Diskillination

Chapter 5

(A/N Thank you all so much for 27 reads! I really appreciate it :] I didn't think it would even get to 10, let alone 20. Enjoy this chapter!)

Edited to fix past mistakes!

Sam and Hallie are walking in line to be interrogated when suddenly Hallie starts talking "Do we have to do this, sir? We know nothing about the Liberty Killer that isn't public already." "Yes Miss Sakai, they are also asking about other things, but mainly about the Liberty Killer." The teacher responded.

Hallie sighs, "Okay, sir. If you say so." she groans, slightly slouching over in annoyance. Once it was Hallie's turn to get investigated, she entered the room cautiously, not wanting to cause a disturbance. Two people were sitting in folding chairs, one was Alex, and the other was an investigator, who was oddly familiar...

"Alright, miss, are you ready to begin?" The investigator asked, her long, brown hair swished from side to side from the AC wind current. "Let's just get this over with already." Hallie states bluntly, "Alright, then. Let's begin."

Hallie looked the investigator in the eye, it was a trick she had learned from Sam. Apparently, if someone looks away while saying something, it's most likely a lie. She learned to keep eye contact whenever speaking. The investigator spoke, breaking the silence, "First, introduce yourself."

"I'm Hallie Sakai, and I'm a second-year student at Asuka Academy." She states boldly, giving off a sense of confidence. "Alright, now tell me. Do you think the Liberty Killer is a student at your school?" The investigator quickly spoke. "At our school? You've got to be kidding me, that's absurd! To accuse students like this, it's unethical." Hallie rambles, she was just trying to stay on her, very improvised, script, and couldn't let the act down. Even for a moment.

"This is just part of my job, now, do you, or know anyone, who knows how to hack well?" The investigator questioned. Hallie pauses for a second, 'Sorry, Sam, but if I don't say anything, they will be suspicious.' She thought.

"Yes, I do." Hallie reveals.

"May you please tell us who it is?" The investigator perked up in her chair, obviously interested. "Sam Shirodani, my childhood best friend. She is supposed to be interrogated right after me".

Hallie fidgets with her uniform's sleeve. "I see, I see. Now, do you consider yourself a neat or stealthy person?" The investigator asks, returning to her calm and composed tone. "I mean, I guess? What does that have to do with anything?" Hallie responds, confused. "I cannot reveal that," the investigator discloses, "Anyways, have you made up a secret language?" She continued, not showing any interest. Hallie sits there quietly for a moment, again. 'Crap, if I say yes, then I'll immediately be put under suspicion. I can't risk it.', she snaps out of her thoughts and quietly mumbles "None that I can remember of." The investigator leans back into her chair and sighs.

"Alright. Also, do you mind staying right outside the door for the last of the interrogations? I need to talk to you after I finish." The investigator finishes, turning her notebook to a new, fresh page. "Of course detective," Hallie mumbles, "As you wish." And without another word, Hallie leaves the room.

Sam enters the room with a false sense of positivity and assurance. Sam quickly and silently takes a seat. "Ready to begin?" The investigator asked, seemingly intrigued by something. Sam nods silently, trying not to say anything.

"Alright, then please introduce yourself." The investigator started, looking down at her notebook. "I am Sam Shirodani, and I am a 2nd-year student at Asuka Academy," Sam utters louder than she would've liked to. "Do you think the Liberty Killer attends your school?" The investigator continues, not breathing between her words "I don't know, I have conflicted feelings about it." She states quietly. "Okay, would you say that you're good at hacking or coding?" She pronounces, ready to write down any response.

"I mean, I guess?" She questions, confused. "And if you don't mind me asking, who taught you?" "Oh, my brother did. He was one of the most popular hackers in Japan before his death. Publicity stunts and all that." Sam mumbles, obviously uncomfortable. "I'm sorry for your loss," The investigator mutters before continuing on, "Now do you consider yourself a neat or stealthy person?" "Nope! Hallie mainly helps, but I'm a lost cause!" Sam forces a pitiful laugh.

"Alright, now have you ever had any sort of secret language?" The investigator states, not trying to at least beat around the bush. 'I mean, I do. But I need to lie about this, Hallie likely did the same.' Sam thinks to themself, "Well, I mean. As a kid I had one with my brother, but it was mostly gibberish. But other than that, nothing." Sam states.

"Okay, thank you for your time," The investigator mumbles, "Please stay with Hallie in the hallway until I call you two back in." Sam nods, "Yes, ma'am." she forces out nervously.

Sam walks out of the room lost in thought, as another student enters.

After the remaining students were questioned, the investigator called in the two teenage girls. "Thank you for waiting, take a seat." The investigator says calmly.

"What is this about? We're missing important class time!" Hallie bursts out, almost immediately. The investigator grimaces at the tone, "I'm sorry about that, but this is a serious matter."

"So?" Sam interjects, "Are you going to tell us or not?" she finishes, with a puzzled look on her face. "My name is Akamine Tudor, but please refer to me as Akamine." The investigator- no, Akamine starts, "And I would like to invite you two to be interns in the Liberty Killer investigation."

Sam's eyes shot wide open at the sentence, when Akamine spoke again, "You guys may come and go at your convenience, but there will be weekly tasks, customized to your strengths, in order for you to remain on the team."

"What?" Hallie mumbles out, shock evident in her expression.

"Wait, but we have no relation to this case! Why us?" Sam speaks loudly. "We've found out about your little hobby," Akamine responds, "We could use the methods you have regarding finding the bodies, you've been the best outside help we've ever had, and we would love to be able to pay you back in some sort of manner." She smiles brightly whilst praising the teen.

Hallie sits back in her seat, pondering her response, whilst Sam looks over at Hallie.

"Your response?" Akamine asks.

Sam can see the smallest of smirks ghosting Hallie's face as she turns to the investigator.

1,092 Words!

This took forever, I'll be honest. I took a long-ish hiatus to read a lot of books in the writing style that I had wanted to replicate (in a way), and (I think) my writing has gotten better!

I have just about 20 chapters planned as of right now, and there's a lot more to plan, too.

Have a good day! (And please vote!!)