The strategy meeting - Dead Logic

The day before the accident

Rina sat across from Shuhi and Akari, her hands resting calmly on the table as she looked between the two of them. The room was unusually quiet. Haruto's disappearance had left a strange weight hanging over all three of them, but for the moment, Rina had deliberately pushed that problem aside. There was another matter that needed to be settled before they could return their attention to the organization. Hiroshi's reputation had been destroyed, and if they wanted to repair it, they needed something far more convincing than a simple apology. "I've thought about the situation from every possible angle," Rina finally said. "If Shuhi suddenly admits that she framed Hiroshi, people will question everything. They'll wonder why she lied, why she accused him in the first place, and what else she might have fabricated. Her reputation could collapse along with his. So we can't make her take the blame. Someone else needs to carry the entire thing."

Akari raised an eyebrow. "Someone else?"

Rina nodded. "You."

Akari stared at her for several seconds. "Why me?"

"Because you're perfect for it." Rina's answer came without hesitation. "You're an organization student. Outside of the organization, you're practically a ghost. There are no proper records of your existence, no legitimate educational history, no certificate, no family that anyone can contact, no relatives who would come looking for you and, most importantly, no normal life that can be traced back to you. If you suddenly become the person responsible for everything that happened to Hiroshi, the school can investigate you all they want. Eventually, they'll hit a wall."

Akari leaned back in his chair, processing that. "So basically, I'm disposable."

"Exactly."

"That's not reassuring."

Rina ignored his complaint. "You will become the antagonist in the story. According to the version everyone will hear, you were the person behind Hiroshi's downfall from the beginning. You blackmailed Shuhi, manipulated Hiroshi, used his gambling problem against him and deliberately arranged everything that happened at the old building. Your motive will be simple. You hated Hiroshi. You couldn't stand seeing everyone admire him, so you wanted to destroy his reputation."

Shuhi listened carefully. She had already understood the general direction of Rina's idea, but something about hearing it laid out so calmly made the plan feel much larger. "But wouldn't people ask why I suddenly decided to confess after keeping quiet for so long?"

"That's why you won't confess immediately," Rina replied. "You'll break down. That's different. People won't interpret it as someone calmly changing her story. They'll interpret it as someone who has finally reached her limit."

Shuhi frowned slightly. "And you think they'll believe me?"

Rina smiled. "They already have a reason to."

She pointed toward Shuhi. "You've spent the last several weeks building a strong reputation without even appearing to try. You scored all eighty-five marks recently, and then you helped expose the students who were leaking examination questions. Teachers trust you. Students respect you. You're not some unknown student suddenly making an outrageous accusation. You're someone they already perceive as reliable."

Shuhi remained silent for a moment.

Rina continued, "That means when you stand in front of your class, start crying and say that you were blackmailed, most people won't immediately think, 'She's lying.' They'll think, 'She's finally telling us what really happened.'"

Akari folded his arms. "Fine. So Shuhi tells everyone that I manipulated her. Then what?"

"Then you make sure everyone hears it."

Akari blinked. "By doing what?"

"By not hiding."

That answer made him pause.

Rina leaned forward slightly. "Think about it. If you run away or deny everything, people will hesitate. Some will believe you, some will believe Shuhi and others will simply wait for the teachers to investigate. That's not what we want. We want the entire school emotionally invested before anyone has time to think."

Shuhi immediately understood. "You want him to confirm the accusation."

"Exactly."

Akari's expression became increasingly suspicious. "And how exactly am I supposed to do that?"

Rina looked at him with complete seriousness. "When they confront you, admit it."

Akari stared at her.

"With no regrets," Rina added.

"You're asking me to confess to everything?"

"Yes."

"Voluntarily?"

"Yes."

"While an entire school is watching?"

"Yes."

Akari slowly rubbed his forehead. "You realize you're making me sound like the dumbest criminal in human history."

Rina shrugged. "That's part of the performance."

Shuhi couldn't help herself. "And what happens after everyone believes he's guilty?"

Rina's expression became serious again. "Then we remove him from the story."

Akari's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean by remove?"

Rina paused for a moment before answering.

"We show that you died."

Silence filled the room.

Akari's face slowly lost its amusement.

Shuhi stared at Rina.

"How?"

Rina calmly explained that the operation would require two more police uniforms and a police vehicle. Shuhi's eyes immediately widened.

"No. Not again!"

Rina looked at her.

"Absolutely not!"

"Just listen to me."

"Last time we were dealing with actual police officers and now you're telling me we're going to dress up as police officers again?"

"It's necessary."

"It's too troublesome!"

Rina sighed. "Shuhi, please."

Shuhi crossed her arms and glared at her. "Why does every plan you make involve stealing something?"

"Because ordinary plans are boring."

Akari slowly raised his hand. "Can we focus on the part where I'm apparently supposed to die?"

Rina nodded. "That's the important part."

She then began explaining the operation chronologically.

"The next morning, the three of us will go to school with empty bags. We'll make it look completely normal. We'll borrow whatever books we need from other students so nobody notices. After the first period ends, Shuhi will stand in front of the class and tell everyone that she has something to confess."

Shuhi nodded. "And I'll say you blackmailed me."

"Correct. You'll explain that Akari, a first-year student, threatened to leak your personal pictures unless you obeyed him. Then you'll explain that he also discovered Hiroshi's gambling addiction and used it as leverage against him."

Akari listened carefully.

"Then you'll say that I manipulated Hiroshi into hurting you," Rina continued, looking at Shuhi. "You'll tell them that I deliberately misled you into believing Hiroshi was responsible for everything that happened at the old building."

Shuhi raised a hand slightly. "Wait. What about Ondo?"

"That's where the altered version of the old-building incident comes in." Rina's voice became more deliberate. "The truth is that Haruto's people attacked you, and Hiroshi arrived afterward and helped you. But nobody in the school needs to hear that version. In our story, Akari manipulated Hiroshi into attacking you, and Ondo arrived afterward and rescued you."

Shuhi nodded slowly. "Which means Ondo still gets to be the hero."

"Exactly."

"And Hiroshi becomes the victim rather than the attacker."

"Exactly."

Akari leaned forward. "And I become the villain who orchestrated the whole thing."

"Now you're understanding."

He sighed. "I liked it better when I was just carrying shopping bags."

Rina ignored him. "Once Shuhi finishes her confession, the students will react. Some will immediately become angry. Others will ask who you are. Shinichi will probably record the entire thing, and once that video spreads, you'll become the center of attention."

Shuhi thought about it. "But there's still a problem. What if the students don't chase him?"

Rina smiled. "They will."

"How can you be sure?"

"Because of how you've constructed the confession. You won't merely say that Akari blackmailed you. You'll break down while saying it. You'll make it clear that you've been afraid to speak because you thought your private photographs would be leaked. People tend to react emotionally when they believe someone vulnerable has been exploited."

Shuhi nodded, but she still looked thoughtful. "And my reputation helps."

"More than you realize."

Rina pointed at her again. "The recent marks and the examination leak incident gave you credibility. You're already viewed as one of the more reliable students in the school. That means the accusation won't begin from zero. People will approach it with the assumption that you're telling the truth."

Akari scratched his cheek. "So everyone becomes angry at me."

"Yes."

"Then what?"

"You don't deny anything."

Akari's eyebrows rose. "Again?"

"Again."

Rina looked directly into his eyes. "When they confront you, don't run immediately. Don't start explaining yourself. Don't try to defend yourself. Just admit it."

Akari understood the role now. He needed to look arrogant, unapologetic and genuinely cruel.

"No regrets," Rina reminded him.

Akari sighed. "Got it."

"Good. Then they'll chase you."

"And I lead them to the rooftop."

"Yes."

Akari's expression changed slightly. "Hold on."

Rina continued as if she hadn't noticed.

"You'll act as though you're cornered. You'll tell them how much you hated Hiroshi and how you wanted to destroy him. You'll admit that you manipulated both him and Shuhi. Then, when everyone is watching, you'll fall."

Akari immediately interrupted her.

"How far?"

Rina paused.

"From the rooftop."

"I know that. I mean how far exactly?"

"One floor."

Akari stared at her.

"One floor?"

"Yes."

"That's still going to hurt!"

Rina looked at him with an almost offended expression. "You're an organization student."

"That doesn't mean my bones are made of steel!"

Shuhi covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.

Akari pointed at Rina. "You're talking about this way too casually."

Rina leaned back. "You'll be fine."

"What if I break something?"

"Then don't break anything."

"That's your solution?"

"Yes."

Akari looked at Shuhi for support, but she merely shrugged. "She's technically right."

"You're supposed to be on my side!"

Rina continued before the argument could become any longer. "You'll only be falling from one floor above. The impact will hurt, but it won't be the same as falling from the top of the building. More importantly, we'll prepare for the landing."

Akari still looked unconvinced.

Rina narrowed her eyes. "Akari, you can do this much. If you can't bear something this small, then how are you ever going to become a man?"

Akari's face immediately changed.

"...That's low."

Shuhi finally laughed.

Rina smiled. "But effective."

Akari sighed and rubbed his temples. "Fine. I'll do it."

"Good."

"Still hate the plan."

"I didn't ask you to like it."

Shuhi then raised another question. "What happens immediately after he falls?"

Rina explained that she and Shuhi would already be positioned on lower floors, separated from the main crowd. When Akari made his fall, Rina would catch him from below while Shuhi created the appearance of a serious accident on the ground. The exact details didn't need to be visible to the students above. In the confusion, Akari would remain still and allow everyone to believe he had died.

Shuhi considered the sequence carefully. "And then?"

"Then we disappear."

"Immediately?"

"Yes. We'll leave with our empty bags and reach the vehicle before anyone has time to notice us."

"And the police?"

"I'll take care of that part."

Shuhi stared at her.

Rina smiled.

"We'll arrive as officers responding to the incident. We'll seal the area, keep everyone away from the body and behave exactly as people would expect police officers to behave in that situation. We'll examine Akari, announce that he's dead and then move him away from the crowd."

Akari raised his hand again. "You know, I have a question."

Rina looked at him.

"Why am I the one getting carried away?"

"Because you're the dead person."

"Right."

He lowered his hand.

"Stupid question."

Shuhi, however, remained focused on the bigger picture. "Once we take him away, everyone believes Akari died. But what about the investigation afterward?"

"That's exactly why we need the fake death," Rina answered. "If Akari remains alive, people can investigate him. They can question him. They can ask about his family, his history, his connection to the organization and everything else. But if Akari is officially dead, there is no suspect left to interrogate."

Akari's expression became more serious.

Rina continued. "And because your outside identity is practically nonexistent, there won't be a normal family structure waiting to ask questions. No parents coming to the school. No relatives demanding answers. No legitimate history for investigators to follow. Eventually, the story becomes a closed case surrounding a dead first-year student who supposedly destroyed Hiroshi's reputation and then killed himself after being exposed."

Shuhi looked down at the table.

"So Hiroshi is left as the victim."

"Mostly," Rina said. "Not completely. Some people will still remember the original accusations. Reputation doesn't reverse itself overnight. But the dominant story will change. Hiroshi won't be remembered as the person who deliberately hurt Shuhi. He'll be remembered as someone manipulated by Akari."

Akari leaned back in his chair and stared at the ceiling.

"So I become a dead villain, Hiroshi becomes a victim, Ondo remains a hero, Shuhi remains a victim and you become a police officer."

Rina nodded.

"That is the plan."

Akari was silent for a few seconds.

"That's insane."

Shuhi nodded.

"It really is."

Rina smiled calmly.

"But it should work."

The three of them remained silent for a moment, each thinking about the absurd chain of events they had just planned. Somewhere outside, ordinary people were continuing their ordinary lives, completely unaware that three teenagers were sitting in a room designing a fabricated tragedy that would soon unfold in front of an entire school.

Akari eventually looked toward Rina.

"One thing."

"What?"

"If I survive this, I'm never letting you call me weak again."

Rina smiled.

"I'll consider it."

Shuhi shook her head while trying not to laugh. "You two are unbelievable."

Rina stood up from her chair and stretched her arms. "Then it's settled. Tomorrow, Akari becomes the villain."

Akari sighed.

"And the day after that?"

Rina looked at him.

"Nobody remembers that he ever existed."

Akari stared at her for a moment before giving a reluctant smile.

"Fine."

Outside the window, the afternoon sun slowly disappeared behind the buildings. Tomorrow would begin like any other school day. Students would arrive with their books, teachers would start their lessons and the school would continue its ordinary routine.

But by the time the final bell rang, one student would supposedly be dead, one student's reputation would be transformed, and an entire school would believe a story that had never happened.

The accident was already planned.

All that remained was to perform it.

Chapter 60 - The strategy meeting