Ch 2.4: Sparkling or Still?

A/N: Sorry for disappearing on you guys! I swear I'm alive. I've been busy as all hell, and investigations are definitely the most difficult chapters for me to write.

Investigation time! Can Mukuro piece together the puzzle?

Waking up to the blaring morning announcement, I clung desperately to my pillow. The expected haranguing of Monokuma's grating voice was as unwelcome to my ears as ever. I groaned and curled up beneath my blankets, for once feeling too poor to rise. Just five more minutes. Five more minutes to sit and not be personable. Five more minutes in which I could refuse my reality-one of captivity and surveillance and danger.

No secrets. No death.

"Get ready to greet another beautiful day!"

I groaned, grabbing a pillow and throwing it at the monitor out of pure frustration. The gesture was meaningless, but it just felt right.

"I hope everyone got their beauty sleep because today is going to be quite the full schedule!"

What the hell does that mean?

I shot up, realizing I needed to get to the dining hall. I sped through my routine, practically hopping into mismatched socks in my rush to be out the door and find out what happened. My hands were shaking, making the endeavor take even longer than normal. Catching a glimpse of myself in the mirror, my face was ghostly pale. It was a non-issue compared to the thought of what could be waiting for us, so I put it from my mind as I headed out the door and into the cafeteria.

Only a handful of the usual crowd was present when I entered the room. Each had a look of apprehension on their face-except Byakuya, who I was surprised to see at all.

We made eye contact upon my entering. "Well, someone decided to finally show up," he said.

"Don't say it like that," said Hina, giving him a sharp look. She looked to me with a relieved sigh. "It's a good thing you're here."

"Why?"

Hina bit her lip.

Instead of answering, Leon cut in, slinging an arm over her shoulder. "Because she's alive with us instead of embracing the sweet release of death, is that what you were going to say, Hina?"

Despite his usual carefree behavior, his manner seemed rather strained. In another circumstance, I definitely would have attributed his behavior to him trying to make a move, but today it seemed invasive, maybe even purposely so. It was as if he was trying to make her squirm.

"Ugh, stop it!" Whatever he was aiming for, it seemed to work. She grimaced in disgust, shrugging out from under his arm.

He let out an uncomfortably high pitched laugh, smile uncharacteristically forced. "I mean, why should I? That's what it is, isn't it? Another person lost their shit and we're gonna find someone's disassembled limbs underneath the floorboards, because that's the kind of shit school we signed up for." He was hyperactive, on edge.

"We don't know that-" said Hina as the same time that Celeste asked him, "You've read the Tell Tale Heart?"

Leon threw his hands up in the air, crying out in frustration. "I go to a school for crazy people!"

In the far corner of the room, I spotted Sayaka in quiet, rapt conversation with Toko. Upon meeting my eyes, she gasped so loud I could hear it across the room, rushing over to me in an instant.

"Mukuro!"

At once, I was ambushed by a crushing hug.

"Thank goodness, you're alright!" Her voice was muffled, face buried in my chest.

I could feel my face growing hot. "O-Of course I am," I said, unsure what to do with my hands, so I settled for patting her awkwardly on the back. "Why wouldn't I be?"

It was a stupid question; I knew it as soon as the words escaped my mouth. Considering yesterday's events, there was plenty reason to be worried.

"What's wrong?" I tried again, more forcefully this time.

She looked up at me, face white as sheet. "I'm worried something terrible has happened!"

"What on Earth is going on?" I asked, looking around the room. "Where is everybody?"

My heart stopped, realizing a specific someone was missing.

"Where is Junko?"

Byakuya sighed, speaking in the same unenthusiastic droll as always. "Someone fill her in. I'm going to see what is the matter."

Leon stood in his way. "Ah, Ah, Ah." He wagged a finger. "What's magic word?" he asked, purposely antagonizing Byakuya in a way that he would normally never try.

"Fine. Not you," said Byakuya, stepping aside and walking past him. "Toko."

"M-Me?" asked Toko.

"Fill me in on what?" I asked, but Byakuya ignored me.

Byakuya rolled his eyes. "Just do it. Don't make me repeat myself."

Leon snorted. "And without insulting us once. Impressive. That's... almost growth."

"Fill me in on what?" I asked again.

"What the heck, guys!" said Hina. "Stop freaking her out. Mukuro, everything is probably fine."

"Probably?" I asked.

"I just don't want anyone to get too ahead of themselves. I mean, no one would do anything crazy, right? Over just a couple of secrets…"

"I wouldn't be too sure about that. I mean, who knows what people are desperate to hide. After all, do any of us really know each other?" Byakuya smirked, an attitude inappropriate for the circumstance, but expected of someone as twisted as him. Then he waved us off in a manner that somehow managed to be condescending. Nevertheless, it was a surprising gesture of acknowledgement before leaving the room for good.

"B-Byakuya, wait!" said Toko, but he was already gone.

Leon whistled, running his fingers through his hair. "Sure do know how to make a girl feel special," he muttered. "Why do I suddenly want to win his approval?" He looked to Toko. "Look, Specs, is it weird I almost see where you're coming from? If he keeps turning on the charm like that, I just might fall in love."

Hina shook her head. "Ugh, I honestly can't tell if you're joking. That is… questionable taste."

"That's right," said Celeste. "As opposed to you. As I would recall, you seem to prefer gang members and murderers."

Hina glared at her before relenting, eyes instead turned to the floor. "It's not like that," she muttered. "Sakura has—had—a boyfriend."

Leon whistled. "Home-wrecker Hina. No judgements here. Look, I'm not saying I'd try anything-"

"I don't know, man," said Hiro, who didn't seem to be paying attention to the last couple of seconds. "I'm telling you, guy gives me some serious bad vibes. Pursue at your own risk, but I'm betting the dude's a serial killer or something… or worse, some kind of pod person."

Leon ignored Hiro's usual ramblings, turning to look at the rest of us. "What do you think? Is it just me, or was anybody else feeling a little bit of a gay vibe?"

Hina gaped at him. "Is now really the time for that?" she asked.

"Hey! Just throwing it out there."

"B-b-back off!" said Toko. "All of you, j-just-"

"Gross!" said Hina, recoiling and wrinkling her nose in disgust. "As if I would ever be interested in someone like him."

"Uh, yeah," said Hiro, putting up a hand as if trying to ask a question. Instead, he went ahead and spoke. "Can we not rope me in this? First of all…" He held up a hand, doing the "cut it out" gesture across this neck. "Yikes. You guys are toddlers, and I'd appreciate not being seen as a cradle-snatcher, yeah? Second-"

"Oh my god! Can we focus?" said Hina, yelling to get everyone's attention, voice ringing throughout the dining hall.

Celeste cleared her throat. "Pardon my-ahem-my intrusion," she said, eyes glancing between myself and Sayaka-who was still holding me. The corner of her lip twitched in a small smirk before she regained her composure. "But as my companions have suggested, we have reason to believe something has gone amiss."

At Celeste's looks, Sayaka hastily let go of me, but remained close. I could feel her still clinging to my arm. I felt sick, wanting to wipe that smirk right off Celeste's face. Our close contact was making my stomach churn, but if it meant being a source of comfort for Sayaka, of course, I wanted to be there for her.

"Toko," said Celeste, "I believe you were designated with the explanation?"

"R-Right," she said. "S-S-Some of the-of the others have-have g-g-g-g-g-" began Toko, but Hina cut her off in her impatience.

"Ugh! You're taking too long!"

"Hey-!" Toko tried to protest, but Hina ignored her.

"What she's trying to say is that some of the others have gone to see what's wrong," said Hina. "Also…" She fidgeted in place, looking hesitant to continue.

"Hina," I said, my voice warning, sure she was hiding something from me."Tell me."

"Well…" The words came tumbling out. "Some people didn't show up this morning, so this whole thing is a bit of a jumbled mess. We kinda have no idea who is missing and who is searching the school-"

"Whoa, slow down, what do you mean?" I asked. "Does that mean-have you seen Junko?"

Hina frowned. "W-Well, no, but-"

"So nobody has seen Junko?"

The silence was killing me.

I backed away, wide-eyed, realization and horror crashing down on me. "You know what, I have to go. I need to find my sister."

Already out the door, I heard the sound of rushed footsteps behind me.

"Mukuro!" the person called, and I instantly recognized it as Sayaka.

I didn't stop, but she caught me by the hand. Reluctantly, I turned to her.

"Mukuro…" She paused, taking a moment to catch her breath. "I don't think it's a good idea for you to be walking around here at a time like this." Her big blue eyes were wide, expressive… fearful. Whether it was fear for herself or for me, I had no idea.

"What do you mean?"

"Well…" She lowered her voice, despite the fact that nobody else was around. "We could be in danger, you know?"

My patience was growing thin. "We've been in danger. I can handle myself." I pulled my hand out of hers.

"No, I got that! You can take care of yourself." She frowned, hugging her arms close to her chest. In that moment, she looked so small. What would a girl like her do if left to her own devices? "I-I'm sorry if I'm just being a huge distraction. You have other problems."

I sighed, rubbing my forehead. "I'm sorry... I guess I'm just a bit on edge."

"That's okay."

Just thought of her walking around all by herself…

"You know what, you're probably right. I don't want you walking around by yourself either." I reached for her wrist. Upon grabbing her arm, she flinched, wincing and drawing her hand back.

"Sorry," I said. "Too hard."

"No, it's fine," she said, but she was still wincing, massaging her wrist.

I offered my hand out to her again in an act of forgiveness. "Come on."

She smiled, and I knew she was reassured.

We ran into Chihiro near the entrance hall. She seemed distracted, but catching her attention, she looked up at us with those wide eyes of hers, managing a small smile. At the same time, she was wringing her hands anxiously.

"Good morning, Chihiro," said Sayaka with a courteous smile, a little more forced than usual. It was clear the mood was anxious all around.

"Oh, hello," said Chihiro with a small nod of acknowledgement. "Good morning to you, too. At least, I hope for a good morning…"

I didn't like that ominous note, so thankfully Sayaka continued before she could leave it hanging.

"Have you seen Junko?" asked Sayaka. "We've been looking for her."

"Uh…" She pondered for a moment. "Yeah, I-I think. I just saw her go up the stairs a moment ago."

But that meant…

"Are you sure?" I asked, now very intent.

"Pretty sure," said Chihiro in a small voice, seeming to shrink under my gaze. "I-I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help…"

I let out a sigh of relief. I couldn't rest until I at least knew for sure, but it was enough for me to exhale.

"Thank you so much, Chihiro," said Sayaka, waving and already leading me away. "Did you hear that?" she asked, looking to me. "I'm sure she's fine."

I nodded, still trying to calm myself. My reassurance couldn't last forever. I didn't know it yet, but upstairs a nightmare was waiting for us.

I was still searching desperately for Junko, checking room after room.

The first classroom was empty. The second classroom was empty. I was about to check the door to the girl's locker room when I heard Sayaka shiver.

I tried the door. "These are supposed to be locked…"

Peeking inside, I could see the room was empty.

"Oh, god, tell me what's inside," she said, averting her eyes.

"Not here," I said to her.

She nodded, shivering again. "I think we should go," she said.

"Hang on," I said. "Do you think…" I mused, still unsure whether I should voice my thought.

"What is it?" she asked.

"Do you think we should check the boys room?" I asked.

"For Junko?"

"No, I-Just… just in case, you know? In case something…"

She frowned. "I don't think we can."

A bell went off, and we heard the sound of static before the monitors came on. "For this investigation, I have unlocked the doors. Please look around to your heart's content!" said Monokuma in his usual unbearable screech before disappearing once again.

The screen cut out, and Sayaka and I stared at each other in silence.

"What do you think that means?" she whispered, clinging close to me.

"I guess we'll know soon."

I was trying to be brave, but there was a knot forming in the pit of my stomach. I already knew what it meant.

She nodded, trying to edge me toward the door. "You go."

"Doesn't necessarily mean it's meant for us," I said. I looked to the nearest camera. "Please, don't shoot." I tried a silent prayer. Monothing, if we made a mistake, please don't blow our head off with a machine gun.

Then I tried the door, and much to my dismay, it creaked open.

In that moment, time seemed to freeze. All I could see was a body and the pool of blood. I couldn't comprehend what I was looking at; it was as if the world seemed to turn and crash around me, blood coursing in my ears as I rushed to the victim's side.

Behind me in the doorway, Sayaka let out an ear-splitting, wild, almost primeval scream-echoing through the halls in a way that made it feel neverending.

I fell to my knees, the body lying on the floor beside me.

"Makoto!" I cried out, not sure if it was said out of shock, or surprise, or if I desperate for a response. "Makoto!" I could hear the panic rising in my voice.

No! Not him! Anyone but him!

I scanned the body, checking for any signs of life. He looked completely still. No movement. Brain going into overdrive as my instincts took over, I leaned in close to his face. No breathing. No rising and falling of the chest. His eyes were closed like he could have fallen asleep, but he was deathly pale.

Trying to keep my hands from shaking, I reached out, trying to feel for a pulse. He was unusually cold, body already going stiff.

Nothing. Hoping maybe it was the spot I picked, I tried again on his neck. Again nothing.

I fell back, feeling the world collapse for a second time. Judging by the chill of his skin, it had already been hours.

There was… nothing we could do.

I could hear Sayaka blubbering behind me. "Oh my god, oh my god, should I-should I get someone? I-I don't know what to do, Mukuro, talk to me, I-"

I didn't answer, still too in shock to really register anything that was happening. I could barely wrap my head around it. Something about it, about Makoto, the kindest, sweetest, most genuine person I'd ever met, my good friend… lying still on the ground. Something about it didn't seem real. It couldn't be real. And yet in the blur of everything that was going on, the sound of voices in the background, the floor that seemed to sway and fall out from beneath me, it was the only thing that felt real at all.

"What in the… I heard screaming! What the hell is going on?"

A new voice, too distant in my shattered mind to register, came from behind me in the doorway. I didn't turn around or say anything.

"Sayaka!" It was Leon. "Oh my god, I heard you screaming! Are you okay?"

Finally coming back to reality, I glanced over at the pair of them in my stupor. Leon was holding Sayaka, her face buried in his chest in a tight hug. He was trying to comfort her. I felt sick to my stomach.

"I'm so glad you're okay…" he said to her. His eyes met mine, then fell to the body laying on the ground.

"What the fuck?" he cried out, eyes going wide with shock as he staggered back. "What the hell is going on? Is that blood?" Looking closer, he added, "Is that… Is that Makoto?"

"I-Is he dead?" asked Sayaka, still hovering close to Leon.

Before I could answer, the bell went off. We all turned to the monitor.

"A body has been discovered!" said Monokuma. "After a certain amount of time, which you may use however you like, the class trial will begin!"

The screen blacked out.

We looked to each other. The air was heavy, the mood possibly even more grim.

Sayaka spoke. "So that means…"

I nodded. "He's dead," I said, lifeless, unable to muster even the semblance of emotion into my words.

Sayaka began to sob into Leon's shoulder.

"Oh no, Sayaka, please don't cry," said Leon. He raised a hand hesitantly before patting her on the back, looking back and forth between her and the door. "Look, I, uh… I gotta go get some of the others, but I'll be back asap, okay?" He shot her one last look of concern before backing away and sprinting out the door.

Thankfully, he didn't take long. Everyone was quickly gathered, quiet murmurs and horrified gasps rippling through the growing crowd.

"Makoto!" cried out Taka. "I never imagined…This is—!"

"No! Not Makoto!" Hina's wide-eyed face was ashen. "Why? Why is this happening? Why are we being put through this again?" She wiped at her eyes with her sleeve.

"Fuck, man," said Mondo, a rare moment of quiet in his disbelief. He hung his head, fists clenched tightly at his sides. "Poor kid…"

"No!" whispered Kyoko. Even she seemed more shaken than usual.

"Mukuro?"

A familiar voice cut through my haze. I turned to see my sister standing in the doorway, staring at me with a bewildered expression.

"Junko!"

I stood up, running toward her as she did the same-barreled into me for a tight hug, all previous grudges instantly forgotten. Relief washed over me in an instant.

"I'm so glad you're okay."

"I'm fine," she said. "I was in the library. I'm just glad you're not dead. I-I mean…" she bit her lip, looking down at Makoto. She lowered her voice, shooting me a sympathetic look. "Sorry. I know you guys were close."

"I mean…" I frowned. "Not really."

It wasn't like we had anything special. Even if I thought we had a real connection, he was just… nice. He had a way of making you feel listened to. Cared for. He was a real friend. A good kid.

I looked down at Makoto's lifeless body.

He was so cold. So still.

It was unthinkable. Makoto was the kind of person to bring a smile to anyone's face. He had never ending patience and kindness. The kind of person with a beaming smile that reached his eyes. His aura was infectious. The boy was just… sunshine incarnate. To think he was gone…

I shut my eyes, fighting back tears.

"This is horrible…" said Hina, voice breaking. "I-I hate this. I can't believe we have to do this again."

"Fuck this," said Hiro. "I want out!"

"And where are you planning to go exactly?" asked Celeste.

"I don't care, anywhere but here!"

"We're in an enclosed space," snapped Hina.

"We need someone to guard the scene," said Kyoko, ignoring the beginnings of a quarrel and approaching the body.

"Jesus, a little soon," said Leon. "I mean, not everyone is even here yet."

"We're already jumping into investigation?" asked Sayaka. "Shouldn't we-"

"Trust me," said Byakuya, "You're going to need all the time you can get-"

Leon's expression was dubious. "Yeah, because we should trust you."

"Trust or not, time is valuable," said Kyoko. "I realize this is tough for everyone, but we need to be pressing on." When everyone turned to stare at her, she added, "If you want justice, this is the only way forward."

After a moment's silence, she added, "Now we're going to try this again. Who is going to guard the scene?"

Mondo raised a hand. "I'll do it," he growled, his voice was low, solemn.

Taka looked to him. "Bro-"

He shrugged. "I did it last time. Everybody knows I'm no use at investigations, so I may as well try to help in some way."

"Fine—" said Kyoko, but Byakuya interrupted.

"Last time someone offered to guard the scene, they ended up being the culprit," he said.

Mondo went stiff, stance was already on the defensive. "You got somethin' you wanna say?" asked Mondo through grit teeth.

"Hey!" cut in Taka loudly, stepping up to confront Byakuya. "Mondo has an alibi. He and I were—

Mondo threw out a hand, holding back Taka. "Easy bro, I don't need your help-"

"I don't care what happened. Enough with the puppy love, we've had enough volunteers," said Byakuya. "Let's get someone else."

"Yes, because we want to be combative and hostile towards those who are trying to be cooperative," said Junko.

"Why not? Works for you, doesn't it?" said Byakuya.

For a moment, Junko looked about ready to slap him. Instead, she smirked. "Wow, that was almost a clapback," she said, her tone patronizing rather than actual praise.

"Oh my god," said Kyoko, sighing and shaking her head. "We're talking in circles. The more we argue, the less time we have."

"Absolutely," said Byakuya. "You, Kuwata."

He snapped, pointing to Leon and gesturing for him to "come here".

Leon gaped at him. "Did you really just… snap at me?"

Byakuya ignored him. "You're watching the scene."

Leon looked to the others like he couldn't believe what was happening. "No, for real, did this guy just snap at me?"

"Perfect," said Junko, ignoring Leon, "Let's just force people into their jobs now. I'm sure he'll super vigilant and happy to be here!"

"None of us are happy to be here," Hina reminded Junko with a pointed expression.

They looked about to get into a full-fledged argument when Leon spoke.

"Whatever. No cat-fights. I can do it." His voice was bitter.

"Fan-fucking-tastic," said Junko.

I gulped, nodding. "Let's go."

"Whoa there," said Leon, holding his hands up. "What's up with the stone cold demeanor? Weren't you two like super close?"

"Yes," hissed Junko, leaning away from me and toward him as if that somehow would made it harder for me to hear. "They were. Now a little less talking and a little more guarding. Show a little sensitivity, it's her job to be impartial. You wanna survive?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" he asked.

"You wanna live, right? Then let her do her job. Unless you killed him, of course."

"Are you fucking crazy?" asked Leon.

Sayaka started sobbing again.

Byakuya rolled his eyes. "Someone comfort the wilting flower. I can't stand the sound of her pathetic sniffling."

Hina was quick to put a comforting arm around Sayaka, who continued to cry.

Junko looked to Byakuya. "God, you're heartless," she said in disgust. "Why, do you have to be such an asshole? You can't focus without recreating the feeling of tap-tap-tapping on your keyboard alone in your parents' basement?"

"Junko—" I started, putting a hand on her shoulder, but she shoved my hand away.

"Don't 'Junko' me," she said. "Why do I always get the lecture?"

I just closed my eyes and shook my head, still too in shock to reason with anyone. I couldn't do this. No arguments, not right now.

"Wh-What is g-g-going on? Wh-Why is-Why is everyone-everyone in here?"

A familiar stutter that had been noticeably absent had finally arrived.

I opened my eyes to see her standing in the doorway. Heads turned to look at her.

Toko was the last person to arrive. She seemed to shrink under everyone's gaze, but spotting the body on the floor she paid us no more mind. Distracted, she approached Makoto's body, eyes going wide in horror. "Is-Is that?"

"Makoto?" asked Byakuya. "Yes, it is. And it looks like another murder has occured. It's time for an investigation."

"Wh-What is this?"

To my surprise, Toko stepped out from crowd of students, pushing past with surprising strength. Her gaze was fixed on something on the ground. Gingerly, she picked it up and examined something I had somehow completely missed in my shock.

"The hell?" asked Junko.

It seemed to be… a mask.

"No…" she whispered, gaze straying to the pool of blood at her feet and beside Makoto's lifeless body. "It-It can't be…"

"Toko, are you alright?" asked Hina.

Toko ignored Hina. She was deathly pale, eyes still wide like she'd seen a ghost. "No…. No no no no no. No. Th-They wouldn't… This-This isn't happening!" She appeared to be talking to herself more than anyone else.

"Toko, maybe it's best if we get you out of here…" said Hina.

Toko clutched her stomach, groaning and breathing heavily. "I… I think I'm g-gonna b-b-b-b-b-be s-sick!" she said, rocking back and forth until she finally keeled over. With a loud thud, she fell to the floor, passed out cold.

"What the fuck?" cried Mondo.

"Toko!" cried Taka. "Is she alright?"

Taka ran over to her side immediately.

"Toko!"

"Toko!" Hina knelt down next to her, trying to shake her awake. "She's passed out. I think she'll be okay… I hope."

"It must've been the blood!" said Taka.

"What a pity," said Celeste. "To be hemophobic in a situation such as this would be quite a disadvantage, I should think." Even so, she didn't sound sorry in the slightest.

"Oh, she'll be alright," said Byakuya. "And if she's not, then who cares."

Junko gave him a disgusted look. "On behalf of everyone here, I only have one thing to say to you, and that's, uh, choke."

"She's not gonna get in trouble or anything, is she?" asked Hiro. "The last thing she needs is to be punished for sleeping outside of the dorms."

"Well… The rules prohibit sleeping," said Kyoko. "Whereas Toko fainted. Since she didn't do it on purpose, she should be okay."

"Okay, so we're chillin'!" said Hiro.

"You call this 'chilling'?" asked Hina, gesturing to Toko's unconscious body.

"We can't just leave her here," said Leon.

"Toko!" Hina shook her roughly, still trying to rustle her awake. "Toko, you need to wake up!"

I was surprised at her forcefulness, the note of desperation in her voice. Toko hadn't exactly been nice to her this whole time; still, Hina had a big heart.

Then...

As if she'd heard her, Toko suddenly shot awake. As in, she literally jumped from where she was laying. It was such a strange reaction, I was at a total loss for words. She leapt straight up in the air, changing her stance as she did. In no time flat she was just… up.

Ignoring the physical contortions she had to go through, her motions were totally haphazard.

"Huh?" asked Hina, taking a step back, watching Toko with wide eyes. "What is…"

"Sorry about that. It's been so long!" Her posture and inflection were totally different. Louder, more assured. Despite her voice, her pale eyes were vacant.

"Uh, Toko? Are you alright?" asked Hina.

"Toko? What do you mean, Toko? Me? I'm fine! So fine! Kyehaha!" She let out a cackle unlike anything I'd ever heard. Her tongue lolled idly from her mouth, as if she had no control. Spotting Makoto on the floor, she let out another cackle. "Whoa! Is that a dead body!?" She bent over Makoto. "Hey! Are you dead?"

Strange. Somehow, her aversion to blood was completely gone.

"Kyeehahaha!" She sauntered absently around the room, speaking in a sing-song voice as she swayed her arms from side to side. "The world has a front and a back, a top inning and a bottom, a sea of truth and a web of lies!" She paid us no mind.

"Uh…. Anyone else getting a little concerned?" asked Hiro.

"No, no! Everything's fine!" said Toko, still oddly carefree. "It's been so long! I've been wanting to do this for a while. And besides, the stutter should be all gone! You're welcome! That's a good thing, right? Much better than her! You should like me much more now! Kyeehahaha!" Noticing the mask on the ground, she gasped. "Oh no! What's this?" She cackled. "Uh-oh! She's in trouble for sure!"

"It is apparent that you are not alright!" said Taka. To the others, he said, "Would someone help me escort Toko back to her room? It seems she could use someone as a watchful eye!"

After a moment's awkward silence, Hina gulped, raising a hand. "I'll do it. I don't mind."

"Thank you, Hina," said Taka.

"Come on," said Hina to Toko. Hina placing a coaxing hand at Toko's shoulders, and guiding her out of the room.

Everyone was too distracted to notice Chihiro stepping out of the crowd and up beside the mask. She knelt, picking it up with one hand and turning it over and over in examination.

Once she'd left, the rest of us noticed Chihiro's rapt fixation.

"Uh, Earth to Chihiro," said Leon.

"Yo, kid," said Mondo. "You in there?"

Chihiro didn't respond, only stared at the mask intently, brow furrowed in fixed concentration. "Could it be?" Then, she leapt up, louder and more urgent than I'd ever seen her in all my time here. "I... I've seen this before!" She bolted from the room as fast as her little legs could carry her.

Everyone looked at each other with questioning looks.

Leon whistled. "O-kay…"

"I suggest those who would like to start ought to go on ahead," said Celeste. "Who knows how long she will take, yes?"

"S-Sure…"

From the hall, we could hear Toko cackle.

"I, uh…" Taka hesitated in the doorway, ready to head out. "Mukuro, as someone who will be absent for part of the investigation, I would like to know if you will provide your assessment of the body?" he asked.

I closed my eyes. "I'll… I'll get there, just give me a moment."

"Of course!" said Taka. "I am sure this must be devastating! You must be allowed time to grieve! After all, I know you must have been very close."

Junko shook her head, muttering under her breath. "Jesus fucking Christ."

"How sweet," said Celeste. "Have you decided to work together as a unit? If only we could all be so trusting." Judging by the twisted glint in her eye, she seemed to be mocking him.

"Oh, relax," said Junko. "He's just asking her opinion."

"Just so everyone knows. I do prefer to… to investigate alone," I managed to say, swallowing back the lump in my throat. I was fighting to suppress any thoughts of the previous investigation. It was true; while I was generally open to collaborating with others, I preferred to work alone. Makoto… He had been the exception, rather than the rule. "However," I added hesitantly, "I'll be… more than willing to answer anybody's questions. How you take my input is entirely up to you."

Taka nodded in thanks, leaving to assist Hina.

Finally left to my own devices, I grabbed my Monokuma File:

"Makoto Naegi was found in the Boys Locker Room of the second floor. The exact time and cause of death is unknown, but he appears to have suffered from asphyxiation and a punctured lung. However, he suffered no external injuries."

I frowned. "That's it?"

"What is it?" asked Junko.

"File," I responded shortly, pointing at the screen.

Junko scoffed. "It's so short."

I sighed. "Well, if Monokuma wanted to make this easy for us, he wouldn't be Monokuma."

I performed a quick scan of the room. Spotting no nearby hazards, I could go right to the examination.

I took a deep breath, trying to regulate my heartbeat. Despite the morbid circumstances, I'd done this before; it was my job, after all. Morbid was part of the job description. Still, the gloom hovered over us like a dark cloud.

I may have been more accustomed to the macabe than some of the others, but this was still knew to me.

I…

I'd never lost a friend in this way.

I knelt beside the body, hesitating to take a second of pause."I'm sorry," I whispered, as if he could hear me. Maybe deep down inside, I wanted to believe he still could. I took a moment of silence before finally proceeding.

…

"Man, this place gives me the serious chills," said Hiro, looking around the room, a shiver running down his spine as he clutched his arms.

"No one's twisting your arm to stay," said Junko, only half-listening as she knelt beside me-not even bothering to look up at him.

"Hey!" said Hiro. "I know that! But I-I dunno if I wanna be alone in a time like this!" His expression was uneasy as his eyes darted around the room. He was quiet for a moment, but it didn't last long before he was at it again. "Hina!"

I looked up to see Hina standing in the doorway.

"How's Toko?" he asked.

She frowned. "Uh… Not great, but Taka is keeping an eye on her." There must have been something in my expression, because she added, "Mukuro, are you alright?"

"Huh?" I nodded, getting back to work.

"Mukuro, you look suuuuper checked out right now," said Hiro after I'd been at it for a bit, breaking my concentration.

"What?" I asked, only somewhat paying attention.

"'Kuro, what's the dealio?"

"Jesus, don't say it like that," said Hina. She was sitting beside him, and as he said this, she scowled and elbowed him in the ribs.

"And don't call her 'Kuro', that's my thing," muttered Junko.

"Ow!" said Hiro, massaging his ribcage. "Hey, I just wanted to ask 'Kuro what was up."

On hearing the nickname again, I glanced up on a reflex. "Yeah?" I asked.

"Uh, yeah," said Hiro, eyes wide as if surprised by my attention. "You had a real funny look on your face just now."

"Did I? Huh." Maybe that was a thing-me making odd faces. Nobody had ever said anything. It wasn't like I had anyone besides my mom. I sighed, figuring I might as well let them know what was up. Maybe the extra brain-power could help. "Well, if you wanna know… the body checks out with the report, for the most part at least. No external injuries."

"So then why the weird face?"

"Seriously, what face?" I asked, bewildered.

"Ignore him, Mukuro," said Hina. "He's just being an ass."

But Hiro ignored her, still looking at me and going on ahead anyway. "Uh… Kinda like this," he said, squinting really hard as if in concentration while scratching his chin.

He looked so silly that I snorted on a reflex, even smiled.

Dumb as it was, for a moment-just a moment-I felt better. It was just a second, but it was enough to remind me the world wasn't over just yet.

Junko looked to me, eyebrow raised, incredulous expression on her face. "Seriously?"

"Yo, I'm telling you, things were getting way too heavy, yeah?" said Hiro, proud grin on his face, eyes surprisingly sympathetic as he smiled at me.

Hiro reached a hand out to me, and I took it.

I felt him give my hand a reassuring squeeze.

Our eyes meeting, I managed a small smile in return. The sensation was tense, almost like I'd forgotten how to smile at all. Still, an unspoken word passed between us, my heart swelled.

I coughed, clearing my throat and letting go of his hand.

"It was a moment of weakness," I said, not looking at Junko. The clawing pang in my chest was returning, ever present. I pouted and rolled my eyes, scolding him with no real malice. "Don't distract me again, I need to concentrate."

"Kay, but something was clearly bugging, so spill," said Hiro.

Somehow, he could always just tell when something was wrong.

"Well, yeah," I confessed. "the file said he suffered from of asphyxiation… I mean, it's not impossible, but I still can't find the source. There are no signs of choking or strangulation, so it's probably not..." I trailed off, not bothering to voice my train of thought.

He nodded sagely, in a way that was almost comical. "I'm telling you, those files are misleading as fuck. I don't trust anything Monokuma says."

"Funny, you always gave off more of a 'follow the leader' kind of vibe to me," snickered Junko.

"'Scuse?" he asked.

"You know… I say 'jump', you say 'how high?'" said Junko.

"Regardless," I said, "I'm no more inclined to trust Monokuma than anyone else, but we have to start somewhere."

"Sure, but it's weird to think about what you just said," said Hiro. "He's messing with our heads, man."

"Who?" I asked.

"Monokuma! Trust me, you don't give out bad info unless you're trying to fuck with someone. Doesn't really fit, right?" said Hiro.

"Speaking of things not fitting," said Junko, "That track suit is hella large, don't you think?"

"Track suit?" asked Hina.

"The one Makoto is wearing," said Junko, folding her arms in exasperation. "Use your eyes. You know, the ones in your head. There's two of them."

I nodded distractedly, staring at the blue track suit Makoto was wearing for a moment before rummaging through the pockets of his track jacket. I checked the first pocket. The only things I found was pocket lint and a single safety pin.

So nothing.

In his other pocket, I noticed his e-handbook sticking out. I pocketed it for safe-keeping.

Finished with the search, I unzipped his jacket.

"Jesus, Mukuro, a little discretion, maybe?" asked Hiro.

I ignored him. Junko was right, the track suit was strangely baggy on him.

"Weird, I didn't even know the guy worked out," said Mondo, craning his neck to look over at us.

"Yeah… neither did I," I said. I mean, he'd just never really seemed the type.

"You'd think he'd pick a suit his size," said Hiro, crouching beside me.

"Yeah, you'd think…" I said. A thought struck me. "Hiro?"

"Mm?"

"Do you guys keep your track suits in the lockers?"

"Yeah, weird, some of the guys were just talking about working out the other day," said Hiro. "Not Makoto, though."

I grimaced. Right. Not Makoto.

"What color is your track suit?"

"White!" he said, beaming with pride. "I can show you if you like."

"Maybe later," I said with a small nod, double-tasking as I examined Makoto's chest at the same time. It sounded like I'd blown him off, so I added, "If it becomes important, I'll let you know."

"Gotcha."

I scowled, fingers pressed up against Makoto's chest.

"You're making the face again," said Hiro.

"Broken ribs," I murmured, more to myself than to anyone else. I rolled Makoto onto his back, just to check something. No bruising or discoloration on his back.

"God," said Hiro, wrinkling his nose and sniffing the air. "Not to be crass-"

"Don't worry, already crossed that bridge long ago," muttered Junko.

"—but it reeks in here!" continued Hiro. "I mean, it's not just me, right?"

"Nope," said Leon. He'd been sitting on one of the benches, zoning out as far as I had been aware, but he seemed to be paying attention now. "Not just you, I'd recognize that smell anywhere."

Hina's eyes widened. "Chlorine!" she said, slamming her fist into her hand in a moment of epiphany.

"You can smell it from that far?" asked Junko.

"He's just being a baby," said Hina. "It's not that strong. It's coming from somewhere in here, can't you tell?"

I nodded. It was muddled, but at least one of the sources came from Makoto's hair. His hair was dry in texture and even more messy than usual, so it checked out. I was starting to get a vague picture on the broader situation at hand.

I did my last examinations on his body; once again, no external injuries, but there was bruising on his chest, and some on his arms and legs. That could mean possible signs of a struggle.

Aching to check the next room over to confirm my hunch, I stood up. Since the mention of the chlorine, I'd been curious to see if I could dig up anything extra in the pool room.

"Where are you going?" asked Sayaka—abrupt, panicked.

"Just the pool. If Leon and Hina are right about the chlorine, then I should definitely check. Junko?" I gave her a look.

"Coming!" she said, practically bounding over to me.

"I'll go with you!" Sayaka quickly rushed over to my side.

"You should get some rest," I said, but she ignored me, clinging to my side.

Stepping out, the deck was clear.

"I'm just gonna be a moment," I said, not looking over at her.

She nodded, swallowing hard and taking deep breaths. "I know… It's stupid, I know… It's just hard being in there… I needed to get out."

"No problem, it was getting all jammed in there," said Junko.

I nodded in silence. She was right, it certainly was tough-more than tough; in moments it was almost insurmountable. But I had to put it from my mind. I needed to push forward.

Thankfully, there were no hazards or blood, but at least those would have been signs of use.

Well, maybe I was wrong…

I was about to head back when I heard the slightest splash. Looking down at my feet, I realized I had stepped in a small puddle of water.

Weird.

Well, it was something. The deck should have been dry-unless the pool had been in recent use.

Peering into the water, I scowled in concentration. "The pool is too cloudy to see anything."

Sayaka's brow knit, expression perplexed. "That is so weird."

Straining my eyes, I could maybe make out indistinct shapes at the bottom of the pool. "There's something there." I huffed in frustration.

"Why don't you just jump in?" asked Hina. Upon hearing her voice, I turned to look at her. I hadn't realized she'd followed us out.

"Wish I could help," said Sayaka. "I'm a terrible swimmer."

"I gotcha—" began Hina.

"Are you kidding?" called an incredulous male voice. "Don't just fucking jump in the pool!"

Turning back to the lockers, we saw Leon standing in the doorway.

"Aren't you supposed to be watching the scene?" asked Hina, pouting.

"Chill, ok? I propped the door open, I can see just fine," said Leon, gesturing behind him with his thumb and approaching us. "By the way, didn't mean to shout, call it a reflex, that's the lifeguard voice talking. And you looked like you were about to step into some shady shit."

"Relax, will you?" said Hina. She added, grumbling, "I wasn't gonna do anything."

He shot her a skeptical look. "Look, I know it's you, and I know you got a hard-on for anything wet, but maybe have some chill and use your head?"

"You're disgusting," said Hina.

"I didn't mean it like that!" said Leon. "Let's not just jump into possible murder-water-stuff without knowing what's in it?"

"You don't know that pool was used," said Hina.

"You could smell the chlorine off him from a mile away. No thanks. It's not just my skin I'm trying to save."

"I didn't take you for the responsible type," said another voice.

It was Celeste, stepping outside.

"Let's just invite everyone out, why not," I muttered under my breath. I just wanted to get back to the investigation.

To be fair, she'd made a valid observation. Leon did seem unusually on edge-way more cautious than the whole rogue-ish deal he tried to pull off.

"I'm trying to be the good guy here," said Leon, to which Hina actually rolled her eyes. "Look at how murky it is!" he added, gesturing a hand to the water. "I mean, you're asking me to jump in there? Who knows if the culprit fucked with the filter. Or the pH balance could be fucked, and that's not even covering any wild card chemical bullshit they might have thrown in there just to fuck with the investigation. This is why I don't fuck with pools."

"It sounds kind of dangerous to me," said Sayaka.

"Okay!" said Hina. "You've made your point." She groaned, throwing her hands in the air. After a moment, she surveyed the room. "There's a skimmer over there on the wall, I'm gonna try and fish out whatever that is at the bottom."

"Why don't we just drain it?" asked Junko.

Hina groaned. "That could take hours!" said Hina with a whine. "Just, let me get the net."

"Might as well be doing something useful," mumbled Junko.

"Let me know if something comes up," I said, already turning to head back. I paused at the door,

Noticing the scanner beside the handle and stopping to examine it briefly.

"Yo, what's up?" called Leon. "I left the door open!"

"No, I got that… it's just funny, you need an ID to enter from either side."

"Max precautions here, I guess," said Leon, approaching me. "Monokuma doesn't play any games."

"Sure," I said no longer really listening, and instead making a mental note on the ID system.

Back in the locker room, I took the time to approach Mondo. If he didn't have anything on the crime itself, I was hoping he might at least have some info on the boy's locker room. He seemed like the type to work out a lot.

He was leaning back against the wall, arms folded and head bowed, but he glanced up at me when he saw me approaching. "Hey, kid, you need somethin'?" he asked.

"Yeah, uh… just anything you might be able to give me about Makoto… uh, about the victim- would be helpful," I said with an anxious sigh, hugging my arms close to my chest. Victim. It felt weird to say it aloud. Plus, Mondo seemed relaxed in the moment, but that didn't stop me from being intimidated by his domineering frame. He was much bigger and much taller than me. I didn't want to say anything to set him off.

"Like?" he asked.

"I don't know…" I pondered. "You spend a lot of time in here, right?"

"Uh, sure. What's your point?"

He didn't seem upset, but definitely on edge. Which could be suspicious; on the other hand, that was typical Mondo. He was just easily agitated. I took a step back, already shrinking under his gaze. Still, I continued. "Do you have any idea why Makoto would be in the locker room? Did you ever see him? Was he in here often?"

"Whoa, slow down there, girl. What's with the interrogation? Look, If I'm bein' for real, I hardly saw the guy. Taka may've asked him if he wanted to come along more than once, but the dude didn't seem into it. Not his thing, ya know?"

I nodded. "I can believe it."

"S'Fine, I guess. 'Though most people probably woulda bailed, anyway, so I get it. My work out's kinda intense."

"I can believe that, too," I said, unable to help but gaze at his hulking, impressive figure. I ignored the humblebrag.

He winced, and examining his face more closely, I noticed purplish bruising around his eye I somehow missed.

"Is that a black eye?" I asked.

"Huh? Uh… yeah." He scratched the back of his head with a sheepish smile, avoiding my gaze.

"Can I ask what happened?"

"I, uh… ran into a door frame."

I gave him a look, but didn't press him, not wanting to agitate him further.

I checked the clock. "Weird. Where has Chihiro gone?"

"I recommend you check the library."

Hearing another voice, Mondo and I looked over to see Byakuya examining the mask. He looked up at us staring at him. "What? You certainly look like you could use the help. Besides, I think there's something in there you might find of interest."

I nodded, my smile coming out a tight-lipped grimace at best.

I thanked Mondo for his time, letting him to himself. Finally leaving the locker room, I headed to the library first. I could always come back, but I wanted to see if Byakuya was right about Chihiro. Maybe she had more information that could help with the case.

"Come with me to the library," said Byakuya, as if he read my mind.

"Why?" I asked.

"You seem like you have a sensible head on your shoulders. You're going to help me on my investigation."

Apparently I was going to be his new sidekick. Still, I held my tongue and just nodded, mind still set on talking to Chihiro.

We walked over in silence. Chihiro was reading something when we walked into the room. She looked up upon hearing the door open and close.

"What are you doing here?" she asked.

"Looking for you, actually," I said. "You ran off without a word."

"Oh!" There was a moment of recognition before she deflated once more. "No reason. I mean, it's probably nothing…"

"Show her," said Byakuya.

"What do you mean?" asked Chihiro.

"The file," he said. "Tell her."

"Listen, Chihiro," I said, voice lowering. "I don't want to push you, but if it's important, I want to know. You seemed to know something about that mask."

She took a deep breath. "Sun Witch Esper Ito."

"Sorry?"

"Sun Witch Esper Ito. That mask is the character from the anime 'Sun Witch Esper Ito'."

I blinked.

"O...kay?"

"And it is the calling card for the serial killer Sparkling Justice."

It was as if my heart stopped.

"For the what?"

"The serial killer." She held up a file she'd been holding in her hands, opening it up for me to see the contents.

I took it from her. "Where did you get this?" I asked, flipping through the contents.

"In the archive," said Chihiro. "There's all sorts of confidential information in there. I mean, I have my resources, of course, but how the school gets their hands on it, I have no clue."

"How'd you even know to look for something like this?" I asked.

She sighed, hugging her arms close to her body. "I have… a lot of spare time on my hands. I do a lot of light reading; old police reports, unsolved cases, stuff like that. I guess it could be considered a hobby of mine. I know, it's a little strange."

"It's fine," I said brusquely, perhaps a little more callous than intended. It was generally counterproductive (and besides the point just rude in general) to offend Chihiro, but I wanted to make sure I was furthering the investigation.

I glanced down at the file. "What is… Sparkling Justice?" I asked, squinting at the words on the page, trying to make sense of all this new information.

Byakuya spoke. "Sparkling Justice is a serial killer who is famous for only going after other criminals."

She pointed to a section in the file.

The gender of Sparkling Justice is unknown, but their calling card is mask of the main character of 'Sun Witch Esper Ito', a popular anime. In the show, Sun Witch Esper Ito is a magical girl and defender of justice, so it is possible that the killer is fashioning themself after the themes of the show. Sparkling Justice only targets other criminals. Often, their victims are revealed to have had a history of violent or abusive behavior. The true identity of the killer is unknown. Only one journalist has ever managed to host an interview with Sparkling Justice; however, as is the case for every person who comes into contact with Sparkling Justice, the reporter became their next victim. Judging by the frenetic patterns of the killer after each incident, they are suspected of having Dissociative Identity Disorder.

"This is their catchphrase," said Chihiro. She took a deep breath, trying her best to project. "'Justice complete! The center of justice that is pierced by justice! The lead star of justice that shines in the night sky! That would be me… Sparkling Justice!'" She frowned. "Sorry, I hope that helped."

"Of course."

If she was right about this, our situation could be even more dire than I anticipated. I tried to process all this new information.

"Do you see?" asked Byakuya.

"See?"

"What this has to do with the case, of course."

"Well, of course," I said. "The calling card is the same."

"We could be dealing with a copycat," said Chihiro. "Or…"

"Or... we consider the possibility that the real Sparkling Justice lives among us," said Byakuya. He smirked. "I hope neither of you have reason for a guilty conscious."

"D-Do you actually think it could be the real Sparkling Justice?" asked Chihiro.

"I'm not going to spell it out for you," said Byakuya. "The clues are there, work it out for yourself."

At hearing the door creak open, I whipped my head in the direction of the noise.

"Oh-Oh good, you're here!" said Hina. She breathed a sigh of relief. "Mondo said you guys might be in the library, I'm glad I found you."

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"It's Toko," she said. "I went to check on her, and, well… she's acting kind of strange."

"Strange?" asked Byakuya sharply, his posture stiffening as if in sudden interest-uncharacteristic for someone like him. "In what way?"

She frowned, waving him to come nearer. "Come see for yourself."

He nodded. "Very well. I was heading downstairs regardless. Come, Mukuro," he said to me before following Hina out the door.

I grumbled something incoherent, feeling a bit like a dog on a leash. "You'll be good, Chihiro?"

"Huh?" she asked. "Oh! Yeah, I guess so."

I nodded, thanking her once more for her help before following the other two downstairs. Even though I was annoyed about being towed around like a showpony, I did have reason to head downstairs. I didn't want to say anything to Byakuya, but really I wanted to check Makoto's room for clues, just in case.

Just the thought felt invasive, but the thought of Makoto's killer going free made me sick to my stomach. Makoto deserved justice, so I hoped if he were here, he would forgive me.

Once in the dorm hallway, I spotted Taka waiting outside Toko's door.

"How is she?" asked Hina.

"Ah, Hina! You have returned! As you can see, she is still refusing to come out!" said Taka.

"So not good," said Hina. She explained to the two of us. "She's been saying some weird stuff. Refusing to come out. Byakuya, I know you two are... complicated or whatever, but can you please talk to her?"

Byakuya sighed. "We are not together. But fine. This means nothing."

He knocked on the door.

The door swung open, slowly and silently. A sliver of Toko's face peaked through the crack.

I could barely make out her figure, but from what I could tell, she was shivering, sweating profusely and glowering at us from the other side of the door.

Whoa.

An aura of negativity flowed out from behind the door, forcing a gasp out of me.

"H-Hello?" asked Toko. Spotting us outside the door, she spat out, "W-What do you want?"

"Hello, Toko," I said. "We were wondering if we could have a word with you?"

She stared at me in silence for a few long seconds. "C-C-Can't," she said. "I w-won't let her get control."

"Who?" I asked.

She ignored me. "I swear I'll d-drive out that-that m-m-mur-murderous fiend!"

"Toko," said Byakuya, finally speaking.

Toko gasped. "Backula!"

He sighed again. "It's Byakuya. Hina is asking for you to come out of your room."

"I… I c-c-cant! I sorry, Byakuya. I p-p-promised. I-I-I'm sorry I couldn't-couldn't keep our-couldn't keep our promise."

With a loud slam, she shut the door in his face.

"Well, that was utterly pointless," said Byakuya.

Promise?

What was that about? And why did Byakuya seem completely unmoved?

He frowned. "I have somewhere else to be."

Curiosity getting the better of me, I followed him along. While his company wasn't the most pleasant, his behavior has caught my interest.

He walked in silence, but upon realizing I was still with him, he scoffed—but not bothering to slow his pace. "Why are you still here?" he asked.

"Where is this place you have to be?" I asked.

"I just have a hunch," he said. "Normally this is where our little team-up will end, but since you've been a relative help, I suppose I can show you what I mean."

"How generous," I said dryly.

He led me to the entrance hall, where near the wall sat a small box I'd never noticed. Reaching my hand in the box, I pulled out what looked like an e-handbook.

"Is that it?" he asked.

I frowned. "Yeah, why?"

"This is where the e-handbooks are kept, for well… the students who are no longer with us."

"But there's only one."

He smirked. "That is interesting, isn't it?"

"I guess. It doesn't make any sense. Makoto… Makoto's was on his person," I said. It was still hard to speak of it. "Which mean there should be two in the box-one for Hifumi and one for Sakura."

"Well, which one is it?" he asked.

I tried to turn it on, pressing the button. I waited patiently for a moment. When nothing happened, I tried again. Again, nothing. "It's not working," I said. "It must be broken."

"But according to Monokuma, the e-handbook is indestructible," said Byakuya.

"Well, that's obviously not the case." I said.

"You're right. They're waterproof and can withstand pressure up to one ton. However, he also mentioned they have one weakness. But that's it."

But why would Sakura or Hifumi break their handbook? My head was swimming with questions. "So we have no way of knowing who owned this e-handbook?"

He shrugged. "Possibly through process of elimination. If we can find the missing handbook."

He turned to leave.

"Hey! Are you going somewhere?" I called after him.

Byakuya paused in the doorway. "It's unimportant. I think that's all we have to offer one another. Good luck at the trial." And with that, he left.

For the first time all morning, I was truly on my own.

Whoa, plot twist! Bet you guys didn't see that coming. I guess Makoto was the Sayaka of talentswap.

A/N: Also, if you're reading this I'm willing to bet you finished the game, so the Toko plot twist was really not going to be a surprise for anyone.

I hope this doesn't come across poorly, but I've spent so much time worrying about making everything super accurate and tonally similar to the game, and it was just kind of sucking the joy out of everything. So, well... I've come to the realization that this is my fic... so lowkey I can do what I want.

And I've made some changes from the source material, which are to be expected with fic I guess. I'll be sure to explain soon. But yeah, it's nice to realize I just want to write what makes me happy, so Obviously Closet Case Hina, bi-icon Leon, Dad Friend Hiro may not be entirely accurate but its all a part of my *artistic vision*. That's a lie, I'm just messing around with characters.

Now that I swear I'm done being a jerk, please let me know what you think! Who is the culprit this time?