Ryoko's Resolution

Disclaimer: I do not own Danganronpa or any of its characters. They belong to their respective creators.


Part 2

"What in the world IS this program?!" a frustrated Ryoko mentally seethed as she tried to nail down what exactly this 'Monokuma' really was. Her brows furrowed as the program once again began acting erratically. "It's almost as if the program has a mind of its own! Every time I get close to figuring out its core function, it changes—".

…A mind of its own…it couldn't be! Ryoko's eyes shot over to the hard drive that had occupied her workstation before she'd arrived. It was still plugged in, and it took the analyst less than three seconds to find the drive and open it.

"It's…empty."

She barely registered she'd said those words aloud, the meaning known only to her. The hard drive was massive, easily able to contain what she suspected this invading program to be. Not only that, it also confirmed her suspicions about the hard drive itself. It hadn't been used to transport portions of the 'Neo World Program'…they would have copied the files, not completely transferred them. No…this hard drive had contained 'Monokuma', and now it had taken up residence within the deepest part of the simulation.

"It's a virus, basically."

Ryoko flinched as she heard Akihiro unintentionally misinform their superiors. Unplugging the hard drive and leaping to her feet, she marching over without a second thought.

"It has completely infected almost the entire system and at this point, removing it might be imposs—."

"It's not a virus. It's worse…" Ryoko interrupted, causing all of them to stare directly at her. Suddenly hit with a wave of anxiety at being the center of attention, she somehow fought it off long enough to continue, "It's an artificial intelligence. Possibly similar to Alter Ego."

"Don't be absurd," Akihiro angrily dismissed, obviously infuriated at being cut off and upstaged. "How would an A.I. of that magnitude get into—?"

"With this," Ryoko said, holding up the hard drive. "This was at my workstation when I arrived. I just checked it and it's completely empty."

"…Empty?" a surprised Akihiro said, his demeanor changing rapidly. "But that's…no, there's still no proof that—!"

"Whatever was on it was downloaded into the 'Neo World Program' a few hours ago," Ryoko interjected again, the information flowing out of her automatically. "The logs from my computer back this up and this hard drive has enough storage space to hold something as advanced as Alter Ego."

"…How do you know how much data Alter Ego has?" Akihiro suddenly questioned, his tone as menacing as his gaze. "You didn't even see any data until a few hours ago—".

"I've been analyzing the data from the 'Neo World Program' all morning. Obviously, that would mean I have access to Alter Ego's data as well, to ensure everything is running smoothly," Ryoko explained, aggravated for having to explain what should have been obvious.

"How sure are you of this information?" Kyoko asked, her lavender eyes studying Ryoko with the utmost scrutiny. And even though she knew why, being under that gaze made her feel more than a little queasy. Nevertheless, Ryoko was prepared for this and answered accordingly.

"Given everything I've analyzed, the fact that the 'virus' seems aware that we're monitoring it, and that we can't seem to isolated or contained…I'm almost 100% sure that's what's going on."

A look of profound worry crossed everyone's faces. Even the usually stoic Kyoko couldn't fight the grim expression that overtook her features. Beside her, Makoto looked as if he was fighting off a panic attack. Byakuya turned away, but Ryoko surmised it was to hide whatever negative expression he was doubtlessly hiding.

"…Is there anything we can do to remove it at this point?" Makoto fought to ask, holding out one last bit of hope as he stared into Ryoko's crimson irises.

His expression cut deeper than Ryoko could have imagined. She desperately wanted to give him something…anything that might be of use…but it would have been a lie. She knew it, and judging by the grim look on Kyoko's face, she'd realized it too.

Surprisingly, before Ryoko could answer him, Akihiro spoke up. "At this point…Monokuma has fully assumed Usami's role as an observer. Having rooted itself to deep into the system, it would be nearly impossible to remove it now. Fortunately, the virus is bound by the rules of the simulation but since it's already begun adding new rules…"

Akihiro trailed off for a moment, a look of anguish crossing his face before he dared to continue.

"…It's likely that another killing game will very soon take place within the simulation."

All color drained from Makoto's face and Ryoko noticed his legs wobble a bit. No doubt the Ultimate Hope was blaming himself for this tragedy, regardless of the fact that the fault didn't lie with him. He was a kind of a person, and entirely too self-sacrificing. Ryoko had no doubt that if he could take the place of the Remnants, he'd do it in a heartbeat.

"Tell me, what options are still available to us?" Kyoko asked, glancing between Ryoko and Akihiro. "Is there any possibility of regaining control of the system?"

Unbeknownst to each other, Ryoko and Akihiro both grimaced. After a tense silence, Akihiro delivered the bad news. "This virus…or whatever it is, has completely infected the Neo World Program. We would need to completely recreate the program from scratch to ensure that nothing from this A.I. makes its way into a new Neo World—".

"We need to shut down the system," Byakuya interrupted, his features hardened and callous. "That's the only way to ensure that this abomination doesn't—".

"We can't!" Makoto protested, gesturing toward the pod room. "If we do that, it could kill everyone connected to it!"

Without looking at his former classmate, the Togami Heir replied, "Better that than take the risk of Monokuma resurfacing. Even if it's only an A.I., we cannot afford to—".

"What about the fail-safe I had installed!?" Makoto cut in, looking at Ryoko with a spark of hope. "If the students in the simulation used that, we could save—".

"No…we would only be releasing the Remnants of Despair from their 'prison'." Kyoko intervened, her features once again stoic. Before Makoto could protest again, the Division Leader placed a gloved hand on his arm, squeezing tightly. "I know how you feel, Makoto. However, we need to consider all options available to us right now. And…if there is a way to save them, we'll look for it. I guarantee you that."

Slowly, as Kyoko spoke to him, Makoto somehow began to calm down. See how only a few words and a light touch was able to settle him down…Ryoko felt another twinge of jealousy.

After giving her report…Ryoko realized that she hadn't been able to provide any useful information. Heck, she couldn't even offer any contingency plans at the moment! All she'd done is jump in, give the bad news, and fall silent as everyone else tried to come up with a solution.

She felt…so powerless. Of course she didn't want the Remnants to be forced into a killing game, but what could she do about it? Nothing. And she was painfully aware of that.

"After all…the only thing I'm good for is analyzing data," she reminded herself, getting lost in her own world of self-deprecation. "And even if I could do more than that…would anyone trust me enough to let me help? Not likely…"

Amidst the torrent of her negative thoughts, Byakuya's stern voice brought her back to reality. "Begin preparations to abort the simulation. We don't need to activate it yet but having it ready in case of an emergency is best."

"With all due respect, sir…I can't do that."

Ryoko's eyes widened as the person next to her, Akihiro, openly defied Byakuya's order. And she wasn't the only one shocked by this. Ryoko couldn't help but notice the look of genuine surprise that overtook not only Byakuya, but Makoto and Kyoko as well. However, in less than a moment, the Togami Heir resumed his usual authoritative demeanor.

"And why is that?" he demanded, his voice practically dripping with venom.

Despite being the object of Byakuya's irritation, Akihiro remained completely calm as he stood his ground and answered, "Respectfully, sir, I don't work under you or Miss Kirigiri. As a member of Gekkogahara's Division, I have been tasked with the maintenance of the simulation and as such, I will not comply with that order. It's far too risky."

…Ryoko stared, almost slack-jawed at Akihiro's decisive display. Her analytical talents showed that he was completely serious. Not only that, invoking Gekkogahara's name immediately earned him positive points in her book!

Sadly, Byakuya didn't seem all that impressed with his display, casually calling out, "You do realize I could have you detained for insubordination, don't you?"

Despite his threat, his tone was decidedly less stern than before. It was hard to imagine that someone like Byakuya could be swayed with this sort of display, but it certainly wasn't impossible. After all, he'd learned the hard way not to underestimate people's emotions, he'd said as much to Ryoko during their time together.

"You certainly could, but can you really afford to lessen our manpower right now? Or do you plan on monitoring and manage this entire system in my stead?" Akihiro fired back, without even a hint of hesitation.

The tense moment stretched out longer than Ryoko was comfortable with. After all, they were losing precious time. Bickering amongst themselves would only make matters worse. Fortunately, it seemed that Byakuya understood that, his posture shifting as he pushed up his glasses.

"Hmph…very well," the Togami Heir finally conceded, turning his back to Akihiro. "We won't implement shut down procedures at this time. However, I assure you that if the need becomes pressing enough, I'll pull the plug on all of them myself if need be."

"Good to hear," Akihiro acknowledged, unable to hide the smugness laced in his voice.

Although defeated, Byakuya didn't seem as upset about it as Ryoko had expected…in fact, he seemed almost pleased with the outcome. Even his 'threat' at the end didn't have his usual bite to it. Perhaps, deep down, he didn't want to do anything rash…but he was obviously prepared to take the blame if it came to that. Or at least, that's what Ryoko's analysis of the situation told her…and she was usually right.

"At this time—", Kyoko suddenly spoke up, gaining everyone's attention. "—we need to formulate contingencies for as many scenarios as we can. Shutting down the system isn't an option anymore, so we need to consider what we can do for now."

"I know where to start," Akihiro answered her, waiting a moment for her to turn in his direction. "Regaining control of the 'graduation' system should be our top priority. If we can do that, perhaps we can stop the virus before any of the students are killed in the simulation and experience brain death—".

Ryoko's mind nearly snapped hearing those final words, and she abruptly blurted, "W-Wait a minute! Hold on! You don't already have a protocol for that?!"

Everyone's attention shifted to her, and she felt her cheeks flush as she fought off the embarrassment of having yelled so loudly.

"Death was never something we considered might happen in the simulation," Akihiro casually explained, his tone rather dismissive. "Therefore, we never implemented—".

"You never considered that death might happen on a tropical island?!" Ryoko cut in, completely flabbergasted. "Even without the killing game, things like drowning, heat-stroke, or an unforeseen fishing accident could lead to death! Why wouldn't you implement a protocol in case someone died in the simulation?! Do their lives not matter just because they're—?!"

Suddenly, a hand landed on and gripped her shoulder, startling her into silence. Her eyes snapped over to see Makoto standing next to her. She hadn't even noticed him moving because of her ranting…which was even more embarrassing.

"Ryoko…I understand how you feel but, we truly didn't think anything like that would happen," Makoto explained, guilt written on his face. "We probably should have considered death in the simulation a possibility…but since we had two supervisors, and we could monitor everything at all times, we figured we could intervene in case something like that occurred."

"But still…" Ryoko protested, feeling there was more being left unsaid.

While the logic made sense, Ryoko still couldn't quite accept it. She knew that, at least somewhere along the line, more than likely the real reason an anti-brain death protocol hadn't been implemented was because the subjects were the Remnants of Despair. And even though it made sense in a twisted sort of way…it still felt wrong.

Because she was a former Remnant herself, but Ryoko felt a powerful kinship with these unfortunate souls. She desperately wanted them to have the same chance at redemption that she'd been given…and to see them denied that in this way…it hurt. There was no other way to describe it.

"If you're finished complaining," Akihiro abruptly spoke up, earning a heated glare from Ryoko, which he quickly ignored and turned his attention toward Kyoko. "I'd like permission to get back to work. As I said, if we're quick enough, we may be able to prevent any loss of life by regaining control of the 'graduation' system."

"Permission granted. Keep me updated on your progress," the Division Leader commanded, letting him turn and back toward his workstation

As he passed by Ryoko, there was no way she couldn't have noticed the accusatory glance he shot her along the way, his fingers hitting the keyboard the instant he sat down at his station. Sufficiently ruffled by his attitude, Ryoko did her best to put it behind her and was just about to request permission to return to her own duties when Kyoko spoke up again.

"Ryoko Otonashi, for the time being, I'd like you to return to your quarters and await further instructions."

A strangled gasp choked Ryoko as her jaw dropped. Shaking her head, she managed to stammer, "W-W-Why?! I want to help out too!"

Her outburst, unfortunately, caused Kyoko's expression to harden, and the Division Leader sternly continued, "I understand that. However, considering this virus, or possible A.I. equivalent, was more than likely uploaded from your terminal, I feel that we must—".

In the midst of her explanation, Ryoko felt her frustration boil over, narrowing her crimson eyes at her superior.

"Oh, so now I'm suspected of uploading the A.I. program?! Just because I'm a former Remnant, I'm automatically guilty! Is that what you're—?!"

"I suggest you shut your mouth. Now." Byakuya's foreboding voice cut through her tirade, pointed at their surrounding with his eyes.

Ryoko blinked rapidly before looking around and nearly gasping. The entire room was staring at her. Everyone, from the computer specialists to the security team, had their gazes locked solely on her…especially the security team. Their weapons weren't angled at her yet, but she could tell they were ready to 'terminate with extreme prejudice', at the slightest provocation. Fear gripped the analyst as she was suddenly reminded of her situation.

She'd been lost in her emotions, letting herself get worked up over not being very useful…and then to be suspected like this…it made a deep, hollow pressure build up in her chest…and it was ready to burst at any moment. And now, she may have done irrevocable damage to her reputation with that final outburst. No one was going to trust her now…and she'd be unable to do anything to help correct the mistakes she'd made. And what's worse, once command heard about her 'temper-tantrum', there was a good chance she'd be permanently imprisoned…or worse—

"You're mistaken."

Kyoko's voice pierced through her negative thoughts, shocking Ryoko so much that she audibly gasped. Snapping her head up, she stared directly into Kyoko's lavender irises, mesmerized as the Division Leader continued.

"You are not under suspicion of any kind. Considering you didn't even see this room until I brought you here this morning, it's impossible for you to have been the one to upload the virus. More than likely, someone who knew you'd be placed at that station chose to upload it from there, to focus our suspicion onto you. Or, it could have simply been the result of bad luck, and they used that station without knowing you'd be assigned there."

Almost without realizing it…Ryoko's sense of calm began to return. The more the former Ultimate Detective spoke, the more entranced Ryoko became…until she was stuck standing there, listening intently without any will to interrupt.

Kyoko's deductive skills were beyond amazing! Even more impressive was that she didn't need super analytical abilities to piece all of this information together! Not to mention doing it so quickly and so precisely. It was truly fascinating to view Kyoko in her element. In addition, thanks to her analytical talents, Ryoko was able to keep up with her explanation effortlessly, so she could fully take in every detail of this breathtaking display without missing anything.

Watching Kyoko explain everything was like witnessing poetry in motion…

"…I think I'm in love…" Ryoko couldn't help but mentally joke as she continued to listen to Kyoko's deductive reasoning. "No wonder Makoto fell for her…she's amazing!"

Ryoko had never actually seen Kyoko work as a detective before, and even though this definitely wasn't the time for it, she couldn't help but swoon a bit before the Division Leader came to her penultimate point.

"Regardless, the reason I'm relieving you is because we need to thoroughly examine that workstation. And until we've ensured that it's safe to return to that station, you will be operating remotely from your quarters. You did bring your laptop with you, didn't you?"

Startled by suddenly being asked a question, Ryoko stammered, "Uh, y-yeah! I-I did! How…did you know that?"

"You're a hard worker. You'd undoubtedly bring your personal laptop in case you wanted to analyze data after your shift was finished," Kyoko elaborated, a hint of a smile tugging at her cheek.

Wow…she was scary good at her deductions! Ryoko hadn't told anyone, not even Makoto that she'd brought along her work laptop. And yet, Kyoko easily deduced that she'd brought it. Even if she wanted to be surprised, at the moment, Ryoko was too impressed to feel anything else!

Without waiting for a further response, Kyoko continued, "I will make a copy of the data and bring it to you for analysis later. And if your workstation evaluation shows it safe for use, I'll have you return to analyze the data in real time. Does that sound alright with you?"

"Y-Yes! Absolutely!" Ryoko fervently agreed, her tone much louder than she'd intended.

Glancing about, she noticed that Byakuya and Makoto were moving between the different groups of specialists throughout the room. She suspected that they had done so in order to draw attention away from her outburst…but she couldn't be sure of that. Still, Ryoko couldn't help but feel a bit surprised by this outcome.

One second her head had been on the chopping block, the next she was cleared of all suspicion and was being treated as an equal again. The tonal whiplash was staggering and difficult to wrap her head around. For months now, she'd been living with the fear that if she made even a single mistake, she'd be executed without question. But ever since she stepped off the boat and onto this island…it's like her situation had changed entirely, and for the better!

It was obvious that Makoto, Kyoko, and even Byakuya were protecting her. And…that brought her the most confusion. Makoto sticking his neck out made sense, it was just who he was and his blind faith in her was mostly comforting. Byakuya had explained his reasoning to her once before, and she didn't doubt him…but Kyoko was an entirely different story. She was being considerate because of her position as Division Leader, and while Ryoko appreciated that, deep down, she didn't feel that she deserved it.

After all, because of the killing game that she had Masterminded…Kyoko had to witness—

"I'll escort you back to our quarters," said detective interrupted her thoughts again, already turning and heading for the door.

"R-Right! Coming!" Ryoko barely had time to say before briskly following after her superior, burying her trepidations as best she could for now.


"Uhhggh! What's taking so long?!" Ryoko complained as she sat on her bed, leaning back and letting her head rest on her pillow. "It's been three hours already…and I haven't received a single update."

Her laptop sat on the nearby desk, practically gathering dust already. She knew she shouldn't be that impatient but…considering she had no idea what the current situation was, it was beyond frustrating. No one, not even Makoto, had dropped by to update her. That meant that either things had escalated already…or they were simply hitting a wall trying to retake the system from the Monokuma A.I. program. Neither of those options were good for her increasing stress levels.

"There's gotta be something…anything I can do to—".

She paused, remembering something she'd completely forgotten about until now. Pulling herself up, she crawled atop her bed and peered over the corner to look at her suitcase. Unzipping it, she dug deep inside until she found what she'd stashed there…the ominous red flash-drive Yukizome had given her.

Even now, so long after receiving it, she still felt cautious around it. Something deep inside told her not to look at it…a gut feeling, and she usually trusted those. However, with absolutely nothing else to do, and no other means to occupy her frazzled mind…her judgment began to wane.

"…I guess a little peek wouldn't—".

Just then, loud knock came from the door to the room, followed by a voice. "It's me. My hands are full. Can you open the door?"

Kyoko's voice came from outside and it nearly made Ryoko jump out of her skin! Hastily tucking the flash drive back into her suitcase, she answered, "Y-Yeah! Coming!"

Rushing to the door, she swung it open to reveal a haggard Kyoko on the other side. She was balancing two foam containers in one arm, likely food for both of them, and had some files and a hard drive in the other.

"Uh, can I take something…?" Ryoko offered, to which Kyoko nodded toward the foam containers. Taking them, she stepped aside and let her roommate in, awkwardly standing there as the detective walked over to the desk and set the files and hard drive next to her laptop. "Are those from today?" she asked carefully handing back one of the food containers to Kyoko once she turned around.

"Yes, and that's not all of the data. Just a start." Kyoko explained, opening the container to reveal a sandwich and fries. Not exactly the healthiest of meals, but it would do for dinner. "Once you finish eating, I'd like you to go over the files and analyze all the data on that hard drive. It's been cleared for use to and from your laptop only. Once this is all finished, it will be disposed of and you will be issued a new laptop, just in case."

Honestly, that didn't surprise Ryoko. Given the severity of the situation, it only made sense to use her laptop as a burner…though she would miss it. At the same time, she didn't exactly keep any personal files on it…she didn't have any to begin with. Still, she'd be sad to see it go, having used it nearly every day for the last several month.

"I understand," she told the Division Leader, opening her food container and seeing an identical meal. "I'll eat quick and get to work."

"I'd like to say there's no need to rush, but time is of the essence. So instead I will just thank you for your dedication."

Kyoko's praise was appreciated, but her voice was beyond tired. Ryoko could tell she wasn't getting adequate sleep, and the events of today must have been wearing on her. They ate in silence…awkward, uncomfortable silence. And when Ryoko was nearly finished, she let her curiosity get the better of her…

"So…how bad is it?" She didn't feel like mincing words, and she knew that Kyoko would be upfront with her if she asked plainly. Sadly, the look of guilt and frustration on her superior's face told her almost everything she needed to know before the words were even spoken.

"It looks as though we're completely cut off from the system administration. At this point, our only options to contain the situation are either letting events play out, with no way of intervening. Or…to shut down the system entirely."

"I see…" was Ryoko's only reply, feeling responsible even though she wasn't at fault. No, that wasn't necessarily true. Her past self was partially to blame for all of this…she knew it and so did everyone else. And while that gave her extra motivation, it also enhanced her anxiety. Speaking of which, she inadvertently spoke aloud her thoughts. "What I wouldn't give to have Gekkogahara here right now…"

"Her expertise would be beneficial, that much is true…" Kyoko humbly replied, knowing that wasn't exactly what Ryoko had meant by those words.

Slightly embarrassed for vocalizing her thoughts, Ryoko shifted gears and said, "Did you at least manage to implement procedures to prevent brain death in case one of the subjects…dies?"

Although her tone was hopeful, somehow she knew it was a futile hope. This was proven when Kyoko's expression soured.

"Since we have very little control over the system, we're unable to modify the subjects avatars at the moment. According to the report," Kyoko angled her gaze to the files she'd left next to the hard drive. "We would need to program a new source code for each avatar and upload it individually. Not to mention there is no guarantee the Monokuma A.I. will allow the program to install even if we were able to upload anything."

To Ryoko's surprise, the Division Leader didn't appear to be hiding her thoughts or emotions at the moment. Kyoko wasn't exactly overly expressive, even right now, but it seemed that after failing to regain control of the system, her usual stoic demeanor was slipping. Ryoko wanted to believe it was because Kyoko was comfortable around her, but her analytical prowess reasoned that it was most likely exhaustion and not comfortability.

Scarfing down the last of her meal, Ryoko stood up and said, "I'd better get to work analyzing all the data." Glancing at the clock on the wall, she sighed as she realized how late it was growing. "Looks like I might be pulling an all-nighter…"

"For that, I sincerely apologize," Kyoko told her, finishing her meal as well before standing up. "But I'm afraid we need your expertise. Now more than ever."

Despite the situation and the grim outlooks, Ryoko couldn't deny the swell of pride and joy that bubbled up at those words. Finally, her talent could be used to potentially save lives, instead of ruining them. She may not find much in the files or data, but regardless, she was determined to do something…anything to improve the situation and help save her fellow former Remnants.

Feeling extra motivated, she nodded firmly to her Division Leader and said, "Leave it to me. I won't let you down!"

A rare full smile crossed Kyoko's lips as the analyst's dedication was made known…and it nearly took Ryoko's breath away.

"Good," Kyoko told her before turning toward her bed and saying, "I apologize but I need to rest my eyes for a little while. Wake me if you need to, don't hesitate."

Admiring her roommate's dedication, Ryoko answered, "I will. You can trust me."

"…I believe I can." Kyoko said softly, almost in a whisper. However, both women knew it had been said…and it felt like a turning point in their relationship.

Without another word, Kyoko slowly proceeded over to her bed and laid atop it, passing out almost immediately after her head hit the pillow. Ryoko hoped that she would find some measure of peace in her rest, but knew it was unlikely. Pushing those thoughts away, she turned on a heel and proceeded toward the desk, activating her 'full analysis mode' and diving into her work.

However, not long into analysis, as she looked over the data, a thought came to mind…a very risky thought.


"…ko…Ryo…ko…Ryoko Otonashi…"

A stoic yet familiar voice filled Ryoko's ears as her consciousness slowly floated up to the surface. Groggily, she opened her eyes, a soft groan escaped her.

"Good, you're awake." The familiar voice spoke again, only this time, Ryoko recognized it as Kyoko's voice. Wait…Kyoko's voice?!

Snapping her head up, Ryoko found herself still sitting at the desk in her quarters, her arms a bit numb. She must have fallen asleep at some point while working, which prompted her to glance at the laptop screen. The program she'd been working on last wasn't displayed. She must have closed it before dosing off…wait, dosing off?!

Rearing her head up, she caught Kyoko's gaze and loudly asked, "W-W-What time is it?!"

"Time to get to work," Kyoko answered swiftly, retracting her hand from Ryoko's shoulder. The detective must have jostled her awake, that made sense.

As Ryoko's vision came into full focus, she blinked rapidly as she noticed the clock on the wall. It was almost noon, and the last time she remembered looking at the time it was very early morning. She'd be running on less than a full night's sleep, but she didn't have time to complain, she knew that.

"Take a few minutes to freshen up if you need to," Kyoko told her, eyeing their bathroom. "You can shower if you'd like. There should be plenty of hot water."

Ryoko didn't really care about her personal hygiene at the moment, but she knew a brief shower would wake her up more. And she would need to be at her best when working today…

"I'll do that. Just give me a minute," she said, slowly standing up and heading for the shower.

"I'll leave your food here," Kyoko called out as she reached the door, causing her to glance over her shoulder. Her Division Leader set another foam food container on their shared desk before advancing toward the door to their room. "Once you're finished, meet me outside. We'll head to the command room together."

Ryoko huffed at herself. She'd completely forgotten that Kyoko was her permanent escort. And since that was the case, she didn't want to keep her waiting.

"Yes, Ma'am. I'll be quick. I promise."

Nodding to her, Kyoko opened the door and left the room, shutting Ryoko inside alone.

"…One…Two…Three…Four…Five…" Ryoko mentally counted, waiting until she reached ten to allow herself to move.

Instead of heading into the bathroom though, she surreptitiously tip-toed back to her desk and quietly tapped on her laptop keyboard. Opening up the file she'd been working on last, she smiled to herself.

"Good…most of the preliminaries are out of the way," she thought proudly, not daring to speak aloud right now. "It'll take time to recalibrate everyone's settings, but with any luck, I should have the program ready by the tomorrow morning."

Closing the secret project on her laptop, Ryoko stole a look at the front door. A wave of guilt washed over her, but she knew keeping this program to herself was best for the time being. If anyone, especially Kyoko, found out that she was programming something…she knew it would only lead to her being detained…or worse. And she couldn't let that happen. There was so much she still needed to do…and she wouldn't let her fear stop her from doing what needed to be done.

Just as quietly as before, Ryoko silently crossed the room and headed into the bathroom to shower before the long day ahead.


It was a longpainful day in the command room. Her terminal cleared for use, Ryoko spent over 12 hours observing the simulation. Her analytical talents were turned up to 11 all day, as she meticulously reviewed the data. The hope was that, if she could find any kind of foothold within the simulation's programming, they might be able to regain some form of control.

Sadly, just as many of them suspected, this Monokuma A.I. was just as meticulous as Junko Enoshima had once been. And despite analyzing the data for half a day, there were no signs that even hinted that they might be able to get back into the system.

All Ryoko and everyone else could do was watch as the Remnants tried to come together, with the Ultimate Imposter acting as leader. It had been simple enough, since They were in the guise of Byakuya Togami…which infuriated the real Byakuya to no end. But, for what it was worth, it seemed that the Imposter genuinely wanted to keep everyone safe.

Still, at the end of the day, nothing had been accomplished. At this point, the entire team understood that they were nothing more than observers to the situation…and completely powerless to stop the killing game.

Throughout the day, Ryoko glanced in Makoto's direction, her heart breaking. Even without her analytical talents, she could see the pain and guilt in his eyes. And while the Imposter's good intentions did relieve him somewhat, the trauma from his own experience in the killing game was obviously wearing on him.

Ryoko wanted to put a hand on his shoulder and assure him that everything would work out…just like he always did for her. However, that would be a lie…and she refused to lie to him.

"But then…what I can do to help him?" she asked herself, already knowing the answer. "I'm so useless…not even my talents are enough to find a solution. Darn it all!"

And so, as she and Kyoko journeyed back to their room in sullen silence, Ryoko instead tried to focus on what she could do. Hard drive full of data in her hands, the instant she entered their shared space, she marched toward her laptop and sat down. Connecting the devices together, she began tapping her foot as the data slowly transferred.

"…Make sure to sleep while you can," Kyoko said far behind her, making her glance over her shoulder at her superior. The detective had taken her shoes off and sat on her bed, obviously preparing to get some much needed rest. "We may be called upon at a moment's notice if something goes awry."

"Right, I understand…" Ryoko knew her words came from a place of concern, but it didn't exactly ease her frustrations. Her anxiety was close to boiling over, and even though she knew it might be a lost cause, she needed to go over the data again…just in case she'd missed something.

"Nothing good will come of you collapsing from exhaustion. Keep that in mind." Kyoko said, unintentionally berating the Ultimate Analyst.

"I know that, but I still think it's worth sifting through the data again," she explained herself, her eyes flicking toward the computer screen, clicking her teeth at the 10% on the download bar. "I'll get some rest after I check the data again."

"I doubt you'll find anything new, especially after combing through the data twice already."

Kyoko's tone was purposeful, and logically sound, but that only infuriated Ryoko more! If her talent wasn't useful now of all times, then she was practically worthless! And she would rather go over the data a hundred more times than admit to how powerless she truly was!

"Yeah well, my analytical skills aren't what they used to be," Ryoko admitted, knowing that Kyoko was already aware of that. "Going over it again won't kill me. I'll go to sleep once I've taken one more look, alright?"

Hoping the conversation was done, Ryoko turned and focused all of her attention on laptop, growing more and more vexed by the device's miniscule 12% total download. Sadly, it seemed that Kyoko wasn't quite finished with her yet…

"…I realize this may not be my place to say, but I think you're pushing yourself too hard," Kyoko boldly declared, causing a pregnant pause to hang between them.

The level of shock and irony Ryoko was experiencing was palpable! Was Kyoko Kirigiri, the poster-girl for workaholics, actually lecturing her about working too hard?! The nerve of this woman! At least she was trying to do something instead of just lounging around! Besides…!

"You're one to talk," the red-haired woman audibly responded, unable to keep her thoughts inside any longer. "You overwork yourself on a daily basis! And frankly, the kettle couldn't be more black, Mr. Pot! At least I'm trying to do something instead sitting around wasting time resting!"

"…Why don't you tell me how you really feel?"

Ryoko's eyes widened as authentic sarcasm came out of Kyoko's mouth. However, instead of being surprised about her superior's antagonistic behavior, all she felt was her frustration bubbling to the surface.

Her hands balled into fists, but she made sure to keep staring at the WORLD'S SLOWEST DOWNLOAD BAR,knowing she might lose her nerve if she turned around and faced Kyoko directly. She knew this was going to end badly, but her anger overrode her judgment…especially after being called out like this!

For better or worse, Ryoko was unable to stop torrent of words that gushed from her mouth.

"Fine! I will!" she shouted, slamming her hands onto the desk. "My brain damage means I'm not as smart as I used to be! So I may have missed something! And you repeatedly reminding me of my failings is ticking me off! You don't need to hold it over my head, you do that enough as it is! So, would you please get off my back and just let me work?! At least that way I'll at least feel like I'm helping! Ahhhrgghh!"

Slamming her face against the hard surface of the desk, Ryoko panted as her words replayed in her ears. She'd been holding that in all day! And now that it was out, she should have felt better…except she didn't. In fact, she knew just how badly she'd messed up.

No matter the circumstance, she should not have yelled at her direct superior like that! Even though Kyoko had goaded her into it, that still didn't make it okay! She'd be lucky if they only locked her up after that tirade! No one wanted to work with someone so unhinged, especially someone who was a former Remnant!

Ryoko didn't even have the courage to lift her face from the desk, let alone turn and see what Kyoko's reaction was. And that was when she heard it…a light chuckle echoing from behind her.

Snapping her head up, Ryoko whirled around to see Kyoko Kirigiri smiling and chuckling to herself! Mouth agape, the analyst couldn't muster any words, which only seemed to amuse Kyoko even more.

Barely stifling her chuckles, the detective directed a warm expression toward her roommate and said, "You finally talked to me honestly. It's quite refreshing, honestly."

All at once, everything clicked. Kyoko's 'antagonistic' behavior, her persistent prodding, and her uncharacteristic sarcasm a few moments ago…she'd completely played Ryoko.

"You…did all that…just to get me to be honest with you," a shell-shocked Ryoko realized aloud, feeling confused but also embarrassed. "But…but why? I mean, you and I…we don't exactly—".

"We've never really 'talked', is that what you're trying to say?" Kyoko said for her, helping to pinpoint Ryoko's feelings.

"Y-Yeah…I suppose that's it…"

That wasn't quite all of it though. Not only had they never really 'talked' before, Ryoko also had a burning question that she knew better than to ask. Despite wanting to know the answer so much, fear and guilt kept her silent…even now. She needed to wait for the right time to ask that question, and it definitely wasn't right now!

Fully turning around now, the dreaded download bar completely forgotten, Ryoko took in all of Kyoko's features. The detective's smile was fading, replaced with nervous determination and a hint of loneliness. Whatever Kyoko wanted to say to her wasn't easy to express, that much she could tell. Beyond that, the Division Leader was as difficult to read as ever.

Fortunately, it seemed that for once, Kyoko was actually interested in just talking with her as a person, rather than as her boss.

"It's true. We never had much of a reason to in the past, either. And part of that is my fault." A flicker of shame crossed her eyes for a moment but disappeared almost instantly, like it had never been there. Kyoko then continued, "That being said, I'd like to just…talk with you for a while. I admit that I'm not very skilled at socializing. But I think it would help us to be more comfortable with each other. What do you think?"

What did she think? Now that was a difficult question…because Ryoko didn't know what to think anymore!

One moment Kyoko had been berating and antagonizing her, the next she wanted to befriend her? Ryoko thought she may be having some kind of fever dream if not for the fact that her analytical mind probably would have figured that out by now…probably. Still, seeing such a wide array of emotions from Kyoko Kirigiri of all people was astonishing…and terrifying!

The only lingering issue that plagued Ryoko was the 'why' of it all…

Maybe it was the stress? Maybe she was testing to see if Ryoko could be trusted? Or maybe, just maybe, against all odds…maybe all that Kyoko wanted was honestly just to get to know Ryoko better…as illogical as that seemed! And even if it really was because she wanted to get better acquainted, then it only brought up even more questions!

And yet, through it all, Ryoko's analytical brain told her that, despite being completely out of character for her, Kyoko was being 100% genuine. The detective just wanted to talk, probably about normal things and not their current situation. Her motives for this were a mystery but Ryoko could at least tell she had no ill intentions.

With that in mind, and honestly a little curious herself, Ryoko decided to embrace the chaos of the moment and acquiesced.

"Honestly…I'm not sure what to think," she finally answered, seeing a nod of understanding from Kyoko. "But…I won't deny that…it might be fun to just…talk about things. I mean, I've never really done girl talk before and truthfully, it could be really fun!"

As she spoke, Ryoko found herself getting oddly excited. The prospect of getting closer to Kyoko was something she'd wanted for a while now. But with the detective's usually prickly attitude, combined with their sorted history, it didn't really seem feasible. However, now that Kyoko had extended the olive branch, she was anxious to see where this conversation could go!

"This might actually be a lot of fun," she told herself, psyching herself up. "At the very least, we can talk about simple things like clothes and stuff…I think? Maybe? Oh well, who cares! I'm sure it'll be fine!"

As she steadily grew more excited, she noticed Kyoko pondering to herself for a moment before answering.

"Girl talk, hm? I admit I'm not very experienced on that front myself. But I think I know where we can start." As Kyoko expressed this, she took a deep breath, obviously steeling herself for whatever she wanted to say next. Exhaling a deep sigh, she bluntly said, "You have feelings for Makoto, don't you?"

"W-WHAT?!"

Ryoko screamed in surprise and reared back, tipping her chair over backwards. She flailed her arms uselessly in the air trying to right herself, but it was pointless. She tumbled backwards as the chair hit the floor, bonking her head against the tile beneath her. That would leave a bump…

"Ow, ow, ow, ow…" she muttered, rolling onto her side and rubbing her head.

As she moved to stand up, a gloved hand appeared in front of her. Without even looking up, Ryoko took the hand and allowed Kyoko to pull her to her feet.

"I…apologize for that," Kyoko told her, looking both guilty and concerned. "Are you alright?"

Feeling the area around the bump, Ryoko could it wasn't bleeding and most likely wouldn't bruise. "Yeah. My pride hurts more than anything honestly," she joked, trying to lighten the mood.

"Again, I apologize," the detective said to her, taking a step back and bowing sincerely. "I shouldn't have asked that. It was rude."

Now that the incident was behind her, Kyoko's question replayed in Ryoko's head. Of course the detective would ask about that…but she hadn't expected her to be so blunt! If anything, she figured Kyoko would ask if she had any interest in anyone and explore from there! Come to think of it…she usually had a lot more tact.

Ryoko had been around Kyoko Kirigiri long enough to know how quick-witted and articulate she really was. One could say the former Ultimate Detective had a silver-tongue. Not to mention how observant she usually was too. No doubt she already knew the answer to her question already, so for her to ask such an upfront question like that…

A swift realization hit Ryoko, and she began to see why her roommate had been so direct with her. More than likely, she'd seen the analyst glancing repeatedly at her object of affection. Not just today, but on many other occasions as well. So it made sense that she would be 'concerned' about it. It was kind of cute, actually. Adorable even, to know that Kyoko Kirigiri could be subject to bouts of jealousy, the same as any other woman.

With that in mind, Ryoko felt it only fitting to put her fears to rest.

"…Actually, I did have feelings for Makoto, at one time. Or maybe I still do, a little anyway." Ryoko plainly answered, watching as Kyoko registered her answer. Even with her head bowed down, it was obvious that her words had an effect on the detective. And that's why she continued, "But none of that matters because…he doesn't feel the same about me. And besides, we both know who his heart belongs to…don't we?"

Silence invaded the room as Ryoko waited for the detective's response. It took a moment, but when Kyoko did finally straighten up, Ryoko had to hold in girlish squeal. The usually stoic and unreadable Kyoko had pink scattered across her face, and though it faded a few moments later, it would be sight that the analyst would not soon forget!

"I…suppose that's true," Kyoko vaguely concurred, not willing to name herself as the object of Makoto's affections.

Ryoko couldn't help the bright smile that overtook her. Contrary to popular opinion, Kyoko Kirigiri was just as human as anyone else. She'd obviously been concerned about the fact that Ryoko had become attached to Makoto and thus decided to directly ask her about it.

And for good reason! Makoto was quite a catch; they both knew that. And since neither of them had made a move yet, it was only natural to be concerned when someone else was making eyes at your man! Ryoko would have done the same were she in Kyoko's shoes!

But then, if Kyoko was aware of Makoto's feelings for her…

"Has he asked you out yet?" Ryoko abruptly asked, actually catching the constantly vigilant Kyoko off-guard.

Ryoko could barely contain her giddiness as another blush slowly crept across Kyoko's face

"No…he hasn't." Her answer was almost demur, something the analyst never thought she'd see in the detective. However, Kyoko quickly cleared her throat, obviously fighting to subdue her reddened cheeks. "But then…this isn't exactly the best time for it."

Ooof, that was a depressing deflection. Not that Ryoko could entirely blame her for that. Even if she wanted to entertain the idea, it simply wasn't feasibly right now. That said, it didn't stop Ryoko from continuing this conversation.

"Yeah, I get that," she conceded, walking toward her bed and sitting down. Then, she listlessly glanced up at the ceiling and said, "Still, I'm surprised, with the way you two act, I figured one of you would've made a move by now. With how assertive you usually are, I kind thought maybe you were dating in secret or something—".

"There wouldn't be a need for that," Kyoko interjected, her usual stoic persona beginning to return. "If we did decide to pursue a romantic relationship, I don't believe that either of us would feel the need to hide it."

Redirecting her gaze toward Kyoko, the red-haired woman asked, "Then why haven't you made a move yet? You clearly want to."

Ryoko knew it was bold of her to declare that, but now that the detective had openly admitted to it, she wasn't able to hold back. And it didn't seem as though Kyoko minded. In fact, the more they spoke on it, the more she eased into the conversation.

"I supposed it's because…I'd rather have him do the asking," Kyoko confessed, her intentions obvious. Again, she tried to play it straight but had a tough time suppressing the pink invading her cheeks.

"Wow! Haha!" Ryoko exclaimed with a laugh, before feeling just a little embarrassed by how loud she was getting. Not only that, Kyoko's expression hardened a bit…but it looked more like a pout than anything. And that was something Ryoko never imagined she'd see! Lowering her voice, she elaborated, "It's just that…I, uh, never would've suspected you wanted to be chased, Kyoko! I always figured you'd be the one chasing him!"

A knowing look crossed Kyoko's face as she picked up Ryoko's overturned chair and took a seat in it, directly across from her roommate.

"I can see how people might think that," she conceded, but quickly added, "However, Makoto can be quite assertive when he wants to be. And…I'd like to see that side of him more often."

"But if you ask him that won't happen. I get it," Ryoko replied, folding her arms and nodding affirmatively. "At the same time, if you wait too long he might…oh, who am I kidding?! There isn't anyone who could steal him away from you, and we both know it! All I can say it, I hope he doesn't keep you waiting that long!"

"And what about you?" Kyoko suddenly asked, her expression soft but serious. "Is there anyone you've taken an interest in?"

At that moment, Ryoko felt as though Kyoko could see right through her. Now it was the analyst's turn to flush, as she still hadn't sorted out exactly how she felt about Kyoko. It was obviously she had a light crush on her superior, but since Kyoko was taken by the other person she had a crush on, it kind of felt like she was off limits.

Sure, she wouldn't deny that she'd fantasized about what it might be like to be in a bi-poly relationship with the two of them, but it wasn't exactly realistic! That's why it was a fantasy!

At the same time, now that she was being directly questioned by Kyoko herself, there was no way she could admit any of that! What was she supposed to say?! 'Yeah, I think you're cute, would you like to get coffee sometime?'. Like that would go over well…for multiple reasons.

And beyond all that, there was the obvious reason…

"Even if I did, it wouldn't matter," she said somberly, lowering her gaze. "It's not like I have the freedom to pursue love anyway. And even if I did…my past…would get in the way."

Dang it all. She hadn't wanted to be reminded of that…especially when she'd finally gotten Kyoko to open up to her more. But, just like always, it was impossible to keep her negative thoughts from rising to the surface. This is why she continued to get therapy from Gekkogahara, but that wasn't exactly available on a mission, so she just had to deal with it.

Besides, it's not like her words would be any less true regardless.

"Ryoko…I'm sorry."

Tilting her head up, she saw that Kyoko was giving her the most apologetic look that had ever crossed the detective's face. Ryoko wanted to smack herself for bringing the mood down like that, but there wasn't anything she could do about it now. Instead, all she could do was try to salvage the conversation and hopefully enjoy it for at least a little bit longer.

"It's okay. It's not your fault," she said, forcing a smile as best she could. "And it's not all bad. At least I have a nice room to stay in while I'm on this mission. And I have you to talk to. That's definitely a plus!"

Sadly, her optimistic words didn't have much of an effect on Kyoko. And with a sympathetic expression, she replied, "I know that things aren't exactly—".

"It's…fine. Really," Ryoko cut in, not wanting to brood on the subject any longer. "It sucks. I won't deny that. But constantly dwelling on it won't fix anything. And who knows…maybe someday I'll be able to find someone who I care about as much as you care about Makoto."

As she said that, she noticed a shift in Kyoko's features. Her face was stern, but Ryoko could see it was out of concern more than anything else. She couldn't understand why until the Division Leader spoke again.

"But that won't happen until you learn to forgive yourself," Kyoko bluntly told her, causing a chill to run down her spine. "No matter how difficult it may be, it's the only way you'll find true redemption."

It was a harsh truth…and one that only someone like Kyoko Kirigiri had the strength to tell her. Deep down, she truly appreciated it, really she did. However…

"It's not that simple," Ryoko argued, her voice softening.

"I didn't say that it would be," Kyoko elaborated, not willing to lose the momentum of her assertion. "That being said, I can't even begin to imagine what it must be like to be in your situation. However, I can say that, like most people, I have many regrets…and things that I've yet to forgive myself for too."

Kyoko paused, and a familiar look of guilt crossed the detective's face. Ryoko knew that look…all too well. She saw it every time she gazed in the mirror. It wasn't exactly the same, but Ryoko could see that, at least in some ways, Kyoko understood what guilt like that felt like. Possibly from the killing game…or maybe even from something Ryoko didn't have any knowledge about.

Either way, the Division Leader didn't dwell on it for long. Standing up, she walked over to Ryoko's bed, took a seat next to her, and looked directly into her crimson eyes. There was so much the analyst could see in Kyoko's lavender irises…almost too much to fully digest. But more than anything else, there was genuine concern…concern for her deep within those beautiful orbs of lavender.

"That's why I know that forgiving yourself is more important than the forgiveness of others," Kyoko said, her eyes firm with conviction. "Because no matter what anyone else says, if you are unable to forgive yourself, then you won't be able to find the redemption you seek."

Unable to look away from Kyoko's stunning gaze, Ryoko felt an alien sort of feeling…uncertainty. Due to analytical talent, there wasn't much she couldn't figure out given a little bit of time. But now, as Kyoko's words echoed in her ears, she realized that something had changed in her.

Ryoko had never even considered…the idea of forgiveness. Not from her victims, and certainly not from herself. She had accepted that the world would always hate her…and that she would always hate herself as well. But…for the first time since learning of her past self's crimes, she began to doubt that notion. It was a tiny voice inside her right now, and it was Kyoko who had put it here.

"How would I…even begin…to forgive myself?" she pondered silently, turning her face away from Kyoko's as the latter's words replayed over and over in her head. "'If I don't forgive myself, I'll never find redemption', huh? I wonder…is that…really true?"

Almost in defiance of the notion, she averted her gaze, staring down at her hands, deep in thought. It felt like an eternity was passing her by, and yet only an instant later, she felt a gloved hand rested on her shoulder. Lifting her gaze, she found Kyoko giving her a supportive expression.

"I may not always be there to support you. But know that as long as you are in my division, I will use all of my power to assist you…in anything you need," Kyoko told her, almost giving off an older sister kind of vibe. It was a bit off-putting, considering her usual persona, but Ryoko appreciated it, nonetheless.

"Thanks…seriously," she said softly, unsure of what else she could say to that. Thankfully, it only took a moment to find the right words. "Not just for being so nice to me…but also for just talking to me. I think this is the first time I've ever had a normal conversation with someone. And yeah, we veered into uncomfortable territory for a bit there but overall, it's been…kind of a relief!"

A chuckle escaped the redhead, and she was pleased when Kyoko did the same, easing back into more comfortable conversation.

"I guess what I'm trying to say is…I…I want to keep doing this with you," she confessed, more than a little nervous. "I'd…like to get to know you better Kyoko. Not as my boss but as a person. And maybe…someday, we could even be friends…maybe…"

Ryoko felt embarrassed by how cliché she sound right now. Nevertheless, she threw the idea out there, knowing full well that Kyoko may not be comfortable with the idea…especially considering their history. And, as she anxiously awaited the detective's response, she couldn't deny the fleeting feeling of hope blossoming in her chest.

Pursuing friendship with Kyoko had once seemed like an impossible feat. But now, it seemed like there might be chance…a chance to start anew, and possibly learn how to forgive herself, just like the detective had suggested.

And, to her joy, a warm and gentle smile overtook Kyoko's features as she replied, "I would like that."

A rush of dopamine flooded Ryoko's brain as Kyoko's words reached her. This was more than she could have ever hoped for! A chance to truly make amends for what she'd done…even if only in the smallest of ways. And, just like she'd proposed, perhaps someday, Kyoko could be considered her first real friend.

"I believe the data has finished downloading," Kyoko suddenly spoke up, having turned her gaze toward the laptop on the desk.

"Finally!" Ryoko exclaimed aloud, hesitantly rising and moving away from her spot next to Kyoko.

Glancing at the screen for a moment, she paused…and considered telling Kyoko about the secret project she'd been working on. However, even with this surprising new bond they'd formed, the red-haired woman still felt it necessary to play it close to her chest…just in case.

Turning back to her roommate, she gave a nervous laugh before asking, "Would you mind if we picked up this conversation again later? I really do wanna take another look at the data before bed. But! I promise to get plenty of rest tonight! No more desk sleeping for me! Is…that okay?"

It felt odd, asking for permission like that. But Ryoko believed that, while Kyoko had used her overworking as a foothold into their conversation, it was probably rooted in genuine concern. A theory that was proven correct when Kyoko stood up herself and replied, "I've already said my piece. And I trust you to make good decisions regarding your sleep cycle."

Another chuckle escaped Ryoko as she answered, "You probably coulda just said 'yes', but that's not your style, is it?"

With a knowing smile, Kyoko nodded and said, "It really isn't." She took a moment to stretch her arms upward before adding, "Anyway, I'm feeling tired, so I'm going to sleep for now. Feel free to wake me if you find anything crucial in the data. Goodnight."

"Night."

And with that swift well-wishing, Ryoko turned and sat at the desk, pulling up the data and preparing to analyze it. Just before she entered 'full analysis mode', she glanced over her shoulder just in time to see Kyoko climb into her bed and settling in for the evening. A warm feeling spread throughout Ryoko's body as their conversation replayed in her head. It was the first time that someone other than Makoto had given her that feeling…and she couldn't deny the comfort it brought her.

Looking back to the laptop, Ryoko engaged her 'analysis mode' and began reviewing the data in earnest. At the same time, she periodically glanced over her shoulder to check on Kyoko, watching as the detective's chest rose and fell in peaceful slumber.

After a significant amount of time had passed, and once she was certain that Kyoko was going into the rem cycle of her sleep, the red-haired woman turned back to the data, minimized it, and instead pulled up her secret project.

"Okay…time to get to work!" she said quietly as her fingers swiftly but silently tapped on her keyboard.

Completely unbeknownst to her, from across the room, Kyoko cautiously opened one eye, taking note of her roommate's work.


To Be Continued…

Greeting's my beautiful readers! What is this secret project that Ryoko is working on? Is she really being as secretive as she believes? Will she be able to help the Remnants? You'll have to keep reading to find out!

The next part will be out very soon, so I hope you can wait that long. As always, let me know what you think of the story or share your predictions for what you think might happen! Take care and keep on smiling, my beautiful readers!