Chapter 14: Accusation

Tokyo, Minato Ward, 8:15 PM

The Shimada family residence consisted of a penthouse located at the top of one of the many skyscrapers that dotted the Japanese capital, like colossal menhirs. It contained an open-air swimming pool and a helipad, where a red and blue Eurocopter EC 135 helicopter was parked. In the living room, Chiyo Shimada, a woman with long, light brown hair that reached her back and eyes of the same color, wearing a red robe, was sitting on a sofa in the living room, intent on watching the NHK evening news on her television (a flat-screen Daewoo of South Korean production). At that moment it showed a reporter with long raven hair tied in a ponytail, light blue eyes and lipstick on her lips that a superimposed writing identified as Rena Mizunashi. Behind her was visible a camp illuminated by artificial lights.

"…In this gloomy forest lurks Miho Nishizumi, Shiho's second-born daughter and Maho's younger sister (current commander-in-chief of the floating academy Kuromormine's sensha-do team) and, last but not least, the former vice-commander of the aforementioned academy. The girl came here with the intention of kill herself…"

I bet Shiho-chan had a hand in that decision…

Chiyo thought, then sipped a cup of green tea.

She and Shiho had been friends/rivals since childhood, and she could say she knew her very well. As a mother, Nishizumi had been strict and severe; she had never seen her show any sign of affection towards her daughters: not a hug, not a kind word… Nothing, except for some formal praise after the matches they won. But from here to inducing one of them to commit suicide was a long step.

After the last final, she disappeared… My daughter's contacts at Kuromorimine didn't know where she had ended up. Then she had reappeared at the head of that team of beginners… What was her name?

She took her smartphone, connected to Google, wrote 63rd national tournament and the results from the day before yesterday appeared.

Ah, here it is, Ooarai… Debuting against Saunders Academy, one of the favorites, they suffered a tough defeat, and today they announced their imminent closure.

She looked back at the news. Now the reporter was talking to some girls: Maho Nishizumi; her deputy Erika; Darjeeling, captain of St. Gloriana; some students of Ooarai.

"…Pushed her to commit suicide?"

Maho was about to answer, but one of the Ooarai, who had long copper-colored hair, spoke up first.

"Her mother is to blame!" She exclaimed angrily.

Rena looked at her in confusion.

"Nishizumi-sama? What does that have to do with it?" The journalist asked.

"She disowned Miho!" The girl said.

"Disowned? Why?"

Another Ooarai, who had long dark hair, answered her.

"We don't know… But because of this decision, Miho has nowhere to go when Ooarai closes. This is what pushed her to come here to kill herself."

The reporter was about to reply, but at that moment the copper-colored one snatched the microphone from her hand and said angrily:

"I have a message for Shiho Nishizumi: do you remember me? My name is Saori Takebe, and you disgust me! If Miho has decided to commit suicide, it is your fault! You disinherited her, pushing her to this! And if she dies, her blood will stain your hands, forever! Your behavior is unworthy of a mother!"

So that's how it is…

Miss Shimada thought.

What crime must Miho have committed to have induced her mother to disinherit her?

The easiest way to find out is to ask Shiho directly…

She logged on to Facebook, but before she could write to Nishizumi Sr. she noticed three unread messages: the first was from Yuriko Takagi, a dear friend of hers; the second from Captain Ami Chono; the third from her daughter Alice, on a trip to Aokihagara. When she read the content of the latter, her eyes widened, while maintaining a calm attitude. Then she went back to watching TV, where the black-haired Ooarai was now speaking.

"…Miho, come back to us! Don't do anything stupid! You'll see that everything will be resolved! Trust me, your friend Hana!" She exclaimed, with tears in her eyes.

A wolf doesn't care about the opinion of a lamb...

Shiho Thought (impassive as always), intent on watching, via her computer, from her studio the NHK report, also broadcast live on the YouTube channel of the aforementioned broadcaster.

Miho…

Thought a girl of average height, with red hair tied in two pigtails and a pale complexion, intent on watching the news of HTB (Hokkaido Television Broadcasting). She was sitting at the table in the living room, and with her were two other girls: both were blonde, but if one had brown eyes, the other had golden ones. All three were wearing the uniform of their academy, the Bellwall, consisting of a white shirt and a light brown skirt with a red stripe running around it. There was also a small bow that went around the collar of the shirt.

"…The search has been going on for hours, but so far neither the police nor the volunteer teams deployed by the Saunders, St. Gloriana, Kuromorimine and Maginot academies have found any traces of Miho." The anchorwoman said.

"Emi?" One of the blondes called.

The redhead turned to look at her.

"What is it, Hitomi?"

"Don't you think we should send a team of volunteers too? After all, Miho is still our friend, even if we now attend two separate academies."

Emi snorted and crossed her arms. It was true, back in elementary school, she, Hitomi, and Miho had been best friends. However…

"Right now, that's not feasible." She declared.

Hitomi was disappointed by that answer.

"But… Why?" She asked.

Emi gave her a stern look.

"First, because right now we're sailing in the Tsushima Strait, far from Aokigahara…"

"But all we need to do is reverse course, in a few hours…"

"Don't interrupt me! Second, it's already late... When we get there, it will be the middle of the night, and moving in the dark in a labyrinthine forest like that is not wise!"

"True... Besides, Aokigahara is inhabited by dangerous animal species, such as ferocious black bears or poisonous Mamushi snakes." The other blonde intervened.

Emi nodded.

"Right, Nagisa. Third... For all we know, Miho could have already dead, especially in this situation, with everyone after her."

Indignant, Hitomi jumped up, glaring at her.

"Nothing proves it, fuck! And Miho would do it for us! That girl is heroic, she proved it last year by saving her classmates from drowning!"

The redhead stood up as well, glaring at her.

"I said that we can't go right now, not that we won't go."

Hitomi looked at her in confusion.

"I don't understand…"

"First, we'll dock at a port as soon as possible. Then, when it's daylight, we'll recruit volunteers, take the first shinkansen to Kofu, and from there, go to Aokigahara." Emi explained, then turned to Nagisa.

"What's the nearest port city?"

The girl reached for her smartphone, connected to Google Maps, and checked.

"Fukuoka, captain."

The redhead nodded.

"Order the crew to head there!"

Nagisa snapped to attention.

"Yes, commander!"