Chapter 8: Breadcrumbs

They had gathered to discuss what they found at the cafeteria. As expected the second floor had no visible exits. It would have been naive to expect otherwise, though he kept that part to himself. Esteban sat and watched the situation unfold. His mind wandering back to two places. The bathroom and the backroom in the library were two places that held many secrets. If the tip he left himself was to be believed there was a secret room in the bathroom. And if Byakuya was to be believed the back room had a lot of juicy information on some very important people.

"Did you find anything?" A voice say snapping him out of his thoughts. He looked up and saw Makoto looking at him.

"Sadly no camarada. The second floor is as secured as the first floor." Esteban said trying to sound as calm as possible. "I can still work on the door."

People looked hopeful. Esteban smiled, the best way to keep people from killing each other would be high spirits. His mind wandered to Sayaka and Makoto. Makoto deserved better, he was positive, kindhearted, and an all-around good person. Sayaka definitely felt at least a bit guilty. From what Leon said she hesitated, which almost got her killed. She also left that message behind for them to solve the killer's identity.

The day passed rather slowly. Esteban had given the laptop to a surprised Chihiro. She said she could fix it and load it in the program to crack the codes. He looked at the 6 spaces for the code. It could be a word, could be a jumble of letters. Something he did find interesting after multiple tries was the sound the buttons made when pressed. There was a pattern, one that he was slowly. It almost made a melody, he felt he had heard it before... Somewhere he didn't know where.

"Esteban!" Hiro said snapping him out of his concentration. He was about to berate him until he saw the urgency on his face. He followed him expecting the worse. Maybe Sayaka died and Leon was up on the chopping block...

As they arrived he saw everyone gathering inside the infirmary.

"I'm so happy you're okay..." He could hear Makoto say. He leaned on the doorframe and studied the situation. Most people seemed happy to see Sayaka awake. Makoto looked as if he was about to cry. Quickly he noticed Sayaka's expression... Pure guilt.

Esteban watched as Leon sulked away trying to avoid her gaze. Esteban blocked the door and shook his head.

"Cmon man... I can't do this." Leon said almost begging.

"You can and you will" he said crossing his arms.

"H-How did I get here?" Sayaka asked.

"Esteban saved you, he found you and patched you up!" Hiro said smiling. Sayaka looked with pure dread at the man standing in the doorway. He sent her a knowing look and shook his head.

"Yup I patched you up. Seems you didn't take my advice" he said calmly. Although he was happy she was awake he needed to make sure she was put through the wringer. "By the way we all know what you did." She looked in horror as she looked around the room

"Is this really necessary? She just woke up." Makoto asked defending the idol. Esteban gave him a sympathetic smile but nodded nonetheless.

"Better now than never." Esteban said. "Look Sayaka you almost got yourself killed because you looked for the easy way out. Knowing why you did it... It is understandable but still reprehensible."

"H-how?" She asked softly.

"We had a trial to find out who tried killing you. Then we voted on sparing or killing Leon." Kyoko explained.

"Of course we voted to spare... Well most of us at least. So you're both alive! Also I wouldn't strain your wrist that much it's still broken I just patched it up the best I could." Esteban said nonchalantly pushing Leon towards her. "Sadly for you two, you'll be stuck together! If you need anything ask Leon" he said with a smirk. Sayaka looked in shock as Leon approached. There was tension in the air... Until they both asked for forgiveness.

'Hmm well I enjoy the karma of both of them stuck together.' His other self said appearing next to him.

'You've been... Calm... Color me surprised.' Esteban said amused.

'Is it really that surprising? We have bigger fish to fry.' His other self said. 'I want to learn what the fuck was our part in this.'

They watched for a bit longer before leaving. Esteban went and made himself a coffee, he leaned on the table. Drinking the dark substance he wondered when Monokuma would make his next move.

As much as he hated to admit it the bear could push at least one of them to kill with another motive. He thought about going upstairs to the room, but knowing how perceptive Kyoko was she would figure out where he was and he wanted to keep her on his side.

He felt a sharp pain on his left side, pulling up his shirt he could see blood seeping slowly through his bandages. He knew the stitches had not been torn open. If that was the case it would be much more painful and he'd be bleeding out.

He heard someone approach. Giving a glance at the door he saw Chihiro timidly approach him.

"Something wrong Chihiro?" Esteban asked calmly. She simply shook her head.

"N-no it's just..." She began to trail off.

'Is she going to confess to us?' His other self mused.

'No zip it.' Esteban quickly said.

She looks conflicted before she spoke up. "I-I can't train today." She said before looking down.

"No worries, is there a reason why? Would you prefer to do it with Sakura and Hina? If I make you uncomfortable it's okay" he said calmly. She shook her head.

"I-it's the other way around" she said meekly. Esteban took a sip from his coffee before nodding.

"Hmm I won't question you about it, well if that's the case we can do it early in the morning if that's okay with you" he said.

"S-sure" she said before bowing politely and leaving Esteban to his own devices. He drank his coffee calmly, his mind still wondering what was to come and if they opened all levels of Hope's Peak what would happen next?

Seeing this as a fruitless endeavor he finished his coffee washed the mug and walked over to the vault door. As he prepared to try his luck with whatever the musical pattern was someone approached him. He glanced back and saw a tired-looking Makoto walking towards him.

"Need something Makoto?" He asked, the boy looked a bit nervous before speaking up.

"Well... I realized I haven't spoken much with you and I wanted to hang out" he said surprising Esteban.

"Hang out... With me?" He asked as Makoto nodded.

"Is there a problem?" He asked rubbing his arm awkwardly.

"Nope, sorry I just didn't think you'd want to hang out." He said chuckling as Makoto relaxed a bit.

Makoto was... Plain... Compared to the other flamboyant and eccentric students Makoto was just a guy. Then again he was the ultimate lucky student.

He didn't quite understand how that was a talent but up to this point, Makoto seemed to have bad luck more than anything.

"So Makoto, you have family on the outside?" Esteban asked calmly.

"Yeah but Monokuma..." Makoto seemed to hesitate. Now at the auditorium, Esteban gave him a sympathetic smile before putting his arm over his shoulder.

"They're okay." Esteban said. "They are probably hiding somewhere, look I promise that whatever happens I will help you find them."

"Thanks" Makoto said, his semblance looking brighter. "Esteban... Can I ask you something?"

"Sure" Esteban said.

"Did... Did you choke Sayaka?" He asked as Esteban showed no emotion.

"I did... Who told you?" He asked tapping the table.

"While investigating I found out... I asked Kyoko after the trial and she told me to ask you." Makoto explained.

"Besides a confirmation... What did you want to know camarada?" Esteban asked.

"I wanted to know why you did it." He said.

"I mean you already deduced I did it you probably deduced why I did it." Esteban said, while he didn't show it he was surprised at how perceptive Makoto was.

"I want to hear it from you." He said with renewed decisiveness.

"Well... It was self-defense, I wasn't planning on killing her it was simply to scare her" Esteban explained.

"I thought as much" Makoto said with a sad smile... "You told me to be careful and instead I almost got incriminated."

"That you did... But it seems she had a change of heart. Leaving behind that message in case she died... She was thinking about you" Esteban said trying to cheer Makoto up.

"I guess so... You know... You said the same as Kyoko..." Makoto said with a smile.

"She told you that too?" Esteban asked grinning.

"What?" Makoto asked confused.

"I'll let you in on a secret. Kyoko is a softie at the core." Esteban said whispering to his ear. "While she acts detached it's because she doesn't want to lose anyone. Or at least that's what I think."

"Really?" Makoto asked surprised.

"That's my read on her, now... I have a question for you Makoto" Esteban said a bit more seriously.

"What is it?" Makoto asked. Esteban stretched a bit before speaking up.

"Are you still willing to trust people? Even after what Sayaka did?" Esteban asked looking at him straight in the eyes.

"Yes, Sayaka was forced to do it. I will never forgive Monokuma for forcing us to do all of this" Makoto said without hesitation. Esteban smiled at the certainty in his words no doubt at all... It was a dedication and drive he didn't expect.

"Good... Makoto, no matter what you can count on me" Esteban said patting his back. As he stood up from the chair. Makoto pulled out something he didn't expect. A pair of boxing gloves... "Is that for me?"

Makoto saw something he didn't expect. Esteban looked at the boxing gloves with childish glee. A smile as he grabbed them and hugged them. "Back when I was a kid I rarely got any gifts..." He said as he tried them on.

"I'm glad you like them" Makoto said with a bright smile.

"Like? I love them, I'll treasure them." Esteban said. "See ya later Makoto..." As he left he saw Kyoko waiting for him with a slight smile. He saw her and blushed, he coughed and tried to recompose himself. "Ehmm how long have you been watching?"

She smiled softly and shook her head. "I don't know anything, I just got here." She said with a knowing look. He let out a sigh of relief and nodded.

"Need something?" He asked trying to sound serious. She motioned for him to get closed. He leaned in as she spoke.

"What's the progress with Chihiro and the computer?" She asked him, he simply looked at her.

"Going well according to what she said, of course I haven't told her anyone knows." He said barely above a whisper. He then realized how close he was to Kyoko. She was certainly beautiful, her steel glance, her soft features... Her... Esteban quickly caught himself before he continue with that line of thought and got back coughing. "Umm anything else?"

"Something wrong?" She asked raising her brow.

"N-nah just... Lost in thought. Anyways... You didn't tell me how perceptive Makoto really is." Esteban said.

"The subject never came up" she said shrugging.

"He's sharper than he looks" he complimented.

"He is" Kyoko then quickly realized the smug grin on his face. "What?"

"You worry bout him right?" Esteban said almost chuckling. She glared at him as she shook her head.

"What are you getting at?" She asked keeping her cool.

"Nothing, just amused" he said. "He's a good guy I approve" he said giving his thumbs up.

"Is the innuendos and teasing necessary?" She asked unamused.

"Yup! Come on, he's a good catch" he said chuckling. "Besides he'd be lucky to get someone as beautiful as you."

For a second he caught Kyoko blushing. He smirked as he gave her a knowing look. "You know... You're a softy." She immediately glared at him crossing her arms.

"It sounds like you're implying I'm not shaken by our situation or don't care if someone dies" she said he shook his head.

"No it's just you're always so calm and stoic, it's hard to get a read on you." He elaborated. "Don't get me wrong I like the mysterious persona but you should show people you care" he said smiling.

Neither seem to realize Mukuro had been watching the exchange from around the corner. She saw Esteban enjoying himself, smiling, and spending time with others. She felt a familiar tightness in her chest as she clutched her shirt.

"Aww someone is jealous." A familiar voice said she turned sharply to see Monokuma standing next to her. "Ah how sad it is to see."

"What do you want Monokuma?" She growled, she definitely wasn't in the mood for her sister's teasing.

"Such hostility!" The bear said surprised. "I was just here to check out on my students!" The bear said defending himself. "And it seems history is repeating itself."

"Shut up" Mukuro said sharply.

"Didn't this already happen? He tried to show his affection and you couldn't handle it nor reciprocate" the bear... No Junko started saying. "You are so emotionally stunted he thought he thought there was no way you would side with him" Junko said chuckling. "Had you sided with him you could have stopped all of this, but you were a good little dog making it clear to him that even though he cared you would be an obstacle."

"Stop..." Mukuro said in a softer tone.

"Huh? Stop? Why? I'm just lecturing my student on the harm of being passive!" Junko said laughing. "How does it feel seeing that yet again miss detective is going to steal him away from you?"

"It... It won't happen again!" Mukuro almost yelled.

"It will! You are doing what you always do, cower in the shadows and watch life pass by no wonder you are such a failure" Junko chastised.

"I won't let it happen again... And Monokuma... I will stop you and destroy everything you built" Mukuro snarled with such venom Junko was taken aback.

"Sheesh kids these days sure are dramatic" the bear said before jumping down a hatch. Mukuro glared at the pair, she failed once she wouldn't do it again...

With the day reaching its end Esteban decided to get back to working on the door. While there was an agreement for them to stay in their room with the self-imposed curfew he was excused from that, logic being the more he worked on it the faster they would get out.

The rhythm was tied to a word, that much was certain. But what could it be? His concentration was broken when he felt someone approach him. He saw Kyoko walk towards him, he let out a sigh and met her.

"Hey Kyoko, you ready?" He asked her. She simply nodded. They made their way upstairs towards the bathroom. They both entered, slowly they walked towards the janitor's stuff. It was odd to trust voices in your head, that was sure. But Esteban would take any leads at this point.

"What's next?" She asked, he slowly crouched and did as the instructions said. Holding his breath he did the final step and the wall slid open. He looked wide eyed, he signaled Kyoko to wait, if there was someone inside he would disarm them, it was better that way. She simply nodded as he pulled out the scalpel he kept in hand.

The room was empty, no one inside, just a table and bookshelves. He signaled Kyoko to come inside. She walked in and she looked as surprised as him.

Jin Kirigiri watched her daughter and Esteban find the room. So far, Esteban's plan was running without a hitch. Junko would be suspicious but as long as they found what they needed it didn't matter. On another monitor he watched worriedly as the assaults on the Academy became more professional.

It seemed the black army proper had started setting up positions around the school. The soldiers that had tried to reach the Academy had been way too disorganized to be a cell from the Latin American free territories. These soldiers looked professional, and their equipment was nothing to scoff at.

Maybe they would break through before Junko's plan could be close to concluding. Jin looked back at the camera overlooking his daughter and Esteban. He noticed something interesting, as they both looked through the room he quickly hid a lighter Jin swore he had already seen.

Omake

Esteban sat in a chair, rocking back and forth, his revolver in hand as he spun the chamber. His breathing was a bit more erratic, his hands sweating.

"You sure you want to get involved in that?" A voice called out. A woman, mid-twenties, brown hair, black skin, brown eyes. The woman looked grizzled, she wore an eye patch on her left eye and her right leg was a prosthetic.

"Thank you for worrying Daniela" he said with a faint smile. "But I need to do this" his eyes filled with determination and something she recognized all too well... Hatred... She shook her head and let out a sigh.

"The others are weary, Costa Rica fell relatively peacefully with the bourgeoisie mounting pitiful resistance. Still we should keep the popular support on our side." She lectured him.

He chuckled as he stood up and holstered his gun, put on his red beret and tied the black bandana around his face. He walked outside followed by Daniela where a contingency of soldiers.

"I'm just a soldier, no need for an escort." Esteban said chuckling.

"Like it or not you are the face of the movement, partisano" Daniela said. "We haven't seen any American intervention yet but they must be planning something"

"That makes sense, the imperialists made it a bloodbath in south america" Esteban agreed. He jumped on the back of a truck with Daniela sitting next to him armed. He slapped the back of the truck signaling the driver to move. The truck started as they made their way to where the trial would be held.

Even though it was the first time he had been in Costa Rica it felt as if he had been here before, his mother talked with nostalgia about her homeland back then and to finally be here was... Overwhelming in a sense.

"You sure you're ready for this" Daniela said concerned. He looked at her and chuckled.

"No clue, to finally face them is... Strange, but I need to do it" he said. He watched the streets as soldiers walked by, and kids played in the streets. The almost peaceful integration of Costa Rica to the territories was a massive PR gain for the movement. The engineering corps of the black army had started helping with infrastructure as the siezement of land from landlords and conglomerates.

The process of organizing everything was mostly left to the new territory with the people's assembly sending help and making sure that the newly added territory had enough to make ends meet.

"So how's Diana?" Esteban asked. Daniela looked down at the ring in her hand and smiled.

"She always calls me to check up on me, she also asks me to keep an eye on you" she said Esteban laughed.

"She's a sweetheart, still don't know how you got such a nice wife." He teased. She slapped the back of his head and glared at him.

"Que carajo significa eso?" She asked.

"Nada nada" he said shaking his head. "And what about the kids? How are they?"

"Good, they miss me, and their uncle" she said teasingly.

"God, I'm only 15 and I'm already an uncle? You chose a bad person to be around your kids" he said jokingly.

"Bullshit they adore you, so does Diana. Once this is all done you should move closer to us, sure the kids would love it." She said, even though she didn't see it he had a sad smile on his face.

"Maybe... But you know I can't stay in one place, once a brighter future is secured for everyone maybe I'll take your offer" he said.

"Knew you'd say that, if you want I can stay till Mexico is secured" she offered.

"No, you told Diana till Guatemala fell after that you're going back. Diana is a sweetheart but I'm sure she would have my head if I asked you to stay."

"Maybe" she said laughing. They arrived at the place where the trial was held. A colonial-looking house, definitely from the high class before independence, behind it what looked like several acres of coffee plants. "Good luck" she said laying a hand on his shoulder.

"Thanks" he said jumping off the back. He headed inside, the trial had already begun and he could hear some screaming inside. As soon as the men at the door saw him they opened. On one side sat farmers, on the other a group of people with roughen up clothes and a few bruises.

"Where are my kids!?" One of the women yelled.

"The kids of the Vargas family are safe, the sins of their parents do not mark them, I can assure you no harm will come to them" Esteban explained. The room grew silent, the farmers eyes filled with awe at his presence. The Vargas family looked in horror at the man who destroyed everything they had built.

"When can I see my kids!" The woman asked again.

"Depending on the will of the people soon. You might think they are monsters but these honest people aren't heartless and will probably just ask for labor" Esteban said pulling on the strings of the farmers. They nodded as Esteban sat on their side, as they tried shaking his hand. He smiled and exchanged pleasantries.

"I didn't expect el partisano to be here" the judge said.

"I'm just another person, no need to put me on a pedestal. As my fellow workers I have another charge against the Vargas family. Specifically against Jorge Vargas the patriarch of the family." The old man looked surprised. Jorge Vargas was a man in his 70's he looked good for his age, a small man with an incredibly intimidating aura to those who knew him. He grit his teeth and clenched his fists.

"What would you have against me?" He asked curiously.

"Remember Maria Jesus Vargas? Your daughter who needed you and you left to die?" He asked.

"Wait... You're..." He said eyes wide open.

"Yep, hi grandpa" he said glaring at him.

For the next hour or so Esteban riled the crowd slowly moving them to hatred for the man. The farmers asked for his head, there was cursing and yelling. The man looked resigned, but he didn't break, he was still holding that proud look on his face.

"I just have one last question... As my father contacted you and begged for help, for you to pay to have my mother treated. Didn't you even think of helping?" Esteban asked, the farmers behind him supporting him. The man stood up and cleared his throat.

"I loved my daughter, she was special. A kind soul... But she made the mistake of falling for a man who couldn't even maintain himself. I knew it was a mistake to let her go to South America for charity work. If she hadn't met that man she would probably be alive, it was a mistake I will always regret." He said with the room erupting in anger.

Esteban bit his lip and clenched his fist. A mistake? He was a mistake? Even though he held nothing but hatred for the man those words stung. Holding back the tears he felt a renewed sense of purpose. He walked over to the man punching him in the stomach and grabbing him by the hair pulling him.

As his family begged for mercy Esteban dragged the screaming man through the house throwing him outside. As the man coughed on the ground Esteban felt the taste of blood in his mouth. He kicked the man on the ground as the farmers cheered. He grabbed the bloody man lifting him.

"The only mistake is I didn't bring a rifled" Esteban sneered as he threw him back on the ground. Pulling out his revolver he shot him once, then twice, then he kept shooting until he only heard the empty click of his gun.

He saw the farmers cheer, Daniela looked worried and the soldiers looked approvingly at him, but the only thing he heard was a loud buzzing as he stood over the dead man.

And cut! Yes I know it took a while but life has as most of the times gotten in the way. on the bright side I have chapters ready for all my stories meaning I'll be doing my first update spree in months. Thanks to everyone who has stuck with the story! As always feedback is welcomed.