[olympia]
Title: The Problem With Annihilation
ID: [olympia]
Word count: 11,600
Character(s) or pairing(s): Fuji Syuusuke, Fuji Yuuta, Tachibana Kippei, Rikkai ensemble
The Problem With Annihilation
Prologue
"Hello? Yes, this is the Fuji Residence. How may I help you?" Yumiko-neesan answered the phone as fast as she could, dropping the textbook she had been reading for the past hour.
She hadn't turned a page since she opened the book.
Not that Yuuta was one to talk. He was also worried about his brother. He had come home instead of staying at the dorms like he always did on weekdays. He was also home earlier than he would have been since he had cut tennis practice short. Mizuki let him off without comment.
Any day now…any day now, he's going to walk through that door. He'll be all right. It's 'niisan, he always finds a way.
"I believe Seishun Gakuen's clinic might have those. Yes, it's the school where Syuusuke goes to," the phone clicked loudly as his sister put it down in the cradle. She was white as a sheet.
"Who was that, 'neesan? And what did they want?"
"It was the police and they wanted Syuusuke's latest dental records."
No. No. No. It's probably some mistake.
Yuuta have heard enough from TV to know what it meant.
Identification for a body that can't be identified otherwise…
Yumiko was back to not-reading her book, her hands so holding so tightly onto the halves that Yuuta could hear the pages rustle. He knew that she was thinking the same thing.
It's been three months, but it's 'niisan…it's 'niisan…
Those That Were Left Behind
"I'm glad you can take the case, Shinichi-san. It's good to meet Yuusaku's boy at last. I just wished it was in better circumstances." Amaya Shinobu said shaking Kudo Shinichi's hand.
This confirmed Shinichi's suspicions as to why he had been called out to Kanagawa for this. That, and the client could have hired three detectives for the sum offered. While he was known for his detective work for the Tokyo Police Department, his age tended to make clients wary of him unless they were acquainted with his famous father.
"It is no bother, Amaya-san. Has a ransom been demanded?" The Amayas were old money and it would have been unusual if the person or persons who kidnapped their child didn't demand ransom.
"No there have been no demands as of today." Amaya wiped his forehead vigorously with a handkerchief in obvious distress.
They're very fond of their Seiji-kun for all that they've only adopted him for less than a year.
The couple were good people from what Shinichi could dig up.
Responsible businessman and loving socialite, they worked the charities, paid their taxes and conducted their business in a social and environment conscious manner. Perfect, almost too perfect.
They had no enemies and seemed to be popular in the community so the only motive one can have to kidnap their child was for money.
Or worse…
Shinichi had seen the photo of the missing child. Amaya-kun was personable and pretty--almost too pretty for a boy. He had caramel-colored hair falling softly around his face in a short multi-layered cut with the forelock nearly covering his electric blue eyes. A shy smile more than complimented delicate features with a slight build and small for his age; a perfect target for some who have a liking for pretty boys. There were darker things that a person could want with someone who looked like Amaya Seiji.
"Since I called you, I have learned that one of his schoolmates from Rikkai have also gone missing. The kid is also part of the junior high tennis club."
Maybe it's someone connected with the tennis club then, or has a grudge against the said club.
"I think I'll make inquiries."
"I'll trust your judgment in this, Kudo-san." The measured tone and the ruthless gleam in Amaya's eye said volumes though.
Amaya-kun had been missing for more than a week now and the police had no leads, the only reason Amaya was trusting Shinichi was because of his father's reputation. Any mistake on his part that endangered Amaya-kun will not be tolerated. He wasn't worried; he was more than up for this challenge.
"I'll make sure that your trust is not misplaced."
"I trust you have some discretion? I have no intention of this becoming public knowledge until Seiji is safe." It was a testament to the Amayas' wealth and power that no hint of this was in the news, quite a minor miracle in its own right.
Kidnapping risk. There's always the chance even if he is missing already.
Shinichi knew that this information block was a double-edged sword but it was Amaya-san's choice.
"Of course. When did you find out he was missing?"
"Midnight, one week and three days ago. He had said that he was going to go ride the bus with some of his friends."
"So tell me more about Sei-kun's routine... How does he get to school? Does he go out with his friends?"
"The chaffeur fetches him from and to school. He does ride the bus when he goes anywhere else with his friends, says he doesn't want to feel out of place..."
***
"Can I help you?" The junior high student, browned by the sun, was wearing the yellow jersey of Rikkai. His question cut through the unfriendly stares of several students who stopped swinging their rackets.
"Hello, my name is Kudo Shinichi. I was hired by Amaya-san to investigate the disappearance of Amaya Seiji." Shinichi was glad he was wearing his blue suit and red bowtie since it made him look a bit more credible.
They have the right to be suspicious since two of their fellow members have gone missing.
"Can you prove you are who you say you are?" Another student drawled in a slight Kansai-ben, green eyes staring intently at him.
Shinichi flashed his Teitan High ID.
"You're just in high school…what could you…?" Shinichi got that a lot, though a little less these days.
"Wait! I've heard of him, Kei-kun. You're the Detective of the East, right? The one that solved the Ski Lodge Murders?" The first student exclaimed.
"Yes, that's me." Shinichi couldn't help be a little smug at that. He was proud of his accomplishments. Solving murders that had the police baffled and getting justice for the victims was something he'd always dreamed of doing.
And being so young too…
"We should cooperate with him, maybe he could get Kirihara-buchou and Amaya-kun back and stop the nut who took them. Who knows who else he's going to target?"
"Well, I suppose it can't hurt. My name is Nakae Keishi. What would you like to know?" The Kansai kid asked.
"I'd like to interview all of you who were close to those who went missing."
"I suppose that means all of us regulars then. Wait after practice. We don't need anymore disruptions around here."
"Do they have any friends outside the club?"
"Amaya-kun has that annoying…"
"Kei!"
"Well, they are, Danzai-kun. Anyway, he has a clique of some rich brats. Kirihara-buchou only had the current tennis club and the previous… Oh, good timing, Yukimura-senpai!" The last was said to an older student with wavy short hair and wearing a neat uniform of Rikkai. He had just sauntered in from one of the school buildings.
"What are you doing, Nakae-kun, Danzai-kun? Why aren't you practicing? And why are all of you staring? Shouldn't everyone else be doing drills?" Yukimura said gently but firmly.
"Aa, right away. EVERYONE BACK TO PRACTICE! All regulars assemble later after practice. Kudo-san you might want to talk to Yukimura-senpai over here. Yukimura-senpai, he's a famous detective hired by the Amayas." Nakae said quickly, turning so fast to get his tennis racket that was leaning on the bench that he nearly fell. Every one of the other members followed suit.
He certainly had authority around here…
Shinichi was impressed in spite of himself.
"So Kudo-san, what do you want to know?"
"And you are?"
"Yukimura Seiichi…"
"The previous captain of the tennis club?"
"Yes. I suppose you would have researched me, Kudo-san."
"I have some questions about the two tennis club members who went missing, Amaya Seiji and Kirihara Akaya."
"Akaya was in my team for two years. He has a reputation for violent play before. He has injured other players on rival teams, never on our team though."
So he could have enemies? But they took him after they took Amaya-kun. And Akaya? They must be close to Kirihara to use his first name so casually.
Shinichi nodded, taking mental notes.
"Can I have a list of players he has injured in the past?"
"One of my other teammates might be able to help with that; I was ill for most of last year and was only present for a few games so I might forget a few. I don't know much about Amaya-kun. We only met recently. Though Akaya complains that he teases constantly."
***
"Nice game, Atobe. Who is the kid?" Sanada was blunt as always.
"Yukimura, Sanada, ore-sama is gratified that you can appreciate ore-sama's game." Atobe said as they wind up the set with his opponent losing six games to four. It had been a very good game. The kid did surprisingly well against Atobe for someone who looked to be an undersized freshman.
"You don't know him and you study at Rikkai? He goes to Rikkai as well. Sei-kun, these are your senpai, Sanada Genichirou and Yukimura Seiichi. They are both in their last year but they use to be regulars in the tennis club. Sanada, Yukimura, this is ore-sama's cousin, Amaya Seiji."
Amaya blinked uncertainly at them and Seiichi had the impression of a five-year-old child hiding behind a parent as he stepped ever so slightly behind Atobe.
Gently now, he seems a bit shy.
"Amaya-kun, I haven't seen in you in the pre-regulars. Why is that?" Seiichi asked keeping his tone soothingly polite.
"Ore-sama's cousin is apprehensive about your ill-tempered kouhai. I think, despite the commute, he should transfer to Hyotei or Seigaku instead. Hiyoshi would certainly behave well towards him and Tezuka's brats will welcome him." The tone said that if Hiyoshi were so ill-advised to act mean to Atobe's cousin, he would find himself in hot water with Atobe himself and that Atobe would go complaining to Tezuka if Seigaku didn't have the foresight to value his cousin.
It's just like Atobe to think that he could influence the world in that way, no matter that it might be otherwise.
"The 'ill-tempered kouhai' happens to be standing behind you." Yukimura almost smiled at the tick that was evident in the outraged voice. He had noticed Akaya approaching and knew that an explosion was imminent before Atobe finished talking.
"Well then, one should have announced oneself to ore-sama. Remember, eavesdroppers never hear any good about themselves." Atobe finished smoothly as always, seemingly unaware that Kirihara was imitating a rumbling volcano.
Knowing Atobe, he was probably deriving much fun at Akaya's expense. That was a nice save though, since he couldn't have seen Akaya from where he was facing.
"Why you…"
"Akaya!" Sanada's voice cracked like a whip. Yukimura could always rely on him to keep order.
Amaya-kun acted skittish enough.
"I've changed, he has no right to badmouth me just so that he can get Amaya-san into Hyotei." Kirihara said sullenly, his eyes still did not leave Amaya. There was definitely a sparkle of interest there.
"Ah and this is their 'ill-tempered kouhai', the current captain of the Rikkai tennis club, Kirihara Akaya."
"I've heard so much about you, Kirihara-buchou." The tone said very well that it wasn't good. Amaya Seiji sounded respectful enough but it was clear that he didn't want to speak with Akaya, if he could help it.
"Amaya-kun, why not consider playing for Rikkai? After all, I can vouch that Akaya has reformed." Yukimura said, smiling at Amaya in his gentle way.
It was clear that the statement made the shy Amaya hesitate. What he did next however surprised Yukimura; he beckoned for Kirihara to come closer.
Ah, progress! He probably didn't want Atobe to hear whatever he had to say if it had something about playing for the team...given that Atobe had been going on about Hyotei and Seigaku, a moment ago...
Amaya put his lips close to Kirihara's ear for a long moment. Yukimura was amused to see his kouhai blush at the close contact and even more so as Amaya whispered to him. Then Amaya gave Kirihara a "playful" shove that must have been stronger than it looked since it sent Kirihara sprawling with a pole-axed expression on his face.
Eh?
"Now that's settled, Kei-nii, can I get a shower at your place before I go home?"
"Of course, ore-sama's cousin should not have to stink of sweat while being driven to his home."
"See you around campus, senpai." Amaya waved at them before following Atobe.
Kirihara revived just in time to see the other boy disappearing into a car with the Hyotei ex-captain.
"Oy, what did you mean by that!" He screeched indignantly after them.
Now, that makes me very curious. Not THAT shy, are we?
"What did Amaya-kun say to you?" Sanada asked for both of them; it was obvious that even he was amused by Kirihara's reaction.
Whatever it was it sure packed a punch…
"Nothing," Kirihara said in a voice that said that he would pout if he didn't think it was beneath him.
Well, it would certainly be entertaining if he did manage to convince Amaya to join the regulars.
Yukimura wouldn't be around to see it but from the reaction his kouhai had to the younger boy, it would be the talk of campus or maybe even the junior high tennis world.
Besides, the current Rikkai team could really use someone like that.
It pained Yukimura to admit it but without him and the rest of the former regulars Rikkai didn't have much of a foundation for a decent team.
We have those tyros from good elementary school teams but they're really not up to our standards yet…
Maybe it was just prejudice but after being a part of the generation that had produced the likes of Tezuka, Atobe, Yanagi and Sanada, he just wasn't impressed by the current crop of junior high players.
Except for Echizen and Kirihara, they're all substandard…and well, maybe Amaya-kun…
"You should really try to recruit him, Akaya-kun. There are few junior high players who could give Atobe a good game," Yukimura said quite seriously.
"You're a sadist, Yukimura-buchou," Kirihara muttered and that made Sanada chuckle.
"Consider it karma from the time you made so much trouble for me and Seiichi."
Kirihara just rolled his eyes.
Very interesting.
***
"So these are all the people who might have reason to go after Kirihara Akaya?" Shinichi asked.
"Well, that we know of," Yanagi Renji replied. The boy was fond of quoting statistics and 'data'. Shinichi suspected that he could be a good source of information for Rikkai's rivals and made note of that.
It could be useful later to narrow down the number of the suspects.
"He's a bit of a firebrand, our Akaya," Niou Masaharu chuckled a little apprehensively; or at least Shinichi thought he was Niou.
Shinichi double-checked and saw that 'Niou' was slightly ganglier than the other 'Niou' and that he wasn't wearing a wig. Being his mother's son, he had learned to look for these subtle signs. Kudo Yukiko loved to give him minor heart attacks by disguising as one person or another and surprising him.
And Niou's not even as good as mother is, much less Aunt Sharon.
"Yes, he is." Marui Bunta blew a bubble and it went pop.
"You can cross out Seigaku's Fuji Syuusuke's name from the list. He died a year or so ago," Kuwahara Jackal said. The half-Brazilian had been quiet for most of the interview, probably uneasy at Shinichi's presence.
Seigaku? That's Seishun Gakuen.
"What did he die of?" Shinichi asked. These were just kids and a healthy kid didn't just die without any causes.
And he'd have to have been healthy to play tennis, rare diseases notwithstanding. Yukimura had Guillain-Barré but that's not a common illness…
"He was murdered by an unknown person or persons during a practice match with Fudomine. Seigaku were inconsolable." Yanagi replied.
Interesting, I might have to investigate that. It probably has no bearing on this case but you can never be too thorough. For all we know, it's a fixated fan targeting junior high tennis players.
Escalation was a well-known phenomenon for all murder investigators.
Now, that's a comforting thought. I'll probably keep that from Amaya-san for a bit.
It would worry the parents too much. The child's mother was already near breakdown from worry and had to be sedated.
"When did you last see Amaya-kun or Kirihara-kun?"
"I greeted Amaya-kun in the hallway, a week and five days ago." Yanagi said easily but he was the only one.
Nobody really remembers these things usually...
Shinichi thought resignedly. Objects and events in ordinary life were rarely taken note of by ordinary people. Experience with witnesses have taught him that.
"Akaya asked me for help on an English assignment two weeks ago." Sanada said, after a moment.
"Umm, I don't really remember...about two weeks ago?" Niou replied after some thought.
The other answers have the same vagueness.
"Thank you for your time. Rest assured that we will find your teammate." Shinichi brought the interview to a close. He looked at his watch. He still had a half-hour or so before tennis practice ended.
"Where do I find Amaya-kun's friends?"
***
"So you're the investigator, 'Tousan said to cooperate with you. Inihara Daisuke." The unimpressed sneer on the face of kid said it all. He wore designer glasses and was quite dapper and proper student, from his regulation haircut to his polished shoes. He sat casually and comfortably but with his back straight. It was a feat that Shinichi envied since he had never seen any teenager pull it off that well.
Inihara, as in, Inihara Manufacturing? The next big thing in manufacturing?
Shinichi had read about this brat's father's business somewhere.
"Hayakawa Hisae." The girl took the cue from Inihara, she was more of a normal teenager with pigtails and a nervous air about her.
This is going to be a long thirty minutes.
***
"Thanks for your cooperation." Shinichi wound up the interview quickly. It had been as uncomfortable as he had thought it would be. Still, he couldn't fault either of his interviewees. The boy might have glared at him and the girl had twitched ever so often but they did answer all his questions.
They just didn't give me anything much but the most superficial of details…
Yes, they did meet Amaya-kun during the day he disappeared but they hadn't noticed anything. He rose to go and left them to the classroom. He was almost out of earshot when he heard them discussing him.
"I don't see why the investigator ask his son of all people to do these interviews…"
Okay, so rich boy doesn't like the thought of me investigating, I wonder why?
He turned back a little to eavesdrop.
"Inihara-kun!"
"And from the questions, I'd say what I had said again before. Amaya-kun shouldn't have to associate with such rabble in the tennis club, they're only trouble I tell you. He is at the top of our class and he had us why would he need…"
Ting!
It was barely audible but it was his cell phone alarm signaling that tennis practice was to end and he was due there at any moment.
Shit!
He crept way as quietly as he could and then broke into a run.
***
The interviews from the tennis club were uninformative.
No, they didn't notice anyone hanging around that was suspicious. No, they didn't have any altercations lately with anyone. No, the captain didn't have any altercations with anyone either. Neither the captain nor Amaya-kun had noticed anyone following them around. And Amaya-kun at least would have said something if there were… Well, he did excuse himself from practice saying he needed to go somewhere but he didn't say where and we assumed he would get home safely afterwards... But he obviously didn't! And didn't anyone even think to ask him where he was going? No...
Maybe I would have better luck with their teachers.
By the attitude the club had to disruptions and the way they seemed to be diligently single-minded about practicing, Shinichi could deduce that the tennis club members hadn't been observant to their surroundings before they had reason to be.
And missing two of your best players is definitely reason enough, if only because you have no way of winning the National Championship without them.
Shinichi knew that it was frustration talking. He generally finished a case within hours, if not the first hour, of taking it, but this looked like it was going to drag on for a while.
And I don't have any suspects, except maybe Inihara but he's pretty low on my list since he is very concerned about Amaya's disappearance. Cool it, Shinichi, you still have Kirihara's potential enemies to go through and does have a long list of enemies that might want to get even with him. What happened to playing sports to make friends? What did they do to the brat? Let him loose without a keeper and say, "Have fun knocking out your opponent?". It can be bad enough in any competitive sport to win against people but to injure them to win?
Shinichi knew that it was unfair. In the light of the closeness he observed in that group of tennis players, it was most likely that everyone had been too preoccupied with their captain's illness.
Stress gets to the best of us, and even adults tend to lash out when in pain. But still…
The aftermath of that was never pretty, and Shinichi had cause to know, he saw it often enough in his work.
And that mysterious death last year bears some investigating. Who knows, maybe those would yield better results.
***
"Tachibana-san, when did you last see Amaya Seiji?"
"Tachibana, have you seen Fuji?"
The question hit too close to home.
"Something happened to Amaya-kun?" Tachibana Kippei asked. His breaths were speeding up.
"Yes, he has disappeared along with a fellow club member. His family would appreciate it if you kept this news to yourself."
It's like that time with Syuusuke…
"Of course, I understand their need for privacy in this matter. Which club member?" Kippei took shallow breaths.
Stop hyperventilating! You can hardly help anyone if you panic. But I can't help it, this is too much like that time…
***
"So you've reconciled with Chitose-kun…hmm?"
"Fuji!"
"Really, Tachibana, I don't mean anything by it. But maybe if you're so defensive…"
"We're just friends and almost less than that."
Fuji just winked at Kippei and he felt himself blushing for the nth time since the start of this practice match.
"Well, all this tennis is making me thirsty. I'm going to get myself something to drink." Fuji changed the subject to Kippei's relief as the match ended, seven to six in his favor.
"Let me show you where…"
"Don't worry, I know where to go. You need to relieve Tezuka." Fuji smiled gamely at him. Seigaku's Ryuuzaki-sensei had a family emergency and could not come to supervise the games.
Kippei walked over to Tezuka. He took one last look as Fuji went over to the back of the building before detailing Kamio to referee Tezuka's game with Shinji.
***
That had been the last time he had seen his friend alive and he hadn't even notice anything had happened until Tezuka asked that question.
"I need to know everything you know about Kirihara Akaya and Amaya Sei…" Suddenly, they were jostled by a passing group of giggling girls and Kippei felt acutely conscious of where they were. The detective had caught him as Fudomine had let out for the day and they were standing at the front gate of the school.
We're blocking traffic.
"I'll be glad to assist you in anyway, Kudo-san. But we should hold this conversation somewhere else. We're attracting too much attention standing here," Kippei said, getting himself back in control as he fiddled with the strap of his backpack. Though he still felt the same fear threatening inside, he at least managed an even tone.
***
He was panicking right there. Is he guilty? What can he possibly be worried about? Oh, I remember… it was on the case file.
Tachibana had been a friend of Fuji Syuusuke, the tennis player that disappeared and was subsequently found dead.
He was there before his friend disappeared. I can imagine how frantic and how guilty he was about that. But then, it could be for other reasons, reasons concerning Kirihara.
Shinichi could never assume the best in his line of work.
"Lead the way, Tachibana-san."
Tachibana led him to the tennis courts at the back of the school. Once they were seated on a bench, Tachibana recounted the first time he had met Amaya Seiji to the sound of steady rallying.
***
"Umm, excuse me, could you tell me where the match between Hyotei and Seigaku is? I seem to have been separated from my companions." Asked a quiet voice at Kippei. Kippei turned to see a younger player in Rikkai uniform. He was standing awkwardly by the vending machine, can in hand. Also, he had the bluest eyes Kippei had ever seen, though he was trying to hide them behind his hair.
"You can accompany us since we are heading there ourselves, and you are?" Kippei said, silencing Kamio with a look when he opened his mouth to protest.
It's just someone new playing for Rikkai. He has nothing to do with what Kirihara did last year. Besides, he's already intimidated at the thought of speaking to a team member from another school.
"Amaya Seiji, I play for Rikkai this year." The first year fiddled slightly, obviously uncomfortable being the focus of nine pairs of eyes.
"Tachibana Kippei, I used to play for Fudomine and this is the current team." Everyone nodded and introduced themselves uneasily.
Probably the uniform...
"Nice to meet you, Tachibana-san," Amaya said, nodding politely as they walked towards the courts.
"How can you play with Kirihara on your team?" Kamio's outburst was predictable.
"Kamio," Kippei didn't have to raise his voice at the rebuke.
"Sorry, buchou but…I really can't understand."
"I have really no choice in the matter because he's the captain but he's not as bad as I've heard," Amaya winced as he said it.
He's obviously heard enough of his captain's reputation to have second thoughts by now.
Some violent players settle to be good captains but Kippei still had doubts on Kirihara Akaya.
Especially if he can't put his kouhai at ease…
Amaya should not be shying away when someone mentioned Kirihara if he made a decent captain.
"Here we are." Kippei said kindly as they reached the bleachers.
"Arigato, Tachibana-san. Nice meeting you all." Amaya turned opposite of the direction Fudomine was heading.
"Amaya-kun, you are probably heading the wrong way. That is the side for spectators for Hyotei and your teammates are probably at the Seigaku side."
Kippei's surprise at seeing the younger player head towards Hyotei was so great that he voiced it before he could think.
And he's rather timid; he's going to be eaten alive.
"Ah good, I'm not. Someone is waiting for me at the Hyotei bleachers."
A surprising answer…
Kippei bit down on his answer to that since didn't want to embarrass himself by saying something might be wrong. There wasn't any room at the Hyotei stands since they tended to bring their own entourage of non-regulars to cheer them on. So he resolved to keep an eye on Amaya, just in case.
Kippei saw Amaya make his way through the hostile territory of the Hyotei stands from where he sat in the Seigaku bleachers. The annoyed muttering waned though as he saw one of the former regulars wave and one of them tapped Atobe on the shoulder.
"Make room for Ore-sama's cousin, you peons!" The exclamation had been audible all the way to the Seigaku stands, and room was made beside the temperamental ex-captain for Amaya to sit on.
So he is Atobe's cousin…
Assured, Kippei looked away from the exchange only to see that he wasn't the only one to notice it. Kirihara Akaya was glaring from where he was seated. There was a space on the right of the current captain of Rikkai that was obviously reserved for his errant teammate.
That could get ugly.
Kippei's earlier reservations rose up to the forefront of his mind. He knew that he was not being fair. He didn't know anything about how Kirihara dealt with his team or much about Amaya. He had just met the first year after all. And Kirihara had stopped taking his temper out of the courts and had gotten better controlling it generally as well. No one was being slapped around like they were when Sanada was vice-captain but…
Kirihara obviously thought a lot about Amaya-kun to reserve the seat beside him.
However, Amaya was unimpressed by his captain and openly flaunted the disinterest in a public forum like this. Kippei couldn't help but think that this was going to test the edges of that newfound control.
Passive aggressiveness at it's finest, a shy person like Amaya-kun may find easier in the face of opposition. But not wise at all…
Kippei was surprised at the concern he felt over someone he had just met. But then, he'd discovered a protective streak in himself since he'd come to Fudomine.
I have to keep an eye on Amaya-kun as much as I can…
***
"That was the last time I saw them," Tachibana finished.
"So in your estimation, could Kirihara-san have done something to Amaya-san?" Shinichi asked. It was an angle he didn't consider but was now coming up.
If Amaya Seiji had aggravated Kirihara Akaya enough that the latter decide to kidnap the younger kid… That he didn't disappear with Amaya-kun could be because he needed to make additional preparations or he decided it would be less suspicious to do so.
Kirihara had a reputation for violence, after all.
"Maybe, I'm not sure. I wouldn't have and I had a reputation for being violent before." That was the reason Shinichi had put Tachibana on his list to interview first but the ex-captain seemed genuinely distressed at finding out about Amaya Seiji's disappearance.
And he seems to have a liking for protecting people he deems weaker than himself…
"I wouldn't put it past him." Kamio Akira, the current captain of the Fudomine tennis club, said, flicking a red lock off his eye.
"Kamio!"
Kamio just shrugged. He and several of the other tennis club members were dropping in the conversation as practice permitted. Shinichi gathered that they were protective of their ex-captain and each other.
I don't blame them, they just found out that two junior high students are missing and after what they'd been through together…
The subject had come up during the discussion and Shinichi could marvel at the dedication of these junior high tennis players.
First at Rikkai, then here? And with the very small chance any of them are ever going to go pro?
"I have to apologize for him, he really doesn't like Kirihara for what he did to me. Anything else you need to know?"
It's now or never…and he was there when he went missing…
Shinichi took a deep breath.
"Tell me about the death of Fuji Syuusuke."
"What about it? You don't think that has anything to do with this, do you?" Tachibana stiffened at the name. It was obvious now that Tachibana was truly upset.
Is it because he was Fuji-san's friend or is it for…other reasons…?
"Maybe, it's hard to tell at this point." Amaya Seiji had the same pretty boy looks.
And come to think about it, he has the same caramel-colored hair and blue eyes.
"Well, they never did catch who killed Syuusuke. We were having a practice match here in these tennis courts. He went for a drink after his match with me and never came back. Tezuka, captain of Seigaku, noticed and had us searching." Tachibana looked quite guilty as he said it.
Interesting, so he didn't notice. That must be why he feels so upset, unless…
"What were you doing after the match?"
"Supervising the other matches since we don't have a coach and Seigaku's coach had a family emergency." That also tallied with the records of the case.
There's no way he could have done it with the current information, and from what I observed he'll be low on my suspect list in any case.
Shinichi needed a tour of the Fudomine campus in relation to the Fuji Syuusuke case. He had gotten the case files as a favor from Inspector Megure but they are no substitute for on-scene investigation. I might as well trust him if he will help me. Besides, the perpetrator always slips up when they do that.
"Will you show me where he was headed when he left you and his likely destination, Tachibana-san?"
"Gladly, Kudo-san, but I'm not sure what you wish to accomplish. The police had looked through the campus already." There was an edge of bitterness in the voice.
Ah, definitely at the very bottom of my suspect list for that particular murder.
Tachibana had a common reaction of most victims' love ones in the face of unsolved murder.
Careful… This was usually the pivotal point when they either decide to help you or shut you out.
"The police sometimes miss things. A fresh viewpoint might help." Shinichi measured his words with care. He wasn't the most sensitive guy in the world. He'd managed to get shut out more than once by a witness because of his attitude before he learned to at least pretend sensitivity.
"And you intend to be that viewpoint, Kudo-san?" It was sharp.
"I hope to be." No need to emphasize his credentials.
"I suppose that will have to do. We were playing on that court over there…and his teammates saw him move from the visible vending machines to the back of the building…"
***
"So this is the place Fuji-san was supposed to have gone? Has it changed since then?" The second set of vending machines was in the blind side of the school, secluded by a row of trees nearly straddling the fence and some garbage bins. The other side of the fence was a quiet highway where an occasional "zoom" of a passing motorist could be heard.
"Yes, it's still the same as before…except for a few vending machines." Tachibana added the last after a gesture from Kamio. The redhead had been quite silent after his outburst against Kirihara, quietly following them.
"In your opinion, Tachibana-san, would he come from the way we came?"
"Yes. That would probably be the fastest way he would go if he just wanted to get a drink. That has changed, since the incident the gate there has been locked."
"You mean…"
"Yes, that gate led to the grove where Syuusuke was found."
"Could you show me the gate?"
The walk behind the building passed by several windows and ever so often a curious student would look at them as they passed by. Shinichi had noticed that the first time and took note of it. Now it had even more significance.
Transporting the body of a junior high student would have attracted way too much attention, unless the killer had a method of concealing it.
According to the coroner's report, Fuji Syuusuke had been dead within hours he had gone missing at the most and within minutes at the least.
Since his body was dumped just outside of the school, the second option was most likely. Well, unless the killer wanted to misdirect the police. But still, the simplest explanation is the most correct one in absence of other evidence to the contrary.
The gate was roughly one third of the way to the vending machines. It was locked securely with chains and locks that didn't budge when Shinichi tested them.
"Is the crowd, right now, typical for a Saturday?"
"Yes, most of the school clubs have their activities on Saturday afternoons since there's more chance for rooms to be vacant and for students to have free time."
So there might have been witnesses.
But there weren't anything written on the files.
So the killer had managed to transport the body without making it seemed unusual to the students. And that place would have been ideal for a possible confrontation and murder...
The place they had come from had trees kept people from the road from seeing much and the building had no windows on that side.
But the killer couldn't have left the body lying there. Too much chance for someone to stumble on it…
Sooner or later, someone would want something from the vending machines so whoever did it couldn't have left the corpse there.
Not to mention someone looking for the victim.
A fair share of eyewitness accounts from the girls had even recalled the "handsome captain of Seigaku" walking about and asking if they had seen his teammate.
Now that's another possibility. But he would still have to dispose of the body…
"How was Fuji-san's relationship with Tezuka-san?"
Tachibana and Kamio blinked at him in astonishment.
"They were good friends, if not best friends."
So, maybe I'm being paranoid. Besides, disposing of the body…hmm…
"Can we go to the grove, next, Tachibana-san?"
***
The grove wasn't very far from the locked gate. It was a fair-sized grove of trees, big enough that the sounds of the cars on the road sounded muted when they reached the clearing. Even here, the afternoon sunlight filtered green through the leaves. It seemed like Shinichi and Tachibana were in a different world, their own footsteps muffled by the layer of debris on the ground.
"This is the place."
"Would you mind if I take a closer look?"
"Not at all, Kudo-san."
Good, I don't need to come back here and investigate at a later date.
Shinichi drop down to a crouch and took out a magnifying lens, cliché, as that might seem. It did help catch the smaller details that he would miss otherwise.
He sifted through the leafy debris with one hand.
There seems to be an inordinate amount even for the number of trees here, and what's this?
It was piece of paper with scribbles of numbers on it.
This looks like an algebraic equation to me and that looks like a piece of art paper… There's also much more of them there to the side. Garbage? Leaves and recyclables from the school?
An alarm went off in Shinichi's brain.
That wasn't mentioned in the reports! Not even once. How did this come here and is it a recent phenomenon? Or long established custom?
"Tachibana-san, Kamio-san, does the janitors in the school use this grove for anything?" By this time, Tachibana and Kamio were peering over Shinichi's shoulder, curious at what might have gotten his attention.
" Not that I know of but that looks like school trash. I've seen the janitors use a trolley to bring several large bins around campus but I've never seen where they go with them…"
I see. He sees it as well. He isn't the former team captain for nothing he does have some brains, though that's more than I can say about Kamio-kun.
There was one way to transport a corpse of a junior high student without attracting any undue attention.
Those large green garbage bins with the recycling triangle stenciled on them would do rather nicely and they're so conveniently located near the vending machines.
He was going to drop a friendly word to Inspector Megure. He needed to locate and interrogate some janitors.
***
to Part 2