One day at school, I was walking through the hallway, lost in thought—
Probably about taking my girlfriend somewhere after class. Just the two of us, spending time.
I stopped by the canteen and grabbed snacks before the break ended. A few minutes later, I was done eating and headed back to class.
I sat down at my desk when—
"Hello, Shion!"
"Huh?"
I turned around. It was Miyu—my girlfriend. So she'd been waiting for me to show up.
"Did I scare you? Sorry," she said with a smile.
"It's okay," I laughed. "Hey, I was thinking... wanna hang out somewhere after school?"
She looked at me, smiled brighter, and nodded.
"Oh, that's a nice idea, Shion!"
"Yeah, I know it is," I smiled. "So you're coming after school, Miyu?"
"Yes, I will come, Shion!"
"Great."
The bell rang.
"Break's over," I said with a sigh.
"Yeah. I'll meet you after school," she said, walking out.
I watched her go, then turned back as class started. Our teacher walked in.
"Hello, students! Today we'll learn about computer languages used to solve specific problems."
To be honest, it wasn't hard to understand the computer lecture.
But for some reason, I couldn't focus. My thoughts kept drifting—mostly to Miyu. Her voice. Her smile when I asked her out. That little moment when our fingers touched…
I didn't hear what the teacher said next. My eyes were open, but my mind was far away.
Then—
A scream.
Loud. From the hallway.
Everyone in the class turned their heads.
Ms. Kaede Ishiguro blinked. "Stay here," she said, almost too calmly, and walked out of the room.
I sat up straight in my chair.
Another sound followed. A voice, panicked. Then another scream, and running footsteps.
Something was wrong.
Really wrong.
The hallway echoed with whispers and the sounds of other doors opening.
I looked around the class. No one spoke. Some students were already standing from their chairs, trying to peek through the classroom windows.
Then the intercom turned on.
"All students are to remain in their classrooms. I repeat, remain in your classrooms until further notice."
The principal's voice.
Something bad had happened.
Ten minutes passed.
Then twenty.
My leg was shaking. I tried to calm myself down, but the silence in the room made everything feel louder.
Finally, the door opened again. But this time it wasn't just Ms. Ishiguro.
It was her.
And two other teachers.
And a man in a security uniform.
They walked in slowly, looking around the room.
Then Ms. Ishiguro's eyes landed on me.
"Shion Kamiya," she said gently. "Please come with us."
Everyone looked at me.
I stood up, slowly. My heart was racing.
They brought me to the school office. But instead of the usual desk, they walked me into a small, cold room with plain white walls and no windows.
A chair. A table.
I sat down, and the security guard left.
A few moments later, someone else walked in.
She didn't look like a police officer—not in a uniform at least. But she held herself like one.
Sharp black eyes. Tight ponytail. A pale grey suit.
She didn't smile.
"Shion Kamiya?" she asked.
I nodded slowly.
"I'm Detective Reina Takashiro. I'll be asking you a few questions."
She pulled out a small notepad and sat across from me.
I could hear the faint ticking of the wall clock.
"Let's begin."
"Did you know a student named Kenta Arai?"
I blinked.
"I… I know the name. He's in my year. But I don't really know him."
Reina didn't look up from her notes.
"Where were you during the break?"
"In the canteen," I said. "I was getting snacks. Then I came back to class early."
She turned a page.
"The victim was found in the storage room behind the canteen. Did you go near there?"
I shook my head.
"I didn't even know there was a storage room."
Reina looked up for the first time.
"Someone said they saw you in that hallway."
I froze.
"I… I didn't go there."
Her eyes didn't blink.
"Kenta Arai, nineteen. was found strangled. With wire. Mouth stuffed with cloth. Locked inside that room. Seems like he has been tortured before killing."
My stomach turned. I suddenly felt cold.
"I swear… I didn't do anything."
She closed her notebook.
"No fingerprints. No blood. No evidence. So for now, you're not in trouble."
I let out a breath.
But then she stood and walked to the door.
Just before leaving, she looked back.
"Try not to be near any more dead bodies, Mr. Kamiya."
Then she was gone.
I sat there for a while longer.
Hands trembling.
Kenta Arai was dead.
Strangled. Silenced.
And they thought I was involved.
But I wasn't.
At least… not yet.