Chapter 2 - Part 23
Um, can I ask you something Ibuki?
BRING IT ON!
Did you play “Twilight Syndrome Murder Case”?
Wellllll... that's a computer game, right? I'm basically awful at those things!
Ibuki’s a hardliner, so I don't touch anything powered by electricity except electric guitars!
...Don’t you think that’s a slight exaggeration?
Let me ask you something. What's the relationship between you and Chiaki?
Huh? You mean that in a perverted way?
No. I think you know exactly what I mean.
Well, even if you ask me that, Ibuki's encounter with Chiaki was... hm... hmmm...
Ah! This morning, Ibuki met Chiaki to try and see if she might reconsider joining the party!
But... but... Ibuki got denied.
Um... was there anything else of note?
Well, Chiaki actually wanted to talk to Ibuki about something... something important!
Eh? What did she say?
It turns out... Chiaki had some business, too, and she wanted to invite me to that instead. Because of her party plans, Ibuki had to deny her...
The turn tables! The turn tables!
Did she mention who else she was gathering?
Nope, I didn't ask.
I see...
So Chiaki wanted to invite Ibuki to a gathering of sorts? Why would she do that?
Sorry Mikan, but I’ll need to ask you a couple things.
Did you play “Twilight Syndrome Murder Case”?
N-No... since we said we weren't going to play that game... Also... I'm not really good at video games...
I'm pretty slow... and I panic instantly...
That’s okay, I’m not good at games either.
She’s so demure... just like the game’s protagonist, Girl A.
Hey, what was your relationship with Chiaki like?
R-Relationship...? With Chiaki...?
I-I first met her... Um... when we first gathered in the classroom with everyone else...
And after arriving at the island... I did have a few conversations with her but...
O-Oh! Could it be... Did Chiaki hate me?
Ngh...that's definitely it... She hated me...
I-I’m sure it’s not like that. Chiaki doesn’t seem like the type to hate anyone.
Mikan doesn’t seem to know anything... Or maybe I should say, she doesn’t seem to remember anything.
M... Maybe you’re right... She did invite me to her meeting...
Eh? Meeting?
Ah, um... Chiaki invited me this morning...
This morning...?
Sh-She looked very serious... and she was wondering if we could all meet up so she could discuss something...
But...I already had plans to go to the beach... So I had to decline...'cause I needed to prepare for that...
When I did, she didn’t protest... but I feel I really disappointed her...
B-But...if only I went with her... This wouldn't have happened...
WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
P-Please don’t cry, Mikan! None of this is your fault!
...
I see... Looks like we've obtained some pretty valuable testimonies.
Based on that... It seems like Chiaki also beat that game.
Well, she *is* the Ultimate Gamer...
Judging by the stakes of the situation, I don’t think she played Twilight Syndrome just because it’s a game.
...And if you didn’t cut me off, I was going to say her talent meant she’d be able to reach the secret ending.
Oh... sorry.
...Anywayyyy.
If she hadn't played that game, she wouldn't have chosen these people to talk to. Because she beat the game, she talked to the people who appeared in that game.
...Just like what we're doing right now.
I can’t imagine what she must have been feeling...
I mean, seeing yourself as a character in a game? Talk about a breach of privacy.
...
Something’s still bugging me, though... Why’d Chiaki play in the first place?
She was pretty adamant about there being no more killings... Do you think she did it as a safety precaution? Maybe she wanted to understand the motive in order to stop it...
I can’t imagine she played it immediately, at least...
...
Chiaki’s reason for playing... is still a mystery for now.
...Or is it?
There might be... one person who knows something important.
Jeez, of course it’s him...
Nagito, can I talk to you quickly?
...Huh? Me?
Back when I visited you at the old building, you said something about Chiaki...
By the way, what happened to Chiaki? Did she leave saying she had some business to take care of?
You... know about that?
You... How did you know Chiaki said that to me?
Hang on, did he know about the game?
...
Um, yeah... I remember him mentioning it.
I also heard about... Twilight Syndrome Murder Case, was it?
I have mixed feelings... I really liked that game a lot.
Nagito, you didn’t tempt her into playing it, did you?
No, I don’t think he ‘tempted’ her.
He couldn’t have known the actual contents of the game... He must have given her the same talk he gave me.
...Talk?
Ah, well, it wasn’t quite the same.
It hardly matters anyway, she already intended to play the game at that point. All I did was... give her a little push.
Besides, I’ve got nowhere *near* the level of cunning needed to trick her. Even entertaining the idea is ridiculous...
Wait... she was already intending to play?
More importantly... isn't it better if we listen to what she has to say? She's being quiet as ever...
I'm counting on you... Hiyoko.
...
If Chiaki spoke to everyone who appeared in the game, she should've talked to you too, right?
That makes sense...
...
Well, Hiyoko?
Kyahahahaha! She never talked to me at all!
Man, what a surprise. I didn't expect you to ask me such an easy question.
Sooooo... I'm just gonna go back to my cottage now! *leaves*
H-Hey! Don’t run away!
Looks like... it's okay to say she ran away.
Yeah, she's clearly suspicious. That's pretty much decided.
Regardless, it looks like we're finished here, so why don't we part ways for now?
There's... still something I need to investigate.
See you guys later. [leaves]
Huh? Wait! Don’t just-!
Like a near repeat of Hiyoko’s departure, Nagito left without paying any attention to my objections.
Jeez! And he was so adamant about bringing us along!
You’re really going to let yourself be pushed around...
...Eh?
Hey, what did you say!?
Anyway, I’m interested in checking Chiaki’s cottage. You with me?
Eh? Why her cottage?
She completed the game, she’s the victim... It makes sense to check her room.
I guess so...
The idea of a guy sorting through a girl’s room made me uncomfortable, but now wasn’t the time for that...
Hajime’s right. Since Chiaki is the victim, we need to try and get inside her room...