2) Short Circuit

Part 7

Everyone in the square of the fair all stared at Matt Oda as they anticipate the suspension of unveiling the mastermind. The dean, the captain, Negi, his student girls, Chamo, Nami, even the janitor were all watching Matt.

Kazumi was also in the crowd, too along with Sayo, her kind and ghostly friend. Kazumi or Sayo couldn't see Matt within the crowd, but he made the announcement.

"Listen up everyone, what I'm about to say is the exact truth. Our culprit is right under our noses this whole time. In fact, the perpetrator is right in this crowd now."

Everyone gasped and started to look at each other side by side, questioning who it is. One of the officers started to ask Matt.

"Well, we are anxious to find out. Who is it?" one of the policemen asked.

"Yes, Mr. Oda, get to the point. Who is it?" the captain commanded.

"Well, it's complicated at first, but very simple in the end," Matt stated. He closed his eyes and put his right hand on his chin. He begins walk to the center of the crowd. "There is a reason why the culprit wanted to put Satomi and Chao in grave danger. The criminal wanted to make sure they were taken out of the competition because they were the ones who ruined the criminal's reputation. There is only one person who was skillful enough to manipulate and control Satomi and Chao's machine with such advanced technology. Someone who is almost highly skilled as our scientific girls. And that person…"

He raised his right index finger into the air. The crowd is all nervous by this suspension as they stared at Matt for the moment. Then in a quick swift of his arm, Matt pointed and called out, "…is YOU!" Matt's arm and index finger were all pointing none other than...

Nami Tsuno.

Nami gasped, and everyone in the crowd was astonished. Satsuki's jaw dropped and Satomi and Chao were surprised and confused. Nami starts to feel shaky and tries to clear herself to Matt.

"What…? Wait, Oda-san, why me?" Nami said in confusion. "I didn't do anything wrong. I was only trying to help my friends Satomi and Chao. What makes you think I'm really the one behind this mess?

"Trying to play innocent huh, Miss Deceptive," said Matt in a sarcastic mood. "Well, you can't fool me. Let me explain."

Everyone started to listen. Kazumi and Sayo looked at each other. "This is going to be a great scoop," said Kazumi.

"Yeah, it sure is," Sayo agreed.

Matt started to talk, "When this whole incident started, I saw the reaction of Satomi and Chao that they had no intention of causing this chaos. After hearing from two little birdies, they stated someone hiding in the shadows had a remote controller during the time before the incident. It came into my mind: someone set Satomi and Chao up.

The first clue that I suspected it was you Miss Tsuno is that you appeared with Satomi and Chao right after each mob ended, especially with the police that's about to arrest them yesterday. And today, you showed up right before Satsuki's café was being attacked today."

"So," said Nami, "today I was seeing how Satsuki is doing, that's all."

"Yeah..., but, Satsuki was attacked right after you met her. You could've heard the mob a little bit and rescue Satsuki, but you didn't show up. Why is that mam? Was it because you had something to do? Something… sinister?"

Nami jolted a little bit but kept her ground. "I'm telling you I'm innocent. There's no way I'm the guilty party."

"Oh really, then I don't suppose you were the one who made that phone call to the police yesterday."

"What…? What do you mean?"

Matt turns to the captain of the policemen. "Captain, if I recall correctly, you said you got your reliable source from a phone call, right?"

"Uh yeah, that's right, Matt," the captain replied.

"And you said it was about 'half-hour ago,' right?"

"Yes, Mr. Oda."

"Then that leaves me another question." He turns to the cheerleaders Sakurako, Misa, and Madoka. "Cheerleaders, you were out on the field performing your tryouts yesterday. When did the tryouts start, and when did the raging mob begin?"

Sakurako speaks to Matt, "Well, our tryouts started around 15:30, then a few minutes later, we went berserk."

"Mmm-hmm, thanks, Sakurako." Then Matt turns to Satsuki. "Satsuki, you said you saw the culprit abusing Satomi and Chao's machine."

"That's right," Satsuki responded with honesty.

"Tell me, around what time did you see the culprit at that time?"

Satsuki flinched and realized. She then makes a firm look and answers, "Of course. Around the same time what Sakurako said: 15:30."

When everyone heard these two testimonies, the crowd flinched and gasped a little.

Matt remains calm and begins to speak again, "And Asuna, Negi, Setsuna, and I, including Satomi and Chao, arrived at the scene a few minutes when the cheerleaders calmed down. Just then, the police arrived. This all makes sense."

"What are you getting at Matt?" the dean asked while smoothing his long beard.

Matt answers calmly, "It's quite logical dean. The culprit made the call to the police just before a mob started to go a riot. Commonly, a person would call the police once they saw a crime or incident at the scene, but not in this case. The perpetrator planned ahead to call the police early and put Satomi and Chao in danger even though the manipulated angry mob wasn't in the process."

Matt turns to Nami. "Nami Tsuno, you arrived right after the police left the scene, not when you show up with Satomi and Chao when the riot was still in the process. It's adding up together… that you were the one who made the phone call to put your friends Satomi and Chao in danger and under arrest… by framing them." Nami suddenly started to sweat and everyone in the crowd was shocked. "Because of Satomi and Chao's 'accidental' incident during the fair two days ago, you planned ahead and set up a trap to trick Satomi and Chao into coming to the next scene of the incident at the tryouts and lured the police to take both of them away to jail. You watched from afar and were hiding, making sure you aren't a witness when being asked to be taken to court for interrogation. You also hid from other witnesses to cover your crime." Nami grits her teeth and tightens her fists. "You see Nami, I knew it was you all along when you weren't right by Satomi and Chao's side when those incidents currently happened. You stayed away from the two girls, especially the police because you had something that proves your guilt if the police would have frisked you in an inspection."

"And what's that?" Nami asked while she is upset.

"A Remote Controller to the modified Neutralizer."

Nami jolted more, as Satomi and Chao started to believe in Matt's detective work in astonishment. "What remote are you talking about?" said Nami saying she doesn't know anything.

Matt turns to the janitor. "Miyoko, you said some electronic equipment went missing in the lab when you are cleaning the room, yet the door was locked tight before you entered."

"Correct Matt," the janitor replied, "I still don't see how some of that stuff went missing."

"Well, there's one explanation I know how that happened." Matt reached into his left pocket and pulled out the crumpled hairpin that had a cracked daisy gem on it. He showed the pin to everyone.

"Hey, that's my pin. How did you…" Nami suddenly froze when she realized she slipped.

"So it's your pin?" Matt said with curiosity. "You see, Satomi and Chao found this pin in the lab during the tryout incident. Taking a closer look at this pin. You can see its shape like a lockpick, and it looked like it's just been used. I knew this was one of your hairpins when you invited us to your dorm room, and I saw all those pictures during your science competition days. One of those pictures has you holding a gold trophy with a blue ribbon on it.

I noticed and saw in the picture and in your hair pigtails you have the same hairpins as the one I am holding. This proves one point: you used one of your hairpins as a lockpick to sneak inside the lab and stolen a remote with some tools to make modifications on Satomi and Chao's machine so you can control the machine. You use this pick to get inside the lab to bring back the machine to its proper place as if nothing bad happened to it. You know the lab very well like it was your own room. You cleaned up any traces of clues from yourself to cover up your crime. Unfortunately for you, you dropped this lockpick hairpin when left the lab as evidence."

Nami started to panic a little, then she smirks at Matt. "Th-that is absurd. You are just making that whole tale up."

"Am I? Well, if I am, let me see what's inside your bag."

"Why are you accusing me? I'm not…"

"I know I could be wrong, but just to make sure, let me see what's in your bag."

"Why would you say that?" Chisame asked.

Matt replies to the laptop girl, "She's hiding the evidence. If she tossed the evidence in some trash can, and the police would do a police investigation for Satomi and Chao's case, the investigators would find the evidence proving at one point that Satomi and Chao are tricked."

Nami slowly backed away from Matt. "I told you, I'm innocent. I have nothing to do with this madness."

Matt stepped closer to Nami. "If you're innocent, why are you walking away from me and refuse to let me see your bag?"

Nami started to shake and sweat as she took a few more steps back. She then quickly turned around and started to run away, but she was blocked and grabbed by two policemen. "Let me go! I didn't do it!"

The captain of the policemen orders Satomi and Chao to be released. He then turns to the two guards holding Nami. "Men, let me see her bag." One of the policemen got Nami's bag and throws it at the captain. He caught the bag and started to frisk inside of it. After scampering around in the bag for a few seconds, he makes a surprising discovery. He then looks at Matt. "You young man… are something special," the captain said with amazement.

"NO! DON'T!" Nami cried.

The police captain reached down inside Nami's bag, grabbed something, and pulled it out. The crowd, Negi, Chamo, and the girls are astonished to see what they witnessed:

A burnt and broken remote controller.

Everyone gasped, even Kazumi, Sayo, and the dean. Nami gritted her teeth hard and drops her head, furiously.

Satomi and Chao walked up to Nami slowly with a confused and sad look on their faces.

"Nami…, b-but… but… why?" Satomi said in depression.

"WHY!? You four-eyed jerks!?" Nami said angrily. "You and Lingshen stole my one chance to become famous throughout the whole world. I was so close to winning and achieving my dream until YOU TWO showed up and ruined everything."

"Us? What do you mean?" Lingshen said in confusion.

"Allow me to explain," said Matt as he steps in for explanation. "Nami, I read a few articles about you that you entered a few science competition conventions over the past few years. And you've won some blue ribbons. Because of your success, you were eligible to enter the Big-Bang Science competition which contained the High IQ award. It said whoever won the competition will receive the High IQ Award, and with that, you will become a famous scientist all around the world.

You entered the contest but lost by one point by Satomi and Lingshen. They had won the trophy while you won the 'Best Effort' ribbon. Furious of your loss, you gave up your competition days and decided to plan an act of revenge to make sure Satomi and Lingshen will feel the same pain as you are Nami. So you pretended to be their 'good friend' so you get their weak points and set them up into a trap. You even put their best friend, Satsuki, in the line of fire too. This was your true intention all along, and YOU were the one behind this heinous crime."

Nami growled at Matt Oda. She couldn't believe that a young man got wise on her. Satomi and Lingshen scrunched their eyebrows and glared at Nami. "Is this true?" Satomi said in an upset mood. Nami growled and turned down.

"Yes," Nami said angrily. "I did all this to make sure you never stand in my glorious dream again." Nami cries yet in an upset mood. "And everything's going well, and my revenge would have been completed… if it wasn't for YOU, Matthew Oda!"

Matt turns around to the whole crowd with one last statement. "And with that everybody, the mystery is solved."

Everyone in the crowd was amazed and awestruck. Everybody clapped their hands and applauded at Matt Oda.

The captain of the policeman stood in front of Matt, bowed and saluted at him. "Great work Mr. Oda," the captain said with a grin. "You are a clever one. We'll take it from here. Thanks for doing your righteous deed." The policemen took Nami Tsuno away and left Mahora Academy.

Satomi and Lingshen walked up to Matt and bowed at him.

"Thanks Matt," said Satomi, "you saved our lives…"

"…And we are eternally honored to you, Oda-san," said Lingshen finishing the sentence.

"Way to go Matt, you saved the day," said Satsuki happily as she walked up towards Matt, Satomi, and Lingshen. "I never would've guessed our friend Nami Tsuno is the enemy the whole time. But Matt, you saw right through her plans." Matt smiled.

"Matt!" Asuna shouted. She, along with Negi, Konoka, Setsuna, Chisame, and the cheerleaders, are coming towards Matt Oda.

Konoka hugged Matt and cheerily says, "You did it, Matt. You saved our brainy friends."

"You were amazing, Oda-san," Setsuna replied.

"I totally agree with everyone," said Chamo popping out from Negi's pocket, "You were great!"

Matt blushed and scratched behind his head as he smiled. "Aw… thanks guys," Matt said shyly. "But I couldn't save Satomi and Lingshen, or solve this mystery, without your help. I am happy that everyone is okay."

Chisame walked up to Matt with a small smile. "You are great Matt," Chisame said. "Surprise that you have quite the detective talent for a person who has no family." Satomi, Lingshen, and Satsuki blinked and turn their faces into questioning looks.

"Thanks, Chisame," Matt replied, "and thanks for your help too." He then looks at the sunset and then looks at his watch, which is in 12 hour time, that says 5:48 p.m. "Well, it's getting late, and we had a big day. So I'll see you guys tomorrow." Matt stretched his arms and starts heading back to the dorm. Negi, Asuna, Konoka, and Setsuna followed Matt, complimenting him on his second success.

Chisame, Satomi, Lingshen, and Satsuki stayed behind, but Satomi went to up Chisame for a question. "Hey Chisame, what did you mean that he has no family'"

Chisame looked backed at Satomi with a surprising look and says, "He didn't tell you?" Satomi and the others shook their heads. "Well, you see, Matt Oda is really an orphan."

"Huh?" the three girls responded.

As everyone was heading back home, Kazumi and Sayo were talking to each other.

"Wow, I can't believe it," said Sayo floating above Kazumi. "That Matt Oda is really good."

"I know, right?" Kazumi replied. "He certainly showed that menacing girl a thing or two."

"Did you get a picture of him?"

"No, unfortunately. The crowd covered up Matt's face. But even if I did, he'll probably say not to put his pictures on any news articles yet."

"Right, he still has that phobia of girls." Sayo then makes a curious face. "But I really like to meet him one day."

"I'm sure you will, Sayo. Right now, I've got a scoop to write."

The next day everyone in Negi's class, the students are looking and discussing a news article that Kazumi wrote on the Mahora News. Asuna, Konoka, and Setsuna stepped inside the classroom and see their classmates gathered at Ayaka's seat, about a few feet away from the professor's desk. The trio girls got closer to the group.

"Hey, what's going on?" Asuna questioned.

"Haven't you heard?" Yuna replied, "This Matthew fellow solved another crime."

"Yep, he sure did." Ako said, "He made the news again. Look." She pointed at the article for Asuna, Konoka, and Setsuna to look at. The three girls leaned and looked at the article and read the printing.

"Young Gentleman Matthew Oda Clears Satomi and Lingshen's Name.

Nami Tsuno is Guilty of the Angry Mob Incident."

"Well, I'll be," Setsuna said with admiration, "he did it again."

"Yep, he made the news twice," Konoka replied cheerfully.

"It's still a shame there's no picture of him," Makie complained. She turns to Kazumi. "Kazumi how come you didn't get his face?"

"Remember Makie?" Kazumi replied. "He has this fear of girls. If I post his face on the news…"

"Then ever girl in this academy will come running toward him, and he'll be scared stiff," says Ayaka finishing Kazumi's statement. "I see your point."

"Oh yeah… I forgot about that," said Makie in embarrassment.

The Narutaki twins started to ask.

"You met him before, so what's he like?" Fuka said.

"Yeah, is he good?" Fumika said.

"Well… I say he's very smart." Kazumi replied.

"VERY SMART?" said Sakurako in surprise grabbing everyone's attention, "He's totally awesome!"

"You should've seen him how smart and brave he was when he apprehends that malicious girl that tried to put our scientist friends in trouble," Misa said.

"Yeah, he was like one of those famous detectives from those famous books," Madoka said.

"You mean like Sherlock Holmes?" Nodoka asked.

"Yeah, you could say that," Madoka replied.

Everyone started talking on and on about Matthew Oda. Asuna, Konoka, and Setsuna looked at each other and smiled.

"Pretty soon, he's going to be famous here at Mahora Academy," Setsuna said.

"Yep, but I hope this doesn't affect his girl phobia problem." Asuna said.

Just then, the classroom door opened and in came Professor Negi. Every student sees him and went back to their seats. While standing, every student bowed at the professor and said "good morning." Professor Negi replied happily back at the students and begins his lecture.

Later in the afternoon at the Mystery Club, Matt was polishing and cleaning the chairs and shelves. He then heard a knock on the door and let the person in. In came Negi, along with Chamo in Negi's pocket, Asuna, Konoka, and Setsuna.

"Hey you guys," Matt said with a smile, "how are you today?"

"We're great Matt," Asuna replied. "Our classes are hectic except for Negi's."

"Got any more new members, Matt?" Konoka asked.

"No, not yet, but at least I have you guys." Matt finished wiping and cleaning a chair. "Come in and have a seat." The members took a chair and sat down. Setsuna looked at Matt.

"Hey Matt, you made the news again," Setsuna stated.

"Yes, I did. I read the newspaper this morning."

"With a good report like that, I'll bet the odds of gaining new members will be thick," Chamo thought.

"I'm sure it will, but you never know who's going to show up and when."

Just then, a knock was heard of the club's door. Matt turned and let the person inside. The door opened…

And at the club's front door are Satomi, Lingshen, and Satsuki.

Matt took a few steps closer to them. "Oh, hey you three. What can I do for you?" Matt asked. "Are you in trouble again?"

"No, not this time Matt," Satomi replied. "But we want a favor from you."

"What is it?"

The three girls pulled out an application form and held it in front of their chest. Lingshen smiled, "May we join your club Matt-san?"

Matt's jaw dropped a little and was a little surprised. The other members were a little shocked too. "Really, you want to be in the club?" Matt said in astonishment.

"We owe you one, Matt," Satomi said. "But that's not the only thing."

"What do you mean?"

Satomi, Lingshen, and Satsuki turned their heads back to the front door.

Chisame then appeared and entered the club. "Chisame?" Matt questioned. She looked at Matt with a confirmed look on her face. She also holds an application form for the club.

"Matt, I told them what happened to your parents and how lonely you were." Matt blinked. "We understand you are trying to let go of that sad feeling and start focusing on making a new life, but deep down inside, you have this pain that you need someone to cure it. Matt, we like to join your club so we can be by your side at all times. Plus, we have taken an interest in how well you've solved the incident and apprehended Nami."

"Yes Matt," Lingshen said, "may we join your club?"

Matt smiled and took a pen from the podium. He asks the girls to give him the application forms. He writes his name on the forms and puts them into one of his folders. He turns around to the girls and says, "I don't know what to say, except… welcome to the Mystery Club."

"Welcome aboard, girls." Asuna said as she walked towards them.

"Glad you can be with us," Setsuna said with glee.

"Have a seat, girls," Chamo called out and standing on the table, "We got a lot of stuff here you like, mostly mystery stuff."

Satomi, Lingshen, and Satsuki got a chair and began to talk with Negi and the other girls at the table. Matt Oda walked towards Chisame, and Matt noticed her presence.

"Hey-a thanks, Chisame," Matt said, "for understanding my feelings from my lost parents. But it's okay, someone told me 'You gotta put your past behind you, and start focusing on your future.' And I followed that rule."

"I know Matt," Chisame replied. "But I just thought everyone should know about your situation. It is a very sad thing to happen."

Matt grinned a little. "Thanks again, Chisame."

"To be honest, I lost my parents as well."

Matt blinked and opened his mouth a little. "Really, Chisame? Huh, I guess we both have some things in common."

"Yeah, but don't tell anyone about it. Keep this as our little secret."

"Understood Chisame."

Matt looked backed at the members watching them talking and smiling to each other. Matt felt like this club is gathering of best friends.