Second Floor Investigation

After Monorakun's morning alert went off, I got up, got dressed, and got ready to face yet another day here. One student was already deceased, only six days into our stay here, and I knew that would not be the end of things.

However, when I turned on my E-Handbook, there was an update to download. Upon completion, the E-Handbook rebooted itself, then showed a small Monorakun face under "Yearbook" and "Maps".

Opening "Yearbook", I saw that it was now split into two sections. There was "Active", which had all of us with green frames around our pictures, and "Deceased" underneath, which had Ryoma Hoshi with a red frame around his picture.

Closing my eyes and taking a deep breath, I decided to check out the Maps. To my surprise, there was now a "Second Floor" showing up. However, it only gave the layout of the rooms, and didn't really show what was inside the rooms.

So, now there was a second floor now, ready to be explored. I decided to head to the Dining Hall to meet up with the others, and figure out who was going with who. No one really felt like talking much, likely due to yesterday's events.

After we all ate breakfast (French Toast sticks with cream cheese filling, drizzled with maple syrup), we started the process of breaking up into groups of two or three, with the exception of Kyoko, who preferred to go alone, and Teruteru, who said his lunch special would take a few hours to prepare.

Before we got too far in our group-making, however, Monorakun showed up.

"Heidi-ho, neighbors and friends! Just want to give you a friendly update. I'm sure you've noticed that your maps now show a Second Floor. This is true; the gate to the Second Floor opened up at 7am today. Now, there's a stipulation to this map's function: You can see the layout immediately, but your map won't show you what is within each room until AFTER you enter it! There's a sensor at the top of each doorway that will scan your E-Handbook as you enter, and will update your map accordingly. So if you don't enter a room, your map won't tell you what that room is!"

Kyoko quickly spoke up. "Couldn't we just ask someone else what the upstairs rooms are? What's the point of this?"

Monorakun chuckled. "Of course you could ASK someone what the rooms were. Doesn't mean they have to answer you, when you could just walk your happy ass up there and figure it out yourself! Then again, this feature COULD also play into your advantage, come to think of it..."

Korekiyo responded this time. "So if one does not enter a room, then their map will not update for that room. Suppose one were to die in said room. If that person shows their map, and that room is blank, would that mean they could not have committed the murder?"

Kyoko thought, then shook her head. "No. It only updates when someone's E-Handbook enters the room. You could still enter the room, without your E-Handbook, so long as there's no lock that requires your E-Handbook."

Monorakun thought a moment. "Hmmmm...true. I hadn't thought of that. Oh well, it wasn't my idea to put those sensors up in the first place, so I don't really care. Have fun exploring!"

Monorakun then disappeared from existence, as he tended to do, so we split up into groups.

But wait...what did Monorakun mean, it was not his idea? Maybe it is because robot raccoons lack the intellect and capability to create and install the sensors...still, that line troubled me.

After Monorakun disappeared, we resumed breaking up into groups. Mahiru and Hiyoko teamed up together quickly. Tenko and Himiko paired up shortly afterwards, with Sakura joining with them. Fuyuhiko, reluctantly, joined up with Mondo and Nekomaru, and Gundham joined forces with Korekiyo, leaving me with Rantaro and Toko.

Toko had no recollection of the Class Trial, but Rantaro and Kyoko had already filled her in on that. Also, Toko has no recollection of being Jack, and vice versa. Toko really did not want to speak any further of Jack, however, and Rantaro and I did not wish to upset Toko.

We walked up together up the newly-unlocked spiral staircase, and discovered the Second Floor. The first thing that caught my eye were the windows along the left wall. Hurrying over, I peeked out the nearest window. To my dismay, however, the windows merely overlooked the Courtyard; no outside access.

Toko looked out into the courtyard beside me. "L-l-l-like it would be that easy to escape. Just climb up some stairs and w-w-walk out? Yeah, right."

"Yeah, you're right. We're not getting out that easily," Rantaro agreed. "Still, it's a nice view up here of the courtyard."

I nodded silently in agreement, and we continued walking down the corridor, making a left at the end.

There was a very short corridor to our right, which was just a dead end, so we kept going forward. We reached a T-intersection, and decided to make a right. A sign above the nearby door said "Library", so we decided to check it out.

Within the Library was a rectangular table for 10, and wall-to-wall books of all sizes. Kyoko was inside, as well, looking through the various books on the shelves. She regarded us coolly.

"I haven't found anything useful yet, but I'm sure something in this room will help us understand our situation."

Toko, meanwhile, had pulled out a book from a nearby shelf. Walking over, it seemed that every one of Toko's books were in their own section.

"Wh-why would they h-have..." Suddenly, Toko took a few deep breaths, then sneezed. And it happened again. Toko's eyes went red, and her tongue became long and pointed.

Jack Syo was back in Toko's body, again, facing Kyoko.

"Hold on here, I'm used to coming to in some strange places. But why, in the Master's name, am I in a library of all places? And holding one of Miss Morose's books, no less?"

Rantaro, seeming to take everything in stride, replied, "Toko was wondering why her books were in their own section, and then she sneezed."

Jack put the book back where it belonged, then looked back over at Kyoko. "Hey, you're the headmaster's daughter, right? Why are you in here with us, anyway?"

Kyoko responded, her expression not changing. "No, I'm not. Not anymore, at least. I'm just like all of you now."

Jack regarded Kyoko for several moments. "Pity. Your daddy was a real cutie-patootie, but WAAAAYY too old for me! Not it!"

Kyoko merely blinked slowly in response. "I know you didn't kill my father. His murderer is already dead. Anyway, can we move on now?"

Rantaro, certainly sensing the mood in the room, spoke up. "There are still rooms we haven't looked at yet. Let's check some of those out, alright?"

I smiled and nodded in agreement. "I would like to check this library out some more, but you are correct. We should look at the other rooms first, Rantaro."

Jack looked over at Rantaro, then smiled mischievously. "Whatever you say, Avocado Boy! Lead the way! Kyahehehehahaha!"

We took our leave of a rather relieved Kyoko, and headed out of the Library. To our right was another dead end, so we went straight, back the way we came.

To our right was a sign reading "Music Room", so we checked that out. Well, Rantaro and I checked it out. Jack headed to the next room, the Biology Room, instead, saying the only music she liked was the gasps of her dying lovers...something like that.

Inside was a plethora of musical equipment, along with a grand piano. Brass, Woodwind, and String instruments lined the walls, while Percussion instruments sat on the floor, to the left and center as you entered. The piano sat against the rear right corner, facing outwards. I actually knew a few songs on the piano, "Amazing Grace" and "My Grandfather's Clock", among others.

I noticed Rantaro was standing near another door within the Music Room. This one was labeled "Jam Room". Curious, we opened the door.

Inside was a raised rock stage, with a drum set, microphone, guitar stands, and a keyboard. The instruments were grey and black, with red highlights. Wires came from the instruments and speakers to various other musical equipment, which I was unfamiliar with. The rest of the floor, around the stage, was a dark grey color.

Rantaro looked over the room appreciatively, then lowered his head and seemed to smile sadly. "If only we had some people with us who were musically talented. This would be a great place to have some fun."

I solemnly agreed, and we walked out of the Music Room together and joined Jack in the Biology Room. Inside were various diagrams of body parts, including a full skeleton and a male figure who had body sections that could be opened up like a book, revealing the muscles or veins within.

Jack was absolutely enthralled with this, making various comments about the mannequin, but I did not wish to disrupt her. Looking at Rantaro and giving him a small nod, we looked over the room without distracting Jack, then took our leave.

Leaving the Biology Room, we were met with a gated-off stairway, likely leading to the third floor, so we went down the final hallway, doing a full circle around the Second Floor, and quickly stopped at the Exercise Room. 

The Exercise Room had a wide variety of exercise machines, dumbbells, benches, chairs, yoga mats, and other things useful for exercising. There was also a Gym Mat, useful for doing tumbles and flips.

However, it appeared Tenko, Sakura, and Mondo were currently using it as a mini-dojo...or were they?

"Hey, degenerate male, Sakura says I should train with you, so come on! Face me!"

Mondo, however, turned his back to Tenko. "No."

Tenko cautiously stepped forward once. "What? What was that your degenerate mouth said to me?"

Mondo turned back around and shook his head, staring between Sakura and Tenko. "A real man never lays a violent hand upon a chick, for any reason. I don't care if you wanna throw me into the depths of Hell, I won't fight you."

Tenko's face went blank, equal parts confusion and disbelief. "Wh...what."

Sakura spoke up. "Let it go, Tenko. One does not initiate combat against an unwilling foe."

Tenko nodded, reluctantly, and let Mondo pass. "Yes, Sakura-Sensei."

Sakura...Sensei? Was Sakura taking Tenko on as a student?

Mondo, meanwhile, walked over to Nekomaru, who was standing near a bench press. After taking off his coat, Mondo started lifting weights, with Nekomaru spotting him and counting his reps.

Rantaro went to check out one of the exercise bikes, giving me time to inquire with Sakura.

"Sakura...Sensei? If I may ask, why did Tenko use this honorific with you?"

Sakura crossed her arms as she addressed me. "I am attempting to show Tenko that not all males are 'degenerates', as she claims. Yes, it is wise to be aware of your surroundings, and to be ready to defend yourself against your enemies, but it is harmful to assume that every male in existence wishes you harm. I wish to teach her this lesson, and work on her training, to save her from the fate that may befall her otherwise."

I chose not to ask Sakura what fate this may be, not with Tenko standing right there. That would be rather uncouth of me, and disrespectful for Tenko. I merely responded, "Well, best of luck with this endeavor, Sakura."

As I turned to leave, Tenko stopped me.

"Hey, Shishano! You wanna talk tomorrow? There's some things that have been on my mind, and I don't want any degenerate males catching wind of them, alright?"

I smiled. "Certainly. We can speak whenever you are ready to do so. Just let me know when, ok?"

I would soon realize just how tangled Tenko's mind truly was, and what a task Sakura had set before her.