Akira: Of course, but how to check if someone owns a gun illegally?

Chigusa: Just check what connects the two dead perpetrators, probably the third perpetrator must be somehow related to them.

Akira: They don't look rich, so I would assume that maybe the Hironiwa clan is involved, after all, they are behind the largest criminal organization in this city, no the only criminal organization.

Chigusa: It seems trivial to me, but I will check the lead.

A few hours later, class 3-3 is doing their usual activities, Kouichi is talking with Mei and the others (Naoya, Yuuya and Ayato), Naoki is tired so he is resting while holding an Isaac Bashevis Singer book called ''Satan in Goray". Naoki was so exhausted that he just felt asleep, forgetting about everything around him, he is not in good shape, yesterday's exploration of his clan's former mansion was very exhausting for him.

Then Noboru Saruta approached Ayato, They know each other from their childhood, they are talking about everyday matters etc… Until they came across the topic of Ria Hironiwa's death.

Noboru: Hey, did you hear about what happened last night?

Ayato: No, what it is?

Noboru: A girl from the Hironiwa clan was murdered by someone, her body was later thrown into garbage. Moreover her murderers were shot by someone.

Ayato: That's terrible! But the Hironiwa clan is a Yakuza, What I'm trying to say it's that's terrible what happened to her, she probably died in a result of her father's action. Children shouldn't pay for their parents sins.

Noboru: Supposedly she was quite pretty, I feel sorry for her.

Ayato: But for two perpetrators to die at once?

Noboru: I'm not into details, but someone heard shots around midnight.

Ayato: Shots?

Naoya and Yuuya approached them, Kouichi stayed with Mei for a while.

Naoya: Hey what are you talking about?

Ayato: Uhh, nothing serious to be honest.

Noboru: Nothing serious huh? A girl died yesterday, she was killed by two men, but they died as well.

Yuuya: This is really disturbing. I feel like the curse never really left Yomiyama, even after we broke it in August, well it will come back in 2001, but still I have this strange feeling..

Naoya: There is nothing to be afraid of, at least our class is safe again.

Then Naoya noticed Naoki sleeping.

Naoya: And there is our sleeping beauty...

Ayato saw Naoki as well ''He had a tough day probably''-he thought.

Ayato walked up to Naoki and tried to wake him up, soon Naoki reflexively tightened his wrist.

Ayato: H-hey Naoki, what are you doing? It's me, Ayato.

Naoki: Indeed.
Naoki released Ayato's wrist, then Kouichi approached them and saw that Naoki was holding a book.

Kouichi: Hi Muneyoshi-kun, what are you reading?
He looked at his book. Bashevis-Singer? I heard about him, what language is this book in?

Naoki: ''Satan in Goray''

Kouichi: I see, but why you are not reading it in Japanese?

Naoki: It's a long story and shouldn't concern you.
Naoki got up and started leaving the library.

Kouichi: You lost your parents at a young age, right?

Naoki: That's right, but don't ask more about this. I hate talking about my past, or my family. Understand?

Kouichi: Yes, is it a sensitive topics for you?

Naoki: Kinda.

On the lesson, Ayato started thinking about Ria's death, after some time he connected it to Naoki, and rivalry between the Hironiwa and Muneyoshi clans, chich traces back to Kamakura period.

After school Ayato joined Naoki, and stopped him for a moment.

Ayato: Naoki, I have a serious question for you.
Ayato took a deep breath.
Ayato: Are you somehow connected to Ria Hironiwa's death?
Yesterday you said that you have more important things to do than hanging out with us, and you look exhausted now…

Naoki: No, I'm not.

Ayato: Are you lying to me? Please answer me sincerely..

Naoki: You are the last person who should accuse anyone of lying.

Ayato: Huh?

Naoki: I know the truth behind Fujioka's death. And you were the one who lied to me in November..

Ayato: I'm sorry, you lost so many important people in your life, I thought that the fact that Fujioka died might make you very upset…

Naoki: Upset? Indeed, I was after few days when Mei told me that, but now I got over it.

Ayato: So, were you involved in Ria's death?

Naoki: No, you can trust me or not, but I'm not the one who killed her. I'm sorry but I have to go. I'm exhausted and I don't really want to talk to you now.

Naoki walked away, and Ayato was considering If Naoki is really connected to her death, on what happened on Christmas day, when Ayato and his friends had a party, and Naoki was doing something else.

In Kobayashi's house, Yuuna is very upset after her best friend was murdered, her half-sister Ayane is trying to comfort her, soon Kobayashi came back home from his work. He saw that his stepdaughter is very upset, he approaches Yuuna and tries to comfort her as well.

Akira: Yuuna, I'm very sorry for what happened to your friend..
But remember that Ria came from the Great Clans, you couldn't save her, on the contrary, you could have died, maybe it's cruel to say it, but it's better that you are alive and not her.

Yuuna got up and slapped hard Kobayashi in his face.

Yuuna: Is that how you wanted to comfort me?

Akira: Maybe I deserved it, but I guess it's better that you're alive, think about Ayane. You love her right?

Yuuna: Yes, but.. Ria was precious to me as well..

Akira: Then would you choose her over your sister? Ria was 18, Ayane is 6, I guess you feel less sorry for Ria than Ayane, Ayane is still a child. Moreover, it's possible that her father ordered this, he abused her as a child, since her mother died.

Yuuna: How do you know about this?

Akira: It's secret, I interrogated one of her clan's servants today, that's how I know about it. But don't worry, I will bring her murderer to justice.

Yuuna: It's your duty after all..

Akira: Indeed, but don't tell anyone about what I told you today. Otherwise, you and I would face unpleasant consequences...

Yuuna: Of course, I won't tell anybody.

Akira: See? I'm not that cruel that you had imagined for all this years since I married your mother, Could you at least call me by my name? It sounds a bit strange when you call me by my name, we've been living together for 9 years.

Yuuna: I'll think about it

When Kobayashi left Yuuna's room he smiled maliciously, he deliberately misled his stepdaughter, but what happened between Ria and her father was true, but no one suspected either Fujioka or, especially Kobayashi. At least for now.

Chigusa is working on this case as well, she is now in her apartament looking at current circumstancial evidences and smoking another cigarette.
She know about Ria's past as well as Kobayashi, but it was pointless since Ria's father would hire her to investigate Ria's murder case. Soon she noticed that the two other men who were shot on the same day as Ria were indebted to the Hironiwa clan. This led Chigusa to believe that the third perpetrator was probably also a debtor.

The next day Ayato started to avoid Naoki, he is still not sure If he is really a murderer, Naoki is not at school, no one knows what he is doing.

Ayato is quite anxious, he is thinking that Naoki is going to kill someone as well, and since he confronted him yesterday, he doesn't know, If Naoki really left school for good, or If this is just a one-day absence.

Kouichi: Anju-kun, why is Muneyoshi-kun not at school today?

Ayato: Ahh, he has complications after poisoning, he wanted to stay at home today..

Kouichi: You look quite upset, Is everything alright?

Ayato: Umm, yeah I'm just worried about Muneyoshi-kun. I hope that he will get better soon.

Kouichi: You care about him, a lot. Is he important to you?

Ayato: Yes, we are friends since we were at our first year at class 1-1 at Yomiyama South.

Kouichi: So, why he moved there? I mean, Muneyoshi-kun asked me not to dig into his past, but I'm really curious, so can you just tell me partially what made him to transfer here?

Ayato: He wasn't liked very much at the previous school, I don't want to say more since he asked.

Kouichi: I think I know what was going on then.

Ayato smiled a bit.

Ayato: As he asked, I can't tell you more.

Kouichi: Yeah, I understand it, Muneyoshi-kun is quite simillar to Misaki-san in some point.. He is reserved just like her, but he seems to be more unfriendly than her. After I got to know her better, it turned out that she is a nice person actually..

Ayato: Well, Muneyoshi-kun was always rough and unpleasant, but deep down he is a good person. He just doesn't show it, even to me.

Kouichi: I see.

Naoki is dressed as a girl, he even put eye color tinting lenses, he is trying to get Kenshin's attention, Naoki wants to fulfill his agrement with Ria, he is reading his book, after a few hours he saw Kenshin with a group of his friends, Kenshin then he separates himself from his group of friends and approaches Naoki.

Kenshin: Hey beautiful, what are you reading?

Naoki is trying to act like a stereotypical shy girl, he covers his face with his book while Kenshin asked.

Naoki: S-satan in Goray.. by Isaac Bashevis Singer…

Kenshin: Oh? Is it interesting?

Naoki: Y-yes, w-why are you asking?

Kenshin: It's rare to meet a pretty girl reading an interesting book...

Naoki: You think so?

Kenshin looks at Naoki's book.

Kenshin: I see, this stuff is in german right? I speak german a bit.

Naoki: W-well, you see I'm trying to learn german too, Apparently it's best to learn from films, books and other cultural sources.

Kenshin: I see, my name is Kenshin Hironiwa, and yours?

Naoki was trying to make a blush
Naoki: N-Natsuko Hisajima

Kenshin: Hisajima-san, I see you are very sophisticated. I like you, do you want to exchange our phone numbers?

Naoki: W-why not?

Naoki(Natsuko) and Kenshin exchanged their numbers.

Kenshin: By the way, what is your school?

Naoki: I moved here recently, I consider between Yomiyama North and South…

Kenshin: So you are new in Town huh? Choose Southern Yomi, You'll be closer to me.

Naoki: Oh-okay.. but I think I would choose North.

Kenshin: You are new here Hisajima-san, so I must tell you that one class in Yomiyama North is cursed, apparently they broke the curse, but personally I think that this school is still dangerous..

Naoki: C-cursed? What do you mean?

Kenshin: Every month two of the students of class 3-3 in Northern Yomi dies, it doesn't matter in what circumstances…
So, you will change your decision?

Naoki: M-maybe..

Kenshin: Okay, see you later.

Naoki waited for Kenshin to move away from him, as Kenshin disappeared from Naoki's field of view he had gone home as well.
When he arrived, he washed off his makeup and put awal his lenses.

Meanwhile, Chigusa was checking the list of debtors of the Hironiwa clan, also she got a news that the gun that was used to kill the two of murderers of Ria was probably a Mauser C96 pistol.
Chigusa was pretty shocked because it was an old gun, it led her off guard, but also a Vicortinox pocket knife was found nearby, The deceased suffered stab wounds from this pocket knife. But Ria died from something different, It was not a pocket knife, but a larger blade, probably knife.
The next day she visited the families and people indebted to the Hironiwa clan, until she finally knocked on the door of Mr. and Mrs. Fujioka. Mitsuyo Fujioka opened the door.

Mitsuyo: How can I help you?

Chigusa: I'm Chigusa Nomura, a private detective, I'm investigating the murder of Ria Hironiwa and two other men.

Mitsuyo: Okay, but what does this have to do with me and my husband?

Chigusa: The two men who probably killed Ria Hironiwa were in debt to the Hironiwa clan. You and your husband are indebted as well right?

Mitsuyo: Are you accusing me or my husband of murder?

Chigusa: To be honest, you're both suspects, just like other debtors. I have a few questions for you, and for your husband, if he's here.

Mitsuyo: No my husband is currently at work

Chigusa: First question.. Were you or your husband interested in old weapons?

Mitsuyo: No, I don't think so, I wasn't interested in guns, and neither was my husband.

Chigusa: Do you have a grudge against the Hironiwa clan?

Mitsuyo: In a way, however, our debts were our fault.

Chigusa: In a way?

Mitsuyo: I'd rather not talk about it, it's an old case from several years ago.

Chigusa: May I ask what surface?

Mitsuyo: Family, but I really don't want to talk about it.

Chigusa: Family? So you or your husband are related to the Hironiwa clan?

Mitsuyo: No, It's about my family, can we go to the next question?

Chigusa: Did you notice your husband leaving or returning later on December 25?

Mitsuyo was considering her answer, indeed her husband returned late on that day, but since she lost one of her daughter she lied.
She didn't want to lose another important person in her life

Mitsuyo: No, he was here with me all the time..

Chigusa: Last question, Did someone from your family owned a Vicortinox pocket knife?

Mitsuyo: We can't afford these things, just like antique weapons.

Chigusa: Okay, that's all.

When Chigusa finished her interrogation she lit up her cigarette, and she was going to another debtor.
After visitnig everyone on the list she came back to her apartament, she doesn't know. Maybe someone was lying, or maybe the third murderer wasn't a debtor?