What Rules Cannot Hold (A Naekusaba story)

Chapter 12

Makoto met with Shuichi and Kyoko outside of the latter's dorm. The detectives asked Makoto to see them after their class trial. He couldn't understand why they wanted to see him specifically; there were students much more deserving to be interrogated than he, not that he desired anyone to be indicted, and his innocence could've been established very easily. 

''Thank you for giving us your time, Makoto,'' Kyoko stated when Makoto arrived. 

''We know that Mukuro is still recovering, but this won't take long,'' Shuichi said, taking out two photos from his back pocket. They were pictures of two different school halls, both showing some of the students loitering as was often the case. 

''However, since you've been spending so much time with Mukuro recently, we thought that you might tell us something about Junko.'' 

''We've argued a couple of times...'' Makoto muttered, his phrasing having been rather too light as he later judged. ''Besides that she rarely spoke to me.''

''Did she, or Mukuro, ever mention anything about these men?'' Shuichi asked, forwarding one of the photos to Makoto and pointing at a group of men, some with cameras, directing their attention at Junko. Since they were looking at Junko, their faces were not visible. The Fashionista herself had a small smile on her face, posing as if for a photoshoot. 

Makoto pondered, carefully recalling all the conversations that he had with Junko and Mukuro over the past few weeks. 

''I think that I heard her speak once about being pictured for some new magazine, but nothing else comes to my mind. Could that be related to those men?'' 

''We're really not sure yet. On the other picture we have what appears to be one of those men, but this time we have his face,'' Shuichi handed him the second photo which showed the man walking towards the camera. 

''How were these pictures taken?'' Makoto asked. 

''Miu was experimenting with K1-B0's new function and made a couple of pictures while heading with him to her lab. We don't know much else,'' Shuichi responded with an audible note of embarrassment.

Makoto nodded, looking again at the man's face. He didn't recognise him, but the man's attire reminded him of something...or someone. His outfit was gaudy and unusual, even for someone working in the fashion industry. If the remaining men were dressed similarly, then it's surprising that such comical characters were allowed into the school to perform a photoshoot, though when assisted by Junko's obstinacy - everything was possible. 

''I don't recognise him, sorry Shuichi.'' 

''It's fine. We just wanted to try our chances before asking Junko herself. As of now she is too distant and reluctant to talk for us to find out anything from her. Thank you either way, Makoto. This is a difficult time for all of us after all. But if you were to find anything pertaining to this do not hesitate to tell us, but don't feel pressured.'' Shuichi shook his hand and Makoto went his own way. As he was walking away, he sensed Kyoko's scrutinising gaze on him until he disappeared from her line of sight. 

*