Episode 2 THE PRINCIPAL KNOWS TOO MUCH”

Ren stepped into the principal's office like a prisoner entering court. Principal Moriyama sat behind a mountain of documents, sipping tea like a wise dragon guarding treasure.

“Ah, Ishigawa,” Moriyama said with grandfatherly menace. “Have a seat.”

Ren sat. “Sir, if this is about the vending machine incident last month, I swear I didn’t—”

“It’s not,” Moriyama said calmly.

Ren exhaled. Thank God—

“It’s about the explosion on the rooftop.”

Ren coughed. “THE WHAT?!”

Moriyama stared. “So you don’t know?”

“No! What exploded?!”

“Hmm…” Moriyama tapped his chin. “Interesting.”

Interesting?

Ren was having a heart attack and this man was collecting data.

Moriyama folded his hands. “This morning, before classes, someone accessed the rooftop. A small detonation sound was heard. Smoke was seen.”

Ren blinked. “And… what does that have to do with me?”

Moriyama smiled too peacefully.

“Because the security camera captured two things.”

Ren leaned forward, terrified.

“One: a flash of silver hair.”

Ren froze.

Kira.

It had to be her.

“And two…” Moriyama slid a photo across the table.

Ren stared.

His own jacket.

Hanging on a railing.

Ren gasped. “My jacket—?! How did—?! Sir, I was at home sleeping! I didn’t even come to school early!”

“So you say.” Moriyama narrowed his eyes. “Tell me, Ishigawa… do you know the new transfer student?”

Ren gulped.

“Define ‘know’.”

Moriyama stared harder. “Are you assisting her?”

Ren shook his head so fast his neck cracked. “NO! I don’t even understand her!”

Moriyama leaned back. “She requested to join your class specifically. She transferred without documents. And when asked for her previous school, she wrote: ‘classified.’”

Ren wanted to scream.

Classified? In high school?!

Moriyama placed both palms on the desk.

“I don’t think she’s dangerous… yet. But watch her.”

Ren blinked. “Watch her? Me?! Why me?!”

Moriyama smiled like a man who just gave someone a mission their soul wasn't ready for.

“Because she talks to you. She doesn’t talk to anyone else.”

Ren rubbed his face. “Sir… I’m literally the most average student here. Why would someone like her—”

“Exactly,” Moriyama said. “You are too average. That is why she chose you.”

Ren stared at the principal as if the universe was pranking him.

Finally, Moriyama waved. “You may leave.”

Ren walked out, brain fried.

Kira leaned on the wall. “So? Are we expelled?”

Ren groaned. “No. But apparently I’m supposed to… watch you?”

Kira blinked. “Oh.”

Ren raised a brow. “Do you even know why you were on the rooftop?”

Kira hesitated.

For the first time, she looked uncertain.

“I heard something,” she said quietly. “Something… familiar.”

Ren frowned. “Heard what?”

Kira didn’t answer.

Instead, she began walking away.

Ren called out, “Hey—wait! At least tell me if you’re planning to blow up anything else!”

She stopped.

Looked back.

“If something follows me, you’ll know,” she said.

“Something… follows you?”

Kira put a finger to her lips.

“Shh.”

Ren felt a cold shiver run down his spine.

But before he could ask again, someone burst into the hallway.

A boy.

Tall, energetic, grinning like he ran on caffeine and chaos.

“REN! BRO!” he shouted. “Did you hear?! There’s a girl with silver hair who almost caused an explosion! We HAVE to find her!”

Ren closed his eyes.

That was his best friend — Tanaka Hiro.

Professional bringer of trouble.

Ren pointed at Kira.

“There. Found her. She’s right there.”

Hiro froze.

Kira stared back at him like a cat analyzing whether he was edible.

Hiro whispered:

“…Ren.

Why is the explosion girl standing next to you?”

Ren sighed.

“Because apparently… my life is over.”

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