"Each person needs to come to their own conclusions, so that everyone can have confidence in the outcome." - Kyoko Kirigiri
POV : Kyoko
It was a little after 1 PM when I finally found myself standing in front of the dorms, the place that would become my new home for the next three years. After parting ways with Saihara, I let him explore the campus on his own, preferring to take this moment of solitude to organize my thoughts.
This high school, this class, all of it sparked a particular curiosity in me. I had already taken the time to memorize the names and faces of those who would be my future classmates, but one student, in particular, had captured my attention: Erika Furudo. From our first meeting, she had aroused my suspicion. Her reasoning was sharp, almost too sharp for a mere student, and she seemed to have already uncovered far more than she let on. What struck me the most was the way she introduced herself: not as an apprentice or aspiring detective, but as an accomplished detective, confident in herself, asserting her status with absolute certainty.
I had to admit that this confidence was unusual, even suspicious. But she wasn't the only one who caught my attention. Each of my classmates seemed to possess unique abilities, as if each of them carried within them an "Ultimate." Yet, this didn't concern me much for the time being. My immediate goal was to explore the surroundings, to understand this place that would be the stage of our shared life. As for my classmates, I would have plenty of time to observe them, study them, and gather information about them in due course.
Sweeping a strand of hair from my face, I entered the dormitory. The place was quiet, almost too quiet, but that didn't bother me. On the contrary, it allowed me to think in peace. My attention then turned to the janitor, who seemed to be one of the few people around at this hour.
Without wasting any time, I approached him, my mind already focused on the next steps of my exploration. I had learned never to trust first impressions, never to draw hasty conclusions. Every detail, every interaction, had to be carefully analyzed, because in this place, nothing should be left to chance. This was how I operated, methodical and detached, but always attentive to the smallest clues.
After all, in this high school where every student seemed to carry a burden as heavy as mine, it was crucial to understand everyone's strengths and weaknesses, without ever losing sight of the possibility that behind every smile, every word, there was a darker truth, a mystery to unravel.
Kyoko: Hello, sir, I said in a calm voice. May I ask you a question?
My voice surprised him slightly, and he turned quickly to see me. He interrupted his action, the broom still in hand, and his expression quickly shifted from surprise to a broad, kind smile.
Janitor: Oh, hello there, little miss! What brings you here? Do you need something?
Kyoko: Thank you, I simply said, without showing any particular emotion. I just want to know where I can get my room keys.
Janitor: Ah, well you've come to the right place, little miss! He smiled conspiratorially. So, I just need your name and full class, please.
Kyoko: Kyoko Kirigiri, from class 1-S, I stated in a clear and precise tone. I didn't see the point in saying more than necessary.
Janitor: Ah, okay, I'll get that for you right away, just hang on a sec.
Switching the broom to his left hand, he rummaged in his right pocket with the other hand. I heard the distinct clinking of several keys jangling together as he pulled out a keychain loaded with countless keys. He carefully sifted through them, examining each one attentively before selecting one and handing it to me, a smile reappearing on his face as he did so.
Janitor: And here you go, missy! Be careful not to lose them, alright! It'd be a shame to waste your points just to make a duplicate, ha ha ha!
I accepted the key with a nod. On the small keychain, a nameplate indicated "Kyoko Kirigiri." I turned it over to discover another inscription: "Room No. 102." Very well, I noted to myself, a simple but essential piece of information.
I put the key in one of my pockets, taking a brief moment to observe the janitor. His friendly demeanor seemed genuine, but I knew better than to blindly trust appearances.
Kyoko: Alright. Thank you, I said, my voice reflecting distant politeness.
Janitor: No worries! Don't hesitate to stop by if you need anything, I'm always in the top room!
Kyoko: No problem. Thank you. Goodbye, I said in a cold and controlled voice before turning on my heel.
Giving him one last nod, I noted once more his smile, unchanged, almost fixed in a benevolence that might seem reassuring to some, but which I couldn't help but view with slight suspicion. With a discreet gesture, I swept a strand of hair behind my ear before turning to head towards the stairs. No need to take the elevator to get to the first floor, I thought, preferring the simple effort of the steps under my feet.
As I ascended, I passed by the door of room one hundred and one, noting its position without lingering. My goal was clear: room one hundred and two, mine.
... ... ... ... ...
Arriving at my door, I placed my hand on the handle. And with calculated slowness, I turned the handle, listening to the slight creak of the wood echoing in the quiet of the hallway. The sound, though faint, seemed almost amplified, like a discreet echo of the serene but potentially deceptive atmosphere of this place.
Pushing the door open, I stepped into the room, taking care to close it behind me and turn the key in the lock, then slipping it back into my pocket.
Turning around, I let my gaze rest on my new room. The space was modest, but it exuded a sense of comfort. A single bed, with impeccably made sheets, was positioned near the wall, with a small bedside table next to it. A light wood wardrobe occupied one corner of the room, while a desk, bathed in the soft light filtering through the window, was placed nearby. The walls, painted in neutral tones, gave the room a peaceful and welcoming ambiance.
My thoughts wandered for a moment, appreciating the tranquility of this space that would become my personal refuge. Even though I generally preferred to remain on guard, here, I felt rather comfortable, ready to settle in and make this room my home.
As I explored with my eyes, a small booklet placed on the desk caught my attention. My curiosity was naturally piqued, and I wondered what it might contain. It was probably just a welcome booklet, useful information for new students, but it was worth taking a look.
Without haste, I approached the desk, intrigued but not particularly suspicious. This kind of detail was simply part of the settling-in process, and I was ready to discover what the booklet had to reveal.
I then took the booklet in my hands and opened it, quickly scanning its contents. As I had guessed, it was indeed a simple welcome booklet, probably distributed to all students. As I flipped through the pages, I found basic information such as the garbage collection days, reminders not to make too much noise, and recommendations to avoid wasting water, gas, and electricity. Anodyne, logical instructions even, but they still stirred a slight perplexity in me.
So, there were no limits on the use of electricity, water, or gas? This seemed strange to me, especially considering the number of students here, all boarding for three years. This lack of restrictions, though framed with apparent benevolence, raised questions. I wasn't naive enough to believe that this high school had nothing to hide. The 100,000 points we had received for the month had already made me suspicious, long before Furudo intervened to raise doubts. Something was wrong, it was obvious, and it would be unwise to think that this sum would be deposited every month without any strings attached.
Reflecting more deeply, this situation seemed less like a mere advantage than a confirmation of my suspicions. The fact that these expenses weren't deducted from our points balance highlighted a more complex reality. A less wary person, or someone who didn't take the time to think, could easily be seduced by the idea that this school offered everything without restraint for the students' well-being. But as far as I was concerned, I was convinced that behind this apparent generosity, there were much subtler stakes at play.
The booklet also mentioned a detail that somewhat surprised me: the co-ed dormitories. Although the regulations strictly prohibited any behavior deemed inappropriate between students, this decision to mix genders in the same living space seemed unusual to me. It wasn't common in an establishment of this caliber, especially when considering that this was a school intended for the country's greatest elites.
Moreover, the booklet clearly stated that couples were not allowed to display their affection in public. A reasonable, even expected rule, in an environment where discipline and seriousness are paramount. After all, the school couldn't afford to encourage or tolerate inappropriate behavior, especially concerning sexual relations between teenagers. This seemed perfectly logical, but the decision to allow co-ed dormitories while imposing these limits remained an interesting, if somewhat contradictory, choice. It raised questions about how this institution actually managed interactions between its students and what the real expectations were behind this seemingly strict regulation.
After going through the entire booklet, I closed it gently and placed it back on the desk in its original position. This room, about 14 square meters, would be my living space for quite a long period. Well, not so long, I told myself. After all, what are three years in a lifetime? Even though it was in a dormitory, it wouldn't make much of a difference to me; I had always been used to living alone, and I would likely adapt very quickly to this new routine.
... ... ... ... ...
Now, this would be where I spent my days, without direct contact with the outside world. Not that it really bothered me. Most of the people I was used to interacting with were here, Naegi included. As for the man who served as my father, I had no desire to contact him, quite the opposite.
In any case, this school was reputed to guarantee its graduates a nearly assured career, and it was considered the best in the country. At least, that's what they said on paper. In reality, everything seemed much more complex. If we thought back to everything that had happened so far, certain things didn't add up. A hierarchy of classes, huh? That idea might not be so far-fetched. But if that were the case, I wondered how it would work in practice.
If we follow this logic, there must certainly be a reason for this hierarchy. By turning the chessboard around, as they say, one could certainly deduce something. Perhaps only the top, Class S, had access to the coveted diploma? Mmh... many uncertainties remained. In that case, there must surely be a way to climb or descend this hierarchy, I was convinced of that.
However, deep down, the diploma didn't matter much to me. Even though I would obviously do what was necessary to maintain my place here and help my class, my future was already set. I didn't really need this diploma to achieve my goals. Nevertheless, I had to admit that things here could prove quite enjoyable and intriguing. It was this unpredictability that made this experience all the more interesting to me.
Sighing slightly, I sat down on the chair in front of the desk. With a calm gesture, I took a notebook and a pen from my pocket. Opening the notebook to a blank page, I clicked the pen, the sharp sound marking the beginning of my reflection.
Alright, it was time to gather all the elements at my disposal. I needed an overview, a clear vision of everything I had observed and deduced so far. Organizing my thoughts, taking stock of the collected information, and considering possible leads. This method had always been invaluable to me, and in this environment, it would be more crucial than ever.