Phobia

Poisoned Magic

Thank you to mal-3lpines for giving me the idea for this chapter!

There will be a violent execution in this, please be aware if you're squeamish.

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"A body has been discovered! Please make your way to Himiko's Research Lab!"

The dreadful body discovery announcement rang throughout the Ultimate Academy, drowned out by the sound of multiple footsteps rushing throughout the halls. Shuichi reached the magician's research lab to find Kokichi, Maki, Kiibo and Himiko had beat him to it, standing over the body of Gonta Gokuhara. Himiko sat next to the corpse, bawling as everyone tried to ask what happened. "I don't know I don't know!" She repeated.

The rest of the living contestants ran through the door behind Shuichi. Kaito, Tsumugi and Miu were all in shock at the victim's identity. "Here's the Monokuma File, have fun you all!" Monokuma's shrill voice pained the detective to hear as he took the file from the bear.

Case 4
Victim - Gonta Gokuhara
Time of Death - 3:17 pm
Cause - Unknown
Injuries - Small laceration to the bottom lip.

Whatever happened to him, Gonta didn't deserve this. I'll find who did this to you I promise. Shuichi promised the corpse lying in pain before him. He pocketed the Monokuma File and knelt over Gonta with Kokichi on the other side. Kokichi glared at Shuichi when he approached, seeming mad. "How could you poison him?" The small leader mumbled before storming off, probably not aware that the detective heard.

Shaking off the weird behaviour, Shuichi glanced over the corpse before him. Checking all of the information on the Monokuma file, he confirmed that all the information given was correct. The only difference though was a faint, bumpy rash around the victim's entire mouth, seeming to mimic the man's lips. Upon further investigation, all Shuichi could see was the odd positioning of Gonta's hand near his neck. Perhaps he couldn't breathe? Himiko's still here, maybe she has some information.

Approaching the sniffling girl, Himiko looked up at Shuichi and nodded, knowing what he wanted to do. "Hey Himiko, what happened?" He knelt next to her. 

"Gonta wanted to learn magic with me, so I was showing him my magic." Himiko started. "He started coughing a lot, so I tried to perform a healing spell but my MP was too low." 

"Was he breathing?"

"Well, at first yes, but then he started gasping and wheezing and just fell over. I didn't know what to do so I just watched... I feel horrible." Himiko started crying again, leaning into the detective. "This is a pain!" She wailed.

"Hey it's not your fault, there's nothing you could do." Shuichi rubbed her back comfortingly while in thought. Surely she's not acting. Himiko couldn't kill a fly much less a man built like Gonta... right? "Was there anything else that I need to know?" Himiko nodded.

"He said he had a headache when we started, I didn't think anything of it but I don't know if it could be related..." Kokichi was right... poison.

"That helps immensely Himiko, thank you. Maybe you should go wash your face and try to calm down? Everyone will understand if you sit this investigation out."

"No!" Himiko shouted as she jumped up, knocking Shuichi to his ass in the process. "Tenko would want me to keep going, so that's what I'll do!" She stated, running off afterwards. Shuichi just blinked in surprise before struggling to his feet, brushing off the dirt on his clothes. I should check my lab, if Gonta was poisoned it would've most likely been from there.