Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Greetings to all! If you remember me, I started writing my first Danganronpa book (Betrayal) back in 2020-2021. It started off with my two original characters, Akira and Ayato Iwasaki waking up in a classroom- as Makoto Naegi (Trigger Happy Havoc protagonist) did. After gaining consciousness, they made their way to the gym where they met their classmates and Monokuma.

As previously mentioned, I started this book a couple of years ago, and ever since then, I have been adding new things to the story. I wanted to mix certain characters from Super Danganronpa 2 and Killing Harmony to add some spice and suspense. I have so many plans for this trilogy, and I can't wait for you all to rejoin me on this adventure!

Before we get started with this story, I want to add a Trigger Warning list for everyone so you can be aware of what you are going to be reading.

Of course, this is a Danganronpa story, so there will be mentions of murder in this story. There can and will be traumatic events within the backstories as well as disturbing imagery...

This story will also include the following:

• Strong language/Vulgarity
• Angst
• Depictions of PTSD and Anxiety
• Bloodshed/Manslaughter/Suicide
• Brief mentions to murder of a child

Viewer discretion is advised

Back when I ORIGINALLY wanted to rewrite this in 2022, I wanted this to be a birthday gift for myself (February 2nd) to acknowledge how much I have grown as a writer. However, there have been grammatical errors and so many things I wanted to change. This time, I want to do that again but take things slow so I can actually be happy with my work.

For my 18th birthday, I want to have a good number of chapters edited to my liking and have them published without going back and wanting to fix them. I think this time, I can get this right!

I cannot wait to finally finish this project! Thank you all so much for joining me on this journey!

I would like to keep my motivation until the very end, so to give this story as much attraction as possible, please leave kudos if you like what you read. Comments are also greatly appreciated. You can even share this with a friend who loves Danganronpa or OC content just as much as you do!

Without further ado, please enjoy! <3

Chapter Text

Hope's Peak Academy.

Smack dab in the heart of a bustling city known as Yokohama stood the massive, prestigious high school that only accepted the best of the best. With decades worth of tradition, hundreds of top students from every field imaginable enroll to strengthen their talents; and every year upon graduation, the school sends the cream of the crop into the workforce for the betterment of society. Rumor has it that those who manage to graduate are given a one-hundred percent guarantee that they will be set for a successful life. One could argue that it was a government-sanctioned school of privilege. Historically, it was built to raise hope for the world's future. Which made Hope's Peak Academy a pretty fitting name.

Hope's Peak currently stood as one of the top schools in the nation with everyone in all of Japan yearning to attend. Unfortunately, the chances of an average student being accepted without a talent were slim to none. However, the school hosts an annual lottery to enroll one ordinary student. Whoever is chosen for that year gets the honor of being labeled as the Ultimate Lucky Student. To the other average civilians, this 'Once in a Lifetime' opportunity for the individual is treated as a celebration or some sort of reality TV show gimmick; and oddly enough, the public gets a kick out of it.

Being an ordinary student, with no particular talent whatsoever, inside of a school among, what society calls "Ultimates" is seen as a big deal. It's almost equivalent to visiting a foreign country, and everyone there knows that you're the odd one out. One may feel something comparable to "culture shock." You don't belong there. You're the weird one. Your peers feel uncomfortable around you, if you could even call them that. The vast majority of them aren't even there to make friends, you're just the stepping-stone to their future success.

If you wish to become a student at Hope's Peak Academy, there is only one of two ways you could be enrolled. While the requirement is you must already be attending a high school, you could be scouted with a scholarship by the school itself if you participated in sports (like any other school), or if you gained public attraction with another talent such as cosmetology or engineering. Something the school could utilize for their own gain. Another way you could enroll is by paying a large sum of money to be part of their Reserve Course. You won't get as much recognition as the Main Course, but you get to fund their education because capitalism is cute that way. Now, doesn't that sound like fun? But don't worry, there are many students who pay to receive the privilege of walking on the same campus as their talented peers, so it's not seen as odd. Not really.

This year, all of the students have been excitedly anticipating for the day they would walk through the doors of Hope's Peak Academy for the first time... Not knowing that behind those doors, they would meet a terrible fate. The horrible head throbbing, chest pounding, stomach churning feeling of despair.

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If you were to ask these students- these survivors, about their stolen academic experience at Hope's Peak Academy, there was no sugar-coating necessary. It was no secret that what they had gone through would traumatize them for them for the rest of their lives. They were just kids. They hadn't even had the chance to live their high school dreams, and they were forced to make the choice of kill or be killed. They had to live in fear that somebody they considered to be a friend would betray their trust; spend every waking hour dreading the possibility that someone was being murdered, and watching their friends receive "punishment" for acting on the negative thoughts being put into their heads. Who could blame them? They were scared and confused. It was weeks of never-ending torture that no teenager should ever have to endure. Nobody would have thought that the tragic events that shaped "Hope's Peak Academy" would also shape the world into something no one could come back from.

After the students were able to escape the grasp of their captor, they were taken in by a small, self-made organization known as the Future Foundation for rehabilitation and hospitality. Within six months of them being freed, they've seemed to recover just fine. All except one.

For some reason, one girl among the survivors was very adamant about returning to the school.

"We can't just leave them there," she would say to her friends, "We have to go back."

Another survivor, a plain looking boy agreed with her, "They deserve their final resting place to be more dignified."

Their friends didn't need to hear the specifics as they were already on board. With a few days of planning, they finally brought their ideas to the director of the Future Foundation. It took some convincing, but the organization was finally ready to hear them out, and in a matter of two days, what was left of the medical and police authority unit searched around the school for the deceased students. They ended up finding ten bodies in a room that was supposed to be a biology lab- frozen and kept inside of the freezers, which were repurposed to become cryo-stasis pods. Many students were long gone, but thankfully, they've managed to retrieve one student who seemed to still be responding. The Future Foundation had yet to publicly identify the preserved student, but prayers and condolences have been sent to the friends and family of the deceased children.

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It was the first day of school. You would expect to be woken up by the displeasing sound of your alarm clock going off early in the morning, reminding you that it was time to get ready and start the day. You would roll out of bed, and by the time your feet hit the floor, you are taken aback by how cold it is. No surprise there, winter was only a few months ago. You'd begin your morning routine, and once it's time to leave, you'd walk out the door to be greeted by the bright blue sky and the sun shining brightly. As you make your way to your respective classroom, you'd greet all your familiar classmates and make new friends.

That's how things should have been. That's how it always had been. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case for Class 78th. More specifically, the Ultimate Spy Twins, Akira and Ayato Iwasaki. They, as well as the rest of their peers, were left to wonder what made this year any different?

All they could remember from that morning was walking through the doors of Hope's Peak Academy, then blacking out the moment they entered the main hall at exactly 7:30 a.m. By the time they came to, it was already 8 a.m. They were passed out for half an hour and were going to be late for orientation.

"Ugh, my head," A girl groaned as she rubbed her forehead. It was pounding. She tried her best to observe her blurry surroundings as her eyes adjusted to the light. She was only able to make out two things: the color of the objects around her, and the fact she woke up on a hard, wooden surface. It was only then when everything started to come back to her. Hope's Peak Academy. Standing in front of the school. Passing out in the main hall. Her deductions only found it appropriate to conclude she was in a classroom. The only sensible explanation as to how she got there was if someone picked her up and moved her, right?

Yeah. She thought to herself. That's got to be it. I must have pushed passed my limits while training yesterday and passed out as soon as I got here.

The girl glanced over to the windows- which for some reason, were covered by thick metal plates. It was only then when she met the back of a familiar-looking boy. A boy who stole her face after her birth, but his personality couldn't be far from different. It was her twin brother, Ayato Iwasaki. He was currently struggling with removing the plates from the windows. As much as it was evident that they wouldn't come off easily, his stubbornness told him to keep trying.

"How long were you at that for?" She asked as she stood up and made her way over to him. "It's clear they won't budge."

The boy turned to face her and smiled.

"Oh, Akira! You're finally awake. I'm so relieved," Ayato chuckled. He released the metal plate and rested his hand on his hip, letting out an exhausted sigh. "I woke up, probably five minutes ago, so I wasn't busy with this for long. Hey, do you think you can help me remove them? Some natural lighting will do this room some good."

Ayato started to go back to pulling off the metal plates. Meanwhile, Akira took the chance to observe her surroundings after her eyes adjusted to the light- which wasn't hard since the room was so dim. There was a huge surveillance camera facing them from the front of the classroom as well as a decent sized screen near the door. The world was, in fact dangerous, so it would make sense to keep an eye out for suspicious individuals. Especially considering the school was teaching the nation's elite. However, it didn't seem like there were camera's outside. And what was the screen for? Perhaps it was used for the headmaster's announcements? And what exactly was the purpose of those metal plates?

"This is probably just some old classroom that no one is using anymore," Akira shrugged. Although, something about the classroom still made her feel uneasy. Despite that, she decided not to think much of it as she lightly clapped her hands together, redirecting Ayato's attention. "We are already late for orientation, so we should really get going."

"Lead the way!" Ayato cheered as he followed Akira out of the classroom and into the hallway.

On their way to... wherever they were going, the twins' feelings about where they were intensified within each step. Something felt very wrong. All of the windows were covered just like the ones in the classroom they woke up in. The halls were dark and empty. There were no students or teachers in sight. The only sounds that could be heard were Akira and Ayato's footsteps and their heavy breathing. Not only that, but they found more of those weird surveillance cameras. Were they going to school with criminals? This building they found themselves in did not fit the description of Hope's Peak Academy. It felt more like they were in prison rather than a school.

"Hey, Aki, are you sure you know where we are going?" Ayato asked, trying to catch up with his older twin's fast pace. He held his hands close to his chest, nervously cracking his knuckles. Akira rolled her eyes at the nickname. Her brother knew how much she hated it, but he still insisted to call her that. "I mean, we still haven't met a single person, and this place is starting to give me the creeps."

"You're overreacting, Ayato," Akira attempted to reassure him as she continued walking, looking around every corner they came across in hopes of finding any students or teachers. "They managed to gather a whole bunch of celebrities this year, I'm sure they had forgotten about us and started orientation already."

Ayato's eyebrows furrowed, "Aren't we celebrities?" He stressed.

All Akira could do was give Ayato a quick glance. Technically, he wasn't wrong. But they haven't been in the public eye for a while. At least, not as much as they used to. Not many people know of the Iwasaki family these days. You'd have either been living under a rock, or you were far too young to know about them.

"I digress," Ayato huffed out, clearly annoyed. He lifted his arms and interlocked his fingers behind his head. "But, seriously! You would think that other students, or at least a teacher would have come to get us if they knew we were here!" He began to grit his teeth, now far too busy rambling about how creepy the school was and how everyone probably decided to leave them on purpose to hear Akira shushing him. "Quite frankly, I-"

"Ayato!"

The younger twin silenced himself immediately after he heard her tone change. He cocked an eyebrow, almost as if he were silently asking "What!?". That's when Akira pointed at something at the end of the hall. Ayato followed her finger, his eyes widening as he locked onto the target of his sister's attention. Just a few feet ahead of them was a boy walking around aimlessly. He had brown, spikey hair and was average in height. He even wore a men's school blazer. This boy was most likely a student as well. With caution, Akira grabbed Ayato's hand and stepped through the same double doors that the unknown boy had just walked through.

To their surprise... They were greeted by even more students.

As the three entered what seemed to be a gymnasium, all eyes were on them. It was at that point; the boy turned around and noticed the twins were behind him. He gave a nervous smile and waved. There was nothing special about him. He looked... Ordinary. Akira crossed her arms, giving the boy a lazy, uninterested half-smile. Ayato, on the other hand, gave the boy a toothy grin and an enthusiastic wave.

"Oh? Are you three students here too?" An unidentified voice asked from the crowd. The twins and the nameless boy silently nodded.

A tall man with long dreadlocks excitedly spoke up, "Alright, nice! So, this should be seventeen!" He appeared to be older than the rest. Could he possibly be a teacher? Judging by his clothes; a loosely opened white button-up with a mustard-yellow shirt underneath, paired with cargo shorts and flip flops... He was far too informal to be a teacher. He also had the men's uniform blazer thrown messily over his shoulders. If Akira had known any better, she'd assume he was a class clown who stayed back due to behavioral issues. "Do you think that's all of us?"

Ayato's jaw dropped, and his hand instantly rushed to his mouth to hide his shock. All of us? So, this grown man was a student, too? Thankfully, no one noticed Ayato exchange a silent, wide-eyed conversation with Akira.

"We can confirm whether that's true or not later. But first, we have some important matters to discuss," A stern male voice announced. The boy presented himself. He as slightly above average in height. You could hardly miss him since he stood out with how his red eyes contrasted with his spiky, black hair. "You three! Your tardiness is unacceptable! Weren't you informed that orientation was supposed to start at 8 a.m. sharp? I must report you, and you shall accept your due punishment."

The boy's declaration and stern tone startled the boy who walked in with Akira and Ayato. He immediately began to panic, chanting apologies.

"Excuse me? What the hell are you talking about?" A girl with strawberry blonde twin tails asked, crossing her arms. Her voice was obnoxiously loud and nasally, Akira couldn't help but cringe with disgust. "Who even cares about being late when we don't even know what's going on right now?

With such a stressed-out voice and dramatic presence, it didn't take the twins long to recognize her. A day prior to their arrival, they were given documents of students that would potentially be their classmates. There was no mistaking it. That was Junko Enoshima, the Ultimate Fashionista. Her popularity skyrocketed because of her extravagant tastes and the overall realness she brought to each shoot. Every single one of her outfits were always way ahead of her time. There has been discourse among her fans as to whether she could predict trends or if she was just a trendsetter. All anybody really knew was that if Junko Enoshima wore it, it was automatically cool. Right next to her was girl with long, blue hair. Akira instantly recognized her as the Ultimate Pop Sensation, Sayaka Maizono. It seemed as though Hope's Peak Academy was desperate enough to scout celebrities this year. Maybe they planned to make a profit off of them.

Ayato pushed his way in front of the apologizing spiky-haired boy, to which the latter went silent. The younger spy twin chuckled softly and greeted the other boy in front of him, "Hello, I do apologize for our tardiness. We kind of ran into a bit of an... issue. You understand, right?"

"Hmm... I see," the boy responded with a hand on his chin as he stood in thought. "The first day of school has been hectic for all of us. I suppose I will let it slide this one time. Don't expect your charm to save you next time! We will be classmates this year, so I will be keeping a close eye on you to make sure you three use your time wisely."

The young spy's eye slightly twitched with irritation. He was always able to swoon enemies with sly tongue while he went on missions. He's never once been called out on it before. He was a little grateful that he and his sister were now out of trouble, but it was still frustrating to be put on blast like that. Regardless, he laughed it off.

"Of course! Don't worry, we will definitely be on time from here on out."

Ayato smiled at the boy and reached his hand out for a handshake. The boy in front of him hesitated– but reluctantly mimicked it, trying to hide his uneasiness with a friendly smile as their arms moved up and down in sync. Akira watched as the awkward interaction took place. Was he unfamiliar with a handshake? Or perhaps he was also unsure about the situation before them?

"My name is Ayato Iwasaki, the Ultimate Spy. And this is my sister, Akira," he finally introduced himself as he rested his elbow on his sister's shoulder. Akira slightly bowed her head. "Our family calls us the 'Ultimate Spy Twins'- given that we share the same talent and all of that cool stuff. And, no, we do not share telepathic abilities."

"It is a pleasure to meet you both," The boy said loud and confident. "I am Kiyotaka Ishimaru, but please, call me Taka. I am the Ultimate Moral Compass."

Ayato smiled and nodded his head to the boy who he was allowed to call Taka.

"Uh, excuse me," A girl mumbled. Everyone turned their attention to her. She was quite short amongst the rest, and her voice sounded soothing, yet forced. "Did you guys wake up in a classroom by yourselves?"

Akira and Ayato glanced at each other before replying

"Yeah," Ayato answered. "It was so weird."

"What about you?" Akira asked the boy she and Ayato arrived with just a moment ago. "Did you wake up in a classroom as well?"

"I did," The boy confirmed. "I'm not sure how I got there though. I remember walking through the main hall... and then I passed out."

The short girl hung her head low in disappointment, mumbling a soft, "I thought so."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Akira asked. She became even more suspicious of the building they were all in as that strange feeling in her gut grew stronger.

"That's exactly what happened to the rest of us," A very muscular girl with white hair responded.

A low grumble caught everyone's attention. All eyes landed on a muscular boy wearing a long coat. He had weird hair which made him stand out. He was completely different from Kiyotaka. He had a bleached, curly pompadour and wore dramatic guyliner. "It seems like all the windows are boarded up," he added. Despite his somewhat ridiculous appearance, there was something enticing yet intimidating about him. From the articles that Akira read, that was the Ultimate Biker Gang Leader, Mondo Owada. Biker gangs all over the country respect him. "Reminds me of back when I was in juvie."

"This doesn't seem like your typical school environment. Do you think we might have been kidnapped?" Another boy asked. He was scrawny and didn't have much muscle as Mondo and the other muscular girl. He had red hair and a lot of piercings. "Like, if that's true, then they kidnapped the whole flippin' lot of us. Who knows? Maybe they'll auction off our organs."

Akira and Ayato rolled their eyes at such an obnoxious comment. They both decided it was time to get to know their classmates. Before they did, there was someone they had to meet with first. The twins made their way over to the most important individual in the room. The one they were assigned to protect with their lives; Byakuya Togami.

Kijo Togami, Byakuya's father, didn't really think that Hope's Peak Academy would give his son the additional success he needed in order to prepare him to shape the world in the future. It went without saying that the current Togami head was a firm believer that there was nothing that school could teach Byakuya that he hadn't already. But, Byakuya was scouted, and it would draw more attention to the Togami Corporation if the heir had an academic background at Hope's Peak. Of course, Kijo wouldn't send his offspring anywhere that could potentially be dangerous to his physical well-being and interfere with him taking over the company, so he sent Akira and Ayato to go with him as his bodyguards. Being part of an elite organization such as the Togami Corporation, Kijo has access to anything and everything. Soon, Byakuya will have that power. In addition to that, Akira and Ayato were tasked with a certain mission after being stuck home for two years.

"Hey, Byakuya! How's life been treating you?" Ayato asked with a smile. "Crazy! Who would have thought that the three of us would be in the same class?"

"I'm doing quite fine, thank you," Byakuya said, trying to keep things short and simple. He knew his father pulled a few strings so that the twins could attend Hope's Peak and be in Byakuya's class. "But if we could save this conversation until after orientation, that would be pleasant."

Ayato snickered, "Awe, what's the matter, Byakuya? Did the family business shove that stick up your ass? Or were you just born with it? Come on, loosen up a little."

"Ayato, language!" Kiyotaka yelled from across the gym.

Mondo, who was standing off by himself noticed the twins acting all friendly with Byakuya. It was odd because before they arrived, everyone's first impression of the heir was the fact he was a rich douchebag who needed to be knocked down a few pegs. Why would Ayato, who seemingly is trying to make some friends, want anything to do with someone like Byakuya Togami? "Hold on, you two know this stuck-up shit?" He asked, bewildered.

"The profanity! Please!" Kiyotaka yelled again.

"I shall pretend you didn't refer to me as such," Byakuya said as he crossed his arms, clearly ignoring Kiyotaka's yelling. "But, yes. I had the misfortune of dealing with their existence during my childhood."

Ayato let out a light gasp, placing his hand over his chest, feigning shock. With a cocky smirk, he asked, "Wow, Byakuya Togami actually said he knows us! What changed?"

Akira couldn't help but let out a light laugh as she watched the two bicker. This was always their dynamic. Ayato would always make snarky comments and goof around with Byakuya. Meanwhile, as irritated as the blond could get, he always had a soft spot for the younger spy twin. So, every now and then, he would react to Ayato's teasing to entertain him.

"Very well, be that way then," Byakuya rolled his eyes once more, only this time, he actually smiled. It was very subtle, fond smile. Those who had the pleasure of interacting with a Togami would know that a genuine smile was a rare sight to see. It's a shame that it went unnoticed by everyone. "Now, I think we can all agree that we have more pressing matters to attend to?"

"Such as?" Ayato asked.

The Togami heir looked around the gymnasium as he answered Ayato's painfully obvious question, "Why are we here?" He asked. "If this is supposed to be a normal gathering, where is the headmaster? Orientation was supposed to start a while ago. Someone is behind this, then whom?"

"Yeah, and like- where the heck did they hide my stuff?" Junko whined. "My cell phone is missing!"

Junko's sudden statement turned everyone into a short panic. They all began to dig into their pockets just to find them empty. Soft patting sounds filled the gym as everyone began to search their person for their belongings, only to let out defeated sighs when they came to the conclusion that they were also missing some things. Akira and Ayato frantically lifted up the sleeves to their cardigans. They let out a breath of relief then they found their watches remained on their wrists.

"My cell phone is missing as well," The muscular girl spoke up. "Perhaps they were confiscated?"

"Let's try not to be so bummed out, yeah?" The older man with dreadlocks suggested. "I bet it's all part of the school's orientation. At least, that's what my reading says. In fact, it's already been foretold!"

The man reached into his jacket and pulled out what appeared to be a glass ball.

Great. Akira thought to herself. They dragged in a homeless fortune teller. Are they just letting anybody in here?

"Please, a crystal ball?" The boy with red hair and piercings scoffed. "Are they ever for real?"

"I'm dead-on thirty percent of the time!" The older male declared proudly. Everyone groaned with concern. This man was more of the Ultimate Scammer than a Clairvoyant. His accuracy was way too low for anyone's comfort. Akira made sure to keep in mind that she wouldn't ask him to read her future. Not like she needed it. What was going to happen was carefully planned out and set in stone.

"Hey, guys! I have an idea!" A girl wearing shorts and a red jacket interjected. Her bubbly personality redirected everyone's attention. "Why don't we go around and introduce ourselves?"

"Introductions?" Mondo asked, making a face of disapproval. "Why the hell do we need to do that?"

A pale girl in a Victorian gothic dress emerged from the crowd. There was something about her aesthetic and overall aura drew Ayato in immediately. She began to speak, "Well, this situation is indeed strange, is it not?" She asked. "We all wake up in separate rooms and collectively agree to go to the gym. Our forms explaining orientation never said the ceremony would be held here. Quite peculiar, I might say. Wouldn't you agree?"

"Y-Yeah, it is," Ayato nodded. Everyone murmured, apparently on the same page. Now that it was said out loud, the group began to grow worried. What made them think to come to the gym in the first place?

"And let's say things end up getting weirder than this," she continued. "How can we communicate if we do not know each other by name?"

The short girl from before nodded in agreement, "She does have a point."

"Okay, so let's get introductions out of the way, then we can move onto whatever is next," Sayaka suggested. "Does that sound good?"

Everyone nodded and scurried around the gym to find a person, or a group of people to give introductions to. The day before, Kijo managed to give Akira and Ayato files that contained information on their potential classmates. Well, not all of them. The files only consisted of Ultimates that were very well known.

The twins split up to cover more people faster. Akira wandered around the gym, passing glances at all of the students who were already off on their own conversations. In the back of the room stood a girl dressed in all purple from her hair to her shoes. She was an individual Akira knew all too well.

Toko Fukawa, the Ultimate Writing Prodigy. She was standing in the corner, glaring at everyone. Akira decided to strike up a conversation- not just because she was the only other student standing alone, but because the spy was somewhat familiar with the author's books. She could openly admit that her work was interesting, but there were emotions and concepts that Akira couldn't quite understand- like love and soulmates. Since she's always been busy with spy work, Akira never gave those things a single thought. She does wish to understand why people find such topics so beautiful.

"Not much of a talker, huh?" The sudden voice startled Toko. She let out a yelp and turned her attention to Akira, not responding. "Say, you're Toko Fukawa, right?"

"Y-yeah... Why?" Toko asked nervously as she started playing with her hands.

Akira gave a nonchalant shrug. "I just... sort of recognize you for your books. I enjoy them."

Toko's eyes widened. Sure, she's received many awards for her work, but it's been a while since someone genuinely complimented her books to her face.

"Wait— really?" She asked.

"Of course! Your writing is so unique, Fukawa," Akira gave her a reassuring smile. "You're so talented! We actually own a few of your books in our library back home."

Toko blushed and mumbled a small 'thank you' under her breath.

"What was that?" Akira asked.

"I-I've never really... been complemented on my books," Toko smiled shyly. "It means a lot to me."

Akira smiled again. Soon enough, she ended her conversation with Toko so she could talk to her other classmates. She and Ayato would be here for the rest of their education years, so there was really no harm in gaining more information about those around her, right?

Ayato, on the other hand, spent his time talking to the Ultimate Gambler, Celestia Ludenberg, and the Ultimate Swimming Pro, Aoi Asahina. He was a little nervous about the muscular girl that Aoi was with. He learned that her name is Sakura Ogami. She's the Ultimate Martial Artist.

For as long as he can remember, Akira has always been the strongest woman in Ayato's eyes, so meeting Sakura has really made him think a lot of things.

The two ended up regrouping before introductions were over. Akira grabbed Ayato's arm and bulled him away from the crowd.

"Remember why we are here, Ayato," she mumbled so no one would hear. "We are just here to ensure Byakuya's protection and to find out whatever this school is hiding for Mr. Togami. After this, we can go back to our original mission. We cannot let anyone here be a distraction."

"I'm aware," Ayato mumbled back. "But do I need to remind you that I wasn't the one who was kissing that author's ass not too long ago? When have you ever picked up a book?"

Akira smiled as she looked around at the other students, "I've been picking up on a couple of hobbies while we weren't going on missions." She caught herself making eye contact with that plain boy from earlier. He was talking to Mondo. Akira looked back at her brother. He looked lost in thought. "Hm? What are you thinking about?"

Ayato pulled himself out of his thoughts and shook his head, "Nothing. Let's just get these introductions over with."

Akira cocked an eyebrow as she watched Ayato make his way over to Mondo. She shrugged and ran to catch up with him. Ayato stopped in his tracks and tilted his head to the Biker Gang Leader, signaling for Akira to start talking first.

The older twin rolled her eyes and tapped Mondo on the shoulder. He turned around and gave the twins a half-ass smile. Mondo didn't bother hiding the fact that he didn't really want to talk. That he found this whole introduction thing stupid. But of course, it was a girl's idea. And he was brought up to never disrespect women. He also had a feeling that Akira and Ayato wouldn't leave until they got a proper introduction. "Hello! I'm sure you already know– My name is Akira, and this is my brother, Ayato. What about you?"

"The name's Mondo Owada, nice to fuckin' meetcha," Mondo sighed as he looked away.

"Nice to meet you, too," Ayato smiled nervously. His body was sort of tense as he was slightly intimidated by the bigger man in front of him.

"Hell yeah," Mondo mumbled. He started becoming quiet.

Everything felt awkward, and Akira needed as much information on anyone as she could get. So, she kept the conversation going, "Hey, so I take it that you're really into motorcycles and stuff like that, huh?" She asked, feigning interest. "You even have your own gang! When did all of that start?"

"Oh... Well, my brother was actually really big on motorcycles, so I guess I just picked up on his interests. He has always been my role model," Mondo said. He seemed like a completely different person than the grumpy first impression. Suddenly, the light in his eyes died as his tone changed. Almost as if he had a realization. He was back to regular, old, grumpy Mondo. "I don't really enjoy talking about him these days. Personal reasons, y'know?"

"That's totally fine," Ayato nodded. "We wouldn't want to force you to speak to us about topics that make you feel uncomfortable. I guess that's why it's beneficial to do these introductions, right?"

"I guess that's true," Mondo agreed as he scratched the back of his neck.

"Well, we better get going," Akira said as she glanced at Ayato, signaling it was time to go. She looked back at Mondo. "We wouldn't wanna take up much more of your time. Maybe we can talk later, yeah?"

Once they were far enough for Mondo not to hear him, Ayato let out an over-exaggerated sigh.

"My God, Owada doesn't like to have conversations," Ayato mumbled. "Please don't tell me we actually have to talk to him again. I don't think he likes us, and one-sided conversations are far too painful, Aki!"

"Come on! You're just being dramatic," Akira laughed as she continued to look around for students to talk to. "Now, who else should we meet? We pretty much have read everyone's files... except-"

There was another person who caught her attention. It was the organ boy from earlier. Now that Akira could actually see him up close, she noticed his red hair was a painfully obvious box dye. She couldn't tell what it was, but for some reason, she felt the need to talk to him. She felt like he could be of use to her somehow. It wasn't just her, Ayato felt it, too. They couldn't help but wonder... Why him? He definitely wasn't up to Byakuya's status, not even theirs. His outfit looked like a rockstar-wannabe, and just from hearing his conversations with the others, he didn't sound intelligent in the slightest. How could he be helpful at all? Akira and Ayato glanced at each other- both realized they came to the same conclusion. With a single nod, the two decided to trust their instincts and walk up to the boy.

"Take a picture, it'll last longer," the boy laughed and winked at Akira in a joking manner. Akira couldn't help but be mesmerized by his hair and piercings. For as long as she could remember, her family always saw piercings as unprofessional, and they could get in the way of completing tasks. Regardless, Akira and Ayato never gave them a single thought.

"Woah," Akira continued staring at the boy in amazement. "Nice piercings."

"Oh, thanks!" The boy smiled. "The name is Leon Kuwata."

Ayati smiled and offered his hand out for a handshake. Leon kindly returned the gesture. "It's nice to meet you."

"Wait! You're Leon Kuwata?! Like... As in the Ultimate Baseball Star?" Akira asked, astonished. "But how? You look so..."

"Different?" Leon asked, finishing her sentence. He chuckled a little bit. "Yeah, I barely went to any of the practices. I don't mean this to sound self-centered, but I guess you could say that I had a natural talent for baseball. So, as I slowly stopped playing, I kinda just let my hair grow out. But it all worked out I guess because I don't really enjoy the sport."

Akira and Ayato tilted their heads– invested and confused. Why would someone not enjoy something they're good at? Especially if your talent could find you a very good job, it should be an opportunity you would never give up.

"Why don't you like it?" Akira asked. It could be a spy's intuition, or her just being nosy. No one really knows, and no one really minds it.

All their lives, the twins only engaged with people that their parents or Kijo Togami wanted them to. They've always been homeschooled up until now, so they rarely ever had the chance to gain relationships with people other than their close friend Ibuki Mioda, and another girl that they met while they trained in the Middle East. It was short-lived because one day, she didn't show up for training. In fact, she was never seen again.

And even then, Akira has never been as attentive as she has been when Leon spoke. Her eyes never sparkled the way they did when she spoke to this particular guy.

"I dunno, I only did it because teachers and coaches were begging me to," Leon said. "I guess the only good thing I got out of it was the fact I got accepted into Hope's Peak without needing to take a test."

"Then... What do you want to do?" Akira inquired.

"I want to be a musician," Leon declared. "You know... starting a band, going on tour, all that stuff."

Akira and Ayato glanced at each other again.

"Are you any good?" The younger spy twin asked. "Being a musician, I mean."

"I think I'm pretty good," Leon shrugged. "I'm not exactly the worst. I could use a little bit more practice though."

"I'm actually really good friends with the Ultimate Musician!" Akira smiled. "Her name is Ibuki Mioda. You should totally meet her sometime; she could probably help you make that band you want!"

Leon blinked rapidly in disbelief. "Wait, seriously?" He asked. "You'd do that for me?"

"I don't see why not."

"That wouldn't be a problem, but there is one thing you are neglecting," Byakuya interrupted as he crossed his arms.

"What?" Ayato asked. He looked at Akira, then everyone else. "What are we neglecting?"

"Weren't you paying attention when we were walking in the halls?" Akira asked. "All of the windows we passed by were blocked off."

"Exactly," Byakuya said. "All of the windows are blocked with metal plates and leaving seems to be a bit difficult."

Ayato scoffed and crossed his arms. "What are you talking about? Just leave the same way we came in!"

"It seems like we can tell that Ayato isn't as bright as his sister," A male voice said in the crowd. Everyone turned towards the source and saw it was the boy who walked in with the twins earlier. Akira couldn't find any reason why someone as plain as him would be enrolled in a school for the elite. It can only be inferred that he was accepted through the lottery.

"Hey!" Ayato yelled, not exactly offended. "Who are you again?"

"My name is Makoto Naegi," The boy said. "I got accepted through the lottery."

"Huh, that makes sense," Ayato mumbled– judging, and eyeing the boy up and down. "Wait, so all the windows are boarded up... Not just the ones in the classroom we woke up in. I wasn't paying attention."

"It would appear so," Byakuya muttered.

Everyone fell into a panicked silence, trying to understand what was going on. However, that silence was quickly interrupted when they heard a voice coming from the stage.

"Ahem! Is this thing on?" The unfamiliar voice called out. "Can you hear me?"

The group of students turned towards the direction of the voice– just to see absolutely nothing.

"What the hell was that?" Mondo scowled. Almost on cue, a polychromatic bear jumped out and revealed itself. The design of the strange object was unique. One half of the bear was white with a black glassy eye, while on the other side– it was black with a weird red shape for the right eye.

"Greetings, students! I am your headmaster... Monokuma," The bear introduced himself.

"A teddy bear?" The short girl asked, seemingly uncertain of what she was looking at.

"I am not a teddy bear," The bear insisted. "I am Monokuma."

The gym fell into a confused silence. They all stood in place, watching the stuffed bear sitting on the stage facing them.

"This is so weird," Makoto mumbled.

"Yeah, no kidding," Akira agreed.

"Yes, Yes, like nothing you've ever seen before. Uncanny, unsettling even," Monokuma babbled. "Anyway, welcome you bright young things to your new living quarters. Now, before you get all uppity, rest assured it's for your own good. Mustn't let the outside world dull that dazzling inner spark. We got to keep that freshness sealed in! You will all live a communal life together solely within the confines of this school. Everyone will live in harmony together and adhere to the rules and regulations of the school."

This situation was far too complex for everyone to understand. The only thing they tried to comprehend were the facts: They were stuck inside of a strange building and there seemed to be no way out. Now a polychromatic bear appears, insinuating everyone will be living here. Everything started happening so fast– no one had a chance to properly comprehend the situation.

"Ah, now then... Regarding the end date for this communal life," Monokuma continued as he looked at everyone's terrified faces. "There isn't one! You'll all be here until the day you die! This is the school life you've been assigned."

"Wh-What did he just say? Until the day we die...?" Toko shrieked.

"Oh, but fear not! We have quite an abundant budget, so you won't lack for all the common conveniences," Monokuma said. Everyone started speaking over each other.

"That's the least of our worries right now," Sayaka yelled. "What if we have families?"

"Yeah, what the hell? You're saying I have to live here forever?" Junko asked. "You're screwing with us, right?"

Ayato turned to Akira. As her brother, he knew her well. It didn't matter if she had a tough look on her. He knew on the inside, she was scared, confused, and pissed. Pissed because this prank, this... thing is getting in the way of what's important to her. To them. He turned back and listened to the bear's speech; his eyebrows knitted together.

"I'm not screwing with you! I am no liar, of that you can be a hundred percent sure," Monokuma said. "Ah, and just for your information... You're completely cut off from the outside world. So, you don't have to worry about that dirty, dirty land beyond these walls ever again!"

Makoto let out a shaky breath, like this new information knocked the wind out of him. His voice broke, "Cut off...? So, all of those metal plates all over the school..." Makoto's voice shook. "They're there to keep us trapped in here?"

"That's exactly what they're there for. No matter how much you may yell and scream for help... help will not come," Monokuma chirped. "So, with all of that in mind, feel free to live out your life here with reckless abandon!"

"Come on, what the hell is this?" Leon asked. He tried to dismiss what he was hearing as a joke, but the shakiness in his voice, and the way his lips twitched failed his laxed exterior. "I don't care if the school or whoever else is behind it all, this is just a really bad joke."

"Yeah! Cut this shit out!" Mondo yelled. "This isn't funny anymore!"

Monokuma laughed at the distressed students before him. "You keep saying this is a lie or a joke. A bunch of skeptics all of you. But I guess you can't help it, huh? You all grew up in an age where you're taught to doubt your neighbor."

The bear then jumped off the stage and walked towards the students. Everyone cleared the way, avoiding him like he was some sort of illness.

"Well, you'll have plenty of time to find out whether or not what I say is true," Monokuma said. "And when that time comes, you'll see with your own eyeballs that I speak the undeniable truth."

"Having to live here forever would be... quite the problem," Celeste said. "You mean to tell us that we will all be confined in a place like this?"

"Come, now. What's the matter with all of you?" Monokuma asked as he waved his paws in the air. "You decided on your own free will to attend Hope's Peak Academy, didn't you? And now, before the entrance ceremony is even finished, you've already decided you want to leave? Oh, but you know... I guess I forgot to mention one thing. There is one way for you to leave the school."

"Really?" Toko asked, relieved.

"Enlighten us," Byakuya demanded. This behavior was nothing new for Akira and Ayato. Of course, their families worked alongside each other for generations. There was a strong trust between the Iwasaki's and the Togami's. It was only natural for Byakuya and the twins to become friends. But with Byakuya getting ready to take over the Togami Corporation, and the twins being caught up in their lives, their friendship drifted apart. It would have been nice to meet again somewhere pleasant rather than trapped in a school. Byakuya would probably never admit it, but Akira and Ayato are the only people who could tolerate his attitude, and they refused to leave his side, family business or not, they are the only people he could actually call his own without worrying about losing them.

"As headmaster, I've crafted a special clause for those of you who would like to leave! I call it... The Graduation Clause!" Monokuma explained. "Now, let me tell you about this fun little rule. As I mentioned, in order to maintain an environment of harmony here, we rely on a communal lifestyle. And if someone were to, I don't know, disrupt that harmony, they and they alone would be allowed to leave the school. That, my students, is the Graduation Clause!"

"What do you mean by 'disrupt the harmony'?" Akira asked.

"Puhuhu... Well, you know... If one person were to murder another," Monokuma said casually.

Makoto gasped. "Murder?!" This rose panic throughout the gym– at the same time, they were still skeptical of what they were just told.

"Puhuhu... I bet that got your brain juices flowing! Beats the heck out of a human catching some salmon, huh?" Monokuma asked. He sighed in contentment, taking in his students' terror. "Like I said before, you guys are the hope of the world. But you know... Taking that hope and seeing it get murdered creates a darkened shadow of despair. And I find that so... darn... exciting!"

Everyone watched as Monokuma walked back to the stage. As he continued his speech, Leon glanced across the room towards the twins. Akira and Ayato were talking– Both of them were upset but still looking out for each other. Any sense of fear they had was lost. All that was felt right now was pure anger. This isn't the first time these students heard something along the lines of murder and death, but now that they are experiencing it for themselves– it's terrifying.

"What the hell are you talking about?! To kill each other is... It's...!" Leon stammered. He was just praying this was all fake. A really bad nightmare. Hell, for all he knows, this all could be a dream, and when they wake up, Hope's Peak Academy will be a normal high school just like everyone said it is. But sadly... They know that this is the reality they are living in.

"To kill each other is to kill each other! I'm sure there's a dictionary here somewhere if you need it," Monokuma shrugged.

"We know what it means, but that's not the problem!" Aoi yelled. "Why do we have to kill each other?"

"Yeah, stop blabbering on with all this nonsense! Just let us go home already!" A frantic male voice called out. From what Ayato learned when he spoke with some of his peers, his name was Hifumi Yamada. He's the Ultimate Fanfic Creator.

"...Blabbering?" Monokuma asked. "Blabbering, Blabbering, what do you mean blabbering? Stop blabbering on about blabbering on! You guys just don't get it, do you? 'Let us go, let us go!' You keep saying the same thing over and over and over and over...! Listen. From this moment on, this school is your home, your life, your world. Got it? And you can kill as much as you wanna kill! So go ahead! Go on a kill-kill-killing spree!"

"Alright, come on... How long are you gonna keep this up?" The older fortune teller asked.

"Eh?" Monokuma asked.

"You got us, ok? You scared the hell out of us. So, you can go ahead and reveal the trick now."

"Reveal... the trick...?"

"Yeah, cuz I mean... Y'know, this was all some kind of trick and all, right? So uh, like-"

"Dude, shut the hell up and get outta my way!" Mondo yelled as he shoved the fortune teller aside. He stormed towards Monokuma and slammed his hands down on the stage, making eye contact with the bear standing between his arms. His voice rumbled like thunder. "Listen up, asshole! This has gone way too far! What the hell kinda joke IS this?! Take this shit any further and you will be victim number one!"

"A joke? What, you mean like your pompadour?" Monokuma asked. Mondo growled as he stood up straight and grabbed Monokuma in one swift motion, one hand on Monokuma's neck, holding him in the air.

"Gotcha, you little piece of shit!" Mondo yelled; proud he was able to capture the bear before he could move. "I dunno if you're a toy or a stuffed animal or whatever the hell! Either way, I'm gonna rip you to fuckin' shreds until there's nothing left but what is making you jabber!"

"Waah! Violence against the headmaster is in violation of school regulations!" Monokuma yelled as he shook himself frantically.

"Shut the fuck up!" Mondo roared, gripping Monokuma's throat tighter. "You better let me out of here or I swear to Christ..."

Monokuma suddenly went silent. He also stopped shaking. Everyone looked around the room. Suddenly...

Beep beep beep beep

"What, no smartass comeback this time?" Mondo asked. There was still no reply. Just beeping. "Stop that goddamn beeping and SAY SOMETHING!"

"Watch out! Get rid of it!" A girl with lavender hair yelled out.

"Huh...?" Mondo asked, slightly turning his head back to face her.

"Hurry up and throw it!"

No one could tell if her ferocity stunned him into silence or what, but without a word, he did as he was told. He threw Monokuma. And as soon as he did, the bear exploded. Everyone flinched and covered their ears.

"The hell?! Th-That sure as shit wasn't a joke. It blew the hell up..." Mondo yelled.

There was a terrible ringing in everyone's ears. The whole room smelled like gunpowder.

"How the hell..." Akira mumbled.

"That means the teddy bear has been destroyed, right?" The short girl asked.

"I... think so. So, like, we can just leave, right?" Ayato asked. Everyone turned away from the stage and made their way towards the door but stopped dead in their tracks when they heard the same bone-chilling voice.

"I told you; I'm not a teddy bear! I'm Monokuma!" Monokuma yelled.

"Uwah! There's another one?" Leon asked.

"You son of a bitch! You seriously tried to kill me just now!" Mondo yelled.

"Well, yes. I was serious about trying to kill you. You did violate one of the school regulations, after all," Monokuma sang. "I'll let you off with a warning this time, but you'd better be careful from now on. Any naughty boy or girl who violates my rules won't get off with just a little swat on the butt."

"Hey... So does this mean there's like, a bunch more of you around here somewhere?" Junko asked.

"Monokumas' have been placed all throughout the school, yes. Plus, don't forget the surveillance cameras installed everywhere," Monokuma said. "And if you're caught breaking any rules, well... you all just saw what happened, right?"

There were cameras all around the school. And a good majority of them had guns attached to them. Someone is probably watching behind those cameras. They will have the opportunity to get rid of anyone not following the "rules" just in case Monokuma wasn't around to deal with them himself.

"Puhuhu... And I won't be so forgiving with my punishment next time," Monokuma warned. "So don't let it happen again."

"Th-that's not even punishment. That's just... wrong." Asahina said, stuttering on her words.

"Now then, lastly... To commemorate your joyous entry into our school, I have a little something for you..." Monokuma said as he grabbed a box full of– what appeared to look like, student guidebooks. "This is our official student handbook! Pretty cool, huh? As you can see, it's fully digital. So naturally, we call it... The e-Handbook!"

Everyone reluctantly gathered around to accept their e-Handbook being passed to them.

"Ahem. Yes, well, moving on..." Monokuma continued. "This handbook is absolutely vital for having a healthy and successful school life, so don't lose it! When you start it up, it will display your name. Always make sure you have the right one!"

Everyone started turning on their e-Hand books and saw their names bold and in the middle of the screen, just as Monokuma said.

"Now, this is not your everyday notebook. It has so many more uses than that!" Monokuma explained. "It's completely waterproof. Splash it, wash it, drown it, it'll keep on ticking! And thanks to its space-age design, it can withstand an impact force of up to ten tons. Very resistant! It contains all of our school regulations so make sure you review them thoroughly!"

Monokuma continued to talk, but no one was listening. They just stared at their e-handbooks.

"You'll hear me say this a lot, but a violation of school regulations will not be tolerated," Monokuma said. "Rules restrict, yes, but they also protect. Society, for example, would be in utter chaos without laws. The same applies here! This is why it's crucial we have strict punishments in place for violators. Alright! Well, that brings our entrance ceremony to a close! Please enjoy your abundantly dreary school life! And... see ya!"

And just like that, Monokuma was gone. He left right before anyone could ask any questions. The gym fell silent. Everyone felt mixed emotions of terror and confusion. Akira did nothing but stare intensely at her e-Handbook.

"So, guys... How would you define what we just experienced?" Kiyotaka asked everyone.

"How...? Why...?" Leon mumbled. "I don't understand any of this."

"We have to live here forever...? Or...k-kill?" Toko asked. "Wh-What...? What just happened!?"

"Everyone, we need to just calm down," Kyoko said. "First, let's just take a second to summarize everything we just heard. Based on what Monokuma said, we essentially have two choices. Choice number one is that we each stay here, living a 'communal life' together until the day we die. And the other choice is..."

"If we want to get out of here alive, we have to kill someone," Celestia said.

"But... Killing someone... That's..." The short girl couldn't finish her sentence. She started to cry.

"We were abducted out of nowhere and stuffed into this place meant to look like a school. And now we're supposed to start killing each other? This is..." Hifumi tried to gather the right words to describe the situation they were in. But he couldn't think of anything. "This is... this is just...! What IS this?!"

"A lie is what it is. All these ridiculous things we've heard... This all has to be fake!" Kiyotaka said, not believing what he heard either.

"Right now, it doesn't really matter if this is real or fake. What matters is..." Byakuya stopped and looked around at each individual student. "Is there anyone here who's seriously considering all this...?"

No one answered his question. They all stayed quiet and looked at each other. They all just met this morning, so it would be hard to guess what anyone was thinking. Any chance that Akira and Ayato had at making new friends was ruined. They both started doubting their peers along with themselves... along with Byakuya, whom they had known for years. It would be ridiculous to doubt your childhood friend. But being in a desperate situation can make you do the unthinkable. Everyone was forced to wonder...

"Was somebody going to betray us?"

And that's how the students at Hope's Peak Academy started their school year... A year that was supposed to raise their hopes high... turned into something on the brink of despair.

Chapter Text

"You must kill someone if you want to leave."

That phrase was embedded into everyone's mind. The students were paralyzed in fear, feeling perturbed by the possibility that somebody may have actually considered Monokuma's offer. The air felt so heavy, it was almost too hard to breathe. It took everything in them just to endure that weight... But for as heavy as the air felt, all that it took to pierce it were her sharp words.

"So? What are we going to do now?" The quiet girl with lavender hair asked. Her name was Kyoko Kirigiri. Not too much was known about her, and she refused to speak with the other students. She just stood there, almost as if she were observing her peers. Given their new predicament, her actions seemed to have rubbed some of the others the wrong way. "Are we just going to stand around and glare at each other?"

Her pointed comment was directed at everyone in the room. It helped pull them back to reality. And she was right. They wouldn't receive answers to their internal questions if they stood around and did nothing. In the midst of their stunned silence, a frustrated huff could be heard.

"Right... She's right!" Taka said in a loud, somewhat shaken voice. He tried to hide it by sounding as confident as he was merely half an hour ago- but he failed. "Sometimes... even if you are nervous or afraid, you just have to push forward. To forget such a simple fact... I can't forgive myself! I can't forgive myself! I am so ashamed! I absolutely cannot forgive myself! Somebody hit me! Punish me!"

Everyone worriedly glanced at Taka's sudden outburst. The boy who was the Prime Minister's grandson; the boy who seemed to have everything in his life under control was crumbling right in front of them. It was an awful sight to see, and it only added to the severity of their situation. His rambling was cut short when the delinquent gang leader let out an annoyed groan.

"Jesus if you have time to yell about it, you have time to DO something about it!" Mondo growled. The response made the other boy more frantic than he already was.

"Ishimaru, it's okay," Ayato mumbled in an attempt to calm Kiyotaka down. He was better at masking his thoughts and emotions. It was a skill he had to master at a young age of twelve for his spy work. "No one is going to hurt you, trust me. We are going to find a way out of here."

Even though he sounded reassuring, and even though he eased his classmates' nerves just a little bit... He, himself, wasn't convinced by his own words. He gave a quick glance at Akira, hoping she'd back him up. Who was he kidding? He didn't have to hope. She always did.

"Perhaps you are right... But what exactly is the mission here?" Hifumi asked.

"Idiot! To look for a way out, duh!" Leon replied, taunting the fanfic writer.

"Exactly, and if we want to get out of here as soon as possible, we need to work together to come up with a plan," Akira said as she looked around at her classmates. Her voice remained projected and flowed steady. Leadership ran in her blood as an heiress and watching the Togami's work up close. She had no problem proclaiming herself as a leader. Just by analyzing those in the gym with her, she knew nobody else would take charge. "We already know what will happen if we break any of Monokuma's rules, so we need to figure out how we can escape without anybody getting hurt."

If there's anything Akira learned in her upbringing, it's that everyone will respect you if you at least pretend you know what you're talking about. Given the fact that they are trapped, and they don't have any information on the strange facility they found themselves in; it's unknown if the chances of escape are in their favor. But if you use a certain tone of voice that differs from a group of panicked individuals, you'd surely be listened to.

"Yeah, and we totally need to find out who is controlling that stupid bear and beat the hell out of 'em," Junko declared as she balled her hand into a fist.

"But... Before we all do that, maybe we should take a look at the handbook," The short girl, who Akira learned is Chihiro Fujisaki, suggested. "It's probably best to check out the school regulations Monokuma mentioned before we do anything else."

"True. If we stumble around with no clue what the rules are, something like that might happen again," Celeste said, referring to Monokuma self-destructing when Mondo manhandled him.

"Well shit," Mondo mumbled under his breath.

"Fine," Junko sighed. "Let's hurry up and check out the stupid rules already."

Everyone turned on their e-handbooks. Of course, like always– their names will be the first thing they see when the digital notebook is turned on. They tapped on the "School Regulations" icon and read through the rules. They would seem like the normal rules you would hear in a normal school, but these are on a whole other level of oppression.

Students may reside only within the school. Leaving campus is an unacceptable use of time. "Nighttime" is from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. Some areas are off-limits at night, so please exercise caution. Sleeping anywhere other than the dormitory will be seen as sleeping in class and punished accordingly. With minimal restrictions, you are free to explore Hope's Peak Academy at your discretion. Violence against Headmaster Monokuma is strictly prohibited, as is the destruction of surveillance cameras. Anyone who kills a fellow student and becomes "blackened" will graduate, unless they are discovered. Additional school regulations may be added as necessary.

After Akira finished reading the rules, she looked up from her screen. No one was happy with these rules, especially Mondo. But from knowing him in such a short amount of time, looking unhappy was probably his default. Everybody was speaking amongst themselves. There was a mix of "What does this mean?" and "This is stupid."

She then turned to her brother. He was sitting on the ground, messing around with his e-handbook, checking out the different icons and functions. Akira knows he is taking their situation seriously. He also seems to be as unamused as everyone else. So, it's safe to assume he read through the rules as well.

"Not gonna lie... I really like these e-handbooks," Ayato smiled, continuing to tap mindlessly at his screen. "They're kinda cool!"

"Off-topic, Ayato," Byakuya and Akira said in unison.

"Oh, sorry– uh, these rules are bullshit!" Ayato stammered as he crossed his arms.

"They are bullshit!" Mondo agreed. "What the hell kinda rules are these?! I'm not gonna let them control me!"

"Well then, why don't you both wander around the school without a care in the world and see what happens?" Celeste suggested. "Personally, I would love to see what happens when someone breaks one of the rules."

Monokuma had already made a comprehensible demonstration as to what would happen if someone were to break the rules. And just for Celeste to be so insensitive and suggest to others to do something so careless– Akira didn't like it, especially since it was said to her own brother. She was going to walk up to Celeste and say something. What exactly? She didn't know. She'd figure it out when she got there. Before she could even move, Akira felt a hand on her shoulder. It was Byakuya's. He silently shook his head, indicating that he wouldn't allow Akira to move. So instead, she protectively placed a hand on Ayato's shoulder, glaring in the other girl's direction.

"But if they got punished like what we saw before, I don't think there'd be a re-spawn waiting for them," Hifumi mumbled nervously.

"Yeah... I'm going to have to agree with that," Ayato said. "We already know what the rules are, so we should try to avoid any altercations with Monokuma. What about you, Owada?"

All eyes returned to Mondo. He had his head down, contemplating on whether or not he was going to abide by these rules. He never liked anyone else telling him what to do. The only difference between then and now is the fact he has no opportunity to fight back. He let out a defeated sigh, with a hint of aggravation as he slowly lifted his head up, looking at his classmates who stood before him. He knew what he had to do.

"I- Ever since I was a kid, I grew up with my older brother pounding this into my head... When a man makes a promise, he has to keep it, even if it kills him," he said. Everyone stood in a confused silence for a couple of seconds.

"...So what?" Junko asked, her arms crossed.

"I've made a ton of promises that I still have to keep, that's 'so what'!" Mondo rolled his eyes. "So, I can't afford to die here!"

"None of that made much sense to me, but you are saying you will follow the regulations, is that it?" Celestia asked.

"Huh? Oh, well...yeah, I guess you're right," Mondo said.

"Hey, um...I have a question," Sayaka said. "For regulation number six...what do you think it means exactly?"

"You're talking about the second half, right?" Makoto asked. "Where it says, 'unless they are discovered'? I was wondering about that myself."

"It's saying that if you want to graduate, you have to kill someone without anyone finding out it was you," Byakuya sighed and shook his head.

"B-But why...?" Toko asked. "Why do we have to do that?"

"I don't see any reason to worry about it. Just worry about following the rules as they've been explained to us," Byakuya said. "Frankly, I don't want to hear anything from someone who waits for others to decide what to do for them."

"D-Don't jab at me..." Toko mumbled.

"No, I'd call that a slight shank," Ayato proposed.

"More like a full-on stab..." Leon said. Akira glared in his direction. Immaturity.

"Well, for now, let's forget all that silly junk about murderers or whatever," Asahina said. "Now that we know the rules, let's start exploring the school!"

"That is true. We need to find out exactly where we are," Kiyotaka said. He seemed to have gotten over his slump. He was now sounding as confident as ever. "Is there any way out? What about food and supplies? There are tons of questions we need to answer!"

"Damn straight!" Leon cheered, excited about the idea of an investigation. "Okay, then let's all start looking around!"

"I'll be going alone," Byakuya said. The entire gym broke out into gasps and confused mutters as everybody turned to the heir's direction.

"What!? Why?" Junko asked. "That's a pretty stupid idea, don't you think?"

"That's a pretty dumb choice man," Leon agreed. "I figured you would go with Ayato and Akira since you know them so well."

Byakuya sucked his teeth and adjusted his glasses.

"Someone here might already have started thinking about murdering one of us. Are you saying we should stand around with them in our midst and make it that much easier for them?" He asked. "This also applies to Akira and Ayato."

The twins furrowed their eyebrows. It would make sense that he was possibly thinking the same as them... But protecting him was their job.

"W-Wait, hold on a second. That would never--!" Sayaka tried to speak, but Byakuya interrupted her.

"Don't bother saying it couldn't happen. You cannot deny the possibility. That's why you all seized up with fear when that graduation rule was made clear to you," Byakuya said as he crossed his arms. "Am I wrong?"

"B-But..."

"So, I'm simply acting in accordance with what I think is best for me,"

Byakuya turned around and proceeded towards the exit to the gym. He almost made it to the door when Mondo ran in front of him, blocking his way.

"Hold on!" The muscular boy yelled. "Like hell, I'm gonna let you run off and do whatever you want!"

"Out of my way, plankton," Byakuya said, looking up at Mondo.

Akira just stood there, mouth agape. She couldn't bring herself to say anything. And even if she could, there was no point in telling Byakuya to stop. It's not like he would listen anyway. Mondo probably wouldn't either.

"What?! What the fuck's that supposed to mean?!" Mondo yelled.

"One tiny bit of plankton, drifting across the sea," Byakuya smirked. He was proud that he struck a nerve already. Mondo was too easy. "So minuscule, so insignificant. They couldn't possibly have any kind of influence on the boundless ocean."

"Should we intervene?" Ayato whispered to Akira. She nodded, but neither of them moved. What was keeping them from protecting Byakuya? Was it because they were scared? Was it because Mondo was a lot bigger and stronger than they were? Hell, they have done all the necessary training for years. Nothing should be keeping them from moving.

All of a sudden, Makoto ran to try to break the two up before things got out of hand. Ayato quickly tried to grab Makoto's arm. It was too late. He continued running, causing Akira and Ayato to follow.

"Oh, your paranoia is gonna be right on," Mondo chuckled as he cracked his knuckles, getting ready to throw a punch. "I'm gonna kick your ass!"

By this time, Akira and Ayato were already at Byakuya's side, trying to move Byakuya away. Makoto on the other hand...

"Guys! Stop it! We shouldn't be fighting!" He shrieked. "This will only get us nowhere!"

"Naegi, it's fine, we got it. Thank you," Akira said. "Please go with the others now-"

"The fuck did you just say?" Mondo asked, interrupting Akira. He slowly moved away from Byakuya and directed his attention to Makoto. "You some kinda goody-goody little bitch, huh? Who do you think you are talkin' to me like that? You think you're my fuckin' dad or something?! You wanna give me a lesson on teamwork?"

"N-No, I wasn't—!" Makoto stuttered as he tried to justify himself.

"Owada! Stop!" The twins yelled in unison.

"Shut up!" Mondo roared as his fist collided with Makoto's face.

Everyone gasped and ran towards the scene. Asahina, Sayaka, and Sakura were kneeled down next to Makoto while Akira, Ayato, and the others were with Mondo and Byakuya.

"Seriously, Owada? Come on, he was just trying to help," Akira said as she pointed at Makoto who was out cold.

"He should have minded his own damn business," Mondo asserted.

"I understand that, but in a situation like this, it's everyone's business."

"And with all due respect, Byakuya," Ayato mumbled. "You need to be more careful and keep your opinions to yourself. You could have ended up like Naegi."

"Your concern has been noted," Byakuya hummed. "However, I shall disregard it."

The spy twins looked at each other unamused. Byakuya's arrogance wasn't anything new to them. He always did as he pleased, and that was just who he was. Immediately after Byakuya left the gym, Akira instructed Ayato to go with him.

"Owada, please do make an effort to talk to Naegi when he wakes up," Akira ordered.

"Fine," Mondo grumbled.

"Well, now that we have that settled," Akira began as she walked towards the unconscious boy. "What are we going to do about him?"

"I remember seeing a hallway that leads to the dormitory," Asahina said with a smile. "Ogami and I can put him in a room."

"Okay, that sounds good," Akira said. "Let's search around and we can meet back in the dining hall in a couple of hours."

Sakura and Asahina picked up Makoto and walked to the dormitory hall. The others began to split up and search for a way out. The majority of the students decided to search in groups with the exception of a good few.

During Akira and Ayato's investigation, it was discovered that the stairways were blocked off, so there wasn't anywhere they could investigate besides the first floor. There were a couple of locked doors on the first floor. The only other door that was unlocked, besides the dining hall, seemed to lead to an A/V Room. There were tables that had their individual monitors, and one big screen in the front of the room. It didn't seem to hold any importance to their search, so they decided to leave the room.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

Over the next few hours of their investigation, Akira and Ayato took some time apart to get to know some of the students they hadn't spoken to yet. Each student had their own individual trait that made them somewhat unique. It seems as though Hope's Peak Academy- or whoever's holding them captive here, has carefully picked special ultimates to attend this school. But what was the purpose of them specifically? Why were they stuck in this killing game? That's something Akira couldn't quite understand.

She was in the kitchen, grabbing something to eat when she was having these thoughts. Some laughing from the dining hall interrupted her. Akira poked her head out the doorway and saw Ayato laughing with the fortune teller. Part of her was worried- given the circumstances that they're in. Another part of her was happy. She hadn't heard Ayato laugh like that in a long time. Not since their parents. And even then, not since the incident.

Ayato was laughing so hard that he had to wipe the tear running down his cheek. That's when he looked up and noticed his sister in the kitchen.

"Oh, Akira, come here! Hiro was just telling me my future," he called out.

"Hiro?" Akira asked incredulously as she sat at the boys' table. She was confused as to why the two were on nickname basis with each other, after only meeting a few hours ago.

"That's my name," The fortune teller smiled, extending his hand out for a handshake. "Well, it's actually Yasuhiro Hagakure!"

Akira glared down at his hand, not bothering to return the gesture. She kept her hands at her side and hummed, "Pleasure."

The older boy seemed to have gotten the hint and lowered his hand, chuckling awkwardly.

"Hiro, tell her what my future looks like!" Ayato smiled. His voice broke the uncomfortable tension between the two.

"So, catch this, Yato," The man named Yasuhiro began.

"I'm sorry," Akira interrupted, "Who is Yato?"

"Oh, it's the nickname we all gave him."

Akira scrunched her nose, "We?"

"Yeah, me, that swimmer girl... What was her name?" Yasuhiro asked as he turned to Ayato.

"Asahina," the younger spy replied.

"Yeah! Asahina! And... Celeste," Yasuhiro smiled. "It was actually your brother's idea. We all have little nicknames for each other... Well, except for Celeste. She was really pushing us to just call her by her name."

Akira's arms were crossed over her chest, giving the older man a skeptical look. She didn't approve of this newfound friendship. She especially didn't like how those two were already on a nickname basis with each other. She wasn't as arrogant as Byakuya- but the Iwasaki's were pretty damn important. Not anybody could just walk up to them and expect to become friends right away. Especially when they were stuck in a killing game. She gave a quick glance at Ayato, to which the younger twin smiled and nodded; signaling that everything was okay.

"Fine, whatever," she sighed and shook her head. "What is his future?"

Yasuhiro smiled and drew the twin's attention to his glass ball. With the most bizarre hand movements, he closed his eyes, allowing the object to tell him what the future had in store for his new friend. Akira looked at her younger brother once more. He was completely enthralled by this stranger, but Akira could smell a scam from a mile away.

"I can see it all now," the man mumbled through half lidded eyes. His expression was quick to shift to excitement when he looked into the glass ball. "His child's mother will be my child's mother, too."

"I'm sorry, I fail to understand what you're saying," Akira mumbled, thinking this was some odd joke of his.

"Our kids are gonna be like... brothers!" Yasuhiro smiled and turned to Ayato, "Dude we gotta start planning trips! How does Australia sound?"

Before Ayato could answer, Akira grabbed his wrist and dragged him out of the dining hall. Before finally exiting, she turned to Yasuhiro one last time.

"We've already been there. And besides, he doesn't need your childish fortune telling's. See you in an hour, Mr. Thirty Percent."

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

It was finally time for everyone to gather in the dining hall to discuss what they all had found. Given the fact they couldn't go to the second floor, and some doors were locked– chances are that almost everyone found little to no information about where they were, and how they could escape. As Akira and Ayato walked to the dining hall, they saw Sayaka Maizono already leaving.

"Hey, Maizono!" Akira called out. Sayaka turned around and gave a friendly wave. "Did we already miss the meeting?"

"Oh, no, you didn't," Sayaka said. "Everyone is just now getting settled. I'm guessing your investigation wasn't too successful either, huh?"

"It was a complete bust," Ayato groaned. "Some rooms were locked, so that limited our chances of escaping even more. Perhaps there is an exit in there that Monokuma doesn't want us to know about or something."

"That could be a possibility," Sayaka said. "I was just going to check on Naegi since no one has seen him since this morning."

"Oh yeah. He's been knocked out all day. We need to catch him up," Akira said. "Well, we will leave you to it."

"Okay, see you guys in a bit," Sayaka waved as she walked off.

Akira and Ayato walked into the dining hall and saw that everyone else was already there.

"Ah, the Iwasaki Twins!" Kiyotaka smiled. "I'm glad you could make it. You two are right on time! We are going to wait for Maizono and Naegi to return, and then we can begin the meeting."

"Well, you two don't seem quite happy," Leon said. "Lemme guess, you didn't find anything?"

"Negative. We have searched the whole floor, and we couldn't find anything that indicated a way to escape," Akira sighed as she grabbed an empty seat. "We searched the few rooms that were available to us, and I am afraid that we found nothing."

"I, too, have found nothing useful," Byakuya said. "Also, no clues on who our kidnapper might be."

"Well, hopefully, whatever you three DID find, will turn up useful in the near future," Kiyotaka said, as optimistic as ever. "Let's see what the others figured out."

Just as he said that Makoto and Sayaka walked into the dining hall.

"Oh, there's the man of the hour!" Asahina smiled. "Are you okay?"

"Sure am." Makoto smiled as he went to sit down. The only seat that was in his reach was on his left, next to Mondo. "Never been better."

"So, let's chalk this whole thing up to stress," Mondo said. Akira slumped her shoulders and sighed. It's not the best apology for punching a guy out of stress and anger, but that will do.

"Oh yeah... No worries, Owada." Makoto chuckled. "I mean, we are all on edge. Tempers flare up sometimes."

"This is all of us, is it not?" Celeste asked. "I thought about it, I sincerely doubt anyone would commit murder with a witness present. That is to say, under the present circumstances 'Safety in Numbers' would seem to hold true."

"Right! Listen up, everyone!" Kiyotaka called out as he gathered everyone's attention. "I hereby call to order the first Hope's Peak School Reconnaissance Committee Briefing on Academy Affairs to take place right now. Let us review the present state of our intel. And remember, all cards on the table!"

"Hold on a sec!" Junko called out. Everyone turned towards her in confusion.

"What's wrong?" Kiyotaka asked.

"What about, uh... What's her name?" Junko questioned as she sat in thought. "That quiet girl with purple hair? Right! Kirigiri."

"What about her?" Kiyotaka challenged.

"She's not here," Junko said bluntly. Everyone's eyes widened as they looked around the dining hall. She was right. Kyoko wasn't there.

"I wonder where she could have gone," Asahina thought out loud. "Has anyone seen her?"

Everyone silently shook their heads. During the whole investigation, no one has seen her. Suddenly, they all thought about what Monokuma said earlier, about killing a fellow classmate to leave. Is it possible someone has given in so soon?

"So... No one has seen her?" Chihiro asked for confirmation.

"Darn it, Kirigiri! You're really going to be late like this on the first day of school?!" Kiyotaka asked, shaming the girl who wasn't present in the room. "Not only is she late, but she also didn't notify anyone that she would be late! A most unbecoming personality trait."

"You're being a real jackass right now, you know that?" Junko asked.

"Well, what do you want me to do?" Kiyotaka asked. "Punctuality is everything."

"Why don't we just begin discussing what we have found?" Akira suggested. "We can catch her up if she comes in. But if we finish the meeting and she's still not here, we can go look for her. So, who wants to go first?"

"I kicked at that stupid door for an hour, and nothing!" Mondo said. "Didn't leave so much as a dent. The thing's as hard as metal."

"It is metal, so that makes sense," Celestia hummed.

"At the end of the main corridor, we found a stairwell leading to an upper floor," Sakura chimed in.

"However, the security gate was down, and we couldn't get it to budge," Asahina adds. "It looks like we will be stuck here for a while."

"I was thinking the same thing," Junko replied. "We went all up and down the school, double-checking the windows in all the hallways and classes. We wanted to see if we could get any of those metal plates to come off. And what happened was..."

"Nothing. Not a damn thing." Leon said. "We couldn't get a single one to budge even a little bit."

"So, I guess it's safe to confirm our suspicion that there is no way out, right?" Ayato asked, looking at Akira. Akira looked across the table and saw Chihiro already fidgeting nervously. She looked like she was going to cry, and that was something they couldn't afford to happen right now.

"I guess so," Akira sighed. "However, it seems at this point in time, we can only investigate a limited portion of the building. So, we'll just have to find a way to get to those closed areas. There has to be something."

"I see," Byakuya said. "It is interesting that certain areas of the facility are evidently out of bounds for the time being."

"This suck so bad..." Junko mumbled. Her panicking started getting a little bit louder. "It really sucks! It sucks, sucks, sucks, sucks, SUCKS! What the hell are we gonna do!?"

"Goddamn, calm down! You're starting to make me nervous!" Leon said.

"Alright, let's try to think of something else. We can get back to that later," Ayato said. "Did anyone else find anything?"

"The dorm rooms are actually quite nice," Hifumi said. "Firm beds, good lighting, stylish decor. Except for the iron plates and surveillance cameras, I'd give them five stars."

"Chihiro and I found out that all the rooms are totally soundproof," Junko said.

"Your next-door neighbor could scream their lungs out, and you wouldn't hear a thing..." Chihiro mumbled.

"Okay, so they got a bunch of rooms ready for us," Mondo said. "They're assuming we're gonna be here for a while..."

"Well, better to have than to have not!" Kiyotaka said. "At least we don't have to worry about surviving like wild animals."

"Th-That can't be all you have to r-report, can it Mr. Honor Student?" Toko asked. Kiyotaka sat and thought for a moment.

"That's all for my report! Let's move on to whoever's next," he said.

"Earlier, Fujisaki, Enoshima and I decided to search around the kitchen," Sayaka said.

"There is enough food to feed an army," Chihiro said. "Safe to say, we won't go hungry."

"Surely there is not enough to feed seventeen people for the rest of their lives?" Hifumi asked.

"Y-You can just eat sesame s-seeds or something," Toko mumbled.

"Sesame seeds?!" Hifumi asked, offended. "What am I, a parakeet?"

"Guys, I think we are getting off-topic," Ayato said with a polite smile. "Maizono, Fujisaki, do you think you can tell us more about our food supply? Do we have to create a system to split up rations?"

"No, we don't have to worry about that," Sayaka said with a smile.

"I was in there earlier as well," Akira said. "There's plenty of food. We should be alright until we find a way out."

"The fridge gets restocked every day according to how much we've eaten a day prior," Chihiro said. "Or so... That's what Monokuma said."

"Huh?" Leon asked as his head shot up.

"You saw him?" Junko asked.

"He popped up out of nowhere while we were looking in the fridge, then disappeared before we could see where he went," Sayaka said.

"Hmm, a weaponized toy that can just appear from nowhere," Akira mumbled. "I can't even believe we're allowing such... thing to have power above us."

"But was everything okay?" Asahina asked. "He didn't try to like, eat you guys or anything?"

"E...Eat her?" Hifumi asked. "Um, what do you mean by that? I mean, when you say 'eat,' what kind of eating are we talking about?"

"Oh, come on man," Asahina groaned in disgust.

"What the hell, Yamada?" Leon asked. "You're acting like some kind of sleazy drunk dude."

"Not like there's a good kind of drunk dude..." Yasuhiro mumbled.

"Hey! Stop screwing around," Junko yelled. "All of you! Are you still asleep or something? We're prisoners here! We could all just die any second!"

"She's right," Mondo agreed. "We can't be makin' stupid jokes right now. We gotta do something, or..."

"You're all spending an awful amount of time yelling and carrying on," A voice said. It was coming from the exit. Everyone turned around and saw Kyoko. "Do you really think you can afford to do so? Have none of you accepted the reality of this situation?"

"Kirigiri!" Kiyotaka interjected. "Where the heck have you been? We already started the meeting without you!"

Kyoko didn't say anything. She just grabbed a piece of paper from her jacket pocket and laid it out on the table.

"Huh... What is this?" Makoto asked.

"It appears to be a map of Hope's Peak Academy," Kyoko said.

"A map?" Makoto asked.

"What the... Where did you find this?" Kiyotaka asked.

"It doesn't matter where I found it," Kyoko said bluntly.

"It does matter!" Kiyotaka argued back. "You're really freaking us out right now."

"Never mind that!" Junko brushed him off. "What does it mean?"

"Just look at it," Kyoko said. "The building we're in right now is laid out in precisely the same way as Hope's Peak Academy."

"So, what you are saying is... This ... is really Hope's Peak Academy?" Makoto asked.

"Well, in terms of its conditions, yes," Kyoko said. "But it looks like it's had a number of strange... renovations done to it."

"I see..." Makoto mumbled.

"Besides the guns, cameras, and iron plates, was there anything else done to the school?" Ayato asked.

"I don't know all of the details yet," Kyoko said. "All I found was details about the first floor."

"So, we didn't get kidnapped and taken to some other place," Chihiro mumbled. "This is really Hope's Peak Academy..."

"This is stupid, it's not even possible," Mondo yelled. "This is where the country's future elite are supposed to come and learn?!"

"But if this is Hope's Peak... Where are the other students?" Asahina asked.

Akira and Ayato looked at each other, then back at their classmates. They were enrolled in Hope's Peak to figure out its secrets. Something sinister was happening inside the building's walls, and it was up to the twins to figure it out. Could this killing game be what they were supposed to find? No. It couldn't be. Kijo wouldn't throw two teenage spies, that were put into his care, into this mission if he knew about this killing game. His son was even scouted. He allowed his son to come here. There is no way this is what they needed to report back to him.

"Hey, come on, guys," Yasuhiro said. "Let's just stop talking about all this... y'know, negative stuff."

"But aren't you worried?" Makoto asked. "Things don't look good right now."

"Worried? What's there to be worried about?" Yasuhiro asked. "I mean, this was all planned out, right? The people in charge of Hope's Peak put this all together, right? Man, if I got stressed every time something like this happened, I'd have ectoplasm shooting out my mouth! Good things come to those who wait, yeah? So, we just gotta chill and everything will work itself out!"

"Hey, man," Ayato said as he leaned into the table so he could look at Yasuhiro. "I'm not sure if you saw the same thing the rest of us did. A robotic talking bear, who is hosting a killing game, exploded in Owada's face. If that thing can self-destruct in an instant, then what else can it do? I highly doubt the school's faculty would throw this together as some 'welcome party'."

"Well now that you put it that way, brah," Yasuhiro said as his voice trailed off.

"Thank you for showing us this, Kirigiri," Akira said. "It was very helpful."

"Anything else to report?" Kiyotaka asked his fellow classmates.

"Here is a report," Toko said sarcastically. "We're still in the dark about who is behind all of this, and we're still trapped. This investigation was a waste of time."

"No, some useful information was gleaned from our joint effort," Celestia said. "We now know the boundaries of our confinement. And that we will be here for a while."

"You didn't have to go and say that. I was trying not to th-think about it," Toko whined. "N-No way out... We're trapped in here. What are w-we supposed to d-do...?"

"Monokuma has made that perfectly clear," Byakuya said. "From where else should the incentive come for us to kill?"

Everyone gasped and looked at Byakuya.

"That's not something to joke about!" Junko yelled.

"Seriously, Byakuya," Akira said. "There's no need to mention it. I believe we can all collectively agree that stooping so low to escape this place is an option that is off the table now."

"Everyone... just calm down, please!" Sayaka begged. "We need to stop and think about what to do from here."

"Then what can we do?" Leon asked.

"Adapt, I suppose," Celestia suggested.

"What?" Junko asked.

"These aren't such bad arrangements," Celestia said. "All we can do is adapt. Adapt to living our lives here from now on."

"Live here...? Are you saying we should just accept it?" Chihiro asked.

"A lack of adaptability...is a lack of survivability. Survival is not based on who is the strongest or the smartest. It comes down to who can adapt." Celestia said. She isn't wrong, but she wasn't exactly right either. "As someone who has come out on top more than once, I have a suggestion."

"And what will that be?" Mondo asked.

"You will note in the rules a designated curfew," Celestia said. "Why not make an addendum to these so-called 'Night Hours'?"

"Like what exactly?" Junko asked.

"At night, we all stay in our rooms," Celestia said. "Simple as that."

"What?" Toko asked. "What would even be the point?"

"Think about it my dear," Celestia said. "Given this predicament, the dark hours will be especially hard on our nerves as it is. The tiniest sound will persuade us of foulness afoot."

"So, you're suggesting we limit our activity at night as a kind of preventative measure," Sakura said.

"However, unlike the other rules, nobody can be forced to comply. We all have to agree to follow it." Celestia said.

"I see what you mean. But...I think I can agree with that." Junko said. "It's just like the little goth Lolita said. Without something like that, we're just gonna self-destruct."

"On behalf of all the men here, I agree to comply!" Kiyotaka said.

"Hey, you can't just decide to speak for us!" Leon yelled.

"I also agree with this rule," Akira said, everyone else nodded silently.

"I, uh, actually... I think I might go along with it too," the ginger took back his previous statement. Akira cocked an eyebrow at him.

"So, everyone is in agreement?" Celestia asked. "Good. Then, if you will excuse me..."

Celestia got up and walked away from the table.

"Huh? Wait, where are you going?" Chihiro asked.

"It is almost nighttime," Celestia said. "I want to take a shower before it arrives. So... goodbye"

"S-So I guess it's pretty obvious where we go from here," Hifumi said. "We'll be spending the night, it looks like."

"Adaptability..." Sakura said.

"So, Mr. Chairman...what do we do next?" Junko asked. "One person already left."

"U-Umm... Well then, let's call an end to today's meeting." Kiyotaka said. "As she said, it's almost nighttime anyway. We can reconvene first thing tomorrow morning!"

"Do we really have to stay the night here...?" Chihiro asked.

"We don't have a choice," Junko frowned. "We can't go for long without getting some sleep."

"So, we have to just give up..." Mondo said.

"That's all f-fine and good for today, but what do we do tomorrow?" Toko asked.

"Our only option is to split up and look around again, and let everyone know if we find anything," Sakura said.

"Yeah, okay," Asahina nodded. "Let's do that!"

"Then we're done for today?" Junko asked. "Good, I'm exhausted..."

Slowly everyone got up and went to their respective dorms. The last to leave the dining hall were Sayaka and Makoto. The two decided to talk together and catch up before they agreed to return to their dorms.

"Naegi... Are you ready to call it a day?" Sayaka asked.

"Yeah, let's go," Makoto yawned as he and Sayaka left exited the dining hall.

"Well, I'm gonna go too," Akira said as she stood up. "Let's go Ayato."

Akira and Ayato had escorted Byakuya to his room. As they walked up and down the halls, they took note of how the hallway was presented. Each door had a nameplate with everyone's name. Akira finally found her room; she was next door to Ayato.

"Hey, Ayato," Akira called out. Ayato paused and looked towards her. "Despite the rule that Celeste made... About staying in our rooms during nighttime, don't hesitate to let me know if you need something or if anything happens."

"Alright. I expect the same from you," Ayato said with a smile. "And... I noticed how worried you were when we found out we were trapped here. But please try to keep calm and remain focused. I promise soon, we will be able to escape and continue our mission."

"Thank you, Ayato," Akira smiled. "Good night."

"Sleep well," Ayato smiled back as he walked into his room.

Akira waited for Ayato's door to close before entering her own room, immediately locking the door behind her. The room was pretty big, and of course, Hifumi was right, there was a camera over the bed. Invasion of privacy much? Nighttime wasn't until 10 p.m. There was still some time to try to get used to her room. Akira decided to use her remaining time to look around and take a shower.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

After Akira's shower, it was exactly 10 p.m. A loud noise came from the speaker.

"Mm, ahem, this is a school announcement." The voice began. No mistaking it. That was Monokuma's voice. "It is now 10 p.m. As such, it is officially nighttime. Soon the doors to the dining hall will be locked, and entry at that point is strictly prohibited. Okay then...sweet dreams, everyone! Good night, sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs' bite..."

Akira rolled her eyes and got dressed for bed.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

It was dark. There was no one to be seen, and no sounds to be heard. Akira found herself waking in a pitch-black void. Her feet were bare, and she was walking on something that seemed to be a flooded floor. She didn't know where she was going but she felt some sort of force bringing her somewhere.

She finally stopped moving. She looked around, and it was still black. She couldn't move even if she tried. Her feet were planted to the floor. Suddenly, a white spotlight turned on, and under it were three hospital beds. She saw feet poking out from underneath the blankets with three tags— one tied to each person's big toe.

Once she finally felt like she could move again, she cautiously walked towards the bodies. She saw three names on the tags that were all too familiar. Hiroto Iwasaki, Mizuki Iwasaki, and Akira Iwasaki. All three died the same way. Suicide.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

Akira shot up from her pillow. Her hands immediately held her chest as she tried to regulate her breathing. Her heart was racing. She looked around the room.

"Oh... That's right," Akira sighed, finally remembering where she was, and the situation she was in. It didn't make her feel any better. She contemplated whether or not she should go to Ayato and tell him about her dream. He wanted her to confide in him, but she didn't want to worry him. She didn't want to tell him about all the things she knew— so she decided not to tell him.

Akira looked at the time, it was only three in the morning. She knew she wouldn't go back to sleep any time soon, and she felt hungry. But there's a chance someone might be out there... waiting. She thought about Celeste's rule— and her stomach growled.

"Oh, what the hell, I'm trained for this," Akira sighed as she got out of bed. She put her shoes on and left her dorm, remembering to lock the door.

As she walked towards the doors to the dining hall, she saw they were already open. Inside, she heard two female voices. She peeked inside and saw Asahina and Sakura sitting at a table enjoying a drink and talking amongst themselves. They stopped talking when Sakura nudged Asahina's arm and pointed towards the door. Asahina turned around and smiled at Akira.

"Oh, hey, Akira! What brings you here?" Asahina asked as Akira walked in.

She could be asking the same thing. Weren't these doors supposed to be locked?

"I was just a little hungry," Akira mumbled as she walked towards the kitchen. "I'll be out of your way in just a moment."

"Oh, don't worry," Sakura smiled politely. "Would you care for some tea?"

Akira stopped in her tracks. She thought about Sakura's question. She and Asahina seemed like good people with genuine intentions, but she couldn't be too sure. However, tea did sound good at the moment. Akira nodded and grabbed whatever seemed good in the kitchen and joined the girls at the table they were seated at.

"You seem distressed," Sakura stated. "Is everything alright?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah. I'm just..." Akira sighed. She tried finding the right words that would describe how she felt, but nothing came to mind. She wasn't happy, she wasn't mad, she wasn't scared. She was... "Tired..."

"Can't sleep, huh?" Asahina asked.

"Yeah, I guess you could say that," Akira sarcastically chuckled as she took a sip of her tea. It was warm and had a nice taste. She felt calm.

"I was currently allowing Hina to vent to me," Sakura said. "Would you like to speak to us about your troubles?"

"I wouldn't want to trouble you guys," Akira politely declined. "Besides, isn't it weird for a stranger to come to you about their personal issues?"

"Not really," Asahina smiled. "Sometimes it's easier to talk to strangers than the people you have known for a while."

Akira looked at Asahina and Sakura. Maybe they're right... Akira has never been able to talk to Ayato about her struggles no matter how many times he's asked. She didn't want him to be worried about her. She also was just bad at expressing her feelings in general.

"I guess I'm just so used to having people rely on me for things... I never asked for help when I needed it," Akira said. "And now I am stuck here with Ayato and Byakuya... I'm worried something bad might happen to them and I can't do anything. I don't know what I would do if I failed them."

"It sounds like you should discuss how you truly feel with them," Asahina suggested. "I'm sure they would understand."

"I agree," Sakura added. "Ayato is your own brother, and he seems like a really nice guy. And Togami... You guys are childhood friends. You would know what type of person he is better than any of us would. I believe it would give you all at least some relief if you express your true feelings."

"And even if they don't accept it, which I highly doubt will happen," Asahina continued. "You can confide in us. I mean, we'll be here for a while until we escape, so we might as well get to know each other more!"

"Thanks, guys," Akira smiled as she took one last sip of her tea. "This really helped a lot. I'm gonna try to go back to bed. We have a big day ahead of us tomorrow."

"Good night, Akira!" Asahina smiled.

Akira stood up, and before she walked away, she turned towards the girls once more.

"Hina, huh?" Akira asked, recalling what Sakura had called her just a moment ago.

"That's what my friends call me," Asahina giggled. "You can call me that too if you'd like."

Akira smiled once more.

"Good night, Hina. Good night, Ogami."

Asahina and Sakura smiled as they watched Akira exit the dining hall.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

Akira didn't go back to sleep that night. She sat up anxiously waiting for some indication that it was okay to leave her room. Physically, she wasn't dead. Though she felt like she was. Is someone else dead? Oh, God, she hoped no one was dead.

"Good morning, everyone!" A loud voice came from the speaker. It was the only voice that could give Akira chills. Monokuma. "It is now 7 a.m. and nighttime is officially over! Time to rise and shine! Get ready to greet another beee-yutiful day!"

Akira sighed and got out of bed. She thought about the dream she had the night before, along with Sakura and Asahina's advice. She practiced a conversation that she was never going to have as she showered.

Hopefully, Ayato was awake. Back home, Akira would have to wake him up every morning. He had the tendency to oversleep.

At exactly 8:00, she left her room, making sure to lock the door. She then walked next-door to her brother's room.

"Ayato, it's time to wake up," Akira said as she knocked. There was no response– so she knocked again. There was still no response. She began to grow worried, so she reached for the doorknob. Her heart sank as the door opened. She wasted no time and ran inside.

Once she did, she sighed in relief. Ayato was tying his tie in the bathroom mirror.

"Jeez, is everything alright?" Ayato asked as he looked at Akira in concern. "You seem pale."

"Did you not hear me knock?" Akira asked as she threw her hands in the air. "You had me worried! I thought something horrible happened to you!"

"But... I did hear you knock," Ayato justified. "I yelled and said it was unlocked."

"The rooms are soundproof, genius," Akira said sarcastically. "And leaving your door unlocked like that is dangerous. Don't do that again."

"I'm sorry."

"It's fine," Akira mumbled. They stood in silence for a bit until Ayato finished putting himself together. "Why don't we go see what the kitchen has for breakfast."

"Hell yeah!" Ayato cheered as he and Akira walked out of the dorm and into the hallway.

"So, how long were you awake for?" Akira asked, not giving her brother any eye contact.

"Well, according to the bear, probably 7 a.m. I mean, who could sleep with that stupid bear screaming in your ear?" Ayato asked. He then tried to mimic Monokuma's voice. "It is now 7 a.m. Time for a Beeeeeeautifulllllll day!"

Akira laughed. Suddenly, the bear in question appeared out of nowhere.

"Hey! I do not sound like that!" Monokuma yelled.

"Oh my!" Akira yelled back. "You can't keep doing that!"

"How did you even know we were here and what we were talking about?" Ayato asked.

"I have eyes and ears all around the school!" Monokuma said happily. His voice then turned stern and strict. "And keep being disrespectful, boy, I will have to punish you."

"What are you gonna do, huh?" Ayato asked, mocking the bear. "Are you gonna blow up again?"

"I can do more than just explode, young man!" Monokuma growled. "You better watch yourself!"

"The rule was I couldn't be violent towards you," Ayato said. "There was never a rule that said I couldn't talk shit."

"Um..." Monokuma stuttered as he tried to think of a good comeback- only to realize that he couldn't find one.

"Awe, did I hurt your robot feelings?" Ayato asked, faking his sympathy. He bent down on one knee to get on the bear's level. "You're a robot, you have no feelings! You're just a stupid machine!"

"That's robophobic," Akira laughed.

"Trust and believe me when I say I will find out who you really are," Ayato sneered. "And when I do... I will make sure this place burns to the ground with you in it."

The hallway was silent for a while. Akira was stunned by Ayato's sudden violent threat. It's been a while since she seen him like that. She thought for sure Ayato was going to be punished. Clenching her fists, she prepared herself for Monokuma's next possible move. And then the bear started to snicker.

"Wow, the rumors were true!" Monokuma's short giggles turned to a loud, hearty laugh. "You Iwasaki's are scary!"

And with that, he left without a trace.

"Nice going, Ayato," Akira said with a small chuckle. "We are gonna have our asses handed to us one of these days."

"Hey, we are in a school with, like, fifteen other students," Ayato said. "Someone is bound to give in and start killing one way or another. What are the chances we will be first? Very slim because we are probably the strongest students in this class, besides Ogami and Owada. And let me tell you something, we could be befriending one of those Ultimates, and one of them could be planning a way to kill us right now."

"I'm glad that even for an imbecile, you are thinking the same way as I am." A voice said. The twins turned around, and it was none other than Byakuya.

"Oh, Good Morning, Sir." Ayato bowed. "Do you actually think someone may or may not kill one of us?"

"Seriously, you are back to that again? I already said you don't need to do that," Byakuya rolled his eyes. "Anyway, it's no secret that someone here has considered killing another student. But have you ever stopped to think about who the mastermind behind all this is?"

"Well, no," Akira said. "Are you insinuating that one of them is behind this? I'm sorry but have you seen those guys? Do they honestly look like the type of people to plan something like this?"

"That might be what they want you to think," Byakuya said as he turned around. "But don't quote me on it, it's best to keep this to ourselves for the time being. Meet me in my dorm tonight and we will discuss more on this."

Before they could respond, Byakuya already left.

"Hey, you two!" A voice said behind them. They turned around. It was Leon.

"Oh, hello," Ayato smiled.

"I didn't mean to eavesdrop, I was just passing by, but..." Leon began. "What was Togami talking about? And what did he mean by 'Mastermind'?"

"It's nothing to worry about," Akira lied. "This is probably another one of Byakuya's crazy ideas."

"I sure hope so," Leon laughed. "I highly doubt anyone would actually go along with what Monokuma said. Everyone here is too nice– well... Almost everyone."

"We've only known each other for one day," Akira said. "How can you be so sure what someone's true intentions are?"

"Akira has a point," Ayato agreed. "It's still far too early to dictate whether or not those around us will actually stoop that low."

"Okay, so let's say someone will betray us," Leon said. "Who do you think it will be?"

"We're not sure," Akira shrugged.

The three stood in a short silence. Leon analyzed the twins' stoic faces, hoping to figure out whether or not they were being truthful. But he got nothing.

"Look, I want nothing more than to get out of here," Leon confessed. "I know you guys do too. That's why I want to help."

Ayato opened his mouth to object before Leon interrupted him.

"Just... Please think about it. You already promised me a chance at a music career. So let me promise you a chance on a way out."

And with that, Leon walked back to his room. The hallway was quiet once again– That was until Sayaka and Mokoto walked by them shortly after.

"Oh, hey guys." Sayaka smiled.

"Hey-oh wow," Ayato lightly gasped. "What's up with the katana?"

"Sayaka wanted something to use as self-defense since she is nervous someone might actually... You know," Makoto said. "There wasn't really anything useful around except for this."

"Cool, can I see?" Ayato asked.

"Sure, but be careful," Makoto warned. "The gold on here rubs off."

"Oh, interesting," Ayato said. "You might want to keep that close. If that gets in the wrong hands, we are screwed."

"We'll keep that in mind," Makoto said. "Well, we gotta go. We will see you guys around later."

"Bye," Akira and Ayato waved at them as they walked away.

"Alright! Now can we see what there is in the kitchen?" Ayato asked Akira. "I'm starving."

"Yeah, sure," Akira smiled.

They walked into the kitchen and found some of the breakfast options, or anything that seemed good to them. The dining hall was quite empty. Everyone is probably off searching around the school again.

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That whole day, everyone picked up where they left off with the search. Of course, they didn't find anything. Akira and Ayato decided to take a break and head back to the dining hall since there was nothing else to do. On their way there, they found a room that was labeled as "School Store", so they decided to go in and check it out. The room had a bunch of stuff everywhere from ugly paintings to gumball machines.

"He even has his own merchandise..." Akira said as she looked around the room. "I suddenly feel extremely uncomfortable."

"Yeah..." Ayato agreed, he then looked at a nearby clock. "It is almost nighttime, so we should head to Byakuya's room now."

"Let's go," Akira said. As they walked out of the store, it was almost on cue that they heard the nighttime announcement.

"Mm, ahem, this is a school announcement. It is now 10 p.m. As such, it is officially nighttime. Soon the doors to the dining hall will be locked, and entry at that point is strictly prohibited. Okay then...sweet dreams, everyone! Good night, sleep tight, don't let the bed bug's bite..."

"I guess it's safe to assume everyone is in their rooms?" Ayato asked.

"Probably," Akira said. "But still, the rooms may be soundproof, but that doesn't mean someone isn't lurking around at some corner."

"The mastermind perhaps?" Ayato joked.

"Not funny." Akira rolled her eyes.

"You said it, not me," Ayato whispered. They made it to Byakuya's dorm. Akira knocked on his door.

"Finally, you two are here," Byakuya said. "You're late."

"What do you mean?" Ayato asked. "Monokuma just made the announcement."

"I expect you two to be here as soon as the announcement has been made," Byakuya said. He then stepped aside so the twins could enter. "Come inside, we don't have all night."

They walked into Byakuya's room. It was the same design as theirs. The only difference is that he has some fancy paintings, a carpet, and a rose sitting on the table.

"So, why did you want us here?" Akira asked. "Did you already figure out who the Mastermind is?"

"No. Not yet." Byakuya said. "But since you two are the Ultimate Spies, I want you to act like it."

"So, what exactly do you want us to do?" Ayato asked.

"I have been observing today and made a list of people that I find the most suspicious," Byakuya said. "I want you to check everyone on here. I don't care what order you do it in, or how you do it. Get it done."

"Got it," Akira said. "And what about you?"

"I will be conducting an investigation on my own," Byakuya said. "We will meet here every other night to discuss our findings."

Akira and Ayato looked over the list. They knew that someone was bound to betray them, but they didn't want to think about that possibility right now. These students on this list were people that they didn't even think about suspecting. Mondo Owada, Junko Enoshima, Toko Fukawa, Sakura Ogami, Sayaka Maizono and Leon Kuwata.

"How did you suspect these people?" Ayato asked.

"It's as I said, I have been observing whoever caught my eye," Byakuya said. "And those six students are who I want you two to check out."

"Let's split this up," Ayato said. "I'm afraid if Owada thinks I am suspecting him of anything, I will end up like Naegi when we first got here. So, you can check him."

"Alright, I will also check Maizono and Kuwata," Akira said. "So that leaves you with Enoshima, Fukawa, and Ogami."

"Wait... Ogami?" Ayato asked. "You mean the man girl?"

"Ayato, don't be rude," Akira said sternly. "Besides, Hina will probably be near her a lot, so just be careful with what you say."

"Hina?" Ayato asked.

"Yeah," Akira hummed. "She said I can call her that."

Ayato furrowed his eyebrows. He was confused. When did Akira talk to Asahina today?

"That will be all," Byakuya said. "You two should head back to your rooms, you wouldn't want anyone getting suspicious."

"Will do," Akira complied. "Thanks for this, Byakuya."

"Good night." Ayato waved as they walked out of the dorm room.

Was this truly happening? Were they going to figure out who the mastermind was? Monokuma seemed nervous when Ayato said he'd find out who he was. Did he genuinely believe his words? Who knows? They would just have to wait and see.

Chapter Text

Kiyotaka informed everyone that from now on, they would be having breakfast together every morning. He said it would be beneficial in order for them to become comfortable with each other. It did seem like a nice way to get to know who you'd be spending the rest of your life with. But every morning? Well, this is Kiyotaka Ishimaru. His grandfather was the Prime Minister of Japan. With a background with such leadership like that, there's no way the others would have the guts to say no.

There they were, once again, seated in the dining hall. They took the time to discuss what they had found during their last three days of investigating. As usual, they found nothing.

"Damn it!" Leon groaned, running his hands through his hair in frustration. "I'm telling you, no matter how many times I look, I come up with squat!"

"Same here," Yasuhiro frowned. Everyone else grumbled in disappointment.

Akira and Ayato were still struggling to get behind the locked doors on the first floor. As for their mission Byakuya sent them on, Ayato ended up getting closer with Asahina and Sakura. Despite her big and scary appearance, Sakura was quite easy to talk to. She even took interest in sparring with Ayato some point in the future. Akira, on the other hand, became subjected to Leon's constant flirting and playful comments. Needless to say, she hasn't made much progress with the baseball player.

"We're stuck," Chihiro whimpered. Tears began to escape her eyes as she laid her head down on the table. "We're never getting out of here. No one is coming to help us."

"Awe, chin up, Fujisaki!" Hina smiled as she patted the smaller girl's back, trying to comfort her. "Someone on the outside is bound to start missing us soon."

"Yes, of course!" Toko agreed. Chihiro ended up raising her head and wiping her tears. She felt herself slowly start to become more hopeful at their chance of escaping.

"You think so?" Junko asked, crossing her arms.

"Well, we have been gone long enough to raise the alarm," Hina said. "Three whole days! The police are bound to be closing the net on this place."

It was only then when they heard a familiar, mischievous laugh come from the kitchen. Monokuma presented himself and emerged from the dark doorway. This was still something they couldn't get used to. The students watched as the bear helped himself and joined them at the long table.

"Dear, oh dear," he teased. "You're not hedging your bets on law enforcement, are you? You know, it's quite simple. If you want to get out of here, all I need see is a little initiative. Well, I've gotta hand it to you Generation Z-er's, you've got balls when it comes to dealing with authority. Frankly, though, that attitude only goes so far. You're boring me to tears."

"If you think you can trick us into killing someone, you're crazier than I thought!" Makoto argued.

Monokuma snickered, finally coming up with an idea, "Eureka! That's the problem! Granted, my setup's perfect: The right atmosphere, a good balance of tension and intrigue, the perfect amount of pressure, but not the vital ingredient to bring it all together!"

"What are you getting at?" Leon scowled.

"Motivation, son! Oh, but before that... I'd like for you all to give a warm welcome to our new student. A little gift for our precious spies."

Monokuma quickly ushered out of the dining hall, leaving the students confused. All eyes were on the twins as they muttered.

"What is he talking about?" Akira turned and asked Ayato. The boy shrugged. By the time Monokuma returned, he had a new person with him. Ibuki Mioda, the Ultimate Musician.

"Surprise!"

Ibuki was tense as she nervously looked around the dining hall. She then visibly relaxed when she saw her childhood friends, Akira, Ayato, and Byakuya. She met the twins at a park their father, Hiroto Iwasaki opened many years ago. And because they lived nearby, they decided to stay in contact ever since. Sometime later, the twins, and Ibuki met Byakuya at a family-held auction.

"Ibuki? What are you doing here?" Akira asked as she and Ayato ran up to her. Ibuki smiled when the twins pulled her into a hug, her hands immediately patting their backs.

"I would like to know the same thing," Byakuya said as he crossed his arms.

"Wait, you three know this young stranger?" Sakura asked.

"She's a friend of ours," Ayato said, leading Ibuki to their table.

"Ibuki... do you remember anything that happened before you came here?" Akira asked.

"I... I'm not sure," Ibuki said. There was still a bright smile on her face, the same one Byakuya and the twins grew fond of as children. She is probably still in the dark about what's going on. "All I remember is walking in here and then I blacked out."

Everyone shared worried glances at each other. This had to be Monokuma's doing. From their investigations, there seemed to be no way out. How did Monokuma kidnap another student without anyone on the outside noticing? How long was Ibuki in the building for?

"Wait... Why are you here? How are you here? Nothing makes sense."

Ibuki began to grow worried at Akira's sudden frustration. "I received a text from you. You wanted me to meet you in the gym."

Akira's face contorted with confusion. The musician began to wonder if she said something wrong. Looking around the room, everyone had the same expression as Akira.

"I never texted you," Akira finally said. "Our phones have been missing for three days."

"Huh, that's weird," Ibuki muttered. She patted herself down, trying to find her phone; only to find them empty. "I would show you the message if I had my phone. I guess I somehow lost it on my way here."

"Akira never texted you because... I did," Monokuma smiled innocently. "And I took your phone along with the others. You don't need access to the outside world while you're here anyway."

"That's funny. He's funny. But seriously, can we please have our stuff back so we can leave?"

"You can leave... If you do one thing."

"What?"

"Don't-" Akira tried to get Monokuma to stop talking, but it was no use.

"Murder," the bear said stoically. Ibuki started laughing. She was in denial.

"He isn't serious, right?" Ibuki asked as she wiped a tear off her face. "Come on, dude, give us back our stuff."

"We honestly don't know how serious he is about this whole murder thing, but we all have been stuck here for three days," Ayato said.

"Wait, really?" Ibuki asked. She was no longer laughing.

Everyone nodded. Ibuki let out a shaky breath and turned back to Monokuma.

"What is this motive you were speaking about?" Kyoko asked.

"Oh, right! I almost forgot," Monokuma slapped his forehead. "All students, report to the Multimedia Room for a brief, informative presentation on just what I mean."

"Multimedia Room?" Makoto asked.

"He's talking about that old A/V Room," Akira said. "Ayato and I found it when we were looking around."

"I'll see you there," Monokuma smiled as he disappeared.

"What the fuck!" Mondo yelled. "Is this guy serious?"

"Who the hell does he think he is?" Leon asked.

"One thing I can tell you is who's behind all this," Hina said. Everyone shot their heads up, giving her their full, undivided attention. "Someone who's totally weird and messed up. Why else would we be trapped here in the first place?"

"Well, sure, it could be something like that," Leon said. "But for right now, the actual clues we have are..."

"U-Ummm..." Chihiro mumbled.

"Huh? What's up?"

"If you think in terms of people who are really abnormal or bizarre... Do you think— maybe the person responsible for all this could be a certain murderous fiend?"

Everyone took a minute to think about the phrase Chihiro said. It sounded familiar.

"A murderous fiend.... Fujisaki, do you have an idea of who might be behind all this?" Makoto asked.

"Well...maybe," Chihiro said. "I mean, I can't really be certain, but-"

"Certainty is not a concern right now!" Kiyotaka interrupted. "I'll allow whatever remarks you may have!"

"O-Okay, well... Have you guys heard of Genocide Jack?"

"You mean that serial killer that's been in the news lately?" Akira asked.

"The monstrous villain who's murdered in a brutally bizarre fashion. The word 'bloodlust' was left at each murder scene, written in the victim's own blood," Byakuya said. "Whoever it is, he's like a ghost. He strikes without warning and disappears without a trace. And on the internet, they started calling him Genocide Jack. That just about covers it, I think."

"They say he's claimed over a thousand victims," Yasuhiro added.

The dining hall had an eerie feeling left to it. Goosebumps crawled up their skin. The room felt cold despite there not any windows open.

"That's just an urban legend though, right?" Junko nervously chucked, trying to lighten the mood. "I mean, even just ten people would be totally insane."

Akira looked around, her eyes landing on Toko. She seemed nervous. Who could blame her? She had every reason to be.

"But if he really is this Ultimate Serial Killer, I wouldn't be surprised if he put together something like this," Mondo said.

"As I said, I can't be certain," Chihiro mumbled. "I don't have any evidence or anything. It was just a thought."

"But if this killer is the one behind all this, isn't that like a killer of a problem for us?" Leon asked.

"Even if he is, no matter what Monokuma said, I am a hundred percent certain that people are trying to look for us," Hina said. "We have been here for three days with no communication with anyone. Someone obviously called the police."

"I agree with Hina," Akira said. "It is still too early to think that we won't find a way out."

"With that being said, we should hurry up and check out what is in the AV room," Kyoko said as she walked out of the dining hall. Everyone reluctantly followed.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

In the A/V Room, there was a box with DVDs. Each student had their own with their name written on it. Akira and Ayato had a shared video. Everyone grabbed their DVDs and sat down, making sure to keep a respectable distance from each other. One by one, they all began to play their videos on their computers.

The twin's video started off with a family photo of Akira, Ayato, and their parents. They couldn't help but smile at the photo. They looked like such a happy family. And as a sweet cliché, there was an audio recording in the background of an old song their mom used to sing for them when they were younger. However, that beautiful moment came to an end when the video glitched, and the setting changed to their home trashed. The only thing that stood was an expensive vase that was handmade by the twin's great grandparents. It was an Iwasaki heirloom, their mother liked to joke.

But that wasn't what caused tears to well up in their eyes... mainly Ayato.

At the top of the screen, you could see feet dangling from the ceiling.

It was no secret to anyone that Hiroto and Mizuki Iwasaki were no more. But no one knew how they died. That was— no one except for Kijo Togami and Akira. As far as everyone else knew, the spy couple died on a mission. No one really knew how tough that mission was for them.

The twins sat there, staring at the computer. That's all they could do. They sat there with tears in their eyes. Akira had no choice but to close her eyes. She couldn't look at the screen. And most importantly, she couldn't stand to look at Ayato's face now that he knows the truth.

Then, Monokuma's voice was heard in the video.

"Akira and Ayato Iwasaki. Both were born in such a wealthy family of spies. Before they spent generations working with the Togami family to guide the world, the Iwasaki's have been known for following the path of vigilante justice- granted, that got them chased out of their hometown. But what happens to a home without any support pillars? Better question, what happened to the future of the Iwasaki Organization when their pride and joy twins disappeared before they had gotten the chance to avenge their parents?"

The screen went black, and orange writing appeared. "Find out after graduation."

Akira flinched when she heard a loud bang. Ayato threw his headphones.

"How long have you known?" He demanded.

All Akira could do was sit in silence. What was she supposed to say? Since the beginning? That she just found out? That's a lie, and she knows it. Ayato would, too.

Ayato scoffed and walked out the door. Not before muttering an "I need space. "

Akira looked around the room and saw her peer's faces. She knew... they'd all seen something like what they saw.

Nobody bothered trying to hide their fear and confusion. All except for her... Even now, she was totally calm.

"I see... So, this is what he meant by motive," Kyoko stated. "He wants to fuel our desire to leave so that we are more likely to start killing each other."

"It is the classic 'prisoner's dilemma'," Celeste said.

"Huh? What's that?" Hifumi asked.

"Let me use an example. Imagine two countries are on the brink of war. But both countries want peace, and each commit to scaling back their forces as a sign of good faith. But there's a chance that one country may betray the other, so each country fears losing its guard. The result is that neither scale back their forces and they both end up betraying each other. In other words, the fear of invisible treachery becomes the greatest enemy of stability."

"That kind of sounds like us right now," Toko mumbled. "Everyone says they'll work together, but in our hearts, we're all afraid someone might betray us."

"Don't put those awful thoughts in our heads!" Kiyotaka yelled. "That's exactly what they want us to do!"

"You can say that, but maybe you're thinking that once everyone drops their guard, you can just-" Leon accused.

"What on earth are you talking about?" Kiyotaka gasped. "I would never!"

"It's still too early to be pointing fingers, Kuwata," Akira said.

"I agree with Akira," Sakura said. "This is exactly what Monokuma, or whoever's behind this, wants. They want us to fight. Don't you see?"

"Yeah, you're right," Chihiro said. "We all need to calm down..."

"Okay, then. Maybe we all should start off by just... talking. Maybe if we all just talk about what we saw, that'll help get everything out of our system," Junko said. "Besides, I think we are all super curious, right?"

"Hey, Maizono," Makoto mumbled. Everyone looked over at Sayaka. She was trembling. "Maizono?"

Makoto put his hand on Sayaka's shoulder, and she pushed away. She instantly jumped out of her chair and fell against the wall behind her.

"I can't do this," Sayaka cried. "I have- I have to get out of here before it's too late!"

"What did you see?" Akira asked. Tears started to roll down the singer's face.

"Why... Why did this happen? I didn't do anything to deserve this! To kill or be killed... A kid shouldn't have to make this choice!"

"Maizono-" Makoto tried to comfort the shaken girl. Then, almost as if it were on cue, Monokuma's face showed up on the big screen in front of the room.

"Who are you, really?" Kyoko asked. "What are you getting out of this? Is this all some kind of sick game to you?"

"Yes, what am I getting out of this?" Monokuma asked himself. "Very good question."

Everyone sat in silence, waiting for Monokuma to answer.

"Let me see. My payoff... is your despair," Monokuma said in a sly, cunning tone.

"NO!" Sayaka screamed as she ran out of the room. Makoto turned towards the door.

"Let her go," Byakuya said.

"I can't do that!" Makoto yelled as he sprinted towards the door. "I have to go make sure she's okay!"

Everyone else besides Toko, Byakuya, Kyoko, and Celeste quickly followed Makoto. Akira and Ibuki stood next to the doorway, watching the scene unfold before them.

"Maizono, come back!" Makoto called out. Once he finally caught up to her, he grabbed her wrist to stop her from running.

"Let me go!" Sayaka yelled.

"We are in this together! Like detectives, remember? That's what you told me!"

"Stop it!" Sayaka yelled again, trying to escape his grasp. Makoto's grip only got tighter.

"We can do this! If we work together, we can get out!"

"No one's coming! We're all gonna die!"

"I'm not gonna let that happen, I swear! Whatever it takes, you hear me? I promise."

Sayaka's screams turned into sobs. She fell into Makoto's arms and cried into his chest. You could hear Monokuma mocking her sobs— and turned it into laughter. That same bone-chilling laugh that made everyone want to vomit.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

STATUS: 18/18 SURVIVING STUDENTS

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

A couple of hours before nighttime, Ibuki and Akira, and Ayato gathered in Byakuya's room. It didn't really take the twins a lot to convince Byakuya to let Ibuki in on the plan. He knew the moment she walked through the doors that he'd let her tag along. He believes it's important to pick Ibuki's brain about the situation they are in. All she knows is that they are trapped in a school– and the only way out is to kill a fellow classmate.

"So... What is this meeting about?" Ibuki asked.

"It is a top-secret mission that is only our business, no one else's," Ayato said. "You can't even tell that crybaby, Maizono."

"Ayato, what is your problem? We all saw terrible things on those DVD's, I can't even begin to imagine what she saw."

"I still believe she was overreacting. Perhaps she decided to put on a little show for us to freak us out even more."

"What are you saying?" Byakuya asked.

"I mean, what she saw couldn't be nearly as bad as thinking your parents were murdered on a mission– just to find out they killed themselves," Ayato argued. He then turned to Akira. "Not only that but finding out the only family you have left lied to you about it for years."

Akira was stunned. Byakuya and Ibuki kept silent. They've never seen Ayato act this way. Who could blame him though? Something he believed in for the last three years of his life ended up being a lie.

"That could happen to anyone," Akira mumbled.

"Ayato, I understand you're upset but-" Ibuki spoke.

"No! You don't understand!" Ayato yelled. "At least you still have parents."

"Ayato, let her finish," Byakuya said.

Ayato rolled his eyes and sighed. He cocked his eyebrow, signaling for Ibuki to continue.

"Look, I know I still have my parents. And you have all the right to feel the way you do about this," Ibuki said. "But leave the poor girl alone. She was just scared. How could she fake something like that?"

"Would you still feel bad for her if I told you that Byakuya suspects her to betray us?" Ayato asked as he handed her the list of suspects. "And we all know that Byakuya's intuition is never wrong."

"Well, I mean... These are all just some predictions," Ibuki said as she scanned down the list. "Akira, aren't you and Kuwata friends or something? Are you seriously considering him as a suspect?"

"We're not exactly friends," Akira said. "And besides, anyone could betray us. It's better to be safe than sorry."

"And how do you plan to figure this out?"

"Leave it to the Ultimate Spies," Ayato said. "In all honesty, we didn't really think of a plan, so I don't know how we are gonna pull this off."

"Actually, we did," Byakuya said as he stood up.

"What?" Ayato asked. "Since when?"

"Just now. Listen carefully because I am only going to say this once. You and Akira are going to patrol the dormitory hall at night. Make sure nobody comes in, and nobody comes out. Since Ibuki is new and still doesn't really know what is going on, that will make her an easy target. And since there isn't a room for her, she will be staying in Akira's room. She's much safer there than anywhere else."

"Isn't that a bit risky? This whole plan just seems like it will get us killed."

"Would I make you guys go out at night if you weren't the Ultimate Spies?" Byakuya asked as he crossed his arms.

"But we are."

"Exactly, so since the both of you come from a family of ultimate spies... And with Akira's special skills, you have nothing to worry about."

"Wait, what about Ibuki?" Akira asked. "She doesn't have a dorm. Is she really going to be okay is she sleeps in my room?"

"I can guarantee you that she will be fine," Byakuya said. "The rules say you must be sleeping in a dorm. It never specified which dorm you had to sleep in."

"Now it all makes sense," Ayato smiled. "This plan is foolproof!"

"Wait, so spies are supposed to have super cool gadgets to communicate, right?" Ibuki asked. "I've seen them in movies. Do you guys use anything?"

Akira looked at the camera that was in Byakuya's room, then looked back at Ibuki. Without saying a word, she shook her arm where her wristwatch is. Unfortunately, she couldn't get into contact with anyone from the Togami Corporation. She could only communicate with Ayato. They were trainee watches. Perhaps Monokuma knew this and let the twins keep them? Or maybe he didn't know about their watches since they were always hidden under their school cardigans. It was still a mystery to Akira. Ibuki got the hint and nodded.

It didn't take long for a knock at the door to interrupt them.

"Hey, Togami, It's Leon," The voice said. Akira stood up and opened the door. "Oh... Hey, you're not Togami."

"I am not," Akira said.

"I tried to knock on your door, but you didn't answer- clearly. What's everyone doing in here?"

"We're comforting Ayato about what he saw on his DVD earlier," Akira lied. Ibuki jumped and threw her arm over Ayato's shoulder– trying to 'comfort' him so Leon could buy it.

"Oh man, that's awful," Leon frowned. He gave a sympathetic wave towards the boy sitting on the floor. "I never thought of Byakuya as the type of guy to comfort someone."

"I'm not, they simply came here uninvited," Byakuya said.

"Anyway, why are you here?" Akira asked. "You said you tried looking for me, and now you're looking for Byakuya?"

"Well, Ishimaru wanted to have a meeting to discuss what happened earlier today," Leon said as he scratched the back of his neck.

"Ugh, didn't we all have a conversation before Maizono ran off? Honestly, there's nothing to talk about. We just have to let things play out and hope that nobody gives into the motive."

"He mainly wants to talk to you, Togami, Celeste, and Kirigiri to see if you guys can come up with a plan together."

"Why us?"

"What about me?" Ayato asked.

"Well, he asked for you four because you seem to be the most level-headed people here," Leon said, he then peeked inside the room. "He didn't ask for you because you don't seem to be in the right mindset. But he also had other reasons that we won't get into right now."

"What?" Ayato asked.

"You're a dumbass," Byakuya said bluntly.

"Well, not exactly those words," Leon chuckled. "I guess Taka would say unreliable or irresponsible."

"You guys are so mean to me," Ayato wiped a fake tear from his face. "And I can be reliable and responsible when I want to be. Otherwise, I wouldn't be the super cool high school level spy, like Akira."

"We'll be there under one condition," Akira said.

"It's not my meeting, but I think I can pass the message," Leon winked. "What's up?"

"Ayato and Ibuki come with us. Ayato deserves to be part of this plan, and Ibuki needs some more information on our current situation."

"Sound's good," Leon said as he walked off. "I'll let him know you're on your way."

Akira smiled and closed the door.

"For someone who is a suspect, you seem to not really suspect him," Ibuki said.

"That's because there is a long list of people who are also suspects," Akira said. "We still need to look into these people before we start pointing fingers."

"Alright, so when do we start this plan?" Ayato asked.

"Soon," Byakuya said. "Now that Monokuma has given us our first motive, I already feel that something is going to happen any day now. As soon as you two see anyone acting strange, I want you to investigate immediately."

And he was right. A couple of days after Monokuma had given out the motives, Sayaka stopped being bubbly like she was the week before. She rarely started conversations anymore. The only person she spoke to on a regular basis was Makoto, which wasn't out of the ordinary since they knew each other over a year prior. She does smile when people approach her to talk, but that's about it.

Since Akira is in charge of following her around, she has been able to strike up a couple of conversations with her. The two even became closer in that short amount of time. They went from 'hello' and 'how are you' to enjoying each other's silence when Akira offered late night snacks. Sometimes they told each other childhood stories. Akira has never listened to Sayaka's music, but she was fascinated about hearing little Sayaka Maizono playing dress-up and singing along to her favorite songs. Even then, Sayaka still refused to look Akira in the eyes. She refused to look anyone in the eyes, and Akira found that to be a little rude.

Nobody has spoken up about Sayaka's odd behavior. When Akira asked around, everyone said she was probably still affected by the motive. Akira decided to put matters into her own hands and report the behavior to Byakuya, to which he ordered the twins to start their plan.

Everyone decided to have a free day from investigations and meetings. Monokuma would pop in here and there to see what everyone is up to. He would even try to give them a little nudge to kill someone, but everyone ignored him.

It has been a week since everyone first came, and for Ibuki, it has been about three days.

Akira and Ayato eventually had the chance to sit down and discuss their motive video. Ayato asked his questions, and Akira gave him the answers; what she could answer, at least. She explained that she kept the true nature of their parent's death a secret from Ayato because she wanted to protect him. Naturally, she was only thinking about how he was doing in that moment, and not about how he would be affected in the future. Hearing that, Ayato felt like he understood things more. It took him some time, but he ended up forgiving Akira.

It is now curfew for everyone. Ibuki has been sleeping in Akira's room as an order from Byakuya. Before Akira left, she set up a blanket and pillow in the shower so Ibuki could hide in the bathroom. The logic behind that was quite simple. Only the girl's bathrooms can lock, so it is the perfect place to hid in. Byakuya agreed to stay and keep Ibuki company until Akira returned. After that, Ayato would walk Byakuya back to his dorm. That's been their routine for the past three days, and nothing out of the ordinary has happened so far.

Akira was patrolling one end of the dormitory near the main hall, and Ayato was near the trash room and incinerator. They were talking through their watches, describing what was happening on their ends. So far, nothing. That was until one of the doors opened. It was Leon's door. Akira hid behind a wall and watched him walk towards the incinerator, holding a large bag.

"Suspect number one, Leon Kuwata has left his room and seems to be carrying something heavy," she whispered into the speaker of her wristwatch. "Stay low to the floor and don't let him see you, I'm on my way."

"Roger that," Ayato said. He ducked down and watched Leon make his way into the trash room. He was unable incinerate the bag since the security gate was down, so he just left it there.

Akira came as quickly and quietly as she could. She managed to get there before Leon left. Since the windows were blocked, no moonlight illuminated through them. The hallway was just dark.

"Dude, that's a big ass bag," Ayato said. "Body bag for sure. What do you think is in it?"

"Hmm, I don't know," Akira whispered. "Let me think, what could possibly be in a body bag? Maybe a dead body!"

"Shut up, no need to be sarcastic," Ayato said. "What if he is a fucking pig with a dirty ass room? It could be a load of trash he needs to take out."

"Shut up, he's coming," Akira said. They both kept quiet as they watched Leon walk away. When the coast was clear, they ran into the trash room.

"Okay, open the bag."

Akira did as she was told.

"What the hell," she mumbled.

"What? What is it?" Ayato asked. Akira pulled out a bunch of paper, and a poster with Sayaka's autograph.

"Seems like he's a fanboy."

"Awe, that's cute. Not what I hoped we would find, but that's cute. Anyways, what's with all those scraps of paper?"

Akira pulled out some of the crumpled pieces of papers. Her eyes lit up as she read the words formed into lyrics.

"It looks like... songs. Many different genre's, too," she said. "We have a couple love songs and a bunch of random stuff. To be honest, these are actually really good."

"Didn't you say you wanted to introduce him to Ibuki so he can start his music career?" Ayato asked. "Ibuki is here... Kuwata has been here. What gives?"

"I'll get to it when I can. But given the situation we are in, it's really not a great time. And all of this is getting in the way of our mission, I can't really do anything unrelated to that right now."

"You said our mission was to find who killed our parents. But now that it's clear what really happened..." Ayato mumbled. "Is there something else you're not telling me?"

"I knew it," A voice said behind them. Akira and Ayato froze in fear from that voice. How did he know? How did Leon know they were watching him?

"Maybe if we stay still, he won't see us," Ayato whispered.

"Nope, I can still see you," Leon laughed as he walked into the trash room.

"How did you know we were going to be here?" Akira asked.

"Well, you two are the Ultimate Spies here," Leon said. "It was pretty much common sense to think that you both would do something like this."

"Oh..." Akira mumbled. That's all she could say.

"I gotta ask you something... I just want to help, and you guys pretty much avoided me since the last time I brought it up," Leon began. "Does Togami suspect me or something? Is that why you guys followed me here? I mean, my plan worked but still."

"Do you want the honest answer?" Ayato asked.

"That's fair," Leon sighed.

"What plan?" Akira asked. "The one you just mentioned."

"I wanted to find a way to talk to you about the whole mastermind thing without the others hearing or asking questions. So, I found this giant bag from the supply closet and put a bunch of shit in it."

"Well, I guess it did work," Ayato said. "But you're still a suspect. It's not safe to give out any information we have."

"You guys can trust me! I promise," Leon said. "Even if I put my own life on it! I will! I just really want to help."

Akira and Ayato glanced at each other for a bit. Silently coming to the same conclusion.

"Hey," Leon snapped. "I thought you said you guys don't do that twin telepathy thing."

Akira sighed as she searched her jacket pocket for the list. She doesn't know why she is trusting him. But her gut instinct isn't telling her otherwise.

"Here," she said, handing the piece of paper to Leon. "This is the list of main suspects. You are to keep this to yourself. If anybody were to find this, you deny your involvement. And you are to deny our involvement. Do you understand?"

Leon nodded and read over the list. He was surprisingly unbothered by the fact that his name is on the list. The thing that did shock him was...

"Sayaka Maizono?" He asked.

"The list was made before she broke down from the first motive," Akira said. "But now, Maizono has been acting very weird for the last couple of days. We are starting to get a little worried."

"I'm not," Ayato said. Akira hit him in the back of the head. "OW!"

Akira rushed her hand towards Ayato's face to cover his mouth. She placed her index finger over her lips and gave an exaggerated 'shhh'

"We are!" She glared at her brother. "Anyway, we still have to check in with the others."

"Well, this is already suspicious enough," Leon said.

"Why?" Akira asked.

"Well, I did catch on to the fact that Maizono was acting strange. I thought that it was because of the motive. So, I asked her if she wanted to... I don't know... Talk about our videos together."

"What's your point?" Ayato asked.

"Well, she said we could talk tonight, and I may or may not have... blew her off. I said we could talk tomorrow. But... Then I saw her slipping a note under your door."

"I didn't get a note," Akira said. "When was this?"

"When I was pretending to walk back to my room," Leon said.

"Before you plan on meeting with her again, let me go first," Akira said.

"What? Why?"

"Let me just talk to her for right now. With the mental state she is in, she is bound to probably do something unreasonable. And out of the two of us, who is more capable at physical combat? Besides, if I were to get murdered tonight, you both would know who did it."

"But-" Leon tried to object.

"But nothing. Besides, it should be at least 3 a.m. right now. You should go back to your room."

"Akira, Kuwata is probably right," Ayato said. "I don't feel too good about this. Let me come with you."

"No," Akira said sternly. "Make sure Kuwata heads back to his room. I'll be in and out."

Akira started walking away back to the dormitory hall. Leon and Ayato watched as she disappeared into the dark hallway.

"You're not actually letting her go, are you?" Leon asked.

"We have no choice. When there's something that she's set on, there is no point in stopping her. I've tried many times," Ayato frowned and looked down at his feet. He was clenching his fists, wanting to release all the sadness and fear he had been holding in for years. "Kuwata... Can I ask you something?"

"Huh?" Leon asked. He took a second to process everything. Where he was, who he was with, the situation he's in. What was just asked. It was all too much. "Oh, of course."

"What do you think happens when someone dies? I heard so many different stories, I don't know what to believe. What do you believe in?"

"Oh... Well... I would like to believe that there's a place somewhere... And everyone is reunited with their loved ones. A place where you don't have to worry about hope or despair. A place where you could just... rest. Why do you ask?"

"Ever since I was a kid, I always believed my parents died on a mission. But I found out that they actually... They actually killed themselves because of it," Ayato said. "Akira was just trying to protect me from the truth because we already lost so much. But I was still so angry. I vowed that I would take my father's place and protect Byakuya and Akira just like my dad protected Byakuya's father during his time. Our parent's death affected Akira so much, she's been fixated on avenging them and continuing their work. I promised her that she wouldn't do it alone."

"Ayato, I am so sorry," Leon frowned. "I had no idea. Listen, I don't really know how to comfort someone. It was never something I was able to do without something coming out all awkward and stuff. So, I will keep it short and sweet. This will be a promise I make to you and Akira; I will do whatever I can so we all can escape together, that way, you and Akira can avenge your family, and finally be at peace, and your parents can finally rest."

"Thank you, Kuwata, you have no idea how much that means to us," Ayato smiled, he then stood in silence, and his smile faded away. "Though, Akira would never admit it. She seems to be wearing a facade on a facade. The Akira you see now isn't the Akira I grew up with."

"What do you mean?"

"When we were younger, Akira had a dream. One day, she wandered into our father's armory, and she trained with all his weapons and gear every single day. She had the skills I never had, and I envied her for that, but at the same time, I acknowledged her hard work. When she was training, she was truly in her element. And seeing her love for training made me work harder. I wanted to be by her side for as long as the Iwasaki Organization stood...

"I felt so happy and so privileged that I was able to call someone as determined and brave as Akira my big sister. That was until... We heard the news about our parents. And the Iwasaki Organization fell. We ended up moving in with Byakuya. Ever since then, Akira has been driven by anger and revenge and being trapped in here made it even worse for her...

"She went on believing that making friends along the way would turn her away from her goal. Though, her interactions with you seem genuine. She may be suppressing how she truly feels, but they're genuine. I don't know how you do it, but I can see she is slowly learning how to trust people again. Byakuya may suspect you, but I see that Akira feels like she should trust you. So, thank you."

"Wha- I mean... I don't think I did anything special..." Leon mumbled as he scratched the back of his neck.

"But you did," Ayato said. "Trust isn't something that comes quickly for Akira. Believe me, you might not see it now but pay attention and notice how she interacts with others and notice how she interacts with you. You'll see there is a huge difference. She speaks to you like you're one of us."

"Is that so?" Leon asked. Ayato nodded. "Well... I'm glad that I am able to help in a way."

"That is why I need you to help me bring her back down to earth."

"What do you mean? She seems pretty down to earth to me."

"That's what she wants you to think. In reality, she is in over her head with this entire mission she created for herself, she never really stopped to think about how she may affect the people around her. She is the only family I have left, and I'm afraid she might do something reckless... Something that she will never be able to take back. I have a feeling she might listen to you."

"Listen to me? What makes you think that?"

"There have been countless times where Byakuya, or Ibuki, or I tried to stop her from doing something... But she never listens. Maybe if someone else shows they genuinely care... She might listen."

"I mean... I can try. But she already left. What do we do now?"

"Byakuya and Ibuki are already in her room. In the meantime, we all will wait for her there."

"Alright, let's go," Leon said. They both got up and walked into the dormitory hallway. Akira was nowhere to be seen. She must have already entered Sayaka's room.

They both finally made it to Akira's dorm. Ayato knocked on the door.

"Byakuya, it's Ayato, open up," Ayato said. The door opened almost immediately. When it did, they saw Ibuki sitting on the bed, hugging her knees, shaking, and an angry Byakuya holding a sheet of paper.

"Where is she?" Byakuya asked, his gaze shifted to Leon. He started glaring at the fake ginger. "And why is he here?"

"We couldn't stop her!" Leon said.

"I am not asking you, I am asking Ayato," Byakuya said, then turned back to Ayato. "I let Ibuki out of the bathroom for a couple of minutes just for her to see this note. Do you have any idea how petrified she is? How did Akira even know to meet with Maizono?"

"She also wanted to meet with me. But Akira told me that she would meet her first."

"Well thanks to you, you have exposed her to possible danger!" Ibuki yelled.

"Ibuki, please," Ayato said. "Kuwata is telling the truth, we tried to stop her, but she didn't listen."

"And God forbid if anything were to happen to Akira... This would prove that Maizono would be the so-called 'blackened!'" Leon said. "Isn't that what you wanted, Togami? To find out whether I, or Maizono, or anyone else on this list would betray everyone?"

Byakuya scrunched his nose and stared at Leon.

"The only thing we can do is wait," Ayato said. "She promised she would be back soon."

"And how soon is soon?" Byakuya asked. "She is alone with a suspect without any form of protection."

"Maizono's room is across the hall, if anything we could just knock on the door no problem," Leon said. "Let's just leave the door open so we can see what is going on in the hallway if anything does happen."

"Fine, everyone come sit down so we can think through this situation," Byakuya said. "We need to plan what our next course of action will be in case anything happens."

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

Akira knocked on Sayaka's door, surprisingly it was unlocked.

"Maizono, I got your note," Akira called out, shutting the door behind her. "Your door was open, so I just let myself in."

She walked into Sayaka's room and saw no one was there.

"Maizono?" Akira called out once again. Still, Sayaka didn't respond. Akira started to get impatient. "Come on, I want to go back to sleep. What do you want?"

Suddenly, Sayaka came from around a corner. Akira jumped back in surprise.

"Sorry, I was in the bathroom," Sayaka smiled with her hands behind her back. "I must not have heard you come in."

"It's fine. Why did you want to meet?" Akira asked.

"I originally wanted to meet with Kuwata first since he offered, but I guess he is sleeping. I also wanted to speak with you since you were such a leader the other day, and I wanted some advice. Please, sit down."

Sayaka sat down at the foot of her bed, eagerly patting at the spot next to her. Akira cautiously sat down next to her.

"What did you want advice on?"

Sayaka took a deep breath, almost like what she's about to say would be difficult for her. "It's about my motive video... I'm ready to talk about it. But I'm not sure if I want to tell everyone yet."

"Okay, starting off with a few people is okay," Akira said. "What about Naegi? You guys seem pretty close, are you not?"

"I know. It's because we are very close that I'm worried about telling him."

"Oh?" Akira mumbled as she sat in thought. Those two are such good friends, they've known each other prior to attending Hope's Peak. Should Sayaka really be worried about talking to Makoto. "Well, I mean... Naegi is a very kind person. And I see he cares about you a lot. I highly doubt his feelings about you would change if you told him."

"Really?"

"Definitely. The way he looks at you says it all."

"Maybe you're right," Sayaka smiled. She thought about how amazing Makoto was. They never spoke in middle school, but she's always noticed him. He was brave, smart, and courageous. He was everything that she wasn't. Or at least- everything she believed she wasn't. Sayaka went quiet, trying to gather her thoughts. It wasn't until then; she realized Akira was waiting for her to continue. "But I don't think he would want to be friends with me. I have done such horrible things to get where I am now."

"What do you mean?" Akira asked.

"You know... Ultimate Pop Sensation, I had to leave so much behind to reach my dream." Sayaka said. Akira nodded. She remembered Sayaka mentioning that during one of their few conversations. "I have made it so far, but I feel like I still haven't accomplished anything. I don't mean to sound ungrateful or anything-"

"No, I totally get it," Akira sighed. "You have already accomplished your goal, and now you don't know what to do next. I've been there."

"Really?"

"Everyone has. When you're ready, you should try to make your next goal something that is hard to reach but is still attainable."

"What if it was to get out of here? Is that... truly attainable?"

Akira couldn't help but frown.

"Maizono... everyone is doing the best they can," she said. "Byakuya, Ayato, and I are already trying to figure out how we can all get out of here and we already have a list of people we will watch out for. Nobody will get hurt; I promise you that."

"You already suspect who might betray us?" Sayaka asked.

"Well, yeah, Byakuya actually made the list and in my years of knowing him, he has never been wrong with his deduction skills. All we can do right now is trust him through it all."

"What if he is wrong? I want to trust his judgment, I really do... but-"

Sayaka's voice cracked as she began to tear up once more.

"Maizono? What's wrong?" Akira asked.

"I want to get out of here... I need to get out," Sayaka mumbled. "I can't afford to lose what I worked so hard for. I can't lose them!"

"Maizono, it's okay, we all do," Akira said as she gave a comforting pat on Sayaka's shoulder. "But working together is the only option we have so we all can get out."

There was a moment of silence. Sure, Akira had no intentions of befriending anyone here, including Sayaka, but she couldn't help but feel a little bit of sympathy for her. She wanted to blend in, but at the same time she was feeling all of these emotions. Emotions that she vowed to never feel again. But here they were, hitting her like a big truck. The problem is... She hasn't felt them in a long time, she couldn't differentiate which is which.

One of Sayaka's hands was clenched into a fist, lying on her lap, and the other was wiping her own tears. Suddenly the silence was broken.

"There is still one option," Sayaka mumbled.

"What are you-" Akira tried to ask, but then Sayaka reached behind her back and grabbed a kitchen knife and started to swing at Akira. "What the fuck are you doing?"

Akira jumped off the bed and tried her best to avoid Sayaka's attacks, just like she learned in training. She tried to run to the door, but Sayaka tripped her. Akira landed on her stomach and immediately turned onto her elbows. Sayaka was already on top of Akira, holding the kitchen knife. By this time, she had already stabbed her.

"Get off of me!" Akira cried in agony as she kicked Sayaka in the stomach.

Sayaka flew off and landed on her back. Akira jumped to her feet. She looked at the knife that Sayaka dropped. She grabbed it and held Sayaka down. If Sayaka was already planning on killing Akira in her own room- who knows what she was planning to do to Leon?

The two girls made eye contact. Akira thought about everything she would lose if she ended up killing Sayaka. But then again, the sooner she kills her, the sooner she can get out and continue her mission. But she thought about the countless times she told her peers to not give in.

She stabbed the floor next to Sayaka's head and ran out the door. She finally made it back to her room where she was considered "safe". She was confused as to why her door was open. When she cleared her throat Byakuya, Ibuki, Leon, and Ayato shot their heads up and ran towards her direction.

"What are you guys doing here?" Akira asked, referring to Leon and Ayato. "I told you to bring Kuwata to his room."

"This isn't about Kuwata and Ayato right now," Byakuya said. "Why did you go to Maizono's room?"

"She just wanted to talk."

"About what?" Leon asked.

Akira fidgeted with the hem of her cardigan, pulling it down a bit, hoping it would hide the bleeding. She muttered, "Nothing important."

"You're fidgeting," Byakuya observed. "Why aren't you telling us the truth?"

"Well, it's not really my place to say, now, is it?" Akira asked. "Let's just say it was 'girl-talk '."

"Bullshit," Ayato said.

"Look, you can ask her tomorrow at breakfast if you want," Akira said as she walked into her bathroom and closed the door. She needed to figure out how to wrap her wound, so she didn't bleed all over her sheets. "Anyways, I'm kind of getting tired. I better go to sleep."

"Yeah... sure," Ayato mumbled, he, Leon, and Ibuki gathered their things to leave. He leaned on the bathroom door to announce to his sister, "I'm walking Kuwata back to his dorm, and Ibuki will be staying with me for the night. Let me know if you need anything."

"Okay..." Akira said. She managed to find a small towel on the bathroom floor. She wrapped her stomach and exited the bathroom, adjusting her clothes so the towel wouldn't show.

"It took a lot of convincing, but Togami let me become part of the plan," Leon smiled. "So let me know if you need help with anything."

"I will," Akira smiled with a nod.

"See you tomorrow, Akira." Ibuki waved as she left with Ayato.

"Good night, Ibuki." Akira smiled back. They finally left the room. The only one that was left was Byakuya.

"So, do you plan on telling me what really happened in that room?" He asked. "Or will you keep feeding me lies?"

"I wanted to wait until they left," Akira said. She sighed and sat down on a chair that was next to a table. "But you're right, Maizono was most likely going to turn her back on everyone."

"What happened?"

"She wanted to talk about her motive... I noticed she was acting so weird, so I just continued the conversation with caution." Akira said as she slightly lifted her shirt and removed the towel to show her wound. It wasn't anything too serious, now that the bleeding had slowed down, but it definitely will leave a scar for a long time. "And then she attacked me. I guess I wasn't paying much attention to see it coming."

"Specific weapon?"

"One of the knives from the kitchen," Akira mumbled. She noticed he was writing in his little notebook. He was probably keeping track of things that happened the past few days.

"We could use this against her, you know," Byakuya said. "You've got the wound and three people who knew your whereabouts to prove it."

"No, I'm not dead yet. They wouldn't do anything."

"Yes, they would. Listen, whether or not you tell people is completely up to you. But if she does end up killing someone else, and she get to walk out of this place with no consequences, I will tell everyone what she did to you. Starting with Ibuki and Ayato."

"You don't have to worry about that... This is between me and her," Akira mumbled. "There really isn't anything we can do at this point. But please... Do not tell them, especially Ayato."

"Those two aren't dumb," Byakuya said as he walked towards the door. "Ibuki worries so much for you. That may come from the fact she is older than us, but she feels the need to take responsibility for your actions. Ayato is your own brother; he tries to take you out of life-threatening situations even though he knows you're trained for the fight. It's just in his nature. And Kuwata... I don't know why you trusted him so easily, but I can see he and Ayato are similar in many ways. They both care for you. And he was very adamant about helping you escape. They will all catch on pretty quickly."

Byakuya watched as Akira stared off into the distance. He tried his best not to show that he cared, but he knows Akira. He's seen her fighting style. She was almost untouchable in battle. So, it worried him a lot when Akira returned wounded. However, it must not have been as serious if Akira rejected his offer to ask Monokuma for stitches.

"Just... Keep putting pressure on it and get some rest," he continued. "I'll check on you in the morning."

With that, Byakuya was gone. Akira sat in her room wondering what she was going to do. Sure, her life is on the line, but at least she could say she protected someone from getting killed that night. She still didn't know why she did it. But she was so glad she did.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

SURVIVING STUDENTS: 18/18

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Chapter Text

Monokuma made his morning announcement about an hour ago. As usual, everyone made their way to the dining hall one by one. Ayato was one of the first people to arrive, accompanied by Ibuki... and Ibuki alone. It was weird because since the beginning, Akira and Ayato were always seen together. And ever since Ibuki showed up, the three would come to breakfast together; with Byakuya following close behind. Today, however, Akira didn't show up.

To ensure Leon's safety, as well as everyone else's, Byakuya instructed that Leon's involvement with their investigation would be on the down low. There is a good possibility that Monokuma already knew about Leon hanging around the four. But how much did he know? They couldn't be too sure, so it was best to stay cautious. He'd probably create a motive that would drive them against each other. So, in order for things to be less troublesome as they are now, Leon's friendship with Ibuki, Akira, Ayato, and Byakuya would be strictly seen as some friends trying to remain optimistic. Nothing beyond that.

"Good morning, everyone!" Ibuki beamed as she walked in. She and Ayato quickly claimed seats next to Hiro, Hina, Leon, and Sakura.

"Good morning," Chihiro smiled and waved from across the table.

"Hey, Ayato," Hina called out. She looked towards the doorway behind Ayato. "Where's Akira? Is she not joining us?"

Hina's sudden question caused the others to slowly grow worried. It was unlike Akira to not be present, especially with the amount of leadership she displayed with her peers.

"She told me she was too tired to come to breakfast. She's been training during the night, and probably overworked herself," Ayato lied. "I know what all of you are probably thinking. And no, It's not like that. I was with her last night."

"That's good to hear," Kiyotaka hummed. "She must understand that getting the proper amount of sleep is important. At least it's known that she is okay."

"Huh, no scolding, Ishimaru?" Ibuki asked. "That's unlike you."

"I decided to take Enoshima's advice and try to me more considerate of others... Just a little bit."

Junko smiled triumphantly as she sat down and began eating her breakfast. This was going to be hard for Kiyotaka. He's always been about punctuality and making sure everyone was in line. The typical job for a moral compass. Ibuki giggled and turned her attention to Ayato. He looked out so out of it, so distant. He wasn't laughing or engaging in any conversations like he usually did. Instead, he was staring. Ibuki followed his gaze, and found herself looking back at Junko, who was talking to Sakura. She then looked back at Ayato. His usual warm complexion slowly becoming pale; almost as if he had just come to a realization. Ibuki nudged his arm, and he quicky broke his stare to look at his friend.

"Are you okay?" She muttered. The boy cleared his throat and nodded, turning away from Ibuki. Sayaka had just joined them. Holding her tray of food, she sat down and gave her good mornings to everyone.

"By the way, there was something that I wanted to ask you, Maizono," Ayato glared at the blue haired girl. Everyone sat in a confused silence.

Ibuki and Leon's breaths hitched as they looked at each other. They knew that Ayato would ask about what happened the night before, but they didn't think he would say something in front of everyone.

"Ayato, please don't... Not right now," Ibuki whispered. She and Leon turned towards Byakuya, who was sitting at the table behind them, hoping he would intervene.

But it was to no avail. Byakuya silently gestured to leave Ayato alone. The musicians looked at each other, deciding which one of them should object to Byakuya's orders. In the end, they both sighed in defeat, and watched the scene unfold before them.

"Yes, Ayato?" Sayaka smiled. She seemed so bubbly, so unbothered. Her attitude was the complete opposite from how she was just a few days ago. Ayato knew she had to be guilty of something. Akira isn't an easy person to break— so Sayaka must have done something really bad last night. And seeing her now, pretending nothing happened, smiling shamelessly... It made Ayato sick. However, he couldn't accuse her of anything just yet. He took a deep breath.

"Ibuki and I spent the night with Akira," Ayato started nonchalantly. "Though, she had to leave briefly to meet with you. She was acting really weird when she returned. Did something happen?"

All eyes were on Sayaka as confused murmurs traveled throughout the room. Sayaka Maizono is the Ultimate Pop Sensation. Japan's sweetheart. She's the embodiment of modern-day music. In their peers' eyes, there's no way that she could have been responsible for Akira Iwasaki's absence. Ayato could have sworn he saw her eye twitch. He's making her sweat.

Got her. He thought.

"Oh," Sayaka smiled. "I just wanted to confide in her about my video. After that, we had a little 'girls chat.' I assumed she hasn't really had one since she's only around you and Byakuya all the time. And the only female friend we heard about in her life was Mioda."

"Yeah... She always kept to herself," Ayato muttered as he glared at Sayaka. He and Akira became orphans at a young age. For as long as they could remember, they only had each other. Byakuya and Ibuki were the closest things the twins could consider family now. "I guess you're right. She's never really bonded with other people. Even when we were kids, she never spoke much. Despite her being older than me, I always had to speak for her."

Many thoughts went through Ayato's head. Why was he telling them this? What could have Sayaka done to Akira? Was Sayaka telling the truth? If she was, why did Akira seem so bothered? Maybe they started talking about each other's parents? No, that's too random. But what exactly is her deal? She was a completely different person before, why's she so chipper now?

"See? Maybe there are some pros to being stuck here after all," Sayaka smiled. "Akira can take a little break from her spy work and connect with women. People who understand her. She looks like she needs it."

Akira can connect with women if she wants to. She can have all the girl talks she wishes. But not here. Not where she can potentially be someone's target. Ayato won't allow it.

"Speaking of which," Sayaka turned to Leon. "Kuwata, I heard you were trying to get into music? You're sitting in a room with two musically talented women, why didn't you just ask?"

"Oh my gosh! You didn't tell me this!" Ibuki gasped as she turned her entire body towards Leon. "We can totally teach you!"

"Really?" Leon asked. "You guys would do that for me?"

"Of course!" Ibuki smiled. "Oh, wow! This is so exciting! There are so many things that I want to show you! Where do I start?"

Almost in an instant, the ominous aura in the dining hall completely changed. Almost as if nothing ever happened. Almost as if they weren't trapped in a killing game right now. Ayato couldn't stand it. He especially couldn't stand the nagging voice in his head telling him something's wrong. That there's something much deeper than just being stuck in this school. He basically heard the alarms ringing whenever he looked at his classmates. What the hell is wrong with them?

"I doubt Akira will join us for breakfast," Ayato groaned as he stood up. "I'll go check on her."

"Wait, Ayato! Maybe we should cook her some breakfast in bed?" Ibuki suggested as she held Ayato's arm to prevent any further movement from him. "It'll make her feel better."

"Ibuki," Ayato said sternly as he gently removed her hand from his arm. "Remember when our parents finally let us sleep over at your house? We were home alone that morning, and we tried to cook breakfast. We nearly set your house on fire."

"I'm sorry, what?" Leon gasped in disbelief.

"That really happened?" Chihiro asked.

"But may I ask, who exactly was in charge of preparing the meal?" Celestia asked. Ibuki and Byakuya didn't hesitate to point at Ayato. "That would explain it."

"Y-you truly are an idiot!" Toko laughed as she nervously played with her hands.

"You guys are so mean to me," Ayato pouted. "Anyway, it's not like that was the only time it happened either."

"Wait so you didn't take the time after that to... I don't know— practice how to cook safely?" Hina asked.

"I'm a spy, not a chef, Hina," Ayato said. "When you grow up in a high-status family, you tend to have people waiting on you. Being a nepo baby has its perks sometimes. Also, Ibuki was the one who said she could cook."

"I said I knew recipes, not how to cook," Ibuki laughed. "And you were the one who forced me to do it."

"That's true," Byakuya chimed in.

"I was busy training," Ayato threw his hands up in defense.

"It was a holiday weekend," Byakuya cocked an eyebrow. "The training grounds were closed for the time being."

"Erm- did I say training?" Ayato choked, stuttering on his rebuttal. His ears started turning red with all the lies he could come up with. "I meant... studying? Yeah! I was studying!"

"You're a horrible liar, Ayato," Byakuya smirked. "That's probably why Akira is more fit than you are to take over the company."

"Ugh, you wound me..." Ayato frowned as he wiped away an imaginary tear. Of course, he knew Byakuya was somewhat kidding, he always had a little flair for the theatrical.

"If it's not a problem, I can do it," Leon insisted.

"No, it's okay. Ibuki and I will figure something out without burning down the school." Ayato pondered. He couldn't help but snicker at the thought of Monokuma panicking when he learns everyone somehow managed to escape, and the school is on fire. "Though that would be a nice option... But I am not trying to make everyone here a little crispy, so we will just feed her something undercooked."

"I actually cooked for myself for about five years, and I can guarantee you nothing has been set on fire." Leon smiled.

"Ladies and gents, gather around and take yourself a gander this fine young man! He is the Ultimate baseball star, with a heart full of music, and he can cook!" Ayato announced, making his voice much lower. "Is there anything Leon Kuwata cannot do?"

"I can help." Sayaka volunteered as she stood up and smiled.

"We are fine," Ayato glared once again. He and Ibuki grabbed Leon by the shoulders and dragged him into the kitchen. "Get your ass up, ginger! You're teaching us how to cook!"

Everyone laughed at Ayato, completely forgetting about the tension that was still, very much, in the room.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

Meanwhile, Akira was in the shower, washing off the dried blood from yesterday's incident. Since the water was always turned off at night, she couldn't do much about the bleeding. There is now a scab running along her stomach. At least there isn't any more blood to deal with.

Once she got out of the shower, she got dressed and went back to bed. In all honesty, she didn't even want to look at Sayaka. She was caught in a moment of vulnerability, letting her guard down just a little bit... This is the first time she felt scared of someone who was below her. Besides, Byakuya probably told the others what happened anyway. She couldn't bring herself to face everyone if they knew the truth.

Akira couldn't help but wonder what would happen if she did kill Sayaka. Would Byakuya even trust her anymore? It's her job as an older sister to be a role model and a safe place for Ayato. Especially since she's the only family he has left. He would probably be scared of her. And then there's Ibuki... Such a kind, sweet, friendly girl. She'd probably hate Akira's guys if she were to kill someone right? There's also that odd bunch of kids she met over a week ago. She wouldn't want them to think of her any differently. She wouldn't want Leon to think of her any differently.

She sat in thought about her peers she's trapped in this game with. It's strange because she knows nothing about these people, but at the same time, she feels like she has known them for a while. Could they have possibly been friends in another life? Maybe they've passed by each other in public?

She doesn't know.

That makes her start to think. There's actually a lot of things she doesn't know. She doesn't know if they'll ever find a way out. She doesn't know her worth if she could barely hold her own in a fight. She doesn't know if her life's mission of avenging her parents is worth it. She doesn't know if she should keep fighting.

She was so lost in thought; she didn't even notice she was crying. What snapped her out of it was a knock at her door. She wiped her tears away and unlocked her door. On the other side stood Ayato, Ibuki, Byakuya, and Leon.

"Hey sleepyhead!" Ibuki smiled as she held a plate. "We made breakfast!"

"Correction, Kuwata made you breakfast," Byakuya said. "These two just stood and watched."

"Come on, Togami, let them take credit," Leon smiled. "It was their idea to cook in the first place."

"It's your favorite! Extra fluffy pancakes with... drum-roll please..." Ibuki said as Ayato and Leon started hitting the wall imitating drumming sounds. "Strawberries!"

"Thanks guys," Akira tried to smile, but they knew something was wrong.

"Your eyes are sad..." Ibuki frowned. "What's wrong?"

"Yeah, why are you crying?" Leon asked. They all let themselves in and shut the door behind them.

Normally people in a situation like this would want to be alone. But that was the last thing that Akira wanted. She wanted to know that the people she cared about are still alive and that they are still with her.

"I know I say this a lot, but even though we just met last week, you could talk to me," Leon said. "And I'm not just talking about the whole mastermind and blackened thing, but if there is something on your mind that's bothering you, you can tell me. We're friends now."

Friends... That's a word that she has been trying to avoid. Leon even knows Akira isn't here to make friends. He knows who she really is, and her true intentions. He just wants her to know she doesn't have to fight alone. Not just because that was Ayato's request. But because he wants her to know that he's there.

"Thanks, guys... I'm just homesick. That's all," Akira said. Ayato frowned at the word 'home'. Was there really ever home for them? They were always on missions overseas, rarely ever seeing their parents. It's always been that way up until the day they died. That is pretty much how things go when you're an Iwasaki— and if you can't keep up, you will get shunned and stripped of the Iwasaki name. You could say being a sibling has its perks. They kept each other motivated, picking up what the other was lacking, and now ten years later, they both are on the road to becoming just as successful as their parents ever were.

"It is a crappy feeling," Ibuki said. "But as you said before, we all are going to keep trying, and we will all get out of here together. We will find whoever is behind this and give them hell."

"Exactly," Leon agreed. "And you don't have to worry about anything, you have us. And we aren't going anywhere."

"Well, when we do get out of here, she won't have to wake up to you guys every morning," Ayato said. Everyone started laughing. "So technically, I'm not going anywhere. You're stuck with me forever!"

"Thanks guys." Akira started laughing.

"My bestie is smiling again!" Ibuki smiled as she hugged Akira. "Group hug!"

Leon and Ayato gathered to hug Akira. Byakuya watched from a distance.

"Come on, Byakuya," Ayato said. "Is that stick shoved so far up your ass it's preventing you from bending over to hug the poor girl?"

"Come on, dude," Leon said. "She doesn't have a disease or anything. At least... I hope you don't."

"I don't," Akira laughed. Byakuya rolled his eyes and joined the group hug. After a while of talking, Ibuki, Leon, and Ayato insisted on giving Akira some space. Byakuya, on the other hand, stayed behind. Akira can lie to those three for so long, but she cannot lie to Byakuya.

"How much longer are you going to leave them in the dark for?" Byakuya finally asked.

"I don't know," Akira mumbled. There was a moment of silence, and Byakuya sighed.

"Do you mind telling me what you are upset about?"

"I- I don't know what to do," Akira started tearing up again. "Last night- I wasn't thinking clearly. I almost..."

"And you didn't," Byakuya interrupted. "She is in the dining hall. She seems fine. But I do believe Ayato will find out soon."

"Why?"

"He keeps glaring at Maizono. It's making Ibuki feel uncomfortable around her," Byakuya continued. "They know that something happened last night, but I never told them anything."

"Thanks," Akira said as she wiped her tears.

"I know that isn't the only thing bothering you," Byakuya said. "There has to be more to it."

Akira paused. There was definitely more to it. But how can she express it into words?

"I guess... A near death experience really made me think about a lot of things," Akira sighed. "Like— If I had killed her... You all would hate me, wouldn't you?"

"So far no one died," Byakuya said. "Maizono didn't go after anyone else, at least, as far as I'm concerned. So, it's good you left while you were able to. Though, if you did kill her, you would be able to leave. At least, that's what Monkuma said. You'd also be going against what you told everybody."

"I know..." Akira mumbled.

"But let's say that you did kill Maizono... you were acting in self-defense," Byakuya said. "Surely, that doesn't justify how wrong this whole situation is, you weren't completely in the wrong."

Akira sat in silence, moving her food around her plate. She couldn't think of anything to say. She knew Byakuya was right. But maybe only those four would stand by her side. Who knows what the others would think?

"And I can speak on behalf of the others, but no matter what happens, we will be there to back you up," Byakuya said.

"Thank you, Byakuya," Akira smiled.

"Well, enjoy your breakfast. We will come back to check on you later," Byakuya said as he walked out of Akira's room. He made sure to close the door behind him— immediately getting startled by Ibuki, who had just heard everything. "Woah- Ibuki! What are you still doing here?"

"I went back to the kitchen to make Akira a drink," Ibuki said. "She got attacked last night?"

"Ibuki, please lower your voice," Byakuya said as he tried to calm her down. "Akira will tell you guys when she is ready."

"Ibuki doesn't allow this..." Ibuki mumbled. "It was Maizono, wasn't it?"

"Unfortunately, yes," Byakuya said. "But you cannot tell the others about what happened, and you absolutely can't let Akira know that you know."

"Fine," Ibuki mumbled as she walked into Akira's room to give her the drink.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

The school was quiet. Everyone decided to spend the rest of the day in their rooms since there was nothing to do. That was until Monokuma made an unusual announcement.

"Good evening, everyone!" The bear said over the speakers. "Please meet in the gymnasium at your earliest convenience... Which is right now!"

Everyone, minus Akira, made their way to the gym. They were confused with what Monokuma wanted this time. It's been a while since the first motive has been shared, and there hasn't been a murder yet. Could this be another one? Maybe something worse? At this point, no one knew anymore.

"Greetings fellow students!" Monokuma said, no one replied. "Oh, I see we are one short? Where could Akira be? I hope she hasn't been murdered."

"Don't be ridiculous, I was with her all day!" Ibuki snapped. "She is fine, she's... she's not feeling well."

"Yeah, shut your trap, asshole," Leon yelled.

"Puhuhuhu... If you say so." The bear shrugged as he continued. "I have come to realize that only eighteen students make this school kind of... empty. No fun, right?"

"Don't tell us..." Hifumi mumbled.

"That's right! We have some new students joining us!" Monokuma cheered. "I already let them tour the school while you all were in your dorms. They are well aware of what they're in for."

"Well, where are they?" Junko asked. On cue, five more students walked in.

"Well, they're right here," Monokuma smiled. The new students stood by the door, nervously keeping their arms either stiff by their sides or wrapped around themselves. "Now don't be scared, come in, I don't know about them, but I don't bite... not that hard! Puhuhuhu!"

The students hesitantly walked into the gym.

"Normally, I would be excited to meet new students," Ibuki said. "But not if they are kidnapped and trapped here!"

"Now, I need to get ready for the nighttime announcements," Monokuma said as he disappeared. "Go ahead and get to know your victims!"

"Oh! Can I introduce myself first?" A small boy with purple hair asked. "Can I? Can I?"

"Uh... Okay?" Leon smiled awkwardly.

"I am Kokichi Oma, the Ultimate Supreme Leader," Kokichi introduced himself dramatically, putting an emphasis on every other word. It was evident he would be a handful.

"I am Kaede Akamatsu, the Ultimate Pianist," A girl with blonde hair smiled.

"Hey, Kuwata, you think you can fit a pianist into your band?" Ayato asked as he nudged Leon's shoulder.

"I don't see why not," Leon said. "I'm not really into classical music... but I am interested to see what she can do."

"I don't just do classical," Kaede said. "I can do almost anything, just tell me what you have in mind, and I'll see if I can do it. Monokuma also mentioned that there's a music room somewhere in the school, and it will be opened at some point!"

"Oh, hell yeah! Ibuki likes!" Ibuki smiled. "We keep chasing around the first floor and the main hall but haven't found shit! Who knew that there was so much more stuff here?"

"All we need now is a singer!" Leon said.

"Could I be a singer?" Sayaka asked. Ibuki turned around and glared at her. Everyone noticed it too.

"Aren't you already in a band, Maizono?" Ayato said as he rolled his eyes. He knew what Ibuki was thinking, but she couldn't bring herself to say it since everyone would get uncomfortable.

"I-" Sayaka mumbled. Tears began to fill her eyes.

"Hey, what happened to you guys?" Hina asked. "You all were just fine before Monokuma gave us that motive."

"Anyways, let's continue the introductions," Ibuki said, ignoring Hina's question, she pointed to the big, muscular man wearing a blue tracksuit. "Who are you?"

"I am Nekomaru Nidai, the Ultimate Team Manager," The boy responded— very loudly.

"I am Nagito Komaeda, Ultimate Lucky Student," A boy with white hair said.

"Oh, so you're just like Naegi?" Hina said as she pointed to Makoto. "Were you also accepted through a lottery?"

"Yes, I was," Nagito said. "Oh, how wonderful it is to hear there is somebody else just like me."

"Heh, yeah," Makoto chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his neck. Everyone looked towards another boy that was in the group of new students. He was silent and was just looking around the gym.

"What about you?" Ayato asked.

"Huh? oh, I'm Hajime Hinata," the boy said. He looked back at his shoes again.

"What is your talent?" Ibuki asked.

"I dunno."

"You don't know?"

"I just don't remember it, alright?" Hajime glared, growing irritated. He looked up and saw Ibuki was taken aback by his rudeness.  He let out a soft sight. "I'm sorry."

"That's alright, you can let us know when you remember," Ibuki laughed. Everybody introduced themselves to the new students, and as soon as that was over, Monokuma gave his usual nighttime announcement.

"Mm, ahem, this is a school announcement," Monokuma said. "It is now 10 p.m. As such, it is officially nighttime. Soon the doors to the dining hall will be locked, and entry at that point is strictly prohibited. Okay then...sweet dreams, everyone! Good night, sleep tight, don't let the bed bug's bite..."

"Okay. So, what are we gonna do about the new students?" Sakura asked.

"Yeah, there were only dorms for us who came on the first day, right?" Junko asked.

"Monokuma said that there are a bunch of dorms made on the other side of the school," Kaede said.

"Oh yeah, I remember seeing that there was another set of dorms when we first looked around," Hina said.

"Well, I guess that settles it then," Mondo said.

"Since it's clear that Monokuma will keep adding more students, and we now have a new set of dorms, I think it's safe to say we don't have to worry about further sleeping arrangements, yes?" Celeste asked.

"Well, we all should go to our dorms," Ibuki said. "Ayato and I are gonna go check on Akira since she was sleeping all day."

"I will come too, I told her I will check on her again," Byakuya said. Everyone started walking out of the gym doors.

"Leon, are you coming?" Ayato asked.

"Yeah, I'll meet with you guys later," Leon said.

"Alright, no rush, see you later!" Ibuki smiled as they all walked away.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

Byakuya, Ibuki, and Ayato knocked on Akira's door, good thing it was locked.

"Akira? It's us," Ibuki said. "Open up, girl."

It took a few seconds, then the door finally opened.

"Hey, guys! What's up?" Akira asked. She knew that whatever they wanted, it was meant for them to talk in Akira's room. It was weird since they always met in Byakuya's room. But that was the least of Akira's concerns right now. She opened the door wider so they could come in. "Where's Kuwata?"

"He said that he will come later," Ibuki said.

"Oh, okay. I heard the announcement from Monokuma to meet in the gym," Akira said. "What was that about?"

"He has captured five more students," Ayato said. "Their dorms are on the other side of the school in the second dormitory hall."

"Oh," Akira mumbled. "Wait- there is a second hall?"

"Yeah, apparently Hina saw the hall when we first got here," Ayato said. "We offered to walk the newbies there, and it turns out that the hallway has a door, and it was one of the doors we originally couldn't open."

"Interesting," Akira mumbled. "Wait, their dormitory hall gets door? Lucky bastards."

"I wouldn't say so... The hall looked very messy," Ibuki said. "It didn't look natural like ours. Something tells me that it was made shortly before we even got here."

"Could that be one of the new renovations Kirigiri mentioned before?"

"That seems like the only possibility," Ayato said.

"And the problem is... You and Ayato are guarding both paths of this dormitory hall, and we have no one guarding the second one." Byakuya said. "We must discuss what we are going to do about that."

"I could guard the second dormitory hall," Ibuki said.

"Are you sure?" Byakuya asked. "We have already set up a system to keep you protected. I refuse to subject you to possible danger."

"I'm totally fine with that," Ibuki said. "And we could have either you or Leon guard the other side. Oh! or maybe That big dude! What's his name? Nidai."

"We will discuss this matter with Kuwata when he gets here," Byakuya said. "After him, I don't want to risk anyone else knowing what we are up to. It's clear Monokuma has already caught on."

They all looked up at the camera hovered over Akira's bed.

They continued talking for what seemed like over an hour. Byakuya and Ayato left so they could grab Byakuya's notebook. He wanted to make some edits to their plan. Not too long after they left, there was a frantic knock at the door. The two girls jumped.

"Akira?" It was Leon. He sounded like he was... Crying?

Akira and Ibuki ran towards the door. When they opened it, they found the ginger shaking and hyperventilating.

"Kuwata? What happened?" Akira asked and she guided Leon inside.

"Sh-she..." Leon couldn't get the words out of his mouth. "I don't know what to do."

"Hey, hey. It's going to be okay." Akira said as she walked him inside the room.

"What happened?" Ibuki asked.

"She... She attacked me... She almost tried to kill me." Leon stammered.

"Who?" Akira asked. "Who tried to kill you, Kuwata?"

"M-Maizono," Leon cried.

By this point, Ayato had already walked back into the room without Byakuya.

"Byakuya insisted I didn't stay with him, so I went to the dining hall to get us some snacks. He'll be back in a couple of minutes, he just has to— woah," Ayato gasped as he looked at Leon. "What the hell happened to him?"

"He got attacked by Maizono," Akira said.

"Wait, did you go meet with her after we agreed not to?" Ayato asked, clearly angry.

"We didn't agree to anything!" Leon yelled. "She said it was important... She said it was about you, so I went."

"Did she hurt you or anything?" Ibuki asked.

"No, she didn't get to," Leon said. "I defended myself."

"With what?" Ayato asked. "As far as I'm concerned, you have nothing on you, and if you did, you left it with that psycho."

"There was like... this katana on the table," Leon said. "I used it when she tried attacking me with the knife."

"Holy shit... Didn't Naegi and Maizono grab a katana last week?" Akira asked. Ayato nodded nervously.

"Then what happened?" Ibuki asked.

"I think I accidentally hit her," Leon said. "I managed to make her drop the knife but... When she did, she was holding her arm and ran to the bathroom."

"You didn't cut her, right?" Akira asked.

"No, the katana was still in the sheath," Leon said. "After she ran off, I came here."

"Oh, hell no, she doesn't just get to attack someone and pretend that nothing happened," Ayato yelled. "I'm giving that bitch a piece of my mind, and then I'm telling everyone tomorrow morning at breakfast."

Leon tensed up at that last sentence. He didn't want them to call out Sayaka. Because-

"Ayato, even if we tell them, they can't do anything because Leon isn't dead," Akira argued. "Plus, it's not like she can leave or anything. The rules clearly state she'd have to kill someone and not get caught. So, she can't graduate."

"Whatever," Ayato growled.

"Not even Monokuma could do anything," Ibuki mumbled. "Violence against him is strictly prohibited but... The rules don't say anything about harming another student without killing them."

"Yeah, the first day, he exploded in Mondo's face," Ayato said. "Like... Literally. I'm pretty sure the gym smelled like gunpowder for a few hours. "

"No way," Ibuki mumbled.

At that moment, they all noticed Byakuya came back. He had already heard what happened.

"Leon, let Ayato escort you to your room, we will figure out what to do about Maizono tomorrow," Byakuya said.

"O-okay," Leon mumbled.

Everyone walked out of Akira's room after saying their goodnights. Sayaka actually tried to kill another student? What could have been on her motive video if she felt the need to kill twice? And why is she purposefully going after people who are a lot stronger than her? Will she go after Mondo, or Sakura next? Or maybe she'll try that new student Nekomaru?

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

STATUS UPDATE: 23/23 STUDENTS ALIVE

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

The next day, everyone woke up to Monokuma's morning announcement. As usual.

"Good morning, everyone!" Monokuma cheered. "It is now 7 a.m. and nighttime is officially over! Time to rise and shine! Get ready to greet another beee-yutiful day!"

Akira groaned as she got out of bed. She did her morning routine with minimal enthusiasm. Part of her considered taking another "sick day"— but another sick day was something she couldn't afford right now. Monokuma might kill her for her lack of participation. Besides, she decided it was the time to properly confront Sayaka. She'd rather do it while she can manipulate herself into thinking she's ready.

When she was done, she walked to Ayato's room and knocked on his door. It opened almost immediately.

"Hey! You decided to come out of your room today!" Ayato smiled as he exited his room, making sure to lock the door behind him.

"Yeah, I figured one day of rest was enough. Besides, I'm kind of eager to meet the new kids," Akira smiled as she and Ayato made their way to the dining hall. "Not that I am here to make friends or anything... I'm way too busy for that."

Ayato hummed, acknowledging Akira's uncertainty.

"What about you? You seem to have a little friend group going on. I see you've also gotten close with that fortune teller."

"I mean, Hiro's funny," Ayato mumbled as he put his hands into his pocket. "The new students seem nice, I don't... dislike anyone here. I mean, maybe Maizono for going against us. But... I don't know. It's all so new and confusing."

"Doesn't that... defeat the whole purpose of why we are here?"

"I mean... They don't really know our true intentions. So, there's nothing to get in the way of us completing our mission. I wouldn't be quick to call them friends, given the circumstances. But maybe it won't hurt to let go and bond with them a little. If we are going to escape, we'd need all the help we could get. Strength in numbers and all that stuff, you know?"

"I guess you have a fair point," Akira mumbled. She spent her whole life getting herself to where she was now. She couldn't let anyone throw her off track. This was about their parents, their future. This was their last chance to bring the Iwasaki Organization back to where it needed to be.

"What do you think Kuwata would do?"

"What are you talking about?" Akira's eyes widened as she turned to her brother. "What do you mean 'What would Kuwata do'? Where is this nonsense coming from?"

"Face it, Akira, I'm not the only one who noticed it," Ayato began. "To everyone who you just met, you have this cold aura, and you always keep conversations short and simple. But with him, you completely let loose, and you seem like you can trust him."

Akira stood, mouth agape. She hadn't even realized how she treated Leon differently from the rest. But she'd be lying if she said she didn't feel different after meeting the large group of students.

"Listen, I felt the same way," Ayato said as he put a hand on Akira's shoulder. "I was speaking with Kuwata before we let him in on the plan, and something in me knew he was trustworthy. I'm not sure if it was his desire to escape with everyone, or if he genuinely cares about you... But I knew since day one that he was reliable. And you know it too... You just refuse to accept it because you don't want to see another person you care about get hurt."

Akira was silent for a moment. She didn't know how to respond. Did she really care about Leon and the others? Wouldn't they just get in the way of her mission? Maybe she isn't worried about them getting in the way. Perhaps she knows the path she is going on is going to risk her life, and she just doesn't want so many people worried about her. Then again, Ibuki, Ayato and Byakuya would be just as worried about her. More than anyone else. But she could never bring herself to push them away— no matter how hard she tried.

"I'll let you think about it. But just know that we are all here to support you. We are going to escape together," Ayato said as he and Akira walked into the dining hall.

When they got there, they saw Leon and Ibuki already there. Along with the new students.

"Oh, hello. I don't think we met," A girl with blonde hair walked towards Akira. It was Kaede. "I am Kaede Akamatsu. The Ultimate Pianist."

"Hi, I am Akira Iwasaki, Ultimate Spy," Akira smiled. "And of course I guess you already met my brother."

"Yes, I did," Kaede giggled. "He has quite the humor."

They both laughed and made their way to the long table, joining the others that had arrived before them.

"Hey, Akira," Hina smiled from across the table. "Are you feeling any better?"

"Yes, lots of rest was exactly what I needed," Akira smiled.

"Excellent! Now that we have our other twin here, we are bound to be more successful with our future searches!" Taka declared loudly.

"Gee, I didn't know I was that important, heh," Akira laughed as she scratched the back of her neck.

"Well of course!" Ibuki smiled. "You are just so amazing! I don't know what I would do if I didn't meet you and Ayato!"

"I suppose you are pleasant to be around," Celestia smiled as she sipped her tea.

Akira chuckled, slightly blushing from the embarrassment as she got up to make herself a cup of coffee. Soon after everyone started coming in one by one.

"Hey!" Junko smiled. "Sorry I am late; my make-up was not cooperating with me."

"My apologies, ladies and gentlemen," Hifumi said. "My morning, ah, duty took a little longer than usual..."

"I suppose I'm late," Kyoko mumbled as she walked in.

"I didn't oversleep, just so you know," Yasuhiro chuckled. "Nope got lost! I blame the Bermuda Triangle..."

Everyone laughed at Hiro's poor excuse. Kiyotaka did his headcount, which he did every morning.

"Wait, aren't we still missing some people?" Taka asked.

"Yeah, Maizono and Togami aren't here yet," Hina said. Almost immediately, Byakuya entered.

"What's going on?" Byakuya asked. "Did something happen?"

"Hey man! Have you seen Maizono?" Mondo asked. "I'm fucking starving."

"Do I look like her keeper?" Byakuya asked. "I came here directly from my room, thank you very much. I expected her to be here since we all have something to discuss."

"What is it?" Toko asked.

"We are going to have to wait for the lady in question," Byakuya said as he fixed himself a cup of coffee.

"It's a little out of character for her to be late," Hifumi said. "She is usually here before I am. Did she forget our breakfast promise?"

"I got the sense she always had her stuff together," Kyoko said.

"Do you think she is sick?" Hina asked.

"Hey, just know she didn't get it from me," Akira gave a lighthearted laugh, Hina joined in.

"Is something wrong, brah?" Yasuhiro asked. Everyone turned towards him and Makoto. The shorter boy was trembling.

"Excuse me..." Makoto said as he jumped out of his chair. "I should probably go check on her."

And just like that, Makoto was out of the dining hall.

"So, like, are they together or something?" Kaede asked.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Akira asked.

"Well, I mean... you guys have been here for a little over a week, right?" Kaede asked. "I just figured people wouldn't build such a strong bond in a little over a week, let alone in a situation like this."

"Yeah, Naegi and Maizono have known each other since junior high, I guess," Akira said. "If anyone knows themselves better than anyone, it's each other."

"Oh, I see," Kaede said. "That's nice to have someone you know for a while to be here with you. I see he cares about her."

"Yeah," Akira smiled, then she looked away and whispered, "A little too much."

It wasn't long before a blood-curdling scream came from the Dormitory Hall. Everyone immediately got up from their seats and ran towards the scream. Once they did, they found Makoto passed out by the bathroom door, and Sayaka Maizono... dead in the shower.

"Oh my gosh," Hina gasped and covered her mouth.

"What? Is she really..." Chihiro asked as tears filled her eyes.

There was a thud, and another gasp from Hina. They all turned to see Toko also on the floor.

"I completely forgot! Fukawa doesn't deal with blood well," Hina said. Akira ran over to the two.

"This room is completely trashed," Ayato said. "Seems like a sign of a struggle, perhaps?"

"Maybe..." Kyoko mumbled. "It is a good possibility."

Monokuma's voice came on the speaker.

"A body has been discovered!" Monokuma said. "All students please report to the gym for a pep rally at once!"

"What the hell?" Taka said. "What was that?"

"Hell no! I'm going to that gym!" Mondo yelled.

"Guys, we don't really have a choice," Kyoko said.

"Are you serious?" Junko asked. "Maizono is dead, Makoto is passed out on the floor, do you really think that listening to what that bear wants is a smart choice right now?"

"I agree with them, Kirigiri," Yasuhiro said.

"Remember what happened when Owada didn't listen to Monokuma?" Kyoko asked. "Do you really want something like that to happen again?"

"Well... No," Junko said.

"Then it is best to go to the gym," Kyoko said.

"Kirigiri is right," Akira said. "I personally don't want to find out what happens if we don't go... so we should just do it." She then turned and whispered to Hina. "Do you mind helping me carry her to the gym?"

Everyone mumbled and agreed. Yasuhiro picked up Makoto while Akira and Hina carried Toko, leaving Sayaka in the shower. Once they got there, they laid Makoto on the bleachers. Toko had already woken up by this time. They then waited for further instructions. Sometime later, Makoto finally woke up.

"Oh, he's awake," Akira smiled. "Ayato, give him some water."

Ayato handed Makoto the water bottle. Makoto groaned and sat up.

"Where am I?" Makoto asked as he looked around.

"The gym," Chihiro said.

"Sorry," Hina said. "We carried you here after we found you passed out."

"Yasuhiro tried to carry you but his ass kept dropping you," Ibuki said.

"Ibuki, no," Akira said. "Well, that is what happened."

"Ogami did the heavy lifting after Yasuhiro gave up," Chihiro said.

"How's your head?" Ayato asked.

"It still hurts," Makoto said. "So, what I saw... was it real?"

No one could answer his question. Makoto looked around the room, looking at everyone's faces. Then it hit him.

"How's Maizono?" Makoto asked. It took a moment of silence until someone spoke up.

"I'm afraid she is dead," Byakuya said. "Homicide."

Makoto gasped; he couldn't believe what he had just heard. Someone really killed Sayaka? He jumped off the bleachers and ran towards the door, but Taka grabbed his arm and stopped him.

"Where are you going?" Taka asked.

"Where do you think I'm going?" Makoto yelled. "I can't just leave her there, can I?"

"Naegi, please," Taka begged. "We need you to get a hold of yourself!"

"Let go!" Makoto yelled. "I have to-"

"Waste of time, my friend," Byakuya interjected. "I can assure you that the girl is well and truly departed. You can check once, twice, a thousand times. Sayaka Maizono is completely and irrevocably dead."

"Then why are we all standing around with our thumbs up our butts?" Makoto asked. "Someone's been murdered! We can't just treat this like any other day!"

"Understand, Naegi, it isn't as though we chose to stand around," Taka said.

"So, then what the hell is going on?" Makoto asked.

"It was the damn bear," Toko said, trying to remember what everyone told her when she woke up. "The so-called principal. He ordered us to meet in the gym. Something about a pep rally."

"Believe me, man, we are all against the idea," Taka said. "'How on earth can you be so disrespectful' we said. But then-"

"Because they took my suggestion and complied," Kyoko said.

"Kirigiri..." Makoto mumbled.

"Right now, we need to do whatever he says," Kyoko said. "We're his prisoners, right? It's not a good idea to defy him without reason. We don't need to make any more sacrifices than we already have..."

"Why should we listen to anything he has to say?" Makoto asked. "It's obvious he's the one who killed her!"

"WOMP WOMP!" Monokuma said out of nowhere. "As if little ol' me would do something like that! Scouts honor! It wasn't me!"

"He's here again..." Leon growled.

"You monster..." Makoto mumbled.

"Use your head, Mr. Jumps-To-Conclusions," Monokuma said. "Unless someone violates a school regulation, I absolutely will not interfere. I can promise you; I won't do anything that goes against the purpose of your school life here. I'm famous at safari parks throughout the world for following the 'Bear-Times-One' rule!"

"Then...who did it?" Chihiro asked. "Who killed her?

"You already know the answer! The one who killed Sayaka Maizono is...one of you!" Monokuma said. Everyone stood, shaking in fear. One of them actually killed Sayaka? "Hmm? What's the matter? You guys all look like you're about to see a dove get shot up with a Gatling gun! Don't you remember what I told you when this all began? One of you decided to kill Sayaka so that you could graduate! Someone's just following the rules. There's nothing wrong with that!"

"Are you serious?" Akira asked.

"This is horrible," Chihiro said.

"He is lying, right?" Hina asked.

"Of course he is lying!" Makoto yelled.

"Nope, sorry. One of you is now a bona fide killer," Monokuma said. "If they wanted to, the one who did it could testify to that little fact."

"W-what?" Makoto asked.

"Yup. Someone here killed Maizono," Monokuma said. "And right now, someone standing here knows that all too well."

"I demand whoever did it come forward immediately!" Taka yelled.

"Huh. Sure, like that'll work like a charm." Toko scoffed. "Do you ever listen to yourself?"

"Look, whoever it is, I won't judge," Celestia said. Her eyes contradict her statement. You could tell by the looks in her eyes, she was judging anyone she thought was suspicious.

"It wasn't me," Hifumi said. "I swear."

Hifumi then looked at Leon, who was standing right next to him.

"Nuh-uh! I know you're not looking at me!" Leon yelled back.

"Silence!" Byakuya said. "All of you. Let us assume the perpetrator is in fact one of us. By your own rules shouldn't they have graduated by now?"

Monokuma started laughing. Everyone stared at him.

"Well. Aren't we a Glass-Half-Full kind of guy?" Monokuma asked. "I like your reckless optimism! Having said that, though, the main attraction's still to come."

"What does that mean?" Makoto asked.

"Yeah, what are you talking about?" Akira asked.

"Listen up, me droogs!" Monokuma said. "Freedom isn't straight forward, there are a lot of 'supplemental' rules."

"Ah, the article in our digital notebooks which states, 'Whoever kills a classmate may graduate, but he or she must not get caught by the other students'" Celestia said.

"Exactamundo!" Monokuma said. "Someone studied! Murder alone won't cut the mustard; the killer has to get away with it"

"In other words, to go free we must commit the perfect crime," Celestia said.

"After each homicide, you'll have time to investigate before convening to debate the guilt or innocence of those who remain," Monokuma said. "We call these debates-- Wait for it-- 'trials'!"

"You... can't be serious about this," Makoto mumbled.

"During the trial, you'll have to present your arguments about who you think the blackened is. And once everything comes to an end, the outcome will be decided by popular vote!" Monokuma said. "If the answer you've arrived at is correct...only the one that disturbed your peace will be punished. The rest may continue their communal life. However, if you choose poorly...then the one who got away with murder will survive, and the rest of you will receive your punishment. Which of course means your school life will come to an end! As far as class trial rules go...that's all there is to it!"

"So, um...what exactly is this 'punishment' you keep talking about...?" Hifumi asked.

"Oh! Well, to put it simply... It's execution!" Monokuma said. Everyone gasped.

"E-Execution!?" Hifumi exclaimed.

"And by execution, you mean..." Chihiro mumbled, unable to finish her sentence.

"Execution is...execution. Ex-e-cution!" Monokuma said. "Electric chair, bzzt bzzt! Poison gas, cough cough! Torn apart like a paper plane in a hurricane!"

"S-So, to make sure I understand... If we get the culprit right, then only they die. But if we get it wrong...all the rest of us get...executed?" Taka asked.

"What a smart little chimpanzee you are!" Monokuma said. "Look at you, implying you didn't do it without actually saying it! So, it's basically what the outside world calls a 'lay judge' system, or an inquisition type thing! Which means you'll be deciding who you think the killer is. But judge carefully, because all your lives are on the line!"

"W-Wait, hold on a second!" Junko yelled. "You're freaking insane, you know that!?"

"I beg your pardon?" Monokuma asked.

"You heard me, you psycho furball," Junko yelled. Everyone was staring at her. Speaking out against someone who has more power over you and can kill you in an instant was a pretty... stupid thing to do. Admirable but stupid. "A class trial? What the hell is that!? I don't want anything to do with it!"

"But why?" Monokuma asked.

"What do you mean why? I'm not playing juror if it means I'm risking my life and that's that!" Junko yelled.

"Oh, be reasonable!" Monokuma groaned.

"Don't even try to talk to me about being reasonable, you sadistic freakazoid!" Junko yelled. "I'm out of the game!"

"Oh! The presence of evil before me is so overpowering, whatever shall I do?" Monokuma said, pretending to be scared. Suddenly, his claws came out. "But I won't give in to such evil! It's my style to stick it out and resist till the very end...! If you really wanna get out of here... You'll have to go through me first!"

Before they knew it, Monokuma began to stomp towards them. Fight or flight kicked in and they all were obviously going to run away and hope that the mechanical bear won't find them. But before Monokuma could even reach them, a loud thud could be heard. They all turned around and saw that Junko shoved Monokuma down and held him down with her foot.

"I'm sorry, were you trying to say something?" Junko asked.

"Big mistake," Monokuma growled.

"Huh?" Junko asked.

"Man-handling the principal in any way, shape, or form is strictly forbidden," Monokuma said. "The rules, remember? I know I warned you about breaking them."

Suddenly the bear started beeping again, just like he did the first time. Everyone gasped in fear, trying to tell Junko to move.

"Wait, what's going on?" Hajime asked.

"Activating summoning magic!" Monokuma yelled as the beeping got even faster. "Save me, Gungnir Spears!"

"M- Enoshima! Move!" Ayato yelled. But before Junko could respond, she was immediately impaled by multiple spears.

Everyone gasped, trying to process what they just saw

"Okay... not gonna lie, kinda weird," Junko mumbled between her last breaths. "It's, uh, I dunno really..."

She collapsed on the floor. Toko fainted once again. Everyone started screaming.

"Oh my god! She actually did it," Akira mumbled to herself. She assumed that Junko Enoshima was all talk and would never go against Monokuma, knowing the consequences. Oh, was she wrong.

"Ibuki doesn't like this," Ibuki said as she started shivering. "What the hell do we do?"

"Oh no..." Chihiro mumbled.

"That is seriously messed up," Leon's voice cracked.

"Honestly, I wanted to avoid messy situations like that as much as humanly possible," Monokuma said as he jumped back up on the stage. "But when an example's begging to be made, you can't let a bad attitude slide. Let's hope the gravity of your situation is beginning to sink in. High stakes are high."

Everyone stayed quiet. Even though no one died the first time it happened, the rules should have been clear. But now that someone did... you better believe that everyone understood now.

"Best of luck playing junior detectives!" Monokuma said. "The trial will begin soon. So put on those thinking caps and start a-case cracking!"

And with that, Monokuma disappeared once again.

"This is insanity," Makoto said. "What do we do? If that was an example-"

"At the very least, we can rule out Junko Enoshima as a suspect in Sayaka Maizono's death," Byakuya said.

"Oh, you don't say?" Ayato said, clearly being sarcastic. He gave the deceased fashionista one last look before turning back to the blond. "That goes without saying, don't you think?"

"What he is trying to say is if she didn't get killed, then Junko would still be a suspect just like the rest of us." Akira said firmly. "There's no need for your sarcasm."

"No need to become hostile, Akira," Byakuya adjusted his glasses. "I was simply thinking out loud."

"I propose that we move forward with the investigation," Celestia said. "Not to sound unduly harsh, but mourning the lives lost can only hamper chances of saving our own."

"Sorry, but that is harsh," Makoto said.

"The girl was warned; not least of all by me," Celestia said. "Those who cannot adapt are quickly swept away on the tide of their own obsolescence. In short, good riddance."

"That is a terrible thing to say!" Hina yelled.

"Our personal feelings on the matter are neither here nor there," Kyoko said. "The situation we've been tasked with is to unmask the culprit or we die."

"Aw, crap," Yasuhiro said. "Heads up, guys! We got sent some new pages!"

"Who gives a damn?" Mondo mumbled.

Everyone started grabbing their digital handbooks to see what Yasuhiro was talking about.

"The 'Monokuma Files' huh," Taka said.

"Woah, it gives a complete run-down of Ms. Maizono's cause-of-death," Hifumi said.

"Yeah, looks like it," Akira said as she scrolled through the file.

"Ah, this could prove useful," Celeste said. "Apparently the room she was found in wasn't her own. But, quite tellingly, it was Naegi's."

Everyone gasped and looked at Makoto.

"Should have known!" Mondo yelled. "You greased the poor girl, didn't you?"

"Hold on just a minute, it's not what it looks like," Makoto gasped.

"You better explain yourself, Naegi," Ayato said.

"She came to me wanting to switch rooms for the night, and I agreed to it," Makoto explained; his voice strained, begging for his peers to hear him out. "She was scared and needed my help."

"Oh, sure," Mondo glared. "Like we'll believe that line."

"Stinks if you ask me," Leon stuck his nose up at Makoto.

'Oh, come on," Makoto mumbled defeatedly. "You guys really think that I did it?"

"Naegi put yourself in our shoes, what would you think?" Byakuya asked. Makoto was speechless for a moment before turning towards two students gossiping.

Standing behind Byakuya stood Ibuki and Ayato. The younger spy twin was whispering in his friend's ear, and Makoto couldn't tell if they were even talking about him. All he knew was that he wasn't the only one who should be accused.

"Well, if I am a suspect, what about Ayato?" Makoto finally asked, his eyebrows furrowed. Ayato snapped his head away from Ibuki's ear, his eyes widened.

"Excuse me?" He asked

"What are you trying to say, Naegi?" Akira asked, getting defensive.

"He has been glaring at Maizono for the last couple of days... and same with Mioda," Makoto explained. He wanted to say more, but Akira's cold, hard stare silenced him.

"Hold on, he's right, those two have had a problem with her for some time, and now she just shows up dead," Hina jumped to the boy's defense. "They had something against her ever since you two talked to each other the other night. This isn't fair, Akira."

The older spy twin glanced at Hina, then back at Makoto.

"Listen, Naegi," Akira began. "You were closer to Sayaka Maizono than any of us ever were, and her body was found in your room. You can argue that you're being set up; but as of right now, we have no evidence that proves it wasn't you. Personally, I don't even want to think that it was you. I don't want the culprit to be any of us. But what I will tell you is that... If we make it to the end of this trial, and it becomes clear that you killed Maizono, and you were trying to drag Ayato and Ibuki down with you... Just know that you will get exactly what you deserve."

"Akira, I-" Makoto tried to speak but got interrupted.

"With that being said, if you say you're not the killer, just pray that there is evidence that backs it up. But for now, you are guilty until proven innocent." Akira said. She glanced at Leon and cocked her head; silently telling him to walk over to Byakuya.

Leon nodded and dug in his pocket, fetching out a folded piece of paper. He walked over to the Affluent Progeny and handed it to him.

"What's that?" Sakura asked.

"We have a list of who we think the mastermind was or who would most likely betray us," Ayato said. "Maizono has been acting weird for days, and then after she met with Akira, she's back to normal again. I won't lie; it's kind of disappointing it wasn't her."

"Wait- why do you even think that the mastermind is one of us?" Hina asked. "Isn't it still too early to figure that out yet?"

"No, we should have been searching the minute we first got here!" Ayato said. "When I mentioned to Monokuma that I will find out who he truly is, he didn't laugh or call me a dumbass. He was genuinely scared. Meaning, the mastermind is closer than we thought and is right here in this school with us."

"But that list is just stupid predictions, it doesn't mean anything, right?" Yasuhiro asked.

"We have known Byakuya for so long, and his predictions are never wrong," Ibuki said.

"Leave the mastermind investigation to us," Akira said. She then looked at Junko's body. "We have a class trial to get ready for."

"Naegi, if you're innocent, then the burden of proof is on you," Byakuya said.

"Guys-" Makoto mumbled.

"Everyone, come," Byakuya said. "Let's get this over with."

One by one everyone started walking out of the gym.

"Togami, wait," Makoto begged, but nobody would hear him out.

"Just pray that it goes well," Kyoko said as she followed Byakuya out of the gym.

Akira, Ayato, and Ibuki gave Makoto one last look before leading the new kids out of the gym.

"It's as good a place to start as any," Taka said, referring to Makoto's room. He, too, exited the gym. Mondo took off his jacket and used it as a cover over Junko's dead body.

It was no use. Nobody would listen to Makoto. As of right now, everyone should be investigating, not listening to what others have to say. If anyone wants to justify themselves, they can do it at the class trial. If Makoto is right, and he didn't murder Sayaka, that means he was set up. And only three people would know that. One of them is Monokuma, otherwise, if he didn't, it wouldn't be a fair trial. The other one is Sayaka, who is dead. And the last one who knows is the true killer.

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STATUS 21/23 STUDENTS ALIVE 2 DEAD

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To Be Continued...

Chapter Text

The victim of this murder was Sayaka Maizono. The time of death was approximately 1:30 a.m. Her body was found in the dormitory wing, specifically in the private room of classmate, Makoto Naegi. The death occurred in the aforementioned classmate's shower. The cause of death was a stab to the stomach from a large butcher's knife. Some other known injuries included deep lacerations to, and broken bones in the right wrist— indicating the victims struggle against her attacker.

Akira, Ayato, Ibuki, and Byakuya walked down the main hall while looking through the Monokuma File. There was useful information they could bring to the trial, but not enough to figure out who the killer is. They were on their way to Makoto's dorm since it was the scene of the crime. Before they could walk in, someone stepped in front of them. It was Mondo. Everyone agreed to have him, and Sakura guard the room and pay attention to whoever walks in or out.

"And what is your business here?" Mondo asked, intimidatingly looking down on the shorter ones before him.

"We also have to investigate," Akira said. "This is the crime scene, so there will most likely be more clues here."

"Sorry, can't let you do that," Mondo said as he shook his head.

"Why not?" Ayato asked, obviously furious.

"Yeah, this is Naegi's room," Ibuki said. "Why was he able to walk in?"

"Because the boy isn't athletic," Mondo said. "If he were to try and clear up any evidence, we would catch him immediately. But with these Spy Twins, they could be extremely stealthy about it... I dunno"

"Is that really how you see it?" Akira asked. "Fine then, I mean, I am a better choice than you when it comes to guarding. I am more trained in the combat department. May I ask, Owada, where have you trained to automatically be more qualified than I am? Because let's face it, you were only chosen because you are physically obvious. Why else would they choose the Ultimate Biker Gang Leader?"

"You know what?" Mondo began to yell. He took a deep breath and refrained. He was raised better than that. "You know what, yeah, you're right. I apologize. It's just better safe than sorry, you know?"

"Yeah, totally," Akira smiled. "How about this? Ayato and Ibuki will stay out here while Byakuya and I come in. We have to make sure of something."

"Of course," Mondo said as he moved out of the way.

"Wait, why do we have to stay out here, and you two go in?" Ayato asked.

"We will be right back," Akira said as she and Byakuya walked into Makoto's room.

"Great..." Ayato groaned, leaning against the wall. "More secrets."

"What do you mean?" Mondo asked.

"Well, something happened between her and Maizono the other night," Ayato said. "And she still refuses to say anything."

"Is that why she stayed in her room yesterday?" Mondo asked.

"I believe so, she claims that she was homesick, but I don't buy it," Ayato said. He then turned to look at Ibuki. "Surely she told you something, right?"

"What?" Ibuki asked, clearly lying. "No. Absolutely not."

"Ibuki, this is serious. Whatever happened between them isn't good and now Maizono is dead," Ayato said. "Whatever it is, you better say it at the class trial."

Ayato got off the wall and started walking away.

"Wait, where are you going?" Mondo asked.

"Tell Akira I'm investigating alone," Ayato said.

"I- uh... Ibuki will go too." Ibuki said as she ran away and followed Ayato.

Mondo sighed and walked back into Makoto's room.

Meanwhile, in Makoto's room, Byakuya and Akira walked towards the bathroom where Sayaka was.

"So, what was it that you wanted to look at?" Byakuya asked.

"In the Monokuma File, it said Maizono was stabbed with a butcher's knife. I wanted to see if it was the same one that she attacked me with." Akira said. They walked into the bathroom and saw Sayaka laying in the shower, just like the Monokuma File said. Akira walked closer to the knife and saw a knife stuck deep into her stomach. The knife wasn't necessary close to any organs, Akira couldn't tell with the way Sayaka was hunched over. It's safe to assume she died from bleeding out. It would be a miracle if she survived. "Well won't you look at that... it was the same one."

"How could you tell just by looking at part of the knife?" Byakuya asked. "You only see the handle and a small part of the blade."

"When she attacked me that night, she used a big knife," Akira said. "I don't think the chef knives here can get any bigger than that."

"Makes sense," Byakuya said. "You said this knife came from the kitchen, right?"

"There's no other place they would be kept," Akira said. "But it won't hurt to go and check."

When Byakuya and Akira walked out of the bathroom, they noticed Mondo was already outside waiting for them.

"Mioda and Ayato left," Mondo said. "I believe they walked towards the trash room."

"Thanks, Owada," Akira smiled as she and Byakuya walked away. They walked out of the dormitory hall and into the dining hall. There, they saw Hina in the kitchen.

"Oh, hey guys!" Hina smiled and waved. She was eating a box of donuts. "What's up?"

"We came to look around for clues on Maizono's murder," Akira said. "Can I ask you some questions?"

"Sure, go ahead," Hina smiled.

"How often are you in this kitchen?" Akira asked.

"About every day," Hina said. "Why?"

"So, were you here yesterday too?" Akira asked.

"Yes, Sakura and I were both here together," Hina said. "Funny you ask, Naegi was just here asking me the same thing."

"He talked to you?" Byakuya asked.

"Yeah, he is looking for someone to be his alibi, and he believes I am the best choice he has," Hina said. "And he is right."

"What do you mean by that?" Akira asked. "Are you saying you believe he didn't kill Maizono?"

"Yeah, even during nighttime, I would find a way to sneak in here," Hina said. "And I'm almost positive he has never stepped foot into the kitchen. At least, not alone."

While Hina was talking, Akira walked towards the doorway to the kitchen. She never really gotten the chance to take in how huge the room was— or how much food they had. It was almost impressive.

Ours back home was bigger. Akira thought to herself.

"So let me get this straight," Byakuya began. "You're telling me that... no point last night— did Naegi enter the kitchen?"

Hina nodded. "He's opened up to me about how he doesn't want to try to come here at night, so before Monokuma gives his nighttime announcements, I usually see him grab some food and water to take with him."

"Interesting," Akira said. She then looked at the knives that were hung up on the wall. "Hey, Hina, can I ask you to confirm something for me?"

"Of course."

"Was there always a missing knife here?"

Hina furrowed her eyebrows. She and Byakuya walked over to Akira. She was standing in front of the hanging knives.

"One of the knives has been missing for a couple of days after Monokuma gave us that motive," Hina said. "Then it came back that day you didn't come out of your room."

"I see," Akira mumbled. There wasn't a wide variety of knives, so it was hard to notice one was missing. "And if I'm not mistaken... the knife that is missing right now, it's the same one that was missing before?"

"Exactly!" Hina said. "It's totally weird. I believe there was supposed to be another murder, but either it failed or that person changed their mind."

"Do you think the person who took the knife the first time and the person who killed Maizono are one and the same?" Akira asked.

"Well, no," Hina mumbled. "Not exactly. I am still trying to understand how this all happened."

"What do you mean?" Byakuya asked. "You know who took the knife last night, don't you?"

Hina let out a frustrated breath and nodded.

"Yes, I do," she mumbled. "Sakura also knows."

"Then why didn't you say anything when the blame was on Naegi?" Byakuya asked.

"I... I thought it was bad to speak ill of the dead." Hina mumbled. "Besides, if I did say anything, nobody would believe me."

"You don't mean..." Akira mumbled.

"Yeah, Maizono took the knife and left," Hina said.

"Okay, thank you Hina, that's all," Akira said as she grabbed Byakuya's arm and ran off. "See you later."

Once when they were out of the dining hall, Akira stopped running.

"Did you hear what she just said?" Byakuya asked.

"Yes..." Akira mumbled. "Just because Naegi didn't take the knife, that still doesn't clear him as a suspect. But we also..."

Akira stopped mid-sentence. She just realized that Makoto wasn't the only one who met with Sayaka the night before. However, Makoto was right about Ayato also being a suspect since he had an unknown grudge against Sayaka.

"Alright," Byakuya sighed. "What are you thinking about?"

The fact that Maizono was found in Naegi's shower.

The fact that Kuwata met up with Maizono last night.

The fact that everyone knows Ayato has something against Maizono.

"This is all a coincidence, right?" Akira asked. "Just some fucked up coincidence. There's still a lot more we need to look for, right?"

"You know what we have to do about this," Byakuya said. "I know that this will be tough but... what other choice do we have? Our lives are on the line here."

Akira didn't answer for a minute.

"Am I getting punished?" Akira asked. "Is this my punishment for being a weak coward?"

"Akira you know that's not true," Byakuya said. "None of this is your fault, It's—"

"Guys!" A voice called out from the main hall; it was Makoto. "Thank goodness I found you two!"

"What is it, Naegi?" Akira asked.

"I was searching in Maizono's room so I could look for that DVD... found it," Makoto said. "But I think you guys should take a look at it."

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While Akira and Byakuya were investigating, Ayato and Ibuki were doing their own investigation that didn't involve Sayaka's death.

"So, what you're saying is... In order to find out why we are here... You want to learn the history of Hope's Peak?" Ibuki asked.

"The devil is in the details, Ibuki," Ayato said. "Maybe we should check out a few of the classrooms and see if there was anything left behind. The mastermind had to have messed up somewhere."

Ibuki nodded and followed Ayato into one of the classrooms. They opened the door and saw Leon frantically digging inside a teacher's desk.

"Kuwata! Hey!" Ibuki waved. Leon flinched and looked up. "Whatcha' doing?"

"Oh... hey," Leon said. "I was just searching around the classrooms to look for something."

"Something?" Ayato asked. "Does it have anything to do with the trial?"

"Actually... No," Leon said. He continued digging around the desk until he found a specific piece of paper. "I kinda wanted to do my own investigation for a while, it seems like I have what I need."

"What is that?" Ayato asked.

"Looks like something that happened at this school last year," Leon said. "I figured that since I'm helping you guys, I might as well actually find something useful."

"Great! Ayato and I are actually investigating the school again," Ibuki said. "Though, this time we aren't looking for a way out."

Ayato and Ibuki walked towards Leon to see what he had. This could possibly hold clues to where exactly they are, why they're there, and who the mastermind is.

"So, what is it?" Ayato asked.

"From what I'm getting out of this, Hope's Peak only lets people who have talent get accepted, and every year... they accept one ordinary kid from a lottery," Leon said as he skimmed through the document.

"So pretty much what is going on now," Ayato said as he continued reading the documents. "Look right there, apparently the school was running low on money, so they created a reserve course building behind the school."

"What's a Reserve Course?" Ibuki asked.

"It's a separate building for students," Ayato said. "Basically, the students who have talent are put into the main course, which is where we are right now. And students who don't have talent are put into a separate building called the Reserve Course."

"Why would they do that?" Leon asked.

"Well, this document only shows the school's budget so I don't think we can get much information from that," Ayato said. "But this is getting us somewhere. If we find out more information about this school, I'm sure we could find out who the mastermind is!"

"Kuwata, I think you should hold on to those documents until we find Akira," Ibuki said.

"Sure... but where is she?" Leon asked.

"She and Byakuya want to be Sherlock Holmes buddies together and try to solve the mystery," Ayato said. "I mean... I don't know why they're even trying. Maizono clearly did something to Akira... and then she attacked you. If you ask me, she got what was coming to her."

"But did she really?" Ibuki asked. "I mean... sure what she did was... really, really bad... but none of this would happen if it weren't for Monokuma."

"I guess that's true. But there's this thing, it's called self-control," Ayato rolled his eyes. "I highly doubt that there is anything left in here so we should check the other classrooms."

"Wait... What do we do with any information we get?" Leon asked. "What if Monokuma finds them?"

"Maybe hide them somewhere in your room," Ibuki said. "I could distract Monokuma for you while you hide them."

"Sure," Leon smiled. "I'm gonna run and put these in my room and I will catch up with you guys."

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Byakuya, Akira, and Makoto walked into the A/V Room and saw a computer that had the screen still on. Makoto sat down in the chair and Byakuya and Akira stood behind him.

"I already looked at it, but now I understand why Maizono was freaked out this whole time," Makoto said. "I would be freaking out too if I were her."

"This is Maizono's motive video, right?" Akira asked.

"Yes, I found it in her trash bin," Makoto said. He played the video. Loud music started playing through the speakers. It was Sayaka and her band performing on stage.

"Teen Idol, Sayaka Maizono is seen here in her element, singing like an angel, t'was the toast of her generation!" Monokuma's voice said. All of a sudden, the screen went black for a second, then turned back to the stage the band was on. The performers were dead on the floor, and Sayaka was missing. "Sadly, for reasons still unclear, her chart-topping girl band dissolved right as they hit their stride. These velvety-voiced beauties neither basked in the limelight nor so much as warbled a note in the shower, ever again. Meaning, of course, that if she even breaks free of Hope's Peak, poor Maizono is essentially all dressed up with no place to go. Here's a puzzler for you: Why on earth would this phenomenally successful vocal group disband?"

And just like the Iwasaki twin's video, the screen turned black with orange letters that said: "Find Out at Graduation!"

"Holy shit..." Akira mumbled. "That's fucked up."

"It appears he will stop at nothing to ensure we all play his murderous game," Byakuya said as he fixed his glasses.

"She didn't deserve this," Makoto said as he started tearing up. "She was scared, and I offered to swap rooms with her for the night. Am I the reason she died?"

"Well, you did trade rooms with her," Byakuya retorted. Akira glared.

"You're not at fault here, Naegi," Akira said. "Look, at the class trial, all eyes are going to be on you, but if it gets to a point that everyone finalizes that you are Maizono's killer, Hina, Byakuya and I will step in."

"But why?" Makoto asked as he wiped the tears off his face.

"I guess you could say that we found evidence that proves your innocence," Byakuya said. "Only a little bit."

"When you talked to Hina in the kitchen, did she tell you why she knew it wasn't you?" Akira asked.

"No, she said it was better to hear it at the class trial," Makoto said. "Do you guys know who it is? Please, I need to know who killed Maizono."

"You'll find out at the class trial," Byakuya said as he got up from his chair and exited the A/V Room. Makoto's teary eyes widened. Though, it was no surprise Byakuya would say the same thing. Makoto couldn't shake the feeling that majority of the students here knew something he didn't.

"We want to tell you," Akira said. "Really, we do. But without physical evidence, I don't think you would believe us."

Makoto frowned and nodded.

"We will see you at the class trial." Akira smiled as she waved Makoto goodbye, then walked out of the AV Room with Byakuya. Makoto nodded and walked out with them, and they went their separate ways.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

Makoto walked towards the dormitory hall and found Ibuki and Ayato talking to Leon. Makoto didn't want to intrude in on the conversation, so he just waited for them to leave. Once they did, he was able to pass by and make his way into the trash room and incinerator. The security gate was down, blocking the way to the incinerator.

"What the hell..." Makoto mumbled. There was something by the incinerator. It was too far to tell what it was, but it just seemed... out of place.

"It's the end of the line," Monokuma said, appearing out of nowhere. "The trash room... This is where all the trash in the school eventually winds up."

"How do you get this gate open?" Makoto asked.

"No, no, no! No entry beyond this point!" Monokuma yelled. "Only the person on cleaning duty is allowed in!"

"Cleaning duty?" Makoto asked.

"No, no, no! No entry beyond this point!" Monokuma repeated. "Only the person on cleaning duty is allowed in!"

"Who's on cleaning duty?" Makoto asked.

"No, no, no! No entry beyond this point! Only the person on cleaning duty is allowed in!"

Makoto rolled his eyes. It would be useless to ask Monokuma who is on cleaning duty. It would be more effective to ask the others. He walked out of the trash room and walked towards the main hall and found Taka.

"Hey, Taka?" Makoto asked. "Are you on cleaning duty?"

"Cleaning duty, eh?" Taka asked. "As a matter of fact, Monokuma came and talked to me yesterday morning!"

"Really?!" Makoto sighed in relief.

"He probably realized I was basically in charge, so he decided to talk to me directly!" Taka said. "The topic of conversation was assigning cleaning duty!"

"Oh, so you're on cleaning duty now?" Makoto asked.

"Actually, no." Taka frowned.

"Then who?" Makoto asked.

"Yamada was also there when we had this conversation," Taka smiled. "He volunteered right away, so I let him have it!"

"So, he is on cleaning duty, then?" Makoto asked.

"Indeed. But we'll swap out on a weekly basis," Taka said. "I'm sure you'll be up before too long. And when that time comes, I'll be counting on you!"

Makoto didn't say anything. He simply nodded and walked away. When he walked back to the dormitory hall, Hifumi, Byakuya, Akira, and Leon were there.

"Hey, Yamada, are you on trash duty?" Makoto asked.

"Why, yes I am," Hifumi said. "It just so happens Monokuma talked to me yesterday and asked me to take care of it. Without someone on cleaning duty, the school would be flooded with trash in no time. So, I formally applied for the position! I was gonna start this morning, but after what happened... I haven't had the chance to. Why do you ask?"

"And since you're on cleaning duty, you can open the gate in front of the trash room?" Makoto asked.

"Of course!" Hifumi said. "I was given a key for it. We are supposed to rotate once a week, so eventually, you will be in charge."

"Wait, hold on," Byakuya said. "You need a key to get into the trash room? And only the person on cleaning duty has access to the key? What's the point of going through all that trouble? Why not just leave the trash room open all the time so we can throw things out whenever we want?"

"That does seem more convenient," Makoto said.

"Actually... Maybe it's like that because of our school regulations," Akira said. "Rule number 6?"

Rule 6: Anyone who kills a fellow student and becomes "blackened" will graduate unless they're discovered.

"That must be why," Byakuya said. "If anyone could go in and out of the trash room whenever they wanted, then destroying evidence would be easy. The thrill would disappear, and things would become boring."

"B-Boring!?" Makoto asked.

"Anyway, more important than that..." Leon said. "Hey jackass! Why'd you want the cleaning duty gig, anyway!?"

"I-I just decided to volunteer for something I knew no one else would wanna do," Hifumi said. "What's the big deal!?"

"Liar! I know why you did it," Leon said. "You wanna dig through all the girls' trash! Looking for...y'know...and poking around at it!"

"That's gross," Akira mumbled.

"What are you talking about!?" Hifumi asked. "All my love is for 2D!"

"But there's all kinds of trash diggers like that!" Leon argued. "Maybe you'll get tired of 2D, and then turn to--"

"I would NEVER get tired of 2D!" Hifumi yelled. "After spending a significant amount of time comparing 2D and 3D, I voluntarily chose 2D! The only thing 3D is good for is to shower love and affection on 2D! Oh, and PVC figures!"

"How are you not totally embarrassed to say stuff like that!?" Leon asked.

"If you're so worried about Yamada's questionable morality, there's a very easy solution," Byakuya said. "Whenever a guy has cleaning duty, Sakura or the twins can accompany them, from picking up the trash to disposing of it."

"Whaaat?!" Hifumi exclaimed.

"If you're as innocent as you claim, where's the harm in it?" Byakuya asked.

"Kh--! That's not how it's supposed to--!" Hifumi gritted his teeth.

"Anyway, on another topic..." Makoto interrupted. "Yamada, since you were on cleaning duty, I have a favor to ask you."

"What, so now you suddenly want to join my party?" Hifumi asked. "Sorry, but you haven't triggered that flag yet. I mean, you haven't helped me recover from a past trauma, or save a village, or beat a boss."

"No, nothing like that," Makoto said. "I was just hoping to get into the trash room and look around."

"Oh, okay!" Hifumi smiled and walked towards the trash room with Makoto following him.

"Well, he's weird," Leon mumbled as he waved and walked away. "I'm gonna continue looking around."

"Byakuya, do you mind looking for Ayato and Ibuki?" Akira asked. "I want to talk to Kuwata. I'll catch up with you guys later."

Byakuya nodded as they parted ways.

In the trash room, Hifumi unlocked the gate for Makoto to walk in and look around.

"Well, the gate is open just like you asked," Hifumi smiled as he put the key into his pocket. "However, Mr. Naegi... Surely you aren't planning to use the trash room to destroy evidence, are you!? Y-You fiend! You planned this all along!"

"N-No!" Makoto said. "I just wanted to see if the actual killer had tried to destroy any evidence or not!"

"But the actual killer is YOU, isn't it!?" Hifumi asked. Makoto rolled his eyes and looked around. What he found was quite strange. "You want to see if you left anything behind! Wait, maybe in a parallel world...?"

"Hold on, Hifumi," Makoto interrupted. "How exactly would you get this incinerator to work?"

"Do you see the green and yellow buttons next to the mouth of the incinerator?" Hifumi asked. "It's a pretty simple setup. You press the green button to get it going, and the yellow button to turn it off. Sooner or later, you'll be on cleaning duty, so make sure you learn this before you leave, okay?"

Hifumi's explanation was interrupted by his own gasp.

"Huh!? Someone turned the incinerator on! Very strange... I'm quite certain it was off last time I was down here. Perhaps it was the work of a fairy..."

"What did you just say?" Makoto asked.

"Huh? The fairy?" Hifumi asked.

"What? No," Makoto said. "You said that last time you were here, the incinerator was off?"

"Ah, yes," Hifumi laughed nervously. "About that, there can be no mistake. If I've got one thing going for me, it's my memory! Yesterday, as soon as I was appointed, I came down to check the place out. It definitely wasn't on then. I haven't been back to the trash room since then. And since I'm the only one who has a key to open the gate... it should be impossible for the incinerator to be on. And yet..."

That's the thing that worried Makoto. The incinerator was on before anyone even got into the trash room. Now that he is able to look around, he found something in front of the incinerator. It was a piece of fabric from a white button up and glass shards from a glass ball. If Makoto remembered correctly, Yasuhiro had a glass ball at orientation. He heard from Maizono that Yasuhiro was showing it off while Leon made fun of him shortly before he and the twins arrived.

"This is all that's left of some of the evidence the killer destroyed..." Makoto thought to himself.

"This whole thing is quite strange, indeed. When I was here last, the incinerator was off, and those glass shards and burnt clothes weren't here," Hifumi said. "What does it all mean, Mr. Naegi!? Will you be confessing soon!?"

"Why me...?" Makoto asked.

"Everyone already knows you did it!" Hifumi said. "All the mysteries are being solved one by one!"

Makoto rolled his eyes and walked away. All the evidence being pieced together made this case even more confusing. Makoto needs to figure out how to prove he didn't kill Sayaka before he and everyone else gets executed.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

Akira brought Leon to the dining hall and sat across from him at one of the tables. She couldn't help but feel a strong sense of Deja vu. Why was that? Her thoughts were interrupted when the ginger pulled her back to reality.

"So, why did you want to meet with me?" Leon nervously asked. "We don't normally talk unless the others are with us. Are you finally taking me on a date?"

"I'm amused how you immediately think I wear the pants in whatever this is," Akira giggled.

"You're right," Leon smirked. "But when you're with me, I'll make sure you never wear pants again."

"You're disgusting, and that was the worst possible way you could have said that," Akira cringed. "And no, this is not a date. It's actually quite serious."

"Oh, is everything alright?"

"When you met with Maizono... You left immediately after she ran to the bathroom, right?"

Leon tensed up. He lowered his head, trying to think of what to say.

"Look, I know how this looks... But it wasn't me."

"You came to my room round her time of death," Akira said. "Was there anyone else in the hall?"

"I don't know, it all happened so fast. I wasn't paying attention," Leon said. "But I didn't kill her."

"You swear you didn't?"

"Akira," Leon sighed. He reached for Akira's hand and placed something in her palm. Akira's eyebrows furrowed, and her heart pounded painfully inside of her chest. "However today ends, I just want you to know that I genuinely tried. I've made mistakes in the past. I just hope my efforts are enough to redeem myself."

The boy got up and proceeded to leave the dining hall, ignoring Akira's calls.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

Akira managed to catch up with Byakuya, who still hasn't found Ibuki and Ayato. She informed him on how her conversation with Leon went. They were both disappointed.

"Hey, so the new kids," Akira said.

"What about them?" Byakuya asked.

"Do you think that they have to join the class trial too?" Akira asked. "It's just that twenty-three students... That's a lot, and this school may be big, but... I don't know. A courtroom in Hope's Peak Academy? I wouldn't doubt if that was one of the new renovations, it's probably rushed like the other dormitory hall."

"Earlier, before I caught up with you, Ibuki, and Ayato, I crossed paths with Monokuma," Byakuya said. "He said that the courtroom was originally designed to fit up to sixteen students. But after he added more students, he had to make adjustments to it."

"Really?" Akira asked. "Well, as fucked up as it sounds, I am kind of intrigued to see what it looks like. I do wish we were given the opportunity to check it out without only needing it if someone dies."

"That's true," Byakuya agreed. "But I do think a trial seems to pretty much over-do it a bit."

"Yeah," Akira said. The two walked in silence until she spoke up again. "I've been doing some thinking. And... I don't think anyone was necessarily in the wrong here. I mean, yes, killing is awful, and we all want to get out of here, but none of this would have happened if it weren't for Monokuma. Whoever is controlling him."

"Are you saying you don't blame Maizono for attacking you?"

"I would have done the same if I could."

"Hmmm, you've gone soft," Byakuya hummed. "Don't worry though, it's not necessarily a bad thing."

The two stared at each other. Exchanging no words. Has she? Has Akira gone soft? Is she sympathizing with strangers? What does Byakuya mean? It's not necessarily a bad thing?

"We should catch up to them," Akira said as she began to walk away.

"Hey, guys!" The voice called out from behind them, it was Ayato. "Did you guys find anything?"

"Y-yeah..." Akira mumbled. "What about you guys?"

"We found something that is unrelated to Maizono's murder that's for sure," Ibuki said.

"But it is still important," Ayato said. "It looks like documents and stuff from this school."

"Show us," Byakuya said.

"Yeah, I guess last year a student from the reserve course was experimented on," Ibuki said as she handed Byakuya the papers. "But the school tried to cover it up."

"What is the reserve course exactly?" Akira asked.

"It's a neighboring school, apparently there's a building behind Hope's Peak," Ayato said. "It says here that the building is for students who don't necessarily have a talent and are considered 'unimportant' to the school."

"Wait- some students were accepted through a lottery," Akira said. "Why couldn't they do the lottery too?"

"The reserve course is extremely expensive to get into," Ibuki said. "And the main course, which has all the Ultimates, only accepts one average student per year. Also, the reserve course was only made to fix the school's budget issue."

"And here is where it gets weird," Ayato said. "We have two students here who were accepted through a lottery and have the title as the Ultimate Lucky Student."

"Wait, there are two?" Akira asked.

"Yeah, Naegi got accepted by the lottery, and so did the new kid, Nagito Komeada," Ayato said. "There is also that other new student, Hajime Hinata, the poor kid claims that he doesn't remember his Ultimate, or he doesn't have one."

"So there are three possible students that could possibly be from the reserve course? But why were they brought here for this killing game?" Byakuya asked. "Unless.... One of them is the reason why we are here?"

"We probably overlooked something and one of them could be the mastermind," Ayato said. "But then again, that's the only information that we got, I will look into it later."

"Oh, and there was also another document we found about some weird project," Ibuki said. "It was specifically targeting some of the reserve course dropouts. Leon has it."

"Does it say who they did it on?" Akira asked.

"More importantly, why?" Byakuya added.

"Nope, we asked Monokuma about it and he said there is stuff in the headmaster's office or the library that is on the second floor," Ibuki said. "But the office is off limits."

"Seems like we have another investigation on our hands," Ayato said. "So, let's split up these two investigations. Ibuki and I will deal with this event from last year, and you two will deal with the Mastermind. I have a feeling that whatever this is about, the mastermind was behind it."

The group of four nodded. All of a sudden, something like a ding dong, bing bong came from the speakers. Then Monokuma's voice came up loud and clear.

"So, I am getting tired of waiting," Monokuma said. "What say we just get started, hm? It's time for the long-awaited Class Trial! Now then, allow me to appoint a proper location for the proceedings. Please go through the red door on the 1st floor of the school! Puhuhu. See you soon!"

"Seems like we should probably get going now, right?" Ibuki asked.

"Yes, we have to," Byakuya said as they walked to the red door.

"Why do we even need a trial?" Ayato asked. "I mean, Naegi did it, right?"

"No, we actually found evidence that it wasn't him," Akira said.

"Wait, seriously?" Ayato asked. "What was it?"

"We have physical proof," Byakuya said. "A witness."

They finally made it to the elevator; everyone was there except for Makoto. Perhaps he's planning to cheat his own upcoming death?

"Hey, is Naegi behind you guys?" Hina asked.

"No, the last time we saw him, he left with Yamada to open the gate in the trash room," Akira said.

Finally, Makoto made his way to the elevator, he didn't miss the fact everyone went back to glaring at him like they did this morning.

"You're late, Naegi!" Taka yelled. "We've all been waiting for you!"

Wow, even when you're probably gonna die, you still worry about punctuality. Don't you, Taka? Akira thought to herself.

"As the Ultimate Moral Compass, it is my duty to guide everyone in the right direction. Even the tardy ones," Taka continued as he cocked an eyebrow at Makoto. "You would think that since this is our trial to fight for our lives, you'd be on time."

"I suppose you can hardly blame him, right?" Toko asked. "He knows it's only a matter of time before he is executed."

"We haven't proven anything yet," Taka said. Toko flinched at his sudden remark. "I'll remind you, the man is owed a fair trial"

"Whatever, man," Leon sighed, leaning against the wall. "Look at him, he's totally guilty."

At this point, Makoto could only think about the fact he doesn't stand a chance. All he could do is pray that Akira kept her word about sticking up for him if things get messy.

"Is everybody in?" Monokuma asked through the speaker. "Hop aboard and be conveyed, as if by magic, to the student courtroom. Otherwise known as the Moment of Truth Room for all of you. The students who have been here since the beginning, including Ibuki Mioda, please sit in the middle of the room, while the newest comers sit in the chairs along the wall."

Everyone started walking into the elevator, Makoto stayed behind, letting out a breath he didn't know he was holding.

"Nervous?" Kyoko asked. Makoto jumped and looked at her. "You have two options here: Bring Maizono's true killer to light. Or, collectively, suffer the fate rightfully theirs."

Akira heard the whole thing and walked up to Makoto. She put her hand on his shoulder.

"Seems like she also believes it isn't you," Akira said. "Trust and believe what I said: if false evidence gets pointed towards you, we will point them away. Byakuya and I already got Ayato and Ibuki on board. Although they didn't do anything for this investigation, they usually follow along with what we tell them to. You also have Hina as your witness."

Makoto gave a weak smile. He did feel a little better knowing he has people standing behind him. But that didn't make him any less nervous. Akira noticed this and gave him a light nudge and not the elevator.

The elevator went down as soon as everyone was inside. An awkward silence came amongst the students. This class trial can go down one of two ways; Makoto is proven innocent, and everybody lives... except for the killer... or they fail, and they all get executed except for the killer.

They finally made it out of the elevator. They walked out and saw the courtroom. It wasn't even designed like an actual courtroom.

"And to think... I was actually excited to see the room decorated like this?" Akira asked. "The paint job is awful."

"This courtroom is total shit!" Nekomaru yelled.

In the midst of all the disappointment, Monokuma finally appeared.

"Nyohoho! You've finally arrived!" The bear cheered. "What do you think? Doesn't it feel just like a real courtroom? It's like a Hollywood movie set, right!?"

"Not even close. It's total shit." Mondo growled.

"Yeah, haven't you ever seen any court shows?" Ayato asked. "This whole room is garbage."

"Okay, okay, everyone go find your assigned seats and sit down!" Monokuma said. "Hurry up now, hurry up!"

That's exactly what everyone did. The students who were here since day one, including Ibuki, sat in the middle of the room, and the students that just arrived sat in the seats on the wall.

"This is so exciting, a group of friends working together to combat the despair of their friend's death!" Nagito smiled. "This is wonderful, so beautiful."

"Is he always like that?" Akira asked. Ayato shrugged.

This was it. The moment of truth. This is the day everyone exposes who the killer is.

Chapter Text

Everyone gathered in the court room, waiting for further instructions from Monokuma. Granted, he wasn't doing anything productive. He came back into the room with a giant bowl of popcorn.

"Are we all ready? Let’s start off with a basic explanation of how this will all work," Monokuma said as he sat back down in his chair, placing the big bowl into his lap. "Your votes will determine the results of the trial. If you can figure out ‘whodunit’ then only they will receive punishment. But if you pick the wrong person... then I'll punish everyone besides the blackened, and the one that deceived everyone else will graduate!"

"And the killer really is one of us, right?" Makoto asked, crossing his arms over his chest, trying to shield himself from everyone's judgmental glares.

"Well, of course!"

"Okay, then...everyone, close your eyes," Taka demanded. "And whoever did it, raise your hand."

Nobody closed their eyes, except for Taka. They all stared at each other for a few seconds in silence.

"Don't be a goddamn idiot," Mondo rolled his eyes. "Why the hell would they raise their hand?”

"Before we move on and start the trial, can I ask one question?" Kyoko asked. "What's going on with...those pictures?"

Everyone looked at the signs with head shots of both Sayaka and Junko. The pictures were filtered in black and white with their faces crossed out with a big red X.

"I'd feel awful if they got left out just because they died," Monokuma smirked. "Friendship penetrates even death's barrier!”

"Friendship...penetrates?" Hifumi repeated, practically drooling.

"Ugh, pervert," Akira mumbled.

"Okay, that's about it for the preamble," Monokuma announced. "Get ready to get started! First up is the case summary. Now, let the class trial...begin!"

"There is so much to unravel here," Ibuki whined. "What do we talk about first?"

“I believe we should discuss the basics of the crime scene,” Akira said. “We will probably uncover some clues as to who killed Maizono.”

"I assert that the one who was murdered was Miss Sayaka Maizono!" Taka announced.

"Yeah, we kind of know that part already," Yasuhiro said.

"And the murder took place in Naegi’s room," Byakuya said. "Specifically, in the bathroom."

"So what happened there?" Chihiro asked. "Was she attacked by surprise in the bathroom?”

"No, actually," Makoto said. "My room was a mess, and there were scratch marks on the wall. So there were clear signs of a struggle."

"So… What exactly happened there?" Chihiro asked.

"She must have been attacked in the main room first, then she ran to the bathroom to try and hide," Celestia said. "The killer followed her in, and that's where they finished the job..."

"That much should have been obvious after taking one look at the scene," Byakuya said. "It shouldn't even need explaining."

"S-Sorry..." Chihiro mumbled. "I didn't really do much investigating, I stayed in the gym with Enoshima."

"Okay, so what's next?" Yasuhiro asked, scratching his head.

"I believe it is best we discuss the murder weapon,”Sakura said. Akira gripped on the podium in front of her. The weapon that took Sayska’s life was the same one that almost took hers. Thinking about that sent a chill up her spine.

"Well, according to the Monokuma File, she was stabbed with a butcher's knife," Akira said. She started playing with the hem of her cardigan again. "More specifically, a knife from the kitchen. Right, Hina?"

"Yeah," Hina said. "I noticed that a couple of days after Monokuma's motive, the knife was missing, and then it came back the day that Akira refused to leave her room."

"Could it be Akira then?" Yasuhiro asked. "Not suspecting her, it was just a thought."

"Not possible,” Byakuya asserted. “Akira was under constant supervision throughout the day. There is no way she could have killed Maizono.”

"Gotchu dude," Yasuhiro said. "Also, sorry Akira."

“It’s fine,” Akira mumbled.

"Okay, so the murder weapon was a kitchen knife. But where does that get us?" Leon asked. "I mean, we all know Naegi killed her, right!?"

"That's r-right... his room was the s-scene of the crime." Toko said. "What more proof do you need?"

"H-Hold on a second!" Makoto begged. "I'm--!"

"Let's draw our conclusions after we've presented our arguments," Kyoko said. "Otherwise, what's the point of the trial?"

"Well we can talk all we want, it's not gonna change that conclusion," Leon said.

"It is still too early for accusations," Akira said. "Let's give Naegi a fair trial he deserves."

"I'm sure if we keep at it, something new will reveal itself," Kyoko said.

"You really believe that?" Yasuhiro asked the two girls. "Are you guys honestly convinced that he isn’t the killer?"

“Why not?” Akira retorted. “After all, there’s still so much more we haven’t covered yet.”

“Like what?” Leon asked. “It’s clear that Naegi grabbed the knife from the kitchen, lured Maizono into his room, and then killed her. What more is there to it?”

"He probably did it in secret when nobody was in the d-dining hall," Toko added.

"And why would he do that?" Akira asked. "Are you implying that since they were close, he knew she would trust him?”

“Yup, that’s exactly what I was gonna say,” Leon smiled. “They were so close, she thought she could trust him. And he took that to his advantage. We think so alike, babe.”

Akira scoffed, “I guess that could be true.”

"Akira wait-" Makoto gasped. Was she really siding with Leon with no second thoughts?

"But if that’s the case, then Naegi wouldn’t have an alibi for last night,” Akira said.

“Really?” Leon asked. “And what would that be?”

“Well, Hina, of course.”

"Oh, yeah!" Hina said. "Sakura and I spent the entire day in the kitchen yesterday, well... except the part where Monokuma called us all to the gym to meet the new students, but after that little meeting, we went right back. I can assure you that Naegi wasn't in the kitchen at all."

"I'm sorry... Sakura is who, exactly?" Celestia asked. "No offense."

"None taken," Sakura said. Everyone turned towards her and nodded. "We were there until late. Enjoying a lovely tea, as it happens."

"So, you both entered the dining hall after hours?" Monokuma asked. "That's against the rules!"

"This evidence is useful for a fair trial," Ayato argued. "The fact that they broke the rules is irrelevant right now."

"I was on edge, so Sakura was sweet enough to keep me company and try and calm my nerves," Hina said. "And you can't expect someone to not be hungry in the middle of the night!"

"Fine, fine," Monokuma said. "To make you quit your yappin’ I’ll lift the ‘no entry in the Dining Hall during night time’ rule! Now hurry up with this trial or I will execute you all right now! That includes the killer!”

"Was the knife stolen when you two got back? Mondo asked.

"No, it got stolen after we returned," Sakura said.

"So you’re saying you saw who stole the knife?" Chihiro asked. Hina and Sakura both nodded.

"Well, it was Makoto, right?" Leon asked.

"No, it was-"

"Well, maybe you both did it," Toko interrupted. "If you teamed up... all you two have to do is keep your stories straight"

"Interrupting again," Monokuma said. "Please note that if two or more people team up to commit murder, only the actual killer is eligible for graduation. No exceptions."

"Yes, it is clearly stated in the rules," Byakuya said as he held out his digital notebook, showing the new rules that had been updated for the class trial.

"I see," Celestia said. "In other words, no one stands to gain anything from opting to team up."

"Who took the knife, Hina?" Makoto asked. "When I asked the first time, you wouldn't tell me. And I know you talked to Byakuya and Akira because they both wouldn't tell me either."

"He deserves to know now," Akira said.

"You don't mean..." Makoto mumbled.

"It was Maizono," Hina said. "I don't know why, but it was definitely her."

"But... that doesn't make any sense," Makoto said. "Why would she take the knife?"

"I'm afraid there can be no doubt," Sakura said.

"At the time, it didn't strike me as weird or anything because she claimed she was getting a drink," Hina said.

"Nor I," Sakura agreed.

"So the victim procured the weapon that would then end her life?" Taka asked

"Of course," Makoto said. "But she could have wanted to use it for self-defense."

"So you're saying the knife she took...was then taken from her, and she was killed with it?" Byakuya asked.

"That still doesn't clear you, Naegi!" Mondo yelled. "In that case, you may not have taken the knife, but you still could have killed her."

"See? There's murder written all over his face!" Toko yelled. “You animal!”

"Damn it, I told you it wasn't me!" Makoto yelled. "Don't you see? If you guys pin this on me, then we all get executed!"

"Ooh! En garde, everyone!" Hifumi yelled. "He's attempting to steer the debate in his favor! What a skilled manipulator you are!"

"That's enough, you three," Akira said. "I am still of the opinion that it is still too early to point the finger at Naegi.”

"I am as well ," Kyoko said. "There is still evidence we are not considering."

"What evidence?" Sakura asked.

"I submit to you all the state of the crime scene," Kyoko said. "Did the culprit appear to have easy access to the shower? I think not."

"Because you see, if the room did belong to the killer, then they did something most bewildering," Akira said. "And until we figure out what that was, you simply cannot declare that he is the killer.”

"What are you driving at?" Celestia asked.

"Even in an investigation, the small stuff always turns out to be extremely important," Kyoko said. "And with that, I noticed there was not a single strand of hair."

"So, the culprit removed some evidence?" Chihiro asked.

"Yes. And if I were the culprit, why would I need to get rid of all the hair in my own room?" Makoto asked. "It wouldn't be unusual at all to find my hair at the crime scene if the crime scene is in my room."

"Okay, then why wasn't there any hair on the ground?" Leon asked.

“Well it’s probably as simple as you think,” Akira said. “After killing Maizono, the killer had to remove any trace they they had ever been there.”

"Wait, then that means-" Mondo said. Without even needing to finish the sentence, Kyoko answered his unspoken question.

"Precisely," Kyoko said. "It's simply beyond reason to believe that the room's owner and the killer are one and the same."

"Then...Naegi isn't the culprit?" Chihiro asked.

“Exactly,” Akira said. “And since everyone knew he and Maizono were close, that should be another factor to prove Naegi’s innocence. Why would he choose to kill someone he spends majority of his time with? He’d have to be a pretty good liar to convince us otherwise. Am I right, Naegi? Or are we wasting our time trying to help you?”

"N-No, you’re right," Makoto mumbled.

"But are you sure we can decide something so important based solely on the absence of some hair!?" Taka asked.

"No. There are other reasons that prove Naegi couldn't have done it." Kyoko said.

"I would like to hear these reasons..." Sakura said.

"Do you remember anything remarkable about the bathroom at the scene?" Kyoko asked. "Maizono was attacked in the main room first, then fled into the bathroom, right?"

"Yeah, then they ran after her, got into the bathroom, and stabbed her," Mondo said.

"And how did the killer get into the bathroom?" Kyoko asked. "Did they have any trouble with it?"

"What do you mean...?" Celestia asked.

"The doorknob to my shower was thrashed," Makoto said.

"As a matter of fact, it did look like it'd seen better days," Hifumi added.

"By trying to bypass the lock, they ended up nearly removing the entire doorknob," Kyoko said. "This is another most bewildering act for the room's owner. It proves Naegi is beyond suspicion."

"So what, you're saying he wouldn't break the door in his own room?" Leon asked. "But if the only choice you have is to break it, you break it! There's nothing ‘bewildering’ about it!"

Kuwata, what’s up with you? Akira thought. Any time there was evidence that proved Makoto was innocent, he and Toko would always refute it.

"It was y-you, wasn't it Naegi!?" Toko yelled. "A-Admit it! We already kn-know the answer!"

"Wait a minute..." Makoto mumbled. "My door doesn't have a lock."

"What are y-you going on about?" Toko asked.

"The reason my bathroom didn't open wasn't because it was locked," Makoto said. "After all, the girls' rooms are the only ones with locking bathrooms, right?"

"Yes... Now that you mention it, that is true." Sakura said.

"I believe Naegi and I can speak on behalf of all the boys here, that there are no locks on the boy's bathroom doors," Ayato said. "Right, Monokuma?"

"Yeah, sure, whatever," Monokuma said. He was pretty bummed out he finished his popcorn long before they were able to determine who the killer was.

"Then...why didn't your bathroom door open...?" Chihiro asked.

"Because it was stuck," Makoto said.

"Huh? What are you talking about?" Leon asked.

"My bathroom door doesn't fit the frame quite right," Makoto said. "Monokuma over there can testify to that."

"Yup! True as true can be!" Monokuma laughed. "But ya know...you're supposed to be the Ultimate Lucky Student, right? But to have such a cruddy door. Puhuhu! That's not lucky at all!"

"So the reason the door didn't open was because it was stuck," Kyoko said. "But the killer didn't know that and assumed it was locked. So they tore apart the doorknob to get in."

"Therefore, if the murderer was Naegi, he would have walked in the bathroom with no problem since he and Maizono were the only two who knew about the wonky door," Akira said. "Excluding Monokuma, who had to tell Naegi that fact."

"I guess that clears him," Mondo said. "But that still gets us nowhere! We are back to square one!"

"Excuse me, Monokuma," A voice spoke up from the back. It was the new student, Nagito Komaeda. "Correct me if I am wrong, but you know for sure who the killer is, right?"

"Well, indeed I do!" Monokuma smiled. "Otherwise, this wouldn't be a fair trial. As much as I love sharing despair with everyone, I am all about fairness."

"I knew my fellow Ultimate Lucky Student wasn't the killer!" Nagito smiled. "Don't lose hope my friends, for hope is stronger than despair!"

"Let us assume the murderer is someone else," Celestia said. "Where would they get the idea the door was locked? Were they not aware that the two had switched rooms? And why be there if they didn't?"

"That's the point," Kyoko said. "From the evidence that we have gathered, it is safe to assume the killer believed he or she was actually in Maizono’s room."

"So the killer was in the dark about the room swap?" Chihiro asked.

"Please, WE WERE ALL IN THE DARK ABOUT IT!" Toko yelled.

"None of this narrows down our list of suspects!" Mondo yelled. “Square one people!”

"So? Then we put it to a majority vote," Taka proposed.

"That could work," Leon chuckled nervously.

"I mean...Our necks are on the line here!" Yasuhiro said. "Someone seriously needs to do something. For serious! Either we put someone on the chopping block or we all get the ax."

"No need to throw our hands in the air, Yasuhiro, the devil is in the details," Celestia said. "I urge you all to focus."

"Now that I think about it... if Maizono was freaked out just like Naegi said, how did the killer get in the room in the first place?" Hina asked. "She wouldn't have let them in."

"Was the lock picked?" Chihiro asked.

"Negative!" Taka said. "If you remember, Monokuma made it quite clear that the locks are all unpickable."

"Fine, how about this, the killer got in an easy way," Hifumi said. "They could've knocked and said they wanted to talk or something, and Ms. Maizono just...let 'em in!"

"No, that can't be it, either," Makoto said. "As we said before, she was too scared to open the door."

"Ah... You certainly have the right to your opinion but... LOGIC!" Hifumi said. "I'd agree with you, except we'd both be wrong!"

“I know what I saw. When she came to me… She was practically in tears. I don't know about you, but I have a pretty hard time believing she'd answer the door after telling me she won't open it even if she knew it was me.”

“Perhaps that was the idea,” Akira mumbled. It was intended for her to only hear, as she was thinking to herself, but that wasn’t the case. She felt everyone’s eyes on her.

Well, no going back now. She thought to herself.

“Her terror could have been a ruse,” Akira continued. “She was quite the actress.”

Everyone gasped at Akira's sudden remark. It was such a strong accusation, one that was too risky to make given the circumstances.”

"No," Makoto raised his voice. "She wouldn't lie to me! Maizono and I were friends!"

"Watch your tone with my sister, you prick!" Ayato yelled. Everyone gasped at Ayato. "She is defending your ass, why don’t you give her some respect?”

Everyone exchanged looks at one another, then back at the twins. This sudden interaction was quite unlike them, it was almost… scary? The only two who were unbothered by this were Byakuya and Ibuki. They’ve probably witnessed these outbursts before.

"Calm down, Ayato," Ibuki mumbled. “Please.”

"If you need a minute to gather your thoughts, then step down from the discussion for the time being,” Byakuya said. “I understand this is stressful, but do not take your unresolved issues out on others.”

"I agree with Akira," Kyoko said.

"What? Why?" Makoto asked.

"It is an unpleasant possibility to consider. But, I'm afraid it's necessary. Take a look at this," Kyoko said as she grabbed a piece of paper that was scribbled in pencil. It showed a letter that Sakaka wrote. "I found a notepad during my search, and I shaded the top sheet with a pencil. And these are the words that appeared."

The note read: "There's something I want to talk about in private. Please come to my room. Make sure to check the nameplate so you don't go to the wrong room by mistake. SAYAKA MAIZONO"

"What's that supposed to be?" Makoto asked.

"It's an impression of a letter she wrote," Kyoko said. "I found it on the notepad in your room."

Makoto stared at the note for a bit, trying to take in what he was reading. The realization hit him. The realization that they were right. And it hit him hard. So hard it physically hurts.

"I'm sorry... are you trying to say it was you who wrote this?" Kyoko asked.

"No, it wasn't," Makoto mumbled.

"Of course not, I thought as much, As you can see, the signature is quite legible," Kyoko said. "It's a pretty old-fashioned technique, but even the classics can be surprisingly useful sometimes."

"I don't get it..." Makoto mumbled. “Why would she-"

"I think she wrote this letter to get in touch with someone in secret," Kyoko said. "My personal guess, I believe the note was an intent to lure someone to their death."

"Was she seriously asking to get caught?" Ayato asked. "I mean, all these clues are coming to the conclusion she was gonna bring someone to their own demise! What if she was successful with that?"

"But the note states to go to Maizono’s room," Celeste said. "So there we have it then, don't we? She wasn't in her room."

"Right," Chihiro said. "Whoever it was would have gotten to where Naegi was by mistake."

"Ah, but they wouldn't have," Kyoko said. "You see, Maizono was clever."

"Really?" Celestia asked. "How so?"

"After she and Makoto switched rooms, she slipped out and swapped their nameplates," Kyoko said. "My digital notebook missed this entirely."

"So then she really was luring someone into Makoto's room," Chihiro said.

"Well then, if memory serves, I believe the phrase tossed out a little earlier was 'luring someone to their death'," Byakuya said.

"Yes, it seems so. And that's the only logical conclusion left," Kyoko said. "Of course, that points the finger away from Naegi."

"Finally," Makoto sighed in relief.

"Alright then... So who killed her?" Leon asked.

"To understand that...we first need to understand what happened after she invited the person into the room," Kyoko said. "That's where the answer lies..."

"What happened then was...probably... Whoever she invited over...came in, and...attacked her!" Taka said. "We figured it out! We know who did it! Whoever she invited over is the culprit!"

"But we still don't know who it is, ya goddamn idiot..." Mondo groaned.

"Wait, we are actually going with the idea that Maizono swapped rooms with Naegi just to off someone?" Hina asked.

"Far from the worst of gambits," Byakuya said. He then turned towards Makoto "Once the deed was done, she'd have an out. All she had to do was switch the nameplates back to pin it on you."

"She'd never do that!" Makoto yelled.

"Oh please, wake up!" Akira yelled back. "What could she have possibly been up to if not that?"

"Her fatal misstep, of course, was inadvertently giving her prospective victim the opportunity to fight back," Byakuya said.

"They got the first strike in with that katana!" Yasuhiro asserted.

"No, that was used in self-defense," Celestia said.

"Yes, the damage to the sheath implies as much," Byakuya said. "Had things gone according to plan, she’d be standing here right now, pointing the finger at Naegi."

"I trusted her," Makoto mumbled. "Why would she-"

"Why wouldn't she?" Celestia asked. "It was an ironclad way out of here, was it not?"

"If we omit the fact that it was a spectacular failure, yes," Byakuya said. "Poor fool."

"Don't talk about her like that!" Makoto yelled.

"Oh, I'm sorry. You have a reason to defend her?" Byakuya asked.

"No, but still.”

"Calm down," Kyoko said. "This isn't the time to argue. Focus."

"Yes, quite right," Celestia said. "The murderer is still at large, and time is short."

"Let's get to it then," Byakuya said. "It's one of us."

"Well, duh! But how the hell do we pick?" Yasuhiro asked.

"Ugh! We're all goners, I know it!" Toko shrieked. "I'm too young to die! It's not fair!"

"We already know that Maizono attacked first and then the killer used that katana as self-defense," Ayato sighed. "But where does that get us? Didn't we review everything that was there?"

There was a loud groan coming from the front of the room. It was Monokuma.

“You guys are clearly not getting it,“ Monokuma yelled. “I will intervene once more, and that is it. You all better be thankful i’m feeling quite generous today! This is your first class trial, so expect this to be the last time I will ever do it for you.”

"You're telling us that there is another clue?" Celestia asked.

"Yes," Monokuma said. "In fact, there is still so much more you didn't uncover!"

"Well, spit it out already!" Mondo yelled.

“I already said I know who the blackened is,” Monokuma hummed. “But there is another person who knows.”

"Wait," Makoto said. “You’re saying that someone else knows?”

“Yes! That’s exactly what I’m saying,” Monokuma snickered. “Unfortunately, she is still in denial. Isn’t that right… Akira?”

Everyone gasped and looked at Akira.

“Wait, Akira knows who the blackened is?” Chihiro asked. “But… it’s not her?”

"Correct! Akira is completely innocent," Monokuma said. "Although, she still has a lot to do with Maizono’s murder. I guess she still hasn’t told you all the details yet.”

"I think it is about time you should tell them," Byakuya said.

“Wait, you and Ibuki know?” Ayato asked. “For fuck sake, Akira. I’m you brother! How much are you hiding from me?”

"She opened up to me because she knew you would react like this,” Byakuya retorted. “Ibuki just so happened to overhear us. She hasn’t said anything because I asked her not to. Akira wasn’t aware that Ibuki knew.”

"What happened, Akira?" Hina asked.

“It doesn’t matter,” Akira muttered as she gripped the podium tighter. Even with her eyes squeezed shut, she still failed to keep some tears from escaping.

“She’s clearly not in the right mental state right now,” Sakura stated. “Maybe it’s best we don’t press her further.”

“What, and then risk everyone getting executed because she won’t tell us who the killer is?” Taka asked. “Akira, I demand you to tell us what you know! Our lives depend on it.”

“Ibuki, please,” Ayato begged. “What happened between Akira and Maizono the other night?”

Ibuki struggled choosing whether or not she should say anything. There’s a chance that Akira might be beyond upset if she were to tell her secret. Maybe there’s a reason she didn’t tell Ibuki in the first place.

“Ibuki, I swear to God if you don’t tell me.”

“Maizono attacked Akira!”

Ibuki covered her mouth. Everyone gasped and turned to the Akira’s direction. She tried to pull herself together as she quickly wiped her tears.

“Akira… Why didn’t you tell me?” Ayato asked.

“I had so little energy then,” Akira mumbled. “I had so many urges to just… fight back. But I couldn’t. I was lucky enough to shoved her off and escape.”

“She means that she had urges to kill Maizono,” Byakuya said. “She was worried about betraying everyone’s trust.”

"Well, it’s a good thing she didn’t," Hina smiled. It wasn't her full, cheeky grin that she always gave. No, this one was wary, unsure how to feel about her peer considering whether or not to kill another student. "All that matters is that Akira escaped safely, and she is definitely not the killer."

"Yes, but what about Ayato?" Celestia asked. "Surely after seeing his outburst when Naegi made a small comment to Akira, we can only imagine what he would do to a person if they physically hurt her."

"Believe anything you want, Celeste," Ayato sneered. "But I'm telling you that it definitely wasn't me."

"Of course it wasn't Ayato," Leon said. "Not only was he in the dark about Akira getting attacked, he also didn’t have any motive to kill Maizono. Glaring at someone doesn’t mean anything.”

"Ibuki agrees!" Ibuki cheered. "Fun fact about Ayato, his ears turn red whenever he lies. Only very slightly though! He’s a great liar because people normally don’t pay attention to them!”

“Well, with that fact known, it is useless for Ayato to involve himself in a situation where he would have to lie,” Byakuya rolled his eyes.

"Back to important topics!" Taka yelled. "Akira, you know who the blackened is? You must tell us!”

"Well, Byakuya made a list of people he was suspicious of last week," Akira said. "Ayato and I were instructed to keep an eye on these people. Byakuya is usually never wrong so we trusted his instincts."

"Well, what are the names?" Mondo asked, urging Akira to continue.

"Just so we are clear, these are just guesses. I’m sure the list will be updated later given the circumstances,” Ayato nervously said as Akira began to read the list of names.

“Excluding Maizono and Enoshima, our current lists of suspects are Mondo Owada, Toko Fukawa, Sakura Ogami, and Leon Kuwata,” Akira said. “This was the list of people we believed would most likely betray us. Maizono planned to but she got killed.”

"Kuwata, you seem completely unphased that Togami and Akira suspect you," Kyoko said.

"It’s just like I said earlier, I seen the list already,” Leon said. “I’m well aware of it.”

“And, may I ask, when did you first see this list?” Celeste asked. “And were you surprised then?”

“Well, I believe it was our first day since being trapped here,” Leon said. “I overheard Togami and the twins talking about the possibility of someone betraying us. When I tried asking them about it, they avoided me. I brought it up again before Akira visited Maizono. That’s when they showed me the list. If anything, I would be surprised if they didn’t suspect me.”

"This is true," Ayato said.

"Alright, this list was indeed useful," Kyoko smiled slightly. "This will make it easier to figure out who killed Maizono."

“Sure, that’s if Togami’s intuition is actually reliable,” Hina said.

"I mean, yeah, list gives us suggestions, but is there actually anything more to go on?" Leon asked. “We’re all out of clues.”

"I got it!" Makoto said. Everyone looked at him.

"Huh?" Leon asked. "What the hell are we missing then?"

"Something pretty big actually," Makoto said. "Maizono’s dying message."

"What?" Leon asked. "What are you driving at?"

Akira looked at Byakuya, confused. Sure, she noticed there was blood everywhere, especially on the wall— but was there really a dying message? It sounded like something Akira has only seen on TV and in her mystery novels she read while overseas.

"She left a dying message," Kyoko said. "One scrawled in blood on the wall behind her. 11037."

"That's right!" Yasuhiro said. "But what did it say?"

"You mean that crazy string of numbers?" Hina asked.

"Hey, you're supposed to be some kinda crazy genius with numbers, ain't you?" Mondo asked Chihiro. "Does the one she left behind mean anything special or what?"

"I tried every decryption trick in the book, but whatever they're supposed to mean... it's not a code I know," Chihiro sighed in defeat. "I'm sorry."

If the message isn't a code, then what is it? When the situation took a turn, Sayaka ran for the shower, but the killer forced their way in. Did they already have the knife?

"Oh my gosh..." Akira and Makoto mumbled in unison. Everyone looked at them.

"The message wasn't a string of numbers!" Makoto said.

"Huh? What are you talking about?" Mondo asked.

"Maizono wrote out her killer's name!"

"What? How do you know that?"

"If you flip those numbers round hundred-eighty degrees," Makoto explained. "There you have it, plain as day L-E-O-N."

Everyone gasped.

"What do you know... that's your name, isn't it?" Makoto asked. "Leon Kuwata."

"Kuwata, what did you do?" Akira asked. She couldn't believe that it was him. She then remembered from the night before— everything began to make sense. Leon was shaken up, not because Sayaka attacked him, but because he killed her. He admitted to visiting her. He admitted to breaking her wrist with the katana before she ran into the bathroom, but he ran away after, right? “Come on… you didn’t kill her! This is a coincidence, right? She attacked you and you ran away just like you said, right?”

"Kuwata, if you have anything to say... Now's the time," Makoto demanded.

"What the hell are you talking about!? I-It's just a coincidence!" Leon yelled. "It's just a bunch of random squiggles that happen to look like my name!"

"She wrote that message on the wall behind her as she was leaning up against it," Kyoko said. "In that position, she couldn't move to write normally and had to write upside down, as it were. And as a result... When you look at it standing in front of her, it ends up getting flipped. Try it for yourself, if you want. Write something sitting like her, and the letters will be inverted."

"Th-That sounds like one hell of a stretch to me...!" Leon said. "I'm the killer!? You can't just go and say shit like that! Everything you've got is circumstantial!"

"E-exactly!" Akira interjected. "Kuwata visited us after he was attacked! With as messy as the crime scene was, if he were to have killed Maizono, he would have been covered in blood! And… Ayato and Byakuya would have seen him! They were in the hall late last night!”

"That is true," Ayato said. "We were all in Akira's dorm. Byakuya needed to get something from his room, so I offered to go with him.”

"So you are saying during the time you guys were in the hallway, you didn't see Kuwata?" Celestia asked.

"Of course, the hall was completely cleared," Byakuya said. “But then again, the two of us were absent for a while.”

"Alright, let's assume he isn't the killer," Kyoko said. "Kuwata, care to explain why you tried to destroy evidence?"

"Huh?" Leon asked, surprised.

"What? What is she talking about?" Akira asked.

"I- I don't know!" Leon stammered.

"Someone explain this," Taka demanded.

"I found a burnt shirt piece laying on the ground by the incinerator," Makoto said. "There were also some broken glass. It looks like the fragments from a glass ball.”

"Right! I'd forgotten all about those," Hifumi said.

"Y'know, come to think of it, I haven't seen my crystal ball in a while," Yasuhiro said. "Do you think that's what happened to it?"

"As the killer stabbed Maizono, they must have gotten some of her blood on them," Kyoko said. "And to dispose of the shirt covered in the victim's blood, they threw it into the incinerator."

"But one piece burned off and got left behind..." Chihiro said.

"And the killer didn't notice, If they had, they most certainly would have panicked," Kyoko said. "Isn't that right, Kuwata?"

"Wh-Wh-Wh-Wh--!?" Leon stuttered.

"But is one scrap of fabric enough to conclude that Kuwata is guilty?" Akira asked.

'Yeah... I mean, he’s not the only one wearing a white button-up..." Chihiro mumbled.

"Th-That's right! There are plenty of other people here with shirts like mine!" Leon said. "With just that one little charred piece, there's no way you can say for sure who it belongs to!"

"You're right. That alone isn't enough," Makoto said. "But there are some other points that may reveal the truth..."

"I swear to god, Kuwata," Akira mumbled. She had a feeling it was him… Even though he gave himself away so easily, she couldn’t bear the thought of losing him.

"If we look closely at how the shirt was disposed of, we should be able to figure out who the killer is," Makoto explained.

"Elaborate," Akira said.

"Maizono’s killer was in over his head. He hadn't planned on murdering anyone that night; the evidence had to be dealt with fast," Makoto continued. "Unfortunately, the garbage room was on lockdown. This is where Yasuhiro's missing glass ball comes in. Activating the incinerator from the other side of the gate would be near impossible for almost anyone. But our culprit had mad skills. Specifically, Super High School Level Baseball Player skills. All finished, our perp figured he could chill, go spend the night with his friends like nothing had happened. That, as it turns out, was his big mistake... A scrap of the burning bloodstained shirt sleeve fell out."

Many thoughts flooded Akira’s mind. She helped Makoto because she didn’t want anyone to die because they voted wrong. She hadn’t even considered what would happen if Leon was figured out. If she knew, she’d wish she could go back in time and never give him a chance. Things would be better that way… Right?

"He thought he had improvised the perfect crime, when in fact he'd left a trail leading us right to him," Makoto said. "Deny it if you want, that's how it went."

Leon stood there, silently.

"You stand accused," Kyoko said. "Now'd be the time to object."

"Object? Hah. Yeah... Let me think about that," Leon said. "Hell yes, I object! Of course, I do! I object I object, I object! I mean, all of this is just a bunch of stupid theories! You need evidence! Where's the evidence!? Without evidence, it's all bullshit! It's bullshit and I refuse to acknowledge it!"

“Kuwata? What’s the matter with you?” Ayato asked. “Naegi didn’t start screaming and getting defensive when he was accused, so why are you?”

"Yeah, dude. Totally not Rock n' Roll of you," Ibuki shook her head.

At this point, Akira couldn’t find words to speak. Even if she tried, not even a simple breath could escape her lips. She just stood there and watched the events play out.

"He is the only one with the athletic chops to throw Hiro’s glass ball far enough and hard enough to hit the incinerator switch," Makoto yelled. “You know what you did, Kuwata! So confess to your crimes!”

"Yeah! Nice try but screw you!" Leon yelled. "What about Yamada? He's on trash detail! He could have unlocked the gate!"

"Which is exactly why he wouldn't have needed to use the ball,” Makoto said. “He would've just used his access key and walked off without any of us having a clue.”

"Ha-ha! Yeah, big man, tryin' to trick me into fessin' up!" Leon yelled. "But, as I said, it's all circumstantial!"

"Maybe. But there's still one vital piece of evidence that points directly at you."

"What, are you gonna make something up now?!"

"The bathroom... The doorknob… The screws were removed."

"Who gives a flying rat's ass?!"

"When the killer removed the screws from the doorknob, they didn't use anything from Naegi’s room to do it," Kyoko said. "Instead, they must have used something that belonged to them."

"I refuse to acknowledge you! You're stupid! This is all stupid!" Leon yelled.

"I wonder what kind of tool the killer used to remove the screws..." Makoto thought.

"I mean...it had to be as simple as a screwdriver, right?" Mondo asked.

"Oh yeah," Yasuhiro said. "I'm pretty sure the tool-kits we got each had one inside."

"Then that must be what he used," Hifumi said. "There aren't any other tools anywhere."

"But the toolkit in my room had clearly never been used..." Makoto said.

"That's because the culprit didn't know it was your room," Taka said. "They thought they were in Maizono’s room!"

"Only the boys got tool-kits," Chihiro said. "So the killer naturally assumed there wouldn't be one in there..."

"Okay, then whose toolkit did the killer use?" Makoto asked as he looked at Leon.

"Whatever you're fucking driving at, jerkwad, you are barking up the wrong tree!" Leon yelled.

"Well if what I'm driving at is on the money, there will be proof in his toolkit," Makoto said. "How about you give us a look?"

"No! Never!" Leon yelled. "This is a sham! I'm warning you, dude! Back off!"

"You're guilty, Leon Kuwata!" Makoto said. "I demand you show us your toolkit."

Leon stood, almost defeated. Akira tried to help him, in hopes that the possibility of him being innocent was still there. But there was nothing she could do.

"Come on. What's the big deal?" Makoto taunted. "What have you got to hide?"

"Bear in mind, if it's been used, prepare to explain exactly when, where, and why..." Byakuya said. "In minute detail and 'til every last one of us is satisfied."

"And under the circumstances, let me make myself clear," Kyoko said. "Saying 'I lost it' isn't an excuse at this point."

Leon stood in silence. There was nothing he could say that would help him out of this.

"So, you have no rebuttal?" Byakuya asked.

"Then it would seem...we are finished here," Celestia said.

"Well, I'd say, you all have hashed this out nicely, major kudos!" Monokuma said. "Let's move on to Voting Time. Kindly lock in your votes by pressing the switches there in front of you. So, who is the guilty so-and-so? Do you feel good about your final choice?"

Everyone hesitantly started voting, afraid that they got the wrong answer and they all end up getting executed.

"Correct! Well done peeps!" Monokuma cheered. "Sayaka Maizono's murder was indeed... Leon Kuwata!"

Everyone stood there. They are glad that they get to live another day, but at the cost their friend's life.

"Dude..." Ayato and Ibuki said in unison.

"Kuwata... you can't be serious..." Akira mumbled.

"H-hold on, Akira listen to me-" Leon tried to speak.

"No..." Makoto mumbled. "Kuwata, did you really...kill Maizono?"

"I don't believe it..." Hina mumbled.

"You… Fuckin' dumbass," Mondo yelled. "What the hell is wrong with you!?"

"I- I didn't want to..." Leon mumbled. His voice was shaky, and his head was low, eyes facing the floor. "She was... I mean- she was trying to kill me, you know? I just... I didn't know what else to do okay? What if she’d gone after you? You all would do the same thing in my shoes!"

“Akira was attacked just like you were, and she still didn’t give in,” Byakuya said.

Leon dropped to the floor, sobbing. Everyone else stood and watched as guilt and sadness sat in their stomachs. It didn’t matter if you were out in the real world or locked in a school— murder is murder, and there are consequences. Even if it was by means of self-defense. But who would dictate that in here? A mechanical bear? Akira walked over to Leon and kneeled at his level. The crying boy lifted his head. He was a complete mess.

"I'm sorry," Leon choked out. "I didn't want to do it."

"I know," Akira said. "But why didn't you tell us? And most importantly, why did you go after I told you not to?"

"I- I was scared. Just like you were when she attacked you. I didn't want you guys to not trust me anymore," Leon said.

"This is not your fault, Kuwata," Makoto said.

"Are you sure, Naegi?" Celestia asked. "He had many chances to stop what he was doing. But he chose not to. You were closer to her more than anyone, were you not? He killed your precious Maizono. Do you understand?"

"I can't say he’s is solely to blame," Makoto said. "Of course, I don't plan on blaming Maizono, either. Because... Because the one to blame...is Monokuma!”

"S'waaah!?" Monokuma exclaimed.

"If it weren't for you, this never would have happened to Maizono or Kuwata," Makoto said. "We shouldn't be fighting each other... We should be fighting against the one who put us in this situation! The mastermind!"

"That is correct!" Taka said. "You put the murderous thoughts in our heads. Both Maizono and Kuwata panicked. You can't punish us for your wrong-doings!"

Ayato and Ibuki walked towards Akira and Leon, trying to help calm the boy down. Leon kept mumbling and chanting "I'm sorry", which you can barely hear over the yelling of the other students.

"Sure, what you did was shitty… but,” Ayato couldn’t figure out the right words to say. He couldn’t tell Leon that everything will be okay. Nothing will be okay. Everyone knows he is going to be executed. “We don’t hate you. We could never hate you. We’re friends, right? That’s what you said. And we always will be.”

"But why did you lie, knowing we would all get executed... and you would leave?" Ibuki asked. "Surely, there has to be a reason for it."

"You guys... You have been so kind to me," Leon said. "I thought that, maybe, I would be able to find a way to get us out of here. But then Monokuma started explaining the class trial… You guys have to believe me, all I wanted was to talk to her.”

"Alright, so there you have it!" Monokuma announced. "Excellent job dispensing tough justice, and I mean that... Moving onto the punishment phase!"

"Please, no! I didn't have much of a choice!" Leon jumped back onto his feet. "The crazy skank was gonna kill me, what was I supposed to do?"

"Rules are rules buddy," Monokuma said. "Too bad, so sad.”

"This isn't right!" Ibuki yelled.

"What do you mean 'Right'?" Monokuma asked. "Right doesn't enter into it, sweetheart. He killed and got caught. Which means he dies."

"You can't do that!" Ayato yelled. "This wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for you locking us up in here! Because of you, Maizono attacked someone twice!"

"Yeah!" Ibuki yelled. "You should have intervened if you knew she attacked Akira and didn't get away with it!"

"Exactly, Maizono made the mistake of leaving a note for Akira to meet up while Ibuki and I were in the room," Byakuya said. "Kuwata received the same letter, but Akira told him not to go. If Maizono actually got away with it the first time, there would be four people pinning the blame on her, plain and simple."

"Y'know I was thinking what would have happened if she did kill me," Akira said.

"Akira, you can't say things like that so casually," Ayato said.

"Akira…” Makoto mumbled.

"She must’ve really trusted you to fool you like that, Naegi” Akira said. “I may not be dead yet, but Maizono drew first blood. Now the killing game has officially begun, all thanks to her.”

"That is correct!" Monokuma said. "I seen it all, Maizono really overpowered Akira for a second.”

Monokuma because giving everybody the gory- exaggerated details on what happened between Sayaka and Akira. Akira wasn’t listening. She was lost in her head. She flinched when someone touched her shoulder. It was Leon.

"Make sure you put it to good use, okay?" He said with tears in his eyes. Akira's eyebrows furrowed, trying to figure out what he was talking about. She then remembered when they spoke in the dining hall earlier that day. He gave her his dorm key.

"I... I don't understand," she shook her head, her eyes welling up with tears, too.

“I want to be useful to you one last time… Just promise me one thing.”

“What?”

“Next time we see each other… Please don’t be married or something. I’ll be waiting for you in the afterlife with a dinner reservation.”

“You’re an ass,” Akira laughed as tears blurred her vision.

"We shall meet in another life my good friend, and next time we meet, Ibuki will definitely teach you some music," Ibuki said in an attempt to make Leon laugh one last time.

"Anyway, this trial has dragged on longer than I anticipated. Let’s get on with the main finale, yeah? For the all-star athlete, Leon Kuwata, whose talents behind the plate certainly held more promise than a lady killer... I've come up with a very special method of execution... Play Ball!" Monokuma said. "Let's give it everything we got, It's... Punishment time!"

Monokuma pressed a red button to start up the execution process. A small screen next to the chair he was sitting in turned on. The screen said: GAME OVER... Kuwata was voted guilty- Time for His Punishment!

Leon was completely done for. There was nothing anybody could do to save him now. And worst of all, they were forced to sit through his execution. Leon was grabbed by the neck by a claw and dragged out of the courtroom. Akira managed to get one last glance of his face. And, oh, how she wished she didn't. His eyes were opened wide, and tears started falling once more. He had already cried when he realized he was going to die, but this was something much different. Instead of fear, all she saw was pain. Pain from leaving something or someone behind, and it's too late to do anything about it. She knew that feeling all too well.

The monitors placed around the room played a video recorded in real-time. It was Leon, he was tied up to a pole and locked inside a batting cage. A gatling gun, used as a pitching machine, stood before him. Monokuma filled it up with about one thousand baseballs.

One by one, the baseballs shot out hitting him all around his body, starting from his knees, all the way up to his face. Everyone could hear the loud crunch of bones breaking, and the sound of Leon screaming in pain and agony. Akira's hands rushed towards her ears, praying for the sounds to stop. But just as she did, a cruel part of her mind heard someone call out her name. Not just anyone, but him.

Slowly the machine started shooting multiple baseballs at once until Leon was no longer moving. Akira stared in horror as she saw her friend's lifeless body in front of her. The air grew thick as she tried to grasp at the situation.

"Woohoo! Extreeeeeeemmmmmeeeee!" Monokuma cheered. "Man, my adrenaline is pumping right outta control!"

"Uwah...! Uwaaaaaahhh!" Hifumi panicked.

"Wh-Wh-What's going o-on!?" Toko shrieked.

"I-I can't take this anymore...!" Chihiro cried. "Do we really have to keep doing this? I just can't take it!"

"Well, hey, if you don't like it..." Monokuma hummed. "All you gotta do is swear to cut all ties with the outside world and accept living here forever! But that's only if every single one of you can get on board with that."

"Man, fuck you..." Mondo growled. "Why the fuck are you doing all this evil shit to us!?"

"Evil!? You make it sound like I'm some dark, awful, secret society type of guy!" Monokuma said. "Or in this case, a dark, awful, secret society type of BEAR! Also... Akira. What was that thing that Kuwata gave you earlier?"

Akira quickly dug in her pocket and held tightly onto Leon’s dorm key.

"Maybe you should mind your business," Akira said as she wiped her tears and ran off. "I’m returning to my room."

"Ohh, did you three really have to deal with that when you were younger?" Monokuma laughed. "So feisty!"

Makoto started trembling with anger. All that built-up anger from the class trial, and watching a peer get executed… He was ready to let it out. And what better way to do that than to take it out on the main cause of it all?

"There, there, Naegi. It's alright. I know," Monokuma said, obviously not feeling any empathy for the boy whatsoever.

"Know what? What are you talking about?" Makoto asked.

"Don't be like that," Monokuma said. "Maizono sold you up the river. You're hurting, it's fine."

"Screw you!" Makoto yelled. "You did this... It was all your fault from beginning to end!"

Before Makoto could even charge to Monokuma, someone grabbed his arm. Kyoko.

"Don't, Naegi... Don't lose it," Kyoko said. "Think about this... you'll never avenge Maizono if you get killed too."

"Damn it!" Makoto growled. "Damn it all."

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

Shortly after the class trial concluded, Ibuki, Byakuya, and the twins were standing in the dormitory hall. Specifically, outside Makoto’s dorm.

"Do we really have to?" Ayato asked.

"Yes, both of you do," Byakuya said. "Your behavior at the class trial today was unacceptable."

"Akira, you should know better than anyone how Naegi feels. You don't let people in immediately, so Kuwata must have done something that made you think of him as a friend in less than a week," Ibuki said. "You both lost someone special, so you should definitely say something."

"Fine," Akira mumbled.

"Great, we will be in the Dining Hall by the time you're done!" Ibuki smiled as she and Byakuya walked off.

Akira sighed and knocked on Makoto's door. The door opened almost immediately.

"Oh, hey guys," Makoto said. "What's up?"

"We uh..." Akira mumbled. In certain situations, she loved being right, but when it came down to the class trial, she hated it. She hated it so much it made her sick. "We wanted to apologize for how we treated you at the trial."

"What do you mean?" Makoto asked. "You saved me and everyone else from getting executed... but that meant you had to find out Kuwata was the killer..."

"Akira wouldn't tell me or anyone else that Maizono attacked her, and it made me worried," Ayato said. "I understand why you refused to believe it. I am sorry for calling you a prick... and bad-mouthing Maizono."

"I'm sorry too," Akira said. She then started to tear up. "I knew Kuwata killed Maizono, and I didn't say anything. He visited us four last night and told us what happened. I didn't mean to risk everyone getting killed... I thought that if I could somehow protect him and everyone else from dying, then maybe we all could have gotten out!"

"Hey, Akira. It's okay," Makoto said. He put a hand on her shoulder. "I get it. It’s sometimes painful to know you don’t have any control over a situation. We both lost someone special to us today. And we are all going to get through this together. That’s what you said in the beginning, right?”

"Y-yeah... I guess,"

"Sorry, am I interrupting something?" A voice came from behind them, the three looked, it was Kyoko. "I just wanted to talk to Naegi for a minute."

"Oh, we were just leaving," Akira said. "See you guys later."

Makoto smiled as he watched the twins walk away.

"What did you want to talk about?" Makoto asked.

"I know that now's probably not the best time," Kyoko started. "But I figured it was important for you to hear it."

"It's about her, isn't it?" Makoto asked. "Maizono?"

"Yeah," Kyoko said. Makoto sighed. Why did it have to be her? Why did it have to be Leon? Why did any of this have to happen? "I'll be frank, it may be undeniable that Maizono meant to frame you for murder... The facts paint too clear a picture... That said, what do you imagine her dying thoughts were?"

"How the hell should I know?" Makoto asked. His heart hurt, His voice cracked. The thought of Sayaka was not just happy memories, but the last time he ever saw her face, she was dead.

"Naegi, I'm serious," Kyoko said. "You knew her well enough to speculate... Personally, I believe her last thoughts were of how to save you. I think we can surmise that's what she wanted in the end. Why else leave the message, correct? She certainly didn't have to."

"Yeah, nice try," Makoto mumbled. "I wish I could believe that, but all she really wanted was to make sure Kuwata paid for killing her."

"I beg to differ," Kyoko said. "In fact, she never meant to hurt you. She wasn't a killer, nor was she comfortable with deceiving you. Sadly, she hesitated when she ought to have been bold and wound up dead... Rather a high price to pay."

"So... Why are you telling me this?" Makoto asked.

"I had the same conversation with Akira earlier," Kyoko said. "You two are strong... You both can push through this intact. Resilience is a rare quality in people; I sense it in you, Naegi. Of course, there's always the chance I'm reading too much into things. But for your sake, I hope I'm not."

"You expect me to just 'push through' the death of a friend?" Makoto asked. "If that's what you're talking about, then I'm not your guy. When someone I care about dies, I don't move on. I carry it with me... Forever... It's who I am... Maizono and Kuwata’s deaths... I'm not sweeping them under the rug. I'm not the type who just forgets. If I get out of here, I'll still be haunted by them! I'll always look back!"

"How noble..." Kyoko said. "A difficult path, but noble. Still, though, I have hope."

Makoto smiled.

"So... While I'm here... And it may be silly to ask..." Kyoko said. "How did you know I came in to speak with you about Maizono?"

"Oh, I can read your mind," Makoto smiled. He remembered those times Sayaka would joke around and tell him she could read his mind.

"Wait, really?" Kyoko asked.

"Just kidding, intuition." Makoto giggled.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

STATUS: 20/23 STUDENTS ALIVE 3 STUDENTS DEAD

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

Chapter Text

That evening after the class trial, Akira, Ayato, and Ibuki met in Byakuya's room as usual. The school was silent. The thought that there would be no more Leon, no more Sayaka, and no more Junko left a hopeless feeling in the air.

For as long as she could remember, Akira had always been around death, especially in her field of work. She felt nothing towards it. But right now, she didn't know what she felt. As she sat down on Byakuya's bed, hugging her knees, she paid no attention to her friend's discussion. Why did it hurt so much? Watching someone get murdered, not by her own hands— it really opened her eyes. Although the situation they found themselves in was terrible, Leon meant no harm, nor did Sayaka. No matter how you looked at it, it was all Monokuma's fault. And because of him, they lost three people that day.

"Alright, what do we do now?" Ayato asked. Akira finally perked her head up. "Three people already died, and we've still made no progress on figuring out who's behind all of this. We need a new plan. I'm sorry, Akira, but I don't want any of us to end up like Kuwata."

"I get it," Akira sighed. "I say we just stay vigilant in our searches during the day and continue guarding the halls at night. Anyone else have any ideas?"

The four passed glances at each other, waiting for someone to speak up before one of them cleared their throat.

"In Ibuki's humblest opinion, I believe we should take a look at what Kuwata found during the investigation this morning," Ibuki began. "We already know the consequences for murdering another student, so I highly doubt anybody would try it again. So instead of continuing where we left off, we should finish where he started."

The other three thought about Ibuki's words. Somewhere deep inside, the class trial gave them a sense of reassurance that another murder would not occur. They were all scared knowing that they would be executed if caught. But what is stopping either of them from learning in Leon's mistakes in committing the perfect crime? Absolutely nothing. With the possibility of that still happening, they should use whatever time they have to review whatever resources they have gathered. And it all starts with whatever is in Leon's room.

All eyes were on Akira as she stared dejectedly at the dorm key that rested in the palm of her hand.

“Akira, you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to,” Byakuya said, placing a reassuring hand on the spy's shoulder. “But Kuwata gave you his dorm key, I think it would only be fitting if you went to find them yourself.”

Akira sat in thought. She didn’t want to go in there— It felt too nauseating to even think about. But she remained optimistic. There's a chance that whatever is in there could possibly help them. Even if it was just a little.

“Fine, I’ll go,” Akira stood up. The three shared concerned glances as she walked out. They were all wondering whether or not it was the right decision to make her go into Leon's room.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

The hallway was dark and silent, which was odd because there were still a few hours left before Monokuma gave his nighttime announcement. They still haven't had dinner yet. Akira could only infer that the class trial was heavy on her classmates, and everyone silently agreed on spending the rest of the day in their rooms.

“Oh, hello, Akira,” A voice greeted. Stunned, she turned around and met Kyoko. It looks like she was returning from the stairs to the second floor.

Akira tried her best to smile. “Hey, Kirigiri. What were you doing?”

“While conducting an investigation of my own, I've come to the conclusion that after every trial, a section of the school opens up. Or so it appears," She explained. Akira cocked an eyebrow, prompting her to continue. "The security gate blocking the stairs to the second floor is unlocked."

"Really? Then that means it should open, right? Should we go check it out?"

Kyoko shook her head.

"Even though it's unlocked, Monokuma hasn't said anything about it. He unlocked it right now for a reason," she said. Akira nodded. Kyoko had a point; Monokuma probably knew that nobody was interested on leaving their rooms for the rest of the night. Given what they knew about the bear, he was most likely going to reveal this fact tomorrow. "I think we should investigate upstairs tomorrow morning after breakfast. We wouldn't be able to have an effective investigation if we started right now. Besides, it looks like you're busy anyway."

Akira followed Kyoko's eyes and realized she was looking at Leon's dorm key.

"Earlier this morning, Kuwata mentioned how he found something in one of the classrooms, so… I thought I’d check it out,” she said.

"Okay, I'll leave you to it," Kyoko nodded. Right before Akira turned around… "Wait, before you go."

"Yes?"

Kyoko looked around, presumably making sure that no one was around to hear them.

“Did your brother or Mioda say anything to you about an experiment or something?” She asked, keeping her voice low. “Ayato told me he wanted me to look into it— but I didn’t understand anything. They were talking over each other.”

Akira furrowed her eyebrows, she did recall Ayato mentioning something about that. But why did he tell Kyoko? Surely, he had a reason to, right?

“Yeah… I guess there was some sort of… human experiment last year,” Akira shrugged

“You would think that something as serious as that happening recently, then everybody would be talking about it,” Kyoko pondered. “Do you think the school managed to cover it up?”

Akira smirked, dangling the dorm key in the air. "There's only one way to find out. Do you want to come?"

“I appreciate your invitation,” Kyoko smiled. “But for right now, I have something I need to take care of."

“Alright, see you later.”

Kyoko smiled and waved as she walked back to her room. Akira turned around and walked across the hall to Leon's dorm. She stared at the door for a couple of minutes before finally inserting the key into the lock and walking in.

His room looked almost exactly like everyone else's in regard to its structure and the way the furniture is placed. The only thing that stuck out to Akira was how the room was decorated. You would have never thought he was the Ultimate Baseball Star. He had a bookshelf full of CD's, and band posters covering every inch of his walls. Near his bathroom door rested an electric guitar and an amplifier, and in front of his bed stood a professional studio microphone and some headphones.

Akira smiled. Even in hopeless times, Leon was still surrounded by things he loved. At least Monokuma had some decency and refrained from taunting Leon about his dislike for his talent. Maybe he did, and Leon decided to throw away any reminders of his past life. It's a shame he died from one of the things he hated.

She walked towards his Mic stand and saw lyrics sheets scribbled messily in Leon’s handwriting. There was one song titled Akira. The writing was incomprehensible, but she was able to pick out some parts describing how he liked her hair and her… flair?

She couldn’t help but let out a teary laugh. When she did, she noticed his scent still lingered in the air. It was almost as if he was still here.

Leon told her that there were documents in his room that she needed to look at, but there was nothing around. He was probably worried that it was something no one was supposed to see, so he hid it. All that she could find out in the open was a note laying on his bed, folded with Akira's name written on it. Was he already expecting her to be there before he told her to? Or maybe he was planning to slip it under her door? She sat on the bed and opened the letter.

“Akira,
If you are reading this, I'm probably already dead. I've done something so horrible, something unforgivable. Before I came to your room last night, I visited Maizono. I know you guys told me not to, but she wanted me to talk to you and Ayato for her. She told me she was too nervous to face you both, and I noticed Ayato's sudden anger towards her after you came back from her room. She told me that if I made things right between you three, she'd help me start my music career. I couldn't say no to that! I have looked up to her for years, and the thought of learning under her guidance was an opportunity I couldn't pass up! If I knew she was planning on killing me, I wouldn't have shown up. I didn't want to kill her. I didn't mean to. I know that I had multiple chances to stop, but I didn't. I was too scared to say anything. And then everybody started blaming Naegi. The poor kid didn't even do anything wrong, and I blamed him, too. I know that I may have lost your trust, and I won't be useful to you all anymore. But hopefully, what I found will help you guys, at least a little bit. Check inside the dresser in front of the bed. Again, I am so sorry for the trouble I have caused. Until we meet again.
~Leon Kuwata”

Akira wiped the tears off of her face as she put the note into her pocket. She then made her way to the dresser and searched through it. One of the drawers had a folder with documents like Leon said. There was also a journal with entries written by a person named Chisa Yukizome. From what Akira was able to read, she was working at Hope's Peak Academy as a teacher a year prior but left due to "unworkable conditions." While she was working, she wrote about the students she taught, including others during her time teaching at the reserve course. Something that didn't make sense was that she wrote about Nagito, Hajime, and Nekomaru. Another student report that caught her attention was Ibuki Mioda. Why did this strange woman have a report on Ibuki? Did they know each other?

Akira let out a shaky breath as she sat back down onto the bed, flipping through the other documents. Bolded letters caught her attention: The Hope Cultivation Plan. It was also labeled as the "Izuru Kamukura Project" in the small fine print. She then remembered what Kijo told her before they were enrolled

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

"They were a bit skeptical about having you two join them as students because you are spies," he began. "Believe it or not, talent prejudice is a thing. A bizarre, but real thing."

Akira and Ayato frowned at the information they have been given. The Iwasaki twins came from a family organization that completed successful spy missions for years. They were the best of the best in their field. You could only imagine their disappointment when Hope's Peak Academy, a school that wanted the very best, denied Akira and Ayato the chance at furthering their education with them.

"So... We're not going to be students there, Sir?" Ayato asked.

"Oh, of course you are," Kijo reassured them. Akira and Ayato's saddened expressions changed completely. Their eyes shimmered with hope as Kijo continued. "From what I was told, someone with direct ties to the school requested you both specifically. I believe they said an Alumni recommended you."

Akira furrowed her eyebrows. An Alumni? As far as she knew, nobody she's worked with graduated from Hope's Peak. Who would want her and Ayato to attend that school?

“Now that your education is guaranteed, I have a special mission for the both of you in addition to ensuring the safety of my son," Kijo continued. Akira and Ayato nodded, listening intently to the Togami Head's words. "There is something sinister going on behind the school walls. Naturally, I wouldn't send you three to such a place if I didn't think you'd be safe. The future of our family companies rests on the both of you. I trust you can figure out what is going on and protect my son in the process."

“You can count on us, Sir,” Akira complied.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

There wasn’t much written about the project. All that’s known is that whoever was behind it wanted to create artificial hope, and that the project was aiming towards the reserve course drop out. Only one student agreed to go through with it. They didn't even write down who the student was.

“What the hell?” Akira mumbled. She aggressively flipped through the papers. A small tingly feeling spread throughout her chest. There was no doubt this was what they needed. It didn’t help with who the mastermind was, but it definitely gave her more motivation to finally escape and continue her mission. However, this alone wasn't enough. She won't get answers unless she asks the source.

Akira turned around to face the surveillance camera hanging above her. The light was blinking red as usual. She was being watched. Motioning her hand, she silently ordered Monokuma to show himself.

“Snooping in a deceased peer’s room?” A voice asked from behind her. It was Monokuma. “I guess I shouldn’t expect anything less from someone like you… considering your line of work.”

Monokuma stood there, snickering. There was no doubt he found this funny. One could argue he was slightly impressed. There was only a small group of students that would willingly do something like this. Oh, how this sight inspired him to come up with new motive ideas.

“Keep my occupation out of your mouth, I will not allow you to tarnish the Iwasaki name as long as I am alive,” Akira glared down at the bear. “I didn’t ask you to come here for a casual chat.”

“Well! My timbers have been shivered!” Monokuma cackled. “Please, continue. What do you want?”

He knew all too well…

“You know, if you wanted to clear the school out for a killing game, you should’ve made sure to check every single room was empty.”

Akira threw the folder at Monokuma. She was confident he wouldn't confiscate her friends' findings. That’s exactly why she did it.

“You knew one of us would find these. In fact, wanted us to. But you don’t seem to be standing in the way of us figuring out who you are. Why is that?” Akira asked.

Monokuma stood in silence, thinking about her question before coming up with an answer.

"I have no hope for the world, Akira," Monokuma sighed. "It would bring me so much despair if this killing game went to waste and everyone found out who I am. All my hard work down the drain. I live for that!"

"Then why won't you just tell us who you are right now?"

"That would take the entire fun out of it!" Monokuma argued. "I’m a bear of suspense and despair, my dear. Besides, I love seeing everyone panicking out over the little things and betraying one another.”

“I couldn’t care less about your twisted kinks.”

“Listen, if you want to know more stuff about the files, I’m afraid I can’t answer them right now,” Monokuma dismissively waved his hand in the air. “But don’t worry, the answers you search for will come soon enough!”

"Can you at least tell me who Chisa Yukizome is and why she has records on Ibuki?" Akira asked.

Another long silence came among the two. Until Monokuma tilted his head and slowly asked…

"You don't remember?" That was the last thing Monokuma said before he disappeared. That question made Akira frozen in place. What does he mean by that?

Akira's eyes fell to the folder on the floor when she realized that she was there long enough. She collected all the documents and held the folder close to her chest as she walked out of the room. Before she left, she made sure to lock the door so no one else had access to his room. No one except for Monokuma, that is.

When she made it back to Byakuya's room, she opened the door to see Ayato and Ibuki still there.

“What took you so long?” Ayato asked with a slight worried expression on his face.

“Yeah, we’ve been waiting forever,” Ibuki groaned.

“I assume that’s what Kuwata wanted you to find?” Byakuya asked.

"Yeah..." Akira mumbled, walking over to her friends. The four gathered around the bed as Akira displayed the folder she retrieved.

"Well? What is it?" Ayato asked.

“Didn’t you two investigate with him?” Byakuya asked. “How do you not know what she is holding?”

"Well, we found a bunch of things," Ibuki shrugged. "Anything we thought was important, we just handed to him.”

“He told us he didn’t really find anything other than a journal, and the schools budgeting issue,” Ayato added.

“Hey, Ibuki?” Akira called abruptly. The three looked up at her. “Before coming here, have you ever met a woman named Chisa Yukizome?”

“Nope,” Ibuki smiled, popping the p. “Never heard of that name.”

"Well, whoever she is, she has records on you and some of those new kids," Akira said. "I had no choice... I asked Monokuma about it-"

"What did he say?" Byakuya interrupted.

"He asked me if I remembered... it was weird because he said it in a way like he knew I didn't know anything."

"You're right, that is weird," Ibuki furrowed her eyebrows. "Let me see my file."

Akira handed Ibuki her file, to which the musician quickly skimmed through it. She held the file close to her, almost as if she was worried there was something she didn’t want the others to see. But it was only important things like her name, birthdate, talent, and emergency contact information.

"Why would some random woman have information on Ibuki?" Ayato asked.

"I don't believe she is some random woman," Akira said. "Apparently, she was a teacher here and left due to 'unworkable conditions.’"

"Perhaps this was just paperwork her junior high school sent here,” Byakuya reassured her. “That is a very logical explanation.”

“I don't think so,” Akira sighed. “That paper clearly refers to Ibuki as the Ultimate Musician. Correct me if I'm wrong, but you are not considered an Ultimate until you are enrolled into Hope's Peak Academy. Someone here knew Ibuki was going to be a student this year and made this document."

"Okay, so the Mastermind set up some props beforehand, big whoop," Ayato scoffed with his arms crossed. "If whoever is keeping us here has information on all of our families, and probably more, I wouldn't put it past them to unnerve us a little with something like this."

Akira furrowed her eyebrows at Ayato's sudden remark but quickly brushed him off.

"Anyway, there’s more," She glanced up at Byakuya. "I think we found what your father sent us here to find.”

“What do you mean?” The blond asked.

“Ayato and Ibuki mentioned it before. It’s called the Izuru Kamukura Project.”

“A project to create artificial hope in talentless students,” Ayato added. “Which, I don’t get it. Why waste your time on sad, boring people who have nothing to offer?”

“It says they were mainly targeting dropouts from the reserve course, and only one student went through with it,” Akira continued, handing the document over to Byakuya. “The only problem is that we don’t know who they experimented on.”

“But… This all just sounds like something out of a cheap children’s comic book,” Byakuya sneered.

"Heh, I'm sure Yamada knows a thing or two about that," Ayato chuckled. Akira spared him a quick glance. It was a little funny, but now wasn't the time to be making jokes.

“I mean, this all happened last year, and nobody has heard about it?" Byakuya asked. His eyes darted between the paper and his friends. "This is probably bigger than the Genocide Jack case, and nobody has been talking about it.”

“Well, Kirigiri thinks it’s real and the school might have covered it up somehow,” Akira challenged.

“Wonderful, take advice from a girl who touches dead bodies for fun,” Byakuya rolled his eyes.

"Uhm, I don't believe what Kirigiri does has nothing to do with this," Ayato said, his voice strained with a nervous chuckle.

"Hold on, this is insane!" Ibuki interjected. "Why would anyone volunteer to be experimented on?"

"That's still what we are trying to figure out," Akira responded. "There really isn't anything else here. I'm certain that there was more here, but some documents are missing."

"I mean, that sure is a possibility" Ayato agreed. "But how do we know for sure?"

Akira reached into the pocket of her blazer and pulled out the small journal she found in Leon's room.

"This was the journal written by Chisa Yukizome. She had each page dated for each day she writes,” she said. “However, some pages are either ripped or burned.”

“Well, Kuwata sure did give us more to work with,” Ayato hummed. “But what do we do now that we have all this information?”

"Before I went to his room, I bumped into Kirigiri in the hallway," Akira said. "She saw that the security gate that blocks the second floor was unlocked. Maybe we can look around tomorrow."

"Interesting," Byakuya stroked his chin. "We will investigate the second floor tomorrow morning."

“Well, while you were gone, Taka came by and told us to meet in the dining hall for dinner,” Ibuki said. “We should head over there now.”

The two boys nodded in agreement as they began to make their way out of the room. Ayato and Ibuki were paired up, engaging in a conversation only they could hear as they made their way to join the other students. They quickly stopped when they heard Byakuya call for Akira, who was walking in the opposite direction.

"Are you not joining us for dinner, Akira?" Byakuya asked. Ibuki and Ayato glanced at each other, worried for the girl.

"I'll be there in a couple of minutes," Akira tried her best to smile. She really needed a few minutes alone. "Taka's scolding is the least of my worries right now."

"Oh, alright. Take your time," Ibuki gave a sad smile smiled as the three turned around and continued their short journey to the dining hall.

When Akira made it back to her room, she threw herself onto the bed. She wanted to kick, scream, cry. But for what? Over someone she has only known for a little over a week. She still didn't understand her feelings. Why did Leon’s death hurt so much. How did she really feel about him? She’d be lying if she said she didn’t enjoy his company, if she said she didn’t find amusement in his odd excuses for romantic advances.

Maybe if she were a little stronger, he and Sayaka would still be alive. Maybe if she talked things out with Sayaka, rather than running away, she wouldn’t have needed a reason to attack Leon. Maybe if she came clean that night, Leon would have stayed away. None of these things were Akira’s fault. She knew that herself. But she couldn’t help but feel like she could have done better.

Akira's father served as a bodyguard for Kijo before he died. He was everything Akira and Ayato wanted to be, and now they could. It was their duty to protect Byakuya now. If Akira couldn't protect her deceased classmates, how could she expect herself to protect the ones she has to? Her friends meant everything to her. They were all she had left. She had no idea what she'd do if she lost them.

She dug in her pocket and pulled out Leon's dorm key and the note he wrote her mere hours before he died. She stared at the objects for what felt like forever, but it was really five minutes. She didn’t notice the tears rolling down her face. Why is she crying? People die all the time. Akira didn’t understand— and she probably never will.

She gripped onto the key and held it close to her. It was the first and last thing he has given her. She couldn't break yet; everyone is waiting for her in the Dining Hall.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

Everyone gathered in the dining hall like they did every morning and evening. The only difference was Sayaka, Leon, and Junko were no longer there to spend mealtime with them. Ayato, Ibuki, and Byakuya walked in together. The three knew Akira wanted space, so they respected it.

"Hey guys," Hina smiled. "Is Akira not coming again?”

"She will be here soon," Ayato reassured everyone, claiming a seat next to her. "She just needs time to herself."

Everyone seemed to have understood. Anyone was able to see that the late baseball star somehow managed to break down the Iwasaki heiress' walls. The way that Akira desperately tried to get Leon to defend himself proved that the two were close. She must be heartbroken. Majority of the students sympathized with her even in her absence. Taka believed Akira should still be with them regardless. However, he kept his thoughts to himself. After seeing how Ayato defended Akira against Sayaka, he doesn't want to be the next one to have daggers thrown him behind his back. However, he did notice Makoto wasn't with them either.

"Naegi is also not here," Taka observed. "Shall I bring him over?"

Almost on cue, everyone heard footsteps approaching the doors. They all turned and saw Makoto and Akira entering the dining hall together, they seemed to have been talking to each other on the way.

"Sorry we're late," Makoto smiled shyly.

"Oh hey, you guys!" Hina smiled. "How are you both doing?"

Makoto silently nodded. He'd manage, but that wasn't something he was hoping to talk about at the moment.

"I'm doing quite fine," Akira lied. She and Makoto took the last to empty seats that just so happened to be right next to each other.

"You're such a bad liar," Kokichi snickered. "I get that a friend of yours died, but there’s no point in lying about how you feel. Not that I care or anything.”

Akira didn't bother trying to argue. Kokichi was right.

"You sure took your sweet time, Naegi," Taka scolded. "I was just about to go get you and drag you back here!"

"S-Sorry..." Makoto mumbled, lowering his head. The moral compass tilted his head, trying to get Makoto to look at him.

"So? What happened? Was your room fixed up like he said?" He asked. "I imagine it would be pretty hard to sleep with a rotting corpse in your bathroom!”

"Jesus, that's fucked up, man. Why would you say something like that?" Mondo asked in disgust as he moved his food around his plate.

"My room was...spotless," Makoto said. "There wasn't anything left. Like the whole thing...never happened."

Akira and Ayato glanced at each other. They were both thinking the same thing. If Monokuma was in charge of the clean-up, where did he put the body?

"It must be tough staying there, knowing what happened," Sakura frowned. "Why don't you just stay in Maizono’s room?"

"Well...staying there, with her scent still hanging in the air... That would hurt just as much," Makoto mumbled. Akira understood that all too well. Her head was low, and her eyes remained on her plate. From under the table, she was able to see Makoto place his hand on hers, giving it a reassuring squeeze. They may come from two completely different worlds, but they are so alike. It was relieving to know that She and Ayato weren't the only two who ever felt such grief. Makoto feels it to.

“Naegi… Try to cheer up, yeah? Getting depressed isn’t going to help anything, right?” Hina asked, trying to remain optimistic as always. “If we all work together, I’m sure we will find a way out of here! So, let's try to pull ourselves together and get back on track!”

"Is that honestly supposed to make us feel better?" Byakuya asked.

"Huh?"

“We were already ‘working together’ and yet, someone was still murdered. Anyone could betray us at this point,” Byakuya said. “Now that it’s happened once, it’s a question of when, not if, the next one takes place.”

"Yeah, because Maizono made the first move..." Toko said.

Makoto didn't say anything. He understood what those two were saying, that didn't make it hurt any less.

"You guys are right," Akira began. She still felt Makoto's hand on hers. Before she continued, she turned her wrist to hold Makoto's hand properly, returning the squeeze. "Maizono may have made the first move, but she wasn’t a killer. She was scared. We all are. But maybe if we focus more on who is behind this, rather than who will start the killing game again… We might be able to escape.”

"Exactly! If we work together against the mastermind, nobody will have any reason to kill anyone!" Kaede agreed.

"Keep telling yourself that. I'll be over here in the real world," Byakuya scoffed. "Working together, fighting a common enemy... Like it or not, it's not that simple."

"Now, now, I'm sure we could find a loophole to solve this problem," Nagito chimed in. "We are students at Hope's Peak, aren't we? We can find a way to seek out the positive when all odds seem to be against us."

"What do you mean?" Hifumi asked.

"The mastermind seems to be much more powerful than we ever suspected," Celestia said. "They took over Hope's Peak, which was supposed to be well defended, then modified it to fit their desire. They created Monokuma, which seems to be incredibly advanced, and they're providing for our every need. And the cherry on top is the execution we witnessed. Everything has been planned down to the last excruciating detail. This is not the work of your everyday psychopath. Defying them may be too great a risk..."

"Then...what are we supposed to do?" Hajime asked.

"Anyone who truly does want to escape...will just have to follow the rules," Kokichi smirked. "In which case, the only option is to deceive those around you and win the game."

"N-No..." Chihiro mumbled.

"’No’ what?" Byakuya asked.

"I don't want to live...if it means killing someone else to do it," Chihiro said as she began to tear up. "I don't want to kill anyone else...!"

"Anyone...else?" Yasuhiro asked. "What do you mean?"

"Kuwata died because we all voted for him, right?" Chihiro asked. "It's no different from us killing him ourselves!"

"B-But..."

"If we hadn't voted for him, then we all would've died instead, right...? That isn't what you wanted, is it...?" Hina asked.

Chihiro stayed silent.

"She's right," Hifumi said. "If you heap that kind of blame on yourself, you'll turn into a full-fledged masochist."

"Hey, you got a problem, big guy?" Ayato asked rather loudly. Hifumi shrieked and shook his head.

"Fujisaki, listen... You're not to blame. Not you, not Kuwata, and not Maizono," Makoto said. "The mastermind is responsible for everything that's happened. We had no choice but to vote. I can't even imagine what would've happened to us if we'd refused. And in the end, it was Monokuma who killed Kuwata! So don't waste your anger on yourself... Instead, direct it at the mastermind!"

Everyone stayed silent for the remainder of dinner. Then, as usual, Monokuma gave his nighttime announcement.

"Mm, ahem, this is a school announcement. It is now 10 p.m. As such, it is officially nighttime. As promised, entry to the dining hall is no longer prohibited, make sure you have a trusted travel buddy escorting you there," Monokuma announced on the speaker. "Oh, and one other thing... It was totally obvious before that you were trying to make yourselves feel better and justify what you did. See you, see you, don't see you, see you! That's about how much I can see you, even when you try to hide! Now pay attention and remember this well! The burden of judging others is a heavy one to bear. So be well aware of your actions! Order and stability rely on the sacrifice and responsibility of everyone! Okay then...sweet dreams, everyone! Good night, sleep tight, don't let the bed bug's bite..."

"What the hell?" Akira mumbled.

"What w-was that about just n-now...?" Toko asked.

"Was he just saying all of this is our fault?" Yasuhiro asked. "That's pretty cruel, man."

"That piece of shit!" Mondo yelled. "Who does he think he is!?"

The new kids looked at each other, then back at the others who have been here since the first day. They were all scared and confused. What is going to happen now?

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

That night, the four went along with Ibuki’s idea to forget about stopping the killing game in general. This time, they’re guarding the halls with a new mission.

Ayato and Akira stood at their ends of the dormitory hall. Neither one of them saying a word to each other. They both felt a pit of guilt in their stomach. They could have prevented the room swap. They could have prevented Leon from entering Makoto’s room to meet his attacker. They could have prevented Leon from killing Sayaka.

Once again, Akira patrolled the hallway exit near the dining hall, and Ayato patrolled near the garbage room. He stepped in the garbage room, realizing the first and last time he has ever entered was when Akira was attacked. He looked at how far the incinerator was from the gate. Makoto was right. Any normal person wouldn’t be able to throw a baseball that far— let alone a glass ball. Throwing things about 30 feet wouldn’t be any trouble for the Ultimate Baseball Star.

On the other side, Ibuki was guarding the entrance to the dining hall while Byakuya was guarding the door to the second dormitory.

“Hey, Byakuya?” Ibuki whispered. She turned and saw Byakuya was already looking at her. He still didn’t agree to allowing her guard the halls. She couldn’t protect herself in ways the twins could. She gave a slight smile and walked towards him. Sliding down the wall to sit, Byakuya followed suit.

“What is it?” Byakuya asked.

“Were you serious about what you said earlier? Do you truly think we can only escape if we kill someone else?”

“I don’t know, Ibuki,” Byakuya sighed. “Three people are dead now. And there’s no doubt someone learned from Kuwata’s mistakes and is planning a murder right now.”

“I know… But are we just gonna give up?”

Byakuya fixed his glasses that were slightly falling off his face. He sat in thought. He knew how scared his friends were, and he’d be lying if he said he wasn’t anxious for what would happen as well. This is the first time Byakuya Togami wasn’t in control. And having such minimal power scared the shit out of him. He may not have control over this killing game, but he had control over how he decided to comfort his friends. He awkwardly wrapped an arm around Ibuki’s shoulder and scooted her close. Ibuki tensed up. This was very out of character for him. She could also feel him tense up, too.

“Careful,” Ibuki laughed. “Someone might catch you being nice to me.”

“I don’t think we’d have to worry about that right now,” Byakuya smiled softly. “Though, if you tell anyone about this, I will have to kill you.”

“My lips are sealed!”

The two laughed and enjoyed each other's silence. It appears no one wants to take advantage of the dining hall being opened. Nobody besides Hina.

“The gate to the second floor will be open tomorrow. We can start our investigation in the morning,” Byakuya mumbled. “I know what I said earlier was… Out of line. But we need to think realistically. We have been stuck here for over a week, and the only guaranteed chance we have at escaping is if we kill another student.”

A silence came between them again as Byakuya thought about what more to say.

“You three are the only people I can to tolerate being around. So, of course, I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you guys. I just hope we are able to escape together.”

Ibuki smiled. It isn’t every day she got to hear Byakuya say something sincere and actually mean it. Majority of the time, he hid it behind insults. That’s what he believed would make his friends stronger. They would also make jokes whenever Byakuya was being genuine. Though, he'd just roll his eyes and take back his words immediately after. When it came to serious matters, like this for example, there was no room for jokes.

“Ayato and I should be the least of your worries,” Ibuki said. “Akira and Kuwata started getting close... and then he was taken away from her. I mean... They have already lost their parents while they were overseas…. And Hayami. I could tell this trial hurt Akira the most."

"But she only knew him for a week," Byakuya said. "I understand they have started to become close, but their friendship couldn't have had much value, right?"

"Do you remember Mr. Iwasaki?" Ibuki asked. Byakuya nodded. Of course, he did, how could he forget? That man was so passionate about his job and his family. He would go through hell and back just to make sure his wife and children were doing well. That was until the four had to split up. Akira and Ayato stayed to train in Japan while their parents were doing work in the United States.

Akira and Ayato had just finished their training program and were supposed to come home to their parents already there; but working as usual. They would meet again the next morning to eat breakfast before going about their day. Instead of that, they returned home and were met with Byakuya's father as well as cop cars and an ambulance in front of the building. Kijo Togami was the one who fed the twins the false narrative that there was an enemy stronger than them. It wasn't until a few months later, Akira learned the truth from eavesdropping on KIjo's conversation. Since then, the Togami Corporation was the closest thing the twins could call family— along with Ibuki and her parents, but they haven’t seen each other in a month or so before they arrived at Hope's Peak.

“I was observing how he acted, and I realized he and Mr. Iwasaki were so similar. They both are cautious but are willing to bend over backwards for people they care about,” Ibuki continued. “That could explain why Akira found comfort in Kuwata.”

"Now that you say that... that does make sense," Byakuya said. "Kuwata did have Mr. Iwasaki's humorous, yet protective nature."

“In the small amount of time they they’ve known Kuwata, I already know that they cared a lot about him. And they seemed drained the whole day. Surely, they both have their own ways to cope, but there’s nothing for them here. They look exactly like how they did when they lost their parents. I’m scared for them, Byakuya.”

“I’m sure they’ll be fine,” he reassured her.

Everything started to make sense to Byakuya. Akira and Ayato only ever spoke to Byakuya and Ibuki after their parents died. Since then, they have been more motivated than ever to follow in their parent's footsteps and achieve their goals. Akira wants to better the Iwasaki Organization, and Ayato wants to hone in on his talent to make sure the people he cares about are safe.

The hallway remained quiet on Akira and Ayato’s side of the building. They did watch Hina and Sakura go into the Dining Hall so Hina could satisfy her midnight cravings— after that, they returned to their respective rooms, not before offering their food to the twins.

It was almost time for them to return to their rooms. Since nothing worth being called “suspicious” happened, it’s safe to assume that there will not be another class trial. Byakuya walked Ibuki to Akira’s room, and the twins watched Byakuya walk into his own. Akira and Ayato decided to head to the dining hall to grab a drink before going to bed. Leaning on the kitchen counter, Akira reached in her pocket and grabbed Leon’s dorm key. She didn’t notice her brother moving next to her.

“Listen,” Ayato mumbled, trying to find the right words to say. “I… Kuwata cared about you. And that’s stating the obvious. If he didn’t, he wouldn’t have gone out of his way to make sure you were okay… He wouldn’t have spent his last few moments alive thinking about how to help you. He said he was doing it for all of us, but I think you were the only thing on his mind.”

"What makes you say that?" Akira asked.

“Because… Byakuya was the one who initiated the plan. Kuwata knew that, but he still went along with it since he knew it would benefit you somehow. Don’t you think he wouldn’t have given that key to Byakuya since he was in charge? No, he wanted you to escape. He wanted you to solve these mysteries.”

Akira cocked an eyebrow as she took a sip of her water.

“After Monokuma explained the class trial to us, Ibuki and I went to investigate the classrooms,” Ayato continued. “We found Kuwata digging through a teacher's desk like an animal. He knew he was going to get executed, and he wanted to be useful to you one last time.”

"He didn't have to do that. He didn’t owe us anything.”

“Maybe not, but without Kuwata, we would still be in the dark about everything that is going on. Sure, it’s all still confusing… But we found the reason why we are here. And that's all thanks to him.”

Akira said nothing. She only stared at the floor, trying to take in what she was being told.

"What do you think his last thoughts were during the investigation and class trial today?" Ayato asked.

"I don't know," Akira mumbled. "Does it really matter anymore?"

"It should," Ayato said. "If you ask me, I’d say he was wondering how he could motivate you to get out. And maybe… How his efforts could live on even after he died.”

"How do you know that for sure?"

“I know Kuwata found the student files. He didn’t want to say anything to us, but I knew he was hiding something— other than the fact he killed Maizono,” Ayato said. “He probably saw Ibuki’s file and wanted you to look at it by yourself.”

"He knew he was going to get executed," Akira said. "Then why did he keep blaming Naegi? He would risk us all dying."

“I couldn’t tell you the answer to that” Ayato mumbled. “I’d like to believe he had a plan just in. case something happened. Regardless, I still think he did it all to save you.”

“Ayato…”

He turned as soon as he heard his sister’s voice crack. She was crying. An occurrence he will never get used to. He didn’t ask why she was crying. He knew why. So he hummed in response.

“Why?” Akira asked.

“‘Why’ what?”

Akira never had the time to register her feelings. She’s always coped with her negativity by training. She didn't have that opportunity here.

“Why does it hurt?” Akira cried. “Why does his death hurt so much?”

Tears filled Ayato's eyes when he realized he couldn't answer. Without warning, he pulled her into a hug. The two stood there for what felt like forever; seeking comfort in each other's embrace and crying in the crooks of one another's necks.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

The two decided to head back to Akira’s dorm. After the events that happened that morning, they didn’t trust each other to be alone. Akira set up a makeshift bed on the floor, and gave Ayato her bed— of course, that meant he is sleeping head-to-toe with Ibuki.

“Akira, can I ask you something?” Ayato asked, looking up at the ceiling. Akira hummed. He then turned on his side, only to meet Akira’s back facing him. “Why didn’t you tell me that Maizono attacked you?”

“I already said why, Ayato,” Akira grumbled, drowsiness already consuming her.

“No, you told them you were worried about losing their trust. Why didn’t you tell me?”

Akira sighed and sat up. Her memories of that night were hazy— which was odd, considering it was only a couple days ago. She remembered her thoughts clearly.

‘Grab the knife.’

‘No one will ever know.’

“Because it’s fucking embarrassing,” Akira said. “It’s humiliating to know that no matter how much extensive training I went through, I could barely hold my own in the fight… I- I couldn’t protect myself without it being at the cost of someone else’s life!”

“Akira…”

“If I couldn’t protect myself… How do I expect myself to protect you… Or Byakuya… Or the Togami Corporation… How can I defend the Iwasaki Organization when we finally rebuild it?”

“It’s all you’ve ever known,” Ayato said flatly. “I think being stuck in here is ruining your flow. Perhaps you can train with Ogami? I know she goes to the gym from time to time. I'm not sure if she'd take you, though. She's been turning me down every time I've asked. But it's worth a shot.”

“Maybe.”

“Kuwata wouldn’t want you to beat yourself up about what you can’t control,” Ayato said. “What do you think he would say if he found you like this?”

“Ayato…”

“He’d most definitely tell you to keep your head up, and to get some sleep. You look like shit.”

“Wow, thanks,” Akira laughed.

“There she is,” Ayato smiled. “Today has been a shitty day for all of us. All we can do is move forward.”

Akira smiled and nodded.

“And listen,” Ayato continued. “It’s okay to not be okay. Quite frankly, I’m not okay either. We have been through a lot up till now, and we need to rely on each other. And this is one of those moments where we need to stick together more than ever. You don’t need to act tough just to lead everyone in the right direction. So please, be honest with me. Let me carry your burdens with you”

“Alright,” Akira yawned as she started to drift off to sleep. Ayato smiled and did the same.

Someone may not have died tonight, but that doesn't mean it is impossible for it to happen soon. After all, the killing game just started.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

STATUS 20/23 STUDENTS ALIVE - 3 STUDENTS DEAD

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

Chapter Text

It’s dark again. Akira opens her eyes and sees herself in the void again. Her bare feet are wet from the endless floor like last time. She couldn’t walk. It was almost as if there was a force keeping her from moving. And just like last time, a white light appears— hovering over a hospital bed. Just one. She can see clearly on the tag that it’s hers. Where’s her parents?

She then heard voices. Two men. One of them sounded all too familiar. Ayato.

“I just… I don’t understand how this happened,” He cried. “She would never… She’d never leave me.”

“I’m sorry, sir,” The other voice said. It came out almost like an echo. “We tried to reverse the damages, but it’s too late. She’s gone.”

“Then what fucking good are you?! You’re a doctor, right? You have the technology to undo this!”

She couldn’t intervene. She couldn’t tell Ayato she’s still there. She just watched as he grabbed a gun from his jacket pocket and shoot the imaginary doctor in front of him. When he dropped to his knees, he let out cry so loud, it was almost deafening.

“Akira!”

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

“Akira!”

Akira felt her whole body shake. She finally felt movement in her limbs as she gained the energy to shoot up from her bed.

Only she regretted that very quickly, and collided with someone.

“Ow! What the fuck?” A boy screamed. Akira looked up and saw Ayato covering his now bleeding nose. Ibuki was sitting beside her, witnessing the whole thing.

“Ugh, what the hell, Ayato ,” Akira groaned, rubbing her forehead. “What the hell’s up with you?”

“I should be asking you the same thing! I woke up early to use your shower, and when I come out, you’re practically blue in the face!”

Akira did notice when she woke up, it was almost like she was breathing for the first time. Was she really suffocating in her sleep?

“You’re also sweating like crazy, are you okay?” Ayato asked, reaching his hand to touch her forehead.

“Don’t worry about me,” Akira swatted his hand away. “Let’s get you situated. We don’t want people getting the wrong idea.”

“I‘ll be fine, it’s just a little blood.”

“Ayato,” Ibuki mumbled.

He followed the girls’ eyes down to the floor where a puddle of blood waited for them. Of course, there were new blood stains on his now not-so-clean uniform.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

A couple hours later, Monokuma gave his morning announcement like usual. Only this time, he told everyone to meet in the gym.

“What the hell does this asshole want so early in the morning?” Mondo yawned.

“I don’t think another pep rally is quite appropriate after yesterday’s events,” Byakuya asserted as he fixed his glasses.

“Attention, fellow students! I’d like to make an announcement,” Monokuma projected on stage. Everyone looked at him with anticipation. Was this another motive? “Every time you overcome a class trial here at Hope’s Peak, a whole new world will open up to you?”

“A whole new world?” Yasuhiro echoed.

"It'd really suck if you had to live here forever with nothing new to stimulate you! Besides, I know how you kids get these days with your ADD and ADHD. I gotta keep you motivated!" Monokuma smiled. "So go ahead, look around all you want! Enjoy the brave new post-trial world till you explode!"

Before anyone could say anything, Monokuma ran off.

"What does he mean?" Makoto asked.

"Is he talking about...a way to get outside?" Hina asked.

"That seems...unlikely," Celeste remarked.

"Well, we won't know till we look!" Mondo said.

"Alright, but where is there to look?" Hajime asked. "Everyone searched around already, so what more is there to find?"

"Whatever he meant, it seems we'll have to search the school one more time," Sakura said.

"There’s no doubt he is talking about the second floor," Kyoko said.

"The security gate that blocks the stairs was up," Ibuki chimed in. "And it was up late last night, too."

"Then let's check it out!" Kaede said. Everyone nodded and left the gym. They all made their way to the stairs that lead to the second floor.

"I doubt there will be anything useful here," Ayato muttered.

"Don't lose hope friends!" Nagito said. "I believe that we will find something useful."

Nagito’s way of cheering up everyone was somewhat odd. It was still a bit helpful but two students couldn’t help but frown.

"Turn that frown upside down guys!" Hina cheered. "We'll get outta here if we work together. I'm sure of it!”

"Please, spare us your blandishments, Woman!" Byakuya said. "One of our compatriots butchered another... Once that line has been crossed, further villainy is assured.”

“But do we honestly believe that?” Ayato asked. “From yesterday’s trial, I think we can all agree that as clever as Kuwata was, getting caught by your peers is near inevitable. I mean… The crime scene was Naegi’s room, and look how that turned out.”

“That’s… right. But now isn’t the time to complain and ponder about yesterday,” Akira said. “We should focus more on investigating the second floor.”

"I agree!" Taka said. "Let's all split up and look around! We will all regroup and discuss what we have found!"

Everyone nodded and went off in their own groups to cover the second floor, hoping there is something worthwhile.

"You three, come with me," Byakuya said, pointing at Akira, Ayato, and Ibuki. The three nodded and followed him.

Of course, the security gate to the third floor was still down. However, on the third floor, there was a pool filled with clean water, along with boy and girl locker rooms. Both locker rooms contained workout equipment, lockers, and a punching bag.

And finally, there was a library. A room full of knowledge, creativity, and information. Specifically information on what has been happening in the school.

‘I gotta say… The pool and library were nice touches.’ Akira thought to herself.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

A few minutes after everyone broke up into their groups, Byakuya, Akira and Ibuki made their way into the library. Some students were already in there.

"Read it... read it... read it... hated it," Hifumi said as he was looking at the books neatly organized on the shelves. "Ugh! Where're the comic books!? Where's the young adult section!?"

"Comic b-books? Young adult? That stuff's a w-waste of time..." Toko mumbled, disgusted in Hifumi’s genre preferences.

"I've seen what you write, Ms. Fukawa," Hifumi said. "Talented as you are, your stuff isn't any more 'worthwhile'."

"My stories are filled with true love and pure feelings! Don't compare them to that garbage of yours!" Toko protested. "Your writing doesn't even m-mean anything. It's just a bunch of j-jumbled up letters...! S-Someone should just...burn it all."

"I bet you're secretly into boy-on-boy action!" Hifumi taunted.

"Boy-on-boy...?" Toko asked. "I don't care if it's a-anime or comics or fanfic or wh-whatever! It's all filth! A throwaway culture that'll be trashed and forgotten in half a decade! Ugh...just t-talking about it makes me sick to my s-stomach. I feel like I'm g-gonna throw-up..."

"Grr...! You've insulted me, and you've insulted my honor!" Hifumi yelled.

“They are literally both authors with different visions,” Akira whispered as she, Ayato, and Makoto flipped through some books. “Do they all interact that way?”

The two boys shrugged as they tried their best to ignore all the bickering coming from the authors. That was short-lived when they heard a loud gasp.

"I am absolutely shocked!" Hifumi shrieked.

"What's the problem now, Yamada?" Ayato asked, not bothering to hide his lack of interest.

"They have all these books here, and not ONE copy of ANY of my works!" Hifumi yelled.

"W-Well, yeah... Why would they have c-comics in a library?" Toko asked. "Plus, most 'fanfic' is j-just porn drawn by a bunch of a-amateurs..."

"You just don't get it," Hifumi shook his head. "Not. At. All."

"I-I do, too get it..." Toko said. "And with a face like yours, anyone can tell n-nothing you do is worthwhile."

"Say whatever you want about me, but never judge a book by its author!" Hifumi said. "Now hear this! Appearances mean nothing at all! What you see before you is nothing more than the rind that contains the meaty pulp of my genius! My creations are what determine my meaning and value!"

"You're so f-full of it..." Toko mumbled.

"Hmph. I'm used to being misunderstood," Hifumi said. "You think weak attacks like yours will drop my HP?"

“Hey, guys, do us a favor?” Ayato asked. “Take your argument to the hallway! Some of us are actually trying to investigate.”

“I swear, it’s like parenting toddlers with those two,” Akira mumbled under her breath as she walked back with her group. “They have different values in their writing, why bother arguing? It’s useless.”

There was a computer on the desk. It could probably be a way to contact the outside world, but based on its model, it seems really old. Byakuya was spamming the power button, but it wouldn't turn on.

"It won't even turn on," Byakuya sighed. "Cut-rate piece of junk.”

"Not that I believed we could google our way out of this mess, but it did cross my mind," Kyoko said.

"Hey, Fujisaki," Akira turned towards the short girl. "You're good with technology, right? Do you think you can help us out here?"

"Sure, let me see," Chihiro mumbled. Everyone moved out of the way to give her space. “Well, this model is quite old. I have high doubts that you could communicate to anyone outside on this thing. I could try to see if I can charge it up and reboot it, then we can see what it can do. I could take it to my dorm if that’s okay.”

“We’re counting on you, Fujisaki,” Ayato smiled. He figured it seemed a bit too pushy and took it back. “No pressure though! Honestly, since it’s old, I wouldn’t get my hopes up about it working.”

Chihiro giggled and walked to an empty table with the computer. Makoto was searching in the desk drawers, seeing if there was anything useful in there.

"Well... any luck?" Byakuya asked.

"Nothing yet," Makoto said. He immediately cut himself off when he found a letter in one of the drawers. It was signed by Hope's Peak High School's Principal.

"Hey, what's that you got there?" Akira asked.

"It's a letter from the principal here. It's so dusty, it looks like it has been sitting for a year," Makoto said as he skimmed through the paper. "Going by what I see here, this place isn't even a school anymore."

"Well... what's it say?" Ibuki asked.

Makoto read the note out loud.

"Throughout the years, we have been committed to shaping the youth who will one day shape the world. We have a long, proud history as an institution of higher learning with full government support. Our graduates enter society ready to take on active leadership roles in every major job field. However, Hope's Peak Academy must now lower the curtain on its glorious history, for the time being. This decision was not an easy one to make, but serious issues beyond our control have made it necessary. But make no mistake--this is not the end for Hope's Peak Academy. We intend to reopen our doors as soon as the issues forcing our closure have been resolved. That being said, this is the end for now, and I would like to personally and sincerely thank everyone for your help and support over the years. For now, we are awaiting official governmental authorization to formally cease operations."

"School operations will resume once the issues have been resolved?" Ayato asked. "What's that about?"

"It would seem Hope's Peak had stopped functioning as a school before we ever set foot on campus," Kyoko said.

"I don't know how it was for you, but it looked plenty legit when I showed up," Makoto said.

"You said that note had to have been a year old, right?" Akira asked. "Well, that about does it then. It doesn't matter how legit this place seemed. It was closed down for an entire year, and we were lured here under the impression that this school was still functioning. That will explain why there are no students here."

"Do you think this has anything to do with that one kid who got experimented on?" Ayato whispered. Akira and Ibuki shrugged.

"Apparently, the author of our misfortune claimed it once it was deserted, and then he set the stage for this twisted little play," Byakuya said. He then found a pile of books stacked on top of each other. Akira walked towards the pile and looked through them. The first book she picked up was titled 'Murderous Impulses in Broad Daylight'. The other books that followed were true crime novels and how to get away with murder.

"Look at this... Sensationalist trash of the lowest order,” Byakuya continued. “But here, it serves as a textbook."

"Yeah, don't remind me," Makoto mumbled. By this point, more people gathered in the library.

“Whoever is pulling the bear’s strings probably gets off to the thought of us coming up with sadistic schemes to escape,” Akira mumbled as she walked away from the books.

"It's not often that life grants you reason to feel such delicious frisson," Byakuya said. "The least we can do is enjoy ourselves."

"What the hell...?" Makoto mumbled.

“Are you… serious?” Akira asked. “You can’t think any of this is funny.”

"That little piss-ant has been treating it like a game!" Mondo yelled. "You're in danger too, y'know!"

"It is a game, you philistine," Byakuya said.

"A zero-sum game, correct?" Celeste asked. "Whatever you win, you take from another. Vying for spots at a good school, promotions at work, and in this scenario... the prize is life itself, but only for one of us."

"Way to be straight forward, Celeste," Akira rolled her eyes. "You're sorta freaking some people out. But I can't say that you're completely wrong either."

"Yeah, thanks for that," Makoto said sarcastically.

"Honestly, the thought that you might not survive this game has never once crossed your mind, has it?" Celestia asked Byakuya.

"No, and why would it?" Byakuya asked.

"I would expect no less from the heir to an elite conglomerate like the Togami Corporation," Celeste laughed. "The world must look different to you. For a Super High School Level Heir such as yourself challenges simply exist as accolades to be won. Even with your life on the line, you don't waver."

"So you do understand me," Byakuya smirked. "Shall I spell it out for the rest of you plebeians? You had better try your damnest to win! Nothing bores me more than watching a bunch of quitters."

"No... I can't," Chihiro mumbled. Byakuya raised his brow. "This is just wrong! Why are you talking about this so calmly? It's horrible! Friends aren't supposed to kill each other!"

"We are not friends," Byakuya said. "We are strangers, death-locked in a fight for survival."

"But, that's so ruthless!" Chihiro teared up.

"Must you be reminded that you voted Kuwata guilty along with the rest of us?” Byakuya asked. “And you said before, voting someone out is no different than committing a murder ourselves.”

"Well, it's a good thing he got what was coming to him, y'know," Hina frowned. "It would have been our necks with the 'cut here' lines on them instead."

"Akira, surely you have something to say about this," Celestia said. "You were just as affected by Kuwata’s execution than the rest of us."

“I don’t know what you are talking about,” Akira said. “What? Do you want me to cry? Do you want me to say that it isn’t his fault, that Monokuma is to blame? Or do you want me to blame myself because I could have prevented it all? I’m sorry but you’re not getting that.”

“Akira! Hold on-“ Ayato called out.

And with that, Akira stormed out the Library. It was dramatic, sure. But she didn’t know how much longer she could talk about yesterday’s trial. It’s all anybody wanted to talk about when she was around.

Before Ayato could follow her, Monomuma’s voice came from the speaker.

"Wow! What a juicy exit!" Monokuma cackled. "You're telling me that Leon played Hide-The-Cutlery with Maizono and it's not his fault? Oh, I get it: she was gonna kill him if he didn't beat her to the punch. Bye-bye free will? Whatever helps you sleep at night, darlings."

"Man, that bear is a dick," Yasuhiro said.

Everyone stood there, unsure of what to do. There was a soft thud. They all turned and saw Chihiro dropping to her knees and sobbing on the floor. Ibuki immediately rushed over, patting the girl on the back, hoping to calm her down.

“Hey, stop that,” Mondo said softly. “You’re just giving him what he wants.”

“Taken up coddling the weakest link, eh?” Byakuya taunted.

"That's it!" Mondo yelled as he stomped towards Byakuya. "I'm feeding this dude his teeth!"

"Owada, stop!" Ayato yelled.

"Just calm down!" Taka yelled as he and Ayato ran in between Byakuya and Mondo.

"Like hell!" Mondo yelled as he tossed Taka on the floor to and  shoved Ayato out the way. Taka was a bit smaller than Mondo, so he was easy to push around.

"Hey! You need to chill out, Owada!" Hina yelled. Mondo froze, and looked at the two boys he hurt. By this time, Ibuki and Hina were already attending to them, making sure there wasn’t enough damage.

"As enthralling as it is to watch you beat your chest like a caged monkey, I'm sick of this sham," Byakuya said as he walked towards the exit.

"Runnin' like a little bitch, huh?" Mondo yelled.

“Ayato, are you okay?” Hina asked.

“It’s fine, I’m fine,” Ayato said. “I’m used to it. Byakuya usually gets like this. Pretending to not be afraid makes you less of an easy target, right?”

"So… Togami is only pretending to not be scared?" Kaede asked.

"Don't get it twisted, Byakuya doesn't pretend. It is clear he is not scared," Ibuki said. "That is as real as you see Byakuya Togami get."

“But that’s not fair,” Kaede yelled. “You shouldn’t be used to that.”

“Well, it’s not like we could leave even if we wanted to,” Ayato said. “Many years ago, there was a gang that could have been responsible for the extinction of the Iwasaki family, so to prevent that from happening, my family showed its loyalty to the Togami family.“

“Ayato was assigned as a bodyguard for Byakuya in the future while Akira took over the Iwasaki Organization,” Ibuki added. “Their roles were already decided minutes after they were born, but Byakuya would be the one to make the finalized decisions when he takes over. Luckily, he made his decision early and decided to bring both families together into one organization, truly working side by side.”

"That is great and all," Mondo said. "But are you sure you want to work for that asshole?"

“We don’t really have much of a choice,” Ayato said. “Ever since birth, we have been destined to stay by Byakuya’s side. If we ever try to leave… The outcome will be less than ideal. I guess you could say I will be Byakuya’s bodyguard in the future, but at the end of the day, he’s the reason why I’m still alive.”

Everyone stood in silence. They’re seeing all these sides to the twins that they’ve never seen before. It’s even more terrifying to know that one person has the power to decided if the twins get to live.

“It’s not all that bad, you know,” Ayato added. “Byakuya does have his moments where he’s pleasant to be around. In fact, he was the one who asked his father to take us in after we lost our parents on a mission.”

"Ayato…" Hina mumbled. "I am so sorry for your loss."

"It's fine," Ayato slightly smiled. "That was actually what was on our tape for the first motive. I guess Monokuma just wanted to taunt us."

"That's horrible!" Taka said. "Using a family member's death against you is unacceptable!"

"It is awful," Ibuki said. "But Ibuki knows that Akira and Ayato are better than that! And we will get out of here!"

“I guess we should find Byakuya and Akira,” Ayato said as Ibuki helped him up. When the two left, everybody stood in an awkward silence. The twin’s past was a lot more brutal than they thought.

"Maybe Togami is right..." Toko trembled. "I can't trust anyone!"

"Really?" Hina asked. "Now is when you finally decide to lose it!?"

"No one gives a damn whether I'm alive or dead..." Toko mumbled. "You could find me torn to pieces and you'd say 'At least it wasn't me'!"

"Fukawa, nobody wants you dead!" Makoto said as he tried to comfort the shaken girl. "Just calm d-"

"Liar! It's in your eyes! All of you!" Toko yelled. She then ran out of the library.

"Man... There's crazy... and then there's that chick," Yasuhiro shook his head.

Everyone sighed. It has been almost two weeks, and the severity of their situation is finally sinking in.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

Once when everyone finally calmed down, they all met in the dining hall to discuss what they found.

“Okay, ladies and gentlemen!” Taka said. “HOw did it go? Did anyone discover anything interesting? New? Anything?”

"There's a library!" Hifumi said. "Well, of course... everyone knew that."

"And a pool! A freakin' pool!" Hina smiled. "And locker rooms filled with exercise equipment!"

"There was not, however, anything resembling an escape route," Sakura said.

"Yeah...she's right..." Makoto mumbled.

"Well hey, there's no reason to get all sulky! Wait till you hear about my amazing discovery!" Taka announced. "The warehouse and bathhouse on the 1st floor of the dorms are now open! And the warehouse is chock-full of food, clothes, whatever you want. There's so much it's insane! So go ahead and stuff yourself to the gills whenever you feel like it!“

"Okay, and what about a fuckin' way out of here?" Mondo asked. "Did You find anything like that?"

"Oh, well...umm..." Taka mumbled.

"There wasn't anything in the warehouse we could use to get our asses outta here? Nothin'?"

"U-Unfortunately, no...not that I saw..."

"You fuckin' people..." Mondo mumbled. "Who gives a shit if we have a goddamn pool now!? Or a warehouse, or whatever the fuck! We're still trapped in this piece of shit school! We need to find a goddamn way OUT!"

"Now, now. There is no point in taking your anger out on us," Chihiro said. "Adaptation is the key, yes? For now, we must each find a way to enjoy what we have."

"Whatever you say, ya fuckin' loon..." Mondo mumbled.

"For now, let's just continue our investigation, and let everyone know if you should discover something..." Taka said.

"So, are we done for today?" Kyoko asked.

"W-Well...yeah, I guess so," Taka mumbled.

Everyone made their way out of the dining hall and into their individual rooms. Of course, like every night, Ibuki, Byakuya, Akira, and Ayato met up after Monokuma's night time announcements. Though it was still too early for it to be 10 pm, the four decided it would be best to discuss what they found in the library.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

"Alright," Byakuya said as he looked at his three friends. "I believe we should continue to look into that letter Naegi found in the Library. It may hold some significance to our investigation.”

“I agree,” Akira said. “Though, what exactly does the principal mean by ‘issues beyond our control’? Do you think it was a set up to lure us in here?”

"That's what I am also wondering," Ibuki said.

“Come on… really?” Ayato asked. “That’s what we are going with? Are we even sure that letter is real? It could be another one of Monokuma’s twisted jokes.”

"That is the only option we have at the moment," Byakuya said. "But, Fujisaki still has that computer we found in the Library... so hopefully she found something."

“Well, there’s not much for us to do now… So why don’t we go off and do whatever with the time we have left?” Ibuki suggested. “We have been investigating nonstop since we got here. Some downtime would really do us some good.”

“That would be nice! I think I’m gonna take a dip in the pool Asahina told us about,” Ayato said as he stood up. “I’ll look for some people to join me.”

“I wanna go hang out with Kaede!” Ibuki smiled. “She likes music like Ibuki does! She must be fun to hang out with.”

"I will be reading in the library," Byakuya said as they all stood up and walked out of the room. "And what about you, Akira?"

"Eh, I am gonna walk around the school," Akira said. "Clear my head, maybe."

They all walked out of the room and went their separate ways. It appears everyone else had the same idea. Nekomaru and Sakura were sparring in the gym. Ibuki and Kaede talking about music in the hallway. Ayato challenged Hina in the pool— and failed miserably. What did he expect from the Ultimate Swimming Pro? Nagito was rambling on and on about various topic to Hajime, who was barely listening. And Toko picked up a new hobby of following Byakuya around.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

Akira was walking around the second floor, thinking about many things. She thought about the class trial, she thought about her outburst from earlier, and she thought about what the others found in the library. She especially thought about the computer that was in Chihiro’s room. She noticed Makoto walking on the opposite side of the hallway from her, his eyes glued on his digital notebook.

"Oh, hey Naegi," Akira smiled and waved. "What are you up to?"

"Hey Akira," Makoto looked up and smiled. "I was just walking around the second floor because I was bored. I was planning on taking a look through the Library one last time."

"Oh, cool. Do you mind if I tag along," Akira said. "I haven’t seen Byakuya in a while, so I thought I’d check on him if he’s still there."

Makoto nodded. He was more than happy that Akira asked to join him. They walked into the library together, and there Byakuya was, reading a book. Toko was staring at him from behind a nearby bookshelf. She was practically drooling.

"It's dark in here," Makoto mumbled. “Oh, hey, Fukawa!”

"Please, could you be any more obvious?" Byakuya rolled his eyes. Makoto and Toko instantly flinched. "The sight of you repulses me. But I could smell you from here. Take a shower."

Toko jumped from behind the bookshelf and gasped. Akira and Makoto frowned at her. But it's true, she hasn't showered since they got to the school.

"Don't make me repeat myself," Byakuya continued, still reading his book. "Just do as I tell you. Your stench is an insult."

"W-what?" Toko asked. She sighed and walked away with Makoto and Akira following her. "O-okay..."

"Fukawa wait!" Makoto yelled as he ran after the girl.

"Hey, Byakuya tends to get like that when he wants to be alone," Akira said. "I wouldn't take all that stuff to heart, y'know?"

"I can't believe him..." Toko mumbled. "Togami is such a... He's such a... He's such an absolute dreamboat, isn't he?!"

Makoto and Akira looked at each other in confusion, then back at Toko.

"I’m sorry, what?" Makoto asked, taken aback at what Toko said.

"He took the time to tell me to clean myself!" Toko squealed. "Well, what do you think of us, guys?"

"Hold on... Us who?"

"Me and Togami, Duh!" Toko exclaimed. "Wouldn't we make the perfect couple? You may think our love is one-sided, but... you're wrong! Oh, Togami, I'm yours forever!"

"Okay, then," Akira mumbled. Toko giggled as she skipped away.

"They sure broke the mold when they made that one," Makoto said.

"Yeah, tell me about it..." Akira said. "That thing is a whole lot of pretty and a whole lot of crazy."

"But are you okay with it?" Makoto asked.

"Huh?" Akira asked. "What do you mean?"

“Well… You’re kind of… A bodyguard for him in a way, right?” Makoto trailed off. “I don’t know, so just assumed you would prevent these kind of things from happening.”

“It’s not Byakuya I’m worried about,” Akira said. Makoto cocked an eyebrow. “Sure, Ayato and I are meant to protect him, but he’s independent, you know? He didn’t have a choice to have us with him. That was all our parents.”

“So… you’re more worried for Fukawa?”

“She’s coming up with these fantasies of him that are not true. That could seriously do something to someone.”

"I guess that makes sense.”

"But it's whatever," Akira sighed. "All of that would blow over."

"Really?" Makoto asked.

“Definitely, it has happened many times before.”

"Togami is quite the catch isn’t he?”

"Not a good enough one if the ladies are changing their mind all the time," Akira laughed. Makoto did too. "Ugh, I haven’t had anything to eat all day today. I think I’ll head to the kitchen. Are you hungry?”

"I’m starving," Makoto groaned. "We pretty much have been investigating since we woke up, I haven’t even had breakfast!”

"Sweet! Let's go!" Akira cheered as she and Makoto raced towards the kitchen. It was nice to finally talk to somebody about anything other than the trial. And talking to Makoto… it felt refreshing to Akira.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

Makoto and Akira finally made it to the dining hall, but the entry was blocked by Taka and Mondo.

"Uh oh... Are they gonna fight?" Akira asked.

"Ah, Naegi, Perfect!" Taka said. "Your timing is impeccable!"

"What's going on?" Makoto asked.

"We need a ref, and two the first to show up. Unfortunately, Akira is a girl. So you get the job,” Mondo said. "Goody-Goody-Two-Shoes here keeps shooting his mouth off. He thinks I lack self-control or some crap!"

"Well of course you lack it!" Taka said. "If you had self-control you wouldn't answer every challenge with your fists!"

"Yeah? Says the guy who yells all the damn time!?" Mondo yelled. "I got more self-control than you a-hole!"

"We’ll see about that," Taka yelled.

"You talk a big game, poindexter!" Mondo yelled. "Let's see if you got the balls to back it up!"

"C'mon! I wanna eat!" Makoto complained.

"Don't worry, Monokuma lifted the 'no entry in the dining hall during night time' rule!" Akira said. "Plus, you gotta tell me what happens later!"

"Nuh-uh! No way!" Makoto objected. But before he could even finish his sentence, Mondo and Kiyotaka grabbed him by his arms and carried him out of the dining hall. Akira just stood there, cackling as she watched the whole scene play out. "Hey! Let me go!"

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

Turns out, there was a sauna in the bathhouse that just opened. Mondo and Taka decided the best way to settle their differences was to have an endurance contest.

"Uh... So you guys... It's been like 40 minutes," Makoto said. "Are you still okay in there?”

Mondo and Taka both sat inside the steaming sauna. They decided to see how long they both could last. Taka was in nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist while Mondo gave himself a challenge and wore his usual baggy clothes and long jacket.

"You look pretty pink there, Pollyanna!" Mondo said. "How's that self-control treating ya?!”

"This is my regular complexion!" Taka argued.

"You're sweating like a stuck pig.”

"This level of heat is child's play!" Taka forced a laugh. "Let me know when it actually warms up!"

"Why don't we just call it a tie?" Makoto suggested.

"The hell with that!" Mondo and Taka yelled in unison.

“Don’t you think we’d be better off in our rooms? It’s already after ten.”

"Winning this duel is the only thing that matters!" Taka insisted.

"Too bad for you then!" Mondo yelled. "I faced more heat than the devil's nutsack! Naegi, we got this! You can go!"

"All right," Makoto smiled as he walked away. "Be careful you guys."

Makoto wasted no time to flee the sauna. The only thing on his mind was to get food in his stomach. He walked into the Dining Hall only to find it empty. He mentally kicked himself— why did he think Akira would still be there? It’s been over an hour. He went into the kitchen to make himself something to eat, flinching when he heard a voice behind him.

"So, how did it go?" A girl asked. Makoto turned around instantly. He was scared that someone might kill him. When he did, he saw Akira. Her hair was slightly wet. "Sorry if I scared you. I just came back from the pool."

"Oh? It wasn't filled with piranhas or anything?" Makoto asked.

"Surprisingly, no," Akira laughed. "I guess Ayato challenged Hina to some sort of race. He’s completely worn out."

"Really? He decided to race the Ultimate Swimming Pro?”

"That's exactly what I asked! I just don't know what is going on in his mind sometimes."

The two both laughed. But it quickly died out, and the two shared a peaceful silence.

"So how did it go?" Akira broke the silence. "With Owada and Ishimaru?"

"They decided to settle it in the sauna," Makoto said. Akira's eyes widened and looked at Makoto, and Makoto nearly spat out his drink. "Oh my gosh, not like that! They had me crank up the heat to the max and now they are trying to see who could last the longest in there."

"Fucking idiots," Akira laughed.

"Yeah, tell me about it," Makoto laughed too.

A silence came among them again. Akira hated talking about the trial. But what she hated most was talking about Sayaka attacking her. But there has been something that Akira wanted to get off her chest, though she was worried there would never be a good time to bring it up. She decided to take Hina’s advice and talk to a stranger. Someone who really needed to hear her.

"I never actually got to apologize to you about Maizono," Akira mumbled.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Makoto asked.

"Well... one night, Ayato and I were guarding the hallway, and we saw Kuwata make his way to the trash room with this big ass bag. We thought he was destroying evidence of some sort so we decided to try to catch him in the act," Akira said. "Turns out he knew we were in the hallway and he wanted to know who Byakuya suspects will betray us, so I gave him the list."

"And he saw Maizono’s name?"

"Yeah... He mentioned how he got a note from her and he saw her slip another note in my room," Akira said. “I told him not to visit Maizono, and that I would do it... That was the night she attacked me. I wanted to kill her. But I thought if i did, I’d be risking everything. I would be risking Ayato. I would be risking Ibuki. I would be risking Byakuya. I’d be risking everyone here.

“I couldn’t tell anyone because I was embarrassed. I’m highly trained in physical combat, but I could barely hold my own against Maizono. I was selfish, Naegi. I thought that if I survived, she wouldn’t attack anybody else. I was so ashamed in myself that… and because of that, Maizono and Kuwata are dead.”

Makoto said nothing as Akira spoke. He nodded silently to things he understood, furrowed his eyebrows to things he didn’t. But never once did he talk over her. He wasn’t even sure if he should say anything until Akira turned to look at him.

"Akira, it's not your fault," Makoto said, gently placing his hand over hers. "It's Monokuma... and whoever is controlling him.”

“I know,” Akira mumbled. “I spent so long being angry at myself and the world for things I felt like I had control over… but couldn’t do anything about. I hated Maizono for doing something that… I do. I don’t want to feel that way anymore.”

Makoto said nothing. He didn’t know what to say. So he just gave an empathetic smile and held her hand tighter. He made a promise to Sayaka that he would get her out… He wants to make that promise to everyone. He is more than willing to risk his life for the people he cares about. Akira felt the same way for her brother, Ibuki, and Byakuya, but she never thought about risking herself for anyone else besides them.

She decided that if she didn’t want to feel how she did anymore, she would have to change the way she viewed things. Take all her beliefs and throw them away. She wanted to start fresh.

“Thank you, Naegi.”

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

The next day, everyone walked into the Dining Hall to enjoy a proper breakfast since the class trial. According to Taka, it was time for ‘new beginnings’. So imagine the mixed reactions when they all found Mondo and Taka laughing with their arms wrapped around each other’s shoulders.

"Aw, man! You're such a kidder!" Mondo laughed.

"Maybe you just have a great sense of humor, friend-o," Taka smiled. They both turned towards the door and waved when they noticed Makoto walking in.

"Oh, Naegi! How's it hanging?"

"Thanks for helping us with our little duel!"

"Are they friend's now?" Makoto asked.

"Who knows? But I think it's hella creepy whether they're faking it or not," Hina said as she took a sip of her tea.

"How long have they been at this for?" Makoto asked as he sat at a table near Akira, Ayato, Ibuki, and Byakuya.

"Hell if I know," Akira said. "We just got here a couple of minutes ago and those two were at each other's hips."

"Yea, it's weird," Ibuki said. "Didn't Owada throw Taka on the floor JUST yesterday?"

Mondo and Taka laughed again.

"As if a girl could ever understand the bond forged between two men!" Taka smiled. "Ours is a friendship tempered in flame itself!"

"Dude, I love it when you get all poetic!" Mondo smiled.

"So, who left the sauna first?" Makoto asked.

"Oh!” Akira tapped Makoto's shoulder. "My money is on Taka. It's obvious."

"That's water under the bridge, little man," Mondo said.

"Put our duel out of your mind," Taka said. "Kame-hame-forget about it!"

"Nice one, bro!" Mondo said as he and Taka began to laugh again.

"Oh my gosh, those two are idiots..." Akira sighed as she put her head in her hands.

The laughter died down after everyone heard glass breaking. They all turned towards where the sound came from... It came from Kokichi, Hifumi, and Celeste.

"The milk tea was not to your liking, I assume?" Hifumi asked Celeste. The girl sighed.

"Serving me this swill was a culinary slap in the face," Celeste said. Kokichi rolled his eyes and Hifumi hid behind the silver platter that the tea was served on. "Henceforth, my royal milk tea will be simmered in milk, and not just slopped into a cup."

"That's a lot of work.”

"Go make it again, you corpulent boot licker!"

"Yes! At once!" Hifumi yelled in a panic as he ran out of the dining hall and into the kitchen. "Your bootlicker is on the case, Milady!"

"You could have gotten off your lazy ass and did it yourself," Kokichi said as he rolled his eyes.

"You clearly don't know anything about having your royal milk tea served properly," Celeste said. "I wouldn't be surprised if an Ultimate Supreme Leader such as yourself would just take anything that is given to you."

Everyone stood in an awkward silence once again. Then, Monokuma's voice came on the speaker again.

"Sup? How about you expendable little spitfires, do Principal Monokuma a solid and head over to the gym," Monokuma announced. "We're gonna have ourselves a little pep rally! Come on, meat-sacks! Show me some hustle!"

Everyone mumbled to each other in confusion. With little to no hesitation, they all made their way to the gym.

"What does he want now?" Yasuhiro asked.

"Could it be more students?" Hina asked. "We did lose like... three people this week."

"It could also be another motive, or maybe another push?" Sakura said.

"What do you mean?" Chihiro asked.

“Monokuma said something weird when Mioda first arrived,” Sakura said. “Not only was she a new student, but she was also a childhood friend to the twins and Togami. A personal motive, or a gentle nudge if you will.”

“It is no doubt that Monokuma originally used her to get at least one of them to break,” Celeste said.

“That slimy little prick,” Ayato scowled. “Well, he’d have to try a lot harder than that to get me to kill anybody.”

"Bla, Bla, Bla... Whatever!" Monokuma said. "Can I speak now?"

Everyone rolled their eyes and gave Monokuma their attention.

"I'll give it to you straight, because there’s no one else here to do so," Monokuma said. "I look out at you kids, and y'know what I see? A bunch of teenagers who aren't dead! Major bummer. That's why I'm gonna light a fire under your tushes to get things moving! Maybe a real one... Don’t tempt me. With that in mind, today's motive theme is: 'Embarrassing memories' or 'past secrets you want to be kept secret'! YOLO!"

As soon as Monokuma threw the envelopes, everyone searched for the one with their names on it. One by one everybody started opening their envelopes.

"How did you know!?" Hina shrieked as she held the piece of paper close to her chest.

"If the others found out-" Taka panicked.

"Skeletons aren't my forte, being a stuffed bear and all," Monokuma continued. "But every human has at least one of them swinging around in their closet, all secret-like."

Akira and Ayato opened their envelopes.

"Akira Iwasaki lied about her ultimate. She is actually the Ultimate Hitwoman."

"Son of a bitch... How did he know?" Akira whispered to herself. She then looked at Ayato, whose face went pale as he looked at his piece of paper. There was only two words written as his motive.

"Hayami Iwasaki."

"Ayato, listen to me," Akira said as she shook her brother's shoulder. "It wasn’t your fault... Mom and Dad knew that!"

"I know.." Ayato mumbled. "But how did he know about her? She was supposed to be a secret."

No one knew about the third child except for the Togami Corporation, and the Mioda family. Kijo, Byakuya and Ibuki each got the chance to hold her. It was already troublesome that Mizuki and Hiroto had twins…But a third child? There was an agreement that Hayami Iwasaki would be kept a secret for the family’s safety.

When Akira and Ayato were still small children, Hayami fell ill. Ayato decided to watch over her while she recovered. Akira went to train in another country while their parents went on another mission.

The day the three were supposed to come back, they found Ayato unconscious, and Hayami dead. There was a note stabbed into her chest. Found you was scribbled in pencil. Everything about that day was too nauseating to remember. It was difficult to grieve properly when you have a large group of people trying to murder what is left of your family. They had no choice but to sweep it under the rug.

"I'm not sure," Akira mumbled. She was also affected by it. That was their little sister, and Ayato took the blame for it. No matter how many times his parents told him that it wasn’t his fault, that everything would be okay… he refused to accept the fact he allowed himself to be drugged so easily.

"Time's a-wastin', giblets!" Monokuma laughed. "If I don't get a corpse outta one of you in 24 hours, your skeletons will all be front-page news! And trust me, we've got some real doozies in here! Well, smell ya later!"

And with that, Monokuma disappeared, leaving everybody frozen in fear.

"Yeah, so, no one's gonna go on a killing spree to keep their secret a secret, are they?" Hina asked.

"I have an idea," Taka said. "How about we just tell each other our secrets? Now there wouldn't be a reason to kill!"

"I doubt that would work," Akira said. "Even if we do tell each other what our secrets are, I don't think that will stop one of us from killing another."

"Yeah... I'm on the same boat with Akira, Taka," Makoto said.

"Y-yeah," Toko mumbled. "I-I don't really feel like talking about it."

"Neither do I," Celeste said. "Not because it is unpleasant, but because it is impossible."

"Well it's just human nature to wanna hear it when you say it's impossible!" Hifumi said. "C'mon, it'll be good for ya!"

"Absolutely not." Celeste insisted.

"It's okay. Just a little bit. C'mon c'mon c'mon!"

"As I said--"

"C'mon c'mon c'mon c'mon c'mon!"

"I said I don't wanna talk about it, you human bag of lard!"

Hifumi screamed and ran away from Celeste.

"I agree with them," Byakuya said. "There's no need to discuss it.”

"What do you think, Chihiro?" Taka asked.

"Um...s-sorry, I don't really want to talk about it right now," Chihiro said. "But I also don't want to leave things the way they are. So maybe I can talk about it later... After I try my best...to become strong... Then I can tell everyone."

"If you don't wanna talk, you don't have to," Hina said. "I'm not super-excited to talk about it, either..."

"Well, if everyone else is against it, I might as well be too," Mondo said.

"Very well then," Taka said. "Either way, if it's just a few secrets, I'm sure nobody's about to kill anybody over it. Okay, I'll stop with all the secret talk. But... Each of us has 24 hours to get ready! Having our secrets exposed isn't going to be fun, but it's not like we're gonna die cuz of it! So, you know, um... Don't do anything hasty!"

"The way you keep repeating it kinda makes me worry even more..." Hifumi said.

"Oh... Uh, okay, sorry," Taka mumbled. "I know it's gonna be tough, but… I believe we can push through. We made it this far, what could a couple of secrets really do?"

Everyone nodded in agreement. Sure, these secrets and past memories would be really embarrassing if they were released, but could they really be that bad? Would someone really go as low as killing another person just to ensure that their secret will stay a secret?

“We should all get going,” Akira said. “Surely everyone wants to clear their minds about today’s motive.”

“Of course!” Taka said. “Everyone, feel free to disband and prepare for tomorrow!”

Everyone nodded and walked out of the gym with fear that there might be another murder, with the fear that their secrets will be shared to everyone. Both outcomes are horrifying, but inevitable.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

Akira was in the kitchen preparing lunch for herself. It’s been a while since she’s touched a stove, so she decided to make something easy. A grilled cheese.

She felt the presence of someone behind her, so instinctively, she grabbed the spatula and prepared to whack at whoever was there.

“Woah! It’s just me,” Makoto laughed. Akira sighed in relief and lowered her horrible choice of a weapon.

“Naegi, to what do I owe the pleasure?” Akira laughed as she continued making her sandwich. She looked towards Makoto when she noticed he hasn’t responded.

“I pissed the bed,” Makoto said.

“What the hell? Why would you tell me that? Clean your sheets!”

“No! That was my secret,” Makoto laughed. “I pissed my bed until the fifth grade.”

“I present my previous question.”

“I figured it would make you feel better if you heard mine.”

“And why would I need to feel better?”

“Because you have a talent for killing people, right?” Makoto asked. Akira tensed up. “I didn’t want to ask about it last night. I figured it wasn’t the time. That’s your secret, right? You’re not actually a spy, are you?”

Akira swallowed.

“Before my family worked alongside the Togami Corporation, they were a family of well known vigilantes,” Akira said. “I guess I was unlucky and ended up with their traditional natural talent.”

“Are you happy?”

“I’m content,” Akira said as she took a bite of her sandwich. “Trust me I’ve tried anything else but this is the only thing I’m good at. Doing what I do now was able save Ayato and myself… Taking revenge on the bastards who murdered my little sister.”

“Then I guess you’re not so unlucky after all.”

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

Hours passed. It was probably 6 p.m. Everyone either stayed in the dining hall or in their rooms, trying to figure out how they could prepare themselves for tomorrow.

Akira, Byakuya, Ayato, and Ibuki decided to discuss the motives that were presented earlier this morning.

"Alright," Byakuya began. "What do we do? The mastermind already knows some of our secrets."

"Hey, man... we were following your lead on this," Ibuki said. "If you have no ideas, we have no ideas. And Ibuki definitely has no ideas."

"I say.... We should just wait it out," Ayato said. "I mean... there is nothing we can do right now."

"Yeah," Akira said. "But... How could the mastermind possibly have known about me and Ayato?"

"Wait... he knows about your talent and Hayami?" Ibuki asked.

"That makes no sense... the public only knows Akira as the Iwasaki Heiress, and no one knows about Hayami," Byakuya said.

"Akira, did you tell anyone about your ultimate?" Ibuki asked. "Anyone that could have kept it on file or something?"

"No, our parents were the ones that said I should keep my talent a secret!" Akira said. "So any records that will come up about me will state that I am a spy. I mean… after the motives were released, Naegi figured it out, but that was a slip of the tongue."

“Wait, raffle boy knows? Ayato asked.

“Oh that’s what we are calling him now?” Akira asked. “And yes, but he said he wouldn’t tell anybody. Besides, he knows what will happen if he tries. He also told be his secret, not like it’ll help.”

“Oh, you’re so telling me what it is later,” Ayato smirked. Akira rolled her eyes.

"We will get back to you later,” Byakuya glared. “It is impossible for any information about Hayami to be released. You guys didn’t use any public hospitals. We had private doctors and nurses already in the building.”

The Iwasaki's owned high-trained nurses and doctors for Akira and Ayato as an order by their parents. Mizuki was always overprotective about the twins' health. If they have the smallest scratch, it must be disinfected immediately. Hiroto on the other hand, would tell the twins to walk it off, because... how would they become stronger if they seek medical attention for small things that don't matter?

After Akira and Ayato moved to the same building as Byakuya, the doctors moved with them. They were also ordered to take care of Byakuya if he ever needed anything.

Years after Mizuki and Hiroto's death, Akira and Ayato never talked to anyone, they refused to leave Japan for their training... They just stayed and trained in the Togami Corporation building where it was safe. They refused to talk to anyone unless it were Byakuya or Ibuki... The fact that Leon managed to be an important part in Akira and Ayato’s lives was a miracle waiting to happen.

“I don’t mean to mention a touchy subject… but do you think…” Ibuki mumbled. She didn’t want to bring it up, but it was the only thing she could think of. She waited for approval from Akira and Ayato to continue. They both nodded. “What if that guy who snuck in and… killed Hayami… managed to get a hold of her records.”

There was a group trying to target the Iwasaki’s for years. Majority were killed except for Mizuki, her mother, and brother, who managed to escape. Someone from that group somehow learned of Hayami’s existence and snuck in as a doctor. When he successfully got in, he drugged Ayato and killed Hayami in her bed. It wasn’t long before Hiroto found out who did it and killed him.

“We looked around after he was dealt with,” Akira said. “There was no proof anything was touched.”

"Then what if the mastermind is like... some Ultimate Stalker or something?" Ibuki asked. "They stalked you guys for years to find that information and used it against you."

"That seems unlikely," Ayato said. "Everyone addressed Akira as if she were actually an Ultimate Spy, and we never let Hayami away from home. I doubt anyone would get any information from such a private family."

"That's also going for the Togami family," Akira said. "No one would have gotten inside information that easily.”

"Then there is only one option left," Byakuya said. "There is a traitor. Not among us four, but among the others."

"A… A what?" Ayato stammered. “How would that traitor get such valuable information?"

"I'm not sure yet, but that traitor is definitely in this school with us," Byakuya said. "And that person is working with the mastermind behind this."

"Let’s say there is a traitor," Ibuki said. “What do we do in that scenario? If we find out who it is and out them, will they be executed? I doubt it… they probably won’t even commit a murder. We can’t do anything until we know who it is.”

"Ibuki is right, there isn't anything that we can do at this very moment," Akira said. She sat in thought for a while, then she got an idea. "But there is someone who can... There is something I have to do. I doubt I will be back tonight, so I'll just see you guys tomorrow."

"Do you want us to walk you?" Ibuki asked.

"No need," Akira said. "Good night guys."

Akira rushed out the door and ran down the hall. Byakuya, Ibuki, and Ayato looked at each other in confusion and shrugged. She seemed passionate about this new secret idea. They’ll just drag it out of her tomorrow.

Akira walked in front of a dorm door. It wasn't hers. It wasn't Leon's. It wasn't Makoto's. She was in front of the door that leads to Chihiro Fujisaki's room. Akira let out a nervous sigh and tried to knock on the door. But before she did, the door already opened. It seems like Chihiro was already planning on going somewhere.

"Oh, Akira," Chihiro smiled nervously. "How are you?"

"I'm doing fine," Akira smiled. "Are you busy at the moment? I wanted to talk to you."

"I was actually gonna head out," Chihiro said. "Is everything okay?"

"It's fine," Akira said as she was about to walk away. "You seem like you are busy, so I can ask you tomorrow."

"Actually, I was just gonna try to work out later,” Chihiro smiled. "I have plenty of time. Come in!"

Chihiro held the door open for Akira, and she walked in. Akira has been having a strange feeling in her gut since the first class trial, and she can't shake that feeling off. She needs something done... and the only person who could do that was Chihiro Fujisaki.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

Everyone gathered in the dining hall for dinner. They were all laughing and having their own discussions until they noticed Ayato and Ibuki walking in without Byakuya or Akira.

“Hey, Ayato,” Hina smiled as she sat down next to her new friend. The two started bonding over their love for swimming after their race that Ayato failed constantly at. “Where’s Akira and Togami?”

“Byakuya is reading in the library, and Akira is… I dunno where she is,” Ayato sighed as he scratched the back of his neck. “She said she had something to do, but she wouldn’t tell us. Dammit… I told her no more secrets.”

“Huh? What do you mean by that?” Hina asked.

“Well it took her a whole class trial for her to tell me something as important as someone attacking her,” Ayato sighed. “We promised we would tell each other everything, now I feel like I don’t know my own sister anymore.”

“Same here,” Ibuki mumbled. “I mean, she has been this way when they lost their parents, but she would tell me ninety percent of the time what she was thinking. Now Akira isn’t telling us anything.”

“Hey, I get it. I have a younger brother, so I understand how that feels to a certain extent,” Hina said. “It’s probably just the environment change or something. I mean, she and Kirigiri were the first two to ever calm down a group of seventeen people, and then she lost Kuwata… and your parents… All that weight and burden she is carrying, I can’t even begin to imagine what you guys have been through.”

“Well, I learned to accept it after some time,” Ayato mumbled. “But she’s been so fixated on rebuilding the Iwasaki Organization, she’s became a totally different person. I’m worried I would lose her completely. I feel so useless when I can’t help her.”

Everyone frowned. Behind Ayato’s goofy and comedic facade, there was a boy who was worried for his sister’s well-being.

“She’ll come around,” Hina reassured the two. “I’m sure of it. Just give her some time.”

“Thank you, Hina,” Ayato smiled. Hina smiled back.

“Uh, guys,” Yasuhiro called out. “Fujisaki is not here either.”

“I think I saw her walking out of the storage room,” Hajime said. “She was carrying a box when she walked back into her room.”

“She’s probably still trying to work on the computer we found in the library,” Ayato said. “It did look a bit fucked up, so I wouldn’t be surprised if there were some parts in there that she needed or something.”

“But she is just repairing a computer,” Mondo said. “Not a goddamn robot.”

“Oh well, she is the Super HighSchool Level Programmer,” Ayato said. “All we gotta do is sit back, relax, and trust Fujisaki’s work.”

Everyone all mumbled in unison, agreeing with Ayato. They didn’t want their chances of escape to fall on Chihiro, but she does have the computer and the knowledge to fix it.

As soon as everybody finished dinner, Monokuma gave his night time announcement.

"Mm, ahem, this is a school announcement. It is now 10 p.m. As such, it is officially night time." Monokuma announced. "As promised, the doors to the dining hall are opened, so make sure you have a trusted escort with you and hope you don't die. Okay then...sweet dreams, everyone! Good night, sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite..."

"Nighttime already, huh?" Yasuhiro asked. "Okay, let's all call it a night."

"Good idea," Sakura said. "We need to prepare for tomorrow."

One by one, everyone started walking out of the Dining Hall and into their rooms.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

Chapter Text

After asking such a favor from Chihiro Fujisaki, Akira was finally able to relax— Or so she thought. The next morning, she woke up to Monokuma’s face. She fell out of her bed with a yelp, dragging the blanket to cover up her legs.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Akira exclaimed.

“Oh hoho! Nice reaction!” Monokuma laughed. “That’s probably the one thing you all haven’t disappointed me with so far.”

"That doesn't answer my question!" Akira yelled. "What do you want?"

"I wanted to spice things up!" Monokuma said. "So instead of a school announcement, I decided to wake you up in person!"

"What the hell for?”

“Because it’s fun! And as long as I’m here, I figured I’d let you hear it right from the bear’s mouth.”

"Hear what?"

"One of your buddy-buddy classmates dished out a homicide!" Monokuma said. "I wonder who bit the big one?"

"What are you talking about, you son of a bitch?" Akira asked as she stood up. She didn’t bother showering, she ran into the bathroom to change her clothes.

"That's for me to know and for you to find out," Monokuma said. "Though you did leave suspiciously in a hurry last night. I think it’s best if you make it clear to your buddies that you’re still alive!”

Akira scoffed at Monokuma as he left. After she got dressed, she ran into the Dining Hall to see Ibuki, Yasuhiro, Ayato, Byakuya, Asahina, Sakura already there. There’s still so many people missing. Any one of them could be dead.

Ibuki looked up towards the door and saw Akira run in. She gasped and ran towards her best friend.

"Oh my gosh!" Ibuki heaved a sigh of relief as she hugged Akira. "Guys, she is okay!"

"Why wouldn't I be?" Akira asked.

"You left in a hurry, we thought something might have happened to you while you were gone," Byakuya said. “What were we supposed to think when Monokuma told us there had been another murder? Ibuki and Ayato were worried sick!”

He was, too. Akira knew Byakuya cared. He didn’t need to vocalize that. Maybe he didn’t want to say he did. But everyone knew it with the way he scolded her.

"Akira, you promised me that you would stop keeping secrets from us,” Ayato frowned. “Where did you go last night? I knocked on your door and you weren’t there.”

"Calm down guys, I just wanted to grab a drink,” Akira lied right through her teeth.

"That's true," Hina said. "I came here to get a snack when Sakura and I saw her walk out.”

“We then offered her to come work out with us,” Sakura added. “The three of us decided to make use of the new locker rooms, so we stayed there for half an hour.”

The thing is... Akira did go to the dining hall, and she also joined Hina and Sakura to work out. But she couldn’t let anyone know she visited Chihiro. Not while Monokuma is watching. And not while the traitor is present.

"Who are we missing?!" A voice yelled from behind them. It was Makoto.

"It's still too early to say, brah," Yasuhiro said.

"I did notice people skip the dining hall completely," Byakuya said. "I believe it is safe to assume they are already investigating,"

"Investigating without knowing who died..." Akira mumbled. "Who exactly did you see?"

"I saw some of those new kids leave their dorms to look around immediately. Byakuya said. "Celeste, Oma, and Yamada stopped by a little while before, but went to join the others, and I believe Kyoko is already investigating. I could have missed others, but I genuinely don't care."

“So that would leave Owada, Taka, Fukawa, and Fujisaki,” Akira said. They all decided to stay a little longer until someone else showed up. Luckily, that worked out because not too long after, Toko came through the doors. “Alright, Fukawa is alive.”

"Did Monokuma talk to you, too?" Sakura asked.

"Y-yeah," Toko mumbled. "Has anyone figured out who died yet?"

"Not yet, we were waiting to see if anyone else would come by," Makoto said. "Turns out... everyone already started investigating without us."

"I still find it hard to believe," Hina said. "Who would kill someone over a dumb secret?"

"Dumb to you perhaps," Byakuya said. "But not all secrets are created equal. Let's look for clues, Naegi, you're with me."

"What? but why-?" Makoto asked.

"What about us?" Ibuki interrupted.

"You guys need to form clues on your own," Byakuya said as he stood up. "I know you can do it."

Everyone went silent. There was no point in arguing. Makoto left with Byakuya, and everyone else left on their own. Before Akira could leave, she felt someone grab her arm. It was Toko.

"A-Akira, can I talk to you?" Toko asked.

"Um... sure," Akira said. "What's up?"

"I... I wanted to get this off my chest before Monokuma says it to everyone," Toko said.

“Your secret? But there’s already been a murder. You don’t need to worry about it.”

Akira was about to turn around and leave until Toko grabbed onto her arm.

"Yes. But I have a feeling that it will come out sooner or later." Toko said. Akira sighed and turned to Toko giving her full undivided attention. "You see, there is a murderous fiend living inside of me."

"A murderous fiend?" Akira asked. It suddenly clicked. "You don't mean..."

"Yes.”

It all started to make sense. When the topic of Genocide Jack first came up, Toko wasn’t nervous because there was a possibility that there was a murder in the school. She was nervous because she knew someone would find out that she was Genocide Jack.

“I am Genocide Jack,” Toko confessed.” “But I swear... I didn't kill anybody!"

"Have you told anybody else about this?" Akira asked.

"Only you and Togami,"

"Seriously?" Akira asked. "You told Byakuya? You know he is gonna use that against you."

"w-w-w-what?" Toko asked, getting defensive. "Togami would never do that!"

"You're digging your own grave, Fukawa," Akira sighed as she walked away. She walked to Chihiro’s room to check her progress from last night.

Akira knocked on Chihiro's door. For some reason, it was unlocked. That is extremely unsafe. What if someone decided to ambush her? Akira shook her head and entered the room. Chihiro was nowhere to be seen.

‘she’s probably fine,’ Akira thought to herself. ‘she’s probably investigating and forgot to lock her door.’

That wasn’t the only thing that made her nervous. She looked at Chihiro’s desk and saw the computer was missing, too. Did Monokuma take it? Why would he want it now? It was in the library… just out in the open. Anyone could have taken it. Maybe he knew that they couldn’t communicate with anyone, so he just left it there.

Did someone else steal it? Did Chihiro’s something that Monokuma couldn’t know about? Akira took a deep breath, and decided to investigate Chihiro’s room.

On the desk, a piece of paper was in the exact place that the computer was in last night. It was flipped over so you couldn't see the words. Akira picked it up and read the note... It wasn't addressed to anyone in particular:

"To whom it may concern,

I was able to reboot the computer. Unfortunately, there is absolutely no way to communicate with anyone from outside. I already tried. There were websites and applications already blocked. I tried to unblock them, but it was to no avail. I did manage to find some saved files— hopefully that will help. I know i’m not gonna last long, so I hid the computer in the bathhouse locker room since that’s the only room that doesn’t have any cameras. I managed to create an AI that will help you guys out, his name is Alter Ego. He will help you all get out of here. And Akira, I did what you asked me to do. I’m not sure when it will happen though. I hope this could help. And please, don’t let Monokuma see the computer.

~Chihiro Fujisaki”

"Holy shit..." Akira mumbled as she shoved the letter into her pocket. She then ran out of Chihiro's room up the stairs to the second floor to find Byakuya. If Chihiro wrote this letter, and there’s no sign of her even being in her room— Akira didn’t want to think about what that could mean.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

“For this investigation, I have unlocked all the doors. Please look around to your hearts content!” Monokuma announced on the speakers.

Byakuya and Makoto made their way to the locker room.

"Um... Togami... Why are we here?" Makoto asked.

"The locker room," Byakuya began. "A prime setting for the taking of a life."

"Oh, if you say so..." Makoto shrugged. He followed Byakuya as he reached for the door knob to the girls’ locker room. Before they got the chance to enter, they heard footsteps coming their way. It sounded like running. They turned around and saw Akira. “Hey, Akira, is everything okay?”

"Have you guys seen Fujisaki yet?" Akira asked in a panic.

"No, why?" Byakuya asked. "What’s going on?"

“I visited her last night! And now I can’t find her anywhere!”

"Wait, calm down," Makoto said. "Why didn’t you tell us you visited Fujisaki?”

“I wanted to talk to her about the computer,” Akira said, lowering her voice at computer. “I thought that she could probably help me— but when I went to see if she was in her room, all I found was this letter. I think something bad happened!”

"What makes you say that?" Byakuya asked. Akira handed him the letter, and he and Makoto read through it. "Well, this could prove useful."

"What do you mean?" Makoto asked.

"We now know the whereabouts of it , of course," Byakuya said. "But, what exactly is this ‘help’ you speak of."

“I thought that maybe… She’d be able to help stop this killing game somehow,” Akira said. “It’s still a work in progress. We aren’t entirely sure if it would actually work.”

“Don’t worry, Akira,” Makoto patted the girl’s back. “We will find Fujisaki, and everything will be fine.”

“Will it though? Someone’s committed a murder again.”

“There’s only one way to find out,” Byakuya said as he turned around and slowly opened the door.

There... stood a sight that nobody expected to see. A sight that nobody wanted to see. The body of Chihiro Fujisaki, the Ultimate Programmer, dead with her hands tied on pull-up bars, and the word Blood Lust written in blood behind her.

All Akira could do was gasp, covering her mouth with her hands.

"Wahahhhhhhhhh?!" Makoto screamed.

Almost immediately, everyone heard a noise coming from the speakers... Monokuma's body discovery announcement.

"A body has been discovered! After a certain amount of time, which you may use however you like, the class trial will begin!" Monokuma said.

"What the hell was that?" Makoto asked.

"Ah, that's right. You were unconscious during Maizono’s, so you don't know about it," Byakuya said. "What you just heard was the body discovery announcement. Apparently, when three or more people discover a body, an announcement plays to let everyone know. I imagine it's so that the search for the culprit can proceed fairly for everyone involved."

"So Fujisaki r-really is..." Makoto trembled.

"...Dead," Akira said.

"Hey, Ibuki heard screaming and the body discovery announcement! Who did you find?" Ibuki asked as she walked into the room with Taka. "Oh my gosh, Fujisaki!"

"No... No, I refuse to believe it!" Taka yelled.

"Now's not the time to discuss what we believe and don't believe!" Byakuya said. "Ishimaru, Go round up the others."

"On it!" Taka nodded and ran out of the girl's locker room.

"Uhh, I'd hate to leave you guys... But I told Kaede I was investigating with her... and I need to get Ayato," Ibuki said as she ran out of the room. Now, it was back to Akira, Makoto, and Byakuya.

"Now, You have some explaining to do," Byakuya said.

"What is there to explain?" Akira asked.

"You’ve been far too vague as to why you visited Fujisaki,” Byakuya said. “You’re hiding something. What made you think she could stop any of this? The poor fool couldn’t even stop her own death.”

"Well, I don't believe we can speak carelessly with Monokuma watching our every move," Akira said as she glanced at the surveillance camera behind her.

"Alright," Byakuya said. “So you can tell me right now that this isn’t your work, right?”

"Come on, Togami, you already know it wasn’t her," Makoto said. "We will get down to the bottom of this.”

“I may know that, but do you? As far as I’m concerned, you are well aware of her true talent. I’m hoping you don’t plan to use that against her.”

“What? Of course not—“

Makoto was interrupted by multiple footsteps running their direction as everyone gathered around in the locker room. They all stood in shock at the scene in front of them.

"Damn... I couldn't keep her safe!" Sakura said to herself as she clenched her fist.

“There’s another victim,” Celeste said. “Which means we are now in the same position once again.”

"Fuck, man... What the fuck IS this!?" Mondo yelled.

"It's a dream... This is a dream! It's all just a dream!" Hifumi panicked. "In fact, I haven't even been born yet! I don't have any memory of ever being alive!"

"Shut up," Celeste and Kokichi said in unison.

"This is awful, murdering someone for the sake of keeping your secret," Nagito said. "This was not an act of hope, but an act of despair."

"Okay, what the hell are you going on about?" Ayato asked.

"I am a strong believer in hope!" Nagito said. "I believe that certain things happen based on if you're a believer of hope or despair. And whoever did this... is not a believer in hope."

"That doesn't even make sense," Hajime groaned.

“That is neither here nor there,” Byakuya said. “There is something primal about this scene.”

"Huh?" Makoto asked. "What do you mean?"

"Blood Lust," Akira read the words written in blood behind Chihiro's body.

"I don't think it's any kind of dying message," Kyoko said. "It's just too...strange..."

"But, you know...that thing about writing 'bloodlust' in blood... Doesn't it sound kinda familiar?" Taka asked.

Everyone then remembered what Chihiro said that day. The fact that the mastermind could have been a ‘murderous fiend.’ Was that truly possible? Akira looked over at Toko, remembering the odd conversation the two had. Could she have lied about not killing Chihiro?

“It’s Genocide Jack!” Yasuhiro yelled.

“Couldn’t this be some copycat killer trying to imitate Genocide Jack’s style?” Hina asked. “Why would anyone do that?”

“No… This has to be the work of the real Genocide Jack,” Byakuya insisted.

"The real...? Wait, are you saying Genocide Jack is here in the school!?" Yasuhiro panicked.

"No… There's no way...!" Hina said.

"But going so far as to write bloodlust at the scene... I am surprised at their stupidity..." Celestia said.

"I can't imagine a worse situation than dealing with a stupid murderer..." Sakura said.

"Yeah, I'm not sure, Byakuya," Ayato said. "If that were the case, we’d be put at a disadvantage.”

"What do you mean?" Yasuhiro asked.

"None of us know who Genocide Jack really is," Ayato said. "So if we really do stick with the idea that one of us is Genocide Jack or a copycat… The chances of us all getting executed today are high.”

"And if we vote for the wrong person... we’re all goners," Kaede mumbled.

“Then we have to figure out who did it now!” Nekomaru yelled.

"Oh no,” Hina mumbled.

"What is it now?” Hifumi yelled.

“It’s Fukawa!” Hina pointed. Everyone turned and saw Toko. She was the last one to arrive at the crime scene. She was having a hard time standing as she held onto the door for support.

“No… Why? Why?” Toko panicked as her breathing became irregular.

All of a sudden... She fainted. She fainted just like she did when they found Sayaka Maizono and when Junko Enoshima was murdered by Monokuma right in front of them.

"Oh shit, that’s not good!" Yasuhiro said.

"Fukawa!" Hina yelled as she ran towards the unconscious girl and attempted to shake her awake. "Fukawa, are you okay!? Come on, wake up!"

"I almost forgot she is hemophobic,” Celestia said. "I imagine she does not watch too many horror films, then."

"This isn't a violation of the rules, right?" Yasuhiro asked. "I mean, technically she passed out somewhere besides her room."

"No, I think it should be okay," Makoto said. “The regulations prohibit sleeping. Like, on purpose. Besides, if it were really an issue, Monokuma would have done something last time."

"Ahh, so since she didn't faint on purpose, it doesn't count? Gotcha."

"Fukawa, can you hear me!?" Hina asked as she shook Toko awake. "Hey, you gotta wake up!"

As if she'd heard her...Toko suddenly shot awake. As in, she literally jumped up from where she was laying. It was such a strange reaction, everyone was at a loss for words. She leaped straight up into the air, changing her stance as she did. In no time flat, she was just...standing up. Ignoring the physical contortions she had to go through, her motions were totally haphazard.

"Huh? What?" Hina asked in confusion.

"Sorry about that," Toko said. "I was just so shocked, ya know? It happens, right? Was I the only one?"

"Uh... Fukawa, are you okay?" Akira asked as she tried to place a hand on Toko's forehead.

"I'm fine, I'm fine! Kyehaha...!" Toko laughed. "Whoa, is that a dead body!? Hey! Are you dead!? Kyeehahaha!"

No one said anything, they were all confused about what was going on. They were probably more concerned if anything.

"She musta hit her head really hard when she fainted..." Yasuhiro said.

"This is...quite concerning," Hifumi said. "I mean, she sounds completely different..."

"No no no, everything's fine!" Toko insisted. "At least the stutter's all gone. That's a good thing, right!? Kyeehahaha!"

"It's clear to me that everything is not fine!" Taka said. "Your eyes seem strangely vacant!"

"It might be best if we take her back to her room for the time being..." Sakura said.

"I don't mind taking her, but...could someone help me?" Hina asked.

"If you need help, I don't mind--" Hifumi tried to offer but Hina ignored him.

"Taka, could you help me?" Hina asked. The boy nodded.

"Huh? She totally ignored me!" Hifumi yelled.

"Well, now that's taken care of, we can begin the investigation right away," Byakuya said. "Can I assume nobody has a problem leaving Ogami and Owada on guard duty again?"

"H-Hold on a second," Makoto said. "Rushing to an investigation--"

"The mastermind isn't behind that," Byakuya said, pointing at Chihiro’s corpse. "After what happened last time, surely you realize that."

Makoto's eyes widened as he remembered that day. That day he found Sayaka in his shower.

"Okay, Byakuya. No need to remind him about it," Akira said.

"I suppose you're right," Byakuya sighed as he fixed his glasses. He’s done it so much today, it’s probably become a stressful habit of his. "But there is no doubt that Chihiro Fujisaki was murdered by someone among us. Isn't that right, Monokuma?"

As if on cue, Monokuma appeared in front of everybody.

"Right as rain! But don't take it as a bad thing. It's just a fact of life!" Monokuma said. "Because that's how graduation works!"

As sadistic as that two-toned bear is... there is no denying that he speaks the truth about how he won't intervene.

"What? Does that freak you out?" Monokuma continued. "You guys got no balls, you know that!? Is there just nothin' down there at all? Well, I'll let you pray to mine if you want. Actually, I don't have any, either! Sorry!"

"Stop monologuing and give us what you came here to give us," Byakuya said. "You did bring it, right?"

"Hehehe... I sure did, chum! Allow me to present the next Monokuma File. I know how much you must be looking forward to it! So, please do your very tippy-top best on this investigation!" Monokuma said as he left the girl's locker room.

"Do we really gotta do another investigation...?" Hina asked. She had Toko leaning over her shoulder for support. "Examining the corpse of one of our friends... Having to suspect all our other friends... I hate this... I can't take it anymore!"

"I hate it, too!" Yasuhiro agreed. "I-I-I've had enough! I'm gettin' outta here!"

"Where do you plan on going?" Sakura asked. "There's nowhere to run."

"Just accept it already," Byakuya said. "After all, blood is just a liquid. A dead body is a simple object."

"You are very...enthusiastic about all of this, are you not?" Celestia asked.

"How can I not be? If we don't unmask the culprit we all die." Byakuya said.

"Th-That's true, but...to jump into it so soon..." Makoto mumbled.

"What? Do you want to die?" Byakuya asked. "Fine, then go off and die somewhere. Right now, go ahead. You're a waste of space."

"Byakuya!” Akira gasped. Ayato was shocked, too but he kept his thoughts to himself.

"A dead body is an...object?" Mondo asked, clearly angry. "Fujisaki wasn't an object! Show a little respect, or I'll beat some into ya!"

"Everyone, stop bickering," Kyoko said. "Listen, there's some truth to what Byakuya said."

"K-Kirigiri..." Makoto said.

"If we don't solve the mystery and find the killer, our own lives are forfeit," Kyoko said. "And if Byakuya is right that Genocide Jack is somehow the one who killed Fujisaki, then unless we do something, more victims could start piling up."

“But even if there is a chance of one of us being Genocide Jack… Is that even possible?” Ayato asked. “Allowing someone like that into a place like this seems a bit far fetched if you ask me.”

Akira glared at Toko. Why was she even keeping her secret? Maybe because she doesn’t fully believe her? How could she be a killer? She can’t even handle blood.

"Forget more victims!" Hifumi yelled. "If we mess this up, we're all dead meat!"

Monkuma appeared again.

"Hold on, hold on," Monokuma said. "If that's your worry, you don't gotta worry any longer! In any one killing game, the guilty party may only kill a maximum of two people."

"What...? I don't remember any rule like that." Hifumi said.

"I just came up with it," Monokuma said. "I mean, if one person went around and killed everyone, your lovely student life would be all over, right?"

"Hold on," Akira said. "This is supposed to be a sick, twisted game you created, right? Why would you give a shit about how we feel and change the rules about it?"

"Don't you remember?" Monokuma asked. "I add rules to what I see fits. And if everyone just went around killing each other, it wouldn't be that much fun not being able to see everyone psychologically kill each other during the class trials!"

"In that case, why not limit it to one person?" Sakura asked.

"Well in a good mystery, you don't want to miss out on at least the potential of a serial killer angle!" Monokuma said. "Nyoohohoho! Just one would totally murder that possibility! Farewell for now! I'll catch you guys at the class trial!"

And with that, Monokuma left.

"I can't say I understand his thinking, but if we can kill up to two people then one more person's life could still be in danger," Celeste said.

"Which is definitely not good," Byakuya said. "We need to uncover the culprit before something else happens."

"YOU need to shut the fuck up!" Mondo yelled.

"W-Well...for now, Taka and I are gonna drop Fukawa off at her room," Hina said.

"Nice! I'm gonna get dropped off!" Toko smiled dumbly. She still was having a hard time walking, so Hina and Taka carried Toko with one arm on each of their shoulders and walked her to her room.

"We have no time to stand around here. We must begin our investigation, tout suite," Celeste said. "If we do not solve the mystery of who killed Fujisaki... then we will quickly follow her into the afterlife."

"Before we start, I believe it's safe to assume that Chihiro expected her death before any of us did," Byakuya said.

"What makes you say that?" Ayato asked.

“Akira came by with a note from Fujisaki addressed to all of us,” Byakuya said as he held out the note for everyone to see. “She knew she wasn’t going to survive, so she gave us useful information before she died.”

"It also states that Akira asked her for something,” Celeste said. “I wonder what that could be.”

Everyone turned towards Akira in anticipation.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

FLASHBACK

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

"So, what did you want to talk about?" Chihiro asked.

"Well... There’s a couple things, actually… I don't want to go through another class trial..." Akira said. "Do you think there is a way to work together to rig the game?"

"Huh? What do you mean?" Chihiro asked.

"I didn't think of all the details..." Akira said. She then looked at the camera in Chihiro's room. She leaned in and whispered so only Chihiro could hear. "...But do you think you could rig the executions? Like... make them stop working? I believe that all of them use some weird technology that could be hacked into."

“Are you sure? I didn’t think that they’d be able to be hacked into.”

“The claw that dragged Kuwata out of the room… Do you think you could stop that?”

“And what about Monokuma?”

“We’ll cross that bridge when we get there.”

Chihiro sighed as she sat in thought. This could probably be her time to make a difference. To prove she’s strong. To finally be who she has always been.

“Fine, I’ll try to find a way into the system,” Chihiro said. “But can I ask… What will you be doing?”

“I’ve been conducting an investigation of my own,” Akira said. “I’m trying to figure out who trapped us here. Maybe if we find out who they are and out them… We can all survive. But I cant watch them die anymore. And I could really use your help, Fujisaki.”

"I feel the same way," Chihiro smiled. "I will help. Besides, I already got the computer to start working again!"

“Really? Oh! That’s great!”

Chihiro saw the smile formed on Akira's face, then suddenly frowned.

"Fujisaki? What's wrong?" Akira asked.

"I am too weak," Chihiro said. "I know I'm not gonna last long... If we are going to work together… I’d like you to take the computer if anything happens to me.”

"Why are you talking like you know you're gonna die here?" Akira asked. The look on Chihiro's face says it all. "You know that we won't let that happen! I promise you that we will put an end to these killings once and for all."

It was a useless promise. Akira knew it. But she’d say anything to get some motivation out of her peers. Even if she had to lie. She just hopes that this lie becomes a reality.

"I know you will," Chihiro said. "But I also know that I am not gonna see the end of it."

"Why?" Akira asked.

"If I want to get out of here alive... I need to get stronger," Chihiro said. "I can no longer hide who I truly am..."

"Is this about your secret?"

“Partially… But ever since Maizono was murdered… It finally came to me that I can’t keep hiding and being a coward.”

"You're not a coward, you are just scared... and you have every reason to be," Akira said. "And just so we are clear... your secret is safe with me."

"Wait... you know?" Chihiro asked. "For how long?"

“Since the beginning. Ayato knows, too.”

"So you guys aren't mad that I lied to all of you?"

"Of course not," Akira said. "I don't fully understand why you did it in the first place, but I’m sure you have your reasons. You’re not fighting alone, Fujisaki. When Monokuma starts reading everyone’s secrets tomorrow, just know that no matter what, everyone will still be there for you. No one will judge you.

"Thank you, Akira," Chihiro smiled.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

END OF FLASHBACK

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

"Fujisaki was scared about this killing game, so we thought of a plan on how to end it," Akira said.

"Which is...?" Byakuya asked.

"We are already doing the first part… guarding the halls and trying to figure out who the mastermind is,” Akira said. “And if we did end up having a class trial along the way, Fujisaki found a way to rig it. We aren’t sure when her part of the plan will work though.”

"And what was the reason for this plan?" Celeste asked.

"Fujisaki trusted me with her secret," Akira said. "And her secret only made her desire for everyone to escape grow even more. We were discussing the escape plan, and she kept mentioning how she wanted us all to escape, but she never added herself into the equation. I promised her I would help her escape with us… But I couldn’t even do that."

“Wait, Celeste… Do you genuinely believe that she murdered Fujisaki?” Ayato asked.

"You said it yourself," Celeste said. "She was so quick to leave without any explanation. She visited Fujisaki, and now Fujisaki is dead."

“But doesn’t that seem too obvious? That note wasn’t addressed to anyone in particular. Everyone was going to find out the two met up last night. Don’t you think that would make things too easy for us if Akira was the killer? She could have thrown that note away and none of us would have a clue.”

"I suppose that’s true. But if you were with Fujisaki all night, how did she end up in the girls locker room?”

"Fujisaki mentioned she was meeting with someone," Akira said. "But she didn’t tell me who.”

"What time did you go to her room?" Hajime asked.

“I was there since 6 p.m. and stayed there till midnight.”

"According to the Monokuma Files, Fujisaki’s time of death was approximately 2 a.m." Kyoko said. "So there had to have been more going on between when Akira met Fujisaki and when Fujisaki was killed.”

"Well, we don't have all day," Byakuya said. "We need to start investigating."

Everyone nodded and split up to search for clues. Could this really be happening again? Someone here killed Chihiro Fujisaki... A murder happened once again...

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

STATUS UPDATE 19/23 STUDENTS ALIVE 4 DEAD

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Chapter Text

The victim is Chihiro Fujisaki. Her time of death was roughly 2 a.m. The corpse was found in the second floor’s girls’ locker room. The fatal injury was a blow to the head by a blunt object. The death was instantaneous.

“Take a look at this dumbbell,” Akira said. “It’s the only thing here with blood on it. It’s gotta be the murder weapon.”

Kyoko walked up to the body, removing Chihiro’s hair from her face. There was a giant, bloody indent on the girl’s forehead. The circumference of the wound matched that of the dumbbell.

"I believe the killer hit Fujisaki with the dumbbell, and then tied her up with the rope," Makoto said. "The blood on the carpet shows the exact place where she was killed."

"Look closely... This isn't rope," Kyoko said. "It’s an extension cord."

"Extension cord, huh? Wasn't there one in the library?"

"Yes... I do seem to remember seeing it there.”

"Guys... problem," Ayato said. "I searched her pockets and even all over the locker room, but I can't find Fujisaki's digital notebook.”

"Strange..." Makoto mumbled. "It's gotta be around here somewhere."

"Akira, didn't you say you went to her room earlier?" Ayato asked. "Did you happen to see it in there..."

"Not that I’ve seen. No, " Akira mumbled.

Ayato knew exactly where to look, but it wasn't Chihiro's room. From what Chihiro confessed to Akira the night before, wherever Chihiro's digital notebook was... it was definitely not in the girl's locker room. Ayato nudged Ibuki's arm, signaling her to follow him. She nodded and they both left the locker room.

Kyoko decided to investigate Chihiro’s corpse. She immediately found something odd. She thought it would be best to keep it to herself until the class trial, but there was one other person who was well aware of what she found… Akira Iwasaki.

“Hey, Akira, can I talk to you for a moment?” Kyoko asked as she walked out of the girls’ locker room. Akira nodded and followed her.

Makoto and Byakuya were left in the locker room with Sakura and Mondo, trying to get their statements.

"I spend many hours in this very locker room," Sakura said. "Now...it's become the site of Fujisaki’s death."

"But... Why exactly did she need to come here?" Makoto asked. "Sure, to maybe workout, but was there any specific reason for it?"

"She was very light, that is true. It wouldn't be hard for someone to carry her," Sakura said. "But still... I still think she came here on her own, by choice."

"What makes you say that?"

"She'd been talking a lot lately about how she wanted to get stronger,"

"So you're saying she came here to exercise?" Makoto asked. "But according to the Monokuma File, apparently, she was killed around two in the morning. Would she really have been exercising that late?"

"Hina or myself like to work out during the day, except for last night. I also noticed Akira and Ayato recently started doing it early in the morning. They always leaving a little bit before Monokuma’s morning announcement." Sakura said. "So Fujisaki was probably avoiding it then. Although we invited her to join us more than once, she never showed up. So I can only assume she was trying to avoid us."

"And instead, she came to exercise in the middle of the night?" Byakuya asked.

“That is a possibility,” Sakura said. “But she couldn’t have done it alone. So maybe Akira was right about Fujisaki meeting up with someone?”

"Right," Makoto said. "But how do we figure out who she went to visit?"

"I'm not sure, but something still doesn't sit right with me.”

"What is it?"

"After I was done with my workout last night, I spilled my protein coffee on this rug,"  she said as she and Makoto kneeled down on the rug. Sakura placed her hand on an estimated spot where she spilled her drink. The rug was completely dry. "It would make sense for the rug to be dry by now, but there is no sign of the stain it left."

"How does a coffee stain just disappear?" Makoto asked. He turned to the other side of the room and saw Mondo. He was staring at his friend's corpse. "You okay Owada?"

"The little dude had a real complex about being weak," Mondo said. "You heard Fujisaki talk about it, right? All 'I need to get stronger!'"

"Yeah, I do remember she said that more than once..." Makoto said.

"Sure did," Mondo mumbled. "Which...I guess explains the trip down here..."

"But...did she really need to get stronger that badly?" Makoto asked. "You already mentioned it, but...she was a girl, after all. Stereotypically, most girls aren't all that strong."

"I dunno, man. Haven't really thought about that stuff."

Makoto looked around the room for more clues. By the pull-up bars, there was a Smutty Idol Poster. That's not something you would necessarily find in a girl's locker room.

"Huh... weird," Makoto thought to himself. "So what do we have in ours?"

Makoto walked out of the girls' locker room and walked into the boys' locker room. He opened the door and saw Ayato and Ibuki searching around. Ibuki was looking at the design of the boys' locker room while Ayato was looking through the lockers. Ibuki seemed a bit uncomfortable being in the boys' locker room. Who could blame her? There could be stuff in here that she wouldn't want to see. She immediately took her attention off of the room and looked towards the door and saw Makoto.

"Hey, Naegi!" Ibuki smiled and waved. Ayato didn't take much notice of Makoto's presence until he heard Ibuki say something to him. He finally took his attention out of the lockers and waved at Makoto. "What are you doing here?"

"There was something weird about the poster in the girls' locker room, so I came here to confirm my suspicions," Makoto said.

"Oh, we noticed that too," Ibuki said. "That's totally weird how the girl's locker room has a poster of a beach model and the boys' locker room has a poster of a boy band."

"That is strange..." Makoto said. "Why are the posters in the wrong room...? Anyway... What are you guys looking for?"

"Well... I thought the killer might have been a dumb-ass and thought that an amazing Ultimate Spy, such as myself, wouldn’t search every room for Fujisaki’s digital handbook,” Ayato said.

"And why would it be in here?"

"What did I say?" Ayato asked. "The killer could have been a dumb-ass and hid it in here thinking nobody would look since... You know, Fujisaki is a girl. Nobody would search for a girly item in a boy's locker room. Nobody except for me, Ayato Iwasaki, the Super HighSchool Level Spy!"

"Well, I just had to look for one thing, so I'll leave you guys to it.”

Makoto turned to leave the locker room. Before he did, he heard someone call behind him. It was Ibuki. He turned to see what’s up.

"Naegi, wait!" Ibuki yelled. "When Ayato and I walked in here, we saw a stain on the rug... I can't figure out what it is."

Makoto walked towards the rug. He kneeled down towards the stain and immediately got a whiff of coffee. Sakura mentioned she spilled coffee on the rug in the girls’ locker room. So why is there a stain in the boys’ locker room?

"That's strange," Makoto said. "It's Sakura's coffee... What is it doing here?"

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

Akira and Kyoko finished talking and went back to their own investigations. Akira couldn’t look at Chihiro’s corpse any longer— so she decided to continue looking through the files she has stored away in Leon’s room. As she walked back to the dormitory, she past by Celeste.

"Oh, hey, Celeste," Akira smiled.

"Hello, Akira," Celeste smiled. "Are you on your way back to the dorms?"

"Yeah, I managed to pin down a couple of suspects, but I can’t say for sure who it is yet. Do you mind telling me where you were last night?”

"Of course," Celeste smiled. "I, too, saw Fujisaki last night... Back in the warehouse and stage area. She had a jersey in a duffel bag, and she seemed like she was in a rush. As you said earlier, maybe she rendezvoused with someone."

"If they met up in the locker room... then where is the bag?"

"There is only one way to find out," Celeste said. "We must go back to the scene of the crime and put all of the pieces together."

Akira nodded and followed Celeste to the locker room. The Izuru Kamukura Project clouded her mind. She knew she needed to get through the class trial first, but she doesn’t know how much longer Monokuma would let her hold onto those documents for. Hopefully she can investigate at least a little bit before the trial.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

Akira and Celeste joined the others in the girl’s locker room. They were all arguing about who they believed the killer was.

"This is clearly the work of Genocide Jack," Byakuya asserted, his voice bolder and louder than the rest.

"Wait, are you still set on this?” Ayato asked. He shrunk when Byakuya glared at him. The twins never questioned Byakuya— but it’s only understandable for Ayato to do it now. They dont know who Genocide Jack is. Well… no one knows except Akira and Byakuya. But it’s still a dangerous decision to make.

"Yeah... How do we know it's just not some type of copycat like Hina said before?" Kaede asked.

"Speaking of Hina... Where is she?" Sakura asked.

"She offered to stay back and keep an eye on Fukawa," Taka said. "Though, she isnt allowed inside of Toko's room. She is just simply sitting in the hall."

"Togami, how are you even sure that this is all Genocide Jack's doing?" Makoto asked.

Akira walked over to Byakuya and whispered something in his ear, and he nodded.

"Naegi, you're coming with me," Byakuya said. "I will allow you to aid my investigation."

"Really?" Makoto asked.

"I'm going too," Akira said. When the three walked out the door, she whispered to Celeste, "I am leaving you in charge to find either the bag or jersey."

Celeste nodded and continued investigating. Makoto sighed and followed Byakuya and Akira to the library.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

"Ugh! It's not here!" Ayato yelled as he slammed the locker shut. He and Ibuki decided to give the boys’ locker room a second round. "Where could Fujisaki's digital notebook be?"

"Maybe the killer disposed of it," Ibuki suggested. "I mean, if that e-Handbook means so much to this investigation, there must have been something that could have led to the killer's identity."

"No, that's not it..." Ayato mumbled. Ibuki looked at him in confusion. "Of course, there would be fingerprints on the device, but we don't have the technology here to trace them. So that's not what the killer was worried about."

"Then what was the killer worried about?"

"The poster... the rug... the e-Handbook," Ayato mumbled to himself. "Akira said Fujisaki trusted her with a secret. No doubt it was the same as her motive. Whatever that secret was… It is on Fujisaki’s e-Handbook. The killer knew what it was, otherwise… her e-Handbook would be here.”

Ibuki nodded and sat in thought.

“You and Akira could catch people in a lie, right?” she asked. “How could you tell?”

"Oh, in many ways," Ayato said. He then put his hand out so he could count his fingers while listing the ways he could catch someone in a lie. "Lack of eye contact, too much eye contact, how long they take to reply, how they reply such as: Tone of voice, or stuttering out of nowhere, and physical reactions such as: Facial expressions, or if their ears turn red like me. There are more ways than just those."

"And did anyone seem... suspicious?"

"No, I can guarantee you that those reactions were genuine," Ayato said. "It's strange because one of us did it, but the murder was also shocked."

"That's it!" Ibuki snapped her fingers. "What if this murder itself was unplanned?"

"Really? How do you know?"

"You said it yourself, the rug and the pictures... everything seems rushed… messy even," Ibuki said. "Why would the killer go through so much to copy Genocide Jack? And then switch the contents of both rooms? Possibly a cover up."

"Holy shit... you might be onto something," Ayato said. "Before we bring this information to Akira and Byakuya, we must search one more place first."

"Where to?"

Ayato grabbed Ibuki’s arm and rushed out of the locker room.

"You'll see when we get there. Follow me."

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

"Hey, you know, I just thought of something," Makoto said as he looked around the library. He walked past the desk that Byakuya normally reads his book at and saw that the extension cord he uses to plug in a lamp was missing. There is no doubt that the extension cord came from the library. "The Genocide Jack murders have been a pretty big deal lately. So maybe we are dealing with a copycat as everyone else said?"

"Highly doubt it," Byakuya said.

"How could you be so sure?"

"It's quite simple. Now shut your mouth and listen."

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

Ibuki and Ayato left the boys' locker room and walked down to the Main Hall. When they got there, they found Kyoko looking through a bin. She pulled out three digital notebooks.

"Hey, Kirigiri," Ibuki called out. "What do you have there?"

"I see you possibly had the same idea as us," Ayato said.

"I found these digital notebooks," Kyoko said as she handed Ayato the devices. "As you can see, when they turn on, you can see they belong to Sayaka Maizono and Junko Enoshima. But there is one that won't turn on."

"Could this belong to Kuwata?" Ibuki asked. "It would make sense."

"You're right," Ayato said. "But if this is Kuwata’s... then where is Fujisaki's?"

"I assumed that this was Kuwata’s," Kyoko said. "But since we can't find Fujisaki's digital notebook at the crime scene, it is pretty obvious that the killer destroyed it as evidence."

"You were right, Ibuki," Ayato said. "Whatever was on Fujisaki's e-Handbook was clearly her secret. The killer probably found out and destroyed it to make this investigation a lot harder."

"Wait, really?" Ibuki asked. "How can we be completely sure that's the case?"

"When you turn on your E- Handbook, you see some important information about you," Kyoko said. "There was probably something that Fujisaki didn't want anyone to figure out. The killer found that out and made sure to hide it to keep that secret."

"But here is the question, how did the killer destroy Fujisaki's e-Handbook?" Ayato asked. "If I'm not mistaken, Monokuma told us that there is no way you could destroy these."

"Yeah... it's water resistant and could take any damage," Ibuki said. "How did it even break?"

"Perhaps someone... specifically, the killer found its weak-point," Kyoko said. "Everything has one. Including high tech like these."

"But how could anyone figure it out?" Ibuki asked. "Monokuma wouldn't tell us."

"That fact is still a mystery," Ayato said. "I highly doubt we will find the answers here. We must wait until the class trial.”

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

Byakuya, Makoto, and Akira were in a secret room of the library.

"What's in here?" Makoto asked.

"These are confidential police files," Akira said. "You guys can look around, there is something I need to take care of."

"Wait, where are you doing, Akira?"

"I am doing an investigation of my own," Akira said as she opened a small box on a bottom shelf. "I believe there is something I need here."

"Naegi, let her do what she needs to do. Focus over here," Byakuya said as he and Makoto walked to a specific shelf that had multiple thick files that were labeled by dates. "We are going to be looking at very triggering files, let me give you a little warning. Those things are filled with graphic, disturbing photos from all kinds of crime scenes. It's the kind of thing any normal person wouldn't ever want to look at. Be careful..."

"Huh? What do you mean?" Makoto asked.

"Basically, you're going to be looking at information that wouldn't normally be released to the public," Akira said as she kept her eyes glued on the boxes in front of her.

"All those files there are investigation reports related to different cold cases," Byakuya said. "Those are internal documents, for police eyes only. It's home to classified government documents, police records, things no ordinary person would ever see. Isn't it magnificent?"

"What the heck are they even doing here?!" Makoto asked. "How do we know this stuff is for real?"

"Your skepticism is healthy, but I assure you, these are genuine. They match the copies in my study at home."

"Look, I get that you're rich, but they don't just hand that kind of info out. This...can't be for real."

"That's one of your weaknesses. Anything that doesn't fit into your preconceived reality, you label it a lie."

"The Iwasaki's went through great lengths to get those documents. We have even done... not so pleasant things," Akira said as she looked away from the box she was digging in. "You might as well make good use of those files. They may help you with this class trial."

"Members of the Togami and Iwasaki family have access to any variety of government-related documents," Byakuya said. "That includes foreign powers as well as domestic."

"H-How is that possible...?" Makoto asked.

"There's a secret council that controls the world from the shadows," Byakuya said. "My family is a member of that council. Before a very tragic day, the Iwasaki family were members of that council, too…

“And I have within me the bloodline that will allow me to one day bend the world to my will... But to become such a ruler, I must know all levels of this world backwards and forwards. So whenever I have time, I like to review whatever documents and materials that interest me…

“Which is why I can proclaim, without a doubt, that the materials gathered here are the real thing. And what always interested me the most were the 'cold case' police investigation reports. Reading through those reports has always been a hobby of mine, ever since I was little…

“It's excellent mental exercise. I've solved more than a few of those cases just by reviewing the reports. And among all those reports, one of my recent favorites is the Genocide Jack case."

"I still find it odd that the Mastermind managed to get their hands on these files," Akira said, still rummaging through the boxes. "If anything, I'm a little bit impressed. You would have to be a higher-up or have big connections to a family like mine to get a hold of those."

"Here is the dossier on Genocide Jack," Byakuya said as he handed Makoto the file. "He always writes 'blood lust' in blood at the murder scene, the victims are always male and scissors are always the weapon."

Makoto gasped and read through the file.

"Unique scissors are used to commit the murders. All of the scissors found at the crime scenes share the same design."

"Look at the second page," Byakuya said. "It will give you more information."

"All of the crimes took place either on weekdays at night or during holidays, either day or night. The most common time for the killings to take place was on holidays, in the afternoon. Based on these facts, it could be suggested that the suspect may be a student. Evidence suggests that the suspect lingered at the scene, but when they did leave, they were in a panic. Because an eyewitness has never come forward, it's unlikely there was any external reason for this. This confused behavior suggests..."

"Based on his profile, Genocide Jack might suffer from dissociative identity disorder," Makoto said.

"The key point is that our culprit has split personalities," Byakuya said. "Also, every one of his victims thus far has been crucified, although that detail is only known to a select few officers."

"You really think Genocide Jack is in here with us?!" Makoto asked. Byakuya and Akira looked at Makoto and nodded.

They all stood in silence as they were looking through files. Akira found a box that was in the way back of the shelf. It was an old yearbook and old photos of Class 77th and Class 78th.

"Guys, I found what I was looking for," Akira said. "I'll let you two do your thing."

"What's that?" Makoto asked.

"Nothing really important for this trial, but I have found some stuff that has been bugging me lately," Akira said. "I believe this will answer some questions I have."

"Is it what I think it is?" Byakuya asked. Akira nodded and held up Leon's dorm key.

"You know where to find me if you need anything.”

"Are you sure that's safe?"

"Monokuma is already aware of it. He wanted someone to look for these. And the only two that have access to Kuwata’s room are Monokuma and myself. So yes, those documents are safe."

"Alright, Let me know what you find," Byakuya said. Akira nodded and walked out of the library with the box.

"Hey, Togami..." Makoto mumbled. "What was that about?"

"It’s evident that Akira has been upset over Kuwata’s passing,” Byakuya said. "He resembled her family so much, she and Ayato got close to him."

"Yeah... I believe she mentioned something like that to me before.”

"He gave her his dorm key because he found important documents that may help us get out of here," Byakuya said. "And since she is the only one, besides Monokuma, that has access to his room... she uses it as a study. She stores important documents in there so nobody would find them. They are more trusted in a room that nobody finds useful anymore than a room that is still occupied."

"I guess that makes sense.”

"But we are not here to worry about Akira, we are here to gain evidence for the class trial. Now get back to work.”

They continued looking through the files until they heard Hina call out for them.

"There you guys are!" Hina said. "I need help, Fukawa's gone off the deep end!"

"What do you mean?" Makoto asked. Hina told them to follow her, and they all ran to the dormitory hall.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

Akira walked down the empty dormitory hall. She read the nameplates on the doors, paying attention to each one she passed by. She finally made it to the room. The door with Leon Kuwata's nameplate on it. She grabbed his dorm key and inserted it into the lock. Once she got the door to open, she closed and locked it immediately.

By this time, his scent was long gone. Akira couldn’t help but frown. She’s grown so accustomed to it. Another thing that was taken away from her. And one day, she will forget all the little things about him like she did her parents.

Akira set the box down on the desk. The first thing she took out was a yearbook. There were pictures of student's faces that she didn't recognize. She flipped through pages until she saw it. Class 78th. The page contained class photos of herself and her brother, along with the original fifteen students that were here since day one.

"No... these are clearly photo-shopped," Akira mumbled to herself. "We all just met... these can't be real."

Akira put down the yearbook and grabbed other files that sat in the box. The thick file held information about class 77-B, which is supposedly Ibuki's class, according to the files. The folder held information about every student, Nagito Komaeda for example. He was suspended for a while because he bombed a gym.

Nothing in these files had anything to do with the Izuru Kamukura Project. Everything just keeps coming in one by one. Nothing was making any sense to Akira. Then it came to her. The first night she found the Izuru Kamukura Project files, Monokuma asked her if she remembered. Clearly, she didn't remember anything about coming to Hope's Peak. What the hell did the Mastermind do to them...?

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

The three made it to Toko's room.

"She's been acting off ever since we found the body," Hina said as she walked towards the door. "Since then, she locked herself in her room, but she yelled through the door that she wants to talk to Togami."

Hina rang on the doorbell.

"Hey, are you doing alright in there?" Hina asked. "I brought Togami."

"Is he really here?" Toko asked through the door.

A few seconds pass by and the door finally opened. Although you could only see a little bit of her, you could tell she was trembling.

"I'm so sorry, Togami... I couldn't keep my promise," Toko cried. "I thought I could but it was just too hard!"

Makoto and Hina shared confused glances at each other. But Byakuya knew exactly what she was talking about.

"But... y'know?! I'm okay! I've got it under control! I'm calling the shots again!" Toko said. "Listen up: Genocider Syo is not gonna add me to her body-count!"

After that, Toko immediately slammed the door shut.

"Fukawa! Wait, open the door!" Hina yelled.

The air grew thick. Makoto didn't understand. Hina didn't understand. Nobody could understand.

but in the midst of all the chaos, Monokuma made his announcement. It was time for the class trial. They all may feel like they weren't prepared... but they were plenty prepared. The killer did this investigation with them. The killer witnessed their own work. And the killer is about to receive their cruel punishment.

"I know the idea is that I give you toddlers a chance to figure out who did it, but this is like watching paint dry!" Monokuma said. "Enough shuffling your feet! It's time for the class trial!"

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

STATUS: 19/23 STUDENTS ALIVE 4 DEAD

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Chapter Text

Once again, everyone gathered into the courtroom for another class trial. Nagito, Hajime, Kokichi, Kaede, and Nekomaru sat along the wall while the others stood in the center of the room. They all wanted to think that the last trial would be a one-time-thing… but there has been another murder. It is up to them to figure out who killed Chihiro or else they all die.

Before they walked inside the trial room, Akira managed to pull Celeste aside to see if she managed to find Chihiro’s missing jersey. Sadly, it was nowhere to be found. The killer probably found a way to dispose of the evidence.

"Well then, my sweet and tender hooligans, how about we kick things off by talking about the murder weapon," Monokuma suggested. Everyone nodded and took out their digital notebooks to review the Monokuma File. "Remember, my fellow spectators, feel free to join in with any questions and opinions, whenever you feel necessary! You wouldn't want your classmates to die from their own mistakes, would you?"

"According to the Monokuma Files, the victim was struck in the head with a blunt object, leading to what was most likely an immediate demise," Byakuya stated.

"Yes, but what could it have been?" Taka asked, stroking his chin.

"I bet it was an iron pipe," Yasuhiro said. That wouldn't make any sense because the weapon was there, in front of them, the whole time

"Actually, the weapon was in front of us the whole time, Yasuhiro," Akira said. "If you paid attention, you would know that the actual cause of death was a blow to the head by a dumbbell."

"There weren't any pipes at the scene of the crime," Hifumi said. "So the dumbbell had to have been it."

"The circumference of the injury matched the weight at the end of a small dumbbell," Kyoko said.

"Wait- you checked her wound?" Hina asked.

"Kyaaah! That's sooo creeeepy!" Hifumi shrieked.

“That isn’t the point, guys,” Akira said. “If none of you were going to do it, leave it to the one who will. She’s giving us extra evidence we need.”

"Given the bloodstains that we found on the carpet, I think it's safe to assume the crime was committed right there in the girls' locker room," Celeste said.

"Thus, it's high time to name the culprit," Byakuya said. "Would you care to rack your brains or shall I just tell you who it is?"

"You know who did it?" Mondo asked.

"Obviously, Chihiro Fujisaki’s killer is… Genocide Jack.”

The room went silent. All that took to break it was Yasuhiro’s laughter.

"Wait a minute, that serial killer who was all over the news?" he asked. "Whatever, brah!"

"But wouldn't that mean that a raving lunatic is one of us?" Hina asked. "That's crazy-talk! I mean, there is no proof for it!"

"It's not as crazy as you think," Makoto said. Everyone turned and looked at him. "Togami and I found a dossier on the killer in the library."

“Wait, you mean you know Genocide Jack’s true identity?” Kaede asked. “How did you figure that out so quickly?”

"It called attention to recurring motifs throughout all of Genocide Jack's murders," Byakuya said. "Two rituals, or calling cards, in particular... First, Genocide Jack always leaves a message written in blood."

"Oh, that's right," Hifumi said. "Booblust if I'm not mistaken."

"Uh, no..." Hina said as she rolled her eyes. "It's actually Bloodlust."

"The second motif is important, as it's never been disseminated to the public at large," Byakuya said. "Without fail, every one of Genocide Jack's victims has been found crucified. Thus, having found her in such a unique state, it's only natural to assume that Fujisaki was slain by the selfsame villain."

"No fuckin' way!" Mondo's eyes widened. Everyone else was shocked too.

"You're saying Genocide Jack...is, in fact, one of us?" Celeste asked.

"Indeed..." Byakuya said. "And she goes by the name... Toko Fukawa!"

Everyone gasped and looked at Toko.

"What?! I- Uh-" Toko stuttered.

"Hey, wait for just a second!" Hina yelled. "Fukawa freaks out at the sight of blood, and whoever's been killing those folks is not squeamish!"

"Is Toko Genocide Jack? The answer is yes...and no." Byakuya said.

"Another riddle?" Yasuhiro asked. "Man, why's this gotta be so complicated?"

"I believe it's because our precious Fukawa here didn’t realize what she was doing until it was too late," Akira said. "The Genocide Jack case file clearly states that it is believed that Genocide Jack suffers from Dissociative Identity Disorder."

"O-Okay...but still," Hifumi mumbled. "To go and say that about Ms. Fukawa is-"

"Perfectly acceptable," Byakuya said.

"Is this right?" Ibuki asked. "I mean, it does make sense... but why Fukawa out of all people?"

"Fukawa’s strange behavior after seeing the body is proof enough that she has a split personality," Byakuya said.

"You're talking about how she started acting totally different than usual, right?" Makoto asked.

"That's right," Byakuya said. "Think back--she fainted when she saw Fujisaki’s corpse, and then when she woke up..."

"She was acting funny, that's for sure!" Taka said. "That melancholy tone of hers completely disappeared!"

"Don't go assigning adjectives to my t-tone without permission..." Toko mumbled.

"Not to mention, once she regained consciousness and saw Fujisaki’s body again, she was utterly calm," Byakuya said. "In other words, within her is one personality that can't handle blood and one that obviously can."

"So when Fukawa trapped herself in her room, it's because she was scared of Genocide Jack?" Hina asked.

“The reason she locked herself in her room wasn’t to keep other people from getting in… It was to keep her other personality from getting out.”

"What?”

"Fukawa was afraid--afraid of the murderous fiend inside of her, of killing even more people..."

"H-H-How...?" Toko mumbled to herself.

"Yeah, how can you know all this!?" Hina asked.

"I do believe you misunderstood her," Byakuya said. "What she's trying to say isn't, 'How can you know all this?' No, what she wants to know is, 'How could you tell them?'"

"...Huh?" Hina asked. Her eyes widened. The entire courtroom broke out into side chatter.

“Silence! All of You!” Monokuma yelled. “Order in the court!”

"Yesterday, just before Monokuma gave his 'motive' speech, Fukawa and I had a strange conversation," Byakuya began. "She told me quite an interesting story... She said a murderous fiend lived within her, and she was afraid it could appear and attack at any time. And that trepidation is what's caused her to have such a bleak attitude. Isn't that right, Fukawa?"

"She also told me this morning before the investigation," Akira said. "She should have known better than to trust Byakuya with such information.”

Toko’s held her head in her hands as her elbows rested on the podium in front of her. She squinted her eyes and prayed. She prayed that all of this would go away. She prayed that the burden of being labeled a killer would go away. But all she could do was whimper and growl, unable to form comprehensible sentences.

"Don't worry, Fukawa. I kept my promise," Akira said. "You begged me not to tell anyone, and I didn't. The one who did it is right in front of you, Byakuya Togami."

"I trust that will suffice?" Byakuya asked as he turned back to Toko.

"You promised that would be our little secret, Togami!" Toko cried. "You p-promised...! I can't b-believe you l-lied!"

"You have only yourself to blame," Byakuya said. "You came to me with your tragic little story. I didn't ask you to. This is the real world, not some romantic fantasy fairytale. Besides, you broke your promise first. You said that as long as you were here, no matter what, you wouldn't let Genocide Jack kill anyone. But in spite of that promise..."

"You said if I k-kept my promise...you would g-go out with me!" Toko yelled. "Th-That's the only r-reason I promised!"

“How many times do I have to tell you? I never said that. But you weren’t able to do it. You just couldn’t resist that rush you got from killing, could you?”

“I- I tried… I swear I tried to control it! B-But-“

"But your efforts were useless. What a disappointment."

"Nggh...I hate you..."

“Wait, can we truly say for sure that Fukawa is the one that murdered Fujisaki?” Kaede asked. “Think about it… We already know that she is Genocide Jack, but wouldn’t she have confessed to being the blackened already?”

"Well, the opening act is nearly finished," Byakuya said. "All that's left is to hear from the person in question directly.” He then turned to Toko. “Be a good girl, why don’t you, and let her tell us the rest."

At this point, Toko was already hyperventilating. Her eyes rolled back as she blacked out, and landed on her back. Everyone worriedly leaned over, still trying to keep a good distance, to try to see if the girl was okay. And in no time, she got right back on her feet. Her mannerisms were those of a completely different person.

"Guess that's my cue to tag in, ain't it bitches?" The girl asked. She looked like Toko, but it wasn't Toko. This was her other personality... the murderous fiend, Genocide Jack. Everyone screamed in fear, except for Byakuya and Akira. "Well, ain't that a kick in the baby-maker! You figured out who I am! Behold! The Ultimate Murderous Fiend and Super High School-Level Serial Killer, Genocider Syo! Toko Fukawa is just a craptastic name I was born with!"

"What the fuck is this?" Mondo asked.

"Wh-What on earth's gotten into you?!" Taka asked.

"Not enough these days, if you know what I mean!" Syo laughed. "Why? You volunteering?"

"This new persona we're seeing is... nothing like Fukawa," Sakura said.

"And so, we have found our killer," Byakuya said. "Fujisaki was slain by Genocider Syo. She had a clear motive."

"And what could that be?" Sakura asked.

"Fukawa did not want anyone to discover her bloodthirsty alter ego," Byakuya said. "It was a secret worth killing for."

"Not a bad theory, you're kinda clever for a dude!" Syo said. "Too bad it's totally wrong, blondie! I'm actually innocent for a change!"

"Why should we believe a serial killer?" Sakura asked.

"Yeah!" Hina yelled. "I could never believe a word you say, you monster!"

"We've established it could've been her," Makoto said. "But as Akamatsu said... are we sure she is our only suspect?"

"Face it. Syo has a specific modus operandi," Byakuya said, "And it matches this death to a tee."

"It's close, but not quite," Makoto argued.

"Then tell me, how does it differ?" Byakuya asked.

"I told you I didn't do it this time! Suck it, Sherlock!" Syo yelled as she looked at Byakuya. He gasped, it was the last thing he expected to come out of Toko’s mouth. Whether it’s her or her alternate personality. "Buy this bastard a clue, huh? I take pride in what I do, which means I'm a stickler for the details!"

"She's right! What about the killing blow?" Makoto asked. "All of Syo's other victims had been stabbed to death. Not a single one was bludgeoned."

"Why go with blunt force trauma when I can just grab some skizzers and paint the town red?"

"And the crucifixion didn't match Syo's M.O., either! Fujisaki was tied to the rack with an extension cord, right? But Syo's never tied her victims up with anything. She pins them up with those scissors she loves so much."

Syo was cackling at how much knowledge Makoto gained in such a short amount of time.

"Give the kid a cigar! I use scissors on my trophies, so I can stick them right to the wall! Don't want them crumpled in a heap when the cops find them."

"How considerate..." Makoto mumbled.

"What's the one thing my victims all have had in common?!" Syo asked, leaning over Makoto’s podium.

"C'mon, Syo," Akira rolled her eyes. "This isn't a game show so let's just wrap this up."

"We have time to spare, Akira," Ayato said. "Besides, this is entertaining. It's not every day that you get locked up in a school with a serial killer and actually have normal conversations with them!"

"One thing they've all had in common..." Makoto mumbled. "That's right! Syo doesn't kill women! Only men!"

"This kid's on fire!" Syo laughed. "Yup! I only cut up the guys who get me going in the 'southern hemisphere' if ya catch my drift! Oh, I mentioned my naughty bits! How terribly, horribly, unladylike of me!"

"We're gathered here in the pursuit of justice," Byakuya said. "Your twisted kinks aren't germane to the issue at hand."

"Ah, shut your hole, ass-face!" Syo yelled.

"Ass-face...?" Byakuya gasped. This was the first time he actually showed offense to something so small. Ibuki, Ayato, and Akira couldn't help but laugh a bit.

"Hold on, can we backtrack for a few seconds?" Ayato asked. "We already know that Syo has a specific method, and only kills with her scissors. So what? Is there a possibility that she could have just not had her scissors on her, and she needed an alternative?"

"I stick to my style, even if it means I gotta blow my damn cover!" Syo said as she reached up her skirt, and almost as if it were magic, she pulled out six scissors. "Dun Dun Dun!"

"Where the hell did those come from?!" Hifumi shrieked.

"I got more of them on me if anyone wants to go treasure hunting!" Syo said.

"Give it a rest!" Mondo yelled. "Crucifixion's your bag, scissors or otherwise! It said so in the cops' secret file!"

"Wasn't that why Togami thought it was the real Genocider Syo and not some copycat?" Hina asked.

"Hold on a second..." Makoto mumbled. "There are a few more people who already knew that detail... Togami, the one who told me about it, and Akira, the one who provided him with that detail. When we looked at that file together in the library, didn't you say that they are genuine and you had your own copy? Frankly... I wouldn't be surprised if one of you knew Syo's methods before we even got here."

"S-So we are locked in here with a serial killer and a copycat?" Hifumi panicked.

"You both were privy to Fukawa's secret, and hoped to pin your crime on her other persona," Celeste said.

"What do you two have to say for yourselves?" Taka asked.

Ibuki and Ayato were about to object, but Akira and Byakuya signaled them to stay silent since they both would say something nobody would like. They couldn’t afford another outburst like the last trial.

"I see where your thinking is, Makoto," Akira said. "I'd personally think the same thing if I were in your shoes. But keep in mind that an Iwasaki spy provides files to a Togami member, but they are strictly forbidden to look at any of the files. That's why I sent Byakuya Togami To review the files with you. Not only am I forbidden from looking at those files, but looking through them is in fact boring to me."

"She is telling the truth!" Ayato said. "She hates reading, and we also are not allowed to look through those files. So she couldn't have known about what was inside them!"

"Then answer me this, Akira, and then you're off the hook," Makoto said. "How did you know that there were files in the Library, to begin with?"

"What do you think Byakuya does in his spare time?" Akira asked. "He reads, of course. The other day, he told me that he found copies of many cold cases that were strictly for the police eyes only. I saw you guys were having a bit of a struggle, so I gave you two a push and reminded him about the files. And if you remember, I specifically said that I had an investigation of my own to take care of. So there was no way I would have time to look at the files with you guys."

"Thank you," Makoto smiled. "Now that we have that out of the way... Togami."

The room was silent. Everyone was still not comfortable with letting Akira off the hook since there are still so many questions. But it was time to ask Byakuya.

"I say, where's your evidence?" Byakuya asked as he fixed his glasses. Everyone exchanged looks at each other.

"You're not off the hook just yet," Kyoko said. "The extension cord used to crucify Fujisaki was not unknown to me. I noticed its presence in the library, where you spent a fair amount of time prior to the murder."

"That's your proof? So I killed Fujisaki in the girls' locker room, and then strung her up so as to emulate the victims of a known murderer, throwing suspicion elsewhere and covering my tracks. Does that sum it up?"

Everyone sat in thought. The fact of Byakuya being suspicious does seem reasonable since no one knew who the victim was yet, and he was so quick to check the girls' locker room, which is where Chihiro Fujisaki was. But... was the crime really committed in the girls' locker room? Between Sakura spilling her protein coffee on the rug in the girls' locker room and Ibuki finding it in the boys' locker room... and the switched posters...

"I gotta wonder..." Makoto mumbled. "What if the killer switched the contents of the locker rooms to throw us off the trail?"

"Great Caesar's ghost!" Hifumi yelled.

"So... Togami swapped out the rooms, then" Sakura asked.

"There was a swimsuit model in the girls' locker room... and a poster of some boy-band over on our side," Makoto said.

"Oh yeah," Ibuki said. "That totally makes sense."

"Which means... Fujisaki wasn't killed in the girls' locker room, but in our locker room!" Makoto said. "It's the only way that makes sense."

"What do you mean?!" Byakuya asked.

"Wait... so how did that chick get into our locker room in the first place?" Yasuhiro asked.

"Excuse me," Kyoko interrupted. "Is it alright if we take a break from this trial? There is something Akira and I have to show everyone.”

"Huh?" Ibuki asked. "What is it?"

"Wait! Wait one minute!" Monokuma yelled. "Just what do you think you're doing!?"

"Well, we just thought that we should make this class trial a bit exciting," Akira smirked. "Isn't that what you wanted?"

"Huh? It'll make things more exciting?" Monokuma asked. He sat in thought for a few seconds until he finally responded. "Well alright then! I declare an official class trial recess!"

"Huh? For real?" Hina asked.

"Now then, what is it you wanna show us?" Monokuma asked. "It better not be boring, or I'll be VERY unhappy...!"

"Oh, I have no doubt it'll meet your lofty expectations," Kyoko said. "So, shall we go?"

Everyone got up and left the courtroom. They had no idea where they were going so they just followed Kyoko and Akira.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

FLASHBACK

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

Kyoko finished examining the body and found something rather interesting. She saw Ayato and Ibuki leaving the girls' locker room and decided to follow them.

"Guys, wait up," Kyoko called out. They both turned around.

"Hey, Kirigiri," Ibuki smiled. "What's up?"

"Can I borrow Ayato for a second?" Kyoko asked.

"Sure," Ibuki smiled as she walked away.

"What's up?" Ayato asked.

Kyoko looked behind Ayato and saw Ibuki walk into the boys' locker room.

"How long have you guys known?" Kyoko asked. That was the only thing she needed to ask. Ayato understood perfectly.

"I don't think Ibuki or Byakuya know," Ayato said. "Akira and I have known since day one. We just believed it wasn't our place to say anything about it. I just told Ibuki that I am looking for Fujisaki's e- Handbook so I am investigating all over the school."

"Have you found it yet?" Kyoko asked.

"Nah, I think the killer found out and decided to toss that away with any evidence," Ayato said. "I covered the girls' locker room and I couldn't find anything."

"Well, Akira said she promised to keep Fujisaki's secret," Kyoko said. "Do you think it was that?"

"I believe so..." Ayato mumbled. "Wait... you're not suspecting Akira, right?"

"Of course not," Kyoko said. "Even if she is Fujisaki's killer, I don't know why she would make it so obvious. I'm gonna ask her about it."

"Alright," Ayato said as he walked away. "I'll see you later."

Kyoko walked back into the girls' locker room and found Akira.

"Akira, can I talk to you for a second?" Kyoko asked.

"Sure," Akira smiled as she and Kyoko walked out of the girls' locker room. "What's up?"

"I was investigating Fujisaki's body... and I found something interesting," Kyoko said. "Is that the secret you were talking about?"

"Yeah... I kinda knew the entire time," Akira said. "I just told Fujisaki I knew about it last night. I wish there was a way I could actually help..."

"None of this was your fault, Akira," Kyoko said. "We will find out who did this."

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

END OF FLASHBACK

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

They finally made it back to the scene of the crime, the girls' locker room.

"Why are we back here?" Taka asked. "We already searched this place from top to bottom!"

"I'd like for you guys to examine Fujisaki's body one more time," Kyoko said. "Be sure to examine the entire body very carefully. Take your time."

"Examine her...carefully? Like, using our hands?" Hifumi asked. "No way! No way! No way!"

"It's...probably best if I don't run my hands all over a girl's dead body..." Taka cringed.

"I-It's not that I'm creeped out or anything," Yasuhiro said. "It's just...based on religious grounds, ya know...?"

"Someone just do it already!" Akira groaned in annoyance.

"Very well," Sakura said. "I'll do it."

"B-But you're a girl," Hina said. "You shouldn't have to touch a dead body. Just let one of the boys do it..."

"No, it's okay," Sakura reassured her. "I think Fujisaki would rather have a girl examine her. So just leave this to me..."

"What is this, some kind of secret girl-on-girl action!?" Syo asked. "Is that what you two are about!?"

"That's not it at all!" Hina yelled. "Stop screwin' around!"

"Okay, here I go..." Sakura mumbled. "I'm sorry, Fujisaki. Please excuse the intrusion..."

"Be sure to check her entire body, and I believe we will solve this particular mystery," Kyoko said.

"Her entire body...?" Sakura asked. Kyoko and Akira nodded. Everyone was confused with what the two were getting at. Sakura was even confused, but did as she was told. “I know you say that, but..."

Sakura slowly moved her hands down Chihiro's skirt. She immediately stopped when she noticed something… when she felt something. Her eyes went wide.

"What--? This is... What does this m--?" Sakura tried to form the right words for what she discovered. All she could get out was a scream.

"What is it!?" Makoto asked.

"Not possible... It's not possible!" Sakura said. Her eyes were still wide and staring at Chihiro's lifeless body. "This...this girl is...! This girl is a boy!"

Everyone gasped in surprise. Chihiro Fujisaki was a boy...

"What?!" Byakuya asked. "That's impossible!"

"You're joking, right?" Yasuhiro asked.

"I wouldn't joke about this!" Sakura said.

"Th-Th-Then... Then it's really true!?" Taka asked.

"Chihiro was...a guy?" Makoto asked.

"Hmm? Oh what, you guys didn't know? Heck, I knew that right off the bat!" Monokuma laughed. "Chihiro Fujisaki was totally a guy!"

"Th-Then...he was a cross-dresser!?" Syo asked. "Now I'm REALLY on fire! I wish I HAD killed him!"

"So that's what you two wanted to show everyone, huh?" Monokuma asked. "Interesting... Puhuhu. Yes, that certainly does make things much more exciting! Now let's ride this wave of excitement back to the courtroom and get back to the trial!”

Everyone nodded and walked back into the Courtroom. There were still many questions that needed to be answered. If Akira did kill Fujisaki, why did Byakuya set up the scene to frame Syo? If Akira DIDN'T kill Fujisaki, who did Fujisaki meet up with? It's clear whoever Fujisaki met up with last night is his killer.

They all gathered back into the courtroom. Everyone was still confused.

"Ahem! I do apologize for keeping you waiting. Now then, let's resume the class trial!" Monokuma said. "We've all just learned of the shocking revelation that Chihiro was actually a boy! Let's pick up from there!"

"Alright, So Fujisaki was a guy," Yasuhiro said. "That really doesn't change the fact that we think Togami or Akira did it, right?”

"It's already been made clear that accomplices don't get anything out of the murders," Akira said. "If we were to kill anyone in general, why would we agree to kill together?"

"Don't pin the blame on them without evidence!” Ibuki challenged. “Naegi do something! You don’t believe they did it either, right?"

"It's no doubt that Togami tampered with the crime scene, and Akira met up with Fujisaki last night," Makoto said. "But it’s clear that neither of them murdered Fujisaki!”

"What are you talking about?" Hina asked.

"When we found out that Fujisaki was actually a boy, Togami was more surprised than the rest of us," Makoto said. "But the real killer already knew that!"

"Right, Akira, me, Ibuki, and whoever killed Fujisaki," Ayato said. “Akira and I knew since the beginning, and I had to let Ibuki in on it for the investigation.”

"So, how 'bout it, Togami?" Makoto asked. "Are you not our culprit?"

"Hah. I guess that works," Byakuya said. "Your evidence is purely circumstantial, but it clears my name. I guess I'll mark it as correct."

"Mark it as correct?" Hina asked. "What does that mean?"

"It's exactly as Naegi claims! I'm not the guilty party."

Everyone gasped. They were all back to square one, but some new information has shown itself. Whoever killed Fujisaki must have known he was a boy, and to keep his secret, they moved Fujisaki into the girls locker room and destroyed the evidence. After the killer left, Byakuya found the body and tampered with the crime scene.

"That said, I found him in the locker room... and did tamper with the state of the body," Byakuya said.

"You smug bastard!" Mondo growled. "You get off on this huh?"

"I was testing your powers of deduction, and unnerving the killer with this late revelation," Byakuya said.

"You... you're still lying to us!" Taka said.

"You're well within your rights not to believe me," Byakuya said. "But don't forget what happens if you convict an error. If you wish to see tomorrow, help me find the killer."

"Squirrelly son of a-" Mondo yelled.

"So be it..." Kyoko interrupted. "Let's speak of the case further."

"Excellent," Byakuya smiled. "Our little guessing game found its second wind."

"Now tell me, how, pray tell, was the culprit able to enter both locker rooms without being shot to pieces?" Celeste asked. "As you can see, there is a camera with a Gatling gun attached to it.”

"Easy, I found the digital notebooks of the deceased students in the foyer," Kyoko said.

"Huh? What are you getting at?" Hina asked.

"If I'm not mistaken, it means either gender could use them and gain access to both rooms." Celeste said.

"No... Kuwata's digital notebook was broken," Kyoko said. "It's useless."

"So the killer has to have been a guy?" Hina asked. "Well that just automatically throws suspicion off Akira then."

"That makes sense, but isn't using another student's device in direct violation of the school rules?" Celeste asked.

"The rule in question prohibits the lending of our digital notebooks," Byakuya said. "It says nothing about taking or stealing them."

"Yup! Trust Fund called it!" Monokuma snickered.

"Then Ms. Iwasaki could have violated those rules to kill Mr. Fujisaki?" Hifumi asked. "That’s something that could happen, right?”

“It could,” Akira said. “But when would I have time to steal Fujisaki’s e-Handbook, or anyone else’s for that matter? We just established that Kuwata’s is broken. Keep in mind, I found Fujisaki’s note. If I forged it in any way, why would I mention I met with Fujisaki last night?”

"You said you had a secret to keep," Celeste said. "It's clear that you knew Fujisaki was a boy the whole time, but I can’t help but feel that is not enough to pin the blame on you since there are others in this room that knew about it. You, Mioda, and Ayato."

"Although moving the body wouldn't be an issue for Akira, considering her talent, there are still some parts we are not considering," Kyoko said. "Akira, please remind us what time you left to meet Fujisaki."

"It was around 6 p.m., " Akira said. "I was talking with him the entire evening up until midnight, and then stayed in the dining hall until 1 a.m., that's when I saw Hina and Ogami walk in there. We then decided to head up to the girls’ locker room for roughly thirty minutes.”

"Well... that about does it," Kyoko said. "If what she is saying is true, then Akira would have a solid alibi up until 1 a.m. And if she was Fujisaki’s killer, she would have killed Fujisaki in his room, not the boys’ locker room.

"And if I did kill Fujisaki in his room, there would be no need to swap the contents of the locker room just to keep his secret," Akira said. "So the only option left is whoever Fujisaki met with after I left is his killer. Unfortunately, Fujisaki never told me who he was meeting with."

Everyone frowned. They just wanted this painful class trial to be over and done with. Everyone already discussed all the evidence that was found during the investigation, but nothing was enough to pin the murder on anyone. Suddenly someone spoke up.

"Hey, Celeste... didn't you say that you saw Fujisaki last night?" Makoto asked.

"Oh yeah... she mentioned that to me too," Akira said.

"Indeed," Celeste nodded. "I saw him in the dormitory warehouse. I saw him stuffing a track jacket into a duffel bag. And then, I assume, he headed off to exercise."

"Alas, we found no such thing at the crime scene," Kyoko said. "The killer must have disposed of it earlier on. But did he leave behind any clues as to its fate?"

"So Mr. Fujisaki was on his way to meet with someone, and then they were going to work out together...?" Hifumi asked.

"But Hina and I had invited him to exercise with us plenty of times, and he always declined..." Sakura said.

"Probably cuz he was afraid you'd find out the secret he was hiding, right?" Yasuhiro asked.

"Which means that conversely, he must have trusted whoever he was meeting with very much," Celestia said. "Enough so that he was willing to risk his secret being revealed..."

"Uhuhu! What a marvelous friendship!" Syo laughed.

"The point is, whoever he met up with is the culprit, right?" Hina asked. "So we just gotta figure out who it was!"

"But knowing what we know, I can't even guess..." Makoto said.

"No, you already have what you need to make the connection," Kyoko said.

"Huh...?"

"You know who the killer is,"

It's obvious who the killer is. It is a male, and whoever that specific male was, is the one who met up and killed Chihiro.

"S-Seriously!?" Taka asked.

"Wh-Who is it!?" Mondo asked. "Who's the killer!?"

"Think back to the track jacket and duffel bag the killer disposed of," Kyoko said. "Focus on the details of these items, and it should become obvious who was waiting for him."

"Are you sure about that?" Celeste asked. "You really think we can figure out who did it based on two pieces of evidence that we don't have?"

"What, you wanna track down some fingerprints or something?" Hifumi asked.

"Even if we had the equipment for that, we wouldn't know how to use it!" Taka said.

"And it is already clear that the evidence is gone," Ayato groaned. "There is nothing to get fingerprints from."

"Maybe, but we can make certain inferences," Kyoko said. "All we need to do is continue talking and the killer is bound to come forward.”

"Easy for you to say..." Hina mumbled. "But fine--Celeste, did you notice anything special about the bag or jacket?"

"The bag was...just a normal duffel bag from the warehouse," Celeste said. "All the bags in there are the same, so I can't imagine what would make that one special..."

"If I remember correctly, we have a lot of jerseys at our disposal," Sakura said.

"Yeah, and a couple of different colors, right?" Hina asked.

"Do you think there might be some connection between the culprit and Fujisaki’s jacket?" Akira asked.

"Perhaps," Kyoko said as she stroked her chin. "Let's explore that, and talk a bit more about the jacket he took."

"Alright!" Ibuki cheered. "Stuff is finally coming together!"

As everyone began to talk over each other, Ayato tapped on Ibuki’s shoulder and whispered in her ear.

“Let’s put that hearing to good use, Ibuki,” Ayato said. “From my understanding, Celeste and the killer should be the only two that knows the color of Fujisaki’s jersey. Keep an ear open for any sip up.”

Ibuki nodded.

"I don't even have a jersey! They don't fit me right," Hifumi said. "And exercising sucks!"

"Ayato and I both got white!" Yasuhiro said. "We look pretty bitchin' if you ask me."

"So we all know Fujisaki met up with someone, right?" Hina asked. "What if they picked out jerseys together?"

"That's it!" Taka yelled. "Fujisaki's jersey must match the one of his killer!"

"So you're saying that the killer was wearing the same blue jersey as him?" Mondo asked. "I guess I’m off the hook then. I got myself a black one."

The twins, Kyoko, Makoto, and Ibuki all snapped their heads up and looked towards Mondo. That had to have been a fluke. There’s no way he would have let that slip.

"You should have kept your mouth shut!" Makoto yelled.

"What the hell, bro?" Mondo asked. "You trying to start something?”

"Looks like they all caught it too," Kyoko said. "Owada, you just made a fatal blunder."

Makoto and Akira nodded at each other while Ayato and Ibuki anxiously looked at each other.

"The jersey... we talked about him having one, but... we never said it was blue," Makoto said.

"Owada... c'mon," Ayato mumbled. "Tell us it was just a fluke!"

Mondo was frozen. He couldn't think about anything to say.

"Think about it," Akira began. "Celeste never even mentioned the color. So how did you even guess?"

"What're you all getting at?" Mondo asked.

"It seems you've dug your own grave, Owada," Kyoko said.

"I didn't dig nothing!" Mondo yelled.

"Hey, Celeste. What color was Fujisaki’s tracksuit?" Byakuya asked.

"It in fact was blue," Celeste said.

"And before we began the trial...did you tell anyone that?" Makoto asked.

"The only people that knew I saw Fujisaki were you and Akira," Celeste answered. “I’ve never mentioned the color to either of you.”

"Then...Owada, how did you know what color Fujisaki’s tracksuit was?" Sakura asked.

"B-Because I--! I just--!" Mondo stuttered.

"I-I'm sure he saw the clothes at some point in the investigation...!" Taka stammered.

"No, that can't be it," Kyoko said. "The bag and clothes were surely disposed of by the time we began our investigation."

"Then the only reason he could have known what color the tracksuit was is if he saw Cherry with it before he died!" Syo said. "That's the only possibility!"

"Cherry...?" Hina asked. "Are...are you talking about Chihiro?"

"So, how 'bout it!?" Syo asked, completely ignoring Hina. "Did you see the tracksuit or didn't you!?"

"J-Just by chance... I just happened to see it last night..." Mondo said. "He walked past me, and he was carrying the tracksuit in his hands."

"No, that can't be it, either," Makoto said. "When Celeste noticed it, Fujisaki made a point of making sure the jacket was completely in the bag. If you just ran into him briefly, you couldn't possibly have seen what color the tracksuit was."

"Ah, now I understand, Kirigiri," Celeste said. "It was all one big bluff, wasn't it? Your true intention was to draw a slip of the tongue from the culprit... That's why you said you knew who did it, to put them on edge."

"That's right," Kyoko said. "However...Owada was my target all along. I had my suspicions about him from the very beginning!"

"But why...?" Makoto asked. "What made you so suspicious?"

"That's a good question," Kyoko said. "There was a certain turning point that tipped me off. Maybe you didn't notice it, Owada, but you tend to refer to men and women differently. You only call guys 'dude'. For girls, it's 'chick'. And after he was killed, you happened to refer to him as 'dude'. Once I picked up on that, it occurred to me that Owada knew something we didn't."

"Y-You noticed such a tiny detail!?" Hifumi asked.

"Wow, I didn't even notice that..." Akira mumbled. She couldn’t tell if she should be impressed or ashamed in her lack of attention to detail.

"Are you a witch?" Syo asked. "She's a witch! You're positively frightful!"

"No, I'm not the frightful one," Kyoko said. "Not nearly as frightful as someone capable of murdering a friend."

"You're so quick to pin it on me huh?" Mondo asked. "So what if I found out if Fujisaki was a dude? Akira and Ayato knew the entire time too!"

"But they still made the effort of referring to him as a girl," Kyoko said. "Maybe no one has noticed this either, but when the twins talk about Fujisaki... Akira talks about him more than Ayato does, and Akira always referred to him as a 'she'…

“When Ayato talks about Fujisaki, he will only talk to him directly, which made us believe that he didn't know about Fujisaki being a boy like the rest of us. Ayato is a good liar, but we learned how to tell if he is lying from the first class trial. But Akira is better at lying, so he let Akira do all the talking about Fujisaki so he wouldn't slip up and expose his secret."

"Holy shit she pays attention," Ayato laughed nervously.

"Okay, so Owada said the jacket was blue, what about it?" Ibuki asked. "Couldn't there have been a chance it was a lucky guess?"

"That does make some sense," Ayato said. “Besides, it’s not like we have a wide range of colors to choose from.”

"That could be the case that could possibly prove Owada’s innocence." Makoto said. “Except for the fact another person came to me with some evidence that points directly towards Owada. Yamada?”

"Really!? What kind of evidence!?" Hina asked.

Hifumi was silent... thinking for a bit - before he finally spoke.

"Actually, you know...not that I'm thinking about it here calmly, it might not be all that relevant," Hifumi mumbled.

"Jeez, did your confidence just get up and walk away?" Yasuhiro asked. "It's fine, man, just tell us!"

"I-If you really insist, then..." Hifumi mumbled as he took out an e-Handbook. "Umm...here it is.”

"Hmmm? What do you have there?" Syo asked.

"It happens to be someone's e-Handbook," Hifumi said. "I found it lying on the ground, so I scooped it up."

"We all know that Fujisaki's e-Handbook was missing from the crime scene, right?" Makoto asked.

"For a fact," Kyoko confirmed.

"Then do you think that could be Fujisaki's?" Ayato asked. "Ibuki and I were searching all over for it and we couldn't find it anywhere.”

"Then it must hold some clue to who the culprit is!" Hina said.

"Well, that's what I was hoping for," Hifumi said. "But it's busted. It won't even turn on."

"I imagine the culprit broke it to get rid of any evidence after the murder," Celeste said.

"That's odd," Byakuya mumbled. "I didn't think the handbooks were quite so...fragile"

"You're right, they're not!" Monokuma said. "They're totally waterproof and shock-resistant! It would take an awful lot to break one..."

"And yet, this one does appear to be broken," Celeste said. "As is Kuwata’s sitting useless in the main hall. For all your confidence, that is a remarkably high failure rate."

"Puhuhu." Monokuma laughed. "Do you think there might be some kind of mystery in there somewhere? How, precisely, did the handbooks get broken?"

"You already told us before that the handbook has one weak point, didn't you?" Makoto asked.

"Ugyah! You remember that!?" Monokuma asked. "S-Sure, maybe I let that slip, but I never told anyone what the weak point actually was!"

"Then if they were never supposed to break, then that means someone figured out it's weak point, right?" Sakura asked.

"That's the only thing that makes sense," Kyoko said. "You know what the weakness is, right Monokuma? So, what is it?"

"Huh? You're asking me?" Monokuma asked.

"I think it's a necessary piece of information if you want this to be a fair trial," Kyoko said.

"uh...if I tell you, and someone else decided to copy it, that would be very bad..." Monokuma mumbled, trying to find any excuse to avoid telling everyone the secret of the e-Handbook.

"Just tell us already!" Hina yelled. "Why would we wanna break our own handbooks!?"

"Oh well..." Monokuma sighed. "I have a weakness for pushy demands. But you're sure you won't follow their example? Then allow me to make a special announcement! The weak point of my cutting-edge e-Handbook is... When it's exposed to high temperatures for too long, it will suffer a meltdown and totally break!"

"I flippin' knew it!" Hifumi yelled.

"You knew?" Makoto asked.

"Yeah, cuz I found the handbook laying on the floor of the sauna!"

"The temperature in the sauna can reach over 200 degrees," Monokuma said. "Strange how you don't get burnt, huh!? It's because as your sweat evaporates, it creates a cooling layer of air around your skin! If the hot air of the sauna were somehow directly on your skin, you'd definitely get fried! That layer of air would get blown away. That's why you may feel a burning sensation when you move around. So when you're in a sauna, make sure to keep nice and still!"

"Wow, interesting! I learned one new fact today!" Taka gasped, eyes practically sparkling.

"That is a mere trifling speck of knowledge!" Hifumi said.

"Anyway... If you found the victim's handbook in the sauna then the killer must have been purposely trying to raise its temperature in order to break it," Makoto said.

"Meaning the culprit somehow knew its weakness..." Sakura said.

"But how'd they find out? Monokuma said he didn't tell anyone, right?" Hina asked.

"Indeed, quite the mystery..." Hifumi mumbled.

"What if they found out by accident?" Kyoko asked.

"What do you mean, by accident?" Sakura asked.

"What if the killer took their own handbook into the sauna, not knowing its weakness, and it broke?" Kyoko asked. "They'd realize it was broken, of course, and it wouldn't be hard to figure out why. And once they had Fujisaki’s handbook, they knew they had an easy way to dispose of it."

"I won't say it's not possible, but...who would have done something like that?" Byakuya asked. "I don't know of anyone who took their handbook into the sauna..."

"Akira and I might know someone who did," Makoto said.

"Whoa, seriously?" Hifumi asked.

"Yeah," Akira said. "The other night, Owada and Taka both decided to see how long they could last in the sauna.”

Taka's eyes widened, his eyes darting between Mondo, Akira, and Makoto. His head was spinning, his heart was beating so fast. He was scared.

"As far as we are concerned, they are the only two people that used the sauna after it was opened," Akira continued. "So all we have to do is to see if they have their e-Handbooks, and if Owada’s works, then I guess we are back to square one."

"Taka, show us your e-Handbook," Makoto said.

Taka hesitantly reached in his pocket and pulled out his e-Handbook. Just as everyone suspected, it turned on and in bold blue letters, it read "Kiyotaka Ishimaru".

"Well then," Akira said. "That just leaves out one person."

"Owada, your handbook got broken in the sauna, didn't it?" Makoto asked.

Chapter Text

So much has happened within under an hour. It has been revealed that the Ultimate Writing Prodigy, Toko Fukawa, is the infamous serial killer, Genocide Jack. It was then discovered that Chihiro Fujisaki was a boy, and Byakuya, for some unknown reason, has tampered with the crime scene. Now, Mondo Owada is in the hot seat under the accusation that his digital notebook isn’t even his.

However, despite being in the same room as a murderer, Syo is actually innocent for this trial. Voting her out will result in the death of everyone else. The murderer responsible for Chihiro’s death is still at large, and time is short. They just need to figure out whether or not it’s reasonable to pin the crime on Mondo.

"Owada, your handbook got broken in the sauna, didn't it?" Makoto asked.

"Wh-Wh-What!?" Mondo stammered.

"Why!?" Taka cried. "Why do you keep accusing him!?"

“It’s just as Akira said, you both had an endurance contest. And for that contest, Owada just so happened to keep his uniform on,” Makoto said. “But, little did he know, he’d also left his handbook in one of his pockets…

“And when it was all over, he discovered that taking your handbook into the sauna could easily destroy it. That’s the only thing that could make sense. Nobody except you two has used the sauna since it’s been opened.”

Mondo couldn't do anything. He couldn't say anything. All that left his mouth was a defeated growl.

"Where's your proof?" Taka asked. "I need actual solid proof!"

"Let's test Naegi’s assertion," Kyoko said. "If what he says is correct, then Owada, you broke your own handbook."

"Well, my goddamn handbook works just fine!" Mondo yelled as he waved his e-Handbook in the air.

"S-See? Look! Naegi was wrong after all! Mondo wouldn't hurt a fly!" Taka yelled.

"Is that really your e-Handbook, Owada?" Akira asked.

"The fuck is that supposed to mean!?" Mondo asked.

"The broken handbook that was in the main hall... Isn't that one actually yours?" Makoto asked.

"What the heck are you talking about!?" Taka asked.

"What I mean is, I think Owada swapped his handbook out for one that actually works. I think he took Kuwata’s handbook and replaced it with his own... After all, Monokuma said himself that only extreme high temperatures hit the handbook's weak-point. Therefore, Kuwata's handbook should never have been broken.”

"That's right!" Monokuma cheered. "The punishment it suffered wasn't nearly enough to destroy it!

"So then, the broken handbook in the main hall is actually Owada’s," Celeste said. "Which would mean that the handbook he has right now is actually Kuwata's, yes?"

"Well, Owada?" Makoto asked. "If I'm wrong about this, you're welcome to say so. I'm happy to admit I made a mistake, but..."

"S-Son of a bitch," Mondo growled, looking down at the e-Handbook. He couldn’t even call it his own anymore. They all know.

"What's wrong, bro?" Taka asked. "Come on, tell him he's wrong...! You are wrong! You have to be wrong...! Everything you just said is wrong! You made it all up!"

"Owada...was it really you?" Ayato asked. "Did you really...kill Fujisaki?"

"I...I..." Mondo stuttered. Everyone caught him in the corner, but he refused to give in. "I didn't kill anyone! You've been all over me, judging everything I say, putting words in my mouth... What gives you the right to treat me like a goddamn criminal!?"

"Exactly!" Taka yelled, jumping to Mondo’s defense. He moved from his spot and ran to his friend’s side. "My friend, Mondo would never stoop to homicide! Tell them how wrong they are! This is all a mistake! It has to be!"

Akira couldn't help but feel bad. She could tell that Mondo was Taka's first real friend, and for this killing game to rip that away... It's just like Leon and Sayaka's trial. Akira and Makoto lost someone they considered their friends, and that's how they’ve gotten closer. They couldn't bear the fact Mondo was being executed and Taka would lose his best friend.

When Taka finally made his way towards Mondo, he put his hands on his shoulders, shaking him a bit.

"I don't know how you guessed the shirt was blue, but that doesn't mean you murdered Fujisaki!" Taka said as tears formed in his eyes. Mondo couldn't find it in him to say anything. All he could do was watch his friend helplessly defend him. Taka turned to the rest of his classmates. "It's not true! He's innocent! Why are you all trying to frame him?!? Akira, you should know better than anyone! Why aren't you listening?!"

“I-“ Akira choked. She didn’t know what to say that’ll make Taka understand. All she knows is that if he doesn’t accept it now, it will only hurt him later. She couldn’t bear to see a reflection of herself from a week ago in another person.

“You know what? I’ll just prove it!” Taka yelled as he snatched the e-Handbook from Mondo’s grasp. “I’ll prove that he isn’t-“

His sentence was interrupted by his own gasp and a loud clang as he dropped the e-Handbook. When he turned on the device, it didn’t show Mondo’s name… But Leon’s. All Taka could do was stare at the floor. When he tried to speak, it only came out below a whisper.

“I don’t believe it…” he said to himself. “He didn’t do it. He didn’t do it.”

"We need to be sure," Makoto said. "Let's look back at the case again, starting from the beginning. This will prove whether our verdict is right or wrong!"

Everyone nodded, and let Makoto summarize everything they discussed so far.

“First, let’s take a look back to before the incident… It was around 6 p.m. when Akira went to meet with Fujisaki. She made it clear that she was meeting with someone, but never said who it was,” Makoto said. "After those two talked for some time, Akira left and went into the dining hall, and Fujisaki went into the warehouse, which is where Celeste saw her, correct?

“At the time, she was apparently stuffing something into a duffel bag. That 'something' was a blue tracksuit. She made her way to the locker room. Specifically, the boys’ locker room. But how could the victim, who was apparently a girl, access the boys locker room? Turns out... Fujisaki was actually a boy…

“Someone was in the locker room, waiting for him. Whoever Fujisaki met up with is the very person who killed him. It seems likely that the killer grabbed the nearby dumbbell, approached Fujisaki when he least expected it...and attacked him. It was likely in the heat of the moment. The body was arranged, but the murder itself felt unplanned.

“Once the deed was done, he needed to confuse us, so he flip-flopped the contents of the two locker rooms. To get into the girls' locker room, he just needed to grab Maizono's or Enoshima's e-Handbook, which were in the foyer. That's how the killer managed to swap out the two rooms."

"That could have been the end of things, but no... Byakuya discovered the body and decided to...intervene in the situation, making things even more complicated," Akira said as she glared at the blond boy. "So, after stumbling on the crime scene, he went and grabbed the extension cord from the library, and then he got to work…

“He used the cord to string up Chihiro's lifeless body. Then, using the victim's own blood, he left a grisly message there at the scene of the crime. He wanted to create the illusion that Genocide Jack was responsible for the slaughter. And around the same time that Byakuya was putting together this facade, the killer, having already disposed of Chihiro's bag and other belongings, arrived at the sauna. There, they planned to destroy the last piece of evidence...Chihiro's handbook."

"And just as the killer expected, the steamy sauna was enough to ruin the electronic gadget," Makoto said. "Somehow, the killer knew that the handbook couldn't stand up to the heat of the sauna. And the reason they knew that is because the sauna had already wrecked their own handbook! And that's how it all played out. Did I get it about right... Mondo Owada?!"

Everyone stood in an anxious silence, waiting for Mondo to reply. He then took a deep breath, and accepted his fate.

"You're a clever guy, Naegi..." Mondo mumbled as he lowered his head in defeat. "You got me... Yeah, I did it."

Everyone gasped. He actually confessed.

"Mondo... What are you saying?" Taka asked.

"Hey, Monokuma, enough dickin' around..." Mondo said. "Just let them cast the damn votes already."

"With pleasure!" Monokuma cheered.

"Wait a minute!" Taka yelled. "Please don't do this!"

"Give me a break! He confessed!" Monokuma said. "Alright, twerps, you know the drill, place your vote and save your necks!”

"Please, NO!" Taka cried.

Akira almost couldn’t bring herself to do it. Mondo and Taka became friends in a small amount of time like she and Leon did. You could probably say that she feels bad for both of them. She hesitantly put the vote in along with everyone else.

"Uh-oh... This time it looks like...you got it right again! Yes, it is so. The blackened that killed Chihiro Fujisaki was Mondo Owada!" Monokuma cheered. "In case you're wondering, the vote was not unanimous. Ishimaru, voting yourself guilty was noble, but stupid. Good thing the others had their acts together, or you'd all be boned."

"I don't believe it," Taka mumbled. "I refuse to believe he's... a killer."

"I'm sorry, bro," Mondo managed to say. Taka scoffed and turned towards Mondo, grabbing him by the shirt, forcing Mondo to look at him.

"Why?! Why are you apologizing?!" Taka yelled. "Why did you murder him, Mondo?! Why?! Tell me! Make me understand! Why'd you do something so horrible?!"

"Poor guy," Monokuma said. "It must be something too traumatic to talk about. Guess I'll have to spill the beans for him!"

No one wanted to know why Mondo killed Chihiro. The answer was plain to see. It was all Monokuma's fault.

"A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, there lived a boy named Chihiro Fujisaki," Monokuma said as if he were reading a story. "Pretty much from day one, Fujisaki was way too girly for his own good. I mean, look at his eyes! Bro-ay was seriously moe!

“After years of being told he was the girliest girl who ever girled, Fujisaki had enough of everyone's crap. Rather than punch everyone in the mouth, though, he dealt with the constant oppression in another way. A gentler way. A way that involved tucking!

“He decided to live life as a girl, ladies and gents! Sure, he kinda sucked at being a boy, but man alive, did he ever knock it outta the park as a chick! He enjoyed his new life, but the truth was a secret he couldn't afford to ever let loose. If word got out, the teasing from you schmucks was bound to be ten times worse than anything he'd ever gotten back in the day."

Everyone stood in silence. Saying things like "I wish I talked to him more" was never and will never be a good enough excuse. But they all wished they understood Chihiro more and gave him reasons to trust them, and maybe this situation would be easier for him.

"I figured he'd grow a pair and kill one of you," Monokuma continued. "Instead, he had the gall to use the threat of exposure as a catalyst for positive self-improvement! What a let down, am I right?! Our hero decided he'd start hitting the iron with testosterone fueled gusto. But the question remained: Whoever to choose as his man-mentor? Hmmm..."

"Yeah, me," Mondo said. Everyone turned back to him. "Fujisaki trusted me enough to tell me the truth."

"Bikers are rather known for that 'my word is my bond' spiel. And on top of that, Owada here is a manly specimen, once you get past the blundered bouffant. He was a goal for Fujisaki to strive towards. I feel like I'm on a roll here with all this juicy exposition. Let's traipse down Memory Lane some more. This time, we'll check out Owada's big bad secret, y'know, the one he max-repped Fujisaki to keep hidden?"

"Hey! You said if someone murdered another, then no secrets would be revealed!" Ibuki yelled. "Owada killed Fujisaki, so why even bother?"

"You all want to know why he did what he did," Monokuma shrugged. "Check it out! He killed his own brother!"

Everyone gasped and turned back towards Mondo. That secret sounded a lot like Ayato's secret. The last thing Mondo wanted in his final moments was the people around him to think of him as a psychopathic killer.

"My big bro was like a god to me. He created the best damn biker gang in all of Japan. So, of course I joined up," Mondo said. "My bro was top dog, and I was his number two. When it came time for him to hang up his colors, I was supposed to take his place as the boss…

“But I wasn't him, y'know? Not even close... I felt like such a failure next to him, such a... fake! On the night of his retirement party, I challenged him to a street-race. I was so desperate to win that I started pulling some really reckless shit. And that's when— He died that night, saving my stupid ass.”

Everyone stared at Mondo, speechless. None of them knew what to say. On the first day here, Akira and Ayato spoke to Mondo, and he mentioned his brother once. He said he didn’t want to talk about him at that moment. Was the guilt for his brother’s death eating at him this entire time? Ayato understood that feeling. He, too, had a sibling who passed away. He also felt responsible.

“I'm pathetic!” Mondo cried as he slammed his fist down on the podium in front of him. “I couldn't man up to my own feelings! But Fujisaki... This little dude with so much to lose... he had the balls to face his fears and beat 'em! I was jealous of him, all right? I was so... friggin' jealous! Because he was stronger!”

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

FLASHBACK

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

Chihiro finally made it to the boys locker room. He finally found someone he could trust with his secret. But if his secret were to be shared tomorrow, he needs to be stronger and face his fears. On the other side of that door, Mondo Owada will be there.

"It's fine, Chihiro," Chihiro mumbled to himself. "Just go in there... and ask to join him."

As expected, when Chihiro opened the door, Mondo was there. It took a few seconds before Mondo acknowledged Chihiro's presence.

"Fujisaki? What are you doing here?" Mondo asked, obviously confused. “You lost or something? The girls’ locker room is on the left.”

"No, actually… I talked to Akira and she encouraged me to face my fears," Chihiro said. "So now I want to get stronger."

"What do you mean?" Mondo asked.

"The truth is... I'm not a girl," Chihiro said as he nervously played with his hands. "I'm actually a guy."

"Seriously?" Mondo asked. "Jesus..."

"Y-Yeah... I'm sorry I lied to you." Chihiro mumbled.

"But...why?" Mondo asked. "Why now? Why are you telling me this all of a sudden?"

"Huh?" Chihiro asked.

"Cuz I mean...you've kept that secret all this time, right?" Mondo asked. "If anyone found out...you would..."

"Y-You're right," Chihiro said. "But... I want to change. I wrapped myself in lies. I'm weak. I want to destroy that version of me forever! I have to change. I don't want to be weak anymore. You're so strong, it can't hurt you, right? Whatever secret Monokuma might tell us..."

"So, what?" Mondo asked. "You're saying I should just say it? You're saying if I really am, I should just be able to tell everyone my secret?"

"Huh...?" Chihiro asked.

Little did he know, Mondo was jealous. He envied Chihiro so much. Chihiro would be lying if he said he didn’t envy Mondo as well. They both had something the other wanted. Mondo has the physical strength Chihiro wished for, and Chihiro has a strong mindset that Mondo wished for.

"Are you making fun of me?" Mondo asked. "I'm strong? Are you fucking with me right now?"

"I-I'm not making fun of you," Chihiro said. "You really are strong, Owada…”

"What did he want me to do?" Mondo asked. "What was I supposed to do? Was I supposed to just sit back, let my secret get revealed, and ruin everything...?"

"Wh...what's wrong?"

"Why did you have to tell me all that? Are you trying to rub my failure in my face?"

"N-No, I just...really admire you! I admire...your strength… I really look up to you."

Mondo let out a sigh, and lowered his head.

"You wanna be a man?" Mondo asked. "Step right up. It's your lucky day, for real... I'm the strongest guy here by a country mile and if anyone says otherwise, I'll beat 'em to a bloody pulp!"

The whole thing went by as a total blur for Mondo. His anxiety of his secret being released, and the jealousy that someone is stronger than him made him do the unthinkable. He subconsciously grabbed the nearest dumbbell...

"I'm stronger than you!" Mondo yelled as he raised the dumbbell in the air, and with fast speed let it down. "And I'm stronger than Daiya!"

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

END OF FLASHBACK

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"I crushed his head in... because he was brave." Mondo’s voice shook as tears ran down his face. "I killed someone who came to me for help... Someone who looked up to me! He was more manly than I've ever been!"

"And then after you killed Fujisaki, you broke his digital notebook to hide his secret," Kyoko said. "Is that true?"

Mondo froze and looked up at Kyoko.

"The other e-Handbook I found in the foyer, the one that I assumed belonged to Kuwata... Was yours, I guess," Kyoko continued. "You took it into the sauna hoping the heat and steam would ruin it. That would explain why Ayato and Mioda weren't able to track his digital notebook down. You broke it before disposing of it."

Taka and Mondo both started to break down into tears. Makoto and Akira, both went through what the two are going through, fought tears from falling down as well— of course they failed. Everyone in the courtroom started crying.

"Boo-hoo-hoo," Monokuma cried sarcastically. "As much as I love watching men weep like damsels in distress, it's punishment time!"

That's right... Everyone got so caught up in learning more about Mondo and why he killed Chihiro. They completely forgot that he was gonna get executed.

"Don't look at me like I'm singling out Pompadour Jr. here!" Monokuma said. "This punishment is meant for all of humanity! Despair is your birthright!"

"And what does that mean?" Sakura asked.

"Huh? What's it mean?" Monokuma asked, mimicking the question. "It's gibberish okay?!? It was the first damn thing that came to mind! What? You think I'm going for some Pulitzer?!"

The deed was done. The trial has finished. All that's left is the Execution that they are forced to watch. The first trial left everyone sick to their stomachs, but this trial was a whole lot worse.

"Anyways... It's time for you-know-what!" Monokuma cheered.

"No! Not yet!" Taka cried.

"I've prepared a little special something-something for our Super High School-Level Biker," Monokuma said as he spun in his chair. "Spoiler: I think he's gonna dig it!"

"Don't do this! Take me instead! Please!"

"Well, let's send him off with a bang! It's... Punishment time!"

"No!" Taka cried as he ran towards Monokuma. "I'm begging you not to kill my friend! I said wait!”

"Sorry, man... I couldn't keep the promise we made... from one man to another..." Mondo mumbled to himself. Though, you couldn't hear him over Taka's cries and begs.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

For Mondo's execution, he is strapped to a motorcycle with Monokuma. He is facing towards something that looks like a cage. At full speed, Monokuma raced towards the cage and before they entered, Monokuma jumped off with Mondo still on. The cage shuts and Mondo is stuck on the motorcycle in the cage, spinning around and around in loops. This is going on for a while until...

It was over...

He apparently was liquefied into butter? How does that work? No one knows... but what everyone does know is that Monokuma is putting a small bit of the Mondo Butter on some fresh pancakes he made for this twisted occasion...

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

"Try not to mourn your lost pal too deeply, Ishimaru," Monokuma said. "I'm sure his soul's gone on to a 'butter' place!"

Taka couldn't respond. He is just there... on the ground... sobbing. Makoto and Akira were next to him, trying their best to comfort him.

Their lives are worth nothing to him... Less than nothing. No one knows how much of this they can take... And now listening to Taka's heart-wrenching screams... they all realized how powerless they all are.

"What a disappointment," Byakuya said, completely stoic.  "This is the end of the game?"

"Togami..." Makoto mumbled.

"You're completely insane, you know that?" Hina yelled with tears in her eyes. "A game? More of our friends are dead! Do you realize that!?"

"Of course I do," Byakuya said. "Because this game is life or death."

"I don't have anything to say to you," Kyoko said. “I just don’t understand why. Why did you go out of your way to disguise Owada’s crime?”

"Why...? Isn't it obvious? Because it made things more interesting. Last night, when the murder took place, I was in the library as usual.”

"So you ignored the night time rule too..." Celeste interrupted.

"I think after the first trial, we all just threw that rule away," Akira said.

"That rule never mattered to me," Byakuya said. "Just because Akira and Ayato agreed to it doesn’t mean I have to follow along. I don’t recall ever agreeing to such a rule.”

"Well, I don't particularly care," Celeste said. "Please, continue."

"The night grew late, and I decided to return to my room, which is when I stumbled upon him..." Byakuya said. "I spotted Owada coming out of the girls locker room. After he'd gone, I looked inside and saw the corpse."

"Wh--!? You mean you actually witnessed the murder!?" Yasuhiro asked.

"He was such a fool. He didn't have the slightest idea that I'd seen him."

"So...you're saying you knew who the culprit was from the very beginning?" Hifumi asked.

"Indeed," Byakuya said. "But if that had been the end of it, how boring would that have been? I mean, what a waste of time to have the answer revealed right at the beginning. Which is why I decided to...lend a little helping hand. I thought it would liven things up."

"You did all that...to 'liven things up'!?" Makoto yelled.

"So after hearing about Genocide Jack from Fukawa, you decided to use that to create the fake murder scene?" Kyoko asked.

"And you let them blame Fukawa..." Nagito said. "That is not hopeful, Togami..."

"But damn, man... If we hadn't figured out who'd really done it, you would've been dead too, right?" Yasuhiro asked.

"Well obviously I would have revealed the truth before it reached that point. Of course..." Byakuya said. He then turned towards Makoto, his eyes staring deep into his soul. "Thanks to a certain remarkable someone, it never did. And I was able to perform an interesting experiment. Once I do decide to become blackened, I now know who I'll have to watch out for."

"Wh--!?" Makoto's eyes widened. “Was that a threat?”

“Don’t worry,” Ibuki laughed nervously. “The chances of that happening are very unlikely”

"We were ordered by your father to watch you 24/7,” Akira said. “If you think we’d let you murder someone here, ultimately you life and others here, you are sorely mistaken.”

"It doesn't matter," Byakuya said. "I'm going to survive this. That's all the rest of you need to know."

"You're a hoot, Richie Rich!" Monokuma laughed. "I like the cut of your jib!"

"Just so that we're crystal clear on this, Monokuma, the moment I'm declared the winner, I'm going to find a way to end you, little demon!" Byakuya said. "I swear on the Iwasaki and Togami family good name!"

"Warning! Bad-ass alert!" Monokuma laughed. "Look at you with your sweeping proclamations! Puhuhu... Temper, temper! Sounds like someone needs a nap! Puhuhu... Puuhuhuhuhu!"

Monokuma laughed as he exited the courtroom. Even with him gone, his cackle haunted the entire building.

"So that was your reason..." Kyoko mumbled.

"Are you satisfied?" Byakuya asked.

"Yes. We're done listening to your story."

One by one, they all left the trial room. Ayato and Yasuhiro decided to walk Taka back to his room. The one's left were Akira and Hina.

"Hey, Akira?" Hina asked.

"Huh? What's up?" Akira replied.

"Um... How do you do it?" Hina asked. "Deal with Togami, I mean?"

"I'm not sure..." Akira said. "Back then it’s been just me and Ayato… Life was already hard as it is. But Byakuya has always been there for us. He and Ibuki were the first people we actually considered our friends.”

Akira paused. Flashbacks of her life started playing in her mind. She would have given up, but her friends and family have given her so much. She has become stronger after what she went through.

“If it were my choice, I would have ignored all the dangers and left. I wouldn’t even bother to work for him,” Akira continued. “But there are more reasons for me to stay than to leave. So I made a promise to him that I’d stay by his side. And in return, he helps me avenge my family and the Iwasaki Organization.”

"How do you plan to do that?” Hina asked.

"My dad used to write a journal about his missions he went on... and there was a specific thing he kept writing about. He called it ‘The Future Foundation.’”

"Do you think they are responsible for what happened to your parents?”

"I’m not exactly sure. It's no doubt they worked together, though. My dad kept writing about them for months until one day, he just stopped. The rest of the journal went back to 'normal'. It's almost as if he never even met them in the first place."

"How are you planning to get to them?"

"I'll be working with the Togami Corporation," Akira said. "Surely they will have easy access to files. But if they can't find anything... I'll find them myself… and make them talk."

"What do you mean?"

Akira sighed and pulled out the envelope that Monokuma gave her with her secret. The paper stating she is the Ultimate Hitwoman.

"I'm trusting you to keep this secret," Akira said. "The only ones that knew were Byakuya, Ibuki, and Ayato. It would be kinda awkward if people found out that I killed targeted people for information."

"Not to be rude... But how do I know you aren’t the mastermind?” Hina asked.

"That's what I was afraid of," Akira sighed. "If I was the mastermind, then I would have shut the entire game down and executed everyone when you all thought the killer was Byakuya."

Akira took note of the scared yet confused look on Hina's face. It made her crack a smile.

"I'm kidding!" Akira laughed. "Look, don't believe me if you want, but I have too much on my plate to actually host a killing game... let alone even bother going out my way to create one. And like I said... I only do what I do for the Togami Corporation. And everyone here... doesn't have what I need."

"I believe you," Hina smiled.

"Wait... seriously?" Akira asked. "I guess that was easy."

"Your secret is safe with me!" Hina smiled. Akira smiled back and they walked out the courtroom.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

After the trial... there was a specific someone that wanted to have a talk with Monokuma.

"Well, anyway, like I was saying... This is a pretty good spot... Yeah, a really good spot!" Monokuma said as he sipped his tea. "Anyway, isn't it amazing how that girl went and killed someone before things even had a chance to get boring? Once things really get moving, it'll be like a rollercoaster. There won't be any stopping it!

“Fear and despair charge forward at a speed nothing can hope to match. But I must admit, I'm disappointed... I went to all the pain and effort of making you part of the group, and you couldn't play your part... You do remember you were supposed to make the first move, right? Well, no biggie. Nothing we can do about it now. So just do your best to make things more exciting from now on, okay? After all, that's what everyone wants to see..."

"There's one thing I'd like to ask you..." The person said.

"As long as you don't wanna know my measurements, fire away!" Monokuma laughed.

"Who is it? The sixteenth high school student, I mean..."

"Guhaah! My, my, you really took me by surprise there," Monokuma said. "I know I said you could ask anything, but... Super denied! Ultra denied! Demonic denied! Because you see, that's my ace in the hole. And nobody'd be dumb enough to reveal that, right? No matter how close they were to their 'friends'... Puhuhu... Puuhuhuhu!"

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

STATUS UPDATE 18/23 STUDENTS ALIVE 5 STUDENTS DEAD

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Chapter Text

January 28th - Flee - Hana Iwasaki was many things to the world. She was a blood thirsty murderer. She was a horror story you would tell your children to get them to behave. She was a name that would send chills down your spine; and make the townsfolk scurry home whenever she was seen in public. She was a monster. That's all anyone ever cared about. They didn't care that at the young age of twenty-three, she lost her parents. They didn't care that her family business would lead to the near death of herself and her daughter— the only family she had left.

As feared as she was, there was another family of assassins that she feared the most. The people responsible for the near extinction of the Iwasaki name. She needed to get her daughter, Mizuki, to safety. Her five-year-old daughter that she left home every night. The two were no longer safe in their home.

It was a harsh winter night in Kanazawa, Japan. Hana bundled her daughter up tightly so they could leave in the cover of darkness. Mizuki was already suffering from a cold she had picked up the night before. Hana felt horrible for shushing her whenever she sneezed a bit too loudly. On top of that, she was shivering. Her toddler sized body was too weak to run. Hana decided to treat her daughter to some curry when they finally got to safety. She had no choice but to hold her sick daughter in her arms and pray that her speed was like what it used to be.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

The walk was long. Probably a little over four days. They've managed to find small shops to purchase nonperishable food and medicine. By this time, Mizuki had already gotten over her cold.

They finally made it to Tokyo, Japan. Surely, no one knows about the Iwasaki's here. Hana hadn't noticed any glares, screams, or witnessed any parents shoving their children's heads down and running away. She believed that she and her daughter could start over and live peacefully.

February 1st - A Togami Hand - Hana and Mizuki sat down at a local restaurant. As a treat for enduring the cold walk, she ordered warm curry. Hana watched as her hungry daughter scarfed down her meal. Mizuki sucked in a painful breath as her food burned her tongue. She never once had a meal that she could truly savor and enjoy.

"It's okay, honey," Mizuki reassured her. "You can eat slowly here. Take your time."

Mizuki nodded and as she tried her best to savor her food, blowing on the spoon before eating. She noticed her mother didn't have any food, so she shoved the spoon into Hana's face. Hana shook her head, politely declining the offer.

The assassin heard someone clear their throat behind her. Instinctively, she reached for the knife on the table and turned towards whoever it was. She ended up locking eyes with a man. He was very well dressed: A black business suit, and a green tie. Hana furrowed her eyebrows, immediately skeptical of the man.

“Pardon me, I don’t suppose you are Hana Iwasaki, are you?” The man asked, completely unbothered by the knife pointed at him. He looked about Hana's age— around his mid-twenties.

“I don’t know who you’re talking about,” Hana scowled as she turned back to her daughter. “Now, if you excuse us, my daughter and I are trying to eat.”

The strange man hummed with interest. He walked closer to the two and stood next to Mizuki, so he was in Hana's vision. He made sure not to stand too close to the assassin's daughter. He seemed cocky and full of himself, but he was not stupid. Antagonizing an assassin mother was just like poking a brown bear. You just don't do it.

“I noticed your tattoo. The Fenrir Mercenary Group… It’s been founded by the Iwasaki's. I’m sorry, are you trying to tell me you’re just a member of that group?”

Hana tensed up, and pulled her sleeve down, covering her tattoo.

“What do you want?” She asked.

“Allow me to introduce myself,” The man smiled. “My name is Isamu Togami. I knew your parents, Hibiki and Himari Iwasaki, I must say, I am incredibly sorry for your loss.”

“How? How did you know them?”

“They were friends with my father and the Togami Corporation. I would like to extend an olive branch and help you. Feel free to stop by if you'd like to hear what I have to say.”

Isamu slid a card with his name and company number on the table, and walked away before Hana could respond. She studied the card before placing it into her pocket.

“Mama?” Mizuki asked.

“I think we are going to get a new home, Sweetheart,” Hana smiled.

March 19th - New Start - After some consideration, Hana decided to hear Isamu out. She seated herself in his office with Mizuki close by. This environment was different than what she was used to. It was almost scary.

"I am very pleased you agreed to this, Ms. Hana Iwasaki," Isamu smiled as he handed Hana a packet. The assassin looked over it as the multi-millionaire signaled for his assistant to pour two glasses of water. "I believe this is going to be the start of something amazing."

"I still don't exactly understand," Hana mumbled as she read through the terms and conditions of their new partnership. "You... You want me to kill again? That was the reason we had to leave in the first place."

“You wouldn’t have to worry about your safety as long as the Togami Corporation stands. You and your daughter are much more safer here than anywhere else. And here, you and your descendants can thrive and hone in at what you’re good at. We will be able to aid each other.”

“And what is this arranged marriage policy?”

“Oh, that’s just to ensure our companies can continue to live on through the generations. Each contender will go through a background check. We only want the best of the best four our future company heads.”

Hana sat in thought. This could really help her situation. Guaranteed safety for her and Mizuki sounded too good to be true. She grabbed the pen that Isamu held out to her and signed the papers.

August 24th - New Addition - Almost a decade passed since Hana signed those documents. Within a few months, the Iwasaki Organization was born and succeeded right away. The assassin mother and daughter duo were happy and living comfortably within the protection of the Togami Corporation.

Hana was sitting in her room, indulging in homemade miso soup as she waited for her daughter to return. Mizuki, now fifteen-years-old, had left for a year and a half to join the Fenrir Mercenary Group. She should be returning today. Hana was excited. She had a surprise for the girl's return. She sat in bed, wondering how her daughter would react to the certain news she had to share. Her thoughts were interrupted by an ecstatic knock at the door.

"Mom! I'm home!" A girl ran into the room, nearly breaking the door off its hinges, and jumped into Hana's arms. It was Mizuki. She looked so different, and her white hair was much longer. "I missed you so much!"

"Oh, Sweetheart," Hana gasped as she held her daughter in her embrace, quickly placing her soup on the bedside table. She stroked her daughter's hair as tears welled up in her eyes. "I've missed you too. It's been far too long. Have you eaten yet?"

Mizuki nodded and hopped onto the bed, sitting beside her mother. She smiled at her mother once more, "I had a couple stops on the way here. I'm all full. So, what changed with the whole year I've been gone?"

"Well, that’s what I wanted to talk to you about,” Hana said as she held her daughter’s hands. The teenager's eyebrows furrowed with confusion and worry “I really wanted to tell you while you were gone, but there was a no communication policy at Fenrir.”

"Is everything okay?”

Almost on cue, a doctor came in holding a baby. Mizuki gasped when the doctor handed Hana the baby.

"Mizuki, I want you to meet Kyosuke,” Hana smiled. “This is your baby brother.”

Mizuki was at a loss for words. She just sat there, staring at her mother laughing with the baby gripping on her finger. It wasn’t until Hana looked at her, handing her the baby.

“I… I can hold him?” Mizuki asked.

“Of course,” Hana smiled. Mizuki was hesitant for a moment. She looked at her mom only to receive a reassuring smile. Her heart pounded inside her chest as she held out her arms to accept the baby. "Make sure you support his neck."

The entire experience felt so surreal for the little girl. Never in her life had she been so gentle with anything. But here she was, holding a small baby in her arms. She didn't know what to do other than watch him. Her fingers brushed against his hair, down his face, and to his small hands. She looked back at her mother, not knowing what to expect. That's when she felt it. A small, tight grip on her index finger. Mizuki's heart skipped a beat as tears filled her eyes. Ever since that day, she knew...

“Hello, Kyosuke. I’m your big sister, Mizuki.”

...She was going to protect that baby with her life.

November 30th - Defiance - Mizuki was now 18, meaning she has to have an arranged marriage to ensure the further success of the Iwasaki Organization. After hours of evaluating, Hana and Isamu agreed on a young man named Hiroto Nakamura. He was kind, all about business, and already came from a family of wealthy background. He also seemed genuinely interested in Mizuki. He was perfect.

Once when it was all over, Mizuki ran to her little brother’s room to tell him all about it. Even though he was only four, he was always interested in whatever made his big sister happy.

"Kyo! Kyo! Guess what!” Mizuki squealed. She heard a hum in response. Kyosuke wasn’t in his bed or sitting on his desk like usual, but rather, he was in the corner coloring. Mizuki furrowed her eyebrows and sat next to her brother. “What’s going on, little man?”

"I don’t understand,” The little boy mumbled. “Why do we need to be here?”

Mizuki sighed. What was she supposed to say? How could she explain it for a four year old? There was no real way to do it.

"It’s because… We are safe here,” Mizuki said. “Mr. Togami was kind enough to give us a home. And we are happy here. Are you not happy, Kyosuke?”

"I don’t like it here! Mr. Togami is mean. And I don’t like it when he makes you leave. Mommy is always busy, and I feel alone.”

“Well, if it makes you feel better, I’ll be here a lot more often for a while.”

"Really?”

"Mhm, and that way, we can spend as much time together as we possibly can.”

"I’d like that.”

October 11th - Birth - That night, two adorable babies were born. One boy and one girl. Hiroto and Mizuki didn't know what to do. This was the first ever set of twins born into a family company. Only one of them could take over the organization.

Hana and Kyosuke walked into the room. Hiroto was holding one baby, while Mizuki held the other. Kyosuke crawled onto the bed and sat next to his sister. He looked down at the baby in her arms. The first thing he noticed was the fact she had twins.

"There's two of them," he observed.

"Yes, I had twins,” Mizuki smiled. “Would you like to hold one?”

Kyosuke looked at his mother, who gave him a reassuring smile, then back at his sister and hesitantly nodded.

"Here, hold your arms out and make sure you support her neck,” Mizuki said as she helped her brother. “This is your niece, Akira. And over there, is your nephew, Ayato.”

“They don’t have white hair like us,” Kyosuke said.

Mizuki laughed and said, “That’s because they have Hiroto’s dark hair.”

“Are they going to take over the company one day, too?”

"It’s just the way it is, honey,” Hana said.

Kyosuke pouted as he looked at Akira. He didn't like the fact that he wasn't the center of attention anymore. But he probably didn't like the fact that his niece and nephew would have to adhere to the rules of the Togami Corporation even more. The family stayed the room, enjoying the new additions to their family. It wasn’t until an hour later, Hana and Kyosuke had to leave.

"Those are some beautiful children you have there," A voice of a man said. The couple turned to where the voice was coming from. It was Kijo Togami, Isamu’s son. "They will lead the Iwasaki Organization to greatness, I'm sure of it."

"Thank you, Sir," Hiroto smiled. "But we are not sure what to do about this situation... This is the first time an Iwasaki family member has ever birthed twins. Who must we choose to be the next heir?"

"I have a proclamation to make," Kijo said as he fixed his tie. "Let the girl take ownership and lead the Iwasaki Organization. She is the first born after all, am I correct? Let the boy train under my guidance. He will stand by the future Heir of the Togami Corporation, as a protector, just like his father."

"That sounds like a splendid idea, Sir," Hiroto smiled. "And I would like to thank you for all these years! It was a wonderful opportunity to work alongside you."

"Please, Hiroto call me Kijo. After all, we are friends. I believe you earned that title."

"Kijo.”

Hiroto smiled. Ever since he started working for Kijo Togami, he always called him by his last name or called him 'sir'. It started to get on Kijo's nerves.

As you can see... The original plan was to have Ayato work for the future Heir, Byakuya Togami. But what about Akira? When did she start working for Byakuya? Well, fast forward a
couple years later.

August 17th - Akira's Proclamation - Isamu Togami and Hana Iwasaki both succumbed to an illness very early on in the twin's lives. This forced their children, Mizuki Iwasaki and Kijo Togami to take over their respective companies.

Hiroto and Mizuki left for a mission that would last an entire month. Meanwhile, Kyosuke, now thirteen, stayed home and watched over the twins. The Togami family were hosting an auction six months from now, and there were some people that had something quite valuable to the family that is needed for the auction.

Akira and Ayato are now ten years old. Ayato is currently running on four years' worth of training. According to the Iwasaki contract Isamu created years ago, you must start combat training by the age of seven. Since the boy was working towards being a bodyguard, he needed to start a year early.

Akira wasn't in favor of being away from her brother with her nose in different language books. So, she asked Kyosuke if they could train with her brother. She wanted to be just like her parents. The older boy wasn't sure how he felt about his niece working on the Togami's training grounds. With what he heard from Ayato; the kids were brutal. They bullied him any chance they had. Nonetheless, he wanted his niece and nephew to be happy. He managed to get a hold of Mizuki while she was gone, and he told her about Akira's odd request. You would probably expect the Iwasaki leader to say no to her daughter and call it a day, but she and her husband wanted to see what their daughter was capable of. So, while Ayato was working on his flexibility, Akira was already working with handguns and knives. Her presence on the training grounds intimidated the other children and caused a long halt in them bullying Ayato. She's developed a natural talent in her usage in weaponry, and eventually, she was given a choice to keep the family business or join her brother. It was a no brainer that she would choose both.

September 19th - Bump in the Road - The had just returned from a mission and were now fast asleep in their beds. Kyosuke stood by the doorway of their room, building up the courage to enter. It pained him so much to do this, but it was necessary.

"I’m sorry. Please forgive me,” he whispered as he kissed his niece and nephew on their foreheads and exited the room.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

The spy couple returned home from their month-long mission. Mizuki had a souvenir that she brought back for Kyosuke, and she was excited to give it to him. However, when she opened the door to his room, Kyosuke was nowhere to be seen. He was gone. She ran to inform Kijo and Hiroto.

“Guys! We have a problem!” Mizuki exclaimed. “I think Kyosuke ran away!”

“What? What makes you say that?” Hiroto asked, placing his coffee on his desk.

"He isn’t in his room!”

“It’s alright,” Hiroto reassured his wife. “We will find him. He couldn’t have gone far.”

Months have gone by, and Kyosuke Iwasaki was nowhere to be found. It’s almost like he fled the country. The world is too dangerous for a fourteen-year-old boy like himself. Kijo couldn’t help but think the boy was selfish, running away from his duties as an Iwasaki. And what will the twins think? How would their uncle abandoning them affect them?

November 15th - Ibuki Mioda - Akira and Ayato were at the park that Hiroto Iwasaki owned. He and Kijo opened the park to the public for a charity event. This park held a jungle gym for the children, many benches for the adults to relax, a beautiful field that got trimmed every Sunday, and a water fountain filtered with the purest, freshest water. Akira and Ayato were on the swings, minding their business until a girl with black hair walked towards them. She was about their age, maybe a year older.

"Hi, I'm Ibuki Mioda," The girl smiled. She was full of energy, nothing like Akira and Ayato has ever seen before. "Say it like I-buki-Mio-da! Ibuki Mioda!"

"Hi, I'm Ayato and this is my sister, Akira," Ayato smiled. Akira smiled and waved.

"Nice to meet you!" Ibuki smiled. "Can we be friends?"

"Sure! I'd like to be you friend," Ayato smiled. He then turned to his sister. "What about you?"

"Sure," Akira smiled.

"Yay! I’m so happy!” Ibuki cheered.

"Hey, so… What do you like to do?"

"Oh! I wanna be a musician! I just love music, and I practice every day. I have gotten pretty good at it! What about you guys?"

"We are from a family of spies... So, I guess we inherit that job for the future," Ayato said. "Akira here is gonna be the next heir to the company, and I'm going to be the bodyguard for the Togami Corporation's son."

"Woah! That's super cool! So, are you going to be like... an heiress or something?"

"Not exactly... that would be the Togami heir," Akira said. "I'm gonna be a hitwoman."

"A hitwoman? What's that?"

"She is basically good with weapons" Ayato said. "Since our parents work with the Togami Corporation, she and the Togami heir would be in charge. But she could also be an assassin for the family if they needed one. I'll be there for protection of their son."

"Wow! That's totally cool! It will be just like in the movies!”

"You really think so?" Akira asked. She couldn’t tell if Ibuki’s wasn’t taking her seriously, or if she was completely unfazed. Either way, she was glad someone stayed.

"Totally! You must be really smart and know a lot about that kind of stuff!" Ibuki smiled. "But I have a question... you guys keep referring to that boy you're supposed to protect in the future as the 'Togami Heir', have you guys met him yet?"

"We have seen him around, but we never actually met,” Ayato said. “We were told to address him as the ‘Togami Heir’ as a sign of respect.”

"There will be an auction and an after party in three months," Akira said. “We were told we would meet him then.”

“That sounds so cool! I wish I could go,” Ibuki groaned. “But it all must be so expensive… And the entrance fee... Such a bummer.”

"It is pretty expensive," Akira said. "But maybe if we ask Mr. Togami, he might just let you in for free or at least decrease the entrance fee."

"Wait, really?" Ibuki asked. "If it's too much of a bother, don't worry about it..."

"It's totally fine," Ayato smiled. "You're our friend now, and friends do things for each other, right?"

"You guys are so nice... Thank you!" Ibuki smiled.

February 20th - The Togami Auction - It is now time for the Togami Family Auction. The family owns a hall for this auction they have every year. Thanks to Mizuki and Hiroto, they have all the things they need to make it successful. The hall was filled with the filthy rich, and people from all across the world attended. Kijo Togami even allowed Ibuki and her parents to attend.

"Ayato, look!" Akira pointed towards the door. "Mioda is here!"

Ayato and Akira walked towards the door to welcome Ibuki and her parents.

"Hello Mr. and Mrs. Mioda," Akira smiled as she and Ayato bowed. "We are so happy you three could make it."

"Mom, dad, this is Akira and Ayato Iwasaki," Ibuki introduced her friends to her parents. "I met them at the park in front of the Iwasaki building a few months ago!"

"It is a pleasure to meet you two," Mrs. Mioda smiled at the twins. "Ibuki has talked about you both for quite some time and we just had to meet you."

"We would like to thank you for inviting us to this event!" Mr. Mioda smiled. "It is an honor being here."

"It is pleasure having you here," Ayato smiled.

And almost as if it were on cue, Kijo came from behind the twins.

"Ah, hello there, I am Kijo Togami" he said as he took out his hand for a handshake. "You must be the Mioda's. Akira and Ayato were so excited to have you come!"

"We were excited when we got the invitation," Mrs. Mioda smiled as she shook Kijo's hand. "It has always been a dream of mine to come to these types of events."

"Well, I'm glad I'm able to make that a dream come true," Kijo smiled. He looked down at the little girl that was looking around the hall in amazement. "And you must be little miss Ibuki. Akira and Ayato told me all about you!"

"Hi," Ibuki smiled.

"You know, Akira and Ayato told me that you want to be a musician. And it just so happens we have some instruments over there with your name on it."

Ibuki gasped and ran towards the unattended instruments. The twins laughed and followed her.

"Ibuki has played for her elementary school talent show and preforms at every family gathering we host," Mr. Mioda laughed. "So, this is quite exciting for her."

"Let's let the kids be kids," Kijo smiled. "Allow me to walk you to your table."

"Woah, this place is huge!" Ibuki smiled. "Everyone is dressed so fancy; I feel under-dressed..."

"You look amazing." Akira smiled. "Besides, everyone will be too worried about placing bets on stuff our parents got on their missions, no one would even pay attention to what we are wearing."

"That's a relief," Ibuki sighed. "Where is that Togami Heir guy? Isn't he supposed to show up?"

"He will be here shortly, I assume," Ayato said. "I just really hope we aren't gonna work for some jerk or something."

"It's been three months and you guys still talked?"

"We've seen him around a few times," Akira said. "But we still haven't gotten the chance to meet him."

The three sighed and stood in silence. All of a sudden, Kijo's voice was heard throughout the room. Everyone turned their heads and looked towards the man standing on a stage with a little blonde boy standing next to him.

"Greetings everyone, I am so glad you could make it to this lovely event this evening! None of this would have been possible without Hiroto and Mizuki Iwasaki, thank you both!" Kijo said. Everyone clapped for the couple. "After years of unanswered questions, I am proud to finally introduce to you all the Togami Corporation Heir. My son, Byakuya Togami!"

Everyone started clapping. Akira and Ayato felt the need to clap as well so they did. Ibuki awkwardly joined in as well.

"Now, the chefs will be coming out to give you all tonight's special, and then we will begin with the auction!" Kijo said. He then patted his son on the back as a sign for him to go around and make sure the guests are enjoying themselves.

Byakuya walked over to Akira, Ayato, and Ibuki. The twins stood straight up as if they were expecting orders from Byakuya at that very minute.

"Hello sir, it is an honor to finally meet you!" Ayato smiled.

"Ugh, let me guess... just because your dad works for my dad, you feel obligated to do the same thing?" Byakuya asked. Akira and Ayato stood silent, not knowing exactly how to respond. "Just drop the the whole employee act. You will just be my bodyguard in the future, not my servant."

"I'm sorry sir- I mean Togami," Ayato apologized as he bowed down.

"Ayato, you're sweating," Akira whispered as she fanned the boy with her hand.

"Ah, Akira Iwasaki," Byakuya smiled as he stuck his hand out for a handshake. "It is a pleasure to finally meet the Iwasaki Heiress. Well, we have seen each other in the building many times, so it is nice to finally put a name to the face. In fact, there are some things I’d like to discuss with you, but that can all wait until tomorrow.”

"It's a pleasure to finally talk to you too," Akira smiled. "Oh! This is our friend Ibuki Mioda."

"Oh... Hi there!" Ibuki smiled nervously.

"Is this your first time at something like this?" Byakuya asked, eyeing the girl up and down.

"Sure is.”

"Hmm… Thought so. My father mentioned that there would be a person with extraordinary talent in music attending this auction and I just had to meet the person for myself."

"It's an honor to be here.”

Byakuya looked towards Ayato... who was still bowing.

"Can you please stop bowing?" Byakuya asked. "And before you call me sir, or even by my last name... please call me Byakuya."

"Wait, really?!" Ayato asked as he shot his body up. "That's like... really intimate."

"Well, I want you to feel comfortable," Byakuya said as he fixed his suit. "Not only will you be my bodyguard, but I also want you to see me as... what do you call it... a friend."

That was the last thing that Akira and Ayato thought Byakuya Togami would say. Ibuki doesn't even know who he is, but she thought he would be a stuck-up jerk. It was kind of a relief to the twins that they wouldn't have to work for an asshole. The three couldn't help but laugh when they noticed Byakuya was blushing from embarrassment.

"I'm your friend?" Ayato asked.

"Well of course," Byakuya said a bit too aggressively. "You have to build trust with the people who will work closely to you, and the best way to do that is to form a bond with them."

"I'm Byakuya Togami's friend!" Ayato gasped and cheered. Akira and Ibuki laughed. Byakuya smiled at Ayato's reaction.

April 27th - The Iwasaki Organization Fell - Some time passed, and they were around thirteen and fourteen. The bond between the four children has become stronger. It has been exactly one year since they lost their younger sister, Hayami. And it has been a few months since Akira and Ayato's parents died on a mission.

The death of the Iwasaki family has been tragic to the Togami family, and to the public. Kijo Togami made a public announcement for the whole world to hear.

"Greeting to the public," Kijo said. "As far as you know, the Togami Corporation and the Iwasaki Organization worked alongside each other to guide the world for the better for longer than three decades. Over the years of collaboration, we have not only thought of them as our allies... but our friends. Our family. Hiroto Iwasaki and Mizuki Iwasaki's passing has left a giant hole in our community and their contribution to society has been so, very much appreciated…

“As for their children, Akira Iwasaki and Ayato Iwasaki, they will be living under the Togami Corporation's supervision. We will continue with our original plan with the oldest twin being the Heiress for the Iwasaki Organization, and the youngest twin following in the footsteps of his father and becoming a bodyguard for my son, the next Heir for the Togami Corporation, Byakuya Togami. We ask that the family is given privacy in their time of grieving."

Ayato was beating himself up about his younger sister’s murder, and Akira wanted to avenge her family, the company. She was willing to do anything to do them justice and honor their name. She will be the Heiress of the Iwasaki Organization one day and to do that, she must understand the world backwards and forwards.

She walked into her mother and father’s room. Their scent long gone. Akira walked in and found a notebook on her parents' bed. She opened it and read through it. It was filled with information about their missions and other stuff Akira would need to understand. A strange word came up... "Future Foundation".

"What is this?" Akira mumbled. She kept flipping through the pages, but no information about them could come up. Who are these people? Were they some now responsible for their parent’s death? Were they allies? And if so... what for?

April 28th - Akira's Role - Akira and Ayato had returned from a Mercenary Group they joined for a couple of months. It was called Fenrir and was located in the Middle East.

Akira went back to training while Ayato stayed in his room. He would come out of his room every now and then so he could still have a deserving place in the Togami Corporation.

Akira was in the training room. She set up a shooting range to practice her aim. She was shooting at some targets she set up practiced with all the different guns she had available to her. She even used to use darts and knives more often.

"Do you always train to cope?" A voice asked. Akira turned around and saw Byakuya.

"Uh... kinda," Akira mumbled. "I just wanna get my mind off stuff, that's all."

"Is that so?" Byakuya asked. "What kind of things? I'm asking this because I never met anyone become so motivated towards something after a loss of a family member. So, I am intrigued."

"Do you genuinely want to know? Or do you just want to poke your nose into other people's business?"

"I understand where you're coming from with that," Byakuya said as he fixed his glasses. "I'll have you know, my interests in you and your brother come from me wishing to understand you on my own accord. My father isn't asking me to do any of this. And like I said during the auction a few years ago... we are friends. So, what's bothering you right now?"

Akira dug in her back pocket and pulled out her dad's notebook. She showed Byakuya the pages that talked about the Future Foundation.

"My parents had contact with them on multiple occasions for some reason," Akira said. "I want to find out who they are and why my parents were so interested in them."

"How do you plan to do that?" Byakuya asked as he flipped through the book. "You don't know anything about them, for all we know, they could have been the people who killed your parents."

"I did think about that. That's why I'm training."

"Wait... you're actually planning to find them?"

"Of course I want to find out who actually killed my parents. And I'm starting with them."

"And what if there is a possibility that they don't have what you're looking for?"

"Then I'll keep looking.”

“I wonder if my father knows anything,” Byakuya thought as he stroked his chin. “He has information on everyone and everything… But the Future Foundation. They sound… so new. I wouldn’t get my hopes up.”

"Hey, didn't my dad get secret files for your dad? Like only those top-secret files that are for higher ups and selected officers?" Akira asked.

"Yes, I'm pretty sure my father sent your dad to gather information for him, but those files are only for him to look at, I don't think your father was able to look through them though," Byakuya said. "What are you insinuating?"

"Perhaps we could search through those files and track down the Future Foundation," Akira said. "I want to avenge my parents and find who killed them. I have high doubts that the Future Foundation killed them... But I still want to find them and get answers. Soon, I will rebuild the Iwasaki Organization, but I still want to be useful to the Togami Corporation. I have a proposition."

"I'm listening.”

"The Iwasaki Contract says I have to be married once I turn eighteen. But I don’t want that for me. Marriage isn’t my thing. The Togami Corporation and the Iwasaki Organization have worked alongside each other for decades. So how about, when it is our time as the future Heir's to run the company... we join them together into one. One giant corporation, you and me.”

"I like the sound of that... The Togami Corporation and The Iwasaki Organization will be stronger than ever before!" Byakuya said. "You know... you are not at all different from your father. He was a great man, and a wise leader. My father had nothing but respect for him. I see how much avenging your parents' deaths mean to you, and I want you to avenge them. Akira Iwasaki, I want you to not only continue working alongside me, I want you to take over the company with me."

"Wait, really?" Akira asked, her eyes lighting up.

"Of course," Byakuya said. "Besides, the roles my father offered are only suggestions for me to go off of. Once when I take over, it is my decision to choose who works for me. I see a lot of your father within you. A natural born leader, a fighter. I will help you avenge your parents if you help me with something."

"Of course, what is it?"

"It isn't happening now, of course... but soon. My father wants you and Ayato to investigate something next year, so he is enrolling us into Hope's Peak Academy."

"Hey, Ibuki is going there! She told me so much good things about it!"

"Really? Well, it seems like there is a lot more than what meets the eye."

"What do you mean?"

"Apparently, there is something dark... and mysterious going on in that school. My father wants you and Ayato to investigate."

"I'd follow you through hell and back," Akira smiled. "I will help you with your investigation."

"Very well then, it is official, Ms. Assistant" Byakuya smiled as he walked out of the training room.

April 4th - Enrollment - A year has passed... Akira and Ayato were summoned into Kijo’s office. Akira and Byakuya already told Ayato what the meeting was about, and Ayato was all for it.

"I assume you two know what this is about?" Kijo asked.

"Yes, sir," Akira said. "You want us to attend Hope's Peak and investigate what’s happening behind the scenes, is that right?"

"That is correct, Akira," Kijo said. "Of course, Ayato, you are not obligated to go all the way in this mission, just make sure my son is safe."

"We will take part of this mission," Ayato said. "We will protect your son from any harm. I highly doubt that there will be harm directly inside of Hope's Peak... I mean, I asked Ibuki about it and she says it has the best security. Your son's safety in that school is a 100% guarantee. But of course, anything can happen, so Akira and I will be there to protect him."

"You two are definitely like your parents," Kijo smiled. "I do hate that I throw you into a school environment while you spent your whole lives homeschooling, but I have allies also investigating and they requested your presence. Your first day starts next week, when you're ready to leave, a driver will be outside waiting for you."

"What exactly is it that you want us to find, sir?" Akira asked. "You told us you wanted us to investigate, but you never told us what for."

"That's the thing... We don't know exactly what the school is behind," Kijo said. "That is why we are investigating, so please.... report back to me with any information that you find."

The twins nodded and said "Thank you, sir," in unison and proceeded to walk towards the door. Akira stopped and turned towards Kijo.

"Is something wrong, Akira?"

"Yes... actually. We always kept my talent a secret to the public, and I'm pretty sure when you enrolled us, they asked for our talents."

"Not to worry, Akira, I got that handled. I put your talent as the Ultimate Spy along with Ayato. Your father mentioned that to me before he left on that mission..."

He mentioned it? Than that must mean that he knew he wasn’t going to return home.

"Thank you sir," Akira smiled as she walked out of the office.

This was it... This was how everything started. Well... sorta. But that was how Akira and Ayato became the people they are today. From the day they were born, to the day Kijo Togami made the mistake of sending them to Hope's Peak Academy. Was it really his mistake? Was it their fault they are trapped in a killing game? Or was it something much worse?

Chapter Text

After the class trial, everyone agreed it would be best to not gather in the dining hall. For the rest of the day, they all stayed in their rooms. The loss of Mondo Owada and Chihiro Fujisaki has left a giant hole in the group. Taka was affected by this trial the most. Mondo was his first best friend— and then he was taken away from him.

That night, Akira, and Ibuki met up in Byakuya's room like usual. This time... the atmosphere was different. Everything felt different. Ayato walked in not too long after.

"Ayato, how is Taka?" Ibuki asked.

"The poor guy is a total wreck," Ayato frowned. "Hiro and I tried to get him to at least eat something, but he won’t. He’s afraid of eating the butter. It’s a shame… Butter is in basically everything.

"Holy shit... don't bring that part up," Akira groaned. "Just the thought of eating the butter makes me sick."

"We are not here to discuss the matters of who will eat the butter," Byakuya said. "We are here to continue our investigation to find the mastermind. Now everyone, status report on what was found so far!"

"Well, considering what we found in the library, everybody is on the same page about it being the principal,” Ibuki said. “You would think that if something happened that forced this school to shut down, everyone would have known about it.”

“I found some more of those student files,” Akira said. “It was a bunch of photo-shopped images of us. I tried asking Monokuma about it, but he won’t tell me anything.”

“That’s… strange,” Byakuya said. “First, Ibuki’s student file, and now this? What the hell is going on here?”

“Well, when I was walking around the second floor, I found Monokuma by the stairwell to the third floor,” Ayato said. “Hopefully we can use whatever is up there to our advantage.”

“Please, explain what you mean by that,” Byakuya said.

“I spoke to Monokuma, and he told me that certain cameras can’t pick up audio. He never told me which ones though. It could be a lie, so we have to take what he says with a grain of salt.”

"Wait... then how is Monokuma always a step ahead of us?" Ibuki asked.

"It's just as I said before" Byakuya said. "There is a traitor among us."

"There’s no doubt about it," Akira said. "If what Monokuma says is true... And the surveillance cameras cannot pick up sound... then that only means that someone is reporting back to the mastermind about our discussions and plans."

"But why would any of us do that?" Ibuki asked.

"Think about it," Ayato said. "Our original thought that the mastermind is one of us wouldn’t make sense. How would Monokuma be controlled of all of us are present? I think the mastermind is working behind the scenes, and someone is reporting back to them about our plans.”

"Who could it be?" Ibuki asked.

"It's time to go back to square one," Byakuya said as he pulled out a piece of paper with everyone's names on them. The one that they made before Sayaka and Leon's trial. "Removing all of those that are dead... we have left: Toko Fukawa, and Sakura Ogami."

"But wasn't that just a list on who we thought would give in to the motives? Honestly, what makes you think those two are the ones giving information to the mastermind?"

"Ibuki does have a point," Akira said. "We should update that list."

"Alright... who should we add to the list?" Byakuya asked. "We haven't seen anyone acting suspicious lately."

"Maybe Oma or Komaeda?" Ayato suggested. "I dunno, something doesn't sit right with me about those guys."

"Alright... we'll take it," Byakuya said as he wrote down Kokichi Oma and Nagito Komaeda on the list. "Who else?"

"Yamada does seem too much of a pussy to work with the person responsible for all of this, but he does seem gullible enough to do it,” Akira added. “And what about Celeste? She seems a bit too eager about adapting here.”

"I... Don't think Celeste would do that," Ayato mumbled as a blush crept upon his face.

"She may not even be the traitor, but it's better safe than sorry," Ibuki reassured him.

“Okay… well since we are accusing based on those grounds, what about Naegi, and that other guy, Hinata, was it?”

“What grounds are you talking about?” Akira asked.

“The grounds of… Firstly, Hinata doesn’t even remember his talent. So why is he here? And Naegi as well because… Why do we have two Ultimate Lucky Students’ here?”

"I see where you’re going with this, Ayato. And you’re not wrong. Alright so the list is updated," Byakuya said. "We will leave it at Fukawa, Ogami, Komaeda, Naegi, Hinata, Yamada, Oma, and Celeste for now until we find more evidence.”

"Hopefully the third floor gives us some information we might need," Ibuki said. "Not to mention, Fujisaki helped us with a little something so we need to check it out!"

"You're right! I almost forgot about that!" Ayato smiled.

Everything was going well for Akira, Ibuki, Ayato, and Byakuya. They can already taste freedom. As for the others, they all started to lose hope. They all have come to terms that escaping the hellhole they are in is impossible. Especially Hina. She was the most optimistic out of all the students there— and here she was, sniffling snd clinging to her pillow.

"I know I shouldn't cry... But... I've had enough. I can't take it anymore." She cried. "Getting out of here anytime soon It's impossible. I can't let myself think about...how much I want to get out of here. If I keep thinking like that, I might decide to..."

Hina let out a sigh as she got up from her bed and made her way into the bathroom. When she looked in the mirror, she tried to smile. She thought that maybe, if she seen herself smiling, she could convince herself that it was real. She couldn’t keep thinking the way she did. She might end up killing someone.

"Pull yourself together, Hina! Just treat yourself to a midnight snack... like a donut."

She threw on her jacket, left her room and made her way towards the dining hall. She felt a chill down her spine. Something felt different. She’d ask Sakura to join her in the Dining Hall— but she didn’t want to bother her while they were all recovering from another class trial. She thought about asking Ayato to accompany her, but it appears he and Akira already finished patrolling. The hallways was dark and empty.

She hesitantly made her way to the entry of the Dining Hall when she saw a green light coming from the bathhouse. Curiosiyu got the best of her, so she decided to take a look.

There… Inside of an open locker… Was the face of Chihiro Fujisaki.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

The next morning, everyone gathered in the Dining Hall for breakfast, only this time, no one bothered saying good morning to each other. The other students, Hajime, Kokichi, Kaede, Nekomaru, and Nagito resided on the other side of the building, so they would enter any second now. Byakuya, Hina, and Toko haven’t made it yet, either.

"Today's count kinda sucks, huh?" Yasuhiro sighed. "Fukawa and Togami still refuse to show up."

"I'm sure Byakuya will be here any minute," Akira said. "He tends to... prefer to be alone. All we can do is respect his wishes."

“And with Fukawa’s new hobby, she’d go anywhere Byakuya would go,” Ayato smirked.

"And I haven't seen Ms. Asahina anywhere," Hifumi said.

Akira couldn’t help but become worried. It was just yesterday that she revealed her true talent to Hina, and now she isn’t coming? Did she feel uncomfortable or unsafe knowing her friend was really an assassin?

“She said her stomach was hurting,” Sakura said. “So, she’s taking it easy in her room for today.”

"That is rather unusual for her," Celeste said. "Normally she is so full of energy."

"Which is exactly what makes me worry..."

"So it's just the ten of us, then?" Kyoko asked.

"It looks that way..." Makoto mumbled.

"Ibuki is pretty sure those new students will be here any second, their dorms are on the other side of the building, so it will take a bit," Ibuki said, cheerful as ever. Almost on cue, the new kids started walking in.

"Hello!" Kokichi exclaimed, dragging out the o in his greeting. “Hope you all didn’t miss me too much!”

"Don't worry, we didn't," Ayato said as he rolled his eyes and turned back to the group. "So... what do we do now?"

"It's times like this where the committee chairman needs to get things going with a BANG!" Yasuhiro announced, pointing at Taka. Usually Taka would lead the way for everyone and they all would follow. But this time... he just stood there… completely numb... staring off into space. "Or not?"

Taka hasn't said a word since yesterday... You can tell by his eyebags, and how pale he’s gotten, that he hasn’t slept at all last night.

"So, I mean...what's gonna happen now?" Hifumi asked. "We haven't found any way out, and we have no idea if help's ever gonna come. Ugh! Now I'm all depressed just thinking about it..."

"We simply have to make the best of things--do our best to get along and live here together in peace," Celeste said. "Forget about the outside world, and accept this new life. That is the only hope we have now."

"What...? To live here forever...?" Makoto asked.

"Here we have every convenience. We have food, clothes, our every need is seen to," Celeste said. "Why are you dissatisfied? In fact, let me ask you this? What is it about the outside world that you long for? Competition, discrimination, victimization and violence... As society grows, so does its perversion. In which case, is our current situation not—"

"Demon Angel☆Pretty Pudgy Princess..." Hifumi said. Everyone turned their attention towards him, confused.

“What was that?”

"What are you going on about, Yamada?" Ayato groaned.

"Meggy, the drill shop owner, the bunny-eared Amazon, Catgirl, Dogboy, Robo Justice and the Galactic King... And...! And--!" Hifumi said. "What I mean is, there's no 2D here!"

“Okay, well, anyway... Since Taka's like… catatonic... As the oldest one here, I'm officially stepping up to take the lead!" Yasuhiro said. Everyone completely forgot that he was the oldest in the group. He has been held back a couple of times, so that would make him at least twenty-one now. "So! We're all gonna work together and spend the rest of the day searching the school!"

"Searching?” Makoto asked. “What for?”

"Well, I mean...since the class trial is over and all,” Yasuhiro said, his voice trailed off.

"He means that there should be new places to investigate,” Ayato said. "I say we should start by checking out the third floor."

"Yeah, that's the ticket!" Yasuhiro cheered. "Maybe we'll find some kind of clue this time!"

"Then once we're done eating, let's split up and begin looking around," Sakura said. "Do you have any problem with that, Celeste?"

"Hmm... There may well be a discovery waiting for us which may further enrich our life here," Celeste smiled.

"Er, no...the point is to look for clues." Hifumi said. Everyone mumbled in agreement and continued eating their breakfast. The silence in the dining hall was peaceful. It wasn't long until she came to disturb it.

"You called for me, and so I appear!" Syo cheered. "Genocider—!"

"Ahh! Nobody called for you!" Hifumi shrieked.

"What the...?" Yasuhiro mumbled. "How come it's Syo, and not Fukawa?"

"God, this place is just amazing! Finally a place I can just be my murderous self!" Syo smiled. "Which is why I've decided to stop holding back and spread my wings! No more hiding in a cave for me! Besides, I have another battle to fight! The whole 'killer with a split personality' thing is sooo overdone. I gotta destroy that stereotype! I'll fight all day and night to murder those totally slanderous cliches!"

"But... Aren’t you a killer with a spit personality?” Ayato asked.

"Gh--! If she weren't here, my chances of survival would go up at least ten percent!" Hifumi growled. And he did have a point. The infamous serial killer that the police are looking for ended up being trapped with them this whole time. If they want to survive, they have to be careful of Syo.

"C'mon, you gotta back me up here! Even the biggest stars need the little people to hold them up!" Syo cackled.

Everyone was forced to eat breakfast with a murderer... Is that how the rest of their time here will be?

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

As soon as everyone finished their breakfast, they all proceeded to make their way to the third floor stairwell. And as everyone predicted, the security gate was up.

Everyone searched around and found an art room, a repository, even more classrooms classrooms, a game room, and a physics lab. And as expected, there was no sign of an out anywhere, no sign of help on the way, and most definitely, no clues as to who their captor may be.

Akira, Ayato, and Ibuki stuck together while Byakuya was off doing... Whatever it is that Byakuya does. The three have high doubts that Byakuya was serious about killing someone, especially Makoto. They will not allow it. They can’t.

They decided to investigate the physics lab. On the way there, they ran into Makoto leaving the art room. He looked heavily concerned.

"Hey, Naegi!” Ibuki called out. “What's up?"

"Hey," Makoto smiled. He was debating whether or not he should tell everyone what he had just discovered. But he trusts them. They probably could help him understand. "I uh... I found something weird in the repository."

"What was it?" Akira asked.

"It was a photo… Kuwata, Fujisaki, and Owada were in it. They were smiling, and so close to each other. It was very weird.”

"Do you have the photo with you?"

"No... Monokuma took it.”

"Strange... so Naegi saw the same thing Akira did," Ayato said to Ibuki. The other girl nodded.

"Wait, what did Akira see?"

“I’m not completely sure yet. I think it’s something similar though,” Akira said. “Is this something we should keep between us? Or should we tell the others.”

“It’s probably no big deal,” Ayato reassured. “It might have been something Monokuma photoshopped to confuse us.”

“And what about Togami? Shouldn’t he know?” Makoto asked. “We haven’t seen him all morning, I’m starting to get worried.

"Me too... It's not like him to just... Not show up," Ibuki said.

"I assure you guys he is fine," Akira said. "He is most likely still in his room or in the library."

"I hope that's the case," Ayato said. "Anyways, we should continue investigating. Naegi, wanna come with us?"

"Sure," Makoto smiled and followed them to the Physics Lab. Taka was already in there, he was standing next to some giant machine.

"Hey Taka!" Ibuki smiled as she walked up to the boy. He didn't respond, he just stood there... staring at the machine.

"This place seems to be like some research institute," Makoto said.

"Probably," Akira said. "I've seen a couple of these before, but they were quite bigger. Though, I never really got the chance to go inside."

"You mentioned before that you and Ayato would gather information for the Togami Corporation, Right? I figured that it would also involve something like this."

"It does, but Ayato is usually the one who goes in and I keep watch. I guess you could say that is one of the perks of having spy twins going on missions together."

"I guess that makes sense… But what about... if someone needs to create a diversion to distract someone? Who is in charge of that?"

"I can tell you read too many comics!" Ayato laughed. "Don't worry buddy, I am on the same boat as you! Usually we just head right in and... do what we gotta do. Almost ninety-nine percent of the time, there is no distraction needed."

"I guess that makes sense.”

“Guys! Guess what!” Ibuki called out, running towards the three. “Ibuki just finished talking to Ishimaru… Well, it was more of a one-sided conversation since I did most of the talking.“

"So him just standing there told you something?" Ayato asked. "How were you able to figure out what he was thinking?"

"Well... Ibuki asked him if he knew what the machine was and by his silence... I think he doesn't know what it is either. But his intense staring probably means he is interested in what it is. Isn't that right, Taka?"

They looked at Taka... he was still silent.

"Ibuki thought so," Ibuki said with her hands on her hips, humming in victory. "Your mind has such a way with words."

"Okay then," Akira laughed. "Does anyone have any idea what this is?"

As soon as Akira asked, Monokuma appeared.

"Watch out!" The bear yelled.

"What?" Makoto asked.

"What? you wanna do some quantum leaping?" Monokuma asked.

"What do you mean?" Ayato asked.

"That's a time machine! Pretty awesome, right?" Monokuma asked while smiling at the machine. "It was designed by a student right here at Hope's Peak! The Ultimate Physicist... However, they don't go here anymore. They died during The Tragedy!"

A tragedy? What does that mean? Of course an idiot would know what a tragedy is, but what was The Tragedy the student died in? Surely it would be all over the news.

"A time machine...?" Taka asked. His voice cracked. "Seriously? So...it can go back in time...? Okay, then...let me get in there! If I can go back to the past, then I can— This time I'll stop Mondo for sure!"

"Oh, sorry, not possible," Monokuma shook his head. "This particular time machine can only go back one minute. It comes in handy when you, like...leave your pizza bagels in the microwave one minute too long."

"One minute?”

They all looked watched Taka as he looked back at the ‘time machine’. Tears filled his eyes once again.

"Hmm... You sound disappointed. But actually, I was lying about the whole thing anyway. There's no such thing as time machines!"

"What?" Taka asked, voice cracking once again.

"Honestly, it's just an air purifier. It can produce clean air no matter where you're at. With that thing, you could even live on Mars! But with the discombobulating gravity and deadly low temperatures, you probably don't wanna live on Mars. Anyway, this machine is the reason you guys have all this delicious air. So don't go messing with it! You break it, and it's your butt!"

And with that... Monokuma left, cackling at his cruel idea of a joke.

"So, this thing is just an air purifier, huh?" Ayato asked.

"Someone would have to be really good at mechanics to make an air purifier strong enough to live on mars!" Ibuki said.

"But other than that... What Monokuma said was messed up," Makoto said. "To go out of your way and say something you know will hurt someone who's already suffering..."

They looked back at Taka. He was feeling worse than before. There was nothing they could do about the situation.

"That bear is a dick..." Akira mumbled as they all walked out of the Physics Lab.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

Everyone decided to return to the dining hall and discuss what they found. When they arrived, Hina was sitting at a table eating some donuts. She looked like she was trembling.

"Hina! You’re finally out of your room," Makoto smiled. The girl flinched with a shriek and looked at the others. "Is everything okay?"

"Hina, what's the matter?" Sakura asked.

"Huh? I thought she was sick or something," Yasuhiro said. They all gathered around around Hina and started to ask questions.

"Are you feeling better already?" Sakura asked.

"Y-Yeah... I ate a few donuts, and that really helped a lot," Hina smiled as she scratched the back of her neck.

“You sure do love those donuts,” Ayato laughed.

"But...wasn't it your stomach that was hurting?" Celeste asked.

"Well, my stomach ache kinda made me hungry, so...you know..." Hina said as she nervously laughed. "Erm, I guess my memory's kinda fuzzy lately."

"They say that a goldfish will eat however much food you give it, even if it's about to burst," Hifumi said. "Ms. Asahina's pretty much the same, it looks like."

"Hey! You don't have any room to talk!" Hina yelled.

“Anyway, that’s besides the point,” Ayato said as he glared at Hifumi. He then turned to Hina. “Are you okay now? We were worried about you.”

“I’m sorry… But yes, I’m fine.”

She’s lying, Ayato thought to himself. But if she’s insisting on it, he won’t press her further.

"Besides that, you--!" Syo tried to say, but she stopped and stared at Hina's body.

"What?" Hina asked.

"Jeez, your knockers are huge!" Syo cackled. "What the heck, did you convince them to double up on milk production!?"

"Great... another pervert," Akira mumbled.

"Stay away from her, you fiend," Sakura said.

"A-Anyway... I think that now’s the time we talk about our investigation. Right, Taka?” Yasuhiro asked. Everyone turned towards the grieving model student. He still hasn’t said a word. “Right.”

"Um, I wasn't able to help much with the investigation, but...I did make one discovery..." Hina said.

"It's not a donut-related discovery, right?" Yasuhiro asked. It was supposed to be a light hearted joke.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Hina asked. "Never mind... It's about the nurse's office! Remember? There's one on the 1st floor, right?"

"I remember Ayato found it on the first day here," Akira said. "We tried opening it but it was one of the... many doors that were locked."

"Well, not anymore.”

"Did you find any protein in there?" Sakura asked. "Or even vitamin supplements would be fine."

"I did look, but no dice... Just a bunch of headache medicine and over-the-counter stuff."

I see… That’s disappointing.”

“It is disappointing! It’s like the end of the world is already here.”

Akira didn’t see it as the ‘end of the world.’ Though, it might be for Sakura and Hina because they love protein coffee and all those other powders they put in their drinks when they work out. Maybe there are some…. but just not where they are looking. Monokuma said they have everything they need to live their natural lives in this school, surely there has to be some protein powder and vitamins somewhere.

"There was a rather remarkable physics lab on the 3rd floor," Kyoko said. "In the middle of the room, there was a machine bigger than anything I've ever seen before."

"Oh yeah, apparently it's an air purifier," Makoto said.

"Huh? What's something like that doing there?" Yasuhiro asked

“It only makes sense to have one somewhere,” Ayato said. “We can’t open any windows here, so we need to get fresh air somehow.”

"Is the device really that big?" Sakura asked.

"I...really don't get it," Hina said.

"Ibuki doesn't get it either!" Ibuki smiled. "But Monokuma said it is strong enough for us to live on mars! Isn't that so cool?"

"I almost forgot! I saw Togami a little while ago," Yasuhiro said. The twins and Syo snapped their heads to him.

"What!?" Syo asked. "Where!? WHERE WAS HE!?!?"

"Y-You're kinda scarin' me..." Yasuhiro said.

"Where. Was. HE!?"

"He was in the locker room... He had a huge stack of books he musta got from the library."

"So THAT'S where he was hiding!" Syo exclaimed as she ran out of the Dining Hall. "I won't let him get away from me! Kyehehe..."

"She just...ran off!" Yasuhiro said.

"Is...is she okay?" Makoto asked.

"We should not concern ourselves with her," Celeste said. "Anyway... back to our conversation, shall we? What else did everyone find?"

“You guys continue without me,” Akira said as she stood up. “I’m gonna make sure she doesn’t do anything to Byakuya.”

“Stay safe, Akira,” Makoto smiled. Akira smiled back before running out of the Dining Hall, following Syo to the second floor.

"I searched the entire third floor, but...all the windows in the halls and the rooms were blocked off," Sakura said.  “Though, I guess that was to be expected.”

"I wish they'd give this a rest already, for serious!" Yasuhiro whined. "Gimme back my bright blue skies!"

"Just forget about it," Celeste glared.

"You make it sound like I dropped a nickel or something!" Yasuhiro mumbled. “This is our lives I’m talking about. The things we are being forced to leave behind! Hey, Ogre, Did you guys try to remove those plates again?”

“I did… just to be sure. I went from one end to the other,” Sakura said.

“None of them budged,” Nekomaru added. “It would seem that escaping via the third floor is as impossible as we feared.”

Everyone grumbled. It wasn’t what they were hoping to hear. But if they didn’t have any leads from the two previous floors, why did they think they’d get anything now?

"There was an art room on the third floor, and it had all kinds of gear." Hifumi smiled, hoping it would get some smiles out of the group. Or maybe he was hoping there was someone who he could finally bond with through art. Either way, it was a room he was looking forward to using. "Now I'll be able to recreate all my favorite anime characters!"

"Oh yeah! Speaking of anime, that reminds me... I found something while I was looking around!" Makoto said as he reached in his pocket and pulled out a digital camera with an anime character on it.

"A digital camera?" Sakura asked. It did seem out of the ordinary to have such a cutesy object inside of an ominous building like this.

"That's what it seems like," Makoto shrugged.

"Does it still work?" Yasuhiro asked.

"Yeah, it seems fine," Makoto said.

"Let me see it really quick..." Yasuhiro said. Makoto handed him the camera. "What the heck? This thing is like a kid's toy! It looks like it can store like five pictures, maybe? It doesn't have a timer or anything."

"On top of that, its appearance seems...questionable," Celeste said. "Is this some kind of anime character? Strange."

"Rude! She's not strange!" Hifumi yelled, snatching the camera from Yasuhiro. "She's Princess Piggles, from 'Demon Angel☆Pretty Pudgy Princess'!"

"Well of course, Yamada would recognize what it is," Ayato laughed.

"Of course I recognize it!" Hifumi said. "It's a super rare prize that was given away at a bingo contest at a big anime convention... You have any idea how much I had to pay that guy to get my hands on it!? Wait... This is my camera!"

"Really?" Makoto asked.

"Wh-Where did you find it!?"

"I found it in the Physics Lab," Makoto said. "I picked it up before I left."

"It's my most prized possession! I brought it here with me, but I lost it the first day, along with my phone."

"Why would it have reappeared in the physics lab...?" Celeste asked.

"I'm not sure," Hifumi said as he took the camera and examined it. "Agh, but look at it! It got all messed up!  Like when someone steals a sticker from your collection, or you buy a secondhand shirt... Well, that's it... It's not mint condition. I don't need it anymore..."

"But weren't you just saying how much it meant to you?" Makoto asked. Hifumi shrugged his shoulders.

"Well then, may I have it?" Celeste asked. "I believe I may find some good use for it."

"I mean... sure I guess," Hifumi said as he handed Celeste the camera.

"Okay, so we found rooms to occupy ourselves... but where does that get us?" Ayato asked. "There’s still nothing that’ll help us escape!"

"There is one piece of good news," Celeste said. "Even though it won’t help us escape, there just so happens to be a rec room up on the third floor! I have no doubt that our student life here will be even more enjoyable because of it. Will someone join me in a game of Othello sometime?"

“Oh! I’d like to!” Ayato smiled.

“Eh, why not?” Kokichi shrugged.

"You know, now that I think about it, it’s kind of strange that the mastermind is giving us all these things to occupy our time here," Ayato said. "You would think that they would have us stuck on the first floor with no other clues on who they are. I believe Monokuma was serious when he said he wants us to find out who he really is."

"Huh? What do you mean by that?" Yasuhiro asked.

“When we got here, Akira and I ran into Monokuma in the hallway. I guess you could say I was threatening him, saying I will find out who he is and stuff like that. He’s also been saying really weird things to Akira, spoon feeding us cryptic information and shit.”

“That’s very… strange,” Kyoko said.

"Yeah, nothing he said made any sense..." Ibuki said. "Speaking of things not making any sense... Naegi, didn't you say you found something in the repository?"

"Oh, yeah, right I did," Makoto said.

"What is it?" Kyoko asked.

"I found this weird picture. Apparently Monokuma took it," Makoto said.

"A weird picture?" Hina asked. "You mean, like... dirty?"

"No, not that kind of weird. It was a picture of Kuwata, Owada, and Fujisaki all together."

"Those three?" Kyoko asked.

"Yes... and they were... smiling," Makoto said.

"They were together… smiling?" Hifumi asked. "When could it have been taken?"

"But there's more... In the picture, there weren't any metal sheets covering the windows," Makoto said.

"Then... the photo wasn't taken here?" Sakura asked.

"But I don't recall hearing anything about them knowing each other before coming to this school," Celeste said.

"You probably just imagined it!" Hifumi said. "Monokuma cast a spell on you!"

"No! I saw it, I'm telling the truth," Makoto said.

“Ayato, did you or Mioda see this photo that Naegi is talking about?” Hajime asked.

"Nope, in fact, we haven't even set foot in the repository," Ibuki said. "Unless anyone else seen anything strange and we just so happened to over look it, then we got nothing."

"I bet they're all still alive!" Yasuhiro said. "They left the school and then took that picture!"

"That's impossible," Kyoko said. "After all...we saw it with our own eyes. They're all dead. Either murdered or executed…”

She was right. There was no way that photo could have been taken in this school, right? The only possible way those three could have taken that picture was if they did before they arrived. It would be some sort of miracle if they survived their deaths.

"Monokuma most likely forged it," Celeste asserted. "I can't imagine any other possibility."

"I agree with the gothic bitch," Kokichi said. "Besides, the only people that actually knew each other before we got here would have to be the spy twins, music freak, and that rich douchebag."

"I'm going to ignore that nickname," Celeste said as she glared at Kokichi.

"Ibuki takes that as a compliment!" Ibuki said as she gave Kokichi a thumbs up for calling her a music freak.

"Stay focused, man!" Yasuhiro said. "Don't let Monokuma's bull crap sidetrack you!"

"He's right," Celeste agreed.

"Does anybody else have anything they would like to bring to the table?" Ayato asked. "We all discussed what we saw on the third floor, so what else do we get out of that?"

Everyone shook their heads, and almost on cue, Monokuma’s voice came on the speakers.

"Hop to, half-asses! Toddle your haggard little selves over to the gymnasium on zee double!" Monokuma laughed. "And try not to get lost on the way. Explanation is forthcomin'."

Everyone looked at each other, and hesitantly got up from their seats and walked inside the gymnasium. When they got there, they were already greeted by Byakuya, Toko, and Akira.

"You guys are already here?" Makoto asked. Usually Toko is one of the last ones to show up while the twins and Ibuki would have to drag Byakuya with them. "That didn't take long..."

"So... What came of the homicidal maniac?" Celeste asked. She was right, 'Syo' wasn't here. Toko was back to her usual timid self.

"Ugh... Why's the peanut gallery gawking at me?" Toko asked as she looked away from the group.

"A simple sneeze reverts her back to her 'cheerful' self," Byakuya said. It was really that simple? So if she were to sneeze, or someone were to make her sneeze, then she would be able to switch between her different personalities on her own?

"Seriously?" Hifumi asked. "That's a bit clichéd."

"Like you have any room to talk!" Toko yelled back.

“In my opinion, if this were a movie, this would be poor representation of Fukawa’s disorder,” Akira sighed.

"Hail, hail! The gang's all here!" A voice yelled from the stage. It was Monokuma.

"What sadistic scheme have you cooked up now?" Byakuya asked.

"That's the Million Dollar Question!" Monokuma laughed as he threw a bunch of money on a table in front of him. "Well, ten million actually!"

"Don't tell me," Akira mumbled in disgust. Was this another motive?

"Yes, kiddies! This mountain of moolah can be yours! Only if you graduate!" Monokuma cheered. "Pretty sweet, right? Eh? Eh?"

"That's a whole lotta cash..." Toko mumbled. Everyone else stared at the money. No one thought about murder... well maybe... but they just stood and drooled with the amount of money that was there. Ten Mil just sitting in their faces.

"Is life so cheap you would label it with a price tag?" Sakura growled.

"I know what you're trying to do!" Makoto yelled. "We're not gonna massacre each other for money, period!"

"Sure. Whatever you say, Saint Francis," Monokuma laughed. "I'll just leave you fine, upstanding coeds to scratch out a living as professional students!"

And with that, Monokuma was gone. Everyone looked around the room and at each other to clarify if anything they heard was real.

"Money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money," Yasuhiro chanted.

"Fine! I'll be the one to say it!" Toko said. "You all know somebody here's hurting for cash!"

“I mean, maybe. But is someone here really willing to kill somebody else over a little bit of cash?” Ayato asked.

“Ayato, we know you’re rich, but ten million is quite a lot for the rest of us,” Kaede smiled politely.

“Oh! That’s not what I meant!” Ayato panicked. He began to blush from the embarrassment. “I mean… You know, life is precious and all— No amount of money can compare to it.”

“Ayato, you’re trying to hard,” Ibuki sighed, placing an arm on his shoulder. “We know. I guess what he’s trying to say is that this motive is very useless. Money goes by fast. It’s not worth it.”

"Falling for this motive is far from hopeful," Nagito said. "If someone did, I'd be disappointed."

“Oh my God, Komaeda,” Akira groaned. “Will you just-"

"I never thought I’d say this… But I gotta agree with him on that one," Ayato interrupted.

"Huh? That fucker has been ranting about Hope since he got here!" Kokichi said. "What made you start to listen to him now?"

"Well... Just think about it," Ayato said. "Maizono wanted to kill Kuwata so she could see what happened to her band, but he killed her in self-defense. Instead of killing someone to keep his secret a secret, Fujisaki decided to get stronger, and defend himself against Monokuma. Mondo, out of blind jealousy, ended up killing him. If those things are what got our friends killed or executed, then I can't deny the possibility of someone betraying us for cash."

"This is totally not the shit! And speaking of shit, I need to take a shit!" Nekomaru yelled.

"Akira, you four made a list of someone who would most likely betray us," Makoto said. "If by chance... has that list been updated?"

"Yes, but the new suspects are strictly confidential," Akira said. "I don't regret showing everyone who was suspected, but since we were not careful enough, we lost five classmates."

"That's understandable," Hajime said. "But do you honestly believe someone would murder another person for cash?"

"It is a possibility that can't be ignored," Kyoko said.

"Quiet your minds," Sakura said. "If we give credence to money, our situation will only worsen."

"Oh, you think?!" Toko yelled sarcastically.

"So the lure of escape wasn't enough," Celeste said. "The mastermind will pull whatever strings he can to pit us against each other. Adapting to life as fellow prisoners is our only means of survival."

Ayato and Sakura turned towards Hina, her condition only seemed to worsen since when they first found her in the Dining Hall. Her hands were shaking, and she looked pale.

"Asahina... What is the matter?" Sakura whispered.

"If I told you... you wouldn't believe me," Hina mumbled. Akira couldn’t help but eavesdrop. She was worried that she made Hina uncomfortable yesterday. Could that be the reason for her weird? Or was it something else? “Don’t think I’m crazy… Buy I think I might have seen the ghost of Fujisaki.”

“The ghost of… what?” Ayato asked. “When was this? Where was this?”

“Last night, In the bathhouse,” Hina said. Akira furrowed her eyebrows in confusion… Then it hit her. She was talking about the computer Chihiro hid before he died. It seems like everyone else forgot about it. “Follow me.”

Ayato grabbed everyone’s attention, and they all followed Hina into the bathhouse. While they walked in, Ayato explained what Hina told him.

"Thanks for giving me the heebie-jeebies," Yasuhiro mumbled.

"Ia! Ia! Cthulhu Fhtagn!" Hifumi chanted.

"Shut up!" Yasuhiro yelled. "What if he actually shows up!?"

Makoto, Kyoko and Akira found a locker that was still open, but only slightly.

"Huh?" Makoto mumbled as he opened the locker. There... was the computer that Chihiro took from the Library. "Didn't this belong to...?"

"Yup, no doubt about it," Akira said as she looked around the room. "Just like he said in the letter."

"What do you mean?" Makoto asked.

"Haven't you noticed?" Kyoko asked. "The layout of this room. There's a very important difference here."

Makoto looked at the two girls in confusion. He looked around the room and noticed there are no cameras in the locker room. Just like Chihiro said.

"There are no surveillance cameras... at all," Makoto said.

"Right, that means Monokuma can't see or hear us." Akira said. "This must mean that this is the Mastermind's blind spot."

All of a sudden, the computer turned on.

"Hi, there! Good to see you, master." The face on the computer said. It looked and sounded like Chihiro.

"A ghost in the computer!" Hifumi and Yasuhiro yelled in unison. They then started putting their hands together and started praying. "I TAP TWO BLACK MANA-"

"Calm down you two," Sakura interrupted. "It's just a computer."

"Not just any computer, Ogami," Akira said. "I'm not sure if you all forgot, but the note I found in Fujisaki's room states that he was the one who moved the computer, got it to work, and created this Artificial Intelligence. Everyone, I would like to introduce you to... Alter Ego."

"Wait... Master, where did you go?" Alter Ego asked.

"What does he mean by 'Master'?" Makoto asked.

"I'm not sure..." Akira said. "Fujisaki didn't mention anything about Alter Ego calling him 'Master'."

Kyoko then placed the computer on her lap and started typing.

'What exactly are you?'

"Well, hello-hello!" Alter Ego smiled. "Welcome! I'm Alter Ego! A specially designed Artificial Intelligence program!"

"So creepy..." Hina squirmed. "The voice sounds exactly like him."

"It is slightly unnerving," Sakura agreed.

"It's not uncommon for hackers to make vanity avatars," Kyoko said. "Remember, Fujisaki was something of a programming prodigy before being ensnared by this place."

"It's still unclear what Fujisaki meant by 'Alter Ego will help us'," Ayato said. "Try asking it what it's doing and how it can help."

Kyoko nodded and continued typing.

'What are you doing here?'

"Analyzing all files on this hard drive. Give me just a second, please," Alter Ego said. The AI began to close his eyes, and a few second later, he opened his eyes again. "Woah, the encryption is insane! I dunno, something tells me the files protected must belong to Hope's Peak."

"Not gonna lie.. that's kinda badass," Ayato smiled. "Don't you think, Byakuya?"

"It is rather impressive," Byakuya said as he fixed his glasses.

"Anything to give us an advantage over Monokuma," Kyoko said.

"It's about time we had a little luck!" Makoto smiled.

"You may well have found our escape," Sakura said. Hina smiled. Her 'paranormal encounter' actually turns out to be a chance of escape.

“Nice work, Hina!” Ayato smiled as he pulled his friend into a hug.

"Um... So guys, I haven't seen Master for a while," Alter Ego said. "Do you know where he is?"

Everyone looked at each other and frowned as they looked back at the computer. Kyoko then typed once more.

'He was killed by Owada.'

"I understand..." Alter Ego mumbled. "I was prepared-"

As Alter Ego continued talking, everyone listened.

"Poor little thing..." Hifumi mumbled. “It's like some kinda digital ronin now."

"It was only a matter of time..." Alter Ego said. Taka walked towards the computer... tears in his eyes. Everyone looked at him. He then broke down into tears and uncontrollable sobs when he looked at the face of Chihiro Fujisaki up close.

"You're still with us..." Taka smiled weakly as tears streamed down his face. "You never really died."

"Ishimaru, hi," Alter Ego smiled. Taka continued to sob. Now, he was feeling so many mixed emotions. He tried to let out what he could. Everything he was holding in overnight… He just let it out.

"It's okay... if you hate me. I understand," Taka cried. "I couldn't stop him from doing what he did. I was a coward!"

The twins and Kyoko looked at each other. Kyoko nodded to the twins, and Akira walked next to Taka and began typing on the computer as Ayato stood next to Taka, rubbing his back.

‘Do you hate Ishimaru?'

Alter Ego frowned at the question.

"Uh oh... you feel responsible for what happened, don’t you?" Alter Ego asked. He then disappeared from the screen. And less than a second later a new face came on the screen. A familiar face. An AI version of Mondo Owada.

"No way," Akira mumbled under her breath.

"Lighten up," AI Mondo began. "Dude, you can't carry the weight of the world on your back for something I did."

"Mondo?!" Taka stared at the computer in disbelief. It was really Mondo.

"I made my own decisions. Mullin' over a buncha what-ifs ain't gonna do any good," AI Mondo said. "This wasn't your fault. I'm my own man just like you. The thing is... You wanna feel angry, fine. Just don't marinate in it; use it for something that's worth it. Might manage to wake yourself up from this nightmare. Gotta be ready. Think about it, bro. Seriously."

The AI Mondo Owada disappeared, and Alter Ego came back with a smile.

"That was actually pretty good, huh?" Alter Ego asked. "Owada's speech patterns were tricky to simulate, but I'm confident that's what he would've wanted to say."

"I am touched truly and deeply..." Taka said. "Those words were like his- I can feel his soul... It's moving through me."

He then started yelling. He wasn't yelling anything in particular... just yelling. Suddenly, his hair turned white... smoke started to appear all around him. He wasn't Taka anymore.

"Ishimaru, are you... Okay?" Makoto asked.

"No doubt, bro," The boy said. "But who's Ishimaru?! I'm... Ishida!"

Without any regards to the other’s concern and curiosity, this Ishida character, who just so happened to be in Taka's body, ran out of the bathhouse.

"Ishida, huh?" Ayato smiled nervously. "The name kinda sounds catchy... But right off the bat? Where did he get it from?"

"Well... It's Ishimaru... And he kinda has Owada's personality now," Ibuki said. "I guess you can infer that he put their names together."

"Kiyondo Ishida..." Ayato smiled. "Now that sounds really catchy! I like it!"

"Well... At least it got him over the hump, right?" Makoto asked.

As everyone continued talking about the event that happened just five seconds ago, Akira and Kyoko walked back towards the computer. Kyoko asked Alter Ego to continue searching those files.

"Sure thing," Alter Ego nodded. "Oh, there is something else... Right after I began my analysis of these files, I found something you'll want to see."

After Alter Ego said that, an image came up on screen. It was a picture of Mondo, Chihiro, and Leon.

"Naegi... come here," Akira said. Makoto walked towards Kyoko and Akira, his eyes widened. "Is this the picture you were talking about earlier?"

"Yes..." Makoto mumbled.

"If I remember correctly, neither of them said that they knew each other," Sakura said. "So why would that photo exist?"

"It's like I said before, Monokuma could have forged it to screw with us," Celeste said. "That is the only possibility."

"Possibly," Ayato said. "How about we all leave and let Alter Ego continue analyzing the files... everyone staying in here will just draw further suspicion."

Everyone nodded and walked out of the locker room. They all sighed in relief. This could be their chance to escape.

"I feel so accomplished!" Hina cheered. "I finally did something helpful!"

Everyone else smiled at Hina. She always felt like her lack of collaboration was holding the team back, so they decided to let her celebrate her discovery of Alter Ego. But that celebration came to a quick end when Monokuma showed up.

"Dun da-da duuun! Hina has gained enough experience to level up!" Monokuma cheered. "So...what was this awesome something?"

"What's it to ya?" Ayato asked.

"You guys all seem in remarkably good spirits," Monokuma said. "Did something happen!?"

"N-No, nothing in particular...!" Makoto panicked.

"Ooh, keeping secrets? No fair!" Monokuma whined. "I demand an exclusive interview!"

"Denied, denied, super denied!" Hifumi yelled.

"Y-Yeah, just because you demand something, doesn't mean we have to do it!" Hina said.

"Do it?" Monokuma asked. "Do you mean do it, do it?"

"Wait, what?" Hina asked. "What do you mean, do it, do it?"

"Eww, gross! You said 'do it'!"

"What!? You said it first!"

"We were just talking about going to the bathhouse," Celeste said. Everyone looked at her, confused. Kokichi, Akira, and Ayato were the first ones to realize what she was doing, and immediately caught on. "We have not had the chance to relax in a while."

"Huh?" Monokuma asked.

"Yeah!" Kokichi added. "The bathhouse isn't split between men and women."

"We decided to do rock-paper-scissors to decide which group would go first," Akira smiled. "Hina won the match for us, and that's why we are so happy!"

"Y-yeah... That's right!" Hina smiled. "Okay, boys! Why don't you head on back to the dining hall or something? We're gonna take a nice, long bath!"

"Ahhh, jeez, what are we gonna do, right?" Yasuhiro asked, pretending to be sad. "We lost, fair and square!"

"Yeah... bummer," Ayato said as he looked down. He forgot Ibuki exposed the fact his ears turned red when he lied, so he did anything he could so Monokuma could see his ears.

"Well, Ladies? Shall we go?" Celeste asked. The girls nodded and walked back into the bathhouse, leaving all of the boys in the hall. It was amazing that Celeste could come up with a lie and keep her poker face. You can't tell when she is lying. She is the Ultimate Gambler after all. She depends on her deception.

"U-Umm..." Hifumi stuttered as he tried to find the right words to say. "Nuts and dammit! We totally lost! Another day without getting to take my very first bath here!"

"Y-Yeah, but...tomorrow for sure!" Yasuhiro said. "You'll definitely get that bath tomorrow!"

"Should we head back to the dining hall now?" Makoto asked.

"Yeah... Let's go," Ayato said. He wanted to get away from Monokuma as soon as possible. But before they could walk away, Monokuma ran and stopped them in their tracks.

"Hold on!" Monokuma yelled. "Something's strange here... VERY strange!"

"Strange?" Makoto asked. "What do you mean?”

"What's strange is... This is the perfect chance for you to sneak a peek!" Monokuma said.

"W-what?!" Makoto asked. His eyes widened. The mastermind is a total pervert.

"What the hell, man!" Ayato yelled. "My sister is in there!"

"I also will not like to take part in this perversion," Byakuya said as he walked away. "I will be returning to my room."

"Come on!" Monokuma said. "You act like you don't want to take a look, but I would know a man's true nature!"

"Th-That's... That is..." Hifumi stuttered. "That's absolutely right!"

The boys snapped their necks and turned towards Hifumi.

"Wow... You really are a pervert," Kokichi said, glaring the boy up and down. "I figured as much."

"I thought you were all about the 2D..." Yasuhiro said.

"All of you need to shut up, sit down, and listen to what I have to say!" Monokuma yelled. "An opportunity like this doesn't come along very often... It's the ideal setting of a man's fantasy!"

"Whatever man! No one's gonna join your perverted ways," Ayato said as he walked away. "I'm going to the dining hall! Oh... and if I find out anyone here peeked at Akira, Ibuki, or any of the girls in there... I will kick all your asses. Starting with Monokuma."

Ayato was then out of sight. Everyone looked at each other and agreed. No one would stoop so low to watch a couple of girls take a bath, right? They all walked into the dining hall and waited for the girls to return.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

Meanwhile, in the bathhouse, the girls were enjoying a nice, relaxing bath.

"This is actually really relaxing," Kaede smiled.

"Yeah, thanks to Celeste," Ibuki smiled. "Ibuki thought we would never get out of there."

"I did want Monokuma to go away, but I also wanted to take a bath," Celeste said. "So I guess it is a win-win situation."

"I know we should take this short time to relax, but we should really be thinking about what to do," Hina said.

"S-she's right," Toko mumbled. "That was a whole lotta cash. Someone would obviously kill someone over it."

"There is no doubt that someone is already thinking about planning another murder, but we all need to be ready for it," Akira said. "So let's all agree on something and we can give the same message to the boys. If anyone is planning on meeting up during night time, don't go, or bring at least two other people with you. Plain and simple."

"Why two?" Hina asked.

"Allow me to give you an example," Akira said as she turned towards Hina. The rest of the girls turned towards the two to listen. "Let's say... I wanted to meet with you, and you alone. That is already suspicious enough... So if I was meeting up with you to kill you... It would be smart to have another witness. But Monokuma created a rule that you can kill a maximum of two people, so if I were to kill you and your witness, I would already be screwed because I either wouldn’t be able to kill your second witness, or I didn’t know there was somebody else in the first place."

"Oh, I see.”

"Akira is so smart!" Ibuki smiled.

"I don’t know about everyone else, but I don't plan on killing anybody to get out of here," Celeste said. "Why doesn't anyone understand? Just agree to live the rest of your lives here and everything will be fine."

"We all have lives outside these walls, Celeste," Sakura said. "We aren't willing to throw that away because of the mastermind."

"Suit yourself," Celeste said as she shrugged her shoulders. The room went quiet and soon enough, they all agreed that it was time to regroup with the boys and discuss their plan. They all agreed with it.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

Monokuma gave his nighttime announcement and everyone left for their rooms. Akira slipped a note under Byakuya, Makoto, Ayato’s door to meet up in Leon’s room. They all showed up once when the coast was clear.

"Why is he here?" Byakuya asked. "I thought we agreed that any information we find is strictly confidential."

"It is, but I need to ask Makoto a few questions about that photo he saw," Akira said.

"You mean the one with Fujisaki, Kuwata, and Owada?" Byakuya asked. "What about it?"

"Celeste said it could have been photoshoppped, but I believe there is something we don't know," Akira said as she pulled out some files that had pictures in them. "As far as we're concerned, we never met until the day we were first introduced into the killing game, right Naegi?"

"Right," Makoto said.

"So there is something that I am wondering..." Akira mumbled as she reached for a specific picture. "If we never met until a few weeks ago... Then why are we in this picture together?"

Akira pulled out a picture with Ayato, Makoto, and herself in a classroom. It looked like a classroom inside of Hope's Peak except the windows weren't covered with Iron plates.

"What the... I don't remember ever taking that!” Makoto said.

"Me either," Ayato said.

"Just as I thought. And that's not the only thing that is strange either. There are some pictures with Ibuki, Komaeda, and Hinata in the same classroom too... Same one here."

"Wait... Seriously?" Ibuki asked.

"The mastermind is clearly just trying to mess with us," Ayato said. "These photos are fake. There’s no real explanation as to how they were taken other than they were photoshopped.”

"That’s not the only thing that has been bothering me..." Akira said as she turned towards Ibuki. "Ibuki... when did you dye your hair? Last time I saw you... your hair was all black. But now you have all these crazy colors.

"I dyed it the night before coming here," Ibuki said. "I called you and told you that already."

"Yes... I remember that phone call..." Akira said as she examined the girl's hair. "It must not have been good hair dye considering I can now see your roots."

"What are you getting at?" Ayato asked.

"Byakuya... Ayato... Does Ibuki look different to you?" Akira asked. The two boys turned to look at Ibuki. They both nodded. It could be because she is older than all of them, and she looks more developed than the last time they saw her. But the three haven't seen Ibuki in months. She has been going to school, so ever since then, she has been busy. Akira, Ayato, and Byakuya haven't been available either.

"She does... but then again, it’s been a while since we last saw her," Byakuya said.

"Akira, what are you trying to say?" Makoto asked.

“Yeah, are you trying to say that the mastermind did something to us while we were unconscious?” Ayato asked.

 “I don’t even know what possible conclusion this could lead to,” Akira said. "I'm going to need to have a talk with him. "

"You're gonna talk to him again?" Ayato asked. "You know he is probably gonna lie to you!"

"I know, that's why I want to gather as much information as possible," Akira said. "We need as much help as we can possibly get. So as of now moving forward, we should involve Naegi and Kirigiri in our mission to find and take down the mastermind.”

"I'm not completely against it... but giving out too much information is one of the things that got Kuwata killed," Byakuya said. "This information he carried for us made him driven to escape, and now he is dead. What do we do if Naegi or Kirigiri get's killed?"

"They won’t. That is why we won't spoon feed them the answers, we will let them find information for themselves and we will talk about it like we always do," Akira said. "That way... no one has to die, and if we can find out what is going on and who the mastermind is... we can tell everyone."

"I can work with that," Ayato said.

"Ibuki agrees!" Ibuki smiled.

"I'm also in," Makoto said.

"I guess I am too," Byakuya said. “But only to keep you idiots from getting killed.”

"Well, that settles it then," Akira said as she looked at the camera. The light was flashing red... The mastermind was watching them. She then turned back to her friends. "We need to set up a plan. The four of us will still guard the halls at night. During the day, we will look around for any more information we can find. Ibuki, you and Byakuya will keep everyone from knowing about what we are doing. Naegi and Ayato will find more information on the Mastermind. I will find information behind these photos. Is everyone clear on their roles?"

Everyone nodded. This was it. They are finally gonna catch the mastermind and end the killing game. Once they were all set and clear on what the next few days to a few weeks will look like, they all decided to leave Leon’s room. Byakuya and Ayato walked Ibuki and Makoto to their rooms, which wasn’t really difficult since Makoto’s dorm was across the hall from Leon’s, and Ibuki was still sleeping in Akira’s room. Byakuya walked back to his room and Ayato walked back to Leon’s.

“Shouldn’t you be heading back to your room?” Akira asked as she was organizing the photos albums and files she had collected throughout the week. “It’s already late, we don’t need to guard the halls tonight.”

“I know, I just wanted to talk to you,” Ayato said as he shut the door.

“What about?”

“You and Naegi, huh? You both seem to be getting super close.”

Akira couldn’t help but blush. Ayato started laughing.

“It’s not like that! He was just… I guess we bonded over losing Kuwata and Maizono. And over time, talking to him just felt so nice. It was a relief talking to someone who didn’t want to talk about the trials, or murder… Someone who isn’t disgusted with who our family is…

“Which is why I want to have faith that he isn’t the mastermind. After everything we’ve been through… I’d want to stay ignorant of it was him. But I can’t put feelings into this… You already saw what happened in Kuwata’s case.”

“Yeah, that makes sense,” Ayato said as he sat next to his sister. “You see Naegi the same way you saw Kuwata. I guess I can say the same for Hina and Hiro. I, too, am having mixed feelings about this. These emotions we are having towards our classmates aren’t bad. At least, I would like to think so. But sometimes I wish… I wish we hadn’t opened up to them. I wish we kept them at arm's length. Mainly because these trials are just physically and emotionally hurting us all. Better safe than sorry, right?”

“Exactly, it’s sad that we have to be suspicious of the ones we consider to be our… friends… But that’s the only way we can get out of here alive. With everyone or without everyone,” Akira said as she stood up. “So what about you? You came in here smirking like Naegi and I had something going on. What about Celeste or Hina?”

“What!?” Ayato exclaimed as he slightly blushed. “No way! I mean— I don’t know! Celeste is great and all, but she’s way too passionate about living here. It’s sort of freaking me out. But when you get to know her, she is really amazing. And Hina is amazing, too! She’s so funny, and kind, and she cares about everyone here, even Yamada! But to be honest, I don’t think I’d pursue either of them.”

“Awe! My baby brother has his first crush!”

“I’m only a couple minutes younger! And besides, aren’t you and Byakuya basically getting married in the future?”

“Marriage? Where did you get that from?” Akira laughed. “We just agreed to join both of our companies together, that’s all.”

“Basically marriage,” Ayato smirked with his head up high. “Isn’t your future husband gonna be jealous that you’re looking at other men?”

“Ew, Ayato! You’re so gross!” Akira laughed. Ayato did too. It felt nice to finally have a normal conversation like this. The two have always been so busy with either training, or in this case, surviving, that they never had the chance to be normal children. It was just now that they realized that they don’t know what the other likes or dislikes. “This was nice.”

“It was,” Ayato smiled. “Though, I’d have to agree with you. I think I would want to stay ignorant if one of our friends ended up being the mastermind. I don’t want to suspect any of them.”

“I know. But it’s safe than sorry, Ayato,” Akira reminded. “I personally cannot see them betraying us either. I don’t want to think it. But we also never thought Maizono would make the first move.”

“I guess you’re right,” Ayato sighed. “But what if one of us is the traitor? Should we leave them here to die or take them with us?”

“We take them with us, of course,” Akira said. “So far, only Kuwata and Owada had been executed, and neither one of them had ill intentions. They didn’t want to murder. I would like to think that no one here is actually that malicious, but who knows?”

“Then I guess that settles it,” Ayato mumbled. “We start tomorrow, yes? Then we should start getting some sleep. Let me know what Monokuma says if it’s anything useful. Good night, Akira.”

“Good night,” Akira sighed as she watched her younger brother exit the room and walk back into his own. She looked around the room to make sure everything is nice and tidy for her return, which it is. She looks at the surveillance camera one last time, looking towards the enemy. He must really love how they all desperately look for a way to escape, only to be taunted by false hope.

Akira was struggling with herself. Anyone close to her can notice it. But there was someone who can hide their true feelings better than her, and that is her own brother. Ayato was in his bathroom, curled up in the shower. No one knew about his “newfound” illness, especially his parents. Not even Akira knew about it… His own sister. He initiated the “No Secrets” rule between them, and yet, he cannot tell her how he still gets nightmares of Hayami’s death, and even visions of her in his room chanting her death was his fault. It’s been like this for years. Ayato couldn’t take it. Being Byakya’s bodyguard meant everything to him, if anyone knew about this, he feared his future with the Togami Corporation could possibly be put on hold.

“Fuck,” Ayato cried in pain his hands held both sides of his head, trying to keep it together. He knows it’s just his own body reacting to nothing, but it feels like his head is splitting open right down the middle, and his heart is beating at an inhuman pace. “If I can’t get through this, how the hell can I have a future with the Togami Corporation? I should have been the one who died that day!”

“Hiya, traitor! What a lovely performance you put on today!” A voice called out from the door. Ayato’s eyes darted to the door, and he was greeted by Monokuma. He was holding a water bottle and some painkillers in one hand, and Hifumi’s camera in the other. He must have stolen it from Celeste’s room. “You shouldn’t be talking like that. Though, if you really want to die, that can be arranged. But I believe for Akira’s sake, you should live a little longer.”

“Why the hell would you care? I’m doing just fine,” Ayato grunted and whined in pain. Tears rolled down his face as his headache got worse.

“Because you’re still useful to me! And as much as I love despair inducing events such as this, you have a big day ahead of you, no?” Monokuma asked as he tossed everything to Ayato. “I suggest you keep these in your room and call it a night. Oh yeah, you should also give your snoopy sister that camera. She’ll definitely have a field day with this one!”

“Why are you doing this?” Ayato asked as he slowly removed his hands from his head. He looked like a terrified little kid. Ayato cautiously took the medication and drank some water, slowly feeling himself calm down.

Monokuma faced the door, his back turned towards Ayato. That question took him by surprise, though he has been asked this amongst the students a lot, mainly by pure anger. But coming from Ayato, in this context… it was different. Monokuma took a deep breath, and before leaving, he responded…

“I, too, know what it’s like to lose a sister.”

Chapter Text

After that interaction with Monokuma, Ayato decided to take a late night walk around the building to clear his head. In all honesty, he couldn’t care less if someone was out there to kill him. It would do him the favor rather than suffering. He thought about the promise he made to his sister, and his friends, though it wasn’t vocalized. He can die anywhere. They all could die anywhere. Just not here, and not so soon.

It hurt him knowing he was the traitor everybody was looking for. But going by what Monokuma said, he isn’t the only one under his control. Whatever their reasons were, Ayato didn’t care. He was helping Monokuma because he knew things. So, he’d mess around with the killing game, and in turn, his friends will be set free. It sounded too good to be true, but Monokuma hasn’t touched anything that’s been in Leon’s room, so that was a good sign . Of course, that meant he had to tell Monokuma about Akira’s true talent. He still has no clue how he knew about Hayami.

Ayato is also doing this because… He has people who believe in him. People like Byakuya, Akira, and Ibuki, who he has known his whole life— and his new friends, Hina, Celeste, Sakura, Yasuhiro, Kaede… They all believe in him. Even those on the outside believe in him, like the Togami Corporation. Even those who are dead. Hayami, Mizuki, Hiroto, Leon, Sayka, Mondo, Chihiro, and Hana. He’s never met the woman, but he has heard stories. He likes to think he is making her proud sometimes.

If there’s anything he has ever learned while staying here, it was to never let your opponent know your next move. Always keep a poker face. He’s learned that while being friends with Celeste, and it seems to be working out in his favor. It’s too bad he’s been feeling very guilty about what he’s doing. It’s for a good cause, though. Maybe if he keeps telling himself that, he’ll stop feeling so down about it. His friends encourage him everyday to keep going, so with them by his side, he’ll do his best to survive at least a little longer.

"Hey man, what brings you out here?" A voice called out from the kitchen. Ayato snapped out of his thoughts and noticed he was in the dining hall. Yasuhiro was playing with his crystal ball at one of the tables. He must have had more on him. Hina and Sakura poked their heads out of the kitchen. Ayato felt some relief seeing them. Besides Akira, Byakuya, and Ibuki, they are the three he trusts the most.

"Hey, Ayato!" Hina smiled as she and Sakura sat at a table drinking some tea. "Would you care for some tea?"

"Thanks, but I just came out for a walk," Ayato said. "Just to... Get my mind off things."

“Are you sure? It’s very dangerous to be walking by yourself. Is Akira with you?” Sakura asked. Ayato shook his head. “I highly recommend you stay with us. Some tea will definitely calm your nerves.”

“Yeah, man, we don’t expect you to talk to us if you don’t feel like it,” Yasuhiro smiled. “We’re friends now, yeah? You can definitely come to us if you need to talk. No need to hesitate.”

"Thanks," Ayato smiled. He hasn't noticed it yet, but when he sat down with Hina and Sakura, he started crying.

"Ayato, are you okay?" Hina asked. Yasuhiro noticed it as well, and sat down with them. Ayato said nothing and shrugged his shoulders.

"You wanna talk about it, brah?" Yasuhiro asked. Ayato took a minute to gather his thoughts until he finally spoke.

“Do you guys really think I’m an idiot?” he asked. The three looked at him, confused. "When we first got here, I was nothing but Akira's shadow and Byakuya's underling. Don't get me wrong, I love being around them. They're my family. But I’m way less serious than they are, do you think they are really grateful for me as much they say they are?"

"Ayato, what are you talking about?" Hina asked. She reached over the table and put his friend's hands into hers. "You are one of the most nicest people I ever met, and I can see that everything you do is for Akira, Togami and Mioda. I know Akira and Togami aren’t easy when it comes to being vulnerable, but I promise you that your efforts don’t go unnoticed. So when they tell you that they are proud of you, or if we say it, then you better believe it.”

"Exactly, brah!" Yasuhiro agreed. He threw his arm around Ayato's shoulders. "You are Ayato frigging Iwasaki! And you are amazing! We’ve never thought of you any less! You know, besides Kuwata, you are the first one who actually talked to me the first day we got here! You were actually interested in my fortune telling. If you ask me, that's one of my favorite memories here so far. That's why we're friends, dude!"

"I also agree with them," Sakura smiled as she sipped her tea. "Your humorous mannerisms make you approachable and easy to talk to. Your positive attitude is one of the many reasons why we are friends with you."

"Really?" Ayato asked, wiping his tears. "I'm glad to hear that."

They all noticed how Ayato easily got distracted. He was staring off into space a lot. Something else was bothering him, but they didn't want to force him to speak about it if he didn't feel comfortable doing so.

They all stayed in the dining hall for another couple of minutes until the group agreed to disband.

“Alright, I think it’s time we call it a night,” Hina announced. “Sakura, do you mind walking me to my room again?”

She nodded as they both stood up.

"Yeah, I am gonna leave, too," Yasuhiro said as he picked up a plate with assorted fruit. “Taka has been refusing to eat, so I decided to give him a late night snack.”

“Oh… Can I come too?”” Ayato asked.

“Of course! I think he would love for you to come over!” Yasuhiro smiled.

"Okay," Hina waved the boys goodbye as she and Sakura walked to her room. "Good night, guys."

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

Yasuhiro knocked on Kiyotaka’s door. It took a little while, but the door finally opened, just ever so slightly. Taka was no longer Ishida. Was that a possible facade so everybody would stop worrying about him?

“Hey, man. It’s Hiro. I brought Ayato, too,” Yasuhiro smiled. Ayato waved. “Do you mind if we come inside?”

Taka took a few seconds before he opened the door all the way, letting the two in.

“Look… I know you haven’t eaten much today, so I threw together a little something for you.”

Yasuhiro and Ayato watched as Taka sat on the floor in front of his bed. One of Mondo's jackets from his wardrobe was lying messily on his shoulders. They gave a sympathetic smile and sat down next to the boy. Taka lifted his head up and looked at the plate full of food, terrified of what could possibly be in it.

“Hey, it’s okay,” Ayato reassured the shaking boy. “It’s just fruit. No butter added.”

Taka still stared down at the plate and watched as Yasuhiro picked up a piece of watermelon and inserted it into his mouth.

"See? Completely fine," Yasuhiro smiled. "I also made sure that they were washed so they are extra clean."

Slowly, a trembling hand made its way towards the plate and picked up a pineapple. Yasuhiro and Ayato watched as Taka slowly and cautiously ate the fruit and swallowed.

"See? It's perfectly fine," Yasuhiro smiled. The two heard a small voice mutter the words 'thank you'. They knew that it was Taka. They were happy that he was able to speak again. Even if it was just 2 simple words, that was enough for them. Yasuhiro pulled Taka into a reassuring hug. "No problem, man. Owada would be proud of you."

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

When the two finally left Taka’s room, Yasuhiro offered to walk Ayato back to his dorm. It wasn’t much of a problem since they lived across the hall from each other.

They made it to Ayato’s door. He was going to unlock his door when he heard Yasuhiro speak.

“I uh… I just wanted to say thank you,” he began. “I appreciate you helping out and stuff. I think Taka was happy you came tonight, too.”

“Of course,” Ayato smiled. “It’s good to see he’s showing some improvement.”

“Yeah… And what I said earlier— about you opening up to us. I didn’t mean it to come out as forceful or anything. I don’t know if it did. But since we will be stuck here for a while, and— you know, we’re friends… You don’t have to go through whatever it is you are going through alone. We are here for you.”

“Thank you, Hiro,” Ayato smiled. Yasuhiro smiled back and wished Ayato a goodnight, turning around to his room. “Wait… One more thing.”

“Huh? What is it?”

“I want to make a promise to you all. I will do whatever it takes for you guys to escape. I can’t say that I’ll be a part of it… But if you guys are able to get out, then that’s enough for me.”

“Wait… what are you talking about, brah?”

“Goodnight, Hiro.”

Ignoring Hiro’s calls, Ayato entered his room, locking the door behind him. He’d do anything to make sure his friends are safe. Even if that means he has to make the risky choice and double cross Monokuma…

" Even if I have to be God, himself, or the Devil. "

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

The next day, Byakuya, Akira, Ayato, Ibuki, and Makoto decided to put their plan into action. They all split up so they can cover the entire school. Ibuki and Ayato gathered a bunch of students in the game room while Byakuya and Makoto went to investigate the library once more.

Earlier that morning, about a good hour before Monokuma’s morning announcement, Akira went back to Leon’s room. She wanted to continue her first part of the investigation early. She came across Ayato, who she assumed thought the same thing.

Ayato thought about giving Akira the camera, but he was worried what he found on there would raise more questions.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

FLASHBACK

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

“Why did you take Celeste’s camera?” Ayato asked.

“Because there’s stuff on there that I think your sister might want to take a look at,” Monokuma snickered.

Ayato looked through the photos. The camera mainly consisted of junk that Hifumi took before they got here. But there was one photo that caught Ayato’s attention. It was similar to the photo Alter Ego showed them earlier— Leon, Mondo, and Chihiro smiling inside of a classroom. This photo, however, was different. It was a poor attempt of a selfie. Ayato was laughing, his hand on Hifumi’s face. It looked like he was pushing him away. Hifumi’s hand was stretched out, reaching for the camera that Ayato had stolen.

Ayato shook his head, and deleted the photo.

“Return it. She’ll will notice it’s gone.”

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

END OF FLASHBACK

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

Makoto and Byakuya finished investigating the library. There wasn’t anything of use to them in there, so Makoto decided to grab a little snack from the kitchen. He figured Akira hasn’t eaten anything all morning, so he decided to bring her some food.

Leon’s door was unlocked, probably to give Byakuya, Ibuki, Ayato, and himself easy access if they needed Akira.

When he walked in, Akira was focused on her documents.

“Hey, I got you some food and some coffee,” Makoto smiled. “I thought you might have wanted to take a little break.”

“Naegi, good morning. Thank you,” Akira said as she stretched her arms out. Sitting in one position for hours really wasn’t good for her. “I was just running out of coffee. How is your investigation going?”

“So far, we have nothing,” Makoto sighed. “Ayato and Ibuki convinced everyone to have a game-day on the third floor, so it’s safe to say we can investigate without anyone asking questions. Though, I haven’t seen Kirigiri in a while.”

“I actually saw her earlier. She’s off doing an investigation of her own.”

“Oh… okay. Good to know she’s safe.”

The two sat in silence, enjoying their breakfast and coffee. Akira continued looking over the files while Makoto watched. He then cleared his throat to speak.

“Hey, Akira,” he mumbled. “Can I ask you something?”

"What is it?" Akira asked.

"Last night... You said you were gonna talk to someone again, who were you talking about?"

“Monokuma.”

“What? Do you really think he will tell you what you want to know?”

“I don’t know. Whenever I ask him, he keeps asking me if I remember.”

"If you remember? What does that even mean?"

"I'm not sure," Akira said. "Whatever it is, I think it has something to do with these pictures. I think if I finally reach a conclusion with the evidence we have, we can finally figure out who the mastermind is and call them out."

Makoto and Akira stood in silence, thinking about any possibility. Sadly, nothing came to mind. Why did Monokuma have those pictures? When were they taken? What do they mean? So many unanswered questions, so little time to find the answer to them.

With Leon’s door slightly ajar, the two heard screaming from the bathhouse. It sounded like Hifumi. Akira and Makoto flinched at the sound, and already assuming the worst, they ran towards the sound.

"Yamada? Is everything okay?" Makoto asked they entered the bathhouse.

"What's going on?" Akira asked. What they saw was not what they were expecting.

"I'm sorry! Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry," Hifumi chanted as he was on his knees. Inside the bathhouse was Celeste, Kokichi, Hina, Sakura, Kyoko, Yasuhiro and Hifumi. They were all surrounding Hifumi and the computer. It appears they all decided to ditch Ayato and Ibuki’s game day. Hifumi turned his head towards the door where Akira and Makoto were, and ran towards them. "Mr. Naegi, Ms. Iwasaki! Help me! Observe: I'm on my knees here!"

"Yeah... we can see that," Makoto mumbled.

"Can someone explain what's going on here?" Akira asked.

"I just asked a simple question," Kyoko sighed. "Why is he using Alter Ego after hours without permission?"

Akira and Makoto turned towards Hifumi. Makoto was confused with what Kyoko meant, while Akira was glaring at him. Hifumi saw Akira's glare and shrieked.

"Hyaaaaah! Please don't kill me!" Hifumi screamed.

"We're not gonna kill you," Kyoko rolled her eyes. "We are just... merely instructing you."

"Yamada... can you tell us what happened?" Makoto asked.

"W-Well, I just...I was just talking!" Hifumi said.

"Which was prohibited, was it not?" Kyoko asked.

"I... I get lonely!" Hifumi whined, trying to justify himself. "I just wanted someone to talk to! It's not every day I find someone who doesn't look at me sideways when I start talking about what I'm into. Honestly, it was a first! Normal people aren't like that... N-Normal people think I'm a freak...”

"God, your life is sad," Akira mumbled as she looked away. "It's kind of embarrassing."

"I-I mean, you see... Talking to her was just...so much fun! And I j-just-"

"Whoa! Okay, time out!" Yasuhiro interrupted. "I can't even believe I'm about to ask this, but... Yamada...you're not gonna tell us you...fell in love or something, are you?"

"Hah!" Hifumi laughed off the ridiculous question. "You're saying that I, the cold-blooded killing machine of the underworld, would ever fall in love!? That's... Wait...no way! Is...is this  love !?"

"I happened to do a psychic reading for a certain famous CEO once and that guy was seriously head over heels for a mannequin," Yasuhiro said. "He had a wedding and everything! And your eyes just now... I saw the same look in his eyes!"

"Shut up! She's not a mannequin! She's an angel! And don't bother telling me whether or not angels exist! What we have can't be defined by your petty words!"

"Yeah, you're totally in love," Hina mumbled.

Hifumi’s sat on the floor, grumbling. He wasn’t sure how to deal with the odd revelation that he fell in love with an AI. He just wanted the attention to be off of him. Almost as if his prayers were answered, someone else came into the room.

“Hiro? Where did you go?” A voice asked. It was Ayato. “Ibuki and I were waiting. I thought you three left to go get snacks? Celeste and Oma also left. Oh… What’s going on here?”

“Sorry, brah, we heard screaming and became nosey,” Yasuhiro chuckled. “So… how did things end up like this?”

So much for his prayers being answered.

"W-Well, at the beginning...I just wanted to hear her say 'Master' one more time," Hifumi sighed. "B-But then I was poking around at her settings and stuff, and saw she was a well-designed program. And it was like...how can I say it? It was the first time I was ever able to talk like that...with a normal girl."

"But she's definitely  not  a normal girl," Hina said. "She's just a program."

"Not that it's any of my business, but I don't think this sort of 'friendship' is very healthy." Celeste said. "Yes, we're all repulsed by you, but still."

"Don't rub it in!" Hifumi whined, "I know how pathetic I am... It's not like I've got a lot of choices! But even when all we did was talk about my hobbies and stuff...she wasn't annoyed or disgusted or anything. That's the first time a girl's ever said anything like that to me. Besides my mom, I mean."

"Your mom says stuff like that to you?" Yasuhiro asked. "That's kinda amazing all by itself."

"That's why I was just...so happy," Hifumi said. "It was so much fun! And before I knew it... I found myself, y'know...liking her. Her face, her personality, her voice. Even her keyboard."

"Even the keyboard?" Hina asked, not even hiding her disgust and confusion.

"I think you misunderstood the situation, Yamada," Akira said. "Alter Ego was not interested in who you were. He was interested in what you knew. Alter Ego is an artificial intelligence, merely existing to learn and help us. Of course he wanted to hear of things he did not know. You are an expert in many things Fujisaki could not have taught him, for what it’s worth. Alter Ego wants that information—that is all."

“Wait… He fell for-?” Ayato asked. “Oh my… That’s very sad. Even for you.”

"Yeah, and it doesn't matter if a program isn't disgusted with how disgusting and perverted you are," Kokichi laughed. "It's a computer program... a robot. Robot's can't understand human feelings!"

"I-I know," Hifumi mumbled. "I mean, I do know that. But still... Are you saying it's totally hopeless?"

Everyone stood in silence, avoiding Hifumi's question. Hifumi's story was sad, but no one will admit that and undermine all the perverted things he said. The silence was broken from a loud groan exiting the sauna.

"Hoo-ah!" They all turned around and saw Taka... well... Ishida. "This sauna here is amaze-balls!"

Ishida was in nothing but a towel, which kinda freaked them out a bit, he wasn't pale, but the steam from the sauna, and the light inside the locker room made him seem like he was glowing. Hina shrieked and covered her eyes. Akira furrowed her eyebrows at the lack of mannerism, but other than that, she is completely unbothered like everyone else.

"Woah… Taka?" Ayato asked, concerned.

"Why the hell you calling me that, dude?" Ishida asked. "Keep that crap up, you're gonna give me an identity crisis! Anyway, screw that. I heard your little pow-wow and did not dig what I heard! Alter Ego's mine, A-holes!"

"No!" Hifumi yelled as he ran in front of the computer. "This is true love! I will be damned if I let you come betwixt us!"

"Enough! Both of you!" Akira yelled. The two boys went silent, but didn't bother turning away from glaring at each other. "This doesn't belong to any one person. Chihiro left him to all of us. We can use him to finally gain access to vital clues."

"Exactly," Kyoko agreed. "We're not getting into a tug-o-war over this, understood? Call it Fujisaki's legacy, but this computer may well be our best chance to escape. It belongs to everyone so from now on, no one is allowed in here without permission."

"Kirigiri is right," Sakura said. "If anyone dares disturb our peace any further... They'll have to deal with me."

Hifumi and Ishida's eyes widened.

"Until Alter Ego has finished his work, no one is allowed to touch him without permission, let alone do anything weird," Kyoko said, eyeing at the two boys. "Have I made myself clear?"

Hifumi and Ishida lowered their heads, ashamed of their actions. They both mumbled in unison, but of course, no one could hear them.

"I can't hear you!" Sakura yelled.

"Y-Yes!" Hifumi said.

"G-Got it," Ishida nodded.

"Okay then. Let's get out of here," Kyoko said as she picked up the computer and put it back in the locker. "We can't afford to linger too long."

"Are you sure it's okay to let them off with a warning?" Sakura asked.

"Yes. I have a plan," Kyoko said. "It'll be fine."

Everyone nodded and walked out of the locker room. Majority of them went back to the game room. The bathhouse was empty, except for Akira and Kyoko.

"Naegi, go without me,” Akira said. “I’ll catch up with you later.”

Makoto nodded and walked out of the locker room. Akira watched him leave, and waited until he was out of sight before she could speak. She could talk to Kyoko while Makoto was around, but she needed to confirm her suspicions, even if it meant she NEEDS to leave everyone in the dark. No one would believe her anyway if she told them without solid proof.

"What are you planning to do with the computer?" Akira asked. "I mean... With the money, and now those two… It’s only a matter of time until someone starts the killing game again.”

"Well... With Ishimaru and Yamada's new found obsession with Alter Ego, it is clear that they will try to do something. But them starting the killing game again should be the least of our worries," Kyoko said as she typed on the computer. "Either way, I have added a feature to Alter Ego... He will shriek if Ishimaru or Yamada... or anyone suspicious comes in here."

"That's a good idea, but the walls to the dorms are sound proof," Akira said. "How do you plan on getting to Alter Ego quickly?"

"Fujisaki also left you in charge of the computer. If you don’t mind, maybe you and Ayato will guard our dormitory hall, and I will have my door slightly opened so we both will hear it,"

"That's a great idea. But you said... someone suspicious."

Kyoko stayed silent as she continued typing on the computer. It suddenly hit Akira. Not only does Byakuya think there is a traitor... but Kyoko does too.

"You think there is a traitor here too, don't you?" Akira asked. "Or at least, someone willing to use Alter Ego for nefarious purposes."

“We still don’t have any proof that there is one,” Kyoko said. “But the possibility of that is something we can’t ignore.”

The thought of a traitor being among them has been one of the many things on their mind. But if that accusation is true, then they all are screwed. Alter Ego is probably their only chance of escape, and the traitor knows it.

"You know... I'm starting to think this whole thing is dangerous," Akira said. "If one of us is reporting back to the mastermind, then it’s only a matter of time for them to take Alter Ego.”

"Which is why I am adding a shriek feature," Kyoko said.

"I know, but what if the traitor isn't Yamada or Ishimaru?" Akira said. "What if it is someone who seems trustworthy... and they managed to get a hold of Alter Ego?"

Kyoko sat in silence, trying to register Akira's question.

"You're saying we should have told Hina she was probably ill? Brush her off seeing Alter Ego as a ghost?" Kyoko asked. "Do you not trust her?"

"No... I... It's just... There are so many things I'm worried about," Akira said. "Mainly about Alter Ego."

"Like what?"

“This room may be Monokuma‘s blind spot, but it isn’t for the traitor. They already saw Alter Ego. I feel like I was too careless sharing Fujisaki’s note.”

"I don’t doubt that Monokuma was notified about the computer. I, too, was a little nervous about such valuable information being shared. Maybe every night, we should come here every now and then, and make sure the computer is safe."

"Sounds like a plan," Akira smiled as she stood up. She stopped in her tracks before leaving. "Before I go... I need to ask you something..."

"Sure, what is it?" Kyoko asked.

"Do you really think those photos are photo-shopped?" Akira asked.

"I'm not sure," Kyoko mumbled. "This entire situation is weird... But there isn't any other explanation for it other than the Mastermind screwing with us."

"I guess so..." Akira mumbled. "Well, I will see you later."

Kyoko finished typing on the computer and followed Akira out of the locker room. They couldn't afford staying there for too long... Otherwise Monokuma would become suspicious.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

Hours passed, and eventually, the group in the family room disbanded. Ayato decided to go to the library to clear his head. Maybe there was a good book he could borrow for a bit. Toko was kind enough to give him a brief list of recommendations.

While he was looking through the romance, he heard Kokichi enter. Ayato groaned, and tried to pretend he didn’t notice— hoping to avoid him. He didn’t hate Kokichi. In fact, hate couldn’t even describe how much Kokichi pisses him off. How much he wants to hit him in the head with a chair over and over until he shuts up. That’s how much Kokichi Oma got on Ayato’s nerves.

"Hey! Well if it isn't the second half of the Spy Twins!" Kokichi smiled. "Where's the other one?"

"Her whereabouts shouldn’t be a concern to you," Ayato rolled his eyes, already being unamused with being called Akira's 'second half'. "Why do you wanna know anyway?"

"Why I wanna know shouldn’t concern you,” Kokichi remarked, mocking him.

"I can see through your lies, Oma," Ayato said. "Why do you need to know where she is?"

"So I can kill her, of course," Kokichi smirked. His voice was ominously low. Ayato's cold expression didn't change. That was Kokichi's lie. Kokichi Oma, the Ultimate Supreme Leader was more of an Ultimate Liar. He was all talk, and is probably the most harmless of the group. In just the short amount of time knowing him, Ayato knew when he was lying, but he couldn’t figure out when he was telling the truth. "But of course, you know that's a lie!"

Ayato paused. Of course he knew Kokichi was lying about killing Akira. Everyone here had nothing but respect for her... including Kokichi. It was no surprise that Kokichi would come up with a crazy lie, but just to lie about killing someone... that's what surprised Ayato. Not because it was insensitive... but because it almost sounded so real... so believable.

"She’s busy at the moment. But when I find her, I can deliver the message for you.”

"It's about that computer and the mastermind.”

Ayato flinched. Then, cleared his throat, trying to get a hold of himself. Did his mask slip? Kokichi isn’t naive. Could he have known what Ayato was up to? He said it so nonchalantly. Like he knew he struck a nerve.

“I kinda forgot my digital notebook in the bathhouse locker room,” Kokichi continued. “When I went back to grab it, I couldn’t help but overhear her talking about someone among us working with the mastermind. And before you say anything about it being confidential, I have somebody I think you guys should look out for.”

“We already have a list,” Ayato crossed his arms. “And what makes you think I would believe you?”

"Take what I say with a grain of salt!" Kokichi smiled. Impossible... when it came to him, you need to take whatever he said with two fistfuls. "It was just a hunch I got."

"Whatever," Ayato rolled his eyes. "I doubt your suspects is anyone we haven’t looked into, but proceed."

“Alright… So the night after the second floor opened, precisely after Monokuma’s new motive, I decided to go back to the library. Of course, I was also with Celeste and that one kid who didn’t have a talent… What was his name?”

Makoto? Hajime? Maybe Nagito?

“Oh well, I don’t remember. They all look the same,” Kokichi shrugged. “Anyway, I assume you already know about the letter from the headmaster?”

"Yeah... It said something about the school being shut down because of some issue that was out of their control," Ayato said. "From what we got, this school was shut down for at least a year or longer."

"Exactly, but I guess spiky hair got freaked out and ran out early and left the further investigation to me and Celeste," Kokichi said. "The fact he doesn't know his talent and the fact he ran out on us was something I don't think should be overlooked... but besides that... I’ve came to a conclusion as to who the mastermind could be."

"Who is it?"

"What if... the headmaster of Hope's Peak Academy shut down this school so the killing game could take place? That is a possibility, right?"

Ayato swallowed. He could have sworn a head of sweat rolled down his face.

“We already spoke about that being a possibility, but it seemed too obvious. We can’t really say for sure though.”

Kokichi grumbled, shoving his hands into his pockets while muttering, “I figured.”

“I’m sorry, can you repeat something?” Ayato asked. “When did you three go into the library?”

“The same night after Monokuma gave us our secrets,” Kokichi shrugged.

“Did you see anything when you came here? Maybe left?” Ayato asked. If what he was thinking is correct, then Kokichi shouldn’t have stayed silent at the trial. “If I’m not mistaken, that’s the night Fujisaki died.”

"Nope!" Kokichi smiled. "Anyways... is this conversation done now? I'd hate if Akira got that information and it was already too late."

Ayato watched as Kokichi walked away. Could he possibly be lying about this whole thing? Was the headmaster of Hope's Peak Academy really behind this killing game? Why does this all seem too obvious?

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

Night time came quickly. Akira informed the other’s about Kiyoko’s plan, and as promised, the four of them guarded the halls, making sure to watch the Bathhouse, too. Patrolling that night was uneventful. No one bothered leaving their rooms. Eventually, Ayato left to get Yasuhiro so the two can deliver food to Taka. He’s gotten a little better at eating, so that was a good sign.

Before Chihiro died, Akira asked him to make some adjustments to Byakuya and Ibuki’s wristwatches so they could communicate. Luckily, it was successful, and now patrolling will be more efficient.

"Everything is all clear in the Dining Hall," Akira whispered into her wristwatch. "How are things looking on your ends?"

"Garbage room and incinerator are all clear, too,” Ibuki whispered. She took Ayato’s place for the night. “Byakuya?”

"The second dormitory hall leads to a dead end, So I’m keeping an eye out for the doors," Byakuya said. "Everything is clear here as well."

"Great, just three more hours and we get to go back to our rooms,” Akira smiled.

That night... No victims were claimed, no one had to be executed the next day... But there was something Akira possibly overlooked. Did someone not go into their room? Or maybe they waiting until the three left?

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

The next day, everyone decided to go do their own thing. There was nothing worth investigating. The evening hours rolled around quick.

Akira walked into the Dining Hall for dinner as usual. No one was there. Did everyone skip or something? She looked at the clock. It was 9:30 pm. Yasuhiro had just walked out of the bathhouse and back into the dormitory. Maybe he was heading back to his room? No one was around so Akira thought she could call it an early night.

When she made it back ti her room, she saw a scrap of paper on the floor. She was about to throw it away, but she saw writing on the other side.

“Meet us in the bathhouse.

~Kyoko Kirigiri”

Why did Kyoko want to meet her in the bathhouse? The realization suddenly hit her. Alter Ego. Did he finish downloading data? Did something happen? Thoughts rushed through Akira's mind as she ran into the bathhouse. When she arrived, she saw everyone there except for Yasuhiro and Makoto. They all were standing around, just as confused as Akira was. Kyoto stood next to the locker where Alter Ego was kept.

"So, seem's like you got Kirigiri's note too, huh?" Ayato asked.

"Sure did," Akira mumbled. "What's up? Did we get the data?"

Kyoko lowered her head, avoiding everyone's gaze. The silence was just killing them.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

Meanwhile, Yasuhiro was walking towards Makoto's dorm. He knocked on the door, and it slightly opened a bit before he barged in and got Makoto stuck in a headlock.

"Naegi! How are you doing?" Yasuhiro asked.

"Hey! What is wrong with you?" Makoto yelled as he tried to get out of Yasuhiro's grip. "Is somebody dead?"

"What do you say we become suds buds? Keep each other squeaky?" Yasuhiro asked, turning their backs to the camera so Monokuma didn’t see him slip a note out of his pocket. He held it close to them so only he and Makoto could see it. Makoto tried to steady his breathing as his heart raced.

‘Kirigiri needs you.’ The note said.

"So, are you a 'work your way up' or a 'work your way down' kind of guy?” Yasuhiro continued. “I'm cool either way! As long as we don't forget to wash behind the ears!"

Makoto was still a little freaked out about how Yasuhiro just barged into his room, but he agreed to follow him. They walked out of the dorm and joined everyone else in the bathhouse.

"Don't worry," Yasuhiro reassured him. "We just had to get passed the surveillance cameras."

"What's up guys?" Makoto asked. "Did something happen?"

"Hey! You! How long were you gonna keep us waiting!?" Ishida yelled. "It's almost 10 o'clock, you know that!? Bedtime for all the good little boys and girls!"

"Will you shut up!?" Hifumi yelled.

"What'd you say!?" Ishida asked. "You want me to make you cry like a little girl!?"

"Ishimaru... He seems to have gotten worse since the last I last saw him," Byakuya chuckled. "Well, maybe it's a good thing. Maybe he's finally starting to grow a personality."

"What--!? You got a lotta poop fallin' outta that mouth of yours, you know that!?" Ishida asked.

"How rude..." Toko mumbled. "A maggot like you has no right to speak that way to our heaven-sent Master...!"

“Uhm, let’s not,” Akira glared.

"Hm? Are you back to your normal gloomy self?" Celeste asked. "I can hardly keep track at this point."

"Sh-Shut up...!" Toko mumbled.

"Well anyway, everyone's here, right?" Yasuhiro asked. "Then my messenger duty is complete!"

"You wanted us all to meet here, right Kyoko?" Sakura asked. "So, what are we doing here?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Yasuhiro asked. "It's gotta have something to do with Alter Ego, right?"

"Perhaps it already finished retrieving data," Ayato said.

"Yeah, totally!" Hina smiled. "Did he finally find a clue? What is it? A way out!? The mastermind's true identity!?"

"Well, we're all here Kirigiri... What did you want to tell us?" Kaede asked.

"Before I show you, let me make something clear,” Kyoko began. “Akira and I spent the night keeping an eye on Alter Ego from a distance. Akira, how were things on your end?”

“Everything went fine,” Akira said. “We guarded the halls as well as the entrance to the bathhouse. No one has left their rooms while we were out there.”

"Interesting," Kyoko hummed. "There must have been something we have overlooked."

"What do you mean?" Ayato asked.

"Someone has been watching… waiting for you guys to return to your rooms. They took your schedule as an opportunity.”

She then opened the locker… nothing was inside. Alter Ego was missing.

"I came in this morning... the computer was here. But now, it's missing,” Kyoko continued.

The bathhouse was filled with gasps and confused murmurs. Who could have taken the computer? Did the mastermind figure it out.

"I'm looking at you, Ishimaru!" Hifumi yelled. "We all know you did it so be a man and fess up!"

"Really?" Ishida yelled as he turned to Hifumi. "I'll have you know I was a hall monitor three-times-decorated in my past life!"

"That's enough," Sakura said.

"Both of you can be ruled out as suspects," Kyoko said. "After yesterday, I programmed Alter Ego to shriek if either one of you came near it. Clearly, I looked over a less obvious threat."

“Then, perhaps it was the mastermind,” Celeste suggested. “Maybe they finally noticed what we were up to and took action.”

"Not possible, I told Alter Ego to yell if anyone he didn't recognize appeared," Kyoko said. "If it was the mastermind, I'm sure he would have alerted us."

"What do we do now?" Hajime asked. "I mean... none of us have any intention of taking the laptop, right?"

"Maybe we just...missed it?" Hina asked.

"I was in the laundry room right next door all day," Kyoko said. "There's no way I wouldn't have heard it."

"B-But...if it wasn't the mastermind, Taka, or Yamada then..." Makoto mumbled.

"The fundamental circumstances are becoming clear... If it wasn't the mastermind, and it wasn't Taka or Yamada...then quite simply, it was someone else," Byakuya said. "One of us must be the thief."

"But it's as Hinata said!" Hina said. "Why would any of us wanna steal Alter Ego?"

"Consider this... There is a traitor in our ranks," Byakuya said. Everyone gasped again. "The notion leapt from possible to probable in my mind some time ago, so I asked Akira and Ayato to investigate. Wouldn’t a mole be par for the course?”

"It would be an excellent way to make sure this killing game runs smoothly," Ayato said. "Instead of just working from behind the scenes, the mastermind has someone working for them. Controlling us indirectly."

The bathhouse fell silent. The air grew thick and tense just like their first day here. So many bonds were built, they didn’t want to go back to doubting each other. But someone among the group was working with the mastermind the entire time. Someone they considered to be their friend. The only thing that broke their silence was Monokuma’s usual night time announcement.

"Oh dear! Look at the time!" his voice came through loud on the speakers. "Ten o'clock and all's hell! Curfew ladies and germs! Nighty-night!"

They looked at each other, nervous... The only thing they could do now is comply with Monokuma's orders.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

Ayato got permission to skip out on tonight’s patrol. He wanted to spend some time with Taka again. Holding a plate of vegetables, he knocked on the other aforementioned boys door. He was doing a lot better now, considering he is Ishida during the day. But Ayato still wanted a reason to talk to him. To talk to Kiyotaka Ishimsaru.

The door opened slightly, revealing Taka. He gave a shy smile to Ayato.

“Hey buddy, I’m sorry that it’s just me,” Ayato chuckled nervously. “Hiro said he had something to do, so he won’t be joining us tonight.”

“That’s alright, Ayato,” Taka smiled, opening the door wider for the other to enter. “Please, come in.”

It was almost as if being Ishida for the whole day flipped a switch on Taka completely. He was now loud, laughing, smiling, eating. He was totally different from the boy he was a few days ago. Sure, the death of Mondo and Chihiro left a giant hole in his heart. It was almost like he was a character in a sad comic, and his body was merely a silhouette— the only thing in color was his broken heart. Ayato didn’t see him that way anymore. He saw him as a boy with determination… passion.

“Oh, by the way,” Ayato began. “When we first met… Why were you so tense? You seemed so unsure when I gave you that handshake.”

Taka sat in thought, trying to remember that day. It felt so long ago, but really, it couldn’t have been more than two weeks. The memory finally came to him, and he couldn’t help but laugh.

“It was just very unusual,” Taka sighed. “It’s not common to give a handshake as a greeting.”

Ayato wanted to kick himself. How could he forget something like that?

“You’re right,” he laughed. “I guess I kinda forgot. Akira and I were overseas for a job, and we were living with a host family for a while. They were huggers.”

“Hugging? On the first day of meeting? That’s kind of intimate, don’t you think?”

“Yeah, but it’s common in many places.”

Taka nodded. The two sat in silence for a bit, sharing the plate of food.

“Do you think we can do it again?” Taka eventually asked. “A handshake?”

Ayato sat there, shocked. He took a minute to think about it before asking, “How about a hug?”

Tears filled Taka’s eyes. Except, this time, he wasn’t completely broken.

“I think I could use one of those.”

The night was long, but Akira, Ibuki, and Byakuya finally returned to their rooms. No one expected a certain someone to work around their schedule once again. Someone has been watching, planning, hoping to finally use their plan against them.

No one would have expected another murder to happen that night.

Chapter Text

The next day, Ibuki, Akira, and Ayato made their way to the dining hall for breakfast. Byakuya told them he’d skip their morning meetings. When they entered, Makoto, Kyoko, Sakura, and Hina were already there.

“Small group today,” Ayato observed.

“Is this it?” Sakura asked. “What happened to the others?”

“God! This is why I hate people who take their sweet time with everything!” Hina groaned.

“But remember, the other dormitory hall is a longer walk than ours,” Akira said. “I’m sure the others will show up any second.”

“You’re right,” Sakura agreed. “It wouldn’t hurt to wait a little longer.”

And they did just that. Akira and Hina went into the kitchen to prepare breakfast while they waited. Nagito and Hajime were the first to arrive— Kaede and Nekomaru weren’t too far behind.

“Good morning, everyone!” Kaede smiled, attempting to relieve the tension in the room. Ever since Byakuya mentioned there might be a traitor, there has been a rift in the students trust.

“Sorry I’m late!” Nekomaru said. “My morning shit took longer than usual!”

Everyone cringed at Nekomaru's statement, but were at least happy that more people showed up.

Akira and Hina exited the kitchen, holding plates and silverware. Sakura assisted with carrying out the trays of food.

“Well, it’s 8 o’clock. It has been an entire hour,” Hina said. “Where are Hagakure and Celeste? The whole time we’ve been here, they haven’t missed breakfast once! And the freaks! They should be here, too!”

Akira looked around the room. Toko, Yasuhiro, Celeste, Kokichi, Hifumi, and Taka were still missing.

"I have a terrible feeling something has happened," Sakura said.

"Exactly... Yamada and Taka were more eager than anyone to search for Alter Ego..." Makoto mumbled. "Why haven't they shown up yet?"

As relaxed as she has been the entire time, Akira couldn’t help but notice Kyoko was nervous about something. It was strange to see her on edge.

"Is everything alright, Kirigiri?" Akira asked.

"I was careless," Kyoko mumbled. Everyone looked at her in confusion. "I was too distracted by Alter Ego... But Monokuma gave us a motive. There was no way something wouldn't happen eventually."

"Someone actually did something... for money?" Makoto asked below a whisper, as if it were something he couldn’t believe.

“It shouldn’t be a surprise,” Hajime said. “We knew someone would give in to the motive sooner or later.”

"We should split up and look for them!" Ibuki suggested.

"That's not a bad idea," Akira said. "We will cover more ground if we break up into groups"

"There are only three floors, so we might need some sort of buddy system," Ayato said.

After discussing where everybody would search, they all agreed on their positions. Sakura and Nekomaru were in charge of checking the dormitory halls while Makoto and Ayato searched the first floor. Ibuki and Kyoko were in charge of searching the second floor, and Akira and Hina searched the third floor.

"What about us?" Hajime asked, referring to Nagito, Kaede and himself.

"There could be a chance that someone will come back," Akira said. "I think it would be best if you three stayed here and notify us if something happens."

"Agreed," Kyoko said. Everyone nodded, understanding their roles and started to split up.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

It has been about ten minutes, and no one has found the missing students, nor has anyone even entered the dining hall since the groups left. Kaede decided to gather some snacks, she knew they’d be there for a while. While she did that, Nagito was rambling about various topics. Something about despair being a stepping stone to create a much greater hope. They weren’t really listening.

The missing students were still nowhere in sight. That was until Akira and Hina finally made their way to the rec room. The door was slightly ajar, and when they opened it all the way, they saw Celeste. She seemed to be unconscious. There was also a giant hammer next to her.

“Holy shit,” Akira mumbled as she ran to the unconscious girl.

“Somebody! Help!” Hina yelled. It took little to no time for Makoto, Ayato, Ibuki, and Sakura to show up. Nekomaru, Kyoko, Kaede, Hajime, and Nagito were still on the floors below. Probably still trying to find the others.

By the time majority of the students gathered into the rec room, Celeste woke up.

"Celeste! You're awake," Ibuki sighed in relief.

"Are you okay? What happened!?" Ayato asked.

"I was careless," Celeste trembled.

"What cretin did this to you?" Sakura asked.

"It was... rather odd," Celeste said. "Whoever it was went to great lengths to hide their face. They then struck me with that."

Everyone turned to see what Celeste was pointing at. It was a hammer that was the hammer that laid next to her while she was unconscious.

"Justice Hammer Number One?" Makoto read what was written on the object.

"That is the hammer he attacked me with," Celeste said. "I barely managed to avoid the blow, but I stumbled and fell. I now curse my lack of daily exercise."

"Celeste... We need you to tell us everything that you remember so we can find out who did this to you," Akira said. "Please try to be as detailed as you can."

"Well, it all happened earlier this morning. Night time wasn’t over yet but… I thought it would be okay if I strolled around the first floor,” Celeste said. "I understand now that that was a mistake. Anyway, that is where I first saw the strange man. I was immediately wary of him... He was obviously suspicious, so I decided to follow after him in secret. As I followed, I seen him come in here. I tried to peek through the gap in the door, but he noticed me, and-“

"And that was when you were attacked," Sakura finished.

"Wait, if she was here before night time ended, then she would have been unconscious for an entire hour,” Ayato said. He then turned to Celeste, giving her a reassuring smile. “I’m just glad you’re okay. I mean, you could have a concussion, but at least you’re not dead.”

"That is fortunate... Though, I feel like there is something else I'm missing," Celeste said. She sat in thought, wondering what she could have forgotten. Everyone then flinched at her gasp. “Yamada! He is in grave danger! The person who did this to me kidnapped him.”

It was now their turn to gasp.

"They hung a left," Celeste continued. "I saw them as I was blacking out!"

"Hung a left, huh?" Sakura repeated. "That puts them on the stairwell leading to the second floor.”

Ayato froze in place and Makoto’s heart dropped. There was one other person who wasn’t instructed to stay on the first floor. One other person who should have heard Hina call for help. That one person was now missing.

"Oh no.. Kirigiri's down there!" Makoto exclaimed.

"Shit! Shit! Shit! How could we have forgotten about her?" Ayato panicked, turning to Ibuki.

"Ibuki doesn't know!" Ibuki cried. "She disappeared a little before we heard Hina scream!"

"We have to go!" Makoto yelled as he dashed out the door. Hina, Akira, and Sakura were close behind. Ibuki and Ayato stayed behind to help Celeste up so she could get out of the rec room.

They ran down the hall and down the stairs to the second floor. When they made it to the second floor, they found Byakuya.

"Oh my gosh, he's alright!" Akira sighed in relief as she ran towards Byakuya. "Sakura, Hina, continue looking. Ibuki and Ayato, stay close to Celeste!"

They nodded and continued running. Makoto stayed behind with Akira and Byakuya.

"Togami!" Makoto called out, he was out of breath. "Please tell me you've seen Kirigiri or Yamada!"

"Since when's it our job to watch them?" A voice asked from behind a pillar just a couple of feet away from the three. The girl showed herself... It was Syo.

"Is something the matter?" Byakuya asked.

"Might be..." Akira said. Before she could explain what happened, someone interrupted her.

"Over here!" Sakura yelled. The yelling came from the library. Makoto and Akira ran, both gripping Byakuya and Syo's arms so they can follow close behind. When they entered the library, they finally found Yamada. He was getting up from the floor, he had a massive amount of blood on his head.

"What happened to you?" Makoto asked.

"Naegi, look," Akira said as she pointed towards a hammer next to Hifumi. "Justice Hammer Number Two"

"Another one of those weird hammers?" Makoto asked. "Who the hell is this guy?"

"How did you get hurt?" Byakuya asked.

"That guy hit me..." Hifumi groaned.

"What guy?" Makoto asked.

"Robo-Justice..." Hifumi said. "Or... That's what I call him."

Akira immediately recognized that name. Robo-Justice. She heard about him somewhere... but she couldn't remember where.

"What are you talking about?" Byakuya asked. "Now's not the time to be cute and stupid."

"There is nothing cute and stupid about what he is saying," Celeste said. "I have evidence that Hifumi speaks the truth."

Everyone looked at Celeste as she pulled out a camera. Not just any camera. It was Hifumi's old camera he lend to her a few days ago. The one Ayato told Monokuma to return. She searched through the gallery and found the image of Hifumi being dragged away by someone in a robot costume.

"Wh-What the hell am I looking at...?" Byakuya asked.

"Bizzar, I know. But that's who attacked us." Celeste said, stuffing the camera back into her pocket.

"I'm surprised how he still manages to stand," Ayato said. "I mean... Look how big that hammer is. It’s bigger than the one we found in the rec room. How are you feeling, Yamada?"

"I'm not okay! Look at all of this blood!" Hifumi whined.

"Whoever that maniac is... we need to go after him!" Hina said.

"Ugh... do you mind if I take five in the nurse’s office while you do?" Hifumi asked.

"Fine... The rest of us will split into teams," Celeste said.

"Ibuki and Ayato will bring Hifumi to the nurse’s office, Hina, Celeste, and Sakura will check the third floor, Syo and Byakuya will stay on the second floor, Naegi and I will check the first floor," Akira said as she walked towards the door.

Everyone nodded and left the library. So far, there was still no sign of Taka, Yasuhiro or Kokichi. Akira and Ayato couldn’t help but worry.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

Makoto and Akira made it to the first floor. Without Sakura, Nekomaru switched from checking the dormitory halls, the dining hall, and the bathhouse. Kaede offered to help him, but he insisted it would be safer for her if she stayed in the dining hall with Hajime and Nagito.

"Naegi, continue looking around. I am going to check on the people in the dining hall," Akira said. "Please, call out to me if you see or hear anything. And be careful."

Naegi nodded as he and Akira split up. She ran into the dining hall and saw Kaede, Hajime, and Nagito were alive and well.

"Hey, Akira," Kaede smiled. The other two finally looked up. "How is the investigation going?"

"We found Yamada and Celeste... But they were attacked. The problem is, they don’t know who did it,” Akira said. "There is still no sign of Hiro, Ishimaru, or Oma. We can't risk anyone else getting hurt, so I will escort you guys to the dorms. Nekomaru is guarding our hall, so I will just have you guys stay in my room for the time being."

They nodded and followed Akira to the dorms. Akira explained everything to Nekomaru and hid the three in her room. Almost on cue, she heard Celeste shriek from the third floor and someone calling her name. She then met up with Makoto at the stairs and ran like their lives depended on it.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

Meanwhile in the nurse’s office, Ibuki and Ayato were getting ready to treat Hifumi's head wound.

"How ya feelin', Yamada?" Ibuki asked. "You want us to take a look at ya?"

"I-I'm okay... I think it stopped bleeding," Hifumi said. "I'm still kinda dizzy, though... I would much prefer if I cleaned it myself."

"We should just let him rest here for a while," Ayato said. "After we leave, we will lock you in here so no one can come in and harm you. Is that alright with you, Yamada?"

"Of course," Hifumi smiled, he still seemed out of it.

"Ibuki... can I talk to you privately real quick?" Ayato whispered. Ibuki nodded and they both walked away from Hifumi, but they stayed close enough so they could see him.

"What's up?" Ibuki asked.

"This is a really bizarre situation. I mean, Celeste and Yamada were attacked, but they were allowed to live. And whoever did this is wearing a full costume, there’s no way of telling who it is.”

“I know, and there was a major size difference with the hammers. If they get any bigger, someone would be dead for sure. But who could it be?”

“Well, naturally, the suspicion as to who Robo- Justice is would point towards those who weren’t in the dining hall this morning… I guess that would also go for Byakuya and Fukawa unless they can vouch for each other.”

“Yeah, even if they are in the clear, there are still three people who are left unaccounted for. If there does end up being a murder, that will be a big issue for us.”

Ayato sighed and looked at Hifumi. He had a wet wash cloth on his head, trying to clean off any dry blood.