When the Detective Work is Done, I'll Die

Chapter 32

"I know better than anyone that you killed my sister. You're the culprit! You were the first one at the crime scene to destroy the evidence, weren't you! I know it! Die here in this dim, filthy place just like her!"

Detective Chikage and I located where the vanished girl was—behind the dojo. I rushed over at once and found the girl with wheat-colored skin holding a box cutter and Kitsunesaki the guidance counselor crouched on the ground trying to shield herself with both arms.

Once, she seemed to dodge. But now there's no escape.

"Don't dodge! This time, die! Die tasting the humiliation my sister felt!"

We mustn't let the innocent Kitsunesaki the guidance counselor be killed. To protect her, I slipped in from behind the girl with wheat-colored skin and shoved her sideways with my hand. At the same moment, Detective Chikage snatched the box cutter from her.

"H-hey! What are you doing!? Do you even understand what you're doing!? Do you get what hurting someone means!?"

First, Detective Chikage pinned the girl's arms and let her fury show. Overcome by guilt for pushing the girl down, I could only groan "Ah..." beside Kitsunesaki the guidance counselor, who was still in shock from nearly being murdered.

The fallen girl thrashed wildly, her hair a tangled mess, uncaring.

"Let me kill her! This guy murdered my sister! Him! Him! There's no mistake! This was Senior Kishi's boyfriend! He's the one who wanted to kill my sister most!"

Anticipating the girl would exhaust herself flailing, Detective Chikage held the box cutter and asked, "I'm going to call the police—hold her down!"

My head spun from the shocks. While pinning the girl's now-limp arms and legs, I sought confirmation.

"Hey... weren't you bad-mouthing Kanbara-senpai?"

"That was obviously just for show! If you tell the detective that, even if Kitsunesaki's corpse turns up here, I won't be treated as the culprit who bad-mouthed Kanbara-senpai! More importantly—hurry!"

"No... absolutely not. A chain of revenge only brings sorrow. And first of all, Kitsunesaki the guidance counselor isn't the culprit. We have proof that rules that out."

"That doesn't matter! Him! Him! He was going to be Kanbara-senpai's next target! So he must have killed her!"

Overwhelmed by how far her student had fallen, Kitsunesaki the guidance counselor became a doll that could only shake her head.

It's no wonder. I felt close to breaking too. I wanted to punch myself for doubting whether I should keep solving the mystery after taking the girl's words at face value.

Murder is, after all, wrong.

I can't give my own reasons, but I couldn't afford to stand still.

"Hey...! So let me kill that girl—"

"Quick, quick! Please calm this child down!"

While I was still resolving what to do, Detective Chikage returned with officers. As the girl was led away, she hurled words like "Die!" and "I'll kill you!" at Kitsunesaki the guidance counselor. Listening to those curses, I thought about my next move.

That's right—the key to the gym.

"But... in this situation, bringing up the key so soon..."

As I muttered to myself, Kitsunesaki the guidance counselor finally stood and spoke to me.

"The key to the gym? There was nothing strange about it. It had been properly returned to its place. But so many people had touched it by then that we couldn't lift any fingerprints."

"Eh?"

One mystery that had bothered me was solved. I just hadn't expected her to tell me so abruptly, so I stood there bewildered.

"Is something still bothering you? If you like, I'll help. After the help you gave me, I can hardly refuse."

"Is that okay...? You look exhausted."

Her face was pale, yet whether as a teacher or simply as a woman, she gave a strong, gentle smile.

"It's no trouble. This happens all the time. Kanbara-san... did this occasionally too. Calling me out to a place like this over schoolwork... I should have suspected. That child never studies."

"Eh? This happens... all the time?"

"Threatening people with knives is common here. In this school that tries to control students with a warped view of education. Because they don't really teach what's right. They can't tell good from bad... or understand the sorrow of being left behind..."

For now, it seemed Detective Chikage had to explain the situation to the police. Seeing me talk with Kitsunesaki the guidance counselor, she looked envious.

I'd just ask everything here—everything I wondered, whether it was right or wrong, whether the rumors were true.

"The sorrow of being left behind... do you mean the senior who died in that accident?"

"Yes."

"Then, you were dating that male student..."

She let her shoulders drop and confessed, "It's something I wanted to hide, but there's no helping it."

"Yes. We were dating. Or rather, we'd just go on dates now and then."

"Dates? Ah, of course you couldn't meet at school."

"Right. Besides being the PC Club's faculty adviser, I was also the track team's adviser. So, not much free time."

"Ah... so that's why you came to school early this morning too. For a date?"

"That child lost his mother early. He lived with just his father. He said he was drawn to the motherly side of me. Sometimes he'd put ice cream to my lips, and I... felt like I was treating him like a child... I shouldn't. Thinking about someone who's gone makes me melancholy."

Saying that, she smiled innocently. I hesitated to throw harsh words at someone like her, but I steeled myself. Time was wasting; to get the information I needed as quickly as possible, I had to ask this.

"I'm sorry. I know this is a sensitive topic... but did you resent Kanbara-senpai, who they say killed him?"

At that, she stepped back. It felt as if I myself were swinging a knife at her.

I knew this question would dig up memories she was trying to forget—something cruel.

Yet, as an investigation, it had a high chance of yielding crucial testimony.

The person most suspected of resenting yet not being the murderer—her.

"Uu..."

"Kitsunesaki the guidance counselor. I know how painful this is. But I need you to tell me. You said earlier you were the target... I understand. No matter what you said to her in club, she never answered, and even mocked you. I know it hurts. But your words will surely help solve the case..."

Wait, what am I saying. I...

To Kitsunesaki the guidance counselor, the murderer must look like a savior—someone who protected her from being bullied to death.

Thinking that, I lost my voice again.

"No... it's nothing..."

I turned my back to her and saw Vice-Principal Kanou running toward us. He was heading straight for me and Kitsunesaki the guidance counselor.