The next morning, Sakura Blossom High felt different.
The same students walked through the same hallways. The same voices filled the classrooms. The same cherry blossom trees stood quietly outside the windows.
But for Ethan...
Something had changed.
Ever since he found Daniel's journal and the mysterious key, the school no longer felt like just a school.
Every locked door seemed suspicious.
Every empty corridor seemed to hide a secret.
And every person seemed to know something he didn't.
Especially Lucas Reed.
Ethan sat near the classroom window, staring at the old brass key placed inside his notebook.
He hadn't slept properly last night.
The sentence from Daniel's journal kept repeating in his mind.
"Don't trust anyone wearing the silver badge."
He looked around the classroom.
Almost every student wore the same silver badge.
But why?
What was so special about it?
"You're thinking too loudly."
Ethan looked up.
Elena was standing beside his desk.
"What?"
She smiled slightly.
"You have this expression when you're trying to solve something."
"I do?"
"Yes."
"When?"
"Always."
For a moment, Ethan didn't know what to say.
He wasn't used to someone noticing small things about him.
Most people never looked closely enough.
But Elena did.
"You didn't sleep, did you?" she asked.
Ethan looked away.
"I'm fine."
Elena sighed.
"You always say that."
"Because I am."
"No, Ethan."
Her voice became softer.
"You're just used to pretending you are."
Those words surprised him.
Because somewhere deep inside...
He knew she was right.
Before Ethan could reply, Noah suddenly appeared between them.
"Good morning, detectives."
Ethan looked at him.
"We're not detectives."
"After finding secret keys and missing students, I think we qualify."
Olivia walked behind him.
"Ignore him."
"I can't. I'm too entertaining."
"That's not the word I would use."
Noah placed a hand over his heart dramatically.
"Your honesty hurts me."
For the first time that morning, Ethan laughed.
A small laugh.
But Elena noticed.
And she smiled.
During lunch break, the four of them met in the library.
Ethan placed the brass key on the table.
"We need to find Room 117."
Noah looked around.
"Still saying that like it isn't the weirdest sentence ever."
"Do you have a better idea?"
"No."
"Then help."
Noah nodded seriously.
"Fine. Operation Room 117 begins."
Olivia rolled her eyes.
"Did you just name the mission?"
"Of course."
"What is the name?"
Noah paused.
"The Secret Door Thing."
Everyone stared at him.
"...I need a better name."
They searched through old school records.
Most files mentioned classrooms, offices, and storage rooms.
But there was no mention of Room 117.
Not even once.
"It's like the room never existed," Olivia said.
Ethan looked at the old building map.
"Maybe it wasn't removed."
"What do you mean?" Elena asked.
"Maybe it was hidden."
Everyone became silent.
Because suddenly...
It made sense.
A room couldn't disappear.
Someone had to make people forget about it.
After hours of searching, Elena found something.
"Wait."
Everyone looked at her.
She pointed at an old blueprint.
"Look here."
Ethan leaned closer.
The map showed the original design of Sakura Blossom High.
There was a small room behind the old East Wing.
Number:
117
But in the current school map...
That area was completely gone.
"They built over it," Ethan whispered.
Noah frowned.
"Why would anyone hide a room inside a school?"
Nobody answered.
Because they all knew the answer.
Whatever was inside...
Someone didn't want it found.
After classes ended, Ethan stayed behind.
He needed answers.
The East Wing was still forbidden.
But today...
He wasn't going alone.
"Ethan."
He turned around.
Elena stood there holding her sketchbook.
"You thought you could go without telling me?"
He looked surprised.
"I didn't want you involved."
She smiled slightly.
"Too late."
"Elena—"
"I found the message too."
Ethan went quiet.
The words written on the back of the photograph appeared in his mind.
"Trust the girl with the sketchbook."
Maybe Daniel knew.
Maybe he knew Elena would find it.
Together, they walked toward the old East Wing.
The hallway was darker than the rest of the school.
Dust covered the floor.
Old paintings hung on the walls, their colors faded with time.
At the end of the corridor...
There was a wall.
Nothing else.
Just a plain wall.
Elena looked confused.
"Where is the door?"
Ethan didn't answer.
He slowly took out the brass key.
As soon as it came close to the wall...
A small click echoed.
Both of them froze.
A hidden line appeared across the wall.
Slowly...
The wall began moving.
Behind it was a narrow wooden door.
Old.
Forgotten.
Waiting.
Ethan stared at it.
"Room 117..."
Elena whispered.
He inserted the key.
The lock turned.
But before he opened the door...
A voice came from behind them.
"You're making a mistake."
They turned around.
Lucas Reed stood at the end of the hallway.
His silver badge reflected the dim light.
Ethan's expression hardened.
"What are you doing here?"
Lucas looked at the hidden door.
"I should ask you the same thing."
"How do you know about this?"
Lucas remained silent.
Then he said:
"Because Daniel Carter wasn't the only person who wanted this room opened."
The hallway became completely quiet.
"Who else wanted it?" Elena asked.
Lucas looked directly at Ethan.
"Your father."
Ethan froze.
"My father?"
Lucas stepped closer.
"The truth about Room 117..."
"...starts with your family."