City Roulette Ep 4 Part 1 : This doesn't feel like the Holiday's *Class Trial*

The elevator doors open with a slow, metallic sigh — steam hissing out as twenty-five citizens step into the blinding white light. The ground beneath them shimmers like frosted glass, reflecting the glowing red-and-green decor of the chamber. Twinkling holographic wreaths spin above their heads, candy cane lights line the walls, and a towering Christmas tree of cold metal ornaments dominates the center — its star flickering with an eerie, artificial glow. A grand voice cuts through the silence. Harold Yamaki (The Neko Mayor) (purring cheerfully from above) 🎵 “Ho-ho-ho! Citizens of City Roulette, welcome to your very first Holiday Class Trial! 🎵 He lounges on a silver throne perched atop a snow-covered platform, his white fur coat draped like a regal cape. His feline tail flicks lazily, tapping the armrest in rhythm with the faint jingles echoing through the hall. The group spreads out, awed and uneasy. Heather Metal (crossing her arms, half-smirking): “If Robert were here… he’d have a mental breakdown. He’d probably call this a crime against interior design.” A few nervous chuckles ripple through the crowd, but the mood remains heavy. The massive chamber glows brighter as twenty-six podiums rise slowly from the ground, forming a perfect circle around the metal Christmas tree. Each podium lights up with a soft golden glow — all except one. The unlit podium bears Robert Finn’s holographic photo — grayscale, motionless, eyes half-lidded. Paulie Louis (hesitant): “...Why is his picture on the podium? He’s… gone.” Harold Yamaki (grinning slyly): “Oh, dear Paulie~! We wouldn’t want our dearly departed to miss out on the holiday spirits, would we?” He gestures dramatically, and Robert’s hologram flickers with faint static snow. “After all, every ghost deserves a front-row seat to justice!” Heather (quietly): “That’s… morbid. Even for you.” Harold (snapping his fingers): “Correction — festively morbid! Now! To your places, my merry suspects!” The floor glows with a spiraling snowflake pattern as each civilian steps toward their podium. Their names appear in glowing text above each station: Heather Metal, Kayegama Yoshe, Riko Hoyomisha, Johnathon Coffee, Aruha Suguyama, Arthur Smith, Jessie Kowalski, Jake Belle, Will King, Mark Traverse, Mariah City, Myrtle Chang, Neely Pearl, Julian Merwin, Austin Sobriquet, Chase Hallow, Jackie Yamata, Emma Violet, Paulie Mae, Seth Norway, Arthur Present, Hue Trinity, Paris Ross, Nicholas Sour, and Paulie Louis. The faint hum of the elevator fades behind them as the circle closes. Harold Yamaki (leaning forward on his throne): “Now that everyone’s settled — it’s time for the merriest bloodbath of them all!” He claps once. The roulette wheel pattern beneath them begins to spin slowly, emitting faint chimes with every rotation. Harold (continuing): “Here are the rules, my joyful jurors: debate like it’s your last holiday dinner! When the time limit is up, everyone must cast their vote. The person you choose will be judged as the possible blackened!” He pauses — grin widening. “If your votes are correct, the guilty will face the punishment of a lifetime — and the rest of you can go back to decking your halls in peace!” He raises a paw dramatically. “But if you guess wrong…” The lights dim to red. The roulette wheel stops spinning, the sound of cracking ice filling the chamber. Harold’s eyes glint mischievously. “Then it’s everyone but the blackened who’ll be meeting a very… un-jolly ending.” The group goes silent. The sound of the spinning wheel resumes — louder, heavier — like a ticking clock made of bells. Harold Yamaki (smiling): “So! Citizens… shall we begin the Despair Before Christmas?” The roulette wheel slows, humming like a heartbeat. Frost creeps along the outer walls as the air grows still. No one speaks. Then— Heather Metal throws her hands in the air. (frustrated) “Okay—someone tell me how we’re supposed to start this thing! Do we just—what—yell theories into the void until someone cries?!” A few nervous chuckles ripple through the circle. Paulie Louis (softly but firm): “Hey, hey—breathe, everyone. We can’t lose it already.” She places her hands on the podium, looking around the group. “Let’s just… remember everything that’s happened. Piece it together like we always do, okay?” Her calm tone cuts through the tension. Slowly, the group settles. Paulie Louis glances up toward Harold’s throne. “Mayor Harold, maybe we can start with you. Why did you release the animals so fast that night?” The neko mayor lounges on his silver throne, chin resting on one paw. His tail flicks lazily. Harold Yamaki (mock-innocent): “Oh, that. I simply couldn’t resist, darling. The suspense was melting faster than the fake snow!” Heather Metal slams her hands on her podium, voice sharp and furious. “You promised us time! You said you’d wait before letting those poor things loose!” The neko mayor smiles faintly, eyes half-lidded in amusement. Harold (purring): “I did, didn’t I? But promises are so fragile this time of year. Like ornaments. You drop them once, and—” (he makes a cracking motion with his paw) “—they shatter. Besides, I was bored.” Neely Pearl leans forward, elbows on her podium, smirking. “Ooooh, so that’s it! Mister Mayor got bored of playing Santa before the sleigh even left the driveway!” Harold (grinning wider): “Guilty as charged~.” Neely (teasing sing-song): “Admit it—you didn’t care about waiting. You just wanted to watch chaos with a cup of cocoa.” Harold tilts his head, feigning thought. “Mm… marshmallows make despair taste sweeter.” The group groans collectively. Mariah City (rolling her eyes): “Unbelievable. We’re stuck in a murder trial run by a Hallmark villain.” Seth Norway (muttering): “More like a cat who watched too many Christmas specials.” Harold (snapping his fingers cheerfully): “Oh, come now—don’t be Grinches! We’re only getting started!” He leans forward, his voice lowering into a playful purr. “Now that we’ve covered my alleged impatience, how about we move on to something a little juicier?” He gestures toward the glowing hologram of Robert Finn’s face. “Let’s talk about why one of you decided to give dear Robert the shock of his life~.” The lights dim slightly. A cold chime echoes through the chamber. Heather Metal clenches her fists. “Then let’s do it right this time.” Paulie Louis nods. “No distractions. No chaos. Let’s find out who really killed him.” The roulette wheel begins to spin again — slower, deliberate, each tick echoing through the frozen chamber like a heartbeat. The roulette floor glows a deep crimson as it slows to a stop. A faint jingle plays from nowhere — distorted, as if the melody itself were freezing in midair. The air feels tight, the festive lights flickering faintly above the podiums. Heather Metal slams her hands on her podium, voice sharp and clear. Heather: “Alright, let’s stop dancing around the snow globe and get real. I think the most suspicious people here are Emma and Hue.” The room stills. Eyes turn toward the two mentioned. Hue Trinity (frowning): “...Excuse me?” Emma Violet (tilting her head, arms crossed): “Wait, what are you talking about, Heather?” Heather (leaning forward): “Think about it. When the animals went berserk in the town hall, the two of you vanished! Nobody knew where you were, nobody saw you until after the chaos settled. If that’s not suspicious, I don’t know what is.” Riko Hoyomisha (coolly): “She has a point. Timing matters.” Myrtle Chang (raising her hand): “Hold up—” (she glances around) “Could there even be, like… an accomplice? I mean, in a murder like this?” The neko mayor lounges back in his silver throne, one leg crossed over the other, tail flicking lazily. Mayor Harold Yamaki (smirking, sing-song): “Ooooh, splendid question, my aquatic darling! The answer is yes~!” (he taps the side of his throne, the sound echoing like a bell) “There can be an accomplice. But only one gets the sweet reward of freedom. The other?” (he grins, eyes glowing faintly red) “Well… let’s just say coal in the stocking doesn’t begin to cover it.” Nicholas Sour (grimacing): “So… the accomplice helps but still dies if we get it right? That’s— that’s pointless!” Harold (snapping his fingers, delighted): “Exactly! Isn’t that deliciously tragic? Helping the guilty only to share their downfall! Ah, the true meaning of the holidays~—sacrifice!” Neely Pearl (groaning): “Okay, I’m starting to think you’ve never seen an actual Christmas movie, dude.” Harold (grinning wide, leaning down): “I prefer thrillers.” The group collectively sighs. Heather rolls her eyes, bringing the focus back. Heather: “Anyway! Point is, Emma and Hue were both gone. If we’re narrowing suspects, that’s where we start.” Emma Violet exhales, steadying herself. Her voice is clear, almost defensive, but not panicked. Emma: “Fine. You want my side? When Harold—” (glares upward at the neko mayor) “—decided to release those poor animals early, I was still outside the town hall. I barely made it across the square before a freaking bear came charging straight for me!” Gasps echo around the circle. Emma (continuing): “I tried to get into Latoya’s Café, but the doors were locked. I screamed, pounded on the glass, but before I could even move— the bear smashed through the front window!” Neely Pearl (wide-eyed): “Like, full-on action-movie style?!” Emma (dry): “Do I look like I had popcorn for it?” Will King (muttering): “I would’ve streamed that…” Mariah City (cutting in, furious): “Oh my God! THAT WAS YOU?! Do you realize what kind of hell broke loose after that window shattered?!” (she slams her hand on her podium) “I was right there in the café! You basically launched a grizzly missile into our safe zone!” Emma (defensive): “Excuse me for not wanting to get mauled! I didn’t make it crash through the window— I dodged for my life!” Johnathon Coffee (groaning): “And I lost my favorite coffee pot because of it! Jessie yeeted that thing like it was an Olympic sport!” Jessie Kowalski (snapping): “I threw it to survive, not for your barista drama!” Johnathon (dramatic): “You could’ve at least used a decaf pot! I was attached to that one!” Kayegama Yoshe (chuckling, remembering): “Yeah, that bear flew in like a wrecking ball! I swear, it took out three tables before Riko and I tried to tag-team it WWE style.” Riko Hoyomisha (flatly): “We don’t talk about that.” Kayegama (grinning): “I swung a chair! You swung a chair! That’s teamwork, baby!” Paulie Mae (trying not to laugh): “Y’all really thought you could wrestle a bear?” Mariah (still fuming): “We were in a café, not a ring! It was chaos!” Heather Metal (pointing accusingly at Emma): “See? You caused that chaos. You were right there when it all started.” Emma (cutting in quickly): “Not on purpose! The bear came for me. I dodged. It went through the window— end of story! After that, I ran straight into the guy’s house to hide.” Harold Yamaki (mock gasp): “Oh, how romantic! Two fugitives from a furry apocalypse, hiding together under one humble roof!” Hue Trinity (annoyed): “Could you not make it sound like a holiday rom-com?” Neely Pearl (smirking): “‘Hue and Emma’s Christmas Hideaway’— streaming never!” Emma (ignoring them, continuing): “Inside the guy’s house, Hue was already there, trying to barricade the door with furniture. We stayed quiet till morning. That’s it. We didn’t go anywhere near Robert or the generator room.” Kayegama Yoshe (nodding): “She’s telling the truth about the bear, at least. Around that time, I was in the café with Paulie Mae, Paulie Louis, Jessie, Johnathon, Riko, and Mariah. The bear did crash through the window out of nowhere. It was like— instant chaos.” Paulie Louis (softly): “I remember the sound. It was loud enough to make the walls shake.” Mariah (gritting her teeth): “Yeah, and my sanity shattered with the glass.” Johnathon (sighing dramatically): “And my poor, innocent coffee pot…” Arthur Present (firmly, cutting through the noise): “Enough. We’re getting sidetracked.” (his voice steadies the group) “Emma, continue. After the bear incident and hiding with Hue… did either of you see anyone else that night?” Emma looks down for a moment, her reflection glimmering in the frosted floor. Emma: “No. Just… the two of us. And the sound of the generator… buzzing somewhere outside.” The hum of the roulette wheel fades into that same electric buzz — the memory filling the silence like static. Heather (narrowing her eyes): “...So the last thing you heard that night was the generator.” Emma: “Yes.” Harold Yamaki (grinning wickedly): “Ohoho~ then we’re back on track! A shocking development, wouldn’t you say?” He laughs — the sound echoing like sleigh bells in a crypt. Heather Metal exhales, glancing toward the others. “This is going to be one long night.” The holographic snowflakes drift lazily above the courtroom as silence stretches like ice. The roulette floor hums low beneath the circle of podiums, glowing faint blue — the “truth color,” flickering under tension. Hue Trinity clears his throat, his posture straightening. His normally calm eyes harden under the neon glow. Hue (steady, composed): “Alright, since everyone wants the full story — I’ll take it from here.” He glances toward Emma, who gives a small nod. Hue (continuing): “After the bear incident, Emma and I stayed in the guy’s house. We were in the living room for maybe an hour, maybe more — it was hard to tell. The whole city was silent except for distant roars and the generator buzzing outside.” He pauses, voice darkening. “Then we heard glass breaking — from the kitchen.” Mariah City (wide-eyed): “Oh, don’t tell me—” Hue: “Yeah. The window shattered — and before we could even react, snakes started pouring in.” A murmur breaks through the group. Even Harold leans forward slightly, tail flicking with interest. Neely Pearl (grinning wide): “Yesss, drama! Keep it coming, Hue-Hue! Venom and violence, my favorite cocktail~!” Heather Metal (snapping): “Neely, shut it—! Hue, you’re seriously saying snakes just appeared inside the house?” Hue (narrowing his eyes): “You think I’d make that up? Go check the place yourself. The kitchen floor’s probably still a reptile rave.” Heather: “Oh, please. That sounds way too convenient. Bears, snakes, next you’ll say penguins parachuted through the ceiling.” Hue (sharp, irritated): “You asked for details, I’m giving them! The snakes came through the window — I saw it with my own eyes!” Heather: “And we’re just supposed to take your word for it?” Hue (snapping): “You got something better, Metal Mouth?!” The tension explodes instantly. Heather slams her hand on the podium, leaning forward. Heather: “Don’t start with me, Trinity. You vanish during the attack, show up with a half-assed snake story, and expect everyone to believe you? You sound like a bad cover for a murderer!” Hue (shouting): “And you sound like someone who doesn’t know when to shut the hell up!” Heather (furious): “Why don’t you come down here and make me?!” Neely Pearl (delighted, fanning themselves): “Oh my stars and stilettos! It’s giving holiday cage match! I need popcorn and a front-row seat!” Austin Sobriquet (sighing, rubbing his temples): “This is rapidly devolving into chaos.” Seth Norway (muttering dryly): “Rapidly? We’ve been there since the bear.” Heather and Hue are still shouting, voices overlapping — full of raw emotion. Hue (angrily): “Why the hell would I make up a snake attack?!” Heather (snapping): “To make yourself look innocent!” Hue: “I’ve got proof!” The word slices through the noise. The entire room freezes. Even Neely, who was halfway through miming a dramatic faint, pauses mid-gesture. Heather (skeptical): “...Proof?” Hue Trinity reaches into the pouch on his belt and pulls out his metallic yo-yo — the signature weapon that gleams faintly under the trial lights. Its string, once pristine, now frayed and darkly discolored in several places. He holds it up for everyone to see. Hue (firm): “See these marks? Two deep punctures, spaced apart. That’s where one of the snakes bit my yo-yo when I swung it.” (he spins it once, the faint scratching audible) “I threw it as the snake launched at Emma. It wrapped around it for a second before recoiling. We barely made it out.” Emma Violet nods, arms crossed tightly. Emma: “It’s true. That snake was huge. It leaped straight toward my face. Hue’s yo-yo hit it mid-air. It… it saved me.” Neely Pearl (dramatic gasp): “A hero moment! Love and venom! The tension! The stakes!” (fans themself again) “This is my new favorite episode.” Mariah City (glaring): “Neely, if you don’t stop narrating like this is reality TV—” Neely (grinning): “Sweetheart, it is reality TV, we just don’t get paid.” Heather glares back at Hue, not convinced. “So what, you expect us to just call that ‘proof’? A broken toy and a story about snakes?” Hue (sharply): “It’s not a toy. And those ‘marks’ are from teeth. You want me to throw a snake in here to prove it?” Arthur Smith (raising an eyebrow): “Please don’t.” Arthur Present (firmly, intervening): “Alright, enough! Keep this focused. Hue — what happened after the snake attack?” Hue takes a breath, grounding himself. His voice steadies again, though it still carries a sharp edge from the argument. Hue: “After the kitchen turned into a snake pit, we bolted upstairs. We locked ourselves in the bathroom. The snakes couldn’t get through the door gap, but we could hear them downstairs — sliding around, knocking things over. So we blocked the lower part of the door with towels, just in case.” Emma: “We stayed there the whole night. No sleep, no sound except the generator humming and the snakes slithering. Then… we heard the announcement. The body discovery chime.” Julian Merwin (grim): “So you’re saying you were trapped up there while Robert died?” Hue (nodding): “Exactly.” Heather folds her arms, still skeptical but quieter now. “Convenient. You hide in a bathroom and conveniently miss the murder.” Hue (snapping): “You want me to have fought a bear and a nest of snakes in one night? You’re out of your damn mind!” Neely Pearl (clapping their hands like a host ending a game show): “And the award for Most Unhinged Trial Moment goes to—drumroll please—Hue and Heather’s festive meltdown!” Harold Yamaki (purring with amusement, tapping the arm of his throne): “Oh, I love this energy! The fury! The accusations! Truly, the spirit of the holidays is alive and biting!” Kayegama Yoshe (muttering): “Literally.” The mayor smirks, leaning forward, eyes gleaming. Harold: “So, our Yo-Yo Hero has proof, our punk rock critic has doubt, and I—” (he gestures dramatically toward the glowing roulette floor) “—have an audience hungry for truth.” Heather Metal glares at Hue, the two locked in an unspoken challenge. The roulette wheel hums again — slow, rhythmic, like the ticking of a bomb. Neely Pearl (whispering dramatically): “I live for this tension…” The trial chamber hums with low tension — the sound of the spinning roulette fading as the lights flicker between red and green, casting the civilians in shifting hues of suspicion. Frost creeps up the base of the podiums, glinting under the neon light. Mayor Harold Yamaki lounges back on his silver throne, his tail flicking in rhythm to the soft chime of sleigh bells echoing faintly through the air. Harold (purring, mock-innocent): “Well, well~ The night grows colder, but the story gets warmer! Two snake-bitten survivors and one very skeptical rockstar… quite the performance.” (he leans forward, smiling lazily) “But tell me, my little snowflakes — do you believe their bedtime story?” A murmur runs through the room, hesitant and heavy. Then, a calm, precise voice breaks the silence. Chase Hallow (the Ultimate Mangaka): “I… actually think they might be telling the truth.” Heather Metal (snapping her head toward him): “You’ve gotta be kidding me.” Chase adjusts his glasses, flipping open a small notepad that glows faintly with scanned notes. Chase: “During the investigation, I found something outside the guy’s house — right under the broken kitchen window. There was an empty box — sturdy, reinforced, like one you’d use to carry small cargo.” He taps his stylus against the pad, and a holographic image of the empty box flickers to life above the roulette floor. Chase (continuing): “No labels, but traces of straw padding inside. Definitely something used to hold animals or containers.” The crowd begins murmuring louder. Paulie Louis (speaking up, steady but thoughtful): “That matches what we noticed, too.” Harold tilts his head, interested. “Oh-ho~? Our southern sweetheart has something to add?” Paulie Louis nods, brushing her bangs aside as she leans on her podium. Paulie Louis: “During the investigation, we checked the café storage closet — and found out a box and a rope were missing. We don’t know what the rope was used for, but… it’s not hard to connect the dots.” Austin Sobriquet (quietly, analyzing): “Someone could’ve used the rope to lower or pull that box through a window. Maybe even to control when it opened.” Paulie Louis (nodding): “Exactly. Someone took those items from the café, used them to transport the snakes — and dumped them through the kitchen window of the guy’s house.” Mariah City (raising a brow): “So you’re saying someone deliberately unleashed those snakes inside?” Paulie Louis: “Sure seems like it. But it wasn’t Hue or Emma — they were running from the attack, not setting it up. None of us saw either of them near the café storage area that night.” Heather Metal folds her arms, frustration creasing her brow. Heather: “Alright, then if it wasn’t them, who? Somebody had to grab those supplies. Could’ve been one of the café group. You know, someone in that chaos could’ve easily snagged the rope and box before anyone noticed.” Her words hang heavy. Eyes flick around the circle, suspicion rising like steam. Jessie Kowalski (snapping immediately): “That’s not true!” Heather: “Oh yeah? You sure? Because everything that night was chaos incarnate.” Jessie (sharply): “I’m sure! Because we all had solid alibis once the bear broke in.” Johnathon Coffee (sarcastically): “Ah yes, the night of my coffee pot’s heroic sacrifice…” Jessie (ignoring him): “After the bear crashed through the window, all of us in the café — that’s me, Riko, Johnathon, Paulie Mae, Paulie Louis, Mariah, and Kayegama — ran through the connecting hallways. We didn’t stop to grab boxes or ropes; we were just trying to stay alive.” Kayegama Yoshe nods vigorously, flipping his rollerblades’ strap absentmindedly. Kayegama: “She’s right. We bolted straight through the café’s back door, down the hall toward the gift shop. There was no time to think. The place was shaking from all the noise.” Riko Hoyomisha (calm, arms folded): “The bear was between us and the exit for several seconds. I saw everyone’s faces. No one broke away to grab anything.” Paulie Mae (gently): “We ended up in Clarence’s Gift Shop afterward, remember? That’s where we regrouped.” Mariah City (sighing, rubbing her temples): “Yeah, and I still have glass in my hair from that damn café window.” Jessie points across the circle, voice firm now. Jessie: “When we reached the gift shop, there were already people there — Neely, Nicholas, Paris, Seth, Jackie, Austin, Arthur Present, and Myrtle.” Neely Pearl (grinning): “Ah yes, the glamorous survivors of aisle three! We had front-row seats to the world’s most depressing slumber party.” Myrtle Chang (quietly): “They’re right, though. We were all together by then. No one left. No one came back carrying boxes or ropes.” Seth Norway (dryly): “If someone did sneak back to grab those things, they’re either invisible or suicidal.” Arthur Present (nodding): “The timing doesn’t add up. Between the bear’s attack, the screams, and the noise outside, there’s no window for anyone to slip away unnoticed.” Austin Sobriquet (thoughtfully, tapping his chin): “Which means whoever took those items… did it before the bear broke in.” The group falls silent. The idea hits like a cold wind. Heather Metal (frowning): “Before the attack? That’d mean whoever it was planned the whole snake incident ahead of time.” Chase Hallow looks back at his glowing notepad. “And used the chaos of the animals to cover it up.” Harold Yamaki lets out an exaggerated, delighted gasp, clutching his chest like a theater actor. Harold (mock-cheerful): “Ooooh, delicious! A premeditated serpent spectacle! Someone’s been very naughty this season.” Neely Pearl (twirling their hair, teasing): “So what we’re saying is… someone went full ‘Home Alone’ with a box of snakes? That’s creative.” Mariah City (snapping): “Yeah, creative murder!” Nicholas Sour (uneasy): “But who’d even think to use snakes? That’s twisted!” Will King (under his breath): “Maybe someone who had access to them…” Riko Hoyomisha (looking at Will): “What do you mean?” Will: “Think about it — who knew how to open those containment boxes? Who worked near the animal pens in the town hall?” The crowd murmurs again — nervous, whispering. Heather Metal narrows her eyes, voice lowering like a growl. “You’re implying one of the technicians or helpers.” Will (shrugging): “I’m just saying… whoever grabbed that box and rope knew exactly what they were doing.” Harold Yamaki (snapping his fingers): “And what do we call someone who plays with danger for their own amusement?” He leans forward, grinning. Harold: “A snake in the stockings!” He bursts into a loud, gleeful laugh that echoes through the chamber. Heather Metal (rolling her eyes): “You’re insane.” Harold: “Oh, darling, it’s the holidays — sanity’s on vacation!” Neely Pearl (dramatically): “And so is our peace of mind.” Austin Sobriquet exhales, adjusting his glasses. “Let’s summarize. The café storage items — box and rope — were taken before the bear attack. Those were later used to release snakes into the guy’s house. Whoever did it wanted to cause more chaos.” Heather Metal (nodding reluctantly): “Which means we’ve got someone who planned this and had access to the café earlier than we thought.” Paulie Louis (firmly): “And that narrows our suspects. The only people who were near the café before the bear… were us — the ones setting up barricades and food stations earlier that evening.” Mariah City: “Oh great, so we just looped ourselves back into suspicion!” Harold Yamaki chuckles darkly, resting his chin on his palm. “Aw, isn’t that sweet? The spirit of giving — guilt, paranoia, and distrust for everyone!” The roulette floor glows brighter, the hum growing louder, almost pulsing like a heartbeat. Chase Hallow looks down at his glowing notepad, voice quiet but certain. Chase: “Whoever did this… knew that releasing those snakes would force everyone to scatter.” Heather Metal (narrowing her eyes): “And maybe— just maybe— that’s what they wanted. To isolate Robert.” The room falls silent. Harold’s grin widens. Harold Yamaki: “Oh, I love that theory. Separation through chaos — now that’s festive strategy!” The roulette wheel begins to spin again — slow, deliberate, as faint holiday chimes echo in the background. The roulette wheel’s hum softens into the background as the room simmers in heavy silence. The neon wreaths flicker faintly above, casting cold reflections across the glass floor. The citizens are divided — some glaring, some anxious, some too tired to speak. Heather Metal’s last words hang in the air like smoke. Heather: “Whoever planned all this wanted Robert isolated.” Before anyone can respond, a voice rises from the far side of the circle — bright, smooth, and theatrical. Neely Pearl (leaning forward, grinning): “Okay, let’s slow down the holiday hysteria for a second, yeah?” All eyes turn toward them. Their half-shaved silver hair glints under the trial lights; their painted nails drum lightly on the podium. Neely (continuing, voice playful but sharp): “Y’all keep pointing fingers at the café group like we were out here playing Santa’s Little Snake Wranglers, but honey— we couldn’t even leave the gift shop if we wanted to.” Mariah City (raising a brow): “What are you talking about?” Neely: “I’m talking barricades, baby! The doors connecting the café to the gift shop were blocked tighter than my corset on New Year’s Eve. Chairs, tables, maybe a shelf or two. We were locked in like reindeer in a snow globe.” A few muffled chuckles ripple through the group. Heather Metal (crossing her arms): “Convenient excuse.” Neely (grinning wider): “Convenient truth, sugarplum.” They tilt their head toward Austin Sobriquet, who’s already pushing up his glasses thoughtfully. Austin (nodding): “Actually, Neely’s right.” (he flips open a digital note pad) “During the investigation, we found both doorways between Latoya’s Café and Clarence’s Gift Shop completely barricaded. Tables and chairs stacked in a diagonal pattern — deliberate, not random. Whoever did that wanted to keep people out.” The crowd murmurs. Seth Norway (frowning): “Out? Or in?” Austin (glancing toward him): “Both, maybe. It would’ve kept the café group from escaping back once they were inside the shop — and it would’ve stopped anyone outside from entering.” Heather Metal (thinking aloud): “So the café group couldn’t have gone back for that rope or box… even if they wanted to.” Neely (smiling smugly): “Exactly. You can’t play culprit when you’re trapped in retail purgatory.” Harold Yamaki (from his throne, purring in delight): “Oooh, I love this. A barricaded boutique mystery! Confinement, claustrophobia, consumerism~ Truly the essence of the season!” Neely (snapping their fingers at him): “Sweetheart, if you start caroling, I’m hexing you with glitter.” Harold (laughing, tail swaying): “Tempting~.” Aruha Suguyama clears her throat, cutting through the laughter with her usual calm tone. Aruha: “I can back that up, too. During the body discovery announcement, when we all had to meet back at the town hall… the gift shop’s front door was barricaded as well.” Mark Traverse (surprised): “Oh yeah, I remember that! You had us move half the store just to open the door.” Aruha (nodding): “Right. I had to call you and Arthur Smith over to help push the chairs and tables aside. It took both of you to clear the main doors before anyone could get through.” Arthur Smith (frowning): “Yeah, those things were wedged in tight. Like someone didn’t just stack them — they jammed them into place.” Austin Sobriquet (analytical): “That matches the barricade at the café side. Someone wanted to seal off that entire section of the building — from both directions.” Mariah City (snapping): “Okay, but who would even think to do that? Who has time to stack furniture when everyone’s getting mauled by bears and snakes?!” Riko Hoyomisha (quietly, arms folded): “Someone who knew the attack was coming.” The words make everyone freeze. Neely Pearl (arching a brow): “Ooh, that’s chilling. Keep talking, sword queen.” Riko: “If both barricades were set up during the chaos, then whoever built them had to know where the animals would go — and where people would run. That’s strategy, not panic.” Heather Metal (grim): “And that means whoever set those barricades was planning ahead.” Paulie Louis (nodding slowly): “Then the café group couldn’t have done it. They were too busy escaping. The barricades were already in place — or got set up right after they ran through.” Kayegama Yoshe: “Which means somebody stayed behind.” Neely Pearl (clutching their chest, mock gasp): “Left alone in a café full of chaos… setting up barricades while snakes slither and bears break windows — truly, the romance of isolation!” Austin Sobriquet (deadpan): “Neely, you’re enjoying this way too much.” Neely (smiling mischievously): “Guilty as charged~ But admit it — it’s juicy!” Harold Yamaki (clapping once): “I adore the energy! Nothing like a little sleuthing to spice up the snow!” (his voice lowers, teasing) “So, my little sugar cookies… if the café group was locked away, and the barricades were already set, that means our mischievous decorator worked elsewhere.” Heather Metal (narrowing her eyes): “And probably used that time to make sure Robert ended up alone.” The room goes quiet again, the tension winding tighter like a bowstring. The roulette wheel glows softly beneath their feet — a slow, ominous pulse of light. Arthur Present (calmly, breaking the silence): “Whoever set the barricades knew exactly when to do it, and how to make it look like chaos. That’s not random. That’s intent.” Harold Yamaki leans forward, voice low and velvety. Harold: “Ah, intent~ The most dangerous ornament of all. I can almost smell the guilt in the air…” (he inhales theatrically) “Mmm. Peppermint and paranoia.” Neely Pearl (rolling their eyes): “Sweetheart, you’re a menace.” Harold (smiling): “And you’re my favorite audience member.” Austin Sobriquet (clearing his throat): “So to recap — the café and gift shop groups were both barricaded in. No one could move freely. Which means whoever orchestrated this had free range somewhere outside that zone — maybe near the generator or town hall.” Aruha Suguyama (nodding): “And by the time we got out… Robert was already gone.” The sound of the roulette wheel fades again, leaving only the soft hum of the cold air vents. Heather Metal (quietly, to herself): “So whoever did this had to be moving before any of us even realized the holiday massacre started…” Harold Yamaki snaps his fingers — and the snowflake holograms above begin to swirl faster, casting spinning shadows across everyone’s faces. Harold (grinning): “Then let us keep unwrapping, shall we? After all…” (his eyes glint like ice) “…the best gifts are the ones that come last.” Civilians: Heather Metal/ Ultimate VSCO Girl Kayegama Yoshe/Ultimate Freestyle rollerblader times_places Riko Hoyomisha/Ultimate Fencer paul Johnathan Coffee/Ultimate Barista Joshua Aruha Suguyama/ Ultimate violinist blue Arthur Smith/Ultimate male model Imprincearthur Jessie Kowalski/Ultimate Tarot Card reader Jessiekowalski Jake Belle/ Ultimate Scam Artist Will King/Ultimate Gamer Icebeast Mark Traverse/Ultimate Influencer Bagel Mariah City/ Ultimate Livestreamer Myrtle Chang/Ultimate Swimmer stuartlittle16 Neely Pearl/ Ultimate Drag Queen Julian Merwin/ Ultimate male stripper Austin Sobriquet/Ultimate professor Sobriquet Chase Hallow/ Ultimate Mangaka Jackie Yamata/ Ultimate Pop Idol Emma Violet/ Ultimate Skateboarder Paulie Mae/ Ultimate Pottery Maker Seth Norway/ Ultimate Occultist Arthur Present/ Ultimate Knight Hue Trinity/ Ultimate Yo-yo Pro Paris Ross/ Ultimate Cat Lover Nicholas Sour/ Ultimate Candy Lover Paulie Louis/ Ultimate Seamstress Reader's Tag: Spinfur (as punishment) Previous: https://kovaze.com/blog/15938 Continue: https://kovaze.com/blog/18493