09/11
-Daytime-
Tanabachi called me out for what I assumed would be a dance lesson, but it was a bit strange. She told me to wear my practice outfit and bring a mask if I had one and come meet her on the hill overlooking Inaba. I wondered if she just happened to be in town at the moment and maybe she wanted to head back to Okina together, but didn't realize what exactly I was getting into until I showed up on the hill in my practice outfit and my grey hoodie over it and she was giving me a grin that made me uneasy. She motioned me over to a flatter space on the grass at the top of the hill.
"Alright! We'll have practice here today!" She announced, setting up a music player on top of a handkerchief spread on the ground. "You can take off your hoodie and shoes now if you'd like."
"Huh? Y-You're joking, right? Someone will definitely see here!" I protested, immediately getting embarrassed at the thought of dancing way out in the open like this without the rain.
"But that's why we're going to practice here. You need to be more comfortable with yourself, Kyoka-chan." Tanabachi said, kicking off her shoes and smiling at me as she shrugged off her jacket to reveal her beaded bra that looked more like an actual costume piece than a practice one.
"Th-There's no way. I'm not ready." I waved my hands frantically and shook my head.
"I thought you might be like this...So, did you bring the mask?"
"Huh? Uh, yeah...Is this good enough?" I dug the fox mask I got from the festival out of my bag to show her. "But what did you want me to bring it for, Tanabachi-sensei?"
"Put it on." She smiled gently at me as she took the mask from my hands and carefully placed it over my face, then put her hands on my shoulders. "If no one can see your face, it's less embarrassing, isn't it? They won't know who you are."
"Ah...It's still kind of..." I muttered, but sighed and took off my hoodie, although the cool wind on my skin made me shiver slightly as I put it with my bag and kicked off my shoes. "Okay...I can try."
"Good girl." She smiled at me and put her hands together, looking pleased as I positioned my feet hip-width apart and stretched a bit. "You're still a bit tense, though...I know this is hard for you, and I'm not asking you to try and get into preforming or anything, but I think your dancing will benefit from it if you can get used to practicing in a public place. It'll help you loosen up more."
"...My movements are still too rigid sometimes." I acknowledged with a slight nod, although trying to relax and actually doing it were two entirely different things. "I'm still self conscious though...I don't see a lot of girls showing their stomachs around here. It'll stand out." My voice was quiet and muffled by the mask, but I think my teacher caught the slight whine in it.
"You need to stop worrying about that. You like dancing like this, so let's dance!" She put the music on and then proceeded to stand in front of me to begin a lesson like usual.
She did the movements and I mirrored them, or at least tried to, for a while until she decided to test me and stopped showing me what to do and instead just instructing me. I felt embarrassed to be the only one dancing, but I'd feel bad if she went out of her way like this and I didn't at least try to get over it.
"Now do full body undulations starting with to the right-" Tanabachi cut herself off while I began to do what I was told, then called out something that made me freeze. "Excuse me, sir, could you please go on your way? I'm trying to teach my student right now."
"Oh, sorry! Sorry, I was just wondering what you were doing over here." A familiar voice came and I turned around to see Adachi smiling apologetically and rubbing at the back of his neck. "That music is kind of loud. Someone might complain."
"Ah, I see. Sorry, I'll turn it down." Tanabachi went to turn down the volume, and then paused it before coming to stand next to me. "Excuse us, I'm just trying to work on my student's reservations about dancing in public. She's quite good at it for her age, but she's embarrassed to show it off to anyone else." She seemed to be actively avoiding using my name.
"Oh, is that so? I have no idea about what kind of dance you were doing, but it wasn't bad to watch." Adachi smiled at me, although he looked somewhat confused as I shrank back behind Tanabachi a bit.
"It's bellydancing. We were just going over the basics though, so it wasn't really a proper dance." Tanabachi dismissed him a bit curtly, but was smiling. "We were about to move on to improvising, so if you'd please move on, sir. I'm afraid she won't be able to loosen up if you remain, and besides, I'm sure you were on your way somewhere as well."
"Oh, right. Sorry, I'll go." Adachi left pretty quickly after that and we decided to take a break for drinks before continuing once the area was clear again.
As she said, we moved onto improv for a couple different songs. It was usually drum solos or things with a proper beat, but then Tanabachi decided she wanted to test me and put on a more modern Japanese song I thought I'd heard once or twice before and told me to just go with the flow. I was a bit off for the first little bit, but then I got into it and just went with doing whatever my body felt like.
"Yes, yes! When you just let the music guide you...That's the best!" Tanabachi clapped once the song finished and went to pause it before smirking as she looked past me at something. "Ah, looks like you've captivated another passerby."
"Huh?" I turned to look, but whether it was the mask limiting my vision or the fact the person had hidden or run away, I didn't see anyone.
"Well, let's wrap up there for today. You look cold, so why don't I treat you to some hot chocolate and a snack on the way back to the station?"
"O-Okay..." I nodded to my teacher and picked up my hoodie to pull on and zip up. I did feel a bit cold, but the dancing had distracted me from the chill and my face felt kind of hot under the mask from the horrid embarrassment I just couldn't smother.
-Evening-
I got home before my mother did and had time to change before she commented on the fact I was wearing a skirt for once, albeit one that was thick and reached my ankles. I then decided to study a bit, if only to keep my grades from slipping now that I got busier.
09/12
-After School-
I went to work today, so I had to get used to it again after going on the school trip and stuff.
-Evening-
I was having a cup of hot chocolate with my parents as we watched TV after supper.
"Good evening, and welcome to Niteline's special Nitewatch Report." The announcer on TV said. "A suspect in the murders in Inaba was safely arrested recently. But what few people know is that the mastermind who brought him to justice was a high school detective. Tonight's report will focus on this Detective Prince, Naoto Shirogane, whose handsome looks are sweeping the nation. Thanks for being on the show."
"No, no, the pleasure is all mine." Shirogane replied as I stared at the TV in shock.
"Oh, his uniform's the same as yours, Kyoka. Do you know him?" Mom asked.
"What the hell is he doing...?" I muttered, face-palming.
"What?" Mom looked at me in utter confusion.
"N-Nothing!"
"First, congratulations to you and the police for your recent arrest of the culprit." The announcer on TV continued, distracting her. "It was well-known that there were a lot of mysteries surrounding this case, and you did a great job clearing them up."
"I'd hesitate to say that the matter is "cleared up," as such. It's true that our suspect was behind Mr Morooka's unfortunate death. But when I cast my eye over the case as a whole, I detect a few things that seem out of place." Shirogane replied.
"Oh...Like what?"
"Unfortunately, I cannot divulge details at this time. But this matter claimed the lives of three people. Hence, I believe even the smallest inconsistency must be investigated."
"I...I see. I have to say, this is a surprise in light of the police's official statement. N-Now for our next segment, "The Detective Prince's True Identity," where Naoto-kun tells us a little bit about himself. Amazingly, the Detective Prince has solved a whopping 24 cases. 16 of them were..."
I finished my drink and headed upstairs, dismissing my mother's questions. I decided to make a note that Shirogane appeared on TV today and go to bed.
09/13
-Early Morning-
"Hi, Senpai." Rise called as she, Yosuke, Chie, Yukiko, and I walked up to Yu on our way to school.
"Yo." Yosuke greeted him.
"Hey, did you see the show on TV last night? Naoto-kun was on!" Chie said.
"That thing about the Detective Prince solving the case? C'mon, we're the ones who actually caught the killer." Yosuke answered.
"Maybe not..." I muttered.
"But the police were the ones who identified the suspect, and he was cooperating with them on it, right? So it's true that he helped solve the case." Yukiko pointed out.
"I'm kinda surprised, though." Chie said. "I didn't think he was the type to go after the spotlight like that."
"Good morning." Shirogane walked up to us then, but he wasn't wearing the school uniform. "I've been waiting for you all. There's something I needed to discuss with you regarding the case."
"Discuss? Dude, we'll be late if we talk too long...Hey, where's your uniform?" Yosuke asked.
"Could you please indulge my current theory on the matter?"
"What is it...?"
Shirogane turned his back to us. "First, as regards commonalities between the victims, all of them were kidnapped before they were murdered. The victims were all locals who had been the focus of recent media attention, becoming suddenly well-known...That is the most likely scenario. I don't believe there's anything intrinsically unique about the victims themselves." He then turned toward us again. "...Haven't you all come to the same conclusion?"
"Yeah, we did." Yu answered and Shirogane slowly nodded.
"Then, allow me to state my point. Will you admit that a number of you fit these identical circumstances?" Shirogane's words seemed to surprise the others as I bit my lip. "There was a long interval between the second and third deaths in this case. But after I applied the aforementioned criteria, I discovered several similar disappearances had taken place. Yukiko Amagi. Kanji Tatsumi. Rise Kujikawa. All of you disappeared shortly after being shown on TV...Either you escaped death somehow, or you faked your own disappearances in order to divert attention from yourselves...Since some of you had ties to the victims, there came a point where I suspected one of you must be the culprit."
"You thought one of us was the killer!? You can't be serious!" Chie got a bit upset.
Shirogane nodded. "This was a prior theory, since discarded. Putting together everything I've learned until this moment, I believe exactly the opposite. You aren't the culprits. You may, in fact, be the only ones with the means to pursue the true perpetrator...Seen as a joining of forces between the rescued, everything falls into place...Of course, this is all speculation." Shirogane turned his back to us again. "There is in fact a flaw in the theory. It doesn't account for the third incident...Mr Morooka's murder. He has never been broadcast on television, and neither did he ever disappear. We must also consider the condition of his corpse. The first two victims are still listed with an unknown cause of death...But Mr Morooka died of an easily identifiable blunt force trauma to the occipital cranium. The police have not satisfactorily resolved this discrepancy, yet they are desperate to close the case. Further action will be necessary to obtain some sort of decisive evidence."
"Further action...? What do you mean?" Chie asked and Shirogane turned toward us again.
"Well, whatever the outcome...the evidence should come to light...You said something interesting to me not long ago." Shirogane walked around us in the opposite direction of the school.
"Hey, where are you going?" Yosuke asked and he stopped.
"This is not a game for me either..."
"Naoto-kun...?" Yukiko mumbled and we watched the boy walk away for a moment.
"...We're going to be late if we don't go to school now, right?" Chie said hesitantly and everyone turned to begin walking toward the school but me.
"Kyoka?" Yukiko noticed.
"...Gaah." I sighed, forcing myself to stop gnawing on my lip and waved them off. "Go ahead without me. I'll catch up."
"H-Hey, where're you going now?!" Yosuke shouted after me as I ran in the direction Shirogane had went.
It didn't take me long to catch up to the boy and I probably surprised him quite a bit by grabbing onto his arm suddenly. He turned around and looked startled as I caught my breath.
"...Kagayami-san...? Do you need something from me?"
I took in a deep breath, letting go of his arm and standing up straight to look him in the eye seriously. "Why bother asking us when you've already acted?"
"What...?" Shirogane's eyes widened slightly, but I couldn't tell if it was surprise or confusion.
"I guess it doesn't matter..." I sighed, then tried my best to be as serious and reassuring as possible. "If you want us to make sure you escape death, then we'll do it. The others might think this is over, but I'll definitely make sure we save you from the real culprit behind this. You wouldn't believe me if I warned you about what will happen anyway, but I know what you're doing and, as much as I think you're a complete dumbass for using yourself as bait in this situation, I hope you can help us when you see for yourself what's going on here and we come rescue you."
Shirogane looked a bit stunned for a moment before giving a small smile and a nod. "I see...You're fully aware of my plans. Then, I will try not to end up a victim. Thank you, Kagayami-san."
I smiled back and nodded as well, about to turn to run back to the school when I thought of something. "Ah, hey, Shirogane-san?"
"Yes?"
"Can I...Call you Naoto-kun like everyone else does?"
"I don't mind. If I may use your first name as well."
"Of course. Then, be careful on your way, Naoto-kun." I waved to the boy with a smile before turning to run toward the school in an attempt to not be late.
Of course, I was still late and had to hand out assignment papers before I could take my seat. I still felt anxious about Naoto's situation, but I had every intention of keeping my word and making sure he wasn't killed.
"Hey, what were you doing?" Yosuke whispered to me once I had been allowed to take my seat.
"Just confirming something." I answered simply and he gave me a doubtful look, but Kashiwagi told us to pay attention and he didn't get a chance to question me further.
-After School-
I hung out with Yukiko at my house today. She wanted to practice her cooking away from the inn's staff, so I offered to let her use our kitchen. My mom was home though, so she ended up offering to help and telling me to cook as well. We had a pretty fun conversation about Yukiko's and my Mom's relationship at work and when we were younger. Neither Yukiko nor I remembered playing together much, but apparently we were both pretty eager to help clean rooms before we started school and folded linen together pretty well. My mom ended up saying she was glad to see us getting along now and hanging out, although she marvelled at Yukiko's ability to make a dish that tasted like nothing in particular again.
09/14
-After School-
I had work today, so I was standing at a till in Junes for a few hours on end, even though it wasn't super busy on rainy days. Then, I got Adachi as a customer.
"Kagayami-san?" He seemed surprised as I began scanning the instant ramen and other not-so-great foods he was purchasing. "You work here?"
"Not for very long, but yeah. I got a part-time job." I answered him with a smile.
"Oh, I see. Why'd you decide to get one?"
"I wanted to earn my own money instead of relying on my parents. And I thought it would be good for me to work."
"Doesn't it get in the way of your studies?"
"Not really. My grades have been the same for a while now, and I don't intend to go to university or anything, so..." I shrugged.
"Really? What do you plan to do after high school?"
"Dunno."
"Wow, isn't that too laid back...?"
I smiled at his off-put reaction. "I was never really good at school, and I don't really want to do anything either. So, if I just worked at a job like this for the rest of my life, I think I'd be fine."
"And your parents are okay with that?"
I tilted my head slightly at him. "Did Dojima not mention to you about my previous illness?"
"Oh, that thing about you having really low energy before...? He said you seemed a lot better now."
I nodded. "I am. But I don't know for how long. If I go to university, there's a high chance I might relapse from the stress and everything, so it's better for me to stay with something simple or familiar."
"Ah, that must be nice. When I was your age, all I did was study to get into university..."
"Sounds rough. Well, I guess you can do whatever in your free time now that you've already gotten a job and everything, right?" I smiled, then finished scanning the last item and told him the price.
"That's...Not really true..." He muttered as he handed me the money and I gave him his change and receipt.
"Cheer up, Adachi-san. At least you're funny and have cool magic tricks." I attempted to encourage him and he just gave me a half-hearted smile.
"Thanks, Kagayami-san."
"Oh, I'm also required to say, "Thanks for your patronage! Please come again!" So, see ya around." I waved to him with a smile as he walked away. Then, once he was gone, I sighed and leaned against the till as I resumed my wait for the next customer to stop by the checkout.
-Evening-
It was raining tonight, so I checked the Midnight Channel, obviously. As much as I wasn't surprised to see Naoto's silhouette appear in the static, I still didn't like to see it.
09/15
-After School-
All of us gathered around Yu's desk after school. It was raining outside.
"So...About the Midnight Channel last night..." Chie started.
"I wonder who that was..." Yukiko responded.
"I talked to Teddie, and he says no one's entered the other side..." Yosuke stated.
"Well, yeah. The killer's been caught." Rise said.
"Yeah..."
"Uh, no." I muttered, crossing my arms, but aside from shooting me some exasperated looks, they apparently decided not to respond and looked at the spaced out Kanji instead.
"Huh...? What's up?" Kanji noticed us looking at him.
"C'mon, get with the program. You saw the TV last night, right?" Yosuke asked.
"So? 'S got nothing to do with us." Kanji answered. "The killer's behind bars, man. You guys are overreacting. That shit Naoto said didn't make any sense either, so there's no use getting all worked up about it."
"Oh, you've got to be kidding me...!" I threw my hands up in frustration.
"Huh...? Naoto-kun?" Yukiko asked him.
"Uh, no, well...How do I put it...?" Kanji seemed to get flustered.
"What, were you out of it 'cause you were still thinking about what Naoto said?" Yosuke laughed a bit. "Haha, so you're still hung up on all that stuff."
"That's-! I ain't hung up on it!"
"It's okay, we all understand. Just don't go overboard, man."
"You little...I said that's not it! Tch...I got stuff to do. I'm outta here." Kanji stormed off and I sighed as I shook my head.
"Stop bringing that up, Yosuke...You know he doesn't think it's funny." Chie scolded.
"Ooh, what? What? Did something happen between Kanji and Naoto-kun!?" Rise asked excitedly.
"W-Well, that aside..." Yukiko changed the subject quickly. "Is it me, or does the town seem kind of strange lately? Everyone is in high spirits, for some reason...And they all talk about other people, but never themselves."
"Really? I don't think it's anything special." Chie said. "Now that the murder case is solved, people feel relaxed, that's all."
"That's how society is. They all just want to get in on the latest trend." Rise stated. "People get excited fast and lose interest even faster...It goes 'round and 'round. There's no underlying reason for it."
"I don't know...It all seems a little too weird..." Yukiko said, causing the rest of us to look at her in question. "It's like...they're all afraid of something. Oh...Sorry. I just had this feeling."
"Huh..." Chie stared at her in thought.
"It's gonna rain again tonight." Yosuke said, looking to the window.
"We should check the Midnight Channel just in case."
We all nodded in agreement, then went home.
-Evening-
I checked the Midnight Channel and, sure enough, the image was clear now. It looked like some sort of crazy laboratory, like something a kid would think up for a mad scientist. The Naoto that walked on screen could probably fit that description, considering the lab coat he was wearing.
"Good evening, everyone. I am the Detective Prince, Naoto Shirogane. Welcome to "Experiment of the Century: The Genome Project". I will be experimenter and experimentee both, in a forbidden yet wonderful bodily alteration process!" Naoto even sounded the part of mad scientist and not at all like his normal self. "You shall witness my departure into a new realm...The moment of a new birth! From the chosen day forth, I shall walk a completely different path in life...! And I will share this glorious occasion, this memorable day, with all of you! Do stay tuned!"
And with that, the TV cut out and I stared at the black screen for a solid minute before I really processed what was going on. It was definitely going to be an "I told you so" moment when we talked about this tomorrow, but I'm not going to say it. It's more important we get Naoto out of the TV as soon as possible.
09/16
-After School-
We all went to the Junes food court after classes. Since I was working due to a call at lunch, the meeting had to wait until I got a break.
"Last night on TV...That was Naoto-kun for sure." Yukiko started.
"What's the verdict, Teddie? Is he really in there?" Chie asked.
"I do smell someone." Teddie confirmed.
"It's just like before...Nothing's changed." Yosuke was frustrated.
"Like...before..." Yukiko repeated before a look of realization crossed her face. "Of course! That's why Naoto-kun appeared on the news so suddenly! He said something didn't seem right, and that he wasn't convinced. He also believed that the people who are kidnapped appear on TV first, remember?"
"Wait, you're saying...he's using himself as bait!?" Yosuke asked. "We came to the conclusion he did, about how people who become famous through TV would disappear. Could he be trying to prove the theory by using himself...?"
"Yup, what else?" I responded with a shrug.
"You mean he got kidnapped on purpose!? That's crazy...He could be killed!" Chie said.
"He said, "This is not a game for me either..." It's all my fault...I'm the one that said that to him..." Rise said.
Kanji slammed his hands on the table suddenly. "That idiot! Why the hell didn't he just tell us!?"
"He did!" I snapped at the angry punk and rolled my eyes. "Did it really take you this long to figure out why he told us about his theory and everything? He just did it subtly, but it wasn't that difficult to know."
"He knew we'd stop him if he told us directly...Instead, he left us clues so we could figure it out and-" Yosuke said, but Kanji cut him off.
"I know! That son of a..."
"B-But...What about the killer the police are holding now?" Chie asked. "Mitsuo did kill King Moron, right?"
"Yeah, but that's all he did." Yu answered.
"Naoto-kun said King Moron was the only one with a known cause of death, so Kubo only killed him, not the others." I explained.
"I get it now...!" Yukiko said.
"That'd explain why there were no signs of King Moron being thrown into the TV..." Yosuke said. "The killer didn't change his methods for King Moron...It just seemed that way 'cause it was done by someone else! It was a copycat like Kyoka was saying before...!"
"Then whoever kidnapped Naoto-kun...That's the real killer!?" Rise asked.
"That's still up for debate..." I muttered, still having doubts about it all being just one person.
"B-But wait a sec..." Chie said. "Didn't Mitsuo say he was the one behind it all? Why would he take the blame for someone else's crime? Isn't that weird? And they said on the news that the culprit confessed to the other murders, too..."
"Confessions can be false." I shrugged. "Kubo was getting a psychological evaluation too, so he was probably mentally ill in the first place."
"There's also something else that's been bothering me, but...Um..."
Kanji stood up suddenly, banging his hands on the table as he did. "To hell with someone who's behind bars! If we don't get off our asses, that stupid Naoto's gonna die in there! We gotta go find him!"
"Kanji's got a point." I agreed and everyone nodded before I checked the time on my phone. "Ah, and I've gotta get back to work. Let me know what happens in the TV later."
Chie and Yukiko came by my till while I wasn't busy to let me know Rise couldn't pinpoint Naoto's location in the TV without some more information about him. Then, they went out with everyone else to ask around town for some info while I promised I'd try and see if any customers or coworkers of mine knew anything useful while I was working. They didn't, of course, but at least I was getting tomorrow off for filling in today and would be able to help them out then.