On the stage, as a group of students in casual clothes lined up and walked to the center, the large screen next to them changed to show a mountain forest somewhere.
At this moment, a low female narration suddenly sounded.
"This is an abandoned mountain village in the Furuoka area. It once flourished due to the discovery of mineral veins many years ago, but was abandoned after the minerals were mined out."
As expected of the Shuchiin Drama Club. Although not comparable to professional actors, their performance did not seem stiff.
Uchiha Ryo didn't listen much to the conversation of the group of six, because it wasn't important. The key point of this scene was the narration that sounded again before the screen went dark.
"One week later, six students from Shuchiin went to that barren mountain in Furuoka."
The stage went dark to facilitate the staff setting up the scene. Although in Uchiha Ryo's eyes, no matter how low the brightness was, he could see the small movements of anyone on stage.
When the lights came on, the group of mountaineering enthusiasts appeared in the summer forest. The difference from before was that they were all carrying bulging hiking backpacks, though it was unknown what was inside.
Uchiha Ryo yawned. He wasn't interested in their chat or the introduction to the area.
However, turning his head to look at the others, Hayasaka Ai seemed as bored as he was. She probably wasn't interested in this kind of thing either.
Chitanda and Yukinoshita were watching very seriously. Yukinoshita had a serious personality to begin with, but what about Chitanda? Did she seem interested in this kind of play, or was she just easily emotionally provoked?
Furuoka village was very remote. Both sides of the road were full of endless weeds and trees. Entering the village, there were scattered rocks and cracked asphalt roads everywhere.
When the group stopped, the screen showed a lonely Western-style building standing tall. Some windows were broken, the roof was damaged, and a large number of vines were growing rampantly.
"Before reaching the summit, let's stay here for the time being. Although the roof on the second floor is damaged, it should be fine to make do on the first floor for one night."
The leader pointed to the building. The next moment, the stage decoration was changed again by the staff, and the perspective on the big screen also changed from outdoor to indoor.
The entire stage dimmed again. Amakusa Shino suddenly whispered.
"Not bad. This kind of abandoned village can't have electricity. Because the interior is dim, if this were reality, they probably wouldn't be able to see more than a silhouette if they were too far apart."
However, since they were facing an audience, the audience below could see the panoramic view. The students of the Drama Club began to compete in their acting skills, pretending that their vision was blocked and exploring the stage in the dark.
"Found the keys."
The six people found the keys to each room in the Western-style building. Uchiha Ryo gave a thumbs-up to the script for this point.
One must know that a common problem in almost all horror games is that key items are never put together. It was really rare for them to find all the room keys in one go like this.
"With these keys, we can open the rooms. Let's each take one and split up to find a room to spend the night."
Amakusa Shino curled her lip. "Splitting up...."
Uchiha Ryo: "If you don't split up, how can something happen? It's a law."
Hayasaka Ai nodded. "I bet that if they split up now, one person will definitely be missing when they meet again."
Next, the group of six retreated into the darkness, and then came to the lit areas of the stage separately. Occasionally, two people would meet and exchange information. The sound of pattering footsteps, the creaking of old wooden doors, and even... the sound of breaking glass came from the dim stage.
Of course, when the lights finally came on, there were many scattered tables and chairs in the corner of the stage. And when they met in the hall, sure enough, one person was missing, the leader.
Uchiha Ryo was indifferent to most of the details. In short... that person died. The cause of death was excessive blood loss, and the cause of blood loss was a ruptured artery in the throat, leading to a death where he couldn't even scream.
The murder weapon was not found, suspected to be the broken glass in the pool of the deceased's blood.
PS: (This event does not follow the original setting. I guess there are people who have seen the anime spoilers above, but your [knowledge is useless]~)
.....
This so-called Furuoka Abandoned Village Murder Case play ended.... That's right, just as the deceased appeared, this play, which was only halfway through, had ended.
Irisu Fuyumi turned to look at the members of the Classic Literature Club.
"The author of this script is named Hongo. She is a classmate of ours. She has worked very hard, but the script is only half written, which is the part you saw."
Chitanda Eru was a little worried. "Is that Hongo-senpai okay?"
Irisu Fuyumi was expressionless. Not exactly okay, just that her spirit was in a state of melancholy, so they couldn't ask her to continue writing.
Amakusa Shino: "So this task is handed over to us, right?"
"To be precise, you are just consultants. Our people will also participate in the script discussion."
Uchiha Ryo raised his hand.
"Irisu-senpai, why did you seek out our Classic Literature Club?"
Irisu Fuyumi thought for a moment. "Well, maybe because our play is a mystery, so we gave up on the Literature Club and sought out the Classic Literature Club?"
Uchiha Ryo: "That reason is a bit far-fetched, senpai."
Irisu Fuyumi: "I know Chitanda-kouhai because of the interactions between our elders. I heard from her that you deciphered that 'Hyouka' matter. So... maybe you can also crack this script."
Crack... Uchiha Ryo didn't speak. He felt it was a bit strange. What he wanted to ask wasn't why they sought out the [Classic Literature Club], but why they were looking for someone to continue writing?
That Hongo-senpai was sick and couldn't continue writing? But this half of the script already had a deceased person, so the original author only needed to tell the murderer and the method.
Even if she couldn't speak due to serious illness, did she lose the ability to move her fingers to type and think?
Hayasaka Ai: "Since that's the case, let's go in, Uchiha-kun. I brought snacks and drinks."
Feeling someone pulling him, Uchiha Ryo stopped thinking, and then saw the bag Hayasaka Ai was carrying, which contained snacks and drinks.
Chitanda was also carrying a similar bag in her hand.
Hayasaka Ai: "Ahaha, because I feel that if everyone has no ideas in the conference room, we can have a candy, eat some snacks, drink some tea or something."
Is that so? Hayasaka Ai is really thoughtful. Uchiha Ryo took a lollipop from her bag and patted Hayasaka Ai on the back.
"You guys go ahead. I'm going to the restroom."
Watching the Drama Club actors and staff in the gymnasium, plus Yukinoshita and the others all leave, Uchiha Ryo looked at Irisu Fuyumi who was also standing there.
"Aren't you going over, senpai?"
Irisu Fuyumi: "What's wrong, kouhai? Want to invite senpai to the restroom together?"
Uchiha Ryo put the lollipop in his mouth. "Are you President Amakusa's classmate? Try not to learn from her."
Irisu Fuyumi smiled. "So, kouhai stayed here because you have something to ask me, right?"
"I'll be direct. Why did you say Hongo-senpai couldn't write the script because she was sick?"
"Why.... what I said is true. Hongo has nervous gastritis and has no time to think about the script."
Uchiha Ryo tapped his head. "You're thinking too simply of the human brain. If she really had a complete script, unless her brain was damaged or she fell into a coma directly, telling you the murderer and the method would be no problem."
"Please don't say that Hongo-senpai didn't think of it either. Writing a mystery novel without a clue will get you scolded to death. Your Drama Club has been practicing, which means you acknowledge the author's level, but.... you don't approve of the ending the author wrote, right?"
Irisu Fuyumi: "You mean, we don't just have half the script, but we forcibly cut off Hongo's second half? And then let you write a new one?"
The senpai showed no emotion at all, and couldn't help but laugh.
"Kouhai has a vivid imagination. You should hurry in and help think about the script."