3rd Pov:
Deep in the bowels of the ship, where the lights were dim and the corridors deserted, Kento leaned against a cold metal wall.
The distant hum of the engines filled the silence, while the monotonous sound of the waves hitting the hull seemed to amplify his anxiety.
Sweat dripped down his forehead, his legs shaking so hard he could barely stand.
Then, the sound of footsteps.
Slow, regular, echoing in the empty corridor.
Each click of a heel seemed to spell his doom.
A hooded figure emerged from the darkness.
Her face was hidden by shadows, but the silhouette revealed it to be a girl.
Her mere presence was enough to make Kento's breathing quicken, and he stiffened against the wall like a hunted animal.
The figure stopped in front of him.
"Well? Any news?" She asked in a calm voice, yet laced with a subtle threat.
"Y-yes…" Kento stammered, swallowing hard.
"Apparently… a second-year student wants to help us find out what's going on."
A disturbing smile spread across the girl's hidden face, hinting at the amused tone.
"Oh? A senpai getting in the way? Interesting… he could be my next victim."
A low, disturbing laugh spread through the hallway.
"Tell me, what's his name? I assume he told you his name."
"His name's Akira…" Kento's voice shook as did his hands.
"Now… he's having contact with our class president, Kyoko."
"I see." The girl reached into her hoodie pocket, pulling out some small devices. They glowed faintly in the cold fluorescent light: they were bugs.
"I'll give you some new orders. Secretly install them in Kyoko's room. Don't ask any questions."
She suddenly leaned toward him. Kento felt her cold breath touch his ear.
"And remember... you know what would happen if you disobeyed me. You don't want your darkest secret to be revealed, do you?"
Kento's heart nearly exploded in his chest. Tears filled his eyes.
"Please... no... don't tell anyone!"
"Then obey." The figure laughed softly, walking away with a light step.
"The fate of your secret depends solely on you."
The sound of her footsteps slowly faded into the corridor.
Kento collapsed to his knees, his hands clutching the cold metal of the floor desperately.
His tears fell to the ground, mixing with the oppressive silence.
"When will this... end?" he murmured between sobs, staring at the ceiling lit by a neon light that flickered as if about to go out.
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Akira Pov
After half an hour, around 4:30 PM, the cruise arrived at Takamatsu Port.
All of us students, along with the teachers, disembarked the ship and gathered in the center of the harbor with our bags.
The teachers began calling their classes, including Professor Takata.
"Well, everyone, we've finally arrived at the island," he said in his usual calm tone.
"We're now at Takamatsu Port, and a bus booked by the school will arrive shortly to take us to the hotel. We'll check in there."
I nodded along with my classmates.
Around 5:00 PM, the buses arrived, and we boarded.
During the trip, I wasted no time and, as usual, began doing some online research about the place, trying to figure out what we'd do on the trip.
After a short while, we arrived at the Royal Park Hotel Takamatsu.
We checked in and went to our rooms.
I would share mine with two classmates. After packing my suitcase, I decided to go out and explore the hotel.
Walking along the corridors, I ran into a familiar face: one of my old professors from last year, Kenzo Yamada.
I recognized him immediately: long beard, short hazel hair covered by a cap, glasses, a smart jacket over a white shirt, dark blue jeans, and beige shoes.
"Good afternoon, Professor,"
I greeted him with a small bow.
"It's nice to see you again. We haven't seen each other since last year. How are you?"
"It's nice to see you too, Akira-kun. You've grown up a little since last year," he said, immediately teasing me.
I sighed with a smile: his sense of humor hadn't changed.
"Still teasing you? Do you do it to your students too, Professor?"
I asked, laughing.
He laughed along with me and nodded.
"Yes, I admit it. But tell me, how's school going?"
"Good. I have a 9.5 average," I replied calmly. "The others are doing well, too."
"Excellent," he smiled. Then, with a slightly regretful tone, he added, "You know... I miss you."
I smiled back, a little moved. "We miss you too, Professor."
Last year, we'd built a good relationship with him, and the news that he'd no longer be our teacher had left a bitter taste in both our mouths.
We talked a little more, until we had to part ways. I felt relieved: at least on this trip I'd have the chance to see him again.
I then decided to head to the hotel bar for a quick aperitif before dinner. As soon as I arrived, I found a place and sat at a table.
As soon as my order arrived, I saw Kyoko enter the bar with a small group of her classmates.
She noticed me immediately and greeted me with a smile before heading over to me.
"Hi, Akira."
"Hi Kyoko," I replied, smiling back. "What do you think of this hotel?"
"Um... not bad, I'd say. How about you?"
"I agree," I nodded. "Anyway... are you here with your classmates?"
"Exactly. Do you want to join us?" she asked without hesitation. "It would be a good opportunity for my class to get to know you a little better."
"Gladly," I replied.
She suddenly pulled out a piece of paper with a number written on it. "Oh, and this is my room number. I'll wait for you there in three days, at 8:00 PM."
I raised an eyebrow at her. "You know, it sounds like a date."
Her face immediately flushed red. "W-What are you talking about, baka!"
She blurted out, crossing her arms and puffing out her cheeks.
I burst out laughing. "Haha, Kyoko-chan... you're too funny when you do that."
"Shut up!"
She retorted, embarrassed.
Then, with a sigh, she suddenly grabbed my arm. "Come with me."
"Ouch! Wait, it hurts!"
I protested, as she squeezed even tighter, obviously in retaliation.
"This way you'll learn to tease me"
She said with a half-smile.
She dragged me to her table, where other guys were sitting.
I immediately recognized Takeo, Sae, and Kazuya, but the others were new to me.
"Sit here,"
She ordered, indicating the chair next to her.
Kazuya laughed. "I see you two get along well."
Then he turned to me: "Anyway, Akira-senpai, let me introduce you to some of our classmates: Kazue Nomura, Souta Yamada, and Chiaki Fujii. We all thank you for what you're doing for us."
"Yes, thank you so much!" Chiaki added, giving a small bow.
"You're welcome,"
I replied, smiling at the group.
"Actually, it's nice to meet you."
Then I added: "By the way, did you know we're going to the Matsuyama hot springs tonight?"
"Really?!" Chiaki exclaimed, her eyes shining. "How nice, I love hot springs!"
Kazuya looked at me suspiciously. "Wait... how did you know?"
I smiled. "Well, I'm the class president. The teachers told me the whole syllabus."
"Ah, then it makes sense," Kazuya nodded.
"Anyway, I have to go, unfortunately,"
I suddenly warned them.
"Huh? Really?" Kyoko said, surprised.
"Yeah, I just remembered I had a meeting with a classmate."
"Okay, don't worry, go ahead"
Kazuya reassured me with a kind smile.
"It was a pleasure, guys. See you next time."
I gave a quick wave and walked away from the table, starting to walk along the hotel corridors.
I had a very specific destination: Kyoko's room.
If my hypothesis was correct, the culprit had sent Kento there to act.
Probably, after learning that Kyoko and I were working together, he had decided to take countermeasures against me.
To be safe, I had obtained the key to Kyoko's room without her noticing. I would return it to her later anyway.
But perhaps I wouldn't have needed it.
Even from a distance, I noticed that the door to her room had been forced open: fresh scratches around the lock, splinters of wood near the latch, and even traces of metal paint that had fallen off during the break-in.
There couldn't have been a better confirmation: the culprit had indeed entered, and Kento had surely followed his/her orders.
Then, in the upper right, I noticed a small microcamera mounted in the corner.
"So he also planted some bugs..." I thought, trying to keep my expression natural.
The door was ajar. "How careless, Kyoko, she should lock it better,"
I commented aloud, as if nothing had happened, and opened the door, pretending to call her: "Kyoko, are you there?"
Meanwhile, my eyes moved rapidly, scanning every corner in a matter of seconds.
And the picture was clear: thirty-four microcameras, fifty-four microphones. They were everywhere: hidden in the TV, the air conditioner, the landline, even between the cushions of the sofa and armchair.
Meticulous work.
The only place he'd left untouched was the bathroom. "At least he/she's not so unscrupulous as to go that far," I thought wryly.
"Ah, apparently she's not here,"
I said aloud, still pretending.
"I'll have to look around."
I closed the door behind me and walked away.
I had to admit: the culprit was good. Far too good to be just a student. Every position had been chosen with surgical precision; nothing was left to chance.
It would be best to let Kyoko know what I'd discovered... but not right away.
For now, I headed for my room: I needed time to reflect and plan the week. A good cup of tea would help clear my head.
As I walked, my eyes instinctively darted left and right, checking every corner.
If Kento, or anyone else, had decided to follow me, I didn't want to be caught off guard.
After a quick glance, however, I was convinced no one was following me.
After a couple of minutes, I reached my door. Untouched, no sign of forced entry. I calmly opened it and entered.
The room was clean, no cameras, no bugs. Exactly as I'd imagined.
I moved to the kitchen, grabbed the teapot, and started boiling water for black tea.
After about five minutes, the whistle of the teapot filled the room.
I poured the tea into my cup and sat on the living room couch, sipping slowly.
That's when my cell phone rang.
I picked it up and answered.
"Hmm... so that's it. I see... good. Thank you for the information. Please continue investigating."
My voice remained calm and neutral. I ended the call without another word.
"Good. Everything's ready."
I thought to myself, then calmly returned to my tea.
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3rd Pov:The Day After.
The hotel room where Akira was on a school trip with his class lit up with morning light.
The boy awoke with a slight yawn and, after stretching, muttered with satisfaction,
"The bed was really comfortable."
He calmly got up and headed to the bathroom, where he began his meticulous routine:he washed his face with a special cream he'd brought from home, used a pharmacy soap, and then immediately moved on to his teeth.
First a regular toothpaste, then a gum-strengthening one, finishing the whole thing with dental floss and mouthwash.
He didn't neglect even the smallest details: he cleaned his ears, took care of his eyelashes and eyebrows, and styled his nails with almost obsessive precision.
Once finished, he left the bathroom, peeled a peach, and, with a simple glass of water, made himself breakfast.
While eating, he took out his cell phone and texted Kyoko:
"Come to my room, I'll give you the number. We need to talk urgently."
A few moments later, the phone flashed: Kyoko's response was short but clear. "Okay."
After forty-five minutes, there was a knock on the door. Akira stood up and opened it.
Kyoko appeared before him.
"I got here as fast as poss—" she began, but she couldn't even finish the sentence: Akira suddenly approached, beginning to touch and search her rapidly.
Kyoko immediately blushed, agitated.
"Hey! What the hell are you doing!?" she protested.
After a few seconds, Akira stopped and let her go.
"Okay. You're clean," he declared bluntly, reentering the room.
"Come on, have a seat."
Kyoko, still confused and with her cheeks slightly red, followed him.
"Clean? What do you mean?" she asked, staring at him in puzzlement.
"They installed microcameras and bugs in your room. Eighty-eight in total: fifty-four microphones and thirty-four cameras. They could have even hidden some in your clothes without you noticing,"
Akira explained with icy calm.
Kyoko swallowed, surprised but also irritated.
"Well... I understand, but you could have at least warned me first!"
she exclaimed, her face reddening again.
Then she followed him to the living room, and suddenly a detail occurred to her. "Wait... you broke into my room?! How!?"
At the realization, Akira slipped the room key between his fingers, casually showing it to her.
"When did you steal it from me?!"
Kyoko snapped, immediately snatching it from him.
"And now I understand why I couldn't find it this morning!"
she pouted, visibly annoyed.
"Sorry, sorry..."
Akira apologized, throwing up his hands.
"It was the only way to be sure I could get in. I was planning on returning it to you later anyway."
Kyoko stared at him for a moment, then sighed and sat down on the couch.
"I forgive you... for now," she said firmly.
Akira smiled playfully.
"Thank you for your kindness."
He stood up and headed toward the kitchen.
"Would you like some tea?"
"Yes, Thanks" Kyoko nodded, smiling slightly.
Akira nodded back and began making tea.
Meanwhile, however, Kyoko couldn't help but observe him carefully.
Her eyes lingered on his face.
"I have to admit, Akira-senpai... your skin is really smooth,"
she commented, a little embarrassed.
"Well, I'll just take care of it. Personal hygiene is important... not just for your face, but for your entire body,"
he explained casually. Then he tilted his head slightly, observing her.
"As for your perfume... if I'm not mistaken, you use Kayali Vanilla Candy Rock Sugar 42, right?"
Kyoko's eyes widened in surprise.
"Yes... but how did you figure that out?"
"Simple. I have a good sense of smell"
he replied ironically as he finished making the tea.
He handed her the first cup and then poured himself, sitting across from her.
Kyoko tasted the tea and her eyes lit up.
"Hmm... it's good. You're good, Akira."
"My mother's credit"
he replied, with his usual calm, sipping his own.
"I see..." Kyoko murmured.
A tense silence fell for a few seconds. Then she decided to ask
"So... what did you want to talk to me about?"
Akira was silent for a couple of seconds, then looked up firmly.
"Well... I simply understand everything about the culprit."
Kyoko gasped. She hadn't expected such a sudden, peremptory statement.
"Do you understand... everything?" she asked incredulously.
"Yes," Akira nodded confidently.
"I'm one hundred percent certain that Rin Ishikawa is the culprit. But when I reveal it in front of everyone... I want her to be granted forgiveness."
"What?!" Kyoko exclaimed, shocked and confused.
"How could we ever do that? She's made our lives hell for the last month... ridicule from the entire school, even outside it! How could we ever forgive her?"
Kyoko's voice cracked, finally betraying all the anger and pain she'd been holding inside until that moment.
Akira, however, remained unruffled.
His gaze remained calm, lit by a sympathetic smile.
"I know it will be difficult, and I understand. But I carefully analyzed all the posts on that account... and I sensed something: resentment, hatred, and above all, the cycle of victim becoming perpetrator. Those who have suffered in the past can develop the desire to reverse roles: from victim to perpetrator. They begin to think: "If I make others feel what I felt, then I will no longer be weak." It's a way to try to regain their lost dignity."
Kyoko stared at him, unable to immediately find the words.
Akira continued in a calm but firm voice:
"I know it's difficult, and I don't blame you for your anger.
But forgiveness... forgiveness is the greatest strength in the world.
Those born evil by nature deserve no mercy. But those who have been forced to become evil... deserve forgiveness. Because only in this way can they be saved."
Kyoko was silent for a few seconds, visibly torn.
Finally, she sighed and nodded slowly.
"Okay... I'll forgive her. And I'll lead my class to do the same."
Akira smiled sincerely. "I knew you would,"
he said softly, before taking another sip of his tea.
Then he became serious.
"Now, leaving that aside... Like I said, Rin may have experienced a similar pain to yours, but in an even more isolated way. I'm sure that, unlike you, she faced it all alone. It's very likely that her middle school classmates targeted her, too."
Kyoko watched him carefully, trying to absorb every word.
"In the end, the situation was resolved only in her final year of middle school, thanks to her parents' intervention,"
Akira continued, his voice calm but penetrating.
"But for Rin, that wasn't enough. There was still too much hatred smoldering inside her, and so she decided to bring it with her to high school. She planned everything carefully: she built a strong, charismatic personality to earn the respect and trust of the class, even without becoming class president. That way, no one would ever suspect her."
he paused briefly, then added: "Not only that. To make her cover even more credible, she even spread false rumors about herself. A clever move: that way, if anyone suspected the culprit was among your classmates, they would immediately discard her name."
Kyoko's eyes widened slightly, surprised by his clarity.
"Everything was going perfectly,"
Akira concluded
"until Kento saw, heard… or discovered something he shouldn't have. He was ready to reveal it to all of you, but Rin stopped him. She threatened him: if he told the truth, she would reveal his darkest secret."
"His darkest secret?"
Kyoko asked, confused.
"I'll show you."
Akira suddenly picked up the laptop that was on the coffee table and turned it on.
After a few moments, he opened an online page, displaying a newspaper article.
The headline startled Kyoko: "The complaint against Kento Sakamoto was suddenly dropped by his rape victim."
Kyoko's eyes widened.
"Kento... committed rape?!"
she exclaimed, shocked.
"But he's always been nice to us girls."
Akira remained impassive, speaking in a calm tone.
"I understand your shock, but it's still too early to judge. I want to see both sides of the same coin first."
He closed the laptop with a decisive gesture.
"And I'll find out directly from him."
Kyoko stared at him, still disturbed.
"And how are you going to get him to confess?" she asked, confused.
A hint of a smile appeared on Akira's lips.
"I have my methods. But first we need to address the situation with the microcameras and bugs in Your room."
Kyoko nodded slowly, considering his words.
"You're right, actually."
Akira settled back in his chair and, with a serious look, added,
"Now I'll explain."
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3rd Pov:
In her room, Rin Ishikawa stared at her phone screen, peering through the micro cameras she'd installed in Kyoko's room.
With a lollipop in her mouth and her long brown hair absently twirling around one finger, she muttered to herself:
"Kyoko's the only one who suspects the mastermind behind it all comes from our own class... I just hope that guy, Akira, isn't too smart to figure it out and guide her to solve the mystery."
Just then, Kyoko appeared on the screen, getting up to open the door.
Akira's figure appeared in the doorway; she greeted him and casually ushered him in.
Rin smiled.
"Hmm, apparently they've arranged to meet and discuss the matter... too bad I can see and hear them from here."
She burst into an amused laugh.
"So, is everything ready?"
Kyoko suddenly asked, looking at Akira.
"Yes, everything's ready," he nodded confidently.
"In three days, during the sleepover, I'll reveal that Takeo Ogawa is the culprit behind everything. All the evidence points directly to him."
At the sight of that scene, Rin was silent for a moment, shocked.
"What?... But..." Her lips trembled, then a small laugh escaped them, quickly turning into a loud, mocking laugh.
"Hahahaha! They're so off track! What idiots! And to think I was even worrying!"
Grinding with satisfaction, she got out of bed.
"Okay, then, I can have complete peace of mind at that sleepover."
She turned off her phone and headed for the shower, a satisfied smile plastered on her face.
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Akira Pov
After speaking with Kyoko in her room, I knew I only needed one final preparation to complete the puzzle.
The camera thing? A lie. Rin won't investigate, I'm sure of it. She's convinced she's won, and her arrogance will blind her.
My real target now was Kento.
I followed him to the hotel, staying in the shadows. When I saw him enter his room, I waited a few minutes, then calmly knocked.
The door opened and Kento looked at me in surprise.
"Oh, hi, Akira-senpai! What are you doing here?"
"I was just around here..."
I replied with an innocent smile, showing him the box of muffins I'd made.
"I wanted to update you on the situation. Also, I brought these."
"Oh... thanks! All right, come in,"
he said, inviting me to sit down.
We sat at the table, but I saw a doubt dawn in his eyes.
"Wait…" he said suddenly, "how did you know where my room was?"
I looked him straight in the eye, letting my smile fall.
"Rin Ishikawa told me. She's the one controlling you, isn't she?"
His face paled.
"W-what? I… I don't understand…" he began to tremble.
That's when I decided to hit him with my act.
"You see, Kento… you and your class are doomed. Because the culprit is not one… but two: me, Akira Kondō, and Rin Ishikawa. The investigation? A lie. I just had to get back to her to join forces."
"No… no… no…" he stammered, tears already in his eyes.
"So you've been deceiving us… all this time?"
I laughed softly, moving closer. "Exactly. And the funniest part? You can't do anything. You're in our hands.
If you try to speak, your darkest secret will destroy you"
I grabbed him by the shoulder and slammed him hard against the wall.
I felt his body tremble under my grip, and in my eyes was a feigned euphoria that I knew would terrify him.
"Come on, Kento… I want to hear it from you. Tell me how you raped that woman. What did you do to her? Was it really you? TELL ME!"
He collapsed. He burst into tears, sobbing like a child.
"Y-yes… it was me! But it's not my fault! It's all your fault! Damn you! You've always manipulated us, treated us like puppets! It's her fault… that bitch Rin Ishikawa! It's your fault the whole school bullied us!"
I watched him fall to the ground, exhausted, his eyes red and swollen with tears.
I felt a pang inside me, but I didn't show it. Instead, I smiled.
"Thank you for the confession."
I took out my phone and showed it to him: he had recorded everything.
"H-huh? W-what…?"
he stammered, frightened and confused.
I cleared my throat, calming down.
"I'm sorry if I scared you. But if I'd acted,normally you never would have confessed. Now, however, I have the proof I needed to prove Rin is the real culprit."
I held out my hand to help him up.
"Forgive me again, Kento."
"Oh…"
was all Kento could say, his gaze still blank and his hands shaking.
It was a normal reaction, after all, after what had just happened.
A moment later, however, he grabbed my hand and helped himself up.
"Come on, take this. It'll calm you down."
I said with a calm smile, handing him a muffin from the box.
He didn't reply, but took it and began eating it slowly, as if he needed to hold on to something concrete to keep from collapsing again.
"You scared me…" he finally admitted, his voice cracking.
"You did a good job playing the part."
"I'll take that as a compliment,"
I replied, letting a smile slip.
Then, calmly, I picked up my phone again.
"But now I really want to know what happened with that girl. And I have to record it."
I pressed my finger on the screen, ready to start recording.
"Why?" he asked, his voice faint, still fearful.
"Because you yourself said it wasn't your fault, right?"
I explained rationally.
"That day, your secret will still be revealed through the first recording. But if you tell the truth now, if you explain that you were framed... or if you confess to it but show remorse, well... I'm not saying you'll save your reputation, but you might at least reduce the damage. You could show your comrades that you're willing to bear the burden of your actions."
Kento lowered his gaze, remaining silent for a long moment.
I saw him struggling with himself. Then, finally, he murmured:"I will... I don't want to lose my connection with them. They need to know the truth."
A sincere smile spread across my face
"Good job, Kento," I said softly.
"Finish your muffin, and then we'll start this... interview. Okay?"
"Yes…" he nodded slowly but firmly.
After, i pressed the record button on my phone.
"Okay, Kento. You can start whenever you want. I want you to tell the truth, the whole truth. Not for me, but for yourself."
Kento lowered his gaze, taking a deep breath.
His voice came out shaky, but clear enough to cut through the audio:
"I... I grew up in a rich family, yes... but dysfunctional. My father was always away for work, my mother... never gave me affection, never a word of comfort….And sometime They raped Me,Anytime want they wanted,For That I learnd that was normal in every family,But that is not true…. I had everything materially, but nothing I really needed... and that ruined me."
He paused, squeezing the muffin between his fingers.
"So... as a kid, I took refuge in pornography. There I learned everything I knew about relationships, affection, sex... it was the only education I had. And... the older I got, the more I deformed myself inside. I couldn't take it anymore. In the end, I... I did what I did."
He stopped, his voice breaking. I didn't intervene, I let him continue.
"After that mistake... after that rape... I realized what I had become. It was like waking up in a nightmare. So, of my own free will, I began a psychological journey. I didn't want to be that monster anymore. I wanted to heal, I wanted to understand."
He looked up at me, his eyes red, but for the first time he seemed sincere.
"And... during my freshman year of high school... I discovered something I should never have heard. Rin Ishikawa... She was talking about that Instagram account, about the plan to frame everyone. I listened to her. But she... she knew about my past. She knew everything. She threatened me. She forced me to help her."
The boy was shaking, clenching his hands.
"I... I didn't want to. I swear I never wanted to hurt anyone again. But... I couldn't fight back. She held my secret. If he'd said that, I'd be finished."
He lowered his head, his voice now a whisper.
"There... that's the truth. I'm not seeking forgiveness. I just want people to know how things really happened."
I stopped the recording.
I turned to Kento and start to speak sincerely
"Thank you for telling the truth. I have to tell you, Kento, the fact that you acknowledged your mistake and willingly underwent that psychological process truly does you credit. Not everyone would do that."
I looked him in the eyes, proud of his courage.
He replied in a low, trembling voice,
"Thank you..."
I gathered all my things, ready to conclude the meeting.
"My work here is done. See you at the Pajama party, Kento." I waved goodbye as I headed for the door.
Before I could leave, I heard his voice calling my name:
"Akira-senpai..."
I turned to him.
"Yes?"
"Thank you so much. You're saving my life."
I simply smiled, calm and confident:
"You don't have to do this."
I closed the door behind me, feeling as if I had accomplished everything as planned.
End of the Chapter 1.4