15strangers | THE FIRST VICTIM

THE FIRST VICTIM

[Friday morning is quiet enough.

Everything seems to be normal, as before. Normal and boring, even with the strange things happening around the Depths. After all, no one's killed yet. Why would they? Surely something as ridiculous as a weird fruit and a fleeting promise wouldn't provoke anyone to kill to see if something like that was actually true, right?

Right?

Still, if anyone was worried, they would at least feel justified at being tense. People were told to kill another in return for the safety and life of a loved one, after all. And it included a way out for someone who succeeded in getting away with it. There may be someone more than willing to kill for that chance.

And that's when you don't consider the two empty rooms, one of which was opened and resulted in more strange things happening. And what happened last week? It hasn't been solved, has it? And no one expected that.

Perhaps it's a thought to look around to make sure there's nothing off this morning.

Certainly, it couldn't hurt.]

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"I...."

He wants nothing more than to sink to the floor. He shakes his head, swallowing thickly. He can't seem to take his eyes off Laslow's body. The poor man had been so distraught their first day here, and for him to end up like this....

But then Yusuke remembers Futaba. His wide, sad eyes fix on the poor girl. "Please tell me you weren't the one who found him." She's already seen her mother killed right in front of her, she doesn't need to see any more death.

Futaba had been quiet for a while now. Things had started to become busier with the ringing of the funeral bell. It was easy to just let the sounds wash over her, eyes stuck on Laslow's unmoving body. He's really dead. Someone here had killed him.

Yusuke's voice is the one that finally rings through to her, through the haze. She blinks and looks up.

He's okay. At least Yusuke's all right. But they're all still in danger. She hates this. She doesn't want to lose anyone else. But if it had been Yusuke... if she'd lost the only friend she had among these strangers... For her it still feels like it's been such a long time since she's had to worry so strongly about losing someone she cares about, even if she knows now that's probably not the case.

"..." Saying nothing probably says it all. She does step closer to him, like she wants to reach out and grab hold of his sleeve but decides not to. But because of that he should have no trouble hearing, under her breath, her say--

"We have to find his killer."

Yusuke swallows and nods, still looking quite sickened at this awful turn of events. After a moment of hesitation, he settles his hand on her hair in an awkward gesture of comfort. He's not accustomed to doing this, but damned if he won't try for his teammate and friend.

"Somehow, this will be made right. Even if he is gone, we can help his spirit find peace."

THE FIRST VICTIM

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