Chapter 118: The Rooftop Interrogation

"You followed me?!" I demand, staring at my supposed friends with a mixture of fury and disbelief. My brilliant escape plan has resulted in me being cornered on a rooftop with the subject of my investigation and three incredibly nosy, overly invested individuals.

"Of course we followed you!" Rina retorts, planting her hands on her hips, her expression a thundercloud of suspicion. "You were acting suspicious! Sneaking off! Meeting her!" She points an accusatory finger at Aiwa, who flinches back as if physically struck.

"It was a textbook secret rendezvous," Kenji adds sagely, puffing out his chest. "Classic spy movie stuff. Rui is clearly the double agent, meeting with the mysterious foreign operative! Quick, check her for hidden microfilm!"

"She is not a foreign operative, she is my classmate!" I insist, stepping protectively in front of Aiwa, who looks like she is about to dissolve into a puddle of pure panic. "Can a guy not have a private conversation without being stalked by his entire social circle?"

"Not when the conversation involves her," Haruka says, her voice dangerously smooth as she circles Aiwa like a shark. Her eyes are narrowed, scanning Aiwa from head to toe. "What were you two whispering about so intently, Matsuki-san? Sharing secrets?"

This is a disaster. There is no escape. Aiwa looks desperately at me, her eyes pleading for help, but what can I do? I am outnumbered and outmaneuvered.

Rina takes a step forward, her gaze sharp and analytical. "You know," she says slowly, her eyes flicking between Aiwa's panicked face and my own miserable one. "It is funny. You run away from Rui at school like he has the plague, but then you arrange a secret meeting with him after a convention? That does not add up."

"And you just happened to be at the beach resort at the same time as us," Haruka adds, joining the interrogation. "Another convenient coincidence."

"I- my family-" Aiwa stammers, trying to formulate a defense, but she is clearly crumbling under the pressure.

"And the Cosmode photoshoot," Rina continues, pressing her advantage. "LUNA, the supposed international superstar, looked awfully flustered when Rui talked to her. Almost like she knew him."

"And she rolled her eyes!" Kenji suddenly pipes up, remembering the detail. "When Rina and Haruka were doing their 'fight over Rui' routine! LUNA totally rolled her eyes! It was hilarious! Like something a normal, annoyed girl would do!"

Every accusation, every observation, is another brick removed from Aiwa's carefully constructed wall. She looks trapped, her eyes darting between her accusers.

"But the voice is different," Haruka muses, tapping a finger on her chin. "LUNA's voice is deep, commanding. Matsuki-san's voice is…" she gestures vaguely at Aiwa, "…like a startled mouse."

"Unless," Rina says, her eyes widening as a new, terrible theory dawns on her. "Unless the voice is part of the act. Unless LUNA is not just a costume, but a complete persona." She takes a step closer to Aiwa, her gaze piercing. "Is that it, Matsuki-san? Are you LUNA?"

The direct question hangs in the air, heavy and absolute. Aiwa flinches as if struck. Her face goes impossibly pale. She opens her mouth to deny it, but no sound comes out. Her perfect defenses have crumbled.

In the stunned silence, Kenji lets out a sound that is halfway between a gasp and a dying whale. He points a trembling finger at Aiwa. "No… way…" he whispers, his eyes rolling back in his head. He promptly faints, collapsing onto the rooftop gravel with a soft thud.

But no one is looking at Kenji. All eyes are on Aiwa, who is standing frozen, tears welling up in her eyes, her biggest secret exposed under the harsh lights of the Tokyo skyline. The game is over.