Who is the Culprit?

When I arrived at the classroom,I saw Ayumi-san,sitting on a chair,skimming on my novel.

Hmmm.Did I say earlier to her to came back here after she do the task I gave to her?.

Either way,it was a perfect timing.

"You also want to read some mystery novels,

Ayumi-san?."

"Ah.Hashimoto-sun.I didn't noticed you."

After saying that,she put down the book on the side and answered my question.

"No.I'm actually just curious why people like you loves to read this kind of book.So I tried to read the first chapter.But it seems like this was not the genre for me."

"Well no one reads a mystery book only from the start."

People should read mystery novels until the end.But again,all of us have different taste in books.

"But are you perhaps reading some novels with other genre?."

"No.Actually,I haven't read a novel before."

"I see."

So that's the main reason.She didn't like a mystery novel because in the first place,she haven't read a novel before.

Anyways,let's go back to the real business.I sat down on the chair I have been using earlier and consult the task I gave to her.

"So Ayumi-san.How is the situation?.Did you find something weird among our classmates?."

"No.I talked to some of them but I didn't saw something that will may help us in this murder case.Of course,I tried to observe carefully to those have high possibility to commit the crime like Reina-san,Onodera-san and Tachibana-san but I didn't really find something weird from them."

"I see.Thank you very much for that.But how about the infomation I gave to you?.Did you have some ideas on how the murder is done?."

"About that,unfortunately I couldn't think anything.When I'm about to have a theory to create,there is always a contradiction."

"I see."

"I'm sorry for not meeting up your expectation,

Hashimoto-san."

"Don't worry,don't worry.You really don't need to push yourself for that since that job is something I should have to do.Watching our classmates is already enough to help in this case.Because afterall...."

"Hmmm."

I stopped for a bit to remember again all the things I Iearn.I pick up my novel and flip some pages from it.I looked for a specific part on the novel and read it again.After that,I closed again the book and looked at Ayumi-san.

"Afterall,I already know who is the murderer and how they done it."

"What!?."

Ayumi-san was in shock with my sudden revelation.Well that was just a normal reaction.

I looked at the clock.It was already four'o clok in the afternoon.So basically asking those people earlier took a lot time.I didn't noticed it.Time sure flies fast.On the other hand,

Ayumi-san asked me to confirm my statement.

"Are you sure about that,Hashimoto-kun?."

"Yes.After all this time,I finally know now truth.The murderer,the motive and how they done it.I finally know them all."

"I see.Then if that's the case,who is this?.Who killed Chinatsu-san."

"Well about that,I want to revealed it to all."

"To all?."

"Yes.I want my classmates to know how the culprit done it.Isn't it normal in a murder case?."

"You're right."

"But before that,please hand me again the small notebook I gave to you earlier."

"Ah that."

She quickly reach out her pocket,get the notebook and hand it to me.After that,I continue on my speaking.

"Remember that I asked some people to gave their alibi after the earthquake right?."

"Yes.Well you are doing that,I'm also working on the task you gave me."

"That's right.But actually,I also asked them some questions and I learned new things from that."

"What did you mean?."

"For example,like how Reina-san actually have nyctophobia.Or how Onodera-san,Tachibana-

san and Kanakura-san are classmates on middle school.Wait,did you perhaps already know those things?."

"No,no.That was actually surpriesed."

I'm sorry,Reina-san.I really don't have intention to reveal your secret to other people.I mean either way,they will eventually learn it someday.

"I see.So that Reina-san actually has a weakness despite of that personality.And about Kanakura-san,I didn't manage to learn that from herself even though she always talk to me.But what is the connection of those additional information to the way how you find out the culprit?."

That was a good question.But let's put that aside.

"You should not focus on that,Ayumi-san.Let's talked about what happened after the earthquake."

"After the earthquake?."

"The people I asked this afternoon have all alibi after the earthquake happens.Including me,you and others.Assuming that all of us are not lying about those alibi before and after the earthquake,then there is one problem."

"A problem?."

I said the last phrase while emphasizing the notebook that Ayumi-san gave back to me.

"Remember that Chinatsu-san died in this classroom where windows are locked.Well the doors are not really locked inside but there is no indication that the culprit go inside and outside here.Again,combining the fact earlier,

there is only one meaning for this."

I paused for a bit and looked to Ayumi-san with serious eyes.Then finally,I finished my sentence.

"It was basically a locked room murder."

"Wait.Is that the problem that you are talking about?."

"That's right."

"But didn't you said you already find out the cuprit and how they done it?."

"That was also correct."

"I'm actualy don't get you,Hashimoto-kun."

"You're the one who don't get me,Ayumi-san.

What I'm trying to say here is even though it was a looked room mystery,I already solve it.

Actually,it was a very simple murder trick.I'm just made things too complicated that's why I didn't manage to noticed it earlier."

"Really?."

"Yes.That's why I have one last request from you,Ayumi-san.Please call all of our classmates here,including Sensei.It's time to present the solution to them."

"I see.I understand."

She immediately stood up from her chair and go outside.Meanwhile,I go towards to one vacant chair where the illustration (that Chinatsu-san gave to me earlier) was located and get it.I go back to my own chair and stared at it.Then I mumbled to myself.

"I'm sorry,Chinatsu-san.At the end,it was an ugly truth."