Chapter 2: Adventures in Paradise Gloom (Deadly Life #1)

Warning: This fic contains intense violence, lots of OFFENSIVE cursing (thanks Monoyena, you fucking asshole!), character death, gore and blood, sexual innuendos, and possible spoilers for the Danganronpa series. But hey, everyone lurking in this fandom has at least played the first Danganronpa so no need to worry much there! Right?

With that said, please enjoy!

"Agh! Fuck!"

"Oh, don't be such a baby…" Riku Arakawa rolled his eyes after hearing his uncle twitch in pain.

For the past few hours or so, Riku had been carefully cleaning away blood and stitching up flesh wounds on his uncle's body in his makeshift operation room. It was much like any operation room you would often find in hospitals. Bright. Blue wallpaper. Clean. Sparkling clean. Not a stain to be seen, whether it be dirt, blood, or any other germ-like fluids...

Having spent most of his days in what was essentially his bedroom, Riku made sure to keep the entire place as squeaky clean as possible. After all, he absolutely hated germs. Hated the disgusting pestilence and plague that his subjects would bring whenever Hiroshi Arakawa asked him to patch up his own men. So, after every treatment, Riku made sure to clean every single corner of his room.

Every single corner…

Every nook and cranny...

Even the places that no one even touched…

All of it had to be squeaky clean.

But today was different for Riku. This time, he didn't stress the importance of a clean workstation. This time, he didn't mind the little smudges of blood and spit here and there. For a germaphobe like Riku who practically lived in the operating room, that was a strange change of character. That is… until one understands why he didn't mind it at all.

Stitching up the last of what seemed to be a slash wound on his uncle's chest…

…

"Tch… looking good."

As his uncle admired his patched-up wound in the nearby mirror, Riku stepped away, knowing well enough what was about to happen next. He watched his uncle take out what seemed to be a roll of yen banknotes, but instead of handing them to Riku like a normal person would, he rolled it up and lit the tip… creating a makeshift cigarette.

"Gotta hand it to ya," his uncle chuckled to himself. "For a little bastard, at least your Talent's the real deal."

His uncle puffed out a ring of smoke into the air, never once facing Riku. But the Ultimate Doctor didn't even need to see his expression to know how pleased he was. If anything, the bastard was probably grinning widely as he spoke.

"Irony at its finest…" his uncle chuckled to himself.

His uncle was the older brother of Hiroshi Arakawa.

But despite being the eldest brother, it was his younger brother that ultimately took the leadership of the clan. Some say that it was because the elder brother was more suited with financing the Family, but Riku called bullshit on that. The real reason he imagined was because Hiroshi was definitely a lot more level-headed than his uncle… Which was simultaneously both surprising and yet, not really…

Every single member of the Arakawa he knew were nothing but monsters. His father and uncle were no different, of course. But he always thought of his father as something akin to the Demon King, his uncle… Well… Rumors say he could very well be something worse. The most malicious of the Arakawa Family. A true monster in the making. Psychopathy at its finest. But in Arakawa terms, he was…

…an oni…

And yet, here he was, having healed that monster from another one of his secret late-night hunts. It wasn't surprising that members of the Family would go to him for medical assistance but for his uncle to do so…

Tch.

Riku didn't care.

Whatever his uncle during late nights wasn't something he cared about.

What he did care about was what fixing his uncle up meant for his future…

"I patched you up…" Riku gave him a deadly glare. "...Now. How about you hand me your end of the bargain… Uncle…?"

Riku said that last word with such distaste.

He noticed his uncle turn around. That fedora he wore was tipped down, hiding most of his face except his psychotic grin. With his teeth clenching that makeshift cigarette tightly in his mouth, he allowed a wisp of smoke to seep out of it, polluting Riku's operating room.

Again, under normal circumstances, Riku would be annoyed like no tomorrow. But this time, he wasn't. And it was all because of…

"...Right…" his uncle chuckled as he took out a slip of paper from his pockets.

When he handed it to Riku, the doctor made sure to examine the paper carefully. He glanced at his uncle, suspicious, but by the time he saw the words…

'To the family of Riku Arakawa…'

'Congratulations!'

'Riku Arakawa has been accepted as an incoming student to Hope's Peak Toronto's New Life Program!'

…Riku glanced back up, this time with that twisted smile of his.

"Keh, you actually held up your side of the bargain," Riku laughed pitifully. "And I'd thought I'd be met with disappointment… as I usually am…"

He noticed his uncle blow out another ring of smoke. The corners of his lips twitched as he struggled to maintain that grin. Clearly, the guy didn't wasn't at all happy with what Riku had just said. Knowing his uncle… Riku folded the piece of paper and shoved it into his pockets.

"How'd you manage this, anyway?" Riku retorted. "Surely you didn't just fake it?"

"Oh please," his uncle huffed in his makeshift cigarette.

He tilted his head, grinning wider than ever. His fedora was tipped in a way that Riku just couldn't see his eyes. Also didn't help that the smoke wisping from the burning banknotes was shrouding his face in a makeshift veil.

"...Why go through such lengths…?" his uncle chuckled. "When all it takes is a little sweet-talk with some Hope's Peak shitheads… I know a couple of people that owe me for all the work I've done for them, after all…"

His uncle couldn't help but laugh as he huffed in the last of his burning banknotes. Puffing out a smoke ring, his uncle flicked the piece of the makeshift cigar onto the floor. Then, he dug the tip of his foot into it, staining the ashes of the banknotes on the operating room floor.

Anyone would've expected him to stop there, but Riku knew his uncle well.

He stood back and watched him, taking out more banknotes, rolling them up, and lighting them with a lighter to create yet another makeshift cigarette. It was disgusting just watching him do this. Even more so when he caught the smell. He pinched his nose, frustrated.

"So, what now…?" Riku muttered. "Just going to have me stand here and breathe in your obnoxious fumes?"

His uncle took out his phone.

Although Riku didn't see his eyes, he could tell that his uncle was waiting for a message to pop up. And as more smoke rings evaporated in the air, a notification pinged the two. Noticing that grin widened once again, his uncle turned to the doctor and lowered his fedora.

"Your chariot… awaits," his uncle grinned, pocketing his phone. "Flight leaves in two hours. Leave and never come back. Get me?"

"Keh, finally," Riku rolled his eyes.

The Ultimate Doctor shoved his hands inside his pockets as he prepared to exit the room. But before he stepped out, he turned back to his operating room one last time. He scanned the room, noting all the familiar objects that he had practically grown up with. Operating tables. Medical instruments. Sad to say…

…Riku might actually miss this place.

"...Will Father be alright?" Riku glanced away.

"Tch, and why exactly do you care?" his uncle chuckled, his makeshift cigar sizzling. "You're just the bastard child of your mommy's one night stand. Besides, I thought you hated this place. A fucking prison is what you called it. And... we made a deal and everything. You seriously telling me I'm wasting that one favor those Hope's Peak punks owed me for an indecisive fuck like you? Jesus…"

Riku considered his comments carefully.

He was right. He did hate this place. He hated this place, the people, his father… He hated the Arakawa name with a passion. So, when he was given a deal to give it all up and leave, he jumped at that chance and took it. And yet, here he was… reminiscing… feeling apologetic and sorry…

Riku grimaced.

Disgusting feelings.

Riku turned back and prepared to step out with no hesitation–

"Oh, and Riku…" his uncle spoke up, puffing out his ninth ring of smoke.

Riku paused, slowly facing his uncle.

"...Good luck out there," his uncle chuckled, before raising his head up. "You're gonna need it. Kuhahahahaha…"

He burst into laughter.

And for the first time since he treated him, his uncle revealed the upper parts of his face. Only, not as one would expect. The flames of his makeshift cigarette burnt brighter, emitting a large cloud of smoke that kept his face hidden in a veil. And through that veil of smoke were two flashing blue eyes. His cartoonishly sharp teeth widened into a grin. And his right eye slowly shifted into something jagged.

Like his face was distorting…

…into the psychotic monster he was rumored to be…

…the oni…

Riku didn't say anything. That was the moment he left. The moment he left his prison. His family. The Arakawa Family. The people that he ultimately despised to be around and despised having to constantly patch their own negligent wounds up. Finally, for the first time in his own life, Riku was free.

Free from his prison.

Free from his shit childhood and shit life.

His New Life would begin now!

That's right…

The further Riku stepped off of his campus, the more he could smell it… taste it… breathe it… He felt it. He felt what exactly he had been craving for his entire life. What he would be expecting…

His Happiest Day…

…So close to reach…

…Yes…

…Freedom was among him…

CHAPTER 2: ADVENTURES IN PARADISE GLOOM (DEADLY LIFE)

…

Hey everybody!

Someone is dead! Someone is dead!

And they're bleeding red!

Hey everybody!

It's time to play! It's time to play!

Find the killer and make them pay!

BANG!

(Yaaaaaay!)

…

[Jungle of Joy]

(Ruins)

Yukihiko glanced up from where he was currently and narrowed his eyes.

By the time he heard the Body Discovery Jingle, he was already at the Ruins, specifically where the statue photo-op was. He glanced around, his mind trying to grasp where exactly the body was found. It wasn't like Nathan's fic where the mascot tells you to gather in one location. No no. Here, these kids need to actually work to find where the body was…

And Yukihiko was no different.

As he glanced between the pathway that would take him to Roderick's and Kikuko's Attraction to the pathway that would take him to the Marcus Avventira statue, Yukihiko opted to go to the former. If anything, he suspected that perhaps the body was there. Best to check now rather than stand around doing nothing anyway…

He folded his arms; his gaze shooting daggers when he saw who was approaching him.

One Marabel Garcia, practically storming straight toward his direction. Yukihiko kept a wary eye on her, noting the speed and what seemed to be a moody expression on her face. And knowing the child caregiver, he just couldn't help himself when he felt her fiery aura brush past his shoulder.

"And where do you think you're going?" Yukihiko asked, sneering slightly.

He turned back to see Mara, having stopped where she was.

"...The Body Discovery Jingle played," Yukihiko frowned. "Did you hear it?"

"Tch, of course I did," Mara muttered. "By the time I was hurrying out of Roderick's Attraction, it was already playing. In fact, I was one of the people who initiated it…"

"So, why are you out here?" Yukihiko pressed. "Think you're too good for investigating now because you killed your own mother?"

Mara tensed up.

He scoffed.

"Typical," Yukihiko rolled his eyes.

Mara tightened her fist.

"...I'm supposed to tell everyone where the body is," Mara uttered, not even bothering to turn back to the child caretaker.

She knew that the moment she did, the urge to beat him would be unreal. That wasn't something she wanted to do right now. Not after seeing… Mara didn't want to even say it to herself. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and grimaced.

"...Roderick's Attraction…" Mara simply told him.

And just like that, Mara hurried on the hell out of there. The sooner she was away from Yukihiko the better. Because knowing her, that monster inside her wanted to come out and absolutely smash this guy's face into the smooth, plain ground. So, she shook her head, trying to shake that mentality away, and left.

Yukihiko could do nothing but snort.

Just as much as Yukihiko pissed off Mara, just feeling her presence was enough to tick the child caregiver off too. He folded his arms. Because the more he thought about that mother killer just wandering around the park, the more the disdain formed. He narrowed his gaze and headed off toward the direction of Roderick's Attraction.

"...Hmph, the body, huh…?" Yukihiko rubbed his chin in thought.

[Ultimate Deep Sea Fisherman's Attraction]

(Queue)

…

…

…

…When Yukihiko reached the Ultimate Deep Sea Fisherman's Attraction, he was met with an unpleasant gathering of Roderick, Fábio, and Kikuko. The boats' automated system had now been halted in light of the Body Discovery Jingle. Roderick, Fábio, and Kikuko's faces were less than happy about what had happened.

Because sitting in the boat in front of them was Riku Arakawa, who rested in the fourth row. His body unmoving. Cold. Dead. This was far from who had expected to die. Riku was just alive moment's prior so to now see his lifeless body… It was so surreal. So…

"A-Aye!" Roderick stood his guard and gave a mock salute toward the child caregiver. "C-Capt'n! I swear, I be not knowing how Riku got on me boat! I be guarding the Attraction's entrance the entire day!"

Yukihiko placed a hand over his hip, like a disappointed mother.

"...Oh, and I suppose Riku just magically appeared on your boat," Yukihiko narrowed his eyes.

"A-Aye!" Roderick exclaimed. "It be magic! Black magic! Arrrrrgh!"

"That… was not something you should've agreed with," Yukihiko scoffed.

He turned to Fábio and Kikuko. With their combined presence of Roderick, that made three people. Three people who discovered Riku's body. That meant that…

"So, I take it you three were the other ones who initiated the Body Discovery Jingle?" Yukihiko questioned.

"Mara and Kikuko were the first two," Fábio corrected. "After that, it's between me and Roderick. All four of us were here when Riku's body showed up."

"Aye," Roderick folded his arms and nodded. "That be true…"

"What do you mean by the first two?" Yukihiko ignored Roderick, keeping his fixated attention on Fábio.

"Well…" Fábio rubbed the back of his neck. "Apparently, Kikuko and Mara saw Riku's body as it went down the final drop. That was the whole reason why we went straight into Roderick's Attraction."

Yukihiko turned to Kikuko.

"Confirm, please?" Yukihiko folded his arms.

Kikuko was quiet.

"I said," Yukihiko glowered. "Confirm… Please…"

Kikuko didn't hear Yukihiko.

In fact, her attention wasn't even on Yukihiko.

Instead, it was on the Blue Spirit squatting next to his own body. The Blue Spirit of Riku Arakawa, who could only seem amused by the sight of that bleeding hole in his head. In fact, it was much different than Emmeline's spirit. He hadn't passed on yet, meaning it was very possible…

"Keh, nice shot," Riku remarked, his twisted smile matching the glee in his actual dead eyes now.

Admittedly, Kikuko was surprised that Riku's spirit would end up Blue, considering his background and his attitude throughout the times he was actually alive. Equally, She felt her eyes flash blue as Riku chuckled. She stepped forward and prepared to open her–

"Hey!" Yukihiko placed a hand on her shoulder. "I was speaking to you!"

"H-Huh?!" Kikuko immediately snapped out of it, turning to the child caregiver in surprise. "O-Oh, I'm…"

"Ugh, people these days," Yukihiko pinched the bridge of his nose. "Don't even listen when they're being talked to. I was asking if what Fábio said was true. That you and… Marabel… really saw Riku's body riding down the final drop."

Yukihiko made sure to put enough distasteful emphasis on Marabel's name.

"O-Oh!" Kikuko was still a little out of it, given how hard she had to focus on Riku's spirit there. "I apologize. For how distracted I was back there. I was simply…"

She looked solemn.

"Just answer the question!" Yukihiko tapped his foot impatiently.

"Hey, Yukihiko," Fábio frowned. "Go easy on her, alright? She's literally standing in the vicinity of a corpse."

"Oh please, we've seen corpses before," Yukihiko rolled his eyes. "It's nothing new, handsome."

"Um, pardon me, but to answer your question," Kikuko kept her politeness intact. "I did in fact see Riku ride down the final drop. In fact, I was the first person to see it. Mara saw it second."

Yukihiko rubbed his chin in thought before grimacing.

Kikuko had to wonder whether he was just annoyed that she took too long to answer or that the answer she gave didn't really satisfy what he was hoping to hear. He moved away, pacing back and forth. Clearly something was on his mind. Unfortunately, Kikuko was a shrine priestess, not a psychic nor a seer.

Fábio moved closer to Kikuko, a look of concern on his face. He lowered his voice, speaking to her with a hushed tone.

"What was that back there?" he asked, quietly. "Did you…"

Kikuko glanced at Fábio, simply nodding her head in response. He understood.

"Is he still…" Fábio glanced at Riku's body and then back at Kikuko.

Kikuko nodded as well.

There was hope there.

If Riku's spirit was still sticking around long enough for their Investigation to start, they could theoretically ask him some questions. Though, a little quietly and as secret as possible. The last thing the two needed was anyone else who stuck around to notice what the heck they were doing.

"Ugh! Riku was supposed to guard the Sister's Button at Kikuko's Attraction!" Yukihiko suddenly yelled out, causing Kikuko, Fábio, and Roderick to flinch in surprise. "Why did he end up here?! Where is Beauté?! She was assigned as Riku's partner! She should've–"

"Ah heh heh… Speak of the Devil, and she shall appear…"

On cue, Beauté arrived. She wasn't alone though, because arriving behind her were Yumi and Manon, both of whom were equally in shock over the sound of the Body Discovery Jingle playing. Beauté on the other hand couldn't help but smile excitedly as she normally did at the smell of death that was starting to excrete from the body on the boat.

"...Though, I suppose I would prefer being called a Mistress of Death than anything else…" Beauté hummed in thought.

"EEEEP!" Manon squeaked. "I-Is zat– I-Is zat Monsieur Arakawa?!"

"H-Hell naw…" Yumi widened her eyes. "A-And a gunshot to da head. Dats…"

She shuddered.

Seeing what had become of Riku's corpse absolutely hit home for Yumi. Except, instead of a bullet hitting her forehead, it was a bullet hitting the side of her head. And although Riku probably instantly died from that, Yumi could still imagine the pain of feeling a phantom bullet drilling in her own head.

"Where were you when Riku died?" Yukihiko immediately marched up toward Beauté.

"Hm?" Beauté blinked.

Based on her expression, it really seemed like she was acting as if she had no idea what he was talking about.

"Don't play dumb," Yukihiko folded his arms, tapping his foot like a parent waiting for an explanation. "You were with Riku, guarding the Sister's button. If that was the case, explain to me why Riku is here with a gaping hole in his head?!"

"Hm?" Beauté giggled. "Is he?"

"Beauté, I swear to–" Yukihiko tightened his fist.

"Oh, calm down, will you?" Beauté leaned forward, her smile widening. "I was just having some light fun. Besides… You wouldn't believe me if I told you anyway. Ah heh heh…"

"W-What?" Yukihiko frowned. "What do you–"

"I simply went to the bathroom," Beauté shrugged, shaking her head, but never letting that smile disappear. "By the time I came back, Riku was gone. For a long time, I wasn't sure where he went but…"

Beauté smirked.

"I suppose we all found out where he ended up, didn't we…?" she leaned forward, her red eyes flashing as a dark gloom formed over her face. "Ah heh heh heh…"

"Uh huh…" Yukihiko narrowed his eyes, not believing her story.

"See?" Beauté straightened out her posture and smiled. "You don't believe me. But that's okay. Because on the bright side, you got what you wanted didn't you?"

"W-What are you–" Yukihiko was far from happy about this.

"So... it really did happen. Just as the Body Discovery Jingle dictated..."

He was interrupted by the next three people to arrive: Daisuke, Alisa and Kazuki. But compared to the calm and composed Alisa and Kazuki, Daisuke was absolutely freaking out here. Even more so when he saw Riku's corpse on that boat. Foam started seeping through his mouth, his eyes paling and his face growing blue. He hugged himself, grasping his shoulders tightly as a source of comfort.

"N-NoWayNoWayNoWayNoWayNoWay!" Daisuke exclaimed.

"Hmm... I guess that does explain the board…" Kazuki mumbled to himself.

Alisa on the other hand looked surprised to see that it was Riku that had dropped. She folded her arms, pushing her glasses up in discomfort.

"Oh la la~!" Manon gasped. "Monsieur Kido! Your pants! Did you–"

On Daisuke's pants were what seemed to be a brown stain of some sort. Obviously, the implication here was that he had soiled himself straight after seeing Riku's corpse. Very fitting for someone as squeamish as Daisuke would do. Ugh. Gross. What would Aidan think about you now–

"W-What?!" Daisuke gulped, glancing down before shaking his head, profusely. "N-NoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNo! I just tripped on my way to the park! I didn't– I didn't– Please don't tell–"

"M-Mara sent us here!" Aidan came in last with Issac. "Body Discovery Jingle! A-Another body–?!"

"-A-Aidan!" Daisuke finished his sentence, realized he did, and covered his mouth.

Slowly, he shrunk in the back, hugging himself and grasping his shoulders in comfort over the sight of the track star. This was not the time to speak to him. Not right now and not ever. Despite his conversation with Kikuko the previous day, he just wasn't ready to talk to him. Not that he knew how to after what he did…

Issac stepped forward to check on Riku's body and instantly recoiled, widening his eyes.

"W-Whoa!" Issac covered Isolde's eyes. "Don't look Isolde! It's… not for the faint of heart, okay?"

"Oh look, the calvary is fucking here!"

After what seemed to be ages, Monoyena and Stanczyk had finally popped out from out of nowhere. And by out of nowhere, I mean, they literally just came through the same entrance that everyone else had come through. And the moment Stanczyk laid eyes on Riku…

"N-NOOOOOOOOOOO!" Stanczyk wailed, falling down to his knees and practically sobbing. "H-He… HE WAS A FAN FAVORITE! H-HOW COULD SOMEONE DO THIS?! T-TO… TO SUCH AN INNOCENT… yet scary …LITTLE BOY?!"

"I think Riku was far from innocent…" Alisa fixed her glasses.

"And was definitely a bastard I could vibe with," Monoyena shrugged, twirling his Barbie Blade around. Though, given the toothy grin he was showing, it didn't really seem like Riku's death affected him that much. "Oh well! Twat died like the rest of em! Excellent fucking stuff, mate! Bwa… Bwahahahahaha!"

"W-WAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!" Stanczyk bawled, slamming the side of his fist onto the ground like a child who broke his favorite toy. "W-WHAT KIND OF MEANIE WOULD DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS?! WHO DID IT?! WHODIDITWHODIDITWHODIDITWHODIDIT?!"

"Shut the fuck up for Christ's sake!" Monoyena's jagged red eye glinted. "If ya wanna figure out who the cunt is that did this limp-dick wanker in, then shut yer fucking piehole and let's get this Investigation Period on a roll here!"

"H-Hang on," Yumi glanced around, fixing her hat in confusion. "Where is Mara? She ain't back yet."

"Hmph, does it matter where that mother killer is?" Yukihiko sighed, shaking his head. "Let's just get started. The more time we waste, the less time we have to investigate."

Yukihiko folded his arms and glanced toward Monoyena.

"Isn't that right, Monoyena?" he narrowed his eyes toward his hyena captor.

"Absolutely!" Monoyena pointed his Barbie Blade toward Yukihiko with that same toothy grin of his. "Trying to get on my good side, eh? A wise decision! …From a guy with a fucking girl-dick! Bwa… Bwahahahahaha!"

Yukihiko was not amused by what Monoyena had said.

"Anyway, ya know what this means…" Monoyena started to pick through his teeth.

"That's right!" Stanczyk suddenly hopped off the floor, good as new and not minding the dust on the ground and his pants. "A body has been discovered! After a certain amount of time has passed, the exciting Playhouse Trial will begin! And as always…"

Stanczyk snapped his fingers.

A little off cue, a notification sound popped up for everyone on their eTickets. It didn't take a master genius to know what that meant, but because it's been a bit since an Investigation chapter was published on this specific fic, lovely reminder: the Evidence application had notified everyone of the new Stanczyk File that they received.

"Your favorite item in the game!" Stanczyk declared. "It's the Stanczyk File! Made to help you get started on the case!"

Alisa was the first to open up the eTicket's Evidence Application. And the moment she did, her eyes furrowed. When she glanced back up, she nearly had a heart attack seeing Stanczyk switch to that distorted expression on his face. His red eye was glowing. His yellow eye was sparking. His voice became harsh and vengeful as he tilted his head…

"...iT'S TiMe tO pLaY KiDs…" Stanczyk spoke. "...mAkE tHiS kiLLeR lOsE hIs fAcE…"

[INVESTIGATION BEGIN]

(Queue)

The Investigation Period had begun.

Once most of the remaining 13 had dispersed to check other places of interest, they had left Beauté, Fábio, Kikuko, Roderick and Yukihiko to their own vices. Fábio and Kikuko had separated themselves to the side as Roderick and Yukihiko took the liberty of checking the body and its components.

That left Beauté with one thing she can work with.

She opened up the Evidence application and noted the contents it had on the second page: Stanczyk File #2. From the looks of it, the Evidence application did save some of the evidence recorded from their first case on the first page. Neat! Regardless, Beauté took the time to read what exactly was presented to them this time:

Victim: Riku Arakawa

Cause of Death: Gunshot wound to the head. There is a gunshot wound near his hip.

"Oh, how interesting!" Beauté made sure to yell out as loud as she could for someone to hear.

In her case, it was Yukihiko.

Snapping his head toward the mysterious Ultimate, he folded his arms and raised an eyebrow. He knew she was baiting him to listen to what she had to say, but he didn't care. This was the Investigation Period, and what anyone found could very well be crucial to the case. Rolling his eyes, he approached Beauté.

"And what is it that you have found?" Yukihiko frowned.

"Ah heh heh," Beauté giggled. "From the looks of our next Stanczyk File, poor Mr. Riku Arakawa was shot in the head."

"Well, yes," Yukihiko folded his arms, sneaking a glance toward Riku's body. "Anyone can see that bright as day."

"But…" Beauté smirked. "It seems that Riku wasn't just shot in the head."

Yukihiko raised an eyebrow.

Beauté was saying this as cryptically as she could. Obviously she was trying to hint at something but Yukihiko had no time for her silly games. Rolling his eyes once again, Yukihiko simply opened up his own eTicket and scrolled through his Evidence app. Once he saw it, he glanced back up toward Beauté.

"If you wanted to tell me that Riku has a gunshot wound near his hip, just tell me that," Yukihiko scoffed. "No need to play games."

"Hmph," Beauté pouted. "You really suck the fun out of this, don't you?"

"None of this is supposed to be fun," Yukihiko glanced at his nails, simply. "If you feel bored, then simply go somewhere else. Ride the rides for all I care."

"Ah heh heh heh…" Beauté smirked. "Did you forget? Attractions are temporarily non operational during the Investigation Period. I wouldn't be able to even if I could…"

Beauté placed her hands behind her back and leaned closer to Yukihiko, speaking in a hush yet very seductive tone. Since Yukihiko was confirmed gay, all this really served was to make other men and women jealous that they can't have that Beautussy. But in either case, Yukihiko could feel her hot breath blow against his ear.

"Are you still mad about me abandoning my post?" Beauté giggled. "I'm sorry, but you did say I could do whatever I wanted. And what I wanted at the time…"

Beauté licked her blood-red lips.

"...was to go to the bathroom," she hummed. "Was that so wrong?"

A dark gloom shadowed Beauté's face again, her red eyes glaring down at him, and her finger trailing against her lips. At this point, the tips of her fingers were being coated with red lipstick.

"Anyway, I don't get why you're so upset," Beauté continued to hum. "The kids are safe once again. Or… could it be you truly did want to commit the Ultima–"

"I don't need to listen to this," Yukihiko turned around and headed back to investigate Riku's body.

He had left so quickly to rejoin Roderick that all Beauté could do on the side was watch him carefully. That dark gloom over her face went away, replaced with her pale complexion (and big forehead). She tilted her head and simply smiled on the side, keeping a close eye on the two pairings doing their own investigating.

…making sure to keep her eye on one specific pair…

…

"Nay, what did the sea witch want?" Roderick grumbled, glancing over to Beauté with a suspecting gaze. "Did she say something wrong Capt'n? I'll make her regret not choosing her words carefully! I swear to ye!"

"Roderick, honey, everything is fine," Yukihiko twirled his braid, uninterested in Roderick's pandering. "Let's just get started on the Investigation."

Roderick glanced at Yukihiko with uncertainty but relented, anyway. If that was what Capt'n Yukihiko, that was what Capt'n Yukihiko was going to get. With firm nods, he watched as Yukihiko squatted down toward Riku's body. Together, they noted his appearance.

Riku's body was seated on the fourth row of the boat, his eyes wide yet completely void of life.

His hair, shirt, and pants were wet. One could say that Riku Arakawa was wet but that seemed like it was in poor taste, so we will not be doing this time. Of course, to note was that gaping hole in Riku's head, still dripping that cold mixture of blood and water. That was the obvious Cause of Death. Similarly, upon closer examination was the thing near his hip. Yep.

There it was...

Plain as day.

Another gunshot wound.

Just as Beauté had pointed out from their second Stanczyk File.

"Nay, another gunshot wound but this time near his hip?" Roderick glanced at the injury closer before shaking his head. "Poor lad must've been in pain unbelievable to the common man. Nay..."

A little below the that hip injury was Riku's hands. Of which, one of his hands were clutching something. Yukihiko raised an eyebrow, squatting down and slowly removing whatever Riku had in his hands. But the moment he did, he furrowed his eyebrow, holding up the piece of evidence in all its glory. It was:

…a large leaf from a plant of some sort.

As he extended out the wrapping in all of his glory, he could make out the unique shape of the leaf. It was somewhat triangular, and the very tip of that leaf was curled up. The texture itself was smooth, glossy, and a little waxy. Because of that, the water itself was never able to penetrate it and instead slid off of it in droplets. It had a unique grassy smell and on one singular side were traces of Riku's blood.

But despite the number of details Yukihiko could garner from a single leaf, he still had no idea what the heck this was. He wasn't an Ultimate Botanist, but an Ultimate Child Caregiver, so naturally, he was confused.

"What… is this?" Yukihiko asked. "Some kind of leaf?"

"A leaf, eh?" Roderick slowly grabbed the leaf, feeling its texture and examining closely with ease. "It… be looking mighty familiar…"

"What, you recognize it?" Yukihiko raised an eyebrow. "Because I sure don't."

"Not in its entirety, nay," Roderick ruffled his beanie, glancing up at the ceiling. "But it do be a leaf of familiarity. Be giving me a minute to think about what kind of plant life this be, Capt'n. I be sure there's a name for it!"

"Very well..." Yukihiko decided to trust Roderick with this.

He watched as Roderick placed the leaf back in the boat. Throughout that, Yukihiko's mind constantly wandered to what this could mean. It was just so strange for Riku to have some random leaf in his hands like this. Not just that but one side of it had blood on it. What... exactly was Riku trying to do with that leaf?

An excellent question for an otherwise hefty upcoming Trial...

...

As Roderick set the leaf to the side, he noticed something peculiar about the very hand that had held onto that leaf. Or rather, both hands. He furrowed his eyebrows and slowly held Riku's dead cold hands.

That's when the peculiarity exposed itself in full light.

Black stains on Riku's hand that had long been smeared and were definitely fading away. Like black paint.

"N-Nay, what be this?!" Roderick blinked. "Black paint?!"

"Black paint…?" Yukihiko joined Roderick in pondering over what was on Riku's hands. "Huh. I suppose it could be. But, that is strange."

"W-What ye mean, Capt'n?" Roderick turned to Yukihiko, confused.

"Remind me handsome," Yukihiko smirked. "But wasn't Riku disgusted by stuff like this? Like seriously, almost unnecessarily germaphobic?"

"Aye, I be remembering that," Roderick simply nodded. "The lad be having a syringe with hand sanitizer in it. That be how much he be trying to keep clean."

"And what good hand sanitizer did to him in cleaning that junk up," Yukihiko remarked, glancing at his nails with slight disinterest. "Which begs the question…"

Yukihiko curled his fingers into a fist, glancing back up toward Roderick.

"Just how exactly did he get all this… muck on him?" the child caregiver asked.

Roderick would have little idea on how to answer that.

He just found the stains, he didn't create them. If anything, it looked like Riku had too much fun trying to tango with one of those deadly octopi. Perhaps the black stains were the ink he sustained from such a battle.

Roderick paused.

He shook his head.

He really needed to get his mind back in the game because in no realistic world would Riku ever want to dance with an octopus.

…

Deciding to distract his mind away from his strange fantasies, Roderick decided to try to find more evidence by frisking Riku's body. In the end, he came up with one simple thing…

Nothing.

Strange.

Shouldn't he have–

Roderick blinked.

During his moment of frisking, or let's be real, touching a dead body, Roderick had noticed that there was something on the doctor's back. Gently, he tipped Riku over in order to give him a better look. To his surprise…

…there was a large amount of what seemed to be dirt on the back of his shirt.

"Ugh, ew," Yukihiko recoiled in disgust, besides not being the one to frisk the corpse. "What on Earth is that doing on his back?"

"Aye, could that be dirt or… dried mud?" Roderick slowly retracted his hands, furrowing his eyebrows. "I be terrible at differentiating the two."

You and me, both.

"From the looks of it, it could be dried mud," Yukihiko rubbed his chin. "But that's also strange for Riku to have. For the same reason we just went over, of course."

"Aye," Roderick agreed. "The lad's fear of germs."

"Exactly," Yukihiko smirked to himself.

"N-Nay… but… Capt'n…" Roderick wasn't exactly sure about it, this time. "Maybe it be different this time? I mean, maybe this time, the lad didn't realize there be dried mud. It be on his back after all, so there be a big chance he just didn't see it."

Yukihiko glanced at Roderick, smirking.

"Very good, handsome!" Yukihiko complimented as if he were his own child. "I'm surprised you even managed to think about that."

Roderick lightly blushed at his compliments.

Undoubtedly, Yukihiko was impressed that behind that constant paranoia and ridiculous belief in monsters, there was a brain capable of logical reasoning in there. Because the logic Roderick pieced together wasn't bad actually. It was highly possible that Riku never did know about that junk on his back so perhaps whatever reaction he had to this evidence was very different to that of that black paint on his hands.

"I will agree that there is a big chance that Riku may have never seen this amount of junk on his back," Yukihiko twirled his braids a little more supportively. "But just as before, finding out where Riku might've gotten this much dirt may help figure out this entire case…"

As such, Yukihiko made sure to record this evidence in his Evidence log. After that, he carried on. He moved away from the body and glanced over to Beauté, who seemed to be mucking around doing absolutely nothing. Though, he didn't catch the girl's constant glances toward whatever Fábio and Kikuko were doing.

Yukihiko prepared to head over to her for a mini-interrogation session but was stopped by a rather serious-looking Roderick.

"Nay… Capt'n…" Roderick rubbed his chin. "Doesn't something seem off 'bout Riku…?"

Yukihiko paused and forced a smile.

"Well, of course, honey," he turned back toward the deep-sea fisherman before frowning. "He has a gaping hole in his head. Of course something would seem off about him."

"Nay," Roderick shook his head. "I be meaning that Riku be… missing something. Something that he normally be having. Something is… off…"

Roderick grimaced as he tried his best to figure out what exactly Riku was missing. Yukihiko… didn't see what Roderick was talking about at first but the more he looked at Riku, the more he realized just how on point Roderick was.

There was something off.

Something missing.

But what on Earth could that be…?

"Huh," Yukihiko folded his arms. "...You… might be right. There is something missing, but what exactly is it?"

As they thought about that excellent question…

…

…Fábio and Kikuko were doing something else, entirely.

They had situated themselves to the side, ready to speak to the spirit that was Riku Arakawa. Or rather, Kikuko was ready to speak to the spirit that was Riku Arakawa. Fábio stood by her side for moral support, though admittedly, it did get a little awkward for him when he tried so hard to understand where the heck Kikuko was staring at times…

Kikuko kept her spiritually blue gaze fixed onto Riku's spirit. Throughout his time in death, he had been busy examining his own corpse with intrigue. Undoubtedly the most Riku thing he would ever do. She took a deep breath, wondering what to ask Riku. In all her time as the Ultimate Shrine Priestess, this was probably the first time she was even asking a spirit how they died. If this wasn't a life-or-death situation, it'd probably remain that way out of respect for the dead, but some values weren't as important here–

"Keh, if you would stop staring at me, that would be nice," Riku muttered.

He wasn't even looking at her when she said this. Caught her off-guard but at least it saved Kikuko the trouble of having to call him over. She watched Riku, hands behind his back, walked over to Kikuko and Fábio. He examined the two closely, specifically Kikuko before twisting his lips into a pitiful chuckle.

"So, how long were you going to keep this party trick a secret?" Riku smirked. He snuck a glance toward Fábio. "Does he know? You two have been awfully tight…"

"That does not matter," Kikuko shook her head. "What matters is that I have questions for you. Please answer them to the best of your abilities."

"And if you don't, I'll poke you in the head where you were shot!" Eiji suddenly popped out from behind Riku.

"Completely unnecessary," Kikuko pointed out toward her twin brother.

Riku was almost surprised by the sudden appearance of Eiji. Key word being almost. When he noticed Eiji's appearance for the first time, the doctor instantly understood what this little boy was. The level of intrigue in his ghostly form was heightened as he turned to Kikuko.

"Well, aren't you full of surprises?" Riku chuckled. "Almost makes me wish I was still alive… So I can poke through your fleshy eyes and understand the limits of your power."

"I'll poke out your eyes first if you dare touch my sister like that!" Eiji declared.

"K-Kikuko are you–" Fábio widened his eyes, noticing Kikuko basically speaking to nothing but air.

Kikuko gave Fábio a nonverbal nod, though her expression showed a hint of disgust over what Riku said. She was at least glad she had Eiji to stick up for her.

"Just answer the question, Riku," Kikuko frowned. "Who killed you?"

Riku couldn't help but pitifully laugh at this.

"And why on Earth do you think I would want to reveal that?" Riku smirked.

"Alright, sis, can I whack him in the head, now?!" Eiji glanced toward his sister for permission.

"Eiji, heel," Kikuko folded her arms.

"I-I'm not a dog!" Eiji gasped.

"Riku, if you tell us, it would certainly save us the trouble of having to solve this entire thing," Kikuko turned back to the doctor's spirit. "Besides, aren't you the type to want to get vengeance on someone that killed you? From the looks of it…"

Kikuko snuck a glance toward Riku's corpse and quickly turned back, uneasily.

"They even left a nasty mark on your head," she continued.

"Keh, a fantastic shot that was too," Riku chuckled. "I can't believe I fell for the oldest trick in the book."

Kikuko narrowed her eyes.

This was far from what she thought Riku Arakawa would be like in death. Not that she imagined what any of these people would be like in death of course. But when it came to Riku, she always thought he'd be the guy that would be absolutely livid that he was killed. And yet, here he was…

"...You're praising your killer?" Kikuko raised an eyebrow.

"Keh, you seem to have little understanding about who I am, shrine witch," Riku laughed pitifully. "I may be Riku Arakawa, false heir to the Arakawa Family... I may have grown up in an environment where animals run wild killing one another, but I still respect the Kuzuryu way of having codes of honor and integrity..."

"...So, in other words, you are refusing to tell me," Kikuko frowned. "They killed you and you're choosing to respect and honor them by hiding their identity. Why on Earth would you possibly–"

"I keep my promises," Riku simply said.

Promise?

Kikuko shook her head. She wasn't satisfied with whatever the heck Riku was spouting. She wanted a definitive answer. Something she could work with. This was the problem with using her powers in this kind of environment. Most of the time, these spirits just do not want to cooperate with her!

"No, Riku," Kikuko narrowed her eyes. "You are deliberately hiding information from us. We need to know who killed you! Don't you remember?! If we get the killer wrong, we die! Don't you care about what happens to the rest of us?! We'll end up, just like you–"

"And what's wrong with that…?" Riku's twisted smile shifted into something more positive.

"W-What?" Kikuko widened her eyes.

"...For the first time in my life, I finally have what I've been longing for…" Riku chuckled pitifully.

Kikuko wanted to ask what he meant but that was when Riku extended out his arms, practically glad that he was dead. His body started to ascend, and his spiritual form started to subside. Kikuko could only widen her eyes, watching as Riku genuinely smiled for the first time as he transcended this pitiful plane of existence.

"...Freedom…" Riku smiled to himself.

And just like that, satisfied with what his life had become, Riku moved on to the afterlife. Kikuko desperately wanted to call out to him and plead for him to stay and answer her questions, but the doctor was adamant about his decision not to. She let her frustration seep through, which didn't go unnoticed by Fábio.

"K-Kikuko," Fábio placed a hand on her shoulder. "I-Is everything alright? D-Did Riku…?"

Kikuko looked solemn.

"He moved on," she simply said. "I suppose… he was happier in death than he ever was in life."

He examined Kikuko closely before reaching his own conclusion.

"And he didn't give us anything to work with," Fábio frowned.

"I'm afraid not," Kikuko shook her head, glancing up toward the ceiling.

Fábio traced his gaze up toward the ceiling. He grimaced, practically cursing Riku's name in his mind. The bastard was really going to not give them anything to work with. Just die and move on like it was nothing? He looked back down toward Kikuko.

"Can't you call him back down?" Fábio asked. "Like contact his spirit in the afterlife or something. There's no way he can get away with not giving us anything–"

"Unfortunately, it is never as easy as that," Kikuko explained. "When a spirit passes on into the afterlife, that's it. They move on. Calling them back is the equivalent of calling back an employee taking the day off from work. It can risk upsetting the spirit…"

"D-Damn it…" Fábio grimaced. "So as long as a spirit moves on, talking to them would be off the books."

"...Even if I could call him back, I doubt he would be much help," Kikuko frowned. "Riku was very adamant about keeping his killer's identity a secret. Something about a promise he made. Or just, basic code of honor…"

"Promise?" Fábio blinked. "Code of honor? Riku really–"

"Whatchu two talking about?" Beauté popped her head in-between the two.

"-didn't deserve to die!" Fábio saved it.

They should've expected that their ongoing talk with Riku was going to start looking suspicious. It was only a matter of time of when. And of all the people to notice, it had to be Beauté because of course it did! Both Kikuko and Fábio tried their best to remain as stoic as possible, but it definitely wasn't enough to shake the mysterious Ultimate's interest.

"...What's the matter?" Beauté giggled. "Are you two keeping secrets from me?"

Neither Kikuko nor Fábio said anything.

"Ohhh, what fun!" Beauté smirked, licking her red lips in delight. "I do love trying to figure out a good secret or two. They are an integral part of what makes a Killing Game so unique and interesting… don't you think?"

"We were simply discussing the case at hand," Kikuko folded her arms. "There is no secret… well, anything."

"Ah heh heh…" Beauté chuckled. "And I suppose the two of you hanging out together is purely coincidental? I always did sense there was something… blossoming between you two. Or was that my imagination?"

Kikuko and Fábio shared a look.

"Just your imagination," they simultaneously said.

"Hmm, if you say so," Beauté still remained unconvinced. "But just know that in almost every Killing Game setting, a relationship usually never lasts. In the end, someone dies. And the other has to live with the guilt and the pain of losing someone they love. Won't that be so sad and miserable for one of you…?"

Kikuko shifted uncomfortably.

"Hey, you were the last person who was with Riku," Fábio switched topics. "Did you kill him?"

"Really?" Beauté looked at the figure skater with an unamused expression. "Trying to change the topic? I must've really hit a nerve there, huh?"

Beauté flashed the two her wicked smile.

"...Oh well!" Beauté chuckled sinisterly. "I suppose that topic can be discussed at another time. Y'know, when we aren't being executed for catching the wrong killer."

"J-Just answer the question, Beauté," Kikuko folded her arms, her mind glancing back to the last thing Beauté had mentioned.

"Very well," Beauté giggled. "But I must warn you…"

And just like what she did with Yukihiko, the mysterious Ultimate leaned forward, a dark gloom shrouding her face to further expose the dashing red eyes she sported.

"...you won't believe me," she smirked.

Fábio held his ground.

Kikuko tried to remain calm.

Both of them listened to Beauté's supposed alibi. Since it was the same thing, she told Yukihiko, there was no need to shower this Investigation with stuff we already know. Therefore, as Beauté told the two about her alibi…

…

"So, you didn't see anyone going through your Attraction," Yukihiko folded his arms.

Yukihiko was doing the same but this time, with Roderick. Currently, the big mystery he had on his mind at the moment was how Riku was able to get on the ride in the first place. Roderick had been standing guard here the entire day so how did…

"Nay, Capt'n," Roderick shook his head. "The only souls that dared pass by me Attraction was ye with that delicious drink and later, Mara, Fábio, and Kikuko!"

"And you were standing guard the entire time?" Yukihiko raised an eyebrow. "No bathroom breaks or anything like that?"

No bathroom breaks like what a certain red-headed Ultimate took?

"Nay!" Roderick declared. "Me bladder be as formidable as ever!"

"Ignoring that…" Yukihiko folded his arms. "That just leaves us the question of how Riku even ended up in your Attraction in the first place. If you really were standing guard as you said, then maybe there's a secret way onto your Attraction that we're just not aware of…"

"Aye, I be in agreement with that Capt'n!" Roderick nodded. "Because I swear to ye, Riku never passed by me! I know he didn't!"

Roderick never looked more damned certain in his entire life than he did now. Yukihiko could at least recognize that. However, realistically, this also meant that Roderick also didn't necessarily have an alibi either. For all he knew, Roderick probably did leave at some point allowing Riku to sneak on board…

Yukihiko twirled the end of his braids in thought.

"...Aye, Capt'n," Roderick lowered his beanie. "Could I ask ye a question now?"

The child caregiver glanced back at the deep-sea fisherman.

"Well, of course handsome," he smiled. "What is it?"

"Where were ye when the crime took place?" Roderick gruffly asked.

Yukihiko was surprised.

Was… Roderick asking him for an alibi? His own second-in-command? Honestly, the thought of that made him very irritable. Huffing with an offended expression, he folded his arms and raised an eyebrow toward the deep-sea fisherman, potentially awaiting an explanation.

"And what prompted this?" Yukihiko frowned. "Don't you trust me?"

"Just going over the procedures, Capt'n," Roderick said, fixing his beanie. "This be not a mutiny! I swear it!"

Man's been swearing a lot, and not in that sailor mouth kind of way.

Regardless, Yukihiko gave the fisherman a pressing stare, like a mother waiting for a misbehaving child to explain who broke the vase or something like that. Roderick didn't seem entirely affected by it, but he did seem offput by how quiet Yukihiko was. After a moment, the child caregiver forced a smile and placed a hand on the fisherman's cheek.

"Oh handsome…" Yukihiko smirked. "...I don't think I need to give my alibi. Wanna know why?"

"E-Er…" Roderick blinked. "A-Aye?"

Yukihiko leaned forward. Roderick widened his eyes, practically submitting under the child caregiver's control.

"...Because I didn't kill Riku," Yukihiko told him, patting his cheeks and leaning back. "It's as simple as that."

"I… E-Er… W-Well, Capt'n, that be not–" Roderick blinked.

"Trust me," Yukihiko smiled at the fisherman. "Okay?"

Roderick felt hot. He lowered his beanie, embarrassed over how close he had been to Yukihiko there. He couldn't make a sound or say anything to that. Timidly, the fisherman nodded. Yukihiko flashed him a more innocent-looking smile. That smile made him melt.

"Thank you, handsome," Yukihiko said with a maternal tone. He clapped his hands together and glanced toward the trio that were conversing about alibis on the side. "Now then, one last thing before we can leave. I wish to get statements from what Kikuko and Fábio witnessed. Is that fine with you?"

"A-Aye…" Roderick let out.

"Good," Yukihiko smirked before walking toward the trio of Beauté, Fábio, and Kikuko.

Once he did so, Roderick couldn't help but lower his beanie further. God, when it came to Yukihiko, he was such a doormat. And at this point, even he was starting to catch on. Catch on just how weak and docile he was whenever he was with Yukihiko. Following behind the child caregiver, the fisherman could only hope that they figure out who killed Riku.

Lest his captain die without completing his mission…

(Cabin)

As Yukihiko took to talking to Fábio and Kikuko about how everything happened, Aidan decided to check out the area closer to the crime scene: the Cabin.

He never actually got to check this out but as everyone was taking all the notable spots, this was definitely a place he felt could have some clues about what happened to Riku. But as most Investigations go, he wasn't the only person with this idea. As he walked into the Cabin fate gave him the one person he was looking for.

Daisuke, with his back turned, was currently glancing through the Photo Machine.

Aidan hesitated to call out his name. He wanted to talk to him, but he just knew that if he tried, things probably wouldn't end up so well. He could've gone around and investigated the scene without alerting Daisuke of his presence, but the track star just couldn't help himself. They needed to talk about the elephant in the room.

So, Aidan walked up to Daisuke and placed his hand on his shoulder–

"WAGH!" Daisuke screamed in fright, hugging his shoulders in fear.

"W-Whoa, sorry!" Aidan widened his eyes. "Sorry! For freaking you out!"

Daisuke shivered, glancing away. He grasped onto his shoulders tightly, clearly not feeling up to conversing with Aidan. Not like this at least. His face was blue, and he looked close to crying. Just seeing Aidan up close like this since that day… since that incident… It was overwhelming. He really wanted to leave.

Just crawl in a hole and die…

Daisuke decided to try to just run but Aidan stepped in front of him, his hands out like he was trying to comfort a wounded puppy. There was pleading look in Aidan's eyes and yet Daisuke just wanted to leave. He didn't want to do this. Not right now. Not during the Investigation–

"Daisuke, look at me," Aidan frowned. "I'm not mad. Seriously, I'm not…"

Daisuke paused, before looking down.

"...I… I know you aren't…" Daisuke simply said, hugging himself once again. "B-But you should be."

Aidan didn't say anything.

"I… I did something so stupid, Aidan," Daisuke shuddered. "And I'm so, so sorry for that. I didn't mean for that to happen. I didn't mean to… I… I sh-should've known you were…"

"Hey, hey, relax," Aidan assured him. "Look, stuff like this happens. I get it."

"I-It does?" Daisuke blinked.

No, it doesn't, but Daisuke didn't need to know that.

"Look man," Aidan sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "You don't have to be afraid about what I think. I know I messed up hurting your feelings and all, but…"

He stopped and rephrased.

"I should be the one that's sorry," Aidan muttered. "I should've noticed the signs sooner. If I had… I… I would've… I could've been able to…"

"...B-But that wouldn't have mattered anyway," Daisuke glanced away. "B-Because I think… I think I still would've gone for it anyway…"

Aidan blinked.

"...A-Aidan, I…" Daisuke hugged his shoulders. He closed his eyes to avoid even looking at Aidan… ashamed over what he had done. "...I think you're one of the coolest and nicest guys I've ever met. A-And I… I…"

Daisuke struggled to say it.

"I…" he couldn't bring the words out.

"W-What is it, D?" Aidan blinked.

Daisuke's face turned blue. He couldn't do it. He wanted to say those three words, but he only stopped after the first. There was no way he could bring himself to confess to Aidan. Not after that kiss. Not after the humiliation. He simply shut himself up and tried to hug himself for comfort.

"Look, D," Aidan tried to reassure his friend.

He placed a hand on his shoulder.

Daisuke flinched and stepped back, hugging himself accordingly.

God.

It hurt… to see Daisuke act like this. Aidan missed the time in which he and Daisuke could just hang out freely and talk about their lives back home. Now, Daisuke was just too scared to reach out and Aidan was just… Aidan.

Damn it.

Aidan wished he could do better. He wished he could. But what choice did he have in the matter? As long as Daisuke still felt that shame of kissing Aidan on the lips, he'll always feel like he caused the biggest mistake of his life. The track star simply shoved his hands inside his pockets and gave Daisuke a small supportive smile.

"O-Okay, we'll just… we'll just wait a while till we can talk about it again," Aidan chuckled sheepishly. "N-No biggie…"

"...I'm sorry Aidan," Daisuke continued to apologize.

"H-Hey, no no, no need to apologize," Aidan shook his head. "Look. Let's just focus on the Investigation alright? I think… I think we're wasting too much time here focusing on our own issues so…"

That part was Aidan's fault since he initiated that.

…

"So, you were checking that machine, right?" Aidan decided to start. "What is that anyway, like some sort of…"

"O-Oh, it's a Photo Machine," Daisuke explained. "I… actually just got started on using it. I-It took a bit but I did figure out how to use it. Th-Thank goodness Stanczyk was here to help me out."

"W-What?" Aidan blinked, glancing around. "S-Stanczyk is here? Where?!"

"Hello little boy!" Stanczyk suddenly popped out of nowhere.

"Holy–!" Aidan jumped in surprise.

"Ahahahahaha!" Stanczyk giggled. "Oops! Didn't mean to scare you, little boy! I just heard my name and down came Mister Stanczyk from the ceiling! Fun, wasn't it?!"

Aidan blinked at Stanczyk, as if he were crazy.

"Y-You were in the ceiling…?" he asked.

"...It was so scary," Stanczyk whispered, holding up his hands to reveal wooden splinters piercing his gloves. A teardrop exited his eye, but splinters and pain didn't matter as long as his best friends were happy! So, sucking it up, the fun jester widened his grin. "But enough about me! What about you?! I heard you wanted to know about the Photo Machine!"

"Yeah… Uhhh…" Aidan was a little uncomfortable around this guy for many reasons but he supposed this time, it was probably because it was actually his first time being face-to-face with the jester. "H-How exactly does it work?"

"Well, that's easy!" Stanczyk grinned. "I know Monoyena explained it to my other best friends, but you two get the free lesson with your one and only best friend! Me! Stanczyk!"

He pointed his finger toward Daisuke.

"Big friend!" he grinned. "Want to help with the demonstration?!"

"H-Huh?" Daisuke blinked. "B-But I–"

"Great!" Stanczyk wasted no time. "So, the Photo Machine is a machine that records all pictures taken of every boat that falls down the final drop! To get those pictures, you need to first insert your eTicket within the Photo Machine slot! After that, just Save the photo you want to keep, and it'll pop up in your Pictures app!"

"O-Okay, so this means that we should get an image of Riku on the ride, right?" Aidan asked.

"Y-Yeah," Daisuke nodded, taking out his eTicket and raising it up for the track star to see. "Th-There were only two pictures with Riku, so I saved them both…"

When Aidan walked up to Daisuke's eTicket to glance at the first image he saved, he could see the following image:

…

The first image Daisuke saved showed Riku riding the ride as it dropped down the final drop. He sat in the first row and his jacket blew against the rushing winds of the drop. Not only that, but his black hair also covered his face as well. Fitting as it also seemed like his hair was completely drenched.

…

"Yep, that's Riku alright," Aidan folded his arms. "Geez, him having fun on the day of the deadline sounds exactly like him."

Aidan shook his head at Riku's antics. Admittedly, Aidan had no right to say this about Riku considering he barely interacted with the guy. If anything, the most interaction he got from the doctor was him calling him an idiot at Hangman every so often.

"Hey, you saved two pictures, right?" Aidan asked. "What about the second picture?"

"A-Ah, h-here you go…" Daisuke scrolled to the right to show off the second photo that he had saved. Compared to the first image, the second image looked like:

…

The second image Daisuke saved showed Riku riding the ride as it dropped down the final drop. He sat in the fourth row and seemed to be bracing himself as the ride slid down. With one hand, he was clutching his shirt tightly while the other hand was clutching the side bars. Just like the last image, he was completely drenched as well.

…

"...Huh!" Aidan narrowed his eyes. "...They're the same picture!"

"T-They are?" Daisuke blinked, confused. "I… I think that maybe…"

"But… huh… There aren't any timestamps on these pictures," Aidan pointed out. "So, I don't think it'll help us with the timeline of events."

"Oh, there's no need to worry about a timestamp!" Stanczyk grinned. "Because when you save more than one photo, your Picture App will always make sure to arrange the pictures you saved in the order of when the photo was actually taken!"

"...What?" Aidan didn't understand.

"W-Wait, so you mean…" Daisuke did. "...The pictures I have saved right now are in chronological order? Like, this picture here…"

He showed the first image of Riku that he saved.

"...This was taken by the camera first…" Daisuke concluded. "And this picture here…"

He showed the second image of Riku that he saved.

"...This was taken by the camera second?" Daisuke asked.

"That's right!" Stanczyk happily exclaimed. "Isn't that neat?!"

"I… I guess so…" Daisuke noted, pocketing his eTicket.

So far, what they had found were two pictures of Riku going down the final drop of the ride. And thanks to Stanczyk, they also know which pictures were exactly Picture #1 and Picture #2. Picture #1 was the first image saved (the first one shown) and Picture #2 was the second image saved (the second one shown). Whatever they chose to do with that information now was entirely up to them…

…

As they moved away from the Photo Machine, Aidan took a glance toward the turnstiles, blocking them from going through the Exit to Roderick's Attraction.

If he remembered correctly, Roderick's Attraction housed the Girl's Button and if the button placement was anything like Kikuko's Attraction, that would mean that the Girl's Button would probably be beyond the turnstiles. Curiosity was getting the better of Aidan. He wanted to check. So, carefully, Aidan tried to climb over the–

"NO!" Stanczyk pulled Aidan back.

"W-Whoa!" Aidan widened his eyes. "W-What are you doing?!"

"Silly little boy!" Stanczyk wagged his finger toward the track star. "You can't go that way! There's a turnstile there for a reason, and that's to prevent you from entering the Attraction on this side of… the Attraction."

Redundant much?

"Um, sure I can," Aidan blinked. "All I have to do is climb over it. We do it all the time in New York subway stations…"

"nO wOnDeR tHeRe iS sO mUcH diSSaTisFaCTiOn…" Stanczyk distorted, his single red eye glowing profusely.

He leaned forward, making sure the track star got a good look at his darker side before snapping out of it. Returning back to his happy smile, the jester chuckled and started to sweat a bit.

"W-Whoops!" Stanczyk grinned. "I– I mean… You can do that there, but here is a big no no best friend! Climbing over turnstiles can very well get you hurt… even worse… killed!"

"Why, is there a rule for that or something?" Aidan blinked.

Stanczyk paused.

On cue, a notification popped out from both Daisuke and Aidan's eTicket. It didn't take a super genius to figure out what that notification was for. Because glancing down at the Rules app was yet another addition to the rules:

Rule #18: Climbing over turnstiles is off-limits.

"W-What?!" Aidan frowned. "Oh, come on! I just wanted to see if the Girl's Button was there or not! You guys always make up a rule when I want to do something!"

He still hasn't forgotten the added Rule #17 of no breaking into Gift Shops. That became a rule because he tried to smash the window open.

"I'm sorry, little boy, but rules are rules," Stanczyk pouted. "Besides, you aren't the first person to try this! We let them off with a warning, but now, it's time to make it an actual rule!"

"H-Huh?" Daisuke blinked. "S-Someone tried it before?"

Stanczyk paused again.

"W-Whoops, said too much!" Stanczyk chuckled sheepishly. "Is that Monoyena I hear calling for me?! Gotta go! See you later, best friends!"

And almost instantly, Stanczyk sprinted away, leaving Daisuke and Aidan all to themselves once more. Aidan folded his arms as Daisuke trailed his eyes down, feeling awkward to be standing next to Aidan again.

"Jeez, that guy…" Aidan sighed. "Well, at least we got some useful information out of him."

He frowned.

"...And a new rule," he muttered.

"Y-Yeah, but at least we have some evidence!" Daisuke tried to instill some hope. "I-If that's good and… all…"

Totally good. Yet another important detail was added to their list of sparingly few evidence. Sparingly few yes but at least they were getting evidence. All that was left for them to wonder was where to investigate next?

[Ultimate Gunslinger's Attraction]

(Queue)

When Manon entered Yumi's Ultimate Attraction, she had hoped that she would've found Yumi there. Made sense. Throughout their Free-Time Events, it was always started by the revelation of that gun. That golden gun that apparently belonged to her.

Poor Yumi.

To go through such trauma, Manon just couldn't help but feel a sense of sorrow for the young cowgirl. Because not only was that golden gun something she had been trying so hard to win over, but the golden gun was also no longer there.

All that was left of Yumi's Ultimate Attraction, or at least the 'prize corner' part of it, were glass shards strewn on the ground. And most surprisingly were the presence of the two people that decided to investigate this place: Alisa and Kazuki.

"Ah!" Manon gasped. "Madame Zachary! Monsieur Nobukatsu! What are you two doing here?"

"...Investigating…" Kazuki chuckled softly. "...What else…?"

"Indeed," Alisa merely nodded. "According to the Stanczyk File, Riku Arakawa was killed via a gunshot through the head. This obviously brought both me and Kazuki to the place where the murder weapon most definitely originated from."

"...Ze… golden gun, oui?" Manon asked.

"Indeed," Alisa confirmed, before pushing her glasses up. "But… as it currently stands, that golden gun is missing. We can only assume that the killer took the gun and used that shoot Riku."

"...If anything…" Kazuki folded his arms. "...I would like to suspect that the killer may even have the golden gun right at this very moment…"

"Quoi?!" Manon blinked. "With zem, even now?! During ze Investigation?!"

"...That would be my working theory… yes…" Kazuki nodded.

A golden gun that was missing, presumably taken by the killer, and what was worse was that the killer probably still has it on them as they speak. Goodness, that was a frightening thought. As Manon shuddered just thinking about it, Alisa and Kazuki took the reigns of their conversation.

"...Miss Levesque…" Kazuki began. "...By the way... Could we ask you a question…?"

"U-Um, oui," Manon nodded, hugging herself for comfort.

"...Where were you during the time of the murder…?" Kazuki questioned. "...Please note… This does not mean we suspect you of anything… It's just standard procedure…"

Kazuki definitely had experience doing this because that was exactly what a police officer or a detective would say to a witness in a murder.

"Oh la la…" Manon glanced away. "I am afraid zat my alibi would mean nothing. For most of today, I was in my room. Today was ze deadline so I was just… scared… zat maybe some zing would happen to me…"

"As we all were… yes…" Kazuki sighed.

"Did you ever come out of your room at any time?" Alisa asked.

"Well, zere was one time," Manon rubbed her chin. "But it was to chat with Madame Gundo. Apparently, she was feeling very sad because some zing Monsieur Stanczyk did…"

"Something… Stanczyk did?" Alisa blinked.

"Oui!" Manon nodded. "According to her, yesterday, Monsieur Stanczyk managed to beat his own high score, raising the score for her to beat. It was a huge blow to Madame Gundo's reputation!"

"The high score…" Kazuki hummed.

Immediately, all eyes turned toward the high score hanging underneath where the display case and golden gun would've been. Written clearly in white chalk was the following:

High Score To Beat: 1,843,600

"...Wow…" Kazuki noted. "The score really did change…"

He turned back to Manon.

"And she said Stanczyk beat his own score…?" Kazuki closed one eye, incredulous at the thought of how good Stanczyk was at these kinds of games.

"Oui," Manon nodded.

"That's impossible," Alisa shook her head, walking up toward the sign. "It's obvious Stanczyk simply just changed the scoreboard for the sign with white chalk. See it's… Hm?"

Alisa had tried to wipe her finger against the chalk. Or rather, what was supposedly white chalk. But instead of feeling a white crusty substance on her finger, she felt nothing but the cold hard screen of something digital. In other words…

"Th-This high score display is digital?" Alisa widened her eyes. "Th-That would mean…"

"...Stanczyk really is good at these gun games…" Kazuki nodded. "...If it were actual chalk writing… It'd be a different story. But since it's a digital screen that creates the illusion of an old Western chalkboard…"

"Does zat mean…" Manon slowly came to a realization. "...Monsieur Stanczyk was ze one who won ze gun…?"

"That… or made it too hard for the gun to be won…" Kazuki folded his arms in thought. He remembered just how terrible he was at the game but even then…

1,843,600.

That was a damn high score to beat.

…

"E-Erm, what about you two?" Manon questioned. "Were you two still…"

"Looking after the computer monitors?" Alisa folded her arms, still slightly irritated over the events of today. "Indeed, we were…"

"U-Um, did I say some zing wrong?" Manon looked at Alisa, surprised.

"Oh… don't mind her…" Kazuki chuckled. "...She just got into a little heated argument against Mister Yuno… As it turns out someone had messed with the computer monitors and me and Miss Zachary ended up on the receiving end of Mister Yuno's berating…"

"Oh, I see…" Manon couldn't help but feel sympathetic toward the two.

She knew all too well what it was like to be berated for not doing something right after all…

"So… we spent pretty much the entire day at the computer monitors," Alisa folded her arms. "The only time we left as soon as the Body Discovery Jingle sounded."

And unlike her, Alisa and Kazuki could at least vouch for each other. At this point in time, Manon would've probably made a teasing remark about that but unfortunately, it was the Investigation Period. Someone had died. Quite frankly, Manon just wasn't in the mood for it she supposed.

…

The next thing the three decided to take a look at was the display case.

It was an integral part of the Investigation as the main source of the mess in Yumi's Attraction was pretty much the glass case that had once kept that golden gun on display in all of its glory. Now, it was just nothing, but shattered pieces scattered on the ground. Fixing her glasses, Alisa examined this sight closely.

"The display case has been shattered," Alisa inquired. "Which means that whatever shattered it had to have been pretty powerful."

"I zink I would have to agree with you on zat…" Manon nodded. "Mais, my only question is…"

She frowned, looking at the case with such saddened eyes.

"...Pourquoi?" she finished her sentence. "...Why break ze display case?"

"I don't believe the answer to that question is as complicated as it looks," Alisa surmised, thinking about the answer to herself.

The answer could be simpler if one just thought about it, but was that really all there was to this broken display case? Alisa glanced toward Kazuki about this fact, but from the looks of it, he had definitely spotted a clue worth looking into. She watched the philanthropist crouch down amidst the sharp glass shard pieces and picking up something.

"Kazuki?" Alisa tilted her head. "What did you find…?"

Kazuki didn't say anything. Instead, he raised up a small pellet of some kind in the air, one eye opened to examine it.

"I-Is that…?" Alisa widened her eyes.

"A bullet shell…?" Kazuki smiled to himself, showing Alisa and Manon. "...You would be correct in assuming so."

"Ah, could zat be ze bullet shell from ze golden gun?!" Manon exclaimed in shock.

Kazuki rubbed his chin. He tried his best to identify the type of bullet it was, but unfortunately, even though this guy had the experience of getting shot at, he didn't have the necessary experience to identify bullets. In response to Manon, he shook his head.

"Hard to say…" Kazuki mused. "...But I do believe Miss Gundo could help us out on that front… Wherever she is… that is…"

Right.

Yumi wasn't here for some reason. Where was she anyway?

"Regardless of where she is…" Alisa repositioned her glasses. "I believe this is all we can investigate here. Based on what was left here, I would have to say that this was essentially a robbery of some sort."

"Oui…" Manon had to agree with that. "A robbery of one golden gun…"

Kazuki prepared to head out of the cavern, but not before waiting for Manon and Alisa to tag along. He fixed his gloves and smiled gently toward the two girls, the latter of whom was curious over what his next place to investigate was.

"Where are you going, Kazuki?" Alisa asked.

"...There is one other place I wanted to check…" Kazuki mentioned. "Please feel free to tag along… Miss Zachary. You too… Miss Levesque."

Alisa was more than happy to join.

Manon on the other hand…

"Ah, I will leave whatever you wanted to check up to you two, Madame et Monsieur," Manon gave them a mock curtsy and a small smile. "I will continue to investigate here and see if we have missed any zing."

"Good use of your time, I suppose," Alisa noted.

"Very well…" Kazuki nodded. "We hope to hear whatever you have found later…"

Manon nodded back and watched the two leave.

Once they did, the actress took a deep breath and glanced around. She noted that the ride was no longer operational thanks to the Investigation Period. She noted the things they had already examined. Oh, who was she kidding? She wasn't here to investigate. She was here to wait for Yumi just so she could pass along the message and make sure she'd be alright.

Manon felt her heart.

She grimaced.

No matter how hard she tried to bury it, it always found a way to dig back up into the surface. Manon took a deep breath and sighed. She tried to focus. Just go back to investigating.

Go back to investigating…

[Ultimate Karate Master's Attraction]

(Cafe)

Mara sat at one of the cafe tables, wordlessly.

The Investigation Period was still going on. And while others went around trying to find evidence about everything, she decided to take a seat at one of the tables in her own Attraction. She wasn't tired or anything like that. Instead, she just… didn't really have the heart to commit to this Investigation.

She bit her lip.

It happened again. The thing that she was so scared of happened once more. It was like a curse. The very moment she decided that she was going to be friends with a yakuza doctor was the very moment that sealed his fate. She recalled seeing his corpse slowly drift across the boat of Roderick's Attraction.

A chilling sight.

Yet, familiar.

She thought back to an earlier conversation she had with Riku.

"You see my problem, now, right?" Mara muttered. "I can never be with anyone. Because… Why should I bother anymore? I lose those I grow close to. I lose things that I love. I guess what I'm trying to say is…"

"You're scared of losing things again," Riku concluded.

And how right she was to be scared…

She had admittedly gotten too close to someone like Riku. And even if Riku didn't want to admit, Mara figured that somewhere in that cold husk of a person was him also enjoying her presence too. That would've explained why he kept coming back to talk to her about their issues. He just couldn't resist it.

Mara grimaced.

She should've known that something like this wouldn't have lasted. According to Riku, that was the fate God probably intended for her. Tch. She didn't even believe in God. Why the hell should she, anyway? All she knew in her life was suffering. Losing Riku to this goddamn Killing Game was no different than killing her own mother and getting abandoned by everyone that ever claimed to love her.

She felt her fists tightened.

She wanted to punch something.

She wanted to… let that… monster… out…

"B-Bambina!"

Mara snapped back into reality, taking in deep breaths. She turned around to see Yumi and Issac wandering in… Yumi and Issac? That was an unusual combination. Yumi, she could understand. The girl and her had one Free-Time Event that left some sort of impression on both of them. Issac on the other hand…

"Ah, there you are," Issac rubbed the back of Isolde's body. "We've been looking all over for you, y'know."

"...Why?" Mara simply asked.

"Ya didn't join us when Monoyena and Stanczyk started da Investigation," Yumi scratched the back of her neck. "Ah just thought dat…"

"Was attendance mandatory?" Mara seriously didn't want to be interacted with right about now.

She folded her arms and glanced away, her expression moody.

"W-Well, no but–" Yumi began to say.

"Then, why does it matter if I was there or not?" Mara bitterly asked.

Yumi had no response to that.

Honestly, Yumi was completely in the dark when it came to why Mara was feeling this way. She spent the entirety of Chapter 2 failing hard at her Ultimate Attraction. Whenever she was not doing that, Manon would be there stealing Yumi's Free-Time Event slots. As such, the Yumi and Mara content had been lacking but this Investigation gave them time to reconnect and hopefully–

"Look, bambina," Yumi approached Mara, pulling a seat next to her. "If yer sad 'bout Riku's death, we understand. Ah mean, someone went ahead and killed another person again. So, ya 'ave every right to–"

"Let's get one thing straight here," Mara quickly snapped toward Yumi. "You do not understand anything about me, alright? I just want to be left alone. Is that really so goddamn hard to ask in this place?!"

Yumi bit her tongue, looking slightly ashamed of herself for causing Mara to snap like that.

"And what about you?" Mara snapped to Issac. "Why the heck are you here? We don't even talk that much."

Issac blinked, surprised that Mara had snapped toward him of all people. Regardless, the toymaker wasn't as fazed as Yumi, so he was able to recover relatively well. He brushed his hair to the side and caressed Isolde's cheek.

"Investigation purposes," Issac shrugged. "Isolde here thought that maybe you could help go into details about how the case turned out. From what we've heard, you were one of the few that found the body, right?"

Mara simply glanced away.

"Please bambina," Yumi tried again. "Ah apologize fer offendin ya like dat but… We just wanna to figure out what happened, aight? Ain't dat what you want as well?"

Mara tried hard to ignore Yumi.

Once again, she could tell that Yumi didn't exactly understand why she was being ill-tempered. No one would. She was a monster after all. But at the same time, Yumi wasn't exactly wrong when she said that she wanted to find out who killed Riku as well. Find out why the guy had to die…

Her frown deepened as she exhaled through her nose.

"...What do you want to know…?" Mara sighed.

Yumi smiled in relief.

Issac did the same.

But no one was happier than Isolde.

Wait. What?

Oh God. Freaky mental illness is spreading, ugh.

Anyway, Issac stepped up, as if he were like a detective on the case or something like that. He rubbed Isolde's head and pulled a seat up so that he could thoroughly ask Mara questions. Clasping his hands together, he eyed the karate master carefully.

"Walk us through the whole thing," Issac rubbed his chin. "Alibis. How you guys found the body. All of that good stuff."

"...Look, I was here for most of the day, as I normally am," Mara folded her arms. "I only joined the body hunt after the second gunshot."

"Second… gunshot?" Yumi blinked.

"Yeah," Mara glanced away. "According to Fábio and Kikuko, there was a gunshot that rang out near my Ultimate Attraction."

"You didn't hear it?" Issac raised an eyebrow.

"Nope," Mara shook her head.

Huh. Interesting.

"But I did hear Gunshots #2 and #3," Mara revealed. "By the time Fábio and Kikuko explained what happened to me, Gunshot #2 rang out. We followed it to the right side of the Jungle. That's when we saw what became of Yumi's Ultimate Attraction."

"M-Mah Ultimate Attraction?" Yumi widened her eyes.

"...It was a mess," Mara folded her arms. "The golden gun that was supposed to be there was gone. Looked like a total robbery."

"A-At mah Ultimate Attraction," Yumi seemed visibly upset by that.

"We stood around for a bit and talked about what we should do next," Mara continued. "By the time we did that, the third gunshot rang out. This time, on the left side of the Jungle. And when we went there, Kikuko and I both saw the body dropping down that water ride."

"That's when you stormed into Cutler's Attraction and found Arakawa's body, huh?" Issac brushed his hair to the side. "Well, sounds like you had quite the marathon to run."

"Tell me about it," Mara grumbled. "It was exhausting. Those winding pathways to get from one side to the other is longer than you would expect."

"Didn't even think about riding the roller coaster to get from Point A to Point B?" Issac questioned.

"W-What?" Yumi turned to Issac, surprised.

"...Huh…?" Mara glanced at him like he was crazy. "You can do that?"

"Yeah," Issac shrugged. "I guess it makes sense that neither of you knew about it, but Unmei's entire ride was some sort of makeshift train station. You guys could've taken that to get to the left side of the Jungle."

"And ya could've done that from da Exit side too?" Yumi widened her eyes, shocked.

"Yeah," Issac confirmed with a smile.

"Damn it!" Mara groaned. "Why didn't anyone tell me?!"

"Don't know…" Issac hummed. "I would've thought Barbosa would've told you two about it."

But he didn't… Because she and Kikuko had decided to fuck off before Fábio could really say anything. Mara mentally cursed herself for getting too ahead of herself in that scenario. Could've really saved their time and energy if they had just stopped and thought about how to handle their situation carefully.

She took a deep breath and glanced toward Issac and Yumi, narrowing her eyes.

"What about you two?" she frowned. "Where you guys when all this happened?"

"Oh, so now you're asking the questions, huh?" Issac chuckled, amused. He glanced at Isolde, now chuckling sheepishly. "W-Whoa! Isolde! Calm down! I wasn't flirting with Garcia!"

Mara and Yumi exchanged looks.

"Well, if ya must know," Yumi tipped her hat down. "Ah was just hangin out at da Pit Stop today. Didn't even dink 'bout going to mah Ultimate Attraction. Not after yesterday."

"What happened yesterday?" Mara raised an eyebrow.

"Well, dat Stanczyk feller raised da high score," Yumi sighed. "Broke mah spirit… Don't dink ah'll be touchin dat game again. Or… ever, now dat apparently dat golden gun is gone."

Mara kept her arms folded, examining Yumi closely. Obviously, she had no one to corroborate what she said was true. As such, she moved on toward Issac, who had just calmed down Isolde… apparently.

"And what about you?" she questioned. "Where were you when all of this was happening?"

"Well, like Gundo, no one can really say for sure," Issac chuckled, smoothing his hair back with a smile. "But I will say that I spent most of my time at that chicken shack. Isolde was starving today."

Just as he said. No one to really corroborate what he said.

"...But," Issac folded his arms, looking a little conflicted. "Shortly before you found me, I did end up at the right side of Jungle of Joy. That was when I saw something strange. And this was around the time the Body Discovery Jingle just started playing by the way."

Mara and Yumi glanced at Issac, curiously, urging to go on.

"You know how the Village can see the peak of Unmei's coaster?" Issac asked. "Well, Isolde alerted me to something that was happening."

"Your… caterpillar… told you something was going on," Mara didn't even need to phrase that as a question.

"Hey, I may have a keen eye for observation, but Isolde is just as good…" Issac chuckled. "If not, better. Anyway, when we watched the coaster reach the top of the peak, it kind of looked like something had fallen out of it."

"Some thang had fallen out?" Yumi blinked. "Like… what was it?"

"If we had any clue on what it was, we'd probably would've told you two by now," Issac shrugged. "But from what we could see, it looked like two pieces of something. I didn't know if maybe the ride was coming off, but I think it's something to note regardless."

Issac smiled, brushing his pink hair to the side.

"Don't you think?" the toymaker chuckled.

Issac saw something, or I suppose, some things fall out of Kikuko's coaster. Whatever those things could be, to have dropped off the coaster around the same time as the body was discovered couldn't be some strange coincidence, right?

"Ya didn't see anyone riding da coaster?" Yumi asked.

Issac folded his arms and thought back to that specific moment in time.

"...Unfortunately, not really," Issac noted. "If there was someone riding it, I wouldn't have been able to recognize them from a distance like that, anyway. Not only that, but most of my attention was more focused on the things that fell out so…"

He laughed, sheepishly.

"Sorry about that, I guess…" Issac rubbed the back of Isolde's body.

Well, there goes that.

…

With the three having effectively shared alibis, they could at least agree that only Mara's alibi holds any water. Yumi and Issac were still on the potential list of suspects, meaning they could very well be the ones who killed Riku. Why? Mara wasn't sure just yet. All she knew was then she needed to separate herself from them for the time being.

Go back to being that lone wolf she just so used to being.

"Anyway, if that's all you wanted to ask me," Mara scooted herself out of the table. "I'm gonna go now."

"Investigate?" Yumi asked, hopefully.

"...Tch, yeah," Mara glanced away. "But alone. I'd… rather be alone."

Mara folded her arms and turned toward the doors to her Ultimate Attraction. She prepared to leave but had to pause for a quick moment.

"Hold it," Issac noticed something.

He tapped his chin.

"...Wasn't there supposed to be Kenshiro animatronic in your Ultimate Attraction or something like that?" Issac asked.

Mara turned back to Issac, confused.

"...There was, why?" she asked.

"Well, other than the fact that it's just gone," Issac chuckled. "No reason…"

Yumi glanced toward the MMA fighting ring where the Kenshiro animatronic was supposed to be. She… wasn't too familiar with Mara's restaurant funnily enough. Never really paid the details of the inside any mind until now. So, when she ran up toward the MMA fighting ring, all that was really left was…

"Well, ah'll be!" Yumi scratched her head underneath her Stetson hat. "It be as da toymaker says! Da animatronic is gone! Left with some gunk on da floor but…"

"Ohhhh, that," Mara nodded, remembering. "It's not a big deal. It was like that when I got here in the morning."

"You aren't surprised that the animatronic to your own Attraction is just gone?" Issac blinked.

"Why would I be…?" Mara asked, raising an eyebrow. "I literally broke the robot a few days ago. Obviously, the animatronic was taken away for repairs."

"H-Hol' up!" Yumi glanced at Mara in wonder. "Ya broke da robot?! How'd ya do dat?!"

"...By fighting it…" Mara deadpanned. "Do I really need to go into detail about that? I am the Ultimate Karate Master you know…"

"Woowee," Yumi was very impressed by this. "Now dat be some mighty fine Talent ya got there, bambina!"

Mara rolled her eyes and walked away.

"Don't call me bambina," she simply said as she left her Attraction.

At least the development here was that Mara was now going to actively participate in what was left of the Investigation Period. That was something that Yumi could count on as a win. As for why Kenshiro's Attraction was gone… Well, surely it would be as Mara said. That maybe Stanczyk saw it and just took it away for repairs.

That was it.

Right?

Issac wasn't sure. But what he was sure was that he got some good details out of everyone's alibis and discussions. Both he and Yumi did. So, it didn't take long until the two also left Mara's cafe, eager to find some more evidence before the Investigation Period inevitably ended.

[Pleasure Park]

(Square)

When Alisa followed Kazuki to the next place he wanted to check out, she didn't expect herself to be brought back to the computer monitors of all places. After wasting so much time just standing here doing absolutely nothing, it was reasonable as to why Alisa had a newfound distaste for watching over computer monitors.

Especially these ones—

Wait.

Both Alisa and Kazuki froze, looking at the screens in surprise. The monitors had been completely shut off. No longer could they see the four children in their four quadrants with the three words and one word that had yet to be solved. And what was more, the keyboard carts were currently being wheeled away by one…

"Monoyena?" Kazuki blinked, watching the short plush hyena pulling the carts away. "W-What are you doing…?"

Monoyena stopped pulling the carts and glanced toward Kazuki and Alisa. The hyena was noticeably out of breath. Not surprising considering this little guy had to haul four separate carts with computer keyboards. But amidst his shortness of breath was a look that practically told him how much he didn't want them here.

"What the fuck do you mean 'what am I doing'?" Monoyena took out his Barbie Blade and used it to comb his slanted mohawk. "What does it look like I'm doing? Someone died! It's Investigation time! Playtime Event is fucking over! There ain't no need for these things anymore!"

"...Kazuki, why exactly are we back here?" Alisa asked the philanthropist, folding her arms.

Kazuki stepped up, looking slightly disappointed that the Playtime Event was ending prematurely like this. It wasn't like he enjoyed playing Hangman, it was more like he enjoyed being pretty good at Hangman! He can't let this slide! He wanted to figure out what the Boy's word was!

"...I was hoping we could've used the Playtime Event as evidence…" Kazuki explained, before glancing at Monoyena. "There was still the Boy's word we needed to solve…"

"Jesus Christ, when Stanshit and I came up with Hangman's Gambit together, we didn't expect someone to actually enjoy playing the game!" Monoyena glanced at Kazuki in confusion. "Ya must really get off on gassin up kids, dontcha? Maybe that's why yer so obsessed! Bwa… Bwahahahahaha!"

"...Far from it…" Kazuki shook his head. "...I just believe that the Playtime Event itself is valuable evidence… In fact… I believe it'll be integral to the case at hand…"

Monoyena scratched the side of his noggin with the edge of his Barbie Blade. He didn't really believe Kazuki and the more Kazuki begged, the more he got pissed off about it.

"Yeah, well, sorry bud," Monoyena poked through his teeth. "Should've gotten here sooner. Before I… ya know… unplugged everything."

"Well, can't you just plug everything back in?" Alisa raised an eyebrow.

"Bitch!" Monoyena snarled. "I literally just wheeled these carts a few feet away from where they were initially. I ain't gonna do that fucking chore again!"

"But… we need the evidence…" Kazuki frowned. "...Surely removing evidence that could very well help us in the Trial would set us up in a very disadvantageous spot… correct…?"

Monoyena seemed to take this into consideration.

But at the same time, Kazuki could see that Monoyena wasn't enjoying the fact that he had to consider this. As the hyena gnashed his teeth together, his red jagged eye glowed and immediately, a notification noise popped up for Kazuki's eTicket. The philanthropist shared a glance with Alisa, and preemptively checked his eTicket…

There in the Picture Application was the scoreboard as they had left it:

The Boy (3) ~ Red

[]A[]A[]I[]E

The Girl (4) ~ Green

FISHERMAN

The Brother (3) ~ Green

TREEHOUSE

The Sister (4) ~ Red

PRIESTESS

"There!" Monoyena growled. "Fucking happy?! Ya got the image of the monitors right before I fucking unplugged everything!"

"Pleased indeed…" Kazuki smiled.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, go drown in the fucking lake…" Monoyena grumbled. "Don't see how this fucking helps you but that's all yer getting from me by the way!"

"Hang on…" Alisa stopped the hyena from going back to what he was doing.

"What is it this time?!" Monoyena snarled.

"...How do we know this wasn't doctored?" Alisa frowned. "Or rather, how do we know this really was everything before you unplugged it. Perhaps you're neglecting to–"

"Cunt, do you even hear yerself?!" Monoyena gripped his Barbie Blade as tight as he could, imagining more ways to stab Alisa than he could count. "Do ya think I got time to doctor footage and ruin yer case? We got a game to run and rules to follow too ya know! So quit yer bitchin and accept the kind and generous gift I decided to give ya!"

"Technically… we had to convince you to give us this picture…" Kazuki remarked.

"Oh yeah?" Monoyena's red jagged eye flashed. "Well… Well… Yer face is dumb! And ya smell like wet bitches that took days to fucking cream! So nyeh!"

That had to be the most immature Monoyena line in existence.

"Anyway, ya got yer picture," Monoyena growled. "Ya got what ya came for. Now leave me alone! I gotta get these babies back in storage before the Trial so I can really watch ya twats wank each other till yer skin rips off! Bwa… Bwahahahahahaha!"

Waddling away to tend to the carts, Monoyena had effectively left Alisa and Kazuki to examine the photo sent directly toward Kazuki's eTicket. Once again, just so you don't have to scroll up, the image was just this:

The Boy (3) ~ Red

[]A[]A[]I[]E

The Girl (4) ~ Green

FISHERMAN

The Brother (3) ~ Green

TREEHOUSE

The Sister (4) ~ Red

PRIESTESS

"So, we came back here for this?" Alisa questioned.

"Of course…" Kazuki nodded. "I thought it'd be of great importance during the Trial. After all… The entire incident most likely started because of the Playtime Event. With these results… I believe we may be able to piece together a motive…"

Alisa supposed that Kazuki was right about this.

It couldn't be a coincidence that the moment Riku turned up dead was also after the fact that the Sister's Button had been turned to Red. There was a matter of importance when it came to this. And the only way they were going to find out was by figuring out what they can use this piece of evidence for during the Trial.

That was what was going on in Alisa's mind.

In Kazuki's mind on the other hand was an entirely different story. His eyes were completely fixated on the word for the Boy. The one they had yet to figure out. The real reason why he needed this image in the first place. He wanted to solve that word. Call it an obsession or something but maybe…

…just maybe…

…it'll some importance to the–

"Attention best friends!" Stanczyk's voice crackled through the park's intercoms. "As of right now, the Investigation Period is now over! Because it's time for the funnest part of every Killing Game: the Playhouse Trial! For today's fun, fun Trial, please meet me at the Marcus Avventira statue in the Jungle of Joy! See you there, best friends! Over and out!"

"FUCK!" Monoyena cursed loudly, glaring at Alisa and Kazuki. "You two skinny ass fucks are fucking dead! Ya hear me?! Fucking dead!"

"...Perhaps we should follow Mister Stanczyk's instructions…?" Kazuki chuckled sheepishly toward Alisa.

"No need to tell me twice," Alisa simply nodded in agreement.

Hurriedly, both the clockmaker and the philanthropist hustled toward the Jungle of Joy to hopefully join the others in getting ready for the Trial. Although, they would also say that they were really hustling just to get away from Monoyena's really bad temper tantrums.

Regardless, the place to meet was…

[Jungle of Joy]

(Jungle)

…the Jungle of Joy…

A vast location of trees, trees, and more giant fucking trees. Winding pathways and ruins and villages and the sense of adventure lingering past these fake sequoias. It served as the next fun location within their amusement park and also the next site of their upcoming Playhouse Trial. Thanks to Stanczyk's announcement, everyone had gathered at the Marcus Avventira statue.

If it was anything like last time, the Marcus Avventira statue should be a secret elevator that would take them down to the Trial Grounds. As always, Stanczyk was waiting right there at the statue, excited and happy as can be to start the second Playhouse Trial.

His shit-eating grin widened once the remaining 13 had arrived.

"Ohhhh, my best friends!" he prepared to squeal. "We're back together again! B-But we have lost another beloved friend… Someone who… really meant a lot to all of us."

Mara could agree with that.

Everyone else couldn't.

"W-WAAAAAHHHHHH!" Stanczyk ripped his jabot and waved it into the air as if he were surrendering. "Life is just too cruel, y'know?! Oh, the poor waterworks! Th-They're just blasting through! W-Wahhhhhhhhhh!"

"Ignoring your incessant tears, could I ask you a question?" Yukihiko folded his arms.

"Oh ho!" Stanczyk grinned. "Can do, little girl!"

Yukihiko's eye twitched. At this point, he was convinced that Stanczyk was just doing this on purpose.

"...The children," Yukihiko twirled his braids around. "Are they alright?"

"Do you even need to ask?!" Stanczyk grinned. "They are safe and sound! And it's all thanks to you kids! Ohhh! Best friends! You truly are the saviors of children's smiles everywhere!"

"Are you sure about that?" Alisa jumped in, looking at the jester with uncertainty. "The children didn't suffer any lasting effects from being gassed, did they…?"

"Oh please, if they suffered any effects, they would be dead from their second gas hit!" Stanczyk declared. "But we all know that's not true!"

True.

The kids were still alive last they saw on the monitors.

"Anyway, enough about the kids, right now, it's a game to figure out what happened to one of my bestest friends in the whole wide world!" Stanczyk wiped a stray tear. "And to start that, we need to insert the Jaguar's Eye and call out its name!"

No one understood that reference because it was too late for Jumanji references.

"...O-Or just… begin," Stanczyk hunched over, trying hard not to sob over the lack of cooperation from these kids.

On cue, the corroded and rusted statue of Marcus Avventira slowly lifted up from the ground, like an ancient pedestal being activated for the first time in… 500 years or something ancient like that. Just like with the Lady Radiance statue, the Marcus Avventira statue also had an elevator situated directly underneath it.

But compared to the Lady Radiance one, the Marcus Avventira one had that aura that wherever they were going, it was going to be hella ancient…

Stanczyk stepped to the side, having recovered from the emotional pain of not being respected, and gave the remaining 13 playmates a bow.

"All aboard, best friends!" Stanczyk exclaimed, excitedly.

The 13 playmates gathered inside the elevator.

Unlike the Lady Radiance elevator, this elevator felt ancient. When the doors closed, it felt as if it were sealing them inside a tomb. In fact, the moment the doors closed, they felt themselves immersed in complete darkness. Complete darkness until a torch was lit up, held by none other than Stanczyk.

"W-Where'd you get dat?" Yumi glanced at Stanczyk, surprised.

"Found it," Stanczyk shrugged with a cheerful smile on his face.

Daisuke tried to inch closer to the flames. Especially since he was scared of the darker corners of this slow-moving elevator. Unfortunately, the moment he did so, he bumped his shoulder into Mara's. He paled, squeaking as he recoiled and hugged himself. He clutched his shoulders in fear, shuddering.

"I– I'm sorry!" Daisuke exclaimed. "I– I didn't mean to–"

"...Don't worry about it," Mara simply said.

"H-Huh?" Daisuke was surprised.

He would've totally thought that Mara would pound him into the ground. But for some reason, there was a strange resolve in her that he hadn't seen before. No. Not just him. No one had seen this strange resolve in Mara before. The resolve to willingly participate and actually find out what the heck happened to Riku Arakawa.

Mara had kept her arms folded and eyes narrowed. All just to show just how serious she was about trying to figure out this case.

"Oh, we're here!" Stanczyk excitedly said.

The elevator stopped.

…

And slowly, the stone-like doors opened…

(Trial Grounds)

…to the Trial Grounds.

No longer were they in a grand courtroom themed after the beautiful structures of Los Angeles, Hollywood, and Beverly Hills. This time, it was like they were inside an ancient temple of some sort.

The walls surrounding them were stone walls with a mixture of hieroglyphics, Aztec symbols, and ancient Chinese characters all written across the wall to form a new language no one could understand. Growing on these walls were moss and vines… Vines that interloped with the ceiling above them. The ambient sounds of creatures in the jungle were ever-so-present…

The traffic light that the 16 podiums used to surround was now surrounding a pile of treasure. Shiny but obviously fake. To the side was Monoyena and Stanczyk, sitting in that same couch with vines occasionally wrapped over it.

In terms of podium arrangement, it looked like this:

Aidan, a portrait of Alina's face being crossed off by conductor batons forming an 'X', Alisa, Daisuke, a portrait of Emmeline's face being crossed off by a butterfly with an 'X' pattern on it, Fábio, Issac, Kazuki, Kikuko, Manon, Mara, Beauté, a portrait of Riku's face being crossed off by syringes forming an 'X', Roderick, Yukihiko, Yumi, and finally the couch in-between Yumi and Aidan.

"Welcome back to the Playhouse Trial, motherfuckers!" Monoyena snarled. "Let's just get this fucking shit show over with! The author is shitting his pants over how this case is gonna turn out, aight?!"

"Is he now…?" Beauté turned to look at me–

"Ohhhh, this is going to be exciting!" Stanczyk grinned. "I have no idea who did it! I bet it's the pink boy! No wait! Maybe it's the purple girl! Ooh ooh! What if it's–"

"Oi, Stanczyk," Monoyena swirled his shrimp cocktail around. "Have ya ever tried somethin called… shutting the fuck up?!"

"S-So MEAN!" Stanczyk started to weep.

The 13 playmates paid little mind to the weepy jester, and instead focused on the task at hand.

Finding the person who killed Riku Arakawa.

According to the rules of a Killing Game, it was one of them.

A person among them did this to Riku…

Why?

No one knew but what they did know was that the truth was about to be uncovered soon…

…

Aidan took out a water bottle, squeezing it tightly as he looked determined to catch the killer. And by catching the killer, we mean he was going to blindly accuse people until he got the right person.

Alina got stuck in a tuba and suffocated. She couldn't make it to her reaction panel, sorry.

Alisa looked at her pocket watch, keeping track of the time it took for them to get from the Jungle of Joy down to the Trial Grounds. She looked serious, and the light that reflected off of her lens made sure to keep her that way.

Daisuke was absolutely nervous. He hugged himself for comfort, clutching hard onto his shoulders as he remained hunched over. He tried his best to maintain that lazy smile but goddamn it. To be sent here a second time… This truly was Hell…

Emmeline froze to death in her cocoon. She couldn't make it to her reaction panel, sorry.

Fábio shoved his hands inside his pockets as a small twinkle in his eye flashed for a split second. He did very well in the last Trial, but could his performance in this Trial compared to that one? He wasn't sure, but he will certainly try his best!

Issac was caressing Isolde's head, both of them looking absolutely ready to find the culprit behind the case. Unlike last time, they weren't going to share that kiss. With combined confidence, they were going to try their best to survive together.

Kazuki folded his arms and kept one eye open. One eye out for the potential killer that shot Riku dead. In his mind however, he still thought back to that last word for The Boy. Seriously, what was that word? It still tripped him up but he wasn't going to give up. Not now…

Kikuko's eyes gleamed blue. Last time, I said it was as if the spirit of Seiryuu was by her side. But now we know that in actuality, it was the spirit of Eiji Unmei, using her as a human shield as he took a backseat. Trials were his sister's mojo, not his…

Manon placed a hand over her face as she glanced at everyone suspiciously. Though, her suspicious glance never landed on Yumi. There was no way she could be the culprit. In fact, her heart went out to her. After everything… She just felt really bad for the cowgirl.

Mara kept her arms crossed and glanced away. This was her typical sprite but this time, there was a fiery aura that had long been activated. She was going to find out who killed Riku. That was her new resolve. Bringing Riku's killer to justice was all she needed to do in this Trial.

Beauté looked elegantly ready to play the game. Using her hand fan to cover the lower half of her face, she gave anticipated looks of glee toward her fellow playmates. She was excited to unveil the truth of the case. Practically living the vibes of being in yet another Trial…

Riku choked on an apple and died. He couldn't make it to his reaction panel, sorry.

Roderick lowered his beanie in frustration. There were so many mysteries in this case that he couldn't understand. The way Riku got onto his Attraction. The gunshots. All that stuff around his body. And most important of all… Who the hell killed Riku?

Yukihiko didn't have Loofah this time, so he simply glanced at his nails, nonchalantly. The kids were safe and that was all that mattered. But to make sure the kids stayed safe, he was going to need to participate in this Trial and figure out the truth. The truth of who killed Riku…

Yumi kept her white Stetson hat straightened in determination. The killer not only killed Riku, but they were also responsible for making a mess of her own Ultimate Attraction. She may have had her frustrations with that, but it just felt awful knowing the mess they had caused…

She wanted to find out who did it.

She wanted to find out who killed Riku.

They all did.

Because that was what they had to do…

…

"Come on, let's go!" Stanczyk grinned. "Best friends…"

Stanczyk tilted his head and leaned forward, his red eye glowing and his yellow plus-shaped eye sparking slightly. His voice distorted and his grin widened:

"LeT tHe gAmE bEgiN…"

DANGANRONPA: TWISTED TRAGEDY

Woohoo! Another win!

It's the Investigation chapter for Chapter 2: Adventures of Paradise Gloom! And I have to say, I'm kind of nervous about this one! My Trial Parts are pretty much written, but they do need to be edited! Hopefully I didn't miss anything from the Trials :D Either case, I'm not sure if this will be as good as Chapter 1 Trial or worse, but hey, you guys are the main critics of my work, so we'll see :D

Trial Part 1 will be released once I finish editing and when Otterplay beta reads! So, we'll see when that is :D

Today's shoutout goes to ExtraMeme's Danganronpa: Obscurity's Disgrace. He has reached a body in his story so go in and pitch who you think killed... I dunno. I haven't read it yet, but I will soon XE

Other than that, let me know who you think killed Riku Arakawa! Is it Emmeline Swan with the butterfly in the jar? Is it Hope with the cheese gun shoved in his throat? Is it Alvin with his perfectionist mind control powers? Is it Alina with a conductor's baton up his ass? Or is it literally all the other people that are alive! Do let me know, I love hearing your thoughts as well as what you thought about the chapter :D

Trial chapters are upon us!

...

...

...

...Lucky phrase time:

Hope the Trial is good :D

(Also, to my Corrupted Hope readers, hope you noticed something :D)

Playmates Remaining: 13

Aidan Brighton - The Ultimate Track Star [Omakin]

Alisa Zachary - The Ultimate Clockmaker [ExtraMeme]

Beautè Morose - The Ultimate ? [Grandma Sue]

Daisuke Kido - The Ultimate Fast-Food Employee [CandleFire45]

Fábio Barbosa - The Ultimate Figure Skater [Rayy12]

Issac Santiago - The Ultimate Toymaker [oddlyillregular]

Kazuki Nobukatsu - The Ultimate Philanthropist [emberblitz321]

Kikuko Unmei - The Ultimate Shrine Priestess [WolfieRed23]

Manon Vivienne Levesque - The Ultimate Actress [Sempi]

Marabel "Mara" Garcia - The Ultimate Karate Master [Epifanio Therion]

Roderick Cutler - The Ultimate Deep Sea Fisherman [Orlando Butler]

Yukihiko Yuno - The Ultimate Child Caregiver [Weekaro]

Yumi Gundo - Ultimate Gunslinger [MrUtenaHolic]