(3rd Person's POV)

"What...?" Makoto uttered as he looked on at Chihiro's body in shock and horror. He didn't know how long it took for him to fully comprehend the reality of what he was looking at. But as soon as he did...

UwaaaaaaAAAAAHHH!!!" A wild, almost primal scream escaped from Makoto's mouth.

"Ow, my ears!" Sora winced as she covered her ears.

Makoto tried to suppress his screaming, but it was useless. It surged out of him, like water from a spring gushing out of the ground. Byakuya, on the other hand...

"Most unusual, don't you think...?" Byakuya said, totally calm, as if he was watching all this unfold in front of a TV screen. Look. Fujisaki's corpse has been suspended somehow. And something's been written on the wall, in blood... "Bloodlust"? Such a brutal way to kill someone... No, this is beyond brutal. Wouldn't you agree?" He asked, looking at Makoto.

"They killed her. How could it not be brutal?" Makoto said, eventually finding the will to stop screaming.

"No, that's not my point. This murder is far too bizarre for any everyday amateur to have committed it." Byakuya shook his head. "Unlike with Maizono, this murder was not a crime of passion or necessity. It's almost as if whoever did this...did it for fun. You see what I mean, don't you?"

"...What?" The luckster's head was swimming. He was still reeling, too confused to understand what he was trying to say.

Meanwhile, Sora didn't even bother paying attention to the conversation, as she was silently staring at Chihiro's body with her usual blank and indifferent expression. 

But before Makoto could even begin to clear his head...

BING, BONG! BONG, BING!

"A body has been discovered! After a certain amount of time, which you may use however you like, the class trial will begin!"

Makoto looked at the monitor in confusion. " ...What the hell was that?"

"Ah, that's right. You were unconscious during Maizono's, so you don't know about it." Byakuya said to himself. "What you just heard was the body discovery announcement. Apparently, when three or more people discover a body, an announcement plays to let everyone know. I imagine it's so that the search for the culprit can proceed fairly for everyone involved."

"Proceed...fairly?" Makoto repeated, appalled at Byakuya's tone.

"Shirayuki, I heard you scream!" A voice yelled as Taka came into the locker room. "Are you o-" His body froze stone cold as he laid his eyes on Chihiro's body. " ...AAAAAAAAHH! Fujisaki!? A-And the body discovery announcement went off a few minutes ago, too! Does that mean Fujisaki's really...?"

"Dead, yes." Byakuya bluntly confirmed.

"D-D-D-D--!" Taka looked like he was about to pass out. That didn't seem to help his nerves.

"Before you start screaming your head off, go round everyone up." Byakuya told him. "It seems another game has begun. Another life-or-death game to uncover a killer..."

Taka bolted out of the locker room. As everyone made their way to the scene, it felt as if no time at all passed. Like any sense of time just...ran out.

When Sora started paying attention again and knocked herself out of her absent-minded state, she saw everyone there. The same looks were on everyone's faces. Confusion, fear, and anger. Everyone just...stood there, gathered around Chihiro's body.

"Damn... I couldn't keep her safe!" Sakura growled to herself.

"So there's another victim..." Taka stuttered.

"Which means we are now in the same position once again." Celeste said.

"Good grief..." Sora mumbled to herself, looking at Chihiro's body with an indifferent expression, but in some way, it portrayed a bit of...sadness.

"Fuck, man... What the fuck IS this!?" Mondo yelled in shock.

"It's a dream... This is a dream! It's all just a dream!" Hifumi shook his head in denial. "In fact, I haven't even been born yet! I don't have any memory of ever being alive! Ugyaaaah!"

"...Shut up." Celeste told him.

---

"For now, pay attention to the wall." Byakuya spoke up.

"Huh?" Makoto inquired.

"I said it once already. There's a word written there." Byakuya told him.

Looking away from Chihiro's body, Sora looked on the wall to see the word "bloodlust" written in blood next to the body. The others saw it, too.

"I don't think it's any kind of dying message. It's just too...strange..." Kyoko said.

"But, you know...that thing about writing "bloodlust" in blood... Doesn't it sound kinda familiar?" Taka asked.

---

"A murderous fiend, who kills again and again using a bizarre and brutal method... And at the scene of each crime, the word "bloodlust" is written in the victim's own blood. They're like a ghost, attacking suddenly then slipping away before the police can catch up to them. And what nickname did the Internet give to this mysterious serial killer?"

---

"Genocide Jack!" Hiro exclaimed in shock.

The name sent shivers down the student's spines. Genocide Jack... The "murderous fiend" whose grisly attacks were famous all across the country. The Ultimate Murderous Fiend, creating a reputation of abnormal, downright cruel killings.

"Then this is...some copycat killer trying to imitate Genocide Jack's "style"?" Hina gulped in fear. "But...why would anyone do that?"

"Perhaps...it's the work of the real Genocide Jack." Byakuya theorized.

"The real...? Wait, are you saying Genocide Jack is here in the school!?" Hiro put his hands on his head in fear, looking like he was gonna have a full-blown panic attack.

"Th-There's no way...!" Hina denied.

"But going so far as to write bloodlust at the scene..." Celeste mused. "I am surprised at their stupidity..."

"I can't imagine a worse situation than dealing with a stupid murderer..." Sakura commented.

"Ah--!" Hina yelped, unintentionally getting the other students attention.

"What is it now!?" Hifumi inquired.

"Fukawa!" Hina pointed towards the entrance of the girl's locker room.

"Ah...ahh..." Toko widened her eyes.

Toko was the last to arrive, and now she was just standing there. She looked like she had just seen a ghost.

"...? Nnnnnno... Wh-Why...? Why...? W...h...y...? WHYYYYYYYY!?!?"

GADUNK!

The writer fell backwards and passed out on the floor.

"She fainted! That did NOT sound good!" Hiro winced.

"F-Fukawa!" Hina said as she rushed over to Toko's collapsed body, trying to shake her awake. "Fukawa, are you okay!? Come on, wake up!"

"Oh, that's right. I just remembered what she said, about how she faints anytime she sees blood." Hifumi mentioned.

"So she is hemophobic? I imagine she does not watch too many horror films, then." Celeste commented.

"This isn't a violation of the rules, right?" Hiro asked, worry in his voice. "I mean, technically she passed out somewhere besides her room."

"No, I think it should be okay." Makoto said. "The regulations prohibit "sleeping." Like, on purpose."

"Ahh, so since she didn't faint on purpose, it doesn't count? Gotcha." Hiro nodded.

"Yeah, because fainting "on purpose" is totally possible." Sora rolled her eyes sarcastically.

"Fukawa, can you hear me!? Hey, you gotta wake up!" Hina exclaimed.

As if she'd heard her...Toko suddenly shot awake. As in, she literally jumped up from where she was laying. It was such a strange reaction, Sora was at a loss for words. She leapt straight up into the air, changing her stance as she did.

In no time flat, she was just...standing up. Ignoring the physical contortions she had to go through, her motions were totally haphazard.

"Huh? What?" Hina backed away, looking confused.

"Sorry about that. I was just so shocked, ya know? It happens, right? Was I the only one?" Toko(?) asked.

"...What the hell happened to you...?" Sora raised an eyebrow.

"I'm fine, I'm fine! Kyehaha...!" Toko(?) laughed before noticing Chihiro's body. "Whoa, is that a dead body!? Hey! Are you dead!? Kyeehahaha!" She ran up to it and started prodding it.

"She musta hit her head real hard when she fainted..." Hiro said.

"The world has a front and a back, a top inning and a bottom, a sea of truth and a web of lies!" Toko(?) randomly said.

"...What." Sora deadpanned.

"This is...quite concerning." Hifumi took a step back. "I mean, she sounds completely different..."

"Mm-hm. Even her stutter is gone." Sora pointed out.

"Oh...I guess it is!" Toko(?) grinned. "But that's a good thing, right!? Kyeehahaha!"

"It's clear to me that everything is not fine!" Taka shouted. "Your eyes seem strangely vacant!"

"It might be best if we take her back to her room for the time being..." Sakura suggested.

"I don't mind taking her, but...could someone help me?" Hina requested.

"If you need help, I don't mind--"

"Taka, could you help me?" Hina said, ignoring Hifumi and walking straight to the hall monitor.

"Huh? She totally ignored me!" Hifumi exclaimed.

"Very well. You take care of the girl, and the rest of us can begin the investigation right away." Byakuya said. "Can I assume nobody has a problem leaving Ogami and Owada on guard duty again?"

"H-Hold on a second. Rushing to an investigation--" Makoto stuttered.

"The mastermind isn't behind that. After what happened last time, surely you realize that." Byakuya responded, looking at the lucky student.

"Nng...!" Makoto grunted.

"There is no question that Fujisaki was murdered by someone among us. Isn't that right, Monokuma?" Byakuya asked.

"Right as rain!" Monokuma suddenly appeared out of nowhere again. "But don't take it as a bad thing. It's just a fact of life! Because that's how graduation works!"

Another chill went down the students spine. Then...it's happened again? That another one of them... Another one of them...killed...a fellow classmate?

"What, does that freak you out? You guys got no balls, you know that!? Is there just nothin' down there at all? Well, I'll let you pray to mine if you want." Monokuma said before chuckling. "Actually, I don't have any, either! Sorry!"

"Stop monologuing and give us what you came here to give us." Byakuya ordered. "You did bring it, right?"

"Hehehe... I sure did, chum!" Monokuma nodded as he brought out little grey booklets. "Allow me to present the next Monokuma File. I know how much you must be looking forward to it! So, please do you very tippy-top best on this investigation!" The bear exclaimed before dropping down into the floor.

"Do we really gotta do another investigation...?" Hina said, a hand covering her mouth in horror. "Examining the corpse of one of our friends... Having to suspect all our other friends... I hate this... I can't take it anymore!"

"I hate it, too! I-I-I've had enough! I'm gettin' outta here!" Hiro exclaimed.

"Where do you plan on going? There's nowhere to run." Sakura pointed out.

"Just accept it already. After all, blood is just a liquid. A dead body is a simple object." Byakuya said without a hint of empathy.

"You are very...enthusiastic about all of this, are you not?" Celeste smiled.

"How can I not be? If we don't unmask the culprit we all die." Byakuya reminded everyone.

"Th-That's true, but...to jump into it so soon..." Makoto spoke up, only to shut himself up, seeing Byakuya glare at him.

"What? Do you want to die?" Byakuya frowned at him.

"A dead body is an...object?" A voice slowly spoke up as the others turned to see Mondo, who looked pretty upset. "Fujisaki wasn't an "object"!" He yelled at Byakuya, disgusted at his disregard toward human life. "Show a little respect, or I'll beat some into ya!"

"Everyone stop bickering." Kyoko spoke up, cutting through the tension. "Listen, there's some truth to what Togami said."

"K-Kirigiri!" Makoto frowned at her in disapproval.

"If we don't solve the mystery and find the killer, our own lives are forfeit." Kyoko pointed out. "And if Togami is right that Genocide Jack is somehow the one who killed Fujisaki, then unless we do something, more victims could start piling up."

"Forget more victims! If we mess this up, we're all dead meat!" Hifumi exclaimed.

"Hold on, hold on." A voice said as Monokuma appeared again. "If that's your worry, you don't gotta worry any longer! In any one killing game, the guilty party may only kill a maximum of two people."

"What...? I don't remember any rule like that." Hifumi said.

"I just came up with it. I mean, if one person went around and killed everyone, your lovely student life would be all over, right?"

Sora felt a buzz as the rule has been added to the regulations.

"In that case, why not limit it to one person?" Sakura asked.

"Well in a good mystery, you don't want to miss out on at least the potential of a serial killer angle! Nyoohohoho!" Monokuma laughed. "Farewell for now! I'll catch you guys at the class trial!" He left once again.

"I can't say I understand his thinking, but if we can kill up to two people then one more person's life could still be in danger." Celeste mused.

"Which is definitely not good. We need to uncover the culprit before something else happens." Byakuya spoke up, though someone wasn't having any of it.

"YOU need to shut the fuck up!" Mondo yelled as Sora rolled her eyes.

"W-Well...for now, Taka and me are gonna drop Fukawa off at her room." Hina said.

"Nice! I'm gonna get dropped off!" Toko(?) exclaimed as the three of them took off.

"We have no time to stand around here." Celeste said. "We must begin our investigation tout suite. If we do not solve the mystery of who killed Fujisaki..." The gambler then made her creepy leaning face. "Then we will quickly follow her into the afterlife."

Sora rolled her eyes. Regardless of how she worded it, she's right. If Sora doesn't do this, she's as good as done for. She...has to. She doesn't have any other choice if she wants to survive!

---

IT'S...INVESTAGATION TIME!

Sora sighs as she pulls out the Monokuma file and read it. She needs all the information she can get.

---

Victim: Chihiro Fujisaki

Time Of Death: Around 2:00 A.M.

Location Of Body: The woman's locker room on the second floor.

Cause Of Death: Bludgeoned on the head by a blunt object.

Other Notes: The Victim died instantly.

---

She tilted her head. That all it says?

Oh well, it's not like there's anything I can do about it. Sora thought. No matter what, I just have to figure it out.

Truth Bullet: Monokuma File #2

Putting the file back into...wherever she kept her things, Sora walked over to Chihiro's body. Taking her eyes of it for the time being, the blonde walked towards a poster on the wall that had a well-endowed woman in a bikini. However it was stained with a certain liquid.

...No, not that kind of liquid.

The poster's got some blood on it. Sora pointed out in her head. Must've happened during the murder.

"..." Without even thinking, Sora pulled the poster off the wall, rolled it up, and put in her hammerspace.

"Shirayuki?" Makoto walked behind her, looking confused. "What are you doing?"

"...Taking the poster." Sora didn't even turn around to look back at him.

"...Why?" Makoto raised an eyebrow.

"...For evidence." Sora lied through her teeth.

Makoto tilted his head in confusion, but didn't say anything more.

---

Makoto, Byakuya, and Sora all collectively walked to a dumbbell that was covered in blood.

"The Monokuma File said "a blow to the head with a blunt object" is what killed her." Byakuya informed.

"Does that mean this dumbbell was actually the murder weapon...?" Makoto asked.

Sora shrugged. She'd say so. What else could it have been?

Truth Bullet: Locker Room Dumbbell

---

Sora suddenly walked up to Sakura. She wondered if she has any useful information.

"I use this locker room all the time. Now...it's become the site of Fujisaki's death." Sakura sighed in grief.

"But why in the locker room?" Sora asked, her ahoge bobbing up and down. "Maybe she was killed somewhere else and her body was carried here. Not like it would've been a problem. She's not very heavy..."

"She was very light, that is true. It wouldn't be hard for someone to carry her." Sakura concurred. "But still... I still think she came here on her own, by choice."

"What makes you say that?" Sora inquired.

"She'd been talking a lot lately about how she wanted to get stronger." Sakura explained.

"But the Monokuma File said that she died around 2 in the morning." Sora pointed out. "Why would she be exercising that late?"

"Hina or myself are usually in the locker room during the day. So she was probably avoiding it then." Sakura said as Sora tilted her head in confusion, telling Sakura to elaborate. "Although we invited her to join us more than once, she never showed up. So I can only assume she was trying to avoid us."

"That's why she came here in the middle of the night?" Sora asked.

"Perhaps. But it's difficult for me to imagine she would have come alone." Sakura said. "She did want to start exercising, but she specifically mentioned she couldn't do it by herself. She needed support from others."

"So she could have come in the middle of the night to train in secret. But...she came with somebody else?" Sora simplified.

"It's a possibility, I think." Sakura closed her eyes as she nodded.

Truth Bullet: Sakura's Account

After talking with Sakura, Sora looked around. She seemed to have gotten everything she needed. Looks like there's no point in sticking around here any longer.

With that, she left the locker room.

---

Stepping outside, Sora saw Byakuya and Makoto speaking to Monokuma about something.

"..."

She decided to not get into that and figure stuff out on her own.

---

Walking around the school, she found herself at the library.

"Hm?" Sora tilted her head as she walked in front of the door that was in here. "This is...the archive, right?"

With that, she went inside. Once she did, her eyes glanced around. There so much here! Books, files...

"Dust..." Sora groaned as she sneezed.

She looked at the many shelves that was stuffed tight with files. Without even thinking, she grabbed one at random.

"Murder cases of Genocide Jack...?" Sora raised an eyebrow as she read the cover. She flipped through the pages with her fingers. Suddenly, her hand stopped...she'd reached the page where photos from the scene of each crime had all been collected.

The names of Genocide Jack's victims ran on for several pages. Ken Harada, 32. Tetsuhiro Honda, 17. Shoji Gaku, 23. Kanno Isei, 14. Takeshi Yoshida, 30. Komatsuna Taro, Takefumi Gono, Udhida Naohisa, Takeshi Masamune, Yuto Yumejima, there was no end to it... But one thing became perfectly clear as Sora read... All of the killer's countless victims were killed and suspended in exactly the same way. And at the scene of every murder, the word "bloodlust" was left in the victim's own blood.

Cocking her head to the side, she flipped to the next page.

The profiling results...? Sora thought as she began to read.

---

"All of the crimes took place either on weekdays at night, or during holidays, either day or night. The most common time for the killings to take place was on holidays, in the afternoon. Based on these facts, it could be suggested that the suspect may be a student. Evidence suggests that the suspect lingered at the scene, but when they did leave, they were in a panic. Because an eyewitness has never come forward, it's unlikely there was any external reason for this. This confused behavior suggests..."

---

"...That the suspect may potentially suffer from dissociative identity disorder." Sora stopped as the results stopped. "So...that means that culprit has a split personality."

Hm...a killer with a split personality, huh? Sora thought. Sounds a bit cliché if you ask me, but whatever...

Truth Bullet: Genocide Jack Case File

"Ah! Hey, Shirayuki!" A voice exclaimed as Sora turned to see Hina opening the door to the archive. "Big trouble! Need your help!"

"I'm kinda busy right now." Sora said, turning back around and focusing back on the case file.

"But it's an emergency...! Emergency! C'mon, please! You gotta help me!" Hina pleaded.

Sora sighed as she relented. She put the case file back where she found it and turned towards Hina.

"Good grief... What is so important that you need to bother me while I'm investigating?" Sora inquired, putting her hands on her hips in an impatient matter.

"Something's wrong with Fukawa. She's acting super strange!" Hina told her.

As opposed to how she usually is...?

The blonde facepalmed and sighed.

"Fine. Show me where she is." Sora requested.

"Okay, okay, come on! Hurry!" Hina said, and in the blink of an eye, she took off.

Sighing, Sora rolled her eyes. Fukawa's most likely at the dorms...

With that, she ran out of the archive and soon the library, heading after Hina to the dorms.

Chapter 15: End

To be continued...?