Girl Talk

Monorakun's 7am alert woke me up, with the exact same message as last time. I stretched in my bed before getting up. As usual, I got dressed and prepared myself for the day. I checked the Chat, and Mahiru's conversation caught my interest.

* Shishano Kantoku entered the chat.

Mahiru Koizumi: Hey everybody! After breakfast, I'd like to get a few group pictures of everyone in the Dining Hall!

Kyoko Kirigiri: What for?

Mahiru Koizumi: Well, we're all students here, and as the Ultimate Photographer, I'd like to get pictures of everyone, to look back upon later on!

Fuyuhiko Kuzuryu: Are you fucking stupid? We're not sitting in some classroom, waiting for the fucking teacher to teach us economics. We're in a killing game, fighting for our lives against a stupid robot, under these stupid rules!

Sakura Ogami: Be that as it may, Fuyuhiko, there is no need for such hostility. I, for one, would be most welcome to having my picture taken.

Nekomaru Nidai: ME AS WELL! LET'S DO THIS AFTER WE ALL EAT!

Mahiru Koizumi: Ummm...Nekomaru, could you turn your Caps Lock off? That's considered screaming in chat.

Nekomaru Nidai: Ah, sorry. Is this better?

Mahiru Koizumi: Much better. Now, if you don't want your picture taken, of course you don't have to. But if you do, please stay in the Dining Hall after breakfast for pictures!

Fuyuhiko Kuzuryu: After the picture you took of my sister, I'll be DAMNED if I let you take a picture of me! Screw you, bitch!

* Fuyuhiko Kuzuryu left the chat.

Sakura Ogami: Sigh...That Fuyuhiko...I'm not really sure what to make of him. I fear his anger will consume him, and cause him to do something foolish.

Mahiru Koizumi: Do you think Hiyoko and I should be concerned?

Sakura Ogami: At this time, no. I shall do my best to keep him monitored, and prevent him from doing anything reckless.

Mahiru Koizumi: Thank you, Sakura. I'm gonna log out of here and get the preparations ready.

* Mahiru Koizumi left the chat.

Having nothing else to say to the others, I left the chat as well, and headed to the Dining Hall for breakfast. Teruteru made wildberry pancakes for everyone, with strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries baked into the pancakes. They were then topped with wildberry syrup, also made from strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries, and set out for us to use as we wished. I took three pancakes, and drizzled a decent amount of syrup on them, then sat next to Mahiru, Hiyoko, and Toko as we all ate.

Hiyoko and Toko spent most of the time throwing insults at one another, while Mahiru and I ate in relative silence. Mahiru seemed annoyed with Hiyoko, and would scold her when she'd push Toko too far.

After I ate and put my dishes away, I headed to the School Store. Checking my E-Handbook, I had 175 Monocoins. I bought some Athletic Wraps, figuring either Sakura could use them, or I could store them in the medicine cabinet in my room. I also bought some Rose Perfume in a cute bottle, dropping me down to 50 Monocoins.

I returned to Mahiru in the Dining Hall, waiting with her for the others to show up. As it turned out, everyone except Fuyuhiko showed up.

Including...Monorakun, who insisted on being in at least one photo.

"Wait, wait! I have to prepare for this picture!" Monorakun shouted, his voice resembling an angry guard dog who smokes a pack of cigars a day, as he bolted for the kitchen. Some shuffling was heard within the kitchen, then Monorakun emerged with a rolling pin and a bottle of ketchup.

"Hang on, I gotta get ready! Everyone, turn around!"

We all turned around to let Monorakun prepare himself for the picture. After a minute or two, Monorakun said, "Alright, I'm ready for my close-up!"

We turned around, and froze. Fuyuhiko's eyes were shooting bullets, and his fists were clenched tightly. Mahiru's face went pale, and she was clearly upset.

Monorakun was sitting against the wall, with ketchup on the black side of his forehead. The rolling pin was laying flat beside him. It looked like someone had bludgeoned him with the rolling pin, against the wall.

"What?" Monorakun mockingly asked. "It's not like you've never taken a picture like this before, right?"

Mahiru grimaced at Monorakun, then turned to the rest of us. "Can I get your pictures another time? I'm suddenly not in the mood anymore."

Several glares were shot at Monorakun, particularly by Mahiru, Hiyoko, Sakura, and Kyoko. However, everyone except me and Mahiru filed out of the room to do their own things. Monorakun, at the meanwhile, grumbled under his breath and returned the rolling pin and ketchup to the kitchen.

I genuinely felt terrible for Mahiru, and wanted to spend time with her, to help make up for Monorakun wrecking her plans.

"Mahiru?"

Mahiru looked up from her seat at the table. "Huh?"

"I am sorry your photo shoot was ruined by Monorakun. Would you like to speak with me in the courtyard? I would like to get to know you better, if that is ok."

Mahiru smiled and nodded, then accompanied me to the Courtyard. We sat down at one of the smaller round tables. Mahiru looked up at the glass ceiling, showing a cloudy, but not overcast, sky.

Suddenly, Mahiru looked puzzled, a question clearly forming in her mind. "Hey, Monorakun? Quick question, if I may?"

Monorakun appeared from behind the fountain. "Yeah? What?"

Mahiru looked up. "That glass ceiling...is that the real sky up there?"

Monorakun looked up. His red eye glowed brightly for several seconds, then dimmed. "I'll be straight with you. Yes, that's the real sky, the real weather. However, you're not breaking through that glass. Shatterproof, soundproof, and designed to withstand tornadoes or earthquakes without even cracking. Also, they're one-way windows; you can see out, but not in."

Monorakun then pointed at the other windows along the upper floors. "Just like those, except you can see into the Courtyard, but not out." Indeed, the upper windows merely reflected each of us in here, on all four upper floor windows.

I looked back down, and to my surprise, Monorakun was gone. Turning my attention back to Mahiru, there was a question in the back of my mind, that I felt I needed answered.

"Forgive my intruding, but what is the conflict between you and Fuyuhiko? I gathered that..."

Mahiru's expression was already sullen and evasive, but I continued.

"You two and Hiyoko went to the same school, and Fuyuhiko's sister died. I feel like it could help to have a better understanding of this situation, to get to know you better. If you don't mind?"

Mahiru shifted her eyes away. "I...really don't want to talk about it."

Feeling like this was important, I decided a deal would need to be struck. "Ok, how about this. If you answer my questions about this incident, I'll let you take as many pictures of me as you want, anywhere in this courtyard, in any reasonable pose you choose. Does that seem fair?"

Mahiru thought for a while, then sighed. "Y-yeah. It's fine. It's important that everyone gets along anyway, and I can tell that you're not trying to be mean about it. But you better hold up your end of the bargain!"

I nodded in agreement and stretched my legs out a bit, then considered my first few questions regarding the history between Mahiru, Hiyoko, and Fuyuhiko. I felt the need to be very respectful, as I could see the distress on Mahiru's face.

Mahiru eventually opened up about her past. She had a rival named Natsumi, who was Fuyuhiko's sister, and Mahiru's close friend, Sato. Natsumi and Sato were classmates in what was referred to as the Reserve Course. Like Fuyuhiko, Natsumi was tied to the Kuzuryu mafia, and was as nasty, personality-wise, as Fuyuhiko.

One day, Natsumi had threatened Mahiru, as she had done many times in the past. Sato got scared, having been attacked and scarred on her left forearm by Natsumi in the past, and got into a big argument with Natsumi. Sato later confronted Natsumi in the Music Room, and killed her.

A few days later, Fuyuhiko killed Sato with a baseball bat, as revenge for her killing his sister Natsumi. The entire thing was covered up by their school, and Fuyuhiko has hated Mahiru ever since.

I had the feeling that Mahiru had left some details out, but I felt it would be disrespectful to pry any further. I knew enough of what I felt I needed to know.

Mahiru grabbed her camera. "Alright, Shishano, time to hold up your end! Say cheese!"

I let Mahiru treat me like her model, taking pictures of me near the fountain and around the tables. She got some great shots of me twirling my dress, showing off my tights, and some nice hair shots too. I was truly impressed with her talents behind the camera, and equally impressed with how I looked.

No wonders guys would stare when I walked by! I blushed and giggled a bit at a few of the pictures, like the one of me on the round table, laying on my stomach, with my feet kicked up behind me. That shot really showed off my calves well. Mahiru agreed to find a way to send them to me somehow, and as a thank-you, I gave her the Rose Perfume.

"Can I really have this? Um...thanks. You're surprisingly considerate." She took the perfume bottle, smiling, and smelled it, smiling to herself. I decided to leave her in the Courtyard, and headed to the Dining Hall for lunch.

Teruteru made some Chicken Broccoli Alfredo, with Garlic Breadsticks. I actually had two plates of the pasta, and three breadsticks. Afterwards, I decided to find Sakura.

Fortunately, she was not too difficult to find. My first guess was the gym, and that is where she was, training with Nekomaru. As I entered, Nekomaru turned his attention to me, but I quickly shook my head at him, not wishing to interrupt anything on my own behalf. I sat on the bleachers, patiently watching the two spar together, while making a mental note to never get on Sakura's bad side. She was quick and powerful, as befitting an Ultimate Martial Artist. I was more impressed that an Ultimate Team Manager would be able to withstand her blows, but maybe I underestimated Nekomaru's talents.

After the two of them took a break, Nekomaru left for a while to use the restroom (not in those words, but I am not repeating his crassness if I have no other option). Sakura nodded and gestured me over to her, and we sat next to each other and spoke. Considering her previous conversations in the Group Chat, I had only one question on my mind.

"Are you worried about the other students trying to murder someone to escape this place, Sakura? It seems several students are already on edge as it is."

Sakura nodded. "So you have noticed. I particularly worry about Fuyuhiko, Mondo, Ryoma, Teruteru, Hiyoko, and Tenko, if I may be honest with you, each for a different reason."

Intrigued, I decided to pry. "Why those six in particular?"

Sakura took a deep breath, seemed to consider her thoughts, then nodded to herself. "You seem trustworthy with this information. I shall discuss them with you, in confidence."

I nodded, understanding exactly what she meant, and let her continue.

"Fuyuhiko is very short-tempered, and with his ties to the mafia, I don't doubt he can become violent if provoked enough. With his history involving Mahiru and Hiyoko, I am most concerned he will try to strike out at one of both of them."

I nodded in agreement. "I share the same sentiment about Fuyuhiko. He seems to be a foul-mouthed hothead who has nothing nice to say about anything."

Sakura nodded grimly. "So, you have noticed. I must admit, Fuyuhiko is my top concern for a murder. My concern is that his rage will cause him to do something foolish, particularly towards Mahiru or Hiyoko. When I am not training, I am doing my best to ensure their safety."

I nodded and smiled, glad that some of us were looking out for others.

Sakura looked grim as she spoke again. "My next highest concern is Tenko. Her training, if you can call it that, has tainted her perspective of males to a dangerous, even violent, degree. She even refuses to train with Nekomaru, solely because he is male. However, due to us both being female, I am trying to use that advantage to try to tame her misandry. I merely hope the damage has not already been done, and that Tenko is not...too late."

So that's what Tenko was ranting about earlier, with the "degenerate male" thing. At least I am a female, so she should not be irrationally angry towards me.

Sakura continued. "Speaking of degenerate males, Teruteru comes to mind. While he is a true expert of the culinary fields, his innuendos are going to get him into a lot of trouble. He has already earned the ire of Tenko, Hiyoko, Kyoko, Mahiru, and nearly every other female in here. As for me, he seems too intimidated by me to say anything of that nature to me. I do not worry that he will murder another; rather, I fear his mouth will get him killed."

I was not, in the least bit, surprised by this assessment. "Yes, I had a run-in of my own with Teruteru. I gave her a rather polite warning, and moved on my way."

Sakura moved on to her next concern. "In terms of foul mouths, only Hiyoko can match up with Teruteru. I fear her only mission in life is to antagonize everyone she comes into contact with, with a foulness only matched by Fuyuhiko. If she doesn't rein her in cruel words, someone may shut her mouth for her...permanently."

I confess, I haven't had much experience dealing with Hiyoko, but no one seemed to have a nice word to say about her.

I let Sakura continue with her mental checklist. "Mondo is a...a lesser concern of mine. He's got a mouth and a temper, but unlike Fuyuhiko, there seems to be a line that he refuses to cross with people. I would caution you to stay on his good side."

So far, so good with him. When I explored the First Floor with Mondo, he was respectful towards me, and did not seem cross with me at all.

Sakura looked up at the ceiling. "My final person of concern...I fear is more a threat to themselves than to others. The tennis pro, and ex-convict, Ryoma Hoshi. He seems to have fallen under a deep depression, and I am concerned for his mental well-being."

I nodded sadly. "I could try to speak to him. I did more than just mortuary work at my family's funeral home; I would also have to play hostess, letting people in and out and speaking with the grieving. Perhaps I can put that to use with Ryoma."

Sakura nodded. "Perhaps that would be best, though approaching him could be difficult. He seems to actively avoid other people. However, I am sure that deep down, he would appreciate it."

I nodded in agreement, and sensing an end to the conversation, I gave her the Athletic Wraps I had obtained earlier, still in their original packaging.

Sakura looked the package over, then smiled in acceptance. "You're giving this...to me? I see. That's very nice of you. I'll accept it with gratitude."

I smiled back, and curtsied as I took my leave of her. I passed Nekomaru in the hallway, with some kind of drink in his hand. He said it was a protein shake for Sakura, so I decided not to keep him.

An idea suddenly came to mind. I felt the need to get more Monocoins, in case they came more in handy later, but needed something that I could do one-player if I must, and with only 50 Monocoins to my name. I remembered the Roulette table, and decided that was as good an idea as any. Even if I lost all my Monocoins, I would still get another 100 in the morning. Nodding to myself, I headed to the Game Room to try my hand at Roulette.

To my surprise, two others were in there as well, which would make things much more entertaining.