Club Percheron, The Loft.
Through the viewing orb, the three judges can see clearly: their contestant Ruvress a.k.a 'Dark Chef' being bsted a full fifty feet across the dance floor!
And the culprit...!
A small, bck-haired girl in green jacket, pointing a smoking finger-gun and holding a hostess close by the waist!
Instantly, the loft is abze in chatter.
"What just happened?!"
"I've heard of contestants crashing and burning, but this is..."
"Was that... magick?!"
Of all the voices amongst the small crowd watching on the loft, the loudest had to be La-Roux!
"Hey...!!! The 'designated target' is outrizzing the contestant! We can't find a winner this way!"
"I agree." The orange-haired Doktah stares with such strong intent at the little figure on the screen, with indescribable emotion! She clutches the side of her couch with dark gloves, with intent to rush out and smash the culprit in the face! "The game is ruined. We should re-do this round---"
"Non non, where's your sense of EEEEEEEEEntertainmento, you two!"
The white-robed Saint-Taiga leaps to her feet with arms raised, trailing with long sleeves to that reach the ground! This was an unexpected development! Nobody on the history of the show has blown off a contestant in such a manner, on live OrbTV before! The look on the veteran entertainer's face said it all! The millions watching at home will love it!
"I allow it!"Continue the filming!
Continue the broadcast!
The show must go on!
"However. We have a problem. If the dark girl below shoots contestant Rufti dead as well..." Doktah logically points out a problem if they were to allow this segment to proceed.
"Yeah!!!" La-Roux rapidly nods her head, in rare agreement with her show partner! "This ain't gonna work! We gotta reset the bracket, how else we gonna' find a winrar in a best-of-three!"
For the veteran, she ughed.
The solution was so simple.
Without even turning from the expectant gaze of the [Recording Orb]...
"Ladies and gentlemen of the audience!
An unexpected scenarió has occurred!
Our contestant, Ruvress girlya might be havin' a small lights out moment...
But THIS is what we live for!
Why do we come here, every night, to the club?!
It is for the unexpected!
It is for the unpredicted!
It is for the EEEEEEEEEEntertainmento!
Never before in the show's history, has a contestant been blown off in such a manner!
By the 'designated target' too!
Keys to the Loft celebrates one thing...
Girls Picking Up Girls![SFX: (YEEEEAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!)])
It doesn't matter if the girlya was part of the show!
Thus! As the main host of tonight's show!
[SFX:Fwip!]
Saint-Taiga points straight at the [Recording Orb] for the millions (millions!) watching at home!
"I, Saint-Taiga, shall decre this small and cute interloper the true winner of tonight's show!!!"
The other two judges put their wide-eyed emerald-green and ever burning-red eyes close together in complete shock!
""What?!""
Club Percheron, The Dance Floor.
So this is... power!
I had just demolished some non-human who dared tread on the territory of my Usodo, and sent a hostess embarrassed and packing with a tight sp to her behind! Dark thoughts and intentions ooze from my mind, the synthetic brass pying at the front stage a fitting tune for my victory!
Was using Usodo, [Detective's Authority] and >greentext overkill?
Yes.
Yes!Yes.Yes!Yes!!And yet, (you) can't say that they didn't deserve it! Look at all these faceless, unimportant side-charas chattering around me right now! Those who cannot into magick cannot fathom a detective's mind! If I had to climb up walls with tape attached to my hand to solve a mystery, I would! Just as victory lies before me, some goat wishes to stop my turn's advance?! That is---
"I, Rufti de Galopin, challenge you.At long st, I finally hear the voice that I have been waiting for.
I barely even register it in my mind, drenched in victory the way it was.
Even though it had been merely hours since morning...
It feels like I am seeing the grey-haired Prinz step up with her familiar white high-colr top and shorts for the first time, in a very long time!
She stands behind me, and I barely turn a head to register her with a side-gnce.
Ah. Right.
She's part of this messed-up show too.
Dark threads of thought start to emerge in my mind.
>be me>destroy some goat contestant>other contestant appears>destroy you too>the entire show colpses>Madi-san's face when>:DI've made up my mind...!
Prinz Rufti de Galopin, I shall thoroughly kill you! (socially)
I shall kill you (socially), in such a way that you can never lift your head ever again!
And perhaps, we can ALL go home early tonight...
... to solve mysteries!I turn around to face my adversary.
It is now 20:15.
[SFX:Flipphone snapping shut]
The distance is just right.
We are each standing seven paces from one another.
In ancient Olden past, this would have been the perfect distance for a samurai duel!
Except...! The one before me is unworthy, unclean, un---
"... name, Aya-chan."
"... what?"
Even through the din of the nightclub, the Prinz's words still came out strong, loud, and full-chested!
Not a single party-goer dared cross the distance between us, afraid of getting caught in the crossfire!
"You said it was 'what you went by', so I'm guessing you probably have a real name."
... ...
Right.
From the very start, I have never been honest with Rufti.
The first time we met, I tricked her into believing I was [La Monarquía].
The next time we met, I gave her the ugly nickname Madi-san forced upon me.
(You) understand, don't (you)?
(You) have known, the first time I met (You).
I am a liar.
Just like (you).
I lie, and lie and lie, and eventually get caught in my own web of lies.
Why am I telling (you) all this now?
God knows...
I'm going to treat this as the st duel of the night.
After this, I'm coming straight after (You)!
The person who will unravel all mysteries...
... shall face me, the detective---!
"Ayano. My name is Ayano Sane."
There is a moment of shock registered upon the tomboy Prinz's face.
Then, she closes her eyes, the whites of her teeth showing!
"I knew it from the start... You're the [Founding Fleet's]---"
"We don't have all night. Come pickup-line, seduction special, what have you!"
Your detective draws a line with her small and cute foot across my front!
Come with your fake stories and impressive bragalots!
The detective shall see through it all!
Rufti's eyes snap open!
Her amber eyes tinted with fierceness and determination!
Na-nandayo sore??
It is like she completely changed how she looked at me, when I revealed my true name!
The brass being pyed by the band in front of the stage pys an even faster melody, escating in triumphant crescendos, like SHE was the one who solved a mystery! Like someone advancing with steadfast vigor on her road to victory!
Rufti makes the first step forward!
"First! Your question from this morning!"
"Ah? You're still on that? It was just a---"
"I... cannot be your 'Watson'!"Rufti practically shouts out her rejection for all to hear! In the din of the dance floor, nobody but your detective understood the meaning of that line! Those who danced, continued to dance to the ever-faster beat!
Rufti makes the next three steps forward!
"I... do not read mysteries!
I... don't know anything about detectives!
We are not the same...! Not even one bit!"
Of course not.
If you were, you would be the detective.
W-wait, why are you coming so close!
What are you---
The st three strides!
"At this moment, I don't even know who you are!
Maybe I don't understand at all!
[La Monarquía], Aya-chan, [Descendant Of Sanae] or not...
I care nothing for that...!"
Rufti's sudden advance had me involuntarily step backwards into a wall!
Just as I put up a single hand to stop her...
She grabbed that raised hand, pinning it above me!
[SFX:DON~!]Rufti's other palm smashes the pilr at the side of my head!
There's no escape!
W-wait! I've seen this action before!
Rufti locks in those intense orange eyes into mine!
When she leans in close to my ear, her silvery short hair brushes against my side-curl!
Her voice, calm, loud enough just for me to hear over the energetic cshing of cymbals!
"Let's start... with just being friends!"[SFX:Ba-dump!]
