The rain quietly and persistently tapped on the glass, like endless fingers drumming on a coffin lid. Drops slowly slid down the window, leaving silvery trails in the light of the street lamp. Kaoru sat on the wide windowsill in the half-dark room, smoking her fourth cigarette in a row and staring out the window. The red dot of the smoldering cigarette reflected in the glass like a small evil eye. The room was stuffy, filled with a mixture of tobacco, cheap whiskey, female sweat, and the faint, lingering scent of blood from yesterday's "job."
On the large bed, Oota and Mina slept peacefully. Oota lay on her stomach, completely naked from the waist up, her long white hair spread across the pillow. Mina was curled up in a ball, hugging a pillow, her pink hair messy, with a calm, almost childlike expression on her face.
Kaoru exhaled a long stream of smoke and quietly smirked to herself.
Sleep, my sweet bitches… she whispered.
Suddenly, the sound of an approaching car broke the silence of the night. The bright headlights of a police car cut through the darkness and lit up the window. Kaoru narrowed her eyes but didn't move. A few seconds later, there was a loud, confident knock on the door.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Kaoru slowly stood up, threw a long black men's shirt over her naked body, which barely covered her hips, and lazily walked to the door. She paused for a couple of seconds, then asked through the door in a bored voice:
What do you want?
A low, firm male voice came from behind the door:
Police. Open the door. We need to talk.
Kaoru snorted, clicked the lock, and opened the door slightly.
On the threshold stood a tall, broad-shouldered young man in police uniform. Dark hair fell over his forehead, his face looked tired, but his gaze was sharp and cold. It was Akiyama. Behind him stood a second car with four police officers.
Do you have a warrant? What's the reason? Who gave the order?
Please open the door, he repeated calmly but insistently. We need to take you to the station. Here is the warrant. It's a re-check. We already spoke with your grandmother for a long time, she's aware and gave permission. We just need to do an examination and check your clothes.
Kaoru lazily looked him up and down, leaning against the doorframe.
And who the hell are you? Fine… Girls, wake up quickly. We have guests.
Standing there, Akiyama noticed a strange smell, as if someone was trying to mask it, and asked:
What's that smell? Explain.
Kaoru replied lazily:
It's perfume, a rose-scented one.
Akiyama said wearily:
It smells like a grave. May I come in?
Kaoru answered clearly:
Come in, of course.
Akiyama entered and looked around the small house. It had only 3-4 rooms. He checked the closets, nightstands, and other things in the rooms but found nothing. Looking at Kaoru, he said:
Put on the handcuffs. I can see you're a bit drunk.
From the room came Oota's sleepy, irritated voice:
What the fuck… It's two in the morning, Kaoru. Who the hell is it this time?
Mina stirred under the blanket and grumbled without opening her eyes:
What happened? Did someone die again?
Akiyama stepped back and stood in the doorway, looking at Kaoru with a heavy gaze.
I'm not going to repeat myself. Get dressed. We're going to the station.
Kaoru yawned, scratched her thigh, and finally opened the door wider.
Wait a second… Just a moment. Don't get worked up, handsome. We'll put on your handcuffs.
Is the lawyer already there?
Akiyama turned his head and replied:
Why do you need a lawyer again? This is just a re-check and a conversation. We already discussed everything thoroughly with your grandmother. They issued a warrant for the re-check as well.
She returned to the room. Oota and Mina reluctantly got up and began dressing. Five minutes later, all three stepped outside. A light, unpleasant rain was falling. It was the middle of the night. The police car's headlights brightly illuminated the wet asphalt and puddles.
Akiyama opened the rear door of the car.
Get in.
Kaoru sat in the front passenger seat. Oota and Mina climbed into the back. The car drove off.
What's going on? Kaoru asked calmly, staring at the road through the rain.
Akiyama replied without taking his eyes off the wet asphalt:
You are suspected of murder. The school administrator Nara, a local elderly neighbor, and another man. We found one, and three are missing. She was discovered with signs of brutal dismemberment.
Kaoru didn't even flinch. She simply turned her head and looked at him with a light, almost playful smirk.
Are you sick or something? Dude, we're sixteen-year-old schoolgirls. Why would we kill anyone? Where would we even get weapons? Did you even think before waking us up in the middle of the night?
Akiyama replied coldly, without raising his voice:
You talk too much.
Kaoru snorted and turned to the window.
Fine, I'm quiet. So serious…
A heavy silence filled the car. Only the sound of rain on the roof and the rhythmic sweep of the windshield wipers could be heard.
They arrived at the small, old police station with dim lighting. Inside it was empty and cold. There were three wooden chairs, an old table, a coffee maker, and a large map on the wall marked with red crime spots. Their grandmother sat on the fourth chair beside them.
Akiyama seated the girls and sat down opposite them. Then he took out his phone and made a call.
Hello? Chief, I brought them… Yes. Good. Waiting.
He hung up and looked at the three girls for a long time.
Tell me one thing. On May 17, between 21:00 and 02:00, where were you all?
Kaoru smirked, leaning back in her chair and crossing her legs.
You might as well say we're lesbians and had a group sex session in the basement.
Akiyama replied calmly:
How should I know? So, what do you say?
Kaoru shrugged.
Fine. I was at my grandmother's. I live with her. I helped her around the house all night. The neighbor can confirm it, he saw me too.
The grandmother sitting nearby said hoarsely:
I was home all night. Kaoru was at home.
Oota took out her phone and showed several photos.
I was at a cosplay party near the river. Here are the photos. The blood on the costume is fake, it's for my Hitman cosplay, don't worry. There were many people there, and there are witnesses.
Akiyama wiped the sweat from his forehead and said:
I can also take photos. When and where was this taken?
Oota replied calmly:
I took it near the river. There was a cosplay event that night on May 17. I took the photo around 22:00.
Akiyama took Oota's phone, opened the metadata, and checked it. The date showed May 17, 22:14. He handed the phone back to Oota.
Mina pulled out a train ticket and a receipt.
And I was in another city. Here's the ticket. I only arrived yesterday evening. I went with a friend, he can confirm it.
Akiyama said apathetically:
Give me your friend's number. Our colleague will call him to verify. We'll also run him through the database.
After checking, he said:
Mina, you really were at the station and arrived on May 18 at 13:35. Cameras recorded it, and the cashier confirmed. The receipt and ticket support your alibi.
Mina wrote down the number on a piece of paper and handed it to Akiyama.
Akiyama looked at them for a long time, then leaned back in his chair.
You think I'll believe this. We will check everything thoroughly, cameras, the house, witnesses.
Kaoru leaned forward and said calmly, almost tenderly:
It's logical. According to you, we just casually kill people, dismember them, and walk around like nothing happened? Do you think we're serial killers? We're schoolgirls, not movie maniacs.
Akiyama replied sharply:
How should I know? Your age doesn't exempt you from responsibility, no matter how you justify it.
Oota added sarcastically:
You might as well say we have weapons and gasoline in our school bags. I'd be shocked.
Mina snorted:
What a shit police force. Immediately pinning everything on three girls. Maybe they'll even give you a bonus for solving the case?
At that moment the door opened. The chief entered, an elderly man in uniform with a tired face. He saw the three girls and raised his eyebrows in surprise.
Kaoru smiled sweetly and waved.
Hehe, hello~
The chief approached Akiyama and said quietly but firmly:
Are you kidding me? Don't mess around, Akiyama.
Akiyama leaned back.
It can't be. They're weird.
The chief shook his head.
These schoolgirls did this, according to you? You've lost your mind.
Akiyama sighed.
Chief, then what should we do?
Release them, of course. Their suspicion has already been cleared. They were thoroughly checked before us, everything is clean. By law we cannot pin this on minors, especially since they have no parents and their guardians refused to come. They're threatening to sue us for accusing them without evidence. And you dragged their grandmother here in the middle of the night.
Akiyama nodded.
Shit happens.
Then explain one thing. Since they were already checked, why did we bring them here? Was there any point?
The chief sighed heavily.
Two days ago they were checked at the central station. It was serious there. Guardians, grandmother, lawyer, the whole thing dragged on until morning. They checked everything and found nothing. In the end they ordered a re-check. I looked at the materials and something doesn't add up. Now I know it wasn't them, but I still have doubts, Akiyama.
Akiyama nodded.
It's strange, chief. On the way here their grandmother said these girls are obedient, just carefree.
The chief turned to the girls.
Alright, you are free. If we need anything, we'll visit you again. For now, rest. Tomorrow we'll come check the house, talk to the guardians, check your belongings and camera alibis.
Akiyama sighed.
I don't like any of this.
Kaoru smiled sweetly and waved.
Bye-bye~ Come visit us, we'll be glad.
When they left the station, the chief quietly said to Akiyama:
Your mistake, Akiyama. Next time think with your head.
Akiyama replied a bit rudely:
If this is my mistake, why did you send me there in the middle of the night? Did you even enter them into the database? I still don't understand.
The chief sighed.
I already entered them. The re-check order came by mail. You were out on another case. What was I supposed to do, leave the station and go myself?
Akiyama said:
This is idiocy, chief. Good thing they don't fire us for this.
The stars dimly twinkled in the night sky through gaps in the clouds. The rain continued to quietly fall on the wet asphalt.