(Camera shoots showing about 9 members of the group are still asleep – it’s 7.30am and whilst some stir, looks like only two members are up…Satoshi and Miyabi.)

Satoshi: (drinking coffee) …trust me, when you work like I do, this is a godsend.

Miyabi: 14 years olds making coffee I can see, but Chika-san never drinks it.

(Satoshi takes a leisurely sip)

Satoshi: So…you’re worried then?

Miyabi: (nods) Baring a miracle, Mizuki will pick Aya, and considering I, in effect, eliminated Mizuki…

Satoshi: You weren’t that concerned then last night.

Miyabi: But that was before I realised how much of this game works on personality – Kurz and Ban were prime targets, and Kotone’s more reserved nature nearly cost them…

Satoshi: They will simply have to learn how to adapt.

Miyabi: Well…that’s the same for me…

(Upstairs, we hear a thud of body hitting the floor…)

Triela: (distant) Uwah…Miyabi-san…how come you didn’t get me up…

Ban: (distant) So cyborgs don’t have their own built in alarm clocks?

Triela: Very funny…

(Ban and Triela are the next two up…)

Ban: Eh, is this it?

Miyabi: Afraid so.

Ban: I can understand Kurz not wanting to get up after what the hell he went through but…

Triela: It’s not like you’re waiting for Shiine-chan to get up to cook breakfast is it?

Ban: What do you take me for?

Triela: I refuse to answer that…

Ban: Gah…

(A bit later on…we see the 4 moving around, as around just before 8 – Hinata is up, and a few minutes after, Fai. Still apparently sleeping are Kurz, Kotone, Aya, Shiine and Negi…)

Fai: The kids still tuckered out despite being magicians?

Triela: I don’t see what that’s anything to do with it…

Ban: Well, what can we do other than knock the doors down…AND FOR GODS SAKE MAN USE SOME DECENCY?!!!

(Fai’s sleeping yukata seems to be on the slipping side…)

Satoshi: I’m sure he’s deliberately trying to scar some people for life…physically AND mentally…

Fai: Sato-kun, that’s wasn’t very nice!!!

(Fai goes up to get changed…but as he does…)

*WHACK*

Miyabi: What was that sound?

(Ban thinks for a moment…)

Ban: Well if I were to hazard an guess, I’d say it was the open hand slap of a vengeful female noticing Kurz ogling them in whatever attire they are on…

Fai: (calls) You’re right Ban-pan, and I thought it was Kotone-chan who had the psychic powers…

Ban: I was right?

(Sweatdrops…)

*

Kurz: (pouting) I said I was sorry…

(Kotone refuses to look at him, now decking in her more ‘managerial’ wear (black shirt and matching sweatpants) as Kurz begins his bad attempt to plead his innocence…)

Fai: And I though the author had a thing for blunettes…

(A sneeze from the pages, and we leave Kaname and Tessa out of this for the moment, as Miyabi knocks loudly on Negi and Shiine’s door…)

Miyabi: Sorry, but you guys do need to get up…

Negi: (groaning) Evangeline-san, don’t take too much more…please…

Miyabi: W-what?

Negi: Stop it…that’s too…mu…

Miyabi: What is he talking about? Makes me wonder…

Shiine-chan: Cha-cha’san…(groggily)…I can be fuzzy cuddly as well…

Miyabi: And I thought back home Aoi-sama had love problems…

*

(Fortunately, the two do get up as the cast is all up now…bar Aya.)

Kotone: Aya-san?

Aya: (calling from behind the door) Just a moment!

(Aya opens the door fully clothes and with a notepad in her arms…)

Kotone: (sweatdrops) You’re not going to school Aya-san…

Aya: But I WILL be studying.

Kotone: Hmm?

(Aya winks at Kotone before escaping with her…as downstairs, Shiine-chan is already slaving away…)

(…as we cut to morning activities…)

Hinata: So…this is?

Ban: Just follow the instructions here, pick your person and then commence beating the crap out of each other…well…not literally…

Hinata: Hai…

(Fai strolls in as he sees Ban setting up Guilty Gear Asuka…)

Fai: A video game?

Ban: Yes Captain Obvious. What do you think it is, a time machine?

Fai: And Hinata-chan is playing you?

Ban: Yes, as the mighty Ban-sama demonstrates his mad skills on the controller!

(Just outside, we see Aya writing some notes as we see Kotone after popping inside the kitchen and joins her roomate inside the recreation room…)

(Ban is playing as the vampire Slayer, whilst Hinata has picked the pirate May…)

Ban: Why her?

Hinata: Just felt the name was right…with us knowing one at Kaleido Stage…

Ban: Ninjas are basic bunch aren’t they? Well, no matter…as the great Ban-sama…

(On screen:)

May: MR. DOLPHIN-SAN!

(Hinata does a horizontal attack with a dolphin based projectile and hits an upper one…)

Ban: Huh?

(May does a flying anchor attack as Slayer is pegged back…)

Ban: Hey, this isn’t supposed to happen! Dang it…

(A few moments later…)

MAY WINS!

Hinata: Um…I won?

Kotone: Yay, Hinata-chan!

Fai: Oh, too bad Ban-pan!

Ban: I thought this was your first time playing?

Hinata: Um it is…

(Ban veins…)

Ban: Right…I’ll be serious this time…

(Cue a battle Chika would be proud of…don’t think they are at Kousuka’s level though…)

Ban: That’s it! Gotcha!

Hinata: Counter!

Kotone: Come on Hinata-chan!

Ban: (sweatdrop) Biased much? Oh damn…

(However at this moment they are interrupted…)

* * * *

(Enter the Giselle, cool calculating bitch from Pokemon, beautiful, intelligent, sarcastic, cocky…)

(…and hungry…)

Giselle: Give me a break, I skipped breakfast to get here early!

Fai: And you came an hour early…to eat with us?

Giselle: Well, why else would I join you guys?

Satoshi: Perhaps to lead us with your innate wisdom?

Giselle: (smiles) I don’t care if that was sarcastic, that is correct Satoshi. Oh, and realise that Shiine's cooking is good…

Shiine: (coughs) Ahem…

(Giselle pauses…and sighs…)

Giselle: Fine…Shiine-chan…

*

Aya: O.K…I’d say work around each others strengths and weaknesses, and keep me informed as best as possible…if anything happens I’ll call you guys…

(Aya finishes her mini-briefing as the teams get ready to move…some more concerned than others about their new leader…)

Ban: For a Shibuya girl I thought she’d be more loud and obnoxious….

Satoshi: And she isn’t…do you like that?

Ban: No…that’s why I’m worried – she’s probably more cold and calculating, but as she isn’t open to it…

Triela: I think you’re worrying too much Ban…

(Famous last words if you know what happened at the end of Chapter 2 but I digress…as Miyabi is definitely more concerned…but has to be a real leader considering who she is teamed with…)

Miyabi: Mizuki is gone because of me…and Aya is her roomate…this game I thought would be warrant on merit and skill…but now…

Fai: (behind her) Miyabi-san, what’s wrong?

Hinata: Miyabi-san?

(Miyabi turns as the lazy but excitable Fai, and the smart but shy Hinata and realises she has to put a good face on for her fellow colleagues…)

Miyabi: No…everything is fine. Come on then.

Fai: Hai!

*

(In the van of Team 2…Triela is enjoying embarrassing Shiine-chan as Satoshi isn’t quite the conversationalist and Ban doesn’t seem interested…)

Triela: So that’s the girl?

(Shot of a picture of Shiine in a group picture with himself, Riiya and Chacha, and a second one which also includes Seravy, Dorothy, Marine, Yakko and Orin.)

Shiine: Yep, that’s Chacha-san…(quietly and quickly)…andthatstupidmuttRiiya…)

Triela: (chuckles) I sense he’s your rival huh?

Shiine: A rival…I don’t see a mutt as a rival…*sparkles*…but Chacha-san is so cute I don’t care!!!

Triela: Right…(she studies the other picture)…how about these people?

Shiine: (points to the older woman) That’s Dorothy-san, my master – and 2^nd most powerful wizard in the world…the man there is Seravy-san…the most powerful wizard in the world…much to master’s disgust…

Ban: You know…I’d say these people were freaks, but it’s not like any of us here have a right to talk…

Triela: Well…what about these girls?

(Triela takes a rare photo of the girls in the Social Welfare Agency…it’s rare as it was taken by Hillshire during the night where they sang Beethoven…so sadly no Ange there…but Henrietta, Rico and Claes are there…)

Shiine-chan: (blushes) They are cute…

Triela: (smiles) They are aren’t they…but what about those girls? They’re pretty cute…

Shiine: Marine-san? Well…she may have a pretty face, but she’s the only person I can actually think would make me feel sorry for Riiya…she’s a bit…obsessive? Annoying?

Triela: How does that make her different from Ban then?

Ban: Very funny…

Shiine: And she’s mean to Chacha-san, Yakko-san is also pretty mean…her potions have a sting as well…

Ban: A rogue’s gallery of wizards and witches huh?

Shiine: Yes, add a mermaid and an alchemist as well…

Triela: Wait, what about the smaller girl?

Shiine: Oh…Orin-chan…well…she’s nice…she’s a ninja, she’s quite strong…and unlike the other two she’s nice to Chacha-san…she’s very nice to me…umm…

(Shiine seems to have a moment of clarity that Naruto Uzumaki really needs to get a clue in…)

Shiine: (blushing) Maybe…

(Triela smiles…)

Triela: Maybe I should inform ANOTHER ninja of a not so secret crush…

Shiine: W-W-WHAT?!!!

Ban: Ah, to be young again…

Shiine: B-B-BAN-SANA, P-PLEASE…

Satoshi: We’re here.

Shiine: YOU DIDN’T HEAR THAT DID YOU SATOSHI-SAN?

Satoshi: No, as long as I don’t inform Hinata everything should be fine.

(Shiine collapses in embarrassment as Triela pats him on the head, as operation embarrassment is successful…)

*

(After Chris’ Akazukin Chacha lesson for the day, we return back to the home when Team 2 has returned from their inquiry, with just Team 3 left, and already getting a message on their phones, let’s see how they reacted to their phones getting the killer’s message…)

(…and Team 1’s depressed Mr. Springfield…)

Kurz: Whether the killer is as beautiful as Hikari or Anna, or as ugly as Touji or Tenchi…

Kotone: I don’t see Tenchi being ugly…

Kurz: Jealous?

(Kotone, not the angry type, seems ready to seethe. Fortunately, Satoshi diffuses the situation…)

Satoshi: The killer is just simply asking for us to play a game, and making sure we are all invited. After all, it would be rude not to invite everyone…

Triela: …at least I didn’t see that until after we meet Shinobu…

Kurz: You guys met Shinobu-chan?

Kotone: Kurz…I hate to burst your bubble, but ever since we came back in the van…

*FLASHBACK*

Negi: It’s my fault!!!

Kotone: We’re all to blame Negi-kun…

(Kotone has her arm around Negi as Kurz shakes his head…)

Kurz: Never thought I’d be so jealous of a 10 year old…

(Kotone ignores him as Negi speaks…)

Negi: But I should have noticed Imite-san breaking the law and that Aida-san we didn’t get everything we needed…

Kotone: But you were the one that noticed Tamahome and the mistake we made, we would have been even further down in trouble if you hadn’t noticed it…

Negi: But…

(end flashback)

Aya: I’ll go and see him in a bit…but with this message…

Satoshi: He or she is keeping us on our toes, and reminding us that we have to play a game…and not let personal feelings get between us…wanted…

(Stares at Kurz)

Satoshi: …or unwanted.

(Satoshi leaves as Kurz steps back…)

Kurz: Trust me, I don’t want you!

Ban: Baka…

Kurz: But…

Kotone: (shivers) For goodness sake…

(Kotone runs out of the room…)

Kurz: What did I say?

Triela: Kurz…girls sometimes get nervous around people who imply things…even if they are not meant of…

Kurz: But…but…

Triela: Anyway, I need my sparring partner all energized, so I’ll wait for Miyabi-san’s team to come back, and begin to see if I can introduce Shinobu to Rico…

(Triela walks off…)

Ban: I think she’s more obsessed with cute girls than you are Shiine-chan…

Shiine: I just hope Negi is already…

Ban: Ah, you have some resolve…unlike our American friend…

(Kurz ignores that and walks away, as Ban looks at Shiine and Satoshi…)

Ban: Come on kid, let’s get some snacks…I suddenly feel the need for a sugar attack…

Shiine: For some reason, I totally agree with you…

*

(When Team 3 returns, indeed Triela is quick off the mark in hunting a sparring partner…but her roomate decides to become possibly the most cunning player of the game so far…)

Triela: …I dunno what condition Negi is in after today…

Hinata: Negi-kun? Is he alright?

Triela: I dunno…Aya’s been talking to him, but I guess we need to hope for the best…can’t be without our cute little teacher can we?

Hinata: H-hai…

(Suddenly…)

Kotone: Hinata-chan? Triela-san?

Hinata: Kotone-chan!

Triela: Are you O.K now Kotone?

Kotone: (nods) It feels bad if Negi-kun isn’t with me…Kurz keeps…I don’t know…maybe it’s my imagination…but…

Triela: He feels like he’s trying to pierce your clothes with his eyes right?

Kotone: (blushes) Q-quite…I keep saying I have someone special at home…but he won’t believe me…

Triela: Really?

Kotone: (blushes) Y-yes…but n-n-never mind…but…I can’t be much use if he’s here…so I’m just saying…

Triela: (nods) I hear you…but with Negi as he is, I’m sure that a few people may consider him as well…

Hinata: N…no…

(Triela looks at Hinata with a sly look for a moment…)

Triela: Well then…

(Triela puts an arm around both girls…)

Triela: We’ve got two missions – eliminate Kurz whilst protecting Kotone, and making sure the cute Negi stays with us…and we better do it now, because later on in the game, we’ll be doing this to each other…whether we like it or not….

*

(Late in the night, we can see that whilst most of the cast are having an early(ish) night – we can also see that Satoshi is wary of someone…but who?)

Satoshi: So…Kurz is still in there…

(Satoshi looks at the room opposite…)

Satoshi: He wouldn’t…but…

(He seems intrigued…)

Satoshi: I think she’ll be alright…

(Satoshi steps out…)

Kotone: He’s not coming…right?

(Hinata in Byakugan mode…)

Hinata: Don’t be paranoid Kotone-chan…

Kotone: But the way he looks at me…

Hinata: Don’t worry…Triela has a plan…

* * * *

(With Mizuki gone, Aya has just finished her own thoughts of who should go on that notepad, and goes downstairs for a drink…)

(…and meets her nemesis…kind of.)

Aya: Miyabi-san?

Miyabi: Aya…

(Uncomfortable silence ahead…)

Aya: Just went down for a glass of milk…

Miyabi: (nods) I just needed a glass of wine before I go to bed…

Aya: Are you the only one up?

Miyabi: I think Ban is outside, but everyone else is asleep, it’s been a long day. I felt it was rewarding though for my first time out…

Aya: Just some didn’t get a second time…

(Miyabi calmly drinks a sip of wine…)

Miyabi: I voted on merit – it was the choice that it was shown that she was the weakest…not on personality.

Aya: Personality?

Miyabi: (nods) Trust me on that. I live with several personalities at home, all different…but…

Aya: Never mind…I think I understand.

(Aya gets a glass of milk and heads upstairs. Miyabi shakes her head…)

Miyabi: I hope Triela isn’t snoring…

* * * *

(In the middle of the night, Hinata wakes up unable to sleep…she looks over Kotone, who looks very peaceful asleep…)

(Hinata smiles as she opens up the door…and sneaks outside…)

(By the fountain, we cut to a distant view and does a few palm thrusts, before spiralling like a ballerina and striking out with open palms, knees and elbow smashes…)

Hinata: KORY-DEMO!

(Suddenly, a blast of chakra in the form of small bullet hole blasts smashes against a tree…)

Hinata: SHUGGOHAKKE…ROKSHOUYONJOU!

(A shield of chakra goes around her like a Kaiten, but her hands some at the speed of Ranma’s Chestnut Fist…)

(…after a few minutes of that, Hinata kneels down, coughing and panting as the sweat wipes off her forehead, as she sits down by the tree.)

Hinata: Needed…that…

(She falls asleep at the tree, but in a few hours, she’s back and training in the morning…)

* * * *

(Next morning…Kotone seems a lot more assertive, as she seemed to go into the well known managerial role that I fell in love with during To Heart: Remember My Memories…)

Kotone: Is that good enough Shiine-chan?

Shiine: Hai!

(Kotone is preparing the tea as Negi walks in…)

Kotone: Morning Negi-kun!

(Any hope of Negi being depressed is quickly removed by the sight of the bright beautiful teenager, as Shiine turns around…)

Shiine: I’m not Kurz…I’m not Kurz…

Negi: Kotone-san…we…

Kotone: (nods) It’s O.K, we’ll do well today…ne?

Negi: (nods) Hai…

* * * *

Triela: You were out there all night?

Hinata: (nods) It’s like I’ve got out of practice, and it was like chakra was building inside me…

(Triela blocks a kick as Hinata somersaults back)

Triela: So you had to realise it all at once?

Hinata: (nods) It’s like…I don’t know…such a rush…when you unleash an attack out…I never really felt it before…until Shino-kun and Kiba-kun helped me with my training…and I used it for the first time…

Triela: Eh? So it was like a battle frustration…

(Triela sent a karate chop which narrowly avoids Hinata…)

Hinata: (nods) I was always seen as the weakest link in the family…so it was a feeling of both success…and wanting to do better…

(Hinata strikes out a Jyuken, and Triela is forced back…)

Triela: Stop…that one hurt…

Hinata: S-sorry…

Triela: No, it’s O.k…just that if I get hurt too much, no-one can fix me…

(Hinata nods as Triela smirks and launches forward and pins her…)

Triela: …and that includes my attitude sweetie.

Hinata: T-Triela-san…

(Triela gets off…)

Triela: Don’t trust anyone Hinata…especially in this game…you’d be wise to listen to that…

Ban: (calling out) Hey, you guys, are you going to stop getting sweaty with each other?

Triela: (launching a can) PERVERT! LOLICON!

Ban: W-what?!!!

(Ban avoids getting knocked out by Triela’s fast ball as Hinata chuckles…before the inquires begin again…)

* * * *

(…we notice Aya realising something is different about one of the team…)

Fai: Aya-san, what’s wrong?

Aya: Nothing Fai…it’s just…well…something has changed in Kotone.

Fai: Kotone-chan?

Aya: (nods) She was nervous and reserved when she teamed with us, but somehow…she seems…stronger…more assertive and dynamic…

Fai: She’s probably terrified inside…

Aya: (sweatdrops) Maybe…but I think this may be the turning point in this game…especially if what I think will go down will go down…

Fai: You’ve got a plan?

(Aya nods…)

Aya: Seeing Negi last night showed me something…and I believe this will work well into tonight’s elimination.

Fai: Why am I getting scared when you say that?

Miyabi: (calling) Fai-san, are you calling?

Fai: Hai ma’am…

(Fai leaves as Aya smiles.)

Aya: I deal with enough people in Shibuya…what does Ran call them? Oh yes…trash…

(Aya looks at her notepad and has two circles around two certain people…)

Aya: …and they belong elsewhere.

* * * *

(During Team 1’s inquiries…we cut to a moment after they finish up talking with Seta, where Kurz really gets on Kotone’s bad books in two ways…)

(Shot of Negi heading outside and enjoying the air a moment longer before heading back to HQ, and with him away, Kurz has a moment to try and convince Kotone that…)

Kurz: …you’ve been saving his little rear! He’s been completely out of it today and yesterday…

Kotone: Really? I believe it was him that forced Seta to admit about the reference to the killer clue which led to him confirming an alibi.

Kurz: (stutters) I…I know…but he’s going to have too many of his night and day moments, and considering when he is on form, he’s too dangerous for most people…

Kotone: That’s true…

Kurz: See! Smart and beautiful! Actually, you do look a little like Tessa…

Kotone: (calls) Negi-kun, we’re going!

Negi: (calling back) Hai!

Kurz: Hey, what was that about? You interrupted…

Kotone: I feel that was enough – you’re lucky I don’t tell him about your plan…

Kurz: W-what plan?

(Kotone says nothing as it’s a fairly awkward silence on the way back…)

* * * *

(…as Shiine-chan shows off the power of transformation – animal style!)

Triela: So…it works when hiding from Ban’s ego and Satoshi’s coldness huh?

(Shot of Shiine-chan in squirrel form…)

Shiine-chan: This one was kind of inspired from Orin-chan…*swoons* though Chacha-san was cute as a koala as well…

Triela: I won’t bother asking…

Shiine-chan: Please don’t.

(It’s basically just after they have finished their inquiries and heading out, Shiine-chan has changed into a squirrel and hopped on Triela’s shoulder…time for a bit of fun…)

Fai: Welcome back!

Ban: Geez, you finished before us?

Fai: We did good Ban-pan!

Ban: I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that…

Satoshi: I believe we got enough information to do well – we know of a link between Yomi and Chiriko, and how it relates to the general crime in the grand scale of things…

Fai: Good Sato-kun, I believe that seeing Sarah-san like this made her personal feelings against who in particular had a real grudge against Kalos a real chance…

Satoshi: Need to swap?

Fai: Sure…just Miyabi-san had all the notes.

(Ban nearly facefaults, fortunately Miyabi is there to quickly rectify the situation…)

Miyabi: Welcome home.

Triela: We’re back.

Miyabi: Except…where’s Shiine-chan?

(Ban and Satoshi realise the youngest member of their troupe is missing…Triela ‘acts’ surprised….)

Triela: (calls) Shiine-chan, where are you?

Ban: Damn, we didn’t leave the kid behind did we?

(In his head, Shiine is doing an inner monologue about ‘they only just realised I’m missing?’ but I continue…)

Triela: Geez, you bright owls didn’t notice he was gone?

Ban: You’re just as bad cyborg-girl.

Triela: (trying hard not to chuckle) Me, really?

Satoshi: Anycase, he can’t be too far, he was in the van wasn’t he?

(Three…)

Triela: Can you use that eye of yours?

(Two…)

Ban: That’s Hinata! My eye isn’t for searching, it’s for making people wet their pants!

(One…)

Satoshi: Can we please just…

(Zero…)

Miyabi: KYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!

(The world has ended…I mean…)

Miyabi: (pointing at Shiine-squirrel) T-T-Triela-san, w-w-w-what is that?

(Shiine-squirrel is noticed at last, you can see the squirrel sweatdrop…)

Triela: Oh this, it’s my pet – I brought him with me, Claes might have eaten him if I hadn't brought him along…

Ban: Your pet?

Miyabi: T-this place d-d-doesn’t keep pets….

Triela: Really? I’ll just keep him in our room Miyabi-san…

Miyabi: NOOO!

(Triela pouts…then smiles and gets a wicked glint in her eye.)

Triela: O.K, then I’ll transfer where he may be appreciated. What’s Hinata and Kotone like with animals? I’ll let them cuddle him with me…

(Suddenly, the squirrel seems to turn red…)

Triela: …they can feed him, wash him…in the same room of course…

(The squirrel suddenly vanishes in a poof of smoke, and reveals a very lecherous Shiine-chan in full euphoria…)

Shiine: (goofy) Eh-heh…

(Cue sweatdrops…)

Ban: (snapping his fists together) Sh-ii-ne-chan…

(Shiine (wisely) suddenly snaps out of this…)

Shiine: T-T-Triela-san…

Triela: (snaps her fingers) Oh well…

(Suddenly, Hinata comes in with tea for all…)

Hinata: Um, I’ve made tea for everyone…

(Shiine turns, trying to hide his blush – as the others shrug their heads bar Miyabi, who just sighs in relief…)

Hinata: What?

Fai: You don’t want to know….

(Of course, Shiine-chan DOES use his transformation abilities to good use later on…)

* * * *

(Team’s 1 return is made, and after the meal, there is of course, the backstabbing plans as mentioned already…but there is also the bonds of friendship, and one which hasn’t been mentioned is the team of Negi and Shiine.)

Shiine: Triela-san is right…you are not going to feel sorry for yourself!

Negi: I know I shouldn’t…

Shiine: You know…so you should be strong. You’ve got people you are strong for back home right?

Negi: Yes…A-Asuna-san…Miyazaki-san…everyone back home really…

Shiine: Then by letting yourself down…you are letting everyone else down…Kotone-san is making sure you stay, so have faith of everyone back home…and of your friends here…

Negi: F-Friends?

Shiine: Yes, you have friends here! Kotone-san, Hinata-san, Triela-san – and myself…we all want you to stay here!

(Negi for the first time, seems to realise that this game is not just about the detective work and the backstabbing…it’s about the comradarie and the friendships that are made and broke at the mere mention of a killer’s game…)

(…fortunately, for now, that hasn’t happened to him…)

Negi: Hai!

(Negi finally snaps out of his slump as he shakes Shiine’s hand. Shiine seems a little embarrassed…he’s not used to the giving the speech role, but he pulls it off quite well…)

Shiine: Now, let’s see if us youngsters can teach a few of the older ones a lesson in manners!

Negi: Right!

(The two wizards link arms for a moment in a cross to bear moment, as later on, we are well aware of what happens in the vote…)

* * * *

(…and the aftermath, including Fai’s little speech. After it, Fai has a quiet word with Miyabi…)

Fai: …I do think Ban really needs a shake up in the right direction…but…

Miyabi: I know. But did you feel guilty about voting for Negi?

(Fai shakes his head…)

Fai: Not really, because I knew I was going to do it eventually. But what about you, you voted for Kurz right? Trying to make up for Mizuki?

Miyabi: (shakes her head) No…but Aya obviously didn’t hold it against me. Besides…it was a choice between Kurz and Negi…

(pauses)

Miyabi: …or your words against Hinata’s feelings.

(Suddenly, Fai realises what she meant…)

Fai: Ah…so I’m not the only one who asked for help.

Miyabi: Yes, you was…I just didn’t need Hinata to plead her case to me…the eyes were enough.

Fai: (scratches his head) Eyes? She has eyes?

Miyabi: Never mind Fai…just be thankful we both survived.

Fai: True…Fai wants to be a good kitty kat…

* * * *

(Fai kind of gets a wish as his favourite play thing returns…much to Kotone’s happiness of course…Ban, not known for being spooked, recounts the moments leading up to the fateful end…)

Ban: …the darkness surrounded me…and then light. Nothing but light and a pillar with flowers and this thing…

(He unveils the killer clue, which looks like, a rather large version of the Millenium Eye from Yu-Gi-Oh…rather hefty and bulky looking as Ban shoves it in the evidence room…)

Ban: Man, that thing weighed a ton…

Fai: You survived it though Ban-pan!

Ban: Oh yes, just remember that a snake bite grip is very good for making people completely silent when they sleep….

Fai: Scary…

(A few chuckle out of that as Ban kicks back as the detectives finally get away from another killer’s game…)

(…with two people certainly in different moods…)

(Shot of Kotone heading into the shower…)

Kotone: No-one is watching me now…it’s O.K…

(She gives a little sly smile before heading in…)

(…elsewhere…)

(…shot of Ban lighting up a cigarette outside…)

Ban: Damn…best get my game on quick….

(The sound of running water and the sight of rings of smoke are the last things we see to end Day 4 of the Murder Game…)

* * * *

And another little bit done – these are designed to be a hell of a lot shorter than the main fic, and as the fic draws it’s conclusions, these may go as the HQ bits will probably be included in the main fic, as are some now in fact.

A couple of little insider notes;

Chika refers to Chika Minazuki from Ai Yori Aoshi – who like Hinata – seems to be able to win on a video game on her first try. On the other hand, Kousuka refers to the handsome otaku from Genshiken, a young man who is brilliant at the Guilty Gear games. And for the record, May is my favourite character but whilst I’m pretty good, I’d say at the Midlands Anime Club I’d rank about 4^th overall…nuts…

O.K, so Miyabi’s squeal at Shiine-squirrel probably isn’t that realistic, but she was pretty warped at Uzume when he first appeared (though she’s more scared of bugs) so hey…she never gets much of the fun elements of AYA so why not add a few…

So get ready for Chapter 3!