Chapter 92: Chapter 92: Something's Off with Yoshino Junpei
The heat of summer had lessened a bit after the heavy rain, and the air had become fresh. Small puddles that had collected on the street reflected the clear sky like mirrors.
"On a beautiful day like this, we should do something nice. So, the questioning of Yoshino Junpei is left to you two. The three deceased are connected to him, and he's a suspect in their deaths."
"I'm going to take a walk around Kanagawa to see if I can find any clues. Based on that guy's previous actions, he might try to run. It would be best if we can catch him on the spot."
After saying this, Hayashizaki quickly pushed the two of them onto the street.
"Can questioning really be considered a nice thing? Usually..."
Itadori Yuji commented.
"You're overthinking it."
Yukinoshita Yukino replied indifferently.
Thinking back on all the absurd things Hayashizaki had done since they met: threatening her by opening his mouth on his face and using his tongue; threatening her by opening his mouth on his hand and demanding she feed him...
Forget it, thinking about it just made her angry.
"Hayashizaki-kun gave me some information on Yoshino Junpei's home address, and it looks like he hasn't been going to school since the incident at the movie theater. If we hang around his neighborhood, we should be able to find him."
Yukinoshita Yukino said while looking at the information Hayashizaki had sent on her phone.
The two of them arrived near Yoshino Junpei's neighborhood, and just as they turned a corner, they saw a black-haired boy with bangs walking out of a convenience store holding a bag.
"Yukinoshita-senpai, is that person Yoshino Junpei?"
Itadori Yuji, with his sharp eyes, pointed at the black-haired boy and asked.
"That's him."
Yukinoshita Yukino carefully compared him to the photo and nodded confidently. "Let's go."
"Eh? Should we just ask him directly?"
Itadori Yuji was momentarily stunned. "Won't it be awkward to ask him straight out?"
"Why?"
Yukinoshita Yukino looked at him, confused.
"It just feels a little awkward."
He scratched his cheek, feeling a bit embarrassed.
"Itadori-kun."
Yukinoshita Yukino's expression suddenly became serious. "Do you know what we're doing right now?"
"Uh... Aren't we investigating Yoshino Junpei?"
"Sigh."
Yukinoshita Yukino sighed helplessly. The last person she had to explain things to like this was Yuigahama.
"We're investigating a murder case where three people died, and Yoshino Junpei is the first witness at the scene. Are we really going to abandon the investigation just because you're feeling embarrassed?"
"Uh, I understand. I'm really sorry!"
Itadori Yuji quickly apologized, hands pressed together.
"I'm glad you understand."
Yukinoshita Yukino led Itadori Yuji after the boy, and finally, they stopped him in front of his house. "Yoshino Junpei."
Hearing his name being called, the black-haired boy, with bangs covering his right eye, turned around in confusion. He saw a man and a woman, both strangers, walking toward him.
"Who are you?"
"Oh, I'm Itadori Yuji, and this is Yukinoshita Yukino-senpai."
Itadori Yuji greeted him with a big, friendly smile.
"We have some questions for you."
Yukinoshita Yukino got straight to the point. "On June 23rd, you skipped school and went to the movie theater. At the same time, three students from your school were also at that theater, and you witnessed their deaths."
"I'm right, aren't I?"
"...Who are you? If you're the police, I've already given my statement."
Yukinoshita Yukino's direct question immediately put Yoshino Junpei on guard, and his expression became less friendly.
"That's good"
The girl nodded, "But you just need to answer truthfully."
"...I refuse."
Yoshino Junpei took two steps back. "If there's nothing else, I'll be going home now. Please leave."
"Even though you've cleared yourself with the police, you're still a suspect here. In other words, you're still a suspect from our side."
Yukinoshita Yukino's face turned cold as she gave a warning. "You've seen the unusual deaths of the three victims, right? Let's cut to the chase—what did you see at the time?"
The atmosphere instantly became tense.
Yoshino Junpei's pupils suddenly contracted. These two were after Mahito!
"Wait, wait! Why is it turning out like this?"
Itadori Yuji hurriedly stepped between them. "Yukinoshita-senpai, calm down a bit!"
"Itadori-kun, please step aside."
Yukinoshita Yukino watched Yoshino Junpei's changing expression, and her suspicion turned into certainty. Even if he wasn't involved in the cinema incident, he must know something. He might even be connected to the cursed spirit that killed Ooka!
"So, Yukinoshita-senpai, calm down!"
Seeing the girl take an aggressive stance, Itadori Yuji quickly stopped her, worried she might do something like "knocking Yoshino Junpei down and taking him for questioning," which felt very much like Hayashizaki-sensei's style.
Once he managed to hold Yukinoshita Yukino back, he turned to Yoshino Junpei, trying to calm him. "Come on, just honestly tell us what happened. We won't make things difficult for you!"
"I have nothing to say..."
"Oh, Yoshino, so you're here. I've been looking for you."
Just as Yoshino Junpei was about to speak, a voice he found incredibly irritating came from behind him.
A middle-aged man with a middle parting walked over, wiping sweat off his face. His white shirt was stretched tight over his belly, and it swayed up and down with his movements. The buttons in the front of his shirt looked like they might pop open at any moment.
"Principal..."
Yoshino Junpei didn't hide the disgust on his face.
"You haven't been to school for several days. Are you planning to give up on your studies?"
The principal said disapprovingly. "Not only are you skipping school, but you didn't even attend your friend's funeral. Isn't that a bit much?"
"You've always been alone at school, but those three always spoke to you. They were the only ones willing to be your friends..."
Friends?
This guy must have something wrong with his head.
Didn't you see the things those people did to me? And now you call them friends?
Yoshino Junpei slowly widened his eyes, staring at him, his fists clenched tightly, nails digging into his palms.
"What's wrong? Why are you looking at me like that, sensei? Been home too long? Got a bit crazy? Just kidding, haha!"
The middle-aged man laughed to himself as the fat on his face shook with the movement, his eyes seemingly buried in his folds of flesh.
He looked over at Yukinoshita Yukino and the others behind Yoshino Junpei and spoke, "By the way, I saw you talking when I came in. Are you Yoshino's friends? You're probably not from our school, right? I didn't know Yoshino had people to talk to outside of school, seeing as he has no friends here."
"Please, help me talk some sense into him. He can't keep skipping school like this."
"Sorry."
A cold voice interrupted the middle-aged man's rambling. Yukinoshita Yukino spoke sharply, "We still have important matters to discuss with Yoshino-kun. Excuse us."
"Itadori-kun, take Yoshino-kun and go."
After saying that, she turned around and left.
…
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