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[Serialized Novel] "Honeybee Caprice" Episode 1 (Entry for the 2023 Creative Awards, Mystery Novel Category)

2023年5月31日 00:38

<<Synopsis>>
In the autumn of her second year of middle school, Miyu meets a mysterious, beautiful girl named Kaoru. Admiring Kaoru, Miyu enrolls in the prestigious private Claire Girls' High School, but in a school filled with young ladies from wealthy families, the only friends she makes are Yuri, another student from outside the school, and her classmate Shirayuki.
One day, Miyu and Yuri notice that Shirayuki is being bullied by someone, and in the process of investigating the bully, they hear a strange rumor.
--That every year, someone disappears from this academy.
The very next day, a girl suddenly vanishes.
Before long, Miyu and Yuri find themselves drawn into the unknown darkness of this academy.

*This novel is an entry for the 2023 Creative Awards "Mystery Novel Category".

(Main Text - Episode 1)

I

Spring. Spring. The long-awaited spring.
The cherry blossoms that bloomed early have begun to scatter, and the way they shower down from the sky seems to be blessing the girls who have finally reached their entrance ceremony. As she passes through the gates of the private Claire Girls' High School and becomes a first-year high school student, Motomura Miyu's heart is soaring.
A new uniform, new shoes, a new school bag. Dressed in the formal attire of the private Claire Girls' High School, she felt as if she had been reborn. With every step she took, the skirt of her dress fluttered, and the smooth navy fabric gently brushed against her knees. The delicate lace embroidery on the collar and cuffs caught the sunlight, appearing even more dazzlingly white.
On her way to the auditorium where the entrance ceremony was to be held, she checked to make sure no one was around, then caught her reflection in a glass door and did a "twirl" on the spot. Her bobbed hair, cut straight at the shoulders upon graduating middle school, swayed softly, and the jet-black patent leather shoes that fit her feet perfectly told her they had been custom-made just for her.
"What are you doing?"
Startled by the sudden voice, she turned around to see a girl of the same age looking at her with a curious expression.
"Oh, you surprised me! I thought there was no one here."
"I'm the one who's surprised. It's rare to see someone so excited about wearing the uniform around here. Most of the students are internal students from the elementary division, right? Did you enter from an outside middle school?"
"Yes, I entered from high school... Wait, are you the same?"
Seeing the same brand-new uniform she was wearing, she asked.
"Yeah. I went to a public school until middle school, but I decided to take the entrance exam. This school is really famous for being a school for young ladies, you know. But I'm relieved to find a normal girl here."
The girl shook her chestnut-colored, slightly curled ponytail and said, "I'm Okazaki Yuri. Nice to meet you," laughing with a cute, tinkling voice and giving a charming, freckled smile.
"I'm Motomura Miyu. Nice to meet you too."
It was a little disappointing to be called a "normal girl" even after dressing in such high-quality uniform, but seeing Yuri's innocent smile made her feel a little relieved. While she was happy to have been accepted into this school, she also felt anxious about the dormitory life that was about to begin, but she was genuinely happy to have met someone she could get along with in this school filled with internal students.
"Miyu-chan, the entrance ceremony is going to start. Let's hurry to the auditorium!"
Yuri took Miyu's hand and started running lightly, dashing up the stairs. The shoes, made to cling to their feet, made their bodies feel light as if they had sprouted wings from their heels, and the scenery flowed by as quickly as a river. Miyu, her heart dancing like the cherry blossom petals swirling down, looked only toward a bright future, thinking, "High school life from now on is sure to be fun."
However, the moment she entered the auditorium, that cheerful mood was immediately shattered.
"New students, you're late! Refrain from private chatter and take your seats in your respective classes quickly!"
The owner of the sharp voice was an upperclassman wearing a "Student Council" armband. In the auditorium, chairs for the new students were lined up in straight rows divided into seven blocks on the first floor of the main hall, while in the second and third-floor seats surrounding the main hall, upperclassmen sat quietly with faces like wax dolls. It was the student council officers who were giving instructions to the new students entering the main hall one after another, and four of them stood at the entrance and along the left and right walls, keeping a watchful eye on every corner of the hall.
Spotting the "Student Council" armband, Miyu began to let her eyes dart around nervously. Yuri, sensing the gaze of the upperclassmen, immediately pulled on the sleeve of Miyu's uniform and led her to the new students' seats.
"Miyu-chan, what are you doing? If you look around, you'll get scolded by the seniors again. Where's your class? I'm in 'Iris'."
"Oh, me too."
"Really? Lucky, yay!"
Miyu and Yuri lined up and sat in the row where a paper with "Iris" written on it was attached to the back of the chairs.
Shortly after, the entrance ceremony began, and the elderly female principal and then the board chairman delivered congratulatory speeches in turn, introduced by the student moderator. However, to Miyu, they all seemed like boring talks. Today is not a day for the entrance ceremony. It is a special day where she can meet "that person."
"...Now, next, we will have a greeting from the student council president to all the new students."
The person called by the moderator climbed the stairs from the side of the podium, one step at a time, carefully. Her thin, smooth limbs were so delicate that they seemed as if they would break if exposed to a strong wind, but her straight posture conveyed her strength of character. Her large eyes, set in a small, egg-shaped, well-defined face, were as dignified as if they knew no words of weakness, and her long black hair, reaching her waist, held the light of justice. As she stood in front of the microphone on the podium, Miyu felt her heart race and her hands grow damp with sweat.
"To all the new students, congratulations on your enrollment. I am Kaoru Mitsushima, the student council president. In the high school division, ceremonies like today's, as well as the drama festival held in the autumn, are all student-led. Unlike before, your opinions are respected regarding how classes are conducted and how you spend your time at the academy. If you have found things you want to pursue further after your time in the middle school division, we will fully support the dreams and goals you wish to achieve. By each of you being autonomous, responsible, and taking action, you can make your three years of high school life fulfilling. From today, you are our precious friends and companions. Let's create a wonderful academy together with us!"
As Kaoru's voice, clear as a mountain spring, echoed through the auditorium, applause erupted all at once. Miyu also clapped until her palms went numb, sending her praise to her.
Joy welled up from the bottom of her heart that she was able to see her intelligent figure again. Even on that day they first met, she was shining strongly and beautifully.