Fourth Murder Investigation

Monorakun turned to address us. "Alright, everyone's here. Time for your Monorakun File!"

My E-Handbook went off. I opened my E-Handbook and opened the Autopsy Report. Looking at the time, it was 12:40pm.

"Victim: Mahiru Koizumi. Cause of Death: Balls to the face. The victim's hands were tied to either side of the Batting Cage, forcing her head to be within the strike zone of the pitching machine. Another injury, to the back of the head, has also been identified. However, this injury was not fatal. There are no other injuries reported."

Monorakun continued. "Now, I've got to get to work either cleaning or replacing all these baseballs. I'm not gonna lock the door, but the Batting Cages will be non-operational for the remainder of the day."

Kyoko quickly spoke up. "Wait. Those baseballs are evidence. If we can't have them all, can we at least have a few?"

Monorakun considered. "Eh, fine. I already looked them over, and they all pretty much look the same to me. Here, take this one." Monorakun grabbed one of the bloodstained baseballs, waddled over to Kyoko on his hind legs, and handed it to her. Kyoko took with with a word of thanks for Monorakun, which I found rather ironic, but on the other hand, evidence is evidence.

At the meanwhile, Sakura offered to stand guard, as did Nekomaru. However, Fuyuhiko objected.

"You've stood guard enough, Nekomaru. I'll take guard duty this time. You can do some searching this time around." Fuyuhiko half-instructed Nekomaru, who seemed fine with relinquishing guard duty to Fuyuhiko.

"I suppose that leaves me to inspect Mahiru," I flatly stated, with no enthusiasm whatsoever. "Rest of you..." I sighed. "You know what to do."

Since Mahiru's back was to me, I decided to take a look at the injury to the back of her head, as stated on the Monorakun file. Mercifully, Mahiru had short hair, so it was not too difficult to find it. It appeared to be a large bruise, about the width of the back of my hand, going across the back and right side of Mahiru's head. Gently pressing, there did not appear to be a fracture, but the tissue was soft enough that a concussion, or unconsciousness, could have resulted from such a blow. I did not notice much blood, just a trickle at the center of the injury, where the most damage would have been dealt.

It was likely a blunt object was used to strike Mahiru, perhaps as she was turning away or approached from behind. As the damage was on the right side, I surmised a right-handed batter, per se, would be the culprit. I saw no self-defense wounds on either of Mahiru's arms, so for a lefty to deal damage to this specific location on Mahiru, they would at least have to be in Mahiru's peripherals, warranting a backwards lean and a right arm thrown up in self-defense. However, this did not appear to happen.

No injuries on Mahiru's hands were noticed, and her legs were free from bruises. Taking off Mahiru's shoes and socks, I noticed no injuries to her feet, either. I put her socks and shoes back on, then turned my attention to her back, lifting her jumper dress to examine her. However, I saw nothing; no bruises, no blood, nothing.

I decided to turn my attention to the face and chest of Mahiru, as her face would have taken the brunt of the damage. 

Sure enough, Mahiru's face was bruised to a pulp, likely from multiple MLB-quality fastballs to the face. There were several fractures to her nose, cheekbones, and orbital sockets. Her eyes were bruised badly, as well, as if she had just finished a 12-round boxing match against a heavyweight champion. Blood was all over the lower half of her face, and spilled down the chest of her jumper dress, as well.

"Shishano? I hate to interrupt your work, but may I ask you some questions?"

It was Kyoko, likely wanting my alibi.

"Of course, Kyoko. I am nearly finished with Mahiru's examination anyway. What do you wish with me?"

"Your alibi, and more specifically, why two people seem to be able to put you close to the crime scene."

My eyes widened, in spite of myself, but then I remembered.

"Ah, yes. I was going to make Fuyuhiko some tea, but was lacking some ingredients, so I had to come to the Chemistry Room for some ingredients that were not in the Kitchen."

"I see." Kyoko considered my words, then proceeded with her questioning. "Korekiyo claims you passed by the Dance Hall with myself and Hiyoko, carrying something small and white. That wouldn't have been a baseball, by any chance, would it?"

I shook my head. "No, of course not. It was a small, white container I obtained from the Chemistry Room, to hold the ingredients in. Mixing them together before putting them into the tea would not have been a big deal, so I only needed one."

Kyoko nodded slowly. "I would ask what these ingredients were, but I'm not sure that's relevant right now. But be warned, Shishano, I may ask you about it during the Class Trial, if I find it relevant later."

I merely shrugged. "No worries. Anything else?" I glanced back at Mahiru.

"One more thing. You said Fuyuhiko was in the Kitchen, right? Are you sure he was in there the whole time? Knowing his history with Mahiru..."

"The fuck did you just say?" Fuyuhiko interrupted. "I was in the Dining Hall, not the Kitchen, eating yakisoba. We should be focused on who's trying to frame me, not sending me needlessly to my death!"

I nodded. "Fuyuhiko was eating yakisoba when I first saw him, and he was still in the Dining Hall when I returned from the Chemistry Room, eating a fuller bowl of yakisoba than when I left. Make of that what you will."

Kyoko, meanwhile, was eyeing Fuyuhiko suspiciously. "Whether or not you were framed, we'll be able to prove that at the Class Trial. Now, I think that's all I need from the two of you for now."

Faintly, I heard Hiyoko shouting at someone, but I could not make out all the words. Something about "Mr. Mummy" and "never kill Mahiru". I assumed Korekiyo was questioning Hiyoko, and she was being salty about it.

I nodded and thanked Kyoko for her time, then finished by searching for injuries along Mahiru's sides, stomach, and chest. However, I found nothing.

All the damage was done with a single blow to the back of Mahiru's head, then with repeated blows with the now bloodstained baseballs. But what caused the blow to the back of the head?

"Alright, everyone, it's 7th Inning Stretch Time! Everyone head to the Courtroom for the Class Trial!"

"Whenever I find out who tried to frame me for Mahiru's murder, I'm gonna sell your organs on the Black Market!" Fuyuhiko fumed out loud, to no one in particular.

I pieced together what little I knew. Mahiru was struck in the back of the head with...something. The blow likely knocked Mahiru unconscious, if not stunned her. Mahiru was then taken from...somewhere...to the Batting Cages. There, Mahiru was tied up, and some sort of mechanism was built to constantly scan her E-Handbook. With the pitch speed set to Fast (100 mph), Mahiru was repeatedly pelted in the face with fastballs until she succumbed to her injuries, and died.

Fuyuhiko thinks someone is using his feud with Mahiru to frame him for murder. Korekiyo was questioning Hiyoko, who snapped back at him (though that is hardly out of character for her). Kyoko glanced towards Fuyuhiko in a concerning way, while speaking with me. However, I remembered Fuyuhiko mentioning a while back that Korekiyo was watching Mahiru...I think? Maybe he could have taken an opportunity and ended her life.

Who could have done this to poor Mahiru?