That Wasn't Supposed To Happen

Suffocat in Secare Iugulum- Part 2

Chihiro had calmed down a bit by now, though he was still shaken up by the events that happened just a few minutes ago. Or maybe longer. Chihiro wasn't sure.

Yesterday, Hifumi had been alive and now he was dead. Murdered. And one of his classmates- his friends had killed him.

And Chihiro was going to find whoever that was. He had to.

So, Chihiro walked with Taka and Hiro to Hifumi's room, hoping to find any clues that could lead to the killer's identity. A part of him found it weird to investigate without Kyoko or Byakuya's help since that's what happened the last two times, the only two times he had really helped investigate.

However, this time it was his turn. He had no Kyoko or Byakuya to guide him and Hiro and Taka both... weren't the best options. Especially since Taka still wasn't back to normal and Hiro was quite a bit nervous, though he supposed that couldn't be blamed.

"I'm really glad we don't havta look at the body anymore. I-I'm pretty sure I was gonna throw up..." Hiro said, attempting to break the awkward silence that had formed between the three.

"Y-yeah," Chihiro agreed, a nervous hint to his voice. Just how was he going to do this. "I can't believe that a-anybody would do that to Hifumi..."

"I can think of somebody," Taka said, disgust clear in his voice.

Chihiro couldn't help but frown at that. Sure, Byakuya was... not the nicest here and might have been acting weird, but that was no reason to accuse him. Not when they didn't have any evidence yet.

Speaking of evidence, the three of them were now in front of Hifumi's door which luckily wasn't locked.

"So, uh, what are we gonna do now, little dude?" Hiro asked, looking around the room with a nervous gaze.

"Just look for any clues, I guess..." Chihiro responded, blushing slightly in embarrassment when the words came out weaker than he wanted.

"Then we will start doing that," Taka said, a certain determination in his voice that Chihiro hadn't heard in quite some time. It didn't really lift his mood.

Chihiro wordlessly started looking around the room, hoping to find anything out of place.

Hifumi's room clearly reflected his passion for anime, particular Princess Piggles if Chihiro remembered correctly. There were a cosplay set, poster, bedding, figurine, and pillow of her in the room.

There were also many other figurines, posters, and several large stacks of manga next to his bed, though Chihiro couldn't see what they were from. On his table lay multiple sketchbooks which wouldn't ever be used again.

Chihiro looked around the room for multiple minutes, but couldn't find anything that could possibly relate to Hifumi's murder in any way- there was no note or something.

Nothing...

"So, uh, what were the two of you doing yesterday when Hifumi... was murdered?" Chihiro asked tentatively, not particularity wanting to suspect his friends, but knowing that it must be done.

"Y-ya aren't suspecting us, right, little dude?" Hiro asked, a hint of fear in his voice as he was still looking around the room.

"No- I am, we just have to get all the evidence. If someone maybe saw something..." Chihiro explained, looking at the ground and feeling the slightest hint of regret.

He shouldn't have done this...

"I'm afraid I hadn't seen anything," Taka began, having stopped his search for now. "I was in my room for most of the day..."