A/N: I may have slipped a reference to the in-game but totally not canon ending of LN2 into this chapter. If you catch it then that's cool, but sorry for reminding you of that crap.

Triple wasn't exactly sure why she had decided to not only let the dunce Bully live, but also set him free. She had told Mono that it was because she thought he could help them save Six, but truthfully she wasn't so sure. She'd almost fully expected him to attack Mono as soon as he was released, he looked like he was really tempted to, as well. But then he'd seen Triple's alert stance, and stopped.

Why are you so disappointed? She mentally scolded herself. You didn't actually think he offered to help you because he wanted to, right? He only told you that to save his skin. All this time with Six must be making you go soft.

A smaller, less certain sounding voice in the further recesses of her brain piped up. Is that really a bad thing, though? Is it wrong to have faith in people?

Even though she couldn't deny that Dunce was forced to help them, she also couldn't deny that he actually did quite a good job of it. Though she'd thought he'd do something like lead them into a trap or turn them in to The Teacher to regain his standing with her, he never did. He showed them how to avoid traps, how to get past The Teacher without being noticed, and even convinced some Bullies not to attack them. all and all he was a big asset to the team, but he was also making himself quite the nuisance in the Triple's opinion of him department. For Eye's sake, you'd think he actually wanted to help to begin with!

The next big hurtle came not long after solving the chess puzzle. They were nearing the cafeteria, and the raucous chatter of what must have been a rather large group of Bullies could be clearly heard. Well this is just great, how are we going to get past that?

dunce voiced her thoughts for her before she could. "Bullies, Bullies everywhere. And no hidey-holes for sneaking children this time."

"Oh boy," Mono muttters, nervously fiddling with his paper bag. "How are we going to get to Six then?"

Triple takes a deep breath and addresses their porcelain ally. "You sure there's not another way to get to the bathroom?"

Dunce scoffs. "Dunce knows this School; this only way. Dunce will think of plan, just give him some seconds!"

He then began to walk back and forth, muttering intelligible gibberish under his breath. "Do you think this is the hardest he's thought in his life?" Triple whispers to her human companion, smirking. "He's probably never thought about anything more complicated then how hard to punch something before now."

Rather than laughing along like she expected, Mono lifts his bag just enough to reveal his disapproving frown. "You really shouldn't talk behind his back like that, Trip," He chides her.

What's with him? She wonders. Why would he defend him? it's not like he's not thinking similar things about us. she voices as much to Mono, who just shakes his head.

"I don't think so."

Triple sighs. "You really have too much faith in people, Bagboy. One of these days... well, I'm scared you might learn the consequences of that the hard way. Don't get me wrong, believing in the good of people is great and all, but this isn't a field of sunshine and unicorns we're talking about here. We live in a dangerous world Mono, and there are a lot of people out there who would take advantage of people like you for their own gain, then just toss you away like trash once you're no longer useful, or to cause you pain because there are freaks like that out there, too." She doesn't need a mirror to know that her expression softens, and her pupils widen to gentle circles as she places a hand on the boy's thin shoulder. "All I'm saying is I want you to think hard about who you decide to trust. Because it could very well be what saves or ends your life."

"...I know." Oh for-why does he have to sound so sad? She thought irritably. I shouldn't feel bad for telling him the truth. He needs to know this stuff.

Dunce suddenly stops pacing and whirls towards them. "Dunce has plan."

"Well then," Triple responds with a non-committal shrug. "Spill, and then we'll decide for ourselves how good it is."

Dunce seemed intimidated by her indifference (good) but tried not to show it. "dunce can take... The Mono... through cafeteria. Pretend to bully him. Bullies will let us through then. The Triple can hide in darkness... help if stuff goes wrong."

"What." This is the only thing she can think to say. This plan is even worse than she imagined it would be. Eventually her thoughts came together, forming a cohesive enough rant. "Do you honestly think I can believe you can restrain yourself from actually bullying him? This seems as good a plan as putting a lamb in a cage with angry wolves and asking them politely not to eat it. If it actually is a plan and not your excuse to—"

"NO!" The porcelain boy's shriek interrupts her rant and she flinches, not because it startled her, but what if other Bullies or worse: the Teacher heard? fortunately that didn't seem to be the case and Dunce continued in a more reasonable volume. "This is only way and dunce can, and will, do it. dunce has not bullied all this time, he can not bully more."

He's right y'know, Mono continues." It's all Triple can do to not be angry at how the boy seems to be taking Dunce's side all the time and not hers and hear him out. "The only other option I can see is you going to get Six on your own and leaving us here. Either way he and I will be together, so..."

"Alright I get it... fine."

Mono didn't know what to expect after Triple gave her assent, but dunce moving at unbelievable speed and grabbing him roughly by the shoulders was not high on the list.

"Mono!" triple cries, as taken aback as him.

"Aaaagh!" Mono writhes in the bully's grip, survival instincts taking over. "Let go!" Dear Eye, his hands are freezing! Even through my coat and shirt.

"Good, good!" Dunce says approvingly, tightening his grip. "The Mono looks very bullied. He should keep doing that."

"W-wha?"

"Oh I think I get it," Triple says in realization, retracting her shadows. "He wanted to catch you off guard so your reaction would be more authentic. Keep screaming and struggling mono, we want this to look as convincing as possible."

Mono was a little confused but nodded, starting to understand where the two were coming from. He began wiggling in his "captor's' grasp, hard enough to hopefully make it look convincing but not at his full strength since he was pretty sure he could break the Bully's grasp if he really wanted to. They must have sensed that as well, that was why they'd pushed a locker on him and went for Six instead.

That wasn't to say Six was weak, of course. She was strong, just in different ways. Mono hoped she was doing alright in the bathroom and that all this time of being upside down wouldn't damage her brain or something.

The odd duo entered the kitchen area where the cafeteria would definitely follow, Mono keeping up his scared kid caught by a Bully act just in case. Good thing too, because even though there were no living faculty members around, some porcelain students were playing around in the room, probably going to set The School on fire if no one stopped them. As long as they don't do it while we're here, I don't think I'd mind that, mono thought as he continued to struggle."aaaaagh! Help! Help!" He shouted, hoping he wasn't overdoing it. Whatever the case, The Bullies seemed to buy it completely.

"You escape detention?"

"And bully child?"

They then moved aside to let them pass with silent awe. It was all Mono could do not to break character and laugh, this was amazing. But unfortunately, it wasn't meant to last.

The Bullies in the cafeteria as chaotic as they were also believed the duo's ruse. But maybe they believed it a little too much, as they decided they wanted to join in on the fun. So not only did he have to deal with being practically dragged through The School, but now he was also being pelted by a storm of rotten food on all sides. This really, really wasn't Mono's day. But on the very mirky bright side it did make his act even more convincing as he really did want to get away from this situation.

A/N: I wanted to make this chapter longer, but I just couldn't figure out a way to continue it and this is a pretty good place to end it. So yeah, Six will appear in the next chapter.