Forum Thread

Suko hadn't asked Koda, but she shrugged. Sure, I'll go with them. Koda brushed twigs from her hair.

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Third Person POV

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"It's all settled then!" Suko pointed at Koda. "You take MegaMega to our dorm. I-" they grinned. "Will get Femiiiii!" They jump tackled Femi.

"You said yourself that we would bunk in groups of three!" Hisoka flinched as Suko glanced at him, then glared back. "Nice try. We are sticking in our groups to ensure our range of possible killers is as little as possible."

"Range of killers?" Niwa piped up.

"The people who may have committed a murder. Limit who may do it, so people will hesitate before committing the crime."

"Ah. That makes sense, I guess-"

"I don't wanna leave Femi alone!" Suko whined.

Hisoka dismissed it with a wave if his hand. "He won't be. He'll bunk with Megami and Suzume."

Suko sputtered. "Megami?! Suzume?!"

"You will bunk with Koda and Kowai." Hisoka levelled them with an unimpressed stare. "Got it?"

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Koda spat. "Better than being with you." She snapped. The words just slipped out, but she didn't care.

She turned to Suko. "So, are we to find Kowai?" She asked, scanning the room.

Kōun no Megami
I felt my face flush slightly at the mention of Suzy. 'Hide the notebook, make sure to hide it.'

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Buraddo Jemu

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Majikaruman Dōseiai-shadearimasu

Koda raised an eyebrow at Megami's flushed expression.

Hisoka looked at Koda with an expression that was odd. Not angry. Not amused. Was it... sad? Was he experiencing normal human empathy???

But no. He scowled and turned away. "I shall bunk with Buraddo and the Ultimate Magician."

"Ooh?" Suko perked up. Their sulking had apparently ended. "Oooo?"

"Shut up," Hisoka snapped. Suko giggled and ducked away.

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Koda snorted at Hisoka. She blinked at Suko, and repeated. "Are we going to find Kowai?" She asked impatiently.

"Kowai?" Suko's face scrunched up. "Ugh. I guess we have to. Where is she?" They glanced around. "Hmm. Not here. Guess we'll need a new bunkmate. Oh so sad."

"She's over there," Niwa offered helpfully. Suko glared at him and Niwa squeaked, hiding behind Keiki.

"Oh, great." Suko grumbled. "Guess we gotta go now, huh?"

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"Mhm." Koda agreed grudgingly. Koda walked towards Kowai. "Queen Hisoka" she sneered, "says we are bunkmates. You, Me, Suko."

Suzume Fujimori's POV

Suzume had found herself trapped in her thoughts. Earlier unable to hear the words of those around her.

But now... she found herself unable to drown them out. Something about the matter of bunkmates and... Megami's name?

She blinked a few too many times at this. Bunking with... Megami. And Femi. What an interesting prospect.

Femi... he seemed a rather fragile and emotional person. Awfully fitful and anxious. Heavily focused on self-preservation. So much so he had barely talked to anyone. It seemed he had manifested severe feelings of guilt for what had happened in the days he was trying to protect himself. Suzume wasn't sure what to think of it, but what could she do but forgive him? It was always so very difficult, when you saw them crying...

Megami! Wait, Megami? She was right there? She'd been looking for her! For a while now!!

Robotically Suzume's body went through the motions, and walked its way to Megami. She found herself staring at her, unable to speak.

"So. I'll be bunking with you and Femi?" A million thoughts stirred in her mind and many words threatened to bubble up to the surface. Words such as "I'm glad you're okay" and "I was worried about you", "I was wondering where you were", and "There's something strangely comforting about your presence". Yet she couldn't bring herself to speak them to Megami, and they lingered in her mind, a sequence of cancelled or delayed commands.

She twisted a lock of hair around her finger. It seemed her vocal folds locked and refused to let out words.

But what was a big deal about this? It would be good to be sleeping with an ally.

Femi Davis's POV

Femi was knocked to the floor once again and it was starting to get on his nerves. He wasn't an aggressive person by nature. But this was starting to put him on edge.

...he wasn't sure how to process this. On the one hand, he'd been wanting to reach out to people. He'd already made himself slightly familiar with Suzume.

Suzume. Maybe she'd just felt like she had to. But... he thought maybe he could consider her... a potential friend?

Megami. He didn't know her, but... um- well. It couldn't hurt to get to know someone else, right?

...Suko did scare him. A lot. And they reminded him... of certain things...

He shook the thought away. And, at that moment, attempted to push Suko away. Not viciously, though.

"I-I'm... sorry, Suko. But... it couldn't hurt for- me to bunk with other people, right?" ...why did he feel the need to apologize? It wasn't like he was... Suko's boyfriend or...

...

Where had that thought even come from? Femi failed to notice his face reddening at that moment.

Just when and how had that thought entered his head?

Kowai Kurai's POV

Kowai took a moment to turn around. Her back had been turned dramatically to Koda, and then she whipped around and-

"Oh! He has? Any particular reason why the three of us?" Kowai asked promptly. "In any case, sounds like a fun idea!"
Sounds like a nightmare. I'd rather die than spend the night with those two. Was this a calculated move on your part, Hisoka?... because it seems like it might be. And I don't like it when you make plans without letting me know about them.

But... that kind of thing would be to be expected of him. All the time Kowai was thinking of this, though, there was merely a smile upon her face.

"But I'm okay with it! If it's okay with you two!" She nodded so vigorously her head bobbed with the effort.

She tapped Suko on the shoulder. "Is it okay with you two, Suko?" she asked.

Hisoka Yamanaku... what are you planning?

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Koda shrugged her shoulders with a slightly softened expression. "No clue why he chose us. He told me he didn't trust Suko, while we were looking at the schedule. And the way he looks at me and you. I don't think he trusts us. Or anyone, really." Koda sniffs, turning to give a snooty expression at Hisoka. Why is he so weary.

Kōun no Megami
"Yep, sounds like it." There were a million things I wanted to say, a million things I should've said, like; 'I'm happy to see you' or 'You're a great person' or even 'I lo-' wait, what?

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Buraddo Jemu

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Majikaruman Dōseiai-shadearimasu

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Niwa Atsushi

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Everyone's getting along. Even though the hardened people of their group kept a distance, everyone's hearts were softening. Was it the beach air? Or just the chance to finally get to know the people who were in your class?

Who were likely plotting to kill you.

It made Niwa's heart pound. He wanted to be among them. He wanted to observe and get to know them all. Megami's guarded outer shell. Koda's dramatized displays of anger which were underwoven with hurt. Suzume, Suko, Buraddo, Femi... All those little stories.

For once, he wanted to write a poem.

And then he saw Keiki. Keiki with the wavy chestnut hair. Those high cheekbones, sharp green eyes. Some quality to the tilt of their head that always made them seem on the brink of smiling.

Or on the brink of tears.

Niwa hadn't seen it at first. He'd thought they were another Suko- just smarter and less obnoxious. But he'd come to know them, and through it, he had found so much more. And that connection felt far more important right now.

He looked down at Keiki's hand, and touched it with his own. Do you...?

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Hisoka Yamanaku

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Kowai was watching him. Hisoka was sure of that. But he deliberately kept his gaze focused on Koda. Let her think I believe it's Koda. Let Koda be the next one to die.

It was the right choice, after all. She divided the group. She had the same quality Redmonda and Chika had- nervousness brimming on the edge of anger and hysteria. Even if that weren't true- no, even it was, but she wasn't a bad person... (This was the only way.)

Hisoka felt guilt. He did, to some twisted extent. How ironic how it should come about now, when morals crippled you.

(This was the only way.) He had to pick someone.

It was his duty if he had any say in how Kowai's game of cat and mouse might go, to ensure his own victory.

He had to win, and she had to lose.

This...really was the only way, wasn't it?

Yes. He had to win.

It was time to make sure of that. His trap was laid. Now was the time to bait it.

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Suko Nobu

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Kowai. Koda. Two people who Suko ticked down. Two people they wanted to stay as far away as possible from. Two people who they refused to dorm with.

Suko didn't consider themself a manipulative person. They lied. Cookies were good, okay, and the sandal wasn't. But to deliberately trick someone....

It made them feel dirty. The tingle in their chest got worse and it even began to feel tight.

They just needed to breathe. Think of a way out of it.

Koda was the Ultimate Athlete. Those heterochromative eyes watched them with a clarity all too clear. She knew. She had to know.

"I don't like Hisoka-meanie," Suko pouted. "I wanna room with Femi!" The thoughts faded away into the present. They stuck their tongue out. "Hisoka'a stupid and does stupid things. Kowai's the stupidest thing of all."

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Koda sighed. She felt so self conscious, like everyone was eyeing her.

She had a burning feeling in her head. She felt like screaming until she couldn't speak. To cry until she couldn't see. Koda wanted to topple over, and beg for help.

Before she knew it, she had begun to breathe at an extremely fast rate, her hands shaking.

Electric blue eyes caught on her almost instantly. A sharp head tilt. Suko was staring at her.

...

....

......

They did not blink.

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Koda stared at her feet, and crumpled to her knees. It felt like there was eyes everywhere. Breaking holes into her skin as their gazes bore into her.

Every breath was raspy and loud, and it felt like her heart was beating harder than an earthquake. Bump. Bump. Bump. Bump. The beating was fast and rhythmic.

Kōun no Megami

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Buraddo Jemu

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Majikaruman Dōseiai-shadearimasu
I looked around for Soka.

Hisoka was leaning up againsr a wall. His eyes were closed. Nostrils flared with each deep breath. He may have looked exasperated to the outside eye, but his bangs were plastered to his forehead. He was exhausted. Each breath tore itself out his body.

Was he even aware of everyone still? Was he alright?

Bang!

Suko leapt to Koda's side as she tumbled to the ground.

Hisoka did not even open his eyes.

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Kōun no Megami

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Buraddo Jemu

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Majikaruman Dōseiai-shadearimasu
Ignoring what sounded like a murder, I walked over to him. "Hey there, Soka!"

Hisoka cracked open an eye at the sound of his name. "Hello," he greeted. "To what do I owe the pleasure?" Hysteria tinged the coldness in his voice. His grip against the wal tightened. "We will be rooming together. Do you want to choose the room?"

He opened the other eye and straightened up. "I actually have one in mind..."

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