I don't own any of the following characters. Hitman Reborn is owned by Akria Amano, and Danganronpa V3 is owned by Kazutake Kodaka. I hope you enjoy!

Thoughts/Flames Speaking= Italics

Last time with Maki Harukawa, the Ultimate Child Caretaker...

"Upupup! Welp, who would have seen this coming?! Someone went ahead and off'ed not one but two of their fellow prisoner! So much for comradery, am I right?" Monokuma jumped out of one the ceiling tiles. "Now, usually, I would commence the investigation, our grand First Kill Freebie Motive is still up for grab. Will our little murderer come out and claim their prize?"

"No..." Fon rose to her feet. Grabbing a dictionary off of the nearest shelf, Fon wiped the tears from her eye, leaving a streak of dried blood on her face. "For the crimes committed today, I will see to their deaths. Claim Monokuma's prize, so that I know who to strike down!"

"I-pin, please, cal-"

"NO! Lambo and I may not be blood-related, but I treated him as my own brother. For the sake of Lambo, I will commit this sin and not even Monokuma will stand in my way!" She glared down Akamatsu. "Now, who killed Rantaro and Lambo, so that I can strike you down where you stand."

Arc 1- Abnormal Life

Predicting Rain and Death!

This time with Lambo Bovino...

I could feel my consciousness flickering as curled my fingertips. Shit, that was one hell of a hit. What happened to me? As I got my senses in order, the screaming and yelling became too annoying for my liking.

"Oi, chiuderai tutto il diavolo? Ho mal di testa!" I groaned as I propped my body against the near bookshelf. I winced in pain. My head throbbing as I pressed my hand against the ground which was more liquidy than I cared to remember. Glancing down to the right of me, I realized I knocked out next to a bloody corpse, precisely Rantaro Amami's, for God knows how long. "Shit, when did he die?!"

"Lambo!" Charming exclaimed, accompanied by tears of joy. She dropped the heavy dictionary and pulled me into a suffocating hug. "Thank God, you're alive."

"Ch-Charming, I'mma pass out if you keep that up," I tapped her on the back. Realizing the state that I am, she backed off.

"Huh? You're not dead?" Monokuma asked with a puzzled expression. From the corner of my eye, I saw Kirumi, Miu, Kiyo, Kokichi, Shirogane, and K1-B0 appeared from the rear door. "I certain you were a bloody corpse. Oh well, I guess we only have one dead body on our hands. Whoever attempted to kill Lambo has lost their right to escape, seeing how I don't reward failures! Will Rantaro Amami's killer please step forward?"

"Ho-Hold on, maybe Rantaro's alive too." Kaede stepped forward and placed two shaky fingers against his throat. "Oh dear God no..."

"That's right kiddos! We got an undeniable death on our hands!" Monokuma's laugh boomed through the library. Recognizing his voice, the remaining Monokubs appeared at the door. "Now, who's the culprit. Step forward and claim your prize!"

We all exchanged anxious stares as the second stretched on. The room went silent while the seventeen us waited for the person to step up.

"Come on, who is the bitch that killed his ass has to step up!" Miu growled. "The anticipation's killing me."

"Miu... please choose your words more carefully," Kirumi sighed as she looked away from the corpse. "At the very least..respect the dead."

"Well...who did it," Shirogane said warily. "Unless was it suicide?"

"No, it can't be suicide," Hoshi grunted. "Rantaro wasn't the type to give up someone else's life let alone his own."

Shuichi raised a finger to his chin. "Then, the only logical answer is: The murderer must be standing in this very room."

"Then, someone really did want to win Monokuma's reward," Kaede's eye shrunk at in horror. "Who could have done this?"

"Well, we'll need to have a class trial," Kokichi snickered. "Since no one wants to claim to be the blackening, we'll just have an old fashion witch hunt."

"Ultimately, that is Monokuma's decision," I-pin sighed. "So Monokuma, it seems like no one's willing to claim the First Kill Perk...what happens now?"

"The first investigation of the game, of course!" The robotic bear proclaimed. "That perk's off the table now, so when the killer is caught, don't beg your life 'cause I gave you a chance to leave."

"An investigation...as in we are searching for clues." Kiyo inspected his necklace. "Is there any information you are willing to provide us or are we supposed to go off our instinct?"

"UPUPUP! The man behind the mask is asking all the right questions!" Monokuma sneered. "That's right. Since y'all aren't experts, I'm willing to throw you kiddos a bone out of pity. Kubs?"

"We proudly present the first edition of the Monokuma Files!" The four cubs announced in somewhat unison. In that instant, our phones vibrated.

"Upupup! I would suggest y'all start investigating because...your lives on the line." Monokuma chuckled as he disappeared from the room.

The library fell silent once again. The realization had hit us hard. This was our reality, now. The murderer killed Rantaro, for what? They didn't take their one chance of getting out. Now...all of our lives were on the line once again. I'm ready for this day to be over.

Glancing around, I shook my head. "Despairing won't help us catch this killer. Shuichi, I trust that you know how to do an investigation."

Blinking twice, the detective realized all eye were on him for guidance. "I-I guess we should check the Monokuma File. After that, we can collect alibis, and then we can see where can go from there."

Victim: Rantaro Amami, the Ultimate Mystery

T.O.D: 11:50 am

The body was found in the back corner of the library, in the basement. He sustained two major injuries, a bruised wrist, and a cracked skull. There no traces of internal damage. This death can be declared instantaneous.

I-pin let out a sigh of relief as she laid down her phone. "At least, Rantaro didn't suffer." Ammunition Found! Monokuma File: Rantaro Amami!

"Now, we can carry on with our alibis." Angie clapped her hands together. "Atua says those who do not have an alibi at the time of the murder are the most suspicious!"

Tenko spoke up first. "We can eliminate Himiko, Angie, Maki, and I-pin since the five of us were in Lambo's Lab!"

"Hey, don't forget." Kaito huffed. "Gonta, Ryoma, and I were there too! After all, the ten of us were planning our counterattack against Monokuma!" Ammunition Found! The Counterattack Team!

"Kufufu! I can account for Kirumi, Miu, and Shirogane." Kiyo smiled behind his mask. "The Monokubs were providing a final meal, and it piqued my interest. The four of us were in the dining hall at the time of the announcement." Ammunition Found! The Final Meal Team!

"Oi! Four-eyes left the fucking cafeteria!" Miu growled. "Why the hell are we counting her in the alibi?!"

"Well, I went to the bathroom on the first floor," Shirogane explained. "I went to the one across the hall from the cafeteria."

"I understand your concern," Kirumi rested her hand the inventor's shoulder. "However, it is unlikely that Shirogane ran downstairs, killed Rantaro, and had the opportunity to leave the basement without being spotted."

"Thus, her alibi is pretty solid." Kiyo nodded in agreement. "Kaede, where were you?"

"Shuichi and I were together on the first floor, near the stairs that lead to the basement," Kaede mentioned. "I can confirm Tenko and Kaito's comments. Shuichi and I saw the eight of them plus Lambo and Rantaro go to the basement together. I didn't see anyone else go down there." Ammunition Found! The Lookout Team!

"With Kaede's testimony, we can effectively eliminate Shirogane from the suspect list," K1-B0 noted. "As for me, I do not have an alibi for the time of the murder. I was charging in my room. However, I did exit my room at the same time as Kokichi was leaving his. What he was doing beforehand...I am unable to relay that information."

"That leaves us with three people without alibis, Kokichi, K1-B0, and Lambo," Shuichi noted.

I scratched my head. "I guess I should explain why I came down here, huh?"

"You think?" Maki frowned. "As far as I'm concerned, you're the prime suspect."

"Maki!" I-pin shot her a glare.

"Now, now, let us hear out Lambo," Kirumi intervened. "Lambo?"

"I'll keep it short. I followed Rantaro into the library. I saw him moving that bookcase against the back wall. When I confronted him, there is a blinding flash of light coming from this corner," I knocked against the bookcase. "Ignoring Rantaro's suspicious activity, we took a look at this here bookcase. Before I knew happened, I was face first on the ground with a bloody corpse next to me." Ammunition Found! Lambo and Rantaro's Interaction!

I-pin picked up the pieces of my broken horn. "Well, whatever happened, your horn saved your life. Had you taken the hit anywhere else, you would've died." Ammunition Found! A Broken Horn!

Shuichi's eye lit up at the moment. "That's right. Kaede and I set up some camera's in the library, but why was there a flash..."

"Who cares," Miu rolled her eyes. "My fucking babies just spread this case's legs wide up! Booya!"

"Miu...what are you talking about?" K1-B0 pondered. "Did you make the camera Shuichi is talking about?"

"Yep! And the film caught the killer with their fucking pants down!" The proud inventor proclaimed. Ammunition Found! The Setup Cameras!

Kaede gasped. "That's indisputable evidence! We can catch the Mastermind now!"

"Kaede...you think the mastermind killed Rantaro?" Angie raised an eyebrow.

"Well, the mastermind's the only one who wants this game to continue, right?" The pianist smiled. "They must've gotten desperate and killed Rantaro."

"I guess..." Himiko yawned. "What do we do now, Shuichi?"

"We should split up and see what can be found around the campus." The detective suggested. With that, the group dispersed. Some investigated alone while others combined their efforts. For instance, Kimuri asked Kaede and I-pin to accompany her and help gather some supplies to heal my head. The Monokubs snatched the film out the two cameras, one above the bookcase and one above the backdoor, in the room. This left myself and Shuichi to inspect Rantaro's body. "Lambo...where's the third camera?"

"What?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Kaede and I placed three cameras in the library. You described the flash of a camera, but the camera itself is missing." Shuichi frowned. Ammunition Found! A Missing Camera!

"Dude, when I got knockout, Rantaro was alive, so clearly there's a gap in my memory." I rolled my eyes as I shifted through Rantaro's pockets. I took this opportunity to slip his Rain ring into my pocket. "Whoever killed Rantaro probably stole it, but there's still one thing that bothers me. Where's his monophone?"

"The killer might have stolen that as well." Shuichi hummed as he looked around the scene until his eyes landed on the iron shot up ball sitting in the pool of blood. "Oh God no..."

The pain on his face was clear. Shuichi had discovered something, but there was clearly an internal battle going on. "Shuichi, what the fuck is wrong with you?"

"...Why is there only one shot put ball when two people were attacked?" Shuichi clutched his chest. "Did Rantaro really attack you with a shot put ball? And was he attack with the same weapon by another person?"

"Well, I don't think Rantaro wears pink," I combed my hair and watched a strand of pink clothing fiber fall into my lap. "There are only two people who wear pink, and both of them have airtight alibis." Ammunition Found! A Pink Strand of A Cloth!

"..." Shuichi's hand gripped his shirt tightly as his face twisted with grief.

"What happened?" I frowned as the detective turned away. "What did you figure out?"

"I can't accept this truth!" He cried out anguish.

"Shuichi, what the fuck did you find out? What did Kaede do?" I gripped his shoulders. "You have to face this truth! You can't pick and choose the truth you to want to accept."

"But why. But why would Kaede do this?" He wiped the tears from his eyes. "Why would Kaede carry a shotput ball in her backpack?"

"Hold on, I thought the two of you were together the whole time?" I frowned.

"We please a sensor on the bookcase...When someone moves it, the remote in my hand would give us a signal. It went off when Rantaro unlocked the secret door. I stood her stay back while I went to check it out. I only took my eyes off her for a second I swear Lambo." Two Ammunition Found! A Gap in Kaede and Shuichi's Departure! Shuichi's Sensor!

"And I believe you, but there's more to this mystery that we haven't discovered." I patted him on the back. "Trust Kaede up until the whole mystery is solved. She might not be my favorite person, but the girl cares about you."

"Lambo..."

"Why else would she stick around your depressing ass?" I jokingly said and in return received an annoyed Shuichi. "I'm joking."

"Sure you are..."

"Now, where should we check now?" I leaned against the bookcase. "I doubt the library has any more clues."

"I...don't know. This is the first time I had to do an investigation." The detective rubbed his arm awkwardly. "I don't know if there are any clues anywhere else."

I folded my arms as I thought about our next move. I do need to look into Rantaro as a person. What he said to me was unsettling. "We have alibis and crime scene evidence, but I don't get why Monokuma thought I was dead." Ammunition Found! Mistaken Body Count!

"Monokuma mistook you as another corpse...He was just as surprised as the rest of us when you spoke." Shuichi rubbed his chin just as the three girls return with first aid in hand. "Kaede..."

"What's up, Shuichi?" She smiled brightly.

"Nothing...we finished up our investigation of Rantaro's crime scene." He hid his eyes underneath the baseball cap.

"Did you find anything useful?" I-pin asked she combed through my hair to reveal the bloody spot. "Here you go Kirumi, can you patch him up?"

"Certainly." The Ultimate Maid bowed and immediately went to work.

"Since you asked so nicely, I'll throw you a bone, Charming. Rantaro's phone is missing as well as one of Miu's cameras."

"Why would only one camera be worth taking?" Kirumi questioned. "Logically speaking, they would have entered through either the front door or the side door in the back."

"It's possible that they only had time to snatch one of the cameras, and they took the closest one," I-pin suggested. "No, that doesn't make sense. Their faces are already on one of the door cameras."

"In the long run, it won't matter. We have them." Kaede smiled. "This is an open and shut case." Is it really?

I wanted to believe Kaede was right, but what Shuichi said wasn't sitting well with me. Clearly, Kaede had a role to play in this crime, but where did her role end? Where did the mastermind's begin? There was nothing I do but go along with the others as we made our way to the Monokuma fountain outside. There, the Monokubs had two yellow envelopes ready for us. Everyone else had arrived before us, waiting in anticipation for the results. Monotaro handed them off to Maki and K1-B0.

We all surrounded the duo with eyes glued on the first package. Maki undid the stamp holding us from the answer. She pulled out the content, which was three 8.5 by 11in pictures. The first captured Shuichi and Kaede running passed the bookcases with the time stamp '11:54 A.M'. Kaede was slightly behind the detective, but there nothing too strange about it. The second was Kirumi, Miu, Shirogane, K1-B0, Kiyo, Kokichi rushing into the library as a collective group. Once again, there wasn't anything strange standing out. The time stamp was 12:05 P.M. The final picture was an extreme close up of Kaede with a time stamp of 12:25 P.M. Given that, we know that was when we're taking the cameras down.

"Okay...so these are from the front door..." Hoshi grunted. Ammunition Found! Front Door Footage!

"Yeah, but I don't see anything weird," Shirogane tilted her head a little.

"May-Maybe there's something on the other camera." Kaede trusted her optimism.

K1-B0 removed four pictures from his envelope. The first showed Rantaro entering through the side door with an air of determination around him, the time-stamped had '11:40 A.M.' printed in the corner. The second was of myself with a glare clear on my face. 11:42 A.M. was the printed time. Following that one, the eight Ultimates who were in my lab previously rushed into the library at the same exact moment as Shuichi and Kaede. The last process picture was the same as Maki's batch. The Monokubs had gone ahead and developed the accidental picture of Shuichi removing the hidden camera.

"This can't be the only developed photos..." Kaede shuddered in horror. "Where's the mastermind? Where did the mastermind enter?"

"Did the Monokubs purposefully remove the incriminating evidence?" Kiyo wondered.

"Well, that's out of our control as of now," Charming sighed. "At the very least, we were given an estimated time range as to when the murder occurred." Ammunition Found! Side Door Footage!

"So between 11:42 A.M. and 11:54 A.M., Rantaro was killed," Tenko said warily. "But, that's not a lot of time."

"Are you suggesting that we're being fed false information?" Maki raised an eyebrow. "Either way, we have no other choice but go with what evidence we have."

Kaito gave her a thumbs up as the elevator rose from the fountain. "Maki's right! We'll crack this case and avenge Rantaro's death."

Determination burned in Kaito and Kaede's eyes. I couldn't help but question what was going through everyone else's mind. Angie clearly relied on Atua to give her faith in a good outcome while Himiko was plainly fearful of what might happen. Shuichi hid his eyes from the world with his black baseball hat. I-pin and Kirumi forced themselves to have a brave face while Kokichi appeared unfazed by the matter as a whole. I, for once, was reluctant to enter the elevator as the rest stuffed themselves inside. My finger brushed against Rantaro's Monophone hiding in my pocket. The last words Rantaro spoke were settling in the back of my head.

"This is nothing more than a fantasy that has to end, and this phone will bring the game master to his knees."

The possible meaning to that sentence was too large for myself pinpoint to the correct one. I might be blessed, but this is too extreme even for me.

"Come on Lambo," I-pin reach out her arm. "I know this a little scary, but we'll do it together. After all, we do everything side-by-side, right?"

"Hmph, I ain't scared," I fold my arms and smirked. "I was just lost in thought."

Together, huh? I guess I'll lean on I-pin on this too. I just pray we survive this trial.

Ammunition List:

Monokuma File: Rantaro Amami!

The Counterattack Team!

The Final Meal Team!

The Lookout Team!

Lambo and Rantaro's Interaction!

A Broken Horn!

The Setup Cameras!

A Missing Camera!

A Pink Strand of A Cloth!

A Gap in Kaede and Shuichi's Departure!

Shuichi's Sensor!

Mistaken Body Count!

Front Door Footage!

Side Door Footage!