【025】Investigation

【Tamura Misaki】

“The winter break study camp will be held as usual. Everyone should prepare accordingly.”

The classroom grew noisy after hearing the homeroom teacher’s words.

The study camp is one of Akigaoka Academy’s annual events. Students hold camps by class at a lodge owned by the school.

But even though that’s the official purpose, in reality, it’s more like an event to deepen class friendships.

Having had a bitter experience last year, I don’t have high expectations for this event.

I plan to just quietly study.

Recently, the physical bullying has completely stopped, and now it’s just days of being ignored. Compared to the treatment before, this is actually better.

And when I go home, Nanaka-san is there.

I don’t really feel it yet, but Nanaka-san and I are definitely dating.

When afternoon classes end, I leave the classroom once, go down the stairs, skip past the shoe lockers, then climb the stairs again.

That’s how I return to the now-empty classroom.

There’s already no one in the classroom.

I look inside my desk.

There’s a small piece of paper that wasn’t there before.

“Art room preparation room”

Written in small, round handwriting.

I head to the preparation room.

Come to think of it, the preparation room next to the art room has been an unused empty room for a long time.

I arrive and knock on the door.

“What’s the password?”

“Um… ha-hi-fu-he-ho, add the marks and it becomes ba-bi-bu-be-bo?”

“…Okay.”

I opened the door.

Satou-san was already there.

“Hey, Satou-san.”

Satou-san was fiddling with a computer she’d brought from somewhere. Come to think of it, she’s always been good with machines.

“Do we really need to be this careful? Like with passwords?”

“Yes, we do.”

Satou-san stated firmly.

“For example. The real culprit we’re looking for might have killed Net-chi. If they find out we’re secretly investigating, they might come to kill us too.”

“That’s…”

I couldn’t deny it.

“What I’ve figured out over the past few days is that someone is trying to make Misaki the villain.”

Satou-san pulled out a notepad from her bag.

It was a cute one with pink heart patterns.

“The underground school website bulletin board, the 3:24 PM post. At that time, we found out there were several other Akigaoka students on the train besides us.”

“So that person might be… the culprit?”

“Those students are Nishida Kouhei, Takahashi Mika, Nakano Nanaka—”

My heart jumped when Nanaka-san’s name came up.

“I think either Nishida-kun or Takahashi-san is suspicious.”

“…I don’t want to suspect people, but I think so too.”

“But if Nishida-kun is the culprit, we can’t rule out the possibility he’s being forced to do it.”

“Huh? Really?”

“Yeah. Nishida-kun is often with the popular group in class, but he’s like the underling there. How should I put it… he’s just fixated on being in the top group. Um, like a fox borrowing, um…”

“Like a fox borrowing the tiger’s authority?”

“Yeah, that.”

Satou-san looked troubled.

“So the mastermind could be someone else with Nishida-kun as the executor… If that’s the case, everyone in that top group becomes suspicious.”

That group that’s always together has five people.

The popular guy who gets along with everyone, Taniyama-kun.

Taniyama-kun’s girlfriend with the noticeable blonde hair, Mebuki-san.

The class mood-maker, Nakatou-kun.

The most athletic in class, Kobayashi-san.

And Nishida-kun.

“Then a lot of people suddenly become suspicious…”

“Maybe we can casually ask during the class camp?”

“Huh, is that safe…?”

I said to Satou-san.

The thought that Satou-san might end up in the same situation as me floated through my mind.

“I’ll try asking Nishida first. He’s loose-lipped, so he’ll probably slip up quickly.”

Satou-san smiled confidently.

“Are you going to be okay at the camp, Misaki?”

“I’m… well, I’m used to being ignored.”

“I see…”

“Besides, I want to tell you something, Satou-san.”

“Mm?”

Satou-san is taking risks for my sake.

I should respond to that sincerity.

I told Satou-san.

“I’m dating Nanaka-san.”

【Takahashi Mika】

“Sorry, I was late finishing cleaning…!”

After finishing afternoon cleaning, I immediately rushed out of school. I got into a car parked a little ways away and said that first thing.

Hayama-san, sitting in the driver’s seat, shook his head.

“No, don’t worry about it. You should act normally at school. If they find out you’ve caught on, they really might kill you.”

“…Yes.”

“I’m going to start the car, so buckle up.”

“Got it.”

The car started moving.

“Let’s organize what we know bit by bit.”

Hayama-san said that.

“From what we discussed yesterday, the day before Tanaka Akio was killed, you saw Tanaka Akio and Nakano Nanaka heading to the old school building. That’s definite, right?”

“…Yes.”

“And then the groping incident posts, spreading rumors. If all these are connected, Nakano Nanaka becomes like the mastermind…”

I wanted to cover my ears at Hayama-san’s words.

But I decided not to do that.

I have to face it.

“Hayama-san. Why aren’t you trying to arrest Nana right away?”

“That’s the problem.”

Hayama-san’s expression looked tired.

“—There’s no evidence. Absolutely none. Not even a shred. It’s all just speculation. That would just be empty talk. Without solid physical evidence or a confession…”

“…Hayama-san, don’t you think it’s strange?”

“Mm?”

“No evidence. Such an elaborate method. Sure, Nana is excellent at school, but there’s no way she could do something like in a drama or manga all by herself. I think someone must be helping her—”

“…I’ve considered that possibility too.”

The car stopped. We were in an underground parking garage.

Here we could have our strategy meeting without being seen.

“But then the worst-case scenario comes to mind.”

“Worst-case scenario?”

“No, that’s our business. Don’t worry about it.”

Hayama-san deflected.

Hayama-san isn’t telling me all the information.

“I’ll try digging into information about Nakano Nanaka. Takahashi-san, I need you to monitor Nakano Nanaka. Contact me if there’s even the slightest change.”

“Yes.”

“By the way, the camp is in a week, right?”

“Oh, yes. It’s at a lodge in the mountains a bit far away.”

“That’s pretty rare these days.”

“Well, I’ve heard rumors that our school had some scandal before and is desperate to raise academic standards.”

“…A scandal.”

Hayama-san seemed to catch on something from my words.

“What is it?”

“No, do you remember that scandal, Takahashi-san?”

“Huh? No, it was a long time ago, so I don’t remember… Does it have some connection?”

“…No, I’m just a bit curious. Be careful at the camp.”

“—Understood.”