CIATB Book 2: Chapter 8
Book 2: Chapter 8
May 2 (Saturday), 9:14 AM“You sure this is okay? If word gets out that you were in here with Kazuki Hoshino, it could mean big trouble for both of you.”
Maria Otonashi leads me into one of the stalls of the girls’ bathroom.
“…Heh.”
I walk right into the stall without a second thought, and she regards me with a cold smile. What exactly is she plotting here? True, the toilets up on the third floor of the second annex don’t see much use, since there’s nothing on this floor but special-purpose classrooms. I still can’t figure out for the life of me why she would go to the trouble of bringing me all the way here, though.
“You’re right. If we get caught, we would both be suspended. Everyone in school would hate us.”
“Are you already desperate? Well then, how about we make a little bit of noise, if that’s what you want?”
“I’m game if you are.”
Her smile has just the slightest hint of derision… She must already know I’m not sincere. The plan is to assume Kazuki Hoshino’s position in life as it stands now. While I have succeeded in doing more damage to it than I thought possible, I don’t want to get him into any real trouble beyond that.
“Now then, ‘Yuhei Ishihara,’ let’s see Kazuki’s phone.”
“…Well, that was sudden.”
“Just open his pictures. Specifically, the third from the top.”
I have half a mind to refuse, but I end up playing along since there’s no point in giving her a hard time.
I open the picture in question. It appears to be a selfie taken by a cute girl in pajamas.
“So, can you tell me who that is?”
“…Is there a point to this question?”
“I’m afraid I can’t answer that for various reasons.”
Hmm, that was more straightforward than I expected. I take another look at the picture. I have no clue who she is, but I’m sure it’s not to my advantage to simply admit as much.
I scan the background of the picture. She’s definitely in a hospital. Now that I think about it, I did hear about a big accident that happened nearby about two months ago. Could she be the victim?
Unfortunately…I can’t remember the name they mentioned.
…Welp, I don’t know what I don’t know, so I simply toss out the first name that comes to mind and hope it’s right.
“Kasumi Mogi.” I try the name I heard the other night from the underwear girl, Ruka Hoshino.
“Sorry, but that’s incorrect.”
Damn. I smile ruefully. “I was just saying whatever since I don’t really know.”
“I lied.”
“What?”
“I lied when I said you got the name wrong. The girl in the picture actually is her, only you don’t know what she looks like,” Maria Otonashi says without even the tiniest shift in her expression.
“…That’s a dirty trick.”
“What’s dirty about it? It’s your fault for letting yourself think things would work themselves out if you managed to guess the right answer. On to the next question. How are Kazuki Hoshino and Kasumi Mogi connected?”
I still don’t understand what she’s getting at with these questions. I’m sure she’s trying to confuse me, though.
I
Nothing matters anymore.
I begin stumbling away. Otonashi says something, and I say something back. I don’t know what she said, or what I replied, but none of that matters, anyway.
I want to scream.
But even if I did, no one would help me.