#junshu

[deckspair]

DEKFILE #06

Victim Name: Genko Junshu

Flower: Begonia

Cause of Death: Stabbing

Time of Death: ???

Time of Discovery: 7:26 AM

Location of Body: Navigation Station

[deckspair]

Once You See You Can't Unsee | Junshu | Execution Reaction

At some point, Junshu had ceased sobbing. Tears still ran clear down her face, like a broken faucet. No point in trying to pretend she didn't cry when the others had already seen it. From the position on her knees Junshu looked up, watching with forced eyes as Ukiyo-maemi was executed. It was horrific, but... she'd been here before, already. With all the other monsters who had been executed. A sinking feeling settles in her stomach when she processes that she's just simply used to this. 

She doesn’t blame Neo for passing out. Frankly, Junshu kind of wishes she could just do that too. 

"How..." Her voice is weak, why? Why can't she compose herself, goddamnit! She's the leader, she's always been the leader, she needs to stay strong for everyone else. With a shaky hand, she places her palms on the top of the trail stand, but makes no effort to pick herself up yet. Junshu fixates her attention to the begonias, and continues, "How have we managed to do this... four times now?" 

"That's not normal. This isn't normal. Aren't we Hope's Peak students? The best and brightest, leading the future into a new hope?" The words are garbled together, repeating the phrases she could only distantly remember now. Honestly, she didn't ever care that much for Hope's Peak Academy. But it stood for something good, something pure, something that-- something that they sure as hell didn't have. 

Junshu huffs, and begins to lift her body back to it's feet. She's still not looking at anyone, with the wetness of her cheeks still shimmering in the light (a slight amber tinge to the light, too, from the fire Ukiyo-maemi had just burned in, moments ago). "Four. There's been four of these... these god damn trials, and we've done nothing to successfully stop them. How is that even possible? What…” Her body shakes some more, but this time, the cry comes out as a laugh. “When? When will you people stop killing each other? It’s not that hard! It is actually the easiest thing to do, to not kill a person.” 

Well, none of the people still alive had killed anyone, had they? That counted for something. Except, those who hadn’t voted for Spiderbot… Ukiyo-maemi’s blood was on their hands. If they had just had a unanimous majority… Junshu gripped her podium so tightly her knuckles were losing color, and when she spoke again, her voice was a loud, uneven cry. “I have tried, I have tried so, so hard to do something, to give you all something, and none of it has been enough to stop this! I…” She gasped for air, her voice cracking under her own pressure. “I can’t save anyone! N-not a single person! Ten people are dead! Ten--...” 

Junshu breathes in audibly, a tremor in her inhale. She looked around the circle, the survivors, sizing them up independently. There was Neo, passed out in Shinbou’s arms. He was almost peaceful, now-- hard to believe the same boy was filled with such rage only moments ago. Shinbou was kind, but so… passive. Except now, at the trial, they had been forceful, hadn’t they? And everyone and listened to their demands, but when Junshu reasonably suggests they DON’T let the clear liar and threat wield a tool that could be used for murder, she needs to ‘tone it down’ some. Yeah, speaking of, Kiyuu didn’t even deserve her thoughts. Screw that guy. Chouko… god, she had always been so lazy, and uncooperative, and the reveal of her real talent didn’t stop her from being difficult at times. Mizuo, he still had his secrets, didn’t he? What had happened with his boyfriend? She didn’t really know that clown at all, just like she didn’t know Ukiyo-maemi, or Nakamura, or Matsumoto, or Minami. Who’s to say this wouldn’t happen a fifth time? Who’s to stay she wouldn’t be betrayed again? 

She glances towards Akira last, her breath hitching her throat. Could she even trust Akira still? Of course she could. But wasn’t that just more of the naivety everyone liked to scold her for? In the end, you couldn’t really ever know who you could trust, right? “God, god, what am I thinking?” Junshu interrupts her internal monologue to speak again, gripping the sides of her head and unrustling her hair. 

A shadow falls over Junshu’s face, light no longer coming into her eyes. “What the hell is wrong with me? Before… before I came here, I could handle anything. Any student, and problem, anything. But… this! You! You people! Why…” Her voice cracks again, and she takes a moment to breath. “Why do you keep dying?!” 

Had she missed something? Had she overlooked something obvious? Should she had been more forceful, and not let anyone get away with their crap? Should she have recognized the threats beforehand? Junshu, truly, honestly, thought she had done everything she could. Then… why? 

She freezes, her hands leaving her head and going back to the podium in a firm grip. “It’s. It’s not me.” Junshu whispers. Where other people talking? Trying to reach out to her? She wasn’t listening. Right now, she was getting out all the thoughts in her head as they came to her. The shadow on her face worsens, twisting away from fear and going into something much worst. Junshu’s expression wasn’t just scared, it was lost, and angry, and … hopeless. 

“You… you people… you’ll just keep going, no matter how many people die, aren’t you?” Junshu can’t help but laugh a little. “Who cares… if we had the chance to save one person. You’ll all just keep distrusting each other, and… and fighting, and killing each other as soon as those bots give you the slightest push…”  

(Art By Oclarina)

"You're all fucking monsters!" She rocked forward, the podium keeping her in place. Laughter escapes into her voice in her hysteria, but there’s no smile. “You- all of you, I can’t trust any of you!” Was she talking in circles? Hadn’t she just scolded them for not trusting each other? It all made perfect sense to Junshu, though, somewhere in that monochrome moralistic brain of hers. 

As soon as the elevator lets them, Junshu is getting the hell out of dodge. She couldn’t be here much longer.

[deckspair]

The Loud Cry of Disappointment | Junshu | Trial 4.7 | RE: Voting Results, UM

The votes had been confusing at first, when it was such a split vote. She supposed, maybe it was too much to expect Neo to vote to save Nonoka's killer, and she could forgive just him for that. But it was three votes, along with one person who didn't vote at all. It was close. Too close. Junshu had a bad feeling. 

Now that our necks are on the line, we should get to vote, too. 

A cry rises in Junshu's throat, but fails to actually leave her mouth. She just lets her head fall at her shoulders, fixated on the ground. Junshu only barely heard what Neo and Ukiyo-maemi were saying. So Neo had voted for Spiderbot? Then who hadn't? Could she even believe Neo was telling her the truth? Could she believe anyone, anymore? 

When Ukiyo-maemi spoke, Junshu felt sick. She wanted to throw up, but didn’t have enough in her stomach to do even that. This person deserved death. There was no question about that. If she told herself that enough, would it make it better? That they were killing her? 

Once again, she tried to speak, tried to do anything, but nothing came out. She bit in inside of her mouth in anger, trying to regain control. Neo was distraught, and even though she understood his anger, she should try and say something to calm him down to help. But as she raised her shaky voice, it wasn't words that came out. No angry words for Ukiyo-maemi, no support for calm Neo, nothing. Junshu knew she wanted to yell all of that, but instead, her hand clasped over her mouth and her knees gave out, sending her down to the ground.

Genko Junshu was crying, tears running down her face as she sobbed into her hand, muffling the sound. It was the first time she had cried since arriving in this place, and it wasn’t exactly voluntary. All of the emotions she had been working towards concealing all came tumbling out, all the anger, misery, and sorrow, and despair, it came tumbling out of her at a pace she couldn’t stop. 

Was this even about Ukiyo-maemi anymore? Or the fact that, again, they couldn’t keep someone from dying? What’s wrong with her? 

… 

What’s wrong with everyone? 

[deckspair]

A Million Mistakes | Junshu | Trial 4.6 | RE: Akira

"You're a monster, Ukiyo-maemi. There's no doubt about that." Junshu's grip on her podium was tight, and she was looking at the ground. "A painless death... regardless of your intentions, it means nothing. If you were... beginning to doubt what you had done, in the past, you could have come to one of us. Hell-- you could have told someone about Nonoka, after your planned failed with whatever Law did, and maybe we could have helped her." 

Why did everyone just keep dying? Why couldn't people just be decent human beings, for crying out loud?! 

"I'm not even that hurt, anymore." Junshu chuckles, glancing back up at Ukiyo-maemi. "I can't decide if that's your fault, for being such a horrible creature, or that fact that I'm used to betrayal, by now." 

Reaching up, she ran her hands through her hair, messing her normally straight locks. Strands of hair began to stick out, and Junshu just looked stressed. "You don't deserve to leave, but if it's the option beside killing you, then we have no choice. You can do whatever you want to when you get out of here. I hope you rot." But not die, Junshu ignored that thought. Maybe get some help, and rot.

"So..." She shook a little, returning her hands to the podium. "Cast your votes for Spiderbot, everyone." There's a defeat in her tone, angry that someone like this would go free, even if maybe at a time Junshu respected them, but also-- a clear belief that everyone would follow what she said. 

[deckspair]

Naive Souls Are Endangered | Junshu | Trial 4.5 | Re: Akira

((TW- Minor guilt tripping about game mechanics)) 

A distant glaze coated Junshu’s eyes again. She looks over to her left, but not at Akira, just… around Akira. For the girl that wore her heart on her sleeve, her expression was almost unreadable now. “It’s not an issue of taking out a bot, it's doing the right thing for once.” She tilted her head, slowly. “You heard Frogbot. I don’t think it’s fair for Ukiyo-maemi to get away with this, but… but-!" 

Four times. They had done this four times already. Ten of them were dead. Evander. Rio. Minami. Yasu. Matsumoto. Sayuri. Nakamura. Alotte. Law. Nonoka. The names repeated in her head, regardless of whether she hated them or not. Why did they keep doing this? Why did they keep losing people? Why couldn’t Junshu save anyone?!

Ukiyo-maemi. She didn’t have to die, this time. Junshu faced forward again, gripping unto her podium like it could disappear at any moment, like this chance would slip away in an instant. 

"I don’t–” Junshu’s breath was shaky. “I don’t want anymore blood on my hands." 

[deckspair]

I Forgot I Kind Of Liked You While I Was Hating You | Junshu | Trial 4.4 | RE: Ukiyo-maemi, ATTN: Everyone

Once, before arriving here, Junshu had been considering becoming a police officer, or even a detective. Someone who solved crimes and protected the people, putting horrible criminals behind bars. However, after four trials of this, she’d come to the realization that myserties were not her forte. She was doing her best to keep her composure together, but really, at certain points she just wanted to pull out her hair. She decided, internally with a delirious laugh (because this was far from the time to discover something like this) that she should just stick to politics as her career goal. 

She had listened to Shinbou struggle with their theories, and desperately tried to figure out something else to add or some sort of breakthrough she could offer. Maybe if she did the checks instead? A new set of eyes? That was worth a shot, at least. She opened her mouth to suggest doing when the gymnast was at Ukiyo-maemi, but– 

Junshu could almost hear the static noise when she processed what Ukiyo-maemi was saying. “You… you wrote the note?” She asked, her voice uncharacteristically quiet. As her thoughts caught up to her mouth, she spoke louder again. “Are you– you’re saying you killed her, is that right?” That’s exactly what she’s saying, Junshu, why do you need confirmation? You heard her. 

In fact, why was she even bothered? Objectively speaking, Ukiyo-maemi was even worse that Kiyuu. As far as she understood it, he hadn’t killed anyone (if she believed him, which was… not much). She, however, had explicitly admitted to killing before. Hell, Junshu should have brought that up at the beginning of the trial, on principal. Those who have killed will kill again, given the chance. Ukiyo-maemi makes total sense! Just a deranged cult freak that probably thought she was doing Law N. Oda and Nonoka a favor, or something. 

None of that came out, mostly because she knew she didn’t believe it, even if she didn’t understand why she didn’t believe it. “Nonoka… was Nonoka your target? Then… Oda, you’re calling her a clown. Did she get in your way?” Junshu spoke the questions more out of habit that actual curiosity; a way to past time as she collected her thoughts. In fact, she’s almost certain she can piece together what happened, although it would be nice to have it confirmed from Ukiyo-maemi’s own mouth. “I should have looked at your target when I could, I should have never let you near Nonoka, I-” 

Junshu hated Ukiyo-maemi, there was no denying that. Annoying, then, was that there was still something else on top of that. Could she have stopped this? A killer will kill again, but – god, despite her disgust with the girl, Junshu knew Ukiyo-maemi just didn’t understand. Or it was Junshu that didn’t understand, perhaps. Maybe there was absolutely nothing about the aquatic gardener that she really ever got right, and her perception of her has always been based in a simple, monochrome world view and a little bit of self projection. 

And if– if, Ukiyo-maemi could have learned her mistakes, and grown, if that was a thing that someone could actually do (and maybe, if she had stopped being repulsed by her for two seconds, she would have realized she wanted that); well, none of it mattered now. Ukiyo-maemi was the killer. Neo would get his justice, or revenge, and they would be cleared of one more traitor. 

… 

God, then why was she so conflicted? 

“I want to hear your defense, and your explanation, if this is actually what you’re implying.” Junshu said, sounding like she was back to normal. “And… know that you will be punished for your crimes. But…” 

Junshu took a moment to actually look Ukiyo-maemi in her eyes, something she had been avoiding since the trivia game, before glancing away and scanning all the others. “We… I, well. I… I believe, since we have the chance, we shouldn’t vote for Ukiyo-maemi. This trial allows us to vote for a bot, and… Well, as long as the rules haven’t changed, then…” 

“Let’s… vote for Spiderbot.” It was an order, not a request. But unlike any other time she had dished out an order, there was an uncertainty to her voice. Even though she wasn’t sure of her plan, it was the most logical thing for them to do. 

[deckspair]

Why Can't Despair Be More Orderly? | Junshu | Trial 4.3 | ATTN: Kiyuu, RE: Akira, Shinbou

So the bots were conceivably the culprit? Junshu didn’t know how to process that information fully. By the fact of the matter, it simply made the bots the most likely suspects, as it was hard to picture anyone here doing something like that. The murders were so brutal… it took a monster to do so, and, and to picture anyone here-- 

Wasn’t it her duty as the leader to believe in everyone? Everytime she was forced to doubt her friends, she found herself hurting more and more. What kind of world is this, where distrust became so commonplace? There’s nothing Junshu hated more than the idea that they lived in a reality so chaotic. Where anyone was capable of betrayal, and murder. There was an order to things that Junshu wanted to uphold. “I… I think we shouldn’t ignore the possibility that the bots did it, actually.” She spoke, tentatively. “If one of them had either as the target, they’ve already shown that they don’t have to leave. After all…” The brunette paused, mourning Alotte once more. “Frogbot killed their target, and choose to stay here.” 

Junshu was reminded of Oda’s smug scolding after the first trial, where she had also insisted the murderer was Spiderbot. Oda had warned that her naive behavior was a threat to the others in the group. She had never really been able to understand the girl who had, at one point, also called herself a leader. But she knew, now that they were here for the fourth time, investigating the hall monitor’s own murder, that she needed to at least try and consider something else. 

With Akira’s suggestion, Junshu realized there was at least one person she could reasonably conceive to do something like this. With her trust of Kiyuu severed, she found herself willing to believe that, at least he would be capable of this. 

“But, ah, if we’ve narrowed done the suspect list to Kiyuu, then I can’t say I’m surprised.” Junshu crossed her arms. “After all, he as already proven to be an untrustworthy individual. But, Akira, I can’t agree that I think Oda would attack someone. It was true that she removed herself from the group, but to try and kill… I just don’t think it’s very likely.” Oh, so you agree it’s Kiyuu but disagree with the whole line of logic on why? Okay. 

“As for your comment, Shinbou, I don’t think Oda would have been hiding as one of the mannequins. In fact, I think it’s very unlikely Oda was wearing the costume at all when she was attacked. After all, the mask she was wearing remained intact, despite the damage to her face. If she was wearing that when attacked, or lying in wait as you’re suggesting, the clown costume, and mask, would have been damaged.” 

At this point, Junshu has taken out her notebook and is looking at the photos of the notes, trying to mimic the handwriting. “Since the handwriting doesn’t match any of ours, it’s either faked, or a forgery of someone else’s. Well, Frogbot did refuse…” It doesn’t seem like she had any conclusive theories, and is mostly just throwing out suggestions. Junshu puts the pen to her cheek in thought. “That, or someone… used a voucher to ask the bots to write it? Or, perhaps, someone copied Nonoka’s handwriting?"

[deckspair]

So You're Telling Me Spiderbot Did It? | Junshu | Trial 4.2(0) | ATTN: Spiderbot | RE: Neo, Akira, Chouko

[[TW: Talk of bones sticking out]]

For the most part, it seemed people had brought handwriting samples. That was… okay, Junshu wasn't annoyed, just. It was just another cherry on top of her already bad mood. But she put that aside, like she always did, and focused on what needed to be done right now. The class president was determined to remain put together, personal feelings be damned. It was the other’s place to have emotional outbursts. She needed to keep herself in check more. 

Junshu removes one of her notebooks from her bag. “I’ve been keeping up with my studies since I got here, but if pages of notes are still questionable, I also wrote down my final inventory list at the end of the game. Akira should have seen me writing throughout that game.” She walks the short distance to Shinbou for them to see. “I’ve tried to start something like a diary, but… never got very far.“ 

Once that was done, Junshu returned to her podium and listened. Neo gave his opening statement, and… Junshu didn’t know how to feel about that. She knew Nonoka’s death was hitting him hard, but… it hurt, to see the normally happy go lucky daredevil become so stoic and cold. It wasn’t supposed to be like that. He should be happy, but Nonoka (and Oda) should still be alive, too. It was too much to try and reason through. It just wasn’t fair. 

None of this was fair! For the first time, Junshu really registered how messed up it was they were all able to come here, after two of their friends died, and discuss who killed them in such a professional fashion. Neo had made a flowchart for his girlfriend’s murder. For all her petty, stupid made up rivalry with Oda, Junshu had truly wanted to be her friend, and now… those days felt years old. 

Oh, god, she needed to keep it together. For a moment, lost in her thoughts, she had begun to shake and tear up, but she refused to let herself do that in front of everyone- or anyone, for that matter. She was the leader. Even if no one listened to her. 

Neo asked her a question. Shit. "Mhm?” Junshu responded at first, running her hands through her hair to create a sensory distraction. If she had been… it almost sounded accustory, like she should have thought to do something. Junshu doubted Neo meant it like that, but with his attitude shift, she supposed that wasn’t certain. Still, it took her a few moments to consider what he meant. “Narrow it down? I don’t know anyone else’s target, if that’s what your asking." 

She uh. Really never thought to check Ukiyo-maemi’s tablet for her target, had she. 

"Anyways, Akira is correct about the sledgehammer issue." 

[Junshu’s Account] A sledgehammer was missing from the Subsoil Floor the day before the body was found.

"I agree with Akira’s point, as well. I think there’s room for an exception, but Nonoka heading to the boutique might be the first step of this murder. Assuming, the note was for Nonoka in the first place. It was mostly unreadable, so it’s a possibility the killer planted it on Nonoka after her murder. Perhaps Nonoka never even went to the boutique." 

Done with her theorizing, she listened to the next person speak. This ended up being Chouko, and she couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow when she realized what the baker/cop was implying. "One of the bots?" Junshu leaned forward. Well, this was certain an ironic twist. It was a possibility she hadn’t considered… or, let herself consider, after the first trial. 

"Chouko, uh.” Junshu blinked. Was she wrong to get hopeful? How cruel of a world were they in, where hope was punished? “Okay, the water thing? That’s a really good point. I, ah, do, have to say, thought, that I’m pretty certain the sledgehammer was used in both murders, even if not the direct cause of death for Nonoka.” She spared a glance to Neo, concerned, but reminded herself that he had already seen the body. “Both bodies were in a horrible state… like something smashed into them." 

[Oh, Snap] Nonoka’s collar bone has been brutally smashed. Shards of bone have pierced both skin and blood vessels, based on appearances.

[It’s A Look!] Underneath the mask, Law’s face appears to have been smashed in. It’s brutal, bloody, and parts of her skull have caved in due to blunt force trauma.

"Although I don’t want to disapprove your theory,” Junshu refused to let herself be the naive fool, this time. She looked over to the bots, her attention trained specifically on Spiderbot. She spoke the question generally, but it was clear she was also looking for an answer from the mechanical spider too. “I don’t think the bots can lift the hammer?"