Today’s last class was the weekly meeting. As usual, homeroom teacher Mr. Zhang gave us a gaokao pep talk before getting down to business. "Class, after nearly three weeks of adjustment since the semester started, I’m sure everyone’s back in study mode. Starting this Saturday, supplementary classes will resume. Evening self-study sessions will also restart from 6 to 8 PM daily to help you exchange learning tips."

A chorus of groans rose from the students. Truth was, our entire sophomore year followed this schedule—only holidays and the first few weeks of term offered slight relief. But hey, we were seniors now. Just one more year until we’d be released from our prison sentence. That thought made it easier to swallow.

Clearing his throat at the podium, Mr. Zhang added, "One more thing. School anniversary day is in three months. But as seniors, academics come first. Interested students may sign up with the arts committee rep—*if* it doesn’t interfere with studies."

Every October, our school held an anniversary gala in the gym. Last year, Xu Wanrou and two classmates performed an otaku dance onstage. Their uniform short skirts and slender legs left many guys in the audience parched and fidgeting.

After dismissal, students packed their bags. Xu Wanqing even waved goodbye to me specifically before leaving—clearly considering us close friends now.

At the school gate, He Wei usually split off toward his home. But today, he slung an arm around my shoulders with suspicious cheer. "Bro Wu, next week’s our first monthly exam as seniors. It’ll heavily influence college applications. How about we study together?"

We were buddies, but never really hit the books together. Two average students swapping notes rarely made either of us shine. His sudden proposal threw me off. "You mean... doing homework together tonight?"

"Exactly! Your parents are still on business trips, right? Your place is more relaxed—no mom nagging me every five minutes."

Honestly, solo evenings *were* dull. I agreed without overthinking it.

Back at my apartment, I cleared the dining table for two. He Wei dove straight into homework, occasionally asking quick questions. By 9 PM, he stretched with a yawn. "Break time, Bro Wu. Heard this movie’s insane—wanna watch?"

"Whatever."

My TV box had every streaming service. Weirdly, He Wei picked a horror flick—one notorious for jump scares. I hated these, but couldn’t risk looking chicken. I hit play.

The screen showed a dark room. A flashlight beam trembled in the heroine’s hand as she crept forward alone. Behind her, a grotesque *crunching* echoed—like something scuttling, gnawing wood. The music swelled. Slowly, she turned...

I wasn’t exactly brave. And "Hippo" had killed the lights, drawn the curtains—cranking the dread to eleven. I wanted to look away but couldn’t show weakness in front of him. So I squeezed my eyes shut, waiting for the scary music to end.

*Hmm?* Something brushed my cheek. Rough fingers kneaded my face. I snapped my eyes open—Hippo had yanked off my one-way glasses. Half my Skin Mask was peeled back.

"What the hell!" I swatted his hand away, twisting my back to him.

Hippo just sneered. "Drop the act. You’ve been wearing a Skin Mask this whole time. That’s why you hid behind those blurry glasses—to cover the edges. Bro Wu... you really played me."

Turns out this chubby schemer had planned everything—the "study session," the "movie break"—all to trap me like this.

No time to reapply the mask. The secret was out. I ripped it off completely and faced him. "Hippo, I didn’t mean to hide it. What happened to me... it’s unbelievable. You wouldn’t have understood."

I’d decided to confess everything—the magic, the other world. He was my brother, after all. Keeping secrets now would only wreck our bond.

But Hippo stood frozen like a stone statue. His jaw hung slack enough to fit three eggs. He stared, unblinking, until finally whispering:

"Bro Wu... you... *transformed*?"