(AN: What's in the door..?
King Okami: Thanks for your free-time votes and the review!
Celes Ludenberg: Thanks a lot! I'm really glad you liked it, and that's a really cool compliment, so thank you! Thanks for the nominations, too.
Ode 30: I love your speculation, lol. Thanks for the review!
Paku159: Instead of the bacon, I would have gone for some pancakes. Still tastes okay burned with some syrup.
Wmsm5ever: Thanks for that! Glad I could hit a balance! It was always my goal to make it similar to a DR game, since I find the writing in those games witty yet intriguing. So thanks a lot! And NP with Rhyssa, I'll get her personality right soon :P
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G4Crash: Well here's the next chapter now! Thanks for the review!
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As I slowly opened the door, and peered inside the pitch black room… the smell of blood rose to my nostrils. Startled, I pushed the door open as quickly as I could with all my might, and fumbled quickly for the light switch. I stopped, sank to the floor, and stared at what I discovered.
Hideki was next to the fish tank. I could see guts lying down on the floor, which wasn't exactly a pleasant sight, and a huge katana was still pierced inside the middle of his chest. As if only to confirm it to myself, I walked over, and hesitantly checked for his pulse. But sure enough.
Soundtrack: Desperate Mastermind Girl
Hideki Komiya was dead.
.../SURVIVORS: 15
I ran out of the room as fast as I could. I screamed for help and ran to the dormitories, knocking on all of the doors. I knocked at everyone's door, and everyone soon came out, rubbing their eyes.
"W-what the hell? Let me sleep," Yayoi muttered.
"I didn't finish sleeping either," Mirai yawned.
I took them by their wrists and forced them into coming with me. Running with my hand still firmly grasping them, I yanked them into the room and pointed at Hideki's body. Yayoi began to scream her lungs out, and Mirai tilted his head as if he didn't know what he was even looking at. Finally, Mirai raised his finger.
"Oh! Hideki, what are you doing on the floor?"
"He's dead! He's fucking dead, you idiot!"
Yayoi backed up to the wall, and leaned down, grabbing her hands as she screamed. We all stared at Hideki's dead body – his guts completely spilled. Even by the standards of a murder, this was too brutal. Too brutal for me to even consider. Who here would kill someone, yet alone kill him in that matter? I was terrified.
The others ran in shortly after us, and screams and gasps were heard through us. I heard Kaito running out to vomit somewhere, and the others just slowly peered into the room, confirming to themselves that yes, Hideki was indeed dead.
I looked at Shougo. He was just as afraid as the rest of us. The water had stopped flowing in, but he was still terrified. He was balled up, absolutely terrified. Petrified. And yet, even though I saw the genuine fear in his heart, the others were screaming at him.
"W-what did you do?!" I heard Takayashi scream. "Did you kill him?!"
"F-fuck! Fuck, fuck!" Furo yelled. "Why..? Why would anyone do this?! Was it you?! It was you, wasn't it?!"
Everyone screamed.
"Oh dear!" Micky stammered. "Oh dearohdearohdearohdearohdearohdear!"
As we all just stood in denial over Hideki's death, Monokuma arrived.
Soundtrack: Re Monokuma Sensei's Tutoring
"Nyahahaha! I knew you guys had it in you!" Monokuma exclaimed. "Look at this fine display of guts and gore! I love it! I give it five stars! Kudos to you, murderer, for being able to kill Hideki in such a reckless and disturbing matter!"
We all stared at Monokuma with disgusted stares.
"How could you laugh at this?!" I asked. "Aren't you disturbed in the slightest?!"
"No," Monokuma replied. "I'm a bear – I eat human guts anyways, so it's not like seeing them is an actual surprise, you know? You want to try some?"
Monokuma walked over towards Hideki's guts, but I quickly brushed him away from it, not touching him hard enough to be considered a threat.
"No, that's okay," I said. "Let's just leave it at that."
"Anyways, congratulations!" Monokuma continued. "It's the first murder at the Underwater Academy of Despair! You guys deserve a standing ovation for this, even though it was only one of you that killed Hideki, upupupu!"
Monokuma continued to laugh more, and we all just stared. Expressionless.
"Really though, we're barely three days into our little venture here at the school. How could you guys murder in that short of time? It's sort of funny, really. Everyone says that they won't murder, and that they won't try and kill. But look at you guys now. You guys killed someone in the quickest time. Faster than anyone else I've ever had! I'm proud of you guys. No, really, I am! Nyahahaha!"
Monokuma finished his little monologue, and while griping, our ElectroID's started to vibrate. I took mine out, and noticed that there was an update in the app: "Monokuma Files." I tapped it to open it, and was disturbed to see that a button for Hideki's death was listed. I tapped on it, and this opened up:
|Victim: Hideki Komiya
|Cause of Death:
|Numerous stabs in the chest caused guts to be spilled out, and several important organs were punctured.
|Time of Death:
|12:02 AM
|Additional Details:
|N/A
I closed the app and looked at the clock located on my ElectroID. It was only 1:02 AM. So… I had that feeling to go to Shougo's room an hour after Hideki died? I couldn't explain it, yet I felt like I didn't want to. If only though I went earlier… I could've stopped all of this. I clenched my jaws together and pointed at Monokuma.
"We're going to find out who killed Hideki!" I assured him. "Don't think we're going to die today?"
Monokuma's eyes lit up, and he smiled. "Upupupu, really now?"
I nodded, and I looked at the others. They were still terrified, but it seemed like they all agreed. It was time to avenge Hideki's death.
"Well, good luck then," Monokuma chuckled. "Upupupu… Nyahahaha! Ahahahahaha!"
Monokuma left with his sinister laugh, and another app automatically installed to my ElectroID. As it vibrated, I opened up the home page, and a new app was there waiting.
"Evidence Storage"
I tapped it, and looked at the Monokuma file. Well, that was a good place to start.
==INVESTIGATION START!==
Soundtrack: Ikoroshia
== Monokuma File No. 1 has been added as ammunition. (1)
KEIKO: Okay… so, what do we actually do?
MONOKUMA: [from the intercom] Well, you have to investigate! Find evidence! Be NCIS agents! Crack the murder!
YOSHINORI: Do we really have to do that?!
MONOKUMA: Of course! What? Deaf ears? Upupu!
KEIKO: …So, we have to gather evidence like they do in the movies?
KIREI: B-but… none of us has any experience with that…
NOAH: I do. I am a policeman.
TAKAYASHI: And what about you, Hikaru?
HIKARU: Excuse me?
TAKAYASHI: W-well, you are a prisoner, right? Don't you have experience with that kind of stuff?
HIKARU: …I will not answer to that.
TAKAYASHI: Hmm. Fine…
MICKY: Honey! Monokuma! I can't do any of this! Just get me outta here!
NOAH: You do not have to investigate if you do not want. However, I will need some help.
MIRAI: …Um, I can help.
NOAH: …Really, now?
MIRAI: …Yeah. I. Don't know. But I think I can.
RHYSSA: U-um, in my talk show, we had an NCIS segment, so, I have a tiny bit of experience. Yeah, I'll help too…
KEIKO: Me as well.
FURO: Why are we just asking who is helping who? We have to split up and investigate, dammit!
YAYOI: Y-you..! Why do you want us to split up, huh?! You want us to get killed?!
KIREI: P-please do not talk about death! Pretty please?!
FURO: I'm saying it's not smart..! We don't have forever to investigate, do we?!
NOAH: …This is true. I suppose it wouldn't be smart for a large group to investigate together.
NOAH: However, I recommend that we all split up into pairs or groups of three.
MIRAI: …No. I'll go alone.
HIKARU: That is not wise.
YOSHINORI: Yeah. What if the killer comes and kills you too?
MIRAI: I can defend myself.
MIRAI: …Bye.
[Mirai walked in a circle and crouched beside Hideki's body.]
RYOKO: Tch. Weirdo.
RYOKO: Anyways, I gotta admit, I'm not good with this kinda stuff…
RYOKO: But I'll do my best, I guess.
YOSHINORI: Don't slack off, you!
RYOKO: W-why you..! I don't slack off!
NOAH: T-that's enough, everyone.
NOAH: Anyways, I think it's safe to assume that the murder happened here, right?
FURO: That doesn't mean we shouldn't search other places…
MICKY: Y-yes! I will go search my dorm! What if a body is hidden there?!
TAKAYASHI: …Hmm…
MICKY: W-what?!
TAKAYASHI: You're acting very suspicious.
YOSHINORI: …You're right! He is!
MICKY: N-negative! Negatory! I will go and search my room for bodies..!
TAKAYASHI: Wait, aren't you a bodyguard?!
TAKAYASHI: You shouldn't be afraid of this stuff!
MICKY: …
MICKY: Oh fine, darling…
KEIKO: A-anyways, I'm going to start now.
NOAH: As will I.
[I walked away from the group and kneeled next to Mirai and investigated Hideki's body. Seeing his spilled guts still made me feel sick.]
KEIKO: Well, a good place to start is the murder weapon.
MIRAI: …This is the antique katana.
KEIKO: What?
MIRAI: A katana known as the Daisho. This katana is something like the symbol for samurais nowadays. It's amazing that it's here in this school…
KEIKO: Uh…Mirai?
MIRAI: …Just maybe. I. Don't know.
MIRAI: Maybe it's not.
KEIKO: …
[I don't know. I just don't know what to think about him…]
KEIKO: Anyways…
[Eww… Eww… taking the katana out of a dead body is even grosser than you might think, all things considering.]
KEIKO: It's soaked with blood..!
MIRAI: Yes, well, guts were spilled.
KEIKO: …Yeah, yeah you're right.
[Damn. Mirai is the one knocking sense into me. What has come over me, Jesus!]
== Katana in Chest has been added as ammunition. (2)
[Alright… anything else stands out here? Besides his guts?]
KEIKO: …Oh! …Oh, damn!
MIRAI: What is it?
KEIKO: There's a goddamn slit wound in his throat! What the heck was the murderer even thinking?!
MIRAI: …I. Don't know. But I'm surprised that this spilling of the guts was accompanied by a slash to the throat.
KEIKO: I like you better when you aren't talking about murder in such an extravagant fashion.
MIRAI: Oh, me too.
KEIKO: ...Okay, well, we agree on that I guess.
== Throat Injury has been added as ammunition. (3)
[Okay, well, that's the gist of what happened with his body…]
MIRAI: Ow!
KEIKO: W-what?
MIRAI: Look.
[He took his boots off..? God..! It's bleeding!]
KEIKO: Oh my God, what happened?
MIRAI: I stepped on glass. Ouch.
KEIKO: O-oh. W-well, do you want me to take it out?
MIRAI: I'm more concerned with why there's even glass on the floor.
KEIKO: Well, we can worry about that later. Right now, your foot needs to be like, bandaged or something.
KIREI: I-I have a bandage.
[How long was she standing there?!]
KIREI: Here.
[Okay, wrap it around… I'll look at the glass.]
KEIKO: …Hmm.
KIREI: U-um, if I may, I'd like to point out a crack in the aquarium case.
KEIKO: …Oh yeah. There's a crack in there alright. Wonder if Shougo knows where it came from.
MIRAI: But is the glass from the crack?
KEIKO: Yeah, probably not. It's not even a hole, it's just a small crack in the glass.
KIREI: T-there's also room for a sword to fit in it, though.
MIRAI: I guess there is..!
KIREI: …Oh! Did I help?
KEIKO: Yeah. Yeah, you did! Good job, Kirei!
KIREI: Y-yay! I was of service!
KEIKO: But then where did the glass shards come from?
MIRAI: …This piece of glass is suspicious.
[He's picking up… what looks like a bottom of a cup?]
MIRAI: Why is there a cup in this room though?
KEIKO: Maybe to feed the fish?
KIREI: B-but, I'm not sure it makes sense to be using a glass up for that… a small shot glass, maybe?
[That makes even less sense.]
KEIKO: …Maybe the glass shards from this cup were used to slice his throat?
MIRAI: …It makes sense. It's not easy to slice someone's throat with a katana without decapitating them.
KEIKO: I won't ask why you know that.
MIRAI: Oh, I don't know either, master. I just assumed since the blade is so long.
KEIKO: Right, right.
MIRAI: But I have a feeling that there's something else going on here.
MIRAI: I don't know why… Hmm… Hmm… HMMMMM…
[He's puffing up his cheeks…]
MIRAI: …I don't have anything.
KEIKO: Lame!
KEIKO: W-well, Kirei? You have anything?
KIREI: I think it makes sense that the cup was used to slit his throat…
KIREI: But… Eep..! Urgh! I have to clean it up..!
KEIKO: N-no! Kirei, it's valuable evidence!
KIREI: I know, I-I know! So, I'll just get out of here!
[She's running out holding her head. I guess she has a form of OCD, being a maid and all.]
MIRAI: …I'm going to think about these glass shards some more.
MIRAI: I would talk to Shougo if I were you, master.
KEIKO: Right… Good luck, then.
== Crack in Aquarium was added as ammunition. (4)
== Glass Shards were added as ammunition. (5)
…
[Shougo… he's wrapped up tightly in a ball. He must've seen a lot.]
SHOUGO: …Oh, Keiko. Hello…
KEIKO: I'm sorry to put you through this, but I wanted to know if you saw anything you could tell me.
SHOUGO: …No.
SHOUGO: I wasn't looking the whole time. I was too… uh, frightened.
KEIKO: I understand.
SHOUGO: But, I did notice that the lights were flickering on and off.
SHOUGO: Well, not flickering. More like… it turned on, and then turned off again.
KEIKO: How many times?
SHOUGO: It wasn't that much, which stood out to me. It only flickered around one time.
KEIKO: …I wonder why.
SHOUGO: …
SHOUGO: Look, Keiko… I can tell you this.
SHOUGO: I saw everything.
KEIKO: Huh?!
SHOUGO: But… Monokuma… he won't let me talk.
KEIKO: …Right.
KEIKO: Yeah, I get it. I guess you could be considered a valuable piece of evidence, or something.
KEIKO: Sorry, sounds like you're an object that way.
SHOUGO: its fine… but I didn't reveal much, but I hope that information helps somehow.
KEIKO: Anything will help. It's strange that the lights were flickering though. Do you think it was natural?
SHOUGO: No. The timing was too… erratic. Usual lights flicker rapidly, in my opinion. The pause was a little too long.
SHOUGO: Plus, it went from darkness, to light, to darkness again.
KEIKO: Huh. I wonder why.
SHOUGO: I'm sorry I can't tell you why…
KEIKO: That's okay…
SHOUGO: Good luck… Please catch the killer.
KEIKO: I will. Thank you.
[Poor Shougo. He couldn't even help when he wanted to, huh? That damn Monokuma.]
== Shougo's Testimony has been added as ammunition. (6)
== Flickering Lights has been added as ammunition. (7)
TAKAYASHI: Rawr! Roarroar!
KEIKO: Ack! Takayashi, you scared me..!
TAKAYASHI: But this is such a small room…
TAKAYASHI: Anyways, come!
KEIKO: What?
TAKAYASHI: Come! I found something!
KEIKO: What is it?
TAKAYASHI: Notice! Notice this!
[She's pointing at the katana case… wait, huh? Both swords are missing..! The case holds two katanas.]
TAKAYASHI: Look! It corresponds to the sword in Hideki, doesn't it?
KEIKO: But where's the second katana?
TAKAYASHI: …What now?
KEIKO: There should be a second katana here.
KEIKO: Look. It holds two swords, not one.
TAKAYASHI: …
TAKAYASHI: Damn it! And I thought I was on to something!
KEIKO: B-but you helped!
KEIKO: We know where the weapon came from, and we know that one sword was missing..!
TAKAYASHI: Hmm…
TAKAYASHI: Yeah. Yeah, I guess I did! Harumph! I'm good at this!
TAKAYASHI: Time to find the second sword!
[She's running off on her own..? I guess she's excited she found out something. Anyways, that's important. I should probably look for that second sword too.]
== Katana Case has been added as ammunition. (8)
== Missing Second Sword has been added as ammunition. (9)
HIKARU: Might I have your attention for a second?
KEIKO: Oh, Hikaru. Did you find something?
HIKARU: What do you make of this?
[He's… holding a SIM card?]
HIKARU: Also, I found an ElectroID on the floor as I entered the room.
HIKARU: Do you think this SIM card belongs to the ElectroID at all?
KEIKO: …I guess.
KEIKO: Does that mean that we can switch ElectroIDs?
HIKARU: What do you mean?
KEIKO: A SIM card works like a flash drive for phones in a way, I think.
KEIKO: My information pops up from my ElectroID with my SIM card.
KEIKO: What if we put that SIM card in my ElectroID?
HIKARU: …Hmm, shall we test it out?
KEIKO: …Yeah!
KEIKO: It should lead to the murderer, right?
HIKARU: It may.
HIKARU: That seems plausible.
KEIKO: Alright, let's do it.
…
…
…
…Beep!
KEIKO: What the..?
…Sorry! Not compatible with this device!
KEIKO: Damn. I guess it doesn't work.
HIKARU: Perhaps we should put it in the ElectroID I found on the ground?
KEIKO: Yeah, that should work. If the ElectroID was dropped in any way, this SIM card could belong to that ElectroID.
HIKARU: …Wait a minute.
HIKARU: …What is this?!
KEIKO: What?
HIKARU: The ElectroID is missing!
KEIKO: What?!
HIKARU: Someone took it while we were looking away!
KEIKO: But it could've been anyone here!
HIKARU: …
KEIKO: What are we going to do? The killer probably disposed of the ElectroID somewhere.
HIKARU: …I'm sorry. I should have taken it with me as well.
KEIKO: Don't blame yourself… either way, we should find that ElectroID.
HIKARU: Yes. I agree.
== SIM Card has been added as ammunition. (10)
== Missing ElectroID has been added as ammunition. (11)
KEIKO: Let's go. I have an idea of where the killer might have put the ElectroID.
…
Location: Cafeteria | Time: 1:45 AM | Chapter One | 43 Days Left
NOAH: Oh, it's you Keiko.
KEIKO: Noah… did you come here to check for the ElectroID too?
NOAH: What ElectroID?
HIKARU: An ElectroID is missing. I found it at the scene of the crime, and I believe it belongs to this SIM card.
NOAH: …You didn't move it, did you?
HIKARU: Why would I move an ElectroID?
NOAH: …
NOAH: Anyways, no, I did not know of an ElectroID. I came instead to see if the katana was put here.
KEIKO: What makes you think the katana is in the cafeteria?
NOAH: I was walking last night, and I heard a noise that seemed like something was exploding.
NOAH: I didn't suspect much of it last night, as I was tired.
NOAH: However, now that the second katana from that room is missing, I had a hunch.
NOAH: What if the killer disposed of the second katana into this hole here?
[…Hey! There are skid marks of blood around the hole!]
NOAH: Yes. You noticed them too.
NOAH: Marks of blood, suggesting that the villain was panicking while disposing of this weapon.
HIKARU: There are also slight cracks around the hole as well.
NOAH: That might be a result from the panicking villain as well.
NOAH: The killer might have been stabbing the katana into the hole instead of dropping it.
NOAH: As a result, there is blood around the hole and cracks around it as well.
KEIKO: …
KEIKO: Why were you walking around last night anyways?
NOAH: No reason. I felt like taking a walk, as all.
KEIKO: Okay…
NOAH: Do not suspect me. I would never take a life.
KEIKO: I know. I think.
NOAH: Good.
NOAH: Anyways, that's my speculation. I'm sure the missing weapon will be an important part of this trial.
KEIKO: Yeah.
== Blood around Hole has been added as ammunition. (12)
== Cracks around Hole has been added as ammunition. (13)
== Location of Second Katana has been added as ammunition. (14)
NOAH: Now the question is, the location of that second ElectroID.
NOAH: A smart way to catch the killer would be to confront them about the ElectroID in the trial.
NOAH: If the ElectroID was disposed of, then the person missing their ElectroID would not have it in their possession, correct?
HIKARU: True. Then we can start the trial right off the bat with searching for their ElectroID.
KEIKO: Then we catch the killer..!
NOAH: …I have to admit, I am a bit disappointed. All this investigation for nothing.
KEIKO: Woah, you shouldn't be disappointed. You should be happy that we can end this so soon.
NOAH: I suppose so.
NOAH: I am a policeman though, so this kind of stuff runs through my blood.
KEIKO: …I guess so.
[I'm still a little wary of Noah, but it's clear right now HE didn't do it. I can't believe it'll be that easy though. I'm a little surprised.]
*Ding, dong! Ding, dong!*
"Attention, you guys! Investigation time is not over! We shall be commencing our trial shortly, so please head to the Entry Plaza!"
The entry plaza? Why are we going there? Where is the trial going to be, exactly?
"We should make haste," Hikaru said. "The faster we get to the entry plaza and end this trial, the better."
"You're right," I said. "Let's hurry.
Soundtrack: Re Despair – Syndrome
Location: Entry Plaza | Time: 2:01 AM | Chapter One | 43 Days Left
The three of us gathered around at the entry plaza with the others. We were the last ones there. I guess since the cafeteria was farther away from the plaza than where Shougo was staying.
"Meow!" Meowykins exclaimed. "You guys haven't seen much of me lately, huh?"
"Shut it," Monokuma snapped. "I'm tired. It's 2:01 AM. I'm addicted to adrenaline so things like this won't last long for me."
"Sorry, meow," Meowykins whimpered.
We all looked at each other as Meowykins beckoned us into a porthole. Climbing in, I noticed it led to a submarine. The submarine was large enough to fit all of us surprisingly, and as Meowykins started, Monokuma entered wearing a sailor uniform.
As the submarine traveled to distances unknown, Monokuma was acting along the lines of a tour guide.
"On your right, you will notice a school of cute fishes heading to the coral reef, where sharks roam and eat them for dinner."
His commentary was slightly disturbing, so I tried to ignore it as I felt the submarine rise somewhere.
"Where are we going?" Yayoi asked. "T-this is uncomfortable..!"
"I was perfectly fine investigating in my room, thank you very much!" Micky yelled. "I would like to go back immediately! I don't want to participate in this trial!"
"Well, you're gonna," Monokuma said, forcing him. "Don't worry, it's a lot of fun..! Plus, you guys will have a front seat pass to my amazing punishment!"
As we pondered those words, the submarine made a beeping noise, and we surfaced to the top. Unknown of why we were taken to the surface and not somewhere underwater, Monokuma opened the hatch above us, and as we stepped out, something strange would await us.
Soundtrack: Welcome to DANGAN Island!
As we stepped out onto the bridge, I noticed that it led to an island.
An island.
The beaches were lined with chairs and desks that were arranged in a circle, and seemed to be where we would hold this trial.
"W-what is this?!" Takayashi yelped.
"An island?!" Kirei yelled. "But, what about Hope's Peak? Are we really that far away?"
"You know it," Monokuma said. "But c'mon! An island! It's pretty fun!"
I stared at Monokuma. He pushed us forward, and before we knew it, we were facing each other in a circle, ready to convict whoever ended Hideki's life.
"Are you ready?" Monokuma asked.
He slammed a gavel. Court was in session.
This class trial to live, or die.
Continued in Chapter 1 Section V
(AN: Well I definitely rushed the end in order to transition to the class trial quicker, but I'll always do that at the end of investigations, so just a warning there.)