Chapter 8: Truth of the Anthropologist
"I'm sorry" I shook my head, "You got Kirumi's motive video?"
"I did" Kaede confirmed, "But I don't believe the contents of said video."
"Which are?" I feigned ignorance.
"Oh, am I ease dropping into a conversation?" Kiyo interrupted.
"Kind of" I sighed, "Did you get lost or something?"
"No...I was lost in reading" Kiyo pointed to a book in his hand, "It's a book on ancient Japanese medicine that I discovered in my lab."
"Your lab opened up?" I asked. This story was off track officially.
"Indeed" Kiyo confirmed, "It's quite exquisite. You should visit sometime, the both of you."
A chill ran down my spine, knowing Kiyo's true nature. But it was odd...he seemed to be targeting me along with Kaede. In canon, Maki and Miu were deemed unfit to be Kiyo's "sister" friends.
Or maybe I was reading into the situation too much and Kiyo was just being cordial with me.
"I would love that" Kaede smiled, "Maybe later today?"
"That would be wonderful~" Kiyo cheered, "I will make sure to prepare some tea." And with that, he was gone.
"We're dead women" I thought to myself.
"Are you alright?" Kaede asked.
"He's gives me the fucking willies" I shook my head, "I need to check on something." I dashed off in the direction to Shuichi's lab.
"Wait, where are you going?" Kaede chased after me. Once inside, I realized why paranoia was right; there was a missing bottle of poison.
"What's going on?" Kaede asked.
"Someone has taken a bottle of poison" I said while pointing out the partially opening case.
"Ah, you're right" Kaede blinked, "Let me check that database Kirumi made for us."
"Huh?" I asked.
"Oh, a couple people thought it would be a good idea to database the poisons in Shuichi's lab after the trial" Kaede softly said, "Just in case another murder happened."
"I see" I mumbled.
"It seems like the poison takes a couple of days to kill. More importantly, the digestive system makes it untraceable" Kaede read aloud.
"Some motherfucker has already planned out someone's death" I cursed, "But why the delay?"
"To make it harder for us to figure it out?" Kaede said while biting their thumb, "Perhaps...a perfect crime setup?"
"Bollocks" I grimaced, "Hey Kaede, do you mind if we stop by lab before heading to Kiyo's?"
"Sure, but are you going to do there?" Kaede pondered.
"To get a pair of teaspoons" I answer cryptically. I am not letting Kiyo introduce us to his sister.
Anthropologist Lab
"How splendid for you to join me for some tea" Kiyo praised.
"It's our pleasure" Kaede answered for the both of us, "This lab looks amazing."
"It's everything I could dream of~" Kiyo answered as he handed up a cup of tea each. I move to grab my chemical analysis spoon, but only to be caught by Kiyo.
"Oh? You bring your own silverware?" Kiyo tilted the side of his head, "Perhaps to test the contents of tea for...poison?"
"How-How the fuck do you know that, Kiyo?" I gasped.
"Kihihi, you silly morsel" Kiyo laughed, "You're clearly uncomfortable around me, like if I was a serial killer."
"You certainly look the part with that wretched get up" I scoffed.
"Miu, you don't-" Kaede began before Kiyo interrupted her.
"Her point is fair" Kiyo singsong, "This outfit was made by my dear sister. It takes a lot of work to put on, but I will wear anything that she made."
"She's quite the seamstress" Kaede complimented.
"She is" Kiyo said, "I hope to introduce you to her, Kaede."
Okay, so he still was targeting Kaede alone it seems.
"What do you mean by 'introduce'?" I asked.
"Hrm? Isn't it obvious? I think Kaede and my sister would make great friends" Kiyo pushed, "Or do you think there is some deeper meaning?"
"Stop pissing around and give me a straight answer" I sneered.
"No, I don't think I will" Kiyo rejected while rubbing his fingers, "But I will be honest with you. The tea is perfectly safe."
I continued my test and he was telling the truth.
"Now do you believe me?" Kiyo answered, "I have no intent on killing either of you."
He was lying, but I relaxed myself in order to push the conversation forward.
"There's a lot of artifacts here and the atmosphere is..mysterious" Kaede ad lib.
"Indeed" Kiyo answered, "Though I need to cover the window, to much harsh light passes through."
I blinked for a bit, realizing that Kiyo's lab was the location of the pro tennis player's lab, another piece of evidence that original script was derailed.
"What's that statue over there?" I asked.
"Oh, that's part of a seance ritual cough" Kiyo began before coughing pretty harshly.
"Korekiyo!" both Kaede and I yelled before he put his hand in front of us.
"It's fine" Kiyo said, "Just a bad cough. I brewed the tea for that reason."
Again, he's lying. In fact, given what I know I had a deep suspicion that Kiyo was the next murder victim, via poison no less.
"Leave me" Kiyo asked, "I need to rest."
We look at each other before quietly leaving the lab, only to be greeted by Kokichi.
"Heeeeeey, there you two are!" Kokichi greeted, "I was wondering where you went"
"What the fuck do you want, you little shit?" I clicked my tongue.
"Nehehe~ I told everyone you and I were stealing the motives videos and hiding them in your lab" Kokichi smiled with his arms crossed behind his head, "Told them we were going to watch them regardless of what was decided."
"You did what?" I screeched.
"So far Himiko, Angie, Kaito, and Tsumugi have gathered outside your lab" Kokichi said, "They looked so furious last I checked. I was about to get Korekiyo, but I found you here instead."
Without thinking, I grabbed the pint squeak and tossed him onto my shoulders.
"Let me down, you butch whore!" Kokichi said. I obligated by F5ing him into the ground.
"Was that really necessary?" Kaede scolded.
"Owwwwww, I didn't know you were actually strong" Kokichi grimaced, "Nor a fan of professional wrestling."
I slapped my hand into my forehead, remembering that enjoyment of professional wrestling was something I got into before I died. However, that did not fit Miu Iruma's character at all.
"Let that be a warning next time you try to rope me into one of your pranks" I sneered, "In any case, you shouldn't bother Kiyo boy, he's really ill."
"Is that so?" Kokichi tilted his head, "Shame, I'm sure his motive would've been the most exciting~"
No, no it wouldn't.
"Enough screwing around" I spat, "I need to resolve your prank before someone breaks my stuff."
I bitterly marched to my lab, unaware of the plot happening behind everyone's back.
A/N: Kiyo is so gross, I can't even.