Hello again! Time for another fun part of Off the Rails! I'm excited to see comments as usual and AN is at the end of the chapter. Now… Let's blow this fuse right open!
Enjoy!
DANGANRONPA: OFF THE RAILS
Chapter 2 – White is for Wishing
Part 5
Wally had planned to head to bed when he was suddenly grabbed by an individual. "Whoa what!?" Looking over, he saw it was Yokona who had a grin on her face. "Yokona? What's going on?"
"No time to talk! I need to test out this new strategy!" Wally was so confused as he soon found himself in the pool area.
Standing there was also Hastur who was smiling. "Hello my heroic friend."
Wally turned to Yokona who was pulling out a pack of playing cards as the sidekick gave a deadpan look. "…Seriously? In the freaking pool?"
Yokona turned to him and glared as she pointed at him. "Yes! Kuniyoshi was in the casino with Takeshi, Ember, Chizure, and even fucking Katashi! He's getting people to practice with him!" Suddenly a flame appeared in her eye as she clenched her fist and glared. "I refuse to be caught by surprise! So Operation: Reverse Blind is a go!"
…Hastur turned to Wally and shrugged as he smiled. "It's interesting so I figured I would participate. A secret meeting~"
Wally just sighed and soon found himself sitting in a circle playing poker. "…You two take this very seriously."
Yokona nodded as she looked at her cards. "Of course! That Kuniyoshi treats the game like luck is the leading factor… when strategy is key! That and he bothers me." A tick mark appeared on her head. "Smug bastard… oh how he will rue the day he gained me as a rival!" She then gained a serious expression. "But… I've been more focused on the motive."
This caused Wally to stop and turn to her. "…You too?"
She just nodded. "Yeah. While the motive itself is dangerous… I'm more worried about the cipher." This caused the sidekick and cosmicism writer to look at her as she continued. "See… it's a lynch pin. It's something there to appeal to people so they can either gain their prize or avoid their punishment without consequence. We don't know WHO the cipher currently is nor if it has changed."
Hastur blinked at that before chuckling. "Oh. Well don't worry about that. The cipher has changed."
This caused the strategist to turn to Hastur with an unsure expression. "How are you so sure?"
Hastur waved his hand in a nonchalant manner as he looked down at his cards. "That's because I was the first cipher. It informed me today that the role changed."
Suddenly he found his coat being grabbed by the strategist, shaking it, as the sidekick tried to pull her off. "YOU MEAN TO TELL ME YOU KNEW ALL THIS INFORMATION AND SAID NOTHING!?"
Hastur stared at the girl with a shrug. "Can't say much about it nor was I truthfully searching for it. I do not know how to become the cipher again nor do I hold any motivation for it."
Finally calming down, the strategist sighed and frowned. "Well there goes any potential information that could be helpful."
Hastur smiled at her. "Apologies. But… at least we know the announcement was not lying. I was sent a message informing me that someone changed the cipher. Just not how to change it back."
Wally chuckled lightly as the mysterious but nonchalant cosmicism writer who unintentionally was annoying the strategist more and more. The game of poker lasted a good while as it was less rivalry and more practice when the nighttime announcement played. So, it was off to bed for real now as the sidekick pondered about the cipher role even more.
Waking up the next day, Wally would find himself wandering around once more when he was suddenly dragged into the bachelor pad by someone. Now seated on one of the chairs and staring at the park ranger, Wally gained a bit of a deadpan expression. "…What is it with people grabbing me out of nowhere these days?"
The park ranger remained stoic and nodded. "Apologies but I am in need of assistance."
The sidekick gained a sweatdrop at the response but sighed and nodded. "Sure thing. What's going on?"
Li-Wei nodded as he sat down. "Recently I have been keeping an eye on things since the night shift dissolved."
Wally flinched at that… he remembered how everyone just… stopped trying the night shift. Bad memories. "Wait… so you've been doing the night shift?"
Li-Wei nodded. "Correct. Even if it just me, I am being extra careful." Wally felt a little sorry for Li-Wei as he continued. "As such, I spend a fair amount of time in the day asleep. However… I woke up earlier then normal to see an individual sneaking around suspiciously during the day."
This cause the sidekick to stop and look at him confused. "During the day?"
The park ranger nodded at that. "I know. Perhaps it is to access a locked room during the night so something… but either way… I need your help."
Li-Wei sighed. "The individual has seen me and is avoiding me. Combined with my more nocturnal based schedule at the moment for everyone's safety… and it becomes clear they can escape."
Wally nodded at this as he smiled. "Well… I'll help however I can!"
Li-Wei smiled at that and breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you. I knew it was best to come to you."
However, Wally then looked at Li-Wei. "…If I may ask… why are you so committed to the night shift?"
Li-Wei was silent before sighing. "I took the role of leader early on. It's due to my nature as a park ranger ironically enough. As a park ranger, I'm in charge of management, protection, and security of the park. So… I try and transfer it here." He then frowned. "I… knew that the timer would affect someone. I tried to keep stability for as best as I can but that soon fell through. So for now… I want to make sure that the night is secured… even if it's one person doing it." Wally then moved to speak as Li-Wei held up a hand. "And no. I refuse to allow others to join in. The more who run off a nocturnal sleep schedule… the harder it becomes for there to be people vigilant during the day."
Wally nodded at that as the ranger smiled. "I'll watch the night while you assist during the day. And for now… I am awake early to try and stop this individual sneaking around."
The sidekick grinned and gave a thumbs up. "You can count on me. Stay here while I go get this individual." And with that, Wally was off on a mission.
It didn't take long to actually find the one sneaking around. Hiding behind the grand piano, while feeling a little of his bitterness towards it now disappearing, he saw an individual leave one of their rooms with a hoodie covering themselves from others. They looked around suspiciously before leaving the dorm cart. He didn't know who it was or what room they came out of… but he wasn't going to let them get away.
Slowly following behind, Wally noticed the figure enter the kitchen as he entered behind them to see… "…Kana?"
The girl flinched and turned around to face the sidekick as she gave a small glare. "W-What do you want!?"
The sidekick was confused as he spoke. "Well… Li-Wei was seeing someone sneak around with a hood up and everything during the day. He was worried something dangerous was going down and asked for my help when I saw you moving around."
The girl's eyes widened for a moment before she crossed her arms. "W-Well I'm not doing anything wrong! So fuck off!"
Wally looked at her confused as he then noticed something behind her. Something- "Wait… isn't that the dish that Ember was teaching you?" The survivor flinched as the sidekick continued. "And there's two bowls of it. …Wait. Were you trying to cook for her-"
"S-Shut up!" The survivor had a blush of embarrassment as she looked away before she sighed. "I… haven't had a friend in so long…" Wally turned to her as he noticed a sad expression as she continued. "…My best friend… Her name was Yuki. …We were crossing the street when a vehicle sped through a red light. I had little damage while she took the blunt of it… dying." Wally frowned at that and nodded sadly. Kana continued. "I didn't say it… but it was the third time I had survived a life-threatening situation. …But at the same time, I felt cursed with those close to me dying." Kana chuckled weakly as she teared up a bit. "I… I don't get why she still tries. Every day she's trying. …So… I wanted to make something for them as thanks…"
Wally then smiled and nodded as he understood. "So you were sneaking because you wanted to practice the dish in secret." She nodded at that as Wally walked up and placed a hand on her shoulder. She flinched for a moment as the sidekick continued. "I'm… not the best chef myself. But… I'd be down to cook with a friend… if you want some help."
This caused the survivor's eyes to widen for a moment, before she shook her head, scoffed and looked away. "…Do whatever you want."
Wally smiled at that as he moved over and grabbed an apron. "…You do know you're gonna have to deal with Li-Wei later still, right?" Kana stopped at that.
"… … fuck."
Wally, after bringing Kana to the bachelor pad to Li-Wei, listened to Li-Wei chastise Kana for sneaking around. This had gone on for so long as Kana and even Wally were getting bored. However, the sidekick in his bored state noticed something weird. "…Hey guys…" The park ranger and survivor turned to him as he pointed up to the lights on the ceiling that appeared to be flickering. "What's up with the-"
-BZZZZZZZZRCK-
…And just like that, the lights turned off completely as the three were submerged in darkness followed by the train coming to a complete stop, sending them flying slightly. "…lights… …ow."
Picking himself off the ground, the sidekick found himself fumbling a bit as he tried to find some sort of light. Suddenly, a flash of light hit Wally's eyes as he covered them before slowly gaining his sight to see a lit but flickering flashlight in the survivor's hands. Li-Wei noticed that and sighed. "I guess survival instinct allows one to be prepared for whatever incident?"
The survivor nodded as she looked around. "Well then… what do? For some reason, my flashlight is dying on battery… even though I stocked it with fresh ones."
The park ranger scratched his chin as his eyes opened. "…The saloon."
The sidekick and survivor turned to him as he continued. "The saloon is fit with old timey equipment… including candles and matches." Nodding at that, the trio followed the light of the dying flashlight towards the saloon.
Upon entering, the light of the flashlight flickered once more… before dying out… followed by the survivor's voice. "…Fuck."
Focusing on the task at hand, the trio slowly split up to search the saloon for light. Wally fumbled around before hitting his hand on something metal. Feeling the shape of it, he grinned and spoke out. "Found a candlestick!"
Kana's voice soon followed. "Found a candle."
And lastly was Li-Wei. "And I found matches. Follow the wall and meet at the doorway." Listening to the park ranger for now, the three slowly met up at the saloon doors as together, they placed and lit a candle in the candlestick to give a small glow of light.
Immediately, the lizards in the room turned to the light and tried to move closer to it. All except one that Wally noticed was licking at the ground- "… … No. …Nonononono…" Turning to what the sidekick was looking at, the two others froze… and saw the lizard licking at the small puddle of blood on the wood floor in front of the jailhouse.
…Li Wei turned to the others with a grim and serious look. "…We need to hurry."
The sidekick and survivor nodded as they moved towards the new carts first. It seemed like a better option to go towards the carnival. -THUNK- …To go towards the carnival… -THUNK- …Wally cursed. "…The door's locked."
The park ranger grimaced as he looked at the door. "…That… is not a good sign."
Turning back towards the western cart, Wally tried to think of something… when it clicked. "Wait. What if the jailhouse had something?" With no real other ideas, the survivor and park ranger followed the sidekick's lead as they entered the jailhouse. Peering inside, it revealed to be a simple jailhouse with a sheriff's desk, a couple of cells, a hidden passage under one of the cell beds, handcuffs, sheriff badges- wait… hidden passage?
That's right. Looking back in the one cell, they could see an opening underneath one of the cell beds with floorboards off to the side. Another puddle of blood was there… which upon further inspection, revealed that they were not pools of blood… but bloody footsteps. However, it was only one shoe or so that was bloodied as there was no left steps… only right.
Turning to one another, the three gave a serious nod as they descended down the passage.
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…
Travelling carefully through the rather strange tunnel, the trio found themselves popping out from underneath one of the cells in the prison. Li-Wei looked around for a moment and frowned as he scratched his chin. "…Wasn't this the cell that Tenshizo and Akumahebi came out of?"
Wally raised a brow and looked around before his eyes widened. "…Holy shit you're right."
Kana cursed at that. "So they used the shock of meeting them to hide it?" So even from the get go… there was a hidden passage that was hidden through misdirection.
Li-Wei shook his head as he frowned. "We cannot think to much on it now. We need to find the way to unlock the door in the carnival and find where the blood came from."
With nods, the survivor and sidekick followed the park ranger, who held the candlestick ahead. Even with that though, it was still dark as Wally found himself tripping over something. "…ow." Looking back, he say he tripped over a weird box resting on the floor… not important now.
Picking himself up and catching up to the waiting ranger and survivor, the trio opened the doors to enter the casino. However, as soon as they did, a sound could be heard.
-BZZZZZZZZRCK-
Suddenly the lights started to flicker on once more. The ceiling lights were shining as the rows of slot machines started to turn on… one… by… one…
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-DING DONG, DING DONG!-
…
…The three were shocked silent as they stared ahead of them. Spots of blood lined the floor as chips spilled from slot machines.
"A-A body has been d-discovered!"
At the very end of the row, there was the largest mess of chips one had ever seen. The red and black liquid combining and pooling even more beneath the figure that rested there.
"All you bastards gather to the casino for the second investigation!"
They were hidden in the darkness as candle the park ranger was holding went out… just like the light of the individual before them… like a dying star…
"Because after a certain amount of time…"
"Which you may use however the fuck you want…"
"T-The second train trial will begin!" "The second train trial will begin!"
Because dead underneath the slot machine, blood dripping down and covered in chips...
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…Was none other then Ai Fukushima, the Ultimate Astrologer.
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"…The stars shall guide me forth!"
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AI FUKUSHIMA-
TALENT: ASTROLOGER
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STATUS UPDATE…
DECEASED
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CHAPTER 2 – WHITE IS FOR WISHING
DEADLY LIFE START
-TO BE CONTINUED-
13/16 REMAINING
Hello everyone! Void here!
And MWAHAHAHAHA! Murder time! We have our second victim of the Train Killing Game! Ai Fukushima!
Firstly, thank you so much to JustDrew for submitting Ai. She was a blast of a character to write, and I hope I did her justice! I also went back and forth on a lot with this chapter as my original plan kinda went kaput. Not that it was a bad thing though! It lead to this fun chapter!
Now… I'm curious to see reactions as per usual and after I write the investigation chapter… excited to hear the theories some people have!
But… that's all for now! Until next time! See you all later!
VoidRebirth signing out!