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↳ currently playing ;;
[Crack baby ] - [Mitski]

Vienna climbed the stairwell to Ni-ki's apartment, her mind preoccupied with the fact that Ni-ki had taken her house keys. She recalled that he had probably left them in the pot by the door, but she wanted to spend her afternoon break at his place.

To her dismay, when she tried to unlock the door, the key wouldn't fit into the keyhole. A pang of irritation and curiosity hit her—if Ni-ki had changed the lock, it meant he must be nearby, possibly keeping an eye on her.

Realizing this, she glanced around, scanning the area for any sign of him. But he was nowhere in sight. Her frustration grew as she stood there, feeling both stranded and watched.

The summer sun bathed the city in its bright, relentless glow, making everything shimmer like fish scales in the light. Vienna squinted against the harsh brightness, rubbing her eyes as the sun's rays pierced through.

A sharp pang of realization hit her, and she grimaced as she connected the dots. Ni-ki's actions were becoming clear—he must have seen her with the police and was now hiding any traces of their association.

Vienna sighed deeply as she made her way to school, her thoughts still clouded by the earlier encounter. She stopped by the market near Ni-ki's place to pick up some grapes, hoping the small comfort of the sweet fruit would ease her mind.

The school day unfolded as usual, with one exception—today was her turn for cleaning duty. As she scrubbed and wiped down the classroom, her frustration bubbled up when she spotted Shotaro in the hallway.

His intense focus on the case was evident, and it only served to irritate her more.

She found herself seething silently, annoyed by how his obsession with the case seemed to overshadow everything else, including her own peace of mind.

However, this time, Shotaro wasn't searching for Vienna—he was looking for Hari. As Hari walked past Vienna, she handed her broom over with a casual smile. "Ah, you were originally scheduled for cleanup duty, not me. I guess I'll head out now."

Vienna, still fuming and lost in her own thoughts, remained rooted to the spot, her hands gripping the broom tightly.

She didn't acknowledge Hari's departure, her mind preoccupied with the earlier events and her frustration with Shotaro's relentless pursuit of the case.

The school building was mostly deserted at this hour, allowing Vienna to overhear every word exchanged between Shotaro and Hari, even from a distance.

"... After you cut off all contact with Hana, she understood that you no longer wanted anything to do with her. However, I checked her call log and found that, despite not attempting to contact you for over a week, she suddenly called you the day she went missing. Why do you suppose she reached out to you on that particular day?"

"Didn't I already explain this to you the previous time?" Hari's voice was soft, carrying a note of frustration.

Shotaro's tone was steady and probing. "I'm not accusing you of being involved in Hana's disappearance. I just sense that there's something you're holding back."

Hari was indeed concealing a crucial piece of information from Shotaro: the message Hana had relayed over the call—The location was the hill behind the school, and the person expected was Vienna.

She stood quietly in the school corridor, her gaze fixed on the railing as she listened to the conversation below. An unsettling chill crept up her spine, making her feel as if an invisible force was pushing her toward the edge.

Startled, she snapped her head around, only to find the classroom entrance ajar. The room was completely empty, filled with rows of tables and chairs but devoid of any people.

The silence of the classroom contrasted sharply with the anxiety that had taken hold of her.

Vienna's gaze wandered across the school compound, her eyes landing on a solitary white figure standing still at the convenience store on the other side of the street.

A shiver of dread ran down her spine as she realized the figure's unsettling presence.

Without a second thought, she dashed back into the classroom. Her mind raced with the conversation she had overheard between Hari and Shotaro. Fear gripped her as she fumbled with her belongings, tossing the broom aside in a frantic motion.

Grabbing her bag, Vienna sprinted down the stairwell and out of the school compound, not even pausing to wait for Ni-ki.

Vienna raced through the maze of streets, her heart pounding in her chest. She avoided her usual route, opting instead for unfamiliar roads and alleys she seldom used.

It felt as though she were running from an invisible pursuer, her frantic pace reflecting her desperate bid to escape an unseen threat.

Finally, breathless and disoriented, she skidded to a halt in a familiar field of wild grass, the tangled vegetation a stark contrast to the city's chaos.

She suddenly felt a force, she struggled to free her wrist from Ni-ki's grip, but his hold was unyielding, a steely vice that resisted all her efforts.

No matter how hard she fought, she couldn't escape his firm grasp. Ni-ki began pulling her back towards her home, each step heavy with his determination.

Yet, Vienna's heart was set on the opposite direction, her instincts screaming for her to head towards Ni-ki's place, away from her own. She tugged desperately, her resolve clashing with his, as the two of them waged a silent battle of wills.

"What's wrong?"

"I want to go home!"

Ni-ki scanned their surroundings, ensuring they were alone. Once he was satisfied, he eased his grip on Vienna's wrist and turned to face her directly. His voice was steady, almost soothing despite the tension in the air.

"Your home is that way."

"I want to go home!" Vienna's voice rose in desperation, echoing her growing panic.

Ni-ki's expression softened as he took in the depth of her anxiety and fear. He remained silent for a moment, his gaze steady and intense.

Slowly, he lifted a hand to gently caress her cheek, his touch meant to comfort rather than restrain.

A small, reassuring smile appeared on his lips as he spoke in a calming tone, "You understand what I mean, don't you?"

"We can't hide it forever," Vienna murmured, a small, resigned smile playing on her lips as she spoke softly to Ni-ki. "I killed Hana. We can't hide it forever."

Before she could finish her confession, Ni-ki's arms enveloped her, pulling her forcefully into a tight embrace. His face pressed against hers, his voice a low, urgent whisper.

"That's nonsense," he said firmly. "When I found Hana on the hill behind your school, she wasn't dead."

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so who do u think killed Hana, Vienna Ni-ki or maybe someone else????