Mysteries Galore

After I woke up and got dressed, I noticed there was an update downloaded to my E-Handbook, adding a 17th student to the Yearbook. However, this new entry was blank, other than their sex (Female). Intrigued, I decided to meet up with the others for breakfast, to see if any of them knew about this mystery student.

Teruteru made crepes with cinnamon sugar drizzle. I had four of them, with a glass of orange juice, then talked with a few of the others in the Group Chat afterwards. Looking at the time, it was 8:10am

* Shishano Kantoku has entered the chat.

Kyoko Kirigiri: I have my suspicions, but I would rather not type them out in the open.

Hiyoko Saionji: They must not be too important, if we haven't met them yet! They probably forgot they even existed!

Korekiyo Shinguji: I would be more cautious with my words if I were you, Hiyoko. One may never know who is monitoring us, even within this chat.

Hiyoko Saionji: Mind your own business, zipper-mouth!

Korekiyo Shinguji: Kehehehehe... A shame that Sister would truly despise you, Hiyoko. But alas, I have my own dealings to attend to. Farewell for now.

* Korekiyo Shinguji has left the chat.

Hiyoko Saionji: I bet he keeps his mouth covered because his breath smells like pig barf!

Kyoko Kirigiri: Hiyoko, if you can't say anything useful, please keep your mouth shut.

* Hiyoko Saionji has left the chat.

Shishano Kantoku: So, I presume that no one knows who our new student is.

Gundham Tanaka: Indeed, the identity of this newly discovered fiend is beyond our ken. Queen of Death, may we speak in person?

Shishano Kantoku: Certainly. Where at?

Gundham Tanaka: How does the School Store sound? There are many trinkets of interest within. Trash to some, treasure to others.

Shishano Kantoku: I shall meet you there, Gundham, at 8:30am.

* Shishano Kantoku has left the chat.

I decided to play some Roulette for a few moments, and ended up going from 700 Monocoins to 1100 Monocoins in only 20 minutes. I then decided to make my way to the School Store to meet with Gundham.

Gundham was looking over some of the animal prizes when I entered the School Store. Gundham eventually turned his attention to me. "It would appear to me that several among us are not who they seem."

I cocked my head, confused. "Really? Like who?"

"Kehehehe...There are several deceivers, each of their own device, that lurk within our depths. Some more...malevolent than others, indeed."

So Gundham is suspicious of several of our classmates...can we even call them classmates? We do not really take any classes here, after all...

I let my eyes roam over the various prizes, from necklaces to figurines to books to plush animals. "So, does anyone in particular concern you?"

Gundham snickered again. "No one concerns the Supreme Overlord of Ice, my dear Queen of Death. That said, I prefer not to speak their names aloud, but I shall provide you with their aural readings."

So Gundham doesn't want to call them out, but is willing to offer clues as to their identities. Part of me was wondering if I should be concerned that Gundham was making so much sense to me, but then, I have always had a talent for understanding others.

Gundham continued. "A female, with two faces on one body. A male, who disguises a female face. A female, mistaken for a male. And, at last, another female, bane to males everywhere."

I nodded, still thinking over his hints, then my eyes settled on a large-sized snake plush, long enough to wrap around him. "Gundham, would you mind if I bought you that large snake? It would look cool wrapped around your shoulders, or your waist and arm."

Gundham closed his eyes and shivered, then spoke after a few moments of silence. "Nothing good would come from wrapping such a large snake around myself. I see only the death of those around me, should such a thing occur."

As I considered his words, one of Gundham's hamsters poked its head out of his scarf. Gundham considered the furry little guy, then glanced back at me. "No more of this must I speak, for the Four Dark Devas of Destruction crave their next sacrifice. They must be appeased!! Fwahahahahaha!"

Gundham promptly turned on his heel and left me alone in the School Store. Seeing no reason to remain, I left as well, heading towards my room for a while to study.

I noticed Ryoma in Classroom 1-C, looking at the covered window towards the ceiling, but decided not to bother him. Whatever he was doing, he looked busy doing it.

I passed Nekomaru near the bathrooms, and he was carrying a long rope. Intrigued, I inquired about why Nekomaru was carrying a rope down the hallway.

"Oh, Ryoma said he may have found a way out for everyone, and needs to set things up in Classroom 1-C. He said this rope was very important in his plans, and as his personal assistant for the day, he requested that I bring it to him."

I nodded and stepped aside to let him pass. As I turned to walk back down the hallway, I saw Himiko sitting outside her dorm room, staring at the floor.

I decided to approach Himiko, to see if there was something on her mind that I could help her with.

"Is something wrong, Himiko?" I asked her.

Surprised, she looked up at me. "Nyeh? Oh, it's you. Just thinking of which magic performance I want to show everyone soon. Maybe some kind of escape..."

Intrigued, I sat across from her, kneeling my legs underneath me and fanning my skirt out.

"So, the Ultimate Magician is planning on putting on a magic show? What kind of magic tricks do you specialize in?"

Himiko looked at me, unhappily. "First off, I'm not a magician. I'm a mage. Also, I don't do magic tricks, I perform magic for the audience."

Deciding not to press Himiko on this subject, I redirected the question. "So what kinds of magic do you know, that you would be willing to share with us?"

Himiko smiled. "I can make doves appear, and make objects appear or disappear. I'm also very skilled in escaping boxes or chains. But my favorite thing is seeing the smiles on the faces of the audience. That makes whatever magic I perform worth it!"

So, Himiko thinks the tricks she performs are real magic...either that, or it is part of her act as the Ultimate Magician (or, as she claims, Mage).

While I processed this, Himiko's face lit up again. "I know! I'll do an escape act! I'll let someone lock me in a box, and I'll use my magic to escape! Now, should I do the water one or the spiky one...Nyeh, thinking about this is a pain."

I smiled. "Well, you have plenty of time to decide on it, and I am certain any of us would be willing to assist you, should you require-"

I was interrupted by an announcement. "We've got three sets of eyes on a dead body. Come to Classroom 1-C, now!"

Oh, no. I remembered seeing Nekomaru heading towards that room with a rope in his hands...was it Nekomaru who died? Or was it Ryoma, who was already in there?

I stood up and helped Himiko to her feet, and we headed towards Classroom 1-C, meeting up with Mahiru, Hiyoko, Toko, and Kyoko along the way. Silently, we made our way to Classroom 1-C.

When we arrived, we all froze in disbelief.

Ryoma was hanging by his neck, with the other end looped around the base of the monitor displaying the TUTEC logo, then tied to the teacher's desk leg. His feet appeared to have been bound together in some way, though it was hard to tell how from the doorway.

But that wasn't what mattered now. What mattered is someone killed Ryoma, and we needed to figure out who did it, or we would all join him in death.