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ACT I - Part II

Almost 10 years earlier...

"Kaito, please pay attention." I turn my attention away from the window and look at my teacher frowning at me from the blackboard. "Class, I know it's almost the end of the year, but we still have a few more days before vacation begins and I intend to use them." I have to stop myself from rolling my eyes. Use it for what? Boring us to death?

I feign interest until, twenty minutes later, the bell sounds and we gratefully get to leave for lunch. I stretch in my seat.

Since I don't really care to talk to anyone today, I stay in the classroom and pull out the latest copy of Shonen Jump while I eat lunch. I'm only a couple pages in, when a nearby conversation catches my attention.

"Dude. I know Kokoro is an omega." Chiko, a decent sized guy with plain black hair and eyes, sits on top of a desk a couple rows up. He glances around as he says this, and I pretend not to have heard as I stare at my book. If this is true, then she would be the only omega in our year. Besides me, who no one knows is an omega and still hasn't manifested at the age of 16. As for alphas, there are only these two - both male and recessive. Finding female omegas is nearly impossible these days.

"How could you know that? I've never smelt that." Fumihiro, the other alpha, who has a big forehead, bowl cut, and bad skin, sits on the desk across from Chiko. Easily the uglier of the two. Everybody has their preferences, and while mine may be male alphas - it certainly does not apply to these bozos.

"Well, when our study group was in the library yesterday finishing up our project, she took suppressants, I swear. She tried to do it very secretly, but I swear I saw."

"Her and her friends always eat lunch here right? So we put what you say to the test and smoke her out."

They hang around waiting for Kokoro, as do I, curious to see if what Chiko says is true. Maybe I'm not alone. We don't have to wait long, because soon the door slides open and the group of girls enters sounding not unlike a flock of birds. They gather around their usual tables and begin pulling out their lunches.

I glance back at Chiko and Fumihiro, but they're acting casual. Suddenly the smell hits me. Pheromones. The alphas are releasing their pheromones together, doubling the effects. I glance at Kokoro, but neither she nor any of her friends react to the smell.

There's no way they couldn't. I'm holding in a sneeze, trying to hide the fact I can smell them. It only gets worse, I look around and realize that all the doors and windows are completely closed. The smell is becoming so thick I can feel myself getting dizzy.

Sweat trickles down my back, but I'm not hot because I also start to shiver. I can feel myself start to pant as my mouth goes dry. My head is pounding. I can't take this anymore. I swallow and try to calmly get up while discreetly covering my nose.

Suddenly Chiko catches my eye. I'm sure the realization hits us at the same time.

I've gone into heat.

"Kaito? You're-" I sprint to the door, rip it open and crash into the hall before he can finish. The halls are mostly empty, with most of the students in a classroom, outside or in the cafeteria. I'm turning the corner, when I hear two pairs of feet in pursuit. Shit. They're coming after me.

Knowing that an alpha will always be faster than me, I frantically think of places to lose them. I practically fly down the stairs as I duck into the nearest bathroom I know of. Inside the bathroom I can't even make it to a stall, before I collapse into the old tile floor, shaking like a leaf.

I try to catch my breath, and hear the sound of my pursuers' footsteps pass the door and fade away. I sigh in relief. I made it. I smile to myself, and it's only then that I notice him.