Haze and Aka agreed to do what Trista suggested but they needed an explanation on how she reached such a conclusion.
Aka was the one that beckoned her to elaborate.
"How have you come to this decision?"
Trista glanced at her before again pointing another valuable fact on this case.
"There is one other important similarity between all of Gello's victims that need to be addressed. Haze, can you deduce what it is?"
She turned to Haze and gave him a chance to find out what Trista was trying to say.
Haze got up from his seat and scanned the papers pinned on the notice boards.
"Think Haze, look at all the information carefully."
Trista encouraged Haze to dig out that similarity she was saying. After some time, Aka realized the answer but Trista signalled her to not say anything.
She was trying to make Haze rack his brain. Make him more adept at finding hidden clues laying around in clandestine.
She waited for him to open his mouth.
'Come on, use your head.'
Haze put a hand just below his chin, supporting it. She wanted him to seriously take the career of a Hero properly.
If he plays around too much, then he is better off not being a Hero. Moreover, being quick-witted is extremely important in this line of work.
So, she is nurturing him in this way because he is her student. Well, she unwillingly became a teacher to him.
Nevertheless, it doesn't hurt to make Haze grow into a strong Hero.
"-?"
Haze stopped supporting his chin. He has just found something that may be the answer.
"Ah, is that it!?"
Trista smiled behind her silver stoic mask. Aka was getting ready to applause Haze to boost his morale.
But, the reality is quite a slap in the face.
"All of their victims had black hairs."
That's not it.
Aka used his hand to facepalm heavily instead of clapping. Trista froze and wondered why did she even take in an idiot like him.
Haze veered to Trista excitedly and inquired, "Am I right?"
"No!! This is not the answer that I was looking for!!"
A rare sight that Aka's eyes have been blessed with. An outburst from Trista was certainly a very unusual moment. She suppressed her emotion to an extent but the rest that was leaking were aimed at Haze.
"E-Eh? I thought that was definitely it!"
"Of course not!!"
"Then do you mean my statement was wrong?"
"...N-No, they all had black hairs so they were true. But!!!! That wasn't the answer that I was looking for!!"
"Oh....Is t-that so..." Haze awkwardly laugh.
*Sigh*
There is still a long way to go before Haze becomes an appropriate and capable Hero.
More than Haze, Trista would be the one that has to deal with his shenanigans so her endurance and patience will be tested.
'What have I got myself into.' Trista was sure that this was not the first time she felt like that.
She stared at Haze with a determined look, preparing to make him grow properly. She was not the type to give up so easily.
"Listen here Haze, scan everything in front of your eyes. The answer that I am looking for dwells mostly on the police records."
She even hinted at the answer. Carefully, Haze slowly brought his sights to the police records, pieces of information from their point of view.
Trista waited with immense patience. Aka was getting bored so she was fiddling with her hair.
After some time, Haze got struck with a fact.
"Oh.....that is quite some essential information."
Trista was not getting excited just yet. She may get betrayed. Aka stopped playing with her hair and listened to Haze's response.
With those two expecting the correct assumptions, Haze delivered his thoughts to them.
"None of the victims' families filed for a missing person complaint....Is that right?"
'Yes!' Trista inwardly celebrated but she continued with her strict teaching.
"And why do you think that is important?"
".....Because, if that is so, then the possibility of catching Gello increases. That means Gello abducts his victims and tortures them on the same day in a short period of time. Mostly about 12 hours, I would say."
Gello carried out the crime in less than 12 hours, not giving his parents or other close relatives the chance to file the missing person complaint.
*Clap!* *Clap!* *Clap!*
Aka clapped for Haze and encouraged him with her sweet words.
"Wow!! You are so smart for a rookie!"
"Hehehe~ Thank you very much" He bowed slightly to the seated Aka.
"Oi. Don't give this idiot too many wings, he will fall."
"Okay okay, I get it. But he was kind of cute when he got praised." Aka had a smug face behind her red mask. Trista deduced that from her tone.
In the corner, Haze awkwardly muttered to himself, "I-Idiot? I am...an idiot...?"
Trista ignored his small breakdown and resumed the initial discussion on catching Gello.
"As you have said Haze, Gello abduct his victims but he does not kepp them for too long. He tortures them until their life withers away. That is why I came up with this plan."
Aka entered her explanation,
"Surveilling each kid meeting the requirements of being Gello's victims and capturing him on the spot, hmm... We do need a lot of personnel Trista, even if it is only in the Osaka region. We also cannot guarantee that Gello will operate in Osaka only."
Trista equipped her confident and determined voice.
"No, he will. He has done that for 8 years. Do you think he will change so suddenly? That is why I would like to say this is a golden chance."
"If you say so."
"I will be making some appeals and persuade the higher-ups to help us in this mission."
Haze was getting worried though, wondering if the 'higher-ups' would be so willing to aid them in catching one criminal.
"Are you going to be okay, Senpai? I doubt that they would be convinced by us."
Aka laughed at Haze.
"W-What is it, Aka-senpai? I was just getting worried."
"Well, you do not have to worry about that."
"??" Haze tilted his head in confusion.
"Because Trista-chan has a considerable influence in this Hero organization."
Haze's eyes behind his futuristic blue mask sparkled with admiration.
"Wow Senpai~ You are more amazing than I imagined. I am so sorry for underestimating you."
He prostrated immediately in front of Trista and deeply apologized.
"I am so sorry for doubting your prowess, Senpai!!"
".....J-Just get up!"
Trista was so done with his behaviour.
But, it wasn't that bad. Although she wanted to make that joyful attitude vanish when the real work is being done, from time to time, it is a great stress-relieving tool.
Well, she needs to address it nonetheless. When to crack a joke, when to act like a smartass and when to take it seriously. These things Haze needs to master as soon as possible.
"Now, I will inform you two if it goes well. We are dismissed then."
"Yes, Captain!!" Aka saluted her.
"Good work, Captain!!" Haze followed after.
"Seriously....."
Trista put a hand on the side of her head, signifying the headache those two could cause when they would combined.
She beckoned them to quickly get out of this room and go on about their business.
The time when Gello's capture mission gradually decreases.
....
The 7 felons were running around the edge of the spacious room routinely. And as usual, Yemon was supervising them.
But there was one peculiar thing. The number of members present.
The one to have pointed it out was Jo.
"Where is Gello?"
"Don't know." Gui who was beside him uninterestingly and halfheartedly responded.
"....."
He did not ask any further and focused on jogging.
Well for Gui, there was something interesting today.
"You are keeping up aren't you? Normally you would be left behind."
"Oya Oya? Do I smell jealousy?" His smug face annoyingly appeared.
Gui disgustingly stared at him silently. He continued on his rambling.
"It is because I am a fast learner."
"..."
"It's true. You will see that my words won't deceive me."
"Fast learner or not. You are still a cringe idiot."
"Yeah right. The envious part of you is still speaking, I see."
Then the fight started.
On the other hand, Yemon was still waiting for Gello to show up. It was until some time after that Yemon saw Gello enter.
The others looked at him with curious eyes whilst they were practising some basic exercises.
Yemon detected him and waved him to come near him.
"Did you forget the rules in here?"
"....No..." A soft murmur as if he was a shy boy getting scolded.
"Then why did you come late?"
".....I had some stuff to do..."
Yemon glowered at Gello. There was silence between them. His gaze rested upon Gello's dead expression.
After a long staredown, Yemon sighed and retracted his belligerent glare.
"Go join the others."
Gello slowly nodded before jogging off to the others. Yemon looked at the back of the small figure running off to the group.
"....."
He contemplated his activities that has been strange lately.
Gello was stretching alongside Mara kept sneaking glances at him but did not say anything. She knew Gello was not the talkative type so she shrugged off the idea to speak with him.
Besides, she was not here to chit chat with the others.
"Hey, don't you think that he has been acting weird lately."
Jo struck a conversation with Virus this time, who was stretching with him.
"I can kind of understand him."
"Huh, what do you mean?"
"I mean that it is that time of the month."
Jo had the most confused face that he has ever made in his life.
"Virus you are a girl!?? But judging by the voice and your body-but-!? I-I?! Huh!?"
"Hahahaha! Idiot. I did not mean it like that. What date is it today?"
"Is that so? Umm...Today is.....the 13th."
"The days for him keeps coming closer so he is itching to go in action."
"Action?"
"Yeah. He is dying to kill, even though he does not show it."
"Ohh..."
They both looked at Gello with curiosity until Yemon caught them off guard. They did an extra set of laps around the spacious room for punishment.
Perhaps it would be better to see where you talk considering they are in Yemon's den right now.
.....
Below the blazing sun, Harue hovered his hand over his eyes, blocking the sun rays.
He was topless and only a trunk was on him.
An outsider would think why is a girl showing off her top so naked like this. But upon closer look, they find it hard for Harue to be a boy.
Anyway, he was used to it.
At the moment, with the type of attire he wore, he was at the beach. The cries of children playing around, the sound of the waves crashing onto the beach and some birds that flew around this area.
It was truly a relaxing spot.
He looked at where everyone else was. He was surrounded by the Drama club members, there was also Kouki that accompanied them.
Originally, this was a plan set out by the Drama club. However, since Kouki wanted to go with Harue and Harue insisted, they let him join.
Moreover, he wasn't here just to have fun with the others, he was here for another important reason.
Kouki approached Harue by his side and whispered into his ears.
"Are you prepared, Harue?"
".....*Sigh* I am ready."
Kouki smiled gently at him. Harue was so pure and innocent when it came to love. Kouki was continuously supporting him but Harue doesn't have the courage.
That is why he is here.
To support Harue confessing his love for Yuna. They both looked at Yuna dressed in a green bikini.
Her smooth skin was revealing and she adjusted her blue spectacle.
Harue gulped and resolved himself.
"Kouki, let's go!"