Puzzle (パズル)

Students of Tokumen High School

We have taken control of the school

We hope you can play a game with us.

There are 2000 puzzle pieces hidden around the school.

You have to find all the pieces and complete the puzzle.

However, the time limit is 24 hours, up till tomorrow noon.

If you are unable to complete the puzzle, the hostages will be killed.

Mitome-kun!

Why is it a puzzle?

Why do the criminals want us to do this?

But we did not know how scary this game is at that time.

timing: seiret

brought to you by d.r.e.g.s.s.

Where are you bringing me to?

That day at around 6.30 pm, you came into contact with the criminal?

What did the criminal want you to do?

I do not want to talk about this case anymore.

Isn't smoking prohibited here?

You know Nakamura-san right?

She's in the same class as you.

She was very stubborn, kept on refusing to talk.

I spent 2 full days to make her speak.

But never mind, I have time anyway.

Feel like talking?

They just took me to the authorised personnel entrance/exit.

Authorised personnel entrance/exit?

Because food for the special training class has arrived.

How are you? I'm from Umemura Hanten.

All of you are so hardworking, studying from morning till night.

It's hard on you.

Well that's it. Work hard!

Wait, wait!

Take it away.

Mitome was shot.

Did the criminals attempt to hurt you?

No. I met the criminals on patrol a few times

Nothing happened.

That means you all were not in any real danger?

Yes.

Then didn't you think about running away from the school?

No.

And that's because why...?

Let's change the question.

Why did you put in so much effort to look for all the puzzle pieces?

That is because of the Kanda-kun incident.

Kanda-kun?

He was originally a student from our Class A.

You can't even solve this type of question?

I'm sorry.

Kanda.

Yes.

What are you in school for? Is it to slow down everyone's progress?

No, it's not.

I think it is.

Because of you, the lesson has to slow down.

Yes.

Let me tell you honestly, you are a burden to the whole class.

During the winter of our second year, Kanda-kun committed suicide by jumping off a building.

When you heard that Kanda-kun has passed away, how did you feel?

Well... It was very sad after all.

But even though I say it's sad, the feeling is not the same.

Not the same?

How do I explain it? It's like something was taken away from the heart.

That was my first time losing someone close.

How was the atmosphere in the class?

Everyone was not very keen on talking about it.

Oh.

Then what about Mr Yasuda? Did he say anything about it?

He said "In the end, Kanda still lost."

"Committing suicide over such a trivial matter is his own fault."

I felt that he has gone too far.

Kanda, who committed suicide, was so pitiful.

Did you tell Mr Yasuda about your thoughts?

No.

Why?

I couldn't do it.

Is that so?

If I had done something for Kanda-kun or listened to him at that time, it might not have turned out this way.

Regretful?

I see.

That's why I felt that if we left behind Mitome-kun and ran away, I will be repeating the same mistake.

Yuasa-kun, did everyone feel the same way as you?

I think so.

That's not true. That hypocrite!

He talked about how affected he was because of Kanda-kun's suicide,

Actually when Kanda-kun was scolded by Mr. Yasuda, he did not do anything to help.

I have already long forgotten Kanda's incident. Everyone should be the same.

Finding the puzzle pieces is just for one's self.

If I ran away by myself, I don't know what Mr. Yasuda will say later.

It might even affect the testimonial for promotion to the next level.

Because of Kanda-kun's incident, you kept on looking for the puzzle pieces right?

Yes.

Then let's continue talking about this case.

The puzzle pieces were relatively easy to find.

By the way, when did you all start doing the puzzle?

At night, after dinner.

How many puzzle pieces have been found then?

About 1000 pieces.

1000 pieces?

After that we split into 2 groups, one to look for the puzzle pieces and the other to do the puzzle.

While everyone rotated between looking for the puzzle pieces and doing the puzzle.

You were the only one who was always in the music room, right?

Yes, I was doing the puzzle and computing data of found puzzle pieces.

Data?

I recorded how many puzzle pieces were found in which room etc

Because I felt that this is needed to be efficient.

But in the beginning you looked for puzzle pieces together with the others right?

Yes.

Then why were you alone later?

Um... that is because...

Can you tell me?

Where are you bringing me to?

Stop!

I was very scared then. I was so scared that I didn't dare to breathe.

I might meet the criminals while looking for the puzzle pieces and they might point a gun at me.

So I took responsibility of computing the data.

I'm better at that anyway.

Can you tell me what was the situation at midnight?