Hazumi's POV

I head immediately to the Journalism office upon returning to school.

'It's good to be back.' I settle into my chair and boot up the Mac on the Editors desk.

First things first: I email the guy-in-charge to let him know I've returned from my fieldtrip. Next, I open up the newspaper template. Pleasing. My minions have been fruitful in my absence. Reviewing (and finding the work correct) puts a bright smile on my face. With no need to attend class in my future, I get to work on my editorial write-up of the SunDance Film Festival.

'Not like I can see Syuusuke 'til later anyhow.'

When lunch comes around, I run down to the place of eating in order to showcase my return to Seigaku. Everyone will be there and there is nothing like getting everything done at once. In the cafe, the tables are arranged in circular patterns and usually I can find everyone in the center of it all. With that in mind, I open the doors of the large room and enter.

As soon as can, I scan the massive space for my partners in nourishment. The first faces I see are those of most of the Regulars. Quickly, I take inventory and wonder where the rest have gone. Nami and Juni have taken two of the empty seats as their own. I smile and wave because I don't see Kizuka and continue to look for her.

'She's supposedly my best friend, so I really should talk to her first.' I have to reason with myself to keep from doing what I really want. Running straight into the Tensai's arms.

I continue looking, a mental checklist registering. To the right: freshmen. Next to them: Neko-san, Okaa-san and Tezukuni-san sit together.

'Good enough.' I think, although Kizuka isn't with them.

As I walk over I begin to hear murmurings of my name and peek over my shoulder to inquire. Behind me the table of semi-Regulars is throwing anxious gestures of "No!" "Not there", "STOP!" and utter fright.

Surprised, I wheel around and catch sight of Kizuka sitting with Ryoma and Izzy-chan.

'Hmm...that's odd.' I don't understand the separations of the lovebirds and begin to walk toward the table where my friend sits.

'She looks sulky.' I think before another outburst of overzealous emotion deters me from that path. I make a split-decision to return to the Bento box awaiting me in the Journalism office. The insanity of the lunchroom is annoying me, but apparently I shouldn't leave here either.
An obvious "NO!" sounds from the uncharacteristically frantic table and (stupidly) out of concern I head over to join them.

I walk to the table with a foreign anxious trepidation. Whatever has them acting this way, I don't want to be a part of.

"Wakattebayo?"[WTH] I question skeptically. Syuusuke suggests that I sit down but I am reluctant.

"Really, Hazu-nee," says Momo, "it's a long story."

"Then give me the short version." I make my demand clear hoping for an expeditious response.

The Regulars look from me to each other, but no one speaks. After a moment of silent deliberation Taka-san looks up at me.

"Umm...something happened while you were gone." He pauses for my reaction and after a while I give a simple 'Yeah' to urge him on. Juni takes over.

"They...they broke up." My brow lifts in incomprehension.

"Kizuka and Tezuka," she affirms. "They broke up."

I look at everyone and stifle the smile creeping to my face.

'She's serious?' I notice for the first time that, save Syuusuke and I, no couple is sitting within four meters of their other half.

Prisoners of War.

"You are serious." My dubious scoff weakens my knees and I sink into the nearest chair.

"Itsu? Naze?"[When?How?] I blink.

"They are unusually perfect for each other."

Everyone agrees but that's not an answer. Once again it appears that they are struggling over what to tell me, how much to leave out. The Tensai makes his decision most rapidly. Between him and Juni I soon have a complete story. Or at least the outsiders view of it. All the kuso[shit] I'd rather not acknowledge. Not today, not ever.

"Wakarimasen."[I don't understand.] I acknowledge that much. I shake my head as if to dispel the information. I have to go. I think to myself how withdrawn they all look as I stand to leave.

"Ano...Hazu-nee." Nami's cute little whine stops my departure.

"Yes, Lolita-chan?"

"Are you gonna do something? Please?"

The way she clutches her bear and fights the salt water rimming her tear ducts puts true vindication in my voice.

"Hai. I'll fix everything."

I only half believe the words as I say them. But what else can I say? I look at Fuji's hopeful but disapproving eyes.

Nothing.

~*~*~*~*~

I wait for Kizuka to walk from the cafe. She stops when she sees me; anger and pain burn her eyes.

"Don't just stand there," I say and begin to move through the crowd. She doesn't follow.

"C'mon! Were skipping."

The STAFF ONLY sign hung above the ROOF ACCESS is ignored for the bajillionth time and I pry open the mildly heavy door. We sit in our favorite spot near the edge of the roof, backs against a pillar. After a few minutes she speaks.

"You know, don't you?"

Deciding to give her the sympathy she seems to need I say, I know nothing until I know what you know, instead of something rude. I smile at her and she returns with her own weak but genuine version. After about seven minutes I know EVERYTHING I didn't need to start my day off right.

"You weren't there for me," she accuses. "I kept trying to fix it but everything would just backfire."

"Suck it up." I try unconvincingly to laugh trough it. "I didn't desert you. Even so, I am here now."

"Are you, ya know, gonna make it go away?"

'Wow. Deja vu, courtesy Nami.'

"You know I can't promise that. Gomen." I sigh.

"I can get the truth, and I can be your friend, but rewind buttons I do not have."
Kizuka looks right into my eyes. She is showing me her emotions.

I hate it.
"Look," she says looking away. "I don't think this is the place; I want to go. We can talk about this later, Hazumi." I laugh.

'Of course she doesn't think of the roof as secretive.'

~*~*~*~*~

Back in my office, I send a mass text message to all the people I consider friendly and helpful.

Meet Bum rushin. My treat. Don't tell ppl
who take sides, hold grudges or lie. i.e. NO
BUCHOUS!!!

I open a flow chart and insert the information I've gathered.

'This would be so much better if I had Tezuka's side.' I know it's impossible to get on my own.

Especially, considering that he didn't like me pre-break-up.

"Tasukete kudasai."[I need your help.] I announce my plea to the face-stuffing lot around me.

"If you can't do it spit out the food on your way out. Now!"

My darkened eyes have everyone looking at me tentatively. After a while Kaoru spits out his food; I begin to glower at my cousin, ready to beat him. The group nearest him was sweat dropping. In typical Kaoru fashion, he picks up more wasabi rolls and continues to stuff his face without missing a beat.

"Great." My false enthusiasm works to cut the tension. Though, Nami's beaming smile is TNT to a cinderblock wall. Her deftly illuminating smile makes the atmosphere lighter as she stands next to me.

"I'll get straight to the point. Kizuka did NOT do anything wrong! I repeat Echizen Kizuka DID NOT IN ANYWAY PURPOSEFULLY HARM TEZUKA!" My voice lowers to a sinister pur, "and if you think she did step up here. I'll massacre you later."

This time the entire room shares a community sweat drop.

"So much doesn't make sense. It's all too staged, too convenient." My summation is received well by my guest.

"That is why I need you. Everyone will play some kind of role. Investigation, intimidation, or cover-up and clean-up, I'm not sure yet. But there is something for everyone."

"Oishi. Eiji. Keep close to your friend. I can't get his side on my own so I'm counting on you two to keep me up-to-date. He hates me; keeps me from doing much. It would be nice to know who he was involved with prior to the uh, incidents.

"Momoshiro. Kaoru. Put aside your hatred for a while. Get to Narumi Shouji and find out what happened from his point of view. I know he doesn't have the balls to pull that on his own, and someone else already thinks he had help so...

"You guys, I really don't need to tell you how important this is. You all get it. That's why..."

'Ugh. I can't believe I'm saying this.'

"Report back to Inui. Give him all the detailed data."

The data freak then looks up from his notebook. A strange glare shades his lenses. I sweat drop.

"Hazumi-chan?"

"Hai, Oishi-san?"

"What happens after we know everything?"

I can't help but to sigh. "Whatever Kizuka wants."

~*~*~*~*~*~

It has been more than a week since I've graced a teacher with my presence. For the last eight point three-five hours I have been locked in this office trying to find some sign of conspiracy on the Blackmail Tapes. Everything looks clean but, then again, I have no idea what to look for.
The ringing of my cell occurs simultaneously with insistent knocking on the office door. It is startling but I check the Caller ID and open the door. Instantly a notebook assaults me.

"Thank you," I complain. "Inui, why? If you were going to knock did you really need to call?"

"Efficiency, Migoto-san. Efficiency."

I shake off his eerie response as I flip through the pages. It slightly irritates me when Inui sits down but I know (way in the back of my mind the part that I usually ignore) I need him to decipher this nonsense he claims is case files.

He launches into his explanation of Tezuka's version of what happened without any prompting. I stop him whenever I need more information.

"You said Claire followed him to the room? He was talking to her? For how long?"

My questions flow clearly but without enough pause for answers.

"Well, actually Migoto-san, it was more like fruitless perusal and shameless stalking. But yes, he spoke to her. Nothing of consequence though. Just to deter her."

"Right." My mind was processing something I saw earlier in my tapes. Claire and Shouji had been spending a lot of time together prior to the kiss. I had just assumed it was a meeting of the Anti-Echizen-Tezuka Group. But now...

"Also Momoshiro and Kaidoh will be interrogating Narumi soon. They want to know if you want to listen in."

"Yeah, maybe I'll do that."

"Migoto-san, do you mind if I ask you something?" I smile to let him know I don't mind.

"Are those the school security tapes? How do you get access---"

"I have my sources." Sigh. "Inui-san, why is this in here?"
I point to a statement about his latest drink discovery. He looks over it and sits back in the seat.

"I thought it may be essential to know exactly what refreshment was being served during practice." My eyes roll at his statement.

'No it's really not.'

There is nothing else to tell so I send Inui on his way. As soon as he is gone I lock up the J-office and travel to the other office. You know the office that only Kizuka and I know about.
I sit down at the desk and open the school security camera files, opening the files of the week before the incident. I click on the folder with Tuesday in it so I can look for Claire and Shouji in the hallway. Finally I see Claire walk into a classroom five minutes after Shouji. Normally if I'd seen this I would have just thought they were settling for the ten-thousandthtome on who is better. Now I have a theory. Claire and Shouji are the conspirators.

I access the audio files so I can listen in on the scheme. Claire's orgasmic smiles are keeping me intrigued.

"...just keep her in the room until I get there. He needs to see your lips on hers." Claire stops and smiles wider, turning away from her co-conspirator.

"Then, when he's so pissed that he can't stand to look at that bitch, he will be ALL MINE!!!"
Her eyes are more than a little scary then. Shouji ignores the crazy gleam and rude comment about his obsession. She looks over her shoulder.

"Then you can have the leftovers."

"Gladly."

'I have it. Everything I need to make this work. I have it. Just a few more days to prepare the report and wait for Shouji's death and everything will be right. Well, right enough.'

I leave my office, duly satisfied.