Masked Hope (Nagito x Fem!Reader)

(Deadly Life Part 3)

I stared at the completed map of people, namely the three with question marks. Teruteru, Chiaki, and Fuyuhiko.

Chiaki is someone who seems as though she doesn't care for anything. . .but in actuality, she probably cares a lot more than people think. Fuyuhiko knows that if he killed someone, he'd be the first suspect without question. I have no doubt that half of the people here already think he killed Byakuya. He isn't stupid though. . . I doubt he'll kill anyone while we're here.

So that leaves Teruteru. . . If I remember right, Teruteru was in the kitchen when the blackout happened, then he made his way into the banquet hall. . . I can't remember seeing him when the lights came back on though. He was definitely there when we found Byakuya's body, but I can't place him when the blackout ended. . .

But why would he do that. . .?

"Hey, Y/N, you okay?" Mahiru pulled me out of my thoughts. "You look like you're onto something. . ."

"Ah. . .! I-It's nothing. . ." I dismissed the idea. "It's probably a stupid theory anyway."

Mahiru looked disappointed by my answer but didn't press me any further. Instead, she started double-checking the blueprint, flipping between the photos.

"What's wrong? Did we miss someone. . .?" I asked, looking over her shoulder.

"I don't think so. . . Just my paranoia, I guess." She stated. "I still can't believe this all happened in such a short time. . ."

"Don't worry, we'll get the guy. . . or girl. . .who did this." I assured.

She looked at me and nodded with determined eyes. I smiled back at her, confident with my words. Mahiru then continued to review the photos. I turned away to let her work when I saw Mikan coming over to us, slightly shaking.

"Mikan? What's wrong?" I asked.

"N-Nothing. . .!" She assured. "But I-I've finished the. . . autopsy"

"What did you find?"

"W-Well. . . there were several puncture wounds around Byakuya's chest and abdominal region. . .D-Deep wounds. . . deep enough to reach his lungs and internal organs. . ." She explained, starting to tear up. ". . .It can be assumed that. . .a very thin, sharp object around. . . 5 mm in diameter. . . was used to. . ."

I gently put my hand on her shoulder, "It's okay, Mikan. . . That information is super important to finding Byakuya's killer. At least, that's what I believe."

"R-Really. . .?" She blinked through her tears. "You th-think. . . I was. . . helpful?"

I nodded with a smile and she started to calm down, at least until Hajime and Nagito came back and asked about the results. She practically broke down right where she was and started apologizing.

"N-No need to push yourself. I. . . mostly got the gist. . . of what you wanted to say." Hajime tried.

"Hey, you're here!" Mahiru called them over. "Where the hell did you wander off to?"

"I wasn't wandering. . . I was investigating as much as I could." He explained.

"I see. . . Well, if you weren't slacking off, then I guess it's fine." She allowed.

"So. . . did you find anything?"

"Yeah. . . sorta. . ."

". . . You don't sound too sure."

"Well, just take a look at this." She sighed and handed Hajime the blueprint. "Just as you told me. . . using the two photos I took before the blackout. . . I tried to pinpoint where everyone was standing. . ."