Chapter 3: The news runs fast

8:45 am

"The victim was called Miho Nisizumi, years 18, the cause of death strangulation," said a girl with long, water-green hair and green eyes wearing a light dress.

"Who discovered the body?" A blonde with short hair and dark blue eyes asked for a short black skirt, a jacket of the same color and a tight white T-shirt. .

"Four girls ... Hana Isuzu, Saori Takebe, Mako Reizei and Yukari Akiyama." A girl with long dark green hair and eyes of the same color answered her, wearing a white shirt and a black skirt.

"Where are they now?"

"Still inside."

"Did you let them stay on the scene of the crime? I hope they have not touched anything... "

"No, I can guarantee it."

"Better ... Lead me to them."

"Of course."

Entering the apartment the blonde stopped for a moment to observe the victim.

"Nishizumi ... This surname is not new to me." She said.

"Her sister Maho commands the Kuromorimine team, her mother Shiho is one of the big pieces in the Sensha-do federation."

"I see ... But let's get to the point."

She approached the four girls, who were near the window.

"I am Police Inspector Haruka Tenou, Her are Detective Setsuna Meiou; I imagine Agent Michiru Kaiou has already presented himself ... "

The four girls greeted her with a bow.

"I should ask you some questions, always if you feel like it."

"Say it," Hana replied.

"What was your relationship with the victim?"

"She was a classmate of ours, as well as a precious friend and a great leader." Saori said.

"Leader?"

"Yes ... She were in charge of our Sensha-do team."

"What team are your in?"

"Ooarai, this school."

"I heard about it ... They created it recently but it has already defeated the strongest teams, like Pravda and Saunders." Said Michiru.

"Exact. Today in the final we would have to face the Kuromorimine academy. "

"This Miho had experience with the tanks?"

"Exact. In the past he had played with Kuro. "

"How come it passed to Ooarai?"

To answer them it was Hana:

"Last year, during the final of the tournament, she abandoned the admiral tank to save some of her teammates who were drowning in a river. Because of this it was eliminated, decreeing the defeat of her team. It was their first defeat. She had moved to our school because the Sensha-do course was absent, until recently. "

"Did Miho have any enemies?" Setsuna intervened.

"Inside the school, no, it was popular with everyone."

"And outside?"

"From what we understood there was some grudge with some of her former Kuro teammates."

"Can you name it?"

"Her mother, her sister and a certain Erika Itsumi."

"Michiru, mark these names."

"Yes, inspector."

"Did you warn someone else besides the police?" The detective asked.

"The student council."

"From whom is it formed?"

"Anzu Kadotani, Yuzu Koyama, Momo Kawashima."

"Well ... You can go now. But keep yourself at the disposal of the police. "

The quartet nodded and then left the apartment.

"What do you think?" Asked Haruka, pointing to Setsuna.

"It seems too early to make a judgment, but the fact that the murder took place on the eve of an important sporting event stinks me a lot."

"In your opinion did they make it out to make sure the victory?"

"I repeat, it's premature to talk about it ... I have to collect clues, interrogate the victim's acquaintances, etc."

"Well, then do it ... About clues, did you find anyone?"

"Well, we found the victim's phone book ..."

Said these Michiru handed her a diary bound in black leather, with a strange symbol on it, like a pizza.

"What's this logo?" She asked.

"The emblem of Anzio, a school of Sensha-do that is inspired by Italian culture."

"I see…"

She opened it, beginning to leaf through it; it contained various names and numbers, both cellular and fixed. One thing that caught her eye is that the owners of the numbers were all girls: Katyusha, Anchovy, Kay, Darjeeling ... She also found the numbers of her mother and sister.

"I thought I should call Mrs. Nishizumi ..."

"Will you inform her of the crime, Inspector?" Setsuna asked.

"Yes ... Better to know it from me than from the news."

That said, she put her hand to the phone.

9:00 am

Shiho was having breakfast with her daughter and Erika.

"Three hours to go before the final ... I recommend you do your best to win." She said.

"We will not let you down, mother. I can assure you that this time it will not end like last year. We will emerge victorious from the clash with the Ooarai. "

"Also because we have an ace up our sleeve ... The Maus!" Erika exclaimed, pleased.

"Yes, the Maus is a real self-propelled mountain ... But use it only if necessary."

"Count us."

At that moment, Shiho's cell phone rang. Observing the sender she thought:

What will she want?

She pressed the green button and answered.

"Shiho."

After a few moments, her eyes widened.

"I warn you that if it's a joke ..."

Both Maho and Erika stared at her curiously.

"…I see. Thank you for advising me."

That said she attacked.

"Mother ... You're pale like a dead woman. What happened?"

"Miho is dead."

At that news the two girls were amazed.

"How dead?"

"Someone strangled her ... I only know this. Her teammates have found the body. "The woman said, her voice broken with emotion.

"And now?" The blonde asked.

"I will call the MEXT... And I will try to postpone the final."

"But why?"

"At this moment the girls of Ooarai will surely be destroyed ... And fight against the upset adversaries would be cowardly."

"This is absurd! If we fight them now that they are in that state and without the leadership of their leader we will definitely win! "

"Erika, I'm the commander of the team! And I do not admit cowardly deeds! "Maho scolded her.

Shiho instead paid no attention to her words and left the room.

What idiocy ... Striking the enemy when it is weaker is one of the rules of the art of war!

Erika thought, disgusted.

Maho put her hand to her phone and wrote a post on Facebook.

At the same time, on the carrier of the St. Gloriana school, Darjeeling was sipping tea together with Assam, Orange and Rosehip.

"Is there still a lot left in Kumamoto?" She asked.

"About an hour." Assam answered.

She smiled satisfied.

"Very well ... I can not wait to see the final."

"It seems that Saunders and Pravda will also be there," said Orange.

"I'm not surprised ... That Miho has made many friends, including us."

She took another sip of tea, then put her hand to her smartphone, to take a look at the notifications. Among the first postings there was one by Maho Nishizumi, which read:

Goodbye forever

What happens?

She wrote, intrigued.

Miho is dead.

Maho answered.

At that news she dropped the cup that broke into pieces.

"Darjeeling! What is it? "Assam asked, not getting an answer.

Meanwhile Katyusha was in her office and drank a cup of hot tea.

I can not wait to reach Kumamoto, to watch the match between Ooarai and Kuromorimine.

She thought, smiling.

That Miho is a tough bone, and has what it takes to be a good commander. During the match between my team and her I was able to trap her and her teammates in that church, I already anticipated the victory ... But there was an unexpected event, an event that I gave for impossible, but that nevertheless occurred ... They defeated us, incredibly reversing the situation. The girls of Ooarai are worthy of respect, especially Miho.

After a few minutes, someone knocked on the door.

"Forward!"

"Sorry to disturb you, Katyusha."

"Tell me what it is?"

"I just received a message from Kuromorimine."

"Oh yes? What they want?"

"Miho Nishizumi has been murdered."

Katyusha spat the tea and looked at her interlocutor with a blank stare.

"What did you say?"

"Miho was killed."

On a lawn the girls from Anzio's school lay asleep, having spent the whole night bubbling. One of them, Carpaccio, suddenly woke up, due to the vibration of her cell phone.

Who the hell will it be?

She wondered, sleepy.

She made a loud yawn, then put her hand to the phone, reading a message from her friend / rival Caesar had sent her. In reading the contents she almost had no heart attack. Panicked she jumped up and shouted:

"Wake up all! Something terrible has happened! "

"Eh ... What?" Anchovy asked, still stunned by sleep.

Kay was in the company of some of her friends and was eating a burger in the cafeteria.

Hamburger at nine in the morning ... And at noon? Dead mice?

Arisa wondered, taking care not to say it.

"Sorry, is it really necessary to go there to watch the final? We could see her on TV ... "Naomi said.

"I want to watch live, it's more exciting. And then I want to wish Miho good luck. "The blonde replied, starting to binge again.

After a while the door of the room was thrown open and Megumi appeared, who said in a loud voice:

"Miho is dead!"

At that news everyone turned to her, looking at her with surprise and someone with disbelief. Kay instead began to cough violently, the hamburger had gone wrong. When it was resumed, she turned in turn.

"Did you say ... Dead?" She asked, hoping she misheard.

"Yes ... Someone killed her! I just received a message from St. Gloriana! "

"Oh, my god ... Who could have been?" The blonde wondered in horror.

Ooarai School, 9:15 am

The meeting room was packed with female students, including members of the various teams; On one stage stood the student council members. Voices were rising from many parts:

"Can you explain what happened to Miho?"

"Yeah, how's it dead?"

"We want answers!"

"Calm down! I have just received a message from Saori, who tells me that Miho died from strangling!" Anzu stated.

"So she was killed?"

"Who is the culprit?"

"And you ask? It is the work of Kuromorimine! "Erwin exclaimed, furious.

"Kuromorimine?" Tsuchiya asked.

"And who else? Those bitches would be willing to do anything to get the victory! "

"But there is no evidence that they are guilty ..." Suzuki objected.

"They had everything to gain to get rid of it! First of all the victory in the final!"

"But it makes no sense, they were the favorites!" Azusa retorted.

"I think Erwin is right ... Now that she is dead we find ourselves without a commander, and we are demoralized. This is all for the benefit of our adversaries." Saemonza said.

"It's true ... Without Miho we are destined to lose." Yuzu admitted.

"What if we ask for a postponement of the match?" Momo suggested.

"It can only work if Kuromorimine agrees. And anyway it would only postpone our defeat. "Anzu claimed.

"So in one way or another we are passed off."

"Unfortunately, yes, Taeko."

In the hall there was a grave silence, no one knew what to say.