School had already begun on January 4 after winter vacation. Todoay is January 8, 1900, Mion hadn't shown up at school yet. As usual, Manabu got ready on time, prepared his breakfast, dressed for school, locked the house, and left, as he always did.
Ever since the tragic incident on December 25, he had spoken less with anyone. Mion rarely left the house, didn't pick up calls, and refused to hang out. Sometimes Manabu brought her food and snacks, Taiju and his parents called her, or Mai visited her. She had locked herself in her room, lost all hope, and stopped caring if she lived or died. Silent and empty, her heart hollow, she hadn't made a single phone call to anyone since the murders. Manabu felt deep sympathy for her but couldn't find a way to help her emotionally. I couldn't help but hope she'd show up today, even if just to sit there, Manabu thought as he recalled the events from the past. He hadn't recovered from the sorrow either. "After the autopsy, we went to the mortuary to see the bodies. When we arrived, I saw Naomi's and Futaba's lifeless bodies. My eyes were filled with tears, but I didn't cry. Mion stood there, crying silently, but she said nothing. Taiju stayed strong, but I knew even he had his limits. Mai didn't want to enter the mortuary at first, but she struggled to gather the strength to say a final goodbye to her friend. At the funeral, almost all the students and teachers from school were present. This was how we had to say goodbye to Naomi and Mr. Futaba, forever. In the past few days, I've learned a lot. I've confined myself to the house, reading books all day. I remember a book from long ago; there was a line—The day we die, everyone will cry. By the next day, they'll get used to the pain, and by the end of the third day, they'll move on. I tried to move on too, but it was too hard for me. And I know, even more difficult for Mion."
Manabu arrived at school, unable to shake the faint hope that Mion might appear, even unwillingly. He entered the classroom and heard students talking about Naomi. When he looked at Naomi's desk, he saw notes left by students:
"Always be missed by us."
"Rest in peace."
"No matter where you are, this place won't be the same without you."
"Good people die, but their good deeds remain."
Manabu gave a soft smile upon reading these notes and sat down in his seat. Mion hadn't arrived yet. Mai entered the class to greet him and smiled softly. "It's been a long time, Manabu," she said. Mai asked Manabu if he was alright, just as Mion walked in. Her face was long, eyes hollow—not a smile, not a word. She'd come unwillingly. Still, Manabu was relieved to see her after so long.
The school bell rang, and Mai walked back to her section, crossing her arms. "I have to go, bye," she said.
Class began as the principal entered the room with some officers by his side.
Principal Hojo spoke, his voice commanding attention. "Good morning to all of you. I know this has been a difficult time for many of you. Most of you already know, but for those who don't, one of our classmates, Naomi, and her father, Mr. Futaba, your physics teacher, passed away this Christmas. But no matter what, we must strive to keep ourselves composed and stay strong. We were all born into this world, and one day, we will all leave it. That is the truth. Death is the only certainty. Therefore, we cannot let it break us. And you may have heard of the 'Mr. Santa' case, which might be connected to these murders, but the police are investigating it thoroughly, and justice will prevail."
Mr. Kenzo, who stood outside the classroom, walked in, stood on the platform, and wrote a phone number on the board. "Here is the department's contact number, and this is my personal number. If you have any issues or are facing any troubles, don't hesitate to call. We'll take action immediately."He paused, let out a long breath, and smiled. "I wish you all a happy new year and many more good wishes for the day ahead."
Mr. Hojo then informed the students that for the next few physics classes, a substitute teacher, Ms. Kazuha, would take over, and arrangements for a permanent teacher would be made soon. He left with his wishes.
Days passed, one after another, and on January 17, the principal introduced their new physics teacher. As the students settled down, the principal gestured toward the doorway and said, "Come in." A towering figure entered the classroom—a man standing approximately six feet tall with a broad, muscular frame. His deep, authoritative voice resonated through the room as he introduced himself.
"How's it going, kids? I'm Daima Leonhard, your new physics teacher."
Mion immediately recognized him; she had met him before at the mall. Her eyes widened slightly as Daima's gaze landed on her. "Oh, you're the young lady. You remember me, don't you? We met at the mall last time," Daima said with a knowing smile. Mion nodded in acknowledgment, her voice flat. "Yes, sir, I remember."
It has to be the incident, Daima thought, noting her unhealthy expression. Seeing Daima sparked curiosity among the students. He looked like a foreigner. One of them asked, "Sir, where are you from?"Daima chuckled, folding his arms. "Well, I actually live in Joppo, but originally, I'm from Lafiaza. My wife, however, is a Feropian citizen."
The students found him fascinating; his demeanor exuded a perfect blend of authority and warmth. Daima's size made him seem a bit intimidating, but he was approachable.
As chatter filled the classroom, the principal raised his hand, signaling silence. "There's one more thing," the principal announced. "From today onwards, Mr. Daima's son will be joining your class." He turned to the doorway and introduced the new student. "Everyone, meet Leon."
The room fell into a hush as the classroom door creaked open, and Leon stepped inside.All eyes turned to him. The first thing they noticed was his dark, inky-black eyes—so deep they had no reflection, almost otherworldly. Black hair, luminous face. Standing at 5'11" or more, his presence made him seem like he didn't quite belong in this world. There was a strange charm about him, something enigmatic, something… unsettling. Leon's lips curled into a faint smile. "It's good to see you guys. I'm Leon."
As days passed, Leon quickly became one of the most talked-about students in school. He excelled in academics and athletics alike. It wasn't long before students discovered he was fluent in five languages—not only understanding them but speaking them with ease. His behavior and looks grabbed everyone's attention. The only things he could be teased for were his name. It was Leon and Leonhard. Some called him "Leon-Leon" just to bully him, but it didn't bother him at all. He wasn't just good at academics or feats; he was also kind—like Naomi. That was what struck Manabu and others even more deeply. Taiju was quite impressed by him too. Leon, a skilled martial artist, became his training buddy on the school campus.
One day, Leon learned about the tragedy that had befallen Naomi and Futaba. It affected him deeply. He understood that Mion couldn't shake the weight of it—her silence, her emptiness. Wanting to help, Leon tried to befriend Mion, hoping to offer her some salvation. He tried speaking to her directly, but Mion didn't acknowledge him at all, shutting herself off completely. Leon didn't give up easily, trying several times despite repeated failures. However, instead of giving up, an idea struck him while learning about the school and other students.
He heard a rumor about Manabu and Mion dating—I guess I have to approach Manabu, he thought.
Leon went up to Manabu after the lunch period and asked directly, "Aren't you Mion's boyfriend?"Manabu, caught off guard, furrowed his brows and replied with a puzzled expression, "Eh!? Boyfriend? Whose boyfriend? Who told you that?"
Leon sensed the awkwardness, realized Manabu was unaware of the gossip and rumors, and said, "Nah, I was kidding. Anyway, do you know when Mion's birthday is?"
"February 27. Why?" Manabu wondered, still unsure of Leon's intentions.Leon's eyes lit up. "Let's arrange something for her birthday. Maybe it'll cheer her up."
Manabu thought for a moment. "Maybe that's a good idea. But what do you plan to do? Where would we even celebrate it?"
Leon shrugged. "Do you know any place she likes? Or anything she's fond of?"Manabu scratched his head, looking slightly embarrassed. "No, I don't know." Being friends for so many years and not knowing her favorite place was quite embarrassing.
They were both stumped. Realizing they wouldn't get useful information from their classmates either, Leon concluded, "The only way to find out is to discover it ourselves." They spent a lot of time thinking and coming up with a plan. Thus, the four of them—Taiju, Mai, Manabu, and Leon—devised a plan. They decided that Manabu would take Mion on a date and try to learn more about her interests. Despite his reluctance, the group pressured him into agreeing, and they scheduled the date for January 28.
On the day of the date, Manabu stood waiting for Mion, feeling uncomfortably self-conscious. A small microphone was discreetly clipped to his collar so that Mai, Taiju, and Leon could listen in from a distance.When Mion finally arrived, Manabu's heart skipped a beat. It was his first time going on a date. She looked… beautiful, though her eyes still carried that hollow weight. A faint blush crept onto his face, but he quickly tried to shake it off. Mion gave him a small, tired smile. "Let's go," she said.
They walked together through the streets, wandering around the town until Manabu asked, "So… where do you want to go? Like, your favorite place?"Mion paused for a moment before saying, "Come with me. There's a place…"
She led him to a little bakery named Puffed Bakery. As they stepped inside, Mion and Manabu sat down at a corner table. Meanwhile, from a safe distance outside, Mai, Taiju, and Leon observed them closely. Mion stared at the table, tracing patterns on its design with her fingers before speaking. "When my parents died, I didn't really feel anything… I was too young. I don't even remember their faces. I had an older brother who used to assault me, and when I resisted, he'd force me or beat me."Manabu remained silent, listening. "I used to pray for his death—Die! Die! Die! Die!—And one day, he did. A car accident crushed his head. I was happy… satisfied. But I became an orphan, left all alone in this harsh world.
Then Naomi and Mr. and Mrs. Futaba came into my life. They treated me like their own—Naomi as my sister, Mr. Futaba as my father, and Mrs. Futaba as my mother. They took care of me. They became my family.
After a few years, Mrs. Futaba died of heart disease, and Dad—Futaba—took care of the family on his own."
Mion's gaze drifted to the counter where cakes were displayed. "Every year, Naomi and Dad celebrated my birthday here—I still remember when I first celebrated my thirteenth birthday with them. Ms. Futaba—no, Mom—used to braid my hair. I still made this ponytail she taught me to make. By the next year, she wasn't there to braid my hair anymore. I was in pain, but she asked me to stay happy forever. I spent my fourteenth birthday without her, it completely tore my heart. But Naomi and Dad held me. I still had them… But now," Mion's voice broke; she couldn't stop her tears. "None of them is here to hold me anymore; there is no one alive whom I could consider family. I am all alone, just an orphan."
Manabu frowned. "Mion, I'm here. Taiju is here. Mai is here." he helds her hands,"We are here for you,"
But Mion looked at him with a sad, empty smile. "I know… but the people I truly needed, those who gave me a new life… they're gone," she said.Manabu knew exactly what Mion was feeling inside, but there was nothing he could do to take away her pain completely.
After spending some time together, they all went their separate ways around 6 PM, heading home. But now, they knew what they had to do for Mion.For her salvation, Leon took charge, creating an online group that included not just their classmates but also a few teachers. Together, they meticulously planned a surprise birthday party for Mion. Everyone contributed ideas, and excitement filled the group chat.
Later that evening, Manabu sat by his window looking at the moon, thinking of the moments he had spent with Naomi while she was alive. Mion lay on her bed, looking at the ceiling; the room was empty. She kept hearing that laughter and yelling. She remembered those moments when she had yelled back at Dad and Naomi had teased her. The memories were bittersweet. Mion laughed for a moment, but when she looked around, she found nothing but those memories. She cried, sobbing loudly.
She wanted her life back. She wanted her treasure back.
Finally the day had arrived—February 27, 1900—Mion's birthday, but she had completely forgotten about it, lost in her apathy. The teachers and students, however, were prepared. They had discussed it in the group chat, and almost everyone brought gifts.
After school, three girls from her class approached her: Yokoya, Kushida, and Yuki. "Mion, come with us. We need to talk," Yokoya said with a mysterious smile. Mion was a little confused, but they insisted she go with them.
On the way, Mion kept asking, "What's going on? Where are we going?"
They ignored her questions and led her to the same bakery she cherished so much. As they reached the entrance, the lights were off. The door swung open, and in unison, everyone inside shouted, "Surprise!"
Mion froze for a moment; she just stood there processing, taking it all in—the familiar faces, the decorations, and the warm smiles. Her gaze fell on a beautifully designed cake at a table in the center of the bakery hall, and right beside it, a framed photo of Naomi and Mr. and Mrs. Futaba. Those pictures had been taken when Mrs. Futaba was still alive. Manabu stepped forward and wished her happy birthday. Tears welled up in her eyes. She really needed this. Mai, standing next to her, gently wiped them away and said, "You're not alone, idiot! We're your family, aren't we?"
Leon looked genuinely happy for her; he had spent much time to unit the class. Mion was the only missing piece of the class. She smiled through her tears and hugged Mai tightly. Mai consoled her, tugging her ponytail as a birthday gift, just like Naomi. Mion stepped forward, cutting the cake with trembling hands. As a sign of affection, she offered the first bite to Mai, whispering, "Sorry, Mai, for everything. You guys are my family, and I was too blind to see it. I'm sorry for being rude to you all."
One of the sixty students in the crowd laughed and yelled, "It's all cool! Just let me have some cake already. I'm starving!"
The room erupted in laughter, and Mion, for the first time in a long while, laughed along with them. The bakery master had removed all tables and chairs, rearranging furniture to make space for them. He had known Naomi and Mion as weekly customers and felt genuine sorrow for Mion, which was why he wasn't bothered to help them, for the betterment of the bright girl he used to see every week at his shop's front table. The bakery master made a delicious cake for her and offered them all cold drinks and pizza, which he had ordered with his own money. "It's a treat from me to you all, and ya owe me nothin'! So enjoy!" said the bakery master. His staff were stunned and satisfied to see him happy and laughing, since he rarely showed any sign of happiness. As the celebration continued, Taiju and Manabu took a moment to mention, "Leon was the one who came up with this entire plan," Taiju said loudly.
Mion turned to Leon, gratitude in her eyes. "Thank you, Leon, and forgive me for being so rude to you all this time."
Leon scratched his head with an awkward smile. "No, it was nothing! I just wanted to help my classmate." He then started blushing. Mion smiled, tears glistening, and hugged him. He was even more embarrassed. Seeing them, other students felt jealous and jumped on them for a hug. It was a beautiful sight. The party lasted for hours, and everyone enjoyed themselves to the fullest. Eventually, it was time to leave, and one by one, the students departed. Mion, feeling lighter than she had in months, headed home. Mr. Daima looked quite satisfied too. Leon decided to hang out with Manabu and the others for a while, so Daima left for home alone.
After the party, the group walked together down the street—Leon, Taiju, Mai, and Manabu. Leon was excited because he'd gotten Mion's phone number and socials. Taiju, clearly impressed, patted his back and said, "From today, you're officially part of our friend circle."
The four of them staired up to Manabu's apartment, lounging around and talking for hours. His apartment was small and comfortable, but Manabu managed things quite nicely. Everything was properly placed.
After much chatter, Leon leaned back and asked about the Santa case out of curiosity, "So… what do you guys think? Who could Mr. Santa be?"
Taiju shook his head. "Not really," he said.
Leon asked another question that had lingered in his mind. "You guys mentioned there's a copycat, correct? Because the real Mr. Santa only targets criminals or bad people. But what if it was indeed Mr. Santa? And there's no copycat?"
Manabu, resting his chin on his hand, thought for a moment before replying, "The chances of them being the same person are slim. Besides, what reason would the real Mr. Santa have to kill Naomi or her father? If you look at the crime records of Mr. Santa, he's not stable in one place—Joppo, Doshiqi, Christina Town, and many other regions. Killing Naomi and Mr. Futaba wouldn't make any sense for him, since he has no time to waste and no reason to kill them."
Leon nodded in agreement. "Yeah… I guess that doesn't make sense. But what if the police department never revealed the true records and has been hiding things from citizens? Maybe Mr. Santa is killing innocent people too, but the authorities are using his image as a criminal killer to reduce crime in Feropia while also trying to catch him."
Taiju was silent, visibly puzzled; it was a thoughtful point. "If that's the case, everyone's doomed," he said.
Just then, Leon glanced at his watch, and his eyes widened. "Crap! It's already 8 PM. If I don't get home now, my dad's going to kick my legs!"
Mai asked why he was wearing his watch upside down on his wrist. Leon replied, "There's no reason; it's just a habit. Maybe I feel more comfortable that way."
Mai and Taiju realized the time as well. "We should leave too," she said. They all parted ways, heading back to their respective homes.
As Manabu closed his door, he felt an eerie sensation, as if someone were watching them. His apartment was on the twelfth floor, and many people lived in the building, so he dismissed it out of instinct. He glanced around but saw nothing unusual. He thought he was imagining things and decided to sleep. As he went inside and locked the door, unbeknownst to him, a figure stood on the fifth floor of the building across the street, lurking in the shadows. The figure watched them closely and then disappeared into the darkness without a sound.
The next morning, for the first time in a long while, Manabu had slept peacefully without nightmares haunting him. He woke refreshed, feeling a faint hope—*perhaps, after everything, Mion would finally be able to recover completely*. As usual, he picked up the morning newspaper and started reading. A particular headline caught his eye: "No More Murders Since Christmas: Has Mr. Santa Vanished?" He talked to himself, thinking, *Just like the actual Santa Claus, no more gifts after Christmas ends.* He got ready for school and left. The high school's final exams were just around the corner, likely at the end of March. Manabu was a first-year college student. Despite everything that had happened over the past few months, he had remained focused on his studies and completed most of the syllabus. Mai could be a good programmer, but her family pressured her to be unlike her sister. Mai's sister had been disobedient to her parents and dropped her studies at the last moment, which had disappointed them.
Upon reaching school, Manabu found Mion already there, smiling—a sight that brought genuine warmth to his heart. Just like before, their group was complete, and for once, life seemed calm. He dropped his bag and jumped into their conversation. Everything seemed smooth and reserved.
March 2, 1900, 10:32 PM—Mion was preparing for the upcoming exams but found herself exhausted and tired of these numbers and equations. She was never good at academics—she always found math and homework tiring. But she was skilled at practical things. Painting was like a magnetic force to her, always drawing her in. She had won fifteen prizes in painting and calligraphy. With college exams approaching, fear often made her overthink her future. For a while now, she'd been considering taking up painting again and dropping her studies. *This is beyond my limits; this is not my cup of tea,* she thought. Lost in thought, a sudden notification on her phone snapped her back. It was a message from an unknown sender. The contents sent a chill down her spine:
*"Mion, meet me at the school gate tonight at 1:20 AM. I have something to tell you about Naomi and Futaba's deaths. Don't ask questions. Come alone."*
Mion's hands trembled as she read. *Who is this? What do they know about Naomi and Futaba? How did they get my message address?* Her mind raced with questions. It was a stressful situation. She considered calling Manabu, but she knew better than to tell her friends—she couldn't risk their safety. After much contemplation, she made a cautious decision and dialed Mr. Kenzo's number, written in her classwork notebook. She remembered Kenzo telling them to report anything suspicious. After a few rings, he picked up.
"Mr. Kenzo," she whispered, "something's wrong. I just got a message from an unknown sender, and it's about Naomi and Futaba… Can you help me?"
Kenzo asked who she was. Mion explained everything—her identity, the message, and what it said. His voice was stern but reassuring. "Listen carefully, Sayuri Mion! Don't step outside until I get there. Send me your address right now; I'm coming, and I'll go with you. Stay put. Lock your windows and doors, and don't open them until I arrive, no matter what."
Mion followed his instructions. Around 11:45 PM, Kenzo arrived at Mion's house and rang her doorbell. She grabbed her phone, purse, and some safety gear, her heart racing. They headed to the school together, aiming to reach the gate before the specified time. Kenzo looked so serious and stressed that Mion felt a little uneasy.
Kenzo instructed once more, "Remember, you'll stay at the gate while I hide in nearby bushes. If anything happens, I'll take action immediately."
Mion nodded, trying to suppress her fear and calm herself. At 1:23 AM, they reached the school gate, the street eerily silent under flickering lampposts. Mion stood still, her heart pounding. She kept checking her phone, wondering who it might be and how they had gotten her address. She glanced anxiously at the time—1:30 AM. Suddenly, footsteps echoed from behind her. A figure approached, clad in a black hoodie and a blue cap. Mion hadn't noticed him until he called out, "Mion!" Fear gripped her; she screamed and stumbled backward to the ground. Kenzo bolted from his hiding spot, charging at the figure. He twisted his ankle but tackled him to the ground. Yanking off the cap, he saw the intruder cry out in pain.
It was Leon. Kenzo's eyes widened in shock. Leon grinned awkwardly. Kenzo yelled, "Leon? What the hell are you doing here at midnight?!"
Leon blinked, startled. "I could ask you the same! Why are you here?"
They stared at each other, confused. Kenzo shouted, "What are you doing out here at 1 AM, calling out to a girl?! Are you out of your mind? Is she your girlfriend or something?"
Leon groaned, "No! I just wanted to talk to her about something important! Why are you here?"
"Mion called me," Kenzo replied, narrowing his eyes. "She said a creep messaged her at midnight about something important."
Leon was slightly confused. "I'm sure I mentioned my name in the message." He showed them the message, which read:
*"By the way, I'm Leon—save the contact by my name."*
Mion unlocked her phone, but the message was unavailable. "It could be a network issue," Leon suggested.
Kenzo sighed, grabbed his ear, and said, "Now, kid, what was this so-called important thing you wanted to talk about?"
"First, let go of my ear," Leon said. "You're embarrassing me." He leaned close to Kenzo's ear and whispered something. Kenzo's expression shifted to shock. "No way! Not happening! Nope! Hell no!" He shook his head in denial and stepped back.
Leon persisted, "Uncle, they were Mion's family. She deserves to know!"
He grabbed Kenzo's hands, but Kenzo jerked free, crossing his arms. "Absolutely not! She's a kid, not a killer kid."
Mion, who had been watching silently, spoke up. "Mr. Kenzo, I want to know what happened to my sister and father. Please let him tell me. I promise I won't tell anyone," she said.
Kenzo studied her, still hesitant to share sensitive information. He thought for a moment, then refused again. Leon pleaded once more, and finally, Kenzo sighed in defeat. "Fine. But, Leon—only the facts. No unnecessary details. I don't know why I'm doing this. It's such a mess."
Leon nodded and turned to Mion. "Tell me, Mion… what kind of person do you think our principal, Hojo Tetsuya, is?"
Mion blinked at the question. "I think… he's strict but a good person. Maybe a bit too serious, but he means well," she said, never having thought deeply about Hojo's character.
Leon's gaze darkened. He exhaled deeply and said, "What if I told you that your sister, Naomi, and your father, Mr. Futaba, were murdered by our principal, Hojo Tetsuya?"
Mion's breath caught. She froze, unable to process his words. Her mind went blank as Leon continued, "Hojo is Naomi's and Mr. Futaba's killer—and the copycat."