game over ❇ 'level up' trilogy

(9) new trust, old stories

*This chapter is short and boring. I'm sorry. No one commented title suggestions last time so I used a suggestion from chapter 7. Thanks to TwentyOnePinetrees for the title "tea spilled". I tagged the theme song from my favorite Studio Ghibli. Fine on The Outside by Priscilla Ahn from When Marnie Was There. No pic this time because I'm too lazy to find one. Some Spanish this chapter. Translations in the comments.*

(2610 words)

May 11

7:21 am

kmskeith: you ready for your first day of academy?

shirogone: yeah. I'm going to be meeting the officer who's doing my security detail while I'm there

kmskeith: they didn't start last night?

shirogone: they did. but the cops who watch us at night are different and change every night. the one watching us during the day will be the same every day. and I'm meeting them at the academy when they switch out.

kmskeith: ohh okay. didn't realize that.

shirogone: i'm leaving in 15 minutes

kmskeith: good luck ⋆ don't forget grad rehearsal tonight

shirogone: thanks, i'll be there

Shiro walked into the police academy, ready for his first day.

Then someone walked in behind him, "Um, Shiro?"

Shiro turned around, "Adam? What are you doing here?"

Adam fidgeted a bit, "Well, I've been assigned as your security detail. I'll be trailing you today."

"Oh, okay," Shiro nodded, "So you just sorta follow me around all day, every day?"

Adam nodded, "Pretty much, just until the three suspects are in custody. I don't think it will be long. With the evidence we have, we should be able to at least charge Cleo right away. The accounts IP address is registered to her. But the boys may go free until we gather evidence or get a confession. So until all three are charged, I'll be doing your security. Detective Anderson is afraid that after we take them in for questioning if the boys get out, they might get mad and attempt to retaliate. So I'm here to keep you safe. Not that you can't take care of yourself. You look very.. capable. We just have security on Keith and all his friends until this is over."

"Well, I'm not that worried about myself," Shiro shrugged, "I'm worried about Keith and Lance. Keith is the main target and if Lance was attacked again... None of us think he'd recover."

Adam sighed, "Well, out of all six of you, you're the third most likely to get attacked. Obviously, Keith is first since these three are harassing him specifically. And if they were to attack those close to him, they would either go after his best friend or his boyfriend. Boyfriend would hurt most so Lance is second. You're Keith's best friend so that puts you at number three."

"You've put a lot of thought into this, haven't you?"

Adam blushed a bit, "It's my job. In order to try to anticipate their next moves and protect you all, we have to get into their heads. I'm pretty good at profiling. And I've been studying Lance's case for the past few months as part of my training. I read all the reports, watched the recordings of the confessions and witness statements, everything. I get why you guys don't think Lance would recover another attack. He looked pretty traumatized in his statement recording."