June 14, 1999 After School/Location Unknown

[loveandwillpower]

The work of an agent of love is never done! You'd think that someone with Minako's grades wouldn't even be a Watson, much less the guy with the deerstalker cap, but what she lacks in academics she's always been able to compensate with drive and raw cunning. And now that drive has a little something extra.

The determination to protect a dear friend against a dangerous foe.

Comments

[itwasfeyt]

A gasp escaped Maya at that moment. Haruhi, a good friend, was burned alive. She had suffered for her investigation, and it left her nauseous at the thought.

"Please...." Maya's more emotional side was taking over fast. The strength to shake off PB's grip was fading fast. Already, the spirit medium was reduced to a shuddering mess. "I didn't kill her! T-there has to be evidence that says I didn't!"

[independent_dollmaker]

"Wait, wait, it should be the opposite! Nobody should assume you did anything unless there's evidence that you DID do it!"

This has to be a mistake. It was some kind of accident. She can't imagine any of her friends killing someone, let alone Maya.

slides in here..........if we're just going in any random order

[flatview]

Funny thing about burnt human skin. For someone who has, fortunately, never had to smell it before this moment in time, it's awfully distinctive. Someone was burned. Badly. Instantly, Nui thinks of her conversation with Chiyoko.

Well, let me know if you find your scissors. And I'll look for them, too.

She'd seen Osaka run past as she'd glanced out of the classroom doorway, but that wasn't enough to judge the situation proper. Besides, maybe someone just...burned their hand...right? When Nui approaches the mob spilling out in the hallway, her smile falters, becoming more plastic than usual.

"Are we having a party out here, or something?"

[fortunatetoaster]

Chiyoko has to swallow hard again before she can speak and she looks from Maya to Bubblegum and then finally makes herself look at Haruhi. Maya's reaction, her choking sobs, her horror, lined up with her perfectly normal behaviour the last few days...

There's been no strangeness from Maya. No delusions. Maybe she hadn't been looking close enough, but...

She sucks in a deep breath and shakes her head.

"Maya didn't do this," she says softly, starting to chew the inside of her mouth. "It was someone else. But it wasn't Maya."

[bonni]

"Girls, it's all right. The police will get to the bottom of this. You have to have faith in their work." Peebs, you are such a hypocrite oh my glob.

Now where were they? There should still be some near the school, investigating the disappearance of Souji. It shouldn't take them long to arrive.

Souji... best not to think about him. There was definitely a connection - there's no way they couldn't be connected, especially since the only reason Suzumiya would be...

No, that's getting ahead of herself. She wasn't the one who needed to piece everything together. Best leave that line of thought to others.

[itwasfeyt]

"That's what I meant! There's no evidence!" Maya continued to plead, her voice obviously falling on deaf ears but still she tried.

"I didn't kill her!! I was talking to Minako and Osaka, and then I headed over here to meet with Haruhi! She was going to interview Hiroshi!"

Another sob. Maya looked as though she was about to fall to her knees, unable to support herself any longer. Bubblegum's iron grip kept her where she was, though, stuck in that one spot, the smell of death lingering all around her.

"I-I couldn't..."