As usual,we urged Reina-san to sit down on the vacant chair.Somehow,she is showing an irritated face and aura around her.
"Really,why did we need to do this kind of sh*t.We can just go asked the police themselves."
She said not from us,but to herself.I knew it.She is really frustated to our complicated situation with this case.
"Well we can't do nothing anymore.If that's the decision of principal then all we can do is to find the culprit with ourselves."
"Do you think you can find the murderer huh,Hashimoto?."
"I'm trying my best here.That's why I'm asking each of your testimony."
"What are you,a detective!?."
She said with a loud voice.Well she's has a point.I'm not really a real detective.There's a possibility that I'm cannot find the culprit before the sunset,and that would be a huge problem.Meanwhile,Reina-san continue rumbling to me
"Also,what is this!?.Why are you asking everyone one-by-one!?.You can just gather all of us here asked us simultenously."
"That may be right.But there is a reason why I need to do one-by-one,Reina-san.And if you will ask me what's the reason,unfortunately,I will not tell you that."
After saying that,she glared to me sharply.Those eyes are telling that she already at her limit.Adding to the fact she already hate me before even this murder happen,this make things a little bit difficult.I'm afraid that she will not gave me her testimony.
"Hooh.Is that so?.Okay so I will not ask anymore about that,Mr.Fake Detective."
Somehow,she gave me an accurate nickname for me.And honestly,I quite like that.It suits me very well.
"Anyways,can we proceed now to your story,Reina-san?." said by Ayumi-san who tried to go back to our original goal here.
"I'm sorry,but I will not tell anything to both you unless a real detective or the police arrive.How could I trust a mere student to solve this murder case?.There's no way you will not find out the culprit here unless an official investigation occurs."
The thing that I'm afraid to happen already happen.I think we will have a hard time for Reina-san.Of course,we can't use violence to force her to spit out her testimony.Hmmm.
Maybe I should approach her in a different way.
"If that's the case,how about answering this question.Why do you look so pale when you come out towards to the basketball court together with Ichika-san and Hoshino-san?."
She opened her eyes widely.As expected,there must be some reason why does she look like that.It feels she let her guard down a little bit after asking that question.
"No.That was just..nothing.I'm just afraid to earthquake.It was unexpected,you know?."
It seems like Ayumi-san was kinda convinced to her answer,since it was very obvious that anynone will be alarm when an earthquake happens.But it that was not really the case to me.Anyways,I pushed her futhermore.
"Is that so?.To tell you truth,that's the first time I saw that kind face from you,Reina-san.
That face,you are very terrified don't you?.It feels like....."
I paused for a bit,stand up a little and close my face to her.Then finally said the final blow.
"It feels like you just killed someone."
She was shocked after saying that.Even Ayumi-san loose her composure with that sentence.Reina-san finally reach her limit and shouted to me.
"What are you talking about!!!?.Are you an idiot!?.How could you accuse me without any evidence!!?.You are just a mere normal boy.You don't have the right to accuse me like that!!."
She stand up to her chair then said those words to me.There must be something really back there that makes her to burst out like that.But at the same time,this was the perfect the opportunity to take advantage of the situation.
"Accuse you?.I'm sorry but I have no choice since you are not telling us your story.That's why if possible,can you tell us your story?.
Things may go differently if you tell us what did you do before the eathquake occurs."
"So that's your plan huh."
I think she immediately realize that I only scared her by accusing her in order to force her to spit out her story.
She sit down first then breathe deeply.Then she asked.
"So what do you want from me?."
It seems like she already calm down.My little strategy work somehow.
"Your story.From the start until the earthquake happens.I may not be the right person to asked that but I will promise,that I will definitely find the culprit."
I added more to my answer to totally conviced her.
"If that's the case then let's start when I arrived in the school.Actually,I'm the first one to arrive among with my friends.So while waiting for Ruri and Nene,I go first to the canteen to kill some time.Then after waiting,they finally arrived.They found me in the canteen.Then we immediately decided to stay in our 'common place' since we know that we will not have classes today."
The 'common place' she is talking about is the big tree near to the stairs from principal office(first floor).It was there their usual place to stay during lunch breaks.
"After some time,Ruri said that she was already tired standing so I decided to check the storage room if there are some chairs but Hiten,who is inside the storage room,said that there are no spare chairs.But Yahiro,who was in the corridor said that I can use her own arm chair she is using since she said she didn't need it anymore.So I ended up getting that chair.But since I only manage to get one,I ordered Nene to asked Ayumi if we can use the chairs from the classroom.She followed my order but after she come back,she said she didn't saw Ayumi anywhere.At the end,we just decided to stand up to make it fair among us.Then suddenly,Ruri asked if I take a makeup.I realize I forgot to put one so I asked them to stay in the tree for a while to put up some makeup in the bathroom.It took a lot of time for me to put make-up plus I also pee.Then the earthquake happen.I already said what happen next earlier so I guess that's it."
The long story finally ended.She somehow told it in calm voice.Also,I notice that she was the one who meet most of our classmates before the earthquake.I see.I see,it seems like the testimony of others is making sense now.
"Thank you very much for cooperating,
Reina-san.But I have so many questions to ask or should I say,I have some many things want to confirm."
"Go ahead.I want to finish this as soon as possible."
She look at me a little bit irritated but it seems she's willing to cooperate this time.Anyways, let's continue.
"First of all,you said that you saw Hiten-san inside the storage room.Are you sure about that?."
"Huuuh!?.Of course I saw her.She was sitting there,reading a book in the table.Don't tell me you didn't believe me?."
Same reaction from Ayumi-san huh.
"No,no.Didn't I tell you,it's more like confirmation."
"Is this really supposed to be what a detective should do." she said to herself,looking down in the floor.
"Next.You also said that you saw Yahiro-san in the corridor right?.What she is doing before entering the storage room?."
"If I remember correctly,she is also reading a book."
"And did see you someone in the corridor other than her?."
"None.I'm sure of it."
Okay.So far so good.The last time I saw Yahiro-san was earlier in the morning when she gave me the chocolates.I guess she read again another Agatha Christie book.
"Okay.This is the most important question,
Reina-san.When you go back to the you usual place,I mean to the big tree,did you notice that Chinatsu-san going down from the stairs?.
Since the place you are staying is near to the staircase,did you perhaps see her?."
"Hmmm."
She think for a while.She was trying to remmeber what happen.Then after some time.
"About that,I'm not sure,Hashimoto.I mean I'm busy talking to my friends right?.Also I go to the restroom so maybe I missed her seeing going down the stairs."
"So there is a possibility that she go down but you just didn't notice since you are talking to Hoshino-san and Ichika-san?."
"Maybe."
I see.So I guess It's better to ask the other two gals,since they are ones who stayed behind when Reina-san go to the restroom.
"Anyways,did you meet someone when you are going towards the restroom?."
"Yes,and she was sitting next to you."
"Ah.I see.Sorry my bad."
I apologize for no reason.
"How about when you are inside?.Did someone other than you also go to the restroom."
"None."
"Are sure about that?."
"Of course.I didn't saw someone came even while I putting my make up."
"I see.Thank you very much for answering."
No one huh.Well anyways I wrote all the important points from her story.
"Is that all,Hashimoto?."
Perhaps I didn't speak for a while,Reina-san asked that question,probably thinking it was already over.But actually it's not.I still need to ask those 'questions' but I couldn't find a good opportunity.Seeing how she burst earlier,she might do something crazy if I ask that.
"No.Actually want to I asked some question that was not really related to your story."
"Okay,okay.Asked me now,I'm already hungry.I want to eat something immediately."
She said while holding in her stomach.Come to think of it,what is the time now?.I looked at the clock and realized it was already ten thirty in morning.Actually,I want to end all of the intereviews before lunch so I can spend my whole time in the afternoon in the brainstorming part.If that's the case,then let's make things simple.
"What are the chance that I might the culprit in this murder,Reina-san?."
"I guess fifty-fifty.I can sense that you can kill someone,but at the same time,I can't sense why you will do it"
"Thank you very much for trusting me."
She had the same answer as Tachibana-san.
The only difference is that she suspect me more than the way how much Tachibana-san suspect me.
"And how do you feel right now that Chinatsu-
san is not here anymore?."
"It was a sad event.I admit that I don't like shy-type girls like her but it doesn't still change the fact how I feel to her right now.It's like loosing a family member."
Well,just like how everyone of us feel.
"And this is the last question,Reina-san.And you will are not allowed to go outside until you answer this."
"Huuuh.What the hell is that!!?."
It seems like her temper increased again.But I have no choice.I need to say that in order for her to answer me.
"Okay,okay.What is it?."
"Your breast size.In cups please."
"The hell is that!?."
She angrily shouted.Then she turn her head to Ayumi-san.
"Hey,Ayumi.Did he also ask that to you?."
"Yes.It was really part of this interview."
"Tch."
She clicked her lips after hearing Ayumi-san's answert.Maybe she was expecting for her to answer 'no'.
"It's C,C cups.Can I go back now?."
"Thank you very much for cooperating.And yes,you can go back now.And please tell to Hoshino-san that she was next"
After saying those words,she immediately left the classroom.I guess she was already at her llimit now with her hunger.And I took that as an advantage for her to make the things go smoothly without making her bursting out,just like what happen earlier.
"Do you think we are already close to truth,
Ayumi-san?."
I asked that question even though the answer was already obvious.
"Close you say,but we are still not finish asking everyone's testimony right?."
"That's right."
I look down to the notebook to review the important details I wrote.
"What do you think of Reina-san's story,Ayumi-
san?."
"Well it was little bit confusing but she gave us the most important details than the others."
"I agreed."
After reviewing all the details from the notebook,I realized something.
That doing this detective role was tiring.