"The killer has to be you: Kimi Valentin!"

For a moment, no one speaks... but then...

"I... excuse me?! Have you lost your mind, Kei?" Kimi splutters. "Why would you accuse me of all people?"

"Because you lied," I reply, simply. And so did I...

"I have no idea what you are referring to," she says, folding her arms. "Is this just some kind of distraction?"

"Gotta admit, Kei, I'm not really sure where you're going with this one," Yamato says.

"Are you sure, Kei?" asks Mitsu.

"Yes," I breathe. "It had to be her."

"This is preposterous!" Kimi cries, tossing her hair back. She points a taloned finger at me. "Why would you make such accusations?"

I have to be careful now. If I show my hand too soon it could all fall apart. I glance over to Monokuma, who seems genuinely interested now. At the very least, he's put the remote down – though it's still within his reach. Need to think quickly... I can't just say it outright or it could go down in flames – I need her to say it... To confirm my suspicions...

"Come now, you can't simply accuse me of being the culprit and then not say a word!" Kimi says. "He's clearly just trying to buy time! He has no proof at all!" She's in her stride now. "I understand this is a high pressure situation, Kei, but pinning the blame on me will not help you, or anyone for that matter."

"Okay," I say, finally, "I'll tell you how I know you're the culprit."

"I'm intrigued to see what lengths you'll go to in order to incriminate me," she replies.

It's like the others are gone now, and it's just Kimi and I, facing off against one another. I'm still breathing a little heavily as the adrenaline rushes through me, and I'm all too aware of the sweat misting my face. But that doesn't matter now...

"How far will you go, Kei?" she asks, her eyes narrowing. "I thought we were friends. How ruthless will you become in your pursuit of what you assume to be the truth?"

"I thought we were friends too," I sigh. "But you killed Yuki. And I know you did because you went to the sauna."

For a moment, Kimi is taken aback. But then she just starts to laugh. "Well, yes, of course, I went to the sauna several times! It's a very important part of my routine. That has nothing to do with anything, though."

Gotcha...

I had remembered back to the other day:

So not long before lunchtime, I decide to take the manga I've completed back to the Library. I'm just on my way back downstairs when I find myself bumping into Kimi and Yuki. They both appear to be in workout clothes, and Yuki's hair is tied up instead of in its usual 'lion's mane' look. Even now, Kimi is completely glamorous – not a hair out of place, full face of make-up. Jeez, does she even have sweat glands?

"Oh, hey, Kei!" Yuki says, brightly. "Kimi and I are just back from the sauna! Have you tried it out yet? It's craaaazy good!"

"I am sorry you have to see me not looking my best," Kimi says, grimly. "I… do not usually allow myself to be seen looking so… unpresentable."

And that's how I knew... that's how I knew that it had to be her.

"Huh?" Haru seems to have noticed it. "But I thought you'd never been to the Gym?"

Kimi's face scrunches up in confusion now.

"I... pardon me?"

"That's right. You said you'd never been to the Gym since the day it first opened," Mitsu says. "That's a pretty glaring contradiction considering the sauna is there."

"I... what I meant to say was..."

"I don't understand!" cries Blessing, tears forming in her eyes. "Kimi wouldn't do anything like that! What does her going to the Gym have to do with anything?"

"Because she lied and said she hadn't been to the Gym, exactly when we were discussing the bat and the Equipment Room," Hikaru explains, gently. "I'm sorry, Blessing, but... I think Kei is right."

"Oh, you do, do you?!" Kimi snaps at him. "And wouldn't that be convenient, seeing as he's your alibi with regards to the bobby pin."

"The bobby pin that Ino had left in the Salon," I counter. "Where you spent most of the afternoon before the party. I bet that was when you picked it up, huh?"

"I... I... I..."

She's shaking now, whether with fear or anger it's difficult to tell. Her eyes dart from side to side, though not at anyone in particular. She's scrambling for an answer.

"It's circumstantial," she snarls, finally, then seems to regain her composure. She smoothes down her blouse and sniffs. "Perhaps I misspoke under such pressure."

"Not much of a defence," Mitsu says.

"Yes, I'd say your behaviour there rather gave the game away," Masashi says, smirking victoriously at her. "While the evidence itself didn't entirely condemn you, your reactions are all the more revealing."

Kimi's composure drops instantly, and she begins to wail, turning to Blessing. "Please, Blessing, you believe me, don't you? You won't let them kill me, will you?" She buries her head in her hands, hiding her face.

Blessing is taken aback, and holds up her hands, trembling slightly.

"I... I don't know what to think," she cries. She looks back at Kimi with wet eyes, and then her face hardens. With a trembling voice she says, "Kimi, I... I'm sorry, but... I know you're... faking this..."

Blessing's words seem to hit Kimi like lightning, and her hands drop away from her face to reveal her stunned expression. She hasn't shed a single tear. There isn't a single blemish in her make-up... Blessing had been right.

"How... did you..."

"I am the Ultimate Actress," Blessing says, sadly. "I know crocodile tears when I see them."

Kimi straightens up to her full height, closes her eyes, and lets out a long, deep breath. No one says a word – we all just watch her, unsure of what to do next.

She opens her eyes again and smiles.

"Very well," she says. "It would appear I've exhausted my available options."

"W-wait, you admit it?" Yamato gasps.

Kimi shrugs her shoulders. "I suppose so, yes. I have nothing more to gain from keeping up the charade at this venture."

"You... you killed Yuki?!" Ino screams. "It was you?!"

"Now, now, dear," Kimi says, holding up a long, sharp finger to her lips in a shushing motion, "if these are the last moments of our acquaintance, let's not spend them with unnecessary noise."

"Are... are you for real?" Hikaru asks, stunned. "You're a murderer!"

"I am," Kimi agrees, calmly, "but shouting about it achieves very little."

"Well, Monokuma?" Haru says, turning to face the bear. "It would appear this trial is at an end." Monokuma cocks his head to the side for a second, and then perks up again.

"Sure thing!"

With a raise of his paw, the hologram display dissipates and cuts out with its characteristic burble as it powers down. The screens all around us do the same, only to flare into life again brighter than before, displaying the slot machine motifs, with the pixelated forms of our faces visible on each of the three slots.

Monokuma stands to his full, unimpressive height and punches the air with a paw. "Ultimate students, please us the menu screen appearing on your ElectroIDs to vote for who you think is guilty for this most cruuuuel and unusual crime! And do be reminded that abstaining from voting could lead to some equally cruuuuel and unusual punishments! Okay! Here... we... go!"

He jerks at a lever that's appeared at the side of his throne and the screens are suddenly a flurry of movement as the slots begin to spin. Just as before, seventeen 8-bit icons appear on the ElectroID screen in front of me, one for each of us. The pink cross markings are getting more numerous now... Arata, Cho, Kaori, Ayaka, Fumio, Yuki... all greyed out.

The horror of touching the screen is like nothing I can describe. Regardless of what the person has done, to have to make that choice... That moment... It's like a piece of my soul chips away each time. With a shaking hand, I make my selection, and then bow my head, closing my eyes. I know what to expect now.

I can hear it anyway... Onscreen, the slots trundle by at a rapid rate. A few moments pass, and there's the first clunk as the first slot locks into place. I don't need to look at it to know it's Kimi's icon it's landed on.

Seconds later, there's the second clunk.

Seconds later again, comes the third and final clunk.

I open my eyes.

On each of the screens, three Kimis look back at me.

Pre-recorded whoops and cheers fill the room, and bells ring, shrill and jolly, like it's announcing a jackpot. But like the saying goes, the house always wins. Monokuma's third victory. Never ours.

The slot machine graphics fade away, replaced with a camera view from above.

"Third time's the charm!" Monokuma cheers. "Congrats, amateur sleuths! I can confirm that the dastardly culprit who struck down poor little Yuki Tadeshi, the Ultimate Hairdresser was none other than Kimi Valentin, the Ultimate Beautician!" He points a paw at Kimi, who is still smiling, serenely. "In another twist, I can reveal the voting was unanimous, and unlike her predecessors, even the culprit chose to vote herself as the guilty party!"

"W-wait, what?!" splutters Ino.

"You voted for yourself too?" Mitsu frowns. Kimi nods, slowly.

"I told you all... there is no need for me to continue this charade. I took my chance, and I failed. If there's one thing I have learned, it's when to end things."

"But... why? Why do any of this?" Hikaru cries. "Why kill Yuki?"

Kimi sighs. "It's a rather boring reason, if I am to be honest with you all. Is it not better to end things on a beautiful mystery?"

"No," Haru says, sharply. "The least you can do is explain yourself."

Kimi looks round at all of us, gauging our expressions. There's a lot of hurt, and sorrow, and anger, and confusion all around us now, visible more on some than it is on others. She catches my eye for a moment, and I have to force myself to meet her gaze. Her face splits into a wide grin.

"I asked you earlier how far will you go, Kei," she beams. "And how ruthless you would become in pursuit of the truth. If there is one thing I am an expert at, it is not to do with such things as beauty routines and make-up, it is the human face. And looking at yours now... I think I know how far you will go. I am only sad I won't be here to see it."

"Wh-what?" In the heat of the moment the first time she'd mentioned it, I hadn't paid much attention to what she'd said, but this time... this time it was impossible to ignore. How far I'll go? What does she mean?

"As for the rest of you, well..."

"You seem to be avoiding giving us proper answers," Masashi notes. "Please don't feel the need to delay any further."

Kimi's smile turns almost melancholy now.

"I made some mistakes," she said. "In my life before we came here, of course. Some business decisions that went awry. Wrongful investments and such. For a brief while before I received my invitiation to Hope's Peak I was on the verge of losing millions."

"So you thought leaving here would be of some use to you financially?" Masashi asks, eyebrow raised. "I doubt that somehow."

"Unless she made use of the motive," Hikaru points out, glaring at Kimi now. "That was your intention, wasn't it?"

Kimi looks amused. "Ah, so you understand. You're a perceptive little mascot, Hikaru."

"The m-motive?" Daisuke stammers. "H-how could she use th-that to her advantage?"

Hikaru looks round at everyone. "As Ultimate students, most of the people here are all worth of a fair amount of money in the outside world, I'd imagine. Hope's Peak means money, after all. Now imagine how well a survivor story would be received. People love tragedy, and a story like this..."

"People would talk forever," Kimi says. She's staring into space a little now, like she can practically imagine an unseen audience. "A survivor of a terrifying ordeal in none other than an establishment as revered as Hope's Peak Academy. The stories that would be told... My story!" Almost as an afterthought she adds, "And, of course, whoever would be lucky enough to have survived with me."

"Hadn't reached a decision on that yet, then?" asks Haru, coldly.

"Oh, no, I made my decision before I even fetched the baseball bat from the Gym," Kimi says. "I was rather hoping to choose Blessing to escape with me."

Blessing looks horrified. "Y-you were going to choose me?!"

"I came to see you as a good friend in our brief time together," Kimi explains, matter-of-factly. "But of course, I was looking at it from a financial perspective too. The Ultimate Actress. Your reputation, even amongst Ultimates, puts you that extra step up the ladder as far as fame and impact goes. Who would make a more perfect companion?"

"Y-you're insane!" Blessing cries. "Kimi, how on Earth could you ever believe that I'd even go along with such a thing? To earn my freedom on the back of you killing all our friends?"

Kimi shrugs again. "I had taken that into consideration, but to be honest I still thought it worth the risk. I had briefly considered Masashi – he isn't quite as attached as the rest of you appear to be, so there'd be less resistance there – and I considered Daisuke – simply as his weakness would have made it easier for me to potentially control if the situation required so."

"Wh-what?!" Daisuke yelps, eyes widening in horror. Masashi doesn't say anything, but he looks properly rattled, his shaking hand clenched around his podium, knuckles white from the grip.

"How the hell can you talk like that?!" I find myself yelling. "You... you can't just think of people like... like objects!"

"I have spent the past few years of my life wearing... a mask of sorts," Kimi says. "Everything about me, from head to toe, is like a disguise. A protective barrier. The world of beauty is harsh and merciless, and only those who are willing to go the extra mile are the ones who succeed."

"And we thought Fumio was a fucking monster," Ino hisses, venomously. "You... you're something else."

"Perhaps I am," Kimi says, sadly. "I did a terrible thing, but I would be lying if I said I feel bad about it. If anything I'm just sad I wasn't able to get away with it. And I was so close too."

"But why Yuki?" asks Mitsu. "Was it just a matter of convenience?"

Kimi nods. "Oh, yes. She just seemed the easiest to kill. Typical, of course, that events transpired the way they did."

"You bitch!" screams Ino, practically leaning over the front of her podium to scream at Kimi. "You fucking bitch!"

"I have one more question," Haru says, slowly. He presses a finger against his lips, deep in thought for a moment, and then once he has Kimi's attention he asks, "Your disguise. You're still wearing it, aren't you?"

Kimi gives him a wide grin and tosses her hair back as she laughs.

"Oh, of course I am! I'm about to die. I can accept reality, but if I get to keep agency over one last thing in my life, it is how I confront death. And I will face it with the most beautiful smile." She looks over her shoulder at Monokuma. "I think we've reached the end of this particular question and answer session."

"Sounds good to me!" Monokuma cackles. "Well, now, I've prepared a very special punishment for Kimi Valentin, the Ultimate Beautician!" As is now routine, the big red button rises from the floor and comes to level with his throne. "Let's give it everything we've got – iiiiit's Punishment Time!"

The screens around us change to show the pixelated forms of Kimi and Monokuma, the latter dragging the former away on a chain.

"Goodbye, everyone," Kimi says, blowing a kiss. "It's been a pleasure!"

Before anyone can respond, Kimi's podium suddenly lurches backwards towards the wall. For a second it looks like it might collide, but then a concealed doorway swings open and Kimi and her podium disappear through it, swallowed by the darkness beyond.

There's the usual whining as the rest of the podiums deactivate and come back to ground level, but none of us are focusing on that now... We're all in that state of transfixed terror that only comes from the screens pulsing with colour, fading to an elegant pink background with gold cursive font that reads...

The Punishment of the Ultimate Beautician

Beauty is in the Eye of the Bear-holder

Kimi is seated in a chair much like one of the ones from the Salon up on the Fifth Floor, restrained by thin ropes. It's too dark to make out any of her surroundings at first, but a spotlight flares into life, showing another identical smiling Kimi in the exact same situation. Another spotlight flashes on, revealing another. And another. And another. This repeats about a dozen times, until a number of identical Kimis are visible, and now... the smile's looking a little forced.

From behind all of the Kimis, Monokumas begin to appear, wearing identical blonde, curly wigs, and all armed with identical big blue hammers. All at the same time, the Monokumas swing their hammers...

And there's the sound of shattering glass. One of the Kimis (and one of the Monokumas) is now gone, leaving nothing but a gaping hole of shattered mirror, barely visible despite the spotlight that's still aimed at it.

The other Kimis gaze ahead, and the Monokumas all swing again...

Another smash... Another mirror gone...

Perspiration runs down Kimi's face now, her bangs slicked to her forehead... Suddenly, the smile is gone... She couldn't ignore reality forever... She's struggling now, but to no avail. The Monokumas raise their hammers...

Smash! And another Kimi disappears...

And another...

And another...

And another, and another, and another...

The mirrors continue to be destroyed, one-by-one, and the amount of visible Kimis and Monokumas decrease at the same rate. Soon enough, there are only two left...

With another smash, the mirror directly in front of Kimi shatters, leaving what appears to be a gap leading away from the enclosed space in between the rest of the broken mirrors.

The last Monokuma swings his hammer... ready to bring it down on her head.

And Kimi's bonds snap loose!

Not wasting a single second, she throws herself out of the chair. Monokuma's hammer slams down on the space her head was occupying just a fraction of a second before... Unable to control her momentum, she crashes forwards. She reaches out to stop herself...

And all there is to grab is the edge of the shattered mirror in front of her.

With a sickening thud, her hands are pierced by the splintered glass. With a scream, she wrenches her hands free and throws herself through the space at the back of the mirror, blood streaming from the wounds in her palms. Monokuma seems enraged and begins to smash the hammer down on the floor again and again.

Kimi continues to try and clamber through the holes in the broken mirrors, as they seem to be the only path away from Monokuma, though with each strike of the hammer against the ground, the remains of the mirrors shudder and rain shards of glass down on her even more.

The end is in sight now as she approaches the last mirror... Surely there must be an exit beyond it? Monokuma intensifies his hammer strikes, and the whole chamber seems to be shaking with each impact...

The last mirror trembles and shudders... More cracks blossom out from the hole at the centre of it. Kimi goes to throw herself through the space into what must surely be safety... She's halfway through now!

And with a final strike of the hammer, the top half of the mirror breaks loose, and comes falling straight down onto Kimi's back...

She doesn't even get the time to scream before the mirror cuts through her body... Wide-eyed, she reaches out into the dark space beyond with a trembling hand slick with blood... But there's no exit on the other side...

A final spotlight flares into life and we all see what she sees...

One last mirror. Reflecting her own death right back at her.

Her hand falls... A single tear falls down her face, leaving a faint line in her make-up.

And then the trembling stops, and all is still...

The screen fades to black once again.

Maybe part of me thought I should be used to the post-execution terror that courses through every atom of me. I don't know if I truly believed that before, but in those first few moments after the execution, it's like every piece of my existence is threatening to unravel, and I clutch the sides of my podium, my entire body shaking uncontrollably and my head bowed. For what feels like a lifetime, I stay like that, barely able to process anything going on in my surroundings until...

Monokuma's laughter revertebrates around the now still and dim trial ground. Almost in pain from the effort, I raise my head, glaring up at the monster that rolled about his throne in hysterics.

"Well, I gotta give it to ya, kids, you sure know how to keep things exciting! Never a dull moment with you brats around! We're gonna be down to single digits in no time at this rate!"

"Stop it!" roars Hikaru, smashing his fist down on the podium in front of him. His head is bowed too, but even in the dim yellow glow of the trial ground lighting it's clear to see the tears streaming down his face. "Stop it..." he says again, barely a whisper.

Monokuma almost looks like he's considering it, tapping at his snout with a paw, thoughtfully. But then he throws his arms wide and cackles again. "You should be so lucky, kid! This is my time! You all getta do the talking and arguing and providing the rare bit of comic relief and then once the deed is done it's my time to shine!"

"Is it though?!" Hikaru says through his sobs. "Is it just your time?"

"Hikaru..." I hear Mitsu say, almost warningly. Confused, I look over to her to see she's suddenly looking panicked. She inclines her head at me as if to say 'do something'.

"Let us go back," I call to Monokuma, unsure of what else I can do. "You've done enough."

"Oh, have I?" Monokuma says with mock innocence. "But it'd seem that young Hikaru has something he wants to get off his chest."

"No, he doesn't," I find myself saying, already feeling the laser beam glare Mitsu will have no doubt directed at me.

"Kei?" Blessing asks.

"Is something going on here?" Ino snaps. "What are you getting at?"

"Tell us the truth, Monokuma," Hikaru demands. "There's a traitor, isn't there?"

Oh, fuck...

"Huh?!"

"Wait, what did he say?"

One-by-one, the others give their shocked reactions. But in that moment I suddenly forget all about them, as it's Monokuma's reaction that matters the most.

"How did you kn- What do you... I mean, I... You're... you..." He's shifting on his feet nervously, practically tugging one of his ears off. His usual wicked grin has fallen and for a moment it's like... he's afraid. He realises we're now all staring at him and attempts to regain his composure. "I... I mean, uh, there is no traitor, of course! Whatever gave you such a ridiculous idea in the first place?"

"There's no use lying now," Masashi says, rubbing his chin. "I'd say you've rather let that particular cat out of the bag."

"So there really is a traitor?!" Yamato asks. "How is that possible?"

"You rather showed yourself up there," Mitsu says to Monokuma. "There's no use pretending otherwise at this point in proceedings."

Monokuma regards her for a second, almost shaking with anger. I can see his claws sheathing and unsheathing several times. But finally, he seems to come to a decision and he settles down, holding a paw up to his mouth as he begins to chuckle.

"Upupupu, well, it was only a matter of time, I suppose..."

"So you admit it?" Hikaru yells, smashing his fist down on his podium again. "You admit there's a traitor?"

"Oh, yeah, I totally admit it, schmuck!" Monokuma chortles. "Because, guess what... it's just gonna give you little idiots one more incentive to kill one another! And with that, I officially conclude the Third Class Trial!"

"No, wait!" Mitsu protests.

"Remember that the elevator will return you to the Castle," Monokuma says, shouting over her.

Voices overlap as we all try to demand some answers.

"All-parts-of-the-Castle-and-its-grounds-will-have-been-reset-as-to-how-they-were!" he yells in a confusing garble. "Bye for now!"

And then he's gone...

For several long moments, there's silence...

"I think we all need to have a conversation," Haru says, coolly.

"I agree," Masashi nods. "I think Hikaru, Mitsu, and Kei owe us some answers."

"Everyone, I-" I begin to say.

"Not here," snaps Masashi. "I think we've all spent enough time in this place as it is."

The journey back to the Castle might be our most unpleasant so far. None of the others will meet my gaze. Even Hikaru and Mitsu seem to be trying to avoid sharing a look with me. Similarly, it seems nobody can really look at each other either, with the exception of Daisuke and Miniro, who don't let go of one another's hands even as we make our way back to the Common Room.

Silently, we all take our seats. Nobody speaks, and for a good few minutes there's nothing but the crackling of the fire in the grate and the rhythmic tapping of Masashi's fingers against the surface of the table beside the armchair he's sat in. I look over to Hikaru on his end of the couch but he's sat withi his face buried in his hands.

It's Mitsu that breaks the silence.

"Well, this is getting us nowhere."

"No!" explodes Ino, jumping up from her chair and pointing an accusing finger in Mitsu's face. "You do not get to be flippant about this right now." To her credit, Mitsu doesn't even flinch.

"Ino, please..." Blessing says calmly, standing up and putting a hand on Ino's shoulder. "We need to hear them out."

"This... bitch," Ino says, spitting the word, "and her two fucking co-conspirators, Tweedledum and Tweedle-fucking-dumbass, have been holding out on us, and you want me to fucking calm down?"

Despite the situation, I find myself wondering who was who out of me and Hikaru.

"Shouting and screaming won't get us any closer to the truth," Haru says. I look over to him but he turns away from me to stare into the fire instead, his profile lit up by the glow of the flames.

"Well, whenever one of you is ready," Masashi drawls, still tapping at the tabletop. "I'm sure we'd all love to hear what you have to say for yourselves."

"Don't you think it's more of a priority that we focus on the matter at hand?" Mitsu asks, calmly.

"Are you for fucking real?!"

"Ino, please."

"Right now, Mitsu, I think we could all really do with being on the same page," Miniro says. Daisuke nods his agreement, shakily.

Mitsu pinches the bridge of her nose for a moment and then stands up out of her chair.

"Fine," she says. "But I'd rather it waited til morning."

"Oh, I'm going to kill her," Ino growls, struggling to free herself from Blessing's restraining grip on her arms.

"Why should we wait?" Yamato asks. Even he seems angry – he's practically glaring at Mitsu.

"Because it's been a long night," she replies. "And I think we're all exhausted and could do with the rest before we all drop. I'm not being deliberately evasive, as I fully intend to let you know everything I know, but for now I think-"

"I don't care for any excuses, Mitsu," Masashi says, coldly.

"Please, Mitsu..." Blessing says, letting Ino go and turning back to face Mitsu. "Please just get this out of the way. By the sounds of things, we're already in another bad situation, so I'd at least like some kind of explanation before I go back to my room."

"Well, what about you, Kei?" Haru asks, accusingly. "You seem to be in the loop too. Why don't you tell us?"

"Hey, yeah, you were acting weird too," Yamato says, frowning at me. "What gives, man? I thought we were friends!"

"We are friends!" I protest. "I... Mitsu and I..."

"And Hikaru," points out Ino, glaring over at him. "Don't forget him!" Not that he'd see. His head was still in his hands.

"I've been working my way through the Archive," Mitsu says, finally. "There was hundreds of files in there but I've been getting through them pretty much since Monokuma's Syndrome had got to me." She reaches into her bag and produces a manila folder. "I removed the relevant files from the Archive and brought them to my room, and later my Talent Laboratory. This is the most recent one I had found."

"I suppose that would explain why I haven't been able to find anything significant," Masashi mutters. Mitsu nods.

"I thought it would be safer to take it somewhere it was less easily accessible for other people," she says. "In hindsight, I should have just been honest with you all, but I didn't want to cause alarm. It was why I made Kei agree not to tell any of you."

"And Hikaru? How come he found out?" Yamato asks.

Then I remember the pictures. If Mitsu tells them about the pictures that could incriminate us, but if she doesn't they'll only have more reason to not trust us if anything else comes of it... She looks at me, like she's asking for my permission, and I don't know what to do... But finally, I find myself nodding.

"The picture that Hikaru found on the Fifth Floor when it first opened isn't the only one of its kind," Mitsu says. "There are two more so far, featuring some of us."

"And you didn't say anything before because...?"

"Because I thought it would prevent causing a panic," Mitsu sighs.

"How'd that one work out for you, huh?" Ino mutters under her breath.

"What's so important about these pictures anyway?" Yamato asks.

"They show some of us in parts of the Castle, despite the fact none of us have any memory of ever being here before or getting pictures taken," I explain.

"We'll come back to those later," Mitsu says. "But there's something else that I learned from the Archive, and it's... not pleasant."

"Do we pretend to act surprised or something?"

"Ino, please," Haru says, irritated. "It's frustrating enough that we're having to get all this information on a delay with you feeling the need to make a comment every time she stops for breath."

Ino looks a little taken aback to be spoken to by him like that, but it seems to do the trick. She glares at him and crosses her arms, leaning back into her seat.

"Go on, Mitsu."

Mitsu takes a deep breath. I know what she's going to say but somehow that makes it even worse.

"This isn't the first killing game," she says, finally. "I'm not sure how many there have been at this point, but I'd imagine there's been several."

The room erupts into noise and panic as everyone starts to call out with questions and cries of disbelief. Mitsu holds her hands up to motion for silence.

"Look, I don't have all the information," she tells everyone. "What I do have is fairly brief, but it was enough that I can tell you that there's been several killing games... with the first killing game like this taking place in Hope's Peak Academy. The original Hope's Peak Academy."

"But that's impossible!"

"I think we've learned that 'impossible' doesn't really count for much these days," Mitsu says. "The information was sparse, but it was enough that I discovered that the Hope's Peak killing game, or 'School Life of Mutual Killing' as the file calls it, forced a class of students into the exact same situation we've found ourselves in now. Class Trials and all. There wasn't much detail but there were... pictures. Similarly, on the School Trip of Mutual Killing on Jabberwock Island, and at least one other killing game I've found only the briefest of acknowledgements to."

I can't hold back the shiver that runs through my body at that moment. Looking round at the others, they don't seem to be taking this news particuarly well either.

"So this is just history repeating itself," Masashi says, quietly. "This is... troubling."

"Troubling indeed," Miniro agrees, his expression grave.

"Troubling? It's fucking insane!" Ino cries.

"I-I just d-don't understand," Daisuke trembles. "How can this ha-happen?"

"How is any of this possible?" Blessing asks. "Surely word would have got out if something so terrible had taken place at Hope's Peak!"

"Hope's Peak receives government funding – wouldn't be too hard to hush up with that kind of money," Haru points out.

"Wait, you think the government could be in on all this?" Yamato asks, wide-eyed. "I mean, I'm not a fan of politicians but doesn't this seem a little... out there for some assholes in suits to conjure up?"

"I don't necessarily think the government are in on it," Haru says, "but I imagine it would have been easy enough for them to cover up. No, I think it's much more likely the mastermind behind this is a third party, separate from Hope's Peak and the government."

"Like... a secret organisation?" Blessing suggests. "I've done a few films about cults in the past..."

Mitsu paces across the rug to stand in front of the fireplace and gazes into the hearth.

"There was a term I'd found in one of the files in the Archive pertaining to the killing games," she says. "The same file that mentioned there was a traitor in all previous killing games, in fact."

"A term? What the hell are you talking about?"

"I'm not sure yet, myself," Mitsu admits, shaking her head. "There was next to no actual facts or references to it outside of it mentioning the influence of it in some capacity in the killing game."

"Well, c'mon, Mitsu, spit it out!"

Mitsu turns slightly to face us, and the orange glow of the fire casts long, dark shadows across her face.

"It would appear our captors are – or are influenced by – a force that identifies itself as Ultimate Despair."

"Ultimate Despair?" I echo, fighting a chill down my spine.

Mitsu nods, grimly. "For the moment, besides those words, I don't have much else to go on, but it seems that this Ultimate Despair could very well be our enemy here."

"And the traitor amongst us is an agent of this Ultimate Despair," Masashi reasons. He's stopped drumming his fingers on the table now.

"I'd imagine so, yes," Mitsu says. "Whoever, or whatever, Ultimate Despair is... they are not on our side."

"But what is Ultimate Despair?" Yamato asks.

Mitsu holds up the manila folder she'd taken from her bag a few minutes ago. "This contains the only information I could find that mentions Ultimate Despair. She holds it open, revealing only two sheets of paper, featuring several sections someone has gone over with a highlighter pen.

There's an uncomfortable pause for a short while.

"So, does anyone have any more shocking revelations they'd like to just share with the group and get out there?" Haru asks. "Just while we're all here."

"At this point, I don't think there's anything more to be said," Ino says. "I'm going for a walk."

She gets up from her chair and storms off through the Common Room door.

"Should someone go after her?" Yamato asks.

"No," Miniro says, gently. "A lot of terrible things have come to light today, but I think now is a good time for Ino to be alone with her thoughts. She can mourn in her own way."

"Perhaps that's the best plan of action for the rest of us," Blessing says with a defeated sigh. "I... I am feeling pretty overwhelmed, I have to admit."

"M-me too," Daisuke confesses.

"Then I think the best we can do is adjourn for the night," Masashi says. "Ultimate Despair can wait until we've slept."

A few of the others rise from their seats, but then Haru clears his throat to get everyone's attention.

"Tonight's been a terrible night, and we've discovered a lot of... bad things," he says, looking around at us. "And these latest revelations are obviously incredibly concerning, but we can't afford to let that interfere with us surviving here and trying to find a way out."

"And how are we supposed to do that when one of us is a traitor?" Masashi asks with a humourless laugh.

"What's one person against the combined efforts of the rest of us?" Haru asks, eyebrow raised. "If the Class Trials so far have taught us anything, it's that working together gets us through things."

"By the skin of our teeth," Yamato points out. "It was a lucky accident that Kimi slipped up like that!"

"That's the point," Haru says. "People always make mistakes in the end. Stand together or fall alone – that's what we've learned so far."

"How about: stand together, fall into a false sense of security, then get murdered?"

"Guys, stop it!" I sigh, throwing myself out of my seat now. "Haru is right! What good does it do us just giving up and falling apart now?"

"Who said anything about giving up?" retorts Masashi, angrily. "You know what – you don't get to do the whole 'let's all work together' thing right now, Kei. You, Mitsu, and Hikaru purposefully withheld important information from the rest of us, and now it's blowing up in your faces you're trying to save face."

"Th-that's not it at all!" I insist. "Masashi, it's not like that!"

"Just... fuck off," he says. "I'm sick of all of you."

And he disappears up the stairs to the Dormitories, his long coat swishing behind him as he goes. A stunned silence fills the Common Room in his absence.

"I think it's time for bed," Mitsu says, finally. The others start to disperse, heading up to their rooms with mumbled goodnights and sympathetic glances. A few moments later, I'm alone, still frozen to the spot though, as if I can't bring myself to move. I realise my arm is trembling pretty intensely and I have to grab it with my other hand to try and steady it.

I slump back down onto my seat again, suddenly too weak to stand, and find myself staring into space.

If I'm honest, I'm not sure how long I do this for, but the fire has started to die down and the Common Room has plunged into an almost soothing gloom by the time I hear a disturbance from nearby. I just about find the strength to look up, and from here I can see through the open Common Room door to see a silhouetted figure approaching, sobbing gently. As they pass the large windows that line the southern side of the corridor, shafts of moonlight cast a pearly glow over them, revealing a shock of pink hair.

In all the confusion, I'd forgot that Ino hadn't gone to her room, but here she is now, barely containing her sobs as she makes her way back into the Common Room. She looks over to the seating area and sees me sitting.

"What are you doing here?" she moans through tears, trying to wipe at her eyes with a sleeve.

"I didn't think I could make it upstairs," I admit to her. She makes a noise something between a laugh and a sob.

"You had the strength to get through the Trial, but getting up some stairs is too much for you?"

I find myself smiling faintly. "I guess... it just took everything out of me."

"I don't forgive you, you know," she says. "And don't think that just cos you saw me crying suddenly makes me weak. I'll outlast everyone here if I have to."

I sigh, and bow my head. Part of me feels like forgiveness is the last thing I deserve. "I understand."

Ino walks away from me, over to the stairs that lead up to the Dormitories. She stands on the bottom step, her hands stretched out on either side of the archway. Without turning back to face me, she says, "Thank you, though. For Yuki's sake, if anything."

I'm a little taken aback. Uncertainly, I go to reply. "I-"

"Goodnight, Kei."

"G-goodnight, Ino."

And with that, I'm alone in the dark again...

After my brief conversation with Ino, I find myself rising from my chair and staggering my way up the stairs to the Dormitories, doing my best to filter out the aches and pains of my body.

Barely kicking my shoes off in time, I collapse into my bed, fully clothed. And I try to let the exhaustion win me over. To fall into a deep, deep sleep...

But there's a lot on my mind, and it's almost like it bubbles up more and more the closer I get to finally reaching that point of perfect escape.

My friends... what's happened today could really break us all apart. The thought that one of us could be a traitor... The knowledge that one of us is a traitor... It's hard to even comprehend. On top of that, Ultimate Despair...

Who could they be? What are their intentions? How does the killing game fit into that? How do we fit into that?

And something else troubling me too... The things Kimi had said towards the end of the Trial... Had she just been trying to psych me out or... had there really been something in me that she'd been able to see?

"How far will you go, Kei?" her voice echoes in my thoughts. "How far will you go?"

As the first light of dawn begins to glow through my window, I close my eyes, and wait for a more comforting kind of darkness.

CHAPTER 03 - END

10 STUDENTS REMAINING