CHAPTER 104: SHE IS NOT TO BE TRUSTED!

"I refuse to believe there is nothing in Evan’s room," Kaito insisted. He had been there himself and seen the safe hidden in the wall. The boy could not have done it alone unless someone had helped him. Could it be Principal Valois? But Renn kept saying she was incapable of lying.

"I was there with Kaito, Miss and Mister," Renn said, standing up from his seat. "I saw the hidden cameras in Evan’s room. There were photos of Angel inside the safe in the wall. We don’t know why he kept them, and now the both of you are saying it’s our imagination."

"It’s crazy we are still debating this," Taros said from where he sat, looking frustrated. "The boy, whatever his name is, is a threat not just to Angel but to every student. Only the goddess knows who he is working for."

"I’m beginning to suspect the staff of this Academy," Renn added, and Mr. Slade gave him a sharp, angry look. "What now, Mr. Slade? Am I lying?"

Principal Valois sat quietly as they argued. Her mind was a mess, tangled with everything that had happened so far. She didn’t know what to believe anymore. "I don’t think any of my staff has anything to do with this boy Evan. There’s no safe in the wall, Kaito. If you don’t believe me, let’s go to the dormitory and check."

"Fine then," Kaito said, pushing himself up from the chair. He walked to the door and noticed the principal still sitting there, looking surprised. Maybe she thought he would let the matter go, but this was just the beginning. If things didn’t go well, he would have no choice but to call for a general meeting using his father’s authority.

"Why are you still sitting?" Renn said, walking past her. "Let’s get going, teachers."

Principal Valois sighed as she watched them leave the room. These boys were going to drive her into an early grave. Hopefully, they would graduate someday and let her have peace. She would be more than happy to send them off in a grand style.

She rose from her chair and picked up her car keys from the table. "Let’s go, Mr. Slade. We’ll see what the boys are talking about."

"Why can’t you just stop them? Especially that boy Renn. He’s been disrespectful, and Kaito is no better," Mr. Slade complained as they headed down the stairs.

"You better watch how you talk about them when you’re around me. Do you understand?" Principal Valois said, her voice sharp with anger. She didn’t wait for his reply and walked off ahead of him.

Outside the Academy block, the boys began walking down the path that led to the dormitories, talking among themselves.

"What do you think is happening?" Taros asked. He had not been there the night it all went down and needed more clarification on the matter.

"I don’t know, but something serious is going on," Renn said, shaking his head. "If we overlook it, I’m afraid we will be losing a lot."

"Why do you trust Principal Valois so much?" Kaito asked suddenly. It had been on his mind for a while. "You two seem close and yet distant."

"That’s true, Renn. I know we don’t talk much about our personal lives together, but if you think this is important for us to know, then don’t hesitate, please," Taros pleaded. His voice, as usual, was calm and gentle, almost tempting.

"Nothing like that. I might have been close to her, but that was in the past and I’m not doing that anymore. It’s over," Renn told them. He was being sincere, if only they would stop doubting him.

"Wow," Kaito stopped walking and turned to him, a smile curling on his lips. "Look at you and Miss Valois. I can’t believe you two were together. Shame on you, Renn. We all wanted her but you..."

"I’m shocked as well," Taros said, smiling at his brother and giving him a gentle slap on the arm. "Boy, you are dangerous."

"Stop saying all this. I have a girlfriend, and I don’t want her to hear this," Renn tried to stop them from teasing him. "Don’t say it out. She’s always hanging around..."

A black Benz interrupted their conversation. It stopped very close to them. The window of the car wound down and Miss Valois said, "You guys should come in. We will go together to the dormitory."

"No, thank you. We will be fine," Renn answered on behalf of everyone. The others had no choice but to agree with him.

"Fine then," Principal Valois forced a smile and drove away.

"What really happened between you two?" Kaito asked as they continued strolling down. He had not insisted on going with Principal Valois because of Renn. Whatever happened between them must have been serious enough to sour their relationship.

"She is not who she seems to be," Renn said, bitterness in his tone.

"Come on, bro. You told us that we could trust her," Taros reminded him.

"I did not say trust her. I only know one thing about her, and I will defend it anywhere or anytime," Renn began to correct him. "The woman doesn’t lie. She is an honest person, but that doesn’t change the fact that she would hurt you and still tell you to your face that she did it, without any remorse."

"Then we can’t take her off our suspect list," Kaito said. They reached the front of the Central House. He sighed and walked inside with his brothers. The students seemed surprised to see them. Without stopping, they went straight to Evan’s door. Principal Valois and Mr. Slade were waiting there.

"Let’s add Mr. Slade to our list. I fucking hate that guy," Taros whispered. Kaito and Renn both chuckled.

"What’s funny?" Principal Valois asked when they reached where she stood.

"Nothing, Principal Valois," Kaito answered, walking into the room. The first thing he checked for was the CCTV camera, but there was nothing. His heart skipped. He rushed to the bathroom and checked the wall. It was completely sealed and freshly painted, like nothing had ever happened. Was this a dream? What the hell happened overnight?