Sora

Solitary Confinement

After being fussed over by Armen and Juriya, the good doctor eventually clears me to move around on my own after people have had a chance to investigate the room without me disturbing anything by leaving.

People pass by; some shaken both from seeing our dead classmate and the sight of me covered in blood, and some feeling well enough to mock how often I seem to get injured here (re: Kano. It was Kano.).

(Candace rolls her eyes. "Don't listen to him, sweetie." she says. "He's just upset you have a bigger part in this case than him." Candace laughs to which Kano just glares at her.)

Eventually, enough people come by to look around the room that Armen says it should be fine for me to leave.

"If you rip those stitches out of your head the next announcement is going to be about you." Juriya says as more of a warning than a threat as she cleans the blood off my face.

"Yeah, yeah…" I mumble, standing up on shaky legs.

I should investigate Solitary first since I'm here anyway…

INVESTIGATION START!

Let's review what I already know.

Before I came here, Valentin came to see me and we talked about what happened to him yesterday…which was a lot, apparently. It's only a matter of sorting out what's actually important - if any of it is important.

But I'll do that later.

Truth Bullet: Valentin's Account, acquired!

And then…I left my cell for some reason. I can't remember.

Then somehow I found myself here in Solitary and that person got the jump on me.

But why?

Looking down at the blood under my nails and reddish-pinkish hair in my hand that I ripped from my attacker's head, I think it's going to be fairly easy identifying and proving who thought they killed me.

But did my attacker also kill…?

Truth Bullet: Sora's Attack, acquired!

I turn to Armen and offer the hair to him, "An Ultimate Forensic Expert should probably hold onto this, right?" I say. "You can prove which of them that belongs to if they're all somehow covered in cuts and bruises." I say dryly.

Armen doesn't deem my comment with a response but takes the hair anyway.

Now…


Church

You've got to be fucking kidding me.

Why are every single one of my suspects covered in bruises!? I was fairly confident in the identity of my attacker but now, I'm not so sure.

Kasumi comes running up to me before I can dwell on it any further.

"Sora!" Kasumi smiles tiredly and hands me the Monokuma File. "Here."

I match her smile and look down at the file, beginning to read.

The victim is Yume Nii. The body was discovered in the Church. The estimated time of death is 11:24.

Her throat was slit with a kitchen knife. The cause of death is from blood loss.

There is a small trail of blood leading to the body.

Yume…

Truth Bullet: Monokuma File, acquired!

So she either didn't die instantly or her body was moved. Either way, something to make note of.

But…

Kitchen knife?

Handing the file back to Kasumi, I look down at her bloody outfit. "...Sorry about your clothes."

Kasumi laughs lightly and shakes her head, "Don't worry about it. Monokuma said if we survive this trial he'll replace this copy anyway." she says and glances at Yume's body. "Are you going to…?"

I nod and Kasumi silently follows me, passing off the Monokuma File when she sees someone who hasn't looked at it yet.

A grim looking Sasaki and an ever exhausted Masaki stand guard by Yume's body.

Sasaki, one of the girls whose hands are covered in bruises, looks up at us when we near. She smiles wearily. "Hey guys." she nods.

Kasumi glances at Yume's body again. "So she's like…actually…y'know…right?" she asks.

Sasaki nods. "Since Armen and Juriya were over in Solitary with you, the others decided Masaki and I were the next best thing to confirm.." she says and looks down at Yume sadly. "She's gone. There's no faking that neck wound with the slop we were fed before."

Masaki nods stiffly in agreement, refusing to look directly at Yume's body.

"So…what happened to your hands?" I ask, making no effort to hide my suspicion.

Sasaki blinks, looking down at her hands. "Oh. I didn't even notice they were bruised." she frowns and shakes her head. "A couple of the others and I were playing a game outside. Obviously, it got a bit rough." Sasaki answers easily, either oblivious to or choosing to ignore my suspicious look.

"Others?" I press, already having an idea of the answer.

Sasaki nods. "Myself, Shun, Kaori, Greyface, and Harumi." she says and continues when Kasumi and I give her a shocked look. "I know, I was surprised too." Sasaki says. "But Kaori ran into her in the Medical Ward and Harumi being Harumi, she was a little…frustrated over something. Kaori suggested she join the group outside to let off some steam." she explains.

I raise an eyebrow. "What was Kaori doing in the Medical Ward?" I ask.

"Oh, I can answer that!" Kasumi says.


Greyface laughs and motions for us to sit down. Kaori, Shun, and I sit down in front of her in a semi-circle and it's then that I notice the redness on their hands. "Just what exactly were you guys playing?"

Kaori yawns and stands back up, stretching. "I'll show you sometime but now that you've pointed it out, it is kinda bothering me." she says. "I'm gonna go get Juriya to fix this up." Kaori says, smiles, and exits the Yard.


"I see."

Truth Bullet: Yard Game, acquired!

What a coincidence that all my suspects played a game that hurt their hands.

"Has anyone investigated her body yet?" I ask.

Masaki shakes his head, a displeased look on his face. "That…Harlequin tried but he was being stupid so I made him leave." he sneers.

"You're more than welcome to," Sasaki says. "As I said, Armen and Juriya haven't been here so Yume is…untouched." she says.

Right.

Okay.

There's only one thing I want from Yume, so…

"Sorry, Yume…" I mumble, bending down next to her. I stick my hand into all of her pockets, and…

Bingo.

Yume's secret. Well, not her secret but you know what I mean.

I pocket the piece of paper. I'll look at this later.

Kasumi continues making conversation with the bodyguards as I finish my investigation - receiving grunts and shakes of his head from Masaki.

Only one thing to note: there aren't any defensive wounds anywhere on Yume.

Truth Bullet: Monokuma File, updated!

When I'm satisfied there's nothing left to find, I stand up, dusting myself off and taking a look around the Church.

Aside from the four of us, Kaori and Harlequin are hanging around the middle of the room (the former Remnant of Despair very clearly bothering Kaori about something), and the inseparable duo of Harumi and Kanna are sitting on one of the benches in the back, a sick look on the uncharacteristically silent Harumi's face.

Well…I suppose her attitude is a bit more excusable this time, all things considered.


Harumi tugs at her collar with an oddly anxious look on her face, "H-Hey now, c-could you move th-this a little bit lower?" she stutters, unable to do much because of her handcuffs.


"Just get it over with." she says, tugging at the choker that's been trapped under her collar ever since our sentencing.

Harumi being reasonable? Who would've thought.

Mai nods and clears her throat. "Right. Um." she says as she unfolds the piece of paper. "Er…Harumi Gen Cho was almost killed during the Tragedy when her throat was slit."

Harumi pales, grabbing at her neck again. "H-Huh?" she blinks, her eyes welling up with tears.

Out of the days I've known Harumi, I've never seen her look so vulnerable.


"Kasumi."

Kasumi turns to me and nods. She looks back at Sasaki. "Gotta go." Kasumi says and bids the duo goodbye before following me over to Kanna and Harumi.

Kanna and a pale Harumi look up at us when we approach.

"Sora." Harumi grimaces. "I can't believe I'm saying this but you've looked better."

"Harumi." I frown. "You've also looked better."

Kanna gives Kasumi and I a polite smile. "Harumi isn't feeling her best right now." she says, rubbing the heiress' back. "Because…you know."

Oh yes. We all know.

"I know I'm not like, friends with a lot of people here, and I wasn't friends with that stupid bi - with Yume, but…" Harumi gulps. "No one deserves to go out like that, y'know? It's…freaky. And painful." she says, letting out a shaky breath as she rubs at her collarless neck, her hands just as red as Sasaki's.

Hm.

Harumi gives me a look when she sees me watching her hands. "...I didn't do this." she says. "I was playing that stupid game with the others."

"...I know." I sigh. Unfortunately, I really don't think she did it. A shame I have to continue living with her. "Even without you playing whatever game you were playing, I don't think you're evil or bitchy enough to make someone suffer the same way you did." I say.

"Gee, thanks." Harumi scoffs. "And just for the record, I didn't attack you either. I would finish the job."

"Likewise." I say, looking down at her.

Kasumi smiles awkwardly and turns to Kanna. "What about you? You two are usually together but your hands don't look like Harumi's." she points out.

Kanna laughs lightly. "Oh, Harumi came to get me when she said she was going to the Yard. However when Greyface saw me, she was most displeased and didn't let me participate." she says. "So I just watched."

"Maybe because your psycho ass keeps beating her in everything she challenges you to..." Harumi mumbles under her breath.

Truth Bullet: Yard Game, updated!

So if I wasn't attacked by Sasaki and I wasn't attacked by Harumi, then that leaves Shun and Kaori.

Whatever game they were playing seems to be more about their hands and I know I hit my attacker back a few times. Those two don't have any marks on their faces or necks or anything.

Hm.

I'm pulled out of my thoughts by the sound of the Church door slamming shut.

A not at all guilty looking Harlequin approaches us with a smile on his face. "Man, some people sure are testy, huh?" he whistles.

Kasumi frowns. "What…What did you say to Kaori?"

"I was only asking her about her injuries and then I said to not be sad about Yume's death!" Harlequin pouts and sighs dramatically. "Yume was definitely a good person so that means she's with the rest of the good kids in the afterlife!" he says optimistically. "What's there to be offended about over that? I mean, Kasumi here didn't get upset when I said the same thing about her-"

"Harlequin," Kasumi stresses. "I think that's enough."


Exiting the Church, Kasumi and I find Greyface limping towards D-Pod.

The two of us exchange a look.

"Greyface?" I call.

The serial killer stills and turns her head, a crazy smile on her face. "My, my, if it isn't Katsuko's cousin's friend and Katsuko's cousin," she drawls. "What can I do for you?"

I frown and Kasumi stills at the odd terms of address. Nonetheless, I continue, "You're limping." I point out.

"Am I? I didn't notice." Greyface grins. "Maybe I got injured killing the comedian…or maybe I got injured when you refused to go down without a fight." she says tauntingly. "Who can say?"

Truth Bullet: Greyface's Injury, acquired!

"I can say." I cross my arms. "The person who attacked me has pink hair. Clearly that's not you."

The blue-silver haired Ultimate gives me a lopsided smile. "Well…can I take that to mean you'll vouch for my innocence then, Sora Sugawara?" she hums.

"You're innocent of attacking me, that's all I'll vouch for."

Greyface 'ooos', tapping her chin. "Oh? And why's that?"

"Yume's throat was slit with a kitchen knife. Only a few of us had a chance to get our hands on one of those."


After the rest of Kensuke's team of chefs gather in the center of D-Pod (as per Monokuma's orders), our ankles and wrists are shackled and after we're blindfolded, a herd of Guard Monokuma's herd us…somewhere.

It's hard to tell with a blindfold on, y'know?

Myself, Kensuke, Hitoshi, Luan, and, surprisingly, Greyface, are led down several hallways, inside and outside, left and right, and so on and so forth until we eventually stop in an air-conditioned room and what sounds like tile below our feet.


Greyface grins. "So you know you're in the hot seat as well, hmm?"

I grimace. "I know. But the knife was nowhere to be found in the Church, that means the killer might still have it."

Truth Bullet: Kitchen Knife, acquired!

Greyface tilts her head to the side. "Well then. To proving our innocence!" she says and mimes raising a glass. Greyface then looks at me seriously, her black, beady eyes staring into my soul and sending a shiver down my spine. "I don't intend to die here, Sora Sugawara." she says and looks at Kasumi. "And Katsuko wouldn't want you to die here either."

Is she trying to claim her innocence?

Before Kasumi and I have a chance to ask, Greyface starts limping away again, effectively ending the conversation there.

Whatever. I'm not trying to pressure a serial killer into conversation and I'm running out of time to investigate anyway.


After that interesting interaction with Greyface, Kasumi and I head into the Medical Ward.

"What do you think we're going to find here, Sora?" Kasumi asks, lingering by the door as I walk around the room.

I frown, thinking as I survey the room.

Kasumi scratches her head.

I know there's a trash can in here…

"Sora?" Kasumi frowns. Her frown deepens when I pull out a trash can from under the desk and stick my hand in it. "How hard did you hit your head? Look at me, how many fingers am I-?"

"Shush." I pull out a string of used bandages from the trash can, blood on both sides of the wraps. I bend down and pull out another one, this string longer and with blood only on one side. "Look."

Truth Bullet: Double-sided Old Bandages, acquired!

Truth Bullet: One-sided Old Bandages, acquired!

Kasumi's eyes widen. "Does this put anyone at the top of the suspect list?" she asks.

"We'll find out during the trial but I'm guessing one of these belonged to Greyface. Come on, we're running out of time." I say and we dash out of the infirmary, leaving behind a confused Mai and Nemiko going in the opposite direction.


On our way out of A-Wing, Kasumi and I agree to split up.

I make my way back to Solitary and I send her to snoop around in the most obvious suspect's cells: Ken's kitchen crew, Ken, Sasaki, Harumi, Kaori, and Shun's. She takes Valentin with her (who we found in D-Pod) to act as a witness.

When I return to Solitary, Juriya, Shun, Armen, and Nemiko are there.

"Sora," Shun nods and gives me a friendly but tired smile. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine." I say quickly and clear my throat. "...Thank you."

Juriya rolls her eyes and lets out a groan like her next words are the hardest things she's ever had to say: "Sora was attacked by someone with pink or red hair. She's understandably a bit hesitant to talk to you. Now carry on." she says blandly.

Shun gasps at me and then turns and gasps again at Juriya. "Is that why you plucked out some of my hair!?" she cries.

"Obviously." Juriya says dryly and Shun continues berating her.

Armen pinches the bridge of his nose. "These are all singular strands of hair that I am trying to compare without the proper equipment. If you want me to confirm the identity of Sora's attacker then peace is needed." he scowls.

Shun stares at him.

"That means leave."

Shun nods quickly and offers me a reassuring smile before exiting the room.

Nemiko pulls out her notepad and writes something down.

You came back. Did you find something?

"Kind of." I say and turn to Juriya. "Sasaki says you treated Kaori's hands after that game they were playing." I say.

Juriya nods. "That's correct." she confirms.

"Did you treat anyone else before or after that?" I ask. "Greyface, maybe?" I ask, thinking back to my conversation with Valentin.

Juriya blinks, a bit surprised, before nodding again. "I did. She had a bad cut on her inner thigh." she says. "Though she didn't tell me how she got it."

Truth Bullet: Juriya's Account, acquired!

"Okay. Thanks." I nod and turn to leave the room but catch Armen looking at me strangely. "...Armen?"

"...It's nothing. I still need to think on it before making any accusations." Armen says and stands up. "Excuse me, I need to use Delvina's eyes." he says and leaves the room.

I look back at Juriya and Nemiko, both of whom just shrug.

Weird.

Anyways.


I pass by the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse on my way out of B-Wing: a stressed out Kensuke with the ever calm voice of Takeshi trying to soothe him, Hitoshi mumbling thoughtfully to himself, and Toshiro still grumbling about his ruined plans - Kano being the first to ruin them and Yume's killer being the second.

I guess his behaviors are a little more understandable now.

Walking back to D-Pod, I find Kasumi, Valentin, and Yosuke rushing over into the Showers Wing.

Huh?

Following them, after peeking my head into every other room, I open the doors to the Yard to find Valentin climbing onto Yosuke's shoulders and Kasumi climbing onto Valentin's.

Um.

"Guys?"

The human tower shuffles to turn and face me.

"Señorita Sora!" Valentin greets. "I have spotted something shiny over the fence - we are trying to see what it is."

I give him a look.

Valentin smiles sheepishly. "A-Actually, this time. For real." he says.

Yosuke looks at me casually, unbothered by the weight on his shoulders. "Would you like to join the human tow-?"

The loudspeakers suddenly click on.

"Ahem, I'm getting tired of waiting here…" Monokuma's voice rings throughout the Yard. "Let's get things going! It's the event you've all been waiting for…the class trial! As it was before, I suggest you all lay down on the floor within the next ten seconds unless you want to wake up with a beary bad headache." he warns and the speakers click off.

Kasumi quickly tries to scramble off of Valentin's shoulders but in her rush, the human tower stumbles and the three of them fall to the ground roughly anyway.

I sigh as I sit down on the floor, that piercing pain in my neck coming as soon as I do and the drowsiness sets in again.

The killer may seem obvious from the evidence I have now, but is it really that simple…?

Yume…

Someone's actually dead this time…I really don't want to join you just yet, Yume.

We'll figure this out…

Zzzz…

7~7~7

A/N yes sora being unable to move for the first half of the alloted investigation time was absolutely a cop out of not making her talk to everyone

the next part should (key word) be the very last part of chapter 2 and will reveal why the roster is so thick I promise I'm not that crazy we're not doing 8 chapters of danganronpa murders here I swear I'm not crazy please I know what I'm doing (partly) (not really) (I have chronic pain) okay I'll let you think on that even word count reached thank you for your time happy birthday epi xoxo