Something Amiss (4)

Ryujin walked towards the reclining chair, and gently laid the girl down. Not long after, the senpai they called soon arrived.

The senpai they pertained to was a third-year female student. She has long, mint-green hair that extends up to her waist, ornamented by a flower hairpin on the right side of her hair, and with vibrant, bluish-green eyes. She wears the white Seiei uniform, with a blue jacket that lengths up to her knees, and a small robe that only covers her chest.

She walked towards the girl with a grim expression plastered on her face. Ryujin and Kyouko's bodies slightly tensed up upon facing the serious and murderous look on their Senpai's face.

"The monster who did this deserves death." She cursed under her breath. Usually, she's cheerful, and happy-going, however, In this situation, she can't help but feel angry.

"We'll question her later on once she wakes up. We'll find the culprit." Ryujin replied.

"Do that. I'll treat her." She gently placed her left hand palm over the girl's face, and in the next second, upon the shining of a green light, her whole body was treated.

"She's healed and done. Give her ample time to rest. She ordered.

"Alright, thanks, Stella-Senpai."

"Another thing, Ryujin. Ask her about the exousia stone. She reeks awfully of it."

"Got that."

"And you, Kyouko-chan, if she wakes up, immediately call me, okay?"

"G-Got it, Stella-senpai!"

Stella flashed her a warm smile, before leaving the room.

They let out a deep breath, relaxing their body as they did.

"It's rare for Stella-Senpai to be that scary, right Kyouko?"

"Y-Yes."

"Oinuma Stella, the third seat of the Seiei council. Her abilities are flawless as usual." Ryujin complimented.

"She's powerful indeed. She is the academy's greatest nature-type magician."

"Well, now that the girl is healed, let's sit and wait for her to wake up."

The two of them grabbed a white chair from the side and sat down in front of the girl.

"Why don't talk about something? I don't want to get bored." Ryujin suggested.

"About what?"

"Hmm, let's say about the first-year students."

"That again..."

"Well, I have a valid reason. Hehe."

"Okay then."

"So, Kyouko-chan, who is the most interesting out of all the first-years?"

"As I've said, the strongest I could see in my class are Akamine Airi and Kyosuke Ryo. In the other classes, there are two that I've seen. Aoki Reina and Tokita Souta."

"Hmm, I don't recognize any of them. But who do you think is the best magician out of them?"

"I haven't seen the abilities of Aoki and Tokita. However, Kyosuke Ryo is definitely on another level."

"Him? The student who beat you? I can't wait to see what he's made of. So, then, is he the person who encountered the exousia stone smugglers?"

"That's a secret of course."

"Well, it's pretty obvious now. He's the only one missing during dinner time in their classroom. A few students were also missing from other classrooms, however, I saw them through the CCTV at a different part of the hotel. Kyosuke is the only one I didn't find, and since the forest area CCTV is broken, it's pretty safe to assume that he's the one.

"You have some crazy stalking skills, don't you? You creep." She flashed him a disgusted expression.

"That's both an insult and a compliment, yet I'll take it."

"That's that."

"Speaking of him, can you call him? I have a few questions for him."

"Sure, but, I can't guarantee an answer."

"Just try." Ryujin Insisted.

"Alright."

The succeeding events led to the phone call at 12:57, eventually waking Ryo.

1 pm.

Ryo's phone rang again. In pure annoyance, he threw his phone on the ground.

"..."

For a moment, he realized what he had done.

He slowly stood up in regret and picked up his phone, the screen cracked, on the ground.

He lets out a sigh, before answering the still-ringing phone call.

"What?" He uttered annoyance in his voice.

"He didn't believe me when I said you're dead."

"Then tell him I turned into a chihuahua or something."

"How am I supposed to tell him that kind of excuse?"

"Think of something."

Kyouko heaves a sigh before speaking once again.

"He knows you're the one who encountered the exousia culprit. He wants to ask a few questions."

"What?"

"I didn't tell him. He knew through his creepy, and suspicious stalking skills."

"That's creepy. Just promise me that you'll stop bothering me after I go there."

"Okay. We're at the council clinic office."

"So how am I supposed to get there?"

"I'll chat about the direction."

With that, Kyouko hung up. Ryo lazily stood up from the bed and left the hotel, still groggy, and half-asleep.

Following the directions sent by Kyouko, he made his way inside the forest. After venturing for what seemed like an eternity, he arrived in front of a building behind the main hotel.

Ryo stared at it for a while, before proceeding to go inside. The automatic door opened as he walked inside.

"Elevator..." Then, as per the instructions, he went towards the elevator and entered. He went on and pressed the third-floor button.

After a while, he arrived at the designated floor and stepped out.

He looked at the directions on his phone.

"So, from here... Go there..."

He followed them, which led him to the clinic.

He knocked three times, waiting for a response. Not long after, Kyouko from the other side opened the door.

"There, he's waiting," Kyouko said as she pointed at Ryujin with her eyes.

Ryo promptly walks towards Ryujin, as Kyouko closes the door behind them. Ryo placed his hands on his pockets, as he walked. He noticed the girl in the reclining chair, almost instantly recognizing the familiar black, tracksuit.

"So that's her." He mumbled under his breath.

Ryujin sensed his presence and proceeded to stand up. He turned around and greeted Ryo with a smile.

"Thanks for making some time." Ryujin greeted him in a friendly manner as he extended his hand for a handshake.

"Didn't make some time. Rather, was forced..." Ryo answered uninterestingly, ignoring Ryujin's handshake offer.

"Quite the cold guy, aren't we? Anyway, let's head to the topic. You are the witness in this crime, right?"

"You could say that." 

"Tell me what happened in full detail." 

"Well, basically, I was about to leave to go to some store, when I caught them holding a stone. That girl..." Ryo pointed at the unconscious girl on the reclining chair before continuing. "She's the girl that wounded me. Well, I think she hasn't changed yet. The mark of my shoe sole is still on her tracksuit."

"Really?" Ryujin looked back at the girl. Upon a closer look, there's an almost-faded mark of a shoe sole.

"Alright. Now, you said you caught "them" holding an exousia stone. Who might be the accomplice?

"I didn't have a good look since it was dark, however, it was quite tall."

"Are there only two of them?"

"Yes."

Ryujin thought for a moment before suddenly, they heard a sound coming from the reclining chair. A sound let out by someone experiencing pain.

Ryujin immediately turned around, and all of them shifted their attention towards the girl.

In their astonishment and relief, the girl was awake, looking confused at the lights in front of her.

"Where... Am I?" She murmured in a lost tone... She slowly sat up and looked around.

Her eyes were golden, and glittering.

Upon laying her eyes on the three people in front of her, her eyes widened and panic began to set in her.

Terrified and scared, she got up and stood behind the reclining chair. Her breathing was rapid, as she tried to stammer some words.

"W-Who are y-you a-all?!" She yelled out in a shaky voice.

Then, she shifted her gaze towards Ryo. The encounter with him yesterday at night resurfaced in her mind, causing her to feel guilt inside her heart.

She promptly turned her gaze away from him.

Kyouko immediately left the room.

"We're from the council. You're safe here." Ryujin said as warmly and reassuringly as possible.

"C-Council?"

"Yes. Are you feeling much better now, Ms... What's your name?"

The girl stared at him for a minute before softly speaking.

"A-Atsumasa... Ayumi." She mumbled, still making eye contact with them.

"Atsumasa-chan. I see. You have a beautiful name. Now, are you fine? Do you feel any pain?"

Upon hearing this, she immediately looked all around her body. And to her surprise, all of her wounds were gone.

"W-W-Wha-What?!" She blurted out.

"Our friend from the council healed all of your wounds, don't worry."

"O-Oh... U-Uhm... O-Okay..."

She slightly calmed down as her breathing became stable.

"Okay, please don't panic. You should return back to your seat... We won't do anything." Ryujin smiled warmly.

Atsumasa stared at him for a moment, however, she remained scared and nervous of them, especially Ryo.

"What do you say, little miss?"

She remained unresponsive. Deep inside her, she's scared and terrified, mainly because she is an accomplice in smuggling an illegal, and dangerous stone inside the school grounds. Not to mention Ryo, whom she stabbed with a knife.

The feeling of pure fear when you're faced with the consequences of your actions is clearly painted on her face.

Suddenly, the door opened behind them, and entering was Oinamu Stella with Fujimoto Kyouko behind her.

"Ryujin, you may leave along with Kyouko, I'll take care of this issue." She said as she walked towards the girl with cold eyes. The fearsome aura she emitted further enveloped Atsumasa in great fear, and she began hiding deeper behind the chair.

"B-But-"

"No buts, Ryujin. Do you not think that I can handle this?" Oinamu fiercely contradicted Ryujin.

Ryujin had no choice but to leave with Kyouko.

Oinamu lets out a sigh, before looking at the pitiful, terrified girl in front.

"What was your name again, Mr...?"

"Kyosuke Ryo."

"Kyosuke-san... Alright, take a seat. You too, Atsumasa-san."

Kyosuke took a chair and sat, while Atsumasa Ayumi remained hiding behind the chair.

"The more time we spend here together, the more that things will escalate. Please cooperate. The council is willing to help you tremendously in this case." Oinamu said in a serious voice.

Atsumasa thought for a moment, before proceeding to sit at the reclining chair.

Now, the three of them face each other in a circular set-up.

"First of all, how are you doing, Atsumasa-san?"

"I-I'm feeling fine."

"Nothing hurts whatsoever?"

"N-Nothing."

"Alright, how about you, Kyosuke-san?"

"Same."

"That's good. Now that introductions are complete, let's head on to the main topic. Atsumasa-san, could you tell me why you were badly injured? And was practically unconscious in the forest?"

Ayumi only looked at the ground, seemingly hesitant to speak, as if to hide something. Stella realizes this. She immediately diverted her attention towards Ryo, her expression remaining straight and serious. 

"Kyosuke-san, I'll talk to you first. I've heard from Ryujin that you were injured last night, due to an encounter with an exousia-stone smuggler, is that right?" 

"Yes." He answered nonchalantly.

"Alright. Do you have an idea of whom that person or one of those people is?" 

Ryo's gaze jumped towards Ayumi, who is currently in great distress, looking at him nervously, as if telling him to not reveal. However, 

"It is Atsumasa Ayumi." 

Ayumi's world collapsed, as she began fidgeting vigorously. 

"Atsumasa-san. Do you have anything to say for yourself?"

The witness is right in front of her. There's nothing she can do to hide it. She lowered her head in silence for a few minutes, as a flood of thoughts filled her mind. Eventually, she decided to confess.