Monika's Secret

8:45 P.M.

That same night...

Monika Kagenou arrived at Principal Takeda's house.

The principal had been waiting for her.

After all...

Whenever something became difficult...

She was usually the person he relied on.

Monika entered the living room and quietly sat on the sofa opposite of him.

Principal Takeda immediately offered her a cup of tea.

She accepted it with both her hands.

Then...

She calmly added two cubes of sugar.

She took a small sip, then asked politely.

"...So?"

"Did the police find anything useful, sir?"

Principal Takeda sighed, clearly showing how worried he is.

"...No."

"Not even a clue about who the culprit is."

He leaned back, making his own theory.

"It seems whoever did this was extremely professional."

"Someone with years of experience, perhaps."

Monika suddenly coughed.

Then...

She covered her mouth.

A faint laugh escaped with the cough.

Principal Takeda looked concerned.

"...Are you alright, Monika?"

Monika composed herself immediately.

"Yes, sir."

"I'm fine."

"I just started coughing because of the cold wind on my way here.”

"It's nothing to worry about."

The principal relaxed, still has no idea she's laughing at his poor judgement.

"Okay, if you say so."

For a moment...

Neither spoke.

Then Takeda's eyes wandered toward his framed photograph hanging on the wall.

"To be honest..."

"You're more capable than I am."

"I still believe you'd be more suited to become the principal."

Monika placed her cup carefully on the table.

"Thank you for your kind words, sir."

"But..."

"I still need some time to think about it."

A look of relief appeared on Takeda's face.

"You're free to take all the time you need.”

He stood up and looked around the room with confusion.

"...I still don't know what I should do right now."

Monika took another sip of tea.

Then...

She spoke calmly.

"I think it would be better for the students to have an early winter holiday."

Takeda looked at her, got curious about her idea.

"An early winter holiday?"

Monika nodded and continued.

"According to the reports..."

"This winter isn't expected to be as cold as previous years."

"So the students can come to school at that time."

"More importantly..."

"They'll probably forget about the current incident after end of their holidays."

Takeda stared at her, then smiled.

"...Amazing."

"Your research ability is brilliant as well."

"And that's not even mentioning your teaching."

"You're capable of teaching almost any subject."

Monika smiled politely.

"You're giving me too much credit, sir."

Takeda returned to his seat, approving her idea.

"...Very well."

"I acknowledge your decision."

"If anything else comes up..."

"Feel free to call me, okay?"

Monika finished her tea, stood up.

"Of course, sir."

Then gave him a polite smile before leaving.

"Good night, sir."

"Good night, Monika."

She left the house.

The moment she stepped outside...

Her expression changed, not dramatically.

Just enough, like the polite smile disappeared.

Her eyes became calm, focused.

She began walking through the quiet streets.

But she wasn't heading home.

Instead...

She made her way toward a certain expensive restaurant.

Takada Restaurant.

Monika made sure that no one who knew her personally noticed her on the way there.

Eventually...

She entered through the front door.

Nobody reacted.

Neither anyone greeted her.

Nor anyone bowed.

No one even asked who she was.

That was exactly how she wanted it.

She had instructed the staff beforehand.

Just pretend I'm another customer.

Monika walked straight toward the elevator.

Then descended.

Far below the restaurant...

A place existed that ordinary customers weren't allowed to enter.

The ground floor was accessible only to Monika.

She entered a private changing room.

The door closed behind her.

A few minutes passed.

Then...

It opened again, someone came out.

The woman who stepped out looked different.

Her makeup was gone.

The small details that had made her appear older had disappeared.

The twenty-five-year-old teacher everyone knew...

Was no more.

The person standing before the mirror was her true self.

Monika Kagenou.

Eighteen years old.

She looked at herself in the mirror.

"Hmm, much better.”

Then turned away.

Behind the changing room...

Was something no ordinary customer could have imagined.

A secret tunnel.

Monika walked through it without hesitation.

At the end of the tunnel...

A private underground station waited for her.

A small luxury train stood there.

Its name was written elegantly across its side.

Kagenou Hime.

Monika stepped inside, the doors closed.

The moment the door closed...

Kagenou Hime began moving.

Quickly.

Very quickly.

The underground tunnel stretched far beyond the city.

As the train sped through the darkness...

Monika sat comfortably by the window.

A familiar melody played softly through the speakers.

She closed her eyes, feeling her favourite melody.

For the first time that day...

She looked completely relaxed.

The journey should have taken hours.

But for Monika...

Even though her destination was approximately 250 kilometers away, the journey took her less than fifty minutes.

And that destination was...

The Imperial Capital.

The very place where Rurouni, Kara, and Katon dreamed of living someday.

When Monika finally arrived home...

She stepped out of the private train.

The enormous residence before her looked nothing like the modest homes surrounding the academy.

Everything about it spoke of wealth.

Power and influence.

Monika walked toward her room through the broad stairs.

Her room was on the first floor.

But before she could reach it...

A familiar voice stopped her.

"Monika."

She stopped and turned around.

Her father stood nearby, looking at her.

"...Yes, Father?"

He reminded her something without saying.

"Don't forget."

"You promised."

Monika already knew what he meant.

Her expression became slightly uncomfortable.

"...I remember."

"Tomorrow."

Monika sighed quietly, then nodded politely.

"...I know."

She continued toward her room.

The truth was...

She didn't want to do what they want from her right now.

Not even close.

But her parents had already begun expecting from her.

And unfortunately...

She couldn't simply ignore them.

Monika stopped walking, entered her room.

Closed the door, picked up her phone.

A few taps, then a final tap.

The message was sent to the academy.

Early winter break will begin tomorrow.

That matter was handled.

Monika placed the phone down, closed her tired eyed.

The room became quiet, comfortable to sleep.

Then he opened her eyes a little, looked toward the clock.

10:15 P.M.

She should have been preparing for sleep.

Instead...

She picked up her phone again.

Opened her contacts.

Then scrolled.

Past teachers.

Past acquaintances.

Past people she rarely spoke to.

Then stopped searching.

One name.

A new student.

Someone she had only known for a short time.

The one who had already managed to do something most people couldn't.

The only one out of all the contacts who had caught her attention.

Monika stared at the name for several seconds.

Then...

She typed.

Monika:

I'd like to talk to you for a bit tomorrow morning.

Her finger hovered above the send button.

There was the faintest trace of uncertainty in her eyes.

Then she pressed it.

Sent.

This wasn't a message to one of her subordinates.

Neither was a message to a teacher.

Nor a message to a friend.

It was a message to...

Katon Ashford.