Editor: Lupus Overkill
Kazumi
What had been mere minutes, had felt like ten claustrophobic centuries within this enclosed aquatic courtroom. The lifeless, leering stares of the fish combined with the unsettling dimness made for a truly horrific atmosphere. It was something out of a thriller novel almost.
Everyone was staring at each other, all with doubtful and anxious looks plastered on their sweating faces. The tension traveled from person to person as we were all clustered together in a large circle, sitting on unusually comfortable chairs and dreading what Monotide had in store for us.
I felt even more flustered than usual, like a child stuck inside a crowded mall unsure of where their parents went. I still couldn't believe any of this was even real, let alone the fact that we had to solve a murder mystery like we were amateur detectives.
"Lev….he...I can't believe he wanted to-" I replayed that moment over and over in my head, a never ending record on loop, "W-Why me…W-What did I do?"
I clutched my teddy bear nervously, wrapping my arms around it as if to squeeze all the warmth from its fluffy body. I was sandwiched between Yumeji and Ushio, one a comforting sight and the other an agitated presence. The emotions in the trial room were scattered all over the place and I couldn't bring myself to look away from my feet in shame.
Why was I so scared even though I hadn't killed Lev? Why is everyone giving me such cold looks and scornful stares?
TRIAL COMMENCE!
"Ahem! Sorry to keep you all waiting, just needed to readjust my seating," he giggled while kicking the stuffing out of Inuyari, "Anyway...let's begin with a basic explanation of the class trial! So your votes will determine the results."
"Oh! Monnie let me finish the rest~" the submissive dog cooed, "If you children can figure out who dunnit? Then only the blackened will receive punishment!"
"Took the words right out of my mouth, darling," he glared at her despite his approving words, "But if you brats pick the wrong person….I'll execute everyone besides the blackened and only they will be able to graduate!"
"Wait, so what do we get if we figure it out?" Terrence asked the first question, "More so if we find the killer who did kill the victim?"
"Well, if you're able to snuff out the killer, and beat them at their own game," the bear continued, a menacing grin plastered on his robotic face, "Then you all get to resume living a peaceful commune life here in the aquarium...until the next brat gets a killing boner!"
"That's a very…...unique way to describe it," Stella sweated, "So we're stuck here until the cycle repeats itself….got it."
"Ooh, it's like we're in a horror movie!" Lou's reply broke the tension in half, "So I guess that makes Lev the first to kick the bucket huh."
"I don't think we're in a movie though…." Yumeji remarked, puffing up her cheeks tiredly.
"Alright! First thing's first, I have a few questions before we commence the debate," Iena was the first to comment, "So even if we were to deduce who killed Lev, what does that mean for us and his killer?"
"Good question!" Monotide clapped his paws, "In order for this fun game of ours to continue, you guys have to suss out the culprit who took away the peace and massacred it like a stuck pig!" the bear danced atop the dog mascot, "Once you figure out and vote for the killer, I will then be able to give them the appropriate punishment!"
"And what, may I ask, is this punishment exactly?" Yoshikazu asked as well, frightened by the idea alone.
"Oh~ That's a secret for later, can't be giving you precious guppies all the hints at the start~" the bear jeered, "Now enough dillydallying, time to solve the faupish diva's murder!"
"But you didn't let me finish asking other questions," Iena interjected once more, this time a bit more firm in tone.
"I SAID STOP TALKING AND LET'S GET THIS SHIT ON THE ROAD!" Monotide yelled at the top of his lungs, "Now then, anymore further pointless questions will be met with a harsh outcome, focus on the fucking trial you ungrateful little shits."
"Damn...someone's cranky today," Torakusu was sweating even more, "But I agree, we shouldn't be wasting any time over that stuff. We have other pressing matters to deal with."
"Okay, let's get this started." Vivienne said, "I wonder if this will stimulate my brain some more, I need the mental workout."
Most of us nodded in approval, however I was very anxious to start. I had no clue of where to even begin, even with Wayne and Yumeji telling me how things happened while I was out. I still couldn't believe that Lev wanted me dead…..
This is far scarier than I imagined it to be. I want to run, but I also need to know why he did what he did, even if the true outcome might be uglier than I anticipated.
TRUTH BULLET LIST
Monotide File #1 -The victim is Lev Moroz, the Ultimate Fashion Designer. The body was discovered at 9:16 AM. Cause of death is a sharp puncture wound straight to the heart, death was almost instantaneous. Small fragments of glass are lodged into the victim's wounds and the body suffered severe rib cracks from a large crushing impact.
Dragomir's Account - The zoologist set his knife down during party preparations and it went missing minutes later.
Spiked Punch - The punch smelt different than usual and there are bits of crushed green plant remains floating inside.
Nomi's Account - The gardener noticed someone tampered with her flowers, specifically a breed of passion flowers from her indoor garden. One was cut clean from its stem.
Small Pink Pouch - A custom knitted pouch knitted by Wayne himself, found hidden underneath the food/drinks table.
Hidden Stepladder - Found behind the bar by Stella. Mentioned how she had never seen it before and saw it hiding behind the boxed wine.
Hunting Knife - Also hidden by the bar, found by Torakusu. Most likely Dragomir's, there are no traces of blood on the blade.
Ushio's Account - The surfer said she was by herself in her room the entire time. Went to the bathroom in the dorm hallway briefly and saw no one else as she was there.
Bloody Table Knife - A sharp dinner knife smeared in blood, found near the body, next to the broken chandelier.
Teddy Bear Ribbon - A crumpled up, silky glitter ribbon from a stuffed toy. Found by Aphrodite near the chandelier as well.
Double Doors - Moriko seemed fixated on the doors to the dining room for some reason. She believes they hold more significance than we thought they did.
Black Headband - A thin black headband with torn fabric, found by Takara.
Cut Rope - A small piece of cut rope found underneath the chandelier. Kimiya found it during the investigation, making note that it was used to hold up the ceiling ornament.
"I suggest we start off simple before delving into the more intense parts," Iena was the first to start off the conversation, "However, I think we can all agree that most of us were knocked unconscious for the duration of the crime, correct?"
"Yes I believe that's right…" Stella's calm yet nervous tone expressed her discomfort, "But I think that's not really a convincing alibi?"
"Aye! I was more than knackered if anything!" Takara tipped her pirate hat, seemingly fired up to talk, "And I even got a good night's rest and everything!"
"How is that even relevant?" Ushio seemed uninterested as usual, "And what does it have to do with the murder? Are you stupid."
"Maybe instead of discussing that," Terrence wanted to deviate from that topic, "How about we determine Lev's cause of death?"
"That sounds like a good starting point!" Yoshikazu acknowledged the communicator.
Here we go, I hope I can keep up with the debate, this is not going to be fun.
NON STOP DEBATE
Vivienne: Can we all agree that the chandelier is what killed Lev?
Sakai: Of course, you'd have to be a brain dead idiot to think otherwise! Unless you think he was stabbed to death with something else.
Kimiya: There is something fucking wrong with you….but I agree with you on that! Shit's fucked up.
Nomi: Uh I- I believe it has to do with the glass of t-the chandelier…
Dragomir: Maybe he was crushed to death by the huge impact, ya think?
Lou: Like a soft pancake? Ooh that is scary indeed!
Sato: Where did food come into this? Guys we need to take this seriously!
Used Truth Bullet: Monotide File #1
Kazumi: U-Uh..umm t-that's wrong?
Break!
The words escaped from my mouth, almost jumping off my tongue immediately. I don't know what came over me, but I felt the need to correct the zoologist of his claims. It felt weird shouting aloud to him, the sensation was almost cathartic, if not invigorating.
"Huh? Is there something wrong with what I said?" the zoologist seemed surprised by my reaction.
"U-Uh no...I uh- I believe you…" I stumbled around to finish the rest, my heart rate skyrocketing in the moment, "Y-You're wrong uh….Drago."
"Care to elaborate on how he's wrong?" Asta wondered, eyeing me with her dead soleless eyes.
"I think he means this….you mean the autopsy report, right, Kazumi?" Yumeji added, yawning once more.
"R-Right! The uh….cause of death doesn't m-match up with what Monotide had provided us," I steeled myself further.
"He's right about that!" Stella joined in, presenting her Monopad for the others to see, "Look it even says here that Lev was impaled by the spiky tip," she shivered remembering it.
"I see...so he died instantly….damn," Sato dejectedly looked down at his feet, "That does explain a lot actually."
"Duh, it's listed right in front of your eyeballs," Akio snidely chimed in kicking his feet up on the stand, "Heh, you guys are gonna take forever to figure out who the killer is. Even a drunk person could finish faster than you all," his tongue smacked against his lollipop as he talked.
"You know Akio, if you know who did this, you might as well come out and say so," Vivienne sternly said, "After all your life is just at stake as ours."
"No shit, cripple," he snorted, insulting her condition as he side eyed her, "However, do you really want to believe what I have to say is even the truth? I could be lying for all you know."
"Just ignore him," Sato seemed peeved, but held his temper, "He's just gonna throw us all in circles, let's move on."
"Uh, can someone explain how the chandelier fell on top of Lev?" Wayne asked, raising his hand, "I'm not sure what even happened, even with my own investigation...um..."
"Maybe gravity got bored and just wanted to stir up some chaos?" Sakai sniggered, "This place does seem a bit old, despite it's gaudy appearances."
"Hey! I'll have you know I went through all the trouble to sprucing this place up," Monotide oddly took offense to the hair stylist's statement, "You have no idea how much sweat, tears and blood went into-"
"Yeah yeah, we get it, fuckwad," Kimiya grumpily dismissed the bear, "I don't wanna hear any more of these shitty rants."
"Agreed," Dragomir sighed deeply, "I'm feeling very tense as is."
"Very well. Then I'll continue the debate," Asta interrupted the growing frustrations of everyone, "According to my octocopter scan of the dining hall, the rope used to hold up the chandelier is brand new and taut. So by that metric, it could only have been manually severed by someone's doing."
"Wow, I guess you're more than just some glorified machine!" Aphrodite responded snidely, "So that means whoever cut the rope is the one who killed Lev? Right?! Right!? I know I'm right!"
"Huh, you actually might have said a smart thing for once," Ushio's eyebrows raised in surprise, "Do you want a cookie for participation..."
"What's that supposed to mean, bitch?!" Aphrodite was ready to pick another fight with the surfer, "You're lucky I forgot to put on my fake nails! Or else you'd be-"
"Let's not pick a fight now…" Stella tried calming the two girls down, "So...whoever uh- cut the rope is the killer, if I'm following this correctly?"
"Y-Yeah, I agree…." Nomi mumbled out, "Although…"
"Whatever, this is fucking stupid," Kimiya huffed, crossing his arms, "Can we pin who we think the culprit is already! I don't want to be here."
"No Kimiya, we need to stay patient!" Iena scolded the ice sculptor, "For now let us discuss what caused the rope to be cut."
Things are going well so far….but why do I get the feeling that it's only going to get even more hectic and challenging as we go along?
NON STOP DEBATE
Asta: To reiterate, I am one hundred percent certain that the rope couldn't have been worn down, old or dry rotted. My analysis and data, from my own investigation, all tell me that it was indeed cut down manually.
Lou: Oof, that sounds like something straight out of a cartoon sit-com! Is the killer someone with a flair for the dramatic?
Moriko: Do you dare to suggest that a minion of darkness is responsible for such a contemptible offense? You are sorely mistaken if you are to suspect me of this action.
Terrence: I don't think anyone was suspecting you though, Moriko…
Kimiya: Can we stop fucking around and just get to the goddamn conclusion already! I can't handle the suspense.
Takara: Aye matey, I concur! But what ye suggest was used? Some kind of sharp instrument?
Aphrodite: Sounds like it'd be too obvious, but I imagine this killer is too stupid to use anything else. Maybe a tacky pair of scissors or a wood saw?
Nomi: I don't think so….
Moriko: I suspect some supernatural entity sliced through it with their dagger like fingernails!
Yoshikazu: Are you referring to the killer or a demon?
Used Truth Bullet: Hunting Knife
Torakusu: It breaks my heart! But you are wrong on this one!
Break!
"Eww, you again…" the pageant queen scoffed at the sniper's rebuttal, "What do you want?"
"Oh, dear Aphrodite!" he continued, sounding very disappointed with her response, "It pains my beating heart to tell you that you are mistaken on that account!"
"Wah!?"
"He's right, if I remember…" Stella interjected, scratching the side of her head, "We found some clues of our own, Tora included."
"Right you are, Stells," he winked at the pub manager, but she didn't notice, "I found a large hunting knife earlier, near the bar under the tables."
"Oooh! But who put it there?" Lou inquired, peeking her head while leaning against the edge of her chair, "Does it belong to someone?"
"Wha?! How!? Where did you find that!?" Dragomir yelled out, dumbfounded in tone, "Oh sweet bananas!"
"Oh! You know about that knife, Drago?" Terrence almost jumped out of his seat.
"Yeah but….that's my hunting knife!" he seemed eager to hop out of his seat, almost scaring Yumeji and Lou out of theirs, "I've been looking for it everywhere, how'd it-"
"So we've found our prime suspect," Vivienne confidently remarked, "I didn't peg you for the dense, murderous type Drago, but thank you for being so humble and honest."
"Wait, we know who d-did it already!?" Wayne's eyes blinked rapidly.
"Hmmm…" Yumeji mumbled indistinctly.
"No I swear, I thought I had lost that blade!" the zoologist pleaded with the others, "Ya guys, I didn't know how it ended up at the crime scene!"
"Will you stop moaning already…" Ushio rolled her eyes, "Just confess and stop dancing around the issue."
This is looking very dicey already. I really want to say something, but….why am I so quiet? I want to help him, but I just…..What can I do?
"Umm.. actually," Nomi chimed in, "I don't t-think he did it…."
"Yeah, I believe in Drago as well!" Wayne joined in, "He's such a cool guy, I don't believe he'd do this!"
Some of the others seemed to be unified in the zoologist's innocence, but crude snickering entered the mix. It belonged to none other than the gambler himself, someone who's been very antagonistic to this point.
"Heh! So you two are really vouching for him?" Akio finally spoke up, playing with a coin in between his fingers, seemingly bored with this line of questioning, "Kind of naive for idiots like you two, since we all just met each other a few days ago."
"What would you know?" Sato defensively responded, "You barely even try to interact with the rest of us. Frankly, I don't even get why you're a part of this group to begin with."
"See….that's the kind of attitude I freaking hate the most," the gambler clicked his tongue in disbelief, "A bunch of wannabe do-gooders who believe everyone they first meet. It's quite sad really."
"Avast matey!" Takara interjected loudly, brandishing her blade with a sudden swoosh, "Ye be speaking fighting words there. May ye perhaps wish to contribute what ye knows!"
Akio didn't acknowledge the sailor's antics, simply leaning back in his chair, licking the lollipop in his mouth and dozing off, "When you losers come up with something that catches my interest, wake me up."
"You shouldn't be sleep-" Terrence wanted to say something but Vivienne shook her head at him.
"Anyway, why do you guys think he's not the culprit?" Iena continued the conversation.
"Because what happened to us before we passed out," Wayne added, "Drago's face fell into his food just as we all passed out."
"What a waste of good soup…" Nomi mumbled softly.
"Y-Yeah! That's right," he seemed almost energized by sudden morale, "I feel like a dumb chimp for falling for the killer's trap, but I remember wiping some of it from my face," He gripped his fist tightly.
"I believe as you humans would say, it's alright," Asta tilted her head to the side, "Since he was asleep from what you all have mentioned and the rope couldn't have been old, he wouldn't have had the time to do all of this without Lev or anyone else knowing."
"Yeah! I am a big ape after all!" the zoologist smiled proudly, arms akimbo, "I'm sure he would have seen me passed out….shame he's not with us."
"He is the victim after all…." Ushio twitched agitatedly in her seat.
"Well that settles that…" Yumeji sleepily yawned, "What should we talk about next?"
"I have a s-suggestion," Nomi raised her hand, nervously receiving eyes upon her, "T-The punch….someone tampered w-with it."
"Really!?" Stella was surprised by this revelation, "Huh, I didn't notice anything strange about the refreshments…"
"The smell…." the gardener continued, "It smelled sweeter than usual…"
"Okay, that's a place to resume the conversation," Yoshikazu nodded, anxiously tense as the rest of us.
"Wowie! This is shaping up to be a fun trial!" Monotide giggled devilishly, kicking his heels into Inuyari's back as she squealed, "Don't kill this momentum kiddies!"
"You are one….sick little bear," Sato sweatdropped.
"Why thank you!"
Someone drugged us? Was that really possible? I mean I knew this case was strange, but this just sounds like some criminal mastermind's plan being unraveled before us. I wonder where this will take us? Why do I feel even more anxious than I already do?
NON STOP DEBATE
Nomi: I'm uh- am..fairly certain that the punch we d-drank….yeah was drugged. It smelled very aromatic and sickly sweet.
Stella: How is that possible? I checked the fridge and ingredients and nothing contained anything like that, I'm positive.
Torakusu: Maybe it was in our food perhaps? Maybe you guys missed something?
Vivienne: Then why didn't we pass out earlier then? Why was it only when we drank the punch?
Iena: I taste tested the food earlier with Stella, and I can reassure you all it is not the food!
Terrence: Yeah, I saw those two cooking like there was no tomorrow! I didn't even have time to taste them for myself until the party!
Moriko: So it was indeed the contaminated beverage of sugary poison! My instincts told me that it was filled with vile resin!
Yoshikazu: But didn't you drink some as well….Nevermind.
Sakai: Maybe you guys just have poor sugar intakes, teehee~ I don't think the punch was drugged at all. You guys are just weaklings.
Used Truth Bullet: Spiked Punch
Nomi: I'll cut down those weeded lies….
Break!
"Ohoho~ Someone is eager to prove me wrong," the hair stylist leaned over his podium with a sickeningly impish grin on his face, "You better make sure you're correct, Nomi dear, or I'll snip at your branches very soon~"
"Ignore his empty threats, Nomi," Yoshikazu shook his head, "Continue with your logic, you said you believe our drinks were drugged beforehand?"
"Y-Yes! Umm...I'm breeding a special type of passionflower uh- Passiflora Incarnata to be specific and uh…" she stumbled over her words, "I noticed there were crushed flakes and petals….inside the punch bowl."
"Woah! I didn't see that before," Terrence's eyes almost bulged out in shock, "Now that you mention it, when I was helping to remake the punch from earlier….it didn't smell funky at all. If anything it smelt flavorless and bland."
"But wait…" Lou piped in, "If you know what drugged us….then that must mean you put it there in the first place!"
"W-Wha!?" Nomi sputtered out in confusion, "I d-didn't do it!"
"Yet you seem to know a lot about the flower in particular," Vivienne commented, pushing back some of her long hair, "Care to explain that."
"You deceitful snake!" Moriko posed menacingly like an anime character, "You wish to disturb the darkness with your lies!?"
"N-No I-" she stuttered, finding the words hard to grasp, "I d-didn't drug you all!"
"Just stop your ugly whining, bitch," Aphrodite scoffed, smiling smugly, "I knew you were suspicious from the get go. I mean, what trashy pig wears a face mask all the time?"
"Off handed ad hominems aside…" Iena calmly remarked, "Nomi, is there something you're not telling us here?"
"I'm sure there's a good explanation for this…" Yoshikazu worriedly said, "Maybe we should listen to her side first, before jumping to conclusions."
"I don't know, this girl has been shady from the start," Kimiya side eyed the gardener on his right, "She's so shifty, hiding in the corner of the room like a fucking ninja. I get a mini heart attack every time I turn around and see her."
"Don't make her sound like some peeping Tom, Kimiya." the judge smacked the ice sculptor on the side of his head.
"Yo, what the fuck!?" he almost fell over in his seat, "Why'd you do that?"
"So Nomi is on the chopping block now," Dragomir looked uneasy, "I'm kind of inclined to believe that….but I'm not so sure."
"Wow….you changed tunes in a heartbeat," Ushio crudely remarked, "Must be nice to not have the heat on you..."
"You guys have to b-believe me!" the gardener pleaded meekly, "I didn't know this even happened! How could I…."
The shrill shrieks and cries from Nomi made me empathize with her. I kept beating myself over the fact that I couldn't do much else in the way of helping her out. I'm still trying to wrap my head around these clues myself, or truth bullets. Why is this confusing?!
"Are you alright, Kazumi?" Yumeji turned to me, patting me on the back.
"Y-Yeah….just a little w-worried for Nomi right now," I feebly laughed, awkwardly shifting my body upright, "And you?"
"Just a little anxious, tired but mulling over some things," she smiled back at me, rubbing her sleepy eyes with her red sweater sleeve.
"Gotcha…" I internally thought of each clue, wondering which one would help Nomi out. I wish I didn't pass out, most of these would make more sense to me if I wasn't so weak.
NON STOP DEBATE
Nomi: I swear, I don't know how my passion flowers got into the punch to begin with!
Sakai: This is what happens when you question me~ Just suck it up and confess, weed girl.
Sato: Nomi, you have to help us here, did you spike the punch before the party?
Nomi: I told you already! I d-d-didn't do that! W-Why won't you guys believe me!
Stella: I do believe you Nomi! It's just...you did say you knew a lot about the flower after all..
Wayne: Did you drink the punch as well, Nomi?
Torakusu: I remember her drinking it as well, just like the rest of us.
Takara: Maybe she faked it! Arrr lassie, ye be a cunning schemer!
Asta: Perhaps there is some other way for the flower petals to have gotten into the punch?
Used Truth Bullet: Small Pink Pouch
Lou: I'd give that performance a ten out of ten!
Agree Break!
"You have something to add on to what I have to say?" Asta looked at the roleplayer with a curious glance.
"I do indeed! I just so happened to have found a cute little clue as well!" Lou playfully giggled, bobbing from side to side in her chair like a child awaiting a birthday present, "This is it!" She pulled out a small little bag.
"Oh! That's one of the pouches I knitted for you guys!" Wayne pointed at the pink pouch, "At least...Ithink I gave it to one of you guys?"
"Right you are, Waynie!" Lou clapped at her friend's remark, "Didn't you give this pouch to a certain someone in particular?"
"Who did he give it to?" Vivienne asked, furrowing her brow at the pink pouch, "He gave me a small yellow one."
"He gave me a cool blue one with some fake seashells," Sato smiled, pulling out his that has been made to good use judging from the bulky exterior.
"Then it's obviously that tacky bitch's own pouch!" Aphrodite proudly exclaimed, "Of course I got a cute magenta one to match my outfits!"
"It's not mine! I uh…." she hastily tried pulling something from her coat pocket, "T-This is mine!" She pulled out a dark green pouch with white flowers embroidered on the side.
"Wait, that's yours!" Takara's body rattled along with the jewelry she wore, "My booty's all locked up in muh treasure chest, I don't need some silly pouch!"
"Forget about the pouch!" Sato swerved back on the topic, "If the pink pouch isn't yours Nomi….then that must mean you couldn't have drugged the punch!"
"GHASTLY GALORPANTAS!" Moriko blurted out strange words randomly, "You mean to say we've been bamboozled once more!?"
"This just means she's most likely innocent," Iena simplified it for everyone, "Not only that, she wouldn't have had time to drug the punch given she's been running back and forth from the dining room to the dormitory hallways with her flowers."
"And she did drink the punch as well…" Kimiya noted, "Wouldn't make much fucking sense for the killer to have spiked the drinks, only to fall victim to their own tomfoolery."
"I'm sorry for suspecting you, Nomi," Dragomir apologized immediately, putting his hands up in prayer position, "I promise to make it up to ya when this is all over!"
"Wow, two for one…" Ushio dryly commented, "Keep it up big guy."
"Speaking... ummm about the-the pouches…" I wanted to say something amidst the discussion, "Lou, w-where did you find that e-exactly?"
"Glad you asked Kazzie!" she giddily laughed "I found it under Lev's seat!"
As soon as she said those words, most of us looked at each other in stunned silence. My body shivered, remembering the dastardly attempt at my own life as Lev tried to kill me. Does this mean that he wasn't using an opportunistic kill….did he…
"Holy fucking shit!" Kimiya belted out, "Does this mean what I fucking think it does!?"
"I'm afraid that it might be a possibility…" Vivienne thought to herself.
"What is it? Can someone please e-explain what's going on?" Wayne looked like a curious little puppy, "I uh...don't know what to uh…. make of any of this evidence," he scrolled through his monopad hastily.
"Before we make a rash decision, we should check inside the pouch first." Iena motioned to Nomi, "May we check it?"
"Absolutely!" Lou happily gave the judge the pouch, skipping over to her as she plopped it in her lap and went back to her seat merrily.
As Iena took the pouch, she undid the rope in a cinch, putting her hand inside the pouch. We all looked on in eager anticipation, hoping to have found another clue in the madness of this trial.
As she swiveled inside the pouch, she pulled her hand out to reveal spindly purple petals and vines inside, with some violet powder like residue coated on her fingers.
"That's it!" Nomi hollered, almost a bit louder than usual, "Those are the passion flowers I've been cultivating in my room!"
"Ooh those are kinda pretty!" Wayne stared at the petals in the judge's hand, "But what does this m-mean?"
"I think it means that whoever had this pouch with the powdered flower petals," Sakai chuckled mischievously, "Is the most likely the culprit who spiked our drinks."
"Really!?" Takara jumped at the prospect, "Point em out to me laddie! I'll make em walk the plank!"
"Ummm…." I hesitated to question what she meant by that, "I think I m-might know…"
"Are you sure you'll be alright, Kazumi?" Stella worriedly looked at me, "It's alright if you need to rest some more."
"It's not t-that...uh…." the words were escaping me, so hard to digest like molasses in my throat, "It's uh…"
"Jeez, just fucking spit it out already!" Kimiya growled out.
"I uh….t-think it's uh- it's Lev!" I blurted out, a sudden burst of catharsis escaping my lips.
"Wait seriously?" Terrence looked flabbergasted by this, "But I mean….isn't Lev the victim here? Why would he spike the punch?"
"Oh, so you guys are finally up to speed?" Akio snorted, waking up from his brief nap, "Hmph, took ya morons long enough."
"Whatcha mean by that, Akio?" Dragomir was ready to give the gambler a fist to his face, "You seem to be taking joy in this. Care to give us some insight?"
"Hmph, it's no fun when I have to handhold babies like you all, especially that wimp Kazumi," he pointed to me, I felt a bit attacked, "Do you get it now?"
"Get what exactly?" Yoshikazu was puzzled by these off handed remarks.
"I think he's implying that Lev is the one who put the powder inside the punch, mixing it in with the drinks and purposely drugging us," Vivienne stepped in to solve the issue.
That made a lot of sense now that I was remembering it. Lev did say that he was surprised by how powerful the flower's potency was, so it worked for his plan. But how did such a simple murder attempt end up with him on the receiving end of the Reaper's blade?
"That fucking pompous-" Kimiya was about to finish his ramblings, before getting cut off.
"I was afraid of this….." Iena sighed deeply, "Lev worked himself to the bone for this party, I never expected him to be planning this on top of creating the evening outfits."
"No, I don't believe you!" Aphrodite shrilly screamed out, "Levvie would never do this to us! I mean he couldn't, he and I were friends I-"
"See what I mean by you idiots falling for the kumbaya shit," Akio shook his head, smirking haughtily, "That flaming cotton candy head tried to throw you guys under the bus, now who looks like the retard now."
"That's enough, Akio!" Iena shushed him, "This is no time for you to gloat!"
"Heh, suit yourself," he smacked his lips against his lollipop as he inserted it back in his mouth.
"This makes no sense," Sato was just as hurt by this revelation as the others, "I mean, why would he do this to begin with? He seemed fine before, at least to me."
"Just goes to show that we can never know what's going on inside someone's head," Ushio retorted, unamused by this, "I bet he was planning a murder from the moment he saw his motive video."
"That probably aligns with what Kazumi said earlier from his account," Vivienne looked at me, giving me analytical gazes, "It seems that Lev is not a simple victim in this case, if anything he was probably going to kill first before someone got to him."
"I…." I couldn't bring myself to question any of this, even though my heart refused to believe that someone who gave me genuine advice would try to do this to me.
I really don't know any of these people so why wasn't I not surprised? Why do I feel so….sad inside?
"Damn this case is just a big fat pile of doody," Dragomir crossed his arms, scratching his head, "But if that's the case, ummm how do ya suppose he got the flowers?"
"I think I have an idea about that…." Vivienne mumbled to herself.
HANGMAN'S GAMBIT
Where were the flowers taken from?
G_ R _ _ N
G _ R _ E N
GARDEN
Vivienne: The data is all falling into place!
"It's most likely from Nomi's garden dorm room!" the trader vividly remembered, "I mean there's no other logical way for a plant to have been smuggled from outside, since there is no way out. Plus the only garden area in this aquarium is her room."
"Oh! A deadly floral arrangement is the murder weapon!" Moriko proudly stated, almost as if she came to this now.
"No….Just no, have you been paying attention, Moriko?" Torakusu sweatdropped.
"A servant of darkness need not worry about such meddlesome trivials like that!" the doll maker seemed adamant in her stance.
"Moving on, Nomi," the trader turned to the gardener, "Did you lend Lev your flowers perchance?"
"Uhh….no. in fact!" she mulled over it, "I was in the middle of breeding it….so I uh….wouldn't let anyone tamper w-with its progress."
"I see….so Lev must have stolen the flowers," Yoshikazu rubbed the sides of his temples, "I didn't expect things to pan out like this."
"Should we talk about the motives now?" Terrence asked.
"No! Not yet!" Monotide snickered, kicking deeper into Inuyari's backside, "I have a treat for you all later regarding those videos, but for now, discuss something else before I get bored!"
"No one asked for your input," Torakusu side eyed the bear, "Nomi dear, you were saying that you couldn't have loaned the flowers to Lev?"
"Correct! I uh….couldn't anyway," she responded immediately.
"In that case, I'm still suspicious of Dragomir and Nomi," Sakai pouted, bored as well, "Just because they appeared to have passed out, doesn't guarantee they weren't faking it."
"Wha?!" Dragomir roared at this accusation, "But wasn't my innocence proven?"
"Y-Yeah same here…" Nomi panickedly replied.
"I'm with the gremlin stylist!" Aphrodite sneered at the two of them, "You lousy liars are Lev's killers, I just know it! Confess or I'll upcycle your tacky clothing!"
"How is that a threat?" Terrence furrowed his eyebrows at her pseudo ultimatum.
This feels so unreal….I have to- to help my friends out of this mess! Or at least I hope I can...
PANIC DEBATE
Dragomir: I swear it wasn't me guys!
Nomi: I'm not t-the killer!
Wayne: I'm so confused…..
Kimiya: Confess gorilla boy! I knew you were suspicious from the beginning.
Kazumi: Nomi….w-what should I do?
Stella: It's alright Wayne, I'm sure we can all come to a solution soon.
-
Asta: How does being a gorilla constitute his guilt, Kimiya?
Aphrodite: Fess up bitch! Did you kill Levvie!? Answer me you tacky sunflower!
Akio: Ah, this is priceless entertainment.
-
Iena: He's just being aggressively ignorant is all, never mind him, Asta.
Moriko: I knew sunflowers were the true root of all evils!
Terrence: I don't think we should be enjoying this though, Akio….
-
Kimiya: Hey! I take offense to that. These two have no alibis, so it's fair game!
Takara: Yarr! Ye be sniffing too much gunpowder to be saying such things gothic lassie!
Sakai: Is it weird that I'm also enjoying the chaos?
-
Used Truth Bullet: Nomi's Account - Missing Plant
Yumeji: I *yawn* think you have that wrong *yawn*
Just before I could say anything, the oneirologist stepped up, having been silent the entire time and now helping. I felt almost embarrassed, but a sense of pride rushed through me, feeling a bit slighted by her stealing my thunder almost.
"What is it Yume?" Stella was shocked, "You've been a bit quiet this entire time, have you been sleeping again?"
"Uh...kinda?" she lazily smiled, "I've been paying attention, just not as actively, but passively."
"Were you daydreaming again, Yume?" Lou cocked her head to the side, "Was it about coffee and bunny rabbits?"
"No….not this time…" she yawned loudly, stretching her arms to the sky, "But to rebut that claim, Kimiya….you're mistaken there."
"Huh? How so? Or are you still half asleep like always?" the ice sculptor scoffed at her.
"I've been keeping track of...the uh alibis was it?" she rubbed her eyes from behind her glasses, "And according to my notes...Nomi nor Drago would have had time to do any of this."
"Care to elaborate for the rest of us, Yume?" Sato asked, seeming even more perplexed by the case by the second.
"Well…." she shuffled around in her seat, "According to you, Kimiya and Tora….he was *yawn* uh….too busy doing all the heavy lifting," she continued, "Nomi was predisposed with decorations alongside Lou, Moriko and Wayne….so"
"I see, so it means that those two hadn't the time to plan any of this," the lifeguard ended the long winded sentence for her, "I guess that makes sense."
"Plus Drago said himself he left his knife on the table, so it's not him," Iena noted, "And Nomi wouldn't incriminate herself so easily as to leave such a lengthy paper trail."
"You mean plant trail~" Lou giggled playfully.
"Correct...uh so that means we've no suspects," the judge clicked her tongue, "We're out of leads."
"I believe it'd be prudent to examine Lev's corpse once more," Asta proposed a new line of thinking, "I've calculated this series of questions and we've not discussed what was near or found on his person before he died."
"You're right Asta! You're so smart and pretty!" Torakusu was lovestruck almost, earning eye rolls from the other girls, "But was there anything to be found?"
"Ooh, it's my time to shine once more!" Aphrodite chuckled loudly, huffing triumphantly, "I found this!"
She presented a sparkling purple piece of fabric coated in blood in her hand, showing it around like a new accessory in a rather smug manner. Upon further inspection, the ribbon and the bow's glittery hue reminded me of something. Gripping my teddy bear in hand, I was thinking it over-
Wait a minute…...oh no.
"Hey Kazumi," Wayne said aloud, "Doesn't that ribbon belong to your teddy bear?"
In a split second, everyone's eyes were looking back and forth, from the pageant queen to myself as if they were witnessing a table tennis match in progress. My body started to shake slightly, I gulped before I could say anything and was about to open my mouth before someone spoke up.
"Aha! I knew it was yours, nerd!" Aphrodite smiled proudly, tossing the ribbon into the air like a piece of trash, "So you did have something to do with Levvie's death!"
"W-Wait a minute," I stuttered out, "B-But I didn't kill Lev! H-He uh…"
"We know, Kazumi. You said as much when you mentioned he tried to kill you," Iena finished that statement for me, "Of course, you're the only one who can confirm this since Lev is dead. And no one else was presumably awake or near the scene to say otherwise."
"He could be lying for all we know~" Sakai giggled, fluffing up his blonde hair, "I mean, why should we take his word for it anyway? Who's to say this whole sheepish routine isn't an act and that he might be hiding more skeletons in his closet?"
"Kazumi, you have to tell us the truth," Yoshikazu looked almost anxious to ask more, "Did you kill Lev? Was it in self defense?"
"N-No! I uh…" I was gasping for air, it was getting too hard to breathe.
"Yo Monotide," Akio raised his hand, "If someone were to kill someone else, but it was self defense or an accident, does it still count then?"
"Oh, of course, Aki dearie!" Monotide smiled, resting his cheek on the palm of his hand on his arm rest, "All kills, whether they were justified, not or in the heat of the moment, all count as full blown murders! Of course dying via starvation, medical issues or old age doesn't count, since there's no fun if someone died of natural causes!"
"Would you miss me if I were gone, Monnie?" Inuyari whimpered out.
"Oh sweet Inu….you bet your fucking bottom dollar I would!" the bear passionately responded, "I mean, who else is gonna be my footrest, make my fruity cocktails or give me back massages!"
"Oh you~" the dog seemed almost heated by this.
"This is fucking irritating," Kimiya scratched the side of his neck, "So if that pussy there killed, then that makes him the blackened or some shit?"
"In a manner of speaking, yes, but I won't confirm it," Monotide puffed up his cheeks, "That's you guys' job."
"Aight, I guess we know who did it then!" Kimiya seemed raring to go even more, "Did you do it twerp!"
"You might as well confess…" Ushio snidely commented, "No one's gonna believe a word you say."
"Say this isn't true, Kazzie…" Lou looked at me sadly, "Did you do it?"
"Of course he did, why do you think he's so quiet," Sakai added on to the piling concerns, "He's just too afraid to man up and take responsibility."
"W-W….I…." what is happening to me? Why can't I speak up? Why is everyone screaming at me? "Hah…..h…" My breath was slowing to a halt, my face sweaty and my palms greasy.
Why is everyone's voices getting softer and less audible? Stop yelling at me….Stop it...stop.
NON STOP DEBATE
Aphrodite: I will accept nothing but your defeat, nerd! Talk already!
Kazumi: I….*hic*...
Kimiya: Oh my god he's fucking crying, get over yourself wimp!
Dragomir: This is all very questionable…..at least that's what my gut says.
Akio: Just tell them what happened. Frowning and blubbering like a girl isn't going to help you.
Torakusu: I have to admit, this evidence is pretty damning…
Stella: I think you all are being very unreasonable, he's clearly upset.
Vivienne: Criminals usually confess when they're backs are at the wall.
Moriko: So the feeble savior of light is showing his true colors at last!
Sato: I don't think he's some master manipulator though….
Yoshikazu: I mean the ribbon was found near the body after all…
Changed Truth Bullet: Teddy Bear Ribbon to Lie Bullet: Vanishing Ribbon
Wayne: I guess this yarn needs more tangling and twisting!
PERJURY!
"Umm everyone!" Wayne piped up amidst the vicious debate, "I have something to say!"
What...Wayne? What are you doing?
"Kazu you uh…." he hesitated a little, "I think you are wrong…."
Oh gosh...is he lying for me? No he can't be...can he?
"Would you mind explaining this, Wayne?" Vivienne looked at the clearly anxious knitter with doubt, "Do you have evidence that contradicts Aphrodite's?"
"Well uh…" he seemed even more tense being put on the spot, "I think the ribbon wasn't anywhere near the body!"
"Wait really?" Terrence looked at the knitter surprised, "But I thought Aphrodite found it near the body? Was she lying about that?"
"Puh! How could you think that I, Aphrodite Zhang, would lie about that," she seemed even more upset, "I did all this icky and gross investigating for the sake of my Levvie. You all are so rude to assume I'm telling lies."
"Could have fooled me…." Ushio snidely commented, earning even more icy daggered glares from the pageant queen.
"Everyone, calm down! Please." Yoshikazu firmly planted his hand on the podium, "Look, we're all clearly frustrated and heated, we need to think this over fir-"
"Lies! Deceit! Agony! I will not listen to anything but the cold dead facts!" Moriko spastically spurted out, shocking everyone, "I will not be strung along by the hands of fate. We need to execute the savior!"
"Now hold on a damn minute!" Sato confronted the doll maker, "Don't something seem fishy to you all?"
"All I see are a bunch of fishes outside," Lou jokingly expressed, pointing at a few near the glass.
"No not that, I mean isn't rushing to a judgement this early kinda hasty?" the lifeguard looked around the room, letting the question settle in, "What if we're wrong about this?"
"Fuck that noise, I ain't spending another goddamn second down here, it gives me the fucking creeps!" Kimiya shouted, "I say we leave the brat out to dry and get this over with."
"You mean like how humans hang up their garments?" Asta seriously asked, "I'll need to make note of that."
"I don't think that's what he means Asta…" Stella responded, confused by everything, "Frankly, I don't believe Kazumi killed Lev either."
"I agree as well," Vivienne stated, "There's so much evidence we haven't inspected yet, it'd be foolish to indict him so easily."
"What if it's all a ruse to get us to vote incorrectly?" Iena thought.
"You guys…." I mumbled, sputtering out tears, still shaking overall.
"Well I still think he's guilty!" Aphrodite sneered, "You can't prove me wrong."
"Arr it seems we are at an impasse…" Takara grumbled to herself.
"I SEE THROUGH YOUR SPLIT OPINIONS!"
I almost fell out of my chair as those words jumped out at me. It shook me out of my dazed state, but to hear it coming from Monotide of all things, was even more terrifying.
"I couldn't help but overhear that you guys are torn on this issue!" Monotide giggled, palms covering his bear lips, "Ooh time for a special trial format!"
"What are you babbling about?" Sato scoffed, angrily staring at the seaweed covered bear.
"Oh nothing, just wanted to introduce a new little mechanic that I've been teasing for a while now," Monotide snickered, pulling out a key from nowhere, "Now buckle yourselves in kiddos!"
"What is going on?" Terrence asked the bear.
"I'm glad you asked Terry, you see when you guys are at a crossroads but can't decide on the outcome, I've created a new feature to help alleviate your issues. I call it Scrum Debate!"
The bear seemed proud of himself, standing on top of Inuyari as it seemed she had fallen asleep at this point.
"What's that? Sounds kinda boring," Lou chimed in, playing with her dress' skirt.
"Am I to assume that we're going to be pitted against each other in some type of split decision making?" Vivienne asked.
"Correctamundo!" the bear gave her a thumbs up, "You teenagers are so stubborn with your opinions nowadays, so this new format is aimed to help you iron out those unclear doubts and see if your wit can beat the other team's words!"
"Sounds….oddly contrived." Torakusu furrowed his brow, "But I think this is the next best step."
"Alright, without further ado, let the Scrum Debate commence!"
With one more wrist movement, the bear turned the key into a console, causing the podiums beneath us to light up. Everyone held tightly on their seats as the ground shook, causing the fish and water outside to scatter and quake. I felt motion sick almost, hugging on my teddy bear for comfort as we started hovering in the air.
The resulting movement had us floating around, with the chairs moving around and positioned facing the opposing side, even Lev's empty stand was facing the opposite side. Eleven students pitted against the other eleven, facing each other in an already heated debate.
I needed to defend my innocence, even if the outcome would produce a scary result.
SCRUM DEBATE
Is Kazumi the killer?
He's Guilty / He's Innocent
Kimiya - Kazumi
Takara - Yumeji
Dragomir - Wayne
Ushio - Vivienne
Iena - Terrence
Moriko - Stella
Sakai - Torakusu
Aphrodite - Yoshikazu
Lev(x) - Sato
Lou - Asta
Akio - Nomi
Kimiya: That little shit is guilty! There's nothing that proves he didn't kill Lev.
Terrence: But because there's nothing that proves his guilt, there's no way he could have done it.
...
Aphrodite: Are you uggos forgetting that I found his stuffed toy's ribbon near Levvie's body! How is that not undeniably fabulous evidence!?
Stella: Maybe you saw that ribbon near the body, because the actual killer is the one who placed it there.
...
Sakai: How are you guys so sure he didn't do it? He could very well be lying to us since he was the only one awake with the victim?
Yoshikazu: As I recall, there are other people who didn't attend the party who were awake and could have committed the murder. It makes no sense to single out Kazumi alone.
...
Takara: But how ye explain the drugged chalices of punch? How come the laddie didn't drink any? He must have known beforehand that something was up.
Nomi: Lev was the one who drugged the punch…. We found his pouch full of my flowers, crushed up inside the drinks! He never said anything to us about his plan!
...
Lou: Lev was hiding who he truly was! Kazumi just beat him to the kill first. What's there left to discuss?
Vivienne: There's a lot of evidence that's unaccounted for, plus we still need to discuss this more if we're to come at a conclusive solution.
...
Dragomir: I don't wanna doubt ya Kaz, but something's botherin' me as well. Are ya really guilty? I wanna believe you but….
Kazumi: D-Drago I am innocent! I t-told you guys already that I didn't kill Lev, you have to believe me!
...
Moriko: Your words are like venom on your tongue! I refuse to yield to you harbinger of light! This isn't over until you are purged from this mortal coil!
Torakusu: The only thing that will be purged is this baseless line of inquiry! You shouldn't let your pretty face grow wrinkles over such slander!
...
Akio: Look at where your belief got you! Honestly you guys are imbeciles, the cards have been dealt and you should just give up already.
Wayne: I don't want to give up on my new friends! Which is w-why I'll help to prove Kazumi's innocence!
BREAK!
THIS IS OUR ANSWER!
"Everyone, please let's just calm down!" Stella tried to mediate as best as she could, "We all should just catch our breath first before anything else."
"Hmph…..you guys are the ones who won the argument," Akio removed the lollipop from his mouth, one foot pushing his chair back and forth, "Now the burden of proof is on you. Unless you all were blowing hot air up your asses."
"Hmm…" Yumeji thought over it some more, she's been awfully quiet during this whole debate, "I think we should…*yawn*...deliberate over it a bit more, dontcha think?"
"What's there to deliberate?" Kimiya grumpily asked, "I mean if that pussy isn't the killer, then who do you suppose is?!"
"Let's not jump the gun so quickly, Kimiya," Yoshikazu calmed the ice sculptor's temper, "I think we should all stop pursuing this line of thought. I can see that Kazumi is still reeling from the experience."
"I-I….I'm fine…" I half heartedly said, still holding back some anxious tears, "T-Thank you….guys….for believing in me."
"Hey that's what friends are for, dude!" Terrence happily exclaimed, giving a thumbs up, "We have to look out for each other if we wish to become better versions of ourselves!"
"If you guys are done with the happy pep talk hour," Sakai rolled his eyes, "We still have a killer hiding amongst us."
"Exactly….." Ushio mumbled out, even more dissatisfied than before, "What's next…"
"Uh….maybe we should discuss the ribbon near Lev's body?" Wayne asked sheepishly.
"You! Pink Princess!" Moriko pointed her finger at her, "Regale us with your story about how you came to find this cursed fabric!"
"You don't need to shout," Aphrodite huffed, pouting childishly, "Levvie he….he had it stuck in his tuxedo...at least that's what my fabulous detective skills have led me to believe!"
"Why was it on his body?" Lou asked, putting her finger to her cheek, "Wasn't the ribbon tied neatly around Kazzie's bear's neck?"
"That's been bugging me as well," Dragomir thought, crossing his large arms together, "I mean, how did it come off?"
"Kazumi, do you remember how it happened?" Sato asked me directly.
"Umm….Lev he….attacked me, uh-" I paused, cringing at the memory, "It was all such an a-adrenaline rush…All I remember was t-that he uh….tried to kill me, t-the details are foggy."
"I see...this must be the error of human memory," Asta thought, playing with her artificial twin tails, "Such a complex thing indeed, nothing like a supercomputer's…"
"I'm sure you have an excellent memory bank!" Torakusu continued to praise the ethical hacker, "We'll have to discuss these topics later."
"You are hopeless…" Vivienne rubbed the side of her head, hearing this unfold.
"How about…." Yumeji continued the conversation, "We *yawns*...invert our thinking. Maybe ask how the ribbon got on Lev's body?"
"That sounds reasonable enough!" Sato perked up at the idea, "So how do you supp-"
"Your judgement has been overruled!"
Before the lifeguard could finish his sentence, Iena loudly shouted at him halting the current line of debate. She seemed really impassioned with the way she spoke, like a stern mother trying to overstep her boundaries in an argument with her child.
The judge fixed her pantsuit, adjusting the jacket and brushing back some of her hair, she seemed ready to fight almost.
"I'm sorry for interrupting, but I have to contest that line of thinking Sato," she firmly asserted, "While I do admit that you have made a compelling argument for Kazumi's case, I still find the foundation a bit shaky."
"How do you mean?" Sato wondered, playing with the crab stick in his mouth, "Do you have a counter argument?"
"Of course I do!" she proudly remarked, "Now let me enlighten you and rid you of your hasty predictions!"
REBUTTAL SHOWDOWN
IENA KAYA VS. SATO SHIZUO
Iena: I refuse to believe that Kazumi didn't have a hand in Lev's death.
Iena: I mean don't you think it's strange how the ribbon conveniently landed on his body!
Iena: I highly doubt that is even a possibility! The only logical solution…
Iena: Is that someone most likely placed the ribbon on his body…
Iena: And the only person in the dining room at the time was Kazumi!
COUNTER ARGUMENT
Sato: How can you even say that? I mean, why would Kazumi incriminate himself? Seems a bit counterproductive.
Sato: It seems to me that the ribbon got on the corpse some other way!
Sato: In other words, Kazumi couldn't have placed it on Lev's corpse.
Iena: Well in that case, here's how it played out…
Iena: Lev drugged the drinks, causing us to fall asleep and when Kazumi saw this…
Iena: He took his chance to confront Lev and in the process it fell off…
Iena: Kazumi must have lost the ribbon during his fight with Lev and that's how it landed on the body!
Used Truth Bullet: Bloody Table Knife
Sato: I'll throw a lifeline and save you from your incorrect theories!
Break!
"I'm sorry Iena, but that's not the case," Sato remarked confidently, "It seems unlikely that Kazumi would confront Lev in the state he's in."
"You make a compelling argument," the judge yielded, "I totally forgot about the knife in the confusion. My apologies to you both."
"Umm...it's alright?" I shrugged my shoulders.
"What be the problem with the mini scabbard?" Takara asked, eagerly jumping out of her seat, "Might there be a hidden clue to the treasure we seek?"
"Not really a treasure…." Sato added, "But more so there's blood on the ribbon, meaning it was cut off during the struggle."
"In that case, then how did the blood end up on the ribbon and the knife?" Terrence asked, tugging at the sleeves of his sweater.
"Oh I see now!" Stella seemed to have a lightbulb moment, "It must have come from Kazumi's cut! I remember disinfecting a cheek wound he had earlier, that must be it, right?"
"I have to agree with that," Yoshikazu nodded his head, "But if the blood came from Kazumi's cheek, then that must mean the assailant is someone who held the knife."
"Wait! Then that means…" Torakusu was on the verge of a new discovery as well, "Oh gosh!"
That's right….that's what it means. Despite how hazy my memory was of the incident, I remember that moment very clearly. It had caught me off guard, but the thought of it happening over and over again in my head, gave me a headache.
"Lev….he used the k-knife…" I said with conviction, sniffling the words out, "I still can't believe he tried to-"
"Kazumi, it's alright," Yumeji said, patting me on the back, "You don't need to say it, we all see you were right now."
"So….he had my flowers crushed up….he stole them," Nomi commented, getting flustered.
"Laced the drinks with the crushed powder…" Vivienne added on.
"And then waited for us to consume the beverage!" Moriko finished the line of thinking.
"Holy fucking shit!" Kimiya expressed his thoughts loudly, "You guys were right! This was all a part of that fruitcake's plan!"
"Levvie….no…" Aphrodite seemed to be in even more shock at this discovery.
"Unfortunately yes…." Ushio looked even more dead inside, "It seems he caved into the motive and….planned to strike first...what a pansy."
"So all o' this was his elaborate attempt at a murder plot!?" Dragomir's eyes bulged out of their sockets, "Well I'll be a monkey's uncle."
"Took you guys long enough to figure this crap out," Akio smiled, delighting in this, "I saw the look in his eyes…reminds me of a few unsavory types I've played poker with...I was almost bored waiting on you all."
"To be fair, you weren't really helping much either," Iena retorted, "But for now, we know that Lev is the one who held the knife and attempted to kill Kazumi. That explains why the ribbon ended up on his person and why it was found under the chandelier."
It was all coming together. A piece of an already strange puzzle, it seemed we were able to figure out the late fashion designer's plans, but something was eating me up inside. We figured out one part of this convoluted mystery…..but is there more to it?
If Lev is the one who planned all of this and it went awry…..then that begs the question….who was the person that took his life?
CLASS TRIAL INTERMISSION
A/N: Hi there everyone, I hope you all are well and safe and woohoo we made it to the end of the year with December as the home stretch! To all those who went through tough times and are still feeling the struggles today, I wish you all nothing but the best and I hope you all are doing better than before.
I apologize for not updating in October or November, things got a bit weird for me during those two months and I was on a straight writer's block slump for most of it. I was also swamped with studying for finals this week, so I hadn't much time to write properly for any of my stories.
I know this won't make up for the delay, but here it is, the first ever part of the first trial of SWBC. I hope you guys liked it, it's been almost a year since I've written a trial chapter properly and I have to say thank you to all who have supported me through this and to those who await for each update. I appreciate all the love you give me.
What do you guys think of the chapter? Did I do good? Was it engaging and fun? Feel free to let me know what you guys think in the reviews or PM's, I'd love to hear your theories on who the killer is. What did you think of the revelation? I hope I was able to capture the magic of the games' trial format.
I will be able to finish the final part soon and then the aftermath. I'm currently on winter break which means more time to write for these stories until the spring semester hits. I promise to be a little more active with my updates, but don't quote me on that. That's all I have to say really.
Once again I hope you guys liked this chapter, if you have any questions, feel free to ask me and I hope you all have a wonderful day. If you wish to discuss further with me, ask me for my Discord link and I will happily oblige you.
I hope you all have a wonderful day, night, holiday or whatever it is you are celebrating and I wish you all the best and we're almost at the end of 2020. We can make it guys and consider this chapter a little early Christmas present from me to you guys. Have a safe and wonderful Christmas, Hanukkah or whatever holiday break you are experiencing.
Happy reading my fellow readers, authors and otaku alike, I will see you all next time. Bye bye!