When I woke up the next morning, I heard a commotion coming from the kitchen. Not thinking much of it I did my morning routine before heading downstairs to see what was going on. Part of my mind was still thinking about my call with Hiro last night,

 Who would want to butcher someone like that? What could that girl possibly have done to warrant such anger and hatred from her attacker? 

I thought to myself as I entered the kitchen, sitting down at the table next to Riki,

"Good morning, Riki."

I greeted the raven-haired teen with a smile, prompting him to smile in return as he responded,

"Good morning, (Y/N). How did you sleep?"

Before I could respond, I heard someone shout from the dining room,

"No fair! I want some too!"

"These are for (Y/N) when she wakes up. Stop being a shit about it you've already had six pancakes."

I giggled a little a March's response to Jackson's complaint as Riki and I stood up to enter the dining room,

"Senriiiiiiiii March called me a mean name!"

Jackson pouted to the honor student, hoping he would defend his honor but Senri merely shrugged before turning a page in his book,

"What do you want me to do about it? Besides, you were being a shit."

His tone was flat and stoic as normal while Jackson groaned in frustration, 

"Will no one defend me against March?"

He said dramatically, making me laugh again before responding,

"Jackson, if you're really that hungry you can have some of my pancakes."

I said as I gestured to the plate of three pancakes on the table. Jackson's eyes lit up with joy as he hugged me,

"Thank you~! See March, I told you she wouldn't mind."

Jackson said triumphantly before plopping down in the seat next to me. March rolled his eyes,

"You'd say anything when you're hungry."

He said before taking the seat across from me,

"How're you doing, (Y/N)? I know everything going on right now must be stressful for you."

He asked with concern. I smiled reassuringly at my childhood friend,

"I'm alright. I was more surprised than anything. I mean, maybe it was someone I knew."

I said nonchalantly as I took a bite out of my pancake. I heard Senri scoff,

"I doubt it. She probably was involved in dubious activities that are unbecoming of a young woman. I sincerely doubt a girl like that would know someone of high caliber such as you."

He said apathetically as he turned another page in his book. I shot him a questioning glance,

"What makes you think that she was some kind of a bad kid?"

I asked curiously, causing him to shrug,

"Nothing in particular. I just feel that something must have happened to cause her death. The only logical thing I can think of is that she was involved in something she shouldn't have been."

He reasoned, prompting me to nod slightly,

"I guess that makes sense. I don't think the police have identified the body yet."

I commented as I took another bite of my pancake. I glanced over at Jackson and saw that he had already devoured one pancake and was halfway through the second. I giggled slightly, causing him to stop and turn to me with his cheeks stuffed with pancake,

"What?"

He asked in a muffled voice. I laughed,

"You're just funny. You must've really been hungry."

I said with a smile as his eyes widened and he shoved the remaining half of the pancake at me,

"I'msosorryIdidn'tmeantoeatthemallpleaseforgivemeeeeee"

He said as he mushed the entire sentence into one long word. I laughed again and smiled at him,

"It's fine I don't mind. As long as you enjoyed it I'm happy."

I said as I finished off my first pancake. As I started on the half Jackson gave me, Bex came bursting into the room,

"Turn on the news! They identified the body!"

He exclaimed as he grabbed the remote and turned on the television in the adjoined living room (there was no wall separating the dining and living room so we could all hear the television). The boys all shared a glance as we moved towards it to hear who was killed,

"The body found was finally identifed as (High/School/Name) student Rika Choi. Her head was found buried in the woods behind the school. Police are advising the school to remain closed until the killer is caught in the event this is a serial killing and her family is asking anyone who may know something to come forward."

The reporter then went on to say more about how to be safe before going to a commercial break. Riki turned off the television and looked at me,

"Are you alright?" 

He asked quietly. I shrugged,

"Yeah. Why wouldn't I be?"

I asked back, watching him with a blank expression as I felt the others staring at me. He seemed surprised at my response,

"Well I thought maybe you'd be upset or shocked or something."

He said with concern in his eyes. I shook my head,

"Not really. Not to be a bitch or anything but I didn't exactly like her. Damn psycho tried to kill me and I doubt I'm the only girl she went after. I won't say I'm glad she's dead but I certainly don't feel any pity for her. The only people I feel bad for in this situation are her parents. If they loved her this must have ripped them apart."

I explained calmly, causing Bex to send me a questioning look,

"What do you mean'if they loved her'?"

He asked, tilting his head in confusion. I turned to him and shrugged again,

"Not all parents like their children and not all children like their parents. If they loved her they would be upset but if they didn't then they wouldn't exactly care."

I said before standing up and taking my plate into the kitchen to be washed. As I did I heard the others follow me in,

"Are you talking from experience?"

Senri asked, not bothering to mince words. I turned to him,

"Are you implying that all families are perfect?"

I replied evenly, my eyes meeting his as I caught a flicker of amusement in his eyes and a twitch of a smirk on his lips,

"Not in any respect, you just seemed to have some form of experience with that concept."

"As do all of you if I'm not mistaken."

I responded, evading his inquiries as I spoke again,

"Besides, it isn't like any of you seemed too broken up about her death. None of us liked her so I don't see why all of you are so surprised at my lack of a reaction."

I said, raising an eyebrow at the teens in front of me. Bex took a step forward and spoke,

"It isn't that we're surprised, we just thought you might have been afraid the killer would go after you or that you would be freaked out by what happened."

He explained as I nodded my head in understanding,

"I get what you're saying, and if she was someone I liked I'd be far more upset than I am now. But it's like you guys said; I'll be fine as long as I stay with you. I'm not afraid because I know you guys would protect me."

I said with a smile, avoiding the real question by making them feel like I trust them. I do trust that they wouldn't let something happen to me, but I'm not so sure their solutions are always in my best interest. They all seemed to perk up when I said they would protect me,

"We would! You're our favorite!"

Bex exclaimed happily as he ushered me into the main room where he plopped me down on the couch,

"So what do you want to do today? I know we can't go out but if there's anything special you want to do just let us know!"

I smiled at is enthusiasm,

"Well, nothing really comes to mind. What do you guys want to do?"

 Bex thought for a moment before conferring with Riki, Jackson, and March. Senri sat down on the couch and started reading his book again. I took a quick peek at the title,

"Is that Evil Under the Sun by Agatha Christie?"

I asked, my interest piqued. Senri turned to me,

"Yes it is. Why?"

"I love her books! I'm a huge fan of murder mysteries."

I said as I scooted closer to him,

"Have you read this one before? How far are you?"

I asked excitedly as I peered at the pages,

"They just found Arlina's body on the beach."

He replied with warmth in his voice. I looked up and saw he was already looking at me,

"Do you have any others?"

I asked, smiling when he nodded,

"I do. Would you like to see?"

I nodded vigorously, causing him to chuckle as we slipped away from the others and headed upstairs to his room. When we arrived he pointed to a bookshelf against the far wall of his room,

"I enjoy reading whenever I can. It helps me relax."

He explained as he led me over to look at the different titles and genres he had,

"I agree. Reading is a good way to escape into a different world and let your problems fade into the background, if only for a short time."

When I looked up at him I saw a softness in his eyes I'd never seen before,

Wait. I have seen this look before,

I thought back to the night I found him having a nightmare. His eyes held vulnerability then but they also held the same softness I see in them now,

Everything in life might be a game to him, but this right now is real,

I thought to myself as I looked at Agatha Christie books he had, along with the other genres,

"You have an impressive collection here, Senri."

I said softly as my eyes scanned over the titles,

"Thank you. Actually, there's one book I bought recently."

He said, going over to his desk and pulling out the book before showing it to me,

"It's one of Agatha Christie's more obscure works I believe. Have you read The Five Little Pigs?"

I shook my head,

"No I haven't, but I've heard of it. It was originally titled A Murder in Retrospect and its about Poirot piecing together a murder that happened over twenty years ago to determine if the woman really murdered her husband."

I explained as he moved to sit down on the bed, motioning me to join him as he spoke,

"Would you like to read it with me? We can go back-and-forth reading each chapter."

He asked, causing me to smile,

"I would. That sounds nice."

I said as I scooted closer to him as he opened the book and began reading,

"Hercule Poirot looked with interest and appreciation at the young woman who was being ushered into the room. There had been nothing distinctive in the letter she had written. It had been a mere request for an appointment, with no hint of what lay behind that request. It had been brief and business-like. Only the firmness of the handwriting had indicated that Carla Lemarchant was a young woman."

His voice was smooth as he read the words on the page flawlessly, the sunlight shining through the window reflecting off his hair to make it look like spun gold. I know nothing in this house is what it appears and that I shouldn't stay here any longer than is necessary, but I'd be lying if I said sitting on Senri's bed and listening to him read as the late-morning sunlight enveloped us in comforting warmth didn't make me happy. As I cast a quick glance at Senri I saw that for the first time he didn't look like he was calculating possibilities or scenarios or trying to keep a stoic and measured appearance. He had a small smile on his lips as he read and his eyes held a spark and passion I've never seen in him before,

This is a side of Senri I wouldn't mind seeing more often,

I thought as I gently rested my head on his shoulder to gauge his reaction. He tensed for a moment, before relaxing and resting his head on mine slightly. I smirked to myself, knowing that I was playing his game just as much as he was playing mine.

Aaaaaaand scene! Sorry for my long absence I was having some personal issues the past several months but I'm much better now and I'll be updating more frequently if I can. For those of you who are like "WHEN IS (Y/N) GONNA HAVE A SCENE WITH BEX OR JACKSON OR RIKI OR MARCH" I promise it's on it's way and no one will be forgotten! Senri's character and his interaction with (Y/N) is crucial for the endings and for the plot. Thank you guys for supporting me and for supporting this book I'm really am very proud of it! I'll work on incorporating scenes with the others and their relationship with (Y/N) before we hit the big climax where it all goes to hell XD byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!