II - Overture of Heaven and Hell: Deadly Life
*CW: Contains very mild body horror at the start.
Chapter II: Overture of Heaven and Hell
DEADLY LIFE
...
Rantaro's lazy green eyes shift to the pianist as he lets out a small huff in acknowledgement.
"Huh."
Kaede flinches at the sudden attention the amnesiac is giving her.
"I thought..." He begins to say, "I thought I said not to do anything unnecessary, Kaede." His voice is cool, calm, but has an undoubtedly sharp lilt to it. He rests his face in one hand. "And yet, here we are." The back of his head, once freshly washed and pristinely green is now stained a grisly red.
Kaede tries to stop her eyes from focusing on the indent that she herself had caused the older boy to sustain. Rantaro's emerald eyes slide away from Kaede's and onto to something just beyond her.
"Kaede..." The pianist slowly turns around in the empty nothingness, eyes widening as Gonta comes into view, his eyes glassy, his neck bruised.
"Kaede... why this happen to Gonta...?" Kaede feels herself stiffen at the former entomologist's choked up voice. "Gonta... only want to help stop killing game... only want... to help... friends..."
"Kaede," Yet another voice. One all too familiar to the musician. Shuichi stands in front of Kaede, raven hair a tangled mess, heavy bags under his eyes, skin pale and lifeless.
"You promised me, Kaede,"
Kaede's breath hitches in her throat.
"You promised me you'd get everyone else out alive..." Shuichi barely moves a muscle, merely staring at the pianist with a cold, yellowish-grey gaze.
"W-was Gonta not good enough?" Gonta begins to sob into his freshly cut hands, pierced with glass shards.
"N-no, Gonta," Kaede starts. "If I'd known you were going to... I'd have...!"
"Kaede,"
The musician turns back to Rantaro in a panic. His normally gentle face is dark, a malignant aura radiating from the Ultimate.
...
...
...
...
"Was one victim not enough for you, Kaede?"
Kaede sits up with a jolt, landing on the soft grass with a thud. Wiping the sweat off her forehead, she slowly comes back to her senses, only to sigh with when she realises she'd been only dreaming. Just a nightmare, right..?
"Jesus, finally awake, sleeping ugly?" Kaede glances up from where she'd fallen from. The patio bench. Why was she on a bench in the first place? She stands up, wobbling slightly as she sits back down, clutching the wooden table for support.
Miu crosses her arms, a scowl printed across her face. "You scared the living fuck out of everyone in there, Bakamatsu!" The inventor snaps at the musician.
Kaede blinks. "What...?"
Miu scoffs. "You fucking dropped on the spot in big-d..." She pauses. "Gonta's room... and everyone thought there'd be another fucking Monokuma Musical over it."
"Oh god," She claps her hand over her mouth as she remembers the scene she'd stumbled in on earlier. "Gonta..." Kaede bites her lip as the realisation of the situation washes over her like a tidal wave. Gonta Gokuhara, the Ultimate Entomologist, is dead. Kaede, she'd failed. Her promise to Shuichi... she'd broken it... Kaede hides her face in her hands.
"Oh, Gonta..."
Her mind flashes back to the last time she'd seen him yesterday; how happy he'd looked when Kaito promised to play a tennis match with him. The sheer determination on his face when addressing Ryoma. How he'd always wanted to protect everyone in the academy from Monokuma and the mastermind. And now... Kaede had failed to return the favour...
"Time's-a-ticking ladies!" a certain black and white bear sings as he waddles across the patio towards the pair.
"Hey! Fuck you!" Miu yells at the ursine, who innocently cocks his head at the scientist's profanities.
"Huh? Why are you yelling at me? If you're angry about what happened to your bug-loving friend in there," Monokuma gestures towards the dorms, "Then get mad at the blackened who killed him, not little ol' me!"
Kaede glares at the bear. "There's no way anyone here killed him."
Monokuma looks up at Kaede. "Oh? But I saw it with my own two eyes!"
"Y-you saw it happen?" Miu shifts anxiously on the bench.
* RISE AND SHINE, URSINE *
"Yep! We had popcorn and everything!" Monotaro chirps.
Monokid lowers his head. "Too bad we fuckin' ran out of honey." He snivels. "That shit's the BOMB!"
"You idiot, you nearly OD'd on it a few days ago!" Monosuke bonks the blue bear on the head.
"Stop fighting!" Monophanie squeals at her brothers, still green in the face. "It's bad enough we have a dead body on our hands!"
Monodam trudges over to Kaede and gestures to her backpack lying idle on the ground. "YOUR-MONOPAD. NOW."
Kaede blinks, but follows the green bear's orders, too tired to argue back after the already-eventful morning. She cautiously takes her Monopad out and turns it on, idly watching the school's crest flash up on the screen as the tablet comes to life.
"What's...?" She trails off as a picture of Gonta's bloody corpse appears on screen, obliterating the rest of her question in an instant.
"IT-IS-AN-ITEM-THAT-WILL-HELP-EVERYONE-TO-GET-ALONG." The green bear articulates.
Monokuma cuts in. "Since none of you are professional investigators -" He chuckles. "Not any of you left, anyway..." Kaede bites her lip at the headmaster's jab.
"We've taken the liberty of doing all the dirty work for you with this here Monokuma file!" The bear trills.
Miu scoffs, staring at her Monopad in disdain. "Who the fuck names somethin' like this after themselves?"
"How rude!" Monophanie whisper-shouts at the scientist. "Daddy's files are known across the world!" She points an accusing pink paw. "You should feel privileged that he's giving one to you personally." Miu tenses up at the small robot lecturing her, but Kaede is already reading the file's contents, eyes already scanning the text on-screen.
The victim is Gonta Gokuhara, the Ultimate Entomologist.
His body was discovered in his own room in the early hours of the morning.
His time of death is estimated to be approximately 02.35am
The cause of death is asphyxiation.
The only external injuries present are minor cuts to his hands, face, and feet.
It is also evident that the victim vomited multiple times before his death.
No evidence of poison was found in his system.
Kaede barely registers any of the words written on the Monokuma File the first time she skims through it. Because one word stands out to her above all the rest.
Asphyxiation.
A vision of a girl hanging on by a thread, the rope deathly tight around her neck as the life is slowly and agonisingly sucked out of her as she's thrashed around, much to the amusement of the01110100 01100101 01110010 01101101 01101001 01101110 01100001 01110100 01101001 01101110 01100111 00100000 01101101 01100101 01101101 01101111 01110010 01111001 01110100 01100101 01110010 01101101 01101001 01101110 01100001 01110100 01101001 01101110 01100111 00100000 01101101 01100101 01101101 01101111 01110010 01111001 01110100 01100101 01110010 01101101 01101001 01101110 01100001 01110100 01101001 01101110 01100111 00100000 01101101 01100101 01101101 01101111 01110010 01111001 01110100 01100101 01110010 01101101 01101001 01101110 01100001 01110100 01101001 01101110 01100111 00100000 01101101 01100101 01101101 01101111 01110010 01111001 01110100 01100101 01110010 01101101 01101001 01101110 01100001 01110100 01101001 01101110 01100111 00100000 01101101 01100101 01101101 01101111 01110010 01111001 01110100 01100101 01110010 01101101 01101001 01101110 01100001 01110100 01101001 01101110 01100111 00100000 01101101 01100101 01101101 01101111 01110010 01111001
Kaede feels her throat tighten and constrict as her brain registers the word on the screen. She has no idea why the thought of someone dying from lack of oxygen resonates with her so much, but it does nonetheless. She feels lightheaded as she scrolls through the rest of the Monokuma File. She isn't sure why, but Kaede is certain that, for her anyway, the worst way to die would definitely be –
"Fucking strangulation..." Miu mumbles to herself under her breath, her face as equally pale as Kaede's. The pianist observes the inventor for a few moments as the other blonde cups a shaky hand to her throat.
"Dunno why but it makes me feel fuckin' sick" Miu grumbles.
Kaede's eyes widen. "You too, Miu?" The inventor looks over at the pianist. "Wait, seriously?" She shudders. "That's fuckin' creepy as shit." Miu pauses for a moment before leaning over the table to the pianist. "Hey, d'ya think maybe in some past life we did some kinky-ass-"
"Miu!" Kaede chokes out.
"Heeeee!" Miu averts her eyes. "S-sorry, just tryna lighten the mood..."
Kaede sighs. Even though it makes her (and Miu, apparently) feel sick to the stomach, there's no avoiding it. They have to investigate the crime scene, for Gonta's sake more than anyone else's.
Kaede stands up, swaying slightly as she rises. "Right, we're going to look at his body."
Miu pales. "We're... really gonna fucking do this then?"
Kaede forces a smile. "We can do it, Miu." She holds out a hand. "Together."
Miu stares at Kaede's outstretched hand, slapping it away, much to the musician's surprise. "Hah, you think this Gorgeous Girl Genius needs someone to hold her fucking hand?" She retorts, a little too loudly for Kaede's liking.
"Tch!" A bead of sweat drips down from Miu's temple. "This investamabatin' shit is child's play for Archangel Miu Iruma!" She dramatically points a gloved finger at Kaede. "Just you watch, Kaede! Watch and learn as I figure out who the culprit is the second I see the body! Just like fucking last time!"
As the inventor strides away, her legs wobbly as she leaves, Kaede doesn't have the heart to say that she'd gotten it entirely wrong the last time they'd seen a dead body... though then again... everyone had got it wrong when she reflected on it...
Miu stands frozen in the bathroom doorframe, gnawing at her lip as Kaede makes her way inside to inspect the damage done to the entomologist.
Ryoma sits nearby the now-lifeless Gonta, expression unreadable as he looks on absentmindedly as Kirumi sweeps up the shattered glass particles, being as careful as she can so as to not disturb the crime scene itself. Kaede carefully kneels down next to the Tennis Pro.
"I'm so sorry that this happened Ryoma..." She can't formulate any response to comfort him this time, and she's sure Kaito wouldn't be able to, either. And of course, she blinks rapidly, trying to prevent herself from shedding tears, Gonta also wouldn't.
The mere sight of his fresh corpse stirs something inside Kaede. Something that Rantaro's failed to. Maybe it's because in this case, it's the corpse of a person that had been killed by someone unknown to her...?
With Rantaro, the knife of guilt, shame, and sheer disgust at her actions twisted into her gut immediately after seeing his crumpled form, but with Gonta? She doesn't know what happened. And that's what terrifies her the most.
A pang of guilt sears through Kaede as she watches Ryoma. Guilt because she wants to be able to say that he wouldn't have done such a thing to Gonta, not in a million years. But he could have. But he very well could have.
"Kaede?" The pianist is snapped out of her head by the maid on the shower floor, looking at Kaede and Ryoma with worry.
"Ah, sorry, I..." She glances over at Gonta's body again, swallowing. Kirumi opens her mouth to say something, instead opting to swiftly move to the doorframe and beckon for someone to take her place inside.
Kaede tries to reach out to Gonta's corpse, but his mane of scraggly hair tumbles over his unmoving shoulders like a mud-soiled waterfall, obscuring his neck and upper chest from view. She feels physically sick. She can't do it.
If only he was here –
Kiyo carefully kneels down beside the large body and gently brushes Gonta's tangled hair aside. He silently stretches out a bandaged hand to the musician, who takes it with caution, as the anthropologist guides her into view of the entomologist's bruised neck.
"As you can see." He quietly says the pianist, "There are no rope imprints on his neck."
"So it wasn't a rope that suffocated him." Kaede concludes, trying to stop the shudder threatening to crawl up her spine.
Kiyo silently nods. "Furthermore, the way the imprints are left." He gestures to the way they seemed to suddenly cease at the sides of his neck. "Leaves me to believe he was strangled from the front."
Kaede purses her lips and gently cups her throat in discomfort. It makes perfect sense, yet at the same time, it doesn't...?
Kiyo picks up on the pianist's confusion straight away. "'But how did someone manage to both overpower and strangle someone with such as immense strength as Gonta?' Is what you're thinking, correct?"
Kaede stares at Kiyo. "How did you...?" He chuckles. "Rest assured I am not a psychic. It is merely because I too, am wondering the same thing."
Kaede's eyes focus back on the body. "So, if what you're thinking is correct;" She begins, "Then there wouldn't be a murder weapon present, if the culprit used their hands."
"Precisely." The anthropologist punctuates. Kaede tilts her head to the side. But whose hands would *they* belong to?
She is pulled to her feet by the anthropologist, who repositions the body as best as he can, nodding towards the doorway where Kirumi stands, framed like a Victorian portrait.
Kaede lets out a breath of relief the moment she emerges from the stuffy bathroom.
"Korekiyo examined the corpse moments before you and Miu entered the room." Kirumi begins to explain. "He told me he had experience in ropes..." Kaede raises an eyebrow as Kirumi coughs into her glove. "So I concluded that it would save time if he simply gave you the same explanation he gave me."
Kaede smiles at the maid. "Thank you Kirumi." The maid bows, and moves to resume her sweeping of the glass. Wait, glass?
"What on earth happened in the bathroom?" Kaede inquires, the maid stopping in her tracks to address the musician again. She glances at the crime scene briefly before turning back to Kaede.
"It would appear that there had been some sort of struggle occurring in Gonta's bathroom at the time of the murder." She gestures over to Gonta's dustbin, almost filled to the brim with various sizes of shattered glass. "Both the bathroom mirror and most of the shower walls were broken in the process."
Kaede places a hand over her mouth. "But there isn't a sign of any struggle outside the bathroom at all... do you think that's a clue?"
Kirumi closes her eyes. "It may very well be, Kaede." Her gaze gravitates to Gonta's body. "Though the fact that Gonta himself appears to have been cut with the glass is quite concerning."
Kaede purses her lips. So Gonta got caught up in the struggle... But who on earth had the physical strength to challenge him?
Kiyo emerges from the bathroom, briefly brushing himself down. Kaede nods at the anthropologist in gratitude, who swiftly returned the gesture.
"Thanks, Kiyo." She cradles her arm. "I'm not really used to this whole investigating thing, just yet..."
"That's to be expected, Kaede." Kiyo reassures her. "It is no problem." He walks to the back of Gonta's bedroom, quietly mumbling to himself about it being unfortunate to no longer having a detective to help them with the investigation.
"Ah, Kaede!" Kiibo greets Kaede as she shuffles over to the back of the room behind Kiyo. His face darkens. "I can't believe one of us killed someone like Gonta."
Kaede shakes her head. "I... can't believe it either." She clenches her fist. "But whatever happened to Gonta, we're going to give him the justice he deserves." Kiibo stares wide-eyed at the pianist. "Kaede..."
"Let's see..." Kaede closes her eyes in thought. "The Monokuma File stated that Gonta's time of death was two-thirty-five in the morning."
Kiibo hums. "I highly doubt any of us would have an alibi for that time, as we were all most likely in our rooms."
"Most likely..." Kaede softly echos, her mind wandering to a certain child caregiver who never seems to leave her research lab.
"Tch!" Miu snorts. "Well if anyone did have an alibi for the middle of the night, it's not like they're gonna fucking come out and say it — that'd just fuck them into oblivion!"
"Well then," Kiyo suggests, appearing from the side. "How about we try and think of the final time each of us saw the victim alive?" He holds out a hand in suggestion. "Although he died during the night, there may very well be a clue hidden somewhere as to how the encounter with his killer came about..."
"Ah, that's a great idea, Kiyo!" Kaede exclaims, tapping a finger to her chin. "Right..." The last time she saw Gonta... it was definitely then.
"If it's of any help," Kiibo begins, "I was with Gonta in the dining hall yesterday evening, just after night-time."
"Okay" Kaede nods. "Go on..."
The robot continues. "I believe it was myself, Ryoma, Gonta, Tenko, and Himiko present there as well." Kaede makes a mental note to find the magician and her faithful sidekick later on. Kiibo looks dejectedly down at the floor. "I must say, I do feel slightly at fault for what happened to Gonta... if I had kept a closer eye on him, or escorted him to his room, maybe this wouldn't have happened..."
Kaede places a hand on the robot's shoulder. "Don't say that, Kiibo, I think we're all at fault in a way." She thinks for a moment. "What do you mean, escort him to his room, though?"
"Ahh, that's..."Kiibo's gaze drops to the floor. "Well you see, I was thinking about what Tenko said last night, about my um... gender. And I feel as though..." His gaze lowers. "I don't think I'm cut out to be as refined a woman such as Kirumi after all..."
Miu splutters. "Wait, that's the fucking reason you were cross-dressin'?"
"No, no! Kiibo hurriedly shakes his head. "I-it's not just that!" He eyes the maid as she slides more glass shards into the dustbin. "I think... I was pushing my ideals too much onto Kirumi... and so," He straightens up. "I have decided to become my own person once again!" His eyes flash blue, causing Miu to let out a squeal.
"So, I decided to ask Gonta about it, since he too, appeared to be on a quest to become more of a 'gentleman', and so we had a long conversation in the dining hall last night." He presses a finger to his cheek. "Though, I don't feel as though we really got anywhere..."
"Okay, that's great and all," Kaede sighs. "but can you please tell us what happened with Gonta?"
"Oh, right." Kiibo claps his metallic hands together. "Tenko and Himiko left a little earlier than we did, I believe that they did the washing up as Kirumi was busy elsewhere, and Gonta suggests we try some tea." He looks over to Kaede. "Apparently you were the one who suggested that to him!"
"I was?" Kaede blinks. The memories of Gonta asking her what a good gentleman was to her flood back into the forefront of her mind. Oh, that's right. I did.
The robot nods. "So I poured him some tea from nearby the sink and he had some as we chatted."
"Apologies, Kiibo..." Kiyo says, inviting himself into the conversation. "Did it happen to be green tea, by any chance?"
Kiibo tilts his head. "I think so, why?"
"I see..." The anthropologist pinches the bridge of his nose. "That was being steeped overnight. It was not fit to be consumed until the morning..."
The low hum of Kiibo's internal fans gets noticeably more frantic as the robot begins to panic. "Oh, oh no!" He attempts to bow. "I am so sorry, Kiyo, I completely forgot, I—"
"Relax." The anthropologist holds up a hand. "It is of no concern anymore. I highly doubt that that was the cause of Gonta's death, Kiibo."
Miu scoffs, tossing a blonde lock of hair behind her shoulder. "Yeah Kiibs, not like it fucking grew legs and fucking drowned him to death or somethin'."
Kiibo visibly relaxes. "Y-yeah, I guess you're right. It was only tea after all." He thinks for a moment. "Well, shortly after that, he complained of feeling tired, and announced that he was going to bed early. I must say that it was very out-of-character for Gonta."
Kaede goes over the testimony in her head. "So, he just left after that?"
Kiibo nods. "Ryoma and I offered to walk him, but he was very insistent that we didn't, so he ended up leaving on his own."
"All right— okay." She offers the mechanical student a grateful smile. "Thank you, Kiibo. That was very useful!"
Said robot's eyes light up. "Really?"
Kaede nods again. "Of course!"
Miu slaps the robot on the back. "Good job, Kiibs!" She grins. "I'm proud of ya!" Kiibo looks down at his lap, face reddening (Kaede still isn't entirely sure how that works).
"T-thank you, Kaede, Miu."
"There's other people I want to ask about seeing Gonta, and their whereabouts at the time." Kaede explains as she rises from Gonta's bed and heads towards the door, waving goodbye to Kiyo and a flustered Kiibo.
"Huh? Why the that?" Miu asks, as they leave the deceased entomologist's bedroom.
"Because..." The pianist sighs. "I think I may have been the last person to have seen Gonta alive."
"Hey, genius, dining hall's that way." Miu points to the right as the musician climbs the stairs past the corridor leading to the dining hall.
"I know." Kaede responds without looking back. "There's someone else I need to talk to first, though." Miu grumbles under her breath as she reluctantly follows the pianist to the third floor.
Though as they pass a certain maid's lab...
Kaede stops in her tracks. Miu looks back at the musician in confusion.
Kaede holds a finger to her lips. "Do... do you hear that?" The faint buzz of excited whispering slowly becomes audible to the two girls as they both turn to the embroidered door. Kaede slowly opens it a crack and peers inside to identify the figures behind it, the inventor practically leaning on her shoulder.
"Oooh, Kaede, Miu! Wanna join us?" Angie sing-songs, immediately blowing the duo's cover as she sits off to the corner of the room.
Kaede winces as she pushes the door open, only to raise a curious eyebrow at the artist, preoccupied with straddling a certain Supreme Leader to a chair.
"W-wait, were you guys about g-get it on?!" Miu splutters, face reddening at an alarming rate.
Angie giggles. "No, no! Kokichi and Angie were doing something much more important than that!"
Kaede frowns. "And what would that be?"
"Why, isn't it obvious?" He rests his hands atop Angie's shoulders. "We were just discussing how we were gonna destroy the evidence that was left over after we killed Gonta, of course!"
Miu immediately storms over to them. "I shoulda known two weirdos like you would have teamed up and offed a fucker together!" she snarls. Angie merely blinks at the inventor, calm smile not fading.
"Kokichi," Kaede's hand flies to her temple. "Stop lying and just tell us why you're not investigating..." Angie reluctantly climbs off of Kokichi as he repositions himself on the chair, resting his head in his hand.
"Okaaaay fine," His eyes slide over at the foreign student. "Angie can explain it better than me, though." His smile widens as the artist beams back at him. "Ah— I mean, Atua can, of course!"
Angie presses her palms together over her head and closes her eyes. "Kokichi has decided to dedicate his life to Atua." The artist cooes, creaking one eye open to gauge the dumbfounded pianist and inventor's reactions.
"That doesn't answer the fuckin' question!" Miu snaps, then jabs a finger at the Supreme Leader. "And why the fuck do you wanna join her fucking cult anyway? Don'tcha you already have one of your own?"
"Huh? I do?" Kokichi gives Miu a hard stare, unnerving her to the point that she ends up taking a few nervous steps back towards Kaede. "Oh... so that's what you think of me..."
Angie bounds over to Kaede, taking her hands in her own. "Atua says that you should join us too, Kaede," Something Kaede can only describe as intimidating flashed in the artist's eyes. "If you join now, He would be willing to forget all those times you said you didn't need Him." Angie murmurs as her face gets closer and closer to the pianist's, her bangs creating an eerie shadow over her eyes.
Kaede swallows. "I, um..." Her eyes flicker over to Kokichi, still perched on the chair, smirk adorning his face as he watches on. "I'll... uh... I'll think about it..." Kaede lies, not really wanting anything to do with Angie's slowly growing... cult, she supposes is a suitable term for it.
"Woohoo!" Angie's smiled widens. "Atua is SO pleased to hear that, Kaede!" She exclaims, wrapping her arms around the taller girl in enthusiasm, much to the latter's discomfort. Miu stands a few feet away, aghast. Angie skips over to the edge of the room and slumps down by the wall, giving Kokichi a glance as she clasps her hands together in prayer. "Kokichi c'mon, we hafta pray some more for Gonta's soul to go into heaven properly." She chirps, moving into a kneeling position. "Angie is so close to becoming a Platinum Member, too!"
Miu squints. "The fuck's up with this god of yours? He a fuckin' conman or some shit?"
Kokichi rises from his chair and approaches Kaede. "So, are you two investigating then?"
Kaede frowns. "Of course we are. We have to try and figure out who killed Gonta." She sighs, glancing over at Angie, deep in prayer. "Something you two should also be doing, mind you."
"True, true." He raises a finger to his lip and shoots Kaede a wry smile. "Wouldn't want a blackened running around, would we now?" Kaede feels a chill run up her spine.
Kokichi clicks his tongue. "Aaaanyway, while you're here, I might as well let you know." His eyes slide over to Miu. "Myself and Miu were in her lab for most of yesterday evening."
Kaede's eyebrows fly up. "What?"
"Hah?" The inventor in question crosses her arms. "The fuck's that got to do with anything, shota?"
Kokichi hums. "Oh, nothing really," His gaze lazily rests back on Kaede's form. "Just thought I'd let you know..." Kaede purses her lips. When Kokichi says it in that tone of voice, she suddenly really doubts that. "But, it's weird, isn't it?" The dictator continues on, locking his hands up and behind his head. "Who on earth would target such an innocent soul like Gonta?"
"If we knew that, we wouldn't be in this fucking mess, Einstein!" Miu barks.
Kaede grimaces. "What are you trying to say, Kokichi?"
The supreme leader tilts his head. "Hmm? What am I trying to say, Kaede?"
"Don't play dumb with me." She replies sharply, impatience bubbling up inside of her. "If you're trying to hint at something, just come out and say it. God," She rubs her temples in frustration. "Why must everything be so cryptic with you!?"
"Well, it's pretty obvious, if you really think about it." Kokichi muses as he strolled over to the table in the centre of the room, hoisting himself up onto it. "Don't you think a certain motive probably had some part to play in this case?"
"Motive?" Kaede folds her arms. "Are you referring to the Kubs Kards...?"
"Pffft, no!" Kokichi laughs. "I'm talking about the Kubs Pads, you silly goose!"
"The fuck you callin' an ugly-ass bird?!" Miu flares. "'Sides, we fuckin' wrecked the shit outta those pieces of crap a couple nights ago!" She points accusingly at the smaller boy. "Geez, is your brain as small as your tiny-ass dick, you fucking horse-faced cockroach?"
Kokichi snivels, tears accumulating in his eyes. "M-Miu, that was really uncalled for... I was gonna tell you guys who got whose motive videos but...NOW I DON'T WANNA!" He bursts into tears.
"Do you think the motive videos had something to do with the murder, Kokichi?" Kaede inquires, choosing to ignore his weeping act entirely. Kokichi looks over to Kaede through glassy eyes.
"Y-yes... I do. In fact..." He rubs one eye with his sleeve and clears his throat.
"Hey, so are you two like, done here?" Angie cuts him off, tilting her head to the side innocently. "Angie and Kokichi weren't done praying..." Then, like a lightswitch, her demeaner changers. "Unless you wanna join us? Atua's business hours aren't closed yet!"
"Like we wanna fuckin' stay here with you and that lying little abortion!" Miu growls, then turns to Kaede. "C'mon, Kaediot, let's go back to Kiibs or some shit."
The pianist holds up a hand. "Wait a second, Miu." She glares at Kokichi. "You know who got whose motive videos, right?"
"Sure do!" He sings, crocodile tears a mere distant memory.
"So then, do you think that whoever got Gonta's motive video might have something to do with the case?"
Kokichi shrugs. "Maaaybe. But I mean, you could just go ask them, I suppose." He brings a finger to his lips. "They did confess to having his video the morning they were given out, after all."
Kaede closes her eyes, trying to remember back to the morning the motives were distributed.
"Gonta too! Gonta get Tenko motive video! Why he no get his own?!"
"I mean, if you want yours I got it this morning..." Himiko began to say to the entomologist before being cut off.
Angie's face twists into one of forced surprise. "Woooowwww, so Himiko was the culprit all along! What a divine plot twist!" She turns to Kokichi with a glistening smile. "Atua thanks you for your suuuper smart deductions, Kokichi!"
Kaede frowns. That can't be right... The image of the petite magician somehow managing to strangle Gonta to his death with her bare hands... It didn't seem like anything Himiko would be able to do... or want to do... or be bothered to do... Kaede squeezes her eyes closed. But she doesn't know her that well. She could be capable of anything... Kaede just doesn't know.
"Oooorrr," Kokichi continues in a mocking lilt. "Maybe I'm completely wrong about absolutely everything and he was killed by some demented secret mass murderer locked up in here!" He hops off of the table. "It might be more likely than you think..." He mutters just loud enough for Kaede to hear as he skips out the door, Angie at his heels.
"Ahh, geez!" Kaede lets out an exasperated sigh, her palm meeting her forehead. Why does he have to make everything so complicated all the time!"
Miu grunts. "Cuz he's a fucking little shit stirrer, that's why." She heads towards the door. "Don't fucking listen to him Kaeds, he's just tryna make us all confused and shit." She scoffs. "We can fucking solve this case with our eyes closed!"
Kaede blinks. "Miu?"
Miu spins back around. "What the FUCK is it now!?"
"... Did you just call me 'Kaeds?'"
"Wh-what?" The inventor stares at Kaede. "I-I mean, I meant to fucking say Bakamatsu, i-it just came out the w-wrong way, a-and—"
Kaede cuts her off by walking past her, smirking. "I'll pretend I didn't hear anything." She gestures in the direction of Gonta's lab. "Anyway, there's someone's whereabouts from last night that I'm curious about."
"I knew you'd be here." Kaede indifferently states as she approaches the enigmatic door that lead to the unknown.
Kaito runs a hand through his hair, chuckling nervously. "That obvious, huh?"
Maki rolls her eyes. "It's his choice that he constantly pesters me." She crosses her arms. "It's not like I want him here or anything."
Miu approaches the group, breathing laboured from the climbing as she appears at Kaede's side. "T-that's what they all fuckin' say..." she exhales, not noticing the steely red eyes on her bent-over form.
"So," Kaede begins, avoiding Maki's eyes as much as possible. "Why are you here, Kaito?"
The astronaut glances over at Maki. "Well, I think you'd passed out by the time we'd gotten over everything but Kirumi suggested we all go investigate in pairs so..." he trails off as he nodded in the direction of the Caregiver, changing the subject almost immediately. "Still though, half-two in the morning?" He habitually cradles the back of his neck in one hand. "The hell was he doing at that time?"
"Dying, apparently." Miu clicks her tongue impatiently.
Kaede shoots the inventor a sharp look. "That was uncalled for, Miu." The other blonde lets out something akin to a whimper.
Maki silently scrolls through her Monopad, only muttering "asphyxiation" just loud enough for Kaede to hear, throat tightening up again.
"So are you alright now, Kaede?" Kaito inquires as the pianist turns to him. "Earlier, I mean." He continues. "You passed out after seeing Gonta's body. Tenko and Tsumugi both took you outside."
"Ah," She anxiously grips the brim of Shuichi's hat between her thumb and forefinger. She makes a mental note to thank them both the next time she sees them."I guess so, just—" The image of Gonta's limp body flashes through her mind.
"Don't get all mopey about it." Kaito blankly says, his brow furrowed. "There's nothing we can do about it now, so there's no point in blaming yourself getting all sappy and shit over it."
"I guess so..." She chews her lip. It still feels as though it were her fault though, since she'd started the whole killing game up in the first place.
"So what did you two want with me?" Maki blankly asks.
Kaede blinks before adjusting her cap. "Oh, um..." she averts her eyes as she feels another chill coming on at the mere sight of Maki. "Since we can't figure out a time of death, we've decided to just see when everyone last saw Gonta, just to get an idea of what the situation could have been..."
"Well," Maki raises an eyebrow. "I saw him once yesterday. He came to my door with Ryoma and asked me if I wanted anything to eat." She narrows her eyes. "That's all." She glares at the three other students in turn. "Can I please be left alone now?"
Kaede sighs, but musters up the patience for one last question, "Almost." She looks over to Kaito, who'd been awkwardly hovering beside Miu during the whole exchange. "I get that Kaito likes to uh... loiter out here sometimes, and neither of us, nor Tenko saw you return to your dorm during our training session last night. Was there anything out-of-the-ordinary that happened last night when we were all asleep?"
"You do training?" Maki raises an eyebrow at Kaito. "With her?" Kaito looks away and awkwardly pulls on his jacket.
"Don't avoid the fucking question, bitch!" Miu barks.
"Excuse me?" The babysitter's eyes narrow. "Are you two suspecting me?"
"Gonta died after night-time, and you were the only fucking person out at night-time." Miu replies. "You really think we're that dumb?" The scientist stepped forward, attempting to peer over Maki's head. "I bet you're fucking hiding the murder weapon in there and all sorts of creepy child-murdering shit!"
Kaito steps forward to intervene. "Hey, Miu, I know she doesn't have an alibi, but I don't think she was actually involved in the—"
"Do you want to die?"
Miu lets out a loud, high-pitched squeal and flies behind Kaito in terror as Kaede stares open mouthed at the Caretaker, the word insensitive flying to the tip of her tongue, but diminishing as soon as she opens her mouth.
"F-fine," Kaede replies, wincing at the tremor in her voice. "We're not suspecting you. Now can you tell us if you saw Gonta or not?"
"I don't care if you're suspicious of me," Maki mumbles, absently fiddling with her bow. She narrows her eyes. "It's you I'm more suspicious of than anything." Kaede blinks. "What?"
"What? Why's Kaede suspicious?" Kaito asks, his face stern as he attempts to pry Miu's arms from around his torso.
Maki gives a lazy shrug, her arms still folded. "You're going to have to excuse my not wanting to detail the entirety of my yesterday to the very same person who attempted to defend a cold-blooded murderer the last time around."
Her eyes lazily trail up to Kaede's head. "And who decides to wear their hat as a trophy." Kaede's hands immediately fly to the hat in defence.
"The only person you're helping out is whoever killed Gonta, y'know?" Kaito adds with a hint of desperation.
"That's fine." She replies nonchalantly. "If my testimony is needed, I'll give it at the trial. Otherwise." She turns her back to the three other students. "I'd rather not waste my time." And with that, the Child Caregiver shuts the door abruptly, the soft padding of her footsteps getting quieter as she retreats further into the depths of her research lab.
"H-hey..." Miu whimpers from behind the astronaut. "Can we fucking go now? That bitch gives me the shittin' willies..."
Kaito sighs. "Don't think she's gonna be much of a help anymore." He turns to Kaede. "So then, where are you two off to next?" Kaede thinks for a moment. "I wanted to check something in the dining hall, and speak to Himiko about Gonta's video if we get the time."
Kaito nods a couple of times, confirming something in his head. "Right. Let's head off then!"
"Wait, who the fuck invited you, ASS-tronaut!?" Miu snaps as the spaceman sets off down the hall ahead of them. Kaito spins around, grinning. "The Luminary of the Stars doesn't need to be invited, silly!" He beckons for the two blondes to follow his lead, pumping his fists. "Don't worry you guys, now that I'm here, there's no way we won't find the culprit!" Kaede scrunches her face up in doubt as she briskly walks to catch up to Kaito, Miu trailing alongside her, grumbling and complaining the whole way down.
"Jesus Christ, first my fuckin' GHB goes missin', then I get blackmailed by a fuckin' tanuki, then Gonta gets his fuckin' ass murdered, and then I get threatened by a fuckin' shota, a freakshow-nun, and a babysitter, all in the same ten-minute window?! Miu groans loudly, pulling at her hair. "Can this day just be fucking over already?!"
"GHB?" Kaito stares at Miu as they proceeded down the first flight of stairs. "Isn't that stuff illegal here?"
Miu shrugs. "Beats me, but I found 'em in my lab when it opened up." She snickers. "Though I'll tell ya, they do the job a hell of a lot better than the fucking trash I found in the warehouse on the first day, that's for fuckin' sure!"
Kaede frowns. "So those chemicals Himiko found in your lab were actual drugs..."
Miu smirks. "What, you didn't think I had the lady-balls?" She cackles. "Fuckin' typical Bakamatsu, when you have a bangin' body like mine, you gotta learn how to use it properly! 'Specially in a shithole like this, where the testosterone is..." She grimaces. "...limited."
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?!" Kaito barks at the inventor, who merely replies in her obnoxiously loud guffaw.
"Guys, please stop." Kaede sighs, pushing the two louder characters apart with her hands. "This isn't the time for fighting, look." She points as they turn the corner to the dining hall. "We're already here."
"The last time we saw Gonta?" Tsumugi pulls her mouth into a straight line as she stares at her lap in thought. "Hmmm..."
"I think we both last saw him alive when he was goin' to bed last night at training, Tenko." Kaito adds, resting his chin on his hands as the group of six sit around the dining table, the air heavy with the knowledge that they were discussing the murder case of their friend.
"Y-yeah..." The Aikido Master nervously plays with one of her braids. "Tenko thinks that was the last time too..." She sighs. "Tenko can't believe this has happened again..." She pauses. "Gonta was... one of the more tolerable degenerates..."
"Training?" Himiko asks, looking over to the Aikido master.
"Yeah, Me 'nd Kaede and Tenko did some push-ups last night, just to get out blood pumping." Kaito elaborates, rolling his shoulders. "Though Tenko went ham on the two of us."
Himiko's bored expression doesn't falter, though Kaede thinks she saw some emotion briefly flash across the mage's face. "Training... I see." She rests her chin on the table. "I see..." She repeats to herself.
"Ah, don't worry Himiko, Tenko was only protecting Kaede from that degenerate over there." Tenko gestures to the only man in the room.
"Hey!" Kaito protests. "I'm not that terrible!"
"Tenko begs to differ."
"No use arguing with Miss Andry," Miu chimes in. "She's one of those feminazi's that hates anything with a front tail."
"A front tail? Like a hybrid?" Himiko questions, tilting her head.
"Don't worry about it, Himiko." Kaito immediately reassures her.
"Do not speak to Himiko as though you're her friend!" Tenko shoots back at the astronaut. She turns to the magician, speaking in a much more relaxed tone. "You can join us tonight, Himiko! Tenko didn't want to pressure you into doing any strenuous activity at night since you were sleepy."
Himiko's eyes drift from Kaede, to Kaito, to Tenko, and then back to Kaede, before she lazily yawns and slumps her head down into her arms, idly watching the wall across from her with as much interest as the empty chair beside her.
Tenko leans over to the pianist and exaggeratedly whispers to her, "Himiko, is super happy that we invited her, Kaede! Can't you tell from her expression?" Kaede glances over at the magician's blank visage, the only signs of life emanating from the smaller girl being the occasional blink and nose-wrinkle.
"Right," Kaito starts. "How're we gonna do this, Kaede?" Kaede furrows her brow for a moment, before deciding to pursue with Kiyo's prior idea. "Kiibo said that you two saw Gonta in the dining hall last night," Kaede says to Tenko and Himiko. "Is this true?"
"Nyeh?" Himiko rolls a short, red strand of hair between her fingers. "Oh yeah... guess so..."
"Can you possibly tell me more about that, Himiko?" Kaede asks, desperate to draw more information out of the sleepy mage.
"Nnnn, I dunno..." Himiko ponders. He came in with Ryoma, and then Kiibo started talking to him about something. I didn't use any hearing-enhancing magic, so I dunno what they were saying." She concludes with a somewhat apologetic pout, as Tenko rubs her back comfortingly.
"It's okay, Himiko, it's not like we expected to have to remember anything about last night..." Tenko looks back over to Kaede and Kaito. "Himiko and Tenko didn't stay too long, we mainly talked amongst ourselves and left."
"Oh, and we went and washed up before we left." Himiko adds. "To save Kirumi the work later on." Kaede drums her fingers on the table as she slowly takes in the information.
"I saw Gonta very briefly in the afternoon." Tsumugi pipes up. "But it was a good while before night-time, and he was with Ryoma, in the courtyard. They were both sitting near the casino staring at a tree." She dejectedly looks to the side. "I'm sorry I couldn't be more helpful than that..."
Tenko immediately jumps to comfort the cosplayer, praising her account of the entomologist as Miu gets up to mosey around the kitchen area.
Kaito mouths 'Ryoma' as Kaede frowns. This doesn't seem to be going anywhere.
"Hey, titless!" Miu's brash voice echoes from the depths of the kitchen. "You and Miss-Andry didn't do a fucking good job of scrubbin' last night! You sure you didn't get distracted rubbin' something else in here?" The five other heads whip towards the kitchen as a reddening Tenko leaps up and follows the inventor into the kitchen, the other four curiously following. A large red teapot stands by the sink, with familiar looking smaller oriental cups surrounding the pot, one of which has been used.
Recognition flashes across Kaede's features. "Oh! This is...!"
Hmm?" Kaito gives Kaede a look. "You've seen these before?" He lifts one of the small cups, turning it around in his hand as he examines it.
"Yeah," Kaede replies, "It's one of those 'raku' cup thingys that Kiyo was on about yesterday. She lifts the lid of the teapot, her suspicions being confirmed as a cold brew of green tea sits inside, seemingly untouched by anyone.
Tsumugi claps her hands together. "Ah! You were invited to that too, Kaede?" The musician nods as the cosplayer commences the story of Angie's idea of a 'prayer and tea ceremony' featuring Kirumi and Kiyo's co-operation to the oblivious astronaut and inventor.
"So that's what god-sod and cock-itchy were fuckin' planning upstairs?" Miu angrily asks no one in particular, irritation clear as day on her face.
"Kokichi?" Himiko echoes, placing a finger to her lip. "He doesn't believe in Atua though..."
"He does as of about half an hour ago." Kaede informs the redhead, who scrunches up her face in disgust at the news of her new co-member.
Tenko grimaces. "Angie..."she fixates on the teapot in front of them. "Tenko doesn't think it's good idea at all..."
"You and the rest of us." Kaito grumbles, only to have Tsumugi correct him, subtly gesturing at the magician who proceeded to pour herself some of Kirumi's tea, having to stand on the tips of her boots to reach the counter.
"Might as well," She mumbles as she presses the cup to her lips, only to have it snatched out of her hands.
"Don't." Tenko states blankly, glaring into the cup.
Kaito raises an eyebrow. "Why? It's just tea isn't it?"
"Of course it isn't!" Tenko snaps at the astronaut. "This tea was made by a menacing degenerate! Not only that," She continues, pouring the contents down the sink, despite the smaller girl's protests. "Angie might've put some sort of curse in it or something, you can't tell with her!"
Kaito visibly pales. "C-curse?" He softly echoes, Kaede curiously watching him step away from the martial artist and grip the edge of the island in the centre of the small room.
"Oh my fucking god, can you heathens all just shut up for one goddamn second?!" Miu yells at the group as she peers into one of the cups with one eye.
"What are you doing, Miu?" Tsumugi tilts her head inquisitively. The inventor narrows her eyes. "Nah, it's just -" She swipes her finger off the side of the cup, making an unimpressed face as she did so. Spinning around, cup still in hand, she moves to grab Kaito by the arm and begins tugging him towards the door.
"W-what?! The fuck are you doing to me?!" Kaito protests against Miu as she yanks on his clothed arm.
"Shut it, fuckface, you're comin' with me." She scowls. "I wanna fuckin' check this with somethin' in my lab and you're gonna fucking keep watch."
"But, I don't know shit about inventions—"
"You're a fucking scientist!" She shouts at the spaceman. "Sides," She averts her eyes. "I j-just want someone to stand g-guard while I work..." Her voice gets gradually quieter, as her grip on his arm weakens "J-just in c-case..."
"Oh." Kaito blinks. "Y'know, you coulda just said you were scared of bein' alone..."
"Who the FUCK said I was scared, space-dick?!" She turns on her heel and makes her way for the door, loudly complaining about being insulted by a man afraid of curses, to which Kaito swiftly pursues her, a multitude of objections in tow. Kaede can't help but think that that may have been deliberate on Miu's part.
"So um, what now?" Tsumugi breaks the silence. Kaede tries to think. But nothing was coming to mind. She groans, slumping back into a chair in the dining hall, head falling into her hands.
"There's not enough evidence. I have absolutely no clue who could be the culprit." Of course, there was still the tiniest pang of hope in her heart that none of her friends were the culprit, that no one was responsible for the death of the gentle giant. But at the bottom of her heart, she just knows that it was merely her positive thinking coming back to haunt her once more. A hand lands on one of her arms. Kaede opens one eye to peer at its owner.
"It's okay, Kaede." Tenko reassures her. "We'll find the culprit. Don't worry."
"Kaede's right though," Himiko drawls. "He got killed at night so like..." she shrugs. "Maybe we should just guess or something," She pauses and looks upwards. "Or we could ask Atua, if he's awake..."
"Would we be able to just guess though?" Tsumugi asks the magician. "It'd be a one-in-thirteen chance of getting it right..." The cosplayer sighs, resting her head in her hand. "We're really not cut out for this investigating thing, are we? The only thing we're good for is our talents..."
"Don't say that." Tenko interrupts the seamstress's miserable monologue, mouth pulled into a straight line as she looks at the trio of depressed girls.
"You guys," she begins, placing a hand on her heart. "You're all amazing in your own ways, you know?" Her eyes sparkle with something akin to admiration. "Tenko's said it to Kaede before," she starts, glancing to the pianist, "But Tenko really adores performers, so you three are like, Tenko's idols!" Before any of Tenko's 'idol's' can muster up a response to her praise, she jumps back to the subject of Gonta's death. "There must be something that we're missing... even though there isn't a time of death, was anyone acting weird maybe?"
Kaede tries to think back to the night before, the only person that seemed out of character though, was Gonta himself, and he's the one that -
She's interrupted by the dining hall doors gently opening, as Kirumi enters the room, hands clasped at her waist.
"Ah, Kirumi." Kaede greets the prime minister maid.
"How is the investigation going?" The maid enquires, as she slips off her gloves and ducks into the kitchen.
"Kirumi, there's no need to wash up, Himiko and Tenko did it last night!" Tenko proudly says, following her into the smaller room.
The maid grimaces as she stares at the now-empty countertop, giving the Aikido artist a somewhat strained smile. "I have said before that there is no need for you to do that, Tenko." The maid simply states as she walks back over to the dining table, hands wrung.
"Is there something you found, Kirumi?" Tsumugi offers.
The maid brings a finger to her lip. "It is merely a suggestion, however—" the maid begins to say.
"That's fine." Kaede cuts in. "Anything is useful in this situation, Kirumi."
Kirumi gives Kaede a small smile and continues. "It is actually about a motive that someone may have had to murder Gonta."
"A motive to kill Gonta...?" Tenko parrots.
"Indeed." Kirumi draws a square shape in the air with her fingers. "It is but a theory, myself and Korekiyo came up with a possibility that contents of Gonta's motive video proved to be a strong enough motive for someone to want to commit murder."
"His motive video..." Tsumugi pushes her glasses up her nose. "If I remember correctly, the person who had his Kubs Pad was..."
The four heads in the room turn to focus on the smaller fifth one, who freezes and lets a shaky "Nyeh" escape her lips.
"W-wait, Kirumi." Tenko speaks up, frustration evident in her voice. "Are you suspecting Himiko of killing Gonta!?"
Kirumi shakes her head. "That is not what I am implying, Tenko, however." She brings a hand to her chin. "If we can understand what was said on his video, there may be a clue hidden in there."
Himiko sits up, awkwardly shuffling in her chair as she recollects her thoughts. "Well," she begins, "It started with sayin' about how he was raised in the forest by some reptile-dinosaur people."
Kaede furrows her brow as Tsumugi gasps. "Raised in the wild? You mean like Tarzan?!" She clasps her hands together. "I knew he resembled someone!"
"Tenko's more concerned about these "dinosaur people, though..." The Aikido master trails off as Kaede bites her lip in thought.
The magician shrugs at the cosplayer and continues her recount of what she saw. "I dunno about that, but it just talked about how they weren't known about by the public but that since we got here something happened to his forest and Monokuma told him to kill someone to find out what it was, and if his friends were okay." Himiko lets out a tired sigh as she concludes her recount.
Tenko applauds. "That was a wonderful explanation, Himiko!"
Kaede smiles in agreement, as she, Tsumugi and Kirumi join Tenko in clapping. The corner of the magician's lips rise ever so slightly, and she pulls her hat down, obscuring the growing blush on her face.
"But... I don't see how anything that Himiko described could be seen as a motive to kill though." Tsumugi says, frowning.
"Himiko, did you share the video with anyone?" Kirumi asks. "I do remember you offering to give him his video after breakfast."
"No." Himiko shakes her head. "Unless someone used a telekinesis spell to grab the tablet from my room, no one saw it but me." She gives a small smirk. "Not even Kokichi saw it."
The maid narrows her eyes. "Are you sure?"
"Kirumi!" Tenko snaps. "Do not make Himiko out to be a liar!" The sportswoman looks over at the smaller girl. "She's already nervous enough as it is, she doesn't need you accusing her of not telling the truth, when she's already trying her hardest!"
"If we're assuming what Himiko says is true—" Tsumugi begins, "which I'm pretty sure it is!" she adds, catching Tenko's eye from the opposite side of the table. "I feel as though the only type of person to want to kill him based on that would be maybe, some sort of governmental figure? If it's about a hidden species?" She frowns. "But there's no one like that in this school..."
Kaede's mouth goes dry as her eyes slide to the de-facto Prime Minister sitting next to her. Unfortunately, this does not go unnoticed.
"Why're you looking at Kirumi like that, Kaede?" Himiko asks, loud enough for the woman in question to glance over at the pianist. "D'you suspect her or something?"
"Wait, Kaede, you suspect Kirumi?" Tsumugi looks lost.
"N-no! Not at all!"
Tenko shuffles. "Well, Tenko knows Himiko is innocent, but Tenko also doesn't think Kirumi would..." she trails off. "Maids don't really do governmental things..." she cocks her head at Kirumi. "Do they?"
Kirumi blinks. "Not that I'm aware of..." It takes all of Kaede's strength to not make any remarks.
"Well, Kokichi always says he works for the government," Himiko suggests, immediately throwing her fellow cult member directly under the bus as soon as the opportunity rises.
"Could he really have wanted to kill Gonta though? Gonta was one of the few people that tolerated him..." Tsumugi wonders. The idly pondering is swiftly interrupted by a shuddering screech of a chair being pushed out from under the table. Kirumi rises from beside Kaede, beckoning the latter to follow her out of the dining hall and onto the terrace, which she does, the pair bidding the other three girls goodbye and good luck as the trio resume their chatter about Gonta and the kindness that led to his downfall.
As the door clicks closed. Kirumi turns to Kaede on the small patio, a frown painted onto her face. "Kaede," she begins. "Do you really suspect me of killing Gonta?" Kaede blinks. Is that what she's so concerned about?
"I, uh..." Monokuma's cheery voice and cringey impressions ring clearly in her head as he details the jobs the maid undertook to serve the entire Japanese nation.
Kirumi clasps her gloved hands together. "Do not misunderstand, Kaede, this is not me being angry or upset," She lifts her skirts as she takes a seat at one of the outdoor chairs. "It is just that—" she hesitates, "Do you remember the 'Insect Meet and Greet' that Kokichi organised a few nights ago?" Kaede nods, sitting at the chair opposite her. Kirumi had looked 'quite shaken' that night according to Kaito.
Kirumi continues, "Well, Kokichi happened to, I suppose, inform me of the individual in possession of my Kubs Pad."
Kaede internally deflated. "R-right..." She looks at her lap, wringing her hands. "So, you know Miu had yours then..."
Kirumi blinks. "Miu...?"
Kaede pauses. "What?"
"Kokichi informed me that it was actually you who had mine." Realisation dawns on Kaede as she lets out a groan. He must have checked the Pads in my bag before I saw him.
"I was holding onto it for Miu, but yeah, she had yours. I'd originally gotten Angie's."
"Ah." Kirumi nods. "That does make sense, I suppose."
There is a pregnant pause before the maid asks her next question. "Did you happen to watch it?"
Kaede visibly stiffens. "T-that's..."
"You can tell me, Kaede." The maid gives her a gentle smile. "I do not need to know of it's contents," she brushes the bangs out of her eyes. "I truly cannot see Monokuma being able to motivate me to kill with such a motive..." she trails off.
Kaede suppresses the urge to comment on the humongous elephant that had just crashed onto the patio, the elephant that only she can apparently see.
"The only thing I can think of," The maid presses a hand to her face. "Is the one time I was given the offer to run a country*,"
Kaede almost collapses on the spot. "You were what!?"
Kirumi tilts her head in confusion. "I am sure that Shuichi mentioned it when we were first introduced at the dorms." She states. "But nevertheless." She looks to Kaede, warm green eyes softening. "I did decline that job"
Oh.
Oh...
"Oh.?"
Kirumi elaborates, "It was a foreign country, one that I do not have any familial connections to — and so I declined for that reason." She chuckles. "That, and the fact that I am a mere high-school student."
"Yeah, but you're the Ultimate Maid." Kaede cuts in, more than perplexed at the route this conversation was appearing to take.
"That is true, but I still have a long way to go before I would ever decide to take on such a tumultuous request, Kaede, however, it remains to stand as the one request that I have outright refused." The maid concludes her short tale, scowl still etched into her features. "I can see Monokuma attempting to ridicule my choice to turn down that offer and turn it into something... sinister, perhaps."
Kaede covers her nose and mouth with her hand. None of this was adding up, and she seems to be acting genuine right now. "Are you saying the videos were... fabricated...?" she says to herself, just loud enough for the other teen to hear.
"That is not what I was implying, however..." Kirumi pauses. "I would not be against it if that appeared to be the case. However, the one I recieved did seem extremely realistic, if I may add." Kaede silently agrees with her, anothers question popping into the forefront of her mind.
"Hey, Kirumi, whose video did you get, since you clearly didn't get your own?" Kaede inquires. The maid looks around as though to ensure said individual wasn't listening in, and mouths 'Kiibo' to the pianist. The reason why Kirumi had been so lenient to allow Kiibo to follow and help her around so much suddenly becomes crystal clear to the musician. She must have felt pity for whatever the robot was supposed to have seen on his video.
"His creator was in his video." Kirumi softly says, green gaze resting upon the table. Kaede feels a pang in her heart at the mention of the Professor that Kiibo speaks so fondly of.
But before anything else can be said or confessed, a familiar deathly chime sounds, and Monokuma reappears on the monitor in front of the girls, instructing everyone to convene at the Shrine of Judgement, through the red door at the bottom of the courtyard for their "First-but-actually-Second-Class Trial."
Kirumi rises from her seat, as does Kaede. "That aside, there is one thing I would like to show you, Kaede." The maid says, much to the musician's surprise. "It is something that I hope will prove that my testimony is in fact, the truth."
Kaede starts to attempt to comfort the clearly distressed maid. "It's okay, Kirumi. I really don't think you—"
"No, Kaede, it is quite alright." Without further explanation, the maid requests the pianist to accompany her to her dorm room as she explains that she'd like to show the performer her Kubs Card, walking away briskly despite Kaede's protests. As Kaede follows the maid with anxiety pooling in her stomach with every step towards the dorms, she can't help but wonder how Kirumi can walk so quickly in those pinwheel heels she's always wearing, but decides not to comment aloud on it.
Kiyo and Kiibo are emerging from Gonta's bedroom as Kirumi and Kaede enter the dorm corridor, the former tipping his hat to the pair as he departs for what Kaede assumes is the Shrine, as Kiibo approaches the pair, cyan eyes alight with curiosity.
"How was your investigation, Kirumi, Kaede?" Kaede smiles sympathetically at the robot as Kirumi unlocks her room and goes inside to fetch her envelope. "We're still not too clear on what happened," she states. It's the truth after all.
Her eyes dart up to Gonta's dorm room once more. "How's Ryoma doing?"
Kiibo sighs, staring at his hand.
"He's still in there." Kaede simply nods as Kirumi reappears with a familiar colourful envelope.
"I... I do hope it is to your satisfaction." Kirumi chokes out, a blush dusting her cheeks as she swiftly relocks her room and hastily walks off towards the trial grounds. Kaede blinks at the maid's brief loss of composure.
Kiibo tilts his head. "Is... Kirumi okay?"
Kaede looks back down at the Kubs Kard. "I... don't know?" She briefly explains to the robot the insistence Kirumi had to prove her innocence to the pianist, as the robot listens with great interest.
"Ah, so she's given you her secret to let you confirm your suspicions." Kiibo states.
"Apparently so." Kaede punctuates, hesitantly fiddling with the neatly-tucked-in flap and pulling Kirumi's deepest darkest secret out of the envelope for herself and Kiibo to see.
The robot lets out a gasp of sheer surprise, and Kaede's eyes widen.
"Oh... Kirumi..." Kaede breathes.
"Heya, Kaede!" Kaito greets the pianist and the robot with a smile and a wave as they enter the red door, as the horrific memories of the last time she'd been in the area flood back into the forefront of the pianist's mind. Kiibo immediately gravitates to Miu as Kaede approaches the astronaut.
"So, what did you guys find out in Miu's lab?" Kaede makes conversation as the class wait for the remaining student to arrive. Kaito shoots a grin over at Miu, to anxiously shuffles on the spot as she chats to Kiibo.
"Ah, Kaede, it was great!" Kaito laughs. He then brings a hand to his head. "I mean, I didn't really understand it all that much, but when Miu explained it to me, it all made sense!" His eyes slide over to the inventor. "Y'know, once you get past all the sexual stuff, she's actually pretty good sidekick material!"
Kaede's eyes widen as she ignores his 'sidekick' comment, "You guys think you might know who killed him?!"
Miu jumps in from behind the taller man. "Not who did 'im in, but I've a pretty fuckin' good idea what went down now!" She cackles. "Kyahahaha! I told ya, no case is too tough to penetrate for this Gorgeous Girl Genius!"
"Hey! I helped too!" Kaito argues, holding up a fist.
Miu dismisses him with a wave. "Yeah, yeah, dream on, Space-Face."
"That's Luminary of the Stars to you!"
"What-the-fuck-ever, Space-Face!"
"I told you to stop calling me that!" He shouts, raising his voice as the inventor stumbles back in submission and clutches tightly onto Kiibo's arm, who nervously chuckles at the increasingly loud banter.
The red doors swing open again as Kokichi confidently strides through, Angie and Himiko at either side of him, as Tenko follows behind, biting at her thumb in very clear frustration.
"Christ," Kaito mutters under his breath at the sight of the newly formed cult.
"Christ...?" Angie slides right over to where the astronaut is standing. "Did you say Christ? Kaito? We are always ready to talk about that sorta stuff in our prayer circles."
"P-prayer circles!?" Kaito splutters as the artist wraps her arms around the spaceman's neck and gazes into his eyes.
"Wanna join us? Hmm? Hmmmm?" Kaede winces, as Kaito's eyes nervously dart in every direction but Angie's.
"Is now REALLY the fucking time for your religio-shit, Hoenaga!?" Miu yells, Kaito taking the artist's surprise as his chance to wring his way out and away from the devout student.
"Someone just fucking died," the inventor pales, hand protectively flying to her throat "a fucking gruesome-ass death at that, and you just want people to fucking submit to your dumb-ass Ass-tua?!"
She gestures dramatically to the... rather unsettling Monokuma statue in the centre of the fountain that had not certainly been present the last time Kaede had been here.
"I'd rather be fucking executed by that son-of-a-bitch than join your shitty-ass cult!" Miu growls, yanking a gobsmacked Kiibo away as she stomps over to the other side of the shrine.
Kaito's mouth drops open as Angie watches the departing Miu with an unreadable expression. An expression that unsettles Kaede very much.
"Wowwww, geez, who pooped in her Frosties?" Kokichi wonders aloud, Tsumugi physically squirms at the metaphor.
But before anyone can say anything else, the red doors fly open, and in walks Ryoma, face obscured under his beanie as the statue begins to disappear underwater. The ever-familiar elevator is revealed to the group, as Kaede suddenly begins to feel sick again. The tennis player continues to walk in without a sound, followed by Kirumi, Kiyo, Tsumugi, Maki, Kiibo, Miu and the Atua-devout trio.
Kaito turns to Kaede. "You ready to go?" Kaede purses her lips and pulls Shuichi's cap down as Tenko comes over to the pair.
"It's okay Kaede." She smiles. "We'll definitely be able to do it." The martial artist gestures to her head. "You have a piece of the Ultimate Detective with you, after all..."
Kaito's face lights up. "Oh, that's true!" He pats Kaede on the head as he passes the pianist, only to spin back around.
"Oh yeah..." He leans in to Tenko and Kaede, the former stepping back in discomfort of his sudden proximity as he cups a hand to his mouth and whispers, "So Tsumugi tells me you guys suspect Kirumi?" Kaede slaps a palm to her forehead as Tenko very quickly explains their... weird reasoning behind suspecting the maid.
"No, no we do not." Kaede counters.
"Ah," Tenko blinks. "You don't think it was Kirumi, Kaede?"
Kaede sighs. "I never thought it was her to begin with, I just..." Kirumi's motive video plays in her head once more. Then she remembers the maid's secret. The pianist merely lets out a sigh, shakes her head and proceeds towards the elevator ahead of her two puzzled training partners. As the elevator descends to their impending doom, from which one of them will never emerge from again (supposedly, she thinks, that small seed of hope staying stubbornly put deep down in her heart) the small space is ironically alive with the nervous chatter of her fellow classmates. Kaede watches them all from under the shadow of the side of Shuichi's cap, eyes trailing over to the figure of Kirumi, who watches Ryoma from afar with an expression akin to a worried mother.
And she's pretty certain, in that brief moment, that someone so terrified of cutting konjac might be unable to run an entire country after all.
Author Note: Just wanna take a moment to say hiiiiii and thank youuuu to the readers on this website!
I've been pretty neglectful of the readerbase on this site, only really dropping in to release a chapter once the story hits page 2 (because that's how business works) but I'll try my best to remember to add little notes and stuff on the end like this with every chapter that's to come in the future (FF won't let me set a number, but there's 55 in total!) See, I just upload it from Word onto here, so I've been forgetting. ^^'
As of the writing of this little note, I'm currently mid-way through writing Chapter 10, so the next two will come out pretty soon, and then hopefully everyone will be up to speed by the time Chapter III rolls around!
Thanks again for the follows, favorites and lovely reviews (which I sadly can't really respond to without private messaging? what's up with that? :/) Be assured I've read every single one (more than once ahaaa) and I'm extremely grateful for the feedback - this is my first ever attempt at writing anything so it means loads. Thanks again! 3
Chapter 8: The start of the trial...