“Huh! What did you say, senpai?” Kaito asked.


    “I want you to solve a case, I know you can do this,” Nanami said.


    “Yeah. I can help you with it. But why don’t you give it to the detective club. They have solved many cases as far as I know. I have known them. They are good,” Kaito said.


    “I have already given this task to them. But they could not solve this. Now they had told me they don''t want to solve this. So that''s why I am requesting you,” Nanami said.


    “I don''t want to do either,” Kaito replied.


    “I am giving this job to you. You can solve this,” by saying that Nanami gave a file to Kaito.


    By bade them goodbye, Kaito, Kaguya and Haruto to the club. He did not reply to Nanami. Kaito quietly left the student council room with the file.


    [At Manga club room]


    On the club president seat, Kaito was sitting and reading the file. He was quietly reading the file. There was a awkward silence in the club room.


    Kaisei Academy prided itself on its history. But one piece of that history had become a problem; classroom 3-B. For weeks rumours spread that the room was haunted. Every Wednesday at noon cryptic massages like, “I AM STILL HERE” or “REMEMBER ME” appeared on the dusty chalk board. The school tried locking the room. But the eerie massages continued.


    “Have you heard about 3-B?” Haruto whispered during lunch, leaning over the table to break the awkward silence.


    “The ghost leaves messages every Wednesday. I bet it, trying to curse someone,” Haruto again asked.


    Kaguya rolled her eyes, “Don’t be ridiculous, Haruto. It’s probably just someone pulling up as prank.”


    Kaito said, “Yes, it is true. It was not a prank.”


    Kaguya said, “You, too.”


    “This little investigation said, it happens every Wednesday. But there maybe no ghost. There maybe some mystery,” Kaito said.


    “Let me guess,” Kaguya said, smirking. “You’re volunteering to investigate?”


    Kaito shrugged, “Someone has to.”


    He added, “Prank or not, it’s disrupting the school. Nanami wants it resolved and quickly.”


    “Next Wednesday, we will go to investigate, okay?” Haruto asked.


    “Yeah,” Kaito replied.


    That Wednesday Kaito and Kaguya decided to investigate. On the other hand, Haruto forgot everything within a few days.


    Kaito said, “Let’s go.”


    Haruto asked, “Where?”


    Kaguya was hit Haruto by a book. Kaguya said “Have you already forgot it? We have got a case to solve.”


    “Oh, oh, sorry. I have forgotten it,” Haruto replied.


    “Okay, okay, don''t fight. Are you two going out?”. Kaito asked.


    “No,” those two instantly replied. They were being disagreed with Kaito.


    “Are you sure?” Kaito asked.


    “Who is a damn fool can go out with this dumbass?” Kaguya said.


    “Yeah, yeah, I am not a fool. I will never go out with you, too dumbass!” Haruto said.


    “But you two always stay together, you two always come together, too,” Kaito said.


    “No, we don’t,” they again replied to Kaito. Now, they don''t look at each other''s faces. Kaito sighed.


    The atmosphere in the room shifted instantly as Kaito’s innocent question hung in the air. Kaito again asked, “I am again asking, you two. Are you sure?”


    Kaguya’s cheeks flushed a deep red, her eyes narrowing behind her glasses as she adjusted them with an indignant huff. “Again? What? Me and him? Absolutely not!” she snapped, her voice sharp and defensive. She quickly turned back to her paperwork, the scratching of her pen louder than necessary.


    Haruto, on the other hand, leaned back in his chair, letting out a soft laugh. “Again....like I would ever date her,” he said casually.


    He was folding his arms behind his head. “She’d probably down me in her endless rules and lectures about budgeting.”


    Kaguya shot him a glare, her eyes practically daggers. “As if you would survive a day being serious about anything!”


    Kaito blinked, watching the exchange unfold. Though they had denied it, their rapid-fire responses and the palpable tension between them made the air feel thicker somehow. He couldn’t help but chuckle awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck.


    “You know,” he said lightly, trying to diffuse the situation, “You two argue like an old married couple.”


    Both Kaguya and Haruto turned to him simultaneously, their voices overlapping in unison. “We do not!”


    The room fell silent for a moment, and then Kaito laughed. The way they mirrored each other’s intensity only made them seem closer, despite their constant bickering.


    Kaguya sighed dramatically and returned to her work, while Haruto smirked and lazily picked up a pen, clearly enjoying her irritation.


    Though they didn’t like each other, the spark of their rivalry seemed to brighten the otherwise quiet office. Kaito shook his head, amused, as he wondered if even they realized how much energy they put into disagreeing.


    “Okay, okay. No more fun. I will not ask it you again, okay?” Kaito said.


    “Don’t you dare to do this again,” Kaguya said.


    “Then we will go to investigate this noon, okay?” Kaito said.


    “Yes,” Kaguya replied.


    “Why don’t I stay here? Is it too important to go with you Kaito?” Haruto asked.


    “Are you afraid, little boy?” Kaguya teased him.


    “No....no....I-I am not.......afraid of something....trust me.” Haruto was sweating.


    “Oh, oh, who’s sweating now? See, see!” Kaguya stared teasing him more.


    “Enough of teasing, Kaguya. You will come with us, Haruto. Understood!” Kaito said.


    “Yes,” Haruto replied.


    [At Class 3-B]


    They waited until the clock struck noon and quietly entered the locked classroom. Dust motes floated in the sunlight streaming through the windows and the air smelled faintly of chalk and old wood.


    The chalk board was pristine when they arrived, but just as the bell rang, the eraser moved on its own leaving behind the words, “REMEMBER ME”.


    Haruto, who had tagged along despite his fear, yelled. “It''s real! The ghost is real!”


    “Calm down,” Kaito said.


    “Then why have you come if you fear so much?” Kaguya asked.


    “Even watching this sight, you have not frightened. How strong you are!” Haruto said.


    “Don’t think too much. Calm down. I’m going to examine that,” Kaito said.


    Kaito walking up to the chalkboard. He examined the eraser and the surrounding area but found no strings or other obvious tricks. “There’s no evidence of tampering. Whoever—or whatever—is doing this is clever.”


    Kaguya frowned. “We need more information. Let’s ask around.”


    Over the next few days, Kaito and Kaguya as some students and staff. Most had nothing useful to add, though Haruto continued to fuel the ghost rumours.


    Nanami, the student council president, pulled them aside. “If you’re going to keep chasing this, I suggest you speak to Mr. Suzuki, the janitor. He’s been working here for decades and knows everything about this school.”


    [At the balcony of 3-B]


    When they found Mr. Suzuki, he was humming a soft, nostalgic tune as he mopped the hallway outside 3-B.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    “Mr. Suzuki,” Kaito began, “do you know anything about the messages appearing in Classroom 3-B?”


    The janitor paused, a wistful look in his eyes. “3-B, huh? That room brings back memories.”


    “What kind of memories?” Kaguya asked, intrigued.


    Mr. Suzuki sighed. “A long time ago, a student named Akihiko used to spend his afternoons there. He loved that classroom. Always writing on the board, humming a little tune… but he passed away years ago. Tragic accident.”


    The following Wednesday, Kaito and Kaguya set up a hidden camera in 3-B before noon. They waited outside the room, watching as Mr. Suzuki mopped the hall nearby.


    As the clock struck noon, they noticed something peculiar: Mr. Suzuki began whistling the same tune he had hummed earlier.


    Inside the classroom, the eraser moved, spelling out “I AM STILL HERE.”


    “That’s it,” Kaito said, his eyes narrowing. “He’s recreating Akihiko’s habit without realizing it.”


    “But how?” Kaguya asked.


    Kaito explained, “It’s muscle memory. Mr. Suzuki must have spent countless hours watching Akihiko write on the board while whistling that tune. Now, lost in nostalgia, he’s unconsciously moving the eraser while reminiscing.”


    Kaito approached Mr. Suzuki later that day. Mr. Suzuki was going straight towards the entrance gate. His work was finished a little earlier than other days.


    [At the entrance gate]


    “Mr. Suzuki, I think you’ve been reliving old memories of Akihiko. The messages in 3-B… you’ve been writing them without realizing it.”


    The janitor froze, his bag trembling in his hands. “I… I don’t understand.”


    Kaito continued gently, “You were close to Akihiko, weren’t you? This is your way of keeping him alive in your heart. But it’s scaring the students. Maybe it’s time to honour his memory in a different way.”


    Tears welled in Mr. Suzuki’s eyes as he nodded. “Akihiko was like a son to me. I didn’t realize… I never meant to cause trouble.”


    The next day, Mr. Suzuki retired the old eraser, placing it in a small memorial he created in the janitor’s closet—a framed photo of Akihiko, the eraser, and a piece of chalk. The hauntings in 3-B stopped, and the classroom became just another room in the school.


    Haruto was disappointed that the mystery didn’t involve a ghost, but Kaguya teased him for being so scared. Nanami, satisfied with the resolution, praised Kaito for his tact.


    As they walked past 3-B one last time, Kaguya glanced at Kaito. “You could have exposed Mr. Suzuki, but you didn’t. Why?”


    Kaito smiled faintly. “Some mysteries aren’t about finding the truth—they’re about understanding the people behind them. Mr. Suzuki needed closure, not judgment.”


    With that, they walked away, the echoes of the past finally at rest.


    After that case, there was no one to talk about this topic. After a week there was a festival That was the “Kaisei Academy Cultural Festival”.


    This festival was in full swing, bustling with laughter, chatter, and the aroma of food stalls. There was no special club activities except two or three clubs. Specially, the highlight of the event, however, was the Magic Club’s grand performance, featuring their star magician, Hayato, and his assistant, Akari.


    The finale of their show promised a mind-bending locked room escape trick—a feat no one wanted to miss.


    As the performance was just a few minutes late to begin, Kaito, Kaguya and Haruto took seat among the audience in the front row. As the performance reached its climax, the curtains were drawn, and Hayato entered a room on stage, which was locked from the outside. The audience held their breath, waiting for him to reappear.


    But when the curtains opened again, Hayato was lying unconscious inside the locked room, and the key was nowhere to be found. Gasps rippled through the audience. Nanami, the student council president, quickly intervened, ordering the area cleared.


    Kaito, Kaguya, and Haruto, who had been enjoying the show from the front row, exchanged glances.


    “This doesn’t feel like part of the act,” Kaguya said, her tone sharp.


    “An accident? I guess,” Haruto guessed.


    “Maybe,” Kaito muttered, standing up. “But something’s off.”


    While Nanami kept the crowd calm, Kaito and his friends slipped backstage to investigate. The locked room itself was simple: a small box-like structure with one door and no windows. The lock was intact, and the only key had disappeared.


    [At the backstage]


    Kaito examined the door carefully. “The lock hasn’t been tampered with. Whoever did this either had the key or never needed it.”


    Haruto scratched his head. “But that means they were inside or… a ghost?”


    “Enough with ghosts,” Kaguya sighed, noticing Akari pacing nervously nearby. “She looks… relieved, don’t you think?”


    Kaito followed her gaze. Akari’s posture was stiff, but her expression betrayed something more than worry. He approached her.


    “Akari, can you tell us what happened?”


    “I-I don’t know,” she stammered. “It was supposed to be just a trick. I was waiting backstage, like always, when—”


    Her voice cracked, and she glanced away. Kaito noticed a wastebasket nearby, filled with shredded paper. Curious, he retrieved a piece.


    The paper was part of a handwritten note. Kaito frowned and pieced together a few fragments, enough to read: “I can’t continue this anymore…”


    Kaguya joined him, examining the paper. “This looks like a breakup letter. Did Hayato write this?”


    Akari’s face turned pale. “N-no idea!” she stammered, stepping back.


    Kaito narrowed his eyes. “Akari, we need the truth.”


    Under pressure, Akari broke down. “Fine! He… he was going to break up with me today. I saw the letter in his bag before the show. I just… I couldn’t let him humiliate me in front of everyone. He planned to humiliate me in front of everyone. So what can.... I do else?”


    Haruto gawked. “Wait, are you saying you did this to him?”


    Akari’s voice shook. “I didn’t mean to hurt him! I only wanted to ruin the trick, so he’d be embarrassed. I slipped a piece of paper into the lock to jam it, but I didn’t think he’d pass out from the stress. I panicked and took the key before anyone noticed.”


    Kaito’s expression softened. “Where’s the key now?”


    She hesitated, then pulled it from her pocket.


    Nanami arrived just in time to hear the confession. She looked furious but quickly regained composure.


    “Akari,” Nanami said firmly, “this could have gone much worse. Hayato could have been seriously hurt.”


    “I’m sorry,” Akari whispered, tears streaming down her face.


    Kaito stepped in. “Don’t just apologise yet. It is too soon to apologise. Someone have to apologise to you too, Akari.”


    Akari whispered, “Who?” But Kaito did not replied her.


    Kaito then added, “Nanami, let’s not escalate things during the festival. Hayato needs medical attention, and Akari needs to reflect on her actions. A public scandal won’t help anyone.”


    Nanami considered his words and sighed. “Fine. Akari, you’ll need to step down from the Magic Club and write an apology to Hayato. I’ll handle the rest.”


    With the matter settled for then, Hayato was taken to the nurse’s office and regained consciousness a short while later. The finale was quietly cancelled, but the rest of the festival continued smoothly.


    As the group left the scene, Haruto shook his head. “Man, that was intense. I can’t believe she went that far.”


    “People do strange things when emotions take over,” Kaguya said.


    Kaito adjusted his glasses. “At least no one was permanently hurt. That’s the best outcome we could hope for.”


    Nanami nodded, her voice thoughtful. “But it’s a reminder: even illusions can have real consequences.”


    Kaito said, “But the case has not revealed it’s truth.”


    “What? What do you mean?” Nanami asked.


    “Someone hasn’t confessed his sin yet,” Kaito said.


    “Who?” Kaguya and Haruto asked.


    “Someone who is the main culprit,” Kaito took off his glasses.


    [At the school nursing room]


    When Hayato woke up, Kaito was sat by his side. Nanami was also sat beside Kaito. Kaguya and Haruto was standing.


    Kaito asked, “You woke up, Mr. Magician.”


    Hayato tried to lean over the wall and replied, “Yeah. But the head is little hurting.”


    Hayato added, “Is Akari did that?”


    Kaito said, “So, you have known this.”


    Kaguya whispered, “Wow, what a surprise!”


    They all seem disappointed in him. Then looked at him with anger. But they did not telling him anything.


    “So, why did she do that for?” Hayato asked.


    “You know that very well. Because of you. Don’t play with people’s emotions. You wanted to humiliate her in front of the other, didn’t you? Now just confess it.” Kaito lost his coolness.


    “What..... What should I confess?” Hayato asked Kaito. He tried to act innocent.


    “Yesterday, in the cafe, you are confessing your love to Mana, weren’t you?” Kaito asked.


    “Yeah. But how did you know this?” Hayato asked.


    “I was sat right behind you. But that’s not the matter. Just tell us what did she tell you to do? Why don''t you tell us about her little lovely idea that you wanted to do?” Kaito asked. He became a bit rough towards him.


    “So you were there. Yes, she told me that if I broke up with Akari in front of the audience, she will accept me. So, she gave me that little script. And so I was wanted to do that. But Akari ruined everything,” Hayato confessed at last his sin.


    “So, have you heard, Akari?” Kaito asked Akari after removing the veil of the Hayato’s bed.


    “That was the case where it was started. I understand that Mana has a fight with Akari. But why did you accept that? Aren’t you a human? How can you do that?” Kaito asked him.


    Hayato replied, “I love Mana, not Akari. I can do everything for her.”


    “Even you had not bond as a blind, but you are living as the blind. The person who wants to hurt other, how can she love you? Can''t you realize the true love? You are going to hot others. There is a saying ‘If you dig a hole for others, you will fall into that hole yourself. Today your life was at risk. You are a big idiot,” Kaito scolded him non-stop.


    Akari was crying. Hayato’s words were hurting her. I can''t help but crying.


    Kaito said, “Now apologies to her, Hayato. And you too, Akari.”


    They apologize to each other. But they did not see each other faces.


    Kaito said to Nanami, “Akari will not write the apology letter. She will be transferred to The Manga Club for few months. If she wants to go back then she can join the magic club again. What do you say, Nanami senpai?”


    “Yes, why not? She will be staying there for four months, from tomorrow. After that it will be her choice. I agree with you,” Nanami replied. The case is solved.


    With the another case closed, the group returned to the festival, ready to enjoy the remaining events—though they couldn’t help keeping a wary eye out for the next mystery.


    They left the place. Just Hayato was there alone. They are thinking about the incident you. They could not forget this one.


    Kaguya said, “You have known from the start that this was Akira’s doing, haven''t you?”


    “Yeah, I am not sure at first. After reading the note I was confirmed about it. So I have just tested her a little,” Kaito replied.


    “If you weren’t in the cafe, Akari will be at the guilt. I am feeling bad for her.” Haruto said.


    “Yeah, me too. That idiot left the true love and running for the fake love,” Kaito replied.


    “In just two weeks, we solved two cases in a row. It was very interesting, wasn’t it?” Kaguya said.


    “Yeah, it was. Because we have a talented rough gem at our side,” Haruto said.


    “Hey, who are you calling a talented rough gem?” Kaito asked. They all laughed.


    Enjoying, enjoying and enjoying. Time has come. Two will come. Two fate will come to meet each other again soon. Because red string of the fate never cut off.


    [After a few days]


    “In the festival we have a lot fun, haven’t we?” Haruto asked.


    “Yeah. It was fun. And Akari is joining the club as temporarily and she will come again today,” Kaguya replied.


    “Now that you mention it. I have already forgot it. Writing is totally thinking matter but also help me to relax. Akari was fantastic in these days even as a newcomer. But this is not the matter....” Kaito said.


    Kaito started searching a file here and there. But Kaguya and Haruto had not understood what he was finding. He just tried to find something.


    Kaguya asked, “What are you searching Kaito?”


    “I am finding the application for transfer from another club. Have you seen it?” Kaito asked.


    Kaguya replied, “Yes. Are you searching this?” Then she showed a envelope.


    “Yeah, yeah. That’s it,” Kaito replied.


    Then Akari entered the room. The whole room fell silent. There was no one talking. She entered quietly in the room. She had adjusted her glass. Kaguya had also adjusted her glass.


    Kaito said, “Welcome, welcome, Akari. Have a seat. Sorry for troubling.”


    Akari took a seat. Kaguya and Haruto also took their seat. And Kaito was arranging the unarranged files and books.


    After arranging things, Kaito said, “Kaguya, give her the form.” Kaguya gave Akari the envelope. “Please fill the form, Akari.”


    Akari filled the form. Finally, Kaito put a signature on the form as the club president.


    Then Kaito said, “Come Akari with me at student council office. And you two stay here.”


    Then they left the club and went to the student council office. On the way Kaito noticed that Akari was acting little weird. He thought she want to ask something.


    He asked, “What do you want to ask, Akari?”


    She hesitated, “Um-um,..... the thing I want to ask is....” Finally she asked, “Why did you help me then?”


    ?????