April 17th
"Shujin Academy has garnered significant attention; for once, it's unrelated to volleyball. A video of Shiho Suzui, a second-year student and a key player on the girls' volleyball team, went viral just a few days ago after she attempted suicide by leaping from the school rooftop. Thankfully, she survived the fall and is now recuperating in the hospital. And then, just yesterday, another video featuring Suzui-san's mother also went viral.
Shiho's inebriated mother stood in the center of the aisle, staring at the students and teachers. "Which one *hic* of you raped my Shiho? Don't act *hic* stupid. The doctor told me that there's *hic* evidence of rape. And I know the man responsible is here *hic* at this school."
The video continued, depicting Suzui confronting the volleyball players and accusing one of them of assaulting Shiho. She then stumbled over to Ann. "You! You're her best friend, Takamaki-chan. Surely you know the man that raped Shiho."
Ann shifted her focus away from the TV when the hospital room door opened, revealing Shiho's doctor, Dr. Nakaya. Ann recalled her intention to spend Sunday morning with Shiho before her afternoon photoshoot. "I'm sorry. Do you need me to step out for a bit?" Ann inquired as she rose from her chair.
"No need. We've already tended to Suzui-chan before visitation hours," Dr. Nakaya replied, and Ann resumed her seat. "I'm just checking her vital signs."
Ann's gaze dropped to the unconscious Shiho. The girl was connected to a ventilator, unable to breathe independently in her current condition. She sported purple bruises all over her body, likely from both the fall and Kamoshida. Ann had overheard some nurses discussing Shiho's condition on the day of the incident, suggesting a high likelihood that she might never walk again due to the height of her fall.
"Have there been any changes?" Ann asked after Dr. Nakaya completed her daily routine.
Dr. Nakaya frowned. "Takamaki-chan, I can only share such information with her immediate family." Nakaya started to sympathize with the lonely teenager. All she wanted was to know if her best friend would be alright. "However, there have been no significant changes since Suzui-chan's arrival. It's not good, but it's not bad either."
As Ann began to respond, she was interrupted by Kamoshida's voice emanating from the TV. She shifted her attention away from Dr. Nakaya and saw the camera focused on Kamoshida in the Shujin gymnasium. In the background, the volleyball players were practicing while Kamoshida spoke.
"I am deeply troubled by what's happening to Suzui-san," he declared. "As a coach, I feel responsible for these kids inside and outside school. During practice, I noticed that Suzui-san hadn't been herself lately, and I tried to talk to her, but she shut me out. Knowing Suzui-san, she wanted to stay focused on nationals."
"Nationals is a few weeks away, and with your star player in the hospital, how will you move forward?" a reporter inquired.
"We'll work twice as hard to ensure we win Nationals, all for Suzui-san's sake."
Ann couldn't help but mumble her frustration, "He wants everyone to believe he's sorry for one of his students. That same student he beat and assaulted."
"Takamaki-chan?" Ann turned from the TV towards Dr. Nakaya, who gestured at her clenched fists. "Are you okay?"
Embarrassed, Ann concealed her hands in her jean jacket. "I'm fine. I… I'm just anxious about Shiho."
Dr. Nakaya picked up her clipboard. "You shouldn't be burdening yourself like this, Takamaki-chan. What will Suzui-chan say if she sees you like this?" She was about to leave when Ann called out to her. "Yes?" Nakaya turned back to find Ann with a determined expression.
"Do you know anything about a rape kit?" Ann inquired. "Like, how long does it take to process?"
Nakaya sighed and ran her fingers through her hair. "After collecting semen from the victim, we send the rape kit to a crime lab. However, the labs receive DNA samples from hundreds, or even thousands, of crime scenes each year, so sometimes it may take years to process the DNA evidence. I'm sorry, but I have to get back to work." With that, the doctor exited Shiho's room, closing the door behind her.
Years? The board meeting is coming up in two weeks. We don't have that much time. Ann felt tears welling up. She returned to Shiho's side and stood beside her. Ann held her uninjured hand and said, "Did you hear that, Shiho? I'm determined to seek justice for what Kamoshida did to you. I know he raped you, and I will prove it. All I need is a DNA sample from Kamoshida."
###
At a quarter past noon, Ann left Sanno Hospital for her scheduled photoshoot at Seaside Park. Ann raised an eyebrow when she noticed Mika engaging in a friendly conversation with the photographer upon her arrival. Deciding to approach them, she walked over, prompting the pair to stop talking and look at her. "I'm here," Ann said with a smile. "Where do you want me?"
The photographer tilted his head and gazed at Ann with confusion. "Takamaki-chan, what are you doing here? I thought you would take a break until your friend recovers."
Ann squinted her eyes in confusion. "What are you talking about?"
"Mika-chan told me that you weren't coming today," he replied, glancing between Mika and Ann.
Ann redirected her attention to Mika, who appeared guilty. "This is all my fault. Takamaki-san, I know you're stressed over your best friend's suicide attempt after being sexually assaulted, and the video of her mother accusing you of knowing the perpetrator must be tough. So, I called the agency and insisted you take a break until everything's resolved." Mika confessed while fiddling with her fingers. "I hope that was okay. I'm sorry that you had to travel out here for nothing."
"You're sorry? I didn't give you permission to do that," Ann retorted, clearly seeing through Mika's innocent smile.
"Takamaki-chan, you should be grateful to have a friend looking out for you during tough times," the photographer scolded her. "Now apologize and then go home."
"Sorry," Ann mumbled under her breath. "But since I'm already here, do you think…"
"We finished a few minutes before you showed up," the photographer stated. "But don't worry, there will be other opportunities for you. Just take care of yourself for now." He patted Mika's shoulder. "Thanks for your help, Mika-chan." The man took a few steps before he turned back to Mika. "Oh, I forgot that the woman on the phone wants to schedule an interview on Tuesday. Is that fine by you?"
Mika smiled. "That will be perfect. Thank you so much for this opportunity!"
"You earned it!" The photographer said, walking over to the rest of the crew.
Once the man was gone, Mika's smile transformed into a sly smirk. "What kind of game are you playing, Mika? You knew the schedule for this photoshoot. And what's this about an interview?"
Mika rolled her eyes. "If you must know, a woman from Vogue Japan came to the photoshoot asking to interview an up-and-coming model. Since you weren't here… well, you should already know who's getting the spotlight." She paused before continuing. "And I'm not playing any games. All I'm doing is saving the agency."
"Saving the company?"
"Oh, come on! I know you can't be that naïve. Do you know how much criticism the president will receive when people find out that the girl who might know the identity of her best friend's assaulter is not being supportive? I can already picture the sales plummeting with you on the cover."
Ann shook her head. "There's no way people are going to believe that crap."
Mika gave Ann a condescending smile. "Honey, they already are. I overheard a few models talking about what a terrible friend you are for not being there for that poor girl. I'm just doing you a favor to save you from embarrassment. You wouldn't want your parents to see what a failure their daughter has become."
"Fuck you," Ann whimpered, not realizing she was in tears. She turned her back on the older woman and walked until she stopped near a bench. Ann took out her phone and, unconsciously, found herself scrolling through pictures of herself and Shiho. Shiho, I miss you so much.
###
Once volleyball practice had ended and the news crew departed, Mishima stood before Kamoshida's office. During one of their drills, Kamoshida pulled Mishima aside and instructed him to come to his office after practice. The man hadn't provided any details, but Mishima felt it wouldn't be good news.
Mishima shifted his gym bag onto his right shoulder and hesitated before raising his left hand to knock on the door. Fear coursed through his body. What does Kamoshida want with me? Does he suspect Kurusu, Sakamoto, Takamaki, and I are up to something? Is he trying to ensure we stay in line? These were the thoughts swirling through Mishima's head.
Taking a deep breath, Mishima knocked.
"Come in." Mishima opened the door and found Kamoshida casually seated at his desk, working on various volleyball team layouts. Setting the pencil down, Kamoshida swiveled in his chair to face Mishima. "Ah, you came. I was wondering if your cowardly ass was going to show up."
Mishima gulped and asked, "What is it you want?"
"Well, after that stupid interview I did, I'm feeling generous." Kamoshida stood up and approached Mishima. "I know how much volleyball means to you, Mishima, so I've come up with a proposition. If you do something for me, I won't have to mention your name to the board."
Mishima's eyes widened, and he raised his head to meet Kamoshida's gaze. "What do you want me to do?"
"I want you to be my little spy. If any students speak up about Suzui's accident or anything related, report it to me. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, sir."
April 18th
Shiho's mom found herself in Detective Zenkichi Hasegawa's Tokyo District Special Investigation Department office. Usually, she would be working, most likely in a meeting about the company's budget. Still, her boss decided she wasn't mentally stable enough to handle even the most straightforward task. So, Suzui thought now was the perfect time to seek justice for her daughter.
The door opened, revealing a young man who appeared to be a college student. Although he looked like he had just rolled out of bed with shaggy hair, his outfit was professional, featuring a tan peacoat, black pants, gloves, loafers, and a black and white striped tie. "Sorry for the wait," the young man apologized. "Here's your coffee." He placed a warm coffee mug in front of Suzui. "Detective Hasegawa is in a meeting but will be back shortly."
"That's fine. I'm in no rush," she said, taking a sip and placing the mug back down. "Don't take this the wrong way, but compared to everyone I saw when I walked in, you look too young to be a detective. So, what are you?"
"I'll take that as a compliment," the young man laughed, then said, "And to answer your question, I'm interning to be a detective after I graduate."
"Oh, from what university?"
"Hosei University. Oh, I almost forgot," he held out his hand. "The name's Goro Akechi. It's a pleasure to meet you, Suzui-san."
Suzui's eyes widened in astonishment. "You know who I am?" Then her gaze dropped. "I don't even know why I asked that question. Everybody knows what happened with my daughter… and even what I did." She locked eyes with Goro. "You're aware of the incident at Shujin Academy, right? It made the news, and my job decided to let me go, even though they didn't explicitly state it."
Goro genuinely felt sympathy for the distressed woman. She sought justice for her daughter, who had attempted suicide after a sexual assault. However, the school and the public seemed to attribute the incident to Shiho Suzui's mental health issues. Goro had come across posts from people speculating that Shiho's parents might have pressured her to excel in both volleyball and academics, leading to the traumatic event. The only reason Suzui accused someone of raping her daughter, in their eyes, was to deflect the blame. Goro considered all of these assumptions to be baseless.
The door swung open, revealing Detective Zenkichi Hasegawa, who appeared somewhat disheveled. Goro raised his eyebrow while Suzui stared at him. Zenkichi ran his fingers through his shoulder-length black hair to appear more presentable.
"Suzui-san, I apologize for the delay," he said. "When my wonderful intern messaged me, informing me of your presence in my office, I rushed right over." He walked to his desk and took a seat, facing Suzui. "So, how can I assist you today?"
Suzui informed Zenkichi and Goro about her suspension, revealing that someone from Shujin Academy sexually harassed Shiho, and the school was covering it up to protect its reputation. She mentioned spotting unusual bruises on Shiho, who claimed they were from volleyball practice. While Goro typed notes on his laptop, Zenkichi listened attentively to every word she said. Suzui asserted that the culprit could be from the volleyball team or the new transfer student whom Principal Kobayakawa had foolishly accepted. She also emphasized that her daughter had no mental illness, contrary to the school's assertions.
"All I want is for my little girl to get justice. Is that so hard to ask, detective?" Suzui glanced up at Zenkichi with tears forming in her eyes. "Am I being dramatic like the people online are saying? They say that my husband and I are why Shiho tried to kill herself. That we –"
"Suzui-san, I need you and your husband to get off the internet for a few days, okay?" Zenkichi stated. "There are some nasty people that don't understand what your daughter went through, so they're going to blame the parents first. Do you understand?"
She nodded, then glanced at the clock on the wall, noticing that she had been in the detective's office for almost an hour. "I didn't realize I was here for that long. I should get going." Suzui went to stand up, and Zenkichi followed. "Thank you for listening to me," she turned to Goro, "and thank you for the coffee."
"Here, let me get the door for you," Zenkichi said. As Suzui walked past him, Zenkichi said, "I assure you, Suzui-san, I will look into this. Don't you worry."
"Thank you. And have a nice day."
"You too." Once Suzui stepped into the hallway, Zenkichi closed the door and staggered back to his desk. He plopped down in the leather chair and leaned back, glancing over at Goro. "Did you get all that?"
Goro nodded, looking back at his notes. "Based on what Suzui-san told us, Shujin Academy is most likely trying to cover up the incident, which doesn't surprise me. Principal Kobayakawa appears to be the type who will do anything to make the school look good from the outside. Plus, he let a criminal enroll into the school, endangering the students because he wants everyone to know that 'hey, we can turn a delinquent into a scholarly student.'"
Zenkichi seemed impressed. "I see you improved that observation skill of yours. I can see why the others are calling you 'The Second Coming Detective.'" He flipped his hair to be funny. "But you'll never surpass me."
"Haha, hilarious," Goro dried laugh as he closed his laptop and placed it inside his brown leather bag. The young man noticed that his shift for the day was almost over. "So, how did your meeting with the commissioner go?"
"Huh?" Zenkichi stared at Goro as if he had two heads.
"Your meeting with the commissioner," Goro repeated slowly. "How did it go?"
"Oh…um," Zenkichi trailed off, recalling his 'meeting' before Suzui arrived. Soft thighs rubbed up against his thighs, the office desk banged against the wall as he thrust constantly, and the faint cry of release from him and the woman withering underneath him. Zenkichi blinked back into reality. "The meeting with Commissioner Kaburagi went well."
Goro cocked an eyebrow and then smirked. "You were fooling around with that new detective woman. What's her name again? Hana, is it?"
"How…?"
"I could smell her raspberry perfume all over you when you entered," Goro responded. "And the way you look winded… the meeting went well."
"Shut up and get out of here before you're fired," Hasegawa teased, hitting the back of Goro's head.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Hasegawa-sensei. Have a good evening." And with that, Goro left the office and walked down the hallway towards the elevator. To his surprise, Hana was already holding the door for him. "Thank you," he said to her.
Hana smiled. "Are you going home already, Akechi-kun?"
"Well, I do have classes in the morning," Goro responded.
"Ah, I almost forgot that you're a college student." The pair was silent as the elevator stopped on the second floor. "This is my stop. See you tomorrow, Akechi-kun."
"Hana-san," Goro called out to the woman. "The next time you want to fool around with Hasegawa-sensei, don't spray the awful perfume, okay?" He watched as Hana's once smile turned into pure horror.
###
BAM! BAM! BAM!
Makoto's knuckles started to bruise, but she didn't care. She threw another punch at the 100lb leather punching bag, then another. The sound echoed throughout Protein Lovers, distracting the men. They couldn't help but see a teenage girl soaked in sweat, which they considered sexy. A few of them whistled and catcalled, but Makoto ignored them. Her attention was strictly on the punch bag.
The bag transformed into Principal Kobayakawa, then into Kamoshida, and even transformed into Akira. A little part of Makoto felt this wouldn't have happened if Akira had never transferred to Shujin Academy. Kobayakwa wouldn't have told her to keep watch on him, so Makoto would focus on pressing matters – getting into a top college.
Makoto halted, feeling ashamed for blaming Akira. What the hell am I thinking? I wouldn't have done a damn thing. Kamoshida would still abuse students regardless of whether Akira was transferring or not.
Taking a sip of water, Makoto sensed someone standing close to her. "Hey baby, why did you stop? If you're having trouble with your breathing…or stamina… I can become your trainer."
Makoto stared up at the pervert in disgust. "As if," she scoffed. "And if you ever talk to me again, I will call the police, telling them that you're harassing a minor."
"Whatever." And with that, the man walked away.
I should get home before Sis starts to worry if she's there. Makoto swung her bag over her shoulder, exited the gym, and rode the train back to her apartment complex. Instead of taking the elevator, Makoto went up the stairs to the third floor. Darkness greeted her when she unlocked the front door. She checked her phone to see if Sae had texted her that she was coming home late or not coming home at all. There wasn't a text.
Well, I don't have to worry about cooking for two. So, Makoto decided to take a hot shower. After a while, Makoto stepped out, dried her body, and changed into loungewear. She then heard her phone buzz, and to her surprise, it was Goro Akechi. Makoto has been waiting to hear from Goro since school started, and he began his internship.
Goro: Are you free?
Makoto: The proper way to greet someone you haven't spoken to in a while is to say hello.
Goro: Hello, Makoto~ Are you free?
Makoto: You're getting right to the point, huh? Well, lucky you, I'm home. Sae isn't home, and I doubt she will, so I have the whole place to myself. Why did you ask?
Goro: Because I'm currently outside your door with takeout. Sohma-san is watching me, and I fear she will call the cops soon. So, please hurry and open your door.
Makoto swiftly walked to her door and opened it, revealing a sheepish Goro. "Wha-what are you doing here?"
"I can't come to see my best friend?" Goro asked.
"Not when that said best friend hasn't been in contact in weeks." Makoto crossed her arms.
Goro sighed. "I regret every second, but I'm not the only one to blame."
"You're right. Please, come inside." Makoto stepped to the side for Goro to enter. She closed the door, took the takeout bag from Goro's grasp, and placed it on the dining table. "So, how are you? How's the internship going? Are you working any case with Detective Hasegawa?" She asked all of this while getting utensils.
Goro laughed at Makoto's eagerness. He thought it was cute. "Slow down, Makoto. I can only answer a question one at a time." Makoto blushed. "And for the first question, I'm fine; thanks for asking." He took a bite out of his chicken fried rice. "Now, for the internship… It's challenging. I can see why your sister doesn't come home too often. It's like every five minutes; there's a new case."
Makoto dropped her fork and lowered her head, resting her hands on her cloth-covered thighs. "I wouldn't know. Sis doesn't talk to me much when she's here longer than thirty minutes."
Goro reached out to touch her hand but decided against it, so he let out an awkward cough. "She doesn't want to bore you about her job, that's all. It's better to focus on your school life than worry about others. Speaking of school life… How have you been? I heard about what happened a few days ago. You know you can talk to me."
The apartment fell into silence. Makoto didn't say anything at first, and Goro waited patiently. After a few minutes, Makoto glanced at Goro and said, "Stress. I'm stressed that I wasn't able to help Suzui-san." She stood up and began pacing back and forth with her arms crossed. "I mean, I'm the student council president for, fuck sake. It's my job to protect the students. She should have come to me if there was something wrong."
"Well, are you surprised?" Goro suddenly asked. Makoto stopped pacing and looked at him, confused about why he would ask such a question. "Makoto, I'm not trying to upset you, but – as you said – you're only the student council president, not a counselor. Of course, no one will come to you because you're the principal's lapdog in their eyes."
"I probably would have gone to the principal if someone was bullied," Makoto recalled when she told both Kobayakawa and Kamoshida about one of the volleyball athletes beating Akira, but they swept it under the rug. "And even that's not going to change anything. But if a teacher is harassing students… I'll go to the police."
"Would you, though?" Goro questioned.
"What?"
"Would you have gone to the police if you knew a teacher harassed a student? Without any evidence? That's risky, even for you, Makoto." Goro watched as she quietly sat down, staring absentmindedly at the wall behind him. "And besides," he continued, "would you risk your position to save a helpless student?"
Makoto opened her mouth to snap back, but no words came out because she knew deep down she had chosen to ignore the rumors.