The next day, everything felt normal to me—but not to everyone else. I was walking through the main gate of the school looking forward. It felt like the school itself was holding its breath.
I was walking in the hallway to reach the locker room but in the hallway, students were whispering.
"Hey, that's him right?"
"Do you think he is a murderer?"
"I don't know man but… he is kind of jealous of Kenta because of his stupid things."
"Who knows?"
They didn't say it out loud.
They didn't have to.
Looks like the rumors have already started. I don't understand why people believe in rumors and not the real truth. This is kind of frustrating to me. Anyway, I went to my locker.
Open it.
Then I found a piece of paper while my hand was shaking. It's said—
"Murderer!"
I crumpled it and tossed it without a word.
I didn't want to care.
But I did.
After that I went to my class and sat at my desk like I usually do.
People glanced at me, then looked down.
Some avoided eye contact completely.
And then…
"Shion!"
I turned.
It was Miyu.
She rushed over and hugged me—tight. Right there in front of everyone.
"Are you okay? Did they say anything else?"
I shook my head, still surprised by how close she pulled me.
"No… they just asked questions. That's all."
She pulled back just enough to look me in the eyes.
"Good. Because I know you didn't do it."
Her voice was steady. Not loud, but firm.
For a moment… everything felt still. Even the rest of the class.
She sat down beside me—dragged her chair from across the room without asking anyone.
In the break—
I was on the school rooftop when I heard footsteps. It was Miyu.
"Hey Shion…"
I didn't answer her.
She came close to me. Making eye contact and I am avoiding it.
"What's wrong Shion? I know you are not the murderer… you are innocent."
"I know…"
"They're talking about you everywhere," She says quietly. "Even online…."
I didn't answer.
"I don't care what they say… I trust you."
After that I finally replied to her. "It doesn't matter to me either… I know I was near the dead body but I didn't know it was there, where I was."
"It's okay… don't worry, everything will be okay."
I smiled.
"So, do you want to hang out with me today… we couldn't do that yesterday?"
"Sure, why not."
— ✦ —
"Detective Reina! Have you found any clues?"
"No sir… not a solid one. But there's something worth noting."
Chief Inspector Shinji Mori folded his arms. "Go on."
"The victim, Kenta Arai, had no shortage of enemies. Every student I interviewed had something bad to say about him. He was hated… and not just by Shion."
"That's something new."
"Yes and guess what, everyone has a valid point to murder him because you can look at his file," I show my sir his files. "See this, he did horrible things to students. But there is no complaint from Shion… also Shion says that he knows Kenta's name but he has nothing to do with him… he was telling the truth."
"Okay… announce that Shion is not guilty and let work on further investigation."
"Yes sir!"
— ✦ —
After the break, I went to my classroom and sat on my desk. Our computer teacher Ms. Kaede Ishiguro came in and—
"Students, we have an announcement to make… Shion, please stand up!"
I stand up thinking i am being accused for nothing but then—
"You are safe Shion. Investigation shows that he is not guilty. I am glad that you are safe. Students like you won't do such things like that. Sit down Shion."
Everyone was shocked but—
I was glad to know that I am innocent.
That was a… relief.
They said I was innocent.
But somehow… it didn't feel like it.
Maybe they just don't know who else to suspect.
They better find out soon—
before someone else dies.