The principal's office smelled faintly of old paper and polished wood.
Kaito stood in the center of the room, hands at his sides, posture straight despite the lingering pain in his body. Aria, Ryo, Mira, and Liona stood with him, Dex seated quietly near the door.
The principal studied them from behind his desk, fingers interlaced. "You're asking for unrestricted access to the academy," he said slowly. "That's not a small request."
"I know," Kaito replied evenly. "That's why I'm asking now."
The principal's gaze shifted to the others. "You found something."
Aria nodded. "Evidence that the attack was staged to look chaotic. Academy equipment was used. Modified."
Silence followed.
The principal leaned back slightly, eyes darkening. "That means someone inside these walls helped them."
"Yes," Kaito said. "Or someone who used to belong here and still knows how we work."
The man exhaled through his nose. "And you want to search every corridor. Every office. Every storage room."
"Everywhere," Kaito said. "No gaps. No blind spots."
The principal tapped the desk once. "You understand what happens if you're wrong."
Kaito met his eyes without hesitation. "And you understand what happens if we're right and don't act."
Dex's ears twitched.
The principal was quiet for a long moment, weighing the room. Finally, he stood and walked to a secure panel on the wall. His hand hovered over it.
"You won't detain anyone," he said. "You won't confront without proof. And you will report everything."
"Agreed," Kaito replied instantly.
The panel chimed.
Lights across the academy flickered once—then settled.
"Access granted," the principal said. "Temporary clearance. All wings. All levels."
Mira's eyes widened slightly. "All of it?"
"All of it," he confirmed. "If someone is hiding, they won't be able to claim privacy."
Kaito bowed his head once. "Thank you."
As they stepped into the hallway, the change was immediate.
Doors that had always been sealed slid open at a touch. Old stairwells unlocked. Restricted corridors hummed to life. The academy felt bigger—less safe—but honest.
"Alright," Ryo said, rolling his shoulders. "We split up."
"Pairs," Aria corrected. "No one goes alone."
Kaito nodded. "Search patterns, not instincts. If they're smart, they're counting on us rushing."
Dex barked once, already moving.
They ran.
Down halls students rarely saw. Through maintenance tunnels threaded beneath classrooms. Across rooftops and observation decks long abandoned. Every locked door that opened felt like peeling back another layer of skin.
Somewhere above them, someone froze as access lights turned green where they shouldn't.
Kaito slowed briefly at a crossroads, chest rising and falling.
"This is it," he said quietly. "If they're here… they'll move."
And as if answering him, a distant door slammed shut.
Not locked.
Fled.
Kaito's eyes sharpened. "There."
The hunt had officially begun.