Fanganronpa: Village of Despair

by Luke Storyhammer

Monokuma is back to his diabolical antics once again in a brand new Killing Game, locking up Umeko Hirayama - a girl with no memory of her past life or talent - with fifteen other SHSL students inside an inn located in his diabolical Village of Despair. A Danganronpa fanfiction with an original cast, written as a cross between a story and videogame script.

35. Haunt These Halls No More, Daily Life 5

Monokuma: First question...what color am I?

H-Huh…? For some reason, I thought this was going to be a legitimate gameshow...that's the first question?

Wakako was first to buzz in. I had barely even heard the question before she'd already hit her buzzer.

Miyumi: [shocked] Whoa! Those were lightning-fast reflexes, Wakako!

Wakako: [playful] Of course! I'm always on the alert when it comes down to gameshows!

Samira: [annoyed] You were never this focused on anything before…

Monokuma: Yes, Generic Hot Girl? What's your answer?

Wakako: [angry] Generic?! What do yo-

Monokuma: [laughing] EHHH! Wrong! I am not a generic color!

Wakako: [shocked] Wh-What? Wait, that wasn't my answ-

Monokuma: The boys get the first point!

Yoshihiki: [excited] Alright! We totally nailed it!

Ichiro: [annoyed] ...We haven't even done anything.

Yoshihiki: [playful] Exactly. Good job predicting that she would mess that up, everyone.

Wakako: [annoyed] Bah! I've been bamboozled!

Monokuma: Next question! What do bears eat?

Wakako was still reeling from being deceived of her victory that she didn't have time to hit her buzzer before-

Yoshihiki: [excited] Ooh! Ooh! I know! I know!

Monokuma: Yes, Short and Scrawny?

I could visibly see Yoshihiki swallow the insulting nickname with irritance.

Yoshihiki: [annoyed] Er...you… [excited] eat your own kind!

Monokuma: [distressed] Wha wha? [annoyed] No! No, we don't! That's awful!

Ichiro: [annoyed] What the hell? What was that?

Yoshihiki: [playful] Well, I just thought...bears are carnivores, so that means they eat each other, right?

Ichiro: [annoyed] That's a 'cannibal', not a 'carnivore', you idiot! And besides, bears are omnivores! They eat fish, berries, that sort of thing!

Yoshihiki: [shocked] Ooooohhh...Is that so? [laughing] Well, slap me silly, then! Why didn't you answer if you knew it, Ichiro?

Ichiro: [annoyed] ...Because I don't care. I'm not playing.

Monokuma: [annoyed] Eh?

Ichiro: [annoyed] I'm still here at my podium. I haven't walked off the stage. You can't punish me for that, now, can you?

Monokuma: Eh, who cares? Do whatever you want. Anyway! We are now tied with one point for each team! Moving onto our next question! Enough about me and my superior ursine race! It's time for a question about you guys! Tell me. What was Kenji's talent?

Hearing Kenji's name caught me off-guard that I didn't even realize Wakako had hit her buzzer when she did.

Monokuma: Wakako buzzed in first! You remember Kenji, right? Ripped hoodie, messy hair, kind of a laidback flirt, typical cool guy, first victim, and all that good stuff?

Wakako: Yeah, I remember him. [excited] And I remember his talent too! He was the SHSL Skateboarder!

Monokuma: Correct! Another point goes to Wakako's team!

Wakako: [excited] Yes!

Miyumi: [nervous] W-Wow, Wakako...you're really on fire today. I...don't think I've seen you this fired up before, not even before, in the Basement. I haven't even touched my buzzer yet…

She really is the SHSL Reality TV Star for a reason…

Monokuma: Next question! What was the name of the SHSL Thief?

This time, Yoshihiki beat Wakako to the buzzer. It definitely seemed that those two were the most enthusiastic to win the game.

Yoshihiki: [excited] Hey, I know this one! I know! [thoughtful] Uhh…[laughing] well, the answer's OBVIOUSLY Eisuke, right? That was totally his talent.

Monokuma: EHHH! Dead wrong! It was Nagatomo Yamaoka, the SHSL Thief!

Ichiro: [angry] Why would you say that? That's clearly not it! Are you just messing around? What's with you constantly yelling about wanting to win and then not taking it seriously anyway?

Yoshihiki: [playful] Heh, why do you even care, Ichiro, my man? You're not trying in this competition either!

Ichiro: [annoyed] Hmph. Yeah, because it's pointless. You really think Monokuma's got a 'reward' for us? It's gonna be nonsense.

Mordecai: [accusatory] The both of you have the wrong attitude! Neither of you are helping our team! I shall show you how it is done!

Monokuma: Very well. The girls lead, 3-1! Next question! We're getting back to questions about me! Who am I?

Ichiro: [annoyed] What the heck kinda question is-

Mordecai: [accusatory] I have seen the answer, clear as day!

Mordecai slammed his buzzer with barely restrained fury.

Mordecai: [accusatory] You are the devil himself, reincarnated in the form of a stuffed animal! Your every evil deed and wrongdoing are all acts of Lucifer himself!

Monokuma: Um...no.

Mordecai: [shocked] No?!

Monokuma: [laughing] Your ass is wrong, Mould-ecai! The answer's easy! I'm Monokuma, the Headmaster of Hope's Peak Academy! I told you that from the beginning!

Ichiro: [angry] That was even worse than Yoshihiki's answer! What's worse is that you were actually trying!

Mordecai: [distressed] My answer was not ridiculous! It was a sound answer! This competition is rigged!

Ichiro: [annoyed] You've gotta be kidding me. I'm on a team full of idiots.

Yoshihiki: [playful] Hey, why don't you try answering a question then, buddy? Maybe you'll get one right! [excited] Yay, Ichiro! Go for it!

Ichiro: [annoyed] Oh, shut up. I'm not going for a damn thing.

Mordecai: [accusatory] Then why do you get mad at our answers? Especially mine! It was a good answer, I swear!

Samira: [uncomfortable] Just how long are those three going to go back and forth…?

Watching the three boys bicker amongst themselves was a clear example of how dysfunctional the boys' team was, even with the exception of Azuma, who tried his best to diffuse the fighting to no avail.

And so the competition continued, going back and forth...and back and forth…

Everytime Wakako got the chance to buzz in, she almost always got the question right. From time to time, Hanako would buzz in too, and she got her answers right as well.

The boys...didn't fare too well. I was pretty certain Azuma was the smartest member of their group, but he never buzzed in once. Yoshihiki and Mordecai seemed to make it a competition to buzz in before the other, but as the questions got harder and tougher, the more Mordecai struggled to give a sound, logical answer, and the more Yoshihiki seemed tempted to give answers that were completely wrong.

Monokuma: Who was the second victim?

Yoshihiki: [excited] Wakako!

Wakako: [angry] I'm still alive, you nitwit!

Monokuma: Wrong! It was Kaori! Next question! What are the ingredients that go into the cakes in the Bakery?

Mordecai: [distressed] Ugh...um...evil, and...hatred...and other devilish things! [accusatory] Because something so sweet could not have been made by you, you heathen!

Monokuma: Wrong! What was the name of Kaori's pet dog?

Yoshihiki: [excited] Rufus!

Monokuma: Wrong wrong wrong!

I guess...we don't have to worry about Yoshihiki getting that 'advantage' after all...

And when we drew nearer and nearer to the end of it…

Monokuma: [disappointed] Hoo boy. Well then. It looks like it's a score of 19-3…this sure is shaping up to be one heckuva blowout victory. [excited] Let me tell you what! How about this? We'll make the next question worth 15 points! Huh? Doesn't that sound fun?

Miyumi: [shocked] Wh-What? Y-You can't just change the rules like that! That's no fair!

Monokuma: [angry] Huh? Are you accusing me of unfairness?

Miyumi: [nervous] M-Maybe…?

Monokuma: [annoyed] One point to the Boys' Team for Miyumi's cheek!

Yoshihiki: [excited] Nice! Thanks, Miyumi!

Miyumi: [shocked] What? B-But, but, I-

Monokuma: Alright! Next question! Since the stakes are so high, I'll make it a real kicker of a challenge! Let me just think of something scandalous…

He looked around at all of us, and I saw his eyes narrow when they landed on Ichiro.

Ichiro: [annoyed] …

Monokuma: [annoyed] …

Ichiro: [annoyed] ...What?

Monokuma: [annoyed] You're really bugging me, Ichiro...you've not bothered to answer a single question this whole game!

Ichiro: [annoyed] So? I'm not the only one…

Monokuma: [annoyed] Yes, but you're the only one sulking and talking about how stupid my amazing gameshow is…[disappointed] After I put so much hard work and effort into it...I'm so disappointed. [annoyed] So, like I said, I'm going to punish you!

Miyumi: [shocked] What? Y-You're going to...exec-

Monokuma: [rests one paw behind his head] Oh, nothing so barbaric. But I have a particularly juicy question in mind about Ichiro, since I haven't asked one about him yet!

Ichiro: [annoyed] …

Monokuma: Now then! The next question is going to be all about our lovely resident botanist, Ichiro Umemoto!

Ichiro: [annoyed] ...Where are you going with this?

Monokuma: [annoyed] This'll teach you not to cross me…[rests one paw behind his head] Now then! What is Ichiro's deepest, darkest secret?

He blurted out the question so fast, I almost didn't hear it, and by the time he was done, Wakako had already slammed the buzzer in advance, eager to make sure she got that final point and won the game for all of us. She froze in place after the question was finished.

Wakako: [shocked] Wh-What?

Ichiro: [distressed] Ngh…!

Monokuma: [rests one paw behind his head] You heard me!

Ichiro: [uncomfortable] Wh-What kind of question is that? Y-You can't...you can't ask that!

Ichiro had turned beet red and was blushing furiously. In his attempts to seem like he wasn't, he was only growing redder with each passing second as he fumbled with Charlie's pot, almost dropping him to the floor.

Yoshihiki: [shocked] Whoa! What is it, Ichiro? Have you got a crush on someone or something? Who is it? Is it someone here?

Ichiro: [distressed] N-No! It's no one!

But Yoshihiki wasn't listening and had already launched into a tirade of teases. Wakako looked just as uncomfortable, and had let her hand fall to her side.

Wakako: [distressed] …

Hanako: [annoyed] What's the matter? Do you know the answer?

Wakako: [uncomfortable] Um…

Monokuma: Well? I'm waiting…

Wakako: [uncomfortable] I...I don't…

Hanako: [annoyed] Wakako. What are you hesitating for? Spit it out! We need this point!

Ichiro: [angry] E-Easy for you to fucking say…

Monokuma: Go on, Wakako. We're all waiting for you...what's the matter? Can't bear to reveal Ichiro's deepest, darkest secret? ...Even though you were willing to blackmail him with it?

Ichiro: [uncomfortable] …

Monokuma...clearly knows the truth. And honestly? ...I think I do too. ...Ever since that night on the roof.

Wakako: [uncomfortable] …

Monokuma: [angry] Hey, answer already! What, aren't you supposed to be some TV star or something? You should know this!

Ichiro: [annoyed] ...Just answer him.

Wakako: [shocked] Huh?

Ichiro refused to look across the room at Wakako, and instead scowled and stared off to the side.

But I could see his shoulders shaking.

Ichiro: [annoyed] ...Just answer if you girls need to win this. ...It's fine. Really. I don't care.

Wakako: [sad] …

Monokuma: Well?

Wakako: [annoyed] ...No.

Monokuma: [shocked] Eh?

Ichiro: [shocked] Huh?

Wakako: [sad] I… [annoyed] I refuse to answer. Got it? I don't have an answer.

Monokuma: [annoyed] Wha? Why, you...fine! That means the boys get an additional 15 points, bringing their total score up to 19! And thanks to Wakako...it looks like the teams are all tied!

Miyumi: [shocked] What?

Samira: [shocked] Get the fuck outta here! You were serious about that?

Even Hanako looked taken aback.

Hanako: [shocked] Ngh! [angry] What?

Just like that...we're both one point away from winning this. All that work to stop Yoshihiki...wasted.

Yoshihiki: [laughing] Wow, Wakako. You would do that, even after all those questions you worked soooo hard to answer, just to help out Ichiro. What, are you his secret crush or something? If that's the case, Ichiro, my boy, you should dream on! That girl's only got eyes for Azuma! You don't stand a chance!

Ichiro: [annoyed] …

Wakako turned back to us, looking apologetic.

Wakako: [sad] ...Sorry, girls. I just...I can't answer that question. I...made a promise.

A...promise?

Monokuma: [giggling] Aww...that's so sweet! Even though you two used to hate each other, you've clearly become good enough friends that you're actually willing to protect his secret even though it hurts your whole team! But don't you worry! I'll make sure to keep Ichiro's secret for you both too! I'll never let it slip that Ichiro likes-

Wakako: [angry] Shut up!

We all turned to stare at her.

Wakako: [angry] You son-of-a-bitch. Don't you dare do that.

Monokuma: [giggling] Upupupu...why are you the one getting your knickers in a twist over this, Wakako? You're even more flustered than Ichiro is!

Wakako: [annoyed] Because. You don't have the right to reveal that.

Monokuma: [giggling] That's rich, coming from you. Weren't you the one using his secret against him not too long ago?

Wakako: [uncomfortable] …

Monokuma: [angry] Exactly! So get off your high horse! You're no saint either!

Wakako: [uncomfortable] ...I wouldn't have actually revealed it. I was only bluffing so he'd help me with...um…

I caught her glance over to Azuma out of the corner of her eye ever so briefly.

Monokuma: Well, whatever! Now, it gets interesting! Our FINAL QUESTION!

Hanako: [angry] Crap...

She turned to us.

Hanako: [angry] No matter what happens, we don't let them get that final point.

Miyumi: [shocked] Hanako…

Monokuma: And here it is...FINAL QUESTION! What...was on the back of Taro's bracelet?

I heard someone buzz in.

It wasn't Wakako. She still looked a little out of it after the last question.

Monokuma: Yoshihiki has buzzed in!

I expected to see the same shock on Yoshihiki's face that I'd seen on Wakako's face at the question she'd been forced to answer. But instead…

He was grinning.

Yoshihiki: [excited] Alright! Nice! That was such a fun game!

Monokuma: [embarrassed] Well, I'm glad you think so! At least one of you here has manners! Now then...answer the final question! What...was on the back of Taro's bracelet?

Yoshihiki smirked, and his eyes met mine from across the room. His cocky expression still giving nothing away, he shrugged at Monokuma.

Yoshihiki: [playful] Gee, Monokuma...who can say? ...I certainly never checked.

...What is this boy up to…?

Monokuma: EHHH! That's WRONG! Which means...congratulations, GIRLS! You've won the Ultimate Gameshow!

Wakako: [shocked] What? We...we won? We...we won!

The announcement of our victory finally seemed to shake Wakako out of her reverie and she started cheering, leaping up and down for joy. Even as depressing as the situation had gotten...her enthusiasm spread and I caught even Samira and Hanako unable to resist smiling as Wakako pulled us in for a large hug.

Wakako: [happy] Great job, girls!

Miyumi: [embarrassed] Mmf...I didn't really help much…

Samira: [uncomfortable] Yeah...I gotta give credit where it's due. ...You really pulled through for us, Wakako.

Wakako: [playful] Aw, stop it. You're making me blush!

Laughing, she ran over to hug the boys too.

Wakako: [excited] We did it, Azuma! We won!

Azuma: [happy] Heh. Yeah, I noticed. Good job, Wakako.

Wakako hugged Ichiro too, and I saw him flushing as he tried to extricate himself from her embrace.

Ichiro: [embarrassed] Hey...st-stop…

Wakako: [embarrassed] Oh...yeah, of course. I forgot.

She quickly let go of him, sensing his obvious discomfort, and ignoring Yoshihiki's attempt at a hug, she ran back to us.

Wakako: [accusatory] Alright! We tackled and beat your pathetic excuse of a gameshow, Monokuma! Now, what's the prize? What's this stupid advantage of yours?

Monokuma: You reaaally wanna know…?

Samira: [accusatory] Quit stalling! You promised!

Monokuma: [rests one paw behind his head] You suuure…?

Wakako: [accusatory] Yes! Now tell us!

Monokuma: [rests one paw behind his head] Alright! Just one second now...

Monokuma hopped behind his podium and disappeared from sight. Without warning, the podium began to lower into the ground and in its place, reemerged an iron throne. Monokuma was now sitting in it, resting his pudgy head on his fist, looking smug.

Monokuma: Tadadada! Feast your eyes, peasants, on...the Ultimate Throne!

The iron throne Monokuma had planted his pudgy butt in was gilded with a sleek silver surface, and cushioned with red pillows. The armrests were polished as well, and I noticed a strange set of buttons embedded on either one of them.

Samira: [shocked] What is that? A throne?

Monokuma: That's what I said, wasn't it? This is the special advantage you've all been playing for! Go on, then! Who wants to take a seat?

Hanako: [annoyed] Hm? How is this chair our advant-

Wakako: [accusatory] I'll sit in it!

Hanako: [shocked] Wakako, wait-

Before anyone else could get a word in, Wakako stormed over and sat down firmly in the Ultimate Throne. As soon as she had, all of a sudden, iron clamps embedded in the throne's armrests wrapped themselves around her wrists, trapping her there.

Wakako: [shocked] H-Hey! What gives?

Monokuma: [laughing] Ahahahahahahahaha! Oh, that's priceless! You fell for it, hook, line and sinker!

Wakako: [distressed] H-Hey! Get me out of here! What's going on?

Azuma: [shocked] Wakako!

Azuma ran to her side, and inspected the clamps that had secured her wrists.

Azuma: [shocked] They're...they've locked her in!

Wakako: [distressed] What? Can't you get my hands free?

Samira: [accusatory] Hey! Why'd you trap Wakako in that seat?

Monokuma: [rests one paw behind his head] Hm? I don't know what you're talking about.

Miyumi: [accusatory] That seat was a trap!

Monokuma: No, it's the ADVANTAGE! I told you the advantage would make it easier for a potential killer to kill someone, and this is it! Now, for any potential killers out there, you've got a victim served up to you, on a silver platter! Wakako is trapped in this chair, defenseless and vulnerable! Sneak over to the Ballroom any time you want and kill her!

Wakako: [distressed] What the fuck…? You can't do that!

Ichiro: [angry] That's not fair!

Miyumi: [accusatory] B-B-Besides...we won! Why is the advantage being used against Wakako?

Monokuma: [rests one paw behind his head] Hey...I don't remember ever once saying that the winners of the gameshow would win the advantage...I only said the advantage was the prize at the end! I never specified who would get to benefit from it! And from the looks of it, everyone except Wakako will get to benefit from this special advantage! And poor Wakako is now in a pitiful position…

Samira: [distressed] I knew it! I said from the beginning that this would be a stupid trap. I don't know why we bothered going through with this!

Mordecai: [shocked] Is there...no way to cut her loose?

Azuma: [thoughtful] The clamps are metallic. There isn't anything in this mansion we could use to cut them open without hurting Wakako herself.

Wakako: [distressed] I can't sit in this stupid chair forever! Azuma, you've got to get me out!

Azuma: [distressed] I-I will...I just...I'm not sure how just yet…

Monokuma: [rests one paw behind his head] Anyway...whichever one of you wants to become our fourth killer...there's an easy victim for you! The perfect victim, completely defenseless! Hopefully, this'll speed up the process before another body hits the floor! Upupupu!

Monokuma laughed and dove into the crowd of Monokumas, as they crowdsurfed him out of the ballroom through the Locker Room doors. Eventually, we were left alone, all eight of us crowded around the imprisoned (and unhappy) Wakako.

Wakako: [distressed] This is such bullcrap! I'm stuck now? How long do I have to be trapped for? Can't you set me loose?

Azuma: [thoughtful] Hmm…

Azuma was inspecting the clamps thoroughly, looking unhappy.

Azuma: [thoughtful] These clamps have been expertly designed. It looks like it'd be hard to break them loose without injuring the prisoner.

Wakako: [shocked] Pr-Prisoner? D-Did you have to put it like that…?

Yoshihiki: [laughing] Well, it's true! You are basically a prisoner right now!

Wakako: [distressed] W-W-What do I do? I can't be stuck here like this forever! Get me out of this chair!

Hanako: [disappointed] This is why I warned you not to be so rash.

Wakako: [annoyed] I got caught up in the heat of the moment, can you blame me? You were the one who really wanted to make sure we won the advantage, right?

Yoshihiki: [playful] Why were you so determined to win this advantage, Hanako? I wonder…

Hanako: [annoyed] Never you mind.

Yoshihiki: [laughing] Did you possibly want the unknown advantage for yourself? So you could kill someone?

Samira: [annoyed] Do not be a prat! Hanako would never do something like that! We only wanted to make sure the advantage stayed out of your hands!

Hanako: [angry] …

Samira: [shocked] ...I wasn't supposed to say that, was I?

Yoshihiki: [confused] What, little old me? Really? [laughing] What, are you afraid of me?

Samira: [annoyed] Afraid? More like, suspicious.

Miyumi: [accusatory] You're the worst of the worst! No one here trusts you!

Yoshihiki: [sad] Really? But I'm so innocent! Why can't you trust a lovable face like mine?

Hanako: [annoyed] Enough. We should be focusing on how to resolve Wakako's situation.

Wakako: [distressed] What'll I do? There has to be a way to set me free, right? I don't want to spend the rest of my life stuck in this chair!

Miyumi: [nervous] Um...I'm pretty sure that's a bit of an exaggeration…

Wakako: [distressed] Azuma! Think of something! Ichiro!

Azuma: [shocked] Huh?

Ichiro: [disappointed] What can I do about it?

Azuma: [thoughtful] I mean...if I had my spy equipment, I could probably find some way to deactivate the Throne's locking mechanism...but without them, I'm pretty useless…[disappointed] Sorry, Wakako…

Wakako: [sad] N-No...no need to apologize...i-i-it isn't your fault...but what should we do now? Guys…? Hanako?

Hanako: [thoughtful] …

Miyumi: [nervous] H-Hanako…? Any ideas?

Hanako: [thoughtful] Hmm...obviously this is an unexpected conundrum. For now, until we find a way to get Wakako out of that chair...it looks like she'll have to be stuck here.

Wakako: [distressed] What?! St-Stuck here? For how long?

Hanako: For however long it takes until we figure out how to cut you loose.

Wakako: [distressed] B-But...how am I gonna eat? O-O-Or use the bathroom? [shocked] Or bathe?! This is the worst!

Miyumi: [nervous] Y-You've got a panel here…

Miyumi flipped open a small rectangular panel on one of the Throne's armrests, where Wakako could easily press it. There were a couple buttons on the panel, marked with small icons.

Miyumi: [confused] This icon looks like a toilet…

Samira: [thoughtful] This one...is an icon of a door.

Samira jabbed the button without waiting for Wakako's reply. Out of the blue, the door to the Girls' Locker Room, which had been closed earlier, slid open. At the same time, the door to the Boys' Locker Room slid closed.

Samira: Huh. I guess these buttons operate the doors.

She pressed the button again and the Boys' Locker Door slid open this time. The Girls' Locker Door slid closed.

Azuma: [thoughtful] The doors must operate on an automatic function. One door closes while the other opens.

Hanako: Monokuma probably set that up when he was announcing our teams for the 'Gameshow'.

Wakako: [worried] Then...does that 'Toilet' icon do what I think it does?

Yoshihiki: [laughing] Press it! I wanna see!

Wakako: [angry] No way! Not with all of you here!

Hanako: This...Ultimate Throne must have facilities installed for you. I don't think it'll provide you meals though...I guess we'll just have to have some of us bring you your meals everyday you're trapped here.

Wakako: [distressed] This is awful! Are you really going to just leave me stuck in this chair?

Samira: [annoyed] Well, we don't have any other options, do we?

Wakako: [distressed] Mmmf…

Azuma: [worried] H-Hey...it's going to be okay, Wakako. I promise you, we'll find a way to get you out of that chair. You'll just have to bear with this for a while…

Wakako: [worried] Well...okay, Azuma. If you say that...then I suppose I shouldn't have anything to worry about…

Hanako: [thoughtful] Perhaps the sooner we find out this...secret of the house...the sooner we can escape and the sooner Wakako will be set free. We should make solving Monokuma's puzzles in the Challenge Arena our top priority.

It took some time to comfort Wakako and convince her not to panic too much and let us leave the ballroom. She was understandably uncomfortable at the thought of having to spend the night - and who knows how much longer - in that ballroom by herself, sitting in that chair, but after Azuma and Ichiro promised to visit her and bring her food during mealtimes, she calmed down a little.

Because the Locker Rooms were our only way to leave the Ballroom, us girls had to wait for the boys to leave through theirs. Wakako used the Control Panel on her throne to open the Girls' Locker Door for us once they had left, and we exited through the Girls' Locker Room, bidding her goodbye for now.

Miyumi: [worried] Poor Wakako...she'll have to be stuck in there on her own? In that big ballroom? I can't even imagine how uncomfortable it must be to be sitting in that chair for possibly hours on end...

Samira: [annoyed] Stupid Monokuma and his nonsensical advantage...I knew it was a bad idea from the start. Some advantage that turned out to be...turning Wakako into the 'perfect victim' or whatever he said…

Miyumi: [nervous] N-No one would...actually make use of that advantage, would they?

Samira crossed her arms, a foul look coming over her face.

Samira: I trust that none of us here would do such a thing. Nor would most of the boys. There's only one person who I'd suspect of doing something like that.

Hanako nodded.

Hanako: I advised Wakako to be careful about Yoshihiki before we left. Since the Locker Rooms are the only way for people to go in and out of the Ballroom, I recommended she leave the Girls' Locker Door open and the Boys' Locker Door closed. Yoshihiki can't get in there otherwise.

Samira: [happy] Smart idea! That's why you're the leader, Hanako. I don't have the smarts to think that far ahead.

We rejoined the boys in the Dining Hall to discuss what had just transpired. Azuma made us dinner while we talked.

Samira: [worried] Azuma. Do you have a plan to break Wakako loose?

Azuma: [worried] Not right now...trying to break those chains off with brute force might hurt her instead. Without my spy equipment, I'm pretty out of ideas.

Hanako: We can't do anything for Wakako now. She's just going to have to endure it for the time being.

Samira: [annoyed] Stupid Monokuma and his stupid antics...we just can't catch a break from him.

Miyumi: [nervous] Should one of us...bring Wakako her dinner?

Azuma: [worried] Yes, I suppose we should. I'll do it, I guess. She'll open the door for me, right?

Hanako: Yeah, she can use the Control Panel on the Throne to let you back into the Ballroom.

Azuma left to take Wakako her food. The rest of us finished up with dinner and without much else left for me to do until the next day, I decided to retire to my room early. I slept for a few hours, until I was woken up later on in the middle of the night by a familiar loud screeching.

Ghost: [crazed]

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!

Umeko: Gah! Oh...it's you.

I'd jolted awake in bed, staring sourly across the room at the covered portrait, which was making a racket yet again. Deciding there was no point to getting out of the room, I fell back into bed and stared up at the ceiling, waiting for the screaming to stop.

Eventually, Cecelia's portrait stopped its ungodly screech. I looked at the clock on the bedside table.

3:00.

Huh. I guess that portrait screams every night for about half an hour. That's an odd pattern…

With the screeching over, I turned back over and let my eyes droop back down to lull me into sleep's embrace.

The next morning, I rejoined the others in the Dining Hall.

Samira: [annoyed] Blegh…

Umeko: You don't look too good, Samira. Bad night?

Samira: [annoyed] You're telling me. That portrait woke us up again in the middle of the night…

Miyumi: [distressed] And I couldn't sleep at all! Even after it stopped!

Hanako: [disappointed] ...I think I spent an hour consoling her. I feel like crap today…

Ichiro: [distressed] How is anyone expected to sleep through all that screaming?

Even Yoshihiki looked too tired to argue.

Yoshihiki: [worried] Well, at least Wakako got a good night's rest, right? She's well out of those portraits' earshot, in the Ballroom...

But when we went to visit her later…

Wakako: [distressed] No, I did not have a good night's sleep at all!

Mordecai: [shocked] Really? That is surprising. The screaming portraits woke you up too, after all?

Wakako: [confused] The portraits? Oh, from two nights ago? Nah, I didn't hear any of that inside here.

Azuma: [thoughtful] That must mean the walls of the Ballroom and Locker Room are soundproof. Otherwise you should've heard the portrait from the hallways.

Wakako: [uncomfortable] I still slept badly...how'd you expect me to sleep when I'm stuck in this position, in this dumb chair, in a large gloomy room? I could barely get any rest! Please tell me you've figured out a way to get me out of this throne.

Right at that moment, Monokuma's announcement began to play, telling us to gather in the Basement for our second attempt at the Arena.

Azuma: [worried] Sorry, Wakako. Just...hang in there, alright? We'll solve the mystery of the house and soon, we'll all get out of here. I promise.

Wakako: [worried] Well...alright. I believe you, Azuma. Thank you. [excited] I'm sure with someone like you on the task, so confident and reliable, I'll have nothing to fear!

Azuma: [uncomfortable] ...Um...y-yeah...thanks.

Hanako: [annoyed] Alright, enough of that. Come on, we don't have all day. We need to get back down to the Basement.

Monokuma was already there, waiting for us, when we arrived.

Monokuma: [annoyed] Took you long enough! You guys ready for Round Two?

Azuma: If it will gets us closer to freeing Wakako…

Monokuma: Of course it will! Go on then! You've got an hour!

Azuma: [worried] Wait, but...what about our team?

Monokuma: [confused] Eh?

Azuma: Without Wakako, Yoshihiki and I only make two. And you said the rooms don't activate unless three people have gone in, right?

Monokuma: Huh. So I did. [laughing] I suppose you and Yoshihiki will have to sit out then! Tough tooties…

Yoshihiki: [shocked] What? No fair!

Hanako: [annoyed] Are you serious?

Monokuma: [rests one paw behind his head] Of course! Tough luck to you both for putting the peabrained whore on your team!

Ichiro: [angry] Hey! Don't call her that!

Monokuma: [confused] Eh? Why are you coming to her defense, Plant Boy? Did I hit a nerve? [laughing] Besides, you've been guilty of calling her way worse!

Ichiro: [uncomfortable] Ngh...that was...before.

Monokuma: [laughing] Oho! Is that it? You like her now, huh? You still haven't got a chance with her!

Ichiro: [angry] Shut the fuck up and start the stupid challenges, already.

Monokuma: Alright, alright. Oh, and fair warning...today's challenges might have a little...extra twist to them. Good luck!

He ran off.

Samira: [confused] Extra…twist?

Miyumi: [nervous] I-I don't like the sound of that…

Hanako: [disappointed] Well, we don't have a choice but to move forward and find out just what the hell he means.

Mordecai: [shocked] But...Azuma, what about you?

Azuma: It's fine. It looks like without Wakako, our team isn't allowed to compete. It just means you guys will have to put in extra effort to get to that 'secret' of the house Monokuma keeps going on and on about. That's our ticket out of here.

Mordecai: [distressed] Ngh...we won't let you down, Azuma! I swear we shall not fail you!

Azuma: ...

Samira: [annoyed] ...It's not like the dude's dying or anything. Jeez, do you really have to be so melodramatic?

Yoshihiki: [disappointed] Aw, but does that mean we don't get to join in the fun? That sucks…

Azuma: The two of us will wait out here for you guys. You better hurry. You've already got less than an hour left.

Hanako: Good point. Come on.

Leaving Yoshihiki and Azuma behind, the rest of us headed into our respective rooms. Following Ichiro and Hanako, I stepped through the Blue Door and past the first room we'd completed.

We stepped through a couple hallways, taking a few turns here and there, before ending up in a second room.

Like the first room, lettered tiles were scattered all over the place as well, and there were portraits of Cecelia on either wall.

Instead of weapons mounted on the walls, this time, there were numerous other pictures, each showing a different location.

There were pictures of a bedroom (with the inscription CECELIA'S BEDROOM underneath), a second, much smaller bedroom (marked with BUTLER'S ROOM), a kitchen, the Entrance Hall, a garden and the basement.

Once all three of us had stepped through the door, it shut and locked itself behind us, and Monokuma's voiceover began to speak.

Monokuma: It's time to continue Cecelia's story! Last we left off, you were able to determine the possible weapons used to kill poor Cecelia...This time, it's time to find out where in Cecelia's estate the poor woman was murdered. You see...Cecelia had a dark secret. She wasn't the perfect, innocent young heiress that she appeared to be on the surface. No, no...Cecelia had a much darker side to her...and it was a side to her that terrified even those closest to her, compelling one of them to take it upon themselves to remove her from the picture...permanently. Ah yes...to be betrayed by someone she trusted...it's just like the Killing Game!

Hanako: [annoyed] Someone she trusted?

Monokuma: But anyway! It's not time yet to discover Cecelia's dark secret, or the identity of her killer! No, no, today...it's just the location of the crime scene. On the wall are pictures of six possible locations and you must narrow the choices down to just three using the clues provided. Good luck…

His voice fizzled out.

Hanako: We know what to do. Let's get started.

Ichiro: [annoyed] We have to go get all those stupid letter tiles again?

Umeko: I guess there's nothing we can do about it but just get to it...

Kenji: [excited] Ooh! Let me help you with that!

Umeko: Yaaahhhhh!

I nearly leapt a foot in the air, jumping back from Kenji, who was now standing beside me, flashing his familiar cocksure grin and holding up a hand in friendly greeting.

Kenji: [disappointed] Aww...that was a bit of a harsh reaction. I thought you'd be pleased to see your old friend again, Umeko!

Umeko: K-Kenji? Wh-What are you…

No. No...this is another hallucination.

Kenji: [sad] What's wrong, Umeko? Don't you want my help?

It was now that I became acutely aware of that familiar sickly sweet smell infiltrating my olfactory senses. I looked up at the airvent in the corner of the room, no doubt pumping in more of those dastardly hallucinatory drugs.

So this is what Monokuma meant by an 'extra twist'...

It's bad enough we're being forced to play his twisted games...he has to torment us even further still?

Hanako: [distressed] G-Go away. Leave me alone...you're not real.

On the other side of the room, Hanako and Ichiro were dealing with their own onset of hallucinations.

Ichiro: [distressed] Stop...stop blaming me...I'm...I'm not weak...I'm n-not…

Umeko: Guys, fight it. Just remember...they're not real.

Hanako: [annoyed] You don't have to remind me.

Kenji: [sad] Aw, really, Umeko? I'm not real to you? Tch. That cuts deep...and there I was, thinking we'd really made a connection. [disappointed] Well, I guess now Azuma's filled in those shoes for me.

Umeko: Let's just...find those tiles and get out of here as fast as possible.

Kenji: [confused] Speaking of which, I thought Nagatomo told you not to trust him. I don't get why you're not paying more heed to his advice.

Shut up...get out of my head…

I bent down and began scooping tiles up off the floor, trying to ignore Kenji as he quickly morphed into Nagatomo.

Nagatomo: [playful] How very curious...despite my warnings, it appears you have chosen not to heed them. That...is a foolish decision.

I'm ignoring you...I'm ignoring you…

Ichiro was collecting tiles too, with shaky hands. Hanako was breathing heavily and muttering to herself as she crossed the room in large strides, clearly trying to ignore whatever it was she was envisioning.

One by one, my vision was assaulted by image after image of past fallen classmates appearing before me.

Taro: [in tears] How c-c-could you accuse me, Umeko? How? I th-thought I was your p-p-partner...now I'm d-d-dead because of you!

Fukumi: [excited] Ooh, ghosts? That's so thrilling! [sad] Too bad I'm not alive to join in the fun…

Eisuke: [crazed] Put your back into it, Umeko! You find those tiles like your life depends on it!

Umeko: Oh, shut up…

Hanako: [annoyed] Here. I managed to piece one set together.

Clues:

1. Cecelia did not know that there was a full moon on the night of her murder.

Umeko: Great!

Ichiro: This clue on its own doesn't tell us anything. We have to keep looking.

Kaori: [angry] Look for what? The Beast? But I told you, it isn't real! [playful] Just like I'm not real…

I gathered together another line of tiles and arranged them into the correct order.

2. Two of the possible places Cecelia might have died are on the same floor.

Kenji: [excited] Nice job, Umeko! I believe in you!

Shizuko: [annoyed] Tch. Why believe in her? She's nothing but a talentless commoner. She doesn't deserve to have anyone's belief.

Ichiro: I've put together another set!

3. Cecelia did not speak with her butler on the night of her murder.

Umeko: Great, let's keep searching.

Time kept counting down as we kept on with our tedious search.

Nagatomo: [snide] If I was alive, I'd've picked this place clean with a fine tooth comb in seconds…

Shizuko: [accusatory] What are you bragging for?

Buddy: Aroof!

Kenji: [playful] Why do you still work with Azuma, Umeko? Didn't I warn you he was dangerous? That he couldn't be trusted? See, even Nagatomo agrees with me…

Umeko: Yeah, your killer.

Kenji: True, true, very true. But that doesn't invalidate what he says. Don't you remember? He knows the organization who's kidnapped us. He knew a lot more than he let on to us. So why aren't you in the least bit alarmed by his final warnings?

Umeko: I choose to believe in who I want to believe in.

I had completely forgotten about ignoring my visions and was now talking to Kenji directly. Perhaps part of me wanted to air out my own buried guilt over wanting to trust Azuma despite being warned against it.

I want to believe in him. He's my friend. And you...Nagatomo, or Monokuma's hallucinations...you're not.

You're not Kenji, and you're not Nagatomo.

Umeko: Now leave me alone.

Nagatomo: [snide] You can't get rid of me that easily, Umeko. I may have been executed first, but maybe you'll find we have more history together than you'd think.

What's that supposed to mean?

Frustrated with Nagatomo's cryptic behavior, even as a hallucination, I turned away and saw that Hanako was beckoning Ichiro and us over.

Hanako: I've got it - all four clues. It seems there aren't any tiles left to form a fifth one which must mean we're one clue short for this puzzle.

We put all the clues together and studied them.

Clues:

1. Cecelia did not know that there was a full moon on the night of her murder.

2. Two of the possible places Cecelia might have died are on the same floor.

3. Cecelia did not speak with her butler on the night of her murder.

4. Cecelia loves her bedroom because her bedroom window provides a beautiful view of her estate.

Hanako: I also found this near the paintings. It's a list of where all the rooms and locations are.

CECELIA'S BEDROOM - 3rd floor

BUTLER'S ROOM - 2nd floor

KITCHEN - 1st floor

ENTRANCE HALL - 1st floor

GARDEN - 1st floor

BASEMENT - Basement

Umeko: "Cecelia did not know there was a full moon"...what's that clue supposed to mean?

Eisuke: [excited] Heh, maybe Cecelia was secretly a werewolf! And like a split personality, she would appear and take over Cecelia's body against her own will!

Ichiro: [annoyed] Well, obviously, this list rules out Cecelia's bedroom and the garden.

Hanako: Is that so?

Ichiro: Yeah. It says she didn't know there was a full moon, which means she obviously couldn't have been in the garden. She would've been outside, and would've seen the moon there. Plus, her bedroom has a window which shows her a view of her estate, meaning it also would've shown her the night sky. She would've seen the moon there too.

Umeko: Yeah...that makes sense.

Ichiro: [snide] You're not the only one that can make deductions, it seems.

Umeko: Oh, is that a challenge? Well, the clues say two of the possible locations are on the same floor. The only locations that are on the same floor are the Entrance Hall, kitchen and garden. But the garden's been ruled out, which means the Entrance Hall and kitchen are two of the three guesses.

Hanako: Our last two options are the Butler's Room and the Basement. Given that Cecelia never spoke with her butler, that seems like a pretty clear sign that the final answer is the Basement.

Ichiro: [annoyed] Tch. These puzzles are elementary. We'll be out of here in no time at all.

Hanako input our three guesses and the door at the end of the room unlocked itself.

The hallucinations, too, seemed to be subsiding as well. Kenji, or Nagatomo, or whichever new person was plaguing me at the moment, was just a fuzzy image in my peripheral vision now. Ichiro, Hanako and I made our way to the door at the end of the room and pushed it open.

Umeko: What the?

Beyond the door was a total, encompassing, pitch black darkness. Even the light from our room barely seemed to light up anything in the other.

Ichiro: [uncomfortable] Good grief...why is it so dark in there? I can't see a thing.

Umeko: We're not going to have to do another puzzle in there, do we?

Hanako opened her mouth to reply but just then, Monokuma's voiceover came on the loudspeakers again.

Monokuma: Time's up! Please leave the Challenge Arena premises.

Hanako: Looks like we'll have to come back tomorrow and brave whatever's in there.

Ichiro: If it'll get us out of this creepy house, and get Wakako off of that chair, it's worth it.

Hanako: [annoyed] Let's go. I can't stand being in these rooms anymore.

We hurriedly left the Challenge Arena, exiting the way we came and leaving the Dark Room behind.

Nagatomo: [disappointed] Aw, don't goooo…[playful] Come...be in the darkness with me…

Umeko: Tch…

Nagatomo: [playful] You can't run from the truth, Umeko...I'll still be here...waiting…

I slammed the Blue Door closed a little more forcefully than I probably should've. I heard a yelp in response and turned to see Yoshihiki curled up on the floor, Azuma standing over him, looking concerned. Azuma looked over as we arrived.

Azuma: Oh, hey, you three. The others aren't out yet. All done with your second puzzle?

Hanako: Yes. We made it past the second room. It's pitch black in there though...we didn't get much time at all to explore. I don't know if there's a light switch or anything…

Ichiro: [confused] But anyway...what's up with you?

He was looking down at Yoshihiki, who hurriedly got to his feet, crossed his arms and looked away.

Yoshihiki: [snide] Oh, uh...hehe...nothing! I just...got bored waiting around for you guys. That's all.

Ichiro: [worried] Is...that why you've got tear streaks on your face?

Yoshihiki: [annoyed] Ngh...I do not! Shut up, Ichiro.

I cast Azuma a look as the others began leaving their rooms too, filling the awkward silence with the noise of their arrival.

Umeko: What happened? The hallucinations…?

Azuma: [worried] So you guys got hit with the hallucinations in there too, huh? I wasn't affected - again - but while we were both out here, Yoshihiki suddenly doubled over and started crying out so I had to console him. He was...quite hysterical. Obviously he's not going to admit it now…

The Green Team came over to join us.

Miyumi: [sad] …

Mordecai: [sad] …

Samira: [angry] Tch...what's Monokuma playing at? Drugging us with more hallucinogens while we were trying to solve our frickin' puzzles? ...I had to do the whole damn thing practically by myself, because these two couldn't cope!

Miyumi: [sad] We're s-sorry, Samira...I just...as soon as I saw Taro and Ms. Shortcake again, I just...lost the will to go on…

Mordecai: [distressed] Ngh...it is hard to focus when being plagued by memories of...people close to you...and recently taken away…

Samira: [worried] It's fine...I'm not mad at you guys, and I certainly don't blame you for how you reacted. I'm just mad at that stupid bear. Whatever...let's just get out of here already.

Azuma: What puzzles did you guys solve this time?

We explained what we'd just figured out to Azuma and Yoshihiki.

Ichiro: Our answers were the kitchen, entrance hall and basement.

Mordecai: Hey, we got the kitchen and basement too. But like last time, our clues were different, so our final answer was the garden.

Samira: [thoughtful] I don't get what Monokuma's playing at here...what's the point of all these puzzles?

Ichiro: [bored] Well, who really cares? As long as it gets us a step closer to escaping...

Yoshihiki: [playful] Y-Yeah! Now let's bounce already! I'm starving. I wonder what's for lunch?

Yoshihiki made a move to leave first, but Hanako took one firm step towards him.

Hanako: [angry] Wait.

Umeko: Hanako?

Without warning, she reached out and grabbed Yoshihiki's arm, holding him back.

Yoshihiki: [annoyed] Huh? Hey, what gives? What are you-

With a fire in her eyes I'd never seen before, Hanako raised her hand in the air, pulling it back and poising to swing her fist at Yoshihiki.

Azuma: [shocked] Hanako, what-

I caught a brief flash of fear in Yoshihiki's eyes, and then it happened so fast, I almost didn't realize what had happened until I saw that Yoshihiki was now curled up in the corner of the room, cowering and trembling in fear, and realized that he'd pulled his arm free of Hanako's grasp and bolted away from her at breakneck speed.

Yoshihiki: [scared] NO, DON'T!

Yoshihiki had crumpled to the floor and I was stunned to see that he was crying. He had covered his face with both hands and was breathing in heavy, ragged gasps. He had clenched his eyes shut in fright and refused to look at the rest of us.

Hanako: [shocked] I-

Yoshihiki: [in tears] Pl-Please don't hit me!

Hanako: [worried] I...I was only-

Slowly, he peeked through his fingers and looked up at Hanako, who looked a little shell-shocked at his sudden reaction. His chest was heaving and he was out of breath.

Had the threat of being attacked had that much of an effect on him?

When realization that nothing was going to happen to him, and that we were all staring at him, dawned on Yoshihiki, I saw his expression change.

Yoshihiki: [in tears] You...Wh-Why...why would you do that?

Hanako: [shocked] I...I just…

It seemed to dawn on Hanako, for the first time, that testing to see if someone really had been a victim of domestic abuse the way that she had had probably not been the best idea.

Yoshihiki: [angry] You...you're horrible.

Hanako: [shocked] You… [angry] Me? Horrible? Look at the way you've been acting this whole time. ...You forced my hand. All I wanted to know was the truth.

Yoshihiki: [angry] Truth?

He shot to his feet, though he wasn't really much more intimidating than Hanako was, still shaking and shorter than her by a head.

Yoshihiki: [angry] You...you figured it out...you know about...about my... [accusatory] You had no right to try and pull that on me!

Hanako: [accusatory] You've been the most suspicious person here! All I wanted was to see who you really are! I only wanted a genuine reaction from you. You have nobody to blame but yourself that no one else would come to your aid!

Yoshihiki: [angry] You had no right to do that; NONE!

Azuma: [worried] Hanako...maybe that's enough. We...shouldn't be fighting amongst ourselves like this.

Yoshihiki: [in tears] Ngh...

Yoshihiki's tears had turned to tears of anger now. Having raised his shaking fists earlier, he now dropped them to his side and looked away.

Yoshihiki: [angry] You had no right...no right…

This is...not right. Were things supposed to work out this way?

Umeko: Y-Yoshihiki-

Yoshihiki: [angry] That's my past! It's my business! You don't get the fucking right to use that against me!

Miyumi: [nervous] Y-Y-Yoshihiki…? [as Nico] What's...going on?

I was startled to see that Hanako's hands were shaking a little. She folded them across her chest and tried to assert herself, turning her nose up in the air.

Hanako: [annoyed] ...It's nothing.

Yoshihiki turned on his heel and stalked off.

Azuma: [shocked] Yoshihiki, wait! Please, don't be upset, let's discuss this!

But he'd already gone.

Ichiro: [worried] Well, that went well.

Azuma: [annoyed] Hanako!

Hanako: [worried] What? I told you I was going to try something to get him to open up!

Azuma: [annoyed] That was...too impulsive. And it was...well, it was mean.

Hanako: [annoyed] I figured he deserved a taste of his own medicine. He's been rude and brash to a lot of us too.

Mordecai: [shocked] Um...what...just happened? I am still confused.

Samira: [thoughtful] I dunno...but whatever it was, Hanako, I'm on your side.

Hanako: [confused] Hm? Oh, you are?

Samira: He probably had it coming...whatever it was he was talking about.

Azuma: [worried] Look, I get a lot of you don't have a lot of love or trust for Yoshihiki, but like it or not, he's still one of us. He's part of the group! What you just did was...too harsh.

Samira: [snide] Heh! Part of the group...that's rich. He's never acted like he wanted to be a part of the group to begin with. He got what he deserved. I don't know how you got that reaction from him, Hanako, but I don't blame you for thinking it was the appropriate action.

Miyumi: [as Nico] But...w-what did he mean about...his 'past'? Hanako…?

Hanako: [uncomfortable] ...I...I'm not at liberty to say.

Ichiro: [annoyed] Yeah, because it's not like you just tried to attack him in front of all of us.

Mordecai: [shocked] It looked like you were trying to hit him! What were you trying to do? Fight the boy?

Azuma: [annoyed] I certainly hope that wasn't your intention. Violence isn't solving anything in this group.

Ichiro: [worried] That's rich, coming from the spy…

Hanako: [annoyed] Of course not. I wouldn't've actually hit him...I was only trying to scare him...and hopefully get him to break his usual composure. That's all.

Ichiro: [annoyed] Well, if that was your goal, you certainly accomplished it. He had a completely different demeanor. [worried] He seemed...actually frightened of you.

Miyumi: [nervous] W-Wasn't that a little...mean of you?

Samira: [confused] I thought you didn't like Yoshihiki either, Miyumi.

Miyumi: [worried] Y-You're right...I don't. But...that doesn't mean I think causing him to break down like that was right either. Y-You actually r-reduced him to tears...I think that might have been going too far...

Try as she might to hide it, I could sense that Hanako did feel a little guilty. Her face was flushed pink and she wouldn't stop fidgeting with her hands.

Hanako: I was only doing what I thought best for the group. He was the most suspicious one by far. I was...testing him. I thought maybe we could learn more about him if I could get him to break his composure...and I mean, learn something genuine about him...not whatever front he puts up in front of us.

Mordecai: [confused] 'Front'? You think he's...acting?

Samira: [annoyed] No one can seriously be as calm as him in a situation like this, much less almost take pleasure in it. He's playful but he's not psychotic. I agree with Hanako.

Azuma: [annoyed] That being said, taking measures to an extreme like that was unwise and irresponsible. As the SHSL Band Leader, I expected better of you, Hanako.

I was stunned. Most of the time, Hanako and Azuma seemed to get along quite well since they were both equally responsible. She had even said he was the person she trusted the most out of everyone left in our little group. And yet here they were, staring each other down. Finally, Hanako looked away.

Hanako: [uncomfortable] ...I did what I thought I had to. I'm not apologizing for that.

Azuma: [disappointed] *sigh* Fair enough. I guess I'll have to play the role of the mediator and try to talk to Yoshihiki later.

Samira: You don't have to do that. He'll probably get over it in a few minutes and be back to pranking all of us again. I say, let him be.

Azuma: [annoyed] I can't do that, Samira. As a spy, I was taught that teamwork and cohesiveness among my fellow spies are essential for team unity. No member of any team should feel isolated or unwanted. It's not right. And at this stage in the Killing Game, we shouldn't be having any more discord. That's the type of thing Monokuma preys on.

Mordecai: [confused] I am...still quite baffled by everything that just happened, but…[excited] I trust Azuma's judgment! He has spoken very sagely and I do not believe he would not have the best interests of the group at heart.

Hanako: [annoyed] …

Azuma: [embarrassed] R-Right...thanks, Mordecai.

Samira: [annoyed] Well, ain't this just a fest of sunshine and rainbows. For the record, I still stand by what Hanako did. Yoshihiki's been pissing us off for far too long without any proper consequences. He honestly got off easy…

Azuma: [worried] Samira…

Samira: [annoyed] And I'd never take the side of swine like him either! People like him who muck around all the time are just bad news…

Miyumi: [nervous] Wh-What just happened was still cr-crossing a line though…

Samira: [angry] The little twerp didn't actually get hurt though, did he? What line was crossed here?

Mordecai: [disappointed] To use one's past against them like that...especially what seems to have been a sensitive one...is a pretty cowardly move.

Hanako: [annoyed] ...So you're saying I'm cowardly. Is that it?

Umeko: Hanako, come on. No one's saying that…

Mordecai: I am merely saying the action, no matter how justified, was not correct.

Azuma: [angry] Alright, enough! Look, let's just...all get upstairs and out of this place already. Let me be the one to talk to Yoshihiki.

Samira: [annoyed] Knock yourself out. I'm certainly not going to play the role of the mediator with a guy like him.

Looking cross, Samira stormed out of the basement, and Miyumi timidly followed.

Hanako: [disappointed] …

Umeko: Hanako? Was that...really the plan you'd come up with?

Hanako: [disappointed] ...I own up to the fact that it wasn't the most tactful. [annoyed] But I don't have the patience anymore to deal with Yoshihiki. He's been a thorn in our sides for a while now, and his pranks, however harmless, can escalate to much more. After the revelation about Taro's bracelet, I've been constantly wary of him. Like I said, I only did what I did for the good of the group. I thought getting him to break down his walls and be honest in front of us would help us see him for who he really was.

Mordecai: [disappointed] You can try to explain it, but...it was still wrong.

Hanako: [disappointed] ...Sometimes you don't have a choice.

On that note, she took her leave, and the rest of us took our cue to trudge out of the Basement as well.

Hanako's plan…

It was definitely a bad one. Yoshihiki...I knew that even he wasn't spared from the effect of the hallucinations and I'd already seen how they'd affected him before, but watching it all play out like that…

Hanako believes that what she did was the right thing to do for all of us. Motivated by her belief to help us all...she'd targeted the least trustworthy member of our group, and tried to expose him.

Her methods weren't great, but her motives weren't ill-intentioned entirely…

And Samira...while she agreed with Hanako, she did it for completely different reasons - her own respect for Hanako, and dislike for Yoshihiki. Even after spending weeks together, Yoshihiki is still considered an eyesore by most, if not everyone of us here…

Dinner that night was a subdued event. Ichiro brought Wakako her dinner this time, and reported back to us that she was doing fine. On her bequest, he had also taken her confessional camera from her room and given it to her, so she could at least entertain herself by filming.

Before I retreated to bed, I went to check up on Azuma's progress with Yoshihiki.

Umeko: No luck?

Azuma: [disappointed] Nah. I've been knocking on his door a few times but he never responds. I can tell he's in there though. I hear his footsteps shuffling about. And...I think I heard him crying at one point, but he stopped as soon as I knocked. He won't come out, no matter what.

An outcast, even now…

Umeko: Well, there's always tomorrow. Maybe he'll be more willing to listen to you then…

Azuma: [disappointed] I can't believe Hanako did that. That was really unlike her. I mean...I know she's a little cold and unemotional at times, and can be a bit ruthless as a leader, but...she should know that doing something like that was only going to hurt us as a group instead of helping us. We have enough on our plate, trying to escape this place and free Wakako, as well as dealing with Cecelia's ghost and the hallucinations. We don't have time to be resolving petty rivalries either.

Umeko: Do you want me to try?

Azuma: No offense, but I don't think it would make much of a difference. I don't think Yoshihiki's opening that door for anybody. Perhaps you're right...we should wait and give him space for now.

Umeko: I guess so…

And so it was with troubled thoughts that I sank onto my bed and snuggled underneath the covers.

When I next awoke, it was to the abrupt shrieking of Cecelia's many portraits again. Grumbling at the interruption, I took a pillow and used it to cover my ears. The screaming finally stopped - once again, at 3:00.

And then...I dozed off once more.

…

*ding dong bing bong*

Monokuma: Good morning, everyone! It is now 7a.m. and nighttime is officially over! Time for another b-e-a-utiful day in this spoopy house!

I met up with the others at the Dining Hall as per usual. Samira was there, looking grumpy as usual as she took a sip of coffee. Miyumi was playing with her dolls, and Ichiro was busy tending to Charlie.

Umeko: Morning.

Ichiro: Hey.

Miyumi: [uncomfortable] Mmph...so tired...it's so hard to sleep whenever that stupid painting wakes us up in the middle of the night…

Umeko: Yeah...I can't wait to get out of here.

I realized Azuma wasn't in the kitchen preparing breakfast.

Umeko: Hey...where's Azuma?

Ichiro: He went to deliver Wakako her breakfast first.

Umeko: Hanako and Mordecai aren't here either?

Samira: Probably still in their rooms, maybe. And of course, the Prank King isn't here too. Which is good, because the less I see of him, the better.

Umeko: Yoshihiki still hasn't left his room? Should we start to get worried?

Samira: [annoyed] What for? He's a big boy who can take care of himself. What's he moping around in there for anyway? Hanako never even actually hit him. He's being a baby.

Umeko: Still...don't you think she went just a little too far?

The door opened. I looked up, hoping it'd be Yoshihiki coming down to join us, but instead it was just Hanako.

Hanako: [annoyed] ...Gossiping about me, are we?

Umeko: H-Huh? N-No, it's not like that...I just...I only...I mean…

Hanako sighed and took a seat opposite me, rubbing her temples and wincing.

Hanako: [disappointed] Look. Maybe what I did was wrong. I...wasn't thinking straight...when I did what I did. Perhaps...I was just tired of Yoshihiki's behavior.

Umeko: ...Oh.

Miyumi: [worried] I g-guess no one can blame you for that...we're all a little tired of him.

Hanako: [annoyed] So...I just snapped. People who drag a whole group down with them by only thinking of themselves...they get on my nerves. And...I get aggressive in response. Most of the time, it works. Sometimes...it doesn't.

Samira: You have nothing to apologize for, Hanako. Don't tell me you were feeling guilty the whole night because of a guy like Yoshihiki.

Hanako scowled and didn't respond.

Samira: [annoyed] Who cares about him? I mean, he's probab-

That was when the door to the Dining Hall burst open and in rushed Azuma.

Azuma: [distressed] Hey, guys!

Samira: [confused] Hm?

Miyumi: [worried] A-Azuma? What's the matter? You look flustered…

Azuma: [worried] It's the ballroom. You know, where Wakako's been trapped.

Hanako: [worried] What about it?

Azuma: [worried] It's locked.

Ichiro: [shocked] Huh?

Umeko: It's...locked? What do you mean, it's locked?

Azuma: [worried] I mean, the door in the Boys' Locker Room that directly connects to the Ballroom. It won't open! I knocked and everything but Wakako didn't let me in.

Miyumi: [nervous] She didn't let you in? What do you mean?

Azuma: [worried] I assumed she locked the doors, since only one of the two Locker Room doors stay open at a time, and the controls for the doors are installed in that throne she's stuck in. But even though I called out for her to open up, the door wouldn't budge.

Samira: [confused] Isn't that because the place is soundproof?

Azuma: [worried] Not the walls between the Ballroom and the Locker Rooms. She should still have been able to hear me calling out for her. I'm concerned something might've happened to her.

Umeko: What do we do?

Azuma: [worried] Well, first things first, one of you girls needs to go check on her.

Miyumi: [shocked] Us?

Azuma: The Boys' Locker Room door is locked. Remember what Monokuma explained to us? Those doors are set up so that when one is open, the other stays shut automatically. If the door on the Boys' side is locked…

Umeko: Then maybe the door on the Girls' side is open!

Azuma: [worried] You need to go to the Girls' Locker Room and check on her!

We got to our feet just as Mordecai arrived too.

Mordecai: [shocked] Good morning. What's the matter? You all look flustered. Where are you all going off to in such a hurry?

Azuma: [worried] I'll explain on the way, but right now, Wakako might be in trouble!

Mordecai: [shocked] Trouble? What kind of trouble?

But before any of us could take another step, a monitor on the nearest wall suddenly flickered and came to life. But instead of Monokuma…

[Track: watch?v=56JN4D_rgdk]

[CG] The Phantom's Video [CG]

Staring out at us from the screen was a masked figure. Wearing a black coat and wide-brimmed hat, the figure's face was hidden from view by a grinning clown's mask. Beyond the mask, there was no way to tell who we were looking at.

And then, the masked figure spoke to us.

He held up a gloved hand, and put a finger to his mouth, as if calling us to silence. His voice came out in a sharp but chilling drawl, no doubt disguised by some vocal distortion device.

Masked Figure: HALT! Stop right there!

Umeko: Huh?

[CG] End [CG]

The seven of us all stopped and stared up at the screen, bewildered.

Miyumi: [scared] Eiyaaahhh! Wh-Who is that?

Samira: [distressed] What the heck? Who's on the screen?

Mordecai: [confused] Is...that Monokuma?

Ichiro: [annoyed] Does that look like Monokuma to you?

The masked figure laughed on the screen.

Masked Figure: [snide] Heh heh heh! Simpletons! Look at you all! Like chickens, running around with your heads cut off. No doubt you wonder who I am...but never mind that! That...is not the important question right now.

I shuddered. This guy was giving me massive Prowler vibes again.

Hanako: [annoyed] ...Who are you? What do you want?

The masked figure spread his arms out, sneering down at us.

Masked Figure: [snide] I go by many names, but today, I am simply known as the Phantom!

Miyumi: [worried] The Phantom?

Samira: [annoyed] Well, that's not ominous at all.

Azuma: [annoyed] ...What do you want from us? Why don't you leave the monitor and face us in person?

The Phantom made an odd chittering noise, and I realized he was cackling to himself, the sound muffled beneath his mask. He clasped his gloved hands together with glee.

The Phantom: You wonder about my purpose for appearing before you, yes? The answer is simple. I am here to tell you what has happened to your dear friend, Wakako!

That got all of our attention.

Miyumi: [shocked] W-Wakako? You know about Wakako?

Samira: [angry] You sick fuck! What have you done with her?

The Phantom: [laughing] Now, now...there is no need to get angry! You can still save her. But right now, she is locked away in the depths of this house and only you can save her.

Ichiro: [angry] You...you kidnapped her?

Samira: [accusatory] Just who the hell are you?

The Phantom: [thoughtful] She is fine...for now. [snide] But...you do not have much time left to save her. You have until the hour is up during Monokuma's next Challenge session to save your friend. For you see...that is where I have locked her up.

Mordecai: [confused] What? The Basement?

The Phantom: More specifically...Wakako has been taken to the secret room beyond the Challenge Arena. It will not be easy to save her, but I have told you all you need to know. What you do next, is up to you. Whether she lives or dies...is out of my hands!

Miyumi: [scared] Wh-What? Why are you doing this? Why have you taken her? [as Nico] What's the matter with you?

The Phantom didn't answer. Instead, with one last cackle from the Phantom, the video feed immediately shut off, replaced by…

Monokuma: It's time for your final challenge! Please report to the Basement immediately!

Then Monokuma disappeared off the screen as well.

We all stared at one another, dumbstruck, still processing what we'd just heard. Then, reality sank in.

Miyumi: [shocked] Wh-Whaaat?! W-W-Wakako's...been kidnapped?!

Samira: [distressed] Damn it! Is she really in danger? She's going to die in an hour if we don't…?

Hanako: [angry] Then there's no time to lose. We've gotta get down to the basement, right away.

Mordecai: [shocked] What? Right now?

Ichiro: [angry] Yeah, right now! When else, after breakfast?

Miyumi: [distressed] W-Wait! Wh-What about Yoshihiki? D-Did he not see that video? Wh-Where is he? He's not...still in his room, is he?

Samira: [annoyed] Oh, who cares about him? We've got bigger things to deal with.

Azuma: [worried] Samira is right. We've been given a time limit without any warning. We can't afford to waste any more time.

Ichiro: [angry] Then what the fuck are you all still standing around for? Let's just fucking go already!

We all ran to the Basement, and barged through the door downstairs. Monokuma was waiting for us, and leaped into the air in fright as we all charged across the room to where he stood in front of the Challenge doors.

Monokuma: [shocked] Whoa! Wow, you lot sure are enthusiastic toda-

Samira: [angry] Move! Get out of the way!

Monokuma: [shocked] Eh? Wha-

We gathered outside the doors.

Hanako: [angry] We split into our two teams - Green and Blue. Azuma, you…

Azuma: [worried] I know. Both my team members aren't here. Look, tell you what - you guys go through the puzzles and get to the end as fast as you can. I'll go see if I can find Yoshihiki. Now go! Hurry!

With no way to get into his own Challenge Rooms, Azuma ran back upstairs. Wasting no more time, the remaining six of us split into our teams and entered our own rooms.

Monokuma: Wow! You're all in such a hurry today! Okay then! Your time starts now! I'm so excited! Maybe now, someone will finally make it to the 'secret' of the house!

I slammed the door in Monokuma's face, and hurried after Ichiro and Hanako through the two Blue Rooms we'd already passed through. Soon, we'd reached the third and final room - the room in pitch black darkness.

Ichiro: [worried] How are we going to see anything in there?

Hanako: [annoyed] Just get in first. We don't have a lot of time.

We hurried in and Hanako shut the door behind us, plunging us into total darkness. I couldn't see a single thing.

Then, suddenly, Monokuma's voice began to speak on the speakers.

Monokuma: Welcome to the final room! Now, it's time to figure out who killed poor Cecelia...like I mentioned before, Cecelia was murdered by someone she trusted implicitly...and this time, you must pick the correct culprit out of six different suspects! Upupupu...choosing the blackened...it's just like the Killing Game! You can't see it, but there's a table in the centre of the room, with six different buttons, all labelled after each potential killer. Scattered around the room are five different clues. They're not in tiles anymore, and they've already been assembled for you. But the trick here is, you're looking for the clues in complete darkness! And let's just say...it'll be extra creepy to find some of them! Anyway, once you find all five clues, insert them into the five slots on the table. Once all five clues have been found and inserted, the lights will come back on and you can read the clues and make your deductions on who the killer is! Choose correctly and the door in front of you will open! Good luck…

The voiceover cut out.

Hanako: Okay...so five clues...six suspects...and only one answer. Let's get to it.

We didn't stop to discuss it. We just started looking. I got onto the floor and felt around. Without the various tiles scattered around the room this time, it felt like it was going to be much harder to find each individual clue.

On my hands and knees, I kept crawling, hoping to find something, and then I did.

My hand made contact with what felt like a chest of some sort. I felt around and realized it was locked.

Umeko: I found a locked chest! Has anyone found a key?

Ichiro: A key? No...I haven't found anything like that.

Hanako: Hang on...do you guys hear that?

Umeko: Hear what?

And that's when my ears perked up. It was soft, but unmistakable once everyone stopped talking.

Wakako: Help! Somebody, help me! He's going to kill me!

Umeko: Is that…?

Ichiro: It's Wakako's voice! I'd know it anywhere!

Hanako: I heard her over here!

I heard Hanako rounding a corner in the darkness, and then...

Hanako: I don't...hey, what is...HEY!

Huh?

Hanako: H-Hey! Let go of-

I heard Hanako cry out, and then there was a loud thump. The next thing I knew, there was silence.

Ichiro: What was that? Hanako, are you alright?

No answer.

Umeko: Hanako? Hey, you there? Say something.

Still...nothing.

What is going on?

Ichiro: Umeko, what's happened? Why isn't Hanako saying anything?

Umeko: I don't know...did she fall down? Is she hurt?

Ichiro: Hanako! Hey! Hanako! Wakako?

Umeko: Hanako!

We each tried calling out to her, but she didn't respond, and there was no other noise from Wakako either. Still moving around in the darkness, pressing my hand against the wall to navigate around the room, I felt around for Hanako but I couldn't find her. It was like she'd disappeared from the very room itself into thin air. Instead, I kept bumping into various things in the room, like the door, the table, more of Cecelia's hideous paintings, and Ichiro himself.

Ichiro: Ow! You poked me in the eye!

Umeko: Oops! Sorry…

Ichiro: But this is bad...where's Hanako gone? She's not answering us and I can't see a damn thing in this darkness…

And that was when the voiceover came back on a second time. Yet now, instead of Monokuma speaking to us…

The Phantom: Heh heh heh! Surprise!

What the hell?

The Phantom: Heh heh heh...no doubt, both teams are now wondering why one member of their trio has mysteriously gone silent. That's because I've decided that simply kidnapping one person just isn't enough for me! I need MORE victims! And so, I've decided to kidnap one member of each team! Just...as added incentive to work harder and faster! And you've already no doubt wasted precious time looking for your missing friend instead of solving your puzzles…

Umeko: Wh...What? You...you kidnapped Hanako?

Ichiro: The fuck? How? She was just here, in this room with us! You couldn't have kidnapped her!

The Phantom didn't speak again and I heard the voiceover fizzle out.

Ichiro: What the heck? What do we do now? How...how did he kidnap Hanako? How did he even get into the room and out with her again? Did you hear the door open?

Umeko: N-No, I...I don't think so…

Hanako...was just kidnapped...in this very room? In the total darkness, neither Ichiro nor I saw any of it happen.

And...the Phantom said he'd kidnapped someone from the other team too…

Ichiro: This is bad...what do we do? What do we do?

Umeko: C-Calm down. Let's...let's just focus and think first. We...we need to find the five clues first. Then...the lights will come on. Maybe it'll help.

Ichiro: Y-Yeah...yeah, good idea. Okay, I'll get back to searching.

We hurriedly began scouring the room in the darkness again. The whole time, my brain felt fried with the stress.

How did the Phantom kidnap Hanako like that, when we were just with her? We walked through that door with her, and it shut behind us. How did the Phantom get in? How...did he take her away?

And he kidnapped someone from the other team too...how did he…?

Ichiro: I've got it! I've...ugh...there's a jar of...some weird substance...and the clue was inside it. It...oh, fuck...it smells awful. Whatever...I got one clue.

I heard him slot it into the table.

One down, four to go.

The rest of the clues required equally disgusting or scary tasks to be completed before we could retrieve them. One clue was hidden in a tank in the corner of the room, and Ichiro said he felt cockroaches crawling on him when he'd stuck his hand in to get it.

Another clue had been dangling from the ceiling, and I'd had to stand on a rickety chair to grab it.

The fourth clue had been in the mouth of a stuffed lion's head, hanging on the wall, and as soon as Ichiro grabbed it and began to pull, the mouth had closed around his hand, scaring the living daylights out of him. It never actually hurt, and Ichiro tried to hide his obvious fear, but I could tell he'd been scared stiff.

The final clue had to be in the locked chest.

Ichiro: Here! Umeko, I found the key. It was taped underneath the table.

He felt his way through the darkness towards me, and placed it in my shaking hands. Bending down, I felt for the lock of the chest, and stuck the key in, turning it.

The chest opened with a loud pop, and I heard Ichiro kneeling next to me as I lifted the lid.

Ichiro: What is it?

Umeko: I don't know. I still can't see.

I stuck my hand in and gasped as I felt something cold and hard.

Umeko: It's...cold.

Ichiro: That's ice!

It was a solid block of ice. And on top of the ice, was an ice pick.

Umeko: I...I think the clue's inside the ice.

Ichiro: What? How are we going to get it out then?

Umeko: I'm...going to have to break into it with this ice pick.

Ichiro: How? You can't see anything.

Umeko: I'll...just have to stab it, I suppose.

Ichiro: Be careful, alright? I don't want y...I mean...you wouldn't want to hurt yourself by accident...

Umeko: I'll be careful, I promise.

I grabbed the ice pick, held it up over my head, and stabbed it into the ice. Repeatedly, I stabbed the end of the pick into the block of ice, over and over, chipping away at it. I felt ice flying out in shards in all directions, and the ice pick sinking deeper and deeper into the block. I felt the pick make contact with something more solid, and digging my hand in, felt my fingers close around a wooden, rectangular object.

Umeko: I've got it! The final clue!

Getting to my feet, I made my way to the table in the darkness, and inserted the final clue in its slot. At once, the lights came on, bathing the room with light. I blinked, wincing as my eyes adjusted to the sudden light after being in the dark for so long. Ichiro was groaning too, covering his eyes and flinching.

Once my eyes were back to normal, I saw the table in the centre, and the rest of the room.

There were the two portraits, on either side of the wall. There was the chest with the ice, the rickety chair, the jar of sludge, the stuffed lion's head and the tank of cockroaches.

But most important of all...no Hanako.

Umeko: Hanako's...really not here.

Ichiro: [annoyed] I don't believe it. How the fuck did someone kidnap her while we were still in the room with her?

Umeko: We'll have to figure that out later. First, we need to get out of this room.

We crowded around the table, with the five clues set inside it.

Clues:

Among the six suspects are three pairs of red, blue and green hats, and six different pets.

1. Cecelia's killer owns a green hat and a pet dog.

2. The two female suspects have different colored hats, but both hate red.

3. The owners of the blue hats own a pet cat and pet snake.

4. Cecelia's two family members have the same hat.

5. The Aunt has a pet chameleon.

Suspects:

The Butler

The Maid

The Husband

The Aunt

The Chef

The Doctor

Ichiro: I hate riddles like these. This is your forte, so have at it.

Umeko: Okay...so. Neither female has a red hat. That means the two women - the Maid and the Aunt - one has a blue hat and the other has a green one.

Ichiro: I understand that much, at least.

Umeko: Cecelia's two family members...that must refer to the Aunt and the Husband. They have the same colored hat.

Ichiro: Okay…

Umeko: The Aunt has a pet chameleon. So she's not the killer. And it says the owners of the blue hats own a pet cat and pet snake. Which means, the Aunt can't own a blue hat. She must own a green hat.

Ichiro: And if she has a green hat…

Umeko: So does the husband. There are only two suspects with a green hat, and one of those two is the killer. Since the Aunt doesn't own the pet chameleon…

Ichiro: It must be the Husband. The Husband is Cecelia's killer?

Umeko: That's my guess. We don't have time to waste. Let's make that our answer.

I input our answer of 'The Husband'.

We waited with bated breath. And then…

The door at the end of the room swung open, and light flooded in.

Monokuma: Congratulations! You've completed the Challenge Arena! Head out of the room and finish the Final Puzzle to access the secret of the Haunted House!

Ichiro: [distressed] Finally! Come on, let's go!

Ichiro and I rushed out of the room. Beyond the final door, we were on the other side of the basement. There was only one lone door on the opposite wall, with a keypad next to it. And standing in front of the keypad…

Umeko: Azuma?

Azuma whirled around, startled.

Azuma: [shocked] Oh...it's you two. You made it!

Ichiro: [confused] What are you doing here? I thought you were on the other side of the Basement.

It was true. What was Azuma doing here? He should've been behind us, waiting for us to finish the puzzles and get to the other side. How...did he get here before us? Had he found another route?

Azuma: [nervous] I...well, I couldn't find Yoshihiki.

Umeko: He wasn't in his room?

Azuma: [worried] No. I knocked and I knocked and I called out to him and told him everything that was going on, but no response. And when I finally kicked the door down, it was empty. He wasn't there. So I came back downstairs and decided to try going into the Red Rooms myself. And...all the doors were unlocked.

Ichiro: [shocked] What?

Azuma: [worried] Yeah...all three Red Rooms were unlocked. I just walked through all of them and came out on this side. But I couldn't figure out this final lock.

He pointed at the keypad.

Azuma: I'm guessing this keypad is the final puzzle. Beyond this door must be the secret of the house...and Wakako.

The doors to the Red Rooms...were unlocked? Those were the rooms Wakako, Yoshihiki and Azuma would've gone through, except ever since Wakako got trapped in the Ultimate Throne, neither Azuma nor Yoshihiki could progress without her. The puzzles wouldn't activate for less than three people. So...how did Azuma make it to the other side of the Basement?

Azuma: [shocked] Hey...where's Hanako? Didn't she go in with you?

Ichiro: [worried] You don't know?

Azuma: [confused] Know what?

I quickly explained what had happened while we were in the Dark Room. By the end of it, Azuma looked disturbed.

Azuma: [worried] Hanako was kidnapped? In that very room? And you're saying...one of the others might've gotten kidnapped too?

Ichiro: [angry] Whoever kidnapped them must have locked them up behind that door. Let's get it open!

Ichiro rushed to the keypad, and pressed a couple keys. I saw a question flash on screen.

QUESTION: What was the murder weapon used to kill Cecelia?

Ichiro: [confused] Eh? This again?

Azuma: [worried] I was surprised too. They want us to type in one answer, and one answer only. And getting it wrong...well…

He pointed at a sentence written underneath the question in fine print.

(Get it wrong...and you'll get a face full of electricity! Upupupu!)

Ichiro: [annoyed] Ugh...fucking Monokuma…

Umeko: Here. Let me try.

Azuma: [shocked] Umeko, wait!

Umeko: We don't have time to wait! Three members of the group have been kidnapped. Besides, I think I know the answer.

Ichiro: [shocked] You do?

That's right. After we all completed the first puzzle, we each got a different set of three answers. But there was only one murder weapon consistent across all three sets, and it was…

1. The bat

2. The poison

3. The knife

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

Answer: 1. The bat

Umeko: That's right! It was the bat! That was the only murder weapon consistent with all three teams' answers!

I typed it in, and the keypad turned green.

Ichiro: [shocked] You...actually got it...

The answer disappeared, and was replaced with a second question.

QUESTION: Where was Cecelia killed?

Ichiro: [worried] Another one?

Azuma: [worried] Do you think you know this one, Umeko? I mean...my team never got our answers. Meaning...you only have two sets of answers to infer from.

That's right...only my team and the Green Team completed the puzzles in the second room. Azuma and Yoshihiki never got the chance.

Umeko: Our two sets of answers were the kitchen, entrance hall and basement, and the kitchen, garden and basement respectively. Which means...the correct answer has to be either kitchen or basement. I bet the third set of answers would've given us the correct answer easily. That was the whole point of the puzzles...they were meant to be solved together, as a group!

Ichiro: [shocked] As a group?

Umeko: We were meant to solve the puzzles, combine our answers, and work together to find the secret of the house as one unit. But the Ultimate Throne threw a wrench in that plan…

Azuma: [worried] Umeko...you're not going to…

Umeko: We can't risk wasting more time. I'm going to guess an answer.

Ichiro: [shocked] You can't! You could get electrocuted!

Azuma: [angry] I can't let you do that, Umeko. Let me.

Umeko: What? Azuma, I-

Azuma: I'm the spy here, remember? I've trained my body to withstand a lot. A little electrocution would hurt me but not as much as it would hurt you. I'm better prepared to endure it in case I get the answer wrong.

Umeko: I can't ask you to do that. I can't have you getting hurt on my behalf!

Azuma: It wouldn't be just for you, but for all of us, and the three people who've been kidnapped. We don't have time to argue over this!

Azuma gently nudged me out of the way, and took my spot in front of the keypad. I watched him key in an answer, and hold his breath as he entered it in.

[[flashback]]

Nagatomo: Don't. Trust. Azuma.

[[end: flashback :end]]

How...can you expect me not to trust him...when he's literally risking himself like this for us? ...for me?

The keypad turned green with a click.

Ichiro: [shocked] It...it worked? It...actually worked?

I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding in.

Azuma: [happy] Y-Yeah...yeah, it did.

Umeko: Azuma...you…

Azuma: I had an equal shot of getting it right or wrong. It was either kitchen or basement, so I went with my gut and said 'basement'. It...is where we're at, right now, anyway.

Umeko: I can't believe you risked yourself like that…

Azuma: [nervous] Heh...well...I'm a spy. I'm used to putting my life on the line.

Ichiro: [worried] Still...that was really dangerous.

QUESTION: Who killed Cecelia?

All six suspects were listed there.

Umeko: I got this. It's the Husband.

We input our final answer, and heard the door unlock itself.

Umeko: Yes! We did it!

I heard a door open behind us, and turning around, I saw Samira and Mordecai rushing to us from the Green Room.

Samira: [shocked] Hey! You're all here!

Mordecai: [shocked] Azuma? You too?

Azuma: It's a long story. What matters is, we just got the door open.

Ichiro: [worried] Hey...where's Miyumi? Was she…?

Samira: [angry] Yeah. We were looking for our clues when we heard her cry out and then...she was gone.

Mordecai: [accusatory] So...Wakako, Hanako and Miyumi are beyond that door?

Umeko: Let's not waste any time! We have to find them!

Azuma: [angry] Alright. I'll head in first. Everyone, just stay behind me.

Leading the way, Azuma threw the door open and we all rushed into the room behind him.

But we weren't prepared for what we were about to see.

[CG] The Security Room [CG]

Security monitors.

Dozens of them.

All of them showing camera feeds of various places in the house.

I saw our respective bedrooms, the Entrance Hall, the Lounge, the Basement itself…

Samira: ...What…?

Mordecai: What...is this room?

Ichiro: Tch...it's a fucking security office. Was...was Monokuma watching us from inside here? What is this?

There was one long table in front of all the monitors, along with a couple laptops plugged in. Azuma walked over to the nearest one and tapped a couple keys.

[CG] End [CG]

Mordecai: [confused] What's on the computer?

Azuma: [thoughtful] Look...it's been left on this page.

He showed us the screen. On it was a message, typed out for us to see.

Message:

Upupupu...Congratulations on finding the secret of the haunted house! I told you finding the secret of the haunted house would help you escape faster, and I wasn't lying! The security feed on these monitors will help you monitor everyone in the house secretly. You can use these security cameras to help you plot a murder! That'll help you get out of here! Upupupu!

I felt the disappointment envelop me in an almost crushing grip.

This...this is the secret...we were working so hard to uncover?

A security room?

We were promised that the secret would help us escape the house…

But once again, it was another lie. It would help us escape...but not all together. It was designed to help us escape through the plotting of another murder.

Samira: [angry] You've gotta be fucking kidding me! This? This is it?

She kicked the desk, looking pissed, and paced up and down the room, running her hands through her hair. Behind us, the others looked similarly dejected.

Mordecai: [disappointed] Alas, we were bamboozled once again.

Ichiro: [annoyed] So much for that idea…

It was then that I noticed another door set in the other side of the room.

Umeko: Hey...guys, look. There's another door there.

Azuma: [thoughtful] Hmm...you're right.

Mordecai: [shocked] Is that where the girls have been taken?

Azuma: [thoughtful] Perhaps...okay, everyone stay behind me. We'll go through the door together.

Umeko: Mordecai, you coming?

I'd noticed Mordecai had leaned over the table, peering at one of the security monitors and scrutinizing it.

Mordecai: [shocked] Huh? Oh, yeah. Sorry...I was just...looking at something.

He left and rejoined the rest of us. Azuma took charge and tentatively tested the doorknob to the second door.

It swung open easily and we all filed in.

What we saw next shocked us even more than the security room had.

[CG] The Torture Chambers [CG]

Hanako, Wakako and Miyumi.

All three girls were locked inside three tiny chambers, seen behind a pane of glass. Each of them was strapped into a large metallic chair, connected to several wires and other complicated-looking machinery.

Upon seeing us, they perked up and started calling out.

Wakako: Well, it's about time you guys showed up!

Hanako: You've all arrived. Quick, get us out of here!

Miyumi: Guys, help!

[CG] End [CG]

Ichiro: [shocked] What is this room?

Hanako: [distressed] We don't know. When we woke up, we...just found ourselves in here, like this.

Miyumi: [distressed] Please help us!

Azuma: [worried] Okay, calm down. Can you move?

Wakako: [angry] We're stuck in these damn chairs! Ugh! First I was trapped in one chair and now another!

Azuma walked forward and peered through the glass into Wakako's chamber, studying the chair she was trapped in.

Azuma: [distressed] Ngh...those wires...and that metal chair…

Mordecai: [worried] What is it?

Azuma: [worried] I hope I'm wrong about what this means…

Umeko: Hey, there's a screen over here.

In front of each of the three chambers were three tables, with a screen set in the middle of them. Samira walked up to the one by Wakako's station, and tapped it with her finger.

All three screens came alive, and we watched as The Phantom stared out at us once again.

The Phantom: Aha! So...you've made it.

Samira: [annoyed] You again?

The Phantom: Welcome to the Torture Chambers!

Umeko: Torture Chambers?

Wakako: [scared] Wh-What?!

Ichiro: [angry] What kind of sick place is this?

The Phantom: No need to explain this one, Monokuma! I'll handle it! Let me tell you the truth behind good ole' Cecelia's agonizing death! You see, yes - she was described to have the perfect life. Friends, family, and tremendous wealth. Now ask yourself this - why would such a delightful young woman have Torture Chambers in her own basement? It's simple. ...Cecelia was a closet psychopath. She was a serial killer. She lured people to her home, drugged them, kidnapped them, and toyed with them for her own twisted, sickening entertainment. And here you all stand, in the place where she conducted most of her savage tomfoolery.

The Phantom picked at the edges of his gloves, seeming smug.

The Phantom: [snide] She would strap her victims into her little chambers, and play a game with them. And when the game ended, and they failed, she'd electrocute them - fry them - char them from the inside out. She was a murderous scoundrel hiding behind an innocent face…

Ichiro: [angry] Why the fuck are you telling us this? We don't care.

The Phantom: It got to the point where her husband, who figured out the truth, had no choice but to deal with her himself. At night - 2:30 to be exact, while she was toying with another one of her victims in this very basement, he took a bat...and beat her to death. Then, he strapped her into one of her own Chambers...and let her fry. And so, in honor of you finally finding out the truth behind Cecelia's death, today...I want to play a game.

Mordecai: [shocked] A game?

Ichiro: [annoyed] What is this Jigsaw shit?

Azuma: [worried] What kind of game?

The Phantom: A game...that will determine the fates of your fellow classmates, who you see before you. As you can see...a few of your friends have been strapped into the following Torture Chambers. Their lives...now rest in your hands.

Miyumi: [scared] O-Our lives…?

Hanako: [angry] What is the meaning of this?

Wakako: [distressed] Wh-What? No...I can't die here! Azuma, you've got to get me out!

The Phantom: [snide] When this video ends, a countdown will activate.

Samira: [angry] Countdown? A countdown to what, exactly?

The Phantom: [laughing] By the time three minutes are up, anyone still strapped to their chairs...will be electrocuted!

Miyumi: [scared] E-E-Electrocuted?

Mordecai: [distressed] It cannot be!

Wakako: [distressed] What the fuck? I can't die like this, not like this! Get me outta here! Please!

The Phantom: [snide] Hundreds of volts of deadly electricity will surge through a prisoner's veins, frying them from the inside and killing them instantly…

Deadly electricity...instantaneous death…

Samira: [distressed] Why are you doing this? Just who the hell are you?

The Phantom chuckled, and put another gloved finger to his bony mouth. It was almost like he or she was sneering right at us from across the screen and underneath his hideous mask. I could detect malice seeping off his every syllable as he spoke again.

The Phantom: Whether they live or die...that decision is up to you! Your only way to free a prisoner is to complete the puzzles that will unlock the doors to their chambers, and release them from their constraints. And your time...begins now.

The Phantom's face disappeared across all three screens, replaced by what looked like a retro jigsaw puzzle computer game. Above the game, on each of the three screens, was a timer starting at 3:00. Then, it began counting down.

[Track: watch?v=2PK9c8RWjnQ]

Ichiro: [distressed] Crap! What do we do?!

Miyumi: [scared] No! G-G-Guys, save us!

Samira: [distressed] What the fuck? This can't be happening…

Azuma: [angry] Quick! There's no time to waste! Mordecai, help me see if we can get some of these doors open by force!

Mordecai: [distressed] On it!

Azuma: [angry] The rest of you, go see what those puzzles are! Try to get them out! Mordecai and I will be back!

Azuma charged out of the room, Mordecai hot on his heels.

Miyumi: [scared] Wh-What now? How do we get out of here?

Wakako: [distressed] I don't want to get electrocuted!

Samira: [distressed] Fucking…

Hanako: [angry] Don't panic.

Umeko: H-Hanako…?

Hanako: [angry] Listen. You three...just stay calm. What's on those three screens? Is it another puzzle?

I cautiously approached the computer screen in front of Hanako's station. The screen was displaying a jigsaw puzzle. It looked like one of Cecelia's portraits.

Umeko: Y-Yeah...it's a jigsaw puzzle.

Hanako: [angry] Okay...then solve it! Finish the puzzle and it'll unlock the doors. And hurry!

Samira: [distressed] Puzzles?

Ichiro: [annoyed] This really is some Jigsaw shit…

Samira: [distressed] I'm not fucking good at puzzles…

Wakako: [angry] It doesn't matter how fucking good you are at them! Just get us out of here, damn it!

Samira: [distressed] Ngh...okay.

Samira stepped up to Wakako's computer and began tapping the screen with her fingers, trying to work out her puzzle.

The timer kept counting down now. We had two minutes left.

I turned and saw Ichiro had backed up against the wall, clutching Charlie with white-knuckled hands, breathing heavily.

Umeko: Ichiro? You have to help Miyumi! There are only three of us...I can't do two puzzles on my own here!

Ichiro: [distressed] ...Me?

Umeko: We don't have time to argue about this! Just go!

Ichiro: [uncomfortable] No, don't! I...I can't do it! I'll mess it up, I know I will. Don't put her life in my hands! Don't put that burden on me! I won't be able to do it!

Miyumi: [in tears] I-I-Ichiro…? Please...I d-don't want to die in here!

Umeko: Ichiro, come on! There's no other way!

Ichiro: [distressed] I can't! I can't do it! I'm gonna fail. I'm gonna fail, and it'll be my fault when she dies-

Umeko: It'll be your fault too if you don't do anything!

Miyumi: [in tears] Pl-Please! I can't die...I promised Taro I would get out of here alive! I want to go home! I just want to see my family again!

Ichiro: [sad] …

Wordlessly, Ichiro set Charlie down and walked up to Miyumi's station, hands trembling. I directed my attention back to the computer in front of Hanako's chamber.

Hanako: You got this, Umeko. Just stay calm...think rationally. I…[sad] I believe in you.

Hanako…

I can't fail her now…

Her life...is in my hands.

The timer had dropped down to a minute now. I began frantically tapping on the screen, moving jigsaw pieces around.

I looked from one piece to another, analyzing the edges of each piece, looking at the design on it.

Find the corners first...then work inwards…

I've seen Cecelia's portrait all around the house...countless times! I know what the final image will look like when I'm done assembling it. I know I can do this!

Azuma and Mordecai returned to the room, panting and out of breath. Each of them was carrying a bat - I realized they must have gotten them from the first room from the Challenge Arena.

Azuma: [distressed] Keep working on it! We'll try to get the doors open!

They began swinging at Wakako's door, trying to smash the glass in, but it remained solid.

Wakako: [scared] Mmph...I don't want it to end here...I…[in tears] I still have so much to live for...

Azuma: [distressed] Hang in there, Wakako! Just hang on!

Ichiro: [shocked] I...I did it!

Ichiro pressed one final button on his screen, then yelped as a spark of electricity shot up from the computer, zapping him.

Ichiro: [angry] Argh!

He stumbled back and collapsed onto the floor, as the door to Miyumi's torture chamber slid open and she was freed from her seat. Weeping uncontrollably, she leapt out of it and fell onto the floor near Ichiro, hugging him.

Miyumi: [in tears] *sob* Th-Thank you… *sob* thank you…

Ichiro: [in tears] …

The Phantom: One down, two to go…

Damn it...think, just think! Focus!

The Phantom: Twenty seconds…

Samira: [angry] Rargh!

Wakako: [distressed] Get me out of here, Azuma! Please! [in tears] I don't want to die!

Azuma: [angry] It won't budge!

Mordecai: [distressed] What do we do?

Azuma: [angry] Screw it…

Azuma took a step back, then charged at the door, slamming into it with his body. It barely moved an inch.

Azuma: [distressed] Ow…

Mordecai: [shocked] Azuma!

Azuma: [distressed] We have to break it down!

The Phantom: Fifteen seconds…

This piece goes here…

Yes...that's the frame of it…

It was getting harder and harder to think. My hands were trembling madly and my heart felt like it was going to beat out of my chest.

I can't do it...I can't do it…

I can't save her…

Hanako will die...and it'll all be because of me!

The Phantom: Ten seconds…

Umeko: I...I almost have it! I...I know this!

There's just four pieces left...just four more!

Hanako: [sad] ...It's okay if you can't do it, Umeko. I...I know you tried your best.

Three more!

Hanako: [in tears] It's...it's not your fault.

Two more!

The Phantom: Five…

Last one!

Hanako: [sad] I…

Umeko: I've done it! I did it, I did it!

Hanako: [shocked] You…

The door to Hanako's chamber slid open and she sprang up and out of her chair.

Hanako: [shocked] Umeko...you...you saved me…

Out of breath, I stumbled back from the computer screen and back up against the wall, putting a hand to my chest.

I was almost lightheaded from the stress of it all. But I'd done it. I'd managed to save her. I saved Hana-

The Phantom: One...TIME'S UP!

Azuma: [angry] NO!

Samira: [shocked] What? No...no, no, no, I'm not finished!

Wakako: [in tears] N-No! Pl-Please! Please help me!

Ichiro: [shocked] Wakako...

Samira began kicking the table, slamming the screen, but her puzzle was nowhere near completion. By Wakako's chamber, Azuma and Mordecai were still hopelessly slamming the door, trying to get it open.

Miyumi: [distressed] Do it! Open the door!

Samira: [distressed] I'm trying! I need more time! I-

The Phantom: [laughing] Eh heh heh heh! Game over...

Samira: [shocked] No!

Wakako: [in tears] Azuma!

The video on the screen ended as it cut to black, with the last thing I saw being the Phantom's mask grinning up at me with cold malice. I looked up through the glass just in time to catch sparks flying as Wakako began thrashing about and convulsing in her chair, straining against her restraints. The sound of crackling electricity filled my ears, along with Wakako's shrill screams of pain, almost unrecognizable as her entire body was shocked with countless volts of deadly electricity.

Miyumi: [scared] Noooo!

Ichiro: [angry] Get her out of there!

Hanako: [distressed] G-Get that door open!

Mordecai: [distressed] We're trying!

The door began to budge open a crack as Azuma and Mordecai shoved their combined weight against it. Inside, I could still see Wakako being shocked through the window, her body jolting up and down like a puppet on its strings.

Next to me, Ichiro had his hands clamped over his mouth, his eyes open wide with horror. Miyumi had averted her eyes and was covering Nico's too.

Samira had slumped to the floor, her whole body limp, tears shining in her eyes, as Hanako clutched at her shoulders.

Azuma: [distressed] Come on! We've almost got it open! Put all your weight on it, Mordecai!

The crackling had stopped. Wakako was no longer thrashing in her seat. From what little I could see of her, she had slumped over in her chair, her head down and her hair hanging loosely over her face. I couldn't spot any signs of movement coming from her.

At last, with one final kick, Azuma and Mordecai broke the door down and charged into the room.

Azuma: [shocked] Wakako!

Azuma rushed to the other girl's side, kneeling by her and trying to rouse her.

Azuma: [distressed] Wakako! Wake up!

Wakako didn't reply, and as Azuma shook her, her head rolled from side to side, and she did not stir.

Mordecai: [shocked] N-No…

Azuma: [shocked] Wakako…?

He gingerly reached over to press two fingers to the side of her neck, and his face grew even paler. But even without his grim confirmation, I already knew.

We'd watched her die in front of us.

We'd watched her get shocked with millions of volts of electricity.

We'd failed to save her.

[CG] The Fifth Victim [CG]

Wakako Noguchi, the SHSL Reality TV Star, sat slumped over in her chair, cold and lifeless, taken away from us and from life right before our very eyes.

She didn't deserve to die - not in such a cruel way, not after all we'd survived together.

But yet again, Monokuma had prevailed once more, and we were thrust back into the madness of the Killing Game for the fourth time.

[CG] End [CG]

Surviving Students: 8

[DEAD] Eizo - SHSL Commander [DEAD]

Mordecai - SHSL Marksman

Ichiro - SHSL Botanist

Azuma - SHSL Spy

[DEAD] Taro - SHSL Bookworm [DEAD]

[DEAD] Nagatomo - SHSL Thief [DEAD]

[DEAD] Kenji - SHSL Skateboarder [DEAD]

Yoshihiki - SHSL Prankster

Umeko - SHSL "Amnesiac"

Hanako - SHSL Band Leader

Miyumi - SHSL Ventriloquist

[DEAD] Shizuko - SHSL Actress [DEAD]

[DEAD] Kaori - SHSL Dog Whisperer [DEAD]

Samira - SHSL Street Artist

[DEAD] Fukumi - SHSL Daredevil [DEAD]

[DEAD] Wakako - SHSL Reality TV Star [DEAD]

Notes:

This story officially has fanart now! The extremely talented AO3 user "anon" made this amazing piece of fanart of the main cast, take a look!

Fanfiction users, you need to type in the link on imgur to view it. (sorry, Fanfiction doesn't allow website links for some dumb reason)

Fanart: /sfylkWI

I'm incredibly honored that you liked my story enough that it inspired you to make fanart for it. Thanks again!

I can't say it enough, but all your support means the world to me and is a big reason I keep on writing. I love seeing fan reception from you all even if I don't always reply to you (like the guest users on Fanfiction who I am unable to respond to), so I'll just take this opportunity to once again thank you all for sticking with and enjoying the story for this long, and I hope you'll continue to enjoy the chapters to come!

Oh yeah, and Wakako's dead. She's probably pissed I'm overshadowing her death with all of this. So - Who do you think killed her? The investigation commences in the next chapter!