I have no excuses on why I was out for so long. I mean, really long. For my absence, I apologize immensely.

So, how is 2017 so far, guys? Good? Bad? Hectic? Well, I'm doing okay, and I hope you all are doing just fine too.

Before we come back after a long hiatus, let's reply to the reviews!

Ichinose – and we start off with you, pal! Hehehe, is that so? Well, I'm glad to hear that I put out a good chapter before taking a leave in the meantime. Yeah, the ending was dramatic, wasn't it? But alas, all for the sake of the plot. Well, we don't know if any lived or not. We'll just have to see, upupu. Ah yes, the dead guests, they shall never be forgotten. Unless, of course, we do. The intro was funny…hehehe, thanks. As for the next chapters…I may have some sort of mental blocks and pauses, but I'll strive to put out chapters as much as I can. Anyway, thank you for the continued support, despite my absences!

Nemris – I feel bad for putting Numi through that, but then again, all for the sake of the plot. A nice development it is. Ehehehe…well…I think I killed everyone from the last game…that's what I did, upupupu. Anyway, thank you for the continued support, despite my absences!

ZetaKuma – yep, I think I did just that. It sadly did not end up in a nice little bow…well, we'll just have to wait and see how the guests will cope. Hehe, I'm glad that I was able to make the readers connected Ryou. That's an achievement for me as a writer. Yeah, a drastic turn, there may be…maybe…we don't know for sure. Anyway, thank you for the continued support, despite my absences!

zephryr – hehehe, maybe, or maybe it was meant to happen? Well, all we know for sure is that Kazuma and the rest…they may be trapped in that hotel forever, since their 'hope' is gone. Hahaha, thanks for saying that I ended it in a horrible yet good way so that Hope may be destroyed. This is Danganronpa, after all. Ah, don't be in a rush to see the 4th trial. I, myself, am having trouble dealing with it, and how it should turn out (and who should die). Anyway, that's all for now. Thank you for the continued support, despite my absences!

Seth – yep, Gina and the others are the first story's survivors. Hahaha, yeah, the chapter had a huge development, I think. I plan to do more POV of the others, and hopefully, that'll happen. I'm glad that you think that it was an interesting moment, and I hope to make more! Thank you for the continued support, despite my absences!

Official Detective Kyoko – or Kyoko for short. Well, I killed them off….cuz why not? Upupupu…I'm just happy to continue uploading, and I apologize, but I don't remember. I'm truly sorry. Anyway, thank you for the support, despite my absences!

Now then, just a note before we actually begin: This chapter may be short to your eyes, but I'm not sure yet. Anyway, on with the chapter!

Kazuma

…

…..

…

Oh…right...

Well, since the day of the…recent execution, the other guests and I of Hotel Seizon have been somewhat…depressed. Ya, depressed, as in, we're just moping around, dreading each day that passed as we continue to live in this hellhole. I may be being dramatic, but if you witnessed the literal 'fall' and demise of your possible last hope of getting out of this place, then you wouldn't think that I was overreacting. Things have been hard on us surviving tenants.

'Course, the Hotel still remains to be the same. The sleek and clean interior is regularly maintained and tended to, and by the maid-and-butler pair that I only see every now and then. I suspect that they're like androids or something, since they hardly say anything. I heard once that Lulu tried to invite them to an activity. You know what they did? Nothing, as in, literally nothing. Lulu told me that they just stood there, looking at her with blank eyes. I also suspect that Monokuma placed cameras in them to keep an eye on us more. The doors and windows, still bolted with titanium plates. Good thing that there are multiple lightings to brighten the place up. When I mean brighten, I meant environmental-wise. We still have no connection to the outside world, and that just renders us more incapable of getting out of here. Still, we were given the liberty to watch movies burned into CDs and such in the Theater. That somewhat put us at less unease. The elevator was fixed as well, and functional once more.

That brings me to the group of people that died in it.

Really, Gina and the others…they were like our hope….our hope of leaving this place. Monokuma went through some desperate measures to kill them. Maybe they posed a threat to him. Thinking of that made me realize that Monokuma, as sadistic as he is, he's still vulnerable. Sure, his mechanical bear shell is a walking executioner, but still just a robot. Someone is controlling the thing, and if we get to this driver, I'm sure that we can bring an end to this death game.

At least, that's what I hope for.

"Man….I really went deep…" I muttered sleepily. I was lying down on my bed, beanie slightly tipped over my eyes, which made me feel drowsy. I have been pondering on this matter for quite some time now, and I barely any made interactions with the others. They all seem to be too...disturbed by what has occurred in the past few days. Sure, they visit me and check on me, like Lulu and Ryouko, but all I ever manage to reply to them were short phrases and simple nods and shakes of the head. I did some shrugging too. They didn't seem to be bothered by that, but, they look…sick. The underside of their eyes were dark, as though they suffered through the night without sleep. They looked more weary, their skin were pale, I guess it's the depression seeping into their mind.

We really need to get out of here.

"Kazuma."

I turned my attention to the side, finding Ryouko and Kaede standing there. They looked worried. "…Ya?"

"Woohoo! You talked!" Ryouko exclaimed suddenly.

Kaede just managed a small, wavering smile. "R-Ryouko and I t-thought of checking on you…s-since you d-don't…uh…."

I stared at him sleepily. "…Don't leave my room?" I finished for him.

He nodded shakily. "Y-Yes…that…"

I smiled at him a bit. "Well…thanks for all the concerns, guys. I'm fine, don't worry 'bout it." I told them as I sat up to talk to them properly.

Ryouko giggled. "Glad to see you up and up!"

"Heh, you're in a jolly mood." I invoiced. Strange, she seemed gloomy some day ago.

"Well…" She began, nibbling on her thumb, just like someone I know. "It's just…it's not good to be so somber." She stated in a Kin impression.

At that, I nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I know. I guess it's time to move on from…what happened." I said quietly.

Kaede just nodded as well. "W-We should definitely do that…" He stuttered.

I smiled. It's good to see the two interacting, which I somewhat found hard to believe, since Ryouko is super eccentric, and Kaede is super introverted. Well, opposites attract, as some would say. I looked over at Kaede. "How's everything and everyone else?" I inquired.

He gazed at me and gulped, as though I asked a difficult math question. "W-W-Well…." He began, stuttering more. He then began to tell me about the bad moods the other guests were in. "T-Take Xun a-and Lexus f-f-for example." He said. "T-T-They both cut themselves off from the rest, and j-j-just simply lying around in random p-p-laces."

"Isn't that what they'we weally like?" Ryouko invoiced.

"T-Then more than usual." Kaede added.

I sighed a bit. "Numi?" I asked. Ryouko told me that she's been quiet mostly. When I inquired about Kin and Shaun, Kaede said that Kin took a while to recover, then he returned to his usual self, and Shaun just kept to himself through reading. As for Lulu, like Ryouko, was sad some days before then is alright now. "Well….I guess they're doing okay." I commented.

"And the wittle beaw hasn't shown his face that much!" Ryouko exclaimed rather happily. She must be referring to Monokuma.

DING DONG

"Bweakfast!" Ryouko cheered, running out of the room, arms outstretched to her sides, imitating an airplane leaving for its course.

Kaede trembled a bit. "L-Loud…she is…" He muttered as he went out as well. After him, I exited my room and left for the Dining hall, which I hadn't done in a while.

We arrived at the dining hall. The long table at a side of the room was filled with all assortments of breakfast food items. Oatmeal, eggs, ham, a collection of fruits and bread, and many more. A section of the table contained meals that are outside of the breakfast period, a special for those who just doesn't have the appetite for the carbs and wheat of the morning. The aroma coming from the content on the table made my mouth water slightly. Smoky, savory, then there's this soft, sweet scent that just draws me to the buffet table. The round dining tables, which were draped with monochromic, satin cloths, were almost filled by guests engaged in eating their food, or other activities. Some were absent though, such as Xun and Lexus. As what Kaede said, the two somewhat cut themselves off from the rest of us, which didn't prove helpful at this moment. Ryouko, Kaede, and I went and got out plates, piled it with food, – I piled up mine a lot more since I hadn't eaten that much for the past few days – and proceeded to head to an empty table. Ryouko joined Lulu's whilst Kaede went to eat on his own as well.

I ate quietly. Soon, Shaun entered the room, got his own food, and unconsciously walked over to my table and sat across me. He was focused on the book in his hands, eating his food slowly and rarely. A Bookworm is a Bookwarm, I guess, and Shaun is the Ultimate Bookworm. I don't think he knows that I'm sitting here. "Uh…."

"….." Shaun was silent.

"…." I was silent as well.

After awhile, we were still silent. I cleaned my plate and just set aside, looking at Shaun again. He stopped eating and just kept on reading. "...Shaun?" I finally called out.

It took a moment, but the Bookworm looked up at me. "Oh, hi, chap."

I deadpanned mentally. He really did not notice me earlier. "How are you doing?"

"I'm fine. You?"

"Alive, that's for sure." I replied and let out a soft, short laugh. Shaun let out his own and read again. I sighed. "Has Monokuma…been around lately?" I asked.

Shaun seemed to ponder on that. "Hmm….I haven't noticed him in quite awhile."

"Do you think he's plotting something?" I inquired, and at that, Shaun became unsettled. He began to stir a bit in his seat, his grip on the paperback of the book tightened.

"I…I really don't know, Kazuma. T-That lunatic could ambush us at any moment…" He muttered in a trembling tone.

And just after he said that, the most inconvenient and coincidental thing happened.

"Upupupu, morning!"

The high-pitched greeting of the Host shocked us as we averted our attention towards the monitor in the room. The screen displayed Monokuma sitting in a high, velvet throne, eating a 5-star breakfast of maple syrup-drenched pancakes, crispy, smoky bacon, salmon and cheese omelet cooked to perfection, and a tall glass of what seemed like chocolate milk. "How are ya'll doin'?" He asked.

"Scrum-dilly-umptious…" I heard Ryouko muttered as she seemed to salivate as she stared at Monokuma's meal.

"Oh please, we have had enough of you." Kin stated, seemingly paying no heed to the mechanical bear.

Numi, who was eating at the same table as Kin, nodded in agreement. "Please disappear."

That made Monokuma frown. "Aww, boo hoo….no one cares about me." He mocked sadness.

"U-Uh….n-no one r-really does…." Kaede managed to say.

"Aargh…you guys are heartless." Monokuma commented.

"Wow, YOU calling US heartless?!" Lexus's voice boomed through the room loudly and suddenly, like thunder clapping within the enclosed room, causing a ruckus and shock.

Ryouko chuckled. "Look who's here! Ain't ya late to the party?" She said in an Eleanor accent, which I think is the first I heard of it.

Lulu waved at her. "Where were you and Xun?" She inquired curiously. The Vigilante then entered the room as well. He said nothing as he walked over to a table, sat in a chair, and just slumped back, closing his eyes to sleep. "O-Okay then…"

"You guys are boring." Monokuma finally invoiced, his tone stating that he was disappointed that no one has killed anyone for the past few days.

"Do you think that we want to kill anyone after what happened, chap?" Shaun said, his eyes not leaving his book.

"Oh, of course not~" Monokuma cooed. "Since you guys aren't in a killing mood, how about a day of relaxation to calm your nerves?"

Ryouko

Woohoo! New POV! MY TIME TO SHINE! Kopikyatto, go! Non non non, I'm not bweaking the fouwth wall.

Okay, so, hewe's the thing: Monokuma is like those bad guys fwom old cawtoon shows, since he's, you know, black-and-white. He's sly and all, and he would twy to get us to kill each other!

But today, we get to enjoy!

At least, that's what the beaw said.

Anyway….

(Kazuma Tone) "I wonder what the bear plans to do…"

"U-Uh….Kazu—I-I mean, Ryouko…." Lulu began, confused as she looked at me. I transformed! Or basically, I just changed my appeawance, which is now that of Kazuma's! Why? CUZ WHY NOT?

(Kazuma) "Address me as Kazuma today, Lulu." I told her. "Or for the time being until I transform into someone else."

"Go back to being yourself." Lexus grumbled.

"W-Where are we going again?" Numi inquired.

Oh yeah, so about what Monokuma planned, he wanted us to check the Hot Springs. Why, you ask? I HAVE NO IDEA! I hope something fun happens though~

Soon, we arrived at the hot springs. At that moment, we knew what Monokuma wanted to happen.

"We're going to soak ourselves in water to relax?" Lexus questioned as we stepped onto some marble floorings by the steaming spring. Sure, the hotel already had hot springs, but it changed, as though for this occasion. Showers were lined up against a wall, buckets and towels positioned right next to each one. The water in the springs were decorated with lovely rose petals of white, pink, and red. The scent of butterscotch filled the air from the candles, or, it's just me not having any desserts! OH MAI GAD THEWE'S EVEN WHITE POWCELEIN CAT STATUES!

"DO YOU REALLY HAVE TO SPEAK OUT YOUR MIND?!" Lexus questioned.

"EH?" I replied with a tilt of the head, obviously overexcited.

Lexus sighed in frustration. "Nevermind."

"A-Anyway," Lulu began, getting in between us, though I have no idea what she was trying to stop. "I-If Monokuma gifted us with a hot spring bath, how about we take it?"

"It's from Monokuma." Numi commented. "Is it okay?"

(Chion Tone) "Isn't he, like, evil or something?" I added.

Lexus nodded in agreement. "Ya, isn't he?"

Lulu seemingly thought about it. "Oh….yes…he is…"

"Why were you even pondering on that?!" Lexus asked, but gave up.

I looked around and found something weally intewesting! To be more specific, something enclosed within a monochromic letter envelope, stamped with a meme-like face of the diabolic bear, sitting on top of a marble pedestal. I grinned as I skipped over to it and grabbed it in one, quick sweep and opened it. I hummed as I read its contents. (Mari Tone) "Oooh~ Don't worry. Monokuma nice this time."

"And why is that?" Numi asked curiously as she walked over to me, reading it as well.

Lexus and Lulu exchanged glances with one another. "So…what does it say?" Lexus inquired.

I grinned more widely as I turned around the letter, showing what it says:

"Hello, my lovely, lovely, guests!

Ah, good, you found this letter! That's great, upupu. Now then, since I'm a good host and want you all to live life well in here, I prepared a soothing hot spring for you all to enjoy! Sorry that I had to separate you from the others. I didn't want to get things more steamy as it is, if ya know what I mean, upupupu~

Anyway, enjoy!

From your amazing and fantastic host,

Monokuma.

PS: Don't worry, I won't try any tricks this time!~"

Lexus squinted his eyes, as though in confusion and disgust. "Such girly writing." She muttered.

(Masayoshi Tone) "…Maybe Monokuma is controlled by a girl." I said quietly.

Numi seemed to ponder on that. "….Maybe?" She commented.

Lulu then clasped her hands together, grabbing our attention. "You guys….if..if Monokuma is saying what he said, then maybe we could enjoy it?"

"Not gonna happen." Lexus said bluntly, crossing her arms. "No way in hell I'm gonna trust gifts from that psycho bear."

Minutes later….this happened!

(Atsuko Tone) "Hahaha, it was fun washing your hair, Lexus!"

"Shush."

"N-Numi didn't think that you would let Ryouko do that."

"Shush, I said."

"You're pretty, you know?"

"Alright, shut up!" Lexus shouted, though with a slightly red face. She gave the three of us a glare before sitting back down, the lower half of her face, just below the nose, submerged beneath the lukewarm water. We were all bawe beneath the watew! It feels good on the skin~

Numi smiled as she relaxed against a smooth rock wall. "Numi is really enjoying this gift."

"Even if it's from Monokuma?" Lulu asked.

The Diver let out a soft laugh and nodded. "Maybe."

"Gullible idiots…" Lexus murmured beneath submerging beneath the water.

I giggled and looked awound. (Lulu Tone) "I-Isn't this just amazing?"

Lulu herself shuddered a bit. "V-Very much…though, um, Ryouko, maybe you could…not copy me?"

(Shaun Tone) "But I'm the Ultimate Kopikyatto, chap!" I exclaimed, failing my arms, splashing into the water.

Lexus then emerged abruptly. "Hey, stop that!"

(Kaede Tone) "N-n-n-no!"

The Slacker groaned. "My god, you're such a child!"

(Atsuko Tone) "While you look like one, hahahahaha!" I joked and laughed wildly. Lexus growled as she grabbed a nearby bucket. She scooped up water then threw the water to me. The warm water splashed onto my face, and I was stunned for a moment. After that, I gwinned and did the same. I grabbed a bucket to my wight, scooped up the H2O, then BAM! I SPLASHED HEW BACK!

"W-Watch it!" Lulu shouted.

"Careful!" Numi added.

Lexus stood up, drenched more than usual. She had a dark expression. Her hand gripped on the bucket as she lowered it into the watew! I wondew what's gonna happen….

"…It's on now."

All hell broke lose.

Xun

"….You guys are just pathetic." I muttered. I sat in the hot spring that we were led to by Monokuma. It had, I dunno, marble walls and flooring…some rocks…. buckets, towels, all those things in a typical hot spring. The water is warm, so that's good. What's not good: Being around with the other guys. I watched them as they talked amongst each other, or just lightly playing around. I'm not doing either.

"Look how frail you are." Kin said as he examined and felt Kaede's arm.

Kaede seemed extremely embarrassed, since his face was red. "I-I-I don't w-work out or anything! S-Stop!" He managed to say loudly as he pulled away his arm and scuttled to the other side of the spring, away from Kin. The Designer frowned and moved a bit to talk to Kazuma.

I leaned back and sighed heavily. "So what? Are we just gonna sit around here?"

The Bookworm, Shaun, glanced at me. "What do you mean, chap?"

I shrugged. "This is from the bear, right? Do you seriously think that he actually will just let us enjoy this?"

The Detective seem to think the same. "Ya, I mean, it's kind of suspicious, if you'll think about it."

Kin tilted his head a bit. "That monochromic bear android is always doing something strange, but you did read the letter. He sounded genuine."

"Y-You're kidding, r-right?" Kaede commented. "W-We can't p-possibly t-trust him."

I nodded. "Yeah, not at all. Sure, this is fine, but maybe it will get hot soon, then we get boiled to our deaths." I said lowly. The others got quiet. Kaede gulped, Kin looked away from me, and Kazuma and Shaun exchanged worried looks.

"…Sheesh, you're such a downer." I heard Kazuma invoiced.

"Am I? Really?" I replied in sarcastic concern. "Like that's a surprise."

Kaede just submerged underwater. "N-Not really….." He said quietly and just moved around slowly.

"Do lighten up." Shaun suggested and gave a small smile.

"Ya, have fun." Kazuma added in.

I shook my head. "Not gonna happen. Besides, what's so fun with just sitting around?"

I then saw Kin moving towards me. He sat by my side and smiled up at me. "It can be fun by just relaxing. Hot springs are meant to relieve us of our stress and fatigue. Why not do just so?"

"What have I been doing and tolerating for the past hour?" I replied bluntly.

Kin chuckled as he looked into my eyes. Huh, so he has some sort of bluish-greenish eyes. What do you call the color? "Well, try and continue to do so. Don't get riled up by us, okay?"

"A weird one, you are. Actually, a lot of you are." I stated and folded my arms across my chest. I then sighed. "We'll see."

"Hehe, I shall see, then." He replied as he just stayed by my side, relaxing himself.

I rolled my eyes and closed my eyes. The heck is with these people? They really don't suspect Monokuma of doing something?

Actually, I hope he really does nothing. It would be a waste to die and not continue to live in this nice place.

Anyway, as I rested, all I could hear was the soft bubbling of water, the splashing of the tiny waterfall by the spring, buckets being moved, and water splashing. Heck, I even hear the bamboo contraption thing getting water, then dropping to move it to another place, only to repeat the process.

After a moment of just noises, the bug lover talked. "I-I wonder what the girls are doing?"

"Something." I answered nonchalantly.

Shaun deadpanned a bit. "That's….not an absolute answer, chap."

"Y-Yeah…" Kaede joined.

"Maybe they're having a hot spring time as well?" Kazuma suggested. I opened my eyes, and I saw Shaun and Kaede looking at the Detective, as though he was correct.

"So…."

"They could be…."

"Bathing?" They said in unison.

Kazuma looked up, thinking, then nodded. "I think so, if we're doing the same things."

"Geez….you guys are thinking about the girls because of that?" I questioned, raising a brow at them.

Kin smiled a bit. "Well, women are beautiful creatures."

"Complex, but pretty." Shaun commented.

Kaede just fidgeted. "R-R-Really complicated…."

"You guys make it sound like they're bad." Kazuma invoiced.

I let out a soft chuckle. "They can be if they want. They can still wield a knife or gun and kill people." I stated. "Isn't that what Eleanor did to Mari?"

At that, I looked over at Kin and saw him frown a bit. "…It's best not to bring them up now…" He said quietly.

I shrugged and relaxed again. "….Anyway….women can be deadly."

"Like Lexus?" Shaun and Kaede said together.

"She's a hothead, after all." Shaun invoiced.

"And curses a lot." Kaede added.

Kazuma sighed. "Can we just say that women are powerful queens?"

Kin then smiled a bit. "That's a pleasant thing to say, and they are….in their own way."

"Are they now?" I said.

Kaede trembled a bit then seemingly nodded. "I guess t-they can be…."

Shaun smiled. "I read several books about those kinds of women lots of times before. They are meant to be a role model for other people."

"An inspiration, right?" Kazuma said, and Shaun nodded at that.

"Why are we even talking about girls?" I questioned. "It's like girls talking about guys."

And with that, it got quiet.

"…Do you possible think that…." Shaun muttered.

"They're…t-talking about us as well?" Kaede asked in stutters.

I stared at them, questioning their thoughts and assumptions. As I looked at Kazuma, even he was thinking about it. "….Seriously?"

Kazuma held up a hand to me, as though to quiet me. I growled a bit. "Maybe…it's a possibility."

"Oh please, why does it matter if the girls are chatting up about us?" Kin inquired, calm. And here I thought he would be nibbling his thumb or something. He then looked up at me and smiled a bit. "Do you think it matters, dear Xun?"

I stared at him blankly. "…Of course not." I answered lowly.

The Designer smiled and looked at the other three. "See, it doesn't matter."

"Maybe not to you both." Kazuma said, pulling down his beanie which he never bothered to remove because of laziness. He seemed to be blushing. "….This is really vital…"

"How is it 'vital'?" I questioned.

And before he could answer me, something happened.

The marble walls began to crumble, small debris falling out of them. The ground shook, and soon, the wall was nothing but a pile of rocks and smooth marble stones.

That was not the shocking part.

This was: Apparently, on the other side of that wall, were the girls. For a moment, I wondered why we couldn't hear them, or if they heard us. The next moment, my eyes just stared at a scene, which, I think, is what the other guys are doing.

"….My god…" I heard Kazuma murmured, his face red.

The scene? Well….all I can is that there was a short hothead whose hands were feeling the chest of weird and crazy impressionist. The latter had a grin, and the former, a blushing face and quivering lips as she continued to hold on. The tanned third-person speaking girl and plain unlucky lady was just as shocked as us.

"….."

"….."

"….."

"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Kazuma

"W-W-Well….t-there's a lot of explaining to do…." I muttered as the day ended with nosebleeds, faints, a hothead bashing, and Monokuma recording everything.

Wait, what?

Well, there you go! A chapter after almost four months of absence! (which I'm truly sorry about.)

Anyway, I hope this wasn't too wild or anything, but entertaining enough to make up for my hiatus. I really am sorry. I'll attempt a faster upload next time.

Thank you so much again for all the support guys, even if I am inactive.

READ AND REVIEW! ARIGATOU GOZAIMASU