Chapter 82

When I wondered why Misora-san suddenly and inexplicably proclaimed her own innocence, the reason stood right next to me—the President, scratching his head and scowling. After glancing around for agreement, Misora turned toward him.

He noticed I had come back, eyes widening as he called out.

"Ah, Hyoga."

"What happened?"

He explained that she'd just boldly proven her innocence and asked my advice.

"Well, I only stopped her because this Misora-senpai was trying to slip away from the scene. I mean, the police interview's coming up, right?"

"Right."

So she'd tried to run. No doubt she had something inconvenient to hide. As I started to suspect and think it over, Misora brushed it off.

"It's a waste of time, right? Like I said, when that girl fell to her death, I was onstage in front of the audience. Dozens—hundreds—of people can vouch for me. Why would I need to stay?"

Exactly. Hearing her repeat it convinced me.

She's the culprit. If she merely claimed innocence while others wept, I couldn't be sure. But she keeps saying it: "The moment she fell, I was onstage."

The fall might not have happened during the performance. After the play was halted by the fire, the body could have been dropped amid the flames.

Reira-san vanished even before the curtain rose; there's no scene after the black backdrop lifts. Quietly, unnoticed, her corpse could have been placed onstage before the play began.

Only I, Professor Shishido, and the culprit know the true moment she fell.

Without considering that possibility, Misora flatly declared, "She died while I was performing." If she really didn't know, she should have waited for the police to announce the estimated time of death before offering her alibi.

I spoke to her, radiant in her sparkling costume.

"You really didn't do it, did you?"

"Of course not. No matter how you look at it, I had no time to push her. Are you saying I controlled her with a song?"

"N-no, that's impossible. You're right..."

"Glad that's settled."

I had one more thing to check.

Whether she was covering for someone. With her arrogant personality, it was conceivable she'd shield another to stand out, but her words made that unlikely.

If she were shielding someone, she'd need to know the culprit. During the fire she escaped with the other actors, so chances are slim she saw the culprit or any dropped evidence.

Which would mean she saw the culprit's written plan, yet she denied that too.

The reason is a mismatch between her statement and the facts. Misora testified Reira fell during the performance, yet Reira fell after the fire started and everyone fled.

Had she truly seen the plan, she wouldn't misstate the time.

For now, that's all I can deduce. I resolved to find out why she misstated the alibi time.

"Um, one more thing. When you ran during the fire, were you with anyone?"

"Of course. No need to ask around—anyone would notice someone fleeing in this glittering outfit."

"Right..."

"See? Even while escaping, people saw me."

A circle member, eyes red from crying, confirmed, "That's right, we escaped together," giving Misora an airtight alibi. After that, no one looked at her with murderous intent—nothing could stop it now.

Well, that's not what I should dwell on now. Let me organize what this exchange revealed.

For a moment I thought she'd deliberately misstate the time to shift everyone's perception of the murder. Yet that's wrong: no matter the exact time, Misora has an alibi.

While the President kept Misora back, saying, "We'll still need interviews about possible motives," I made my move.

I needed a detective I could trust.

I approached a patrol car; the driver's door opened and someone stepped out.

"Detective Akaba!"

When I called, she paused mid-step.

She tilted her glasses, as if suspecting I were a mirage.

"Once again, you're at a crime scene..."

"We can talk later. Right now catching the culprit comes first."

"Okay. My, you look ready for battle."

My heart lurched. Had I been breathing hard? Unconsciously?

I prided myself on not showing emotion, yet she could apparently read thoughts from faces. Honestly, it's a bit reassuring—

—except when she'd rather leave the case to me or Detective Chikage.

"W-well, we still have no evidence. This time the suspect even has an alibi..."

"Oho, an alibi trick! I love those!"

"You like alibi tricks?"

"Y-yeah!"

Detective Akaba lit up. She answered "Coming!" each time an officer called her name, then skipped toward the officer who'd hailed her.

Meanwhile the firefighters finished up; the police were about to seal the scene.

Seizing the gap, Misora dashed from the rear. Where was she going? Toward the front entrance—she seemed to be sneaking back to the scene via an unsealed route. My head throbbed at the thought.

She must be trying to destroy evidence. Carefully observing, I resolved to follow and shatter her alibi with whatever proof I found.

At the same moment, two others shadowing Misora startled me: Senior Kiriyama and Professor Shishido. In conspicuous outfits, they headed for the scene—why?

"Hey, both of you! The scene must stay intact. You can't go in! Interfering with the police investigation—didn't you hear...?!"

Yet I—no, the President behind me—entered the scene as well. I had no right to stop them.

*Sigh...* Truly.

"President, please keep a proper eye on Misora."

"Huh? Why me?"

"...Huh? Do I really have to explain?"

I pressed my aching head harder with my hand.