Hello hello! Just as promised, a chapter on Wednesday! Get ready for some fluffy friendship building, and some cliché sleepover shenanigans!
It's worth noting that not every character has dialogue or an appearance in this chapter. If I ended up writing that for everyone, this chapter would drag on. Don't worry, though, everyone will get a very similar amount of screen time!
Martial Arts Master:
I should put a bit of explanation here. Only four people actually put victim or that they didn't care on their submission, so for this chapter, I killed someone who didn't request victim. This is a good time to bring up that THAT WAS ONLY OPTIONAL. I have absolutely no guarantees to what will happen. That's why I'm saying to not get upset, because of course, this is DR! Death is the main plot point.
Anyways, lets have the chapter now, shall we?
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, an astronaut boy, a medium girl, and a protester enby were making ice cream.
"Keep shaking the bags! The more you shake it, the yummier it will be!" Kin called out to their two partners in cooking, all of them shaking an individual bag full of ice, milk, and a variety of other ingredients.
Chiemi was giggling, watching the ingredients bounce about in her bag. Yohaku seemed mesmerized by the reactions his shaking was creating.
"So, you've made this before, I presume?" Yohaku looked over at the dark skinned girl.
"Yep. I think I learned this at a protest in New York. Wall Street, I think. One of the protesters had a fridge she plugged into the wall. Taught a whole group of us how to make it, and we ended up making it for most of the protesters." Kin reminisced, shaking the bag. "It's a good way to keep everyone's spirits up."
"What a nice story!" Chiemi smiled. "So you've been to America?"
"Yep. I'm biracial- half Japanese, half African American- so I spent a lot of time there. It's where my cousins are." Their face became downcast, just for a moment. "My oldest cousin is the one Monobear is threatening, actually..."
Yohaku stopped shaking his bag, putting one hand on their shoulder. "I'm sure they'll be fine, Kin... The police will make sure of that. They wouldn't let that happen to them. Even... Even if they aren't coming to rescue us, they'll help them."
"You think so?" Kin smiled. "Thanks. I'm just worried for them, I guess."
"They'll all be ok." Yohaku smiled. "I promise."
"But the ice cream might not be if we keep talking!" Chiemi grabbed her bag back off the counter, shaking it. The two others giggled and did the same. In a matter of minutes, they'd finished the ice cream, and scooped it into bowls. Eating away at it, the three took the opportunity to learn more about each other.
"So, you know a little about me," Kin took a break to take a bite of their ice cream. "Now, I want to know a little about you two!"
"Hmm..." Chiemi thought for a little. "I guess my talent's probably worth speaking about. I have clairaudience, clairsentience, some minor telepathic ability, and a faint sense of precognition. Hopefully that doesn't weird you out too much."
"No way! I think it's really cool!" Kin crossed their legs on their chair. "What about you, Yohaku?"
"Hmm, it's a bit of a long story... Well, I went from America to Russia when I was young. I was in an orphanage until then. They were wonderful people. They nurtured my curiosity, took care of me... Unfortunately, there was an accident at a construction site, and both of them perished."
"Oh, Yohaku, I'm so sorry." Chiemi reached out an arm to touch his shoulder.
"Thank you, Chiemi. You're a thoughtful soul. From there, I was adopted by the Mirus, who live here. Once I graduate, there are several space institutions ready to accept me. So the future really is full of hope. You just have to look a little closer sometimes." Yohaku finished and took a nibble of his ice cream.
"That's a nice thought to keep with us." Chiemi smiled.
The three continued, making bonds and sharing plots to escape. Perhaps it was just in these three, but hope was really blossoming, like a flower in it's prime.
Beautiful, bright, and frighteningly easy to destroy.
00000000
Somewhere in the school, Conner was entering his dorm for the first time. He'd spent most of his time wandering around the school, not really buying everyone else's descriptions of no escape. That'd be outrageous. However, outrageous wasn't always hand in hand with untrue. The descriptions were true, and a dejected Conner was dragging himself to his room.
He opened the door, and looked around.
Wait. That's not how it was supposed to be. He'd seen- He'd seen the insides of Olivier's and Umeko's dorms briefly as they opened or closed the doors. He wasn't supposed to have this. There must have been a mistake.
It hit him like a pound of bricks.
That FUCKING bear.
With a furious yelp, he slammed the door shut, rushing off to- fuck it, he didn't know. Anywhere but there.
00000000
Meanwhile, in Himakuta's room, the boys were seated, waiting for the girls to come along.
"Girls are so slooooow! Why does it take so long to put on pajamas?" Himakuta groaned, collapsing backwards dramatically. His oversized pajama sleeves flailed about with his arms.
"I'm sure they'll be here soon. They wouldn't want to miss out on the party!" Iko smiled.
"Of course not!" Agreed Ritsu. "Hey, Iko, don't get heatstroke!" The lawyer Ritsu was referring to was wearing a big, loose hoodie that covered most of his form along with thick flannel pajama pants- a change from his business suit. "Are you sure you're fine with that? I can give you one of my old t-shirts or something."
Iko was about to respond, but was interrupted by a noise by the door.
BANG BANG
"Himakuta? Iko? Ritsu? It's us!" Chiasa's voice was muffled on the other side of the door.
Ritsu hopped to his feet, hurrying to open up the door. Standing there were the three girls, each carrying a small bag.
"Hi Ritsu." Chiasa smiled gently at the blond boy. She rocked on her feet, feet touching her too-large grey polka dotted pajama pants.
"Hmph." Haru was next to her, not looking too interested in the whole thing. Her navy blue hair was tied up in a ponytail, making the highlights and black streaks even more noticeable. She looked oddly pale.
Ritsu smiled at all of them, quickly checking his green pajama top for stains. Wouldn't want to look like a hobo in front of the ladies, now.
"Hi Chiasa! Hi Haru! Hi Natsu- woah."
He stopped upon seeing Natsuko turn the corner. She was wearing a baby blue nightgown with a very short hem. The low cut top was ruffled with white lace, and two baby blue ribbons. Not exactly traditional sleepover attire, unless you were attending a sleepover in a 13-year old boy's first wet dream.
"Sorry I'm late, Rit-chan! I couldn't find my slippers!" She wiggled her foot, which bore a white bunny slipper.
"Uh, that's fine! All of you come on in!" Ritsu stepped back, letting all three of them enter the room.
Iko and Himakuta greeted all of them, although both of them took a double take at Natsuko. If she noticed, she didn't say anything. She just sat herself down on the floor and waited for everyone else to find a seat.
"Alright! Now that everyone's here, what should we do?" Himakuta asked the circle.
Before anyone could suggest anything, Ritsu jumped in to kick his plan into motion. "Let's play Spin the Bottle!"
"What's that?" Chiasa cocked her head at him.
"You put an empty bottle in the centre of a circle, and spin it around. And whoever it lands on..." Ritsu giggled. "You have to kiss!"
Chiasa squeaked and blushed. "Eh? But wouldn't Monobear get angry with us?"
"No, of course not. This is an essential party game!" With that statement, Ritsu victorious revealed... An empty coke bottle. He thrust it in the air like a king ready to ride off into battle with his sword.
"Let's do it!" And without any time for interjections, the bottle was in the middle of the circle, spinning wildly.
"Whoever this lands on will go first!" Ritsu yelled out, distance in his eyes as he started working on a plan to get Iko and Natsuko together.
It spun and pointed right towards Natsuko. Huh. Maybe he wouldn't need to do any big complicated plan, anyways. With an excited squeal, Natsuko spun the bottle again, watching it twirl around and around, until it finally landed on... Haru.
Ok. Not the preferred outcome, but not the end of the world.
Haru stared at the bottle for a second before it clicked. "No. No. You're not making me ki-"
"Don't worry, Haru-chan!" And with that, Natsuko scooted over, grabbed Haru's head, pulled her close, and kissed the soccer player on the lips. "See? That wasn't so bad!"
Haru stuttered, face going from pale to red as she pushed the other girl away. "Ew! You're gross! Yuck, I can taste your tongue!" The blue haired girl made gagging noises.
"Hehe, you're so funny, Haru-chan! Some advice- open your mouth more next time! It'll be better." Natsuko giggled.
Huffily, Haru turned around and started at the wall, muttered curses under her breath. Iko giggled. "Maybe that's the end of spin the bottle for now?"
"It might just be! Because Haru's just a big grumpy pants, aren't you?" Natsuko put on a fake, cute little girl voice and hugged her from behind.
"Get off of me..." The soccer player hissed, struggling with the ballerina's grasp.
"Aw! Ok then..." Natsuko's face retorted into one of anger- like they'd seen early that morning- before going back to the usual air headed demeanour. "Ri-chan! Can I make a suggestion for what to do next?"
"Sure! Whatcha got, Natsuko?" The visual novel creator smiled at the other blonde.
"Horror movies!" Digging into her bag, Natsuko tugged out a pile of DVDs, throwing them on the bed. "They were in my suitcase! I packed them when I came here. I have I Know What You Did Last Summer, The Conjuring, Hostel 2, Mama, The Purge, and a whole bunch more! Take your pick!"
Ritsu and Himakuta, for the most part, seemed fine with it, and started digging through the movies. Chiasa, Iko, and Haru, on the other hand, looked petrified.
"Um... Natsuko? Maybe we shouldn't..." Whispered Chiasa, twisting her curly blond locks between her fingers.
"I don't know... Erm, Haru? Are you alright?" Iko looked over at Haru, who was staring, terrified, at the covers.
"Oh god, I hate horror movies... I saw you pack them in your bag, and... Oh, I hate them!" She wailed, all visible toughness disappearing.
"Aw, don't worry Haru! I'll keep you safe!" Himakuta bounced off the bed to pat her on the head. "Ok?"
"... Yeah. W-Whatever." Haru let him help her up, going over to sit next to him on the floor. Ritsu retained a giggle- he could smell a crush blooming.
"And I'll keep you two safe! " Natsuko motioned over Chiasa and Iko, who reluctantly came over. She tucked them affectionately under her arms, like a mother bird. "Ri-chan, you're strong! Protect all of us!" She batted her eyelashes at him, sticking out her tongue jokingly. Huh- she had a tongue piercing.
"Certainly, princess Natsuko!" He did an over the top salute, and she burst into hysterics. While she was doing that, Himakuta was looking through her collection.
"Hmm... Friday the 13th, Evil Dead, Chucky, Blood Feast... Oh! Let's watch Saw!"
Everyone was certainly a bit surprised by his selection, but nobody wanted to tell this cute little kid no. Without any protests, he crawled up, popped it into the TV at the front of the room, and sat back on the floor with Haru.
Soon, whether they liked it or not, everyone was engrossed in the gory film about how far you'd go to stay alive. Looking back? Probably not the best selection in this scenario.
Just as Zep was being beaten to death with a toilet tank cover, there was a loud HISS from the TV, cutting off the footage. Everyone screamed, gasped, or made some other shocked noise simultaneously, but managed to regain their composure by the time Monobear appeared on the screen, holding a cocktail.
"Attention you bastards! A body has been discovered! Following a brief investigation period, we will hold our first school trial. I'll offer you a hint- try the auditorium!"
The group looked around in horror at each other. This wasn't some torture porn movie anymore- this was reality. Without a word, they all got up, retrieving their shoes, and made for the door.
They noticed several others among them, all equally silent, save for their feet pattering on the floor, echoing through the dark hallways. This couldn't be happening. It couldn't be...
They made it to the auditorium. As soon as the doors were pushed open, someone whimpered audibly. A trail of blood, leading towards the floor below the podium. Getting closer, it was painfully obvious who it was.
Akari Tachibana, SHSL Ringleader.
Her yellow eyes were wide open, if somewhat glazed over. Her sweet, smiling face was forever locked into one of terror. Her hair was out of its ponytail, crusted with blood that also leaked down her face. Red splatters covered her pajamas, and the floor around her.
But the most disturbing aspect was the most obvious- the knife that was sticking out of her heart.
AKARI TACHIBANA, SHSL RINGLEADER, HAS BEEN FOUND DEAD.
A/N: Well, there's that! I'm so sad to see Akari go, but the sweethearts in the mutual killing games aren't the lucky ones.
Notes: The Tvs in this story are not in the corner, but rather on a stand in front of the bed.
"Enby" is a term like boy or girl that's used to refer to people who identify as a non-binary gender. Non-binary = NB = Enby. Get it?
Instead of the "three people finding the body" rule, Monobear announces it two hours after the death.
Alright! See you again soon!