Rating: K

I think it's a nice idea. Although it didn't come out the way I wanted it to be... _

So if someone wants to adopt this idea, feel free to do so.

"I'll make a last round," M-21 said into the earpiece. A voice answered in approval and reminded him to return the communication system before leaving. He took another glance at his watch, which the watchstrap was seemingly a size too large for his wrist. But M-21 liked it like this, or else, it would feel too close to shackles.
Only a few more minutes. A warm meal would be waiting for him at home, and the children would most likely still be there even though the sky already turned into a darker shade of blue and would be all black in a few more minutes. Somehow, it felt nice to know that something or someone was waiting.

M-21 shook of those thoughts and focused on the dark hallway in front of him, refraining from switching on the other lamps. For his enhanced body, the emergency lights were enough. He had passed a few classrooms ,and now, he was heading down the corridor towards the science area. The school had the best possible equipment, of course, in the chemistry and biology rooms.
He stopped in his tracks. Wasn't there a sound? Yes, as if somebody whispered. Slowly and highly alerted, M-21 stepped forward. Normally, he should have called for backup, but he was confident that he could handle any situation coming from those intruders. Soundlessly, he crept further down the corridor.

The quiet whisper seemed to come from the biology preparation room, and as he neared, he could see a bit of light occasionally shine through the gap between door and floor. A flashlight and one person. No, several people. But what the heck did they want to steal in a room stuffed full of preparations, skeletons and other things that reminded him too much of his life in the Union laboratories? If he wanted to break into this school, he would go for the computer science room. Or if information was the desired thing, he would choose the office of the head master.
So M-21 concluded that the burglars were either inexperienced or were students that wanted to prepare a trick for their next biology lesson.

As gentle as possible he opened the door a crack to get a rough overview of the situation before taking action. But he halted again, as he took in the scene in front of him.
In a rough circle sat a bunch of children on the floor or on one of the three chairs. He knew some of the children. The lights were off, only Shinwoo held a flashlight in his hands illuminating his face from below. So that had been the light M-21 saw shining through under the door, and Shinwoo was the one M-21 had heard talking in a hushed voice. What was he telling? A ghost story? Ignoring the contents of the tale, M-21 swept his view over the other children.

Seira and Rai, each occupying a chair, acknowledged his appearance with a short glance before focusing again on Shinwoo and his story, but they were the only ones that noticed him as far as M-21 could tell. Even Regis was too focused on the story to notice the opening of the door that triggered the other young nobles to turn around. Between Regis and Suyi sat another girl that M-21 knew was in their class, too. The two girls sat so close their shoulders and tights were touching; their faces pleasantly scared.
Yuna was on Suyi's other side, but M-21 couldn't see her face because the angle wasn't right. Additionally, she was hiding it against Suyi's left shoulder. M-21 guessed that it was out of fear considering the way she clutched Suyi's hand. If you were scared by ghost stories, then why did you listen to them?
Between the three girls and Shinwoo sat two other boys. At least one of them was clearly scared. That much M-21 could tell from his body posture. He guessed that the boy would also like to hide his face on the shoulder of his friend, if his self-respect would let him.

He should disband this meeting immediately and send the students home, but somehow M-21 refrained from it for the moment. The scene was too innocent for him to do that even though they offended the school rules. These children had to tell ghost stories to feel fear; they weren't scared because of anything in their life. That was how life should be, shouldn't it?
Without being noticed, M-21 listened from the doorway to the story Shinwoo told. He wasn't creeped out of the story at all because it was too unbelievable, but he enjoyed the reactions of the children. Regis' face was especially interesting. The young Noble was paying close attention, gaping and listening with big eyes. The moment he noticed that he was gaping, he tried his best to make a calm face… until he was once again drawn into the story. This would be a good opportunity to anger the boy later in the evening. M-21 smiled to himself. A year ago, all he had was his life, a quest for 100 names, and M-24. Now he had so many things he held dear and wanted to do, to enjoy and to keep. He had become quite greedy, hadn't he?

As Shinwoo finally concluded his story, there was a short silence. This was a good chance to make himself noticed, thought the enhanced human.
He switched the lights of the biology preparation room on.
"Finished your story-telling?" M-21 wanted to add the question why it had to be held in the biology preparation room, but he never got the chance for that. Except of the Nobles, Shinwoo and one of the other two boys, the children squealed or shrieked while turning around. The way so many children looked at him saucer-eyed almost made him laugh.
"Ajussi!"
"Wah, you scared the living daylights out of us!"
"Why are you here?"
"I almost thought the ghost of Shinwoo's story had come for me."
Relieved giggles and laughter was all that was heard from the children. Even so, the ones that did not Frankenstein's house seemed a bit reluctant.

"I should call your parents. Do you know how late it is?" M-21 shook his head with the slightest sign of a smile around his lips. He didn't really intend to call the parents; it was more of a hint to tell them that they did something they shouldn't do. Even so, the idea of calling the Noble clan leader to tell him that his grandson misbehaved had something interesting to it.
He said something wrong. M-21 knew it the instance the children stared at him large eyed. Were they frightened? Was it such an upsetting thing to call the parents? Now that he thought about it, that seemed to be one of the worst threats a teacher could make, so it should be the same for a security guard.

Yuna and the girl next to Suyi looked like they wanted to cry. That was definitely not the thing he wanted to achieve as he spoke up a moment ago. How to fix this? He wracked his brain for an elegant conclusion, and he did the first thing that came into his mind. M-21 made an effort out of looking at his wrist watch and then sighing as if he realized something just now.
"But on the other hand my shift ended two minutes ago. I would hate to stay for overtime just because I'd have to call some parents."
There was a short instance of silence before Shinwoo chuckled.
"You're right, Ajussi. We wouldn't have that."The floppy remark broke the spell the other students seemed to be under, and the children clearly relaxed. Seeing them being at ease and flashing him a smile told M-21 that he made the right choice. Perhaps it would be a bit difficult to explain to his colleagues why he let some children leave without further reprimands, but that would be his problem.

"I'll let you go this time." Here, M-21 had to stop midsentence because the children erupted into relieved sighs and thanked him. But as soon as he rose his hand to indicate that he had something further to say, the children instantly quieted down while looking at him anxiously and curiously.
"There is one condition, though." The looks got more anxious. Two or three kids looked kind of hurt like they thought he had tricked them. Nonetheless, this wasn't something M-21 would discuss about.
"I insist that the boys escort the girls home. Right up to the threshold. It's already dark outside, and if I hear that even one of the girls had to walk home alone, we'll have a problem with each other."
That clearly wasn't what the children expected. They seemed a bit surprised, especially the one's not frequently invading Frankenstein's house.
"Leave it to me. I know where everybody lives so I'll divide us boys up to play escort," Ikhan pitched in. He seemed eager, and M-21 knew that he could trust that boy to do as he said. He was like Tao. Always chirpy, but reliable if needed. M-21 couldn't help but smile a bit at the sedulous way Ikhan took things into his hands.
"And now take your things and leave the school grounds before I change my mind." Even though his words were straight forward, his tone was almost kind. A rushed struggle for their own belonging started as the children eagerly reached for bags and jackets.
M-21 waited patiently, leaning with crossed arms on the doorframe. He would leave the room last. He watched the kids packed their stuff and then went out of the room.

"I didn't think that he would let us go."
"That's because you don't know him."
"Yeah, we see him often at the headmaster's house. Sometimes he even plays with us."
"He may not look like it, but he is actually very kind."
A smile tucked at his lips as M-21 listened to those words. He made sure that the room was all right and that the children didn't forget anything before he followed after them. Halfway to the nearest entrance, M-21 turned another way than the children. He had faith in them to do the right thing and leave without lingering.

It only took him a few minutes to hand the earpiece over to his colleagues and to leave the school grounds. To his surprise, he wouldn't be alone on his way home.
"Hey, Ajussi! We thought you would like some company on your way home." Shinwoo grinned brightly at him. The whole bunch of children was still there. The ones not usually staying over at Frankenstein's house seemed a bit reluctant, but they were still there nonetheless.
"At least until the big crosswalk, we all have the same path."
"And we wanted to thank you again for letting us go."
"It's all right. Just don't do it again," answered M-21 waving aside the thanks of the children. He didn't really do it for them but because he would feel bad if he make those children cry. He wanted to protect them, not hurt them. "And I got to see Regis intently listening to your story. I should have taken a photo to send it to his grandfather."
"I only listened because it would be rude if I didn't."
"You starred bright-eyed at Shinwoo and gasped."
"I did not!"
M-21 smirked, and somehow he was glad that the way home would take awhile.