Aria didn't mean to notice him again.
But she did.
It started small.
A glance.
Then another.
Then it became something she couldn't ignore.
Dylan.
Same quiet walk through the hallway. Same calm face. Same way he blended in like he wasn't trying to be seen.
But Aria saw him.
And this time—
She paid attention.
"…you're doing it again."
Mira's voice came from beside her, amused.
"I'm not doing anything," Aria replied quickly.
"You are," Mira said. "You've been staring at that guy since morning."
Ella leaned slightly closer, lowering her voice.
"…is this about his arm again?"
Aria hesitated.
Then sighed.
"…it's just weird."
Mira smirked.
"Yeah. That's definitely not suspicious behavior at all."
"I'm serious," Aria said. "Something about him doesn't feel normal."
Ella frowned slightly.
"…what do you mean?"
Aria looked ahead.
Dylan was walking with other students now, one hand in his pocket, the other—bandaged—hanging loosely by his side.
"…he's too calm," she said quietly. "Even when people bump into him, even when things get loud… he doesn't react like everyone else."
Mira crossed her arms.
"So now you're analyzing his personality too?"
"I'm just saying," Aria replied, slightly defensive.
Ella glanced at Dylan again.
"…you think he's hiding something?"
Aria paused.
Then—
"…maybe."
Before either of them could respond—
Dylan turned slightly.
Their eyes met.
Just for a second.
Then he looked away and kept walking.
Like nothing happened.
Aria's chest tightened slightly.
"…see?" she muttered.
Mira raised a brow.
"I saw a guy walking."
"You didn't feel that?"
"No," Mira said flatly. "Because I'm normal."
Ella chuckled softly.
"…you should just talk to him."
Aria frowned.
"…why?"
"Because clearly you're curious," Ella said.
"I'm not curious."
"You are."
Mira grinned.
"Go. Ask him about his arm again. Maybe this time you'll get a different answer."
Aria rolled her eyes.
"…you're both annoying."
But—
She stepped forward anyway.
"…hey."
Dylan stopped.
Turned.
Same calm eyes.
"…you again," he said.
Aria blinked.
"…wow. That's rude."
"You called me twice already."
"…so now there's a limit?"
He didn't respond.
Just waited.
Aria crossed her arms slightly.
"…your arm," she said. "Is it actually okay?"
"…yes."
"You sure?"
"Yes."
"…because it doesn't look like 'yes.'"
A small pause.
Then—
"…it's fine."
Short.
Closed.
Aria frowned.
"…you're not very talkative."
"No."
"…you always like this?"
"Yes."
She stared at him.
"…you're actually serious."
"Yes."
Mira, watching from a distance, covered her mouth trying not to laugh.
Aria exhaled.
"…okay, let me try something else."
Dylan waited.
"…what do you do after school?" she asked.
He looked at her.
"…things."
"…what things?"
"…my things."
Aria blinked.
"…you're impossible."
"I've been told."
A small silence.
Then—
"…why do you care?" he asked.
That caught her off guard.
"…I don't care," she said quickly.
"You do."
"…I don't."
"You do."
She frowned.
"…you're annoying."
"And you ask too many questions."
Another pause.
Then—
"…whatever," Aria muttered.
She turned—
And walked back to her friends.
Mira burst out laughing immediately.
"'What do you do after school?'—Aria please!"
"Shut up," Aria snapped.
Ella smiled.
"…so?"
"…he's weird," Aria said.
"Or you like him," Mira added.
"I don't like him."
"You followed him with questions."
"I was curious."
"That's how it starts."
Aria groaned.
"…you're both useless."
But deep down—
She knew one thing.
Dylan wasn't normal.
She just didn't know why.
—
Dylan walked away like nothing happened.
But his mind wasn't calm.
Not completely.
He stepped out of the school gates and into the quieter streets, his pace steady.
He didn't look back.
Didn't react.
But he knew.
She was watching.
"…getting closer," he muttered.
Not to the truth.
But close enough to be dangerous.
He adjusted his hoodie slightly and continued walking.
Not toward the busy parts of the city.
But away from it.
Toward home.
—
The apartment building looked the same.
Old.
Tired.
Forgotten.
He climbed the stairs slowly, his injured arm aching slightly under the bandage.
He ignored it.
Opened the door.
"…I'm back."
"Dylan?"
His mother's voice came softly.
He stepped in.
She was sitting on the couch again, blanket around her shoulders, looking weaker than yesterday.
He noticed immediately.
"…did you take your medication?"
She smiled faintly.
"I did."
"You sure?"
"Yes."
He nodded slowly.
But his eyes didn't leave her.
"Big bro!"
His sister ran out again, full of energy.
"You came earlier today!"
"…a little."
She hugged him instantly.
"You said you'd help me with homework!"
He paused.
Then nodded.
"…I will."
Her face lit up.
"Promise?"
"…yeah."
She ran back happily.
Dylan stood there for a moment.
Then his mother spoke again.
"…you're tired."
"I'm fine."
"You always say that."
He didn't respond.
"…and you're hurt," she added.
He looked away slightly.
"…it's nothing."
She sighed softly.
"…you remind me of him sometimes."
His expression hardened.
"…I'm not him."
"I know," she said quietly.
Silence filled the room.
Heavy.
Unspoken.
Dylan looked toward the window.
"…he's still out there," he said.
His mother closed her eyes briefly.
"…then don't let him take you down with him."
Dylan didn't answer.
But inside—
That was exactly what he was afraid of.
—
Night came.
And with it—
The other life.
Dylan stood on the rooftop again.
Now—
VEX.
Mask on.
Armor fitted.
His injured arm reinforced and hidden under support.
The pain was still there.
But controlled.
A presence landed behind him.
"You're late."
Aria.
Already suited.
Already ready.
"…you're early," he replied.
She crossed her arms slightly.
"…you don't rest, do you?"
"No."
"…that's unhealthy."
"It's necessary."
She looked at him for a second.
Then at his arm.
"…you got hit yesterday."
"It happens."
"…funny," she said. "…I saw someone with an injury like that today."
A very small pause.
Barely there.
"…coincidence," VEX replied.
Aria frowned slightly.
"…yeah… maybe."
She didn't push.
Didn't question further.
But the thought stayed.
Then—
"Let's train," VEX said.
Aria nodded.
"…don't go easy on me."
"I won't."
They moved.
Fast.
Close combat.
No powers at first.
Just movement.
Skill.
Control.
Aria attacked first.
He blocked.
Countered.
Corrected her stance mid-motion.
"Too wide," he said.
"I'm not wide."
"You are."
She attacked again.
Faster.
He dodged.
Then grabbed her wrist—
Shifted her balance—
And she stumbled slightly.
"…okay, rude," she said.
"Focus."
"I am focused."
"No. You're reacting again."
She frowned.
"…then what do I do?"
"Think before you move."
She exhaled sharply.
"…you always say that."
"Because you don't do it."
She rushed him again.
This time—
Cleaner.
Sharper.
He blocked—
But nodded slightly.
"Better."
She paused.
"…wait, was that a compliment?"
"It was an observation."
She smirked slightly.
"…still counts."
A small silence followed.
Then—
Their eyes met.
Closer this time.
Too close.
Aria looked away first.
"…again," she said quickly.
They continued.
Stronger.
Faster.
Better.
—
Far away—
In the shadows—
A screen flickered.
Dr Blanc watched quietly.
Beside him—
Slander stood still.
Silent.
Deadly.
"She's improving faster than expected," Dr Blanc said.
Slander didn't respond.
But his eyes remained fixed on the screen.
On her.
On the fight.
On the path ahead.
"…and him," Dr Blanc added quietly.
A small pause.
Then—
"We may need to accelerate things."
The screen changed.
New data.
New targets.
New chaos.
And somewhere in the city—
Dylan fought to protect what he had left.
While unknowingly standing in the middle of something much bigger.
Much darker.
And much closer than he realized