Chapter Two: First Tail of the Vector II

They thoroughly investigated furthermore about Natalia's case and found out that she is connected to one of the suspects Carnival put behind the jail. Her mother is a gambler who accidentally killed someone when she was drunk. Her body is found dead in the cell - stabbed in the head. She lives with her dad and is a working student. They lost their riches because of her mom's gambling and her dad's spoiling her with money. They didn't use their money properly obviously. They also own a shop that went bankrupt before she reached high school. She desired to study at the West school but she cannot because of the high standards she need to reach.

Yori and Carnival also traced the location of the Carnival's old number. It is located in an old house near the place where Natalia is. It's 5 centimeters away from the scene and you can shoot a sniper from there based on the detective they were with. But the final conclusion, they still don't have any clue where is this person Yori is talking about. Even the name of this person is not revealed to Carnival.

'How anonymous is he?' she asked herself. 'Better to connect dots again.'

She doesn't want someone to die for the sake of her investigation but it cannot be helped. Three days after the incident, she is in school with Yori, walking straight to the lockers near the entrance. She went to her locker and also Yori. She opened her locker and there, a box was placed. Her brows furrowed as she kept staring at it. It is a small blue box with a red ribbon. It doesn't look good to her as it should because the box cover is nice. It has a lace design and a glittery touch, but that doesn't satisfy her.

"What's that?" Yori asked. He is in his shoes now while Carnival still wasn't but she's supposed to. Her attention was just averted because of the box. "Maybe a circle container, Yori," she said sarcastically, rolling her eyes.

"That box doesn't even feel right."

Yori stared at the box like it was an animal in front of him. It's not giving him a good vibe or Carnival. They both knew that this is connected to what happened three days ago and Carnival believes now that she is been targeted. She just hoped that her family is safe from her mess.

She removed the ribbon and when she did, she slowly opened the lid of the box. Inside, a bunny sprung up with red lights. It's blinking. It blinked three times before stopping and turning its head around. The students around Yori and Carnival saw what the box is doing and someone shouted, "There's a bomb!" and all of the students went out of the building.

The emergency bell was rang and Ms. Wilson, including the other faculties, rush to see what is happening. When they reached Yori and Carnival near the entrance, they stopped. They kept their distance as they watched Carnival get her small emergency swiss knife and open the bunny. It was not too hard and not too easy. She just needs to cut the right colors, or else, there is a big chance her and Yori will explode.

It's a small thing but the explosive doesn't give a smaller chance of survival. Di- and tri-nitro compounds can be possible in the little thing, and other more compounds which can rip them all.

"Don't go near us!" Yori said to the faculties and the students outside the school. "Make sure you are centimeter away from us! We cannot guarantee you the death it may serve," he added, making Ms. Wilson, their adviser, worried about them. They are both sixteen and they are handling a bomb on their own! They are no bomb squad!

"Be careful, Hattori, Valencia!" Ms. Wilson shouted before leaving with the faculty. The only thing she could do is pray for their safety. She will let them handle the situation for she knew the skills of this teeangers.

Back to the situation, Carnival already cut three strings: yellow, green, orange. The suspect really did a great job to leave a red and blue strings to them because they need to cut one or it will explode!

"What should we cut?" Carnival asked.

"It's between the two. If you cut the wrong one, it will serve death but at least people around us are safe and our suspect will be successful."

The way he said 'our suspect' made Carnival's blood boil. If it weren't for this person's doing, they won't have this bomb on-hand! This is a definition for her of exaggeration!

"If you want us to be safe, well, the least you can do is tell me what to cut here! I have read about this but it's my first time seeing a small bomb like this. One trigger of one finger if we switched, it can also explode!"

"Who told you we will switch?" he asked raising a brow.

"You are a coward if you run far from me."

"Cut the both of them."

Her eyes glared at him. She felt anonymously scared by his decision. What on earth even did he think they can cut both strings? They can explode if Carnival would do that!

"That's absurd! We will explode!"

"Don't you remember there's still a spring underneath the bunny? If you will to see it clearly, it's a wire which is made into a spring. Unlike non-metallic, the outer of this wire is metallic which is just a disguise coat for such customized explosives."

"Where the actual location did his brain went to for him to pay for such customized explosive? The thought of killing me is absurd to make an effort to order this executioner! This won't kill me!" she said confidently as she cuts the two strings left. The blinking stopped and they froze for a moment. There is an eerie of silence heard in the school.

They surrendered the box to the authorities and let them investigate it. Yori also considered to live across Carnival's place so that he will know if she is in danger or not. In that case, he can save her. His conscious cannot handle to think that Carnival will die in his watch. He considers her always as his partner now in investigation. He is Watson and she's the subborn Sherlock.

A week have gone and nothing much than a news of a new case sirens the beautiful morning of both detectives. Yori lives now next to the place of Carnival and she doesn't care about it that much. As long as Yori won't bother her peace, she will be good as normal to do her task.

Both of them immediately went to shower and eat breakfast and brush their teeth. Carnival tied her hair in a high ponytail with a black ribbon and fixed her bangs with her hairstylist comb. She is wearing a white high neck, ruffle long sleeves with a pair of white pants and black boots. Yori, on the other hand, wore a plain black tee, brown cargo pants, and black boots. Both of them brought body bags for their convenience. When they went out of their door and locked it, they look at each other carefully.

'Is he a model and will leave for a photoshoot?' Carnival thought while looking at Yori.

'Is she going on a date?' Yori thought while looking at Carnival. 'She looks stunning on her outfit, though,' he applaud in his head.

"Do we have any modeling going on here?" Carnival asked him. "Pardon for my rudeness which I think I'm not. You looked like attending some photoshoot outside our place. Would you mind if you mention where?"

"A little curious, aren't we? Why? Having some crushes with this other tantei (detective)?" he teased.

Her eyes squinted at him before facing her back at him. "Who would! I would rather die by the hands of others rather than liking you, ningen (human)," she said grumply as she walked down the stairs. She will go by cab to the location of the scene.

"Ms. Wilson's really right about her," he smiled. He fixed his jacket before walking down the stairs and went straight to the parking lot where his motorcycle is. Carnival looked at him in confusion when he parked in front of her. "Get in," he said.

"No. We have different agendas and you're no service of mine. Go away!" she said with her eyes squinted at him and arms crossed. She's really not an easy target for someone who wants an easy-to-get girl.

"I am going to your location, onna," he blurted, starting the engine of his motorcycle. "Well, I will go ahead if you won't take a ride with me," he teased and wore his helmet.

"Wait...Do you have a spare?" she asked. "Of a helmet?"

"Yes," he immediately answered. "Why?"

"I'll ride with you."

He is stunned before shaking his head and stopping the engine to get the spare helmet from his place. It's not that hard to convince her on a ride if it's all investigations which he took advantage of. He puts the helmet on the head of Carnival and fixed the size of it to her head size. It's not tight and not loose. It's just right.

"Ready?" Yori asked her when she is already sitting on his motorcycle. He received a grunt and when he alrrady started the engine, he jokingly manipulate the hand clutch for motion. Carnival jolted forward, making herself lean to Yori's back. Yori laughed at her when she squinted her eyes at him and rolled them.

"Don't forget to put your arms around my waist or hold on to my shoulders, " he reminded her. "Also...you are the first one to sit on this motorcycle."

"What?"

Yoru immediately started to exert the kinetic energy out of the motorcycle, not letting her finish her statement. He is good at manipulating things. Especially, his motorcycle. And when it comes to Carnival, he is patient with her attitude. She's much more and bearing with her attitude, as he thought, can make the lack of emotions appear.

His creating his own vector. A vector which intersects what would the investigation will become for the next cases they will go to. Now, this is the tail of his first vector, an exposition which he can consider as his starting line for her.