Going to bed early doesn't mean you'll wake up early, I quickly found out. I stretch getting out of bed and check under my mattress making sure my Master Monokuma Key was safe. It was still there and tied to Yuzurus bracelet he gave me. It was a little after the morning announcement so I start on my way to the cafeteria.

I barely make it through the door before a voice flickers to life through the intercom. Do they always have to start these motives so early?

I join up with Akira and Danny on their way out. Danny was looking significantly more well rested then yesterday. Akira was looking good too, though I suspect she didn't brush her hair if the messy pony tail was any indication. The killing game must be whittling away our ability to care about appearances, how on earth did the first games participants manage to look so pristine everyday is beyond me.

We all gather in the gym ready to receive our next motive and ready to get past it. The female Monokuma teacher that acted as our announcer was once agin on the stage ready to deliver her sentence, "I'm glad so many of you have made it to the fourth motive," the female announcer welcomed, "but I'm afraid your short peace is over."

As she said this a Monokuma teacher appeared on the stage and I immediately recognized it at 6 due to the remains of green paint stuck in the mask. Haruna gives a enthusiastic wave, which 6 happily returns much to the announcers dismay. 6 had wheeled in a tall upright rectangular box with a gray sheet covering it.

"This is your motive- The Monokuma Teller," the female announcer states before pulling off the cloth in a sweeping fashion to reveal a fortune teller machine. The strange machine looked like a old sideshow attraction, it had a gypsy like Monokuma hunches over a crystal ball inside.

We all exchanged glances, this was indeed a weird motive.

"This is no ordinary fortune teller, because it tells the past instead of the future," the Announcer revealed, "simply put in one of your provided gold coins in the Monokuma Teller and it will bestow you with a secret of the past."

"How far back in the past does it go?" Kenta questions.

"What, did you do something illegal as a baby?" Haruna jokes.

The Announcer continues her explanation, "There are specific direction provided on the machine, simply read those to answer your questions," the Announcer then began to make her way off stage.

"Are you just going to leave it there?" Danny asks in confusion.

"It's your motive isn't it, do with it what you will," was the Announcers stiff reply before she disappeared behind the curtains.

"We should read the instructions on it," Evan proposes, "it would be good to find out the motive in full before we get any surprises."

Danny fidgeted, "I don't know, wouldn't it be better if we didn't, then we won't be tempted by the motive."

"I think so too," Akira agrees.

"Then you two can leave while we check this thing out," Kojiro says already making his way to the stage, he then hops up onto it and gives the machine a quick inspection, "doesn't look like there's anything dangerous."

"It may not look dangerous, but that doesn't mean we should mess with it," Veliah scolds, "I agree with Akira and Danny, we should leave it alone."

Evan shakes his head with a sigh, "If we have everything in the open now then we can better plan to stop a murder... We don't want people keeping secrets."

"It's a machine that deals secrets, do you plan to buy them all out then read them off?" Haruna scoffs, "I actually think it's best to leave it alone."

"Oh, I didn't expect to hear that from you," Kenta replies with a mock gasp.

Haruna scowls, "I just think it's best to leave things in the past."

"I see a pretty even split in opinions here," Kenta notes, "how about everyone who doesn't want to check the machine just go, then you guys can already know who has seen the machine so if something happens you'll already have your suspects!"

Veliah let's out a sigh, "I can work with that," she replies before leaving the room, Haruna trailing after her. Soon after Akira and Danny leave as well.

"So everyone here is deciding to stay?" Kenta asks and a beat of silence passes. Evan simply joins Kojiro on the stage instead of answering Kenta.

"Actually I'm going," I admit, the others are right we shouldn't be pulled into the motive. I go to leave but check the Bulletin board before fully going.

The bulletin bored

1, Students may reside only within the school. Leaving campus is an unacceptable use of time.

2. "Nighttime" is from 10 pm to 7 am. Some areas are off-limits at night, so please exercise caution.

3. Sleeping anywhere other than the dormitory will be seen as sleeping in class and will be punished accordingly.

4. With minimal restrictions, you are free to explore Hope's Peak Academy at your discretion.

5. Violence against headmaster, and teachers is strictly prohibited.

6. Anyone who kills a fellow student and becomes "blackened" will graduate, unless they are discovered.

7. Do not destroy the Monokuma Teller under any circumstance.

8. More rules may be added if necessary.

Once again rule 7 was different, I guess 'do not destroy under any circumstance' counts murder assistance too, there goes that loop hole. I exit the gym and head to the cafeteria. On my way I notice Haruna standing in the hallway alone, maybe I should spend some time with her?

"Hey Haruna," I say getting her attention, "you look a bit gloomy, something wrong?"

Haruna dramatically sighs before shyly replying, "I thought I could last longer but it's finally got to me, I'm getting cabin fever, I need some sun."

Well that makes sense, Haruna is the Super High School Level Soccer player. But there was nothing we could do about that, the school is still on lockdown and the windows are just as reinforced as before. There had to be something we can do though? Maybe something to entertain her?

"We could play some soccer?" I suggest unsure, "if we keep it in the halls then it should be ok."

"Sanyu, you're brilliant!" Haruna cheers but then she stops short, "We don't have any soccer balls."

"I'm sure we can find something?" I assure. Together we went to the storage room where we managed to find a sturdy beach ball. Haruna was indignant at the idea of using it but eventually her muscle headed instincts took over and she agreed. Once in a suitable place where we wouldn't bother anyone, we started to kick the ball back and forth. It was absolutely terrifying.

"Stop aiming for my face!" I cry in fear as the ball whizzes by.

Haruna cackles when the ball ricochet off the back of the passing Monokuma teacher 6's head. I start to panic because I'm pretty sure that qualifies as a rule break, but 6 looks around in confusion and simply walks away.

"6 has a harder head then me, you could hit her with a brick and she wouldn't notice," Haruna explains, then waves her hand in a shooing motion, "now get the ball so we can continue!"

I roll my eyes and pick up the beach ball, "You seem to get along with the Monokuma teachers," I point out.

Haruna cocks her hips and leans against the wall, "They're just unusually stupid, just talk to them and you find they don't think for themselves at all."

"Why are you talking to them anyway?" I ask, I lightly kick the ball to Haruna.

Haruna bumps the ball into the air and begins to juggle it from knee to knee, "I wanted to see if I could get any information, besides, they are fun to mess with."

"Ugh, I don't know how you can feel comfortable enough to do that," I admit.

"Hey, I've still got my despair bodyguards to protect me," Haruna wiggles her eyebrows, "I've got nothing to worry about."

I look at Haruna incredulously, "Why on earth do you still want them as your 'despair' bodyguards?"

Haruna gives a enthusiastic laugh before smirking, "Isn't it obvious? Kenta and Kojiro are total hotties!"

My eye twitches and I feel my opinion of Haruna lower a few pegs.

Haruna raises her hands and frames me with her fingers, she sticks her tongue out in concentration, "You could be pretty attractive too, Sanyu," Haruna judges.

My opinion of Haruna rises, and I think I like her better then before, "What's that supposed to mean?" I blush.

Haruna closes one eye and moves her hand to, what I can guess, block something out of her vision, "Totally! Like if you just slept a little more, ate a little more, you'd go from homeless guy under a bridge to hot guy next door!" Haruna jabs me in the side with a friendly hit, "You're seriously skinny, did you forget to eat or something?"

I rub the back of my head sheepishly, "I didn't eat breakfast today actually, I forgot."

Haruna frowns before jabbing me again with more force, "Then let's go!" I am then roped into accompanying Haruna to the kitchen.

"I can get the food you can just sit and rest," I offer, Haruna did look a little tired from demonstrating her numerous full power kicks. I enter the kitchen, and I'm met with Danny already inside, "Hey Danny."

Danny turns around startled, "O-oh, Sanyu," he stumbles, "what brings you here?"

"To eat," I respond. Danny nods quickly and edges to the door, his arms folded out of sight behind his back, "Are you hiding something?" I ask, suspicious.

"What, no!" Danny denies then slips out the door, and I catch sight of something metal in his hands. I shrug and retrieve some sandwiches.

After the strange encounter, I rejoined Haruna. Together we ate sandwiches and Dr. Hoppers (The only soda company lucky enough to survive the apocalypse.) I suspect the reason Haruna was so adamant about me coming is that her usual lunch buddy Kenta is out messing with the motive. I can see Haruna being the kind of person who hates eating alone, or being alone in general.

After lunch I wave good bye to Haruna, and I feel like we grew a little closer today. On my way out I spot the Chore Chart and I'm reminded of my daily task, the vague job of general cleaning. No time better then the present, might as well get started. So I start my job and anticipate who I'll run into today.

Surprisingly it's Veliah who I see in my general cleaning duties. I figure I've cleaned enough and decide to talk to her, "Hey Veliah," I greet.

Veliah eyes the feather fan in my hands, before asking, "What are you doing?"

I knew Veliah missed the chore chart sign up, but I thought someone would have told her, "We have a chore chart now, you're on dish duty."

Veliah didn't respond, but her uninterested look told the story. Her stare was broken by a yawn.

"Oh, that reminds me, how was the insomnia cure working?" I ask, curious. If the stuff works then I might get myself some.

Veliah only looks confused, "I never got any cure? And I shouldn't take sleeping medicine with my concussion, I'm not healed enough for such a deep sleep like that."

I was taken aback by her answer, "Danny said he was going to give it to you?" I inform. Maybe Danny just hasn't seen Veliah yet and that's why she doesn't know, but even then apparently she can't use it.

"Danny? I saw him earlier but he never said anything about sleeping pills?" Veliah says, "Maybe you heard him wrong."

"Maybe," I admit absently. I don't think I heard it wrong, he definitely said he was going to give it to Veliah. I mean, he wouldn't lie. I start walking away from Veliah and I lazily dust whatever.

If Danny didn't give the Insomnia cure to Veliah, then why did he take it? Why lie in the first place? I remember back to earlier in the kitchen when Danny was trying to hide something. What could he have taken from the kitchen? Something dangerous? I suddenly get very nervous as possibilities run through my mind.

Danny couldn't be thinking about killing, could he? It couldn't have been a knife I saw?

Danny doesn't seem like that kind of person from what I've see. But what if that's all a lie? What if this motive finally made him reveal his true colors? His past can't be that horrible right? Maybe I should investigate?

But I can't confront him directly. That's basically me accusing him of planning murder! And I already know how much he dislikes that, if Danny's reaction to M insinuating he'd kill Akira, is anything to go by. So then, how can I find out if Danny is really ok or if something is going on?

That's it! I can just check Danny's room, make sure he doesn't have anything dangerous in there, then I'll know he's innocent!

Proud of my intuitive thinking, I quickly make note of where Danny is. Once sure he wouldn't discover me I sneak back to my own room. With my Monokuma Master key, unlocking the dorms will be easy as pie. I reach under my mattress and obtain the item, but as I go to leave something catches my eye. Three shiny gold coins were on my desk. I pick one up and inspect it, engraved were the words 'Monokuma Teller'. These must be the tokens to activate the motive. I put the coin down and resume my mission to clear Danny's name.

Quietly I unlock Danny's door, and enter. His room has the same layout as mine but it's more personalized, it's got a distinct magic aura to it. From what I can see there's nothing dangerous so that eases my mind a bit. I step around a box of random items and find what I was looking for, the medicine bottle. Hesitant, I pick it up and read the label.

"Insomnia cure, 15mL for a full 8 hours." I scan over the small print until I find the warnings, "Warning; keep out of reach of children, blah blah, oh, Non lethal." So that means Danny really wasn't going to kill anyone!

I put the bottle down and I notice the table spoon next to it (that must be the metal object I saw in the kitchen), I then get a feeling and I check the amount left. There was some liquid gone and the seal had be broken, maybe the reason Danny took it was to use it himself? I mean, it has gotten hard to sleep lately. Satisfied I place down the bottle and leave the room.

If Danny is using medicine to get some sleep maybe I will too? I haven't slept well the other days but last night was ok. I should get my own bottle just in case though.

I open the cabinet and shift through glass and plastic bottles. I turn bottles around and check labels but I couldn't find anymore Insomnia cures. If I want to use it I'll just have to borrow it, but I don't want to do that either. Guess I just won't sleep. With that idea trashed I leave the room and my attention is drawn to the headmasters office. I suddenly get a idea, I pull out my Monokuma Master key.

I held the key forward and made to unlock the headmasters office. Sadly the key didn't fit, hope edging away I tried the data room next only for the key to not work there either.

"Does my Monokuma Master key only work on door rooms?" I sigh, some master key. I was so disappointed I didn't even see the figure behind me.

"It's supposed to belong to us," 55 says, he flashes peace signs when I whip around to face him, "that's a Monokuma teacher key, it's for us to use."

"Why didn't you just tell me this in the beginning or take it?" I ask in annoyance. Why get my hopes up only to crush them, well for them that might actually be the reason.

"I didn't know what to do, boss told us not to lose them," 55 says sheepishly, "boss never said what to do if we did lose them, so I need to ask."

I roll my eyes, "Haruna is right, you are all stupid," I then glumly go down the stairs. After finding out how restricted my key really was I figured I needed a pick me up. Maybe I could go for a swim? I grab some towels from the laundry room and say hi to Kenta who was in the middle of his folding.

I find Evan in the pool, well not in it, by it. He was still fully dressed in his plastic lawn chair sitting by the corner reading a book. Evan looked up when I entered but didn't say anything. I sneak a look at the book he was reading and was surprised to find it in a different language.

"Is that German?" I ask, curious, "I didn't know you knew German."

Evan closes the book and shows me the cover, I couldn't read the title but it looked pretty, "I am German, I was born in Germany but moved to Greece at a young age."

I was shocked at that, "Why? Changing cultures like that must have been a big shock."

Evan nods, "My father had a job offer, it was for a better opportunity."

Evans story brought another one to mind, I remember back to the first motive, "You and Veliah would get along, she had to move from her home in Italy to a whole new one too," I explain.

"I've always been a background kind of guy, and Veliah isn't exactly personable," Evan admits, he slumps in his chair, "I don't really feel like making anymore friends."

I nod, I can understand how he feels in a way, "Well I'm going, this place is like a sauna and I'm parched," I inform. I wave good bye to Evan who resumes reading his German book.

In the cafeteria I see Akira and Danny sitting at one of the tables, they were both enjoying tea. I wasn't surprised by the comfortable silence, rather I was surprised by the fancy set up. There's a full blown China tea set display on the table. I give a questioning look to the tow but they simply slid a full cup over to me. Getting a better look now this had the same color scheme as all the gambling items I found when I did innovatory check in the first motive.

"What's the occasion?" I ask. I take a drink of Earl gray milk tea, how fancy.

"Are we not allowed to enjoy ourselves?" Akira questions, faking a fancy voice. She then drops the act and answers my question, "Haruna wanted to try this fancy tea but she skipped out, Danny offered to help me finish it," Akira picks the tea pot and pours some more in my cup, "You can have more if you want, Haruna literally made 2 gallons."

I roll my eyes and laugh, "Somehow, I'm not surprised." My good mood was cut short when static fills the room and I realize the intercom was on. Was it already time for the night time announcement? No, something was different?

"The night time announcement is early?" Akira points out. A different voice speaks through the PA. I recognize the voice as the woman who typically reads the motives.

"Oh, I'm sorry," the female announcers regal voice apologizes in the most coy way possible, "it seems there is something I forgot to tell you, how foolish of me."

Something she forgot to tell us? Did she leave something out of the motive or is it something unrelated? I look worriedly at Akira and Danny, but they were both looking at the source of the voice.

"There is another part to the motive, from now on I'll be doing our wonderful night time announcement," Announcer purrs into mic, "I'll have a little secret segment, with a random one of you as our special guest."

"A secret segment?" Danny wonders absently, "why keep it a secret?"

"That's not what she meant," Akira warns, her jaw clinched.

"Our secret of the night is a special one that includes a lot of you here," Announcer hints, "Your dear friends, Veliah Kazeto, Sanyu Mochida, Kenta Yuuta, and Kojiro Ryuhisa are all remnants of despair, and that's just the living ones."

My mind went fuzzy, and I lock eyes with Akira and Danny. I get out of my seat so fast it clatters over and I run out of the room ignoring their calls. I make it back to my room and slam the door shut. I willed the announcement to be over but it still continued.

"Tomorrow we'll choose another secret to read out," the Announcer teased, "you don't want to miss it, goodnight everyone."

I didn't sleep a wink that night. I stayed up, thinking about my many secrets that could be next.

(Pen Pals #2)

"This isn't right?!" The thick letters complained, "This won't end with a case like Sakura Oogami, why didn't they follow the original 4th motive?"

"Maybe our killing game is different," the fluid note replied, "maybe the similarities are just in our heads."

"Maybe your right," the thick letters originally said, but that was crossed out with a angry line, "I am not wrong," it said instead.

Once again the correspondents destroyed the others letter, covering their tracks in fear of the mastermind.

Break over let's kill :y

also I realized last chapter was number 20, I feel like I passed a milestone.