Reincarnated Into A Dead Woman's Body In Another World-Chapter 359: Arc 5, - 53: Guilt-Ridden

"Knock, knock." "Tiffany? You in there?" Fumeko turned the knob—definitely locked. But that might just be the school locking it. A few seconds passed and she knocked once more.

...

Sounds of languid footsteps approached and creaked the door open, "Fumeko...?" She opened her right eye wide and then promptly rubbed said eye lightly.

Her pale blonde hair had a few rollers in it, but was still dishevelled, much like anyone who had just gotten out of bed. She wore a full set of comfortable silk red pyjamas. Of course, even those had their own flair.

A small smile grew on the brunette’s face, no matter how much she resisted, "Am I interrupting something?"

Tiffany squinted and her head twitched, before she realized, "Thou shan’t witness one such as I in such a state!" She hid behind the door with the side of her head poking out.

"I’ll take that as a yes," her smile was brief.

"Pray tell thy purpose of requiring mine presence at the hour in which the gaze of the void and stars peer deepest into this world." Tiffany blushed, "Art thou... stalking me like a shadowed familiar?"

"I didn’t even know for sure if you’d be here," Fumeko replied. "There’s a situation outside; it’s probably dangerous to stay here."

"Dangerous?" Tiffany gave a brave laugh, "Bring forth whatever peril dares lift its blasphemous head in the presence of I, the Child of Void within the Sea of Stars!"

"There’s been a murder."

"What?" both of Tiffany’s eyes shot open. The doorframe she held trembled. "O-of?"

Fumeko looked to the floor, "You know that girl we pranked...?"

"T-Tilly? No, huh? W-why, h-how?" her head kept turning to Fumeko, then back to her room, then elsewhere, then back.

"It’s a, long story..." the other sighed. "I’m sure you’ve heard of the news about some serial killer by now?"

"S-sh-she was the n-next victim?"

Fumeko crossed her arms, "Apparently."

Tiffany’s complexion grew paler by the second and she walked out slowly. She stuck her head out to the right and her shaky frame, froze. All she saw was a blonde ponytail at the threshold of the room down the hall, but she hardly needed convincing.

"We’re looking into it; we already investigated here the best we could so, we’re getting out of here before security comes in," Fumeko continued.

"S-security, what are they doing?" Tiffany faced the brunette. "They don’t kn-now?"

Fumeko’s eyes darted away from her. Her lips twisted to the side... She then faced Tiffany again, "We had a lead on some suspicious activity. It led us to the school where we tailed the would-be assailant.

But by the time we got in, the killer escaped and we were left to deal with the body."

Tiffany once more stared into the hallway.

"You probably shouldn’t look at it."

"S-so you snuck in... Tilly’s r-really..."

"You can confirm it if you really want," Fumeko replied monotonously. "What’re you doing here anyway? I thought you moved out."

"W-well," Tiffany pushed the door open further. Much of the room had been cleared out, from wall to vanity. "I j-just slept here for privacy’s sake. The orphanage c-can get crowded p-pretty easily, so I asked the headmaster’s permission to s-stay."

Fumeko watched as Tiffany stared into her room for far too long—as if to avoid the reality outside. "Look, whatever the case may be, you shouldn’t stay here."

"I," Tiffany gave a small nod, "I understand."

"I didn’t expect us to meet again like this," said Fumeko. Her crossed arms fell, "I’m not really good at this, but, you look really shaken up."

"D-do I now?" Tiffany flashed a glare.

"I meant to ask if you’re okay," Fumeko took Tiffany’s shaky hand and held it in both of hers. "But I obviously can tell. What’s the matter Stella Vespertillio? This is a part of adventuring too," her voice softened. "More or less."

Tiffany glanced up into Fumeko’s eyes—she could spot the glimmer of shadow within them. She inhaled... and let out a soft breath, "You really are bad at this."

Fumeko’s eyelids fell halfway. She just said what Jotou may have said in the moment is all—clearly that was a bright idea...

"But some comfort’s better than none," Tiffany took her hand away gently. "I shan’t be long here."

"Great," Fumeko took a step back. "So, uh, now might be the worst time," her right hand slithered up her left forearm and she looked to the side. "My birthday’s around the corner, on the 17th.

I was wondering if you wanted to, come hang out at my house or whatever."

"Oh?" Tiffany stood upright and covered her mouth to feign surprise. "Ha, tis the anniversary to commemorate the young adventuring detective’s descent into this world?

If thou wisheth for mine audience at thy revelry, then so shall I grant thy humble invitation~" she vivaciously replied.

"There’s no birthday party, I’m just inviting you over," Fumeko held her forearm tighter.

"Yes, yes, the invitation casted into the void by thee has been acknowledged."

"I’ll see you then, bye," Fumeko muttered and began walking off.

"Detective."

Fumeko came to a halt.

"Perhaps the circumstances vexes thee, thy performance has not gone unobserved by the void."

Fumeko turned, "Performance?"

"Indeed a, corpse, has been encountered in these hallowed halls, yet I sense this is not what frets thee," she reasoned with a sigh.

"I’m an adventurer and I’ve been in the middle of a war, a dead body isn’t exactly something new to me. Examining corpses maybe new, but..."

"...Does thou feel guilt-ridden apropos of the victim, such as I?"

"You feel guilty too huh." Fumeko shrunk, "How can I not feel even a little guilty? We, we’re the ones who pranked her—mainly me. What if, that was the breaking point? The final straw that broke the camel’s back.

I played a part in it. It could be the reason she was willing to become the next victim and made her get taken advantage of... And, I don’t know if I’ll ever know that; now that she’s dead..."

"Willing?" Tiffany’s brows scrunched together. "Explain thyself, whatever does thou imply?"

...

Fumeko bit her tongue and closed her eyes... "Crap." She gazed to Tiffany with a more calculated look, "There’s... a lot more to this case then what you’ve probably heard."

"One could surmise."

...

"Thou may resume," Tiffany cocked a brow.

"I can’t say. Not that I don’t trust you, but it’s a lot of private information. It’s not mine to give at random either. Telling you could also implicate you in the whole situation."

"I see..." Tiffany pondered for a moment... "Be it so. Then I, Stella Vespertillio, the Child of Void within the Sea of Stars who descended into this world anew, offer thee mine succour!" she posed with a hand over her left eye.

"What?" Fumeko furrowed her brows. "Do you even know what you’re getting into?"

"Ha! But of course-"

"I need serious Tiffany, right now," the brunette interrupted.

Tiffany lowered her hand with a pout, "I am serious. If you’ll have me, I want to help. This would help me in adventuring and get me used to it like you."

"Getting used to it is fighting slimes in the forest, this is throwing you off a building and hoping you land safely in a puddle," Fumeko argued.

"And what an extravagant landing it shall be~ I have an affinity, do I not? I am choosing this profession regardless of your opinion, am I not?

If one such as thee is mine ally, all shall be well. It would aid us both if the fate of the void intertwines with thee. Our paths have intersected for this very purpose one presumes. Be it a bold soul to deny such unconcealed destiny; is thou such a soul?"

"Paths intersected..." Fumeko mumbled. "I guess we’d be working closer together. It’s not the worst idea..."

"What’s more, we may bear the shackles of guilt as one. Though she was mine adversary, one such as I understands the plight of life.

Head mine word detective, thou hardly lack the aptitude nor intelligence to uncover the truth, despite the soul that no longer shall speak. So fret not of guilt, but of any doubt that thou aren’t capable of achieving success in thine endeavours."

A few spots of red painted itself on Fumeko’s cheeks, "Thanks."

"Detective," Jotou called from down the hall, "We’re really testing time right now, are you finished?" she walked towards her.

"Yeah, yeah."

Tiffany saw Jotou in full adventuring attire and realized Fumeko wore different clothing as well. It was certainly a sight to see the mild glimmer of enchantments patterned across their clothing.

"Tiffany’s coming with us back home. It’s too dangerous to let her stay here for now," Fumeko added.

"Hm?" Tiffany focused back to her.

"Doth thou protest?" Jotou queried.

"Nay!" Tiffany shook her head. "One has just learned of the unfolding of atrocious events on this void-blessed night my fair maiden. I shan’t remain here long."

"Stop messing with her," Fumeko eyed Jotou.

"Sorry~" Jotou was in fact, not. "Anyway, don’t you have a home to go back to? You’ve graduated, right?"

"Home. I reside within this world as a blessing, I roam where I may please. Tis the pleading invitation of one adventuring detective that escorts mineself into her abode. The void merely accepted."

"Pleading?" Fumeko glared.

"You’re homeless?" Jotou raised a brow.

"N-nay!"

"What’s going on?" Hotaru approached the scene.

"Hi Stella!" Asobi waved from behind.

"Greetings to you all, our paths cross once more—dare I call it fate?"

"You look different," Asobi tilted her head.

"Aha! Well-"

"Why don’t you pack something for the night already and we can get out of here," Jotou interrupted.

"Uh, indeed. I shan’t be long," Tiffany quickly shut her room and began taking a few essential items.

"So that’s the one?"

"Ah!" Fumeko jolted forward as she heard Alicia’s voice behind her. "How d’you even get-!?"

Alicia stood up straight and gave a beam, "That distracted huh?"

"I’m not distracted, I was just," Fumeko couldn’t look at any of them, "making sure she was okay."

"Whatever you wanna say little detective," Alicia replied with a wink.

"You- Shut up!" Fumeko nearly kicked Alicia in the knee, but stopped her foot halfway. The other three stared and observed while Fumeko slowly turned her head to them.

"Anyhow, I got some film to develop quickly and send to the company. So we’ll part ways once we leave the academy I’m afraid. I’ll leave an anonymous call t’the police so this gets quarantined."

"Wait, then the detectives from the company can’t investigate this first," Jotou retorted.

Alicia waved her camera around, "I got everything they could possibly need. Trust me, I’ve been doing this for’a while now. And ’bout that interview-"

Jotou tore a paper out of the notepad and handed it to Alicia, "I drew a second one. Call it paranoia, but you should keep this."

Alicia took the note and saw the copy of the runes Jotou had drawn. "Hm, so y’think the picture’s ain’t gonna pan out well? Clever, clever."

Jotou shrugged.

"Why don’t we go look if the guards are anywhere nearby. Meko can wait for Tiffany," Hotaru suggested.

"Ooo, good idea!" Asobi raised her wand and strode forward. "I’ll make us all invisible once everyone’s here."

Hotaru followed behind, as did Alicia. Jotou took a few steps, but stopped next to Fumeko. "What is it?" the brunette looked up.

"You figured out a lot just from the body, didn’t you? I’m sorry you didn’t catch the guy, but you did a lot. So, no need to feel down about what didn’t happen, alright?"

"Trying to bring logic into failure?" Fumeko smirked.

"I wouldn’t call it failure," Jotou smiled. "Logically, how were you gonna catch and keep down someone with a mobility affinity?"

"Yeah, yeah. Thanks for being on my side," she admitted.

"Always~"