Open The Gates

Etsuko Reiki, SHSL Nun D E A D

[shsltrifolium-deactivated201412]

[rouletterampage]

With the air filled with betrayal and a thick scent of disappointment, the students stepped back in horror. Their faces began to flush as the mastermind, Etsuko Reiki, started her prayer. While clasping both of her hands together an immediate aura of darkness befell the entire room. Small sniffles of uneasiness muffled as Etsuko’s voice carried around the court.

“Heavenly Father, I know I am close to despair. I feel so tempted to give up, to withdraw from life and religion and let the world simply carry me along. Everything seems so meaningless and nothing appeals to my better instincts. Help me to remember that Jesus gave meaning to everything in the world. Let me bank on that fact and get over this time of despair, to really believe in the depths of my being that there is a reason for living. Show me the reason for my life and tell me what I must do. Bring home to me that I am never alone, but that You are with me even in the depths of despair. Remind me that no matter what I may endure now, an unending joy awaits me in the future if I but cling tightly to You and your Son Jesus in the unity of the Spirit. Amen.”

As her prayer finished, both hands dropped limp to her sides. Etsuko opened her eyes as they swirled with God’s passion and judgement. A large metal chain clasped around her neck, dragging her back behind the curtains. There stood a shadow of an unknown figure before disappearing completely. The students turned their bodies to watch the gruesome execution unfold.

There, the curtains folded back showing a lively scene in past days. A dirt path paved the ground while many Monobear’s stood as vendors. Etsuko stood at the doors of a large chapel, her expression calm and unfazed. The bear’s waved to her with begging looks as she glided easily against the gravel and dirt. While the nun set forth, their expressions changed quickly. Anger and frustration steamed between each bear.

As their emotions boiled, Etsuko remained calm. She tried to recite a prayer as if it could calm the bears. In a short second, the first monobear pulled out a basket of rotten fruit and began throwing them at her. Each one made direct contact with her skin and habit. As the other monobears watched, they followed the first one and continued on queue. 

As the fruit began to disappear from the tops of the basket, small sizzling noises echoed between stands. Only until a small bomb found its way hurdling towards her at full speed, she dashed forward to escape it’s bitter end. Etsuko carried the bottom of her dress as she asked god for forgiveness over and over. The Bombs erupted behind her, leaving the path empty and desolate. 

The bomb’s finally stopped as Etsuko’s ears rang. Standing in front of her was a large black and white cross. The nun’s eyes widened in what almost seemed like fear when a bomb knocked her forward onto her face. The scene went dark for seconds as a large swarm of monobear’s surrounded her. They lifted her up and nailed her hands and feet onto the cross.

They waited for her to open her eyes while she let out a gasp of pain. The nun looked down on the bears and once again tried to recite a prayer. Her voice shook and before she could even form a sentence a monobear pierced her throat with a large nail. Gagging, she coughed up a mouthful of blood and her vision began to waver.

Etsuko gave one small smile, leaning her head forward in defeat. As the class watched, the monobears surrounded the bottom of the cross with thousands of bombs before taking cover in the newly barren lands behind them. The ground shook as the bombs exploded in unison. At the end of the execution a piece of her habit lay in the rubbled of burnt wood and gravel.

[rouletterampage]

[rouletterampage]

[Body Discovery] Stairway to Heaven

[shslhighdive]

"Pass out…?"

"A-ah, that wouldn’t be good…! Somewhere else is fine, Reiki-san, don’t worry! Let’s go to the… um…"

That’s where Junpei hits a wall. The kitchen had seemed like the natural way to go, but now that he’s being forced to choose another option, his mind goes blank. Jinta’s cell, maybe…? But that’s on the floor below, and it wouldn’t be all that efficient a way to investigate. Upstairs…? That’s possible, too, but he’s pretty sure there are already people up there, now, so it wouldn’t work either…

Then… then somewhere on this floor? That would leave the infirmary, the workroom, the empty cellblock, and the library… none of which particularly stand out to him. So, leaving it up to fate, he quietly does an incredibly professional, incredibly investigative eenie-meenie-miney-mo in his head, landing on—

"…The library! At least it’ll be quiet there, right? No weird smells or anything, so it should be okay!"

With an uncertain smile at Etsuko, he turns and walks down the hall to the library, entering the room. He hasn’t been here much at all… so it almost feels unfamiliar to the diver. Unsure of where to begin, he takes a quick look around the room before he begins searching the bookshelves, trusting Etsuko to find somewhere to look, too.

[ultimatenun]

Curse this feeble body of hers -- so easy to nauseate with the simplest of shocks. 

"Ah... That's perfect. Thank you." Returning the smile with relief, she follows the swimmer through the second floor and to the library. It's quiet, thank goodness, some peace of mind can be found in their lives. Or at least, some peace of stable stomach. Team Holy Water splits, Junpei to one shelf and Etsuko to another. She cherry picks a few books, some on spices, some on cuisine, and crosses to the table to set them down.

A sigh escapes as she sits herself down, pausing momentarily to apply pressure to her forehead. They must continue. Lazy lids peel back, lashes curtaining purple eyes that now focus on the stack of books. She picks one out, opens it, and dives in. Eventually flipping the page, Etsuko murmurs aloud...

"Ah... this is interesting."

[rouletterampage]

[Body Discovery] Stairway to Heaven

[shslhighdive]

"Eh-?"

The compliment by the nun catches him off guard, and he looks at her with wide eyes, blinking slowly. It seems out of place for the situation they’re in, but… knowing Etsuko as he does— is she trying to cheer him up? 

…Maybe he was letting just how much this is all getting to him show more than he thought he was. Either way… he appreciates her attempt, and he manages to smile at her in return. Even during a murder investigation, even when one of their number is going to be leaving them after the next trial… they can still worry about their friends. That thought alone lifts his spirits, some.

"Ah… thank you, Reiki-san. It means a lot to hear you say… that…"

"…Um, what are you…?"

Before he can finish his sentence, Etsuko’s already finished what she’s doing; taking some of the liquid covering Jinta on her finger and putting it in her mouth, even before smelling it or anything. To be honest… if the liquid’s what it looks like, he’s absolutely not keen on the idea of tasting it himself. But Etsuko seems more thoughtful than disgusted, and it’s for the sake of Katsuragi-san, so after a tentative moment he reaches out with his own finger to swipe the remaining liquid off Etsuko’s, before putting it to his tongue.

"—Ah, it’s—"

"…Kind of…spicy…? It tastes sort of like it should be in Indian food… why is something like this covering Katsuragi-san?"

With everything they learn, this case makes less and less sense… what exactly happened last night?

"…Well… if it’s spicy, either Katsuragi-san or the killer had to have gone to the kitchen, right…? Do you think we should look there next?"

[ultimatenun]

This was a very professional investigation, and they were professionally putting substances in their mouths, just like the professionals do. She listens intently to Junpei's analysis before nodding in agreement. "Right." 

Was Jinta trying to live up to his old reputation as a two-timing spicy Papacita? Honestly, anything was game at this point. This case had so many things out of place with nary a connecting clue in sight. Etsuko wondered if they'd be able to even figure it out. Her eyes slide to Jinta's body again, lying lifeless and broken. As a lady of the church she had seen her fair share of death, it's true, but it is always a jarring experience.

Her gaze shifts back to the swimmer as he suggests their next destination.

"The kitchen, ah..." Her words cut short, a hand reaches upwards to place fingers to her temple. All this was starting to pulse to her cranium.

"...Nakagawa-kun, I'm deeply sorry, I'm afraid I might pass out again around all those different smells in the kitchen." There was always something mysterious stinking it up. "Might we go somewhere else..."

She really hated to be a burden or disagreeable, but passing out would just make her more of a dead weight. She didn't want that. She needed to help.

[rouletterampage]

[Body Discovery] Stairway to Heaven

[shslhighdive]

The glass… Etsuko’s soft voice draws his attention to it again as they look over Jinta’s body. There’s no convenient solution, this time; there’s too much glass for it in the first place, but none of the remaining students wear glasses. And the liquid all over Jinta… could he or the murderer have been carrying a glass of something? Maybe it would be worth checking the kitchen later, or something—

His thoughts are interrupted as he notices Etsuko carefully retrieving something from Jinta’s pocket. A note… 

…Talk about deja vu. It resonates all too clearly with the note that he himself had been sent by Ai, the previous murder… and try as he might, he can’t stop that experience from colouring his thoughts on the matter.

"…Well, he probably fell down the stairs, right? I mean, look at his foot, and the bruise on his head…  And they asked him to meet him in the Warden’s Office, and that’s on the next floor up. Maybe whoever did this called Katsuragi-san up there and then pushed him down…?”

He sounds distinctly tired, and unhappy. At that moment, though, a thought occurs to him, and his brows knit in concerned thought.

"…But… Reiki-san, Katsuragi-san was smart, right? He seems like he would think this was suspicious too… If the note said he could bring a weapon… then, shouldn’t there be one around here?"

"…And I have no idea why he would be all wet like that if someone just pushed him down the stairs… it doesn’t make sense. What do you think we should do, Reiki-san…? We could try and find out what the liquid is, or look for some kind of weapon, or go somewhere else… if you have an idea, I’ll follow your lead."

[ultimatenun]

She folds the note carefully, keeping it softly in her fingertips. It was precious evidence, after all. Listening to Junpei, nodding at certain intervals that seemed appropriate. He seems so... tired, honestly. It was sad. She wishes she could tel him to go rest, leave the rest to her, but now more than ever is when they needed each other's company and intellect.

"Mm, as much as I wish it were not, suspicion may have driven him to seek out some sort of defense. You are very bright, Nakagawa-kun."

The scrapes of a smile press on her expression, hoping to perhaps give some comfort, even if just a little. Her face turns away now, thinking about what to do next.

"This liquid..." She comments, staring vacantly as she descends to kneel. Soaked all over in some kind of strange yellow liquid -- of course, Etsuko immediately thinks what anyone would. But... just to make sure, she touches her finger to Jinta's wet hair and proceeds to put it in her mouth. 

"..." Moments pass, Etsuko contemplates.

...And turns to Junpei, reaching her finger out. "What does this taste like to you?"

[rouletterampage]

[Body Discovery] Stairway to Heaven

[shslhighdive]

Kaori instates the hug before he knows how to react, throwing her arms around him and crying against the front of his shirt. It surprises him, but that doesn’t stop him from putting his arms tightly around her in return, letting her stay there and sob into his chest for as long as she needs to. His own expression is pained, his eyes wet with tears that he will not allow to fall, not this time. 

When she pulls away from him, her face is wet and her voice wobbles yet, but… she seems to feel a little better, if only marginally, and… even in the wake of this, his heart lightens some at the thought that he could help a friend; even if it’s only a little. 

…He’s not sure the same can be said of Etsuko. Looking back at her when she speaks, she seems almost… distant, fussing with her rosary like it’s a lifeline, and a sudden pang of guilt stabs through him. Not everybody who’s upset shows it by bursting into tears… he should have paid more attention to Etsuko, too. 

"…Yeah… if you’re okay with it, Reiki-san, I am too." 

When he actually looks over the scene, the glass seems to be coming from upstairs… and there’s a strange liquid he can’t quite identify. He might go up there later… but for now he looks over the body from head to toe with Etsuko. Neither of them are particularly qualified for this, but… Etsuko, as a nun, must be used to death in some capacity. And he… he examined Boa before, right? It’s not that different. 

Difficult, yes. But now, unfortunately, not unfamiliar.

[ultimatenun]

She's definitely not 'okay' with it, but again, no other choice is open to them. Not until they crack the code of this operation, win this game... hopefully on their own terms. They'd have to be smart about it, however, and not cause enough of a rift to draw unwanted disaster towards themselves from their holders. As such, they must trudge forward.

Luckily, Etsuko could find some comfort in who her partner was. The same boy she had pleaded to treat her as just another teenager at the beginning -- a friend, yes, that's what she called it. Quite the genuinely sweet young man, Etsuko could find some room to relax just a little.

The two teenagers begin their investigation, eyes fluttering over the limp body of a friend now gone. It's garish, but the time to be disgusted is over. There are many things quite out-of-place here -- barring the entire fact he's not breathing. 

"Why is all this glass here..." She quietly poses the question aloud, simply musing to keep up with the atmosphere when something catches her eye. Something protruding stiff from the president's pants, white peeking at the tip. The nun bends to carefully pick it up, a pause occurring to note how wet this boy is before quickly glancing over it before reading it aloud to Junpei.

"...Signed, a friend." She concludes, brows knit and purple eyes lifting to gauge the other's reaction.

"...Well. If that isn't ominous. What do you make of it?" She didn't want to jump to conclusions quickly, but could she be holding the killer's handwriting?...

[rouletterampage]

[Body Discovery] Stairway to Heaven

[shslhighdive]

Kaori drifts past him like she’s in a trance — Etsuko follows soon after, and he accompanies the both of them back up to the second floor landing, where Jinta lies at the top of the stairs. Despite his lack of response… lack of a pulse, before, he’s half-hoping, deliriously, that he’ll sit up — like Etsuko did in the cathedral, before, alive after all. But Jinta doesn’t move, and Kaori is screaming and crying, and even Etsuko’s ever-present calming smile is gone, and there’s the familiar ding-dong-ding-dong of the body discovery—

”..-!?”

…It had been a lie. Or, if not a lie, a deception. They had been lead to believe that if someone killed… everyone else would be free to go. But that’s not the case — the echo of ‘seven’ in his head gives way to a new number, something much more final and foreboding. Six.

Another investigation. Another trial. Another execution. 

…Junpei wanted to cry. He wanted to scream, like Kaori is now. He didn’t want to lose anyone else, any more of his friends — no matter what, he didn’t want that…! But… what other choice do they have? 

For now, though… for now… he approaches Kaori, stepping in front of her to shield Jinta’s body from her view and putting his hands on her shoulders. If he can’t cry, and he can’t scream… then he can at least try to stop Kaori from doing the same.

"K-Kaori-san, calm down…! I… there’s nothing we can do, so… so please don’t cry, okay?" Looking at her crying face, and looking over his shoulder at Jinta’s body… two and two suddenly put themselves together to make four. Kaori crying upon the reveal of her secret — and all the way back at the beginning, when Kaori had fled his and Miwa’s company upon seeing the shards of plastic while investigating Masato’s death. The shards of glass that he sees scattered around Jinta’s body… it’s reminiscent of that. Is that why—?

"…Reiki-san—" he says, looking at the nun over Kaori’s shoulder, "…Unless you want to investigate with me, could you take Kaori-san somewhere else…?"

"…I don’t think it’s good for her to be here… unless you want to stay, Kaori-san?"

[shslperfuming]

This certainly wasn’t a game anymore. But then again, Kaori never really saw it as a game in the first place. At first, she just wanted to leave and to see her family again. But, with the outside world looking like it does… She could hardly care at this point. Someone else did though– They wanted to leave so badly they were tricked by monobear into killing a precious student. 

Her mind went blank with the screeching of tires and horns blaring. The poor girl didn’t even notice Etsuko walk onto the scene. When the Perfumer came to she found herself being held up by Junpei. His words found themselves into her ears playing on repeat. Without a second thought, she pushed herself away from his grip and into his body. She wrapped her arms around him tightly, sobbing into his shirt. 

"This… This isn’t fair anymore! He even trick– tricked… Someone else is going to die..! All for our sake… It’s not fair..!" Her head laid against his chest. " I- I’m so tired of this..!"

Kaori took into consideration of everything he had said prior. Maybe she should leave the investigation… The best bet was to make up with Misaki right away, she couldn’t handle this situation and the thought of her friend hating her. It was too much.

"I- I’m gonna– gonna go find Misaki-chan…" She let go of him and stepped back. Her speech was still off but she kept her tears to a minimum. "You two should st- stay here and continue the s- search." Kaori added, sniffling. "Th- thank you, Junpei-kun.."

And off she went, dragging her feet down the flight of stairs. 

[ultimatenun]

Getting Kaori out of this place seemed to be the priority -- trauma obviously unearthed and perturbing the poor girl even further. But as Junpei asks Etsuko to accompany her out, the girl in question drags off, leaving a broken smile to ensure her safety. A few moments pass in silence as the nun listens to descending feet.

Finally, "...She'll be fine." Etsuko speaks up softly, eyes vacant and fixated somewhere not exactly on Jinta's body, but not away from it, as if still coming to terms.Wrists wring then separate for her fingers to busy themselves with the rosary around her neck. In times like this...

                                      ------- panic, shut it out, run, shut down, disappear -

...She must reach to God, yes, though her thoughts are jumbled she must cling fast to the righteousness through death's whitenoise. Every time it gets a little harder to reach Him, however, and perhap that's what shatters her the most. That such sin as questioning the Lord could ever reach her. Ah, these kids really were ruthless weren't they... Her beacon of hope she'd hoped to exemplify has proven too dull.

A breath in to steady herself before facing Junpei.

"Well. Shall we start...?" Grimly spoken and quietly offered. There's nothing for them to do at this point but follow the routine like the trapped rats they were. She already begins to step lightly around the scene, eyes scanning the gruesome image.

[rouletterampage]

[Body Discovery] Stairway to Heaven

[shslhighdive]

"K-Katsuragi-san—?!"

There had been an atmosphere around the prison that morning — something he couldn’t quite explain. Maybe it was the pressure of the motive, of the possibility of escape… no matter what it was, it had made him feel restless. That and the clue he and Misaki had found… he couldn’t just sit around and wait for something to happen… couldn’t take a back seat to things any longer. That was what had brought him up the stairs in the first place, and now—

…He makes a token attempt to check Jinta’s pulse, with shaking fingers, but finds none, and that’s all the confirmation he needs. Turning back the way he came, he flees down the stairs, nearly tripping as he reaches the bottom, feet pounding down the hallway as he throws open the door to the cellblock. There are so few of them left, he can’t count on anyone stumbling across him by chance — he has to let them know.

"E-everyone!" he calls from the doorway, voice wavering and trembling. It’s a grim parallel to his announcement in the lobby a few days ago, only this time his face is pale and his entire body is shaking. Because, while Jinta is dead… the reality is he didn’t know him that well, and the motive echoes in his head. Seven, seven, seven.

"Katsuragi-san…I found Katsuragi-san on the second floor! He’s—"

"…D-dead. Katsuragi-san… he’s dead. I-I don’t know if we still need to get two more people to find him, or if we can just…" he trails off, the word lying unspoken on his lips. Go?

[shslperfuming]

Still working up the courage to speak with Misaki, the Perfumer found herself keeping her distance. She wanted to talk to her but she couldn’t find the words to say ‘I’m sorry’. Though it wasn’t a bad place to start, it was still no place to stop. Kaori knew what she had done wrong, that her actions and words like knives, hurt her beloved friend. Again, when she brought herself to finally approach her she found Junpei’s voice echoing into the room. 

'J…un..pe..i..?” Mustering all the strength she could, Kaori choked out her reply. What scared her the most is the information that followed. 

Someone was dead. No… Not just someone, but another classmate. Jinta Katsuragi to be exact. The situation didn’t hit until she realized that seven students remained. Seven. The lucky number that would allow them to leave this place. Did that mean… They were free?

Even if it meant being free Kaori couldn’t accept it. She had to see his body and even say goodbye. Something she hadn’t done since the beginning. Pretending to accept that everyone was dead was easy. But, deep down she knew she’d have to say goodbye at some point. To let them go. Kaori trailed past Junpei and up the stairs to the second floor.

As her eyes reached Jinta’s body, the same horn that played back in her memories blared out in her mind. It was almost an identical scene to the death she witnessed years ago minus the car.

Eyes watering, she cried out. “Jinta-kuuun! E- enoooough! Wake up! Come on!” 

[ultimatenun]

Death's call echoes the halls by way of a distraught teenager's voice, hitting across her ears as casually as someone would ask 'how are you?' However a simple conversation starter wouldn't give the nun a despairing feeling of elation, that moment between hearing about something and seeing it for one's self where the last strings of hope unravel. The last thoughts of 'maybe it's not true' or 'I didn't hear that correctly'.

But the scene she walks into is quite the contrary. 

And for the first time in a while, the nun's smile cracks. Fades into an expression where nary a flicker of hope remained.

Jinta was dead.

Kaori was screaming.

Junpei was distraught and everything is a mess, a mess, a mess -- had she failed to be that beacon she'd always strove to be once more? Hands wringing, she can only stand there and watch the trainwreck before her eyes.

"Why are we being forsaken like this..." She murmurs, barely above the breath of  a whisper.

[ultimatenun]

be strong and take heart

Seven.

Seven students.

And eight were left. Was she worried? Perhaps. That wasn't for anyone to know -- feelings concealed behind the picturesque image of a smiling nun. Porcelain features frozen in that kindly expression ever since Ai's trial, perhaps it was divine intervention that kept her like this. Surely, it was almost inhuman.

But they didn't call her the Super High-school Level Nun for nothing, right? She had a duty that she put upon herself, to bring solace to the others, to bring comfort, the Lord's word in earnest and lay everyone's concerns to rest. She would focus merely on this and nothing more. Although taking such a robotic stance as this rendered Etsuko a bit off-putting now, she personally thought she was doing an amazing job. Seeing the faces of her peers after the announcement, the holy woman knew what to do. Walking up to someone, she grabs them gently with one hand.

"Are you worried?"

"Why don't you accompany to somewhere else? The Cathedral? The library? Wherever it is -- We'll find peace there." With that, Etsuko was off.

[shslperfuming]

[Free Time] ENCAPSULATION

[shslperfuming]

With a touch soft like drizzle, the Nuns hand’s traveled across her back. Etsuko grasped her shoulders tenderly and reassuringly. It wasn’t until the Nun spoke out that Kaori finally removed her hands from her eyes. Her tears poured out onto her cheeks, flooding the floor below. How could she be so nice to her after what she did to Misaki? Guilt and regret burned into the back of her throat as she sobbed. 

"WAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaah! UUUuuuuwaaaaaaaaaah!"

Kaori sat with Etsuko like that for what felt like ages. Sobs of despair completely muting out the background noise. Her mind going over all of her questions and thoughts, like clockwork. Just how many people were still there, watching this scene? Watching her cry… It was Stupid, stupid, stupid. How stupid could she be? Hurting her dearest friend all because of some stupid trial– Some stupid window to the outside world?

"W- why…" She gulped out, trying to steady her sobs. 

She clenched her fist to her heart, pulling on her shirt. A distant flash of pain filled her chest. The pain of loss– heartbreak. Kaori knew that pain well, she’d try to hide it all this time but it was a common pain. Always alluding it’s presence deep in the back of her mind. 

"I- I really… I messed up, Reiki-sama… I- Waaaaaaaah…" Kaori gasped out, still clutching onto her own shirt.

Talking out loud in this emotion was never easy for her. Speaking when she was … it wasn’t something she was fond of doing. If the girl said something now, it’d make it more real. The situation at hand, her tantrum, everything around them… But it was real and it hurt. 

"R- reiki-sama….." 

[shslqb]

After a long morning of being knocked out in a cramped locker, an even longer afternoon of investigating, came a trial that had, truthfully, went by too fast. Of course, that wasn’t to say the emotional baggage that came with it wasn’t any easier to carry than it was during the last time. The entire day had been both physically and mentally draining, ending with him lying face first on his bed as his fingers recklessly tapped the cold frame holding up the mattress. Despite everything, he hadn’t gotten a wink of sleep, much to his dismay. In a situation as stressful as this, most would look forward to the temporary escape they would be able as they lost themselves in a dream. Atlas was no different. He shoved off the covers then threw them back on, lifted up his pillow then turned it over to the cold side, a small, tiny part of his brain wishing that maybe someone would come over and drug him once again, anything to get him away from this place and deep into slumber. At this point, the nightmares were beginning to feel more pleasant than this reality.

And as he got a single glimpse out of the clear glass separating them from the outdoors, he decided that nightmares were definitely more pleasant. By a landslide. 

"No way."

As much as he didn’t expect the yard of a prison to be beautiful flowers and sunshine all around, the fact that there wasn’t a bustling city or even just the sight of anything that could hold life made his heart drop. He ignored the bear’s classy exit and moved closer towards the window, hoping that he just wasn’t looking close enough or it was right outside of his field of vision. It wasn’t until his ears picked up a familiar sob did he snap out of his search, and found his attention diverted over to the two figures huddled up on the ground.

"…Um," He started, making his way over and restraining himself from outright asking if Etsuko had been the one to make her cry. "Kaor― N…Natsume-san, Reiki-san.”

"Can… I help with anything? I-It’s fine if you want me to leave, I mean, uh…"

[ultimatenun]

Cries of despair paint the room and bounce across the window, ringing in the nun's ears, but she does not waver from this smiling demeanor. As Kaori continues to wail Etsuko's grip tightens gently in attempted comfort.

"It's alright..." She coos. "God forgives all, and God will inspire the forgiveness within others...." Her eyes open at the sound of a new voice. Ah, Batman's here again. 

"Are you a friend?" Well, they were all friends here.

"Just being there for each other is what we need right now..." She extends a hand asking him to join their little sap fest.

[shsldelivery]

Digital Shipping [AE OPEN]

In the dark depths of Satan’s Liar— Ahem, I mean, Ai’s room, a small device sprang to life. The screen flickered to life, and a face appeared. It was one many would recognize… The face of a girl that had killed, and died… All according to plan.

She stared for a moment, processing the flood of data that was running through her new ‘mind.’ So, that’s how it was… Interesting. From what she could gather, the fact that she was staring at her room, unmoving, and she had the recent memory of pain… That would mean she was dead.

"Aw, what, this blows. If I’m going to be stuck here in this form at least let me move around. Ugh…" 

She rolled her digital eyes and sat in place. Boredom, or what ever program installed onto this system that emulated boredom, began to set in. She took a ‘breath’ and rose her volume to it’s max.

"Oiiii!! Someone get in here!! This is so fuckin’ laaaaaaaaame!!"

[ultimatenun]

From past experiences Etsuko knew what to expect when she approached Ai's room. It's the reason she went there in the first place. Though usually Etsuko made a visit to grace their living quarters with a prayer for their soul, this case wasn't the same. She had no intentions of pushing her palms together, not immediately anyway. There were things she wanted to get straight, knots in her stomach and conscious that blotted out sensibility.

A pause takes a hold of her as a shrill whine echoes from the cell, her feet frozen in place and fingers gently poised upon the wall. That was certainly Ai's voice, Ai's demand. A breath in and the nun enters, eyes scanning briefly until they come upon the illuminated tablet with the murderer's face still there.

Smiling grimly as she had been while pressing to vote for the redhead, Etsuko gives a small sigh.

"Senzaki-san..." But her words fall short there, unsure of where to start, where to begin... Simply, she continues to stare at the artificial intelligence, watching.

[shslperfuming]

[Free Time] ENCAPSULATION

[shslperfuming]

By the time she had finally blurted out the last few words she realized just what she had done. The pain in her friends face was unbearable and left her feeling crippled. Crippled with fear, sadness, and anxiety. Why did she do that..? Kaori wanted to apologize, but she was already gone. Misaki could be anywhere in this school by now… And here she was wallowing in self pity. 

Her eyes welled up with tears again as she stood there facing her remaining classmates. Despair and guilt had rooted deep into her heart and was blossoming. Feelings of love and respect were slowly disappearing and being replaced by the doubt and fear of the future. If she didn’t do something, she’d surely lose her own mind. Kaori’s legs were weak and shaky, like a newborn lamb. 

Holding back loud painful sobs, the Perfumer tried to regain her composure. She held her breath and punched at her thighs, attempting to feel anything but the emotions that were playing before her. The feelings she couldn’t overcome left a bad taste in her mouth. Just how much more of this was she supposed to handle? 

Kaori gave a loud gasp for air, sobbing out.”I- I’m sooooooorrrry!” 

She was. But, that didn’t matter now. 

"I’m- I’m so sorry! I’m soorrry! I- I’m so so so so so so so sorry!"

Like a record stuck on repeat, she repeated it over and over. Finally dropping to her knee’s and covering her eyes with her hands. 

[ultimatenun]

The scene that had transpired was like the soundtrack to the despair filling the room. Kaori and Misaki, two close friends who stuck by each other, ripped apart at the seams. As Misaki's footsteps exited the room to be replaced with the perfumer's sorrowful wails. Frantic attempts to grasp at forgiveness when it had already scattered from her reach. How sad. Very sad.

The nun's eyes lift from one terrible scene to another, turning from the window and approaching the crumpled heap of perfumer. A pause occurs in which she simply stares at the poor creature, head tilted as if in attempt to understand.

She finally kneels, almost as she had done earlier with another student, except this time her hands venture to softly stretch across Kaori's back and hold her shoulders. 

"Natsume-san..." She whispers, lips frozen in a smile that hadn't left since the trial. Forced, but she had to do it, she still had to be it -- the beacon of hope she'd aspired to be this whole time! Even if every part of her ached to frown. Her voice still managing to maintain its silky smoothness, if not with a bit of trembling waver here and there. "It's alright..."

[rouletterampage]

CHAPTER 3 TRIAL TRANSCRIPT

Completely unedited straight from skype!

[shslstrike]

[Open] Kingpin

[shslstrike]

"Sister Reiki."

How the nun had gotten involved, Miwa had no idea. In fact, this entire room was strange. Still, she knew what she saw. 

"I hope you didn’t get hurt, are you alright? If you were attacked I know just who you should blame."

A part of her didn’t want to rat out a friend, but at the same time he was no friend at all! Friends didn’t lie to one another to get the upper hand!

"It was Nakagawa. I saw him strike Kouei-kun over the head with a baseball bat in the solitary confinement room at about 11."

[ultimatenun]

Miwa was quick to play the blame game, to which Etsuko was quite surprised to hear when she names a supposed culprit.

"N-Nakagawa-kun...?" The diver sure took a dive this time... in morality.

If it were true. But at the moment, Etsuko had no reason to doubt Miwa -- or anyone. She needed to rely everyone else's eyes, ears and memories to make up for her just waking up now.

"But, I'm not hurt... Are you? D-Did you see anything else?" and -- "Are you sure?"

[rouletterampage]

[Body Discovery] Hit and Nun

[shslperfuming]

"A letter, huh?" Confused, Kaori patted her head trying to think about it. "Heal everyone? Like–" Her eyes widened as she realized just what that meant. Killing him would evidently heal them all from this sickness. So.. did someone con her into killing Oten? Was this all a setup? Or was he truly dead from the get go? 

None of this made sense, especially because she knew what she saw! There was no way someone else was holding the Hit Man under the water! As much as she wanted to believe Etsuko, she had literal proof with her own two eyes. Or was she trying to kill him after finding him dead? Actually… What?

"I’m so confused… S- so he was dead when you brought him here? In the bag..? And to get another thing straight, you don’t remember anything from the time you saw the body until Junpei-kun and I were crying..?" Kaori slumped down, and exhaled hard.

A bright idea popped into the Perfumers head. The girl stood straight up and searched the room left to right. With a hand over her brow, Kaori analyzed the entire room before replying. “The bag must be around here somewhere if what you’re saying is true! Right?” So… where was it?

[ultimatenun]

Etsuko's own spirits drop further with every inquiry received. Does Kaori believe her? She can't force the perfumer to take confidence in her words. About to sigh, her breath is caught and her head lifted at the mention of the bag. Etsuko immediately lights up, pulling herself off the ground.

"That's true... The bag should definitely be around here somewhere." Forcing personal despair to the side, Etsuko begins to walk around the cathedral in search of the sack she'd mentioned. She starts near Oten before venturing further from the body, checking even in the seats and near the pool.

"Right... umm... Around here... somewhere..." Slowly Etsuko's face sinks the longer she looks.

"..." She makes no further noise, simply continues to search while clinging to a dwindling hope. 

[toripng]

Chapter 3 - Roulette Rampage