#casia aiko

[danganronpa87]

Chapter 1 - Class Trial Part 1

As the announcement played, my heart dropped. We were out of time. Hopefully the other groups found something useful...

I nodded to the others as I went to make my way to the day room as Monoshima told instructed us to. I wanted to believe we'd get out of this easily... but something... something in me doubted it. Things would go wrong, and we'd all die here...

Too late to think about it now...

Once I reached the day room, I looked around, but didn't see Monoshima anywhere. Hadn't he told us to head to the day room?

Suddenly, I heard a cry, and the sound of someone falling.

Daika was on the ground, one of the bookshelves open to reveal a secret passage!

"U-uhm... I... think I found something..." He spoke softly, going to pull himself up and walk down the dark hallway the passage revealed.

I followed, the others quickly joining me. This was... strange... a secret passage in an old hospital? What purpose would something like that serve? I didn't really understand...

Eventually, we found ourselves in front of an elevator. The doors opened, and Daika stepped inside.

"Is this thing safe...?" I followed him inside.

Daika shrugged, and as everyone boarded the elevator...

We began to descend.

"...you're nervous, aren't you?" Siandi glanced up. "I can tell. But I understand... I'm nervous too."

I nodded with a soft gulp. "...this could be it... where we all die. If we get it wrong... we die, don't we?"

"Hey... we won't die, we're going to find the culprit and avenge Akemi. Alright? I'm sure the others found plenty of damning evidence." She put a hand on my shoulder.

"Yeah... we can do this..." I smiled.

The elevator clicked to a stop, the doors opening.

I took a deep breath and stepped out.

For Akemi... we would find the culprit. We'll find who did this... who killed her in such a brutal way... for her sake... and our sake... we can't lose hope!

CLASS TRIAL: IN SESSION

×××

We entered the trial room and stood at our podiums. It felt... out of place here, almost. The walls were freshly painted... unlike the walls of the normal building. They were silver in colour, large tinted windows made of multicoloured stained glass snaking from the floor to the ceiling.

It just seemed... unsettling.

Monoshima instructed us to stand at our podiums, and we followed.

"Let's begin with an explanation. You all will use the evidence you found in the murder to try and convict someone of being the culprit. If you get it right, only the culprit is punished. If not, everyone else is punished instead, and the culprit goes free. Understood?"

"...punished?" Casia spoke up.

"Executed."

Casia shifted uncomfortably at her podium, everyone else seeming uneasy.

"....so... we either find the culprit... or die..." The words sent a shiver down my spine. I... had a feeling something would go wrong.

"...where do we begin...? I... I've never had a trial before..." Shou fidgeted with her tiara, frowning as she looked around the room.

"I suggest we start with the discussion of the body," As expected, Siandi took charge. "Akemi was killed by several puncture wounds to the throat, by a small weapon. She was found in the storage room this morning, and was killed just after midnight."

"Mhm... that's what the file said." I nodded apprehensively.

"One thing I find strange... the murderer must have attempted to cover up their tracks by locking the storage room door."

"Someone... locked the door?" Neru looked surprised.

"I tend to take walks around the establishment at around 2 A.M. Something bothered me about the storage room, so I decided to check inside. It was locked."

"...why were you even outside of your room that late? That's just asking to be a suspect or a victim-!" Sora crossed her arms. "So what if you're the culprit!"

Siandi sighed heavily. "Suzuki... it's insomnia. I can't help it. Taking walks is my way of trying to tire myself back out so I can sleep."

"Still-! That doesn't prove anything!"

"Sora, I was with her. I can prove she did nothing except show me a bit of evidence she found." I held up my monopad, where I'd taken a picture of the blue hairs we'd found.

"...fine. But if there's damning evidence against you? That's your faults for not listening to me." She muttered something else, huffing.

"....anyway. Siandi and I found blue hair in the doorway of the bathroom. We think... it may have to do with the case."

Oakley looked up. "Speaking of the bathroom... I saw... a silhouette of someone? Standing in the doorway... it was dark, and I had my glasses off... but it was definitely a person."

"When did you see them?" Siandi leaned forward. "How tall were they?"

"Uhm... definitely taller than me. Maybe... 5'10 to over six foot? I saw them at around 10:15, but I soon went back into my room so I couldn't get a second glance at them."

"Thank you, Oakley, that was very helpful." Siandi smiled.

Kune seemed to perk up.

"....I would like to bring up Neru and Zekou's collective alibis. Their stories do not sit right with me." Chiyo glanced at the two. "Neru happened to just conveniently be in the storage room just after nighttime, where Akemi was murdered. Nobody saw him leave except for Zekou and maybe Akemi, and the only one who can prove his alibi is dead."

"If Neru's story was correct, Zekou was with him, he can prove Neru didn't do anyt—"

"I've watched the two and I don't doubt Zekou would lay his life down if it meant letting Neru escape."

"But he did leave the storage room-! He grabbed some wood, and we headed out before 10:30!"

"But we have no way of proving that, do we? So Neru is a suspect. He fits the descriptions both Siandi and Oakley gave as well. He has vibrant blue hair, as well as being over 6'0. Am I correct?"

"...well... yes... I'm 6'1. But I didn't do it. I swear on my life I only entered that room to grab some spare wood-!"

"You could have stabbed Akemi and left her to bleed out. I'm sure from the small wounds, she wouldn't have died instantly. You had plenty of time to cover up your tracks before leaving with Zekou."

"Listen, I-"

"You were also in the kitchen for the longest time yesterday. You could've easily slipped a fork into your pocket and used it as a weapon. We did find a bloody fork at the crime scene, after all."

"....no... I don't think that's right." Kitsuya spoke up, looking away.

"...I'm sorry?"

"It wouldn't have taken nearly 2 hours for Akemi to bleed out. From the amount of stabs in her neck, she definitely would've died sooner than she had, according to the Monoshima File."

"And you know this how?"

"....Listen. Neru is... to put this frankly... a sweetheart. He's social. If Zekou's telling the truth, he most likely made small talk with Akemi while he was in there. Neru's friends with everyone. People here like him. It doesn't sit right with me that he would just... do something like this."

"You're going off of belief alone. So... your point is?" Tomiko sighed softly.

"....besides. Zekou is constantly by Neru's side. If Neru had been hiding in the bathroom... where would Zekou have been? If he was with Neru... wouldn't Oakley have seen Zekou too?" Kitsuya turned to face them both.

"I only saw one person... I never saw anyone behind them or next to them... and when the announcement played, I followed shortly after Neru and Zekou. I can confirm they went straight for the storage room." He nodded.

"....so that's why I think Neru isn't the culprit."

"With two peoples' accounts.. I believe we have discussed enough to rule off Neru as a possible culprit." Siandi nodded. "Which going off of blue hair... leaves Shinto, Kune, and possibly Daika."

"....his hair is more greyish blue though." Casia raised an eyebrow. "Doesn't... really make sense..."

"It's only a hypothesis. We can't take any risks. Actually... Monoshima?"

"Yes?"

"Is there a time limit to how long a class trial can take?"

"I'm not sure... I'll say no. Just keep it within reason. You've already been at this for a half hour."

"We have plenty of time to discuss all possible culprits then." Siandi crossed her arms.

"...Kune, Shinto. I would like your alibis."

"I was with Oakley in his room. The only time we were separated is when he stepped out in the hallway." Kune immediately spoke up.

"I can confirm-! He was with me..."

"...Shinto, your alibi?"

"...I was in my room. Reading." He spoke coldly, making eye contact.

"Can anyone prove your alibi?"

"...No."

"Then you're still on our list of suspects... Daika, do you have an alibi either?"

Daika shook his head.

"....they're both being... quiet..." Takeshi muttered softly, shaking his head. He was still wearing his hood.

"...near silent for Shinto. Daika... has participated somewhat..." Kichiro tapped his chin. "Wait-! We haven't... even determined the murder weapon, have we-?"

"...you're right...! I completely missed that-!" Siandi crossed her arms. "We found a box of nails... and a fork... both were nearly the same size... and both were bloody." She sighed.

"....wasn't the fork bigger?" Tomiko looked up. "...than what the file said at least."

"I still think the murderer used the fork. It would be much more practical than nails." Chiyo spoke.

"I think the nails would make more sense... after all, the wounds were kinda spread out..." Neru suggested.

Siandi cleared her throat. "But the fork had more blood on it, didn't it? The nails were put back, presumably as a red herring."

"I...I agree with Neru..." Zekou glanced away.

I decided to give my opinion. "....I believe the nails are more likely to be the murder weapon... I guess we're split on what the weapon could b—"

"...split?"

Everyone looked up.

"I heard the word split. This means... we'll have a special kind of debate!"

Monoshima pressed a button.

Suddenly, we felt the podiums start to shift from under us, moving to the left to make two rows.

"...and how do we start this debate?" Siandi crossed her arms.

"Easy! Just bring up your views and try to seem like you're right."

"...okay. So, I think the murder weapon is the fork. It would be much more practical to use, since the nails are so small. Besides, even if it is a little bigger than what the Monoshima File said, it is hard to determine an exact size for the wounds. They were tiny." Siandi looked at me.

I nodded. "That is true, but it is possible to stab someone to death with just nails. But the wounds were also sporadic, and don't line up with the fork prongs."

"...but the fork had more blood on it." Chiyo tapped her foot.

"....I assume Akemi wasn't killed slowly, so the wounds weren't lined up evenly in groups of three. If she had been murdered with the fork, the wounds wouldn't be as sporadic," Kitsuya explained. "So I believe the nails are the murder weapon."

"...then why were the nails put back?" Kichiro asked.

"Easy. To cover up it being the murder weapon and making the fork seem like the obvious choice." Tomiko leaned on her podium.

"....I believe you are right." Siandi smiled. "So, the nails are the murder weapon... that does not get us closer to our culprit, but it does help."

I smiled back. "Let's go back to the topic of the blue hair-"

"Wait. I have an idea." Kitsuya interrupted.

"...?"

"....what if... Akemi herself... was the culprit?"

"A suicide-? That makes no sense." Chiyo huffed.

"In fact, suicides have a special rule! If a person does take their own life, the person they were closest to will be executed in place of a culprit."

Our monopads made a beep, signaling a new rule had been added.

"...how does it not make sense-?! She could've stabbed herself with the nails-!"

"So she camped out in the storage room for three hours? It doesn't make sense. Why was there someone waiting in the bathroom then? Where did the bloody fork come from?"

Kitsuya went silent.

"....anyway. I think I have an idea of who the culprit is..." Siandi blinked.

"...Already?" Takeshi looked up.

"....Retku, I'm pretty sure you know what I'm about to say."

[thetwstwildcard]

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[danganronpa87]

Chapter 1 - Class Trial Part 2

"...the culprit is... Shinto..." I looked away.

"....pardon?" Shinto raised an eyebrow.

"Shinto didn't do anything-!"

"...we already proved Neru and Kune's alibis, and you're the only one with blue hair that both doesn't have an alibi and fits Oakley's description." I explained.

"Besides. Kitsuya has been very quick to defend you, seeing as how he reacts when we bring up the blue hair. You were also one of the only ones not in the kitchen this morning, the other being me." Siandi sighed. "The storage room door was locked when I found it early morning. When I went to check it, it was unlocked, and you came out of the bathroom. It would make sense you waited for everyone to pass by before unlocking it, and then go hide in the bathroom so you wouldn't seem suspicious."

"...But I was with him last night. He couldn't have done it." Kitsuya frowned.

"...that's a lie." Casia huffed.

"Exactly, Shinto said nobody could prove his alibi."

"I... do think we've found the culprit... I just want to check something first. Siandi, may I see your monopad-"

She handed it to me.

I pulled up the photo of the hair, and compared it to Shinto's hair.

"...Zekou? Could you come here?"

Zekou walked over.

"I need you to see if these match."

He looked at the photo, and then Shinto's hair, and then nodded. "Near perfect match-"

"And Shinto... you're about 6'3, correct?" I asked.

"....Yes."

"Then we have our culprit. Shinto killed Akemi."

Shinto just sighed, crossing his arms.

Kitsuya went silent.

"....so that's it, then? The trial is over?"

"Everyone, please select who you vote as the culprit. Then, pull the lever to seal your vote."

A voting screen appeared on my podium. I tapped Shinto's icon, and gave the lever a tug.

The results were revealed on the large screen behind Monoshima.

16 people voted for Shinto, 1 person voted for Neru.

"Looks like you were correct. Akemi Saito's killer was indeed Shinto Kobayashi!"

Shinto sighed, and looked away.

"But why-? Why would you kill someone?" Shou frowned.

"....For my sister. The... motive video got to me."

Kitsuya stayed silent.

"...she can't survive on her own, I know she can't... I need to make sure... she was safe..."

"....Shinto..." Honoma looked sad.

"....so I talked to Akemi. After Zekou and Neru left. Since she seemed nice enough. And... she told me if I wanted to escape... I could kill her."

"...she... let you kill her-?" Siandi frowned.

"....mhm. So I did. I grabbed a fork from the kitchen, and stabbed her to death with the nails. I used some of the blood to make the fork look like the murder weapon." He sighed. "....I... just wanted to see Aria. I'm sorry, Kitsuya."

"S-Shinto-! You can't just... kill someone and not tell me-! I would've gladly helped you-!"

"....jeez... don't get emotional over me."

"I'm... sorry, Shinto..." I looked at the ground. "I... I hope it doesn't hurt much..."

"...What, execution? I'm not scared. Not in the slightest. Death isn't that bad. No matter what they do to me... I'll take it." He smiled slightly, adjusting his glasses, before taking off his tie. "Here, Kitsuya. Escape for me. Take care of Aria. She's going to be devastated... but I tried my best."

"....no, no, don't leave..."

"...Goodbye, everyone. I apologize."

With that... he walked over to Monoshima. "I'm ready."

"Alright. One punishment coming up for Shinto Kobayashi, the Ultimate Acting Prodigy!"

Monoshima walked off, and Shinto followed.

×××

Execution start.

That's A Wrap - Shinto Kobayashi, Ultimate Acting Prodigy

Status: Executed

Shinto is attached to metal clamps, that are wrapped around his joints, like a marionette.

He smiles, despite being faced with death.

Then, he notices a locket, dangling in front of his face. It's open, and he can see a picture of his sister inside.

He tries to grab it, the metal clamps reacting by harshly tightening around his arm and yanking it away. He winces in pain.

Circular saws turn on, filling the air with loud buzzing. Looking around, he notices the saws get closer to the center of the stage, where he is standing.

Suddenly, the clamps force him to move. He follows the movements, since if he attempts to disobey, the clamps tighten around his joints.

As the saws get closer, he is forced to keep moving, even when the shackles make him move into the saws.

Despite the pain, he still attempts to grab the locket, which results in many joints being broken.

He is harshly moved into the saws, which hit a lethal spot, and he begins to succumb to the multiple wounds across his body.

As he takes his dying breath, the locket falls from the hook it was hanging on, and the glass inside shatters on the wooden stage.

End execution.

×××

Seeing... Shinto's lifeless body... I couldn't help but feel sick... He didn't deserve... to go out that brutally...

I felt tears already coming to my eyes. Throughout the whole execution... it looked so, so painful... but I just couldn't look away...

After the initial shock went away... I could hear the sound of sobs fill the air.

Zekou, who was terrified... and Kitsuya... grieving the loss of his friend... shouting names at Monoshima...

So... that was what... execution was like...

My hands were still shaking, the image of Akemi and Shinto's bodies still burnt into my mind.

Two of our friends... were dead.

We heard the elevator doors click, and taking apprehensive glances at each other... we left.

I still felt... so, so bad for Akemi... for Shinto... for Kitsuya...

It was horrible they had to go through all this... Whoever was behind this... was completely despicable...

I let my tears stream down my face as I stood in the elevator in complete silence. The only noise was the humming of the elevator and Kitsuya's pained sobs.

At least... the class trial was over...

Once we got back into the day room, we all immediately dispersed into the hallway, going to our rooms. Looking at the clocks on the wall, it was already past 10.

Then we were called back into the day room.

Heading back, we saw Monoshima there, grinning as usual.

"I forgot an important part! The secret reveal!"

Secret reveal...?

"After a trial, I'll reveal a secret of both the victim and the culprit. First, Akemi's. You know how she wears that eyepatch? She lost her eye exploring a construction site when she was 15!"

"That's... not that bad..." Siandi seemed confused.

"...well did you know... Shinto used to be a serial killer? He'd go around and murder anyone that crossed him. His sister didn't even know! That's why he used to be known as the Ultimate Melee Weaponist. Could kill anyone easily with any short range weapon! Those scars on his nose were from one of his victims trying to fight back! He was the Ultimate Acting Prodigy simply because he was good at covering up his past and acting like a completely different person."

"...he... what...?" I... I couldn't believe what I was hearing... this was true-?!

"...no way..." Shou looked like she was going to be sick.

"...I knew we shouldn't have trusted him..." Sora grumbled to herself.

"Well... that is all. Good night!"

Monoshima disappeared.

We went back to our rooms apprehensively... I still couldn't believe this was true... first the death, and execution... now we learned our friend used to be a serial killer-?!

Despite the thoughts racing through my head, I managed to drift off to disturbed sleep...

End of Chapter 1.

[danganronpa87]

Chapter 1: Daily Life

Another day.

Yesterday... we had learned murder was the only way to escape this place. That we were in some sort of killing game.

I'm sure we all wished it was just a nightmare. But it wasn't.

I still woke up in the same hospital bed, the same chipped red walls around me. I couldn't help but be filled with absolute fear. What if I became close friends with someone... only to discover they've died?

Shaking the negative thoughts from my head, I decided to walk over to the dining hall. Surely, breakfast would be pleasant. I hadn't eaten anything in a while, so I was starving.

I entered, sitting down on one of the many chairs scattered about the four tables in the room. Several other people were here as well. Siandi, Kune, Oakley, and some others that I didn't catch the names of.

"Ah, Sovyak-san."

I looked over, and Siandi nodded her head to me.

"Akiaro is currently making breakfast. Do you like pancakes?"

I nodded. Something sweet sounded good right about now... hopefully eating would take my mind off our current predicament.

Neru came out of the kitchen, wearing a hair net and an apron.

"Food's ready. Come grab a plate and help yourself." He smiled.

"Thank you, Neru." I returned the smile and went to enter the kitchen.

Once I went inside, I saw another boy, preparing plates. The redhead, that was with Neru the other day.

"Zekou, was it?" I smiled, taking a paper plate from the counter.

"Zekou Nakamura! The Ultimate Digital Artist." He gave a warm smile, grabbing some food for himself as he happily bounced in place. Suddenly, his face lit up.

"Chocolate chips!!"

"Huh-?" Confused, I glanced at the pancakes. They were chocolate chip, with white chocolate mixed in as well.

"I knew he'd make them!! He knows I love chocolate!" Zekou's expression was full of excitement; almost childlike.

"Oh, yeah. He loves chocolate." Neru re-entered the kitchen with a fond grin. "He's got a big sweet tooth."

"Ah... I assume you two are close."

"He's my closest friend, so yeah. Zekou's a sweetheart." Neru smiled, glancing at Zekou as he took a few pancakes.

After the two got their share of food, I scooped some pancakes onto my own plate and headed out of the kitchen.

There were several people I still didn't recognize, so I decided to talk with them. I sat down at a table with four others.

"...Sovyak, was it? A pleasure for you to join us." The doctor-looking man bowed his head. His hair was curly, and a soft lavender in colour. He wore a mask, covering the lower half of his face. Underneath a white jacket with many clasps was a green uniform. His green eyes were full of content, behind thin-framed glasses. "Kitsuya Minsaki. The Ultimate Dentist. It is very nice to meet you."

Another boy perked up, being quite a bit shorter than Kitsuya. His hair was greyish-blue, and he wore denim overalls over a black uniform. "...ah.. you. From yesterday..." His voice was quiet.

"He's a bit shy. His name is Daika Sugiyama, and he is the Ultimate Gardener." Kitsuya spoke up for him.

Daika nodded, taking a bite out of his pancake and glancing away.

"Who might you be?" I looked across the table, meeting eyes with a boy wearing a white hoodie. His slick, black hair was pulled up into a ponytail and he seemed to be rather quiet.

"Hmm...? Me..?" He blinked as I said his name.

"...Takeshi Kohima. Ultimate Obbyist."

"Ah, I'm sure you already know who I am-"

He nodded, glancing back at his plate and going quiet. Seems he didn't want to talk...

I made chitchat with a few of the students at the table, including a few I didn't quite recognize.

So many new faces at the table, but I didn't mind getting to know them in the slightest. For our first breakfast together, this was surprisingly fun.

Casia Aiko, the Ultimate Casanova. Charming right off the bat, no wonder she had the talent she did.

Chiyo Takahashi, the Ultimate Chemist. Brash, for sure... but she was serious and down to earth.

Tomiko Miyata, the Ultimate Survivalist. She also seemed shy, but was polite nonetheless.

Kichiro Yamashita, the Ultimate Skydiver. Friendly and upbeat, and made the whole conversation fun.

Sora Suzuki, the Ultimate Hairstylist. She... wasn't the most pleasant person. Vulgar and rude... but pretty witty.

Honoma Ochi, the Ultimate Literary Genius. Fun and easygoing. She also seemed like a ball of joy.

Shinto Kobayashi, the Ultimate Acting Prodigy. He seemed to keep to himself... he didn't seem the most sociable.

Akemi Saito, the Ultimate Builder. Sweet and kind, and soft spoken.

Zekou Nakamura, the Ultimate Digital Artist. Soft and shy, but nice nonetheless. Almost childlike.

Neru Akiaro, the Ultimate Whittler. Seemed to be a big sweetheart. He seemed really nice.

Shou Mouri, the Ultimate Ballroom Dancer. Elegant, yet sweet and kind as well.

Daika Sugiyama, the Ultimate Gardener. Shy, but maybe he'd warm up to us.

Kitsuya Minsaki, the Ultimate Dentist. Calm and collected, and wise.

Kune Hayashi, the Ultimate Blogger. Upbeat and optimistic, even if he was a little overbearing.

Oakley Yokota, the Ultimate Photographer. Shy, but sweet as well. He seemed pretty nice.

Siandi Fukuhara, the Ultimate Traveler. Down to earth, and one of the calmer of the group. Maybe she could guide us through this predicament...

Takeshi Kohima, the Ultimate Obbyist. Shy, but collected... I wonder what he's truly like.

These 17... would be the people I spend much of my time with. I liked them already, they were nice, and positive, despite this... killing game going on... surely, if we all became close, nobody would kill, right? I'm sure we could all grow to trust one another.

After we ate breakfast, we went to go explore the hospital, going in groups of three.

Siandi and Daika came with me.

We stepped into the day room, the same one we were called to once we learned why we were here...

Siandi flipped through various books on the shelves, while I studied the monitor mounted on the wall. Maybe... this would serve as a way to communicate with us...? It was a strange looking device, with knobs plastered onto the sides of the screen.

"Hmm...?" Came a curious hum from behind me. Turning around, I saw Daika, holding a sheet of paper.

"...looks like... student records... a ripped piece from one of the books...?" He muttered softly.

Looking at the paper slip, it seemed to show a bit of Akemi's face, along with her name, talent, and a bit of her personality.

"But which book might that have belonged to? None of these seem to be missing any part of their pages," Siandi glanced at Daika. "Interesting find, however."

"Maybe we should check back with the others." I added.

"Maybe they found something interesting..."

"That's a marvelous idea. I don't think there's anything left for us here." Siandi put down the book she was flipping through and went to lead the way out of the day room.

We headed back to the dining hall, seeing Sora's group already there.

Akemi smiled and waved to us, while Shou kept chatting with Sora.

"Have you found anything interesting? We found a slip of paper that perhaps belongs to you." Siandi sat at the table, sliding the ripped paper over to Akemi.

"Huh-? Looks like... some sort of profile on me or something. Maybe it fell out of a book?"

"We're unsure. I didn't see any books with ripped pages, so we are still looking into it."

"Well... we didn't find anything too interesting... sorry to report." Akemi frowned. "We've been mainly sitting and chatting the whole time."

"Yeah, nothing looked cool so... kinda gave up." Sora was brushing through Shou's hair, a neutral expression on her face.

"...that paper was all we found too... maybe the others... have found something." Daika spoke up.

"Hopefully..."

The six of us continued to chat, losing track of time. Before we knew it, other students had made their way back to the dining hall.

"From what we saw," Shinto started, taking a seat at a table. "We all have rooms. There's also several other places to explore. The day room, where Retku's group should've been. There is a storage room, which my group explored. It's quite spacious. Both Neru and Akemi should like it, there are a plethora of tools and wooden logs. Nothing else seemed interesting to us."

"Ooh! My group! There's a gym! It kinda looks like a place to work out. There's a lot of machines and stuff!" Honoma raised her hand excitedly.

"We also found a pharmacy. Which is expected, we are in a hospital after all..." Neru chuckled.

"There was an operation room, but it was blocked off. It looked like there was a staircase inside." Tomiko reported, looking at the ground.

Siandi shared what we had found.

"I'll keep looking. There's a chance this could be important. Daika found this wedged in between couch cushions, so I'll be sure to check there as well."

Neru smiled.

"Alright, Fukuhara-san. We'll do our best to keep a lookout as well."

We kept chatting a bit more. Seeing everyone happy and upbeat, despite the killing game announcement... it filled me with joy. We were becoming friends. If we all befriended one another, surely this killing game would have nothing on us.

Even if we had to spend the rest of our lives here... I was confident we would take down this game before it started.

There was an audible click, and we hears a familiar voice interrupt the chatter.

"It is now 10 o'clock PM. Please make your way to your rooms, and do not stay in the dining hall after-hours. Anyone who is found going against this rule will be punished."

The monitor clicked off, leaving us in apprehensive silence.

Neru spoke up. "Guess it's time for bed... Zekou, let's go."

Zekou got up and followed him out, and everyone else began to file out after them.

"See you in the morning, Retku." Siandi bowed her head and left.

I headed to my room, feeling pretty good. The day went great. These people were kind, and I'm sure we could all become friends...

I thought about the day as I kicked off my shoes and laid down on my bed.

And soon... a wave of drowsiness fell over me... and the world around me faded to black.

This wasn't so bad.