Climbing the Wall Tonight, No Matter What

Sing Sing finally dialed Yukio's number.

The call was answered quickly, Yukio's voice came through first, her tone somewhat unpleasant.

"I've already asked Mariko in person! That child is an adopted son from a collateral branch! He's not related to her by blood!"

Hey! I didn't do anything to you!

Sing Sing lowered his voice and, after making sure no one was paying attention, said, "But you have to think about it! If I could get the truth just by asking, what would be the point of me gathering intelligence?"

"I might as well switch careers and become a street interviewer, asking everyone I meet, 'Hello, is your child Wolverine's biological son?' And they'll have to serve me tea and water and cooperate with the investigation?"

"She wants to protect her child, so why would she tell you that Logan is the biological father?"

Yukio, on the other end of the phone, was stumped by the question and remained silent.

Sing Sing Chow pressed on, "What was her reaction when you asked? Don't just remember the conclusion! Describe her actions and tone of voice clearly."

She answered quickly, without hesitation.

Yukio recalled, "As soon as I asked, she said the child came from a collateral branch of the family. Then she brought out a photo album to show me the pictures."

"Is there anything special about the photo? Don't tell me Logan is wearing an apron and making formula for the baby in the photo?"

"A corner of the school emblem is visible on the back of the photo; that corner is identical to the emblem of Toyo High School."

What a coincidence!

Sing Sing frowned; everything was too much of a coincidence.

Wolverine's child is at this school, and so is the mission Lao Wang assigned to himself.

Too many coincidences mean it's no longer a coincidence...

"Anything else?"

Yukio paused for a moment, then added, "There's a private invitation from the Toyo High School Board of Trustees in the study. The recipient is Mariko, but the inside of the envelope is marked with the name of the 'specially protected subject,' Kobayashi Amiko."

"Could this child be...?"

"You guessed right, Mariko's daughter."

Sing Sing thought for a moment, "Try to find things the child has used or naturally shed hair. Leave the school matters to me."

The two agreed to stay in touch and then ended the call.

Sing Sing put away his phone and walked into the classroom.

The easiest way to break through this investigation is right here at the school.

Kobayashi Amiko...

Since the envelope is addressed to "special guardian," the child's true identity is most likely found in the student's file, Council documents, or old school history records.

After the last class of the afternoon, Sing Sing walked into the homeroom teacher's office with the application form in hand.

Kumiko Yamaguchi was grading homework with her head down.

She glanced at the chart, then looked up at Sing Sing, and casually placed the red pen on the table.

"Hoshino, what are you planning to do now?"

"Teacher Xiaomei, what are you saying?"

Sing Sing handed over the application form, his face showing a pained expression of being misunderstood.

"I'm determined to clear my name of being a delinquent and participate in the school history compilation project! I want to add a shining record of love for my alma mater, service to the community, and a positive attitude to my graduation resume!"

Kumiko Yamaguchi took the form, glanced at it briefly, then looked up at his face.

"The compilation of school history is the responsibility of student clubs, and ordinary clubs can only access publicly available materials. Confidential documents such as past student files and Council documents are not accessible to student clubs and are usually locked in a separate archive room."

Sing Sing looked regretful. "So the school also has materials that aren't open to students. Can I apply to clean the archives?"

"Cannot."

"Not even for cleaning windows?"

"Cannot."

How about donating an air purifier to the archives?

"Cannot."

Sing Sing tentatively raised the stakes. "Two units?"

Kumiko Yamaguchi adjusted her glasses. "Hoshino, your passion for school history seems a bit forced."

Sing Sing straightened his back and said righteously, "Teacher Xiaomei has misunderstood me! I just wanted to contribute to the school."

"Just like in the movie, 'With great power comes great responsibility.' Sweeping the floor is also a responsibility!"

Which movie are you talking about?

"That's not important; what's important is the level of your thinking!"

Kumiko Yamaguchi smiled. "The archives have a separate alarm system at night, and the door locks and surveillance cameras are managed separately. If you really want to participate in the regular school history compilation, go find the club leader."

She got up and walked to the door, but stopped before leaving.

"Hoshino, you're not the only one at school who knows how to climb over the wall."

After saying that, she pushed open the door and left.

Sing Sing stared thoughtfully at the office door. What was this woman implying?

Are homeroom teachers now also acting as campus security officers, even having to register in advance whether students will climb over the wall at night?

Sing Sing returned to the classroom, feeling indignant.

Ichirai Hisako hadn't left yet; she saw the application form that had been brought back.

"You want to go to the archives?"

Sing Sing looked over. "Are you also interested in school history, Shi Lai?"

"I participated in the organization before." Ichirai Hisako put the books away. "The actual student materials have been moved to the North Administration Building."

She spoke calmly and naturally, casually picking up a pen and drawing a route on the draft paper.

"The night patrol begins at the west gate, passes the gymnasium, and then goes to the North Administration Building. After leaving the gymnasium, the patrol officers will stop briefly in the auditorium."

Sing Sing looked at the route on the paper and didn't ask her why she knew these things.

This classmate is acting strangely too!

This school is truly full of hidden talents...

They are all talented individuals.

"Thank you." Sing Sing folded the draft paper neatly. "But don't tell anyone, I plan to graduate based on my passion for the school's history."

Ichirai Hisako put her pen back down. "Don't worry, I'm not interested in your impressive resume."

After saying that, she packed her things and left the classroom.

Yukio provided Kobayashi Amiko and those under special supervision; Kumiko Yamaguchi was familiar with nighttime alarms and routes to climb over walls; and Ichirai Hisako was familiar with the administration building and patrol routes.

None of the three people's statements pointed to the same secret, yet their fingers, extending from different directions, all pointed to a part of the school that it did not want to disclose.

Sing Sing did not go straight home, but went to the Kendo Club as usual.

Inside the dojo, people were practicing, their bamboo swords slicing through the air with a series of whooshing sounds.

Saeko Busujima, standing at the sidelines, saw him enter, sheathed her sword, and bowed.

For a period of time afterward, Sing Sing ostensibly gave instructions on Poison Island, but in reality, he kept a close eye on the old school building.

He had locked the lock he had opened last night, but other than that, he didn't notice anything unusual.

That's all for today.

Sing Sing glanced at the wall clock. "I'm going back now. We'll continue tomorrow."

Saeko Busujima sheathed her sword and bowed. "Understood, Hoshino."

Sing Sing nodded, picked up his backpack, and walked out of the kendo dojo.

Tonight will be another sleepless night.