Chapter 19 2. Saotome's report

As soon as the masked police car arrived at the front yard of Fengqiu High School, Xiantang got out of the car and rushed towards the entrance for the teaching staff.Shirato in the driver's seat was half a beat behind, and followed closely behind. The eyewitness was named Saotome Tairen.First grade Class A.Xiantang remembered him. As Rieko Sagumiya mentioned, it was the lover she had recently started dating. I interviewed him during the investigation yesterday, but he replied that he didn't know anything... This morning he seemed to remember it again.Immediately after the morning shift meeting, he rushed to the office and demanded to contact the police.

Saw Akizuki Miho coming out of the old gymnasium.This is his eyewitness testimony simply provided over the phone. As far as past investigations tell, Akizuki Miho and Asajima have no disagreements.It is also true that she has a cold and rests at home.However, if she left the scene of the murder, and she did not inform her of the incident yesterday, she would have to attract the attention of the police.This is the evidence that requires the most attention since the investigation into this incident began. Nao Sagawa and Rieko Sagawa disappeared from the police investigation list and were replaced by the dark horse Miho Akizuki.

Xiantang was taken to the career guidance room by the staff, where he investigated Sagawa Nao two days ago, so it was full of unpleasant memories for him.A bad premonition flashed through his heart. When I opened the door, there were already four people in the room. The one sitting opposite the police department was of course Saotome Yasuto, and for some reason Rieko Sarumiya was also there.The one sitting with his back to the police station was—— "Hakamata?" "Ah, Xiantang, you have worked hard." "You came so fast. I thought it would be late if I came from home."

"No, actually I came to school in the morning..." "Morning? Why?" When the police department looked at who was sitting next to the subordinate, they immediately understood the reason. "……why is it you again." "Good morning, Mr. Interpol." Riran Tenma, who leaned deeply on the sofa and hugged her feet, greeted casually. "Let me guess what you're going to say. 'Get out', right?" "If you know, follow orders!" "That can't be done. It's only one step away from a solution." "...Solve it? Solve the incident?"

"Of course. As long as you listen to his confession, you will be close to the truth immediately." "Joke." "Surprised me. I'm not a bad guy eating pickled cabbage and saying, 'Dangerous, dangerous'." "what?" "Ah, Xiantang, according to what you said," Hakamada cautiously chimed in, "There is no loss in letting him go. He seems to have found some important clues. Wasn't his judgment correct yesterday? He said that Needle Palace is not a prisoner, which is actually the case." "but……" "I don't think it matters either." Shirato behind him also agreed.

The two companions defended him face to face, but Xiantang could only succumb.Arguing any further is just a waste of time.Xiantang nodded reluctantly. "You can do whatever you want. It's just the same as yesterday, don't interrupt me." "As ordered. Sit down, please." Liran deliberately gave up his seat with a polite gesture.After Xiantang sat down, he turned his attention to the investigation while fighting the anxiety of wanting to smoke. "... Saotome Tai, I haven't seen you for a day." Xiantang looked at the young man in front of him, and he answered "yes" softly.

His face was still childish, his head was bowed, and his face was blushing.The school uniform is neatly dressed, no matter how you look at it, he is a pure boy, which is the so-called herbivorous department.Xiantang also felt this way yesterday, it was hard to believe that he would be Rieko Sarumiya's lover.However, the two seem to be very affectionate, and now they sit shoulder to shoulder and encourage each other.Sure enough, there must be a very sound personality in the heart of this bad girl who has become a good girl. "Do you have something to tell us?" "yes."

"You didn't remember what you said yesterday...you suddenly remembered it today?" "No, I remembered it yesterday, but it's hard to say... I discussed it with Needle Palace this morning, and she said it's better to say it..." That's why she was there.However, it is generally the man who motivates the woman.In terms of personality balance, they might be a good couple. "I won't mention these. So, what did you see? Let's talk about it in order from the beginning." "it is good……" The witnesses thought carefully and began to confess.

"The day before yesterday I wanted to invite Needle Palace to go back together, and we agreed to meet at the old gymnasium. But my classmate also invited me to go home together. That person's home is very close to the school, so I wanted to accompany him to leave school first, say goodbye and then come back to school .” He lied yesterday, claiming that he was invited by a friend, so he gave up the agreement with the needle palace and went home directly. "Are you going to keep your relationship with Needle Palace a secret?" "If you reveal the truth, the parents will be very wordy..."

Saotome's face turned redder and redder.Although Xiantang wanted to laugh, but now is not the time to talk about love stories. "and then?" "Then I said goodbye to that person and went back to school again. But there were still a lot of people at the main entrance, so I took the back door. From the back door, the old gymnasium was just around the corner. I walked along the fence at the back of the school...and saw There were girls coming out of the old gym." "Which door is it from?" "Let's think about it, it's in the background, on the other side connected to the teaching building...how should I put it?"

"It's the entrance and exit on the right side of the stage, the side without the toilet." "Ah, yes, this is it." "Do you know who that girl is?" "Well... I know." Saotome squeezed the hand of her lover next to her tightly, and squeezed out a word. "Second year, Qiuyue from the Broadcasting Department." "You read that right?" "Well. I'm from the performance department. When there was a concert before, I asked Qiuyue to help with the backstage work. So I know her." "I see. Then..." "Do you remember the exact time?" The police department originally planned to ask Akizuki Miho's expression at that time, but Liran asked first. "Hey, don't ask questions without permission..." "Sooner or later, right? How about it, Saotome, what time is it?" "Let me think about it... Sorry, I can't remember the exact time... It's about 3:15." "Did you see anyone else? Like the drama department going into the old gymnasium or something." "Ah, I saw that." Suddenly reminded, Saotome nodded vigorously. "After I saw Qiuyue come out, I walked a few steps, and then saw through the fence. They were pulling a two-wheeled cart. I thought it was not easy for them on a rainy day." "They got to the gym at fifteen minutes, that is, before that. Thank you." "You're welcome……" "Hmm. Let me think about it." Saotome's attention was attracted to Saotome's attention by Saotome's Risen, who was not a case investigator just now. Xiantang coughed exaggeratedly, and Saotome looked this way. "What was Qiuyue's expression at that time? Is there anything strange about it?" "The whole body is suspicious." "Oh?" "The strangest thing is that she didn't have an umbrella. No, it's not that she didn't open an umbrella, but that she didn't bring an umbrella. Her hands are empty and her behavior is very suspicious." "Why is it suspicious?" "I think about it, she came out of the gym suddenly... Then she turned back and knocked on the door, knock, knock twice. Then she leaned on the door to adjust her breathing." Xiantang and Hakamada looked at each other.The sound of dong matches the testimony of Sagawa Nao and others, but they misheard it as the sound of a taiko drum.It's not actually a taiko drum, but the sound of knocking on an iron door. "It took five seconds for her to catch her breath, then she suddenly started running, came out the back door, and ran in the opposite direction from me. Eventually she was out of sight." "You're still running without an umbrella?" "Yes, the whole body is soaked." "Odd indeed. Did you notice anything else?" "Looks like she's wearing house slippers...without a ribbon. Ribbon from a school uniform." While Saotome was speaking, she pointed to her chest as a signal. "Ribbons. I see." This solved another mystery.The ribbon that landed on the right backstage most likely belonged to Miho Akizuki. "Is the above all you saw?" "yes." "What did you do then?" "I went in through the back door and walked towards the old gymnasium... Then I found that the needle palace was gone. The man in the badminton club ran towards the teaching building with an exaggerated expression. Coupled with Qiuyue's strange appearance just now, I felt that something seemed to have happened..." "You just went home like this?" "Well... sorry, I was too scared at the time." "No, it's okay. You gave a lot of testimony." To sort it out, when Saotome came to the old gymnasium, Masukura just happened to recruit Suimiya and Masaki into the gymnasium, and sent two people from the badminton club to contact. Masumura originally planned to gather all the students who felt the incident happened, but he was the only one who slipped through the net.However, Saotome did not look into the gymnasium, and it was normal that she was not found. "Thank you for providing good information." After Xiantang thanked her, Saotome lowered her head, "That... Qiuyue is really suspicious, right?" "um, yes……" Leaving the murder scene, knocking on the door, adjusted his breathing and ran away.Drenched all over in the heavy rain.And yesterday, he refused the interview of the criminal police. If this is not suspicious, what is suspicious. "It's not sure that she is the prisoner, but it is indeed suspicious." Xiantang gave a rather conservative judgment. "This, that's it... But I don't think Qiuyue has anything to do with this incident." "Oh? Why?" "Qiuyue is a nice person, and she has a good relationship with the head of the Broadcasting Department... how could she kill someone..." Halfway through the conversation, Saotome fell silent. From this we can understand why he did not tell these eyewitness testimony yesterday. He believed in Akizuki Miho.So don't want her to be suspected. No matter how suspicious behavior he saw, he couldn't match the image of a 'good guy' established in his heart by his predecessors.Hakamada's younger sister is too, so these high school students are too innocent... "Whether it is suspicious or not is for the police to judge." The cold lines that Xiantang didn't want to say came from Liran, who was also a high school student. Looking back, Li Ran was leaning against the wall as if nothing had happened, playing with her mobile phone. "Saotome, if you really believe in Akizuki, you should have confessed these things earlier. In this case, maybe you found out the truth yesterday." "……Sorry." "It's okay. Then you go back. It's time for class. High school students must go to class on time." Li Ran didn't take her skipping class seriously, and opened the door of the career guidance room while talking.Xiantang really wanted to yell "Don't tell the witnesses to go back without authorization", but he asked all the necessary questions, so he suppressed his anger. The couple nervously left the room.Saotome bowed her head politely "I'm resigning", but Rieko Suimiya just shook her head rudely. After closing the door, Liran closed the flip phone forcefully. "Xiantang, you should call Sagawa Nao here immediately and show her the picture of Akizuki. Probably the girl she saw was Akizuki." "I know this." Hearing that Akizuki Miho was empty-handed, Xiantang realized it.The girl that Sagawa Nao saw entering the backstage didn't take anything either. "Run away empty-handed, which means that Qiuyue's luggage is still in school. Please go to her class to investigate." "I've said it all, I know what to do. Bai Hu, can I ask you?" "Yes, yes," the senior search minister left the room. "Hakamada, call for backup to gather information. If you go out the back door without an umbrella, someone should have witnessed it. It doesn't matter if you're in class." Xiantang wondered how Liran could take the lead again, and gave instructions quickly.Hakamada was also full of energy and hurried to contact the police station. "Ah, let's talk." Xiantang suddenly remembered. "You said you made a major discovery? What exactly is it?" Xiantang's eyes shifted from the subordinates next to him to Liran——suddenly froze. In exactly the same situation as yesterday, he had disappeared from the room. The investigation went smoothly until noon. As soon as Nao Sagawa saw the picture of Akizuki Miho, she recognized the girl she saw. "Well, she is Qiuyue... No wonder I feel like I've seen her before." Shirato searched Miho's second-year Class C, and immediately found her luggage.The nylon schoolbag in the closet seemed to be waiting for its owner lonely there.There is an umbrella with her initials on the umbrella stand in front of the classroom. It is an umbrella with a waterdrop pattern. And eyewitness testimony.The police went to each classroom in order to interrupt the class, asking if anyone saw the girl running without an umbrella, and several witnesses raised their hands.One of them concluded that what they saw was Miho Akizuki. In this way, Saotome Taito's revelation has been fully verified. Akizuki Miho of the broadcasting department entered the old gymnasium from the corridor at 3:8 that day, passed through Nao Sagawa's field of vision, and entered the backstage.Then about six minutes later, he left through the door on the right stage, and after acting suspiciously, ran away in the rain without an umbrella. It's like running away. Almost at the same time, Asashima was killed in the background. solved.This time it really worked out.Xiantang is convinced. Although the mystery of the secret room has not yet been solved, it should have something to do with her suspicious behavior. Looking back now, Satomi also said two days ago that the girl Sagawa Nao saw was suspicious. That guy's reasoning hit again... Although this made Xiantang very regretful, it did not surpass the joy of catching the prisoner. Masked police cars drive through the drizzle. Akizuki Miho's house is on the first floor of the sublet apartment.The floor of the guest parking lot is paved with fairy-tale-style tiles. After parking the car, Sendo and Hakamata walked towards the house. After ringing the doorbell and reporting her name, Qiuyue's mother opened the door immediately. She would never have dreamed that her daughter would be a suspect. "Can we meet Miho? We have something to ask." "Ah, but..." "I know she's unwell, but I'll see you anyway. I'm sorry." "Just a moment, please. That..." Xiantang didn't care about his mother who couldn't speak, and walked in.When he visited yesterday, he had accidentally discovered where Miho's room was.The first door on the right after entering. It wasn't locked, and the door opened easily. You guessed it.This is Miho's room.On the bed is a girly doll, and next to it is a three-piece set of medicine, water, and a thermometer. But, "...Huh?" Miho is not there. "Where did your daughter go...? The toilet?" "No, she's out." "what?" "About 30 minutes ago, she received a call from a friend and went out in a panic. It was raining outside, and her cold was not recovering, so I tried to stop her..." "..." Xiantang didn't understand for a moment. out?Obviously still have a cold?Malingering?No, but why at this point in time? "...You said your daughter went out, where did she go?" "I don't know. She didn't say anything. She's not like that usually." The mother was also a little confused, but the criminal police were even more confused.The two were silent, just staring blankly at the empty bed with the quilt lifted. Obviously before noon, the investigation has been going smoothly. At the same time, a bell rang inside Wind Hill High School announcing the start of lunch break. The students put together the tables and started to eat bento.The common topic is about the criminal police who arrived a few hours ago, and the criminal police's questions. "There is no girl who runs with an umbrella." Sanae put the cabbage roll into her mouth and said at the same time. "That person must be related to the incident?" "Well, probably." Yuzu took a sip of tea. The person the police are looking for is probably Akizuki Miho, but they cannot tell.Yuzuno also did not hear the witness testimony of Saotome Taito. "Who do you think is more suspicious?" "Huh? Yeah, I don't know..." If it was yesterday, she would be able to answer the three loves with confidence. "I think it should be the one named Needle Palace. I always feel that she has done bad things." "Really? I really think she's a nice person." "why?" "That..." She has turned her prodigal son back, she will no longer threaten her, and she has a first-year lover.None of this can be said. Being forced to discuss such a topic makes Yukino restless, because she has appeared at the scene of a murder and can always feel the curious eyes of people around her pricking her skin.Although sorry for Sanae, Yuzuno still escaped from the battlefield. "I'm going to the health room." "Oh? What's the matter? Are you feeling unwell?" "Well, kind of." "Are you okay? That's why you were late this morning? Do you want me to go with you?" "Ah, no, I can do it by myself. Thank you." After leaving the classroom quickly, walk towards the club building of the cultural club.You Nao wanted to ask Liran as soon as possible, what new testimony did Miho Akizuki have. Moreover, his insanity this morning also made people care.He said he solved the mystery of the Chamber of Secrets, is that true?He yelled "umbrella" several times in a row. What does it have to do with umbrellas? Running in the light rain, towards the Hundred People One Song research meeting which was only an empty shell. Knocking on the door as usual, Kaori opened it. "ya~ho~" "Hello, Kaori. Have you been here all this time?" "No, I went out for a while." "Going out? Not going to class?" "Project A with mission impossible. Come in." What important task does she have?Yukino walked in, a familiar scene, an extremely interesting room. ——In the room, there was something that had never been seen before. A girl with a towel on her shoulders.The layered bouffant bob suits her petite frame well. The girl's profile was facing Yuzuno, drinking steaming cocoa.Then she noticed Yukino and looked over.The eyes are large, and the cute, honest face is like a doll.There was a blush on her cheeks, and she seemed a little hot.The clothes under the towel are not school uniforms, but private clothes. It's too big for a figure, but it's three-dimensional for a poster.She is indeed a beautiful girl in reality. "Um, this person is...?" "Let me introduce you." Li Ran, who was yawning on the fixed position bed, said triumphantly. "She's Miho Akizuki, a second-year student in the Broadcasting Department." Hello, she greeted in a very polite voice.

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