Hello readers and welcome to my new chapter. Here, the class will see the rising conflict between the survivors, in thanks to Monokuma's motive. I worked very hard on this chapter, in order to give justice to the reactions to this part of the game. Hope I did it justice.

Before we read, however, there's something I like to discuss. Recently, an author of a fanfic I read set up a p.a.t.r.e.o.n page. Not for any specific work, nor with the promise of updating faster or doing certain fics. They just set it up in the case readers want to thank/support him by giving donations.

What do you guys think? Do you think it's alright for fanfic authors to set up their own p.a.t.r.e.o.n, so long as they don't lock their fanfics behind a pay-wall or something? Or does it still sound morally icky to you? I'm on the fence on it myself. It doesn't sound all that bad to me, supporting a fanfic author you like through p.a.t.r.e.o.n, but I'm aware of how much of a slippery-slope copyrighting is.

Let me know in your reviews of your stance on the idea. Until then, I hope you enjoy this chapter.

P.S. I've also been thinking about deleting some of my earliest fics for a while now. Reason being? They're not really good, looking back. I know that there are some readers that might still enjoy them, but it doesn't really change that I don't think that highly of my first few fanfics. And the occasional flamers, trolls, or severe critics can get annoying.

So yeah, if my mind doesn't drift from that idea, I'm likely gonna delete those early fics at some point in the future. What do you guys think about it? Are you fine with me deleting them, or will you be disappointed if I did so?

Disclaimer: I do not own Danganronpa.

Chapter 73: Watching Chapter 4: All Star Apologies Part 7

The next scene was Makoto entering the dining hall. The moment he did, Hiro spoke up. "Ah, Makoto! Are you okay?" Hiro asked in concern.

"Huh?" The luckster frowned in confusion at that. "What do you mean?"

"You were late, s-so… we were worried a-about you…" Toko explained.

"What a dullard…" Byakuya scoffed uncaringly.

It took a moment for the class to process who's there. "What th-? Byakuya's at the dining hall?" Leon questioned incredulously.

"Toko's one thing, but Byakuya? Now that's definitely surprising." Junko 'agreed' with the baseball star. "What are they doing there?"

"And why were Hiro and Toko worried about Makoto, exactly?" Hina growled dangerously. After calming down some, she went back to her seat with Sakura, though it's clear that she ain't at all happy at the moment.

At that, Byakuya let out a sigh. "The answer to both questions is obvious, isn't it? Sakura."

"Toko? Byakuya?" Makoto stared at the two in surprise, "What are you doing here?"

"They're 'taking refuge' here." Hina growled angrily.

That caused the luckster to frown. "Refuge…?"

"Don't make that stupid face," Byakuya told him insultingly, "We have to protect ourselves from the mastermind's tool."

That caused Hina to let out a second growl, frustration and anger growing inside her by the minute. 'How can I be silent when they talk about her like that?! What else am I supposed to do but defend Sakura?!'

"The mastermind's…? Are you talking about Sakura?!" Makoto exclaimed in shock. That's when he noticed that the only one who wasn't in the dining hall was the martial artist herself. "Huh…? Where is Sakura?"

The mention of the fighter's absence got the group's attention. "Now that he mentioned it, where is she?" Leon asked, trying to see any signs of Sakura.

"Did she decide to isolate herself from the group?" Taka mused, frowning in concern, "Or perhaps preparing for her fight with the mastermind?"

Several of the students turned to the girl herself for answers. "I cannot say for certain what my future self is thinking," Sakura sighed, "But both scenarios are likely."

"All I know is, if she was here, I wouldn't be," The Togami heir bluntly stated, "The only reason I went out of my way to join the rest of you was as a safeguard against that threat."

"Th-Threat…?!"

"Oh, so NOW you are worried for your life?" Sayaka remarked with an eye-roll. "Where'd that idea that you're invincible go?"

In response, Byakuya gave her a flat look. "I am no imbecile," he stated, "While my future self is confident that he won't die in the killing game, he'll take the precautions needed to ensure that. Why do you think I refused to eat breakfast with you lots during the second chapter?"

"A fair point…" Taka conceded, a frown marring his face, "Still, to think of Sakura as a threat now, after all this time…"

"She was a self-admitting tool of the mastermind, a powerful one at that," Byakuya stated bluntly, "And she stated that her task was to murder one of us. So yes, there are reasons why my future self sees her as a threat."

"Why…?" Hina questioned, glaring angrily at the heir. "Why do you hate her so much?"

That earned a scowl from Byakuya. "Isn't it obvious? Because this makes things unfair."

"Unfair…?" Makoto repeated, a tad disturbed.

"The game should be fair to all players. The existence of a spy for the mastermind upsets that balance," Byakuya explained coldly.

Naturally, that got angry scowls and even growls from the more emotional students. "Is he actually viewing Sakura as a cheater in this sick life-or-death game?" Sayaka snapped. "Does every thought revolve around this so-called game?!"

"That is such a stupid reason!" Hina growled. "A very, very, stupid reason to hate her!"

"Seriously, when is he gonna stop thinking that this is a damn game?!" Leon cried out in frustration.

While the calmer students didn't react as badly, some still held disapproving frowns. Byakuya himself was scowling, frustrated at the fact that his future self is playing into the mastermind's hands like this.

"That's a stupid reason!" Hina shouted fiercely.

"Stupid?" Now the Togami heir faced the swimmer, his fierce scowl aimed at her. "This is a life-or-death game, is it not?"

"It IS stupid! You're a stupid idiot!" Hina insisted, glaring right back.

"This is getting troubling," Celeste said, a small frown on her face, "If they continue like this, it's a certainty the two will come to blows."

"I'm certain that my future self or Makoto will stop them before it comes to that," Kyoko assured the gambler, "Still, it's proving that Monokuma's motive is effective."

"Yeah…" Makoto nodded sadly, watching all this with a forlorn look.

"Before you get too far into your argument, maybe you should stop and think things through," Kyoko interjected, bringing attention to her. "Why did the mastermind reveal that Sakura was the spy to us?"

"They were getting revenge on her, right?" Hina answered, still looking upset, "Like Monokuma said, 'An eye for an eye'."

In response, the lavender haired girl shook her head. "That may be part of it, but it's not the whole reason," she started explaining.,"Revealing the fact was also meant to serve as the next motive the mastermind wanted to give us. The chaos and confusion born from suspicion… the hatred…"

"In other words, this right here - the fighting, the bickering - is the trap the mastermind laid for us," Kyoko concluded, staring down the other survivors, "Knowing that, will you stand there and argue like children?"

That got a whistle from Junko. "You really know where to hit, huh Kyoko?"

"It's necessary," the detective stated, crossing her arms, "Continuously playing into the mastermind's hands will only end with our numbers dwindling. It needs to be pushed into everyone's mind that infighting will lead to our downfall."

"Then… then what am I supposed to do?!" Hina cried out in frustration, staring straight at Kyoko, "What else can I do to convince everyone that Sakura isn't the enemy?! How else can I get them to believe in her?!"

"There's nothing you can do, Hina," Kyoko sighed, "If they refuse to listen to anything you say, then shouting at them in anger will do little to sway them."

That answer did not sit well with Hina. But before she could say anything else, Sakura spoke up. "Kyoko's right, Hina," she said, looking resigned, "At the moment, their minds are set. Trying to change them forcefully will only make matters worse than they are."

That caused the swimmer to look down, tear gathering in her eyes once more. But… there must be something she could do. She can't just stand there and do nothing, while Sakura gets isolated from the others.

In response, Hina quickly shook her head. "Th-That's not what I'm trying to do. It's just…" Tears started forming in the corner of her eyes. "I mean… how can I get you guys to believe in Sakura again?"

"If she really can beat the mastermind like she said, that'd go a long way in my mind…" Hiro suggested.

That caused Hina to explode. "You bastard!" She screamed, glaring directly at Hiro, "You want to put her life at risk like that?!"

The fortune teller shriveled at the wrathful glare from the swimmer. "I mean… well… it makes sense, doesn't it?" Hiro said in a weak defense for himself. "If she can beat the mastermind, it proves she isn't a spy. And it would give us the chance to escape."

"But she can get seriously hurt! Or worse, killed!" Hina retorted fiercely. "That's no way worth trying to fight the mastermind!"

"H-Hina's right," Chihiro softly spoke up. "She shouldn't sacrifice herself like that in order to prove that she's loyal. That… is in no way acceptable!"

At that, Hiro stayed silent. Not because he agreed with them or anything, but because even he knew saying otherwise would bring Hina's wrath down upon him.

"Idiot!" Hina quickly berated him, "You'd really ask her to do something so dangerous? What if something terrible happens to her?!"

At that, Byakuya spoke up. "It wouldn't matter."

"...What?" The swimmer stared at the Togami heir in shock.

The Togamis heir's statement caused the air around the students to suddenly get cold. Is Byakuya really saying what they…?

"If Sakura were to die, that's one less person for the mastermind to control. I have no problem with that."

Yes. Yes, he is. The students could only stare at the screen in shock, with some having difficulties processing the future Byakuya's words.

Unfortunately, that wasn't the end of it.

"H-Hold on!" Makoto twisted towards Byakuya in shock. "Byakuya-!"

"In fact, if she did die, that would settle this entire issue, wouldn't it?" The heir continued further.

"Byakuya…" Makoto whispered, looking distraught at what he heard. "Did he really just…" Quickly, the lucky student took stock of the reaction of his friends.

Both Leon and Mondo had clear, barely restrained rage growing inside them, evident by their shaking bodies and looks of fury. Taka seemed to have close to the same amount of anger, while Sayaka's head was down, her hair hiding her emotions beneath her eyes.

Kyoko held a disappointed look on her face, with Mukuro and Celeste maintaining more stoic looks. Chihiro looked absolutely horrified by the statements made, and Byakuya himself sat rigidly in his seat, refusing to look at anyone.

And Hina… Hina looked the worst off. The girl was shaking madly, quick yet heavy breaths coming out of her, and eyes slightly dilating with rage. It is clear to everyone paying attention that the girl will burst in pure rage within mere moments.

And soon enough, that moment came right after the next scene.

"It would put the whole problem to rest!"

And at that, a loud slap was heard across the dining hall.

And at that, Hina's remaining self control shattered. "YOU MONSTER!" She shrieked, leaping out of her seat to give a similar slap to the present Byakuya. Quickly, Sakura grabbed her by both her arms, restraining her. That didn't stop her from struggling, or shouting further. "You sick, twisted piece of SHIT! How could you say something like that?! Wish for something like that on anybody?!"

"Hina-!" Sakura spoke, wanting to plead for Hina to calm down.

But the swimmer wasn't having it. "No, Sakura! That bastard is asking you to die! He's saying that your death will be CONVENIENT for him!" she told her fiercely, turning towards her friend with angry tears running down her cheeks, "There's no way I can be silent! No way I can let this bastard get away with what he said!"

"I didn't say those words." Byakuya finally spoke, getting up from his seat. He aimed a stern glare at Hina. "My other self did. I have no control of what he does or says. How many times must I say this?"

"YOU'RE STILL THE SAME FUCKING PERSON!" Hina shouted right back, aiming a tear-filled glare right at him, "That MONSTER on the screen is you MONTHS ago! You would've said those HORRIBLE words at the beginning of our year! WHAT MAKES YOU THINK YOU WOULDN'T SAY THEM NOW?!"

That earned a fierce scowl from the Togami heir. "Oh? That could apply for a number of our classmates," he stated fiercely, "Sayaka could still murder someone and place the blame on someone else; Mondo's rash actions can still get someone killed; Celeste might still manipulate any one of for her own gain." His eyes narrowed as he made his last point. "And Sakura could always play spy for the mastermind if she feels the need to."

"H-Hold on, guys!" Makoto hastily spoke up, getting up from his seat. He can see that things are getting too heated. "Let's calm down-"

"Quiet, Naegi!" Byakuya stated sharply, not taking his eyes off of Hina's now completely furious glare. "If I'm capable of saying these words, as you say, are any of our guilty classmates absolved from the future selves' actions? Can you say for certain that Sakura wouldn't do the same thing as her future self?"

At that point, Hina doesn't want to merely slap the Togami heir. She wanted to pummel him to the ground, break his teeth so he can swallow them and be unable to speak!

"Well? I'm waiting for an answer," the heir continued speaking, his tone close to mocking, "Are you that willing to condemn my actions, yet turn a blind eye to the others? Are you that desperate to defend your dear friend?"

"Byakuya, please!" Makoto pleaded, as Mondo and Leon started slowly getting up from their seats, "Don't make this wo-!"

SLAP

That hard sound of flesh meeting flesh caused everyone to freeze, many of them caught by surprise. All of them saw Byakuya a few steps away from his previous position, his hand holding a reddened cheek, his head down, and a look of shock entering his face.

And the slapper was none other than Sayaka, her hand still up from her slap and her hair still covering her eyes.

"I know you aren't the same person. I know this is the memories of past you acting," Sayaka said, her voice quiet and soft, "I'm not blind to that fact. But… I can't ignore that you would've said those things months ago."

The bluenette then looked up to give Byakuya a fierce, fury-filled glare. "I can't keep turning away at the fact that you were this horrible human being at the beginning of our school year. Just like I can't ignore that I would be desperate enough to betray the kindest boy that I've ever met."

The tension was now thick in the room. Quite a few students were giving Sayaka approving looks, while a few others were more disheartened at the conflict happening. The more physically capable look ready to restrain the idol if needed, while the more cowardly were nervous at all the tension that had come up.

Byakuya finally looked up, his shocked look gone and a more angry look settling on his face. "Oh? And what exactly do you plan on doing about it?" He asked angrily, "I cannot change how I was before. And regretting previous behavior, or my future self's actions, is pointless."

"Right now? A slap is good," Sayaka responded back easily, "I doubt I'll be able to do anything else." Not without being restrained by her classmates or the chains underneath the floor.

With that, the blue-haired idol went back to her seat. Soon after, those that had stood up went back in their own seats, although the atmosphere is still considerably tense. Byakuya held a colder than usual look, while Hina, having been let go by Sakura, still had a furious glare on her and tears running down her cheeks.

No one said anything as the screen continued on.

"What the hell…?" Byakuya cursed in shock, holding a reddening cheek. In front of him was a clearly furious Hina, with Toko watching in distress from the far side of the room.

"You disgust me!" Hina spat out in fury, "You're… you're a monster! To say something like that… it should've been you. You should've been the one to die!" The swimmer's last statement was shouted in pure hatred.

Several of the students couldn't help but flinch at how much loathing Hina put in her words. While anger isn't a foreign thing from the girl, seeing her show such hatred for someone, even Byakuya, was something they've never seen before.

At the same time though, they do understand why she's feeling this way. Heck, some of them even agreed with her. The Byakuya they're seeing on the screen… is vile. A selfish monster who's unfeeling to the suffering of others, who doesn't care who lives or dies so long as he remains on top.

And they were in class with such a monster mere months ago. With everything they've been seeing, the fact that he at least somewhat changed felt hollow now.

Byakuya slowly turned towards her. "I should've died…?" he repeated in barely contained anger, "Interesting. Then are you planning to take care of that yourself?" He then straightened himself up, giving her a scornful look. "Go ahead, if you dare. That's how it works here, after all."

"You think I can't do it?" Hina growled, looking ready to strangle him right here and now.

Now that got the others alarmed. "Oh hell, is she actually planning on doing it?" Mondo asked worriedly. "I mean, I hate the bastard as much as she does, but does Hina actually want to kill him?"

"N-No! If she does that, she'll end up being a culprit!" Chihiro exclaimed in fear. "They'll end up in a class trial, with Hina getting executed!"

"Forget a class trial; she'll end up blasted the moment she guts Byakuya!" Leon retorted, looking just as worried.

Sakura clenched her fist, in both frustration and guilt. "Hina…" she spoke softly, anxiousness clear in her tone, "You know this isn't what I wanted. This conflict is the exact thing Monokuma wants. So why?" The swimmer could only look away from her dear friend, an influx of emotions flashing on her face.

"H-Hina! Calm down!" Makoto pleaded, placing a hand on his friend's shoulder.

"This is exactly what the mastermind wants. And it's exactly what Sakura doesn't want," Kyoko supported Makoto.

Hina could only be silent, staring at Byakuya with tears falling down her face. "What's wrong? Lost your nerve?" the heir asked mockingly.

"Fuck off!" Leon and Mondo shouted at the screen, with the former even giving it the finger.

"Byakuya is not helping matters," Taka growled, feeling frustrated himself, "He's consciously aggravating Hina like this."

"What do you expect? He's actively supporting this game," Sayaka stated sourly, "He doesn't care that he's doing exactly what Monokuma wants; he's blindly focused on the game."

"Stop i-insulting master!" Toko finally spoke up, glaring angrily at Sayaka. While she was silent for most of the conflict, silently distressing that her dear master was hurt, a vicious ball of anger had grown in her heart. "And how dare you slap him! I-I hope you-"

"Your master just wished for the death of one of our friends on screen!" the idol retorted fiercely. "He's doing exactly what the mastermind wants by goading Hina! How can you still defend him, after seeing all this?!"

"M-Master isn't s-saying anything wrong!" Toko argued, "S-Sakura is a spy. It probably would be better if-"

"Don't you dare!" Hina growled, looking ready to stand back up and strangle Toko. "Don't even finish that sentence, Toko!"

Makoto could only look on anxiously. Things are really escalating, both on screen and here. What can he do to stop it? How else can he keep his friends from being divided?

Hina continued remaining silent. After a moment, she spoke. "I'm leaving…" Slowly, she walked out of the cafeteria, her figure trembling with anger. "I'll be in my room."

It's clear to everyone that the girl is still holding in a lot of hot-boiling fury. And again, many of them couldn't blame her for this; still, it's worrying and disheartening to see their most bubbly classmate like this.

"Hina…" Chihiro murmured worriedly, "Will she be okay?"

"I'm not sure Chihiro." Taka said softly. "It's clear that her emotions are running high. While I don't think she would do anything drastic…"

"A fucking powder keg is growing inside her," Mondo stated bluntly. He, out of everyone, can see the signs. "The only question is when it's gonna blow."

Sakura clenched her fists anxiously. "Hina…" she spoke softly, "You can't continue trying to defend me like this. I've accepted the hatred from our comrades; trying to argue with them is only bringing conflict." And that conflict can easily lead to murder. The last thing she would want.

"But, Sakura… future me can't just sit there and do nothing!" Hina said fiercely, giving her friend an angst-filled glare, "Not when they go and treat you like you're a killer! When you plan to sacrifice yourself!" A new wave of tears fell from her face. "How can I just let all this happen?! What would you do in my place?!"

"..." Sakura was struck silent at this, her thoughts on what she would've done if Hina was deemed the traitor. And the answer came immediately; she would defend her. She would not let anyone speak ill of her friend, would punish the one who dared do so.

The martial artist understood that she would likely be no better if she switched roles with Hina.

"That s-stupid cow…! How dare she…?" Toko growled in anger, "She should d-die a thousand deaths. No, a million…!"

"So, she was just another hysterical girl. Hardly worth my attention…" Byakuya scoffed arrogantly.

The affluent progeny ignored the curses and insults aimed at him. Listening would merely add to his frustrations, aimed at his future self. He doesn't regret his own words; if his classmates are so eager to demonize him, they should find the time to look at themselves, and the actions of their future selves.

However, he's not blind to how… arrogant, his future self is being. Since the start, he's been playing to the mastermind's tune; willfully playing the game set up for them, with a glee that's close to matching Genocide Jack's blood-lust. When will he wake up? How long will he stay a tool for the mastermind?

Cause that's what he is right now. For all his future self's talk about Sakura being a tool, he's the one acting exactly how the mastermind wants.

"It's what other people call having 'feelings', Byakuya. And all you can do is mock them for it." Kyoko told him coldly.

"What's wrong with that?" Byakuya responded back, unperturbed.

"A friendly word of warning - someday that attitude is going to come back and bite you," Kyoko warned him, in a not-so friendly way, "Hard."

"And I will happily elude its attempts," the heir countered easily.

'How… how can somebody be this arrogant?!' Sayaka thought in pure aggravation, 'Even after getting slapped on the cheek, he thinks himself invincible! Unable to be harmed or killed!'

'Did Byakuya honestly think the consequences don't hold him?' Taka thought, disbelief and frustration in equal measure, 'Does he honestly think that everything will go the way he wants it to?'

'I want to punch him!' Mondo mentally growled, 'I want to pummel his face into the table so fucking bad! Show him personally that he ain't untouchable!'

'I hate him!' Hina thought maliciously, a furious look clear on her face, 'I hate him, I hate him, I hate him! I hate him so much right now!'

No one bothered to say anything. It's already been made clear how much several of the students despise the Byakuya on screen.

"S-So um, ya know…" Hiro hesitantly spoke up, looking very uncomfortable. "How about we, uh… eat?" Once the words passed his lips, the fortune teller shook his head. "Er… maybe now's not a good time…" He then ended that with an awkward chuckle.

The students could only watch with mixed emotions as the remaining survivors left the dining hall. "This… is troubling…" Celeste sighed, "Hina is unable to keep from arguing with the others about Sakura, while Byakuya is determined to treat everyone as the enemy. Toko remains obsessively loyal to him, and Hiro is likely still afraid of Sakura."

"The only ones with good heads on their shoulders are Makoto, Kyoko, and Sakura," Junko remarked, "And even they can't stop the fights from happening. Heck, we got our own fights here."

'This feels even worse than the previous chapters…' Makoto thought sadly, 'I don't think even the first chapter got so bad as this…'

"I-It's the idiot swimmer fault," Toko grumbled accusingly, "If she would stop being so emotion-"

"Shut. Up. Toko," Leon interrupted the writer, looking so very done with her, "I couldn't care less that you're a pathetic little lap-dog for Byakuya, but you and the asshole are just as guilty. Probably more so."

That earned a wrathful glare from the writer. "Y-You don't-"

"Quiet, you," Byakuya cut off Toko sharply, "I don't need you defending me."

"But m-m-master-"

"Quiet!" The Togami heir's words were even sharper, prompting Toko to dutifully keep quiet. "I've acknowledged my shortcomings, if only to myself; I'm aware that my future self is being arrogantly stupid." A very hard and bitter pill to swallow for him, but ignoring the obvious would make him no better than the person on the screen. "I don't need anyone to defend my actions."

"Byakuya…" The lucky student couldn't help but feel sympathy for the Togami heir. All this time, he's been receiving the anger of his classmates thanks to his future self's words. That could take a toll on anyone, even Byakuya.

"I don't need your pity, Makoto," Byakuya stated, though his words weren't as sharp as they were before, "I can handle myself just fine." His classmates' anger towards him is nothing he couldn't handle.

"Regardless, we shouldn't let this continue," Kyoko sighed, "You aren't responsible for your actions in the future, and all of us need to acknowledge that fact." She aimed her words at the more volatile students, along with a stern cold glare at them.

Said classmates stayed silent, keeping their eyes away from Kyoko. Even Hina felt affected by Kyoko's stone-cold words, a mix of guilt and aggravation reflected on her face.

The next scene was Makoto sitting in his room, with the nighttime announcement playing. 'Nighttime already…' The luckster thought to himself. 'Tonight somehow feels… uneasy. We still haven't settled things with Sakura. Everyone's in a terrible mood. I just hope nothing happens tonight…'

"I don't think the situation will be settled peacefully." Mukuro said softly, one of the more neutral students of this conflict. "Sides have already been picked; there isn't anything that can be said that'll solve the conflict made. If this continues… it would only get worse from here. And I'm not just talking about a murder."

That made everyone tense, some wondering what else could be worse while others figured what she meant. Once a murder happens, the friction will merely grow. And if that happens, there's no stopping the killing game from continuing till it ends.

Until the very last person is left standing, one way or another.

'No… I cannot allow that to happen.' Sakura thought with frustration. 'I can't let a murder happen thanks to my own actions. My future self must do something to stop this.' No matter what anyone else said, this all is happening because of her own decisions. Her own hesitance.

The Ultimate Martial Artist must find a way to halt this divide; lest she have blood stains on her own hands.

And that's the end. I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. Seems like the further I go in, the harder it is to write these reactions. Can't tell if fatigue, or the fact that dialogue can get repetitive the longer the reaction fic (Which means you have to work doubly hard not to make it so repetitive).

Anyways, let me know what you think of this chapter in the reviews. Also, let me hear your thoughts about fanfic authors having a p.a.t.r.e.o.n, as well as the idea of me deleting my first couple of fics. Review, favorite, and follow and I will see you guys later.