Sit and stay a while

”Didn’t find jack shit, Narita-san." Nyanraku finally perked up and said it. "Nothin’. Zip, zada, zero. Nooooo." If only there was a reward for being blunt, Nao was sure this puppet would have twenty. Nao wrung his hands, glaring at Nyanraku before staring to the floor again.

"H-He’s not wrong—I haven’t found anything yet; I feel really useless, Narita-san.. but I can’t give up!" His voice raised slightly, grey-blue eyes shimmering in determination as he looked back at Yui, "I’ll find something one day, even if it does take more murders!" Was that a bad analogy? "N-Not that I’d want that to happen…oh..forget that part..the point is that I will find something..”

"Hey, don’t beat yourself up about it, Nao-chan! The fact that you’re even trying to find who killed them means you’re totally not useless!  We jus’ gotta look somewhere else, that’s all!”

His suggestions as to where to go next seemed to make sense. In fact, it seemed Nao had a knack for suggesting locations that held vital pieces of evidence; if he hadn’t suggested the armory, then she wouldn’t have found the bobby pin that helped them figure out Kaho’s crime. Risa’s room, the meeting room, or the room leading to the treasure room…

"Ah, true…an’ I bet someone’s already found out that Koe-chan’s A-C-A-C ‘aint on her so they prolly went to check. The room we just passed might be being checked out already cos’ it’s like right there. The meeting room sounds like a good place to look around though-I mean with all those weird books, maybe there’s some sorta hint! Yeah yeah, good idea Nao-chan! Let’s go!”

"H-Hey..wait  for me..!" Nao called after her and broke into a sprint. He wasn't surprised that she didn't want to wait much longer, but it took him a moment to process this surprise. By the time he had caught up, it looked like she had already found something. 

She then started to discuss about whether their spirits were still lingering around. Yui was right—who would want to stay here longer than they need to? The only good reason would be to see their killer be killed—since they of course, know who did it to them. “That’s true— but I at least hope that they’ll cheer us on from the afterlife.. is that a weird thing to say?” Nao shrugged and sat down on  the lid of a chest.

"Nah, not weird at all! I’m sure they’re lookin’ down on us an’ hoping we solve this mystery but good! Though…they didn’t seem much of th’ cheering on type. If anyone’s gonna be cheerin’ up there, I’d say Shizu-chan, Rei-chan an’…Tsu-chan maybe? Dunno."

She searched a little more before coming up tablet-less. Seriously, where the hell did she put that thing? Noticing Nao sitting upon a treasure chest and Nyanraku demanding a report, she decided to just share what she knew so far. Maybe the duo had found something?

"Didn't find jack shit, Narita-san." Nyanraku finally perked up and said it. "Nothin'. Zip, zada, zero. Nooooo." If only there was a reward for being blunt, Nao was sure this puppet would have twenty. Nao wrung his hands, glaring at Nyanraku before staring to the floor again.

"H-He's not wrong--I haven't found anything yet; I feel really useless, Narita-san.. but I can't give up!" His voice raised slightly, grey-blue eyes shimmering in determination as he looked back at Yui, "I'll find something one day, even if it does take more murders!" Was that a bad analogy? "N-Not that I'd want that to happen...oh..forget that part..the point is that I will find something.."

”Hey hey, Kaichou guy! Any extra shades in there, by the way? Since he’s dead they’d just go to waste!”  Uh-oh. Nao had stopped focusing for merely a minute and it gave the puppet a chance to intervene. Not at a good place or time, either. 

"U-Uhh—don’t pay any attention to him…! He’s jerk. Erm…did you see anything, Sakai-san..?"

Akira turned to face Nyanraku and cocked his brow. 

"No cache of shades, though.  I’d say we can move on to Koezukuri’s room…"

He hesitated to make it to the doorway, scraping the side of his foot against the floor and inspecting the smear of blood it made with morbid fascination. After a few silent moments, he shifted back to Nao.

"I just don’t… I… I feel bad for them, you know… for Hagane-kun and Koezukuri-chan… Ariga-san… Tsukuda… whoever did this, too…"

He almost dared to bring up how they had signed their own death warrant, again, if only out of bitterness, but kept his mouth shut and started across the hall to the other block of bedrooms. Akira pushed open the door to Risa’s room and held back for Nao to enter first.

He did feel sincere though, at least. Nao wanted to insist that he felt awful to, but he was still mad at himself for not feeling his awfullest at the scenario--it could be the fact of less emotional connection, unlike Ariga-san (who he scolded and found the body of). Either way, there was a large pit in his stomach.

"Mmmn.. I-I don't want to invade her privacy, but.." Since they were in there already, Nao looked in Risa's drawers.  "U-Uh--she has interesting underwear, but... there doesn't seem to be anything out of the ordinary?" He quickly closed the drawers and blushed heavily. Did he really comment on a dead person's attire?

It was not until Akira was halfway behind him that he heard what he had said. The Kaichou? Wishing death upon someone? It was understandable, but out of all people, Nao would not have expected it to be him. It goes to show how much he did not know these classmates as he so thought.

Poor guy looked like he could use a hug—but his expression was a tad bit dangerous for that, so he stopped his internal impulse and followed after him.

"Ah, Sadao-kun. That’s not a bad idea. Thanks for… er… tagging along with me…"

Gesturing for Nao to follow him, Akira headed back through the meeting room and the foyer to get to the hallway lined with bedrooms. It took a moment of mulling it over in his mind before he headed to Katsuie’s door, feeling less morally wrong for going through the publisher’s room first. 

"All right, Sadao-kun… let’s give it a once-over, then we can head to… ah… Koezukuri’s room…"

"Hey hey, Kaichou guy! Any extra shades in there, by the way? Since he's dead they'd just go to waste!"  Uh-oh. Nao had stopped focusing for merely a minute and it gave the puppet a chance to intervene. Not at a good place or time, either. 

"U-Uhh--don't pay any attention to him...! He's jerk. Erm...did you see anything, Sakai-san..?"

When he saw the pitchfork his eyes widened in horror. Was she killed with this..? No, she died of heart failure.. and it looked like the holes were different from the other set of holes. Such a cruel, unusual murder—who did this? Who would be so brutal? “P-Poor Risa.. I hope it didn’t hurt too much..”

"Hmm…maybe? I dunno if Koe-chan an’ Katsu-chan wanted to stick around to see their killer get killed, but I mean…it’s possible, I guess. If they are, I hope they’re at least not in pain anymore. Kinda weird that they’d stay in this dumpy castle any longer then they needed to, but then again I didn’t…know ‘em that well so who knows what they woulda done."

As Nao continued his search, she began getting restless; she wanted to do something, contribute more and not just stand there waiting for answers. Her mind went back to what she’d said earlier; that maybe Risa’s talking tablet might hold some clues; she’d never seen her without it, so if it turned up missing, it would be suspicious. 

"Nao-chan, I’m gonna look for Koe-chan’s…A-A-C-C…tablet thing that talked a lot. She had it on her all the time so I’m guessin’ she had it when she died too. Maybe it’ll have something good-though I dunno what else it could do ‘sides talk."

She then started to discuss about whether their spirits were still lingering around. Yui was right--who would want to stay here longer than they need to? The only good reason would be to see their killer be killed--since they of course, know who did it to them. "That's true-- but I at least hope that they'll cheer us on from the afterlife.. is that a weird thing to say?" Nao shrugged and sat down on  the lid of a chest.

"I feel like I should be sadder, but I’m not devastated…! Is there something wrong with me, Narita-san?" He wrung his hands. "Getting it over with is honestly the best option, you’re right..!"

”So, do you see anything over there, Narita-san? Did you hit the jackpot?!” Nyanraku was quick to chime in and ask. It would be nearly impossible for there to be no clues on the body itself—so it was a given.

Once Nyanraku was done talking, Nao sighed lightly and put his brain to work. “It feels impossible to tell at this point—everyone here seems to be an expert at keeping things hidden—secrets included.”

"No…I don’t think there’s anythin’ wrong with ya. I mean…I dunno what I’m tryin’ to prove. I guess we’re getting used to dead bodies-ugh, that sounds like we don’t care and we do…well, whatever. We can care for ‘em by findin’ out who killed them."

She’d been too busy talking to Nao and mulling over his question that she had almost missed the most obvious clue; there was a pitchfork sticking straight out of Risa’s chest. There were three holes, but they didn’t seem aligned correctly…perhaps the culprit hadn’t stabbed them correctly the first time and required for them to stab them again? The mere thought made her feel sick and she shook her head in a vain effort to wipe the imagery out of her head.

Besides the holes in her chest, there didn’t seem to be any other external wounds. There was blood on her mouth, but that was most likely from the damage the pitchfork had done to her lungs. She stood up and turned her attention to Nao-in time to hear Nyanraku ask her if she’d found anything, albeit not in the most sensitive wording.

When he saw the pitchfork his eyes widened in horror. Was she killed with this..? No, she died of heart failure.. and it looked like the holes were different from the other set of holes. Such a cruel, unusual murder--who did this? Who would be so brutal? "P-Poor Risa.. I hope it didn't hurt too much.."

Weeks without anything awful going on, and a sliver of hope that after seeing such an execution, no one would murder again, it happened again. Two of his friends. It was true he did not get to know Risa, but he still personally assumed everyone was a friend in this kind of environment.

The motive did state that two people would go free, but why kill two? Two for two? That was..idiotic. It honestly wasn’t worth it—the killer would be offed anyways so why take  more than necessary? 

Nao was more confused than angry, although his expression would support the latter. He glared at both of the lifeless bodies and wished them well at the same time—a strange action. 

”What a cryin’ shame! Two of em! Two! And the Shades Guy out of all people! Who would kill such a cool guy?!” It turned out his puppet was wide awake as well, and he was not happy. Katsuie could have taught him how to be cool but noooo, he just had to go and die.  It was not until Yui stated about the investigation that Nao blinked and rushed to her side. “Ah—Narita-san, are you alright? Well, that’s not the best question to ask but.. can I do anything to help? I—can help on the investigation too..”

His puppet also chimed in, the stubby arms curling upward in determination.

"Make that a three! Let the Shades Guy be aveeeeeeeeeeeennged!"

"Risa too, Nyanraku.."

"I could ask you the same thing, Nao-chan. Are you okay? I mean…it’s happened again. But to answer ya question, I’ll be okay-don’t ya worry about me. Let’s just…get this over with. I’m gonna inspect Koe-chan’s…Koe-chan’s body…if you or Nyan-chan get any ideas about who killed them then don’t hesitate to speak up, yeah?"

"So, do you see anything over there, Narita-san? Did you hit the jackpot?!" Nyanraku was quick to chime in and ask. It would be nearly impossible for there to be no clues on the body itself--so it was a given.

The scent of blood seemed thicker than last time. It burned Akira’s nostrils and made his mouth taste acrid. He turned away from the two deceased students and faced those who were still living, eyes unusually hard. First poor Shizue… then Reiji, who he could admit he wasn’t fond of, but still.

The reality of the situation hit him hard, taking the knot in his stomach and twisting it around twice more for good measure. Tired.

"There’s no excuse for this," he said. "Whoever did this is going to die, too. That’s all there is to it."

Worn out, Akira sauntered away from the treasure room and eyed everyone who left subsequently. They received his best I’m not mad, just disappointed look. Then he cleared his throat.

It was not until Akira was halfway behind him that he heard what he had said. The Kaichou? Wishing death upon someone? It was understandable, but out of all people, Nao would not have expected it to be him. It goes to show how much he did not know these classmates as he so thought.

Poor guy looked like he could use a hug--but his expression was a tad bit dangerous for that, so he stopped his internal impulse and followed after him.

To think that someone would kill after the horrible trial, not to mention the sudden and unexpected death of Reiji Eguchi was, well…unthinkable. Surely nobody would try their luck and risk execution, right? No matter what the motive may have been, it was still risky and if they had cleared one trial then who was to say they could not do it again? No, nobody was cruel-and so death-seeking-enough to do that. So with that out of her mind, Yui had decided to try and make the most of their confines and spoken to more people over the course of their time together.

Of course, once Rinko’s cry resounded throughout the castle, all hope for peace was shattered. Rushing with the other students, she discovered the bloodied bodies of Risa and Katsuie in the treasure room.

"H-Huh? Koe-chan? Katsu-chan…? What the…"

The sounding of the announcement cut off any thoughts she may have had and Monobear himself appeared to confirm the worst; they had been murdered. Another student had murdered their classmates, and soon they would be dead too. Soon, there would be another horrible trial, and she would have to have to cast suspicion on her friends once more.

Her ID card pinged, but she ignored it and rushed over to the bodies, feeling for a pulse, even though she knew damn well there would be none. Her legs threatened to give out as they had done when she had seen Shizue’s body but she managed to keep herself upright. She could feel her vision blurring up with tears, and she let them fall even as she could hear the others murmuring and splitting up to search for the clues that would both save them from death and condemn the killer to a brutal execution.

Finally, she wiped her tears away with the back of her hand, pulled her ID card out with her other hand and began to read the contents of the new files. A broken neck and…heart failure? What on earth was going on here? She looked up from the files and adressed those still in the room, her voice wavering yet still loud in volume.

"If…If anyone wants to investigate with me, then I’m here to help. I’m gonna try ‘n get more info about the bodies since Koe-chan died of a heart thing and that’s kinda weird. Plus maybe Koe-chan’s A-C-C-A or whatever has somethin’ that could help us on it."

Weeks without anything awful going on, and a sliver of hope that after seeing such an execution, no one would murder again, it happened again. Two of his friends. It was true he did not get to know Risa, but he still personally assumed everyone was a friend in this kind of environment.

The motive did state that two people would go free, but why kill two? Two for two? That was..idiotic. It honestly wasn't worth it--the killer would be offed anyways so why take  more than necessary? 

Nao was more confused than angry, although his expression would support the latter. He glared at both of the lifeless bodies and wished them well at the same time--a strange action. 

"What a cryin' shame! Two of em! Two! And the Shades Guy out of all people! Who would kill such a cool guy?!" It turned out his puppet was wide awake as well, and he was not happy. Katsuie could have taught him how to be cool but noooo, he just had to go and die.  It was not until Yui stated about the investigation that Nao blinked and rushed to her side. "Ah--Narita-san, are you alright? Well, that's not the best question to ask but.. can I do anything to help? I--can help on the investigation too.."

His puppet also chimed in, the stubby arms curling upward in determination.

"Make that a three! Let the Shades Guy be aveeeeeeeeeeeennged!"

"Risa too, Nyanraku.."