"Special report: An explosion occurred last night at March Mental Hospital, located in the suburbs of our city. It is suspected to have been caused by a gas leak. The fire is currently under control, and the number of casualties is still being tallied..."
"Oh my, I never thought something like this would happen."
Sitting at the dining table and watching the news on television, the middle-aged woman sighed. Then she looked toward the bespectacled girl across from her.
"Are you all right? Would you like me to call the school and ask for a day off?"
"No need, Mom."
The bespectacled girl quietly finished her breakfast and stood up.
"I'm heading out."
As usual, the bespectacled girl went to school and greeted her classmates as usual. However, when she arrived at the classroom, several girls dressed in flashy outfits surrounded her at the door and led her to a secluded area behind the school.
"Hey, ugly."
The flashy girl in the lead stared disdainfully at the bespectacled girl, who kept her head lowered and her body hunched over.
"Sada didn't come to school today, and he didn't ask the teacher for leave either. Do you know what happened to him?"
"I-I'm not really sure..."
"Huh?"
Hearing the bespectacled girl's answer, the flashy girl widened her eyes and glared at her in displeasure.
"Don't you live near his house? How could you not know? Don't tell me you're deliberately hiding it from us?"
"I-I really don't know..."
The bespectacled girl shook her head, looking frightened and uneasy. The flashy girl revealed a vicious smile and slowly approached her.
"You really don't know? He disappeared, and you're telling me you know nothing? But it doesn't matter. I'll find out soon enough just how much you know!"
As she spoke, the flashy