Cookieronpa: Death Dough

Chapter 18: Revival?

Espresso woke up to a knock on his door. He groaned.
"What?"
"Woah, rude much?" Said a voice he didn't recognise. Or maybe he did, but he couldn't remember it.
"Who are you?"
"Uhh... maybe you can come see for yourself! I wouldn't feel right walking into your room." Espresso sighed and walked to the door. He could smell alcohol.
"Lilac?"
"No, but good guess!" He opened the door and saw... Sparkling?!
"Sparkling... what?"
"Surprise!" He smiled.
"Hold on, you're dead! Is this some sort of trick?"
"Nope! I was revived by Jellykuma!"
"... Why on Earthbread would he revive someone? The cunt sure loves seeing us suffer."
"Oh... I'm not actually going to survive long."
"Hmm? How not?"
"I kinda had to come back. Jellykuma said I was meant to help the next killer. I hope nobody wants to kill... death hurts."
"Sparkling... I know you just got back but... do you know who the mastermind is?"
"Uhhhh...." He tried to think. "Not really. If I did, I can't remember."
"Shit... okay." Espresso walked out and closed his door. He didn't care if he was still in his shirt from yesterday.
"You told everyone yet?"
"Yes! But... couldn't find someone. Do you know where Blackberry is?"
"... No idea. Why did you have to tell everyone?"
"I was told to. Also I kinda wanna throw an alcohol feast for everyone but I've got no idea where my bar is..."
"Oh, I could take you to it."
"You'd do that?"
"Sure."
"Thanks, Espresso!"
"Yeah, no problem. Come on-"
*SLAM!*
A loud slam was heard from the gym. The two looked at each other with a look of confusion, then shock. What if something bad happened? They went down and saw... Jellykuma. WITH HALF OF HIS ARM FALLING OFF!
"What the hell happened?" Asked Espresso.
"Ah shit- hey guys! I was trying to get out of bed but I fell over and-" they saw something hit Jellykuma. It lodged right in where is neck was. It was... a staff. Tiger Lily's staff. He tried to rip it out, but Tiger Lily jumped on top of him and ripped it out. He made a death noise, then stopped moving.
"W-Woah, did you just kill him?" Asked Sparkling.
"Hope!" Replied Tiger Lily, kicking him in the side.
"Uhh... good job?" Espresso said, not sure if this counted as a murder.
"Not to interrupt, but isn't it against the rules to commit violence on him?" Asked Pastry, walking in.
"I dunno, is it?" Asked Espresso.
"I think it was. I may be wrong though."
"Well I don't think that was violence because he's fucking dead." Laughed Knight, walking into the gym. They looked at him with shock.
"When did you get here?" Asked Sparkling.
"A few seconds ago."
"Hmm... so if he's dead, does that mean we can discuss the big m?" Asked Pastry.
"Huh? Big m?" Asked Espresso. She sighed.
"The master of the minds."
"You sound like a poet."
"Answer my question. Can we discuss?"
"I guess."
"Great, so I think that-" Knight started, before being cut off.
"Let's not hear it from you. I am unsure if you didn't realise, but we're not gonna listen if you can't tell us basic information." Said Blackberry, who also walked in.
"What? Why no-" He paused, remembering what happened. He shut his mouth.
"So if we're gonna have a group discussion, let's gather everyone."
"Ooh! I have an idea!" Said Parfait, who also walked in. She looked around and opened the door to Jellykuma's room. Then searched for the announcement camera.
"Mwehehehehe! Heya guys! Come to the gym, Jellykuma is #dead!" She turned the camera off, putting it back. They looked at her with surprise.
"Parfait, how did you know how to do that?" Asked Pastry. She shrugged.
"He told me a while ago."
"... Right, okay then." Muttered Espresso. Everyone except for Princess came in. Knight noticed this.
"Where's Princess?" Asked Knight. They all looked around.
"Not in here, that's for sure." Sighed Mint. Knight felt a wave of panic run over him. Just then, he rushed out of the room and darted up to Princess's room. Espresso followed secretly and eavesdropped. Obviously he hated eavesdropping, but this could be important. He saw Princess with a weirdly shaped stab wound. She was bleeding. He panicked, grabbing a first aid kit.
"What happened?!" He asked.
"I-I'm fine... I just... got stabbed this morning."
"Why?!"
"... Sparkling tried to kill me. I dunno why though."
"Really? I thought his purpose was to-"
"To what?"
"... Nothing, I said nothing."
"Okay then... are you actually the mastermind?"
"No. Do you trust those morons more than me?"
"Not all of them. Espresso's smart though."
"Right, okay then." He finished bandaging. She stood up with his help. He placed her onto her bed. Espresso accidentally made eye contact with her, but she said nothing?
"Just stay here, okay? I'll tell them that you were too sleepy."
"Hah, sounds like a fairytale."
"Yeah, I know."
"Where's my prince? Are you my prince?"
"... Uhh... maybe." Espresso saw his face go red.
"Aww, how sweet. Go do the debate. And do not get yourself into another fight."
"Okay, I obey your command."
"Good, good!" Espresso teleported away before Knight saw him. He blended back into the room where everyone was discussing.
"So... that's all I remember." Said Sparkling.
"Oh... so you only remember that you died? You don't remember the mm?" Asked Pastry.
"No. If I did, I'd definitely tell you guys." He sighed.
"Hmm... Parfait, you look like you wanna say something." Said Lilac.
"Oh, yeah! Sparkling, can you help us find out who it is?" She asked. Sparkling shook his head sadly. Parfait frowned.
"Aw, come on! Why not?"
"Because as soon as the next murder happens, I'm going to die again."
"Well help us now! The masteromindo could be anyone of them!-"
"OBJECTION!" Yelled Pastry.
"Wrong game. Also wrong context. " Said Blackberry.
"Close enough," she muttered, returning her vision to Parfait. "Parfait, I think that it's you!"
"W-What?! You think I kidnapped you all and forced you to kill each-other?!"
"You used that camera like you've used it before, and how did Jellykuma tell you how to use it?!"
"I-I... I... I lied about the Jellykuma thing! I just have the same type of camera at home!"
"Why would you lie about something so dumb?!"
"... I don't know! I was under pressure!"
"It's you, isn't it?! You're the manstermend!"
"OH MY VANILLA, SHUT UUUUUUUUP!" The loud sound she made silenced everyone. There was just pure silence for a few seconds.
"Ouch... I think you just gave us all tinnitus." Muttered Lilac, holding his head.
"S-Sorry. I am not the mastermand!"
"... You sure?" Asked Pastry.
"You know, it would be interesting if she was. After all, she knocked me out with a garden tile." Said Knight.
"W-What?! That was f-for..."
"For what, Parfait?" Asked Mint.
"F-For answers! He wasn't telling me who it was!"
"I think we have our mastermond." Said Knight.
"Hang on. We don't know that." Said Espresso. Knight sighed.
"Of course I'd be opposed. I suppose I've already made a fool of myself..."
"Correct. You have." Said Blackberry.
"Look, can we just leave all that mastermonied shit in the past? I don't wanna keep that reputation..."
"Here's a deal. Tell us who ISN'T the mestermind and we'll stop suspecting you." Said Pastry.
"O-Okay, I'll say one thing. Who do you wanna ask about?"
"Is it... Lilac?" Asked Mint.
"... No. It's not Lilac."
"Then why did you blame me?" He asked.
"I-I was just scared, okay?"
"Wait, hold on! How do we know you're telling the truth?" Asked Pastry.
"Well, I don't wanna lie anymore."
"See how long that one lasts. And after all that crap, I don't trust a word out of your mouth! Hell, you could be lying about Lilac!" She yelled.
"Um, what? You don't wanna believe him in this case?" Asked Lilac.
"Of course not! Everything he's said is either useless or a lie!"
"So... let me just clear this up. You don't think I'm innocent?"
"Of course not. I don't think anyone is innocent. Only trust yourself."
"Hmm, whilst I do see why you follow that idea, it just seems a little bit strange that you don't trust me."
"It's nothing against you, I'm just very against Knight."
"... Hah. Alliance my ass. Fuck this, I'm not staying in a room with a liar, attacker and betrayer." He pointed at Knight, Sparkling and Pastry as he spoke, then walked out. The room was silent.
"A-Attacker?! Sparkling?!" Yelled Tiger Lily.
"... I-I did nothing wrong." He defended.
"I'm outta here, bye guys." Sighed Knight, walking out.
"W-What?! How am I a betrayer?!" Complained Pastry.
"You guys were in an alliance the whole time? Were you trying to get rid of us?" Asked Blackberry.
"N-No! We made the alliance to protect you all! Espresso's in it too!"
"WHY ON EARTHBREAD WOULD YOU DRAG MY NAME INTO THIS?!"
"TELL THEM WE'RE NOT KILLERS!"
"... Oh, that reminds me! Blackberry, you can talk to the dead, right?"
"Hmm? Yes, why?"
"Can you ask Fig about what Sparkling said that night?"
"That's not a bad idea!" Approved Sparkling.
"B-But it was only me and Lilac! Fig wasn't there!"
"They still might know something, I'll be sure to give it a try! Farewell, I must return to my room and try to remember how to summon specific people." She said, walking out. Espresso sighed with relief.
"Woah, way to completely throw us off." Said Pastry. She turned around and glared at Sparkling.
"Now as for you, Mr. Alcohol. Why did Lilac call you an attacker?!"
"... I'm not confessing. I've done all I need to today. If you need me I will be in my bar. Goodnight." He walked out. Pastry groaned.
"My god, when will we get a good discussion that won't involve people walking out?!"
"Maybe if someone wasn't so questioning of my answer then we wouldn't be here! I'm trying to help you all!" Said Knight.
"No you're not! If you wanna help, then you can-"
...
Espresso's vision went blurry. He felt nauseous.
"G-Guys, is it hot in here?" He asked.
"Espresso, are you okay?!" Asked Parfait with worry.
"I feel kinda dizzy..." He replied, passing out. Everyone else also passed out. Jellykuma stood up.
"Fufufufufu~! They thought I was dead? Tch! Absolutely ridiculous! Mwahahahahaha!" He laughed. He turned off the sleeping gas switch.
"Now then, I'm gonna wait for them to wake up. I gotta go brew a coffee, haven't had one for ages. See you later, audience!" He smiled, walking away.