SDRA2 Redux: Trouble on Jabberwock Island

Chapter 4 Trial (Part 1)

POV - Nikei

The elevator was just a little emptier this time around, but just as quiet as the last three times.

Setsuka had been with us last time, travelling down in this elevator to hell, but she hadn't returned. She had been found guilty of murder, frozen alive and made into a disgusting "smoothie".

Hibiki had been here that time, too. Unlike Setsuka, she had the good fortune of being able to return, but she hadn't lasted long.

Finally, the elevator landed with a clunk, and the doors opened into the Trial Room. This time, it was beach themed.

Two new fallen had joined the ominous greyscale faces that stared forward, unfeeling. Setsuka, the blackened of the previous trial, had an 'X' that wasn't actually an 'X'. It was actually her being covered in what appeared to be blood. It brought a chill as it made me recall the gruesome way she died. Hibiki's X was sloppy drawn, covering her entire face.

We took our places at our podiums. It was beginning yet again... I had hoped this would never happen again, but here we were for the fourth time.

Hibiki Otonokoji, the Ultimate Anthropologist... she wasn't the nicest person. But she did not deserve what had happened to her. I need to find the truth, not just from the killer, but for myself. I won't accept what happened until I see the truth with my own eyes. And once I'm done, I'm going to end things. I'll find the real truth and solve the whole mystery of this killing game. I swear, I won't let anyone else become a victim. As Nikei Yomiuri, the Ultimate Journalist, I swear on my name, talent, and soul. No one else here...none of my friends will have to die after this trial is over. I promise.

My heart racing, I took a few deep breaths as I gripped my podium. Thus, this life-threatening trial, billowing with hope and despair, began in earnest.

CLASS TRIAL, IN SESSION!

"Welcome to the fourth class trial!" Monocrow announced. "I could tell you about the rules, but you know the drill by now. Now let this wonderful, despair-inducing trial begin!"

"Can we start by laying down exactly what happened?" Syobai asked. "We were told that Miss Hibiki died after eating a pie at a girls-only baking session, but we need more details."

"Hibiki was the one who hosted the session," Sora said guiltily. "I didn't think it would...!"

"Hibiki and Iroha made the pie together," Teruya stated. "But they weren't experienced with baking, so Sora had to help them, and Mikado, Nikei and I had to add sugar to it..."

"That leaves 5 suspects: Sora, Iroha, Teruya, me and Nikei." Mikado said. "The only ones who were in the kitchen during Hibiki's death. And I am not liking that list of suspects."

"It's because it's way too big, isn't it?" I replied. "And also, you're included on that list, Mikado."

"Yeah, it's those two things," Mikado replied back. "But I have a feeling that there's something else on that list that I won't like..."

"It looks like we need to narrow down our list of suspects," Teruya said. "To do that, we need to ask ourselves: Who added most of the sugar in?"

Non-Stop Debate, Start!

Nikei: So, who added the most sugar in the pie?

Mikado: I only added a little bit.

Teruya: Maybe I added the most sugar in?

Now that I think about it, Teruya did add the most sugar in...