It's just another day in the hotel, or at least it started that way. Various contestants woke up according to their own schedules and it was a quiet morning all in all. Chie decided to take advantage of the peace and quiet to get some swimming in, and headed towards the pool. Along the way she bumped into Sayuri, the two of the chatted for a while before deciding to head for the pool together. However, as the two of them approached, they clearly heard a scream in the distance.
The two girls took off towards the pool as fast as they could, and nearly ran into Rylie, who was standing in the doorway, a hand over his mouth. When questioned, all he could do was weakly point with his free hand. When Chie and Sayuri looked into the pool they were greeted with a horrible sight.
The body of The Batman.
AS the group stared, a cute jingle played over the intercom system, and everyone’s watches went off with a ping, as monodragon appeared on the screens.
“Oh....It seems we finally have an elimination my dears...Congratulations, we can now move onto the investigation phase. In just a moment, a file will appear on your watches that will contain some basic information. The rest you’ll have to find out for yourselves! You’ll have a few hours before we move onto the trial segment. Good luck!”
Footage from a fairly renowned news station, albeit one known for following “trendier” issues. Finally, some word from the company that’s the talk of nations everywhere. With the recent final round reveal, ratings have soared, despite controversy about the content of the show. There is no show on air that has more views than OuroVision. It seems HPC is doing quite well for itself, except.... Doubts still linger about the exact content that the public is witnessing.
>“Thank you so much for taking the time to speak with us, Mr. Wright!!!”
“Ah, it’s no problem,” Mr. Wright says politely. “It is my job as a Hope’s Peak Corporation representative to make public appearances as they have been demanded.”
>“And they’ve certainly been demanded.... Tell us, were you expecting such a big uproar over the final round reveal?”
“Well, no one can predict the future,” Mr. Wright says, all in good humor. “But.... yes, we were hoping that it would be quite the popular premise. We are pleased that we were not disappointed.”
>“Were the contestants debriefed beforehand? They seemed so surprised about the reveal! If that was acting then it’s the best we’ve seen yet...”
“Their reactions were quite natural. However, they have indeed been informed of the true nature of the game, and have signed legal paperwork binding them to their decision. Rest assured, we are handling it all very professionally and there is nothing to be alarmed about.” Ah, that smile. The one that always seems to be on this guy’s face. Always so endlessly calm. It seems impossible to shake his collected demeanor.
>“I can’t imagine what it would be like if I had to really murder someone.... that must be terrible! Although, the premise does make for some truly exciting television! How much has HPC made since airing the footage of the final round?”
“I’m not inclined to say at the moment,” Mr. Wright says, waving the question away. There will be statistical reports released at another time. But humble bragging about it on live television.... that would just be unseemingly.
>“Mr. Wright, do you have a personal favorite on the show?”
“Oh?” His ever present smile turns a little at the corners as he quirks an eyebrow, apparently surprised by the question. “A favorite... Well, it would be rather unprofessional for me to say, as I am here to speak on the behalf of HPC, not my own opinions. I am merely doing my job.”
>“Oh, come on! Throw us a bone! We’d certainly love to know. Is it the sabermetrician? He is quite the fan favorite— oh, but perhaps not suiting for your type of character. The model? He is rather handsome.”
Mr. Wright sighs and shakes his head very slightly, as if he knows that he won’t be getting out of here in enough time to make his lunch appointment if he doesn’t play along.
“Well, if you really must know, I do find Mr. St. Martin to be of reputable character. Now, if that’s all, I believe our time is coming to an end....”
-
THIS MESSAGE HAS BEEN APPROVED BY HOPE’S PEAK CORPORATION.
KAGOME SETSUKO HAS BEEN FOUND GUILTY... COMMENCING EXECUTION
Dousing the Last Spark
The screen flickers on and is fuzzy at first, before finally focusing on a classroom. The chain that originally drug the lyricist, Kagome Setsuko, to her doom had been wrapped around her, binding her to the desk near the center. Nobody else but her, how lonesome. Wasn’t this something she was always used to, though? Maybe it was the idea that she was dying. It didn’t seem to phase her much though, as her naturally tired expression was plastered on her face. No squirming nor any attempts to fight back against the execution were present, as if she either hadn’t registered what was happening or that she just didn’t care. Most likely the latter.
Out of nowhere, a paper plane lands in her lap. Though a bit hesitant at first even for her sloth-resemblance, she is able to unfold it despite the restraints. Squinting at the note contained inside, she averts her eyes back to the side and discreetly shoves it off her lap, it landing on the floor beneath her.
“You’re just like that girl!”
She has nothing to do with such a terrible person.
Within the next minute or so, everything suddenly became silent. Glancing around at her surroundings, nearly buried in paper planes as more had piled in in the next minute or so after, with who only knows what written on them, it was hard to even see her legs anymore. Without warning, the floor slowly started to crack, giving away as Setsuko soon plummeted to her new fate. What could possibly be awaiting her underneath the ground?
A watery grave.
Landing in the pool of water, almost resembling a chamber, she floated to the top while wrestling with the paper planes that occupied any extra space. Being detached from the desk that had already began sinking to the depths, she was able to move freely. It seemed there was a shimmer of hope, as there seemed to be a dock just ahead. Blinking, but not hesitating, she started to doggy-paddle towards it, a look of determination now plastered on her skin. Would she make it? If you said yes, then you are in for a rude awakening.
Reaching a hand out to grab onto it, her hand seemed to collide with something. The dock and scenery around it went fuzzy. Quickly backing away from it, Setsuko’s eyebrows furrowed as she realized just what she hit. It became painfully obvious that there was no way out of this execution after all, and suddenly she was mentally kicking herself for thinking there would be. No, she knew what she did, and now she was facing the consequences.
The screen depicting the dock blacked out for a second, before showing another video similar to the one presented along with the motive. The girl shown in what seemed to be a surveillance video didn’t resemble Setsuko all that much though, as the hair was shorter and she was a lot less developed. No way that was her, but why was she being shown instead? From what was visible, she had a baseball bat in her hands, and had smashed windows open in what looked to be a hallway in a school. Not long after that though, she soon faded from the video, as if she were never there. It looks like it did strike a chord with Setsuko, as she started flailing in the water, getting farther away from the screen. It was obvious that she was screaming something, most likely profanity, but the background noises as well as the splashing and carrying on muffled whatever she had been saying for the most part.
It looks like screaming and shouting did her no good, and soon within a few minutes it ceased, as well as the flailing about. Barely holding her eyes open, she soon quietly disappeared underneath the surface of the water. One last camera switch showed her in her final moments. The paper planes and chains from before got wrapped around her legs, and there was no doubt her arms were tired from trying to keep herself afloat. The last look on her face was either one of fear or pure anger. Whether it be due to her death, or perhaps that she was drowning in return for the cleansing of a certain other’s crimes, would remain unknown.
Kagome Setsuko, the lyricist also known as ‘Kagome’ throughout the internet for her intensely soothing singing voice, has been successfully executed.
Sure enough, there's a new section on your ID card screen.
MONOCOBRA FILE 1
VICTIM: Nagata Mizuki, SHSL Matchmaker
CAUSE OF DEATH: Broken neck
TIME OF DEATH: 12:06 am
LOCATION OF BODY: The base of the left staircase
BODY DISCOVERY TIME: 1:21 am
STATE OF BODY: The victim is dressed in unusual clothing. His head is tilted at a strange angle, as are several other limbs. There’s also something tangled around his feet.
The built-in speakers all around the theme park emit an almost comical jingle as soon as Keiki lays eyes on the body.
DING DONG DANG DONG.
Monocobra's voice rings out over the quiet area, his voice reverberating in all the rooms.
"Would all ssstudentsss come ot the bottom of the ssstaircase immediately? One of your peersss hasss left you ssssomething!"
Everyone stirs and slowly trudges downstairs. And there it is, along with Yuurei, Alice, Keiki, and Monocobra. A corpse.
The snake grins cruelly.
"Isssn't thisss wonderful? Sssomebody murdered! What a lucky break! But not for him, I guesss."
He flicks his tail in the direction of Mizuki's body.
"Now, let'sss get down to work. Sssince sssomebody hasss died and the killer wasss next to Good Sssir Nagata in the circle, you will have to invessstigate. In about eight hoursss there will be a trial. If you find the killer, jussstice will be delivered. If you choossse inccorectly, then an innocent isss going to die and the killer will have gotten away with murder. And that wouldn't be fair! Ssso good luck! And to help, I've added a file to your IDsss. It will give you a sssort of advantage in figuring out who did it. All doorsss have been unlocked asss well."
"And I alssso got that damn roller coassster working. In cassse anyone wantsss to go for a ride inssstead of helping out."
Seven hours have passed since Monocobra supposedly destroyed Kazeno's fame. Now it's almost 1 in the morning. Yuurei is up and at 'em, of course. She leaves her bedroom to get a midnight snack, since she just woke up. She clomps down the stairs, grumbling to herself, when suddenly she trips over something and goes flying. She lands on her hands and knees and shrieks. Looking behind her, she sees what looks like a dead body. Eh, whatever. She continues on her way.
Eventually she makes it to the dining room, where she sees Alice Emblin Emory sleeping. Her head is face-down on a plate of mashed potatoes. And finally it dawns on Yuurei that she had, in fact, tripped over a dead body. Of course the occultist starts screeching at Alice. The blonde girl stirs. Yuurei tells her in a very high-pitched and annoying yelling tone that someone was dead. Annoyed, Alice follows her out of boredom more than anything else.
They make it back to the castle staircase, where sure enough, there's a body. Alice springs into action. She hurries up the staircase to wake the others when she hears Yuurei shriek. There's someone standing in the shadows at the top of the stairs!
Oh wait.
It's just Chiba Keiki. He starts yelling at Yuurei. Honestly, does he not notice the corpse? No, apparently not. Alice literally slaps some sense into him and finally he sees it... really, how could he have missed it?
Nagata Mizuki lay before the three. He was still, with his eyes closed. Something was tangled between his feet. Based on how still he was, it was clear he was one thing.
You get the feeling whatever he's about to say isn't going to be good. In fact, you're willing to bet it'll change your life forever.
"Sssince nobody isss taking me ssseriousssly, I've decided to take action."
Anyone who's still talking immediately falls silent.
[motive_1.mp3]
"Let'sss call thessse motivesss, ssshall we? Thisss firssst motive will hopefully get you moving."
"What if I told you could lossse everything you worked for? Becaussse that'sss what will happen if you don't ssstart playing the game!
"Every day that goesss by until a death, one of you here will become invisssible. You'll lossse the fortune and fame you've worked ssso hard to earn. Everyone outssside will forget about you and your talent!"
"Get ready, M'lady Murakami. You'll be a nobody by tomorrow! I'll keep you all updated, no worriesss. Tomorrow we'll all sssee Murakami Tokiyo'sss fall from celebrity ssstatussss."
Every day from here on out, another person will be "forgotten" by the public sphere, due to losing everything they've worked towards and have gained.
If you would like to become a murderer or victim, please PM Mod Rebecca.
Despite what Monocobra said, nobody had killed. Even though the name of your "target" had popped up on your Student ID screen (and was automatically deleted not long after), it didn't seem like people were taking it seriously.Thank goodness all your classmates weren't dumb!
About three days have gone by when your Student ID pings. There's another message. It says this:
To all M'ladies, Good Sirs, and Non-binary Aristocrats,
Pleassse make your way to the ballroom immediately. I sssenssse none of you are taking this ssseriously, ssso I have created a ssspecial sssurprissse for you.
Sssincerely,
Monocobra
Well, better get a move on! And honestly, was it really necessary for him to use so many s's when sending out messages?
