Usami: Ding ding ding! A body has been discovered! Everyone, please gather at the Ultimate Martial Artist's cottage! Yes, that includes you, Himiko. The pity period is officially over, you sleepyhead. Teehee. Love! Love!
Usami's announcements barely registered as I looked at the sight in front of me. I heard the words, but I didn't understand them.
Mukuro was dead.
Hajime: M-Mukuro? Mukuro!
Hajime ran to Mukuro's side and frantically tried to check for signs of life. It was clear he had little idea of what he was doing. Not that it would have made a difference even if he had, since Mukuro was dead.
Hajime: M-Mikan! Come on! We have to help her!
Mukuro was dead. The girl that had been so kind to me, who hadn't hesitated to step up and defend Himiko on the first day, who had comforted me the other night when I was spiraling in self-loathing, who had teased me about her sister liking me, who I had partied with yesterday, and who I had guided back to her bed after excessive drinking… was dead.
Hajime: Mikan, come on!
Mikan: Hajime…
Hajime: Sh-She's not breathing, so we have to try to give her CPR! I'm not sure how, but-
Mikan: Hajime! It's pointless. Look at how pale she is. She… she's been dead for hours…
Hajime: …
Hajime: Damn it… DAMN IT!
As soon as Hajime had uttered the expletive, it was like a spell broke, and the reality of the situation crashed down on us. Not only that, but people started arriving in quick succession.
Kazuichi: H-Hey! I heard the announcement! What the hell is-
Kazuichi: Is… is that… AAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Toko: N-No way… Someone actually fucking did it?
Gonta: Mukuro! Don't tell Gonta she…
Korekiyo: Oh dear… I didn't expect the first one to fall so soon… Rest well, Mukuro…
Ibuki: Holy crap! Is she… Is she actually…?
Everyone filed into the cottage, reacting to Mukuro's sudden passing. Most were in shock. A few cried.
Ryoma: Shit. What the hell happened here?
Mikan: J-Junko came to the restaurant earlier, and she was acting weird. When she said something about Mukuro, Hajime and I ran to the cottage, and th-then… and then…
Sonia: So then, Mukuro… she… she was strangled? Who would do such a cruel thing?
Himiko: Nyeh, it must have been Usami! She's… she's already hurt me once, she must have done it again!
Usami: Wow, that's completely wrong! Zero points for you Himiko, see me after class!
As she always did, Usami appeared without any warning. Maybe it was the shock of seeing Mukuro's body, or just that we were getting used to the infernal rabbit's antics, but this time barely any of us were startled.
Himiko: Y-You're lying! It must have been you!
Usami: How mean! Sure, I'm the one behind this killing game, so it would be hypocritical of me to say I'm completely blameless, but I promise that I never once laid a paw on Mukuro!
Usami: I can't reveal who did it yet, but can I assure you, with 100% confidence, that the person who so cruelly took Mukuro's life… is one of you guys!
Junko: It's true, then…
Junko had come back from the restaurant, face unreadable. She stared blankly at Mukuro's body, before sweeping her gaze across all of us.
Junko: So? Who was it? Who's the bastard that killed her?
Mikan: J-Junko… I'm so sorry!
Junko: Huh? Why are you apologizing? Did you do it, Mikan?
Mikan: N-No! I'm sorry! I was just-
Junko: Then if you didn't do it, grow some fucking spine for once in your life, stop apologizing for something you didn't do, and KEEP YOU FUCKING MOUTH SHUT!
Mikan: E-Eep!
A few seconds earlier, Junko had looked nearly emotionless. Now, she was shouting at the top of her lungs, pure rage distorting her face.
Junko: Hey, I have something to say to the culprit, or the blackened, or whatever made-up term that fake teacher wants to call you!
Junko: Whoever you are, you got what you fucking wanted, didn't you? You got your memories back, you and your little friend get to escape this place, and aaaaaaall it took was murdering my FUCKING SISTER!
Junko: So? Who the fuck was it? The least you could do now is tell me to my face you did it, you fucking cowa-
Usami: H-Hey now, hold on! To the blackened, you absolutely do not want to give yourself away right now!
Junko: Huh? And why the hell not?
Usami: Becaaaaaaause… it's time for your squeezably soft teacher to explain what exactly I meant by the "unless they are discovered" part of rule 6. Everyone, please take out your Usapads and look at the rules section.
With some trepidation, I took out my pad, and navigated to the new rules. When I read them, my blood ran cold.
Rule #8 : Once a murder takes place, a class trial will begin shortly thereafter. Participation is mandatory for all surviving students.
Rule #9: If the blackened is exposed during the class trial, they alone will be executed.
Rule #10 : If the blackened is not exposed, the remaining students will be executed.
Rule #11 : As a reward, the surviving blackened will be forgiven of their crime and allowed to leave the island.
Rule #12 : The Body Discovery Announcement will play as soon as three or more people discover a body for the first time.
…
What the hell was this?
Himiko: Class trial? E-Execution?
Keebo: No way…
Yasuhiro: Haha. Y-You're funny! Can we just go home now?
Toko: Y-You're one s-sick bastard, you know that?
Kazuichi: H-Hey! What do you mean by "we'll be executed"! You can't possibly-
Usami: Execution is execution! What, do you guys need a vocabulary lesson? It's not a very advanced word, but I can add it to the curriculum if needed. Teehee…
Junko: …
Junko: So, if we can find out who did this during this "class trial", you'll execute them?
Usami: Yep, that's exactly what the rules say! And since I'm so nice to you kids, I'll even let you investigate for a while before the trial! Wouldn't want any evidence carelessly left behind by the blackened to go to waste, would we?
Junko: …
Junko: Good.
Usami: Hey, now, it's a bit premature to be so bloodthirsty! Don't forget that if you can't find the right person, I'll execute the rest of you instead! Well, minus the person the culprit chose for the motive, just this time anyways.
Usami: Hell, for all you guys know, Junko could be the culprit. Wouldn't that be a twist?
Junko: You… You …
Mikan: J-Junko, calm down! You can't attack her!
Junko: …
Junko took several deep breaths, and thankfully calmed down. Well, she was still furious, but at least it didn't look like she was about to lunge at Usami.
Junko… I couldn't even imagine what was going through her head right now. Mukuro's death was hitting me hard, and I'd only known her for a few days. To suddenly lose her sister like that… How could this have happened?
Usami: Aww, boo, I'll get one of you some day. Well now, you kids better start being productive and investigate. That murder won't solve itsel-
Tsumugi: H-Hold on one moment! What is this, Usami? What exactly are you playing at?
Tsumugi had been relatively quiet so far, so her outburst surprised all of us, including Usami.
Usami: Pardon?
Tsumugi: Investigations? Class trials? You tricked us!
Usami: Oh? Do you mind elaborating on that?
Tsumugi: Don't pretend to be clueless! You just added those rules a minute ago, after the murder. Before that, not only did you not mention the executions, but the implication was plainly closer to the blackened being allowed to leave if they committed a crime that couldn't obviously be blamed on them! This is completely unfair! The culprit was working with…
Tsumugi: With incomplete…
Tsumugi lost steam as she noticed all of us looking at her with blatant suspicion.
Tsumugi: W-Well, you get it…
What had that been about? Was Tsumugi… the culprit? If she was, surely she'd realize how insanely suspicious it was to so publicly panic and call the new rules unfair? Right? Could it really be that easy?
Not to mention, the weird feeling I'd gotten about her earlier was back in full force. The last time it had happened, I'd told myself I'd need to keep a closer eye on her… and then had done exactly none of that while I partied without a care in the world. If Tsumugi really was the culprit… and if I could have prevented it, but didn't… God, I really was pathetic.
Junko: Oh? And why the hell do you care so much, Plain Jane? Did you kill my sister? Well, did you, bitch?
Tsumugi: N-No! I'm not the culprit! That was just, um… just, just…
Junko lunged at Tsumugi, slamming her against the cottage wall and gripping her collar. She moved close to the blue-haired programmer, screaming to her face.
Junko: JUST WHAT BITCH? COME ON, SPIT IT OUT! WHY'D YOU DO IT? WHAT, THE ANIME SELECTION HERE WAS TOO BAD, SO YOU DECIDED MY SISTER'S LIFE WAS WORTH THAT?
Tsumugi: W-Wah! I swear, it wasn't me! Stop it, you're hurting me!
Hifumi: M-Miss Enoshima! Please stop, it'll do no good pointing fingers this early!
Junko: OH YEAH? AND WHY'D YOU SAY THAT? DID SHE CHOOSE YOU AS HER MOTIVE PARTNER? WERE YOU HER FUCKING ACCOMPLICE, HUFFY?
Hifumi: Th-That's…
Hajime: J-Junko! Come on, Hifumi's right. Let her go.
Junko: Tch, don't tell me you think she's fucking innocent, Hajime? Did you not hear what she fucking said?
Hajime: I heard it just fine. And I won't lie, it's suspicious as hell. But, everyone's lives are on the line here. We… We can't afford to make wrong assumptions. If she really is the culprit, then the evidence will speak for itself during the trial.
Junko: …
Gonta: F-Friends are right! Gonta also thinks that Tsumugi is suspicious, but this is no time for violence. Gonta understands that you have every right to be upset right now, Junko, but if you do not let go of Tsumugi… Gonta will have to separate you.
Junko: …
Junko: Fucking fine.
Junko let go of Tsumugi, though not before giving her one last shove for good measure. When she turned around, her eyes landed back on Mukuro's body. Immediately, all her anger was visibly gone as she started tearing up, and she hugged Mukuro's upper body, weeping softly. It seemed like even in grief, Junko's mood changed on a dime.
The cold, rational part of my brain said that this might be disturbing evidence, and that I should stop her. I probably wasn't the only one to think so, as well. But no one said a thing.
Hajime: *Sigh*. Tsumugi, don't think you're off the hook yet. How you reacted… You understand that instantly made you the prime suspect, right?
Tsumugi: Y-Yes… I understand. What I said… There was a good reason for it! I'm not the culprit though. I promise…
Usami: Wow, such delicious drama, and the investigation hasn't even begun yet! Not that this hasn't been fun to watch, but you should probably get to it, you know? I'm not giving you unlimited time here.
Usami: Oh, speaking of, I've left you a little gift in your Usapads. Check the new "Usami File" app. Since none of you are coroners or detectives, I felt I should give my students a little boost. I guarantee that all the information in it is 100% accurate. Think of it as a little cheat sheet given by yours truly before a difficult exam.
Usami: Well, that's all for now. See you at the trial. Love! Love!
As suddenly as she always did, Usami disappeared. The cottage was silent now, save for Junko's faint sobs.
Yasuhiro: Wh-What Usami, just said. We… We don't have to believe it, right? Because, one of us murdering someone… Us getting executed if we get it wrong… It's all… It's all…
Toko: OH MY GOD! F-Face reality dumbass! Mukuro is dead ! You are in the s-same room as a corpse ! O-Open your damn eyes!
Yasuhiro: …
Sonia: We… we should begin the investigation. I too, do not want to believe any of us have done something so horrible… But we all heard Usami. We… need to do this. We have to do this!
Hajime: *Sigh*. As much as I don't want to believe it either… you're right, Sonia. Usami was pretty vague about how much time we have left before the trial, so we should spread out to cover as much ground as possible. Oh, and we should stay in groups of two. We don't want the culprit destroying some evidence while no one is looking.
Mikan: N-Not two. Three.
Hajime: Huh?
Mikan: G-Groups of three. Because of the buddy system, remember? It's entirely possible two people collaborated. If there are two culprits, and they both p-pair up, then that makes the whole thing pointless.
Hajime: Oh, good catch, Mikan. Right, everyone, make groups of three! And then, huh, investigate to the best of your ability, I guess. The two main points of interest are probably Mukuro's cottage and the supermarket, but we should have some people investigate elsewhere too, just in case.
Sonia: Then, I will investigate the supermarket. Kiyo, Kazuichi, would you care to accompany me?
Kiyo: Kehehe… It would be my pleasure.
Kazuichi: Oh? S-Sure thing, Miss So-, err, I mean, just Sonia.
Oh? Had Kiyo and Sonia bonded during the party? Sonia's personality didn't seem very compatible with Kiyo's, but then again I hadn't talked to her much so far, and I suppose their talents had some overlap.
Hifumi: I will investigate the restaurant and lobby. And, umm, keep an eye on Ms. Shirogane. I hope you understand…
Tsumugi: *Sigh, it's fine, Hifumi, I understand…
Gonta: Gonta is not very smart, so Gonta will probably not be of much use during the investigation. So Gonta will look after Tsumugi as well, if that's okay. Gonta feels watching the prime suspect is the best thing he can do for the team, right now. Sorry Tsumugi.
Tsumugi: … Fine.
Toko: I-Idabashi, you can come with me, I guess… I was th-thinking of exploring the outside, see if the culprit left anything obvious around.
Keebo: Of course, Toko. I'd be happy to.
Toko: W-We can also take Hagakure with us… I want to k-keep an eye on him.
Hiro didn't say anything, but mutely nodded.
Hajime: Mikan, Ryoma, do you want to make a team with me? We can start by investigating the cottage. Then if we have time, we can check out other places.
Ryoma: Sure.
Mikan: O-Of course!
Hajime: Then, that leaves three people. Ibuki, Himiko… and Junko.
Ibuki: Ibuki was thinking of checking the cottage's door. After all, the culprit had to enter somehow, so maybe I can find out what trick they used. Wait, the door was locked, right?
Mikan: Y-Yes. I'm the one that got Mukuro to bed, and I locked her door behind me. I-I'm sure of it. Oh, and I'm pretty sure the windows were locked too…
Ibuki: Mmh… Okidoki!
Himiko: I'll stay here too… With my leg hurt, I can't really run all over the island. I guess I can keep Junko company once you guys are done with the cottage… Nyeh, it's the least I can do after she took care of me…
Hajime: All right then. Everyone, let's start investigating! Let's not waste any more time!
There were various nods of assent, and the groups went on their way. We couldn't afford to fail here. For Junko's sake… For ALL our sakes… Mukuro's killer would be brought to justice.
[Investigation: Start!]