Chapter 19
Several days passed and Akihiko looked so much happier than before. I began to spend time with Genki and Taishiro because it appeared we have so much in common. Eventually, it was lunch and we walked together to the dining hall.
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“What should we do after we eat?” Amaya asked.
“Search again, I guess.” I replied with a sigh.
“Speaking of search, where’s Akihiko and Chiharu?” Etsuko asked.
“I bet they’re in a room having a date or something.” Yuki said with a snicker.
“We should search then, right?” Genki asked.
“Let’s eat first, and then see if they will come.” Amaya suggested.
“I-If it makes you guys feel less worried,”Hanako began. “I can search for them.”
“Okay,” I told her. “But please don’t take too long, or I’ll be worried about you.”
She left the dining hall and we started eating.
“I bet they’re oversleeping or something.” Taishiro said.
“Maybe,” Akira said. “But we can’t be too sure.”
“What does that mean?” Etsuko asked.
Before she could answer we heard a scream.
“Ahhhhhhhh!!!!!”
“That didn’t sound good.” Amaya said, now panicked.
“It sounded like Hanako.” Genki said.
“Is she hurt?” Taishiro asked.
“Where is she?” I asked.
“Sounded like it came from the stage room,” Misaki replied. “Seems like the place that produces the clearest sounds.”
“Then let’s check there.” Akira said.
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We hurried to the stage room which was in the third hallway. Hanako was there. Pale as a ghost.
I looked up to see what she was staring at.
A body with the outfit of Chiharu was hung by jumprope’s to the curtains of the stage. Blood was splattered as there was no head attached to the body.
We all just gaped at the scene.
“A body has been discovered!” The announcement called. “After a certain time passes, we’ll begin the class trial!”
Hanako trembled, tears running down her face. “No, no, no. How did this happen?”
“This isn’t funny,” Amaya said with wide eyes. “Am I dreaming or something?”
Yuki was on the verge of barfing. “Ew,Ew,Ew,Ew,Ew!”
Just then Monokuma appeared. “Whoa! This is extreme!”
“I can’t believe this is happening!” Taishiro cried.
Katashi scoffed. “You’d think that worthless prince would protect her from harm.”
“Now, now,” Monokuma said, trying to calm us down. “This is just another murder scene. Which means I will be giving you a Monokuma file!”
“We have to investigate that?” Taishiro asked, with a wrinkled nose.
“We monitor all day,” Akira said. “How is this even possible?”
“Yeah,” Isamu agreed. “What the hell is this?”
Monokuma handed out the files. “Good luck!” He disappeared.
“investigate...again?” I asked.
“We have to.” Misaki said.
“Katashi, what did you say earlier?” Amaya asked him.
“About that worthless prince?” He asked back.
“Speaking of Prince, where is he? The announcement was made so he should come over, right?”
“I-I can look for him,” Hanako stammered. “I-I’ll go look for him.” With wobbling legs, she left the stage room.
Amaya was gaping at the body hung. She then shook her head. “Uh-Uh, I can’t do this-”
“We have to,” Misaki repeated, before looking at me. “Let’s investigate together, okay?”
“Huh?” I asked in sudden surprise. Misaki never asked to do things together. She was usually on her own. I reply with, “Sure.”
“I’ll examine the body,” She said. “Incase the Monokuma file missed out on a few things. You can investigate the scene.”
Some people left the scene to look elsewhere.
I opened the Monokuma file. Victim was Chiharu Kobayashi. Body discovered in the stage room. Time of death was at 11:00 a.m. Head was sliced off. That’s it? I thought. I turned it off and glanced around the room. Blood splattered everywhere. Must’ve been from the head slicing right? “Misaki, did you find anything yet?”
“Her head was cut off smoothly,” She answered. “Like it was done by some professional. Other than that, it’s just as the Monokuma file said. Death at 11:00 a.m. Don’t you think it’s strange that it doesn’t say the cause of death at all?”
“Well, it looks obvious to me.” I replied.
She shrugged. “We’ll find that out at the class trial. Also, that jump rope she was suspended with was from the fitness room.”
“So they went to the fitness room before tying her up?” I asked her.
“I think so.”
Just then, I saw Amaya walk in. “The counters in the girl’s bathroom are soggy!”
“Soggy?” I asked with creased eyebrows.
“Yeah. Do you think it means something?”
“I’m not sure, but I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Okay. I’ll search somewhere else.”
She left and then I saw Etsuko storm in. “Where is that black fabric? There are supposed to be exactly twenty! Why is there nineteen!?”
“You were searching the clothing store?” I asked her.
She flipped one of her ponytails. “Obviously, who knows if someone used them for this. I was just counting them and then realized one of the black fabrics was gone!”
“Then it was probably used.” Misaki said, before examining the body more.
Another scream occurred. “Ahhhhhh!!!!”
“Again?” I asked.
“We should head over there,” Misaki said. “Etsuko, watch over this body.”
“Agh! Me?” Etsuko asked.
She narrowed her eyes on her. “Don’t even think about messing up the scene.”
Etsuko gagged. “As if I would. Then let me know what that scream was about.”
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We followed the noise and saw Hanako by the laundry. The curtain was open and a huge sign fell off.
Some of the others were there too.
“Hanako, what happened?” Kenji asked.
“Don’t scream like a baby, you lunatic.” Yuki said.
“I just happened to p-pass by the laundry room and took down the sign that was covering it b-but-” Tears ran down her face again.
“But what?” Isamu asked her.
She shakily pointed her finger to the washer which was opened.
I walked slowly toward it focusing on what was there. Lying face down, wearing no shirt, and one of their arms was hanging out of the washer. Was Akihiko Kido. The Ultimate Prince.
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I gasped. “Get him out of there!”
Genky pulled him out and Akihiko’s lanky body fell on the floor. He was pale and had bruises on his arms.
“A body has been discovered!” The announcement was on again. “After a certain time passes. We’ll begin the class trial!”
“Are you saying he’s dead?!” Taishiro asked aghast.
“Why is it always two people in the third case?” Akira asked.
“T-Two people died in the last killing game too?” Hanako asked her.
Akira nodded.
“Okay, can someone slap me or something?” Amaya asked. “This is a dream, right? Right!?”
“W-We were having fun for the past few days,” Hanako sobbed. “How did this…”
“We should split up,” Misaki said. “Some of you should do your search back in the stage room. And some of us will stay here-“
Before we could do anything, Monokuma appeared. “I’m here to update your Monokuma files. Good luck with your investigation.” He laughed while disappearing.
Kenji, Genki, Misaki, Hanako,Amaya and I stayed by the laundry while the others went back to the stage room. I turned on the Monokuma file again. Second Victim was Akihiko Kido. Body was found in the laundry’s washer. Cause of death was drowning. Injuries include bruises and burn marks. I turned it off. “That’s strange.”
“What’s strange?” Genki asked.
“For Chiharu, it says her time of death but not the cause, but for Akihiko it’s the other way around,” I explained. “It says cause of death but not the time.”
“I can’t determine it either,” Misaki said, examining Akihiko's body. She brushed her hand against his face. “Yasuo’s different. His face didn’t touch the water so I could have an idea of when he died. But Akihiko is completely soaked.”
“I-Is just me, or are his lips and nails blue?” Hanako asked.
“It’s what happens when your oxygen level is low,” Misaki said. “He drowned, right?”
“What was their purpose of making such a big washer anyway?” Genki asked.
“Monokuma said something about washing all of your clothes at the same time.” I replied.
“Bullshit,” Amaya spat. “Because of that large washer and dryer, he died.”
“I’m sure the killer would’ve found another way to kill him otherwise.” Misaki said, before twitching her nose. “Hm, smells like detergent.”
Kenji crouched and examined the body as well. “The bruises must’ve come from the washer spinning. Come to think of it, how did Akihiko end up in the washer in the first place?”
I shook my head and searched the laundry. I picked up the sign that was on the side: DO NOT OPEN, LAUNDRY IS CURRENTLY IN DEEP CLEANING. ENTERING IS PROHIBITED. “Hey, what’s this?”
The others looked.
“A deep cleaning sign?” Amaya asked.
“I-I had to take it down in case he would be there and…” Hanako was sobbing again.
“So Akihiko was in the washer when you took it down?” Kenji asked.
“Could it be that he was here before the sign was put up?” Amaya asked.
“Monokuma probably did it to hide the body or make it a mystery.” I said.
Satoshi walked in. “I found a cutting board laying out on the counter. And get this, there’s a bit of blood on it!”
“What’s blood doing on it?” Amaya asked.
“I’ll remember that.” Misaki said.
“Whoever did this is a monster.” Genki said.
“We’re still unsure if there’s even one killer in the first place,” Misaki replied. “There’s a possibility that there’s a second killer.”
“A s-second k-killer?” Hanako squealed.
“Hey,” I started. “Where were you guys this morning?” I asked them.
“Well, we were talking with Taishiro, right?” Genki asked. “And also, I happened to see Amaya head to the second hallway around 11:30.”
“I was in my room,” Misaki said. “I know that means I have no alibis.”
“U-Um this morning Etsuko wanted me to try out clothes in her room.” Hanako said.
“I was in my room too, like mystery girl.” Amaya said.
“Mystery girl is me, right?” Misaki asked.
Amaya nodded.
“I-I’m sorry to return to this topic but…” Hanako began. “What was that thing about a second killer?”
“I guess it all depends on the trial.” Genki said.
That word silenced us for a while. I crouched and lifted Akihiko up and dug through his hair to examine his scalp.
“Wh-What are you doing?” Hanako asked.
“There’s no blood on his head,” I replied. “I thought maybe it was his blood that was on the cutting board.”
“Then it’s probably Chiharu’s,” Kenji said. “But what does that really mean?”
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“Time’s up!” The announcement turned on again. “Come to the doors at the main hall for the class trial!”
We glanced at each other with anxious looks.
“Let’s go.” Misaki said at last.
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The walls opened once more and I saw Nikko, Chiharu and Akihiko’s portraits up. Nikko’s had intersecting surfboards. The other two were smiling. Chiharu’s had balloons and streamers while Akihiko had a crown on his.
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The class trial was about to begin again. I pursed my lips and closed my eyes in my spot, right next to his frame. Our lives are on the line. We have to believe whether someone is the killer-killers or not. And witness the betrayal lying ahead of us.
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