Chapter 6:

A Starless Night

Those Summer Nights


It was a strange scene... When Arata arrived, countless possibilities appeared in my mind, but this outcome wasn’t one of them. The two of us are sitting at the table, having breakfast.

“Sora didn’t return to his home yesterday after school. A witness said he did left the school, so he probably came back later. We’re still questioning the students, so we can’t confirm this yet.” After drinking some tea, Arata continued. “We’ll have to visit everyone who witnessed Sora trying to attack you too.”

“Arata… You really think I’m not the killer?”

“Yes. This haven’t changed.”

“Why?”

“I wonder why... I know you’re hiding something from me, but still… Looking in your eyes, I see sincerity. If you’re lying about not killing Mei, you’re believing in your own lies, either you’re a professional liar or you’re crazy. Sure, I can’t ignore those possibilities, that’s one of the reasons I’m here.”

Arata focused on his tea for a moment, like if he was thinking about something.

“Father, why won’t you believe in me?”, a voice crossed his mind.

“Anyway, the classes are suspended for now. A second murder happening in the school is too much.”, Arata continued. “And we’re making Sakura’s death public too because we can’t hide it forever.”

Some hours after we left school last night, the police received an anonymous call telling about a body hidden in the school. After they found Sora, the police blocked the access to the school and called the principal to suspend the classes.

“Well, I need to go.”, Arata said finishing his tea. “I’ll be back tomorrow morning.”

“Tomorrow?”

“I made a call to your uncle and he said he has nothing to do with you. You really have a problematic family.”

“I can’t deny that.”

“Your parents aren’t in the country, you don’t have any grandparent left… And I have some friends wanting to throw you in prison. So I’ll keep an eye in you! You can expect a few visits from me this summer break!”

“I understand.”


He said a few, but he started to come every single morning. Everyday we would eat our breakfast together. Some days he would appear at night bringing food. Some days we would go out together to buy groceries. A really strange summer break.

“I want you to talk about your friend Hayato. Since when you know him?”

“Huh… Since middle school. One day I was reading a manga in the classroom and he started to talk with me about it. After that we started to talk everyday. He is a funny guy who is always proud of his little sister.”

“Oh? His little sister?”

“Hayato is four years older than her, so he always said he wanted to be the best older brother. I think he spoils her a bit too much.”

“You don’t go out a lot, right? So outside of the school, you only make contact with him by phone or internet?”, Arata said after eating some miso soup.

“We play a lot of online games together. Well, it’s rare but sometimes we go somewhere together. In January we went to a game store.”

“He was with you when Sora wanted to hit you, right?”

“Yes, he made Sora stay back.”


One morning, Arata even made the breakfast.

“Huh… When did Hina started to talk with me? It was very recently… Last December probably.”

“Oh? Less than one year.”

“I was surprised when she told me she played video games.”

“Now, be frank with me, do you like her? Not just as a friend.”

“What?! Of course not! She is my friend, only that!”

“Ha ha ha!”

“What is so funny?”

“It’s nothing.”

Speaking of that… Is there any girl I really liked? A girl that caught my attention… Oh, I know one, it was Mei.


Other day I went to the toilet very early in the morning and before returning to my bed, I unlocked the front door.

“I met Naoto in the high school. He was in my class during the first year too, and at one point we were friends.”

“At one point?”

“I don’t know exactly when that happened.”

“You need to pay more attention around you and to remember to lock your front door.”

“I thought leaving it unlocked would make things easier for you.”

“Remember to lock your front door.”

“Understood...”

“Anyway, you said Naoto has a girlfriend?”

“Yes. They’re together since middle school. If you ask him about their relationship, he’ll say she is a childhood friend and they promised to be together forever. But I don’t know if he is joking.”

“Have you ever met her?”

“No. She lives in another city and she never visited our school. Normally Naoto go to her house during weekends and holidays.”


Other day…

“I hope you like some bacon and eggs, I wanted to try something different this morning.”


And another…

“How can you live alone without knowing how to cook? Come here, let me show to you how to make this.”


One day he even came at night.

“Hello, I brought your dinner.”

“You don’t need to do that.”

“I was passing around here anyway.”

“Come inside. I’ll prepare some tea.”

“No, thank you. I have to work.”


It was like my father had returned. No, more than that.


“You can’t stay at home during the entire summer break.”

“I always go outside whenever I need to buy something.”

“Call your friends and go outside a bit, gaming all day won’t be health to you.”


A family. Even before my parents left the country because of their job, they were always so distant. We rarely had meals together. We barely spoke with each other. It was difficult to see them at home.

I was always alone. And because of that, my father gave me a video game very early in my life. And gaming was my way of distract myself.

But… I can’t say I hate my parents. No, I love them. I was happy every time we were together and they always told me how to be a good person. My father is proud of me. My mother always have a sad look in her face whenever she says “good bye”.

I miss them.


“How are your nightmares?”, Arata asked.

“They’re still happening, but a lot less frequently.”

“That’s good to hear. You had some traumatic experiences, so it’s normal for that to happen. But if you need, you can ask my help.”


A really strange summer break.


“Thank you for helping me choose this teddy bear!”, Hayato said while we walked back home.

“You’re welcome. I hope your sister will like it.”

“I’ll send a message to you as soon I give this to her!”

Hayato is my friend… My best friend. Yet, since that night, I keep thinking about the possibility of him being the responsible for all those deaths. Is it really okay to doubt my friends?

“Oh! Before we go home, let’s go to the arcade first!”, Hayato said.

“Sure, let’s go.”

I don’t want to think about this. But… If he really killed Mei?


And later that day, I was thinking about that possibility.

During that Friday, Hayato asked Mei to come to school at night. And after he studied with me, he went to the rooftop to wait for Mei. When she arrived, Hayato killed her on the spot and tried to flee, but he saw me in the stairs and hid himself in the darkness. When I went to Mei, he escaped.

For Sakura, I don’t know how and when, but Hayato know where I live and that would explain Sakura’s body inside the dumpster. And there’s something else…

“What was that for?”

As soon as I returned to the classroom after talking with Sakura, Hayato questioned me. He could be interested in that because he killed Mei.

I still can’t explain Akira’s death and neither that faceless body. And I didn’t had the courage to talk about them with Arata and he never said anything about them either. But for Sora’s death, it’s clear as day: Hayato knew about Sora resenting me and killed him to throw suspicious around me. But that seems to have backfired and gave more credibility to my claims of someone trying to frame me.

Another thing pointing to Hayato being the killer is the fact that he was the one who spoke about someone hiding behind the first building. If he hadn’t said that, we would probably go home without finding Sora’s body.

Hayato, you aren’t the killer, right?

At that moment I received a message from Hayato. It was just a photo of her sister hugging her new teddy bear with a giant smile in her face.

“Please, he can’t be the killer...”, I said making a wish.


The other detective was once again speaking with Arata in the police department.

“When are you going to stop playing dad, Arata? Doing that won’t bring your son back! I’m telling you this as your friend.”

“I appreciate your concern but I’m only doing what we discussed a long time ago.”

“Well, whatever. Did you find anything useful?”

“After speaking a lot with Souma and checking his entire house multiple of times, it’s hard to believe he has any connection with the murders.”

“And what will be our next move?”

“Is there any update on the situation of Souma’s friends?”

“No changes. Both Hina and Naoto haven’t returned to the city yet, and I’m keeping someone watching every single one of Naoto’s steps.”

“Huh… While Souma’s action didn’t result in anything for us, our original bait did work and the killer acted reckless, so we’re now one step closer to the truth. But more deaths happened and that made us strengthen our watch.”

“And because of that the killer isn’t acting anymore.”

“If we arrest Souma or Hayato right now, we could probably get their convicted in court without hard proof, but that is what the killer wants.” Arata took a deep breath. “Call your men back and leave Hayato alone. If he is the one we’re looking for, he’ll probably use this opportunity to act. To help with that, let’s feed the media some news about the police starting to think that Souma isn’t the killer.”

“And what about Souma?”

“I’ll keep watching him until summer break ends. Oh, and you should make a visit to Hayato too, make some questions trying to imply that we’re seeing him as the prime suspect right now.”

“If Hayato is really the killer, we’re risking a lot with this plan, no? Another person can die.”

“Sora’s murder showed us that whoever killed those people doesn’t really know what they’re doing. That’s why I think if Hayato is the killer, he’ll get desperate and try to make contact with Souma to confirm the situation. He can’t just kill a random person and he still needs to make it look like Souma did it. So if Hayato tries to see Souma in person...”

“We’ll arrest him.”

“And if nothing happens until the end of the summer break, I think we can say that Hayato isn’t our target.”


“Oh, she looks so happy.”

I showed the photo that Hayato sent to me to Arata during our breakfast.

“I know you won’t like this question, but tell me Souma, did you ever thought about the possibility of Hayato being the one who killed Mei?”

“Are you saying I should be suspicious of my friends?”

“I’m just saying it’s a possibility.”

“I don’t want to think about that...”

I don’t want to, but I keep doing that!


That night, I played an online game with Hayato. I really tried to focus my attention in the game, but I couldn’t remove all those thoughts about the murders from my mind.

He is my best friend and yet…!


“Summer break will end soon, are you going to miss me?”, Arata asked during the breakfast.


“Who is there?!”

Hayato’s voice echoes in my mind.


“It’s rare for you to come during the afternoon, Arata.”

“Someone gave me some cake, but it is too much for me, let’s eat it together, Souma.”


At least today we didn’t see anyone hiding behind the first building.

It won’t stop.


“Souma, are you still sleeping? The breakfast is waiting.”

“Oh, I’m going right now, Arata.”

“And I already told you to keep the door locked.”


So, my best friend, you can share your worryings with me!

I don’t want to doubt him anymore! But…! But…!


It was around 9:00 PM when I received a message from Hayato.

“I need to talk with you in person. I’m waiting for you in the city park. Come now, please.”, I read to myself.

A very strange request that convinced me that Hayato is the murderer. And if he really is, I’ll confront him myself.

I got a piece of paper to write a message. A message in case I never return home.

And after leaving the paper in table, I left my house, leaving the door unlocked.

The dark sky was filled with clouds, a rain could start any time. In the absolute silence of the night, I made my way to the city park.

I didn’t see a single soul in the street and I kept remembering my past with Hayato during all the 15 minutes long walk.

“Hayato...”, I whispered in front of the city park’s entrance.

I took a deep breath and made my way to the center of the park, an area with a small lake surrounded by trees.

“Where is he?”

He wasn’t anywhere visible, so I sent a message to him asking where he was. But five minutes passed without an answer, so I tried to call him. That’s when I heard a sound, making me jump in fear: the sound of a phone ringing.

I looked around me but no one appeared, the sound never got closer and it stopped after my phone ended the call. But it was clear that Hayato was there, hiding in the middle of the trees.

What should I do?

After thinking a bit, I call his number again and the sound of his phone ringing restarts.

I looked around me one more time, trying to pinpoint the direction the sound was coming from.

“It’s coming from there...”, I said to myself while looking at a bunch of trees surrounded by some big plants.

I hesitated a bit, but I started to slowly walk in the direction of the sound, praying for this to be just a prank from Hayato.


Arata was in his car, passing in front of my house.

“No lights on?”

He stopped the car and went running to the door. He ringed the bell and tried to open the door.

“He left it unlocked again!”

Arata entered, turning on the lights, but no one was there.

“Souma, are you here?!”, he yelled while going to my bedroom. He looked inside it but found nothing.

“Did he go somewhere to buy food?”, he said while checking the entire house.

When Arata got his phone to make a call, he saw a paper on the table.

“Hayato sent a message asking me to meet him at the city park. If I never return, I want you to know he’s the killer.”, Arata crumpled the paper with his hands after reading it. “Why didn’t you call me?!”

Arata rushed to his car and got the radio.

“Attention all units! We have an emergency! Everyone available should go to the city park right now! The one we’re looking for is Hayato Kirisaki, arrest him! I repeat, our target is Hayato Kirisaki!”

As soon as Arata started his car, he got a call. “What is it?”

“That’s my question, what is the situation?”, it was the other detective’s voice.

“Hayato asked Souma to meet him at the park.”

“Where is Souma now?”

“He’s already there.”, he said while hitting the gas.


Only the sound of a phone ringing could be heard in the empty park. I’m going in its direction and I can hear it more clearly with each step.


The silence of the city was broken by numerous police cars rushing towards the park.


The sound is loud now. But I still can’t imagine what Hayato is planing to do.


Arata’s car crossed a red light. “Please, be safe, Souma!”


I’m in front of where the sound is coming from: a tree with some big plants around it.


The police cars are near.


I look around one last time, but I’m alone. I turn off my phone and start to move the plants so I can see what is there.


Arata arrived at the park. After stopping his car, he rushed outside with a gun in his right hand. Meanwhile, more cars started to arrive and stop in front of the park’s entrance.


I find Hayato’s phone.


A yell cuts the night.

“It’s Souma voice! What happened?!”, Arata said to himself while running.


I punch the tree. Tears are overflowing from my eyes.

“I’ll kill you!!! I swear I’ll make you pay!!!”, I yelled.


“No, Souma! Stop!”, Arata yelled while looking for me.


“I’ll kill you!!! I’ll kill you!!! I’ll kill you!!! I’ll kill you!!!”, I kept yelling while crying, while punching the tree.


“Souma!”, Arata yelled again.

He was finally in the center of the park. And after looking around, he found me.

“Don’t do that, Souma!”


“I’ll kill you!!!”, I ignored his plea.

Arata ran to me and pulled me from behind. “What happened?!”

I looked at him, my face is horrible and full of tears. Then I looked to my left.

Arata released me and moved the plants out of the way. “It can’t be...”

There, sitting under the tree, was Hayato. His clothes stained with blood.

I couldn’t stop my tears while more cops started to arrive in this area. And I looked to the starless, cloudy sky.

If this were a movie, it would start to rain now.

Without any strength left in my body, I sit on the ground. Memories of the past are flashing in my mind and I cry, yelling like a little kid.

So, my best friend, you can share your worryings with me!, Hayato’s voice echoes in my mind.

I doubted my friend… My best friend. And now, he was gone. Forever.