《Who is Biannca? - The Thirteen Middle School Reunion Member》


 Prologue - The Sleeping Princess

    In a chilly evening, countless of small white snow was falling from the clear dark sky, decorated by a big full moon and a lot of sparkling stars. Weak brisk wind flowed, making it dance with less predictable rhythm. The street lamps, whichhadbeen designed along the either side of the bridge to cross above the lonely toll road, were casting some kind of warm and peaceful light, but still could do nothing to reduce even the slightest of current freezing temperature nor atmosphere. The road was so quiet, not even a car had passed for quite some time. It was almost like an abandoned city. Kind of strange really to think of just how busy this city was on the daytime. Maybe it was simply because the time was already really-really late.


    On the right-side walk to the bridge, a figure emerged from the shadow of the big trees that couldn¡¯t be reached by neither the artificial nor natural light. A young woman, barely advanced by holding on support to the trunks before switching onto the bridge¡¯s grip, was still continuing her heavy stride.


    How beautiful and romantic it was, the picture of the environment and atmosphere that was being presented right now. But the young woman didn¡¯t seem to have the mood to appreciate it. She wasn¡¯t in her best physical condition. At least judging from the way she was strolling around, with that uneven gait while almost out of breath already, and bandages on her forehead and left ankle. Who knows? There might be more hidden inside her clothes.


    Maybe a normal people would think, she should just rest in her house or get some check-up in a nearby clinic. But in the very fact, she was from the hospital. Wearing a distinguishable white patient attire, covered by a thick and warm looking deep blue jacket from her shoulder down even though it shouldn¡¯t be the current freeze that was tormenting her the most. Clearly, she was in a hurry for something that was really the most important for her.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    ¡°I must get ¡­,¡± murmured the silky black-haired femaleunfinished to herself while breathing forcefully and still persisting herself to cross the long bridge.


    ¡°¡­ to the mansion. ¡­.¡±


    Being too weak to speak anymore. Even though she knew nobody would have ever heard. She continued inside. Maybe just for her own self-satisfactory.


    That thing must ¡­ still be there. ¡­ It wouldn¡¯t be burned. ¡­ They must have saved it. ¡­ I am sure of it. ¡­ They must have ¡­ already expected that ¡­ for me ¡­ to reveal ¡­ the whole truth ¡­.


    After a few more struggling steps with both hands grasping quiveringly on the icy metal grip, she suddenly stopped in the middle of the bridge. Her head hurt. She held it immediately with her left hand. An unbearable expression was shown on her doll-like face as she knelt down unwillingly in pain.


    I can¡¯t stop here. ¡­ now must ¡­.


    Even against her critical condition, she still tried to stand up and move forward again with an even thicker steamy gasp. But just after three weak steps, she could muster no strength anymore to keep her body continuing her selfish objective. Furthermore, she couldn¡¯t even manage to stand any longer. She collapsed onto the bridge¡¯s biting snow covered ground just like the other snowflakes. An exclusive beautiful sound of chimes could be heard from her also white hair accessories.


    ¡°¡­ before that ¡­ Biannca ¡­.¡±


    This disobedient young womanreally had forced herself too hard for coming out in such a bad condition and freezing weather. The snow was still descending gently from the cloudless evening sky, and the street lamps were still illuminating the bridge in a unique parallel fashion way. Dreamy atmosphere layered by the slow motion of falling snow, had made the unconscious ladylooked just like a sleeping princess in some fairy stories. Waiting for someone, a young prince who would awaken her.


    Of course, that someone would somehow appear. But could she last long enough for this someone? Slowly but surely, the snow continued to bury her bit by bit, frozen on the location that could be called as an out in the open one. Anybody could have discovered her without any effort on the busy daytime. But now, it really was just too quiet and cold.

 Chapter 01 - An Invitation to the Middle School Reunion

    ¡°An invitation!?¡±


    I wasslightly taken abackwhen I was performing my daily email checking ritual inside my dark bedroom in the morning of 6 a.m. I am not such an early person to be honest. Only deliberately wokeup early today as there wasa strange but extremely rare online-game event to join in.


    Is this just a spam or something?An unusual sender had interested me with the subject of ¡®Middle School Reunion Invitation¡¯. Ignoring the other useless accidentally subscribed promotions which I wasalso too lazy to unsubscribe. I swiftly clickedon it, and read it enthusiastically. It was from my one of my ex-classmates from middle school. He said:


    Dear Yoru-kun,


    Long time no see! How are you? Hope you are still fine and remember me.


    I miss you all, really miss the time we spent together in middle school. Most of us really haven¡¯t gotten the chance to meet the others ever since the graduation.Some of us, who arestill in contact suggested to hold a reunion.How do you think about that? A very great idea, right?


    Luckily, I happen to havea suitable or may even be a little too extravagant place for the party.My father had agreed to lend us his mansion deep in the forest and by the shore. It is called The 13 Patrons¡¯Mansion, and has a really nice view and natural environment. There will even be no one besides us around there. But a little downside though. The signal forcommunication there may be as bad as has been cut off from the outside world. But still,aperfect place for a private reunion, don¡¯t you think?


    I really do hope that all of our classmates or should I call ex-classmates from our class (9-2) couldparticipate together. I realize that maybe not all of us who willbe able to attend, while our most favoriteteachers hadalso regrettablydeclined. But westill want as many members as possible to be able to meet, toshare whathasbeen going on from each of us after all these years, and most importantlyrestoring our long friendship. The time isn¡¯t fixed yet, considering most of us must be in tight schedule because of the study or work.


    All of us who have confirmed to go to the reunion purposed to start as soon as possible, 12 December 2013, for 4 days 3 nights. Sorry if it is way too sudden. Any suggestion will be considered. And if you feel like joining in or have any other ideas. Please reply to me as soon as possible. Thanks a lot!


    Sincerely,


    Araki Ryouta (Ex-Class Leader)


    I was nothing but dumbfounded for a moment.


    Yes, you areright, Ryouta. It really isway too sudden. Moreover,the reunion isas soon astomorrow?After ourmiddle school graduation, I absolutely had no contactwith anyone from the rest of them before this. It wasn¡¯t as though I wasdeliberately avoiding them either.


    How long had it been already? By decreasing with my current age, it seemed like a story fromover 6years ago. I wasreally glad that they still remember me, and of course I missed a lot of my friends too.Especially those little brats who used to be in our little gang, and had always been playing together more than anyone else. Ah yes, they shouldn¡¯t be thoselittle brats anymore. They should have become a lot matured since then. Most importantly, I really hoped our close friendship was still unchangedeven the slightest.


    Sorry I forgot to introduce myself. Thename isTenki Yoru. I ama 21-year-old malefor today. Have a decent pair of parents, and a rather clumsy and sometimes kind of annoying 4-year younger little devil sister. Nothing more really needed to be specifically introduced about me. I amjust a plain black-haired late bloomerwho arestill not really ready for the adult society and somehow a little forgetful, until I had even forgotten about most of my childhood recollections. When my parents told me, it was as though not my own history. Not sure if it is normal though. Might alsoan easygoing person who dislikes to argue about anything, and have gottena little too creative imaginary mind at some certain moments.


    I am definitely not a stand out kind of person. Maybe it is a good thing. But I have still yet to learn the ultimate ability for the benefit of the society, invisibility. Also, my most stand out hobby isto think about something too much until Iactually realized that it is just a waste of very much time because I usually overthink that.


    For me personally, those years of my middle school weremy best momentof life. I hadlearned so much, made so many friends and happy experiences with them.I really yearned for those years to be repeated again and again.


    Unconsciously, I rose and gave a pair of excited punches into the midair anda silent shout of joy, just like a little kid who hadjust been granted his most longed wishes.


    Yet still I felta little doubtful. My life had been pretty normal these years especially since I entered evening college. In the daytime, just some normal activities for the normal me. Browsing internet, doing light exercise, reading books or playing games from morning till afternoon mostly inside my room which wasonthe second floor. Just occasionally, cleaning the house and garden or running some errands for my parents. After dinner, I attendto college till the classes areover. Mostly returnedstraight back home to sleep and prepare for the next day¡¯s daily clich¨¦s. Nothing to be proud of, earnestly. Most disappointingly, I still don¡¯t have a girlfriend, Huh.


    I walked toward my wall calendar which hung next to my wardrobe. Today wasWednesday and so many scribblesabout my boring routine. I couldskip over one day or two or even half a week by extra workouts to compensate after I finished slacking off. Nothing really specifically needed to be finished on the days of the reunion. I wasfree after all. About the college, that wassimple enough, since I should beone of the most diligent student who never skipped a class from the start of the current semester. I wasvery much certain that I could get some absences for those days.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Okay.Let¡¯s do it!


    My mind was made up almost immediately. I didn¡¯t care about being unable to online for just a few days. I will begoing to themiddle school reunion though I doubted many other ex-classmates will be able to show up. Since I happened to know there aren¡¯t just a few of them who study or work overseas. Maybe some vacancies will be inevitable. But if everyone thought like that, nobody will go, right? I still hoped as many of us could participate in the reunion party. The merrier, the better.


    Accidentally, I glanced outside through the window because I felt a bit of uneasiness, like someone was glaringat me. Maybe I was thinking too much as always. There was onlyone person onthe small road in front of my house, standing still next to an electric pole, showered the shining street lamp and was facing to the ground in front of me silently. It was normal, the time was still too early for most people after all.


    The man wore a high hat of gentleman whichhad concealed his face from my higher point of view,and a full set of long sleeve dark brown coat down to his knee with black shirt, long trousers, scarf, gloves and boots that basically covered up his entire body. An unexplainable freeze suddenly run through my spine. When I tried to observe him, he started to walk away conscientiously. I noticed from his left side facethat he was also putting on a unique mask which revealed only his keeneye and a bit of dark orangehair, I suppose. He should only be mostlyaround the same age with me.


    Orange hair? don¡¯t tell me, he is ¡­.No, that cold-eyed man shouldn¡¯t be him. Though we only met occasionally,he isone of the kindest man I ever know. At least that waswhat I heard from them. And I had never seenhim againsincehe graduated from our middle school one year earlier than us.


    The easiest way to think through about it was, if that man really was him, then why didn¡¯t he say ¡®hi¡¯ to me?But still, I felt kind of bad for judging that man even before knowing anything about him. Hopefully that sharp expression wasn¡¯t caused by anything hard in the past and everything would be better off for him.I didn¡¯t put much attention tohim anymore. He mustbe only a common pedestrian in cold.


    After that, I just went to do, or rather play that original purpose for waking up early today while waiting for my parents to wake up.


    At last, I got thedivine concession with a little cheatingwhen my strict parentswere in a good mood. I also promised my childish little sister a very huge and expensive yellow duckling doll as the bribery for not bothering me to go together anymore. I had finally passed my last stagetoward my long longed gathering.


    Were whom I really want to gather with ¡­ them? An unknown image flashed by, maybe two, maybe three. Not again ¡­!


    I hurried up to my bedroom and sat in front of my computeragaintotype a reply email to the kind proposer. Basically to tell that I wasreally looking forward to participate in the reunion and it would also be the best for me if the schedulestill remained the same. After the message was sent, I just resumed my daily easygoing activities. But this time, with some sort of indescribableeagerness feeling.


    I had even offered myself to be for the service on errand to go to the nearby mini-market. Since some food materials in the fridge were going to be run out in the next few days when I goto the reunion. I went to the outside of the house and walked on the shortcut route like I usually do.


    When I was going to turn left on one of the block, I almost stepped on some scattering broken glass pieces in the middle of the road. It was a blind spot for me before turning in. Who the hell had thrown these dangerous things though this is only a quietplacewhere no one passed by but me at the moment? At least, I wasn¡¯t woundedat all. And I even helped the society to clean up this mess voluntarily.


    When I was shopping, I almost bumped into another misfortune. An unpaid chewing gum had slipped into my pocket. Seemed that I had unconsciously dropped it when I was buying sweets. Butstill I considered it as a good in my bad luck because I realized that first before went to the cashier. Maybe it was a fate? I decided to buy it all along.


    On my way back, while I was chewingon that gum of destiny lamentably because of its strange flavor, I was almost hit by a motorcycle, barely evaded a sharp invisible string in the middle of the road and the luck of falling fruits, and even got chased by mad dogs and many others. It was like a series of breathtaking andadventurous incidents on my journey to the mini-market and back to my home sweet home. But I was still safe and sound. I didn¡¯tblame anything at all. Those were just some sort of accidents accumulated for the next few days¡¯ happy reunion. Just forget about it. And no more bad luck happened after that.


    I blamed that gum. I would never buy that in the future.


    At10 p.m., I rechecked my email again after I returned back from my evening college. Out of the other junks, there were two new ones which I had been waiting excitedly for.Both were from the reunion arranger, and were sent after the last time I checked just before I went to the college at 7.15 p.m. The first mail at around8p.m. described:


    Thanks for the reply, Yoru-kun,


    We are really-reallyoverjoyedthat youarealso able to attend to the reunion. And we also decided to continue holding the party as scheduled since all attendants including youhas no objection. But for your information, thereareonly 11 persons including me whohavefixedto go. Is it still okay for you?We will be meeting at the fountain park in the south district of the city, and go by private bus at 7 a.m. tomorrow. All right?


    Don¡¯t forget to bring your private things. There won¡¯t be any shops nearby.


    The second mail was at 9.30 p.m.


    The others are stillwaiting for your answer.What is your decision, Yoru-kun?


    As I had expected, there wouldn¡¯t be many who couldattend to the reunion.But at least it was better than nothing.And I was still very eager to go. Ryouta hadn¡¯t mention who the other 10 participantsare. Hopefully, those had included my little gang members.


    I replied to the reunion managerto inform that the participant tomorrow would be increased by one. Might as well the last one.A quick reply of ¡®ok¡¯ was received beforeI went to pack my travelling bag passionately along with the creepy smile that I couldn¡¯t even recognize.


    I already made an assumption that today wouldn¡¯t end up as the doomsday by marking the end of the day up front. I didn¡¯t want to care about such tiny thing on a huge day like tomorrow.


    After that,Iforced myself to sleep earlier than usual, by imagining a formula tocalculate the amount of biting on the chewing gum needed before it lost its peculiar taste, to be able to wake up early tomorrow.

 Chapter 02 - The First Meet after 6 Years

    The long awaited and excited morning hadfinally arrived. I woke up before the birdsas planned whileI still couldn¡¯t believe it myself. It really was two days in a row. Miracle doeshappen sometimes when we wished for it earnestly. I readied myself up with just some casual outfits.ButI rechecked and repacked even more clothes and other miscellaneous things as it couldfit into my travelling bag which I should have already prepared last night. I wasvery nervous. Couldn¡¯t imaginereally. Yesterday, I was still lazing around this time.


    After everything really-really-really was set, I locked my bedroom and went down to the first floor carrying my overloaded gears as silently as possible. Seemed likethe others were still in the sleep. I already told them last night. But as adevoted family member, I still left them a note on the dining table with a brief ¡®I had gone to my middle school reunion. Don¡¯t worry about me. ¡®kay? Have a nice week too!¡¯ before I went to the outside of the house.


    Looking up into the stunningimmature sky before closing my eyes to enjoy the most of a deep breath from its still fresh moistair while stretching my arms out as long as possible, really was the most beyond words feeling ever. The weather and atmosphere wereso good that made todaylooked really like hadbeen specially setjustfor me. I wasfilled with gratitude.


    I went to the rendezvous point by taxiand stoppedat the left side walk of the fountain park. There wasstill 30 minutes to go before the bus¡¯s arrival time. ButI hadfoundthree should be fellow participants who were even earlier than me. I instantly recognized the two youngsters who were standing together and nearer to me. To be honest, I didn¡¯t know why I almost let out some tears. Howembarrassing. Luckily I managed to hold up before anyone saw it.


    A good-looking young man with dark brown hair in cool style was the first one to be aware of my holy presence. FujiokaKazuki, my best partner in middle school period, was one ofthe gang member who I mostly missed for. He waswearing a typical teal T-shirt with jean coatand trousers, and only carrying a small baggage, I supposed. He immediately gave an awe expression and called out for me, almost like shouting, while waving vigorously.


    ¡°Yo, Yoru, come on. Quickly, quickly!¡±


    And the others were alerted ofme as well. His overreacting over anythingwas the nature of him since we first acquainted. But we really hadn¡¯t met for 6 years even though we were like real brothers back then. So now, even I would be as sentimental as him.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± I shouted back at him as I ran impatiently to regroup with them.


    He didn¡¯t change at all and shouldered me passionately. But I was still in an awkward mode.


    The one who stood beside Kazuki was a modern young woman withmiddle length of orange hair and a right bun, called SasakiKaede. Even though, she was kind of not this charming back then with long hair, I could still recognize her by that same pair of spiritedeyes. She waswearing a pink modish shirt with black hot pants to make her appeal stood out even more.She wasalso one of those few who was willing to become a best friend with me. I mean, that kind of friend who could casually talk to each other like Kazuki. Asone of our accomplices, she welcomed me.


    ¡°Hi, Yoru-kun. Gain some height, I see?¡± Said Kaede while comparing with her hand seriously.


    ¡°Ye ¡­ Yeah,¡± I answered real short again.


    Please wait. What am I doing right now? Why am Istill so nervous? This is very strange. They were all my buddies back thenwho could joke around to each other almost shamelessly. But now, even a formal talk got my tongue almost twisted.


    The boy who usually got his hair cut by the teachers for trying his current style, punched me lightly on the chest by using his right fist and pointed over to the other side of the park with his other hand. He grinned indecently.


    ¡°Hey, remember that cutie over there?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    I slowly tracedhis left hand¡¯s pointing direction and landed my sight onthe back of a sole young woman. That was a rather smallfigure even for a femaleof our age. As she wasbacking against us, I could only seeher white long dress with blazerand an¡®x¡¯ shaped accessories that tied onher nape-height for the shining black hair that flowed from her also white hat, slightly waved down to her small waist.It was reflecting the early sunlight and the sparkling of fresh water, which had made it felt so fascinating.She was modestly clasping her hands forward in a lower position and standing harmoniouslyin front of the spraying circle fountain¡¯s sitting area. It seemed like she was keeping an eye for the other¡¯s bags that sat on the place that was supposed to be her seat. It was impossible for such a delicate young ladyto bring so many things alone, right?


    ¡°Isn¡¯t she ¡­ Elena?¡±


    AlthoughI hadn¡¯t seen her face, but I instantlyrecognized the young targetthat Kazuki was referring.He was shocked for a while formy complete wisdom.


    ¡°What a pity, eh,¡± Kazuki sighed.


    He continued after closing his face with his hands lamentably, shaking his head.


    ¡°If only I can predict the future. I ¡­ I couldn¡¯t believe that at first. Just curse my ignorance. A womancould change so much in her growing up stage. Puberty has done right! Such tomato hasslipped from my radar.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I couldn¡¯t believe it either,¡± I was referring to my friend¡¯s advanced radar detection failure. It seemed that Kazuki was thinking that I must have had the same thought as his. But there was no point to hurt him more.


    ¡°Then what are you waiting for now?¡± I joked and gave a laugh.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that your one and only talented skill, I suppose?¡± Kaede jumped in so suddenly to tease Kazuki further. But it was supposed to be for male¡¯s conversation only.We were stoned like being caught on talking dirty stuffs, but we were actually very innocent.


    Kazukilaughed bitterly.


    ¡°Now it isn¡¯t as easy as back then.¡±


    I wondered what he meant by that. Maybe Elena had behaved coldly toward Kazuki when he greeted her before I arrived?


    ¡°No innocent womenwill fall to your devilish hand as long as I am here,¡± joked Kaede while making a defensive stance between them.The three of us laughed together. They really were like a couple. At least that was what I had always been teasing them back then.


    Of course, the young womanwho we were talking about was aware of my addition into their group. There was no way for anyone wouldn¡¯t after that roaring call-out from our cool as hell Kazuki earlier. Actually, my gang has four members. And the fourth, guess who? All of them hadbeen presented already, right here, right now. Seiriya Elena, I really wanted to meet her. But I didn¡¯t know why she was behaving like nothing happened at all, treating us like some strangers. We had been pretty close before, especially since our 9-2class. I didn¡¯t know how much her appearance had changed, but I still didn¡¯t believe if her personality really had changed that much.


    As the fate had arranged me to bump into the three persons who I mostly eager to meet first at the rendezvous area. She turned to me just as I wished to see her new differences. A doll-like white face under a white hat, and a white head band with ribbon on top of her matching wavy hair, but straightly cut front and side bangs, were gracefully facing to me. A pair of big pure black eyes had struck into my heart for a second when she looked directly at me. Her thin lip was ¡­ faintly smiling? Was I thinking too much? She wasn¡¯t as cold as I had imagined.


    I was the only one who could see her right now as Kazuki and Kaede were backing against her. The world felt like just the two of us who were in colors. She has such an enigmatic aura and seemed to be able to read the other¡¯s mind like a psychic. Maybe, it was this feeling that made me could recognize her even without seeing her face for 6 years.


    After a few moments of that fanciful world of mine, I was woken up by the horn of a luxurious car which stopped at the far right-side of the park. A rich and hot looking young ladycould be seen from the back seat after her driver had opened the door up for her. She was wearing an expensive and too flashy yellow formal dress with branded handbag for a reunion. Her name is Takagami Megumi, the richest ex-classmate, or her parents to be precise. I was surprised. She should be the second most difficult one to be invited to the reunion considering her status and personality.


    ¡°What a hot day.¡±


    The rich daughterwas complaining as soon as she came out of the car¡¯s comfy shelter. Covering her eyes with her left hand though already wearing an upper class strawhat, and dragging her baggagefashionably with the other one, she came toward us. She straight passed Elena without any kind of greeting, but immediately smiled to me when she met my eyes. Kazuki and Kaede turned to face her.


    ¡°Hai, Yoru-kun, you know? I amjust coming to this reunion because of you,¡± said Megumi with an uncomfortable intimate tone.


    ¡°O ¡­ Owh? Th ¡­ Thanks,¡± I was still not very close with her.


    This golden-blonde woman with an even more gorgeous long hair than her past, wascertainly like to tease me since the middle school times. If I wasn¡¯t remembering it wrong, the second mail already said that all members had agreed to come, with or without my participation.Or just let me check it again ¡­. And why did I have to analyze that so seriously? It wasn¡¯t as though I had never known her before.


    The good-humoredladywas still smiling playfully at me before I diverted my eyes.


    Coming from in front of Elena across the road, were the two people with dignified yet eccentric gesture walking toward her. They are Kaigo and Ringo from Sh¨­h¨­ family. Could I just say that I was lucky? Since it was an extremely rare chance for a person to have the experience of ever being in the same class with a pair of twins. Seemed that they had already arrived before me and just returned from buying something. Kaigo was drinking blue soda while Ringo was drinking red soda and bringing a bottle of iced coffee. They carried nothing else, meant that they were the owner of those bags which the poor female was watching for.


    From far ahead, Ringo shouted and followed by Kaigo.


    ¡°Catch ¡­.¡±


    ¡°¡­ this.¡±


    Hey, hey, hey, hey, from across the road? That was somehow inappropriate and you could be caught by many kinds ofauthorities for such dangerous attempt.


    Kaigo received and hit the drink from Ringo¡¯s set like a volley ball elegantly to their watcher. She barely caught it. But it slipped through from both of her small hands, falling, but then she quickly caught it again before it hit the ground. That really killed her steady stance before. She gave a rather unsatisfied expression to them.


    Kaigo and Ringo, no matter what they wore, they still looked as classy as usual. Though they were wearing analmost identical long sleeve, long trousers pajamas like suit. Making Kaigo looked a bit feminine and Ringo a bit masculine. And in different colors that matched their hair and eyes.Kaigo in the blue, Ringo in the red. The splits on their hairstyle also needed to be emphasized. Kaigo on the left, Ringo on the right.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Just like some poems.


    The twins were guffawing as they crossed the carless road as though a busy one, and returned to Elena. They patted her head when she was sipping the drink and saying something that maybe in the region of thanks to them. In fact, the twins weren¡¯t patting her head. Kaigo was just rubbing his hand out of the pain for hitting the bottle before. And why was Ringo rubbing her hands on Elena¡¯s head too?


    Our eyes met. They quickly fixed the shorter woman¡¯s hair.


    ¡°We meet again, someone, our main character,¡± Kaigo greeted us warmly yet kindly grinned at me for a second.


    ¡°We recognize you, somebody, our main character,¡± Ringo greeted us hospitably yet kindly grinned at me for a second.


    They brought up their own jumbo-sized belonging and ushered Elena to join us as well. She seemed to be slightly reluctant at first. But she still carried her half-body-sized travelling bag and regrouped with us behind the twins.


    ¡°Drinking all by yourself, huh?¡± joked Kazuki to them.


    ¡°We arrived first, too early it seems,¡± explained by the female twin.


    ¡°We forgot to breakfast, too careless it seems,¡± added by the male twin.


    ¡°All of us really seems to be impatient,¡± smiled Kaede.


    Maybe she was trying to act like the third member of the twins. Too cold of a joke, as always, it seems.


    We formed a bigger community now from seven people. No more strayed one. The feeling of the reunion was taking into place already. We talked to each other while waiting for the bus. But I noticed, Megumi wasn¡¯t really fancy to talk with Elena. I wondered if I was too sensitive. I braved myself to greet the last lost member of my middle school gang when the others seemed to be on their own conversations.


    ¡°How are you these years, Elena?¡±


    I tried to ask as normal as possible. But she was still startled too much when I called her name. Her black eyes twinkled as she was looking left and right. Is she worrying about something? After hesitating for some moments and wandering about something that I didn¡¯t understand. She finally spoke in a very low voice without really looking into my eyes like previously and slightly red faced.


    ¡°Fi ¡­ fine, re ¡­ really looking forward to this kind of re ¡­ regrouping ever since a long time ago.¡±


    She seemed a little embarrassed. And the speech looked like had been carefully arranged for an exam but still failed to be fluent for the right time.


    ¡°Yes, me too,¡± I replied normally with a smile, tried not to make her even more awkward. I restrained myself from laughing too evidently. My bad. I was like that too at first.


    A scream of shock was heard. Kaede? What happened?


    Now let us welcome the celestial Lolita in green frilly costumeof cuteness. The little girl was so full of surprise to hug her sister from behind like that and wailing her name in a voice decibel not losing to Kazuki¡¯s for me earlier. There were 2 undeniable differences though. The first was a heartbreaking cryfrom a cute voice by an innocent girl wasn¡¯t something that we could get to hear in everyday life. And the second was if it was Kazuki or me who acted spoiled like that, no matter how cute we are,we may not be able to reunite again in another 80 years or so in another dimension.


    The Lolita is named Enrin Chika. She had an orange flower shaped accessories clipped for the independent thin stroke of hair on the left of her black and wavy short one. Minus that one,just like her name, one thousand of flowers,implying she really had those 999 worth of flowers of lovable characters forever. She was completely adorable. Nothing changed as there really was nothing to be change. Perfect.


    But as I suddenly reimagined that clause number one from Kazuki¡¯s example, I felt the need of washing my brain with some holy water.


    ¡°Kae-neeee!!!¡±


    The big sistershe called quickly turned and hugged her hard in tears. Kazuki and I were left in blank staring at them, enviously. Not sure if our point of view was the same though.


    ¡°Chika-chaaan. Long time no see. I am so happy to see you coming too! Where have you been all these years? Ah, you have become even cuter than ever. So jealous.¡±


    ¡°He-he-he, I am very happy to see you too, Kae-nee.¡±


    The girl who looked like not in the same generation as the rest of us really was missing her Kae-nee for years. Maybe this was also the first time they met each other after the graduation just like me. After that little emotional reunion between the foster sisters, Chika greeted us all in one go. Obviously, Chika was very close withKaedethatshe even called her as an oneechan. Kaede was also very fond of her too. Maybe because of Kaede¡¯s nature to protect the others especially the delicate and cute one.


    Me too. But nobody knows. Maybe my perverted brotherknows.


    The twins looked like going to kidnapour symbol of innocence soon. No, that was the lastthing I wouldever want to see. I was actually going to stop them, but Kaede had quickly stood spread-armed in front of her little sister first before I could deploy my superhero cape. I skipped a beat because the Lolitahad so suddenlysmiled innocently to me for some unknown reason beforelaughing at the poor act of the twins. But she stopped when she met Elena¡¯s eyes. She indecisivelylooked away and became a little discouraged.


    Elena replied with a bit forced of smile. Megumi also looked at the little girl,but with a discontented look and smirk.


    Seriously, what waswrong with Elena actually? She seemed so awry.


    ¡°Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, look at those ¡­ four, man. There are four, man,¡± Kazuki was suddenly hysterical in silence at me. I almost jumped out of his unnoticeable creepiness.


    I replied in silence too.


    ¡°What? Four women you mean?¡±


    I was only judging based on my previous basic knowledge of understanding about my bro¡¯s adult thinking. Did he count the number wrong? His math shouldn¡¯t be that bad though it usually was. I tried to look into his eyes to find out more about his meaning and the result was quite astonishing.


    ¡°Wait, are you excluding Kaede-chan?¡±


    ¡°Not girls anymore. They are ladies, ha-ha,¡± he didn¡¯t seem to be listening at all.


    ¡°Really-really can expect no less from you.¡±


    ¡°Just pick one, all right? From my ultimate mind reading technique about the ladies and of course also about the normal being but still a little pervert like you ¡­,¡± he stopped and gave a very serious looking. Oh, please, not again. As though not convincing enough, he said with an exaggerated gesture and pointing to one of those four ladies or whatever. He decided my future as though a holy prophet.


    I gave a straight face.


    ¡°You want to be with Chika-chan thus I can only be with Elena, right? My friendo?¡±


    Yes, and I am so deep in love with you as well ¡­ if you could only stop that.


    But as his buddy before, I understand just about anything he was thinking and continued to give a straight face to show that there really was nothing wrong about me when the others were looking at the ruckus he made.


    ¡°Yeah, yeah, how much should I thank you for that heavenly secret of future you just leaked to me?¡±


    ¡°Not much, he-he-he.¡±


    Kazuki grinned contentedly with his right hand making a peace sign, or two sign, or two million? Too much! Just when I wanted to ask about it, Kaigo remarked while looking at his wristwatch.


    ¡°The bus islate.¡±


    ¡°Twenty-fiveminutes late,¡± continued Ringo while checking at their exact same one.


    I didn¡¯t really realize that because I was in so much fun chatting with my old friends. But they were right. They were indeed always right, and left.


    That is odd. Where is the rest?


    ¡°Speak of the devil,¡± uttered Megumi.


    We saw a silver bus approachingand stopped at its station in front of the park.All of us brought up our own belongings and moved toward the ride enthusiastically. The bus¡¯s door opened with a hiss. A thin looking, black-haired young man in courteous wearingand glasses appeared from the entrance and greeted us politely.He was the one who had sent the invitation and the leader of this reunion party, Araki Ryouta. He had grown to be so tall.


    ¡°Hello, it is so nice to have all of you here. Sorry for the late coming. Unexpected thing happened and delayed us. Now, please come in.¡±


    After all of us who had been waiting on the park greeted the newest fellowwarmly, we were now getting into the vehicle after having our baggage placed on its bottom storage area. The bus was designed for its passengers with two seats on each side multiplied by ten or more rows with extra seat on the most behind that was as broad as the ride. Besides Ryouta, there were three more reunion participants inside. Two young menwere looking busy with their phones andsitting together with their big belongings taking up all space on the most behind seat. And a single prestigiousyoung lady with chignon hairstyle who sat alone in the third most front seat of the right side by the window. She was reading a book on her lapexpressionlessly.


    Let me introduce them since it seems like they aren¡¯t the type to do that themselves. The big and strong looking one with polished brightyellow mohawk is called Yamao Ken. He was hearing some loud music through his earphone, and wore an armless shirt that revealed a weird tattoo on his brawny upper left arm. And the black-haired one who was sitting next to him and reading something in a serious countenance is Nakano Takuma. Looking more decent maybe. At least he had shown a bit more well-mannered and wore eyeglasses with presentable attire that made him seemed like an educated one.


    The last and might also be the last person who I could have ever imagined forbeing inthis reunion, was the contrasted white ladyin dark one-piece of laced shoulder-less long-arm dresses. She has the most unusual but natural purple shaded hair and eyes which make her felt so special and mysterious among the others, while also an elegant smell of certain flower never left her. She was currently longing down a perfectly balanced front and two very straight side bangs that was still matching her overall coldness, instead of her old slightly curved style. Fionna Lilacein, if I am not wrong, not sure if there is an¡®s¡¯ or not at the end. She was born from a foreign family of Europe, was what I heard back then.


    A rather weird eyeglasses girl at that time, butnow ¡®only¡¯ leftlayered byheavy contouring makeup, smokey eyes with mascaras and deep dark lipstick. She only transferred into our class duringthe last grade near the final exam. I never saw her much. Maybe she spent most of her time in library to read every book in thereandalmost never talked to me nor the others. As far as I know, she was always alone and didn¡¯t like to make friends. At first, I thought it might just because she was still not very fluent in our language. But in fact, she knows far too much than any of us when we were taking native language class. No need to further explain about what happened in foreign language schedule. We were no more thaninfants for her.


    She glanced at me for a second with that exact same appearance as back then, minus her classic round eyeglasses.But then quickly threw that gaze away and continuing her reading. She is always likethat, so unpredictable cool. But I thinkthat was only on her outside poker face. Her aura seemeda bit different already. If not, why would she even come to this reunion, right?


    Still, my heart was kind of hurt when you do that, you know?


    We placed our other smaller bags on the top shelf of our seat that we chose as we liked, and made our formation as there were so many empty seats inside. I quickly secured the seat on the middle of the left side and by the window while Kazuki was still unaware. Though he still chose to sit beside me because we are just that inseparable, he had been nagging over it for quite some time already. Elena and Kaede then chose to sit in front ofus. The four of us really were looking to be closer to our long lost precious relationships, or at least that was what I thought.


    Everything was set and ready, Kaigo and Ringo was shouting out of the excitement followed by the others like a bunch of children ready to go to a long awaited yearly school trip. Even I couldn¡¯t restrain my feeling to cheeralong with them.


    But sincerely, in the name of allthat isholy, could you please keep it down to a little more human like, couldn¡¯t you? Huh? Kaigo and Ringo? Mini sized moving zoo?


    Ryouta smiled to us like a real tour guide, looking extremely relieved and contented to see that we were so spirited and enthusiastic. After finished with the headcount,he instructed the driver to start escorting us to the real and already arranged but still unknown reunion location, The 13 Patrons¡¯ Mansion.

 Chapter 03 - On the way to the Mansion

    The hardest part that I worried about before I came was over. I just didn¡¯t know how to behave myself when meeting them for the first time after all those 6 years of solitude. Sure, I got nervous at first, but now all of us, or at least most of us hadmet, greeted and were chit-chatting so friendly together that made me really felt at ease and nostalgic at the same time. Everything up until now had turned up to be so successful. We were also on our way to the real destination of our reunion by bus. We hadtalked so much, and here were the summaries of my own.


    The first that I had to talk about is inevitably the one who sat beside me. He was currently showing his outstanding flirting skill to Elena since she had looked a lot more sociable to us after chatting so much about those sweet but also embarrassing recollections that happened in the past. Kazuki is one of my best friends that I encountered in my middle school period. On the outside, he may look like a young and charming Casanova because of his great interaction skills with humorous and relaxed behavior. But on top of those facts, I know him better than anyone else here. Even he likes to joke around with every beautiful girl and often teases me like a romance moron, he isn¡¯t a bad person at all. Truths to be told, he is very royal to his friend, and maybe also to his girlfriend too? Always tries his best to help when I am in trouble. But it was more often from my side though.


    The next one is Kaede who sat in front of Kazuki. She is an overactive and determined woman. Likes to study though wasn¡¯t too remarkable at it, likes all kind of sports but also fond of cooking, makeup and all those girly stuffs. She even volunteered to almost every school club activities while she still could manage her over-occupied schedules. And sometimes, she likes to tell cold jokes too.


    But it is her righteous and equal trait that make me need to take off my hat. She likes to protect everyone in needs, regardless of who they are. Every time when there is an injustice happened in school, everyone already acknowledged her to be the fair and wise judge instead of the teachers. I really admired her at those moments and even now she hadn¡¯t changed at all. I am sure that she would be just the same Kaede in the future too.


    The mysterious one in front of me is Elena. I had the most rights to say that she was far friendlier to me before our graduation, especially during ¡®that incident¡¯. My positive thinking concluded that she must have been still one of those most primitive tsundere types. Well, she actually was a pretty severe one already back when I first met her in middle school or might even be a long time ago before that. So freaking difficult to approach, but a nice personality will surely be rewarded if you were to stay patient and give her some time. By ¡®some time¡¯ I mean random time. Not as quick as you may see right now. This was just an exception because we hadalready known each other for so long before.


    I must say that she really hadn¡¯t changed much in appearance nor behavior. It was just my perverted buddy that didn¡¯t notice back then. And if I were to be honest, in respect of everyone else here, she was the one who had stayed the most same. Just her hair style that had changed a bit from the straightest I had ever seen to a more mature one. Her body looked like hadn¡¯t grown much like us, making her almost as small as Chika right now. Is she immortal or something? Or had she reached the end of her growth already?


    She suddenly looked questionably at me for a second. Maybe she could feel I was thinking ¡­ no, explaining about her. How terrifying. I am surely a dead meat if she ever knows.


    The next is a blonde who sat alone looking at her classy fashion magazine uninterestedly. I am not particularly close with her because of her much higher living style. As far as I know, Megumi is a rich young woman with princess syndrome who like to be respected by the others but never humbles her self-esteem. She only accepts those who are in the same status like her as her friends. Maybe except me who is considered the luckiest student in the class, I supposed? And I still don¡¯t know why.


    Maybe she really was participating in this reunion because of me and will just cancel it right away if I didn¡¯t show up at the rendezvous location? After all, I might not look like it, but there really was no one who was as close to her as I am in here. I started to felt a little conceited, and at the same time, I felt ashamed of myself.


    The twins who wereof course sitting together are Kaigo and Ringo. They are quick-witted, sharp minded and very intellectual persons. Since geniuses areusually the ones who are somehowcrazy in our normal viewbecause of their unusual thinking perspective. When we were still in the middle school, they were the model students that everyone wanted to become. Perfect in all kind of subjects and extremely friendly to every student.


    They are utterlyeccentric though, and never talked about their personal matters. So, we really know nothing about their background, where do they live, who are their parents, what is their hobby, what is their secret of perfection and many others. Most curiously personally for me is, whetherthey have another sibling or not? If they have, then I really want to see if he/she is just as peculiar as they are, and even talked simultaneously with them. If he/she is, then that would mean at least 3 persons to focus at the same time to make sense of what they are talking about. While with only the 2 of them already making me so confused.


    I happened to remember, despite their excellency in everything that resulted in the skipping of their second-year, there were rumors that said they were ungraduated for 3 years after that. That was why we were only to be acquainted as the same grade in the last year. I had never gotten the chance to investigate on that case though ever since their strange giggling as their first expression for me. Are they really that unpredictable? The only predictable thing is they almost never parted from each other. They also seem to be very friendly with Elena particularly, a lot more than the others since we were into the same class, so suddenly, almost like Megumi to me. Why? Maybe they have known each other before. I never asked Elena about that. Since I don¡¯t want to be thought as creep.


    The little living doll who had stolen all our attentions and hearts earlier and still even now is Chika on the left most front seat. She really looks like an early-teens girl. But in fact, she is on the same age with us. Don¡¯t be shocked too much as it will cause scars in our still pure heart. With her great sense of anti-mainstream but modest dressing style, and an indescribable charming, adorable, cute, beautiful, innocence, pure, honest, angelic, chaste, virtues and most importantly her unusual way of friendliness toward those who have earned her trust. And on top, top, top, top most ¡®concern¡¯ that do not need to further explain anymore is no other that her holy shyness toward those newly acquainted kinds. I seriously think she could become a top-class cosplayer for any moe character if she wants. It is a serious business, I told you. That is why we like to tease her as Lolita. If she hasn¡¯t discovered that ultimate talent of hers yet, then I would be the first one to recruit her.


    Also, she likes the nature so much that we don¡¯t need to worry about watering and taking care of the plants as a part of our classroom assignments anymore. She is also an active girl but not as hyper as her adopted big sister, and like to follow the latter to almost anywhere innocently. I wish I could replace Kaede for just one day no matter what it would cost. Kaede also likes to be followed by her little sister as well. Never mind, I am just joking.


    The man who was sitting next to her is Ryouta. I heard from our busybody Kaede that Chika went to the same high school as him after our graduation.Might even be her boyfriend right now. Somehow, I felt some unreasonable disappointment. But I saved myself by thinking that if they were a couple, then why did they come in separately.Aren¡¯t I genius? Mua-ha-ha-ha. Enough of that.


    Ryouta is the one who provided this bus that will be soon reached the mansion for the reunion that is also his property. He could be called as the leader of this party and was coincidentally also our class leader back in 9-2 class. He was the only student with enough resolute and responsible mindset that could control us from destroying the classroom. In fact, he is also just a normal person like me, which make me feel even more envious. But he has gotten a lot more determination and purpose in life. Even now, he doesn¡¯t change a bit. I could see from the fixed tone of words he put in the emails. He really is a true leader.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    Next is the two of my ex-classmates that to be honest I am not so well informed with. They are Ken and Takuma. Ken is the biggest and strongest in our class. As far as I could remember, at that time, he already had a bigger and stronger built than any of us now. I am sorry to say that he was one of those delinquent students who like to cause troubles and often being called to the discipline room because of smoking, drinking, fighting and many other issues. I know very little of him, more like a stranger than a classmate. We almost never talk to each other. No connected topic really, and it isn¡¯t just me alone.


    Maybe he had changed since his barely graduation. But as far as I could read from his attitude up until now, he seemed to care nothing about us being inside the bus. The only one who is a little friendlier with him, is probably the guy who sat beside him. Takuma is actually not one of those troublemakers like him but he likes to merge along with them, and he doesn¡¯t seem to like the kind of us, the normal students. He also tells nobody about his mind and we never understand him, just like the twins. Among all reunion participants presented, 12 people, they only interacted with each other and paid no attention to the others. Why would they even want to come to this reunion in the first place, I wonder?


    The last is Fionna. She is certainly not the most sociable person in the earth, and I almost never heard her voice in normal conversation or met her gaze. If she ever talks when you have annoyed her, then be prepare for a very penetrating sarcasm that wouldn¡¯t heal for at least a week. It is even more severe than our gang¡¯s Elena, was what I heard from those few ¡®lucky¡¯ ones who ever experience it. Really isn¡¯t the most pleasant experience that could be forgotten easily. Seems like there is no one she ever trusted. Maybe that is why the twins are so interested in her and sometimes challengedtheir best to make the impossible possible. Butof course, even as ¡®the perfect twins¡¯, failed. I know nothing about her except for being a foreigner and has an exceptional linguistic skill. Though, she behaves very cold toward us, but she bears no ill thought. Maybe she also wants to deepen her relationship with us although we had only been together for a fewmonths in the middle school, or that is the exact reason for her to come. I hope we couldopento each other later. I am seriously intrigued by how she is as a friend.


    That mystical femalepulled in the red folded curtain by her side as the sunlight was too bright on her reading. Her perfectly white collected face was cast a bit more lifeful by the horizontal shades with beautiful motif as she continued to read her book without getting carsick even the slightest whilethe bus was advancing unsteadily. She is untouchable.


    Hmm? She just looked at Chika or Ryouta for a second. Then she seemedkind of spaced out. Even that little flaw ofahuman being that everyone must have hadis the rarest thingI ever saw from her face. Maybe she really had changed. Though at the first time I saw her, she also looked exactlylike that.


    Ah, I just remembered that Chika might be her only friend in here, or even in the entire middle school before. When Fionna moved into our class, her seat was beside Chika¡¯s. More accurately, she chose there unreasonably when there was actually another vacant seat. Moreover, that seat was in fact already occupied by Chika¡¯s best friend, May¡­, our fellow classmate, who happened to be absent on that day. But of course, the kindhearted Chika still welcomed her and is basically her first and only ¡®friend¡¯ ever since. Not only that, after ¡®that incident¡¯, Fionna still sat on that seat like nothing happened. Kaede almost had a clash with her at that time. Too many things happened since she ¡­ moved in. But, everything was just some coincidences. After all, she is just a foreigner who hadnever been here before, or it should be.


    I just remembered another interesting fact about her. She was using a fake name and even another green contact lenses despite her thick glasses at the first time she introduced herself to us. Even the teachers got fooled by her likely until she fought with a fruit-named delinquent girl from another school in front of us. How curious, right?


    And hiding some other things, not the usual things normal people would do, awkward things for most of us.


    Apparently, most of us here had already been in the working society which made this reunion felt even more meaningful. They had used their limited leaves just for the upcoming few days for the rest of us. I am speechless. I am grateful that I had participated in this seemed to be impossible fora future meet like this. We must make use of this reunion to the fullest, together, all of us here, who are mostly three years in a row in the same class back then.


    The repeated introductions should be finish by now, and the bus already left the city for quite some time. The buildings and people seemed to look fewer and fewer, and the scenery were becoming greener and greener. We were currently enjoying the great sight of the countryside through the self-opened window while the fresh wind striking our face dry.


    Our rightest member here is also the most generous one. Just like she has always been. She used to bring joys for us the gang members, with only the additional exception for her little cute sister particularly, secretively. One for each of us, a candy. Though we are not kids anymore, but that kind of excited feeling was still unchanged even just a bit.


    Hooraaaayy!!


    She likes to be called Superwoman but dislikes to be addressed as Granny Santa. I wonder why?


    But the one who sat beside her was acting too childishly. She wanted to pick one herself. Kaede allowed her to search in her bag but with only one hand moving inside, blindly. The result was wasted on a ginger lemon flavor which I myself also found that weird. She begged for just another try and succeeded, because our Kaede is just too kind. She clapped her hand for the fortune and tried again while all of us couldn¡¯t see the inside. At last, she finally got what she wanted, a chocolate milk. She was overjoyed.


    And why did I waste my time to pay so much attention for that seemed to be a small thing? Because that random thing really is the one which brings back one of our best memories. No matter what kind of flavor actually, the sweets from Kaede will always be the best. It can cure our down feeling and make us spirited like her again. This isn¡¯t an advertisement. We really never felt this contented for so long already.


    But, there was quite some ruckus she had caused, so we had to explain ourselves in an adult way. Just like the old times.


    Not long after that, we passed through a self-opened fence displaying its warning sign, and entered into a very fertile and wild rain forest region. Kaigo and Ringo howled. We joked around, but Elena was taking too seriously before Ryouta ensured our safety in the bus. The forest seemed as though just a tree being copy-pasted programmatically and endlessly from the start to the end. But that didn¡¯t bore me at all. After all, in this trip ¡­ I was finally with them, my dearest and forever friends, laughing and enjoying together.


    What an indescribable fulfillment.


    Somehow, these forest sceneries made me felt like d¨¦j¨¤ vu. Though I should have never been in a place like this before. Maybe just my artistic imagination again. The big and tall plantations covered up almost everything inside from the sunlight. Besides the rustle of the leaves, we could also hear some wild animals¡¯ sounds like birds, insects and some unseen mammals, a natural one, not human-made anymore. The only human-made thing in here is just the small soil road that connects the outside world with the isolated mansion.Is this road particularly made just for this? How cool!


    Despite of its still uneven flatness and occasionally some holes on the road, the bus could still speed up faster than usual as there really was no other vehicle around. From time to time, some animals invaded into our way making the trip felt like a journey inside a safari park. The driver needs to honk it away to advance while some of the weird ones were also hushing it childishly. The one who built the mansion, Ryouta¡¯s family really seemed to like the natural environment and far from any urban lifestyle. Furthermore, my phone had gone from emergency only mode to stop receiving any signal for good for the first time since I brought it. After all, this was also the first time I hadwandered so far away from the outside world.


    Some were complaining, and the most behind ones even cursed some words. But, all of it was so quickly passed by.


    Now the bus had stopped as it finally reached our destination in the very deep forest. Maybe approximately 120 km from any human residential area. We queued ourselves, and came out of the bus one by one neatly like a group of ant. At last, the big and somehow ¡­ intimidating mansion was lying before us.

 Chapter 04 - Introduction to the Isolated Mansion

    The bus hadleft and would only come back 3 days later as scheduled. I need to repeat this. I still couldn¡¯t believe it. Just one day before, I who hadnever been contacted nor received any news about my fellow middle school classmates for over than 6 years was still slacking off inside my room. But now, I was already at the reunion party together with them, whom I really missed and yearned for so much. Because of the school reunion mattered, I really felt like we were going to take a class again inside the building in front of us. And now, we, 12 people, were the only person in this world. No exaggeration really. Since nobody else was registered deep inside this forest as far as we know.


    From where we were standing, what was lying in front of us is a real fancy two-floored white western mansion that really differ from the usual one I saw on TV. We really couldn¡¯t see any part of this mansion before exiting the forest. The dense and wild forest trees were just too high and huge. It is a perfectly hidden and isolated luxurious estate.


    We walked through the front garden in awe on a path that is made of some greyish horizontally cut rock instead of stepping on the healthy green grasses that covered up the entire park. The garden was neatly arranged with some beautiful sunflower beds and dwarf coconut trees with a special lamp on each of its base that seems would light at night to further enchant their guests.


    As we were walking toward the mansion while some of us were still relentlessly testing out their phone, its detail could be seen even more clearly. I was arguing with Kazuki about the flowers in its beds. Which of us who dare to pluck one and give it to Elena or even the fifth legendary woman. Given my usual traits, I don¡¯t have that much interest to win over him in such competition. But after being mocked for several times, I became really wanted to prove myself as a true gentleman, or at least not to lose to a being like him. But our first target seemed to be interested in another thing.


    ¡°Just curious, is that a logo or something?¡±


    Elena pointed at the top most front side of the mansion. It does have the most eye catching and an unusual design which most certainly no other mansion would have. The main part of the logo looks exactly like a copyrighted icon or a ¡¯c¡¯ alphabet inside a circle that is being placed in between two ornaments. Both ornaments are also almost as big as the main one and hang from its middle height. The left one looks like yet another ¡¯c¡¯ alphabet but more straightened from its middle to bottom, while the right one is just the horizontal-flipped shape of the left. The bottom of those two ornaments are sticking out lower than the main one and toward its center a bit. They look like two legs supporting the main icon.


    That friend of mine is still indeed wearing that same ring like she used to. A uniquely designed black intricate ring ever since I know her, on her pointing left index finger.


    Ryouta gave out a smile of confidence.


    ¡°Yes, it isalso from the design itself.¡±


    ¡°Does it have any meaning?¡± Elena further questioned him as he hadn¡¯t satisfied her curiosity.


    ¡°Um? Sorry, but you will have to guess that. Ah, or why don¡¯t we play a game together. The clues will be presented during the reunion. The one who getsit right first will get the authority as the King or Queen to command all the others as their subordinates until the end of the reunion. Of course, I won¡¯t be participating in the competition and will automatically become one of the subordinates when anyone evermanage to answer it,¡± Ryouta confidently challenged us.


    ¡°Sounds much interesting,¡± Elena really like that kind of riddle.


    ¡°Maybe just like those common romance things. An initial to a ¡®c¡¯ named thing, a person, for example? Our Chika-chan?¡± Kaede teased her little sister. She was being too mushy. The cute girl blushed, even Ryouta was shocked a little.


    ¡°So sweet ¡­,¡± Kaigo was moved emotionally.


    ¡°¡­ if that is the truth,¡± Ringo wasn¡¯t moved at all.


    I know what is going on inside Kazuki¡¯s head now if he were to win the competition. Though I shouldn¡¯t know. I don¡¯t want to know.


    ¡°Wuuuaoh!!! There are even double open lounges,¡± surprised by the twins simultaneously. We were also surprised by them as the result.


    Kaigo was shooting with both of his hands to the right, and Ringo did the same to the left cozy lounge. One on each side of the mansion. They were utterly moved.


    ¡°Just like us. Yeah!¡± They gave a high five to their other half. They were happy just because they finally found their meaning in life.


    Ryouta smiled satisfyingly.


    ¡°Yes, we can also gather in one of those outer lounges if we arebored with being inside all the time.¡±


    ¡°Please choose ¡®left¡¯ if you would so kindly vote for me,¡± Ringo had marked one side as her territory.


    ¡°Please choose ¡®right¡¯ if you would so kindly vote for me,¡± Kaigo also didn¡¯t want to lose a territory.


    Please wait please, isn¡¯t Kaigo on the left, Ringo on the right? Or whatever.


    ¡°Then, it is better for us to just stay inside,¡± joked Kaede, a cold one again.


    The twins were disappointed.


    ¡°Yes, maybe ¡­ you areright,¡± said the twins weakly.


    ¡°I and Rin shouldn¡¯t be quarrelling over such trivial thing,¡± said Kaigo regrettably.


    ¡°I and Kai shouldn¡¯t be arguing over such trivial thing,¡± said Ringo regrettably.


    But after crossing over their faces with her right hand and his left hand, they quickly changed into excited ones like nothing ever happened, and vigorously punched upward together.


    ¡°Let us move on, Leader-kun,¡± they cheered simultaneously again.


    We really don¡¯t know anything about what they are thinking, even after knowing them for so long. But luckily, they had settled down by themselves. I appreciated it, maybe.


    We continued our marching toward the mansion lead by the host. And when our leader was only one step from the mansion¡¯s main door, he stopped and turned to us, looking very gravely.


    ¡°The last thing that I wanted to ¡­ warn you all is that ¡­ before we entered ¡­,¡± Ryouta paused for a moment. When he was ready to talk, Megumi who was still wearingsunglasses, annoyingly put her unusable phone back into her expensive bag, and cut in with a sneer and an ungraceful countenance.


    ¡°Is there a spirit or something in this ¡­ high-class-mansion?¡±


    ¡°¡­ Yes,¡± Ryouta tried to sound as calm as possible but still couldn¡¯t do it very well.


    ¡°What do you mean!?¡± she took off her shades. Her eyes were as big as her shocked voice, ours as well.


    The atmosphere was darkened. The sole young man in front of us closed his eyes and faced downward to reconsider yet once again before telling us. After a second or two, he stared blankly at us, straightened up his glasses, and gulped coarsely. At last, he spoke.


    ¡°There existsan old legend around this area even before this mansion wasbuilt. If there is a set of twelve people to be living together, in this case to be present in this mansion at the same time. A thirteenth unknown person would be summoned ¡­ and start killing those living people from the first night until the highest possible number of victims in one digit, which is nine. Thus ¡­ leaving only three chosen survivors.¡±


    Everyone was dumbfounded for a while. It isn¡¯t my first time to hear such kind of murderous legend though. Well, I think it is just a common seasoning to intrigue the other to come to this secluded area. But still, somehow, it made me felt a bit uneasy.


    Unexpectedly, Megumi was taking this seriously.


    ¡°What kind ¡­ of rumor isthat!?¡±


    Takuma and Ken were laughing out loud at him, at his overacting and lousy story, most likely. I think it is very rude of them toward a person who was considering very seriously for the sake of us. Even though I also don¡¯t believe in this kind of irrational things, but I would rather respect that.


    ¡°Are you serious? Ryouta-chan?¡± Takuma was asking scornfully while holding his stomach


    ¡°Of course he is serious, Takuma-kun. Look, I am so afraid now,¡± Ken gave a deep sarcasm.


    Other than the two of them, all of us silenced seriously. At least not showing any kind of disregard to the mansion owner¡¯s kind reminder. Though it might be just a useless folk legend, Ryouta still felt the needs to tell us beforehand. He might have known that those two would have mocked him. But Ryouta didn¡¯t take much concern. He was really mature.


    ¡°All right then, all needs to be known beforehand has been told. All of you ready?¡± Ryouta pumped us with a fist to the sky.


    ¡°Yeaaah!!¡± we shouted and followed his motion.


    But Takuma and Ken wanted to cause further trouble. The first said with an awful dramatic play.


    ¡°I ¡­ I ambeing forced to stay in here. Why did you just tell us that so important ghost story after we already left so far away from our safest home sweet home?¡±


    ¡°No need to worry,¡± Ken was showing off his manly big biceps like a bodybuilder. Kazuki pretended to vomit behind of me. After a few poses, he talked more.


    ¡°I will beat up that thirteenth ghost or whatever, and if necessary ¡­ kill him.¡±


    We were taken aback by his brutal and twisted expression. I would never have expected to feel this kind of terror in our reunion even just for a second. But our ex-class leader still did his job well, clapping his hand to steal the whole attentions to him once again, smiling and softened the atmosphere.


    ¡°Nothing willreally happen to us though. Now, let¡¯s enter into the mansion. Those bags are heavy, right? We are so tired already.¡±Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    We entered into the mansion through that unusual yet simplified big and heavy entrance after its lord had unlocked it. By his guidance, we were being drawn to assembly in the drawing-room.


    ¡°Here we are, enjoy yourself like your own,¡± said the one who hasthe closest relationship to the true owner.


    ¡°A pretty good one coming from you, isn¡¯t, Ryouta-chan?¡± Ken laid his muscular arm around Ryouta¡¯s shoulder with some amount of force. The latter only replied with a stiff smile. Kazuki and I looked at him sternly before he let go of him as though surrendering.


    Ryouta thanked us silently.


    ¡°Our bedrooms are on the second floor. They fit perfectly 12 people for the each of us. Six rooms on each wing which all have already been prepared nicely. So, there is no chance for any of you to be sharing one room. What a waste, right, Kazuki-kun?¡±


    He knows him well. I bet nothing is secret anymore. Kazuki is just too infamous.


    ¡°Well, it isn¡¯t as though we will be sharing by couples either. I would never want to share with Yoru. He snores!¡±


    ¡°Thanks, for discovering my unknown talent,¡± I smiled with my hands gently coming toward him. But he quickly realized the danger, and slipped off from the bottom. Now, he hid behind the leader. No, I wasn¡¯t trying to choke him.


    Some of us chuckled. I think I just raised his fame up. Not a good one, but he likes that one and lives from that.


    ¡°Now, for the sake of equality, let¡¯s draw on random instead of picking it.¡±


    The mansion master also already prepared the box of raffle and showed it to us. All of us agreed unconditionally and were extremely excited.


    Well, most of us.


    ¡°We will be getting the room first. Six rooms on each wing, right? I will be taking the ¡­ third one from the furthest right. Ken will be taking the fourth one from the furthest left, Ok?¡± forced the one who maybe the leader of the divided group here.


    ¡°Right! No probs,¡± assented but by the strongest guy.


    ¡°Hmm ¡­?¡± the first picker smiled maliciously to the house lord. The latter smiled it over awkwardly.


    Ryouta just didn¡¯t want to start damaging the atmosphere over that small thing. The rest of us followed. They were just being themselves, though their choice kind of separating themselves as the only mutual friends here.


    After picking out the numbers which had already been occupied. We were ready to seal our fate for the next 3 days.


    ¡°God, please let us be together,¡± prayed the twins earnestly. But, isn¡¯t the whole purpose of the drawing for us to be mixing together and socializing more? Nevertheless, it isn¡¯t as though just by praying like that would be granted so easily.


    ¡°God, thank you. We love you,¡± praised the twins happily. They did succeed, miraculously.


    Unstoppable, next to each other.


    My brother was looking extremely pleased with the result as well. We weren¡¯t side by side, but we were still on the same wing. He would never appeal for a restart now.


    For me? For the young women who surrounded his room? But still, no one suggested anew.


    ¡°Let me show you all to your rooms,¡± announced the leader eagerly.


    Most of us replied with the same kind of satisfaction for the end result. The foreign woman was still silence as usual.


    We followed Ryouta up to the second floor from the main stairs in the center of the main hall, and went along the left and right entirely sheltered corridors architected for the maximum lighting purpose together as he introduced us to our new room. There are even some western pole displays. How classy! When we reached to each¡¯s little private space, he or she was given their key and left us to their room to make it comfortable for themselves. I followed the housemaster until one before the last which should be Fionna¡¯s as she was still with us. Finally, I too, received a pretty heavy and intricate key from him. I thanked him for his generosity and took a second to appreciate this personal place of mine for the entire dreamed reunion days.


    I unlocked the door and entered inside. It is a strong door with both metal lever handle and a hole to unlock or lock with key. Additionally, a sturdy bolt is on the inside to be qualified as a bedroom entrance. Looks usual but the craving has so much effort put in there. Magnificent!


    From my know-nothing-about-interior-design¡¯s perspective. This room is simply fabulous. Its floor is nicely made from brown high quality ceramics, the lighting set up matched the overall white color of the wall and the surrounding, and the way they positioned the furniture has made this room feel so simplified and comfortable. The space is big, despite consists of a bed fully covered by duvet to the floor with a side table and a phone on it, TV sets up front, dressing table and wardrobe next to it, and even a full set of bathroom.


    I put my heavy travelling bag that had been bothering me all along the trip on the bed. Nothing else to do really. I left my room and walked down to the first floor, to the previous drawing-room. There were some people gathering already. One after another came in until all participants were in complete number again, except the leader.


    Kazuki and I were having a really childish talk, and laughing about what kind of unmatchable stupidity we haddone together in the past. Not even a slightest awkward moment anymore. Kaede and Chika were also gossiping cheerfully. Elena was leisurely grouping with Kaigo and Ringo. Ken and Takuma were talking silently at the far corner. Megumi was wondering around the room alone, appraising the antique collections inside the cupboard. And the last but not the least, Fionna was reading a thick book by the window. Everyone surely hadloosened up the intense feeling deep inside themselves. Because they know that all of us, in this room, are just their own old acquaintances. No need to be suspicious around them or acting as though an adult. Just like the old days. Staying together inside the classroom peacefully while doing their own liking when there is no teacher. No one would ever worry about anything. Such yearning atmosphere.


    Then Ryouta joined in while pushing a cart full of glasses and a jar of juice. He announced again.


    ¡°Sorry, there is no servant for the service. Since it is already too much to ask for my father to lend us the mansion. Besides, I also think it is best if there are only us in the reunion and we serve ourselves, right?¡± Ryouta was pouring the drinks into the glasses as he said. We helped him and delivered to everyone in the room.


    I wasn¡¯t wondering about what kind of disappointment on Kazuki¡¯s face.


    ¡°No worries Ryouta-kun, your mansion is already a too-great-contribution for the party. Let the women be the maids. Aren¡¯t there some appropriate costumes for them? Cat ears? Ha-ha-ha.¡± Kazuki was fooling around as he received the drink. Not drunk really, just an orange juice and his usual self. Maybe he was just being desperate. Ryouta shook his head.


    ¡°Wear it yourself if you so wanted too,¡± Chika joked back at him. He had gotten the Lolita¡¯s attention faster than me. But it wasn¡¯t as though we had agreed to mutually competing or anything.


    Kazuki winked to me, and posed a pointing gesture before a thumb down. I sincerely smiled to him.


    ¡°I am sure ¡­ you will make a very good example for it,¡± Takuma said in lewd tone, grinning at the Lolita. But the twins have more impact than the others, no matter who.


    ¡°Let¡¯s share the works, shall we?¡±


    ¡°How about our ladies just need to take care of the edibles and other culinary stuffs, while our gentlemen will have to protect them if any unexpected things happen-happen, no Ringo?¡± Kaigo asked his twin and emphasized that ¡®unexpected things¡¯ tone.


    ¡°But those unexpected things are far more difficult-difficult, yes Kaigo?¡± Ringo asked back to her twin, also emphasized that ¡®unexpected things¡¯ tone.


    ¡°Of course, it is worst if that something won¡¯t happen,¡± Kaigo grinned.


    ¡°Maybe it is best if we ignore anything will happen,¡± Ringo grinned.


    They smiled to us warmly. Of course, I don¡¯t think of any special meaning from their weird conversation. But I caught a glimpse of uncertainty in Elena¡¯s expression. She quickly changed to her default face for me, a ¡®forced smile¡¯ when she met my gaze. As the result, I became to feel somehow un ¡­ settled.


    ¡°Me as a servant? No way! I have never done such dirty works, and I am not going to cook nor cleananything!¡± Megumi protested. The rich lady really seems to live in a different kind of life.


    ¡°You might ¡­ just need to take plates or other crockeries from cabinet and place it back there,¡± Ryouta said delicately, careful not to trigger the young lady¡¯s temper.


    ¡°That is fair enough. Though I might also need some help a bit.¡±


    We spent the next few minutes discussing the job more specifically for each new maid for the next 3 days. The gentlemen really seemed to have nothing to do at all, and somehow reminded me of those times where the boys usually skipped out of the cleaning or the other duties to the girls. But somehow again, all of us hadagreed to this impartial works arrangement that came from the twins. I still feel a little uncomfortable with their previous unreasonable ¡®reason¡¯ and Elena¡¯s wavering countenance. But then her clear voice alerted me from bewildering aimlessly to the present world again.


    ¡°It seems that there will be a heavy rain tonight,¡± Elena announced.


    ¡°I also heard from the weather forecast before. Though the sky looks so clear and no clouds right now,¡± said Kaede while approaching and looking at the outside through the window where Fionna was still reading. Still expressionless as ever as though nothing happened. She closed her enchanting eyes first before sealing up the book because of the sudden disturbance. She didn¡¯t look annoyed though. Kaede was still as thickheaded though.


    ¡°Let¡¯s hope that isn¡¯t going to happen because tonight we will have a barbeque party at the garden together. And to make things even more exciting, we will have to tell our own ghost story in the dark. Everyone should at least have one, right? I will reveal more about the old legend that I had only told so briefly before,¡± Ryouta declared excitedly.


    ¡°Thanks Ryouta-kun for the chance. I owe you, my man,¡± Kazuki gave a bro-punch to Ryouta¡¯s chest, assuming it was a party of scaring and hugging.


    ¡°I am scared of scary things, Kae-nee,¡± the Lolita is really cute and needs protections. She hugged her braver sister like a frail child.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, Chika-chan. There is no ghost in this world. The only threat in here is the pervert,¡± Kaede peered to Kazuki. The latter opened his mouth big, pretended to be confused, or rather, confused for real.


    We laughed, very hard.


    ¡°I ¡­ I will be ¡­ really ¡­ certainly ¡­ waiting for it,¡± Elena looked totallyinterestedly scared.I thought she likes those kinds of things.


    Will Fionna finally open to us at that time?


    A while of vacancy before Kaede clapped her hands and jumped a bit, looking very excited.


    ¡°Ah, yes! We are also by the beach, right? Since the weather is still so great, what about a playon there? Can we? Ryouta-kun?¡±


    ¡°Of course. I am going to say so as well,¡± assented Ryouta.


    ¡°Yeah! It will be great. Bikinis everywhere,¡± Kazuki shouted vigorously. We laughed again at our most perverted clown.


    ¡°Do you still want me to keep you alive?¡± joked Kaede. Kazuki quickly hid behind me this time.


    ¡°Scary. Ha-ha,¡± he laughed but still remain cloaked.


    ¡°Excuse me, and enjoy yourself. I am not a big fan of hot weather. This hour¡¯s sunlight will spoil my skin,¡± Megumi disagreed again. She looked annoyed, ¡°Just leave me alone, I am going to stroll around.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t wander into the forest, Ok?¡± Ryouta kindly reminded her again.


    ¡°Do you want me to give some private protections, baby?¡± but Takuma couldn¡¯t even get the air around her to respond.


    ¡°We have seen so many wild and dangerous animals ¡­,¡± Kaigo said.


    ¡°¡­ in the forest when we were in the bus earlier,¡± Ringo followed.


    They deeply howled again.


    The spoiled lady was already going out of the room while waving her hand lazily from her behind, implying that there is nothing needed to be worried about. Then she disappeared before us.


    ¡°Let¡¯s hurry. I want to smell those tropical sands so badly,¡± demanded Ken impatiently.


    Nobody disagreed anymore. We dispersed and went up to our room to change into more appropriate clothes for the beach party.

 Chapter 05 - The First Debate with the Detective

    The time was around 11 a.m. I checked my wristwatch before I took it off and left it on the drawer of my bedroom.


    The bright sun and hot weather couldn¡¯t manage to keep us out from having fun. Kazuki, Ryouta and Chika were playing throw and catch with a big colorful beach ball while splashing sea water to each other by the shallow area. Rather childish but seems so exciting that made me also want to join them. Takuma and Ken were in some distance from us, amusing themselves by making a big sand castle. Fionna who was still wearing the same dress was sitting alone on the big rocks under the trees behind all of us distantly, still not planning to join any of us most likely. Kaigo and Ringo couldn¡¯t be seen yet. They hadn¡¯t shown up since they entered into their own room to change their pajamas, maybe was preparing to shock us with even more peculiar outfits.


    I was with Elena and Kaede under a big beach umbrella by the dry shore. The second was curling up in a ball. Her face looked pale, and not so comfortable with the shining sun, but still insisting to come out here. Maybe she suddenly felt sick from the long trip.


    ¡°I will go to the mansion and get some medicines for you, okay?¡± Kaede volunteered mildly.


    ¡°Thank you, Keade-chan,¡± Elena smiled weakly.


    The nurse left us. I asked the patient.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    ¡°It is nothing,¡± she put the back of her left hand on her forehead to check if she was having a fever. ¡°Just let me rest for a while,¡± She was breathing rather heavily.


    ¡°Um? Sure.¡±


    I have the tendency to put my hand on her forehead as well. But I think she would only get the wrong idea because we are still not fully as close as before. Thus, I restrained myself from doing that maybe an indecent act toward her, or at least it is still too early. Why do I think of myself as though Kazuki? Did I get infected already?


    Instead, I just asked.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you mind if I stay here and accompany you?¡±


    She was slightly surprised.


    ¡°Ah? What are you talking about? Maybe, hmm ¡­ I don¡¯t mind ¡­ very much. Since when you have become such a sissy?¡±


    Elena does look like more Elena-ish now. She stretched her arms behind to support her back leaning, and looked at me strangely. She surely likes to use that kind of unfeminine tongue toward those who are close to her. But, I also know how to deal with that ¡®tsundere¡¯ side of her.


    ¡°I ¡­ I am so sorry. I just think ¡­ I may not want to disturb you resting. Really, I am very sorry. ¡­ I won¡¯t bother you anymore,¡± I put on the face of the guiltiest person in the earth, and stood up to leave her. As very much expected, the still innocent young woman immediately fell for my trap.


    ¡°I ¡­ I ¡­ I didn¡¯t mean that way. I ¡­ I ¡­ I thought you can be joked with. I ¡­ I ¡­ I am so ¡­ so ¡­ sorry,¡± she was so nervous that couldn¡¯t even say a sentence properly. Really funny watching her who is usually so collected being fooled when she wanted to fool me first. I couldn¡¯t hold it much longer and burst into a big laughter.


    ¡°Ha-ha-ha, I ¡­ I ¡­ I.¡±


    After 2 seconds, she finally realized that she had been outsmarted. Her face quickly turned as red as a radish.


    ¡°So mean of you. I don¡¯t wanna talk to you anymore, from-now-on.¡±


    She is cute when she gets irritated, but just slightly though. More of it, would be deadly.


    ¡°Sorry, sorry, can¡¯t help it really, ha-ha-ha. Now, I really am in a serious mode,¡± I cleared my throat unnecessarily. ¡°Please accept my apology, Princess Elena-sama. Please forgive my rudeness and ignorance.¡±


    I said as earnestly as I could for a moment before chuckling again secretly at my stupid scheme. Making it seems not as seriously as I meant to be. Yes, she most likes to be called as Princess Elena-sama, and most hated being tricked.


    ¡°Ah-ha, see? You are the one who fall into my trap, see?¡± she showed a satisfied expression. Did she really not realize it? I was confused. Was she going to trap me?


    ¡°I am not angry anymore. Don¡¯t be so shocked. I am just playing with you. And always remember that it is me, Princess Elena-sama who will always win against anyone in the world. Especially her brilliant brain. No one can even compare.¡±


    She stuck her tongue out a little, mocking me as a loser. I always cheer her up like this, and have always been doing this anyway since we were together in the past. My goal had been achieved though, looking at her spirited face again with my own special way for her without any kind of medical treatments. Just being skilled enough with some magical words had made me a talented psychics or motivator, or at least it works for her.


    ¡°I see that you have returned to your old self. Why were you so cold when we were at the park?¡±


    Elena changed to a bit hesitated. Not that kind of previous hesitance against the strangers, but an indecision to tell the truth.


    ¡°You know?¡± she spoke reluctantly without looking at me.


    ¡°Of course I don¡¯t know,¡± I quickly cut her clarification, playing with her.


    ¡°I wasjust ¡­,¡± she rushed quickly before paused, and bit her thin lower lip. Then she said something in a very low voice, almost soundless. I didn¡¯t catch what she just said. But I think I know her meaning.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    ¡°Embarrassed? You are? When?¡± I teased her.


    ¡°Yah, why should I em-bar-ras-sed?¡±


    This young princess still didn¡¯t want to admit, and was taking very seriously at my joke. I gave a sigh, and she was provoked so easily.


    ¡°What? Can you prove of anything?¡± she proudly challenged me.


    ¡°If I can, is there any prize?¡±


    ¡°Anything you wanted?¡±


    Seems interesting to further play with her. It was too long already after the last time.


    ¡°Ok, it is you who said that. Where should I start? Hmm, can you explain why are you sick now?¡±


    ¡°You aren¡¯t changing the topic, right?¡±


    I gave a nod. She continued.


    ¡°I think I amjust too tired from that 2-hour long trip.¡±


    ¡°That isone of the reason, maybe. Then can you tell me what exactly did you havefor yourbreakfast?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t eat anything, only a drink when we arrived. I mean with Kaigo and Ringo at the park.¡±


    ¡°What did you drink if I may know, for investigation purpose? I supposed?¡±


    ¡°Cold coffee milk, for the investigation purpose! I supposed!¡± she exclaimed.


    ¡°I see, just as I remembered it right. Then, I can conclude the reasoning now,¡± I said confidently.


    ¡°Kyaaa ¡­!¡± Chika cried in their too-intense play. But it seems more like an excited scream. We were not faltered even for a moment, and continued our battle of wits.


    ¡°You can? You sure?¡± Elena was still doubting my ability. But no problem. I will make her regret soon.


    ¡°Yes, all those previous acts of yours proved that you were sleepless last night, only had a little rest, or even none at all. Then, you are mentally exhausted from meeting with us, your old friends, before also took that long trip which even a usual person would be tired from.¡±


    ¡°Drinking coffee as a proof to keep me away from feeling sleepy, and I being sick right now is also because I hadn¡¯t rested well last night? Well, you have a quite not so stupid but also too delusive brain. But, do you think that the real life can be concluded like a detective story that will have all clues arranged and presented nicely as if for solving the mystery perfectly? Ha-ha. Let¡¯s just say that I really didn¡¯t sleep last night. But how doesthat fact connect with me being embarrassed like you have said so proudly pre-vious-ly? Hooam ¡­.¡±


    Elena fussed me with a long lecture, and ended it with a big yawn. She still hadn¡¯t forgotten to close it with her smallhand though. And I still hadn¡¯t discouraged at all.


    ¡°At least you admitted, or just giving me a handicap saying you were sleepless last night. Then, you should be in a tired condition, for example giving out a yawn like you have done so gracefully pre-vious-ly. Hooam ¡­,¡± I pretended her pose perfectly. I think she would try to throw some sands into my mouth, but horrifyingly she just gave out a small chuckle.


    ¡°Fu fu fu ¡­.¡±


    Without any further waiting for something super extraordinary to happen. After that third laugh of her, I hurried up to break her casting delay.


    ¡°Then why were you standing in front of the seat?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± she was surprised.


    I let out a breath. I barely saved my life.


    She got tensed, and looked even further away from me. She knew what I was thinking. If she were so wearied out because of the sleepless night, then she should have kept her energy as much as possible for the already planned long trip to the mansion.


    She must have realized that she won¡¯t be escaping from me if I were to do the next move of ¡®Why are you only being so talkative now? You were so silent before.¡¯ So, before the absolute checkmate. She changed her plans entirely. She hurried up and replied with something interesting, to change the topic.


    ¡°Ah, look, I even forget to bring my poka-poka out here.¡±


    It isn¡¯t even that interesting. I cut her once again with an evil smile.


    ¡°He-he. It is so unlike yourself. And yet it is your usual custom poker face who likes to act elegant in front of the people you aren¡¯t so close to. Especially to those charming young men.¡±


    I stopped, realized something.


    ¡°You don¡¯t mean?¡±


    ¡°Oh, my Highness and the Goddess! This person really couldn¡¯t be salvage from his over self-confidence anymore. Please, I know him no more.¡± She looked at me with pity, and shook her head. But then we laughed together. Her mood really could change as fast as light travels.


    As though had heard us, Chika showed her last ultimate water element magic to her two enemies as the killing blow, and came to join us.


    ¡°Umm, sorry. But what are you two joking together? Dating, huh? Ele-nee?¡±


    I remember something again. Chika also used to call Elena as an oneechan. Not as frequently as Kaede though, because of Elena¡¯s busier schedule for always being called by the teachers to do something out of the number one student in our school. But still, their bond isn¡¯t any less.


    I am relieved that the uneasy feeling Ifelt before between the two of them had been sorted out before I know.


    ¡°Dating? Are you kidding? Ha-ha. I can¡¯t tell you, Chika-chan, for the sake of certain person¡¯s self-respect. If not, he or she can¡¯t even have the face for the community anymore.¡±


    Elena said with certainty as though it is really real. But still couldn¡¯t pretend for more than 5 seconds. Chika laughed too, at me of course because she knew very well her sister¡¯s meaning. Reason? Because there isn¡¯t any ¡®certain person¡¯ near these sistersanymore, except me.


    ¡°Hm, mm, mm,¡± I nodded lazily with the distinguish sound that has the same meaning as ¡®yeah, yeah, yeah¡¯ or ¡®whatever¡¯ in human languages.


    Then I saw Kaede returning back from the mansion with medicines for our already too healthy and active friend. Even so, Elena still took it as a form of appreciation. She has just always been like that from the very first time I met with her. Only acts tough on the outside, but would be very happy if being concerned earnestly. I smiled unconsciously to my untruthful yet so innocent friend as she drank.


    I turned my head to face to the beach again where Kazuki and Ryouta were left playing previously. That place had become a serious battlefield of 4 people. All of us were watching them since it was as exciting as a final tournament or something. Kaigo and Ringo were their new enemies and were playing together as a team breathtakingly. Two versus two. Who will win? Wow! But most importantly, since when I wonder?

 Chapter 06 - Secret Letter from not Cinderella

    The time had passed 1 p.m. We were hungry for lunch, thus all of us agreed to go back to the mansion for food.


    As Ryouta had said before, no servant would be helping us for the entire reunion period. We could use that chance to further deepen our relationships by supporting each other. After everyone had changed back into their normal clothes, the new young maids in their aprons were automatically going into the kitchen to make some edibles and drinks for lunch. We had set to a single pick among each other¡¯s different taste on just a simple fried rice and juice to begin with. Each of them were doing their job pretty well as they had planned before we went out to the beach. Even the rich daughter like Megumi who couldn¡¯t be seen for the entire beach period was already waiting for us earlier, and helping without further complaining.


    The so-called gentlemen just need to wait patiently on the seats of the dining table besides the minimalist kitchen in the same big room. So, we could also comfortably watch them doing the cook. Seems unfair? I, too, had the same feeling. But, that is if and only if that something unexpected isn¡¯t going to happen, which it should be. If not, we who are acting like bosses right now would have had a far tougher job to take care of.


    ¡°Are you serious about this, Kaigo-kun? Letting the women alone doing the cook while we are just watching them?¡± I asked again with the same uncertain tone, almost voiceless.


    Megumi just had a plate dropped onto the basin accidentally. Nobody acted too surprised though. Chika who was at the nearest immediately helped her with a hospitable smile. But the rich daughter still showed her usual ungrateful manner, while the kindhearted Loli still kept her particular matured behavior. The plate was still fine and useable, in fact.


    ¡°Yes, seems fair enough, but ¡­. Hmmph,¡± Kaigo answered with certainty on an unfinished sentence. He tried to hide his laugh.


    ¡°Hmmph ¡­. No, seems you will soon regret that,¡± Ringo tried to hide her laugh. She followed with uncertainty on a finished sentence.


    How could Ringo have heard that? Did Kaigo send the information through heart to heart? Or it was just me who were already hallucinating out of hunger.


    After we were filled with those delicious friend-made lunch, we were grouping again in the drawing-room while waiting for the most anticipated barbeque ghost story party tonight which had made Elena already showing the phenomenon of too eagerness. Now, it was exactly like a no teacher¡¯s class, so free activities were allowed. Back then, we usually called as the ¡®can do whatever we want¡¯ schedule in term of school. Though, the time was supposedly arranged for resting, but we still wanted to do the things that we rarely had the chance to do it together.


    Just when the leader was approaching the antique gramophone to play some relaxing music. Elena braved herself impatiently to intercept. Even the leader was slightly taken aback by her so sudden charge, just like Kazuki to me earlier. But our kindhearted leader still gave his concession generously. Our most awaitinglady seemed so restless already, and pushed us to go to the outside as soon as possible.


    I walked with my old gang members and in addition of Chika around the garden. She wanted to join us because her only two oneechans were currently being taken away by Kazuki and me. We decided to do this adventurous journey which all of us were already so wanted to do since our too young age. Our group was wandering aimlessly while still talking about the past.


    Of course and absolutely, except that case, which happened only a few months before our graduation. It is a very heartbreaking incident that happened to our kindest and cheerful classmate. Maybe that is the main reason why Chika were joining us right now. Her only best friend had gone. It is so pity and sad for every each of us, especially for our little girl. Even now, that feel is still somehow lingering, not ceased even a little, and all of us are just trying to hide it. We don¡¯t need to made any certain pledge, but each of us wouldn¡¯t even talk about anything that would bring back that painful recollection, especially on this supposed to be a happy party of reunion.


    On our peaceful way alongthe flower beds, we saw Takuma and Ken around the right lounge. The first was likely writing something inhis memo while the latter was pointing up and down with his phone to the mansion. Not sure what they were doing though. Isn¡¯t there no signal at all?But still, no need to interfere into their business too much.


    We had been further warned again by Ryouta not to go beyond the mansion¡¯s gate before we departed. It seems that the forest really is a very dangerous area. Better take the free advice than ignore it. So, we restricted our area of exploration to those save regions only.


    But still, human is a very strange being. Even though they had been told, warned repeatedly, or even already self-known that something is dangerous. They still want to do that something before they self-experienced its consequences. The perfect examples of those wise ones are Kazuki the perverted, Kaede the amateur bodyguard, Elena the self-proclaim princess, Chika the cute Lolita, and of course me the peasant who was being dragged all along. A perfect team against all odds, eh?


    ¡°What about a test of braveness to prepare for the scary night?¡± The boy beside me asked the other 4 members near him. But no one replied, and we just looked at each other waiting for the answer. Then he focused to the only person he dares to ask in this kind of situation, to take all the blames, I suppose.


    ¡°Yoru?¡±


    ¡°Eh?¡±


    ¡°Stop pretending to be cute. You know what I mean. The forbidden forest!¡±


    ¡°No, no, no, no, no. Remember what Ryouta and the others had said before we ¡­.¡±


    ¡°That is a good idea!¡± Elena barged in before I finished my lecture. Her curiosity is extreme to the max. She might have already been thinking that before we departed, and just waiting for someone to say first.


    ¡°Wow, that is great, my dear Elena! Um? What about you, Kaede-chan?¡±


    Kaede didn¡¯t answer, and just peered to the forest. But she didn¡¯t seem to against it.


    ¡°If my ¡®nees allow it, it must be safe,¡± Chika is too innocent that made me feel bad for her. Why does she believe in her sisters so much? It is not wrong actually. But almost too blindly, and I also don¡¯t want to contaminate that utmost pure heart by teaching her how to doubt. I guess, I would just go with them.


    That Kazuki just wants to get the chances of taking advantages at the young women. I believe?


    The five of us began to penetrate to the other side through the barred main gate that used only the common sliding bolt. It doesn¡¯t use any other locks, making it also possible to be opened from the outside easily through the spaced bars. But we don¡¯t need to worry at the very least about that small case, and just entered into the random forest region on the left side of the soil road. I told them to limit our exploration to only for a maximum of 50 meters from that gate. Kazuki and Elena nodded. But don¡¯t even need to think for a second that they would obey if they found something ¡®interesting¡¯.


    In our way deepening into the forest, I saw so many big and tall trees again, and its strong and wide root which protruded out of the fertile soil. Its brisk aura, dancing leaves, calming nature sounds and smells, and columns of thin lights which managed to escape from the plantations. The entire greenish serene atmosphere made me felt like d¨¦j¨¤ vu again, almost dizzying.


    Since there was still nothing so appealing for them to be found. Once again I had become the target of joking. The theme is ¡®The stupid times back in middle school¡¯.


    ¡°I still remember that our Yoru used to wear oversized uniform. It was kind of funny tapping so many stuffs on his behind anonymously. Ha-ha,¡± laughed the one who did those mostly.


    ¡°Yes, yes, I will never forget when I tapped a monkey¡¯s head portrait there, so lightly and carefully. He didn¡¯t even realize for the entire day. And all of us were trying to hide it from the teachers, while barely pretending not to laugh,¡± Elena confessed her bad deed in the past, but still hadn¡¯t begged for my forgiveness yet.


    ¡°Wasthat ever happened? If so, Kaede-chan or Chika-chan should have told me that there was a prank on my back. I trusted them,¡± I pretended to forget. But in fact, I still remembered it as though just happened yesterday.


    ¡°Sorry about that, Yoru-kun. Everyone was teaming together. I couldn¡¯t bear to betray them,¡± Kaede laughed. She never pranked on me, but also never told me that.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ¡°My apologies too. My ¡®nees told me not to tell you,¡± Chika chuckled.


    I shrugged my shoulder. Kazuki had passed the clown job to me, before emerged as the hero of discovery.


    ¡°See that? Do you see that? A bird. A purple bird!¡±


    He was pointing to a tall tree behind us while shouting very excitedly, like a bounty hunter who just discovered a bunch of treasures. His reaction isn¡¯t beyond any comprehensibility though. We have been living in the city mostly, and rarely have the chance to see that kind of wild animals in the real open world. Even I was amazed by his finding as well. But still, please have a bit more tolerance for his over ignorance.


    ¡°Seesh, don¡¯t shout like that!¡± I hissed, and yelled back at him subconsciously. The legendary purple bird fled away. We were dumbfounded.


    ¡°Stupid Yoru!¡± Elena was the one who exclaimed back this time, but at me.


    Kaede and her little sister laughed, followed by the first discoverer. Was that my fault? I thought the bird was already escaping since the first time Kazuki frantically shouted at it. We just barely saw it in a second.


    ¡°Indeed, very Yoru-ish feeling. Ha-ha,¡± Kaede was telling a cold joke.


    ¡°Yoru-ish indeed. Ha-ha,¡± Chika was following her oneechan¡¯s bad habit.


    What? Even the innocent Chika was ¡­


    ¡°I will make sure to write this kind of humiliation into my diary. Luckily, I have always brought one with me,¡± my best friend further teased me.


    ¡°Hm, mm, mm,¡± since everyone was so happy, I would just let it pass for the time being. Be prepared to be the scapegoat next time, Kazuki.


    After that, we spent our time searching for anything that we could never have seen in the modern city life again. Wild plantations, flowers, mammals, birds, insects, bugs, and even worms. It was so fun joking with those young females by showing those last three categories at them. They would always scream and run away frantically like just saw a ghost or something. It was what Kazuki wanted to do from the beginning, and I was starting to enjoy this friendly bullying as well.


    I suddenly heard a faint of strange chimes sound whenwe were running after them. I wonderif it is like a bell whichTaoist priest uses tocontrol over Chinese vampires inside the forest. And they were currently marching toward us. Because the sound was just coming nearer and nearer. Very unlikely, but, had the thirteenth person or even the thirteen group been summoned already?


    Before fantasizing too much again, I think I have a more important task to take care offirst. I told Kazuki not to tease them too far. Let¡¯s stop first before they stop us with some fiery slaps on our face. My partner instantly got scared because his most and only valuable asset is in stake, and froze immediately.


    Too late, Elena was already gazing at us over shoulder with an enormous killing intent coming from her left eye, while holding a dagger on her left hand. Kazuki and Iwere really horribly scared.


    The young woman shook her head forcefully before opening her eyes again to observe the weapon she so suddenly wielded. The sound of chimes rang even more piercingly. Much likely, that thirteenth person of mine is¡®this¡¯Elena after all.


    It was the sound of the white furry balls which hung from those two crossed, thin and long pencil-lead-sized black pins, which attached to Elena¡¯s hair knot and formedan¡®x¡¯shape on the height of her nape. Two balls atthe end of each pins which are longer on the lower half, had made those chimes fell right behind her ears. I remember Elena already uses that particular style since our middle school time. Maybe that is what reminded me of herfrom behind in the park, not some fancy color imagination of mine. But I don¡¯t remember those white sphere things which would hardly ring if not shaken strongly enough though. Also, her tied hair should be much higher up on the crown of her head though.


    ¡°I foundthis dagger here. It ¡­ it is still quite new, I guess,¡± said Elena innocently. She looked as surprised as any of us. It was us who thought too much.


    ¡°You gave us quite a scare, Elena. Ha-ha-ha,¡± Kazuki laughed awkwardly, while scratching the back of his head.


    ¡°Yes, the timing couldn¡¯t be more precise,¡± I said awkwardly too, while poking my accomplice twice with my elbow.


    ¡°Ha-ha-ha, look at how scared they are,¡± Kaede chuckled together with her little sister.


    We grouped together to take a look at our strange discovery.


    ¡°How beautiful it is ¡­,¡± Elena said in awe, unable to close her mouth. Everyone was also fascinated by its charm. She looked left and right to find itsvery unlikely owner, but of course, there was none to be seen.


    The dagger is indeed very beautiful. It is shining withmany unique cravings on its white gold handle wherea lot of colorful gems embroidered as well. Maybea high-valued treasure. It looks very sharp too.


    ¡°Maybe you can keep that,¡± said Kazuki.


    ¡°May I?¡± Elena looked a little surprised, yet a little excited. She looked at me. Why would she look at me?


    ¡°Um, maybe ¡­,¡± I guessed.


    ¡°Yah, I am so happy!¡± screamed the young discoverer of the unknownsouvenirhysterically.


    She carefully put the dagger in its even more elaboratedsheath in her right hand. We continued our journey. I was just wondering if it really was the right thing to do. Elena seemed so happy though. We decided not to tell theothers before the night party.


    It might become a real ghost story of our own. A cursed thing maybe? Let¡¯s hope not.


    Time really passed so quickly when we are playing excitedly. The sky was getting dark, and the forest wind was starting to feel chilly. We were bitten by more and more mosquitoes and the others insects. So, we hasted ourselves to get shelter inside the mansion.


    I once heard from the wise saying that some people might be weak, but could also get very formidable at a certain moment, for example, when they are doing the things that they really liked. That really applied to Elena who was as weak as a sponge sprayed by water when she was at the beach. But now? She was running so eagerly, so fast like a sprint athlete, as well as the others. I was being left behind. So mean of them.


    Suddenly, I was pierced lightly for a second, by something weak on the back of my neck.


    ¡°Aww,¡± I moaned a bit, and stopped my running. I turned around while rubbing my pain. There was a white plane origami that was crooked a little on its head, dropped not far from me. I kneeled down and investigated. Judging from the amount of force that it hit me, current wind speed, its bend, and its landing location relative to mine. This is the culprit¡¯s weapon.


    I saw scribbles from its wing. Can I open it? I think it is for me. I joke to myself, a confession letter maybe? From a secret admirer? In the forest? I read with expectations. It is written with a lovely red cursive handwriting. It said:


    My Yoru most beloved, after the dinner come me to see please. I will from the outside of the gate be waiting for you. Come alone only. Ok?


    Most beloved, your Snow White.


    You holy seriously? Why Snow White? I prefer Cinderella. The sentences aren¡¯t even properly structured. But Kazuki would still be crazy if I tell him about this. Ha-ha.


    But I think I should just keep this for myself first until I know who in the heaven that did this kind of so romantic prank. I know it must be made by one of those three females or my buddy who borrowed the other¡¯s handwriting. But, I must admit I couldn¡¯t imagine how to make a trap that has the precision to hit me when I was running behind them, how to activate the trap, or anything else. Technical methods aside, I didn¡¯t feel like had overrun a string, or stepped onto something strange. I hesitated on my theory. But at the very least, the culprit is one of those in front of me because there shouldn¡¯t be anyone else in the forest. Let see what they are really up to tonight. Anyway, I would be keeping the letter of evidence in my pocket for the time being.


    I have a strange feeling though. As though I have seen that handwriting from somewhere a very long time ago. The sign further convinces me that the culprit is one of them. My head hurt a bit. Chika is the only one left in my mind. I don¡¯t know why. Have I levelled up to be able to sense the culprit without any clues whatsoever?


    At least as I remembered them, they also hadn¡¯t forgotten about me completely. They finally noticed that the normal adventurer who had been royally accompanying them all this time was being left behind. They stopped, and called for me. Elena mocked me further.


    ¡°What are you doing? You wanna stay? Sleeping with your kinds?¡±


    The deep and terrifying howling of the wild wolvessuddenly echoed from the far dark side of the forest. A what? Did Elena just summon them? I don¡¯t think so. Because she was just as shocked as the others.


    ¡°Quickly, Yoru. Run!¡± Kazuki got me the fuels.


    I stood up, and ran toward them again. Now I could keep up with anyone by using the unbelievable power that I just gained from that letter. I am really excited even though it is a just prank. That formidable thing at a certain moment buff was cast on me right now, and we were running as fast as we could. It is so much fun too, fleeing away from danger together with our best friends.


    Finally, we reached the safe region by passed through the gate, and then quickly sealed it before anything that couldn¡¯t be seen strikes us from the eerie and mysterious forest.

 Chapter 07 - The Appearance of Snow White

    Kazuki and I were waiting with the other gentlemen in front of the dining table. He told me that we are like kindergarteners who just need to sit down obediently, while hoping for the meal to be served as soon as possible by those young and hot female teachers. Otherwise, we would be receiving some spanks of love on the butt for discipline. He looked totally perverted in those fantasies. In fact, I was kind of having the same feeling, but in a totally different nature. At least I felt uneasy about this. Not just because we weren¡¯t helping them at all when they were so busy, and we were so free. We, gentlemen, were even visually harassing them. I mean looking so nonchalantly at busy people is rude.


    Not sure whom they were looking at so thoughtfully, but only those two ex-trouble makers were so silent in this ruckus. But still looked as though they were communicating privately through their minds.


    Here I come again, thinking too much for my own good.


    ¡°Actually my brother, I will tell you my secret of succession later after the dinner. You will need that reference for your future. Be prepared for the biggest revelation ever. No need to thank me. Ha-ha.¡±


    I didn¡¯t understand what he was talking about at all. But he seemed so happy, so I just pretended to understand.


    The western style cuisines were finally ready to be served. With the help of six newly appointed maids, all meals and drinks were able to be delivered in one trip from the kitchen to the dining table. I coded to Kazuki, to at least help them serve the dinner while we were sitting. But his soul was already not in this world of present, maybe in the past, or future, or most likely perfect. Practically impossible to call him at the moment.


    Though he still did help with the serving, but that doesn¡¯t mean he had heard me. He just wanted to give good impression to those maids, subconsciously. His hands were moving on its own but not his head, which was still on the surveillance of every each of them. No hope anymore left for this misguided friend of mine.


    Actually, it is pretty amazing.


    Everything had been served on, and the female workers were also sitting together with us in front of a huge and long horizontal dining table. Twelve people divide into 2 rows that faced each other just like the lunch earlier. On the top side, from left to right are Ken, Fionna, Chika, Kaede, Elena, and Kaigo. On the bottom side are Takuma, Megumi, Ryouta, Kazuki, myself, and Ringo. We enjoyed the dinner on the same table packed together. Really noisy, but also very heartwarming for me.


    The dinner was finished at around 7.30 p.m. Because from the many variations of drink available that they chose, or rather demanded were alcoholic beverages, Takuma and Ken passed out in just 2 or 3 glasses of strong wine. The gentlemen finally got their first job. Two of us volunteered to escort them to rest in their own room. Of course, one of them was the good man Kazuki. He helped Ken, and Takuma was assisted by the leader of this reunion, Ryouta.


    The rest of us regrouped in the comfort and leisure drawing-room. Ryouta joined us a few minutes later. Now the room had had all members except the two drunk guys in their room, Kazuki who still hadn¡¯t returned, Kaede who went to washroom, and Fionna who suddenly left us right after the dinner. So, there were only seven of us.


    ¡°It seems that all is quiet now. Nakano-kun is so drunk that he couldn¡¯t lock by his key. But he should have fallen asleep.¡±


    The twins chuckled. It is funny, I guess.


    ¡°Do you know why Kazuki is taking so long, Ryouta-kun?¡± I was caring for my inseparable mate.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know either, haven¡¯t seen him after that.¡±


    What is he doing right now? But there is still no need to pay so much attention for it. After all, what is there supposed to be worried about? Everything is fine. The twins then started the topic about what we weredoing during the free time in the afternoon. Of course, the five of us had schemed not to talk about that forbidden trip, nor strange discovery in the forest. But Elena, Chika, and I who were trapped in the room hadn¡¯t had any prepared story beforehand. So, we tried very hard, and carefully not to contradict with each others¡¯ instant creativity.


    After our made-up legends were told safe and sound without any flaws, the others also started to share out what they had done. They were just doing some leisure walk around the garden, enjoying the beautiful view, or the other peaceful kinds of things. Come to think of it, we were so lucky not to be seen by anyone. We secretly giggled to each other.


    After the dangerous topic had ended, Elena finally had the chance to burst out what she had been enduring so much since afternoon.


    ¡°When will we start the ghost story party plus barbeque?¡± seems she had had the whole purpose inverted, and had gotten even more aroused for that supporting atmosphere than its main intention, the barbeque party.


    Chika was surprised with wide eyes. It was as though her sister had betrayed her. Ryouta just smiled.


    ¡°Sorry, Elena-chan. Don¡¯t you think it will be better if we wait for the Kazuki-kun, Kaede-chan, and Fionna-chan first,¡± said the leader.


    ¡°No, the more people ¡­,¡± Kaigo was frightened.


    ¡°¡­. Yes, the scarier,¡± Ringo was excited.


    Elena seemed slightly disappointed, but she nodded. Didn¡¯t she look so scared of those scary things earlier? Is she already so paranoid that had prepared so much that if that ghost thing really isn¡¯t happening, wouldhave caused some sort of curses, orghost haunting inside herself?


    We were playing cards as we were waiting. To be honest, the atmosphere now was kind of, um, somehow different than before. Since Takuma and Ken weren¡¯t here, more relaxed and peaceful, I supposed? Nobody admitted it openly, but all of us must have been feeling the same.


    The clock had shown at a little past 8 p.m. when Kaede returned to us. She looked really sullen. Her mind was nowhere but immediately forced herself to smile when she met our eyes. Did something happen? I know she isn¡¯t the type of womanwho likes to share what she is thinking. Thus, to make her cheerful again like her usual self, I asked her to play along with us. No need to, or rather couldn¡¯t do anything else for her. She followed my advice even though she still didn¡¯t seem to have the mood for it.


    The night sky was spilling from a light drizzle to a heavy downpour which had automatically cancelled out Elena¡¯s long-awaited event. This current freezing and thundering weather was unfortunately in pair with Kaede¡¯s current mood. I was even more worried about her because I had really rarely ever seen her like this. And of course, Elena and Chika were feeling the same. Those curious sisters also didn¡¯t try ask anything knowing her traits, and just gave out so many obvious chances in the play to brighten Kaede up. She knew that we were worried about her, and trying to cheer her up, thus she tried her best to be spirited as expected, like nothing ever happened. Kaede really is awesome. She did her job well, and we were convinced. All of us were now playing as though our lives were on stake until the cruel and shocking sound of breaking glass startled everyone.


    *Prraaanggg.


    ¡°What was that?¡± Megumi was the first one to respond verbally.


    ¡°Seemed like a glass hasbroken or something?¡± I answered indecisively.


    ¡°Let¡¯s take a peek ¡­,¡± Ringo said excitedly with a little cold joke.


    ¡°¡­ to see what has ruined,¡± Kaigo said excitedly with a little cold joke.


    We ran toward the source of the previous piercing and unsettling sound. Seemed like it came from around Ken¡¯s room. After a quick check that everything of the nearby rooms were still intact. What was really left just the inside of Ken¡¯s room. After we arrived to the front of his door, we knocked, and called for him loudly. But there was still no answer from the inside. We tried to open the door, but it was locked.


    ¡°It is no use. We can¡¯t open it. The door is locked!¡±


    Ryouta seemed a bit frustrated. Then he saw Chika who was still running up the stairs because she was afraid, and not as fast as us. Kaede was also accompanying her little sister, a little more forward from her. He asked the most behind one.


    ¡°Chika-chan, please help me bring the master key. It should be around the right cabinet of the kitchen!¡±


    ¡°U ¡­ Um,¡± Chika nodded nervously, and braced herself to run for the errand alone even without knowing what was happening.


    ¡°Wait, Chika-chan. I am coming with you,¡± said Kaede worriedly.


    Chika relieved a bit. She waited for her sister over her shoulder, then they went off together hastily.


    ¡°I am going to find Kazuki-kun, and Fionna-chan. I am worried about them.¡±


    Without waiting for our answer, Ryouta had gone off alone to search for them.


    ¡°What is going on now!?¡± Megumi was starting to mess.


    ¡°Maybe just a prank, like the sound of prraaanggg,¡± The twins punnedoptimistically, but sounded pessimistically in an exaggerated behavioroftilting their head cutely. Did they know that would just make us feel even more unsettled? Yes, they do.


    After that, not even a minute had passed. To be accurate, it was only about 30 seconds. But the tense air had made us felt like already having half an hour. There was still no news coming from Ryouta, Kaede, nor Chika who just went off. Kazuki, and Fionna who hadn¡¯t returned from before. Takuma who was supposedly to be inside of his own room, and Ken who should be just in front of us but blocked by the walls and the locked door, still hadn¡¯t responded at all. Now, there were only the 5 of us waiting, calling, and banging the door restlessly for no result. The waiting without any kind of positive response in this kind of tense situation really made one would think of any kinds of possibilities that would worsen the circumstances. Many unsettling potential happenings filled my head. Suddenly, I was reminded of Ryouta¡¯s warning about the 13<sup>th </sup>person, and the weirdness of the twins that very much emphasized the unexpected things which would happen in this reunion.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    ¡°I am going to search for them as well. We wouldn¡¯t get anything by waiting like this,¡± I was beginning to think of the worst possible outcome already.


    ¡°But it mightbe dangerous to go alone,¡± Megumi¡¯s intention is a good one, but somehow, it agitated me.


    ¡°And so for the others!¡±


    As I turned to leave them, I caught a glimpse of Elena considering about something. Seemed that she also wanted to join with me. But Kaigo captured her hand when she had just taken the first step, preventing her from running away while looking at Ringo who was checking for any irregularity around the door.


    I, who was already too impatient about the others¡¯ safety, never wished for any company from the start. I left them with a swift run to the mansion¡¯s main entrance. So stupid really. If what I had been worrying, about those unexpected things, had happened. About that 13<sup>th</sup>person, had appeared. And even about that homicidal legend, being true. Then, what I was doing right now, wasn¡¯t it wrong? Would I be the one to cause even more trouble for the rest of them?


    I don¡¯t know why I was going to search at the outside of the mansion. Maybe it was my intuition, or because I could still think clearly that if they are being inside, then they should have heard the glass breaking sound. Eventually, I exited through the unlocked main door, and welcomed by the sudden fierce freezing wind and rain.


    I don¡¯t care of drenching myself, and began searching for them. I just need to take a quick look at the front garden because everything is so flat, and not so dark. No hidden places whatsoever.


    But nothing.


    I recognizedseeing two other structures besides the big main mansion, an open lounge on each of its sides. I dashed under the rain from the grassy field to the left open lounge first.Nobody is here. The rain was pouring down even harder, and more heavy thunders than before. But that didn¡¯t slow me at the leastfrom desperately making those distinguishsounds of soakingfootsteps on the broad watery grass as I covered my head with just my bare hands. I was drenching swiftly to the other opposite one though the front of the mansion again. I accidentally noticed some weirdness around the garden¡¯s entrance. The barred gate is open, and slightly swinging. We should have locked it before.


    I suddenly remembered about that letter. The prank ¡®asking-for-a-mysterious-date¡¯ letter from that time. When does it say? Seems it isn¡¯t fixed on hour, but specifically after the dinner. Maybe because I wasn¡¯t considering about it seriously enough, I had completely forgotten until just now. Chika still suddenly came into my mind. Why Chika? It is impossible, right? But I am not interested in this anymore. My highest priority right now is to find Kazuki and the others, and ensure their safety. But just when I was going to leave my sight from that promised location, I suddenly caught a glimpse of something white, really white, all of it, fluttering just outside the gate.


    What? I couldn¡¯t be missing it when I was watching over therejust before. Did it really so suddenly appear when I was onlybeing distracted for a second?


    The darksky was still pouring heavily like a storm whilethe cold blowing wind and flashing thunders roared in explosions. Alltrees, branches, and bushes, basically everything of the natural here were being pushed back and forth so fast by the raging gust that had forced them to detach someof their leaves and twigs. Those freed flying memberswere rapidly yet still gracefully dancing in the wind along with therain unaffected by gravity.If it wasn¡¯t because of something so important like concerning to someone¡¯s life, a normal person wouldn¡¯t want to go, moreover to stay at the outside right now.


    I was already fully drenched, and still being fiercely hit by the piercing drops and frizzing blows, but I was just unknowingly hookedthere. Unable to restrain from trembling so hard that I had never experienced before, I hugged myself, and opened my mouth to further adaptmy steamy breath to the current icy temperature while my teeth were chattering rapidly in its progress. But the white figure was still doing nothing but just standing out there, casually, as though nothing was actually happening.


    Is she the one who gave me that letter?


    I tried to open my eyes as big as possible, but still couldn¡¯t clearly see that ¡®thing¡¯ because of the stormy rain with foggy and dark environment where it was out of reach from all lights. The figure resembles a young adult, femaleperhaps. Her lower body was facing at me, but her head was lookingto her far right, causing her upper body to also rotated slightly onto that side. I could see nothing for what she was looking at so seriously because it was blocked by dense dancing bushes. Her white long hair, white smooth face, white princess gothic dresses set with its pairing gloves, shoes, socks, and a large European flowered bonnet with veil that covered her head,and even a white thick book hugged on her chest by her left hand, are so contrasted with the black forest. Everything about her is just and only white. Like a white silhouette on the black background. That is why I could still see her even in this blurry storm subconsciously.


    Before seeing her, I was strangely thinking of her being like Chika. But now, I had automatically seen her as Fionna instead. Yes, she resembles my foreign friend a lot. Their figure, skin tone, hair length, most importantly their European style looks and face. The only differences are Fionna hasa more straightened hair with purple color, and she worea black dress for the dinner. This young woman instead, is, with wavy hair and double front braids, and is almost white in every part as much as I could see right now while having a very eerie and contradicted dark feeling around her. There shouldn¡¯t be any more people around this location, right?


    But, she still seems somehow familiar with all her original features.


    As my eyes were starting to adapt more with the darkness, I could see her details more clearly now. Her small face really is perfectly white, but has many tiny dark freckles. Those marks aren¡¯t freckles! Nor only on her face. There were more on her dresses, books, bonnet, and hair. Considering from the smearing direction of those dark splattered dots, it wasn¡¯t caused by rain or anything above her. But more likely being sprayed from the location where she was looking at. Those small sprinkled dark marks on her entire body were slowly turning into deep pink water before being washed clean by the falling clean raindrops. From her gesture in more detail, she seemed like holding something on her white gloved right hand. I could only see some of the shining material that protruded from that grip. The rest of it was also being obstructed by the high fluttering bushes.


    I was stunned, and unable to move when the white lady was starting to be aware of my presence. The rain was still falling densely with deafening thunder, and biting gust. But the latter still didn¡¯t flinch, nor even blinked once. Looking as seriously as leisurely. Because her lower body was already facing at me, now it was her head¡¯s turn to slowly twisting to my direction. The creepy and disturbing atmospheres were even greater than before. She should be still a living being, right?


    From the distance of just 20 meters, I could see those cold as ice raindrops couldn¡¯t reach her right-side face where it was being sheltered by her leaning down large bonnet.Thus, those dark liquids still remained there, and under the bonnet. The left edge of her lips curled up a bit as she licked one of those dark sprinkles near her small palemouth. Her head finally stopped as our eyes met, and she just ¡­ smiled at me. I felt the chill down tomy spine, and I was dumbfounded by the sight of her. A white princess who usually appears as main character in fairy stories has really come into existence before me. Her glowing and waving front bang which is still uncleaned on her right is barely coveringher closed right eye, and her big-opened left eye which is just as beautiful and mysterious as an invaluable rare cold amethyst ismaking me felt that this isn¡¯t a reality. Just like that kind of atmosphere when I first met with Elena at the park.Only the weather was considerably different.


    Is she really ¡­ a princess? ¡­ a real Snow White?


    A really fierce lighting lit up everything, and I saw her so clearly like in the usual daytime in just those milliseconds. She really was smiling at me. Those dark liquids really have some reddish element mixed in it. It doesn¡¯t look like any usual red water at all. Because, whileit was being cleared by the rain, it wasn¡¯t dissolved so easily, and some remains were still sticking here and there. Clearly, it is something that has more mass than the raindrops.


    I know it! Blood! Blood?


    Then, as though she was so feeble, and not restraining with any strength. Her shoulder was also so reflexively turned to my direction together with her head earlier. Now, I could see what she had been holding all these time. Very clearly, and couldn¡¯t be mistaken anymore. It is a bloody piece of metal attached to a white gold intricate handle that she was gripping so strongly despise all her relaxed gestures. It has a pointing shape at its top most edge, and shone as the flash thundered. It is a dagger, a very sharp one. And now, it was pointing directly and precisely at me when its motions stopped, along with all movements of the lady finally ended.


    It is the same as the one Elena acquired before. Exactly the same.


    But she is just like a newly born girl who had never ever encountered any evilness in the world. The smile of her is pure, coming from an extremely beautiful face that was being right-side covered by the veil ofher large and unique flowered bonnet tied to the under of her small chin. What I had seen on the top of her is a very warm and innocent countenance. But everything was so contrasted on her lower half. It is practically a murderer¡¯s frosty hand, holding on the weapon that was still dripping fresh bloods from its tip to the flowing watery soil.


    Then, she closed her only opened left eye, and chuckled shyly.Slightly showing her very white teeth, and tilted her head to the rightnaively.Making anyonefeels that there would be absolutely no harm at all, and blindly enchantedto come close to this plain and guiltless clumsy young woman. If and only if, we don¡¯t see what she was clutching in her white gloved right hand, that bloody beautifully embellished dagger.


    ¡°Iih hii,¡± the Snow White was acting full of cuteness as though toward her beloved prince, with bloody mouth though.


    I was frozen, and couldn¡¯t express over what I was experiencing right now. Whatever! Is she a real human, or a haunting ghost? She did appear in front of me, and I was subconsciously walking toward her. Slowly ¡­. Supposedly, I was going to meet with that letter prankster who named herself Snow White. Slowly¡­. Supposedly, I was going to show off to Kazuki that one of the females in the reunion had been admiring me secretly. Slowly¡­. Supposedly, I was looking for Kazuki because I was worried about him. Quickly ¡­! Definitely, this reunion party would be my best memory!


    ¡°Yoru, why are you drenching yourself like that?¡±


    A loud voice of resolution called, and a column of ray enlightened me from behind, awakened me from this sweet nightmare. Ah yes, I had even forgotten about myself exposing in the middle of the heavy storm without any shelter. I was too focused, or rather, hypnotized by the irrational scene in front of me. I had the feeling that if I wasn¡¯t concentrating deep enough to the real world, I would be finished off in a blink of eye here and now.


    ¡°Hey, do you hear me!?¡±


    The white beam was swinging right and left at me impatiently, and the voice was starting to sound annoyed after being ignored by the still dumbfounded me. I was slowly returning to my usual sanity, and turned around to see who in the earth that is as crazy as that white womanto stand in the heavy rain besides me. There I see Elena sheltering in a red with white polka dots plastic umbrella, and pointing with a flashlight, not far from me. She looked really exhausted and irritated.


    I was so stupid really. There is a thing invented already in this modern world to help us see in the dark. Why was I so foolishly waiting for so long in the storm for that white lady to reveal herself?


    ¡°E ¡­ Elena!? There issomeone ¡­,¡±


    I pointed my right hand to the wondered location, and quickly looked back again, trying not to lose track of that white mystical being. Elena also quickly responded, and shone the light over. The heavy rain, fierce wind, and deafening thunders were still torturing us. But there was already no such thing over there, even before I had the time to finish my sentence. She really had disappeared with the same kind of way she used to so suddenly appear before.


    The definitely living person behind me should be curious, and looking at me questionably by now. But I was just as confused as her tone.


    ¡°Just what are you talking about!?¡±

 Chapter 08 - The First Unexpected Things

    Just like one of those most essential parts in clich¨¦d detective stories. I stutteringly told Elena that there was a person before, most likely a young woman, all white, standing just outside the gate, in the middle of the storm, holding a dagger, and even more, she and her weapon were bloodstained. And the most unbelievable fact is ¡­ that white being was ¡­ innocently smiling at me.


    ¡°A white ¡­ young woman, you said?¡± Elena seemed totally shocked.


    ¡°Yes ¡­. Ah, the dagger! Her dagger is exactly the same as the one you found in the forest with us. Is that thing still with ¡­,¡± I quickly replied, and asked her, but cut by her.


    ¡°Are you sure she is all white and a woman!? ... And yes, it should be still inside of my drawer,¡± Elena clarified, but really not looking like herself.


    ¡°She has long waving white hair, and wears elaborated gothic dresses with a large bonnet. She must be a female!¡±


    We were suddenly out of topic in the middle of this inconvenient depressing weather.


    ¡°Then ¡­, where is she now?¡± The confused detective had relieved some, but still doubting me.


    As I expected, a rational thinker like Elena wouldn¡¯t accept my statements directly without seeing it herself, or having any evidence to support the fact. Thus, I grabbed her hand quickly, and guided her to the location where that white woman was before. I was so determined to prove that white existence is a real deal that I didn¡¯t feel any fear anymore. Elena could keep up with my impatient pace, but she needed to drop her umbrella, and ran under the rain together with me. She didn¡¯t seem to care much about getting herself drenched either, unlike the usual girls. Her curiosity is her biggest interest. She also looked extremely eager to confirm that fairy tale though she was still mixed with some unsettled feelings.


    Continuing to that clich¨¦d mystery genre concept. Nothing. There was nothing in there. As though ¡­ nothing had ever been there. Elena and I were searching together with the one and only flashlight. The dripped bloods, and footprints must have already been flushed away by the rapid flowing water on the soil. No body nor corpse was found. No more of that eerie aura that could be felt even from a far distance away. The inner side of the forest was so deep and dark that we could only see for a limited range even with the help of the light, and the storm already declined to a normal rain. Everything had been reset to the how-it-should-be condition. Everything I wanted to prove was gone.


    Changing the topic,Elena told me that she had searched in all locations including those I hadn¡¯t explored yet. The back of the mansion which is by the beach, and the right open lounge. But the most important information is Kazuki had been found by Ryouta, and returned.


    ¡°Then we should quickly return to the mansion. Fionna-chan might have returned too.¡±


    I must admit, I still couldn¡¯t accept the fact that I couldn¡¯t find any evidence to prove that strange phenomenon isn¡¯t just a plain stupid hallucination of mine. Elena also looked somehow unsatisfied. But now, we were more concerned about the safety of our friends, and we must find out the cause of that previous glass breaking sound inside Ken¡¯s room first. So, after we locked up the opened gate, the two of us ran back toward the mansion for the second time since that forest exploration which marked the beginning of everything about this Snow White.


    Her umbrella? It had been blown away by the gust so far that we didn¡¯t see it on our way back to the mansion. Though we had reached into the shelter in front of the main entrance. Before I could stop her, she had already run into the middle of the rain again so distant away just to fetch that little companion of her.


    The rain suddenly ceased when Elena reached into the shelter again. It was just a coincidence, and the normal Elena would have been throwing a tantrum already like a little kid. But we couldn¡¯t care less now. After leaning the umbrella at the corner beside the door as it was still dripping, we continued our run, and entered into the mansion together.


    On our way back to Ken¡¯s room, we found Kazuki at the far end of the main hall which was already wet spread by so many footsteps and droplets here and there. He looked like searching for something even though it was him who supposedly to be searched by. As we were approaching him hastily, Elena also quickly explained to me even before I had the time to think of what we were seeing right now about the man in front of us isn¡¯t exactly the same with the fact she had told me earlier, very systematically and elaborately.


    ¡°When Kazuki-kun in wet attire had returned to us in front of Yamao-kun¡¯s room, I asked Kaigo and Ringo to let me ask you to return back to us. They wanted to ¡­, no, they must stay in there until the door is unlocked. But they also concerned about me, who so persistently wanted to go alone. Thus, I told them the still distracted Kazuki is going to help me find you as well. Since he is your best friend, and the reason you so wanted to go in the first place isto search for him. Also, we are going to search in the inside of the mansion only, carefully, cautiously, and certainly. Finally, after a hard confidence, we could really leave them, and after we really couldn¡¯t see them anymore, I told Kazuki-kun to search in the inside alone, and I will go to the outside. Kazuki-kun didn¡¯t let me at first. I persisted until I can again. The outside isfar safer than the inside because of the heavy rain. I will just take a quick look around. I won¡¯t wonder anywhere. I promise. Believe in me! I think you must be at the outside. I think you will think about that sound hearing possibility. But I amstill not so sure enough about your cognitive ability. That is why we must separate our search. But then there was you. You really were at the outside, blank-mindedly standing in the middle of the rain. So please, don¡¯t tell Kaigo and Ringo about this, ¡®kay?¡±


    The information was so long that the half-dried Kazuki already regrouped with us for quite some time. He and I didn¡¯t really understand about what she had just said so quickly and confusingly. But we know that she would get into a big trouble if we were to tell the others about her previous selfish decision, especially to the twins. Couldn¡¯t bear to watch her in such panicky state. All right, all right, we nodded together like the twins.


    She is not even sure about my cognitive ability? How truthful. But still, she was doing all those things for me.


    After Elena had put down the flashlight on one of the tables in the main hall, the three of us returned back as fast as we could to the other 3 members group, in front of the previous locked room. Now, half of everyone was assembled here. The others were the still missing Fionna, and Ryouta who was searching for her, Kaede and Chika who hadn¡¯t returned from getting the master key in the kitchen, Takuma who was in his room far on the other wing, and Ken who was also in his room but just in front of us.


    Megumi greeted us when we arrived.


    ¡°What? Kaede-chan and Chika-chan still haven¡¯t returned with all of you yet? Oh my God. What are they doing right now? Why did you all choose the most coward one to get the key?¡±


    Megumi was very stress out already. She shut her eyes, and hit her forehead with her right hand while her phone was on her left.


    ¡°I am going to help them!¡± once again I was acting automatically before considering carefully first.


    ¡°Me too,¡± Elena also worried about them.


    ¡°Looks like there is no need,¡± both twins noticed together some light running steps toward us. Kaede and Chika were sprinting as fast as they could with the master key in the latter¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Sorry ¡­, the key is ¡­ so hard to find ¡­,¡± Kaede said breathlessly.


    Kaigo swiftly received it, and unlocked the door that had been carefully checked by Ringo and verified it as just an ordinary locked door. The twins impatiently pushed that seal open which had been previously preventing us from knowing what was going on the inside, and causing so much trouble for us. Some of us who had seen the fact just stood still, and stopped to move.


    ¡°Sniff, sniff. Bad deeds started,¡± whispered by the two of the most identical ones in beautiful rhythm.


    Elena and I could see nothing from behind. I wanted to know as well. What had made them paused so abruptly? In fact, I could sort of guess already. But I justdidn¡¯t want to believe it until I saw it with my very own eyes. I gently pushed the dumbfounded persons aside, and made my own way through to the front most from their narrow space. I immediately saw the fluttering white curtains at its wide-opened windows, and horribly broken vasein front of itas the appetizer before the worst thing ever. I was right, absolutely right after all.


    Ken is dead, lying on his bed, disorderedly with his right hand hanging down that side. His expression was also like any of us, who didn¡¯t know whatwas going on. His eyes were opened as wide as it possible, but still couldn¡¯t be bigger than his silenced shouting mouth. He has his neck cut so deep, and splattered so much blood around the room that we were too sure already, he couldn¡¯t be saved anymore.


    Still not too late as the screams of hysterics were being released by the inexperienced fellow participants, echoed horrifyingly inside this brutal murder room, making the entire scene worse than ever. I was able to restraint myself from shouting not because I am so brave nor calm. But I was just being paralyzed once again in place, by the sight of a dead body, and so much bloodstains scattered before me for the first time in my life. And even more than any of that, the victim is one of the persons I had known for so long.


    The ones who were still really calm and untroubled at all were Kaigo and Ringo. As though they had already been used to this kind of situations. They skillfully advanced toward the victim without causing any disturbance upon everything inside the room, persevering the scene as it was from the first time we saw it. They immediately did the procedures that a policeman and a forensic are supposed to do. Stolen novel; please report.


    Kaigo kneeled down by the bed before performing the examination on Ken¡¯s lying dead body, and Ringo was searching for any suspicious things around the room while the rest of us were still unable to move an inch.


    As Kaigo was checking on the corpse with his gloves, he showed an identity card in his wallet to us in a flash, and kept it back again into his jean¡¯s back pocket before we had the chance to see what it actually was. He was still busying as he explained.


    ¡°¡­ line. Worry not, my fellow classmates. Just keep calm and stay wherever you want. I have my doctor license. As for Rin, trust me, she has her ¡­,¡±


    ¡°¡­ police license. I am searching for clues or evidences that might be left by me if I am the murderer. As for Kai, excuse me, don¡¯t steal my ¡­,¡± she, then, also showed us an identity card from a distance while still doing her job in her gloves, and skillfully saved it again that we also didn¡¯t managed to see it clearly.


    ¡°Murderer ¡­!?¡±


    I was back to my senses again. This is a real murder occurred in front of me! Up until now, I just thought that a friend had ¡®simply¡¯ died there, not actually thinking far enough to who caused that. It is a so simple thought, really, if we are just on the side of reading, hearing, or watching from a story. But it really doesn¡¯t cross in my mind at all. That cruelest fact.


    The twins were absolutely right. He must have been undoubtedly killed by someone, by a murderer. No, it was still too early to conclude that there is only one person who did that, maybe two, maybe three, maybe a bunch of them. My mind instantly switched back to that still incomprehensible experience a few minutes ago. Yes, that white young woman must be one of them. that self-claimed Snow White with bloody knife, full bloodstained body, suspiciously out there in the middle of the stormy night, dark and unsettling aura, smiling as though unaware of everything, then she disappeared.


    ¡°I ¡­ I can¡¯t believe ¡­, a murder ¡­ hashappened ¡­in front of ¡­,¡± Kaede stutteredas Chika was tremblingly hugging her. The little sister¡¯s face was already as white as paper.


    ¡°Is he really ¡­ dead?¡± Megumi still tried to be composed. She was shakily checking her phone again, but then so quickly threw away that luxurious but useless communication device. It hit the side table before falling onto the floor. Everyone was startled, thinking that another unexpected thing had been repeated. She let out a despairing groan.


    ¡°Hey! How could this ever happen!!?¡± Kazuki was angry and stressed. His head shook very forcefully left and right to see everything in a clearer view. His still wet hair splattered some drops onto the cold bloody floor.


    After the quick inspection, Kaigo rose, and announced professionally.


    ¡°Unfortunately, I believe the cause of death is what we are seeing right now, ehem ¡­. The deep and broad cut on the neck. An instant dea ¡­.¡±


    *Prraaanggg.


    Weslightly jumped out of shockbefore the doctor could elegantly finish his excellent report. Another horror of glass breaking sound had really been repeated to terror all of us once again. It sounded like even louder than before as though we had been unconsciously preparing for that. And just like having another replay from the start of the tragedy, we impatiently ran toward the source of the latest sound, leaving the death body alone at its first discovered place.


    Leaded by Kaigo and Ringo whom somehow reacted faster than any of us, we sprinted together to the opposite wing of the mansion. Despite so far away, we could already tell. It must be from Takuma¡¯s room. The two of them, Ken and Takuma are so alike. They are only close, and prefers talking to each other much more than with any of us, and even get drunken previously at the very same time. That similarly done glass breaking sound, must be alarming us that Takuma had already ended up with the same fate as Ken.


    On our restless way toward the second glass breaking room, in front of the main stairs, we saw Ryouta who was fully soaked by the rain running up the stairs toward us. He was gasping heavily while holding the back of his head with his right hand. Seemed that he just returned from the outside after searching for our other female friend who had been missing right after the dinner. When we regrouped on the second-floor corridor, we spoke as we were running.


    ¡°What is that sound?¡± he asked worriedly, in almost no breath anymore to any of us.


    ¡°We want to find that out as well,¡± Kazuki replied to the one who found him before.


    ¡°I can¡¯t find Fionna-chan yet. Has she returned?¡±


    ¡°What?¡± I spontaneously answered with yet another question. Is ¡­ Fionna really the ¡­?


    ¡°Not yet, more importantly ¡­,¡± Ringo answered in my place, perfectly according to the current situation.


    ¡°¡­ the source of that sound,¡± Kaigo completed his twin sister¡¯s words.


    I noticed the back of our newest member¡¯s head that he was holding all this time was kind of strange. It was bleeding slightly.


    ¡°Ryouta-kun, your head ¡­.¡±


    ¡°Oh, this. No worries, Yoru-kun. I will tell the details later,¡± Ryouta forced a smile on top of his still unbearable painful expression. We know that he is that kind of man. He is even more worried about anyof us than his own self. We decided to respect his decision.


    Now we finally arrived in front of Takuma¡¯s room. The atmosphere felt really alike with the previous one. The door was locked, and no one replied from the inside for our deafening shouts, and door bangs. But one thing is different though, we can now unlock the door immediately because the master key was with us, with Kaigo more specifically.


    Even though before opening the door, even though we were so exhausted already that shouldn¡¯t be able tothink clearly anymore. I, no, all of us should have known what had happened inside. All hints are exactly the same. Just like when a primary school teacher gives out a riddle to his students, and they have to guess it. No matter their answer is right or wrong. The teacher would eventually reveal its correct answer for their future reference. After that, if the same question with the same clues is being presented again.The students would have automatically known its answer without any hesitation. The teacher should be very proud.


    Ringo is the one who unlocked the door this time because her twin brother just eccentrically gave out the master key which hadn¡¯t left him even for a second after he received it from Chika.


    They must take in turns, whatever the situation is.


    Even though we had known and prepared our mental for the worst already, even though this wasn¡¯t the first time anymore. We were still being dumbfounded again by the sight of the content designed in the second murder scene. We still¡­hadn¡¯t gotten used to these gruesome and full of hatred murders, yet.


    ¡°Sniff, sniff. Bad deeds indeed,¡± chuckled by the two of the most alike ones in graceful rhythm.


    Takuma is also found lying on his bed, dead, and disorganized. Nothing new though, just the same horrible and bloody scene as the first murder. It stunk our noses. The two of them has had their head almost severed.The two of them were indeed very same.


    But actually, this one had gotten some bonuses on him. He had beenstabbed so many times all over his body but there is no weapon to be found around. And his face is severely disfigured as though had been beaten rapidly with so much force and no mercy at all. Maybe, there was even more bloods sprayed all over the room¡¯s everything from his mouth and body.


    Kaigo and Ringo were just basicallyreplayingwhat they had done in Ken¡¯s room while we were unable to scream anymore. After a few touches and tests, the young doctor and the young police finally finished with their examination on the second corpse and scene. But it was the female¡¯s turn now.


    As I said, they don¡¯t care about anything, but equality.


    ¡°The same as the first murder, yet again, nothing special. The cause of death is what we are seeing right now, ehem ¡­,¡± Ringoexplained in the speed of light, and pointed at the horribly stained environment of the second crime casually as though a presentation. She cleared her throat proudly for being finally ableto finish what her brother so wanted to warp up in the first one before. The latter seemed so jealous at her. She continued in a slower pace.


    ¡°¡­ though I still couldn¡¯t confirm whetherthe beatings were occurred before or after the dea ¡­.¡±


    *Stepp. *Stepp. *Stepp.


    Holy moly! The twins really were interrupted by something unexpected again. Equality at the finest! The constant knocking sounds of someone¡¯s high heels onto the floor was coming toward the room. Of course, it wasn¡¯t caused by any of us who were just standing barely in the inside, near the door. The twins just chuckled to each other, at their missed chances to finish each of their own first-class reports. They, then, gave a deep sigh, and an utterly disappointed face, so reversely from before.


    That Snow White!? Finally!


    Here came the beautifulyoung ladywhom I most wanted to inquire to ¡­ as well. She appeared in front of the door whilealso drenched in her previous dark dresses. Even though she was seeing a murder scene right in front of her now. Her countenance was just the same asusual, nothing matters. Not even trembling from the coldness of her wet attires. Apparently, her makeup is also entirely waterproof at the highest quality.


    ¡°Where have you been!?¡± the person who had been searching for her previously had the mostrights to ask.


    Our foreign friend paused. And then faintly grinned at us for a moment. We had never seen her like that.


    At last, after a long waiting since the morning, or even since the middle school period6 years ago, a voice finally escaped from her small cute mouth. Her slightly distinguishable Old European accent had made her voice unique yet still very beautifully and perfectly sounded as naturally as any of us in our language. She is the Fionna.


    ¡°Rain likes me¡­,I guess.¡±


    Two cold drops were unlucky to leave her flawless V-shaped chin.


    All of us were completely silenced. She even gave out another unbelievable gift after her rare speech. It was also our first time to see that. It was even more astonishing than that first sudden grin. Even though it should have been a common countenance for any girls in the world, but it is as though never designed for her character at all.


    She was now, showing a very innocent and cute smile that unimaginably matched perfectly with her usual unemotional fairy face to us all.


    Was it her who had made that super adorable sound again?


    ¡°Iih hii.¡±

 Chapter 09 - The Suspicions between Reunion Members

    By now, there were only ten of us left, gathering inside Takuma¡¯s room, the second murder scene. Four men, and six women. Some were already frightened out of their wits, but some were just utterly unbothered at all.


    ¡°Are they really being ¡­ murdered?¡± Megumi was trembling as she wanted to clarify once again.


    ¡°As my expertise could humbly tell, yes,¡± our young doctor responded confidently with a smile, as though mimicking our foreign friend¡¯s most unpredictable first eccentricity ever. Interesting, but still wasn¡¯t cute enough.


    ¡°The main differences though, lie on the expressions, and the murdering methods,¡± our young police summarized assuredly with a smile, as though mimicking her twin brother¡¯s most predictable usual eccentricity ever. Much better, but still couldn¡¯t beat the original one.


    ¡°Who ¡­ who can be so cruel ¡­, and did ¡­ these kinds of horrible things?¡± Kaede cried in fear, and was unable to stand anymore. But still consoling her even more terrified little sister in her hug.


    ¡°Is there anybody ¡­ besides us here!? Like strangers? Huh? Ryouta-kun?¡± Kazuki asked almost voicelessly. His face was already out of colors.


    Yes, strangers. I had seen one before. I turned around to Fionna, and she seemed to be immediately aware of me gazing at her. But she couldn¡¯t care less.


    ¡°No, it is impossible. Our location is so deep in the wild forest, and there is no other island around, not even phone signal could reach here. We ¡­ we also don¡¯t reserve any transportation means. In here, we could really be considered as being cut off from the outside world,¡± Ryouta explained stressfully.


    ¡°What!!?¡± Megumi almost shrilled.


    ¡°But ¡­,¡± he added uncertainly.


    ¡°We can¡¯t see cars,¡± Kaigo shrieked awfully.


    ¡°We can¡¯t see ships,¡± Ringo shrieked awfully.


    ¡°But what about the airplanes?¡± The twins joked excitedly while flapping their arms like a pair of birds flying in a circle in front of us. Not exactly the best way to express the current situation.


    The atmosphere was still tense before the most silent woman broke in. She noticed something that I noticed before. Her tone was cold, though.


    ¡°Where did you hurt your head?¡±


    Our reunion leader was surprised a little. He gently touched his wound again, but groaned a little.


    ¡°Ah, this ¡­, ack ¡­ I was attacked ¡­ by someone after I found Kazuki-kun at the outside ¡­ probably. Someone ¡­ from behind. Then, I lost conscious for a while before regrouping with you all again.¡±


    Everyone were flinched. The still living victim added.


    ¡°Yes, though I couldn¡¯t see his or her face at all. They ¡­ should be a young adult around our age. They must be the ¡­,¡± Ryouta was trying his best to identity that unknown person.


    Elena cut in impatiently.


    ¡°Ok, that could be left for now. After all, that could be just a disguise to confuse us all. More importantly, it seems that we are trapped in here. We can¡¯t swim over, or walk a long trip through the dangerous forest. When will the bus come again, Ryouta-kun?¡± Elena asked as calm as possible. Everyone was curious why did she skip over that important lead. Isn¡¯t that obvious? She was focusing on our safety first.


    ¡°As ¡­ as scheduled only ¡­ on the fourth day morning, 9 a.m. Since we can¡¯t use anything around here to contact the others. I afraid nobody will know what is going on here,¡± Ryouta explained regretfully.


    Kazuki almost threw up, and squatted down. He has a minor hemophobia. I went to support him.


    Kaigo suggested a brilliant idea with his twin sister¡¯s left index pointing up inside her glove.


    ¡°Then we must ¡­ investigate.¡±


    The remainders were shocked, and staring at him, and of course at her too.


    ¡°Are you two really in such a good mood?¡± Kazuki was angry while still covering his mouth.


    ¡°Better than doing ¡­ nothing,¡± Ringo who had the same idea with Kaigo from the first place also had her twin brother¡¯s right index pointing up inside his glove on her speaking turn.


    ¡°What do you mean? Playing detective? Want to solve our friends¡¯ murder cases?¡± Kazuki was really agitated. I tried to calm him down.


    The twins elegantly moved forward, and looked down at the knelling demonstrator from above with an absolutely intimidating air.


    ¡°Then let me ask you!¡± Kaigo exclaimed.


    ¡°How are we going to survive knowing that there is at least one murderer lurking around?¡± it was Ringo who actually asked


    Kazuki couldn¡¯t say anything in return but furiously averted his sight from them. He was still irritated over their suggestion of ¡®for intelligent only¡¯ play. But he also couldn¡¯t deny the fact that a murderer was still hiding around here, somewhere.


    They have actually gotten some point there. Instead of spending the still long and pointless remaining days left cowering in fear of being murdered before the rescue to come, we could try to catch the murderer first, to avenge our friend, and ensure our safety. It really is a ¡®for intelligent only¡¯ suggestion that could have only come out from just the kind of them. I wished I could think reasonably like that.


    Our reunion ¡­ just ruined like that.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, have some faith in us,¡± Ringo started the speech soothingly.


    ¡°We will find out the murderer,¡± Kaigo completed the speech soothingly.


    ¡°I will also help to expose the culprit,¡± Fionna surprisingly interested in this risky operation as well.


    The twins¡¯ eyes almost rolled out.


    ¡°Per ¡­ that is exactly the best choice we can picky-picky now ¡­,¡± Kaigo cried, and nodded satisfyingly.


    ¡°¡­ to prevent any more picky-picky murders ¡­ fect.¡± Ringo cried, and nodded satisfyingly.


    We wasted some minutes to regain our humanity. On our front and rear were perfect beings after all.


    ¡°Wait a second, how are we supposed to catch the murderer? Are they hiding in the forest?¡± Ryouta asked unconvincingly.


    ¡°Instead, they might be one of us here, ¡­ not a disguise at all¡± Fionna suggested an interesting logic. We all turned to her. Elena seemed slightly offended.


    I argued, at last I had my chance to speak out.


    ¡°That is impossible! I have seen someone in the middle of the heavy rain when I was at the outside as well. She was standing just beyond the garden¡¯s barred gate. ¡­ she was still holding a blood dripping knife, the same knife with the one we found in the forest, and bloods were stained all over her too. Maybe, she is the one who attacked Ryouta-kun. She is the murderer!¡± I explained the situation as briefly as possible to everyone.


    ¡°Hoo? She?¡± Fionna asked placidly when the others were still unable to imagine that very unlikely fact. The twins¡¯ eyes were already sparkling like stars.


    ¡°Yes, she looks like a young woman. All in white, white face, white long hair, holding a white book, wearing white dresses and a large bonnet. In fact, I am thinking that ¡­ her look really is ¡­ resembling you from far away. Only differ in your hair style and its color ¡­ and your clothes too. Though I could only see her left eye, but ¡­ most strangely, ¡­ she has gotten the same rare purple eye like you.¡±


    Fionna suddenly touched her white shocking face with both of her hands. She even tilted her head, and folded her left knee backward.


    ¡°Whoa! A doppelganger! I wanna meet that cutie!¡± she expressed in her usual calm countenance despite trying to look cute just now. Is she really as eccentric as the twins? Or even more? Or just trying to make fool of me?


    ¡°¡­ and the knife!?¡± The twin asked desirously while each holding each of my hand. They basically teleported!


    ¡°It ¡­ it should still keep by Elena in her drawer,¡± I was confused by their interest. But they immediately let go of my hands after they know that I didn¡¯t have that wonder thing, and swiftly replayed to its true owner.


    Elena nodded weakly, while struggling out of the twins¡¯ creepy hands. But they were still looking at her in awe. Just why?


    ¡°Did anyone see it besides you?¡± Ryouta asked, still couldn¡¯t believe at the fact that there is an unidentified one in his area. He contradicted himself. He also wanted to believe in us.


    I turned to Elena.


    ¡°Did you really not see the young woman I talked about? When you were behind me that moment?¡±


    ¡°Nope.¡± the potential witness averted her eyes. She looked unsure.


    ¡°You sure you weren¡¯t just seeing some illusions? What you were seeing ¡­,¡± Ryouta must make a decision. He is one of the victim after all.


    Despite of being offended by distrust, I was even calmer that I thought I could, and retraced back for a moment.


    At that time, the scene was really dark and foggy. The rain was very hard that made me shivering in cold, and seeing things blurry. The strong gust blew the bushes, so it looked like fluttering? Then how to explain its white color? Ah, maybe that was because of the thundering¡¯s flash? Was that even possible? But I was still pretty sure that I wasn¡¯t hallucinating at all. She really existed for that short amount of time. But also thinking back of it logically now, it was almost impossible for anyone to be able to be so suddenly appearing out nowhere in the wild forest, moreover in gothic dresses? Then, there was no trace had been left behind either, and I was the only one who had witnessed it. Nobody was going to believe in me. Not even I could convince myself.


    ¡°Um ¡­, at that moment, I really do believe that there is someone other than all of us here. But, maybe I was wrong, that location ¡­.¡±


    I suddenly remembered something important, really important. An evidence that could prove that white girl¡¯s existence. It is a thing that was exclusively given by herself, for me only. I quickly groped my pocket. Thank God, it was still there though soaked already. I pulled it out slowly and carefully because it is the only key to solve this case, to prove that there really is another one lurking around us. I showed it off to everyone in the room.


    ¡°This is the other thing we ¡­ I got when we were playing in the forest. A letter from her. But I had forgotten about it until just now.¡±


    By now, nobody asked why we wandered into the prohibited area before. What was even more important than cracking the actual murder case itself? Everyone paid no attention to our previous fault but to the mysterious letter which I was holding. Though its ink had smeared a bit, it is still readable.


    ¡°Snow White ¡­,¡± Elena repeated that wonder woman¡¯s nickname based on the letter.


    ¡°Did anyone here have sent ¡­,¡± Kaigo asked.


    ¡°¡­ this love letter to Yoru-kun? So sweet!¡± Ringo said the last two words as though teasing me. But it was Kaigo who poked me.


    All of them didn¡¯t need to answer nor shake their head. Megumi sighed tiredly. Doubtlessly, it wasn¡¯t from any of us.


    ¡°Too bad, Yoru-kun,¡± Ringo said sadly.


    ¡°My condolence, Yoru-kun,¡± Kaigo said regrettably.


    ¡°Ha-ha-ha. How lame those sentences are? Is she an elementary kid, or something? Are you a pedophile, Yoru-kun?¡± The twins further added jokingly.


    ¡°Is it possible for anyone to be living or hiding in the forest? By your honest opinion,¡± Elena asked Ryouta, unconcerned by the eccentricity of the twins.


    ¡°Should ¡­ should be ¡­ not much of a possibility. There are so many kinds of wild and dangerous animals in the forest. Even though they could somehow manage to survive during the daytime, they couldn¡¯t escape from the wolves that usually appear at night hunting for foods by using their very sensitive smelling. Nobody can survive from the attacks of a massive group of wolves.¡±


    ¡°Yes, we heard them howling when the sky was getting dark.¡±


    Elena turned to me, and said seriously.


    ¡°I am very sorry, Yoru-kun. There is no doubt that the letter itself is legit, and that Snow White, or the disguised person who attacked Ryouta-kun will be considered as the main suspect for now. But that fact still couldn¡¯t prove that they must be the perpetratorbehind all these murders. Though she was all bloodstained like you have said, yet still not impossible for even another unknown person to be concealing around here besides us and the Snow White if she ever existed, considering every one of us aren¡¯t lying about the fact that they aren¡¯t that letter¡¯s author. Nevertheless, they aren¡¯t our top most priority now. We will start from investigating every each of us first.¡±


    ¡°So precisely,¡± Ringo gave a thumb up for Elena.


    ¡°You are still thinking that the murderer is among us? But didn¡¯t you just say that it isn¡¯t impossible for the others to be hiding in the forest? Right!?¡± I didn¡¯t understand at her contradictions at all.


    ¡°Not precisely,¡± Kaigo gave a thumb down for me.


    ¡°Yah. Like I said. Though it is almost impossible to be hiding in the forest in our normal perspective. There is still too much information that we don¡¯t have about what is being inside of the forest. Maybe they have even built their own secret base, or something. And even ¡­.¡±


    ¡°Yes, that is what I am talking about. Somebody else is here! But ¡­, just for this chance of killing!?¡± I asked rather harshly.


    ¡°Stay tuned for more!¡± the twins advertised enthusiastically.


    ¡°It is just one of the premises that I think it is still ¡­ possible,¡± Elena couldn¡¯t look any longer into my glaring eyes.


    ¡°Then what is the main reason that makes us must doubt at each other!?¡± I was starting felt irritated.


    ¡°Not doubting at each other. But we will just be searching for the clues that will lead to the perpetrator. At least theircrime partner is one of us,¡± Elena answered persuasively to ease my anger.


    ¡°What do you mean!?¡± I was surprised, and confused at the same time.


    Ringo asked with a police¡¯s suspicion.


    ¡°Have you ever thought why things were just too ¡­ coincidence?¡±


    Kaigo answered with a doctor¡¯s knowledge


    ¡°Yes, those two were ¡­ drugged.¡±


    The twins starred at us with dignity.

 Chapter 10 - The Investigation Begins

    The room went quiet, really quiet. As though the fact about the two murders which occurred in front of us in a very gruesome way, and the deaths which were our very own ex-middle school classmates in our long yearned reunion weren¡¯t shocking enough. The twins had just said that the victims were drugged first before their homicides, could only mean that it was from the time we had our last dinner together.


    I don¡¯t know when they are aware ofthat. But thinking in more deeply really revealed that at least one person like Ken who is already so familiar with alcoholic drinks from ages shouldn¡¯t be so easily wasted by just merely two or three glasses of regular dinner wine. But in a reunion, who would have expected that as the beginning of a murder?


    ¡°That clearly showed that at least one of us isat least a partner of the murderer themselves in at least one of these murders. Thus, should have a connection with the murderer,¡± Kaigo didn¡¯t explain for the easier understanding purpose.


    ¡°Or maybe that at least one of us isat least a murderer themselvesin at least one of these murders. Thus, should have start from investigating ourselves,¡± Ringo didn¡¯t explain for the easier understanding purpose either.


    ¡°Maybe the food ingredients have been tampered before?¡± Megumi also joined in to analyze the mystery, surprisingly had gained her compose.


    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Ryouta was concerned. He thinks he was being suspected by that statement. It is him who had arranged everything of this party after all.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think so. We had gotten all ingredients from the new and unopened cans. Even the drinks for the dinner are all new bottled, right? Everything is still intact,¡± Kaede gave her clarification.


    ¡°Then it means the ¡­ betrayer who had drugged them is ¡­ among the women who had prepared the dinner for us? Sorry no offence,¡± Ryouta said to the walls next to him, unable to face any of them.


    ¡°Still couldn¡¯t confirm that yet. The meals and drinks were distributed by men as well,¡± Elena added.


    ¡°Yes, that is why. All of us here ¡­,¡± Kaigo announced.


    ¡°¡­ ten persons are, the suspects on the same level,¡± Ringo finished.


    The remainders looked at each other confusingly, despairingly.


    ¡°What a lucky reunion,¡± Kazuki snorted.


    ¡°It can¡¯t be true,¡± Kaede couldn¡¯t believe at the presented fact.


    ¡°But they are right. There is no other person besides us who had the chance to drug Nakano-kun and Yamao-kun during the dinner,¡± I sullenly agreed.


    The room went peaceful again. Before a mumble was heard, and quickly raised to a deafening level.


    ¡°No ¡­, No-no-no ¡­, Noooo ¡­! Pleasee ¡­! Don¡¯t do thaaat!!!¡± a loud and eerie cry suddenly echoed inside the room. It was from Chika who was silencing all this time. She jerked off from her sister¡¯s hug.


    ¡°Mayuu-chaan ¡­, pleasee!! I believe in you ¡­! You are not such a person! Even ¡­ even it is us who had caused your death ¡­. We won¡¯t ¡­ even forget about yoouu ¡­! Aaaah ¡­!!!¡±


    Chika looked like a totally different person now. Her eyes were big-exposed, and sobbing erratically, like being possessed. All of us were very shocked at her first ever disturbing gestures and countenances. We were being completely frightened by her auras. She cried more, ear piercingly.


    ¡°Mayuu ¡­, Mayuu-chan, please! Are you there? Can you hear me!? We are so missing you! But please ¡­ stop. Stop ¡­ Don¡¯t do this anymore!!¡±


    Another horrifying scream howled out from this frantic looking Lolita before she fainted. Kaede immediately caught her up, and felt her forehead.


    ¡°She is too freaked out. She is having a fever.¡±


    And so do the others here, deep inside.


    ¡°Kaede-chan, please take Chika-chan to rest in her room. All of you, too, if you please. The time is very late already,¡± Elena said grievingly.


    ¡°What about you?¡± I asked.


    ¡°We will perform the investigation inthe rooms of murders first,¡± Ringo answered instead.


    ¡°We realized that we could also prove nothing ofourselves being not guilty. So, feel free to join us. Who want?¡± Kaigo asked us. But the answer was too obvious.


    At the end, only the twins and Elena who were going to do the investigation atthe murder scenes. Kaede supportedher half-consciouspoor little sister away, and going to sleep together in the latter¡¯s room. Kazuki who was already discontented from the start of that suggestion, just went straight to his room irritably. And Megumi who wasn¡¯t as interested to find out who the murderer is as protecting herself from the threats, hadalso left us, and went to her bedroom to locked herself up.


    After I helped the injured leader with some quick aids, we joined the single lady who was the only remaining here, and not so expert in doing those kinds of detective stuffs, waiting in the drawing-room. As for Kaigo and Ringo, they hadso suddenly appeared as a doctor and a police. Had they gotten their license in these last few years? They are the eccentric ones from the first place though, and only interested in anti-mainstream things. As for Elena, she is just a very curious female, and happened to have some experiences for it. Even though I also so wanted to help, but I wouldjust stir things up. Three persons are more than enough already. Besides, I was rather more intrigued in anotherthing that had been bothering me for a while.


    ¡°Ryouta-kun, about that old legend of this mansion ¡­.¡±


    ¡°Concerning the 13<sup>th</sup>person?¡±


    ¡°Yes. At first, I didn¡¯t pay much attention for that, but when Chika-chan talked about her ¡­ our friend, Mayuu-chan ¡­. Did this really happen to be such a coincidence?¡±


    Ryouta hesitated for a moment, and let out a deep sigh.


    ¡°I am terribly sorry to all of you. Originally, I just wanted to scare off Nakano-kunand Yamao-kun by making those rumors, including that random 9 deaths 3 survivors. Of course, this mansion is clean, and no such legend existed before.¡±


    ¡°Why didyou do that?¡±


    The skinny young manin front of me was frustrated. He looked at his feet for a while before facing at me, then averted again.


    ¡°Sorry, I need some time ¡­ for now,¡± he gave a forced smile.


    After a long silence, Fionna asked us.


    ¡°I haven¡¯theard much about this Ms. Mayuu. Who is she?¡±


    Despite everything nonsensical earlier, this young woman should be still one of us.


    ¡°Ah yes, you were only transferred into our school in the last few months before the graduation exams. Of course, you didn¡¯t acquaint with her. You just met with her when she ¡­,¡± I had said some unimportant stuff instead of answering properly to her question. And now, I stuck myself from continuing anymore.


    But still, I think Ryouta is the most appropriate to talk about her.


    ¡°Mayuu-chan was our classmate before you came. She ¡­ died.¡±


    Fionna was interested to know more.


    ¡°I just happened to know that it was her seat that I sat at that time. The cause was?¡±


    We hesitated, and didn¡¯t really want to talk about it. It is even considered as a taboo to think about that incident. But these cases seemed to link with her death in some ways because of the persons who got killed tonight. Ryouta straightened his eyeglasses, and confessed.


    ¡°Mayuu-chan was killed by us all. Ha-ha. Why ¡­ why wasn¡¯t I killed, either? At that time and now.¡±


    What a painful laugh that was.


    There was another silence for a while. The atmosphere really wasn¡¯t an enjoyable one. He continued.


    ¡°She is a really beautiful girl, and very kind to us all. Even she comes from a rich fortune family, and like you, has the blood of foreigner though just a half, she never brags about it, and still wants to humbly make friends with anyone, including me whose family was still poor at the time. The three of us, Chika-chan, Mayuu-chan and I had always been together.¡±


    Ryouta¡¯s hand slipped into his pocket.Then, a beginner sewed doll was introduced to Fionna and I. I recognized that eyeglasses boy shaped doll. It was the last memorial gift from Mayuu to Ryouta. He was still keeping it all this time after all.


    ¡°She made this ¡­ for me. She is really friendly with Chika and I. Always protects us from those delinquents that likes to bully the poor and weak ones. Because of that, she has ¡­ also become a target of suffering together with us. But, she never complains, and just silently endures that. When we knew about it¡­ it was already too late.¡±


    The foreign young womancontinued to ask.


    ¡°Those delinquents? You don¡¯t mean ¡­?¡±


    Ryouta said in rage.


    ¡°Yes, most of all are Nakano-kun and Yamao-kun!¡±


    We withdrew for some moment to recollect ourselves. We were reminded that we were just from a heavy rain, still wet and shivering every now and then.


    ¡°But, aren¡¯t there ¡­.¡±


    Just when the womanwanted to ask more, she had stopped by herself abruptly with her mouth remained unclosed for a while, deep thinking inside. After a few seconds, Ryouta immediately reserved his memorialdoll into his pocket again as those three amateur detectives werealready coming atus, to report what they had discovered about those two crimes.


    Elena announced.


    ¡°We should have searched through all those two bedrooms in questions. Most of itsmajor things were almost identical. It seems like a perfect closed room murder with each of their own room key saved insidethe pocket of each respective victim. Except both rooms have its windows opened widely, evidently.¡±


    Kaigo started.


    ¡°First, letusstart with the first murder scene, Yamao¡¯s murder. What we have found unusual that belong to the victim are a very large sum of money, and a passport with airplane ticket that has been scheduled to take off to overseasin the afternoon, 3 days from now. In other words, a few hours after this reunion has been expected to end. Those 2 suspicious things are found inside his bag. It really-really is very-very strange.¡±


    Ringo continued.


    ¡°Continuing to theroom¡¯s overall strangeness, what we have found on the floor are a single dispersed fresh sunflower, and a lot of its shattered vase pieces that we ¡®would¡¯ expect as the result of the sound for luring us to the first murder scene. Those werespread out in front of the windows because it waslikely being smashed there. As the rain waspouring hard, too much rainwater had entered into the room through that wide opened windows thus drenched most of those poor yellow flower and vase pieces, and some on the left side of the bed, and of course the floor around that area.¡±


    Kaigo cut it because the explanation was too long.


    ¡°Three things are interesting though. The first is, on the wet area, one of the sunflower petals still has some fresh bloodstains on its backside while all other pieces had already been washed clean, or at least blurred by the rain which it should be. There are still some other bloodstained ones distributed around the dry area, but not really important as it is just as naturally as they supposed to be. And the second is, on right side of the bed¡¯s floor, some of its bloodstains are smeared by something like a human¡¯s skin, likely from a human¡¯s hand, just slightly beyond the right side of the bed¡¯s height.¡±


    Ringo finished it because it was her turn now.


    ¡°And the last is the subtlest one but still couldn¡¯t escape from our perfect inspections. All bloodstains had shown that the body was never moved at all. Considering from victim¡¯s orientation which is aligned with the bed verticallyas thecenter line of the room facing toward us. Then, itsright-side area has had more blood spilled than its left. It really-really is very-very strange.¡±The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    ¡°How complicated. But, good job for you two,¡± Fionna slightly complimented expressionlessly. But the twins already looked happy-happy like kids who just got candy-candy.


    Ringo started the explanation again, happily.


    ¡°About that left side area which has had less blood spilled, it mightbe because the murderer was using something as cover like a big plastic to warp around the victim¡¯s neck and themselves before starting that perfect one cut action from that side. He-he.¡±


    Kaigo continued the explanation again, happily.


    ¡°I had seen some strange bloodstains around that cleanly cut neck that was likely caused by that maybe a plastic cover. You can¡¯t even expect to find that kind of evidences anymore in this convenient area, around a vast open sea, and a dark forest. He-he.¡±


    Elena said gravely.


    ¡°Then, that should have answered the reason behind thoseunevenly blood splatters all overthe room. But for the blood smear on the bed¡¯s right side floor, it shouldn¡¯t have been caused by any of us when we first discovered the scene. We still haven¡¯t gottenenough clues to get into the perpetrator¡¯s mind. Were they searching for something? That vast amount of money in the bag? If so, how did they know it? Failed? Did they really not realize those evident remains? Deliberated? Not enough time?¡±


    I patiently waited for Elena to finish all her questions up though I know she wasn¡¯t asking to any of us. She was just self-thinking, or at most asking to the twins.


    Ryouta gave an opinion.


    ¡°The cause of Yamao-kun¡¯s death is that deep cut on hisneck, right? Then the bloods hadalsospilled so much all over the room like we had seen on the murder scene, and as you said, on the murderer. Even if they were really using a cover, some muststill have stained over, right? Like the accidentallysmeared mark there. They might even not aware of it yet. Then we could just clarify ourselves if there are any bloodstains on our body, or more evidently on our clothes, couldn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°That brilliant idea of yours would only do for catching the murderer who is a very noob and unlucky one. Because the heavy rain didn¡¯t happen to wash it clean even it was unintentionally. It wouldmake us feel so depressed already. On top of that, as for the location of the windows relative fromthe bed. You should have known betterthan us, shouldn¡¯t you?¡± Kaigo gave out a clue on the riddle, indirectly.


    ¡°The windows are on its left side? How dothoseconnect to the bloodstains?¡±


    It was Ringo¡¯s turn to give out another clue, indirectly.


    ¡°I have checkedthe locked door before we were forced to unlock it with the master key.The door is perfectly fine. No trick whatsoever has been done to it. And the supposedly only key for the room was inside, saved in the pocket of the corpse. After excluding the possibility of Chika, or Kaede, or maybe both lying about their long time spent to find the master key, the chance of having any second master key, or the room specified key itself, and the probability of any pick locker expert around here. Then, the only entrance and exit for the murderer throughoutthe scene at the supposed time is thatunlocked and wide opened windows which could be very easilyset up before as though being locked from the inside. But, why didn¡¯t they bolt the door, just before they escape, for the most convincing effect on all those two rooms?¡±


    The one who escorted one of the victims previously was taken aback.


    ¡°But I remember hearing Nakano-kun bolted his door. I am not so sure though. Maybe he has accidentally unbolted it again in drunk state.¡±


    We were trying our best to reason something out individually.


    ¡°The door was locked but not bolted? Maybebecause the murderer could lock it from the outside, but couldn¡¯t bolt it from the inside of the room.Justlike Ringo-chanjust said, maybea duplicated key, or some pick locker skills?¡± I finally contributed something though it is just converting most of Ringo¡¯s previous statement.


    ¡°That is exactly what the murderer wanted us to confuse, we supposed?¡± the twins gave me quadruple thumbs up sarcastically.


    ¡°All doors in this mansion have the old and ancient design locking system. It shouldn¡¯t be able to get picked so easily even by the most skilled one. Then, as for the key ¡­.¡±


    ¡°There isonly one key for each room, and one master key that can unlockevery rooms, right? As usual,¡± Elena asked again impatiently, then sullenly.


    ¡°Um, yes ¡­,¡± Ryouta gulped nervously.


    Fionna fully connected the twins¡¯ clues with a fresh thought.


    ¡°If I werethe culprit that was coming in through the windows. Inother words, from the left side of the bed, then I should be killing my prey from that side as well.It isn¡¯t as though not enough space for that. The unevenly sprayed blood had proven that. I am not going to the opposite side anymore,and deliberately leave a mark there. There wasn¡¯t much extra time left for any eccentric actions like that, or bolted the door even if it was still unbolted, before quickly ran away through that exit window, considering the murder had only started in such a long time after the vase¡¯s shattering sound that might be just a mere recorded one. There were already people alerted, and coming to the room, or even waiting at the outside cautiously. Because it is just asthey had said, that sound was for beaconing us to the murder scene, or even distract us from certain actions, maybe by using the TV remotely. And they just needed to rearrange those already broken vase and flower on the floor for the final adjustment. So, in my conclusion, those 3 peculiar facts just don¡¯t sync at all, and contradicted each other.¡±


    The twins were going to announce something cheerfully, and in a gesture of encore already, but the foreign woman still hadn¡¯t finished, actually.


    ¡°Absolute ¡­,¡± they had stopped abruptly just for her.


    ¡°Though the mark could have been simply from the victim himself considering from his posture and strong life force,¡± even Fionna was somehow distracted by them for a second.


    ¡°Kai-Rin-Bin-go!!!¡±


    ¡°Rin-Kai-Bin-go!!!¡±


    Not sure who shouted which, and who or which sounded better, but the twins wereclapping their handshappily as though just being resumed from a play button. But then they continued with a sudden bewildered expression.


    ¡°Something feels odd though. But, don¡¯t mind!¡± they quickly got excited again.


    ¡°What do you mean by the murder had only started after the vase was broken?¡± I asked out of the contradiction between my thought and her statement.


    ¡°We have found the file used for that sound from both TVs. Might as well control C and control V it for our notification ring next time,¡± they smiled innocently.


    Why? Just why!? You two only said right now!


    ¡°Not just ¡®had only started after the vase was broken¡¯, but it had already passed for quite a while even after that. The last odd point in the room that hasn¡¯t been discussed yet, the fresh bloodstain onthe back of oneflower petal that lieson the area that should have already been soaked by the rain like the other objects, the scattered pieces of vase and flower. Why was it just that one particular flower petal? Why wasn¡¯t its bloodstain touched by the rain even just a bit? What does it mean?¡±


    I was taken aback.


    ¡°Nobody ¡­ should be touching that.¡±


    ¡°Yes, it means that special bloodstained petalwas either dropped there, or the blood was somehow stained on that petal after the rain was ceased.¡±


    The wonder foreign detective added after a slight pause.


    ¡°That also means, from what I know about the situation of that moment though I wasn¡¯t even there. It wasn¡¯t longbefore all of you unlocked thefirst murder scene¡¯s door. Waiting, while the first victim was still alive beyond the locked door, or at least one living person was still there.¡±


    This Fionna ¡­ is truly intelligent. She didn¡¯t take part in the investigation earlier maybe because she doesn¡¯t even need to. She just needs the information.


    She was taking it easy.


    ¡°My bad, maybe not even a minute,¡± Kaigo said regrettably.


    ¡°My bad, the door was unlocked by me,¡± Ringo said regrettably.


    Ryouta was dumbfounded, and said.


    ¡°Then, Yamao-kun was murdered just before we opened the door?¡±


    Elena said with a little disappointment.


    ¡°Might be. At least someone was still there. For now, these are all we can guess. At least ¡­ for now ¡­.¡±


    Ringo announced, she seemed impatient.


    ¡°All right! All right! Let us, ehem, continue to the second crime. In Nakano¡¯s room, which is a complete horizontal-flipped version of Yamao¡¯s because of the opposite wing side reason, in other words, left to right, right to left, we have also found something that isout of ordinary. The first is yet another same drenched floor in front of the windows together with most of the scattered glasses and flower¡¯s petals there. But all bloodstains had been washed clean on that wet area!¡±


    Ryouta asked.


    ¡°What is so strange about it then? Isn¡¯t that what supposed to be?¡±


    Kaigo asked warmly.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you, ehem, forget what was happening on the outside when the murderer called us there? All right? All right?¡±


    The first questioning man who was being questioned back was still not getting the twins¡¯ meaning. They gave out a sigh.


    Elena answered instead, weakly.


    ¡°The rain had ceased by then.¡±


    Ryouta and I were taken aback. We felt that we were just being played around and around. Fionna added.


    ¡°So, were the whole murders reversed? That was why Mr. Takuma¡¯s room has gotten more smell than it should have? If there really is just one culprit, then they must have used that low concrete roof which connected those two open lounges along the rear of the mansion to get to our first discovered crime scene from the second after from the ground level easily. Meaning they should have run over me on top at that time in rain. Such interesting.¡±


    ¡°Very interesting indeed!¡± the twins compiled happily while bowing and touching the other¡¯s nose.


    ¡°Anyone could have set up those tricky windows. Those rooms should have been left unlocked previously the entire time. But, based on what?¡± Elena suddenly murmured.


    She continued.


    ¡°Were those two killed tonight because of their rooms¡¯ location? But they did particularly pick it as well. Maybe just because of that? But their rooms aren¡¯t even the most of something like the furthest or nearest one of each wing. Was it really random?¡±


    ¡°Was it?¡± the twins were also wondering in a cute way, tilting their head to each other.


    ¡°Why did they pick those particular rooms in the first place? It wasn¡¯t as though better than the others as they shouldn¡¯t have seen it either before making that decision. They are being separated so far away because of that, but still grouped and ate together so closely during the lunch and dinner? Though it should have been like that because they could be considered as an independent group here.¡±


    ¡°We didn¡¯t even notice that!¡± the twins were also as surprised as Ryouta and I. Real or not? I am not sure though.


    ¡°Everything better has some connections,¡± said coldly by Fionna.


    ¡°And explanations,¡± added eagerly by Elena.


    Suddenly, it was Kaigo¡¯s turn now.


    ¡°Then, the second wonder thing is a large sum of money, yet again. Just curious, so, we had counted it.¡±


    Ringo said happily.


    ¡°The amount with Yamao¡¯s money is exactly the same! They are very-very rich indeed. Must be planning to build another mansion beside this one. Half shares for each.¡±


    They suddenly looked at each other questionably. What an act!


    Fionna said thoughtfully.


    ¡°From the first place, it isalready too strange for a person to bring so much money to this kind of reunion. There is no need for that. Moreover, two with the same amount. Are they going to pay for something? It may have some connections with the airplane ticket that Mr. Yamao has gotten, even by himself only.¡±


    Elena nodded.


    ¡°I have also thought of the same.¡±


    Kaigo announced vigorously.


    ¡°We think that ¡®very-very rich indeed¡¯ isalso linked with this.¡±


    He and his twin sister raised up a black handbook together so that all of us could see it. They were just like athletes of a couple team who just won, and showing off their first-place award. But of course, with their gloves still on.


    Ryouta asked.


    ¡°What is so special with that?¡±


    Ringo grinned to us. She answered.


    ¡°This is a map of yourmansion.¡±


    ¡°What!?¡± Ryouta was shocked by the fact that his family¡¯s mansion design had been copied. He grabbed it from them, and read it seriously.


    The rest of us were also curiously peeking on it from his behind, and confirmed that the twins really weren¡¯t jokingwith us, after everything they had done. It doesn¡¯t just have the map of this mansion. There are also some verydetailed arrangements of our rooms, and enlists most of the crucial things¡¯ whereabouts thateven all of us hadn¡¯t noticed up until now. The location of fire extinguishers, main power switches, and first aid kits are in the kitchen. The locations of all inner phones besides the one in each of our rooms are in the drawing-room and the main hall. The map furthershows us the location of every unexplored doors that even haven¡¯t been yet officially introduced by the mansion owner tous. There is a back door behind the diningroom, and another one on the left side of the main hall. But there is also a door which is drawn unknown that even they don¡¯t know what it is used for in a cornered area ofthe first floor.


    Ringo uttered.


    ¡°Compared with the other belongings, that handwriting is indeed Nakano¡¯s.¡±


    Kaigo uttered.


    ¡°Nakano might have it drawn in the free time from after lunch to dinner time. Not sure how he calculated though.¡±


    I clarified.


    ¡°I remembered seeing them like measuring the walls, or something in the free time, right?¡± I turned to Elena. She nodded to them.


    ¡°For what?¡± Ryouta asked again curiously.


    The twins concluded, or rather, punned.


    ¡°For now! Ha-ha.¡±


    ¡°We are still in the dark. But looking at those ¡­¡± Kaigo pointed at the book that Ryouta was holding.


    ¡°¡­ details arejust soamazing for that short amount of time,¡± Ringo also pointed at the map on that black handbook.


    The twins squeezed the mansion owner childishly in the middle.


    Fionna murmured.


    ¡°What a discovery on these ¡­ random guys.¡±


    Then the twins suddenly said something in a weak, rather afraid tone. Of course, it should be one of their eccentricities as well, 99.8% of all times.


    ¡°Um ¡­, sorry. It might be a little too late to say already after the discussion has gone so far.But, we have still gotten to say that ¡­,¡± Ringo said, but she couldn¡¯t look at us directly.


    ¡°¡­ we have also found another thing, one on each murder room. That makes it two. Um ¡­, sorry,¡± Kaigo said, but he couldn¡¯t look at us directly.


    They suddenly said together, happily.


    ¡°We have been sneakily hiding it even from our Elena-sama when we were doing the investigation.Hope you would be so humbly forgive us! He-he?¡±


    They were just scared that Elena might be angry at them for hiding something so important nonsensically. But she didn¡¯t seem to concern much anymore, and just annoyingly beckoned them to continue and make it fast.


    They chuckledexcitedly for being given the mercy, and showed their two pair of clapping gloved hands to us. They, then, slowly opened it up astonishingly,and that something was finally revealed inside, one on each of them. Those are two papers that had been carefully preserved as evidences though the twins were still playing with them. They were identically the same, and had gotten something written in it. Horrible red writing!


    The still ungraduated one is coming for revenge ¨C The 13<sup>th</sup>Middle School Reunion Member.


    ¡°What the ¡­,¡± Ryouta was completely taken abackforits contents.


    ¡°It seems that the culprit really likes that story,¡± Fionna smiled, her mascaras were enchanted.


    ¡°Yah, they even used that number. It shouldn¡¯t be a coincidence. But why are they still ungraduated? Theycan¡¯t be telling ¡­,¡± Elena¡¯s eyes were wide opened.


    ¡°It is impossible, right?¡± I know what Elena was thinking right now, and really dumbfounded.


    ¡°Mayuu ¡­,¡± Ryouta was distracted, and said in a low voice.


    ¡°No! Someone has used that old legend¡¯s murderer identity, and our already died ex-classmate¡¯s poor history who doesn¡¯t even have the chance to graduate from our middle school. Hiks,¡± Kaigo said melancholically.


    ¡°Hiks. Then combined them into a really interesting murder plot for our first reunion after 6 years. No!¡± Ringo said melancholically.


    ¡°If the culprit really is seeking for revenge, it means they are still holding those grudges all over these years?¡± Fionna said without any special emotion. At least, it is an honest one.


    ¡°How could they use Mayuu-chan, and that made-up story like that? Mayuu-chan wouldn¡¯t want to get any revenge for her death. I know her. Absolutely!¡± Ryouta said desperately.


    ¡°What!!! Made-up!!?¡± the twins were over-shocked. But, we didn¡¯t care. Too obvious.


    ¡°Yes, I, too, believe that the murderer has really gone too far, even before using that nonsense reason for the killings,¡± I assented with Ryouta.


    ¡°In fact, that identity doesn¡¯t matter much,¡± Kaigo said heartlessly after being ignored.


    ¡°We just want to catch the murderer, whatever their reasons are,¡± Ringo said heartlessly after being ignored.


    ¡°Yes, that is true. The culprit is too confident. Theychallenge us,¡± Fionna smirked.


    ¡°Yes, you are ¡­ indeed very true too. They don¡¯t know who they are dealing with,¡± the twins nodded while smiling contently, and seemed to like our new speaking ally very much already.


    After a long silence, Elena began to wrap up.


    ¡°For now, even though all those theories are just some guessing works. But, from the way that the perpetrator had used to lure us to those two murder scenes by using the exact same method, and had even deliberately left us the notes couldonly mean one thing, definitely!¡±


    I asked hesitantly.


    ¡°What ¡­ isthat?¡±


    The long black-haired detective answered without any doubt.


    ¡°These murders are ¡­ already planned!¡±

 Chapter 11 - The Second Day

    After several minutes spent in peace of uneasiness, all of us had agreed to end the discussion, and call it a day though I doubt any of us actually would. Kaigo and Ringo were the ones who suggested that we must rest well early to get a clear and composed mind by tomorrow morning, to further debate about the murders with those who had already left us before the investigation. But still, our most critical priority is to prevent any more murders. They are right. We had gone through too many heavy schedules since the morning. The first meeting with our old friends since ages, long travelling, playing at the beach, free self-activities, and the newest one which is also the most mind exhausting and unexpected one, homicides in our very reunion. Our body and mind really were at the limit already.


    We dispersed on the second floor, and going separately for our own individual room. I turned around for a second to look at Elena who was also walking nonchalantly as the others,but still thinking very hard and seriously. I felt sorry for her, because I couldn¡¯t even help to give a smallest clue nor idea about the murders, and even further confused everyone with the fact about witnessing the Snow White. By now, my clothes were already dried on my body, and I felt very cold. It was already 11 p.m., but I still didn¡¯t feel any desire to sleep even though my everything were really utterly very tired, and dirty from the rain too.


    I better not fall sick and cause any more trouble for everyone. So, I headed back, forcefully passed by one of the earlier disturbing scenes, and pretended to be as calm as I could, before entered into my room, impatiently locked the door, and bolted it. Then, I took a long warm shower, before changed into my clean clothes to lie spread-eagle on my bed.


    Finally, some calm! But my mind so suddenly went through the flashbacks of those two nasty, almost head-off corpses were also somehow lying together on my arms! Pinning them furiously! Each on either side of me! So close to me! Not even ever that close when they were still alive! There were the three of us here! Their head ¡­ finally detached!! And rolling toward my face!! I couldn¡¯t get away!! I couldn¡¯t shout!! I was paralyzed!! But I was still struggling as much as I could!! They ¡­ touched me!! My just cleaned face, my just cleared brain exploded!!!


    Better not think of anything useless like that. Thank God, it was gone so easily, yet still too creepy, and I was still shivering. I couldn¡¯t bear to see when the others are trying so hard to solve the mysteries, and I am just idling around. I was thinking, thinking, thinking, and thinking. But before I could think of anything, I fell asleep. I really was just ¡­ too tired.


    They could already tell that much from their quick investigation. Fionna, we might really need her. She was in her room, next to mine.


    The other room besides mine is one of the murder scenes as well. A terribly horrible one, of one of my long acquaintances. We were ¡­ totally out of ourselves there ¡­ before.


    So bloody, so stinky, so ¡­ haunting.


    The next morning, a little late maybe, or could be even more delayed if the door wasn¡¯t knocked be someone.


    ¡°Yes, yes!¡±


    I got up half asleep, lazily unbolted, and unlocked before opening the door. I was hoping for a cute Lolita maid beyond this door, who was waiting for her master to wake up with her most eager smile while delivering a full set of healthy breakfast on a servant cart, like milks and sandwiches. But as I was getting more and more awake. The cart was disappearing, and the maid outfit was turning into ordinary girl dresses. But at the very least, the cute Lolita was still there, and she really greeted me warmly.


    ¡°Go ¡­ good morning, Yoru-kun. Kaigo-kun and Ringo-chan said we need to gather together in the drawing-room. They have something to tell us.¡±


    ¡°Oh, oh, um ¡­. A-ha-ha-ha. All right, all right! Chi ¡­ Chika-chan. Thanks. You can go first. I will be there in a minute,¡± I stuttered while scratching the back of my head. My mind was still bewildering between the reality and creativity. But, I had already noticed her same flower hair accessory has a different color from yesterday, which is a green one this time. Does a green flower really exist somewhere in the world? Nevertheless, it looks perfect on her, anything would be.


    But she still remained there, and looked at her feet while rubbing her hands nervously. She seemed to still have something to say. Her pair of big eyes, then, looked at me regrettably.


    ¡°That ¡­. I ¡­ I was ¡­ sorry for the trouble ¡­ I caused last night ¡­. I was ¡­.¡±


    I quickly cut her explanation because I had immediately remembered what had caused her to be like that. I didn¡¯t want her to suffer anymore by forcefully talking about that.


    ¡°I know, I know, Chika-chan. Don¡¯t worry about it,¡± I said gently.


    I pretended to be shocked, though I am still a newbie compared to the twins.


    ¡°Ah, what happened last night? I have completely forgotten about that. Did you drink my portion of milk in the dinner so that you can grow taller?¡±


    Of course, no adult would want to drink milk in dinner. Yet she still said.


    ¡°Yeah ¡­, Sorry ¡­ about that. He-he.¡±


    She gave a very reassuring smile before leaving me behind. As I watched her running back, I felt really sorry for her. She had already restrained too many stresses inside for having her best friend died over than 6 years ago, yet still trying to pretend to be strong, not to be worried by us. She had just gotten too many pressures last night, and had very likely been reminded of those painful memories. No wonder Kaede was even more protective to her. I also wanted to help, and protect that pure but fragile heart of her, even just a bit.


    I hit my own head with my right hand. To be honest, I had really completely forgotten about all incidents that happened last night at the first few moments of just woke up. It has always been like this. My mind just blanked out. But I would regain those memories back in a recollection. In fact, I would be much more grateful if I am just unable to remember those cruel murders. It is sometimes very true that someone has said ¡®to forget is a blessing¡¯. I couldn¡¯t imagine, really, how it is to have a photographic memory if it ever exists. I would be really dead inside.


    I hurriedly showered myself, got clothed, and went down along the main stairs to the drawing-room.


    I was the last one of the ten people gathering here. And they were already discussing something, rather lively.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think I will ever need that kind of thing,¡± said Fionna coldly, both her tone and countenance.


    Two siblings chuckled.


    ¡°You are very sharp indeed, Fionna-chan. Have you looked through us that it was just a farce?¡± The twins admitted gracefully.


    What were they talking about?


    ¡°What!?¡± The remainders were utterly taken aback from a reassured face. The duo liars, then, gave every each of them something, except that disagreed one.


    Weren¡¯t those their phones?


    ¡°To be able to call each other through Bluetooth or personal hotspot, though in a very limited range, we will need an application for that. And because we haven¡¯t had that preinstalled nor could build that ourselves, we will need internet to be able to download that. And because of that, we are only able to do nothing of that right now ¡­, in fact.¡±


    To prevent any karma befell upon them, at least for now, I was being used. Though a little too late, actually. Ringo naturally clapped, and said in a happy and encouraging face.


    ¡°All right-all right, all sheep has arrived. I supposed that we aren¡¯t in a happy-happy mood now.¡±This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    ¡°Of course!!¡± The most expensive phone user looked most irritated while still trying to invent a usable device by herself instead.


    ¡°Better-better than having nothing fun to do. Let us continue our little brain-brain game now,¡± Kaigo naturally clapped, and was also in a good mood like his twin sister.


    We had already known that Kaigo and Ringo would be very eager to continue our last night¡¯s unfinished investigation, or rather, interrogation as soon as possible. I didn¡¯t say that I completely agreed with their playing style while doing it. But, every each of us has the rights knows all facts that happened last night, to prevent any more victims, and even to catch the murderer itself. The murderer or their partner is most likely one of us here even though we don¡¯t want to believe it. Nobody opposed the young doctor and young police¡¯s proposal of inspection anymore after everyone had cooled their head for one night, and now had gotten a much clearer mind.


    But the twins replayed that clapping game first, to slowly reveal those two identical murderer¡¯s name cards to the rest of us who hadn¡¯t seen it. They, sometimes, really could get on one¡¯s nerves easily.


    They, then, explained everything about it, just about it. Until nothing was left.


    ¡°Crazy! They used our already long gone friend¡¯s past as the murderer¡¯s identity!¡± the rich daughter was a bit raged.


    ¡°Maybe just some coincidences there,¡± Kaede said indecisively.


    ¡°There is no doubt anymore!! That murderer must have been planning to get their revenge to all of us now, for ¡­ causing Mayuu-chan¡¯s death 6 years ago!¡± Megumi¡¯s emotion was still uncontrollable, and shrieking anything without thinking first.


    I turned to Chika, because I think that topic must have hurt her very deeply. My guess was right. She was looking at her feet while shivering slightly, and looked very distracted and sad. But, she still tried her best to control herself, not to cry, not to make any sound, and even tried to look like didn¡¯t concern about it at all. But, her best efforts aside, she still couldn¡¯t hide it very well. I felt some of her pain too.


    ¡°As everyone had stated! Nobody else has gotten their room¡¯s windows tampered, right?¡± Kaigo asked happily.


    ¡°Then? The only drugged ones with the only tampered windows really did sync!¡± Ringo announced happily.


    ¡°Minimal job, minimal risk!¡± they punned cutely.


    After that, the twins changed the subject to the one that might have already been told by Ryouta himself before I came here. All by themselves.


    ¡°If you said that the old legend is just some made-up story, that means the murderer really know what we were talking about, right?¡± they asked simultaneously.


    ¡°As we had said, the murderer or their partner must be hiding among us now, in this room, grr,¡± Kaigo said annoyingly.


    ¡°One or maybe more of us have betrayed us all, in this room, huh,¡± Ringo said sadly.


    After a brief of no topic moment, everyone seemed to regain a little understanding again. The peculiar twins suddenly came into another emotional mode, a serious one.


    ¡°We really don¡¯t need to know their reasons for the killings nor their fake name,¡± Kaigo said decisively.


    ¡°We really just need to know the ¡®whodunnit¡¯ and ¡®howdunnit¡¯ parts,¡± Ringo said decisively.


    ¡°Even we have already known that all of you will be very agitated by that fake identity. We still have to start with that. Because ¡­,¡± the twins ¡®sadly¡¯ said.


    ¡°After the bitterness of the worst and unworthy identity part ended,¡± Kaigo happily said, and welcomed us.


    ¡°Let us begin with the sweetness of the best and worthy mystery part now,¡± Ringo happily said, and welcomed us.


    We ¡­.


    ¡°Shall weee ¡­!!? He-he,¡± the twins chorused together beautifully.


    ¡­ had no comment for that.


    After everyone somehow restraint their painful feeling to be able to think rationally again. The twins just like to delay it further.


    ¡°There is only one thing that could help us catch the murderer, or at least identify them immediately, Mansion-kun. Of course, if you ever have that.¡±


    ¡°What is that!?¡± Ryouta was very impatient to know, everyone too.


    ¡°Ci ¡­,¡± the female twin started with the first quarter.


    ¡°¡­ Ci ¡­,¡± the male twin followed with the second quarter.


    ¡°... Ti ¡­,¡± the female twin continued with the third quarter.


    ¡°¡­ Vi,¡± the male twin finished with the fourth quarter.


    The twins¡¯ teeth are indeed very white.


    ¡°Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!!¡±


    The twins¡¯ mouths are indeed very big.


    Judging from the mansion owner¡¯s strained silence, we could already guess his answer. No, even long before that. If those CCTVs were installed here, he would have told us already. Those laughing twins just wanted to further tease us up to the limit.


    I think everyone should have already been trying their best to withhold themselves not to beat up those abnormal twins. But, though they seemed like playing at the moment, they were also being serious at the same time. They two, then, replayed about all the strange things found in those two murder rooms, and gave all of our wild guesses out exactly the same as the last night¡¯s before entering into a new session of yet another wild guesses.


    Megumi was the first one to give her ideaout confidently because she was the most unconvinced one at how active our most silent friend was inthatparticular subject. Though, she was also the most raged one before.


    ¡°So, the money must have been a treasure dug by the strong built Yamao-kun, according to the map drawn by Nakano-kun. We know that his father is like Ryouta-kun¡¯s, a well-known architect ¡­ before. After they found it, they split it in half. That is how the same amount of so much money connects with the map.¡±


    Kaigo and Ringo stared at her in admiration.


    ¡°It really ¡­ is rewarding to have all of you here,¡± Kaigo said in awe.


    ¡°The brainstorming is amazing ¡­ really wild,¡± Ringo said in awe.


    ¡°¡­ but just a little too incomplete,¡± the contrasted twins instantly concluded regretfully.


    ¡°What ¡­!?¡± the newest wannabe twitched.


    Elena explained, because she thinks the twins¡¯ further comedy would result in a disaster.


    ¡°The founded money is so new that most likely had just been withdrawn from bank. And the map just has the details of the interior of the mansion, and some of its exterior garden. It doesn¡¯t have any special mark anywhere. And of course, we didn¡¯t discover any tools nor dirt on Yamao¡¯s body nor all of his belongings.¡±


    ¡°Um ¡­, all of those things are just a little too difficult, or rather, a little too unimportant to understand for now. Let us focus on the chance of having one of us as the murderer then,¡± the twins got into a serious mode again, the atmosphere as well.


    ¡°First of all, now that all of us are here. Let us share what we had been doing after the dinner last night for that is when we had confirmed as the last time everyone had seen the victims alive together,¡± Ringo inquired.


    ¡°From what we had remembered is all of us, except Ryouta, Kazuki, Kaede, and Ms. Fionna, were gathering in this drawing-room last night before the first sound of beaconing,¡± Kaigo clarified.


    Ryouta answered first.


    ¡°Yes, I, then, returned back as soon as I could after have escorted Nakano-kun back to his room. I also told him to lock his door. But, he was still too drunk at that time, so, it was hard for him to understand me. That is why it took a while. He ¡­ might have locked it later.¡±


    The blue twin asked, but finished in a slow speed as though the time had been slowed down for free while still sounded very naturally.


    ¡°For ¡­ how ... long?¡±


    ¡°Maybe around ¡­ 15 minutes.¡±


    The red twin judged, but finished in an extreme speed as though no space nor punctuation there while just on her first try.


    ¡°There-is-still-too-much-time-to-commit-a-murder. Beat-him-up-and-repeatedly-jabbed his-body!¡±


    Ryouta was agitated, but still tried to be as calm as possible.


    ¡°As I had said, he was drunk. And it was so hard to tell him ¡­ to lock his door. See what we discovered when we tried to enter his room? It was locked!¡±


    Ringo said.


    ¡°That is true. It is also I who had unlocked the door. Ok then, ha-ha, Kazuki, next,¡±


    Kaigo inquired.


    ¡°Ok then, what did you do after had escorted Yamao, the first discovered victim? Ha-ha¡±


    The twins were suddenly reminded of something. They added together.


    ¡°Eh, beside the way, do you know if the one you escorted had bolted his door, or not?¡±


    Kazuki said unhappily.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t really pay any attention for that. After had escorted him. I met with Kaede, and talked with her in the right open lounge.¡±


    Kaede gave her clarification.


    ¡°Yes ¡­, I was ¡­ talking with Kazuki-kun until around 8 p.m., if I am not wrong. Then ¡­ then I went straight back to you all in the drawing-room.¡±


    Ringo asked.


    ¡°That means you were all alone after Kaede left?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Kaigo asked.


    ¡°Did you happen to see anything strange? White?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    As though playing one-word game, the twins now inquired.


    ¡°Then?¡±


    ¡°Ryouta-kun came for me. He said something bad had happened inside Yamao-kun¡¯s room. But, he was still going to search for Fionna-chan who was still missing. So, he asked me to return back alone first, and find Yoru who might be looking for me, maybe in the inside. Then, we went separated.¡±


    The twins turned to the one who could give the clarification of this one.


    He nodded. They asked.


    ¡°How?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡±


    They were awkward.


    ¡°Sorry-sorry, ha-ha. We are just kind of ¡­ dwelled in that. How do you know that our Yoru had gone to search for Kazuki, also?¡±


    ¡°I just guessed it. Because I had heard other running footsteps from the inside. And Yoru-kun is usually very concerned about Kazuki-kun. Everyone knows that.¡±


    I know that.


    ¡°Such ¡­ bromance. How beautiful! Just perfect ¡­ like us,¡± the twins were in full of awe again.


    They, then, quickly got serious again. They reset themselves.


    Kaigo asked the last missing one, a purple-haired foreign young woman.


    ¡°What about you then, Ms. Fionna?¡±


    ¡°I was with myself, sitting with nobody in the left open lounge,¡± Fionna answered real cold.


    Ringo asked again.


    ¡°Alone?¡±


    ¡°Means no alibi, I know.¡±


    Kaigo announced nonchalantly.


    ¡°Kazuki also don¡¯t have any alibi after Kaede left him,¡±


    Kazuki was furious.


    ¡°What!?¡±


    I defended my cornered friend.


    ¡°No, Kazuki won¡¯t ever ¡­.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you two are talking about! I am not a murderer! I swear it!! I can also hear the glass breaking sound. But I just ignored it! I was being distracted by another thing at that moment. Really!!!¡±


    Ringo asked nonchalantly.


    ¡°I see, what is that?¡±


    Kaede cut in.


    ¡°Let¡¯s pause for a while, shall we? Have a breakfast, and clear up the atmosphere, Okay?¡±


    Kaigo and Ringo eccentrically smiled. Their stomach growled. They answered real obedient.


    ¡°Okaaay~.¡±

 Chapter 12 - The Murderer has finally been Caught?

    The breakfast was held by just the same previous drugging dinner¡¯s rule. It was also the women who would prepare the meals, and the men only need to wait while sitting on the chairs of the dining table. Why ¡­? Maybe, because we didn¡¯t want to further worsen the already worst relationship. But, the atmosphere was still utterly unchanged. The women were secretly glancing to the others on the entire progress of it, to see if any of them tampers with the foods or drinks. The men were also not so relaxed as before, occasionally peeked at how the cooking was made by them. The overall feeling was ¡­ extremely sullen and tense.


    I deeply sighed. I was lucky to still be able to breath.


    After the just randomly made breakfast had beencompleted and ready to serve, Kaede received one from the dispirited Elena before offering it to Kazuki. But, he didn¡¯t hold his hand out. So, she just placed it on the table, in front of him. After a while, the refused man suddenly grabbed his portion, took it off to his room without excusing himself, and hard-slammed the door, making the entire atmosphere even more stressful. Clearly, he wasn¡¯t in the mood to have it with us. We would just let him be for the moment. I understand his feeling. Though he is an easygoing person, but he is also easily aggrieved if someone didn¡¯t trust on him, especially by his own friends. No, anyone would be. At least, I still faintlyheard an apologize coming from that offended friend of mine as he was leaving. I would try to talk to him later. That is what a friend supposed to be, right?


    Kaede still looked as though trying to be strong. But no one could, mostly.


    The strained breakfast was so quickly finished because we just utterly ate it. Now, we were regrouping in the drawing-room again to continue the discussion of that leftover topic. I felt strange toward Fionna. Though she was also being suspected for not having any alibi at all for those two murders. She still showed no change in her countenance nor attitude whatsoever. Was she thinking that because she isn¡¯t the murderer herself, she doesn¡¯t need to be worried at all? Or that no evidence could proof her so?


    No one could prove her existence after the dinner. She has even less alibi than Kazuki. She was the least one. Yet still ¡­.


    The discussion was leaded by the twins again with the help of Elena and ¡®that¡¯ Fionna. Even now, Megumi was also starting to blend in with them. I never know that this rich family daughter is so bold, and ever interested in this kind of mystery. Kaede, Chika, Ryouta and I just participated in the information provider supporting department.


    I glanced at my wristwatch that had shown at around 9.15 a.m. Kazuki had gone for more than 1 hour already. I whispered to Kaede beside me that I was worried about him. She immediately agreed to come together with me. We, then, excused ourselves to fetch for our other gang member.


    In the middle of our way to Kazuki¡¯s room, Kaede weakly called me.


    ¡°Um, Yoru-kun?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    ¡°You really ¡­ do believe in Kazuki-kun, right?¡± Kaede asked worriedly.


    ¡°Of course! He is also one of our glorious gang members, right? He-he. We have already known each other for so long that we are just like siblings. We will continue to trust each other until the end! Don¡¯t think too much, Kaede-chan. He will be fine,¡± I smiled soothingly. In fact, even Kaede still has that weak side of her no matter how strong she usually is. We are humans after all.


    ¡°Yes, you are right. Thank you ¡­. Thank you so much, Yoru-kun!¡± Kaede finally smiled. But, she also needed to wipe her tears away. I think to myself, all of these shouldn¡¯t be happening to us, moreover in our reunion. But why? No matter what, we couldn¡¯t escape from it anymore. We need to accept it. It had happened.


    I slightly supported my powerless friend until we reached to Kazuki¡¯s room. But, his door wasalready opened a bit, maybe bythe previous slam. We don¡¯t think of the need to call out for him anymore, and just straightly entered into his room. But what was being shown in front of us was truly never able to be imagined by us.


    We found Kazuki collapsed on the floor, not moving at all. Foams were coming out from his still open mouth. And instead of bloods, there were so many tiny white pills scattering around him.


    Kaede instantly screamed awfully. The others were summoned immediately.


    ¡°Extended bad deeds? Sniff, sniff,¡± smiled by the two of the most same ones in adorable rhythm.


    Just like the last time again, the twins were dealing with this case with undisturbed manners. The police was searching around the inside of the room, and the doctor was examining around the outside of the body.


    ¡°Poisoned to death ¡­ in silence,¡± Kaigo was looking at the foams on the corpse¡¯s mouth.


    ¡°Struggling so much ¡­ before too,¡± Ringo was looking at the scratches on the floor around the corpse.


    ¡°No ¡­! It ¡­ can¡¯t be ¡­,¡± I was still extremely shocked, couldn¡¯t believe at the fact that had really happened in front of my very eyes. I didn¡¯t even have the strength to stand up anymore, and kneeled down on the same floor that my best friend was lying death.


    My warm tears flowed unconsciously. My mouth had forgotten how to close.


    Kaede was curling up on the floor, crying in horror. This time, it was Chika who was consoling her mind crumbled sister.


    ¡°By those medicines ¡­ in his coat?¡± Kaede asked while still covering her face with both of her hands.


    ¡°Maybe that is the case,¡± Ringo said as she was carefully flipping over the coat that Kazuki¡¯s body was still wearing.


    ¡°It seems that Kazuki has gotten an illness that requires him to take this kind of pill each morning to control it,¡± Kaigo said as he was carefully analyzing at one of the pills scattering on the floor.


    All remainders were silenced, except the two persons who was working seriously inside the room, until Megumi suddenly exclaimed.


    ¡°I know who the murderer is!¡±


    ¡°What!?¡± Ryouta was shocked, and so do the others.


    ¡°Ho-oh? Another intriguing idea is coming from this Detective Megumi?¡± Kaigo grinningly asked.


    ¡°Ho-oh! It seems that is the case. Can¡¯t wait for this Detective Megumi¡¯s wild guess again!¡± Ringo grinningly answered.


    The rich and fashionable detective pointed her right index to the one she accused.


    ¡°Sasaki Kaede, you are the one who had killed Kazuki!¡±


    ¡­ what!!?


    Everyone, except that emcee, had had their eyes wide opened, especially the twins.


    The weeping young woman was, of course, utterly taken aback for what Megumi had so suddenly shouted at her. She automatically defended herself.


    ¡°Wha ¡­ what do you mean!? I don¡¯t know what you are talking about! Why would I ¡­ kill Kazuki-kun, my ¡­ my best friend!?¡±Stolen novel; please report.


    The detective who was still discontented by the reaction of the one she accused as the perpetrator continued to charge on her, giving her reasoning out.


    ¡°When all of you were at beach from morning till lunch time yesterday, I didn¡¯t join with you people because the weather at that time was too hot for me. So, I was only strolling around the garden until I saw you returned back into the mansion alone ¡­.¡±


    Kaede gave her excuse back as soon as she could, while she was still crying and confused.


    ¡°I was only going back ¡­ to get medicines for Elena-chan who was sick!¡±


    The previous patient nodded, and still focused on their conversations.


    But the witness ignored everything.


    ¡°But then, you weren¡¯t aware my presence, and I also happened to want to get to the inside already. You could say that I had changed my mind, and followed you from behind instead, while also deliberately didn¡¯t want to let you notice me. Because, I was so curious after seeing you sneakily watched around before entering through the main entrance. I followed you up secretly until you got into Kazuki-kun¡¯s left opened room, which is this room, and watched you from the outside before entering into the room beside it that is coincidentally happened to be my room. I saw you tampering something on Kazuki-kun¡¯s coat. That coat!!!¡± Megumi cruelly pointed at the newest death body.


    Kaede went pale.


    The blonde detective continued to corner her suspect further.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t say much before because I don¡¯t think of any malicious things would happen just from that small peculiar action. But now as I think of it, you are the only one who have the chance to replace the medicines, and poisoned Kazuki-kun. Also, connecting to the last night¡¯s murders, just because you have the alibi for the first and second murder. You only have the highest crime level of suspicion for being the murderer¡¯s partner. By using the other kind of drugs that you are so familiar with, you had made them unconscious at the dinner for easier kill afterward by the mastermind.¡±


    Kaigo went on.


    ¡°Because Yamao is too strong to fight with alone in a normal situation.¡±


    Ringo went on.


    ¡°Because if you just poison killed them at the dinner, it would immediately expose that the murderer is one of us.¡±


    The accused young woman was too weak to defend herself anymore after all of those sudden shocks.


    ¡°I ¡­ I didn¡¯t do ¡­ any ¡­.¡±


    ¡°Then why did you say earlier ¡­ as though you know ¡­,¡± Kaigo cut in, left something.


    ¡°¡­ that those scattered pills were ¡­ from the victim¡¯s coat,¡± Ringo cut in, filled something.


    ¡°While we really couldn¡¯t ¡­ see it directly before flipping it over?¡± the twins finally finished their perfect reasoning, playfully.


    ¡°I ¡­ I just ¡­!¡±


    ¡°Kae-nee ¡­ Kae-nee will never ¡­!¡± Chika came forward, and defended her precious big sister. Ironically, it was exactly the same as when I was trying to defend this already lying cold and stiff friend earlier.


    ¡°For now, we need to lock her up. Is there a room that doesn¡¯t have any windows? Just a locked door for its entry, if possible. The sturdier, the better,¡± Elena asked to the owner in cold manner.


    ¡°Elena!!¡± I protested at her. I was agitated for how cruel she was for behaving like that toward Kaede. She is our best friend since middle school. How could she bear to lock her up like ¡­ a criminal? We are ¡­ the gangs, right? The detective, the suspect, the victim, and me. It couldn¡¯t be a fate, right?


    I was hindered when I was trying to say another word.


    ¡°There is no other way, my Yoru-kun,¡± Ringo delicately covered my mouth with her hand so suddenly from my behind. When did she get there?


    ¡°My Yoru-kun, just look at your Kaede right now,¡± Kaigo said as he was delicately pointing at the suspect over my shoulder as well.


    I looked at my other living gang member whom I was trying to protect so badly. Though we were still in the same room, it felt like there is an immeasurable distance between us. This was the first time I had ever had this kind of feeling since I know her. She looked like ¡­ another person, a never meet stranger, pale and trembling as she hugged herself. But, I still believe in her. She wouldn¡¯t have kill Kazuki. There is no way she could kill our best friend. At least, she, would never be.


    ¡°Ryouta-kun?¡± Elena continued to ask for her previous request after she saw me calmed down a bit.


    ¡°Ye ¡­ yes, there is a room on the basement. A room for keeping miscellaneous things, the storage room,¡± Ryouta said reluctantly.


    ¡°All right, that will do,¡± Elena assented, but she still looked unfocused.


    Afterward, all of us were really going down to the basement through narrow stairs, leaded by Ryouta from a usually locked door. It is one of the secluded areas of the first floor that is also the location of the mysterious door which had been drawn on Takuma¡¯s map. He turned on the light switch on the side of the wall to shine up the entire dark tunnel with an over brightfluorescent lampas the sunlight really couldn¡¯t reach this hidden space. Chika and I supported Kaede to remain stand up. She was still so heavily shocked that she couldn¡¯t even say a word, looked very distracted, and just barely walking toward her cell inside the mansion of our reunion by her very so-called friends.


    The basement is just as it is called, doesn¡¯t look as clean and elegant as the first and second floor. An almost completely different world. Because, as Ryouta had said before, the main purpose of this floor is just for keep things inside the storage room. But, there are three doors in front of us, and all of it were closed at the moment.


    The leader stopped in front of the center door that is made of heavy metal with just a little barred space to look into the inside. He said without facing at us, weakly.


    ¡°This one is the storage room.¡±


    The twins nodded satisfyingly.


    Ryouta, then, proceeded to unlock the intended door with the same key which he had used for the basement¡¯s door just earlier. After its heavy clink was heard, Ringo nonchalantly gave an opened hand to him, beckoning to ask for that most crucial thing. She got it as she wanted, and Ryouta really looked unconcerned anymore. He must be feeling extremely guilty and heavily responsible as he is the one who arranged this party, which had become the horrible scenes of all those murders even though it really isn¡¯t in his control at all. And even now, his mansion was being used as a quarantine instead for one of our ex-classmates in that reunion. This really is a real tragedy, and a totally hard blow for an honest and straightforward man like him.


    Furthermore, everyone should have been suspecting him the most for his current position. But, why would he destroy his own mansion¡¯s reputation, then? Right, I would just reply like that if someone ever asked out loud.


    ¡°The key for the door that leads to the basement and these three rooms in here is the same.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Ringo said.


    ¡°Very appreciated,¡± Kaigo said.


    The inside of the room was dark, and its air was warm and damp. All remainders of us entered into the room after the leader had turned on the old and dim orange light from the little switch on the wall, just beside the door. The room is, in fact, pretty big. But, everything stored inside was too messy, and untidily stacked together, randomly. There were many irregular tall racks that were filled with so many mixed things and cardboards, which made it looked like a maze that covered everything except on its narrow path. These really are the things which shouldn¡¯t be seen by the guests like generators, water supply system, tools for the gardening and repairing, and so many other household utensils and spares. This basement is also partly used as a wine cellar.


    Elena suddenly said.


    ¡°We must supply her with a phone.¡±


    ¡°As if there is something will happen to a murderer like her,¡± Megumi scorned.


    But Elena was serious, and Ryouta assented.


    ¡°Yes, we should do that. There are two other rooms besides this storage which are used for female and male servant room. Though they aren¡¯t fully renovated yet. But I think its phone should have already worked.¡±


    ¡°Which one should we take?¡± I asked impatiently.


    ¡°No different really. Just take the left-side room¡¯s phone then. Because the storage door is nearer to it.¡±


    The permission had been granted, and even the owner of the mansion himself had helped me to wreck the phone out of its housing in the left servant room. Then, we carefully arranged its wire, and lined it to the storage room through those two doors¡¯ narrow bottom space against the floor. It was barely long enough to put the phone near the back side of storage where Kaede could actually sit down, and lean against the wall. Ryouta had also left her with a note containing every places¡¯ intercom phone numbers, including our rooms, beside it. We tried to memorize it, or even write it down on another piece of paper also from his small book, in case it is also needed by us. Lastly, Chika insisted to support her subconscious sister alone to rest on there, with very much effort because of her smaller and weaker body. But, our muted friend still didn¡¯t say of anything.


    These numbers are ¡­ just like a code of the list of prey, easy.


    ¡°Please call us if you ever need anything, Kaede-chan.¡± Elena further reminded her.


    We were now exiting the storage room, and I was slightly concerned that I couldn¡¯t even see her anymore from the door, blocked by the things stored in those big and tall racks. I had done everything I could do for her at this moment. None of us are allowed to stay behind with her. Chika and I could have persisted. But, after we saw the indescribable loneliness and unwillingness in Elena¡¯s almost teary eyes, we changed our mind. She must have had her own reasons.


    But, what could it be? Is there really any?


    ¡°One last thing ¡­ before we left the convict ¡­,¡± the twins suddenly asked seriously to the mansion owner.


    He turned to them, everyone too.


    ¡°There really is ¡­ no CCTVs around here, right?¡±


    He answered weakly.


    ¡°No.¡±


    When Ryouta did manage to answer this time, it was the twins who were in quiet right now. But, I could read from their relieved silence. They were just offering their gratitude to someone. Would it be ¡­ just too easy for them?


    I wanted to ask them for more information, but my other-self had said otherwise.


    Then, the room was locked up by the blue twin with the key that the red twinhad previously confiscated from the master of this mansion. Now, we really exiledthe convict alone in that humid and isolated just made prison underground.

 Chapter 13 - The Investigation still Continues

    All of those damn things just happened so fast that I felt like still dreaming in my previous sleep. Two of my best friends had suddenly gone. One was killed, and the other was accused for his murder, and had been deserted by us. But, nobody could change that fact anymore. These heartless truths really had happened, and I must accept it no matter how hard they are. Though, I had already been completely destroyed by now.


    Insane! Just insanity! Damn! Every single damned thing!


    We were back again in Kazuki¡¯s room, the third murder scene. I blankly stared at my poor friend¡¯s dead body. I know that I must accept it. But it really isn¡¯t as easy as talk. I ¡­, my heart was ruptured. This long acquainted friend of mine really had gone from this world, forever. I felt dizzy. My heart was beating randomly, and so forcefully that I almost puked out everything I ate at the breakfast.


    I wanted to hit something real hard. So, I bite on my teeth in fury, and punched the wall beside me as heavily as I could with a voiceless shout, not even concerned about getting hurt or anything. A truest power of grief and anguish was released on that single hit, resulting a big thud in the entire room.


    What stupid secret were you going to tell me after the dinner? Why couldn¡¯t you keep your promise?


    Why? Why!? Why!!? Why did you need to apologize!!? Did you really not believe I could understand your feeling? Am I really that undependable? Hah!!?


    At the end, I was unable to restrain myself from screaming my lungs out.


    Everyone were startled. But, I felt a bit better now with my heart pumping slower, and my right-hand throbbing and shaking with real bloods instead of those in my insides. I forced myself to alter my anger into finding the real murderer. To save the one who is still alive, Kaede. She must have been falsely accused. She isn¡¯t the murderer, even more surely isn¡¯t as Kazuki¡¯s killer, our real close friend together since middle school.


    Kaigo said with an awkward smile.


    ¡°Wow! Wow! Wow! My condolences.¡±


    But, I ignored him. Instead, I felt sorry for the death body that was still lying exposed on the floor.


    ¡°Can I carry Kazuki¡¯s body onto bed, at least?¡±


    Ringo answered with an awkward smile.


    ¡°But! But! But! It is best if we don¡¯t move the body and all other things in the murder scene.¡±


    ¡°That will considerably aid for the incoming authorities¡¯ further investigations,¡± Fionna explained from her long silence.


    Yes, they were right. I sighed inside my mind, and looked at my friend¡¯s cold corpse again.


    Suddenly, a large white cloth was laid on the top of the body gently. It is probably one of the spare blankets taken from that person¡¯s room. The one who did this kind of last considerate thing for the death with bitter expression, is Elena. She was in remorse as well.


    ¡°Elena ¡­,¡± I uttered in a low voice subconsciously.


    The atmosphere began to get crowded again after a brief of silence in grieving moment.


    ¡°All right, we will, then, proceed to this case¡¯s investigation, to see if we could dig out something useful that could lead to the truth,¡± Elena had strengthened herself already while I was still bearing some emotions over the death of our old friend. Though, her eyes were still red as well, she was already on her gloves long before I noticed.


    ¡°You still haven¡¯t convinced even after the murderer has beencaught? You want to further spoil the death¡¯s remains again?¡± This was the first time I had ever heard Megumi spoke directly to Elena since the first day. But, the tone isn¡¯t a pleasant one.


    ¡°Calm your most delicate heart down, our young milady,¡± Kaigo was imitating a servicing butler toward the rich daughter.


    ¡°We just want to clean up the dust in the room that might have covered up some little evidences to solve the mysteries of the first two crimes, our young milady,¡± Ringo was mimicking a cleaning maid toward the rich daughter.


    Megumi seemed to heed some words in, but she was still not in a good mood.


    Then, just like before, only the twins and Elena who were doing the search on the murder scene. The rest of us, 5 people, were just waiting at the outside of the room. We really didn¡¯t have any particular desire to go to any specific place anymore because of this shocking incident.


    I looked at my wristwatch, which was only pointing at three minutes to 10 a.m. Still not even a full day have been spent in this mansion, but so many horrible and dreadful things had happened already. In this first middle school reunion, three of our ex-classmates had been killed, including one of them is my precious best friend in my life. Also, my other trustworthy friend had been accused as my best friend¡¯s murderer. I thought this kind of interesting mystery plot could only be created from within the imagination, and exists exclusively inside fictional writing to appeal the readers. So, am I the main character now? There are the real murders. And of course, I don¡¯t find it appealing at all.


    Is there going to be more? Let¡¯s hope ¡­ not.


    Twenty minutes had passed, and the clue seekers finally came out of the room. They gave us their hard-gained result for free, while Elena was taking her investigation gears off with blank expression.


    Kaigo announced while pulling his gloves off crudely.


    ¡°There is nothing to be found interesting. Also, no will has been left by the victim.¡±


    Ringo followed while pulling her gloves off crudely.


    ¡°This certainly is a murder.¡±


    ¡°I ¡­ still couldn¡¯t believe it! Kae-nee must have been framed!! Please check it again ¡­,¡± Chika began to cry again. It is perfectly natural as she trusts her sister so much.


    ¡°What do you mean by that!? You didn¡¯t hear what I had said before? I had seen it with my own eyes, Kaede-chan is the murderer!¡± Megumi still insisted on Chika.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    ¡°For now, though Kazuki¡¯s murderer might have been caught but ¡­,¡± Kaigo deliberately unfinished it.


    ¡°¡­ the murderer of the first double murders is still in free,¡± Ringo deliberately finished it.


    ¡°Are they one of us here?¡± Ryouta asked weakly.


    ¡°I believe they are. Though, Mr. Fujioka is still also a suspect,¡± Fionna only used her sharp intuition to answer.


    ¡°We, too, also, as well, believe in our cool Ms. Fionna, either,¡± The twins were showing their foreign young woman off in the middle as though a VIP proudly as they agreed with her without any evidences.


    Then, what about the Snow White that I had seen before? Is the murderer a female? Is she really a girl? Is she also one of us? Then, why only appearing in front of me, and as another person, and even sent me the letter? Is the knife fake? Is the blood ¡­ fake? Is she really ever existed?


    ¡°That means we are still not safe yet,¡± Megumi was worried, and looked at us suspiciously.


    ¡°That is right, we must still in our very defense for the incoming stealthy attack from the first and second crime murderer while ¡­,¡± Ringo was unfinished in a dignified manner.


    ¡°¡­ striving to find them,¡± Kaigo was finished in a dignified manner.


    ¡°This is a battle between us, the real graduated middle school students with the one who has the corrupted mind, that self-claimed 13<sup>th</sup> middle school reunion member, who is still living in the past,¡± Elena said with absolute resolution. She must be feeling extremely distressed, and very impatient to expose that lunatic murderer as well.


    That is right. All of us, or at the very least, me alone had yearned for so much to have a happy reunion party with the rest of our ex-classmates from middle school. We were hoping for an exciting time spent together again, and reconnecting our long lost friendships since graduation. But, who would have ever guessed that it would end up this way? There is at least one murderer lurking around in this regrouping party, and he or she is very likely blending among us. One of us had changed, to ¡­ an insane one. Why? Because a normal one wouldn¡¯t be able to think about murdering someone, to kill their own ex-classmates as though showing to the others that they deserved to die in such a gruesome way. A normal one wouldn¡¯t have done such things, moreover, during a reunion.


    While the others were already silently leaving the newest crime scene, I still wanted to accompany my white-cloth-covered old friend a little while longer. I kneeled down in front of him until I thought all the rest had left the room. My best friend and I ¡­, only one was living right now.


    Though we are just that inseparable.


    After a while, it was the time for me to move on as well. So, I took a deep breath, stood up, and turned myself around to take the first step. But, a low and weak voice called, stopping me from leaving.


    ¡°Yoru ¡­.¡±


    Of course, I recognized that very familiar sound. It came from the only one of the other left exempted gang member right now whom had accompanied me in almost every situation back then, Elena. I turned to face her who stood by the door. I was so distracted that I didn¡¯t even notice her until just now.


    Though she was very determined just a while ago, but she continued to say the rest with a regretful expression.


    ¡°I am very sorry for the lost of Kazuki-kun as well, also ¡­ for behaving so cruel to Kaede-chan.¡±


    I was the one who was feeling bad for her. Now that I had cooled my head a bit, I think I could understand her reason behind that.


    ¡°No, you have done the right thing for that moment. I am sorry ¡­ for shouting at you before. I am so stupid. If you just left it as it was, and didn¡¯t isolate Kaede-chan away from us. There is no telling what will have happened to her by the rest of us. As it wouldn¡¯t be fair if she isn¡¯t arrested for being a murderer, or something. But, I still believe in her even though there are just Chika and I. Kaede-chan didn¡¯t kill Kazuki.¡±


    ¡°No ¡­, it isn¡¯t like that.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°I also don¡¯t think of Kaede-chan as the perpetrator of Kazuki-kun¡¯s ¡­, at least for this moment.¡±


    ¡°What!?¡±


    I thought Elena and the others already judged Kaede as the most suspected among us, which is the main reason to lock her up. But now, Elena had said that she doesn¡¯t think of that way. Yet, why did she still suggest to lock her up?


    The long black-haired gang member continued with a little change of aura, a serious tone.


    ¡°Because, as I think of it if I were in her position, when Megumi-chan said about had seen Kaede-chan doing something on Kazuki-kun¡¯s coat. She could just give us some random excuses, and not as easily accepted everything asshe did before. Though, she was still so broken down for our best friend¡¯s sudden death.¡±


    ¡°Then ¡­ what about those spilled words?¡±


    She stared even more deeply at me. After a slight pause, she said.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you think that provided information is way too ¡­ specific, and not necessary at all? As though she had deliberately said that. Also, still about those Kazuki-kun¡¯s belongings, Kaede-chan could just say that she has already known his medicines are in his coat by that time because the two of them are so close that she might have known his habit to stuff in there. It is an undeniable fact that she could just say those easy excuses because of their closer relationship than the rest of us. I have even heard that they are still always contacting each other after our graduation up until now. It isn¡¯t an information that only the perpetrator would have known, more or less the spilled words. It isn¡¯t a complete checkmate.¡±


    I was dumbfounded, a little.


    ¡°Now that I think of what you have just said. It seems sensible. I would have kept my mouth from saying too much if I were the murderer. Even more careful about such vital information about the cause of the homicide.¡±


    Elena smiled a bit.


    ¡°Precisely, Kaigo and Ringo already noticed that, and that is why they are still going to investigate more to it. The way Kaede-chan behaved is way too strange. She must still have something kept in secret. The worst possibility that I could think of is she is blackmailed.¡±


    ¡°Blackmailed? By who? The real murderer?¡±


    ¡°That is what we are going to find out.¡±


    I was so relieved to hear those words came from the others especially from Elena who is also our gang members. I felt really-really dumb now for acting so recklessly at them without thinking logically first. She is so wise in her every action, but still hadn¡¯t answered my most basic question from the first place.


    ¡°Umm ¡­, then, why do we need to lock her up?¡±


    Elena seemed a little surprised. She raised her eyebrows.


    ¡°You can¡¯t be kidding me! You really haven¡¯t figured it out, have you? I had especially asked for a room that doesn¡¯t have any window to prevent any attack from the outside, and a stronger door to keep her protected from any breakable by force, while its room key and master key are kept by Kaigo and Ringo whom I most trusted, and had even gone through all the troubles to suggest setting up a telephone for her in case any emergency situation ever happened. Do you think that all those actions are just a whim?¡±


    ¡°I still don¡¯t understand.¡±


    My friend sighed. But, she still continued.


    ¡°If Kaede-chan isn¡¯t the murderer, and now is being threatened, then, simply locking her up is the safest option.¡±


    That brief and plain sentence had cured my long concern.

 Chapter 14 - A Mysterious Weapon is Introduced

    I finally fully understand what the real situation was going on right now. It wasn¡¯t just Elena alone, even Kaigo and Ringo had already gotten all those peculiar actions planned beforehand. To protect Kaede who was somehow blackmailed, to catch the real murderer who might be still blending among us, the remaining 8 people.


    ¡°Kyaaaaaaa ¡­!!!¡±


    But before I could think of anything useful to identify that God damned murderer, it seemed that they had already presented themselves out first in front of the other 6 people whom had left us earlier by the shrill cry of Megumi and Chika.


    The two of us who were still in the room were startled.


    ¡°What was that!?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Let¡¯s quickly check it out!¡±


    The two of us impatiently ran out of the room toward the source of that danger signal. We had a very bad feeling about this. What had happened to them? Did a murder have happened again? Or it was Kaigo and Ringo who had caught the murderer first? Or even they had finally met with that incomprehensible Snow White? Actually, there are still so many possibilities that could be think of, but we had already reached the right wing¡¯s starting corridor first.


    From there we could see what was going on the first floor¡¯s main hall. All six people were still out there in front of the main stairs. No one had died, thankfully. But, all of them weren¡¯t standing together. Instead, they had divided into two groups, and facing each other. It was a one versus the other 5 people stage, and that single person was pointing at them, using her right hand which was wielding something black.


    ¡°Fionna ¡­!!¡± I shouted.


    ¡°What are you doing with that gun!?¡± Elena also shrieked at her.


    But that long purple-haired young woman ignored us, and still continuing to mark that dangerous weapon¡¯s lightred laser at each of her five enemies¡¯ forehead by turns with the gorgeous main stairs as the background. Tough, she was still looking as calm as though the usual circumstance, the others were already dumbstruck, and unable to move by the sudden appearance of a pistol pointing directly at them. But also, as expected, the twins were still looking as eccentric as though the usual as well. They were just grinning on it, and didn¡¯t afraid even the slightest before that senseless threat declaring in front of them.


    After a boring while, the illegal arm wielder finally put her right hand down, and even smirked a bit. The tense atmosphere was decreased slightly. The twins, then, felt the need to announce in a contrasted mode.


    ¡°Wow, there is even more protection at this point. It is way cooler than ¡­,¡± Kaigo started the joke joyfully.


    ¡°¡­ the other strange things found before. But, she just pointed a gun at a police. How dare her. Huh,¡± Ringo ended the joke annoyingly.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t a joke anymore! Why does she have a pistol!?¡± Megumi asked furiously while she was still so frightened.


    ¡°Why do you bring that weapon to this reunion, Fionna-chan?¡± Ryouta asked in pale.


    ¡°Are you the one ¡­ who killed all of our friends?¡± Chika was still trembling, and hiding behind Ryouta.


    Despite being interrogated so wildly, our foreign friend just answered in an effortless tone, and laughed while still playing with her firearm¡¯s laser covered by each of her five delicate left fingers by turns again.


    ¡°I have just always been taking this with me wherever I go since I was a kid. Besides, this is just a replica of a rubber bullet gun, for self-defense purpose only. Harm nothing. Ha-ha.¡±


    ¡°But still, why did you ¡­,¡± Megumi still couldn¡¯t finish her sentence normally in fear.


    The performer carried her laser-off arm but not wielding it anymore, and slowly moved forward to show it to the others. After everyone had been convinced, Megumi angrily asked.


    ¡°Why did you suddenly point that thing to us, then!!?¡±


    The white young woman didn¡¯t even look guilty, and coldly said.


    ¡°I am just testing out to see what will it look like when all of you are really facing up with the real culprit, for your own good as well. But, it seems that every each of you are just some scaredy-cats.¡±


    The twins were the ones who looked furious now, and simultaneously said.


    ¡°Except us-us, Okay~!?¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t be playing with that kind of thing around. It is dangerous!¡± Ryouta was starting to be enraged as well.


    Fionna returned back all those unhappy concerns with one unsociable and direct checkmate.


    ¡°Who is the one more dangerous now, me or the culprit that is hiding between us?¡±


    No one could disagree with that truest statement.


    ¡°That is why we said that we have ¡­ even ¡­ more ¡­ protection ¡­ now,¡± the twins said with desperate mocking gesture.


    ¡°But, what if she is the murderer herself?¡± Megumi protested stressfully.


    ¡°No, she wouldn¡¯t. Though she doesn¡¯t have any alibi at all for the first two murders, we still ¡­,¡±


    ¡°What!?¡± the rich daughter was raged and impatient.


    ¡°¡­ believe in our special and cute Fionna-chaaaaan~!!!,¡± the twins suddenly teleported to that foreign woman¡¯s either sides, and showing her off as though she is the real MVP in front of us again. Of course, Elena and I were also dumbfounded in place, and still couldn¡¯t understand at all about what really is inside of these twins¡¯ insane head.


    ¡°Why!?¡±


    The blue and red ones were already waiting to be asked by that clich¨¦d but most anticipated question since ages. They excitedly readied themselves to give their ultimate reason out. They nodded to each other for the confirmation to start. Took a deep breath, and said together confidently and absolutely.


    ¡°Just because she doesn¡¯t have any alibi at all for the murders themselves, has utterly mean that she isn¡¯t the murderer herself,¡± They paused for a moment, and then said the rest after a full smirk.


    ¡°Otherwise, it will be too ¡­ lame.¡±


    Such ¡­ advanced theory shouldn¡¯t be able to be comprehended by most people.


    ¡°What a joke!?¡± The blonde woman couldn¡¯t believe at their farce.


    I, too, couldn¡¯t accept that kind of reason. Do they think that all cases in this reality are just as interesting as those specially made-up fiction mysteries? But, Elena seemed to have a different opinion, and was still seriously considering about it. Maybe she had caught up with something. She suddenly moved, and held my right hand with her left to start pulling me together quickly to their location down the main stairs. We stopped right in front of those five-people¡¯s group, and were facing with that foreign woman directly. The long black-haired detective was still holding me firmly.


    ¡°But I don¡¯t believe you! Now, give me that gun!¡± Elena said resolutely while giving her right hand out.


    But that purple-eyed woman didn¡¯t even flinch, and moved forward so swiftly that she seemed to be leaping toward me. She was still ignoring my friend, and just looking into my eyes straightforwardly. She suddenly touched my face with her unoccupied left hand seductively, and slowly slid downward as she spoke with an enchanted aura.


    ¡°Why do you just believe in my Mr. Yoru so much? Is he really that special? ¡­ I am so ¡­ jealous,¡± the woman immediately looked ten times more attractive as she tilted her head to observe me even more keenly.


    ¡°Yeah, yeah. Though he is a fake!!¡± criedthe twins out ofnowhere. I never fully understand what they said.


    My startled heart pounding response was a little too late, and her hand had already stopped on my chin. She felt just like the devilish tyranny queen who was just playing with one of her thousands of servants however she likes. But, the purplish empressstill gave a full contented smile in the end.


    ¡°Come, come. Welcome to our team as the sixth!¡± hailedthe twins out ofnowhere. What again?


    ¡°Maybe you really are one of us ¡­.¡±


    One of ¡­. What? Who are you really!?


    I felt the complete eeriness just like the first time I saw the Snow White. And now that her hand was so close to me. I just realized that her fingernails are also painted in dark purple, and a little too long for even a normal woman. She really looked like a female devil right now with her cold as ice hands.


    But that stunning moment didn¡¯t last long. Someone had suddenly caught her naughty hand off my lower face with her right forcefully. Even this seducing young woman was surprised for a moment. I looked to my right to see who was the one that had awakened me. As expected, she was Elena, who had always been helping me since middle school. Furthermore, she had already somehow stolen that gun so fast that I couldn¡¯t see anything but just feeling that she had let go of my right hand just a second ago. Is she really that clumsy Elena?The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°He will definitely ¡­ not be the one of you!¡± My ally gazedat her sternly. An even more suffocating tenseatmosphere had been risen around us. This time, it was her who shonethe red dot, on that gun owner¡¯s head, with her left hand.


    ¡°Hoh?¡± Fionna smiled to her right hand which had her weapon stolen.


    ¡°I had already suspected you from even before the murders begin. From the first place, how could you come here!?¡± Elena asked without any hesitation to the most unexpected reunion member here.


    All remainders were as though immediately getting some wild ideas here. The ruckus couldn¡¯t be prevented. Yes, I had forgotten about that even I had also already realized it from before. Fionna was still unconcernedly looking at her, acting silly.


    ¡°Who contacted you to come here? Who invited you? Who has your contact to begin with?¡± Elena further cornered her. She, then, turnedtothe leader of the reunion.


    ¡°I ¡­ I also don¡¯t know. Fionna-chan is the one who contacted me as though she had already known about the reunion, asking if she could participate. And of course, there is no reason to turn her down at that time. Actually, there is another ¡­,¡± Ryouta was cut after recalled that most out of ordinary thing from the most silent girl in our class.


    ¡°Oh my ¡­. Don¡¯t tell me, she ¡­!¡± murmured Megumi who had thought of something very unlikely.


    ¡°Who told you about the reunion!!?¡± Elena asked fiercelyat her.


    After a moment of a disturbing silence, the lone woman who was still collected, said generally before turning to the leader who was still confused.


    ¡°It is from somebody among us right now. Why don¡¯t you ask the other one?¡±


    The coolestfemale turned again to the hottest one.


    ¡°You should have known better than me. My truest identity ¡­,¡± Fionna said with an absolute smile and confidence that looked like a smirk.


    ¡°What!?¡± Elena couldn¡¯t understand her, and still hadn¡¯t let her stolen weapon down a bit and strongly gripping that white woman¡¯s left wrist.


    ¡°I never know ¡­ just by being myself ¡­ will earn so much hate, ¡­ right? ¡­ Ms. Elena?¡±


    Everyone just didn¡¯t understand a bit, but also couldn¡¯t do a thing to force her to give the satisfying answer.She continued with a slightly tilted head and a warm smile.


    ¡°If you really don¡¯t trust me, why don¡¯t you fire at me?¡±


    Elena and the others just had their eyes opened widely. But the twins just had the mansion¡¯s entrance opened elegantly, in front of us with a gesture as though a servant and a maid welcoming us to go to the outside.


    ¡°I dare you ¡­,¡± The fearless woman was looking devilishly at her armed enemy despite she was still armless. Her opponent even looked more cowered.


    ¡°What if I say I am the Ms. Snow White that Mr. Yoru saw at the first night? I double dare you,¡± The sentence was even heavier and deeper than the first. What was she talking about? Why did she use the Snow White¡¯s name?


    ¡°What if I say I am the one who killed those 2 persons later? I triple dare you,¡± Darker atmosphere was dwelling around us.


    ¡°What if I say I am the one who poisoned the latest death? I quadruple dare you,¡± The daring woman had had her eyes glaring even more arrogant. Even I was already at my limit.


    ¡°What if I say I am the one who blackmailed the latest prisoner? I decuple dare you,¡± Elena was already at her limit as well for unconcernedly saying like that about our poor friend. Chika moaned confusedly from behind. The black-haired woman beside me fixed the gun¡¯s aim right on her opponent¡¯s center forehead unwaveringly. Point blank.


    ¡°Oh Em Gi! There is a rocket fly by ¡­,¡± shouted by the twins with rapid dramatic pointing movements to the ceiling between the strained members. But, nobody was going believed in them. After all, they shouldn¡¯t be able to see that from the inside of the mansion


    ¡°What if I say you are ¡­,¡± The woman in front of me really didn¡¯t afraid of death at the slightest. But the gun is unreal from the first place, so why should she afraid then ¡­.


    *Dooorr.


    Everything seemed so unreal. This was a nightmare, right?


    A fire was shot, like a cheap firecracker sound that was too loud, and had exploded right close to my head. My right ear was hurt deeper, my hand immediately protected it. Who played that? I turned around, but nobody seemed like playing with anything like that. They were utterly dumbfounded for something on my behind. Then, it was from my previous front-side. Yes, that was right.


    Elena shot Fionna, with a real gun. Her gun isn¡¯t fake at all, not even close to a rubber bullet gun, and it was still omitting thinsmoke. Its cartridge fell onto the floor with a coin like sound. I couldn¡¯t face my up-front. She was aiming at her head before, right?


    ¡°Aww! Aww!¡± a sound from a woman.


    ¡°Eww! Eww!¡± a sound from a man.


    The twins were trying to separate them. Ringo was taking from Elena¡¯s arm, and Kaigo was taking from Fionna¡¯s. They were pretending as though had used all of their strengths to pull those two quarreling reunion mates apart for fun. But in reality, they were just making the situation much more dramatic and worsened.


    Apparently, everyone was shocked at the fact that the gun is real. Even Fionna herself had had her alluring eyes widened for a millisecond, maybe because of Elena¡¯s unexpected resolution. Elena was also blanked for a whilefor actually had fired a genuinegun, though had caused nothing but just a thin twitching graze on Fionna¡¯s rightupper cheek, under the corner of her eye. If ¡­ if only that white woman didn¡¯t turn her head slightly to the opposite as she was right now, maybe ¡­ maybe it wasn¡¯t just a scratch that she would have been gotten by now. Also, I was really grateful for the twins who had already opened the main door in front of us, so there isn¡¯t any more furniture damaged again during this reunion. They are, indeed, very right, even on the future.


    Realized that they really couldn¡¯t separate them apart by just using some physical rules, they had their strategy changed into a persuading one. The two of them exaggeratedly lowered their upper body 90 degrees to the still disputing members.


    They said together simultaneously in different voices that made it very hard to hear.


    ¡°For now, whatever the reason it might be, just believe in your ¡®nii this time, ¡®kay? you do believe in your ¡®nee every time, right?¡± Kaigo¡¯s eyes were in pleading mode.


    ¡°For now, whatever the reason it might be, just believe in your ¡®nee this time, ¡®kay? you do believe in your ¡®nii every time, right?¡± Ringo¡¯s eyes were in pleading mode.


    ¡°Pleaseeee~!?¡± they were pretending so pathetically to their supposed little sister.


    Cute!


    Somehow, Elena really heeded their irrational request, just like how unreasonable they were believing in Fionna without any condition previously. She finally released her solid gripping, and Fionna had also not forgotten to skillfully take back her gun and sheathed it in its holster on her upper right thigh after she had pulled up her short black skirt a little just for that milliseconds. She, then, gracefully curtsiedto thank her, though she was still slightly rubbing on her right wrist after that because of the pain Elena caused.


    As for the others, especially Megumi and Ryouta. They also only needed to be convinced a bit by those two weirdoes to act the same. Those peculiar twins really somehow had the fullest amount of charisma, acting and persuading skill. In the end, all of us were really following their illogical persuasion.


    ¡°She might even be the one who will be protecting us instead with that gun, if the real murderer really does show up, and trying to attack us, right?¡± Kaigo asked convincingly.


    ¡°If we really are so scared of her to may be attacking us instead with that gun, then, we just need to stick together for at least two people behind her, right?¡± Ringo asked convincingly.


    ¡°At the very least, none of us nor even the deaths had ever suffered any damage from that gun, left?¡± The twin joked together.


    Once again, they were so right and left that not even a person could have ¡®left¡¯ that.


    ¡°Maybe we should search on the others too,¡± Megumi was still doubtful of whether the rest of us really had already shown all of our cards.


    ¡°That is what we are talking about previously, and Ms. Fionna is the first one who had shown it to us,¡± Kaigo said happily.


    ¡°In a rather cool way, though,¡± Ringo said unhappily.


    ¡°We must also try to take a look in all of our rooms,¡± Ryouta asked despite the mansion is his.


    ¡°Yes, to be cautious for another her!¡± Elena challenged at Fionna. Clearly, she still had no trust for the latter. She just unwillingly obeyed the twins¡¯ earnest request, not to arguetoo much with her.


    That foreign young woman just replied with a hospitablesmile, but then, immediatelychanged to another threateningcountenance when everyone was already leaving. She suggested as she was bending over to pick the fallen cartridge up, with her handkerchief of antique motif.


    ¡°While we are at it ¡­ why don¡¯t we code name our target to make things easier? By the name of Bi ¡­.¡±


    ¡°No ¡­!¡± Elena gazed at her sternly over shoulder as though would be quarreling with her again.


    She smiled to no one as she was putting the things inside her skirt pocket. She opened her naughty mouth to say even more.


    Like the pronunciation of a car¡¯s ¡®a¡¯.


    Quickly realizied thatthe second different in opinion would be even more unstoppable, the good-hearted twins swiftlychanged our pace again.


    ¡°All right!¡± Ringo announced excitedly with a right punch to the air.


    ¡°Let us go plundering!¡± Kaigo announced excitedly with a left punch to the air.


    The two of them leaded us to search in every each of our very own rooms, starting from the rightest right wing which ¡®happened to be¡¯ the previous gun owner¡¯s room. All of us were participating together, except the one who had their room searched, had to be waiting at the outside corridor while waiting for their body to be fully searched after that by the same genders. In fact, there is no need for all members to be searching in the same room at the same time. But actually, there are only 2 reasons behind this.


    At the outside, everyone was acting as though it is just a common search for something ordinary. It isn¡¯t like any murder had happened inside the room, so everyone doesn¡¯t need to be afraid that they might have somehow tampered the scene, and could help the searching progressed much faster. But, at the inside is the most real and pathetic truth.There are already too many distrust between every each of us. Even the one who was waiting at the outside must need to look cautiously not to be framed by those exploring team. This really is the most terrible thing ever for any reunion party. The very fact that all of us were searching in a larger group inside of a still living tenant room than those previous 3 murder scenes had made me felt the most miserable.


    The twins had volunteered to be waiting at the outside together when one of their rooms was being searched. Such thoughtful.


    Maybe, they just wanted to slack off two times in a row?


    Never mind them.


    At one particular moment inside Kaede¡¯s room, the one who was the cause of this searching expedition was looking up at one unimportant corner of the ceiling expressionlessly. Realized that I had noticed that peculiar behavior, she, then, threw her face away, and continued her job. I followed her previous gaze up, but nothing was there. Just what was she thinking about again?


    Nothing is there, right?


    Kaede, sorry for searching your room without your permission. I will make sure they didn¡¯t mess with anything in here, on your behalf.


    Everything just went peacefully till the end.


    Now, we had all finished in thoroughly searching all of our bedrooms one by one together, except of those who had already deceased. As we were descending along the main stairs, the stepping suddenly felt like writing something down for me. I immediately remembered a particular thing that might could help to clarify my falsely accused and still being quarantined underground childhood friend.


    ¡°Did you happen to find Kazuki¡¯s diary before?¡±


    ¡°Who did you ask?¡± the twins were asking simultaneously.


    ¡°Me ¡­?¡± the young woman asked again.


    ¡°Me ¡­?¡± the young man asked again.


    I was irritated.


    ¡°Whoever! just answered it!!¡±


    ¡°Nope-nope-nope, my cute Mr. Yoru,¡± the twins were answering as though plagiarizing Fionna¡¯s previous seducing tone at the same time.


    ¡°Besides, what is the use of that thing?¡± the man asked disgustingly.


    ¡°We had already said that we aren¡¯t interested at the very least in the ¡®whydunnit¡¯ part!¡± the woman exclaimed disgustingly.


    I was going to argue with them more as I very disliked their current behavior. But, Elena had caught my hand from my behind, and shook her head. This time, it was me who was thoughtlessly following her advice.


    In the end, nothing new is added into the dangerous or strange things discovery list. There really is only one possession that is potentially enough to be a critical personal accessory out here in this reunion, being introduced on this second day by this usually quiet young woman.

 Chapter 15 - Only Five Suspects Left?

    I really didn¡¯t have any appetite to eat anything right now. Everything was so messed up, completely different from my long awaited happy middle school reunion wish. But, I realized that I must still force myself to stay strong in this kind of critical situation, to prevent any more life stolen from us. I really don¡¯t want to see another friend in the state of corpse again. I would do anything to protect my still existing friends, and of course, my very own life.


    I don¡¯t want to be killed like this. I don¡¯t want to die clueless.


    The twins suddenly suggested that we must shuffle the meal and drink from now on. To prevent another drugging incident? Or just playing? Nevertheless, nobody was so eager to argue with them anymore, except the rich daughter who insisted that she had to pick first. Whatever!


    After the lifeless lunch, I regrouped with Elena and Chika. I wanted to help the latter to investigate more for the whole truth. I think she might be willing to share more of her thoughts and clues, just like what she had told me before about Kaede¡¯s fake act, rather from than Kaigo and Ringo who only tended to keep the secrets between the two of them. As for Chika, she was only meaninglessly following her only left oneechan here.


    Kaigo and Ringo went to discuss more about the murder cases in the drawing-room, aided by Ryouta and Megumi who were still somewhat restlessby the existence of a gun. While its ownerwas just sitting far away by herself beside the window like the first time we came here. But, she wasn¡¯t reading any book this time. Instead, she was just peering blankly onto the breezy sunny outside through the opened window. Maybe, she was also thinking about the whole cases or the other things, and had preferred to be alone again like most of her time. Though, she was also inside of the same room with the other 4 people, she didn¡¯t seem to like to take part in their conference at all. Their worlds were so separated away.


    The three of us had gone to the outside to breathe some fresh air. The atmosphere inside was too tense and rigid. At last, I felt a little more relaxed for the first time after all those horrible incidents. Actually, the setting right now is just like yesterday¡¯s excited free activities, except for the absent of the other two. It still hurt in my inside when I think about their fate. But, I had countlessly committed to myself to just focus in the present time. I must pull myself together even if it really is very hard for me to pretended as though nothing had actually happened. I was beginning to admireFionna¡¯s expressionlessnature by now.


    Suddenly, Chika eagerly went ahead to pick up something unknown in front of us. After she had gone to a distance that shouldn¡¯t be able to hear what I was going to talk about. I confessed to the only partner besides me.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you tell Chika-chan about what had happened to Kaede-chan? You had even lied to her when she asked if you know the meaning of what Fionna-chan had said earlier. She must have been very worried about her, you know? Even more than us because Kaede-chan is her sister. And she is ¡­ also assuming you as her sister who will always be supporting her. You should have known better than me. She is ¡­ a very fragile being, so easily shocked by those tragedies since last night, but still tried to stay strong for not to be worried by us more than anything else. Just because you had told me about Kaede-chan¡¯s disguised purpose alone, I am feeling ¡­ I am feeling ¡­ extremely guilty for her right now.¡±


    Elena¡¯s expression was still as placid as though I hadn¡¯t said anything so persuasive and emotional. She must have thought of that already.


    ¡°I am very sorry for her too. But, ¡­ not now. If I were to tell Chika-chan at this moment, then, why didn¡¯t I just tell everybody else? The purpose of protecting Kaede-chan secretly by locking her up in the sturdy basement room will all be wasted. She will be freed at once if our reasoning were to be announced. Not even to mention about the other potential problem like it doesn¡¯t seem that all of us will so proudly agree with the release. For example, Megumi-chan who had falsely accused her in the first place. Before we know the reason behind Kaede-chan¡¯s strange behaviors for not defending herself against the wrong charge, we shouldn¡¯t tell anyone about this. And instead, now we must take this advantage of Kaede-chan being safe there temporarily, and go to investigate for her.¡±


    I was reluctant.


    ¡°You are right, ¡­ actually. But still, ¡­ why did you tell me?¡±


    The black-haired detective told me an unreasonable information.


    ¡°At the very least, I know. ¡­ I know that you aren¡¯t the murderer of those homicides, ¡­ with certainty.¡±


    I also know that I myself am not the murderer. But, I also realize that to make the others believe in me in this kind of dubious situation, requires solid prove.


    ¡°Um ¡­, why?¡±


    The young woman answered with confidence without any concrete evidence again while still looking at one of the flower bed beside her.


    ¡°I just have the reason to judge like that. And, as I had said that you aren¡¯t the murderer, so do the twins, Kaigo and Ringo. And of course, that includes me as well.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean? You are speaking without any supporting proof. You really aren¡¯t beingyourself now and ¡­before this.And the twins were acting so nonsensically. And what Fionna-chan had said previously was so ¡­.¡±


    Elena was already shaking her head forcefully before I finished, then,looking at me.


    ¡°I am still being myself, and in a very clear mind. I also don¡¯t understand at all what she was talking about. But actually, I have my own good proof as the basis for thinking like that, and I am only saying the result for you alone, because I know you are not guilty. If you still want to help me find the murderer or their partner out, then, there really are only five living suspects left to be considered, by not excluding Kaede-chan, and Ryouta-kun who claimed to have been attacked by someone, yet.¡±


    I answered without thinking first.


    ¡°Even I am still not very clear about your meaning of having the proof of me, the twins, and yourself for not being the murderer. But, I will trust in you, and just focus ¡­ atthe other five persons.¡±


    I realized something too unexpected way too late.


    ¡°But wait, does that mean you also suspect in Chika-chan? She is your own delicate little sister.¡±


    Elena looked as though not even concerned anymore.


    ¡°I could do nothing about it. I still have no proof to clear her out of the suspicions, even if I wanted.¡±Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    I was the one who was getting a little agitated now.


    ¡°Then why couldn¡¯t you just look for another proof for her, like me!?¡±


    But it was not long before I realized just how pathetic I was.


    ¡°¡­ Sorry, I am just ¡­.¡±


    The woman was silent for a moment before she looked up to the bright sun. The soothing wind was flowing her black and shining long hair smoothly. She said the rest in a cold manner while just nonchalantly covering her eyes from the hot weather with her small white right hand.


    ¡°Please do wake up, Yoru. All of us here already ¡­ aren¡¯t the same us whom we had known before, aren¡¯t as innocent and simple minded as back then in the middle school period. We are beginning to become adults, and many things might have changed us here. The transition time really have so much impact on us, and we don¡¯t even know what had happened to the others after all of us were separated to our own chosen road of life. Their mind might had been distorted by some unknown influence factors since then. Everyone has their own problems. Physically, they might have changed very much, but we would still be able to recognize them. But, if the changes are developed inside, we wouldn¡¯t be able to ever realize that before it is too late. They might even have kept some dire secrets that definitely couldn¡¯t be let known to the others, even to their closest friend either. And I myself must admit some of those facts too.¡±


    I tried to understand that growing period is to search for our truest goal in life and identity in this social world. It really is the most floating part of our life. Actually, I do understand Elena¡¯s meaning very well. But I just ¡­ don¡¯t want to admit that it had happened negatively to my childhood friends too. I don¡¯t want to think that I am still living in my own private world made entirely from those time¡¯s happy memories that should have already long passed, either. I really don¡¯t want to lose all of those ex-middle school playing partner¡¯s still innocent mind images. I wanted them to stay the same, that is why ¡­ I tried my best to stay the same.


    I gave out a really pathetic fake smile.


    ¡°Yeah, I ¡­ I know.¡±


    She is indeed ¡­ right. Everyone might have changed so much tough they are still looking as friendly as 6 years ago. There are somany things to be considered of, to be thought of, to be accepted of. More importantly, there are somany things as well that had happened since the first day we came here that I still haven¡¯t understand. I couldn¡¯t bear to get confused in this critical time if I really am intended to find out the real identity of the murderer who had caused all these messes for us in our reunion.


    For now, I will just need to focus on trusting in Elena¡¯s granted information which had underlined that the murderer or their partner is among those five remaining living friends. No, if it really is one of them is one themselves, then, he or she isn¡¯t our friend anymore. But, an enemy. To say it for revenge? Maybe it is true. I couldn¡¯t deny that I was feeling extremely angry and hateful right now that I wanted to kill them myself for the sake of my murdered friends, and the pain they had brought to us. It is them who had started the killings first, so if I were to kill them later, it is only natural, right? That is the law! I will get it back ten times ¡­ hundred times from them!!


    As though the woman beside me could read inside my current wicked mind, she spoke out.


    ¡°Yoru, please ¡­, don¡¯t let hatred conceal your sincerest heart.¡±


    I was totally taken aback by her short but downright advice. Finally, I, too, realized that I had really been consumed by devilish rage in those few moments. It is a shame really. I had never been like that before. Of course, mainly because I hadn¡¯t experienced those crazy murders in front of me.I am a person who don¡¯t like to argue with anyone. I usually let the others win as long as they are happy and satisfied. But now, even for a second only, I had really changed totally, to an entirely different person that even I myself couldn¡¯t recognize. I never wished to change into that resentful personality ever, no matter what happened. This young woman really just did barely save me from falling into that hell of hatred forever. I must try my best to stay as calm as possible to still be able to judge logically ¡­ for the sake of the truth.


    ¡°Yes, thank you, Elena.¡±


    She smiled warmly to me.


    I myself also don¡¯t understand why I am willing to believe in Elena so much without any question when she said that everyone might have changed since then. What if she had also changed as well? It is only natural for me to think of the other way around, right? I must admit that I still had the thought of believing that all of my friends are innocent, and wouldn¡¯t have betrayed us. Yet, I also don¡¯t disagree at the fact that they might have not been the same already. Such contradiction really is a part of life. Am I the only one innocent here?


    Though I don¡¯t want to be unfair to the other friends. But, my gang members especially Elena alone would be the last one I have believed to ever lie to me. I am not paying back for her baseless trust in me. She is just the one that I had already known better than anyone else. She is a very understanding and sensitive woman. Though sometimes she might seem a little too harsh, but it was just because she is worried about us. Like she just almost had a dispute with Fionna earlier, it was just because of me. She had even let herself to be detested by us when she was disguising to protect Kaede in dark. She is also the one who had always been secretly supporting me during those hard times in middle school. And now, giving those important clues out, while reminding me for not going too sentimental in reasoning, to still consider everyone as an equal suspect for the crimes.


    Yet, she still couldn¡¯t tell me the reason behind why she believed so much in me and the twins for not being the murderer. Maybe, there is a reason for her to stay in confidential. What is that!? But most earnestly, I sensed no lie in the whole of her. This is my last believe in this already unrecoverable rotten distrusting reunion.


    We walked together toward the Lolita who was still kneeling on the grass in front of a flowerbed. She was arranging some flowers into three circle bouquets. The results were very magnificent and fully elaborated. She was very skilled in organizing those. She just barely finished when we arrived at her location, and she showed us one of them understandingly.


    ¡°Look, Ele-nee. These are for our ¡­ died friends.¡±


    Elena and I were utterly taken aback by that still innocent thought in this kind of despairing situation that we were indeed facing together right now. I was already readying myself to be thinking neutral from now on, yet once again couldn¡¯t bear to suspect this guiltless young woman. She was still even more concerned about the death of Kazuki and the others rather than her own safety.


    By making those three big flower bouquets equally impartial could only mean one thing. She already holds no grudges against Takuma and Ken whom had always been bullying her and her best friend so severely back in middle school, though I doubt she ever had that kind of ill thought from the first place. She had already forgiven them from long ago. She even tried to forget and talk with them normally, though the two of them still tried to harass her yesterday. It really is just too inhuman for having such good innocent girl added into our suspects list. Could I just suspect at the other 4 persons though it is already too hard for me? Could I really pass through this painful ordeal?


    Elena bended over with her hands on her knees to be able to speak with her little sister at the same height.


    ¡°I am so sorry Chika-chan, for what had happened to Kaede-chan,¡±


    Chika just smiled and shook her head twice.


    ¡°Um, um, you were only doing that for the sake of Kae-nee too, Ele-nee.¡±


    This little girl is just too understanding that made us felt even guiltier. Elena just smiled back forcefully, but still trying to look as soothingly as possible as she patted her little sister¡¯s head for her good work. She was also in pain for suspecting at Chika. She must have tried very hard in searching for the latter¡¯s guiltless proof already, though still couldn¡¯t find any up until now. And by now, I was also already not so sure that the detective could still be fully reasoning based on her logical thought after all of these touching occurrences.


    ¡°Thank you, Chika-chan. They would be ¡­ very grateful for you.¡±

 Chapter 16 - My Own Perceptions about the Cases

    After the three of us had hanged each of those circle bouquets on every door handle of our already deceased friends¡¯ rooms, we walked together in the corridor without any destination until Elena had suddenly excused herself that she had something to do in her room, and wanted to be alone for now. I was worried about her because the murderer might be particularly waiting for this kind of chance to strike their lone victim at a secluded place. But, she immediately insisted that there is nothing would be happening to her as she would be on her very guard for any incoming attack. I just didn¡¯t have any chance to talk back to her. She replied to me in every way possible, and very detailed. Maybe she had already known what I was going to say next because my persuasion lines are just too clich¨¦d.


    After heard that her oneechan wished to be unaccompanied, Chika, also, proposed that she would just regroup with the others in the drawing-room. Then, as for myself, though I was also very impatient to find out the murderer as fast as possible, but I still couldn¡¯t accept the way the twins were treating these cases with the belief that the reasons behind these murders are useless. So, they shouldn¡¯t be discussing about it there. I would definitely not agree with that kind of theory though they might still could actually solve the cases. There wouldn¡¯t be a murder without the slightest reason. Even animals would only prey when they are hungry for food, or have been pushed to the edge of their life. Every creature in the earth has that what so called as ¡®conscience¡¯. I believe that I must start from there. Maybe, I could think of some answers myself if I were to be alone in my own room too. Wait! Maybe, this was what Elena planned to do.


    The three of us had parted to our own destination. I was, currently, entering my room key into its hole that had already been locked previously. It wasn¡¯t just me alone who had done the locking after the searching, but almost everyone, as recommended by all of us. Yes, everyone had already been so scared that even had made them to directly displayed their own suspicion toward the others without any concern anymore. No one could be blame in this terrible situation to be honest. Really.


    I threw myself down on stomach onto the soft bed as hard as I could. Suddenly, I had no energy to wake up anymore. My body had finally been so relaxed that all fatigues from before were beginning to take into effect. My fighting spirit had suddenly decreased to less than a half. Do I still devote to find out the murderer? ¡­ yes, of course. Do I want to take a rest? Yes, I want ¡­ for a while. Nothing ¡­ nothing wrong with this, right?


    I weakly looked at the slowly spinning second hand of the side wall clock, and thought that would I just continue to be lying down until ¡­ until the fourth day had really come by itself? Couldn¡¯t I just be an irresponsible person like that? My deepest heart sounded. Absolutely. Why? ¡­ because ¡­ hadn¡¯t I sworn? Don¡¯t I really so want to know!? Is there really someone among us that had betrayed us all, caused so many of our friends¡¯ painful fate, and totally changed our supposed to be a memorable happy reunion into an unforgettable ironic tragedy for the rest of our life? If there really exists that someone, then, who is he or she exactly!!?


    Despite everything so straightforward looking, my mind was still somehow struggling between just being an active or passive character. There is another self of me that I myself really hate. Am I afraid? Am I really beginning to become ¡­ crazy? Maybe. I will need to see a psychiatrist after this. But at least for now, ¡­ just let me rest for a while.


    After a short but deep contemplation inside my head, I decided that I would just stay the same as who I was before. Why must I get confused over such an obvious answer? Though I am just considered as a normal human with normal intelligence. But, I still have that normal heart to be the truest human. I couldn¡¯t be lazing around right now. I must focus back to my real objective for coming back into this room alone as soon as possible.


    Sorry, my other-self, you lost again.


    I flipped my body around to face up to the ceiling, and stretched my arms long wide. I closed my eyes for a moment, while taking a deep breath before releasing it with all my negative emotions. I began to think in an impartial and clear mind. I was thinking, thinking back to the first time we met yesterday, at the rendezvous area, the fountain park. No, must be even further than that, 9 years ago. Since the time I started to attend to middle school, my entire middle school period. Though I had forgotten most of those, but some extreme events, good or bad, would never be forgotten for the rest of my life. Which of those that seemed to connect with these crimes?


    Around 2,700 seconds had passed but there was still absolutely nothing that could be think of except for the sudden death of our kindest friend in the class, Miyamoto Mayuu. And as Ryouta had said before, she was the one who had always been shielding Chika and him from the bullying of those delinquents. But, one day, that half foreigner girl had been found death, sitting in her seat in our left emptied classroom for the PE schedule. All of us were extremely stunned in this sudden unfortunate tragedy, especially the rumored to be her secret couple, Ryouta, and her dearest friend, Chika.


    It just happened ¡­ so casually.


    But, wouldn¡¯t it be too obvious? It isn¡¯t as though I was agreeing with the twins¡¯ crazy principle, saying that the one who doesn¡¯t have alibi or the obvious one wouldn¡¯t be the murderer themselves just because it would be too easy to be suspected. But still, it would only be right considering from the perspective of the murderer. The reason behind these killings really is to get revenge for the one who was dearest to him or her ¡­.


    There is no point to think of so many different aspects at the same time. Maybe, I would just start from the simplest way first.


    As Elena had said before, there are really just 5 persons to be considered of, and I would trust upon that. First, about Ryouta and Chika, the two of them are so closed with the only motive that seemed to be too deliberated to lure in that logic. Maybe the real murderer had already thought of that, and was using that sad history of ours to make them as the scapegoats? Damn that person.


    Additionally, Ryouta was even attacked at the first night!


    Then, what about the other three? I think, Kaede could also be considered as her friend. I remembered seeing the two of them sometimes talking closely together in casual girls¡¯ chitchat. She really was so kind that she would accept anyone as her friends.Even Megumi who had always been so proud over her family¡¯s wealth was also associated with her once in a time, maybe touched by her kindness. Though I was still somehow unconvinced whether the reason of Megumi¡¯s unexpected attendance, like Fionna¡¯s, in this reunion was just as normal as us. The two of them were only normal friends of her, and didn¡¯t have any kind of special relationship, I supposed.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    The last one is Fionna, she didn¡¯t even have the chance to be acquainted with the good girl directly, and just happened to know more about her very existence last night. Surely, she wouldn¡¯t have had any relationship with her, right?


    If so, then, how to explain about that real gun¡¯s existence earlier? Did she really just happen to always bring it wherever she goes, even though in a reunion like this? Is it somehow connected with the crimes? Why didn¡¯t she tell us the one who told her about this reunion? Did she really not have any secret behind it? Is she really just a quiet and calm but sometimes very eccentric young woman like what she had always been showing all these times?


    Did she change?


    Wasevery ridiculous thing she uttered from her very mouth before, just something in randomness?


    Code name Bi ¡­? Or a single alphabet of ¡®B¡¯? Then, with or without a car¡¯s ¡®a¡¯?


    Bi ¡­ a?


    Hmm ¡­?


    Was that peculiar image, the Snow White, one of us? Is she the one who had killed all of them instead? That is the only answer for her stained blood! But, why is her knife the same with Elena¡¯s finding? Why does she look so alike with Fionna?


    But again, why was Ryouta spared at that time?


    I didn¡¯t even how the murderer killed those victims. Was there any special trick used?


    Was I really not missing anything that might be the core for solving the cases?


    What was this kind of feeling? This sudden coming back sense of experiences that seemed to have already been long forgotten yet still couldn¡¯t be remembered?


    A d¨¦j¨¤ vu?


    Suddenly, the phone beside me rang out continuously. I was startled for a moment because I had never thought that it could actually work for the first time. I had even thought that finally we could make a call to the outside world to ask for help. But, that brief excitement was so quickly crushed down to pieces of delusion when I remembered it could only be used for internal. Instead, I ought to be more cautious, because it might be a call for something emergency, or even amiss that couldn¡¯t be told directly to me inside the same mansion. But still, I quickly sat on the edge of my bed, and picked it up without thinking any further. Because, it could be also a call from my locked up underground friend.


    ¡°Um, hello?¡±


    A very weak voice called on.


    ¡°Yoru-kun ¡­, at last. You picked it up.¡±


    ¡°Kaede-chan? What is the matter? You are all right, right? Sorry, we are outside before. What can I do for you?¡± I was so worried that I had asked so fast and so many questions at the same time.


    Her powerless voice went on to an emotional tone gradually.


    ¡°I am ¡­ sorry, Yoru-kun. Could you be ¡­ beside me ¡­ for a while now? There is a thing ¡­ I want to tell ¡­ to you ¡­ only. Please ¡­ I am ¡­ I am ¡­ begging you.¡±


    I was shocked for a moment.


    ¡°Okay, okay, just ¡­ calm yourself down a bit now, okay? I will be there in a minute. I can bring Elena together, right? You don¡¯t blame her, right?¡±


    The pitiful young woman at the other end had finally ended her timid crying, and replied with her usual pretended to-be-still-strong line.


    ¡°Why should I? We are still ¡­ the old gang, right? Ha-ha,¡± she calmed my current feeling of very uneasiness down with an innocent reminder that I had never thought of since those gruesome murders occurred and ruined all this reunion¡¯s atmosphere. She had even tried to end it with an awkward laugh to make her seemed as though not troubled at all.


    ¡°Of course we are! He-he. Then, what about asking Chika-chan together? She is also very worried about you, and ¡­.¡±


    Her tone suddenly changed to a little unsettled.


    ¡°Please ¡­, just come with Elena-chan only. I ¡­ don¡¯t want Chika-chan to see me in such ¡­ pathetic state,¡± Kaede said while almost cried again. She clearly didn¡¯t want to shame herself further in front of her precious little sister.


    ¡°All right, all right. But, can I at least tell to the twins to ask for the key? I will tell them that it is just because Elena and I wanted to see you for a while since we are worried about you,¡± I supposed, she might also don¡¯t want to let the others know about this secret meet.


    ¡°If ¡­ it is just to Kaigo-kun and Ringo-chan, then, I think it will still be okay. But please, Yoru-kun, don¡¯t tell anyotherperson besides them. I am afraid, very afraid of ¡­.¡±


    ¡°Afraid of what!?¡± Was she finally going to confess out the one who had threatened her?


    But, she, then, quickly changed the mood with a soothing answer. She seemed to be regretting over her previous too sentimental talk.


    ¡°Um, nothing. Nothing. Really it is,¡± Kaede whispered with an awkward act.


    It seemed pointless to force her talk at the moment. So, I would just drop that specific topic for now.


    ¡°Okay, I will be right there as quick as possible!¡±

 Chapter 17 - A Desperate Request from Our Confined Gang Member

    I hanged the phone up, and rose to open the door. But before I had even fully swung for it, that previously just used phone rang out again. Didn¡¯t Kaede just refuse to continue that topic? Had she finally changed her mind? By bearing that opinion, I turned back, and reached my hand out for the answer. But, the call had ended just before I touched its handle. I waited for a while at first but it was still as quiet as usual. Thus, I decided to take a leave from the room for now, and locked it for good.


    I went to the front of Elena¡¯s room, and knocked her door. But, the entrance had automatically opened by itself. Not because of magic or any unscientific logic, but just because the door wasn¡¯t even properly closed onto its hook. What was this woman thinking about? It is very dangerous when a murderer is still sneaking around us. Wasn¡¯t she herself the one who said that she would be on her very guard for any incoming threats? She didn¡¯t even realize that her door had been opened, and she was being watched by me at the moment. She sat in front of the table, and was scribbling something on a book. I half-eagerly called her.


    ¡°Elena, you didn¡¯t notice me standing here?¡±


    She was terribly startled before stopped her writing, closed her book, and saved it inside her drawer immediately.


    ¡°Yoru, why didn¡¯t you knock first? It is an invasion against of my privacy, you know?¡±


    I had had even more to complain to her. But, something most important took the first priority.


    ¡°Kaede-chan asked for a meet right now. Just you and me.¡±


    ¡°You serious? What about Chika-chan?¡±


    I shook my head. Elena immediately knew my meaning. She rose, and said.


    ¡°All right. Then, let¡¯s go and get the key from Kaigo and Ringo!¡±


    ¡°Yes, Kaede-chan was also very concerned about who only that could be allowed to know about this secret meet. She said okay if it is just you, I, Kaigo-kun, and Ringo-chan. The one who blackmailed her, really isn¡¯t from the four of us. You are right, Elena.¡±


    But the black-haired detective didn¡¯t reply to my statement anymore, and we just hurriedly went to the twins¡¯ place, the drawing-room. We stopped barely at its entrance.


    From here, we could see that they were still holding the conference about the murders. Since I don¡¯t know who should I ask out, and worried that if I were to call one of them, the other one would get jealous, I had to call for them both.


    ¡°Kaigo-kun, Ringo-chan, could you please come over here for a moment? I have something to ask.¡±


    They pretended as though had been very shocked, and opened their eyes wide. But, they were still willing to come out of the room to meet with us. But before that, I could see ¡­ our foreign friend gazed at us coldly for a second.


    At the other nearby corner, we made sure no one sees the four of us.


    Kaigo ask in anxiety.


    ¡°What ¡­ what is that to ¡­ to ask us!?¡±


    Ringo ask in anxiety.


    ¡°Is ¡­ is that a super ¡­ super hard question!?¡±


    ¡°Um ¡­, in truth, it is nothing. We just want to borrow one of the keys that the two of you have gotten in possession. The master key or the storage room key to get into Kaede-chan¡¯s place.¡±


    Ringo asked normally now.


    ¡°You want to meet with the suspect?¡±


    Kaigo asked normally now.


    ¡°The suspect wants to meet with you?¡±


    Elena said a little angrily.


    ¡°Whatever it is! Please ¡­ just lend us the key!¡±


    But, the twins looked even more excited.


    ¡°Okay, okay, then. This is just because our cutie Elena had said like that with that cutie face. Please don¡¯t be so angry, our most precious little princess,¡± the twins persuaded in a very hospitable way.


    Suddenly, the two of them looked to each other grinningly while their body was still facing at us.


    ¡°It seems that it is finally the time for us to use that only ultimate move, eh, Rin?¡± Kaigo said to his twin sister who was on his left.


    ¡°Let us decide the fate of us in this reunion when finally have to be split up by using that only fair move, eh, Kai?¡± Ringo said to her twin brother who was on her right.


    That is way too exaggerated indeed.


    ¡°Shall we!!?¡±


    The man used his left hand, while the woman used her right to fish something inside their own trouser and skirt pocket. They, then, came out with their previous hand closed together before clapping it swiftly over to each other. After a few moments of anticipation, they revealed it exaggeratedly with some pretty decent opening sound effects custom made by them in front of our face, despite it was just a common gold coin with a blue male gender sign on one side and a red female version one on the other side.


    Ringo exclaimed, doubtfully.


    ¡°It is your turn to toss it now, Kai-go-go!¡±


    Kaigo exclaimed, doubtfully.


    ¡°It is your turn to catch it now, Rin-go-go!¡±


    ¡°Okay!!!¡± the two of them cried together excitedly.


    We could really enjoy the show if we are in a better situation.


    Kaigo, then, really tossed it exaggeratedly with his right thumb up to the midair, and Ringo, too, really caught it exaggeratedly with her left hand when it fell at around the same height as the first had tossed it just now. She showed us the result. It is a red girl¡¯s side.


    ¡°No, you cheated, Kai! It really is my fate,¡± Ringo said unwillingly.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    ¡°Yes, I am not, Rin! It really is your fate,¡± Kaigo said proudly.


    The somehow lost one grudgingly fished for another thing inside her pocket, and gave it to us


    ¡°Nah, here is the key!¡±


    The somehow won one further explained to us.


    ¡°Yah, it is just a room key for the basement!¡±


    I took it quickly from them before they changed their quick mind.


    ¡°Okay, thanks.¡±


    Elena and I were leaving them swiftly to meet our still being confined underground gang member. But, they suddenly called for us. Thus, we turned back forthem again.


    ¡°Make sure that ¡­ the key is always with you, okay?¡± Kaigo bowed hospitably as though a servant.


    ¡°Make sure that ¡­ the key doesn¡¯t need to be returned to me anymore, okay?¡± Ringo bowed hospitably as though a maid.


    ¡°Um, okay.¡±


    I still didn¡¯t really understand what they meant by that. But, I also didn¡¯t want to think much about it right now. Even though I happened to remember that the key which Ringo should have had is the master key while Kaigo had the storage room key. And even though again, if they had somehow changed their possessions between the two of them eccentrically from our view point. It isn¡¯t even that unusual from their perspective. That was why I say, thinking logically against the twins really is a waste of very much time.


    Elena and I had unlocked the basement door, and was going through the dark passage again. She turned on the light from behind of me who had already gone too far ahead impatiently, and completely forgotten about the existence of a radiance again. But still, we arrived at the front of the storage room together, and I unlocked my other gang member¡¯s prison door.


    ¡°We are coming in, Kaede-chan,¡± I said.


    The light of the chamber was already on from the last time, and we were just straightly entering into the hot and damp room. How could we lock a person inside here for such a long time, and it was even going to be for another 2 days to come? Even I couldn¡¯t withstand for its heat right now. It really was too cruel to Kaede. I must solve the mystery as fast as I could so that she could be freed from this torture as soon as possible.


    We walked to the back of the room where the prisoner rested solely last time, and found that she really was still sitting over there silently. She weakly faced to us with a pair of still blank eyes before starting to smile forcefully for our arrival. She really was looking very down at the moment. The lunch that had been delivered by the twins as we had agreed before, still hadn¡¯t been touched even for a bit.


    ¡°Kaede-chan ¡­,¡± Elena softly called her, and crouched down to touch her red cheek compassionately.


    ¡°Kaede-chan, you are all right, aren¡¯t you? What do you want to tell us?¡± I asked as normally as possible for not agitating her again, while also crouched down beside Elena to look at her face from the same height.


    So poor of her, she was already sweating and breathing rather heavily. I blamed myself harshly inside.


    The feeble woman just shook her head slowly, and gave us a peaceful smile this time. As though it was us who were being calm down by her. Her sound was hoarse.


    ¡°Um, um, nothing, really. I just wanted to see you both.¡±


    Another deep silence had gone for a while before she spoke again.


    ¡°Do you ¡­ still believe ¡­ in me?¡±


    I immediately answered with the voice from the bottom of my heart in a convincing tone.


    ¡°Absolutely and of course, Kaede-chan!! If I can¡¯t trust in you, then, who else can I, right!? Elena?¡± I moved my right ankle to touch her left. She was startled for a second before nodded, and stated in a supreme countenance as well.


    ¡°Yes, that is true. I ¡­ I also definitely believe in you too!¡±


    At last Kaede wasn¡¯t faking her smile to us anymore, and it really was the one without any burden from the deepest of her heart. But, it was also the moment for her to finally can break up her pride into an unrestrainable feeling to cry as hard as possible for what she had been suppressing ever since the sudden shocking morning.


    ¡°Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, both of you!! I am just ¡­ really ¡­ couldn¡¯t prevent it to happen. I also don¡¯t want ¡­ to end it like this. I am ¡­ I truly regretted it! Kazuki-kun, please ¡­ please forgive me!!¡±


    I never could withstand this kind of earnest cry.


    ¡°Who threatened you!?¡± Elena asked in a serious manner.


    The innocent prisoner just continued her deepest cry of remorse, even worse than before.


    ¡°What were you discussing with Kazuki-kun at the first night? That made you ¡­ changed. Is that somehow connected with ¡­,¡± our fellow gang member was still not stopping at all in full painful curiosity.


    I patted that inquirer¡¯s back, then she looked at me. I shook my head for not forcing her to talk about the things that she was still traumatizing over anymore.


    ¡°I am sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, really sorry!!! I can¡¯t tell you anything! I don¡¯t know anything! Really! Forgive me!! It is me who had ¡­ who had caused Kazuki-kun¡¯s death. There is nothing anymore I could do to redeem all my death sins!!¡±


    ¡°No. it isn¡¯t your fault! We promise you! We will find that murderer out who had blackmailed and forced all these evil doings to you. And then, free you from this false accusation and quarantine!¡± I said absolutely.


    ¡°I am really useless for causing so many troubles for every each of you! Maybe ¡­ maybe it really is for your own good to ¡­ to still know nothing about it. ¡­ some truths really are the best to be left unknown before ¡­.¡±


    Elena quickly cut in to stop our closest friend¡¯s uncertainty.


    ¡°I won¡¯t regret any truth I have learned! The truth is a fact to be known. Nothing will change what had already happened just by realizing that. No matter ¡­ how painful it might be.¡±


    Kaede was shocked for a while, then, she smiled blankly at her.


    ¡°Elena-chan, you know? I have always been admiring your traits since middle school. Your confidence and certainty are just as amazing as back then. Only those people who are on their highest dignity and leadership could have done that. I couldn¡¯t even be compared at all to you. Though it was me who was praised for all those qualities back then. I am just ¡­.¡±


    The woman looked down tearfully.


    ¡°¡­ a coward and weak woman.¡±


    Elena both-handedly grabbed the other young female¡¯s shoulder, and kneeled straightly to shook her hard, to make her looked up to who is her friend again. Kaede really was shocked at the sudden great encouragement aura. I also never expected that.


    ¡°No, Kaede-chan! It is you ¡­ it is you who had inspired me back then. You are the one who had taught all of those to me!¡±


    Kaede looked at the floor blankly again.


    ¡°Maybe ¡­ that is true. Maybe ¡­ I am the one who really had changed.¡±


    ¡°Kaede-chan ¡­,¡± I murmured subconsciously.


    After yet another moment for the peace of mind, Elena said soothingly.


    ¡°I think ¡­ something should have been resolved for now. Don¡¯t worry, Kaede-chan. Please bear it for just a little while longer. We will definitely save you from here.¡±


    ¡°Kaede-chan, you should also eat something in to gain your energy, and readying yourself to be released anytime from now. After that, please protect us again like you have always been doing since the middle school period, okay?¡± I gave an exaggerated and excited expression to cheer her up. And, she never made my effort went wasted.


    ¡°Okay, Okay, I promise you,¡± Kaede was laughing in tears as she tried to wipe it off with her left hand, and showed a circle by using her right thumb and index finger. I was so relieved that she was already looking much better for now.


    Though at the end, we still learned nothing. But this sudden meet really is invaluable.


    Not long after that, we unwillingly left, and locked her up again in that humid and secluded prison. But different from the last time, now, Elena and I had gotten the most certain idea that Kaede had really been blackmailed by someone to be the scapegoat of our own best friend¡¯s murder. And just what would I do if that someone really is ¡­ one of us?

 Chapter 18 - The True Murderer Finally Appears

    The dinner was held again for us who were still living freely up to this very moment. But, why did we need to describe with such detailed information about who were the only ones having this particular dinner? Why were we in such a gloomy mood during this reunion right now? Didn¡¯t we just have a full set of 12 people whom were having a happy and nostalgic moment of eating together like in the middle school period just at the last night? Why did all of us have to be forced down to this kind of pathetic state? Though I had already perfectly known its truest answer. It was just too clear and painful that I wanted to just not realize about it. I was very sure. It wasn¡¯t me alone who was thinking like that. All of us here ¡­ were the same.


    The good-looking meals were, again, made by the women, and served by the men. Just like at the last night.


    Everyone was in silence. It was either because all of us were so aware of how serious the situation that we were all facing right now, or it was just that all conversation materials had already been fully used up during the time we should have spent on leisurely enjoying the reunion time with the other members, the topic about the murder cases.


    But, it wasn¡¯t so long before this boring and tense aimless dinner was terminated without any warning. Maybe, she was so sure of that since she had witnessed with her very own eyes to it. Maybe, she had taught of that since the third case murderer had already been caught and locked up separately, then, they had won this battle of wits while the first and second case murderer would have been scared off already. Maybe, she had let her guards down a bit just because of all of those. But, she should have realized that it wasn¡¯t exactly like what she had been thinking up until now. Since, she had been particularly poisoned by the same meals that we were all having together at this very moment.


    Her well-nurtured face, which was still struggling in purple, faced upward, contorted. With her hand trying to reach something invisible beyond her view. We fell into the horror of something indeed ¡­ cursed.


    ¡°I ¡­ I am very ¡­ sorry, ¡­ Ma ¡­ yuu ¡­.¡±


    That blonde fashionable woman really had conveyed her earnest and deepest regret in an apology which we had never heard from such a self-proud rich lady ever. But, she had now collapsed to a soulless body in front of us.


    It really reminded me of my best friend¡¯s death again.


    ¡°Sniff, sniff. Bad deeds added,¡± hissed by the two of the most matching ones in appealing rhythm.


    Screams came off from those who were still survive. Some of us were trying to puke out what they just ate, afraid that the same poison had been mixed in it. Only Fionna who was so calm as though her fear had been transferred to the twins who acted even more exaggerated than any of us. Her action is proper indeed. After all, we had eaten those meals already. There is no use to puke it out anymore. In the end, no one else had been drugged. It really is ¡­ just one victim in this particular incident.


    ¡°How ¡­ how is this happening ¡­ again!? Megumi-chan is the first one to pick it as well!¡± Chika asked while she was still trembling very hard, and biting her own right index fingernail. She really was in horror right now.


    ¡°She had been poisoned to death, not sure if the drug is the same with the one used in Kazuki¡¯s murder or not,¡± Kaigo explained professionally while still examining mildly on the new body.


    ¡°Kaede shouldn¡¯t have the chance to strike this one,¡± Ringo announced professionally while still examining mildly on the poisonous food.


    ¡°All of those doesn¡¯t matter now! We must go to check for Kaede-chan right away!!¡± Elena exclaimed impatiently to us.


    ¡°Yes! Let us bring this sorrowful fact together with ¡­,¡± Kaigo frowned seriously.


    ¡°¡­ the delicious dinner to cheer her up, no?¡± Ringo smiled innocently.


    ¡°We must take the food from the new cans that have never been opened before,¡± Ryouta suggested awkwardly.


    ¡°Yes, I think we should let Kaede-chan to fresh-open it herself as well,¡± I said.


    ¡°I will go to get it now!¡± Elena volunteered.


    Our long black-haired friend, then, quickly went to the kitchen, and opened the upper cabinet to get some ready to eat food cans and its opener. After she had returned back to us, we all rushed together onto the underground anxiously, and headed toward that left alone member¡¯s place through the hidden stairs passage again. The darkness in it was just the same as on the daytime since it couldn¡¯t be darker than that already. We really couldn¡¯t advance at all without the light.


    We finally reached in front of her locked room, and I was the one who unlocked the door that was also known as the prison gate for her by using the storage room key that I had always been keeping all along since my last visit with Elena. Some of the others seemed to be confused by that key¡¯s fact though. But, I didn¡¯t have the time nor the mood to explain it right now.


    ¡°Sorry for the intrusion,¡± joked by the twins hospitably.


    The storage room was lightened already. We went deeply through the high racks¡¯ space, and had finally met with Kaede who was still sitting and leaning silently against the wall on her previous place, not even moved an inch from there. Did she really not move at all since the last time? She just looked as silent and blank as that time after the morning incident, as though hadn¡¯t recovered at all, making that secret meet with her previously seemed like just a mere dream. I turned to Elena, and she looked back to me. She was just as confused as I was. The lunch that had been delivered before still hadn¡¯t been touched slightly until it had already looked all expired and left spoiled.


    ¡°Kaede-chan, the person who had falsely accused you before ¡­,¡± Ringo said sentimentally.


    ¡°¡­ Megumi-chan, had been poisoned to death in just this recent dinner, in almost the same way of murder that had been falsely accused to you before,¡± Kaigo said sentimentally.


    But, our silent prisoner just continued not to respond with any kind of reaction. She was just sitting still and spaced out.


    Elena placed the food cans and its opener that she had been carrying all along these times on the floor in front of our muted friend. She didn¡¯t open it for her because it was also for Kaede¡¯s own sake, so that she could eat it whenever she wanted. Though it didn¡¯t seem that would be happening any time soon.


    Ryouta suddenly thought of something, and asked eagerly.


    ¡°Ah, yes! Because ¡­. If Me ¡­ Megumi-chan was killed with the same way as Kazuki-kun while Kaede-chan is still locked up here, then, Kaede-chan wouldn¡¯t be his murderer, right? Then, we should release her right away, right?¡± our leader was also very concerned about our exiled participant¡¯s condition this entire time.


    ¡°Ye ¡­ Yes! Yes, that is right! Kae-nee isn¡¯t a murderer. Let¡¯s release her from this room now!¡± Chika also very supported that suggestion.


    ¡°Sorry, it is still not enough to clear out ¡­,¡± Kaigo said coldly.


    ¡°¡­ Kaede-chan as the main suspect of the third murder, sorry,¡± Ringo said coldly.


    ¡°No ¡­ way ¡­,¡± the little sister couldn¡¯t accept it, yet still couldn¡¯t do anything but to close her mouth unbelievably with both of her small hands.


    ¡°Why is that!?¡± Ryouta looked a little agitated.


    The twins, of course, excited.


    ¡°The why ¡­, you ask?¡± Ringo inquired playfully.


    ¡°The reason ¡­, you want?¡± Kaigo inquired playfully.


    The siblings of eccentricity grinned, and announced proudly.


    ¡°All of what you had said is just not enough-enough!!¡±


    ¡°How can ¡­!?¡± Ryouta was still going to protest at them. Elena cut in weakly.


    ¡°For now, still ¡­ what that had been said ¡­ is true.¡±


    I knew it was the time I should back her up before the others despised her further.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    ¡°Yes, please! Just do as what they said. I am ¡­ also thinking of the same too.¡±


    ¡°Yoru-kun, you can¡¯t be ¡­,¡± Chika also looked at me unbelievably. But, there was nothing else I could do, right? I just needed to avert my gaze away from her, and everything should be fine, at least for now, right?


    So, this was what would become for acting as a bad person. What Elena must endure at the last time. This kind of uncertainty about what is true, what is wrong. Was I going to regret it? It really was so painful and disturbed.


    ¡°Fionna-chan,¡± Ringo called.


    ¡°What about you?¡± Kaigo asked.


    ¡°Neutral, ¡­ I supposed. But I guess you two don¡¯t even need my vote from the first place,¡± the foreign detective answered coldly.


    ¡°As expected from our other cutie member. You immediately grasped the meaning of what we asked. Ha-ha,¡± the twins were clapping happily, before announcing their holy conclusion.


    ¡°Then, there are 4.5 people that said it is okay to leave Kae-nee here,¡± Ringo said as though she is Chika.


    ¡°Then, there are 2.5 people that said it isn¡¯t okay to leave Kae-nee here,¡± Kaigo said as though he is Chika.


    ¡°It is ¡­ decided, then,¡± Elena whispered unwillingly.


    Finally, our main reason to come down here had been fully ¡®accomplished¡¯, and everyone was leaving her already. But, I still stayed there stubbornly. My other gang member who saw me didn¡¯t plan to go with the others had also stopped to accompany me silently from behind.


    ¡°Yoru ¡­,¡± Elena murmured weakly.


    ¡°Leave me,¡± I said fragilely.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go already ¡­.¡±


    ¡°Leave me!!!¡±


    I talked back loudly while still facing elsewhere. I knew that I didn¡¯t need to shout like that to get the young woman behind me to understand. But, I was just ¡­ couldn¡¯t restraint it. I was so messed up this time.


    Elena had understood more than she needed to, and had really left hesitantly until there were only two persons inside this damp storage room.


    I asked grievously in a low voice, yet still forcefully.


    ¡°Kaede-chan, why ¡­? Why do you need to take all blames up to yourself? We already know that you aren¡¯t the murderer. So, why do you still ¡­? We are ¡­, Elena too, Kazuki too, are ¡­ the best friend, the gang members, right? So, tell me, please. Kaede-chan, please.¡±


    But, the woman in question still hadn¡¯t spoken a single word.


    ¡°Please, I am begging you, Kaede-chan. Why did you change again? I ¡­ I also so wanted to know why ¡­ how my ¡­ our best friend died.¡±


    I unconsciously dropped my tears onto the floor. After so long that I had completely forgotten about this kind of deepest sorrow and despair inside my heart, I finally remembered just how relieved it is to be crying so loud and unrestrained from anything. But my heart was still feeling like being squeezed so hard that I was almost unable to breathe anymore. The burden was still there, unresolved at all.


    The expression of the female gang member in front of me was just as placid as stone before it finally flinched slightly. She seemed to be really have been moved by my truest feeling to seek for the truth just now. I noticed that smallest change from a glance, and immediately faced at her directly with a pair of still teary red eyes. But, she already went back to her previous expressionless countenance. After waited silently again for a few more minutes, she was still sitting there blankly, and not answering at all, though I was so sure that she really had moved for just that one seconds. It was already ¡­ sufficient. I was expecting too much in this kind of unlucky situation. She really didn¡¯t want to talk about anything. Maybe, she really didn¡¯t know a thing. I understood her. She must have had her own reason.


    Finally, I, also, turned around, and left her alone again in that place. I walked toward the door where the others were still waiting quietly at the outside. Elena must have said something to halt them from leaving without me despite everything. I really thank you, Elena, ¡­ and sorry too.


    I was the one who had locked up the prison door again before leaving together with the others, and lastly, had also done the same for the the underground entrance. Now that all of us had known that our prisonerwas still safe and alone in the basement, we were just going to do what we wanted to do from now on, freely, whatever it was.


    I would just go straight back to my room alone. Somehow, I sensed somebody were talking shadily on my behind. I subconsciously turned around at them. There were three persons whisperingsecretly at one corner of the kitchen, the twins and the foreign woman. They immediately stopped awkwardly, and the first even waved innocently at me. But, I ignored them. Though they seemed disappointed, whatever happened now, I would just have reacted the same.


    After that, as usual, I could still hear that real pairingsiblings¡¯ inappropriate laughter.


    Finally, I reached my destination, unlocked, entered, locked and bolted it up before sitting to lying on my cold bed. I was thinking something, maybe. Why had everything become so confusing and messed up?


    My mind was starting to calm down to the normal usual me. So strange, had I gotten used with those murders already? Since when? How could I get used in ¡­ those inhuman behaviors?


    I laughed at myself.


    Is this myself?


    I know that I mustn¡¯t let my guards down. But, I really was feeling very sleepy right now. Maybe, somewhere deep inside me ¡­ was thinking that nothing matters anymore. I was sick of all of these, everything. I had had enough. Just let me rest, alone, and even being killed isn¡¯t a bad idea.


    After all, my life had already been ruined, too ruined to be restored. My friend, my trust, my conscience, my mind. Everything ¡­, single damned thing.


    I remembered the exact same feeling just in this afternoon, and my previously restored fighting will had already been defeated so easily in such a short amount of time. This last shock, was just too strong, or it was just me who was just ¡­ too weak.


    I pathetically laughed at myself again. It really was a loud and self-sorry laugh.


    Even now, I was a shame to my other-self.


    I had already closed my eyes, and readied myself to bewilder in my own wild imagination again when the intercom phone beside me rang noisily. Yes, it was waiting for my answer again. I immediately thought of Kaede as the one on the other side of the line. Did anything happen to her?


    ¡°Hi~.¡±


    I didn¡¯t even have the chance to say anything first, and the first word that came out of the phone had made it felt like not an emergency at all. Also, it had the leisure greeting tone that usually came from a person who has a lot of time to be gossiping around. But, I still expected it as from my confined gang member since it heard like a female voice.


    ¡°Yes? Kaede-chan?¡±


    The voice at the other end seemed to be chuckling.


    ¡°Nooope, I am the 13<sup>th</sup>middle school reunion member ¡­, or the still ungraduated one, Miyamoto Mayuu.¡±


    Some moment was definitely needed to fully comprehend what was going on.


    Ah, at last, this is what I had been waiting for so earnestly after all these time. This is the end of everything so appalling, and the suffering of this reunion.


    ¡°What the ¡­!!¡±


    But I realized that I couldn¡¯t trust it yet, yet had also believed it to some degree. Since, there is no one that would be playing such a prank at this moment, except for the true murderer ¡®herself¡¯ who most likely wanted to mock us, for being trapped in the reunion as she had planned, for being scared as she had planned, for being killed one by one as she had planned. Everything must have been planned from long ago. But still, addressing herself as my already long deceased poor ex-classmate is a too big of a joke. This really is a revenge for her carried by someone inside the mansion right now!


    The rude jeering voice went on with a bit of seductive tone.


    ¡°You see? I had called you before this. But, why did you not pick it up? It was so cold of you.¡±


    I was very agitated, and replied impatiently.


    ¡°I am not in the mood to play with you!! Who are you!? Where are you right now!!?¡±


    I don¡¯t really concern about who she is, but that is also just a normal question to be asked to an unknown caller, right? There is only one thing that I really so wanted to do right now. I only ¡­ wanted to beat her up so heavily, very-very heartlessly for what she had caused to all of us. No matter she really is a female or not. Now, really is the real perfect timing.


    The cold voice answered.


    ¡°Look under your bed cushion, please.¡±


    Tough she had pointed me to a certain location. I was certain that it wasn¡¯t the answer which I was expecting for, yet I still followed her instruction to see what really was over there. I found a small piece of folded paper, then, I automatically opened it.


    I was completely taken aback for its content.


    ¡°This is ¡­.¡±


    That small paper was scribbled with ugly cursive handwriting, but it was still readable.


    The rich daughter will be poisoned during the second dinner.


    It really was as though a paper of future that could tell what would happen next. Why did I think like that? Because, since the last time I left for the secret meet with Elena and Kaede, my room had been locked up until just now. That unanswered phone, the second call was actually a warning for it? It was me who was too late to pick it up. The time had already passed.


    The murderer, or the prophet¡¯s lecture continued.


    ¡°You know? I had already given you the chance to prevent the previous homicide. So, it was your own fault that the poor Takagami was killed so pathetically. If you just took up my phone before, then, everyone should have been still happy-happy together.¡±


    I felt even more resentful toward the coward caller.


    ¡°Don¡¯t mess with me, you damned liar!!! You wanted to play a game with me!? To announce more of your murder plan!!?¡±


    ¡°Ha-ha-ha. Nope, the chance had already been given. I only killed the woman who had foolishly accused the innocent one with the same method of that crime. Simple as that. She defiled my holy name, you know? I am extremely satisfied now. How perfect of a feel! Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha,¡± she laughed as though as an evil witch.


    What an insane person!! Boiling blood was running through all my nerves up to my head.


    ¡°Come out here, right now!!! What do you want with me!?¡±


    She grunted.


    ¡°You are as stupid as your look. Instead of wasting your time searching for me. All of you should have released that Sasaki already who was innocent from the first place.¡±


    ¡°I already know that fact from the start. Kaede-chan isn¡¯t the murderer of Kazuki!¡±


    The phone was hanged up abruptly by the other end. My head was filled with the reverberating disconnected sound for a while before it cooled off after I had finally placed down the received as well, still unbelievably. Why did the murderer call me? Did she really have killed Megumi just because she had false accused Kaede? Then, should I tell the others? But, doing so would render all hard efforts from Elena and the others wasted. But again, this might be the real biggest clue ever to solve the cases. I think I should at least tell Elena alone for now, and maybe she could track down some hints from this call before we could really release Kaede from the suffering that she was enduring all these times once and for all.


    The phone rang out shockingly again after my steady decision had just been made.


    Though I had never wanted for it either, but this time ¡­ was a little more like the one that I had expected from the start. The voice was a little different though.


    ¡°He ¡­ help! help me, Yoru-kun!! Ahhh!!!¡±


    Then, came the sound of something rather dull fell onto the floor, likely some cardboards from the high racks before yet another rough disconnected sound was produced by phone.


    ¡°Tut-tut-tut-tut-tut ¡­.¡±