I walked back over to the hotel from the ultimate labs. The monitor had gone off a couple minutes ago, which indicated nighttime. I'd spent the whole day studying, and completely lost track of time. All I wanted to do was rest in bed, and get ready for tomorrow.
I paused, staring down the hallway. My door... was wide open? Slowly, I approached the room, fear in my eyes. I peaked my head around the door, my eyes going wide.
My room... had been completely ransacked. Everything was out of its place. The table had been flipped over. The beds mattress was completely removed, and was laying against the wall. Part of it had been ripped up, and many items were scattered all over the ground.
I stood, frozen. A sudden fear came over me as I stared at the room. How did they get in? I don't remember leaving it open. I paused, thinking back to the last time I'd been in my room.
My eyes went wide. When I'd grabbed the file, I'd left the door wide open. But... why would someone do this? Who would do this? My brain began to race with different thoughts. Fears started to go through my mind, and I was unable to think straight. There was only one thing I could think of in this moment.
I knocked on the door, my body shaking violently involuntarily. Slowly, the knob turned, and the door opened, not being stopped by the chain lock, which wasn't in its place. Kawata had on pajama clothes, and seemed to have bags under his eyes.
"What is it Hirano-" he began, stopping in the middle of his yawn. He stared at me for a moment, surprise in his eyes. "What happened?"
"I- I..." I started. "P- please f- follow me..." I said, walking over to my room. Kawata's eyes went wide, as he wandered inside.
"Hirano... do you know who did this?" He asked. I shook my head, my face still pale with terror. Kawata stared around the room for a moment. "Hirano, you can't stay here tonight. You have to go some place else for now."
"B- but... w- where will I go..?" I replied.
"You're going to have to sleep in my room tonight." He responded. I stared at him for a moment.
"A- are you sure?" I replied. His face turned a bright red.
"O- OH!!! I d- didn't mean it like that! I- it'll just be you in my room! I- I won't be there." He reassured, looking entirely embarrassed.
"B- but... what about you? Y- you'll b- be in danger, r- right?" I asked. Kawata stared at me for a moment.
"I'm not really concerned with that. Just head over to my room and lock it behind you. Do not open the door, even if it's me. Don't come out until morning. I'll figure everything else out later, okay?" He said. I was about to speak, but stopped. The look he gave me was enough to tell that he wouldn't listen to my protests. I sighed, and began walking.
"S- stay safe..." I said, wandering into his room. I locked the door, and backed up. Now I was in Kawata's room, and he was currently in danger.
I moved backwards, staring at the door. Should I listen to him? Would I listen to him? I couldn't promise myself that I wouldn't let him back in the room. After all, if he needed my help, I had to try and save him. I paused, looking to the bed and wandering over.
I thought about snooping around, but that would be rude. If I even thought about looking around, my curiosity was be peaked and my brain wouldn't let it go until I started to investigate. And... I thought about it. I stopped in place, looking around the area.
In the corner was a punching bag which immediately caught my attention. On the ground sat a pair of gloves that had been ripped and had the slightest bit of blood on them. My eyes glanced to the walls. The shelves were covered in trophies and medals, all accomplishments from working on the force. On the wall was a certificate from a police academy.
I glanced over at a photo that set on the nightstand. A little boy with a bright smile, a black eye, and a piece of paper in hand. Next to him stood two people. A man and a woman, with their heads out of frame. Or rather, the photo had been folded so that the two peoples faces couldn't be seen. Next to the photo was a bowl of potato chips, with a bag of them on the floor next to the bed. Nearby sat a mini fridge. I reached for the mini fridge, before noticing a photo on the ground.
I paused, picking it up and staring at it. The photo was a silhouette of a person, with the words "Hano Yoshiko" underneath it. I paused, standing up, confused. What was this photo? It didn't have anyone actually in the photo. It wasn't even a real photo. And why Hano Yoshiko? I paused, looking up at the wall. My eyes widened, as I stared.
The wall had a bulletin board hanging from it, a bunch of photos pinned on it. Red string connected part of it, and four of the photos had been left as outliers with with a red X on each. Furuya, Sazama, Shishido and Morita. I looked away from those photos, noticing little bits of writing next to each. "Why can't I remember?" next to a photo of Yamazaki. "Ready to murder. Be wary." next to Tengan. "Mastermind?" which had been crossed out next to Taguchi. I scanned the photos, before stopping on one. "What happened to her?" next to a photo of me. I paused for a moment, taking a pen and writing on the note.
I placed the pen back down, running my hand over a something. I paused, looking down at what my fingers had just grazed. A... journal? I stared at it for a moment, my hand still touching the cover. I pulled back, looking away, taking a deep breath.
"You don't need to look. You can just walk away. Just... walk... a... w... a... y..." I said. I stared for another moment, before my hand reached down and pulled the book up, holding out in front of me. God... what's wrong with me?
I opened it to the first page. It read "Kawata Satoru: Killing School Life Catalog". I stared at it for a moment. I sighed, turning the page.
Day 1
I met with the other students today. I thought everything was going great, until the red panda showed up and told us to kill each other. I'm sure that nothing will happen, but we have to be wary. Especially Taguchi Masahiko, the Ultimate Hustler, who declared that he was going to kill someone. I'll be keeping a close eye on everyone. Or, as well as I can with 15 other students.
Day 2
We came together as a group to search the hotel, looking for anyway to get out of this place. I explored with Arima and Kajiwara, and the others were paired up as well. We didn't find any escape room. With perseverance, we'll find the exit. [New Note] I got a note from someone. They told me to come to the office room at 6:00 pm. Do to the suspicious nature of it, I asked the first person I'd met from school, Hirano Rei to accompany me to the room. When we arrived, no one was there, and the person never showed up. Did Hirano invite me? Also, there was a creaking sound coming from the closet. What was that about?
Suddenly, my eyes went wide. I had remembered hearing a creaking noise, but I thought it had been in my head. But if it wasn't... what made the creaking noise? I paused for a moment, before the realization suddenly hit me.
In the kitchen, under one of the counters, was a secret crawl space Sazama had used to leave the the kitchen, which connected to the office room. Maybe that creaking noise... was someone in that crawl space. Maybe the person who gave Kawata that note... planned on using that crawl space to kill him. Then... did I save Kawata... by being in the room?
I shook my head. That was absurd. No one had tried to murder before Sazama. After all, that just wouldn't make any sense. There was no evidence of an attempted murder... right? Quickly, I turned a couple of pages, trying to avoid the idea.
Day 5
Furuya has been found dead. It pains me to know that she died and I was just sitting around. I... don't even know what to feel about it anymore. I don't know why but I'm afraid. Maybe it's because it's one of my friends this time instead of a nameless stranger. And I don't know if I'm ready to send a friend away. But... if we don't do this, we all die. [New Note] Sazama was found guilty of killing Furuya by poison. I know I shouldn't feel bad, it's murder after all, but every murder has a motive, and it was sad to see her go. I could've saved Furuya. But I was to blind and arrogant to see that a friend would murder in our situation. I was so close... and I didn't know even bat an eye as Furuya was poisoned. I don't think I'll be able to sleep tonight. Sazama's death was absolutely horrible to watch. I've never felt so powerless before as I watched another human being die for their crimes. This isn't any of our faults. It's the mastermind. And I'm going to figure out who that is even if it kills me.
I began skimmed through a couple of pages, looking for certain info.
Day 10
Shishido has perished. Yet again, I was so close. I could've saved him. But no. I was blinded by fear and my own selfish desire to escape the darkness. We were having so much fun as well, playing video games and just having a good time. I'm worried about who the killer is. After all, I'm most likely the suspect. And last time a killing took place, I was also the main suspect. I can see the same thing happening again, but I have no alibi. We'll figure out the truth. I know we will. But... I'm worried that finding out the truth... will just create more despair. [New Note] Morita was the killer this time. I don't know what to do anymore. All of these kind hearted people are being ripped off of this planet because of a stupid red panda and it's raccoon side kick, and whoever is behind this. I've done nothing to protect everyone. I'm so close to the crime scene and yet I can't seem to get a grip of myself and actually stop these murders. And I have to watch the murders get the oxygen ripped away from them because I couldn't stop it. I'm going to bed. I don't want to think about this anymore.
I paused, turning a couple pages over, to the final one that had been written.
Day 14
I don't know what to do anymore. Our group is in shambles and I don't know how to fix it. Everyone is looking to me for advice, but I can't give any. I'm just as hopeless as them. I'm probably worse with the fact that I'm the law enforcement. I shouldn't be afraid. I should be the one with the answers. I should be the hero everyone needs. And yet I'm unable to look into the other students eyes. I'm shameful. And I have to start taking initiative. I'm going to find out who the mastermind is as quickly as I can and find a way out of here before anyone else dies. It's my responsibility.
I sighed, placing the book back down. A nervous feeling came over me. I shouldn't have gone through the journal. Why did I even think about it? It was absolutely idiotic. I looked to the door, a worried expression across my face. Would he really be okay out there? What if something happened to him? I turned away, taking off my shoes and placing them onto the floor. I took off my glasses and placed them on the nightstand next to the photo of a little boy. I hopped onto bed, and not taking my eyes away from the door.
I closed my eyes, an uneasy feeling coming over me. This was a bad idea. But before I could get out of bed, I fell asleep.
-
They stood at the door, looking to the time. 11:59, and then the time changed to 12:00. They opened the door, and began to step out. They stopped, looking down the hallway, their eyes going wide. Quickly, they closed the door, stepping back in. They took a long sigh, returning to their bed. They'd have to make do with what they had, because they couldn't deal with a person in the hallway. They just wanted something in particular, but maybe they could figure out something with what they ended up getting.
-
I sat up, quickly throwing on my shoes and glasses. The morning announcement hadn't even gone off yet, but the worry had woken me up. I raced to the door.
The worry had consumed every fiber of my being. The thought of me being the reason why someone had died was too much for me to handle. And I'd never forgive myself if that person was someone close. Someone who cares about me. Someone who protected me in a time of needed. The fear had completely enveloped my mind. I opened the door, and what sat in front of me... no one should have to experience such fear.
Kawata Satoru, laying in the middle of the floor of my room.
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