After entering the classroom,we urged Onodera-san to sit down on the vacant chair.
"How's the situation in the spare room,
Onodera-san?." asked by Ayumi-san
"Still the same.Yahiro-san still not waking up and there is still no electricity so it a little bit hot there.Why did we need to stay in that room?."
"Don't worry,we are trying our best to solve this case as soon as possible so just bared it for a little longer."
I said,showing that we are trying to end this interview as fast as we could.And it seems like Yahiro-san still not wake up.How many hours had passed since she lose her conciousness?.I looked up the clock.It was already nine-thirty in the morning.And I think the earthquake happens around eight o'clock.So she's been not waking up for one and a half hours now.
"Anyways,maybe you already know why you are called here right?."
I asked,putting aside the matter of Yahiro-san,going back to my original goal here.I hope she wake up soon.
"Yes.I shall say what I do,or should I say,what me and Seishirou do for the whole time before the earthquake occurs right?."
"That's right.But did you just said Tachibana-
san?.Are you with her for the whole time?."
"Yes.But let's start from the beginning."
She said as if preparing herself to tell her story.Then after some time,she spoke up.
"After arriving at the school,we are supposed to stay inside the classroom but Ayumi-san asked us if we could go outside for a while since she and Kanakura-san finished decorating the classroom.She also said we could just come back later.Of course,we followed her.Since we couldn't have something to do and we just realized that we don't have classes today,we decided to play basketball.Then after that,we decided to take a break.But we didn't continue playing again and instead,we decided to stay in corridor on the second floor.But standing for too long in the corridor is kinda tiring so we decided to sit down on the stairs.Then when just right after that,Ayumi-san passed by to us upwards probably going to the classroom.But that time,we realized that maybe they already finished decorating the classroom,so I invited Seishirou if we can stay now inside the classroom.But she stopped me and said that it's better to stay in the stairs so I follow her.
Then Ayumi-san come back,going downstairs,
bringing something like a uniform,I guess.
Then the next one who passed by in the stairs is Chinatsu-san.Then after that,Seishirou and I continue on talking for some time.Then the earthquake happens."
The long story finally ended there.Meanwhile,I wrote down the important points from it.But at the same,I have so many questions I want to ask her.
"Thank you very much for that story Onodera-
san but of course,I want to asked some questions.First of all,you said that Chinatsu-
san also go to the classroom right since you saw passing in the stairs you are staying right?.But you didn't said that she passed again in the stairs going down,unlike to Ayumi-san.Can you explain that?."
"Oh.You're right.Well for that,I thought she used the second stairs near in the storage room.That's why we didn't see her anymore ."
"I see.That may be also a possibility."
So basically what happen is that Chinatsu-san used the stairs near to the classroom,get something inside there,then used the stairs near in the storage room to go back to the first floor.In short,she used different stairs.
Hmmm.It somehow strange.Normally,people used the same stairs going up and down.Or maybe it is just me?.
"Anyways,next question;you said that you stay in the stairs for a while right?.What did you do exactly?."
"Of course we talk.Different kind of topics,
different stuffs like that."
"Like what?.Can you specify it to me?."
"Well like 'if it is possible for our school to compete on national tournament on sport,
since our school is somehow different on others' something like that."
"Hmmm.That was somehow a good question.We didn't really have soemthing like that in the past ten month right?." interjected by Ayumi-san,speaking for the first time for a while.
"I think it's possible if its just 3x3 basketball.
Although I doubt there is still someone from us aside you and Tachibana-san who could play basketball with same level as both of you."
"Well,I'm also talking about other sport,
Tomozuki-kun."
"But just like I said earl-"
"I'm not sure about that."
Onodera-san immediately replied back before I even finish my sentence.I and Ayumi-san was slightly surprised with that answer.
"What did you mean,Onodera-san?" Ayumi-san interject
"Ah no forget about it."
Somehow,she want to dodge Ayumi-san question.Is she hiding something to us?.
Maybe I will just ask Tachibana-san about that.
On the other hand,I was supposed to ask her why Tachibana-san wants to stay in the stairs than the classroom,but I guess it's better to ask Tachibana-san herself,as she is the one who said that.What's more,it seems like I could get much more information from her than Onodera-san
"By the way,Onodera-san.What is your bust size?.In cup please."
I asked her that out of nowhere since there's nothing to asked anymore about her story.
"E cup."
"Really?."
"Yes.No lies."
"Thank you for answering."
Wait,what?.Did that question just go smoothly?.Unlike to Kanakura-san and Hiten-
san,it seem like she is not the type of person who wouldn't mind to say their breast size to others.Or maybe it was a nature of her personality.
"Another question.What do you think is the chances that I might be the culprit from this case?."
"Hmmm.I can't really exactly the chances but I think you have a high possibility to become the culprit,Tomozuki-san."
High possibility huh.So far,it seems like she is the one who suspect me the most unlike to other girls I asked.
"Can I know the reason for that?.But it is okay if you didn't answer me."
Onodera-san scratch her head first,probably thinking for a reason.Then finally spoke up.
"It's like there is a tendency that the one you suspect the least is the one who sometimes ended up the culprit in crime movies.Or maybe that is just me."
"Did you perhaps read detective novel?."
"No.I didn't even read any kind of book.What's more,I sometimes didn't study in our lessons."
"That's the reason why you always the one who ended up getting the lowest mark every exam." interjected by Ayumi-san.
"Well I admit that,Ayumi-san.But I don't need worry that much since I have my basketball." she said while flexing her right hand,showing her muscles there.
"Well you said at least study harder for some time.Anyways,going back to the topic,how about you Onodera-san.What are the chances?."
"Me?.Well..."
She paused again for a bit,then continue.
"I think I'm half-half.Fifty-fifty if you call that."
"I see."
If that the case,then I maybe I could test for a bit.
"To tell you the truth,I already know who is the culprit,Onodera-san.And it was you.After hearing your story,I finally connect the dots and all the results ended up to you.Should we reveal it now to others,Ayumi-san."
"Huh?.Well...I mean,wait..."
She couldn't talk properly.She was probably surprised from my sudden declaration.
Meanwhile,I looked to Onodera-san.I see.She was not bother from that bluff.
"I admit the I'm the most idiot among the class.But are you perhaps more idiot than me,Hashimoto-san?.Are you just hiding that fact from us?."
Well as expected,she just take my sudden revelation as a joke.
"Don't worry,Ayumi-san.That was just a bluff.I just say it to test Onodera-san."
"I see.I was just a little bit surprised.I thought you are serious about it."
"Falling for that kind of bluff,I think you are truly the most idiot in the class,Ayumi-san."
I giggled a little bit after hearing those words.Maybe because it was rare to see Ayumi-san and Onodera-san teasing each other.In fact,I think this is first time seeing these two exchange those kind of lines to each other.
"Anyways,for the last question.How do you feel right now,Onodera-san?.Now that Chinatsu-san is not here anymore."
I asked the final question to change the topic.I wonder what kind of answer she will give to me.After asking those questions earlier,I could confirm one fact:she was hard to read.She was an airhead,but you didn't know if she really mean what she said.Is she really an idiot or just stupid.If we use literature term,
she was called 'unreliable narrator'.
Anyways,Onodera-san spoke up.
"I really don't know how to feel.I mean,I was sad about what happen.But it feels like it was something I will forget tomorrow.What's more,it's not like it was rare for a murder to happen.There is always a murder around the world."
"You're rather frank,Onodera-san." said by Ayumi-san
"Well you ask me what I feel,then I just what is in my mind."
Just like I what I think earlier,her answer is kinda vague,or should I say,something unpredictable.But at the same time,she was right.
"Anyways,that's all for now,Onodera-san.You can go back to the spare room now.Also,
please don't forget to call Tachibana-san here."
"Okay,I understand.I hope my story at least help you in this case."
She said that then left the classroom.After that,I ask my assistant
"What can you say,Ayumi-san?."
"Well all I can say it I couldn't really understand her."
So we have the same opinion about her huh.
"Anyways,I said earlier that my accusation to her is just a bluff.Actually that was not really the case."
"What do you mean?."
"Well I could say that I I already came up of two different ways on how she can kill Chinatsu-san."
"So that means she could be have the high chance to commit the murder?."
"Yes.Well she also said that to herself,did you already forgot?."
"Ah."
Fifty-fifty.I think that was quite accurate for her.Since although she can commit the crime,there's something missing.
"But for now,let's get ready to this next person,Ayumi-san."
Motive.That was the thing that was missing.
So far,I couldn't see any motive for her to kill Chinatsu-san.Strangely,that was the something I didn't hear from her,even though it was the common reason by others why they can't possible commit the murder.
That is of course,lack of motive.