Hello readers and welcome to my new chapter. Before we begin, I would like tell you all that my first short story has been published on Amazon Kindle. It's called Adept: The Strategist Chapter, available for $0.99. It was at first $2.99, so I could get the 70% royalty, but thinking on it for a bit, considering that it was a short story (And one that will be part of a collection of shorts), I decided to decrease it to $.99.
For those who want to know more about it, here's the whole plot of Adept. A whole population of people, both normal civilians and talented individuals, are trapped in a city. The founder of the city did so, in order for the two groups face off against each other. Whichever group could kill off the other group can get out of the city, as well as get whatever is held inside Adept. And the talented individuals, the adepts, are outnumbered 100 to 1.
Each short will be focus on one, or a group, of characters. The first couple of shorts will be origin stories, showing how they are adapting to the city sized prison they're stuck, and how they're coping. Then next bunch of shorts will go forward with the plot, with characters either trying to find a way out, survive against the larger civilian population, or something different altogether.
So, is this enough information for everyone? Too much? Too little?
I hope that anyone interested, and can afford it, will try out Adept: The Strategist Chapter. And for those who will read it, I hope any expectations you have are met. Also, the first short story is only about 3,700 words. Not a long short story, but a short, short story. Pun not intended. I'm gonna try to publish a short story every one or two weeks. So, with this really long AN out of the way, let's get back to this chapter.
Here, the group will see the corpses of both Hifumi AND Taka. Be prepared for some major drama. I hope you enjoy.
Disclaimer: I do not own Danganronpa.
A Lucky Soldier: New Year, new semester, same me. There's not a whole lot for me to wish for in the New Years since I'm pretty content with what I have, but having a better job and income would be quite favourable for me hahaha. Here's to another year of writing fics and carrying on this story.
Chapter 54: Watching Ch 3: NGL! STGH! Part 13
"So, whoever that is running around, why are they wearing that weird costume?" Hina asked as the group gathered in a circle in the hallway.
"Don't bother looking for reason from a deviant." Byakuya scoffed.
"So? What're we gonna do?" Jill asked. "Split up and look around?"
"That would be too dangerous." Mukuro advised with a frown. "We don't know anything about that individual's capabilities. For all we know, they may be able to match Sakura in a fight."
"That is if they're not one of us." Byakuya pointed. "Cause the only survivors able to wear that bizarre costume are Hiro and Taka, and I very much doubt they would be able to take on Sakura, of all people."
"Agreed." Taka said with a nervous nod.
"I'd run away at the thought of fighting her." Hiro admitted without shame.
Sakura shook her head in response. "Our opponent is very dangerous." She said. "We don't know what they're capable of. Even here…"
Suddenly, Celeste stiffened and her eyes widened in alarm, something that the group noticed. "What's wrong?" Byakuya asked her.
"I saw a shadow!" Celeste pointed at the direction she was looking. "Something moving around at the top of the stairs!"
Her sudden proclamation has brought everyone to the edge of their seats again.
"The hell are they waiting for?!" Mondo exclaimed. "Chase that weird fucker!"
"C'mon future me, don't let them get away!" Hina yelled in encouragement.
The group immediately turned to look at Celeste's pointed direction. "Really?!" Hina gasped.
"Up to the 2nd floor, then?" Sakura asked, eyes hardening. "You bastard! You won't get away from me!"
"Get 'em Sakura, get 'em!" Hina continued cheering.
She was soon joined by the others. "Corner him!" Leon exclaimed.
"Don't let them hurt anyone else!" Taka stated passionately.
The group then shot up the stairs, with Sakura at the front. The scene switched to the group coming up the second floor. "He must be around here somewhere." Celeste said, looking around anxiously. "Let's split up and corner him!"
"But don't take any chances." Sakura interjected. "As soon as you find him, call out and I'll come running."
"Good plan." Mukuro nodded in approval. "Split up to cover more ground, then call out to the others before the assailant could try anything."
"Weren't you just against this though?" Chihiro asked.
"Not when everyone is closer together now." Mukuro replied.
"And with Sakura's speed, there's no way they can hit and run before she catches them." Hina added.
Sakura nodded, her gaze fierce. "My future self will ensure that no one gets hurt on her watch."
"Okay, but… what should we yell?" Celeste asked.
"Anything! It doesn't matter!" Hina responded, looking ready to go search any minute.
"Then… is 'haaah!' okay?"
"Haaah or dohyaah or whatever you want!" Hina said in slight aggravation. "Just yell loud enough so we can hear you!"
"Seriously, what's with the questions?" Leon asked incredulously. "Like Hina said, just scream loud enough for everyone to hear you."
"Why did you feel the need to choose a specific sound?" Byakuya inquired, raising an eyebrow at the oddity.
"I'm… not sure myself." Honestly, it was odd even to her. Why did her future self felt the need to choose a specific call?
That earned a giggle from Celeste. "Doyhaaah? I have never heard such a reaction…"
"Okay, whatever! Just hurry up and start looking! Okay? Let's go!" With that, she began running in search of the disguised culprit.
She was soon followed by Genocide Jack. "Hey Mister Robot! Where ya hidin'? If you don't come out, we're gonna decommission ya!"
Moments, the others split off on their search for Robo Justice. "We spread in every direction to track down the costumed suspect." Narrator Makoto spoke up. Clips of each student looking in different rooms was shown. "At first, we didn't see any sign of the mysterious person. But after a few minutes of searching…
The scene currently showed Makoto about to leave the classroom he was looking in when an ear-piercing scream was suddenly heard.
The scream startled a few people, but mostly alerted everyone. "Was that Celeste…?" Sayaka asked in slight astonishment.
"No one else would've made a piercing cry like that." Mukuro stated, narrowing her eyes.
"That was quite a scream..." Hiro commented, to which for some unknown reason, he immediately felt invisible daggers around his neck.
"It must mean she saw the disguised person." Chihiro said, looking worried.
"Then the others have to get to her quickly." Sakura stated, her eyes also narrowed.
The scream brought Makoto into a state of alert. "That strange cry-! That had to be Celeste!" He looked towards the direction of the third floor. "It came from the floor above… she's on the third 3rd floor!" With that, he began sprinting to the third floor.
"All the way from the third floor?" Junko whistled in amazement. "Wow. You sure got some lungs."
"Never thought I would hear you let out such an intense scream…" Byakuya remarked.
"I guess with desperate times, come desperate measures…" Celeste said in response, going with the flow.
The scene switched to everyone coming up to the third floor, to see a shaken looking Celeste. "Over here, everyone!" She called out.
"Celeste!" Hina was the first to get to her side. "What's wrong?!"
"That was a rather… intense scream for someone like you." Byakuya pointed out.
The gambler ignored the heir. "I saw him! The strange costumed man…! He ran off as soon as I screamed…" She pointed towards the empty hallway. "I was blocking the stairs, so he headed further into the hallway and disappeared…!"
"So he's trapped in the third floor…" Mondo grinned at this. "No fucking escape now!"
"This is their chance to capture the assailant and sees who's in the costume!" Taka agreed.
Everyone looked to where Celeste was pointing. "He must be down this hall! Come on, let's go!"
Before they could follow Makoto's order, Jill suddenly made a sound. "Haa… haa…"
"What is it now?!" Hina exclaimed in exasperation.
"Achoo!" With that one sneeze, Genocide Jill reverted back to Toko. "H-Huh?"
"Whoa!" Hina's eyes widen in shock. "It's really true!" She then shook her head. "But that doesn't matter right now!"
"Wow. You recovered quickly." Celeste said, slightly surprised.
"Of course I did! There's a mysterious weirdo that we need to catch!" Hina stated. "I can't let something like that surprise me!"
Before anyone could move, another scream of fear suddenly was heard. "Huh?!" Makoto whipped his head around in shock.
The scream also startled the present group, as well as filled them with dread. "W-What was that?" Chihiro stuttered fearfully.
"That… sounded like Hifumi." Taka said, looking pale. Said fanfic creator looked as white as a sheet.
"Wh-What was that?!" Hina questioned fearfully.
"That came from downstairs!" Celeste deduced, looking down the steps. "It must have been… Hifumi! He's in the nurse's office!"
"This isn't good! This is really not good!" Hiro exclaimed, holding his head. "Did that Robo Justice guy came back for him?"
"That's impossible!" Mondo responded back. "Celeste blocked the way downstairs! There's no chance in hell it could've gotten down there!"
"What is it, then?" Hifumi squealed fearfully. "What's happening to future me?" Did someone… kill him? Did he became another victim?
"Is somebody else taking the chance to attack Hifumi?" Mukuro mused, trying to figure out what is happening. "Or is he screaming about something else?"
"I suppose we shall see." Kyoko said, her eyes focused on the screen.
"This is bad!" Makoto moved towards the stairs. "Come on, we have to go back!"
"What about the suspect?" Byakuya interjected. "We've gone to all this trouble to capture him, right?"
"Then why don't we split into two groups?" Celeste suggested.
"I'll lead the hunting party." Byakuya volunteered. "That seems much more interesting."
"Very well, then Makoto and Hina, you come with me to the nurse's office." Celeste requested. "I will leave the capture of the suspicious individual to Toko, Sakura, and Byakuya."
Sakura nodded. "We'll handle it. Just go take care of Hifumi."
"Okay! You guys be careful!" Makoto told them before following Hina and Celeste. Sakura, Byakuya, and Toko went the opposite direction.
Everyone tensed up. They had a feeling they're about to see something bad. And very few are looking forward to it.
Toko, having an idea about what's going to happen, quickly covered her eyes. She is not going to faint this time!
The next scene switched to Hina, Makoto, and Celeste quickly coming down the stairs. "He's in the nurse's office! Let's go!" He then run full speed to the nurse office, with Makoto and Celeste right behind her.
The narrator Makoto spoke as the three got to the office. "We stormed into the nurse's office, and what greeted us was…" When the three burst inside, they all stopped, shock, and slowly horror, entering their faces. "...a world of dripping crimson."
In the middle of the nurse's office was Hifumi, blood splattered under him and dripping from his head, and large hammer right beside him. "Everything was covered in red." Narrator Makoto continued. "And in the center of all this read was…"
"H-Hifumi?" The actual Makoto stuttered out in shock.
Once again, a horrific tone filled the air. Yet again, another of their classmates was taken, this time being Hifumi. Someone their future selves just interacted with moments ago.
"I… I'm… I'm…" Hifumi tried to speak, but his throat was clogged up. His eyes were incredibly wide, and the color of his skin wasn't going to return anytime soon. When he heard his future self scream, he was prepared for the worst, but… it didn't prepare him to see his corpse.
"Hifumi's… dead?" Hina's eyes were wide with horror, not wanting to believe what she's seeing. Another classmate is dead. Another of her friends is dead. The urge to scream was building up in her throat, but the scream was kept lodged inside.
Celeste herself wasn't able to hide her emotions. The shock and horror was shown in her eyes, and her face was filled with anguish. Hifumi's… dead? But, why? Who? Unknowingly, tears slowly formed in her eyes.
"That's a lot of blood..." Mukuro commented quietly.
"Dammit!" Mondo growled, his head bowed. "How the hell?!"
"Who killed him?" Sakura questioned, clenching her fist. "And why?"
"That's is something we will need to find out." Byakuya said grimly. "In the next class trial."
All of them stiffened. Another trial. They all have to watch another trial! Watch someone else get executed!
Makoto was especially affected by this thought. Anguish, grief, shock, and frustration built up in his eyes. This is the third time this happened. The third murder. And a soon to be the third class trial. Is this gonna keep happening? His classmates are going to keep murdering each other until no one is left? Is that the fate they're watching?
Those thoughts were also festering Chihiro. The petite programmer hugged himself as he shook in distress. Despite seeing his own death, despite seeing Mondo executed for killing him, it still hurts so much to see another friend dead. Still hurts to know that they'll be another trial, another search for the killer, another execution they'll have to watch.
Junko stared at the supposed corpse before analyst mind quickly figured out that Hifumi is playing dead. She held back a giggle of excitement. Things have gotten very interesting indeed! These idiots didn't even realize that there's no body discovery announcement! Man, what does Celeste and Hifumi have planned next?
Hina let out a horrified scream, covering her mouth, while Celeste looked at all this in shock. "I-Its looks like something… very bad has happened…"
"'Something very bad has happened'?" Leon repeated, a look of disbelief. "Yeah, something really bad has definitely happened!"
"Are you even trying to take this seriously Celeste?!" Sayaka exclaimed, giving an incredulous look at the girl.
"I- I just- she-" For a moment, she honestly didn't know what to say. The shock of Hifumi's death, and the fact she felt so much in the first place, was getting to her. But after that moment passed, she took a deep breath, and spoke more calmly. "She probably didn't know what else to say. My intention wasn't to make light of it, I assure you."
Makoto turned to Celeste, as well as Hifumi, in concern. He can tell that the future Hifumi's death is affecting them badly. Celeste is trying to hide as best she could, but you wouldn't need to be Kyoko to know that seeing Hifumi dead is at least shocking to her.
"I certainly not expecting this." She continued as she gazed at the corpse. "I did not imagine Hifumi… would be murdered!"
Kyoko narrowed her eyes at the murder scene, looking at the hammer beside the now late Hifumi. It's no doubt that's another Justice Hammer, bigger than the last two. But how did Robo Justice get to the first floor? Celeste had claimed that she blocked the way. And that's not mention the speed needed to get there after Celeste called out to everyone. With all those factors, it should be impossible.
"M-Murdered?!" Hina exclaimed, her skin turning pale. "You're not serious, are you?! He's not really dead, is he?!"
As if to answer questions, the school bell rung and the school monitor turned on. "A body has been discovered!" Monokuma announced. "After a certain amount of time, which you may use however you like, the class trial will begin!" With that, the monitor turned off.
If there was any lingering doubts, it was washed away right there and then. Hifumi is yet another victim of the killing game. Skins were paled, heads were bowed, teeths were clenched in frustration.
Hifumi could looked down on the ground, his brain barely keeping up. He's dead. The third victim of this sick game. Honestly, deep down, he had a feeling that he was going to be killed at some point. After all, he could pointed out as an easier target. But he refuse to think of that possibility. Now… he has no choice but to face it.
Junko, however, blinked for a moment, her face blank as she process the new information. 'Did… someone else kill somebody while they were there? Or rather…' A wicked idea entered her head. 'Did Hifumi or Celeste kill someone before all of this happened?' If so, she wants it to be their personal hall monitor that went under. That would bring more despair than that stupid fortune teller. Whatever the case, it seems everything is already set in motion.
"What the…?" Hina looked at the monitor in shock.
"That was… the body discovery announcement." Celeste said gravely.
'The body discovery announcement…' Makoto could only stare at Hifumi's corpse. 'When three or more people discover a body after a murder, that's what plays. And since we just heard it, that means…'
"Someone killed him. One of us…" Celeste unknowingly finished Makoto's thoughts.
"One of… us?" Makoto repeated, his voice sounding numb.
"And look at that…" The gambler then pointed at something on the ground, to which Makoto turned towards.
The thing she was pointing was none other than another Justice Hammer, this time bigger and with a three on the middle of the hammer. 'Another hammer…' He then bent down towards the hammer. 'Justice Hammer 3. And it's even bigger than the other two…!'
The group could only stare in shock at the hammer. "But… that's impossible!" Sakura protested. "We had Robo Justice cornered! There was no way it could've escape!"
"And Celeste spotted him right before everyone else gone up to the third floor!" Taka added. "Even if it were to somehow pass the group, or find another way down, there's no way they could've done it so quickly. Especially since the disguise doesn't seem to be built for mobility."
"Something doesn't add up…" Leon muttered, confused as hell.
Kyoko and Celeste silently agreed, although neither of them could pinpoint what was bothering them. Mukuro was also skeptical, but for her own reasons rather than the turn of events. She was inexperienced with that kind of stuff, and it was much better to leave it to those who were more knowledgeable.
"Just as I suspected. One strike from that, and you are finished…" Celeste stated with conviction.
"Then the killer…"
The gambler nodded. "There can be no doubt. The culprit must be the suspicious individual. This Robo Justice." She declared. "Whoever's hiding in that costume is the one that killed Hifumi!"
"But who? And how?" Mukuro questioned, frowning in thought.
"I can't answer the how, but I have an idea on who." Byakuya spoke up. "Two ideas, actually. The only ones who either weren't in the dining hall beforehand, or was gathered during the search for this Robo Justice."
"...Taka and Hiro." Sakura said grimly. The two mentioned students had their eyes wide with shock and panic, especially when other eyes turned towards them.
Hifumi, who was snapping out of it stun state, turned to Taka with a growl. "You did it, didn't you Mr. Ishimaru?!"
"WHAT?!" Taka exclaimed. "What's with the accusation?!"
"Your future self is my future self's rival!" The fanfic creator stated angrily. "I bet he would stoop as low as to kill me to get Alter Ego for himself!"
"No! I wouldn't ever do something so heinous!"
"Don't go fucking accusing my bro of murder like that!" Mondo spat out angrily. "It could easily be Hiro!"
"Hey! Don't throw me under the bus like that!" Hiro protested. "I wouldn't kill anybody either!"
"Like hell you-"
"Enough." Kyoko spoke up sharply and clearly annoyed, stopping the argument. "Arguing and accusing each other is a waste of time. The only thing we can do is watch and gather evidence."'
That got them to quiet down, though Hifumi was glaring at Taka angrily and suspiciously. Mondo matched with his own glare, but for once, the fanfic creator wasn't fazed.
Taka looked down. Sure, his future self is a bit zealous about Alter Ego, but surely he wouldn't kill somebody for it. He wouldn't kill Hifumi just to have the computer to himself… right?
"But… wait…" Makoto looked at Celeste in confusion. "You saw him on the 3rd floor, right? Running back into the hall. So how did he end up in the nurse's office? You're not saying they, like, teleported or something, right?"
"Is there some sort of secret entrance they've find or know about?" Chihiro asked, trying to figure it out. "Another way down the first floor?"
"If there was, they would've found it by now." Byakuya retorted. "A more realistic possibility is that more than one person is doing this."
"That would be assuming that both Taka and Hiro are working together," Mukuro pointed out. "Or that Monokuma is helping one of them."
"But we don't have any concrete proof any of those things." Kyoko interjected, before the discussion could escalate into something else. "So we'll have to figure this out later, once we gain more information."
"Yeah… good point." Makoto agreed on.
"We can figure out that part later. Right now, we have to tell the others." Celeste stated.
"Y-You're right." Makoto shakily nodded.
"Then shall we go?"
Hina, however, didn't say or do anything. Just stood there, completely paralyzed, a petrified look on her face.
The expression on Hina's face caused many hearts to clench. "Looks like this entire game is getting to her." Sayaka murmured in worry.
"Yeah…" Hina said, biting her lip. "Honestly, I'm close to joining her." It's only because it's only a possible future, and not the real thing, that's keeping her grounded.
"Hina… snap out of it." The gambler told her.
"...Huh?" Was all the swimmer could say.
Makoto walked over to Hina in concern. "Are you okay, Hina?"
"S-Sorry… I'm not sure I can move right now…" She admitted, the look on her face not leaving. "I-I'm feeling kinda…" She covered her mouth, as if something was about to come up her throat.
"Hina…" Sakura murmured worriedly. Like Sayaka said, the events of the killing game were definitely getting to Hina. She wondered how much more she could take, or… if she would eventually break from all this. Hopefully, she won't have to find out.
Makoto, as well as Chihiro, was also staring at Hina, though theirs was of sympathetic understanding. Out of the whole class, all three of them are the most empathetic, so they can guess what's going through her head. Both the present and future Hina.
"This is a problem." Celeste mused, staring at Hina in concern. "We can't just leave Hina here alone."
"Okay, then I'll go get everyone." Makoto volunteered. "You stay here with Hina!"
Celeste was silent for a moment before sighing in agreement. "Very well. I leave it to you, then."
"Okay! I'll be back soon!" Trying to sound confident and upbeat, Makoto ran out of the nurse's office. As he ran out, the camera moved to show the luckster trembling.
Now stares of concern and sympathy, along with a bit of respect, was on Makoto. The luckster turned his eyes from everyone. "Man... It just seems to get worse and worse."
"You're doing better than me though." Hina told him, rubbing the back of her head. "I can't even move right now."
"She's right. You are doing better than expected." Kyoko told him. Despite seeing a third murder, Makoto was still moving. Still doing his best to help out. That is something to admire.
"Speaking of doing better than expected, anyone else noticed that Toko is still conscious?" Junko pointed out.
In a spur of curiosity, everyone turned around and sure enough, the writer was still standing, trembling and with both hands covering her eyes. "You can open your eyes, Toko. It's safe too." Makoto reassured the girl.
That got her to open her eyes with a sigh of relief. "G-Good. I'm s-still conscious."
As he got into the hallway, Makoto stopped for a moment and slapped his face with both hands a few times. 'Everyone else is on the 3rd floor. I have to hurry…!' With that, he began running up to the third floor.
Once he was up, he looked around to see where the others would be at. 'Okay. This is where everyone else started chasing the suspicious individual.' Makoto thought in remembrance. 'Where was he headed…?'
He thought back to when they first got up here, what Celeste had said. 'He ran off, going further down the hallway…' He looked towards the farther part of the hallway. 'Way into the back… of the hallway?'
"That would mean they're at the physics lab." Mukuro mused.
"Agreed." Byakuya nodded in agreement. "But if Robo Justice was somehow able to get down to the first floor, and kill Hifumi, what are they still doing there?"
"What do you mean?" Celeste asked, finally speaking up.
"The body announcement was played. And since there isn't anything holding them up, they would've went to the nurse office." Byakuya explained. "After all, they heard Hifumi screaming, so they would add those things together and figure out what had happened."
"Yeah, that's a good point." Taka agreed, frowning. "What are they doing?"
"Perhap they found something else? Something that's holding them up?" Sakura suggested.
"I think we're about to find out that answer soon." Junko told them, pointing at the TV. "Makoto is about to get into the physics lab." Inwardly, she was giddy with excitement. Their reactions are going to be good!
The scene cut to Makoto in the physics lab, looking around for anybody. 'As far as I can tell, there's nobody here.' He observed. 'But…' He then noticed the closet door at the back fully opened.
"The back room." Sakura narrowed her eyes at the room. "We must've missed something. Or someone."
"Maybe it was the person Celeste saw." Sayaka noted. "After all, we can't say for sure that it was Robo Justice. Maybe Celeste thought she saw him, and it was actually somebody else."
"Perhaps." Byakuya thought of the possibility. "We shall see soon enough."
'They gotta be in the back!' With that, Makoto ran towards the back.
As he did, narrator Makoto spoke. "I leapt through the doorway. And when I did, I found…" When Makoto was right in the closest, he froze in shock. "...another nightmare."
The camera expanded to reveal Taka, laying on the floor, a large amount of blood dripping from his head. "There, in a pool of his own blood… was Taka, dead." The screen then turned black.
It took a minute for everyone to process what they're seeing. To process that they're seeing a second murder in this chapter, minutes after the previous one. But when they did…
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!" This time, Hina's scream was not held back.
"WHAT THE FUCK?!" Leon shouted in shock.
"T-Taka!?" Chihiro exclaimed, covering his mouth in horror.
"T-Two?!" Hiro yelled in absolute panic. "Two murders?!"
This time, Toko did faint, unable to cover her eyes in time.
Makoto could only stare dumbly at the scene. Was this a trick? Some sick joke? Some sort of statement to say that his optimism in his friends is blind and stupid? A nightmare about two of his friends dead? Murdered?
Two people. Hifumi and Taka. One of whom was beginning to move on from Mondo's death. Why? Why did they deserve to die? Why did any of his friends deserve to die in this demented game?
Taka himself was staring at his corpse, shock, anguish, frustration, and sorrow swimming in his eyes. Not just one, but two people are dead. Worst of it is that it was his future self that's dead.
Just when he finally began to recover. Just when he was able to live on for his best friend. All that progress, and it was taken away by a blow to the head. 'Dammit…' Taka clenched his fists and closed his eyes, tears stinging in his eyes. 'Dammit!'
Mondo stared at the screen, his limbs limp and his eyes wide in pure shock. His mind was slowly processing that this was his best friend, his bro, on the floor, dead. "B-Bro…?"
Eyes slowly turned to the biker, some worried and others wary. They could tell that Mondo's in shock at the moment, but when he gets out of that shock, his temper is going to be unleashed.
(Chapter 3 - A Next Generation Legend! Stand Tall Galactic Hero! - Deadly Life)
The scene faded back into the nurse's office with Hifumi's body once again. "Hifum's body, in the nurse office…" Narrator Makoto said.
Then the scene quickly transitioned to Taka's body right after. "Taka's body, discovered in the equipment. I was born witness to two nightmares, one right after another."
"Who…?" Everyone's eyes turned to Mondo, who whispered that one word. "Who did it?"
The tone he used sent chills down several spine's. They were used to hearing Mondo angry, thanks to his trigger hair temper. None of them was used to this pure, venomous fury he's leaking out. But they all knew that it was only the beginning of his anger.
"M-Mondo-" Makoto spoke up, attempting to calm him down.
But the biker ignored him. "Who the fuck killed my bro?" He spoke, his voice slowly rising. "Who? Who decided to bash him in the head? Who fucking murder him?! WHICH ONE OF YOU FUCKERS ARE THE GODDAMN BLACKENED?!" By now, Mondo was standing up, glaring furiously at everyone.
"Mondo, wait!" Despite the fear he's feeling, Makoto stood up to face the biker. "You need to ca-"
"THE FUCK WITH THAT! SOMEONE KILLED MY BRO! SOMEONE FUCKING MURDERED HIM!" Mondo spat out. "WHOEVER DID IS GONNA WISH THEY-"
"MONDO, YOU'RE FRIGHTENING CHIHIRO!"
THAT gave the biker pause. Slowly, he turned Chihiro. And sure enough, the programmer was white as a sheet, curled into a ball, shaking, and tears of fear and anguish poured down eyes.
It didn't calm his anger, not enough at least. But guilt got mixed with the anger. Slowly, his arms went limp and he sat back down on the couch. The movement caused Chihiro to flinch, making Mondo feel guiltier. His arm twitched for a moment, wanting to put a reassuring on his shoulder, but he stopped himself.
Makoto sighed in relief and sat down, glad that he stopped a volcano from erupting momentarily. Though he has a feeling that's only momentarily. Hopefully, he's gets enough time to calm down.
"Wait, no…" The narrator redirected. "They weren't nightmares. It was… harsh reality. The reality I have to face every day."
Like always, Makoto's word struck a chord in several hearts. Chapter by chapter, they have to see worse and worse. First, an attempted murder and framing, only for it to backfire. Then, a surge of jealousy and anger, causing someone to murder a friend. Now, two murders, in one chapter.
'Why…?' Was the thought that came into Hina's mind. The girl was frozen in shock, looking as petrified as her future self. 'Why… are doing this? What did we do… to deserve this? Why us…?'
"Why…" The present Makoto went limp, falling on his knees. "Is this happening?" The two present and conscious, Sakura and Byakuya, were silent.
Makoto slowly looked around the room, only for his eyes to zoom on Toko, who's unconscious. "Toko!"
"Relax. She just passed out when she saw the blood." Byakuya informed him.
"The blood…?" 'Oh, that's right.' Makoto remembered. 'When Toko is, um, Toko… she has a fear of blood, huh?'
"We've tried everything to get her to wake up, but no luck." The heir continued. "Just leave her be for now."
Makoto absently nodded before turning to the next thing. 'Another hammer…' Slowly, he got up and walked over to that hammer. 'Now it's Justice Hammer 4, and it's even bigger than before…!'
That had several eyes widen in shock. "Did Robo Justice got Taka too?!" Junko asked.
"But, how?!" Sayaka exclaimed.
"Didn't they just murder Hifumi?" Leon pointed out. "So how and where did they get the time to kill Taka?!"
"Yeah! It should be impossible!" Hiro agreed.
"This… is getting more and more bizarre." Celeste murmured loudly.
Kyoko, however, didn't come to that conclusion. 'A slight manipulation of the crime…' Kyoko deduced. 'Making it look like Hifumi was killed first, then Taka.' She didn't voice that yet, however. She has a feeling more will come, so she will save her deductions for the trial.
'Is that 'suspicious individual' responsible for killing Taka, too…?!'
During all this, Hifumi was silent, merely staring at the screen with wide eyes. He was sure that Mr. Ishimaru was the one who killed him. That he did just to keep Alter Ego for himself. But, seeing this... it throws that accusation out the window.
"But… why is it Justice Hammer 4?" Sakura questioned.
"Huh?" Makoto turned to Sakura in confusion. "What do you mean?"
Some of the others also looked confuse before remembering that Sakura and Byakuya didn't see Hifumi. "They are in for quite a shock…" Byakuya sighed.
"Agreed." Sakura nodded.
"Celeste was attacked with Justice Hammer 1, then Hifumi was hit with Justice Hammer 2." Sakura explained. "But this time it was Justice Hammer 4. What happened to number 3?"
"Ah-!" Makoto's eyes lit up, remembering why he's here.
It was something Sakura and Byakuya noticed. "...What's the matter?" The latter asked.
"W-Well, when you mentioned Justice Hammer 3, you just reminded me…"
"Out with it." The heir ordered. "Do you know something?"
"Actually… Taka's not the only one that's been killed." Makoto revealed. "Hifumi's dead, too!"
"Wh…?!" Sakura's eyes widen in shock. "Hifumi's been killed?!"
"Y-Yeah…" Makoto confirmed with a nod.
"Which is why you came to get us…" Byakuya concluded. "Then we'd better go check it out."
"Of course!" Sakura agreed. "Come on!" With that, Makoto, Sakura, and Byakuya rushed out of the physic lab.
The next scene showed the three coming out. But as soon as they did, they were met with a surprised Celeste. "Ah-!"
"Celeste?" Eyebrows rose up in surprise as Makoto continued speaking. "I thought she was waiting with Hina."
"Indeed. What is doing up in the third floor?" Sakura questioned.
"Celeste?" Makoto looked at her in surprise. "Aren't you supposed to be waiting in the nurse's office?"
"S-Something has… come up." Celeste said, looking distressed.
"Now what?" Leon complained. "What, did the body disappear or something?"
"I doubt it's something that bizarre." Celeste shook her head.
"Yeah, I heard. Hifumi is dead, right?" Byakuya stated.
"Well… that is not all." The gambler said. "It is… gone."
Blood ran cold at that. "What's gone…?" Sayaka hesitantly asked.
"Oh, please don't tell me…" Leon trailed off.
"Huh? What's gone?" Makoto asked, confused.
"It has disappeared…"
"Disappeared…?"
"Hifumi's body has disappeared!"
Everyone was barely holding onto their seats right now. "WHAT?!" Hina shouted, out of her frozen state.
"I WAS KIDDING!" Leon yelled right after.
"My body is gone?!" Hifumi exclaimed, flabbergasted and fearful.
"Is she actually serious, right now?" Byakuya questioned, having a difficult time believing it.
"What…?" Was the only thing Makoto could say, staring at Celeste in shock.
"What are you talking about? It's disappeared?" Byakuya questioned, looking at her in bewilderment. "Don't be ridiculous." Celeste could only give him a serious look. "...Are you serious?"
"What the heck is happening here…?!" Sakura questioned, looking even more confused. "Everyone, back to the nurse's office!" She ordered, to which everyone was running once again.
The group could only watch as the future Makoto, Byakuya, Sakura, and Celeste ran back downstairs. One thing came to all of their heads. The same question Sakura just asked.
What the HELL is going on here?!
And that's the end. I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, and that the reactions are well done, not repetitive or out of character. I also hope I got enough reactions from the main victims, Hifumi and Taka, as well as those involved with them, Celeste and Mondo. And again, I hope you guys take the time to read my short story, Adept: The Strategist Chapter. Available for $0.99. If/When you do read it, I ask that you don't be too harsh if there's anything to criticize. It's my first original story, after all.
Well, that's all. Review, favorite, and follow and I will see you guys later.