Crushed (Part 1) [Hatoful Boyfriend: Yuuya x Hiyoko]

Scarecrow

Alas, Yuuya Sakazaki found no trace of possible evidence in the Homeroom that the late Hiyoko Tosaka called her own. Yuuya was sad that he found nothing, but he was glad to be out of that classroom— constantly thinking about Hiyoko's empty chair made his heart ache.

He promptly stepped out of the room and began making his way to the library. He had a hunch that there might have been a tome located in there about the mysterious wall, or possibly the true result of Doctor Iwamines plan. If not a tome, a lead, at least. But, as he was about to turn a corner, Yuuya heard a loud, scraping noise.

With careful footsteps, Yuuya peeked his head around the corner, wondering who or what could be the source of that awful squeak. And, to his dismay, it was neither a what or a who, but yet both possibly a who and a what.

It had a humanoid figure, yet its limbs were not of flesh, but a rusted gray steel. Its exposed joints suggested robot, but the bloodied burlap it adorned on it head and torso gave more implications that couldn't be figured out. To Yuuya's luck, it was not facing him or walking his way, but there was no way in hell Yuuya was going to wait around for it to do so.

Now knowing that a scarecrow-esque monster was apparently roaming the halls, Yuuya quickly scrapped his plan to go to the library and hastily concluded that he needed to head to the Janitors Closet instead to inform Le One right away. He also hoped that his partner might know something about it as well, but he was aware the chances were very slim.

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With heavy breaths Yuuya made it to Le One's location, stiffly shutting the sliding door behind him.

"Ah, Sakazaki, it's good to see you," the secret agent janitor said cooly "got any intel about the Hawk party for me?"

Catching his breath, Yuuya replied "I imagine you might have some theories. Y'know, with the wall and evacuation and such. But before I disclose what I know, I need to tell you about something I saw on my way here-"

There was then a knock on the door. A young, shaken, male voice came through from the other side "Mister Le One, are you there?"

Yuuya recognized Ryouta's voice right from his first word, and he was surprised he was able to beat him to the janitor's closet, even by just a hair.

"Yeah, come in," Le One responded, almost relaxed.

The paper-like partition slid open, and Ryouta and Sakuya stood just on the other side.

An awkward silence followed as the two underclassmen first glanced at Yuuya, and then proceeded to ignore his presence, speaking to Mister One instead.

"Sir," Ryouta started "we wanted to talk to you about a few things, but first, we saw something scary out there in the halls".

Yuuya's interest was perked.

"We have no idea what it was: it looked like a scarecrow almost. It was made of metal and scratchy, brown fabric. There was blood on it too!"

"Oh my," Le One, verbally interested, but showed no sign of it on his face.

"You guys saw that too?" Yuuya stepped in.

"Afraid so," Sakuya crossed his arms "I'm surprised it didn't get you after the way it tried to swing at us".

"I got a glimpse of it from behind at the end of the corridor and didn't stick around for it to see me, so alas I was not blessed with a look at its pretty face," Yuuya put it suavely.

Ryouta, not acknowledging Yuuya with a response, turned to Mister One with urgency "Please Sir, you need to get out of the main building! Meet up with everyone in the auditorium, it's too dangerous in here!"

Le One scoffed, hypothetically brushing off the boy's warning "I'm sure I've dealt with worse things".

"There's no need for you two to worry about Le One; he can handle himself just fine," Yuuya stated with confidence.

"Pah, you both are foolish!" Sakuya rubbed the upper part of the bridge of his nose "Everyone, including the adults, were ordered to evacuate to the auditorium by the Head Master himself, so I suggest you do so!"

"Then why aren't you two in the gym then?" Yuuya crossed his arms and smirked.

"That's easy," Ryouta rebottled "I can't just... sit around while there's something obviously strange going on at this school!"

"Same here," Yuuya replied, maturity in his voice "and I still need to keep walking- to the lab, actually. Professor Nanaki might need me back there".

"Why?" Ryouta's curiosity kicks in.

"I'm just afraid one person might not be enough to keep an eye on Doctor Iwamine. That man can be sneaky."

Sakuya rolls his eyes "I can attest that Doctor Iwamine is no threat to this school or anyone in it. Remember Miss Tosaka's autopsy he took care of? He said it was the result of poisoning, I'd say probably from that outdoor garbage she eats".

Yuuya felt his insides begin to boil as Sakuya slandered the late Hiyoko: the girl who died with possession of Yuuya's heart. But, Sakuya was his little brother, after all, so he spoke nothing of his anger.

"Le One and I are going to keep poking around here. I suggest you two keep investigating as well," Yuuya said in all seriousness.

"Sakazaki," Sakuya interrupted "while it's on my mind, let me ask: What were your whereabouts yesterday after school?"

Yuuya saw what his brother was getting at, so he decided to choose his words very carefully "What did the Doctor say?"

"Iwamine said that he was in the Infirmary" Sakuya said, sticking up his nose.

"I was with him, cleaning and such. The Doctor's alibi is solid."

"See?" Sakuya turns to Ryouta, a smug look on his face "I told you we could trust the Doctor".

Ryouta, displeased, replied "I supposed our main suspect is that scarecrow anyway".