45: Chapter 45: A Dog with a Broken Back

Raindrops slid from the leaves, splattering into puddles, washing away the sounds of the struggle.

The downpour drenched Fujino, soaking his clothes. Water weighed down the brim of his Angler King's Fishing Hat, dripping down his temples.

He stood silently for a long moment, watching the figure sprawled before him, then slowly walked over.

Pulling back the wet bandages revealed the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠ordinary, honest face of Takahashi Ryoichi.

"You look so harmless,"

Fujino sighed softly.

"How could you plan something like this?"

"Though, you are honest in a way... resorting straight to murder."

"If it were me, I wouldn't just kill her. I'd make sure she wished she were dead."

"Ryoichi?!"

Back inside the villa, everyone stared in shock as Fujino dragged the unconscious Takahashi inside.

"You! What did you do to Takahashi?!"

Kadotani Hiroki demanded, glaring at Fujino as he looked down at the unconscious Takahashi.

"What did I do?"

Fujino scoffed, impatience flickering across his face.

"This guy is the weirdo Ran and I saw on the bridge earlier. Haven't you figured that out yet?"

"I saw him too when I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠arrived earlier," Ohta Masaru chimed in.

"But why was he dressed like that?"

The others murmured, staring at Takahashi's prone form, still clad in the dark cloak.

"Maybe he was just playing some kind of prank..."

Kadotani Hiroki attempted to defend his friend, then rounded on Fujino again.

"But even if it was a prank, you didn't have to beat him up like this!"

"Seriously? You're still trying to be the nice guy?"

Fujino sneered. He'd had Kadotani pegged from the start – a typical 'goody-two-shoes' type.

He then discreetly materialized the axe from his pocket dimension, letting it drop onto the wooden floor with a heavy THUD.

Everyone jumped, staring at the ominous weapon, swallowing nervously.

Fujino's eyes narrowed as he looked directly at Kadotani.

"Since when do 'pranks' involve a sharpened axe?"

"If I hadn't reacted quickly just now, that thing would have split my head open!"

"But..."

Kadotani stared at the axe, taking a step back, his face pale and conflicted, unable to form a response.

"But why would he attack you, Fujino... oniichan?"

Conan piped up, sensing a gap in the logic.

"How should I know?"

Fujino shrugged, turning his gaze towards the groaning Takahashi on the floor.

"We'll have to ask our 'guest' here."

A moment later, a bucket of cold water jolted Takahashi awake.

He sputtered, scrambling upright, looking around wildly. Seeing everyone staring at him, he seemed to shrink, slumping back down onto the floor.

"Why did you attack Fujino-senpai?!"

Sonoko demanded, stepping forward protectively, her voice sharp with anger.

"What? What are you all talking about?! I don't understand!"

Realizing he was caught, Takahashi resorted to feigning ignorance.

"Still playing dumb?"

Fujino took a deep breath, adjusting his Angler King's Fishing Hat.

Time to let these natives witness the true terror of a spoiler.

He wondered just how effective the hat's 'compel confession' ability really was.

A predatory smile spread across Fujino's lips.

"You attacked me because you wanted to silence me, didn't you?"

"That's ridiculous! I have no reason to silence you!"

"You might not have a grudge against me... but I saw your physique."

"You wanted to silence me to prevent me from revealing that you faked being overweight!"

His words hit home. The others looked at Takahashi, truly seeing him for the first time – not a chubby man, but someone with a standard, even somewhat muscular build.

Takahashi's face fell, despair washing over him as everyone stared.

"Just revealing that you faked your weight isn't really grounds for murder, though... it's a bit of a stretch,"

Fujino continued thoughtfully.

"Unless... faking his appearance was just one part of a larger murder plot?"

He locked eyes with Takahashi, pressing his advantage.

"He attacked me to prevent his plan from being exposed. His ultimate goal... was to secretly murder someone else in this villa!"

[Angler King's Hat Effect Triggered!]

"Yes! That's right! I was going to kill Ikeda Chikako, that bitch!"

Takahashi suddenly exploded, leaping to his feet, his face contorted with raw hatred, the 'honest' facade completely shattered.

Ayako flinched back, startled by his sudden transformation.

"Takahashi..."

"That Atsuko, who was always so cheerful and full of life, would suddenly hang herself?!"

His hatred intensified as he explained,

"One day, in the club room, Atsuko secretly showed me the novel she was writing."

A fleeting tenderness softened his expression as he spoke of her.

"Her eyes were shining... she dreamed of becoming a novelist."

"But soon after... that bright, cheerful girl hanged herself!"

The tenderness vanished, replaced by pure rage as he glared venomously at Ikeda Chikako.

"I couldn't understand why... until I read that bitch's 'The Blue Kingdom'!"

"'The Blue Kingdom'?!"

Ayako frowned, clasping her hands together nervously.

"Chikako, did you really..."

Before Ayako could finish, Takahashi roared,

"That bitch's debut novel... the plot is identical to Atsuko's 'The Azure Kingdom'!"

"But that doesn't necessarily mean it's why Atsuko killed herself,"

Kadotani Hiroki interjected, ever the appeaser.

"Besides, if Chikako really did plagiarize, Atsuko could have filed a complaint..."

"Shut your damn mouth, you idiot!"

Takahashi whirled around and slapped Kadotani hard across the face.

"You think Atsuko didn't try to file a complaint?!"

"But because of that bitch's connections within the school and the literary committee, Atsuko's complaint was dismissed! They even revoked her eligibility to enter future contests!"

Kadotani flinched, clutching his stinging cheek, unable to meet Takahashi's furious gaze.

Takahashi shoved Kadotani away, tears finally welling in his eyes.

"The day Chikako received her award... the day before Atsuko died... Atsuko called me. She said... she said she couldn't trust anyone anymore!"

"..."

A heavy silence fell over the room.

Everyone knew about Ikeda Chikako's influence back then. Takahashi's story, tragically, made perfect sense.

"Ikeda-san,"

Fujino's voice broke the silence, drawing all eyes to Chikako.

"I think you owe everyone an explanation."

Ayako looked at Chikako, her expression filled with sorrow.

"Chikako... did you really plagiarize Atsuko's work?"

"Shut up!"

Ikeda Chikako shrieked, her face twisting into an ugly snarl. Any semblance of the proud, accomplished writer was gone, replaced by the desperate fury of a cornered animal, like a dog with a broken back.

Seeing the judgmental looks from the others, she stumbled back, yelling defensively,

"Are you really going to believe his baseless accusations?!"

"'The Blue Kingdom' is my original work! Does anyone else even know about this supposed other story?!"

"Accusing me of stealing from a dead girl... You're all pathetic!"

Ayako frowned, her voice soft but firm.

"Chikako, don't you think that's going too far...?"