The scene before them made Emiri's blood run cold. She wasn't sure how to handle it, but couldn't look away. People rushed in to figure out what was happening. Screams were heard, and everyone seemed to panic. The last one who entered was Akihisa. He stared at the scene, turning a deadly pale. Shaking, he could only mumble,"I'm going to throw up," And immediately ran out. Rio ran after him, worried for his sake.

The room grew quiet. Emiri finally looked at Haru to see another strange sight. He wasn't crying. He wasn't pale. He wasn't screaming. He was smiling. Haru was nearly drooling at the sight. He finally spoke, "A real murder. Holy shit, she's dead!" He exclaimed. The gore freak walked around her, making sure not to ruin the crime scene,"She's pale. Ah, so blood pools like that. Oh, you can see glass shards stuck in her scalp!" Strangely, he seemed excited. This took everyone for surprise.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?!" Suzu snapped finally, "Do you have some sort of gore fetish?!"

"Huh?" He seemed to snap out of it ever so slightly. Haru said, "Oh, no. I just... never seen a dead body before." He smiled, "Honestly, This is perfect for my next story. A crime noir story. The maiden gets hit over the head with a wine bottle!" He held himself, still nearly drooling.

Emiri said,"T..That aside, We... really shouldn't worry. We have Mayu. Mayu can you find her spirit, and ask her what happened?" She tried to smile, having hope that the medium would be able to solve everything.

Then laughing was heard. Mononuki was somehow right beside them. It spoke, barely containing its laughter, "Wow, you think it's that easy? I mean, it could be but Mayu is fucked if so!"

"What...do you mean?" Keiju asked, pale.

"What I mean is that collar around her neck. If she dares reveal who the killer is, or any vital information, it will quickly send lethal poison into her neck. A painful death for making the game too easy."

Those words caused Mayu to scream, falling down. She touched the collar,"T..that's why this is on me?!" She was terrified. One wrong move, and a painful death awaits. She could faintly see Setsuna's spirit, but she wasn't allowed to use it to help anyone. Despair in the shape of uselessness.

Emiri knelt down, trying to comfort her,"It's okay, dear. We will figure this out. You don't have to use your talent" She tried to smile to make her feel a bit more at ease. Mayu was crying, covering her face. It was obvious to tell she was terrified and overwhelmed. The death and the threat was too much for her to handle. Feeling bad, Ryuu offered to bring her to her room.

"Sorry to ruin a moment, but this is serious. We need to investigate. However, two people should watch the body to make sure the murderer doesn't try to hide any evidence." Yuma stated bluntly,"I will be one of them, since I'm the strongest of us all."

"I'll watch too!" Chirped Chizuru, who seems to have seen gorey scenes before. She wasn't too bothered by them.

Haru said,"This is exciting! A real murder! First, let's examine the body." He grinned. Yuma looked irritated.

"Don't touch the body. Have someone less creepy do that." Yuma bluntly spoke.

Chizuru knelt down, checking,"Hmm, Blow to the head, stabbed with knives on her chest, stomach, and thigh. There's also a small slash on the side of her ankle. It's hard to see since she fell down like this." She calmly poked around,"I'd like to think that she was knocked out before stabbed to death. Seems the most likely. Looks like there was a struggle though."

"You think?" Emiri asked.

"Yeah, the killer had to knock her out by hitting her head with enough force. Perhaps so they wouldn't be overpowered. Setsuna was a strong young lady." Chizuru continued,"Plus the slice on her ankle looks like she tried to kick at someone, only for them to cut her."

"I see. How interesting!" Haru replied.

The next thing to do was to look around. Haru noticed a little scrap of paper that looked burnt. He said, "Think this has meaning?"

Emiri took it, "Hmm, Maybe?" She looked thoughtful,"But it doesn't seem like it." She continued, "How about we look around the room?" She walked around, taking a careful look at the surroundings.

Banri spoke up, reading his phone,"It says the time of death was around 10pm. What was everyone doing around that time?"

Emiri said,"Most of us were in our room, or in the dining area." She thought about it calmly. She continued,"Plus, those of us in the dining room would've seen someone come out of the food storage room, covered in blood."

"There's no other doors to the food storage room. So how did the killer leave without getting noticed?"

"I'm not sure." Emiri said with a frown.

Haru said,"Hey guys, check this out!" He was on his knees, looking into a cabinet.

"What is it, Haru?" Emiri asked softly.

"There's a hidden door in this cabinet. It's big enough for someone shorter to curl up in." Haru stated, opening it to see it led to the hallway. Haru continued, "If they escaped out of this, they could've just got onto the elevator, and rushed to their room."

Emiri said,"That's true."

Next, they went outside to the bar area. Emiri said,"Well, Setsuna was drinking wine last night, so we know where the wine came from. Akihisa probably gave it to her." She looked around the bar, then noticed something,"Hey, there's night-time cold medication here."

Haru walked over,"Really?!" He asked, worried,"Think the killer tried to weaken her by making her tired?"

Emiri shrugged,"I'm not one hundred percent sure. But it's a chance." She sighed a bit.

Ikki walked over,"Did you guys find anything?" He asked, curious.

"Well, I'd like to think we found a lot." Haru said hopefully.

Ikki tilted his head to the side, in a daze. His cheek had a scratch on it, that had a little bit of dried blood on it still.

Emiri said,"What happened, Ikki?"

"Oh. Last night I was asleep in a cabinet, and when I got out to go to my room it scratched my cheek." He said, not concerned about it.

"Huh." Haru said, confused.

Time passed. It felt like forever, but it was finally time for a trial. Mononuki appeared on the monitors,"Time is up everyone! Head to the elevators and go to the basement! It's finally open! Can't wait for a fun trial!"

It seemed like a cruel joke. But for Haru, he was excited. He had been trying to figure out this mystery, and he believed he knew the answer. He left his room to see Yuma,"Time for the trial, I guess."

Yuma gave a cold nod,"Yes. Let's get this over with." The two walked together, meeting up with some of the other boys. The elevator had a few girls in it already, and they all went to the basement. The basement was an empty room with a single door. The door was beautiful, red and gold. If it wasn't for the situation, Haru would comment on how it looked out of place. Especially compared to the dreary basement room.

When everyone arrived, the door was unlocked. In a neat order, everyone walked in to see a trial room. Stained glass windows that led to nowhere. All of the podiums were in a circle, and each had a name engraved on a gold plate. On one podium was a beautiful picture of Setsuna, with a bloody X over her face.

"What... Is this?" Emiri asked, in shock.

"It's the place we do our trials!" Mononuki spoke up. It was sitting on a throne at the front of the room, "Everyone, take your assigned seat! I need to explain the trials in better detail now!" It watched as they all found their spots. It then continued, "The trials should be taken very seriously. You will all work together to figure out who of you all killed the victim. In this case, it's Setsuna!" It grinned, continuing, "Once you think you got the answer, you will all vote. If the majority votes for the right person, that person will be punished!"

"Punished?" Mayu asked in fear.

"Yes. A death for a death!" Mononuki grinned, "It wouldn't be fair otherwise. But if you all choose an innocent person, everyone but the killer will be punished. So you better hope you get the right answer. Take your time and really figure it out!" It laughed, "Go ahead and start!"

The room went silent for a moment. No one knew how to start, or what to say.

Finally, Yuma decided to start,"Let's start with alibis. I was sober, and so was Chizuru. We were in the dining hall until midnight, after which we went to our respective rooms."

"Yup yup!" Chizuru approved.

Haru said,"Me, Emiri, and Ryuu were all chatting until about 11. Then I got too tired from the alcohol..."

Suzu said,"I got drunk and passed out on the bar. Woke up on the bar too. Ya'll saw me. I was out like a light."

Fuka said,"I brought Mayu to her room after she passed out! I stayed with her because she clung to me." Mayu turned bright red, apologizing under her breath.

Miho said,"Banri and I discussed tattoos. I always wanted one, so we went to my room and looked at my tablet for ideas for one." Banri nodded.

Touya said,"I recorded myself last night. I have video evidence of me goofing off in my room doing a drinking challenge at that time."

Emiri said,"Well, I don't want to call anyone out... But there was nighttime cough medicine at the bar."

Touya said, "Akihisa?! It was you?!" He perked up, amazed, "That's so sneaky, man!" He then stopped, "Wait, nighttime meds aren't really used to knock people out."

Haru spoke up, "Yes, but it does make someone sleepy. So perhaps it was used to make her unable to fight back so easily."

Yuma said,"That's messed up. But it explains why he agreed to do that. Plus, he could've killed her when he went to get more alcohol."

All eyes were on Akihisa, who looked overwhelmed. He spoke up,"You all are fucked up assholes. I didn't fucking kill her."

Rio spoke up,"He was with me all night... I think. I was drunk. We... Spent the night together."

"He didn't leave the room?" Emiri asked.

"Well... He did to get me some water..." Rio looked worried for a moment.

Fuka said,"Whoa! So he did do it?!"

Akihisa snapped,"I did not kill her! There's no way I'd fucking kill her!" He looked insanely uneasy.

Haru said,"Well, we don't have proof you didn't!"

"Wait!" Rio spoke up again, "Akihisa took the medicine himself because he had a headache. He didn't want to get drunk, so he took the medicine! Akihisa wouldn't kill her for more than one reason!"

"Why would he care? He doesn't even know her." Yuma said with a sigh.

"Yes. He did." Rio spoke up. She looked uncomfortable, "Does.. Anyone have her phone?"

Akihisa said, "Rio, you don't have to..."

Chizuru said,"Yup! I do!" She pulled it out, "What do you want with it?"

Rio said, "...Please turn it on and show everyone." She stared away. The phone turned on, and a name lit up on screen:

Setsuna Domen

"Domen? That's..." Emiri's voice trailed off, as all eyes went back to Akihisa.

He sighed and spoke,"Akihisa Domen. Yes, we're siblings. I wouldn't kill my own sister. I went to get Rio water at 10pm but I went to the cafe, not the food storage room. So I didn't even go near the crime scene. Besides, the wine could've been enough to make someone easy to fight. Don't blame my damn headache for it." He stared away.

"Akihisa... I'm so sorry..." Rio mumbled. She couldn't imagine how upset he was. Not only to see his sister dead on the floor, but to be blamed for her murder.

"Who else didn't have an alibi?" Akihisa asked, changing the subject.

"Suzu's could be wrong." Touya stated.

"Excuse me, bitch?" Suzu asked,"I was passed out all night!"

"We don't know that! You could've woken up, killed her, then pretended to be sleep again!" He replied.

Suzu said,"Wait... I did wake up." She innocently looked away.

"So you admit it?!" Touya yelled,"Apologize to Akihisa right now!"

Suzu said,"Do you think I'm five or something?!"

Haru said,"Stop arguing, you two. Suzu, what happened last night?"

"Well, I woke up, and my head hurt like mad. I saw the medicine and took it. As I waited for it to work, I was looking at youtube. I found Touya's video and commented on it."

"Oh really? You liked it?!"

"Take a look at it." She smiled innocently.

Touya happily looked at his phone. His smile turned into a sour face,"Hey! What the hell, woman?!"

"What did she write?" Ryuu asked.

"She wrote "This idiot can't handle his liquor. He passed out and his boxers have dinosaurs on them," Who said you can write about my underwear?!" Touya asked.

"It was funny." Was the reply he got.

"Anyways, back on subject." Emiri said, sighing. The situation was getting ridiculous.

Haru said,"Oh! We can talk about that weird door!"

"What weird door?" Yuma asked.

Haru brought up the picture he took of the cabinet, "This one! It was that lower cabinet that is big enough for someone to hide in if they were small enough. There was a secret door that leads to the hallway!"

Yuma said, "So someone like me, Akihisa, or Banri couldn't use it. We're all too tall." He looked thoughtful.

"Wait! I just realized something." Emiri said, in shock, "There's someone who doesn't have an alibi and is small enough."

Haru realized what she meant, "You mean... Ikki?" He glanced over at the blue-haired male.

"What? Me?" Ikki asked, "I did go in that cabinet... It's comforting. But I didn't know there was that door."

"Where did you get that cut again?" Haru asked.

"I was in the cabinet for a while last night. It scratched my cheek on the way out."

"So... That confirms it?" Haru asked, confused, "But why, Ikki?"

"Huh? I didn't kill anyone." The dazed wanderer looked confused, "I drank a bit, and passed out in the cabinet."

Ryuu said,"Now that you mention it, We did see Ikki last night. He gave Setsuna his notebook when she asked for it."

It hit Haru. He said,"Paper." He pulled out the scrap of burnt paper, "This!?"

Ryuu said, "Looks like it."

Haru asked, "Can... Anyone prove where Ikki was last night?" Silence.

Mononuki finally spoke up,"So, did you all come to a conclusion?"

Haru said, "...I think? Ikki, did...you really do it?"

Ikki replied, "I did not." He shook a bit, "Really, I didn't. I was really asleep!"

Yuma sighed, "This is getting nowhere. He probably is afraid of getting punished."

Fuka said,"Remember, he's the Ultimate Wanderer. He's been around the world, and is basically a survivalist. It's very possible he was strong enough to stab her multiple times if she was intoxicated."

Haru said,"So, let's recap?" Emiri nodded. Haru spoke up again, "So, Last night we all had a party. Right before, Setsuna asked for the notebook, and Ikki gave it to her. Everyone went into little groups, and Ikki wandered off. He went into the food storage room, and stayed there until Setsuna came in. She probably came to give him back the notebook, but had already had quite a few drinks. She put the drink she currently had on the table, and went to give Ikki back his notebook. This is when he decided to strike. He took the kitchen knife, and tried to stab at her. However, she tried to fight back. He hit her ankle, and she fell down. When she tried to get up, he grabbed her drink, and hit her head as hard as he could." Haru looked deep in thought, "Then, when she was unconscious, he took two more knives and stabbed her. He then had to escape without being caught. So he crawled into the cabinet, ran onto the elevator, and cleaned up. Is that all right?"

"Ikki... Why?" Rio asked softly.

"I didn't... That's wrong..." The wanderer looked confused, and started to look around for anyone who believed him, "There had to have been someone else. I can't remember what happened last night!"

Akihisa said,"Drank too much, probably. People do stupid shit when they're drunk. But you killed her?!" He snapped, absolutely upset.

Ikki said, "No... I..."

"Time to vote!" Mononuki sung, as a voting screen popped up on everyone's phone. It said,"Please vote for who you think the blackened is!"

Moments of silence went by. Mononuki smiled as the screen by him turned on, showing a roulette wheel. It slowly stopped on Ikki, "So, you think it's the Ultimate Wanderer? Well, you're right! Ikki Nitta is the killer!" It laughed.

"No! I didn't... That's not right!" Ikki glared, upset. He glanced around for help, but no one would even look him in the eye, "Guys, this is insane! I didn't kill Setsuna..." His voice was soft, and his skin was pale. There was nothing he could do now.

"Ignore him! Anyways, time for a punishment! Ikki Nitta, Please be a good example for the future killers! Let's go!" The ground below Ikki suddenly caved in, a trap door opening. He fell down, into what will be his demise.