Chapter 1
Amane and Emi, both juniors at Kyoto University, found themselves in an unwelcome investigation. A popular athlete, Akio, had been found dead in the boys locker room with a slit to his throat. Police report called it suicide or a tragic accident, without doing further investigation, decided to close the case.
Amane stared at the grainy photo on Emi's laptop screen, the harsh fluorescent light of their cramped dorm room reflecting off the glass. It showed the scene in the locker room: a pool of dark liquid spreading on the tiled floor, Akio's seemingly lifeless form sprawled nearby. Even in two dimensions, the image felt suffocating. "Suicide?" Amane repeated, skepticism dropping from her voice. "Akio? He was practically radiating optimism. And an accident with a knife...?" Emi scrolled through the rest of the leaked police report.
Her brow was furrowed, her normally vibrant eyes clouded with concern. "That's what the police are saying, they found a box cutter near his hand, and no signs of forced entry. Looks like they're trying to wrap it up quickly." Amane ran a hand through her long black hair. She was a physical major, more comfortable with theoretical equations than violent realities. But something about this felt deeply wrong. She saw Akio a few days ago before he went missing, laughing and joking with his friends after practice. He was the star forward of the university's soccer team, destined for professional stardom.
"There's no way, Akio wasn't the type. And even if he... Was that kind of wound. That's not a spontaneous act. It's too deliberate." Emi nodded, her own doubts mirrored in Amane's objections. "Exactly. And that's not all. My friend said the atmosphere in the newspaper is weird. Like someone important wants this buried. Fast."
A chilling thought struck Amane. "Cover-up?" "Maybe," Emi conceded. "But if so, why? And who benefits from Akio's death? Besides the obvious rival teams, of course." They fell into a tense silence, the low hum of the dormitory's air conditioning the only sound. Amane knew Emi wouldn't let this go. She was a force to be reckoned with, a sharp-witted law student with an insatiable thirst for justice. And she, despite her reservations, couldn't shake the feeling that something terrible was being swept under the rug.
"Okay," Amane said finally, pushing her glasses further up her nose. "So, we start where they should have. What are Akio's relationships like? Who might have a motive?" Emi tapped her fingers against the laptops trackpad. "We know he was popular, good grades, athletic prowess, a seemingly endless supply of charm. He was dating himani, in the Literature department. They were practically the university's golden couple. He was also close to his teammates, especially Kenji. They have been friends since grade school."
"Kenji," Amane repeated, committing the name to memory. "Okay, Himani and Kenji. Those are our first two points of contact. We need to talk to them. Discreetly." "Agreed," Emi said, a spark of determination returning to her eyes. "But we need to be careful. If the police are being pressured to close this case, someone might be involved. We don't want to end up... Silenced."
Amane shivered, the image of the locker room, and the dark stain on the floor, flashing in her mind once more. She knew this was dangerous. They were just students, sticking their noses where they didn't belong. But the thought of letting Akio's death be written off as a statistic, a tragic accident, was intolerable. "Then we'll be silent ninjas," Amane said with a nervous grin. "We'll sneak around, gather information, and expose the truth. One quiet step at a time."
Emi smiled, a genuine smile that chased away some of the tension in the room. "I like the sound of that. Let's start with Himani. I'll swing by the Literature department tomorrow morning. You find Kenji. He's probably at the soccer field."
The next morning dawned grey and drizzly, mirroring Amane's mood. She pulled on her warmest jacket and headed towards the university's sprawling athletic complex, the familiar scent of damp grass and exertion hanging in the air. The soccer field was mostly deserted, save for a few dedicated athletes braving the weather. She scanned the sidelines, hoping to spot Kenji, but he was nowhere to be seen.
Spotting a lone figure practicing drills near the goal, she approached cautiously. He was tall and muscular, his movements fluid and practiced. As she got closer, she recognized him as one of Akio's teammates, though not Kenji. "Excuse me," she said hesitantly, "have you seen Kenji around? I'm a friend of Akio's, and wanted to offer my condolences."
The soccer player stopped, wiping sweat from his forehead. He looked at Amane with suspicion, his eyes narrowed. "Kenji's not here. He hasn't been here since... Since it happened. He's taking it pretty hard." "Do you know where he might be?" She pressed, trying to sound casual. "I just wanted to let him know that we're all thinking of him."
The player hesitated, then shrugged. "He might be at Akio's favorite ramen shop. He used to go there all the time with Akio after practice. It's called "harakiri's bowl," down by the river.
"Thanks. And I'm really sorry for your loss." He nodded curtly and turned back to his drills, leaving Amane feeling uneasy. Kenji's absence was concerning. Was he genuinely grieving or was there something more to it?
Meanwhile, Emi was navigating the hallowed halls of the Literature department, the air thick with the scent of old books and academic ambition. She found Himani sitting alone on a bench in the courtyard, staring blankly at the half-written page in her notebook. Her usual bright eyes were red and swollen, her face pale and drawn.
Emi approached her gently. "Himani? I'm Emi, from the Law Department. I was a friend of Akio's. I'm so sorry." Himani looked up, her gaze unfocused. "Everyone's sorry," she whispered. "But it doesn't bring him back."
Emi sat down beside her, offering a silent comfort. After a moment, she spoke softly. "I can't imagine what you're going through, but I just wanted to ask you about Akio. About what happened." Himani flinched, a fresh wave of grief washing over her face. "The police said it was... Suicide. Or an accident. I don't understand." "Did Akio say anything that might suggest he was unhappy? Anything unusual?" Emi asked carefully. Himani shook her head slowly. "He was always so... positive. So full of life. We were talking about the future, about traveling the world after graduation... It doesn't make sense." A single tear trickled down her cheek. "The only thing that seemed to bother him lately was pressure. He was getting a lot of attention from scouts, and he was feeling the weight of everyone's expectations. But that wouldn't be enough to... You know." "Pressure from scouts? Did he mention any specific scouts? Any specific teams?"
"He mentioned someone named Mr. Hinata. He said he was very persistent. He kept pushing Akio to sign with his agency, even though Akio wasn't sure."
"Did Akio seem... afraid of him?"
Himani frowned. "Not afraid, more like uncomfortable. He said Mr. Hinata was very intense, and he made promises he wasn't sure he could keep." The pieces of the puzzle were slowly starting to fall into place, but the picture was still fat from clear. Pressure from scouts, a mysterious Mr. Hinata, a withdrawn best friend... Something was definitely amiss.
Back at the dorm, Amane and Emi met, sharing their findings. The ramen shop, Harakiri's bowl became their next destination. As for Mr. Hinata, they knew they needed to dig deeper to find out who he was, and what promises he had made to Akio. The investigation, though fraught with danger, had just begun.
