Hotaru

My head turned towards the serene clear sky as I leaned against our family's Mazda6 (it was actually my father's birthday present to me when I turned sixteen but I still don't claim it as my own because: 1. I'm too modest; 2. I still have yet to learn how to drive decently – as much of a genius I am, I still have some things I can't quite grasp like, for example, hitting the brakes a little gently; 3. It's color pink, the least color I'm in favor of – I'll have it painted black as soon as possible. I don't care what my father will say).

I was at the side of the academy's gates, waiting for a certain tardy idiot whom I just warned that wasting my time will earn her a free ticket to hell. My usually calm disposition was reaching its toll. Just as I was about to fish out my phone and call her, I heard footsteps nearing me. I then looked at the girl with an impassive expression.

"Six times two?" I asked as she raised her eyebrow – obviously not expecting a math lesson.

"Twelve."

"Exactly. You're twelve minutes late." I scolded her as she only rolled her eyes, which I was beginning to think that it's an awful habit of hers. I inclined my head towards the car, prompting her to get in. Amusement was painted all over her face and I tried hard not to give in to temptation to smack her in the head. "Don't ask." I growled then got inside as she followed suit. I nodded at our driver. Taking my hint, he started the engine then drove off.

"So." Sakura started as I glanced at her on the corner of my eyes (we were both sitting at the back seat). "There are three things I want to ask you so I'll just start with the most disturbing one. WHERE ON EARTH DID YOU GET MY NUMBER?"

I immediately covered my ears to protect my sense of hearing. "You don't have to raise your voice just to ask a stupid question!" I shouted in anger then sighed. "I got it from Nogi."

"Ruka?" she asked skeptically, most likely not believing what I said. "What? How? Why?"

"Are those your three questions? Because I will not entertain any more that exceeds that number." I sneered as she scowled.

"Whatever. I'll just ask Ruka tomorrow." Arms folded in front of her chest, she turned her head and faced me. "Where are we going?"

"To our house."

"Why?"

"Because we're having a slumber party." I answered sarcastically and grinned inwardly. I could feel that she was trying to prevent herself from running her hand on her face in extreme disbelief – or maybe frustration. "About what happened earlier–"

"Look. If you think you can pry details out of me, you're only wasting your time." She said. "Nonoko and Luna were sent to the hospital an hour ago and they haven't even woken up yet."

"I don't need information. I probably know more than you do."

"Then why–?"

"I need your help. You're possibly the only person besides me who has an insight of what really is happening."

"You're not actually saying that–" She didn't finish what she was going to say because of total shock. I only answered her with silence. After a good ten minutes or so, we stopped in front of familiar tall silver metal gates. They automatically opened, giving way for us. Our driver pulled over as the wheels of the car halted in front of an enormous red-peached colored building. We move out of the vehicle and into our house.

"I never expected your house to be this big."

"Stop gawking or else your dirty saliva will contaminate the floor." She glowered at me. I led her straight to my room which was located on the second floor. I switched the lights on, illuminating the entire space. I placed my bag on the couch at the corner while Sakura placed hers beside mine.

"Crab."

"Huh? No, thanks. I don't like crabs."

"I'm not offering you." I walked across the room to get my laptop and went back to sit on the couch next to Sakura. "That's my prize. I got the food category so I asked for crabs."

"You played the game and won?" she asked in disbelief and amazement.

I nodded. "The prize will last for six days. I learned that once you have won, you cannot play the game again. I don't know how they make sure that you wouldn't be able to play it but it's the least of my concerns now." I took a deep breath and exhaled rather heavily before continuing. "The possibility that a devil does exist is seven percent."

"How did you know?"

I opened my laptop and showed her a picture of a body laid on a stretcher – her entire skin was covered in blisters. "May 27, the day when the first suicide case in school happened." I said. "Rize Kirishima's body was found at exactly 3:24 pm inside our school's lab on the third floor. Two bottles filled with arsenic and cyanide was found broken on the floor. The door was locked and the security cameras were broken so there was no way of knowing what really happened. The authorities decided it to be suicide because of the given information that she was being molested by her own father."

"Wait, how did you know all of those? How did you even get the pictures?" Sakura asked suspiciously as I turned and stared directly at her eyes. She squirmed a little – possibly not that all comfortable with the intense gaze I was giving her. "W-What is it? You're creeping me out."

"Can I trust you?" I asked with utmost seriousness, still staring at her fiercely.

"Why the sudden question?" she said as she looked away.

"Can I trust you?" I repeated – now more forcefully.

She exhaled heavily and brought her eyes up to level mine. "Trust is very– ugh, never mind. I guess you can trust me a little."

I nodded and continued. "As you all know, the reason why I came here in Japan was because of my father's work."

"Uh-huh."

"He's a detective." Sakura was about to shout something (probably going to say That's so cool! or You're kidding right?) but I gave her a look, indicating her to shut up. "His agency assigned his group to catch the people behind the game you call Mirrors."

"Huh? Haven't you–" she paused as her realization dawned on her face. "Wait. Up until know, you knew all along?" I merely nodded as she balled her hands into fists. "So you were just toying with me."

"It's part of the act. I was hoping to find some information from you. Turned out that I asked the wrong person."

"I think you're the one I couldn't trust." She glared.

"It's your choice." I shrugged. She heaved a sigh as she spoke again. "Then why are you the one doing the investigation?"

"Japan is a very broad country, Sakura. My father and his group could cut down the possible places where the culprits are residing but still, their number is limited. Besides, I had a different task." I said. "I had to confirm the validity of the contract and if it's proven to be feasible, find the contractor. And based on the number of suspicious deaths, Alice Academy had the highest possibility. Although I do have a cousin inside the school, we didn't want to drag him on the case."

"And you didn't even think twice when you dragged me into this?"

"I needed your help." I simply said and she rolled her eyes.

"Why is your father's group after the creators of the game anyway?"

"They've caused more havoc than you possibly know."

We were left in silence for a few minutes before Sakura finally broke the silence. "Why are you telling me all this?"

"I already told you right? You're probably the only person aside from me who's aware of the actual situation at hand."

"Even so, why me of all people?" she shook her head in disbelief and wonder. "For all you know, I might be the one contracted."

"Yes, I thought of that too." I said as I placed an index finger under my chin and inclined my head a little upward for a better effect. She scowled at me and I chuckled – which is rare (I almost thought that I've gone crazy). "Your eyes. They hold the same mysteriousness as mine."

"You're weird."

"I get that a lot." I said impassively. "Let's just say that it's instincts."

I pressed a button on the keyboard of my laptop and a picture of a girl flashed on the screen. She was sprawled on the tiled floor of our school's shower room located at the gym – her throat was slit as blood gushed out. Sakura immediately put her hand on her mouth, struggling not to gag. Normally, I would've admired the photo if it wasn't for the circumstances we're under.

"June 2. Second case of suicide: Misaki Harada – a senior at the time." I continued where we left. "Her throat was cut by a shard of glass which was chapped from the mirror in the shower room. She was the only one there at that time and there were no cameras since it's a room for women – you know, privacy and all. Her friends stated that she had just broken up with her longtime boyfriend which was the only logical reason for the crime."

I pushed another button and a new photo showed. "You probably already saw this since it only happened yesterday." I said while she nodded – her hand still covering her mouth. "Tsubasa Andou: another senior, ex-boyfriend of Misaki Harada, hanged himself inside his classroom during lunchtime on June 8." I tapped on my laptop and a video appeared. I adjusted the screen in order for Sakura to have a good view. "This is the capture of a hidden camera inside the room. I hacked the school's security system." I said as she shot me a confused look. "Piece of cake." I immediately cut her off when she was about to open her mouth. She frowned and just focused her attention back to the screen.

Tsubasa Andou entered the room and walked towards the back. He stopped in front of a desk (most likely his) and picked up a book placed on the table – He probably forgot it, Sakura stated as I hissed at her for stating the obvious and for interrupting. Tsubasa was on his way out when he suddenly turned his body and faced the window on the side of the room. For a minute or so, he was only standing there with wide eyes, gawking at the glass surface in front of him. I couldn't see what he was staring at because of the angle of the camera. I mentally tortured whoever put the camera in the room; for the place where he had set the device wasn't even covering the whole area (a familiar feeling of insane bloodlust that I always feel towards stupid people was overwhelming me). He then took off his belt, dragged a chair with him, and went towards the board. He climbed on the chair, wrapped the belt around his neck tightly, and hanged the buckle on a hook far up the wall (the hook was usually where a crucifix was placed. Each room of the entire school was supposed to have one because Alice Academy is a catholic school). The moment he kicked off the chair, it was like he had only realized what he was doing. I neared my face towards the screen, scrutinizing his expression. He was struggling to loosen the belt around his neck. His face was turning into a sickly purple shade. He was trying to shout but only weird gurgles came out. Before his life had come to an end, he opened his mouth one last time though his voice was still inaudible.

"It-wa-sn't-me." I pronounced each syllable as I read his lips then Tsubasa stopped moving and after a few minutes, a girl entered the room and screamed at the top of her lungs as the ghastly sight in front of her unraveled. I closed my laptop and glanced at the frozen figure beside me. Her body was so stiff – she had her back straight while her fists were curled on her lap. She wasn't displaying any emotion as of the moment.

"You okay?" I asked, a little bit concerned.

"I knew Tsubasa." She suddenly blurted and I couldn't help but feel surprised. "He was on the soccer team with Natsume, my boyfriend. We're not that close but we do small talks from time to time. As far as I know, he wasn't the type to do such an act just because of a break up."

I intertwined my fingers, placed them on my lap, and threw my head upward as I closed my eyes (this is what I always do when there's a problem I can't solve or when there's something bothering me. It helps me think clearly). "You're right. The fact that he was calm seconds ago and struggled afterwards was indeed suspicious." His actions were contradicting and I bet that whatever he saw on the window was the cause of it. Even the circumstance that he left his book was dubious. It's too much of a coincidence. I had a feeling that the moment he had entered the room, he was already branded as dead.

"I think that's enough for today." I stood up and Sakura followed. "I'll have our driver take you home."

She merely nodded as we stepped out of my room and walked downstairs. "All the things that I've said–"

"Don't worry. My lips are sealed." She did a zipping motion on her lips.

We continued to walk in silence as we neared the entrance. Before she could get in the car, I shouted "I'll give you the details about the set tomorrow."

"Yes, yes." She waved off-handedly as she slid into the car and the vehicle disappeared into the dark road.

I sighed heavily as I closed my eyes and covered them with my right hand. My body was exhausted from all the supervising of our booth, and my mind was tired with all the information that weren't connecting.

I went inside the house. My bed was badly calling to me.