Danganronpa: String Theory (DrV3)

4.24 - Echo of a Person

Could it be her? She was locked away and tied up during and before Himiko's assault though. And during Himiko's party, when Tenko was assaulted, she was even seen by Kokichi prior to being left tied in her room.

Still, when Tenko turns her attention over to me next, my heart suddenly throbs and strains in discomfort. She looks like she wants to say something, but what? Is it because she thinks she owes me an apology for insisting it had to be a guy before? Because now she believes Kirumi to have been her assaulter?

But she's paying attention to me again. When I came in with a beat up Rantaro- both of us underdressed- she wouldn't even glance my way. I'm still not even wearing shoes, but she hasn't shown an ounce of concern. She was more concerned with retaining the consequences of our argument.

Also, if I correct her, she might become comfortable with the idea that it can still be a boy who did it. Someone that will confirm her biases. If I don't...if I let her believe it for a little while, will she be remorseful for her thoughts? Will she try to repair things between us?

Do I dare to lie by omission?

Even if you don't correct her, Shuichi probably will. He's gonna notice the times don't match up anyways.

I glance at Shuichi to see if he's going to say anything, only to find him already staring at me. Feeling guilt settle in my belly, my cheeks hue red with discomfort like I've already been caught before I've even made a decision. Despite this, Shuichi just gives me a meaningful look, gestures discreetly towards Kirumi, but doesn't voice any type of correction. I raise an eyebrow at that, confused until I think about what he might be trying to do.

If Shuichi is telling me to say it, does that mean he's not going to speak up if I choose not to?

But he wouldn't be concerned about my fight with Tenko if he doesn't know about it yet. You're not focusing on what's going on with the lenses of how it will affect everyone. Maybe it's better to be quiet about it until more evidence shows up.

This isn't just about you and Tenko- this is a weird development that we haven't even solved yet.

I choose not to say anything. Shuichi doesn't voice his own thoughts either.

Disregarding how it couldn't have been Kirumi unless she freed herself multiple times and returned to tie herself back up in her room to play prisoner, there's only one probable way for her to have gotten her hands on the drugs. Likely, the person that originally got them and had a hotel key took these syringes out of Hotel Kumasutra before Maki, Himiko, and I blew the structure up. Kirumi must have come across them after the original thief already used two on Himiko and Tenko.

And if I remember Kirumi injecting me in the back of my neck yesterday after she fought with Rantaro, then...

My hand lifts up on impulse to feel at the back of my neck. I can see the realization dawning on the faces around me as my fingers explore my nape, up until I feel a bit of a rise on the skin. Pressing on it gently causes brief pain on my nerves, though nothing too intense. It's just tender.

"Let me see," Himiko says as she turns me by my shoulder, gathering my rumpled hair out of the way to see my neck. With Kaito angling the flashlight he has to reveal the area for her, Himiko eventually lets out a hum of discontent and pulls on my arm to have me face her again. She brushes my hair back behind my shoulders, this time shifting the neckline of my dress around.

She's looking for marks like she and Tenko have.

"...I don't see anything else except old bruises. How you were still able to carry Rantaro with so many, I have no idea...but the injection behind your neck is definitely from a Hotel Kumasutra syringe," Himiko says with a grimace.