Riiing!
The sound of my alarm clock was able to wake me up. I then closed it, sat up, and laid back on the back, ready to sleep again. Even though I laid down in bed at 11 pm, I fell asleep at 2 am.
The discussion I heard last night lingered in my head the entire time. I mean, imagine that you hear about a murder case that is so complex that not even one of the best detectives can't solve it. Moreover, the murder victim just so happens to be the father of one of your friends and the best friend of your father. Lastly, you literally hear about this late at night.
Obviously, this would disturb your sleep.
However, just as I was about to go back to the calm abyss I was once in-
"Wake up, Amaya! It's time for school." My mom entered the room and told me to get up.
Ugh!
Just when I was about to sleep again!
I then reluctantly got up from my bed and lethargically got ready for school. The thought of the case was constantly popping up in my head. Why though? Why am I constantly thinking about something that's not even going to involve me?
Is it because my dad isn't making any progress to solve it, or is it because my friend's father was the victim?
Maybe it's because I might be involved with it in the future.
Nah! No way is that going to happen. I mean, why would I be involved? There is nothing that I can do to help in solving such a complex case and I doubt that the killer would be interested in killing me of all people.
It's still a possibility.
Nope, it's not. It's definitely not! Let's stop thinking about this before I lose my mind.
***
Alright! Time to leave for school!
3...
2...
1...
Let's go-
"Please wait, Amaya."
Suddenly, dad called me. Eh? Don't tell me he noticed me listening to his conversation with mom. No, I made sure to not be noticed. I'm sure that he wants to talk to me about something else.
"Hmm, what is it, dad?"
"There is someone who I want you to invite to our house."
Eh? What does he mean by that?
"Hm? Sure. Exactly who do I have to invite and why?" I asked him the reason for inviting this person.
Could it be someone related to the case?
"Well, it's actually Fujiwara Hikaru, your classmate, which is why I'm asking you to invite him. As for why, let's just say that he and I are somewhat friends." He replied with a hearty smile on his face.
...what?
Fujiwara is...friends with my father?
I call that bullshit.
"Is it for interrogation for the case you're working on?" I decided to ask him as soon as the thought came to my mind. Surely, I would've known that Fujiwara and dad were friends if that was actually true.
For a moment, my father stood perplexed about what just happened, with his eyes wide open and jaw dropped. Afterward, he narrowed his eyes before laughing in amusement.
"As sharp as ever, I see. You're right. It's for interrogation. Apparently, he's a suspect so I want to interrogate him while catching him off guard. It's a good way to make him tell the truth and make sloppy lies which are easy to see through." He replied. So it is related to the case!
But...why is Fujiwara involved in the case in the first place? Why would he be involved with Mr. Hatano's death? Plus, didn't dad say that he didn't find any leads? If that's true, then he shouldn't be interrogating anyone.
"Anyway, is it okay for you to ask him?" My father asked me after I took time processing all the information I received in my head.
"Yes dad. Don't worry, I'll ask him. He's actually quite nice and if he knows, then he'll surely accept." I replied to him, making sure that there is no way that he can understand what I'm thinking at the moment.
"Great. I knew I could count on you." He remarked, appreciative of my words. "Oh, and make sure to tell to arrive right after school today." He added to which I simply nodded.
I then left the house and headed to high school. It's a ten-minute walk from home so it's not that big of a deal.
Still, why does my father actually want to meet Fujiwara? Why is Fujiwara even involved in this case to begin with? And why do I feel that I might get involved in the case itself?
...Welp, let's not think too much about it.
Anyway, after a nice and steady walk, I finally arrived at the school. After entering my class, I then approached my seat and placed my bag near it.
"You seem gloomy"
I then turned to see Akiko boring her gaze into my soul as she addressed me.
Like you're one to talk.
"As hypocritical as Akiko was by saying that statement, she's right. You do seem a bit gloomy, Amaya." Asami, overhearing our conversation, interjected, her eyes carrying a glint of concern.
"Are you alright?" She asked, clearly concerned for me.
I then took a deep breath before plastering a soft smile on my face.
"Yeah, I'm fine. It's just that..." I decided to take a dramatic pause before continuing, "you guys remember Misa, right?" I asked, to which they both nodded.
"Well, her father died about a week ago. The cause is still unknown, but my concern for Misa had been lingering in my head the whole time." I continued, choosing to hide the fact that Misa's father was murdered as I myself am not actually suppose to know this.
"I...see. I feel so sorry for Misa." Asami muttered after the sad news.
"Indeed, the loss of a father is something that no one should bare. She has my condolences." Akiko continued, with Asami nodding furiously, meaning that she gives her condolences as well.
Truth be told, I still haven't talked to Misa about this at all. I plan to do so after school.
Just then, Fujiwara finally arrived in the classroom and took his seat, which was in the infamous window spot where almost all anime/manga protagonists sit, which is also two seats behind mine.
Hmm, maybe I should approach him during recess. That's the only free time I can think of, considering that Ms. Maizono is about to arrive.
Creak!
"Good morning class. Hope you all are ready for homeroom."
What did I say?
***
It was now recess. Everyone was slowly getting up from their seats and heading to the cafeteria. This included Fujiwara as he began to walk past me. However-
"Wait!" Before he could go any further, I suddenly grabbed his arm and called him out.
Seeing his arm being grabbed, he turned his cold gaze to me, his brown eyes seemingly piercing through my soul.
"What is it?" He asked me, his voice carrying almost no emotion, as I was able to detect a slight hint of curiosity in his voice.
Right now, the entire class was currently staring at us, wondering why did I stop him.
...It's a bit embarrassing.
"Can we talk, alone? In a private area?" I asked. It's kind of- no, very embarrassing for me of all people to ask him something like this. I'm sure my face is super red right now, especially because all of my classmates, including my two friends, are currently listening to this conversation.
"Huh? Why is she asking him to talk alone?"
"In a private place at that."
"Does she plan to confess?"
"It's not surprising that someone fell for Fujiwara."
"But does she really think that she deserves to be Fujiwara's girlfriend?"
Such were the whispers currently ongoing in the class. Ugh! I'm not gonna confess! Stop saying these things! I thought to myself as I waited for his reply. His expression didn't change a bit, despite hearing all those whispers.
"Sure." He finally replied, shocking everyone in the class.
I then got up and headed out with him following me. We then went to the rooftop, where almost no one comes at all, so it was a good place to have a private conversation like this. The rooftop of this school was what you would expect from that of a school in an anime. It was a 20 tatami-mat wide area with nets all around it.
"So then," Fujiwara began, his eyes boring holes through my skull, "what is it that you wish to talk to me about?"
"Well, my father wishes to invite you to his house." I replied, causing him hum in response. It must be really weird that some random person is inviting you to their house.
"Why?" He asked as his eyes were narrow.
"For interrogation." I told him.
The reason why I told him this is because I suspect that he is not a suspect but rather, a detective who dad is trying to seek help from. If he is starts getting nervous, then he might actually be involved in the case. However, if he is a detective, then he will begin to get apprehensive and believe that he is being suspected for something he didn't do.
Why am I doing this? So that I can confirm what is Fujiwara's role in this case. Since he's my crush, I wish to know more about him and thus, I'm taking this approach. Let's just hope that he isn't actaully the culprit.
"Interrogation?" He finally spoke, his expression not betraying anything.
"Yes." I simply replied. He will most probably ask why is he being interrogated?
"Who is your father?"
"Eh?"
Odd. Why is he asking that? Shouldn't he be curious as to why he's being interrogated?
"Um...my father is Detective Tanaka Izuru. Why are you asking that?" I told him and asked apprehensively. This wasn't some kind of Death Note situation so I wasn't worried about revealing his name, especially since his name is already publicly known.
"...so he wants my help, eh?" He uttered, with his head hung low and his eyes staring at the ground, his expression not visible.
Huh? How did he deduce that? Is he actually a detective. But, even for a detective, this shouldn't really be possible?
"It seems that you're plan fumbled a bit, Tanaka."
"Huh!?" I yelped in surprise after hearing those words.
His eyes were now facing me, but it no longer had the cold glint it usually does, but rather, it had a glint of interest and amusement. A soft yet smug smirk was plastered on his face. The aura that he once imposed was no more, replaced by that of a person who was amused and found a way to have some fun. It reminded me of Akiko whenever she went on her "staring at Fujiwara" mode.
"Your plan was to figure out whether I'm involved in the case that your father's working on by observing my expressions and body language, alongside analyzing and trying to spot any lies in my words. However, your plan went downhill after I did something that you couldn't expect."
H-how? How did he see through my plan? Even though he didn't say anything about me trying to know whether or not he's a detective, it's still unreal that he was able to deduce so much so quickly.
"...you're right." I finally relented. It was useless to retaliate after he read me like an open book. Still though, what did he mean by "he wants my help"? From the way he said it, it doesn't seem like this is the first time they contacted each other for help.
"So then, what's the case about?" He decided to ask, his smirk still etched on his face. It seems that he really doesn't know about the case. However, if I reveal it to him, he might talk about it with my father, who may then find out that I was listening in to their conversation.
"I'm afraid that my father didn't reveal what the case is about? Hence, I don't know anything about it?" I told him. Right now, pretending to not know is the best way to approach.
"Is that really it? Or is it because you don't want your father to find out that you know about the case?" He asked, causing me to freeze.
How is he so good at seeing through me!? Just who the hell is he!?
"It seems that I was right on the mark." He remarked as his his smirk widened, deducing through my silence that his assumption was true.
"Oh well, I guess I'll ask Mr. Izuru about it once I see him." He muttered.
"So you intend to accept his invitation?" I asked. The main purpose of this conversation is to relay my father's invitation to him.
"Yes. Just tell me where to meet him."
"In our house."
"Oh?" He uttered. "and when?"
"Right after school." Came my instant reply.
"Today?"
"Today." I replied. It was crazy just how smart he is. It's literally eating my brain alive.
"Very well. See you after classes then." He remarked, seeing that only five minutes remains till class starts. He was back to his emotionless demeanor, making me wonder just which side of his is actually real.
"Yeah." I muttered. Hearing that he began to head for the exit.
Meanwhile, I was stuck in my thoughts. How in the world is this guy this smart? Perhaps he's a detective, but I doubt that even dad has this much intellect. Wait...
"I want to ask you something!" I called him out just as he was about to walk through the exit.
"Hmm? What is it?" He looked at me with those cold eyes, his aura back to being what it normally is.
"Are...are you X?" I blurted. It's honestly not much of a logical conclusion but more of intuition. I don't know why but, he checks out all the boxes required to be X.
But...he doesn't have to be X. He could just be someone really smart or just a good detective. After all, it's not like my father is the second greatest detective in the world.
However, seeing that smirk etched on his face once again removed all doubts from my head.
"Just as I thought, there's more to you than what meets the eye. You are correct, I am X, the world's greatest detective. Make sure to not reveal that to anyone, ok?" He revealed before heading back, leaving me alone on the rooftop with my disassembled thoughts.
...the actual hell?