5) Game On, Mystery Club
Part 4
Somewhere out of the campus and hidden in the alleyway, the man who sabotaged the hurdle race steps inside a black van and closed tightly. There he encountered a woman who behind the wheel.
"Great work," said the mysterious woman, "The first phase of our plan is complete." She then starts the van. "We're moving on to the next phase."
"Before you drive," the man interrupted the woman, "There is something you and the boss need to know."
"What is it?"
The man took a deep breath and sigh. "That Matt Oda is on the case to stops us."
The woman blinked in a little surprise. "Then we better report this to the boss, pronto." She presses the gas pedal and drives off into the streets.
Back at the Mahora Sports Games and at the hurdle race, the audience is still worried about what happened to Shinju. She was taken to the clinic for her leg to be healed. The announcer and Jirou Kayaku, the sponsor and president of the Games, make a word to everyone, starting with Jirou.
"Ladies and Gentleman," Jirou speaks, "I know it was a terrible sight and that the hurdle was rigged, but I can assure you it will never happen again. My security team will be at large scouting the perpetrator of this foul play. You will all be safe, and I will guarantee you that this Sports Games will be the best year of all!" The audience started to calm down. "So, in the meantime everyone, turn those frowns upside-down, and let's continue the annual Mahora Spring Wrap-up Sports Games."
"You heard him, everyone!" said the announcer of the Games. "Let's this keep this show going and have some FUN!" Everybody in the audience shouted in excitement as the Sport Games continued.
Ako, Yuna, Makie, Akira, and Misora felt relieved that the Games can continue after the hurdle incident. Ako, however, makes a mean and suspicious look. "I know a certain cheater and bossy pants that might have rigged that hurdle to hurt Shinju." She thought. She turns towards the group that really made Ako and her Team mad yesterday afternoon: Chika and her team. "They said they would do anything impossible and unthinkable to win the games. And I'll bet that must be it." Ako kept glaring at Chika and her team, knowing they're responsible for the crime.
After the first long day of Games, every athlete was getting tired and ready to hit the haystack. Some athletes won gold, silver, and bronze during their sports games and are very proud of themselves.
At the soccer field, the announcer and Jirou came forth in front of the audience and makes their announcement. Jirou was the first one to speak to everyone, "Thank you all for participating in these wonder sports games, Mahora students. You all did a fine job and showed your determined skills. And everyone in the stands, I want to thank you too for supporting our athletes. Our first day of the Sport Games has ended, but more will be coming in our way tomorrow. So thank you all, and we hope to see you tomorrow morning!" Jirou bowed at the audience and left the scene.
"And there you have folks," the announcer stated. "Our first day of the Games has ended. So rest up well athletes and everyone else, and we will see you tomorrow on the second day of the Games. Good night everyone!" The audience shouted in excitement, and every athlete went home and washed up for tomorrow.
That late afternoon in the Mystery Club, Matt and his team went over what happened at the hurdle race incident today. Matt was near the chalkboard that has a diagram of the hurdle race and its surrounding areas. Everyone else is at their seat watching Matt Oda.
"So how do you think he managed to do it, Matt-san?" Konoka asked with Setsuna, sitting next to her.
"He must've rigged that hurdle last night," Matt responded at observes his diagram carefully.
"How can you tell-degozaru?" Kaede pondered with Mana and Fei Ku sitting next to her.
"Remember the dean said that his staff people saw suspicious activity last night at the Sport Games." He turns to his team, and everyone nodded in understanding. "I'll bet my hat, that's how the perpetrator manages to rig that hurdle before the first day of the games started."
"There's just one thing though that confuses me," Satomi questioned Matt. "How did he manage to get inside the field if there were security all around the area?"
"That's what I like to know too," Matt replied while thinking a solution of Satomi's question.
"So then, what should we do?" Haruna asked with Nodoka and Yue at her side.
Matt paused a moment and thinks up a plan. He then comes up with a thought. "There's one thing we can do," he said to his team, "We are going for a stakeout."
"A steak out?" Fei Ku said in confusion. "But we are not ordering any steaks for dinner, we are in a case."
Everyone in the room collapsed to the floor in great embarrassment. "No, Fei Ku!" Yue called to her. "A stakeout, you know, night guard watching."
"Ooohhhh! Right, I got it." Fei Ku put her hand behind her head.
"A stakeout?" Mana replies with a curious mood. "I like that."
"I have to get permission from the dean, so we check out the Sport Games during our investigation," Matt said to everyone in the room. "If we keep our eyes peeled open and extra careful of our surroundings, we may able to capture the perpetrator before he gets away. And since we're a big team, we may have the advantage of capturing him if we split into groups and surround the enemy."
"That might be a bad idea Matt," Yue replied. "Doing a stakeout may give us a clue and finding out who our enemy is."
"Well then, who's with me?" Matt asked as he stares at his team. Everyone raised their hands. "Alright, let's head out to the track and field."
Later that night, the Mystery Club people were at the track and field again searching for any unusual activity. Half are inside the stadium looking around the field, while the other group is outside of the stadium walls. Matt is on the ground with Negi, Chamo, Asuna, and Chisame looking around.
Matt grabs his video-talkie and makes a chat. "Anything yet, everyone?" he asked and called the rest of the team.
"Nothing here," Mana called and responded. She is with Kaede, Fei Ku, and the twins that were outside the stadium walls.
"We're looking, but no luck," Haruna replies with her device, as she, Nodoka, Yue, Satsuki, Satomi, and Chao are lookouts at the high end of the sitting stands. They were looking outside the stadium for a bird's eye view.
"And there's nothing here either," Chachamaru replied as she, Eva, Konoka, and Setsuna were on the other end of the stadium looking around the area.
Matt puts down the talkie and sighs. "Still no luck," Matt said as he was growing a little bit impatient.
"It's been about two hours here, and I'm starting to get…tired," Negi said while he is yawning at the same time.
"You can't go to sleep yet, bro," Chamo commanded. "We still need to apprehend that culprit who sabotages the hurdle race."
Chisame started to yawn too and speaks, "…I'm starting to get tired too. But we can stop and fall asleep."
"She's right." Asuna followed as she is still wide awake. "That ungrateful culprit could show up any minute."
Just then, Matt spotted something that was coming out from the halls of the stadium corridors. It looked like two young girls coming and walking towards Matt's team. "Everyone, look," Matt called to his partners. Negi and girls looked at where Matt is watching and sees the two shadow girls walking closer to the field. "Get ready, everyone," he whispered so he can't draw attention to the incoming intruders. They all got their stance up as the two girls approached the field. Then in the light of the moon, it showed not criminals, but…
"Misora? Makie?" Matt called out by surprise. Indeed, Misora and Makie in their sweat gyms outfits.
The two heard Matt's voice and notice him and his pals. "Hey Matt, Negi-kun, girls," Misora called out to them. The two girls went to the team.
"What are you guys doing at the time of the night?" Makie asked.
"We are asking you the same thing," Chisame said with a little surprise.
"Well," Misora started to answer. "we got permission and came back out here to the field again because Makie left her favorite ribbon behind."
"Yeah, sorry about that," Makie said as she blushed in embarrassment. She then looked up to Matt, Negi, and the others. "So, what are you guys doing here, anyway?"
"We're on a stakeout patrol to try and capture the criminal that rigged the hurdle earlier today," Matt responded to Makie.
"Yes, all of us from the club are on the lookout for that perpetrator." Negi followed.
"So I see," Misora said and understood. "You think he's going rig one of the equipment tonight and plans to sabotage the games the first thing tomorrow morning during the games."
"If so, then yes," Matt responded. "But not if we capture him first before he starts to do any evil action."
Makie looked everywhere to find her ribbon. Then she stops and spots her ribbon sitting on a bench near drinking water fountains. "There's my ribbon," she said with glee. Makie races towards it, while Misora, Negi, Matt, and the other girls watch Makie get her ribbon back. Makie got to the bench and picks it up. She then turns back to her friends. "Okay! I got it!"
Misora smiled. "Well guys, be careful," Misora warned to Negi, Matt, the other girls.
"And you be careful too Misora," Negi told her. Misora smiles and winks at Negi.
Meanwhile, hiding behind some sports equipment and stands that were on the side of the field, a shadowy man sees the girls, Matt, and Negi standing outside on the field. He makes a complete concern look. "Crap, what are those kids doing here?" he said in a worried mood. "I have to get out here quietly before they apprehend me." The shadow man tiptoes quietly out of the sporting equipment and tries to head for the corridors of the stadium. He was almost there until…CLICK! CLACK!He jolted in surprise when accidentally knocked over a hurdle to the ground.
Negi, Matt, and the girls heard the sound, including Misora and Makie, and turns towards it. "What was that?" Misora wondered in surprise.
Then Matt spotted the shadow man sneaking and running away for his life. Matt gasped and sees the man escaping. "There he is!" Matt yelled. "Get Him!" Matt, Negi, and the girls went after the man. Misora and Makie decided to chase along with Matt and the others. Matt grabs his video-talkie and calls out to other teammates. "This is Matt Oda," he said to the other members, "We spotted the culprit. He's heading out to the right side of the stadium. Catch him, and don't lose him!"
"We're on it Matt!" Mana shouted and replied. The rest of the members left their positions and headed towards the side of the stadium.
The chase is on as the man and Matt's team were in the corridors of the stadium. They all passed through some rooms and are close to the doors leading outside of the stadium. The man is getting close to the exit, but…
"Not so fast!" Mana shouted as she and the rest of the club blocked the doorway.
The man didn't stop, but he pulled out a smoke bomb and throws it to the gang waiting outside. The smoke bomb exploded, and the team at the exit doors was blind by the fog. They also started coughing and can't see where the runaway culprit is. Then the man came forth to the team and pushed them to side, knocking them to the ground. The shadow man is outside on the campus streets.
Negi, Matt, and the other girls approached the other team members. "Girls! Are you alright!?" Matt said as he crouches down to them.
"We're fine Matt," Kaede told him, "but hurry and catch him-degozaru!"
Matt and Negi see the criminal getting away and escaping into the city streets. "Hey, stop!" Matt yelled at the man. Matt and Negi were on the pursuit again. The two were hot on the man's tail as he tries to reach the city's streets. The suspect is about a few yards away when all of a sudden, the getaway man tripped. Something fell out of his pocket, but when the criminal looked back and sees Matt and Negi gaining upon him, he got on his feet and started to run away again. He is reaching to city streets and turns on an intersection.
Matt and Negi were coming up to the intersection, but when they got there, the man was gone. They missed their chance to stopped. "Blast! We almost had him." Matt complained.
"I'm sorry Matt," Negi said in sorrow. Matt turned to Negi. "I wasn't fast enough to catch him. If I used magic, I would…"
"No Negi, I'm glad you didn't use your magic," Matt said as he tries to comfort him. "If you did, I don't know what he'll do and say to everyone." Matt then makes a gentle smile, and Negi smiles back at Matt.
Asuna and Chisame showed up at Matt and Negi's side, but they were too late. "Damn it, he got away," Chisame complained.
"One thing for sure, he's good at running." Asuna pointed out. Matt heard what Asuna said and kept that statement in mind.
"Hey, Matt!" Makie calls out to him. Matt turned to Makie, who she and Misora were coming up to him.
"What is it?" Matt asked.
"I found this," Makie responded, "I think that guy drop this." In Makie's hand is an I.D. card in a plastic card cover with a little metal clip on it. Makie gives the card to Matt, and he looks at it.
Matt observes the card, and it depicted something intriguing to Matt. It shows the man's face, his name on the bottom of his picture, and on the side says Mahora Spring Wrap-up Sports Games Staff Member. Matt makes a firm look and says, "Interesting."
