Minato Mizuhara transfers from Kanagawa and perfectly plays the role of a bright, cheerful newcomer. He smiles at everyone, chats easily, and blends into the class. But on his first day, one girl sees through his mask: Akari Kajiwara, the ace of the judo club. She simply says, 'That laugh—you used the same one before.' Minato freezes, his fingertips turning cold.
From then on, they start walking home together. Beside the silent Akari, who asks nothing, Minato finds an odd comfort. He gradually
The Classroom Without Sunlight - A quiet scraping, once again
By mid-July, the sky over Kugenuma was blanketed in thick clouds. The damp wind from the sea rattled the classroom windows. Four days until final exams. The air in the classroom was a mix of anxiety and resignation.
Minato sat at his desk, staring at a world history timeline. But nothing was sinking in. The words in the textbook looked like nothing more than a string of symbols.
(I have to focus.)
The more he thought that, the more Shiraishi and the others' laughter stuck to his ears. In the center of the classroom, Shiraishi was chatting and laughing, surrounded by several girls. Haizaki had his arm around a boy's shoulder, laughing loudly, and Koyanagi was whispering something to a few people in the corner of the classroom.
Ten days since then. The Shiraishi faction had completely blended into the center of the class. Shiraishi was refreshing and smart, someone who treated everyone equally—a "good guy." Haizaki was a "reliable guy" who excelled in P.E. Koyanagi was a quiet, well-informed "interesting guy."
All three of them were in a completely different place from Minato.
Minato dropped his eyes. He folded the edge of the textbook over and over with his fingertips.
(It's fine. Nothing's happened yet.)
(Until they make a move, I just have to act normal.)
Minato repeated this in his mind.
First period began. The chime rang, and Fujii Rie entered the classroom. She pushed up her black-rimmed glasses and stood at the podium.
Alright, first period, we'll start with a world history quiz. Get ready.
A small stir rose from the classroom. Minato opened his pencil case. He took out a mechanical pencil and spread open his notebook.
That was when it happened.
A clatter—the sound of a chair falling over.
Every eye in the classroom turned toward the source of the noise. Haizaki Ryo was standing beside his desk. His large frame was nearly a hundred and eighty centimeters tall. His hair was cropped short. His thick eyebrows were arched in anger.
My wallet's gone!
Haizaki's voice echoed through the classroom.
Fujii looked at Haizaki with a startled expression.
What, your wallet? What happened, Haizaki-kun?
It was there just a minute ago! I put it in my desk during break, and now it's gone!
Haizaki raised his voice as he rummaged through his desk over and over.
The classroom began to buzz.
"Seriously? It was stolen?"
"That's bad, isn't it?"
"Did anyone see anything?"
Whispers flew from all directions. Minato couldn't move, still gripping his mechanical pencil.
(A wallet?)
(Haizaki's wallet is gone?)
A small alarm began ringing in the corner of Minato's mind.
Shiraishi slowly stood up. He stretched his tall frame and approached Haizaki with a worried expression.
Haizaki-kun, is it really gone? Did you try looking again properly?
I looked! It's nowhere!
I see... That's terrible. Teacher, I think this should be properly investigated.
Shiraishi turned toward Fujii. His narrow, double-lidded eyes held a serious light.
The fact that a wallet is missing means someone in this classroom might have it. I feel terrible for Haizaki-kun. Could we have everyone check their bags?
The classroom fell silent in an instant.
Check everyone's bags. In other words, everyone becomes a suspect for theft.
Fujii looked hesitant. But pressed by Haizaki's desperation and Shiraishi's sound reasoning, she nodded.
...Understood. Everyone, check your bags and desks right where you are. See for yourselves if there's anything inside that you don't recognize.
A heavy atmosphere settled over the classroom.
The students began nervously opening their bags. Only the sound of zippers and rustling echoed through the quiet classroom.
Minato also placed his backpack on his desk.
(I didn't do anything.)
(So nothing should come out.)
Minato opened the zipper of his backpack.
Textbooks. Notebooks. Pencil case. A folding umbrella.
And then, at the very bottom of the backpack.
Minato's fingers touched something.
Hard. The texture of leather.
Minato couldn't comprehend what that texture was.
(Why?)
(Why is something like this...)
With trembling hands, Minato pulled it out.
A black leather wallet.
A wallet he didn't recognize.
Every eye in the classroom converged on Minato's hands.
Ah, that's it! That's my wallet!
Haizaki shouted loudly.
Minato couldn't make a sound.
The blood drained from his face. His fingertips were cold as ice. His heart pounded noisily in the depths of his ears.
(This isn't mine.)
(I didn't put this in here.)
Minato screamed in his mind.
But no sound came out.
His lips wouldn't move, as if they were glued shut.
Mizuhara-kun... What does this mean?
Fujii came down from the podium and approached Minato's desk.
Is that wallet Haizaki-kun's? Why did it come out of your bag?
Minato looked at Fujii's face.
But the words wouldn't come.
(I don't know.)
(I want to know.)
(Why is something like this in my bag?)
Every eye in the classroom pierced through Minato.
Suspicious eyes. Shocked eyes. Contemptuous eyes.
All of them were trying to crush Minato.
Mizuhara-kun, could it be... do you have any idea what happened?
Shiraishi said in a gentle voice.
But his eyes weren't smiling.
Minato looked at Shiraishi.
Shiraishi wore a worried expression. But only the corners of his mouth were slightly turned up.
(This guy.)
(This guy did it.)
A conviction burst inside Minato's mind.
Haizaki lost his wallet. Haizaki planted it. Shiraishi guided it along.
Everything was orchestrated.
But he couldn't prove it.
Minato bit his lip.
Mizuhara-kun, come to the staff room.
Fujii's voice echoed coldly.
Minato stood up.
His legs were trembling.
The murmur of the classroom could be heard in the distance.
"I knew it was Mizuhara."
"I heard something happened at his previous school too."
"That guy, he acts like such a good person normally."
Whispers meant to be heard stabbed into Minato's back.
Minato walked behind Fujii.
He stepped into the hallway.
The path to the staff room felt unbearably long.
Only footsteps echoed through the corridor.
Minato pressed hard on the wristband on his right wrist with his left thumb.
When they arrived at the staff room, Fujii led Minato to the reception area in the back.
There, the vice principal was waiting.
The vice principal, a man in his fifties, looked at Minato with a stern expression.
I've heard the story. Mizuhara, what is the meaning of this?
Minato looked at the vice principal's face.
(What is the meaning of this, you say.)
(I want to know that myself.)
Minato squeezed his voice out from the depths of his throat.
...This is not mine.
Minato's voice was surprisingly small and weak, even to himself.
The vice principal furrowed his brow.
Then why did Haizaki's wallet come out of your bag?
...I don't know.
"I don't know" isn't good enough. Do you understand the situation you're in?
The vice principal's voice grew stronger.
Minato couldn't say anything.
(I understand.)
(I understand.)
(It's happening again.)
(Just like that time.)
A scene from three years ago flashed through Minato's mind.
A middle school in Kanagawa. A classroom. In front of the podium.
"You did it, didn't you."
Haizaki's voice. Shiraishi's smile. Koyanagi's whisper.
And no one believed him.
Mizuhara, I'll ask once more. Do you have any idea about this wallet?
Minato shook his head.
...No.
The vice principal let out a deep sigh.
I see. Then you may go home for today. But tomorrow, I'll need to hear a detailed account once more. If you remember anything before then, report it immediately.
Minato bowed his head.
He left the staff room.
There was no one in the hallway anymore.
Minato put his hand against the wall.
His legs wouldn't support him.
His breathing grew shallow.
(Again.)
(It happened again.)
(Even though I didn't do anything.)
Minato gripped the wristband on his right wrist tightly.
The pain made him feel like he could return to reality, just a little.
The next day.
When Minato entered the classroom, the atmosphere had changed.
Classmates who had greeted him until yesterday quickly averted their eyes when they saw his face.
A girl at a nearby desk glanced at Minato and whispered something to the girl next to her.
Minato sat down at his desk.
He felt countless gazes on his back.
(It's fine.)
(Don't worry about it.)
(I didn't do anything.)
Minato repeated in his mind.
But the trembling in his fingertips wouldn't stop.
First period ended, and it was break time.
Minato stood up to go to the restroom.
That was when he heard a voice from the hallway.
Hey, did you know? Apparently Mizuhara got transferred here because he stole something at his previous school.
Minato's feet stopped.
The owner of the voice was Koyanagi Atsushi.
Koyanagi was standing by the window in the hallway, talking, surrounded by several students. His small, slightly hunched frame. Thin eyes peered from beneath his bangs.
I don't know the details either, but a friend of a friend knows someone from Mizuhara's old school. That person told them. Mizuhara stole his friend's money, and when it was found out, he transferred schools.
Seriously!? Then yesterday's wallet was also...
Well, I don't know that far. But it's a fact that those rumors exist. I'm just telling you what I heard.
Koyanagi said that and smiled thinly.
Minato couldn't move from that spot.
(Just telling what I heard.)
(That's how you always...)
(That's how you always spread rumors.)
Minato clenched his fists.
But he couldn't say anything.
If he said something, it would only get worse.
Three years ago, that's how it was.
Minato gave up going to the restroom and returned to his desk.
He slumped over his desk.
The voices around him sounded distant.
"I knew it was him."
"Better not get involved."
"That smile was all an act too."
Minato covered his ears.
But the voices echoed from inside his head.
After school that day, Minato was summoned by Fujii.
The hallway in front of the staff room.
Fujii stood with her arms crossed, looking down at Minato.
Mizuhara-kun, about yesterday. Haizaki-kun is still very shaken. If you have any idea about what happened, I want you to tell me honestly.
Minato looked at Fujii's face.
(Any idea?)
(I've said it over and over.)
(I don't know anything.)
...I have no idea.
Fujii sighed.
I see. But you know, Mizuhara-kun. Misunderstandings are a part of life. Whether you did it or not, I don't know right now. But it's a fact that those around you suspect you. So you should make an effort to clear up the misunderstanding.
Minato repeated Fujii's words in his mind.
Make an effort to clear up the misunderstanding.
(Who's misunderstanding?)
(What am I supposed to do to clear it up?)
(The teacher isn't investigating anything.)
(She's just telling me to try harder.)
Something inside Minato's chest slowly grew cold.
(Ah, I see.)
(This person isn't looking at anything either.)
(No adult will help me.)
Minato scratched hard at the wristband on his right wrist with the nail of his left hand.
Pain shot through him.
But the coldness in his heart didn't disappear.
That same week, Thursday morning.
The judo dojo was filled with the atmosphere of morning practice.
The smell of tatami. The smell of sweat. The sound of feet striking the floor.
Akari was changing into her gi in the club room.
She tied her chestnut-colored short bob into a small bundle at the back and slipped her arms through the white gi. The old callus marks on the back of her right hand stood out white under the fluorescent lights.
Akari picked up her belt.
A black belt.
As the ace of the judo club, she was permitted to wear a black belt even as a second-year. Her record of winning the prefectural tournament supported the weight of that belt.
Akari wrapped the belt around her waist.
And the moment she tried to tie it, she noticed something wrong.
The belt was light.
Akari picked up the belt.
The moment she saw it, her breath stopped.
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