Fang Yuan, who was blushing, nodded, indicating that she was going to the library for something.

After that, he hurried away.

Xia Jing watched Fang Yuan's back until she disappeared.

Fang Yuan's smile just now made Xia Jing very concerned.

What Fang Yuan lacked was probably just an opportunity.

Basically, it's a person's freedom to be withdrawn and weigh yourself up.

However, being isolated will not solve the problem.

If this continues, the only one who will be injured in the end will be to save himself.

And Fang Yuan is that kind of person.

In this small town in the countryside, it is very dull and boring.

Everything is mundane, so it takes a lot of hard work just to find an opportunity.

Perhaps, the same is true of the current summer scene.

“…… Hum. ”

But that's what it is. Maybe it's not meddlesome, it's just that Xia Jing unilaterally wants to take a girl named Fang Yuan as an opportunity. Probably because she couldn't get out of the haze because of the disappearance of her friend, she seemed to symbolize this town that seemed to have stopped flowing since years ago, and she was bored with her previous self.

"I'm a terrible person."

After muttering self-deprecatingly, Xia Jing left the entrance.

The cold wind of midwinter inexplicably makes the summer scenery feel chilling to the bone. When I looked up, the sky began to fall white objects again.

So Xia Jing took out his mobile phone and sent a text message to Fang Yuan.

It's starting to snow outside, so it's better to get home early. ’

A few minutes later, a reply came.

'Okay, thanks for the reminder. Xia Jing also asked to be careful on the way home. ’

The smile emoji attached at the end of the article does not fit Fang Yuan's impression at all. Thinking that she must have used this symbol a lot when she used to exchange text messages with Pears in the past, Xia Jing couldn't help but smile.

In fact, Xia Jing is still not sure if what he did was right. However, if you can see this emoji, then everything is worth it, and the regret will disappear.

In winter, there are very few hours of daylight.

It was just after six o'clock in the afternoon, and the sky was getting dark. The faintly white western end also lost its brightness due to dark clouds, and there was not even a trace of stars and moon in the sky. I don't know if it's the end of the semester or the beginning of the snow, but there are no people or students doing club activities in the school playground, and there is a quiet atmosphere in the morning.

In the secluded campus, there is an art classroom on the third floor of the special building.

In the equipment room, where items such as plaster busts and oil paintings are placed in the next room, there is a wonderful object.

The object was cleverly tucked away in the corner of the shelf and placed alongside props, making it unobtrusive at first glance.

But it was undoubtedly a white wooden box the size of an adult—a coffin.

"Miss."

There was a voice inside the coffin.

The volume does not leak out, but a voice that seems to be whispering and at the same time unemotional.

"The sun is setting. In a little while, the rescuers should appear. ”

The voice, as if to make a distinction between each word, originated from a woman.

“…… You're so optimistic, Ana. ”

The tone of the voice of the reply sounded a little stunned, also from inside the coffin.

The sound quality was more immature than the previous woman, but the way she spoke was arrogant and arrogant—it was a girl's voice.

"Based on the signal you posted in the dark last night, the hope is too slim."

"No, Miss."

In the silent equipment room, the voices of the two were very low.

"At least, Hailiang's daughter, study here."

"Miss Picking, I wonder if she noticed the signal?"

"She'll definitely come to you, Miss."

"Of course. She's a kind-hearted girl...... However, being kind-hearted is not necessarily a good thing. It's only been a day since the Burning Mountain, and I don't think she'll find such a place. ”

Woman—Anai was silenced. The maiden continued: "Moreover, it is impossible for the signal not to be discovered by the prosperouss. How many of their men are here? ”

"Four people. They are, for adults, for the lord, for the night. ”

"You are not allowed to call those untouchables 'Adults.'"

"No way. I am, I was designed to be, this way. ”

"I understand. This is anger, forgive the slave. ”

Faced with the girl who didn't show the slightest apology, Anai was not angry at all.

"The people of the prosperity faction do not have the energy to go to school now. At present, they are far more diligent in finding the whereabouts of the eldest lady than the star picker. ”

"It's not me they're looking for...... It's connected. ”

"The same meaning. The eldest lady is、The heir of the family。 So yes, 'the person in charge of connectivity.' ”

"It's a hot potato."

The girl sighed. Then for a while, neither of them said a word.

The first to break the silence was the girl.

"If that hadn't happened, I would have been able to live a peaceful life, right?"

The voice sounded full of nostalgia, and it seemed to be sad from it.

“…… Miss Ye Ya. ”

Anai called the girl's name.

"Forget what I said, it's just a pointless whin. Peaceful days are like floating clouds. No...... It was because I had lived too happily in the past that I failed to protect my sister, my father, and my mother. In this way, the meaning of being born as a second daughter was lost. Moreover, I have also done too much to you Ana. I ......"

"The responsibility is not on the shoulders of the eldest lady. In addition, the current owner of Anai is you. ”

"Yes, that's right."

The girl's faint laughter sounded indistinctly in the equipment room.

At this moment, other noises were heard......

"Ana, this is ......"

"Miss, please be quiet."

A noisy conversation seemed to be approaching from far to near.

The originally vague and dull sound became clear with the "click" of the door opening.

"Oh my God, you're still at school, aren't you waiting for us?"

"Ahaha, I don't think so. This guy is luring boys to stay so late at school. ”

"I didn't...... It was you who commanded me to wait, and I ......."

"Ouch, it's so rare to resist us? I don't want to think about how gloomy my my personality is! ”

The number of people who enter the art room is about three or four. All of them are women.

In the equipment room, which was only one door apart, Anai whispered.

"Miss."

“…… Is it a Prosperityist? ”

"It seems that it is not. However, there is something unusual about the situation. ”

"So."

Unaware that there was a coffin in the next room, one of them broke into the art classroom and made a nasal voice that felt silly - but the voice was full of malice.

"What was that doing? Sure enough, it's attracting men, right? ”

"I don't have ......"

"Ahaha! Nonsense, a girl like you just makes people feel disgusting and want to vomit! ”

bump, there was a sound that seemed to be pushed down. Then came a wail.

"You're 'yew!' What, do you think you can be forgiven by pretending to be cute? ”

The sound of several people laughing rang out.

The tension drifted into the equipment room.

"Anai. Let's go out and find out? ”

Ye Ya asked tentatively.

"No, Miss. It's too dangerous. ”

"But it's obvious that someone has been violent, right? I also know that it's wise to sit on the sidelines. But it would be unpleasant for me to turn a blind eye to such behavior...... Especially now that I'm ......"

"Forgive me. Moreover, even if the current eldest lady comes out, it won't help. ”

"It's just a rabble, and I'm going to teach them to scatter. After all, it's the virtue now...... Just show them what I look like. ”

"Don't let anyone see you as you are."

"Anai!"

"Never. Now, take the eldest lady's personal safety as a priority. ”

Anai stubbornly refused to agree to Ye Ya's urging.

There was a loud rattle of metal clashing. Probably a bucket or a table toppled over.

"The point, I feel bad when I see you."

Someone's roar echoed in the classroom.

The riots intensified.

In the coffin in the equipment room, there was a faint sound like a mallet hitting the inner wall.

……

The sky had darkened in the blink of an eye in just ten minutes before arriving at the doorstep.

It doesn't seem to be showing any signs of snow stopping. Based on this snowfall, it will probably be snowing soon.

It's okay if his home is close to high school, but Fang Yuan doesn't know if it matters. Xia Jing, who was suddenly worried about the gray plain in the entrance of his house, took out his mobile phone. Although it felt a little strange to send frequent text messages just after exchanging phone numbers, Xia Jing's heart was horizontal and he was ready to continue sending text messages.

“…… Oh? ”

As the button was pressed halfway, the phone suddenly began to vibrate.

The text displayed on the screen is - caller Fang Yuan.

"How can it be so coincidental?"

Xia Jing smiled heartily, thinking to himself, "What a rare accident", and pressed the button with the question "What is the matter with calling me".

Just as he put his phone to his ear and said, "Hey? "The moment he spoke.

“…… Well? ”

I heard a wonderful sound in my ears.

The first is that something is rubbing against the "rustle" sound of the receiver.

Then came the clamor of noise, as if someone was yelling in the distance.

And - in that "noisy clamour".

‘…… That's it! Ahaha! You are white...... Is it? Go! ’

‘……！ Stop it......! ’

It was a harsh voice that couldn't tell whether it was abuse or ridicule, and an inexplicable cry of despair.

"Hey...... Hey, Fang Yuan? ”

There was no answer. Just as ignoring the call of Xia Jing, the noisy voices are still in the ears.

Xia Jing originally thought that it was a problem with poor reception on the mobile phone, but it was not. The noise never stopped.

That's right. It's like having your phone in your pocket and dialing in on a call.

"Hey! Fang Yuan! ”

An ominous premonition arose, and Xia Jing roared loudly, but still didn't hear a response. Not only that, but the noise coming from the loudspeaker began to be mixed with the screeching sound of "click".

"Fang Yuan! Can you hear me? What's wrong, what's going on! ”

Xia Jing didn't give up and called Fang Yuan's name again, but the result was still the same.

Deeper in the sinister atmosphere emanating from the speakers that shook the eardrums, another agitation sounded with a panic and urgency. When Xia Jing realized that it was the sound of his own heartbeat, the person had already stepped on the bicycle.

It's confusing. What the hell is going on?

But this situation is unusual.

"Fang Yuan! Answer me! ”

Xia Jing shouted at the receiver again. But—

'Alas, tattoos...... Have it? Graver...... ...... in the equipment room'

'Don't! ’

Despite the muffled and muffled voice, the sound of staccato conversation and unbearable screams still reached the ears.

“…… Hey, can you hear me! "Poof.

The call – finally hung up.

It is possible that she was smiling on the way home, or she could have had an accident by chance. The few words I heard before I hung up the phone erased the possibilities that were swirling in my mind.

"Tattoos"? "Carving knife"? "Equipment room"?

The place that comes to mind is undoubtedly ...... School.

Xia Jing threw his belongings into the basket of his bicycle and pedaled hard. Riding his bicycle at a fast pace, he turned back along the path that had been walking slowly and methodically a moment ago.

While pedaling the bicycle, Xia Jing took the initiative to try to call Fang Yuan back, but he couldn't get through.

"How is this...... No kidding! ”

What I learned over the phone was only a fragment of information, not evidence. But......

- This is clearly a bullying incident, and it is an extremely dangerous type.

It's been about a year in the same class, and I can't see that she is being bullied in the class. Although Fang Yuan is a person with a weak sense of presence in the class, he should not be openly disliked and ostracized.

It's just that if the bullying is led by a girl, maybe Xia Jing, who is a boy, won't be able to notice anything wrong. Just now, I could only hear the girl's voice on my phone.

In addition, if the mastermind is a student from another class, it will be even more not, Xia Jing is equivalent to being kept in the dark.

It takes less than three minutes to ride a bicycle to school.

"So please hold on a little longer." Xia Jing appealed to Fang Yuan in his heart.

Regardless of the sense of justice and mission, Xia Jing just rushed forward on his bicycle based on an impulse similar to a nervous reflex, and finally arrived in front of the school gate a few minutes later.

Xia Jing was several times more grateful than when he usually overslept, glad that he lived close to the school, and then skated off the bicycle and went straight to the school building.

Is the location you predicted correctly? If you guess wrong, you'll have no way back.

The problem is "carving knife" and "equipment room". Of all the possibilities that can be speculated, only that place is the most likely.

Although the campus felt empty, the entrance and exit to the school building were not closed. In addition to the staff rooms, there are several classrooms with lights on.

Xia Jing didn't look at those places, he didn't go to the school building that he usually used for classes, but another school building, a special building that he usually only visits when classes change classrooms.

He took three steps and ran up the stairs in two.

Once you reach the third floor, keep your eyes peeled for your destination at the end of the hallway......

“……！”

Xia Jing gritted his teeth in remorse.

The lights are out and not lit.

That being said, it's too late to retreat now. There is another possibility that the other party bullied Fang Yuan and let her go. If this is not the case, Xia Jing doesn't know what to do next.

Xia Jing operated the mobile phone with one hand and re-dialed Fang Yuan, while walking towards the dark art classroom.

"Fang Yuan! Answer ...... if you are there"

At the moment when Xia Jing called out so briefly and opened the classroom door......

…… His thinking stopped.

“…… Hey? ”

The ...... in front of you

It is completely different from what Xia Jing expected, hoped for, and speculated.