I am not dead.
I can't avert my eyes. I want to, but I can't. We failed him. I failed him.
We could have saved him. He didn't need to die.
In any other situation, I'd expect one of the others to come up to me, telling me it's not my fault. But everyone is frozen in place, dealing with their own emotions. Not even Noriko moves from her spot.
I'm almost glad when Monokuma breaks the silence.
BING BANG BING BONG
"Ahum. A body has been discovered. After a certain amount of time, we will begin the class trial!"
It isn't long before Monokuma pops up on the scene again. He doesn't need to wait; everyone is right here. He looks at everyone with glee, grinning as he lets his robotic eyes fall over everyone's face. For a robot, he is very expressive.
"Upupu…this makes it easy. I don't even have to call you guys! I wish every BDA went like that…"
"Shut up." For once, Homura isn't yelling at Monokuma, but I can hear her stifled rage in her voice.
"Hey, you can't go around talking to your headmaster like that." Monokuma scolds her. "I mean, who doesn't want to hear me talk? If I shut up, my cute voice will go to waste. Such a terrible shame, especially since they worked so hard to get it…"
Noriko is shaking and I can see tears welling in her eyes, but she takes out her handbook. "Just…will you give us the file? I-I just want to get started already."
Monokuma turns to her. "My, my, eager to get started, aren't you? I'll make sure to put extra effort into this!"
And with a 'bleep' we have our files. Just before Monokuma can disappear to wait on our investigation, something comes to mind.
"Hey." I stop him before he goes. "If Shinri died of natural causes, is there really a need for a trial? Nobody would have killed him, so it's kinda pointless to hold an entire trial for that."
He takes a long look at Shinri's body, softly giggling. "Oh, but it really isn't! After all, if he died because of an illness or his body just gave up on him, wouldn't that mean his own body killed him? And besides, just because he may have been killed by his own frail, weak, useless body doesn't mean there aren't any mysteries to solve. It's just as you kids say: The show must go on!"
I take my time to process his words and Monokuma takes that advantage to disappear. "Happy clue hunting!"
Huh…something about this feels…strange…
"W-we really need to do another trial, huh…?" Yoru says, his voice almost like a whisper. "I-I can't. I can't do this again…"
He sinks to the floor, softly sobbing. Yuyami takes pity and kneels next to him.
"Come on dude…the others got us through this last time. We'll get this one in the bag too. I mean, I doubt this case will be very hard."
Noriko frowns. "Why?"
Yuyami shrugs in response. "I mean, if he died of natural causes, it's easy. If someone like…poisoned him or something, Mizuki's the only with access, right?"
"…What?" Mizuki says and I hear the slight crack in her voice.
"Your lab presumably gives you access to all kinds of chemicals, even dangerous ones." Isamu explains. "Poisoning would be easy for you."
"I-isn't it a little early for accusations such as these?" Ekorin asks, trembling as she still holds Shinri's dead body.
"Yeah, don't we need to investigate before we start to accuse each other?" Hanako asks. "I mean, that what the trial's for, right?"
"Hanako is right." Toshiya suddenly says. He still looks away, but we know it isn't out of malice.
"Wait, I am? O-of course I am!"
Noriko nods along. "Yes, we really shouldn't get ahead of ourselves. There are plenty of other explanations."
"We need to make sure we are absolutely right about the blackened." Toshiya continues. "Otherwise, we will end up making the wrong choice. We only have one chance, and we shouldn't waste it."
I agree with him. "Totally. I don't know about you guys, but I'd rather pass on being executed, now that I've seen one myself."
"Okay, fine, fine, we'll do it your way. So, me and Tomoe guarding like last time?" Yuyami quickly changes the subject.
"No." Tomoe nearly shouts. "Standing guard meant having to hope you guys wouldn't fuck up finding clues. I'm gathering evidence now. That'll make sure we don't miss any evidence, like how we almost fucked up choosing Masato last time."
"Gotta agree here." Homura nods. "If Yurika hadn't pulled out that tiny glass shard out of her ass, we'd be goners."
"Fine," Isamu says, "but we still need one more person to guard Shinri's body."
"But…we all saw Shinri dying, right?" Hanako asks. "Is there really a need for two people to stand guard?"
"Yes. Someone could plant false evidence on the body, like slipping something in his breast pocket." Isamu answers her coldly.
"Alright, I'll sacrifice myself to guard's duty again, who's with me?"
Ekorin frowns. "But Yuyami, if you stand guard, who will watch Masa—"
Before she can finish her sentence, Masato rises from the ground. His head is low, but his fist is balled and shaking. He then raises his head, glaring at us. There is intense hatred in his eyes, even more than I received at the trial. After casting one last look at Shinri's body, he turns around and walks out of the cafeteria, leaving us speechless. Hanako quickly runs after him. I hear voices in the hallway, but I can't catch what they're saying. Eventually, the voices grow quiet, and so do their footsteps.
"…At least he isn't moping anymore?" Yuyami tries, but it does nothing to ease my worries.
I don't like the way he's acting.
Noriko closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, temporarily putting the issue to rest. "Seeing how Hanako is going after him, let's leave Masato be for the time being. How about I guard with Yuyami for now?"
Isamu nods. Without anything else for him to discuss, he walks to the kitchen, probably to start investigating. As Noriko walks over to Ekorin to help her up, Ekorin suddenly cradles him even more. "I'm sorry…but I don't think I am able let go yet." More tears well in her eyes. "H-He just…passed away in my arms…I couldn't do anything. I-I can't let…"
Her voice trails off. With a pained expression, Noriko kneels down next to her. "Are you sure you will be alright?"
Ekorin sniffles. "Yes. Go ahead and gather evidence. I'll keep Shinri and Yuyami company."
It seems we have our guards. I feel bad about leaving Ekorin behind, her being clearly traumatized, but I need to go find evidence. We'll die if we don't. And so, with a heavy heart, I take my Handbook and open the new Monokuma File.
Investigation Start!
"The victim is Shinri Fujita: The Ultimate Critic.
The body was found in the cafeteria.
Time of death is 6.45 pm.
The victim's lungs and stomach are filled with blood. There are no external injuries."
Compared to the previous file, this one is far smaller. Of course, it helps that everyone witnessed it, so the time is precise instead of estimated. However, that isn't the only reason why the file feels so empty.
"Hey, is it just me, or is there no cause of death listed in this?" Homura askes aloud.
That is…pretty suspicious.
New bullet: Monokuma File 2#
I close my Handbook and look around. Of course, unlike last time, there isn't much of a crime scene to explore. However, since everyone is still here, it might be best to get a testimony or two.
"Did anyone notice something weird during the party?" I ask aloud, looking from person to person.
"No, I don't think so…" Yuyami mutters.
"Mizuki wasn't in the room when Shinri was dying." Isamu points out. "I'd like to know where you were."
Mizuki almost hisses at him. "I would have been there at the party if someone hadn't locked me in the lounge. I spend half an hour trying to get it open."
"Convenient." Isamu says, the distaste in his voice very clear. "Have you any proof?"
"I'm sure there is, once I've examined the lounge again." She scoffs at him.
"Then let's go, show me everything." Isamu challenges her. "Noriko, come with me."
Noriko sighs, but she doesn't protest. It seems she just wants to keep them from strangling each other. The three of them leave the cafeteria.
Huh, so Mizuki was locked in the lounge? I did see her leave after the party, and she didn't come back until Shinri was near death. It might be good to swing by the lounge later to see if she really was telling the truth.
New bullet: Mizuki's account
"Anyone else?" I ask.
"Aside from Rea fucking you over, no, not really." Homura answers.
That was pretty strange. I mean, of course it's Rea, but to scare me like that seems almost…planned? Especially how she managed to sneak an extra confetti cannon with her and how she simply obeyed Noriko afterwards. It might just be paranoia at this point, but I have the feeling Rea didn't do this for one reason alone.
New Bullet: Rea's Prank
When I look up from my thoughts, I notice several people starting to leave the cafeteria. It doesn't look like I'm going to get more testimonies now. Might need to move onto something else. Hm, maybe I should check the kitchen.
I walk into the kitchen, looking around to see if I can find anything out of the ordinary. Crumbs, stains and spills are all over. Carefully not to disturb anything, I look through the cupboards and the drawers, before realizing I barely went into the kitchen the entire time, let alone remember if there is anything missing. Great, I'm getting nowhere. Maybe I should just ask Yuyami if he's seen anything.
Closing the door behind me, I walk up to Yuyami. He waves at me, but his smile is forced.
"Rika! Need anything?"
"Hey, was there anything missing from the kitchen?"
He thinks for a second, then shakes his head. "Sorry Rika, been a bit too busy with Masato to pay much attention. You could ask Noriko and Hanako. Or Tomoe, he also went into the kitchen."
"Right, I remember."
Yuyami continues. "Homura also dropped in for a moment, but I was pretty busy, so I don't remember why she came in. Besides them, you also came into the kitchen…and Shinri also walked in for a moment to see how we are doing. I don't think anyone else came into the kitchen, at least, not that I remember. I didn't lock the door behind me when we started watching the show, though, so anyone could have walked in at that point."
Huh, interesting…
New Bullet: Yuyami's account
I don't think I'll be able to gain more information here. Hm, maybe I should check the dormitories…
As I start to walk to the cafeteria exit, I notice some odd stains on the floor. I crouch down, swiping my fingers over them. They come back dark blue. I try to rub it off. It doesn't come off. Great, now I'm stuck with blue stains on my fingers.
I can't walk around with blue fingers all day, so I stop by the laundry room in hopes of getting it off. I wash my hands in a deep sink, but the color still remains on my fingers. As I turn off the knob with a sigh, I realize I've left a stain on the knob as well.
Yikes, that stuff is clingy. I wonder what it was doing on the floor, it sure wasn't there when we were decorating…
New Bullet: Stains on the floor
Hoping it will eventually come out, I decide to redirect my attention to the laundry room. I remember Noriko storing away cleaning products, so I look around to see if I can find them. I go through cabinets, look behind the washing machine and test the wall for any hidden doors. No luck. As I rumble through a basket of laundry, I do notice something else.
Hm? That looks like Shinri's dress shirt. And his golden tie is in there too. Huh, that blue stuff from earlier is on both of those things too. Did he spill something on his shirt and changed into something else? That explains why he wasn't wearing the golden tie and why he was late. Still…
New Bullet: Shinri's laundry
Since I failed to find Noriko's secret stash, I have no more business in the laundry room. Deciding to check out Mizuki's claim, I head upstairs. Isamu, Hanako, Noriko, Tomoe and Mizuki are there, the latter trying to defend herself.
"I am telling you; I haven't lied!"
Isami sneers. "We'll see about that. Now open the door!"
Noriko sighs. "I'm sorry Mizuki, but we really need to investigate. If you are innocent, there is nothing to worry about."
Why do I feel like I entered at a bad time? "Hey guys, what's up?"
The group turns to me. Mizuki averts her gaze immediately. Yoru runs up to me.
"Isamu wants Mizuki to open her research lab so we can investigate." He whispers. "But Mizuki doesn't want to. I can see why. It's like searching someone's dorm room, right? And considering the way everyone is acting towards her..."
To be honest, I do feel a little bad. But we need to get to the bottom of this; our lives depend on it. "Did you guys already check the lounge?"
Noriko ushers Isamu and Tomoe back so I can pass. "Yes, but feel free to look for yourself."
I take her on the offer and walk past everyone to the lounge. The lounge is rather dark, like someone shut off the lights. I take out my E-Handbook and use the dim light of the screen to look around. Immediately, I see why it is so dark: someone taped off the light switch. I carefully pry off one end of the tape so I can see. The lights go on and I briefly need to shield my eyes against the sudden light. Once my eyes are adjusted, I look around.
The lounge seems normal. Too normal. Damn, I was hoping to stumble onto something…what's this?
Under one of the couches sticks out a portable radio. I recognize it from the recording room. Strange, why is it here? Curious, I press the play button. Immediately a cheerful, yet annoying tune starts playing. It's…aggravating. I quickly shut it off. Ugh, annoying. Weird that it's here of all places, and hidden. Why would someone do that?
New Bullet: Portable Radio
Aside from that, the only noticeable thing is the tape. It's probably evidence, though I can't begin to think why someone would tape off a light switch.
New Bullet: Tape
I exit the lounge to see Mizuki's lab door wide open. Looks like she got convinced. Or Monokuma opened the door.
Curious, I peek inside. The lab truly feels like a laboratory. White walls, white coats and safety gears near the entrance, a large cabinet with hundreds of bottles and a squeakily clean working space. Isamu, Tomoe and Yoru are looking around while Noriko and Mizuki are talking, the latter clearly not happy.
I'm about to approach Mizuki to hear her out, when I notice a lone bottle by a sink. It catches my eye because it's half empty. I pick it up and read the contents. A shiver goes down my spine.
"Warning, highly toxic. Do not consume. Do not inhale."
Carefully flipping it over, I read the back. The exact contents are too difficult to read, but I can read a few symptoms.
"When inhaled can cause dizziness, fatigue, nausea, headaches, difficulty breathing, fainting and death. Symptoms will develop after 1 to 5 minutes. When consumed can cause nausea, diarrhea, weakness, mental confusion, fever, vomiting of blood and death. Symptoms will develop after 2 to 6 hours."
Yikes, that is some awful stuff. I wonder why it's half empty. Is it…?
New Bullet: Bottle of Poison
I don't feel like standing around it for much longer, so I put it down and head over to Mizuki. Noriko and she seem to have finished their conversation, so I take my chance.
"Hey Mizuki, could you tell me what happened to you? I'd like to hear from all sides."
Mizuki lets out a deep sigh, but to my surprise, she nods. "Very well, if my testimony will make you believe…besides, I suppose that since you have more or less proven yourself last trial, I'll have to give you a chance."
That's…the furthest I've ever gotten with her.
With a deep breath, she begins her story. "I had noticed Rea was acting off, and since I was uncertain whether or not she could have found a way into my research lab, I decided to check my lab to see if there was anything missing. Luckily, everything seemed to be normal. When I exited my lab however, I heard strange music coming from the lounge. I was suspicious and decided to investigate. It was dark inside, and when I looked around for the source, the door was slammed shut. I tried to open it, but it was blocked or something. The music itself eventually stopped, but I couldn't find the light switch. Eventually, the door opened, after which I ran out and found Homura looking for me. She briefed me in on the situation and we hurried towards the cafeteria. You know the rest…"
She looks away and I find it hard to read her expression.
"I see. Is there anything else strange you noticed?"
Mizuki doesn't answer immediately. "The way Rea was acting…it's almost if she knew someone was going to kill. Aside form that, I think it's pretty convenient how I ran into Homura the moment I was let out. The situation was so dire I forgot to check the area and my lab. I don't know how I was locked in."
I nod as I try to remember all of the information. "I see. Don't worry, I'll get to the bottom of this."
Bullet updated: Mizuki's account
The way she looks at me is…different than usual. It's not cold or condescending. It's not the same way she looks at Yoru either. It's…respect? I guess? Whatever it is, she gives me a small nod and turns to Noriko again. I decide to leave her be.
As I start to turn around, I remember my conversation with Noriko. Might as well check how her plan with the cleaning products worked out.
"Noriko, do you have a moment?"
She seems a little surprised, but she nods and takes me aside.
I get straight to the point before anyone can interrupt us. "Did you check if someone touched the cleaning supplies you gathered?"
"Actually, that's the first thing I did. Thankfully, none of them appear to be touched. I'm happy I took the precaution though, despite the fact Shinri ended up dying anyone. We at least know that Shinri didn't die because of dangerous chemicals meant for cleaning. These things can be very toxic, especially when mixed. No one but you and I should know about me gathering them in the first place, and if possible, I hope it remains that way for a little while."
New Bullet: Noriko's account
There isn't much else to examine that the others haven't seen already, so I leave the room. As I try looking around, I notice the door to the recording room is ajar. I push the door open and look around. As suspected, the portable radio is missing. However, something else catches my eye. It's a large speaker box, stacked on a utility dolly. It's sitting in the middle of the room, as if someone put it there in a hurry. I can't think of any reason why it's there, so it must be connected to the case.
New Bullet: Speaker Box
I don't find anything else of interest, so I leave the recording room. As I look around, I remember I haven't looking in the botany lab yet or Tomoe's lab. I doubt I'll find many clues, but it's important to check anyways.
It's in the botany lab where I find Toshiya looking around. Considering how he couldn't contribute much last trial, it's nice to see him so eager to investigate.
"Yo, Tossy, have you found much?"
Toshiya immediately turns around, his face as red as his hair. "I-I told you I don't want a nickname!"
I chuckle. "Sorry, sorry. But have you found something interesting yet?"
He sighs, but then he shows me a book. I open it to find one of the corners bent. There is also a little rip near the spine of the book, as if someone wanted to tear out the page but re-considered at the last moment. I read the passage.
"Rubus Cyanotox are a rare species of blackberries created in a lab in Novoselic. They are characterized by their deep blue color, which is a popular hue used in a dye called the eternal indigo. Rubus Cyantox is easily spotted due to the berry's juices, which spill from the top when plucked and are notoriously difficult to rid of. The entire plant, especially the berries, is incredibly toxic and its poison is very fast-acting. Eating 5 grams is enough for the poison to attack major organs, destroying the cell walls and causing heavy internal bleeding. As the start of symptoms can be as early as 15 minutes after consumption, it has been dubbed the quarter berry by commoners. Novoselic has prevented spreading of the plant and currently is the only place Rubus Cyantox grows."
"Yikes, now that's some scary stuff…" I mutter.
Toshiya nods. "And considering how the page seems to be almost torn out, it appears as if someone wanted to hide its existence."
"But why?" I ask. "It only grows in…whatever that place is called. I can't be here, right?"
He hesitates for a moment, looking around as if to see if no one else is around. Then, he points to a basket on top of a tall closet. Curious, I walk over, standing on my toes to reach it. My fingers brush it, but I can't grab it. Toshiya suddenly reached over me and grabs it, pulling it down. Inside the basket is a small bush. Several berries are at the bottom, dark liquid stains the basket. The roots are dirty, as if someone pulled it out. I look over the patch of fruit bushes and notice an open space.
"It was already uprooted when I arrived here. I didn't want to bring anyone else ideas, so I kept quiet. But I should have told someone, even you or Hanako when we were picking berries. Perhaps it would have changed everything…"
It was already uprooted? That means someone did want to hide it. Did they hide it to prevent someone from wanting to use it, or did they hide it to use it for themselves? Either way, the fact that it's in there means something.
New Bullet: Quarter Berries
New Bullet: Uprooted Bush
New Bullet: Toshiya's account
"Did you find anything else of interest?" I ask him after he puts down the basket.
He shakes his head. "No, but I was planning to ask Monokuma if we could investigate Shinri's room. Perhaps it will give us more answers about his condition."
"Huh, good idea. Let's go to the dormitories first then, before Monokuma makes us run for it."
Toshiya agrees and we head outside, towards the dormitories. We do meet a few others along the way, but nobody questions us. I haven't seen Masato though, so I wonder where he is. As we walk inside the dorm building, I get my answer. He is sitting in front of Kikoi's dorm room, quiet as a mouse. I almost want to walk up to him before realizing I have nothing to say to him. I really don't know how to handle him and considering we don't have much time; I make the hard decision to investigate Shinri's room first. Toshiya doesn't agree immediately, and I have to drag him away.
"Look, I really want to cheer him up too, but we need to gather clues. I'd prefer not dying, thanks."
It troubles Toshiya more than it does me. He hesitates, looking from Masato to me, to Shinri's room and back to Masato. With a deep sigh, he nods. "We cannot help Masato if we miss vital information."
With both of us in agreement, I walk towards Shinri's door and twist the knob. To my surprise, it opens. "Huh, I thought that would be harder."
Of course, Monokuma decides that now is a great time to show up. "Upupu, it would be really unfair if you guys would miss potential evidence if it was locked away behind a door. Besides, it's not like the owner is going to use it. So, explore to your hearts content."
"Does that mean that there is evidence here?"
"Maybe, maybe not." Monokuma shrugs. "Depends on how you see. Besides, it wouldn't be fair to at least give you love birds a chance, would it?"
"L-love birds?" Toshiya sputters.
"Haha! You're saying that as if it isn't obvious! The working together to solve a case, the sexual tension, the worrying over each other…"
I really don't have the patience for this. "Can we go in now?"
"Upupu…be my guest…just be sure you don't take too long. The trial will be starting soon~"
With a laugh, he disappears. I grin my teeth in frustration, but Toshiya lays a hand on my shoulder. He shakes his head. We don't have time to waste. Sighing, I turn the knob and open the door.
Shinri's room is…unsettling. It's basically a hospital room, with white walls, a hospital bed and a small cabinet filled with medicine. The only thing that alludes to Shinri's talent is the flatscreen TV, the multi-monitor computer and the camera equipment in a corner of the room.
"Ok, I feel way sorrier for Shinri now." I can't help but comment.
"I can't imagine the life he has lived…but we have no time to dwell on the past. Let us investigate before it is too late."
"…Right."
We split up and search the room. While Toshiya goes through the cabinet, I inspect the equipment in the corner. As I shift through the album on his camera, I notice it has been used a few times…the most recent one being a few hours before the party. This could be interesting.
However, Toshiya beckons me over. "Yurika, please come examine this."
I hesitate for a moment, but Toshiya may have found something important. I unhook the camera from its position and put it in my pocket to watch the footage when we're done. As I walk over to Toshiya, I see he has a file map in his hand.
"Whatcha found?"
"I believe this is Shinri's official diagnosis. It states that Shinri has a chronic condition that prevents the immune system from immediately recognizing threats to the body, as well as not remembering past attacks. This effectually means Shinri can sustain major injuries from viral infections that would otherwise be harmless. It also means Shinri cannot be vaccinated and can grow ill very quickly."
The words remind me of something. "That matches up with Shinri's behaviour after the first trial. He mentioned he wasn't feeling alright. Maybe he caught something?"
Toshiya nods. "This also explains why Shinri felt vulnerable. His body has no successful way of getting stronger and even the common cold could be fatal to him. But this titbit is rather interesting: according to the file, after Shinri's legal trial was concluded, every inmate and staff member were checked for their vaccinations and strict rules were set in place to prevent Shinri from infection. No one in this facility should be having any kind of sickness right now."
I guess Shinri got really unlucky then. Explains why he was wearing a mask too…
New Bullet: Shinri's Diagnosis
How sad that thought is, I can't waste more time on it. "I actually found something too. This camera appears to be used—"
BING BANG BING BONG
"Time's up! Hope you found enough clues, because it's Class Trial time! Everyone, please make your way to the courtyard! Upupu…don't leave me hanging!"
The monitor shuts off. Shoot. I hoped I would have more time to analyse the recordings on the camera, but I guess it'll have to come later.
"I'll take the camera with me." I explain to Toshiya as I get up. "Hopefully we'll find a chance to watch what I found later."
He doesn't react other than nodding, but it's enough for me. We get up and walk out of the room. Masato exits the dormitory just before we do. I hope he's alright…
Like before, I am one of the first to arrive. Which I awkwardly wait near the fountain for more people to come. Masato is standing away from us, facing away. I can't bring it in myself to approach him. Yoru greets us first, hugging himself as he tries to keep his tears from spilling. Yuyami is right behind him, sighing for a moment before walking up to Masato. He barely reacts. Noriko, Ekorin, Mizuki, Isamu and Tomoe arrive in a group. Noriko gently supports Ekorin, who still seems shaken up. Isamu sneers at Mizuki, who refuses to make eye contact with anyone as Tomoe watches over them. Finally, Homura and Rea show up, Homura angrily trailing behind Rea as she skips towards the fountain.
"I'm going to fucking punch whoever did this in the face until they shit their fucking kidneys."
"Everyone shares the sentiment." I mutter.
Thankfully or not, we don't have to wait very long for Monokuma to show up. He pops up from behind the fountain, stuffing his…face I guess…with animal crackers. "Wow, you guys kept me waiting. I even had to break out a little snack to kill time. And to still my hunger. Kumachrone still hasn't made dinner yet."
"I'm not your fucking maid."
"I hope there is venison on the menu tonight." He grins. "I know punishment will be."
Yuyami scratches his head. "But if Shinri died of sickness, there isn't anyone to execute, right?"
"Bah, as if I will let a little death get in the way of my executions! In any case, looks like you're all here, so let's get this show on the road!"
And just like last time, the fountain opens up, revealing the elevator. With a heavy heart, I join the others inside. And just before the doors close, I realize that I'll never see Shinri again. I just hope we can figure out what happened tonight, so I can see everyone else tomorrow morning.
The elevator ride is quiet. Too quiet. I'm almost tempted to make a sound, any sound, but I can't bring myself to it. It would be too disrespectful. So, instead, I go through all the evidence in my head, hoping I managed to get enough. There is no turning back. This will be it, and my life depends on how much I gathered. How much everyone gathered.
Before I know it, we stop. I notice the ride was shorter than last time. It's…strange, but on the other hand, I can imagine every trial room has its own floor. We probably have a floor closer to the surface this time.
The doors open and I blink at the sight. The trial room felt darker last time, spookier almost. I glance down and see why. Blue neon lines are on the floor and with the metal walls, it feels a lot more futuristic. Red roses are stationed in vases and there are no black curtains this time. The thing that hasn't changed are the witness stands, lined up perfectly in a circle like last time. Although this time, two more funeral photos have been added.
Following everyone else to my seat, I catch a glance of Kikoi's funeral photo. Her face is crossed off with tire tracks and my stomach turns. It isn't fair. She didn't deserve to die. Especially not like that. I try to see how Masato is doing, but his face is cast downwards, and his hair covers most of his face, making it hard for me to figure out what he is thinking. Shaking my head, I go to stand in my usual spot. This time however, there is no one on my left. With a small turn of my head, I see Shinri's photo next to me. His mouth is covered where the bloody lines cross.
"Ugh, hurry up already, I want to get this trial started!" Monokuma whines. "Seriously, ain't nobody got time for cowards. Besides, I really need to give this room a make-over. Blue neon is soooo last year, and it doesn't match these flowers I got at all. Like, seriously, Kumachrome? Haven't heard about color coordination much, have you?"
Kumachrome just sighed and twists a dial near him. The neon lines turn from blue to red. Monokuma is clearly pleased by this simple change.
"Ooh, I like this. It fits my eyes perfectly. I might just make a suit of this color. Then again, I feel like there is something missing…oh, I got it! It's missing a splash of blood!" He laughs. "Thankfully, it won't be long before more is spilled. That is, if you people would hurry up already!"
"Suck a dick." Homura growls to him, stepping onto her stand.
I try to shut out Monokuma's laughter. As the last people take their places, I go over the past hour in my head. Shinri, the boy who was most nervous about the killing game, who nevertheless organized a party just to lift everyone spirits, was brutally killed in front of us. I don't know if it was done by a person or his own body, but the end result is the same. Despite everyone hopes, it's happening again.
A second body.
A second trial.
And possibly…a second execution.
Truth Bullets:
Monokuma File 2#: "The victim is Shinri Fujita: The Ultimate Critic.
The body was found in the cafeteria.
Time of death is 6.45 pm.
The victim's lungs and stomach are filled with blood. There are no external injuries."
Mizuki's account: According to Mizuki, she had decided to return to her lab after dinner was over to check if her lab was disturbed. When she exited her lab, she heard music coming from the lounge. When she investigated, the door was shut behind her and blocked, leaving her in the dark until she was freed, after which Homura came to her for her help.
Rea's prank: Rea tripped me when I went to bring out glasses of juice, creating a huge mess and drawing everyone's attention. When asked to clean up, she agreed without question. This is very suspicious.
Yuyami's account: According to Yuyami, aside from him, Masato, Noriko and Hanako, only four people entered the kitchen while he was busy: Tomoe, Shinri, Homura and me. He left the kitchen open though when the show started, so anyone could have entered at that point.
Stains on the floor: There are dark blue stains on the floor of the cafeteria near the trashcans. The stains weren't there when the cafeteria was decorated and are hard to get off.
Shinri's laundry: Inside a laundry basket in the laundry room, Shinri's dress shirt and golden tie were found, dirty with dark blue stains.
Portable radio: There is a portable radio from the recording room in the lounge. When activated, it plays a very annoying song. The radio was stuffed underneath a couch.
Tape: The light switch of the lounge is taped off, keeping the room dark.
Bottle of poison: A half empty bottle of poison was found in Mizuki's lab near the sink. Its warning states: "When inhaled can cause dizziness, fatigue, nausea, headaches, difficulty breathing, fainting and death. Symptoms will develop after 1 to 5 minutes. When consumed can cause nausea, diarrhoea, weakness, mental confusion, fever, vomiting of blood and death. Symptoms will develop after 2 to 6 hours."
Noriko's account: Noriko told me that the bottles of cleaning chemicals she had stored away prior to the party were untouched when she checked during the investigation. Noriko and I are the only ones to know about the chemicals.
Speaker box: A large speaker box is standing on a utility dolly in the middle of the recording room. It looks like someone left it in a hurry.
Quarter berries: A toxic plant from which the berries are the most poisonous. They are known as Quarter Berries for being able to attack major organs and destroy cell walls after only fifteen minutes after eating it. They secrete juices that are hard to get rid of.
Uprooted bush: An uprooted bush was found in a basket on top of a closet in the botany lab. There are dark blue stains on the bottom.
Toshiya's account: The bush in the basket was already uprooted when Toshiya came into the botany lab to collect fruits. To prevent anyone from getting ideas, he kept quiet about it, even to Hanako as they were picking berries.
Shinri's diagnosis: A file found in Shinri's room. It details Shinri's chronic condition and how his body has no real way of fighting back against threats. It also mentions how inmates and staff members were checked up on vaccinations and illnesses. According to the file, no one in the facility should be having any illnesses right now.
I will upload the first part of the trial soon!
Though I might edit this chapter first.