"CUTE: FALSE. GROSS: TRUE. Let's just delete your OSs, then. Goodbye, 'BUDDY'."

3:11pm

As the final bell rang, students poured out of the school in clusters, their chatter blending into the hum of engines waiting in the parking lot. But Y/n wasn't focused on the crowd—her eyes, were fixed on three particular vehicles.

The same ones. Again.

A bright dark blue and pink motorcycle. A sleek yellow muscle car. A bulky green SUV.

Y/n didn't believe in coincidences.

She stood at the entrance, crutches planted firmly on the pavement, waiting. As soon as she spotted Miko, Jack, and Raf stepping out of the doors, she moved. Her gait was stiff, unsteady, her head subtly supported by one hand as she used her crutches to close the distance.

"Hey, guys." Her voice was monotonous, but there was a sharpness to it, an edge that made the three halt.

Miko grinned. "Yo, Y/n! What's—"

Y/n reached out and gripped Jack's sleeve. Firmly. Not painfully, but with just enough pressure to send a clear message.

"Come."

Jack stiffened. "Uh—"

Raf barely had time to react before Y/n's other crutch hooked around his arm, nudging him forward. Miko, raising a brow, followed as Y/n dragged them toward the back of the school.

Miko chuckled nervously. "Okay, what's with the creepy horror movie act? You're dragging us like we committed a crime."

Y/n stopped when they were far from prying eyes. Then she turned, her awkward posture tilting her head slightly to the side.

"Explain."

Jack blinked. "Explain what?"

Y/n pointed toward the parking lot with her crutch. "Them."

Jack swallowed. Miko scratched the back of her head. Raf glanced away.

"You always get into the same cars," Y/n continued. "The same ones. Same colors. Same order." She tilted her head the other way. "Odd."

Jack tried to laugh it off. "It's not that weird. We just—"

Y/n cut him off. "Modified red European sports car. Last week. Military truck. Yesterday." She stared at them, unblinking. "Following."

Silence.

Miko sucked in a breath. "Okay... That is kinda suspicious when you put it like that."

Y/n narrowed her eyes. "You are lying to me."

Raf shifted uncomfortably. Jack looked at Miko. Miko pursed her lips.

Y/n waited.

Her fingers twitched slightly against her crutch handle. Her body, awkward as ever, held an eerie stillness that made the three feel trapped despite the open space.

"Talk."

Jack sighed. "It's... complicated."

Y/n didn't move.

Raf adjusted his glasses. "We're not trying to lie to you."

"Then do not lie."

Miko huffed. "Look, Y/n, it's just—"

The distant honk of a horn cut through the tension. The three stiffened.

Their rides were waiting.

And Y/n noticed.

Her fingers flexed again, tightening around her crutches.

"Very odd."

Jack barely had time to react before Y/n moved.

With a swift motion, she grabbed his arm and twisted it the wrong way—not enough to break, but enough to send a sharp jolt of pain up his nerves. A startled yelp left his lips as his knees buckled, and he crumpled to the pavement.

"Ah—! Y/n, what the hell?!"

Before he could process what just happened, the hilt of one of her crutches slammed down onto his stomach. Not enough to seriously injure him, but enough to knock the wind out of him.

Jack gasped, body tensing as he tried to recover from the sudden impact.

"JACK!" Miko shouted, stepping forward instinctively.

Raf paled, frozen in place.

Y/n exhaled, adjusting her posture slightly to keep her balance. She didn't appear angry—her expression was as blank as ever, her glowing lenses unreadable.

"Lies." She tilted her head, pressing just a little more weight onto the crutch. "Why do you lie?"

Jack coughed, trying to push her off, but she was stronger than she looked—or maybe just more determined.

"Okay—ow—Y/n, stop!" he wheezed.

Miko clenched her fists. "Okay, okay, jeez, back off! We're not trying to mess with you, alright?!"

Y/n remained still, unmoving.

Miko narrowed her eyes. "I mean it. Just—let him go, okay?"

For a few more seconds, Y/n did nothing. Then, without a word, she lifted her crutch off Jack's stomach, stepping back with her usual awkward, stilted movements.

Jack groaned, rolling onto his side and holding his arm. "Holy crap," he muttered. "That hurt."

Y/n adjusted her crutches, watching him carefully. "You are hiding something."

Jack sat up with a wince. "No kidding. And after that? I don't think you'll drop it."

Y/n blinked. "Correct."

Miko sighed, crossing her arms. "Man... we are so dead."

Raf gulped. "What do we do now?"

Y/n simply stared at them, waiting.

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