How Interesting...

The first piece of evidence he finds, is something that he discovers immediately on his way into the room. He does a more thorough investigation of the evidence – if you can even call doing something as simple as following a trail a “thorough investigation” –  while he speaks. 

“Patronizing you? I was being sarcastic.”

The trail leads from the machines to the entrance way – it wouldn’t real make much sense for it to be the other way around (unless the blood wasn’t Clive’s like he immediately assumed it was.) Maybe Farenton was attacked while he was distracted by the slot machines…? He can’t really say for sure, considering his investigation only started a short while ago.

His previous investigations have all been based on hunches and educated first guesses, and it seems as though now is no different.

When Yukiko changed the subject, it became difficult to catch her strings of thought as she ran them by him, as she spoke tangent after tangent. Yukiko needed to slow down so he could process what she was trying to say, but that went unspoken. Whatever, he’s just a person who makes coffee, what does he know, right? It doesn’t really seem like she wanted his input anyway, she likely just wanted to talk aloud.

He just clings to one part of what she said and replies to that –  “so perhaps he interrupted the culprit in the disposal of evidence.”

“In that case, there could still be evidence in the… kitchen. The body discovery and the time of death don’t really have that big of a gap, right?” 

He double checked Takashi’s time of death on the Monofile – and found that they found the body only four minutes after his murder. Clive’s time of death and body discovery weren’t too far apart, but Takashi’s were much closer together.

“Maybe they didn’t have enough time to dispose of the evidence completely after… ah, dealing with Takashi…”

Whether or not that was so – the state of the kitchen, including the body laying dead on the counter-top (or was it the stove?), gave him a feeling of dread with just the thought of returning.

“Oh, uh, I didn’t notice ELLA’s absence for the first discovery, but they were standing there idly around the time we found Takashi. I guess they should be questioned at some point…”

All these connections seemed to suggest they – or at least one of pair – would have to return, despite his internal dismay of the idea.

“Pay out? I don’t have a clue, I’ve never been here before now. Why does that matter?”

It was just their luck, wasn’t it? Here they were, just wanting to get a refill of tea, when suddenly the kitchen manages to become both a crime scene and a potential fire hazard. A rather curious crime scene, from what they had examined, but still one that prevented them from inquiring a beverage for the investigation.

And, when they had decided to travel to the entertainment district to try and acquire something from the bar, what did they come across but another body. Perhaps it was Clive they could blame for the particularly sour luck they had, his death having released all of the poor fortune he possessed and spreading it across the group. Hopefully, that wouldn’t extend to the case at hand.

The sound of voices within the casino alerted them to Yukiko and Hideki’s presence. They did not pay it much mind while they were examining Clive, well until their name came up in conversation. Lovely, what were the chances that their absence made them a murder suspect? Obviously rather high, might as well give that alibi now.

They move into the entrance of the casino, adjusting their glasses and examining  the scene around them.

“You have every right to be mean about it! After all, aren’t androids supposed to be prettier than organic people? Like, as a general rule? But I’m not cuter! I have a defect. Even though it’s not my fault, I still feel bad. People have made fun of me because of it before I came here… so there’s really nothing stopping you now.”

They paused, though didn’t seem to be finished.

“Quite honestly, I feel that to be unfair beauty standards set upon us by humans forcing to try to conform to what’s aesthetically pleasing to them, preventing androids from forming their own visual identically outside of  the forms the organic public forces them to fit into. It is only a “defect” because people have been conditioned to see anything that’s not like themselves as bad or wrong. A rather frustrating fact about the world today, but i suppose we have to learn not to let it affect us.”

...She still wanted their opinion, though. this might be tough. Expressing genuine compliments was not something they were exactly trained in. Still, they were an expert on behaviors in others, how hard could it be to mimic the actions themselves?

“...But, if you do wish to know how I feel about it...I admit...I find it to be...what is called “cute” on you. In fact I’m- ...hm...”

They stop themselves as they realize what they’re about to say. Pausing for a moment, they clear their throat as they think of ways to form the sentence to cast focus off their slip off.

They scowled as they inspected E.L.L.A’s new outfit. It was cute. Maybe they could help them pick out something to wear later. Something distracting, if the lack of the mask was going to be this uncomfortable. They missed their security blanket.

“I knew that. Ian Fleming just likes the smell of ranch dressing, okay. I knew he wasn’t able to eat it…”

Ian Fleming baaed some more. He was quite the talkative electric sheep, as Purin had (happily) found out.

“So are you going to say something mean or what?”

“Does he now? Then perhaps Ian would also enjoy the smell of electro-croutons, yes?”

They did not know if that pun translated well into the Japanese language, but they found it to be comical enough to try and implement it anyway. The petting continues, even as Purin gives her accusatory retort. Ah...right, she was expecting a reaction to her face, most likely. It didn’t bother E.L.L.A. much, quite honestly. They prided themselves in being more focused on emotional and physical behaviors than appearances.

Eventually, at the sound of movement, he peeks over his shoulder, finding them in a safer position. Finally he turns back around, sheepishly ducking his head and wringing his fingers together.

“O-Oh, I’m sorry, I must have misheard at some point. Lemnos-san it is!”

He makes no move to take the vacated spot, instead electing to stand awkwardly in the doorway and block anyone else trying to come in. Thanks.

“Wa-Wait, you mean whoever’s secret I had? I don’t know whose it was, honestly… does it ma-matter? I mean… admittedly, a lot of people are ruled out. The only ones left I can thi-thi-think of are… well… okay, not that many. All the humans aside from me and Yukiko-san, I guess. But… well, why do you want to know? Shouldn’t secrets stay secret?”

“Well, the simple answer for why I wish to know, is to perhaps attempt to keep relations from becoming even more strained than they already are. Yes, the threat of MonoMANU revealing who these secrets specifically belong to has passed, but the knowledge that people have these secrets in the first place still lingers. Some of these secrets are ultimately harmless, while others...”

..Hm, so he knows Yukiko can not be the one? As delicious the irony of the most vocal of android haters being one herself could have been, at least it narrowed down the list of suspects to six. They wait for a moment to fully plan on what they decide to say to the dancer.

“...My talent involves being able to predict, observe, and analyze the behaviors of groups that I have decided to study. But even that is not needed to recognize that there are those here who do not exactly...welcome, InOrganic life. Should someone’s hidden status be revealed publicly, those who do not find IOs favorable may find their trust breached by the revelation.  Danger may come to the android if they are discovered.”

All was silent on the western front. Purin sat outside the Demeter’s Bistro, eating synthetic mochi. They stuffed it in their mouth, facing away from the street. Even thought their talk with Tsukiko had left them feeling more confident, they still felt bare without a mask.

On the ground beside them was their new electric sheep, Ian Fleming. They had placed a gourmet salad on the ground, having failed to realize the sheep didn’t even eat food.

Ian Fleming baaed the warning signal, having heard the footsteps before Purin. The stunt double squeaked in surprise, stuffing the rest of the mochi in their mouth and then taking a big gulp of synthetic apple juice. They swallowed and then they slowly, oh so slowly, turned around.

”Um, hey! How are you…? I’m yes. Uh, I mean good!”

Was that supposed to be a smile? Whatever it was, it sure didn’t look flattering — And that was from an object point of view.

 And so they found themselves once again at the bistro. Admittedly, even with the warning of a sudden synthesized “baa”, they did not expect the sight of Purin maskless with an animatronic sheep companion to be what greeted them.

“...Ah, I suppose I am well, Purin. It seems that everyone is trying a new fashion today, no? At least from what I’ve seen of those passing by me.”

They look down at the electric sheep, quickly guessing it’s origins from the lotto store. They kneel down to give it a light pat, a frown stating to form on their face. 

So, it’s off to the salon with him, bundled in a hoodie that looks like pajamas and with an old, nearly-dead iPod clutched in one sweaty hand. He’d been conserving the battery, but… he probably needed to procure a charger at some point. It was just his luck that its constant presence in his pocket didn’t extend to carrying a charger as well. The door is hesitantly pushed open, and while he hopes it’ll be empty…

“Ahh! Oh, heck…”

It is most certainly not empty. He shuts his eyes tightly, apparently convinced he’s caught E.L.L.A in some incredibly compromising position. 

“I-! I didn’t- well, uh, I was comi-mi-ming for… a massage, but-! I, uh…”

Here he turns completely away, facing the door with his back to her. Much better.

“Um… Lemons-san, right? I’m sorry to-to-to… have caught you like this! You look, um… ddddeep in thought… my apo-apologies for interrupting you, then!”

“Lemnos, actually. It’s no trouble. I was just about done, in any case.”

They pat the MANU lightly on the head as they stand, leaving the space open for Shou. Though quickly, a frown does appear on her face.

He’d verbalize this, but maybe if he doesn’t comment on it, the topic will be forgotten about…

While he supposes he appreciates the heads up about the fake talent, he can’t help but wonder what he’s supposed to keep an eye out for, anyway. Does it take a liar to know one? Is that why he’s being asked? Well, if so, then his liar-dar isn’t working correctly today — he has no clues, really, with his current knowledge, who here could have the fake talent, and he’d rather not think about what one’s talent must be for you to have to disguise it…

…and now they’re back on their main topic, and while it’s nice they’re not on their previous one, it’s honestly difficult to feel relief when their current topic is relevant to the death of someone he had known…

“…ah, you think so, huh…? Then, where do you suppose that….”

“…speaking of which, unless there’s anything else you want to say… maybe we should get to… investigating again.”

“It’s quite simple, if  the altercation had taken place at the pond, then there would be two set of footprints approaching it, would there not? Moe and the murderer’s. So, chances are that Moe was either drowned in another location, or the killed managed to hold her long enough to carry her over to the pond and then drown her.”

Which of course, makes them want to check any water source possible that’s capable of fitting a human head. Upon hearing Hideki’s request, they also move their eyes down to the empty cup. Smiling, they go back to the fridge, pulling from it’s contents a canned coffee, which they promptly hand to the Barista.

“Of course, just allow me to take a small detour before we head up stairs to Moe’s room.”

Once again expecting him to follow, E.L.L.A. exits the kitchen and makes their way toward the bathrooms nearby the gym. Peeking her head through all three doors, they shake their head at Hideki to indicate there was nothing of interest inside.

They move quickly up to Moe’s bedroom, and once they open the door to it’s interior, it only takes a small bit of searching before they stumble across Moe’s diary. They start to page through it until they come across the final few entries.

He can only go as far as getting a cup, before his attention was drawn elsewhere. Mug in hand, he turns his attention back to E.L.L.A, taking a few steps forward while they spoke, while he opted to remain quiet for the most part. It’s not like he could really add anything, anyway. He didn’t have any evidence, and it’s hard to add to or make a case with a bunch of candy wrappers and a sock, so instead, he listens as E.L.L.A theorizes — or, rather, puts the pieces they probably have together. 

Understandably, he wears a dark expression at the idea that Ito’s killer was “toying with her until they decided to strike.” Part of him doesn’t exactly want to know what that means, as he had his own ideas already, and before he can ask for clarification anyway — E.L.L.A begins to explain in greater detail.

He finds himself gripping at the mug in exasperation, the further the topic went, which reminded him of the coffee he was supposed to be making. He can’t theorize with a sum of zero clues, and he can’t present evidence (or his attorney’s badge, because he doesn’t have one) that he doesn’t have, so he might as well do the only thing he can do well… — make coffee.

Before he gets a chance to move to the cabinet again, the topic shifts. The “now that we’re in private” part was reasonably frightening, so was “keep this between us,” and you know — so was “unless I die,” but his expression remains still and blank—

First, I am aware that Hideki is likely a pseudonym —

—-until the his face pales with this line. He’s grateful the his distress is actually making him grip the mug tighter, because otherwise, he’s sure he would have dropped it in a display of cliche theatrics. Well, if he can’t drop a mug to express his shock, at least the color can drain from his face to express it for him.

After a few beats of silence, enough time for his features to contort in surprise and, perhaps malevolence, he answers E.L.L.A’s questions.

“…no, those aren’t my initials. …they’re K.K.”

Well, if that wasn’t verbal, yet vague proof that yes, he indeed lied to them all, he doesn’t know what is.

“….but I never lied about my talent. SHSL Barista is my real title…”

...Hm. It would seem from his reaction that Hideki’s real name strikes a nerve. But was it enough of a nerve to have it constitute as his secret? They’ll put it down as a maybe, if only to narrow down the list of suspects. Honestly, how many students had fake names in this graduating year.

“..Whatever occurred that gives you reason to keep it concealed, I won’t pry. And I assure you that I do not judge you for it. We all have our reasons, you don’t see me going around saying what the acronym in my name is for, do you?”

And as for his other answer, well...perhaps it would be helpful to have another set of ears and eyes for this pursuit.

“...’The talent I’ve told you is not the talent I possess.’ That is the secret that I received. Considering the track record of hidden talents in the original killing game included Serial Killer, a Soldier who acted as Junko Enoshima’s accomplice, and the human personification of despair, I advise you to be on your guard. But until evidence is found that says otherwise, it is irrelevant to the case.”

He kneels down beside Moe, and he starts off his investigation by checking Moe’s pockets after a few seconds of mental preparation. Hoping to find something relevant to the case, he instead finds… nothing but junk, jewelry and a… wait, is that a sock? Wow, that’s honestly… he could have lived his whole life without finding this… was that the sock Moe was talking a— nevermind, he’s going to stop that train of thought immediately and put this back…

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, huh…? He recalls Neo and him were looking for that earlier, but they had no luck. He wonders, however, what this had to do with the situation at hand. Did they really have time to look for a completely irrelevant book right now…? He doubts so, if last investigation’s time limit applied here as well.

Hideki was going to continue searching around the area, if E.L.L.A hadn’t snapped him from his useless, candy-wrapper discovering investigation by saying his name. Turning his attention from Moe onto E.L.L.A, he stands back up from his kneeling position, nodding lightly in response. He was willing to go where they had to, now — as he calmed down considerably since earlier.

“A-ah, alright… I’ll come with you.”

Hideki follows behind E.L.L.A slowly, slightly annoyed that they went ahead without waiting for him to answer. Ignoring Takashi completely, Hideki looks over his shoulder to see Moe, still laying on the ground, motionless and silent. He stops in his tracks. Wait, is that… is she just going to be left there…? Standing a few steps away from her body, his eyes were once again frozen on the unmoving figure of Moe Ito…

Oh dear their God were you fucking kidding them.

In the canteen as they entered was once again, the infamous kettle. Was some sort of out side force mocking the group to have it once again involved in a case? As they pick it up for closer inspection, they find it to be just as ordinary and irrelevant as it previously was...fantastic. They were not going to pick up Moe’s place at the one who insists on focusing on irrelevant information. They reject this destiny. Back in the cupboard it goes.

“..Now, any preference in your sleep preventer of choice? Keep in mind that it will have to be something something quick, and even as we eat, we should take time to try and figure out what exactly has occurred, and why. I have suspicions, based on the last time I saw Moe, that whoever committed this act did not do so in the heat of the moment...there is even a chance that they were toying with her until they decided to strike.”

“As for the why... the most obvious incentive there was to kill were the distributed secrets. MonoMANU placed emphasis on the secrets only being revealed to those within this group, so if it is the reason why they chose to kill, it either has to be bad enough that they can not even allow it to known to a little over a dozen people...or the secret can not be revealed to this group specifically.”

They could think of reasons why the latter would be true, it would certainly be a double whammy on their captors part. Either kill someone prior to the reveal to keep your secret from being exposed, or wait until past the deadline for people to learned who which secret belonged to, and cause distrust and strife over the skeletons everyone was hiding in their closets, and then get a murder out of that. If everyone had a secret on the same level of what THEY received, well, there would be no shortage of potential killers.

...Though speaking of secrets...

“...Now that we are in private though, I would like to ask if you could confirm some things for me if it’s not any trouble. What I ask may or may not be relevant to the case, but it also may be important to future events that will occur, and I need to narrow things down. I will not speak a word to anyone about your answers, and in return I ask that you don’t tell anyone of the questions I have asked...unless I suppose, if I’m found dead. It might be related to my cause of death.”

Unsalvagable. Hypothesis: false. Another murder had been committed, and Takashi Koiwai had once again failed. E.L.L.A. allotted no time to the tear trying to roll down his cheek (what was he even more upset about Moe being the victim or being wrong about there being a victim to begin with). There was a brutal pair of opposites that so perfectly represented the stark contrast between human and android standing over him. Hideki was paralyzed with fear, and although Takashi was trying to help, spite most likely factored in to his doing nothing too. Then there was E.L.L.A. that was constantly in work mode, not letting emotions be a barrier when it came to completing a function. Takashi strived to be near the radical side of the latter, but not as cold. For as terrible as the pain of loss burned, he never wished he was anything but purely human.

“Can’t. You. Give me. A damned! Moment, android!” Would Moe like her killer to be brought to justice. Certainly. However, her ghost if there was one should hopefully understand that people will miss her.

Takashi did only need a moment to catch his breath. Fuck, don’t think about breathing, or the fact that you were about to try to resuscitate a corpse. This murder was disgusting. This statement he dissected as obvious, of course the murders weren’t pleasant. Anyways, after a few seconds of heavy breathing, he stood up and held his head in his hands. He could catch glimpses of the corpse when  he opened his eyes through the cracks in his fingers. 

“A—aah—!!”

E.L.L.A’s hand on his shoulder snapped him from his fearful staring, and once he realized it was just their hand and not someone here to kill him, he turned to E.L.L.A with a shocked expression, one that eventually turned spiteful as they continued to speak. He’s… aware that Moe was dead, now… but the strong air of “she’s dead. Moving on…” evoked anger from him. Shrugging her hand from his shoulder, he harshly inhaled.

“I was asleep in my room before midnight. No, no one can really vouch for me. No, I don’t know Moe’s secret or the one she was given…”

“I feel you expression of anger in that manner was not needed Takashi. I understand that you may find my demeanor in this situation to be insensitive, perhaps things would be different if I had been able to as get close to Moe as the two of you have. But the situation we are in has been designed purposely so that time is not on our side. Yes, you could mourn Moe now, but the more time spent doing that at this particular moment, the less time you will have to find enough evidence to properly convict and punish who has done this to her. I am not unfamiliar with the feelings that are currently inside the both of you, but the truth is if we allow it to over take us, then the killer and MonoMANU will have already won.”

They turn to face Takashi, their hands squeezing tightly on his lab coat for a moment before taking a deep breath out and placing it carefully on the ground.

“...You are allowed to hate me for my actions, or my words, or any clash in beliefs and emotions we may have. I will not stop you. But do not attribute these things to be due to my non biological origins. Do not refer to me by my race, and do not place judgement on me just because my neurological system is made of silicon rather than meat.”

“...I feel it would be helpful if you used your  wetsuit to see if anything else was in the water,but you may take your coat and go if you wish. Please keep an eye out for a piece of paper with a puzzle, a copy of Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, and potentially Moe’s hat. Thank you. ”

They turn to look at the Barista, face returning to their usual expression,though still containing a hint of exasperation.

“Thank you for your testimony, Hideki. Though I see at the moment now might not have been the best time to ask so bluntly. I see that we have a VERY long night ahead of us, perhaps it would do many of us well if we had something to boost our energy. You do not have to accompany  me if you do not wish, because the location I will investigate afterwards may bring up bad memories.

“H-hey—!” came a booming voice that sourced back to Hideki, upon noticing Takashi diving into the pond and grabbing Moe like it was familiar to him. While, yes, he supposes Moe shouldn’t be left to float there forever, the fact that Takashi was grabbing her body so easily was nauseating, but that’s probably because touching the dead body of someone he used to know was… an almost impossible feat for him. It didn’t help that Takashi was treating her like a ragdoll.

When Takashi grabbed Moe from the pond, practically tossing her to land, Hideki took to running to the two of them in panic, and potentially hope — but the pessimistic part of him knows that there is none. Inches from them, he lingers, floating above the two without a single clue of what to do. Holy shit… oh god, what is he expected to do? What can he do? Takashi’s shit out of luck if he expects Hideki to know anything about things like reviving people, he’s shit out of luck if he expects that Hideki can do anything but make a decent cup of Joe. He’s shit out of luck if… oh god… shut the fuck up and DO SOMETHING!!

When they arrived, they took in several things at once. Anguished faces, Moe’s body floating in the water, Takashi diving into the water in an extremely skintight wetsuit- yes,  that last one was certainly hard to look away from. They quickly go to the ponds edge where the tossed aside lab coat had fallen and folds it over their arm, before looking back up at the Biologist’s frantic rescue attempt...funny, they didn't know that the pond was a close relative of the Nile.

...Still the circumstances prior to Moe’s death were most peculiar. They would know, considering what they did with her last night... needless to say their curiosity was piqued. But in order for the curiosity to be satisfied- and, to solve the mystery of the death of a beloved classmate and help her loved ones find closure, they guess- the people around the body needed to stop acting like startled chickens!

Approaching the duo, E.L.L.A. Places her hand on Hideki’s shoulder, perhaps in an attempt of comfort. Their face is serious as she looks between the two.

"Yes, I am sure that if this initial distribution is meant to instill suspicion, then the second reveal is meant to evoke anger and paranoia. By the exchange of secrets, we can invalidate the second stage. If you would like to do so, we should meet in person."

A second text arrives a few seconds later.