Danganronpa: Boiling Point

Chapter 33: Ill Omens

Rantaro started looking at the Whack-a-Rakun game. It cost 50 Monocoins to play, and had a one-player or two-player option (each person had to pay separately to unlock their mallet).

I decided to watch Rantaro play the game. The Rakuns would randomly pop up from one of the holes, slowly at first, and then faster. Sometimes, two would pop up at the same time; you would get double points if you hit them both. If you missed one, it would laugh at you. "Heh heh heh hee heeeee!"

Rantaro was very focused, and managed to keep up until towards the end, when the Rakuns started to overwhelm him with how fast they would pop up and disappear.

Still, Rantaro did pretty well, I thought. After the game was over, Rantaro put his initials (RA) in the 7th place slot of the Top Ten Scoreboard.

Afterwards, I decided to leave the Carnival Room and head down to the Dining Hall for Lunch. There, I ran into Fuyuhiko, who was eating some yakisoba at the table. I decided to join him at the table, and have some lunch after I made it in the Kitchen.

I decided on a turkey and ham sandwich, with Swiss and Colby Jack sandwich. After making it, I sat down across from Fuyuhiko.

"So, how is your day going, Fuyuhiko?" I asked, after taking the first bite of my sandwich.

Fuyuhiko scoffed. "Don't talk to me like we're friends, dumbass. I'm just eating lunch in here."

Ignoring his sour demeanor, I took another bite of my sandwich, then asked him, "Have you been up to anything interesting lately?"

Fuyuhiko sighed. "What did I just say? I'm not your friend, dumbass! And what I'm doing is none of your damn business!"

Fuyuhiko was beginning to chafe at my nerves. I noticed, however, that he had no drink. Having no drink of my own either, I decided to play nice.

"Would you like a drink? I was going to get one, myself," I asked Fuyuhiko.

"Pffft, do whatever you want. If you wanna get me a drink, though, I won't stop you. You better not serve me alcohol, though!"

So Fuyuhiko does not like alcohol. Noted.

"I had no plans to serve you alcohol. I was thinking some juice, or perhaps some tea?"

Fuyuhiko nodded slightly. "Tea actually sounds good."

"What kind of tea would you like? I know how to make several kinds."

Fuyuhiko thought for a few moments, and I was relieved that he was dropping his salty nature. "What kinds of tea do you know how to make?"

I thought for a moment. "Black tea, Green tea, Chamomile tea, Ginger tea, Cinnamon tea, and also my Buresuresu Suimin..."

I froze internally, not meaning to mention my special recipe tea.

Fuyuhiko's ears perked. "Buresuresu Suimin? Breathless Sleep? Odd name for a tea. How do you make that one? Never heard of it."

I maintained my composure. "It is a special recipe tea that I created myself. I keep the recipe a secret, but I have never had anyone say anything bad about my Buresuresu Suimin to anyone else."

I smiled, mostly due to how true this statement was.

"How's it taste?" Fuyuhiko asked.

"Regretfully, I am allergic to one of the ingredients, so I have never had it myself. I only make it for others to enjoy." I looked down sorrowfully, a look I mastered from speaking with family members of the deceased.

"Hmph. Fine, sure, I'll try some." Fuyuhiko said.

I could hardly believe my ears. Fuyuhiko, who had been nothing but an insufferable brat this entire time, was now asking for my special recipe tea? I smiled, mostly to myself.

"With pleasure. Let me just get a few ingredients, and I will get to work on it right away. Enjoy your yakisoba at the meanwhile." I gave Fuyuhiko a curtsy, then took my sandwich with me as I headed to the Fourth Floor, to the Chemistry Room. I needed two ingredients from that room.

Arriving on the Fourth Floor, I passed the Batting Cages, and heard what sounded like someone using the batting cages, but it did not sound like a normal baseball bat striking the ball. I could not put my finger on what the contact sounded like, however, but something seemed...off.

Curious, but not really having time to investigate, I made my way to the Chemistry Room. First, I grabbed a small container with a lid. I first went to the Ms, and found Melatonin. To my surprise, it was in a powder form; I was expecting to have to melt gummies instead. Pleasantly surprised, I measured out the proper amount into the container and closed the lid.

Next, I headed to the As, and found Aconite. Holding my breath, I carefully measured out the proper amount and dumped it into the container with the melatonin powder. I quickly closed the lid on the aconite and put it away, then closed the lid on the container I had.

Smiling to myself, I quickly headed back downstairs to the First Floor, running into no one except Hiyoko, who was dancing in the Dance Hall while Kyoko and Korekiyo watched.

Returning to the Dining Hall, Fuyuhiko was sitting down with a new bowl of yakisoba from the Kitchen.

"I have the ingredients I need for my Buresuresu Suimin. I shall head into the Kitchen now to make it for you."

"About damn time! I thought you were gonna ditch me!" Fuyuhiko shot back at me, clearly annoyed.

Brushing off his crass remark, I headed back into the Kitchen to make the tea. I started by bringing some water to a simmer, while getting some black tea and sugar ready. I mixed them in with the other ingredients and slowly stirred them together, being careful not to inhale any of it. I then poured the mixture into a glass, using a funnel. Next, I poured the simmering water into the same funnel. Finally, I carefully stirred the tea, making sure that everything is blended in perfectly.

Suddenly, Monorakun's face appeared on the monitor, wearing a baseball cap. To my surprise, Monorakun started singing.

"Take me out to the Fourth Floor,
Take me out with the kill!
Buy me some anger and bick-er-ing!
I don't care if I ever get out!
So let's go, go-go to the Ba-tting Cage!
If you're not there, it's a shame!
For it's one...two...three set of eyes
On a dead...bo...dy!"

My face dropped. I turned around, and Fuyuhiko was already walking out of the Dining Hall. Cursing inside my head, I decided to just dump out the tea and rinse out the cup with soap and water, before begrudgingly heading upstairs to the Batting Cage, to see which poor soul met their end.

Everyone was gathered outside the Batting Cage, but there was room enough for me to move between Rantaro and Toko, who both looked distraught. Looking inside, I could only see the back half of the victim, but I recognized her short green jumper dress and knee-high green socks.

Mahiru was tied by her wrists to either side to the batting cage fences. Her head was lowered, her chin appearing to rest on her chest. I could see blood on the floor in front of her.

Looking at the Batting Cage monitor, a device was attached to an E-Handbook, which seemed to work on a timer in a hinge-type motion. The speed was set to Fast (100 mph).

As I started to mentally piece together the scene before me, Monorakun scurried into the room on all fours, wearing an umpire's mask and chest protector, and addressed the deceased.

"Mahiru Koizumi, you'rrrre outta herrrrrre!" Monokuma announced, pointing his right finger and swatting it in the air in front of him, as if to eject an arguing manager or player from the game.

Only, this was no baseball game. This was a new life-or-death Class Trial coming our way, and I had my work cut out for me here.