"I actually have another ability besides seeing my own future. When someone consciously lies to me, I can automatically tell that they're lying.
"Like, if you skipped school today and came to tell me you went to class, I'd know for certain that you were lying. That's all I can do: tell whether something is a lie. I can't uncover the truth, and the ability has serious limitations.
"For example, if you skipped school today and came to tell me you didn't go to school but had class somewhere else, I wouldn't be able to tell you were lying, because part of what you said was true. The truth in your statement—that you didn't go to school—would limit my ability to detect the lie.
"So, to detect a lie, the other person has to lie outright."
Xia Hun had many possible routes to take and many people he could look for first, but none of that was what truly troubled him...
"I should go find Ying Kong first. She's the only one of them I know well. The next problem is figuring out how to convince her to believe me..."
Outside the door on the top floor of the First Teaching Building, Xia Hun stood still and began using his ability.
The feeling—
Xia Hun dashed up to the rooftop in a panic and shouted at Ying Kong, "Ying Kong, this is bad! Strange demons have taken over the school. We can't get out!"
Ying Kong had been sitting on a bench, taking a break. Xia Hun's sudden arrival left her completely stunned. A few seconds later, she smiled and said, "Xia Hun, if you came here to scare me because you think I'm a coward, it won't work. I'm not scared at all. I'm always the last one to leave school, and even when it gets dark, I'm not afraid!" Though she said that, she was actually so nervous that her whole body had started trembling...
Xia Hun was at a loss for words. He knew Ying Kong was timid, but he hadn't realized she could be this afraid. To make her believe him, he'd have to make it sound even worse. Pointing at the rooftop door he'd just come through, he said, "Ying Kong, believe me. There really are demons, and they could be nearby. They're definitely trying to eat us all..." Xia Hun didn't get to finish. Ying Kong had already fainted from fright.
The feeling—
"Ying Kong, are you up there? It's Xia Hun!"
"Oh, Xia Hun. What's wrong?" Ying Kong sounded perfectly normal.
Xia Hun hurried onto the rooftop and asked her, "Did you run into anything strange just now?"
Ying Kong's eyes widened. She shook her head and said, "No. I've been here doing homework and waiting for it to get dark—lie." She suddenly grew very nervous, and even started stumbling over her words.
Xia Hun smiled and continued, "Don't be nervous. I just wanted to ask if you'd heard any strange noises!"
Ying Kong shook her head again. "No. This is the quietest place in the whole school!"
The feeling—
Ying Kong stood on the rooftop, waiting for the sun to set, and looked over her notes alone. To her, the Astronomy Club, with only two members, was all she had. If she hadn't just been shocked by what she'd seen downstairs, she wouldn't be looking at her notes here now.
Was that really him?
No, he'd already left...
"You saw Lv Tian just now, didn't you, Ying Kong?" Xia Hun's voice suddenly reached her as she sat lost in thought. She was completely startled.
"N-no, I didn't—lie." Ying Kong tried to hide the truth, but she couldn't fool Xia Hun.
"I know about you and Lv Tian, but let's leave that for now. We have a much bigger problem!" Xia Hun's tone was casual, yet hard to refuse.
"W-what is it?" Ying Kong's voice grew tense. It was only natural for someone as timid as her to react that way.
"We're trapped in the school. There's something like glass at the school gates, and we can't get out anywhere..."
"...How is that possible..."
"Come with me, Ying Kong!"
"Are aliens coming to abduct us? We can't escape..." Ying Kong fainted.
The feeling—
Ying Kong was an incredibly timid girl. She'd joined the Astronomy Club to build up her courage. It hadn't really worked, but by now she could face dusk, and even nightfall, on her own.
There were only three people who mattered most to her: first, her mother; second, her younger sister; and third, Lv Tian, the delinquent who had protected and helped her countless times. In the end, because of her own cowardice, Lv Tian had left—left the school and left her behind.
After that, Ying Kong swore she would change completely.
She would start with the little things.
There was no mistaking the person Ying Kong had seen on the rooftop just now. It was Lv Tian, the person she'd longed for so much. But why had Lv Tian, who'd dropped out three months ago, come to the school now? Ying Kong had no way of knowing. She only hoped she could talk with Lv Tian again.
Deep inside, Ying Kong had always held onto her feelings for Lv Tian, along with her gratitude. But she was so timid that she seemed like she would never be able to tell him directly...
"There you are, Ying Kong!"
Ying Kong, lost in thought, suddenly looked toward the rooftop entrance. Xia Hun stood there with a silly grin.
Xia Hun was one of Ying Kong's few close friends. She often told him about herself—about Lv Tian, and about how she was doing...
Once her heartbeat had settled, Ying Kong asked Xia Hun, "What's wrong? Why come to the rooftop at a time like this? Are you looking for me?"
Xia Hun smiled. "Lv Tian asked me to find you. He's waiting at the school gate. Are you going?"
Ying Kong's heart began racing again. This was something that should never have happened, and yet it had: Lv Tian, who'd left school, had never once come to see her in the past three months. It had all happened so suddenly.
Seeing how nervous Ying Kong was, Xia Hun continued, "Don't be so nervous. It seems Lv Tian happened to be passing by the school today, so he came in to take a look. Then he ran into me, and I told him you were here for club activities, so he asked me to come tell you. That's all. Are you going, Ying Kong? It's not dark yet, and the stars aren't out."
Ying Kong let out a deep sigh, as if trying to summon the strength to say yes to Xia Hun, but she couldn't bring herself to speak.
Her thoughts seemed written all over her face. Xia Hun turned away and said, "Hurry up. Don't keep Lv Tian waiting..."
Reality—Three minutes passed. Xia Hun acted according to the third future he had sensed, and Ying Kong went with him to the school gate.
Ying Kong walked slowly along the way, seeming to be thinking about something. But they were simple questions that she'd made far too complicated in her own mind. In reality, Lv Tian wasn't at the school gate at all. Xia Hun had only used that excuse to trick her into going there.
Even though I can see thirty minutes into my own future, I can never know the futures of those around me. That's the flaw in my power—or maybe just something I have to regret...
True destiny was beyond anyone's control, and Xia Hun was no different. Some things that shouldn't happen turned out to happen, while some things that should happen didn't. A lie could become the truth at any moment...
The long-haired boy standing at the school gate, wearing a red jacket and black slacks, was indeed Lv Tian, just as Xia Hun had said...
The atmosphere grew uneasy. Now that the other person had spotted him, Xia Hun couldn't even use his ability.
"Oh, Ying Kong and Xia Hun! Since you're here, come try it too. I can't get out of school. It's like something's blocking the way. Ridiculous, isn't it?" Lv Tian spoke first, giving Xia Hun a chance to change the subject. The timid Ying Kong would never ask about it on her own; she'd definitely follow Lv Tian's lead. But that brought up another problem: Ying Kong had something like a delusional disorder. Whenever something was beyond her ability to process, she fainted...
Xia Hun had just been about to answer Lv Tian when Ying Kong spoke up. "All right, let me try." Her voice sounded so steady that no one could tell she was forcing herself.
That was growth...