When The Snow Falls

"How are we supposed to get into this building?" Felix asked. "No one in their right mind just leaves an unused building without some sort of lock."

Oliver's enthusiasm faltered when he heard that. It seemed like he hadn't considered that part first.

"Does anyone know how to pick a lock?" he asked.

Daniel put his hand up again. "I can do it for you."

Amien exhaled loudly and rolled his eyes dramatically.

"So, if we get caught, we're definitely in trouble. I want to finish my time here quietly and without any trouble. I'm not part of this if we're going to get in by picking the lock."

Daniel knew Amien had a point. If they were caught in the unused building there would definitely be some consequences and if they were found to have picked the lock, it would make it even worse. He might not have much care for whether or not he passed his two years at this sixth form without any blots on his record, but for the others it did matter.

"We're going to have to go there at night to minimise the chances of being seen," he informed them. "That reduces the possibility we'll get caught."

Amien nodded slowly. "I might be up for that if we can get hold of a legitimate key."

"Let's put this matter to the side," Felix said. "I do have another point to discuss."

Daniel was interested to see what Felix had come up with. He also had noted a few points after Amien had mentioned the clubhouse.

"The Seven Mysteries have to be connected to the clubhouse rather than the actual school buildings as they seem to be quite newly built whereas the Seven Mysteries definitely existed six years ago, so they can't be anything to do with the new parts of the school."

Daniel knew Felix's theory had to be correct. The exterior of the building was gleamingly new and the interior was modern and on trend too. The tables and chairs weren't too ruined by chewing gum and graffiti either.

Amien nodded again.

"You are completely correct. Some blocks of this building are very new. Other parts are a couple of years older. In my first year here, the new science block was under construction and we had to use the outdated laboratories in the old building- the clubhouse."

"Was it actually used for the clubs?" Oliver asked.

"Yes, it was for all the clubs to meet. Only the labs and a couple of classrooms on the ground floor were used for lessons. I gathered that the academic use of the building was being phased out and it was going to be only used for clubs."

Amien pointed at the map again.

"It is there in the middle of the trees. The trees were planted as they were closing the old building down."

That sounded like a cover up by the school. The only question was why? It would be much easier to knock down the building if its existence needed to be concealed.

"I never knew anything was there," Meredith commented in amazement.

"This is Tokyo though. Land is really expensive here, it could have been sold off at a profit to someone else," Harry pointed out.

"The school couldn't sell it off to a business- it would be right next to the school grounds," Meredith observed.

"I have a more likely suggestion," Amien interjected. "Nostalgic value. That building is the original building the school started from."

Daniel had no idea which suggestion was right. They all knew the school much better than he did. He also needed to persuade them to investigate the building. They all seemed to shrink back at the idea when Amien pointed out the flaws. Weren't people like them supposed to love trespassing?

"I think we would definitely have to go there at night- Daniel is right," Meredith changed the subject. "Someone would be likely to see us if we went in during the day."

"That sounds really scary," Harry shivered.

Daniel was inclined to agree to an extent. He didn't get scared easily, but there was something sinister at play at the school.

"Where do you think the key to the old clubhouse would be stored?" he asked.

Oliver shrugged whereas Harry looked deep in thought. Amien was the one who answered.

"There's a caretaker here, he certainly has some keys to buildings, I've seen him lock them before. He might have that one."

"Are you suggesting we break into his office?" Harry asked in horror. "He's quite scary."

"Did I say that?" Amien snapped.

Daniel watched them argue and went over the facts. It did seem like a likely place to find the keys. He was open to sneaking in.

"Where is the caretaker's office?" he enquired.

"It's at the back of the English department," Meredith told him. "There will be a sign outside that says maintenance or something like that."

Felix nudged him. His boyfriend knew he was up to something.

"How long has the caretaker been here?" he asked.

"7 years I think," she answered. "He's called Tatsuaki. He doesn't speak much English and when he does it's quite accented so I don't know if you will be able to ask him."

"Thanks for the information," Daniel said.

***

Instead of leaving the school through the sixth form entrance to meet with Felix like he had been doing since their first day, Daniel went down the English corridor after his last lesson to see where the caretaker's office was. The corridor was empty of people as everyone cleared out fast after the last lesson or that was what he thought until he spotted Felix standing by the outside door.

"I knew you were up to something," he said. "What are you here to do?"

"Get the key," Daniel said.

Felix didn't look amused. "How?"

Daniel walked past him and out the door. As Meredith had said there was a door right outside labelled 'Maintenance' and he knocked on the door. If the caretaker wasn't there it would circ.u.mvent the need for his plan.

He pushed open the door and looked back at Felix. His boyfriend sighed and took the offer.

The office was small and very tidy. There were stacks of maintenance request forms stacked neatly on the table and one wall was lined with filing cabinets on either side of another door. There didn't seem to be anyone around. He could smell green tea though.

"Mr. Tatsuaki?" he called out. "Tatsuaki-san?"

If there was no answer he was going straight ahead to look for the key.

"Yes?"

A figure opened the door and came out from the other room. As he approached Daniel saw an old man with mussed grey hair and blue overalls. As he answered to the name Tatsuaki, Daniel took him to be the caretaker.

"I have a question-" Daniel stepped forward and stumbled over the uneven floor.

His bag which had been partially open spilled its contents onto the floor. Daniel swore when he realised that the 2013 yearbook and meeting minutes which he had pilfered for investigation were on show. Tatsuaki came forward to help him pick them up and Felix quickly whisked the yearbook and meeting minutes out of sight. Tatsuaki handed him back the school prospectus.

"Are you two members of the Mystery Club?" he asked and Daniel was able to tell he had a very pronounced English accent that sounded fairly upper class which was strange for a caretaker in Japan.

Tatsuaki had been sharp enough to notice the yearbook which Daniel didn't know was good or bad.

"We are members, we are new though so we don't know the school very well," Felix explained for him.

"What question did you have for me?"

"It's regarding the old school building," Daniel said.

Depending on the answer Daniel would proceed with the conversation or go to Plan C which was to end the conversation and leave.

"I cannot tell you much. I only started working here after it had been closed down. I have been waiting to hear that it will be demolished, but it has not happened yet."

That sounded like the caretaker was as suspicious of the situation as he was. That was a good sign so he proceeded.

"The son of a family friend was here and was investigating the old school building as part of the Mystery Club. Then he disappeared," he explained.

The caretaker's eyes flickered with recognition.

"You are not the first person to ask about him. There's someone who comes every year and gets turned away. She was here today as a matter of fact."

That was an unexpected development. Someone else wanted to know what had happened to the missing student.