Chapter 46. Corporate Investigation
“So good to see you. Thank you for coming,” Aquari said, meaning not a single word of it. She gestured. “This is Rhys, a student of mine. He will serve as your assistant while you’re here, show you around the school and help you and your students get situated.”
Rhys smiled. He stepped forward as well and bowed a little, watching closely to see if Ernesto offered his hand. Number one rule of meeting the corporate bigwigs—let them move first. If Ernesto wanted to shake hands, he’d offer it. Rhys knew better than to offer his hand, lest he end up in the awkward situation of getting cold-bloodedly ignored by the bigwig in front of everyone. It wouldn’t matter, but it was embarrassing for him personally, and as trashy as he was, he still preferred not to embarrass himself in front of everyone if he could avoid it.
Ernesto gave him a slow, narrow-eyed look, then turned to Aquari once more. “Wonderful. I look forward to seeing your school in all its glory.”
Having not offered his hand, Rhys avoided looking like a fool. Internally, he pumped his fist. One point for Rhys, zero points for Ernesto.
“Rhys, go ahead and show the students around. You can start with their accommodations. I’ve prepared a special cabin by the dorms,” Aquari said.
Rhys nodded. And get out of my hair while Ernesto and I talk about important things, she didn’t say, but he got the message loud and clear anyways. He stepped forward and gestured to the students. “If you’ll be so kind, right this way.”
The four students looked him over, and Rhys returned the favor. There were two boys and two girls, the four of them about his age, maybe a year or two older or younger. The oldest-looking of the squad was a tall, slender, bookish boy with straight bangs parted over the center of his forehead and gentle eyes. Next eldest was an energetic-looking girl with a big smile and a teasing attitude about her. A gloomy girl with long bangs who wore a hood to hide her eyes was next, and the first of the four to be shorter than him, then the shortest and youngest-looking of the bunch, a blond boy with his arms crossed who was trying to put on the same overbearing attitude as Ernesto, but came across as a total brat.
On sight of the bratty blond boy, Rhys immediately felt hatred well up in his heart. He pushed it down, but couldn’t help but hate the brat a little bit, deep in his heart. There was something about the boy’s face that wasn’t just punchable, but infinitely kickable. Some deep instinct urged him to drop kick the brat off the side of the mountain and salute as he soared off to the horizon.
As the two teachers walked off to hold their important adult conversation, Rhys nodded at the children. “My name is Rhys, and you are?”
The bookish boy stepped forward. “I’m Walter. This is—”
“I’m Mae!” the energetic girl interrupted.
As if nothing had happened, Walter continued, “—Mae, and beside her is Hono. The brat over there is Victor.”