Just as we expected,Tachibana-san arrived to the classroom.We urged her to sit down in the vacant chair.As she sit down,she looked around at the classroom.Then her eyes focus to an artwork from the side
"This painting.....is really beautiful." she said,
praising Chinatsu-san's work.
"I know right?.What a masterpiece."
"But sadly,we will not be able to these kind of works in the furture."
She said with a somehow disappointing face.Hmmm.Maybe this is perfect the opportunity to ask that question.
"How do you feel,Tachibana-san?.Now that Chinatsu-san is not here anymore."
She didn't answer immediately.Instead she stared to the painting for a while.Then after some time,she spoke up.
"Honestly,I don't like murders.Be it in detective novels or in real life.I don't like to see people dying without any reason.The same also with Chinatsu-san.Her death,is unexpected.And to think it happened in the school,it's too tragic,
and unrealistic.
It seems like she has an opposite answer compared to Onodera-san.Tachibana-san opinion is somehow relatable,while it's too cruel for Onodera-san.
"Anyways,lets start narrating your story,Tachibana-san." said by Ayumi-san
"Oh,that's right.I almost forgot that that is the reason why I'm here."
She finally let go starring on the painting and proceed on telling us her story.
"Well since me and Kirisaki are with each other for the whole time,then there is no need to elaborate each detail right?."
"No,Tachibana-san.I still want you to tell us your story to every deatail as possible since we want to confirmed the testimonies of other.From your case,it's Onodera-san's testimony."
"Well if that's what you want,then..."
Some people might think that it ws better and faster to asked only those who can give us possible clues in the case.But since everyone here can be the culprit,I want to squeeze every possible information from different perspective.
"So our plan is to stay in the classroom for a while,but since Ayumi-san said they are still decorating,asking us if we could stay outside for a while,then we decided to kill some time playing basketball.After playing some time,we finally decided to stopped and rest to the corridor in the second floor.But we ended staying in the stairs since we want to sit up.Then we just talk there until the earthquake happens.That's all."
Hmmm.It seems like she skipped some important parts.
"Thank you very much for that story,
Tachibana-san.But did the two of you saw someone passed by in the stairs?."
"Ah yeah.Ayumi-san and Chinatsu-san.I saw the former go back downstairs,but not the latter."
"Do you think the reason why?."
"Well maybe she just the second stair near in the storage room?."
"I see.Thank you for answering."
Same story,same answer huh.I guess I should take a different approach.No,it's more like this is the perfect timing to ask what's bothering to me earlier.
"Oh another thing,Onodera-san said that she wants to stay in the classroom but you stopped her and said it was better to stay in the stairs.Is there any specific reason for that?."
"Ah.That....well."
She stopped.It seems like I hit a bulleyes.This might be the clue I'm been searching for this case.But my expectation was immediately go down when she spoke up.
"Well,should I really say this?.But oh well.You see,that's where me and Kirisaki first meet way back in the middle school in the stairs.I clearly remember it.That was the time when our team in basketball loses in the final match on nationals.That time,I couldn't help but to be frustrated about the results.I sit down in the stairs and asked myself 'where did I go wrong'.Since I was the team captain that time,it feels like it was my fault why my team loses.In short,I blame myself.Then suddenly,
my teamate visit me,which is Kirisaki.She confort me that time.She said that as long as we enjoy ourselves in the game,that's all that matters.And that's when we become friends."
After some time of narrating,it finally ended.It is somewhat a sneak background story revelation.It was truly a satisfying moment but it doesn't really nothing have to do with the case.
"So Onodera-san was easy to understand when she's with you,Tachibana-san." said by Ayumi-san
"What did you mean by 'easy to understand',
Ayumi-san?."
"Ah nothing really special.It seems like she showed a different kind of herself when we interview her earlier.But don't worry,it's not like that there's something wrong happen earlier."
"I see.Then that's good to hear."
I just realized that they are both atlethic but they have somehow different personalites.
Onodera-san is more like an unpredictable person,while Tachibana-san is more like a honest one.Anyways,let continue asking her.
"Another thing,Tachibana-san.Earlier,when I said to Onodera-san that the two of you are the only one who are good in basketball,she somehow denied that.Can you explain that?."
"Hmmm.Maybe she was thinking that there might be someone here who are just hiding there physical abilities.For example,you Hashimoto."
"Me.No,no that's impossible.I'm not really good at sports."
"Then how about you,Ayumi-san?.Maybe you are a basketball genius."
"I admit that I can do some extraculicular acitivities but I'm not confident enough to say that I'm as atlethic as Onodera-san and Tachibana-san,especially in basketball."
"Is that so?.Then maybe just forget.Not that we will gonna be able to participate in a competition from this school anyways."
"Well you're right." said by Ayumi-san
"But why did you and Onodera-san enroll to this school if you know already from the start that this school will not be able to join in competitions?."
That's right.They can just enroll to a normal school.But why here?.I kinda curious so I asked,even though it was not something that will help us in finding the culprit.
"It was only her who wants to enroll here.I was supposed to enter a different school but since I want to be together with her,I have no choice but to follow her here."
"But why did she want to study in this school?"interjected by Ayumi-san.I'm also about to asked the same question.
"That's was something I really didn't understand.I once asked her why,but she didn't really gave me a satisfying anwer.She just said that she wants to try an all-girls school,although that is not really the case here at the end."
She said as she looked to me.Well it is not really an all-girls school if there is a boy studying in this school.
"So you couldn't also understand her sometimes,Tachibana-san."
"That may be right.But anyways,since we all come down with that topic,I just want to ask.
how and why did you enroll here,Hashimoto?."
I'm already expecting that kind of question.In fact,some of my classmates already asked that but I only gave all of them the same reason.
"I think I already said it many times and it may sound a ridiculous reason,but let just it was a common cliche in romantic comedy stories.
That's all."
"Well that was really a ridiculous reason." said by Ayumi-san
"So you're just like Kirisaki huh,giving a vague answer." replied by Tachibana-san
Let's just leave things in mystery.It's not like it will be an important information in this case.
"By the way,Tachibana-san.Can you tell me your bust size?.In cups please."
"And why did I need to tell you that?."
"It is part of this interview.I also did the same with others."
"I think it was the most stupid thing to ask in an interview about solving a murder case."
"Is that so?."
Just like I expected,it was hard to ask this kind of question unless they are like Onodera-
san.But I should take a different route.
"Well if that's the case,can I guess?."
"Huh!?.Why did you so obsess to find out the size of my breasts?."
I ignored her question and instead look into her chest.
Honestly I think I don't need to asked her anymore.It was kinda obvious somehow.I mean,it was as flat as chopping board.
"Are you perhaps have A-cups,
Tachibana-san?."
When I'm about to say the same anwer,
Ayumi-san suddenly interject in our conversation.Meanwhile,Tachibana-san look a litte bit flustered.So that's it huh.
"Well,that's right.Unfortunately,I was not blessed with some fats in my chest."
"But I think it suited to your body,appearance and personality,Tachibana-san." said by Ayumi-san
"Really?."
"What's more,it was an advantage in basketball right?.You don't need to worry about carrying huge bowls while playing."
"Well I guess you're right." she replied as she look to Ayumi-san's breast.Maybe I should tease her a little bit here.
"By the way,are you perhaps bother by that fact the you are talking to someone who has bigger bust's size than you,Tachibana-san?."
"Not really.I already used to this thanks to Kirisaki."
Ah,I forgot about that.Anyways let go back to the topic and finished it with the final question.
"Now then,Tachibana-san.For the last question.What are the chances that I might be the culprit in this murder case?."
"Hmmm.Well should I say low?.There is a low probability for you to kill Chinatsu.I mean,I can always suspect you but I can't think of the way how you done.And more importantly,I can't see a motive from you to kill her.Not at least in the last ten months we been studying here."
"I see.Thank you very much for trusting me."
"But you are still not clear in this okay?.Maybe you are just hiding something from us that can be serve as your motive."
"That might be right.That might be wrong.But if that's the case,then your words can be also applied to yourself,don't you?."
"That is something I will leave to your mind."
"So it's safe to say that there is a high chance that you are the culprit,Tachibana-san?."
"That is your own accusation.But for me,I know to myself very well that I don't have the reason to kill Chinatsu.I can kill tons of cockcroahes,but I will never kill a human.Never." she said with conviction
"I see.Thank you very for answering.You can go back now to the spare room.And don't forget to tell to Reina-san she was next."
"I understand.Then I hope you can finally solve this case after you interview all of us,Hashimoto."
"I will try my very best."
After that conversation,she finally left the classroom.Meanwhile,Ayumi-san spoke up.
"Through this interview,I learn that Onodera-san and Tachibana-san are really different to each other.But somehow,they manage to get along to each other up until now."
"'Friendship is a strong bond' is what others say."
Those two kinda remind of Chinatsu-san and Hosokawa-san.Two different kind of people but was manage to get along to each other.
The only difference is the length of their friendship.Chinatsu-san and Hosokawa-san only become bestfriends from start of the school year,while Onodera-san and Tachibana-san already attain that friendship way back in middle school.
"So what can you say,Hashimoto-kun?."
"Me?.Oh."
Normally,I was supposed to be the one to ask that question to Ayumi-san.
"Well,I think I believe in her words,especially when she said at the end that she was not culprit."
"Is that so?."
"Anyways,let's proceed to this next person.Oh,I didn't follow the order anymore,Ayumi-san. Since you didn't saw these remaining people before the earthquake comes."
"You're right."
Tsujinaka Reina.To tell you the truth,she was the most suspicious one.