Vol. 2 Chapter 5.5

Translated by SoundDestiny Edited by SoundDestiny

“Toi, I’m going to the toilet, I can’t stand it, I’m going first.”

“Hey, hey, Fu-min!”

After lunch, which I can only think of as hell on earth, I ran down the stairs alone, shaking off Fujiwara-san’s hand. I think it was deliberate, but I don’t want to go back to the classroom with Kasuya-kun and the others. I’m sure I’ll attract strange attention.

After doing my business in the toilet, as I was going out into the corridor, I heard Kurosawa-san’s voice talking to someone from around the front of the women’s toilet.

It would be far more than awkward to meet Kurosawa-san here again. I quietly hide myself in the shadows.

“I’m sorry……but I don’t remember anything at all when you say things like that out of the blue……”

“You really don’t remember the culprit?　For example, Kijima?”

The content of the conversation that I heard made me gasp.

Someone was questioning Kurosawa-san about the kidnapping.

“Haa? There’s no way that guy can do anything to me”

“That’s true, isn’t it? I know he can’t do anything, but…..there’s a smart person, a junior member of the track team, who says the culprit must be Kijima, so……just in case.”

“How is that possible? It’s ridiculous.”

‘This is bad, this is bad, really bad..!!’

My heart is pounding painfully. At this point, it may only be a guess, but at least there is someone who is suspicious of me. When I was thinking about it, cold sweat started to bead on my forehead.

From the shadows, I quietly peer into the face of the person Kurosawa-san is talking to.

She is a short-cut, narrow-eyed girl, tall and slender, giving the impression of being long and tall. She is the girl who was with Tashiro-san the other day.

As I recall, Tashiro-san is the captain of the girl’s track club and the one who came up in the earlier story is also a junior member of the track club…..This girl is probably also in the track club.

‘I have to do it……I have to do it.At this rate, I’m going to have…… all the women’s track and field team locked’

I nodded to myself while holding my chest, which was palpitating.

There is also the matter of the juniors who have Fujiwara-san’s photo. I have no choice but to do it. As soon as possible.

I began to think about how to do it.

×××

The fifth period of the day arrived.

At the beginning of class, the teacher told Teruya-san to head for the headmaster’s office.

I turned my eyes out of the window.

I see Ryoko’s car in the teachers’ parking lot. It was as reported last night.

The police have their sights set on Teruya-san’s sister and her husband as the kidnappers of Kurosawa-san and Masaki-chan. Ryoko said that they were going to interview them in order to determine whether or not Teruya-san was involved in that.

I saw Teruya-san, who was being called, looked unfazed as if to say it was too much trouble. Everyone in the class reacted with an air of [Not again].

The police interviews have lost their novelty and have begun to take on the appearance of a regular event. The headmaster complained that there were too many interviews, according to school nurse Kitora-sensei.

In fact, there would be nothing for the police to gain from interviewing Teruya-san. That’s right. She had nothing to do with it. The culprit is me.

Teruya-san leaves the classroom with a look of dissatisfaction on her face. Seeing her off, I fiddled with my phone under my desk and sent a single short message to Ryoko.

It certainly has nothing to do with Teruya-san.

But considering what I have done so far and what I am about to do, her presence is too convenient for me.

And at the same time, considering that she is a threat to Fujiwara-san’s safety, I should ask her and her sister to leave the scene, taking everything on their shoulders instead of me. That’s the best.

I have no choice but to come to that conclusion.

×××

“It’s not that I’m doubting you or anything. Even if the story is at the level of rumour or slander, we just have no choice but to confirm it one by one, so please don’t be offended”

“Haa…….”

The detective with a square, masculine face prefaces his remarks with great care.

It seems that there is someone who has told the detectives something about me.

“Then, your name is Teruya Hikari, right?”

“Yes”

“The victims, Misuzu Kurosawa-san and Masaki Haneda-san. Kurosawa-san has returned home, but…..Please tell me if you have any contact with them outside of school”

“I don’t have any connection. We’re just in the same class”

“I see. Actually, right after Kurosawa-san went missing, there was some talk that you might be involved….”

“Wait a minute! I have nothing to do with this!”

“Okay, I know. I know it’s a groundless story”

When I raised my voice, the detective lowered his eyebrows and gave me a reassuring smile.

I could understand the logic of having to check, but to be honest, I was annoyed.

Because it must be that, right? At the very least, it means that someone suspected me and told the police.

“But…..I checked it out just to be sure. Your sister, Anna Kamishima, maiden name Anna Teruya?…..has a criminal record for forced prostitution and pimping, doesn’t she?”

×××

“Excuse me…..”

After I shut the door, I run up the stairs as fast as I can.

‘I’m pissed off!　I’m pissed off!　I’m pissed!　Pisses me off!’

I was particularly annoyed with the female detective.

What particularly pissed me off was the female detective. The male detective was the one who was talking to me, but the female detective was observing me with eyes of complete suspicion ……, no, as if she was already looking at a criminal.

Most of the questions were about my older sister.

She said, 『Just for our reference』 but to me, she seemed to be almost certain that my sister was the culprit.

She seemed to be trying to determine whether I had anything to do with it or not.

Right now, after leaving the principal’s office, I ran up to the balcony in front of the rooftop, hid behind the railing, looked down the stairs, and pulled out my phone from the inside pocket of my school blazer.

It was quiet because the class was in session. And the silence makes my ears ring.

From my address book, I select my sister’s name and tap it. After a few calls, I hear the sound of the line connecting.

“『What’s the matter? Hikari.』”

The word “Hello” is already becoming a dead language because the name of the caller is displayed.

On the phone, my sister answered with a scratchy, alcohol-scorched voice.

My sister seemed surprised when I called her.

“Aneki, at our school. Do you know that two girls have gone missing from our school?”

“Oh, that’s Hikari-chan’s place. Ryu-chan was annoyed that someone was kidnapping girls in our territory”

I knew it, my sister had nothing to do with this kidnapping.

If my sister or brother-in-law did it, it would be more insidious and thorough. At the very least, it is unlikely that she would be found without a scratch on her body like Misuzu Kurosawa was.

“Do you remember Koganei?”

“Nnn? Of course, I remember…… but …… what? Did you find out where she lives?”

“Yes, her last name has been changed to Fujiwara, and now, she’s in the same class”

“Hehー…..”

Just from the sound of her voice, it is easy to imagine the expression on her sister’s face on the other end of the phone. I could picture her face with her mouth twisted into a grin.

“I was questioned by the police today, and they seemed to suspect you or rather brother-in-law. About the kidnapping”

“It’s not our business, but it’s not fun to have someone digging into our belly when it doesn’t hurt. Oh…… I see. So, you’re saying that Koganei might have tipped you off”

“Yeah”

“Well, you don’t have to worry about it”

“I’m not worried about that. But I’m worried that if you get caught, I won’t be able to stay in school”

“Ara, that’s cold. Well, I’ll be careful. In any case, no matter how many times they step in, nothing is going to come out of our house. Ryu-chan is very smart. I’ve made sure that all the other businesses can be cut off too”

“I hope so…….”

“Then, I’ll be coming over there soon to see Koganei. Let’s go eat something delicious. The food in the dormitory isn’t good, is it? I’ll treat you”

“Aneki….did you hear what I said? Don’t worry about Koganei for now”

“It’s going to be okay, I’m not trying to kidnap her or kill her. It’s just a greeting, just a greeting”

×××

It was just as sixth period was about to start when I returned to the classroom after making the call.

I took my seat with a face as if nothing had happened and stole a glance diagonally behind me.

Diagonally behind me is the seat of the creepy guy.

She is probably trying to flatter me by saying that she has no intention of touching Junichi-sama. Fujiwara is pretending to be fond of this bottom-feeder and has moved to the seat next to him from the other day.

I thought I would forgive her if she was so good to me, but it was only a short time before the police mentioned my sister’s name. Because of that, I was convinced that Fujiwara was the one who had tipped me off.

“Alright, class is about to start!”

The cheerful maths teacher enters the classroom.

The class was about to start and there was no bottom-feeding creepy man in his seat. Fujiwara, seated next to him, had a disgruntled look on her face, with a mechanical pencil between her pointed lips and nose.

I don’t care if that bottom-tier gross man was not there, but the fact that Fujiwara looks so nonchalant really pisses me off.

And so, I wondered what kind of face she would have if I told her that my sister would be coming to her place soon.

I couldn’t get my head around sixth period class one bit. I’m not good at maths to begin with but when I’m this frustrated, formulas just seem like strings of letters.

But fortunately, the teacher didn’t point at me until the end, and the chime rang at the end of the class.

I’m pissed off, annoyed and bothered. The tournament is coming up and it’s ridiculous to be distracted by all this. Above all, I want to shake off this feeling by running as fast as I can.

As soon as class was over, I hurriedly walked out of the classroom with her bag on her shoulder to head to club activities. However, when I reached the shoe box, I was stopped by the female detective from earlier.

“Teruya-san, Teruya Hikaru-san. May I have a moment?”

“Yes… What is it? Do you have any more questions?”

“No, I’d like you to tell me a little something about…… Fumio Kijima-kun”

“Yes?”

I’ve heard that name before, and I’m pretty sure that was the name of the bottom-tier gross man.

“What do you think of Fumio Kijima-kun?”

“What do you mean……?”

“Do you think he’s cool or manly…..?”

“…… I think he’s kind of creepy though..”

“I see. So let’s say he’s cool. In that case, which part do you think is cool?”

What exactly does this female detective want to ask me?　I’m maxed out on alert, wondering what she’s trying to find out, and answering questions that I don’t understand (for some reason, they’re all about that creepy guy).

“Thank you. That was very helpful.”

By the time the female detective said that and walked away, it was already almost thirty minutes past the start of the club’s activities.

I don’t understand. What is it all about?

I’m pissed. Even though we only have a limited amount of time to practise.

While hurriedly changing my shoes and running to the club building, I looked towards the field.

And I tilted my head involuntarily.

None of the club members were running. It looks as if nothing has been done yet, not even the preparation of the equipment.

“Tsk… Is that guy getting carried away and blasting out sermons again?”

By [that guy] I mean the advisor of the athletics club. I’m sick of just thinking about it. The advisor, a bald man, sometimes stops practice to give a long lecture.

He says things like [collective responsibility] and addresses all the members of the club. It’s a masterbation to look like a big man with no great achievements. It is unbearable for those who have to witness such things.

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry I’m late.”

Having said this, I stepped into the clubroom and found it deserted.

Instead of the advisor gathering the club members and giving them a sermon, the only one, a second-year Ninagawa, is sitting on the bench in our training wear. No other members of the club are in sight.

“Teruya-senpai!”

“Nn, Nina, where is everyone else?”

“That’s…… I came late myself, but there was no one from the club and …… the clubroom is locked.”

I didn’t hear anything about club activities being cancelled or going on an expedition to another school.

The practice equipment was still there, and there was no sign that anyone had entered the clubroom other than Ninagawa and I. No matter who I tried to call, I couldn’t get through, and in the end Ninagawa and I finished practice that day with just a light track session.

It was the following day that the homeroom teacher told me that eighteen members of the track and field team, excluding Ninagawa and I, had disappeared.

×××

‘….. I’ve been caught!’

These were the first words that crossed my – Saki Shiratori’s – mind when I woke up.

As I lay there, I saw a steel floor illuminated by green lighting. Green lights mounted low on the walls cast a dull glow. We were trapped in a room we did not recognise.

‘When …… which time?’

Looking back, I pulled Takasago’s hand, who was giggling and saying [I’m sleepy] and stepped into the clubroom, and that’s where my memory stops.

“Sh, sh, sh, Shiratori-senpai, oh, you woke up, what’s going on, what’s going on, what’s going on!”

Next to me, a junior student, Satou, who was also lying on the floor, let out a cry.

She was lying there in a truly indecent outfit.

She was completely naked, leaving only the ribbon of her uniform around her neck. Moreover, she was tied up with red ropes all over her body.

It is not clear who is here now and who is not, but all the club members lying around me were uniformly dressed in the same way. And of course….same goes for me.

I don’t …… know what happened to me either.

At any rate, it was too abrupt. There was too little information.

Even so, we at least know that we, the members of the athletics club, were all locked up at once by someone. And that someone is the same person who kidnapped Kurosawa-senpai and the others.

It is needless to think about it. Under the circumstances, it would be strange to think that there is another culprit.

However, I was now feeling a mild sense of discomfort.

At a rough count, there are eighteen people here. It is not easy to kidnap this many people at once. The risk is also great. The image of the culprit, which can be inferred from what we have heard from Senpai, is of a more cautious person. I couldn’t help but feel at odds with that.

What if he was faced with a situation that forced him to do so? What kind of situation would that be?

‘…… if the culprit is Fumio Kijima’

If there is even the slightest connection with Kijima, it would be…… Shima-Senpai.

Perhaps he may have noticed that she is sniffing around about the case. ……No, if that’s the case, he should just lock up Shima-senpai alone.

Then if it is not Shima-senpai who is sniffing around, he only grasped that she was a 『member of the athletics club』.

If I think about it, it makes sense.

It is likely that he took this course of action after weighing the risk of leaving snoopers with information only about the track and field club against the risk of carrying out the confinement of the entire athletics department.

‘That’s why I told you to stay away from Kijima…’

As I’ve just thought that far──

“Ou, Moribe! You’re awake! Shima! Moribe Saori is awake!”

From a little distance away, the voice of Captain Tashiro could be heard.

“No, no, no, no! He,Hentaaaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiii”

Saori Moribe, a first-year student, was the next to scream. She is a quiet girl with long fringes that hide her eyes.

When I lay down and twisted around to face her, I saw the sight of Captain Tashiro and her face cramped as hard as she could.

“Hey, hey! You don’t [Hentai] towards your seniors, you idiot!”

Captain Tashiro lets out a slightly irritated voice. However, it is not hard to understand Moribe’s feelings. As soon as she opens her eyelids, she sees a woman in turtle shell bondage in front of her, it would normally be perverted in any way.

But, unsympathetically, Tashiro confronted Moribe with the truth.

“You’re dressed the same way, Moribe.”

“Hee…..?”

Moribe, fearfully turning her attention to her own body, said [Hi!?] and I heard her choke on her voice. Well, that would be it. That’s the kind of reaction we’re going to get.

Dressed indecently, wearing only a uniform ribbon,red rope and is tied behind her back.

“That’s right, Hatsu-chan. From my point of view, you look like a pervert.”

“Why! Aren’t we all dressed the same?”

“You’re dressed like that, but you’re sitting on your back, so ……I can see all of  your『Gu』”

(具: Ingredient, Stool, utensil, etc)

“『Gu』!!? I can’t help it, can I? This position is the most comfortable.”

Shima-senpai, who was leaning against the wall next to Captain Tashiro, interrupts the conversation and engages in a tension-free exchange with her. The exchange is comical at the end of the day. It sounds good to say that they have a lot of guts, but I can only be appalled at how easy-going they are.

Yet, there is nothing that can be done now. All we can do is wait and see what he will do.

I quietly close my eyes.

If he can understand my words, I’m sure I can outmanoeuvre him. I have to conserve my strength until then. If I’m so exhausted that I can’t think straight, I’ll be blinded.

Read only at Travis Translations