A/N:
Survivors: 13: Haru, Celestia, Sakura, Aoi, Chihiro, Leon, Kirigiri, Naegi, Fukawa, Togami, Mondo, Ishimaru, Hagakure
Killed: 3: Junko Enoshima, Sayaka Maizono and Hifumi Yamada
Chapter 2: Ever After
The next morning, everyone showed up for breakfast. It was a grim reminder that a dead body was in here, but they forced the thought out of their mind. Naegi looked terrible. "I want to say I'm sorry to all you guys."
"Eh?" Mondo was surprised.
"I accused all you guys for murder."
"Let it go Naegi." Haru spoke up. "It wasn't you who turned it against Maizono-san."
"Haru-chan."
"Anyway, you should be smiling."
"Eh?"
"Because it was what Maizono-san did a lot. Her smile was really nice wasn't it." Haru forced a smile for Naegi. "If you want to remember the best of her, you should keep smiling more and more." Then her smile faltered. Asahina and Sakura were quick to comfort her which just triggered the tears since comfort took so long to get to her before.
"So even Takahashi has those feelings." Togami said.
"Shut up!" Asahina shouted back in anger.
"You shut up swimmer idiot!" Fukawa snapped back.
"Swimmer idiot?!"
Haru stood rubbing her eyes to stop the needless tears. "I need to go to the bathroom."
But then Monobear appeared on the screen. "Hear ye! Hear ye! In Hope Peak's Academy, after each Class Trial, a new world will open! If you don't provide enough excitement, ignorant people of your generation will get bored quickly! Anyways, go search freely!"
Everyone went to the second floor to see it opened. They discovered a library, a pool, a work out room, and more classrooms.
Dear Notebook,
It's already been a couple of weeks and if I said I hate myself before. I hate myself more. I am not introverted. Despite being secluded by my parents, I always wanted to spend time with people other than my trainers. I wish I never wanted that because I, yet again, caused people to die.
Haru stopped for a moment. She held down her angered feelings to describe the events.
But I'm getting a head of myself if I want to explain clearly. After Maizono's trial, we were allowed in the second floor. On our way up, Asahina tried to cheer everyone up, but then Togami was the pessimistic asshole again. I wasn't surprised that Oowada and him got into a fight again at the library. The others glanced at me to do something. I didn't do anything because Togami bad mouthed about us choosing Maizono in the HIM! I was looking forward to Togami getting smacked! Ishimaru tried to stop them himself but Oowada pushed him out of the way easily. Can't any guy do something?
In the end, that arrogant prick walked away and Fukawa ran off thinking nobody would care if she would die. I wish I would've told her that I would. We never officially talked because she always kept her distance and glared at me as if I did something wrong. Maybe I did.
After Fukawa ran off, Asahina suggested for going for a swim.
"Hm? I guess you right." Sakura agreed.
"I could use a good swim. What about you Koala?" Haru turned to Leon.
"It's Kuwata!"
"Whatever." She turned away smirking.
"Then shall we go?" Celestia asked.
Asahina turned to Fujisaki. "Neh, neh, you too Fujisaki-san."
The girl looked up at her surprised.
The girls except Fukawa and Kirigiri went to the girl's locker room where we were explained by Monobear of how the boys and girls weren't allowed to enter the other room with someone else without being killed. It was a little extreme but that wasn't the point. After his appearance, it ruined the mood for a good swim so we spent time at the cafeteria instead when Asahina suggested eating a snack. Not that ramen is a snack but she thinks so.
Fujisaki continued to be incredibly sweet and interesting with her ideas about programs. It must really suck to have a talent you can't use in a computer-less place. Celestia is a straight up liar which is not at all a surprise since she is a gambler. Wouldn't be surprised if her name wasn't real.
Celestia sipped her tea. "This is delicious Oogami-san." She complimented her.
"Thank you Celestia-san."
"Though it is a pity. I would have loved for one of the boys to be the one serving me tea, but none of them shows to be worthy." The ojou told them.
"Even Naegi?" Haru arched an eyebrow.
"He is a D-rank. I will admit that he has some charm." Celestia pondered on that issue.
"Since we're talking about guys, let's admit whoever we like!" Asahina suggested.
"I do not have such a crush for I still have my first love." Sakura responded.
"Ah right, the person you have to defeat in order to be the strongest." Haru remembered.
"Someone can defeat Sakura-chan?" Chihiro was surprised.
"Yes. Fighting is a scientific sport but for him, such 'theories' does not work for him. He does not become the best through methods of training but because he continues to fight. Even to this day, he fights."
The programmer was in awe. "I hope to meet him someday."
"Perhaps you will because he will continue to live as long as he fights." That sounded downcast.
"Is he in trouble?"
"He is battling with a disease but as long as he fights, he will live, and I wish to do the same so we shall fight again."
Sakura's heart was truly pure of love that I envied her. Asahina on the other hand was not so much.
"It must be nice having a boyfriend. I wish I could have a boyfriend. People tells me that I'm not girly so if I get a boyfriend, I could become girly. Maybe..."
"You don't need a boyfriend Asahina." Haru told her. "You should get a boyfriend because you like him, not because he can give you something. You should stop making excuses."
"Excuses? When did I make an excuse about anything?!" She got angry. The soccer player wasn't intimidated.
"I'm telling you this because I care. You tell yourself that you have to be girly because your a girl. But the truth is that you want to please other people. You guys agree with me right?"
The girls didn't look like they wanted to be pulled into it but they did agree.
Haru placed a hand on Asahina's shoulder. Something her therapist did a lot. "You're worried that you're gonna get fat and ungirly that you won't ever get a guy to like you, but who you are makes you charming."
"As Takahashi-san said, I must agree." Celestia responded placing her chin gently on her fingers. "As the famous writer Oscar Wilde once said, 'Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken.'."
Asahina looked at Sakura who nodded. She smiled. "You are absolutely right!"
Afterwards, Celestia retired to her room. Sakura and Aoi went for a swim while Haru decided to spend time with Chihiro. "So you want to make this program that is kind of alive."
"Mm hm." The teen nodded. "It's a new project of the question answering system but with an artificial intelligence attached to it but then reaching to the point of a strong A.I. may never be finish."
"Then maybe someone else will pick up your work. The same thing happened with the window wipers. We wouldn't be able to drive in the rain if someone didn't pick it up." Haru said reassuringly.
Chihiro pondered on her words. "I hope so. What about you Haru-chan?"
"Me? Well, I'm just training til we get out. Once I'm out, I'm actually heading for a special place."
"A special place?"
"Yeah, I'd like to call it home, but then that's not really the right word for it. I'm not really comfortable talking about it yet."
"Ah, sorry!"
"No! It's okay Fujisaki! It's nice thinking about that place, but right now it should be about getting out." Haru saved herself the depressing moment.
Fujisaki left to her room after that. I decided to lightly jogged but then Ishimaru caught me before I could. So I sped walked until I bumped into Hagakure. He was really odd but also funny to be around. Asahina can't take the gibberish he talks about but I just laugh. We shared a similarity in having scars and joking about them. His own was on his back due to having trouble with a gang. My own was, of course, due to an accident you know very much of.
I swear the dude has weed in his room but doesn't wanna share the limited stash he has since he needs it to relax. Good thing that I don't smoke weed. I hate taking anything that's considered to be medical after being forced to take meds every day back at that place. You already know that I rely strictly on my immune system more than anything else now.
"Yo Haru-chan! Filled with energy I see! Hey, since we're best buds, I'll give you your fortune for a super duper low price! I'll cut my usual fee of 100,000 yen for two hours down to a special extra low price of 90,000 yen!"
"I'll give you 10,000 for just five minutes to see my fortune."
"40,000!"
"Deal. I'll pay you when we get out of here."
"Sweet! And by the divination, I see that you will have four children but two of each will have different fathers!"
"This is bullcocky! I want my money back!"
"Eh?! It's thirty percent the truth! And what I saw! Plus you didn't even pay!"
"Then I won't pay you!"
"That's unfair!"
"Fine I'll give you the 10,000 yen as promised after we get out!"
"Right! Wait, we-"
"Goodbye!" Haru ran away ignoring Hagakure's complaints. Ishimaru caught her again but she continued running anyway being chased by Hagakure and Ishimaru. She then pulled Kirigiri randomly to run with her because she just felt like it.
"Why are we running?"
"To live!"
"Huh?"
Haru grabbed her hand leading her to the elevator closing the door on the boys. She raspberried them as the door closes.
"Takahashi-san." Kirigiri spoke up.
The girl looked to her smiling. "Wassup?"
"You are very lively compared to this morning."
"Yeah, well, if I don't be, then that'd make me a hypocrite for what I told Naegi right? He was really down that Maizono died." Haru felt her heart clenched but then tried to continue smiling. "Naegi also happens to be better too."
"Yes. As long as we concentrate on our priorities then it's best that he continues to act this way...Are you afraid Takahashi-san?"
"Huh?" The elevator door opened. They took a walk to nowhere in particular.
"To be locked in this school?" The purple hair girl questioned.
Haru thought about this. "It's not so much as afraid, as I am pissed off. I have questions and I want them answered! What about you Kirigiri?"
"I am but I do not show it. There's no benefit in showing others that you're afraid. You are truly not afraid?"
"Oh, I'm afraid. Just that I have bigger priorities than to be scared."
"Such as?"
That was actually the first time I talked to Kirigiri. I don't trust strangers at all, but it wasn't like I could dodge her forever. You'd understand. Kirigiri nailed the last trial which could've killed all of us if everyone thought it was me. She asked questions that I didn't feel so much comfortable of answering but I figured I needed her on my side.
"Someone dear to me is out there, and I don't know what happened. Bravery is putting other priorities over your own. Right now that person is my priority."
"That's very noble of you. I will be taking my leave now. Bye." The mysterious girl walked away.
I ended up spending the rest of the day with Sakura and Asahina at the training room and swimming pool. The next day got a lot more interesting.
Haru was walking out of her room for breakfast. She saw Leon exit his room. "Hey Koala! Insane yet?"
I've gotten closer to Kuwata. I know that we're in a high school where we have to kill each other but after what happened, I have a feeling that I can trust him to not be a total moron. He's really fun to tease and hang around. He acts like a total douche but after knowing him better, he's a really sweet sensitive guy. We play catch together when he admits that he misses baseball. Ha! No athlete can resist the game!
I always wanted to have a sibling. People I know with siblings find it a pain, but then they're really lucky to have someone who was willing to play with you or at least have someone to talk with.
I told myself to not get too close, but it's really nice to have someone close to me like a brother.
"How many times do I have to tell you that it's Kuwata?!" He growled at her.
"Anything you say Koala. Joking aside, you've been getting closer to Chihiro recently." She grinned at him as they began walking.
The red head blushed. He gave a big smile with his hand scratching behind his head. "Wha-what are ya talking about? We're just friends!"
"This coming from a ladies man?" Haru scoffed playfully. "Though I'm surprised. I thought you'd hit on Asahina of all people."
"She's hot but she's not really my type. I don't date girls stronger than me."
"Oh? And what is your type?"
"I like really cute girls. Chihiro's way too cute though. It's practically a sin to date a girl that cute! Y'know what I mean!"
"Pffbt! I'll let her know."
"What?! Don't! Aurgh! She'd never talk to me if you do!"
"I don't think any girl should be talkin' to a lazy lame-o like you!"
"I'm not a lame-o! If ya think my fans will sit idly by, yer sadly mistaken!"
"Reality check, your fans can't get in 'ere." They entered the cafeteria hearin Oowada shout something about a man's promise. "What's happening?" Haru asked Asahina.
"Oowada made Chihiro cry and now promised to not shout anymore. Which is doubtful."
"Hey, I made a man promise so I will!"
"But you're shouting right now!"
"I promised that to her!"
Asahina was dumbfounded by the biker's actions.
"But I really do want to become stronger. I don't want to be weak and cry anymore." Chihiro said. "Maybe I should exercise!"
"If you chose to, then I shall do whatever I can to help." Sakura told her.
"Eh? But why do you want to be stronger." Leon questioned. "You're a SHSL programmer. Being strong shouldn't matter."
"Ha! You shouldn't be the one saying that Koala!" Haru teased him.
"IT'S KUWATA! And I'm every amount of strong than you could imagine!"
"Then let's see about that!" The girl jumped him into a wrestling match.
"No fighting in the cafeteria!" Ishimaru scolded them.
"Hmph. Such childish behavior. And for a second I thought you were a challenge." Togami said disappointedly. "But even you fall into the false sense of security in this so called friendship."
Haru stopped arm locking the red head and glared at the blonde with crossed arms. "And you're always a downer. Shouldn't you be in the library?"
"I'm heading there right now. You should try reading some time or else your insignificant brain might shrink even further from your current IQ."
"I feel so much joy for your future whores."
Celestia told me about how the Togami business works. It makes me sick thinking about it, though I doubt many think the same. Considering how many women I see in those stupid dating shows.
I wish I could wipe away all those smirks he gives me. It's no secret that Fukawa is her stalker and always gives me these dirty looks.
Ignoring the incurable jackass, after breakfast, Hagakure tried to score more loot from me, but I sneakily got away and end up encountering Naegi. The guy wanted to talk to me to pass the time. I basically told him like the others the general things about me. Though I added some other personal things that I only told Asahina and Sakura. Naegi seemed trustworthy. Blackmail didn't look like his thing unlike Celes.
"Eh? None of your teammates wanted to be friends with you?"
The soccer player sighed. "Yeah. I tried to be friends with them but they all shun me out for some reason."
"That's terrible! I can't imagine you being shunned out!" Those dorky words made the athlete smile.
"I was, and then when I got appointed soccer captain, I became this, and got shunned out even more."
"But isn't Soccer a team playing sport."
"We could perform as a team if the girls just shut their yap and do as I say! If it wasn't for me, they would've still kicked like a bunch of kindergarteners! My team was the worse! They practically depended on me to do every position on that field! Those freakin' bitches didn't give me respect until I bought their asses to the damn top!"
"...You're rather two-faced, aren't you Haru?"
"Eh?" She glared down at the teen intimidatingly since she was two-three inches taller than him.
"I-I mean- I'm not being rude! It's just that at first you were really standoff-ish, but then after a while, you turned out to be this really fun nice girl. I thought that you opened up to us, but then it's really that you changed attitudes."
"Changed attitudes?...That person said the same thing."
"That person?"
Haru realized what she did. "It was nice talking to you Naegi." She sped walked away from him. That was close.
He did say what you told me. The way I revert from a leader to a friend as if I have two almost complete opposite personalities like an eclipse. Cold like the moon but also warm like the sun. I have no idea. You were always blabbering poetic shit but I suppose I also liked that part of you.
Not in the romantic like you! After what I went through, the last thing I want to think about is romance. But I'll tell you what triggered it. A fuckin' food fight. Everyone was bummed out of not being outside because it's boring in here, so I thought that afternoon that we could have indoors fun for once. I had Sakura and Asahina help me with it by helping me make creamy pies as the starter.
I had Naegi be a part of the plan where I threw the pie at his face, he threw the pie but then smashes to Mondo's face which would start a war when the guy throws it. But then Naegi chickened out the last second having the pie land on Togami's face.
Everyone was stunned and not sure whether to laugh or feel horrified for me. But surprisingly the blonde picked up a pie and almost hit me. I ducked and Asahina got hit. She threw the next pie and then a pie fight started that soon was added with other pastries.
Asahina was horrified when donuts were thrown which made us laugh. I barely knew the fuck I was doing as I was trying not to die laughing or fall by whip cream or something. But apparently something happened.
All I did remember was that Monobear got mad and made another rule. Asahina and Sakura called it a success. Naegi apologized for chickening out but I was happy. I was really happy and I think Naegi saw that since he was so easy to read.
Haru took a moment to process that night and how the feeling of happiness and pain like mixed baking soda and acid.
I'm getting ahead of myself. The day before that, Ishimaru and Oowada became 'brothers' out of nowhere. There was something about a hot sauna match. I figured that they bonded and made-out afterwards.
Monobear then appeared on the screen telling us to go to the gym. The fuckin' bear was about to make up real shit.
"I'm bored! There hasn't been a murder yet and you guys are having fun without me! Therefore, I decided to give you guys another motive! This time, the theme will be embarrassing memories and uncovering the unpleasant past! Upupupupu!" Monobear threw the envelopes to the air to land on the ground.
Haru caught hers, and opened it. She wasn't surprised to find that it was about her break down and being sent to a mental asylum. This was definitely bad.
FUCK! If they were to know that I was sent to a mental asylum for attempted murder, they'd never trust me again and leave me alone in isolation! That was what I thought at the moment. The fuck toy told us that all our secrets would be revealed after twenty-four hours if we were to not kill someone by then.
Considering my secret, there was no point in killing if the threat was that they'd think I was a killer. I should also keep an eye on Leon from now on. He almost died again.
Haru ran through the hallways and got to the infirmary where Leon had cast for his broken arm. Without hesitance, she punched Mondo at the face.
"Haru-chan!" Chihiro was shocked. Asahina, Sakura and Ishimaru was surprised by her sudden violence as they entered.
"Don't worry Fujisaki. That punch was something Oowada owed me anyway. I know you're a good guy Oowada but you didn't only threaten Kuwata's life but Fujisaki's own, as well. What the hell happened?" She demanded to know giving a sharp eye to the three of them.
"Uh, Oo-Oowada-san," Chihiro started.
"We were working out and I got him mad. Fujisaki happened to be nearby and heard me scream." Leon explained. Haru knew there was something else but then it wasn't her business to pry in.
Sakura inspected his arm. "This is not good at all. It appears that you arm is heavily damaged to the extent that you may not be able to move it anymore."
"Eh?! Ngggrh!" Leon grunted by the pain.
"If you can feel pain, then there is hope that it may be cured but it would required professional help."
"But since we're stuck here, Kuwata is handicapped." Haru said for the worse to come.
"Bu-but can't Monobear give him the help he needs?! He's still alive!" Asahina questioned.
"Upupupupu! Even if I could, I wouldn't!" Monobear appeared out of nowhere.
"What the hell!" Mondo charged but was stopped by Ishimaru.
"This makes it more interesting than seeing who will kill who to keep their secret! Oowada-kun was very close. If only Kuwata-kun wasn't there, Fujisaki-san's secret might have been exposed along with Oowada-kun's! Upupupupu!"
"Hey, you said you wouldn't reveal anyone's secrets." Haru gave an icy glare to the bear.
I knew by the wording that Fujisaki was in the male's exercise room with the others. If Fujisaki was a girl, he couldn't have stopped Oowada unless she could get in there. Fujisaki was a guy. And Oowada was hot-tempered who ran a motorcycle gang. Being in gangs usually meant doing horrible things so I'm not surprised that he would lose it. In all cases, if Kuwata wasn't there, then surely Fujisaki would've been the one to die. I have enough faith that the moron could've protected himself.
"Unless the twenty-four hours are done. We still have a few more hours." The soccer player reminded the bear.
"I am not exposing anything! My, you are frightening! But then there's no need to worry! I'm gonna delay telling your secrets to the world for another twenty-four hours only to see if anyone is willing to kill Kuwata-kun in his state!"
"What?!" The punk rocker was terrified.
"Upupupupu! You should be careful of who you trust Kuwata-kun. Your arm is what keeps you in line with your fellow athletes but now you're as hopeless as the others! Maybe Oowada-kun would like to have another whack at it!"
"Shut up!" Mondo shouted.
The fuckin' bear was right. Kuwata was an open target and I doubt he would trust anyone to be near him anymore. I would do the same probably if my leg was broken. All I knew was that we had to go back to bed. Kuwata was on edge as we walked towards our rooms so I joked with him on how we had to start playing catch with his left hand and that I'll feed him if he needs help.
It made the mood more awkward than depressing but at least awkward meant giving a mind a tiny bit of ease. So I came up with the food fight and that seemed to brighten the mood. Kuwata had a lot of fun throwing pies at our damn bastard.
For a moment, I felt like there was a crisis adverted, but when I got back to my room for a shower, I came out of that shower to find the bear on my bed.
"Haru-chan, the time is almost up and everyone in the whole world will know that you almost killed one of your teammates and was sent to a mental asylum to not go to jail for attempted murder!"
"What the fuck do you want?" She crossed her arms.
"I bear with good news!" The bear took out a small screen and revealed Haru's therapist tied up to a chair blind folded and mouth taped. Haru dropped to her knees in relief and terror. "You see Haru, I have you precious therapist hostage! And I come with a deal." Haru was too shocked to make words. "If you kill someone before the twenty-four hours are up and do not get caught by the other students, I will reunite you and your precious therapist with loads of cash to live out your lives together! But if you don't, then," He lashed out his claws. "Death!"
"NO!" Haru couldn't fathom the thought of losing that person. "Please! Don't do this! This has nothing-"
"But this has everything to do with your precious therapist. Unlike the other students' love ones, I spared yours because I like you Haru-chan. It'd be a shame if I had to hurt you. The clock is ticking! A murder must be had! Upupupu!"
Haru looked away and then back to see that the bear was gone.
You were the reason I thrived to live this long and continue fighting without having to murder someone. But now your life was on the line. I had to kill someone. I figured I had several targets.
Naegi, Fujisaki, Fukawa, Kirigiri, Celestia, Hagakure or Kuwata.
I obviously couldn't kill Asahina, Sakura, Togami or Oowada. Killing Oowada left me as a prime suspect after punching him earlier and Togami was stalked by Fukawa. I couldn't kill Asahina or Sakura since they'd prove to be a challenge. I cut down my choices.
I could kill Kirigiri since she was the smartest one, but I didn't know where she was. I thought of those I knew and figured that no one would suspect me if they thought I truly cared for someone. I didn't care much for Celestia or Fukawa so they were out. That left Naegi, Fujisaki, Hagakure and Kuwata.
I looked at the clock and felt my heart panicked. I needed to pick fast so I picked the easiest.
Haru rung the intercom. Kuwata opened the door. "Hey Koala! I wondered if you wanted to play catch!"
"Haru? Sure."
He was the biggest idiot. I was desperate and he was injured. It was almost bed time so nobody saw me enter and later I'd leave. We talked while playing catch.
"No way! The Longest Yard is better!" Leon was up against his head board.
Haru snorted sitting opposite of him against the wall. "How can you think that is better than the Blindside!"
"That movie was hella funny!"
"You heartless bastard!" She joked throwing her ball a little too hard.
Leon dodged it. "Hey!"
"Sorry!" She giggled. "I'm sorry but you saw that coming!" She glanced at the clock. Her heart quickened. She had to act.
I had to act. I had to save you. I had to, but I didn't.
"Leon, back then when we got those CDs, what did you see?"
"Eh? Why this all of the sudden?"
"Because I'm curious. What I saw was someone who helped me build my confidence is suddenly gone and I don't know what happened." She bought her knees to her chest. She hooked her fingers together and stares at them as she does. She moistened her lips before asking, "What about you?"
The red head scratched his head. He always did that when his nerves are grated. "So you don't know what happened to that person. Well, I saw my baseball coach and manager telling me to become the best I can be. They doubt that I'd stay away from baseball but support me anyway. Then the damn bear told me that the baseball team split up, the coach was gone and my manger left town. I got nowhere to go outside either."
"What about your parents?"
"My dad is-was my manager." Kuwata said shortly. He scratched his head roughly.
He needed answers too. I probably thought my need was stronger. I thought that you would forgive me for this, but the bastard you are, you would've asked me,"Do you forgive yourself?"
And my answer is no. I couldn't kill him. I'm sorry. I hope that in the afterlife, you forgave me for my choice.
Haru cried on her knees. Kuwata hesitantly walked over to her and hugged her placing her head upon his shoulders.
The next morning, the soccer player woke up on her bed. The screen turned on displaying Monobear casually holding his wine. "Upupupupu! Were you able to sleep well? It looks like something happened to a fellow classmate!"
Haru was shocked trying to remember what happened last night while getting herself ready. She ran towards the cafeteria to find Asahina, Chihiro and Sakura talking to each other. "I'm glad it wasn't you guys." Haru said in relief.
"It appears that it has happened again." Sakura responded.
"But that can't be." Asahina retorted. "It's just an embarrassing memory."
"Well Oowada was close." Haru reminded them.
"Where's Kuwata-kun?" Chihiro asked worriedly.
Haru's heart panicked.
"I'm right here!" Leon walked over to them with a smile.
"Kuwata-kun!" The programmer ran over to him in tears. "I thought someone killed you!"
"Eh?! Kill me? I'm freakin' invincible!" He pointed a thumb at himself giving a confident wink.
"Then who was killed?" Asahina asked.
Naegi soon appeared. "What happened?" He asked.
"You're late Naegi." Leon pointed out.
"We're not sure of who died. We will have to wait until everyone's here." Haru said.
"Would that really be the case? Perhaps someone thinks differently like the plankton." Togami said.
"It can't be Oowada because only an idiot would strike twice, and it can't be Ishimaru since it must've happened after curfew." Haru pointed out.
"That leaves Hagakure, Fukawa, Celestia and Kirigiri doesn't it?" Asahina said.
"It would be a waste of time to wait here. Let's check the scene of the crime. Naegi, follow me." The blonde stood up walking away. The brunette followed.
Haru stayed where she was for the announcements of a dead body found.
The only thing I could of in that morning was whether you're alive or not. Monobear hasn't shown up to me in the morning to tell me anything. I talked with the others about the possibility of which one was likely dead until Celestia showed up and then Fukawa. Then I realized that my ring was missing.
"Where are you going Haru-chan?" Chihiro asked.
"I dropped something. I need to go find it." Haru went towards her room but then found her ring on the floor instead. She figured she must've dropped it on her way back.
Then the bear announced that there was a dead body. Everyone took out their ElectroID and was surprised of who was dead.
Hagakure was found dead on the swimming pool floor. His face was bruised, head was bashed as it was lying on the edge of the pool having the pool tainted with his blood, and there appeared to be a stab wound in his chest. Since no one was a doctor or a professional detective, no one was sure which came first.
Everyone was horrified by how brutally Hagakure was killed. In the files, Hagakure was killed during the beginning of curfew.
As a surprise, Chihiro found drops of blood on the hallway floor in between the library and the swimming pool. They searched the other rooms. Naegi found a chair that appeared darker than usual with a strange smell as if it had been wet. There also happened to be a crystal ball on the table and money tied together under the bookcase. In the laundry room, Sakura and Haru smelled blood in the laundry. Kirigiri inspected the body to notice small hexagonal prints in the bruising.
After an hour, everyone went to the court room.
Togami started the discussion. "According to the Monobear Files, the victim suffered a stab wound to the chest and several blows to the face and head by a blunt weapon which caused his death."
"What could the weapon be?" Ishimaru questioned.
"It has to be a knife since the guy was stabbed right?" Mondo responded.
"A knife again?" Asahina remembered the last trial.
"Right! Hagakure was killed by a knife!" Ishimaru declared.
"You got that wrong!" Naegi exclaimed.
"Eh?!" The hall way monitor was surprised.
"None of the knives in the kitchen appeared to be bloody."
"So it wasn't a knife?" Leon questioned. "The what the hell could have stabbed the guy?"
"That's the problem. The actual murder weapon must have been taken from the crime scene and must be with the murderer." Naegi said.
"You mean right now?!" The baseball player was freaked.
"But what about the other wounds then?" Haru questioned.
"That is to say that the murderer may have used the pool water to clean one of those knives." Celestia said. "The water may be off during the night, but the pool is an exception."
"I figured that one of you may plan on drowning your fellow classmates." Monobear explained while stirring his honey.
"Drown!" Asahina was terrified by the thought.
"So the knife was the murder weapon!" Ishimaru exclaimed.
"Then it was a knife that stabbed him, but then don't you think the stab wound is too small?" Haru said.
"The stab wound in comparison to the width of the knife are incompatible." Kirigiri responded. "The knives couldn't have been used in the scene of the crime."
"Then what could've stabbed him?!" Leon was frustrated by the repeat.
"Let's focus on his other wounds to discover the truth." Celestia suggested. "Hagakure-san also received a blow to the head."
"There's nothing in that pool you could use to kill anyone." Haru said.
"Perhaps it was one of the dumb bells in the training room." Togami suggested.
"Shut up!" Mondo yelled at him.
"It was no secret that you tried to kill Kuwata in the training room with a dumb bell. Because of you, he's even more useless than usual."
"What was that you damn priss?!" Leon glared fiercely at him.
"Why don't you confess already?!" Fukawa questioned.
"I didn't fucking do it!" Mondo shouted.
"The blow does look like a dumb bell could have done it." Togami said.
"That is wrong!" Naegi exclaimed. "It wasn't a dumb bell that killed Hagakure. It was a chair in the library."
"Eh?!" Almost everyone was surprised.
"But a chair wasn't at the crime scene." Asahina pointed out.
"The killer must have put it back." Naegi explained. "You found blood drops on the floor, correct, Fujisaki-san?"
"Y-yes." The programmer answered.
"Then the murder must have taken place near or within the library. Hagakure must have came to the library to find something he has dropped which was the money he dropped."
"Money?" Haru arched an eyebrow. "Oh right, I paid the guy since I figured it wouldn't come in handy any time soon."
I really did. I had a wad of cash my parents gave me before coming here.
"He told me that he was going to try to get more." Haru added.
"He tried to scam me at the library when I was looking for something interesting to read to pass the time." Celestia said. "It was fun scaring him out of it that he practically ran out the room." She giggled.
"So it was a chair that killed Hagakure. But why is there so little blood?" Mondo questioned. He had experience of seeing head bashed to a wall during a bikers' fight.
"The killer must have used the clothes in the laundry room to wipe away the blood which gave them a strange odor." Sakura said.
"What?! Our clothes!" Leon was horrified.
"Ew! It's the only clothes we got left!" Asahina was disgusted.
"But why would the killer make us believe that it was at the pool?" Chihiro asked. "I don't see how the places could be related to the killer."
"I wouldn't say that Fujisaki." Haru said. "There is one person who goes there oftenly." She glared at the blonde. "Isn't that Togami?"
"Then Togami-kun is the culprit!" Ishimaru shouted.
"How dare you speak that way to Togami-sama?!" Fukawa shouted back.
"Quiet you." The blonde ordered. The girl did as she was told.
"You must have finally gotten bored of this place that you killed an unexpected classmate to win." Celestia said. "You must have truly believed that we all got along after that food fight Takahashi-san planned."
"To get along after something as silly as a food fight is completely unreasonable." Togami reasoned. "How about this? Proof."
"There is none, but there may be another culprit." Kirigiri said. "Hagakure's bruises showed a particular shape. Hexagons like a soccer ball."
Oh fuck was What I thought.
"Takahashi-san, show us your hands."
"But wait! Haru-chan was in my room before Hagakure was murdered and didn't leave until midnight or something!" Leon defended her.
"That's against the rules!" Ishimaru cried out. "A girl shouldn't be in a boy's room!"
"Yeah! What do you think you were doing in there you slut?!" Fukawa asked rudely with a pointed finger at Haru.
"Shut it bitch!" Haru snapped at her. "And I lost my ring last night and I found it this morning on the floor back to my room." She showed her soccer ring.
"Is there any proof that you were in Kuwata's room?" Togami questioned.
"How the hell am I suppose to prove that?! I walked in his room, we talked, and I left!" Haru said.
"Just to talk?"
Haru was silent with her arms crossed.
"Haru-chan needed comfort okay!" Leon responded.
"But from you? Why didn't she go to Asahina or Oogami? But instead she chose to confide with you who was coincidently injured not so long ago."
I wished it was Togami who was killed. Leon couldn't even answer that one. There was silence and I couldn't speak. Instead I remembered the crisis I was in.
"Haru-chan." Naegi spoke up. "Did you enter Kuwata's room to kill him?"
My heart was in a twist. I wish you could advice me that time. All I could think was what was right instead of what was best.
"Yes." Haru answered. Everyone was surprised. "I am sorry, Kuwata, but Monobear gave me a deal that if I didn't kill someone before tomorrow, he would kill the one person who was special to me." Tears piled up in her eyes.
It was uplifting saying the truth but also torturous as I continued to tell the truth.
"I kne-knew I needed to kill you!" Haru breathed in shakily as the hot tears fell. "It could've been someone else but I chose you because you were injured making you an easy target! I do care for you, and everyone knew that to! I thought that would make people not suspect me in the end, but in the end, I couldn't kill you!"
The air wouldn't enter my lungs. My legs grew weak that I fell to my knees.
"So you killed Hagakure instead." Togami said.
Haru let out a choked laughter. "If only I did, then that person would be alive. But that's not true is it Monobear."
"Eh?!" The bear woke up from his thoughts. "Upupupupu! I don't want to give it away but then she's absolutely right!"
"That isn't right! You forced her against her will!" Naegi pointed out.
"Upupupupu! But she still had a choice, and instead of killing one of you for her precious person, she chose to kill her precious person instead! And that precious person is her therapist!" Monobear had a poster board up in the air showing the word 'Therapist'. "Most of you know the story that Haru-chan was isolated for most of her childhood but what you don't know is that it bought her to the point of a break down and she attempted to murder one of her teammates! Due to Haru's rash violent behavior, she was sent to a mental asylum."
"Wait! You promised that you wouldn't tell any of our secrets!" Asahina shouted.
"Right! This is against the rules!" Ishimaru agreed.
"You damn toy!" Oowada exclaimed.
"Oh, but Haru-chan told me before the trials that she didn't care if I told you! Anyway, in that mental asylum, she has been forced into different treatments until she met her precious therapist who helped her build her confidence and continue living! But I am truly surprised! Truly surprised that she would chose you, complete strangers, over her precious therapist."
"Shut up." Haru whispered.
"Eh?"
"SHUT UP!" She screeched revealing her demonic face that scared everyone. "You know nothing of why I chose not to kill! That person would have never forgiven me! Never forgiven me if I dirtied my hands! That person thought me that life was precious and it wasn't so simple! Maizono, Yamada, Hagakure- They didn't deserve to die! They didn't deserve to be forced into this!"
"Well it's not about you right now, it's about finding the murderer who killed Hagakure-kun!"
Haru covered her face with her hand gripping the podium hard that it cracked beneath her hand. She took a deep breath in and then out. She removed her hand keeping her head down as both hands held the podium. "Right, we should continue. You guys already know that I am not the murderer, but then it is clear that someone has stolen my ring to frame me."
Everyone felt hesitant by the switch of conversation by what they just learned, but then knew they had to continue.
"Yes." Kirigiri broke the silence. "Any one of us could have found the ring and used it to bruise Hagakure's body with it. The kill was neither planned but whoever killed Hagakure knew what to do in an instant to have inflincted bruises shortly after his death. I believe we are facing a professional murderer."
"A professional you say." Togami spoke. "Then it must be Genocider Syo."
"Eh? The professional killer?" Naegi was surprised.
"Does that mean there is a serial killer among us?" Celestia asked.
"It does and it's Fukawa Touko!" Togami responded pointing at the teen.
"Eeeeeh?!" The glasses girl was surprised.
"Wait a minute!" Asahina interrupted. "Fukawa-chan can't even stand the sight of blood! What kind of murderer is afraid of blood?!"
"She is Genocider Syo but at the same time, she isn't."
"What the hell does that mean?" The biker inquired.
"Are you talking about mulitple personalities?" Naegi questioned.
"That's right." Togami responded.
"Y-you promised not to tell anyone!" The literature girl looked like she was in intense pain.
"Let's hear it straight from the horse's mouth."
Fukawa screamed and then fell to the floor only to rise up and reveal Genocider Syo.
"You called?" Almost everyone was freaked out. "Don't tell me you already know! Whatever. Not like I can change anything! That's right! I am the SHSL Murderer, Genocider Syo!" She introduced herself rowdily. "My real name is lame as hell, though."
"Wha-what's wrong, Fukawa-san?" Ishimaru questioned.
"Gyahahahaha! A healthy murderer dwells in a healthy mind and body!"
"Could the different between her other self be any bigger?" Sakura questioned.
"There is no actual evidence against Genocider Syo since she crucifies her victims, but I believe it's best to broaden our horizon of suspects." Togami reasoned. "Genocider may have chosen to kill her victims differently."
"Shut up ya frickin' scrub!" Genocider told him. The rich teen was surprised by her disrespect. "Listen here! As a first-rate murderer, I'm extrememly picky about how I do things! I only kill guys who get my heart thumpin' and body hot! Oh my, I can't believe I said that! I'm right on course to become a hardcore guy-on-guy porn lover!"
"But then even the best of murderers slip up." Haru said looking up. Her voice was firm but lifeless.
I felt pretty messed up but then I was stubborn to move on. You told me that was my best feature.
"What did ya say bitch?" The murderer challenged.
"Everyone knows now that I went to a mental asylum and trust me, I've been also surrounded by serial killers of different kinds." The soccer player crossed her arms. "You planned on killing the blonde priss didn't you?"
"Eeeeh?! Why would I do that? I do kill hot guys but Togami-sama is special! I'm saving him for later!" She revealed her scissors. "I never leave home without my trusty ol' scissors!"
"You know, this would have been the perfect murder if you had used the knife in the kitchen but then you didn't. The size of the stab and how deep it was looks like a perfect size for your scissors."
I didn't actually now if she was the one but I barely cared. If I thought about it: Oowada, Ishimaru, Naegi, Chihiro and Kuwata wouldn't have done it for simple reasons. Sakura wouldn't have been able to use my ring and Asahina, not meaning to be rude, wouldn't be able to plot such a murder.
That left Celestia, Togami, Kirigiri and Fukawa as the prime suspects. By instincts, I doubted Celestia and Kirigiri did it. Then that narrowed to Togami and Fukawa.
"It is isn't it, but what makes ya think I'd kill an ugly old man?"
"No reason. There doesn't have to be one. Why does the clown continue to try to make people laugh when it knows its scary? It's cuz it enjoys their reactions."
A guy at a mental asylum did tell me that. It gave me nightmares for a few days.
"Are you callin' me a clown?"
"I'm not scared of you."
They got into a glaring match. Everyone was unsure of what to do. There was too little evidence. Even if the scissors was a perfect match for the stab wound, they didn't have the body to test it. Perhaps it was done by Genocider Syo considering how complicated this one was to solve.
Everyone tried to think of everything they found. The crystal ball, the money, the chair, the clothes, the blood drops on the floor, the ring, and the stab wound that may be connected to the scissors.
How could we crack this case? I bet we understood how the policemen felt. Monobear was suspiciously patient for someone usually impatient. There was always a flaw.
Every murderer I met always told me their stories and their flaw of how they got caught. I thought about the whole crime scene again. It was like a fucking calculus math question.
"I'm getting bored! We should vote already!"
"But we didn't chose who was the culprit!" Naegi exclaimed.
"Doesn't matter! You just have to rely on your luck! Upupupupu!"
"That's it isn't it?" Haru spoke up. She looked at Kirigiri. "The clothes." Then lightbulbs flashed. "Everyone's clothes was soaked with blood except Fukawa's own. I don't know if you get off on suicide mass murder but I am not voting unless we're all certain! Sakura and I went to the laundry room to find most of the clothes covered in blood which you used to wipe of the trail. It must've took a heap of them, but even if you are a sadistic murderer, you haven't reached into the insanity of wanting to be soaked in another person's blood unless they were some cute boy!"
"How could I think of being covered in an ugly hippie's blood?!" Genocider Syo hugged herself in disgust. By that response, everyone knew that she was the one who did it.
"Then let's get to voting!" Monobear had them vote. The slot was drawn, and Fukawa Touko was chosen as the killer. "Yahooo! You got the answer! The one who killed Yasuhiro Hagakure was Touko Fukawa!"
"It's Genocider Syo, you neutered animal!"
"But why did you do it?" Celestia asked.
"Do what?"
"Kill Hagakure!" Mondo shouted frustatedly.
"Oh right. It was an accident."
Pause
"Wha...!"
"Listen ya morons! The lame me has been leaving hints that a slut was all over my free man!" The serial killer pointed her scissor at Haru.
"Excuse me."
"She wrote down everything you did. And I saw it for myself of what you did during that food fight you naughty girl!"
"I have no idea what the hell you are saying."
I was already emotionally strained to give a real response. I panicked over my life, yours and everyone else's and then was told that you did get killed that I honestly pushed the last of my spirit to reassure that we weren't killing ourselves by guessing. I couldn't give another crap about what anyone says at that point.
"Don't deny it! You two have been doing the chakalata!"
"You're not making any sense!" Asahina shouted.
"Aaaah, so playing stupid huh. Then I guess I'll have to explain to you fur brains! Whore here has been making moves at Mr. McCheat pants over here! I don't know why that loser thinks that, but if I can't have Togami-sama twice than nobody can!"
I didn't understand what she meant by twice but she was seriously deranged.
"I decided to wait out at the library to kill him, but then I sneezed and stabbed the hippie instead! Gahahahaha! I was really disappointed man. There goes my perfect record not that it was perfect to begin with. Anyway, the pathetic sissy must've fainted by the blood again, and I came back just in time to do some framing! I found the soccer ring that whore had and used it for fun! Gahahaha! Then slammed his head with the chair! I then figured that the swimming pool was open to cause even more confusion! I took everyone clothes to wipe up the trail of blood to make it even more interesting! You guys must have had your panties in a twist! I was for sure that the bruises would have all of you blame the whore! That's a serious downer man." She sighed disappointedly.
"But because Monobear made that deal with me, it was your loss. But there was a chance that Togami could've been chosen instead if Fukawa stuck to it." Haru added.
"That's why I hope this bitch has the ultimate despairing death for giving in so easily! Gahahahaha! Hit it neutered bear!"
"How dare you call me a neutered bear! I definitely look forward to your execution!" He hammered the button.
Genocider Syo was taken by the chains continuing to laugh maniacally as she was taken.
FIRST PRANK KISS
In a dark room, Genocider tickled her nose with the end of her pigtail to sneeze. Fukawa freaked out about why she was there until in the darkness she could see Togami. She runs towards him in hopes to jump to his arms but then a huge roller appeared between them. Fukawa ran away as fast as she could but in the end she was flattened. Her blood splattering all over the room.
The rest of what happened after that was a blur. You were dead. Hagakure was dead. Fukawa was dead. I thought about falling into despair. Over and over again in my head did it tell me to just give up, but then you know me right? You're not angry right?
There was a knock on the door. She thought it was Asahina, Sakura or the other guys who came to give her food or cheer her up. She opened it to find Oowada. She was surprised. She at least expected Naegi.
"Hey." The guy told her roughly. He didn't make eye contact.
Haru was curious of what he could possibly tell her. "Come in." She left the door open for him and went back to her bed putting the book away. Oowada closed the door and awkwardly stood there. "Did you come here to just stand there?"
"Nah." The guy had his hand on his hip, another hand on the back of his head with his face down. "I came here to apologize."
"Apologize?" Haru didn't understand.
"Yeah! I...I wanted to say sorry for hurting Kuwata and Fujisaki." His words were rough but that made Haru understand that he came with good intentions.
"Oh. And?" She hugged her legs staring with interest at the biker.
He groaned. "You know it too right? That Fujisaki is a guy."
The thought of knowing a secret reminded her of the day. "It was a guess. You know about that whole clothes thing at the trial. It was a bluff. I didn't know who's clothes was who's. I figured that it was best to get her to admit it so nobody was stupid enough to chose someone else. Me importantly." She vaguely remembered the other mental patients she met. They were so nice. Nicer than the people outside. "The mental asylum taught me a lot about getting under people's skin." She smiled at him for a moment and then looked away.
Oowada looked away from her and then breathed in deeply. He sat down next to her. He forced the words, "I get it that you blame yourself for that person's death. You feel weak, worthless...that you don't deserve to live but you just got to. Alright?"
"Oowa-"
"Listen! I know we aren't friends or anything but I know from experience of what it's like to lose the person who was the world to you. So if you need someone to talk to, I'm free." He let out a sigh glad to have gotten all that out without screwing up.
There was silence and then Haru smiled. "Thank you Oowada. You really are a good guy. Just a little too hard on yourself." She placed her head on his arm. "You know, in a time like this, I would be asking you how would you know but there's been enough secrets revealed today. We still need to be on our toes."
"Eh?"
"Monobear made a deal with me. Who's to say he hasn't made a deal with the others?"
Afraid,
Takahashi Haruna