Chapter 25: The Fifth Playthrough (6)

Morofushi Kagemitsu secretly went to the archives room alone to look up information on the computer.

He didn't turn on the lights. In the dimly lit room, only the computer's glow illuminated his usually gentle face, revealing that terrifying expression.

Completely unable to control his emotions and expressions, Morofushi Kagemitsu was unaware that the door behind him had been quietly opened a crack, and then four heads popped out like mushrooms, sneaking around and peeking at him.

At the very top, Ida Kou immediately spotted the huge title on the computer screen.

The Nagano couple's brutal murder case

He looked down and met the gaze of the golden head beneath him.

Rei Furuya shook his head, then looked down at the curly head below him.

Matsuda Jinpei sighed silently with dead fish eyes, then looked down to meet the gaze of the head with the shortest hair.

Kenji Hagiwara shrugged and then made a gesture.

The four people nodded, quietly closed the door again, and left in a low voice.

It was pouring rain outside, the sky was gloomy, and dark clouds covered the entire school, making it hard to breathe.

Even so, the things that need to be done cannot be stopped.

Although it's the weekend, they're still busy rehearsing for the sports meet.

After a day of torrential rain and muddy rehearsals for the sports meet, it was inevitable that people would be in a bad mood. So after showering, they decided to go out and buy some beer to warm up in their dorm room and chat to pass the rest of the day.

As a result, Morobuchi Kagemitsu could not be found.

Without much thought, given the heavy rain, he's unlikely to go out now, so the only possibility is the archives room.

The four of them ran over to take a look, and sure enough, it was true.

However, they didn't dare to barge in and say anything to Morofushi Kagemitsu, who looked like that.

“There’s still a week until the end of the sports meet.” Date Wataru’s cheerful and powerful voice broke the somewhat tense atmosphere among them. He said with a firm smile, “A week from now, whether Morobuchi likes it or not, we must get involved in this matter and help him resolve this case and his inner conflict.”

Kenji Hagiwara laughed as well: "Yeah, anyway, we've pretty much finished investigating those three suspects. If we bring Morofushi along, we'll definitely be able to solve this case! Morofushi will definitely let go of this matter completely then. After all, he's not that fragile or sensitive. Right now, he's just eager to solve the case and can't get over his inner conflict."

Matsuda Jinpei pouted in dissatisfaction and glared at the blond youth beside him: "If it weren't for Zero always stopping me, I would have lost my temper long ago and gone straight to him to settle things. Why would I have waited until now?"

“Kuroya is too worried about Morofushi. It’s like reopening an old wound. If there’s no other way, it’s really not good to do that.” Kenji Hagiwara put his hand on Rei Furuya’s shoulder. “But sometimes, instead of letting a wound fester and never heal, it’s better to cut the Gordian knot and dig out the rotten flesh. The wound will heal faster that way.”

Rei Furuya sighed: "I understand. I just wanted to give Hiro a little more time. I originally thought... someone as perceptive and meticulous as him would definitely be able to figure out our intentions, then tell us himself, and finally we could all work together to solve this case."

Matsuda Jinpei shook his head seriously: "Impossible, Zero. I think you're just too nervous and concerned about this matter, which has affected your composure. Although Master Jing seems gentle and kind, he's actually more terrifying than anyone else. He can be very stubborn when he gets angry. If he really finds out and we don't catch him in time, he'll try his best to get us all out of danger and then face everything by himself."

Rei Furuya didn't speak, but lowered his eyes, his long golden eyelashes obscuring the dark look in them.

Yes, that's why, after his undercover identity was exposed, Horio resolutely gave up all other paths to survival and chose the path of death, just so that there would be no possibility of implicating his family, friends, or him, who was also an undercover agent.

Ultimately, due to the rain and the matter of Morofushi Kagemitsu, they did not drink and chat together, but instead went back to rest.

Rei Furuya paced back and forth in his dorm room several times, repeatedly checking everything that was going to happen tomorrow.

At nine o'clock in the morning, the Sakura class flag arrived. Matsuda and Hagi went to retrieve the flag that had been blown away by the wind. Matsuda scratched Hagi's finger, which prevented him from defusing the bomb at four o'clock in the afternoon. It was the first time Matsuda had guided him in defusing the bomb on site.

At 1 PM, Instructor Onizuka assigned the five of them to clean the bathhouse. During this time, Hiro finally revealed what he had been investigating. The five compared their information and successfully deduced that the culprit was Tomokazu, and that he had likely kidnapped the missing girl. They then immediately ran out of the school to rescue and apprehend the kidnapper.

At 4:30 p.m., the time bomb that Tomokazu had left on the second floor exploded. He suddenly turned around and rushed into the fire, wanting to die. Hiro, who was watching him from the back, immediately rushed up to save him.

In the end, Hiro and Tomokazu jumped out of the second-floor window, where they were caught by the four of them holding the Sakura class flag below, successfully resolving the incident.

Rei Furuya checked every detail in his mind no less than ten times. He also confirmed that no more uncontrollable butterflies had been produced so far, but he still couldn't feel at ease no matter what.

After midnight, he took a deep breath and picked up his pen to cross out September 12th.

But when he saw the next date, the blond youth's eyelashes couldn't help but tremble slightly.

September 13th

[Suitable: None]

[Avoid: All activities are not advisable]

That phrase, "It is inauspicious for all things," was practically an ominous omens.

Furuya Rei glanced at the weather forecast again.

Overcast, strong wind.

He lay in bed, listening to the howling wind in the night, unable to fall asleep.

At nine o'clock in the morning, the Onizuka Class sports meet flag designed by Morofushi Kagemitsu finally arrived.

It was a flag printed with several huge five-petaled cherry blossoms, with the four large characters "Cherry Blossoms in Full Bloom" written in the center, and the information about the Onizuka Squad below.

Matsuda Jinpei liked it very much and carried it with him like a precious treasure, solemnly saying that he would definitely protect this class flag.

Then, just as he was happily opening the window to show off to the other students passing by, the class flag in his hand was unexpectedly blown away by a strong gust of wind.

Matsuda Jinpei: "..."

Matsuda Jinpei: "Aaaaaah!!! The squad flag—"

Matsuda Jinpei and Hagiwara Kenji quickly ran down to look for the class flag that had been blown away by the wind.

Rei Furuya stood at the window in the corridor and looked down. He saw a cat jump out of the bushes and curiously paw at the cherry blossom class flag that had fallen into the mud with its muddy paws. When it saw two humans running over, it hurriedly stepped on the flag and ran away.

Matsuda Jinpei picked up the class flag and unfolded it. Hagiwara Kenji bent down to look at the obvious cat paw prints on it, and both of their expressions were a little stiff.

The two rolled up their sleeves and started trying to catch the cat, but instead of catching it, they got scratched badly, their fingers wrapped in thick white bandages.

Noon.

The five of them went out for lunch together.

Due to the rain and oil stains, the cafeteria floor was too slippery. The tall Date Wataru almost fell while carrying his tray, but was caught in time by Morofushi Kagemitsu behind him. However, all the food was spilled.

Rei Furuya was standing not far away.

With his skills, he could certainly have caught the plate and prevented the food from spilling, but to prevent a butterfly effect, he didn't move and watched as the original trajectory continued to unfold.

The broken porcelain bowl rolled to his feet, spun twice, and then stopped moving.

One o'clock in the afternoon.

Matsuda Jinpei was about to take the soiled class flag to the outpost laundromat to wash it when the instructor suddenly stopped him.

Onizuka Hachizo summoned all five of them and punished them by making them clean the bathhouse for a week until the end of the sports meet.

The shocked and unconvinced group asked why.

Onizuka Hachizo said that since you guys entered the school, you've done so many outrageous things that others have long been dissatisfied, and some have even reported you. So after graduation, you should behave yourselves better. Cleaning the bathhouse is the lightest punishment you can get.

But the bathhouse where so many students and instructors rolled around in the rain and mud during rehearsals for the sports meet was incredibly dirty.

When the five men carrying buckets, brooms, and mops saw what the bathhouse looked like, their faces turned green.

After struggling to clean for half an hour without seeing any results, Matsuda Jinpei couldn't take it anymore.

"Aaaaah! I can't take it anymore! Anyway, we have so much boring time now! Let's just take this opportunity to make things clear!!!" the curly-haired youth shouted, his sharp gaze rushing forward to meet the dazed Morofushi Kagemitsu's eyes.

Rei Furuya paused, his hand holding the mop still, and together with Wataru Date, who was carrying a bucket of water, looked up at the two of them.

Morofushi Kagemitsu snapped out of his daze, leaning back slightly and dumbfounded as he reached out to stop him from getting any closer: "Eh? What? Wait, Matsuda, what are you saying?"

Kenji Hagiwara stood up with a rag in his hand: "Didn't Komorobushi take a file before leaving the instructor's office? Instructor Onizuka said it was about the girl who went missing yesterday. The police reported it to this district and asked the instructors at the nearby police academies to assist in the search. Is this also related to the case of the murder of Komorobushi's parents that he is investigating?"

Zhu Fujingguang's pupils dilated in shock: "You... how did you know???"

Rei Furuya sighed, put down the mop, and went over to tell his bewildered and shocked childhood friend that they had secretly investigated everything long ago, and expressed that they wanted to help.

Unsurprisingly, the young man reacted with strong resistance and vehement opposition.

Morofushi Kagemitsu gritted his teeth and said, "No! I must solve this case myself. I don't want to drag anyone else into this. If someone else dies because of this, I'd rather..."

"You won't die!" Kenji Hagiwara, Jinpei Matsuda, and Wataru Date interrupted him, laughing loudly as they made a serious promise.

【fraud. 】

Only Furuya Rei remained silent.

[You all died in the end.]

"How many dangers have we overcome so far?"

Under Morofushi Kagemitsu's stunned gaze, four people surrounded him, smiling broadly.

"As long as the five of us are here, no matter what difficulties we encounter, we can always find a way to solve them!"

Morofushi Kagemitsu blinked, then finally burst out laughing.

The warm, sunny feeling instantly dispelled most of the shadows in his heart, and the heavy boulder in his heart was lifted up by the four classmates who were rushing around, laughing as they pulled him out of the abyss of nightmares.

My whole body felt warm and light, and I couldn't stop smiling.

"Okay, I really can't do anything with you guys." In the end, he chose to trust everyone and decided to share the burden with his friends.

Rei Furuya exchanged a glance with him, then smiled and nodded encouragingly.

But no one knew the unease in his heart.

Will it go smoothly?

Jiang Gu zero thought.

Hopefully, things will go smoothly.

Only one dangerous event remains.

There's only a little over a month left in my police academy life.

Please let things continue smoothly like this.

*

4:30 PM.

The explosion on the second floor of the Waishu Laundry has occurred, and the entire building is engulfed in flames.

Rei Furuya and the other three stood downstairs, grabbing the Sakura class flag and unfolding it, waiting for Kagemitsu Morofushi to jump down from the second floor.

His hand, which was gripping the class flag, was already soaked with sweat.

Rei Furuya's heart was pounding wildly, and although he was standing in front of the sea of ​​fire, his body was ice cold and stiff.

They caught Morofushi Kagemitsu and quickly tossed him aside after he was thrown out of the second-floor window. They were now anxiously waiting for him to jump down.

The other three were just nervous, but Furuya Rei already felt suffocated and dizzy.

This is different from the previous development!

Why?

Why why why why why why why?

Why did something go wrong only at this crucial moment?!

He shouldn't have given any butterfly a chance to flap its wings, so where did things go wrong? Why is the situation different from before?

Why didn't Hiro jump out with Tomokazu, but instead threw him down first? Why was Tomokazu laughing incessantly like a madman instead of repenting and admitting his mistakes?

Rei Furuya's cheek was cut by the broken glass, and blood slid down from the skin under his eyes to his neck, staining his police uniform red. But he seemed not to notice, just staring up at the house in the sea of ​​fire, hoping to see that familiar blue-eyed youth appear at the window and then jump down at him with a smile.

Even when waves of fire, hot enough to scald his skin, came crashing down on him, he didn't even blink.

Even as falling sparks scorched his hair, he remained completely still.

Rei Furuya had even forgotten to breathe at that moment; he was like a ghost suspended in the air above hell by a thin spider silk.

Ghosts cannot be killed, but whether a ghost will go to heaven or fall into hell is completely unknown to him.

Heaven or hell is separated by a fine line.

As long as Hiro successfully escapes the sea of ​​fire, the spider silk will not break.

But no.

That person never showed up.

The scene was noisy, and other people seemed to be talking loudly, but Rei Furuya couldn't hear them at all.

All he heard was the sound of the roof collapsing.

[Morokushō Kagemitsu has died.]

Rei Furuya's vision went black for a moment, and he felt like he was experiencing tinnitus.

But the voice that sounded like a devil's low laughter, which echoed directly in his mind, became even clearer.

[Side ending unlocked: Cherry Blossoms Fall - Death of Morofushi Kagemitsu]

Furuya Rei glanced blankly at the second floor, which had mostly collapsed, then looked down at the class flag with the words "Cherry Blossoms in Full Bloom" written on it, feeling only immense irony.

He threw away the cherry blossom class flag expressionlessly and rushed into the burning house amidst the incredulous looks and panicked screams of his three classmates.

Ignoring the pain of his skin being charred, Furuya Rei gritted his teeth and struggled to run upstairs through the crimson inferno.

In his daze, he even mistook the flames engulfing him for countless red butterflies, which were clinging to him, frantically flapping their wings and excitedly sucking his flesh and blood.

But Rei Furuya didn't stop.

He had to see Hiro's body.

Even if you can't confirm the other person's death, you must know the cause of their death so that you don't repeat the same mistake in the next playthrough.

Rei Furuya has absolutely no idea why things have turned out this way.

He clearly followed the original plan perfectly, didn't he? So Hiro should have been safe and sound, just like before.

Why? Why was it that Tomokazu was rescued from the fire, but Hiro himself was left trapped in the fire forever?

Rei Furuya is unacceptable.

Rei Furuya didn't understand why.

He felt an unprecedented sense of confusion and uncertainty.

Was it because some butterfly appeared without his knowledge?

Or is it that the butterfly effect is ultimately impossible to completely avoid?

Or perhaps, because he didn't reach out to catch that cherry blossom, this cherry blossom also failed to catch that person.

Or is it...?

"boom--"

You are dead.

[Fifth playthrough completed]

[Resulting in a Bad Ending: Good Causes, Evil Effects]

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【yes】

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