[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/aiSHAkK.png[/img]

For some reason, Hoshiko felt responsible for everything. 

Well, not the dead body, that wasn't any of their fault. But Hoshiko, in a rare display of silence within the group, spent the trip to the police station with her head down and her mouth closed tight. She couldn't even bring herself to look towards any others in the cruiser with her, and she knew if she looked at Shirasawa-senpai at any point then Hoshiko probably would've felt even more guilty than she was presently. She didn't mean to say 'Shirasawa did it', she meant to say that Shirasawa found the body! Like those old games people played a couple years ago, only without any of the fun arguing between friends. How could she apologize adequately? Hoshiko had never really been part of a group this big and she was already clearly making a strong case to be excluded from future hangouts. 

The silence continued from Hoshiko even as she was brought into a room by herself and sat opposite Miss Saitou. It wasn't until Miss Saitou clapped her hands in front of Hoshiko's face that the first year finally looked up and blinked like she had been woken up from a deep, comatose slumber. [color=FFDB58][b]"Huh? What? S..Sorry."[/b][/color] Hoshiko shook her head but her smile was gone for the moment. She was still stuck in the feeling of deep apology. 

[b]"Ebina...that's not the most common family name. Any-"[/b]

Hoshiko knew what was coming. It was asked more than she'd like to admit. [color=FFDB58][b]"Yes, Ebina Habiki is my brother. We're...not close."[/b][/color]

[b]"Who's Ebina Habiki?"[/b] 

Hoshiko paused, blinking, an awkward chuckle escaping her mouth. [color=FFDB58][b]"Oh uh..well...he's...an actor...right now he's...well...it doesn't matter, you must not be a fan of his. You'd probably think he's handsome, so many other women your age do."[/b][/color]

[b]"How old do you think I am?"[/b] 

[color=FFDB58][b]"Oh it's fine, my brother is twenty three, he's totally -"[/b][/color]

[b]"Best you don't finish that sentence. I was going to ask if there was any sane reason why you decided to put your hands on a dead body."[/b]

Hoshiko knew the question was coming but there wasn't really an answer that could be considered good even as she was thinking of one the entire time. How could someone really justify every action they took? Sometimes people just did things because their bodies moved without thinking. That was human nature. [color=FFDB58][b]"I...well...in police dramas they look through the body to find identification. I wanted to know who it was. And I wanted to know if he was...you know...really dead. He could've just been really, really drunk or something. It's not...it's not illegal to touch a corpse is it?"[/b][/color]

[b]"Actually yes. Destruction of evidence if you took something or willingly damaged it. Fortunately you didn't do that, you were just stupid."[/b] 

[color=FFDB58][b]"That's...that's kind of mean."[/b][/color] 

[b]"You were just being stupid. Is that better?"[/b]

[color=FFDB58][b]"Not...really."[/b][/color] 

[b]"Why did you say Shirasawa-san did it? Isn't she your friend?"[/b]

This was the other question Hoshiko expected to be asked of her and this one at least she had a more prepared statement for. [color=FFDB58][b]"I didn't mean that she killed the guy! I meant she found his body. It was just...I panicked. I freaked out! I...I don't think they're gonna wanna hang out with me anymore."[/b][/color] Hoshiko slumped in the chair, again pointing her head downwards as she sighed. [color=FFDB58][b]"I'm sorry for touching the body. It's my fault they're here so you can let them go. They didn't do anything."[/b][/color]

[b]"It doesn't work that way Ebina-san. But I do have more questions for you..."[/b]

When Hoshiko's interrogation was finished, she was brought back to the waiting room she almost dropped down to her knees in apology, but instead simply stood by the door and looked at everyone whose day she had made somehow worse - and given they were going to study that was a monumental feat. [color=FFDB58][b]"I...I'm sorry. I'm really...really sorry. When we get out of here I'll go home and I won't bother you guys again."[/b][/color] 

Hoshiko took her seat and awaited judgment, saying nothing else on the matter. When everyone was free to go, Hoshiko thrust her hands into her pockets and walked with her head down. When the talk of getting food still was broached, Hoshiko took that as a sign. [color=FFDB58][b]"You guys...enjoy it. I'm gonna go home. Sorry...sorry again...for ruining the day."[/b][/color] A final apology as Hoshiko finally ran out of something to say. 

She didn't leave the group but she wasn't moving in any hurry to do so either. She was just...moping.[/center]