A/N: Can't believe it's almost Christmas. Time sure does fly. Is anyone already counting their presents?
Chapter 6: Kitora Mirja
Together, Ryosei and Shun carried Fumiko's body to her bedroom and laid her there, covered with a sheet. Judging by how they looked at their dead employer as if she was already fully decomposed, I knew that their skin was crawling at having to even touch her. Right after the necessary deed was done, Shun quickly retreated back to the servants' quarters, his face ashen and sallow. Ryosei had more control over nerves, albeit not much. One could tell that he was just as close to a nervous breakdown. Nevertheless, he was able to restrain himself and first used the telephone in the foyer, before saying that he'd bring up some tea.
By mutual agreement, Kanami and I decided on holding our questioning in the drawing-room—mainly because it was the warmest room in the house. Just sitting on one of the cream-coloured sofas, next to the warmth of the lively fireplace, almost made one forget there was a body upstairs. On the large coffee table of polished wood, Kanami had placed the notebook she always carried with her—her most important tool as she once claimed.
Sanae, who was permitted to stay, asked, "Is there anyone we can eliminate?"
"Well, physique comes into factor here," I said. "Murasaki Fumiko had noro in her blood. Not to mention she was at least six feet tall—abnormal for the average Japanese person. Mirja and Chie could have done it considering how they're the tallest of the group and have the biggest hands. The others are way too small. Kofuki maybe could've stood a chance because of her stamina, but she's normally stronger with an okatana."
Kanami nodded. "But even so, struggling against Fumiko-sama would've been difficult for just one person. So, you see..."
She gave a knowing smile, which I returned. Only Sanae was confused, her glance fluctuating between Kanami and I.
"I don't understand," she said.
"Sanae, it is simple. This could've been a crime committed by not just one person," I told her.
At that moment, Ryosei entered the drawing-room with the tea tray. It held a beautiful china teapot and cups, cream and sugar, along with a plate of cookies and macarons.
"I telephoned for help, m'lady," Ryosei said. "However, as I predicted earlier this morning, they will not be able to come until Monday, due to this weather."
"Thank you, Nagata Ryosei. That'll do for now," I said. "Could you please bring Kitora Mirja here for our inquiry?"
The butler responded respectfully with a deep bow that it would be done. Within moments, Mirja came into the drawing-room, looking as serious as ever. The occurrence of Fumiko's death did not seem to have fazed her. If it did, she hid it well. There were no signs of any cracks in her restrained emotional state. It was no wonder that she was chosen to be the commanding figure of the Akabane Sword Team. Mirja had every single virtue of a good leader—pragmatism, self-control, patience, and high intelligence. If Minato, Kanami's baby stepsister, wasn't next in line to the Origami Seat of Power, I might've chosen Mirja as an optional successor.
"Thank you for coming, Kitora-san," Kanami said, pouring her a cup of tea.
"No need to express your gratitude, Etou Kanami. I understand that this is necessary, considering the circumstances," Mirja replied.
My girlfriend nodded. "Can we first see your Toji ID handbook, Kitora-san? It is merely a routine procedure."
"Certainly."
Mirja presented it from her uniform pocket, handing it over. Going over it thoroughly, Kanami copied down the information with a pen into her little notebook.
Giving it back to Mirja, she then said, "Now, Kitora-san, you mentioned when we first arrived at Hakuchou Manor that the Akabane Sword Team was assigned a mission in this area, correct?"
"That is so."
"And Chairwoman Wilkinson's orders were to find an Akabane Sword near here?"
"Correct."
I interrupted, "How did she give you your orders exactly? Over the phone? By letter? Email?"
"An official document was sent to me directly," Mirja answered. "The reason why my teammates and I left at the last minute was that it had been unfortunately delivered to the wrong individual at first. The letter had been actually sent about five days ago."
"You wouldn't happen to have brought it, would you?" I asked.
"Yes, I will fetch it for you." Mirja went away and returned a minute later with the paper in hand.
Kanami and Sanae looked over my shoulder. The letter read:
Dear Kitora Mirja:
I have been recommended your name, along with those of your teammates, from amongst the official Toji records. I understand that your team is exceptionally noteworthy by playing a key role in many aradama disaster preventions, along with the duty of recovering Akabane Swords.
Recently, the American Toji Ministry of Defence has located the presence of a severely hazardous Akabane Sword in the Aomori wilderness. Its exact location is unknown at present. I expect you and your team to take up your duties immediately, without delay. You will be met at Shin-Aomori Station on December 23 at precisely 13:30 by the chauffeur of Murasaki Fumiko, who has agreed to be your hostess.
Sincerely,
Chairwoman Wilkinson
I frowned after reading the document. Just as I thought before, this was an absolute violation of the law! Giving orders on a whim—what was Chairwoman Wilkinson thinking? My eyes reread the letter. There was something just not right about all this...
"Well," Kanami breathed, "you and your teammates certainly had no suspicions about this mission."
Mirja looked down at her hands, which were folded on her lap. "Well, yes. Orders are orders. There were no doubts whatsoever."
After taking a sip of her tea, Kanami said, "The task before us is to know the movements of everyone in this house. Please tell us yours starting from after Hiyori-chan and I left the drawing-room last night."
"Very well. My team and I finished the murder mystery game at precisely 9:45. At ten o'clock, Asakura Mihono and Shichinosato Kofuki left. I went out right after them. I think I also saw Suzumoto Hana coming out behind me. Well, I went to my room to grab my laptop; I wanted to do some work. I returned to the drawing-room with it."
"What were you working on, if you don't mind me asking?" Kanami asked.
"University homework."
"Ah, I see. Continue."
"At 10:10, Musumi Kiyoka and Setouchi Chie declared that they'd check out the library and left. Five minutes later, Yamashiro Yui left the drawing-room. I continued working for an hour until Setouchi Chie returned and we fell into conversation. We decided that it was of the essence to discuss this mission we had undertaken. At around half past eleven, Shichinosato Kofuki came back. I saw her open another bottle of sparkling apple juice. Fifteen minutes later, Setouchi Chie left saying that she was going to bed. And then at midnight, Shichinosato Kofuki and I went up together to go to bed ourselves."
In my head, I added attention to detail to Mirja's already long list of admirable traits.
Trying to jot down everything as quickly as possible, Kanami asked, "And at no point, during the time you were in the lounge from ten to midnight, did you leave?"
"No."
"What about after you went to bed? Did you get up?"
"No."
"Witnessed or heard anything suspicious?" I asked.
With a sigh, Mirja adjusted her glasses. "I assure you that nothing happened, Hiyori-sama."
Tapping her pen against her notebook, Kanami asked, "Did you know Fumiko-sama before you arrived at Hakuchou Manor?"
"I heard about her family. Never met her before until yesterday," Mirja said.
"And what did you think of her?"
Of all the questions Mirja was expecting, I bet she wasn't expecting that. I could tell by how her eyebrows slightly rose.
"She seemed...civil. Perhaps a bit distant."
"You did not view her as cold and maybe resentful towards the company of you and your team?" I asked, not bothering to hide my frank tone.
"If she was, I did not pay attention," Mirja answered.
"But you are a Toji leader; you have the sharp observation for detail," I said.
Her face was stoic as ever, Mirja did not respond at first, instead drinking a few sips of her tea. "Let's just say my mind was preoccupied with our strange mission and the unrestrained behaviour of my teammates."
A valid answer, I guessed, recalling last night's dinner scene. However, my eidetic memory also remembered the many instances of how Mirja kept looking at me and Kanami. Although Kanami's lack of table manners would attract the disdainful gaze of any individual, I certainly had not been slurping my soup. So, why had Mirja been so keen on keeping an eye on us? I asked her this.
"It is a habit of mine to observe people and figure them out," replied Mirja. "You have seen how...earnest I am when it comes to talking about an individual's signature traits. It is an interesting manner I find in learning about other people."
"And just what did you 'observe', Kitora-san?" Kanami asked.
A blush showed on Mirja's cheeks. "That you, Etou Kanami, prefer eating foods with lots of protein to build strong muscles for your kenjutsu skills. And you, Hiyori-sama, have been trying to consume foods that are said to enlarge your—"
"Okay, okay, we get it!" I cried. Sanae covered her mouth to hide a giggle.
Reaching for a cookie, Kanami said, "Back to the topic of Fumiko-sama—were you aware, Kitora-san, about her true identity?"
"I don't understand."
"Do you remember the 11/9 terrorist attacks last year?"
As composed as Mirja kept her face, the twitching underneath her left eyelid betrayed her. "Of course. Very shocking and inhumane it was."
"Did you know that Fumiko-sama was the principal instigator?" Kanami questioned.
Her voice full of displeasure, Mirja responded, "No, I hadn't. Is it really true?"
"Unfortunately, it is," I said.
"I have no words..." she sighed. "None at all. It's just—too much to take in."
I put forth an essential question. "On that awful day, did you lose anyone in particular?"
Staring into her teacup, Mirja said, in an abnormal quiet voice, "Of course. A few former schoolmates when I was still at Ayanokouji, but that was it."
"And how did that make you feel?" Kanami asked.
Mirja stared as if the question was obvious, which fundamentally it was. "On the day of the disaster, I was still studying abroad in England. I only learned about it on the news. My schoolmates and I watched it live as it happened. Seeing those two towers fall...it was horrible."
After a short pause, she added, "When I returned to Japan, it was like a different world to me. Everything and everyone were just so..."
She didn't have to say anymore. "We understand, Kitora Mirja," I told her.
Staring down at her notebook, Kanami tugged on her short ponytail. I knew she only did so whenever her nerves were tingling, preparing for something unpleasant.
"Um, Kitora-san, is there anyone in particular you think might've murdered Fumiko-sama?" she asked.
For the first time, Mirja displayed clear emotion, her face forming into a deep frown. "None of my teammates are murderers."
"Sorry, sorry. It's just a question of psychology I tend to ask those I interview," Kanami said. "Just get a sense of how they think. Kind of like you, Kitora-san."
Mirja said nothing at this. "Is that all?"
"Yes, thank you, Kitora Mirja," I said.
"What did you both think of her?" Sanae asked after Mirja left the drawing-room.
"She was straightforward enough when it came to her testimony of her whereabouts," Kanami said. "Perhaps a bit general on some questions. Even so, she did not try hiding her resentment for Fumiko-sama after we told her the truth."
"What strikes me most suspicious is that document from Chairwoman Wilkinson," I added. "There is something she wrote that doesn't add up. I can't quite make it out yet."
"Let it come to you on its own, Hiyori-chan. One thing private investigation has taught me is that when you're not trying too hard to dwell on it, it'll add up to you eventually all at once when you have all the clues together. In the meantime, let's talk with Setouchi-san."
A/N: That was the first suspect, Kitora Mirja. Next chapter will be Setouchi Chie.
