Chapter Text
???: (Where am I..?)
I looked around, my vision was blurry, and I felt as if I was dreaming. I was in a small classroom, one similar to the one at Miyamasuzaka, but it had a different feeling. It felt dark and empty.
??? “Ehh? Ichi…”
A familiar voice came from beside me. Looking next to me, I saw my long time best friend, Saki Tenma.
Saki: “Where are we?”
Ichika: “I don’t…”
Saki: “Were we kidnapped?!”
She jumped onto me, grabbing me tight.
Ichika: “Eh?! No, no! I… don’t think so at least.”
???: “Oi. Shut it you two.”
My other friends, Shiho and Honami came from the door, seemingly having already woken.
Saki: “Shiho-chan! Hona! You guys are okay!”
Saki leaped from her sitting position and ran to them, embracing them in a hug.
Honami: “Saki-chan! Ichika-chan!”
She let go of Saki and went to me, lending her hand to help me up. I took it, and got up to my feet.
Ichika: “Do you have any idea where we are?”
Honami: “No, me and Shiho-chan were exploring but we couldn’t find anything.
Saki: “Huh? How long have you two been awake?”
Shiho: “Not very long, but then we heard you yelling to Ichika, so we came back.”
Saki: “I was that loud!?”
Ichika: “Okay, we’re getting off track, we need to get out of here.”
Suddenly, a small TV in the corner of the room sounded a small beep.
???: “Hello everyone! In just a moment, you will be reminded of your Ultimate Talents, because SOMEONE forgot to do so beforehand! Thank you for your cooperation, and soon you all shall meet me!”
The TV turned off, and before anyone could say anything, I felt a wave come over me, as if it was reminding me.
And that was when it hit me.
My name is Ichika Hoshino. The Ultimate Guitarist.
Saki: “Whoa… what just happened?”
Honami: “I think we regained our memories.”
Ichika: “Yeah…”
Saki: “I’m… Saki Tenma! The Ultimate Pianist!”
Shiho: “I’m Shiho Hinomori, Ultimate… Bassist.”
Shiho smiled softly, being reminded of her beloved bass guitar.
Honami: “I’m Honami Mochizuki. Ultimate Drummer.”
Honami smiled, laughing silently.
Honami: “Ah, it feels weird introducing ourselves again.”
Saki: “But well deserved!”
I wanted to add on to our conversation, but something interrupted me.
???: “Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!”
A loud, young girl’s voice screamed throughout the hallway.
Shiho: “What the-”
We all went to the main hallway, and saw another door slammed open, with 3 individuals standing in the doorway, with another on the floor, seeming to have rammed into the door.
???: “Emu!? Don’t go running through the door like that!”
A young boy ran over to her, helping the girl up.
Emu: “Ah! Tsukasa-kun! Thank you!!”
She hopped up, hugging the boy in a tight embrace.
Saki: “Eh!? Onii-chan!?”
Saki stared at the boy in disbelief.
Tsukasa: “Saki? There you are!”
The boy let go of the other girl, and ran to hug Saki.
Tsukasa: “I was so worried, are you okay!?”
Saki: “Yeah, yeah! I’m fine!”
They let go of each other, and Tsukasa saw us standing behind her, perplexed.
Tsukasa: “Ahahaha! You must be Saki’s friends! I am Tsukasa Tenma, the Ultimate STAR!”
He laughed boisterously and striked a pose.
Shiho: “Is he really Saki’s brother?”
Honami: “Shiho-chan, don’t be rude. Nice to meet you Tsukasa-san.”
Tsukasa: “Of course! What is your name, you three?”
Ichika: “I’m Ichika, this is Honami, and that’s Shiho.”
Tsukasa: “Wonderful to know that my dear sister has friends!”
Saki: “Onii-chan?!”
Tsukasa: “These are my troupe members! This is-”
Before he could begin, the girl who fell earlier ran to him.
Emu: “Hello! I am Emu Otori! Emu is meaning smile! I am the Ultimate Actress!”
Tsukasa: “Emu! I was going to introduce you!”
Emu: “I’m sorry Tsukasa-kun, but I really wanted them to know who I was!”
Saki: “Emu-chan! You’re an actress?”
Emu: “Yes! I work with Tsukasa-kun!”
Tsukasa: “Those two back there are Rui and Nene.”
The two walked up to Tsukasa.
Nene: “Tsukasa, we can introduce ourselves.”
Rui: “Fufu… you don’t have to be so rude to Tsukasa-kun, Nene.”
Nene: “I’m Nene Kusanagi. The Ultimate Diva.”
Ichika: “Diva?”
Tsukasa: “Yes! She is our beloved diva!”
Nene: “Ugh…”
Emu: “Her singing voice is so pretty! So she’s our diva!”
Saki: “I wish I was a diva!”
Nene: “You really don’t…”
Rui: “My name is Rui Kamishiro, the Ultimate Director. I direct the shows we put on.”
Shiho: “Him and Nene seem like the only normal ones.”
Nene: “You’d be surprised.”
Ichika: “Nice to meet you four. Do you know how to get out of here?”
Tsukasa: “We just got outside, so we don’t have an idea on getting away.”
Emu: “I know! I know! We should go together! The hallway goes that way!”
Emu pointed ahead, where the hallway led to a big common area.
Honami: “Great idea Emu-chan!”
Nene: “The first one in a while…”
Tsukasa: “Hahaha! I shall lead all of you to the common area! Follow me!”
Tsukasa started running down the hall, with Saki and Emu following him.
The rest of us walked behind, keeping track of where he went.
When we turned the corner, there was loud arguing from the common area.
???: “It’s your fault that we’re stuck here!”
???: “Why is it my fault?!”
Ichika: “Ah, someone’s arguing.”
I got a good look at the group. There was 4 people, all dressed in street attire, two of them arguing and almost going at each others throats, while the other two are holding them back.
???: “An-chan, stop fighting with Shinonome-kun!”
???: “Akito, quit. This is going too far.”
Saki: “Ah! How could we stop them?”
Nene: “We could just go up to them?”
Rui: “Yes, but I would much rather not be killed in action.”
Shiho: “Someone has to stop them.”
???: “An-chan, stop it! There are more people!”
The two fighting paused to look at us, with the girl covering her mouth, and the boy glaring at us.
Ichika: “That’s better, I guess?”
???: “Oh my god! I’m so sorry! It was all Akito’s fault!”
Akito: “Hey! I know you’re not blaming me!”
???: “Stop before this starts again.”
Kohane: “I-I’m Kohane Azusawa! Ultimate Photographer!”
Emu: “Wowie! Are your photos super-duper-sparkly!?”
Kohane: “Err… sure?”
Emu: “Wow!!”
Toya: “I’m Toya Aoyagi, the Ultimate Violinist.”
Shiho: “You don’t look like you play violin.”
Toya: “Well, to be honest, I don’t want to.”
Honami: “Well, why is it your talent then?”
Toya: “Unrelated reasons.”
Kohane: “And these two are our partners! This is An-chan!”
An: “An Shiraishi at your service! The Ultimate Barista here to help!”
Toya: “And this is Akito.”
Akito: “Hey. I’m the Ultimate Breakdancer.”
An: “And we make up the street band called VIVID BAD Squad!”
We were silent for a moment.
Nene: “Who?”
An: “Aw… I thought they might know who we were unlike the last people…”
Ichika: “Last people?”
Kohane: “Yeah! They were this group of girls who were very animated! Although, one kept tripping over her own feet…”
Shiho: “Oh no.”
Tsukasa: “Perfect! More people to grace with my presence! Would you four like to come with us?”
Akito: “No. We’ll stay where we are, thanks.”
Rui: “Very well then, Shinonome-kun. I hope we meet again.”
Kohane: “You as well, uh, what’s your name again?”
Rui: “Rui Kamishiro, Azusawa-san.”
Kohane: “Well, you too, Kamishiro-kun!”
We introduced everyone else, and left. Tsukasa took the lead again, leaving the four behind. Shiho had a look of dread, as if she was not too happy to meet the next group.
Honami: “Shiho-chan, are you okay?”
Shiho: “No. I am not.”
The next area was a cafeteria of some sort. In it, 4 girls were chatting.
???: “No, Shizuku, that’s not how we would get here.”
Shizuku: “But it makes sense, right?”
???: “Alright, Shizuku.”
???: “Everyone! There’s some people!”
They all turned around to see our group. The two with shades of blue in their hair smiled softly, making them look elegant and refined, while the other two smiled with straight kindness.
Shiho: “Hello, onee-chan.”
Shizuku: “Shii-chan!!”
Shizuku ran up to Shiho and hugged with all her might.
Shiho: “I told you to stop calling me that!”
Shiho pushed Shizuku off of her.
Shizuku: “Sorry, sorry…”
She then looked up to see the rest of us.
Shizuku: “Ah! My name is Shizuku Hinomori, the Ultimate Mature Idol!”
Ichika: “Mature idol?”
Shizuku: “It was my nature when I was a member of Cheerful*Days!”
Honami: “A real-life idol! Amazing.”
Emu: “Shizuku-chan, you’re so pretty!”
Shizuku: “Thank you! I am a member of the Beautification Committee of course…”
???: “I still don’t think you need to be in that.”
The pink haired girl walked up next to Shizuku.
Airi: “The name is Airi Momoi, the Ultimate TV Personality.”
Saki: “Is that similar to a diva?”
Airi: “In a way.”
Nene: “So you understand how I feel, right?”
Airi: “Everyone going crazy over you?”
Nene: “Exactly.”
Airi: “So yes.”
???: “Airi-chan! Could I go next?”
Airi: “I told you Minori, you can go whenever. It’s not a list.”
Minori: “I’m Minori Hanasato, the Ultimate Upcoming Idol!”
Tsukasa: “Upcoming?”
Minori: “This is the first idol group I’ve been in, so I’ve been told that my popularity is upcoming…”
Emu: “Well, Minori-chan, I will become your biggest fan!!”
Minori: “Ah! Thank you Emu-chan!!”
The two of them started jumping around while the last one came over.
Haruka: “My name is Haruka Kiritani, and I am the Ultimate Basketball Player. I originally was an idol, but I’ve been told that I could pass as a basketball player, although I would much rather be an idol.”
Ichika: “So you aren’t a basketball player?”
Haruka: “No, I am, but I don’t play as much as I perform as an idol.”
Rui: “Well, it’s nice to meet you.”
Everyone else introduced themselves, and we exited into an area with blocked off stairs, with a final group waiting at it.
???: “Ugh! They won’t budge.”
???: “This sucks.”
Emu: “Hello?”
The one with purple hair turned around, and smiled softly at Emu.
???: “Hello!”
Emu had a look of fear when seeing this girl, I don’t know why.
???: “Is something wrong?”
Emu: “N-No!”
The rest of her friends turned around.
Mafuyu: “My name is Mafuyu Asahina. I am the Ultimate Lyricist.”
Honami: “You write lyrics?”
Mafuyu: “Mhm. I’ve been praised for my expert way at crafting messages through words.”
Tsukasa: “What kinds of lyrics?”
Mafuyu: “Truly, anything that comes to mind.”
A girl with a pink side pony waved at us.
Mizuki: “I’m Mizuki Akiyama, the Ultimate Editor.”
Rui: “You edit videos?”
Mizuki: “Yes, actually. I also like fashion designing!”
Nene: “Is that so…”
Kanade: “I’m… Kanade Yoisaki. The Ultimate Composer.”
Saki: “Wow! That has to be hard…”
Kanade: “I’ve done it for years so it’s gotten a bit easier… but I don’t have anything to compose with… I feel like I’m behind schedule.”
Ichika: “Maybe there’ll be a computer somewhere in here.”
???: “Ugh!!!”
We all looked past the three to see a girl with short, brown hair tugging at the gate.
Mizuki: “Enanan, stop for a minute.”
The girl turned around and walked over to us.
Ena: “I’m Ena Shinonome, the Ultimate Illustrator, nice to meet you all.”
Tsukasa: “Are you related to that Akito boy from earlier?”
Ena: “Yeah, he’s my little brother. I see you have already met him. Did he say anything about me?”
Tsukasa: “Not that I can remember.”
Ena: “Thank god.”
Mizuki: “I wonder if Lil’ bro misses me…”
Ena: “Probably not.”
We all introduced ourselves to the group, and then the same beep from earlier played from another TV.
???: “FINALLY! You all were taking forever. But now that everyone knows everyone, please go to the gym for a quick meeting!”
The TV turned off.
Mafuyu: “I wonder what they want this time.”
Tsukasa: “I shall lead the way! Follow me, ladies and gentlemen!”
Tsukasa began to run to the gym, with Saki and Emu running behind him again.
Everyone else followed behind, entering the gym, where the others already were.
Akito: “Ena.”
Ena: “Akito.”
Shizuku: “Shii-chan! I was worried!”
Shiho: “We were gone for like 10 minutes.”
???: “AHEM!”
We all turned to the stage, where a small podium stood in the middle.
???: “Let’s get this party started, shall we?”
A small figure jumped out from the podium.
???: “Greetings!”
It was a small girl, with black and blue pigtails. She was dressed in a school uniform, covered in pins.
Monomiku: “My name is Monomiku, and I shall be your headmaster!”
Ichika: “Monomiku?”
Akito: “What the hell is this?”
Nene: “Who- I mean, what are you?”
Monomiku: “I am a personalized robot created just for you!”
Airi: “Robot?”
Shizuku: “This already won’t be good for me…”
Tsukasa: “Why are we here, little robot woman?!”
Saki: “Onii-chan!”
Monomiku: “Well, I can tell you all the fun way, or the-“
Mizuki: “Just tell us!”
Monomiku: “Jesus! Fine, fine. Drumroll please!”
Emu began to drumroll on her legs, before being stopped by Tsukasa.
A loud drumroll came from speakers around the gym.
Monomiku: “You are all here to kill each other!”
The drumroll stopped, and everything was silent.
Kanade: “K… ill?”
Monomiku: “You heard me! Kill! Like murder!”
An: “Is… is she serious?”
An started laughing.
Kohane: “An-chan…”
Monomiku: “Quit laughing! I’m serious! Bludgeon, burn, stab, strangle, the list goes on! The only limit is your imagination!”
An stopped laughing.
Toya: “Shiraishi, I think she’s serious.”
Rui: “Are you crazy?”
Monomiku: “I’m as sane as you, Rui! Now, there are limits. I don’t want you all killing like it’s the hunger games. No, this is refined.”
A screen came down from the ceiling, showing a diagram.
Monomiku: “As you can see, whenever a murder is committed, if 3 people see the body at a time, a dead body announcement shall be made. You will then have a few hours to find clues to who did it. And it’s never me! It is one of your friends who committed the crime.”
Shiho: “No one’s gonna commit murder.”
Monomiku: “You would be surprised! Now, once the time is up, you shall all be directed to a class trial. In said trial, you shall use the clues to find who is the murderer.”
Emu: “S-So… someone would… kill someone?”
Emu started tearing up.
Monomiku: “Yes! Oh my god, how many times must I repeat myself. Anyway, if you get the killer incorrect, all of you except the killer would be executed by yours truly, and the killer walks away scot free. If you find the correct killer, they are executed, and you all are free to walk away. Am I clear?”
Ena: “Sure but… why?”
Monomiku: “Not telling! It’s a secret~”
Kohane: “I don’t…”
Kohane started crying.
Monomiku: “Oh my god… just figure it out yourselves okay? I don’t care anymore. You have 3 days to kill someone, and if not, you ALL will be killed. Goodbye.”
Monomiku disappeared as fast as she appeared.
We were silent.
Kanade: “How am I supposed to…”
Saki: “What if…”
An: “The cafe…”
Tsukasa: “Okay! We all are clearly stressed and confused, so how about we rest tonight, and tomorrow, we can meet in the cafeteria to plan what we should do, is that fine with everyone?”
A few nodded their heads, with a few “Yeah”s here and there.
Tsukasa: “Great!”
Honami: “She can’t be serious when she says kill, right?”
Minori: “Haruka…”
Minori started sobbing into Haruka’s shoulder, with Haruka hugging her.
Emu dropped to her knees and began sobbing into her hands.
Emu: “ sniff… What about the park?!”
Tsukasa kneeled down next to her.
Tsukasa: “It’s gonna be fine Emu, we’ll get out of here together as a troupe, and we’ll continue making shows, alright?”
Nene and Rui went over to continue helping Emu, while Saki turned to me.
Saki: “Ichi… what now?”
I stayed silent, as I had no idea of what to say.
Shiho: “This whole thing has to be a joke, right?”
Honami: “Shiho-chan, I don’t think it is.”
Ichika: “I think we should do what Tsukasa-san said. We should get some rest, and then work out what we’re going to do later.”
We left, with a few people following behind us. We went down a hallway that we hadn’t gone through and we found doors with our names on them.
Mafuyu: “I’m guessing these are dorms. They really are serious, Hinomori-san.”
Shizuku: “Ah… I suppose they are~”
I stepped up to my dorm and opened the door. Inside, there was a replica of my guitar, posters of bands, and on a nearby table, a key, and a tablet of some kind.
Going up to the tablet and keys, there was a small note.
Note: “These are the keys to your dorm and your Monopad. Your Monopad will have information on everything here, and will keep track of clues.”
I turned on the tablet and was met with a list of rules.
After reading the rules, I set it down and shut my door.
I locked it, and sat on the bed.
Ichika: “ What am I going to do? ”
I decided to sleep it off, and fell asleep as fast as I could.