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"unhappy people can be dangerous,
don't forget that"

— S.E. Lynes —

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[ 3RD PERSONS VIEW。]

After school, Renjun trudged his way back home. He was glad they were able to have lunch with Haruka, and it was fun indeed. Everyone strived to make Haruka feel belonged because that's what exactly she deserves for the past years of being alone.

Chenle accompanied him to his house, wanting to hang out for a few hours before going home. Once they arrived, Chenle zoomed past through Renjun, plunging on the older boy's bed in excitement.

"It's been so long since I've done that!"

Renjun chortled, dropping his backpack beside Chenle's before making way to sit on the edge of his bed. "What do you think about Haruka?" he questions the younger, peeking out his window to see Haruka's bedroom window.

Chenle hummed simply, looking up at Renjun's white ceiling, "I really want to get to know her more! She seems a lot nicer than everyone thinks."

Renjun nodded at his words and diverted his eyes away from the window, staring at his paintings, "How do you think we'll be able to solve this? I mean, I guess to find out what actually happened to Haruki... we need to track down her whereabouts."

Sitting up, Chenle's hair was disheveled, his uniform was crinkled from laying down, "If the kidnapper was really behind Haruki's death, then we should find out who that kidnapper is. Speaking of, why isn't the police focusing on the kidnapper instead of Haruki's case?"

The older boy's eyes grew slightly wide at Chenle's statement. Lips pursing, he stood up to go over his desk, rummaging around a few old newspapers he got. "Chenle, you're a genius!"

The darkened hair teenager had a confused look displayed on his face, nose scrunching up as he scoffed lightly with a small smirk, "Of course I am! I Chenl–"

"Look!" Renjun cuts him off, gesturing him to take a closer look at the old newspaper.

"These were old reports, literally no one had a clue on who the kidnapper was. What if... what if Haruki knew? Like– maybe she got involved with... the last case..." he trailed off before lining up all the dates, "The sixth victim was Jaewon... July twenty-fourth."

Chenle squinted his eyes, noticing a pattern, "They're all either five to four days apart."

"But think about it!"

Chenle shook his head, "I don't think she had something to do with Jaewon... I mean, as far as I could remember, Haruki that time was a bit restricted because of her mother."

Renjun sighed, knowing his theory didn't really connect the dots a bit. "That makes sense."

Haruki wasn't really able to leave that much during summer break, all because of how skeptical Mrs. Choi felt about the cases. That crosses off Renjun's theory of Haruki being linked to Jaewon's death.

"Plus, Haruki's death isn't exactly in correlation with the case of 2017. If the kidnapper had some sort of grudge with Haruki, then wouldn't they have killed her after she found out or something?" Chenle presumed, puffing his cheeks out as he explained.

Renjun nodded, acknowledging Chenle's take on the theory. It was a bit off that the kidnapper would suddenly attack after a year and a few months. "You're right... then does that mean... it was really either Haruki killed herself or someone else killed Haruki."

Chenle shivered, fingers curling into a fist as he knew Haruki wouldn't just kill herself, but then again, it seems like they have only scratched the surface of Haruki's life.

They only knew she was a bright and free-spirited person, was there more to Choi Haruki?

"Do you remember what Haruki did a few days before she died?" Chenle asked as he nudged the older boy.

Renjun frowned, "Not much... but I do remember her visiting her mom's doll shop! She said something about... making sure the shop was still in good condition?" he tilts his head, finding it a bit strange.

"Okay, so we need to visit the shop, maybe she left clues or something?" Chenle noted down.

"But remember what we talked about? The imitator hasn't been found yet. It still..." Renjun gulped, an eerie vibe trailing down his whole body, "...exists in this town."

Chenle took a deep breath, backing away as he choked on his saliva. It was scary to think something in Jinhae-gu was pretending to be someone that was used to be alive and the fact that they had no hints on who it was made it more frightening.

Both of their hearts were racing, loudly thumping against their ribcage. The ghost may have altered their memories a long time ago, how were they supposed to find out?

"Shouldn't we report this to the detective?" Chenle suggested his finger pointing at the theories they have made up so far.

Renjun shook his head, jeering at what Chenle said, "No. I don't one-bit trust that detective."

Chenle furrowed his brows, "Why?"

Renjun shrugged, "Don't you find her a bit suspicious? I mean, she's been only targeting Haruka, it's like she's fully committed into Haruka being a copycat."

"She is suspicious, no doubt, actually. But, if we present these to Ahn Yura... won't we find out based on how she will take it?" Chenle raised a brow, "She's trying to manipulate us into thinking Haruka is a copycat, that means something right?"

Renjun nodded, "That is something." he gazed up to glance over at Haruka's room, seeing the girl walk in with a paper bag.

Chenle followed his gaze and saw the girl. Grinning, he went over to Renjun's window, sliding it open before waving at Haruka, "Hi!"

The girl flinched and looked at the mirror, stifling a laugh as she waved back, "Hello."

"Did you go to the convenience store?" Chenle asked, pointing at the paper bag she had propped on top of her desk.

Haruka eyed the food she bought and nodded, "Yes, I bought myself some food."

Renjun hummed, "You don't eat Mrs. Choi's meals?"

Haruka narrowed her eyes, shaking her head, "No, they make me feel uneasy."

"Haruka?" the blonde-haired boy called out.

"Hmm?"

"Do you want to go to the graveyard tomorrow with me, Jeno, and Donghyuck?"

Chenle gasped, "Jeno and Donghyuck? Have they even apologized to each other?"

"I'm trying to make them apologize to each other," Renjun snorted before looking back at the girl, "What do you say?"

Haruka nodded, "I'll go."

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