Five students were rushed to the hospital after exhibiting symptoms similar to Azwa's. As a precautionary measure, the school's lunch session was immediately suspended, along with operations at both the canteen and the dining hall, until the source of the suspected food poisoning could be determined.

The temporary closure gave the District Health team unrestricted access to inspect the kitchen, food storage areas, and meal preparation process without disrupting school operations.

Meanwhile, the PPDKB team remained on standby at the sick bay. With the number of affected students still uncertain, there was every possibility that more cases would emerge.

As the others reviewed the latest updates, Izhan rummaged through her sling bag in search of the banana she had packed that morning.

She frowned.

The buckle had somehow come loose, leaving the flap slightly open.

"My banana..."

She searched every compartment again before letting out a defeated groan.

"Come on. That was my only banana. I need the extra energy for a high-paced mission."

She looked around suspiciously.

"Who even stole it?"

Rozman glanced up from his notebook.

"It wasn't me."

Casdee raised both hands.

"I don't steal interns' bananas."

Even Krishna looked at the others before giving a small shrug.

No one had the slightest idea where it had gone.

Silence filled the sick bay.

Then, a weak voice broke it.

"Our school has monkeys..."

Everyone turned toward Azwa.

She had been watching the exchange from her bed.

"They steal food all the time."

Izhan blinked.

"You mean... my banana?"

Azwa gave a faint nod.

"If your bag was open... they would've taken it."

The room fell silent for a moment.

Rozman stepped closer to the bedside.

"Tell us more."

"They usually come from the forest behind the school," Azwa explained. "Sometimes they're near the back gate... especially around lunchtime."

"Shall we move to the dining hall and the canteen with the PKD team?" Krishna asked.

Casdee and Rozman nodded without hesitation.

Krishna turned to the intern.

"Izhan?"

"I'll stay with her."

The room fell quiet.

Krishna raised an eyebrow.

"In case she remembers something else," Izhan explained. "She's had time to calm down. Sometimes people recall small details after the initial questioning."

Krishna studied her for a moment before giving a slight nod.

"Good thinking."

"We'll call if we need you," Rozman added.

"Understood."

Yuzairi began his inspection at the school canteen, systematically collecting food and environmental samples for laboratory analysis. Wearing a fresh pair of gloves, he examined the food preparation area, storage shelves, drainage system, refrigerators, and cooking equipment for any signs of contamination or poor hygiene.

Meanwhile, Dr Shalan interviewed the canteen operator nearby.

"How often do you clean the canteen?" he asked.

"Every day, Doctor," the canteen operator replied. "We clean before opening, after recess, and again before closing."

Dr Shalan made a note.

"Who was responsible for preparing today's food?"

"The usual kitchen staff. Nothing was different this morning."

As the interview continued, Yuzairi quietly worked through his inspection checklist. So far, nothing immediately suggested a breach of food safety procedures.

While observing the kitchen, Dr Shalan scanned the preparation area for anything out of the ordinary—unauthorised access, improper food handling, or signs that someone other than the kitchen staff had entered the workspace.

His eyes stopped at a rubbish bin beside the sink.

The lid had been knocked aside.

Food wrappers and scraps were scattered across the floor, as though something had rummaged through the bin.

Dr Shalan frowned.

"Does this happen often?" he asked, pointing towards the bin.

The canteen operator followed his gaze before letting out a resigned sigh.

"Almost every week, Doctor."

"Stray cats?"

The operator slowly shook his head.

"Worse."

He glanced toward the open window.

"The monkeys."

Yuzairi looked up briefly before making a note in his inspection log. Dr Shalan thanked the operator, and the District Health team proceeded to the dining hall to continue their investigation.

There, the PPDKB team had already begun interviewing the dining hall operators. Krishna and Principal Jaspar were reviewing the breakfast preparation records with the catering supervisor, while Rozman and Casdee examined the meal distribution process.

As the District Health team entered, Krishna looked up.

"Find anything unusual?"

"Nothing conclusive yet," Yuzairi replied. "The canteen appears to be in good condition."

"But..."

Dr Shalan glanced back toward the canteen.

"They do have monkeys wandering around the compound."

Krishna paused for a moment before giving a small nod.

"Noted."

With the dining hall operator's consent, Yuzairi proceeded to inspect the kitchen.

As he began examining the preparation area, Dr Shalan remained outside with Principal Jaspar.

At almost the same moment, Krishna stepped beside them.

Dr Shalan looked at the principal.

"When did you first notice the monkey problem around the school?"

Almost simultaneously, Krishna asked,

"When did monkeys start becoming an issue here?"

The two men paused.

Then they slowly turned to look at one another.

A brief silence followed.

"...That was oddly synchronised," Casdee remarked, folding her arms.

Rozman let out a chuckle.

"Different departments," he said. "Same investigative instinct."

Dr Shalan smiled.

"I was thinking about environmental contamination."

Krishna nodded.

"And I was thinking about campus operations."

Principal Jaspar looked between them before answering.

"They've been coming onto school grounds for... about two years now."

"Mostly around the back fence and the wooded area."

"They usually steal unattended food."

Krishna's expression remained calm.

"Were there ever any reports about repairing the fence or preventing wildlife from entering?"

Principal Jaspar hesitated.

"...There were."

Back outside, Sakinah quietly walked past the investigation teams and headed towards the sick bay.

In her hands were two neatly wrapped sardine sandwiches.

One was for herself.

The other was for Azwa.

Neither the PPDKB officers nor the District Health team noticed her slip away.

Krishna excused himself from the discussion.

Instead of returning to the front of the dining hall, he wandered towards the rear of the building.

The dense tree line bordering the school immediately caught his attention.

Dr Shalan, who had just finished speaking with the dining hall operator, found himself walking in the same direction.

"...Something bothering you?" he asked.

Krishna smiled faintly.

"Just curious."

Casdee exchanged a glance with Rozman.

"There he goes again."

Rozman chuckled.

"When the boss starts wandering, it usually means he's thinking."

The two hurried after them.

The back of the dining hall opened onto a narrow service path.

Beyond it lay thick vegetation.

Krishna stopped.

"...This reminds me of UKM."

Casdee frowned.

"The monkeys?"

Krishna nodded.

"They used to raid our hostel kitchens if someone left food unattended."

Before anyone could respond—

"Doctor."

Yuzairi's voice came from several metres away.

He was crouching beside a concrete drain.

Everyone approached.

Yuzairi pointed without touching.

Fresh monkey droppings.

Just beside them lay pieces of bread.

Half-chewed.

Weathered.

Dr Shalan frowned.

He looked towards the dining hall.

"...Was bread on today's breakfast menu?"

The dining hall operator shook his head immediately.

"No, Doctor."

"We served fried noodles this morning."

Silence.

Krishna slowly looked from the bread...

...to the forest...

...then towards the school compound.

Something wasn't adding up.

Following the trail beyond the broken gate, Krishna stopped at the edge of the trees.

Just beyond the school boundary stood a small wooden hut, partially concealed by the surrounding vegetation.

A faded sign hung above its entrance.

Snacks. Drinks. Sandwiches.

The stall was close enough for hostel students to reach within minutes, yet secluded enough to escape the attention of anyone inside the school compound.

Krishna narrowed his eyes.

"So that's where the path leads."

He took a step forward.

Before he could cross the boundary, Rozman gently held out an arm.

"Boss."

Krishna stopped.

"We don't have the authority to inspect private premises."

Casdee nodded in agreement.

"And we certainly don't have a warrant."

She turned towards Yuzairi.

"But they do."

Yuzairi looked at the hut, then at the broken gate behind them.

"If food sold there is suspected to be linked to this incident, we have grounds to conduct a food safety inspection."

Dr Shalan gave a slight nod.

"The District Health Office will take it from here."

Krishna stepped aside without protest.

"We'll observe."

As Yuzairi and his inspection team approached the hut, Krishna remained at the broken gate.

Back at the sick bay, Azwa looked at Izhan's sling bag.

"Miss... when did you leave your bag unattended?"

Izhan thought for a moment.

"Probably when I went to the restroom."

Azwa gave a weak nod.

"The monkeys passed by there all day."

Izhan sighed.

"So, my banana really was stolen..."

Before she could say anything else, footsteps approached.

Sakinah entered the sick bay carrying two neatly wrapped sardine sandwiches.

"You must be hungry," she said, smiling at Azwa.

At that moment, Izhan's phone vibrated.

Rozman.

She answered immediately.

"We've found the source," he said.

Izhan glanced absent-mindedly at the sandwiches in Sakinah's hands.

"Really?"

"A food stall beyond the broken gate."

She nodded.

"We're waiting for the District Health team to inspect it."

As Rozman continued speaking, Izhan's eyes remained fixed on the sandwiches.

"...Sakinah."

"Yes, Miss?"

"Where did you get those?"

Sakinah looked down innocently.

"From the aunty outside the back gate."

Silence.

Izhan slowly lowered her phone.

"...Don't let Azwa eat that."

Sakinah froze.

"What?"

"Put the sandwiches down."

Her voice remained calm.

"Now."

Once the District Health team had secured the suspected food samples for laboratory testing, the PPDKB team reconvened with Principal Jaspar in his office.

Krishna briefed him on what they had discovered beyond the broken school gate.

"There is an unauthorised food stall operating just outside the school boundary," he explained. "The broken gate has allowed hostel students to leave the compound unnoticed and purchase food from the vendor."

Before continuing, he glanced at Izhan.

"There's something else you should know."

Principal Jaspar turned towards the intern.

Krishna continued,

"While we were inspecting the school compound, Izhan remained at the sick bay. She noticed another student bringing two sardine sandwiches purchased from the same stall."

Principal Jaspar's eyes widened.

"She stopped the student before the food was eaten," Krishna said. "Had she not done so, we might have been dealing with another victim."

The principal looked at Izhan, momentarily speechless.

"...Thank you."

Izhan rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly.

"I only asked where the sandwiches came from."

"Sometimes," Krishna replied, "the simplest question prevents the biggest consequences."

The room fell silent for a brief moment before Rozman reopened his notebook.

"The damaged gate will need immediate attention."

As the officer responsible for the Planning Sector, he began preparing the necessary infrastructure proposal while documenting the incident in his investigation report.

"We'll recommend urgent repairs and review the school's perimeter security to prevent unauthorised access."

Beside him, Casdee addressed the school's operational responsibilities.

"Students should not be allowed to receive or purchase food from outside the school compound without authorisation," she said firmly. "Today's incident shows why those regulations exist."

She paused before allowing herself a small smile.

"At least there's one piece of good news."

Everyone looked at her.

"The District Health team found no evidence implicating either the canteen or the hostel dining hall."

Principal Jaspar exhaled in relief.

The school's food operators had been cleared.

The real problem had been waiting just beyond the gate.

As both teams made their way back to the parking area, Izhan's stomach let out a loud growl.

She sighed dramatically.

"Now I really need a banana."

Dr Shalan chuckled.

"You know," he said, "we health officers are always on the move."

He gestured towards the District Health Office vehicle.

"Come here for a second."

Izhan blinked.

"...Me?"

Curiosity got the better of her as she followed him.

Yuzairi opened the rear door and reached inside.

From a cooler box, he pulled out an entire comb of bananas.

"Our lifesavers," he said matter-of-factly.

Izhan's eyes widened.

"You actually carry bananas?"

"Easy to eat," Dr Shalan replied.

"And they don't spill coffee all over the car," Yuzairi added with a grin.

"They're much more practical than apples."

Izhan laughed as she took one from the bunch.

"Cool! Thanks!"

The two government teams shared a hearty laugh.

For the first time since the investigation began, the atmosphere felt light again.

After bidding farewell to the District Health team, Izhan climbed into Krishna's blue Subaru alongside the others.

As the vehicle pulled out of SMKA Pewanis, she unlocked her phone.

Without typing a single word, she opened her chat with Pans.

🙂🍌

She pressed Send.

A few seats away, Krishna's phone vibrated quietly.

He glanced at the notification on the screen.

A smiley.

A banana.

He smiled to himself before slipping the phone back into his pocket.

Neither of them realised they had just shared another conversation...
without knowing who the other truly was.