Dangan Ronpa:return to Despair Academy

Triple Homocide?!

"What?!"

I had started panicking when the thought of a second body crossed my mind,but a third?!

But I couldn't really deny it.Tomoko was on the floor being examined by a shaking Akihiro,Yoshio looking over his shoulder.

"How is she?"Igao asked walking at a brisk pace towards them.I followed soon after.

After a few seconds pause,during which I'm pretty sure my heart wasn't beating,Akihiro declared "She's not dead.At least not yet."

I turned towards Takumi's face, my fingertips numb."And...him?"

Akihiro shook his head.

I had already known the answer.We had heard the Monokuma Announcement earlier after all.But...

"We should get Tomoko to the Infirmary and stop her bleeding."Igao stated into what was about to become awkward silence.

"Indeed.Yoshio please take her."Yoshio did as he was told and Akihiro picked up Tomoko's tiny body and handed it to him.

"But what about the investigation?"I asked.

"Aya Yoichi and Minako are still searching,so you all must continue the search."Akihiro followed Yoshio out of the Auditorium.

"Puhuhuhuhuhuhu!"Monokuma walked up the aisle to the stage."I'm soooo happy!Thanks to that someone this trial could be pretty fun!Depending on who wins I'll have to thank them!"Monokuma disappeared after leaving the Monokuma File on the floor.

"Looks like it's up to us."Igao took a look at Takumi.He grimaced."I hate hang victims."

"What?"

"I can look almost any other victim in the eyes but someone who died hanging..."He sighed."Will you help me get him down?"

I walked over to the body on shaky legs.Igao lifted the body so that the rope went slack.I slipped his head out of the noose and Igao laid him on the ground.

Takumi's face disturbed me.His puffy lips and wide wide eyes didn't look natural on a human being.They would look more at home on a frog.His hair was a mess and his fingers were cut from where he must have tried to grab at the rope while he hung.His neck was squeezed into a small tube no bigger than a metal pipe where he had hung.

"Did he..."I swallowed."...did he do this himself?"

Igao gave Takumi a once over,looking at the neck wound.

Is he...surprised?

"It is most likely he did it himself.He has no other external injuries except...but that might just be coincidence."He gestured for me to come closer to the body.Reluctantly I inched closer to Takumi."I am going to teach you the next level of investigating murder."

"Which is?"I asked fearing the answer.

"Examining a body properly."

My stomach turned."Igao I really can't-"

"Shizuko what would you do if I were to be murdered?"Igao asked me suddenly.

I blanched."What do you mean?"

"I have been sensing lately that the next murder to occur will be mine,so what would you do in that situation?"

What would I do if he died?

"I need to make sure I leave behind hearty investigators so that my death will not be in vain."He turned back to Takumi."I would hate to have the only friends I've ever had die."