I told you ch 25 would be out soon!
Wanted to thank you all for being such lovely readers! Enjoy!
Kokichi finished his breakfast and hurried outside, leaving behind his chatting and smiling classmates.
Their carefree happiness made his stomach churn.
He knew that soon, very soon, the next murder would occur, and their joy would turn to despair.
I can't afford to get distracted. I need to strategize. I have no idea who the next victim will be, only the murderer…well, potential murderers.
He walked towards the dorms, noticing a familiar robot skulking in the gazebo opposite.
"Yo robot!" He yelled.
Kiibo glared at him. "What do you want Ouma-kun?"
"I heard you got into a fight with Iruma-chan." Kokichi said snidely.
"It's none of your business."
"Ohh, someone's circuits are fried."
"They aren't- That doesn't make any sense."
"It doesn't have to." Kokichi plopped down next to him and gave him a dazzling smile.
Kiibo winced and scooted down the bench. All of three inches before running out of space.
"Ouma-kun, if you're just going to bully me- "
"Kii-boy, I don't want to bully you." Kokichi made a crying face. "I-I have to."
"W-what?" Kiibo became flustered.
"It's because I don't trust you. But I don't hate you Kiibo. There's a difference between the two."
It was the truth. He didn't hate Kiibo. He hated the people who controlled him.
In fact, he was sort of fascinated by the robot's body and AI. But that fascination didn't hold up against suspicion.
"What do you mean? You're confusing me."
"Don't worry your pretty little head Kii-boy. You don't need to think about anything. Just listen to what the others tell you to do."
Kiibo glared at him again.
"Actually, you do need to worry about something, or rather someone …Iruma-chan."
"Leave her alone. She has enough problems to deal with." Kiibo warned him.
Kokichi cocked his head, recalling what Kaito had told him earlier.
It's so, so stupid. But it's worth a shot…if nothing else, it might stall her.
"Oh, don't worry, I'll leave her alone. But will you abandon her in her hour of greatest need?"
"What?"
"I think Iruma-chan is planning a murder. And I think- no, I know, you think the same."
"Iruma-san would never hurt anyone- "
"Why else do you think she's been spending all her time in the computer lab, working herself to death?"
"No- "
"It's because of the motive. She wants to escape with you."
"Stop it!" Kiibo covered his ears.
"Kiibo, only you can do something about it." Kokichi smiled at him coldly. "Before she kills someone."
"My inner voice is telling me to leave." Kiibo said weakly.
"Then go. Just remember what I said."
Kiibo stumbled away, almost tripping over himself in panic.
Kokichi waved him goodbye, then laughed shrilly to himself.
I really am dumb, trusting Momota-chan's intuition…
"That was unnecessary."
Kokichi whirled around.
"Hello Hoshi-chan."
Ryoma emerged from the bushes and scowled at him.
"Eavesdropping is wrong." Kokichi lectured, waggling a finger at the tennis pro.
"So is bullying."
"Kiibo isn't human."
"I disagree." Ryoma said. "He is human. And you should treat him better."
"Hoshi-chan, I don't hate him." Kokichi said, getting irritated.
"I believe that. But you should still treat him better. Don't single him out."
"Believe what you want to believe Hoshi-chan. And I'm not "singling" him out. I truly believe he's dangerous."
"…" Ryoma narrowed his eyes at him.
"I'll see you later Hoshi-chan. I have important shit to do." Kokichi started walking away.
He only made it a few steps.
"You should play tennis with me sometime Ouma."
"No thank you." Kokichi paused. "It would be a waste of my time."
"Because you'd lose?" Ryoma's voice was full of mirth.
"Nah. I just have better things to do."
"Like?"
Kokichi grinned. "I have no need to form bonds with others. Even you."
"Except Kaito."
"Momota-chan isn't my friend. Just an ally of convenience.".
"Sure, he is." Ryoma deadpanned. "I guess that's why he cooks for you, hangs out with you all the time, and calls you by your first name."
"He latched on to me as a new sidekick after Saihara-chan died. It's his way of coping with the killing game."
"No. Maybe it started out that way. But his relationship with you is different from his relationship with Saihara."
"Hoshi-chan, we've only known each other a few days- "
"In a hostile environment such as this, time doesn't really matter." Ryoma stated. "You saw how close Akamatsu and Saihara became, and they'd only known each other for a few days. And Yumeno and Chabashira…they're practically glued at the hip."
"Well, Momota-chan and I won't turn out the same way. We're not friends…but I guess you could say we're "partners in crime". Kokichi chuckled.
"Partners is a good word for what you are."
Kokichi coughed loudly. "Welllll, as much as I'd love to keep trading barbs with you, I really must go."
"All right. Just be kinder to Kiibo in future and we won't have any problems."
"No way Hoshi-chan. I can't do that."
"Ouma…"
"Sooooooo, I guess we're gonna have a big fight over it someday." Kokichi turned around and smirked at him.
"We won't." Ryoma said softly. "It'll be quieter than that."
"Heh. I could never win a fight against you anyway. You're way stronger than me."
"Yup."
"But I'm smarter than you. That's what's important."
"I guess." Ryoma shrugged.
"Well…see you around Hoshi-chan."
"See ya."
Kokichi went into the school, entering through the cafeteria.
It was empty.
In the corridor on the other side, he almost collided with Tenko and Himiko.
"Watch where you're going." The former said, glaring at him.
"My apologies. I was in a hurry." He said sarcastically. "Now, what are you lovely ladies up to?"
"It's none of your business." Himiko snapped.
"Lemme guess…you're going to Yumeno-chan's lab, to hold hands or make out or something."
Both girls blushed profusely.
"No." Tenko managed not to stutter. "I'm helping Yumeno-san create a new magic trick."
"I'm preparing another magic show. With doves." Himiko said, regaining her cool.
"Well, I'm looking forward to it. Your last show was very entertaining."
"You're not invited."
"I promise to behave."
"I'm sick and tired of your lies. I don't want to put up with them anymore."
Kokichi laughed. "Everybody lies Yumeno-chan. Even if they're not aware of it." He said, looking right at her. "I'm not being mean, just honest."
Himiko pouted, shaking her head.
"Yumeno-san hasn't lied. Not once." Tenko countered.
"I don't believe that. She lies about her talent. Saying she uses "real magic", when it's all just sleight of hand and fancy equipment."
"My magic is real." Himiko insisted, her lower lip trembling.
Tenko gave her a worried look.
Kokichi sighed. Momota-chan is rubbing off on me.
"To be fair, those aren't malicious lies. So, I'll agree that Yumeno-chan hasn't lied…with the intent to hurt people."
Himiko rubbed her temples. "Now you're just giving me a headache. Please go away."
"Ouma-san, let's just go our separate ways. Before we start arguing again." Tenko suggested.
"Fair enough. I was getting bored anyway." Kokichi said. "I just have one question…what are you guys doing today? I'm just asking…because I need to know. You understand."
The girls exchanged a look.
"I'm going to be in my lab all day." Himiko said.
"I'll be with her. Most of the time." Tenko added. "At some point I want to do a workout. Go for a run or something. And Gonta is coming around in the afternoon. He's going to be our test audience, even if he is a degenerate male..." She wrinkled her nose in disgust.
"Thanks for telling me." Kokichi filed the information away.
"What will you be doing?" Himiko challenged him.
She trying to get under my skin. How adorable. Kokichi smiled.
"This morning, I'm going to explore the school, looking for clues and suspicious people. Then I'm going to meet up with Kaito and have lunch with him. I don't know what I'm going to do this afternoon."
Himiko sneered. "Momota's just being nice. No one else wants to spend time with you. Because no one likes you."
"Nah. Hoshi-chan offered to play tennis with me. And I hung out with Shinguuji-chan yesterday." Kokichi winced comically. "Here's a tip: if he offers to give you a lecture about anthropology, decline, politely."
Himiko opened her mouth, ready with another retort, only to shut it when Tenko gently tugged her arm.
"Yumeno-san, let's go. I don't want to waste time arguing with Ouma-san. I want to have fun with you."
"Chabashira…"
Tenko leaned down and whispered something in her ear.
Kokichi listened in closely, only catching a few words.
"I hate this place so much. I'm afraid something is going to happen- "
Himiko took a deep breath and nodded shakily.
"Chabashira is right. There's no point in arguing with you. So…bye." Himiko said, striding off towards her lab.
Tenko gave Kokichi a withering glare. "Why did you wind her up?"
"Because it's fun." Kokichi lied. "Just be glad D.I.C.E isn't around. Then this place would be a living hell."
"Right. I forgot you're a spineless prankster." Tenko sighed. "You don't really care about anyone; you just want to bully them and enjoy their suffering."
"Exactly."
"I thought…no, it doesn't matter. I need to go to Yumeno-san. Goodbye Ouma." Tenko shook her head and went after Himiko.
Kokichi grinned, happy to be hated.
Where should I go? Maybe I should check on Iruma-chan? He nodded and went upstairs.
But when he reached the computer lab, he found himself hesitating in front of the door.
What if annoying Iruma just makes her more stressed and more likely to murder someone? And what if Momota-chan is right? I shouldn't go in there… Kokichi huffed, hating that he was doubting himself so much.
Screw it. I need to find a quiet place to think.
He retreated downstairs.
Briefly stopping on the third floor, he considered barging in on Kirumi and Maki, but decided against it. He didn't want to speak to the two murderers any more than he had to.
He went down another floor and snuck into one of the classrooms.
Sitting down at a desk, Kokichi put his head in his hands and thought.
Who will be the next victim? Who will be the next victim?
He considered each of his classmates, but couldn't pin it down.
Then he thought about Kaito, and froze.
The mere idea of anything happening to his partner, filled him with rage.
He's the first person- the only person, to believe in me, and try to understand my point of view. I won't let anything happen to him. I need his support.
Angrily shaking his head, he moved on.
No, if anyone is going to be murdered next, it's going to be me. He smirked. I've taken Saihara-chan's place as "the smart one". That makes me the biggest threat to the blackened's plans. Also, physically speaking, I'm one of the weakest people here. Only Kiibo and Yumeno-chan are weaker than me.
He took a deep breath.
The only thing I'm really sure of is that the next murder is happening today. And it could happen at any moment…
He sat there for a while, pondering the killing game, then checked his monopad.
It was 12:05.
Kokichi blinked. Time sure does fly. What can I do…I guess I could go to the basement? Play more of that platformer…
Entering the arcade room, he saw that the door to the AV room was ajar.
He coud hear raised voices. People arguing. Two girls and a boy.
Kokichi frowned. He didn't recognize them-
I'm dumb. Someone's watching a movie.
Deciding to check it out, he approached the door and peeked into the room.
Tsumugi was sitting on the sofa, watching some animated movie.
On the screen, Kokichi could see a young girl running through a strange village. Ghosts were materialising around her.
"Good movie?"
Tsumugi jumped and blushed deeply. "Y-yes." She squeaked. "It's Spirited Away. One of my favourites. I watch it whenever I get too stressed. It calms me."
"Can I watch it with you? Just for a bit?"
She nodded and turned back to the screen.
Kokichi sat down next to her.
The girl had just been rescued by an older boy, who was taking her to a large bath house.
He looked at Tsumugi.
She was watching the movie intently, a small smile playing on her lips.
He thought she was a weirdo; a cosplay nut with little intelligence and strange views. But maybe there was more to her…
"Why are you stressed?"
Tsumugi frowned, eyes still glued to the screen. "I dunno. I just feel uneasy. Almost queasy."
"Queasy?"
"Yeah. I think it's because I can't focus on my cosplay. I don't have any materials."
"Ah, so you use work as a coping mechanism?"
She glared at him lightly. "It's not work. It's pleasure. All of it."
Kokichi wilted under her gaze. For some strange reason, he found it very intimidating.
"You really love your talent, don't you?"
"Yes. It's my life's work."
He looked back at the screen.
The little girl had just met an old woman. He had no idea what was going on. He'd never seen the movie before.
["Chihiro, that's your name?" The old woman said.
"Yes." The little girl answered.
"Quite a fancy name." The old woman bobbed her head. "From now on, your name is Sen."]
He looked away.
"I'll leave you to enjoy your movie in peace."
"Please."
Kokichi left quickly, deciding that Tsumugi was too weird even for him.
Unless she's the mastermind…but I can't be sure. They could be anyone. They're a master at hiding their emotions. He thought, turning on his monopad.
12:22.
It's only a few minutes. I'll go and wait for Momota-chan. I can surprise him when he comes in.
Kokichi went straight to the dorms. Thankfully, he didn't run into anyone else.
He waited. And waited. 12:30 came and went.
Kokichi frowned, thinking about where the astronaut could be.
Unless Momota-chan was tired and-
He went upstairs and knocked on Kaito's door.
Moments passed. No one answered.
Kokichi started to get worried. He banged his fist against it.
I can't be wrong. I'm never wrong-
"Quit it. I'm coming." Kaito yelled.
Relief coursed through Kokichi's body.
The door opened and Kaito stumbled out, yawning deeply.
"Momota-chan is so lazy." Kokichi joked. "You'll get nothing done if you lie in bed all day."
"I didn't sleep well. I needed the rest." Kaito said, stretching his back.
"Suuuure."
Kaito grinned sleepily at him. "What do you wanna do? Eat lunch? Take a walk?"
Kokichi shook his head. "I'm not hungry yet. I wanna go for a walk."
"Let's discuss things and decide our next move."
They trooped out.
Kokichi had a spring in his step. He was no longer bored.
Howzat?