A/N: Here's Chapter Six of "The Naegis' Secret Diary!", covering Episode Four of Future Arc. Please read, review, and enjoy!
The Ultimate Detective and The Ultimate Hope Gaiden: The Naegis' Secret Diary!
Chapter Six: Who Is A Liar?!
"Kiki, are you okay?"
"Hm?" Kiki raised her head from her plate at her mother's question, seeing concerned looks from her parents and siblings.
"You've been pretty quiet this weekend." Makoto explained. "And you've barely touched your dinner. Is something troubling you?"
"Oh, I just…have a lot on my mind, that's all." I can't explain it here, not in front of Moku, Koto, and Kiri. They're way too young to hear this kind of stuff.
Makoto and Kyoko nodded in understanding and the family went back to awkwardly eating their dinner.
"Alright, we're back on campus." Makoto announced as he parked in the parking lot.
As Kiki opened the passenger door to get out, he placed his hand on her shoulder. She turned her head to see him smiling encouragingly at her.
"I'm guessing you've been thinking a lot about the diary we gave you…you know you can talk to me about anything you're thinking, right? It's just us, no kids to worry about."
Kiki smiled and nodded, replying "I know, Dad. I just…wanna try to get through the whole thing so I can talk about it all at once."
Makoto nodded and replied "I understand, Kiki. Just know that our offices are always open if you feel the need to talk."
"I know…thanks, Dad."
"That's what I'm here for. Alright, you have a good evening, and I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"
"Okay Dad. See you soon." She told him as she got out of the car and closed the door.
Makoto waved at her, causing her to wave back as she watched him drive away. She then turned around and gazed towards the main campus.
"Well, better start heading back…"
"Welcome back, Kiki!"
Kiki giggled as she hugged her friend, telling the cosplayer "Good to see you too. How were things while I was away?"
"Well…" Tsumugi began as she walked in Kiki's room and closed the door. "Gonta tried doing another Insect Meet and Greet from when we were kids, Tojo-chan tried to bring everyone breakfast in bed, and Saihara-kun spent his free time either helping his uncle out with cases or reading mystery novels in the library."
"I see…it certainly seems like everyone kept themselves busy."
"Yeah, we all missed you, but we all kept ourselves busy. I spent my weekend reading more of Hifumi Yamada's dojinshis."
"I bet you were right at home!" Kiki giggled.
"It was certainly a fun read…speaking of which, shall we pick up where we left off on Thursday?"
Kiki nodded before she turned and walked towards the bed. Tsumugi followed her as they crawled on the bed, settling next to each other. The heterochromatic girl picked up the diary from her bedside table and turned to the bookmark before she began to read.
"Though I was still on my hands and knees, I glared up at Juzo Sakakura, who had just tried to kill me. Out staring contest was broken when…"
"Bit soon to rely on violence, don't you think?"
Kyoko watched as Kazuo walked in front of her, wondering What are you planning, Chairman Tengan?
"If Naegi's with the Remnants, his pals must be too." Juzo justified. "This isn't the sort of thing you can pull off by your lonesome. I suggest you step aside."
"And I suggest you try listening to reason." Kazuo shot back, undeterred by Juzo's threat.
The former boxer merely turned his head, closing his eyes as he retorted dismissively "Quit acting like your damn title means a thing." He opened his eyes, glaring at the chairman as he declared "I take my orders from Munakata, not some decrepit, washed-up old fart, Mr. Chairman!"
In a flash of anger, Juzo threw his chair at the three of them. Kyoko ducked as Kazuo and Ryota dodged to the side, causing it to hit an exposed water pipe. The plumbing cracked, causing the hallway to be filled with steam. Juzo grunted in frustration before he charged into the fog, tossing his jacket to the side and kicking Kazuo.
"What is he doing?" Ryota exclaimed as Kyoko got to her feet.
With Kazuo down, Juzo picked up the chair and approached the former detective, smirking as Kyoko merely glared at him through the mist. Kyoko ducked as Juzo swung the chair at her like a baseball bat.
"No! Stop it!" Ryota cried as he charged at Juzo, grabbing onto the chair.
"Move it!" Juzo roared as he swung the chair, shaking Ryota off and causing him to fall backwards against Kyoko.
They both toppled to the ground, falling on their rears. Kyoko groaned in pain as Ryota landed squarely on her ankle.
Great, it's probably sprained now! I'm a sitting duck like this!
She looked up as Juzo stood towering over them, chair raised above his head as he prepared to deal her the final blow.
"Not good, Mom's defenseless! Her protection just became a liability!"
"Yeah, Mitarai's attack backfired and inflicted her with the paralysis status!" Tsumugi exclaimed. "How do you think she got out of that?"
"I don't know, let's keep reading and find out." Kiki took a deep breath and continued "Sakakura raised his chair as he prepared to deal me a killing blow. Unable to move, I wondered if it was truly the end for me when…"
Juzo turned around, surprised as he just barely dodged out of the way of a silver dart.
"What the hell?" He exclaimed as it breezed past his face.
"Heh." Everyone's eyes widened in shock as Tengan walked through the fog and complimented "Excellent dodge." Juzo grunted as Kazuo narrowed his eyes and challenged "Not such a decrepit, washed-up old fart after all, am I?"
Juzo gasped, then steeled his gaze as he pulled back the chair and launched it forward.
What the…? Kyoko thought as she saw the chairman catch it in midair and throw it back with resounding force, causing Juzo to dodge.
I…didn't know the chairman was so physically capable… Kyoko thought in awe as Kazuo leapt towards Juzo with surprising agility.
Juzo wound back his fist and threw a punch, only to stop at the last second as it hovered a mere inch from the smirking Kazuo's face.
"What's the holdup?" He taunted. "You're gonna punch me, aren'tcha? Oughta be short work for a former Ultimate Boxer."
He was the Ultimate Boxer, he could easily punch all of us…unless… Kyoko realized His Forbidden Action is punching someone! That's why he attacked us with that chair!
Juzo grunted in frustration as his fist just hovered, mere inches from its target. Seizing the opportunity, Kazuo brushed Juzo's extended arm aside while elbowing him in the chest. Juzo gasped in surprise pain as he was sent flying backwards, skidding along the floor as he laid on his back. Kyoko gasped as she stared incredulously at the victorious chairman and the now stunned former boxer.
Did that…just happen…?
Her thoughts were interrupted as Kazuo groaned pressing his hands against his back before he turned to her with a smile.
"Gracious. Young people today." He turned back to the unconscious Juzo and suggested "We should probably restrain him so he can't come after us again anytime soon. Mitarai-kun, come give me a hand, won't you? I'm sure Director Kirigiri would appreciate it if you got off her foot."
"Huh? Oh!" Mitarai scrambled off her before he turned around. "I'm so sorry! I only meant to help, I promise!" He apologized profusely as he bowed his head.
"Don't worry, I'm sure she understands you meant no harm." Kazuo reassured him before looking towards the ceiling. "Mitarai, yank that wire from the ceiling, won't you? I'll prop up Sakakura."
Kyoko watched as the two men got to work before she opted to focus on managing the pain in her ankle.
"Okay…I was wrong…" Kiki admitted as she came to the end of the page. "Chairman Tengan ended up being very capable of defending Mom."
"Yeah, who knew he multi-classed as both an archer and a monk?!"
Kiki giggled "Yeah, he was certainly full of surprises…" Her smile faded as she lamented "Too bad he couldn't do it in time to prevent Mom from getting hurt though."
"Yeah, hopefully her paralysis status wasn't long-lasting."
"Well, the next page is from her perspective, so let's find out." Kiki glanced to the top of the page and continued "Tengan and Mitarai worked to restrain Sakakura while my injured ankle recovered. Eventually…"
Juzo sat on the floor, unconscious as his arms were suspended above him by a cable tied around his wrists. His jacket hung on a coatrack next to him as Ryota and a now recovered Kyoko stood a few feet away.
"So, ano, he won't be able to follow us?" Ryota asked hesitantly.
"Hopefully not." Kyoko confirmed.
"Kyoko!" An ecstatic cry reverberated through the halls as she saw Hina and Miaya running straight at them.
"Thank goodness you're all right!" Hina cried as she wrapped her arms around the former detective in a bear hug, causing her to wince slightly in dulled pain.
"Thanks. Glad you're still in one piece, too."
Noticing the veiled pain in Kyoko's voice, Hina immediately released her and exclaimed "Hold on, are you hurt?"
"Oh, it's nothing, really." Kyoko assured her friend as Ryota bowed his head in shame.
"I'm sorry. It's all my fault." Both women turned to Ryota in surprise as he explained "This…This happens every time. Whenever I try to help someone…" The former animator clenched his fists in anguish and frustration as he muttered in frustration "…I just cause them more pain. I can't save anything." His eyes began to water as he asked "Why is it so hard for me to be like Naegi?"
Ah, an inferiority complex…like Makoto had when we were in school together… Kyoko mused before she returned "Why bother to be like him? I was under the impression that you're you."
Ryota gasped in surprise before Hina smiled and tried to cheer him up.
"Come on. Hey! You stepped up for me when push came to shove, remember? That pretty much saved my bacon!"
"That seems like a bit of a stretch." Ryota replied, unconvinced. "Thank you, though."
"It's true. It's because you intervened that we're even standing here right now."
Ryota gasped, then smiled softly at Kyoko's words before he reluctantly accepted "If you say so."
The hum of a microphone interrupted their conversation, getting everyone's attention as Kyosuke's voice echoed throughout the facility.
"Attention, Foundation members. Attention, Foundation members."
"Is that?"
"That's Munakata." Kazuo confirmed the former swimmer's suspicions.
"I have an important announcement. Makoto Naegi has been captured."
Everyone except Kyoko gasped as Hina wondered "Is he for real?"
Damn, I knew this would happen… Kyoko thought. Makoto's words didn't reach those most determined to kill him, and now he's completely at their mercy.
"As I speak, I am on the verge of executing him."
"What?!" Monomi shrieked as Hina grabbed her head with her hands.
"No! This isn't happening! What do we do?"
"It's a trap." Kyoko deduced calmly.
"A trap?"
"It's obvious, really. He's using Naegi to draw us all in."
"Yeah, I get that, but what do we do about it? He's going to execute Naegi!"
…An unacceptable situation. I promised Makoto I would protect him, and I will, even if it means walking into Munakata's trap! "I'll go and talk to him." Kyoko decided as she closed her eyes.
Hina gasped before Kyoko opened her eyes and turned to address her friend.
"Look, if he hasn't killed him yet, there's a reason. We still have room to negotiate. Perhaps I'll be able to get through to him." Now who's being naïve, Kirigiri? Makoto must have rubbed off on you more than you thought.
"It's not your place." Kazuo objected, causing the others to turn to him in surprise. "If he's willing to negotiate, let me do the talking. It's for the best."
"Chairman."
Before Kyoko could continue her argument, Kazuo interjected "Been meaning to have a little chat with him for some time now, honestly. He and I go back aways."
"But, sir."
Kazuo held up his hand, silencing Kyoko as he interrupted "Defusing this situation is my job. And unless I'm mistaken, there's another job to which you're suited."
I…I may not trust him completely, but the fact remains that if negotiations fail, I stand little chance of survival against Munakata's katana. At least Tengan has a weapon and knows how to use it. He's our best fighter right now, so even if I want to rescue Makoto personally, Tengan is obviously more capable than I am of fending off Munakata right now. And he's right, we need a detective to get us out of this killing game, and as the former Ultimate Detective, I'm best suited to investigate this.
Kyoko sighed, making her surrender in the debate clear.
"I understand. Do what you can for Naegi. Just be careful."
Hina raised her hand and exclaimed "Ano! I volunteer to go with you, sir!"
As Kazuo nodded in agreement, Monomi volunteered "Me too! I've already calculated the safest route!"
Kazuo hummed before turning to Ryota and asking "Ah, Mr. Mitarai?"
"Ano, yes?"
"If you would, I believe Kirigiri would appreciate an escort. She's in no condition to be alone."
I have a slightly sprained ankle; I'm not bedridden! She thought in frustration before Ryota clenched his fists.
"Ano, absolutely!"
"Very well, then. Let's see what we can't do." Kazuo chuckled.
…Shikata wa nai… Kyoko thought before she reluctantly nodded.
"Good luck Kyoko!" Hina cheered before the former detective gave a small smile.
"You as well, Asahina."
Without another word, the group split up, Kazuo, Hina, and Miaya going in one direction while Kyoko and Ryota went in the other.
"So, they're splitting up again…" Kiki muttered as they came to the end of the page.
"Yeah, it's too bad your mom couldn't go and rescue your dad." Tsumugi's eyes sparkled as she gushed "It would have been just like in a manga! The heroine rushing to rescue her love interest, beating up the evil lord, and when the danger passed, they confess their love and share a loving kiss!"
Kiki rolled her eyes and teased "You've been reading too many romance mangas. Mom's not some magical girl like Sailor Moon, and this unfortunately can't be solved by yelling the name of your attack at the top of your lungs."
"Yeah, still, it's nice to dream, isn't it?"
"Yeah, it is…speaking of which, it looks like Dad's perspective is next…guess he woke up after Munakata knocked him out."
"Yeah, though I doubt he had any pleasant dreams…"
Kiki nodded in agreement with Tsumugi as she turned the page and continued "I was just starting to regain consciousness after Munakata's announcement. I felt my hands, restrained behind my back with some kind of binding when…"
The clang of steel piercing the concrete floor startled Makoto, wiping the drowsy haze from his mind as he looked up at Munakata.
"Good, you're awake." Munakata told him, his pals resting on the hilt of his katana as he glared down at the restrained young man.
Makoto managed to get onto his knees before he demanded "What are you planning on doing to me?"
"I plan to use you as bait. Anyone willing to attempt a rescue is obviously not to be trusted."
"But you…you don't have to keep me alive for that." Makoto pointed out, confused.
"Well you're certainly no less of a threat for not being the Attacker."
Wait, does he believe I'm not the Attacker? "I don't get it." Makoto admitted.
"Think about the game's outcome. Of all the ways this could end, what's the most terrifying possibility?"
"Everyone getting killed. All of us being slaughtered like cattle till the Foundation is forfeit."
"Wrong." Kyosuke countered, shocking Makoto.
Wrong?! What could possibly be worse than being dead?!
"Indulge me." Kyosuke continued "Let's assume for the sake of argument the attacks stop with my death. What might you deduce?"
Where is he going with this? Makoto wondered. "Well, I mean…that would sorta point the finger at you being the Attacker."
"That would be the sensible conclusion. Then again, there's no way to be absolutely certain."
The gears started turning in Makoto's head as he started connecting the dots of Kyosuke's argument.
"You've got a point!" He gasped reluctantly. "There's no rule saying the Attacker can't just stop whenever they feel like it!"
"And if the Attacker sets up a patsy to take the fall, it would bring the game to an end." Kyosuke concluded. "Ingratiating him or herself to the surviving Foundation members would then be child's play."
"The real Attacker would be held up as a hero." Makoto reluctantly realized.
"Yes. Held up as a hero and given control of the Foundation itself. If a beacon of hope like you happened to be among the survivors, the enemy's control will be all but absolute. People will rally around you. The Remnants of Despair know this. They'll use you to entrench themselves. Despair will march across the Earth, all the while flying the banner of hope. That would be the most terrifying outcome."
"I…I get it." Makoto concluded reluctantly "The Attacker would save me because they need me alive. I'm the cornerstone of their whole plan."
"So you do think logically. Encouraging."
I couldn't survive six Class Trials if I couldn't use logic. Makoto thought as Kyosuke picked up his katana.
"Indeed. You and those who might try to use you must be killed to thwart the enemy."
"That can't be the only solution!" Makoto objected. No matter how much Munakata's making sense, I can't condone being part of a plan for more bloodshed! "You'd just end up having to kill everybody!"
Kyosuke merely glared at him and warned "Do not underestimate the Future Foundation. This institution is ironclad. All men die. But what I have created here will endure."
I used to think the same about Hope's Peak Academy…but even that fell thanks to Junko. The Future Foundation is no less vulnerable to corruption and destruction. Makoto thought with pity. "You're insane. The game's driven you mad!"
"Tell me." Kyosuke pointed out "Was Enoshima defeated without sacrifice?"
Makoto fell silent, recalling Sayaka, Mukuro, Leon, Chihiro, Mondo, Taka, Hifumi, Celeste, and Sakura as memories of the Killing School Life flashed through his mind.
"The hope you represent spurs people to act." Kyosuke rested his Katana directly over Makoto's shoulder, continuing "And for that, here you are, like a powder keg waiting to be ignited by the enemy."
Makoto stared with wide eyes in a tense mental standoff with Kyosuke before a silver dart hit the katana, sending it flying before it lodged itself in a nearby table.
What the… Makoto thought as he and Kyosuke turned their gazes towards the entryway
He gasped as he saw Kazuo, his right hand raised as a wrist-based firearm shone from a bracelet on his right wrist. Behind him stood Hina and Miaya, all glaring intensely at the vice-chairman.
Chairman Tengan! Hina! Director Gekkogahara!
"Finally, the cavalry arrived!" Kiki sighed in relief as she reached the end of the page.
"Yeah, that whole philosophical battle was totally intense! I can't even imagine how your dad felt during that time."
"Yeah, and he had that katana hovering inches from his throat!" Kiki pointed out. "Munakata seemed to me like the win at all costs type."
Tsumugi agreed "Yeah, I can't say his logic was wrong, but it's definitely not right, either. He definitely strikes me as a chaotic neutral character."
Kiki nodded in agreement before she wondered "I wonder how Mom's investigation was going…"
She turned the page and glanced at Tsumugi. The cosplayer nodded before Kiki took a deep breath and continued reading.
"While your father was arguing with Munakata, Mitarai and I wandered the hallways. I tapped my bangle and…"
Damn… Kyoko cursed as the timer flashed on her bangle. We're running out of time, it's almost the end of the second time limit.
"Ano…aren't these the doors to the conference room?"
Kyoko nodded, confirming Ryota's question.
"The place where the first two victims were found. It's the perfect place to properly begin my investigation."
Without another word, Kyoko opened the left door, pushing it aside as she and Ryota stepped inside.
"It's you." Kyoko gasped as her eyes focused on the sight of her father's old friend and the talent scout who recruited her into Hope's Peak Academy. Koichi Kizakura.
Koichi turned to her in surprise, grinning as he waved at her.
"Ah-ha! Kirigiri. Good to see you. Come to detect?"
"What are you doing here?" She asked curiously as she and Ryota approached the former talent scout.
"Meh." Koichi shrugged. "Times like these, I figure the safest place to be is with a world-class sleuth!"
Flattery will get you nowhere, Kizakura. She thought as she brushed his outstretched hand away.
"Oh, hey, come on now." He complained as Kyoko walked past him and knelt before Chisa's corpse, still obscured by The Great Gozu's jacket.
"Both of you, stand back and keep conversation to a minimum. I need to do my job."
Both men blinked, then nodded as Kyoko took a deep breath and held her hands together in prayer. She then reached for the jacket and steeled herself before gently pulling it down, revealing Chisa's bloodied corpse.
Investigation Start!
"I…take it your mom wasn't too fond of your grandfather's former talent scout." Tsumugi guessed, causing Kiki to nod.
"Mom said that he used to be Grandpa Jin's drinking buddy. To Mom though, he was just that weird, embarrassing uncle she preferred not to be around." Kiki smiled softly as she admitted "She still likes to crack jokes at his expense, but they don't really have any bite to them. He was still more or less family, so in her own way, she loved him."
Tsumugi nodded before she wondered "Speaking of love, I wonder what happened during your father's rescue."
"Well, the next page is from Dad's point of view, so let's find out." Kiki turned the page and continued "Tengan, your Aunt Hina, and Gekkogahara had just arrived, all glaring at Munakata. Tengan was the first to break the silence…"
"There's nothing like love to drive a man crazy. You've been running yourself ragged from the moment we found Yukizome's body."
Tengan fired several more darts at Kyosuke, causing him to duck and dodge out of the way. He backflipped behind the table as several more darts launched towards him, lodging themselves in the table.
"Chuusen, is it? He's going old-school."
"Asahina, you're up."
"Oh, right!" Hina exclaimed as she leapt down the stairs towards the still bound Makoto while Kazuo kept Munakata pinned with several more chuusen darts. "Naegi!" She cried out in relief as she hauled him over her shoulder.
Once they reached Kazuo and Miaya, Hina set him down and worked furiously to untie the rope around his hands. Meanwhile Kyosuke managed to dislodge his katana from the able, using it to parry the incoming chuusen darts.
"Ano, Mr. Chairman?" Monomi asked fretfully.
"Don't worry about me. I can hold my own." Kazuo assured them. "Get the boy somewhere safe."
"You got it, sir!" Hina vowed as Makoto climbed on the back of Miaya's wheelchair.
"Naegi."
"Yes, Chairman?" Makoto asked with worry in his voice.
Kazuo smiled as he told the concerned former luckster "For what it's worth, there's no doubt in my mind you are the Ultimate Hope."
Kyosuke growled and attempted to charge, only to be forced back when he parried another round of Kazuo's chuusen darts.
"Go on. I'm leaving the others in your capable hands."
"Sir, you…"
Kazuo smirked and assured him "I'll be fine. Munakata and I are just having a friendly discussion."
And this is a friendly discussion…how?! Makoto pushed down his deadpanned thought as he quietly replied "Thank you, Tengan."
"Let's go!" Hina ordered as she ran ahead.
Makoto yelped as Miaya's wheelchair zoomed after the former athlete, taking them far away from the skirmish between the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Future Foundation.
"At least Dad got out of there more or less unharmed…" Kiki sighed in relief.
"Yeah, though I wonder who won that duel!" Tsumugi pondered. "Did Munakata's mastery of the blade win out? Or did Tengan's agility and sharpshooting break through the master swordsman's defenses?"
"I'm not sure we'll know the answer to that, at least not firsthand." Kiki reminded "Remember, this diary is only from Mom and Dad's perspectives, and it's likely they didn't see the outcome themselves. They might have heard the outcome second-hand, but we probably won't read about the specifics of the fight."
"Yeah, shame though. It would have been amazing to read about the specifics of their battle!"
Kiki sweatdropped, thinking You're getting way too into this…though I can't say I'm surprised, seeing how much of an anime and manga otaku you are! Kiki sighed and muttered as she turned the page "Let's just continue to the next page. Looks like Mom's narrating it this time."
"Oh, I was wondering how her investigation was going." Tsumugi admitted before Kiki began to read.
"I was in the process of investigating Yukizome's body. Kizakura had stepped back, sitting on the nearby table as he watched. Mitarai meanwhile, had ignored my request after a few minutes. His curiosity led him to kneel next to me as he observed me work. He stayed quiet though, so I allowed him to stay where he was as I continued investigating. Eventually though, he broke the silence by asking…"
"Excuse me. May I ask you something?" Kyoko neither consented nor objected, allowing Ryota to inquire "I'm curious. What would you say about the kind of person who comes up with a game like this?"
Trying to guess who would be the mastermind by figuring out their thoughts? It's not a bad idea, but… "There's not enough information to go on yet. Preconceptions get in the way of clear thinking."
"Oh." Ryota muttered as he hung his head in disappointment.
You didn't think it would be that easy, did you? She thought before she inquired "What's your opinion?"
"Mine?" Ryota asked, surprised.
"Fair question." She stated as she turned to look at the former animator. "You must have a few ideas of your own. I assume that's why you're fielding someone else's take on the matter."
"I guess so…" Ryota reluctantly admitted, then fell silent.
You didn't answer my question… Kyoko noted, but let it slide as she focused on Chisa's corpse. I can't waste time waiting for you to find the resolve to be transparent with me.
"It is an interesting question." Tsumugi mused. "What kind of person would mastermind a killing game like this, especially since Junko Enoshima was already vanquished and her AI was deleted? The answer to that could help to end it more quickly."
Kiki nodded and reminded "True enough, but keep in mind that Mom knows better than to have preconceptions in her mind. After all, a mistake could be deadly in this kind of scenario."
"Yeah, I guess you're right." Tsumugi admitted.
"Besides, Mitarai wasn't willing to answer Mom's question, so until he does, there's not much incentive for Mom to share her own hypotheses."
Tsumugi nodded before she smiled and teased "You seem like you'd be well-suited to this line of work. Any chance you'd follow in her footsteps and take up the family trade?"
Kiki giggled "I'll worry about my future career later, okay? Right now we have to get through this diary."
"Ah, okay. Who's perspective is next?"
"I think it's Dad's." Kiki replied as she turned the page. "Miaya zoomed through the halls on her wheelchair, keeping pace with your Aunt Hina and carrying me on the back. Eventually though…"
As Miaya came to a halt, a sweaty, exhausted Hina panted, resting her hands on her knees as she struggled to catch her breath.
A bit rusty, Hina? Makoto mentally teased as he got off the wheelchair.
"I think we're…far enough that we're safe."
"I'm sorry." Makoto apologized.
"Why are you apologizing?" Hina tiredly giggled as Miaya typed away on her keyboard. "Something wrong?" She asked the former therapist.
"I'm afraid someone's following us." Monomi explained as Makoto and Hina gasped in surprise.
We must have gone however many meters thorough who knows how many hallways, and someone still managed to follow us?!
"Fear not! I'll put a stop to them!"
"Don't try to be a hero!" Hina discouraged. "What'll you do? And where is this even coming from?"
"I think Naegi's positive outlook might be catching. I'm infected with hope!"
Great…more people rushing into danger because I inspired them… Makoto lamented as his eyes drooped in sadness. "Ano, wait! Hold on a second."
"One of us has to fight, and since we can't risk tripping either of your Forbidden Actions, it'll have to be me." Monomi reasoned. "Have a little faith in your soul mate. My body is ready!"
Hina beamed in awe before she told the former therapist "When this is all over, we are gonna go eat so many donuts! And that's a promise." She vowed with a wink.
"I'll be back!" Monomi exclaimed, pumped up as Miaya rolled away, leaving the two former classmates alone in the room.
"Well, no sense in standing here like sitting ducks." Makoto advised. "Let's get some more distance while we still have time."
Hina nodded as they walked out the room, walking in the opposite direction from Miaya's impending skirmish.
"Wow, that Sakakura was really determined to kill your Dad." Tsumugi observed. "It's like he was one of those rare bounties that maxes out the largest wallet!"
Please don't call my dad a bounty, Shirogane. Kiki thought before she sighed "Yeah, thankfully Gekkogahara had all sorts of offensive gadgets in her wheelchair, so she should've been able to handle whatever Sakakura could throw at her."
She replaced the bookmark and closed the diary before she yawned. "Anyway, I'm feeling tired, so how about we stop here for tonight?"
Tsumugi nodded, agreeing "Yeah, good idea." She got up and told the fatigued high schooler "I'll see you in class, Kiki."
"Yeah, sweet dreams, Tsumugi."
Kiki watched as Tsumugi smiled at her before turning around and walking out the door. Once the door was shut, Kiki placed the diary on the bedside table and crawled under the covers. Curled up and snug as a bug in a rug, she yawned one last time before closing her eyes, fading into her dreams.