[https://i.imgur.com/9AvUAG4.jpg]
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The sound of rain resounds in the dark street. The sound of a car braking violently, twitching in the starless night. The light of the street lamp illuminates the silhouette of a naked girl, her eyes closed, her hair long and wavy. The garbage bags under her back serve as a mattress on which she sleeps peacefully. The car is stopped, the bright red lights light up just below the trunk and the passenger door opens suddenly. With a hurried hand, from a worried woman, with a firm grip. The woman doesn't even take the time to put her hood over her head, the raindrops end up on her long red hair; the same color as the girl's. The woman trembles and as she takes another step closer, her heart stops. Her rain-wet cheeks are now also soaked with tears of mixed emotions. The man driving the car gets out in turn and runs to join his wife, before seeing that the unconscious girl—
It happened about two and a half years ago. Time passed, as slowly as it did quickly, and it's a story only three people know. A father. A mother. A daughter.
The reunion between parents... and their child.
From now on, this girl is heading with unhurried, but not slow, steps towards the school where classes have finally started again. After a well-deserved summer vacation, the children and teenagers are going back to school on August 30, 2022. The penultimate day of this sunny month, and the first day of the school year.
This girl heading to school, a backpack with barely an empty pencil case and a notebook with blank pages, has a story that only she and her parents know.
Well, that's not entirely true. Because in reality, this girl…
Has no memory of the 5 months she was missing.
Nor why…
She has a fox tail and fox ears.
CHAPTER 1
⎾Fox-Eared Girl⏌
It's a sunny day, although a little less hot than the old ones. Summer is slowly fading away, preparing to give way to fall, which arrives in precisely 24 days. The students talk to each other as they walk by each other. It is a day when friends meet again after two long months of vacation, but also a day when new friendships will bloom. The sun is shining brightly, happy for the start of the school year, no clouds blocking its warm rays. The teachers are already inside the school, preparing for the arrival of the students. The principal has already checked that the microphone is working, and she feels no trepidation at all about the short speech she is going to give at the start of the year. The boards where the classes and their students are listed are already ready, but they will not be visible until after the principal's speech. Some of the teachers are waiting outside and watching the students who are filling up the playground of Tetazo High School more and more. The birds are singing and flying together, just as some couples are talking and laughing together. Even if this day means a nightmare for some, the good mood reigns on this August 30th and the trees show their beautiful colors, while the morning breeze refreshes the spirits. The time on the watches and clocks indicates that it is 9:54 am: only 6 minutes left before school starts.
- ...
As the students chat together on the way, some of them notice a certain person at their side. She walks leisurely, looking straight ahead, while her outfit is recognized by all. Some smile, others greet her and a minority of them ignore her or don't know who she is. The girl returns their smile and greets them in return, one hand holding the bag behind her back.
- Deshyaaaaa!!!
As she walks quietly, a girl shouts her name and starts running towards her. Deshya stops dead in her tracks and turns around before seeing a girl jump on her.
- W-Waa?!!
Deshya doesn't have time to dodge as she is caught in the girl's arms and falls to the ground with her. Most of the students around them stop and some of them run to see if everything is okay. However—
- Deshyaaa, I missed youuuu!!!
- A-Aaah, Amora!!!
The girl giving her best friend a big hug waddles over, not wanting to let go so soon. Deshya pats her back and asks her to let go, her cheeks all red, and Amora finally listens.
- Okay...
She stands up and puffs out her cheeks, offended. She notices the crowd that has gathered around them and smiles.
- You have so many fans, Deshyshy!!!" said Amora to her.
Deshya gets up in turn and puts her sweater back on her before sighing.
- It is especially your abrupt hug that intrigues them..." admits Deshya.
- Both of them!
Amora puffs out her cheeks again and stares intently at Deshya. She puts her hands in front of her and smiles with embarrassment.
- O-Okay, okay...
Admitting defeat, Deshya does not try to argue any longer with Amora. The latter shows a beautiful and big smile and grabs the arm of her best friend.
- We're going to be late, let's go!
Amora starts to run, Deshya's arm still in hers, and doesn't care in the least about the many looks on their faces. However, most of the students are not really looking at Amora, nor at Deshya herself, but rather at what is moving in all directions behind her:
A long, large and fluffy fox tail.
- W-Wait, Amoraaa!!!" shouts Deshya.
They finally arrive in front of the large open school gate and both pass through it at the same time, Amora with a beaming smile; Deshya with an amused, but also embarrassed expression. Amora lands on the ground with both feet and finally lets go of Deshya. She takes a proud look.
- Mph! Our 4th year* can begin !
(* : 1st year = 13 years old. 6th year = 18 years old (without any failure). It is the opposite of France)
Deshya properly puts her bag back behind her back and looks around. The playground is just as she remembers it, though even more crowded than normal... The school building hasn't changed since then; the only detail she can notice from here is that the third floor window of the old science classroom is finally fixed, but that's not surprising. Deshya hears Amora calling her and she notes that it is already far enough.
- Wait for me, raaah!" grumbles Deshya.
She runs to join her and weaves in and out of the crowd of students.
- Hey, Deshya!
- Hi, Deshya!
- How is our fox?
- I love this sweater!!! I'm glad you put it back on!
- Yo,yo, fox!
- W-Waa, your soft tail rubbing my face... Eeeh....
As she sneaks in, many students greet her and talk to her, but she doesn't have time to respond to everyone. Her long fox tail rubs against some people, but few would come to complain about such a thing. She finally arrives at Amora's side and sighs heavily.
- Always so much energy..." sighs Deshya.
Amora makes two "V's" with her index and middle fingers, a big smile on her face. Deshya scratches the back of her hood and looks at the director as she takes the big stage.
- I arrived in time..." thinks Deshya.
Not being used to waking up before 10am, she got up from her bed a little too late. Her father was already at work, so it was her mother who had to call her, having set her alarm clock a little earlier than usual in case Deshya had forgotten hers; and she did well. Her mother saved her ass this time... again. Deshya owes her a free breakfast.
As the students are all talking to each other, causing a rather unbearable commotion, the microphone turns on and crackles. The principal taps it twice to make sure it's working and smiles.
- Welcome to all!
The incessant noise of the crowd calms down little by little and finally, only one or the other disrupter is still heard, even if nobody shouts. Deshya is attentive, like the other students.
- I hope that your summer vacation went well and that you were able to have fun and rest.
Deshya lowers her eyelids a little, grinning a little silly.
- To have fun, yes, but to rest...
- I know that coming back to class and starting a new school year must be tiring, even depressing, for some of you. However, we will do our best to make sure you have a great year at our school.
Tetazo High School, like the elementary school, is known to be a beloved school and very respectful of its students. Moreover, in the last two years, its popularity has only increased, and this is because of three people in particular, although one of the three is the major cause. The principal is a smiling and friendly woman who listens to everyone, students, teachers and parents alike.
- We haven't changed much in our programs, but the gym has been redone as planned. I hope you will enjoy it.
Sounds of joy echo through the crowd of students and Amora taps her feet, happy too. After all, she was one of the people who proposed changes to the old gym.
- Like last year, your classes will be listed on the boards in the great hall. You will be able to go there in a few minutes.
Deshya wonders which class she will be in. She knows that there are three different classes for fourth graders in the 'general' function this year. Amora grabs Deshya's hands.
- I hope we'll be together!!!" she drops with big eyes.
- I hope so," her friend answered honestly.
This makes Amora very happy and she giggles with joy.
- Most of the important information will be said by your teachers. As always, there are no classes today or tomorrow. You will simply receive your notebooks, get to know your teachers and classmates, and learn what to buy for each class. Tomorrow will be similar, but even shorter. Don't forget, classes end at 4:15 pm.
More or less everyone already knows what the director says, but it is always useful to remind them. In addition, new students come to the school every year, so it is important to explain everything again without taking up their time unnecessarily. The principal places her right hand, extended, on her chest.
- I am your director, Kana Koweni. Ms. Koweni is my nickname.
A medium-sized woman whom Deshya likes a lot, but she is not the only one: most of the students like her a lot, and not without reason.
- Never hesitate to ask me any question, I will be listening.
Goodness in her voice and a little Swedish accent give her a certain charm. She will soon reach 60 years old, but she doesn't look old at all.
- Please respect your classmates and welcome the new ones with great respect. Thank you.
Applause rings out from the crowd of students. Deshya claps, too, though with less intensity than Amora; but who can match her energy? The principal clears her throat and reaches into her pocket for a piece of paper. Deshya looks almost frightened, knowing what it means; and the beginnings of screams in the crowd prove that she is not the only one.
- I can see that you are already greatly excited, ahah. Like last year, we are going to offer you a puzzle!
And then the crowd starts to get excited and shout for joy. Deshya hides under her hood and Amora smiles teasingly. She pushes her forward and the students move aside to let her pass and Deshya sighs heavily, her fox tail touching the ground. She climbs onto the stage along with two others and, having arrived next to the director, she looks at the cluster of students jumping around and raising their arms with joy and haste. Deshya sighs again and looks at the two other students who are smiling at her.
- Yo, little fox!" the girl says.
- I was sure they were going to do it again this year," says the boy.
- I suspected it too..." replies Deshya.
The director takes the microphone in her hands and walks away from the three students as she speaks.
- As you all must know, this is the "Fox Incorporated"!
This name comes to excite the crowd in madness even more. Deshya can see Amora waving pink pom poms in the air.
- She really took pom poms?!" exclaims Deshya internally.
The director sits down on a chair a little further away and raises the sheet of paper in her hands.
- We thought of a tough puzzle and our three geniuses here will try to solve it! Like last year, the first one to solve it will win a human-sized plush toy from ToysNUS!
‘ToysNUS' is a well known company that makes quality toys. Deshya has already bought many items from them. ‘MINALAS' and 'Art Of Play' are also very popular. The girl between Deshya and the boy cracks her fists and smiles.
- Still to me the plush...!" she lets go.
Deshya looks at her with a faint smile. Last year, she was the one who solved the most quickly. Deshya would have liked to have the giant stuffed animal, but she had not been prepared to be put in front of such a huge crowd, so her brain did not work as expected. She had been greatly disappointed and felt no motivation the whole day. Even though she was still a little embarrassed to be in front of so many people, she couldn't let it happen this time. She looks at the happy crowd in front of her and squints her eyes.
- ...
Three years ago, Deshya never thought she would be so popular. After all... she is the one who made this school so much more popular.
‘The fox-eared girl'.
That's the nickname she's given. Her real name is 'Deshya Oveja' and before the story that happened when she was 13, she was far from being popular. A girl who often keeps to herself, who never gets noticed too much and who, despite her very good points, has nothing special; except her imagination and her brain. She was not known by many people and she never thought that the next year everyone at school would know her.
Because at the age of thirteen, a few days after school started, Deshya disappeared without a trace.
She doesn't even remember what she was doing at the time, but her parents explained that it was just after school ended; in short, she disappeared on her way home.
5 months.
For 5 long months, Deshya was missing. The police made a long search, the whole neighborhood was turned upside down, many houses were inspected and even the airports were questioned about the passengers.
Nothing.
Deshya was nowhere. Disappeared as if she had never existed. The police couldn't find her, no one observed her and no ransom demand was made. Deshya's body, alive or dead, seemed to have left this planet...
However, after 5 long months of searching and no answers, no findings... Deshya's father and mother found her.
She was unconscious, completely naked, lying on garbage bags. An inhabitant of the village where she was found, who had passed by the street only ten minutes before, confessed that he had not seen anyone at that place.
Deshya had suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
Even in the present, no one knows what really happened... especially since another, almost even bigger mystery has emerged.
Deshya's fox ears and tail.
Until now, since her birth, Deshya has always been a normal human. Sure, some people teased her because of her red hair and said that being red means having no soul, but Deshya was indeed human. Now, that is no longer the case. Her fox ears are real. Her fox tail is attached to her body and pulling on it or walking on it hurts. Ears or tail, they move and react according to her emotions, her feelings, even her own instincts. She no longer has human ears and hears everything through her fox ears. She runs a little faster and thanks to her long animal tail, she can take turns with even more agility than a normal human. While Deshya remains human in mind and in most of her body — especially since it doesn't appear that she has a new or missing organ — she can no longer be considered fully human.
She is a fox girl.
Her parents questioned her an unimaginable number of times, but Deshya always had a sad look on her face.
Because she doesn't remember anything.
She doesn't know when she disappeared. She doesn't know why. She doesn't know if it was someone or something that kidnapped her. She doesn't remember a single detail of the five long months when she didn't show a single sign of life. Some psychologists they went to see think that this is a natural mechanism for her to avoid the trauma, but since she remembers everything perfectly, except her five months, nothing is certain. Her friends. Her family. Unimportant details. Deshya remembers it all with ease.
But those 5 months in particular... Nothing. Complete amnesia.
Unfortunately, Deshya can't make her fox ears or tail disappear, but she couldn't stay home all her life either, so she hesitated to admit to everyone that she is now a girl with fox attributes, but her father flatly refused. It didn't take Deshya long to figure out why.
There are many reasons why she does not admit her real identity.
If it has been kidnapped and altered by someone or some group of people, she can endanger anyone who learns her secret. While this is unlikely, since she did not feel she was being watched and if she had, they would have come back for her, she would rather not take that risk.
There is also the risk of attracting crazy people. There are many people who want girls with animal attributes to exist in the modern world, so if they find out that she is a girl with fox attributes, there is a great chance that she will get kidnapped and even... She doesn't even want to think about the horrors that could be done to her. Even big companies, even nations, will come to try to get Deshya to do many experiments on her and try to understand how she can have fox ears and tail.
In short, if she confesses her real identity and it spreads, she will be in danger every second that passes. An unbearable life.
Yes, Deshya still comes to school despite this. She can't really hide her long and fluffy fox tail, but her mother knitted her some sweaters that have fox ears too, leaving room for hers and thus being able to hide them. The material used on the front of these ears is very thin so she can hear while hiding what's underneath.
When she came back to class, she had to lie and say that she was seriously ill and had even had to go to the hospital for a few months. She says that she has a fox tail on her back that is attached to a button on her panties and that she likes this style, feeling more like a 'she' as a fox; this is also why she wears such a sweater. Although many teachers and staff at the school did not accept such an outfit at first, after a long discussion with Deshya and Deshya's parents herself, an agreement was put in place and the director accepted that Deshya dresses like this.
Since then, Deshya's popularity has only increased, like an arrow that wishes to reach the heavens.
The whole school of Tetazo knows her. The nickname 'the girl with the fox ears' is shared by all and every day hundreds of students greet and chat with Deshya. Her presence in the school has given a new face to the buildings and in two years the number of students has doubled!
Nevertheless, Deshya is not the only reason for this popularity. Even though she is the main reason for it, two other people have also helped Tetazo High School's popularity.
The two people at her side.
‘Tessa Merossa' and 'Maruno Uffite'. With Deshya Oveja, they form 'Fox Incorporated'. That's the nickname they are given. Although they don't always hang out together, all three are in the 4th year, although
Maruno is 17 and Tessa is 18, Deshya is 16. All three are the reason for the popularity of the school and are very popular in the whole city; even some outside the city know them, although Deshya is the best known of the three.
- Ready to lose again?" smiled Tessa.
Deshya comes out of her thoughts and turns to Tessa. Maruno crosses his arms and looks ahead.
- Eh, we'll see.
He doesn't look angry; rather, he's even more determined to win this time. The director's microphone crackles and Deshya turns to her.
- Well, I'll read the puzzle! If anyone in the audience thinks they know the answer before Maruno, Tessa or Deshya, they can raise their hand and shout "I KNOW"! However, remember: if you answer wrong, it's two hours of detention.
Everyone suddenly calms down and Deshya does not hide her surprise. It seems to be a very severe punishment...
- Probably to avoid some idiots disconcerting us..." thinks Deshya with a small smile.
The director asks the three if they are ready and they nod. Deshya is not sure if she wants to do that, especially on the first day of class, but she doesn't necessarily want to get off the stage and give up: she'll draw even more attention…
Moreover, Deshya hates to give up.
- Well, I'll read the puzzle! If you have the answer, raise your hand directly," said the director.
She looks at her piece of paper and reads:
- 4/6- 10 * 3/6- 4 * 6/6 - 4 * 3/6- 6 * 3/6- 8 * 3/6- 4 * 3/6- 8 * 3/6- 5 * 6/6 - 4 * 3/6- 4 * 4/6- 3 * 3/6- 6 * 6/6 - 4 * 4/6- 11 * 3/6- 2 * 5/6- 4 * 3/6- 9 * 4/6- 11 * 3/6- 4.
She places the back sheet on her thighs to prevent cheating and smiles. She brings her microphone closer to her mouth.
- What is the message?
The silence is complete. Even Maruno, Tessa and Deshya are completely silent. Amora blinks and throws her pom-poms before shouting, pointing at the director.
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
- IT DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING!!!
The director puts a finger in front of her mouth, signaling her to be quiet, and Amora frowns, but when she sees Deshya's expression, she remains speechless. Deshya seems so focused.
- What kind of code is that...?!" she wondered, her eyes crinkling.
Deshya doesn't understand at all. Since it's a code made up of numbers, she suspects it's a message of different letters, but she can't even be sure. Moreover, there are many layers to this puzzle.
Already, the 'number/number' at the very beginning. They all end with a '6', which must be a very specific letter. The numbers before are only '3', '4', '5' or even '6'. Some of the combinations look the same, but there seem to be only three different '6's and only one '5'... The message is mostly '3'.
- Maybe the '6' after the '/' bar is unnecessary..." she wonders.
Then there is this '-' between the three numbers. First, the 'number/digit', then a '-' and finally...
Finally, the last number. It varies between '2' and '11'; in short, there is no '1' or '12'. Deshya doesn't have time to look at the other two beside her, but they don't understand what it could mean either... Deshya looks ahead, eyes still squinting.
- There must be a logic behind it. If I remove the '6' after the '/' bar, it makes... 4 - 10 * 3 - 4 * 6 - 4 * 3 - 6 * 3 - 8 * 3 - 4 * 3 - 8 * 3 - 5 * 6 - 4 * 3 - 4 * 4 - 3 * 3 - 6 * 6 - 4 * 4 - 11 * 3 - 2 * 5 - 4 * 3 - 9 * 4 - 11 * 3 - 4... !
Deshya seems to be on a track and she rubs her chin.
- If we do a quick calculation...
She's not the best at mental arithmetic, but it doesn't even take her six short seconds to do it all.
- -6, -1, 2, -3, -5, -1, -5, -2, 2, -1, 1, -3, 2, -7, 1, 1, -6, -7 and 1...
The crowd is silent, leaving them to reflect.
- Then, the '*' can be times... If I do the math—
Just as she is about to begin, the crowd makes a loud bang. Deshya blinks and looks to her right.
Tessa just raised her hand.
- OOOH!!!
- !!!
- TESSA!!!
- I WAS BETTING ON YOU, LET'S GOOOO !!!!!
The crowd starts shouting in all directions and Deshya frowns. She was faster at doing the math...! The director takes the microphone back in her hand.
- Did you find it, Tessa?
The girl with the long purple hair shows her beautiful white teeth with the arrogant smile she makes.
- It's a pretty simple calculation. Remove the '/6' and then do the subtractions...
Her look proves that she is sure of herself.
- And then multiply everything!
She points to the director and shouts her response:
- The message is a number!!! It's '6350400'!
Tessa swings her hair and gives a fiery look to the crowd.
- I will even say that '6350400' can mean 'MEL' in SMS code. And then, 'Mel' is an abbreviation for 'Electronic Messaging', in short—
- It's not that.
Just as she is in the middle of an explanation, the principal breaks her theory with a simple, short sentence into the microphone. Tessa slowly turns around, an embarrassed smile on her face.
- I-it's not that...?" she asks to repeat.
The director keeps her sweet smile, yet looks so ironic.
- No. I'm sorry.
Tessa sighs for a long time and lets her head fall. Nevertheless, she directly resumes her research: she never gives up either! Deshya rubs her right fox ear; or rather the piece of hood that hides it.
- I thought that was it, too..." thought Deshya.
She keeps looking for a meaning to this code, but she still doesn't understand... Maybe the '/' bars should not be removed? Then, should we divide all the numbers by '6' before calculating everything? Deshya is about to start calculating when she gently shakes her head.
- If that's all it is, it's almost too simple... There must be something else...
Deshya begins to observe the crowd before her. All the students are thinking too, but some are looking at the three of them, the 'Fox Incorporated' of Tetazo High School. Three students who are considered 'superior' in intellectual terms. However, Maruno has failed his year once and Tessa, twice. Of course, Deshya knows that this doesn't mean anything and she doesn't consider herself smarter than any of the two, but she finds it amusing that such geniuses have missed at least one year. Deshya watches the students in front of her carefully as she thinks, really not understanding. Of course, there must be a logic behind the message, but which one?
- ... In any case, they are in all directions...
She thinks about this as she watches them. Since they are all standing and no chairs have been prepared in advance, they do not form nice rows and columns.
- ... !!!
As she thinks about the students out of simple frustration at not finding an answer, a flash of lightning strikes her brain. She stares intently at the floor, thinks for a few moments and squints. Amora has picked up her pom-poms again and is waving them gently, supporting her best friend without making too much noise, when she notices the light in her eyes.
And then Deshya raises her hand.
- !!!
- Ooooh?!
- Our fox raised her hand!!!
The crowd starts to get excited again. Tessa and Maruno turn their gaze to her and the director takes the microphone again.
- Do you think you've got it, Deshya?" she asks.
Deshya lowers her hand, no smile on her face.
- It's a message that reveals a criminal, isn't it?
Silence resumes. Everyone is silent and most are stunned. The director blinks while Tessa smiles. Maruno slaps his forehead and sighs, having just understood the message. He shrugs his shoulders.
- Looks like we lost, Tessa.
Tessa scratches her hair.
- I admit I still don't get it..." she said, a little annoyed.
The boy smiles.
- Hey, Deshya will explain.
The girl in the fox sweater cleared her throat before smiling.
- "The killer is Maxime".
- !!!
- Oooh?!
- Maxime...?
- How did she come up with that???
- Is that what you think it is?
- Eeeh?!!!!
The crowd starts to get excited again. The director is silent, not yet confirming Deshya's answer. She brings her microphone close to her mouth—
- ...
She doesn't say anything yet, the paper still on her thighs. The atmosphere becomes more and more heavy and the lady says—
- ... Ahah!
Deshya opens her eyes wide. Had she been wrong?! Maruno suddenly turns around, also shocked. He had understood how Deshya had found the code, but this is something else again! Amora lowers her pom poms, sad to see that Deshya was wrong, and the director shakes her head, from left to right.
- No, no!
She shouts into her microphone, without hurting the students' ears, and laughs again. Deshya rubs her franche, grinding her teeth, not being able to believe that she had been wrong... Yet it seems so logical! The principal calms her laughter and puts the microphone back in front of her mouth.
- I mean, no, no, she is right!
And there, the silence resumes, again. Maruno and Tessa observe the director and Deshya raises her head. The director taps the paper on her thighs.
- I laughed because I didn't think she would say such a thing before saying the code.
The students all start looking at the girl with the long fox tail. Deshya sighs with relief and lets out a small moan.
- I thought I was wrong..." she says.
- Can you explain how you came to that conclusion?" the director asks her.
- ... Aaah!
Tessa cries out and scratches the back of her head.
- Raaaaah, I just figured it out!!!
She sits on the floor and sighs as she closes her eyes, disappointed in herself. Maruno pats her head in smiling, trying to comfort her. Deshya crosses her arms.
- At first, it may look like you have to do some calculations because of the '/' bars that could mean division, the '-' dashes that look like subtraction and the '*' asterisks that could be multiplication. Already, the mistake that Tessa and I made like idiots is that we should start with division or multiplication, not subtract first.
Tessa opens one eye and looks at Deshya.
- That's just the way I was calculating, but I figured if it was just mental math, it wouldn't be for us..." says Tessa.
- So I thought there was something else going on. It's when I looked at all the weirdos in the crowd that I understood.
She points to the students who are standing around, watching the scene, and some of them start screaming.
- What do you mean weirdos?!
- Just because you are popular doesn't mean you can insult us!!!
- I love it when you insult me, Deshyaa!
- It is not our fault that we are not… Wait, what did that guy say?!
Everyone starts laughing when a boy compliments... oddly enough Deshya, and Deshya rubs her eyes and sighs, not being able to believe that someone could say that out loud... She doesn't think any more about it and looks back at the principal.
- When I thought about the students being a messy crowd, I thought of a system with chairs. Anyway...
- Rows and columns... Right?
Maruno crosses his arms and smiles.
- I thought of this directly when you said the code. I don't believe it.
The students in the crowd still don't get it.
- Rows and columns...?!" asks a woman who is close to the scene.
Deshya nods.
- If I take the first letter of the code, it's '4/6- 10'. I was right to remove the '6', because in reality, it is simply there to give us a clue as to what the other two numbers mean; here, the '4' and the '10'.
Deshya's fox tail swings gently to the right and she smiles again.
- The '6' behind each '/' bar makes us understand that the number before the '/' bar is in fact a row... That of a computer keyboard.
- !!!!
- Bruuuuh?!
- What...??
Even with her explanation, most students don't understand what she means. She continues.
- In short, the first letter is '4/6- 10'. If we remove the '6' and understand that the '4' is the number of the row, it gives '4- 10'. The dash '-' just makes us understand that we have to separate the '4' from the '10', nothing more. In short, the fourth row of a AZERTY computer keyboard gives...
- ... Hmmm, isn't that where the 'CAPS LOCK' button is?" asks a student in the crowd.
Deshya nods.
- That's right. Then the '10' that's after the dash '-' just tells us what to pick... in that row.
She waves her hand.
- In short, the tenth key of the fourth row of the keyboard... is 'L'.
- !!!
- OOOOH !!!!
- Following this logic, we can form the letters of the message that make, in the end, "the killer is maxime".
- What about the '6/6'?" asked another boy in the crowd.
- It is simply to mark the spaces.
- And how could you know that it was a code on an AZERTY keyboard?!!!
Deshya's ears flutter, but they are stopped in her hood.
- That's all we have here and honestly, if it hadn't been clear with AZERTY, I would have just looked with QWERTY.*
(* : Note that this story is written in french at first and uses AZERTY keyboards.)
The students look at each other before they all start to scream with joy, throwing their hats or bags. Amora throws her pom-poms towards Deshya who catches them with an embarrassed smile. Tessa stands up with a disappointed look, but pats Deshya's shoulder with a small smile.
- This time, I don't win my stuffed animal, right?" she sighs.
Deshya shrugs her shoulders.
- Even the best don't win every time, do they?
Tessa blinked, mouth agape, but eventually she chuckled.
- It's true, it's true! But the worst ones never win, that's why Maruno will never win against either of us.
- HUUUUUUH???
Maruno screams and starts waving his fist in front of her, annoyed, but Tessa just ignores him and gets off the stage. The boy grinds his teeth.
- She's being a smartass, but I figured out the code right after Deshya said it, and she didn't!!!" he yells.
Deshya's eyelids droop and she smiles mockingly.
- You still had to wait for me to say it to understand it as well..." she thinks.
A few minutes later, when the crowd who went wild calmed down and Deshya has chosen which human sized stuffed animal she is going to take, she joins Amora to go and look at the big boards where all the classes are listed. Deshya looks down and observes the students in class 4A, but she is not there; neither is Amora.
- I am not in the same class as Maruno..." thinks Deshya.
So Maruno is in 4A, with neither Deshya nor Tessa. Then, in 4B—
- DESHYA, WE ARE TOGETHER!!!
Amora takes her best friend in her arms, crushing her and Deshya pushes her a little, telling her that she is suffocating, but Amora's absolute joy prevents her from hearing it. Deshya sighs and takes her in her arms too with a happy smile. After a few long seconds, Amora lets her go and hops on the spot.
- I am so happyyyyyyyy!!!" she expresses. We're in the same class, in 4B!!!
- Ahah, that's cool, I agree…
Amora stops hopping around and pouts.
- Moooh, you don't have to act cool, I know you're super happy!!!
- E-Eh?
- Yes!!! Look, your fox tail is wagging all over the place!!!
Deshya blinks and looks behind her to notice... Amora is right!!! She holds it and blushes.
- A-Ahah, but you know it's not a t-t-true fox tail, it works... n-not like that…
Deshya stutters and Amora smiles.
- No big deal!!! You move your pelvis and it moves your fox tail, so you're still happy!!!
Deshya sighs with relief.
- One day, I'll get caught…
This is her biggest fear: that her sweater will come undone or that someone will find out that she is really a girl with fox-like attributes somehow. If that happens, all her efforts will have been for nothing... Nevertheless, it seems so impossible that Deshya can say whatever she wants, they will believe her. She turns her attention back to the blackboard and looks at the students in class 4C…
- ... Tessa is in 4C, so... The three geniuses who are separated... Why I'm not surprised.
Deshya gets along well with Tessa and Maruno, so it makes her a little sad, but since she is with Amora and
some of her friends, she can't complain.
- Come on, let's go!" her friend said, grabbing her arm.
Deshya follows Amora, being careful not to drop her bag.
- I'm in the same class as her and I won the stuffed animal... My year is starting well, it seems..." thinks Deshya smiling.
The introductions of the different teachers and students are done without any problem. Lots of laughter, smiles and joy radiate from the classrooms and Deshya can sit next to Amora. Both are in the second row, second column, Amora on the door side and Deshya on the window side. The introductions go well and, as expected, Deshya is the one everyone comes to talk to, but fortunately, everyone starts talking to everyone else. Amora is happy to see that Alec and Lam are in the class, too, and she offers them to come and eat with Deshya for lunch; both accept.
The day goes on without a hitch. Deshya was able to get to know the new kids in her class, although there are many faces she recognizes. Despite being a bit shy at times, Deshya is not nearly as unsociable as she used to be. She has many friends and can't really complain about her popularity... Not everyone comes to bother her at any time of the day either: it is popular, but it is not a street lamp that attracts butterflies.
It is now 4:25 pm and Deshya is on her way home. The day, although it has been very nice and she is looking forward to getting to know her classmates better, has been long.
- At least our teachers are the same!" she thought.
Deshya jumps up to put her bag back on properly and feels her fox tail making some weight on her back. She squints her eyes.
- …
Deshya can't lie: she really likes having fox attributes. She can't imagine how many people, old or young, would like to be in her shoes... Whether it's her increased speed or her even cuter side, being a girl with fox attributes is really something she likes…
Unfortunately, she can't risk letting reality slip out of her sweater.
Her real ears, which are now fox ears, cannot be revealed. She must continue to hide the truth and make as much effort as possible to not let her fox tail wag on its own, or there will be suspicion. She knows that some people are wondering questions, so she can't afford to do anything and think no one will suspect anything. She sighs.
- If only…
Her eyebrows fall slowly and she looks at the ground. Despite all this time…
She still doesn't remember anything.
Deshya needs to know what happened... She needs to know why she is the way she is. She can't just live her whole life without thinking about it. Did someone change her? Something? An alien life, even? She doesn't believe in that, but now that she's a fox girl, she can't deny that she tells herself that the paranormal exists... If she at least knew whether or not she was in danger if she revealed the truth about herself, she could live with a little less worry... She sighs again.
- …
Deshya expects to find the truth, one day. She lifts her head and takes a deep breath of air. For now, she has no clue, but one day...!
As she walks, her left ear flutters. She slowly turns her face toward the house to her left—
When an explosion sounds.