"Why did you leave, Master? What did I do wrong? I worked so hard at magic… I did everything all for you! I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Just please don't leave me! Come back…"

Her eyes closed, Himiko burrowed her head deeper into the white sheets. She squeezed a hand tighter. "Don't leave, Kichi… I'll be all alone."

A rhythmic beeping echoed in the background. The sharp tang of cleaning alcohol stung her nose. Groaning, Himiko opened her eyes. Sat up. Looked around.

A monitor showed a wavy line and numbers onscreen. A nest of wires snaked from machines towards the slight form of Kokichi lying in bed. Oxygen mask. Sling. Mottled bruises underneath his gown's collar.

The rapid beeping increased. Kokichi's eyes cracked opened. His hazy gaze focused on her.

Himiko's eyes burned. "Kokichi…!"

Eyes closing, Kokichi's head lolled to the side.

Shuichi sat in a chair by the door to Kokichi's hospital room, reading a mystery novel. He read a sentence on the page. Read a sentence on the page. Read a sentence on the page. Sighing, Shuichi rubbed his bleary eyes with a thumb and forefinger. He placed the book aside.

"Vitals still elevated."

Shuichi glanced up. A nurse was checking the EKG monitor, which displayed Kokichi's heartrate and pulse. His face was as pale as sheets. His shallow breaths puffed against the oxygen mask. A sling braced his left arm, treating his dislocated shoulder. Frowning, the nurse gently pried the front of Kokichi's blue yukata gown more open. Shuichi gasped. There wasn't an inch of skin which wasn't purple or blue or yellow or green. Shuichi's stomach churned.

The nurse glanced over the electro pads of the EKG affixed to Kokichi's chest. Nodded. Then she tugged the gown closed. Blinking slowly, Kokichi watched her. "Oh, you're awake." She lightly placed a hand on his shoulder. "Can you tell me how much pain you're in on a scale of 0 to 10?"

Kokichi sucked in a breath. Winced.

"That's okay. Just use your hands, sweetheart." Kokichi curled in a thumb. "A nine?" The barest of nods. "Okay, I'll increase the morphine, all right? You get some rest."

Kokichi passed out before she finished.

A cold pit of icy fury formed in Shuichi's heart. He strode out the door.

A moan sounded to his right. The patient in Kokichi's neighboring room hadn't stop groaning in hours. Shuichi sidestepped a cart of supplies. Quiet music from a room, murmurs of waiting family members, and doctors shouting orders swirled around Shuichi. The detective approached the front desk, manned by two nurses.

Headmaster Jin had commanded, "You are not to inform any of your classmates about what has occurred. I promise, I will take care of Kokichi and of the situation."

Sure, you will, Shuichi thought.

A young ponytailed nurse set down a large binder. "Something I can help you –?" Her pager went off. Waving an apology, she hurried down a hall.

The other older nurse didn't look up from her laptop. "What?"

"Have you seen –?"

"…you the doctor in charge of Oma's case or not?" A muffled angry voice asked. Headmaster Kirigiri.

Shuichi's eyes flickered to the door behind the front desk. "Hello?" the nurse inquired, turning in her swivel chair.

As his uncle always said, "Think fast, talk faster." Shuichi blurted, "The patient next to Kokichi. Room 103. He's been moaning again. But this time, something about not seeing anything?"

"Christ almighty." Scowling, the elderly nurse slowly rose from her chair. Hobbling, she walked down the hallway.

Shuichi rounded the desk, opened the door, and shut it behind him. His eyes darted over the area. Small, empty break room. A microwave and fridge. Foldout chairs around a table. The smell of tuna lingered in the air. Two doors on the opposite wall. Shuichi pressed an ear against one of the doors.

A quiet but firm voice stressed, "I cannot. I don't care who you are, I will only speak of his private medical condition to his parents or legal guardian."

Jin snapped, "He doesn't have parents! And the legal guardian in his Hope's Peak paperwork is false as well."

Shuichi gasped. No family? Mom and Dad are always overseas, but if I didn't have my uncle…

"As Headmaster, I am responsible for the care of my students. With just one word to your superior I can have you replaced with a more talented alumni from my school."

A long pause. A sigh. "We are monitoring his ongoing anemia. As of this morning he had only 4.6 of his typical 7.2 pints of blood. In addition, nine of his ribs were fractured and one of his lung's lobes punctured. His left shoulder which was dislocated has already been reset."

"Any brain damage? Organ damage?"

"The CT scan showed no hematomas between the meninges or swelling of the brain. However, as is common with patients who experience hemorrhagic shock, other organs may have started to fail. It's unlikely at this stage; he hasn't shown any symptoms, but still possible. With additional testing, we should have a clearer picture within a week."

Shuichi flinched. Kokichi…

"The other students have various fractures and –" Footsteps approached Shuichi's door. "Where are you going? Aren't they your students as well?"

"Are any dead?"

"N-No, but one was strangled. He could have permanent brain damage from the lack of oxygen. And another will never walk right again –"

"Doesn't matter." Jin's voice sounded from just on the other side of the door. "As soon as you've determined Oma's condition, he will be transferred to the infirmary at Hope's Peak. No questions asked."

Shuichi backpedaled. He dove into the other room. Jin left the break room. Exhaling in relief, Shuichi rested his back against the door. He stood in a cramped bathroom. Shuichi held his chin, frowning. Kokichi's seems stable enough, but might have complications. And Maki never strangled anyone… Then there's Headmaster Kirigiri. What was with him?

Shuichi recalled a conversation he had with Kokichi a few months into their first year.

Sighing, Kokichi had flopped onto the dorm couch besides Shuichi. "I hate this school."

Shuichi tugged the brim of his hat down. "We do have a lot of homework…"

"No, Sherlock! I didn't say I hate school, I said I hate this school. Hope's Peak has less than a hundred ultimates, but three times as many teachers and researchers, and thousands of Reserve course students to fund it all. Why, brainiac?"

Shuichi shrank back into the couch's arm. He looked down at the floor. "T-to research talent?"

"Bingo! Remember how they said in orientation that they record class lectures in case students were absent? Hmm, doesn't that sound miiighty suspicious?"

Shuichi tensed. "You mean they record everything?"

"Of course they do! Wouldn't surprise me if cameras were hidden all over school. Even here in our dorms. Always watching." Kokichi leaned forward, finger to his lips. A low edge crept into his voice. "We're lab rats trapped in a maze. And if you wanna find the truth, you gotta take that hat off and look at it straight in the eye."

Shuichi stared at the leader, wide-eyed.

"Just kidding!" Grinning, Kokichi placed his arms behind his head. "I was lying, messing around with you. Just forget what I said. Nee-heehee!"

The memory faded away. Shuichi gazed at his hatless reflection in the bathroom mirror. After nodding, Shuichi headed out the door.

Shuichi ducked into the hospital cafeteria. Like a restaurant, tables of four were spread across the room with a buffet counter in the back. However, the weary families manning the seats and PA system going off every five minutes quickly grounded that fantasy in reality. The laminated fall leaves hanging from the ceiling did little to brighten the gloomy atmosphere.

Shuichi scanned the area. Kaede, Himiko, and Keebo were sitting off to the side, by a vending machine and wall mounted TV. The robot was wearing a school uniform and hat to avoid unwanted stares. Shuichi approached them.

Himiko downed a can of green tea. Then she pushed her barely touched salad aside. "And then he spoke some words today! He started to say my name, and, uh, 'you' I think. Then he fell asleep again. But that's okay."

Kaede smiled. "That's excellent, Himiko. I'm so happy." The pianist placed her hand over Himiko's hand on the table. "Now that he's woken up and talking, why don't we take a trip back to the dorms? It'll be really quick, I promise. You can get some clothes, hop in a nice, hot shower, and then we'll come right back, okay?"

"No. I'm not leaving him."

Exhaling, Kaede ran a hand through her frazzled hair. "Himiko, it's been two whole days. And school starts tomorrow."

Himiko flatly stared at her. "I'm not going back unless Kokichi's coming with me." Sighing, Kaede's shoulders fell. Humming, Himiko held a finger to her lips. "But if you're gonna head back you should get some grape panta. He'd like that. Oh, and a straw. That'll probably be easier for him."

Keebo stood up, chair scraping. "Do not worry. I shall fetch one!" He quickly scanned the nearby vending machine. "It appears there isn't some here. I'll check the one down the hall." He sped past Shuichi without noticing him.

Kaede jumped. "Shuichi! I didn't see you there."

Himiko pouted. "You said you would watch him. Why'd you leave?"

"Sorry, sorry," Shuichi said, slipping in Keebo's old seat. "I have some news. Kokichi will probably be transferring over the Hope's Peak infirmary in a week. I overhead… some doctors saying it just now." The girls sighed in relief. Shuichi turned to the mage. "How are you holding up?"

With no barrette, her red bangs fall into her eyes. Purple bags sagged beneath her eyes. Himiko went to rub an eye, paused, then swallowed down more tea. She drummed her fingers against the table. "Me? I'm fine. Why are you asking? Nothing happened to me."

Shuichi folded his hands. Leaned forward slightly. "Is that so? You weren't hurt or anything?"

Himiko's tapping fingers stilled. "No," she answered quietly. "No, I wasn't. Kaito volunteered and then Kokichi stopped that guy before anything happened."

"What happened? Could you be a bit more specific?" Kaede shot the detective a glance.

Exhaling, Himiko slid her arm off the table. Fell back against the chair. "They were… they were gonna make a video of us. Get us to say bad things about ourselves and then post it online so we wouldn't be ultimates anymore." Gasping, Kaede covered her mouth with a hand. "Kaito volunteered to do it and then…"

Shuichi's eyes narrowed. "And then?"

"Then they…"

"They what?"

"Shuichi, stop!" chided Kaede. "You don't need to, like, interrogate her."

"I am sorry. Truly. But I need to know." Brows furrowed, Kaede frowned at him.

Himiko mumbled into her collarbone. "Then they tried to, to take me, but Kokichi stopped them. He attacked the leader and…" Tears welled up in her eyes. "He sacrificed himself. Now he's hurt because of me…" Kaede enveloped the mage in a hug. Himiko clung to her, shoulders shaking.

Exhaling, Shuichi leaned back. So Kokichi strangled the Reserve Course student to protect Himiko. Or a defense of another position. And they attacked him for it.

"I couldn't find panta, but I have –! Oh." Keebo slowed to a stop by the table. He held a can of oolong tea and a straw. "Himiko…"

Shuichi asked, "Is there anything other important details? Anything else stand out?"

"Yeah, actually…" After a moment, Himiko drew back slightly from the embrace. She gazed off into the distance. "Before he was hurt, Kokichi, he… He was so mad at them. Like, really mad. No, mad isn't the right word. He got scary. He almost looked like… like a monster."

"Rrgh!" Kaito punched the hospital's hallway wall. "You're the Luminary of the Stars. But stupid you just sat there and did nothing." He punched it again. "You were supposed to distract them. Supposed to fight back. Supposed to save the day and you just…" Kaito's fist slid down the surface. Exhaling, Kaito pressed his forehead against the wall. "You just watched your friend almost die." He closed his eyes. "It should of been me…"

"That won't help, you know."

Kaito whipped his head around. Maki was walking down the hall towards the dead end Kaito was punching. Ponytails billowing behind her, she moved with a black panther's grace. His heart skipped a beat. Not a strand of hair out of place or speck of dust.

Man, I must look awful. Drooping hair. Scruffy face. One black eye swollen shut. His grandfather always told him that a man has to be presentable for his lady.

Maki looked at his fist against the wall. "Maybe I could have run faster. Dispatched those Reserve course students more efficiently. But even if I did, would anything have turned out differently? Probably not. Take it from me." Eyes downcast, Maki fiddled with a strand of her hair. "Spouting 'what ifs' is pointless. You just have to accept reality as it is."

Kaito gazed down at hands. At his chaffed knuckles. "But then you'll never grow. Become a better person and achieve your dreams."

Sighing, Maki crossed her arms. "You're such an idiot."

Kaito grimaced. "Y-Yeah, well then you're an idiot, too!" Maki's eyes widened by a hair. "At some point you said you were dreaming 'what ifs'. What were they?" Grinning, Kaito flashed a thumbs-up. "I'll help you make it come true, Maki Roll. You can count on me."

For a moment, Maki gazed at the astronaut, face expressionless. Then she scoffed, "Do you want to die?"

Kaito flinched. The memory of Maki taking down the students flashed before his eyes.

Maki winced. She spun around and strode away.

Kaito called after her, "If you can't tell me now, will you tell me some day?"

Maki snapped, "What do you care?" Her heels clipped against the tile as she left.

Exhaling, Kaito deflated like a flat tire. Because I… Growling, Kaito smashed his fist into the wall. Because I like you, damnit! God, I'm so stupid. Stupid, stupid, stupid…!

"…went back for school, so it's just us… been practicing with cards… and then yesterday…"

Kokichi squinted. What? A girl was sitting in chair besides his bed, deck of cards in hand. That's Himiko, and… Her mouth moved, but all Kokichi heard was the droning of the TV behind her. Something about… school…? No, maybe cards…

Kokichi felt like someone had stuffed his head with cotton; every sense felt dulled. Thoughts drifted in and out of his head like a fishing bobber dipping in and out of water. Beneath it all, Kokichi suffered from an achy soreness head to toe.

Kokichi pawed the air besides his bed. …Need to… to think… A rectangular device was attached to the IV pole. He found the arrow down button. Pressed it.

Pain. Kokichi gasped. Pain, pain, pain. With every breath, his severely bruised chest and fractured ribs rose and fell, sending pain radiating through his body. But his lightheadedness forced Kokichi to keep trying to take deeper breaths.

Someone grabbed his hand. "No, Kokichi. Don't do that. You didn't touch it, did you?"

"N-No…"

"Good. If you keep on messing with things and pulling out your IV, they're gonna tie up your hand. Not that you'd have any trouble getting out of it with all the escapology we've done. I know we're missing the first week of school here, but don't worry. We'll be back at Hope's Peak and practicing magic before you know it."

Kokichi sank back against the pillows. Sweat broke across his forehead. "Himi…" he rasped. With a nasal cannula instead of an oxygen mask, he could speak. "What happened?"

She sighed. "What do you remember?"

"Waking up. Seeing oni…" Seeing onii-chan's face. Kokichi swallowed. "A video… someone getting you…"

Himiko fiddled with the hem of her skirt. "You saved me. You… took down the leader and the others attacked you. Then Maki came in and took care of everyone else. Shuichi, Kaede, and Keebo came in right after that. You were taken here, the hospital in the city and –"

"She what?" Kokichi tried to sit up. Gasped.

Himiko leapt to her feet. "Kokichi!" She eased him back against the bed. "Take it easy. Don't hurt yourself. Let's not, let's not talk about this anymore. How about I show you some card spells I've been working on? …Kokichi?"

Kokichi stared up at the tiled ceiling. I always wondered… He clenched the sheets in his fist.

Smiling, Himiko leaned against Kokichi's bedside table. She surveyed the leader. Sling free, Kokichi was lying in bed, the head raised. A few days ago, his oxygen mask had been replaced with a nasal cannula. Although he still looked as pale as porcelain. His purple hair limply framed his face.

Kaito sat at the foot of bed, hand on a hip. "Well, looks like you're doing better! First time seeing you sit up. Well, the bed raised. And I heard your blood number are up, too. Feel any better?"

"Just peachy. Like I could jump off a truck."

"Ahahaha!" bellowed Kaito. He went to clasp Kokichi's leg, hesitated, then placed his hand on his lap. "Well, you must be better. You're just as sarcastic as always."

Looking away, Kokichi hummed a noncommittal, "Mmm." He held the front of his yukata hospital gown closed. "What about the Reserve course students?"

Kaito sighed. "Expelled."

"And?"

"And what?

Kokichi sat up. Winced. Himiko went to help, but he raised a hand. "Were they arrested? Jailed?"

The astronaut scratched his head. "Uh, no. Headmaster Kirigiri wants to keep this all on the down low. And I don't want to press charges either. I just think being expelled from the school they desperately wanted to be in is justice enough. And they're teenagers like us. Maybe someday, they'll learn to dream again and chase after them."

"Yeah," Himiko piped up. "Going to court sounds like a big pain. I'm just glad you're all right."

Kokichi blinked. He looked to Kaito and Himiko in turn. "I almost died. Do I mean noth–?"

A knock at the door. Shuichi, Kaede, and Keebo entered. "There room for more visitors?" asked Shuichi. He lifted up a grocery bag. "Got you the puzzle books we were working on plus the books you were reading. And, uh, homework, too. Sorry."

Kaede caught Himiko's eye. Smiling, the pianist reached inside her tote bag. Slightly lifted a shampoo bottle out. Himiko scowled. Unless I'm somehow showering in the bathroom here, I'm not leaving to do it.

As Shuichi and Keebo placed the bags on the chairs near the door, Maki slipped in. Kokichi flinched. "Who invited you?"

Maki's eyes narrowed. Then widened a fraction in realization. Sighing, Maki closed the door behind her.

Kaito shot the leader an incredulous look. "Dude, she saved all of our asses. Especially yours."

Kokichi held a finger to his lips. "And just how did she do that?" Voice low, he asked, "How did a caregiver who only gives children piggyback rides singlehandedly take out thirteen people?"

Silence. Everyone turned to Maki. She glared at Kokichi.

"I always knew there was something off about you. What are you? A spy? Soldier? Hit man?"

"You won't stop pestering me, will you?"

Kokichi's eyes smoldered. "No, I won't. I'll do whatever it takes. As I just demonstrated." He gestured to the himself in the hospital gown. "I mean, who's to say you won't attack us?"

Kaito launched to his feet. "She would never!"

Under her breath, Maki muttered, "I knew this would happen one day." Looking at everyone, Maki declared. "I'm not only the Ultimate Caregiver. I'm also the Ultimate Assassin."

"What?" gasped Kaito. Everyone close to Maki stepped back. Kokichi shook his head.

Himiko shrank back against the bedside table. There's no way… but she did move super fast and was really strong, too…

Face pale, Shuichi asked, "You mean you, you've killed people?"

"Yes. I won't hurt you. I only kill on orders."

Kokichi burst into applause. "Oh, bravo! Bravo!"

Maki bristled. Then, sighing, she dipped her head. "Whenever people learn of my identity, they get scared. They try to kill me before I kill them. That's why I didn't tell you. For the rest of our time at Hope's Peak, I'll go about my business and you do yours." She turned and opened the door. "Please… just pretend I'm not even here." She left, making nary a sound.

Kaito rounded on the leader. "What the hell, Kokichi? Maki is our friend! She's never once hurt us. I mean, girl like her? Assassin, my ass."

Kokichi studied his nails. "Pretty sure you're biased as you wanna get laid by her."

Kaito's face burned. His mouth opened and closed like a guppy fish. Kaede's eyes widened.

Keebo thrust a finger. "Must you always make inappropriate remarks?"

"As a robot who doesn't understand humans' feelings, everything you say is inappropriate." Keebo tsked. The leader continued, "I'm sure I speak for everyone that we feel safer without a murderer like her around."

Kaede shouted, "That's not true!"

Kaito threw aside his hand. "She's not some serial killer or murderous fiend! Maki is one of us, and no matter what her past is, nothing is gonna change that. I'm not gonna stop until she realizes that."

"What, you gonna go try and save her? Well, your track record is 0 for 1 so far. Good luck with that, Superman."

Kaito spluttered, "I-It's not like you're some saint, either! You almost killed that guy! And you're an evil supreme leader. A dictator! Who knows how many people you…"

"I what." Teeth clenched, Kokichi hissed, "I can't hear you over the sound of my EKG."

Exhaling, Kaito rubbed the back of his neck. "You just… I don't know what to think. You looked like a demon."

All the blood drained from Kokichi's face.

"Cut it out, Kaito!" cried Himiko. She pressed a hand to her chest. "He saved you from being in the video and nearly died because of it!"

Kokichi's voice sharpened like barbed wire. "And just what did you do?"

Himiko froze.

"You only sat there and cried. Too lazy to do anything else, huh? And now I'm in a hospital bed because of it. You just sat there and thought 'Kokichi will rescue me', didn't you? Didn't you?"

Himiko trembled like a leaf. "I-I haven't left your side this past week. After you… you got hurt I offered to give you my blood. And I, um, did that leg thing…"

"Useless."

Wide-eyed, Himiko staggered back.

His voice deepened. "Sorry, did I stammer?"

Himiko covered her ears. Tears pricked the corners of her eyes. "You don't… you don't mean it. You're lying…!"

Kokichi laughed. "Who could lie about that?" He rolled his eyes. "But whatever, if you wanna delude yourself go ahead. That's your specialty after all, Little Miss 'Mage'."

Tears flowed down Himiko's cheeks. Bowing over slightly, she covered her mouth with a hand. "How could you say such awful things when I… when I lo –"

Expressionless, Kokichi gazed deeply into her eyes. "Your love isn't enough."

Himiko went cold. Like a lifeless doll, she gazed a thousand yards into the distance. She mumbled, "This is too much a pain… Kaede, let's go home." She shuffled to the door.

As she left, Himiko didn't bother to check if Kaede was following.

Lips parted, Keebo watched Himiko and Kaede depart. How could this be happening?

At their exit, everyone else snapped out of their shocked states. Shuichi admonished, "Kokichi, that was entirely uncalled f–!"

"What is wrong with you?!" exclaimed Kaito. His hands balled into fists. "She's been nothing but a supporting girlfriend and you threw her away like that."

Kokichi looked away. "No one regrets throwing out trash."

"That is it –!"

Shuichi seized Kaito's raised arm. Voice low, Shuichi stressed, "He's not feeling well. Let's give him some time."

"I won't change my mind, you know…"

Shuichi glared at him. "Let's go, Kaito."

After a long moment, Kaito lowered his arm. The two ultimates headed out the door.

Sighing, Kokichi dipped his head. The EKG beeped. General murmuring of nurses and patients sounded outside the door. Keebo dug out something from the bag he brought earlier. "Here. Himiko wanted you to have this." Keebo set the grape panta and straw on his bedside table.

When Keebo left, Kokichi still sat with his head turned away, bangs covering his eyes.

Kokichi leaned back against the pillow. "So when am I getting out of here, doc?"

The balding doctor stood at the foot of his bed dressed in scrubs and a white jacket. A stethoscope hung around his neck. "You'll be transferred to Hope's Peak Academy medical institute later today –"

Heaving a loud sigh, Kokichi rolled his eyes. "That's not what I meant. I meant out of the hospital period. Like back in my dorm."

The doctor adjusted his glasses and glanced down at his ipad. "That depends. I've heard reports that you've have taken little to no morphine or opioids since becoming conscious. Occupational therapy told me your pain levels are hindering your ability to engage in ADLs, which are mostly at the moderate assistance level."

"ADLs?" Shuichi muttered to himself. He stood by the door. "What's that?"

Keebo stood besides the detective. After Kokichi's outburst yesterday, he and Shuichi were the only ones willing to visit the leader. Kaede was busy caring after Himiko. Keebo did a quick search of the internet. Leaning closer, he whispered, "Activities of Daily Living. Includes activities such as dressing, bathing, and toileting."

Shuichi jumped. He did a double take. "Keebo? When you'd –?"

Frowning, Keebo drew back. "I've been here this whole time. In… in the background I suppose."

"Oh. I'm so sorry, Keebo." The robot raised a hand in dismissal.

The doctor continued, "We would all hope you would require less assistance before discharge. Unless you had a PCA. That is, a personal care assistant."

Kokichi grimaced.

Shuichi stepped forward. "I can do it."

"Uh, yeah, no."

Keebo pressed a hand to his chest. "I-I can attempt. If you are willing…" After giving up his dream to become a pop idol, Keebo had considered becoming a caregiver robot. When picking up Shuichi had left his back in pain, Keebo abandoned the idea. Kokichi, however, was lighter than the detective. In fact, Kokichi looked like he lost a good deal of weight this past week. "I may not be the best, but I'll try my hardest. I, too, wish for your speedy recovery!"

Frowning, Kokichi gave Keebo a once over. He made an annoyed humming noise. "Fine, whatever. Guess I'll throw the dog a bone. Or would it be give the robot some oil?"

Keebo bristled. "That's robo–!"

"What?" Frowning, the doctor glanced at Keebo dressed in his uniform. "Robot?"

"Never mind," Kokichi cut in. He glanced at the clock above the door. "I have OT in 20 minutes. Keebo, you're coming with to be trained on how to help me. We're getting everything down to minimal assistance."

"U-understood."

Keebo emerged from the dark parking garage onto the sidewalk, pushing Kokichi in a wheelchair. The eastern entrance of Hope's Peak lay across the street. Kokichi gazed at metal fence and brick wall. Although it had only been a little more than a week, an eternity had passed since Kokichi was last here. Since he and Kaito had their wheelie chair race, had risked walling across the wall, and had hugged Kaede in greeting.

"Welcome home…"

Keebo leaned forward, closer to Kokichi. "Hm?"

Kokichi raised a hand and snapped twice. "Hurry up, hup to! My prison cell of a dorm is waiting!"

The robot sighed. Jaw clenched, Keebo pushed Kokichi through the entrance and back into Hope's Peak Academy.