Shin2 Dan: Chapter 21: Unknown Grudge (6)
“Shh!”
Before Yamada could cry for help, a hand cuff over his mouth while the other hand signals him to be quiet. Yamada recognized the owner of the hand at once as one of his teammate, Fukuda Mayuko. She quickly takes a peak out the door, and Yamada’s eyes followed.
With a confused expression, Shida was walking toward their direction as she looks around, trying to find Yamada. Pausing in front of the door and pondering for a few minutes before she moved on. As they watch Shida turned the corner and disappeared, both of Shin2 dan member signs in relief.
“Didn’t you notice her following you?” Fukuda finally released Yamada. He just shrugs and looks around at his surrounding for the first time. The bathroom stalls lined the walls while mirrors and sinks position opposite them. But instead of the usual standing toilets that he usually sees, there was none.
“Why am I in the girl’s restroom?” finally understand where he is for the first time, Yamada became alarmed.
“Is this your first time?” Fukuda laughed and quickly pulled him inside, “Don’t worry, I made sure there wasn’t anyone in here.”
“That’s not the point!” Yamada shakes his head, wishing it was Kamiki that come to get him instead of this girl.
“Here, changed into this!” Fukuda quickly gave him a bag of clothes and pushed him inside one of the stall.
“What’s this?” Yamada asked as he stares at the bag, afraid to hear the answer.
“We need a decoy for Horikita-sensei, and you were chosen.” The girl gave him a smile as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
“You mean you want me to dress in drag?” Yamada exclaimed. Quickly handing the bag back to her, he shakes his head, “No way! Tell Kamiki-kun to do it!”
“What are you talking about?” Pushing the bag back toward Yamada, she shakes her head, “Even though I hate to admit it, you look the prettiest out of the 3 of us.”
“That’s not true!” Yamada search his brain, “As you grown, you’d become quite beautiful Mamayu. I think you’re a jewel of Shin2 dan. So acting as Horikita-sensei will be no problem for you.”
“You think so?” Fukuda smiles, but still not giving in to his flatters, “But I still think you are prettier. And besides, sensei’s hair is too short, while I have long hair, see. I don’t think I’ll make a convincing sensei.”
“What about Kamiki?” Yamada asked, trying anything to get himself out of this predicament.
“Will you stop it?” Fukuda’s expression changed, “You are doing this, and no one else. Beside, while we were working hard looking for clues, you barely did anything.”
“I gave you the message didn’t I?” the boy cried, “That counted!”
“One clue among others.” Fukuda shrugs. Quickly push him inside, she added before closing the door, “Just change! We don’t have much time.”
Seeing that the stubborn girl won’t change her mind, Yamada could only signs and begins to change into the clothes he was given. After a while, he shyly stepped out, carrying the bag containing his own clothes. Fukuda looks at him up and down and smile. Wearing a patterned one piece with a sweater on top, Yamada could feel the breeze between his legs. On his feet are white flat, provided by the girl herself.
“You look wonderful!” Fukuda gave a nod of approval, though he’s not sure if she is teasing or not. Fukuda quickly take out her keitai and in an instant, a flashed appeared.
“What was that?” Yamada stares at her in horror, “Why did you take my picture?”
“It’s payback for earlier today.” Fukuda gave him a mischievous peace sign as she pushes some buttons on her keitai, “But because staying turned out to be more fun, I forgive you.”
Speechless, the boy could only stares back at her. After putting her keitai away, Fukuda happily hook her arms around his and literally skipping as she pulled him from the restroom toward the rooftop. Yamada did his best and keep his head low to prevent passing patients and nurses to see him. On the way, there are a few people walking past them, but none of them took notice at the boy in drag. Not before long, they arrived at the rooftop of Shinrichi hospital.
“What took you…” Kamiki begins to ask, but stop short after he sees Yamada in his outfit. The sun almost set and golden rays of light in the horizon are now replaced by a deeper blue color.
“That’s good.” Fukuda smiles and release Yamada, “We’re still early.”
“Yamada-kun?” Kamiki asked as he looks up and down his friend, “Why are you…?”
“I was tricked.” Yamada mumbled and raise his eyes to the amused Kamiki, before adding angrily, “Wipe that look off your face!” Kamiki quickly turned away; half pitied his friend, while the other half was relief that it’s not him.
“Ryo is the decoy.” Fukuda gave a cool smile as she explained, “I would make Ha-chan do it since it’s partially his fault, but he’s on an errand.”
With the mention of the name, Yamada’s ear perked up. “Miura-sempai?”
“Yes.” Kamiki nodded, “He came with us. But right now he’s at a flower shop, getting flowers for sensei, as expected of the student body president.”
“Good!” Yamada muttered under his breath as he takes a seat on the nearby bench, “How do we know that the culprit is going to come?” Yamada asked, finally getting used to his get up despites having to ignore Kamiki’s amused stares.
“I asked Miura-sempai to call all the gardening club members, saying that sensei want an apology and will wait for her on the rooftop or else she will be expelled.” Kamiki explained his plan.
“Are you sure this plan is going to work?” Yamada asked incredulously, “There are so many holes in this plan that she will know it’s a trick, or that a different person will come due to curiosity.”
“We made sure to send them a very vague message and make sure that none of Miura-sempai, sensei, or the hospital name is mentioned.” Kamiki explains, “If she isn’t the culprit, she will treat it as a prank call and ignore it. If she is indeed the culprit, she will know exactly what we are talking about since she was there. She will quickly come after we called.”
“But what if one of the member who was at the basketball game show up? What if she doesn’t have anything to do with the case?” Yamada asked.
“That’s erm…” Kamiki seems to be stumped.
“I actually checked all of their profiles before we came here.” Fukuda said, helping the boy answer the question, “It seems like none of the members are sport fans. Also, don’t you remember that exams are coming up soon? I think they would rather prepare for that then come to the game today. It seems like a waste of time.”
“I still think it is way too risky.” Yamada said.
“I believe in his plan.” Fukuda smiles reassuringly, “For some reason, Ryu has great lucks on his side.”
“Huh?” Kamiki asked, not sure if it’s a compliment or not.
“Well, we need to get into position and wait!” Fukuda instructed and pulled Kamiki to hide beside the wall next to the door way. Yamada signs and take his position, wondered how long he needs to wait.
At that moment, Fukuda’s keitai begins to vibrate and she quickly takes it out and held it next to her ear. Kamiki looks at her and wondered who’s on the other line.
“Ha-chan?” Fukuda asked, “Did you find anything?” Hearing it was Miura-sempai, Kamiki quickly put his ear next to the phone, trying his best to listen in on the conversation.
“It’s as you are predicted.” The voice on the other line said, “I showed them a picture of Horikita-sensei and they said that she usually came.”
“Okay, thank you.” Fukuda smiles and said her goodbyes to the older boy. She turned to Kamiki, “It’s really her.”
Kamiki nods, but before they could say anything else to each other, the door to the rooftop begins to open, causing both of them to turn their attention to the person coming in. It was a girl, around their age. Similar to the video shots that they viewed earlier that day, she was clad in black shirt and jean. The black cap is still on her head.
With his back to the door, Yamada looks up at the darken sky as he waited for the girl to approach him. Everything was quiet as the three members held their breaths. The only sound that was heard came from the footstep of the girl who just entered. As she steps closer to Yamada, he slowly turns around with a smile.
“So it was you.”
Shocked by the presence of a different person from the one she was expecting, the girl quickly turns and tried to escape by running toward the door, but Fukuda and Kamiki quickly blocked her way.
“Just give it up, Sakuraba Nanami-sempai!” Fukuda smiles at the confused girl. Before she could take off the cap from the girl, a voice shouts behind them.
“No, she’s not the one you’re looking for!” A boy rushed in, wearing a black shirt with jeans. On his hands are a cap and a black wig. He quickly exclaims while catching his breath, “I, Irie Jingi, am the culprit! You caught the wrong person!”
-------------------
Author's Note: It's not until this chapter that I finally decided on the names of the culprit. Lol.
I noticed that writing mystery, especially the episodic type, is really hard. Not only do you have to make sure that the overall general story flow right, you also have to make sure that everything in each arcs make sense and lead the readers to the right answer. Without such participation of the readers, reading mysteries won't be as fun. So instead of just write whatever I have on the top of my head, I should plan things out carefully before I begins writing. Or at least that's my opinion/rant anyways. So in that respect, I failed hard as a mystery writer (yea, my grammars is horrible as well). =___=;;
Before Yamada could cry for help, a hand cuff over his mouth while the other hand signals him to be quiet. Yamada recognized the owner of the hand at once as one of his teammate, Fukuda Mayuko. She quickly takes a peak out the door, and Yamada’s eyes followed.
With a confused expression, Shida was walking toward their direction as she looks around, trying to find Yamada. Pausing in front of the door and pondering for a few minutes before she moved on. As they watch Shida turned the corner and disappeared, both of Shin2 dan member signs in relief.
“Didn’t you notice her following you?” Fukuda finally released Yamada. He just shrugs and looks around at his surrounding for the first time. The bathroom stalls lined the walls while mirrors and sinks position opposite them. But instead of the usual standing toilets that he usually sees, there was none.
“Why am I in the girl’s restroom?” finally understand where he is for the first time, Yamada became alarmed.
“Is this your first time?” Fukuda laughed and quickly pulled him inside, “Don’t worry, I made sure there wasn’t anyone in here.”
“That’s not the point!” Yamada shakes his head, wishing it was Kamiki that come to get him instead of this girl.
“Here, changed into this!” Fukuda quickly gave him a bag of clothes and pushed him inside one of the stall.
“What’s this?” Yamada asked as he stares at the bag, afraid to hear the answer.
“We need a decoy for Horikita-sensei, and you were chosen.” The girl gave him a smile as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
“You mean you want me to dress in drag?” Yamada exclaimed. Quickly handing the bag back to her, he shakes his head, “No way! Tell Kamiki-kun to do it!”
“What are you talking about?” Pushing the bag back toward Yamada, she shakes her head, “Even though I hate to admit it, you look the prettiest out of the 3 of us.”
“That’s not true!” Yamada search his brain, “As you grown, you’d become quite beautiful Mamayu. I think you’re a jewel of Shin2 dan. So acting as Horikita-sensei will be no problem for you.”
“You think so?” Fukuda smiles, but still not giving in to his flatters, “But I still think you are prettier. And besides, sensei’s hair is too short, while I have long hair, see. I don’t think I’ll make a convincing sensei.”
“What about Kamiki?” Yamada asked, trying anything to get himself out of this predicament.
“Will you stop it?” Fukuda’s expression changed, “You are doing this, and no one else. Beside, while we were working hard looking for clues, you barely did anything.”
“I gave you the message didn’t I?” the boy cried, “That counted!”
“One clue among others.” Fukuda shrugs. Quickly push him inside, she added before closing the door, “Just change! We don’t have much time.”
Seeing that the stubborn girl won’t change her mind, Yamada could only signs and begins to change into the clothes he was given. After a while, he shyly stepped out, carrying the bag containing his own clothes. Fukuda looks at him up and down and smile. Wearing a patterned one piece with a sweater on top, Yamada could feel the breeze between his legs. On his feet are white flat, provided by the girl herself.
“You look wonderful!” Fukuda gave a nod of approval, though he’s not sure if she is teasing or not. Fukuda quickly take out her keitai and in an instant, a flashed appeared.
“What was that?” Yamada stares at her in horror, “Why did you take my picture?”
“It’s payback for earlier today.” Fukuda gave him a mischievous peace sign as she pushes some buttons on her keitai, “But because staying turned out to be more fun, I forgive you.”
Speechless, the boy could only stares back at her. After putting her keitai away, Fukuda happily hook her arms around his and literally skipping as she pulled him from the restroom toward the rooftop. Yamada did his best and keep his head low to prevent passing patients and nurses to see him. On the way, there are a few people walking past them, but none of them took notice at the boy in drag. Not before long, they arrived at the rooftop of Shinrichi hospital.
“What took you…” Kamiki begins to ask, but stop short after he sees Yamada in his outfit. The sun almost set and golden rays of light in the horizon are now replaced by a deeper blue color.
“That’s good.” Fukuda smiles and release Yamada, “We’re still early.”
“Yamada-kun?” Kamiki asked as he looks up and down his friend, “Why are you…?”
“I was tricked.” Yamada mumbled and raise his eyes to the amused Kamiki, before adding angrily, “Wipe that look off your face!” Kamiki quickly turned away; half pitied his friend, while the other half was relief that it’s not him.
“Ryo is the decoy.” Fukuda gave a cool smile as she explained, “I would make Ha-chan do it since it’s partially his fault, but he’s on an errand.”
With the mention of the name, Yamada’s ear perked up. “Miura-sempai?”
“Yes.” Kamiki nodded, “He came with us. But right now he’s at a flower shop, getting flowers for sensei, as expected of the student body president.”
“Good!” Yamada muttered under his breath as he takes a seat on the nearby bench, “How do we know that the culprit is going to come?” Yamada asked, finally getting used to his get up despites having to ignore Kamiki’s amused stares.
“I asked Miura-sempai to call all the gardening club members, saying that sensei want an apology and will wait for her on the rooftop or else she will be expelled.” Kamiki explained his plan.
“Are you sure this plan is going to work?” Yamada asked incredulously, “There are so many holes in this plan that she will know it’s a trick, or that a different person will come due to curiosity.”
“We made sure to send them a very vague message and make sure that none of Miura-sempai, sensei, or the hospital name is mentioned.” Kamiki explains, “If she isn’t the culprit, she will treat it as a prank call and ignore it. If she is indeed the culprit, she will know exactly what we are talking about since she was there. She will quickly come after we called.”
“But what if one of the member who was at the basketball game show up? What if she doesn’t have anything to do with the case?” Yamada asked.
“That’s erm…” Kamiki seems to be stumped.
“I actually checked all of their profiles before we came here.” Fukuda said, helping the boy answer the question, “It seems like none of the members are sport fans. Also, don’t you remember that exams are coming up soon? I think they would rather prepare for that then come to the game today. It seems like a waste of time.”
“I still think it is way too risky.” Yamada said.
“I believe in his plan.” Fukuda smiles reassuringly, “For some reason, Ryu has great lucks on his side.”
“Huh?” Kamiki asked, not sure if it’s a compliment or not.
“Well, we need to get into position and wait!” Fukuda instructed and pulled Kamiki to hide beside the wall next to the door way. Yamada signs and take his position, wondered how long he needs to wait.
At that moment, Fukuda’s keitai begins to vibrate and she quickly takes it out and held it next to her ear. Kamiki looks at her and wondered who’s on the other line.
“Ha-chan?” Fukuda asked, “Did you find anything?” Hearing it was Miura-sempai, Kamiki quickly put his ear next to the phone, trying his best to listen in on the conversation.
“It’s as you are predicted.” The voice on the other line said, “I showed them a picture of Horikita-sensei and they said that she usually came.”
“Okay, thank you.” Fukuda smiles and said her goodbyes to the older boy. She turned to Kamiki, “It’s really her.”
Kamiki nods, but before they could say anything else to each other, the door to the rooftop begins to open, causing both of them to turn their attention to the person coming in. It was a girl, around their age. Similar to the video shots that they viewed earlier that day, she was clad in black shirt and jean. The black cap is still on her head.
With his back to the door, Yamada looks up at the darken sky as he waited for the girl to approach him. Everything was quiet as the three members held their breaths. The only sound that was heard came from the footstep of the girl who just entered. As she steps closer to Yamada, he slowly turns around with a smile.
“So it was you.”
Shocked by the presence of a different person from the one she was expecting, the girl quickly turns and tried to escape by running toward the door, but Fukuda and Kamiki quickly blocked her way.
“Just give it up, Sakuraba Nanami-sempai!” Fukuda smiles at the confused girl. Before she could take off the cap from the girl, a voice shouts behind them.
“No, she’s not the one you’re looking for!” A boy rushed in, wearing a black shirt with jeans. On his hands are a cap and a black wig. He quickly exclaims while catching his breath, “I, Irie Jingi, am the culprit! You caught the wrong person!”
-------------------
Author's Note: It's not until this chapter that I finally decided on the names of the culprit. Lol.
I noticed that writing mystery, especially the episodic type, is really hard. Not only do you have to make sure that the overall general story flow right, you also have to make sure that everything in each arcs make sense and lead the readers to the right answer. Without such participation of the readers, reading mysteries won't be as fun. So instead of just write whatever I have on the top of my head, I should plan things out carefully before I begins writing. Or at least that's my opinion/rant anyways. So in that respect, I failed hard as a mystery writer (yea, my grammars is horrible as well). =___=;;