IV - The Inmates' Ensemble: Daily Life Part 2

*Past chapter referenced: 16

*CW for alcohol abuse, and (almost, not quite) incest between robotic bears...

"Um, this is an announcement from the Ultimate Academy." Monophanie's sugar-sweet-voice echoes throughout the campus. "It is now ten-pm. Night-time officially starts now. Did you bastards know that staying up late is bad for your skin? With that in mind, please go to sleep soon, okay?"

Monotaro sprawls out on the sofa beside his sister. "Monophanie…"

"What is it?"

"I've been meaning to tell you, that flower looks really pretty on you. Not just the flower but you… You're so beautiful, it's making me feel a certain way..."

"M-Monotaro!" Monphanie gasps. "Y-you can't just blurt something like that out! We're on camera!"

Edging closer to her, Monotaro takes hold of Monophanie's paw. "It's crazy, really… I never thought about you this way until now… being next to you on this sofa, it's like a dream come true, if I'm honest. I feel like the luckiest bear in the world."

"Ba-dump!"

"So," Monotaro goes on. "Do you perhaps, feel the way that I do?"

"That's… N-no… we can't, Monotaro." Monophanie flushes pinker than her fur. "We're family, after all. D-don't tell me you've forgotten…"

"I don't care about that! I only need you, Monophan—"

Monodam waddles into the frame. "WHAT-IS-GOING-ON?"

"M-Monodam!" exclaims Monophanie. "When did you—!?"

"ARE-YOU-TWO-SQUABBLING-AGAIN? DO-YOU-NEED-MY-ASSISTENCE-IN-GETTING-ALONG? I-WILL-KEEP-THE-PEACE-BY-ANY-MEANS-NECESSARY."

Monotaro sighs. "Y-you really don't have to…"

"IT-IS-ALL-RIGHT-MONOTARO. YOU-SAVED-MY-LIFE." With a swoop of his paw, Monodam brandishes a frying pan. "THIS-IS-THE-LEAST-I-CAN-DO. NOW-LET-US-ALL-GET-ALONG-TOGETHER."

"Noooo!"

Click

The monitor clicks off. In her bedroom, Kaede scrunches her face up at the screen. What was that? Sighing, she shakes her head. I guess there's no point asking questions, she thinks. After all, there's something much more important I need to attend to right now.

Kaede steps out of the dormitory and into the fresh night air. Kaito stands a few feet away, under the pavilion. Waving, he calls, "Hey! Sorry, I thought I'd be late. I had some trouble convincing her to come."

Kaede blinks. "Her…?" As the word leaves Kaede's lips, Maki steps out from behind Kaito's shadow. "Oh," says Kaede. "Maki's joining us?"

Kaito's smile widens. "Yeah! Remember when we first trained out here? I tried to bring Maki along, but she outright refused." He laughs. "But now that you guys seem all buddy-buddy, I figured it'd be worth a second shot!"

"B-buddy-buddy?" splutters Kaede.

Frowning, Maki folds her arms. "I wouldn't say we're that close."

Kaito swats the air dismissively. "Haha, don't worry about the small stuff! The more people that join in, the more fun the training session is, don'tcha think?"

Memories of Tenko training with them flash before Kaede's eyes. She bites her lip. "I… suppose that's true."

Maki rolls her eyes to the sky. "Training? That's all you brought me out here for?" Sighing, she turns away from the pair. "How stupid… I'm going back to my dorm."

A low, rumbly laugh escapes Kaito's throat. "Heh, you're callin' training stupid? What's gonna happen if we have to fight one day?"

Scoffing, Maki looks over her shoulder. "Fight? In here?"

"That's what I said!" Kaito slams his fists together. "When a hero has to fight the final boss, they train, train, and train some more! A hero like me can't let you guys down, so that's why I've gotta train my ass off!" He thrusts a finger at Kaede and Maki in turn. "Sidekicks can't slack off either! I'm gonna need all the help to be the best hero I can be, and that's where you two come in!"

Kaede chuckles. "So, you want us to help you hog all the glory?"

"Exactly!"

Maki moves past Kaede and starts to walk off. "If you thought such a stupid explanation would make me change my mind, I'm afraid you were sorely mistaken."

Kaito holds out a hand. "Wait a sec. I'm just talkin' from my own perspective, y'know? In reality, everyone's the hero of their own story, and that includes the two of you." Chuckling, he cradles the back of his neck. "Heh, maybe in your stories, it's me that's the sidekick!"

Maki stares at him. "You sure have a weird way of explaining things." She sighs. "But you still haven't convinced me to join your stupid antics. Now, if you excuse me—"

"Then when are you going to face your fears?"

Maki stares at Kaito. "Huh?"

"All this time we've been here," Kaito goes on, his face hardened. "Your mask has been comin' down, little by little. When you helped out during the despair disease stuff. During the trial the last day. Heck, even just talking with the others up on the fifth floor earlier when we opened it up… that's not something the Maki who used to shut herself up in her room would have ever done."

Maki's eyes go dark. "You know why I did that. I didn't want anyone getting worked up over my real identity as an assassin."

Kaito shakes his head. "Perhaps, but I wonder if that was the only reason?" He takes a step closer to Maki, who averts her eyes as he brings his face closer. "You're not the terrifying person the others think you are, y'know? Even if you're an assassin, first and foremost, you're a coward."

Maki's mouth falls open. Kaede gasps.

Stepping closer, Kaito asks, "How about telling me and Kaede what your enemy is?"

"My… enemy?" asks Maki.

Kaito huffs out a breath of air. "I mean, if you don't wanna say you don't hafta. As long as you yourself know what it is."

Maki takes a step away from him. "That's… none of your business."

"And that's fine!" Kaito replies. "But how long are you gonna continue running away from it? 'Cause it's pretty pathetic to have to watch. That's why I wanna train with you! To help you toughen up and fight against your most lethal enemies. Even if those enemies happen to be inside of you. So, what are you gonna do? The decision is up to you, Maki-Roll."

"K-Kaito," Kaede starts. "If she doesn't want to, don't put pressure on her."

"What? I'm not putting pressure on her!"

"You kind of are—"

"Okay, okay." Sighing Maki lifts her head. "Fine. I'll do it."

"Wait," says Kaede. "You will? Really?"

Maki pouts. "He'll only pester me about it if I refuse. So it's easier to get it over and done with so he doesn't annoy me even further."

Kaito punches the air. "I knew you'd come through in the end, Maki-Roll!"

"I told you stop calling me that—"

"Okay, so we'll start with sit-ups tonight! Is that cool with you ladies?"

Maki flushes. "L-ladies?"

"Uh, you don't want me to call you that?"

"It's not that, it just sounds weird."

"Oh. I guess I'll just stick to sidekicks then!"

Shrugging off her backpack, Kaede drops to the grass and stretches her limbs out like a cat. Tenko's excited, yet stern voice rushes through her ears as she warms herself up for the workout. She smiles wistfully. "It's been a while since we've done this, hasn't it?"

"Because Kaito was too scared to come out?" asks Maki.

"I was not!" Kaito booms. "Kirumi and R-R-Rantaro… they wouldn't let me leave my room! I was a prisoner in my own home for a few days." He scowls at the pair. "You two also contributed to that, y'know."

"It was for your own good, though," Kaede points out. "You acted like you had the despair disease the entire time, remember?"

"But in actuality, you were just scared of Rantaro because he came back from the dead," Maki flips her hair.

Kaito grits his teeth. "No, that's not… tch! I'm not scared of— actually, can we stop talking about ghosts? I don't wanna think about them!" He shakes his head furiously. "A-anyway, sit-ups, wasn't it? Let's go, one-hundred a piece, you got that?"

"O-one hundred?" Kaede splutters. "That's so many. How am I supposed to—?"

"Thirty-six, thirty-seven, thirty-eight, thirty-nine, forty." Maki glances up at Kaede. "Haven't you started yet?"

"Huh!?" Kaede's mouth falls open. "When did you even…!?"

"Ghhh." Groaning, Kaito rises to his feet on shaky legs. "Gotta go to the bathroom. Nature calls."

"Oh," says Kaede. "Will you be okay?"

Kaito nods, but his pained face says otherwise. "It's just a quick bathroom break, I'll be fine!"

Kaede narrows her eyes. "But the last time you used a bathroom, you passed out from the smell of bleach."

Kaito raises a fist. "That was the girl's bathroom! I ain't ever goin' near that place again." He grins a forced grin. "It'll be grand, I'll be right back!"

As Kaito wobbles off, Maki pushes herself up onto her knees, dusting off the stray grass blades clinging to her uniform. "He sure isn't hurrying for someone needing to go to the bathroom." She sighs. "That idiot… what's he thinking?"

Kaede watches Kaito's back disappear into the depths of the academy. "Do you think it's something to do with his illness?

"Perhaps," Maki replies. "He's still adamant that he's fine, though."

Kaede rolls her eyes. "He clearly isn't. Anyone can see that."

As they wait, a chorus of crickets chirrup. The autopiloted red Exisal, loud as ever, rumbles away in the distance.

Maki shifts on the grass. "Have you told anyone, by the way? About what we found yesterday."

"Huh?" Kaede blinks. "No, of course not. We promised to keep it between us, didn't we—?" She stops. "Wait… did you?"

Huffing, Maki pulls at the grass. "I didn't either. I was just making sure."

Chucking, Kaede leans back on her arms. "It's funny, isn't it?"

"What is?"

"Keeping a secret like this with you of all people, I mean. I know Kaito was talking about you earlier, but…" Sighing, Kaede meets Maki's eyes. "I think I've changed a lot too, since we first woke up in here."

Lifting her head, Maki gazes up at the stars. "Perhaps..."

Silence.

"Kaede."

"Hmm?"

"About Shuichi."

"What about him?"

Maki searches for the words. "Do you… like him?"

Kaede's face explodes with colour. "Wh-what!? Where is that coming from?"

"Sorry," Maki mumbles. "I was just curious."

Kaede's brow furrows. "Why were you curious? It's a pretty random thing to blurt out of the blue, y'know."

"It's just…" Maki thinks for a moment. "He seemed to like you a lot, so I was wondering if the feeling was mutual, is all."

Heat creeps up Kaede's neck. "Wait. You… you think he liked me?"

"I mean from what I saw, that's what it seemed like…" Maki shrugs. "I don't really know much about that sort of thing, though."

Tapping her chin, Kaede hums. "W-well, if I had to answer your question, I'd probably say that I—"

"I'm back!" comes Kaito's voice from behind them. He falls back onto the grass. "Were you guys talkin' about me while I was gone?"

Scoffing, Kaede tugs Shuichi's cap down over her face. "You wish."

"Are you okay?" Maki asks.

"Of course!" Kaito punches his chest. "I just drank too much water earlier before coming out here. But I've emptied myself, so now we can continue where we left off!"

Kaede doesn't budge from her place on the grass. "You're sure you didn't bring up blood again?"

Kaito blanches. "Wh—!? That was just a one-time thing!"

"It absolutely wasn't!" Kaede shoots back. "You've coughed up blood on multiple occasions, Kaito. Clearly something isn't right." She shudders. "The way Tsumugi and I found you the other day in the girl's bathroom… there was so much blood, I thought you were dead. I'll never forget the way I felt at that moment." She clenches her jaw. "I was… so scared."

Kaito's eyes go wide. "Kaede…"

Biting her lip, Kaede's eyes pool with moisture. "You keep saying to us that it's just a cut throat, but that isn't something that can even happen!"

"She's right," says Maki. "The only way a person can cut their throat is if they use a weapon to do so."

"You guys…" Kaito shoots Kaede a pained look. "Please… I don't want to—"

"You don't want to talk about it!?" Kaede near-shouts. "You're asking us to be your sidekicks, Kaito." Hanging her head, she sighs. "How on earth are we supposed to support you like you want us to, if you won't even let us know what's going on?"

Kaito's mouth falls open, slack-jawed. After a moment of pause, his chest rises and falls with a heavy sigh. "Heh."

Kaede lifts her head. "What's so funny?"

Kaito grins sheepishly. "For my sidekicks to be able to see through my act, I've clearly trained you guys well!"

Maki rolls her eyes. "For someone always talking about bringing down people's mask, you really don't put up a good one yourself."

"Haha, really? That's a shame." With a grunt, Kaito flops down onto the grass. "To be honest, I don't know when I first contracted… whatever it is I have. If it was before we woke up in this place, then I don't have any memory of it." He meets both Kaede's and Maki's eyes. "But yeah. I'm sick. I'm sorry for hiding it from you guys."

"Do you know what it is?" asks Kaede.

Kaito shakes his head. "Nope. There isn't even a pattern to it, it just comes on at random times. One moment, I'll be right as rain, and then the next minute I'm coughing my lungs out and clutching my stomach for dear life!"

"So it's a breathing problem?" Maki rubs her chin. "That would make sense as to why you passed out in the girl's bathroom… Weak lungs can't handle potent chemicals such as cleaning products."

Kaito shrugs. "Your guess is as good as mine, Maki-Roll. But don't worry about it!" He pumps his fists. "Some stupid illness isn't gonna pull me down! After all, I still haven't gone to space yet!"

"Kaito…" Kaede breathes.

Maki frowns. "You're… not scared of dying?"

Kaito grins. "Course I'm not! Like I'm gonna be stopped by a few stomach pains and a bit of blood! It's not even that bad yet!"

"Yet…" Kaede mutters.

Kaito's smile doesn't falter. "Anyway, let's stop chatting and continue training, yeah? I'm raring to go!"

Maki crosses her arms. "I've already finished my one-hundred sit-ups."

Kaito blinks at her. "What!? Already? You're fast, Maki-Roll!"

Maki shrugs. "I'm used to intense training. Sit-ups aren't really that challenging for me."

Kaito laughs. "Man, I really need to take a page out of your book!" He drops into a lying position, and on shaky legs, does an extremely slow sit-up. "O-one!"

Kaede stifles her laughter. "You're only on your first!?"

Kaito scowls at her. "What, how many have you done then?"

"Like, at least six."

"You're no better than me!"

"That's five more than you!"

"Well soon I'll have done five-times what you've done!"

"I wonder…" says Maki, just loud enough to be heard. "By any chance… would Miu be able to help Kaito?"

"Miu?" Kaede and Kaito echo in unison.

Fiddling with her uniform bow, Maki stares at the ground. "Miu is an inventor, but she should know a lot about the sciences too. Maybe she could help. She's a scientist, right? Don't scientists research stuff like illnesses?" She shakes her head. "Sorry it's probably a stupid idea. Forget I said anything."

Kaito smiles. "I appreciate the thought, Maki-Roll, really, I do." He makes a face. "But Miu's a mechanical scientist, y'know? Nothin' to do with those medical scientists that research stuff like that."

Colour floods Maki's face. "R-right." She averts her eyes. "I-I said it was a stupid idea, so—"

"That's it!" Leaping off the ground in one clean swoop, Kaede punches her palm. "Miu… she'd surely be able to help!"

"Weren't you listening?" says Kaito. "Miu's an inventor, not a doctor—"

"But there's no harm in trying, right?" Kaede points in the direction of Miu's research lab. "I've been in Miu's lab a ton of times, and she has a patient's chair, syringes, a microscope, and all that other stuff doctor's use!"

Kaito frowns. "But Kaede—"

"Besides, even if we can't decipher it, maybe someone else can? Korekiyo used to visit hospitals a lot for his sister, maybe he'd know a thing or two! Or perhaps he knows of some ancient ritual to cure sickness he picked up on his travels!"

"Korekiyo's an anthropologist, Kaede—" Kaito cuts in. "He's not gonna know anything about this—"

"They aren't just regular inventors or anthropologists, though," Maki counters. "They're Ultimates for a reason." She rubs her chin. "Perhaps with their help, it might just be possible."

"Exactly! Kaede pumps her fists. "And knowing Miu, she never backs down from a challenge! Maybe she'll be able to use her 'Gorgeous Brain' to invent a never-seen-before-cure!"

Kaito sighs. "I'm… not gonna be able to change your minds on this, am I?"

Kaede giggles. "Nope! Not in the slightest!"

He sighs again, louder this time. "Well, if it'll keep my sidekicks happy… I guess I could be a temporary patient for a while. But I'm tellin' ya!" He jabs a finger at Kaede. "This ain't a life-threatening thing, so don't go treating it as one! Just… let's just call this a side-project for the time being, all right?"

Kaede beams. "If that's what makes you happy, then sure!"

"All right then, it's a deal!" Kaito flashes her a thumbs up. "Now, where were we?"

"You were going onto your second push-up," states Maki.

"O-oh, right, number were you on again?"

Maki flicks a lock of hair out of her eyes. "I finished my hundred ages ago."

"Well then, I guess we have no choice but to restart!"

Kaede's eyes go wide. "What!? From the beginning?!"

Kaito laughs loudly. "Don't be like that, Kaede! 'No road is long with good company,' right?"

"I don't think that saying can be applied here," says Maki.

"C'mon guys, it'll be fine!" With a grunt, Kaito pushes himself back into position. "Let your sweat wash away all your fear, sadness, worry, and hardships. Just start moving your body and all the pain will become mere memories before you know it!"

"Then maybe…" Maki says mid sit-up. "You should train too, rather than just lying over there talking to us."

Kaito grins over at her. "Well, I don't have anything to worry about. I have my two sidekicks watching over me after all! That, and because I'm Kaito Momota, Luminary of the Stars!"

"Kaitooooo," Kaede whines. "C'mon, you've still only done one sit-up this entire training session!"

Kaede's cries of pain and Kaito's hefty laughter rings out around the courtyard as the trio practice under the looming cage of the academy's confines, with the inky night sky speckled with stars being the only homey motivator to their activities.

Walking through the courtyard, Kaede's eyes stay trained on the ground. She tries to ignore the way her limbs throb painfully with each step she takes from the night prior's sit-up marathon, and she also tries to push the Monokubs' morning announcement out of her head. She didn't pay attention to it; she daredn't after the previous one, but it had been enough to wake her regardless. Making a beeline for the cafeteria, Kaede's only real morning goal being to find Miu and inquire about Kaito. Breakfast can wait. Just as she's about to make a left turn for the terrace entrance, she spies Ryoma emerging from the academy.

"Ryoma!" Kaede calls, strolling up to him. "Good morning!"

Ryoma glances over. "Ah, Akamatsu. There you are."

"Finished breakfast already?"

"Yeah. Didn't sleep too well last night, so I ended up in the cafeteria as soon as it opened."

"Oh, really?" Kaede's face falls. "Do you have any idea why you couldn't sleep?"

Ryoma shakes his head. "Just a busy brain. You know how it is."

Kaede sighs. "Sadly." She takes a step forward. "Hey, was Miu in the dining hall earlier? There's something I really need to ask her about."

Grimacing, Ryoma shoves his hands into his jacket pockets and mutters, "Iruma? She's up on the top floor, last I heard. Shinguuji saw her heading up there earlier."

Kaede blinks. "The top floor, huh? I wonder what she's doing up there."

Ryoma shrugs. "Beats me."

"Got it! I'll be heading up there then. Thanks, Ryoma!" With a spring in her step, Kaede waltzes past him into the academy and makes a beeline for the stairs. Breakfast can wait - finding Miu and inquiring about Kaito is far more important.

"M-maybe it wasn't a good idea to climb four sets of stairs before eating anything," Kaede rasps, clinging to the banister for dear life. Gasping for air, she lands in a heap at the top of the final set of steps. Before she can catch her breath, however, Tsumugi's running at her and falling into her arms.

"Oh, Kaede!" she wails. "Thank goodness you came! My lab… my precious research lab…!"

"Tsu-Tsumugi!?" Kaede blinks. "What are you—? Wait, your lab? What happened to it?"

"I'll tell you what happened to it," says another voice. Kaede glances over. Rantaro. Folding his arms, he sighs a heavy sigh. "Miu Iruma happened."

"Miu!?" Kaede's heart lurches. "What do you mean?"

Korekiyo rubs his chin. "It would appear our Miu decided to set up camp overnight in Tsumugi's lab for reasons unbeknownst to us." He closes his eyes. "I happened to see her pass by my own lab's side door a couple of hours ago."

"So she's in Tsumugi's lab?" Wringing herself out of Tsumugi's grasp, Kaede approaches the silver double doors, but stops short when she notices the huge pink padlock bounding the doors tightly together. "Isn't that…"

"Remember that lock Maki asked for that never got installed? Miu's gone and used it to lock herself into my lab!" Tsumugi exclaims. "How selfish can she be…!"

"Oh, that lock… I remember now." Kaede gazes at the silver double doors. "Miu…"

"By the way, I already tried using my barrier magic, but I haven't eaten yet, so my MP is very low right now." Pouting, Himiko leans against the wall. "That Monokubs drama from last night didn't help my MP, either… we didn't get to see the ending!" She claps her hands together and sighs. "Will Monotaro ever get to confess his love to Monophanie? Or will Monodam force them to suppress their sinful feelings towards each other?"

Korekiyo hums. "You think siblings having love for one another is sinful, Himiko?"

"Nyeh, of course it's sinful! It's like, against the law!"

"That may be true, but that's only in the eyes of the law, correct?"

"I-I mean yeah, but that's… that's important!" Taking a deep breath, Himiko runs up and slams her weight against the door. "Miu! Open this door up! This is an order from your class president!" She wilts. "I don't wanna be out here anymore! Kiyo is scaring me!"

No reply.

"What could she even be doing in there to lock herself inside?" asks Kaede. "Kaito said the room was nearly empty yesterday, didn't he?"

Rantaro shrugs. "Your guess is as good as ours. But maybe it's a good thing that you're here now. Perhaps you'll be able to get through to Miu?"

"That's right!" Tsumugi clasps Kaede's hands in her own. "Miu isn't answering to any of us. But you're friendly with her, so she might make an exception for you, Kaede!"

"Well, Kaede?" says Rantaro, a little quieter. "You wanna give it a shot?"

"I mean, no promises, but I suppose I can try." Biting her lip, Kaede walks over to Tsumugi's laboratory. Presses her hands against the cool metal.

"Miu? It's Kaede. Can we talk?"

Silence.

Kaede sighs. "Come on, I know you're listening. I don't know why you've locked yourself in there, but can you at least let me in? Please, Miu." Kaede balls her fists against the door. "We're friends, aren't we? You can tell me anything. I just want to talk to you."

Click.

After some time, the door slowly opens a sliver of the way. Miu's flushed, tear-stained face peers out at Kaede from the shadows.

Kaede looks back and meets Rantaro's gaze. They exchange a nod. Taking a deep breath, Kaede slips into the Ultimate Cosplayer's lab.

When Kaede enters, the stench of liquor hits her like a wall. She grimaces. "What is…?" Her voice fails her as her eyes scan the room. Broken bottles and shot glasses litter the floor. Alcohol stains the bar cushions. Used tissues are balled up and thrown everywhere.

Eyes wide, Kaede studies Miu's form as the inventor wobbles back over to the bar. Her uniform is askew, her hair is messy and tangled in her goggles.

As the door clicks closed behind her, the stench of alcohol becomes all too apparent. Kaede's eyes slide to the bright pink bar on the right. Bottles and their caps, and shot-glasses a-plenty litter the floor around the area. Unsurprisingly, some are broken.

Slumping back into the bartender's chair, Miu tries to kick her legs up over the counter, but misses, stumbles, and only just prevents herself from completely toppling into the shelves behind her. "So, Kaeds," she slurs, her normally immaculate face ruddy and slick with sweat. "What'll it be? Can't believe out of all of us, Plain Jane's the one that gets all the booze. How dumb is that, huh?"

"Wh-what?" Kaede splutters. "Miu? What are you doing!?"

"Drinking, ain't it obvious?" Miu offers her a shot glass. "Want some?"

"We're underage!"

Miu scoffs. "Typical Kaede, bein' a killjoy." She makes a grab for the nearest bottle. "Who the fuck even cares? I do what the fuck I want!" She takes a swig from the bottle. "Fuck that stupid bear, governin' us in this shithole of a school. Fuck Angie and Kirumi for being pathetic fucking murderers." She bares her teeth and snarls. "And fuck that goddamn Kiibo for dyin' on me… that idiot, tellin' me he loved me, breaking his promise to never leave me…" She grits her teeth. "Especially after my family all… outside…"

"Miu…" Kaede breathes.

"No," Miu shakes her head. "No! Fuck me for being too fuckin' trusting and opening my heart up to that idiot." She takes another swig of liquor.

Kaede narrows her eyes. "So you think drinking your sorrows away is going to make things better?"

Miu lifts an eyebrow. Stares at Kaede.

And then she bursts into hysterical laughter.

Kaede blinks. "What? What's so funny?"

Wiping a tear from her eye, Miu giggles obnoxiously. "My fucking god, Kaede, you sounded just like Kiibo for a second there. Kyahahaha! Better be careful out there, or you might be next…" With a grotesque sound, Miu makes a slitting motion across her neck.

Kaede's mouth drops open. "Miu—!"

"Kyahahaha! I'm just messin' with ya." Rolling her head back to the ceiling, Miu takes a swig of liquid from the bottle. "That won't be happenin' any time soon. Not to you, anyway." She waves her free hand around in the air. "Cuz I'm gonna end this killin' game once and for all!"

Kaede puts her hands on her hips. "And how do you plan on doing that, exactly?"

Scoffing, Miu rolls her eyes. "Duh. I'm gonna kill someone, ain't it fuckin' obvious?"

The blood in Kaede's veins goes ice cold as Miu leans drunkenly against the bar counter. "You know that computer room up on the fourth floor? It's housin' a programme on it called the 'Killing Game Simulator.' Shitty name, I know, but it does what it says on the tin." She takes another swig of alcohol. "I've been playin' around with it the past couple days and I've finally managed to alter it so that it works in my favour!" Miu bats her eyelashes innocently. "Whaddya say, Kaede? Wanna help me kill a bitch? I'm thinkin' of taking out that little brat of a gremlin Kokichi first—"

"No."

Miu stills. Gazing up at Kaede through lidded eyes, she says in a low voice, "You don't wanna help?"

"Is that seriously even a question!?" Kaede slams her hands down onto the countertop. "Of course I'm not going to help. And you!" She jabs a finger at Miu. "You are not, under ANY circumstances going to be killing Kokichi, or anyone any time soon." Her eyes go dark. "I won't allow that to happen—"

"But… but it's the only way."

"No, it's not the only way, Miu. If we work together, we'll surely find another—"

"YOU DON'T GET IT!" Miu wraps her arms around her shaking frame. "I… I can't stand another second in this place. I have to get outta here. The world needs me and my inventions!" She glares into Kaede's eyes. "The world needs me! I can't afford to die here!"

"But if you kill someone and escape," Kaede starts. "The rest of us will—"

"I don't care!" Miu shrieks. "I… I haven't thought that far ahead yet." She bites her lip and looks elsewhere. "I-I'm sure it'll be quick and painless. O-or maybe I could make a deal with M-Monokuma and ask him if I can take someone else with me when I graduate—"

Smack!

The echo of the smack fills the otherwise empty room. With a trembling hand, Miu reaches up to touch her reddened cheek. "K-Kaede…?"

"How the hell can you be so selfish!?" Kaede screams. "All of us here are trying our best, and all you can think about is yourself!? That's so horrible!" Sighing, she lowers her head. "Listen, I know you're hurting because of what happened to Kiibo, Miu, trust me, I… I felt the same way when Shuichi graduated… but that's no excuse for murder! All it'll do is fill you with unshakable guilt!" She balls her fists. "The guilt of stripping someone of their life… it's a feeling you'll never be able to shake. It'll weigh on your mind in your every waking moment. Every time you go to sleep, it'll replay in your dreams. Even when you blink it'll flash before your eyes. Someone might say something offhandedly and it'll cause you to flashback to when you made that horrible, horrible decision. And that's when you realised, when I realised…!" Kaede's clenching her hands so tightly that her knuckles go white. "That I'll forever be haunted by my decision! So that's why I can't let you do the same!"

"Wh-what?" squeaks Miu. "Kaede what… are you saying all of a sudden?"

After taking a deep breath, Kaede looks directly into Miu's eyes. "Miu, it… it was me. I was the one who killed Rantaro, not Shuichi." Hot tears drip down her reddening cheeks. "I just… I just wanted to kill the m-mastermind, but Shuichi took the fall for me so we wouldn't have to do the trial and I…!" Her head falls into her hands. "So please, Miu, I really don't want you to go through what I did…"

Wide-eyed and pale-faced, Miu steps away from the bar table, clutching a glass bottle to her chest. "Kaede, you… you killed?"

Kaede falters before saying, "Yes, I did." Her eyes stay trained on the floor. "Even if Rantaro came back from the dead, it doesn't change the fact that I'm a horrible murderer, and that's why I can't let you do the same!" Lifting her head, she meets Miu's eyes once more. "But please believe me when I say that killing in here is not the answer. Remember what Kiyo said back at the memorial service?"

"Committing a murder here would not be a kill for Sister, but for that of Monokuma, and the person, or people, who puppet him."

"Murder is what Monokuma wants us to do, Miu," Kaede stresses. "That's why it's essential that we don't play into his hands!" She takes another step forward. "Shuichi gave me a second chance to save everyone, and I'm not planning on wasting it any time soon." Kaede extends a hand out towards Miu. "So, what do you say? We need to get justice for everyone who's died so far… we need to get justice for Kiibo."

"H-huh?" Miu's mouth falls open, not unlike a fish. "I…" Her bottom lip wobbles. "K-Kaede…"

Kaede lowers her hand. "What is it?"

"I-I'm… WAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!" Knees buckling beneath her, Miu collapses to the floor and starts to sob. "I fucking hate this place! I just wanna get out! I don't want to see anyone else die! I've seen enough fucking people die both inside this school and outside! I don't…" Her eyes slam shut. "I just don't want, hic! I don't want you… I don't want the last person I fuckin' care about in here to die as well!"

"Miu…" Kaede breathes. Carefully approaching Miu, Kaede crouches before her, slips off her backpack and with gentle arms, pulls the inventor into a hug. "I promise, I won't die in here. But that means you can't either, all right?" She pulls away. "That means murder is off the cards, both for drunk Miu and sober Miu."

Sniffling, Miu nods into Kaede's shoulder. "Hnnnngh, f-fine, but…"

"But?"

Miu lifts her head. "You… you promise you won't kill me, right?"

"Of course I won't."

Grumbling, Miu rubs at her eyes. "You'd better be tellin' the truth. You try anything sketchy on me and I won't hesitate to out your murderin' ass to the others."

Kaede smiles. "It's a deal."

"Tch," Miu rocks back, head lolling to the ceiling. "So it was Kaede-fucking-Akamatsu that murdered Rantaro in the end, huh?" She smirks. "I didn't think you had the lady-balls!"

Kaede sighs. "Trust me, I wish I didn't. And if I had them before, I certainly don't have them now."

"Probably for the best," Miu mutters.

"Yeah, probably."

They lapse into silence.

"I'm glad you let me in to chat," Kaede starts. "Thanks for—"

"C-can we save it for later?" Miu's hand flies to her mouth. "I think I'm about to puke my guts out."

Kaede blinks. "What!?"

"Ulp!" Retching, Miu makes a grab for Kaede's discarded backpack. "Hruuuuuuugh!"

"MIU!"

"Fuck me, I feel like death."

"That's disgusting!" Kaede exclaims. "You just puked in my backpack! I have a spare vest in there, they're both going to be ruined!"

"S-sorry, I'll wash it in Kirumi's lab later…. Urrrrgh…" Groaning, Miu falls back onto the ground, curling into the plain concrete. "I'm glad we talked too. Thanks, Kaede."

Smiling, Kaede sighs and closes her eyes. "We… should probably clean up in here before we head outside to the others. I don't want Tsumugi to have a complete aneurysm when she sees what's happened here."

Miu doesn't move from her place on the ground. "I'll help in a sec… I just gotta… rest my eyes for a sec…"

Kaede rolls her eyes. "Right. Guess I'm doing it on my own then, huh?" Dusting herself down, she makes her way back over to the bar. I didn't get to ask her about Kaito, but it's okay. There's plenty of time for that in the future. Of course there will be.

… Right?

Later on in the afternoon, Monokuma bounces into the Game Room with a spring in his step. "You called? Oh, it's just you."

Kokichi smiles sweetly. "Nee-heehee! So I can do this too, huh? I didn't actually expect you to show up."

The bear hangs his head. "Well, my Kubs have been more preoccupied with each other lately, no time for their old man…" He sighs a heavy sigh. "Is this the feeling all parents go through?"

"Sorry, I wouldn't know anything about that!" Kokichi laughs. "By the way, this is okay, right? For you and I to have a one-to-one in private like this?"

"Well, there's no rule saying otherwise, and I'm a stickler for the rules, so I think it's all right!" Monokuma chuckles darkly. "Besides, your proposition to liven up the Killing Game is far too tempting to miss out on!"

"Hahaha, riiiiight? I'm glad we're on the same wavelength for once!" Gasping loudly, Kokichi clutches his head. "This gloriously violent killing game has been waning on my mind day in and day out! I just can't seem to get it out of my head!"

"Speaking of…" Monokuma ears perk up. "Did you really not find a use for that motive I gave ya? I worked really hard to make that one extra special…"

"Heheh… you really don't get it, do you?"

"Huh? Get what?"

Kokichi reaches into his straitjacket and produces the key card. "A motive like this… isn't one you can't just lock behind a far-away door, y'know. No… with the secrets that lie hidden behind this card, you have to present it with a bang! To cause the most amount of dramatic despair possible!" Crossing his legs, he rubs his chin. "I've been thinking it over since yesterday, about how we could go about making this work."

Monokuma tilts his head. "And?"

Kokichi rolls back on his heels against the game table. "Aaaaand, I think I've come up with the perfect proposal!"

"I'm all ears!"

Kokichi brings a finger to his lip. "Last night, I happened to overhear a certain two people planning something veeeeery interesting! If we use the motive correctly, I have no doubt that something spicy will end up happening! You game?"

Monokuma rubs his chin. "If you're referring to what I think you're referring to… you really are an evil bastard, Mister Ouma!"

Clicking his tongue, Kokichi shrugs. "Well, duh. I am the Ultimate Supreme Leader for a reason, y'know." A nightmarishly dark grin splits his face in two. "So, let's have more fun, Monokuma! I have all the cards I need to drag this game, and this world into the fearful pits of hell." His eyes flash with malice. "Only then is when I'll finally be able to say that this world IS mine."

Because what kind of Chapter 4 would it be without the traditional Chapter 4 Face-Slap?

I would have gotten this chapter out sooner, but my friends introduced me to a little game floating around called Genshin Impact, and it has truly been a blurse (blessed curse) on my productivity levels. 😅😅😅😅 Progress might be a little... slower for a while thanks to that, and of course just life in general, so please bear with!

Also, happiest of New Years! Here's to 2021 being better than last year~ ;w;

Chapter 27: Tbh, I still need to draft this chapter, so for once, your guess is as good as mine! Oh, but one thing's for certain: one character WILL be killed next chapter, just a little earlier than usual ^^