↑ Chiaki Asahina above ↑

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'Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty'
— Mother Teresa

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"It would be best to tell everyone else all at once, but there are some within our group that we can't trust."

"Can't trust? What do you..."

"I'll explain from the beginning so just listen. Everything that I say to you from here on out is between us only."

No.

"I'm telling you this because I believe I can trust you, Matsumoto."

No, I don't want to hear it.

"Saya Asahina and Iori Yutaka... They're the ones responsible for the kidnappings."

Tadashi's face grew pale and his heart stopped. "Huh... What are you saying, Kobayashi?" He produced a shaky laugh. "Of course that's not the case! You're joking, right?"

Ayame only looked away in response, her silence only paining Tadashi further.

What does she mean Saya and Iori are responsible? That's not possible! Tadashi's mind racked for some answers as he clenched his fists to the point where they turned deathly white. An intuition! Yeah, an intuition! She must be telling me what me what she thinks happened!

Ayame closed her eyes. "I know this information will be hard to sink in but, I'm not lying."

Tadashi instantly looked up at the girl.

"It's not an intuition or what I think may have happened," she went on, shooting Tadashi a serious glance. "It's the truth. That's why I want to tell you."

"But," Tadashi began to reason, "Iori was kidnapped! How would that be?"

She shook her head. "He made himself appear to be kidnapped so his suspicions of the crime would be disregarded."

Tadashi's eyes widened. "What..."

"Even I don't know the real reason behind why he would do such a thing but I could reason that—"

"Wait, Kobayashi!" Tadashi cut her off, voice filled with incredulity. "This doesn't make any sense! Why would they want to kidnap our friends? And Asahina, when they went missing, she..." Tadashi bit down on his lip hard. "She was sad! She cried for her friends! Then how could she—"

"She could've just been playing the act."

"H-huh?" Tadashi asked, taken aback.

Ayame crossed her arms over her chest. "You thinking that way is all due to her manipulation. She fooled us all, Matsumoto. Iori Yutaka, too."

Tadashi dropped his hands. Acting? Saya was acting that day?

~FLASHBACK~

"I agree with Izumi." Saya's voice trembled as she spoke. "We should at least do something! This... It doesn't add up! It's suspicious!"

Her timid behaviour was replaced with a sudden burst of energy as she held out her hands.

"Sure, Moriko was kidnapped and everyone misses her. But now that Yutaka and Oogawa were kidnapped as well, this proves it!"

Saya shook as she bit her lip, debating on whether to say it or not.

She opened her mouth and swallowed hard, "Somebody in this club... kidnapped them."

Tadashi stood up in shock at her words. "That's not—"

"It's true!" she shouted, shaking slightly and causing Tadashi to step back.

Ryuu immediately rushed up to her and wrapped one arm around her shoulder, squeezing her. "Saya..."

"Saya, that doesn't make any sense!" Akira said, as she couldn't believe that her friend was actually saying that.

"It makes sense," Saya corrected her, burying her face into Ryuu's chest. "Our scenario matched exactly how the crime went to kidnap Moriko. They even chose the same person, and had also taken the planning sheet which we definitely placed inside the folder. Plus, they kidnapped our two closest friends too." Saya began to sob quietly. "You're all acting strange. It has to be true."

"Saya, calm down. That's not possible," Ryuu said softly, compressing his hold even more, and she started crying into his shoulder.

~END OF FLASHBACK~

No, Asahina wasn't acting. I know it, Tadashi thought to himself. Then how can I convince Kobayashi?

"Let me start from the beginning since you have so many arguments," Ayame stated, giving Tadashi a look. "Then, if you have any contradictions in my theories, point them out for me."

Tadashi nodded, and Ayame opened her mouth.

"Since the beginning, Yutaka and Asahina were acting strange. Think back to it. To what exactly Asahina said that day we were choosing who to kidnap during that Crime Games."

"Do you mean..."

~FLASHBACK~

"On the first day of school, I saw her staring at a drink in the vending machine. I purchased it for her and she drank it despite not knowing who I was. I bet if we put it in that exact drink, she'll gulp it down."

~END OF FLASHBACK~

"Remember what the file said that day when we were looking for information?" Ayame questioned. "Didn't it say that Moriko Kitoshi missed the first week of school because she was on vacation in America?"

Tadashi's eyes widened as he remembered the file. "Yeah... It did."

"Then, wouldn't that contradict everything Asahina had said? At first I didn't mention it because I didn't think too much about it but, after Kitoshi was kidnapped, didn't you think her behaviour was strange?"

"Strange? How?" Tadashi asked.

"Like her fidgeting often...and her weird reactions."

"Weird? They were?"

Ayame rolled her eyes. "Yes, they were. Leading up to today, Asahina has been able to figure out what was going on without anyone having to tell her. She was also the first to know about Oogawa and Yutaka's kidnapping. As if she'd already have known it was going to happen."

"But that's..." Tadashi began uneasily. "Isn't that just baseless?"

"Then, tell me, Matsumoto, how exactly did Saya Asahina videotape the news exactly when it reported Kiyoshi Oogawa and Iori Yutaka missing?" She glared daggers into him. She had a hand to her chin. "Normally, if something like that were to happen, wouldn't you be to shocked to videotape it?"

She opened her eyes once more and pulled yet another strand of hair behind her ear.

"It was as if she was patiently waiting for it to show up so that she could take a video and send it to us, just to showcase her innocence," Ayame continued. "Following up to today, her actions were rather vague, also. When she suddenly brought up that strange topic during dinner today, if Tomachi didn't interrupt her it makes you wonder what she was planning on saying during that moment." Ayame's eyebrows furrowed. "I presume she was planning on confessing."

"Confessing?" repeated Tadashi in confusion. "But, Kobayashi, if Asahina is guilty like you're implying, why would she confess?"

"Because she was under pressure."

"Pressure?"

"Matsumoto, I'll relay my evidence to you that Saya Asahina—no, Chiaki Asahina—is guilty. And also my theory," she said. "That should be enough for you to piece things together. Because... Saya Asashina is dead."

"D-d-dead? Huh? I don't..." Tadashi eyes were as wide as saucers, his heartbeat exhilarating.

"Saya Asahina died in a car accident the week before her high school days started. With her family members devastated, her parents decided to move out of the city and into the neighbouring town," Ayame explained.

Tadashi couldn't breathe.

"This information was top secret and through my connections, I was able to get my hands on it." She crossed her arms once more. "Then... if Saya Asahina is dead, who is the person pretending to be her now? The answer: Chiaki Asahina, her twin sister."

Ayame cast her gaze to Tadashi once again.

"The two look exactly the same; scary enough they could be more than just twins. The only difference? Chiaki Asahina doesn't wear glasses. A big hole within her plan.

"One day as I was leaving the academy after school, I came across her having a conversation on her cell phone. As she was, she was asked for the time. Though, for some reason, still unknown to me, she wasn't wearing her glasses." She paused. "You are aware of the big clock hanging right outside the academy, correct? Also that the clock is pretty tiny? She relayed the time—perfectly, if I may add. But if you know anything about Saya Asahina, she has a extremely bad vision that makes it hard for her to even make things out even if they're right next to her."

It was true. Tadashi had heard it from the girl herself a long time ago. Ryuu mentioned it on multiple occasions as well.

"If that's the case," Ayame continued before he could get the chance to reminisce, "the normal Saya Asahina wouldn't be able to tell the time from such a far distance. But, Chiaki Asahina can.

"While I'm at it, I should also inform you that I was able to uncover that Chiaki Asahina came to this school undercover, secretly working for somebody. I presume it's the mastermind behind the weird string of events happening in the academy."

Tadashi's eyes widened. "Mastermind? But I thought you said..."

"Yes, Chiaki Asahina and Iori Yutaka are merely the mastermind's sacrifices, all for the purpose of keeping us under surveillance."

Ayame glanced away from Tadashi and scowled, a frown prominent on her lips.

"Isn't that right, Asahina? Or do you have any objections?"

"Huh?" Tadashi whipped his head to where Ayame was looking and his eyes widened when he saw Saya—no, Chiaki Asahina—approach them.

Chiaki swallowed hard, walking up to them, a solemn expression plastered on her face. She came to a stop. "Who would have thought that my identity would be blown so soon." Her voice sounded more formal and eloquent than it usually did. "You really do surprise me, Ayame."

Ayame shrugged her shoulders. "My work is mostly just a guess. I'd like to hear it from your mouth if I could. And there's no use trying to run or lie now. I have a witness."

Tadashi gave Ayame a look. It's me, isn't it? he thought. Please don't tell me the only reason she called me out here was because she wanted a witness!

Chiaki let out a laugh. "I wasn't trying to. It's just that..." She looked down at her feet wistfully. "Now that my cover is blown, I'll have to leave."

Ayame and Tadahi shared a questioning look, wondering what she was planning on saying. Tadashi gulped as Chiaki opened her mouth to speak.

"From a young age, I've had a frail body and wasn't able to do anything right. Which led to the constant arguing and screaming my parents endured me with for not being as perfect as they wanted. I grew depressed, and I believed that my very existence was meaningless." Chiaki lifted her head. "That's why I began studying really hard to make my parents proud of me. By age eleven, they began to love me for winning awards, and getting certificates, medals... That's why by middle school, when we moved here to Kyoto, they sent me to a really top academy for geniuses. But being there really put a lot of pressure on me.

"Saya, on the other hand, was really innocent, and had a sweet personality so my parents weren't so hard on her. That's why she got to attend a normal public school."

Chiaki smiled at the fond memories of her sister and continued on, "But at the school I attended, making friends was extremely diffucult. If you made the slightest, or easiest mistake, nobody would like you anymore. And since I wasn't actually a genius, keeping up with the classes was difficult, and everyone bullied me as a result. Including the teachers.

"I became more empty. I even felt like dying. The thought that the world would be better off without me crossed my mind once or twice too."

Tadashi caught Chiaki grip onto her hands tighter.

"That's when it happened," she said. "I met them."

"Them?" Tadashi repeated and she nodded.

"They came out of nowhere and approached me. Asked me: 'Are you alone? If so, then I'll give you some company.'"

Tadashi's eyes widened and Ayame furrowed her eyebrows, urging her to continue.

"We made a pact. That whenever one of us felt lonely, the other would come to save them." She smiled. "And that was how it went. We played together, laughed, enjoyed our time... Even though we met about three times a month, I had a new resolve to live. They were my hero; my first friend."

Just then, as if it wasn't there, her smile faded and was replaced with a frown.

"When I turned fourteen, they disappeared. I never saw them again. I always went to the areas we used to play together but I couldn't find them. I had to walk through my third year of middle school, all alone, and empty again. For high school, my parents wanted me to study abroad to increase my intellect, but I was sort of against it. I didn't want to leave this city behind, or Saya.

"Our relationship together wasn't that solid, but Saya also understood me better than anyone else. So, when I told her I was being forced to go study abroad, she told me she'd go for me. "Since we're identical, they won't tell the difference." I think she somehow figured out that I was suffering at my middle school so she wanted to help me." Chiaki's lips quivered. "And I... agreed. But the day before Saya was to leave, she got hit by a car... and died."

A reverent silence filled the air. Tadashi's eyes were as wide as saucers. So she really was...

A tear rolled down Chiaki's face, but she hurriedly composed herself. "I was sad. I knew it was my fault it happened... and everyone believed it was Chiaki Asahina that died. It was hard for me to admit that the one who died wasn't me but Saya...so I left it at that. I let them believe I was Saya, because I still couldn't get over it myself. But..."

"But?" Ayame narrowed her eyes.

Chiaki gave them a sullen look. "A week before school started, they appeared once again. They asked me to partner up with them and to do what they said. Since we were 'friends.'"

"The mastermind," Tadashi pieced it together.

"They told me that if I did, I'd be able to hang out with them every day. They told me that's what friends do: help each other out." Chiaki gulped. "So I did. I didn't tell anyone that I was Chiaki. I practiced being my sister, and put on fake glasses just to make them happy. I went undercover in the academy and joined the CRF—all with the help of them. I never said or acted once without them advising me to.

"From time to time, they'd call my cell randomly and tell me things to do. Steal shoes, start rumours, lie to you all, and so forth." Her lips trembled and her eyes darted back and forth between Tadashi and Ayame, expression sincere. "But! I didn't know things would escalate this far! I didn't think they'd go so far as to..."

She shivered, grabbing onto her arms to stop the reaction.

"They told me to work along with Yutaka to kidnap Moriko Kitoshi, saying that it was just to ask her questions and interrogate her. They told me that was all they wanted." Chiaki closed her eyes. "So, as I always have, I did. We cornered Moriko, made her drink the liquid in the form in which we planned it that day, and brought her to them. Even though they said it was to interrogate her... even though they promised that..."

She covered her mouth, tears rolling down her cheeks. Tadashi's heart squeezed, and he closed his eyes. He didn't want to listen anymore...

"They...killed her," Chiaki choked out. "Cut her up, took out her organs, stuck needles, metal, and knives into her body. I saw what it looked like. I saw her body."

Tadashi quivered at the news.

"If I knew that was going to happen, I wouldn't have done it... I never..." Chiaki took deep breaths, doing her best to regain her posture from before. But she couldn't. "S-sorry," she apologized, wiping away the tears. "I... shouldn't let my emotions invade on the story.

"I... regretted it. But even if I did, I couldn't turn them into the police. I was afraid. They said they'd kill me and everyone else in the club if I tried... They also said that even if I told the police, I'd be the one who'd get arrested. I did kidnap her and assisted with the murder. So I stayed by their side. Afraid. They weren't the one I adored from when I was thirteen." She bit her lip. "So I had no choice but to continue to monitor you guys, reporting everything to them... They also placed bombs somewhere inside Yutaka and my body so that they could kill us at any time necessary... but...

"But...when they told Yutaka to bring Oogawa to them, Yutaka finally told him... That he was done playing his servant and he didn't want to kidnap or hurt anymore people." Pain contorted her expression. "Those were Yutaka's last words. They... killed him. Blew him up without raising a finger. Then, right afterwards, they ordered me to bring Oogawa."

She started to shake once more.

"I was petrified, so I did. I wasn't as strong as Yutaka."

"Who exactly is the mastermind?" Ayame asked. "You keep referring to them as they, but can you tell us who he or she is?"

Chiaki's eyes widened and she slowly looked elsewhere. "This may sound weird, but I don't really know. He or she wipes my memory of them everytime I come to see them. All I remember is that they're scary. Really..."

"What? Wipes your memories?" Tadashi recovered from the shock to ask.

"Yes. They're really skilled at neuroscience and acupuncture and other surgical studies. So they're able to extract, tinker, place, and do many things concerning the human brain and body that any others can't," she explained.

"Skilled, huh?" Ayame mumbled, pressing her hand to her chin. "So you have no memory of what he or she looks like and their name, yet you know everything about them."

"Wh-what about Oogawa? Is he also?" Tadashi asked but he didn't really want to hear the answer. Though, he knew he had to know. This mastermind, he... The two friends he wanted to save so desperately were...

"That... I'm not sure," Chiaki confessed. "After that incident, I stopped contacting them altogether. That's why I assume they're going to come and get me soon."

"What do you mean 'get you'?" Tadashi demanded.

She smiled softly.

"Like I said before: I'm a very pitiful person. He or she is going to come and take me back before long. And since I'm being honest with you two, there are some things I have yet to tell you." Without warning, she bowed. "I regret every action I did concerning all of you. I caused you to feel an immeasurable amount of grief and sorrow, and for that, I am sorry." She got back up. "Even though I only met you all at the academy—even when I wasn't suppose to get too attached—you all are the only people that have accepted me.

"I truly had fun." She grinned. "Laughing, arguing, joking. I was so glad I was able to be with everyone until the very last moment. You guys gave someone like me your kindness. I—"

"What do you mean someone like you, Chiaki?" Tadashi demanded, causing her to stare at him in surprise. Tears strolled down her cheeks, and her mouth moved without being able to produce the words. "I also had fun with you!" Tadashi continued. "Even though we met in the beginning of the year, you were a bit of a klutz, had a big mouth, kinda loud... But you were also kind, friendly, outgoing, considerate... A perfect friend!"

More tears went down her cheeks. "Matsumoto... but.."

"I don't believe the Saya Asahina that was with us was acting. Even though you were suffering more than any of us, you held your feelings back. But you still cried for them. For Iori and Kiyoshi and Moriko... You cared for them!" Tadashi forced a weak smile. "You also tried to tell us countless of times—warn us—weren't you?"

She nodded. "The guilt was hurting me. I couldn't keep lying to you guys anymore. That's why I'm glad I was finally able to tell you. Everything."

"Should we be worried about other things too? For future reference?" Ayame questioned before Tadashi could reply to Chiaki.

Chiaki's countenance shifted into a sour glare. "Yes. The mastermind's right-hand man... is amongst us. I'm not sure who it is but, I do know that he or she is heartless, ruthless, murderous; even more terrifying than the mastermind is."

"The mastermind's right-hand man?" Ayame gulped at the information. "Amongst us? Seems pretty rational. Scary, but rational."

"Even if I'm not sure of who exactly he or she is, I'm sure that you guys will be able to escape this ongoing bloodshed. I don't know what exactly the mastermind's reasons are behind this, but be careful," Chiaki went on with a exhale. "Some among us now are working with different groups of people, all for a particular goal. Whether it be for murder, righteousness, or maybe even for surveillance purposes. Do realize that you cannot trust just anyone."

Tadashi's pale Adam's apple bobbed.

Ayame pulled a strand of hair behind her ear, as coolly as she always did. "I see. Then, Chiaki, I'll be sure to inform everyone of the news tomorrow. That you'll officially be leaving Kaisei Academy."

With that, Ayame walked off, leaving Tadashi alone with her.

"Chiaki, you really do plan on..." Tadashi turned his head towards her and his eyes widened when he found her smiling.

Her arms crossed behind her back, her head rotated over her shoulder, the tears on her face glistening under the moonlight.

"Matsumoto, thank you so much for everything. Will you please listen to my last request?" she asked. "It's about Ryuu."

"Ryuu?" Tadashi said after her.

She nodded. "He carries a weight in his chest. He regrets not telling her how he felt. I believe Ryuu... loved my little sister," she confessed. "Ryuu is also aware of the fact that I'm not the real Saya but still treats me like I am. It's because I lied and told him that we did switch before the school year began and that Saya is in Tokyo... I regret not telling him the truth." She clenched her fists tightly. "But I'm still grateful for everything he's done for me.

"I used to always tease Saya and Ryuu ever since we were kids because I knew they both liked each other, but they never confessed. It's kind of sad if you think about it. So, I want you to take him to see Saya at the local graveyard. And also regard him with this: 'Thank you for sticking with someone like me, and that I believe that wherever Saya is now, that she's happy.'"

Chiaki spun around and handed Tadashi a crumpled envelope with pink paper. The paper was similar to the one he had found during the Moriko Kitoshi investigation. So it was true.

"Also, give this to him. I received it from the mastermind so I don't know what it contains, but it belongs to Saya. Even so, do give it to him. But don't let him open it until after he has gone to visit Saya, okay?" Chiaki's lips upturned, rubbing her eyes to rid the tears. "It's a promise."

"Chiaki... what will you do from now on?" Tadashi inquired, stuffing the letter into his pocket.

Chiaki stared at the ground for a while and said, "I'll try to scoop up some information for you guys. And if it doesn't end up working...and I end up dying—"

"Dying?!"

She chuckled at his shock. "There's always that possibility. I'll confess to the police about my identity later, but for now, I've got to do this. Right now, I'll focus on trying to stay alive so we could meet again. I'll definitely make it up to you guys. Just count on me!"

She hooked her thumbs her way and beamed.

Tadashi pursed his lips. Did she really mean that? She wouldn't die... would she? No! What was he thinking? She wouldn't! He had to stop being so negative.

"Don't worry," she said, sensing Tadashi's unease, "I promise we'll meet again! So, until then, goodbye, Matsumoto. I hope we could meet again in the future." She waved over her shoulder and winked. "Keep everyone safe for me!"

Her smile was the last thing he saw before she disappeared into the darkness of the night. Nevertheless, Tadashi was hopeful. He would see her again. Chiaki would definitely stay safe.

Taking deep breaths to recollect his thoughts, he recalled what exactly had happened.

The real Saya Asahina was dead. The one pretending to be her up until now was Chiaki Asahina, her twin sister.

Iori Yutaka is dead.

Moriko Kitoshi is dead.

Kiyoshi Oogawa: unknown.

As Tadashi retired back to the cabins for the night, a solemn frown plastered on his face, he couldn't help but get a feeling in the pit of his stomach.

That this was where the horror would start, and their peaceful days would end.

And that whoever the mastermind behind these string of events was, would be far more fearsome than they could ever imagine.

☻ ☺ ☻

Happy New Years! Well, it's still not time yet, but I'm gonna say it anyways. And for this special occasion, I updated twice today! Thankfully, I'm ending off the year quite happily. I plan on updating this story more often as I took my sweet time to do so this year but next year'll be different I hope XD

Well I hoped you enjoyed the (looong) chapter! VOTE & COMMENT!

The next update will come next year, hah XD

-Misty