At the boys dorm
Subaru reached home after dropping Asuna. He walked into his dorm building to find a state of unrest among all his fellow students. Clapping his hands to get everyone's attention, he spoke up, "Tonight has been very traumatizing. I suggest you all to take rest and discuss whatever theories you have with a well-rested body."
The boys nodded in agreement, except for Inoue, who scowled at Subaru. Subaru returned the glare with a neutral expression. Finally, Inoue dropped his glare and left the lobby by the stairs.
Subaru took the elevator to the penthouse.
The door opened, and Subaru saw Hikaru working on some dessert. The others were again clamored around him. Despite not liking his unusual hobby they seemed to be their always to witness it.
"Did you gather inspiration from today?" Subaru asked.
Hikaru nodded as he did some final touches. "Look at this, Subaru~" he giggled as he showed Subaru his creation.
Yukio grimaced while kazuto spared it a single glance before concentrating on dating sim.
Takumi had his eyes covered.
Subaru looked at the dessert, which depicted a girl in a pure white dress lying on the ground in a pool of her own blood, her dress stained red.
It was Lily.
"Asuna would be horrified to know of this," Subaru said as he hid his grimace.
Hikaru smiled and said, "Asuna would be more horrified to hear her brother was trapped in your secret closet for two years."
Subaru went silent at that. Everyone knew Asun's brother was captured by Subaru, but they did not care then. Now that all the boys loved Asuna, her brother had some significance, let it be like a bargaining chip.
"We are nothing but pawns in his game," Akira said as he walked down the stairs. "How long ago did you plan this?" he asked Subaru.
Before Subaru could reply, they heard the stomp of feet coming from above.
"There goes your prisoner making noise again. Tell him to shut up or he will be my next inspiration," Hikaru smiled as he began to eat the dessert he made.
"Yukio drop the hand near the crime scene" Subaru said as he increased the pace of his walk to reach his room.
" Are you sure it's the best way " Takumi asked, his hands sweaty and his eyes unsure. He handed the hand to yukio who just shrugged.
" Yes it is " Subaru replied as he walked out of view.
Subaru pushed open the door behind his closet. It revealed a secret room with no windows or proper ventilation, only a mouse-sized hole at the corner for fresh air.
It was dark and empty, with a toilet seat on the right and a makeshift bed on the left. In the center sat a guy with long, messy hair reaching down to his nose. His eyes were sunken, and his spirit seemed drained. His hands and legs chained to the wall .
Their eyes met, and Subaru smiled.
"I am back, Ichigo," he said softly.
The knight is out
June 24th Friday
You skipped school for two days as you were still mourning. You really wanted to investigate, but somehow you did not want to move. Three days after their death, you groggily woke up and saw the time - you were late. You immediately jumped off the bed and got ready for school.
Finally, you reached and saw the gates closed. You jumped over the wall and landed on the other side, reaching the building. After that, you reached your class. It was geography. You sat in your usual seat which now seemed distasteful because the seat beside you was empty - the seat that belonged to Lily.
One might wonder what you did at your house alone, wallowing in your guilt. But you were not alone. The boys kept visiting you, staying until as late as possible. Hikaru cooked all the meals while you played with Kazuto. Kyo seemed to dislike Takumi, while it seemed like your cat engaged in ego battles with Akira. Yukio brought his dogs over, and surprisingly, your cat and his dogs immediately hit it off (or at least engaged in a love-hate relationship).
Meanwhile, Subaru installed a new security system and connected it to his phone so he could be alerted if someone broke into your house again. For two days, the boys tried to convince you to go back with them, but you refused. Their presence helped you a lot during those difficult days.
Now when you are finally back to school you can still feel the hateful glances and hushed whispers directed at you. Not all of them were doing it but the few who did were beyond annoying.
Hana sensei entered the class and scowled at the students. " Do you kids think this is a gossip party.? If not open your books and start to read page 189. "
She gave you a short pressing look before she began to teach as she usually does. But this time she was slightly less tough. You had no interest of studying. Seemed like hayami did, she was rather late to class but she payed attention to each word the teacher said, noting down every point.
One would think deaths of her friends did not affect her but you knew she was drowning herself in academics to forget about the pain of losing them. This was wrong but your hand could not reach her.
The bell ringing shook you from your daze. You saw as hayami quickly got up and strutted out without sparing you a glance.
Uff. That hurts
As you got up from your seat to leave your way was blocked by hana sensei who looked at you with sympathy in her eyes.
"Join me in the staff room" She said.
You felt a knot form in your stomach as you followed your teacher to the staff room. The walk felt longer than usual, and your mind raced with thoughts of what this conversation could be about. Once inside the staff room, your teacher motioned for you to take a seat.
"Asuna," she began, her tone serious. "I've been informed about the recent events, and I wanted to check in on you. How are you holding up?"
You took a deep breath, trying to steady your nerves. "I'm managing," you replied, trying to sound composed.
"I understand it's been a difficult time for you," she continued, her expression sympathetic. "But I also need to talk to you about your attendance. You've missed two days of school without any explanation. Is everything okay?"
You nodded, feeling a pang of guilt for skipping school. "Yes, I'm sorry about that. It's just been... a lot to deal with."
"I understand," she said, her tone softening. "But I want you to know that we're here to support you, both academically and emotionally. If you need anything, don't hesitate to reach out."
You nodded again, grateful for her understanding. "Thank you, hana sensei. I'll try to be more consistent with my attendance."
In the staff room, your math teacher intervened, suggesting that you should be allowed to rest. You noticed scratch marks on his face and realized he was the intruder.
You greeted him and walked over to his desk. Hana-sensei left the room as she had a class scheduled, leaving you alone with him.
"I know who you are. I know you killed them. I can prove it," you said, glaring down at him.
As a commotion erupted outside, his polite smile turned into a smirk.
"Then prove it," he paused, "Prove it from jail."
The police suddenly burst into the room, handcuffing you. Ethan Howard, the detective from before, stood in the back, silently watching as a policewoman read you your rights.
As you were pushed into the car, you noticed other students nearby commenting on your arrest.
"She killed them."
"Four. No way she is a serial killer."
"I am scared."
Among the crowd of students you saw inoue and hayami both horrified. But you looked right at them. You have not done anything. You were not who they claim you to be.
You had many comments from students around you as the car drove off. Before leaving, your eyes met Chuzuro Soma's, his smirk widening as he raised his hand to say goodbye.
Bitch
Ethan sat in the passenger seat, his stormy grey eyes watching you through the rearview mirror. His gaze seemed soothing, but you felt irritated and asked, "What?"
"Button," he said, "It's broken."
Your cheeks flushed as you realized the missing button was right above your chest. Embarrassment began to fill you up.
Ethan looked at you again before unfastening his waistcoat and passing it to you.
"Wear it. Please," he said as you initially refused him. Reluctantly, you put it on.
Arriving at the police station, you were led into a small, dimly lit questioning room. Ethan Howard, accompanied by a stern-faced policewoman, followed behind you. The air in the room felt heavy with tension.
"You have been arrested for murder, torture, mutilation, blackmail, inflicting bodily harm, and evidence tampering. Do you plead guilty?" the policewoman recited the charges with a cold, authoritative tone.
You couldn't help but laugh bitterly at the absurdity of it all. "Why don't you add espionage and terrorism to that list? It seems short right now," you quipped, your sarcasm evident.
The policewoman's face flushed with anger, and she raised her hand to strike you, but Ethan intercepted her, catching her wrist in a firm grip.
"Talk with words, not hands. I am here to catch the killer, not witness corruption within the police," Ethan interjected sharply, his stormy grey eyes piercing through the tension in the room. His other hand clenched into a fist, emphasizing his point.
"What is your proof?" you asked, feeling a mix of frustration and disbelief.
They really were accusing you of murdering four individuals. This was hilarious. You wondered when you could use your call and ask your family for help. You can't rot here not when the killer is still on loose and now you know who it is.
Ethan placed several items on the table: a test result, a button, a picture from the crime scene, and another picture showing two hands with the words "sorry asuna" written on them.
You couldn't help but laugh incredulously. "What kind of idiot must I be to leave my button at the crime scene and then wear it to school? I didn't even know until you pointed it out to me," you scoffed.
"That must be your negligence," Ethan replied calmly, tapping at the test results.
You picked up the test results and read the content. Your fingerprints were found on a hammer discovered in a dustbin near the crime scene, and it was covered in the victims' blood.
"This was planted. I wasn't even there on that day," you defended yourself, feeling the weight of the accusations pressing down on you. You vividly remembered being at Yukio's house at the time of the crime.
Ethan calmly passed a bill across the table. It showed a purchase of nails and a hammer, the same ones used in the crime.
"Anyone could have purchased it in my name. Don't you see, the scribbling on their hands? Why would I implicate myself? This is simply outrageous. You honestly don't believe it, do you?" you said furiously, feeling the walls closing in around you.
Your alibi were not few but dozens. The gaurds at yukio's house . His mother and older sister. Yukio, kazuto, Hikaru, Subaru, takumi, takumi's mom and also the security at takumi's house. But something did not feel right.
"Miss Ikari, I only believe what the truth is," Ethan replied calmly, picking up the last piece of evidence.
It was a residue of a drug found in Lily and Aya's bodies. The drug would cause dizziness and soon make a person sleep soundly forever-a slow poison. It was only found in Africa.
Angel was supposed to give some drug to yukio. It was from Africa too. Is that drug and this connected.
Your eyes widened as you realized they found it at your house today. While you were at school, they had searched your house.
"Do you guys even have a warrant for that?" you exclaimed, disbelief coloring your voice. The situation felt increasingly like a setup.
Ethan's expression remained stoic. "We have all the necessary legal procedures in place," he replied calmly.
You shook your head in frustration. "This is insane. I'm being framed!"
But Ethan's demeanor didn't waver. "We'll let the court decide," he said simply.
" I don't think my--
"Miss Ikari," Ethan called out, his voice steady and unwavering. "One is an incident." He pointed at your button. "Two is a coincidence." He picked up the fingerprint result. "Three is a pattern."
You felt a sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach as his words sank in. He picked up the bill and put it in front of you. The evidence was stacking up against you, and it seemed like there was little you could do to refute it.
"And four is enough for a warrant," Ethan said, his voice firm, as he picked up the drug residue.