【028】Crack

【Nakano Nanaka】

I wanted to be more affectionate, but we couldn’t keep staying outside.

“Misa-kun, can we meet up again tomorrow?”

“Yeah, of course.”

Misa-kun said with a smile.

After a final light kiss, we parted.

The sensation of his touch still remained on my lips.

I unconsciously touched my lips with my finger.

Even kisses had become natural.

Is this what it means to be in love…?

I don’t really understand, but my heart is pounding.

Just before returning to my room, I hid myself. I spotted two people about to leave their room.

Mika and Satou Akane…?

…Ah, I see.

So that’s how it is.

Just as I thought, Mika. You’d figured it out.

Then I need to make my move too.

If you hadn’t known anything.

We could have stayed good friends.

【Satou Akane】

“Satou-san, do you have a moment?”

I was surprised.

I never expected Takahashi-san to come to me.

I don’t think she came for small talk. Takahashi-san and I aren’t that close to begin with.

This can’t be a coincidence.

Could she have noticed that Misaki and I are secretly investigating?

Is Takahashi-san the culprit, trying to kill me?

…I don’t know.

But something is going to change.

That much I know.

Then I have no choice but to go.

“Yeah, okay.”

I nodded. Takahashi-san started walking. I followed. She walked as if conscious of gazes. Constantly looking around. Acting suspiciously.

It stirs up my anxiety. Takahashi-san entered a room at the far end of the second floor. It’s an empty room.

I involuntarily stopped.

Takahashi-san noticed and beckoned.

“Hurry. I don’t want anyone to see us.”

“…?”

Wait, that’s strange.

I understand wanting to avoid people. But that doesn’t sound like something a culprit would say.

I timidly entered.

The room’s structure wasn’t much different from the one I’m using. A bunk bed was placed in the corner, with a desk and chair facing it. No TV.

Takahashi-san turned to face me.

“Satou-san, you and Tamura are doing something secretive, right?”

“…What do you mean?”

“No. You don’t have to hide it. I saw it by chance. You’re also investigating the groping incident and Net-chi’s case, right?”

Wrong. I realized instantly.

Takahashi-san isn’t the culprit.

Then it’s Nishida Kouhei. Or that group is the culprit.

“I’m also investigating the case. Working with a detective.”

“—!!”

Working with a detective.

What does that mean?

“I know who the culprit is. …Well, it’s not completely confirmed as the culprit yet, but I have a pretty good idea who it is.”

“Is it… Nishida Kouhei?”

“Nishida? No, it’s not him.”

Not Nishida?

Then who exactly—no. Could it be.

Perhaps reading my expression, Takahashi-san nodded.

“The culprit is Nana… Nakano Nanaka.”

◇

I heard that truth.

The false groping accusation. The underground school website posts. The murder of Tanaka Akio. And the disappearance of a woman named Inoue who was pursuing the case.

There’s a possibility that Nakano-san is involved in all of them.

Nakano-san is admired by girls. Popular with boys. The school’s greatest beauty. A perfect person with good conduct and excellent grades. She should be the furthest thing from wrongdoing.

But Takahashi-san didn’t seem to be lying. Maybe I just can’t detect lies, but it didn’t feel that way.

“…Wait, hold on.”

I remembered something.

“I heard from Misaki. Misaki is dating Nakano-san.”

When I heard that, I was surprised.

At the same time, part of me was shocked. I apparently had some feelings for Misaki.

But I was relieved he wasn’t alone. And I was even more relieved it was Nakano-san.

I was surprised by his partner, but more than that, I wanted to congratulate him.

If that’s true, then Takahashi-san’s story contradicts.

“They’re dating, so why would she make Misaki look like the villain…”

“That’s… I don’t know. Right now, Hayama-san… the detective, is investigating.”

“What do you want me to do by telling me this, Takahashi-san?”

“You want to prove Tamura’s innocence, right? Even if our purposes differ, what we’re aiming for is the same. I want you to cooperate with me.”

“Cooperate…”

An unexpected proposal.

Is it really right, though?

I can’t fully trust it.

“Sorry. I just can’t trust you.”

Takahashi-san nodded at my words.

“That makes sense. …Then, what would make you trust me?”

“…I don’t know. I don’t know, but. You don’t seem to be lying either. So I’ll cooperate.”

“…Yeah, that’s fine.”

I need to discern.

Takahashi-san’s story, and Takahashi-san herself.

“Takahashi-san, I think we should talk with Nakano-san once.”

“…That’s…”

Suddenly, I heard a scream.

“—!?”

Takahashi-san and I interrupted our conversation and rushed out of the room.

A crowd had formed at a room in the middle of the second floor.

“You all, get back to your rooms!!”

Homeroom teacher Kumai-sensei was shouting, but there’s no way our classmates would listen to that. We also looked into the room.

“—”

I held my breath.

Someone was dead, leaning against the bed as a backrest. Drenched in a pool of blood, with a knife gripped in their hand.

What is this…?

Wait, they’re dead—

“Taniyama-kun…?”

It was the class’s popular guy, Taniyama-kun.

In the crowd, I happened to see it.

A shiver ran through me.

Nakano Nanaka-san was looking at me and smiling.

Just smiling.

“Hey, isn’t it Takahashi who killed him…?”

And then all the eyes in the crowd turned toward Takahashi-san.