DAY 02

Everyone is sent back to their Tutorial Room to rest. Both groups had to deal with the stress of the game.

TUTORIAL ROOM 02 (AQOURS)

Kanan is hanging out at one corner, seperated from the rest. Mari noticed immediately.

Kanan: ......

Mari: Hello?

Kanan: I am so terrible, aren't I? I just lied and decieved people to do something nasty.....I feel so bad about it.....

Mari: ......geez....you are trying to hate yourself again, huh? You are just trying to be tactical for this game, nothing actually wrong about that.

Kanan: Is it, really? I am just worried about what this game will do to me. I am scared that I might lose my mind here.

Mari: Hey, don't be so melancholic. For your information, ALL of us are going through the same horror as you do. They just try to react to it as if they don't mind playing it just to lessen their stress. Besides, I think all of us will end up losing our minds in this game anyway the longer we stay here......so terrible, isn't it?

Kanan thought over what Mari said. She wanted to do exactly what the others do as Mari claims. Kanan wants to rest.

Kanan: ......Mari....help me lessen my stress and feel better, okay?

Mari: Why wouldn't I? So, what do you want me to do -

Kanan: (lies down at Mari's chest)

Mari: EHH!!? KANAN?!! I never thought you actually -

Kanan: Be my pillow.....please?

Mari: ......sigh, alright my dear....

Meanwhile, Riko, Chika, and You are having a conversation about the best hiding spots for the map.

You: I have no clue.....wait...I think the best hiding spot for me is a small, empty room.

Riko: Huh? Why?

You: Well, basically in a small room, you can hide behind the door.....no wait, I guess it is the door's backside that is best for me....

Riko: I do not think your choice is safe for an Innocent......

You: Hmmm...Chika.....have any ideas?

Chika: (looks at two masked guards opposite of her. One guard is watching something in her phone with her tablet with her earphone on. The other guard is sleeping at a corner.)

You: Hey, Chika I am talking to you!

Chika: Huh!?....ah...oh....ummm....what are we talking about?

Riko: (faceplam)

TUTORIAL ROOM 01 (MUSE)

Muse, meanwhile, is mostly doing some chat and discussions about things they know about the game so far. On the other hand, Umi, Rin, and Nozomi are doing a bit of target aquisition training - target shooting and stabbing, so to speak.

Maki: ......I have already checked every region of this arena. There really is no exit, hole, or anything anywhere that can help us get out of here besides the one door that connects this arena to the Briefing Room.

Honoka: Oh....you're talking about that one route where all of us would go to for the game?

Maki: Of course, where else will it be?

Honoka: Hmmm.....man, I wish all of us can go home soon....

Hanayo: Sadly, I do not think they will let us....

ARENA 01: APARTMENT
ROUND 03

Everyone picked their cards and did what we usually do. Kanan picked a Detective card.....she now feels better after Mari gave her a good sleep.

Kanan: (takes a deep breath, looks at Mari for inspiration) Alright guys! I am the detective so without further ado, let us start the game!

Yoshiko: (rushes at Kanan and slashes her throat.)

Everyone: (shocked)

Honoka: What the!!?

Hanayo: Oh no!!

Yoshiko:(sprints to stab Ruby, Hanamaru, and Nico.)

Riko: YOSHIKO IS THE MURDERER!! EVERYONE GET OUT OF HERE!!

Yoshiko rushes in to kill everyone quickly before someone got a gun. She thought it is the best tactic a Murderer can pull off versus 17 Innocents.

At the same time, everyone split off to rush and get ribbons at different rooms. Eri is rallying the others to gather every ribbon they can find and combine them to get a gun.

Still, other girls got split off and unfortunately were pursued by Yoshiko.

Yoshiko: Demon slash!! (ran after Honoka and did a wall jump)

Honoka: No!!! (dies getting stabbed in the back.)

Yoshiko: One more down....who else....

Rin passed by but ran too fast away from Yoshiko. She decided to pick another target. Yoshiko went to another corner to find Hanayo trying to gather ribbons.

Yoshiko: I got you rice queen!!

Hanayo: Eh!? Nooooo!!!

Hanayo ran. Yoshiko chased her. The two are in a cat and mouse chase all over the southwestern sector.

Hanayo managed to outrun Yoshiko despite panicking and screaming for help. She passed through a kitchen room and through another room, however.....

Hanayo: Help me...help me...help me....ahhhh!! (tripped over the floor)

Yoshiko: (quickly reaches her.)

Hanayo: No...no...no...no....nooooooooo!!!

Yoshiko: (stabs Hanayo thrice on the floor.)

Meanwhile, a group consisting of Mari, Eri, Nozomi, Maki, and Dia managed to gather twelve ribbons. Mari and Nozomi got two pistols.

Mari: I think this is enough! Let's get her!!

Nozomi: Alright, everyone group up!!

Unaware that Mari and the others are searching for her, Yoshiko sits by at a corner. She thought over what she just did. Clearly, Yoshiko still felt uncomfortable in killing for the first time.

Yoshiko: This is horrible.....and so tiring.....but I have no choice but to do this.....

She looks for a place to hide this time knowing that continuing to attack recklessly is not gonna work. She found a bed she could hide inside. Luckily, she managed to hide from Nozomi who is passing by with Dia and Eri. When the way was clear, Yoshiko ran off undetected.

Yoshiko headed for the northern sector to hide in a bedroom that she explored back then in a previous round. During her journey, she heard You trying to hide at a room filled with one bookshelf. Apparantly, she heard You's voice.

You: .....no one is gonna find me here....

Yoshiko: .....geez. You do not realize how loud you are.

Yoshiko rushed inside, catching You off guard.....

You: Huh!!?

Yoshiko: You die!!!!

....or so she thought. Yoshiko did not expect that Kotori leaped off (she hid behind the bookshelf) and shot Yoshiko.

Yoshiko: (dead)

Kotori: Oh my....it worked!! I am glad you managed to bait Yoshiko to come here!

You: Ummm...that was not fun for me, Kotori-sama.....next time, you will be the bait!!

Kotori: I am happy that we are starting to get along with each other!

Aftermath

Yoshiko: That was sooo tiring....I don't wanna do it again....

You and Kotori: (did high fives with each other)

Maki: It was effective though, Yoshiko.......

Ruby: How could you, Yoshiko!!!

Yoshiko: Yohane was the one who did it!! She possessed me, I did not do it!!

Hanamaru: (hits Yoshiko's head.) Speak normally!

Yoshiko: Uggghhh...okey...I did that because I felt it was the only way to do it!!

Everyone: ........

Yoshiko: I don't want to be the murderer next time!!

ARENA 01: APARTMENT
ROUND 04

Everyone split off after the cards were drawn. Rin is the Detective, Hanamaru is permitted to hang out with her. The two are cheerful enough to be with each other (apparantly to lessen the stress of inevitably killing someone in this game).

Ruby: Uggghhh....Hanamaru-chan seems too interested in Ms. Rin.....

Maki: Don't worry much, Ruby-san. She is just curious to know more about her idol.

Ruby: (expresses innocent jealousy)....okey.....hey umm....can I hang out with you and Nico-sama?

Maki: Nope, sorry Ruby. I am not in the mood to be with Nico or anyone right now.....

Ruby: I see....you want to hide  all by yourself then?

No one is aware that Hanamaru is the Murderer.

Fifteen minutes passed. Everything is peaceful. Nothing much went on in the arena besides a minor competition between Honoka and Umi in ribbon hunting.

At the very northwest room, Rin and Hanamaru stayed there to do a hiding strategy. They ended up having chit chat with each other about their idol careers. The room is big enough for two people and resembles a girl's bedroom. There is a clock hanging near the room's door.

Rin: .....hehe....I am so boyish, aren't I?

Hanamaru: I actually disagree, Rin-sama!

Rin: Oh....thank you, nyah!

More minutes passed. Rin noticed the passage of time and how calm Hanamaru is right now. She started to suspect Hanamaru a bit - Rin opened the door and stayed at the door way while keeping an eye on Hanamaru.

Rin: It sure is too quiet, Hana-chan!!

Hanamaru: Oh.....it is a good thing, I think?

Rin: Shouldn't you be looking for ribbons? I know you wanna hide and all nyah, but you need to defend yourself.

Hanamaru: Huh? Why should I? You are the detective protecting me. I don't need a gun.......huh?

Rin: What is it?

Hanamaru: .......I see.....Rin-sama....you don't trust me, do you?

Rin pointed her pistol at Hanamaru without trying to pull the trigger. She just wanted to be safe as she watched Hanamaru and stayed at the door way where she can see if anyone tries to attack her - including Hanamaru.

Rin: Sorry, nyah. I have to be aware for this game...I can't let my guard down!

Hanamaru: Ok.....don't mind me then! I will just stay here and wait for the game to end!!

Many more minutes passed. Nothing is going on. No one is getting killed nor screaming. Rin is getting suspicious of Hanamaru. Still, she does not want to do anything rash - Rin likes Hanamaru enough that she is starting to feel conflicted about suspecting her fan.

She is unaware that Hanamaru (turned her back away from Rin in order to not allow Rin to see her panicked face) is panicking on what she must do.

Hanamaru: (busy thinking her next move - This is bad....I have to do something....but what?! There is nothing in this room to distract her.....wait, I can try to talk to her to find a way to catch her off guard....no...no, she will definitely notice.....and what if someone else passed by to notice....wait...umm....what else...uhhh...omg, this is hard....)

More minutes passed......A-Rise intervened and spoke through a speaker.

Yuuki: Ehem.......THIS ROUND IS GETTING BORING!! HEY MURDERER, WHOEVER YOU ARE, GIVE US SOME ACTION AND DO SOMETHING, BITCH!!)

Erena: Hey, watch your mouth, Yuuki.

Everyone heard it.

Rin: Ohhhh.....the murderer is not doing anything.....which means....

Hanamaru: No....Rin-sama, wait!! I am Innocent!! I would have killed you earlier if I were the murderer!!

Rin: True...but nothing is happening and I am still alive so far....which means....

Hanamaru: Rin-sama, I am your majestic supporter!! I will never try to hurt you!!

Rin: True, but this game wants us to do otherwise.

Hanamaru: (tries to walk closer to her.)

Rin: Whoa there.....(aims her gun at her head)...move closer and I will shoot....

Hanamaru paused and felt terrified. She is almost completely out of ideas. Hanamaru wants to knife Rin but fears that someone else might be nearby to see her do that. Plus, everyone must have had a pistol by now.

Hanamaru: ........this is so bad.....

Rin: Huh?

Hanamaru: .......sigh....EVERYONE WHO IS NEARBY, RIN IS HERE!! SHE IS THE DETECTIVE SO IF ANYONE WANTS TO COME TO HER FOR PROTECTION, COME HERE!!!

Hanamaru made a sudden and uncertain gamble. She screamed to everyone about her and Rin's location hoping for someone to distract Rin for her instead, yet she is scared of the possible outcome. However....

Rin: ......hey, Hana-chan......what you did feels so out of place....

Hanamaru: I just want to help this game to progress! Yuuki said it needs to progress....

Rin: Sooo....in order to help in progressing the game.....you are trying to help out the Murderer then?

Hanamaru: ...gasp........ummm....wait, I never thought this through....

....no one is nearby to hear Hanamaru's announcement. A deafening silence followed.....

Rin: Hey....sorry, but I have to kill you Hana-chan.....you are getting too suspicious and shady already...

Hanamaru: ........(stands there without doing anything other than giving Rin a terrified look)...

Rin: .......ugghhh....I cannot hesitate to shoot you....this game will get nowhere.....sorry....

Hanamaru: ....can you actually shoot me, Rin-sama?

Rin: ......I can.....

Hanamaru: You can't, do you?

Rin: ..........no.......no....I can do this.....BANG!!

Rin shot Hanamaru, but hit her arm. Rin is surprised that she cannot even try to kill this likely Murderer. Hanamaru screamed in pain, but she held on to try and talk Rin out of not shooting her - her final option.

Hanamaru: Ouch.....hey, now that I remember, you have not yet seen someone die closely nor have you killed someone, right? No wonder you can't finish me off....

Rin: Hey!!? So what if I can't? Hold on, the way you ask that is so shady, Hana-chan....

Hanamaru: You can't kill me, Rin-sama....you don't have to!! I suggest you to leave and.....

Rin: And what? To allow myself to get killed by you behind my back?!

Hanamaru: I am not the murderer.....trust me!!

Rin: ......geez....why can't I do anything.....

Both of them are ironically unable to make a move at all. Their further indecisiveness made Yuuki lose her patience.

Yuuki: Come on, guys.....I don't wanna do this but......ehem....EVERYONE, THE MURDERER IS HANAMARU!! EVERYONE JUST KILL HER ALREADY!

Rin: !!!!

Hanamaru: .......(shocked)......oh my...she just said....DARN IT!!

Hanamaru dashed towards Rin, forced to act by Yuuki to do what she has to do as a Murderer - kill Rin and make the round exciting.

Rin finally realizes Hanamaru's true role. Before Hanamaru got too close, Rin jumped away (to dodge Hanamaru's incoming slash) and landed on the floor with her back behind it and shot Hanamaru. Between her and Hanamaru, Rin is faster and quicker to react to situations.

Rin: Oh my.....I am so relieved I got ya.....

Yuuki: FINALLY, SOMETHING HAPPENED!! OKEY, ROUND IS OVER!! TIME TO RESET!!

Aftermath

Hanamaru: I feel so humiliated.

Rin: ...yeah, you are unlucky nyah.....

Ruby: Hehe, Hanamaru thought getting close to the Detective is always a nice tactic.....I think....

Dia: Lol....no offense but this round is shockingly boring because of you two.

Hanamaru: I am so ashamed to look at you, Rin-sama......I have no right to address you as an honest fan....

Rin: Hey, calm down....it is over, alright? Don't fret over it too much, nyah....

Yuuki: New warning, guys!! If a round proceeds without anything murderous or exciting going on, we the hosts have the right to announce who the Murderer is! Got that?!!

Nozomi: This is bad....A-Rise can do whatever they want, huh?

Maki: Hey A-Rise!! No offense but I wanna let you know that this game is pointless!!! The Murderer hardly has any chance of success!! Change the rules or something to make it more....uggghhh....comfortable and fair, huh?!!!

Tsubasa: Hmmm...we will consider it the next next round.

Maki: OH COME ON!!! YOU GUYS ARE ANNOYING!!!

-------

A/N: Guys, I will not be able to update as soon as possible this time. Besides fixing my enrollment, I have fanarts to take care of. Also, an otaku event is coming soon so I need to sew and prepare my cosplay outfit when I get there.

However.....EXPECT THE NEXT THREE CHAPTERS TO BE REALLY GOOD AND DETAILED ONES. IT IS GONNA BE A VERY GOOD GAME IF YOU ASK ME. See ya!