Volume 10 - CH 24

Moon: [Irritated]

The next day, as promised, I prepared two bentos and came to the roof during lunch break.

Takeru looked very excited when he arrived and he immediately started with the tamagoyaki.

.

.

“Ahh, this is so good!”

“Hahaha! A man sure eats a lot huh!”

.

.

Like my father, not only does he eat a lot, but he also eats it very quickly too.

It also makes me smile to see Takeru use the piglet chopsticks we bought yesterday.

He’s so manly and so childlike at the same time.

.

.

“Still, we couldn’t find any clue on the [Curse Breaking] Gift at all huh…….”

“Yeah…….”

.

.

Since we first started, we’ve been going around to various classes every day but we still haven’t got our hands on any useful information.

Takeru also made friends with some of the students we met during our investigation and they told him that they would get in contact if they hear something but it seems there’s nothing tangible so far.

.

.

“Slow and steady wins the race.”

“That’s true but….. Nn?”

“What is it, Takeru?”

“It’s a RINE message from the guy we talked to a week ago.”

.

.

Takeru fiddles with his phone while still chewing rice in his mouth.

He didn’t speak more with food in his mouth but once he swallowed it down he continued.

.

.

“A senpai with a lot of connections is willing to meet with us he said.”

“Someone who knows a lot of people huh…….”

.

.

Aside from Akechi Hideyori who was supposed to know a lot about Gifts, I also tried talking to Takeru’s classmate, Yoru Hiru, a while ago but that was also a dead end.

I had a feeling that it would end the same this time too but since it seems that he can meet with us after school, we decided to go see him.

.

.

After school that day, we visited him and asked about a [Curse Breaking] Gift.

.

.

“Ahh, come to think of it, there’s a guy with a [Break something something] Gift in my class last year. He said something about erasing some crest on his face too.”

“Is, Is that true!?”

“Please introduce us to that person! We will definitely compensate you for this!”

.

.

I don’t plan to spare any expense.

My hope is soaring high. After all, we jump from having no clue at all to knowing about a guy who has the Gift that can break the [Crest of Gift Acceptance].

.

.

“Yeah, that’s impossible.”

“Eh?”

.

.

But Senpai’s words made me feel like I just got splashed with cold water.

While I was still stunned by his answer, Takeru immediately asked him [WHY!?].

.

.

“That guy, he’s been missing for about half a year now.”

“He’s gone missing…….?”

“His parents, the academy, his classmates, none of them know where he disappeared to…….It’s like he’s just got spirited away or something.”

“Spirited away……?”

“Yeah, for some reason, bad students from our school often just disappeared like they were spirited away by something, there were many who turned up dead as well…….. I think that he might have become a victim……..”

.

.

Even though I finally found a clue……. My head became completely blank at the fact that the person I was looking for is gone.

I can feel goosebumps on my back.

I felt so lost that it was a miracle I can still stand like this……

.

Noticing my condition, Takeru thanked Senpai and pulled me away.

Just like that, Takeru took me back to my class.

.

.

“Cheer up, Mitsuki.”

“Takeru……”

“Maybe there are still others who have the same kind of Gift out there. We will find them! This is just a minor setback.”

.

.

Takeru gently patted my back.

“Don’t worry! We will find another one.” He said with a confident smile.

.

.

That’s right.

It’s just a setback.

We only need to find another person who fits that description again.

.

.

“Ah! Mitsuki-san, Juumonji-san.”

“Haruka.”

.

.

Haruka came out of the classroom.

I can see she has her bag with her, she’s probably on her way home.

.

.

“Mitsuki-san and Juumonji-san are dating now, right? Congratulations.”

“It’s, it’s embarrassing when you put it like that.”

“Fufu, I hope you two find your happiness together.”

.

.

Haruka smiled as though she was smiling at her own happiness.

Maybe she’s wishing for something like that herself as well.

.

.

“Alright, Mitsuki-san, see you next week.”

“Ahh, see you next Monday.”

.

.

I waved goodbye to Haruka.

She really is a good girl.

I don’t know if she’s dating Akechi Hideyori but she’s definitely too good for that guy.

.

.

“Well, how about we go home too?”

“Yeah.”

.

.

We joined hands and started walking down the hallway.

I wish these days would last forever……

.

.

.

.

But time is cruel.

Soon after that, Mishima Haruka was arrested for the murder of her entire family and 3 Bureau agents.

The news was broadcast on TV…..

.

.

My face turned pale when I saw it and I tried to call her but no one picked up.

The Haruka I know would never do such a thing.

Even when I called Takeru and Emi, they said [It seems to be true…….]. It felt like reality finally set in.

I know that already.

I know but, it’s just impossible right……?

.

I can’t even imagine Haruka being the perpetrator of even the smallest of crimes…….

.

.

.

.

After the weekend, it’s time for me to head back to the academy.

[[Is Haruka truly gone?]]

That question got me so nervous and made me leave my apartment earlier than usual.

.

With a quick pace, I made my way to school.

And when the school came within sight, an irritating scene came into view.

.

.

[[You’re so strong, Hideyori.]]

[[Yeah, I mean, there are only guys weaker than me in this world after all. HaHaHa.]]

[[Wanna come over today?]]

[[OK, I will go to your place after school alright.]]

.

.

Akechi Hideyori was walking in front of me, flirting with a Gyaru.

She sweetly flatters him while pressing her chest on his arm.

.

—–what are you doing?

Weren’t you dating Haruka?

.

Even if you were not going out with her, your friend just got arrested you know?

How can you laugh like that?

How can you still play around with another woman?

Don’t you feel anything for Haruka?

Does Haruka mean nothing to you at all……..?

.

.

Unconsciously, my hands turned into fists as I glared at them.

They didn’t notice me and disappeared around the corner with their stupid laugh.

I watched them turn the corner and head to my classroom.

.

Even when I entered the classroom, Haruka’s figure was nowhere to be found.

As I decided to study to kill time, I heard my classmates’ sneering voices.

.

.

[[Hey, you heard about Mishima?]]

[[That girl murdered her family and agents from the Bureau right? It’s insane.]]

[[It’s so scary, like, we could have become her victims you know?]]

[[Yeah, I’m glad that she was arrested.]]

.

.

………….

They don’t know a single thing about Haruka but they sure like to run their mouths huh…….

She’s a good girl who loves her family and is overly fond of her pet cat.

Even if you hear that a girl like her got involved in a murder, the first thing you should assume would be that her Gift ran out of control right!?

Don’t talk about her like that……..

Stop turning her into some random topic you lots want to pass time with……….

.

.

Akechi Hideyori, Haruka’s honor, I’m so frustrated that I want to just destroy everything.

It was when I was about to slam my desk and speak my mind.

.

.

“THERE’S NO WAY HARUKA WOULD JUST KILL HER OWN FAMILY RIGHT!?”

.

.

Emi banged her desk and shouted.

.

.

“B, But you saw it in the news too right……?”

“What? So you think everything they said on TV is true? If they tell you that apples are blue would you believe that!?”

“I, I wouldn’t but……..”

“Then shut the hell up you idiot.”

.

.

Our male classmate got chewed out by Emi.

It was the first time I heard the playful Emi earnestly scold someone like that.

She’s probably the only one I can count on right now.

It’s reassuring to have someone who’s truly Haruka’s ally in my class.

.

After that, Emi said [I went too far.] and returned to her seat. It was then that our eyes met.

She smiles at me and gives me a peace sign.

.

[I’m Haruka’s ally], is what her body language seems to be saying.

I don’t always know what Emi’s thinking but it warms my heart to know that I have her as my friend.

TLN: Yup, Haruka really can not catch a break outside her own route.