First Battle Of The New Duel Noir Challenge

The **First Battle Of The New Duel Noir Challenge**, as named by Gekka Ryūzōji is the opening challenge before the Twelve Zodiac Duel Noir Challenge. The aim of the challenge was (For the detectives) to recruit Rei Mikagami or (For the Victims Catharsis Committee) to capture or kill Rei Mikagami.

## History

At Meyura Station, Kyoko Kirigiri and Yui Samidare with Licorne, though Kyoko is wary. All three head to the women's clothing department by Licorne's request, though Yui is the only one happy about it as she likes shopping (much to Kyoko's chargin). Licorne points out there's quite the deal of mystery surrounding Rei Mikagami, with Yui chiming that she believed it might be a group of people operating under the name. However, the group gets sidetracked picking out a dress for Kyoko. As they cheerfully shop, Lico then includes just who amongst their enemies will be appearing and who would be their biggest obstacles. Namely, the assassins consisting of Copycat, Night Flyer and former Super High School Level Rock Climber, Tsurugi Hitomoshi. For all three he gives brief details on their methods of killing and relative infamy.

The first assassin their group runs into is Copycat, who takes Yui hostage after she tried to pursue her in an 'Employee only' staircase. Licorne entered soon after, but it didn't take a long for him to strike up a conversation with her, since he knew her native tongue. Both chatter away about their taste in manga, much to Yui (who was still being held captive's) chagrin. However, before the conversation could go further, Kyoko (who had taken another entrance staircase and made her way up from below) has snuck up on Copycat and handcuffed her to her own rolling suitcase. Kyoko then grabbed the suitcase and threw it down the stairwell, thus taking Copycat along with it. The assassin fell all the way down to the landing below and slammed into the wall. This left her incredibly hurt and unable to move from the ground. The trio used this opportunity to search her belongings where they found newspaper clippings about serial killers, publications of cold cases, and horde of manga and doujinshi, thus explaining how said suitcase was heavy enough to drag her down the stairwell. It's also shown the the weapon she used to hold Yui hostage was a fountain pen.

Knowing Copycat's methods, Licorne deduces she was merely scouting for Rei Mikagami and wasn't planning to kill once she found him, which relieves Yui. When Licorne asks if he should finish off Coypcat, Yui objects and reminds him that wasn't what they came here for. He stares at her but doesn't object. Kyoko's investigation says that while Copycat didn't know Rei's identity, she did know he was to appear at Meyura Station as four. With only five minutes until then, Kyoko took back her handcuffs and and trio continued onward, leaving the defeated Copycat on the stairwell.

As they continue on, they hear reports of a fire breaking out on the restaurant floor, which causes the customers to flee to the exits in safety. The trio tries to head to the employee only stairwell to meet Rei on the roof, but were caught by a guard who demanded they leave. Yui was willing to leave, having been fooled, but Kyoko and Licorne immediately caught onto the fact that he was an enemy. Yui tried to get them to go, but the guard soon grew impatient and thought they deserved 'a penalty'. Pulling out a gun, thus indicating this enemy was Night Flyer, the guard was prepared to fire when Licorne threw his umbrella and had the tip of it get stuck into Flyer's gun, effectively jamming it. As Flyer tried to pull it out, Licorne then snuck up on him and broke his right arm.

Screaming in agony, Flyer collapsed onto the floor where Licorne placed a foot on the back of his neck. Taking out a carbon steel hammer, Licorne was prepared to attack when Yui stopped him to ask what he planned on doing. Licorne's response was that he was just going to smash his eyes, throat and fingers to prevent Flyer from seeing, speaking and touching anything ever again. Yui objects to such treatment, whilst Licorn defends himself by saying he's just doing this to prevent Flyer from coming after them for revenge. Flyer shouts telling him to finish it, or else he'll fly over again and again to try to get payback. Licorne was about to oblige, but Kyoko points Flyer's gun at him to get him to comply. Licorne packs away his hammer, but to incapacitate Flyer more he breaks his other arm.

Kyoko tied up Night Flyer and got to work investigating him, thus learning that he stole the guard's uniform and presumes by his looks that he fits the bill as Night Flyer. Licorne opts to ask him directly and, while the fearful Flyer initially says no, once he sees Licorne pull his hammer out again, backpedals into confirming his identity. With the second assassin defeated, the trio continues onward towards the roof.

When they got to the roof, they found members of organizations after Rei, murdered via neck snapping. During their investigation, Yui would later approach to the fence that lead to side of the building, having noticed a slight disturbance over there. With the jig up, Tsurugi climbs up, tears a hole through the fence with his fingers and approaches the trio. Kyoko takes aim with her gun, but before she could fire, Tsurugi charges at her, knocking her to the ground and sending the gun onto a nearby water tank. He rushed towards Yui and clamped his hands around her throat. Before he could kill her, Kyoko smacked him in the back of the head with a nearby sign. He bled, but didn't flinch as he released Yui and grabbed Kyoko by the throat.

Before he could kill her, Licorne tossed his jacket into his face and goaded him into coming at him. Tossing Kyoko aside, Tsurugi charged at him. However, when he went to grab Licorne, he wrapped his tie around Tsurugi's right arm. Due to the thin wire inside the tie, Tsurugi couldn't break free of it and moving it more just caused it to bleed further. Still, Tsurugi pressed on and Licorne was only barely able to dodge his left arm. Finally, Tsurugi cornered Licorne.

Right before he attacked, Tsurugi asked Licorne his name before he killed him. It was then that Licorne revealed that he was Rei Mikagami. Considering himself lucky, Tsurugi reeled back with the intent to kill Licorne with one punch, but suddenly collapsed unconscious. The wire that had cut into him was also laced with a poison. Licorne deduces that with his muscular body, Tsurugi wouldn't die, but he would be rendered unconscious and unable to move for a short period of time. Taking an injured Kyoko on her back, the trio left the station as authorities swarmed in to deal with the fire report.

## Participants

### Detective Library

**Licorne**

**Yui Samidare**

**Kyoko Kirigiri**

### Clan of Assassins

**Copycat**

**Night Flyer**

**Tsurugi Hitomoshi**

## Results & Aftermath

* The assassins would report back to Gekka with the news that Licorne was Rei Mikagami.
* As they hailed a cab, Licorne asked if Yui was mad at her, which causes Yui to snap that she wasn't mad and had him get in. Thus, all three went back to the dorms, in preparation for the Twelve Zodiac Duel Noir Challenge.
* Just past 7PM Licorne heads out to complete the Otohari Island Case, Sawameki Nature Club Center Case, Hades Aquarium Cases, Ambition House Case and finally the Cruise Liner S.S. Echidna Case.
* Yui and Kyoko head out just before 9PM to head toward the Takeda Haunted Mansion Case.