Love Hotel V3

The next morning: more Rapid Fire Talk. There were idols, and models, and more sportswomen … also a maid and a nurse, which seemed odd, but even they had sparkling resumés. Komaeda had only vaguely heard of any of them. The exception was the author Fukawa Toko, whose work he was familiar with. She was quite rude, at least until Komaeda mentioned that he’d read her latest work – the one that had only come out a month ago. That was apparently flattering enough for her to stop looking at Komaeda like the trash he admittedly was, and to hold her tongue on any moreoffensive remarks.

The most interesting conversation Komaeda had, though, was with a woman named Kirigiri Kyoko. She was not interested in Komaeda himself so much as who had brought him here.

‘Did you keep the emails from Unicleaner?’ she asked, after he explained the competition he’d won. ‘There’s someone here I might get to take a look at them.’

Komaeda had kept them. ‘Do you think they were spoofed?’

‘If they weren’t, then this conspiracy goes much deeper.’

Komaeda supposed it was a conspiracy. ‘You didn’t say what brought you here, Kirigiri-san.’

‘I was asked to investigate a case.’ Kirigiri sighed. ‘I don’t usually like to travel this far, but I was intrigued …’

‘It must be a disappointment, getting dragged into this instead.’

Kirigiri’s eyes widened, only a little. ‘Not really. More like … I’m annoyed I didn’t realise beforehand. I think it would be worth investigating under any circumstances.’

At the end of the event, hers was the first name Komaeda put down – not because he was interested in Kirigiri, per se, but because he was interested in what she might learn. (The other names he put down were Tojo and Nanami, who both seemed like they would be easy to deal with.)

‘Don’t you think it’s strange though,’ he said to Akamatsu, after their votes were collected. ‘Of the men, there’s me, Hinata-kun and your Naegi-kun who are just ordinary people. But there’s no-one like that among the women.’

‘Maybe they’re trying to average things out,’ Akamatsu said. ‘I have to say, I wasn’t expecting a robot to be among the participants.’

‘Kiibo, right?’ Komaeda had noticed the robot, but given the animatronic rabbit, he hadn’t seemed as remarkable as he might have. ‘I remember reading an article about him.’

‘You have to wonder what sort of person is going to put his name down …’

They were interrupted by Usami retaking the stage.

‘Everyone! Back to your seats. It’s time to find out who set the most hearts thumping. Ooo, Usami is excited!’

‘Are we being ranked?’ Akamatsu was aghast. Komaeda didn’t think she had anything to be worried about, personally. But he supposed no-one liked a number put against them.

‘Thanks everyone for your participation,’ Usami went on. ‘There were a couple of you who didn’t write any names, but that’s a-okay. Usami knows there’s someone here who can win your heart over. Now, let’s see.’ Usami consulted her notes. Komaeda was impressed that she’d even been supplied with props.

‘Let’s start with the men’s division, shall we? In third place – we have a tie! At 12 votes each, Saihara Shuichi and Naegi Makoto. You should both be proud of yourselves!’

Akamatsu leaned in toward Komaeda and whispered, ‘I told you so.’

‘Next up! Our number two contestant, at 14 votes – it’s Amami Rantaro! Congratulations, Amami-kun, you really got those hearts pounded.’

Komaeda could see Amami, further down the row, cover his face in embarrassment.

‘That means! Our number one contestant, at 15 votes – it’s Hinata Hajime! A round of applause for all our contestants, please.’

Akamatsu looked over for Komaeda’s reaction.

‘I suppose you voted for him, then,’ Komaeda said.

‘Yup.’ Something about her smile irritated Komaeda. She didn’t have to look so pleased about it.

‘Now it’s time for the women’s results. In third place, with 11 votes, it’s everyone’s favourite idol, Maizono Sayaka! Congrats to you, Maizono-san!’

‘She won’t be happy about that,’ Akamatsu murmured.

‘In second place with 12 votes, proving every boy wants to marry a princess – Sonia Nevermind!’

12 was only half the contestants, but no-one was going to call Usami on that.

‘That means it’s time for our first-place winners. And my golly gosh, we have another tie! With 13 votes each, let’s have a big round of applause for Asahina Aoi and Tojo Kurumi! Nice work, ladies.’

‘Huh.’ Akamatsu leaned back in her seat. ‘I guess that says something about men, doesn’t it?’

‘Does it?’

‘Asahina-san makes sense, she’s the childhood-friend type. But Tojo-san …’

‘I put Tojo-san down,’ Komaeda said mildly.

‘Really?’

‘I was hoping we could exchange cleaning tips.’ Komaeda sighed. ‘But I guess there’s too much competition for that.’

‘Alright everyone,’ Usami said over the clamour. ‘I know you’re excited, but let’s quiet down. You don’t want to miss the rest of the day’s schedule! We have a great day of games planned, so we can all get to know each other better. Then, as the sun sets, you’ll get to indulge in a lovey-dovey date with one of your potential matches. A sunset really sets the mood, right? But remember, it’s too soon to stay the night!’

It was disgusting, how everything Usami said seemed to end in a heart. But Komaeda supposed there was nothing for it but to appear enthusiastic. Nearly everyone else was managing, after all.

---

‘Looks like you two really are the power couple, huh?’ Komaeda said, catching up with Hinata as they began their walk to the lobby. Asahina had left him to link arms with her friend Oogami.

‘Oh, Komaeda. I don’t really know how that happened.’

‘Mm. I think I get it. It’s because you’re so generic, right?’

‘Generic, huh?’ Hinata seemed to slump in on himself.

‘Sure. Take someone like Nidai-kun. He’s a specific taste, right? Some people will be into that, but he’s not for everyone.’

‘I’m not sure where this comparison is going.’

‘Oh, don’t take me the wrong way. I mean, you’re good looking too.’

Hinata was looking less depressed and more annoyed. Not in a good way, Komaeda thought. He was saying the wrong thing.

‘I just mean, you’re a very average choice, right?’

‘Do you have to keep going?’ Hinata spoke through gritted teeth.

‘I said too much, didn’t I? I’ll shut up now.’

‘Please do.’

Komaeda kept silent the rest of the way to the lobby. The staff who had disappeared the night before remained absent, and only Usami was there to instruct them on the next item on the agenda: a scavenger hunt.

‘Now, this is a special scavenger hunt!’ Usami said to them all. ‘We’re not looking for items, we’re looking for people. On the reception desk, we’ve laid out 48 cards. Everyone, when I give the signal, you’ll all run up and grab a card. There’s pens too if you need them. You need to find a person who matches the description on the card, and get them to sign it. After that, hand it back to me and I’ll give you a new one. You’ll get three cards in total.

‘But we’re not asking you to put all this effort in for no reason! On the opposite wall, we’ve put up cards for the prizes. These are things to help your date this evening get off to a fantabulous lovey-dovey start. Once you’ve handed in all three of your cards, you get to pick your prize. Men, you take the blue prizes, and ladies, the red prizes. Try to finish your hunt quickly so you don’t get stuck with a dud – that won’t get your date off to a very nice start.’ Usami beamed. ‘Does anyone have any questions.’

Togami lifted his hand. ‘Do you really expect us to participate in this preposterous game?’

‘It’s not preposterous – we’re helping you get to know each other. But if you do choose to sit out, you’ll forfeit on your date opportunities for tonight and tomorrow.’

Togami lifted an eyebrow, like that was supposed to be a problem for him why? He really had such intimidating facial expressions; Komaeda could never have stood up to him.

Usami looked a little cowed herself, her plush fur standing stiffly. ‘Remember, everyone! You’re here to find the one who makes your heart and loins tingle! If you don’t take part, you can’t do that!’

This time, Kirigiri raised her hand. ‘Are you saying that if we fail to find a partner, then we can’t leave?’

Usami looked relieved by the simple question. ‘That’s correct.’

‘That’s ridiculous,’ Togami said. ‘There must be an end date for this farce.’

‘There’s no end date,’ Usami said. ‘Management said we can use this hotel as long as we need it. So give it your best, everyone! You don’t want to be the ones left till last.’

The room fell silent.

It wasn’t that bad, Komaeda considered. If he had to live out the rest of his days in a luxury hotel, it wouldn’t be the worst thing. Would they force him to work when the hotel reopened to the public? He supposed he could wear a bellhop uniform.

‘Hey, this is a joke, right?’ said a showy guy Komaeda hadn’t been introduced to. ‘It’s just to make the show more exciting, right?’

‘What show?’ Usami said.

‘The dating show! Love Hotel V3!’ The guy clenched both his fists palm up in a desperate gesture.

Usami tilted her head. ‘Love Hotel V3 isn’t a dating show; it’s a dating experiment. Isn’t that what we said in the instructions?’

Komaeda didn’t recall that; now that he thought about it, though, it made sense. Komaeda had assumed they were operating with hidden cameras, because there weren’t any camera staff around. But perhaps it was simply that they weren’t being filmed.

Or, no, Komaeda was sure they were being filmed. Just maybe not in TV quality.

‘Now, I think that’s enough questions,’ Usami said to her stunned audience. ‘Time to grab your first card. On your marks, get ready, go!’

The reaction wasn’t instantaneous. Probably people wanted to ask more – it was too much of a bombshell to expect them to play a game immediately after. But perhaps because it was such a bombshell, the only thing they could do was proceed with the game.

The cards were all face down, so Komaeda took one from the table at random. Find someone with size 22 feet, it said. That would be a woman, then. Or perhaps …

Nearby, Shirogane was writing her name on the card of a short guy Komaeda didn’t know. She looked uncomfortable.

‘Excuse me,’ Komaeda said, approaching them. ‘I don’t suppose either of you wear a size 22 shoe?’

‘No,’ Shirogane said. ‘I’m a 24.’

‘You’re in luck,’ the man said. ‘We haven’t met yet, have we? I’m Hanamura Teruteru.’

‘Komaeda Nagito. Please sign this.’ Komaeda offered him the card. Hanamura took it with a smile.

‘By the way,’ Hanamura said, ‘you should know it’s not true what they say about men with big feet.’

‘Pardon?’

‘There’s no correlation between shoe size and what a man has to offer down there –’

‘Ah, that’s too much information,’ Komaeda said, taking the card back. While Hanamura was distracted, Shirogane had made her escape. ‘Thanks for your help.’

Hanamura seemed disappointed to be left alone; Komaeda wondered which of the participants had had the misfortune of matching to him. Perhaps Chabashira hadn’t been so far off the mark …

‘Komaeda-kun, good work!’ Usami said when he handed in his card. ‘Here’s your next card.’

This one said someone of the same gender you’d like to get to know better. Well, he knew he wouldn’t be asking Hanamura to sign that one.

Komaeda cast his eyes about the room. He was afraid he was going to end up going with his first instinct. Even if he had offended Hinata earlier, he wouldn’t say no to this, surely?

‘Oh, Komaeda,’ Hinata said when he approached. ‘Your birthday’s not in June, is it?’

‘April,’ Komaeda said. ‘Can you sign this for me?’ He held out his new card.

‘Don’t you have to – oh.’ Hinata must have read the card. He looked embarrassed, but he wrote his name out anyway. ‘Is it okay to put me?’ he said. ‘If I’m so generic.’

‘I don’t think you took that the way I meant …’

Hinata looked at him strangely. ‘I think you said what you meant.’ He handed the card back.

Maybe he had, but it still bothered him to be looked at in that way. It would have been better if Komaeda had asked Hinata just for the sake of having someone’s name to put down, rather than it being true.

Never mind. He went to get his next card.

‘Komaeda-kun, you’re doing well! Maybe this next card will be good luck!’ Usami handed him the card with a little bounce that seemed to shake off some glitter from her fur.

The card read: someone to go on a date with tomorrow. And in smaller print: you can only go on two dates in one day.

And they were back on theme, Komaeda supposed.

He was looking around somewhat despondently when a man with shocking green hair approached him.

‘Hey, do you mind if I get your name for this one?’ It was the someone to get to know better card.

‘Sure. We haven’t been introduced yet, have we?’

‘Nope. Imagine if we’d had to Rapid Fire Talk with everyone.’ The man sighed. ‘We’d still be at it now.’

Komaeda handed him back the card with his name on it. The man read it, and he said, ‘You’re with Akamatsu-san, yeah?’

‘That’s right. Are you interested?’

The man waved him off. ‘It’s not that – she mentioned you, that’s all. I’m Amami Rantaro, by the way.’

‘Amami-kun, nice to meet you.’

‘Sure. What’s your card – something I can help with?’

Komaeda laughed. ‘That depends. Want to go on a date?’ He held the card up, expecting Amami to blow him off.

Amami read the card, and he met Komaeda’s eyes with an amused expression. Komaeda was ready to make it into a joke himself when Amami said, ‘Why not?’ He took the card out of Komaeda’s stunned hands.

‘Hang on,’ Komaeda said, ‘you shouldn’t have to waste your time with me –’

‘We’re all just filling in time till we can get out of here, right?’ Amami said. ‘Anyway, it’s not like getting to know someone is ever a waste.’

Komaeda must have continued to look alarmed, because Amami gave him a crooked smile.

‘Relax,’ he said. ‘It’s not like we have to take all this seriously, you know?’ Amami certainly seemed relaxed, even with the recent revelations. ‘Anyway, if I get the same card I can write down your name too, right? Then we’ve both got this over with.’

‘Right,’ Komaeda said, and looked at the card Amami had pressed back into his hands. ‘I better hand this in, then.’

Amami gave him a wave, and Komaeda turned back to Usami.

‘Ah, Komaeda-kun … this is …’

‘What?’ Komaeda said. ‘You said, “love doesn’t discriminate”.’

‘Of course … it’s just that this is going to mess with the prizes …’

‘I’m finished too,’ said another guy, coming up behind Komaeda.

‘Oma-kun, thank you. You can both hold onto those cards.’

‘Race you to the prize cards,’ Oma said to Komaeda, flashing a grin.

‘Oh, you go ahead.’

Oma took him at his word and raced off.

‘Komaeda-kun, don’t let him get away with that,’ Usami said.

‘It doesn’t matter,’ Komaeda said. ‘I’ll probably end up with what I want anyway.’

---

The prizes, it turned out, were ‘dinner options for tonight’s date’ (the men) and ‘lunch options for tomorrow’s date’ (the women).

Komaeda was one of the first to finish, so he was able to pick the deluxe wagyu fine-dining experience. (Oma, perversely, had gone with an omurice set.) He and the other early finishers gathered on the couches at the far end of the lobby. Komaeda had thought he was safe then, but there remain to be contented with the two dates in one day rule – as became evident when Mioda dragged over Hinata, who had agreed to a date with her. That should have been enough for both of them, but Hinata waited until Mioda had got distracted by some game with Oma, then proceeded to quietly ask Nanami if she wanted to go on a date also. There was something about it that prickled Komaeda, even though it shouldn’t have come as a surprise that Hinata would be so shameless. He had come with the intent of pursuing romance, after all.

Mioda apparently wasn’t concerned about being two-timed, though, because she then agreed to go on a date with Chabashira.

It was fascinating, watching them all run around trying to match up. Some people had it easier than others. Togami agreed to a date with Tojo early on, and then proceeded to reject first Saionji (who turned from fluttering eyelashes to insults in an instant) and Fukawa (who was pushing her luck).

Unfortunately Komaeda must have been paying a little too much attention to the latter rejection, because Fukawa, after she’d finished muttering under her breath, stalked over to Komaeda.

‘You,’ she said.

‘I already have a date,’ Komaeda said.

‘S-So?’ Fukawa said. ‘Don’t act like you’ve got anything to get high and m-mighty about.’

‘Come on, Komaeda-kun,’ Amami said, nudging him with his elbow. ‘We’ll never get through the game if someone doesn’t say yes to her.’ Komaeda noted that he wasn’t volunteering.

‘Fine,’ Komaeda said. It wasn’t as if it meant anything either way. He held out his hand for Fukawa’s card, and he wrote his name on it. ‘I feel like this is backwards,’ he said. ‘Shouldn’t I be getting your signature, Fukawa-san?’

She looked uncomfortable. ‘I only sign books,’ she said, and snatched her card back, before hurrying off to Usami.

‘What did she think you’d want signed?’ Amami said. He’d done well not to get any second date requests, Komaeda thought. Perhaps Komaeda’s name on his card had put off any attempts by the women. Although it hadn’t worked that way for Komaeda, he did wonder if it had been deliberate on Amami’s part. If he was using Komaeda as some sort of shield. It wasn’t like he would be interested in Komaeda for his own sake.

Once the last prize card had been taken, Usami clapped her hands and came over to them all.

‘Wow, everyone, you did such a great job finishing the scavenger hunt! I can really feel the fire of passion starting to roar.

‘Now, we’re about to have a quick lunch break, but before that, I wanted to share the matches for tonight’s first dinner date. I know you’ve all been looking forward to getting the lovey-dovey parts started. So, with that said …’

Usami began to read out the couples. Amami sitting next to him was the first name on the list – he’d been matched with Ikusaba. Komaeda watched his face, but couldn’t tell if Amami was pleased with the result or not. It was strange, because he came across as the type of person who smiled or frowned easily. But Usami could have been talking about another person altogether.

Komaeda didn’t have to wait long for his own name to be read. He’d been matched with Kirigiri, which came as a surprise. Not an unpleasant one – Kirigiri was at least someone you could hold an intelligent conversation with.

‘You got my roommate,’ Amami said, nudging him again.

‘I hope that doesn’t mean she’ll be reporting back to you.’

Amami laughed under his breath. ‘I don’t think Kirigiri’s the type to kiss and tell.’

The thought was horrifying.

Usami continued to read names. Saionji, whom Togami had rejecting so uncompromisingly, got her wish after all when their names were read out together. Hinata ended up matched with Celestia Lundenberg (Hinata looked slightly alarmed). Akamatsu’s match was read out shortly after his – Fujisaki Chihiro, a very slight young man whom Akamatsu smiled at from across the lobby, so she wasn’t unhappy.

If Usami had meant to distract them from the revelation that they were trapped her indefinitely, she certainly seemed to have succeeded. Except it was hard to think of ‘Usami’ as the one responsible, wasn’t it? Even if the rabbit were a self-aware robot and not a remote-controlled animatronic, she wasn’t the one responsible for this.

You would think, having gathered together so many talented young people, that the group might be more interested in finding that out than they were in who they were having dinner with that evening, steak set or no steak set. But then, it wasn’t as if Komaeda was making an effort. He had an excuse, though: weird shit happened to him whether he liked it or not. But these people – who had succeeded in life, who had careers and a burgeoning renown and schedules – surely they might have been more concerned?

---

Kirigiri was one of the ones who was.

She approached them when they had some free time after lunch, Fujisaki beside her. Komaeda had eaten with Akamatsu and Shirogane; Akamatsu sat up straighter when she saw Fujisaki.

‘Komaeda-kun, do you have your phone with you? I’ve asked Fujisaki-kun to take a look at those emails.’

‘Ah, sorry,’ Komaeda said. ‘It’s in my room. It’s not like I can use it right now.’ The hotel’s wireless wasn’t working, and there didn’t seem to be any cell signal at the hotel.

‘What emails are these?’ Akamatsu asked.

‘From the cleaning products company,’ Komaeda said.

‘I haven’t asked everyone yet,’ Kirigiri said. ‘Akamatsu-san, were you contacted directly about this trip?’

‘No, it was through my manager,’ Akamatsu said.

‘I see. Shirogane-san?’

‘It was an agency who got in touch with me. I can show you the initial emails, but we mostly spoke on the phone. It was actually the agency that Enoshima-san is with … it was meant to be for a feature …’ Shirogane still had her phone with her, and she tapped at it now. ‘Here’s the first email they sent. Please don’t look at anything else.’

‘Of course,’ Kirigiri said. She examined the email briefly, and then passed Shirogane’s phone over to Fujisaki.

Fujisaki sat at the table and attached the phone to a cord from his laptop. Shirogane hovered nervously as he checked whatever it was he needed to check.

‘It looks like it’s probably real,’ he said at last.

‘I did check it was the right domain,’ Shirogane said, as Fujisaki handed her phone back. ‘When you do what I do, you have to be suspicious. It’s not like I have a manager like Akamatsu-san.’

‘Wouldn’t it be easier to work with an agency?’ Akamatsu asked.

‘Well, it’s not like I’m really a model …’

Shirogane and Akamatsu kept talking, after Kirigiri thanked her and turned back to Komaeda.

‘Is it alright if we go look at your phone now?’

‘Sure,’ Komaeda said. ‘I’ll see you later, Akamatsu-san.’ She gave him a little nod, and then did the same to Fujisaki, who nodded back with his ears gone pink.

‘I wondered,’ Komaeda said, as they made their way to the lifts, ‘are the people we’re paired up with tonight based on who we put down in the speed-dating?’

‘It seems that way,’ Kirigiri said. ‘Although not everyone put names down.’

‘Oh? You mean like Chabashira-san?’ She’d declared her intentions as much, quite loudly.

‘Yes, she’s one. I hear Togami-san refused to participate too. So they must have finessed the results a little.’

‘I see … so I shouldn’t assume you put me down then, Kirigiri-san.’

‘Perhaps,’ Kirigiri said, with a smile that could have meant anything. It was just as likely that no-one had written Komaeda’s name, of course. He was hardly likely to be any girl’s dream guy, thankfully.

‘What about you, Fujisaki-kun?’ he asked.

‘Oh,’ Fujisaki said, ‘I did put down Akamatsu-san. She just seemed … nice.’

‘Well, sure she’s nice,’ Komaeda said. ‘She’s the kind you’d never suspect of being the murderer.’

Fujisaki made a surprised noise. ‘That was out of the blue …’

‘You like murder mysteries, Komaeda-kun?’ Kirigiri asked.

‘I do. I’m embarrassed to admit that to a real detective, though.’

Kirigiri smiled, and they arrived at Komaeda’s room.

‘Should we wait outside?’ Fujisaki said, when Kirigiri would have followed Komaeda in. ‘It feels weird if it’s Akamatsu’s room and she isn’t here.’

‘It’s alright,’ Komaeda said. ‘It’s not like she’s left her underwear lying around the place.’

Fujisaki went bright pink. ‘Why would you say that?’

‘Isn’t that what you were worried about? But you can wait outside if you want. I’ll be a moment.’

Kirigiri still followed him in – she was curiously about whether any of the rooms were different, perhaps. Komaeda found his phone quickly, and pulled up the email he’d received confirming his prize.

‘What did I need to do, save it out somehow?’ Komaeda asked, as he came back into the hallway.

‘I’ll do it,’ Fujisaki said. He was crouched down in the hallway with his laptop. Komaeda watched him as he transferred the file over. Fujisaki handed the phone back before he began to hunt through the text.

‘Do you mind?’ Kirigiri asked, and took Komaeda’s phone to read the message too. He didn’t really like other people handling his things, but he supposed he’d already agreed to be on board with this.

‘I think this one is spoofed,’ Fujisaki said.

‘Really?’ Komaeda said. ‘You’re saying I got scammed? Well, that’s just my luck.’ He sighed heavily.

‘I can’t look up the IP range without internet access though.’

‘The purchase details are accurate, though?’ Kirigiri asked Komaeda.

‘I assumed they got it through the loyalty programme,’ Komaeda said, ‘so I didn’t check.’

‘It could have been someone with access to that database,’ Kirigiri said, returning his phone. ‘Or they might just have seen you shopping.’

Fujisaki shuddered. ‘That’s so creepy.’

‘They didn’t choose us randomly,’ Kirigiri said, ‘so it would make sense that they watched us first. This may have seemed the easiest way to approach Komaeda-kun.’

‘I thought I was just picked randomly. Not like you, obviously.’

‘No,’ Kirigiri said. ‘Or even if they did pick randomly, they still had to investigate you first. They couldn’t pick anyone who wasn’t single, after all.’

‘I see. But there’s really no reason to pick me. The only remarkable thing about me is my luck … this made more sense if I had just won the competition, honestly.’

‘I don’t think we can say at this point what their criteria were. They may have targeted a wider pool of people, and we were simply the ones who responded.’

‘Hmm …’

‘You make it sound so malicious,’ Fujisaki said. He sounded sad – did he think they’d been chosen out of some sort of desire to help? Look at these poor young people who can’t hold down a relationship …

‘I don’t think we can assume their motives are kind,’ Kirigiri said. ‘Anyway, I think that’s enough. I’m sure Usami will call us back together soon.’ Kirigiri’s face didn’t give much away, but Komaeda wondered if that particularly set to her lips was frustration. Or maybe not. Perhaps if she had a mystery to solve, a PI could be content anywhere. Even so, Usami’s machinations were trying.

---

The afternoon’s activity was a pool party. Usami made the announcement over the hotel’s loudspeakers when it was time.

The pool was located on the roof of the hotel, where the sun was shining. There were deck chairs lined up on either side, but only 16 of them – not enough for everybody. There was also a small bar at one end, which said ‘open at 5 pm’. Komaeda supposed that even if they were on a sort of holiday, the producers couldn’t endorse day drinking. There were also vending machines with snacks and non-alcoholic drinks.

On one side of the pool, various items were stacked up on shelves – inflatable pool toys, the pumps to go with them, pool noodles, kicker boards … There were also piles of fresh white towels.

Komaeda had changed into his swimsuit as instructed. It seemed everyone – even Togami – had done the same. Perhaps it was just that it was nice outside – the air was warm enough that it made you feel a dip was just the thing. Or perhaps it was a sort of camouflage – Komaeda also noticed Togami scouting round the edge of the building for exits. There was a set of emergency stairs – they were blocked off with a lock and chain, but it wasn’t as if you couldn’t hop over those.

If anyone was going to try and escape, Togami was. Komaeda thought he would keep an eye on him.

‘After everyone worked so hard this morning, I thought you had earned a reward!’ Usami said, once they were all gathered. At this point, Komaeda felt he was used to her. ‘Make sure you enjoy yourselves! And don’t forget to look out for that special someone.’

They were meant to check each other out, was what Usami meant. Komaeda didn’t object to that sort of thing, in certain doses, but Usami bringing it up did serve to remind them of what this was all supposedly about.

Love. If love had anything to do with who you fancied most in their swimsuit.

Asahina was the most eager to get in the water – she clutched her friend Oogami’s rather impressive arm in excitement, and as soon as Usami finished talking, slipped off the sarong she was wearing to step up and dive into the pool. Her form was perfect, as expected. She stayed submerged until she was nearly at the end of the pool, and then she popped up, beaming widely and waving at them to join her.

Waving at Oogami to join her, at least. It wasn’t clear how much Asahina cared about the rest of them.

Rather than swim immediately, Komaeda claimed a deck chair. He’d brought a book along with him – sitting by the pool and reading had been his dream for this holiday, after all. Meanwhile, the others set about having fun.

Komaeda’s novel was a little slow. He found his attention drifting, caught by such things as Akamatsu’s laughter when she shoved Saihara in the water, or Nidai’s resonant voice corralling the others into a game. Komaeda gave up on following the details of police bureaucracy in favour of watching the others play. The game was some sort of tag that seemed mostly to take place underwater.

Hinata had been playing, but he must have got out too many times, because he pulled himself from the water to walk along the side of the pool. Maybe the heat had got to Komaeda’s brain, because he found himself watching – not just Hinata’s movement, but the way the water ran down his body, and the definition of his muscles. Hinata was fitter than was obvious when he was dressed.

When he glanced in Komaeda’s direction, Komaeda had to lift his book back up quickly.

When he looked over the top again, it was to find Hinata – who had now grabbed a towel – standing over him. Hinata had scrubbed his hair until it was sort of dry – it mostly just stuck up everywhere – and he’d thrown the towel over his shoulders, which did absolutely nothing to hide his chest or impede Komaeda’s general view of him.

‘Aren’t you going to swim at all?’ Hinata demanded.

‘Everyone’s so energetic,’ Komaeda said. ‘I’d rather go in when it’s quieter.’

He thought that would be it, but Hinata sat down on the deck chair next to him – sideways, so that he was facing Komaeda.

‘What’s the book you’re reading?’

‘It’s a crime novel. Or it’s meant to be a crime novel … it mostly seems to be office politics at the moment.’

‘So you wouldn’t recommend it?’

‘Well, it might still have a decent payoff … Do law students have time free to read fiction?’

Hinata looked away, into the distance. ‘You don’t have much of time for anything.’

‘I was wondering. If you signed up for a reality TV show, it would run for longer than just the holidays, wouldn’t it?’

‘I took a leave of absence.’

‘Wow … you wanted to be on a dating show that badly, did you?’

Hinata gave a bitter little laugh. ‘Maybe that’s an excuse.’ He scrubbed his face with his hand. ‘I thought I’d get used to the workload, but … I always feel like I’m about to slip under and drown.’

‘So you ran away … I’m impressed. Oh, but you probably don’t want to hear that from somebody who doesn’t even work.’

‘Not really.’

‘But that’s why we’ll never be like everyone else here. People like Akamatsu-san, Asahina-san … they’ve never run away from their dreams in their lives. Don’t you think?’

‘I wouldn’t know. It’s not like I know Asahina that well.’

‘You don’t agree, though?’

‘Well …’ Hinata wiped his forehead, shifting uncomfortably where he sat. ‘Maybe you … we think we know someone just because we’ve seen their name in the news. That doesn’t mean we know what their lives are like.’ He wasn’t speaking with conviction, though. And Komaeda wouldn’t have been convinced anyway.

‘If they were the kind of people who turned away from their dreams, do you think they ever would have got their name in the news? I know I’m trash, but I don’t.’

Hinata looked at him strangely. ‘You’re a pretty negative person, you know that?’

‘Me? No … I mean, I really admire people like that. I’d give up on things right away. I give up on things all the time.’

‘That’s what I mean … Look, it’s not like I’ve given up. I just needed a break.’

‘It’s alright,’ Komaeda said. ‘It’s only normal.’

Hinata changed the subject. ‘What about you? Isn’t there something you wanted to do?’

‘Hmm … not really.’

‘Not really?’

‘Anything’s too much trouble, Hinata-kun. And it’s not like I’d get to see it through to the end anyway, with my luck. So why bother?’ He laughed at Hinata’s disbelieving face. ‘I guess I’ve got what they call a bad attitude. But really, things will work out anyway. So I don’t need to try that hard.’

‘Must be nice,’ Hinata muttered. ‘How can you afford that?’

‘My parents left me a lot of money.’

‘Ah.’ Hinata looked like he regretted the comment. Being an orphan was one of those things people didn’t like Komaeda bringing up. It made them uncomfortable.

‘What do your parents do, Hinata-kun?’

‘Oh … my dad’s in finance. Mum was at home, but now she works in a dental office.’

‘Wow, Hinata-kun. That’s the most boring thing I could have imagined.’

‘Well, sorry for coming from a boring family.’

They were interrupted then by Souda, who seemed to be friendly with Hinata already.

‘Yo, Hinata, we’re about to play water volleyball, you in?’

‘How many people do you need?’ Hinata asked.

‘Oh, I won’t play,’ Komaeda said, in case that was what Hinata was getting at.

‘Yeah,’ Souda said, ‘we only need one more.’

‘You go on, Hinata-kun. I’ll see if anyone ever gets round to solving the mystery in this.’ He lifted his book back up.

‘Okay.’ Hinata returned his attention to Souda. ‘I’m in, then.’

Souda looked pleased. He was more more excited than Hinata, but it was probably only wishful thinking on Komaeda’s part to imagine Hinata might rather have kept talking to him. He should just be grateful that Hinata had forgiven him for calling him generic. If suggesting his parents were boring hadn’t made things worse again … it was remarkable how boring Hinata’s background was.

Komaeda read another chapter half-heartedly, then decided to get a drink. Just the kind from the vending machine – the bar hadn’t opened up yet, and it would have been bad form to drink before his date with Kirigiri anyway.

Komaeda was putting in the drink number when he saw, out the corner of his eye, Togami stepping over the chain and onto the emergency staircase. Was he trying to make a run for it? That could be interesting. Komaeda picked up his drink, and wandered over to the edge of the roof.

‘Togami-kun,’ he called, ‘what are you doing?’

Togami was already a floor down, but the look he shot at Komaeda was brutal. Furiously, he mimed that Komaeda was a dead man if he didn’t keep his mouth shut (it was really just one gesture).

Komaeda looked away, to see if Usami was listening. She was at the other end of the rooftop, having some sort of argument with Fukawa. Well, if she wasn’t paying attention, it was her fault if her charges ran out on her.

Maybe Komaeda should run away too. The thought made his blood pound in his ears.

He leaned his weight against the arm of the staircase, watching Togami make his way down. And maybe it was Togami’s descent, or Komaeda’s leaning, but the stairs suddenly didn’t seem stable. Like they hadn’t been attached to the building properly.

Komaeda knew, then, what was about to happen.

‘Togami-kun, it’s dangerous!’

Togami looked up at him again, just as the stairs gave a massive groan. Komaeda stepped back; he didn’t see what Togami did next. He only saw the stairs pull away from the building completely –

And collapse.

There was a series of clatters and bangs – Komaeda stepped forward again to watch the stairs falling in on themselves.

‘Togami-kun!’

The games and frivolity behind him were stunned quiet. Usami who had been at the other end of the pool was now at his side.

‘Oh no!’ she said. ‘I forgot to mention the stairs were out of order!’

Komaeda couldn’t see Togami, but he had to be down there. Komaeda called to him again.

‘Everyone,’ Usami said, ‘stay calm! Usami is going to check it out.’

There was a flurry of questions – what happened, what was Togami doing, was he alright –

Down from beneath the collapsed stairs, Komaeda caught movement – Togami, pulling himself out from under the beams.

‘He’s alive!’ Komaeda said.