Chapter 26: who?

Monday in the morning and the first thing Hitoshi asked when he arrived in the room is if did he already found out who did the crime last Saturday on Kitoki's birthday. Kazumi took a deep breath and said that it wasn't Kitoki, someone framed her and that is what they need to find out who is that person to do this kind of things.

During break, Kitoki went again to Kazumi in his room to tell that the girls who got in the accident on her birthday announced dead this morning and the phone is found but is not working anymore so they need to take it from the person who can repair it, it is found in the water so probably that it will not open anymore.

Fuyumi who came from the canteen saw Kazumi and Kitoki talking to each other in front of their room in the corridor. She stop for a while and watch them talk like their topic is a very serious matter. The bell rang so the two separated then she continue to walk. Even she is curious on what happened last Saturday about the birthday party yet she don't still talk to him or even contacted him this whole weekend. She really doesn't have something to do this last Saturday, she just gave a reason because she don't want to go. So even her mind is full of lots of questions at the moment, she chose to keep it all herself.

"The girls who got drown last Saturday died this morning, the swallowed to much water but the doctors will still do an autopsy to find out what really happened and Kitoki's phone is not functioning so it is still need to be repaired" "If it is not Kitoki, then who will do such thing that will lead to a death of those innocent young ladies"

"Fuyumi, we're going to grab lunch in the canteen, wanna come?" "Ah, I'm sorry I have something to do. You can go without me" "Uh… okay" "Uhm… Kazumi. Can you go without me? I remembered that I also have something to do" "Uh… okay", Kazumi said without any reaction or questioning those two and leave the room. "What are you going to do Hitoshi?" "I want to ask you" "Huh?! Ask me what?" "Ask you why you are avoiding him" "No I'm not, why would I do that" "Really ah, then what is the thing you are going to do today that seems you are so busy" "I…I need to prepare for the next class so I will go to the library and read some books" "Is that so, then what about last Saturday. You don't really have a plan on that day but you said you have so you rejected the invitation" "No, I… I really have a plan on that day. Why are you doing this Hitoshi? Why are you acting like you know everything" "Because you like me remember? And I don't want the only person who like me to hurt herself over something she believe even it is not true" "What do you mean?" "You think that there is something going on with Kazumi and Kitoki, right?" "Huh, I don't understand you. And stop with this 'like thingy', we both know that it is a big lie" "Don't pretend like you don't see anything Fuyumi" "You can't blame me, that girl looks like Saki is getting close with him. How far do I need to compete to a dead girl" "Do you still remember the condition I asked of you" "Yeah" "Why don't we do it now" "What?! Are you insane?!" "Remember, you asked me to keep your secret in one condition and I am asking it now" "What are you plotting this time?" "Trust me, I just want to see his reaction and I know that you also want to know the same thing" "Can you just let me think first" "Okay, inform me if you change your mind. I was just trying to help"

They stopped from their conversation when Kazumi entered like he was rushing. He went to his to fix his things. Hitoshi asked him and he answered that he needs to accompany Kitoki to look for someone who can fix her phone so he asked Hitoshi to cover up for him in the afternoon class. After Kazumi leave, Hitoshi look at Fuyumi who is also looking at him. "I told you", he just said. "He is not a kind of person who skip classes. Is Kitoki that important to him?" "He was just concern about her" "Why do he need to be concern about her. She is not Saki and she will never be her" "Something happened last Saturday and Kazumi is really worried about her" "What happened?" Hitoshi told her the whole story. "What if, what if she just plotted those things to get his attention. She knows that Kazumi is a kind person who has a soft heart. She make advantage of the situation for him to look at her and be with him" "I also think that she is the suspect in the first place but I don't think that she will go this far like killing her friends just for one person's attention, that is already beyond"

"This phone is waterlogged for the whole night you said" "Uhm, yes mister. Can you still fix it? there is something important there that we need to look at" "I will do what I can but it will take some time" "It's okay, it's okay. We are willing to wait" "Okay then return after three days maybe, let's see if it will work again" "Oh My Gosh thank you. Thank you Mr. Repairman, I will pay you how much you want. It is just important what is inside of that phone"

"Thank goodness we found someone to fix it" "But we are not yet sure if he can really do it" "Trust him Kazumi, he said that he will do his best" "It is still early, I still don't want to go home. I mean, I am not used to going home early these days" Kitoki stare at him like she was doubting something. "What?! Don't look at me like that. I am not doing something bad okay, don't get the wrong idea. I go to a study group with Fuyumi and students from different schools" "With Fuyumi?" "Yes, she's smart and easy to run on" "I was smart also and easy to run on, just so you know" "O...kay…" "Urgh, forget it. I am hungry, let's grab something to eat" They went to eat in a small restaurant nearby. "Order anything, it is my treat" "No, I will pay for our meal today" "But—" "I am the guy so I am supposed the one who will treat a girl and the other way around" "But you don't have to, I insist" "I know I am not rich as you are but I have a dignity that I am taking care of even I admit that I don't have that much money. Order anything you want and I will pay for it" "You are such a gentleman Kazumi. The girl you will like will be lucky" "I don't think so, as much as possible I don't want to have so many people in my life" "Why? It is fun to have people around you" "Did you hear those cases that involved the class 2-D this past few months?" "Uhm… I don't remember but I think I heard something about it" "Those cases happened when I transferred in that school that the same thing happened in my past school. I think I am cursed that those people around me are dying and I don't want anyone to be involve anymore" "The why did you accept my friend request? Then if that is true why are your family still alive? Hitoshi is your neighbor and classmate yet he is still alive, even Fuyumi. This is not all about you Kazumi, those what happened are just accidents and it was just a coincidence that it happened when you are around. It has nothing to with you, don't blame yourself about it" "I think Hitoshi is the one behind of all these things" "Why would you think so? I think Hitoshi is a good and friendly. He cares about you" "He is weird and I know that he is hiding something from me" "What do you mean?" "He knows things about me that me myself doesn't know and he is very close to my younger sister even it is their first time to meet each other like they already friends a long time ago" "Maybe he was really close to you but you just don't notice. You are not that observable kind of guy in his surrounding. Why don't you ask him?" "I already did but he refuse to answer" "That was really worth to be curious of" "Is there already a news about the autopsy?" "The hospital hasn't called yet. I am very nervous. I am afraid that the suspect will come back for me" "Don't worry, I will protect you" "Are you telling that because…because I look like her?" "I am telling this because you are my friend, it is either you look like her or not, the fact that I am your friend is already enough that I will care for you" "Friend huh", she whispered to herself then sip her coffee.

After that, Kazumi wave goodbye to Fuyumi and went home directly. He found Fuyumi standing in front of his door that afternoon staring the beautiful color orange in the sky. When she feel Kazumi's presence, she stand straight and face him while her both hand holding her bag. "It is not like you to skip school" "I know, it is my first time also. It was just…an emergency that I have to attend to" "Hitoshi already told me everything and he make out reasons for you in the afternoon class, you should thank him. I know that I am not in a position to say this but are two people is really needed in order for the phone to be repaired, I mean she is very rich so why she let her maids do the work for her or they accompany her rather than pulling other people's hand in her business" "You don't understand" "Then let me understand!" "Why are you acting like that Fuyumi, you are so childish. It is not like you" "Maybe I am really a childish person. I'm sorry ha if I am like this. I'm sorry if I was just concern about you. You changed since you met that girl. Does she remind you of Saki that much? Why do you still care for a dead person anyway" Fuyumi walked passed by him but before she go. "Oh by the way, I take down notes for you", she said that makes Kazumi face her while she brought out a notebook then throw it out to him then she walked away. Kazumi breath deeply as he get the notebook on the floor. "I thought I'm watching a live drama in front of me", said Hitoshi leaning on the door of his apartment. "Get lost", said Kazumi without looking at him and passed by him.

After three days, after class, Kazumi and Kitoki went back to the shop where her phone is been repaired. "I can say that it may not function well the way it used to be", said the repair man and gave the phone to Kitoki. "It is okay, we just have to check something, I also did buy a new one already" Kitoki opened the phone immediately and went to the messages. "The…the number is not registered" "As expected, But at least now we have are one step closer to the suspect. All we need to do now is to find who owns that number"

"Hmm", said Kitoki while smiling and nodding.

The next day, the hospital called where the autopsy of those girls are performed. They said that there is nothing different or nothing wrong found in the body of the victims except for a lot of water. They said that what happened is maybe just a cause of an accident.

"Are you two still investigating?" "Why?" "I am just concern Kazumi, don't go too much deeper. Something might happened to you or you might not accept the truth if you find out" "What are you talking about? Do you know who the killer is? A group of students just died, you were there also when that happened and here you are acting like everything is normal. Are you hiding something again from me Hitoshi?" "It will not help if I will panic just like you guys do. The police are investigating the crime already, let those adults handle this thing" "I will do anything whatever I need, I will not just sit in a corner and let others do their job until someone dies again" "Kitoki has a lot of guards on her side, she will be safe. You should worry about yourself more. Before protecting others, you must protect yourself more, you can't save others if you are also in danger" "Oh, I don't know that you are also smart sometimes" "I am always smart especially when it comes to you" "You are making me chills" "By the way, did you and Fuyumi already talked to each other?" "She still avoid me" "She was just jealous that you are giving more attention to Kitoki than her. She used to be the only girl you hang out with in the school so it hurts her feeling that you don't do the same thing anymore with her" "I thought she understand everything, you explained what happened right? I thought she doesn't care and it is okay with her" "She's still a girl Kazumi" "So what do you want me to do" "Go back to the things before meeting Kitoki" "What do you mean? I will ignore Kitoki?" "If that will solve anything then why not" "No way, there is no way I will do that. Especially now that she need my help. I will not leave her" "What if Saki will ask you to leave Kitoki, will you still say no?" "Hitoshi, you are crossing the line. Saki has nothing to do with this" "If just Kitoki doesn't exist, everything will be easy", Hitoshi whispered to himself. "Did you said something?" "Ah nothing"

"Fuyumi, are you okay with this?" "Okay with what?" "You and Kazumi" "What do you mean?" "Do not deny it, you two are ignoring each other" "No I don't I just don't have something to tell him so I don't talk to him and besides I live before without him so I can live again without him" "You are still in a fight" "I said no, we are not fighting okay" "Oh well if you said so. But what will you do? Valentines is coming up. Will you gave him chocolates?" "Why would I do that. I never gave chocolates to a man on valentines" "So you will not give me chocolates also. Oh c'mon, I thought we are friends. I love chocolates" "I can make you one, if you want to" "Oh really! I will wait for that, don't forget", he said as he leave. "Valentines", Fuyumi whispered to herself.

Kitoki woke from the noise coming from her room where the door is opening slowly. The whole room is dark and the only light is the moon coming from the huge window in the veranda near her bed where the curtains are also getting carried by the wind. She moaned a little as she scratch her eyes while sitting on her bed. "Who is that?", she asked as the person walked toward her without saying anything. "The moment the moon lighted up that person, Kitoki breath in relief. "It was just you, how did you get here?" "I am sorry if I disturbed your sleep little princess and I went on your room without knocking or calling you this late at night" "Do you need something?" "I just can't wait to tell you. This is very important that tomorrow can't wait" "Do you know who the killer is?" "Yes and I want to tell you now before it is too late" "Then tell me, tell me who wants to kill me and my friends"

A news from early in the morning disturbs the whole nation. A famous model Shama Kitoki is found dead in her room this morning. Her face is covered with pillow that they believe the killer use to kill her. They are still investigating the incident, the fact that their mansion and even her room is full of guards and they are very strict that they won't let anyone enter into that house after what happened on Kitoki's birthday with her friends.

"Ki…Kitoki…I told her that I will protect her. I told her that anyone can't harm her. Yet…I again failed." "It is not your fault Kazumi, don't blame yourself" "It is happening again, the murderer will kill the people who is close to me one by one. The killer will not leave me" "You are just imagining things, there is no such things as that. You will not be killed or anyone else, no one will die anymore" "It is easy for you to say that because you are not in my situation, you don't experience the things I do. And you don't feel the same way as I am" "Do you still blame me as the killer" "I don't know, there are things that point out you did the crime but once I gather the evidence, you will rot in hell" "If that happens, I will drag you with me. Valentines is coming up, you should forget everything and move forward" "Forget! It is easy for you to tell" "Then what will you do. Are you going to imprison yourself alone again just what you did before. You will destroy your life again. Will that solve anything?" "So what do you want me to do? Act like nothing happened and forget those who died! Do you think it is unfair that we are still alive and enjoying while they are six feet under the ground turning into ashes" "It is not selfish to put yourself first sometimes. You are not god, you doesn't know what will happen next or prevent any accident or bringing the dead to life. You are just a person who only live once and need to treasure every moment even it is a bad one. That is life, people come and go, you can't not stop the cycle and said no. All you need to do is go with the flow but don't get drown. It is okay to cry sometimes, but make sure that you will not give up. It is okay to act weak sometimes just don't let those thing cover you because it will just make the suspect happier and more victorious. Remember that not everyone smiling at you is happy for you and not who comfort you is also truly sad for you. Not all who hugs you are friends and not all who hurt you are enemies. If you are going to widen your way of thinking, you will know. A world is a dangerous place, it is full of good people but it is also full of the bad once. There are a lot of wolves hiding in a sheep's costume, you should be careful cause maybe the killer is already by your side. Limiting yourself from being happy is not an answer because you feel sorry for those who died, it is their fate. And your fate is to continue your life whatever happens, I'm sure that they will also be happy seeing you enjoying your life"