Unexpected Friends
Chapters 31. Dishonesty

Footsteps of students passing by in the school hall fill the large room with various interests. Some just wait, read a book, or chat with friends. In the morning, we were walking to class as a daily routine.

Now is the third day aka the last day of the School Introduction Period. Said OSIS Brother overseeing our class, the last event after school was the Cultural Festival then the Extracurricular Parade.

Festive enough to fill the last day of the School Introductory Period. But it was only natural for this elite school.

"Oh yeah, what are you guys going to do?" I asked randomly as I, Eliz, and Fumika climbed the 1st floor stairs. "What is exculpation?" This little fox named Aoi is curious about human activities that are actually troublesome but forced to be implemented so as not to get a reduction in value.

So while whispering I replied Aoi without inviting much attention, "Ekskul is an additional activity after school. Usually people choose based on likes."

"Hmm~ I farm like Ayumi's sister." Eliz's words I knew before I thought about them because gardening is his most striking hobby.

"I'll pass on my blue belt in Karate." Fumika added while practicing her horses which made Aoi scared. "It's been a long time since the last time we practiced." Further.

Karate huh? Although Fumika's body size is small, it seems to be fit in. While I will choose what exculpation?

Nothing fits me. If anything just hangs in for a little while then come out again. Dancing, PMR, gardening, book club, music, gardening, Taekwondo, teather, cooking, you name it all. I've had a lot of experience in that super short time.

Except for one excrement I've never been to in a lifetime, painting for a simple reason.

First, my picture of 'he said' is super ugly. Awfully horrendous. Second, my 'friends' in town hate it when I draw because my work is different from the others.

***

"*Stop the fricking things you're doing!"

Sreeek. Sreet. Sreet

"You never be good enough. Just give up*!"

***

Recalling those old memories felt so laughable and painful at the same time. How could they tear the paper containing my image because it was thought very ugly. And you are the ones who are wrong.

"You never be good enough...

Pfft, now I want to take the last laugh. Haha.

...Just give up!"

Because you're wrong, wrong. Maybe my image is not as beautiful as Vincent Van Gosh or as great as Leonardo Da Vinci you have always admired in museums.

But Walter Disney and Fujiko Fujio are my muse. My reference is a funny 1930s cartoon and a unique animal. So no matter 'according to them' my drawings are less realistic or irregular, I don't c-a-r-e.

After all the uniqueness of the character form is the attraction of cartoons. Moreover, the design is easy and simple. That's why I often doodle books to develop my character. Well, it's less now.

"Ring, dong. Alice are you here?" Because most of the daydreaming I didn't realize Eliz was calling me that day. And amazingly, Aoi also made me aware by pointing at my cheeks. "Yes?" Answer's short.

"You want to join Alice's ex?" Ask Fumika casually then get out of the stairway. Which means we've reached the 4th floor where our class is. Eliz and I followed Fumika from behind until they found a classroom with the name plate '10 - IPA 1' on the door.

"Me?" I continued as we entered the classroom door. "I'll go in for painting." When I put my bag back in the chair, Eliz replied, "Right? Your picture is ugly." Jokingly.

Hah, I forgot Eliz was one of 'them'. "Worth to try." Flat answer.

"What if it's ugly? Not a requirement for excrement painting either." While opening her bag Fumika gave a supportive argument. Thank you!

"What is your picture of Alice anyway?" Ask Fumika while putting down her notebook and pencil case regularly.

Then I opened the bag and took out a notebook that was supposed to contain writing, but now it was filled with graffiti on the back page. I showed it to Fumika then she nodded in understanding.

Aoi also took a look at my picture out of curiosity to walk around my right arm lightly. "You like Alice cartoons? Because it looks like you're not interested in making one like Anime¹ or one that's semi-realistic." I nodded towards Fumika's question. The picture I showed him was of a cat playing with a rabbit that I gave a ribbon around his neck.

Now I'm neighbors with Fumika so it's easier to show my picture. Eliz and I agreed to switch seats because Eliz likes to be near the window.

"Alice is his favorite animal picture."

"It's called Furry², Granny."

"HEY!"

It's sad to have friends who aren't as thoughtful.

"How about you join the marriage exculpation?" The advice from Fumika made me think back. If I go into excrement - which goes into other branches of painting - it means I should be able to make up stories with panels of boxes that I don't understand the rules of making.

But if I go into painting, it would take a lot of brushes and paint to color the picture that must be big capital. Moreover, the matter of coloring I most left behind and most lazy to clean the brush after coloring, very tiring! If not cleaned properly the brush can be damaged and the fur falls out.

"May be." Mouth lightly. After rethinking, I might be able to come up with a story and the rules on paneling will be taught. So I'll pick this excrement later.

"Ohayo, what sisters!"

OSIS's sister is my class supervisor Amy-San and Nami-san. They directed us on the first day and took us around the school grounds. But because it was wide, they only invited us to look around the first building even though there was a second building.

Amy stood on the edge of the classroom and handed out papers one by one at each row of desks to each student in the class. "That's a paper to select the excrement you want to follow. Keep in mind, must follow a minimum of 1 exkul." Nami added in front of the class.

Then continued Amy's sister who approached Nami's sister. "Wait until Friday at the latest." Of course, including next week teaching and learning activities are back effectively.

I looked at the form sheet Amy gave me and filled out the self-data on the paper with my pen. And lastly, what I would choose. As I looked around, I furrowed my eyebrows together with Aoi who was on top of my head because there were so many excrement lists to choose from.

"Where might the strong man do all this." Aoi said in disbelief. Alright, I will look for the 1 exkul that I selected earlier and then finish it. After seeing the name 'Commiting' I immediately tick next to the sign I will come along.

"Alice, do you really want to join that ex?" Eliz asked who was worried about me. But I said, "What's wrong? You don't like me to be happy." I didn't mean to say that, but my tongue speaks for itself. "Mind your own business."

After I regained consciousness, I who remembered my mistake was very sorry and looked at Eliz's sad face as I said. "I-I'm sorry. Please forgive me."

"It's okay, Alice." Although his gaze was silent, Eliz forced a smile that made my heart ache even more.

"I can see your sadness."

Aoi's brief words I could hear were so clear that it embarrassed me for no reason. If I were allowed to speak now, I would definitely return Aoi's words. But now the class is crowded.

["To Ananda Alice Yamada, Elizabeth Van Hose, and Fumika Hattori to immediately face the Principal's Room after class."]

Suddenly the class speaker went off and made a man-like sound. But that's not the main focus. Our names are called in general to face the principal!

Panic mixed with nervousness is a taste that Eliz and I get. What are our sins until we are called the principal? Or maybe, our Scholarship will be revoked?!

It is excessive but only bad possibilities that we can think about these words.

"Just calm down, maybe we'll be rewarded by the principal." Fumika whispered in my and Eliz's ears together to keep us calm. After I think back, there's also the possibility of it also considering we've become the heroes who captured Anzu. But why are the names of Enji and Akbar not called?

"Wow, called the principal. Wayoloh, what's wrong with you?" Yugi's provocative remarks overcame Fumika's positive remarks. Plus all the students in the class were provoked by Yugi.

"Wayoloh, wayoloh, Wayoloh..."

It sucks! They repeated the same words to corner us. It feels like De javu.

... "Tadashi! Tadashi! Tadashii!"...

Oh yes, the ghost of the girl who came to me on the night of the Rokurokubi attack. But what's more annoying now. Even until Aoi fell out of my head and sat curled up on my lap.

"Wayoloh, wayoloh, Wayoloh..."

Enough's enough!

"Can it stop?! It's very childish!" Unwilling to take the consequences with all the members of the class, I downplayed my voice in the last part and quickened my vocals.

Those who had stopped repeating the words replied, "Well, we're just kidding."

Sorry if I did not fit in your joke. But, it's make me ache. Is there anyone who wants to feel this? Being teased by class for joking? Jokes or not have their limits and this is not my limit.

"Do you want to be turned around?" Said Fumika who was also cornered like me and Eliz, but still strong against.

Amy and sister Nami seem confused about the cold war in the classroom. The atmosphere felt so heavy that Aoi complained. "I'll see you guys later." Aoi said before she jumped out of the window.

because of the uncomfortable attitude of her underclassmen, Amy advised, "You don't be so with classmates. Let's get better, you'll be together for three years."

Amy's words were paved by Nami's sister with her sharp eyes on us. "You all are sorry. Not Kamigara Yugi." Suddenly, Nami's words made the perpetrator who called shocked.

"Gomae." Speak to all the children in class at the same time. Whether they are intent or not when they say it. "Well, Alice, Elizabeth, and Fumika would like to accept your apologies?" Amy's words are stuck in my brain.

Accept it or not? It was like a complicated choice in my life when it was just a word. Actually it's too soon to make up. But I was forced to answer, "All right." half-heartedly like Eliz and Fumika for not wanting to magnify this little problem. So now we're all breakeven.

Suddenly the loud sound of the bell rang loudly signifying the class was over and there would be a festival!

Just imagine making my bad mood disappear because of carnival food and unique attractions that might be shown. He said the school also invited the band to enliven the atmosphere. Must've been exciting.

But after recalling the speaker's words a few minutes earlier, the thought was spoiled because we had to go to the principal's room. Plus a teacher named Mr. Tanaka who approached the class to take me, Eliz, and Fumika.

"Excuse me, this class is called Yamada Alice, Hose Van Elizabeth, and Hattori Fumika?" He said behind the door while reading a piece of paper that must have contained our names.

At once all the students in the class looked at us who had just tidied up the stationery. "There!" Saying to one of the students. Then Mr. Tanaka replied, "Do not tidy up, just come along. Just for a minute."

We had to stop to get up from our seats and walk towards Mr. Tanaka. "I'm sorry brother." Our words together when we cross paths with Amy and Nami's sister and then returned a smile and a small nod.

When we got near Mr. Tanaka, he said. "Come, you've been waiting for me." So we followed him in the back to go to the principal's room.

🌳🏵️🌳

The bustling Eastern Park by the bazaar is now getting lively with plenty of preparations for the closing festival of the School Introduction Time. Almost all of the park land is filled with shops that are ready to trade their goods.

Everyone passed by with their own interests for trade needs. Except the 3 people with the most clothes covered for the summer of July.

Akira uses a white T-shirt in a gray coat with a black hat on his head and a mask he just bought at the minimarket. He was wearing blue dongker jeans and a green army sneaker.

Suzuki wears an orange jacket with a navy blue hat. His training pants are black in harmony with the same colored boots and glasses.

The most reclusive Anzu, was forced to join in wearing a pale-brown oversized hoodie jacket and gray overalls on loan from Akira and Suzuki. Since her identity was now publicly known and had a strong reaction, she had to wear Akira's sunglasses and a mask to cover her face.

"You just shut up." Suzuki remarked, then answered a small nod by Anzu.

They are heading to the designated area of colleagues at the school to have a meeting. "Sumi mase n, where is East Park?" Suzuki asked one of the merchants who was preparing his shop. Then he replied, "You've come to mean, this is the Eastern Garden."

Although they already know that fact, but still confused looking for their friends around the vast park. But the jelly eyes of the Uthana can catch the people they are aiming for. "That!" Said Akira while pointing at the 2 'students' who were sitting on the nearby bench waving their hands.

Akira and Suzuki approached and shook hands. While Anzu followed behind while remaining silent based on Suzuki's orders. "It's good to see you guys back. Officer Marshell and Hideo." Sapa Ukira's.

"Haha! We'd rather have this case over." Hideo said with a big smile as he shook Akira's hand. "Precisely, we almost have 2 High School diplomas because of this disguise." Timpal Marshell shaking Suzuki's hand.

Marshell is an FBI agent assigned to Japan to solve a case at Hokkaido High School that turns out to be related to an illegal transaction case being handled in America. If left unchecked, it would interfere with the sovereignty of the two countries as it is almost an international crime.

Hideo-her comrades are fellow government secret agents investigating the case secretly. At first he does not believe in his job of disguising himself as a high school boy to solve a complicated case that turns out to ensnare the name of all members of the Sato family - the owners of Hokkaido High School 45-

"It's a good thing that my face is a baby face so no one is aware that I'm early 30." Said Hideo. "You're the short one." Ejek Marshell was satisfied so Hideo cursed him.

"OK, okay. What do you guys get?" Suzuki is impatient. They've spent hours to Sapporo and meet up with Marshell and Hideo. So there's no more room for pleasantries.

Seeing Suzuki's serious expression, Hideo started to get carried away and reported. "Well, there are 3 girls called by Sato Hideyoshi. We don't know what that means yet, but we've ordered 2 men to stand guard."

"That means you're right." Ikira muttered while watching Anzu who seemed to be listening to their conversation well.

***

"Okay, what's his name now?" Final question for Anzu. Then it was answered, "Sato Hideyoshi, The Headmaster."

Akira and Suzuki don't look so surprised. Because in reality they had suspected Hideyoshi was the 'mastermind of the serial murder' and who made his own protege a murderer for personal gain.

He exploits Anzu with a dark past and comes from a family unable to become a scapegoat. However, they also could not directly prosecute Anzu for killing 4 students. Moreover, he is still a student.

There is always a reason behind the action, Thought Akirana.

"You don't seem surprised." Anzu's remarks made Akira and Suzuki splash. "What if I just say this, tomorrow Sato-san will call the 3 girls who have caught me."

Suzuki furrowed his brows in confusion. "What do you mean you're so confident?" Ketus.

Anzu tilted her head to catch a glimpse of Suzuki's face with a knotty smile that gave a man as strong as Suzuki a slight goosebump. Then said calmly, "As long as I know Sato-san, she is not a half-hearted person. After all, it is not natural to call 'Hero' who has saved the school on the grounds of giving a gift even though he wants to be finished?"

Highlight his eyes widened as he looked at Suzuki, plus a terrifying smile that expanded wide on his face. In those 3 seconds, Suzuki seemed to see a monster until it swallowed its saliva.

"Oi! Talk the right way!" But he will not get carried away by letting the imagination do its best.

Suzuki hit Anzu in the face right on his cheek until he grimaced in pain. "Well, I'm trying to be friendly because we're talking casually. Doesn't smiling melt the mood?" Anzu was forced to stroke her flushed left cheek with a shoulder because her hand was handcuffed.

"Eh...." Suzuki felt embarrassed for misresponding to Anzu's strange expression that was not timely and in place so that misunderstandings occurred. "I couldn't feel emotions, so I improvised." Anzu added in an elevated tone as she meant to be angry.

"So now are you angry or not?" Akira raised a question out of curiosity as to what Anzu was feeling. Then it was answered, "Actually not." With a very flat face and voice. His true emotions.

"Your ringing is also fake?"

"Yes, because I can't feel pain either."

Then what are you swabbing for?!

Jerit Akira and Suzuki together in heart.

At that moment, for the first time in police history.2 officers named Hattori Ukana and Suzuki Miyamura sympathize with a psychopathic 17-year-old homicide perpetrator, Sakamoto Anzu for his shortcomings and efforts to become normal as ever.

***

Marshell had noticed the strange movements of people behind his two coworkers feeling uncomfortable. Out of curiosity he asked, "Who is he?" He pointed at Anzu.

"Oh, he's my niece who goes for a walk." Suzuki said spontaneously while smiling and embracing Anzu.

"Niece?"

"Shut up or I hit?"

Whisper them in an embrace that should seem friendly and warm.

Marshell bent one of his eyebrows in surprise, "You shouldn't have taken him. Just leave him here, we have a more important mission." Marshell then crossed his arms so that Suzuki could quickly execute the order to leave Anzu.

"All right." Suzuki said as he escorted Anzu away from them. After being ignored again, Anzu whispered, "Sato-san has a secret basement."

His words certainly made Suzuki turn his back in shock. "You know where it is?" Tanya Suzuki who replied nod by Anzu.

Suzuki smiled at the knot. Then turned to face Anzu while handing over an object. "This is my phone, call if you're close to using Akira's contacts."

Anzu nodded in understanding as she received the phone. "Now go! Atone for your sins." Suzuki's orders. Then Anzu went running away from his sight through the forest of the Eastern Garden.

"I believe you, boy."

Previously Suzuki thought to give Anzu his weapon. But after thinking about it again, it may fall victim again if the idea is continued.

[To Be Continue!]🌷

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¹Animation from Japan that is hand drawn or using computer technology.

²Animal characters that have human nature