Case 1: The Young Lady’s Assassination

“Are you a brave young lady, or you just accept your death?” the leader of the criminals asked, grinning at Suzuki Mio who is now sitting beside him, well-behaved like a three-year old kid. However, her eyes are filled with wisdom despite at such a young age.

This must be the result of continuous assassination attempts to her. She was too used of her life being threatened. A pity, this must happen to a very smart child.

Suzuki Mio didn’t bother to reply. They are now above the waters of the 8th Beach Resort where they should enjoy a relaxing and filled with fun day yet they were just in their way they were suddenly attacked. The day ended in horror and their life was threatened.

The cause is only one person. The catalyst is her life’s worth. “Who sent you?” she calmly asked, no waves in her voice.

“For a 14-year old miss to ask this, you were well-trained by your dad?” the leader asked back.

“I just know what I am worth.” Suzuki Mio finally answered the previous question. After that, she didn’t speak anymore.

Their helicopter passed by the small island, that was near the 8th Beach Resort, where they are supposed to do their night activity which is possibly the test of courage. There was a cave surrounded by the forests at the heart of the island.

Now that our school trip was cancelled, my deathbed won’t be on that unknown island anymore. She thought and finally relaxed her shoulders. However, a mocking smile was formed by her lips. The only difference of each person is the time of their death, and the place of their death.

After a short sleep due to their supposed school trip that was now cancelled, and the hostage drama earlier, she felt her eyelids became heavy. The time she closed her eyes, she took her sleep. However, the next time she will close her eyes, she’d wish she’ll forever sleep.

She will close her eyes from the truth that will be forcefully shown and gave to her.

Inside an office.

“You - !” Suzuki Masamune’s chest heaved up and down as he tried to calm himself. His eyes murderously glaring at the man before him, calmly sipping his tea. “It was your school’s responsibility to protect each student!” he pointed to the man, his finger shaking.

The man just calmly looked at him as if he’s just a barking dog. “The school will be responsible, but we will offer compensation. Not we will offer our life with.” He said.

Veins popping on his forehead, Suzuki Masamune roared. “So you run your school like this?!” he asked, mad. His wife Chiaki Sagiri is sobbing as she hugged her husband to calm him down.

“I was never an educator in the first place.” The man said. “I am a businessman.” He answered. “Accidents are called as accidents since we never know they will happen. Unless you hire a fortune teller that can predict the future, then you can. Unfortunately, there’s none in this school. And as per stated in the waiver the parents and the guardians signed, the school will offer just compensations to those who will be injured or, hopefully not, to those whose life will be lost. There’s nothing stated that a life will be paid as a compensation for a life that was lost.” He explained as he crossed his arms and looked at Suzuki Masamune. “Each parent or relative of the students never came here in my office today to complain, unlike you, since they know the situation more than you do and instead they sent their student to the hospitals to be looked after or cured by the doctors. However, you, not only ran here to my office instead to chase the helicopter which took your daughter away, you also waste your time here instead of praying to your ancestral temple and ask for your child’s safety.” He said and looked at Suzuki Masamune’s eyes. “The best the school can do is to ask for the police’s help, which we already did earlier. However, we cannot move all the major forces of the country since your daughter’s situation is the common kidnapping case. Unless you know someone with the authority, then you can use our phone to call them.” He offered and motioned for the school telephone.

The bodyguard held the telephone and offered it to Suzuki Masamune. However, Suzuki Masamune didn’t move.

“Right.” The man said, as if he remembered something, “I saw someone familiar in the school grounds earlier fighting against your family’s bodyguards.” He said. “However, by the time I arrived, I only saw countless unrecognizable corpses.” He said and looked at Suzuki Masamune who stood frozen before the table. His wife is looking at him, confused. “I saw… it was a woman with long curly hair fighting against the group of bodyguards. If I remember correctly, the woman’s name is – “

“No!” Chiaki Sagiri said, her face pale, as she finally reacted to his words. “Hare!” she exclaimed as she fell on the floor, clutching her chest.

“Yes.” The man continued, as if didn’t see their reactions. “Suzuki Hare. She was orphaned when she was 14 while her younger brother is too little.” He said. “Their poor parents’ car crashed and fell on the cliff, their bodies not found.” He said. “Then you took in the little brother while the elder sister flew to China to study martial arts.” He looked at Suzuki Masamune who suddenly looked he aged 10 more years. His face went serious. “The school doesn’t pry in the students’ and their family’s privacy, and so they also don’t ask for more than what the school can do.” He said, his voice flat. “Each one of us has their own skeletons in their closet. What’s yours, you should keep it as yours. You shouldn’t try to push your own ghosts to other people’s. Otherwise – “ he said, his eyes narrowed as he looked at Suzuki Masamune sharply. The old man was shocked and stepped back, almost stepping on his wife who’s still on the floor. “ – you would know which ghost is horrible. Be careful, or you’ll get carried away and be dragged in that endless horror.” He told him, a warning in his voice. “Escort them out.” He told the bodyguards.

The bodyguards immediately took the man and his wife away. Then silence filled the whole room. He took a deep breath and sighed as he stood up and walked towards the floor to ceiling glass window behind him, showing the entirety of the Seiken Academy.

His phone rang and he answered it. “Hachimaki Sora.” He said.

The person on the other line laughed. “You should change the way your ‘greet’ people on the phone.” He told him.

“What do you want, Rei?” Hachimaki Sora asked, his eyes narrowed. This man is really annoying. He thought when he heard the man laughed again.

“Did that dog already leave?” Yokozawa Rei asked.

“Yeah. You should be receiving his call when you end this call.” He told Rei.

Yokozawa Rei just sighed. “Can you give me a tip on how to deal with those annoying people?” he asked, irritation in his voice. “If only the Minister of Justice asked me a favor…” he said.

“Didn’t you already send a person to look after Suzuki Mio?” he asked, then silence fell between them.

“… you didn’t abandon him, right?” Yokozawa Rei asked, slight concern on his voice.

“I did.” He answered heartlessly. Before the other could speak, he added. “Since he can take care of those bugs.” He told him. “He walked away very fine.” His voice suddenly became soft.

Yokozawa Rei chuckled. “Yeah, yeah.” He said. He can see him waving his hand as if buzzing off some flies.

“I told the dog the rabbit was dead.” He reminded him.

A roar of laughter was responded to him. “Then the dog must be like just one of those ants struggling to go out of the hot pot?” Rei said.

“What he did, he should be responsible to it.” He only said, then ended the call. His eyes surveyed the entirety of the school, then looked at the wallpaper of his phone. It was a young man with fair skin, which brightened more in contrast of his jet black hair. His eyes are deep blue, and his smile is like the sunshine.

He closed his eyes and locked his phone. He sighed as a name was uttered from his lips.