Botros remained where he was and watched Hirase apologize to Quigley. The tone was obviously forced and ingenuine, even the kid's hands were in the shape of fists as if he was going through some labor admitting that he was wrong and apologizing for it. Abraham, though admired the kid's courage to act like he cared, was disapproving. He looked at his colleague letting him know that this apology was just an attempt to get out of detention.

Hirase wasn't the first student to do this. The old man taught for fifty years, he'd seen this behaviour before and his experience told him that the minute they were out of this room, nothing would change. "Tell me, Mr. Hirase, if professor Quigley allows me this..." The deputy started in his gentle voice. "... what did you hope to achieve from disrupting the class?" It was a cry for attention, there was no doubt in this. But Botros wanted to hear the boy's logic in all this. Maybe they could help...