A Cinderace and a Hatterene run across a hidden part in the academy in search of something or rather someone.
"Hurry up Saeyimur! We've almost found him!" The Cinderace called out.
"Are you sure the mastermind who's behind this took Shulk here, Zellium?" The Hatterene, Saeyimur asked as she caught up to her ally.
"Come on Sae! I can see him from here and he's not looking too great." The Cinderace, Zellium said as he pointed at Shulk.
The blonde-haired boy was breathing hard. The mastermind had just taken most of his ability to fight and he knows it. He could still fight back but only weaker than before the final fight with Zanza, he was out of options at this point.
Or that was what he thought until he heard two recognizable voices from the area beside him.
"DARKEST LARIAT!"
"PSYCHO CUT!"
BANG!
The whole room was filled with smoke and only the silhouetted bodies of Shulk, Zellium, and Saeyimur could be seen as the blonde-haired boy's chains were destroyed, brought back onto his feet and the three of them ran off.
...
Begin Chapter 4: Tears of Despair, Tears of Love
The dark mood of last night still lingered the next day in the dining hall. I was busy in the kitchen making food for all of us. With Kirumi gone I had to get everyone's preferences in order to use anything I could find to make something each of them can enjoy. I've already poured tea into cups and set them on the table. But the despair-inducing mood still remained.
Kiyo's early presence hardly seemed to have helped in this regard, though it would be easy to miss with how Angie still went out of her way to speak with him. I only needed to look at Kaede, Miyuji, and Kaito to see the lingering damage however, a hard blow to those so quick to help comfort those in need.
Gonta and Tokuko went to join the trio after I gave them their breakfast. They knew I didn't have to do it myself before, when Kirumi was here. The kitchen felt so much emptier and colder with her gone. Worse still by the fact her killer and one of the traitors was still there.
The entomologist and the actress placed themselves beside Kaede in hopes that would help block out Angie and Kiyo for her. She was looking better than yesterday at least, but that's hardly saying much considering that she was wearing Shuichi's hat on her head. But the grateful smile she gave him was still genuine so that made him feel a bit better than last night. Kaito's warm welcome was also appreciated.
Kaito's warmth is being forced though, it's obvious from his body language. I thought to myself.
When the four ate enough they began discussing what they thought may work to help address any concerns any of us would have with Kiyo, due to the revelations of the last trial, as Gonta listened.
Kaito's taking most of the lead, even with him as out of sorts as he was. It does make sense that Kaede would be taking the latest reveal harder. The type of betrayal she faced this time was far too personal.
"Hey Gonta, come a bit closer okay? Need your thoughts here big guy." Kaito whispered best he could, as if that would keep Kiyo or Angie from noticing what they were talking about. A quick glance at the odd pair showed such an attempt was fruitless, but Gonta complied best he could anyway.
Though the way Angie reached for the faux anthropologist's teacup instead of her own while the traitor was distracted was odd. It was too out of the way to be a mistake for her and one of her fists was clenched.
Then again Kiyo is the Ultimate Calligraper and the Disciple of Blood. But it's strange another disciple would try to kill him. I thought to myself.
I wasn't sure when everyone arrived and when they finished eating their breakfast but when everyone arrived at the dining hall while on the topic of non-lethal alternatives, Keebo got to the point needed.
"So everyone else is present? Good. So speaking of non-lethal alternatives what shall we do with Kiyo?" He asked.
"Why settle for not killing him? I have no problems with taking him out if that's okay with everyone else." Ryoma said, not breaking eye contact with his fellow murderer as if to emphasize how serious he's being.
Kiyo barely batted an eye at the threat before replying. "Are you sure you want to go so far? There's hardly a need to cause more bloodshed so soon after the last trial is there?"
"Hell no, we'd ever be OK with that! What the bloody hell are you thinking Prison Boy?! You can't throw away your life over this. It's not like it'd be too hard to just lock him up somewhere or keep an eye on him." Tokuko argued.
"If I may suggest for people to not 'keep watch' or be in charge of bringing me any meals Angie has proven to be less that trustworthy in this regard already." The calligrapher advised. "But I'm more than open to any ideas that don't involve my own death. In general male wardens would likely be the option you'd all be safer with too. Not that I doubt Tenko's physical capabilities, but if left alone things would quickly escalate I imagine."
"Huh?~ What is Kiyo talking about? Angie has done nothing wrong. Atua even said He doesn't think Kiyo's as bad as he said he is anymore!" Angie complained as she started squishing her face again.
"So I suppose you just tried drugging my tea as a source of entertainment? Or perhaps poison is the more accurate term, considering just how limited our resources are." Kiyo leveled her a look, but he's coming across as more inquisitive and teasing than actually upset despite what he was saying.
Her own expression furrowed and puffed as she took note of the colorful flowery mug he lifted to his mask as if to taunt her to show him he's wrong. Leaving her with only his original dragonfly patterned teacup if she wanted to prove her innocence by drinking from it herself. But she couldn't, so she went to pour it out in the garbage before going off to sulk back in the seat Tenko wanted her to take before.
At least his comically serious personality was one thing the Flashback Lights preserved. I thought as I smirked.
"It wasn't anything THAT serious. Just enough to get you an itttsy bit sick, since you keep acting so smug. It wouldn't kill you to at least pretend to have some remorse for what you did to Kirumi you know." Angie explained.
"Were you really willing to stake your life on that guess Angie? Or everyone else's?! Be more careful please! Your 'Atua' has already proven too faulty to trust in life and death situations like this." Keebo warned.
"Gonta agree with Keebo. Gonta can keep close eye on Kiyo, so Kiyo no hurt anyone okay? And no one else hurt Kiyo either. Gonta promise to keep everyone safe, so no trials happen." Gonta said.
"Yeah, that sounds like a good idea for now. Locking him up could put him in danger and lead to another trial, so a buddy system should work as a compromise for now. Is that okay with everyone else?" Kaede asked, looking around the room for approval. With little better solutions available all of us soon agreed.
Not that this meant everyone was happy about this solution. Kokichi, in particular, looked pretty upset. I would like to think this was more out of worry than anger, but it was hard for me to know for sure especially with how he's familiar to me.
Keebo also looked more distant than usual. Until his pink eyes lit up, nearly literally, as if something just occurred to him. But whatever the thought that brought a smile to his face was, he kept it to himself.
I couldn't ask him when the three remaining Monokubs appeared and Monosuke had us hand in 999 Monocoins for the keys to the new areas to prepare the next motive. Monodam said that we'll have the day to ourselves without any motives.
Later on, I agreed with Kaede and Gonta to watch over Kiyo in my room after exploring all of the new labs and the fifth floor.
"Thank you for complying with my plan Kiyo. It feels a lot safer for the others knowing that the surviving killer of the previous trial is in good hands." I said.
"I don't mind at all." Kiyo replied. "I have no interest in what the new floor has to offer anyway."
I decided to show him a few things from the Bionis and the Mechonis to see if he has interest in any of those or if he remembers seeing them during the time he was a disciple.
But then I paused for a moment, something wasn't right. It felt like someone was behind me. Realizing who the only person with me was, I turned around and grabbed Kiyo by his wrists and got into a struggle to get the sickle in his hands away from me.
"Are you trying to kill me?!" I asked in anger. "That's why you obliged for me to guard you, isn't it?!"
"So you figured it out, right?" The faux anthropologist responded, now speaking the way he did in the Killing Titan War and giving me the indication that the Flashback Lights' effects had worn off. "I've planned to kill you ever since the previous trial ended."
"Are any of the other traitors planning to do the same?"
"Well, since my plan have backfired when the next motive is presented the Ultimate Disciple will finish what Lord Zanza started!"
I turned away for a bit before turning back as I spoke. "What would Ajia, Gita, and Miyadera think about this?"
Kiyo's eyes widened in shock as he dropped the sickle and clutched his head as if he just remembered who those three were during the Killing Titan War. "I... I need time to think about that."
After that he left as nighttime struck, I went to sleep thinking about what was going on with him.
Does Ajia know where her boyfriend even is? I thought to myself as I went to sleep.