Chapter 4

The Crying Moon on the Water Daily Life 1

Chapter 4 is here! Syobai is dead, and Yuri is grieving! How will Yuri’s Character Development happen? Will she get a Fuyuhiko arc? Find out!

P.S: As for the closing agruement, just picture that Nanako is Shuichi and Setsuka is Korekiyo.

The dining area had been quiet this morning.

Monochrome had made a speech, as energetic and triumphant as ever, declaring that four new labs had been unlocked after the incredible success of the fourth class trial. It didn’t feel anything like a success, Nanako thought, and she knew that she wasn’t alone in thinking that. What was there to feel successful about? Their deductions had led one of their classmates â€" someone who had only just become their friend â€" to her death, along with Yuroko. Nanako had seen people die before. And in person, on top of it.

But two people at the same time? It was too much.

And I mean too much.

Just one more horrible execution, and Nanako would cross the horrible thing known as the despair event horizon with no hope of ever coming back.

And I mean that literally.

If Nanako was nearly crossing the threshold after 4 horrifically violent executions from Monochrome, Yuri was a whole other story.

The normally energetic astronomer was halfway through her breakfast.

She was crying. Syobai, her lethargic broker friend, was gone, and his killer had died a gruesome, horrible death. To say she was visibly traumatised might have been the understatement of the century.

“Syo..Syobai…” the normally cheerful, upbeat girl cried, not her usual self.

“What happened?” Nanako asked.

“Was it bad?”

Yuri then told her. Apparently, the astronomer was so traumatized by Syobai’s death she had had nightmares all night. Something along the lines of Syobai succeeding in killing Setsuka and being chased in a swimming pool by hungry alligators, only to be caught and torn apart.

“If I had someone close to me die, I would be traumatized too.” Nanako said, understanding.

“God, I need to talk to Nikei.” The mystery novelist thought and she got up.

(https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qergUC2lJuY)

Chapter 4: The Crying Moon on the Water

Daily Life

It wasn't hard to find the Ultimate Journalist. He was chatting to Mikado in the Former Ultimate Merchant's Lab (which had opened up, alongside with Yuki’s lab, Shinji’s lab and Sora’s lab).

Otori was also there.

“Nikei, what’s up?” Nanako asked.

“I’m just talking to Mikado and Otori,” Nikei replied.

Suddenly, Nikei fell and he landed on a disused machine!

Oil sprayed everywhere! It landed on the ceiling. It landed on the floor. It covered the walls. It soaked a certain Mikado Sannoji, too.

The machine was destroyed from a lack of oil.

And said oil was now splattered all over Mikado.

“Nikei Yomiuri, come here!” screamed Mikado, so covered in oil that he was caked in it.

“Sorry,” Nikei said as he got away. Mikado literally growled, his clothing covered in oil, as Nikei turned to run.

He tripped and fell.

He sailed into a pool of oil below him.

Splat!

The pool was deep so it was hard to climb out.

After barely being able to scramble out to safety, Nikei stood on the side, only to notice that the still oil covered Mikado had grabbed him by the oil soaked collar.

“Stop!” Nanako cried as she jumped down, somehow missing a pool of oil.

“Are you okay, Nikei?” She asked the jouranlist.

Body dripping with sweat and oil, Nikei nodded.

Nanako then turned to Otori, who had witnessed all this.

“Teruya san, are you okay?” She asked.

“Fine,” Otori said.

“Tell me about your past.” Nanako said.

“Well,” Otori said. “I was a survivor of a Killing Game that happened before the 77th Class’s Killing Game you heard about a few days ago.”

Nanako was now transfixed by the Former Ultimate Merchant's story. “What did this killing game entail?”

“I was the Ultimate Merchant,” Otori said. "There were 16 of us, and we were in this dojo of sorts. Someone called Kurotengu forced us into a Killing Game like yours, Nana-chan.”

“There was another Killing Game?” Nanako asked, confused.

Otori then told Nanako about the Killing Game he had been forced to participate in:

“This is how the killing game worked: every so often, Kurotengu would give us a cruel and unignorable motive in an attempt to force any of us into trying to escape... via murdering someone else. If one of us were to murder another, there would first be an investigation where we would search the body and our surroundings for clues. Then we would all be whisked away to a trial room, where it would be up to us to debate on the identity of the murderer. If we managed to find the killer, Kurotengu would gruesomely execute them right in front of us, and we would all continue on with our captive lives. If we didn't, however... if we accused the wrong person, then not only would the killer be set free, but Kurotengu would gruesomely execute the rest of us for our failure.”

“What happened?” Nanako asked. Her mind raced with horrible thoughts born from that information, as Otori kept silent for a few moments.

“There were 6 murders, and 6 executions. The mastermind was the final casualty. There were 4 survivors,” Otori said solemnly. “I myself was left heavily traumatized, and the three people who survived with me were forced to seek asylum in Canada in order to escape the media.”

Nanako kept silent. What could she say?

That killing game had 12 deaths, and only four people had walked out alive. Though Otori’s mind didn't make it out unscathed.

Nanako spent the rest of the afternoon listening to Emma’s tales of past starring roles, Hajime’s attempts and failures to woo Sora in the Ultimate ???’s Lab (Nanako herself noted that the lab was full of weapons) and just wandering around the place.

If they weren't in a life-or-death killing game, Nanako would have labelled the rest of her afternoonâ€" dare she say it? â€"Fun…?

Now Entering the P.O.V. of Mikado Sannoji

Mikado’s day had gone perfectly, and now, as he entered his bedroom, he couldn’t see help but feel gleeful. His hair, still wet from the shower he’d just taken (he was hardly going to walk around covered in thick black oil, now was he?) was quickly remedied with the towel in his hand, which he rubbed against his head firmly. A calm smile rested on his lips, and he sighed.

Suddenly, Nikei Yomiuri entered the room.

Thankfully cleaned of the oil that had soaked him earlier, the journalist sighed.

“Look, Sannoji, I’m sorry.”

“Mikado won’t forgive you for the incident in Otori’s lab!” Mikado shrieked. “Mikado will prevent a Body Discovery Announcement and in turn prevent a Class Trial. Mikado won’t have another horrible death!”

And with that, he slammed the door in

Nikei's face.

Mikado sighed. He would have to plan his revenge on Nikei another day.

Next time there will be a motive and a murder. Plus we’ll switch back to Nanako’s POV.

The Crying Moon on the Water Daily Life 2

The motive and the murder is here! We’ll switch back to the regular P.O.V. of Nanako! And Yuri gets character development!

Nanako wasn’t sure what awoke her. It might have been the announcement or hearing Yuri’s sobs.

Fresh tears stung her eyes as the other day's events forced their way into her mind.

Syobai, Yuri’s friend, and Setsuka both had been brutally murdered. Along with Kanade, Hibiki, Yuki and Iroha... Sure, Yuroko had died, too, but she was… just unlucky.

As she threw on her clothes, Nanako rushed downstairs to meet her friends.

Yuri looked as depressed as she’d ever been.

When they had finished their breakfast, Yuri announced:

“Syobai taught me not all men are bad! Yuri will then change for the better! She will love all genders and not be as misandrist as she is now!”

Nanako kept an eye on Yuri for a few minutes.

While Nanako was happy that Yuri had come to the realization that not all men were evil, she couldn’t help but wonder…

Monochrome then announced that everyone may gather to hear about their motive.

Everyone headed to the room where Monochrome was there.

“Alright, flithy insects!” Monochrome announced. “This is your fourth motive, and I can it… Total Darkness! This place will plunged into total darkness and you all will have to get creative in order to see properly!”

Monochrome vanished.

Suddenly, the lights went off.

“Nikei!” screamed Nanako.

“It’s a blackout!” Mikado screamed.

Suddenly, Yuri got a few glowsticks.

“It’s okay.” She said, giving them to the group. “I will show you the light.”

“Thank god,” Sora said.

“Now, onto my bombshell.” Yuri said.

She cleared her throat.

“I’m the traitor working for the mastermind.”

“You’re what?” Nanako exclaimed.

“I was supposed to keep the killing game going in case none of the motives drove anyone to commit a murder. If we reached a standstill, I was to kill someone.” Yuri explained.

Without another word, Yuri left.

Everyone then left, too.

Nanako kept walking around the black Last Hope Sacturaty.

Just minutes ago, Monochrome had put this horrible motive in place.

After a few minutes more, a loud gunshot was heard.

Bang!

Followed by a bloodcurdling scream.

Nanako dropped her glow stick in shock.

In a blind panic, Nanako went to the Ultimate Astronomer’s lab.

Everyone else was already there.

(https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9hn3gBV-nYc)

A body lay on the floor, a bullet hole on their chest, lying in a pool of blood.

A shotgun was in the hand of a shocked Yuri, who was now all covered in blood.

Shinji Kasai, the Ultimate Firefighter… was dead.

Next will be the start of Deadly Life!

The Crying Moon on the Water Deadly Life 1

Deadly life! It should be obvious who the culprit is.

(https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qergUC2lJuY)

Chapter 4: The Crying Moon on the Water

Deadly Life

The lights came back on.

It was a few moments before Nanako could bring herself to look at the others. Everybody had looks of utter shock and despair on their faces.

* Ding dong! *

“A filthy insect has been swatted! Now you have to investigate before the Class Trial begins!”

Monochrome appeared and handed out the students the Monochrome File 4, yada yada.

Then they disappeared.

How many people would die next? How many of them would end up like Yuki, Kanade, Setsuka and Yuroko?

Like it or not, Nanako was going to have to find out.

Investigation, Start!

First things first - Nanako opened the Monochrome File, choking on her grief as she saw Shinji's grayed-out, X-covered pixel. Blinking away her tears again, she read aloud.

The victim was Shinji Kasai, the Ultimate Firefighter. The body was found in the Ultimate Astronomer’s Lab. Cause of death is being shot.

Truth Bullet Added: Monochrome File 4

Nikei was examining the corpse.

“That’s odd,” he said. “There’s a shot wound on his chest.”

Truth Bullet Added: State of Shinji’s Body

Nanako saw that Yuri was bloody.

“Yuri’s holding a shotgun in her hand, and her clothes are all bloody…”

Truth Bullet Added: Yuri’s Clothes

Truth Bullet Added: Shotgun

“Time’s up for investigation, you disgusting insects!” Monochrome announced. “Now, it’s time for the fucking class trial!”

Everyone headed to the elevator and they were whisked off to the trial room.

This time, the walls were covered in a garish gold-leaf and ebony checkerboard pattern, with a red floor to complement them. The curtains were deep red with a lily pattern on them. So much red and black and gold, Nanako couldn't help but imagine that the very walls were dripping with blood.

Everyone took their places at their podiums.

Another murder had happened.

Could Nanako solve this?

Like it or not, she was going to have to find out.

It was time for a Class Trial!

Next will be the Class Trial!

The Crying Moon on the Water Deadly Life 2

Class Trial time babes!

TW: Execution. I know gore causes instant gag reflexes in some. If you're one of those people, you might want to skip over the execution. It ends...badly for the killer, to put it lightly. Viewer discretion is avisided (unlike previous trials, the execution is sectioned off so you can skip it because I know gore can cause instant gag reflexes in some).

“First things first, a brief introduction to the Class Trial!” Monochrome said, perched on a throne of sorts. “In the class trial, you will debate over and vote who the impertinent insect that murdered one of your peers was. If you get it right, then that insect will receive punishment AKA execution at the hand of yours truly. If you get it wrong, however, then the s insect gets off scot-free, and the rest of you are offed! The insect will then leave the Sacturaty! Now, let the trial commence!”

Class Trial, Begin!

(Non stop debate)

Create your own agurment!

Nanako: So who killed Shinji?

Nikei: Okay, I think Hajime is the killer.

Hajime: You guys are excusing me?!

Hajime: Someone’s framed me! I’m not the killer!

Nanako: Hajime is right.

Nikei: We need to start with…

Truth Bullet: State of Shinji’s Body

Emma: Shinji… was shot.

Nikei: In the chest.

Hajime: Who did it?

Sora: Maybe the culprit used a bazooka?

Nanako: No, that's wrong! You're completely off track, Sora. You'd know if you read the Monochrome File. The victim was shot, but not with a bazooka. If you shoot at someone with a bakooza, the results aren't pretty...

Sora: I was wrong then.

Truth Bullet: Monochrome File 4

Nikei: Maybe the killer shot Shinji with a shotgun.

Nanako: That’s right, because of the…

Truth Bullet: Shotgun

Nanako: Shinji was shot with this…! And I think it’s obvious who shot him, because of….

Truth Bullet: Yuri’s Clothes

Yuri: No! I didn’t kill him!

Nanako: Yes you did!

Nanako pointed at Yuri, who kept on intisting she was innocent.

(https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_abLDSazNZ4)

Agruement Aramemnt, Start!

Yuri looked different in Nanako’s eyes. Her hair was put into two pigtails with white bows. On her, a fancified sailor’s uniform also white except for the rainbow-colored skirt center and yellow sleeves on her biceps, the chest bow resembling a small pair of wings like the ankles of her silver heels. The white cape held up in the hand not holding the long magical girl’s staff flowed just as freely as her hair, giving off an appearance closer to a beautiful gown instead. Around her were stars.

“You’ve got the wrong idea!”

“What a bother, accusing me like this…”

“Why would I kill Shinji?”

“I’m a good girl, I’d never kill.”

“How could you even call me a murderer?!”

“I didn’t do it!”

“For the last time, I’m squeaky clean.”

“I’m clean, I’m clean, I’m clean, I’m clean…!”

“Stop calling me a killer!”

“I never killed or hurt anybody, and wouldn’t!”

“This is all stupid, so stupid…!”

“Point that finger anywhere else, but not at me!”

“You’ve got a lot of nerve thinking I’m your culprit, Nanako.”

“There’s no blood on my hands, clothes, fingers, or anywhere!”

Final Blow!

Truth Bullet: Yuri’s Clothes (again)

I’ll cut through your words!

Nanako turned to Yuri.

“Yuri, I think you’re the killer and that shotgun could only have come from Sora’s lab.”

Nanako then turned to face everyone else, her skirt fluttering with a certain elegance.

"Alright... this is how it happened! " Nanako said.

The mystery novelist cleared her throat.

Closing Agruemnt

"To explain this case, it's important to go over what instigated the events in the first place: Monochrome’s newest motive. Each surviving participant was plunged into darkness, and we all had to get creative in order to see probably.

“Now, the killer was mourning the death of their friend Syobai, who ended up having his brains bashed in by one Setsuka Chiebukuro, in the previous case.

“The killer decided to get a gun from Sora’s lab, just in case things got scary.

“Just then, Shinji Kasai, the victim of this case, entered.

“Thanks to the total darkness, the killer didn’t see Shinji and accidentally shot him, sending blood (much of which got on the killer’s clothes as well) everywhere. This gunshot killed Shinji.

“If not for the killer’s screams and the gunshot, we might never have known the true location of the crime scene. Both of those things came together to ruin a plan that, had it been perfectly executed, would have made the date of the killing impossible to determine, and therefore the crime impossible to solve.”

“Does that sum everything up perfectly, Yuri Kagarin?”

* Break! Class Trial All Rise! *

Everyone was shocked.

Unlike the previous three murders, this wasn’t an intentional murder.

This was a freak accident.

Nanako didn’t want to condemn her new friend to death, for an accident she did not mean to cause, for a life she had no intention of taking.

But it had to be done.

Everyone voted for Yuri.

“Well, well!” Monochrome said.

“Let’s see if you’re right!”

They showed the display.

The pointer went faster and faster until…

It landed on Yuri’s pixel and the fireworks that appeared above the image proudly declared her…

‘GULITY!’

“You bastards are right!” Monochrome announced. “The person who ended Shinji Kasai’s life was Yuri Kagarin!"

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDn1C7aUVc8)

The normally bubbly Yuri was on the floor, crying.

“N-no…” she sobbed. “I-I’m a murderer…”

“It was an accident,” Yuri assured the astronomer.

“How tragic,” Monochrome said mockingly. She then turned to face the girl. “As for you, it’s time!”

“I don’t wanna die!” Yuri sobbed. “I wanna live!”

“Crying won’t save you now!” Monochrome said. “Now then, I’ve prepared a very special punishment for Yuri Kagarin, the Super High School Level Astronomer!”

Yuri sobbed in terror, realizing that her death was near.

“Help! Emma! Sora, Nikei, Mikado, Nanako, Hajime and Kokoro! Anyone, help!”

“Let’s give it everything we’ve got!” Monochrome said.

“Don't! You can't! Don't kill me!” Yuri cried in fear. “I… don’t want to die!”

“It’s punishment time!” Monochrome finished.

Monochrome then pressed the button.

The pixel Yuri was dragged away by the pixel Monochrone.

Game over

Yuri has been found Guilty

Time for the punishment!

[EXECUTION - VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED]

Dressed in a copy of her typical outfit, which was thankfully cleaned of the blood that had soaked them earlier, Yuri was in a classroom - more specifically, she sat on a chair in the middle of said classroom. Yuri kept a straight face even as the classroom where her execution would apparently take place constructed itself around her.

Suddenly, two faceless in Astronaut Outfits approached Yuri.

One faceless tossed the other a red button.

Yuri adjusted her backpack and gave the audience a tiny wave with an innocent smile...

Which also contained hints of smugness.

She had played Danganronpa 1, DR2 and V3.

She could see where this was going.

Blast Off! (Your Worst Nightmare Edition)

The Execution of the Ultimate Astronomer

As Yuri had expected, the faceless pushed the button….

….which then made a giant rocket appear behind the girl, closing around her.

Yuri smiled. Not only would she go to space, but she would probably die of lack of ogyxen?

Amazing.

A glowing red 10 appeared on the button.

The rocket slowly ignited as the 10 counted down, and Yuri kept a calm face.

As soon as the countdown hit zero, the rocket blasted off from the classroom. A camera panned back as Yuri was launched through the ceiling, disappearing into the sky within seconds. Somehow, the camera followed her as she zoomed through the stratosphere and into outer space - past the moon, past the Sun, past other stars, planets, asteroids and comets - until it stopped in the middle of space.

9... 8... 7... 6... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1...

Yuri just smiled and waved in the endless void as the rocket just floated there.

Suddenly, an alien appeared and slapped Yuri on the head, knocking her out. The alien seized the unconscious girl's body and dragged her into the darkness.

The screen faded to black for a few seconds, then it faded back in to show what appeared to a surgey room of sorts, and it had an operating table. Yuri was strapped to it. She seemed to have woken up.

A faceless appeared. This faceless had a simple nurse hat on their head. Their outfit was really just a blue t-shirt with a black long-sleeved shirt underneath, and blue pants. They looked mostly like your average nurse!

A horrible smile flickered across the faceless's non existent face as it got a syringe out. Fear and desperation was written all over Yuri’s face as she looked up at the faceless.

It quickly became apparent that this faceless intended to execute Yuri via lethal injection, as they leaned forward.

The girl writhed and thrashed against her bonds, as terrified as ever.

Just before the syringe could make contact with Yuri’s arm, the astronomer broke free!

She ran out of the surgery room, while the faceless roared in anger.

The camera followed her as she ran through the space station she apparently had been placed on.

Eventually, she saw a door, a sign on it labeled “safety.”

Yuri opened the door and dashed through, closing the door behind her quickly.

Yuri now found herself in a strange place. The floor was red and the sky was pitch black. In other words, it looked like a mix of hell and post apocalyptic.

Sudddenly, a ghost appeared. It looked familiar to Yuri.

Too familiar.

“S-Syobai?!” Yuri exclaimed in terror.

“Guess who’s back?” laughed Syobai’s ghost.

Even though she was crying terrified tears, Yuri sighed.

Maybe she would get just shot by the ghost, much like she did with Shinji.

No such luck.

Much to the surprise of the Ultimate Astromoner, Syobai snapped his fingers, levitating the unsuspecting girl into the air.

Yuri’s eyes glazed over, so it looked as if she was staring at the back of her own head.

Syobai got a horrible grin.

He was really going to enjoy this.

He started breaking Yuri’s limbs, twisting them into impossible shapes, the girl’s blood oozing from the resulting open wounds and spraying everywhere.

Eventually, every bone in the Ultimate Astronomer’s body was broken.

Syobai, drenched in crimson, got a heavy, massive hardback book. It was called The Brightest Galaxy: A Million Facts For Beginners, a poorly drawn picture of a yellow star (in crayon, no less) on the cover.

Syobai raised it above her head.

Yuri only realised what was about to happen when she saw the book.

She screamed, and was silenced when the book was brought down on her skull with a sickening crunch.

She didn't seem to move at all after that. Yuri was dead.

The blood soaked Syobai snapped his fingers again, and the corpse fell to the ground.

Syobai then had an idea.

He started to drag Yuri’s dead body towards a giant machine. The opening of the machine was a chute which had dozens of sharp, spinning metal teeth a few feet in.

The Ultimate Astronomer’s corpse was thrown into this machine like a ragdoll by Syobai, disappearing in a bloody spray.

With a sickening splat, the corpse passed through the rollers of the machine.

There were more sickening noises as the machine got to work.

After a few minutes, out of a tube at the end of the machine poured pink ‘ice cream’ into a purple starry ice cream tub with a pixel version of Yuri’s face on it along with the words “Kagarin Astronaut Ice Cream”.

Paste-like slop which was frozen might have been a better word.

Along with tattered pieces of Yuri’s clothing and hair, which thankfully fell onto the side.

The implication was painfully obvious.

Yuri was now ice cream.

Now the astronomer’s friend turned killer turned ice cream maker, Syobai picked up the ice cream tub.

He shot the audience a wolfish grin before walking to a faceless wearing a sky blue sundress. Over which they wore a pink ice cream covered with what appeared to be chocolate sauce and rainbow sprinkles themed apron.

The faceless took the tub and walked to an ice cream stall, advertising that they was selling Kagarin Astronaut Ice Cream.

[EXECUTION END]

"Laugh at death, and your soul will forever be at peace," Monochrome smiled.

But the others weren't laughing. Especially not after such a violent execution.

Nanako ducked behind her podium.

There, she threw up, emptying the contents of her meal out of her stomach and all over the floor.

This execution disgusted her.

She got up, and looked around.

Nikei had once again fainted after witnessing the gory display of violence in front of him.

“Just tell me that just didn’t happen!” Hajime screamed.

“Yuri… no…” Emma said.

Sora covered her face in her hand and turned her body away, not allowing Nanako to see her reaction other than a grimace of disgust.

“Fucking…” Mikado was speechless, horrified.

Nanako thought she heard Kokoro vomit behind her. She couldn’t blame the psychologist.

That was the worse execution so far…

* Ding Dong! *

“It is now nighttime. Let your despairing minds rest…”

Nanako rested in her bed.

She would have nightmares about Yuri's execution for the rest of her life.

It had been disgusting. Horrible.

Well, that’s an image I’m not getting out of my head.

Kagarin’s execution was a lot easier to come with than the execution for that stupid Setsuka Chiebukuro, thankfully. I am not exaggerating. Her one was the hardest. I redid the concept for it like four times. Since following the formula I’ve had for a while now to a tee, down to every nook and cranny, for the next day, would be too predictable and downright boring, I should not bring out Monochrome until a murder happens. Now to plan an execution for that selfish Yomiuri Nikei…His should be…. special.

(https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=E6tSqpNZAII)

Chapter 4: The Crying Moon on the Water

ENDu

Remaining Members: 8

Poor Yuri… 🤢 (At least Yuri can now join Jin, Mikan and Kaito in the caterogy known as "killers with space-related executions")

Oh boy, will **** hit the fan next chapter. It will be only 3 chapters, as the daily life section will only be one chapter.

You see, my idea for the upcoming Chapter 5 was the entire reason I wanted to write this fic. I had the ideas, the scenes written in my head, but nothing to give context with, so I was like "well, I guess I have to write the first four chapters to get to this, huh?"

So basically, I'm hoping for it to be the best chapter so far!!!!! I'm so excited to write it the next day! 😊