【010】Speculation

【Takahashi Mika】

This class is twisted.

There’s a male student being bullied in our class. His name is Tamura Misaki. The biggest factor was Satou Akane’s molestation incident.

Regarding the cause, there’s no room for sympathy. Tamura is an enemy of women. That hasn’t changed. But right now, I do feel a bit of sympathy for Tamura.

The class probably doesn’t even recognize the bullying of Tamura as bullying.

It started with male classmates. I think it was guys who liked Akane. One of them tripped Tamura. Tamura was clumsy, so he hit the floor face-first. The nosebleed was memorable.

That wasn’t bullying.

It was punishment.

An atmosphere where it’s okay to punish Tamura pervades naturally.

The place is overflowing with people who don’t question it even once, and it’s sickening.

Today too, I felt nauseous watching several male students diligently stuffing garbage into Tamura’s desk.

“They really keep at it, don’t they…”

I spoke so only my best friend Nana could hear.

Nana was my first friend after entering high school. We got along and became close quickly.

Nana is a picture-perfect beautiful girl. I’m more the athletic type with tomboy tendencies. We’re not a matching pair. But Nana treats me warmly. That makes me happy, and I’m proud to be Nana’s best friend.

Nana didn’t react to my words.

She just seemed to be thinking about something.

“Nana?”

“Hmm? What is it, Mika?”

Nana responded with a smile.

“You know, that Tamura guy…”

“Oh…”

Nana glanced at Tamura for just a moment but quickly returned her gaze.

Nana maintains a policy of non-interference regarding Tamura’s bullying. I’m the same. We’re probably in the minority in this class.

In an atmosphere where you’re swept along and even have to participate in the bullying, Nana was in a special position where she didn’t have to comply.

Since I’m in the best friend position with Nana, I’m also not participating in the bullying.

“Must be tough for him.”

That’s all Nana said.

This was unusual.

Kind-hearted Nana treats everyone equally. Yet regarding Tamura, she seemed excessively passive.

Like she was feigning indifference.

Anyway, when I bring up Tamura, Nana becomes cold.

That’s sometimes just a little scary.

“By the way, Nana, did you hear?”

“Hear what?”

“The rumor that it was actually Tamura who killed Netchy.”

“…? I haven’t heard that.”

Nana tilted her head. Even that gesture looked adorable.

“You know how he was always being called out by Netchy, right? People are saying that might be the motive.”

“Hmm. But it’s just a rumor, right?”

Nana really is such a kind girl.

She responds in a way that’s still somewhat defensive.

“Oh, right. Speaking of which, Nana. What’s going on with that person?”

That person.

Something only I, her best friend, know.

That Nana, called the most beautiful girl in this school, is a maiden in love. I’m dying to know who exactly this guy Nana’s fallen for is, but that’s the one thing she won’t tell me.

Maybe it’s a forbidden love? I thought that for a while, but apparently not.

Nana apparently goes to his house every day. She’s practically a housewife at this point.

“Yesterday, we made hot pot together, and—”

That “he” must be a truly fortunate person. To be liked by such a beautiful girl. Even I, as a woman, am jealous.

But at the same time, I was happy.

Nana, the perfect talented woman, keeps a certain distance from others. It’s because of her looks and abilities. So the guys who approach her all have impure motives.

From what Nana says, this “he” seems like a sincere person. I have no intention of judging just from hearing about him, but I was happy that Nana could enjoy romance.

“He’s really so kind—”

“Do you really like him?”

Nana’s eyes widened at my words.

As if to say, What an obvious thing to ask.

“Yes! I love him!”

Nana was talking happily.

Watching Nana like that, I felt a trace of anxiety.

Nana, there’s one thing I really want to ask you.

But somehow I can’t say it out loud.

That day. The day before Netchy died.

I’d snuck out of club activities to get something I’d forgotten from the classroom.

From the window of Class 1-3, you can see the old school building.

At that time, I saw it.

Nana closing the curtains in a second-floor classroom. And Netchy heading there.

Hey, Nana.

Are you hiding something?

There’s nothing like that, right?

【Inoue Reina】

The investigation meeting for the murder of Tanaka Akio ended.

“Inoue.”

After the investigation meeting ended, someone called out to me. A voice belonging to a man with a huge build and intimidating presence.

“Chief Noyama, what is it?”

Chief Noyama is a forty-six-year-old divorced man. Characterized by his beard and huge build, he’s a leader figure in this station. Highly respected, he’s also a judo black belt holder. In other words, elite.

“Here, a discount coupon for the cafeteria. Use it with Hayama.”

“Really? Thank you!”

“I’ve got a bento today.”

It’s unusual for the chief to bring a bento.

Looking at the lunch box he’s holding, it appears homemade. It’s hard to imagine those huge hands working delicately. I almost laughed at the gap.

“I’ll gratefully accept it!”

“Yeah.”

“Count on us for this case too, great detective.”

“Don’t call me that!”

I parted from Chief Noyama and met up with Sergeant Hayama. We headed to the police station cafeteria and spent lunch time together. Of course, we used the discount coupon.

“Hey, great detective.”

Sergeant Hayama said while eating his katsudon.

“Don’t call me great detective.”

“Come on, it’s a famous story.”

“Even so.”

It’s not unusual for me to be teased as “great detective.” It’s one of the running jokes in the station. I have a habit of theorizing when cases occur. I’ve independently tracked down culprits several times, but when I report it to my superiors, they tell me not to act alone, don’t speak in speculation, women shouldn’t speak up, and they never listen to me.

Sergeant Hayama is the only superior who actually listens to me.

“What do you think about this case?”

“Um, you mean about Tanaka Akio?”

This case was proving difficult.

The weapon hasn’t been found.

We don’t know where he was killed.

One cause is that Tanaka Akio disappeared after school. Other teachers testified that Tanaka Akio had disappeared from the staff room at some point. It shows just how much of an ignored existence Tanaka Akio was even in the staff room.

We have no suspects.

The first to come up were the high school girls he was doing compensated dating with. We’re currently investigating them.

“Do you really think the compensated dating JKs did it?”

“JKs… Somehow when you say it, it sounds criminal.”

“Hey.”

“Just kidding. But if you’re saying that, does that mean you don’t think the high school girls doing compensated dating are the culprits?”

“Yeah.”

Sergeant Hayama lowered his voice.

“This case is definitely premeditated. Otherwise the investigation wouldn’t be this difficult. The methods are thorough. I looked at the files on the high school girls doing compensated dating, but I don’t think they have the brains to pull this off.”

“Meaning?”

“I suspect it’s someone connected to the school.”

I let out an “oh” at Sergeant Hayama’s words.

“What?” Hayama asked.

“I was thinking the same thing.”

“Well, I’m delighted to agree with the great detective.”

“I told you to stop with that.”

I gave a deliberate cough.

“The culprit is definitely terrifyingly smart. But there are also unnatural parts.”

“Unnatural?”

“Stuffing the body in the cleaning supply locker. It’s like destroying all that thorough criminal work. If you want to conceal the crime, there’s no need to deliberately stuff it in the cleaning supply locker.”

“I see. So the goal from the start was to have the body discovered.”

“Beyond this is purely my speculation, but…”

“Hmm? What is it? Say it.”

Sergeant Hayama wouldn’t reject me here.

That makes me happy.

Enough to want to work hard for this person.

“Even if you’re transporting a body, an outsider sneaking into the school would stand out, right? So the outside line is extremely thin. That means someone connected to the school. If it’s a teacher, there’d be no problem wandering around the school. But when transporting a body, you’d need to stuff it into something. Naturally that would stand out.”

A question mark probably appeared above Sergeant Hayama’s head.

“I think one of the most natural ways to transport a body would be using a dolly.”

“A dolly would stand out more.”

“No, there’s a way to make it not stand out. By having help.”

“Huh? Huhhh??”

“You know how teachers often have students carry large items after class or after school? They use dollies then.”

“Huh? Wait, so you mean—”

“Someone easily asked by teachers, or someone it’s okay to ask. Someone excellent, or someone easily pressured… doesn’t that seem suspicious?”

I looked into Sergeant Hayama’s eyes as I spoke.

“I think a student at Akigaoka killed Tanaka Akio.”