A/N: Here's Chapter Ten of "The Naegis' Secret Diary!", covering up to Episode Eight of Future Arc. Please read, review, and enjoy!
The Ultimate Detective and The Ultimate Hope Gaiden: The Naegis' Secret Diary!
Chapter Ten: Who Killed Cock Robin?!
"Okay, ready to continue where we left off, Kiki?" Tsumugi asked once they got settled on the bed.
Kiki nodded and opened the book to the bookmark, noting "It looks like Dad's scene from last night still isn't done." She continued from the middle of the page "I stood there in silence, absorbing what your Aunt Komaru just told me when…"
"Somebody's gonna die…because of me." Makoto repeated, still struck silent by disbelief.
"Makoto." Komaru's voice shook Makoto out of his despair as she continued "Whatever's going on there, it seems pretty awful. But you did make a promise. You're coming for me when all this is over." She smiled wryly and remarked "Sure, I mean, nobody'd ever call you tough or anything, but you're definitely not the kind of guy to go back on his word, right?"
Her eyes narrowed in determination as she raised her clenched fist.
"Try not to worry. One way or another, you're gonna get through this. I can wait. I believe in you."
Makoto gave a surprised smile as he mused "Wow, Komaru. You've changed." You've grown up. "You're so grown up now. Almost like a whole new person." Is this how a parent feels when they see their child mature?
"Ano, it took you this long to notice?"
"I'm a little slow sometimes." Makoto chuckled as he held his hand behind his head.
"Ugh. What a tender sibling moment." Toko groaned in the background, causing Komaru to turn her attention to the exasperated former writer. "It's enough to gimme a migrane."
"Anyway, hang in there a little longer, 'kay?" Komaru asked as she turned her attention back to her brother. As the screen began to fade, Komaru finished "Meantime, I'll do whatever I can from here."
"Don't worry." Makoto vowed "I'll keep that promise!"
At last, the screen turned black, the connection cut.
"I will come for you." Makoto vowed resolutely as he closed his eyes.
Hina smiled and complimented "You're an awesome big brother. Just sayin'."
"Oh, Kami." Makoto realized. "Hina, I didn't…"
A blaring beeping noise interrupted his apology as Monomi's voice rang out.
"Alert! Alert! Switching to auto-remote functionality."
"What's wrong with her?" Hina wondered as Miaya began twitching in her wheelchair.
Everything clicked in Makoto's head as he exclaimed "She's a robot? What the heck?"
"That doesn't look good." Hina stated anxiously. "And since this isn't a hallway, I say we run like hell!"
"Right!" Makoto exclaimed as Hina dragged him by the wrist and pulled him away from the robotic Miaya.
"Well…that was unexpected." Tsumugi concluded as they reached the end of the page.
Kiki nodded before a light bulb turned on in her head and she deduced "I think that robot Gekkogahara was being controlled by Monaca."
"Really? What made you think that?" Tsumugi wondered curiously.
"Well, let's say that for the sake of argument, Monaca did know that one of Dad's friends was gonna die in the Final Killing Game. That would mean she saw something on the inside, which means she had eyes and ears inside the facility."
"Oh, I get it!" Tsumugi exclaimed as her eyes sparkled. "Since Gekkogahara was a robot, it makes sense that Monaca planted her there! Great thinking, Kiki!"
Kiki giggled before she decided "Alright, let's see where Dad and Aunt Hina ran off to…" She turned the page and continued reading "As we reached an opening in the wall that led to one of the hallways, we slowed down to a brisk walk. Your Aunt Hina let go of my hand and…"
Hina came to a halt, gasping in shock as Makoto bumped into her. He soon matched Hina's shock, yelping as they laid their eyes on a ragged Kyosuke Munakata. Gone was his pristine white jacket, revealing a dress shirt with tears in it. Hanging from his neck was a disheveled tie. Medical bandages wrapped around his head, covering his right eye. His exposed left eye seemed to glow in the dark, giving him the appearance of a vengeful zombie.
"Ano…Naegi?" Hina asked in a panic.
"Munakata." What happened to you? Is this the result of your duel with Chairman Tengan?
"There you are." Kyosuke slurred as he stabbed his heath into the concrete floor. "Filthy traitor." He almost growled as he withdrew his katana.
Hina gasped as she and Makoto saw their reflection in it, the side of the blade coated in blood as he pointed it at his new targets. A resounding crash startled the trio as the robotic Miaya rolled in through a hole in the wall.
"Whoa! Heads up!" Hina exclaimed as Miaya turned to face Kyosuke.
"Standby for Future Foundation Member analysis." Monomi's voice echoed. "Matching to current database."
Before it could finish, Kyosuke growled and charged, decapitating the Miaya robot and causing Hina and Makoto to gasp. Before anyone could move, however, Miaya's scarf grabbed its severed head and reattached it to its body.
"Kyosuke Munakata. Threat Level: S." Kyosuke leapt back as Monomi continued "Switching to…Berserker Mode."
Berserker Mode?! What's that?! Makoto wondered before Miaya's eyes glowed red.
Heavy armor covered its arms like armguards before it rocketed to Kyosuke. The wounded vice-chairman was forced to parry the armored assaults with his katana as it continued to assault him with punches.
"So, ano, now what?" Hina asked.
"Well, while they're busy, let's make a break for it." Makoto suggested.
'Kay. Hina agreed while she knelt down, allowing Makoto to climb on her back.
Meanwhile, Kyosuke was forced back by one of Miaya's blows.
"Resistance is futile." He told it as he skid to a stop. "The Future Foundation is destined to triumph. I swear it."
"Okay, let's get out of here!" Hina decided, causing Makoto to nod as she ran away from the dueling duo, just before Kyosuke morphed his sword.
"Okay, talk to me." Hina demanded. "Where we goin'?"
"I'm not sure, but Byakuya will be here soon." Makoto decided "We have to find Kyoko." If I can just make sure she's by my side, I can make sure she doesn't die because of me!
"You got it!"
Makoto turned his head to glance back at the two combatants.
Munakata…
They caught a gleam of orange out of the corner of their eyes as they got out of the vicinity.
"Okay…that's new." Kiki uttered.
"Yeah, talk about a Power Sword!" Tsumugi exclaimed. "Too bad it's being used for evil instead of good!"
"Yeah, he's lost his grip on reality so much, he's actually reflecting the darkness in his heart." Kiki agreed. "At least that Gekkogahara robot seems to still be on their side."
"Yeah. It should have at least keep Munakata occupied while Aunt Hina and Dad escaped." Kiki agreed before she suggested "It looks like this page continues from Mom's point of view. Let's see how her investigation went." As Tsumugi nodded in agreement, Kiki continued reading "As I continued my investigation into Izayoi's murder…"
"Well?" Ryota asked hesitantly. "Any clue who the Attacker might be?"
"It's a work in progress." Kyoko admitted. "I need more information." Like I told Makoto during the Killing School Life, I can't just wave a magic wand and arrive at the truth. I'm a detective, not a miracle worker.
"Man, oh man." Koichi commented, as he sifted through a pile of objects. "Someone's been a busy little bee."
"What is all that stuff?" Ryota wondered.
"Traps set by our late friend Izayoi." Koichi explained as he turned to face Ryota with a look of caution. "Watch where you sit. Seriously. If these bad boys are anything to go on, the couch is probably rigged, too."
"Rigged? For what?"
"To blow your ass into next Thursday."
As Ryota yelped in shock, Kyoko turned towards her late father's friend and commented with an impressed tone "You surprise me."
"Hm?"
"Your better at this sort of thing than I expected." At least if anything happens to me, I can know that Makoto will be in the hands of someone who can crack this case…assuming he can stop drinking and cracking jokes long enough to put his mind to it.
"Well, thanks I guess." Koichi replied before he briefly hummed. "The Foundation don't pick us at random." He commented before he dug a chocolate bar out of his pocket and began to munch on it.
"'Scuse me. Shouldn't we leave? The Attacker's bound to come back." Ryota pointed out.
"He's got a point." Ruruka agreed. "We hang around looking for clues, we'll all end up just like Yoi."
And without clues, we have no chance of escaping this place alive. Kyoko deadpanned. "Stop." She turned to glare at Ruruka and decided with finality "We'll leave when I'm done investigating. Period."
Koichi chuckled as Ruruka grunted in frustration, glaring at the former Ultimate Detective. Kyoko ignored her, kneeling down as she investigated the bookshelf.
"Did you find something?" Ryota asked curiously.
"Maybe. See this scuff on the floor?"
"Interesting." Ryota commented, though not quite getting Kyoko's deduction.
Kyoko gasped in realization as she felt the side of the bookcase, only to turn as a loud clatter interrupted her focus.
"Ow…" Ruruka groaned as she lay topple dover on a pile of Sonosuke's traps that Koichi had collected.
"Oh!" Ryota exclaimed worriedly. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah. Sure." Ruruka assured him with a pained smile.
"Really?" Koichi asked suspiciously. "You gotta be careful there, doll face."
Ruruka giggled bashfully "I'm a bit of a klutz sometimes."
Koichi tipped his fedora, humming before he smiled and approached Ruruka, startling her as he got up in her space.
"Well that's a relief. I thought you were tryin' to monkey-wrench the investigation for a second."
"Ha!" Ruruka pouted, glaring at the former talent scout as she shot back "Says the geezer who smells like he's had a few. I don't have to listen to this garbage."
As Ruruka turned her head to the side, Kyoko's eyes narrowed.
Kizakura may be a drunk, but he might be on to something. Mitarai's been suggesting we leave out of genuine concern, but Ando's been playing up her emotions and causing disruptions. It's almost as if she doesn't want us to see something…but what…?
"No, I don't suppose you do." Koichi replied cheekily. "Just like I don't have to listen to the unsavory stuff the grapevine says about you."
Ruruka opened her eyes as both she and Kyoko stared at Koichi, their interests piqued.
"For example."
"Ano…yes?" Ruruka asked hesitantly before Koichi continued.
"Rumor has it you and some of the younger members have formed your very own splinter group within the Foundation. Sounds like you're in a real bad spot with the higher ups over the whole mess. Which of course makes all the talk about you wantin' to start a new organization much more believable."
Kyoko had heard gossip about a splinter group within the Future Foundation. One didn't become a Kirigiri Detective without keeping tabs on the gossip going around about her colleagues, both in and out of the Fourteenth Division. But she chose to ignore it, deciding to put her focus on keeping her own employees, especially the ones she survived the Killing School Life with, alive and well. Now however, she was very interested about the rumored splinter faction's possible role in their current predicament.
"Hey." Kyoko's eyes widened as Koichi turned around towards the entrance and asked "You're with the Vice Chairman's faction. What've you heard?"
The Vice Chairman's faction? Who is he…oh no…!
At that moment, the doors slammed open, revealing the irate Juzo Sakakura and causing Ryota and Ruruka to gasp in shock.
"So Izayoi got himself murdered, huh?" Juzo mused, glancing at Sonosuke's corpse.
"You."
Ignoring Kyoko's hard-edged voice, Juzo commented "Welp, too bad, so sad. 'Least now there's one less of you in Munakata's way. Killin' four people's easier 'n killin' five."
Ryota whimpered in fear as Kyoko narrowed her eyes, vowing I won't die…not by your hands, at least.
"…Not good." Kiki uttered dreadfully as she reached the end of the page.
"Yeah, Ando being so suspicious was bad enough, but now Sakakura arrived in the middle of your mother's investigation?!"
"Yeah, it's the worst-case scenario!"
"Well…" Tsumugi stammered optimistically. "Even so…your mom should've been able to handle him, right? I mean…didn't you say she was a martial arts expert? You told me in middle school that she could spar with Mukuro Ikusaba to a draw, so fighting a boxer should be…"
Kiki shook her head sadly and explained "Those were just spars, so neither of them went all-out. Plus, she and Mukuro were of roughly similar builds, but Sakakura sounds like he's a wall of muscle. If he's serious about killing them, there's not much stopping him, and he's clearly found ways around his forbidden action before."
Tsumugi nodded as Kiki turned the page and frowned grimly.
"It's just like I thought…" Kiki uttered before she continued to read. "Sakakura wasted no time in using whatever he could to mop the floor with us. Regrettably, even my martial arts skills were little match for a seasoned fighter of his build. Without a powerhouse like Chairman Tengan or the Great Gozu…"
Ryota cried out in pain as he was sent flying into the nearby wall. Kyoko gasped for breath, on her knees as her bruised abdomen cried out in pain from Juzo's recent kick. Koichi grit his teeth as he watched the unfazed Juzo glare at the girl he considered his responsibility to protect.
"Kyoko Kirigiri." He flashed a knife as he told her "I screwed up lettin' you get away earlier. Not again."
No…this can't be it! Kyoko thought, panicked as he approached her with murderous intent. I can't die…not here, not now…
Suddenly, Juzo's advance was stopped as he dodged a book that flew at his head.
"Really?" Juzo asked incredulously as he glared at the now standing Koichi.
Kizakura! Kyoko thought gratefully as Koichi smirked, staring at the physically superior Juzo.
"Do yourself a favor. Have the sense to stay down."
"Take my word for it." He replied as he gripped the edge of his fedora. "I'd love nothin' better than to play possum. But hell, I'm the oldest one here by a mile. Etiquette dictates I'm responsible for how we slug this out. Speaking of which, I can't help but notice you feel obliged to use a knife, Mr. Former Boxer."
So…Kizakura realized it too…? Kyoko wondered as Koichi narrowed his eyes and pointed at Juzo.
"I think your Forbidden Action prohibits you from throwing a punch! Hit one of us and it's curtains for ya! Maybe."
Juzo froze, all but confirming Koichi and Kyoko's suspicions.
"Doesn't mean I can't eviscerate you." Juzo growled before Koichi taunted him.
"Wait, are you saying I got it right, or…?" Shaking the thought, Koichi asked "How 'bout I tell you my Forbidden Action? Why not? We'll treat it like a trust-building exercise." He tapped his bangle and asked "You can see it, right? Hold on, she's coming around again. I'm not allowed to open my left hand."
So I was right! Kyoko realized as Juzo grit his teeth.
"Why bother tellin' me this? You pullin' a fast one or somethin'?"
"Face the facts, big stuff." Kizakura taunted. "Punching is what you do best. As far as I know, it's the one thing you're good at. And I'm all about whatever levels the playing field. Must suck for Munakata. Without Chisa, all he has to rely on is a gorilla with roid-rage. I'm startin' to think no one actually likes the guy. Sorry. I'm talkin' about the Vice Chairman."
Juzo shook with anger, glaring daggers at Koichi as he growled "You are not even worthy of speaking that man's name."
"You can stand there or do something about it." Koichi returned. "Oh, that's right, your track record's been a joke where that's concerned."
I get it…Kizakura's goading him! Kyoko realized. He's better at tactics than I thought!
"Don't you dare go there!" Juzo bellowed. "Yeah, I dropped the ball, but I'll be damned if I make the same mistake twice!" Koichi smirked as Juzo charged forward, crying out "I gave Munakata my vow!"
At that moment, Koichi smirked and stepped to the side. Juzo's stab missed just as a long, metal spear launched from the wall. Juzo cried out in pain as it lodged itself in his shoulder, sending him flying and pinning him against the wall.
As the knife clattered, Koichi apologized jokingly "Aah, that one's on me. I forgot it was there. Sorry. Stupid traps."
As Koichi pointed to a black marker on the ground, Kyoko realized He left that one on purpose in case someone like Sakakura came coming! I have to admit, he surprised me…
As Juzo grit his teeth in pain, Kizakura commented "Feels like today woulda been a good time to buy a lottery ticket."
"Wait, so, you were trying to lead him to that exact spot the whole time?" Ryota exclaimed in disbelief.
"Let's say, sure." Koichi shrugged. "I suggest we take this opportunity to tie him up. I assume you wanna keep investigating."
Kyoko grunted as she finally got to her feet, muttering "Right. Back to it, then."
Still somewhat dazed by the pain as she walked across the floor, Kyoko missed Ruruka's devious smirk as she pulled out a remote trigger and pressed the red button. Her eyes widened as she gasped when the floor under her suddenly collapsed.
No! I knew Ando was up to something! She was acting far too suspicious! Damn, why didn't I see it coming?! She panicked as she fell into the chasm. I can't fall here! I won't be able to stop the killing game! And…I won't be able to see Makoto again…I won't be able to tell him how much I…huh?!
Kyoko stared in shock as her deadly descent was suddenly stopped. She looked down and saw a familiar fedora fall into the eternal darkness. She looked up and her eyes widened at the sight of Koichi Kizakura clinging to the ledge with his right hand while his left closed protectively around her wrist.
He…he caught me…he opened his left hand…that means…
A familiar, horrific jingle echoed in the chasm, confirming Kyoko's horrified suspicions as Koichi's left eye turned red, his entire left side turning a sickly purple.
Kizakura… She thought as Koichi mustered the last of his strength to pull her back up to the ledge. You're sacrificing yourself…for me…?
With a determined yell, he hoisted them both up, leaving only their legs dangling over the chasm. As Ruruka grunted in frustration, both of her would-be victims gasped for breath. Kyoko's eyes widened as she turned her head to see Koichi weakly smiling at her, blood flowing from his eye.
"Kizakura, why?" She demanded, grief bleeding into her voice. Why did you sacrifice yourself for me?
Koichi merely smiled, causing a memory deep in the recesses of their minds to come forward.
The last time I saw him give that kind of a smile…the day of that picture…
"Sweetie, stop being such a wiggle worm. Up you go."
"Hey, look at me! I'm a birdie!"
"I know!"
"Come on, guys. You want the picture or not? Stay still. Perfect."
"Huh. What do you know…?" Koichi was able to mumble as he let go of Kyoko's hand.
Kyoko gasped in horrified shock as he slipped down the chasm, unable to keep his grip on the ledge and his life. Koichi's final words burned themselves in her mind as he disappeared.
"I was a man of my word. Jin."
Kizakura…UNCLE KOICHI! Kyoko grieved mentallyas she tried and failed to save the last link to her father.
Still wallowing in grief, she managed to pull herself up before she turned around. Now on her knees, she stared down the chasm as she held back her tears, not wanting to give her honorary uncle's murderer the satisfaction.
"Oh, Kami…" Kiki shook with shock, grief, and anger as she muttered "My mom…was almost murdered…Kizakura protected her…he sacrificed himself…to save her…"
"Kiki…"
Tsumugi's heart went out to her friend as the teenage girl growled "That bitch Ando…what did my mom ever do to her?! She only wanted to stop the killing game and avenge the deaths of those who already died. She asked her for help, and how did she repay her? By trying to kill her and taking her only family still present away from her!"
"Kiki calm down!"
Realizing where she was, Kiki took a deep breath, feeling her maelstrom of emotions recede as she apologized "…I'm sorry."
"No, it's okay." Tsumugi assured her. "You have every right to be furious after what happened. Just remember that it was all in the past, years before any of us were even born. Don't waste your energy hating someone for what happened when your parents were just barely adults."
"You're right…thanks, Tsumugi."
Tsumugi returned Kiki's smile as she replied "No problem. Do you…do you wanna take a break for now?"
"No, I think I can keep going…" Kiki took a deep breath, making sure to keep her emotions in check as she turned the page and continued to read "I was still stunned, grieving Kizakura…Uncle Koichi's sacrifice when Mitarai…"
"This was all you, wasn't it?!" Ryota cried angrily, feeling betrayed by the girl he sought only to comfort. Emerging from her state of grief and finally regaining her composure, Kyoko glanced up at Ruruka, glaring angrily at her colleague as Ryota accused "You've got something planned!"
"Ano, yeah." Ruruka admitted nonchalantly as she approached the still pinned Juzo. "The idea is to kill all of you. Now there's only two people left to worry about." She turned to face Juzo, his teeth grit in anger as she elaborated "This one I need. Aw, poor baby. Let's fix you up."
She forced his jaw open and slipped a red gumball-type candy into his mouth, forcing him to swallow it.
"Yeah, you love a taste of the sweet stuff, don't ya, big boy?" Ruruka taunted at the helpless Juzo as he creepily smiled. "Of course you do. Well? Would you like another?" Juzo nodded, as though he was under hypnoses, causing Ruruka to remark "I thought so." She then turned to Kyoko and Ryota, pointing at them as she ordered "Take care of our friends, won't you? Kill them both, and you can have all the chocolate your widdle heart desires."
This isn't good. Kyoko thought nervously as she stood up. Both her and Ryota backed away in fear as she thought Sakakura was already a threat to our lives when he was in control of his own mind. Who knows how dangerous he'll be now that he's Ando's puppet?!
"Enough to last you the rest of your life." Ruruka promised, causing Juzo to pull on the spear's shaft, freeing him from the wall, though the spear still remained lodged in his body.
"No! You stay away from us!" Ryota demanded as he stood protectively in front of Kyoko.
"He's not listening." Ruruka informed them while Juzo lumbered towards them like a zombie. "His head's too filled with thoughts of sweet, sweet candy to give a damn what anybody says. Except of course the person who'll give him his next hit."
In other words, you've made him addicted to a dangerous drug and you're the drug dealer. Kyoko concluded before Juzo pulled the spear out of his shoulder.
The former boxer groaned in pain as Ruruka gasped, startled by the turn of developments.
"Ow…" Juzo groaned. "Damn you all to hell!" He cursed as he kicked the couch down the chasm. "You miserable, conniving pieces of crap! I'm no one's puppet! Get ready to join Izayoi and Kizakura! Every last one of you bastards!"
"Just a moment." Kyoko interjected, startling Juzo.
"Huh?"
"I understand why you've been acting so bizarrely."
"What?"
I'm not referring to you, Sakakura. Kyoko ignored Juzo and deduced "It wasn't the Attacker who killed Sonosuke Izayoi." She glared at Ruruka and accused "It was you."
Ruruka yelped guiltily as Juzo interrupted "Yeah? I don't care who did what to who, you're all gonna die. Right here, right now, by my hands!"
Not if I have anything to say about it! "You could do that. You could also use your head. Why resort to wholesale violence when solving this particular murder might actually present us with a means of escape?" As Juzo grunted, Kyoko questioned "Don't you agree, Ando?"
"What're you talking about? The Attacker's the one who killed Yoi." Ruruka rebutted defensively.
"Wrong." Ruruka shut up, stunned as Kyoko elaborated "The crime scene was carefully staged to give us that impression. In reality, he was killed by his Forbidden Action. Most traces of the poison's effects were concealed, but not all. To a keen observer, his corpse left no room for doubt."
"Don't be ridiculous!" Ruruka objected. "There's a knife in his chest!"
"Put there after he died." Kyoko refuted, silencing Ruruka. "Originally, the knife came from Kimura's body."
Juzo glared at Ruruka as he interjected "Wait, you tellin' me Kimura's dead?"
"Yes." Kyoko confirmed as Ryota stared at her in awe. "Dispatched by a solitary stab wound to the heart. We found her body not far from here. At this point, the Attacker has claimed multiple victims, each killed in the exact same manner. However, in Izayoi's case, the MO deviated. The stab wound wasn't in the typical place, and the body showed no signs of blood loss. In other words, our friend here was stabbed after he died. The killer used the knife from Kimura's body to throw us off."
"So the Attacker got Kimura, but not Izayoi." Juzo concluded. "You're sure of that?"
"Indeed. Absolutely positive."
"Okay. Then explain."
"Izayoi's Forbidden Action was eating. If the knife wasn't responsible, well then, by deception or against his will, he was fed something and poisoned by his bangle. And since…" Kyoko licked her glove before she continued "…his saliva tasted sweet, we can deduce from this he ate one of Ando's confections."
"You licked…saliva?" Ryota exclaimed in shock. "From a body?"
"Yes, I did." Kyoko confirmed as Ryota covered his mouth with his hand in disgust. "A detective does what's necessary. He was shrewd. Not a man to trifle with. Getting him to eat must've been difficult. But you…" Ruruka stepped back, her face reading GUILTY as Kyoko deduced "…a specialist who deals in sweets, with whom he as exceptionally close…"
"How can you blame me?" Ruruka interrupted in frustration. "Yoi was on my side! Why would I have killed him?"
"The motive is clear." Kyoko explained as she walked up to the bookcase she was investigating earlier.
Ruruka's eyes widened as Kyoko pushed down the bookcase, causing the books and pots sitting on its shelves to fall on the floor and down the chasm. Ryota and Juzo gasped as Ruruka grit her teeth and Kyoko closed her eyes. Staring at them was a door with Monokuma's face on it.
"Just as I thought." Kyoko concluded as she opened her eyes and glanced at the exit out of the corner of her eye, the words Congratulations. You found the Secret Entrance! written on the jagged red eye in black handwriting.
"Wha…? What the…?" Juzo uttered in shock.
"A secret entrance?" Ryota exclaimed in excited awe. "But how did you know?"
"The scuff marks on the floor." Kyoko explained. "And one shelf wasn't flush with the rest. Put those observations together, and there's only a handful of possibilities."
"So does this mean we got a way outta here?" Juzo asked, excitement bleeding into his voice.
"Given where it's situated, I'd say yes. This ought to lead to the building's exterior." She circled around the nervous Ruruka, continuing "'Course, that's assuming the architectural plan makes sense."
"Great!" Ruruka interjected. "So you found a way out! None of this gives me a reason to kill him!"
Kyoko glared at Ruruka as she replied "Under normal circumstances, I'd agree. But the rules of this game compel us to do certain things for which there'd be no rationale under normal circumstances. Ruruka Ando. Tell us the truth." Ruruka tensed as Kyoko deduced "Your Forbidden Action is letting someone leave the playing field, isn't it?"
Ruruka gasped, all but confirming Kyoko's suspicions in spite of her subsequent objections.
"That's absolutely absurd."
One or both of you found the door in this room, you killed Izayoi in this room, you led us into this room, you tried to kill us in this room, you murdered my Uncle Koichi in this room. "Ah. So when Izayoi stumbled upon what appeared to be an exit in this room, his attempting to leave didn't put you in fear of your life?"
"No!" Ruruka shrieked. "You don't know anything! He'd never betray me!"
"But you'd betray him." Juzo concluded as he threw the spear aside and walked towards the Monokuma Door. "That's it, I'm out. This stupid game can kiss my ass."
"No, stop!" Ruruka cried in terror as Juzo tried to pry the door open. She ran up and latched onto him in a vain attempt to stop him. "If you leave, I'm a dead woman!"
"Yeah? I should give a damn because?"
"Please! I'm begging you! Look…"
"That did the trick. Let's go." Kyoko ordered as she turned around. At least that'll get Sakakura off our backs.
"But wait. The exit." Ryota pointed out as Ruruka pleaded with Juzo for her life.
"Wait! Wait!"
"Let go of me! Now!"
"No! I don't deserve this!"
Kyoko turned to Ryota and shook her head as Ryota stared at her, confused before his eyes widened in realization. He wordlessly nodded before Kyoko dashed out of the room and down the hallway.
"Hey, wait up!" Ryota called out as he ran after her. Eventually he caught up with her, keeping pace as he asked "Ano…"
"Go on."
"I don't understand why Kizakura saved you. I mean…he sacrificed himself. For what?"
Because he's my family. Not wanting to say that to an acquaintance, she answered "I have my suspicions, but at this point, it's all conjecture."
"Wow, you really are cold." Ryota commented.
…I was. Kyoko thought. …Until a certain optimistic luckster made me feel warm again… She shook Makoto's face from her mind as she replied "I know."
"Buddy of mine hates detectives."
Koichi's remark echoed in her ears as she tossed her jacket aside, letting it fall over the platform as she explained "I have to be. I'm a detective."
"Wow…I never knew Mom had to be cold as a detective…"
"Really?" Tsumugi asked curiously. "She never told you about what she was like as a detective?"
"Well…she told me a few stories, but only when I asked her to. Her past as a detective wasn't something she talked about much. I guess what happened with her and Dad in the fifth trial during the Killing School Life made her feel embarrassed to be one."
"Ah, I see. Guess it would make sense; seeing your skills almost get someone you love killed must make you see your profession in a whole new light."
"Yeah, she didn't say as much outright, but her outlook left a pretty bad taste in her mouth. I think she prefers to be someone warmer, though she can still be serious at times."
Seeing Kiki's frown, Tsumugi changed the subject, commenting "Anyway, I'm curious about what was on the other side of that door."
"Yeah, it seems like that door was a red herring. Which means Uncle Koichi and Izayoi died for nothing."
Tsumugi frowned at the bitterness in Kiki's voice before she suggested "Why don't we take a break and resume after you come back from your weekend at home?"
Kiki nodded, agreeing "Yeah, that's probably a good idea…I'm emotionally exhausted."
Tsumugi swung her legs over the bed and stood up while Kiki replaced the bookmark and closed the diary.
"Well, sweet dreams, Kiki."
Kiki smiled as she placed the diary on her bedside table and returned "You too, Tsumugi."
With that, Kiki watched as Tsumugi walked out the door, closing it behind her. She sighed as she curled up under the covers and yawned.
Cold, eh? I don't think so…Mom's always been warm, deep down. And Shuichi seems pretty warm, and he's a detective. I think…I think Mom just meant a detective needs to be serious…yeah, that's it…
With that last thought, Kiki closed her eyes and fell into slumber, pondering her mother's last words from the diary entry in her dreams.