Monday's school day passed by normally as usual and the day came to an uneventful end...

"Yu-Yuuuuta! Wake up!". Who the hell is yelling what time is it anyway? I feel like it's too early for my alarm---ah yeah it's too early I'm going back to bed.

"Knock knock!" Someone bangs on my door. "Yuta come downstairs now!" My eyes spring open in surprise as my mom urges me up.

"A-Alright I'm coming hold on!" I swing myself out of bed and groggily walk down the stairs. Both of my parents are staring at the TV next to stove and my Mom has her hands in her face like she's about to cry.

I walk up to the TV, it's the local news---

"We are here live at the park nearby Ichigano High School where where don't have a lot of information but it looks like some type of crime scene. The police have set up a barricade around the playground area so we aren't abl---huh, okay okay, got it." The reporter stops to listen into his ear piece.

"I-It seems we have just gotten some more information that the scene is a murder scene."

My blood freezes, I'm frozen eyes wide staring at the TV. what..what is this..

"So we now have confirmation that this is indeed a murder scene. We aren't able to get close enough due to the police barricade but it's a frenzy down here trying to put all the pieces together. The only details we know for sure is it's not a scene for the weak-hearted. When we get more information we wi---"

"Click". I hurriedly turn off the TV not wanting to hear anymore. My fist are white because I'm clenching them so hard. A murder right next to school...I wonder if it was student---no don't think like that!

"Hey are you listening Yuta?!" My Mom is right in front of my trying to get my attention.

"Th-This is serious! This is the second time someone has been killed in or around the school...I don't want to think about what would happen if something would happen to you...". Her voice drops off as she starts to sniffle again.

"Yeah...I'm not sure what's happening but I'm sure the culprit will be caught soon..or I hope so." My voice silently drops off as well. How can I be so sure? The police have zero leads into the murder of Taki right? I mean besides that one time Detective Kizata brought me in for some questions but that was just because I knew him right?!

My pulse starts to quicken and a cold sweat breaks out. I-I mean I just came straight home after school. I even remember walking with Kasuno up until I turned on my road I'm not insane or imagining things!

"Haah". I close my eyes and take a deep breath.

"Well I doubt you will have school today but just to be sure we should keep an eye on the news." My Dad inputs his part while comforting my Mom.

"Yeah...you're probably right. I'm going to go back to sleep...". I walk back up to the stairs with my legs feeling like they weighed 1,000 lbs.

--

--

We got the next three days off and resumed classes on Friday. In those three days I heard there were police and officials all around the school trying to make sense of the situation.

I found out from Kasuno who heard a rumor that it was a girl in our grade, Sonozaki-san who was the victim. I didn't really know her but I heard she was in the music club and played the violin. The culprit has not been caught, no one is named a person of suspicion, and no one saw anything that fateful evening after school. It's almost like the murderer doesn't exist.

--

--

Friday.

The aura around the room is a depressing and quiet, everyone is quiet with even the usual loud mouths keeping to themselves. I mean how could they not...someone they knew was just murdered. That makes two students in the last couple of weeks.

"Krrrrk!". Someone scoots back in their chair and stands up. It's the supposed "leader" of our class, Ichinose-san. She always has the can-do attitude so a lot of people gravitate to her to be friends and things like that.

"Um Sensei!". She blurts out, everyone in the class freezes and stairs at her including Sensei.

"Yes what is it Ichinose-san? Please make it quick we need to get back to the le---"

"Are we not safe at school anymore?! T-This...has made it two people in our school who have been killed and no one is trying to find out who is doing it. School is supposed to be where we can go to feel safe to learn and be with your friends. Now...now...it's the opposite like we are being hunted!!"

My eyes widen as I look at Ichinose-san standing with tears flowing down her face. Sensei is frozen like he doesn't know what to say or how to comfort her.

"P-Please take a seat Ichinose-san this is not something to discuss during class time. The staff her is doing the best we can and is trying to make it a safer environment. As you all know we now have two cops stationed here at school until further notice. That is the end of the discussion." He turns back around to the board but looks a bit more pale now than before.

Ichinose-san sits back down while looking down at her desk still sniffling. It's not like she looks more sad than anyone else in the class though.

--

--

After class I meet up with Kasuno by the vending machines outside. It's quiet for what it seems like forever. I guess we really have nothing to say it was just natural to meet up.

"How are you holding up?" Kasuno breaks the silence and turns his head towards me.

"I mean I didn't really know Sonozaki-san that well but it's just a shock for it to happen again." I sit down at the bench and put my hands under my chin.

"Well I didn't mean her really...umm I just mean like you y'know? How are you doing with Kurihara-san?". He awkwardly shifts his gaze towards me.

"I wouldn't say there is anything between us we just went shopping because she needed a few things. If anything I was probably a bother so it is what it is, I think I have Kenji beat right now at least...". I didn't sound very confident right there, beat to what anyway this isn't a race especially with everything happening.

Kasuno gives a slight nod then looks back forward. "Yeah I know what you mean, well that's good I'm rooting for you out there, you deserve it."

It threw me off guard when he said something nice so I didn't know how to react. I can get used to this side of him, I knew I hung around him for something at least.

"Hmm?" Kasuno looks to the side as someone walks up to the vending machine.

Ichinose-san, the class rep, walks up to briskly to the machine and silently begins putting in coins. Her face looks kind of puffy like she's been crying recently...well she has we all would know.

"What?" She slants her eyes in our direction as she catches us staring. "You've never seen someone get a drink before?"

"Kerchuck" The drink falls down and she grabs it.

"Err no we weren't staring sorry...". I apologize without realizing why. She is usually a cheerful person but it's obvious why she's acting like this, I heard she was friends with Sonozaki-san too....

"Hey Hiragi-kun you are close to Miya-chan right? With...all that's been going on please keep her safe alright? I don't want another friend getting...hurt...". I see her eyes well up as she begins sniffling.

"Y-Yeah I'll do my best..". I replied with the least amount of confidence possible. She nods slightly then hurries off back to class.

Kasuno and I don't even say anymore as we slowly walk ourselves back to class before the end of lunch.