The classroom remained silent after the introduction. The rain tapping against the windows sounded louder than before, as if the entire building had paused to listen. Detective Hayashi stood calmly at the front of the room beside the teacher, his sharp eyes slowly moving across each student. Unlike most adults Ren had seen at school, this man did not look nervous or rushed. He looked patient, controlled, and strangely observant. Ren felt it immediately—the detective wasn't just looking at faces; he was studying reactions. "Thank you for your cooperation," Hayashi said in a steady voice. "We won't take much of your time." Beside him, the second investigator opened his notebook and prepared to write. Ren briefly glanced toward Yuuto. His pen continued spinning between his fingers, but the rhythm had changed slightly. The motion was faster now, a small but clear sign of pressure. Mira noticed it too; Ren could tell from the way her eyes shifted toward Yuuto for only a brief moment before returning to the front. Hayashi began walking slowly between the desks. "I understand this must be unsettling," he continued calmly, "but someone in this school might have seen something important this morning." His steps were quiet and controlled. Each time he passed a student, he paused for a moment, studying them before moving again.
Ren suddenly realized something unsettling. The detective truly hadn't blinked once. Not even for a second. Hayashi stopped near the center of the classroom. "First," he said calmly, "I would like to confirm something." He turned toward the teacher. "The student who died was Kaito Nakamura from Class 3-B, correct?" The teacher nodded nervously. "Yes." "And this class shares the same building floor as 3-B." "That's right." Hayashi slowly turned back toward the students. "That means many of you were nearby this morning." A quiet wave of uneasiness spread across the room. Ren felt dozens of intentions ripple through the air—fear, confusion, curiosity—but one remained controlled. Yuuto's. Hayashi stopped walking and looked toward the back of the classroom. Directly at Yuuto. "You," he said calmly. "What is your name?" Yuuto stopped spinning his pen and looked up without hesitation. "Yuuto Tanaka." Hayashi studied him silently for a few seconds. "Were you in the cafeteria this morning before class?" Ren felt it instantly—the lie from earlier echoed again within Yuuto's intention. Yet Yuuto simply nodded. "Yeah." Hayashi remained silent for another moment before giving a small nod. "Thank you." Then he moved on.
Ren frowned slightly. That was it? No pressure, no follow-up questions—just one simple answer accepted. But the moment the detective stepped away, Yuuto's intention shifted again. Suspicion. Not toward the detective… but toward someone else. Ren followed the direction of that attention instinctively. Toward Mira. At that exact moment, Mira slowly raised her hand. The teacher blinked in surprise. "Yes… Tachibana?" Mira stood calmly, her expression looking innocent, but Ren knew better. She was about to do something dangerous. "I have a question," she said politely. The classroom instantly grew tense. Detective Hayashi turned toward her with interest. "Yes?" Mira tilted her head slightly. "If this was suicide… then why are investigators questioning students from a completely different class?" The room fell into complete silence. Even the sound of rain outside seemed distant. The teacher looked uncomfortable. "Tachibana, this isn't—" Hayashi raised his hand slightly, stopping him. His attention was now completely focused on Mira. "Go on." Mira continued calmly, without hesitation. "You said someone might have seen something important. But that only matters if you believe the fall wasn't an accident." Ren felt dozens of intentions spike at once—shock, confusion, nervous tension—but the strongest reaction came from Yuuto. For the first time since the detective had entered the room, Yuuto's calm control cracked slightly. Just enough for Ren to feel the pressure beneath it.
Hayashi remained completely still. Then, slowly, he smiled—a small, almost invisible smile. "That's a very interesting question," he said calmly. His gaze moved from Mira… to Ren… and then finally to Yuuto. "Tell me, Miss Tachibana," he said quietly, "what makes you think this wasn't suicide?" For a brief moment Mira's eyes flickered toward Ren, a silent signal passing between them. Then she answered softly, "Because… someone in this room is lying." The air in the classroom froze. Ren felt Yuuto's intention spike immediately—not panic, not fear, but something far more dangerous. Awareness. Because now the killer understood something clearly. Mira Tachibana wasn't simply curious. She was hunting him.