Unexpected Friends
Chapters 5. First Investigation

Go to a safe room. Since it is still the first day of school, we are allowed to rest until tomorrow. So a lot of free time at 11 this afternoon.

Usually with this opportunity I tidy up my room, do my duty, or prepare my life equipment. But the shadow disappeared when Fumika made an announcement.

"So, can I trust you?" Fumika interrogated me and Eliz who were sitting in a circular carpet. Looks like checking that we're not gonna gossip about this conversation outside the room or checking that we're not Pureya' in disguise.

Eliz and I answered, "Of course!" Fumika's position changed like that of a KungFu teacher who would enlighten his students. Or at least, so.

"All right, I'll explain." He said as he picked up a gray notebook from his small bag. Fumika began to open page after page until the part she felt was right. Then he started telling stories. "Because I wrote the point, my explanation could be less clear. But here's the big line."

"Just 1 year ago, there was a terrible murder that took place at this school. The suspect has not been caught. And judging by the way he's treating his victims, he's a psychopath!" Eliz started to shudder. He squeezed my hand and brought me closer. While Fumika still continues to open the Note sheet.

"He killed 4 students at this school in a different place, time and with different treatment.

First, women. His mouth and eyes were sewn while his earlobes were cut off. It just happened on the basketball court, March 6th.

Second, still female, her head was severed and separated. Found in the room I asked Enji, the cursed room. His body was first found in a garden shed on June 16.

Third, men. Many found puncture wounds on the back and the intestine was lulled out. In the lab room IPA 1st floor, September 26th.

Fourth, still men. His eyes were splashed with water and his right hand was broken. Found in the damned room, December 6."

Hearing Fumika's explanation is scarier than watching a midnight horror movie. Even explained in detail - the details. Eliz almost threw up and my head was dizzy.

"Otau - san is investigating the case. So I took the initiative to help him. But I don't want to risk being alone. So, do you guys want to come?"

"No, thank you." Eliz and I compactly refused.

"Why do you trust us in this 'case' anyway'? We could be the killers, right?" Eliz who noticed an awkwardness commented. Fumika stared intensely at Eliz, crossed her arms and bowed her gaze, intending to be styled like a great dectective who would argue.

And then, "Miss Eliz, don't you notice? This case happened 1 year ago. Just when we're not at this school. When you are not in this country. After all, a round trip from Europe to Asia is expensive. Crossing continents, loh. Do you want to come to Japan to kill people you 'maybe' know? Less work!"

True also his explanation. Why come to Japan just to kill people? I'd better travel while vlogging, haha.

"So please, help me. I want to help Otau-san, this case is so hard! I need a friend!" Fumika bowed to beg. It seemed like solving this case meant a lot to him, moreover he himself took the initiative. I remembered something.

🍁🍃🍁

" I want to help Dad!"

Little Alice looked at Jack full of hope. He who was lifting a box of cardboard realized the existence of his son who suddenly came a little shocked.

Jack Henkins, commonly called Jack, Darling, and Daddy, approaches little Alicia with his trademark smile. "Don't Alicia, the cardboard is heavy." Although Jack said so, Alice inherited Akiko's stubbornness. "But I want to help!"

Seeing his daughter's behavior, Jack leaned over to face Alice who was still short. He gently stroked his blond wrap while saying, "Alright stubborn base. How's kalo..." Jack was silent for a moment.

"SEVERATIN DADDY!" Jack held Alice high until her feet floated. "Hahaha," Alice laughed amusedly.

They were alone in the garage, laughing happily without regard for the outside world. The world as they belong. It only belonged to a father and his only daughter whom he loved.

📖🔎🕯️

"Please! Help me!" Fumika is still begging. Eliz had used a code of expression reluctant to accept this 'suicide' plea. If me? I was still thinking, until I finally decided.

"Okay, we're coming." Suddenly my answer was answered by a sharp shot by Eliz and a fragrant smile Fumika. "Whatdidyou say? Are you crazy?!" Eliz was angry. But Fumika thanked him, "Arigato (Thank you) much Alice!"

Eliz shook my body, he wanted an explanation from me. Then I finally explained, though some were still doubtful. "Eliz, I just feel like Fumika needs someone to help her. After all, a few cases might make life at this school a little interesting."

Eliz was still not satisfied with my description. He folded his arms and approached me. A second later he said, "Alice, are this is about your Dad?". I was surprised, but I still replied with doubt, "Maybe?"

"Haaah, okay. I'm coming too." Eliz let out a rough breath. Her heart was hard to accept, but she could not resist the wishes of her beautiful best friend. Hoho.

"So, how's our plan?" I started talking about our plan. The fumika who looked excited, explained. "So, we're going to go into that godforsaken room, room number 21, part male dormitory. Since we're in a man's building, we have to wear closed clothes and most importantly don't wear skirts."

I don't care about the forbidden part of wearing a skirt, but does Eliz not mind?

I just saw Eliz's face holding back emotions. Although she has Over Feminine nature, she certainly knows the risk of wearing a skirt in a man's building. Not only caught by women before entering, but if for example there are dangerous 'strange' men as well.

So, we'll change into our disguise.

🦋🐛🦋

I don't think we can get here. After passing through many obstacles, such as the male building next to the female building, the cursed room that turned out to be on the 4th floor, and the sea of men with all their activities added to our nervousness. But, finally we managed to be in front of the door of the cursed room number 21.

Because Fumika ordered to wear a covered shirt, so, uh,

i(Alice), wearing a sky blue hoddie disguise and 3/4 jeans, my long hair was deliberately tied up and stuffed into a hoddie. I also brought a sling bag just in case, too,

Elizabeth, plumped her hair and covered it with a Fumika loan cap with a Top 1 mural, a cream-colored sweeter with the inscription Brown Bar, and sheer black pants, legs,

Fumika, pulled out her back hair and covered it with her second hat with a Rock n Roll mural. Wearing plain white T-shirt paved with dark brown jacket and ash color training pants.

Now, we're thinking about how to get into the room because of the police line that gets in the way. As I was thinking of picking up the scissors, Fumika was already quick to react by tearing her police line. "Let's go in, the door is not to the key." exclaimed Fumika from inside.

And here we are, looking for a 'hint' in an uninhabited empty room. I tried to look under the bed when Fumika opened the closet that was still filled with clothes and Eliz stared blankly at the window, regretting his decision.

I fumbled under the dark mattress by turning on the phone light until I finally touched an object. Hunt me down and all I see is a regular notebook. There was nothing special about it before I opened the first page of his book which read:

"Diary."

"It's the first time I've made a note, just a fad because my activities are boring. Like, study, rest, take care of OSIS, and learn again."

"Well, but I'll tell you about my days so I have some stories I can read so that I can in the future be 'entertained' while reading them."

I muttered as I read it. Every word I looked carefully and at that moment I realized it.

The nut! Oh My Goodness, this is a secret Diary!!!

"Hey you!" I tried to call Eliz and Fumika. But, my gaze instantly froze, my body pausing for a moment. It felt like yelling but it was like there was a blockage in my vocal cords. Feelings are mixed between fear and anger. Yeah, I saw 'that'. Dark imagination.

A head hanging from the window tried to call for help and said, "Please... L'm.. Akh... Saki.it.. ". I could only stand staring, staring straight at the head that kept begging for it. "PLEASE, HELP...I..!!" His voice was getting raised, Fumika and Eliz were just looking at me strangely.

"Please save me!"

Stop, STOP! I'm sick of you all! You guys aren't real but why bother me?!

There's something I hate more than psychopaths in this case, which is my delusions coming true. Unconsciously, I slammed the door and ran out, running aimlessly. But most importantly I can't hear his voice anymore.

During the escape, I unceasingly heard that noise. But with a different intonation.

Why running? You know if I could find you easily. So, free to escape!

I'm gonna make your life miserable, Alicia!

"STOP!!"

As loud as I shouted, no one came to comfort me. Most of them just come by and look at me disgustedly and leave like nothing. My tears fell bit by bit. I can't take it anymore. I feel like screaming.

Buk, the sound of the collision stopped my run. What did I hit?

"Alice? Alice! Why are you crying?" A naoki? Of all the people, you're the only one who sees me. With tears streaming down my face. My body trembled and my heart ached. I can't hold it anymore.

🌧️🌧️🌧️

What's wrong with this girl? Because she was crying so hard, I took her downstairs while waiting for her to get better in the dorm room. I happened to find an empty chair so we could sit down. "Hik.hik" Looks like he can already control himself again.

"Hm.. The alice? Are you okay?" I said to ask her how she was. "No." The reply was quick.

So that the atmosphere was not awkward, I went back to talking, "Alice, if there is a problem, say so. I will not judge." If he can tell me the problem even a little bit, it can make me relieved not to worry too much.

A few minutes later, Alice finally spoke, "Naoki, am I crazy? No, I mean, do you believe in ghosts?"

Eh? The question I can answer. 'Yes I believe, because I am also a part of them', but that's an impossible sentence to say straight away. So I just said, "Well, between believing and not believing."

Wait a minute, it looks like he said something strange. "What do you mean you're crazy?" I was confused by his statement, but as much as possible I did not act strangely.

And the source replied, "Because I can see something that no one else can. They say it's a ghost, but most say it's imagination. It's not real either." I know what you mean. But if ghosts aren't real, I'M WHAT?!!

"But" Continues. "Adults always say what I say is not real. Just imagination. So when I get bothered by something, they just think I'm crazy. Because they can't see what I see and if it's imagination why is it this real?" His tears fell again. "Naoki, hik... believe. hik... I don't?"

His eyes were as black as tears, his cheeks were reddened, and a body that seemed to be hot by emotions. I feel sorry for him.

The world ignored him. Say black when white he points. How ironic. Her tears kept dripping down past her blushing pale white cheeks, so I rubbed her. Disappearing her tears of sadness as she said, "Pardon me if I don't believe Alice-Chan."

Alice smiled. Her smile is beautiful, very beautiful.

"Thank you, MP."

"Ihss, don't call me that!"

"Well, but Naoki is so Mellow, Pretty and.. Such a good boy,".

"Wait, what did you say after Mellow?"

"Nothing's."

"Hm."

After seeing Alice a little better, I ventured to ask, "Why were you?"

Alice looked dreamy for a moment. His eyes were blankly staring straight at the garden in front. A second later, he finally spoke, "You believe what I said?" Then I said, "Of course." A series of other questions I went through and finally Alice told me.

"OK, so my friend originally wanted to uncover a murder case 1 year ago at this school. The villain is a mysterious psychopath who has not been revealed his identity. So my friend took the initiative to capture and open the identity of the perpetrator. Finally we looked for our first clue in the cursed room. You know the goddamn room, right? The number 21, the 4th floor, the men's building? We're looking for him there."

"We made plans by going undercover to the men's building. So far we've managed to get through it and into that godforsaken room." Alice paused for a moment to take a deep breath, then continued to tell a story. "Then, we did an investigation to look for clues. And, I found,... Just junk. Anyway, the main problem is, when I look at the window."

"Till here you still believe? Won't be spread?" In the midst of the explanation, Alice still questioned my belief. I said, "Issh, yes, okay, I promise." But I don't know why I doubt Alice's part of finding the trash. If it wasn't me, Akbar - my roommate - would have cleaned the room. Maybe he forgot to throw it away?

"Ok, where was it again? Oh yeah, when I look at the window, there's, there's a head hanging. And it can talk. At that time, I believed that what was in front of me was not a living being. I freaked. No, more like pissed. I don't know why, I slammed the door, ran away from my friends, and finally met Naoki. The End."

Thankfully, it's not too big of a problem. Because of his courage I said, "It turns out you're okay. Honestly, I was worried."

🌷🌷🌷

After telling Naiko at length, my feelings improved. Like all my burdens were taken away. Naiko is great! Always there when needed. Like, destiny? Oh no no no. Cannot be! Aye, right?

What ever, but now someone believes my story. So I'm not crazy!

[Really?]

Deg. No, i.. I believe in Naoki. Sure.

[As you believe in'nya'?]

... No, they're different.

[Convinced?]

....

Me, I want to trust you Naoki. I don't want you to be like 'he' or 'them'. He took everything from me and those who didn't believe me.

I want you to really believe me.

[To Be Continue!]