Ch 23

Chapter was difficult for IRL reasons.

Me: gee wiz this chapter is short! I should be able to publish it in two weeks!

My sleep schedule: LOL NOPE

Anyways, sorry for this fic moving so slowly. I am going to work on ch 24 right after this.

Please enjoy!

"What do you think about the new motive?" Kirumi asked pointedly.

Maki raised her head from the book on her lap. "Why ask?"

"Boredom mainly." Kirumi shrugged. "Today has been a very boring day."

"Because you ran out of things to clean."

"Yes." Kirumi felt a twinge in her chest. It was nearly the end of the day. They had finished work several hours ago. So, they had gone to the library.

"Hmmm." Maki bowed her head. "Why don't you take this opportunity to learn something new?"

Kirumi harrumphed. "I already know everything."

"Everything about being a servant." Maki said. "Well, maybe you can broaden your horizons and learn something new…like a new skill."

Kirumi froze.

Is Harukawa actually suggesting…that I learn something for personal pleasure?

"Do you mean…that I should take up a hobby?" Her voice was full of distaste.

"No. I would never- "Maki shook her head. "I was merely suggesting that you could learn a new skill; something that's useful and enjoyable for you at the same time. If that make sense."

"Oh. I apologise for making assumptions Harukawa."

"There's no need to apologise. Just think about it." Maki went back to her book.

Kirumi sighed, wracking her brains.

What can I learn? What can I do?

She glanced up at Maki and smiled.

Maybe I don't have to be the one who learns something new. Maybe I can teach someone else something new.

"Do you have any hobbies Harukawa-san?"

"Reading." Maki didn't look up.

Kirumi bowed her head and looked at the cover of her book.

"A History of firearms." She read out loud, then sat up and smiled. "So, you're an assassin and you're reading a book about guns?"

"It's interesting."

"Harukawa-san, have you read any other books? About anything else?"

Maki was silent.

"I'll take that as a no. Well, we should remedy that. There are plenty of interesting books you're missing out on."

Books were one of the few things that Kirumi let herself indulge in. The rare novel was a treat in-between jobs. And she always read up on the latest dishes and cleaning products.

"I'm not interested."

"Then what about sports? You could learn karate- "

"No." Maki said. "Tojo, I get what you're trying to do, but I'm not interested."

"Harukawa-san, I just want to- "

"You're trying to give yourself a purpose by "helping" me." Maki shook her head. "Well, I don't want your help."

"All right. You saw right through me." Kirumi said bitterly.

"Tojo, I didn't- "

"Harukawa-san, I'm running out of ways to occupy myself. Should I keep cleaning? Start weeding and pruning the halls of this ramshackle school? Fix the arcade machines in the games room? Wash the windows in every room?"

It all came tumbling out. All the resentment, and desperation, and anger, of the past few days.

"No. You shouldn't." Maki became slightly flustered.

Kirumi scowled. "Harukawa-san, forget I said anything. Let's go back to sitting around like lemons."

"It's not that. I just…I get where you're coming from. But I…I don't know what to do." Maki admitted.

"Well then, maybe we can find a new hobby together." Kirumi suggested grumpily.

"That's…actually a good idea." Maki said.

"Well, what should we learn?"

"Do you want to teach me how to clean?"

"Was that a joke?"

"I was being serious."

"Then no."

Maki drummed her fingers against her book. "Why don't you take up a sport? Now, what would suit you…how about archery? I could teach you."

"Won't the others object?" Kirumi frowned. "I mean- I don't how to use a bow. I know how to clean one, but I've never needed to use one in any of my jobs."

"The others won't find out. It'll be a recreational thing." Maki gave her a pointed look. "And as far as I know, the only bows in this school are located in my lab. You can't hurt anyone if you don't have access to one."

"All right."

"Wanna go and practice now?"

"Yes." Kirumi nodded. "I'm sick and tired of sitting around here."

They went upstairs.

Maki showed her how to string a bow and then notch an arrow.

Kirumi was surprised to find that she enjoyed the challenge of mastering a new skill. It didn't take her long to get the hang of it.

Then Maki got out a target and demonstrated her skill. She stood back, angled her bow, and fired an arrow. It hit the centre of the target dead on. A perfect bullseye.

Kirumi found it slightly more difficult. The first time, the arrow landed next to the target, but after a few attempts, she managed to hit the outer rings.

"You're rather good at this." Maki said, putting away everything.

"I'm good at picking up new skills. When I was training to be a maid, it took me a single year to learn what most people learned in five. The only thing I never mastered was how to cut konjac."

"Your only flaw is that you don't know how to cut up a certain herb?"

"Yes."

"That's oddly specific."

"We all have our foibles."

Maki peered closely at her. "You're smiling."

"Am I?" Kirumi touched her mouth.

To her surprise, she was indeed smiling.

She took a deep breath and schooled her expression. She couldn't afford to let her guard down. Not even around Maki- especially around Maki.

"Is it because you're learning something new? Something that you can use on a job someday?"

Well, it's not *quite that*. I'm only letting you teach me because it's giving *you* a purpose…Kirumi thought.

"Yes. I really do love looking after people." She said aloud. "It's why my motive video affected me so much."

"I understand." Maki said, nodding respectfully.

Kirumi didn't press her. "Part of me still wishes that I had succeeded in killing Saihara-kun. So that I would've been able to escape and save my people."

"There's no guarantee that you would've succeeded." Maki said. "Ouma-kun would've still exposed you."

"What If I had killed Hoshi-chan…"

"Then Saihara-kun would've exposed you. Somehow. He was the Ultimate Detective. He solved Akamatsu's crime."

"I don't doubt that." Kirumi said. "That's why another part of me is very glad that I didn't get away with it. That I failed. After the trial- after we watched your video, you said it was probably faked, that it was a lie." She hesitated for a moment. "I think my own video might be the same."

"Go on."

"The thing is- I don't remember the disaster Monokuma was hinting at. I can remember managing the country and helping the prime minister. But beyond that…nothing."

"So, you think he was lying about Japan facing an "impending doom"?"

"Maybe." Kirumi sighed.

"As long as you don't murder anyone…"

"I'm not going to murder anyone. Not now."

"That's why I'm watching you." Maki stared at her listlessly.

Kirumi huffed. "You're a good watchdog Harukawa-san."

"Hmmm." Maki continued staring at her.

"Want to go for a walk before dinner?"

"Yes. I need to get some proper exercise."

They bumped into Kaito and Kokichi behind the school.

The two boys were hunched next to the wall, whispering in harsh tones. They were so absorbed in their conversation, that neither of them had noticed their arrival.

Kirumi surmised that they were discussing something very important…like who was going to commit the next murder.

Even so, she didn't want to eavesdrop on them. It would be unbecoming of her.

And judging from the scowl on her face, neither did Maki.

She's annoyed that they haven't acknowledged us. Kirumi stifled a smile. What's wrong me? Ever since practicing with Harukawa, I feel strangely happy…

"Momota-kun, Ouma-kun." Maki called out.

The boys stopped talking and stared at them in surprise.

Kokichi recovered quickly and bounded towards them.

"Hello girls!" He yelled.

"Hey Harumaki…Tojo." Kaito joined his friend and gave them a harried smile.

Kirumi looked them over. Maybe I can get some info out of them if I play coy…probably not. They're way too suspicious of me.

"What have you guys been up to?" Kokichi continued yelling.

"There's no need to be so loud." Maki chastised him.

"I have every reason to be loud." Kokichi argued, upping his voice. "Life's too boring otherwise.

"Yes, Kokichi. We know you love to annoy people. Let's leave the girls alone and continue our discussion." Kaito said.

"No Momota-chan. I'm bored of talking. All we do is go around in circles." Kokichi whined.

"We're trying to decide what to do this evening." Kaito explained.

"Momota-chan wants to watch some action thriller with me, while I want to snoop. Alone."

"It's a good movie." Kaito pouted. "And we shouldn't spy on people. We won't learn anything new. At least today. It's almost dinnertime."

"There's always something new to discover."" Kokichi proclaimed.

"Maybe you should flip a coin." Kirumi suggested wryly.

"Nah. Kokichi would just continue arguing and insisting that he's right."

"Momota-chan, we only have so much time on this beautiful earth. Every second counts. And I want to do something useful with my time. Not watch a crappy movie."

"Maybe that crappy movie will teach you something about the killing game." Maki snarked.

"Nah. It won't. Cos' Momota-chan suggested it. So, it's bound to be very stupid and uninformative. Like that astronaut movie we watched together."

"Oh, how you wound me."

"Only because you like it. Momota-chan is a masochist."

"And you're a sadist. Except instead of pain, you like inflicting people with terrible jokes and dumb pranks."

"Oh, how you wound me." Kokichi threw his insult back at him.

They continued trading barbs.

Kirumi cleared her throat. "Do you think something's going to happen?"

"Wait! What do you mean? What's going to happen?" Kokichi feigned ignorance.

"You know what I mean." Kirumi muttered.

"I think something's going to happen. Something important...and annoying." Kaito babbled.

Kokichi frowned and nudged him.

Kaito nudged him back, grinning.

"Momota-chan, why did you tell them about that." Kokichi complained. "Okay, fine. I'll tell them about it. What Momota-chan is referring to…I thought it would happen today, but now I don't know when it'll happen. Maybe tomorrow."

"Well, when that thing happens, we'll do our very best to assist you." Maki said.

"Thank you. We need all the help we can get." Kaito nodded.

"Ohhh we're sooo in the dark." Kokichi sang, horribly out of tune. "We can't doo anythiiiing to prevent doooooom."

"Yes Kokichi. We are. Completely doomed." Kaito said. "But can you please stop? You're hurting my ears."

"Meanie. Depriving the world of my beautiful voice."

"I'm sure we'll be just fine." Kirumi said softly. "We've gotten through it twice before."

"Yeah…" Kaito muttered.

"We've only succeeded so far because of my massive brain and intellect. What happens if I get murdered? Or even worse, I lose interest in the killing game?" Kokichi said.

"Kokichi, you won't. I won't allow you." Kaito glared at him.

"Uwaah. Momota-chan is scary!"

"Let's go and watch the movie."

Kokichi shook his head and stuck his tongue out at him.

"You should watch the movie." Maki said suddenly.

"Huh?" Both boys stopped.

"Spend time together. Have fun." Maki added. "Before it's too late."

"What do you mean?" Kokichi questioned.

"I agree You should watch the movie." Kirumi caught on.

"You see Kokichi? Both Harumaki and Tojo agree with me. So, let's watch the movie." Kaito grinned.

"Fine." Kokichi said. "But you have to make me something nice for dinner first."

"Of course." Kaito finally led him away.

"Tojo?" Maki said.

"Yes, Harukawa-san?"

"They were messing with us. So, I decided to mess with them."

"Why?"

"To see what it was like." Maki frowned. "I didn't enjoy it."

"I didn't think you would. You're far less juvenile and far more mature than either Ouma-kun or Momota-kun."

Maki's mouth twitched.

Kirumi frowned. "What is it?"

"Nothing." Maki shook her head. "Shall we continue our walk?"

"Yes." Kirumi said. "I hope we don't run into anyone else."

"I agree. I'd hate to be disturbed." Maki said. "Come on, I'll tell you about how I learned how to use a bow. It's a very harrowing story."

Howzat?