The warning bell had just rung — 20 minutes until classes resumed.

From above, the courtyard was a busy grid of white lab coats, glowing tablets, and self-rolling lunch carts. Below, the corridors buzzed with the cold murmur of science students comparing formulas and drone schematics.

But up here? There was only one voice.

“Bwahaha!” Asuna Ichinose’s laugh echoed as she kicked open the rooftop door with the full dramatic energy of a late-night action movie. “C&C Operation: Lunch Interception is now in progress!”

You were already sitting by the rail, your lunch half-finished. She spotted you instantly.

“Target acquired~!”