[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnYv49EALzY]

7:50 PM

Ozaki arrives at the school with barely any time to spare. Kanamori had instructed them to meet inside Class 1-A, so it would be best if Ozaki went straight there.

>>9139
I do so.

>>9140
Ozaki goes straight to the classroom.

Inside he finds:

Marie Moriya
Takeshi Nonomiya
Yoko Numata
Michiru Sakurada
Tomoko Okada
Yuuki Noda
Aya Souma
Masaaki Yoshikawa
Yukari Sakaki
Reiko Osumi
Hikaru Nihei
Midori Kusunoki
Shuichi Arimori

...Also inside are both Kanamori and the Nurse.
The kids seem to be talking to each other, introducing themselves. Kanamori approaches Ozaki.

"Oh, just in time! It's 8:00, just as we planned. Do you think any other students will be coming?"

>>9141
"Hmm... this is every one who informed me they would be coming. I think it's safe to assume this is everyone."

>>9142
"Alright! I believe everyone has already introduced themselves. Welcome to the Mystery-Solving Club! Tonight we shall do our best to solve the school's Eight Mysteries!"

Michiru stands up.

"Sensei. I know not everyone may believe me... but I believe I have a sixth sense. If there's anything I can do to help, please tell me!"

>>9143
Suddenly the other students become interested in what Michiru has to say.

"...I believe I can talk to the Youkai. What does everyone think? Should I try contacting them?"

>>9144
After hearing other people's responses I add my thoughts.

"Although we are trying to provide realistic answers to these mysteries there shouldn't be any harm in trying. Give it your best shot."

>>9145

[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tm92_MLlazA]

The rest of the students agree with Ozaki's opinion.

"...Right. Well, here I go..."

Michiru closes her eyes and whispers a few words under her breath. The whole room focuses intently on her.

"...Are any Youkai here tonight? Please, come out and show yourselves!"

Everyone waits...

>>9146
"...Stupid."

[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WP3HUr2taRw]

"What?!" Michiru breaks out of her trance.

"You thought just closing your eyes and saying a few words would do something? I was expecting something better than this."

"See, I knew you wouldn't believe me! And you interrupted it! So now it won't work!"

"...You were relying on someone to interrupt you anyway. That way you could just blame the failure on them."

It seems these two are getting into an argument. Will Ozaki intervene, or let it progress?

>>9147
"Devil's Proof..."

I intervene

"When it comes down to it, not just this discussion but everything to do with the supernatural breaks down to one without evidence. When a claim has no evidence to prove itself, the adjacent claim follows suit. Youkai exist; Youkai do not exist."

I stand up

"Although this club is stationed around the whole idea of this devil's proof I do not want to see an ugly displace of emotions. Both sides have presented their claims whether direct or not. With the devil's proof one would say both are equal.
However the supernatural side has the hardest time, as it can only be proven by showing something impossible by humans means. However at the same time it is in the clear without any evidence due to the devil's proof. This was an excellent example."

"Anyway, this introduction is being apply directly to the main purpose of the club. When solving mysteries you must have an open mind. With these Eight Mysteries of the school you will have to keep an open mind for both sides to come to a perfect conclusion."

>>9148
"Spoken like a true science teacher, Ozaki! If the club members can't respect different points of view, then this won't be very productive at all. So why don't we do a little team-building activity?"

...A classic example of good teaching practices, the Nurse seems to know what she's doing. She suggests that the larger group is divided into three groups.

"You see, the less people in a group, the stronger the bonds become. And competition among the groups would give them motivation to do well, strengthening their bonds further."

Kanamori interrupts. "The only problem is who would go with who. Should we let them choose, or should we decide for them? Ozaki?"

I say we split the students up and I suggest the teams as such:

Marie Moriya
Michiru Sakurada
Tomoko Okada
Souma Aya

Takeshi Nonomiya
Yoko Numata
Masaaki Yoshikawa
Nihei Hikaru

Osumi Reiko
Sakaki Yukari
Yuuki Noda
Kusunoki Midori
Arimori Shuichi

"Seems either way one group will have an extra. Not much we can do about that."

>>9150
"That seems fine to me..."

The Nurse chimes in. "Although, if I were to make one change, I would switch Aya and Yukari."

Kanamori continues. "Very well. You can take Marie's team, Ozaki will take Takeshi's team, and I'll take the last team."

All of the students get into their assigned teams. Kanamori then explains what is next:

"We'll section off our teams into the three classrooms on this floor. After an hour, we will regroup, and the team with the best explanation for one of the Eight mysteries gets a prize."

>>9151
[http://tindeck.com/listen/cdok]

The students all agree to Kanamori's plan.

Thus, the two other teams leave, and Ozaki remains in this room with Hikaru, Takeshi, Yoko, and Masaaki.

The first thing the team needs to pick is one of the Eight Mysteries to solve. What will they decide upon?

>>9152
Discuss which one first with my team.

>>9153
Masaaki: "I don't really know much about the mysteries here. I came here to learn more."

Takeshi: "I suggest the mystery of Uuu-san. I wrote about it in a news article, and it seemed interesting."

Yoko: "I'll go with Takeshi's idea."

Hikaru: "Uuu-san? That's a dumb mystery. The mystery of the music room's youkai is much more interesting! Haven't you heard about it?"

>>9154
"Hmm... So this Uuu-tan or the music room then. I have heard a bit about the first however nothing about the music room yet. What is the story behind that one?"

>>9155
Hikaru explains. "Supposedly anyone who enters the music room at night and stays too long, might hear the sounds of clicking castanets. And when they turn to look where they came from, they see a cloaked figure of a youkai, growing an growing, until they realize -- the youkai wasn't growing -- they are shrinking! And the sounds of castanets were merely the chattering of their teeth... their rabbit teeth! How do you think we got so many rabbits in our rabbit pen?! All of the misbehaving students ended up there!"

>>9156
"I see so the students apparently turn into rabbits... That one is interesting as well.

To refresh my memory what do you know about the Uuu-tan one Takeshi?"

>>9157
"Female students reported hearing cries of "uuu" in the bathroom. So people began to think it was a youkai, who was dubbed 'Uuu-san'. Later, Goldbar-sensei confessed to killing Maria in that very bathroom, and that Uuu-san had taken his own life. Ever since, I think all the girls were afraid to use that bathroom, fearing Uuu-san, or any other spirits in there..."

Yoko nods her head.

>>9158
"I see I see. Let me ask both of you then what you believe the truth of these events are. You both seems to have thought about it more than normal so we can pick which we will investigate based on your theories. If we have enough time we may be able to investigate more than one."

>>9159
Hikaru: "I have no idea what would be happening to the students who go missing... But the simplest solution is that the rabbits are normal rabbits, reproducing at a normal rate. You know rabbits have a high libido, right?"

Takeshi: "As for Uuu-san, any female could be imitating the "uuu" sound. But that would also mean it was a human who killed Kinjo, not a youkai... I don't know who would want to kill such a nice teacher, even if he had a bad reputation. It's weird thinking about it, as I never would've thought he was that kind of guy..."

>>9160
"Well then. With these theories it would leave the rabbit mystery solved while the uuu mystery asking even more questions.

For now let's head to the music room and we can take a look around. We can wait in the room to see if anything happens while we continue to talk about the uuu mystery.

Objections?"

>>9161
Everyone agrees, and the team heads to the music room.

Masaaki restarts the conversation: "...So, what would a human have to gain from killing Goldbar-sensei? I could understand if it was Maria's ghost taking revenge, but a human?"

>>9162
I walk around the room looking are various instruments.

"Money, revenge, fear, love, hate, or beneficence. If it was a human who killed Goldbar I can see many possibilities open before me. The question is figuring out which one it would be...

Actually, Takeshi you said you investigated this mystery right? Did you also investigate Goldbar's history by any chance?

>>9163
There are all kinds of instruments here. Drums, violins, tubas, trumpets, flutes, cellos, pianos, tamborines, acoustic guitars... and castanets.

"Ah, well if you read my article I did mention something about his history... Immediately after the Uuu-san incident, other kids came out to protest against him. ...It might be an invasion of privacy to tell you the details, as the kids are in the other groups, and I would feel bad talking about them."

Hikaru interjects. "Did anyone tell you about the things he did to the rabbits?"

Takeshi shakes his head. "Huh?! You mean that's what happened to the rabbits?! I'll have to write about that next!"

Takeshi begins writing into a pocket-sized journal as Yoko closes her eyes and holds her mouth.

>>9164
"Actually I was wondering if you knew anything from before he arrived at the school. After all if it was a human they could have wanted revenge and just sneaked into the school and left after Goldbar was killed.

Oh and while we are talking about it. I was meaning to ask about that rabbit case. How exactly do you know Goldbar did it Hikaru? I would ask about the actual incident however it would be best to leave out those details for now."

I indicate to Yoko with the last sentence.

>>9165
Takeshi: "I don't know too much. But I know that a few years ago he got caught up in some twisted mass murder. It was all over the news... Maybe someone from back then wanted to kill him now? Did they escape prison?"

Hikaru: "...Anyway, I have no proof Goldbar-sensei used those rabbits other than my own experiences in biology class. He dissected our rabbits, and I know he took them home with him!"

>>9167
I play the first few lines of Moonlight Sonata on the piano while continuing to talk.

"Oh I think I heard about that incident. I believe the culprit received capital punishment for the crime, so it's unlikely they were the ones who did it. Which leaves even more questions.

Hmm... So you witnessed him taking the rabbits home then? Or found some other evidence?"

>>9168
"I saw him with my own eyes, stuffing those rabbits into his bag before leaving! It was very sickening!"

>>9170
"I see"

I finish the first movement of the song and decide to stop. I then get up and pick up the castanets.

"Anyway, it seems like nothing has happened yet. Should we wait a bit longer?"

>>9171
"...I think I know why." Masaaki says.

He points to the sign above the doorway. It's blank.

"The only reason I can think a youkai wouldn't show up here... is because this isn't the music room. Wherever they put the label for 'music room' must be the music room! It's total BS in my opinion, but that's gotta be it!"

>>9172
"So the sign is missing? That's odd."

I click the castanets in my hand. I then go over to the sign and give it a wipe in case the words are simply being covered. I then check to see how one would remove the sign.

"Still, with all the music instruments in this room one would have no other option to assume this is a music room."

>>9173
The sign isn't simply wiped. It's a totally blank sign. One would remove it like taking something off a hook. It's relatively easy for anyone to do.

"That is odd. I guess our work is done here, then?"

>>9175
I recall back to when I first entered the music room if the sign was there. I then put the castanets back.

"Looks that way. Should we regroup with the others or go investigate the uuu-san mystery?"

>>9178
The sign was there this morning, but was no longer there at night.

Looking at a nearby clock, you answer your own question. It's 9:15, so there really isn't enough time to do any more investigating before everyone regroups. Thus, you decide to return to the classroom, and your students follow.

>>9179
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WP3HUr2taRw]

Only a few more minutes pass by, and the Nurse suddenly enters Ozaki's classroom in a hurry.

"Ah, Ozaki-san! I need you to come with me. Kanamori had gone to the bathroom earlier, and the students in his classroom are all wondering what's taking him so long to come back. But I don't have a key to unlock the door. If only my Nurse's Key was as good as a Teacher's Key...! Well, thank God you're here."

>>9181
"Oh so you already tried to go get him but the door was locked? That's odd, we might as well go get him.

You kids stay here while Nurse and I go get Kanamori."

I leave with the nurse however don't go straight to the bathroom. As we walk through the hallway I start talking with her.

"Hey before we go to the bathroom lets check the staff room. Before the club started tonight he was talking about leaving something in the staff room so he may have simply decided to go get it."

>>9182
"Yeah, the door was locked. Anyway, we can go to the staff room real quick. He might be there."

The two quickly arrive at the staff room. There is no sign of Kanamori anywhere inside.

>>9184
"Hmm looks like he is not here."

I check the key box for the contents and then the windows to see if they are locked.

>>9185
Inside the keybox are:
-Supplies Room Key
-Security Room Key
-Nafumi's Key

There are no windows in the staff room.

>>9186
"Alright lets head to the bathroom. Which floor is it?"

I make sure no one is hiding in the staff room and then I lock the door to the room when leaving.

>>9187
"...The first floor."

No one was found hiding in the staff room. Ozaki locks the door upon leaving.

He and the Nurse quickly arrive at the first floor bathroom. The Nurse grabs the door handle again, but is unable to open it. It's locked.

>>9188
I unlock the door and take out my flashlight and turn it on. I make sure to push the door back all the way so it hits the wall.

>>9189
Inside the bathroom are three stalls. All of their doors are apparently closed.

"Kanamori?" the Nurse calls out. No response.

>>9190
I glance behind the door and then check to see if the window is locked. I check the floor for anything and look at the mirrors and sinks quickly before turning my attention to the stalls. Regardless of anything on the ground I open each door one by one starting from the closest to the main door first.

>>9191
There is nothing behind the door. There seems to be a dark red substance on the dimly-lit floor, trailing into... no, out of one of the stalls. The mirrors and sinks seem normal although somewhat dirty. There are also some urinals opposite the stalls.

Ozaki opens each stall one by one...

>>9192
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F52K7Lln6UQ]

...Upon pushing the door open, Ozaki finds the corpse of Yoshihito Kanamori, lying on the cold tile floor. His face had been completely mutilated beyond recognition. Only his clothes indicated he was Kanamori.

After witnessing this, the Nurse closes her eyes and lets out a terrifying scream. The world freezes and time stops. Ozaki should know what to do here.

>>9193
I take a look at the whole bathroom in order to survey the room.

>>9194
There are three stalls, five urinals. A dark red blood trails out of Kanamori's stall into the center of the room (his stall being the middle one). There are also three windows, positioned close to the ceiling and opposite the stalls. As previously mentioned the sinks and mirrors (three of each) are rather grimy, as is the rest of the bathroom.

>>9195
I check the windows to see if they are locked.

>>9196
They are.

>>9197
I check all the stalls for anything besides the body. Also checking the walls for any writing. I check the urinals too.

>>9198
In the one stall that hasn't been checked yet, on the toilet paper dispenser sits a metal key with "KANAMORI" written on it.

There are various scribblings in the stalls, but they all seem to be typical toilet humor jokes.

The urinals are all rather dirty. Nothing unusual about them or inside them.

>>9199
I take the key.

I try the sink and look in the drain of each one as well as under them. I also try to move the mirrors.

I then look for any place in the room that isn't dirty.

>>9200
All of the sinks work. Nothing unusual is in the drains, or underneath any of the sinks. The mirrors cannot be moved.

The entire bathroom is crawling with filth.

>>9201
I check the lock on the main door. How it functions. I also check the hinges and back sides of each door in the room.

I check the ceiling for anything at all. As well as the condition of the lights.

While I am at it I check inside all of the toilets. Inside the bowls and the tank.

>>9202
The main door has a deadbolt lock. The hinges and back sides are fully intact, including each stall's doors.

The ceiling has nothing unusual on it. The lights flicker on and off repeatedly, telling their age.

All three toilets look incredibly filthy and are disgusting to look at. They are the old-fashioned Japanese-style squatting toilets. Despite being relatively easy to clean, the condition of the toilets show that no one has cleaned them in ages. The stall Kanamori was found in also contains a faint stench of human waste. Ultimately, nothing is found in either the bowls or the tanks aside from putrid filth.

>>9203
I check the body thoroughly.
Check inside clothing, inside pockets, inside of shoes, bottom of shoes, whole body for any other wounds, etc.

>>9204
The only wound is in his head, which remains an indistinguishable bloody mess. Regardless, blood has gotten all over the floor and even on some parts of his shirt, including his pockets.

The only thing found inside his clothing is inside his pants, which are soaking with feces and urine.

>>9205
Since we already entered I should know if the door is the type to close when you let go of it.

>>9206
The door does indeed close when let go, but it does not lock.
There is a small door wedge nearby to prop it open when needed.

>>9207
I check the door wedge to see if it is just as filthily as the rest of the room.

>>9210
It is.

>>9211
Judging from the filth this doorstop has not been used. Otherwise there would have been at least a small part of it that was marked by the lack of filth.

>>9212
"That is correct. Do you want a cookie?"

The girl laughs as she steps out from the shadows of a bathroom stall.

>>9213
"Oh, hey. I didn't see you there. Anyway you can keep your cookies I have something better in mind."

[ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYHy3VnZRp0 ]

"You see when Nurse and I entered the room neither of us touched the inside door. The reason for that being because I had opened it all the way and then it closed automatically due to the mechanics. Seeing how Kanamori was found, plus where the blood lay shows us that he didn't have a chance to leave this room either.

Now, because of all the filth in the room it is safe to say that nobody has recently entered here until tonight. Which naturally would mean the doorstop hasn't been used either.
In other words this means that the inside handle of the door could have only been touched by someone else who had entered this room before us!"

I take out the CaCO3, in other words chalk and use a combination of fabric from clothing and lock pick kit to effectively dust for fingerprints!

>>9214
"Are you sure you don't want one? I have a friend who can find some tea cakes if you prefer those."

Higanbana calmly watches, munching on her cookie as Ozaki works on the door handle. Eventually, he finds......

"Hmm? Can't you see? There isn't a single fingerprint on the door handle inside this room! You didn't have to use chemicals to figure that out!"

>>9215
"Oh is that so?"

I check the results again. With such a dirty surface and with this method if someone had touched it even with gloves it would still have been picked up. In other words glove-prints. Not to mention it would tell us the fabric of the glove.

>>9216
"Are you deaf or something? Including glove prints, there isn't a single fingerprint on the interior door handle! Here, have one!"

The girl throws a cookie in Ozaki's direction, missing terribly. It smacks against the wall and lands on the tile floor, partially breaking.

The moment Ozaki turns his gaze back to her, she has disappeared from the room completely.

>>9217
"You leave before denying marks at all? Well then."

Without relying on her I confirm that there are no marks whatsoever on the handle.

>>9218
Just to be safe, Ozaki tries one more time. There are indeed no marks indicating anyone had touched the interior doorknob.

With that, time resumes, and the Nurse speaks.

"...Kanamori... He's dead. Let's go back to the classrooms and protect the children! It's too dangerous for them to be here anymore!"

>>9219
"You are right lets hurry back."

I put away the remaining CaCO3 and go with the nurse.

>>9220
Ozaki and the Nurse quickly arrive at the three classrooms. Inside Class 1-C are Marie, Michiru, Tomoko, and Yukari. The Nurse dismisses them all and goes back into the hallway.

She then tries the door to Kanamori's team's room, Class 1-B... but it too is locked.

"Ozaki-san. You'll need to open the door again."

>>9222
I unlock the door and enter.

>>9223
http://tindeck.com/listen/lzml

Ozaki opens the door... and sees the corpses of five students. Aya, Midori, Reiko, Yuuki, and Shuichi. All of their faces are destroyed beyond recognition, just like Kanamori's. They could only be identified by their trademark clothing.

Time once again freezes.

>>9224
I go up and check each body to the same extent as Kanamori. However this time I also take one of the sharper piece of the lock pick kit and without being seen stab each body under the armpit trying to hit an intercostal nerve or some other one to check the body really is dead.

>>9225
According to the results of Ozaki's test, all five of these bodies truly are dead.

>>9226
As for what is found upon checking each body...

Nothing. They only wear their clothing, some of which don't even have pockets to put things in. Nothing is stuffed in their shoes or socks either. They genuinely don't have anything but their clothing.

>>9227
I survey the room.

>>9228
The five bodies lay in total disarray, just like the rest of the room. The chalkboard in the front is stained with blood. There's a large space in the middle of the room, and the desks have been cleared out to the sides. Blood is spilled all over the cold, dark floor.

There are two large windows lining the outside of the room. They face directly toward the pitch-black backside of the school. Various posters throughout the room are now coated in blood as well.

>>9229
Check to see if the windows are damaged in anyway. If they are locked too. Also check to see what one would see from looking directly out of the windows if anything.

>>9231
Both windows are perfectly intact and locked.

It's difficult to see anything outside. The moonlight hardly shines through the window.

>>9232
I check the chalkboard for anything odd. Also the blood on the chalkboard.

>>9233
Blood oozes down the chalkboard in an unnatural pattern. The chalkboard is also a good distance away from the corpses.

Aside from the blood, there isn't anything of importance found on the chalkboard.

>>9234
I stand in different parts of the room trying to see if the blood happens to be some sort of message needing an optical trick in order to read.

>>9235
Maybe it's just your imagination, but it does seem to spell something out...

>>9236
>Kinjo

Well then.

I check the area where the blood is on the floor. ie looking if there are any drag marks or if the blood is indeed only a huge puddle centered in the room.

>>9237
Blood has collectively gathered from the five corpses. It seems natural enough.

>>9238
Check the posters for anything odd as well. Also check behind all the posters.

>>9239
Check all the desks for anything. Also make sure no one is hiding in the room. Finally check the ceiling.

>>9239
>>9240
Nothing strange on or behind the posters. Just normal school stuff.

There is nothing on or under the desks. There is no one hiding in the room, and nothing unusual on the ceiling either.

>>9241
I check to door to see how it functions as with the lock on it.

>>9242
The door has a deadbolt lock. It functions like a door.

>>9243
Elaborate.
Most Japanese schools have sliding doors for classes. Does this one have hinges like western schools?

>>9244
It's a Western door!

>>9246
Alright that makes it less complicated.

One last time I check the floor to see if there are any footprints other than mine from the blood.

>>9247
There are no footprints to be found.

>>9248
Assuming the bodies are not drenched in blood I try to see if any one of them drew the symbol on the chalkboard by looking at the fingers for blood. I also check the door for any blood.

>>9249
None of their fingers have any blood on them.

There isn't any blood on the door, either.

>>9250
I go over to the bodies and start to investigate them again this time more thoroughly.

Aya was an athlete, a runner at that. Her muscular tone around certain muscles of the lower calf and thighs would be rather distinct. Using this I check the body with Aya's clothing to confirm.

Shuichi was a pianist. As everyone knows they use their hands to the utmost extent and develop the muscles to stretch the distances needed to play the spaced keys. Not to mention people will small hands are discouraged from even playing the piano on a level such as his so they tend to have wider hands. I check the body with Shuichi's clothing to confirm.

Reiko was a victim of harassment and bullying. She is bound to have marks on her body from this. Not to mention I witnessed her get hurt so I should know where that newest wound is excluding the one on her face since it's destroyed. The one where she fell down and his the desk. Common bullying tactics include placing thumbtacks onto chairs or inside the shoe of the victim. She will most likely have old scars there as well. I check the body with Reiko's clothing to confirm.

I have nothing on Midori. I did see her dancing for the play or something similar however that wouldn't be enough to determine just from the naked eye. I doubt the play would be so fancy for her to have pin marks from getting fitted but I check the body regardless.

Yuuki was probably the model for the WIP I studied in great detail. I check the body and confirm from my memory of the sculpture.

>>9251
Ozaki begins his examinations of each corpse...

"Undressing little kids, and dead ones at that? I thought that Kinjo guy was bad, but this takes the cake!"

The doll-like girl giggles as Ozaki gathers his information:

-Aya's corpse does indeed have muscles of the calf and thighs distinct to a track athlete.
-Shuichi's corpse does indeed have wider hands.
-Reiko's corpse does indeed have a scar where she hit the desk.
-Midori's corpse does indeed have pin marks from getting fitted for the play.
-Yuuki's corpse does indeed resemble the sculpture from the art room.

>>9252
"Yeah yeah. Your taunts won't work on me. It's not like anyone stupid enough to misunderstand will see me. At least not on purpose.

Anyway. There is nothing stopping a human from committing this crimes. That was your objective wasn't it?

All the other teacher's keys are still missing. Anyone besides the kids in my group and myself could have committed the crime assuming the one who killed Kanamori also killed his group.

Of course we have yet to get to the alibis from the living so who knows who it could be. I can bet there will be an hole in them somewhere."

>>9254
"...Really, relying on such a cheap trick? Ever since 8:00 PM tonight, only three Teacher's Keys in total have existed inside this school building. That should be enough to shut you up for now."

The girl turns around and disappears into the darkness of the hallway.

>>9256
"I would thank you, but you probably planned to confirm it anyway."

I end my investigation.

>>9257

[ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lz_INZQaMC0 ]

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!"

The Nurse lets out another scream after seeing the bloody sight known as Classroom 1-B. Upon hearing the scream, the kids from both her and Ozaki's groups come rushing to the scene....

Most of the kids burst into tears. Others try to hold back.

"...Reiko... I didn't mean... I'm sorry..." Yoshikawa mutters through his teeth, tears pouring down his face.

Yukari attempts to comfort him, but both of their tears keep pouring out.

The children all remain confused, and the Nurse is shivering with panic. What should they all do?

>>9258
I take rollcall.

>>9259
Marie, Takeshi, Yoko, Michiru, Tomoko, Yukari, Masaaki, Hikaru, and the Nurse are all visibly present.

...Needless to say, this was the most horrifying roll call they have ever had to do in school.

>>9260
I close and lock the door.

"Everyone I think the smartest thing to do right now is get out of here and contact the police. Everyone stay together and follow me to the gates."

I make sure everyone stays together and we do so.

>>9262
Everyone does as Ozaki says and follows him out of the building, through the front door...

[ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F52K7Lln6UQ ]

...However, to their surprise, the gigantic gate surrounding the school looms before them. It is, in fact, securely locked.

"Huh?! Wasn't lock-down time at 11 PM?!" the Nurse cries.
"But for some reason it's an hour early...?" Marie adds.
"...Are we gonna be stuck in here?!" Yoko asks.

>>9263
"Nobody panic! We will just have to go get the key from the staff room and enter the room that controls the gates. Then we can escape."

We all then go to the staff room. I ask them while we walk.

"Does anyone know if there is a phone somewhere in the school?"

>>9264
Everyone agrees to Ozaki's plan, and they set out on the path to the staff room.

"There are lots of phones in the staff room, and there's also one in the infirmary. We should probably try the staff room first since it's on the way."

Ozaki then arrives at the staff room shortly after. The door is still locked.

>>9266
I open the door and we enter. I make sure everyone is still with me. I check the key box and take out all the keys and take them.

>>9270
Everyone is still together.

Ozaki grabs the Supplies Room Key, Security Room Key, and Nafumi's Key. The keybox is now empty.

>>9271
I try the call the police on a phone.

>>9272
Ozaki tries calling the police... but quickly realizes that the phone isn't working.

He tries each phone in the room, but none of them work.

"T-the phones aren't working?! This isn't good!"

The girls get even more frightened, while the boys try to remain calm. The Nurse looks at Ozaki as if waiting to hear what to do next.

>>9273
"Alright... next course of business. I have the key to the security room now so lets go and try to open the gates.

I take everyone to that room and I unlock the door with the key.

>>9275

Inside the security room is a large operational panel for controlling the gates. There are also several monitors, although none of them display anything. It doesn't look like there's any instruction manual lying around, either.

Aside from the machinery, there are various cabinets for storing things and couches to sit on. The kids takes seats while the Nurse and Ozaki remain standing.

>>9277
I check the cabinets and then go to the control panel and try to open the gates.

>>9278
All of the cabinets are locked. However, upon using the Supplies Room Key they can be opened. Inside each are various papers concerning the layout and construction of the school. It's nothing Ozaki didn't know already, though.

...However, one particularly large cabinet is entirely empty. What could have been inside it?

Ozaki tries for several minutes to get things working again. There was no sort of manual inside the cabinets for operating the control system, so Ozaki hopelessly tries his best... to no avail.

>>9279
I lock all the cabinets and tell everyone what the situation is.

"I'm afraid we won't be able to get out until the morning when others come for us. We will have to wait out the night."

I make everyone clam down if they get even more worried

"Now that this is certain I have no choice but to explain the situation we are all in. Kanamori along with his group of students have been murdered. At the moment there is nothing denying each of them all being killed by a human so I will have to take alibi's from everyone.

First thing is first everyone in my group; From when I left to when I returned tell me everything you four did. Did anyone leave the room during that time? Did anybody do something in the room? What did you talk about? Did you notice anything about the other members of the group? Every class should have a clock so give me an estimate for the time as well."

>>9280
Takeshi: "I can confirm that everyone remained in the room from the moment you left at 9:30 to the moment we all heard the Nurse scream, at 9:55."

Yoko: "That's right. None of us left the room."

Masaaki: "...Yeah. We just sat around for a while. The only two who talked were Takeshi and Yoko."

Hikaru: "Like I'd have anything to talk about with these guys. I didn't come here to socialize!"

>>9281
"Alright good. Now the other group and the Nurse.

This time I'm asking from when we split up the groups to when the Nurse came to get me. Which mystery did you go investigate? Which rooms did you go to? Did your group stay together that whole time you were investigating youkai? Who left if so and where did they go?"

>>9283
Nurse: "Our group decided on investigating the mystery of the Infirmary's Dancing Doll. After all, that doll is a special belonging of mine."

Marie: "I think the time we left the room was about 8:35. We had decided on it pretty quickly after the Nurse brought it up."

Tomoko: "But we didn't stay there long! We left again at 8:55, once we were finished looking around."

Michiru: "That's right. Then, at 9:20 or so, the Nurse decided to check on Kanamori to see how he was doing. But he wasn't there..."

Yukari: "...I think you know the rest, Ozaki-sensei. The Nurse then went with you to the bathroom, to find Kanamori-sensei..."

Nurse: "That's right. All of my students remained in the room while I was gone. Isn't that so?"

Marie: "Yes."
Tomoko: "Yes!"
Michiru: "Yes!"
Yukari: "...Yes."

>>9284
"So when you were investigating the doll everyone stuck together? Nobody sat on one of the beds and closed the curtains or anything like that?"

>>9286
"Nope! I don't see why anyone would have!"

The four students nod in agreement.

>>9288
"Interesting. So between 8:55 and 9:20 what do you do between that time? Did you all go to Class 1-C and wait there as everybody stayed together?"

>>9294
"That's right. All of us stayed together in Class 1-C talking about what we found."

>>9295
"Alright. Just to make sure, all these times people are giving me... they used the school clocks to check the time right?"

>>9296
Everyone who has given a time agrees that they all had looked at the school's mechanical clocks.

>>9297
"Nurse, when you left your class to go find Kanamori you said the students in his class were wondering where he had gone right? Did they come to your class to ask? Which student asked? Also at what time did that happen?"

>>9298
"Yeah, a student came here and asked. Hmmm... the time for that was......"

After a brief pause, the Nurse is interrupted by Yukari.

"9:07. And it was Reiko-chan."

>>9299
"9:07? I'm surprised you remembered it that exact. Anyway Nurse, after Reiko told you about Kanamori what was the exact actions you took before coming to get me? Also did you see Reiko go back to her class? Or did you see any other students during that time?"

>>9301
"...I reassured her that Kanamori was probably just taking a while, and sent her back to her classroom. So I made sure to see her enter. I also saw that the other four students were in Kanamori's room. I didn't think much of it until it was time for groups to meet up, and Kanamori still wasn't there... That's when I went to the restroom myself, but found it locked, and asked you to come with."

>>9302
"I see. So Kanamori was already missing at apparently 9:07. You say Kanamori still wasn't there when it was time to regroup, which means you went to go check again during that time.

When you checked on them were they all there? Or perhaps Reiko returned and told you Kanamori was still gone?"

>>9303
"Right. I left the room around 9:20 to see if Kanamori had returned, but he still wasn't there. I saw that all five students were still there. I told them to lock the door and remain together, which they apparently did... but somehow they were all killed anyway..."

>>9304
Well if they locked the door it wouldn't pose much resistance. Why did you tell them to lock the door though? I mean we hadn't found the body yet."

>>9305
"It wouldn't pose much resistance? Anyway, it might just be my protective instincts at work. The recent death of Kinjo made me a little cautious even hosting this club at such a late time, but that was Kanamori's idea. And also, I thought if he was okay, he could just open the locked door himself. There's no harm in just trying to be safe."

>>9306
"Makes sense. Anyway on to the next point. As it has been said Reiko left the class room and went to Class 1-C.

Excluding this instance did any of you see anyone from Group B between when we split up to when the Nurse screamed and everyone came running?"

>>9307
No one says anything, shaking their heads.

It seems no one saw any students from Class 1-B.

>>9308
"Very well. Next, during the time the Nurse was gone, you the students in Group C; What did you do to occupy the time?"

>>9309
[ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vG9yFiOYD7g ]

"The four of us tried to contact the youkai! Well, I mean, I tried to contact the youkai with my sixth sense! My first guess upon hearing Kanamori had gone missing was that a youkai had spirited him away! All of us were very interested in finding out an answer to that... even though my contact attempt failed again..."

>>9310
"Describe exactly what you did and what you told the others to do."

>>9311
"Yes, sensei! It is an ancient technique passed down throughout my family! My family comes from a long line of Shinto priests, you see! But that isn't how I got my psychic powers! In any case, the ritual itself goes as such: for four people, each of them should stand in the four corners of the room! They then, in turns, speak each syllable from the Hiragana! Upon finishing this, each person must throw salt over their shoulders five times, and if anyone accidentally throws pepper, everyone has to start over! The next step is picking up each grain of salt you just dropped! And if you dropped any pepper, you must lick it off the ground! The challenging part is the next step: each person must then clap their hands together in unison and shout 'OH DESIRE!' and simultaneously sacrifice four sheep to the youkai! We didn't get that far, though, since we didn't have any salt or pepper..."

>>9312
"Alright maybe that was too much detail. In any case I have to ask which corner each person went to and in which order did you each say the Hiragana. How did the other participate and what did you do once you figured out there was no salt or pepper.

Can the rest of the people in the group testify to this? Also was there any part of the ritual where you had to close your eyes?"

>>9313
"...I wasn't done explaining the ritual! Anyway, you see, the other three didn't believe me, so I ended up doing it all by myself. I stood in the corner while the others simply watched me recite the Hiragana over and over until the Nurse came back! I'm sure it would have worked if the others had cooperated!"

The other three nod their heads in confirmation when asked if they can testify to this.

>>9314
"I see. May I ask how loudly you were speaking? Also the other students, while you watched her where were you all in the room?"

>>9315
"Michiru-chan stood in the corner furthermost left from the door, and we all remained in the center, watching her! Although, we could hardly hear anything she said, so I didn't have a clue what was going on! You need to speak louder, ne!"

>>9316
"Alright. So she was speaking to softly then?

How sound proof are the walls in this school? If someone was to knock over a desk in the adjacent room would the other room hear it?"

I recall the walls myself to make sure. I also determine how much noise if any the doors to the class rooms make if you try to open/close them.

>>9317
"I remember publishing an article on this, when the school had decided to upgrade to more soundproof walls during my first year. The school's walls are precisely 200mm thick, and have a noise reduction level of 158dB. That is rather soundproof, if I remember correctly."

>>9318
"I see."

I recall which way the door to the bathroom opens. Into the bathroom or into the hallway.

>>9320
The door opens into the bathroom.

Also, the doors all make 'average' noise. Which is to say, not much.

>>9321
"Alright lets move on. Or go back rather. Explain what happened when you went to go investigate the doll mystery? Apparently you didn't stay long however what did you do there?"

>>9322
The Nurse starts. "Well the first thing we did was--"

Suddenly she is interrupted by Takeshi. "Ah, I remember! Thinking about my first year, I also wrote an article on the new high-tech security system! If we can find that, it might just save us!"

The Nurse asks. "Oh, wow! Do you have any idea where it might be?"

"...The media room. It's gotta be somewhere in the media room! If we find it, we could all escape!"

>>9323
I step in front of the door way.

"An interesting yet dangerous idea. Before even consider to do such a thing I suggest we check something else first.

Even before that however it is imperative for that inquiry to be answered. We must leave no rock un-turned. It is safer simply talking then risking lives on a gamble of a faster escape when one is sure to arrive eventually."

>>9324
"I agree with Ozaki. It's too risky to be going around out there with some killer on the loose. Anyway, the first thing we did was look at the doll itself. All the girls had a fun time playing with it just as I did. Looking at the way it's constructed, they reasoned that someone could tie some strings to it like a marionette puppet. Since it would be night time, no one would see the strings, and from a far enough distance even a small doll could be misinterpreted as a life-size creature. It's a very nice theory, and upon coming to that conclusion, we left the room."

>>9325
"Personally I thought it was just a truant student who liked to cosplay, but that could work too.

Anyway for more pressing matters. I'm sure you are all tired some the shock and the interrogation however I believe I am almost finished with my questions so bare with me for a little longer.

Alright Takeshi tell me again why you are so sure nobody left while I was gone? You were busy talking to Yoko at one point right? Or at least that is what Masaaki is saying"

>>9326
"Well, sure, we talked for a bit. But I would have definitely noticed if anyone left through the door, and I know that I didn't see that happen!"

>>9327
"I never said the door."

>>9328
"...The windows? I wasn't watching either of them... It seems I was mistaken."

>>9329
"Well it's nothing to get worked up about. There were apparently 3 other people in the room besides yourself. If the window was open there is a good chance someone would feel have felt a breeze. Not to mention in a class room without anything to hide behind it would be hard for something to escape like that unnoticed, unless they had some big or long distraction."

>>9331
"Don't worry. Because Takeshi-kun was facing the door, I was facing the windows. And I never saw anyone leave through those."

>>9332
"Excellent. That almost crosses of one theory.

Now then, Group C while you were walking through the hallways did anything at all happen?

Finally, since we split up to now did anyone at all go use bathroom? Doesn't matter which floor."

>>9333
Group C nods their heads, indicating that nothing unusual had happened, and no one (except Kanamori) had gone to use the bathroom.

The Nurse starts up again. "So, thinking about it, if we do go to the media room it would be best if we stuck together as a single group. Unless you have any more questions, Ozaki-san."

>>9335
"Yeah at this point any more questions would be useless. I have already narrowed it down enough. Let us all go to the media room."

>>9336
Everyone agrees to go to the media room.

[ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kd9qOkXqmc ]

"WHOAAAA!!!"

Suddenly, halfway down the stairs (on the second floor), Takeshi and Yoko tumble downward, hitting both their heads on the staircase. They land on their stomachs, unconscious.

The Nurse rushes up to them. "Are you okay?! ...Well, they're breathing, thank God! It looks like they suffered some damage to their legs and heads... Ozaki, can you help me carry them to the infirmary? Thankfully it's on this floor."

>>9337
I recall where I was in the group as we went down the stairs and who was in front of me.

>>9338
Being the one in front of the door, Ozaki had been the one leading the group.

>>9339
I check the order that the people behind me were in.

"Sure thing Nurse. But first where in the group was Takeshi and Yoko standing?"

>>9340
The group hadn't walked in a straight line, so it can't simply be stated as 'who was in front of who'. Rather, it had been a cluster of people...

However, going down a staircase requires at least some uniformity. Everyone confirms that they did not see either Takeshi or Yoko in front of them until the two were tumbling down the stairs. One could then conclude that the two were in the very back of the group.

>>9341
I check to make sure everyone is still here. I then check who is in the back.

>>9343
Everyone is still here.

The people in the back are Hikaru and Masaaki.

"Hikaru and Masaaki, the moment Takeshi and Yoko flew by you did you notice anyone else pass in front you?"

I check current order of people on the stairs.

>>9345
Hikaru: "...How am I supposed to know? I wasn't paying any attention."

Masaaki: "I don't remember seeing anyone. But that doesn't mean I did it, okay? It all happened so fast!"

>>9346
Additionally, the current order is:

Ozaki/Nurse/Takeshi/Yoko > Michiru > Tomoko > Yukari > Marie > Hikaru > Masaaki

>>9346
"Of course I understand. For now lets take the two to the infirmary."

I help the nurse and make sure everyone stays together as we go to the infirmary. Once everyone is inside I lock the door and check the whole room for anyone and then take a post in the room where I can see everyone.

>>9348
Everyone goes to the infirmary.

Ozaki locks the door upon entering. From the door he can see the entire room, with the curtain drawn back. Takeshi and Yoko are laid down onto two beds as the Nurse takes care of them. No one is hiding.

The Nurse speaks. "...I think they will be alright. Thanks for helping me carry them here, Ozaki. But they'll need to rest for a few hours, and this room is rather cramped, so you may as well head out to the media room while I watch them here."

>>9349
"...Nurse, what doors does your Nurse key work on?"

>>9350
"...Unfortunately, it only works on the door to this room. I'm not really a teacher, just a nurse, so I guess I don't get any access to the cool rooms, right?"

>>9351
Before I go I ask the nurse exactly where the wounds on Yoko and Takeshi are. I also ask her if there is anything to identify her if something should happen. If nothing suggest that she writes a message in pen on her person in some place the culprit wouldn't find. I then head out with the others to the media room after locking the door from the outside.

>>9352
"...The wounds are, as you can see, on their heads at this angle. You can also see bruises on their legs, in different places. They must've hurt themselves pretty good to end up like this. I knew that staircase was old, but...

Anyway, something unique to identify me? If you look right here, you'll see a beauty mark... Is that good enough?"

The Nurse points to the bottom left of her lip, where there is indeed a small dot.

>>9353
"Not particularly. Take the pen idea in to consideration."

I then do what I said in the last post before going to the media room.

>>9354
The Nurse grabs a sharpie marker from her desk and takes off her left shoe and sock.

She scribbles a small anime-style face in between the toes on her left foot. Afterward, she puts her sock and shoe back on, and gives Ozaki a wink.

Ozaki then takes the remaining students outside the room and locks the door with his Teacher's Key.

>>9355
Ozaki's group (Ozaki, Marie, Michiru, Tomoko, Masaaki, Yukari, Hikaru) soon arrives at the media room.

It is anyone's guess as to where the security system article is hidden.

>>9356
I check the room for anyone hiding and lock the door from the inside. I then ask everyone to explore the room and look for the security system.

>>9359
Ozaki searches the room for hidden people, but finds no one. He then locks the door.

All of the kids begin searching through the various cabinets, hoping to find something...

>>9360
"Sensei! This cabinet labeled "Photos" is locked! What should I do?! I've never been in a situation like this before!!"

>>9360
"Hmm well this is a life or death situation so..."

I take out the lock pit kit and pick the lock.

>>9362

[ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OD0fAhMUzp4 ]

...The lock-pick works, and the cabinet opens. Inside is but a single photo...

"Sensei?! What's inside?! Is it something important?!"

>>9363
"I have an idea, but I can't say for sure..."

I try to scrape away the red substance covering the person in the middle.

>>9364
The substance is far too dry to be simply cleaned off. Scratching it only damages the photo.

>>9365
"Seems there isn't a way to see the face. However that symbol on her clothing. Do any of you recognize it?"

Make sure everyone is still here.

>>9366
"Huh, isn't that the family crest of the Ushiromiyas? The family that got caught up in that mass murder in 1989? It was all over TV!"

>>9367
"I thought so. So this is most likely Maria Ushiromiya. We probably wont get anywhere here. We should return to the infirmary to ask the Nurse about this."

>>9368
All of the kids agree.

Going up the stairs, however, the first thing everyone sees... is a trail of blood, leading straight into the library. Its door is locked.

>>9369
"Lets check on the Nurse before anything."

I take everyone to the infirmary.

>>9370
Ozaki and the group ignores the blood leading into the library and goes to the infirmary.

...Its door is also locked.

Knock on door and call Nurse.

>>9372
...There is no response.

>>9373
I unlock the door and enter the room.

>>9374
Third Thread:

https://archive.seacats.net/gameboard/res/9376.html