Kotori: So this is the spot huh?
After learning that Miku had seen someone stalking them when they were sneaking into school from her memories.
And that the same spirits she encountered likely tried to warn Miku, Kotori went to the spot where the strange figure appeared in Miku's memory by a Sakura tree nearby the walls of Mato High.
Kotori: Alright let's start.
Upon arriving she began inspecting the tree, trying to see if there was anything left by the dark figure.
But because it had rained the previous day, everything from the possible shoe prints and even scent were probably all gone.
Kotori: Hmm...
Knowing this, Kotori decided to use the same power she used to prevent Kaneki's death wish back in the W.S.S.F.
Kotori: Reverse!
She extended her arm towards the tree and slowly turned her hand counter clockwise.
Swoosh~
Leaves that had fallen from the tree came flying back onto it as Kotori slowly reversed time for the tree.
Soon the tree's leaves got covered in water and dried up again, and once it dried back up.
Kotori: Done.
The shoe prints came back and probably even the scent of the one who made them.
Tohru: [Kotori-chan what are you doing?]
Kotori: I'm using Demon Knight Chrono's time manipulation powers to reverse and restore the tree where the dark figure stood at.
Tohru: [The one in Miku-chan's memory? Smart move.]
Kotori: Yeah and with this, I can now inspect the tree for things like scent so I can find that creep.
Tohru: [Um... Now that I think about it, have you used your Great Grandma's ability to heal Kaneki-chan?]
Kotori: Eh?
Tohru: [You did used it to prevent your brother's death wish didn't you?]
Realizing that she could've saved Kaneki by doing the same way she saved him during the W.S.S.F.
Slap!
Kotori gave herself a facepalm because of how dumb she was.
Kotori: Damn I'm dumb. And I call my myself a super artificial intelligent lifeform.
Tohru: [It's alright dear, no need to feel bad about it. You can try and heal your brother later.]
Kotori: Yeah I'll have to focus on my investigation first, besides... Papa would probably not want me near Kaneki-chan for a while...
Tohru: [I can understand that, well then proceed.]
Kotori: Nod~ Got it.
Kotori went on all four's and lowered her face to the shoe prints.
Kotori: Here goes nothing. Sniff~!
She sniffed it taking in the scent.
Thud!
Kotori: AAAARGH!
But after sniffing the shoe prints, Kotori reacted in a horrible way.
Kotori: It burns! It burns!!!!
Her nose suddenly felt a very painful burning sensation as her body fell to the floor.
Tohru: [Kotori-chan?! What happened?!]
Hearing her daughters screams made Tohru worried.
Kotori: Haa~! Haa~!
Tohru: [Kotori-chan are you hurt?!]
Kotori: A little. My nose felt like it was being pricked by thousands of red hot needles.
Tohru: [Why?]
Kotori: I don't know. But when I sniffed the spot where the shoe prints were at it happened.
Tohru: [I see, then it's probably connected right?]
Kotori: Probably but I'll have to check up on the school, if I sniff around the rooftop and I reacted the same way i did just now.
Tohru: [Then we got our guy. Although the next problem is finding him.]
Kotori: Yeah but we can worry about that later, for now.
Kotori turned to her back and saw a couple of Mato High students looking at her.
???: Hey isn't that Higanbana-san?
???: Man I hope she is okay...
They were pitying her and she could hear them very clearly.
Information about Kaneki's condition had spread.
???: I can't believe Tanaka-san was his childhood friend.
???: Mirai-san as well.
Including information about Shino, Yuuka and Miku as well.
Kotori: I'll need to go to school, and try to calm things down.
Tohru: [Good luck.]
Kotori: Although I hope those girls came to school, although kinda unlikely.
Tohru: [Get going now.]
Kotori: Roger.
Kotori then made her way to the school gates where more eyes were staring at her.
Kotori's thoughts*
(How did information spread so quickly? Was it Sachi-chan, Chikao-chan or Natsuki-chan?)
She wondered who could have possibly spread information, but immediately dismissed those three.
(No it can't be. They probably locked themselves in their homes right now.)
Kotori: Sigh~ What a pain.
Though Kotori wondered how information about Shino, Yuuka and Miku being involved spread.
She continued her way to her classroom.
A few minutes later~
Slide~
Kotori: Good morning everyone.
But the moment she entered the classroom.
Swoosh!
Itsuki: Hey Kotori-san!
She was confronted by Kaneki's friends.
???: Hey is it true? Was Kaneki hospitalized?
Keiko: Yeah! We heard he was hospitalized yesterday.
Facing her classmates questions, she began answering.
Kotori: Yeah it's true, Kaneki by was hospitalized yesterday...
???: No way...
Keita: What about Tanaka-san, Mirai-san and Tachibana-san?
Kotori: !!!
???: Yeah we heard that they were the ones responsible for it.
???: That can't be true right?!
???: Hayakawa-kun and Keiko-san even told us that those three were Higanbana-kun's childhood friends and step sister!
Kotori: !!!
Kotori glared at Itsuki and Keiko for revealing their identities.
But she knew it was pointless to try and hide it from her classmates now that they've learned their true identities.
Kotori: Sigh~ It's pointless to deny it. Yes they were involved- One of the reasons why Kaneki-chan was hospitalized.
Everyone: NO WAY!
Kotori: And yes... Shino-chan and Yuuka-chan were Kaneki-chan's and Sachi-chan's childhood friends, and Miku-chan was Kaneki-chan's and my step sister.
Everyone: !!!
In an instant all of her classmates froze as they realized what those three had essentially done to Kaneki for the last couple of months since the entrance ceremony.
???: No way... So that means this whole time... He was watching as his two childhood friends and step getting close to that guy?
???: Was that the reason why he was so aggressive for the last couple of months?
???: Poor Kaneki... You were watching your childhood friends and step sister get all chummy with another guy and they forgotten about you... That's so painful...
???: So Tachibana-san was actually his sister? Then why would she hide it?
Kotori felt sad after seeing her classmates reactions, but before things would go ugly she continued to reveal more things.
Kotori: Haa~ You may not all know this... But those three were actually trying to fix their relationship with Kaneki-chan this whole time.
Everyone: Huh?
Kotori: It might seem unbelievable, since you guys seem to be thinking that they had abandoned Kaneki-chan. But it's true they were secretly trying to fix their relationship with Kaneki-chan. Although they suck at it.
???: They were?
Kotori: Yes, they were mostly trying to hide their attempts due to most if not all of you knowing that they were close to that trash at the time. And they were afraid you all would get the wrong idea.
The students of Class 1-C all looked at each other after hearing their reason, but some couldn't believe it.
???: How are you sure?
Kotori: Before I've acquired this body, I've only been watching over Kaneki-chan and them for a long time, so I could tell what their intentions were.
Her classmates all began to calm down as she continued to try and clear their names.
Kotori: It was very difficult for them, until Natsuki-chan became friends with Kaneki-chan.
Everyone: Mizutani-san?
Kotori's face relaxed as she began talking about Natsuki.
Kotori: Nod~ Yeah that's right, since Kaneki-chan and Natsuki-chan became friends those three actually gained confidence and tried harder fixing their relationship with Kaneki-chan.
She then explained their plan to slowly get close to Kaneki and slowly fix things between them by becoming friends with Natsuki.
Kotori: And yes I know their plan is kinda messed up by using Natsuki-chan, but they also planned on apologizing to her as well after apologizing and reconciling with Kaneki-chan.
???: But that doesn't excuse what they had done.
Kotori: I'm well aware of that, but please don't come to conclusions. They worked really hard to fix their relationship with Kaneki-chan, I know there's more to tell you all but I request for you to give me time. I'm a bit busy at the moment.
Itsuki: What are you exactly doing?
Kotori: To prove Shino-chan, Yuuka-chan and Miku-chan are innocent.
Everyone: Huh?
Kotori: Papa, Aiya-Mama, Natsuki-chan and probably even Sachi-chan and Chikao-chan are convinced that they've hurt Kaneki-chan on purpose.
Keiko: I am confused.
???: Yeah, you're not making any sense Kotori-san.
Kotori: Like I said, I'll explain everything later so please give me time.
Not wanting to pry any further, her classmates all went back to their seats.
Except for Itsuki and Keiko who were very worried.
Itsuki: Hey... Kotori-san...
Kotori: I'm thankful you two are worried for my brother, but please don't-
Keiko: We understand... Besides it's strange that those three would work so hard to apologize to Kaneki and would throw it away and further damage their relationship with him.
Kotori: Oh that's right, you two knew. Heh. Thanks you for keeping it a secret this whole time.
Itsuki: Kaneki did threaten us after all hehe~ ... Hey is there any way we could help?
Keiko: Yeah! We want to help out as well!
Kotori stared at them with a confused expression and asked.
Kotori: Why are you doing this?
Itsuki: For Kaneki of course, he helped us quite a lot.
Keiko: So we want to return the favor!
Kotori: Hehe~ He only helped you two confess your feelings for each other. But sure, I'll allow you two to help me out. We can start later at lunch, I already have a clue though it's not exactly an easy clue.
Keiko: We're happy to help!
Itsuki: Fill us in later okay?
Kotori: I will.
With her confrontation to I her classmates over and Itsuki and Keiko joining her investigation.
(Alright next up, the rooftop.)
She sets her sight on the rooftop.
Meanwhile~
While Kotori was doing her investigation in school.
Natsuki's parents were about to leave their home.
Katsuki: We'll be heading out Natsuki-chan.
Natsuki: ...
They were able to get Natsuki out of her room, but she only stared at their fish tank and the fishes that Natsuki named after herself and her friends with a saddened expression.
Satsuki: We'll be locking the house down, so don't let anyone in okay?
Natsuki: ...
And no matter what her parents says, Natsuki didn't respond.
Katsuki: Okay dear let's go.
Satsuki: Yeah.
After exiting and locking down their house, they began walking.
Their destination?
Katsuki & Satsuki: To the Hugan household.
Kaneki's home, the Higanbana household.
But for what purpose?