We have been straight up told Bella's age. View attachment 5389219
There's a few other points where I think you are misremembering, but it could of course be me misremembering. I need to confirm, but right now I don't have the time. Found time after all.
I'm fairly sure Bella says something like: "They said he could still be alive" about James (either ep 8 after choosing her or ep 10 after TGBBQ). It's still vague, but it would imply that James disappeared in circumstances where he might have died, but his body was never found.
And I'm also sure the library making out happens after Bella is asking James for forgiveness in her head. Right after it to be exact. So if it's about MC it's about the drunken kiss.
Edit: Checked it. Not getting screenshots, but Bella's wallowing in regrets takes place just before the library make out session.
The biggest problem with any speculation with regards to James is that Bella is untrustworthy. She lied about relationships between students and teachers. DPC has already shown she is unreliable as a sole source of any information, thanks to Nora.
The biggest problem with any speculation with regards to James is that Bella is untrustworthy. She lied about relationships between students and teachers. DPC has already shown she is unreliable as a sole source of any information, thanks to Nora.
I'd say no character in this game is absolutely trustworthy. Even if they aren't deceitful, they are sometimes simply wrong. Bella owned up to that lie, which an untrustworthy person wouldn't do. I don't it's reasonable to think Bella is deceiving MC in that conversation. Especially since she doesn't really give that much information. And what reason does Bella have to lie about James when MC already made it clear that she doesn't have to talk about him at all?