"You think I'm buying this?" Mr. Slade asked as he leaned back in his chair, rocking it slightly while pressing the pen cap against his lips. Kaito wished he could walk up to him and shove that pen down his throat, but no. The rules were clear. No laying hands on teachers. A stupid rule, but still a rule.
"We meant it," Kaito said, tilting his head to glance at the boys he had dragged into the office. They looked pathetic, eyes lowered, faces heavy with guilt. They even had Kaito fooled for a second. If he hadn't been the one who planned the whole act of fake apology, he might have believed them himself. "The boys are truly sorry. That's why I brought them here. I want this to end in a mature way… without violence."
Mr. Slade studied them quietly for a moment, then shook his head. "I don't buy it. These same boys came to my office an hour ago—before I called you and Renn. I thought they were coming to apologize then. But no. They refused."
