Gray Life (1)

There were four people near the crime scene at the time.

The security team leader in the surveillance room.

The janitor working overtime.

The demoted former curator.

And the daughter of the sponsor who was preparing to purchase the famous painting.

Barring any surprises, the culprit was among them.

Yet, what felt strange to Oreki was...

"Everyone has an alibi?"

"Yes."

The middle-aged man nodded.

He took out a notebook.

It contained the statements of those individuals.

"First, the security guard... he was playing games in the surveillance room at the time and didn't pay much attention to the monitor feeds in front of him."

"What is the evidence?"

"...It seems to be a match replay."

"Can I see it?"

Oreki extended his right hand.

He was actually quite curious.

Since when did this count as evidence?

--CSGO?

No?

Unbelievable.

Taking the connected phone, Oreki remained silent.

At the time of the incident, the security guard was indeed controlling a character in a gunfight.

Not only that.

He was baiting enemies by dropping weapons and camping on opposing players with a silenced pistol.

Unbeatable.

"Was there anyone else in the surveillance room at the time?"

"No."

"Then let's rule him out as a suspect for now."

"...Understood. Next is the janitor..."

After listening to his account, Oreki organized the information slightly.

Simply put.

At the time of the incident, the janitor was cleaning near the fire escape.

The former curator was drinking coffee on the second floor.

The sponsor's daughter insisted on staying on the first floor.

She had the air of someone determined to buy that famous painting.

However, after a police search, no suspicious items were found on her.

Including the luxury car she drove.

"Let's head back for now."

"Hm? Right now?"

"This case won't be solved in a moment."

"Then when can it be solved?"

"In a day or two, perhaps."

Oreki said casually.

Although he was interested in the case, he never said he would throw himself into it heart and soul.

He still had classes to attend.

Besides, there was another troublesome matter that hadn't been resolved.

Namely, the situation with Karuizawa Kei.

Watching Oreki and Sakayanagi leave, the middle-aged man couldn't help but feel that perhaps he had expected too much from the Chairman.

Perhaps the Chairman doesn't take this seriously at all.

Could it be...

"Probably not."

He shook his head.

Only the principal knew about that matter.

Furthermore, it was only implemented after the principal's approval.

The greatest beneficiary was also the principal.

Not only did he buy cars and houses, but he also...

On the other side.

"Did you find anything?"

"Just about. For instance, the bus driver who picks up Class A."

"Who?"

"The one we saw on the bus earlier. Moreover, he is the son of that janitor from just now."

"Is that so?"

Sakayanagi was somewhat surprised.

An ordinary person wouldn't pay attention to a stranger's face.

Let alone know the details of their family members.

This practically counts as doxxing.

"I mentioned it at the time. Thinking about it now, he must be working as that young lady's private driver."

"Can someone in their thirties still be called a young lady?"

"Uh... I suppose?"

"Oreki really knows how to joke."

Sakayanagi laughed without restraint.

Oreki didn't know what expression to make.

It was just a title, after all.

Anything would do.

After parting ways with Sakayanagi, he rode his bicycle back to the dormitory.

Although Sakayanagi offered him a ride.

Oreki still declined.

He felt that...

His brain worked most flexibly when he was alone.

Oreki was recalling the newspaper he read yesterday.

The bus incident was recorded in it.

Though it was on the very edge.

The headline was about some celebrity's scandal.

Hmm...

Very realistic.

Being able to be printed at all was already a great favor.

Wasn't it?

Just kidding.

Oreki chuckled dismissively.

Back to the point.

--A classic story. First tempted by money, then abandoned, and finally jumping...

He didn't know how many similar stories he had heard.

But this was the first time it was happening right before his eyes.

Should he call it lucky?

Or unlucky?

In any case, it was quite...

Uh, interesting?

Even if this attitude was a bit improper.

It didn't matter, though.

Anyway, he wasn't close with the other party.

"That anonymous letter... it should have been written by someone left-handed. The handwriting, and the signature..."

"Oreki?"

"Who?"

Interrupting his train of thought, Oreki frowned.

He looked at the newcomer with some dissatisfaction.

However, it vanished quickly.

Because the person was Karuizawa Kei.

Oreki had just been about to go look for her.

"Th-that..."

"If you came specifically to find me about Sakayanagi, you can rest easy."

"Eh?"

"It was just a prank of hers."

"But Kikyo..."

"She likely added some embellishments. Regardless, I don't have the time to track down which parts she exaggerated right now."

Oreki extended his right hand toward Karuizawa Kei.

He gestured for her to sit on the back of the bike.

"I might need your help with what comes next."

"Me?"

"Yeah. I can't get into the girls' dormitory."

"Ah... ah?"

Karuizawa Kei wore an expression of disbelief.

She had clearly gotten the wrong idea.

Oreki spoke up to explain, feeling helpless.

"I just need to find a girl to verify my hypothesis."

"I see..."

Karuizawa Kei let out a long sigh of relief.

But then, her face flushed red.

Even though Oreki was talking about serious business, she had...

She hoped that next time, she wouldn't immediately jump to those kinds of thoughts.

"But Oreki... who are you looking for?"

"A girl from Class D."

"Our class?"

"Correct. Do you know Sakura Airi?"

"Little Airi..."

Karuizawa Kei looked troubled.

She and Sakura Airi were not in the same social circle.

To be more precise...

Sakura Airi often kept to herself.

Usually, her emotions were unreadable.

Every time school ended, she would immediately return to her dormitory.

It was as if she had some unspeakable secret.

"We're here."

Oreki stopped the bicycle.

"Mm... I'll go give it a try."

Karuizawa Kei hopped off the bike.

She walked toward Sakura Airi's room.

Even though she wasn't familiar with the girl's character.

But that's still easier to communicate with than Kiyoko, right?

A while later.

The elevator doors slid open.

Oreki spotted a girl wearing glasses hiding behind Karuizawa Kei at a single glance.

She looked extremely shy.

"How did it go?"

"No problem at all."

Karuizawa Kei gave Oreki an "OK" hand gesture.

--To be continue