↑ Moriko Kitoshi above ↑

••●••

'The true mystery of the world
is the visible, not the invisible'
— Oscar Wilde

••●••

Tadashi's surroundings were lost to him. Irrespective of his sloven appearance and unkempt uniform, he raced out the door, ignoring his parents' shouts of confusion. He was at the school building within five minutes, which, on an average bike ride, would have taken him at least fifteen.

Students filed in and out of the campus in small groups. The trees surrounding the building sported pools of autumn gold and rust-coloured leaves. Yells rang out—the various sports teams at morning practice.

He dashed through the bustling hallways, searching for somebody—anybody—to make sense of this morning's events.

A sturdy surface smacked into him. A person.

He tumbled to the ground.

Normally, the sight of her long, silky hair would've left him floundering for coherent words. Today, however, it brought vast comfort. The timing was perfect. "Kobayashi!"

"Matsumoto." Her countenance was akin to ice, and bore a hole straight through his soul. "We have a problem. Meet in the clubroom at lunch."

She sauntered down the corridor at that, unbothered to look back or await his response.

He breathlessly watched her go.

She saw the news report, too?

What exactly was going on?

☻ ☺ ☻

"What's the big deal, summoning me here during the break?" Yasuo growled upon entering the clubroom.

"Yes, the ladies were all in an uproar!" Iori proclaimed with his hands in the air.

"Unlike you doofuses, the sun will go behind the clouds and I won't be able to get my daily suntan." Izumi poked her cheeks, smiling sweetly. "Skin as perfect as this doesn't come naturally, you know."

"And an ego as big doesn't either," Yasuo retorted.

"I was searching for members to join the Karate Club," Katsura interjected before tensions could escalate. "I was hoping to utilize every ounce of free time to accomplish that."

"How long have you been looking?" Ryuu asked.

Saya replied in her stead, "Since the beginning of last year, right? Why don't you give up?"

"If I surrender my passion for the Karate Club, such is synonymous with forfeiting my love for the martial arts. I must stay true to myself and have faith that the student body will one day understand."

"You're my idol, Katsura," Saya gushed.

Ryuu nodded. "Right? I'd totally join if I wasn't already apart of the soccer, basketball, baseball, football, tennis, swim team—"

Katsura sighed. "You're in a league of your own all right, Sasahara."

"Be that as it may," Atsushi interjected, "I have obligations I must accomplish on behalf of the Student Council."

Mayumi stuttered, "I-I had st-stuff to d-do too."

"Like eating?" Haru said, rocking back and forth on his chair. "'Cause same."

"Mrs. Yuzuki asked me... for something also..." Juzo interjected, eyebrows pinched tight. "But... I can't for the life in me remember what it was."

"C-c-can w-we end th-this already? I'm... uncomfortable," Kiyoshi said, fiddling with the PSP in his hands.

"Forget about these party poopers! Speak, Ayame!" Akira exclaimed. "If you called us here, that means a mystery's in order, right?"

"Mystery? That was Tuesday, wasn't it?" Izumi spat.

"Actually," Ayame said, "Minamoto isn't wrong."

A deafening quiet brewed.

Tadashi observed Ayame from the corner of his eye. She really knows, he realized. And considering how cheerful everyone is, we're the only ones who do.

Ayame lifted the TV remote from the table and flipped on the screen. It was but one of the many items Mr. Nobuo had snagged for them during last year's cleanup. He reasoned that watching crime films or documentaries would keep them from bickering all the time. A far-fetched delusion that was.

The news channel flickered on. Then, as if she knew it would, commercials ended, and the news began to roll.

"The search is still on for sixteen-year-old Moriko Kitoshi, whom the police suspect was kidnapped."

Gasps pervaded the room.

"M-Moriko Kitoshi... But isn't that..." Saya sputtered.

"She is said to go from school to home via limo but had already mysteriously vanished by the end of her club activities Tuesday evening. The police are currently hunting for more clues that may assist this case, primarily at the school she attends, Kaisei Private Academy. Back to you, Jinguji."

The lady's face faded and was replaced by a man. From the scenery behind him, Tadashi wagered he was in front of the school's main gates.

"I'm currently visiting the location where the kidnapping supposedly occurred," Jinguji gravely said. "According to Mr. Todo, the principal of this academy, Moriko Kitoshi is associated with countless clubs in this school, allowing her extracurricular activities to end at around 6 o'clock. However, before she could arrive at her final club in time, multiple eyewitnesses report her entering the gymnasium with a letter in hand. Footprints were identified leading towards this door, though forensics are still looking into acquiring further details."

The previous news anchor returned.

"We'll leave Jinguji to continue gathering information as we switch onto our next news report. Stay tuned for more details, and if you have any information regarding this case, please call it in."

It proceeded into commercials, leaving a deathly silence in its wake.

Ayame, who carried the remote in hand, switched off the TV.

Sweat trickled down Tadashi's forehead. His mouth and throat were drier than the Sahara Desert.

Nobody wanted to speak.

But Ayame did so anyway

"As you all can see, Kitoshi was—"

Saya covered her ears reflexively. "Don't say it! There's no way!"

"I'm hearing things!" Yasuo snapped. "Kidnapped?"

Izumi, the most collected of them all, shivered. "And the events that went with it..."

"Were a lot like how us had planned it," Iori finished.

"S-so? Th-that doesn't mean anything!" Mayumi said. "That doesn't..."

Tadashi lowered his fists onto the table. "But it does."

"It doesn't add up! Only we knew and picked Moriko Kitoshi as our target! And it was make-believe!" Akira pronounced, her typical energy dissipating as the conversation droned on.

"Y-yeah. Make-b-believe," Kiyoshi stuttered, dropping his gaming device to listen.

"Make-believe could easily become reality if someone acted," Katsura stated the obvious.

"What are you implying?" Izumi snapped, her mouth curling downwards. "That one of us is the culprit?"

Haru wildly whipped his head left and right. "It's a coincidence, guys! Stop getting all worked up!"

Unfortunately, his attempt at brightening the mood ended in vain.

"This is too identical to be considered a coincidence," Ayame said. "If we head over to the scene, however, we'll be able to uncover an alternative rationale."

"Uncover?" Juzo parroted.

Atsushi raised a fist. "That's a police only area for now! Nobody's allowed nearby! And breaking in is—"

Ayame threaded a finger through her hair. "Nobody said we had to break in. Simply that we should take a good look at the crime scene. If we do, then it'll either confirm or deny our suspicions."

"So there's a chance it is fake?" Saya pleaded, releasing her hands from her ears.

"How are we supposed to search, though?" Ryuu inquired.

"That news broadcast was scheduled for last night. Therefore, I highly doubt anybody is in the room as we speak. We'll have an easier time checking out the room right now."

"Hold on, Kobayashi!" Atsushi said. "Correct me if I'm wrong, moments ago you stated that we weren't breaking in. Now, you are implying the exact opposite!"

"And why are we acting like detectives when there are actual police on the job? We should, like, leave it to them," Izumi insisted.

Ayame sighed.

"In crime stories, there is a thing called, 'The Cover-Up.' Can somebody, a member of this crime-related club, remind me what it is?"

Tadashi tentatively responded, "When the detectives or police withhold the truth about their investigation?"

"Correct. And that is what will most likely happen if we leave this to them. They'll reveal half of the truth to relieve the viewers watching and come up with their own endings. I won't believe any words they say until I witness it with my own eyes. That's how we'll discover the truth."

"That's all swell and dandy, but how about if they do catch us?" Yasuo asked. "Expulsion will be the least of our worries."

"If you wish to move forward, risk is something you can't avoid." Ayame sauntered to the doorway. "Of course, I'm not forcing anybody to tag along. Those who wish to can steel their resolves now."

Few raised their hands: Akira, Haru, Katsura, Ryuu, Saya and Tadashi.

The rest shook their heads.

"Are you insane? If I take that risk—if I'm caught—my reputation will be destroyed!" Izumi spat.

"C-count me out too," Kiyoshi said.

"I-It's safer h-here.." Mayumi agreed, biting her fingernails.

Yasuo rolled his eyes, tucking his hands firmly behind his neck. "You're deeply mistaken if you expect me to get expelled with you dumbasses."

"I, for one, can't afford to break any rules either. However, by allowing you to head there, I would essentially be infringing on that notion..." Atsushi hauled both hands in defeat. "I will accompany you! And stop you from breaking any major regulations!"

"Yay, Atsushin's in!" Haru cheered.

"Have fun getting in trouble! Me cannot break any directives on behalf of the beloved ladies!" Iori blew a kiss to Izumi who scowled in response.

"Good... luck..." Juzo mumbled, aimlessly fiddling his fingers. Knowing him, Tadashi was convinced he had no idea what they'd been discussing or had lost them partway.

Nevertheless, all fourteen clubmates shared one last nod. Eight exited the room, making their way through the hall. Ayame stood at the head, marching without the slightest hesitation.

As Tadashi lifted his leaden legs, a premonition gnawed at the pit of his gut.

Surely whatever was waiting for them at the crime scene would destroy whatever remained of their peaceful days, forever.

_________________

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—Misty