Stabbed? A change in method? This makes no sense. Poisoning seemed much more subtle and more straightforward to execute. Why switch to such a brutal method? The chance of drawing attention has now increased exponentially.
"We're sorry for not preventing this from happening again," Takashi adds, his voice trembling slightly.
He seems deeply shaken. However, I find it hard to believe that his distress is solely due to the victims involved.
"What do you mean, stabbed?! How did you not notice this? When did it happen?!" protests a student.
"It happened in a way I couldn't predict. The students in question asked me for permission to go to the bathroom, and I allowed them. After some time, I noticed they were taking too long, so I went to check. But by then, it was too late. The crime had already occurred."
Perhaps this explains it. Things unfolded this way because he relaxed the rules a little. And because of that decision, the operation was a complete failure.
But it all feels so strange. He usually ensures everything is done precisely as the president instructs. Could this be an anomaly in his behavior?
Everyone remains frightened, staring at the vice president. After a few moments of silence, he speaks again.
"It's a tragedy, but nothing can be done to undo this misfortune. The least I can do is take you to the crime scene. If you want more details, you'll find them there. However, I warn you: it won't be pleasant to see."
7:21 AM
The crime scene is in the hallway in front of the bathrooms. From a distance, I can already see a lot of blood on the floor. As we approach the bodies, we confirm that the victims were brutally stabbed. It's a truly horrifying scene.
Red stains cover the walls, suggesting the victims resisted the attacker. However, it seems to have been a surprise attack, leaving them unable to defend themselves against an armed assailant.
The most affected areas were the stomach and neck. The killer must have been cold-blooded to carry out such an act. They probably started the attack by covering the victims' mouths to prevent them from crying for help.
"Johann-kun, Manabu-kun, Shimizu-kun!" a familiar voice calls out.
"Ah, Miyu-chan!" Shou reacts, waving.
"I was so worried. You have no idea how relieved I am to see you. When I heard the news, for a moment, I thought it might have been one of you."
"We're relieved to see you're safe, too," Manabu replies.
"Have you found out who the victims were this time?"
"We didn't know them. Did Kaichou share any more details with you, Miyucchi?"
"We haven't seen the Kaichou since curfew. We just heard about it from Kobayashi-san."
So, the girls haven't received much information either.
But what's really bothering me isn't the bodies but Takashi's anxiety. He's visibly restless, pacing back and forth while observing the scene.
"It's okay, Tanaka-kun. You did the best you could," Keiko tries to comfort him.
What's troubling him so much? The worst has already happened. Or is he afraid of something uncertain? Something he might have overlooked?
"Terrifying, isn't it?" Keiko says, approaching us.
"Absolutely!" Miyu replies.
To be honest, I find it all very strange. I'm sure it's the first time I've seen such a bloody scene, so why does my body keep reacting as if it's normal? Shouldn't I feel nauseous? Or better yet, shouldn't most people here feel that way? From what I've observed, only a few of the more sensitive girls couldn't stay in the area. Our behavioral patterns are becoming increasingly bizarre.
"Keiko, could you clarify something for me? Besides Takashi, who else was on guard in the hallways last night?" I ask her.
"He was the only one responsible for the boys' dormitories. In the girls' dormitories, Kaichou, Natsuki-chan, and I took turns in pairs."
"I see. We know one of the victims was a girl. Did anyone else leave the girls' dormitories?"
"No, no one el—" She stops mid-sentence. "Wait, I think that information is confidential. I don't know if I can share more details. If you want to know more, you should ask Kaichou or Tanaka-kun directly."
"I'm sorry; I didn't mean to ask uncomfortable questions or cause trouble for you."
That's all I wanted to know. So, the foreign girl didn't leave the dormitory… for now.
9:43 AM
Due to the new and larger-scale incident, the council had no choice but to gather all the students in the school atrium to discuss what should be done.
The central idea presented so far has been nothing new. Keiko did a decent job trying to calm everyone beforehand.
At this moment, President Yukihara Mikoto stands before us, delivering a speech about possible measures to be taken. She needs to choose her words carefully, as the murderer is among the crowd. For them to have bypassed the last plan, they must know her and the vice president's movements well.
"Regarding this, I also urge you to adopt safety habits, such as avoiding walking alone and reporting any suspicious activity by others directly to me."
The president continues her speech, but she's interrupted by a protest. A student raises his voice, breaking the communication between the president and the audience.
"This is nonsense! How can you expect us to trust you after everything that's happened?! You committed to solving this and failed! Why should this time be any different?!"
The president stops speaking into the megaphone, and everyone turns to the boy who interrupted her. He's surrounded by a group of students who are likely forming an opposition to the student council.
They do have a point. What guarantees that the culprit isn't among the council members themselves?
"What are you implying by that? That someone in the council is responsible for what happened?!" the vice president retorts.
"That's not exactly what I meant. But since the shoe fits, tell us—weren't you the only ones outside the dormitories?"
"Tsk. I'll make you swallow those words," Takashi growls, clenching his fists and glaring at the boy.
Abruptly, a sound disrupts the brewing conflict.
Surprisingly, the one who stops Takashi's imminent fury is the very person he was trying to defend. A sharp slap marks the vice president's face.
"Tanaka-kun, stop. This is not the behavior of a vice president. As someone in your position, you should know they have the right to express themselves," the president reprimands him.
Takashi's facial expression suggests he's completely lost, likely stunned by such a harsh rebuke from his idol.
"But Yukihara-san, I was just—" His eyes widen as he tries to explain but is cut off again.
"No buts. They are right. Compose yourself and apologize for your actions and last night's failure. You are the only one at fault here."
"I'm sorry, Kaichou. I promise this won't happen again," he responds, head lowered.
"I am not the one you need to apologize to. I was not the one brutally stabbed. As you can see, I am unharmed. It is them to whom you owe condolences. They lost someone close. It is them to whom we must answer," the president replies calmly.
She then turns to the group of protesting students and asks,
"Not to intrude, but may I ask if any of you were close to one of the victims?"
"The girl was my cousin," he says in a lower tone.
So, my hypothesis that anomalies occur less when the victim is someone close to the observer holds true.
"I know this will not ease your pain, but I can say that I understand what you are going through. I have lost close family in the past," she says, bowing her head before the victim's relative. "So, I offer my sincerest condolences for our failure. At the same time, I ask for a second chance. I know that apologies will not bring them back, but I am certain we can prevent further victims with what we have learned."
"I-it's a-all right," he stammers in response.
The council manages to regain control of the students, but not a single additional failure will be tolerated. This impossibility of error worries me. They're not in the best condition to manage this.
12:38 PM
Something I've always struggled with is the feeling of being watched, especially during meals.
Vice President Takashi is staring at our table incessantly. Unlike me, he doesn't even bother to disguise his intent.
Keeping all this in mind makes me question why he's watching me so closely. The most plausible theory is that he's somehow discovered I'm a player. But how could he have figured that out? What notable action did I take this morning? I can't think of anything.
My second theory is that he's sensed my suspicion of him. Just as a criminal needs to eliminate witnesses, he might feel the need to silence me.
"Guys, don't look now, but someone's watching us," I whisper.
"What?! WHO?!"
Shou catches himself and falls silent again.
"Johann-kun, who's watching us?" Miyu asks.
"Our dear, unhinged vice president."
Miyu leans closer and whispers in my ear.
"Do you think Tanaka-senpai is watching because the council knows about you?"
"Maybe not the whole council, but it's possible he suspects something," I whisper back.
"What will you do about it?"
"I have no idea. Sooner or later, they'll confront me, and I'll decide then."
Trying to plan something now would be futile. Let's see how things unfold in the coming days.
"Hey, what are you whispering about? Don't leave me out," Shou asks.
"It's nothing, Shimizu-kun," Miyu replies.
"Aw, come on, tell me! Please! I won't be able to sleep from curiosity."
"And if I tell you, will you yell like before and draw everyone's attention?" I ask.
"Fine, be that way," he grumbles, averting his gaze.
Takashi continues sitting with Keiko and Natsuki, staring at us. Meanwhile, the president is nowhere to be seen in the cafeteria, just as she skipped lunch yesterday.
His behavior is so restless today that it's hard not to suspect him. My paranoia is so intense that I can't help but think he's hiding something about last night's deaths. I wouldn't be surprised if he's complicit. His explanation feels too simplistic, worthy of an accomplice.
If my intuition is correct, I must think of a way to expose his true nature.
2:25 PM
As I walk through the corridors of the main building, I can hear him following me. The frequency and intensity of his footsteps are increasing gradually. He's getting closer every second, and with it, the sense of danger in the atmosphere grows.
I stick to the planned route, and so far, everything aligns with the timing.
Okay. Since I'm near the endpoint, I can let him get a little closer. My instincts are screaming about his bloodthirsty intent. I can't rationally prove it, but I'm convinced Takashi could be the killer.
The sounds of his footsteps become subtler as if he's trying to approach unnoticed. I might not have realized he's right behind me if I hadn't been paying attention from the start.
"Hey, you there. Stop for a moment," I hear his voice.
I stop at a hallway intersection, keeping my back turned to him. His footsteps echo through the empty corridors.
"Can I at least know what you want from me?" I ask, still facing away.
"I'd like to talk for a bit. It's nothing major; I just have a few questions for you."
I can see his reflection in the metallic surface near the window. Though the focus isn't sharp, I can clearly see his hand sliding into his pocket. Is he reaching for a weapon? Based on the bodies we saw this morning, it's probably a kitchen knife.
The tension rises as he gets closer.
Closer.
Closer.
My heart is racing. Has he already noticed?
Damn it. He hasn't yet drawn whatever he's holding, but he's getting nearer and nearer. Should I turn around now?
If I keep waiting like this, I'll end up dead.