Note: With a cast of so many characters, it's essentially impossible for every person to have a moment to shine. But even so, I don't like leaving people out. I've done my best to include everyone, because it's essentially more fun when everyone's together.


Melty Blood

Mugino Shizuri opened the door to a darkened storehouse. Stepping inside, she began to sift through several shelves of random junk.

The Number 4 mumbled to herself.

"Less props than I thought... Some of these costumes could be useful though…"

As she looked around for other usable supplies, a shadow lurked in the background, eerily weaving back and out of sight.

"…"

Watching.

A narrow point of view.

Holes through a mask.

Claustrophobia.

"I can use this…"

Unaware of the changing mood, the girl continued on. She kept going despite the audible heavy breathing close by.

And then…

"Huh?"

Raising her head to a window, the glass reflection tipped her off. She turned around to face the Masked Killer.

"What the-"

Before the Number 4 could finish her sentence, the Killer swiftly swung down a machete, slicing off Mugino Shizuri's arm.

Melty Blood II

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-"

Blood ERUPTED from the end of the Number 4's carved limb. Spinning around, the girl waved her nonexistent appendage around, spraying a plethora of red all over the walls and shelves of the storeroom.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH-"

Her yelling did not cease as she stumbled and slipped on the dampened floor. The Killer, unperturbed, lifted the machete again and used the flat side to smack the side of her head.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH-"

And for some reason, Mugino Shizuri's eye busted open, gushing out a pressured stream of the same red fluid.

"AAAA-"

And with one last unseen blow, the screaming abruptly ended.

Backing out…

Super Director Kinuhata sat in her director's chair with Cameraman Hamazura by her side.

"And cut!"

Filming had begun.

Lights, Cameras, Continuity

Misaka Mikoto arrived on set in the early morning. It was an area right outside of the testing facility, which provided a convenient variety of locations. Nearby, Shokuhou Misaki was having her makeup done by a bloodied Mugino Shizuri.

( Shizuri: What nice skin. Shame if someone were to tear it off. )

( Misaki: Please don't say such scary things. )

Speaking quietly…

"I wonder if it's too late to back out now…"

"Ara? Misaka-san?"

The girl turned her head in surprise to see another familiar face.

"S-Saten-san?-! What are you doing here?"

"Huh? There was this flyer and… Well, I had some free time. Was it the same for you too?"

"Err… yeah. That's how it is."

Saten Ruiko nodded enthusiastically.

"Awesome! This'll be just like how we filmed Railgun S! In fact, I've even brought all the same audio equipment!"

"That… sure is a joke that no one remembers."

"It sure is!"

B-Tier

Easing up a bit, the Number 3 began going with the flow.

Having her hair and make-up done, Misaka Mikoto transformed into somewhat of a "gyaru"*.

( *a particular type of stylish girl )

She skipped over to Shokuhou Misaki who was dressed up in a similar fashion.

"Like, OH MY GOD! Is that you, Misaki-chan? It's been, like, way too long!"

The Number 5 answered likewise.

"Like TOTES it has! My parents had me, like, cleaning up the garage all weekend. Like, GAG ME WITH A SPOON, am I right?"

"That's, like, so GRODY. They sound like TOTAL space cadets."

"I know! But like, there's all this trash that's, like, been out for how long? It's really nauseating. Like BARF OUT."

"GROSS. TOTALLY disgusting."

"Anyway… wanna, like, check out the galleria with me? There's like this super-super nice clothing store and, like, they're selling mini-skirts and stuff. It's like so BITCHIN'."

"…"

Misaka Mikoto and Shokuhou Misaki both turned to the camera.

"This script is terrible."

( Saiai: Don't break the fourth wall. And it's your own super fault for not attending the meeting. )

Blood and Destroy

The Number 3 continued the scene.

"So like, have you heard about those rumors?"

Shokuhou Misaki tilted her head.

"Rumors?"

"Yeah, like, there's this serial killer going around, and it's like TOTALLY freaking people out."

"Yeah right. Like, NO WAY. I am so SURE that is like TOTES fake."

As the two girls walked aimlessly, they bumped into the Masked Killer.

"Whoa! GRODY!"

"Like, GRODY TO THE MAX!"

The two ignorantly scoffed at the Killer. They didn't seem aware of the spiked baseball bat the Killer had in her hands. And then…

For a split second, Misaka Mikoto's head turned into a watermelon. A split second after that, the bat came down, smashing the melon into reddish gush.

[ SFX: *SPLOOOORCH* ]

The Number 3 fell back on the ground and convulsed without a "head".

Parental Guidance

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-"

After witnessing her friend die a rather traumatizing death, Shokuhou Misaki attempted to flee; however, as she did so, the Killer grabbed her by the hair and pulled her down.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH-"

The Killer pulled out a kitchen knife and straddled the girl. Plunging the knife into Shokuhou Misaki…

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH-"

The Killer reached a hand inside and started to pull ketchup-covered sausage links from under the Number 5's blouse. The color red smeared and sprayed unnaturally as "entrails" piled up.

Backing out…

Cameraman Hamazura made a comment.

"This seems… Graphic…"

"You're damn right it is."

Looking to the side, the dropout saw Sogiita Gunha wearing white overalls, splattered with red goop. He held a clear plastic hose filled with the same viscous fluid.

"I worked hard on that."

Hamazura Shiage blinked. He leaned in close toward the Super Director while keeping an eye on the Number 7. He spoke low.

"I'm supposed to edit most of this out, right?"

"Most definitely."

Wilhelm

Super Director Kinuhata made an announcement.

"And so, in order to save on time… every other super death scene will be done by Kakine Teitoku."

[ Quick cuts of the Number 2* being violently murdered. ]

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-"

"AIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-"

"GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH-"

( *had previously drank a liter of red dye for effect )

Super Kinuhata made another announcement.

"And in order to super cover for the fact that we're reusing the same actor, he'll be wearing these provided outfits."

[ Quickcuts continue. ]

Pirate Kakine:

"Yo ho ho! And a bottle of- AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-"

Cowboy Kakine:

"It's high noo- AIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-"

Astronaut Kakine:

"Houston, we have a pr- GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH-"

( Shiage: Such a colorful cast we have here. )

The Student

Having finished her scene, the Number 3 loitered around the area with not much to do. She eventually spotted a certain necromancer, who was burying herself in her script.

"It's that Estelle girl…"

Noticing the gaze, the necromancer raised her head.

"Ah? Misaka-san?"

"Eh?"

The girl went up to the Level 5 in a friendly manner.

"Umm… Do you think you can help me? There's some terminology here I don't quite understand."

"E-Eh… uh, sure…"

Misaka Mikoto seemed uncomfortable. Nonetheless, she listened to Estelle Rosenthal's troubles. The black-ribboned girl pointed to a part in the script.

"Is this part supposed to be a joke or reference to something? I feel like it is. In fact, this whole setup seems like an elaborate prank of some kind. And it's… a little weird…"

"Well… I can't say it's not. But… you probably shouldn't think too much. It's best to let the director handle it."

"I see."

The necromancer went on.

"If that's how it is then maybe -casual clothes GET- I should talk to director about changing some of my lines? Is that a good idea?"

Mid-sentence, the girl had taken out a camera and took a picture at a passing white-haired boy.

"…"

"Misaka-san?"

Warning

"I see. So… this part's supposed to be a nightmare?"

"No. That's not it…"

For some reason, Misaka Mikoto was tutoring Estelle Rosenthal on the apparent absurdity of a genre.

"You see, it's a horror movie. There's going to be parts that don't make sense. The draw here is mystery, as mystery is, I guess, frightening. The less you understand something, the harder it is to feel at ease. Tension is created from the fabrication of uncertain danger, and it's a person's imagination that creates perceived problems."

"Is that so."

"Though, personally, I think that's the wrong way to think of fear. Sometimes knowing the implications of an action may be far more unsettling than not knowing anything at all. But, really, it depends on the individual person on how they actually become afraid."

After that explanation, the girl blinked.

"He's not a good person, you know."

"…Ah?"

"*Ahem* If you're concerned about how the movie will result, don't. We're shooting for something B-grade anyway. No one is going to win any awards. Especially for a kid's art project."

"I… I see then…"

A quick slip of the tongue went unnoticed.

Cheater

Looking over the script, Kinuhata Saiai relayed the next plan of action.

"So for the super chase sequence, we'll have Takitsubo chase Cameraman Hamazura with a chainsaw for about 5-10 minutes. It'll be like we're looking from the victim's point of view."

Hamazura Shiage didn't seem too enthused with the idea.

"Whaaat? That sounds exhausting. Can't we just leave this part out?"

He turned his head to see the 12-year-old whispering something into Takitsubo Rikou's ear.

( Saiai: So apparently... Mugino and Hamazura were... )

"…"

The Killer pulled the starter handle to her chainsaw, and the engine began running.

"Eh? Is that not a prop? That sounds pretty real…"

Kinuhata Saiai gave the boy a smile.

"Good luck Hamazura! And remember, don't stop filming!"

"…"

Without question, he bolted.

The Cleanest of Endings

It was finally the ending scene. The hero was protecting the heroine in a last stand against the Killer. He comforted the heroine who was behind him.

"Never in my life have I loved anyone like I loved you."

Reciting his lines sincerely…

"You are my heart, my life, my one and only thought. If you were to live for 100 years more, I'd prefer to live that and 1 second less. So I wouldn't have to spend a moment without you.

"So that's why…"

The boy stood his ground.

"I'll buy you as much time as I can. Escape Estelle. You have to survive."

And after that heartfelt confession…

A knife pierced through his abdomen.

"H-Huuuh?-!"

Chillingly…

The heroine gave him a pleasant smile.

"As I thought. You'll make a fine sacrifice."

"Wha… What's the meaning of this…!"

Crawling out of the woodwork, all those previously killed appeared and grabbed onto the boy.

"Take him to the torture chamber. You're free to do what you want with him, but keep him alive."

As the camera panned to the sky, distant cries of the hero could be heard.

( "No! Not the bees! My eyes! My eyeeeeees! Fukou daaaaaaaaaaaaa!" )

Fate

After an entire day of filming, Super Director Kinuhata and Cameraman Hamazura collapsed onto the ground.

"It's over! It's super over!"

"Thank god! My legs are about to fall off!"

They both breathed a sigh of relief. And then… Kinuhata Saiai held out an open palm to the boy.

"Give it here. I wanna see everything we've filmed today. If I find out any super clichéd developments like 'your thumb was in front of the lens the entire time' or 'there was actually no tape in it' or 'the battery ran out midway'… I'll take away all your Mugino points."

"Don't worry. It's all there."

He handed over the camera. Cautiously, the girl opened the mini-LCD screen of the camcorder…

There, she found that a spider had somehow settled in-between the joints.

"..."

Immediately, the camcorder went off flying into the street.

And immediately after that, a large truck ran over it.

"…"

"We'll do it live."

The boy seemed confused at the Super Director's words.

"What you do m-"

"I said we'll do it live, damn it!"

Due Date

And so…

The movie turned into a stage play.

Children gathered outside in front of a temporary stage with excited mutterings and murmurings.

The curtains rose.


Timeline (condensed): 10, 1, 2, 4, 8, 9, 19-24, x, 3, x, 12-17, x, 5-7, x, 11

Next Scene: It all descends into chaos.


Extra: Out of Focus II

An event outside of club activities…

A certain electrifying esper yawned as she approached the clubroom door. She stopped upon hearing a discussion.

[ "Never in my life have I loved anyone like I loved you." ]

Recognizing the metallic voice, the girl froze.

[ "You are my heart, my life, my one and only thought. If you were to live for 100 years more, I'd prefer to live that and 1 second less. So I wouldn't have to spend a moment without you." ]

E-Ehhh?-! This development is…!

[ "… U-… Uwah-… Uwawah-! Uwawawawawah!" ]

[ SFX: *THOCK* -sound of paper script lightly hitting someone's head ]

[ "Stop that. If you keep spacing out, I won't help you with your lines." ]

[ "Erm… Ah… Sorry… It's just that when Teacher has such a serious expression… It's… It's umm…" ]

[ "…hilarious?" ]

[ "N-No! It's not funny at all! What I meant was…! It's just that… I… Well… That is… My heart… started racing… I guess…" ]

The voice trailed off and eventually came to a halt. Softly…

[ "…never mind. Forget it." ]

There was a hint of apprehension as the voice let out a breath, but picking back up…

[ "Teacher… Do you mind if we start the scene over? With that last line?" ]

As the electrifying esper stood out in the hallway, she found it harder and harder to enter the room.