SDRA2 Redux: Trouble on Jabberwock Island

Chapter 3 - The Investigation

"For once, can I do the autopsy?" Nikei asked Syobai.

"Yes." The Ultimate Detective sighed.

When Nikei came into the room, he nearly threw up before getting even a good look at the two bodies. Paling, he had to swallow it back as he kneeled down and checked over them with a trembling hand.

"Such a waste," Kokoro sighed. "It didn't have to be this way. It's a waste of two Ultimates!"

"Why the fuck are you still talking about them like that?!" Hibiki snapped. "Don't you get it?! They were people! Fucking people, Kokoro! They were our classmates and one of them was my sister!"

"You should be pissed, not disappointed!" I yelled.

"I understand that." Kokoro retorted. "And I am angry—I'm more than disappointed! It's so frustrating! But all the same..." They laughed it off. "It's going to be fine! All the same! This much misery builds character, after all! With everything we endure, we become all the stronger! Despair's just a stepping-stone! The darker the darkness, the brighter, the light! Hope works like that!"

"Stop ranting about hope!" Setsuka literally growled. "We're doing a murder investigation right now. No-one's going to have time to listen to your hope shit, you dumb bitch!"

That shut the cosplayer up.

Nikei was kneeling over Shinji. He had finished the post-mortem examination of his body.

"I originally had a theory that the Monocrow file was lying about Shinji and Kanade's causes of death..." He spoke.

"I see..." Teruya commented.

"Too bad this blows that idea out the window!" Nikei said.

He showed us Shinji's body.

"Shinji was hit over the head. It looks like he was killed with a hammer..." The journalist said.

"Given what we've got, I'd say it's safe to rule off the idea that the killer was able to kill Mr. Kasai some other way than bashing his brains in..." Syobai said.

"Hm, that would narrow down killer candidates..." I spoke.

"Well..." Syobai said. "You had better be taking notes, Mr. Yomiuri. They might come in handy during the trial."

Truth Bullet Added: Nikei's Autopsy

Truth Bullet Added: State of Shinji's Body

Syobai then noticed a hammer lying nearby.

"That's a hammer, Mr. Sannoji." He said.

"Can I hold on to that? I might be able to use it for something." I asked.

"Yeah, I was actually going to ask you if you could take it." The Ultimate Detective nodded.

Syobai took the hammer off the ground and handed it over to me. It gave off a bloody scent.

Ew.

"Perhaps this is the weapon." Syobai suggested.

"Hmm..." I hummed as I thought for a bit before I smiled. "Thank you. This will be helpful for the trial."

Truth Bullet Added: Hammer

"I shall examine Kanade now." Nikei suggested.

I nodded.

While my friend poked and prodded at the Ultimate Alchemist's body, I turned to investigate the area.

Steeling myself, I studied the corpse of the Ultimate Yakuza. The first new thing I noticed about Shinji's body was that his jacket had been torn off and cast aside... the fabric was only a little ragged and frayed, as if something had been used to cut it off. A shiver ran down my spine as I considered the most obvious reasons why the killer had done that to him.

"Huh... nice." Hibiki mused quietly, but not quietly enough.

"Are you a pervert?" Teruya screamed.

"Just saying," the Ultimate Anthropologist shrugged as she looked away, chastised.

"Thank you, Hibiki. This will be crucial." I thanked her.

Truth Bullet Added: Shinji's Jacket

I then turned my attention to the crime scene in general - something laid a few feet away.

"Hey, what's this?" Kokoro asked as they bent over to pick it up.

"It's a pair of scissors, Mitsume." said Syobai.

"Seems that the killer used it to cut off Shinji's jacket from his body, seeing as it has traces of being used." Kokoro theorized.

"That would seem likely..." Syobai said.

"We can add that to the evidence." I nodded.

Truth Bullet Added: Pair of Scissors

Nikei had finished his autopsy of Kanade's body. He was silent about it, though.

"Where else do you think we should look?" asked Teruya. I took a moment to consider the possibilities... the last time I had seen Kanade alive, she was in her room... maybe there were clues to be found there. I made my suggestion, to which Teruya agreed.

We made our way to the motel, heading to Kanade's room.

Nothing stood out to me until I happened to look at her bed.

"...Huh? That doesn't look familiar..."

"What doesn't?" Teruya asked, coming over to me.

"Her bed is... still unmade." I pointed at the bed.

Sure enough, it was unmade.

"That means," Teruya said. "She got out of bed in the middle of the night and expected to come back!"

"Possibly," I nodded. "Anyway... I guess this'll be important."

Truth Bullet Added: Kanade's Bed

We searched the rest of the room and found nothing suspicious, so we then decided to return to the indoor pool's changing room.

"...Oh! Hey, Syobai. Can I ask you something?" I spoke.

"Huh? Oh, yea... shit," he nodded once.

"What were you doing?" Teruya asked.

"I was in my motel room the whole time." Syobai said. "I was drinking tea. I'd only just finished when... when the announcement played."

"Huh. I see," said Teruya.

I better make a note of this then, since it's certainly involved in this case in some way.

Truth Bullet Added: Syobai's Account

DING-DONG, BING-BONG!

"Dear students. I think that's enough investigation for now! I sure gave you a lot of time! Please meet up at the trial grounds! Absence will not be excusable! Love, Monocrow! Mwah!"

"Guys... we need to find the killer. Not only to save the rest of us innocents, but to avenge those poor souls!" Kokoro nodded. I nodded as well, steeling myself for what lay ahead.

Shinji... Kanade...

I'm so sorry... I couldn't keep either of you safe... but I promise you both, I will find whoever did this! I will save the others... I will not let your deaths be in vain...!

We headed to the Monocrow Statue; the elevator doors opened before us. Blinking away my tears, I adopted a brave facade and boldly walked inside.

"It's time. Coming?" I glanced back.

"C'mon... let's get this over with..." Syobai mumbled, resigned to his fate. One by one the rest followed the detective inside. The doors shut behind us, and the elevator began its descent.