MURDER GAME: INSIDE HQ
* * * *
Inside HQ – what’s this all about then?
Well, first of all, I hope you’ve read the main story first because there will be spoilers here. But first and foremost, the purpose of Inside HQ is basically to see what the detectives actually do when they aren’t trying to solve a murder.
There are hints of alliances, feuds, romances and surprises in the main fic, but more of that is expanded here as well. So what do we look forward to here? Well, just read on and find out!
* * * *
THE CASE IS ON…
(The Teams have been organised and Miyabi is head honco for Day 1. But what happens once the teams join her back at HQ? Some was discussed in the rooms, but what happens when Miyabi is all alone when the killer has already struck, and who do they REALLY want to share the rooms with?)
* * * *
(Shot of Yukino and Miyabi depositing themselves outside their Headquarters. It’s definitely on par of the Sakuraba estate as far as size goes…but impressions aren’t fully lasting…)
Yukino: Your home.
Miyabi: Thanks but…
(Shot of outside the room, where the ‘mess’ is being showed, and not talking about dog mess…)
Yukino: Hey, just because you’re safe for two days doesn’t mean you don’t have to do work!
Miyabi: And yourself?
(Yukino gets that smug look that only Yukino could deliver…)
Yukino: I’m special.
Miyabi: (sceptical) Right…
(Miyabi however decides to first go inside before going into any detective work, and is the first to look on the inside.)
Miyabi: Let’s see…
(She inspect the downstairs – the drawing room, the exercise room, the recreation room, the kitchen (Yep, it’s beginning to sound like Cluedo now) and the living quarters.)
Miyabi: Not bad.
(She heads upstairs, where the rooms, all designed to have two people sleeping in each room, gets a nod of approval from Miyabi…)
Miyabi: Now, all we need to do is make sure everyone gets a room.
(Suddenly, she realises who her teammates are…)
Miyabi: That may not be easy…
* * * *
(The first team to arrive back, well teams, are Teams 1 and 2…who have done a round of collecting and interviewing…and I think it’s already hit home how difficult this is going to be…)
Aya: If Ran was here, she’d say this work is unnecessary, leave it to the pros!
Triela: And what’s Satoshi?
(Aya sweatdrops, as Satoshi is the first to head to Miyabi, who is already on her workstation – all ready.)
Satoshi: Do we need to make a deposit?
Miyabi: Yes, evidence room is that way.
Satoshi: Triela, can you help?
Triela: Sure!
(The android girl helps the scary boy away, whilst just behind them, Team 2 aren’t quite as after hours…)
Ban: Man, where’s the bathroom here? Is there an elevator because I’m in a palace now!
Mizuki: A palace huh?
Ban: Trust me, after several days of living in your car, it does get a little tedious after a while.
Kurz: Never mind, we need to see the rooms…
(He eyes Kotone and Aya talking quietly, as Triela and Satoshi along with Miyabi go to the evidence room…)
Kurz: …and who is the lucky lady joining me….eeee…
(Kurz is soon on the floor, thanks to a combined elbow smash from Mizuki and Fai…)
Fai: Oops, I slipped!
Mizuki: Really, so did I?
Ban: Damn, I wanted to do it…then again, I would have probably crushed his empty skull…
(Fai looks around)
Fai: Are we one cute team missing?
Miyabi: (calling) They aren’t back y…
(Suddenly, Miyabi gets a phone call. She opens it…)
Miyabi: Hello?
Negi: Miyabi-san?
Miyabi: Oh, hello there Negi. Are you alright?
Miyabi: Oh, you’re pretty dependent then. O.K…
(Miyabi turns talking to Negi, whilst already upstairs, Ban has picked out his room…but is quickly put to a halt…)
Triela: Wait up big man, let’s wait for the others…
Ban: What? You think I’m going to room with one of those brats?
Triela: Techincally, I’m the same age as said brats.
(Triela tightens her grip on Ban’s arm for emphasis. Android power vs. Snakebite? Probably a good battle…but not one Ban fancies to try on at the moment…)
Ban: (all smiles) Why Triela-sama, you know I didn’t mean that!
Triela: That’s a good puppy!
Ban: (veined) Puppy?
Triela: Sorry…Fai’s term. I’ve got hooked on it…well, until later Ban-puppy!
(Ban’s head inflates like a balloon…)
Ban: He’s sooo getting a personal killer’s game…
* * * *
(When Team 3 return, we’re aware they are helping the others clean up the mess outside, but once all done, time for rooms. We know who is with who, but are they disappointed?)
Ban: ANYONE but Fai – the gods of infinite fortress are having a laugh at my expense…
Kurz: What you complaining about? I’ve got Poirot on my case, and that’s all he’s about, the damn case – who said the damn rule that we have to room with the same sex?
(The one that was implimented about 5 seconds after I decided to put you on the cast for this season, but I digress…)
Ban: And what’s with that cyborg girl? Not only is she bloody strong, but she seems to have a real fetish about cute younger characters?
Miyabi: Nothing wrong with being a mother hen at her age…
(The two guys realise Miyabi has been sitting there, sipping a cup of coffee…)
Kurz: Um…Miyabi-oneesan…how long have you been there?
Miyabi: Before you guys did.
Ban: Oh gee whizz, I just realised I’ve got something to do! Up and atom!
(Ban runs off, as Kurz looks at Miyabi, and beginning running…)
Kurz: No fair Ban-chan!
Ban: (distant) Don’t call me that!
(Elsewhere, Mizuki and Aya are in the kitchen, discussing a little strategy and room arrangement…)
Aya: I think this is suitable – we’ve managed to do well so far, and with Satoshi and myself, we should pass through…
Mizuki: And you feel we won’t? Wah – Aya, you’re mean…
(Aya chuckles)
Aya: I didn’t mean it that way, I just think any team with Satoshi in is destined to pass.
Mizuki: Hey, Ban’s pretty good as well – I don’t think it’s easy pickings…and I don’t think Negi is a slouch either – he’s a child genius remember…
Aya: (nods) I know, considering how bright Sayo-chan is, I won’t underestimate them. But the key is, try to get on a team with Satoshi, because he’ll organise you to death. Even Kotone was right on the ball – she was so nervous to start with…
Mizuki: Kotone-chan is pretty shy…but I do like her. It would be great if the three of us were at the end...
Aya: Right…so who should go first?
Mizuki: If your team survives, then…Kurz. If my team survives…hmmm…tough. Does Triela piss you off?
Aya: Not really…
Mizuki: Crap…that means probably Hinata or Shiine…I can’t eliminate Negi, he’s too cute…
Aya: (smiles) And there goes another fangirl…
(Cue the spikes baseball bat…)
Mizuki: Care to revise your statement Aya-chan?
Aya: Considering for revision…
(Meanwhile, Triela is indeed pouting after her failed attempt to get Team Kawaii with her…but more out of her character than out of any malice…)
Triela: (chucking rocks outside the lake behind the house) Gah, I didn’t think I’d need Henrietta or Rico here – I’m missing them so much…
(Triela searches in her pocket – prescribed medication pulls…)
Triela: I don’t have much of it now – why do I need it know?
(She prepares to throw them into the lake…but stops…)
Triela: No, better be safe than sorry. Don’t want them to think I’m sort of monster…that’s Fai’s job.
(Triela stretches out by a tree, where suddenly she is interrupted by a loud ‘kyah!’ sound…)
Triela: What’s there?
(In the distance, she can see two figures clearly doing some sort of combat…)
Shiine: Don’t hurt each other guys!
Kotone: Go for it!
(Yep, it’s Hinata vs. Negi – Hyuuga based ninjutsu vs. Kufei based Chinese martial arts…seems Negi is keeping up with his training despite the new location…)
Negi: Lightning elbow strike!
(Hinata steps back as she is forced to block – Negi-kun is extremely fast…faster than your average adult, but Hinata’s speed, like all of the rookie 9…is a bit more than your average adult…)
(Suddenly, Negi strikes with an open palm…which catches Hinata in the stomach…or does it?)
(Suddenly, ‘Hinata’ changes to what appears to be a wooden dummy…)
Shiine: Replacement technique!
Negi: What…gah!
(Before Negi could react, Hinata has Negi’s arm pinned behind his back. Kotone raises her hand.)
Kotone: Winner!
(Hinata releases Negi, who smiles…)
Negi: I didn’t think I’d get to practice with a partner away from Kufei-san, thank you Hinata-san!
Hinata: N-no! Thank you Negi-kun!
Negi: No, thank you!
Hinata: N-no, th…
(Cue the clonk of heads…though courtesy of Triela rather than a Nodoka/Negi moment of shyness…)
Triela: Mind if I practice as well?
Negi: I think Triela-san would be too strong…
Triela: Aw, but you wouldn’t let me share a room with you two…you hurt my feelings!
Shiine: Triela-san, that won’t wo…
Negi: SORRY TRIELA-SAN!
Hinata: W-WE REALLY ARE!
(Shiine-chan sweatdrops as Triela smiles…)
Triela: Tell you what, both of you against me…(Triela assumes a fighting pose)…I’ll be gentle.
Negi: I don’t like the sound of that…
(Nonetheless, Negi does so, as does Hinata, remembering to control her chakra not to hurt Triela…though it might be Triela needing to control herself not to hurt…)
* * * *
Miyabi: …I suggest you guys don’t do that too much…
(Shot of lecturing mom Miyabi cautioning a muddy trio of Hinata, Negi and Triela. Doesn’t seem too much damage, nothing a bath won’t fix (not exactly something Negi will look forward to) but Kotone and Shiine behind them are failing in trying not to laugh at them…)
Triela: Don’t worry…next time I’ll just take them out quickly…
Negi: Triela-san…
Triela: …as long as there’s a food shop nearby, I’ll take em out for snacks…
(Sweatdrop city…)
* * * *
(One problem…one no-one came to mind…)
Ban: O.K…Paul isn’t here…
(The stomachs are rumbling a fair bit – namely Ban’s, Fai’s and Mizuki’s. However…)
Fai: Well, guess I can do it…cooking is like magic…
(Suddenly the words ‘cooking’ and ‘magic’ bring the attention of one Shiine-chan…)
Shiine: (psychotic look) CO-OKING?
(Before Fai can even touch anything, Shine’s speed equal that of Triela’s, and one spatula and salt shaker later…)
Fai: My, my, my…
Shiine: Let’s see what we have…
(In stunned shock, most of the cast watch Shiine do a Team Rocket…going at the speed of light…except for cooking.)
Aya: Amazing…
(Whilst indeed people like Fai, Aya and Hinata have some cooking ability, compare it to Shiine-chan…)
* * * *
Shiine: O.K, everyone, does it look good?
(Shot of a spaghetti meal, with meat, noodles, sauce, and toasted bread – and enough for 12 people in less than an hour…)
Triela: So…is this better than Henrietta’s?
(Triela samples…and nods.)
Triela: Yep.
(Suddenly, it’s a mad rush for samples, with the less than subtle guys like Ban and Kurz diving in, whilst the more reserved like Kotone and Hinata wait up – fortunately everyone does get their fair share and after the traditional ‘Itadakemasu’ (even for the non-Japanese there)…it’s certainly more of a family meal, especially as the food is so good…)
Mizuki: This is very good Shiine-chan! How did you do that at such a young age?
Shiine: Lots of practice home – I do most of the chores at home…
Fai: At your age? Poor young man…
Shiine: It’s O.K, I enjoy it!
Triela: You…very poor young man…
Ban: Aw, if that’s what he does, that’s what he does. And when the foods’ this good, who cares?
(The cast smile, as a rare peaceful moment surrounds the table…make it last, it won’t be too long…before hell is loose…)
* * * *
(Later on, after a full meal, we check out Ban, Fai, Mizuki and Kurz…for a quick drink and relax…as Ban discusses who he would like as a Getbacker…)
Ban: You guys going to be O.K?
(Ban actually doesn’t drink…however Kurz doesn’t hold back – whilst Mizuki seems to have mistaken the soda for the booze…yeah right…whilst well known alcoholic Fai (heh) realises that Kurogane isn’t here to reprimand him this time…)
Fai: Oh come on Ban-pan, we need to relax once in a while…
Ban: Gah…
Kurz: (opens a can) Ah, what the heck, right Mizuki-chan?
Mizuki: Don’t put me in the same category as you…just Aya is doing some work upstairs and I don’t want to disturb her…
(Mizuki takes a strong drink though…and the familiar anime red cheeks quickly hit…)
Mizuki: Ah, who cares!!!
Ban: Gah – I’m almost wishing Ginji is here?
Fai: Your partner?
Ban: Yeah – maybe I can that Triela chick to replace her – I don’t think anybody would mess with us with her there – she may not be a lightning lord but if she can decapitate someone with her arm, I’m showing her respect.
Kurz: Lightning?
Ban: Yeah, Ginji uses lightning…
Fai: Doesn’t Shiine-chan and Negi-kun do that as well?
Ban: You honestly think a couple of kids can beat Ginji? Just because they are smarter, more honest, likeable, powerful…
(Ban pauses…)
Ban: O.K, I see where you’re coming from…
(The group there continue to drink as Ban knows exactly where this going…but before we get to do a drunken reinactment of a karaoke session, we cut over to the room upstairs, where said replacements of Gin-chan are feeling the worst part of playing this game…homesickness…)
* * * *
Shiine: Of course you’d miss it – being a teacher of 31 girls!
Negi: (sweatdrops) Shiine-chan, you sound like Chamo-kun…
Shiine: (dream state) Of course, no-one is cuter than my Chacha. Ah, Chacha-san!
Negi: (facefaults) Where’s my yearbook…
(Negi looks through this yearbook, with the marks on various students like Asuna (actually a nice person/great kick), the Narutuki’s (with their marks crossed out after the twins rather mean trick), Chisame (good with computers) and of course, Nodoka (very cute). Shiine is still in a trance…)
Shiine: …and when we get married, we’ll keep dog-boy as a pet in a cage…and then…
Negi: Here.
(In 5 seconds, Shiine is over there…)
Shiine: …that Eva-chan is very pretty!
Negi: (shudders) Trust me, that’s the one girl who DON’T want to be interested in…
Shiine: Why?
Negi: Erm…well…(quietly)…she’savampire…
Shiine: And?
(Negi collapses)
Negi: AND?
Shiine: We deal with Quu-chan every 5 days back home – all we have to do is get the girls to say ‘YOU’RE UGLY’ and then we sent his rear back to the batcave…
Negi: O…K…
Shiine: But Negi…you’re right…I would say you’re lucky…very lucky…but I can’t be unfaithful to Chacha-san…
Negi: Oh really…then what about…
Shiine: THAT WAS A MOMEN’T LAPSE!
(At a moment, outside in the night…)
Hinata: Atchoo!
Kotone: Cold Hinata-chan?
(Hinata wipes her nose – I hope anime fans get this rather old-school joke – as she shivers…)
Hinata: It’s quite cold…
Kotone: A warm-up will do you good – keep the legs strong and strike!
Hinata: Hai!
(Back inside…we see Aya and Satoshi in their rooms, they seem to be the most into the case and revising their notes…but downstairs, another duo, who are both quite serious…but still have some playfullness…)
Triela: You tired Miyabi-san?
Miyabi: (typing on her workstation) Yes, but we need to make sure I’ve got the notes on in who I think has done well from what I’ve seen…
Triela: Really? What have you said about me?
Miyabi: Can’t say.
Triela: Awww…come on Miyabi-san…please…
Miyabi: You know, refusing a girl that can break my arms isn’t high on my priorities, but I have to in instance of fairness.
Triela: Meanie.
(Triela exits…but noticing a problem…)
Triela: Oh boy…
(We can see Ban with Fan in one scruff of the neck, and Kurz in the other…)
Ban: I TOLD THEM!
Triela: Oh boy…(calls)…AYA, YOU AWAKE?
(A few moments and Aya, and also Satoshi come down…)
Aya: Aw…Mizuki-chan?
Satoshi: It seems people taking their freedom a little too liberly…
Triela: Translation: They’re enjoying themselves too much.
(Ban tosses Kurz over to Satoshi. Surprisingly, Satoshi is strong enough to lift Kurz (though I’m sure being carried by the scary one isn’t something a sober Kurz would relish…) whilst Ban dumps Fai on the floor…)
Fai: I’m a kitty cat!
(Fai, being playfully drunk…Triela sighs, realising Ban wants no part of it, lifts up the wizard herself. Aya puts Mizuki’s arm around hers…)
Aya: Jeez, you’re heavy – wish I was as strong as Ran or Miyu about now…
(An interesting first night ends as it should…with a quarter of the cast in a drunken stupor…)
* * * *
(…and boy, are they paying for it the next morning, as on Day 2 of inquiries gets off to a, not very awake start…)
Ban: GET THE HELL UP!
(…of course, Ban the Alarm Clock springs into action, which in turn gets the traditional alarm clock reply…)
Mizuki: (outside) SHUT THE HELL UP!
Kurz: (outside) DO YOU BOTH MIND?
(Ban tugs on Neko-Fai’s kitten like sleeping, purring with a goofy smile…just the normal for Fai really…)
Mizuki: And you stare at me a moment longer…
(Shot of Mizuki, who is an attractive girl to say the least, wearing a white robe, and properly getting ready to unlease full bat-space hell on Kurz…however, unfortunately, she isn’t the one that administrates it…)
Kurz: Whatever…I need the shower…
(Ban finally boots the cat out…)
Fai: Mmmm…neko needs milk…
Ban: I’d say that will be the least of your worries…
(Suddenly, bishoujo number two comes out, in case Kotone, as she looks across where Kurz is hitting the shower…)
Kotone: KURZ-SAN…WAI….
(Too late…an echoing female scream hits…before followed by an even more painful sounding male scream…)
Kotone: (sigh) I must warn her about the fact you CAN lock doors…
(Satoshi ponders out)
Satoshi: Was that Kurz screaming?
Kotone: Yes…I think he went into the shower when someone else was in there…
(A few moments later, we see Kurz crawling on the floor, holding his head…but this time not because of the hangover…)
Kurz: But…I’m…not…a…lolicon…
(Kurz faints as Aya comes to inspect the corpse…)
Aya: I think you killed him…
(Shot of a jumpsuit dressed Hinata, emerges from the shower, red in the face, and still in a ninjitsu kata pose…)
Hinata: S-sorry…
Aya: No apologies, I’m sure some people in Mithrill say you’ve done a public service…
* * * *
Kurz: Damn, she hits hard!
Triela: One part hangover plus one part skull cracked…though I’d hardly say there was too much damage…
Kurz: Hey, watch it…OW…OW…
(Triela has tightened the bandage around a bit too tight…)
Triela: Oh well, at least you won’t do it again…because next time…it could be me…and I hit even harder…
Kurz: Heh, like I’d be interested in your scrawny bo…OWWWW…
(Triela accidentally tightens it up again…)
Triela: Gah – why did she even apologise to you – you’ll probably be marking down the moments when Kotone, Aya and Mizuki scheduled their showers?
Kurz: Of course not!
(Kurz tears up the piece of paper in the back of his pocket – the one that mistakenly said KOTONE – 9AM…I think he got it wrong…)
* * * *
(When Team 1 and 3 return from Day 2’s inquiries, they see how cute the two young males are in normal clothes. However, the girls don’t stop at just that with making people kawaii, and soon, they rope in two very unwilling participants...)
*
Aya: What? You said you want to see her dressed up?
Triela: BUT I DIDN’T THINK YOU MEANT WITH MYSELF THERE AS WELL!
(Looks like Aya and Mizuki have cornered Triela…in the seat, Hinata is blushing as Kotone hovers over her – with Negi and Shiine apparently judges/unwilling volunteers even more so.)
Triela: (embarrassed with a bit of a blush) It’s just…I’m so used to suits and ties…and I enjoy the feel of strength I get…Hillshire-san said the same thing…
Aya: Aw, come on Triela!
Triela: I…
(Triela puts her hand out when Aya gets a step closer…)
Triela: Sorry…I just get this feeling that if you try anything, my body will reflex and try to attack you…
Hinata: Huh?
Negi: What do you mean Triela-san?
Triela: I’m better than the rest of the girls when it comes to our ‘conditioning.’ I don’t need it as much as the others, and I can control my emotions better than Henrietta, the only other girl on a small amount. But…
(Triela pulls out a few capsules…)
Triela: …I don’t know that without Hillshire-san, if I can keep in control of myself that could. They’ve given me these capsules to try and make sure I don’t get out of control…but I don’t want to use them as long as I remain in the game…
Mizuki: Triela, we didn’t know…
(The pig tailed girl smiles and nods her head)
Triela: It’s O.K…they took all my weapons anyway…but my body can kill with a single strike. I’m sure those three youngsters could probably escape serious injury, Kotone has those psychic energies, and Mizuki has some great reflexes, but I’m scared I could hurt anybody…
(Triela sighs)
Triela: …that, and my cramps have started again.
(Aya and Mizuki quick turn, embarrassed…)
Negi: Kotone-san, is this true?
Kotone: I can’t read minds, but I do sense genuine discomfort within her feelings…
Negi: That’s O.K then.
Triela: Why you ask Negi?
Negi: Just making sure you are doing this because you wouldn’t like it and scared of the reprucussions…and NOT because you want to try and get us like that?
(Triela fakes an innocent look)
Triela: Why Negi-sama, why would you think that?
Mizuki: She was thinking it.
Aya: Yep.
Kotone: Mm-mm…
(Hinata just nods)
Triela: Geez, am I that ob…owww…
(Looks like she wasn’t lying about the cramps though…so we let them be led off…)
* * * *
(However, the real fall-out is when Mizuki and Kurz have to play the killer’s game…Mizuki, who was quite well liked, is discussing with Aya in their room…and she is quite upset…)
Mizuki: So I blew it? I guess that was the reasoning for taking me out…but still…
Aya: Mizuki, trust me, I know what happens when people hit you for failure…but…
Mizuki: It’s those guys – Ban, Kurz…they’re so intimidating like they are taking control over, and I never know whether I can take Fai seriously or not…if I was with anybody else, it may have been different…but…
Aya: I know – the fact that everybody bar Triela got a vote as well is kind of scary…
Mizuki: The only bonus is that I won’t get to see that perverts’ face anymore…but if worst comes to worse…
(Aya hugs Mizuki…)
Aya: I understand.
* * * *
(In the other room, it’s more of a quieter affair, considering Satoshi and Kurz aren’t exactly close…in fact, Satoshi isn’t even in the room where Kurz is packing his bags…and mumbling if he survives that she can share a room with Aya of course…)
(…downstairs, Satoshi is more than talkative…)
Satoshi: Mizuki and Kurz – I don’t think I’d miss either of them to be honest.
Miyabi: Your roomate not someone you get along with?
Satoshi: Let’s just say he doesn’t exactly get along with someone like me. What about yours – a pre-adoloscent cyborg girl as a roomate must be different to say the least.
Miyabi: Triela? She’s a great girl – she reminds me of a toned down Chika-san. We talk enough to get along and help each other on the case when we can.
Satoshi: If Kurz goes, I don’t need to worry about him trying to steal my notes…you think with a voice like his he would be better at it…
Miyabi: Anyway, is it a weak link next or a stronger one?
Satoshi: We lower the boundaries first, and then start making plays for the bigger fish. Keep in mind some of the stronger detectives here would also be an easy contender for elimnation. Ban for example is probably the next most intelligent person here next to us, but his attitude is something that is not welcomed by everyone here. And Negi, his intelligence and skill is unparalleled, but his youth makes him an easy target as soon as he makes a mistake. Everyone else I believe we can defeat.
Miyabi: What about Aya? She’s smart.
Satoshi: Indeed, but she’s not outstanding enough to be a target, and not intelligent enough or case worthy enough to be a threat. She was on my team, and whilst she put effort in, she isn’t going to win this. Kotone is too nervous to be any sort of threat and will make her more of a elimination.
Miyabi: And the two kids?
Satoshi: (nods) They did well today with Negi, but I believe that’s simply because their similar ages and skills allowed them to be a good team. Shiine-chan is not as smart as Negi, and his moves are dictated by the heart rather than the head at times. Hinata skills are perhaps the strongest in the game, but her nervousness and shyness hold back her true potential, and will cause her destruction early on.
Miyabi: I see.
Satoshi: And as for Fai…well, I don’t seem him lasting anyway – he doesn’t have his head on this case at all.
Miyabi: And what about me?
(Satoshi pauses…and smiles.)
Satoshi: At the end, that’s all. I believe we’ll leave it at that.
(Miyabi shakes her head, and begins typing. Satoshi goes to leave…and pauses…)
Satoshi: Odd…felt that…
(Satoshi looks around, like he’s searching for something, but no luck.)
Satoshi: My imagination…
(Satoshi leaves as Miyabi taps away. Just outside the door, we can see an ajar door leading outside…)
Kotone: (calling) Are you guys O.K?
Negi: (distant) Yes – but are you O.K Kotone-san?
Kotone: Yes – I think it was a shock, but it means I’m safe…plus I’ve got to improve then…
Shiine: Where’s Hinata-san?
(Shot of Hinata just outside the door, her veins in her eyes pulled back in as she closes the outside door…)
Hinata: Coming Negi-kun…
Triela: We need to get his martial arts in top condition when he leaves…so let’s help him get back to Grandmaster Ku in style!
Hinata: (giggles) O.K…
(Hinata jogs, looks behind once…and runs ahead…)
* * * *
(After Kurz and Mizuki leave, some members of the team have a chance to sit down and discuss the realities of the game…)
Ban: So…I was nearly voted off….and all I ask is who did vote for me?
(He has confronted a few people – namely Fai, Satoshi and Aya. All he suspects of voting for him…)
Satoshi: Even if we did, why should we tell you?
Ban: Because I want to know dammit! What did I do wrong?
Satoshi: I think you just answered your own question there with that attitude.
Ban: Gah! And yours just pisses me off even more!
Satoshi: Well, for the record, I didn’t vote for you…
(The other two also deny it, which is of course true, but Ban isn’t exactly the most trustworthy sea urchin in the sea…)
Aya: Ban, if you are so untrusting of your own teammates, how can you get along with them…and how can you avoid being voted for again?
Ban: That’s why I’m asking! I want to know what I’m doing wrong…
Fai: My my, you can’t see that Ban-pyon?
Ban: AND THAT’S Why…
Hinata: Mido-san?
(Ban turns around as we can see Hinata (with Kotone) heading upstairs…)
Hinata: I voted for you…
Ban: WHAT?!!!
Aya: Hinata-chan?
(Hinata nods…)
Hinata: I’m sorry…but…you…s-scare me sometimes…I just have to say that…it’s not personal…but…
Kotone: (calling) Hinata!
(Hinata quickly bows and runs off…)
Satoshi: She’s too honest – that’s going to cost her. (to Ban) Well, can you apologise to us now?
Ban: (pauses) No.
Satoshi: And why?
Ban: For two reasons. One – I don’t know if one of you did vote for me and not admitting it…
Satoshi: And two?
Ban: If she can admit it, she’s probably got more guts than you any day of the weak.
Satoshi: Honesty in this game is a weakness.
Aya: I believe it’s a strength as well.
(They turn to Aya…)
Aya: Honesty and bravery come in the same package – and that’s something we need in these cases. Ban, I didn’t vote for you…I voted for…
(Aya pauses…)
Aya: Fine…I voted for Fai.
(Fai’s eyes raise up.)
Aya: Fai, we’re arguing why Ban got votes, but should you understand why you did as well? You haven’t been working hard enough…
Fai: Hmmm?
Satoshi: Well, well, this has become interesting.
(Ban leaves the three alone, pondering who else did vote for him, and why girls seem to be more honest…and is it a weakness?)
* * * *
(Well, as we all know, Kurz survived the killer’s game, and has returned the killer clue.)
Kurz: …it was like something that I shouldn’t have been scared of, but when those doors shut, it was like my heart skipped a beat. And then the light of the flowers flew into my face, I thought when I opened my eyes, Sousuke was going to be in front of me with a pistol. Instead…I got this.
(Kurz hands over the clue in a plastic big over to Miyabi…)
Kurz: It’s a map. Four locations hit – Paris, Los Angeles, Ulan Bator and Osaka.
Miyabi: Europe, Asia twice and America?
Kurz: I guess these locations have a link to our killer, but…
(Miyabi, Satoshi, Kurz and Ban all surround the clue, as Aya in the kitchen, wipes her eyes. She seemed attached to Mizuki…)
Kotone: Aya-chan?
(Kotone turns up, as Aya tries to avoid her tears…and fails…)
Aya: Sorry Kotone-chan…I couldn’t help it.
Kotone: It’s O.K, it’s going to happen all the time…just get it out all the time. I’m missing my friends back home, especially Hiroyuki-san and Aoi-chan. However, we need to be strong…
Aya: I know. Mizuki will want me to be strong.
Kotone: I’m sure of that…and I didn’t even use my powers this time.
(Aya smiles)
Aya: You’re sweet Kotone-chan.
(Kotone blushes…)
Kotone: A-anytime…
(Kotone leaves…)
Aya: I wonder if the Comic Party/To Heart connections applies to the kogals as well…
(Aya holds her heart and her eyes change from teary-ended to determined…)
Aya: Gals gotta have guts…
(Just outside, we see Negi, his eyes closed, listening in and nodding…)
Negi: Good luck Aya-san…
* * * *
And that’s the first of the side stories explaining the little bits not mentioned in the main fic. I hope you guys enjoyed it!
Now I have to work on the next chapter…GAH!