Ger0nim0: OMG I FUCKING LAUGH! Good one ^^
Tisar: Yeah, come out of the closet, Kouko! xD
James Birdsong: Thanks buddy! :)
"Everyone, I know you must all still be in shock after what happened yesterday, but please remain calm," Mizorogi began to say. "What happened to Kaminaga-san is terrible, but you don't have to worry. An investigation has been started to understand what happened. For your own safety, be sure to always walk in at least a group of two. The culprit will probably target people who are alone so be sure to not be. The teachers will do their best to protect you. Now return to class and leave the adults dealing with this."
The students left the Great Hall, mumbling to each other regarding what happened to Kouko. Haru was still affected by it. It felt like after what happened to Sato, people were getting used to that kind of incident.
As she left with Tokaku, Suzu joined them.
"Ichinose-san, Azuma-san, hi," Suzu told them with not much conviction.
"Oh, hi, Suzu-san," Haru replied, empathizing with what Suzu must feel.
"We still have some time left before next class, so I was thinking we could go see her," Suzu proposed.
"Oh, yeah, sure. I wanted too. Tokaku?"
"Do as you wish, I'll go with you."
The three of them headed for her, and on their way, they met Shiena.
"Shiena-chan. We're going to see her, want to come with us?" Haru asked.
The brunette jumped and turned back, looking nervous.
"Oh, um, I would love to, but… I have to finish a homework I forgot to do for next class."
"Ah, I understand. Good luck with that," Haru replied.
Shiena staggered a little as she walked away like she was in a hurry. Haru wondered why she looked so nervous. Did something happen? She noticed that both Tokaku and Suzu were looking at Shiena leaving with a thoughtful expression.
They continued their way until they reached the infirmary. They went inside and spotted the person they were looking for, lying on a bed. They went by her side.
"Hi, Kaminaga-san. How are you?" Haru asked.
Kouko rolled to look at them. She had a bandage on her arm.
"I'm fine. Honestly I would leave the infirmary and continue my duty. I'm Head Prefect after all. But the nurse insists for me to stay longer, just in case. But I feel okay, I don't see why I should stay here," Kouko replied.
"But Kouko-chan, you have been injured, and someone cast the paralysis spell on you. You need to rest," Suzu said, concerned.
"This is just a scratch, and that spell is not dangerous. It just paralyzes you. There's no need to worry-"
Suzu suddenly hugged Kouko. She looked so relieved. Haru remembered how panicked Suzu was yesterday when they found Kouko inside of the closet. Kaiba is the first teacher who arrived. He was the one who checked the prefect's vital, and discovered that she was still alive.
"Still, this is strange. Someone paralyzed you, cut you on the arm, and left you in a closet?" Tokaku said.
Suzu broke the hug and Haru noticed that Kouko was slightly blushing.
"I… I don't know why. I'm as much surprise as you," the black haired girl replied.
"Don't you remember who did that to you?" Haru asked.
"No, I don't. All I remember was patrolling in the corridor alone, then I got it by a spell. And then I was stuck in a closet, unable to move and my arm hurt. The culprit must have used a spell to block or erase my memory so I wouldn't remember them."
Suzu started to stroke Kouko's hair, which the latter didn't protect but seemed a little bit embarrassed.
"I'm so glad you're okay, I was so worried. If something had happened to you… I don't know what I would have done. I couldn't be happier to know you're alive," Suzu told her softly.
Kouko blushed again at those words.
"I… I'm fine, no need to be… worried. I'm the Head Prefect, I can't die easily. People need me, so you don't have to worry about me, Shutou."
Haru found this scene heartwarming. She was glad that Kouko was alive and happy to see Suzu so relieved. It was rare to the latter being worried, she was usually so calm. She really loved Kouko deeply and Haru hoped it was the same for Kouko.
The bell suddenly rang, announcing that it was time to go back to class.
"I'll come back to see you after class," Suzu said.
"I'll probably find a way to get out of here before, but thanks anyway," Kouko replied.
"Rest well, take care of yourself," Haru said.
The three of them left the infirmary, heading for their next classes.
The astronomy class was over. The students took their bag and left the room. When Haru was about to leave, the teacher suddenly called her.
"Ichinose-san, would you mind to stay a little bit?" Kisaki asked.
Haru stopped and turned back to face her teacher.
"Oh, sure. Do you need something, Kisaki-sensei?"
The teacher smiled softly as she approached her, before putting a hand on her shoulder.
"You seem tense these days. Is there something wrong?" Kisaki asked, looking concerned.
Haru was surprised that her teacher noticed. It was true that there days, she felt tense, for a specific reason.
"Well, after what happened to Kaminaga-san, I can't help but be… worried. I'm glad she's fine, but I can't stop thinking about why it happened to her and if it's related… to Sato-san."
Kisaki gave her a compassionate smile, before she suddenly cupped her cheek with her hand.
"Poor you, it must have scared you. But don't worry, the teachers are there to protect you. I can protect you. With me around, nothing bad will happened to you, I promise."
Haru remembered Shiena's suspicion regarding Kisaki. The brunette thought she was an Eight Legs. But Haru doubted it. Even Mako didn't think Kisaki was a bad person, though she didn't think she was a good person either. Still, right now she looked so concerned about her well-being. She had to have at least a good side, right?
"Thank you, Kisaki-sensei. I appreciate your concern."
Kisaki's hand was now on Haru's head, gently petting her hair.
"You're so cute, Ichinose-san. Really an adorable young girl."
"Ah… thanks?"
Haru was starting to feel a little weird. She had an uncomfortable feeling in her chest and her heart was beating fast. Kisaki was still stroking her hair with a smile that seemed… seductive?
"If you want, we could hang out and discuss. During the weekend I could bring you to the muggle world, I know a nice café…"
"Sensei, what are you doing?"
Kisaki suddenly jumped and recoiled from Haru, seeming nervous like she had been witnessed committing a crime. Haru didn't need to look behind her to know who it was, but she turned back regardless.
"Tokaku!" she exclaimed.
"I was wondering why you stayed behind. Sensei, if you don't mind, I'll get back my girlfriend."
Haru blushed. It was the first time Tokaku referred to her as her girlfriend. But she wondered why she felt the need to say it now. Kisaki let out a nervous laugh.
"Oh, I see… your girlfriend. Ah, young love, so precious. Take care of each other, okay?" Kisaki said.
"We will!" Haru said cheerfully. "Thanks again, Kisaki-sensei!"
"You're welcome! And if you need someone to talk to, know that I'll always be available."
Tokaku grabbed Haru's hand and drawn her out of the class. Her gesture seemed more possessive and defensive than romantic, but Haru was still happy by this physical contact with her lover.
"What were you talking about with her?" Tokaku asked.
"Oh, well Kisaki-sensei noticed that I looked tense these days and wanted to comfort me."
"And invite you in a café?"
"Yeah… I'm not sure why."
Tokaku looked thoughtful for a moment.
"I think it would be best if you avoid her. I don't trust her. She's clearly up to something," the blue haired girl said.
"But, I talked with your aunt about her, and she said she didn't think Kisaki-sensei was a bad person."
"I never said she was a bad person either. But I don't think she's good either. She has a weird way to look at her students."
Like aunt, like niece. And it seemed Shiena wasn't the only one who thought Kisaki looked oddly at her students. But Haru still didn't understand what it meant.
"Anyway, what did you tell her?" Tokaku asked,
"Well, that I was worried after what happened to Kaminaga-san and I wondered if it was linked to what happened to Sato-san."
"It's true that both of them had been found in the same way. But Sato was killed while Kaminaga was only paralyzed and injured. So I'm not sure if those two events are linked."
"Still, it can't be a coincidence. And I really wondered why the culprit this that to Kaminaga-san. What's the point? What's the meaning behind this?"
"Revenge maybe? Because she's Head Prefect?"
"Hm, like someone who had been punished by her?"
"Yeah, it could be that."
"It's a weird way to get revenge."
"Could be a warning, a way to tell her 'if you do that again you'll end up like Sato'"
"That's awful…"
Haru wondered if it would be the truth. A warning against Kouko. It did make sense. But it seemed pretty morbid. And unrespectful towards Sato's death.
As they continued to talk, they spotted in a corner Shiena talking to… Isuke? What an odd combination. And they seemed to be arguing.
"I wonder what they are talking about," Haru said.
"Dunno. And don't care," Tokaku replied.
They both reached the library, ready for their next study session together, while Haru had so many thoughts in mind regarding Kisaki, Kouko, and now Shiena.
This time, it happened to Haru.
Her teacher Wilma asked her to go retrieve some flasks in the closet of the class. When Haru opened it, she immediately froze at the sight of what was inside.
Inside of the closet was Otoya, sitting and leaning on the wall, eyes wide open and a cut on her arm. It was her turn to discover a body in a closet.
"Otoya...san?" Haru mumbled, but she received no answer from her senpai.
"Hm? What's wrong, Ichinose-san? You can't find the flasks…" Wilma asked as she approached her.
The teacher's eyes met Otoya's body in the closet. She didn't look surprised nor worried. She was pretty calm and even emotionless. She approached the Slytherin student and pressed two fingers on her neck.
"She's still alive, she must be just paralyzed," Wilma said.
Curious about what Haru saw and what their teacher said, the students approached the closet. Some of them let out a scream when they saw Otoya inside, which seemed to annoy Wilma.
"I said she was still alive, no need to scream," she said calmly.
The teacher lifted a paralyzed Otoya in her arms, before approached the main door.
"I'll bring her to the infirmary, continue your work during my absence," Wilma said as if there was nothing abnormal going on, and left the class.
Obviously, working was the last things the students wanted to do. They all started to talk about what happened to Otoya, wondering if she was going to be okay and who did this, and why. Tokaku approached Haru, concerned.
"Haru, are you alright?"
"Yes, I'm fine. But Otoya-san…"
"She's alive, it must be the same thing as with Kaminaga."
The two lovers went in a corner to be able to discuss privately.
"Why did it happen to Otoya-san?" Haru asked.
"Revenge perhaps? Takechi is a bully, it could be one of her victims," Tokaku proposed.
"But why like Kaminaga-san? It has to be the same culprit, it's the same modus operandi. Paralyzed, a cut on the arm, inside a closet…"
"Maybe the culprit wanted revenge against both Kaminaga and Takechi but for different reasons."
"Haru thought about it. What were the chances of someone having a grudge against both Kouko and Otoya? It seemed pretty low. And the method of vengeance seemed weird, it didn't look like a way to get revenge on someone. Haru felt like there was something deeper in this situation. Something more serious. Something related to…
"No, Tokaku. I think it's more serious than revenge. I think it's related to… dark magic," Haru began to say. "And I want to investigate this. And for that, I'll need your help."
Don't worry, Kouko and Otoya are fine, sorry for the scare.
Who do you think is behind all of this? Let me know!