Working With Phantoms

Suspicions Aroused

September 15th

Madran's POV

Madran arrived at lunch, seeing that a rather stressed Akira was sitting down and looking around with a rather fatigued look on his face. Upon sitting down, Akira looked up slightly at her before continuing to look down at his lunch.

"Hey, Akira, is everything ok?"

Madran was met with an ocean of silence that quickly pulled her in, drowning the noise she brought and left both parties quiet. Suga and Sheila then arrived and returned excitement to the table.

"Hey, Mad, what's up?"

"Well, I'm good, but Akira's looking worse for wear."

"Oh. Hey, Akira, can you tell us what's wrong?"

Akira looked off and took his glasses off, meeting Sheila with a calm yet troubled look that made Madran incredibly uncomfortable.

"It's all gone to crap."

"I'm... sorry. I should've said something when I noticed that there was someone else in there-"

"No, I'm not blaming it on you!"

Madran stopped, incredibly shocked at Akira's sudden outburst.

"S-Sorry."

Rosana then sat down and looked over at Akira.

"Uh... are you ok there, Akira?"

"He needs some time to himself. The past week have been troublesome for him."

Lunchtime went rather silently, with Akira appearing to simply stew over what Madran assumed to be the event on the 11th. That part of school then finished, with Madran going through school until it ended. Then, as she walked back to the train station with Suga, Sheila, and Rosana, Suga spoke up.

"Hey, uh, do you know what's up with Akira?"

"I don't really know. He must be concerned about the 11th, even though..."

"Even though what?"

"We need to meet up later today and talk about this with everyone. For now, take care, you guys."

Rosana walked off, with everyone else eventually parting ways. Madran then walked down to the line that took her home before she, in deep thought about what happened at lunch, didn't notice someone passing by her and bumped into him.

"Oh, sorry, are you ok?"

Madran turned around and saw that it was that one detective person she had seen talking about Medjed back in July and August.

"Hey, what was that guy's name again?"

"Goro Akechi, I believe."

Madran noticed that Akechi had dropped his briefcase upon collision, and picked it up, giving it to him.

"Hey, sir, sorry about running into you."

"Oh, no matter. Accidents happen, and I forgive you."

Akechi smiled, and Madran looked at her watch.

"Oh, wow, I'm about to miss my train."

"You're due south? I happen to be going that way, too."

"Then, why were you headed the other way?"

Akechi made a polite smile.

"I got distracted by these two people arguing."

Madran then heard what sounded like a couple bickering.