I woke up with an awful headache. My heart felt heavy, and my throat felt like it was closing in on me. I could feel my own heart beat, my head pulsing along and my neck only continuing to throb.

My eyes just wanted to close again. I had no will to get out of bed. Even when all was said and done and forgiven, I could not let it go. It was still lingering in my mind, keeping me paralyzed.

Kozaki brought me back to my room last night. He left the book I was carrying on the bed stand next to me, and he left my hat to rest on top of it. I remember he told me to get some rest, he told me not to worry anymore.

But of course, I continue to worry.

I finally stopped fighting against my body and allowed my eyes to close. When they opened again, I was back home in my bed in my warm and loving home in Romania. The soft blanket gently covering me, the firm but cushioning pillow beneath my head, the bed mattress being pressed down lightly from my own weight. The soft white walls with windows hidden behind brown curtains, the sun's light from outside glowing from behind. The ceiling with a lamp in the shape of the sun, the floor with a carpet that was green as cool grass. My desk set right against the corner with all my music sheets neatly stacked on top. My hat resting on my wooden chair, the rest of my clothes tucked away behind my wooden closet doors.

But when I really opened my eyes, I wasn't there at all. It was all a memory now. A memory I feared would fade.

Just look where I am now. Actually, I still cannot comprehend where this place is. Even when I can see it, I cannot bring myself to believe it.

I remember how my brother would burst into my room and jump onto my bed to wake me up in the morning. I could only wonder how he was doing now.

Knock knock.

I slowly sat up in my bed, letting out a sigh before slipping out. I hadn't even bothered to change into my pajamas last night, leaving my outfit to become all wrinkled.

Walking over to the door, I opened it to find Mikanne.

"Good morning." He nodded to me. "Hope I'm not bothering you, am I?"

I shook my head as I covered my mouth to yawn. "No, no...I just woke up."

Mikanne worriedly looked to the side. "I have some news for you."

I looked up, trying to be more attentive. "Yes?"

"Tobi's on the loose." Mikanne looked back to me as he crossed his arms. "And strangely enough, he doesn't seem to be putting any effort into retreating to the labs or wherever he came from. Zraiko and I are about to go hunting for him."

I nodded slowly, wondering what this could mean. Well, I suppose I did already know what it meant. Tobi wasn't going anywhere without Kozaki. This was his ultimatum.

"Not only that." Mikanne felt his left wrist. "Monobotto seems to be rather...perturbed over this whole matter. Zraiko told me he spotted the bucket of bolts heading into the auditorium. I would advise you to avoid going in that area for a while."

I nodded again, thinking about what Monobotto could be doing there. Is it really perturbed over Tobi being here? Had the alleged lab assistant sealed himself in that place? Are they going to have a fight?

"Is that everything?" I held my hands together.

Mikanne smiled back at me. "Yeah, that's about it for now. If anything more comes up, I'll send you a message."

"Thank you." I smiled in return.

I watched as Mikanne walked back down the Grand Staircase before I closed the door, then sighing as I turned around and leaned against it. I completely forgot about Tobi last night. I was so infatuated over protecting Kozaki, everything else slipped my mind.

You're turning into Ramón.

No, I am not. I am not throwing myself into danger for Kozaki's sake. I am not attacking anyone to protect him.

Last night was...just spur of the moment. It won't happen again. I am not going to resort to violence ever again.

...

I was left to sit alone for a while. I wasn't really sure what to do next. Part of me wanted to go back to bed. Not even to change into my pajamas properly. Just to land back onto the mattress and pull the blanket over me and close my eyes. However, now that I was finally up, I felt like I couldn't go back to bed.

So, what now?

Well, I figured that Kozaki may be available to talk to about yesterday. After all, I wanted to speak about the book Monobotto planted for me to find. However, when I knocked on the door to Fraize's room, there wasn't a response. The door was unlocked, so I decided to quietly open it to check if Kozaki was inside.

He wasn't there.

Stepping into Fraize's room, I took a look around to find it clean. It was as though the events with Kozaki over the past few days never happened at all. The papers in the trash were gone, the bed was made with clean sheets and blankets, all of the disarray was sorted out.

I decided to take a seat in the chair by the desk, just to understand how it felt like to be in this room. There was something about it that felt different than mine. A presence. It truly felt like Fraize was still here. The bed, the shelf, the desk, the closet, it was still his. Even though Kozaki was now occupying the room, this place was still undoubtedly Fraize's.

That actually got me a bit curious. I slowly stood up from the chair and walked over to the closet, opening it up slowly. On one half of the rack, Kozaki's old clothes and their duplicates were hung. On the other half of the rack were Fraize's clothes and their own duplicates.

I picked up a hanger and examined the clothes, touching the fabric gently. I walked over to the bed and gently set down the hanger, taking his brown vest off of it in order to hold it for a while.

Closing my eyes, I then decided to take off my poncho and put the vest on over my orange shirt. I stepped back and did a light twirl, wanting to see how it would feel like to wear it. It was too big, understandably.

Wearing the vest...it made me feel closer to him. It made me feel like I could see things like him, like he was letting me in on his secrets. Well...he really did seem to have a lot of secrets. On the inside of his vest were tons of little pockets and slots for what I presume to be for weapons of some kind.

Super-Highschool-Level Tour Guide.

Super-Highschool-Level Mafioso.

Which one of these talents was his? One or the other, both or neither?

The more I thought about it, the more I came to believe he really did have two talents. He never once seemed like he was lying to himself or to us about being a tour guide. Even if his memories were manipulated, I still believe he could have been one. After all, how can we believe everything Monobotto tells us?

Fraize never left the mafia? He was always stuck this whole time to protect his family?

Frankly, I do not believe it. The truth is out there, and I'm going to find it. I'm going to get Fraize his truth so he can finally have solace in himself.

Taking the vest off, I prepared to place it back onto the hanger. It was then when I noticed...the back of the inside of the vest had a symbol stitched into it.

A symbol that looked exactly like the one on Kozaki's hoodie.

Tobi also has a similar symbol on his clothing, on a necklace he was wearing.

…Everything in this place, it's connected. There's no way this is a coincidence.

But what does it mean, then? Fraize and Kozaki share the exact same symbol. However, Tobi's is slightly different. What could this mean?

I wish I could understand what all of this means.

Slowly, I placed the clothes back into the closet. I then headed out of the room with a sigh to go to take a nice hot shower.

I always did feel like I could clear my head whenever I would take a shower. I gently scrubbed my hair as I closed my eyes to let out a sigh. What should I do now?

I have a few options I can take.

One, I find Tobi and try to learn more about Fraize.

Two, I find Monobotto to get answers about the importance behind Erito Hajimoto, about Haiji Daisuke.

Three, I find Kozaki to talk about the book.

Four, I do all of the above.

I have decided on taking option number four. Although everyone seems to have growing concerns with me getting involved with Tobi, I have to press forward. I need to find out, first and foremost, what's really going on with the cult and who Fraize really is.

Kozaki asked me to stop protecting him. But, he never asked me to stop pursuing the truth.

Stepping out of the shower, I stretched my arms for a quick moment before nodding to myself.

Let's get the day started.


Before leaving to find Tobi, I made a quick stop to my room to tuck the book away onto my person. It would be best to keep it with me so that it can't be swiped while I'm away. Not to mention, maybe I'll be able to find some answers.

It took me quite some time to find any trace of the alleged lab assistant. I had to make sure none of my friends knew I was looking for him, as I knew they would discourage me. I checked the shift-rooms, the kitchen, the dining room, the puzzle room, even the library. Though, it was still greatly damaged due to the events that unfolded from the previous case. I couldn't stay for too long before the bad memories echoed in the back of my mind, ushering me out of the room.

As I walked through the back hall past the garden towards the compass, there was something else that came to mind that may still be damaged from the last trial.

That place being the auditorium.

Didn't Mikanne mention Monobotto being around there?

Checking to make sure nobody else was nearby, I slowly walked over to the auditorium doors before pausing at the sound of two voices.

"You-fool-! You-absolute-clown-!"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Insult me all you want you metal hunk of nuts and bolts."

Those voices. That's Monobotto and Tobi.

"What-do-you-think-you-are-doing-? You-know-that-you-are-putting-the-entire-project-in-danger-enough-already!"

"Oh, I know."

"Well-then-don't-do-that-! Master-Erito-will-"

"Master Erito will know exactly why I did it, and he will thank me for it. Leave me be, you damn machine. If it weren't for the fact Erito invented you, I'd have kicked you ten kilometers into space."

Master Erito invented Monobotto…

"You-insufferable-fool-! You-will-ruin-everything-!"

"We'll let Master Erito be the judge of that."

With that, Monobotto grumbled and stormed out of the room, zipping right past me. I then turned to look at Tobi, who waved with a grin.

"Hey, pretty bird. You did a real number on my head yesterday." He rubbed it, grinning. "Didn't think you had it in you."

I frowned, taking off my fedora and hugging it tightly. I was in no mood to speak casually with the alleged lab assistant. "What is going on?"

"Oh, well...this place is undergoing some construction." Tobi shrugged. "You know, flesh bag bodyguard's execution didn't go right."

It didn't go right?

Well, when I thought about it, it made sense. The stage was collapsing, and not even Monobotto seemed to have control of the situation.

"Until the hole gets patched up…" Tobi leaned against the doorframe. "The room's staff only. So, I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

I shook my head. "I will tell Zraiko and Mikanne you are here."

Tobi shrugged. "So?"

"So you will no longer be a danger to Kozaki." I nodded, confidently.

Tobi chuckled in response. "Pretty bird, I'm not a danger to Number One at all."

"His name is Kozaki." I leaned in. "And frankly, I do not believe you."

Tobi rolled his eyes. "He is Master Erito's experiment." He then cooly rolled his shoulders. "I'm just bringing him back to the lab."

There he goes again, saying he's the delivery boy or whatever. To be honest, I'm starting to wonder if he even believes himself. Or...does he have an ulterior motive?

"Which is exactly why you are dangerous." I firmly placed my hat back atop my head. "Kozaki can't even remember what happened to him in the lab. But the first thing he did when he stepped out of the elevator was call for help. Whatever you are doing to him, I will no longer allow it."

"You will not allow it?" The alleged lab assistant raised an eyebrow.

I held my hands together. "Indeed. I was asked by Fraize to look after Kozaki."

"Alright then, miss pretty bird." Tobi smiled. "Do it. Go get your friends. I'll be right here, waiting for them."

I closed my eyes and huffed while turning around and beginning to walk the other way. Just when Tobi thought I would leave, I whirred around and sprinted towards the auditorium.

"W-Wah!" Tobi quickly moved out of the way to avoid getting tackled.

I continued to run past him. I dashed down the aisle and leaped onto the stage, looking around with my own eyes at the scene.

The rubble was almost completely cleared out by now. In its place before me was a large, gaping hole in the floor. One that looked like it reached down into a void - a point of no return.

Or, so it seems.

"Hey, hey, hey!" Tobi struggled to climb into the stage. I could hear him grumble as he hopped up and down before finally clawing his way up. "I told you, you're not allowed here."

"Why?" I frowned, turning to the alleged lab assistant. "Is it because you are hiding something? Because you are hiding this?" I pointed to the hole.

Tobi glanced to the hole before shrugging. "Well, it would be pretty hard to hide a hole this big."

"...A hole in the floor, the execution falling apart, and his body wasn't ever recovered…" I glared at Tobi. "You know what happened to Fraize, and you're hiding it from us."

"Nya?" Tobi waved his hands in front of him. "Tobi doesn't know anything about-"

"Drop the act." I stepped closer to Tobi. "Or I'll drop you down that hole."

Tobi nervously stepped back. "Now now, don't be rash pretty bird. You'll become the blackened for that."

"You're not even in this killing game with us." I squinted my eyes. "You're just an interloper who overstayed his welcome."

"Welllll, if you want to be technical about it…" Tobi smiled. "I have a talent, just like you. Every high member from Faceless has one."

"Faceless...is that your cult?" I held my hands together.

"Cult?" Tobi placed his hands to his hips. "It's an organization, thank you very much."

"Whatever it is." I tilted my head. "What makes you say you're technically in the game?"

Tobi stepped back again and bowed. "My name is Tobi, though I won't be telling you my last name. If you'd like, you could think of me as Tobi Hajimoto." He stood upright and smiled. "I am the Elite-Level Lab Assistant. Pleasure to meet you."

Elite-Level...this isn't the first time I've heard this talk of elites before.

"What does that mean, elite?" I asked, curiously.

"It means I have surpassed the rank of Super-Highschool-Level." Tobi pointed to me. "A superior among ultimate students, if you will."

"A superior…" I didn't really believe that for one second.

"And who are you, pretty bird?" Tobi asked, smiling in an oddly benevolent manner.

I took a quick breath. "My name is Riko Hamoizumi. I am...a clarinetist."

Tobi tilted his head. "No Super-Highschool-Level anything?"

"No." I shut my eyes. "I do not believe my abilities are anything to be regarded as superior to any other clarinetist."

"Huh." Tobi simply crossed his arms. "You do confuse me, Madame Riko."

Ah...he has stopped referring to me as a pretty bird.

"So tell me." Tobi hopped off the stage and strolled up the aisle for a moment before pausing and turning around. "What are you looking for?"

I carefully climbed off the stage and walked over to Tobi, taking my time to answer. "The truth. I want to know who Fraize is."

"Who he is, you say?" Tobi seemed to be rather interested in my response. "You are using the present tense."

"That I am." I nodded. "So please, there has to be more to know. Something that's missing."

Tobi shrugged. "I don't have anything to tell you, Madame Riko."

"Just call me Riko." I sighed, holding my hands together. "And...are you being truthful with me now?"

He paused. "...I can't tell you."

"Ah?" That caught me by surprise. "Why not?"

He shook his head and continued to walk forwards, towards the exit. "You'll find out the truth in due time. But for now it's too soon."

I wasn't satisfied by that response. "Are you looking for an excuse not to tell me?"

Tobi then stopped before turning back to me. He walked at a rather quick pace up to me in order to whisper into my ear. "You have to believe me."

I watched as Tobi then stepped away and resumed his walk towards the exit. He then lifted his hands up and spoke in a cheerful manner. "Hey, hey. Just the two guys I was hoping to see. Mikanne and Zraiko, you two kept me waiting!"

I don't know what came over me, but my instinct was to duck in-between the row of chairs and hide.

It wasn't until after the three of them left before I slowly moved out of hiding and looked around.

Tobi couldn't tell me the truth. Now I have to believe him. Why?

Perhaps because there is no choice.

I took a quick look back to the stage.

Kozaki needs to see this.


I backtracked along my journey to find Tobi with a new quest to find Kozaki. Though, it didn't take me as long to find him. Slowly opening the door to the garden, I looked to find him sitting down by the graves. I quietly shut the door behind me as I walked over to sit beside him.

"...Good morning." Kozaki turned to look at me, smiling lightly. "Are you feeling alright?"

I turned to look at him, feeling surprised. "Ah? Yes, I am fine...but what about you?"

Kozaki looked back to the graves, sighing lightly. "Still alive."

"Indeed." I looked over to the graves. "...Kozaki, there is something I need to share with you."

"Hmm?" He looked back to me, tilting his head lightly.

"I found Tobi in the auditorium speaking with Monobotto about something." I closed my eyes to recall the event. "The stage, it had a massive hole in it."

"A hole?" He blinked, curiously. "Does it...lead to some place?"

I shook my head, sighing. "I am sorry, but...it appears to lead to nothing but an endless void."

Kozaki fell silent for a moment. He closed his eyes and appeared to be thinking deeply about something.

"Do you believe there was some kind of trick?" I asked him, holding my hands together. "That there's something more that we missed?"

"...Then you feel the same, don't you?" Kozaki looked over to me. "About him."

I turned to look at Kozaki. "About Fraize?"

Kozaki nodded. "You don't believe it either, do you?"

I looked back to the grave and closed my eyes. "No. I do not."

The former arsonist smiled. "I think he's out there, somewhere." He then turned to the grave and sighed. "I spent so long feeling despair...I stopped thinking logically. Well, maybe this whole time I've never thought logically about anything at all." He then chuckled. "That's more of Zraiko's way of thinking, but even he doesn't seem to realize the possibility."

I turned to look back to Kozaki. "If Fraize is alive, where is he now?"

Kozaki closed his eyes. "...Remember what my uncle said?"

"That he hates to have talent wasted, and that he recognized Fraize as an incredible individual." I held my hands together. "You don't think your uncle has him, do you?"

He let out a sigh. "I don't even know if it's true. Maybe I'm being too hopeful. But...until I've seen his body for myself, I'll keep believing that he's somewhere alive. And if I'm wrong, if I'm just being delusional and heartbroken and unable to move on...I guess I'll have to prepare myself for that."

"How are we going to find Fraize?" I tilted my head, lightly. "To even get to the lab…"

"We'll need Tobi." Kozaki felt his right arm. "But the problem is...that fucker has screws loose. I think he has his own agenda, rather than being aligned with the cult."

I don't think Tobi would ever help us anyway knowing we were searching for Fraize. The alleged lab assistant made it clear he hates him.

"Riko...I need you to come with me to my room." Kozaki stood up. "There's something I need to show you."

I stood up as well, nodding. "Alright. I will come with you."

We walked together back around the Compass to the dormitory area. It might have been the long way, but it would be better than walking through the library. We passed by Kyohi and Weise on the way, and the two of them smiled upon seeing Kozaki back on his feet, filled with a determination they were unaware of.

As we entered Kozaki's room, I looked around to see it wasn't as dusty as I had imagined. I mean, it still had the feeling like it had not been occupied in quite some time, but there certainly wasn't a blanket of dust covering over everything.

Kozaki sat down on his bed, patting a space for me to join him. As I took a seat, he spoke up. "I feel like a bit of an idiot now. The thing I wanted to show you, well...Zraiko threw it in the trash. So, I can try to explain it to you instead…"

"Ah, the papers?" I took out my Bottolet. "I knew I was right to take pictures of these."

Kozaki watched as I swiped through all the pictures of the papers he had written. He smiled. "You've saved me again, Riko."

I smiled for a moment before switching back to a 'let's get down to business' expression. "These papers, what are they?"

"I wrote them, all of them." He explained, feeling his head. "It might sound weird, but...could I borrow your tablet for a moment?"

I nodded as I passed him the Bottolet.

Kozaki placed all the pictures onto a blank canvas app. From there, he started to move them around as though he were working to solve a puzzle.

"It probably looks like something out of a science fiction movie." Kozaki continued to swipe the pictures around.

"I get the feeling that you are going to explain why these are very real and a large concern." I folded my hands onto my lap.

I watched as Kozaki worked to finish lining the pictures up. "I don't know why or how…" He explained as he swiped again at my tablet in a focused manner. "But I feel like at times I'm losing myself. And whenever I felt that way while I was alone in Fraize's room, which was pretty often, I would get out some scrap paper and write. And this...this is what I ended up with."

Watching as Kozaki pulled his hand away, my eyes grew wide. What was left behind on my tablet's screen was some sort of blueprint.

Blueprints for something I couldn't even begin to understand. A machine of some kind? There was a table, some place for lights, some sort of x-ray, and so many other components that I couldn't name at all.

"Riko, it feels like everything is locked inside of me." Kozaki turned to me. "This truth, whatever it is. Deep down inside me, it has to be there."

"Then how do you plan on finding this truth?" I asked him, still examining the blueprints.

Kozaki stood up as he sighed. "I'm going to the lab. I have to. I'll let Tobi bring me there. And...it might be best to go it alone."

I was quick to reject the idea. "You cannot. It is too dangerous. If you go, then I am coming with you."

Kozaki looked to the side. "That's something Fraize would say."

I shook my head. "That's something I will do."

Kozaki turned back to me. "Riko…"

I closed my eyes for a moment. "Remember, we were partners when we first woke up here. We need to stick together, to help each other out of a pinch. While all I have to offer talentwise is the ability to make music, I still will give you my complete support."

Kozaki grew quiet.

"Please." I held my hands together. "I might not be skilled with a weapon. I might not be strong or fast. I might not be witty. But...I know that I want to find the truth. I know that I want to end this game. With you, Kozaki. As your friend...please allow me to come."

He let out a soft sigh before nodding. "Okay, but you have to promise me something."

"What is it?" I asked, worriedly.

He looked me in the eyes. "Don't protect me. Stand with me by my side, not in front of me like a shield. Alright?"

I slowly nodded. "Alright."

He then looked ready to leave. "We should eat before we go. Maybe I can try to make...something. I'm still not very good at cooking, but I feel like I owe you because you're always cooking nowadays. I never even touched your salad because of my piss-poor attitude...I'm sorry."

I shook my head. "No, no. It is alright. You were - you are grieving."

He then cracked a smile. "If we find Fraize, and he's alright, then I won't have anything to grieve about."

Before he could stand up, I quickly took his hand. "One moment, please."

He slowly turned back to me before sitting again. "What is it, Riko?"

"I need to talk to you about this book." I showed Kozaki the book on the Daisuke family, worriedly. "Monobotto left it for me to find in the North Classroom."

Kozaki slowly took the book. He seemed to be studying the book as though it were a photo album with his family's memories recorded inside. "That robot left it there, huh…" He then opened up the cover to see the front page. "Who even wrote this book?"

"I do not know." I shook my head. "Though I currently suspect it to be a member of the cult, perhaps even your uncle."

The former arsonist nodded in response. "I don't know how anyone else would be able to write this if they weren't in my family."

"...I am sorry." I bowed my head, hugging my fedora. "I read this book. Only the material about your uncle, but...I never had any intention of invading your personal life."

Quietly looking at me, Kozaki patted me on the shoulder. "It's alright. We're in a pretty fucked up situation right now. We need all the answers we can get."

I watched as Kozaki began to flip through many pages. "Is there anything here that you find important?"

He skimmed over a few pages before sighing. "I mean...this is all stuff I already know. Well…" He looked away. "Or rather, stuff I've been told."

"Stuff you've been told?" I tilted my head lightly to the side.

"Mikanne...told me about my childhood yesterday." He felt at his head. "About what he says really happened. I can't remember any of it, but...I think by this point I would be an idiot to trust in my own memories. I keep blanking out what happens in the lab...it's so frustrating." He looked at me. "I swear, the answers...they have to be there. In the lab, in my memories, whatever. I should have them, but I don't."

I nodded, slowly.

"Riko, may I hold onto the book for you?" Kozaki asked, looking to the side. "Since it's...about my family and all."

I nodded again. "Yes, of course. It only makes sense."

Kozaki smiled and put the book away, tucked under his bed's pillow. "I think that settles it, then. Now, let's really go and eat. I'm hungry."

I giggled gently in response. "Alright. Let's go eat."

We headed into the kitchen to find Kyohi making himself a salad. He smiled and waved to the two of us. "Heya, guys. Everything going okay today?"

I nodded, holding my hands together. "Yes. We were just stopping in for a moment."

Kozaki walked over to the fridge and opened it up. He then hummed as he closed it, then checking the pantries. He closed the pantries without taking anything from them, then returning to the fridge to open it again. He closed it again, glanced to the side, then opened it yet again. He then let out a sigh as he closed the fridge for the final time. "There's nothing to eat."

I walked over to the fridge and opened it for myself. The fridge's shelves were all filled with wonderfully fresh ingredients waiting to be cooked. Juicy tomatoes, fatty strips of bacon, cool blueberries, and so much more. "What do you mean? The fridge is filled, Kozaki."

"Yeah, but…" He crossed his arms. "There's nothing I can just grab and take with me."

I slowly took out the blueberries, along with some milk and eggs. "Well, perhaps you should take a seat then while I make us some food."

Kyohi let out a short giggle as he took his salad out of the kitchen as he left. I presume he was going to spend his free time elsewhere. With Weise, possibly?

Kozaki sat down on the kitchen table, crossing his arms and awkwardly swinging his legs. "Okay…"

I then went into the pantry to get out some flour and sugar. It was time to make some blueberry crepes. Mixing up the batter in a bowl and getting out a pan, I turned on the gas and watched as the flame flickered to life. Then, I cut a slab of butter and watched as it began to slide across the pan. After the butter bubbled, I poured in some of the batter and began to wait for it to cook.

Kozaki looked over upon hearing the sound of the sizzling pancake. He stood up and walked over to examine it, as though he were a curious child watching his mother cook breakfast for him.

"It smells good." He smiled, glancing at me for a moment.

"Ah, thank you." I turned to him, returning the smile. "I think I've gotten a good amount of practice after making all those crepes with Weise."

"Hehe, yeah…" He then focused on the pancake.

I tilted my head lightly, noticing how his behavior suddenly changed. He seemed to be...not mentally present.

Kozaki's eyes were fixed on the flames of the stove. I could hear him whisper something to himself, but I couldn't quite make out what it was.

Burn, burn, burn…

I double-checked to make sure I didn't have the heat turned up too high. Burn...are the crepes burning?

No, they're just fine. I know what a burned crepe is. I've already burned countless ones before.

Burn, burn, burn…I have to burn. I need to burn.

I turned back to Kozaki. "Do not worry, Kozaki. I am certain the crepes are not going to burn."

He moved right past me to the stove, his hands were shaking. The shaking became more violent as he started to reach for the gas switch

I quickly ran to the sink in order to fill up a cup of water before rushing back to Kozaki to splash his head with it.

He jerked away from the stove in surprise. "H-Huh?!"

I smiled lightly before lowering the cup. "Leave the cooking to me, Kozaki."

He looked around in a daze before stepping away from the stove. "R-Right, sorry."

I glanced back over to the fire for a moment. "Do you - Does the sight of fire…?"

Kozaki didn't seem to understand me at first before blinking and waving his hands. "O-Oh, no. It's alright. It's - I've always been like this."

Turning back to him, I gently placed a hand onto his shoulder. "Is there anything I can do?"

Lamentively, he shook his head. "I don't think this will ever leave me."

"Kozaki…" I gulped, worriedly. "You can't just keep this inside of you.

He sighed and looked down. "I've been doing it for nine years, Riko."

"That doesn't make it any better." I shook my head, lightly. "You don't have to deal with your burdens alone."

He then looked up, then shaking his head with a solemn facial expression. "Now isn't the time. We have more important things to worry about."

I wasn't satisfied with that response, but it seemed like at the moment there was no getting through to him.

We ate our crepes in silence. I then took the plates and washed them up before turning back to Kozaki. With a firm nod, he headed out of the kitchen. Holding my hands as well as my words, I trailed behind him.


As we stepped into the auditorium, I could feel the atmosphere growing tenser and colder. This was a place of death - of despair.

"Now then…" Kozaki slowly walked down the aisle.

I slowly trailed behind him. "Any ideas on where to look?"

Kozaki climbed onto the stage while looking around. "No, no clue…"

I glanced to the side, half expecting Monobotto to pop out and demand us to leave. But, that didn't seem like it would happen. Strangely enough, it felt as though we were allowed to see this place.

"I...to be honest...I don't want to remember what happened." Kozaki shook his head. "I don't want to remember watching what happened to him."

I closed my eyes, letting out a soft sigh. The entire memory must have been extremely traumatic for Kozaki. To witness your lover suffer, unable to do anything except to watch from a distance…

I would never want to experience that sort of feeling.

"This hole…" Kozaki peered down into it. "It looks so deep...how could he have survived the fall?"

"Hmm...I do have one idea." I nodded. "Some of the stages I have performed on had elevators underneath. Perhaps, during the collapse of the debris, he may have been pulled in by something or someone and brought down to…"

"To those labs." Kozaki nodded. "Yeah, my uncle said he hates wasted talent. Fraize was seriously hurt. They'd have to treat him right away."

I calmly looked down the hole. "Though it does not currently appear that an elevator is here...there might be signs that there was one here before. Such as a shaft."

Kozaki sat down on the ground with his arms crossed. "Seems like a damn hole to me."

I continued to examine the hole. "Though, there are cables of some kind…"

Kozaki looked back at me. "So did he fucking swing down the cables like some kind of jungle man? How could an elevator just vanish, in a few days no less?"

"How could an elevator vanish indeed…" I tilted my head in thought. "Or perhaps it never left at all. Did you know, on the ground floor for most elevators, there is a place to put in a key? It summons the elevator and keeps it on that floor. They could be doing that while repairing this stage."

"Maybe, maybe…" Kozaki layed down. "Looks like we can't take this elevator down, but...what about the one at the Compass?"

"Ah?" I sat beside him. "The one that leads to the class trial room?"

He nodded. "Maybe...it leads to other floors as well. After all, there aren't any buttons for us to push. It's being controlled by someone. And, Tobi had to get here somehow."

I paused for a moment to consider this. It's true. During the recent class trial, Kozaki came out of that elevator seemingly directly from the labs...

"So, you are thinking that we get Tobi to send us down?" I asked, trying to make sure we were at the same place discussion-wise.

"Yeah." Kozaki sat up. "If not him, well...I'm not sure how else we could get down there."

"However." I held my hands together. "Tobi is being guarded by Zraiko and Mikanne...and those two most certainly would be adamant about keeping him away from us."

Kozaki then chuckled. "Don't worry, I think I have a plan for handling that."

Ah, a plan? I wonder what it could be.

Kozaki and I then both left the auditorium, heading all the way back to the other side of the Killing Odyssey. The former arsonist nodded to me before knocking on Zraiko's Shift Room door.

The door was opened relatively quickly. Zraiko glanced at the two of us before sighing. "No, you can't see Tobi."

Kozaki calmly put his hands in his pockets. "Don't worry, we're not here to see him."

Zraiko blinked before stepping out of the room. "Really? Then why are you here?"

Kozaki glanced from me to the door back to Zraiko. "Just...checking on you and Mikanne."

"We're fine." Zraiko shrugged, indifferently.

I stepped forward. "Monobotto is looking to speak with you."

Kozaki looked back over to me, but didn't comment on it.

Zraiko didn't seem to detect my lie, possibly because of my honest reputation. "That wingnut? What the hell does it want now?"

I held my hands together. "It...has not told me. But I overheard it fuming this morning about Tobi at the auditorium. So…"

Scratching his chin, Zraiko glanced back to the door. "Hmm...I'll go see what's up, in that case." He then squinted his eyes at the two of us. "But don't try anything with Tobi while I'm gone."

We then watched as the hacker walked off, presumably to the auditorium.

Kozaki looked back at me. "Were you telling the truth?"

I nodded, calmly. "Yes. A...spin on the truth, but a truth nonetheless."

"Well, you sure are much more believable than me. I think you should handle this." He chuckled, feeling his right arm.

I smiled in return before walking into the Shift Room. Mikanne and Tobi were sitting across from each other in a detective's interrogation manner. The two of them looked over to Kozaki and I as we entered.

We were greeted with...silence.

"H-Hey." Kozaki waved with an awkward smile. "How's the uh...interrogation?"

Mikanne sighed and crossed his arms. "You cannot speak with Tobi."

"I-I didn't say that was why we were here." Kozaki shook his head.

"Okay…" Mikanne calmly tilted his head. "Why are you here?"

Kozaki sheepishly smiled and glanced in my direction. A look that said, please help me Riko.

"We're here to speak to Tobi." I nodded, confidently. "But it's not about Fraize, and it's not about the cult either."

Mikanne sat upright and smiled. "I appreciate your honesty, Riko. But, I still can't leave you alone in the room with Tobi."

"We didn't ask you to leave the room, did we?" I held my hands together and walked over with a smile. "It'll only be a moment."

Kozaki had a dumbfounded 'what are you doing' expression on his face.

I took a seat on the floor with my legs crossed. "Hello, Tobi."

"Hello, Riko." Tobi crossed his legs and smiled.

I calmly took off my fedora. "Would you mind telling us about how the elevator works?"

"The elevator?" Mikanne looked at me. "The one that goes to the class trial?"

Kozaki then took a seat as well. "The one where I also happened to come out from."

"The elevator?" Tobi tilted his head. "Oh, well it works just like any other elevator."

"Who controls the elevator?" I asked, feeling my cheek. "Is it you?"

Tobi hummed in thought. "As long as you have an id card-"

"So you can control it." Kozaki leaned in. "Because you have an id card. Otherwise, how would you even be here now?"

Tobi quietly looked to the side. He seemed to be calculating his next response. Was he...catching onto what Kozaki and I were planning?

"You can leave whenever you want. You don't need to be rescued at all." Mikanne leaned in. "Is that what this means?"

Tobi simply shrugged. "Well, at the moment I do not want to be rescued."

"What an annoyance…" Mikanne muttered to himself before standing up. "First you say one thing, then you say another, talking to you is like walking in circles…"

"Well, they do say I'm a pretty roundabout kinda guy." The interloper grinned.

The tattoo artist groaned in annoyance before walking out. "I need a break. I'll get something to eat." He then shot a look back to the three of us. "Don't try anything. I'll go tell Kyohi to come over while I'm gone."

After Mikanne had left, Kozaki looked back to me. "That...went surprisingly better than I expected."

"It's a little trick that I learned." I giggled. "Sometimes, when you do something so unexpected in front of someone, they don't know how to react to it immediately and might miss it entirely."

"You're a smart girl." Tobi hopped out from his seat and stretched. "Alright, then. Number One wants to use the elevator to get down to the lab. Right?"

"Right." I stood up from the ground. "And I will be accompanying him."

Tobi looked at Kozaki, then at me. Then at Kozaki, then at me. Back and forth, back and forth. "Are you stupid?"

Kozaki shook his head. "No, I'm not. Send us down there, to the lab."

"Eleven isn't supposed to be down there, One…" Tobi crossed his arms. "They'll gut her alive, I'm telling you. She has no business being down there. Hell, why does she even want to go down there?"

I gulped, feeling a drop of sweat roll down the side of my face. Why...Why do I want to go down there? Why so stupidly get myself involved?

"That's not allowed." Kozaki insisted, brushing off the other part of Tobi's rebuttal. "Monobotto can't hurt her, so those cultists should be playing by their own rules."

"They can make up whatever rules they want." Tobi rolled his eyes. I couldn't tell if he was trying to look out for me, or if he was playing some kind of trick.

"I won't let anything happen to her." Kozaki frowned. There was this...glint in his eyes. Was it confidence?

Whatever it was, it caused Tobi to back down. "Fine, fine, fine. Let's go to the elevator. But, I won't be sending you anywhere before you tell me what you're doing. Especially her."

As we walked from the Shift Rooms towards the Compass, I began to feel incredibly nervous. Should I go through with this? Going down to the lab?

No, I cannot back out now. I have to find the truth of this game. I have to find Fraize, and so much more. My friends, I have to save them. I have to find the truth to end this cursed game. If going down to this lab is a risk to my life...I'll just have to be more careful.

When we got to the elevator, the alleged lab assistant turned to us. "What are you hoping for, One? You'll be captured right away to be whisked into further testing."

"Isn't that what you wanted?" Kozaki asked, glaring.

"Is it? Did I say it was what I wanted?" Tobi crossed his arms, swaying his body slightly from side to side. "Maybe I changed my mind again."

Raising my hand lightly, I smiled. "I'm looking for the truth. That's all."

Tobi tilted his head. "You're looking for it?"

Kozaki stepped forwards. "I know there's something going on down there. Some machine, Fraize possibly surviving, this talk of elites...there's something bigger than the killing game going on. If you're not going to tell us what it is, we're going to find out for ourselves."

I nodded, confidently. Yes, that's right. I have to go down there. The truth is waiting for me.

Tobi then walked up to the elevator, sighing and taking out his ID card. "Have fun with that, then-"

I then dashed forward to swipe the card from Tobi's hands. "I'll be needing that."

"N-Nyah?!" Tobi tried to reach back at me to retrieve his card.

"Now it's my turn to hold an important item of yours." I huffed, holding the card firmly. "Only this time, I'll guarantee its safe return to you. So as long as you wait here upstairs with the others, that is."

Tobi grumbled. "Tobi has no reason to stay here if Number One is going."

"Tobi should've left when he fucked up and got caught here." Kozaki calmly turned to the elevator.

"But, but, but-" The interloper frowned.

Kozaki turned back to the alleged lab assistant, shooting a very sharp look. "Stay up here."

And there again, that unusual glint in Kozaki's eyes. One that Tobi was quick to notice. Grumbling, the alleged lab assistant walked away down the hall. Though, he didn't seem to be as upset as he was letting on.

I don't think I'll ever understand that lab assistant.

"...Good grief." Kozaki muttered under his breath before looking at me. "Well? Let's see if this card can get the elevator to work."

I nodded, taking the card and pressing it against the door. I honestly didn't have a clue how to use it, but I found myself with a stroke of luck. The area around the card began to glow a faint green color. It webbed out from the card all over the door as a mechanical humming echoed. When the humming came to an end, I pulled the card back and gulped as the doors opened.

"...Let's go." Kozaki stepped inside with only a moment's hesitation.

I nodded firmly as I followed behind. The doors closed, leaving me to look around for some place to control the floor level.

"Try that trick again." Kozaki looked over to the area next to the door. "Like...over there, where buttons usually go."

I followed his instructions, and once again the green lights faded in, climbing up the wall lightly to reveal a set of buttons. We were on the top floor.

And well...the top floor was the very top. There were so many levels below us, I didn't know what to choose. So, I picked a floor at random and tapped on the light. It flickered for a moment before the lights all faded and the elevator began to hum once again.

I stepped back next to Kozaki and tucked the ID card into my shoe. He looked over to me and offered his hand with a shy smile. I took it and squeezed it in return.


When the elevator doors opened, I could only feel my anxiety rise. The white-painted floors and ceilings made the atmosphere artificial and claustrophobic.

"Let's hurry." Kozaki took my hand. "I think I might know the way."

"Broken memories?" I asked him.

He shook his head. "Actually, there are signs on the walls."

I then giggled lightly in embarrassment. "Ah...I see."

Hurrying down the halls, we did everything we could to stay out of sight. Though, I figured that wouldn't be very effective. Security cameras could be everywhere. Someone may already know we're here.

We journeyed through the unknown corridors, searching for any possible place where we could find answers. That machine, or even Fraize. We had to find them. We had to find the truth.

But we couldn't find anything at all. Instead, we found ourselves to be incredibly lost.

"Damn it...this place is like a maze." Kozaki muttered, looking from side to side.

I gulped, checking behind to make sure we weren't being followed. It was then when I spotted some cultists walking in our direction. It appeared as though they were not alerted to our presence.

Quietly taking Kozaki's hand, I pulled us around the corner and into a room. The room was a locker room, with a bench and a bathroom with not much else. I figured we could lock ourselves into the bathroom to hide out for a while, but...we could end up trapping ourselves inside there. In fact, we could be trapping ourselves inside here.

What if we could crawl by air vent?

No, the vents are secured and are too high up.

What do we do now?

Kozaki crossed his arms to think. "Could we pick the lock of these lockers and put on some cultist uniforms?

"Ah, that's a great idea." I walked over to one of the lockers, trying to find some way to open it. "...If only Zraiko was here. He would know how to pick the lock…"

Kozaki walked over beside me and tried to examine the lock. "...Shit, but we don't have anything to use to pick it."

"Then...what shall we do? If we stay here, we'll be caught for sure." I gulped.

"We keep sneaking around." Kozaki groaned, feeling his head. "It's the best chance we have…"

I gulped, looking to the side. "I hope we'll be able to find Fraize soon…"

"We will. As long as we don't give up." Kozaki turned to the door. "Ready?"

We continued to sneak around, peeking through windows of doors to see if we could find Fraize, or even just a sign from his presence.

Room to room, one to another. But there was nothing, no trace of him anywhere. I was starting to feel my heart sink, the thought that maybe Fraize was really gone inching closer to reality the longer we continued.

Our search brought us to a room that stood out more than the others. I don't remember how many flights of stairs or hallways we slipped through to arrive here. I was worried that we may not even be able to find our way back. But, there was no going back now.

The room stood out for very few reasons. It has a potted plant on the outside, and a sign on the door that read 'Office of Erito Hajimoto (H.D.)' printed in golden letters atop a polished wooden plank.

Stepping inside, Kozaki was quick to shut the door behind us. "Damn it, I'm starting to feel even more anxious. We've barely seen any cultists around. What the hell does it mean?"

I walked forwards into the room, looking around the shelves and desk. There was a photograph of a young man and woman together, resting on the desk nicely without a speck of dust. There were stacks of papers with data statistics for something I couldn't understand, so I decided not to mess with them.

Kozaki walked over to a bookshelf. He seemed to be in deep thought, as though he was debating with himself as to if he recognized this room or not. He then took a look at the picture on the desk. "...Uncle?"

I turned back to the photo. "This man is your uncle?"

Kozaki walked over besides me. "It looks like him from when he was younger... who's that girl he's with?"

I turned back to the former arsonist. "This woman isn't your aunt?"

He shook his head. "I've never seen her before. But...they look so happy together."

I looked back at the photo again. "Hmm…"

Kozaki slowly stood upright, then turned to look at the drawers of the desk. "There's gotta be more here."

"More?" I looked over to him.

Kozaki slowly took out a CD disk container and opened it up. "... Tsubomi."

"Tsubomi?" I kneeled down to look closer. "As in... Tsubomi Nono? From that killing game?"

Kozaki closed the disk container and looked at the back. "A note…"

I examined the back of the container closely. A note was written in red sharpie, with little hearts drawn around it.

Erito, I want to give this to you as a gift, though I feel like I owe you so much more. You accepted me and loved me for who I was, and didn't care about where I came from. Gosh, I know I'm a dunce for formalities, but please accept this gift. With love, Bonnie.

Bonnie. Was this her nickname?

My perspective on Kozaki's uncle was starting to shift. I had seen him as a cruel man who wanted to take revenge on his sister-in-law. Who was jealous, who wanted to cause suffering. But, I never thought about anything more of Haiji. I never thought that he himself could be suffering. If he truly loved Tsubomi…

If he still loves Tsubomi…

"Well, look who it is."

Kozaki and I slowly stood up to see a man standing in the middle of the doorframe. It was him.

"Uncle…" Kozaki frowned and took a step back, setting down the CD onto the desk.

"If it isn't my dear nephew...oh, and you brought a friend." Haiji stepped towards us with a warm smile. "This is Riko, right?"

Neither of us responded.

"I'm so sorry, I don't have anything to offer you." Haiji's smile wavered and his eye twitched. "You see, you were uninvited. I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

I frowned, keeping eye contact with Haiji. "And if I refuse?"

Haiji chuckled in a sickly warm manner before leaning in. "You weren't given other options, now were you?"

"Leave her alone, Uncle." Kozaki stepped forward. "I'm here now, just like you wanted."

"You always were such a difficult child…" Haiji stepped back. "You came, but now what are we going to do about your friend?"

"Nothing. You'll be doing nothing." Kozaki stepped forwards again. "In fact, I didn't just come here to lay down on a table for you. We came down here...to find someone. To find something."

I nodded with confidence.

"Oh?" Haiji scratched the back of his head. "Well, you found me."

Kozaki looked as though he were ready to fire back with a remark, but Haiji cut him off.

"Look. Enough games. You've set us all behind." Haiji stepped forwards again. "And frankly...I've lost my patience."

"You sound rather calm for someone under stress." Kozaki stepped forwards once more so he ended up behind just inches apart from his uncle. "What's the matter? Is your killing game in trouble now?"

His uncle chuckled again before grabbing Kozaki by the throat. "What an annoying child you are, Kozaki Hotamoujou-Hiroti Daisuke!"

"Stop it!" I hurried forwards to try and help my friend. "Let go of him!"

But Haiji ignored me. It was like I didn't even exist. I was nothing to him.

Well, this is what happens when people underestimate me!

Shutting my eyes, I swung my leg into Haiji's groin. It caused him to shriek and drop Kozaki, to which I quickly supported and retreated from Haiji.

"...I've had enough." Haiji stepped out of the way from the doorframe.

The room was then flooded by cultists. They all reached and grabbed at us, grabbing at Kozaki. I tried as hard as I could to protect him, but...I failed.

"R-Riko!" Kozaki reached for me, albeit it being futile.

I extended a hand back to him, but it didn't matter. There were too many cultists pulling us farther and farther apart.

"It's time you've finally had your medication, my dear nephew." Haiji calmly walked over to Kozaki. "Come on now. You've kept us waiting long enough. You need to be cleaned."

"Get the hell away from me!" Kozaki attempted to rebel and free himself.

I tried my best to escape, to help Kozaki. But the cultists were already pulling me away from the office to a location I didn't know was awaiting me. Kozaki called out my name several times before he was cut off.

Then he was silent.

The cultists spun me around to push me forwards. I was walked down a long hallway for quite some time. I squeezed my eyes shut, fearing that now I would find myself in a horrific situation alone.

I felt as though we walked for at least an hour, maybe even more. But even then, it wasn't enough time for me to answer my question. Why? Why was I here? What have I done?

We were stopping and starting again and again. Climbing down stairs and going up stairs I wondered if even the cultists knew where I was going. All the while, I was trapped in my own mind, worrying about Kozaki. Medication? Cleaning? It all sounded like part of some horrific experiment...

"Wait, wait."

The cultists stopped in their tracks.

"Sorry. I'd like to take things from here. You know how Number Eleven and I are friends. You'll allow it, won't you?"

The cultists all slowly began to disperse. Once the crowd had parted, I slowly turned around to face the person who was speaking to me.

"What a pleasure to meet you at last…" The person smiled, extending a hand to me.

I stepped back, eyes widening. "It...can't be…"

"Surprised? I would be, too." He chuckled, pulling his hand back. "There's no need for me to introduce myself, is there?"

My shock was then transformed to fear, or perhaps it was anger. "Is this a trick?"

"A trick?" He stepped forwards. "Oh no, I have no reason to trick you at all."

I found myself to be flooded with questions, with too many emotions. I couldn't believe it. "Then...it was you all along?"

"Haha, bingo! I'm so glad, honestly. Seeing your reaction, it means it worked after all!" He smiled, warmly. "That's right, Riko. I am the mastermind. Of the killing game, of the Faceless Organization, of the kingdom of the elites! It all makes sense now, doesn't it?"

I stepped away, pressing my back against the wall. I couldn't believe it - I refused to believe it at all. I wanted to shut my eyes. I felt as though everything I had believed in was mercilessly thrown out. And he was right. It was all falling into place to make sense, and it only twisted the knife more. I wanted to yell out that this was all wrong.

But no matter how much I wanted to...I couldn't do it.

"Come on, now. Have I gotten you speechless? Well, I guess I would also react the same if I was in your shoes."

I still couldn't manage a response.

"Well, we don't have all day. Let me escort you to your special guest room. After all...if we let you back into the game with Number One, you'll tell everyone who I am."

With Number One.

With Kozaki.

"Well, well, well…you were warned, weren't you? Look what happens when you find out the truth too soon. I hate to do this to a friend, really I do. But...I can't afford to let you go now. Don't worry...I promise I won't let anything happen to you."

And just like that, he had answered the question I was asking myself. Why was I here? Why did I force myself into business I clearly didn't belong in? Because of my selfish pursuit of the truth. I wasn't trying to find the truth for the others. I was trying to find it for myself.

He extended his hand out to me once again. "Come with me, Riko. Become an Elite with me, and stand by my side."

It was then when I was finally able to speak. "Who...are you?"

He chuckled for a short moment, showing a sweet yet sinister smile.

"I am Erito Hajimoto."


~Chapter Six, Daily Life Three, End~