The REAL Act 2-6: Surprise...And Surprise Again!
I heard glass shatter as my cup dropped to the floor, staining the carpet.
He raised an eyebrow. "Really? Faen just cleaned that this morning. Think of how much work you're gonna have to put him through later."
I sputtered. "I'm dying, you're killing me, and you're worried about your damn carpet?!"
"You're not goddamn dying." Hideki intoned.
What...?!
"I told you the contents of the bottle. At no point did I tell you that I poisoned your coffee. The reason being that I didn't."
I stared at him. "Then why-"
"I was planning to, okay! I just didn't go through with it!" he held up his hands in mock surrender, "I admit I was tempted to, but I didn't in the end, so there!"
"Oh, small comfort." By now, I was sure I was tearing up. "I trusted you, Hideki!"
"Well, that was a mistake, now wasn't it?" he said in an irritated tone of voice. "Just like how you people trusted me despite me not revealing my secret!"
"...It's less that I didn't distrust you and more that you were avoiding me."
He sighed. "Tien and Sasha met with me despite everything. They told me to stay low and out of danger, and sadly, that includes you."
I raised an eyebrow. "You think Sasha trusted you? And you listened to them?"
He grumbled. "Well, no. But it was certainly good advice."
"And how am I danger?"
"I wasn't there when you revealed your secret! For all I know you might not have!"
"You are a hypocrite, and I caused the Busan Incident."
He blinked. "Wait, you caused that pile up?"
"That's besides the point!" I shrieked. "Explanation! Now!"
Hideki glared at me with his one good eye, before sighing. "Fine. Just let me pour you another cup of coffee. And don't worry, this one isn't poisoned either.
= = Free Time! = =
Free Time with Hideki?
[Yes] [No]
Hideki: …
Ashley: …
Hideki: ...Come on, don't stay silent, give me something to work with.
Ashley: Fine. For starters, what is your secret?
Hideki: …
Hideki: I…
Hideki: (*sigh*) I botched up one hell of a major surgery.
Ashley: Huh? How is that more serious than-
Hideki: Black Jack.
Ashley: Wait, that famous mob don Black Jack?
Hideki: Him. He got brought into our surgical unit one day, and I was to operate on him.
Hideki: And I did the worst thing a surgeon could do: panic.
Hideki: I...completely fucked up. No censoring there, I really screwed up big time.
Hideki: So my dad had to step in, and take the blame for my mistakes.
Ashley: O-Oh...Um, well, last I recall, Black Jack's still alive, so I guess it wasn't that bad?
Hideki: Ashley, they beat my father up, and chained him to a fence before leaving him to die! If I hadn't been hiding in the vicinity, I doubt anyone would have found him!
Hideki: And now...if the truth about my malpractice is revealed, they could very well kill him, and no one would be the wiser!
Hideki: That's why I can't let this secret get out. And it's why I wanted to poison you.
Ashley: ...Well, I'm still alive, so there must be a reason for that.
Ashley: Then, what changed your mind?
Hideki: I just...I couldn't go through with it. Not with you.
Ashley: (*blush*) Me?
Hideki: Don't get me wrong here. I just…
Hideki: Okay fine, I just like you a lot, okay?
Ashley: R-rea-
Ashley: How could you fall for that, Ashley? He wanted to kill you!
Ashley: I-I'm not going to forgive you just because you claim to like me! Not only is that not an excuse, but you could be lying!
Hideki: But you've seen me lie before. You know I'm an awful liar.
Ashley: That's...true...
Ashley: Oh my gosh...He really likes me?
Ashley: Um...
Ashley: Think of something good to say, think of something good to say!
Ashley: My eyes are up here!
Ashley: Nailed it.
Hideki: (*turns back around*) Huh? What are you talking about?
Ashley: Nothing!
Ashley: I mean...oh. You...like me?
Hideki: Um, yes…
Hideki: Look, whether or not I like you is not really the reason I called you here tonight. I did so just to apologize to you.
Ashley: For a murder attempt that failed even before you executed it?
Hideki: Kind of, yes- hey!
Hideki: Look, I only called you here so I could admit I was stupid, and that if I should attempt to kill anyone else, I urge you to stop me at the earliest opportunity.
Hideki: You got that?
Ashley: Um...sure?
Hideki: Good. Then this conversation is over.
Ashley: Wait, what do you mean by you like me? Like, 'like-like' me?
Hideki: Shush. It's getting late. Go back to your room and lock it.
Hideki: It's not safe tonight.
Ashley: Yeah...because of people like you.
Hideki: I heard that, and I assure you, I mean you no harm, Ashley.
Ashley: You wanted to kill me!
Hideki: But I didn't!
Ashley: But you wanted to!
Hideki: Tempted to. Not the same as actually following through.
Ashley: In any case, why should I trust you?
Hideki: Because...I trust you?
Ashley: Okay, if he's lying this time, he's seriously going about it the wrong way.
Ashley: Whatever, I'm going back to bed. Just...don't try to kill anyone.
Hideki: No promises.
Hideki Kenta - Level 2!
Hideki tried to kill me - but hey, at least he didn't, right? And he likes me, apparently...God, what a hypocrite. I can't believe I trusted him.
Also, his secret involves a botched operation on a Mafia member, but I seriously don't care.
I opened my door, and, upon closing it, slumped onto the back of it in relief.
Oh my god...I was this close to dying.
I exhaled a long breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. I must have been really scared for my life.
Going to the bathroom, I turned on the tap to get some water to wash my face, until I realized, again, that the water was still off.
Sighing in frustration, I just went to my bed, and turned off the lights.
Sleep didn't come to me easy, but it eventually did.
"Goooooooooood morning, students! It's seven in the morning, so get ready to greet another beeeeeautiful day! But seriously, get your asses up, you bastards!"
Oh great. I forgot that was a usual thing.
Blinking away the stars in my eyes, I shivered. There was an odd chill in the air, and it felt like betrayal-
Right. Hideki.
I stepped out of bed cautiously, and went over to my desk. Lifting my badge up, I picked up the piece of paper I had written the night before.
So it wasn't a dream, then. Hideki truly admitted to wanting to kill me.
I crumpled it up, and threw it in the trash bin. We were going to have words after this.
Taking the quickest shower I could manage, I changed into a new set of clothes. This time, it was a blue button-down denim shirt over white shorts - simple, but it meant I meant business.
Striding out the door, I walked over to Hideki's door, and knocked on it.
BANG! BANG!
Okay, maybe 'knock' was too kind a term.
BANG! BANG!
No answer.
"Ashley?"
I leapt in fright, only to find out it was just Faen, who had also shifted back a couple steps when I reacted. "Calm down, Ashley! It is only me!"
"Oh, Faen, it's you!" I rubbed my head sheepishly. "Sorry, I've just been on edge and all, and- wait, are you still calling me by my first name?"
To this, he blushed. "Yes, I am. I did not see any reason not to, since, you know, you have helped my relationship with Johan flourish. Though I must ask: why are you banging on Hideki's door so early in the morning?"
"Uh…I...It's a long story."
"Then perhaps you will be willing to share over breakfast? There is a possibility that Hideki may have already went for breakfast, which is why he is not answering your summons." He stated.
Right...It's breakfast time, after all. Maybe he's in the ballroom, waiting for me.
"Shall we?" Faen smiled, "Johan said he was up to cook today, so we should be able to find them all in the ballroom."
"Let's go, then." I agreed, before following him down the hallway.
Past the atrium and into the ballroom we were greeted by Eric, Lucille and Johan, who were just coming out of the same door.
"Oh, Faen, there you are." Johan grinned. "I was starting to worry. And Ashley, hey there. Come on in and get some breakfast."
"Where are you guys going?"
"To check on the bloody activist, aren't we?" Eric responded. "No one's seen h- them all day."
"Oh." My heart fell. I remembered Sasha's face as they had told me about their plan to save everyone else. They were trying to minimize casualties, but what if they had become one themself?
"I'm sure Mx. Oryolov is just fine," said Faen, guiding me gently to a chair. "They're probably just late. It happens."
"I sure hope so." I picked at my toast, as I looked around.
Well, if anything, Matthew and Jackie had definitely confirmed their relationship by now. Eating spaghetti in the style of 'Lady and the Tramp' certainly supported that hypothesis.
Speaking of hypothesis, Tien brought in a steaming plate of scrambled eggs. She wiped her brow with a sleeve, before returning into the kitchen, presumably to resume cooking.
Faen was now sitting down off to one side, and cutting up an omelette. I could see him decorating said omelette with ketchup, making a beautiful heart shape on it.
Sigh...Why isn't my love life quite so easy?
Before I could think any further, the PA system crackled to life.
"Upupupupupupu! Attention all students; a body has been discovered! I repeat: a body has been discovered! After a brief period of investigation, a Class Trial will commence, so do make the best use of your time! Cheerio!"
...Oh shit.
"I need to go." I gasped.
"What?" I heard Jackie ask from behind me, but I had already started running towards the staterooms.
The faces of my friends flashed through my mind. Nico, Hideki, Xiang, Sasha, Maya, Nico, Hideki, Xiang, Sasha, Maya, Nico, Hideki, Xiang, Sasha, Maya-
Nico crying as she showed me her scars.
Maya opening up to me, if only a tiny bit.
Xiang being so open and upfront about the secret that tormented him.
Hideki sliding me coffee across the table with that winning smile of his.
Sasha giving up their secret to try and save someone's life.
One of them is dead.
I raced down the hallways, back into the Atrium, and towards the cabins.
An anguished scream.
Uh oh, that can't be good!
I turned a corner, and scanned the doors. Picking the one that was open, I rushed through it, unsure of what I would find inside.
If only I'd stayed outside while I could.
I stopped just right before Eric, who was staring blankly inside of the room. Lucille was crying again, and Johan seemed to be at a loss for words. But, as I got closer, most disturbing of all was Sasha's reaction. The activist, who had been completely stoic at the sight of JJ's body, was leaning against the wall, hands clutched in front of their face, eyes wide with shock.
"N-Not him, not here. I-It just can't be him," they muttered weakly. I detected a hint of...was that fear?
But then I turned my attention to whoever it was that had perished, and froze.
The corpse was laid out on the bed, arms straight forward, with a stab wound in the stomach and another in the chest. Next to the body laid what appeared to be an index card. The victim's eyes had been closed, and in his hand was a small leather-bound book. The blood was now primarily centered around his body, and hadn't spread anywhere else.
He looked as peaceful in death as he had in life.
Xiang Li - the Super High School Level Soldier - is dead.
Act 2-6 FIN
12 Students Remaining
A/N:
As the title implies...SURPRISE, M*THERF*CKER! MUAHAHAHAHAHA! - SD
SD don't censor yourself. This story has...breast-related body horror and transphobia and you don't wanna fucking swear? - Lime
Professionals have standards. - SD
So...yeah, Xiang's dead. One hundred percent deceased. What does that mean for the rest of our characters (and the fiend who killed him)? Take your thoughts to the forum!
We didn't actually kill Ashley - shame on you for thinking we'd kill her off that fast. Shame on us for not doing so, but Ashley's story is not quite over yet.
So, uh...HeroinOfDarkness, I'm really, really sorry, and that doesn't happen often. Xiang was an absolutely splendid character, but it was his time to go.
And now, the weather. I mean review replies.
emosewa-13: *evil giggling*
Khronovision: Hehe, yep. We love to mess with you guys (seriously, I wish I could've seen your faces…)
And time to update the roster!
A Dingus With Sweet Shades: We have a leash on most of our characters. Todd is a...special case.
PowerPlayer: Yep! Everything in the past two chapters was entirely false.
ezmonee6: OK, so none of what happened last two chapters was canon in the slightest! We were just messing with you guys for the hell of it. Also, we're the Continuity Police (AKA a cheap Men In Black ripoff)
dashunterman: Does it make a little more sense now?
HeroinOfDarkness: Yeah, SD and I will go to great lengths to mess with you guys.
And again, I'm really, truly sorry about Xiang (the two characters we kill off this Act are two of the four hardest to kill off out of all the characters who die in the entire story). I hope that you'll keep reading despite Xiang no longer being physically present.
Rest assured, he may be gone, but not forgotten. His legacy will live on. - Lime
So...back to me now, I guess. I've got your obligatory trailer run, and another proposition. Remember Todd's Mary Sue chapter? Yeah, I had way too much fun doing that, so we'll (well, mostly I'll, jkjk, sorry Lime) be making another one of them in the near future, after Investigation. Since the poll will be used to determine who you thought murdered Xiang, we've already picked our next victim. Next time, prepare for JJ Jackson - Ace Attorney! Thanks, and peace out. Biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiizzam! - SD
Next time, on A Flight Of Fancy Despair:
The soldier has been dismissed from active - and living - duty.
Whoever did this must've hidden their secret...
Only a dozen students remain, and it's about to decrease further.
Your neck! Oh my god, your neck!
Is one of the usual suspects playing everyone else for fools?
There's something more sinister about our activist friend…
Or is the true murderer…
Paranoid...schizophrenic?
...someone…
I doubt anyone but another guy could have overpowered him like this.
...you wouldn't expect?
Hmm...interesting. I could have sworn we would be in script format by now, actually.
What was that?
Nothing.