Speaker: Good morning students! It is now 7am! Get up and have a beeaautiful day!

Everyone was already there. Well, except Hanako and Sumana. As usual these days. It's a wonder we haven't already checked on them. They've got to be dead by now. Or at least one of them is, killed by the other. Sumana was probably the traitor this whole time.

She's lured Hanako into her trap.

At least we know who the culprit is.

I looked around. By everyone's expressions, they were thinking the same thing.

Chloe: Why aren't we checking on Hanako and Sumana?

Silence.

Chloe: Answer me. Why aren't we checking on them?

Sophie: Because they're probably dead. There's no point.

Chloe: Then why are we still here? Shouldn't we be going to investigate the murder, or at least find the body?

Yu Xuan: It's too dangerous. We can't risk-

Randi: ARRGGGGGGGHHH I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!

Rachel: Randi what-

Randi slid down the wall, tears beginning to fall. She looked sick.

Randi: We're- I'm- I'm a terrible person... I'm not doing anything to help. I'm selfish... I don't deserve to live, I'm- I'm more than a bad person, I'm a murderer...

Ashton: Randi- Please calm down it's going to be-

Randi: SHUT UP-

Randi's words were interrupted by a kick in the face with an oxford shoe. She was thrown to the side, her thin frame sprawled across the food court floor. Slowly, she looked up at Sophie, who was glaring at her, unamused as she touched her bruised cheek and gaped when she saw blood.

Sophie: If you want to be whining cry baby, you're just dead weight. In that case, maybe when I kicked your face, I should've stepped harder.

Rachel: Hey hey, there's no need for violence-

Sophie: Right... Ashton, Ashlyn, take this bitch to the clinic and get her cleaned up or something. Or let her bleed to death, honestly I don't care.

Ashlyn: Why me-?

Sophie: Because I say so. Now go on your own accord before you'll have to go in order to survive.

I reluctantly obliged, holding onto Randi by her arm and walking her over, Ashton holding onto her other.

Randi: I'm sorry... I'm just being a coward. I know you all are feeling the same way, I had no right to act out and be so selfish.

Ashton: No, I'm sorry guys.

Ashlyn: For what?

Ashton: I'm supposed to be a detective, I'm supposed to be helpful in finding the Mastermind. Yet I've done almost nothing. And because of that, we've lost so many people. I'm sorry, I'm the reason we're all still here.

I didn't know what to say.

Randi: Don't worry, we'll get out of here.

The rest of the way down to the clinic was silent, and once we got there, we helped Randi bandage her cheek up.

Ashlyn: Right, you're all done. Let's get you to your room-

???: You guys-

I turned, recognising that smooth, kind voice we knew so well.

Ashlyn: Sumana? What're you doing here-

I reached my hand out towards her, but she yelped and stumbled back, shielding her eyes.

Sumana: STOP! Don't do that! Bad things might happen.

I brought my hand back slowly.

Ashlyn: Sumana, where's Hanako?

Sumana: She's... Dead.

My face lost all color, my eyes beginning to fog.

Ashlyn: She's... What?

Ashton: You killed her, didn't you?

Sumana: ...

Randi: You little shit.

Sumana: Randi, Randi, you can curse me all you want, but what's done is done. Surely you understand that the most.

I heard Randi mumble to herself angrily.

Randi: YOU COWARD, TRAITOR, SCUMMY LITTLE-

But Sumana already collapsed onto the floor, lost in the dream realm.

Ashton: What're we going to do?

Before I could say anything, Randi dropped onto the ground, unconscious.

Ashlyn: Randi?

Ashton: What happened??

Ashlyn: She's... In the dream world.

Ashton: Do you think she'll... Die?

Ashlyn: She's strong. I believe she won't. I hope she won't.

Ashton: In times like this, I wish... I wish she was here.

I don't have anything to do right now, and it wouldn't hurt to get to know Ashton better by hanging out with him.

- - - FREE TIME START - - -

Ashlyn: She? Who's she?

Ashton opened his mouth, then closed it, as if thinking of the correct words.

Ashton: I was raised by my found family. The ones I called my siblings. Out of them, I was closest to my oldest sister.

Ashton: I was raised in some kind of... Old apartment room. My parents, they... left after adopting me. My sister was the one who taught me everything. I could never really leave the house, so she showed me pictures, read me books and told me stories about the outside. She cheered me up when I was sad and we did everything together. My siblings were the one who helped me become a good detective. She was all I had.

Ashton: I want to see them, Ashlyn. Now is one of those times I need my family.

Ashlyn: Your family isn't here, but when the ones closest to you aren't here, look to those around you, Ashton. Because even though you don't have your siblings, you have your new found friends, who have been through hell with you.

Ashton: How about you, Ash?

Ashlyn: What?

Ashton: Do you have anyone?

Ashlyn: It doesn't matter, because I have you all. So don't worry, we're all backing each other up.

Ashton: Thanks Ash, I'm feeling much better.

Looks like I grew a little closer to Ashton today!

I headed back to my dorm.

Hm. I don't have anything to do right now, I guess I'll go find someone to hang out with.

- - - FREE TIME START - - -

I walked to the food court.

Chloe sat at a table with a speaker blaring loud, classical music. She was asleep, but woke up when I approached

Chloe: Ash? You hungry or something?

Ashlyn: No, I was just bored and wanted to see if you wanted to hang out.

Chloe: Um, yea! I would love to!

Ashlyn: What're you doing?

Chloe: Well, I've always loved classical music, so I took a speaker from the electronics store and used it to play some. But it's pretty boring to listen to classical all alone, so I fell asleep.

Ashlyn: I don't really listen to classical much, but it sounds really nice. What's it called?

Chloe: This one is Waltz of the Flowers by Tchaikovsky. It's in The Nutcracker. I really like it.

Ashlyn: I think it's great. I'd be happy to just sit here with you and listen.

Chloe: The song is ending soon, and the next one... I don't really want to sit around to listen.

Ashlyn: Then do you want to go do something else? We can go to the arcade.

Chloe: No, it's getting late.

Ashlyn: Then, what do you feel like doing?

Chloe: Say, I don't want to sit around, but uh we could still listen.

Ashlyn: What do you mean?

The Waltz ended and another song came on. It was slower.

Chloe: This song is called Claire de Lune by Debussy. I've only heard it a few times, but it always feels so familiar. It's really not a song you can just enjoy on its own, which is why I'm asking if you want to uh dance with me?

Ashlyn: What?? No no, I've never danced and I'm definitely not good at it so-

Chloe: Don't worry, it's just the two of us here. I'm not good at it either. I just want to waltz with someone, I've always wanted to but I've had no one to waltz with. And since we're all probably going to die here anyway, I really want to get this crossed off my bucket list.

Chloe reached out her hand, and I took it, waltzing around and stepping on our own feet as Claire de Lune played in the background. Although this was my first time hearing this song, I couldn't help but see this image in the back of my mind, of a small room. The left was filled to the brim with bookshelves and discs, the right was a large window. At the back was a green blackboard, covered with the drawings of small white notes. And in the middle of the room, a grand piano, except someone was playing it, this exact same song. Someone with long, blonde hair, a pink uniform and a black cap. Someone who looked oddly familiar...

The song ended and I snapped back to reality.

Chloe: Woah, Ash, are you secretly the ultimate dancer? Because for the whole song, you never missed a step. Thanks for hanging out with me tonight, you made my day. Goodnight, I'll be heading back now. Be careful.

Ashlyn: No problem but- What? No- I saw- I saw Kaor-

But Chloe was already running back to her room.

Looks like I grew a little closer to Chloe today!

Speakers: Attention students, it is now 10pm. Therefore, it is now night time. Please note that the auditorium is off-limits during night time, so please exercise caution. Also note that sleeping anywhere other than the dormitory will be seen as sleeping in class and punished accordingly. Sweet dreams, puhuhuhuhu!

I guess I should go back too.

I headed back to my dorm, and once I lay on the bed, I fell asleep.

...

...

...

Speaker: Good morning students! It is now 7am! Get up and have a beeaautiful day!

Ashlyn: New day. I wonder what's in store.

I headed to the food court.