Chapter 3: Truth of the Past

Dining Hall

It had been a day since the first motive was given and I made myself the heel of the story. My plan was to get myself more involved with Shuichi and Kaede's trap and be the one to commit the first murder.

A knot tightened in my stomach, knowing Rantaro was going to die. He didn't deserve it, but killing the actual mastermind was out of the question.

After going through my memories of the game, I remembered the hidden passage between the girl's bathroom and the hidden room.

And I was able to enter them to my surprise, but that also meant Tsumugi knows I'm aware of stuff I shouldn't. Which strengthen my belief that a replacement mastermind is a possible angle and I was a likely candidate.

So it was best to go on with my plan to murder Rantaro, because protecting Kaede was my primary focus at the moment.

"There you are" Shuichi stated as he and Kaede walked into the dining hall.

"Shit, don't rattle me like that" I whined, "What the fuck do you want?"

"Well, we were wondering if you could help us with something" Shuichi stated.

"Like what?" I asked.

"We were wondering if you could create automatic cameras for us" Shuichi replied.

"And what for? The perfect lewds to post on Only Fans?" I scoffed.

"No...we want to monitor Monokuma's activity...for safety reasons" Shuichi lied.

"Yeah, we're trying to protect everyone so we thought to ask for aid?" Kaede defended.

"Oh I see" I hummed, "My answer is no."

"Huh? But why?" Kaede gasped.

"Because you're lying" I countered, "You're easier to read than a pornographic comic book." Shuichi looked down in shame.

"If we told you the truth would you help?" Kaede pleaded.

"Depends on the truth" I answered.

"The truth is that we suspect there is a mastermind in this game" Kaede said.

"A mastermind?" I feigned ignorance.

"Yeah...in the library there is a hidden door that has the color pattern of monokuma" Shuichi spoke up, "It requires a card key to open, so I suspect someone has access to it...that someone being the mastermind."

"That's a lofty theory" I countered, "But let's say you're right. How does exposing them help our situation?" Kaede looks away at that statement.

"Well...exposing the mastermind should give us enough leeway to end the killing game" Shuichi answered.

"I think it's really naive to think that would end the killing game" I clicked, "Not in this sick game, no I suspect the mastermind would have to be killed to be properly exposed."

"But that's exactly what monokuma would want us to do" Shuichi rebuked.

"Correct" I frowned "Even if it did save fifteen lives, a killing would still take place. No matter what, somebody is going to die. Don't you agree, Kaede?"

"What?" Kaede nearly screeched.

"I already told you, you're easy to read" I reminded, "Be honest with me, were you thinking the same as I?"

"...Yes" Kaede admitted.

"Kaede..." Shuichi gasped, "I trusted you...but you didn't trust me?"

"I'm sorry, Shuichi" Kaede apologized, "I should've been more hopeful that your plan would work."

"Then maybe I propose a new plan?" I stated, "We will set up two traps, one to expose the mastermind and another to kill the mastermind."

"Wait, you're being serious about killing the mastermind?" Kaede gasped.

"Yes" I shrugged, "With the first blood perk, only the mastermind has to die. That does mean one of us will have to carry the weight of murder for the rest of our lives, but it will be the right decision."

"Then I will do it" Shuichi answered, "This whole thing began as my idea, I should carry it through."

"I didn't expect that" I thought to myself. I expected Kaede to be the one to take the fall. Not that it mattered, since I would be the actual blackend in this murder..

"Shuichi..." Kaede whispered.

"It's alright Kaede" Shuichi tried to muster some courage, "...I want to protect everyone I can, including you. Please trust me this time."

"O...kay" Kaede sighed.

"Weird development" I thought to myself. Shuichi's character was moving faster along than back in the original game.

"Meet me in the warehouse and we will pick out the stuff we need to do the deed" I instructed. Kaede and Shuichi nodded before we left the dining hall.

Warehouse

"Okay, we're here" I hummed as I opened the main door to the warehouse.

"I know where to find some cameras" Shuichi stated, "Wait here."

"Hold on" I interjected, "This warehouse has a lot of different offerings, try to find the best possible camera. Digital would be preferred."

"Alright" Shuicbi said before walking off. A few feet away from us we spotted shot put balls. I reach to grab one of them.

"Woah...these are definitely 8kg shot put balls" I noted.

"How do you know the weight?" Kaede pondered.

"I used to throw shot put in middle school" I replied.

"Really?" Kaede blinked, "You don't look the type to do any kind of sports."

"Because I'm a smoking hot brainiac?" I countered, "Looks can be fucking deceiving, Miss Pianist."

In truth, that wasn't the best thing to say. That was a fact from my previous life, where as the canon Miu probably didn't do any athletics.

"True, but you don't come across as someone who was an athlete" Kaede said.

"Fair point" I laughed, "Anyway, this would be a perfect weapon."

"It really bothers me you're okay with murder" Kaede frowned, "Then again, maybe I am more surprised with myself."

"I'm not okay with any of this" I admitted, "But I fucking hate I'm that stuck in this sadistic game."

"Yet you're fully committed" Kaede countered.

"My reasoning wouldn't make sense to you" I stated, "But since I was able to read you, I guess I can say I'm trying to protect you?"

"Protect me?" Kaede pondered.

"From being the culprit" I shrugged, "You're a leader and someone looking out for all. Even I can see that."

"I see" Kaede replied.

"Hey I'm back" Shuichi greeted, "I couldn't find anything but these."

"Disposables huh?" I frowned, "I can definitely work with this crap, but it has some serious limitations. For starters, these will be on 30 intervals for auto-roll."

"Is that a bad thing?" Shuichi asked.

"Just a minor inconvenience" I sighed, "You generally don't want blind spots in security, but it should be ok in this case."

"I guess we're done here" Shuichi, "When should we meet you?"

"Tomorrow afternoon" I replied, "I will be pulling an all nighter, so I will need as much sleep as possible. Meet me in the library."

"Alright, see you tomorrow then" Shuichi acknowledged.

"Goodnight you two" I answered, "Oh, don't forget to take this with you."

"Wha-" Shuichi gasped, "What's this for?"

"A potential murder weapon, duh" I sticked my tongue out, "Or do you have a better idea."

"I—well" Shuichi struggled.

"Backing out?" I asked, "I understand, the fact we're evening considering this option is frightening."

"You don't have to do this, Shuichi" Kaede answered.

"No" Shuichi shook his head, "I don't want either of you with blood on their hands. Please...just let me take the fall."

"The feeling is mutual" I remarked, "This is why we're in agreement here, we're all willing to risk our own hide for the greater good."

"Yeah..." Kaede looked away, "But still...I wish we weren't here."

The air grew cold around us. Without word, we went our separate ways. Before leaving, I grabbed a secondary shot put.

The plan was simple, I would kill Rantaro and use the First Blood Perk. I would be out of the game and Shuichi and Kaede would go on.

A/N: Liberties here, it's hard for me to gauge how Shuichi would react if a murder plot was presented at this point of time. But for the sake of this story, Shuichi really doesn't want Kaede (and to an lesser extent) or Miu to commit the first crime. He's doesn't have the rigor to say no to the plot.

And well...Tsumugi might be rewriting some plotlines and characters on the fly.