Chapter 45: You catch on fast!

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Translated and Edited by: luccayn.

Common Honorifics:
-san: A polite suffix, but not excessively formal.
-kun: A common suffix among friends and younger people.
-chan: A common suffix among people you're close with, mostly used for feminine nicknames and girls, since it's cutesy and childlike.
-senpai: A common suffix and noun used to address or refer to one's older or more senior colleagues in a school, workplace, dojo, or sports club.

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When I reached the courtyard, the cheering from the sports field had faded into the distance. Though it was the same familiar school grounds, there was a strange, quiet feeling hanging in the warm air.

“Ah, are you Takatsuki?”

“Yes, nice to meet you.”

“Likewise. I'm Mishima, from the planning committee. Higashide told me you'd be helping out.”

“Yes. If it's alright, could you tell me what happened this morning?”

Though it felt a bit forward to ask a senior directly, he wasted no time, sensing the urgency.

“The last time we saw the championship flag was this morning. The planning committee arrived early for final checks before everyone else. It was around 8 a.m., I think.”

“Did you see it yourself, Mishima-senpai?”

“Yeah, I did. Along with Mashiba and Suzuki, who came with me. We all checked, so there's no mistake.”

“When did you notice it was missing?”

“Around 8:50, just before the opening ceremony at 9. We went to bring the flag out from the student council room to the field, but it was already gone by then.”

Now that he mentioned it, there hadn't been a flag return ceremony this year. Last year, I remember the planning committee chair standing in for the graduates in the ceremony.

“I'm sorry to ask this, but… do you have any suspects?”

“That's the problem. We don't. So now everyone's wandering around the school searching. It's a real mess.”

…I see.

“What about the possibility of an outsider?”

“Hard to say. The student council room was unlocked, so technically anyone could've gotten in. But, would someone from outside the school really steal the championship flag?”

“No, it doesn't seem likely. It's not worth much, and I remember it being a bit worn out.”

The flag—a large red-bordered cloth with “Champion” and the school song embroidered in gold on red fabric—would hardly fetch anything at a pawn shop.

“So, I'm thinking it was probably hidden somewhere on campus by someone trying to be funny.”

“Understood. Senpai, would it be alright if I checked out the student council room?”

“Sure. Here, take this.” He handed me a key.

“Wait, wasn't the room unlocked?”

“Yeah, it was left unlocked last night since some committee members were working late on decorations. But it's locked now.”

“What about the people working there?”

“They're at the announcer's booth.”

Hmm, but Higashide had said the broadcasting club was handling the announcements instead. Maybe the committee members had returned to their regular duties by now.

“Got it. Thanks for your help.”

“Good luck. I've heard a bit about you, Takatsuki. I don't want to add any pressure, but I'm hoping you'll figure this out.”

“It's a bit embarrassing that even the seniors have heard about me.”

“Nothing to be embarrassed about. You're the school's resident detective, right?”

…Just how much of this “detective” reputation has been blown out of proportion? I'm starting to realize it's too late to stop it, but every compliment still makes me feel uneasy.

If only they knew how overestimated I am.

“Well then, I'll get back to my search. Good luck.”

“Thank you. Good luck to you, too.”

As I watched Mishima-senpai jog away, I turned toward the student council room.

“Shinji-kun, I overheard everything!”

“…You were here?”

Standing before me was Tsukino, wearing a gym uniform and a red headband tied like bunny ears, looking even more airheaded than usual.

She must've followed me from the waiting area. Her mischievous grin told me exactly what she was about to ask.

So, without waiting, I asked, “Want to come along?”

“Hehe, you catch on fast!”

With that, Tsukino and I headed together to the student council room.

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