--C-kun, who left behind the school building at dusk, leaving behind enigmatic words.
Then, over the phone, the captain, Akira Shinoda, a senior, mentioned a "last resort.
One incident brings two disturbing predictions.
The real culprit behind the surfboard theft is still unknown, and the senior's desire to compete with his injured leg is growing.
Furthermore, although the allegations surrounding Dr. Shuji Kurokawa (Shuji Kurokawa) are slowly clearing up,
Who hid the board with the key to the shed?" The main mystery of the "why" has not been solved.
There are very few days left until the tournament.
What is going to happen?
In the midst of such impatience, I (Kohei Aizawa), Tomoki Otani, and Hinata Tachibana,
It was about to start moving again.
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1. morning HR and rumors behind the gym
Next morning.
In the classroom, interest in the "surfing club board theft" remains high.
If the teacher is not the culprit, I wonder who is,
Everyone is talking about it out of curiosity, but it is a serious issue for the parties involved.
Otani, seated next to me, whispers to me.
I know you met with Mr. C yesterday. How was it?"
"...... was pretty rough. He said things like, 'I'm fine with Shinoda-senpai's board being gone.'"
When I answer, Otani makes a bitter face.
I see. ...... It's possible for someone with jealousy and anger to commit a crime."
Yes, but I can't be sure. But I can't say for sure.
If it really was Mr. C, I wouldn't be surprised if he was trying to move the board at the right time yesterday. ......"
When I gave him a slightly lost glance, Otani snorted, "...indeed.
I have a hunch that "C-kun is suspicious," but I lack conclusive evidence and support for the motive.
If it was Mr. C who hid the board using the key, the question is how to prove it.
Well, what happened to Kiryu-senpai's words about 'checking the teacher's alibi with the surveillance camera'?"
To Otani's question, I reply, "I'll just have to ask.
After morning HR, we can go to the student council office.
Just as I was thinking this, I overheard a classmate who also serves as a member of the P.E. committee talking about how the equipment room behind the gym had been vandalized.
...... talking about the apparatus room again?"
In my mind, the incident of "a student who left the club was trying to hide repair parts in the apparatus room at night" comes back to my mind.
It turns out that he confessed to the purpose of the crime and that he was not the culprit. ......
Could it be that this time another person is using the same location?
(It is much more likely that board thieves are prowling the apparatus room or warehouse.
(Is this related to Mr. C, or is it a totally different dynamic?)
With my heart in my chest, I heard the chime of the first period.
I don't feel like I can concentrate in class.
(Shinoda-senpai said she would come back to the club room today and talk about "last resort.
I have a bad feeling about this, but can't we stop it somehow?)
With these thoughts circling in my mind, the morning class passed.
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(2) Dr. Kurokawa's alibi video
Lunch break.
We met up with Otani, Hinata, and Saki Kawakubo, a senior, and headed for the student council office.
Mizuki Kiryu, a senior student, will tell us the progress of the camera analysis.
You're here. I've been waiting for you."
In the quiet student council room, Kiryu-senpai turns the PC screen toward us.
There, a portion of the nighttime surveillance camera footage was replayed.
The cameras on campus are limited to begin with, and the quality of the images is poor.
But on the days when Dr. Kurokawa insists that he does not come in late at night, there are certainly no large figures in the picture.
The screen shows a hallway, though, with a timestamp of a figure crossing it,
No silhouettes of hooded figures or teacher-like figures can be identified.
However, this alone is not a perfect alibi, as there are loopholes.
Some days the camera in the staff room is broken, and the recording stops."
It was broken. ...... Is it possible that the killer broke it intentionally?"
When Otani leans forward, Kiryu-senpai shakes his head.
We don't know that much. It could be just equipment trouble, or it could be a coincidence.
However, as far as Kurokawa-sensei is concerned, he can claim that he did not see the images.
In other words, there is no evidence that the teacher "snuck in late at night.
That would help to deny the real culprit, but it is weak as a decisive factor.
The teacher himself said, "I sometimes go back to the staff room at night,
If it's earlier in the day, there may be cases where the cameras won't catch it. ......"
Hinata bites her lip.
In the end, there is no evidence from the video that the teacher is the culprit, nor is there any evidence that the teacher is completely clean.
But there's more footage that deserves attention."
Kiryu Senpai opens another video.
'This is a hallway camera in the back of the school building, and the time is just after 9pm ......, the day after the day the board disappeared,
I can't make out his face, but he looks rather small in stature. I can't make out his face, but he looks rather small in stature."
"Petite ......"
I involuntarily think of the appearance of Mr. C, the students who left the club, etc.
Shinoda and Saki, who are called "genius surfers," are tall,
Dr. Kurokawa is also a very physically fit man.
There are a few other members of the club who are small, but I'm sure ......C-kun wasn't too big either.
This video, at 9:00 p.m., is right around the time the security guards make their rounds, right?"
When Otani pointed this out, Kiryu-senpai nodded.
The security guard was just patrolling another area and it may have been a blind spot."
Then, as the playback continues, a figure is seen exiting to the back of the school building.
"After going outside, he crossed the schoolyard and disappeared somewhere else. ...... only shows so far."
Seeing this, Hinata suddenly raises her hand.
Don't these look like they're walking around with something in their arms? I mean, luggage. ......"
The image quality is coarse, but you can certainly see it moving in a hugging manner.
It's not as big as the board, but it looks like a bag or a box in the shadows.
(Part of a board? Or a repair kit? (As I recall, a retired student also had a bag of something in the equipment room: ......)
My head is confused.
If this diminutive figureC-kunWhat if it is?
Is it possible that you were "carrying any part of the board" that night: ......?
Kiryu-senpai continues his words.
The teacher was apparently at home during the time of this video, which is consistent with the overtime log in the staff room.
In other words, there is a strong possibility that "someone other than Mr. Kurokawa" broke into the school building at night and took items from .......
Tension in everyone's eyes.
(This is a pretty big clue. (This is a big clue, and it makes the teacher less suspicious, and the "small club member is the real culprit" theory seems more plausible.)
That narrows it down in one fell swoop. ......
Hinata's voice trembles.
A few names come to mind, including Mr. C, but the evidence is still too weak to actually question him.
However, there is a sense that we are much closer to the truth than in the past.
(If we can somehow track that kid down based on this footage: ......)
With that in mind, we took a moment to thank Kiryu-senpai and left the student council office in time for club activities.
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3. last resort--the captain's decision
After school.
The surfing club's clubroom, however, was filled with the usual air of melancholy,
When the captain, Shinoda-senpai, appears with crutches, the club members' eyes widen in unison.
"Seniors ...... feet, still painful, but ......!"
Hinata rushes over to him, and Senpai smiles slightly while enduring the pain.
'My feet hurt, but I want to fulfill my responsibilities to the end. ...... everyone get together please."
Following his voice, the club members in the clubroom had an impromptu meeting.
Dr. Kurokawa has not yet arrived.
The senior opens his mouth as if he had been waiting for it.
Everyone ...... is just a few days away from the inter-high school qualifiers.
Frankly, I'm hopeless at getting out on this leg.
But still, I don't want to give up.
So ...... I'm going to go to the tournament even if I have to use painkillers."
The club members were buzzing.
The doctor said it would leave scars on the bones and ligaments," he said,
Negative voices fly.
The senior raises his eyebrows in pain.
I know. It might hinder my future.
But I'm already at the end of high school, and if I miss this tournament, I'll regret it for the rest of my life.
So I want to somehow medicate the pain of the injury.
I talked to my doctor about it, but he disagreed: ......
But it's the only way for me."
("Last resort," you mean. ......)
The members of the club are silent.
My heart is pounding.
(If the teacher heard this, he would be furious. But I understand how the seniors feel.)
Then Saki-senpai bit her lip and raised her voice.
Shinoda senpai ...... If I crush my leg, it may hinder my daily life, not just surfing, in the future.
Will you still leave?"
"...... yeah. That's all I got."
A powerful gaze.
Because of this conflict, the senior mentioned "last resort.
Otani is puzzled and says, "Senpai, let's really stop ......," but Senpai smiles and shakes his head.
I'm sorry. I'm leaving, no matter who disagrees.
Haven't found a board yet, but still want to get out even if I have to limp.
If you can't, you can use an alternative board. ......"
Hinata involuntarily bursts into tears.
"Seniors, if you win at that, I'm sure ...... your teacher would know about it."
The senior drops his gaze and looks bitter.
'The doctor doesn't even like me anymore. I'm willing to sacrifice my legs to take on the challenge.
...... because if I don't, I'll never move on."
It is a heartbreaking thought.
Opinions among the club members begin to diverge, with some saying, "I would cheer for a senior," and others saying, "No, it's too dangerous.
At that moment, the door to the clubroom rattled open.
Dr. Kurokawa enters.
Shinoda, are you going to abuse your ...... legs to compete in the tournament?"
The senior nodded with a bitter expression.
Yes, I will. Whatever the doctor says, I'll get it.
I even take painkillers. I've tried several times now, and I even have a feeling that I can move to some degree."
The teacher distorts his expression,
"Do something stupid ......! If you ride the wave in that condition, you'll be irreparably injured!"
I'm not going to say that I don't like it!
I've been throwing around the suspicion that the teacher stole it from me. ...... Even if the board doesn't come back, I'll still leave.
I can't stop being mad at the doctor, or getting hurt so bad!"
The entire club room gasps at the senior's cry.
The doctor looks pained and lowers his eyes.
"How did you get there ......"
I heard that in the past, a teacher was injured because he pushed himself too hard with the expectations of those around him.
And you don't want me to repeat that same thing, do you?
But ...... me, I don't want to regret it.
When the teacher was injured and stopped surfing, people around him may have really felt responsible.
But I think deep down, you must have felt that you would have regretted it even more if you hadn't tried.
The teacher's eyes widen at these words.
Even if I get seriously injured, I can be satisfied if I can think that I challenged my limits at least once.
You can see that, can't you, Dr. ......?"
The senior's voice is trembling, but his determination is strong.
The teacher bites his lip and clenches his fist, but no words of rebuttal come out.
(What a tragic clash ...... we're saying the right things to each other and we're crossing paths)
As the members of the club gasp for air, the senior mutters one last time, "I'm not sure I'm going to be able to do this.
Thank you, Doctor, for all you've done for me. I appreciate you taking care of me.
But there's no point in stopping now. ......
I don't have time. At the very least, if I wait for my leg to heal completely, I'll never be able to perform on the stage again.
The doctor remained motionless with his face down.
None of the club members could speak to each other, only silence reigned in the clubroom.
(What to do ...... If the seniors continue to overexert themselves and get seriously injured, there is really no way to get them back.
(But it would be cruel to dismiss the feelings of seniors out of hand.)
The teacher, while we were trembling with such thoughts, said as if he was squeezing us.
Shinoda...... you...... say that much, I'm not going to say anything else.
Just ...... really don't regret getting your board back.
That's about all I can do anymore."
The senior looks back at me a little surprised.
Maybe it was because the teacher didn't tell him to "give it up," as he always did.
"Teacher ......"
If that's your decision, I won't stop you.
However, I am obligated to convey to them the reality that "if you get hurt, you will lose your whole life.
And you're okay with that?"
The senior smiles bitterly and replies, "Oh .......
I feel a somewhat quiet resolve.
(Both teachers and seniors finally came to the conclusion ...... after a head-on collision.
We still haven't caught the "real culprit" and the board isn't back yet.
(At the risk of serious injury, seniors are about to take on the competition: ......!)
My chest is buzzing.
Time is running out.
If indeed a board is found, seniors will happily jump into the competition.
I don't care what happens to that leg. ......
(Something needs to be done about it. ......!
I'd like to find the culprit, and if the board is damaged, I'd like to have the means to repair it as soon as possible, to save the senior staff some of the workload.)
At that moment, I heard footsteps running from the classroom building.
Someone hurriedly opens the door to the clubroom and shouts under his breath.
Hey ......, Otani and Hinata said they caught C-kun!
They got something out of him that had something to do with the case!"
The club members are in a state of excitement.
(C-kun ......! They finally caught you!!!)
The senior also looks up with a huff.
"Is Mr. C involved in the theft ......!"
The doctor frowns and says, "Let's go.
We all leave the clubroom and head for the classroom building.
(If Mr. C moved at this time, he almost certainly knows something!
If we can find out where the board is, there's even a chance that seniors won't have to use the last resort ......)
With our hearts racing, we run down the hallway as fast as we can.
Soon, the case may be reaching its climax - and the case may be coming to a climax.
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