The person who likes me is a yandere.

In that instant, all the boys became key insiders.

We returned the blank sheet of paper to Qianhai and told her that we had no alibi.

"None of the boys have an alibi? This is truly a difficult situation. It's unbelievable that none of them have an alibi."

Does she really think someone can have an alibi for a week?

"If boys can't do it... then it's the girls' alibi. It's not just boys who have feelings for Shiratori and steal her plaster hand. Even same-sex couples fall in love. I'm ashamed to say I'm too dense."

Is the screw in your head too loose? No, it's not a matter of whether your head is rigid or flexible.

None of the girls had an alibi.

Upon realizing this, Asuna muttered regretfully, "If only everyone lived in the dorms..." No, no, living in the dorms isn't like living in prison; there would still be time to be alone.

"...There shouldn't be any surveillance cameras in the art classroom, right?"

No classroom has that kind of thing.

"In that case, I have no choice but to put my secret techniques for finding criminals into practice."

Wow, no wonder he's a detective.

Perhaps she knows some secret methods for finding criminals that are beyond the knowledge of people like us?

"...Now please close your eyes."

Although they didn't know the purpose, everyone obediently closed their eyes.

"Please raise your hand if you stole the plaster cast. Don't worry, I'm the only one who saw it."

This method is only effective for students in the lower grades of elementary school at most.

"...No one raised their hand. Hmm, the prisoner isn't in either of those shifts."

...Asuna is a good person.

"Um...can I interrupt for a moment?"

"What, Shiratori-kun? Do you remember receiving a crime warning from a suspect?"

On [Date], I will steal Miss Shiratori's plaster cast hand. Wait, wait, where did this phantom thief come from?

"No, I haven't received it... but if we're talking about people who have feelings for me, there's one person who is very likely to be one."

"Who, could it be..."

Ahead of Asuna's gaze was BT, alone, throwing a potter's wheel. He seemed oblivious to the fact that the student's plaster cast was missing. He was muttering to himself in front of the wheel: "Why are there no high school girls willing to sacrifice for art? I love female students and art so much. I give all the love I have for male students to female students." If possible, I really didn't want to hear these words.

"Please don't take the teacher into account. Because she realized that she was liked by a BT, she had a nightmare that night in which she turned herself into clay for throwing pottery and was kneaded and turned by a BT. I know three girls like that... The one who has feelings for me is... Red, Red Maru."

So, this makes perfect sense. Benimaru is also Shiratori's boyfriend.

All eyes turned to Benimaru.

My girlfriend's plaster cast was stolen, and the culprit was someone who had feelings for her. As her boyfriend, I expected him to show a look of morbid curiosity—like biting a bitter worm (author's note: the Japanese expression for a bitter expression is "biting a bitter worm")...

Benimaru's round face turned ashen, a sight that made one want to blurt out, "This isn't Benimaru, it's Aogamaru!"—a rather silly joke. Benimaru, as if trying to shake off everyone's gaze, said:

"...I, I, how could I possibly steal a stone, a plaster cast hand?"

Red Pill, what's wrong with you, you seem so panicked?

Just when almost all the classmates, who weren't detectives but just ordinary people, were wondering, "Is Benimaru the culprit?"—

"He's not a criminal!" Asuna shouted.

"On the contrary, he is the only one who cannot be the criminal. I am willing to bet 160 yen on this."

...160 yen, are you short of money?

"He has no reason to steal his girlfriend's cast hand. Benimaru is free to touch Shiratori's hand... Tell me, do you two hold hands on your way home after school?"

The couple, dressed in red and white, nodded shyly.

"Good, it's great to be able to confirm this... The criminal's profile is complete."

What can we learn about a criminal by observing a couple holding hands on their way home?

However, the perspective of an actual detective is probably different from that of ordinary people; she probably knows things that we don't.

"The culprit stole Shiratori's plaster cast because he was jealous when he saw the two of them holding hands on their way home... He probably took the plaster cast home to satisfy his shameful desires."

The focus is so different.

"So, what kind of person is the criminal you've profiled?"

"Judging from his strong desire to hold hands with the girl he likes and walk home together, even though he never dared to confess to Shiratori-san in person..."

The atmosphere in the classroom grew increasingly tense. What kind of person was the criminal?

Asuna, drawing all eyes to her classmates, began to speak:

"Simply put, he's an introverted, innocent young man!"

……

"In any case, let's first make a list of the introverted and innocent boys in the school. Finding the culprit is only a matter of time."

Introverted, innocent boys are everywhere; you could hit one with any random stone you throw.

"Um, Asuna-san," Shiratori-san raised her hand.

"Do you have a good idea of ​​what to do with introverted, innocent boys? Outgoing, scumbag types are not within our scope of interest."

"...Even if you want to hold hands with someone you like and go home, would anyone really leave school holding a hand in a plaster cast?"

Her question is perfectly reasonable.

"Unfortunately, there are all kinds of people in this world. Among them are people who commit crimes for reasons I can't even imagine," Asuna said, sounding quite knowledgeable. But how should I put it? To me, Asami's imagination is... rather astonishing.

"We must find eyewitnesses... Has anyone witnessed the crazy stranger who was smiling and holding hands with a man in a plaster cast as he walked home from school?"

If there were such a person on the way to school, it would probably become a school ghost story or an urban legend. In the worst case, someone would probably call the police, right?

As expected, there seemed to be no witnesses, and everyone remained silent.

The only sound audible in the art classroom was the theme song from "The Sixth Sense: Love and Death."

Additionally, perhaps because of the romantic background music playing (by BackgroundMusic), the sound of someone sobbing was suddenly heard.

Could it be that some girl is recalling the touching final scene of a famous 20th-century movie?

Chapter Fifteen: Dog Food, Delicious

No, that's not it.

The person crying with their face covered by their hands is Shiratori.

"...Someone actually likes me in this way...How terrifying."

Indeed, being liked by a pervert who leads you home from school with your plaster cast on is practically a scene from a horror movie. It's certainly enough to make anyone want to cry. Benimaru approached Shiratori and gently placed his hand on her shoulder.

"Don't be afraid, I'm the only one who likes you. That kind of pervert doesn't exist."

"Isn't there any pervert involved?"

"Yes, that's right. Don't worry."

"Is Benimaru the only person who likes me?"

"Yeah, so stop calling me Benimaru-kun. Call me the way you would when we're alone."

“………………Ah Hong”

"Xiaobai, I like you so much."

They were completely immersed in their own world.

Thankfully, someone was quick-witted enough to turn up the volume of the background music, so the detective's murmur beside me, "...Based on my reasoning, a pervert must exist," was silenced by the music and not heard by most of the students.

"...Am I the only one who likes Ah Hong?"

"of course."

A sweet atmosphere was brewing between the two, making it seem as if they would embrace in the next instant. As supporting characters, we didn't feel the disappointment of being forced to watch others' sweet moments; instead, a pure longing, "Sigh, I really want to be in love," surged through our hearts.

"There must be other girls who like Ah Hong besides me, right?"

Why is that? The gentleness and sweetness in Shiratori's voice vanished abruptly, replaced by a cold and sharp tone.

"The woman who likes me... is my mom? But my mom is currently obsessed with chasing K-pop stars, neglecting her son, and pouring our family's living expenses and the love we have for our own children into K-pop stars."

"No, I wasn't talking about Ah Hong's mother."

"So, is it Grandma? In recent years, Grandma has been so engrossed in the Sengoku period warlords that she forgot to give her grandson New Year's money. Date Masamune, Sanada Yukimura, Chosokabe Motochika. I never imagined that living witnesses of history would become history women (author: a woman who is passionate about historical figures). It gave me quite a shock."

"No, I wasn't talking about my grandmother."

"So, is it Grandmother Ri?"

Is your great-grandmother still in good health?

"Yes, although she slept all day today, the so-called Grandma Hii is Dad's mother. Because her name is Hii, we call her Grandma Hii. She was mistaken for a ghost when the Johnny's people came out of the studio, which shocked her so much that she fell into a deep sleep."

Grandma Hiyoshi's husband was so shocked by the fact that his wife was mistaken for a ghost when she came out of Johnny's studio that he fell into a deep sleep. Wouldn't he also be shocked into a deep sleep? I couldn't help but wonder.

Shiratori asked nervously:

"...Ah Hong, lately you've been refusing to go on dates with me... right?"

"W-What happened? So sudden! Well, it's because we don't have enough money... Even if we each contribute, it's still a bit tight..."

"If Ah Hong doesn't have any money, leave it to me... So please go on a date with me."

"No, no, well, I should say I'm very embarrassed, or rather, I don't know how to say it—"

"There are also many ways to date without spending money, such as chatting in the park."

"Oh, hmm, how about we have a date in the park next time? That sounds nice, um, that's great."

When Benimaru answered, he stammered, a stark contrast to his demeanor when mentioning his mother and two grandmothers. He was so nervous he was at a loss for what to do. His girlfriend, Shiratori, naturally noticed his anxiety. Shiratori's voice became as sharp as a needle.

"...Did you take the money to date girls other than me? Are you supporting her with your money?"

"What...what are you saying? A girl other than Xiaobai? How...how is that possible!"