"Why are we breaking into people's rooms again?" I grumble to Kokichi, shifting the KubsPads' in my hands. "You did this not even an hour ago."
"Hmm, true." Kokichi glances back at me with a raised eyebrow, "But that was before we found a dead body. Who knows, maybe someone left something in a room."
My scowl deepens as he unlocks the door, and we walk into the room.
"Then why are you having me carry these?" I vaguely gesture towards the KubsPads I dumped onto the bed.
"Because," He draws the word out with a long drawl, "No one knows I took them, not yet at least. I put on the back whose room I got each from, but I don't have them all. Could be useful for catching someone off guard in the trial."
"Then why, please tell me, am I here?"
"You're the only one who knows I took em. I'd kill you to keep the secret but..." He trails off, shrugging. "It's too much work."
"You idiot, we didn't read the Monokuma file!" Miu screeches, glaring up at Korekiyo with her hands on her hips.
"How is that my sin?" Kiyo asks, an edge to his voice.
"It just is! You got me all hot and bothered to make me forget about it, I bet you're this blackened guy!" Miu accuses, smug satisfaction dripping from her voice.
"Believe me, If I had committed this offense, I would have been significantly more forceful in examining the scene with someone else."
"Okay, that rooms clean, next one!" Kokichi cheers, bouncing over to the next door to pick the lock.
I glance uneasily around the dormitories, looking at the faces and names written onto every door, specifically Kirumi and Himiko's doors.
I wonder if she ever got rid of that note...
"Hey, sidekick, check this out!" Kaito shouts, waving his arms in the air to catch Shuichi's attention.
"What is it?"
Kaito points towards the ground where a sliver of blood is beside a slot machine. "Ain't it weird? I mean, were upstairs, and there's so little of it."
"Yeah," Shuichi murmurs, kneeling down beside the blood with a thoughtful expression on his face.
"Maki we're supposed to be investigating, you may not stand in front of your lab the entire time," Keebo says, shifting as Maki's glare harshened.
"You can investigate, I'm staying here."
"But-"
"I'm not leaving."
"But why!?"
Maki gazed into Keebo's robotic eyes blankly, calmly examining the way his bulky body tensed the longer she stared. "Go away."
"I..."
"Now." Maki grit out, lowering her head. "Please."
Keebo sighed, "Very well, I do hope you eventually try to help." He starts walking away, only to stop and turn back to her grimly, a sad smile etched onto his face, and cold robotic eyes looking through her very soul. "A friend of ours passed away today before their time-"
"She wasn't my friend."
Keebo tilts his head, "Maybe. You don't have many." He turns away. "It would seem horribly offensive if you did not help in any way." He starts walking away, mechanical voice echoing off the walls. "It could lead to... undesirable outcomes."
"No good degenerate males, we'll see how they like it when they can't solve this," Tenko grumbles, glancing towards the sleeping form of Himiko.
"Ah, Tenko!" Keebo walks up to them with Ryoma trailing after him. "We were wondering if you'd spare us your account."
"Fine," Tenko growls, glaring at the entourage. "Make it quick, and don't be loud, Himiko might wake up because of you degenerates."
"Who did you see this afternoon?"
"Eh, well I obviously saw Himiko." Tenko pauses briefly. "Other than her, I saw that degenerate liar, the degenerate attacker, degenerate creep, and I saw Tsumugi."
"That everyone you saw?" Ryoma asks lowly.
"Yes! Now leave us ALONE!"
"Onwards!" Kokichi roars, charging up the stairs.
"Hey, are we going to be checking my room as well?" I ask, stumbling after him.
"As much as I'd like to, I know you'll want to see my room if I check yours and my room has a strict no girls policy!" Kokichi responds, sticking his tongue out at the end as he claps his hands.
"Why? What's in your room?"
"What every evil Supreme Leader has!" Kokichi boasts
"A cat and an eyepatch?"
"No cats!"
"So yes to the eyepatch?"
"Angie~ I'm not Kiyo!"
"Kiyo, Miu, who did you two see this afternoon?" Keebo smiles at them.
"Hah! If you want to know that, then you'd better-!"
"I believe we saw the same people." Kiyo smoothly cuts Miu off.
"Who did you see then?"
"I met up with Ryoma and Angie after eating a meal and joined them onto their path towards the casino." Kiyo started with Ryoma nodding his confirmation. "There we found Kaito, Shuichi, Kokichi and... that." Kiyo shot a glare at Miu. "Afterwards, I was forced to participate in that horrid meet & greet."
"Ah, best not say that in front of Gonta," Keebo advises nervously.
"Whoa! Look what I've found!" Kokichi waves around a motive video, "Someone was good at hiding this thing."
"Where'd you get that?" I ask, rushing over.
"Look here!" He points at the mattress and then lifts it slightly to reveal a hole. "See! They used a knife to make the perfect hiding spot of every child, under the bed!" Dropping the mattress, he frowns and sits down on the floor, looking at the motive. "They took it a bit too literally by putting it in the bed... Can't believe I never checked here."
I sit down next to him. "I know, you're such a child yourself it should've been obvious." I laugh, reaching over to turn on the motive.
"Back by popular demand, It's time for the motive video!"
*ding dong bing bong
"Puhuhu! It's time for what you've all been waiting for- the class trial! Please assemble in front of the Shrine of Judgement in the courtyard! From there, you'll be escorted to the class trial! Remember, attendance is mandatory, so you better show up! See you all there!"
Maki listened to the announcement absentmindedly, sitting on the ground of her lab and staring up at her rack of weapons.
Her gaze locked onto the outline of where a missing knife should be.
