Danganronpa the Twilight of Autumn Springs Academy Chapter 5: Sunlit Beaches Eclipsed in a catastrophic light DEALY LIFE
We have seen this happen multiple times someone murdering one another and whats more, unlike the previous cases, Monobunny did not provide a motive. No one was more prudent and reserved than Hikaru. And now she is dead. Yuri and Naomi were horrified. Shiori cringed but looked calmer than normal. But not suspiciously. Kazuki scowled while Junko was expressionless and emotionless.
"The investigation will begin everyone. Stay out of my way." Was all that she said to us
Monobunny appeared
"You really love getting off from this you sick cretin" Snarled Shiori
Monobunny was silent "Why this is beyond bunny it's a pay off now here is the Monobunny FILE!
We were all given the fifth Monobunny file and to our surprise, Monobunny did not say anything but disappeared
"Hey, Monobunny is acting weird, right?" Yuri asked with a hint of suspicion in her voice
"BUT That…how…?" I stuttered
Everyone even Kazuki were confused. How in the world that Hikaru died and why is it that Junko left without even looking at the Monobunny file. And who could have killed her? No someone would not have killed without a motive, would they?
"Look, I realize that we are all suffering and I typically flare up and make accusations but I am giving all of you one chance. Please whoever killed Hikaru, just fess up and I promise I will mercy kill you. I will kill you painlessly. Please its better than being tortured by Monobunny who will send us through hell.
Suddenly the vision I had of Hibiki who fell through various different religious depictions of hell until being stabbed by an Incubus and suffocated by a succubus then it pixelates and vanishes. Then Hoshi forced to write I will not commit murder 666 by Monobunny who is controlling him with puppet strings. The writing on paper is written on his skin and sparks on fire and then Monobunny shut the book closed with strings on the walls crushing Hoshi…Then Takuma climbing a tower, being bound by money bags full of gold while the tower is flooding with molten gold…. He makes it to the top of the castle, sees an ark, desperately climbs on it and it has angel wing…flying up to heaven until a flare of hellfire and hellbolts destroys the ark…Then Taichi… and a carnival…?
"Hayate…are you okay?" Naomi asked
I was clenching my forehad and wailing around. I…whats…happening to me?
"yeah…ack"
"So no one want to confesss? Oh well not my problem" Shiori shrugged off not noticing me regaining my composire from my apparent seizure of some sort..
"Never mind, some tragedy has befallen on Hikaru. I suggest that you all let me handle all of the investigating."
"WHY should we let YOU do all of it, Kazuki!?" Yuri asked sternly "We all need to work together as a team and I want to be able help everyone! Its that and I kinda still don't fully trust you yet Kazuki, sorry.." Yuri clarified with sincere look of regret in her eyes as if she truly was sorry for not trusting him.
" I agree. I think that everyone would feel better if we cooperate anyway.` I would feel better if I could use both of my exp as a manga artist and gangster to assist you if you all would accept me"
"Of course! Anything as friends!" Yuri said cheerfully hugging Shiori making her brush nervously
Finally we are coming together. Naomi smiled and said "Maybe we can get Junko to help. It will be a lovely party if more close friends were together. I will simply just drown in decadence. I will try and ask Junko if she wants to join us guys, see you!"
"Listen" I said "I know that we went through a lot and seen a lot of blood spilt. But Let it be known, we will find her killer… Monobunny or the mastermind must have done this, and I refuse to believe anyone did this.. But I still have to consider it. But with whatever I can do, I will try to help you all reach the truth"
And with that began
[INVESTIGATION TIME MODE]
"The victim is ultimately unknown. However it is speculated based on the DNA strains of the goggles to be Hikaru Shizue the Ultimate Hacker. The cause of death is unknown. The time of death is unknown. The body seem to have been completely destroyed around 8:30AM but the condition of the body before its destruction is also unknown. Also the Culprit is Unknown"
No cause of death, no defined identity of the corpse but DNA on the goggles suggesting that its Hikaru… I cant find anything useful from the Monobunny file this time. But that explosion happened in front of us. The only thing that can be confirmed is the goggles are Hikaru and the body was destroyed at 8:30AM. [Monobunny file #5] was added to my truth bullets.
Since this case revolves around Hikaru I need to examine the second weirdest thing. The labryrinth. When I first came to the Arcade they was a lot of arcade machines however… None of them were arranged in such a way that's like a maze. [Arcade Maze] Mystery was added to my truth bullet repertoire.
But I need everyone's testimonies…. But only Shiori, Yuri and Kazuki were here.
"Hayate, before you thing that I'm gonna snap off and shoot bullet holes, trust me," She began with an awkwardly relaxed grin "I'm not" She finished flatly without the forced cheerfulness….
"No offense but I am not really concerned about that at present as I already trust you….I'm more curious as..HOW IN THE WORLD DID YOU AND NAOMI GET TRAPPED IN THE FIRE WITH NAOMI? I'm glad that you're alive and well but what the heck happened"
"Now who is shooting metaphorical bullet holes now?" Shiori said aloofly but sarcastically
"Ah I'm sorry" Noticing my hypocrisy I bowed with remorse… Honestly I am kind of content when she is level headed
" Its..cool dude, no big deal… But to answer your question… I was going to the weight room on the fourth floor to work out to go to the weaponry . I really wanted to talk to Taichi's ghost at the place where he died. After working out, I was strained, but no matter the muscle pain, it would not impede me to seeing Tai's ghost, so I was on my way to the weaponry…Then I smelled smoke and I saw Naomi rushing to the fifth floor. Realizing something I followed after her. We saw the arcade maze and everything was on fire and entered it. But we both got caught by some traps and forced to wait until someone saw us, or when the flames expired…"
"I'm sorry that I could not stop and rescue you two through the hellish flames.." I said in dejection
"Hayate. You nearly put a cap through your head and briefly and probably still going insane… And if you tried to a witch like martyr burning yourself minus the steak, I will shoot you myself… even if it meant my death…"
"Uhhh" Note to self… Eventhough I still have regrets to try and be a hero to save them, I must not turn to suicide…
"Well its that like all?" Shiori asked
"Well, kind of.. I am still curious as to why Naomi ran into a maze of fire.."
"If I were to pull a trigger in the dark with the answer… Either she also smelled the fire or she was looking for something due to her ditzy nature"
[Shiori's Account] uploaded as a truth bullet in my E-Planner.
I looked at the crime scene… The remainder of the maze can be evaluated later. I checked the large spill of blood as well as tons of scorch marks from the exploaion. As this monobunny file is practically useless, well at the least for the most part, whatever I can salvage here, I hopefully should suffice. The scorch marks appear as if there was an explosion but it seems…slightly huge…and strange…And a ton of machine parts from the arcade machine was scattered around the blood spill… But the blood looked slightly dried up. I saw also a katana that was burnt up a bit from the explosion and was bloodstained and blood even was near the hilt.. but the handle was clean Could someone have been stabbed with the katana? I looked at the explosion mark… Is it possible that there was more than one explosion?... I saw something else… A camera lens… I wonder. The surveillance cameras were not damaged by the blast and arcade machines don't have cameras on them so why is there a camera lens? The [Blood Stains], [Explosion Scorch Mark], [Bloody Katana], [Arcade Machine Parts], and [Camera Lens] Truth Bullets loaded into my E-Planner
Speaking of other things on the list of objects that shouldn't be found in an arcade, some thin frayed pieces of wire strains were also hear…. And someone must have been tied up… It almost looking as if someone has been tied up.. and in the middle of the strains of wire, were two blood that was clearly covered with blood. And the blood on the bullets were dryer that the blood here from the [Wire Strains] and [Bloody Bullets] Truth bullets were added to my E-Planner
Then finally..my stomach was curling. Looking at Hikaru's googles. Unliink everything else here, these googles were barely damaged. It was as if they were indestructible. The Monobunny file said the googles contained Hikaru's DNA so it much have been Hikaru's. Hikaru had an eccentric and mechanical personality but in her own was very helpful.. For anyone to murder someone like her. Was detestable. At the same time. No one here would really have a motive to kill her of all people, even Kazuki. [Hikaru's Googles] were added as truth bullets for me to use.
I feel as if there is no reason for me to stay at the crime scene. Naomi from what Shiori was saying makes it seem plausible that Naomi is suspicious. Even then a few days ago I remember seeing her return to her dorm room. When I tried greeting her she ignored me as she was fatigued. While thinking about Naomi, when I was leaving I saw a lighter… A zippo style lighter on the floor… [Lighter] was added as a truth bullet. And almost exactly next to it was a black cross shaped pendant… It was strangely familiar and then I realized
It was HER Pendant. Keiko Yukimura's pendant. Why on earth is it that her pendant the first culprit's pendant is up here? She was dead without a hint of doubt. But that makes me want to verify one thing now. Keiko herself. I believe the information that I can find would be at the master library. However I do need to speak to Yuri whereever she is.. [Keiko's Pendant] was added as a truth bullet in my E-Planner.
Suddenly I also notice by the zippo lighter a burnt trail smelling of oil was on the ground.. and I followed it.. While following to see where it leads, it was barely a quarter in that I saw another katana. This Katana was similar to the other, but was bloodless and was damaged and dented from bullets. And was maybe 6 inches deep in the screen of an arcade machine as if someone was trying to dispose of it. The [Damaged Katana] was added to my E-Planner as a truth bullet.
It was at first a quarter in… now I felt I was almost a 1/3 way through the maze. Whoever made this maze must have had strength and stamina. I felt lucky that I have not gotten myself lost yet. Lucky…luck.. Is that what it is? I cannot fathom with certain clarity that all of this was conveniently luck. Not to say that luck does not exist, rather its too much of a coincidence.
And a coincidence it was seeing a burnt up glove in what seemed to the mid point of this maze. Yuri was as well hunched over crawling about, as if she was searching for something. Although I do need to speak with her, I would opt not to interrupt her investigation. So I bent down to find a strange and familiar burnt up glove and beside it…some burnt up sticker that resembled a winged creature…
"HAYATE!? Ummm where umm did you find that glove!?" Yuri asked mortified. Her face was pallid, as if her eyes locked with the eyes of a serial killer's phantom, garbed in silk adorned with her own worst fears.
"I uh just found it on the ground…? Are you alright?" I asked her
"Yep sure… I was just umm investigating! Checking every nook and cranny! Heh heh" She chuckled nervously
"I was meaning to ask, how did you figure about the fire?"
"Oh well you see…. I smelled smoke from somewhere and walked upstairs and found the arcade on fire! That's when I flew downstairs to warn everyone! Yep and that was the first time I saw the fire and was up here only to investigate the smoke! Heh"
An ominous mass of darkness and black aura was not needed to discern that Yuri was somewhat lying. [Yuri's Account] Truth Bullet formed, and I loaded it into my E-Planner.
Yuri then scampered out of the maze and probably back to Kazuki the last name on my people tp talk to list. Especially since he was in the maze.
Kazuki was covered in burns but overall was not seriously burnt. He was pretty bloody though
"Hayate Takenaka"
"Kazuki, you're well?"
"Obviously, my flesh is obviously the most durable and quaint. Born as the incarnate of destruction and fallen light, the morning star that swallow the impurities of darkness, and digest them to shine brighter than the abyssal heavens.. Normally such insolence shall earn my contempt. But you've triumphed me too many times at half of my power so I shall forgive you.
"Uhhh ok? But why where you travelling in a burning death trap?" I asked
" I had seen Shiori and Naomi sprint to the fifth floor so I followed them and saw the inferno wreathed labyrinth. As I am the incarnate of the devilish fallen angel, I normally am immune against hellfire. Earthly pyros is akin to walking on a sea of burning sulfur and liquid flames, or in your inferior realm, water."
Yuri who was tending to Kazuki's wounds, playfully and forcefully poured an entire bottle of anti burn peroxide all over him with such power, making Kazuki's hair spike up in pain
"WATCH IT DAUGHTER OF THE NIGHT LORD!" scowled Kazuki
"You idiot! What kind of moron walks through fire! You and your morning star fetish is annoying!"
"I find this amusingly ironic from the delusional wife of the nocturnal sanguine king!"
"Perhaps lowering myself to lead you all has caused me to became vulnerable to fire" Kazuki said
"So basically you tried to save Shiori and Naomi but ended up getting burned?"
"If that's all you need, then yes that is it."
[Kazuki Account] transformed into a truth bullet that Up-Loaded on my E-Planner.
So what seemed like that happened was that Naomi was the first to smell the smoke, and then Shiori saw her run upstairs. Naomi ran inside the maze and Shiori followed after her and they were trapped. Kazuki at some point walked upstairs and tried to walk through the maze to save Shiori and Naomi, but was burned and stuck at the entrance. Yuri smelled the flames went up to the fifth floor and then saw the fire and ran back downstairs to retrieve us. Me and Junko ran upstairs to the fifth floor, and Junko ran through the maze, and listening to her yells I was able to navigate through the maze. Half way through I heard an explosion, and then we found Hikaru's body. After the Body Discovery Announcement the sprinklers turned on extinguishing the flames. The [Fire] truth bullet, [Explosion] truth bullet, and [Sprinkler truth bullets] were loaded to my E-Planner. Finally I checked in the corner of the arcade's entrance was a crushed remote control of somekind? Is it to control the arcades? [Crushed Remote Control] was added to my E-Planner as a truth bullet.
Finally I hurried downstairs… And on the stair well coming from the third and going to the second floor was an E-Planner… But it was no normal E-Planner, but Moe's E-Planner. Why was it here? [Moe's E-Planner] became a truth bullet for me to use.
I hurried to the library and the first thing that I saw was….an envelope with a Monobunny Tattoo stamped on it.. and inside was a letter… "To the person address. As a token for surviving and suffering the worse, I present to you a gift. Consider it a gift of compassion"
My entire world stopped, and I froze.. I could not move, paralyzed by fear. We were lead to believe we were safe, but no. It was..not….The truth…the real truth…. Monobunny…laid a motive…to someone… No NO NOOOOO!
[Letter of Compassion] sadistically materialized with a strange acerbic sensation in my mind and it was added to my truth bullet collection in my E-Planner…
Quickly I make my way toward the dormitory area where I spotted a stylus. It was on the ground next to Yuri's door.. Why was it here… I don't think that she has a need for one…? The [Stylus] Truth bullet added itself to my E-Planner.
*Ding* Dong* *BING* *BONG*!
"Attention Students. It is now time for the class trial. Please come to the chamber of Dawnshade and Dusklight…"
It was time….
Everyone made their own way to the chamber of Dawnshade and Dusklight…. Junko arms' were crossed , her eye glaring at all of us. With suspicion and venom spitting at everyone.. But most especially they were directed at me.. As if she was blaming me… Junko coldy drank a canned soda shocking Yuri
"HEY WHAT GIVES DRINKING STUFF!? WHERE DID YOU GET THAT!?" Growled Yuri
Junko smirked at her "ARE YOU THAT DUMB!? THE DINING HALL!"
"BUT THERE WASN'T ANY FOOD LEFT!" Yuri retorted "I checked down there on my way here!"
"I got it FROM the DINING HALL two days ago" Junko groaned rolling her eyes
"We don't usually run out of food" Shiori noted
That's true… first monobunny bans us from the Junk Garage and now this? Suddenly the [Junk Garage BAN rule], [No Morning Announcements] [Food Shortage] were added in my E-planner as truth bullets?
Kazuki sighed "Fools, if you don't learn to gain reign of your emotions, none of you will survive!"
"Cheer up everyone…um indeed so… so yeah YOS!" Naomi said gaudily while beginning softly
Monobuny then appeared "Only six players left… Now…bun buns…lets commence"
Immediately after warping away the elevator doors opened. Everyone entered…except me and Junko
"Junko, I have been meaning to talk to you,"
"Don't say anything to me" Junko said
"Huh?"
"SHUT UP!" She roared "Its your fucking fault that I couldn't save her in time…." Junko explained
"But..Junko..I…just kindly hear me out!"
"The only thing that I need to hear is the dying cries of the blackened that murdered Hikaru..NOTHING ELSE"
Junko coldly spat before swishing to the elevator. Feeling her weight on the words.. A blood splattered hatred for me…Crimson as the brutalist Sunday… I must figure out who the culprit is. And pray that I can reconcile with Junko.. Before its too late. I stepped in the elevator
The descent was more empty… 11 of our friends were dead.. and everyone was on edge.. I could never understand why… WHY are we being harmed like this… and when will it all end. We moved deeper and deeper and deeper until we stopped.
Opening up…The trial grounds…was like a sunset bathed beach with saffron dyed sand, and amber dyed palm tree pillars but the sky that was painfully bright, like a supernova explosion of white light in stasis.
We took our seats, and Yuri broke down into tears. She saw Kazue portrait, but her X was literally Yuri's full name in cursive…. With a heart symbol on the X's edges…While Taichi's X portrait had a great sword and wine glass.
Monobunny was mute..
Hikaru Shizue the Ultimate Hacker
A masochist and a genius
She had tried so hard in intellectual pursuit to destroy Monobunny
As she was on the cusp of winning, died
One of us
Killed
And so the battle of sunlight and moonlight dancing together in this ballroom
Births a twilight of despair