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Kyoko's PoV

No.

No. No, no, no, no, no!

The absolute last thing I wanted was attention. It was already hard considering I'm the only girl in the grade, but now that this attention light bulb is clinging to me there's no avoiding the eyes.

The second hand embarrassment was enough to make me feel red in the face.

Be harsh. Push people away. Even if friends are pushed away, so are all the potential enemies.

I lived by that moral.

I slapped both of Jayden's arms off with narrowed eyes, "don't get ahead of yourself."

I pushed past him as I whispered, "I'm only doing this for my sake."

That should do it. From now on, it's strictly business.

Gasps were heard behind me as I walked out of the atrium and to the library. It was usually quiet and secluded there since no one here really likes to read.

I sat down and flipped open the folder.

The case is organized into Evidence, Press, Interviews and Biographies. First, I need to find evidence of who the culprit could be after reading the crime scene—

*Crash*

I almost swore out loud as a random crash of a metal chair clanging onto the ground was heard. I could even feel the murderous glare in my eyes as I turned around.

"Just when I think I couldn't get clumsier...."

I would know that voice anywhere, even if I only ever heard it once.

"What're you doing here? How'd you even get in?"

He regained his composure and straightened his messed-up tie, "Well, in case you forgot, I am a detective, and I happen—"

"To know Director Sakai and he let you in?" I finished his sentence with a quirked eyebrow and then I came in realization, "hey! I bet you came some time and told him to double my training menu, didn't you?!"

(#Busted)

"Ah ha.... Anyways, I just wanted to see how you're doing and if you need any help."

"Help? Please, I already got this case cracked."

"Oh really? What's your analysis?" He asked and naturally sat down on the chair beside me. My expression became tenser as he did so.

Ever since I got to the age of primary school, and I started to become aware that a family picture includes a father, I've been dreaming about being carried on your father's shoulders, your father throwing you up as if you could fly.... Anything that happened in family shows.

Mother was naturally never strong enough to do any of those. As I got to Junior High age, I already felt like I missed out on a lot the other kids took for granted. By the time I started High School, I'm already a stranger to that term.

Should I stop being stubborn for once in my life and just accept the fact that I do in fact have a father?

I said so myself, didn't I? Whether I want to admit it or not, the blood relation will forever be there.

I decided this was some precious time to find out what kind of person he actually is.

"Easy. The senator got killed, and the culprit is the plumber, while the wife might also be a part of the murder."

"Keep going."

It's not every day I get to speak to someone about the one thing I'm actually interested in. Takumori is just too silent to chat with, and Yoshiro would've already be gone by the time I said three words.

And Jayden... we're not even friends, he's just here for some girl and probably will get bored soon enough and go back to wherever the hell he came from.

I subconsciously leaned forward from my chair and proceeded to explain.

Jayden's PoV

I laid on my bunk and stared at the ceiling again. It has become a great hobby of mine ever since I came here.

I feel like, in a way, Kyoko and I are similar. She's just more straightforward than I am most of the times. My past has taught me I'd live better if I became an optimist, so I refrain from saying—possibly even thinking—anything negative so I'd keep my little façade living. Therefore I might not go insane.

The toughest time for me was probably when mom couldn't get over dad's death in half a year. In that time I quickly grew mentally ten years older than what I was supposed to be. I bottled everything up and kept my problems to myself. I was still the happy child in front of mother to make her think she wasn't affecting me, but whenever she wasn't looking, I'd be that one kid who always sits in a corner and avoids contact with their peers.

The buzzing of my phone under my arm snapped me out of my flashback.

'You'll have access to all personal profiles in your student account for the next hour. Use your time wisely.'

I sat up straight and pulled out my laptop.

"You sure do space out a lot, don't you?" Yoshiro popped out of nowhere. I thought he said he was with his project partner!

"How—when..?"

"See! You were so distraught you didn't even hear the door open!" He said with a joking tone, then he looked me in the eyes, "thinking about that girl again? You're the second most infatuated person I've ever met."

"Second?" Immediately distracted by his attempt to start a conversation, I forgot all about the text Kyoko sent me.

"Since the second week I've known Taku, I figured out he had a thing for Kyoko." He says somewhat proudly, "No one could've even thought he had someone he liked considering how quiet he always is, but...like, he just looks at her differently."

"But you," He smiles tiredly, "You have a different look in your eyes when you talk about that girl. If Taku's can be described as 'crush', yours can probably be..."

I tilted my head, puzzled, when he didn't continue his sentence.

"...Never mind, I dunno what I'm talking about, haha." He gave a toothy grin before hopping off the bunk, "I gotta go, see ya later."

"Okay, okay. Where was I?" I started typing on my laptop and soon came to the school's website. Just then, a message box popped up on my screen.

Shoot, my Facebook automatically logs on when I open a tab. Now my friends got notify that I'm on.

Should I ignore it? I'll definitely get distracted if a conversation starts.

The moment when you try to do something, and then suddenly everyone in the world appears.

"I'll respond later...." I decide and then log on to my student account.

I clicked on "personal profiles" and then "female". Then selected "ages 15-20".

Hundreds of profiles popped up. I need to sort through these within the next...fourty minutes....

Constant messages from the Facebook group that's popping up isn't helping.

Wait. Focus. Let's see. Search in private schools, definitely.

I blinked hard. This is gonna take a while.

A long time later, the tab suddenly closed. Darn, I didn't find her. Time's up. Stupid technology.

Might as well cling to my only clue now.

I jumped off the top bunk, flung on my jacket and headed out to the bar I was at yesterday.

"Good afternoon." I said as I pushed open the glass door. There aren't any people here yet since it's only well into the afternoon.

"Jayden?" the owner was just sitting at the front counter, she turned around, surprised.

"Ah, good afternoon, Rin-san." I repeated, and bowed a little as I smiled at her, "Well, the last time I was here I was looking for a girl. Um... I don't know if you re—"

"Oh right!" she responded quickly, "I'm terribly sorry but I haven't heard anything of her since."

"I-I see." I'm probably making an expression of a kicked puppy as I glanced down before looking her back in the eye. She seemed apologetic.

"Is it possible for me to work as a waiter here?" I asked. Just in case she comes back, I can stay here. And since I don't drink, it's rude to just stay every day.

"We are short on staff...." She mumbled to herself. To me, it felt like she was thinking more than just the bar employee... as if she's hesitating solely on my being. She probably doesn't think a teenager is capable.

"I can handle as much as cleaning glasses, tables and serving drinks, ma'am."

It didn't seem like she really heard me as she had an expression of deep meditation. Then, she looked at me, "alright, come again at seven tonight to show me you're capable."

"Thank you!" I bowed ninety degrees with a grin. Even if it's a low percentage, this is my only clue so far.

On my way back, I'm jogging. A small, but new light of hope danced in my heart. I hadn't planned anything after meeting her, but just seeing her will be enough. I'll know what to do based on her reaction.

I almost screamed when I heard something. It sounded like a bang, like an exploding firework. Only much louder.

It's...coming from the direction of the school.

Kyoko's PoV

I sent a text to Jayden when I receive notify that we'll have access to personal files for an hour. But meeting him, I know he's gonna waste at least ten minutes doing something else.

"Who was that? Got a boyfriend already?"

I jumped at his voice, forgetting that he was still there.

"No, dad!" I bursted out without having it going through my head. It was supposed to sound sarcastic since he was acting like a parent, but the intention was altered when he's actually my parent.

I knew it got awkward when he didn't respond.

I now knew the down sides of having short hair, I can't cover my face with it.

What's so wrong about it? There's nothing more to deny other than my stubbornness.

"You wanna keep listening?" I glance over my shoulder at his bewildered expression. I was just talking about my previous cases that I solved.

He smiled at me solicitously, "of course... Kyoko."

A happy family... it won't be too late now, would it?

All of a sudden, as if contradicting my thoughts, a stridently loud sound erupted from the first floor.

"What the heck?!" I held onto the table to maintain my balance from the shake. The library was on the second floor, smoke ascended from the first floor outside, I could see black-grey smoke cover the windows.

"It isn't uncommon for criminals to attack such a private detective school as this." Dad stood up quickly and pulled out something from his belt.

"You brought a gun?" I ask, the situation at hand still not fully soaked in. I've never faced something this severe before, I was inexperienced, for once.

"A cop always needs it on him." He says as he walked quietly to the door, "get outta here, now."

I nod in understanding as I followed behind him. We all had evacuation drills the first day and through our entire high school course.

Wait. Jayden has no interest in becoming a police officer, and he wasn't here on the first day.

Doesn't that mean he's completely vulnerable to the attacks now?

"Evacuate all the others!" I yelled over the noises at dad, "I'll be fine!"

Before he could reply, I ran down the hall.

Just then, a sound of an explosion came from the east wing... where the boys' dorms are located...!

Most others should be out doing their projects at the moment, but this guy was definitely in his dorm, he has nothing else to do for god's sake!

"Anybody in here?" I shouted along the rooms as I arrive at Takumori, Yoshiro and Jayden's shared dorm. I let out a sigh in relief when no one was there. At least now I'm sure they're alright.

"H-Help!"

Oh great.

I kicked open a jammed door and there a boy held onto his head as his terrified eyes was brimmed with tears. What's a kid no more than ten years old doing here?!

"Protect your head!" I ordered and he did as told. I brush past the fallen cabinet and got to him. I lifted him up my back, "it's alright. I'm getting you out of here, okay? Nothing to be afraid of. It's over."

I chanted fuck my life in my head when another gunshot send the kid in a complete sobbing mess. Why does the world hate me and contradict to everything I say?

"Hey, shut up." I said in a soft voice despite my words, "I haven't cried since I was ten, and I'm a girl. What reason do you have to cry now, hm?"

I try my best to distract the little boy as I desperately head to the staircases.

His sobbing reduced by a great amount as I feel his breath slow down, "B-But I'm eight...."

"So do you wanna be stronger than me and make this be the last time you cry? I mean, you seriously can't experience something more than this to make you cry, right?" I make my voice sound calm, but I'm internally screaming because I can't find the emergency hidden staircase, I never practiced at the boys' dorm building, how am I supposed to know where it is...?

"Yeah...." The little boy's arms tightened around my neck. I suppose he can sense my nervousness.

"Here it is." I get to an end closet. I pull open the door, then slide open another inside it, leading open the hidden staircase that leads downstairs.

We're going to make it. We're going to make it.

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My word counter stopped moving since 2001 words, so I have no idea how long this is now.

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-Lily ❤

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