A/N: Here's Chapter Nine of "The Naegis' Secret Diary!", covering up to Episode Seven of Future Arc. Please read, review, and enjoy!
The Ultimate Detective and The Ultimate Hope Gaiden: The Naegis' Secret Diary!
Chapter Nine: Ultra Despair Girls!
"Okay, so what happened next?" Tsumugi wondered "Are we picking up with your mother's investigation? Or did your dad get another video call from your Uncle Byakuya?"
"Let me see…" Kiki hummed as she flipped through the pages until she reached her bookmark. "Ah, looks like it's still Dad's point of view." Her eyes focused on the top of the page as she began to read "With news that your Uncle Byakuya was coming to our rescue, your Aunt Hina, Gekkogahara, and I decided to wait in the monitoring room. A while passed and…"
"Kinda strange for Togami to be late, isn't it?" Hina mused as she munched on a mini-donut.
Makoto turned at the sound of Miaya's wheelchair as she moved rather erratically.
"Miss Gekkogahara?" Makoto asked in concern.
"Are you feeling okay?" Hina inquired.
"Big brother!"
Wait…is that…? Makoto gasped as the familiar voice continued to speak.
"Makoto? Come in! Are you there?" The screen shifted from static to reveal Monomi, who warned "Listen to me very carefully. The person in front of you right now isn't real. Quite a twist, huh?"
"What is going on?" Makoto asked, baffled. You mean…that's not Gekkogahara?
"Hold on a minute, you never said Gekkogahara was your little sister!" Hina exclaimed with shock.
"What? No!" Makoto denied. "She's not I…I don't…"
"I think we're patched in. Okay. I'll get in touch with Master Byakuya."
Wait, why's Monomi talking like Toko now? Makoto wondered.
"You talk to your brother. Tell him what she said."
Makoto's eyes widened in relieved shock as the screen slowly changed, revealing Komaru's face.
Komaru! So that's who was speaking through Monomi!
"Right."
Komaru smiled as she exclaimed "Nice, we got video." She waved as she greeted "Hey, big brother! Can you see me?"
"Hey, Komaru!" Makoto greeted joyfully as he knelt in front of Miaya and gripped the screen, wanting to hug his long-lost sister after the years long separation. "Lookin' good there, sis! Ha!" He suddenly frowned as he started to question "Wait a second. Why are you inside…? What's going on?"
"So, yeah, ano…" Komaru began hesitantly. "We just got some kind of bad news actually."
Bad news…?
"Listen to me. Monaca's not behind this, but she did tell us someone's gonna die 'cause of you!"
Someone's…gonna die…because of me…? Makoto thought in horror.
"Brace yourself. She said it'll be somebody from the first game. One of the survivors from Hope's Peak Academy won't make it out of there alive."
"But how could she know that?" Makoto questioned in disbelief. "It just doesn't make any sense at all!"
"I wish I knew more, I really do. All I can say is Monaca told us like it was something she knew for a fact. I…I'm sorry. It might be a trick, but still!"
As Makoto shakily got to his feet, Hina hesitantly noted "Hagakure, Togami, and Fukawa are all outside, so it's a safe bet she wasn't talking about one of them."
"Somebody's gonna die…because of me…" Makoto breathed. It's unlikely it's me…which narrows it down to two people. Hina… He glanced at the former swimmer, someone who had been one of his best friends through thick and thin. Or…Kyo…Kyou…Kyoko…
Kyoko's wavy, lavender hair, hard, yet gentle eyes, and her soft smile that seemed almost reserved solely for him flashed in his mind.
No! I…I can't lose her! She's my…she's my world! I can't let her die!
"Oh, wow, now that's intense!" Tsumugi exclaimed. "You really think Monaca was telling the truth?"
"I…I don't know…" Kiki admitted. How could she know? More importantly, how could one of them have died because of Dad? He…he wouldn't ever hurt either of them! Could…could it have to do with Mom's forbidden action…? Does it have to do with Dad, like I thought…? I…I just don't know!
"Personally, I think she was lying to get under their skins."
"Huh?"
Kiki turned curiously to Tsumugi, who smiled and told her friend "Think about it, all six survivors of the Killing School Life are still here today, so Monaca was either wrong, or she lied to them."
I…I hope you're right, Tsumugi…I really do… Hiding her skepticism, Kiki smiled and nodded, replying "Thanks, Tsumugi. Let's…"
*Knock Knock*
"Huh?" Kiki wondered, confused as the knocking at her door echoed in her ears. "Who could that be?"
Kiki glanced at Tsumugi, who denied "Don't look at me, I didn't invite anyone!"
"But then who…?" Kiki sighed in exasperation as she replaced the bookmark and closed the diary.
Once she put it back in the bedside drawer, she swung her legs over the bedside and stood up.
As she lumbered towards the door, she muttered "I swear, if Tojo-chan started another slumber party without asking me…"
"You know she was just trying to help you out…" Tsumugi pointed out before Kiki glared at her momentarily.
"In the middle of the night without asking me first! And you encouraged her!"
"Hey, you had fun, didn't you?"
"That's not the point!" Kiki sighed in exasperation, pinching the bridge of her nose as she opened her door. "Tojo-chan, if you've organized another impromptu slumber party, the answer is no. We got lucky last time; I don't wanna get in trouble with the Vice-Headmistress…oh, Saihara-kun…"
Kiki blushed in embarrassment as Shuichi stood in front of her door dressed in black pajamas, his expression hesitant as he shakily held a couple of books in his arms.
"Naegi-chan…is…is this a bad time? I know it's late, but…"
"Oh…no, it's not that late. What's the matter, Saihara-kun?"
"Well, ano…you remember when we were studying for our literature test in the library?" Kiki nodded before Shuichi held up one of the books and explained "After I got back to my room…I looked inside the cover, and I think we grabbed each other's books by mistake."
"Really? Mind if I see that?"
Shuichi shook his head, allowing Kiki to take the book and inspect the front cover. Sure enough, when Kiki opened the front cover, her name stood out in a slightly messy, handwritten scrawl.
"I think you're right. Sorry, I must have been scatterbrained when I was scrambling to get all my stuff ready for the next class." Kiki giggled. "Hang on, let me check my bag."
As Shuichi nodded, Kiki ran back into her room and ran to her closet. Once she opened the doors, she sifted through her closet until she pulled out her backpack. Tsumugi stared curiously as Kiki unzipped her backpack, searching its depths with her hand until she pulled out a book.
"Let's see…" She muttered as she flipped to the front cover. "Saihara…Shuichi…"
She instantly stood up before she turned and walked back to the waiting Shuichi.
She smiled as she held the book in front of him, offering "Here you go, Saihara-kun. Trade."
"Yeah…trade. Thanks again, Naegi-chan. Sorry about the mix-up."
"Ah, it's all good." Kiki assured him. "Was there something else you wanted?" Kiki asked, noting how Shuichi was nervously biting his lip.
"Well…ano…there's this little chemistry concept I'm having trouble grasping. I know it's late, but would you mind having a late-night study session? I could really use the help."
"Oh…sure, I don't see why not." She turned to Tsumugi as she apologized "Sorry, we'll have to cut it short tonight, unless you want to study chemistry with us."
"Oh." Shuichi held up his hands apologetically as he interjected "If you had other plans, then…"
"It's okay." Kiki giggled. "Tsumugi and I were just having some girl time, but it's nothing urgent." There's no way I can tell him about Mom and Dad's diary…at least not right now.
Tsumugi nodded, assuring him "Yeah, we'll just pick up tomorrow." She turned to Kiki and winked before teasing "Have fun on your study date with Saihara-kun!"
"…It's not a date…" Kiki grumbled as Tsumugi sauntered out. She pinched the bridge of her nose in exasperation before she looked at the blushing Shuichi and apologized with a smile "Sorry about her, Saihara-kun. Come in, come in."
Kiki stepped aside as Shuichi walked in, noting "I like your room. It's very feminine with a dash of otaku culture."
Kiki giggled "Thanks, I'm glad you like it. I brought some of my favorite mangas from home, and one of my video game systems with a few of my favorite games. If you want, maybe another time we can play a video game or I can introduce you to one of my favorite mangas sometimes."
"Ano…thanks, I'll consider it…" Shuichi replied appreciatively before he sat down on the floor.
As he crossed his legs and put his books in front of him, Kiki followed suit, opening her chemistry book.
"Now, what chapter is this concept you needed help with? Maybe if we put our heads together, we can solve this case!"
Shuichi chuckled in nervous amusement before he began "Well, you see…"