adsum | npc contact.1

[ Real hecking shady, you guys. But from the way Maya doesn't look surprised at all, maybe she's just used expecting this from Natsume, though she does stare at Shuichi long enough to become uncomfortable. ]

...transfer students. [ she repeats with something of an exasperated scoff, but lifts her chin and turns away. ]

You're right. You're not being clear at all. Say what you mean without all the pretense, and it will save everybody a lot of headache.

[ With a little sigh, she moves further into the stairwell, going ahead and standing on the first step so she can be just a little bit taller and closer to their heights, while at the same time having her eye on the door and ear out for the stairs behind her. ]

I will hear you out first, and whether or not I agree will depend on that. Tell me enough to provide context, but not so much that I would take all your hard work and report it myself, if you have not done so already.

You're so SHREWD.

( he doesn't dislike that but where is your theatrical spirit... natsume takes care to lower his voice, aware stairwells carry sound all too well. )

Very WELL, I'll get on with IT. To put it plainLY, we've inspected the body of Okane-san as well as the area and oTHERS, and found out some key deTAILS... Such as how she DIED, where the clean-up WENT, and an idea of what she may have been up to in her last HOURS. FurtherMORE, we're aware of who was behind the explosion a few days prior to Okane-san's pasSING, and we're aware of a reason why the water here runs as rosy pink as a maiden-in-love's CHEEKS.

( it's all probably vague enough, so he'll glance at shuichi -- anything to add? )

[ Wait... should they be mentioning the water? Come to think of it, Shuichi's never heard any of the regular students wonder about its color, much like how it was only them who freaked out about a certain display case in the auditorium, or who ever questioned the lack of red paint in the art room. But well... it's too late to take it back now, so the most he can do is to covertly watch Maya for a reaction as that part's brought up.

He only hesitates for a moment, before: ]

Ah... The incident in the library from a while ago... We've investigated that too.

[ He'd drawn his gaze away before, under the scrutiny he received that had made him uncomfortable, but now that he's talking to her... It feels just a little dishonest not to face Maya. And so he does to the best he can, with just a single cautious look at the staircase behind her. He knows why she's guarding it... actually, the fact that she is somehow helps. ]

I know that all this should probably be reported to the staff or the student council, but... We have reasons why we've decided not to so far.

[ And came to only her in person, instead. She's part of the student council, that's true... But she's not the whole group. ]

[ Maya's reaction is very much a lack of— not that she seems dismissive of what she's hearing or acts as if she already knows everything Natsume and Shuichi are telling her, but her general demeanor is calm and she looks intently at whoever is speaking without betraying her feelings on the matter. ]

At least you have some sense. Reporting incomplete information will prompt people to act on false assumptions and lead to a faulty conclusion. That aside...

[ Shuichi is the one who looked away, so she chooses him to pin her piercing gaze on, even though she's following up on Natsume's words. ]

Okane's body was never officially found, and yet you claim to have seen it. If you decide to report any of this, you'd better have a damn good reason why she's still missing.

( RIP Shuichi, but he shouldn't show weakness around wolves. It's not an unexpected reaction from the small bits of time he's been around Maya though, so Natsume continues on just as he ever does. )

We'll decide if we're reporting it or leaving it up to someone else tomorROW, once we have as much information as we can manage to gaTHER.

( Probably. But yeah, they sure did just steal a whole body huh- )

Her body is perfectly SAFE, just to put it on reCORD. We haven't done anything nefarious with or to her - some of us simply wanted more hours and daylight to check her over to ascertain what hapPENED. We're concerned about what's going on here as much as anyone else might be, you KNOW. We attend this school TOO.

Actually... Before we move forward, there's something I'd like to ask.

[ The look... doesn't kill him as much as it could have to be honest. By this point, he's had just enough time to settle and think, and there's actually something more important on his mind at the moment than shrinking away. Welcome to Shuichi in deduction mode. ]

Arisu-san... How did you know if the information we have is too incomplete to be reported? Sakasaki-kun might have mentioned we didn't think we've seen the whole picture... but that alone shouldn't be enough to decide it.

[ They didn't divulge any details. And when he said they had reasons they're holding off... he never specified what they were. It's not that he's suspecting Maya though, and he makes careful to keep his tone calm and earnest enough to convey that. He's only wondering... ]

In other words... there's something that makes you more certain than just what we said.

[ What does she know -- her own piece of the puzzle, perhaps -- that had made that so indisputable? ]

"Attend" in a manner of speaking, anyways, but you're the ones forming a "transfer student" clique and separating yourselves from the student body, not me.

[ As nonchalant as she appeared in being elected the new student council president, it is, in the end, a position that she agreed to and holds to the best of her ability, and that means having the responsibility and a vision for the school as a whole. ]

The school is a community whether we like it or not. You may not trust those in power, and you may not get along with everybody, but you have those you are close to and will fight to protect. That is natural in any environment.

[ She'd started to look away as she talks, gaze drifting down and to her left, but it snaps back up to Shuichi's face in an instant. ]

You don't know who did it yet. If you did, you would spread the word— if not to the staff, then to the other students, because somebody with the capacity to kill and not step forward about it is a danger to everybody around them.

[ All the staff wants is somebody to persecute. They don't have a name, and therefore, by her logic, nothing worth reporting. ]

( ...What a sense of responsibility. )

We're attempting to keep it on the downLOW, considering the culprit has a bounty on their HEAD. Seeing as they did their best not to left anything that might identify THEM, it's safe to say they wouldn't be interested in keeping around anyone who might threaten that anonymiTY.

( He pauses, watching her not unlike the way a scientist watches a new specimen. )

If nothing ELSE, I trust that neither you nor your brother had something to do with this; you're showing yourself to be a very responsible young woman dedicated to her communiTY, and if Hiro-kun had done anyTHING, I think you'd be trying to dissuade us from sniffing at this mystery furTHER.

But you ARENT.

( and that is enough to, at least, alleviate some suspicion of his. there's always the possibility she's a good liar, but he's offering her some good faith for the moment. )

I asked you to come out to talk and exchange information precisely because we don't have enough to strike upon a NAME. We were hoping you could assist with that primariLY. ( ... ) And if you'd like to attend our next meeTING, if it bothers you so much that you weren't incluDED, then I can escort you to IT.

( hes not looking at shuichi for that hes not asking permission )

[ In a manner of speaking? What does she mean...? He wants to ask for a second, but the conversation progresses too quickly and there are other things to consider right now. Such as... that she seems to find the name the most important part, which feels somehow a little different from when he and Kokichi had sought the vice-principal out. He distinctly remembers her saying, to the disapproval of the rest of her staff... she was more interested in learning why the crime was committed -- and at the time, he himself hadn't known how he felt about that, but right now...

Wait. What? ]

...Right.

[ Okay. He'll cover for you, Natsume -- if only because he distinctly remembers what he was about to say before Maya walked in, which is that they'll be getting nowhere without at least trying to start trusting people. He never got to make that promise with actual words in the end, but he'll stick to it nonetheless. ]

There was a bit of a special circumstance involved in the lineup of the meeting, but... I don't think any of us would mind if you participated. Not if it means getting closer to the truth.

[ Once he's done side-eyeing Natsume for a second, his gaze returns to Maya and he continues to face her with a thoughtful air. ]

Besides... If we're going to arrive at a name, there's something else quite important we're missing first, and I think... you'd be better at guessing it than us. I'm talking about... the motive for the murder.

[ She doesn't say anything about the trust that's extended to her and her brother, and with how careful she is with her words, they might get the impression that even if either of them were guilty, she would be having this conversation just the same. She sounds sure of herself, sharing what she needs to, keeping what doesn't need to be said. ]

I have little intention of letting myself be interrogated by a dozen people. One Sakasaki is enough. [ The way he called her out? twice?? Also imagine if she were at their previous meeting, she would have left after two minutes. ] If it comes to it, I'll think about it then, but I don't mind what we're doing now either. A smaller group is best, and anything more than this number gets unwieldy.

[ Three's a crowd, etc, etc. The student council? Impossible to work together as a cohesive unit. That's why it was always better with just her and her brother, like she'd told Natsume before, but sometimes you can't solve things when somebody else has gone in and stolen a whole ass body. ]

As for a motive... [ She keeps her thoughts to herself but Natsume and Shuichi are smart, they've probably had a similar line of thought. An accident can be ruled out on the account of there being no reason not to step up in the case of an accident. The student council president is somebody chosen by the school, and targeting a prominent position such as that is risky— the fact that somebody does suggests the target was also purposeful. Without known enemies, any rivalry would likely be grades within the third year class, although that motive isn't very strong with it being the start of the year...

... ]

...What students want most is to graduate. You too, Sakasaki, said your primary concern is leaving this place. Perhaps somebody thought to cull the competition early.

[ considering... you know... their graduation rate... ]

( "One Sakasaki is enough" is music to his ears. He doesn't want to be hated, but he does like getting on people's nerves. An extremely delicate balance.

Though right, graduating - leaving school - he doesn't know if he'd kill someone over it, but... Natsume frowns slightly, and —

it might seem a little out-of-the-blue, but: )

You're aware of my memory proBLEMS, Arisu-shi. Would you remind me what this school's graduation requirements ARE? Given the fact only one person graduated this past YEAR, I assume they're either extremely strict or extremely NICHE.

( he wants so badly to ask about if maybe this is also about the Rules for this year but he's already focused on the graduation reqs part and those don't marry well

shuichi, gain enstars stage telepathy and understand... maybe he shouldn't have kept 90% of his convo with maya to himself. Future Natsume Problems. )

...

[ Sorry, Natsume... there can only be one blue-haired character per series who claims to be psychic, and well, sure Shuichi can deduce stuff but things that haven't been referenced by either party are kind of pushing the line.

Plus, he's getting the feeling if he talks right now, Maya might decide to ask why he's not reminding Natsume what those requirements are. Where... He could probably make up an excuse about how the student council president is likely better equipped to outline them, but still.

Time to skip this turn and try to be as invisible as possible; you know, like when you didn't read your stuff for class and you're hoping the teacher won't pick you for answers. If he's ever been thankful he doesn't (by nature) have presence, it's now. ]

Your memory problems borderline absurdity, Sakasaki. Why do I bother talking with you if you're going to forget everything I said the next time we meet?

[ Shuichi is not saying anything and so Maya goes back to staring a hole through the center of his forehead. She knows that tactic... has a brother who does this exact thing when he doesn't know what's going on which is all the time. ]

The rules are changing due to a change in power: from the vice principal filling in the principal's role, to the student council president's role being passed down to me, the rules are still in the process of being settled. The student council president doesn't hold as much power as you'd think... but I do have some influence, and I will do what I can.

( he looks ticked for just a moment, just a flash, but it mellows out to one of new understanding: the rules and requirements to graduate are just one and the same.

...what a stupid system. )

And I thought my old school was rigoROUS. ( a sigh, waving his hand. ) Requirements that aren't always clear and ebb like the TIDE... This is quite the SCHOOL.

How lucky we are to be students in IT. ( a little dryly said, and he glances at shuichi briefly. hmmm. ) I suppose culling the competition is a valid moTIVE, but wouldn't you think that murder is a little MUCH? And to put that kind of note on her body as WELL...

( natsume shakes his head, fully aware maya doesn't know what he's talking about. this is transfer student meeting rights. )

Wouldn't you agree that it's gaRISH, Saihara-kun?

[ He knows that stare too... Someone else used to do it as well, every time he was silent or hesitated to draw his conclusions, and he almost expects the accompanying "Do you want to die?" to follow for a second. It doesn't though, of course, and he's only left with a stupid-looking half-expectant expression as the rest of the conversation moves on and he's forced to return to the present. ]

Ah... r-right. I do think so too, but that's assuming... the killer and the person who dropped her were the same.

[ He's been thinking about this for a while -- and it ties into what he wanted to ask; if he'd had more time, he'd thank Natsume for the cue but he doesn't right now so he only pulls something out from his pocket. As he holds it forward and his fingers part to show it... it turns out to be an armband, yellow and clearly marked with the words "student council". Sorry, Natsume, this is probably news to you too unless Izumi felt the need to mention it for some reason. ]

...I found this in my locker the day after the body turned up. And I suppose the most obvious thought is the person who murdered her tried to frame me, but... think about it for a minute.

[ Shuichi has his doubts about that. This is why he needed a student who isn't a transfer, someone with more insight of the school. ]

I don't have a connection with Okane-san, nor an obvious motive. And there wasn't any additional evidence set up either... So did this really come from her killer?

[ It's a stupid system, but it's the circumstances they all have to work with. Competition is a bit much, but it comes much easier— much more naturally— than cooperation does amongst groups of people split by class, or by familiarity, or by grade, or by club, people banding together in small groups but never as a cohesive whole. That level of cooperation is simply impossible with so many people. ]

What note?

[ She asks the question sharply, staring at the armband same as the one pinned around her own sleeve. Her gaze flickers to Natsume for a split second, but then trains on Shuichi again. Does he think more than one person was involved? It's possible, but she can't say for sure without knowing all the details. It bothers her, though, to see the armband away from its owner. ]

...and why you? What makes you so special, Saihara?

[ If not to frame, then it must be to send a message. Something only Shuichi can figure out. ]

( To her credit, Natsume's staring at the armband too — Izumi never tells him anything because they're two pissy cats at each other 90% of the time, so he hadn't realized this is what Shuichi meant.

But why you? what makes you so special?

The only thing that does make them special: they're not supposed to be here, despite everyone's memories of them to the contrary, but how that makes sense with figuring out a mystery -

is it such a coincidence that it turned up in the hands of the so-called Ultimate Detective?

He purses his lips and answers her first question evenly, eyes narrowed at the armband. )

A note that said "donation" on IT. Either someone thinks of that doll on stage differently than the rest of YOU, or they know something you DON'T.

( not we. )

...This note.

[ If it's that slip of paper they want, then well... they're in luck since Shuichi was also the one who took it, when they were checking against the materials available in the art room. And so he has it on hand, able to pull that from his pocket to back Natsume as well. There's one more distinctive feature about it too, which he doesn't think he needs to mention for Maya to notice: the letters are cutouts, so whoever did it was trying to mask their handwriting in that manner. ]

Sakasaki-kun is right. I don't think the fact it was placed on the body was just coincidence. Not when you consider where it was dropped... The staff found the bloodstain, right?

[ And Maya's proven collected and smart in this conversation, so after Natsume's hint, he doubts there's more need to explain. But who of the transfer students... would even be qualified to discern what sort of message that's trying to give? They've been having a hard time even making sense of where they are, what with the fragmented memories that barely feel like they belong to them -- and don't even fully overwrite the ones that do. ]

As for why me...

[ This part's more difficult to say, and his voice ends up softer, more meek. ]

That might be... because of my job. I can't say for certain, but... it isn't exactly a secret I work at a detective's office. I'm only an apprentice... and I might not be any good at it, but even so... If this wasn't in my locker to frame me, then it's a clue. I'm sure of it. Someone trusted me to find something.

[ And he's already failing them... That does feel pretty bad. ]

Ugh.

[ Her distaste is immediate upon seeing that note, and there's no need to comment on how inappropriate that is, especially at the disgusted look she gives Natsume at calling the body a doll. ]

Don't be rude. That's a person in there, no matter what anybody else says, or wants to pretend otherwise.

[ Scrunching her nose a little, she leans in to look at the note, letting Shuichi keep holding onto it because that thing touched a dead body? she's not touching it. ]

Anyways, I don't know anything about you being a detective, unless you just picked up that job over spring break or sometime recent. Is that supposed to be common knowledge? It's obviously not as apparent as you believe, at least not outside your circle of friends.

( Oh, she's acknowledging it -

maybe she knows who it is, too. Natsume tilts his head back against the wall, thinking, and he doesn't look at Maya when he asks: )

Arisu-shi, how much do you actually know about US? Either of us - it doesn't matTER.

( This is kind of related, but it's also a bit of a tangent. Sorry. )

We're all in the same YEAR, so I assume we have some familiarity with each other thanks to last year at miniMUM, if not any time beFORE. Can you actually state any facts about us that you haven't discovered since this year starTED, and are they actually accuRATE?

...

[ It's not as apparent...? Outside his circle? The way Maya phrases that gives Shuichi pause, to the point he shrinks back from the flinch he'd initially given, a normal reaction as she calls out the body in the display for what it is. Not a doll. Or actually... she didn't even call it a body. He's thought about that himself -- he'd have more to say on the matter had this happened before. But right now, there's only the cold shiver he feels down his spine as he freezes in place, and the all-too-familiar sting of doubt in his head.

Was he wrong about the armband after all...? Maybe it was just the culprit attempting to frame him -- there's a part of him that most certainly wants to run there, wants to hide from the rest of the implications he'd have to think of instead. ]

...Right. I think Sakasaki-kun has a point. No matter how you look at it, something like a job I've been doing for years is... ah, I mean, I might not be anything special... but isn't this level of discrepancy kind of odd?

[ ...Maybe if some explanation for this comes, then he doesn't have to think about it. He doesn't have to consider he shouldn't be doubting his deduction, and anything that comes after. It's fine. He's not panicking internally a little or anything. He doesn't even care how weird this all sounds anymore. ]

We're not friends.

[ Why should she know anything about them? How much are you supposed to know about other people in your grade, honestly... ]

If you've been a detective for years, I won't know unless you advertise that fact around the school and offer your services, but why would you? I would suggest against it, actually. The more nosy you are, the larger target you'll become. Who here knows you're a detective?

( —That's fair, he supposes. He'd consider himself knowing a lot about the people in his year, but if he really narrows down who he knows the most about, it's only the people who've interested him prior. He has a passing knowledge of most people, but he'd never be able to tell you anything endlessly. )

I'm hurt; I thought we got along quite WELL. ( :') ...he's not hurt but he's acting it, oh boo hoo, just drop another book on his foot one day. ) But to answer your quesTION, more people than you think DO.

( He glances at Shuichi, then shrugs and holds out his opened, but otherwise untouched, custard-filled bread to Maya. It's either a peace offering for the conversation, which is a slightly nicer gesture than the end of their last conversation, or it's part of the payment for giving them the time of day and some things to think on to boot. Either way: )

Thank you for sparing us your TIME, Little Wolf, especially with how stressed you undoubtedly must be with everything on your HANDS. We appreciate the chat — we'll let you go a few minutes early in recomPENSE.

( If nothing else it's given them more to consider so, you know, it wasn't too terrible. )

[ Natsume's right... stuff happened, like Komaeda shouting it from the ceiling for everyone in the auditorium to hear, Ouma telling others, etc. But... Maya has a point too. None of the regular students had seemed to mention it on their own; whatever's going on with them seems to overlap for the most part with other things -- things that Shuichi isn't sure he remembers as well as them in the first place.

It's something to think about. ]

I-I don't know if that's much of a recompense...

[ Natsume, please. ]

But... it's true that this did help a lot. Maybe more than you think it did. Thank you, Arisu-san.

[ He'll add that, and tbh I'm mostly tagging this because he'll stare curiously to see if Maya even takes the custard bread... Does she even like sweets? Very important plot clues that are very needed. ]

[ She takes the custard bread but she's going to take it home and give it to her brother, Shuichi doesn't get to know. ]

npc contact.1

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