A/N: This oneshot is the result of a request sent by Angel Wraith and takes place after Trigger Happy Havoc's Chapter Four Class Trial. Please read, review, and enjoy!

The Ultimate Detective and The Ultimate Hope Gaiden: Hina's Remorse!

The red doors swung open as a somber crowd passed into the hallway. The six survivors walked down the halls, each of them holding sorrow in their hearts after seeing Alter Ego's murder, though not all of them let it show.

One such person to hide their mourning was Kyoko, who awkwardly coughed into her fist to get everyone's attention before she suggested "Perhaps we should…turn in for the night…"

The others nodded, even Makoto's voracious appetite made itself scarce in the face of the trauma they all shared. With barely a nod, they all separated and slipped into their rooms, hoping to get some rest and process the loss of two of their friends.

Byakuya moved a pawn on his chess board, biting his lip and touching a finger to his cheek in contemplation. Solitaire chess had been an activity he partook in often during his youth due to its meditative effect on him.

Plus the strategic training will keep my mind sharp, which will be necessary if I'm going to defeat the mastermind. And unlike my moves on this chess board… Byakuya glanced at the security camera in his room and thought …they can't read the strategies in my mind…

Byakuya's thoughts wandered to the class trial and frowned, not liking the fact that this was one of the few times he was taken down a peg or two.

I can't believe I let myself get caught off guard. I failed to predict the lengths Ogami would go to in order to keep us unified, and I failed to take into account just how vengeful and self-sacrificing Asahina would be during the investigation and trial. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I actually owe my life to Makoto and Kirigiri.

Byakuya frowned as the purple-haired detective's face flashed in his mind.

I may owe my life to her, but I don't trust her, either. She's the only one of us who has never disclosed her talent.

"Why should I tell you?"

"Well…I guess you don't have to tell me."

"No, I don't have to tell you. So I'm not going to."

That girl's been secretive since we stepped into Hope's Peak, or wherever this is. Going of on her own, not telling us where she's found any clues…

"Wh-What the…? Where did you find this?"

"It doesn't matter where I found it."

For all we know, she could be the mastermind who trapped us here. If something isn't done, her secrecy could be the doom of us all. I need to…

*Knock Knock!*

Byakuya turned to his door with a curious expression as he wondered who would be knocking on his door. His morbid curiosity won out as he stood up from his chair and walked over to his door. His eyebrows raised in surprise as he opened it and saw the awkward Hina standing at his door.

"Ano…Togami-kun…konbanwa."

"Asahina…" Byakuya returned with a nod.

"Um…can I…can I come in? I…I need to talk to you about something…"

Surprised that the Ultimate Swimming Pro had dared to seek him out, Byakuya sighed and nodded, opening his door as he offered "Enter, I could use a chess opponent anyway. You do know how to play, don't you?"

"Well…I can't say I'm very good, but I do know how all the pieces move…"

"That shall be sufficient. Have a seat over there and I'll set up the board."

Hina nodded and walked over to the chair. As she sat down, Byakuya walked over to the table and reset the strewn pieces back to their starting positions.

"Since you're my guest, I'll let you be white."

Hina nodded and moved a random pawn before Byakuya contemplated his opening options.

As he moved another pawn, the Ultimate Affluent Progeny asked "So…what brings you here?"

"Um…I wanted to say I'm sorry…about how I overreacted today and everything." Hina explained as she moved another pawn.

Byakuya sighed and muttered "I thought we already cleared that up. As I said before, your behavior was abhorrent, but understandable, considering your grief and the trick Monokuma played on you."

"Yeah, I know." Hina muttered as she watched Byakuya move another pawn. She mirrored his move as she sighed "But I shouldn't have fallen for something like that."

"You're right, you shouldn't have. But…this trial did have the silver lining of exposing your hidden resourcefulness…" As well as my apparent lock of comprehension of human motivation.

"Huh?" Hina asked as Byakuya moved a knight.

"I must admit, I underestimated you." Byakuya complimented, making Hina's eyes widen in surprise as she placed another pawn on the board. "I didn't expect you to lead us towards voting for you. An egregious oversight on my part…but also a sign that you're surprisingly clever for a plebian."

"Me?!" Hina blushed as Byakuya moved another pawn. "Oh no, I'm, well…ditzy! Makoto and Kyoko are the clever ones, not me…" Hina trailed off as she moved a bishop.

"I'll concede, Makoto and Kirigiri have displayed the most cleverness during the investigations and trials…" Byakuya began, flashing back to how he had written off Makoto's capabilities during the investigation into Sayaka's murder. As Byakuya moved his knight, he continued "…But you have potential, if you only tapped into your existing skill set a little more often."

Byakuya smirked as he watched Hina move her Rook and King simultaneously before he complimented her.

"Like your castling move just now; not many amateurs remember to use that as their strategy." As Hina blushed in embarrassment from the compliment, Byakuya continued "Asahina…Hina…if I have to say it out loud for you to drop it, then fine, I accept your apology. Just do us a favor from now on…"

"Yes…?"

Byakuya smirked and tapped her forehead with his finger before he stipulated "Use your hidden cleverness to help me take down the mastermind, whoever they are. Consider this chess game your training."

Hina grinned and pumped her fists as she exclaimed "Okay! Just you wait, I'm gonna get my gold medal and beat you, Byakuya!"

"Is that so?" Byakuya chuckled in amusement as he accepted "Very well, let's see how your plebian mind can fare against a Togami."

"Checkmate, Hina."

Hina pouted and grumbled "Man, I can't believe I have to settle for a bronze! I almost had you!"

Byakuya nodded as he admitted "To be fair, you didn't do too poorly for a plebian. You get a gold medal for effort."

"I'll take it!"

*Ding Dong Bing Bong!*

Byakuya and Hina turned their heads to the monitor, revealing Monokuma's ugly mug as he announced "This is a school announcement, it is now 10 P.M. Soon the doors to the dining hall will be locked, and entry at that point is strictly prohibited. Good night, sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite!"

As the monitor shut off, Hina shuddered "I always feel creeped out whenever he makes one of those announcements…" Byakuya nodded in silent agreement before he watched Hina stand up and announce "Well, guess I should head back to my room. Don't wanna be breaking our agreement."

Even if Kirigiri will likely be doing exactly that… Byakuya thought as he nodded. "Very well then, off with you. Good night, Hina."

"Yeah, good night, Byakuya. Thanks for the chess game. I…had fun."

As Hina closed the door behind her, Byakuya chuckled, smiling as he muttered "…Yeah…me too…"