-atom 084- Ameri Ichinose Sneaked Into The Room Pretending To Tutor Students -

Taro stared at her. His eyes narrowed. He glanced at his laptop riser. Nothing. The drive was gone. His face went pale, then a dangerous red.

Scatter.

Ameri’s heart rate ticked up. Bored. Arrogant. Careless. She smiled. "Excellent, Taro. Perhaps you can help me then?" She walked over, leaning down to look at his notebook. "I noticed your margin drawings. Are those… fractal lattices?"

"Alright everyone," she said, clapping her hands. "That's all for today. Study hard, and remember—balance your equations, and your life will follow suit." Taro stared at her

Her target sat with his chin propped on his palm, looking bored. He hadn't opened his textbook. He was drawing small, intricate spirals in the margin of a blank notebook.

She turned the corner at the end of the hall and pressed her back against the lockers. She pulled out the USB drive. It was warm.

Into her sleeve mic, she whispered: "ATOM-084 to Nest. I have the data siphon. Target is suspicious. Requesting immediate exfil." Nothing

She had to get it. But she couldn't just grab it. The room had eyes. The girl with the violet hair clips was the lookout—her phone's camera was aimed not at her notes, but at the door.

"I prefer the term 'tutor,'" she said. "It's less paperwork."

A murmur of protest. The lookout girl’s head snapped up. Taro hesitated. "I'm fine here." Scatter

He’s not here to learn, Ameri thought. He’s here to receive a drop.

She stood up, cheeks flushed with fake embarrassment. "I'm so sorry! Clumsy me."