A/N: Last week, I have received a few private messages from readers, concerning my health. I think it's about time I address the situation clearly. Yes, I have tested positive for COVID-19 about one and a half weeks ago. However, I have only been showing mild symptoms (like coughing and headache). My doctor says I should hopefully recover soon if I self-isolate at home and rest. That is all. I thank you all for your concerns and kind words.
Now, for less grim topics, here's Chapter 3 of "Whodunnit?" This is a slightly longer chapter and that's because the first two chapters were more of an introduction. This is where we start diving deeper into the mystery, so enjoy!
Chapter 3: Night Of Demise
"Seems to most likely be a poisoning, sir."
Mechanically, Inspector Etou adjusted his tie, ruminating over this new information. However, as the inspector wasn't making eye-contact, the policeman he was listening to thought he hadn't heard properly.
Clearing his throat a little, the policeman continued, "We've found a considerable amount of chloral hydrate in a bottle of sleeping medicine on the nightstand. No doubt the medical examiner will find traces of the stuff in the victim's body."
The inspector still spoke no word, but instead pulled out a brass pocket-watch from his suit jacket. However, it was not the time he was looking at, but the small photo inside of a certain purple-haired woman with a laughing face. Kanami, who was right beside her father, recognized it as the same pocket-watch her mother gave to him as an anniversary present. The Minoseki Toji bit her lip, knowing her father only ever looked at the watch to internally talk with his wife.
Which was exactly what Inspector Etou was doing, for this was what he was thinking, 'What do I do, Minato? Yukari-sama is now in Heaven with you, yet I'm left with a case trying to figure out as to how she died. I'm sure if you were still with me, you'd laugh and encourage me, wouldn't you, Minato?'
The policeman didn't know Inspector Etou as well as Kanami did. And he certainly couldn't read the inspector's thoughts either. Getting more impatient, the policeman cleared his throat like before.
"Sir?"
He, at last, got the attention he wanted. "Thank you, Officer Yamada. That will be all. Sergeant Tanaka and I will take the case from here."
When the policeman departed, Inspector Etou turned to the three people around him. Sergeant Tanaka, Kanami, and Hiyori stared at him expectantly, albeit perplexedly. With hesitation, Hiyori raised her hand as if she were in a classroom setting.
"Inspector Etou, can I ask why you wanted Kanami and I to be here?"
The response was immediate. "I just want to keep an eye on my daughter."
He would have continued, if Sergeant Tanaka hadn't interrupted in his big hearty voice, "Oh, come on, Etou! It doesn't hurt to just admit you want a bit of help."
Turning to Hiyori, the sergeant added, with a wink, "Kanami-chan has helped her father before with many cases over the years. Solved quite a few and put just as many criminals where they belong."
The Heijou Toji didn't quite know how to respond to this and only gave Kanami a queer look. In her mind, she pictured the Minoseki Toji wearing a trench coat with a magnifying glass in hand. Somehow, it just didn't fit. Unsure about whether to be doubtful or surprised, Hiyori turned back to the inspector.
"That still doesn't explain why I have to be here."
Inspector Etou studied the expression on Hiyori's face, as though it was a strange specimen. Although the Heijou Toji appeared suspicious, the inspector could sense anxious tension underneath those burgundy eyes.
"Juujou-san, from what I've heard..." Inspector Etou began carefully, "...you apparently have eidetic memory. Is that true?"
Hiyori stared. "Well...not exactly. The visuals in my mind only appear on occasion and even then, they're not necessarily perfect."
"Still better than nothing," Inspector Etou said. "I want you to tell me, in as much detail as possible, what happened last night from your point-of-view."
"Well..."
Last Night...
The last rays of sunlight shone through the hallways of the Origami Family mansion, casting dark shadows in them. During the daytime, the interior of the large house looked inviting—a picturesque example of traditional Japanese architecture. Now, at nightfall, there was something sinister to how the mansion looked. To a superstitious person, it would be difficult to not think of yōkai spirits floating through the dim corridors.
Hiyori, who neither superstitious nor afraid of the supernatural, stood stiffly next to a half-asleep, half-awake Kanami. The two of them were standing on the right side of two closed shoji doors with Maki and Suzuka on the left. Their backs were straight and erect, like the efficient trained Tojis they were, as they kept watch. Not a word had passed between the four of them.
However, the same couldn't be said for the people behind the closed doors, whose voices were starting to rise. It got to the point where their voices were so loud that the occasional muffled word came through the closed doors. Clearly, there was a heated argument going on.
'What the Hell are they hollering about in there?' Maki thought, her eyebrows furrowed deeply.
Then came the voice loudest of all, whom everyone recognized as Yukina's. "Now, you listen, girl! Someday, I'll make you pay!"
Breaking their stances from shock, the four Tojis whipped around. The shoji doors slid open at that moment, revealing the Origami sisters and the presidents of the Five Traditions. Judging by the negative aura surrounding the adults, they were visibly upset. Yukari and Yukina, specifically, had clenched jaws, in addition to crabby-looking scowls. Everyone else just looked either uncomfortable or surly.
Akane, the gentle-natured woman she was, tried to ease the friction. "We can sort this all out in the morning. Let's just have some drinks in the library, cool down, and sleep on it for now, okay?"
They all moved towards the library in a dull procession, followed by the four Tojis. Only Yukari and Yukina excused themselves, going into a different hallway.
'No doubt to discuss further about their previous conversation,' Suzuka guessed.
Only when the beer was poured did everyone's spirits begin to lift. Kanami, whose tongue was getting sandpapery, began to wonder if it was possible to call the servants for some non-alcoholic drinks.
"I wonder what all that was about," she whispered to Hiyori.
The ebony-haired girl stirred. "Whatever it was definitely drove them all mad."
She watched Sana light a cigarette and immediately wrinkled her nose at the artificial flowery scent. The director must've noticed Hiyori's expression because she quickly exited the room—probably out of courtesy.
"I wonder just why they were arguing," Kanami said next. "They seem like such good friends."
"It's certainly strange that they were at each other's throats," Hiyori agreed. "But even the closest of friends have their occasional squabbles."
There was nothing much else to say, so they stood in silence with the Elite Guards. A few minutes later, Sana walked back in with Yukari. The older Origami sister still had a red face.
"Blast that woman! Does she never shut her mouth?" Yukari cursed, sinking into one of the plush sofas.
"Try to forget it, Yukari. Yukina will come around eventually," Yuzuki said, pouring herself a glass of beer.
Ema handed the older Origami sister a drink herself, asking, "Where is she anyway?"
"Went outside for a smoke. And all the better," Yukari said, downing her beer quickly. "And, if you'll excuse me, quite frankly, I can do without seeing her face for the rest of the night."
Nobody said anything at this remark. Not because they were afraid, but because they agreed wholeheartedly. Out of all the five presidents, Yukina was thought to be the most tiresome and disagreeable. When she wanted something, the Renpu president always made sure to give everyone a headache till she got her desire. And when she didn't want something, she likewise did the same thing. And as she always wanted what she couldn't have, and did not want the things that others did, Yukina's tempestuous rage became a weapon most hated by everyone but herself.
A heavy sigh escaped Yukari's mouth, as she gulped what was now her third glass of beer. "Ema, pour some more if you please."
'Gosh, she really has it hard,' Maki secretly thought, staring in incredulity.
Yukari wasn't the only one. By now, most of the beer bottles had been emptied and Hiyori couldn't help wondering how they all showed no signs of tipsiness. And still, Ema kept refilling glasses...
'They must be drunk now,' Suzuka thought.
The alcohol seemed to be working. Slowly, the unease that was upon them before was gone. They were all now talking with freedom and good humour, like the old friends they once were.
"Come on, you four," Iroha smiled, waving the Elite Guards, Kanami, and Hiyori over.
"Join the throng!" Sana said, before adding, "Just no drinking."
This was an odd request for the four younger individuals, but their awkwardness soon ended when they began chatting amiably with the others. Iroha and Akane were both quite mellowed by the beer, in particular. Yuzuki and Yukari conversed with amusement, the latter continually twirling the sapphire ring around her finger. Kanami couldn't help but think this was perfect. Soon, everything would be back to normal. Everyone would sort things out and then, they'd all be friends again.
"Some more beer, if you please?" Yukari asked again.
Yuzuki looked at the bottles, with a slightly disappointed look, "Sorry, Yukari. All gone. It's okay. You can have mine. Shouldn't drink anymore anyway; I'm getting tipsy."
"Don't know about the rest of you, but I'm going to bed. Goodnight," Iroha yawned.
How much Kanami wished she could likewise leave for her own quarters! A heavy weight seemed to be pulling both of her eyelids and she could feel her shoulders slowly sagging. The cushions she was leaning against felt so comfortable. Kanami felt as though she'd drop off any second. Maki would be angry at her, but...
Before she knew it, the Minoseki Toji was softly snoring. Hardly anyone noticed though because, at that moment, Yukari started complaining about a headache. No doubt the culprit was the alcohol. Concerned for her sister, Akane immediately took Yukari to her room.
When she returned later, the younger Origami sister said, with a smile, "She's alright. Just gave her some sleeping medicine to help her get through the night."
"Kanami-san, wake up," Suzuka gently said, shaking the younger girl.
A line of drool had already made its way down the Minoseki Toji's chin, which she quickly tried to wipe. Shaking her head at the sight, Maki turned to the clock above the mantlepiece which began striking nine o'clock.
"Get some sleep, you two," she said to Kanami and Hiyori. "You both do your rounds at 2:00 A.M."
Present Day...
"And after that, we went to bed," Hiyori finished. "Until we had to patrol the estate grounds, of course."
Inspector Etou creased his eyebrows, drawing his forehead together. The cool metal of his pocket-watch felt smooth against his fingers, as he continually rubbed it. He couldn't help thinking about that sleeping medicine and now after Hiyori told her story...
'Did Akane-sama possibly dope the medicine with the chloral hydrate, before giving it to her sister?' he thought. 'But Director Maniwa left the library at one point and President Gojou went to bed early. Either of them could've done it before Yukari-sama was taken to bed. Not to mention, President Takatsu wasn't in the library at all.'
Sergeant Tanaka and the girls waited for him to finish his deep thinking. When he did, the inspector said something that was not unusual to Kanami and the sergeant, but gave Hiyori quite a shock.
"I want you two girls to help me and Tanaka with this investigation, as our extra eyes and ears."
"You're seriously trusting us that much?" Hiyori asked, in disbelief.
Inspector Etou narrowed his eyes. "I know my daughter well, Juujou-san. And although I'm not as familiar with you, from what Kanami has told me, I'm assuming it's safe to put as much trust in you as I do with her."
The inspector started walking, before pausing in his tracks. When he turned to look over his shoulder, Hiyori could see a slight shadow over his eyes as he stared at her, dispassionately.
'He's just looking at me like all the girls at school do,' Hiyori thought, trying to calm the shivers down her spine. 'And—he definitely thinks I'm up to something!'
Inspector Etou spoke in a measured tone, "However, know this—and know it well. I only had to see everyone face-to-face for myself this morning to come to a decision: I am eliminating no suspects."
He spoke to Sergeant Tanaka next, "We'll use the library as our questioning room. Tanaka, bring Akane-sama first if you please."
A/N: That's the end of Chapter 3. Just what could the Origami sisters and the five presidents have been arguing about last night?
Chapter 4 will be Akane's story. As always, please feel free to leave a review if you wish.