A/N: I think this may be the longest chapter of fiction I've ever written. 17,000 words. Sorry this turned out to be so long, but I couldn't really trim it down that much. Let me know what you think in the review section. Enjoy!

Chapter Three: A Next Generation Legend! Stand Tall, Galactic Hero!

Makoto walked into the dining hall to find Kyoko, Hifumi, Sakura, Celeste, Yasuhiro, and Kiyotaka gathered around the table, waiting for him.

"So it's just the seven of us, then?" Kyoko mused after seeing just how empty the once crowded table had become over the past couple of weeks.

Makoto nodded, then looked over to Kiyotaka, who had looked as pale as a ghost and was as silent as a ghost. Makoto flashed back to Sayaka's death and imagined what he was like during that time.

I guess I was the same as him. At least in my case, Kyoko managed to get me out of my depression by urging me to search for the truth. But Kiyotaka; his closest friend is dead, and the truth is what caused him to be like this in the first place. Is there really nothing I can do to cheer him up?

It was then decided that everyone would help to check out the newly opened 3rd floor. Makoto was the last to arrive; looking around he say Kyoko waiting near the stairwell.

Walking over to her, he asked "So, any news on this floor?"

"So the 3rd floor opened up this time...After a brief investigation, it looks like there's a physics lab and an art room. I also found a huge machine of some kind in the physics lab. I wonder what it does…"

Makoto nodded and replied "Thanks; I'll check it out."

Before he could turn the corner, Kyoko called out "Makoto!"

Turning his head, Makoto looked back at her, curious as to why she stopped him.

"In the physics lab...I saw Kiyotaka. I know you're concerned about him, but the best thing you can do for him now is give him time."

"H...How?"

Kyoko shook her head and chuckled, replying "You wear your emotions on your sleeve. That, and I just have good intuition."

Blushing slightly, Makoto nodded, answering "Okay. I understand. See you later, Kyoko."

Makoto then left and turned the corner, off to investigate the rest of the 3rd floor.

XXX

Before long, everyone gathered in the dining hall to reveal what they had discovered on the 3rd floor. Everyone was surprised to find Aoi, who they had thought was sick. Before long, Aoi, Genocide Jack, and Sakura got into a verbal sparring match over a pointless comment, leaving everyone else save Kiyotaka shaking their heads. Since Kiyotaka was mor eor less a zombie, it was Yasuhiro who broke it up.

"Guys, come on! We're supposed to be discussing what we found on the 3rd floor, not fighting with each other like little children on a playground."

After everyone calmed down, Kyoko started by revealing "There was a rather remarkable physics lab on the 3rd floor. 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."

With Makoto's clarification, the discussion continued with Hifumi revealing how there was an art room, which diverged once Makoto revealed the digital camera he found that Hifumi revealed was originally his. After a brief, but passionate exchange about how he didn't want it anymore now that it was no longer in mint condition, Celeste ended up with the camera. Celeste then revealed that there was a game room on the 3rd floor, and Aoi revealed that the nurse's office on the 1st floor was now open.

A lot of good that does us; there's no nurse here, and any wounds we suffer are likely to be fatal anyways…

When everyone turned to Makoto, he stood and thought for a second.

Did I see anything that nobody else caught? Game room, art room, physics lab with the camera...wait a minute, the photo!

"Hey, um...can I tell you guys something? I found something that's...kinda bothering me."

Kyoko turned to Makoto, concerned and asked "What is it?"

Makoto spoke about the photo he found that revealed Mondo, Leon, and Chihiro all throwing their arms around each other in a classroom before Monokuma snatched it.

"Those three…?"

What happened? Did they...know each other before we arrived?

Yasuhiro concluded that the three of them must still be alive and took that picture. Kyoko and Makoto shook their heads, with Makoto thinking I wish that was the case.

"That's impossible. After all...we saw it with our own eyes. They're all dead. Either murdered or executed."

Celeste concluded that the photo must have been forged. Makoto tried to protest, but stopped when Kyoko put her hand on his shoulder, forcing him to look at her in surprise.

"Kyoko?"

She leaned closer and whispered "We can figure this strange photo out later. We have other, more important things to focus on at the moment."

Makoto nodded, but didn't miss the concern look in Kyoko's eyes; apparently she had been just as affected by the photo as he was.

Kyoko...what are you thinking?

Celeste then continued to accuse Aoi of lying about a stomachache, and Aoi crumbled after some deceit on Celeste's part. After some gentle prodding on Sakura's part, Aoi divulged how she had gone to the warehouse for some donuts, and went into the bathhouse after hearing some noise and found what she assumed to be a ghost of Chihiro in one of the lockers.

"A ghost? You mean like, THAT ghost?" Hifumi exclaimed in shock.

"Is there more than one ghost…?" Kyoko retorted dryly.

Celeste waved it off as Aoi's overactive imagination, only for Sakura to suggest everyone go and look for themselves, overruling Celests and Yasuhiro's objections.

"Kyoko...what do you think?" Makoto asked, torn between wanting to believe Aoi and his skepticism in the supernatural.

She turned to him and replied "I don't see the harm in going. Worst case scenario, we find nothing and Celeste was right." She then turned to the Ultimate Gambler and asked "What are you going to do, Celeste?"

Celeste sighed and acquiesced to go look in the locker. With that, everyone left the dining hall.

XXX

Before long, everyone save Byakuya, Toko, and Kiyotaka had congregated in the bathhouse. Makoto was still skeptic; he didn't peg Aoi for a prankster, but…

A ghost? I mean, this school is absolutely crazy, but it's not Hogwarts. Makoto turned to Kyoko and whispered "Kyoko, are we seriously considering the possibility that a ghost is roaming the halls?"

Kyoko glared at Makoto as she whispered back "If Hina saw something as she claims, there might be something here in the locker."

Makoto sighed, hearing no room for debate in Kyoko's voice and resigned "Ok Aoi; what locker was it that you saw the ghost in?" As Aoi pointed to a slightly ajar locker, Makoto approached it, asking "Um...is it this locker?"

Aoi nodded and Makoto proceeded to open the locker door to see a green laptop sitting in the locker.

"...a laptop? What's something like that doing here? Huh? Kyoko?"

Makoto looked in confusion as Kyoko grabbed his shoulder and gently pushed him aside, her brow furrowed as she got a closer look at the laptop.

"I remember seeing this…"

Oh, that's right. I saw it in the library before. "But how did the laptop get from the library...to here?"

Kyoko shook her head and replied "I don't know. But it looks like someone recently used it. And...I guess it's in sleep mode, but...the power is definitely on."

As Makoto expressed confusion as to how it would be working, Sakura speculated that Chihiro fixed it, and Aoi got into an argument with Celeste and Yasuhiro over her misunderstanding of what she saw.

Makoto pinched the bridge of his nose in his frustration with their antics and interrupted "We're getting off topic. But listen, isn't this really strange? What's this laptop doing in here?"

"Maybe someone hid it here."

As Yasuhiro complained that whoever put it there didn't do a good job of hiding it, Kyoko shook her head.

"Whoever put it here I don't think they were trying to hide it from us."

Makoto looked at her in confusion and asked "Huh? What do you mean?"

Kyoko sighed at Makoto's denseness and asked in return "Haven't you noticed? There's one big difference between this room and all the others."

Difference...what difference? Wait a minute...there's no…

"...surveillance camera. There's...no surveillance camera."

Kyoko smiled and nodded, thinking to herself A little slow on the uptake, but not bad, Makoto.

"Precisely. There's no camera in here. Which means, this is the one spot where the mastermind is blind." After Hifumi asked for clarification, Kyoko continued "That's correct, Hifumi. And what Hina saw wasn't the ordinary glow of a computer screen. It was...the figure of Chihiro, shining pale green." She turned to the laptop in question and said "I think it would be best if we investigated this laptop in a little more detail."

Makoto nodded, gingerly removing the laptop from within the locker and carrying it to one of the benches, sitting down with the computer on his lap.

Kyoko sat down next to him and advised "So first of all, we have to wake it up."

Makoto sat amazed as the laptop booted up after pressing some keys.

He really did it. Chihiro really did it.

Kyoko pointed to an icon and advised "There - the icon on the far left."

Makoto blushed, embarrassed at how distracted he had gotten, like a little kid with a new toy.

"It says...Alter Ego?" As Celeste began contemplating the meaning of Alter-Ego, Kyoko asked "Could you let me see it, Makoto?"

With that, she simultaneously yanked the laptop into her lap while sliding next to Makoto.

Geez Kyoko; what's the point in asking if you're just gonna rip it out of my hands?

As she started clicking on the icon, an impression of Chihiro's face appeared in a green background, exclaiming "Master! You're here! You really came!"

As Yasuhiro screamed in fear that it was a ghost, Kyoko rolled her eyes and assured "Calm down. It's not a ghost."

As Aoi asked what it was, Kyoko answered "I'm sure if we just talk to it, we'll find out."

As Kyoko typed in the question "What are you?", the image replied that it was Chihiro Fujisaki.

Everyone stood in shock, astonished at how perfectly the program had imitated the now-deceased Ultimate Programmer.

I thought that name sounded familiar…"Alter Ego...I've heard about this kind of AI program, but I've never seen one for myself."

"AI program..." I know that Chihiro spoke of an AI when he was alive one time, but he never went into detail…

"It's how Chihiro earned his title of Ultimate Programmer. The AI lives in a computer, and by repeating different tasks, it gains knowledge and grows bit by bit. Apparently Chihiro used a support vector machine and reinforcement learning to develop it. Eventually, he came up with a breakthrough in artificial intelligence design."

Okay, now you lost me…"Support vector machine…? Reinforcement learning?"

I suppose I expected as much; it's not exactly standard vocabulary outside of certain circles… Kyoko sighed and explained "To put it simply, it's a learning method for computers. But if this AI continues to grow, it will become more than just a piece of software to help people. Some say that an AI like this might someday replace people."

As Celeste remarked how it made sense that the program was named Alter-Ego, Kyoko continued "A second, perfect personality that can never forget or grow old. That's what Chihiro created…That's...Alter Ego."

Makoto stood there, amazed at Kyoko's comprehension and asked "Kyoko...how do you know so much about this..."

How...how do I know this? Why...why can't I...

Kyoko merely turned her head out of view, though Makoto didn't miss the look of conflict in her eyes, as though she was struggling to find an answer.

Kyoko...what's wrong?

Makoto's pondering was interrupted by Celeste's summary of events, and Hifumi and Yasuhiro's argument about Hifumi's newfound enamoration with Alter Ego.

Breaking up the tangent, Kyoko refocused "Anyway, let's talk to him a little more."

Makoto sat, amazed at the laser focus with how Kyoko worked to get information from Alter Ego.

I can barely keep up with what's going on, but Kyoko...Kyoko's amazing!

Alter Ego eventually divulged how he was instructed by Chihiro to access the files on the laptop, but it was taking time to get past the security.

"So because of how long it would take, he designed Alter Ego to handle the workload."

Kyoko warned Alter Ego to be careful, and Alter Ego responded that he'd scream if someone suspicious came by. Celeste brought up the fallacy of this plan during night time, which caused everyone to shuffle in ponderance as to how to address the flaw.

Makoto perked up and asked "How about once it's nighttime, we each take turns guarding the dressing room?"

Well-intentioned, but equally flawed, Makoto…

Kyoko shook her head, causing Makoto to feel disappointed as she countered "There's a good chance the mastermind would notice us all going in and out of the dressing room like that."

"Then...what can we do?"

Seems like no matter what we do, we're leaving some kind of back door open for the mastermind to take advantage of…

Makoto's uncharacteristic lack of hope was transformed into horror and shock at Kyoko's plan.

"Once nighttime comes, I'll leave the door to my room open. Then there's no way I can miss Alter Ego yelling."

Kyoko! No! Absolutely not! Out of the question! That puts you at risk! I don't want to lose any more friends!

When Yasuhiro brought up the flaw in her plan, in a more calm fashion than Makoto's frantic internal worries, Kyoko acknowledged "There's a chance I may become a victim myself, I know. But I'm not as weak as you may think. I wouldn't go down without a fight, I assure you."

Makoto couldn't help but be thrown off guard by the undeniable strength in her voice. As much as he wanted to argue about how foolish this plan seemed, he was forced into silence by her resolve.

It's different from during the trials. That's a strategic confidence, like a chess master stepping into her final round. This however, it's like she's being dropped on a battlefield and is steeling herself. Kyoko…

Alter Ego interrupted and asked where Chihiro was, and after only a moment's hesitation, told Alter Ego of Chihiro's death. Makoto felt a spring of concern for Kyoko and the choice she had to make.

To have to tell someone, even a computer program, that someone close to them is dead...nobody should have to make that decision. Kyoko...you wouldn't have to make that choice at all if it wasn't for Monokuma's games!

Makoto clenched his fist in anger as his thoughts turned to the austere bear that was responsible for so many deaths already. He was brought out of his silent seething when he felt Kyoko move one hand from the laptop to his right shoulder.

Kyoko…

The girl sighed and said "Anyway, that's enough for today. If we linger here too long, the mastermind will start to suspect something."

After typing a farewell to Alter Ego, she closed the laptop and handed it over to Makoto, who placed it back in the locker and moved the door so that it was only slightly ajar. Yasuhiro suggested that they move the laptop to somewhere with online access, but Hifumi shot it down by reminding him that the mastermind would find out about it.

"This is no time for taking needless risks. For now, I'll monitor the progress of the file analysis. I'm confident we'll uncover some kind of clue once it's finished."

Needless risks? What about leaving yourself wide open while you're asleep?

While Makoto was ranting to himself about Kyoko's gambit, he noticed that everyone was almost out of the bathhouse.

"Hey guys; wait for me!"

XXX

Makoto walked out in the middle of Celeste explaining to Monokuma how the girls won the right to take a bath tonight.

What the heck is she talking about?

Makoto's question went unanswered, as Celeste, Sakura, Kyoko, and Aoi filed back into the bathhouse. Confused, Makoto suggested that they all go back to the dining hall, until Monokuma made the outrageous suggestion that the three boys take a peak.

"Huh?"

Hifumi seemed ecstatic at the idea, but Yasuhiro and Makoto were somewhat less so at the idea of peeking at their female classmates while bathing.

"An opportunity like this doesn't come along very often...It's the ideal setting of a man's fantasy!"

Makoto felt at war with himself; his rational brain reminded him of the lessons his mother and father taught him since he could talk, about how it was incredibly rude to peek at a woman in private. However, his emotions wandered to Kyoko, the girl who he found more interesting by the day, and his desire to see her in that state easily overpowered his rational respect for boundaries.

Blushing, he exclaimed "Okay. Let's go!"

Kyoko's gonna kill me for this, I just know it!

XXX

"Huh?"

Kyoko turned in the direction of the door, which appeared to be closed, and wrapped her towel tighter around her torso. Other than her gloves, the towel was the only thing covering her womanly curves.

Aoi turned to her and asked "Hey Kyoko, what's the matter? We're here to have fun, so just relax and enjoy yourself. Who knows when we'll be able to have another bath together like this?"

I could have sworn it opened a crack...Was that green I saw through the doorway…

Blushing for a moment, Kyoko smiled and said "You're right. Perhaps it is best to relax, if only for a moment."

With that, she sauntered over and relaxed her grip on her towel, sitting down next to Aoi as she contemplated what she saw.

XXX

Makoto, Yasuhiro, and Hifumi arrived back in the dining hall, panting as though they had just run a marathon. Makoto's entire face was as red as a tomato, overcome by the heavenly sight he just witnessed.

Those curves, those legs, her dripping, lavender hair. I thought she was pretty, but Kyoko's beautiful!

"Yo dude, better wipe that dopey in love expression off your face, or Ogre and the others will know for sure about what we did."

The thought of Kyoko glaring at him with a disappointed look on her face made Makoto blanch, and after smacking his head into his palms, he looked at Yasuhiro with a normal expression.

It was at that moment that the girls walked back in, dressed and looking happily refreshed, making Makoto sigh in relief at narrowly avoiding being caught.

Celeste and Aoi spoke of how pleasant it was to be able to relax in their bath, with Kyoko turning to Makoto with a tint of red in her cheeks and concurring "Indeed."

Their bliss didn't last long, for Monokuma popped out of nowhere, to nobody's surprise.

"After seeing how happy we were, an evil little monster like you would never let that last for long."

Monokuma rattled on about how everyone was mean to him, then revealed that he had presents for everyone.

"...Presents?" Why do I get the feeling that this isn't going to be on my christmas list?

Monokuma, now having everyone's attention, told everyone to come to the gymnasium, then disappeared again.

As Hifumi fretted over what Monokuma planning this time, Kyoko speculated "He's probably going to repeat the same thing again. Providing us with a motive to get things moving."

Again? I don't want to have to do this again. Can't we just...not go and head straight for bed?

Kyoko laid her hand on Makoto's shoulder and answered everyone "It's okay. We have Alter Ego. I'm sure he'll find something that'll help us. So for now...we have to just endure it, come what may."

Everyone mumbed in reluctant agreement and started to file toward the gym, leaving Makoto and Kyoko alone.

"...When is this all going to end?"

Kyoko looked at Makoto in sympathy, his dejected expression concerning her. She squeezed his shoulder in comfort, causing him to look at her.

"I don't have an answer for that. But remember, we have some measure of hope this time. Just try to endure it for now, and we'll find a way out." I promise.

She wanted to say that, but knew that with someone as unpredictable as Monokuma in charge, nothing was certain. Nevertheless, it was enough to appease Makoto, who nodded and walked to the gymnasium, Kyoko following closely behind him.

XXX

When they at last arrived, Byakuya was waiting and proceeded to scold them for being late. Toko had also reverted to her normal personality, revealing that the two switched when she sneezed or lost consciousness.

Sakura noted that everyone was accounted for, prompting Kyoko to finish "Which means…"

It wasn't long before Monokuma appeared on top of the podium and with usual fanfare, presented his next motive; $10,000,000 to the graduating student.

Money? Really? First our loved ones, then our treasured secrets, now you choose money to motivate us?

"When it comes to motives, money certainly is the gold standard, so to speak. Whether it's in a mystery novel, or the real world..." Kyoko mused.

Kyoko, this isn't really the time to be admiring him…

Thankfully, everyone verbally refused Monokuma's motive. Even Byakuya, who had been finding Monokuma's game entertaining, rejected the motive.

"...It's not nearly enough."

...Well, I guess to someone of Byakuya's wealth, $10,000,000 would be chump change.

After spouting a speech about living a moral communal life, Monokuma vanished, only to be followed by the nighttime announcement.

As everyone started heading to bed, Kyoko reminded "Before we separate, let me remind you...Starting tonight, I'll be leaving my room door open to make sure nothing happens to Alter Ego."

You don't need to remind me. I still say this is a bad idea…

"But just because my door is open, don't assume that will make me an easy target. Or the predator may suddenly find itself the prey."

There's that inner strength again. Guess I just have to trust her…

XXX

Makoto lay on his bed, unable to get to sleep, anxiously tossing and turning. Despite Kyoko's words of confidence, he still worried.

"Damn it Kyoko, why do you have to insist on doing this by yourself? Why couldn't you have someone else stay up with you? Wait a minute, that's it!"

Inspired to act, Makoto got up and unlocked his door, pushing it open as far as it would go.

"Great; now if anyone tries to hurt Kyoko, I'll hear it and can get help!"

Satisfied, he went back to his bed, and his eyes began to droop. Without his anxiety and worries to keep him up, Makoto fell into an ironically deep sleep.

XXX

Kyoko sat on the bed, keeping her mind occupied by rewinding all the events at Hope's Peak in her head, hoping to come up with a clue to the mysteries of the institution.

There's just so much we still don't know. Hopefully Alter Ego will be able to tell us something soon.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a very loud snoring sound, leaving Kyoko confused.

"Huh? I thought our rooms were supposed to be soundproof. And nobody would be foolish enough to break the rule about sleeping outside of the dorms, so where's that snoring coming from?"

Kyoko decided to step outside and investigate, too curious to just leave it alone. She looked to her right and saw a door wide open. She pushed it back a little and saw Makoto's nameplate on it.

Makoto? But why is his door open? Is that his snoring?

Kyoko stepped inside to investigate further, and saw Makoto spread out on the bed, conked out. Despite how obnoxiously loud his snoring was, Kyoko couldn't help but smile at the sight.

He looks kind of...cute…

A light pink tinting her cheeks, Kyoko shook her head to clear the the thought out of her head as she watched Makoto's sleeping form.

But wait, why was his door open in the first place? He could easily turn out to be the next victim, being so careless like that…

Her thoughts were interrupted when Makoto shifted, turning on his side and mumbling.

"Kyoko...with my door open...the mastermind can't get her. She'll be safe...I'll...protect her."

Kyoko felt touched, putting her hand over her heart in surprise as Makoto inadvertently revealed why his door was open.

He...he left his door open on purpose? To protect me? Kyoko shook her head in amusement as she thought Makoto you silly boy; I can take care of myself.

She walked up to him and gently ran her hand through his messy brown mop, making Makoto smile as he snored.

You've certainly come a long way from the scared little boy who hung at my waist in fear.

Shaking her head, Kyoko removed her hand from Makoto and walked out the door, gently closing it on her way out.

There; you sought to protect me, so I'll return the favor. I won't put you at risk unnecessarily.

Smiling, to herself, Kyoko was brought out of her thoughts as she saw a large shadow moving towards the bathhouse. Her brow furrowed in concern, Kyoko left to follow and investigate.

XXX

Makoto rubbed the sleep out of his eyes, yawning and getting off of the bed.

"Boy, I sure slept well!" Wait a minute? Slept well?

Makoto's eyes widened as he realized what he just said.

Crap, I was supposed to be staying up to back up Kyoko. Did I seriously fall asleep?

Makoto stood up and walked up to his door, and blanched at a startling detail.

Oh no; I could have sworn I opened it last night. Someone must have closed it while I was conked out! What if something happened to Kyoko while I was sleeping?

Panicking, Makoto slammed the door open and raced to the dining hall.

Please be okay, please be okay!

XXX

Makoto sat next to Kyoko as they ate breakfast, blushing in embarrassment at how worked up he had gotten over what was apparently nothing. Celeste had asked if there were any problems the other night, and Kyoko shook her head to Makoto's relief.

"Yeah, I didn't have any problems. I went and checked on the laptop a little while ago, and there weren't any problems there, either. But…"

But...what happened? Did something happen?

"It's related to this case, so I suppose I should be blunt. I have to make a new rule. Using Alter Ego without permission is prohibited. Someone going in and out of the dressing room would draw unwanted attention from the mastermind."

A new rule?

"Why do we need to make a rule about it?"

Kyoko turned to Hifumi, gave one of her knowing smiles, and replied "That's a good question. Do you have any thoughts on that, Hifumi?"

Hifumi started sweating and to everyone's confusion, started yelling at everyone to be careful and hurry up and eat.

Hifumi, what did you do?

Makoto sighed and went back to eating his breakfast, leaving the question unanswered as he looked back to Kyoko with a gleam of appreciation in his eye.

I'm just glad you're okay.

XXX

Everyone had left the dining hall, so it was just Makoto and Kyoko remaining. Makoto got up, about to walk back to his room when Kyoko's words stopped him.

"I have to put all my energy into watching out for myself. I don't have time to worry about anyone else."

Huh? She said that once before, but why is she saying that now?

Seeing that Makoto was still confused as to what she was implying, Kyoko spelled it out for him.

"You had me worried last night, with that stunt you pulled last night by leaving your front door wide open like that."

"You...you saw that?" Realization dawned on him as he exclaimed "You shut my door last night, didn't you?"

Kyoko nodded and elaborated "I could hear you snoring after you fell asleep last night and decided to investigate. I found you conked out on your bed and shut your door on my way out."

Makoto blushed and looked down, ashamed that she had to go protect him when he had been trying to protect her.

"Kyoko...Kyoko, I'm sorry. If I hadn't fallen asleep and actually stayed awake, you wouldn't have had to worry about me like that."

So he chooses to apologize for falling asleep, rather than leaving himself open...

Kyoko sighed and scolded "Makoto, what you did was extremely dangerous. Anyone could have waltzed in and had their way with you in the middle of the night. I told you, I can watch out for myself. I'm not defenseless, Makoto."

"I know that, Kyoko. But even still..." Makoto clenched his fists in frustration as he continued "Kyoko...we've lost too many friends already! I can't lose you too; that's why I felt I had to watch out for you. I couldn't just sit back and do nothing while one of my classmates was putting herself at risk. I couldn't sleep, I was so worried!"

Kyoko found herself touched by Makoto's devotion. Looking aside, she diverted the conversation before things got too emotional for her.

"You mean like how you had to watch out for me when you took a peek last night?"

Makoto blanched, not needing ESP to figure out what Kyoko was referring to.

I knew she'd find out. She's gonna kill me, all because I couldn't resist peeking. I'm so weak…

To his surprise, Kyoko giggled, making the boy's jaw drop in shock.

She...she's not mad? What the heck? I peeked on her while she was BATHING and she's not chewing me out?

"You're so easy to tease, you know that?" Before Makoto could say anymore, Kyoko continued "I'm not mad, Makoto. I appreciate the concern you showed last night, but you must understand, I do my best work on my own. Having someone else to watch out for, it splits my concentration. And with all my attention focused on Alter Ego, I can't afford a 3rd person to worry about. So from now on, just keep your door closed and locked, and let me do my job. It'll make things much smoother, okay?"

"Kyoko..."

Before he could answer fully, Kyoko got up, saying "Well, I have things to do. I'll see you soon, Makoto."

As she left the dining hall, Kyoko had a slight blush on her face as she remembered Makoto's words of devotion while he slept.

He couldn't sleep...because he was worried about me. Makoto...no, I can't let you get closer than you already have. You'll only get burned if you do.

XXX

"Where are you going?"

Oh great; the one time I don't want to run into Kyoko and she finds me in a heartbeat!

Glancing at the still blanched-faced Ultimate Moral Compass, she advised "It's probably best if you don't drag him around with you too much, given his current condition."

Makoto had spent the past couple of hours in his room, trying to get his emotions under control after his discussion with Kyoko. All of a sudden, his doorbell rang and Makto had gotten up to answer it to find Kiyotaka, who begged him to let him see Alter Ego. Against his better judgment, Makoto cracked at Kiyotaka's despair-filled expression, and agreed. Except Kyoko had intercepted him, expecting an answer to her question.

Come on Makoto; Kyoko's gonna catch any lie you can think of. Just ask her permission; she'll understand. Whatever you do, don't lie!

"But I was getting kinda hungry. I thought we could head to the dining hall or warehouse or something..."

You're up to something…

"Well then, I guess that's okay."

Wait, she actually bought it? Is this a dream?

Makoto watched as she walked away, shocked that she had bought his bald-faced lie.

Sighing, Makoto yanked Kiyotaka by the wrist as he walked away, muttering "Well, no need to look a gift horse in the mouth. Let's go before she really suspects something..."

XXX

"What do you think you're doing?"

Makoto froze in place as Kyoko blocked his exit. Makoto began sweat, his worst fears in this scenario playing out before his very eyes.

"K-Kyoko! Oh, um...no, see...this is just -"

"Just you disregarding the rule I set less than 12 hours ago and taking Kiyotaka to see Alter Ego without my permission."

"I...I can explain -"

Kyoko glared at him with disappointment, making Makoto feel meek before she lectured "Don't go around doing whatever you feel like. It causes problems. And not just for me. For everyone."

"It...it's not like..."

At Kyoko's glare, Makoto silenced, knowing that no explanation he gave, no matter how truthful, was going to get him back on Kyoko's good side today.

"S...Sorry. I'm really sorry, Kyoko."

Kyoko's glare softened marginally as Makoto hung his head in shame, the boy awaiting whatever punishment she deemed fit.

"If you're really sorry, you'll get out of here." She hardened her glare and ground her teeth as she finished "Now."

"O-Okay..."

Makoto brushed past her, his head hung to hide the tears in his eyes from her. He walked briskly to his room, then slammed the door and locked it before sinking to the floor. Wrapping his arms around his legs, he buried his head in his knees and cried.

"Great work, Makoto. I let Kyoko down, made her worry, then broke the rule she set just because I wanted Kiyotaka to feel better. Now she probably hates me; I wouldn't blame her, with these last couple of stunts I pulled."

Makoto cried himself to sleep, ashamed of himself and wishing that he could just vanish and avoid Kyoko's disappointment and anger.

XXX

"Sh-She's trying to kill me!"

What's going on?

Yasuhiro had all but dragged Makoto to the bathhouse under the pretense of taking a bath, only to be immediately used for cover by Hifumi, who was being glared at by Kyoko. Gulping, Makoto averted his eyes, trying to avoid being in the path of Kyoko's glare.

Sighing, Kyoko assured "I never said I was going to kill him. I simply asked him a question. I'd like to know why he made the same mistake twice."

Makoto struggled to voice his confusion, still somewhat emotional after being chewed out by Kyoko the other day.

"The same mistake…? What did he do…?" Don't tell me...

Kyoko confirmed "He snuck into the dressing room in the middle of the night and accessed Alter Ego without permission. And when I caught him last night...he was hugging the laptop and breathing strangely."

Hugging the laptop? Ok, I don't know which is creepier; Kiyotaka's Super-Saiyan transformation, or Hifumi's molestation of a laptop!

Kyoko looked in Hifumi and Makoto's direction, making both of them want to be anywhere but there as she lectured like a schoolteacher "I thought I made myself clear yesterday, but since being subtle didn't work...I suppose I have to clarify myself further."

Hifumi begged Kyoko not to kill him, and Kyoko replied "I'm not going to kill you - merely instruct you."

Makoto meekly raised his voice as he stuttered "Kyo...Kyoko? What's going to happen now?"

Why's he so afraid? He's not the one I'm lecturing right now…

Kyoko explained to the frightened boy "I just want him to explain himself."

Nodding, Makoto stepped away from Hifumi and asked "Um, Hifumi...could you tell me what happened?"

"W-Well, I just...I was just talking!"

"Which was prohibited, was it not?"

Hifumi proceeded to disclose his infatuation with Alter Ego, shocking everyone and causing Makoto to pity him.

So he had no friends? I feel sorry for him…

At that moment, Kiyotaka burst through the entryway, declaring himself Kiyondo, forcing Makoto to explain what happened the other day when Kyoko caught him.

So that's what happened…

Kyoko averted her gaze, feeling a touch of guilt for her harshness with Makoto the other day. Her guilt however turned to irritation at Kiyotaka and Hifumi's verbal brawl over who Alter Ego belonged to.

Children...I'm dealing with children…

"Knock it off, both of you. 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." Backed up by Sakura's muscle, Kyoko warned "Until Alter Ego has finished his work, don't do anything weird. Have I made myself clear?"

Kiyotaka, Hifumi, and Makoto mumbled their agreement.

Satisfied, Kyoko answered "Okay then. Let's get out of here. We can't afford to linger too long." When Sakura questioned the wisdom of letting Kiyotaka and Hifumi off with a warning, Kyoko replied "Yes. I have a plan. It'll be fine…"

Everyone filed out, going back to their rooms and going about their day.

XXX

They had just gotten out of the bathhouse when Makoto noticed something peculiar; Kyoko was following him. Every time he looked over his shoulder, Makoto saw the lavender haired girl behind him.

Great. She probably wants to chew me out some more for going against the rule like she did with Hifumi and Kiyotaka. Alright, let's get this over with…

"What's the matter? Are you keeping an eye on me?"

Her question caught him off guard; out of her mouth wasn't a lecture or an insult like he felt he deserved, but instead a question.

...What's she talking about?

He turned around and saw that she was right in front of his face, analyzing him. Suddenly, she smiled, making Makoto even more nervous.

"You don't need to be so afraid, Makoto. Don't worry. I'm not going to kill anyone."

I'm kind of surprised you haven't killed me by now, after everything I've done… Makoto thought dryly.

Kyoko saw the self-depreciation on Makoto's face, making her furrow her brow in worry.

"Listen, Makoto...I feel I may have been too harsh on you the other day."

Makoto looked at Kyoko in shock, thinking What the? I'm the one who messed up, and she thinks she was too harsh?

"Looking back, you were trying to explain why you were breaking the rule I set to begin with. If I had actually listened to what you had to say, instead of chewing you out, maybe we could have come to an understanding. You were concerned about Kiyotaka, and when he came to your door pleading with you, you saw an opportunity to help him regain the happiness he lost. If he hadn't come to you and asked for your help, you wouldn't have broken my rule to begin with."

"Kyoko..."

She turned to Makoto and hardened her glare while she continued "I'm still miffed that you lied to me. You could have asked me for permission when we ran into each other. But..." Kyoko softened her stare as she finished "But I'm willing to forgive you."

"Th...Thank you, Kyoko. I'm sorry I tried to go around you like that and lied to you. I don't know what I was thinking."

Kyoko smiled, glad that things had been resolved between them.

"Now, if that's all, then I have things to attend to. See you later, Makoto."

XXX

It wasn't until dinner time that Makoto ran into Kyoko again. Makoto was glad that Kyoko forgave him for breaking her rule about Alter Ego, but there was still something else bothering him that left his conscience unsatisfied.

I still have to apologize for peeping on her a couple days ago. That was just bad judgment and I should be slapped for it.

Makoto waited until everyone else had left before making his move.

"Um...Kyoko? Wait a minute, I need to talk to you!"

Kyoko turned around just as she was about to exit the dining hall. Makoto had grabbed her wrist, preventing her from leaving and making her confused about Makoto's uncharacteristic forwardness.

"What's the matter? Why are you bouncing around like a little rabbit? Don't you have anything to do?"

Makoto took a deep breath and began his apology.

"Listen, about the other night, when I peeked on you while you and the other girls were bathing, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have even been tempted, it was inexcusable, and a complete invasion of your privacy. I don't blame you if you're mad at me..."

A long, drawn out pause followed, Kyoko silent as Makoto fidgeted in place.

"Kyoko? Please say something? Are you mad at me?"

"...Did you like what you saw?"

"HuhuhuHUH?!"

Makoto blushed as the memory of Kyoko's near-nude body flashed through his mind.

What kind of question is that?

"Gotcha!"

Huh?

Makoto watched in shock as Kyoko giggled into her glove, trying to figure out what was so funny.

"Your reaction was priceless, you're too easy to trick, Makoto."

"Wait, so you're...you're not mad? But then, why didn't you call me out on it at the time?"

"I'm not mad, Makoto. I can tell you're not usually a peeping Tom, so I don't have to worry about it being a regular thing. And as for why I didn't call you out on it, well I saw the door open a bit and your green eyes in the doorway, but I didn't have any other proof. I was only sure after I decided to test my assumption the other day; by then it was all water under the bridge, as far as I was concerned."

"So you...you forgive me, Kyoko?"

Kyoko sighed in amusement and clarified "Yes, I forgive you Makoto. Is there anything else you feel the need to apologize for, or is that the end of your alleged transgressions?"

"N...no, I don't have anything else that I can think of..." She's really letting me off the hook?

Kyoko smiled and said "Well in that case, I'm headed off to bed. Good night, Makoto. I'd better not hear your snoring tonight."

She winked, making Makoto blush as she walked out of the dining hall. Makoto smiled as he reflected how he went from guilty to forgiven all in one day.

XXX

"Who set all this up? And why did they choose us? There are so many mysteries…"

Makoto looked up from his breakfast plate and saw Kyoko walking in and grabbing a plate form the stack on the counter. She grabbed her breakfast, then walked over to the table and sat across from Makoto.

"Oh, hey Kyoko. What were you talking about just now?"

Kyoko, realizing she had been mumbling out loud, assured "It's nothing, just talking to myself again."

Makoto nodded in acceptance, and the two went back to eating their breakfast. As they finished, Kyoko brought up "I saw Byakuya and Jack running out the door as I came in. Care to explain what that was all about?"

Makoto nodded and explained "Byakuya came barging into the dining hall earlier and demanded we tell him about a story that nobody bothered to tell him yet."

Kyoko then pulled a piece of paper and pen from her pocket and started scribbling, then passing both to Makoto.

"I assume you mean about Alter Ego?"

Comprehension crossing his face, Makoto gingerly grabbed the sheet of paper, scribbled on it, and passed it back.

"Yeah."

And so the note-passing game went back and forth between the two.

"What did you tell him?"

"We didn't tell him anything. Should we have told him something?"

"It's good that you didn't risk it in front of the security cameras. I'll fill him in before nighttime tonight so we're all on the same page myself."

Figuring that it was now okay to talk, Makoto coughed and continued "He also asked about Kiyotaka's strange personality. Celeste gave a rather crude conclusion and after proclaiming it was interesting, left with Jack on his heels."

Kyoko nodded and went back to her breakfast. Once she was finished, she got up and disposed of her plate.

"Well, I'm afraid I have more investigations to conduct, so I'll take my leave now. Goodbye, Makoto."

XXX

It was during one of these investigations that Makoto ran into Kyoko again, around midday. Kyoko had been investigating one of the classrooms on the 3rd floor when Makoto, having had nothing to do, stumbled inside and looked in surprise at the mysterious Ultimate.

"Oh, Kyoko!"

The girl in question turned to face him, surprised and not surprised to see him, and paused in her investigation.

"Makoto. Did you need something from me?"

Flustered and waving his hands, Makoto replied "Oh, no, no. I was just wandering around and stumbled in here."

"I see. Well, I was just conducting an investigation during my free time."

"Investigation? Into what? Do you need any help?"

My, he's sure eager. It's better that he not get involved though; the less he gets involved, the safer we'll both be.

"I've pretty much finished up in here, so investigating this room any further would be a waste of time. Besides, I'm just about to head downstairs and take a bath, so if it's not too much trouble I'll take my leave."

Makoto blushed until he followed Kyoko's gaze to find her looking at the nearby security camera.

Oh! "Oh...okay. Guess I'll see you later, Kyoko."

As Makoto left the classroom, Kyoko felt a faint blush dust her face; as much as it was a ruse, she was still affected by the thought of what happened during the previous ruse. Smiling, she left the classroom and headed downstairs to the bathhouse.

XXX

Makoto stumbled into the bathhouse, being dragged by the arm by Yasuhiro. Makoto looked around and saw that everyone, even Byakuya, had gathered in the locker room. Sakura openly wondered why Kyoko had asked everyone to come, and Yasuhiro speculated that it had something to do with Alter Ego. Aoi cheered, only for her hopes to come crashing down at Kyoko's next sentence.

"It's gone."

Makoto's eyes widened in shock as he repeated "Gone?"

Kyoko nodded, explaining "I came here a little earlier to check up on things, and that's when I discovered...Alter Ego - the laptop - has disappeared…"

Everyone, save Byakuya and Toko, had shock plastered on their faces. Celeste wondered if the mastermind abducted Alter Ego, but Kyoko shook her head.

"I'd told Alter Ego to yell if anyone he didn't recognize appeared. If it was the mastermind, I'm sure he would have alerted us." As Aoi tried to raise the possibility that she just missed it, Kyoko countered "I was in the laundry room right next door all day. There's no way I wouldn't have heard it."

She must have been running back and forth between investigations… Makoto thought as he remembered the conversations he had with Kyoko earlier in the day.

Hifumi and Kiyotaka then started pointing fingers at each other, with Yasuhiro urging one of them to confess.

However, Kyoko eliminated that possibility, explaining "No. There's no way either one of them did it. I told Alter Ego to yell if either Taka or Hifumi came into the dressing room."

And probably me too, considering I broke her golden rule…

As Kiyotaka's eye twitched at the revelation, Kyoko continued "It was a countermeasure against the clear danger that one of them might come for it."

As Celeste disclosed that she didn't hear anyone yell, Kyoko concluded "Exactly. Which means it wasn't them."

Everyone started wondering who stole Alter Ego, with Byakuya sharing his theory that one of them was a mole for the mastermind.

No...no way! We're friends! No way we would betray each other!

That particular debate was ground to a halt as both Kiyotaka and Hifumi moaned about how they just wanted Alter Ego back. The mood then became more somber, as almost everyone started to empathize with the two eccentric Ultimates.

"I think Alter Ego is most likely still safe, for the moment at least."

As both Kiyotaka and Hifumi swore to save Alter Ego, everyone's attention was diverted to the nighttime announcement.

Celeste urged everyone to go to bed for the evening and pick up the search tomorrow. Hifumi and Kiyotaka protested, but were silenced by Kyoko's words of caution.

"Anything we do at night brings a higher chance of the mastermind noticing us. Celeste is right. We should begin our investigation tomorrow morning. What do you think, Makoto?"

Makoto nodded in agreement and turned to Kiyotaka and Hifumi urging "I know how you feel, but...It's best if, just for tonight...you can try and endure it."

The two grumbled, but otherwise didn't ocmpain further. Everyone started filing out of the bathhouse, leaving Makoto and Kyoko alone.

Makoto was just about to leave, when he heard Kyoko call "Makoto, a word?"

Turning his head in curiosity, he walked back and asked "What is it, Kyoko?"

Her head turned, as if hesitant about her next course of action, then refocused ot glare at him, asking "Did you take Alter Ego? Answer honestly, Makoto."

Makoto stumbled back in shock; this was the last thing he expected Kyoko to ask him.

M...ME?

Dumbfounded, he replied "Why would you think that? How could I have stolen Alter Ego?"

Stepping closer to him, Kyoko answered "Because out of the small number of people who broke my rule, you are the only person to whom I didn't program Alter Ego to scream if they came near. Which makes you the most obvious suspect. Now, I'm going to ask one more time; did you take Alter Ego?"

She...she didn't program Alter Ego to scream if I came by? Even after I broke her rule?

Normally, Makoto would have been awestruck that she showed that degree of trust in him, but this wasn't a normal circumstance. Makoto did the only thing he could think of to convince Kyoko; he got on his knees and begged.

"I know...I know that I broke your rule, and you have every reason to not trust me after that. But I promise Kyoko, I NEVER broke it ever again. Please believe me, I'm begging you!"

Kyoko's eyes softened at seeing Makoto cry and beg for her to believe him. A rush of guilt entered her heart, making her regret even thinking of testing him like that.

"I didn't think you did. Still, I had to make sure. Stand up Makoto, you're not in any trouble."

Smiling in gratitude, Makoto stood up, briefly turning away to wipe the tears from his eyes with his wrist.

"So you...you believe me, right?"

Smiling in amusement, Kyoko replied "As I've said before, you're too foolishly open to deceive me like that."

Makoto felt strangely comforted by what had previously been a constructive insult.

"Alright, Makoto. Go to bed; we'll pick this up in the morning, okay?"

Nodding Makoto ran out the door, leaving Kyoko to watch him until he had disappeared.

XXX

Makoto walked into the dining hall to be greeted by Aoi, Sakura, and Kyoko.

Just the four of us? I figured at least Hifumi and Kiyotaka would get here before me, so what happened to them?

Makoto looked at Kyoko, who had a look of concern and confusion on her face.

Kyoko, what are you thinking?

The four of them decided to wait for the others a little longer, fidgeting more with each mknute that passed by. At 8:00, Aoi expressed expressed the confusion everyone else had been feeling, and Kyoko's eyes widened in realization.

"Something must have happened."

"Huh?" Don't tell me…

"I was careless. I was too distracted by Alter Ego...But Monokuma gave us a motive. There was no way something wouldn't happen eventually."

Makoto's face blanched at Kyoko's implication, struggling to reconcile his faith in his friends with the awful reality that Kyoko was probably right.

Taking control, Kyoko declared "We need to go look for the people who never showed up."

Without another word, everyone nodded and left the dining hall. Before they even left the entryway, Kyoko continued "We can cover more ground if we split up. Sakura, you go check the dorms. Make sure to check all of our rooms. Makoto, you go check the 1st floor of the school. Meanwhile, I'll check the 2nd floor."

Everyone nodded, their assignments clear, a sense of urgency coursing through their veins.

"Don't take any risks. If anything happens, call for help right away."

Aoi and Sakura left in a heartbeat, leaving Makoto and Kyoko alone. As she was about to turn away, Makoto called out to her.

"Kyoko!"

"Hm?"

Kyoko turned back to him, seeing an intense pleading in his eyes as he spoke his next words.

"The same applies to you. Don't take any unnecessary risks. I don't want to lose any more friends. So please, be careful, Kyoko."

Her heart warming at Makoto's concern, Kyoko steeled her expression, nodding before dashing to the stairwell.

I hope she'll be okay. Please don't let anything happen to her.

XXX

Makoto rushed into the rec room with Sakura and Aoi following close behind to find a bruised Celeste regaining consciousness. Celeste explained how she was attacked and showed everyone a picture she took of her attacker, a picture that made everyone stare with shock.

What the heck is that? Is that...a giant robot carrying Hifumi? I doubt Hifumi could have written this scenario in one of his fanfics!

When pressed for where the mysterious assailant left, Celeste said that he headed left when leaving the rec room.

"If that's true, they were headed toward the stairs leading down to the 2nd floor!"

2nd floor...don't tell me…

"The 2nd floor...That's where Kyoko was supposed to be..."

"Why isn't Kyoko here?"

Aoi cringed from Makoto's volume and explained that she didn't have time to get her.

But Sakura was all the way in the dorms! Why didn't you pick her up on the way?

"This is bad. If the strange man did head to the 2nd floor, Kyoko might run into him..."

Makoto blanched with fear; his body shook at the thought of Kyoko being attacked.

"Makoto?"

"We have to hurry. Kyoko's in danger!"

Makoto dashed out of the rec room and to the stairs at lightning speed, ignoring the cries behind him of "Makoto, wait up!"

Please be okay, please be okay!

XXX

Whilst they didn't find Kyoko or the mystery assailant, they did find a wounded Hifumi and brought him down to the nurse's office. Hifumi dubbed the mystery assailant "Robo Justice" and everyone started to speculate who the attacker might be. As the discussion went on, Byakuya asked where Kyoko was. Makoto grew even more worried as Aoi and Sakura wondered where she could have gone. Byakuya smiled that smirk that made his skin crawl as the next sentence from Byakuya shocked Makoto to his core.

"She might be exactly as I suspected..."

Kyoko? The assailant? Now hold on a minute! "Kyoko was with us in the dining hall when Celeste and Hifumi were attacked."

Byakuya shook his head at Makoto's emotional defense of Kyoko's innocence.

Simple-minded plankton.

"I'm referring to what we talked about last night. Who the mastermind's spy might be..."

Makoto felt his blood run cold; the idea that Kyoko, the same Kyoko who had saved his life after Sayaka's death, was a mole for the mastermind was unfathomable to him.

Kyoko...a traitor? No, she wouldn't! Kyoko may have her secrets, but she's still our friend! "Th...that's not possible!"

As Makoto and Byakuya continued to go back and forth, Sakura took on the role of mediator that Kyoko would normally play and guided the group's focus back to finding Robo Justice.

As everyone save Hifumi left the nurse's office, Makoto thought Once we find Robo Justice, that'll ensure Kyoko doesn't become another victim.

XXX

This can't be happening...it can't be happening!

In the span of a number of minutes, both Hifumi and Kiyotaka wound up dead, their heads bashed in with Justice Hammers. To make things even worse, both of their corpses had somehow vanished from their respective crime scenes. Even Byakuya was left speechless and stumped. As everyone tried to make sense of what had actually happened, Celeste recounted the events of the day, and Byakuya proposed that either Kyoko or Yasuhiro could have been the culprit, since neither of them were in the group when the flurry of events occurred.

Makoto's worry for Kyoko swiftly turned into ire towards the Ultimate Affluent Progeny for his accusations towards Kyoko.

"H-Hold on a second! Kyoko has an alibi for when Celeste and Hifumi were attacked! There's no question that she was in the dining hall with us!"

Byakuya shook his head dismissively and replied "Hmph. You seem very adamant about defending her. Perhaps you are...in love?"

Makoto turned beet red at Byakuya's musing.

"Th-That's not it at all!" I'm not in love with Kyoko...am I?

To Makoto's relief, Byakuya relented and accepted Kyoko's alibi. With Yasuhiro seemingly deduced as the culprit, Byakuya, and Monokuma after bursting in without warning, assured everyone present that no more murders would occur that day, since two had already occurred. With that settled, everyone left to try to find Yasuhiro, as well as Hifumi and Kiyotaka's missing corpses. But as Makoto left, Byakuya's words rang in Makoto's ears.

Perhaps you are...in love?

I don't love Kyoko. Do I? Am I...am I in love...with Kyoko?

XXX

She's okay! She's alive!

Makoto rushed out of Yasuhiro's room as soon as Aoi had told him that Kyoko was waiting by the pool on the 2nd floor. His feet couldn't have carried him fast enough; he even outpaced the athletic Aoi.

"Makoto, wait up! What's gotten into you?"

At last they reached the pool, and Makoto spotted the mysterious Ultimate on the other side near a single locker. Makoto beamed, the brightest smile stretching across his face that he had ever smiled. Aoi panted, amazed that Makoto had run so fast. Looking at his expression, Aoi frowned in worry, waving a hand across his face.

"Makoto? Earth to Makoto?"

"Huh?"

Makoto blinked, coming back to reality and noticing Aoi's concerned look.

"Oh, Aoi. Let's go; we still need to ask Yasuhiro where he was this morning."

Aoi followed him, exhausted with trying to keep up with Makoto's antics.

Makoto jogged to the other side of the pool, waving his hand and calling "Kyoko! And - "

Makoto looked at the Robo Justice suit and after hearing Yasuhiro's cries for help, frowned and finished "Hiro."

"I found Hiro. He was jammed into the pool room locker. It looked like he was fast asleep, so I kicked him and woke him up."

You kicked him? Effective, but a little crude, don't you think Kyoko?

Yasuhiro complained "You coulda been a little more gentle about it. Like, I dunno, caress my face or somethin'!"

Makoto felt a momentary flash of anger at Yasuhiro's whining, with Kyoko in agreement and disgust.

"...That's creepy."

Remembering his worry, Makoto asked "Anyway...Kyoko, where have you been all this time? You just disappeared all of a sudden, without a trace..."

"There was something I had to check up on."

Vague as ever, Kyoko. "What do you mean?"

Kyoko waved her hand and replied "Never mind."

Normally, Makoto would have been used to Kyoko's secretive nature and let it slide. But this wasn't an ordinary situation. Makoto had been scared half to death that something had happened to her, and Byakuya had pointed to her as a potential suspect. This couldn't just be let go, and Makoto let his frustration known.

"I can't never mind…!"

Kyoko grit her teeth as she seethed impatiently "Never. Mind. More importantly…"

Makoto sighed, reminding himself that solving this case came first and he and Kyoko could talk about this later.

But I'm not letting this go! Byakuya suspects her of at minimum being a mole for the mastermind and I won't let her be found guilty of that!

Kyoko turned to the Ultimate Clairvoyant, stating "First of all...Hiro, you need to explain to us why you're dressed like that."

Yasuhiro frantically explained how he was asleep and woke up inside the suit. Byakuya demanded he take the suit off, and Yasuhiro begged for help to get it off, insisting that he didn't make the suit.

Kyoko stepped behind Yasuhiro and noted "There's a clasp on the back that's keeping you from getting it off. It looks pretty sturdy. I don't think you can get it off on your own." Turning to everyone else, she said "We don't really have a choice. Let's help him…"

After some effort, the group freed Hiro from the Robo Justice costume. However, his relief was short-lived, for Celeste immediately suggested tying and gagging him, with Aoi in enthusiastic concurrence. Makoto flashed back to how everyone save Kyoko suspected him of Sayaka's murder, and wondered what would have happened if he was restrained like they were suggesting to do to Yasuhiro.

As Makoto was about to raise his voice in objection, Kyoko beat him to it, reminding "He may be a suspect, but he deserves fair treatment."

Makoto looked at Kyoko in thanks, hoping that Yasuhiro was innocent like he was. At Celeste and Aoi's insistence that he was the culprit, Yasuhiro insisted it wasn't him, and had Makoto and Aoi both wear the suit to prove his theory of an imposter, but to no avail. Yasuhiro's jaw dropped in shock at hearing of Hifumi and Kiyotaka's deaths, making Makoto doubt his guilt in the murders. His next declaration make Makoto worried, as he claimed to know who murdered the two Ultimates.

Yasuhiro, I doubt even Kyoko knows who did it yet. You'll only be digging our own graves here…

I have a feeling I'm going to regret this, but…

Kyoko sighed and said "You may as well tell us, then."

Yasuhiro proudly declared that it had to be either Chihiro or Alter Ego, since the two victims were fighting over the computer before their untimely demise. Everyone save for Kyoko fell over in shock at Yasuhiro's sheer stupidity.

Seriously? Chihiro's dead and I can't imagine how a laptop could possibly kill a human being!

"I see...That's unfortunate" Kyoko replied as she shook her head.

Yasuhiro's light bulb lit up and he went on to explain how he got a note to come to the rec room at 1:00, then fell asleep, hypothesizing that the culprit drugged him. Aoi brushed it off as rubbish, but Kyoko wasn't so quick to dismiss the claim.

"No, hold on. He could be onto something. The nurse's office did have chemicals that could do that…"

Yasuhiro tried to produce the note as proof, but found it was missing, leaving Aoi more suspicious of him. Yasuhiro begged everyone to believe him, but Celeste demanded proof. At Byakuya's insistence that the investigation be resumed, Yasuhiro dashed off faster than Makoto, and Aoi returned to guard duty with Sakura. As Makoto was about to leave as well, Kyoko called him back.

"Makoto, do you have a second?"

Makoto turned back, curious and asked "Huh?"

"I want you to help me with the investigation. It looks like I got a late start on this one, so I need to make up some ground."

Hey, this is my chance!

Makoto nodded eagerly and answered "Sure, I don't mind helping. But can you promise me something? Later, when we have time...will you tell me why you disappeared?"

He's stubborn, I'll give him that much. Still, the less he knows about my investigations, the safer he'll be.

"No."

Makoto felt his heart break in two at how quickly and decisively Kyoko appeared to have rejected his request.

"Anyway, I need your help. You don't mind, do you?"

Makoto reigned in his emotions, telling himself Maybe once this case is over, she'll be a little more open to telling me. For now, we have to focus on this trial, or it won't matter where she was.

"O-Okay."

Smiling and breathing an internal sigh of relief that the subject was dropped for the time being, Kyoko turned toward the exit and replied "Thanks. Now then, shall we…?"

As they walked out of the pool area, Kyoko explained "So, Makoto...first I'd like to examine the corpses."

"There's something you definitely don't think you're gonna hear when you wake up in the morning..." Makoto mumbled in shock over how easily she said that.

"Dead bodies don't lie, you know. They tell the truth far more easily than the living. Wouldn't you agree?"

Makoto continued to follow her, dumbfounded as to how to respond to that.

"Anyway, we have to hurry. Before the class trial begins again…"

Makoto nodded, replying "Y-Yeah, you're right..."

Kyoko stopped in her tracks and turned her head, politely ordering "Okay then, show me where the bodies are."

Makoto nodded, leading the way as Kyoko followed, his frustration and dread growing with every step he took.

Kyoko, why can't you trust me with the truth? And why does it hurt that you won't be honest with me?

XXX

"Hifumi...and Taka…"

Makoto watched with concern as Kyoko went rigid in a rare moment of emotion before composing herself as she approached the corpses.

"Well then, let's get started."

Kyoko...are you okay?

Makto watched as she felt around the corpses of their classmates for clues before standing up.

"The Monokuma File was right. They were killed using similar weapons."

The calm aura in which Kyoko conducted her work make Makoto feel calm, a positive contrast to the flurry of emotions running through him that morning. Though far from relaxed, he at least felt like he could think logically again.

"Makoto. I found something. You remember the wristwatch Taka always wore on his left hand?"

"He did?" I guess that makes sense, seeing as how he yelled at me before for being tardy a couple of times…

To his shock, Kyoko glared at him, exclaiming "Are you so oblivious to the people around you? Do you dislike other people that much?"

Huh? Where's that coming from? Makoto waved his hands in surrender and stammered "N-no, that's not it..."

Kyoko for her part wondered where that burst of anger had come from before dismissing it and explaining "Take a look...It's broken. You can see the hands aren't moving, right? It most likely broke when he had his encounter with his assailant. And if you notice, the hands are frozen at just past 6 o'clock."

Makoto's eyes widened in realization as he pieced together "So that would mean...the watch was broken sometime just after 6?"

Kyoko nodded, further explaining "But last night, Taka's watch definitely wasn't broken…So if it worked at 10 last night, it couldn't have been broken at 6 p.m."

"Meaning it must have happened at 6 this morning."

"And that's not all. Look at Taka's left hand. He appears to be gripping something…"

Kyoko directed his gaze to what looked like a sheet of paper in Kiyotaka's fist.

"Can you try and pry it out?"

Why me? Not that I'm opposed to it, but why me?

"Rigor mortis has already set in. Boys are better suited to this kind of manual labor, right?"

That seems kind of sexist, Kyoko…

Nevertheless, Makoto obliged, unearthing what appeared to be a torn corner of a piece of paper.

"Was that all he had in his hand?"

"Just a little scrap of paper. Doesn't seem like much of a clue, does it?"

"I wonder about that…Let's check Hifumi's body now. Perhaps he's left us a few clues of his own."

Makoto watched as Kyoko investigated Hifumi's corpse, stepping back a couple of steps to let her work.

After a minute she stood up, and Makoto asked "Did you find anything?"

Kyoko nodded, replying "I did. More than I expected, to be honest. Look at this…"

Kyoko opened her fist to reveal a ball of crumpled paper, explaining "Hifumi had it hidden on him. He'd stuffed it in his pants. So I can only assume he'd hidden it on purpose, you see?"

"His pants? You went trouser fishing?"

"It was just his pants. Not like his socks or something…"

The fact that you find looking through his socks more disgusting than his pants just baffles me, Kyoko…

Dropping the wad of paper in Makoto's hand, Kyoko said "Anyway, let's take a look at the paper. Go ahead, Makoto. Open it up."

Makoto reluctantly searched for a corner to unfold, exclaiming "Ew, ew, eww!" This better be important, Hifumi, or I'll never forgive you for this!

Kyoko rolled her eyes, thinking Oh for goodness sake Makoto, it's just a piece of paper.

Makoto was surprised to find a note, eerily identical to the one Yasuhiro described.

"That sounds...very familiar. Although...it's not exactly the same, is it?"

Makoto speculated that this note was telling Hifumi to meet at 6 a.m., but Kyoko shook her head.

"Hold on. Just because Hifumi had the note, doesn't mean it was meant for him."

Okay, I'm lost. How could it not be for Hifumi?

"Part of it has been torn off, right? I think there's likely some meaning there."

"Umm...could you maybe explain it a little more?"

"Think carefully...Why would he have been clutching that scrap of paper so tightly?"

You mean Taka? That corner…

"What if it wasn't just a scrap of paper when he was holding it? What if it was something more important? And how would something important like that become a mere scrap of paper? That's what you need to answer."

Okay, I feel like I'm getting warmer, but I'm still confused…

"And while we're at it, I should tell you one other thing. The two victims this time definitely had their e-Handbooks on them. So the handbooks have nothing to do with how the murders were carried out. Not that there was any reason to think they were connected to the killings in the first place…"

Why would she bring that up now? "So you're saying I don't have to think about the handbooks this time, right?"

Kyoko shook her head, thinking Think, Makoto. Why would I have brought it up if that were the case?

"If you didn't have to think about them at all, I wouldn't have gone out of my way to mention it. All I said was that they weren't used to help carry out the murders. There may come a point, however, where a handbook may play a role."

As Makoto was left to ponder Kyoko's words, their thoughts were interrupted by the Class Trial announcement.

"It's unfortunate, but I suppose this is where our investigation comes to an end. You'll have to figure out the rest for yourself, and come to the proper conclusion."

Why do I feel left in the dark again… Shaking his head, Makoto replied "Yeah...you're right..."

Turning, Kyoko replied "Well, we'd better get going."

With that, Kyoko left with Makto at her heels, headed towards the first floor with dread.

XXX

Kyoko and Makoto arrived at the elevator room to find two Monokumas occupying the room along with the other survivors. Makoto screamed and jumped in Kyoko's arms, making the young Ultimate blush. At Monokuma's revelation that there was only one of him and taunting them to guess which one real, Kyoko sighed. Exasperated with Monokuma's antics, she dropped Makoto on his behind.

"Can we just get on the elevator already?"

As Aoi again started pointing the proverbial finger at Yasuhiro, Kyoko intervened.

"This isn't the place to talk about it. Save your accusations for when we get to the courtroom."

As the door to the elevator opened, Kyoko murmured "the story begins when we get down there" before stepping into the elevator, Makoto following closely behind.

XXX

Predictably, the trial opened up with Aoi and Celeste pointing the finger at Yasuhiro, bringing up the blueprints for the Robo Justice Suit that were found in his room. Irritated by the deja vu he was feeling, Makoto raised the point in the difference in handwriting styles between the blueprints and the note Yasuhiro sent him telling him to meet in the Dining Hall.

"When you compare it to the blueprints..."

"...there's no way you could think the same person made both of them" Kyoko finished.

After further debate, Makoto and Byakuya concluded that although Yasuhiro was the only one who could have been inside the suit, he couldn't have murdered either Hifumi or Kiyotaka. At Byakuya's urging, Makoto proposed that the corpses were moved using a dolly and a tarp, and that Hiro couldn't have possibly had the dexterity to utilize them while wearing the suit. Celeste insultingly raised the possibility that the dolly had been in the repository all along, but Makoto refuted, using the bloodstain in the equipment room to prove that the dolly had in fact been moved. Combined with his inability to take off the suit by himself, Yasuhiro seemed to be exonerated…

...Until Celeste brought up the picture she took of Robo Justice dragging away Hifumi, challenging everybody to explain that.

"It was Hiro, without a doubt!"

As Yasuhiro tried to protest, Kyoko shook her head.

"It's still far too early to reach that conclusion. Besides, there's no hurry to decide who did it. Before we rush to a verdict, shouldn't we explore every single possibility? Instead of seizing on one viewpoint, the truth is uncovered by analyzing things from every angle."

"Perhaps, but where do we go from here?" Sakura wondered.

"Let's review this series of unfortunate events from the beginning. Maybe we'll uncover something new…"

The others then recapped the series of events so far. Makoto looked at Kyoko, who had developed a thinking pose throughout the recap.

"I see...The whole thing sounds exceptionally complicated. It certainly seems to me that these are not a simple series of connected events."

Makoto was left confused as he asked "If that's true...then what?"

Kyoko clarified "Rather than a single series of events, I think we have to consider each murder a separate situation. And from there, we can uncover the contradictions surrounding all of them. Now then, let's get started, beginning with what happened to Taka…"

From there, the debate continued, with Kyoko kickstarting "So, regarding Taka's death...I wonder if he died before Hifumi...Or perhaps it was after?"

Aoi raised the assumption that the numbering of the Justice Hammers proved that Kiyotaka was killed after Hifumi. Makoto countered that the killer may have just used the hammer numbers to throw everyone else off course. Intrigued, Byakuya asked for evidence proving Makoto's theory.

Evidence that proves Kiyotaka was killed before Hifumi…Wait...What Kyoko showed me during the investigation...now I understand!

"I've got it. Taka's wristwatch! See? Look. It broke with the hands pointing just past 6 o'clock."

"It must have gotten broken when he was attacked by the killer. Because as of last night…"

It was still working at just before 10!

Kyoko smiled and said "So if it wasn't broken after 6 last night, then he must have been attacked around 6 this morning."

Sakura and Makoto deduced that this revelation meant that Kiyotaka was killed well before Hifumi, and before Celeste was attacked.

"That's right. Taka was killed before any of the other incidents took place. Now, if Taka was killed around 6, then everyone's alibis for his murder go out the window. Because when he was killed, we hadn't met up in the dining hall yet."

Sakura brought up the point that their alibis still held true for Hifumi's death, and the others postulated that only Yasuhiro or Kyoko could have moved the bodies.

Stumped, Makoto looked toward Kyoko and asked "Hmm...so what now, Kyoko?"

"For now, we can't get fixated on who did it, or we'll just keep going around in circles. So instead of who, I propose we start talking about how...In particular, I think we need to figure out how Hifumi's body got moved."

Makoto nodded, remarking how that was a mystery nobody had been able to figure out.

How did Hifumi's corpse move up two floors in the minute or two that Aoi and Celeste were in the bathroom?

Yasuhiro yelled that it was impossible, to which Kyoko replied "Well, what if I told you there was a way to make the impossible possible?"

"What? How?"

Kyoko's response shocked everyone in the room; "If the dead body...were to move itself."

Everyone save for Byakuya couldn't believe what they were hearing. Byakuya raised the possibility that Hifumi was faking his death. Celeste reacted with disbelief, insisting it wasn't possible.

"And you know that how?" Kyoko challenged the Ultimate Gambler.

Celeste pointed out that Monokuma played the body discovery announcement to signify that Hifumi's corpse had been found, but Kyoko shook her head in skepticism.

"Are we really so sure about that? Maybe the announcement was intended to signal someone else's discovery?"

It was only made once, but wait...Kiyotaka's corpse was also found roughly around that time. What if it was made for Kiyotaka instead?

Makoto raised that point, which Byakuya agreed to. Celeste countered that maybe Monokuma got lazy and rolled both into one. At request for input, Monokuma cryptically revealed that it was only broadcast when three or more people found a corpse for the first time. Yasuhiro whined that he was avoiding the question, but Byakuya said that was plenty of information. Catching on, Makoto brought up the fact that the second announcement played after rediscovering both corpses.

"When the two dead bodies were rediscovered, one of them was actually...being discovered for the first time!"

Celeste doubted that there was any proof that Hifumi was still alive prior to the second announcement.

This isn't like you, Celeste; you're not usually one to hold so tightly to your theories after this much contradiction… "Okay then, let's take another look at the events surrounding the discovery of his body. Then it should become clear whether he was really alive or not."

Celeste tried to raise the point that there was no noticeable change between how Hifumi was found in the nurse's office and how he was found in the repository.

No; that's wrong! There was a difference, and I can prove it!

Makoto brought up how Hifumi's glasses were spotless in the repository, yet dirty in the nurse's office, as well as a blood-smeared Princess Piggles cloth. At Byakuya's disgust-filled exclamation that he wouldn't be caught dead with a cloth like that, and Genocide Jack's insistence that all she needed was a couple of regular tissues to clean her glasses, it was clear that only Hifumi could have cleaned his glasses with that cloth, since it would only benefit the owner to clean his own glasses.

"So let's assume that Hifumi was still alive in the nurse's office. He pretends to be dead, then when he's alone, he wipes his glasses clean so he can see...Then he stands up and walks out on his own two feet. And with that, the impossible task of moving his copious corpse...becomes possible, wouldn't you say?"

As Aoi wondered where all the blood in the nurse's office came from, Kyoko explained "The fridge in the nurse's office contains packs of blood for emergencies. He probably used one of those. And if Hifumi was still alive at that point, the disappearance of Taka's body is easily explained. It should be perfectly obvious who must have moved Taka's corpse…"

I got it! "It could only have been Hifumi" Makoto admitted.

Everyone deduced that once left alone, Hifumi took off to the equipment room and took Kiyotaka's body to the repository, locking the door from the inside so nobody would find him.

Kyoko summarized "He convinced us all he was dead, and when he saw his chance, he dragged Taka's body to the repository. So, Hifumi wasn't just another victim in this case - he was one of the assailants."

Sakura and Aoi expressed disbelief that Hifumi took part in a murder, to which Kyoko posed"If you're having trouble, would you like me to show you one more piece of evidence?"

"There's more?!"

"Oh, absolutely. The single biggest fact pointing to his involvement has yet to be revealed. You know what I'm talking about, right Makoto? The item he took off of Taka's lifeless body?"

The item...wait, the scrap, the note...they were the same thing. I got it! "You're talking about the note Hifumi had hidden away, aren't you?"

Makoto explained about the note that he and Kyoko found in Hifumi's pants, to which Yasuhiro exclaimed that it was like the note he received, but different. Makoto clarified that the killer used the note to draw out Kiyotaka and murder him.

"Hello! Over here! Objection! Objection!"

Everyone turned to Genocide Jack, surprised to hear her raise an objection.

"Huffy had the note, right? Then the person it was intended for...must have been Huffy!"

Huffy? Does she mean Hifumi?

Kyoko shook her head and retorted "But remember what the note said. What time did it say to meet?"

"The note has nothing to do with Tick Tock!"

No, that's wrong!

Makoto brought up that the note's meeting time and Kiyotaka's estimated time of death were identical. Combined with the location of the meeting place and of Kiyotaka's death being identical as well, Jack withdrew her objection. Makoto hypothesized that Hifumi stole it off of Kiyotaka's corpse, to which Byakuya demanded proof.

Proof that Hifumi stole the note from Kiyotaka...I got it!

Makoto brought out the note in one hand, the torn corner in the other, and fit them together like a puzzle, his eyes lighting up, and Kyoko looking at him approvingly.

"I knew it! It fits perfectly with the note we found hidden on Hifumi!"

Kyoko further clarified "Hifumi had the note meant for Taka, while Taka's corpse still grasped a small piece of that note...There's only one way to explain it…"

Sakura deduced that Hifumi tore the note while trying to grab it from Kiyotaka's grip, with Byakuya continuing that Hifumi knew that the note was important.

"Exactly. Which proves that he was an accomplice in the murder."

Yasuhiro then proclaimed that Hifumi was still alive, making everyone shake their heads at his stupidity. Aoi started wondering who killed Hifumi, leaving Kyoko to lead everyone in the right direction.

"He was killed in the repository, so he must have been killed not long after transporting Taka's body."

Byakuya noted how during that time, nobody had an alibi, and in a rare moment of intelligence, Yasuhiro noted how since the Monokuma file said they were killed with similar weapons, the killer would have had to take the incredibly risky maneuver of stealing one of the Justice Hammers from one of the other rooms, killing Hifumi, and rushing it back to where it was. Makoto brought up the spotless hammer in the repository that had been scrubbed clean and hypothesized that the spotless hammer was the murder weapon.

Aoi hypothesized that the killer used that hammer to kill Hifumi once he had fulfilled his role, but Celeste was skeptical that Hifumi would have even had an accomplice to begin with, because of the graduation rule.

"But that really only applies if there's one murder, right? In this case however, there were two murders" Kyoko pointed out.

Could there really have been an accomplice?

Makoto raised the point that having an accomplice for multiple murders was plausible, leaving Sakura confused.

"If there'd only been one murder, then yes, the idea of an accomplice isn't really worth considering. Naturally, if only one person can be saved per murder, an accomplice has no risk versus reward benefit."

"Risk versus reward...benefit?"

Honestly Makoto; it's pretty self explanatory!

Nevertheless, Kyoko clarified "The payoff for working together - the reward that balances out the risk of taking part in the scheme. There's no point in being someone's accomplice if there's no benefit to you. However, if there were some potential mutual reward for the risk, then cooperation becomes possible."

Thinking along a similar line, Byakuya clarified "You're saying that two people could act as each other's accomplices to commit two separate murders."

Kyoko nodded, replying "I think that's what the true killer told Hifumi; they would each have an accomplice for their crime. And based on the case's events, Hifumi would have been the first one to act, murdering Taka. They made him carry out the first murder so he couldn't back out of helping them later on."

Why didn't I see it earlier? It makes perfect sense now! "By creating one seamless set of circumstances, they made it look like one person was behind it all!"

As Byakuya admired the cunning of the killer's plan to have Hifumi kill a student, then off Hifumi, Makoto admired Kyoko's cunning and deductive reasoning.

Kyoko must have noticed this fact from the very beginning! Kyoko really is amazing. Although...when you think about it, she's almost too amazing...Like, it's almost unnatural how good she is at this…

Sakura started to wonder who the person manipulating Hifumi's strings was, leading Makoto to come to a startling conclusion as his eyes widened.

The true killer manipulated Hifumi...there's really only one person who fits. Oh god! Well, here's my answer…

"Celeste."

The Ultimate Gambler grimaced, uncomfortable with the new accusation, especially when Byakuya jumped on board, bringing up how the series of events was only put into motion by Celeste's suggestion, as well as her slip up when she said that more than one person had died. Celeste deflected by bringing up the picture she took, challenging everyone else in the room.

"If everything I told you was a lie, how can this picture exist?"

"Simple. Are we sure that's really a picture of the suspect dragging Hifumi away?"

Huh?

"What could you possibly mean by that?"

Kyoko shook her head and smirked, replying "Surely there are other explanations than the one you've offered up."

Other explanations? The only other possibility is...I've got it! "I would say it's a picture of Hifumi dragging the suspect away!"

Not bad, Makoto!

Kyoko watched with satisfaction at Celeste's cringe.

"That's certainly within the realm of possibility. The one being dragged off in that picture isn't Hifumi, but the person in the robot suit. We've simply been led to believe that it's the other way around. And the strange costume might only exist to lead us astray even farther. If you saw someone wearing something like that in this situation, of course you'd notice and be suspicious."

Yasuhiro jumped on board, accusing Celeste of framing him to be the culprit. Celeste for her part, nervously chuckled.

"Utterly impossible. Hifumi was dragging him away? Ridiculous."

"Is it? I don't think it's ridiculous at all."

"Then shut your mouth and allow me to educate you."

Celeste tried to make the point that if the person inside the Robo Justice suit was unconscious, they couldn't stand up, but Makoto countered, reminding her that the suit doesn't allow the user to bend at the waist.

Aoi's eyes lit up in comprehension as she interjected "That's right! They totally made a mistake when they made it, so it couldn't bend at the waist!"

"I'm not so sure that was a mistake...I think the suit was designed from the beginning to be used the way it was."

Celeste cringed as Makoto postulated that she and Hifumi specifically designed the suit to fit Yasuhiro into it to fake the whole series of unfortunate events, leaving Kyoko smiling at Makoto's deductive skill.

Well done, Makoto.

Celeste's mask broke; screaming in rage, she growled out that Hifumi had moaned Yasuhiro's name as he died, so he had to be the guilty party.

Shaking her head in skepticism, she retorted "He did say Yasuhiro, but are we sure he was really pointing the finger at Hiro?"

"What the hell are you talking about? I'll burn you alive!"

Makoto felt an urge to silence Celeste for threatening Kyoko, confusing the boy as to why the urge was so strong.

Shaking his head and filing that thought away for later, Makoto asked "Kyoko...what do you mean by that?"

"Think back to how Hifumi used to talk to us...How did he refer to each of us?"

How did he refer to us...wait a minute...he always called me Mr. Naegi instead of Makoto...I got it! "He called us all by out last names!"

Nodding and smiling, Kyoko confirmed "Exactly. I know I heard him say Mr. Naegi more than once, for example. So if Hifumi did mean to say Hiro's name, he would have said his last name - Hagakure."

Celeste tried to pass it off as coincidental and random chance, a ploy that couldn't fool even Yasuhiro.

"Random chance...Now isn't that a convenient explanation? No, there's no reason to think he would have said the name any different than normal. But he must have run out of energy before he could say any more."

Sakura pointed out that the last name Yasuhiro didn't apply to any of them, but Makoto shook his head, pointing out that nobody knew Celeste's real name.

"Fill us in. What's your real name?"

Screeching, Celeste insisted "My real name is Celestia Ludenberg! Could you PLEASE stop making me repeat myself over and over again!"

Makoto sighed with exasperation at Celeste's stubbornness, and the debate continued, the tension so thick a butter knife could cut through it.

"Hifumi was trying to tell us something...He wanted us to know the killer's last name - Yasuhiro."

Celeste insisted that her name was Celestia Ludenberg, starting "And since you have no way to contradict me..."

Wait...I do have a way...The handbook! This is the situation that Kyoko was talking about. Kyoko...you thought this far in advance?

Makoto demanded that she show everyone the name on her handbook, causing Kyoko to smile as she refused to cooperate, leaving Makoto to detail all the specifics of her crime since she was unwilling to talk.

"Sorry, you lose!"

Checkmate! Kyoko thought.

"I...I lost?"

XXX

Celeste conceded, revealing her true name to be Taeko Yasuhiro, and was voted guilty.

"I guess trying to work with someone else was a mistake, after all" she lamented. "Hifumi's ineptitude was beyond all my calculations."

"So you really did approach Hifumi with this plan? But how did you get him to agree? I can't imagine he would have happily agreed to commit murder."

Byakuya hypothesized that she lied to him, but Celeste chuckled and dismissed the possibility.

Coming to a realization, Kyoko asked "Then did you use...you know…?"

Celeste confirmed it, explaining that she used the one thing that both Hifumi and Kiyotaka were super into.

She must mean Alter Ego Makoto realized.

Monokuma tried to but in and find out what they were talking about, only to be chastised by Kyoko.

"Don't interrupt. We're in the middle of a very important conversation here." Monokuma walked away, depressed, and Kyoko continued "Then you're the one who stole it?" When Celeste confirmed it, Kyoko realized "And you used it to drag Hifumi into the plan you'd come up with."

Celeste confirmed Kyoko's suspicions, explaining how she went to Hifumi with a lie that Kiyotaka took advantage of her and made her steal the laptop, and that he was planning to kill Hifumi first. She also explained how she lied to Hifumi by saying that he would have woken up later claiming that he had just barely held on. Meanwhile she would have murdered another person, giving Hifumi a perfect alibi. Everyone shivered in disgust, appalled by Celeste's lack of morals.

As Aoi claimed she was no better than Byakuya, Celeste countered "No, he derives his pleasure from the thrill of the hunt. In that aspect, we are nothing alike."

Confused, Kyoko asked "Then...what made you take things this far?"

Celeste explained that contrary to her apparent demeanor, she had only been thinking of an escape, and had planned on combining Monokuma's $10,000,000 with her own savings to buy the castle that she had dreamed of living in.

Everyone expressed shock at how far she was willing to go for that dream; Aoi in particular expressed shock at how calm she was with her impending execution. Makoto saw the forced smile as she said that she could easily fool herself as much as she could fool everyone else. As Monokuma announced that it was punishment time, Celeste walked up to Kyoko and placed her hand against hers.

"Guess I'll let Kyoko hold onto this."

Kyoko looked at her open palm, her eyes widening.

"This is…"

"Will it really give you the hope you're looking for? Can't say I really saw it that way..."

Celeste sighed as she walked forward, steeling herself for her impending execution.

XXX

Despite it being for the third time, everyone save Kyoko was still appalled at the sight. Celeste had been strapped to a wooden pole in the ruins of a castle and burned at the stake. That throwback to ancient witch trials would have been horrifying enough, but as usual Monokuma had to throw in a dash of irony to his recipe; as she was burning alive, Monokuma drove a fire engine at breakneck speed and rammed it into her, killing Celeste instantly. Monokuma started cackling about how it was his responsibility to knock them all down, since they were to pass the torch of hope ot the next generation.

Makoto clenched his fists in rage as he roared "Don't talk like you're not responsible! What od you want from us?"

Kyoko watched in concern, but made no move to stop him. Despite his outburst, she could tell that Makoto was in sufficient control of his emotions to prevent himself from lunging at Monokuma.

For his part, Monokuma told him to give it a rest, then turned his attention to Kyoko.

"So anyway...Kyoko, did I see you get some kind of key-type object from Celeste? So uh...what's the deal with that?"

Makoto blanched, worrying what would happen if Kyoko refused to tell him, but also fearing what would happen if the mastermind found out about Alter Ego.

Kyoko smiled and replied "I'll answer your question, if you answer mine. What did you do? What did you...do to me?"

"What?"

"Answer me. What did you do to my body?"

Do…? Monokuma did something...to her body?

Makoto felt a steaming anger boil within him, wondering what Monokuma had done to Kyoko.

When I get my hands on that masochistic stuffed toy…

Monokuma raced out of the courtroom, and without the bear's presence to enrage him, Makoto calmed down.

"What's that key Celeste gave you?"

"Most likely...it's the key to one of the dressing room lockers."

Everyone realized that Celeste had hidden Alter Ego in one of the dressing room lockers.

"Correct. She hid it right under our noses."

Sakura suggested that they check it out; Kyoko concurred "Good idea."

The survivors rushed into the elevator, despair mixed with a sprinkle of hope in their hearts.

XXX

"I'm going to go on alone from here. Everyone else head to the dining hall. I'll check in with you later."

Skeptical, Byakuya asked "Why, exactly, are you going alone?"

"Do you even have to ask?"

As Byakuya brought up the risk of there being a spy for the mastermind, Makoto clenched his fists in frustration.

Dammit Byakuya, she's not a spy! I trust her.

"Then I'll go too." At Byakuya's appalled look, Makoto pleaded "Please, just let me go!"

"Hmph. Do whatever you want."

As Byakuya and Sakura left, Aoi exclaimed "Huh? So Makoto and Kyoko are gonna go...together? Ahh! Does that mean what I think it means?!"

Byakuya was right; Makoto is in love with her! It explains why he was so worried about her and the dopey grin he had when we found her during the investigation!

"Good luck, Makoto! Girls like her are total pushovers when you show a little backbone!"

Makoto blushed as he comprehended Aoi's last words before she ran off.

I'm not in love with Kyoko; I'm just concerned...right?

Kyoko's cheeks were dusted with a light pink as she turned around, asking "Well? Shall we?"

Nodding, Makoto followed her into the locker room.

XXX

Kyoko handed Makoto the key, pointing to locker #17 and stating "We need to get into that locker…"

Makoto nodded, taking the key and opening the locker. As soon as it opened, a familiar voice blasted out.

"You really came! It's been a while, hasn't it?"

"It's safe...Thank goodness…"

Makoto noted the uncharacteristic relief in her voice, and felt relieved as well. Alter Ego informed them that he was almost finished analyzing the files on the laptop, and might end up being done as early as tomorrow.

As Kyoko put the laptop back in the locker, Makoto remarked "I'm just glad it's okay."

"Well, that's one problem solved. So, now we can officially say the case is closed."

As he locked the locker, Makoto thought to himself I'll give it one last shot. I won't be able to sleep at night until I know where she went and I can clear her of any suspicion!

"Can we take a second? Since we have this opportunity, I want you to be honest with me..."

Makoto turned around and asked "When you were off by yourself, what were you investigating? Kyoko, please tell me...What are you trying to do all on your own here at the school?"

Kyoko felt equal parts touched and annoyed at Makoto's insistence at getting answers out of her.

That boy is as stubborn as a mule. Doesn't he realize that if he gets too close, he'll be at greater risk?

"Is that why you wanted to come here with me? Regardless, that's not something you need to know right now. I told you not to worry about it!"

Frustration with the mysterious Ultimate boiling, Makoto raid his voice "Well, for your information, I was worried about you! I don't...need to know? That just makes me even more worried!"

Kyoko looked at him in shock and exclaimed "Worried?"

Kyoko had barely finished when Makoto continued. He had kept his worries bottled up for too long and now he was going to give her a piece of his mind.

"Like what happened during the investigation this time. Like I was saying, you practically vanished. You disappeared, and we didn't see you again. Without warning, without explanation. When you do that..."

Kyoko steeled her resolve, despite how each word chipped away at her barrier.

"I get it! It's okay...it's only natural that they think I'm the mastermind's spy, right? And you too…" Shaking her head, Kyoko continued "It's okay; quite frankly, in your shoes, I'd think I was the mole too. You're perfectly right to be suspicious."

Makoto looked in shock, his heart breaking at Kyoko's flawed presumption.

She thinks...she thinks I suspect her? Nothing could be further from the truth! "What? No! But I...I'm not! I...I'd follow you into battle, I trust you so much!"

"Not a very wise thing to say" Kyoko admonished, though a small part of her heart fluttered at Makoto's declaration of how far he would go based solely off of her judgment.

Frustrated again, Makoto roared "So what?! I...I believe in you. I trust you!"

"You believe...in me?" Nobody's ever said they believed in me…

"Isn't it obvious? People believe in their friends, right? That's why I want you to tell me. And I want you...to believe in me, too. I'm just hoping you'll return the favor."

Makoto panted, the emotional toll of letting out all his worries and exasperations exhausting him physically. Kyoko looked at him, coming to a realization.

No matter how much I try to keep him at a distance, he'll still try to get close. He'll keep insisting on helping me no matter how much I try to keep him away from my investigations and their dangers. So maybe...maybe I should stop trying to protect him from the dangers of my investigations. And I should stop trying to protect myself from his friendship; it's time I let him get close. Maybe he can help; I just hope we both know what we're doing…

"Trust, huh? Very well, then. I understand. Then...maybe I can believe in you...just a little bit more. Perhaps it' s not unwise to see where this will lead us."

"Kyoko...does that mean..."

She nodded, clarifying "Fine. I'll tell you. I'll tell you why I've been disappearing, and where I've been going."

Makoto beamed, happy that she was willing to trust him this much, exclaiming "Thank you, Kyoko. I promise you won't regret it."

Kyoko smiled for a millisecond before reverting to her neutral expression.

"Listen to me carefully. You see...The boys bathroom on the 2nd floor doesn't have a surveillance camera or monitor in it. And in the storage closet there...way in the back...there's a secret room."

"Wow; this is starting to sound like part of a spy movie or something..."

Smirking, Kyoko replied "If you don't believe me, you can check it out for yourself..."

"What did I just say, Kyoko? I believe you, honest! I was just..."

"Gotcha!"

She played me again, didn't she?

Kyoko briefly giggled into her glove, then became serious again and assured "In all seriousness, what I said about the secret room is true. I haven't had an opportunity to check it out in detail though, so I can't say for certain what's inside. It could be an important clue in solving the mysteries of Hope's Peak, but unless I can take time to look for it without attracting attention, I can't say for certain."

Kyoko walked forward, leaving Makoto to watch her leave the locker room. Before she left, she said one last thing to Makoto.

"Whether you go or not is up to you. But having a second set of eyes may throw the mastermind off guard, and would give us some much needed information that may help to unmask the one who imprisoned us."

And leave you vulnerable to an assault by the mastermind...I just hope I'm not putting you in too much harm's way…

With that, Kyoko left, leaving Makoto to his thoughts. Within a few seconds, Makoto came to a realization.

...I'll do it. Once nighttime comes, I'll check out that room and get whatever intel Kyoko needs. I'll pull my weight, and truly pay her back for saving my life.

XXX

Makoto walked into the dining all and grabbed dinner, a somber group greeting him. Once he had grabbed his plate, he went and sat next to Kyoko, who had already started eating. He grabbed a sheet of paper and a pen from his pocket, scribbled on it, and passed it to Kyoko. She looked down and read what he had written.

"I'll do it tonight. We'll meet up tomorrow to relay information."

Smiling, Kyoko wrote back "Just be careful. Stay alert. And thank you."