The next day, around 5 am.

As I thought, I can't sleep. I've tried to close my eyes many times but they always end up opening each other subsequently without waiting around. Even though everything's black and all it takes is a simple movement to reach out to my lamp, I still will not do it.

My right hand is busy after all.

It's been long gone the transient now hours that I've run this soft right hand of mine into my belly only to hit the clitoris' surface with a non-reluctant forefinger. Naturally, the landscape vulva comes first yet the utmost termination, or first stop would be the clitoris. Regardless, it's simply the tip of the iceberg... Nonetheless quite sensitive as it's responsible for the overall stimulation...

"Haah...!"

In a circular motion, heavily tapping the public bone above the clitoris, the loose on sleep vulva wakes up every time. On repetition with its meaning. The self-pleasuring game loses the grand significance once no one is on my mind yet now that it is, a whole new page starts to unravel itself adjoined with thicker whitish fluid.

...

"I hate this."

Out of meek frustration, I strongly got up from my bed and walked to the bathroom's sink. There, I washed my fiery hands with borderline glacial-like water.

"What are you doing right now?"

Undoubtedly, the fluid itself is still persisting regardless of whether or not it's washed away as it has to be washed away completely until it's gone.

"It has become quite boring here, just so you know. Sana and Arkalee, although worthy of toying around, are ridiculously obvious to excruciating detail."

Though, I have to admit that it's unpleasant looking at my hair this messy.  Moreso, as the process of washing my hands, is coming to a quick end, I've been pondering over what to do. It's not strictly forbidden to cut any interaction between other dorm members. There is, however, a lack of good blood in all of us. 

"Surprisingly, surprisingly, I just want to interact with other people now. Not because I really want to get to know them, but to see their value. Something tells me that today won't just be quite the same as it was yesterday."

And done. Cleaning up the wet hands came as a follow-up sequence, with a nearby towel. 

The impertinent and flashing blinding light from the lamp at the top of the bathroom itself is already making me hate myself for ever turning the switch on...

"I'm going over the same things and I'm not making progress, at all. I'm not fine with that. Though, interestingly enough, yesterday at lunch, Sana displayed more and more parasitic symptoms. You got her good. I'm deadly curious to know the process. Because..."

Closening up the distance with my face the mirror just a few inches away, I cracked a smile while placing my wet hand on the silky mirror.

"It doesn't matter if I already know that you are somehow involved! What matters is to know how exactly you did it...!"

I backed off slowly though.

Then, I realized that this obsession, though repetitive, has been losing its symbolism fastly.

After a quick shower, I dressed myself up and left my room with a firm lock applied to the door.

And then, as I was about to turn around, I heard almost-silent footsteps coming from the collateral stairs that would lead to the floor below.

"..."

It's around 5 am. Quite a bit early yet someone else has decided that it was a bright idea to walk around the dorm... Given that there are three hours until classes start and that there isn't much to do... I will check what's up.

Therefore, slowly, I isolated myself from my room's door and started to walk towards the collateral stairs that would be on the right.

With every two steps, I would adjoin my back with the wall just to listen to the footsteps' frequency. I then captured how the person was intentionally walking slowly too. 

"But why?"

A rhetorical question, all in all, yet it was performed with a heavy silence accompanied. Already close to the stairs themselves, I simply took a sneak peek at the end of the scenario that I would ultimately have to pass through. In other words, the bottom of the stairs; the connection with the prior floor.

"..."

Too silent. As I thought, whoever was here earlier definitely knows that I'm here. Otherwise, the person would not stop so suddenly. Alternatively speaking, should I advance, it will be my end. Do I take the bait on purpose?

How about a small prank instead?

Instead of walking more and more below, I retook a few steps and adjoined my back once again to the wall. Normally, in this type of situation, the one that's attempting to capture the prey here is often on the alert with alarming noises. 

Sliding my right hand into my skirt's left pocket, I took a neat glance at my room's key.

Shining vastly gold in this hall basked by bare moonlight, the key was thrown to the end of the stairway and I hastily took back my stance to remain hidden.

A loud footstep was then heard. Not mine; but someone else's. It only lasted for a short second and under my assumption, it must've been the person backing away.

"...Quite cautious..."

No footsteps have been heard for about ten seconds and I haven't taken yet another sneak peek at the bottom of the stairway. Eventually, curiosity will eat you. Isn't that just always the case?

!

Someone started to march once again. This time with a rapid frequency but not full speed ahead. 

Without leaking my complete eyesight out, I took a peek at the bottom once more.

Slippery glasses and a night robe along with an abnormally large book on her hands. Strangely enough, she gives off no special remarks. Then again, in this dorm, it's like it's a competition to see who is more anti-social or something. 

And besides, she has no idea that she's being under observation right now. I could just jump on her yet here she is kneeling down to catch the key that I purposely threw there just to lure her out.

I wonder what you would have done in this situation? Would you even care in the first place? That's the thing. Do you even share natural interests or is your mind a darker place than what I have in mind? 

Oops... I'll get lost in my self-dialogue. It's time to put up the act. 

"Waaaah...~~"

Walking down the stairs with a full-on sleepy look mixed with faint scratching right to my eyelids, I encountered the individual at hand basking in the moonlight and ultimately making an effort to pick up the key who she had no reason at all to bother with.

However, judging from her reaction, this was completely beyond her train of thought somehow.

"W-Whaa---"

"Shhh..."

Still pretending to fiddle with my messy long hair, I placed my right index finger on my lips in order for her to get the gist of it thus following that up with a more logical choice of words.

"Um... Shizuku, right? Don't make much noise... Who knows what happens once you wake the whores up."

Perhaps a little bit too dramatic honestly.

Falling over to the floor just because I suddenly show up shouldn't be the equivalent as seeing a monster creeping in the dark late at night. 

"Wow, that's a bit..."

"Crude?"

I questioned her as she got up from the floor by herself, shielding her book with all of her might. A blank cover though... 

It's impossible to know what exactly the book is if the cover is pitched black and only contains the black color.

"On second thought, could you come with me?"

Avoiding delaying the point, I straight up went on ahead full force.

Yet my eyes kept on being pinpointed towards that book that Shizuku has been holding on.

"We don't even know each other... And why?"

Let's test her rationale a bit.

"What do you mean we don't know each other, Shizuku? We are classmates, of course we know each other!"

A powerless smirk on my face pierced by her raging eyes of denial.

"Just because we are classmates, it doesn't mean that we know each other. That's not how it works. Please go back to sleep."

"What if I don't want to sleep?"

What are you gonna do, rather?

This time around, I erased the mocking signature of my lips and penetrated her gaze with an evenly matched glance.

"Well, if that's the case then why are you up, Yukishiro?"

"Oh, so you know my name! Aren't we acquaintances, therefore?"

Come on... Show me something worthwhile. I'm getting bored of having to come up with the lines over here.

"Haha... That didn't answer my question..."

"You're right."

Hopeless, I crossed my arms and gave an honest answer in the hope to provoke a similar reaction.

"I masturbated from 10 pm to 5 am."

"..."

No answer came forth. By contrast to my expectations, I wasn't rebooked with an oppressive reply. At the same time, Shizuku flashed a low smile and uttered words of low volume to herself.

"Maybe you..."

"Maybe I?"

Unable to resist, I went forth with the question.

"Well, Yukishiro... You said you wanted to go somewhere?"

"That was a trick question. I just wanted to observe your reaction."

Her words caught my interest. I need to know what she meant with that, so I'll willingly lie to her face.

"I don't like to be controlled. As I thought, we shouldn't talk, but... I can't help but wonder... If that was a trick question, then I take it that you don't mind a little tour?"

"It depends, Shizuku. Where to?"

"Just the cafeteria. You and me?"

What is she planning?

"What for? Also, the key. Give me."

"Oh, right. I am sorry."

Rather quickly, she handled my room key which I put on my skirt's pocket once again.

Furthermore, Shizuku started to guide the way. Even though she had not answered my question.

"Is it some sort of surprise? I like surprises. But only if they are really good. I don't settle for good ones. They have to absolutely blow my mind."

"Same, actually..."

But Shizuku said no more than just a few subtle words. She's simply leading the way down the stairs and assumably, we are going down to a place that has to preferably stay on the first floor.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

We have walked far past her room at this point. Synergy-wise, we are purposely avoiding making any possible noise while walking. 

Does it even cross her mind that I can just reach out to this key in my pocket and scourge her throat in an effortless sequence of movements? That aside, I do feel like whatever she has to say is somehow related to the book she is so dearly clinging to.

"I have yet to find another comrade in this quest..."

Back at it again with those shallow words.

As we took the last turn and graced the first floor of the dorm, Shizuku said something else before opening the cafeteria's door.

"What's about to happen, is only between us two. Whatever image you have of me, leave that here."

My eager eyes woke up from their deepest slumber. Enthusiastic and consumed with a quirk sensation, I valiantly let my words out.

"Are you going to reveal why you are here?!"

"Who knows..."

Not reciting another word, Shizuku opened the door and thus, we went to the corner next to the window which was being solely illuminated by the luminous moonlight.

Along the way, I took ahold of the red elastic on my right wrist and did a ponytail before seating.

"Oh... It started to rain."

Nonmelancholically, I noted that as I watched droplets reach the surface of the window. 

As for Shizuku, she was starting to go through her book and I went straight ahead with my questionnaire.

"Why the fake cover?"

"I see... So you have noticed..."

It could've been just a really bland cover but I don't think someone would get attached to a book that had a cover that simple. Nonetheless, the content itself could be extraordinary. I'm not on the side of the argument where one shouldn't judge a book by its cover because a cover does matter, but pure blandness is downright asking to get denied.

"Yes... You see, this is nothing more than a front. What's inside it, is something that I've been dying to share and you... Yukishiro!"

Suddenly, she shouted my name out loud, which caught me off guard to the point of causing me to blink twice rapidly, and ultimately, she erupted from her seat while holding her book up high as if she was glorifying the holy bible itself.

"Should I, by some harsh circumstance, vanish from this world, you must continue my leg--"

Abruptly, I stepped in.

"I don't know what you are trying to insinuate here, but aren't you skipping way too many steps? And besides, just what is that book anyway? I noticed that there was something creepy about it, even though the cover itself is oddly simple. It doesn't have a title anyways."

Upon hearing what I had to say, she immediately came to the realization that I was indeed in the right here.

"Well, that's true, aye..."

And slowly took back her seat. Expressing paranoia, she looked from left to right to see if there were any other people around. She did this for just about five times. 

Due to my familiarity with the sensation of paranoia, I proposed something to Shizuku.

"If you are wondering whether or not someone is going to come in, then why not just lock the door under a few chairs?"

"That's a great idea! But... What if Olivia comes in?"

"When exactly does she wak---"

As I was about to fire that question, Shizuku instantly answered my question despite not being finished in the first place.

"Around 6:15 am..."

..........

"Then why are you acting all paranoid when it's 5:47 am?"

"Are you serious?! The problem is not Olivia, even though I mentioned that... The problem is... What if someone stalked me?! I was so careful while getting here!! I'm done for if I got stalked!!!"

Letting her book fall onto the table's surface, Shizuku started to ramble on and on while messing with her short hair from back to front. 

This left me with a question though.

"You're fine with me though?"

"Eh?"

Maybe it was unexpected to her but as the lightning struck the ground outside, her reflection alongside her cold smile told me everything I needed to know.

"I already knew you were up to something. Not you in specific, but someone, so I needed to make sure who it was. It was just a matter of time before I caught who it was behind me."

In other words, she took the bait on purpose.

"Not bad, I must say."

"Haha, thank you, thank you!"

But you don't even realize who started the whole thing in the first place.

"So I take that as a yes? What is that book? Tell me already."

Although my patience is being tested, I've learned already that Shizuku also has some cracks in her morality. 

The way she said those words had a very hollow tone to them. Speaking from experience, most likely.

"Okay, okay... Check this out..."

In a quick beat, Shizuku took ahold of her book and hid it beneath the table. I thought she was going to take the cover off, but before doing that, her face turned extremely skeptical with traces of noxious judgment all over it, as she asked me this one simple question.

"Yukishiro, what are your thoughts about Yaoi? I want you to answer this seriously."

On the basis that she wants me to answer that question seriously, I will simply do so. Pretty much because this answer is very likely linked to the chance of me getting to know what that book is about.

"I don't hate it, but that's it. It's not something that I would go over it---"

"I see, so that means that there's still some spark in you..."

"Shizuku, that really doesn't imply that."

"No, no, no, no! A fujoshi has only lost her true spark when she has failed to see the plus side of all the yaoi and you clearly haven't lost that! With time and practice, I can turn you into a full-fledged on---"

I had to stop her mid-rant.

"I honestly don't care about your agenda, it's beyond my caring. What I'm curious about is how your question about Yaoi is related to your book."

Making the connection here isn't hard. It's obvious that yaoi is involved here yet just to what degree. Mainly speaking; the context is what she's trying to find. Thus far, she has been going about it in a vague way instead of being overly concrete which would be desirable.

"Ouch, I'm hurt..."

Though Shizuku stated that, she nevertheless started to take the fake cover off her book, which caught my interest due to the cryptic title.

"Sangwoo's ashes?"

"Sangwoo's ashes."

"No, Shizuku, I'm asking what that means. Why is that the book's title?"

What the hell is Sangwoo's ashes? I feel pathetically dumb because I have no idea and that's pissing me off very much right now. 

"Y-You seem pretty mad... You got a full pissed off look on your face, so I'll do the explaining! First of all, this is a made-up title. In the worst-case scenario, no one would have a single clue about what this is. And, as you can see, there is a mini-lock here.

"That's a pretty good made-up title format honestly. Did you do it yourself?"

I'm genuinely saying this. The font art is absolutely amazing. Even though I still don't know what the hell the title itself means. 

"Yes! Thank you! Although it takes me quite a bit of time, I like to perfect the way I do my own things thoroughly. Anything rushed is futile... Oh, yes! The title! It's a memento... Even though it's primarily used as a way to remain incognito, it actually holds a deep meaning! But, you don't seem to be interest---"

"Don't be ridiculous! I want to know what it means!"

"A-A-Are you s-serious....!? Hey, hey, hey!! Yukishiro, you really, really, want to know that badly?! Ah, how iconic! I too am a slave to that kind of stuff!"

Perhaps I said my own words with too much potency yet it was mainly out of anger for not knowing what it means. I can't tolerate not knowing what I want to know. Regardless of the cost, I will get to know whatever I want to know.

Still, the way Shizuku is looking at me and clasping my own hands together to a clingy point is bothering the hell out of me.

"For how long do you intend on clasping my hands, Shizuku?"

"Mhm, sorry!"

An apology was all that it took for her to release her hands off mine only to be accompanied with a smile that almost had droll to it.

"I should probably start from the beginning, otherwise, it won't make a lot of sense. Like, I could just explain what it means, but you wouldn't get the full picture. I'm taking that you are not fine with missing out on any sort of detail?"

"That's right. I can't stand missing details."

"Seriously, seriously. Without details, it's so hard to connect pieces of evidence to the overall picture, vice-versa. Okay, can I start now? Ah, wait! How about we take a coffee... first...?"

"Shizuku, that's seriously suspicious. Why did you finish your sentence so slowly? Get rid of that psychotic smile as well. It's bothering me."

That aside, some coffee would be nice. However, I wouldn't assume that there is any left from the one in the cafeteria's coffee machine, so she essentially proposed that we would go to the dorm's hall and buy a coffee can from the vending machine.

"Oh, no, no. It's nothing that big of a deal. It... might just take a while. But don't worry! Classes only start right around two hours and a couple of minutes from now on! We got plenty of time, really! I'll get two cans, just wait here and don't go anywhere!"

Taking her book with her, she made haste to the hallway. Transiently, I took a sharp glance at the outside and witnessed the thundering clouds. 

Whatever that book has, it holds source to what got Shizuku in here in the first place.

Pretending to care about the stupid title is just another false step in order to reach the step that actually matters.

"I'm back!"

"Quick."

I turned around and greeted Shizuku who quickly returned with two cans on each of her palms. She tossed a can to me while clicking the tip of it immediately of her own can.

"You. Are. Going. To. LOVE. This!"

Those were her last words before she took her seat and started a very long detailed explanation about the title.

40 minutes later.

Admitedly, Shizuku's description was so in depth that I couldn't drink the coffee as fast as I thought and here I am surprised while looking at the bottom of the can that has some liquid still in it.

"This sounds like an injustice that I would not be able to forget."

The rain has calmed down now yet my mind feels on fire after saying those words.

Another small sip.

"Truly sad! Forever my God... May you rest in peace, you beautiful man. I'll never forget those moments of high adrenaline...!"

And the last sip thus enforcing the necessity to slam the empty can onto the table straight away.

"You know..."

"E-Eeeek!"

"I may enjoy a lot of details as I've said to you, but there is one goddamn thing that I can't tolerate!"

"B-But Yukishiro, there was no other way!"

I double slammed the can on the table out of fury.

"No! No! No! You could've been vague about it, but you just had to go into too much depth to the point of spoiling me! I mean, what's even the point of reading it anymore!? You mentioned five times throughout the whole speech that I just had to read Killing Stalking but you went a mile ahead to tell me everything about it!"

"Um, I actually left a lot out honestly..."

"Oh, really?"

"Yeah, for example, Bum got r--"

She doesn't get sarcasm so I had to tap her mouth with my right hand for a second while flashing a smile mixed with some soft words.

"No a single word out of you regarding Killing Stalking~~~"

I'll start it tonight honestly.

That aside, I untapped her mouth rather quickly and went straight to the important factor here, at long last.

"Now that I... UNFORTUNATELY, got to know what the actual title means... What's in that book? Is that why you are here?"

Contrasting my serious look, Shizuku simply laughed out loud once she captured the essence of my question and intentions.

"Hahaha... No. It's nothing like that. I take it you want to look at it?"

"Of course."

That was such a stupid question. It's the only reason as to why I'm here in the first place. 

"Okay, just a second..."

"I'll just be honest with you, Shizuku, but I'll be heavily disappointed if what you have to show doesn't go beyond the margin of good."

Click; the lock has been unlocked or so did Shizuku's expression mixed with the alarming sound of the lock being released. In front of me, she lashed out yet another confident look before delivering me her thoughts.

"I live to please."

Right after she retrieved her key from the lock, she passed me the book and started to open her eyes extremely wide.

As I unfolded the cover page and was about to get into the supposed first page, Shizuku said something of great interest.

"Some guys in our class are kinda hot, don't you think?"

"Physical attraction is your thing?"

"No, I'm just generally speaking. They are kinda hot, really. I think we can agree on that factor."

"Sure..."

I'm sapiosexual. I'm not saying that physical appearance doesn't matter, of course it matters, but what contributes the most when it comes to stimulating the mind of a sapiosexual human being like me, is undoubtedly a display of supreme unparalleled intelligence.

"Ah, so this is what it's all about..."

The longer I keep folding from page to page the more I realize what sort of person Shizuku really is.

"It's one thing to make drawings of ships between characters since you are a fujoshi, Shizuku, but I seriously didn't think that you would go as far as making drawings of the boys in your class to feed your delusions..."

"Delusions?! What are you talking about?! Look! Don't you see how perfect they are for each other! Kawahara always looks at Hyunda in class more than any other guy! And Hyunda gives him the cold shoulder in return! HOT! Don't even get me started when Kawahara grabbed him by his color that one time in P.E... I swear, I almost lost it... Hehehe..."

Inside this book contains Shizuku's drawings featuring the boys in our class being a couple. She even went as far as drawing sexual positions of them...

Her art is really good but it's pretty obvious that what fuels her motivation is the fact that she's drawing BL in the first place.

"You shipped every single one of them loooooool."

"W-Which one is your favorite...?!"

She doesn't realize that I'm mildly expressing my disappointment and that I'm actually not looking forward to discussing this, at all.

Or so I thought until I rapidly folded into an interesting section beyond the drawings.

"Database?"

"Geez, you didn't answer my question..."

Her disappointment is beyond my caring, but even so, Shizuku continued and replied to my question.

"I have an utter dislike for baseless things in general and I myself am an avid fan of criminology as a whole. I've invested myself into making a lot of criminal profiles over these years... With that said, I don't need to explain myself but I will just in case you didn't get what I just implied. We are all criminals technically... So... To think that I haven't taken any action regarding the interest I just described would be ludicrous, wouldn't it be, Yukishiro?"

In contrast to my previous free actions involving unfolding every new page and so on, I didn't have that freedom as Shizuku forcefully took back her book before I could get there.

If such is the case, then I might as well express my disappointment.

"This is frankly disappointing. Did you invite me here just to tease your own content? Do you want an art review or something? What a joke."

"Now, now, that wasn't my intention! Don't get mad here!"

"Then?"

"I was just thinking about the recent events and... there is a very extremely high chance that I know who is behind it, according to my profiles. By the way, consider this teasing, but... It's a boy."

!!!!

"Hahaha, I knew it, I knew it! You are aware too! That this will practically be a waste of time. The classes are quite ridiculous, honestly. We are forced to cooperate with others in order to create a profile on the suspect but at the end of the day, it will just create confusion among us girls. Meanwhile, the actual orchestrator is on that island. However, all in all, how did you reach such a conclusion...?"

I've underestimated her, it seems.

Apparently I'm not the only one who has the same suspicion.

Shizuku's suspicion lies within that database that she only knows. 

"If I reveal my reasoning will you tell me who you have in mind that is, according to your database, the prime suspect?"

In any case, I'll just lie if she says yes. 

She believes that she's in an advantageous position simply because that database supposedly holds information that I need to know.

"No, I don't want to conduct this that way. I think we both know the value of our information and that we would rather prioritize the value to ourselves. So, how about we make a soft deal instead of a blind trade?"

"I see, so you are aware of that possibility. What does your deal involve exactly, Shizuku?"

It all depends on what the deal strictly revolves around, realistically speaking. Just because the circumstance can possibly change, there isn't any reason to falter.

"I'll start with my part. What my side essentially has to offer. I can give you full access to the database and in it, you, just like me, will immediately realize who the prime suspect really is. Yes, that's right. Not only my reasoning for it but the entire information."

Questionable. Her source could entirely just be bad. Then again, that's something I could take advantage of as a means to apply consequences for lackluster information in the first place.

"I can reveal the database at any given time. Therefore, this means that I'm not applying an expiration date on my side. You benefit greatly just from this factor alone, I believe."

"If the information you have is any good in the first place, that is. Otherwise, it's just a waste of time."

"I can tell you ahead of time that your doubts aren't really necessary. I mean it."

"I'll judge the value of your information afterward then. Be aware though, I don't forgive liars. I'll bury you alive if you are messing with me."

In light of the seriousness in my dreadful words, Shizuku got mildly exasperated; almost having a relatively hard time producing subsequent words.

"....You could trust me a little... here... Anyways... I assume that you are fine with this?"

"As I've implied, as long as I have the type of information that I am seeking, I don't have a problem, so it's a yes."

"...Yukishiro, why are you so hung onto this? I think you are just like me when it comes to Yulia. Frankly, we don't care. So why?"

Such impertinence. 

"I'm in love. I can't help myself. This person has shown me a love that I'm finding extreme difficulty to repay. Some would call me obsessed yet it's all in a simplistic state so far. I can't stop thinking about him. It's impossible. If thoughts about him are a disease, then I would gladly die for the sake of it."

Regardless, this is pretty much an understatement. 

"Such passion... I'm moved..."

"Well, it's been like this for a while. Now you know who I've been referring to through the past days. So, what is the part that I must do to make this even?"

Lights being turned on without any warning at all symbolized that our conversation would have to meet a swift end by Olivia's hands as she did the full act herself yet Shizuku spoke her words nonetheless lastly.

"Since we aren't going to find the suspect because he's technically on the island, the suspect will have to be a girl. And I just have the one in mind..."