⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ˳༄꠶ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ˳༄꠶ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯

↳ currently playing ;;
[ Beware ] - [ Deftones ]

The form teacher strode into the classroom with a sense of purpose, tapping his knuckles sharply against the podium. The dull murmur of students flipping through their revision materials faded as heads lifted, eyes slowly turning toward him.

Satisfied with the sudden stillness, he cleared his throat and began, his voice firm but tinged with caution.

"We live in unpredictable times," he started, scanning the room. "I cannot stress enough the importance of protecting yourselves. Be vigilant, especially around strangers. Stay aware. Stay safe." His words hung in the air, a stark contrast to the mundane rhythm of the day.

"Especially female students," the form teacher emphasized, his tone growing more serious. "Avoid places where there are very few people, and steer clear of empty parks or mountainous areas. If you must go, do so in a large group—and avoid being out at night whenever possible."

A hand shot up from the middle of the classroom, curiosity evident in the student's voice. "Did something happen?"

The form teacher shook his head, offering a reassuring smile. "No, nothing has happened. But with the graduation exams approaching, it seemed a good time to remind everyone about safety. It never hurts to stay cautious."

With that, he smoothly transitioned back into his lecture, now touching on the importance of clean eating habits and personal hygiene, as if the earlier warning had never happened.

Yet, the uneasy atmosphere lingered, settling like a faint cloud over the room.

Vienna remained unfazed, slipping a dried plum between her lips, her expression as neutral as ever. In front of her, Chiyo turned in her seat, sprawling lazily across Vienna's desk, eyes gleaming with curiosity.

She tilted her head, urging Vienna to come closer with a simple glance.

With a subtle sigh, Vienna leaned in, and Sakura followed suit, drawn by the sudden shift in mood. Once they were close enough, the air thick with unspoken tension, Chiyo whispered, her voice dripping with intrigue, "I bet the person our form teacher was hinting at... is Hana."

Vienna and Sakura froze, shock flashing in their eyes.

Chiyo leaned in, her voice barely above a whisper but laced with urgency. "I swear I'm not lying—I'll even bet my exam pass on it."

The sourness of the dried plum spread across Vienna's tongue, a sharp contrast to the unsettling conversation. Tentatively, she asked, "What... happened to her?"

Chiyo hesitated, her confidence faltering as she prepared to speak the unspeakable.

"She was raped first... then murdered."

Vienna remained silent, the weight of Chiyo's words sinking in.

Sakura, wide-eyed, burst out, "Are you serious? You're just spreading rumors, right? This can't be real!"

"I swear it's true!" Chiyo shot back. "Do you remember that huge storm a week ago? One of the last ones before the rainy season ended? Well, it caused the Gojo bridge to collapse."

Everyone had heard about it—the collapse of Gojo Bridge. It was a metal bridge that had recently fallen apart, but since it was in such a remote, isolated area, no one had been hurt or killed.

The lack of any real consequences meant that it didn't make for interesting gossip, especially for students about to graduate.

It barely registered as important news, just another forgotten headline that no one really cared to talk about.

"When the workers went to clear the debris from the water, they found a single shoe. At first, they just thought it was trash and tossed it aside. But later, they realized..."

Sakura interrupted, her eyes wide. "The shoe belonged to Hana?"

Chiyo nodded, her voice lowering as if the words carried weight. "Exactly. After Hana disappeared, the Missing Persons posters went up everywhere. They even posted photos of the clothes and shoes she wore that day on the web."

"What happened next?" Vienna asked quietly, her voice carrying an edge of unease.

"The workers reported it to the police, of course. They started searching the area and eventually found a body buried in the mud, about a kilometer from Gojo Bridge."

"She was buried in the mud?"

"Yeah," Chiyo whispered, glancing around as if the words were dangerous. "When they uncovered her, she was completely naked. No clothes at all."

"But..." Sakura hesitated. "That doesn't necessarily mean she was raped and murdered."

Chiyo leaned in even closer, her tone hushed and serious. "You probably don't know this, but... quite a few girls in Kyoto have already been, you know, attacked. The police just haven't caught the guy yet."

The weight of Chiyo's words hung heavy in the air. Vienna and Sakura didn't need any further explanation. Everyone in the city had heard the rumors.

Vienna suddenly remembered the time she had crossed Gojo Bridge, and Shotaro's stern reminder to be extra cautious when traveling to and from school. The memory sent a shiver down her spine.

Still unsure, she asked, "But how do we even know that the body they found is really Hana?"

Chiyo shrugged but her eyes were certain, almost too sure. "Where do you think Hana went? She didn't just vanish into thin air. I have a feeling it's her. It's definitely her," she repeated, her voice laced with grim conviction.

Vienna bit her lip, her heart heavy with doubt and dread.

If the corpse truly was Hana, and if she had met such a horrific end, it meant she had suffered unimaginable pain before her death.

Vienna chewed on the dried plum, the sourness on her tongue a stark contrast to the grotesque satisfaction creeping into her heart. The sensation was unsettling, a dark, twisted pleasure that made her stomach churn.

Overwhelmed by this unsettling emotion, Vienna turned inward, confronting the uncomfortable truth of her own reaction.

A deep sense of shame and embarrassment washed over her, leaving her feeling profoundly disturbed by the depth of her own feelings.

It was afternoon break once again. Vienna lay on the mat on Ni-ki's rooftop, savoring the cool sweetness of her ice cream. The sun cast a gentle warmth over the scene, highlighting her black hair and delicate features, which Ni-ki admired with a soft smile. His gaze was tender, a rare and genuine expression of contentment.

But as Vienna casually brought up the recent rumors, the light in Ni-ki's eyes flickered, his smile fading into a troubled silence.

All he could manage was a quiet, subdued "Oh," as the weight of the conversation settled between them.

Vienna's voice was tentative, "Do you think it really is Hana?"

Ni-ki's gaze met hers, his expression shifting to one of detached realism. "How am I supposed to know?" he replied, shrugging slightly. "I'm not the cops."

Vienna's gaze remained fixed on Ni-ki, her brows furrowing in silent contemplation. She bit down hard on the ice cream stick, as if its hardness could anchor her in the midst of her turmoil.

Ni-ki, sensing the weight of her scrutiny, spoke in a low, muted voice, "What's the matter?"

After a moment's pause, Vienna's voice emerged, fragile and quivering, "That day, when you went to the hill behind the school – was Hana really missing by the time you arrived?"

"Yes," he replied, his tone unyielding.

"If so, why did you return home so late that day?"

"I was searching the entire hill very carefully," Ni-ki responded, his tone steady but heavy with unspoken burdens.

Vienna's mouth opened as if to say something, but no words emerged. She simply continued to gaze at Ni-ki, her eyes brimming with unspoken questions. There was an intensity in her stare, a silent plea for understanding that seemed to transcend words.

Her gaze was a labyrinth of confusion and distress, an emotional storm swirling behind her eyes. Though she was visibly troubled, the source of her unease eluded her, leaving her adrift in a sea of uncertainty.

A distant smile played on Ni-ki's lips, his gaze softening as he looked at Vienna. "Do you think I'm lying to you?"

"That's not it," Vienna replied, her voice barely a whisper.

Her eyes never wavered from his, searching for a deeper truth in his steady gaze, even as her heart wrestled with a multitude of conflicting emotions.

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ˳༄꠶