2) Short Circuit

Part 4

With Matthew Oda on Satomi and Chao's case, he starts to interrogate the two girls.

"So Satomi and Chao," said Matt Oda, "Now we've introduced ourselves, explain your problem, and let's see if I can help."

Satomi started to talk first. "Well, our machine, the 'Rage Neutralizer 200' is supposed to make everyone lose their anger and furiousness, but instead, our machine started to make everyone an angry mob. We couldn't understand why."

Then Chao started to talk in the conversation. "Indeed, we tested the machine yesterday, and it worked perfectly. We double-checked and scanned the machine's wires and surroundings, and there's seemed to be no problems."

Satomi continued. "Please help us Matt-san, we're innocent, and everyone thinks it's our fault for creating that fight."

After Matt heard Satomi and Chao's testimony, he put his right hand on his chin, closes his eyes, and begins to think. He then opened his eyes and begins to talk. He speaks, "So let me get this straight: Your machine, the 'Rage Thingy' or whatever you call it, was functionally properly yesterday, and today it just went out of control. Am I correct so far?" The two girls nodded. "Hmm… that means something happened to your machine right after you tested it, and before your demonstration. If I want to solve this mystery, I need all the information and clues I need to support and crackdown this case. To start off, where do you keep your machine?"

Satomi replied, "We have a lab department here in Mahora Academy, and we have our own lab. That's where we kept our machine."

"Can you show me the way?" Matt asked.

"Of course, Oda-san," Chao replied.

"C'mon Negi, girls, let's go check it out."

"Right behind you, Matt," said Asuna.

As the group walk towards the lab department, a person hiding behind one of the stands is watching the gang. It slowly scrunched its eyes in a mean look and says, "So, that's Matthew Oda. He solved the kidnapping incident. I will not let him get in my way." The shadowy person walked away quietly.

Along the way to the lab, two little girls came waltzing up to Negi and the gang. As they looked, the two girls got closer while Matt started shaking again and hid behind Konoka and Setsuna. The girls approached, and the two looked exactly alike.

"Oh, hello there," said Negi, "Fuka and Fumika."

"Hello Professor Springfield," said Fuka, the one with pigtails on her hair.

"Hello Professor," said Fumika.

"What are you girls doing here?" Negi replied.

Fuka continued to talk. "Well, we came to check out the fair, and it was exciting."

"Yeah…," Fumika continued, "Until a group of angry people ruined the fair. It was scary."

"So scary that we hid someplace where it was safe."

While hiding behind Konoka and Setsuna, Matt looks at the girls talking to Negi and makes a thought. "They look exactly alike, are they 'twins'?" Matt thought.

Fuka continued the conversation, "But what's really creepy is that weird person hanging around and hiding." And that got Negi, Matt, Satomi, and the other girls' attention.

"Wait, what do you mean by that?" Negi questioned.

Fumika continued, "Well you see, while we were hiding from the mob, we saw someone hiding behind some stacked boxes, and that person was looking right at the angry and fighting group."

"And also," Fuka continued, "we saw the person was holding onto something. It looked like a remote or something like that." Matt got plenty of information from the twins while he was hiding behind Konoka and Setsuna's back.

"Well girls, I'm glad you're safe," said Negi in relief. "Take care of yourself, and stay out of trouble."

"Thanks, Negi!" said the twins. "We'll see you later." The twins walked away, and Matt slowly came out from behind Konoka and Setsuna's back. Matt looked at the twins walking towards the entrance gate.

"Who are those girls?" Matt questioned.

"Those two are Fuka and Fumika, Matt," said Konoka. "Fuka is the one with the pigtails on the side of her head, and Fumika is the one with the ribbons."

"Yep Matt, they're in the same class as we are," said Satomi.

"Really? They're pretty young to be in your class," Matt replied as he scratches his head.

"Yeah well, although they're little, they are smart twins," said Asuna.

"And sometimes they're a bunch of mischief makers," Chisame noted.

"Oh really…" said Matt as he turned his head towards the twins again. He then shook his head and turns over to the gang. "Alright enough chit-chat, we got a mystery to solve. And those twins were very helpful."

Negi and the girls made a small flinch and were confused. "What do you mean Matt?" Asuna questioned, "How were the twins helpful?"

"Didn't you hear what the girls said?" Matt replied. "According to their testimony, they both saw someone hiding and carrying something while the angry mob was fighting during Satomi and Chao's machine's glitch."

"So… what does that mean?" said Setsuna.

"It means one of the possibilities that the machine went awry is that someone made Satomi and Chao's machine go berserk." Everyone was astounded by Matt Oda's detective skills. "If that person the twins saw is the same person that made the machine go out of control, then we can prove Satomi and Chao are innocent and capture that criminal."

"Matt, you're maybe on to something," said Chao in astonishment.

"But to find out who our criminal is that put Satomi and Chao's life in danger, we need to find enough clues and evidence in order to reveal the criminal's identity. We'll start off with the lab as we planned. Satomi, if you please…" Satomi nodded and everyone followed her to the science department.

Later that late afternoon, Negi, Matt, and the girls arrived at the science department. They entered the building where Satomi and Chao guided Negi, Matt, Asuna, Konoka, Setsuna, and Chisame to the lab. Satomi and Chao came to a stop and turn towards Matt and the others.

"Here's our lab," Satomi explained.

"Well, we're here. Let's go in," said Matt.

Chao tried to open the doors, but she couldn't. "Unfortunately, it seems the lab is closed right now," said Chao in disappointment. "I'm afraid you guys have to come back here tomorrow morning."

Negi, Matt, and the other girls turn towards each other, and then Matt turns towards Satomi and Chao.

"That's fine. Tomorrow's Thursday, and the lab will still be open," said Matt.

"So, what are we going to do from now on?" Asuna questioned.

"Well, for now, we should head back to dorms and think about the incident we saw. And we think about the enemy we are dealing with."

"That's a good start Matt-san," said Setsuna. "I'll tag along with you too."

Matt nodded, and then he turns over to Satomi and Chao. "Alright, we'll check your lab first thing right after your classes."

"Thanks Matt-san," said Satomi.

"Yeah, thanks Oda-san," Chao followed.

Right after Satomi and Chao just finished thanking Matt, a stranger wearing blue overalls, a big tan cap, and working gloves came running up to the group and yelled at them, "HEY! What're you kids doing here!? Get out of here! SCRAM!"

Negi, Matt, and the girls ran as fast they can get out of the building. The man stopped chasing them and watches them run away. The gang got out of the building and started to breathe heavily. Matt turns toward the front doors of the science building.

"Who was that guy?" Matt asked.

"That is Miyoko-san," Satomi stated, "the janitor of the science building."

"What's his problem?"

"Well, he's always mean and strict," said Chao. "Although he's so hot-headed, he knows how to keep the rooms shiny and spotless."

"He sometimes doesn't like us because we do a lot of experiments, and we always make a total mess," said Satomi. "He had to do double the work than normal when it comes to us."

As Matt heard Satomi's facts, he looked back at the front doors again and had a thought. After that, Matt called out to everyone, "Alright, we better head back to the dorms. It's getting late." Matt stood himself up and wiped himself the dust off his pants. "We'll check the lab tomorrow first thing in the afternoon."

"Alright Matt-san, sounds like a good plan," said Satomi.

Matt, Negi, and all the girls headed back to the girls' dorm. While they are walking back, the janitor, Mr. Miyoko, watches the gang from inside the building with a grumpy look.

Everyone arrived and went inside the girls' dormitory. After they reached their rooms, they all went separate ways heading to their own dorm room except for Setsuna that wanted to stay with Negi, Matt, Asuna, and Konoka for a little bit. Asuna opened her dorm door, and they all went in. After they placed all their bags away, Matt called a gathering meeting to discuss today's incident about the fair, and Satomi and Chao's machine. They talked and talked for about half an hour until they came up with a theory.

"I'm beginning to think that this perpetrator wants to get rid of Satomi and Chao for good," said Matt.

"What makes you say that, Matt?" Chamo asked as he jumped onto Negi's right shoulder.

"Well, according to the twins you guys met, they said they saw someone carrying an electronic remote while the person is hiding from the angry mob. So I'm assuming that person is the cause of the people going berserk and creating that slugfest."

Then Konoka speaks to Matt. "Then maybe, you think, the same person is going to make another attack to put Satomi and Chao in jeopardy?"

"It's a high possibility," Matt replied. "The perpetrator will keep doing this until Satomi and Chao are framed and expelled. We need to hurry and catch this culprit before that happens."

"Problem though Matt is, we don't know who our culprit is," Setsuna said in concern.

"Don't you worry, Setsuna," Matt replied. "The culprit can run, but he or she can't hide. That perpetrator is bound to give his or her secrets away."

"Will we ever catch the criminal and save Satomi and Chao?" questioned Negi as he was worried.

"Of course Negi, I will succeed in solving this mystery," said Matt in confidence. "But right now (YAWN) I need some sleep." Everyone understood Matt as they all feel sleepy too.

Setsuna said good-night to Matt, Negi, Asuna, Chamo, and especially Konoka, and she left the room. Negi and the others got ready and went to bed.

The very next morning, Negi, Matt, Asuna, and Konoka, along with Setsuna, walked to Mahora Academy after they got off the tram. They arrived at the front entrance of the academy; Matt turned towards Negi and the girls and made a comment, "Okay guys, I'll see you at the Mystery Club right after your class."

"Alright Matt, we'll see you later when we're done," Asuna replied.

Matt headed to his club while the Negi and the girls headed to their classroom.