Conquering Villains and Capturing Targets Is Harder in Real Life than in Games

10: She would've been more than capable of...murdering him.

During homeroom and first period, Shizuka found herself unable to focus properly as her thoughts continually wandered away from the material being taught.

When he caught the dazed look on Shizuka's face, Mana-sensei called upon her to answer. "Yoshino who seems to not be concentrating in my class, could you please respond to the question I just asked?"

Honda Yuki, who was the student at the desk next to her, tapped Shizuka on the arm to get her attention. When she met his gaze with a dull look, he quickly whispered, "Shizuka-chan! Mana-sensei is calling on you to answer."

These words broke Shizuka from her reverie.

"Yoshino, are you with us today?"

"Yes, sensei!"

"Oh, good. Could you provide an answer for the question I just addressed to the class?"

Shizuka blinked. "Could you please repeat the question?"

Patiently, Mana-sensei repeated his question, "In the short story that we read, "In a Grove," three different confessions were given to the high police commissioner regarding the uncovered body's death. We heard from the bandit, the wife of the murdered man, and from a medium channeling the victim himself. Which account do you believe is the truth?"

"Well," began Shizuka after some deliberation. "I believe the ghost of the man whom was murdered was telling the truth."

"Care to elaborate, Yoshino?"

"Although the events that transpired were unclear, there are a few facts that are certain. Firstly, the couple consisted of a samurai, Takehiro, and his beautiful young wife, Masago, hadn't been married long. Secondly, while they were travelling, a bandit, Tajomaru, decided to trick them because he fell for Masago and wanted her for himself. Thirdly, the bandit managed to successfully lure the couple to a grove and have his way with the Masago. Fourthly, following her defilement, Masago wished Takehiro dead. All other details regarding his cause of death are uncertain."

Mana-sensei made a motion for her to continue.

"If I had to pick an account that is most true, under the assumption that one is more true, then I, as the high police commissioner, would pick the victim's account because it seems the most logical."

Mana-sensei raised an eyebrow. "Logical?"

"Yes, it matches up with the three characters' statuses and positions the most."

"Continue."

"Tajomaru said he slew Takehiro after a furious battle after he conquered Masago; however, this seems most unlikely to have happened because Tajomaru has shown himself to be an unscrupulous bandit who often resorts to using underhanded tactics. It makes no sense for a man like that to have risked his life in a battle where victory isn't guaranteed after he had already accomplished his objective. As a woman I can see why Masago would want her shame to be hidden from the world and want her husband dead; however, I can't imagine a normally sheltered and weak lady attempting to do this herself. Thus, she would've likely asked Tajomaru to kill him for her. Seeing his wife betray him, as a noble and prideful samurai, Takehiro had no choice but to commit suicide."

Several classmates nodded in tacit agreement. 

"Lastly, as a ghost, in another words, someone whom no longer has any ties left to the world, Takehiro has no reason to lie."

Shizuka's classmates sat in admiration of her rational assessment. Even when she hadn't been paying attention she had managed to grasp all the main points.