Trigger warning: There is going to be some harsh content coming up. It is not for the faint of heart. Read with caution.

"Ah! Good morning, darling!"

Hiroki scowled and averted his gaze when he heard a familiar voice. Miyagi rounded a corner and jogged to catch up with him.

"What a coincidence! I didn't realize you took this route to school."

"Really." Hiroki was unconvinced and tried to stay one pace ahead of Miyagi. "You really didn't know I walked this way?"

"We-e-ell I might have done a little detective work."

"Perfect."

"What's the matter, honey? You don't want to share a morning stroll by dawn's first light?"

"First of all, I've never understood your obsession with cutesy pet names and, no, I don't feel like spending my morning with you considering the fact we're going to be trapped in the same tiny office for a majority of the afternoon."

"Someone's a little grumpy. Did you not get any sugar in your coffee?"

Miyagi waggled his eyebrows lecherously. Hiroki nearly dropped his attaché case and stumbled trying to recover himself.

"Honestly, could you be any more of a pervert? You have someone in your life. Save that stuff for him and leave me out of it."

"There go my plans for a Ménage à trois."

The men continued to walk in silence. When the school came into view they could see a small crowd of boys huddled around the gate. Hiroki could hear them talking and laughing. It's pretty early yet. I suppose it could be the track team or the swim team.

"What is that thing?"

"Ugh. What now?"

"Hiroki-san, I'm being serious. There's something tied to the gate."

Hiroki strained his eyes. There was some kind of large mass. The students were very interested in whatever it was. They were giggling, taking pictures of it and with it, and poking it with a long stick.

"Holy shit…I think it's a person."

Hiroki started jogging with Miyagi trailing behind him. As he got closer and closer to the spectacle he felt his hands and feet go numb. The reflective metal bars gleamed with dew. A thick rope hung from the highest point.

It was braided and composed of a synthetic material. It reminded Miyagi of a book he stumbled upon: "100 Different Knots and When to Use Them." He found it to be a useful writing reference and kept a copy in his collection. This particular knot was hard to identify since it was being obstructed. Then again part of Miyagi realized he was just in shock. Fixating on such an unimportant detail was probably his mind's way of protecting him from the grisly site, from what was hanging from the rope. Hiroki had not been wrong. It was a person. He was a person.

His arms were extended over his head and he hung there limply. His toes only barely grazed the ground. His head dangled from his shoulders. Blood dripped steadily from his nose like a broken tap at the center of his mosaic face. Various hues of blacks and purples melded together: a sick homage to human cruelty in watercolors. His entire body was bare but his chest stood out most of all. The message was spelled out in large, vulgar red characters. Maybe it was lipstick. "売春婦 [whore]"

Bitter tears streamed from Hiroki's face and he roared. Several pupils fled the scene but one wasn't quick enough. He found himself face to face with their academy's most notorious professor, the demon. Every single vein stood out on forehead and an artery leapt about wildly in his neck.

"What the fuck did you do?"

"It wasn't us! I swear it wasn't! I…we…found. We found it. I mean. We were just going to practice, sir. I don't understand. It is a prank, right? This is a set up like zombies and stuff and…isn't he in on it?"

Hiroki let go and stepped back. A deathly silence filled the space between them.

"You should go now." The young man nodded shakily and started to retreat. He had practically pissed his pants. When he was a couple of feet away Hiroki spoke again. "Don't think for a second that I don't know exactly who each of you are. You will be hearing from me."

The injured boy drew in a shaky breath and Hiroki's adrenaline turned on full stream. He rushed up to his side.

"Miyagi! We have to get him down! Help me untie this!"

Miyagi broke out of his trance and stood beside him.

"No good. It has to be cut. Here, use my knife."

Hiroki reached up and started sawing at the bond. The boy whimpered and made some feeble attempt to kick Hiroki in the crotch. Hiroki spoke to him in a soothing tone.

"Shhh. My name is Hiroki Kamijou. I am not going to hurt you. You're safe now. I am here to help. You're going to be ok." The rope was severed and Hiroki braced himself against the weight of the sagging body. He wrapped his arms around his waist and carefully supported him. Miyagi attempted to help.

Hiroki felt moisture as the boy's tears dripped onto his neck and down the collar of his shirt. A weak voice whistled into his ear.

"Pr…o..f…e…ssor." He knew that voice. It was familiar. He had heard it somewhere before but it could not place it. "Pl…e…e…eas…e d…on't let…him….get me."

Misaki?!

I apologize for any errors I may have made with the Japanese. It was not easy to find decent translations for free and I wasn't willing to pay someone so just know that I did my best.