Two classes later, only one remained.
Karate.
It was the general class for everyone, no matter their major. A compulsory discipline session that kept their bodies sharp and their reactions faster than thought.
Hadizah was already packing her bag when the bell of the previous class ended. She was preparing to leave so she could meet her friends before they moved together.
Ever since their majors split, things had changed.
They were no longer always together.
Tina had moved into hacking. Belle had switched into explosives engineering, a department that dealt with controlled destruction, pressure calculations, blast timing, and structural collapse simulations. It was not just "dangerous." It required precision, intelligence, and physical endurance.
Hadizah and the rest had remained in marksmanship.
At first, it was fine, then it became boring, then it became something she endured, not something she enjoyed.
Sometimes, she even considered switching.
But every time she went to the headmistress, the answer was always the same.
"You are not trained for computers."
"You are not trained for chemicals."
"Stay where you belong."
And just like that, the conversation would end.
Belle's voice cut through her thoughts.
"Hadizah!"
She was standing at the classroom entrance, already dressed in her explosives lab gear gloves, protective coat, safety glasses, and a firm hat. Everything about her looked heavier than before, as if her new department had changed not just her skills, but her presence.
Hadizah looked up and smiled.
She finished packing and walked quickly toward her. Without warning, she bumped Belle lightly on the shoulder.
Belle immediately grimaced. "Don't you know that hurts?"
Hadizah smirked. "I'm just greeting you properly."
Belle exhaled sharply, shaking her hands. "You're going to injure someone one day."
Hadizah only smiled wider.
Belle looked exhausted. Completely drained. "I'm skipping the last class."
She paused, waiting for Hadizah to argue like usual. But Hadizah didn't.
Instead, she simply gave her a thumbs-up.
Belle froze.
"…You agreed?"
Hadizah shrugged. "Even geniuses need rest."
Belle blinked. "How did you read my mind?"
Hadizah smiled faintly. "Because you always say the same thing when you're tired."
Belle let out a small breath of relief. "Good. I haven't even mastered the last blast sequence they gave us. If I go to karate, I'll collapse."
They walked together in silence for a while.
Then Hadizah spoke. "What about Tina?"
Belle stopped walking for half a second.
She hadn't told Tina anything yet.
Hadizah raised an eyebrow. "We should get her."
And without waiting, they changed direction.
Tina's department was on the opposite wing of the academy. The closer they got, the more Hadizah slowed down.
Something about that section always felt… wrong.
Not dangerous like explosives. Not controlled like marksmanship. Something else. Something hidden. She couldn't explain it. They arrived slightly out of breath.
Tina was already speaking with one of their instructors.
She wore a calm expression, but her eyes flickered briefly when she noticed them standing there.Surprise, that was rare.
Tina had assumed they would never visit her section again after her transfer into hacking.
It had been an unspoken rule between them.
No visits, no distractions, no emotional interference. But rules didn't matter much when friendship was involved.
She bowed slightly to the instructor, waited for permissiom from the instructor before leaving. The instructor walked away. The moment he was gone, Tina's expression changed.
She folded her arms.
"Surprise… surprise…" she said slowly, suspicion in her voice.
Hadizah sighed. "I didn't want to come. Belle dragged me."
Belle turned sharply. "Excuse me?"
Tina raised a brow. "So… why are you here?"
Belle stepped forward immediately. "We're skipping karate."
That alone changed Tina's expression.
"Really?"
"Yes," Belle said. "And we want you to come with us."
Tina studied them carefully.
"And what exactly are you planning to do instead of karate?"
Hadizah answered before Belle could. "We're breaking into the hostel."
Silence.
For a second, Tina didn't react. Then she blinked slowly. "…The hostel?"
Hadizah nodded, but her attention drifted.
The room felt strange, too structured,too watched, too clean. Her instincts tightened.
Something about Tina's department always made her uneasy, not fear.
Recognition of something she couldn't name.
"What's wrong?" Belle asked quickly, noticing her expression.
Hadizah hesitated.
"The air here…" she muttered. "It feels…"
She stopped.
Tina stepped closer immediately.
"Hadizah," she said softly, placing a hand on her back. "It's okay. There's nothing here."
Her voice lowered.
"And you only feel that way because you hate this department."
Hadizah looked at her. Tina's smile was too controlled, too practiced.
"I know people don't like hacking," Tina continued. "I know what they say about this place. But I like it here." Her voice cracked slightly at the end, that was new.
Belle cleared her throat sharply, breaking the tension.
"Karate starts soon. I'm not going."
She adjusted her posture. "If you two want to go ahead, do it. I'm not attending."
The moment snapped, Tina nodded slowly. "Let me get my bag."
She disappeared into a nearby room, Hadizah watched her go. Something was wrong. She just didn't know what yet.Belle leaned closer.
"So what exactly are we doing after we break into the hostel?" she asked.
Hadizah didn't answer immediately.
She was still watching Tina's door.
"We're not breaking in for sleeping," she said finally.
Belle frowned. "Then why?"
Hadizah lowered her voice.
"To see what they are hiding."
Belle raised a brow. "And sleepover plans?"
Hadizah sighed. "We don't even know if we'll survive tomorrow."
Belle nodded slowly, a pause.
Then softly, "We can still do it in the evening."
Hadizah looked at her.
"I have training at night," she said.
Belle's face dropped instantly. "Of course you do," she muttered.
Silence fell between them again, heavy.
Tina returned with her bag, but something had changed, not visibly not clearly. Just enough to feel it.
She smiled faintly. "Let's go," she said.
And the three of them walked out, together. But not completely in sync.
Not yet.