I sat in my bed, going through various options on who I could hang out with.
Hmm...Hidemi and Satoshi are going to be busy preparing for the movie night, so I can't ask them right now.
And Ryoko...is out of the picture for obvious reasons.
So who can I hang out with out of the other seven?
That's when it hit me. I haven't really spoken to Kokoro properly in private since our first few days here, back when she was so bubbly and positive. She has gotten better but...I guess I was worried about her. I wonder how she's doing.
Looks like that's decided then. I'll check up on Kokoro to see how she's feeling. Maybe that can help her out.
I got up and left my cabin, making sure to lock my door behind me. Once I arrived at Kokoro's doorstep, I knocked on the door.
Yet nothing happened.
I tried my luck and knocked a second time. And again, nothing happened.
I mean...Maybe she's not in? She could literally be anywhere right now.
But I did see her go inside her cabin when I returned to my own. So did she really leave?
I knocked one more time for good measure. But just like how I expected, I got absolutely no reply.
That's when I noticed her window curtains had been left open.
...Would it be weird of me in I checked if she was in through the window?
-
Should I check through Kokoro's window?
> - Yes <
- No
-
...Fuck it.
I peeked through the window and to my surprise, saw Kokoro, sitting at her vanity with her head in her hands as she seemed to be mumbling to herself.
Woah...What's bothering her?
Without much thought, I tapped against the glass, hoping that would get her attention.
Luckily, it did. The moment I stopped tapping, Kokoro perked up, looking around the room to see where the sound had come from. It was only when she saw me at the window that he exhaled a sigh of relief.
Oops...I might have scared her for a second there.
Kokoro then got up and walked over to the door where she opened it. I turned to face her.
"Hope I'm not interrupting anything," I spoke.
"Oh, no! Nothing really..." She welcomed me with a smile, happy to see me. "I was just thinking...That's all."
Must have been thinking very thoroughly if she didn't hear me knock three times.
"I see." I nodded. "I won't pry then."
"Um...Why did you come visit me?" Kokoro asked before getting nervous and correcting herself. "I-I mean, not that I didn't want you to come! I'm so happy you're here! It's just...why?"
"I was just coming to check up on you. After everything I was wondering how you were doing. I'm glad you seem better." I replied.
"Oh...Thank you! It's mostly thanks to your words though..." She smiled. "A-Anyway, how about you come in then? We could talk about all sorts of things, not just me! Like...relationship advice and stuff. That's my expertise!"
"R-Relationship advice? I don't think I need something like-"
Before I could reply, I felt the familiar feeling of Kokoro happily grabbing my arms and leading me inside her cabin, closing the door behind her with a hum.
I guess some things don't change...
Kokoro gestured for me to sit at her vanity while she took a seat on her bed, crossing her legs and leaning forward with a smile, resting her head in her hands.
"So...Tell me everything!" She began.
"About...what exactly?" I leaned back in my chair, confused.
"About you and Hidemi obviously!" Kokoro laughed.
"W-What?!?" I exclaimed. "What even is there to tell...I mean-"
"Oh come on Chiyo. I may be a bubbly girl, but I'm not stupid!" Kokoro pointed towards me. "I'm a matchmaker obviously! I can sense these things. Did you forget that?"
"What sorts of things are we even talking about exactly...?" I wondered.
"Feelings! Attraction! Adoration, even!" She excitedly listed. "If my brain had a scanner for these sorts of things, it would be going through the roof whenever I look at you two. And you and Hidemi are extremely compatible! A crime attorney...A crime journalist! Both into justice and into each other. It's practically fate! When we get out of here, I wouldn't be surprised if you got together and worked together. Ah, that'd be so cute!"
"I...guess so."
"And that's not even it. I mean, I've been sensing a lot lately. Satoshi and Kenjiro have been growing closer the more times they talk in private. I can tell Satoshi cherishes Kenji a lot."
"Yeah, I can see that one." I nodded.
"And as for Akihiro...He still thinks super highly of Shimura, it's sweet! And Akemi...Not only had a weird small crush on you, but also a slighter bigger one on Tatsuo." She giggled. "Akemi was into a lot of people actually..."
"No wonder. I mean, he was a Tatsuo fanboy. All of his fans crushed on him." I rolled my eyes. "I doubt the crush on me was genuine though."
"Huh?"
I sighed. "Akemi knew deep down he wasn't into me. He only really wanted friends. He just convinced himself he had a crush on me I guess to fit in with guys he saw on tv and shit. I'm glad he came clean with me about though before he died...I still feel bad for him. And is it weird that I kinda miss his awkward jokes?"
"I suppose not." Kokoro shrugged.
"As for his so-called secret boy crush...That makes sense." I folded my arms. "But enough about everyone else. I'm here to talk about you."
"M-Me?" She repeated, nervously laughing. "There's not much to say..."
"There has to be. I mean, ever since the first class trial..."
"I-I...I suppose I felt terrible after that." Kokoro admitted. "Shunsuke was perfect to me. We had banter, he was so good-looking...And he was such a gentleman to me. So after all my personal failures in the romance department, I might have been down on my luck, but I really thought Shunsuke was the one. And I still do!"
Aw, isn't that kinda sweet? She still cares for him so much...
"But then, I thought about what you said to me during the second investigation. I was so upset...But the idea of surviving this for him...It really inspired me. So I was determined to get out of here for Shunsuke!" She continued.
"Wait...Was?" I repeated.
"W-Well...I really wanted to, but now we're trapped and can't leave because of the new motive, remember."
"Oh shit, you're right." I realised.
"Yeah...So now I don't know what to do honestly!" She exclaimed.
"That's what you were thinking about before I tapped on your window, wasn't it?" I presumed.
"Y-Yes." Kokoro sighed, looking down at her bed sheets. "For Shunsuke...I have no clue what to do anymore."
"I see." I thought for a moment before glancing back at her. "Well...We might not be able to leave...but that doesn't mean you can just stop surviving for him. You're alive right now, and I'm sure Shunsuke is glad for that...wherever he is right now."
"That...That does make sense." Kokoro nodded, lifting her head up. "I-I'll try my best! We'll see how things will go and I'll try my very best!"
"That's what I wanted to hear." I grinned. "I'm proud of you already."
"Thank you!" Kokoro jumped up unannounced and ran over, wrapping her arms around me and pulling me straight in for a tight hug.
"K-Kokoro...Wait..." I struggled, attempting to pull away from her grip, but she just held me down further. "I...I-I can't breathe! H...Help...!"
She eventually let go with a giggle as I took deep breaths to regulate my breathing. After that, we hung out late into the night. Kokoro managed to do my nails, style my hair and even give me some relationship advice in case I needed it.
I'm really glad I spent time with Kokoro today. She seems way more comfortable these days...Good for her!
By the time I left her cabin and checked my handbook, I noticed it was already nearing midnight.
"What that?!? Did I get that carried away?" I asked myself.
Wait, that's right! Monokuma's out of commission, so I suppose there are no more morning or nighttime announcements. I was just getting used to them too.
Oh well. Maybe I can sleep in again like I did with Hidemi in that tent...
-
Slowly, I sat up in my bed, rubbing my eyes while yawning.
Geez...What time is it? I feel like I've been asleep forever.
Reaching over to my bedside table, I picked up my handbook and swiped it open, checking the time.
Damn, 10:35. I guess I was right last night. With no Monokuma, we get no more announcements. That also means no more annoying high-pitched voice to wake me up every morning, so no wonder I slept in.
I'm assuming some people must be at the dining hall by now. There is no doubt that some of the others are still resting right now judging by their personalities.
I suppose I should get going then, even if some people will be missing.
After getting dressed, I opened my front door to find a note stuck to it. I pulled it down and read it.
'Hey! I figured you were still asleep so I didn't want to disturb you.
When you do wake up, come meet with me and Satoshi at the dining hall as always!
- Hidemi
P.S. I hope you slept well.'
Well isn't that sweet? I'm glad she didn't wait considering she'd be standing here forever. But it's great that Hidemi still took the time to leave this note. Just reading the last line makes me happy, even if I didn't sleep that great at all.
She really is the best, huh?
Now with a smile on my face, I slipped the note into my bag and set off for the dining hall.
However, when I pushed open the doors, the usual scene of everyone chatting amongst themselves was no longer present.
Instead...it was replaced by shouting.
"Just...S-Stop it already!"
The voice was Yuna, who with a thud, knocked Akihiro's handbook out of his hands. Considering how strong they were, it didn't damage it at all. But Akihiro was still shocked.
"Yuna, I-"
"She said stop it, man." Kairi stepped in front of her friend. "Clearly you don't know what that means!"
"But I-"
"Haven't you heard? We're stuck here, idiot!" The sailor reminded him with her hands on her hips. "Content this...Content that. There is no more content! So why the hell do you still need to record, huh?"
"...I-I just-"
"You're not posting...S-So stop filming...!" Yuna backed Kairi up, raising her voice and interrupting Akihiro. "And get that camera away from me!"
"Ok, I will! But-"
"You heard her! Just stop it already." Kairi turned around. "Let's leave before this jackass starts his filming session again, Yuna."
"R-Right." The technician nodded and followed behind the sailor. The two of them paused since I was still standing in the doorway watching the whole thing. I quickly stepped aside and let them pass, hearing Kairi mutter insults about Akihiro as she left.
"Well...That happened." I spoke after the confrontation.
Akihiro sighed and picked his handbook up, wiping the dirt off of it. "God damn it."
Hidemi noticed my awkwardness as I stood in the doorway and waved for me to come over. I followed her demands and walked past Akihiro, taking a seat next to her.
"I'm so sorry you had to walk in on that." Hidemi apologised on their behalf. "I tried to stop it before things went out of hand but-"
"It's fine. It's not like you caused that sudden fight or whatever." I shrugged. "What...exactly happened though?"
"Akihiro thought it was fine to record since Yuna and Kairi still weren't here. I warned him against it but he reassured me things would be fine. Yet when they came in, Kairi assumed he was recording them. That lead to Yuna believing her and...you saw the rest." Hidemi briefly summarised.
"I see..." I nodded. "Damn. Yuna really was pissed. I can't really blame her though."
"...I like your nails." Hidemi then complimented me, gesturing to my nails which Kokoro had done.
"Oh, thanks." I grinned. "Kokoro did them. Maybe we can do them together next time."
"I-I'd like that!"
I glanced back at Akihiro who stuffed his handbook back in his pocket. He then returned to our table where he sat with a sigh.
"Shit. I screwed that one up, huh?" He folded his arms.
"From what I saw, yeah, you obviously screwed it up," I replied.
"I did warn you, you know?" Hidemi reminded him.
"Yeah, yeah. I know..." he looked away, seemingly feeling bad.
At least he's not heartless.
I looked around the room, noticing who was present and who was not. Yuna and Kairi weren't for obvious reasons, yet Shouko wasn't here.
She's probably still researching. I'm not even sure if I want to know what she saw that inspired Shouko to do this much work out of nowhere.
Ryoko wasn't there, but to be honest, I didn't care for her in the slightest anymore. Kokoro had yet to also appear. After I left her last night, she was really tired. So she's probably just resting still.
Kenjiro hadn't arrived either, leaving no one to sit on Satoshi's left as he fiddled with his napkin in front of him.
So our table is the only one with people at it today, huh?
"Where's Kenjiro?" I asked Satoshi, assuming he knew where his personal therapist was.
"Oh...He's still sleeping." Satoshi answered with a sigh. "I didn't want to wake him up."
"Ah, right." I nodded. "After he let you sleep over at his lab, I suppose you returned the favour by letting him nap, huh?"
"I...guess." He shrugged.
"Oh, and talking about that." I turned to Hidemi with a smile. "Thanks for letting me sleep in. I totally owe you for that."
"It was nothing." She smiled in return. "I didn't want to wake you either, that's all."
"I still appreciate it. I know half of the people here would've woken me up the second they had the chance." I added.
"Fair enough." Hidemi chuckled.
Finn then walked out of the kitchen with Archie the Second on his shoulder. The spider scurried down his shirt as he stretched. Since our table was the only one with people actually at it, Finn didn't waste time and just sat with us.
He...looked a little bit pale. I wonder why that is.
"Nice to see you're up, Chiyo." He greeted me with a nod. "I guess you heard that fight earlier."
"Yeah. Walked straight into it." I replied.
"I hated it." Satoshi exhaled a deep breath. "I just...don't like confrontations."
"You don't have to remind me of what happened guys." Akihiro groaned.
"Alright, alright." Hidemi changed the subject. "Well...Satoshi and I have a very busy day ahead of us! We still have to iron some things out and pick out movies for tonight."
"Oh right. I've written some ideas of what we could watch..." her stepbrother sat up.
"Perfect!"
"Ah, yeah. That reminds me I need to start making popcorn and stuff." Finn remembered what he volunteered to do.
"And I gotta prepare drinks and things that I could serve!" Akihiro exclaimed, already feeling better.
Shit...I'm the only one at the table who doesn't have a job to do.
"Maybe I could-"
"Oh no!" Hidemi cut me off. "I told you to relax and take it easy, ok? So please do that! The only thing that you have to do is show up tonight, ok?"
"O-Ok..." I slowly repeated. "But I was just saying-"
"Nope! You won't lay a finger on our preparations. You'll just enjoy them." She laughed.
"If you say so," I smirked.
"But I'm really looking forward to tonight." Hidemi exhaled a sigh of relief. "After the motive announcement yesterday, I'm sure everyone is nervous or unsure right now. So hopefully this will be a good way for us to just calm down and enjoy ourselves..."
After we all ate together, Hidemi sent out messages to everyone about the news and reminded them of the movie night and that it started at six this evening. After that, Satoshi and her departed to search for films at the lounge, her stepbrother reciting the list of ideas he had from his notebook.
Finn and Akihiro also left after the former cleaned everyone's dishes, leaving me by myself.
As I stepped outside of the dining hall wondering what to do with all the free time I now had, I heard strange noises in the distance.
Looks like I've now found someone to talk to...Now I just need to find out who exactly this someone is, without the weird noises.
I moved closer towards the direction of the sound. It seemed to be coming from the small woods just behind the dining hall. Walking through those woods would take you to Shouko's lab, though these sounds are definitely not coming from there.
That's when I finally saw who this someone was when she stepped out from behind a tree, a look of determination plastered on her face.
I wasn't seeing surprised to see that the person was Shouko. Her body movements suggested she was searching around her surroundings while holding a bunch of equipment in both her hands and a bag she had with her. The closer I got, the louder the weird noise got either.
I presume that sound must be from one of Shouko's many gadgets.
I wonder what she's up to right now. Maybe I can go ask her...
-
Do I approach Shouko?
> - Yes <
- No
-
I strolled over to where Shouko was, though she didn't see me at all. Shouko was currently absorbed in the readings on the equipment in her hands that she didn't notice me standing behind her.
Maybe this is a good opportunity to scare her...She is busy and wouldn't suspect a thing. I wonder how a ghost hunter would react...
With a grin, I snuck up right behind her and gripped both her shoulders.
"Boo!" I exclaimed. "Ha! Did I get you?"
Although, instead of reacting, Shouko just shrugged it off and turned around.
"Oh...Hi Chiyo." She nodded.
"...Hi," I responded, lowering my hands.
So that scare did nothing at all...
Shouko just glanced at me up and down after that and continued on, going back to her equipment and waving it around.
And now she's just going to forget I'm here!
I have to try and get involved somehow...I chose to be here.
"So...What are you doing?" I asked, leaning over her shoulder on my top toes to see if anything was interesting on the screen in her hands. It just had a bunch of numbers increasing and decreasing as she moved.
"I'm trying to pinpoint the exact location in this camping ground that has the highest EMF rate." She explained, acting as if I knew what any of that meant.
"Right. I knew that." I sighed between the beeps from the device in her hand.
How am I supposed to get through to her and talk exactly?
"Hm...The electromagnetic fields here are strong. Not as strong as back there though..." Shouko mumbled to herself. Then she proceeded to pull out a poorly drawn map of the whole campsite with her name scribbled quickly on the bottom. Pulling out a red pen, Shouko marked the place we were currently standing at with a massive X before putting the map back in her pocket.
"So why exactly are you looking for those...electromagnetic fields?" I wondered.
"Ghosts are magnetic. So the fields with high activity could definitely be infested with spirits. You just have to detect them." She explained, turning around to face me.
"Damn, ok. I didn't know that." I crossed my arms.
"Why...did you come up to me?" She then asked out of nowhere.
"Huh? Why? Do you not want me here or something?" I then assumed.
"No, it's just..." Shouko paused for a moment trying to create a reason. "You don't ghost hunt. So it's not like you want to be here..."
"I mean, I never said that." I clarified. "I came over just to see what you were doing and how you were doing. Is that a bad thing...?"
"N-No," she replied. "Well...Maybe you do ghost hunt since you came over here willingly."
When did I say that?!?
Ghost hunting isn't my thing at all.
"On the topic of your talent...You've been into it way more recently. Ever since the second class trial to be specific." I pointed out. "Why exactly is that?"
"Oh!" Shouko's eyes then lit up, as if I sparked a fond memory. "That's because I've had a revelation! A real discovery! And now I need to experiment to find out more."
"I see," I said. "I guess that makes sense. And what was this revelation?"
"I saw ghosts. Or...Something else. Something even more dangerous! Or maybe...exciting." She chuckled at her own excitement and grinned.
"Ghosts huh?" I nodded. "Alright..."
I know that if I denied their existence, Shouko would just get mad. So I suppose for now I'll just play along and not ask further questions. I...doubt she really saw anything.
"And now that you're here...I need your help."
"Wait...What?!?" I exclaimed.
"Yeah. You're stronger and smaller than me, so you can climb all these trees and check if the reader has different results while I check my spirit box to see when they're active..." Shouko acted like the task was nothing.
Before she could walk away assuming I had agreed, I stopped her. "H-Hey, wait a second! I didn't agree to that! Ask Akihiro for help or something but-"
"I can't." She sighed. "He's busy with those movie night preparations. And knowing him, Akihiro will just record the whole time...I know he's my best friend, but I know he doesn't care much for ghost hunting at all." Shouko admitted. "And him recording all the time...is getting weird anyway."
"I'm glad I'm not the only person who thinks that," I mumbled as Shouko thrust the emf detector into my hands.
"B-But enough of that. Start with...that tree. Over there." Shouko nodded towards the tree behind me.
What a coincidence that it was also the tallest one there.
"Just perfect," I muttered to myself, turning to the tree without much of a choice.
It's my fault for getting myself into this mess. Maybe I should have just left Shouko alone.
I began climbing the tree branch by branch, using the bark under my feet for support as I got higher. Once Shouko was satisfied, she gave me a thumbs up. With that, I sat on the closest branch and then took the device out.
While I checked the numbers, Shouko paced around the trees, holding the spirit box to her ear after speaking into it. But she quickly moved it away and shook her head.
"Yep...That's the work of Akemi. That's his voice."
"H-Huh?!?" I was startled by the mention of his name that I almost fell off the branch, quickly stabling myself. "Akemi? Seriously...?!?"
"Of course. I wouldn't lie." Shouko yelled from where she stood so I could hear.
"...What did he say then?"
"You...Don't want to know."
"..." I glanced at her suspiciously. "Alright. So that ghost you allegedly saw was Akemi?"
"Not allegedly! Definitely!" She insisted. "And it was more than just him. I saw Tatsuo...Yukari too!"
...That's just disturbing. But I've already made it this far. I should just keep playing along.
"Well...damn." I slowly nodded, acting like that was fine.
"Now that I've seen them...I just need real solid proof! And then I can prove to everyone they're real. That way, I can also prove myself." she explained.
"Huh? What do you mean?" I asked, nodding at the numbers on the screen and beginning my descent back down.
"Well, it's just...everyone doubts me," Shouko admitted. "Everyone either thinks I'm weird or just completely wrong. I've heard it so many times so I just...don't care anymore. I'd rather hunt ghosts down than try to get along with people."
"Oh..."
"But now...When I get proof, people will have no choice but to believe me! And I would finally prove myself to them all." She sighed. "But for now, until I get that evidence, I'll just keep ignoring people who doubt me or just play along with whatever I'm saying."
...Well, shit. Let's just hope she doesn't catch on that was exactly what I was doing earlier.
"But...I'm glad to have your help." Shouko thanked me. "I'll give you credit when people see all my evidence and realise they were wrong."
"Great." I grinned. "I can't wait."
After that. I helped Shouko by climbing up a few more trees and telling her more recordings. After she marked them all down, Shouko let me go, thanking me for all my hard work before scurrying off to her lab to continue planning before the movie night.
Maybe I was right to hang out with Shouko. I did get to find out more about her after all. And I won't lie...climbing those trees was kinda fun.
I was now left alone yet again. Pulling my handbook out, I checked the time.
Hmm...only a couple of hours until the movie night starts.
Well, since I've got nothing to do now, I suppose I should go check up on Hidemi and Satoshi at the theatre. They're probably still setting up and although Hidemi told me to take it easy, I still wanna help out, even if she won't let me do a thing.
But most of all...I just want to make sure things go smoothly for her. It was Hidemi's idea, so I want to chip in as much as I can.
-