Chapter Text
Emma stands there, trembling. Her body runs cold and tenses up at the jarring sight, her ability to move completely ceasing.
She tries to scream again, but only manages to make quiet sounds out of sheer disbelief.
Monokuma: “A body has been discovered! After a certain amount of time, the class trial will begin, so make sure you’ve got a solid idea of who to point fingers at beforehand… Upupupu, ahahahahahaha!”
Emma: “Wh… I… n...!”
Wallace: “Emma, what the hell happened!?”
Emma makes a vain attempt to approach the door and hide the body, but she’s too weak.
She collapses onto the floor, just in time to hear everyone’s screams.
Cam: “OH MY GOD!”
Wallace: “What in the fuck!?”
Potato: “AAAAAAAAAAGHHH!”
Heh, heh heh…
Is this what I’m gonna remember them as?
This? THIS?
Ugh, I can’t get the image out of my mind…
It won’t leave… IT WON’T LEAVE, DAMMIT!
Emma: “UWOOOOOOOAH!”
Emma curls up in a corner in the kitchen amidst the panic, crying to herself. Her screams were the only backing track any of the guests had.
Lammy: “No…! I-it’s only been two days!”
Joker: “My main concern here is how the kid died, the body is completely gone.”
Elmo: “Right, that over there’s most likely a child… that makes this so much worse.”
Bacon: “Welp, it had to happen at some point.”
Charlotte: “Wow, our first killing, and it’s rather gruesome. I’m actually quite impressed with the culprit.”
Bacon: “Could I pay you to keep your mouth shut?”
Charlotte: “Not unless you have something that can keep it closed.”
Jotaro: “I’ve seen things like this… so many times… but why am I so…”
Hater: “Even I’m not this evil! Who would do something like this!?”
Shaggy tiptoes in to see what happened, since he couldn't hear anyone that much in the kitchen.
When he finally enters, he is dumbfounded just like everyone else.
Shaggy: “AHHH, LIKE ZOINKS!'
Emma: “N..Norman… where is Norman?”
Emma: “That’s right… he’s not here…”
Emma: “Heh, heh heh…”
Emma: “I’m alone. The only other person who cares, is gone.”
Emma: “Heh heh, heh heh… that’s great… that’s great…”
Emma: “THAT’S JUST GREAT!”
Emma screams. She screams to no one in particular, partly to drown out the noises of fear that are already filling the kitchen at that point.
But mostly, she screams to awaken the gods.
She screams to bargain with them. She screams to go home. She screams to be free.
???: “You’ll see, Emma-chan.”
Emma turns around, seeing Realtor.
Realtor: “You’ll all soon see~”
Potato: “J-just tell us!”
Realtor: “Sorry, but I can’t do that yet. But for now, I’m pretty sure the bear’s got something to show ya.”
Realtor: “And besides, haven’t you kids seen this shit a million times before on TV?”
Emma buries her head in her legs again, trying desperately to drown out the sights and sounds of the kitchen. The kitchen that’s been stained with tragedy.
But no matter how hard she tries, she pulls her head back up anyway, whether subconsciously or not.
Just then, Monokuma peeks out from behind the man and bounces his way in front of him.
Monokuma: “Get out here already, Doppio!”
Suddenly, a thin man wearing predominantly pink and purple emerged from behind the human and the feral animal.
Doppio: “Hey. I’m Doppio. Boss told me there was high pay here or something?”
Charlotte: “Oh, this dumbass.”
Realtor: “You… know each other? How unexpected! Teenage life sure is wonderous, ain’t it?”
Mono: “Knowing you, I thought some less-than-wholesome phrases were gonna start flying in the air.”
Jay: “Ooh, you wanna hear less-than-wholesome, huh! ALRIGHT! :&@$)?$”, &’!(@&;(, and-“
Mono: “What you said the first time was more than enough.”
Jay: “Aww…”
Monokuma: “ If you’d allow me to speak… ”
Joker: “Feisty today, aren’t we?”
Monokuma: “Ol’ Pink Guy here is gonna offer refreshments during trials! I’m such a nice guy, so I couldn’t resist that offer!”
Joker: “That sounds awfully self-indulgent.”
Monokuma: “What, a bear can’t have a nice cold one with the boys every now and again?”
Charlotte: “So did we all collectively forget about the unrecognizable body in the kitchen? ”
Emma tenses up at Charlotte’s words, still in the corner of the room.
Monokuma: “Alright, alright! I’ll stop pestering ya. Get on with the investigation already.”
Do we… really have to do this?
We still don’t know so much! Who is this Realtor guy!? Who is this Doppio guy!? Where’s Norman!? Who even died in the first place!?
Emma is noticeably panic-stricken. The resolve that allowed her to hope for a better future, the resolve that allowed her to believe in not just the other people in the hotel, but to believe in herself…
Was shattered.
She continues to cry in that same corner of the kitchen, her strength mercilessly compromised.
She lets her arms flop to her sides after holding onto her knees for so long, like a puppet whose strings had just been cut.
Until...
???: “Emma, why are you giving up now?”
Suddenly, she notices Mcfry behind her, offering words of encouragement.
Potato: “Even if someone died now, who’s to say it wasn’t an accident? Or a fake corpse?”
Potato: “Giving up will let our captors get away with so much more. So don’t give up.”
Emma is taken aback by Potato’s words, but begins to stand up, wiping tears off her face.
Emma: “T-thank you. I didn’t think you’d be so kind.”
Potato: “We’re in a death game. It’s the least I can do.”
Potato: “Well then, I’ll see ya around. Don’t forget about me… Please…”
Emma: “I definitely won’t. That’s a promise.”
Mcfry walks off right as Emma gets out of the corner she was sitting in.
I can’t believe I forgot my true goal so easily…
But it doesn’t matter. Like I said before, I won’t surrender!
I’ll fight back against this tragedy, and I’ll save everyone I can!
We will escape! I’m sure of it!
- INVESTIGATION -
Parappa: “W-when did this person even die?”
Realtor: “Wow, you guys really are hopeless if you don’t even know that. ”
Bacon: “Why are you acting like we should know already?”
Realtor continues speaking, ignoring Bacon’s inquiry.
Realtor: “Fine, fine. I’ll give ya a freebie. Here’s the first Monokuma File! I sent the program data to your E-Handbooks at no extra charge~”
Emma’s handbook lit up with the phrase “Monokuma File Downloaded” clearly displayed on it.
Monokuma: “Oh, the wonders of technology. I don’t even need to make separate tablets for the Files anymore!”
Charlotte: “That’s certainly a change. Not that I’m complaining, of course.”
MONOKUMA FILE 1
“The victim is currently unknown. Their body was discovered within the first floor kitchen. The murder weapon is currently unknown. The estimated time of death is around 10:30 PM. The cause of death is unknown, but the person’s body was completely destroyed upon their demise. Additional external injuries and traces of chemicals could not be searched for due to the body’s condition.”
So, even Monokuma doesn’t know who died? Ugh, this just keeps getting harder and harder to understand.
I guess I should keep it in mind, though. It’s at least a little bit of a hint, after all!
“Monokuma File 1” has been added to the Truth Bullets section of your handbook.
Alrighty, then… I guess the next logical thing to do is…
Oh, this is gonna be disgusting.
Emma approaches the body, getting as close as she can to it without throwing up.
Emma: “Let’s… take a look…”
Emma begins her investigation into the body, taking note of some things right off the bat.
It’s strange how the body was almost completely charred. It’s like the culprit was trying to dispose of it without just throwing it in a trash bag.
Although I guess rational thought really isn’t involved when you kill someone.
Well, in any case, this is most likely important. I’ll make sure to keep note of it.
“Condition of Body” has been added to the Truth Bullets section of your handbook.
One other thing strikes me as odd, though. Why are there still stray bits of the body left over, like the eyes and the blood?
Surely if the body was completely destroyed, none of this stuff would be left over.
That’s definitely an important clue. I’ll be sure to keep that in mind.
“Stray Body Parts” has been added to the Truth Bullets section of your handbook.
Welp, I assume that’s everything. I’ll go over to the other side of the kitchen n--
Before she can begin her investigation on the other side of the kitchen, another person’s words stop her.
Bacon: “Yo, I think I mighta figured something out.”
Emma: “What did you find, exactly, Bacon?”
Bacon: “Look at the top of the ash pile. Notice anything?”
Emma: “Wait. Is that a… shadow?”
Bacon: “Whatever killed this person musta been strong enough to leave a perfect outline of their head on the countertop, but that isn’t even the most alarming part.”
Bacon: “For some reason, there’s a giant hole in the outline’s head.”
Emma: “Yeah, that definitely is out of the ordinary.”
Emma: “I don’t know what exactly that could prove, but I’ll make sure to remember it. Thanks for the input, Bacon!”
Bacon: “No problem, I guess…”
“Strange Outline” has been added to the Truth Bullets section of your handbook.
???: “Ah! What are you doing?”
Emma turns around to the voice, realizing that it came from across the kitchen.
She walks over to Jay and Nebula, both staring at the Joker (baby), who is calmly examining the eyeball in his hand.
Jay: “How the hell are you holding it like it’s nothing!?”
Joker: “Hold on. I think there’s something wrapped around this.”
Nebula: “Like what?”
Emma walks closer to the three, slightly disturbed.
Joker: “Hm, how generic…”
Emma: “What do you mean?”
Joker: “There’s a strand of hair wrapped around the eye.”
Jay: “Excuse you!?”
Joker: “Yeah, but I can’t really determine the color, as it seems to change whenever I turn it.”
Nebula: “May I see?”
Joker: “Sure.”
Joker hands Nebula the loose body part and she takes a closer look at it.
Nebula: “Yeah, I can’t tell what the color is either.”
She gives the eye back to the male, the whole situation portrayed so nonchalantly.
Emma: “Well, do you think the hair has anything to do with the culprit?”
Joker: “Likely, but what bothers me is why it’s tied in a knot.”
Emma: “That’s also really weird… maybe it’s a red herring?”
Jay: “So I watched these fuckers pitch tents over an eye for nothing?”
Nebula: “Knowing you, I thought you would be the one enjoying that.”
Jay: “That’s taking fetishes too far!”
Nebula: “You can never go too far. Only not too far.”
Joker: “Don’t act like you weren't at least a bit intrigued.”
...I think it’s best that I go.
“Hair Tied Around Eyeball” has been added to the Truth Bullets section of your handbook.
Emma takes a look at the counter where the body resides again, and notices something that nobody seems to have picked up on before.
A loose piece of orange… something or other?
Emma calls everyone over to take a look at what she found, rationalizing that this might be essential to solving the mystery.
Emma: “I think I found something really important, guys!”
Bacon: “A piece of orange? Are you kidding me?”
Joker: “No, this is probably important.”
Joker: “The only people here with a connection to the color orange are Emma, Wander, and Kenny, correct?”
Joker: “And since Emma’s standing right there, wouldn’t it be safe to say one of those other two died?”
Nugget: “Hey! Nugget sort of wears orange too!”
Joker: “Then I guess we’ll scratch you off the list of potential dead people.”
Bacon: “Okay, at least that makes a marginal amount of sense.”
I’m glad I was able to sorta get through to them. If anything, I’ll definitely keep this in mind.
“Loose Piece of Orange Something or Other” has been added to the Truth Bullets section of your handbook.
There’s one miscellaneous thing I wanted to know, still. It probably doesn’t pertain to the case, but…
Emma walks over to the other people in the kitchen, and asks her question, expecting nothing to happen.
Emma: “So, why was the body not reported instantly after it emerged? Surely the instant someone kills someone or shortly after the body discovery announcement would go off, right?”
Monokuma: “And that’s where you’re wrong!”
In a flash, Monokuma emerges in the kitchen. Somehow.
Emma: “Wha… wha… wha… wha…”
Bacon: “Honestly, that isn’t the weirdest thing I’ve seen all day.”
Monokuma: “Allow me to explain how the body discovery announcements work, since you kids clearly don’t get it!”
Monokuma: “The body discovery announcement only goes off when three people find the body! Got it?”
Emma: “Yes…”
Monokuma: “Good. Now let me finish my morning coffee. It’s gonna get cold soon.”
Monokuma: “You know, like your blood when you saw the body!”
Bacon: “Can you leave already?”
By the time Bacon says this, Monokuma is already gone.
That probably isn’t critical to the investigation, but I’ll remember it for now.
“Monokuma’s Account” has been added to the Truth Bullets section of your handbook.
I think it’s about time I check out the other areas of the kitchen. I’ve spent all this time looking at the one thing I didn’t even wanna look at in the first place, after all.
Emma walks over to the far left wall of the room, only to discover something quite strange.
Emma: “The vent cover… it’s not here!”
Charlotte: “What the hell are you talking about? I’ve got it right here.”
Charlotte shows Emma a metal vent cover that she’d been holding, for some reason.
Emma: “Why did you grab the vent cover?”
Charlotte: “I always like to keep murder case souvenirs. You know, just so I never forget about the good times!”
Emma: “That’s, uh…”
Charlotte: “Cool, right?”
Emma: “Sure…”
“Missing Vent Cover” has been added to the Truth Bullets section of your handbook.
But wait, where was that vent cover in the first place? I should ask her.
Emma: “So, uh, Charlotte…”
Charlotte: “I’m listening, Lavaburst.”
Emma: “Where’d you find that vent cover in the first place?”
Charlotte: “It was by the vent. What? Did ya think I found it in the oven?”
Emma: “No, I was just curious because it’s probably valuable info. That’s all!”
Charlotte: “You definitely thought I found it in the oven.”
Oh my God.
“Charlotte’s Account” has been added to the Truth Bullets section of your handbook.
Knock, knock.
Bacon: “The door’s unlocked, dumbass.”
Suddenly, the door to the kitchen jolts open, revealing…
Emma: “Norman! Where were you!?”
Norman: “I went to my room to go get something to help with the investigation.”
Norman: “I’d never abandon you guys on a whim.”
Wait. How did he know…
No, it can’t be. He would never…
Yeah… He would never.
“Norman’s Strange Behavior” has been added to the Truth Bullets section of your handbook?
Charlotte: “Hey, I might have found something.”
Emma: “What is it?”
Please don’t take whatever you found as a souvenir this time…
Charlotte: “It’s in the trash can. Some kind of red thing.”
Charlotte lifts up the thing she found, showing a red piece of plastic with strange wires protruding from the top.
Emma: “That definitely looks way more impactful than that chunk of orange material, at least…”
Charlotte: “Yeah. I’ll keep it in my pocket just in case I need to show it during the trial.”
Norman: “That might not be the best idea… But please, do what you must.”
“Strange Red Plastic” has been added to the Truth Bullets section of your handbook.
I’ve been in the kitchen this entire time. There’s probably more evidence outside of the kitchen, so I’ll look there.
Emma walks out the door of the kitchen to look around the surrounding dining room.
Hmm… doesn’t look like mu—
Jay: “Hey! I think I mighta found something!”
That’s alarming.
Emma approaches Jay, fearful of what he could possibly have in store for her.
Jay: “Yo, check out the cameras on the wall.”
Emma: “What about them?”
Jay: “You see the position of the cameras? They’re pointed down like they were turned off.”
Jay: “But they aren’t. If you look, the switch on the back is set to ON, meaning they were most likely short-circuited.”
To her surprise, Jay’s information was useful.
Emma: “Wow. Thanks, Jay! This is definitely important!”
Jay: “I’m glad I could be of some use. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go use my pillow real quick.”
I knew he would say that…
In any case, his information did seem helpful. I’ll remember it.
“Broken Surveillance Cameras” has been added to the Truth Bullets section of your handbook.
Potato: “Finally… I made it back…”
Emma: “Oh, Potato! Whaddya find?”
Bacon: “Hopefully some life insurance…”
Potato: “Oh jeez. Well, I at least found one thing, but I kept bumping into walls when I was getting back here.”
His talent seems less and less like a joke the more time goes by…
Potato: “In any case, I’m pretty sure this is important.”
Bacon: “Spill the beans, man.”
Potato: “Well, it might not be that critical, but Monokuma showed up in the hallway to make fun of me.”
Emma: “Wow, he really likes to hammer in our talents, huh?”
Potato: “Anyways, while he was doing that, he mentioned something about the lights in the building turning off automatically a short time after the nighttime announcement?”
Potato: “It probably doesn’t matter in the first place, but I thought it could be of some help.”
Emma: “No, I’m sure it’ll be useful! Thanks for your info!”
Bacon: “It doesn’t seem like much, but I’ll take anything I can get at this point. Feels like we’re trying to solve a murder case in the fucking dark…”
“Potato’s Account” has been added to the Truth Bullets section of your handbook.
Bing, bong, bing, bong.
Monokuma: “Alright, everyone! It’s trial time, go along and head to the elevator that will bring you to the trial room.”
Well, that was certainly quick.
Emma leaves the kitchen along with everyone else to meet up at the elevator.
Shaggy: “Elevator? Like, when was that here?”
Charlotte: “It’s just by the dining room, moron.”
Cam: “We’re already starting the trial? Shit, I’ve hardly found anything yet.”
Emma: “You still found some things though, right?”
Cam: “Yeah?”
Emma: “Then that’s good. This is an odd case, so we need all the information we can get!”
Elmo: “Let's just get this over with…”
Emma: “Huh?”
Shaggy: "Like why are you so unfazed by what happened?"
Elmo: "Well someone just died, I think we should find the culprit first at least.”
Wallace: “Gee, I woulda never remembered someone died if you hadn’t reminded me…”
Nugget: “Nugget wouldn’t have remembered to exist if you hadn’t reminded me.”
Jotaro: “I’m glad we can at least agree on one thing, child.”
Emma manages to ignore their comments and walks into the elevator, the others following behind.
A loud rumbling drowns the ears of everyone aboard as the elevator makes its way deeper into the heart of the hotel.
As they descend, an unearthly feeling of collective dread silently fills the air.
Finally, the elevator reaches a halt, revealing the room that would decide the fates of everyone present.
Hater: “Great, I have to be shoved in a tiny space with you peasants.”
Joker: “Well, here goes nothing.”
Parappa: “We’re gonna solve this, right?”
Emma: “Of course! We have plenty of evidence, we can figure this out, I’m sure of it.”
Jotaro: “Don’t get your hopes up, kid. It could be any of us.”
Bacon: “Remember, one wrong call and we all fuckin’ fall.”
Emma: “Yeah…”
Any of us.
Any of us could have killed.
One slip-up, and we’re dead.
We can’t die. I won’t let us all die.
We’ll find the killer, and we’ll escape for sure!