Loups-Garous Read Free

but couldn’t see her face.
    â€œThe victim supposedly had the same eyes and mouth as the others. Face and throat were slit.”
    Still looking up. Kill the victim and then slash her with a sharp knife— that was the serial killer’s pattern. One person, one move.
    â€œThing is…”
    â€œThey say the victim’s a boy.” Mio slid down and kept looking up. Hazuki turned her head up too. The sky looked weird unframed, so she immediately looked away.
    â€œA boy…and from our neighborhood?”
    â€œYeah. We probably met him during that coed session last week, right? Not that I care or anything. I didn’t look at his data profile, so I don’t even remember his name. But he’s from around here.”
    â€œThat may be…but still.”
    Hazuki looked at Ayumi again. It was too bright to see.
    â€œAnd…” Ayumi started.
    â€œWhat are you doing here?”
    â€œLike I said. I’m bored. They say go straight home , but that’s where I’m most likely to get killed because then I’d be alone. And all these victims have been attacked on their way home from school, so if they tell us to go straight home, I’m saying, at least escort us back. Right?” Mio was still lying on her side looking up at the sky without expression.
    She really had a way with words.
    â€œThey aren’t escorting anyone, eh? Not even important geniuses like you.”
    â€œThey’re having a conference.”
    â€œConference?”
    â€œWhen you talk to a group of people face-to-face. Adults like to meet in person and talk to each other. Such a waste of time.”
    Mio went on importantly about how meeting each other in person and talking face-to-face isn’t going to catch the killer , then sat up straight. Dried grass was stuck all over her backside and hair. She started clapping it off her shoulders, then shook her bob haircut furiously. The grass stuck to everything it touched and wouldn’t fall.
    â€œThis is stupid.”
    â€œEveryone’s freaking out though.”
    â€œNo one is freaking out. It’s always like this.”
    â€œThey don’t usually clamp down like this though.”
    Mio stuck an index finger into her collar and wrung the neckline as if to open up a little space. “Sounds like you know what you’re talking about, Kono.”
    â€œI don’t.” Ayumi looked down.
    â€œYou really like pestering people, don’t you, Tsuzuki.”
    â€œIt’s fun .” Mio laughed.
    â€œWhat is?”
    â€œI can’t stop wondering.”
    She never knew how people would react…probably.
    Ayumi stared blankly at Mio’s feet and said without thinking,
    â€œYou mean you don’t know what stupid people think?”
    Mio’s eyes widened.
    â€œIf we think at all. I bet it’s hard figuring us out. Or is that what we’re learning in this communications group?”
    â€œYou’re such a model participant,” Ayumi threw in.
    â€œWhaaat?” Mio’s voice went up several octaves.
    â€œThat’s a pretty boring comeback.”
    â€œUnfortunately, I’m no comedian,” Ayumi said, looking back at Hazuki. “Am I?”
    Their gazes moved on as Hazuki lowered her head, unresponsive. The weeds snapped at her calves.
    â€œWhat I’m saying is…it’s not cool for you to be investigating us.” Investigating . Mio furrowed her face.
    â€œI’m doing no such thing.”
    â€œYou were just staring at us, weren’t you?”
    â€œI can’t talk to you unless I see you.”
    â€œYou can’t even look at me.”
    It was true. Ayumi had never actually looked at Mio.
    In fact.
    Ayumi had never faced anyone. Not even Hazuki.
    She suddenly came back at Mio and gawped.
    â€œWhat?”
    Mio shifted her sight line past Ayumi’s temple.
    â€œSee. You can’t even maintain eye contact. You don’t want to be looked