Introduction of a Large Conspiracy

The Next Morning – Inside the Classroom The classroom was filled with the usual morning chatter as students gossiped about trivial things. Laughter and casual conversations echoed through the room, creating a normal, lively atmosphere.

But that atmosphere quickly changed when the classroom door slid open.

Our homeroom teacher, Fujihara-sensei, entered with an unusually serious expression. The moment she stepped inside, the room fell into an eerie silence. Her normally composed demeanor seemed heavier, burdened by something none of us knew yet.

The students exchanged whispers, sensing that something had happened.

"Fujihara-sensei? Did something happen?" a student at the front asked hesitantly.

Fujihara-sensei sighed, then spoke in a grave tone.

"Three students were found dead at the abandoned playground near the school."

The weight of her words dropped like a bomb in the classroom. Gasps filled the air as everyone froze in shock.

"Under investigation, authorities found no fingerprints on the bodies," she continued, scanning the room with serious eyes. "This means the killer may not be from our city."

The silence was suffocating.

A student near the front gulped, his voice shaking as he spoke.

"N-no fingerprints...? What does that even mean...?"

Suddenly, Kamuro rose from his seat, his usual relaxed demeanor replaced by a look of concern.

"But, Fujihara-sensei, what about their clothes? Maybe there are fingerprints on their shirts or something. Did they check carefully?"

All eyes turned to Kamuro as he questioned the teacher.

Fujihara-sensei shook her head.

"Yes, we checked. Some of us teachers even went to the scene last night with the authorities to verify everything. But no evidence was found. No fingerprints, no traces of struggle. Nothing."

Her tone carried a hint of frustration, as if something important had been lost forever.

Hanako stood up next, her expression just as serious as Kamuro's.

"What about security camera footage? There are cameras near the school, right?"

Fujihara-sensei nodded. "Of course, we reviewed all possible footage."

She exhaled sharply before continuing.

"But the killer is meticulous. They erased all traces of their presence. No footage, no physical evidence. It's as if they were never there."

A cold shiver ran through the room.

The realization hit everyone at once.

"The culprit is still out there," Fujihara-sensei added, her voice firm. "Lurking somewhere in this city."

Tension gripped the classroom. Murmurs filled the air, students exchanging nervous glances, some visibly shaken.

Yet, amidst the panic and concern, I remained seated, calm as ever.

I already knew who the killer was.

My gaze slowly shifted to the side.

Haruno.

He was looking straight at me.

His sharp eyes locked onto mine with an unreadable intensity.

A silent conversation passed between us.

He knew.

And he knew that I knew.

The Next Morning – Inside the Classroom

The usual morning chatter filled the classroom, a cacophony of trivial gossip and laughter, creating a familiar, lively atmosphere. A comforting normalcy, quickly shattered.

The classroom door slid open, and Fujihara-sensei entered. Her normally composed demeanor was replaced by a grave seriousness, a weight that silenced the room. An eerie silence descended, the students exchanging worried glances.

"Fujihara-sensei? Did something happen?" a student hesitantly asked from the front row.

Fujihara-sensei sighed, her voice heavy. "Three students were found dead at the abandoned playground near the school."

The words dropped like a physical blow. Gasps and shocked whispers filled the room, a collective freeze of disbelief.

"Under investigation, authorities found no fingerprints on the bodies," she continued, her gaze sweeping across the room. "This means the killer may not be from our city."

The silence was suffocating, thick with unspoken dread.

"N-no fingerprints...?" a student stammered, his voice trembling. "What does that even mean...?"

Kamuro rose from his seat, his usual laid-back demeanor replaced by a sharp concern. "But, Fujihara-sensei, what about their clothes? Did they check carefully?"

All eyes turned to him, a silent plea for reassurance.

Fujihara-sensei shook her head. "Yes, we checked. Some of us even went to the scene last night with the authorities. But no evidence. No fingerprints, no traces of struggle. Nothing." Her voice held a hint of frustration, a sense of something irretrievably lost.

Hanako stood up, her expression mirroring Kamuro's. "What about security camera footage? There are cameras near the school, right?"

"Of course, we reviewed all possible footage," Fujihara-sensei exhaled sharply. "But the killer is meticulous. They erased all traces of their presence. No footage, no physical evidence. It's as if they were never there."

A cold shiver ran through the room, a shared sense of unease.

"The culprit is still out there," Fujihara-sensei said, her voice firm. "Lurking somewhere in this city."

Tension gripped the classroom, a palpable fear hanging in the air.

Yet, amidst the panic, I remained calm. I already knew who the killer was.

My gaze drifted to the side.

Haruno.

He was staring directly at me.

His sharp eyes locked onto mine, an unreadable intensity in their depths.

A silent conversation passed between us.

He knew.

And he knew that I knew.

Lunch Break - 10:00 AM

After the tense lessons and Fujihara-sensei's chilling announcement, Hanako, Kamuro, and I walked through the school hallway. The air was thick with the weight of the news, the hushed conversations of other students echoing around us.

"So, it must be true," Hanako murmured, her voice laced with concern. "Everyone's talking about it now."

Kamuro sighed, placing his hands behind his head. "This city might end up like the others... We were supposed to be a peaceful place."

"It's possible," I replied, my voice calm. "Since the culprit is unknown, others might start killing as well."

"If that happens, this city will turn into a pool of blood," Kamuro said, his tone still even, but the underlying dread was clear.

"I hope not," Hanako sighed.

Trying to lighten the mood, she clapped her hands together, a bright smile spreading across her face. "Enough about that! How about we go to the mall after class?"

Kamuro and I turned to her simultaneously.

"Mall?"

"Mall?"

Hanako giggled. "Yeah! It's been a while since we went out together. What do you guys think?"

"You're right... I'm in!" Kamuro said enthusiastically.

"What about you, Hanama-san?" Hanako asked, her eyes sparkling.

I gave a small nod. "Okay. I have free time anyway."

"Great! It's decided then!" Hanako cheered, her smile infectious.

We continued towards the cafeteria, the tension momentarily forgotten.

Afternoon – After Class

As the final bell rang, we made our way towards the school exit.

"That quiz was really something," Hanako muttered, stretching her arms.

"Right? My head started aching just from reading the questions," Kamuro joked half-heartedly.

"Really? I didn't find it difficult," I replied calmly.

Suddenly, Hanako placed her palm on my cheek, pressing it gently but firmly. "Of course, you're the smartest one in our group."

"Stoffp, you're huhrtihhng my cheekshh," I mumbled, my words muffled.

"Yaku-chan, you look cute like that," Kamuro teased, bursting into laughter.

"Shuduppp!" I retorted, still trapped in Hanako's grasp.

Somewhere in the Outside World – A Ruined City

Beyond the peaceful facade of our city, a desolate world existed. A ruined city, where countless homes lay in shattered disarray. Some were mere piles of rubble, others stood as skeletal remnants of a forgotten life.

Three men, clad in stark suits, patrolled the desolate streets, each wielding a gun. Their presence radiated an aura of cold authority, a silent threat. They moved from house to house, their knocks echoing in the eerie silence as they collected "taxes."

One man rapped his knuckles against a half-broken door. After a tense pause, the door creaked open, revealing a woman, her face etched with fear.

"Pay your tax, or the boss will end your life," the man stated, his voice devoid of emotion.

Without a word, the woman handed over a crumpled bundle of money, her hand trembling, before swiftly slamming the door shut.

Inside a heavily fortified building, in a dimly lit office thick with the acrid scent of smoke, a man sat in a large, imposing chair. Tattoos snaked across his arms, and a heavy golden ring adorned his finger. His face was obscured by shadow as he exhaled a plume of smoke.

"How is he doing?" the man asked, his voice a deep, resonant command.

A subordinate, standing rigidly before him, responded without hesitation. "Right on schedule. He's already begun. He killed three students at his new school."

The boss smirked, a dark, unreadable expression twisting his features. "I see… Enjoy yourself, Mikami Haruno."

At the Mall

We finally arrived at the bustling mall. As the automatic glass doors slid open, a security guard greeted us with a polite nod.

"Welcome," he said, his voice a low rumble.

We stepped inside, the cool, artificial air washing over us, a stark contrast to the outside heat.

"There are a lot of people here," Kamuro commented, his eyes scanning the crowd.

"Right. There are students from our school and even from other schools," Hanako added, her voice laced with mild surprise.

"Let's grab something to eat first," I suggested, my stomach grumbling.

"Sounds good. I'm hungry too," Hanako agreed, her tone warm.

"Let's go! I want sushi!" Kamuro cheered, his enthusiasm infectious.

As we started walking, two tall male students from another school abruptly bumped into me.

The two turned around, their faces flushed with irritation.

"Huh? Watch where you're going," one of them said, his voice laced with annoyance.

I met his gaze, my eyes sharp and unyielding. "Sorry. You should watch where you're going too," I replied calmly.

The atmosphere tensed, a silent challenge hanging in the air.

"Hah? Don't test my patience, you little bitch. I'm not kind," he sneered, stepping closer, his posture aggressive.

His friend smirked. "Oh? You're cute. Wanna have some fun with us, little girl?"

The moment he uttered those words, a cold, murderous instinct surged within me. The urge to kill, raw and visceral, threatened to consume me.

Before I could react, Hanako and Kamuro stepped in front of me, forming a protective barrier.

"Alright, that's enough," Hanako interrupted, her voice firm and unwavering.

"Don't touch our Yaku-chan, you barbarians," Kamuro added, his voice laced with a mocking smirk.

The man growled and grabbed Kamuro's collar, preparing to throw a punch.

But before he could swing, his body stiffened, his eyes widening in alarm.

He looked down to find Hanako's small, sharp knife pressed against his stomach. Meanwhile, Kamuro held a similar blade inches from the man's throat.

They both smiled creepily, their eyes gleaming with amusement, a chilling contrast to their playful demeanor.

The man swallowed hard, fear flickering in his eyes.

Before the situation could escalate further, a security guard noticed the commotion, his voice booming.

"What's going on here?!" the guard barked.

In an instant, Hanako and Kamuro expertly concealed their knives, their movements fluid and practiced.

The man quickly released Kamuro's collar and stepped back, his face pale. Without another word, he and his friend walked away.

His friend gave him a confused look. "Hey, what's wrong with you?"

But the man said nothing, his hands trembling slightly.

I turned to the guard, giving a polite bow. "Apologies for the trouble. Those two were causing problems, but we'll be on our way now."

Hanako and Kamuro bowed as well, and we walked off, blending into the crowd.

Once we were at a safe distance, I turned to them, my voice calm. "Why did you two do that over something so trivial?"

"Why? Because they were rude to you, Hanama-san," Hanako replied, her tone playful.

"That's right. I won't let anyone mess with you, Yaku-chan," Kamuro added warmly.

"But pulling out your knives was reckless. What if someone had seen? They might suspect you two as the killers from the playground incident."

Hanako blinked, her expression thoughtful. "Oh… I didn't think of that."

"It was Jana-chan's fault this time," Kamuro teased, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Huh? How is this my fault? You pulled yours first, so I just followed!"

As they continued to bicker playfully, I sighed and let them be.

We spent the rest of the day eating, playing arcade games, and buying clothes, enjoying the fleeting normalcy before heading home.

Later That Night – The Fate of Two Men

On a dimly lit street, the two men from earlier walked side by side, still talking about what had happened.

"That girl was cute… What a waste," one muttered.

His friend, still shaken, remained silent.

As they walked, a shadowy figure appeared ahead of them—a girl with long hair.

"Who's that?" one of them whispered.

"Who knows? Wanna check her out?"

But when they reached the spot where she had been… she was gone.

Then, in an instant, she was behind them.

A small blade gleamed in the dark.

Before they could even scream—

They collapsed, lifeless. Blood pooled beneath them.

The girl turned and walked away, her figure fading into the night.

The surrounding security cameras were destroyed.

There was no evidence left behind.

The Next Morning – At School

The sun had barely risen when the news broke. The bodies of two male students from a different school were found lifeless in a dark alley, their blood staining the pavement. The incident spread like wildfire across the city, reaching every student's ears before the first bell even rang.

As I walked through the school gates, students gathered in small groups, whispering among themselves. Some gasped in horror, others spoke in hushed, nervous tones.

"Did you hear? Two students from another school were killed last night!"

"They say their bodies were found near the mall. It was brutal…"

"Another murder… What's happening to this city?"

I kept my expression neutral, my face unreadable, as I walked past them. The weight of their words didn't faze me—I already knew.

Not long after, I spotted Hanako and Kamuro near the lockers, waiting for me like they always did.

"Hanama-san!" Hanako called, waving. "Did you hear about what happened last night?"

Kamuro leaned against the lockers with a curious expression. "Yeah, it's all over the news. Two guys were found dead near the mall. Crazy, right?"

I nodded slightly. "I heard."

Hanako crossed her arms, frowning. "The timing is weird, though. We were just at the mall yesterday… Do you think those guys we ran into were the ones who—" She paused, shuddering. "No way, right?"

Kamuro let out a low whistle. "That would be a crazy coincidence. But if it was them, then…" He trailed off, then grinned. "Well, guess karma got them fast."

Hanako elbowed him lightly. "Kamuro, don't say things like that. It's scary!"

"Come on, Jana-chan. It's not like we had anything to do with it," Kamuro said with a carefree shrug.

Hanako sighed, rubbing her temples. "I just hope this whole thing ends soon. This city used to be peaceful… Now, I feel like anyone could be next."

"Well," I said finally, "we should head to class. The teachers will probably talk about it."

Hanako and Kamuro nodded, and the three of us walked toward the classroom, blending into the crowd of students.

Crime Scene – Dark Alleyway

The morning air was heavy with the scent of blood. Yellow caution tape stretched across the alleyway, blocking out curious passersby while uniformed officers worked under the dim glow of streetlights. The crime scene had already drawn a crowd from the nearby streets, but the police kept them at bay, their expressions grim.

The two bodies lay motionless on the cold pavement, lifeless eyes staring at nothing. Their uniforms were stained deep red, the pool of blood already drying beneath them.

"Multiple stab wounds," one officer muttered as he crouched beside the bodies, taking a closer look. "It looks like the killer was relentless. Whoever did this wanted to make sure they were dead."

"Any signs of struggle?" another officer asked.

The forensic investigator beside them shook his head. "No defensive wounds. Either they were caught off guard, or they didn't even have time to fight back."

A police officer holding a fingerprint scanner ran it over the victims' skin, frowning when the screen displayed nothing. He checked again—still nothing.

"No fingerprints," he muttered. "Not even a single smudge."

Another officer looked up from his notes. "That's the same as the other case… the three students from the abandoned playground. No fingerprints, no evidence left behind."

The investigator nodded. "It's too clean. Whoever this killer is, they're precise. They know how to cover their tracks."

One of the officers sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "We checked the security cameras nearby, but they were destroyed. Just like last time. The killer made sure there wouldn't be any footage left behind."

"Then we're dealing with someone skilled," the lead officer spoke in a firm voice. "This isn't some random act of violence. This was calculated."

Another officer carefully examined the stab wounds. "The wounds are small, consistent with a short, sharp blade… maybe a small knife or a scalpel. The killer didn't use brute force—they used precision."

The crime scene fell into a tense silence. The city had never faced murders like this before, and now, two more lives had been taken with no trace of the culprit.

"Find out if these two had any enemies," the lead officer ordered. "Check their backgrounds, their connections. Someone must have wanted them dead."

As the officers continued their investigation, the alleyway remained eerily quiet, save for the occasional shutter of a camera capturing the gruesome scene.

But no matter how hard they searched, the truth remained in the shadows—just like the killer.

Yaku Hanama's Inner Monologue

As I walked alongside Hanako and Kamuro through the school hallway, their voices filled the air with meaningless chatter. The students around us laughed, talked, and went about their daily lives as if everything was normal.

But this world… this city… was far from normal.

In this place, if you don't have friends—if you don't have connections to the strong—you're finished.

I glanced at Hanako, who was smiling as she spoke, and at Kamuro, who laughed carefreely beside her. They didn't know the truth, or at least, they pretended not to. They could afford to do that because they had me… and I had them.

But for those who had no one?

They were nothing but prey.

Scene – A Different School

A few blocks away, inside a school different from ours, a lone student was shoved to the ground in the middle of a dimly lit hallway. His books scattered across the floor, but no one around him dared to help.

A group of students loomed over him, smirking as if his suffering was a mere form of entertainment.

"You really thought you could sit wherever you want, huh?" one of them sneered, kicking his bag away.

"Pathetic," another chuckled. "No friends, no backing, no one to save you."

The boy didn't fight back. He couldn't. Because in this world, fighting alone meant nothing. The strong devoured the weak, and the weak… simply disappeared.

I had seen it countless times. People like him were destined to fade away.

If you don't have power—if you don't have the will to kill—then you are already dead.

Scene – An Alleyway Outside the City

The sound of a gunshot shattered the silence of the night.

A man staggered back, clutching his chest where the bullet had pierced his heart. His eyes widened in shock, his mouth opening as if to speak, but no words came out.

Before him stood a girl with striking purple hair, a pistol still aimed at him, smoke trailing from the barrel. Her expression was emotionless, as if taking a life was as simple as breathing.

The man gasped, collapsing onto the pavement, his blood seeping into the cracks of the concrete.

The girl didn't even flinch. She simply lowered the gun and stepped over his corpse, unfazed.

In this world, murder was everything.

Yaku Hanama's Inner Monologue (Continued)

If you want to survive in this cruel world, you must kill before you are killed.

Hesitation means death.

Weakness means being trampled on.

Compassion… is nothing more than a liability.

I knew this better than anyone.

As Hanako and Kamuro continued talking beside me, I only listened in silence. They lived in their own illusion of safety, but I knew the truth.

The real world wasn't kind.

And I… I would do whatever it took to survive.