It's a cold winter night; cold stalks me deep within the darkness of my room; the wind comes in softly from a small gap in the open window, while I can hear the sound of the slow dripping of the kitchen sink from afar. My mind spins in dreams, attempting to solve the mystery that haunted me for the rest of the day… To whom does that unnerving smile belong? Could it be Akasha? I can see two paths here: one, it is Akasha or two, another student who is not yet on my radar. If it is Akasha, it could be dangerous because that would mean she is a skilled actress, and not even I could detect her lies. I would be dealing with a master manipulator capable of bending the people at her will. That could explain why other agents could not suspect her.
On the other hand, if we look at the second path, maybe another student was observing me without knowing I was doing the same through the mirror. I believe their primary target was my location. Again, this path would rule out Akasha since it was the second time I traveled with her on that bus; she wouldn't need to see where I got off. Both theories are good, but I need to proceed with caution. I must test Akasha. I will come up with something that forces her to show her true colors; I will do this after class.
The night followed its course, hours went by as if they were minutes and without realizing it, the annoying sound of my alarm in my cell phone woke me up for my next day of school. Within 30 minutes I was ready and waiting at the bus stop. Once more, the bus arrived in just 5 minutes, I boarded with my cup of coffee and walked all the way over to an empty seat. As I take a small zip, I notice there is snow outside. It seems it snowed a little while I was asleep. This is the first time I have seen it; few times have I ever gotten the chance to glance at such a sight.
-May I sit with you?
A sweet melody already known to my ears…
Akasha: Guty?
Guty: Forgive me…, I was thinking…, please, take a seat.
Akasha: Thank you so much.
Guty: Hmm? You got a coffee as well?
Akasha: Yes! You see, it's an antioxidant, I want to look young for a long time.
Guty: Really?
Akasha: No silly, I'm just repeating what you said yesterday, I told you I really like coffee.
Guty: Oh, I see.
Akasha: You are quite slow for some things, aren't you?
A subtle smile always follows her phrases, she seems like an ordinary girl but as the saying goes: "Nothing is what it seems". There could be a ruthless killer under that sweet mask, nonetheless that is something I cannot yet affirm without solid evidence. During the rest of the trip, we talked about the things that we liked to do. As I listened to her, I took note of every gesture, her passions… Everything she told me was incredibly unsuspicious. In fact, I find it hard that someone would have any serious concern about her. But I will stick to my plan and find out if her kindness comes indeed from the heart or if there is something else hiding underneath.
Akasha: Look, we are here.
Guty: Looks like it…
Akasha: Hey, there's quite a lot of people gathered in the front gate, do you think something happened?
Guty: We shall soon find out.
We walked straight to the front gate to see what was gathering so many people. Akasha asked one of her friends what happened. At that moment she told her something I did not expect: a murder had been committed just a few minutes before we arrived. What the hell does this mean? At that exact moment Akasha was in my presence. It took us 44 minutes to arrive at the school, she was with me the entire time, she did not use her cell phone at any time during our trip or any communication device for that matter. This is really unsettling.
Guty: Akasha, where is the body?
Akasha: I don't know, no one has said anything about it… Wait, Guty! Where are you going?
I need to know exactly what happened, so I quickly head to the principal's office. He must know exactly what happened. A few minutes later, I arrive at his office which is crowded with
Guty: Sir, may I have a word with you…
The people there with him just stand looking at me, they seem to think that I'm playing but that changes when the principal kindly asks them to leave us alone, I quickly notice the surprise in some of their faces. Without hesitating, I took a seat and asked the principal about what happened.
Principal: A student from your class has been murdered, Guty and judging by the state of the body he was killed with a machete.
Guty: A machete you say?
I am genuinely surprised at the stake of violence that must have taken place if that was the murder weapon.
Principal: Right, the kid was attacked with it until he died.
Guty: Any witnesses?
Principal: None.
Guty: I cannot believe it! Such a violent murder, I refuse to believe no one heard anything about it, whoever did it must have ended up drenched in the victim's blood, and no one saw anything?!
Principal: My thoughts exactly. Agent, I am deeply sorry for not being of any help, but as far as we know, no one witnessed anything and they did, they have chosen to remain silent.
Guty: Ah…
A small sigh of disappointment escapes my mouth…
Guty: I will be here earlier tomorrow, I will be the first to arrive. Maybe in that way I can anticipate a murder.
Principal: My apologies, agent.
Guty: No need to apologize, I'm just trying to do my job. Although there is something I would like to ask you, what will you do now?
Principal: Carry on with our normal activities, we will try to conceal this. We do not want a bad reputation for this school.
Guty: Conceal? So, none of these murders has ever come to light? Does this school really have the power to silence the media?
I can tell by the principal's face that he is nervous. He is hiding something from me.
Principal: No, it is not that...
By watching him hesitate I seize the chance to push the director, I know now he is hiding something.
Guty: What is it that you are trying to hide, sir? Who is covering all this bloodshed?
Principal: I… don't know what you are talking about.
Guty: If you really want to get to the bottom of this you better cooperate. It's the only way.
Principal: Ah… alright I'll tell you, but you must promise me that you won't share this with anyone else… If someone were to know what I am about to tell you I could lose my life.
Guty: Lose your life? Don't tell me you are…
Principal: Yes, the Japanese government sees that nothing about these murders comes to light.
Guty: Shit. At first, I thought that the intention was not to alarm the people. Typically, in other countries, when something like this happens, they come out to tell them with a silver tongue and minimize the magnitude of the matter to avoid scaring the masses. But students have been dying here for a long time without traces, which is quite suspicious. What does the Japanese government want?
Principal: They… just want you to identify the killer to keep an eye on them and forbid them from killing unnecessarily.
Guty: They are insane! Why leave someone like this free? What benefits could it possibly bring to the country?
Principal: Guty, you are barely scratching the surface, the murders have happened in the same class for years now and we do not have the slightest idea of who is behind them…, the fear and the deep trauma has opened their minds to new horizons.
Guty: What?
Principal: You see, many of the former students of that class, who have survived and graduated from this school, somehow have developed far superior intellect and skills. Currently, they own powerful corporations in Japan. Elevating the economy of our country to the highest. By having these near death experiences, a part of our subconscious awakens expanding our minds beyond our limits.
Guty: You are saying that you are using this school to drive the development of the country, harvesting students with deep traumatic experiences which they then channel through their professional growth?
Principal: Essentially, yes.
I had never heard something so inhuman and absurd in my whole career…, a profound rage burns within me…
Guty: You think we are dealing with animals here?!
For a moment I lost control, and I kicked the principal's desk.
Guty: This is wrong, so wrong and if I get to the bottom of this rest assured that you will face the full weight of the law, such a violation of human rights is a serious crime.
Principal: Do not get yourself more involved than you need to be, just do your job.
Guty: I will do that... MY JOB!
I cannot help but burst out of the principal's office and bash the door behind me. I feel outraged. I go down the stairs with celerity, heading to my classroom, but it is getting difficult to breathe, my legs are weak, and my heart is racing inside my chest. I must calm down, but this idea is frustrating me so much that I cannot relax.
Guty: Damnit!
I lean over a wall in the hallway while I take a deep breath.
Akasha: Guty! What's wrong? I will take you to the nursing office, come on, lean on me, I'll help you.
Guty: Akasha?
Akasha: Come on!
Guty: Easy, I'm feeling a bit better.
Akasha: It doesn't matter, you need to get checked.
Her panic and worry soothe my anger, my attempts to avoid the nursing office are no use so I agree to go.
Nurse: What happened?
Akasha: I found him leaning on a hallway wall breathing heavily, I think he is about to faint.
Nurse: Lay him there.
When I arrived at the nursing office, I was fine already but Akasha would not take a no for an answer.
Akasha: Guty, how are you feeling?
Guty: I am feeling better now, don't worry. I appreciate this, really.
Akasha: It's nothing… Are you ill or something?
Guty: Not quite…
Nurse: The patient is now stable, miss. You may go back to class now, I'll take care of him.
Akasha: I will stay a bit longer, thank you.
Guty: Don't you have to go to class?
Akasha: It's too late now to go back to class, I think it's best if I go back next period.
Guty: Hmm…
Akasha: You know, I got worried when I found you like that in the hallway. Are you ill? Asthma or something?
Guty: It's more complicated than that…
Akasha: More complicated? Like what?
Guty: I doubt that you could understand, come on…, I can get up now, let's go back to class.
Akasha: Are you feeling better?
Guty: I am. Thank you. Let's go.
Akasha: Alright.
Despite Akasha's recommendation to attend class immediately, we returned for the next period. I glanced at my watch to look at the time; we had been delayed nearly 40 minutes, and without much thought, we got in without interrupting class. The teacher asks us why we were delayed, after Akasha explains what happened, he allows us to stay for the class, so I calmly take my seat. It has been a very complicated morning. I never thought the Japanese government would have such sinister plans. Nonetheless, this is something that I cannot include in my mission report for Interpol until I have solid evidence.
Professor: Now, guys, I want one of you to solve this exercise here at the board. Any volunteers? How about you, Mr. Kintaro? Come up front.
Just as I hear his name, I lose no time in consulting it on the list the principal provided. Kintaro. According to the list he is an average student, his grades are not very high, not enlisted in any clubs, and is right-handed. He seems like a lonely person. Hmmm? He is wearing a band-aid, and looks like he cut himself.
Kintaro: Done, teacher.
Professor: Well done, please take your seat.
I could not look for the murderer inside this classroom. Although, no matter how much I look at the other students, there seems to be no sign of the murderer. It could be anyone. This killer has been slaying students for years, which is quite impressive. I need to get student lists from past terms to verify if there is someone who has taken this class more than once. Otherwise, my job would be a lot harder. How could a student be murdering their classmates for so long without raising suspicions? That's the thing. I have been concentrating just on the recent murders, but I should also consider past ones. Maybe that's where the key is. I should take notes of this. < Akasha: Guty!
Guty: What's wrong?
Akasha: The bell rang. Time for lunch. Are you coming or not?
Guty: Wow…, I hadn't realized, ok, let me… I'll go with you.
When I overthink something, time goes by a lot faster than usual. I am in front of a puzzle I must solve without knowing how to put it together. Just yesterday, at this very same time, an accident occurred on the roof while someone was writing on the classroom board…; there is no doubt that the message was for me; many famous killers like to make their pray aware that they are stalking them, this is to satisfy that feeling of superiority, hmm… I could use that to my advantage; I would have to first look for a way to communicate with him without the rest of the class knowing it's me because if they discovered me, the events from yesterday would undoubtedly happen again.
Akasha: Ouch! I cut myself with my knife while cutting the meat of my lunch.
Guty: Careful there, let me see.
Akasha: Oh, it really hurts…
Guty: Relax, it was just a flesh wound, it will bleed for a while, then it will close.
Akasha: That doesn't make it better you know…
Guty: Did you know, people who have very liquid blood can bleed larger quantities in wounds like this?
Akasha: Guty… you're scaring me.
Guty: Don't worry, that only happens to people that have anemia. Their blood becomes a lot more fluid, and they tend to bleed out easily.
Akasha: Not helping…
Some people are very hypochondriac; she believes that she will bleed out just because I said so. Wait… people with anemia tend to bleed a lot from minor wounds, and if I remember correctly, Kintaro cut himself in the finger.
Guty: I must go, Akasha. I'll see you later.
Akasha: Wait! Oh... alright then…
I must get his medical certificate; the principal must have a medical record of the time he has been here in the school since they perform yearly studies. If I can find that he suffers from anemia in the archive, he could be a potential suspect. While Akasha and I were on the roof, he managed to enter the classroom. At the same time, it was empty, and being as lonely as he was, he did not have to deal with distracting any of his friends, so lunchtime was the perfect opportunity for him to write down the message in blood. He went to the nursing office to get a band-aid and leave the scene without being detected. Brilliant plan, right? I am almost in front of the principal's office.
Guty: Sir, I need you to find a medical certificate for me, quickly as you can and also the list of attendees of class 3D in the past years.
Principal: Have you found the one responsible?
Guty: Let's leave the questions for later, get those documents I asked for.
Principal: Who's the one you need a medical certificate from?
Guty: His name is Kintaro Okaiki.
Principal: Very well, let me call the nursing office, they will deliver it to you.
Guty: I finally am onto something.
Principal: Guty, I have given instructions to the head nurse, she will hand over the certificate, you can go collect it.
Guty: Perfect.
Principal: I will have the lists by tomorrow morning, you can come and see me once you arrive.
Guty: OK
The principal cooperated better than I thought. I head over to the nursing office as fast as I can. I need to have that certificate in my hands right now. I cannot help but get excited now that I am beginning to see things clearer. You could say I have finally passed that 0% and have progressed on this case.
After running through the hallways, I finally arrived at the nursing office. The principal was not joking about just coming in and asking for the file; she had it right in her hands. Apparently, she was waiting for me. I took the certificate and began to analyze it. I quickly confirmed my feelings about Kintaro. He suffered from anemia not long ago; in fact, he is still in treatment. Bingo! I need to find him right away.
Guty: Thank you so much, miss.
I quickly head to the classroom, looking for Kintaro. When I arrive, I find an empty classroom. I think lunchtime is not over; that means Kintaro is still out there. I must find him. At that moment, when I looked out the window, I could see him walking towards the exit with his backpack in hand.
I must get to him; he is running away! Without delay, I run out of the classroom to try and catch him. I am going as fast as I can, and despite the cold, my face starts to sweat. On many occasions, I swipe my hand through to wipe the sweat from my eyes. I do not intend to stop. I have a potential suspect, and I do not mean to let him get away.
I run to the school entrance, but I cannot find Kintaro anywhere. I can see a taxi in the distance, and it appears that Kintaro is in it, but it is too far away for me to chase it. I desperately look for another one to get in, but I will have to wait until tomorrow…
Unfortunately, I could not reach him; I will ask around and try to find out how he obtained permission to leave early; once again, I am heading to the principal's office to get information. After a few phone calls, the principal told me Kintaro went to the nursing office, claiming that he did not feel good, and after the nurse checked him, she gave out a leaving pass so he could go home and rest. It is a shame that when I ran to the classroom, he would've taken a different route to the nursing office; had it not been that way, I would have run into him. Is this what they call bad luck? Anyway… tomorrow I will have my answers; I must finish the rest of my classes and formulate a plan for the coming day when I get to school.
When I get to the classroom, I find many people inside the school; I wonder what happened now. I struggle to get inside, and I notice that most of the crowd is gathered at the room's whiteboard, so I approach to look. My eyes could not believe what they were seeing… a new message on the board written in blood; this is impossible. I was sure that Kintaro was the one who wrote the previous message, when I came looking for him the board was empty, which means they wrote it after he left and I saw him go in that cab so It could not have been him, then who… Who did it? Dammit! Now I am doubting that he even wrote the first message… everything was starting to make sense, but now everything is unclear again; I must check all the class medical certificates to see if anyone besides Kintaro matches the profile I had defined. I am yet to read the message which states <<39/40… disturbed?>> Are they mocking me? Are they so confident that I will not find them? They are underestimating me…
Akasha: Guty? What happened?
Guty: Hmm? Akasha, apparently, there is another message on the whiteboard…
Akasha: What? When will this madness end? When I started the school year, I thought this would be the first year this tragedy would not repeat itself.
Guty: Don't worry. This year will be the last. I can grant you that.
Akasha: Really?
Guty: I promise you. This will be the last year.
Akasha: I am glad to hear that…
After the janitor cleaned the board, the classes continued as if nothing had happened; these students' psychological impact is astronomical; if this does not make them lose their minds, nothing will. Is this what the Japanese government wants? To traumatize their young ones to create influential entrepreneurs?
Akasha: Guty, do you have any plans after school?
Guty: Yeah, in fact I have a lot to do today.
Akasha: Ah… such a shame, I wanted to invite you for a walk.
Guty: Maybe some other time.
Akasha: Yeah, I get it. Agh.. my finger hurts when I write.
Guty: It is normal, huh? You wrapped your whole finger.
Akasha: Yes... after what you told me about anemia, I didn't want to take any chances.
Guty: I can't believe you are so paranoid.
Akasha's comment really made me laugh.
Akasha: It's the first time I see you smile, you know?
Guty: It's just that there are just a handful of things that I find amusing, normally I don't get them.
Akasha: You are so weird, Guty.
Guty: The teacher just walked in. Let's be quiet.
It's our last class, and the day will be long since I have so many medical records and things to investigate. This case gets more and more complicated, and I need to get information about the group as soon as possible; I will let the principal know that I need his password to access the school system and be able to check all this from my apartment, I need to invest extra time in this, I know that the system must hold a clue good enough to discover something, in an exhaustive record of years of murders there must be something they never bothered to look into. Sometimes, minor details can uncover something big; in cases like this, where we begin with absolutely no clue—butterfly effect. Now I need to find that "butterfly" who creates these enormous earthquakes…; it has been slippery so far.
Professor: I AM SICK OF THIS! I HATE YOU ALL! I HOPE YOU ALL DIE! DAMN YOU ALL!
He violently shoves his hand inside his briefcase, pulling out a gun, only to shoot himself in the head afterwards, in front of the whole class, the insides of his head splattering the floor.
Guty: What. The. Hell.