Akiko Yonehara looked back at Sonoko, equally confused, "I... I shouldn't be dead yet, right?"
Yuu Hoshimiya sighed helplessly. He walked to Akiko Yonehara's side and confirmed that she was indeed unharmed, just fainted briefly due to shock.
He looked at her meaningfully, trying to find a trace from her expression.
But women are born actresses, and bad women's acting skills are at the peak; Akiko Yonehara didn't reveal a single flaw.
Seeing this, Yuu Hoshimiya appreciated this mature beauty even more.
After subduing her and cultivating her a bit, she would immediately be a capable assistant.
Confirming she was fine, Yuu Hoshimiya turned to Sonoko and patted her head, "You, look clearly before shouting next time; isn't Teacher Yonehara fine?"
Sonoko covered her head and said pitifully: "But... but I really thought she was dead! It was so scary!"
Akiko Yonehara stood up, patted her clothes, and spread her hands innocently.
"I just seemed to suddenly feel my vision go dark, and then knew nothing."
Yuu Hoshimiya stared at her expression for a moment but didn't say much.
At this time, hurried footsteps came from outside the door. Atsushi Mori walked in with Kohei Shimoda, Ryuichi Sakai, and Minori Nakamura.
His gaze swept across and immediately noticed the writing on the backs of Akiko Yonehara and Sonoko's hands. His eyes narrowed slightly, and he said gloomily: "These two characters combined are 'Minna' (ミナ), meaning 'Everyone'. That is to say, this is likely hinting—the criminal wants to kill all of us."
After speaking, he looked meaningfully at Kohei Shimoda and Ryuichi Sakai; both of their faces turned pale instantly, obviously revealing panic and guilt, as if some of their secrets were exposed.
Ryuichi Sakai immediately became angry out of shame, pointing at Atsushi Mori and cursing: "Are you done yet? It must be you playing tricks! Who knows if you attacked them while everyone wasn't paying attention?"
However, Atsushi Mori just smiled weirdly, voice low: "I've been warming myself by the fire downstairs all the time; never left."
The fact that Atsushi Mori was innocent made everyone present tense up; if it wasn't him, it meant the murderer was still in the villa.
Yuu Hoshimiya raised his hand calmly, stopping the quarrel between Shimoda and Sakai.
He walked to the window and looked at the thick snow outside.
Soon, he found a row of obvious footprints extending from the distance to the window.
Yuu Hoshimiya's gaze sank slightly: "Could it be done by someone outside?"
He stroked his chin and suggested: "Let's follow the footprints to check first."
Everyone looked at each other, nodded one after another, left the villa, and followed the footprints honestly to investigate.
Before long, the group circled back from the front door, their faces becoming somewhat solemn.
"These footprints returned to the villa... that is to say, the murderer is still among us."
Yuu Hoshimiya glanced at Ryuichi Sakai, Kohei Shimoda, and Minori Nakamura, tone certain, "Except for us, only the three of them are left."
Yuu Hoshimiya knew what was going on in his heart, but at this time he could only continue to pretend to know nothing.
Moreover, now no one died, and there was no evidence, so there was indeed no rush to call the police.
So Yuu Hoshimiya said in a deep voice: "Anyway, find the weapon first. The strangle marks on their necks indicate they should have been stunned by something like a rope."
With his order, everyone immediately began to search for possible weapons in the villa.
Yuu Hoshimiya stayed in Akiko Yonehara's room to search carefully.
At this time, Akiko Yonehara's face gradually became tense; her gaze wandered on Yuu Hoshimiya, seeming to want to hide something.
Yuu Hoshimiya rummaged through the drawers and wardrobes in the room as if nothing happened, but his peripheral vision kept observing the changes in Akiko Yonehara's expression.
Sure enough, being caught off guard, Akiko Yonehara's expression changes were not as perfectly concealed as before.
Behind Yuu Hoshimiya, the beautiful teacher's breathing was slightly rapid, and as Yuu Hoshimiya searched continuously, her pretty face also gradually became nervous.
Just then, Yuu Hoshimiya stopped his movements, sat by the bed and smiled slightly, asking lightly: "What's wrong? Teacher Yonehara, what are you nervous about?"
Akiko Yonehara was slightly stunned, immediately turned her head away, and said incoherently: "No... nothing, I'm just a little worried..."
Yuu Hoshimiya smiled, didn't ask further, but still sat on the edge of Akiko Yonehara's bed, hands resting casually on his knees, expression relaxed and natural, but those eyes were sharp as blades.
His nose wrinkled slightly, catching the strange smell coming from under the bed, but didn't expose it immediately. Instead, he said as if chatting casually: "Strange, clearly there are strangle marks on their necks, but why can't the weapon be found? Teacher Yonehara, say—where else hasn't been searched? For example... under the bed?"
This sentence was like a small stone thrown into the lake center, stirring ripples in Akiko Yonehara's heart.
Although the smile was on her face, it obviously stiffened for a moment.
She said lightly: "Under the bed? How is it possible? The bottom of this bed is sealed; there won't be anything."
Yuu Hoshimiya looked up, glanced at her with interest, and a meaningful smile appeared on his lips.
"Oh? This villa is rented temporarily, right? It seems Teacher Yonehara is quite familiar with the structure here."
Akiko Yonehara's pupils shrank slightly, as if his words poked a vital point.
She was silent for a moment, then asked tentatively: "Teacher Hoshimiya... have you already guessed something?"
Yuu Hoshimiya's eyes remained unchanged, still leaning lazily on the bed edge, but his tone carried a trace of lightness.
"Well, sometimes... law often cannot execute justice."
He leaned forward slightly, voice low, like a beast staring at its prey, "If necessary, I don't mind using other ways."
He paused for a moment, the smile on his lips deepening, "Turning a blind eye is also a choice."
These words sounded casual, but actually hit Akiko Yonehara's heart heavily.
At that moment, her face became complicated, eyes flickering with anxiety, hesitation, and a trace of helplessness.
She realized that this seemingly flirtatious little boy had already seen through seventy to eighty percent of her, but refused to expose it, only leaving her a vague way out.
Akiko Yonehara's throat moved, seeming to want to say something, but finally said nothing.
She just looked at Yuu Hoshimiya silently, as if waiting for his next move.
However, Yuu Hoshimiya stood up from the bed edge as if nothing had happened.
He adjusted his collar, movements calm and elegant, as if just preparing for the next gathering.
Before leaving, he turned his head and showed her a faint smile: "Then I'll go ask others first to see if they found anything."
After speaking, he didn't look at Akiko Yonehara again, striding out of the room with steady steps, as if everything was under control.
Akiko Yonehara stood in place, watching Yuu Hoshimiya's back disappear at the door, with mixed feelings in her heart.
She sighed softly, gaze complicated, as if struggling with a decision—perhaps, Yuu Hoshimiya already knew everything, just chose not to expose it for the time being. Everyone walked out of their rooms one after another, looked at each other with solemn faces, and shook their heads one after another—no one found ropes or any suspicious weapons.
Yuu Hoshimiya stood in the center of the living room, squinting slightly, as if everything was in his expectation. After looking around at everyone, he said calmly: "Since the weapon hasn't been found, then we have to conduct a body search."
As soon as these words came out, everyone looked embarrassed, but had no objection.
After all, in this situation, clearing suspicion is the most important.
Yuu Hoshimiya's gaze turned and fell on Atsushi Mori: "Trouble Mr. Mori to help check the men's side, and the women's side... Ran, you do it."
Ran was slightly stunned, but then nodded and accepted.
Akiko Yonehara, Sonoko, and Minori Nakamura silently walked to their assigned rooms with complex emotions.
Ran entered a quiet room with Akiko Yonehara and Minori Nakamura.
Why did Brother Yuu specifically instruct me to check Teacher Yonehara's hair before coming in?
Ran pondered while checking.
Out of curiosity, Ran soon put this doubt into action; she touched Akiko Yonehara's hair carefully.
Surprisingly, her fingers slipped.
This was a wig.
Ran was slightly stunned, took off the wig gently, revealing Akiko Yonehara's clean and neat short hair; the hair was smooth, emitting natural luster.
"Teacher Yonehara..."
Ran was stunned for a moment, then surprised: "So you look so good with short hair; why wear a wig?"
Akiko Yonehara's face changed slightly, but soon calmed down, revealing a slightly awkward smile.
"Because the haircut last time wasn't good, felt too ugly, so wore a wig to cover it, avoiding scaring people."
Ran smiled and comforted: "Actually no need to care so much; I think short hair suits you very well, looking even better instead."
Akiko Yonehara's smile was somewhat forced, but she still nodded politely, seeming to breathe a sigh of relief in her heart.
However, when she heard Ran ask casually—
"But how did Brother Yuu know you were wearing a wig?"
Akiko Yonehara's relaxed expression froze instantly.
She lowered her eyes, as if digesting the meaning of this sentence.
It was Yuu Hoshimiya who asked Ran to check her hair...
That little boy really knew already!
Loss she even wanted to help Ran and Sonoko identify and test the scumbag.
But unexpectedly she was completely seen through long ago.
Now it seems let alone checking for former students, her revenge plan might not even be successfully implemented.
Her hand involuntarily clenched the hem of her skirt, but soon recovered calm, responding with a smile: "Teacher Hoshimiya is really amazing."
After the check, everyone gathered in the living room again.
Atsushi Mori shrugged, spreading his hands to Yuu Hoshimiya: "I didn't find any rope here either."
Ran also shook her head: "We didn't find anything suspicious either."
She paused, walked to Yuu Hoshimiya's side and secretly added: "By the way, Brother Yuu, Teacher Yonehara's hair is a wig... but no other suspicious points were found."
Yuu Hoshimiya nodded faintly, looking as usual, "I know."
His words were understated, but as if everything was under control.
Akiko Yonehara looked at Yuu Hoshimiya with a complicated gaze.
She knew clearly in her heart that Yuu Hoshimiya not only saw through her disguise but might even have guessed some truth unwilling to be revealed.
"Since the weapon hasn't been found, this matter can only stop here for now; fortunately, Teacher Yonehara and Sonoko are fine."
Yuu Hoshimiya stood by the fireplace, staring thoughtfully at the roaring snow outside the window, "The wind and snow outside are so heavy; the police can't come up for a while. It seems we can only wait temporarily."
Just as the atmosphere fell into silence, Akiko Yonehara suddenly spoke, voice gentle and calm: "Teacher Hoshimiya, can you accompany me upstairs to find something?"
Everyone's eyes fell on Akiko Yonehara and Yuu Hoshimiya together.
Yuu Hoshimiya smiled noncommittally, a trace of playfulness flashing in his eyes.
"Of course."
The two walked up the stairs one after another; silence surrounded them, only the wooden floor making slight creaking sounds under their feet.
The atmosphere upstairs seemed particularly oppressive. Akiko Yonehara walked in front, fingers unconsciously twisting her cuffs, looking somewhat uneasy.
Yuu Hoshimiya still looked casual, hands in pockets.
Akiko Yonehara stopped at a room door, looked back at Yuu Hoshimiya, a faint smile hanging on her lips: "Teacher Hoshimiya, please come in."
Yuu Hoshimiya raised his eyebrows, pushed open the door gently, and walked in slowly.
The curtains in the room were closed tightly; only a dim small lamp was lit, light and shadow swaying on the wall.
Akiko Yonehara closed the door, leaned against it, and whispered: "Teacher Hoshimiya, how much do you know exactly?"
Yuu Hoshimiya smiled slightly, sat on the chair in the room, looking calm, "How much I know isn't important... what's important is, how much do you plan to say?"
Akiko Yonehara's heart seemed to be tightly gripped by something; she knew the little boy in front of her had already left her a way out once.
But this time, she probably could no longer escape. Akiko Yonehara lowered her head and sighed softly, as if the last tight string in her heart finally broke.
She looked up and said with a wry smile: "Sure enough, Teacher Hoshimiya knows everything."
Yuu Hoshimiya crossed his arms, expression steady and calm, gaze piercing straight into her heart like a sharp blade.
"Why did you kill? Under the bed... should be a corpse, right? I guess it's Teacher Sugiyama who hasn't appeared all this time."
Although the cause and effect of the event were basically confirmed, since there was a chance, Yuu Hoshimiya still hoped to get the answer from Akiko Yonehara personally.
Based on Akiko Yonehara's performance, his next plan would also be adjusted.
Akiko Yonehara's face turned pale instantly, lips trembling, as if hit by some painful memory.
She gritted her teeth, as if all emotions in her heart were surging violently.
A moment later, her face turned ashen, and deep hatred and despair appeared in her eyes.
"You guessed right..."
Her voice was mixed with gnashing hatred, eye rims slightly red, "Because... these bastards killed my student, Minako Mochizuki! She was just a child!"
Akiko Yonehara took a deep breath, voice trembling with pain.
"Minako... she discovered the secrets of those beasts. Teachers Sugiyama, Shimoda, and Sakai, for money, secretly accepted non-compliant students. What's more hateful is that they not only blackmailed parents but also... laid hands on some female students..."
Her throat seemed blocked by something; speaking of this, her voice suddenly choked.
Tears swirled in her eyes, but she held back from letting them fall.
"Blackmailing parents, molesting elementary school girls..."
Yuu Hoshimiya raised his eyebrows; sure enough, the memory of his previous life was not entirely the truth.
After all, Conan is an all-ages anime; many egregious cases were harmonized (censored) partially.
"At that time, Minako secretly told me about the evil deeds of this beast Sugiyama..."
Akiko Yonehara gritted her teeth with a bitter smile, fingers unconsciously pinching the skirt tightly.
"But at first I thought she was making a fuss over nothing, perhaps just misunderstanding Teacher Sugiyama, and then accidentally revealed this matter to this beast Shimoda... The next day, Minako was found 'suicided' in the ballet classroom!"
Uncontrollable hatred flashed in her eyes, voice rising steeply.
"How could Minako commit suicide? This is simply the means of those beasts—killed her, and then disguised it as suicide!"
Yuu Hoshimiya looked at her silently. He knew the truth long ago, but the pain and anger of this mature beauty in front of him made everything real and heavy.
Tears in Akiko Yonehara's eyes finally burst out. She said with resentment and incomparable guilt: "Minako was so smart, so kind... These beasts not only destroyed a child but also destroyed her future and hope!"
Her voice gradually became cold and hard: "I investigated for a long time and found all their evidence. I knew... they must pay the price. So, I lured Sugiyama here. Before killing him, I forced out all the truth; he confessed everything in despair—including those dirty things they had done to Minako..."
Akiko Yonehara's fists clenched, knuckles white.
"He deserved to die! Shimoda and Sakai also deserve to die! None of them should live in this world!"
Yuu Hoshimiya looked at her quietly, brows furrowed slightly, an indescribable complex emotion surging in his heart.
He could understand her anger, her despair, and even her revenge.
Japanese police were too incompetent, or rather too irresponsible.
Minako Mochizuki's suicide, just a little investigation would reveal many doubts, but the police actually closed the case so simply.
More importantly, even if Akiko Yonehara got evidence, because it was extorted confession by torture, it wasn't recognized by law.
If it really blew up, Shimoda and the other two beasts would at most get into some trouble; let alone paying with their lives, they probably wouldn't even go to jail.
"So you killed Sugiyama and hid his body under the bed."
Yuu Hoshimiya's voice carried no emotion, just stating the fact calmly.
Akiko Yonehara didn't deny it; she just smiled coldly, "That's right, I killed him. But I won't regret it... he deserved it. Every one of them deserves it!"
Yuu Hoshimiya stood up, hands in pockets, staring at her for a moment.
Those eyes seemed to see through everything, making Akiko Yonehara feel all her disguises had nowhere to hide.
"Teacher Yonehara..."
Yuu Hoshimiya's voice was low, but seemed to carry some unquestionable deterrence, "Revenge makes you feel you control justice, but it also makes you lose your own future."
Akiko Yonehara lowered her eyes, expression complex.
She knew Yuu Hoshimiya was right, but she had no way back.
"Then what will you do?" She asked softly, "Report me, hand me over to the police?"