CLUE 2: The Disappearance of Kyotaka Ayanokoji

POV : ???

Lively chatter and constant discussions continued as everyone chatted while waiting for the teacher's arrival. I, on the other hand, sat quietly in my seat, waiting in silence, my gaze turned to the left, where he should have been.

"Seriously, he's not here yet? That's really unusual... Well, he must have his reasons, maybe he's sick or something. No need to worry about him."

A sigh escaped me as I wondered what this guy could be up to this time. He's always scheming behind the scenes, pretending not to want any trouble, and I can't quite figure him out... But well, he's helped me many times, so I can't hold it against him.

As I continued my thoughts, someone came to interrupt me, pulling me out of the book I was engrossed in. It was one of the three stooges, with his red hair and a delinquent air, Sudō Ken. I had to divert my attention from my reading to look at him.

Sudō: Hey, Horikita, did you catch the rumor or something? We're talking about Ayanokoji... He's been missing from class for a whole damn week now. You, who hangs out with him, don't you have any gossip on where he's been, huh? This guy, he's a real damn mystery, you know? And when we knock on his door, there's never anyone bothering to answer, seriously.

After digesting what Sudo had just said, I started paying more attention to his words. My eyes widened, and I now looked at him with perplexity and suspicion.

"What? What do you mean, a week? He's only been absent today... that makes no sense? Wait, you're not seriously telling me that this idiot has lost all sense of time?"

Suzune: What? Seriously? If this is a joke, it's totally out of line, idiot. Or are you completely out of touch with reality? Your timing is way off, isn't it? Anyone can get sick, you know; it doesn't mean he'll never come to class, maybe just a little later today, and he'll probably be in the upcoming classes anyway.

I said it rather irritably, thinking it must be a prank... No, seriously, it's just a bad joke to mess with me. Honestly, what is he telling me? I thought that at least among the three idiots, he was the most rational, but it seems I was wrong.

And to top it off, the second idiot of the bunch, whom I'll call Ike Kanji, showed up at his side, looking nonchalant with his side-swept bangs. Seriously, as if one idiot weren't enough, and the class is about to start.

Ike: Hey, man, did you smoke something or what, Horikita? You've lost track of time, seriously! Only one day? Haha, I didn't know you had a hidden sense of humor, Horikita, but, you see, a joke is usually made with a little less s-

Before he could even finish his sentence, my frustration mounted, and I shot him a severe look, which immediately silenced him. I even saw him start to sweat slightly.

Suzune: Forgive me, I interrupted you. I didn't quite catch your point. Did you say something senseless to me?

Ike: Me? Nah, nah, I swear I didn't say anything important, Horikita! Cross my heart! Ahahahaha!

After that, I frowned and turned my gaze away from these two idiots who were getting on my nerves more and more. Seriously, what are they talking about? The worst part is that it really seems like they're not lying. Has their brains finally started to disintegrate?

Suzune: Honestly, stop spouting such nonsense. There's no need to worry so much about Ayanokoji; he's barely been absent for a morning! I'd ask you not to exaggerate more than necessary.

After saying that, I could see Sudo scratching his head in a perplexed manner as he looked at Ike, who also had a confused expression and shrugged... And finally, what I dreaded came to pass. The third idiot, Yamauchi Haruki, came to pester me, completing the set. It seems the whole gang is here, bringing even more absurd trouble. Seriously, can't they leave me alone for a moment?

Yamauchi: Well, what's going on here? It looks like our dear Suzune has some troubles, hehe! Don't worry, if you need it, you know where to find me for a little comfort, like, you know, I'm used to with the g-

This time, this disturbance was really starting to get on my nerves. I pulled out my compass and shot a dark look at the third idiot, who immediately stopped and even seemed to tremble slightly.

"Seriously, these three idiots are just wasting my time."

Suzune: If you came here to try to provoke me, I'll grant you that you succeeded! But now, I kindly ask you to stop this disturbance and return to your seats for your little discussion, you idiots. This tasteless joke is only disrupting my reading. Besides, Chabashira-sensei should be entering soon, so go back to your places.

I said it in the most sarcastic tone possible, but these idiots are really just disturbing me. At this rate, I'm going to end up showing them the same pain I inflicted on Ayanokoji with this compass if they keep bothering me further.

No need to worry further about the other idiot. It's only the morning, and he might even arrive just before the class starts. A week, really? Seriously.

As I immersed myself in my reading again, I could still see, out of the corner of my eye, the three idiots looking at each other in confusion. Even Sudo seemed a bit baffled and continued to scratch his head. He appeared ready to keep bothering me when another person showed up to add to the confusion.

In the end, it turned out that we had made more noise than intended, and it was all thanks to these three idiots... So the blond-haired, brown-eyed boy, Yōsuke Hirata, came over to check on what was going on. This guy really liked to defuse conflicts, didn't he? Well, that was just as well; at least these three idiots would stop bothering me even more

Hirata: Hey there, hey there! Let's keep our calm, alright? Friends, you do see that Horikita doesn't want to be disturbed, so let's not push her... And Horikita, try expressing yourself with a bit more grace and courtesy. You could have politely asked them to leave you alone. There's no need to be so aggressive, okay?

When he appeared and started speaking, I turned my gaze to him, perhaps with a slightly hostile expression, before eventually breaking eye contact with an "hmph." Seriously, I didn't start saying nonsense in the first place.

Suzune: I'm in no way responsible for this! It's not me having a mental breakdown and spouting nonsense! Honestly, if it's meant to be a joke, it's in very poor taste... And besides, you've just been spewing pointless nonsense... And Yamauchi, let me make it clear to you, never EVER address me by my first name again, is that understood?

After shooting another hostile look at Yamauchi, he simply started trembling and sweating again, nodding his head. Then, after that, Sudo finally responded to me more seriously.

Sudo: Hey, calm down, we're not blaming you! We just came to ask you what you think about Ayanokoji... And I swear it's not a joke, we're really confused about this. How can you say it's only been a day? I might not be the smartest guy around, but I'm not dumb enough to confuse a morning with a week, you know what I mean... He scratched his head while saying that, looking serious. Yeah, it really starts to smell fishy.

Ike: Pfff, yeah, it makes no sense at all! It's three against one, and I'm sure Hirata's in on this too, right? So the only one getting lost in all this is you, Horikita! Why won't you drop it and admit you messed up for once?

Yamauchi: Yeah, we're not at fault anyway! We just wanted to ask a question, and you attacked us straight away... We didn't do anything wrong, you see.

"Okay, now I'm really getting angry and confused."

What are they talking about now? Is this a tactic to annoy me even more, or have they simply gone completely crazy? Seriously, I'm getting less and less understanding of this. Knowing that I wouldn't be able to continue reading in peace for the time being, I snapped the book shut and placed it back on my table, while sitting there, glaring at them, annoyed.

Suzune: Alright, then! You claim that Ayanokoji has been absent for a week, don't you? But do you have any proof? Concrete evidence to support your claims? I assure you it's YOU who are mistaken here. I'm confident that if you question the rest of the class, they will share my view, just like Hirata, I'm sure of it! So stop bothering me in this unnecessary way, it makes absolutely no sense. I've already told you, it's a tasteless joke to assume someone's disappearance!

As they all looked at me with even more perplexity and confusion on their faces, I saw them exchange strange glances with each other. That was quite bizarre. Wait, do they really believe it so firmly? Do they have an actual psychological issue? Seriously, I'm understanding this less and less. After all, Hirata ended this situation once more by raising his arms in front of us, flashing a slightly embarrassed smile before speaking again.

Hirata: Hey, hey! Seriously, stop it, let's stay calm! There's no need to argue over trivial matters like this. And you three, Horikita is right... It's not very nice to make this kind of joke; it could bring bad luck... Ayanokoji might just be a little sick, or he might have something to do... Or he may come when the class starts. And Horikita, honestly, you could express that in a more diplomatic manner. Ahahaha!! Come on, really, there's no need to prolong this dispute, okay?

Hirata really knows how to defuse conflicts. Well, there you go; he summarized the same thing I said. I hope at least those three idiots realize that. I let out a heavy sigh after Hirata's comment, while noticing the three idiots were even more confused and perplexed.

Ike: Eeeh? Seriously, Hirata? Are you in on this with Horikita? But what's this mess? Or... I'm starting to get it... Hihihih!! Maybe we're in an anime, and there's some heavy stuff going on, you see... We have to solve this mystery! So the harem, maybe it's becoming a reality. Ahahaha!! Finally, our efforts are going to be rewarded!

Yamauchi: Oh yeah, now that you mention it, it makes sense... So, are we getting our own harem, just for us? Aaah! Finally, our hard work will pay off!

I could see these idiots starting to fantasize, almost drooling in their delirium... Seriously, they're getting more disgusting and idiotic with each passing second; they just disgust me... Several girls seemed to be intrigued by what was going on, looking at them as if they were nothing more than garbage. And honestly, I understand them, because that's precisely what they are. There was one girl in particular, in the front row all the way to the right, near the door, a girl with blonde hair in a ponytail, Kei Karuizawa. I could see her looking at me strangely. When our eyes met, she simply averted her gaze and went back to her conversation with her friends.

"Seriously, what was that?"

Sudo: Hey, you two, ease up on your nonsense a bit! What I know is that it's really fishy... I didn't dream it; I remember clearly it's been a week, and there are other guys who think the same. So, this doesn't add up at all! Seriously, what's going on? I don't get it anymore! We don't know if we're going nuts or if it's you guys who are.

It was getting stranger and more suspicious by the moment... Other people? What's happening, for heaven's sake? Is this some kind of weird special test? No, that would be way too bizarre, and besides, is there even a way to do that?

I could see that Hirata seemed a little disoriented now; I could almost see smoke coming out of his ears as he thought... Then, someone finally came to break this general torpor, someone in a very cheerful mood with a jovial attitude. She had blonde hair and an angelic face and was very popular with both boys and girls for her allegedly "sweet" demeanor, even though she was, in fact, the embodiment of a demon. I name her: Kikyo Kushida.

Kushida: Hehehehe!! Hi everyone, are you in the middle of a discussion here? Can I join you? I heard about Ayanokoji, and I have to say, friends, it's three against three right now! I bet it's been barely a day, too. She takes a little pause, adopting a more compassionate tone. Hey, guys, it's really not cool to speculate about someone's disappearance like this, you know? And these kinds of jokes aren't really nice either! She then returns to her usual cheerful demeanor. Well, there you go, problem solved, right? No one wins, no one loses, hehehehe! And Horikita, Hirata is right, maybe you could try to be a little less hostile toward others, you know.

What's she doing here now? She appeared out of nowhere and immediately put an end to the "debate," not allowing anyone to respond or argue with what she was saying. I sighed once more, deeply.

"I should at least be thankful that she ended this. It was really ridiculous and a waste of time."

Suzune: Thanks, Kushida! However, when I need advice from you, I'll contact you. In any case, I have no involvement in this matter. So the debate is over now.

I turned in my chair and sat up straight, legs and arms crossed. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Kushida with a little embarrassed smile and a small sweatdrop on her face, while Hirata seemed to want to intervene once more... The three idiots appeared just as confused and perplexed, probably wondering what was going on.

"Seriously, they're doubling down on this? They really believe it, don't they?"

But before anyone else could speak, the teacher's desk slammed with books, and the entire class fell silent, turning toward the source of the noise. We all noticed the same thing: a middle-aged woman, with brown ponytail hair and a stern, serious expression on her face. It was indeed Sae Chabashira-sensei.

Chabashira-sensei: Well, dear students, it's time to return to your seats. I have some urgent information to convey to you.

After Chabashira-sensei spoke authoritatively, no one asked any questions, and everyone returned to their seats in silence, without further discussion. Everyone was also watching her nervously, clearly sensing the tension Chabashira was creating with her serious and grave expression, her two hands resting on her desk.

"What does she want to tell us now? Another special exam?"

Chabashira-sensei: Well, everyone... Before we start the lesson, there's an urgent matter I'd like to address. I assume you've already heard the rumors about Ayanokoji being absent for a week, haven't you? Well, the reality is, he has simply vanished. We are actively searching for him, but it seems he has completely vacated his room, and he is unreachable, as if he has simply disappeared from the face of the Earth. That's why I'm seeking your help, as a class concerned for your classmate, to assist in these searches. If you have heard any rumors, no matter how insignificant, I urge you to inform me or contact the student council. Thank you for your understanding, as it is crucial to grasp that this disappearance could have serious consequences for the future of the class.

Chabashira-sensei's words brought a strange mix of surprise, perplexity, and confusion to my mind. My eyes simply widened in response to this revelation.

"What? It's the same story as those three idiots... How can this... for a week?"

It was inconceivable. Just the previous day, I distinctly remembered seeing him, and it couldn't possibly be a full week already. The facts seemed to crumble beneath my feet, leaving me completely disoriented. And this story of Ayanokoji's disappearance? Nothing made any sense anymore. I no longer understood the situation at all.

The entire class was buzzing about Ayanokoji's disappearance for a week. However, there were four of us who seemed to react differently, as if this news was not foreign to us but rather abnormal and nonsensical. Our eyes met - me, Kushida, Hirata, and Karuizawa. We were like a distinct unit, separate from the class.

What was going on? Nothing seemed logical. Hirata finally raised his hand, his usually serious expression even more intense than usual. Everyone fell silent to listen, curious about what he would say.

Chabashira-sensei: Hirata, do you have anything to add to this matter before the start of the class? She crossed her arms and fixed her gaze on him.

Hirata: Hirata then stood and began to speak. Uh, but... Are you sure Ayanokoji has really disappeared? I mean, isn't this a bit too sudden? Maybe he's just, uh, sick, right? He did his best to maintain his usual smile and appear calm, while avoiding directly stating what the four of us were thinking.

Chabashira-sensei: In response to this question, Chabashira-sensei sighed and simply shook her head. I can assure you that we have already searched the building, and he was nowhere to be found... Furthermore, we obviously have access to his room at any time, and if he were sick, I doubt he would just be wandering around the school. And it is impossible to leave the campus without permission, so no, what you're suggesting is not possible.

Still more shocked, Hirata sat back in silence, as all his classmates looked at him with an evident sense of pity in their eyes.

It was starting to irritate me because I couldn't make sense of what was happening. How could this even be possible? Seriously... The more I thought about it, the more it all became confusing and nonsensical.

Finally, Karuizawa impulsively stood up, slamming her hands on the desk, causing the entire class to startle before turning their attention to her. Chabashira-sensei looked at her in the same way she had with Hirata.

Chabashira-sensei: Do you also have something to add, Karuizawa? Please, any input on this matter is welcome. Believe me, it concerns me just as much as it concerns you.

Karuizawa: Okay, are we all playing dumb here? Seriously, what are you talking about? A full week? He's just not here this morning, and I'm not the only one who saw it, right, Hirata? So why is everyone acting as if he's been missing for an entire week? Even you, Chabashira-sensei, can't help but act as if he disappeared from the face of the Earth for a whole week!

Chabashira-sensei: I do not understand what you're talking about, Miss Karuizawa. And I would like you to calm down. We are still in the classroom at the beginning of the lesson. I understand it might be distressing, and you may have lost your composure, but I would ask you to refrain from this kind of behavior in the future, especially if it's an attempt to draw attention to yourself.

Karuizawa: Draw attention to myself? Seriously? This makes absolutely no sense! You're not telling me I'm the only one thinking this, are you? It can't possibly be a full week already, right? And I'm sure I'm not the only one thinking that! Right, Hirata, Kushida, Horikita?

Chabashira-sensei: I repeat, please calm down. If you have any important comments to make, please voice them. Otherwise, I would ask you to return to your seat! She then took a brief pause. Hirata, Kushida, and Horikita, can you confirm what Karuizawa is saying? If so, I would like you to speak up. This is a serious matter, and this kind of jest is in very poor taste.

The situation seemed to be spinning out of control, and it was at the mention of my name that I finally managed to snap out of my confused stupor. I saw Karuizawa, visibly upset and sulking, retake her seat, crossing her legs, and she shouted something to the whole class. Chabashira-sensei, though only subtly, seemed slightly puzzled when she called Hirata, Kushida, and me to testify about what Karuizawa was saying.

Karuizawa: Yeah, don't leave me hanging! I know you think the same, I saw you talking to those three idiots about it earlier!

Afterward, in an unexpected turn of events, I saw Hirata and Kushida rise simultaneously, wearing even more perplexed expressions. Hirata took the initiative to respond first, wearing a very serious look while Kushida, who maintained her "angelic" face, seemed very confused and embarrassed by the situation, indicating she understood no more than we did.

Hirata: Y-Yeah, what Karuizawa is saying is true! For me, it's the same... We're talking about just one day, not a week, and... We have trouble understanding. I mean, his disappearance is so sudden, I mean that...

Chabashira-sensei: Chabashira-sensei interrupted him with a firm and serious voice. You claim it's only been a day, correct? But do you have any evidence to support that claim? Everyone else here believes it's been a week, right? And, in the end, is it really important? The crucial thing here is that your classmate, Ayanokoji Kyotaka, has mysteriously disappeared! Whether it happened today, yesterday, or a week ago, the facts remain! Unless, of course, you can attach particular importance to the date of his disappearance at this time... If not, I would ask you not to intervene with this kind of conjectural information. Hirata, I don't know if you're equally disturbed and disoriented because of your temporal disorientation, or if it's related to your feelings toward Karuizawa, but I appreciate your intervention with more constructive comments directly related to the matter.

What Chabashira-sensei said was enough to silence Hirata, who stood there, helpless and visibly shocked, sweating profusely under the puzzled gazes of our classmates, who were probably wondering why he had acted in such a way unless it was to support his girlfriend.

"Seriously, what's going on, for heaven's sake!"

Finally, Kushida, who had risen at the same time as Hirata, spoke after him, maintaining her usual tone, with a forced smile on her lips. However, it was evident that she, too, was extremely confused about the situation, as much as me, Hirata, and Karuizawa.

Kushida: No, actually, Chabashira-sensei... I share Hirata and Karuizawa's views... Maybe there's something more to it, but for me too, it's just one day... In fact, I'm absolutely certain of it! Ahahaha!

Chabashira-sensei: The three of you aren't the kind to make this kind of joke, so I'll consider the absurdities you're stating. There are only two possibilities: the first is that you're hiding something important, and the second is that the shock of this disappearance has caused you to lose your sense of time, or something else. I'm not a psychology expert, but I'd suggest you seek help from the psychologists on campus; it could be beneficial. Because I can assure you that Ayanokoji's disappearance has indeed been for a whole week, and everyone agrees on this.

Chabashira-sensei's response only increased the feeling of helplessness in Hirata, Kushida, and Karuizawa, the latter appearing more concerned and agitated.

"Why does she seem to care so much about Ayanokoji? It's suspicious..."

However, it wasn't the time to dwell on that. I chose to put aside those concerns for now and stood up abruptly, placing my hands on my desk. I could feel the incredulous and skeptical gazes of my classmates, especially after what happened with Hirata, Karuizawa, and Kushida, who all seemed to wonder if I was going to do the same. I simply ignored their looks and began speaking without waiting for a response from Chabashira-sensei, who looked at me more seriously than ever.

Suzune: Chabashira-sensei! As Karuizawa mentioned, it's possible that he simply didn't come this morning, maybe a missed day, or he's sick and resting... However, since you brought up his disappearance, especially for a whole week, it significantly changes the situation. Disappearing for a day is quite different from disappearing for a whole week! To ensure his whereabouts, it's unlikely the surveillance cameras were overlooked... So why not check the surveillance camera recordings to find out his destination, where he might have gone, or even the date and time of his departure? I'm also convinced that his absence hasn't lasted more than a week... And his absence doesn't affect me to the point of mixing up the facts in this manner. Furthermore, I've never heard of a psychological theory justifying this kind of effect! I want to make it clear that the "joke" theory doesn't seem plausible to me either. Personally, I have more important concerns than engaging in such inappropriate jokes, just like Kushida, Hirata, and Karuizawa, right?

Karuizawa: Of course! It's absolutely absurd; no one would make such a stupid joke here... And it's not a bad idea at all! I'm sure there must be surveillance cameras everywhere. In any case, we can't miss them!

Kushida: Yes, I completely agree! It's really cruel to joke about someone's disappearance in this manner, and I would never do something so mean.

Hirata: Yes, and as Horikita and Karuizawa suggested, it would be an excellent idea to check the cameras! It could help us solve this mystery, right?

As each of us had given our response, Chabashira-sensei remained silent for a moment, appearing deeply thoughtful. She crossed her arms, her face expressing increased seriousness. After scrutinizing each of us very intently, and with our classmates staying silent, probably sensing the strangeness of the situation, she eventually responded, leaving everyone even more puzzled. Our eyes widened in unison, creating a heavy silence that left the whole class speechless.

Chabashira-sensei: Honestly, at this point, it seems that nothing can surprise me anymore, not even a scenario where we'd be catapulted into another world. She let out a heavy sigh before continuing. Have you even considered that the school already explored that possibility in the first place? It was one of the first leads we looked into, and yet I can guarantee we came up empty-handed... As I mentioned earlier, it's as if he literally vanished from the face of the Earth. The last trace of him on our cameras is when he entered his room a week ago, and then, nothing. What you four are saying is genuinely intriguing given the circumstances, so thank you for your testimonies. I'll share this information with others to enhance our understanding of the situation. She let out a sigh, then returned to a more ordinary tone. Well, that's enough on this subject for now. Please, take your seats; we'll finally begin the lesson. If new information arises regarding this matter, we'll communicate it to you by email or in class.

It's not possible, right? No, there must be a rational and logical explanation for this; we just need to unravel it and find the solution... Now, another problem added to our list; we need to solve the case of Ayanokoji Kyotaka.

"Goodness, what's happening now? Even when you're not here, you still manage to annoy me."