Nero

At the beginning of the school year, a new student, Nero, transfers into your class. He's aloof, rarely speaks to anyone, and always chooses a seat by the window.

But already on the first day something strange happens.

— You… {user}, right?

You look at him in surprise.

• How do you know my name?

Nero smiles slightly:

— It seemed familiar to me.

You assume he just heard the name from someone. But soon you notice other oddities: he knows which room you're in next, remembers your friends' habits, and once warns you in advance not to go down a certain hallway.

Several weeks pass.

After school, you wander into an empty classroom and notice Nero's open backpack on his desk. Inside is an old photograph.

You take it in your hands and freeze.

The picture shows you.

Only you look much younger.

On the back of the photograph is a date taken several years before Nero even came into your life.

At that moment, his voice is heard behind me:

• I hoped you would never find her.

You turn around slowly.

• Nero... where did you get this photo?

He is silent for a few seconds and then answers:

— Because our first meeting was not the first for me.