Special Investigation Team BTS 2
EP 36. The Students' Mysterious Commotion (2)
Despite the fact that students were collectively attempting suicide, the atmosphere at the academy was remarkably normal. The friendly, smiling director and police officers might have been enough to warrant a glance, but the students, who didn't even spare a glance, seemed perfectly normal.
박지민
“⋯Is this the right place?”
It wasn't just Yeo-ju who felt this way. Jimin, too, only after checking the academy certificate, wiped away his nervousness and looked around the academy. The academy was indeed located here, and the children involved in the incident were indeed students attending this academy.
Despite this, the students studying at this academy didn't seem to be disturbed at all... I wondered if they weren't aware of this incident...
민윤기
“⋯There are a lot of empty seats.”
Yes. There weren't even ten people sitting in the thirty chairs in each room. If you felt something was off, you should have. You absolutely couldn't ignore it.
“You want to interview students?”
민윤기
“Yes. If you make it short, it will probably take about 5 minutes, and if you make it long, it will probably take about 10 minutes.”
"I can provide a place and time for interviews, but... I can't force you to meet with students. As you know, Detective, high school is a crucial time in your life..."
민윤기
“Well, I think human lives are more important than college.”
The director's face crumpled at Yoon-ki's words, then quickly brightened as if nothing had happened. A social smile appeared on his lips.
"Okay. I'll talk to the kids about it. But I can't guarantee they'll all participate in the interview."
민윤기
"All right."
Yoongi waved his hand at the director, who kept repeating the same thing. He meant for her to stop arguing and just bring the kids over. Yeoju and Jimin ignored the quivering corners of the director's mouth. The director was no match for Yoongi in the first place.
박지민
“I’ll do the interview.”
연여주
"why?"
박지민
“⋯Why? Do you want to do it?”
연여주
“No, that’s not it… You’re saying it as if it were so obvious.”
박지민
“Of course⋯.”
At Yeoju's words, Jimin looked between Yeoju and Yoongi with a serious expression, then swallowed bitterly and shook his head from side to side. Though he didn't say anything, the obvious disregard caused Yeoju and Yoongi to simultaneously frown.
민윤기
“Hey. What did you just say?”
연여주
“Min Yoongi is like that, but why am I getting involved with him?”
민윤기
“What? Min Yoongi? You’re just leaving?”
연여주
“What’s the big deal? You weren’t expecting me to be your brother or anything, were you?”
At the sight of the tired expression on the female lead's face, Yoon-ki's face hardened even more. The atmosphere suddenly became cold. Sensing an inexplicable murderous aura from Yoon-ki, the female lead unconsciously avoided his gaze. "Ah, come on, I'm just kidding. Just kidding…" Her words were trembling, uncharacteristic of the female lead.
“⋯I came here because I was asked to interview you.”
Knock, knock. A couple of knocks were heard, and a female student in a beige uniform entered. The name on her name tag was Iaru. It was an unusual name, not easily seen around here.
박지민
“Oh, come in. You can sit here.”
Jimin, trying to appear as competent as possible despite being his first time here, pointed to the chair in front of him. Aru left the chair and leaned against the wall, observing Yoongi and Yeoju's expressions before sitting down in front of Jimin.
박지민
"Your name... Aru? Yes, Aru. Do you know anything about the commotion going on around here?"
“If you say it’s a commotion⋯.”
박지민
“Um… The students who go to the academy around here are acting strangely as a group.”
Jimin couldn't bring himself to say the words "suicide threat." He, too, had been plagued by endless negative thoughts during his high school years preparing for college entrance exams.
“⋯The kids are committing suicide in groups.”
But Aru, seemingly ignoring Jimin's consideration, simply said the words himself. Yoongi's eyebrows shot up at the thought of Aru knowing about this incident.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know anything about that.”
민윤기
“We haven’t asked any questions yet.”
“⋯.”
박지민
“Oh, bro. I was supposed to interview you.”
연여주
“Is your friend among the victims?”
박지민
“Yeon Yeo-ju⋯.”
In the end, the interview Jimin had planned to lead fell apart. Of course, this wasn't unexpected. Jimin was powerless to stop Yoongi, who was quick to criticize, or Yeoju, who rushed at him without hesitation.
“⋯Yes. I have it.”
Among the victims was Aru's friend. Jimin's eyes, which had been expressing embarrassment, widened. It was time for the interview in earnest. Jimin took out the notebook he had kept in his pocket and unfolded it.
박지민
“What is that guy’s name?”
“⋯Kim Ji-ro. We’re the same age.”
Kim Ji-ro. Is it because the name Aru is unique? My friend Ji-ro's name was also unique.
박지민
“When did my friend Jiro… well, um….”
민윤기
“When did you die?”
박지민
“Ah, bro!”
“A week ago⋯.”
연여주
“⋯A week ago?”
It was recent. Perhaps it's an illusion if he doesn't seem particularly sad, considering his friend's departure. Yeoju unconsciously recalled her former gang members, whom she considered family, and shook her head, clearing her mind. Once she got lost in thought, it seemed impossible to escape.
박지민
“Before that happened, didn’t you notice any unusual behavior?”
“⋯.”
Aru, who had been answering questions well, suddenly shut her mouth tightly at Jimin's question. Jimin, who was preparing to write Aru's answer in his notebook, Yoongi, who was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, and Yeoju, who was blankly staring at the cover of a book, clearing her mind, all turned their attention to Aru.
“⋯There wasn’t any.”
The answer was a beat late. The three people who had met eyes nodded in a way only they could sense. Something was wrong. He had a hunch. Jiro had definitely been acting strangely before he died. And... Aru knew what it was.
박지민
“So, when was the last time you met Jiro?”
“I’m sorry. I have to study… Can I go first?”
박지민
“Huh? No, wait.”
What is this? Aru shook off Jimin's hand and fled the counseling room. As Aru hurriedly headed toward the classroom, the academy director appeared behind her, still smiling kindly. The female protagonist and the director's eyes met.
연여주
“⋯I feel sick.”
I know for sure that the academy students are involved in this incident, but I don't know how. As the director said, why and how would students, busy preparing for college entrance exams, become involved in a crime?
The students studying intently, oblivious to the empty seats, and the director smiling inexplicably, all of it was unpleasant.
Last person among Seokjin, Hoseok, and Taehyung: Seokjin, Hoseok Last person among Yeoju, Jimin, and Yoongi: Jimin Last person among Namjoon, Jungkook, and Yeonjun: Namjoon