Chapter 82
When I wondered why Misora-san suddenly and inexplicably proclaid her own innocence, the reason stood right next to —the President, scratching his head and scowling. After glancing around for agreent, Misora turned toward him.
He noticed I had co back, eyes widening as he called out.
"Ah, Hyoga."
"What happened?"
He explained that she'd just boldly proven her innocence and asked my advice.
"Well, I only stopped her because this Misora-senpai was trying to slip away from the scene. I an, the police interview's coming up, right?"
"Right."
So she'd tried to run. No doubt she had sothing inconvenient to hide. As I started to suspect and think it over, Misora brushed it off.
"It's a waste of ti, right? Like I said, when that girl fell to her death, I was onstage in front of the audience. Dozens—hundreds—of people can vouch for . Why would I need to stay?"
Exactly. Hearing her repeat it convinced .
She's the culprit. If she rely claid innocence while others wept, I couldn't be sure. But she keeps saying it: "The mont she fell, I was onstage."
The fall might not have happened during the performance. After the play was halted by the fire, the body could have been dropped amid the flas.
Reira-san vanished even before the curtain rose; there's no scene after the black backdrop lifts. Quietly, unnoticed, her corpse could have been placed onstage before the play began.
Only I, Professor Shishido, and the culprit know the true mont she fell.
Without considering that possibility, Misora flatly declared, "She died while I was performing." If she really didn't know, she should have waited for the police to announce the estimated ti of death before offering her alibi.
I spoke to her, radiant in her sparkling costu.
"You really didn't do it, did you?"
"Of course not. No matter how you look at it, I had no ti to push her. Are you saying I controlled her with a song?"
"N-no, that's impossible. You're right..."
"Glad that's settled."
I had one more thing to check.
Whether she was covering for soone. With her arrogant personality, it was conceivable she'd shield another to stand out, but her words made that unlikely.
If she were shielding soone, she'd need to know the culprit. During the fire she escaped with the other actors, so chances are slim she saw the culprit or any dropped evidence.
Which would an she saw the culprit's written plan, yet she denied that too.
The reason is a mismatch between her statent and the facts. Misora testified Reira fell during the performance, yet Reira fell after the fire started and everyone fled.
Had she truly seen the plan, she wouldn't misstate the ti.
For now, that's all I can deduce. I resolved to find out why she misstated the alibi ti.
"Um, one more thing. When you ran during the fire, were you with anyone?"
"Of course. No need to ask around—anyone would notice soone fleeing in this glittering outfit."
"Right..."
"See? Even while escaping, people saw ."
A circle mber, eyes red from crying, confird, "That's right, we escaped together," giving Misora an airtight alibi. After that, no one looked at her with murderous intent—nothing could stop it now.
Well, that's not what I should dwell on now. Let organize what this exchange revealed.
For a mont I thought she'd deliberately misstate the ti to shift everyone's perception of the murder. Yet that's wrong: no matter the exact ti, Misora has an alibi.
While the President kept Misora back, saying, "We'll still need interviews about possible motives," I made my move.
I needed a detective I could trust.
I approached a patrol car; the driver's door opened and soone stepped out.
"Detective Akaba!"
When I called, she paused mid-step.
She tilted her glasses, as if suspecting I were a mirage.
"Once again, you're at a cri scene..."
"We can talk later. Right now catching the culprit cos first."
"Okay. My, you look ready for battle."
My heart lurched. Had I been breathing hard? Unconsciously?
I prided myself on not showing emotion, yet she could apparently read thoughts from faces. Honestly, it's a bit reassuring—
—except when she'd rather leave the case to or Detective Chikage.
"W-well, we still have no evidence. This ti the suspect even has an alibi..."
"Oho, an alibi trick! I love those!"
"You like alibi tricks?"
"Y-yeah!"
Detective Akaba lit up. She answered "Coming!" each ti an officer called her na, then skipped toward the officer who'd hailed her.
anwhile the firefighters finished up; the police were about to seal the scene.
Seizing the gap, Misora dashed from the rear. Where was she going? Toward the front entrance—she seed to be sneaking back to the scene via an unsealed route. My head throbbed at the thought.
She must be trying to destroy evidence. Carefully observing, I resolved to follow and shatter her alibi with whatever proof I found.
At the sa mont, two others shadowing Misora startled : Senior Kiriyama and Professor Shishido. In conspicuous outfits, they headed for the scene—why?
"Hey, both of you! The scene must stay intact. You can't go in! Interfering with the police investigation—didn't you hear...?!"
Yet I—no, the President behind —entered the scene as well. I had no right to stop them.
*Sigh...* Truly.
"President, please keep a proper eye on Misora."
"Huh? Why ?"
"...Huh? Do I really have to explain?"
I pressed my aching head harder with my hand.
Reviews
All reviews (0)