After going down again from the second floor,I immediately check the big tree.I see,

they are still there.I go towards to their meeting place and greet them in surprise.

"You don't seem happy today,the three of you."

They look up to me with a somehow puzzled face.They probably didn't know why I came here.

"What kind of business did you need from us,

Hashimoto?."

Instead reacting to my greeting to them,she immediately ask me a question.Well that was already expected.

"I just want to asked you again some questions regarding to the murder case."

"Haaaaaa?."

The one who react is Hoshino-san.It seems like she probably didn't like what I said.On the other hand,Reina-san asked a question

"I thought that the interview is already done?."

"That was true but it was a different matter right now,Reina-san."

"No.You don't understand it,Hashimoto.I will not say anymore about the case.I'm already given what you need so it's your task now to solve it."

"That was true but there is something that was bothering me about you.And it will be hard for me to solve this case without your confirmation about IT."

"Huuuh?.Are you scheming something right now,Hashimoto?.Oi girls,this guy is trying to accused us as the murderer.If you can't solve this case on your own,why did you volunteer yourself in the first place?."

The other girls laughed a little bit with with that statement.It seems like it will be hard for me to get my answers I needed from so maybe I should take this situation in a different apporoach.

"I'm not planning with that.It just that there is still one more thing that you haven't say to me,Reina-san."

"Huuuh!!?.I don't know what are you trying to say from the start,Hashimoto.You're getting in my nerves right now."

"Just go away now" added by Hoshino-san

"That's right.That's right." interject by Ichika-san

It seems like the three of them really wants to disappeared in their eyes.Before,it was Hiten-

san and now these people.Really,could this be that I'm really hated by my all classmates but just failed to noticed it.

But even with that,I'm sorry.You will not be able to stop me here.

"What I'm talking about here is about you,

Reina-san.To be honest,I have a clear idea why did you look pale and nervous after going outside from the restroom after the earthquake stopped.And I think it was something that you didn't want to share to Hoshino-san and Ichika-san."

"Huuuuh?.What are you talking about?.

This guy is really pissing me off now,

Tsujinaka."

Hoshino-san throw again an insult to me.But Reina-san didn't react to that.I looked to her.She was wearing a serious face right now.Her mood completely change just after hearing my words.

"What's wrong,Tsujinaka?." asked by Ichika-san.

Reina-san didn't answer that but instead,she aksed me a question.

"What are you talking about?."

You're still dodging my sudden statement,

even though it makes you to react differently?.

That's not good,Reina-san.

"Well like I said,it's about your expression after going outside from the restroom that time.I want to talk about it to you alone."

She didn't answer but she still giving that serious face.After some time,she spoke up.

"Nene,Ruri.Go somewhere else first.I will just prove to this guy that we are innocent from this murder case."

Hoshino-san and Ichika-san looked at each other with a somehow puzzled face.Then Hoshino-san asked.

"You're really okay with this,Tsujinaka?."

"Yeah.Don't worry."

"Then if that's the case,we will stay first in the canteen." said Ichika-san.

"I see.Then I will just go there after talking to this guy."

After that,both of them left the scene.

"So Hashimoto,what do you want to confirm from me?.Also,what did you mean when you said you know something about what happen to me back then?."

It seems like my plan suceeded.I actually want to talk to her alone.But well,it was also fro her sake since this was something that she definitely didn't want to tell to others,even with her friends.

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

"Well this is just my theory.Actually,I really don't want to believe it since it contradicts your own personality but that was the only other possible reason for that."

"Tch.Can you go straight to the point?."

It seem like she didn't like the way how I setting the things up.But anyways,let's do a simple test.

"Before that,I want you first to go in the restroom alone,Reina-san."

"Huuuuhh?."

"What,can you not do that?."

"And why did I need to follow your order,Mr.

Fake Detective?."

She didn't use my name but instead,the nickname she used earlier in the interview.

Again,I want to say that I kinda like that nickname.Really suits to me.

"You will not do it?."

"You are an idiot,Hashimoto.Why would I need to go in the restroom if you are going to do an interview again to me?."

"Then we can just talked to there,Reina-san."

"You are really an absolute idiot."

She still insulting me and dodging her own 'dark secret'.If that's the case,I will set the truth now.

"It's not 'you don't want to follow my request',

Reina-san.The reason why you don't want to go in the restroom is because 'you can't go there'."

"What did...you mean?."

She still dodging the truth but this time,it feels like she already know where this conversation will be going so I continue pressuring her.

"About the girls' restroom,Reina-san.I can assure one fact there-that it was really dark inside if you didn't turn on the lights,even though it's morning."

"How did you....know that?."

"Hmmm.Ah you mean the fact that it was really dark inside the girl's restroom?.Well there's one time where I entered there accidentally because I thought it was the boy's restroom.Well even without that little incident,it still easy to confirm that fact.You just need to peek from the outside."

"...."

She didn't replied back to me but instead she just widen her eyes a little bit.I see.So I was right afterall.

Well it was easy to know.And I think that it was a slight mistake from engineers for not putting any windows on the restroom,which makes it block the sunlight outside.Maybe the reason for that is because it was almost touching the spare room.

"You see,you entered the restroom earlier in the morning right?.You stayed there until the earthquake happens.Usually,people will immediately go to an open area after an earthquake.But you didn't do that.You stayed there until Hoshino-san and Ichika-san help you out.And you looked very nervous when you came out from the restroom.There are only two possible reasons for why you look like that,Reina-san."

"Just like..I said,I was just so nervous because of the earthquake!!."

She shouted at me.And from the looks of it,she was already panicking.Maybe the clues I'm been saying all this time really hits her.But she just don't want to admit.Anyways,let deliver the final blow.

"Well that was close,Reina-san.The first possible reason is maybe you are the one who killed Chinatsu-san and after regretting it,you got panic and nervous.And the second is maybe you are AFRAID of something.You said you got nervous because of the earthquake but I think you have forgotten one more fact."

"What....do you mean....."

No,she really haven't forgot that.She just don't want to say it because it was very crucial point in her dark secret.

"The fact that electricity was cut off after the earthquake.Which cause for the lights inside to not work,Reina-san."

"..."

"Restroom.Very dark inside.Afraid of something.Electricity.Lights off.There is only one meaning behind these things I been saying to you all this time."

"Don't tell me...."

"That's right.Nyctophobia."

"...."

Nyctophobia is an extreme fear of the dark.I

heard that people who have this may have trouble sleeping,have panic attacks and may avoid leaving the house after dark.But thank goodness she didn't suffer that much in her case as she recover immediately after that.

"Well there is also this what we called seismophobia,people who had an extreme fear of earthquakes but I reject that idea.

Primary because you can recover and go outside immediately after the earthquake stops.But you didn't do that because it was really dark inside.That time,you are waiting for Hoshino-san and Ichika-san to pick you up.And that's really what happen earlier."

I'm sure when she go again to the restroom while I'm doing my interview to others earlier,she asked her friends to accompany her,since the electricity still not going back.

After that,a silence occur between us.I didn't say anything anymore.I'm just waiting for her what kind of reaction she will show after revealing her own secret.After some time,she finally spoke up.

"So...what will you get after knowing my secret?."

She asked me that in a sowehow soft voice.

She was not angry anymore and instead,she is showing her concern from her eyes.

"Don't worry.I will not tell to others your secret.Of course,it's up to you wether you believe or not.But in exchange,I want you to answer my question."

I have no intention to spread her secret since I will not gain anything from it.

But maybe the reason why she doesn't want to tell it to others,even with her friends is because she thinks it will destroy her own image.The student named Tsujinaka Reina was already known for being the boss of this school from the start.Even Ayumi-san,the Class President didn't want to messed up with her.That's why if that secret was learned by her classmates,her domination on this school be lowered.

But if you will ask me,that's not what I'm thinking honestly.

"Go ahead.Make it quick.My friends are waiting for me."

"I see.Then way back when you are in the restroom.Did you saw someone from the time you go there until you are help out by Hoshino-san and Ichika-san?."

"I think you already asked that question earlier,

Hashimoto.And you already know my answer for that.I didn't saw anyone there."

"No one come even while the earthquake is happening?"

"Of course none."

"How about after the earthquake?.Did someone came to the restroom."

She opened her eyes a little bit wide then sighed.Hmmm,did I asked something weird?.

"You are really an absolute idiot no,

Hashimoto.Of course there are someone who came to the restroom.And those are Nene and Ruri to help me in coming out from the restroom."

"Only them?."

"What the hell,Hashimoto!?.You're just asking the same question from earlier."

"I'm sorry,I'm sorry."

This was an important thing I want to confirm from her.I want to make sure that what she said earlier in the first interview is really the truth.

"Well that's it..Thank you very much for your cooperation,Reina-san.You can go now."

"Is that so?."

"Well even though you keep dodging the clues I'm laying down earlier,thank goodness that my theory is right afterall.You said to your friends that you want to prove your innocence in this case right?.I think you already did that because of your secret."

"Tch.To think that you will know my secret after hiding it in the past ten months from others,are you perhaps some esper

Hashimoto?."

"Of course not.I'm just a fake detective."

I describe myself using the nickname she given to me.

After realizing that there's nothing to talk about anymore,she finally left.While she is walking,I suddenly called her.

"Reina-san."

She stopped in her tracks,look back and asked.

"What is it,Mr.Fake Detective?."

Well it is not really something special.It more like an advice to her.

"You better to tell that secret to Hoshino-san and Ichika-san.They are your friends afterall."

"Tch."

She just gave me that kind of answer and continue on walking.I'm not sure what does it mean but the most important thing right now is I got what I needed.