From here on out the chapters should get longer. That being said, I have to write further and further into the story before releasing, and reviews are heavily appreciated.
10/16/20 - I was correcting some stuff, and somehow Chapter 11 got lost in the shuffle.
"I really hope we don't lose people at this rate. I mean, we've only been here for what? Three days?" someone said.
"Crap." Oowada said. "I think you're right."
"Oh boy." Naegi commented.
"What do you mean, Naegi?" Maizono asked.
"I mean, guys. Stop and think about this. Would every trial we have be this obvious or this easy?"
"Naegi..."
"No, listen. What happens if there's a murder and the culprit actually makes it to here?"
"We'll just figure it all out then." Maizono replied.
"Yes, but what's our learning curve?" Celeste asked. "The questions that need to be asked are 'how fast can we adapt?' and 'how complex could a potential culprit adapt to murdering'?"
Silence ricocheted throughout the group.
"So what do we do now?" Togami asked. "Should we stay and continue to discuss matters or should we adjourn?"
"How about we take a break?" Leon suggested. "I get the feeling that the second floor has been 'officially' opened. What if we explore that now?"
"Alright. Is that agreed upon by everybody?" Celeste said.
Everybody who spoke agreed, and headed towards the elevator. Only Kirigiri remained.
"Kirigiri, come on!" Naegi asked.
"You guys, go ahead." Kirigiri said. "I'm sticking around here for a little bit."
"Don't you want to explore the second floor?" Oowada asked.
"Not yet."
"Well, we can't leave you behind." Fujisaki said.
"If I'm by myself, then there's really nothing that can go wrong." Kirigiri pointed out. "No seriously, what could possibly happen?"
"You say that, bbbuuttt seriously, you're still so mysterious. Why should we trust you?" Fukawa pointed out.
"Then I'll shall stay behind." Ishimaru offered. "Does everybody trust me?"
"You're a little weird. But yeah, I trust you." Oowada said.
"Alright, Kirigiri." Ishimaru said, as he stepped out of the elevator.
"Fair enough." The doors of the elevator snapped shut.
"Think it will be locked behind them?" Ishimaru asked of the red doors.
"Probably."
"Kirigiri, what's your aim for all of this?"
"My aim is to understand Monokuma a bit better."
"You know, you may not find anything."
"I know that. But I have to try."
"Yes. We know that."
. Ishimaru folded his arms somewhat expectantly. Kirigiri began by checking all of the doors that lead away from the trial room. She pressed her ear against one of them. She could almost hear the whizzing of ... a pitching machine.
"Ishimaru, press your ear against this door. What do you hear?"
"Some sort of machine. My guess is, it has a wheel."
"It's a pitching machine."
"A pitching machine? Why would Monokuma have a pitching machine?"
"I don't know."
. Kirigiri tried the handle again.
"It's locked."
"Kirigiri, perhaps we ought to not to look around. I mean, what if something happens?"
"If something happens, it will be the fault of Monokuma. Not one of us."
"Hey, Kirigiri. I just thought of something."
"What is it?"
"Will the elevator come back for us?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, we might be trapped."
"What?"
"I mean, we might be trapped!"
"I doubt it."
"How can you be calm about that?"
"I don't know."
"Some girl you are."
"Hey. It's just who I am. I've never been one to express my emotions so easily."
"Indeed."
"And neither have you."
"What?"
"I can tell. You've spent your entire life studying. You follow the rules to the letter. You're the type to have normally said 'A student is a professional learner.'"
Ishimaru nodded. "And what's wrong with that?"
"But all that's changed now. Between Naegi nearly getting knocked out and the deaths of two of our classmates, even you've had to change your approach to life some what."
"That's not true."
"But it is true. My guess is you've spent most of your free time wondering how you can interact with your classmates better, practicing the ability to have normal conversations and trying to make friends. It would explain the debate with Oowada about Naegi's hoodie. You were attempt to 'joke' around with Oowada. In truth, if someone else had wanted to explore the trial room, you wouldn't have volunteered to stay behind."
"Why?" Ishimaru queued.
"Because I'm a person of a few words, and not much ever needs to be said when interacting with me."
"Kirigiri?"
"Yes, Ishimaru?"
"How can you read people so well?"
. Kirigiri blinked. "I'm not sure. I just can."
"Sounds like something is missing."
"A lot of things are missing."
. While the two spent the next hour and a half searching the trial room for any hidden mechanisms and rooms, most of the students with the exception of Naegi and Maizono were in the cafeteria.
"I don't understand this." Celeste said. "Why must we wait for Ishimaru and Kirgiri to come back before exploring the second floor?"
"It's to be sporting." Togami said, pushing up his glasses. "After all, it's hardly fair if everybody doesn't get a chance to look at it the same time."
"Well, that's rich. Considering you're one of the people who got a look at the 2nd floor before the 1st trial." Oowada pointed out.
"W-we-e only got a look at the library though." Fukawa pointed out.
"Still more the rest of us got." Asahina said.
"So, there's a library. Hopefully, there's a book I can use to brush up on my C-ing." Fujisaki said.
"Seeing?" Yamada commented. "Fujisaki, do you need some reading glasses?"
"No. C. As in the C-programming language."
"Hey, guys, do you think there's still any chance we can get help from the outside?" Hagakure said.
"I doubt it." Celeste said. "It is most unfortunate though. I do not wish to live in this place any more than the rest of you. But I'm willing to adapt."
"With two of our number dead, it's not really feasible to clean to the idea that outside help will come. It think it's safe to say we've reached the point of no return. We'll have to do our best to see the end of this." Togami said.
"Said by both of the people who only see the rest of us as assets." Asahina seethed.
"Clearly, you don't understand anything, Asahina. People are their own greatest assets. That's always been the case. If it weren't, we as a species would not have survived."
"So the question becomes 'Why is the mastermind trying to turn the assets of people into liabilities'?" Celeste said.
"You catch on fast. Your brain is surprisingly adept." Togami smirked.
"I try." Celeste said. "But we all know that your brain is the most adept out of anybody here." Her voice hinted at sarcasm for the second sentence.
"Where are Kirigiri and Ishimaru?" Fukawa said, cutting off Celeste.
"Wait a moment, so are Naegi and Maizono enjoying the some 'time' together?" Leon said, chuckling.
. Fukawa bit her thumb. "Only you would come to that conclusion."
"What?"
"What are you implying?"
"What are YOU implying?"
. Hagakure put his hand to his forehead.
"So... where are Naegs and 'Zono anyway?"
"Naegs and 'Zono?" Asahina said.
"Oh, why don't we just ahead and combine it to Naezono?" Togami snarked. "It's not like the two will ever do anything independently of each other."
Oowada opened his left eye. "Lucky bastard."
"Yeah... wait, No, No." Fukawa twiddled her thumbs.
"Hey, I thought you made your name with your romance novels." Leon said.
"Yeah. What's your point?" Fukawa responded.
"So why are you opposed this?"
"Because I always made sure to make my characters as well-rounded and three-dimensional as possible. Often times I gave them enough personality for two or more people! What personality do either Naegi or Maizono have?" Fukawa said.
"Have you even been paying attention to EITHER of them?" Leon asked.
"She's just upset because it's happening to Naegi and Maizono, not her and Togami." Asahina said, her smile was starting to return slightly.
"Grrrr." Fukawa growled.
"Is that a smile?" Leon teased.
"Yeah." Asahina quietly responded.
"It's good to see it again."
"ARGH." Fukawa clutched her head.
"What's her problem?" Hagakure asked.
"Beats me." Yamada said.
"Oh wow, you two don't really get females at all." Celeste sighed.
"No, it appears they do not." Fujisaki agreed.
. At the same time, Maizono and Naegi were on their way to exploring the A/V Room.
"Maizono, what good is exploring this room without Fujisaki?"
"Naegi, this is the only room on the first floor Enoshima and I didn't explore."
"Why?"
"I don't know. Enoshima just didn't want to explore it."
"Huh. Is that so? Wonder why."
"That's why we should go in there now."
"Hey, Maizono?"
"Yes?"
"Is the A/V Room even unlocked?" Naegi bit his lip. While it had been locked before the 'entrance ceremony', it had been unlocked before the first trial. There was always the chance that Monokuma had locked it again. So as long as Monokuma controlled what their access to the school was, there was an outside chance he could only get one look at any 'unusual' rooms. And if he only got one look into it, he wanted it to at least have Fujisaki there to study the computers inside, along with the ElectroIDs.
"Well, Naegi, there's only one to check, now isn't there?" Maizono winked.
"I guess so."
"What are you so nervous about?"
"I don't know."
. The two walked to the A/V Room.
"Is it unlocked?"
"Yes."
"Alrighty, then. Let's go in."
. Considering all the build-up that the A/V Room had been given, it seemed oddly underwhelming to Naegi. Maybe it was because it had been under-cut by Naegi being in there a previous time, but it seemed the same as ever. As he gazed over a minature landscape of computers, and a projector, there wasn't really anything different.
. Maizono, however, had noticed a box. In it were labelled Cds with everybody's names on it, including hers, Naegi's, Enoshima's, and Oogami's. She would have to come back later and watch them by herself. Without Naegi.
"Maizono. Maizono?" Naegi asked.
"It's nothing, Naegi. It's nothing at all."
"Alright. If you say so."
"Come on, I don't know what Enoshima was so worried about. There's nothing here."
. While all of this was happening, and though Kirigiri and Ishimaru did find a fair amount of speakers and a few cameras that appeared to be de-activated, lined up on the perimeter of the wall, there appeared to be nothing else. Kirigiri stamped the carpet in several places with her heels and none of them came up with anything until she kicked a wall at a certain spot.
"Ishimaru, there's something else here."
"What?"
"I found a room connected to the trial room. It's got a bed, a mini-fridge stocked up with food, and an adjacent bathroom."
"Kirigiri, what are you doing?"
"Ah. Fully functional water. I had no idea the plumbing of Hope's Peak Academy extended this far down."
"How far down are we?"
"I don't know. But judging from that elevator ride, it's quite a ways down."
"I see. Now that we've found everything, let's head back."
"I suppose you're right. Come on."
. While Kirigiri and Ishimaru were heading back to the now-opened elevator, they failed to notice that one of the cameras had moved. Suddenly, the elevator snapped shut behind Ishimaru.
"Kirigiri. Kirigiri!" Ishimaru began pound on the elevator door while he felt the elevator rise.
. He was still pounding on the door when it opened again. Naegi and Maizono heard Ishimaru first.
"Ishimaru! I thought you were with Kirigiri!"
"I was. But the elevator shut on me before Kirgiri got on board."
. The color drained out of the faces of Naegi AND Maizono. And suddenly the rest of the group came over.
"What's going on?" Togami demanded. "Where is Kirigiri Kyoko, Kiyotaka Ishimaru? Don't tell me you already murdered her?"
"But I didn't!" Ishimaru replied.
"What happened?" Celeste asked.
"You son of a bitch. You left her down there to die, didn't you?!" Oowada began crackling his knuckles.
"No... I didn't!" Ishimaru replied.
"Enough everybody. What. Happened?" Leon asked.
"Kirigiri and I were exploring the trial room. We had just finished and I had gotten into the elevator, when it snapped shut and automatically brought me up." Ishimaru said.
"That seems oddly suspicious." Fukawa said. "You left the mysterious girl alone. Perhaps you're her accomplice!"
"Enough. Fukawa." Celeste said. "Kiyotaka Ishimaru is a squeaky-clean honors student with absolutely no infractions ever. If there's one person's word we have to absolutely trust in here, it's his."
"That's rich. Coming from a girl who's obviously lying about everything, and known the world over as the Queen of Liars." Fukawa pointed out.
"Silence, Fukawa. Why are you defending Ishimaru?" Togami asked.
"Why are you jumping to conclusions?" Celeste responded. "If we didn't trust him somewhat, we wouldn't have left him alone with Kyoko Kirigiri, whom at this point, is this most likely suspect to be the mastermind. Besides, Kirigiri knew the risks. That trial room is the heart of the mastermind's lair."
. And then, Monokuma showed up.
"Upupupup. Ordinarily, I cut off access to the trial room outside of you know, trials? But I must say, it would be very interesting if someone could have even murdered someone else in the trial room itself even with this limited access and plausibly gotten away with it. A superb instance of The-Key-Is-Behind-The-Lock."
"Another trope!" Fujisaki gasped.
"But I never imagined someone staying behind to explore the trial room itself. That's new. And as Celeste so brilliantly said, that trial room is my liar."
"Hmmmm." Naegi hummed.
"What is it, Naegi?" Maizono asked.
"I guess we have no choice but to take Ishimaru at his word. I just hope Kirigiri makes it."
"Is that what everybody agrees to?" Oowada said.
. Everybody begrudgingly affirmed the sentiment.
"Oowada, you should still punch me." Ishimaru exclaimed.
"What, now? Why?"
"I wasn't smart enough. Kirigiri was obviously an important figure in this. I should have let her get on the elevator first."
"Hey, now. You couldn't have known what was going to happen." Fujisaki smiled.
"Yeah, well, I'm still not convinced." Fukawa muttered under her breath.
"Hey, man. Life ain't a Model T. There's no reverse pedal to press, so you just gotta keep moving forward." Oowada replied.
"What?" Togami said.
"Damn it. Fujisaki. Naegi. Now you got me making extraneous references too." Oowada sighed.
"I saw that the sauna was now open." Celeste said. "Perhaps you could clear your mind by going in there."
"Hey, man. I challenge you to a bro-off!" Oowada said.
"A Bro-Off?" Ishimaru said.
"Yeah." Oowada gave Ishimaru a thumbs up. "Longest one to stay in the sauna wins. Tell ya what. I'll take a handicap. I'll go in with my clothes on."
"But that's suicide."
"Says you. But you know what, we need a judge. Naegi, you're up."
"Why am I the judge?"
"So you're telling me I have to join you guys in the sauna... until both of you get out?"
"Yeah, man. It'll be great."
"Truly, the spirits of men shall be bonded from this event." Ishimaru said, some of his old fire returning.
"Oookkkayyy. Let me put this another way. If I stay in there, until you both get out, doesn't that mean I win this 'Bro-Off'?" Naegi snarked.
"You know what, man, just wait outside." Oowada conceded.
"And if I refuse to be the jud- Hey wait, stop dragging me!" Naegi cried.
"Okay. Now what?" Togami asked.
"So I guess we explore the second floor tomorrow, I don't think there's anything more we can do." Leon said, as he departed with Fujisaki and Yamada all going to their separate rooms.
. Monokuma chuckled before disappearing. "Kirigiri will have no part to play until the next trial."
"That's not surprising." Togami said. "Considering you went to the trouble of separating her from the rest of us."
. The rest of the group could hear Naegi's cries of 'Help Me' from down the hall.
"So that means Kirigiri is still alive." Celeste said.
"Not necessarily." Fukawa said, twiddling her thumbs. "That just means Kirigiri could play victim for the next trial."
"But why would Kirigiri need to be separated from us?" Celeste asked.
"Well, what are her skill sets?" Togami asked.
"Besides being mysterious." Fukawa said. "I still say she's quite obviously the mastermind."
"And I still think she's a decoy." Celeste suggested. "An obvious trap."
"Oh, that's rich. The Queen of Liars is suggesting to trust someone. Are you in love with her or something?"
"No. I am not. Togami, you seem to be the only one in control of her. Can you get her to be quiet?" Celeste decided to circumvent the bespectacled girl.
. Togami smirked.
"But why do you think Kirigiri is a trap?" Togami said.
"Because from a basic strategical standpoint, you leave an obvious decoy to keep people guessing."
"But Kirigiri could be a fake decoy in order to mess with that preconceived notion." Hagakure suggested, and he left.
"Yeah." Fukawa agreed. "I actually agree with the Shaman, Kirigiri could be a fake decoy."
"But that would require all of us here to be of high intelligence." Celeste said. "And coming up with that complex strategy requires all of us to be too clever and a half."
"And some of us are too dumb to fool. Is that what you're saying?" Togami said.
"Yeah."
"I see."
. Maizono had followed Naegi to outside the sauna.
"So are they still in there?"
"Yeah."
"No sign of them leaving any time soon."
"I see."
"Do you think Kirigiri will be alright? I'd hate to lose another person so soon."
"She's still alive."
"She is."
. Naegi breathed a sign of relief, and Maizono couldn't help but fill a twinge of jealousy. Would he feel the same way if I had been in Kirigiri's position?Oh, what am I talking about? I would rather be in my position than her's. I mean, I'm with Naegi right now. And ...
"What in the world were they thinking?" Asahina had appeared, cutting off Maizono's thoughts.
"I don't know what they were thinking." Naegi said. "Maybe Oowada was trying to cheer up Ishimaru."
"Yeah. That makes sense-h-ya-aa." Naegi yawned. "Today has been a stressful day. Do you think the two of you could cover as 'judge'?"
"Sure." Asahina agreed. "Maizono?"
"Alright."
. Naegi left.
"So Maizono..."
"Asahina, stop. This isn't going make this conversation any less awkward."
"Oh, please, we both know you're still head over heels for him."
"And I could say same about Leon to you."
"What?"
"It's not properly ... developed yet. It's still in a stage where you could nip it in the bud if you chose to. Or if you want, you could let it develop. He's very taken with you."
"Has he told you all this?"
"No."
"Then how do you know?"
"Because ... I'm an esper."
"Really?"
"No."
"So how do you know?"
"Because I've seen it before."
"With who?"
"With myself and Naegi."
"What?"
"He had feelings for me back in middle school. I liked him back. But neither of us made a move."
"So you're trying to make up for lost time."
"Yeah. How about this? Tell me more about yourself."
"Myself?"
"Yeah. You're quite obviously full of energy."
"Got a problem with it."
"Nnono. Why?"
"It's just... I'm used to people always saying the same thing. All the energy I have goes straight to my legs and none ever goes to my head."
"Well, that's obviously not true."
"No, I mean. Just because I like to wear shorts in the winter..."
"Woah. How much energy do you have to expend in order to keep your body temperature up?"
"A lot."
"Yeah. So how much food do you eat?"
. Asahina twiddled her thumbs. "A bit more than I care to admit."
"Oh, come on. Obviously, it's not too much."
"Hey, would you look at the time? Oowada, Ishimaru, get out of there! It's almost 10 PM!"
"NEVER/NEVER!"
. Asahina sighed, and walked over to the wall and flipped off the sauna.
"Hey!" The two shouted in unison.
"Sorry. You'll have to continue this tomorrow... Or rather later this afternoon."
"Why?"
"Because Naegi's already gone to bed."
"What?! Why?"
"Well, in fairness to Naegi.." Maizono pointed out. "He did get launched into a pile of bleachers earlier today."
"I guess that's a good enough excuse." Oowada said. "Alright, Ishimaru, after exploring the second floor tomorrow, we'll re-start this!"
"Yes, that is a good time."
"Alright."
. Asahina went back to her room. Maizono, however, headed straight back for the A/V Room.
"Okay. It's still unlocked. Let's go."
. Monokuma chuckled. "She's curious, but she won't like what she discovers."
. Maizono found the video with her name on it. She popped it in, and was horrified at what she saw.