The world seemed more depressing for Mizuto. Watching your best friend die is one of the worst experiences a person could have. Mizuto stood at the bus stop with his head down. Naru held his hand and tried to cheer him up, but nothing seemed to work. After the long bus ride, and the bag check, Mizuto sat at his desk. He looked at the empty desk next to him. The desk that Ikari used to sit in. Since class 1-A is one kid short, class 2-A decided to move one of their extra students into 1-A. Aoi sat down next to Mizuto. She didn’t say a word to him, and he didn’t say a word to her. Aoi didn’t look too well. Her skin was pale, and her hair was longer. Mizuto noticed her hair. He knew Aoi likes her hair short. Mizuto wanted to ask about it, but he decided not to. After class, Mizuto left. He went home without talking to anybody. Naru didn’t walk with him this time. She was busy talking to the principal, who just happened to be her father. Mizuto sat down on his bed. Azu sat down next to him.
“I watched the whole thing happen, Mizuto.” She said.
“So?”
“What if I told you it wasn’t an accident?” She asked.
“What?” Mizuto looked at her.
“I noticed a tentacle on Ikari’s roof which broke the one icicle that was above Ikari. This wasn’t an accident. Somebody killed Ikari.”
Mizuto stood up from his bed and growled.
“Who would do something like that? And who? The only people around the area were his parents, me, and Naru.”
The light flickered. Azu was gone. Mizuto grabbed a book off his shelf and threw it at the wall which was followed by a scream.
The next morning, Mizuto woke up to somebody on top of him. He rubbed his eyes, and his vision was clear now.
“A-Naru!? Why are you on top of me?” Mizuto said as he started to panic.
“Hm? What are you talking about sweetums… We slept together last night. Duh.” Naru rolled off the bed and yawned.
“What the- I didn’t even invite you in!”
“I didn’t want you to sleep alone after something so traumatizing happened to you. I was scared you might hurt yourself.” She pouted.
“That’s… that’s kinda weird, Naru. Coming into your boyfriend's room and falling asleep on him without asking. That’s creepy…”
“Why? I’m your girlfriend, aren’t I? Possibly you’re future wife!” She grabbed his hand.
“When did we start planning so far ahead-”
“Once we get married, we can have kids!” She squealed. “We can even name one of them Ouicho after your grandfather!”
“How do you know my grandfather’s name?”
“That doens’t matter.” She chuckled.
“Sorry. So um… you still trying to find out who Azu’s killer is?”
“No.” He lied. “I doubt I’d even be able to find out who did it. This case is way too hard. I gave up a while ago.”
“Well, that’s too bad. I think we’re at a dead-end anyway. We might as well forget about it. There’s no use in sulking 24/7, am I right?”
“You’re right.” Mizuto wrapped his arms around Naru.
“Let’s go to school, ok sweetums?”
“Yeah.” Mizuto nodded.
Mizuto sat down at his desk in the classroom. He looked at Aoi who was still sitting at the desk next to him. Mizuto tapped Aoi’s shoulder.
“Are you eating properly? You look really bad.” He said.
Aoi didn’t say anything. She didn’t even look at him. Mizuto put his hands on her shoulder and shook her.
“Look Hiro, you’re gonna have to talk to me. I’m your brother, and I’m worried.”
“N-Not hungry…” She mumbled.
“Well, I don’t care if you aren’t hungry. You need to eat. Here, eat my granola bar.” Mizuto pulled out his granola bar and handed it to her.
“Please eat it.”
Aoi looked at the granola bar and took it. She slowly opened the wrapper and took a bite.
“Thank you.” Aoi nodded and proceeded to eat the rest of the bar.
Naru stared at Aoi from her desk. Aoi looked up at Naru, and let out a soft squeak. She then stared down at her desk.
“What’s wrong Hiro?” Mizuto tilted his head.
“A-Naru…” She mumbled.
Naru waved at them. Mizuto smiled and waved back.
“Mizuto… don’t-”
Naru jumped up from her seat and walked over to them.
“Mizuto! Sweetums, did you give your snack to Aoi? Here! You can have mine.” She pulled out her snack and handed it over to Mizuto. “Eat well.”
She winked at him.
“Ah. Thank you, Naru.” Mizuto nodded.
Naru returned to her desk, and Mizuto looked back at Aoi. Aoi was covering her mouth with her hands.
“I-I-I need to go to the nurse. I-I feel. sick.” She stood up and ran out of the room.
Mizuto was confused.
“What the heck? All I gave her was a granola bar…” He said.
