there were sounds of rustling from his behind. Three people came out right after.

"Ah, you're back!"

Eline smiled even though it was a nervous one. She tried to turn the mood around by letting Mike and Catherine into the conversation.

"Ack-! H-huh!?"

A shout suddenly cried out, startling the others. When they looked, they saw Nick was kneeling on Dan's back while twisting his arms back.

It took them a moment to process it before the other three erupted in shouting.

"Nick! What are you doing!?"

"Stop, you're hurting him!"

They could have just thought that Nick was playing with them since they knew they were finally on good terms, however, the strange atmosphere finally made them think that something much worse is happening.

Josh looked at Mike and said, "Mike! Help us take Nick off!"

Mike walked towards them, making the others relieved. But at the next moment, he pushed Josh onto the ground just like what Nick did to Dan, he didn't let Josh fight back or stand up.

Mike is the most athletic one among them. Josh could only resist and fail.

"Mike!?"

Eline and Mira held each other's hand, disturbed by the turn of events as they began to tear up.

"This is a joke, right!?"

They looked at Catherine but then, they finally noticed. She and Mike have darkened and bitter expressions. She came close to them, making them subconsciously take a step back.

"C-catherine? Stop it... you're scaring us..."

Mira said.

"This is a prank, right? Like, seriously, this is really scaring us." Eline forced out a laugh.

"It's not... I'm sorry.."

But Catherine's reply shot their hopes down. At the same time, they felt someone grabbed both of their necks. With a pull, they weakly fell down.

"Kyaa--!"

Both of them fell. As they were about to get up, they saw that it was Hanon who pulled them down. Shocked, they stopped before Catherine pushed Mira down while Hanon onto Eline.

"Stop! Stop it!"

"Sir Hanon, what's happening!?"

"Catherine, are you serious!? This is not funny!"

But just as they were complaining, Nick and Mike came over them. They rolled their eyes and saw that Josh and Dan were tied up with ropes like what Nick and Mike have in their hands.

"Fuck you, Nick!" Josh exclaimed, his eyes red from rage, "I don't know how you roped Sir Hanon, Mike, and Catherine into this but I swear you will regret this!"