Everyone went up to the second floor. Not in hope, not in despair, simply because it had been said: "There should be an axe there." And yes, it should have been there, but it wasn't. And that "wasn't" turned out louder than any "was."
The glass shattered.
The axe vanished.
Logic went out for a smoke.
"What the... hell!" Enua flared up as if the glass in the display case had been smashed right in his head. "I didn't do this! Up until this moment, I didn't even know it was here! Everyone who's seen me knows I never went up to the second floor!"
"Then... how do you explain the axe's disappearance?" Yahweh asked.
"I agree," Hov chimed in. "If you have an alibi, prove it wasn't taken."
I listened, but I already knew where this was headed. Enua and I had discussed it. The idea of splitting into groups from Yahweh and Hov — it wasn't a strategic plan, but more like quiet sabotage. They didn't like Enua, they didn't like his potential to be the first killer. And now they were just using the first opportunity to pin the blame on him.
"I... don't care if you believe me or not!" Enua clenched his fists. "You've been against me from the start, but why me?! Anyone could have gone out! Yahweh! Hov! Tiamut! Even you, Kamiki! Why are you pointing at me?!"
"Because," Kamiki made a theatrical pause. "I have proof that it could only have been you."
"As soon as we split up to our rooms," he began. "I immediately called Hov and Yahweh, I had suspicions. From the beginning, that you might be the first to kill, and then... I left the line open. We didn't hang up, if someone opened the door, we would have heard it."
A blow. Precise. Cold, right to the weak spot.
"Our group is beyond suspicion, but yours... You have no alibi."
Enua... was silent, because check, because mate. Because he realized he'd simply been outplayed.
He planned it all in advance... Every option, every step. This bastard wrote the script, and we're just playing roles in it...
"You have no proof of your innocence," Hov summed up. "Confess. You killed Gerudo."
"If you confess..." Yahweh added. "We won't touch you, we'll just lead you to the door. And you'll... sail away."
Three against one.
Aragi the fourth.
The only one who still believed Enua. But even faith couldn't replace proof.
"Excuse me," a voice came from the side. "We woke up... you're too loud..."
Cheryl and Morgana stood on the stairs. They didn't know yet, but they were about to find out.
They were told everything, led to the kitchen, shown. The first and most painful "incident."
"AAA! Why?! Why him?!" Morgana screamed. Without filters, without masks. Just sincerely. "G-Gerudo-sama..."
She fell to her knees. Cried.
"Enough. Morgana, that's all..." Cheryl was calm. Too calm, but in his voice... something trembled.
"We'll bury him after the rain. And clean the kitchen, forgive her."
An hour passed. The participants gathered in the living room. All except one. Enua stayed in the bedroom.
"Sorry if I disturbed you," I approached the girl sitting on the steps. "Here, take this handkerchief."
"N-no need to worry about me... Mister Aragi."
"Oh? What if I want to? Can I just stand and watch a girl cry alone on cold steps, like in a cheap movie? Sorry, but that's not my style. So take it."
"Th-thank you..."
She wiped her eyes.
"Feel better?"
"Yes... It's okay now. Thank you, Mister Aragi. You shouldn't have... a respected guest, for a simple tool."
"Respected?"
"Oh! Sorry! I didn't..."
"It's nothing. On the contrary, forgive me. It seems Gerudo was very close to you, and I... I came too late."
"Don't say that, it's not your fault. Cheryl and I should have been watching, but we went to rest... And he... stayed. Why did he stay?"
"Even if he had left," I looked at her. "It wouldn't have changed anything. If the witch chose a target... she'll get it."
"Probably... you're right. We heard your conversation... Sorry."
"I said, don't apologize. Say whatever's on your mind."
She blushed.
Sat close.
Only now realized how close.
"Sorry... We could have been seen..."
"A-hah-hah. Even if they see, let them think what they want. And I... I'm glad I cleared my gloomy thoughts."
Silence.
Calm.
"So who was Gerudo to you? Cheryl seemed calm, but you... you act like you lost family."
"He was our family, he worked here even under the first owner. This island is named after him. Gerudo served him alone. For a long time, but with age it got hard, and he hired us. Cheryl and I studied at a school where they turn children into... 'tools.'"
"Tools?"
"Yes... They taught us to be obedient. They beat us, but I don't blame them. They gave us a roof. And when we turned twelve, they sent us to Saint Olga's school, with a three-year course. The best went to influential families, we made that list. And we met Gerudo-sama. He treated us... like children."
"We've been working here for seven years. He became our real family."
"Sorry if I tired you..."
"No. You... you're strong, you're not a tool. You're a person."
I took her hands.
"You're a real, living person. With a heart, with a soul, with pain and light. Never, hear me? Never call yourself a 'tool.' Especially around me."
"S-sorry..."
I pulled my hands away. Blushed. Classic.
"No need to apologize. You... are an amazing person. I didn't think I'd meet someone like you in my life. From this moment... I'm not a tool. I'm... a person."
"That's better."
And her face... glowed, as if I hadn't just said words, but parted the sky.
If my words could make everyone shine like that...
I'd say them endlessly.