Day 2:
The students are still beginning to get to know each other and to forge bonds that will further reinforce their will to not kill. Some students have gotten closer to others, admittedly rather quickly, others are yet to even get close to one individual.
Sat in the kitchen; carefully watching the head chef chop up some vegetables and prepare some meat; is Virion. His eyes wander not to the chopping, but rather towards the bottom. He certainly does not mind being trapped in here if this is a source of entertainment and entrancement.
"Admiring assets, are we?" The Ultimate Gay sighs as he turns his head away to find Niles laying across the table, gazing into the eyes that are now on them. "I suppose it is something to admire, though…I can think of much better things to do…" Niles teases.
Virion narrows his eyes slightly, before turning his head away from the man before him. "I am not interested in any of your offerings." He says rather bluntly, where Niles simply chooses to run his finger beneath their chin, forcing them to look at him.
"Are you sure about that?" Niles continues, a smirk curved across their face.
"He evidently said that he was not interested, so I advise that you respect those wishes and leave him be, Niles." Frederick suddenly turns from the chopping board to face Niles; a knife clenched in his hand still.
"Oh, anything for you, daddy." The Ultimate Tease continues, however he is also a man of his word, as he removes his finger and climbs off of the table.
Meanwhile, in the washroom, Vincent is standing by a washing machine. He watches as the bubbles and water toss his favourite scarf around and around on this long cycle. He had spilt some ketchup on it and didn't wish to have a different shade of red. There was something soothing to him about it; the sweet sound of nothing but the wishing and washing of the water and pretty basic mechanics at work just comforted him. Of course, this peace was disrupted when another member entered the room, presenting them with a conversation to partake in.
"Did you really just put your scarf in a wash?" Claus asks, staring in disbelief at the tiny amount of washing.
"Yes." Vincent says, before looking to Claus. "It was going to stain and I didn't want to ask anybody else to remove their clothes immediately. Mainly because, I don't like any of you." He hoped that would stop the conversation.
It didn't.
"Lucky for you, nobody likes you either." Claus fires back, going about his own business.
"That is pretty lucky. It means I won't have to associate with any of you." The Ultimate Edgelord says in response, looking back to the timer on the washing machine: how much longer does he have to tolerate the carrot child?
Thankfully, the Ultimate Army Commander fell silent, which was music to Vincent's ears.
In Robin's dorm room sits Robin and Chrom. After Robin was rudely knocked over, the two of them began speaking more frequently. So much so, that Chrom failed to go to his dorm room last night, because they spoke all the way through the night! They went over the horrors of the day before, trying to comprehend the information they received the day before, while also bonding over some of the smaller things! The two have talked about favourite books; favourite composers; favourite colours; foods and various other things.
The topic of conversation currently is somewhat more serious.
"Hey, Chrom?" Robin questions, looking to the person they consider a dear friend now.
"Yes, Robin?" He looks to them, a dorky smile on their face as they do so.
Suddenly, Robin sticks out their pinky finger to them; a stern expression written all over his own features. His tone is equally as serious:
"I hereby swear to never kill you." Chrom's smile only grows wider at the kind gesture, as he too sticks out his pinky finger and wraps it around the other's.
"I promise to never kill you, either."
In the showers, there are four different individuals: Gaius, Ike, Captain Falcon and Pastry. Each of them are in separate cubicles; washing away the filth coat they wear and attempting to wash away their worries in the process.
"Hey, uh, guys?" Captain Falcon speaks up.
"What is it, Captain Flapjack?" Pastry asks, though mainly to annoy them with the incorrect name.
"It's Falcon – Captain Falcon, but… Have you guys got cameras in your showers?" He asks. "I know I'm sexy and all that, but this is wrong-"
"How am I meant to have a shower in peace? Honestly, a hero legend's private life can never be private, can it?" Ike responds, sighing outwards with disgust.
"Oh, uh, no, I meant it's wrong because they aren't paying me – I'm a quality model!" The Captain exclaims, where there are two groans of disgust on one booming laugh.
"If only we could get payed? I'd shove my butt in front of any camera for some cash and candy in hand; in fact; I have." Gaius responds.
"Man, lucky." Douglas mutters.
"What would you do with money, you're trapped?" Pastry asks.
Ike simply sighs. "You men and your morals…"
In the dining room, Jibby is curled up on a chair with a large, fluffed up cushion. His eyes are closed and his tail is almost an act of comfort for himself; it's like a hug to the small kitten, who is thoroughly enjoying it! Watching the ball of ginger fur is Epictale, who is smiling brightly! They begin to wander over to them; wishing to stroke them and hear purrs of utter joy.
Instead, however, she loses her balance, stumbling and knocking the small bean off of his cosy spot. Jibby lets out a screech; honestly frightened that their time had already come! He lets out a quiet cry, where Epictale kneels down in response and pets their head, whispering:
"Spinda, Spin…" Jibby can vaguely understand the creature and accepts their apology with a gentle mew of his own.
In the large hall, the only females are gathered. Hunts, Ashley and Trucy are sitting in a small triangle, whispering to one another about each individual and their perspectives on them. To an extent, I suppose you could say that they were gossiping.
"Who do you think would be the most likely to kill?" Ashley questions, looking to the other two.
"Well, including us…" Trucy trails off, thinking carefully. "Maybe that Pastry guy? There's just something about him that puts me on edge."
"See, I was thinking that Claus kid. The robotic arm, presumably disabled in his sleep; his expressionless face and lack of social skills…" Ashley says, before continuing once more. "Then again, maybe the 'Edgelord' is somebody to keep in mind."
"What do you think, Hunts?" The two females look to the other.
They watch her facial features become analytic; clearly trying to think of a viable answer.
"Given the correct motive, any of us could be persuaded into killing. Fears provoked; ambitions appealed to – just to name a couple – could easily bring somebody to murder. Somebody easily persuaded?" She thinks once more. "Captain Falcon, maybe? Or, perhaps that candy loving fellow?" Hunts finishes and before one of the others can comment on what she has said, suddenly an announcement sounds through the speakers:
"All students, gather in the hall! Hurry, hurry!"
Five minutes later and the females are standing with the other thirteen students, all of them wondering what more could be said after yesterday. Some also hoping that it is just to tell them that it was all a joke and that they can be as free as a wild bird; wings spread and gliding freely through the air!
A couple of moments more and Monokuma jumps onto the stage, grinning widely at each of the students.
"Hiya students of Hope's Peak! Hmm, all of you are still alive, huh? Honestly, I would've thought you would have stabbed each other in the back by now – literally!" The bear laughs; he is the only one to laugh. "So, I may as well help you all along!"
"Oo, you sound like me in the bedroom…" Niles says, smirking.
"You're disgusting." Hunts says, bluntly.
"Eyes back on me, students!" Monokuma yells out. "So, I figured… None of you will kill without a helping hand from me, so it's about time I motivated you! 'How, Mr Monokuma?' Well! Kill and I will not expose you!"
"What do you mean by expose?" Vincent questions, wanting them to expand.
"Anything from nudes to the darkened past you wish to keep hidden! So, if you wanna keep it on the lowdown, I advise you take somebody down!" The bear shuffles on his feet slightly. "I'm excited already; take care students, or don't!" Seconds later, and the headmaster disappears once more, almost as if he never came, though he evidently did, because there is a large change in the dynamics: dodgy eyes darting to and from other individuals; frequent shifting of feet and tension.
Well, apart from Vincent who simply walks off, not caring for his past being revealed; his body or – above all – socialising with those people.
What he did not know, however, is that other people were tempted by such a motive and that this could be the last night he sees the people he despises.
Day 3:
Ike awoke in the early hours of the morning in a cold sweat. Sleep disturbed, he decides that he should try and wash away the feeling of anxiety; the feeling of possible impending doom that makes him sleepless and irritable. He has a towel wrapped around his waist, hiding any of his private (for now) parts; taking deep breaths as he walks…
That is, until he stops, upon spotting a foot sticking out from underneath one of the changing cubicles' doors. Slowly, he edges towards it:
"H-Hello?" He speaks uncertainly, finding silence to be the only answer. "Hello!" Ike becomes bolder, but still there is no response. Just… Silence.
Another deep breath and he latches onto the door, before prying it open. The Ultimate Warriors eyes widen as before him lays a paled corpse; one that just as easily could have been him…
"In Naga's name…" He gasps out, suddenly jumping when he hears another voice: Gaius's.
"Ike? What are you gasping about?" He questions, walking through the door. "I was just…uh, let's say peeing."
"Gaius… Alert the others." Ike turns to face them. "There has been a murder; somebody submitted to the temptations."
Around ten minutes more and everybody is in the shower room, the living 15 gazing at the corpse… Blood is spread across the floor and smudged against the wall and their clothes are severely ripped from top to bottom. Who's clothes?
Niles' clothes.
Suddenly, a voice sounds through the speakers. One all too familiar and one that reinforces just how real all of this is: Monokuma's voice.
"Wow, wow! Somebody disrupted the peace alright! I'm cracking up over here; your faces are real priceless! Now, before you cause an uproar, I recommend you keep listening to me." He pauses. "Open your eNotebook to page 6." Those with their notebook decide it best to do just that. "Now, read!"
'An Introduction to Murder and Trials
If you are reading this, it probably means you have been instructed to do so or you are a nerd who enjoys reading the most boring of manuals. This means that somebody has been murdered on school grounds and that the 'blackened' student has disturbed the peace.
I promised the murderer freedom, however that will not yet be granted.
First, there will be trial. Where there's a murder, there is also a trial to be held. Whoever did the crime must do the time, right?
At any rate, every trial needs evidence and that is something that you will have to find. The killer is presumably new to this and would have more than likely have left some clues as to who exactly committed the crime.
Find the clues; build up a case and prepare for trial. For, it might just be you on the firing line!
If the killer is identified and voted to be punished with at least majority votes, then they will not be allowed freedom and will instead be 'gifted' with something else.
If, however, the killer is not identified and somebody is wrongly accused? Well, let's just say I would not like to be put into your shoes. The killer will walk free and every remaining students' will be punished.
Keep hope. -Hope's Peak Academy Team'
"Read it? Good! Now, get to it!" With that, the speakers fall silent.
With all the newly received news, the students split in hope of gathering the evidence and catching the culprit red handed – pun unintended.
Pastry is the one left examining the corpse itself along with Captain Falcon. They aren't really bothered by the corpse itself, so checking for bruising and any signs of struggle is pretty easy for them.
"This is pretty exciting, don't ya think?" The Ultimate Hype says, rolling up a ripped sleeve to check their wrists.
"Somebody has just been murdered. Of course, it is 'thrilling'." Pastry responds, tilting Niles' head forward to examine that, which is when he comes across a raised bump and how the blood is coming from their mid-back area. "Flapjack, he's been backstabbed – literally. Man, the bear chose his puns accurately."
"Huh, seems to be stemming the bleed, but why would they want to do that?" Captain questions, when another voice responds.
"They didn't want to ruin their message." Vincent approaches them, directing their attention to the wall he leans against. "See? There's a large cross painted with the victim's blood. What it means, however, is another matter altogether."
"X marks the spot." Pastry says, simply shrugging their shoulders. "Either way, one of the kitchen knives were used."
Captain Falcon alters his position to get a better look at the wound and weapon.
"There's bruising on their head, perhaps they were knocked unconscious or maybe they whacked it as they fell?"
"I can't begin to build up the image." Captain Falcon responds once more.
"Then, allow a lady to do the work for you." Trucy speaks up, having watched and listened carefully. "The victim was whacked on their head to lower them down enough for the individual to thrust the knife into their back either that or to temporarily stun them and make their job easier." She pauses. "The back would have been easiest for this, of course. Hence why they targeted that precise area. The victim never would have seen it coming."
"And, how would you know?" Vincent questions, watching their face closely.
"My father works in this business and I have been associated with some of his cases before, so of course I have picked up a thing or two." She responds, expression not faltering.
In a dorm room, Virion and Frederick are having a frantic conversation. Nervous; afraid, possibly and most definitely on edge. The words they share are unheard, however, Claus was close enough to identify the frantic worry on their features as they separate and 'look for clues'.
Ashley and Hunts are once again in the hall, sitting on the ground as a duo as opposed to a trio. They are not nervous in the slightest, and could not care less for evidence; nor could they care for prayer. Still, however, they can be seen fumbling with sleeves. Clenching; releasing; rolling up the ends slightly, while also thinking carefully and silently to themselves:
'Who would want to kill Niles?'
Also in a dorm room are Chrom, Robin, Jibby and Epictale. The two decided to care for two of the more sensitive and innocent members of the group. They distract them with little snacks called: Poffins; small games and charades! While doing so however, Chrom and Robin are making flickers of eye contact, almost seeming to be having a secret conversation to both Jibby and Epictale.
Every student is in the frame; every student is searching, thinking or question and every student is on edge, asking these questions: who killed Niles? Why did they kill Niles? Can the case be solved at all?
Then, there's the big question: Can they trust anyone?
