"You managed to arrive here, you missed your mark. Well, who's to say that this isn't better than where you originally aimed for. Sometimes, the most interesting coincidences take place."
So come, and establish bonds in this mighty castle. I'm sure you can do it.
Rushing after Midoritarou, everyone finds themselves going down a few levels, following the snarls and yelling until they’re standing at something they aren’t sure what to do with. The main gates were large and imposing… and they were impossible to open. Many students have tried, and all of them have failed. It was the only clear exit from the castle, but it had always been sealed.
Until now.
Heck, who cares about Maru? This is a way out! She can yell at who she wants; you’re going to leave. It seems like Midoritarou has a similar idea as he rushes out after the source of the voices, and the dwindling remains of students follow.
They don’t get far, because there’s a new unfamiliar face. Maru, as always, is standing at her imposing height; it’s not stopped many people from picking fights with her, but it makes whoever it is she’s talking to seem much smaller than they are. A cat lady, and… a person in a fox mask. Their clothes are reminiscent of each other, but their face is completely hidden by that mask. Another cat person?!
No, what was more important was that Maru was extremely unhappy to see them in the first place.
“Get away from me, you beast!”
It’s hard to tell when Maru isn’t facing them, but it doesn’t look like she’s totally listening to the person now brandishing a knife at her. She takes a step forward, and lifts the hand that a few are familiar with at this point. The razor sharp claws that once slashed Kuroi’s face were ready for action once more.
“Watch who you’re calling a beast, you fool.”
They pointed their dagger at her. Wait, is this person going to attack Maru? What’s going on? Do they know each other? Do they hate each other? It did seem like Maru had a thing for people dying, but to attack a random… fox… person…
“I am more powerful now. I’m going to hold my ground… and thusly, we shall settle this now. Let’s fight.”
The fox person was ready to fight, and Maru didn’t seem like she was going to say no. Uh, guys? Students? Right here? Do you… leave? It’d be impossible to get through the fight about to begin without becoming collateral.
After the execution, the room is filled with the normal, uncomfortable tense atmosphere. Another student dead. They were running out of students - people to be murdered, and people to be executed. There must be a way out. There has to be a way to end this. Ayano and Kazue started an argument with Maru partway through this trial, so perhaps, following up on that is a good idea…?
Before anyone can ask, Maru is off of her throne as always. She isn’t full of the normal frivolous words. No, ‘trial is dismissed’, or… anything. Midoritarou fidgets uncomfortably in his seat, while Hunter stares at the cat woman unsurely.
“You may leave.”
Her voice is clipped, distant; as it has been all trial, it seems like Maru’s mind isn’t totally there. She’s down the staircase before anyone can do a thing. Hunter goes after her, as he always does, but Midoritarou seems to linger behind by a few steps.
And that is when they heard the voices. Going down the expansive staircase, two voices reached the students. One, at this point, they recognized as clearly belonging to Maru, but the other was totally unfamiliar.
Midoritarou looks unbelievably anxious, and it doesn’t pass as he looks back to all of you. He nods, as if asking to be followed. If Maru is upset at someone, then they must be your new best friend.
A loud whirring sound accompanies lights flickering on in the room. Rather, what Jo had assumed to be a room. Now they weren't so sure what the were in. They pressed their hands against the glass in front of them, trying to figure out where they were. Some sort of glass case? No.
A computer screen.
Panicking, they hit their hands against the glass, not sure of what else they could do. The screen finishes powering up, casting Jo in silhouette against it. And then it goes black again, green text popping up at the top. In fact, it's more like the type of screen you'd see on a Hollywood hacker’s screen than on any actual, real life computer.
A loud clicking sound fills the area, picking up in speed. Immediately, Jo recognizes the sound as someone typing. Behind them, more text started scrolling across the screen, utter nonsense to even Jo themself.
The text filled the page, scrolling down and filling another. And another. The speed of the typing only increases, getting louder and louder and louder. Jo flinches, covering their ears at the sound. The screen keeps flashing green and black, green and black, faster and faster, the lights bright and then dark, bright and dark.
It's too much for Jo’s senses, and they fall to their knees, eyes screwed shut, hands still covering their ears. Unable to see and hear anything causes them to be unable to notice that the whirring sound has grown louder, and that the lights have started flashing different colors, sparks flying within the screen.
At least, they don't notice until one of the sparks hits them. Their eyes fly open at the pain and they let out a scream. Looking up, they finally notice what's going on. The screen is sparking, cracking in some places, as the computer over works itself, fan whirring at the stress of the seemingly light speed typing.
The screen keeps cracking, and Jo tries to back up, but can only take one step before hitting the back end of the screen. More sparks keep falling, showering Jo, forcing more screams from their throat. Again, they close their eyes, the sparks in front of them too much to manage. When they open them again, the glass has cracked even more.
Their eyes follow the cracks in the glass as they move down the screen, to the bottom. And then it shatters, the glass falling backwards, falling around and on top of Asa.
The lights of the screen flicker off, the last thing you can see a pile of glass, one of Jo’s arms sticking out underneath it, completely unmoving.
Under-Reaction || Kuroi || 4.7 || Re:Voting Results & Josef
When Kuroi submitted her vote she really wasn’t sure what to do. Asa? Default? What was the best option they were most likely going to be wrong anyways…so why the hell did it matter. Kuroi voted though for the person who had the most signs of being correct though…which was Asa. She slammed her vote in and then waited…
But when the results ended up being in favor of being right Kuroi was shocked speechless. No witty comments. No asshole remarks. Complete silence from the Sukeban.
She stayed that way for a good while too, long enough that most of the people who could speak right away (including the explanation…) she did not interrupt.
“…………..”
So Asa, as she thought was not their real name…even if it was she was expecting at least a last name with it… just like with Rini. You can’t just have one name…right? Even her alias had a last name to it…but her name wasn’t hidden..anyone could access her actual name. People had their reasons.
Her gaze was adverted from Josef…that was their name now right? She refused to look at them until her thoughts were collected…which they quickly fell back into place once hearing the full story.
“….So the quack was trying to kill you so you only killed him in defense? Figures after hearing what was in his notebook. Hes the one who seemed to have needed psychological help..”
She muttered something under her breath about Haru though, only the ones closest to her could hear it though…and it was far from nice.
Goodbyes are always worse when you mean them || Yuuki Trial 4.2 || RE: Votes, Josef
Yuuki was going to object. He wasn't being snarky..! He wasn't trying to frame anyone or accuse anyone... But the trial slipped by him, not like he cared too much for that anyway. He found the killer, and voted accordingly.... Why did it feel like an empty victory, then? Is this what it should have felt like with Rini? Yuuki looked into Asa's (Josef's) eyes and furrowed his eyebrows.
He took the ONIbook and pressed it against himself, trying hard to hold back a scowl. He felt like he was going somewhere with these people... He might have even made a friend or two. Now one of them was going to die. He didn't regret it, of course, but that didn't mean it wasn't going to hurt at least a little. He pursed his lips and looked away.
"... I didn't do anything spectacular... Don't call me kiddo, Asa.. Or Josef.. whatever you want to be called."
He bites his lip and looks down at the ID. He steps back from the other as they moved back to their podium and inhaled for a moment to reply with a sense of timidity.
"You have done some bad stuff, but I think it's forgivable.. Just maybe a little. I have a question... Because well, for reasons-'
you'll never know the murderer sitting next to you | jo | re: voting results
(TW Suicidal Ideation, mentions of Unhealthy Relationships)
"You can call me by my name, you know? Pretty sure you know it, after all, Maru-chan. Josef Amsel. That's me. I think I can use it now."
They sigh, the podium supporting practically all their weight now. Then, slowly, they lean back and pull the edge of their shirt up, revealing several bruises, each almost perfectly circular in shape.
"Haru had the hammer already. Bastard was all set up to use it on me. I just happened to be faster. If that wasn't the case, y'all would be sitting here debating how I died. But I foiled his shitty fuckin' plan of trying to manipulate me and control me and then betray me. Asshole."
Jo pulled their shirt down again, and was back to leaning on the podium.
"Well, you guys got me. Barely. Guess I wasn't as thorough as I thought. Or maybe I wanted to get caught. That was the original plan, after all. Murder my love, then suicide by execution. He promised he'd never leave, after all, and I was going to make sure he'd never break that promise. Too bad I wasn't fast enough to ensure that."
Removing their ONIbook from their pocket, Jo stepped away from their podium and headed towards Yuuki. Once they were close enough, they held out their ONIbook for him to take.
"Congrats, kiddo, you win the prize! The attention only got drawn towards me 'cause of the evidence you found, after all. I'm proud of you."
Just for a moment, the smile they've been forcing wavers as they look at Yuuki. Slowly, as if waiting for Yuuki to stop them, they reach out to ruffle Yuuki's hair.
"I mean it, I am. I know you don't want to hear it, and want to believe otherwise, but you're better than I could ever be. I, uh, left some messages on there. Just in case. It's cliché as hell, but can you deliver them for me? I believe that you can make it through this."
Then they stepped back, and returned to their podium.
"Ah, well, guess I'm breaking my promise, too. Whatever. Just another shitty thing I've done to add to the long, long list. Unless anyone has some questions, I'm ready to go."
A Bitter Pill || Voting Results & Maru Theater Start
Results
Haru Ikezawa: 1
Asa: 4
Arashi Fukui: 1
Ayano Aizawa: 1
Kazue Hinku: 1
Artie Artino: 1
The votes came it, with the most divergence you’ve ever seen. Throughout the entire trial, there was no confession, and it was clear that even now, no one was truly sure if this was the right choice.
“Colour me surprised. You are correct. Ikezawa-san’s killer is Asa-san, try as they might to lie. I’m impressed with you for voting correctly. Congratulations.”
Impressed is what the says, but her voice is dry and expression distant. Drumming her fingers against the arm of her throne, she stays silent for a few more moments before shrugging.
“As always, let us proceed with the execution. Say your final words before they pay for their crime.”
“The effects of the poison are immediate despite being a slow acting poison...it could take anywhere from half an hour to 2 hours to kill you...I’m no expert on poisons though..it all depends on the body of who took it. Now please vote. Trial is over”
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