Teachers' Office,
The teachers' office had temporarily transformed into something that looked more like a hot pot restaurant than a workplace.
Steam rose from the large hot pot in the center of the desks that had been pushed together.
The rich aroma of broth, beef, vegetables, mushrooms, and spices filled the entire room.
Several empty drink cans and beer bottles sat on the side.
The atmosphere was very lively.
Far more lively than any normal teachers' office should have been.
"Speaking of Mafuyu..."
Chihiro took a sip of beer before looking curiously at Kirisu Mafuyu who was chewing the soft meat.
"What happened to that student from your class?"
"Hmm?" Kirisu Mafuyu paused as she stare at the teacher who was busy sipping her can beer, "You mean the student who disappeared?"
"Yeah." Chihiro nodded. "It's been quite a while already. The police should have found something by now, right?"
The office grew slightly quieter.
Even Naruko Yokoshima stopped fighting over the last shrimp ball for a moment.
The incident involving the student had once caused a huge commotion throughout Sobu High School.
A violent fight that cause the student to jump from a building and mysterious disappearing.
At the time, nearly every teacher and student had been talking about it.
However, as time passed, people gradually stopped discussing it. Only occasionally would someone bring it up again.
Just like right now.
Kirisu Mafuyu sighed softly, as she answered with the same reply,"The police haven't found anything useful...."
"Nothing at all?" Chabashira Sae looked surprised.
Kirisu shook her head. "And it's not that they are doing a bad job either. They had searched multiple locations, checked security footage and investigated the transportation records."
"And?"
".....And they found nothing."
The office fell silent again.
Kirisu placed her chopsticks down, not in mood to continue.
"The official conclusion is that he has completely disappeared. Since, there's no trace of him anywhere. To be honest..." She looked slightly troubled. "It looks like they've have decided to give up."
Chihiro blinked. "Seriously?"
Kirisu nodded.
"The police believe that if he's still alive, he's doing a very good job at hiding and if he isn't..."
She didn't finish the sentence.
She didn't need to.
Everyone understood.
A missing person case that remained unresolved for this long rarely ended happily.
"What a shame." Chabashira Sae sighed. "I remember that the student was pretty popular among the students."
"He was." Kirisu nodded. "He wasn't a bad student either."
"Then why did he suddenly start fighting?" Naruko Yokoshima asked curiously, involving herself in their conversation.
Kirisu shook her head with a even more trouble look.
"I don't know. According to the security footage, he attacked first....it's just that nobody understands why."
The question remained unsolved.
At least for everyone except one person.
Gojo Satoru.
The white-haired teacher quietly ate a slice of beef while listening. His expression remain unchanged.
After all—the student no longer exist.
The thing that had occupied that body had been something else entirely.
Something from the Void — Gehenna.
Something that should never have existed in the human world.
And now?
It was gone.
Completely erased — He was the one who did it.
Gojo calmly drank his soda.
The conversation quickly moved on.
Fortunately.
Chihiro had no intention of discussing serious topics during hot pot. She immediately pointed her chopsticks toward the boiling broth.
"By the way. Who put the Senmai into the pot?"
Everyone froze.
The pot continued bubbling.
The lonely piece of Senmai floated helplessly in the broth.
Gojo raised his hand first.
"Not me."
"Not me either."
"Same."
"I didn't."
Everyone's eyes slowly moved toward Naruko Yokoshima.
"..."
"..."
"..."
Naruko froze, stopping herself from stuffing more meat in her mouth , before she smiled awkwardly. "Maybe me?"
Chihiro's eye twitched. "Maybe?"
Naruko pointed at the pot, as she answer in a silly manner. "I was afraid it wasn't cooked. So I kept cooking it."
Chabashira Sae nearly choked on her drink.
"Nonsense. Senmai cooks in 5-10 minutes."
"Oh." Naruko stared at the blackened object floating in the pot. "...Then I may have overcooked it a little."
"A little?"
Kirisu Mafuyu cleaned the liquid off her lips as she reply dryly, "That thing looks like a fossil."
"Pfft!" A soft muffled laugh came out of Gojo mouth, which was accompanied by Chihiro laughter.
Naruko pouted innocently,
"Don't laugh. It was an accident."
"An accident that lasted fifteen minutes." Sae corrected.
"Details."
"Important details."
The office once again erupted with laughter at Naruko who was closing her ears with her palms, not having any intention of hearing their complain.
The meal continued for nearly another hour.
Everyone chatted.
Complained about students, about paperwork and also about the principal.
In short—A perfectly normal gathering of teachers as usual in this school.
Eventually, the ingredients were completely gone.
Everyone leaned back in their chairs with satisfied expressions and stomach full.
"I'm full..." Chihiro rubbed her stomach with a very satisfied expression.
"Same."
"Me too."
"Good meal."
Naruko looked especially happy. She had probably eaten enough for three people.
After resting for a while, everyone began cleaning up the mess together.
Disposable bowls, chopsticks and a mountain of empty cans were stuffed into the trash bags.
The desks were moved back with the chairs to their respective places.
Within twenty minutes, the office looked completely normal again.
As if the hot pot party had never happened.
"Impressive." Gojo nodded, "You people have experience."
"Of course." Chihiro proudly crossed her arms. "This isn't my first time."
"That somehow doesn't surprise me." Someone muttered under their breath.
Soon afterward, everyone left.
Lunch break was ending.
Classes would begin again shortly.
The office gradually returned to its usual quiet state.
.....
Ding—Dong—Dang—Dong—!
The final bell echoed throughout Sobu High School. Students immediately flooded into the hallways making it look like a discounted mall with some rushing home, while others headed toward club's room.
Others wandered around aimlessly.
Meanwhile, Yukino sat alone inside the Service Club.
As usual.
The quiet room was peaceful with gentle breeze entered from the open window.
Everything seemed perfect.
Yukino calmly opened her book.
Today she intended to spend the afternoon reading.
Unfortunately—Her thoughts refused to cooperate.
For some reason, the image of Vanilla kept appearing in her mind.
The cute little kitten.
Her innocent smile (😺).
Her adorable behavior (Rolling around in sleep).
Just remembering it caused the corners of Yukino's lips to unconsciously rise slightly.
"...~"
Just then—Another face suddenly appeared in her thoughts.
With same hair color.
But this time with blindfold and an annoying smile.
Little by little the cute kitten change to Gojo Satoru.
"..."
The smile that had bloom on her face instantly disappeared.
Yukino's face became again became expressionless.
Why?
Why did she suddenly think of that white-haired idiot?
Thinking about Vanilla was understandable, she was cute and definitely deserve a place in her private thoughts.
But thinking about Gojo Satoru was not.
Absolutely not!
The good mood she had carefully maintained throughout the day vanished instantly.
"Annoying." She muttered softly, clenching the book in her hand. Just then—
Knock. Knock.
A knock suddenly came from the door.
Yukino didn't even look up, as she responded in her usual cold tone, "Who is it."
If it was before she would have simple responded with the usual "Come in.", but this time she was in a bad mood...and also because this is the usual time when a certain someone come to destroy her peace.
The knocking sound stopped just after hearing her response. As a somewhat weak female voice sounded from outside.
"Ah-uh...I heard this club accepts requests?"
Yukino froze, not thinking about how the person has given a different answer but on—
A client?
Immediately, she stood up and walked toward the door in a calm but hurried manner.
Click!
Opening it—She saw a girl standing outside.
The girl has light peach-colored hair that reaches shoulder length and is tied into a ball. She has a...rich figure and a cute and beautiful face. And a cheerful atmosphere despite her weak voice.
Yuigahama Yui!
"Ah!" Yui looked surprised. "Yukinoshita-san!"
"Good afternoon, Yuigahama-san."
Yukino stepped aside, giving her some space as she said, "Come in."
"Ah, okay!" Yui quickly entered the club room.
Click!
After carefully closing the door, she looked around the Service Club with curiosity.
"So this is the Service Club..."
"Please sit."
Yukino returned to her own chair as Yui sat on the chair opposite to her.
Yukino folded her hands neatly on the desk, as she asked her question with hidden anticipation, "Now then. What is your request?"
Yui immediately straightened her posture. Actually becoming nervous under Yukino's gaze as she speak in a nervous voice.
"Actually...I want some help in investigating someone."
Yukino blinked in surprise before it dissapear,
Investigating someone?
That was an unusual request.
Still—The Service Club accepted all kinds of requests (not that kind).
"Who?"
Yui scratched her cheek awkwardly. "That's the problem. I don't know his name."
"..."
Yukino immediately felt a headache coming, as she asked the same question again.
"You don't know his name?"
"..No."
"His class?"
"....No."
"His club?"
".... no."
"..."
Yukino silently stared at her when an unreadable expression while poor Yui responded with a nervous smile.
"Then what exactly do you know?" Yukino had at some point started to massage her temple.
"I know what he looks like!" Yui not being able to look at her expression anymore, blur out the one thing that she knew.
Yukino sighed, while reminding herself that if she has decided to take a commission she has to at least try, no matter how it is.
"...Please continue."
Yui raised her fingers and began counting.
"He's tall."
"Okay."
"He wears sunglasses."
"..."
"And a blue shirt."
"..."
"That's all."
"..."
The room became completely silent.
Yukino slowly closed her eyes, her headache increasing the more she listen to her.
This was impossible!
How was she supposed to investigate someone with information this vague?
After a long pause, She finally open her eyes and spoke.
"And why exactly do you want to investigate him? Did he do anything wrong to you?"
"N-No! It's not for me, it's for my friend! And he didn't do anything wrong I just think that my friend might...like him!"
"..Oh."
Yukino nodded without any major interest.
That explained things slightly better.
Still—The request remained ridiculous.
"Do you at least know where he usually appears?"
Yui chuckle awkwardly. "Hehe" Before lowering her head, turning her face as if to not look at Yukino's eyes, "...no."
Yukino felt another headache.
This investigation hadn't even started yet and it was already becoming a disaster.
...
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Bonus Chapter:-
4 Bonus chapter at 100 powerstone
6 Bonus Chapter at 150 powerstone
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Word Count — 1,808