Morooka was dead.
I mulled over this news in my head as I sat in Junes' food court. I knew that the man wasn't exactly everyone's favorite teacher, but I couldn't imagine who would do something like this. I, personally, had mixed feelings about him. I didn't know whether to be delighted or shocked that he was dead. Right now, though, I didn't feel much of anything.
I could hear my friends speculating the situation surrounding his death, but I was barely listening. I found it somewhat amusing that they were expressing such pity toward someone they were bad-mouthing and joking about just yesterday.
This was the third murder that had occurred since my coming to Inaba. Lately, it seemed that someone was targeting people who had recently appeared on television and murdering them...by throwing them into the TV World. My friends and I had taken it upon ourselves to investigate these occurrences and try to prevent more lives from being taken, but it was becoming increasingly difficult. Aside from the first two victims, several others had been targeted, but we had managed to rescue them. We thought we had had a solid lead, but with the death of Morooka, we were back to square one. Now...there was the suggestion that we just give up, that we step aside and let the police handle it.
Things were quickly getting out of hand. As my mind began to wander, I wondered what Mitsuo would have to say about this. ("Morooka? I'm glad he's dead. I would've killed him myself if I'd gotten the chance.")
I sighed. He most likely wasn't concerned with my problems. In fact, he probably wanted nothing to do with me. Suddenly, I began to feel very guilty. I wished I could go back in time and undo whatever it was that I'd done that had caused him to hate me so much. But what was it?
"Senpai!"
Kanji's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I shook my head. What was I doing, thinking about Mitsuo at a time like this?
I looked around at all of my teammates. Each of them wore a discouraged expression on their faces. It looked like they were ready to give up and abandon everything.
Acting on impulse, I shot up.
"...It's too early to give up now!"
They all looked at me as I sat back down. Gradually, their dismal expressions changed into more hopeful ones, followed by a "Damn straight!" from Kanji. They began a more enthusiastic conversation, but my mind had once again drifted elsewhere.
I would have to find Mitsuo and apologize to him. I had no idea what for, but I thought it might improve things between us. And perhaps...I could find out what was happening to him.