Frowning, Keebo studied the frame resting on the table, a small mosaic tile in hand. To understand human creativity and emotion more, Keebo had enrolled in the creative arts or variety track over the two others: psychology and sports. His homework was to create a mosaic art piece. But how does placing different colored tiles in a pattern convey a message? And what message do I want to send?

Something poured into a cup. Keebo glanced up. Shuichi stood at the dorm's kitchen counter, making coffee. Despite being 6 pm. Shuichi, Kokichi, and their other classmates like Kyoko and Chiaki were all part of the psychology track. Keebo frowned. I can only imagine how much more homework they have. How much work Kokichi needs to catch up on…

Shuichi shot Kaito's bedroom an annoyed glance. The astronaut was holed up in his room, blasting music.

A bell dinged. Shuichi set down the coffee mug. "I got it." The detective disappeared into Kokichi's room behind Keebo. Voices arose from within.

"What do you need?"

"Nope, I'd rather die than rely on you. Guess then that'll give you a mystery to solve, mister Detective! Go get that hunk of junk, would ya? Thanks so much."

Exhaling in frustration, Shuichi walked out. Snatched up his coffee. "He wants you."

"What for?"

Shuichi slammed his room closed.

Keebo sighed. He rose from the kitchen table and entered Kokichi's room. The lights were off and curtains drawn closed. In the darkness, Keebo could make out the video game consoles beneath the TV, doodles covering his desk, and the pinata hanging over Kokichi's bed. The roommates had surprised him with a party for his birthday just before summer break.

Grimacing, Kokichi was trying to sit up in bed. "A-about time…"

"Kokichi!" The robot rushed to his side. "You shouldn't be making sudden movements."

"Come on, hurry."

"What are you trying to do?"

"What else do you think I'd need to get up for?" Kokichi's face reddened. "I have to piss. And I stink. Get a change of clothes and washcloths, but first take me to…" Kokichi winced. "The bathroom."

Keebo retrieved the rolling walker issued by the hospital. He placed it before Kokichi who sat on the bed's edge. The leader kicked it away. "No way. You got two good legs, rust bucket. Put 'em to use."

Sighing, Keebo helped Kokichi walk, one hand gripping his waistband. "But what if you fall? Or bump into something hard enough or overexert yourself? You could undo all of your healing and start bleeding again."

"Too bad you're not a vampire who can get more blood for me. Then you'd be waaay more interesting than you are now."

Keebo spluttered, "I'm a ro– That's robo– That's a ridiculous thing to say." Kokichi wheezed a derisive laugh.

The robot aided Kokichi into the bathroom across the hall and onto the toilet seat lid. Eyes closed, Kokichi panted hard. "Now… scram."

Shaking his head, Keebo left. He gathered a set of black sweats and washcloths. When he returned, Kokichi was already sitting on the shower chair in front of the bathroom sink. His current sweatshirt, although the correct size, hung off the leader's frame. Mindful of his dislocated shoulder, Keebo helped Kokichi out of his shirt. Keebo felt heat rise in his face. Changing clothes is very uncomfortable and awkward, but… Kokichi's cheeks burned. He kept his eyes fixed on the ground. This is more embarrassing for him than me.

Keebo tossed Kokichi's old sweatshirt and pants into the laundry basket. Keebo stifled a gasp. Yellowing, mottled bruises covered every bit of Kokichi's chest and back. And he looked so skinny. He definitely lost weight, and the tiny leader had little to spare. After wetting and soaping up the washcloths, Keebo knelt by his side. The robot gingerly washed the boy.

Kokichi shivered.

As he wiped, Keebo could see some of the bruises were in the shape of shoes. A heel, there. The toes here. Could feel the indents from his fractured ribs. Every time Keebo pressed too hard, Kokichi would flinch. If Keebo could cry, he wondered if he would be right now. How can humans be so cruel?

Kokichi gazed down at his mostly spared arms. Eyes dull, Kokichi muttered, "I remembered to use my arms to protect my head, but… I should of curled up in a ball. Had my legs block my stomach."

"Then you wouldn't be able to walk, right?"

Kokichi shrugged. "Would have bled less."

True…

They lapsed into silence. Leaning forward, Kokichi turned on the faucet. The sound of running water filled the small bathroom. Kokichi scrubbed and rinsed his hair with one hand. After a final rinse, Kokichi went to sit up. Feeling a head rush, he swayed.

"Ah!" As instructed, Keebo pushed Kokichi down, placing his head between his legs.

Kokichi smacked Keebo's hand away. "Stop it, that hurts!" Keebo flinched. Cringing, Kokichi hugged his stomach. "Ow, ow, ow…"

"I-I'll get your medicine –"

"Don't open the door!"

Keebo froze, hand on the doorknob. The echo of his shout rang in the silence. Kokichi was covering his bruised chest with his arms, breathing hard. He bowed his head. "You stupid, oversized screwdriver." Kokichi sucked in a sharp breath through clenched teeth. "Ahhh… Damn those Reserve course students. I should have strangled him longer…"

Keebo hung his head, watching Kokichi in silence.

Once he recovered, Keebo helped the leader change into black sweats and brush his teeth.

"Why did you choose me over Shuichi?"

Kokichi swished water in his mouth before spitting it out. "What are you mumbling, tin can?" Exhaling, Kokichi leaned back, bodily resting against the shower chair. "Now help me back to bed. I'm exhausted."

Keebo sighed. Yes, that's what I thought.

Yawning, Himiko approached the water tank in her lab. Placed a stool by it. She reached for the hose's faucet behind the tank. Why can't the theater let me cancel my show this weekend? Such a pain… Himiko paused. Wait. I can't do this alone. The water tank escape was a two-person act; without Kokichi she couldn't perform the trick. Himiko sighed. Guess I'll change it or cut it out from the show entirely. Yeah, that'll be easier.

Himiko trudged over to the cubby cabinet next to the closet. She rifled through the silk handkerchiefs.

A memory arose in her mind. Himiko had been rehearsing coin magic at the table in her lab. Kokichi frowned. "Hey, there's something on your face."

"Nyeh? There is?" Himiko brushed her cheeks. She didn't feel anything.

"S'okay. I got a hankie somewhere…" Kokichi patted down his uniform. "Ah… ah… achoo!" Kokichi removed his hands from his nose. He was now holding a snot-colored hankie. "There we go!" Grinning, Kokichi stepped close, trying to rub Himiko's face with it. "C'mere, little Himi-chan!"

"Ahh, it's slimy! Get that thing away from me!"

"C'mon, let me wipe that wittle face of yours…"

Laughing, Himiko pushed his hands away. "No, stop it!"

Memory dissipating, Himiko stared at the bin of handkerchiefs. She shoved it back into the cubby. She settled for her next trick – an escape from locked handcuffs. She pulled out a pair from another cubby. The metal gleamed in the light.

A few months into their first year, Kokichi had tested Himiko's lockpicking skill. Various kinds of locks were spread across the table in her lab. Scowled, Himiko pushed a bobby pin so hard inside a lock it snapped. She growled.

Kokichi looked up from his lock. "That's, what, the fifth? Sixth pin you broke? Man, you're such a useless dummy. I thought you were some amazing mage, Himiko."

"I am! And I'll show you! I just…" Himiko held the lock to her ear as she twisted a pin inside. "I can't hear any of the tumblers sliding." Frowning, she peered into the tiny hole. "What? They aren't any–? You!" She threw the lock at him. "You stupid liar!"

Laughing, Kokichi bowled over. "Nee-heehee! Took you… whole two minutes! Nee-hee… Ahahaha!"

Himiko crossed her arms and looked away. But she couldn't stop herself from faintly smiling.

Teeth clenched, Himiko threw the handcuffs back into the cubby. She strode over to the vertical magic box with swords sticking out of it. She pulled one out.

Kokichi seized up the sword in his hand. He pouted. "I got a nice sword, too, y'know…"

"Hm? What are you talking about?"

Kokichi smiled. "It's nothing you need to worry your pretty little head over."

Eyes alight, Himiko gasped. "You think I'm pretty?"

Kokichi's face flushed. "P-pretty ugly!"

"Nyeh!"

The sword slipped from Himiko's grasp. It clattered to the ground. Himiko stared straight ahead, swaying slightly on her feet. I… I can just wing the show, it's fine. I've done that before. Everything will be okay.

"You shouldn't cry, Himiko. It makes your face all ugly."

"I'm not." Himiko wiped her check. "I said I'm not." Sniffing, Himiko wiped her other cheek.

Maki stood outside a door. She clenched then relaxed her hands. She knocked.

A sleepy "Mmph?" answered from within. Maki entered and closed the door behind her. As always, Maki scanned the area. The window, six floors up, was shut and blinds drawn. Unlikely entry point for an attacker. The tangled video game cords could be used to strangle someone. However, the clothes, books, and random paraphernalia like sports games flyers cluttering the floor would leave little room to combat an enemy.

Kokichi sat up. Scowled. He tossed aside his electronic student handbook – he must have been watching recorded class lectures – to regard the caregiver. "What do you want, murder girl?"

Maki placed white paper bags on his bedside table. Prescription medicines. "Kaede picked these up for you. But I played messenger because I needed to know." She turned to face him dead on. "Are you planning on killing me?"

Kokichi scoffed. "Why? Would you kill me first? Or can you not because you only kill on orders?"

Maki's fingers curled, wanting to snap his neck. Then, sighing, she gazed at the floor. "The orphanage I was raised in is specifically used to recruit assassins. To keep the orphanage running through my salary, to prevent a friend from taking my place, I agreed to become an assassin. Everyone does what they can to live." Maki's voice quieted. "My chance at a normal life was taken from me."

"How dare you."

Maki whipped her head up. Kokichi's eyes blazed. Teeth bared, he hissed, "You've killed countless people but you have the audacity to act the victim?"

Maki's eyes widened. She could almost physically feel the waves of rage pouring out of him.

"You and Kaito both like to play the martyr, huh? Well, I'm not buying it. You're either a mindless, remorseless murderer or your feel guilty and are working to stop whatever organization you answer to. It's one or the other. So which is it?"

Maki's heart pounded. "It… it doesn't matter how I feel. There will always be a need for assassins."

"Yeah, the world is too shitty to ever be a paradise. But if you can make their job harder, if you could leak their headquarters, expose their financial backers' scandals, destroy their supplies and methods of communication… then that's good enough."

Maki narrowed her eyes. "That's awfully specific… almost like you're speaking from experience."

Smirking, Kokichi went to put both hands behind his head. He winced. "I am a supreme leader of evil. I've cleaned out many a police force and the like."

"No, not like that," she murmured. "You're acting like you… understand…" She gasped. Could he have been forced into a similar situation as me?

Kokichi's voice snapped like a whip. "I don't understand. I don't sympathize. I'm nothing like you, killer girl."

To object so vehemently… is he just lying? Then that would mean, he… Maki crossed her arms. "So you're not a killer. At least not directly."

Kokichi blanched. Then, smiling, Kokichi pressed a finger to his lips. Honey oozed from his words. "Awww, are you trying to drag me down to your level? Is someone all wonely? Well, tough luck, cupcake! You did this to yourself, choosing that life."

"I could say the same to you."

Kokichi's eyes flashed. Chin resting on his fist, Kokichi leaned forward. "See, here's the thing. Believe what you want about me. But I'm a supreme leader with ten thousand people at my beck and call. And you're just a puppet." His grin unnaturally stretched across his face. "At the end of the day, who will be laughing?"

A shiver shot down her spine. This is the demon Kaito was talking about… Scowling, Maki spun around and left out the door.

Kokichi's low laughter rang through her head long after she left.

Smiling faintly, Maki brushed back her pigtail over a shoulder. As they walked down the city street, Kaito blathered beside her. "So did you like that café? Because if you didn't, we can go to a different one next time."

Maki mumbled, "It was adequate."

Kaito laughed. "Well it must have been. You actually let me treat you to dessert." Grinning, he took her hand.

Face flushing, Maki kept her eyes on the sidewalk.

"What do you think you're doing?"

"What did you say to me, you stupid bastard?"

On the street corner, two teenage males were shoving each other. They were getting dangerously close to the speeding cars in the road. "Hey," shouted Kaito. "That's enough!" He charged in.

No! He'll get hurt! Maki launched forward, pushed Kaito aside, seized the teenager's throat. Squeezed. The boy fell to the ground, neck broken. Dead.

Kaito gasped. His hand flew to his mouth. "Maki… why?"

Frowning, Maki looked down at her hands. Although she had snapped his neck, blood dripped from her hands. Why did I do that…? I wasn't ordered to. Wait, what am I thinking? I'm not some assassin or anything.

"W-what the hell?" The other teenager bolted down the street, making a strangled cry. "I'm gonna get the cops!"

I must keep my secret! She lunged.

"Maki, don't!"

Blood sprayed over her face. Maki blinked. Stepped back. Kaito was lying on the ground, blood pooling from a hole in his stomach. Maki's hand and forearm were stained red.

Kaito coughed up blood. He choked, "How could you…?" Then he lay still.

Maki fell to her knees.

Gasping, Maki launched up from her bed. She panted heavily. A cold sweat coated her face. 3:24 am. Jaw clenched, Maki flung off the covers and headed into the bathroom. She turned on the faucet. Glimpsed her reflection.

Tears were running down her face.

I haven't cried since… since before I…

Maki shook her head. Jaw clenched, she splashed water over her face.

The bell rang. Chatting students rose from the desks, talking about the upcoming sports festival. Kaito glanced to his left. Near the back, second column from the window, stood two empty desks: Kokichi's and Himiko's. Kaito shook his head. At the sound of heels, Kaito looked up. Backpack slung over a shoulder, Maki was slipping out the door.

Oh no, you don't! Kaito seized his backpack and tore down the hallway after her. The astronaut burst out the door. Students around him spilled onto courtyard, heading for class. Kaito whipped his head around. Maki clipped down a sidewalk leading towards the southern quarter, the dormitories. There! Kaito seized her wrist. "Not letting you get away this time!"

Maki scowled. "Do you want to die? Let go."

"No! Every day is like this. You sneak off after every class and only return to your dorms late at night. Where the hell have you been?"

Frowning, Maki glanced around. Few ultimates were using their sidewalk, but many others were talking on the benches, eating lunch under the sakura trees, or checking out the decorations for the sports festival. She uttered, "I told you to mind your own business."

"Your business is mine."

"What?"

Kaito squeezed Maki's wrist. He stared directly into her wide red eyes. "You're our friend, Maki. I could never believe you're some heartless murderer. So I'm gonna take down that mask of yours."

"Mask?" Maki scoffed. "What am I, a supervillain?"

Kaito gasped.

Maki yanked her wrist free. "I am an assassin. Believe it. You'll only get more hurt otherwise." She turned around, about to leave.

"Assassins are fearless, right? So why do you keep running away?"

Maki stilled. Kaito continued speaking to her back. "Everyone has some enemy they're facing. And the only way to overcome it is through training. At the end of the day, your head and body are the same, right?" Maki glanced over her shoulder. Smiling, Kaito extended a hand. "So let's train and get stronger together."

Maki considered Kaito's hand. Then she scowled. "Why are you always such an idiot? That won't change anything." Tossing her ponytail over a shoulder, Maki disappeared into the crowd.

After a long moment, Kaito let his offered hand drop. Ultimates passed by him, not noticing him.

Shuichi left the dorm building and into the cool air. No humidity; autumn was approaching. With every ultimate in their dorms, only the sound of crickets filled the night. Shuichi walked down the wide pathway to reach Kaito. He was sitting on a grassy patch, near a tree. The detective flopped down next to him. "Hey."

Kaito gazed up at the stars. Only a few peered through the dark clouds. Drumming his fingers on a raised knee, Shuichi regarded the central plaza. In the near distance, none of the sports festival concession stands were still standing. After the incident, Hope's Peak had hired out people to take down the decorations.

"Man, things are just crazy now, aren't they?" Shuichi ventured. "Still, we got to train like always."

Kaito grunted.

Smiling, Shuichi lightly pushed his roommate's shoulder. "And I'm sure you'll be able to fix things up, Kaito! Just a matter of time."

"What? Oh yeah, of course, bro! I ain't the Luminary of the Stars for nothing. You can count on me."

Shuichi studied the astronaut. Despite the cheer in his voice, he still wistfully gazed at the night sky. Shuichi sighed. His phone buzzed. Shifting his weight over, Shuichi pulled out the device. Kaede had texted. Frowning, Shuichi scrolled back up to the beginning of their texting conversation.

Kaede had said, "As you know, Himiko hasn't been coming to classes. But I also think she hasn't been practicing either."

Shuichi answered, "Doesn't she have shows?"

"She does! She doesn't talk about it, but they must be sloppy. And now she's expecting me to leave her meals outside her dorm because she won't come out."

"Maybe she's sick?"

"Yeah. Heartsick."

Shuichi shook his head. "I just don't know what's up with Kokichi. Ever since… you know, he's been acting out. He's changed so much."

Kaito snorted. "What are you talking about? He's just being himself. Don't you remember how he acted when we first came to Hope's Peak? He was a first-class asshole."

Shuichi laced his hands over his raised knee. "Yeah, we got in that fist fight the one time." He smiled. "I can't remember what started it, but eventually we all got in on it, even Keebo. And then – oh yeah, that's right! Then Kokichi discovered Keebo's on and off switch on his neck and we all took turns turning him on then off. Keebo would wake up, cry 'Stop it!', and then we'd turn him off again." Laughing, Shuichi shook his head. "Boy, we got in so much trouble."

"If she keeps avoiding everyone, how can I help her?"

"Huh?"

Kaito was staring intently at the dark sky, muttering to himself. "I made this vow and all, but… I'm just all talk, no action. I don't know her at all."

Shuichi quietly probed, "You mean, Maki?"

"Huh? Oh, uh, yeah. It's just…" Kaito bent his knees, crossed his arms over them, and rested his chin on his arms. "I shouldn't have to be dealing with this. If things had worked out differently, if I was the one…"

"What are you talking about? When you were… were kidnapped?"

"Rrgh!" Growling, Kaito raked his hands through his hair. Exhaling with finality, he stood up.

Shuichi raised a hand. "Wait! What about training?"

"Yeah, sorry, bro. I just gotta a lot on my mind, you know? Need some space. So don't wait up for me."

Shuichi froze. That sounded just like…!

Waving, Kaito trudged off. He disappeared into the darkness. "Kaito…"

Only the crickets answered.

Shuichi's phone vibrated again. He glanced at the lock screen. Kaede texted, "What am I supposed to do?"

Shuichi didn't answer.

Two weeks after the kidnapping, Kokichi began coming to class again. He fell into the routine of going to all his morning classes, napping, attending afternoon therapy sessions for his dislocated shoulder, eating dinner, and then passing out for the night. Still in pain, Kokichi attending only half his classes was all he could manage.

On the first day back to class, Gonta carried Kokichi down the hall in his arms. Kokichi refused to use a wheelchair. And Gonta never complained. If only he was a little smarter, I could make him the perfect flunky.

"Wait up, Gonta!" Keebo, two backpacks over his shoulders, hurried after the giant. "I may be an extraordinary robot, but I cannot keep up with your long strides." Keebo carried both his and Kokichi's backpacks, as well as a pillow.

"Gonta sorry! He keep in mind now on."

Bleh, such a softie. I wonder how he'd react if I said… "Careful!" warned Kokichi. "Squeeze me too hard and I'll burst into a bloody pulp all over you! Then you'll be convicted of murder and arrested!"

"Gonta be very careful," he vowed. "Want to help friend any way he can."

Kokichi sighed. You're all so predictably boring. All of you.

Koichi Kizakura leaned against the class doorframe. He lifted the white fedora on his hat. "Do my eyes deceive me? Kokichi Oma! I was afraid I was gonna have to scout a new student to replace ya." He took a swig of beer from a glass.

Kokichi smirked. "I thought they'd have fired you and I'd be meeting a more put-together homeroom teacher."

"That's because I scouted you, you little shit, and the rest of your classmates." He jerked a thumb inside the classroom. "Gonta, take him to his seat."

Gonta stepped inside. Their other classmates gasped at Kokichi's entrance. Shuichi, against Jin's orders, had told their class about the incident.

Gonta set Kokichi down in his desk. Keebo placed the pillow behind Kokichi's back for his comfort. After the other students welcomed Kokichi, class began. Koichi droned on about cosines, sines, and tangents. Kokichi tapped his pencil against his page. Then you're supposed to plug in the cosine… No, the fourth one. What's it called again? He flipped through the notebook. Only notes from last semester filled the pages. Kokichi scowled. He dropped the pencil. Rubbed his face with both hands. Sighing, Kokichi glanced up. The desk in front of him was empty.

Himiko's seat.

Kokichi bit his lip. She's prolly just practicing magic in her lab, without a care in the world. Wincing, Kokichi shifted in his seat.

Keebo leaned over from his desk to the right. He offered a medicine cup of pills and a thermos lid filled with water. "Are your meds wearing off? By my calculations, it's about time for you to take your iron pills. They'll help with your low blood count. Just remember, take them with food and –"

"Iron pills, huh? No thanks. If I wanted to become a robot, I would've eaten nuts and bolts."

Exhaling, Keebo lowered his arms slightly. After a moment, Keebo placed the meds on the leader's desk and turned away.

Kokichi stared out the window for the rest of class.

Sighing, Himiko rolled over in bed. She cracked opened her eyes. A tray of untouched food lay on her bedside table. A framed picture showed a smiling Kokichi and Himiko at an amusement park last summer. Behind them the clock read 11:14 am. Oh. I overslept again. Frowning, Himiko set the frame face down against the table. She rolled over.

Himiko lay on her side, curled in a fetal position. Her comforter weighed heavily on her. The aroma of laundered sheets wafted up her nose. She breathed in than out, in than out. Closed her eyes.

I can sleep for a few more hours, it's all right…

Kaede squeezed Shuichi's hand and gave it a little shake. They strolled down the hall in the dormitories. "You're going to love it, I promise. I worked so hard on this."

Shuichi smiled. "I'm sure I will."

Kaede pouted. "You say that about everything. But this time I mean it. You're going to be so surprised."

Shuichi laughed. They stopped outside her dorm. "Okay, close your eyes, Shuichi." He obeyed. Kaede opened the door and stepped inside, guiding Shuichi by the hand. "Open them!"

"Happy birthday!" voices chorused.

Shuichi opened his eyes to find his and Kaede's roommates sitting at the kitchen table. A cake with seventeen candles acted as the centerpiece. A happy birthday banner hung above it. Colorful balloons bobbed.

Kaede clasped her hands. "I know this is two weeks late. Things have been a little… hectic. I'm just sorry I couldn't have done more for you."

After a moment, Shuichi spoke. "You didn't have to do this."

"Yes, but I wanted to."

Shuichi lowered his voice to a whisper. "But you really didn't have to."

Kaede stepped closer. She gazed at everyone gathered, then gave Shuichi a knowing look. "What are you talking about? Everyone spending time with each other is the best birthday present, right?"

Lips pursed, Shuichi gazed at the sight before him. Keebo, plates in hand, stumbled slightly.

"Watch it, bolt brain!" snapped Kokichi. "So useless."

"M-my apologies…"

Kaito scolded, "Dude, he just fumbled a bit. And he didn't drop them. How does that make him useless?"

Maki played with fork. "This is pointless to fight over. It was just an accident."

Himiko, sitting on the couch in back, plugged her ears. "Nyeeeh… you're all so loud."

Shuichi swallowed. Yeah, this won't go badly.

Hello, everyone! I just started a tumblr that goes by the same name of Animercom. There I'm posting extra bits to my fics like deleted scenes and fanart related to my fics. So, for example, for last chapter I posted fanart of Kokichi in the hospital. As well as posting any script gags featuring the entire cast of DR V3 that I couldn't fit into my fics. I'm trying to post a little something every day, so check it out! (Just add dot com afterwards.)

animercom . tumblr

I hoped you enjoyed this chapter. Thanks for all the support so far. I super appreciate it! It's very motivating! ^_^