Chapter 12: Just a few Inches
We both stared at the picture than back at each other. The pin that Nokoru gave to me, at the sensory garden on the night when we made our wishes, was the same as the one in the yearbook. The boy next to Cat Eye wore a jacket with silver buttons of the same design as the one I fumbled in-between my fingers. I held my breath. Our first clue.
Suoh immediately broke me from my silent trance. "Name?"
"Huh?"
"What's his name? It should list it underneath the photograph." He held the flashlight from behind, bringing light into a room completely bathed in darkness. I saw the words clearly and read them out loud.
"Toma Shin." I let the name roll off my tongue and reverberate off the walls. "Toma Shin and Yoru Kuraidesu, Class B, high school graduation ceremony."
Immediately after, we dug throw dozens of hidden and tucked away files that haven't been opened in years. Each folder was layered upon layer of dust. We tried to find more information about Toma Shin. He was our key to finding Cat Eye. To our dismay. We found nothing. Other than dozens of photos of him attending basketball games, participating in school debates, and running a relay in the school's sports festival. We checked the class roster, both Yoru and Toma were in majority of the same classes throughout their compulsorily education.
I looked towards Suoh, he laid out several files on the ground one by one next to each other. He ran his fingers through his hair while trying to piece together the information. He looked up at me, and I swiftly turned my head the other way.
"Did you find anything?" He asked.
"Oh….well," my breath felt heavy, why was I feeling this way?
"Are….are all students required to attend Clamp School's University after high school?" I felt my cheeks turning red, but Suoh wasn't facing the flashlight towards me, so he couldn't tell.
"No, students are given free reign where they wish to attend university after completely their compulsorily education. Attending the university is not mandatory, but it is one of the most prestigious universities within the nation. I couldn't see why anyone wouldn't want to attend." Suoh said matter of factly.
"School pride much?" I giggled.
"But of course, you know that the brightest minds of the future are coming from this school."
"Oh, who?"
"Me," he gave a sly smile.
I tossed a file at his head, but to my failure he caught it with perfect precision, and twirled the file on his index finger. I simply flipped my hair back at him in retaliation. Despite desperately hunting down a villainous thief from rampaging my cousins wedding, I was enjoying spending my time at clamp school, especially with the clamp school detectives.
And Suoh.
"I checked both Yoru and Toma's files, they both apparently left the clamp community after graduation." I read further, "they both haven't returned to the clamp community since then. What?"
"Let me see." Souh slid over to my side to look at the files. He came so close to my face just a few inches away. I felt my heart racing. I started to lean away from Suoh, but he just raised his eyebrow and gave me a peculiar look (a physical gesture saying 'what on earth are you doing crazy girl?') before he looked down at his watch and then became serious.
"I'll give the rest of these files to Nokoru, he might be able to find out what happened to both of them after leaving Clamp." Suoh packed the files into his bag, stood up, and held out his hand towards me. "It's getting late and I don't want your parents to worry about your absence."
No, I wanted to stay longer, we could find out more information, but he was right at the same time.
"I insist," I took his hand and off we went.
MANY MINUTES OF CAKE DISTRUBUTING LATER
We returned to the ballroom just in the nick of time, dessert was done being served and people were dancing, the DJ was playing music, and the waiter in the back of the room was still crying from being traumatized by my mother (Aw, poor guy!).
My ears perked up and gestured to Suoh, "OMG, I love this song, its 'Welcome to Metallic Party,' c'mon lets go dance!" I urged him to follow me to the dance floor, but he only waved his hands in front of him, "I'm not really much of a dancer and I have so much work to do too-."
"Even the Secretary deserves a little bit of a break too, you should follow Nokoru's example," I teased.
"But I can't dance," he protested.
"Well neither can I, but that doesn't stop me boogieing!" I looked over to my other family members, my cousins, aunts, uncles, and even my grandpa were dancing to their own groove, rhythmically impaired without a care in the world.
"I think you'll fit in just fine." I grabbed his hand and ushered him to the dance floor. Practically everyone was dancing, so the dance floor was extremely crowded, but that didn't stop us from having a good time.
We were both laughing and showcasing our worst dance moves to each other. Regardless, we were having fun.
Suddenly the music slowed and the lights dimmed. The DJ spoke in a smooth voice and relaxing voice, "Now this is the last dance of the hour, so I want everyone to grab that special someone, and if they haven't asked them already, escort them to the dance floor for a slow song, and hold them tight."
Oh my god.
A bunch of the little kids made funny faces and mouthed the words 'ew' too many times, and ran off the dance floor. I saw my parents, grandparents, and Yukiko and Ebihara dancing so lovingly together as couples.
I don't know if it was just the atmosphere or pressure from the others dancers, but Suoh nervously held out his hand, "May I have this dance Miss Melony?"
"Of….Of course," ugh, I stuttered.
Both of my hands were on his shoulders, I haven't realized before how tall he is compared to me. His hand was on my shoulder and the other was on my waist.
"Thank you for helping out with the case," Suoh nonchalantly said.
"no…no problem, it's the least I could go, I mean, how could I let you guys handle it all by yourselves," I tried to joke off my nervousness.
"Your right, we couldn't have," he was smiling, and looking straight into my eyes, they were a beautiful amber color. Just when our faces were getting inches closer to each other, his smile faded and something seemed to have crossed his mind, he immediately turned away from me, and briskly let go of our embrace.
"I'm sorry, but I should get back to the council room, excuse me," he ran right out of the ball room, leaving me dumfounded in the process.
I stood motionless on the dance floor, feeling abandoned, surrounded by happy couples dancing their hearts away. I looked around at our table and noticed that Suoh, in his hurry, ran off without his backpack.
"Wait! Suoh!" I grabbed his backpack full of all the files from the archive, and chased after him. I almost ran out the door forgetting something very important. I still saw the waiter looking ever so worried, sitting by himself at an empty table. I took the piece of cake that I didn't eat from my table and gave the slice to him. He slightly smiled, said "Thank you," and started to eat it.
It was close to midnight and the only sources of light came from the scattered lamp posts outside. It was hard to see anyone, let alone Suoh.
"Suoh! Suoh!" I called out to him, but there was no response. I started to see a figure roaming around in the darkness, as I got closer I could see that it was a silhouette of a person. "Suoh, it's me, you forgot-
It wasn't Suoh.
"Oh hello little lady, we meet again." It was janitor Weally, one of the many custodians of the Clamp Community. He was wearing his white uniform and wheeling a trash container. "You shouldn't be out here so late, it's dangerous at night for little sprouts such as yourself."
"What are you doing here, so late at night?" He works early in the morning and late at night, wow.
"Taking out the trash," he nonchalantly answered my question, and slightly smiled. Was he holding back laughter?
"Oh, I'm sorry, but I'm looking for my friend, he was came out here just a couple of moments before I did. Have you seen him?" Weally scratched his head thinking and wiggled his mustache, and said "I can barely see in daylight, let alone at night. I haven't seen anyone dearie. But if I do bump into the lad, I'll let him know about his friend. Okay?" He smiled and started to walk away, wheeling the heavy trashcan, but then stopped. He turned to face me and said, "Congratulations on the wedding!"
How did he know about the wedding? I thought. He seemed to have read my expression and said, "It just happens to be the biggest event on campus, I like to stay in the loop, you know, what all the young kids are doing these days," he started laughing. "Plus, I'm taking out trash from the party in the ball room, the bride and groom made such a beautiful speech, it brought tears to my eyes." He wiped away an imaginary tear.
Then after conversing for a bit, he walked further away with his huge trashcan and I went back to the ball room. Guests were already leaving and my parents came up to me ready to leave.
My mother hugged me and my father patted my head, I faintly smiled.
Throughout the entire car ride home, I constantly looked out the window tightly gripping Suoh's backpack.
I was hoping to maybe see Suoh as we passed by in the car.
I didn't see anyone.
Yay! Thank you for reading! We're getting closer and closer to the ending! I'm so excited!
