Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to the Danganronpa series. I only own Hikari Seishin and her family. I also do not own any video games I mention in this fanfic.

Note: I try to make the story as canon as I can with obvious creative liberties. Please let me know if any of the original cast is OOC and I will do my best to fix it.

Author's Note: I hope everyone got the pun of Chapter Nine's title. I really wanted to use that title for Teruteru's execution just for the wordplay. I like how this chapter came out and I hope you guys like it too. Thank you for reading and supporting my story so far!

Chapter Ten

Lingering Doom

Monokuma laughed hysterically as everyone stared at the tablet's screen in sheer disbelief that Teruteru was killed in such a dramatic manner. "YAHOOOOOOOOOO! EXTREEEEEME!" The bear took a deep breath to calm down. "Phew! The adrenaline is rushing through me!" Momoni cried out in horror, her paws to her cheeks. However, she wasn't the only one who was horrified.

"H-Hanamura-san!" Mikan squeaked, looking very frazzled.

"D-Dammit…" Kazuichi mumbled. His face was covered in either sweat, tears, or snot. "A-Are you…fucking serious…ughhhh…!" Ibuki was unmoving, but appearing to be very overwhelmed, her eyes rolled back and foam coming out of her mouth.

Sonia closed her eyes as tears fell down her cheeks. "How cruel…Why…did you do something so cruel?"

Monokuma stared at the Princess blankly. "Wha-wha? Didn't you learn when you were in elementary school? If you badmouth someone…The teacher writes it in a note, and makes whoever you badmouthed read it to you in front of the whole class…" He placed his white paw behind his head sheepishly. "When that happens, only then do you think about how it feels to be badmouthed. The same applies to murder."

"Y-You're the one who drove him to do it!" Mahiru shouted, glaring at the stuffed animal.

Mikan sobbed, trying to wipe away the tears from her eyes. "Ugh…so cruel…This is just too cruel…!"

"Well, it can't be helped," Monokuma stated. "Rules are rules and this is the killing rule after all!"

"What…rule…?" Hajime softly croaked, his throat very dry. He cleared his throat before yelling at the psychotic bear. "You're the one who's breaking the rules!"

Monokuma paused, starting to get irritated and turned toward Hajime. "Huh? I can't just let that slide…What do you mean?"

Hajime stared him down angrily. "When you mentioned the motive…Didn't you also promise something!?"

Hikari looked at Hajime puzzled before remembering what the motive was. Our memories…our school memories…but...were our memories really stolen?

Hajime pointed at the bear. "Wh-Why…why didn't you tell Hanamura-san about his mom or his diner!? He had a right to know!"

"Yeah…us too…" Fuyuhiko agreed, trying to keep his anger in check and failing. "We all have a right to know…! Hey! Hurry up and tell us! What did you mean earlier when you mentioned our 'school memories'?"

Monokuma simply giggled, covering his mouth with his paws. "Oh yeah, I did promise to return your memories after the killing began…"

Monomi started to panic. "H-Huh? You're going to do it? But…telling them is kind of…" Hikari quickly looked at Monomi in shock.

S-so…they really did steal our memories!? Did they take my talent too…?

Monokuma continued giggling. "But I never told you guys that I'd tell you right away."

Everyone looked taken aback before starting to feel anger raging throughout their bodies. Akane growled. "Th-That's not fair!"

"Of course, I'll keep my promise to return your memories someday. But…it's still not clear when that 'someday' will be…" He leaned back before roaring into laughter and disappearing from sight.

Monomi seemed extremely nervous, her ears drooping and sweating profusely. "U-Um…I must excuse myself as well! Th-There's something that I need to do!" Then she, too, vanished.

Kazuichi whimpered, pulling his beanie down to try to cover his watery eyes. "Wh-What the heck…!?"

Ibuki's mouth dropped in surprise. "That's not fair! They both ran away!"

The redhead frowned, gripping her hand to her chest. "M-Monokuma had us wrapped around his finger after all…!" She looked at the big screen which turned off. "Hanamura-san…you stupid…!"

Nagito sighed sadly. "An ending like this is just full of despair…A seriously tragic despair…But still, at times like this…" The Luckster smiled at his classmates. "As the symbols of hope, you guys need to keep doing your best!"

"You…Why're you smilin'?" Akane snarled, still not in a great mood.

Ibuki gasped at the white-haired boy. "How can you smile in a situation like this, you creep!"

Nagito frowned slightly. "Hold on…I'm sad too, you know…Didn't I tell you? From the bottom of my heart, I truly love you all. You SHSLs who inspire hope…and your splendid talents. There's no way I can be happy when we've lost such a talented individual." Hikari bit the inside of her cheek, not buying one bit, staring at him suspiciously.

Fuyuhiko didn't believe him either, getting pissed off. "Don't fuck with me! Don't go sayin' creepy shit! I'll fucking kill you!"

Nagito only chuckled, smiling. "…Please, kill me any time."

"…Huh?" Fuyuhiko mumbled, a troubled expression etched on his face.

Nagito's laughter rose an octave, gazing at the Yakuza openly. "If you hate me, I don't mind you killing me! I've already prepared myself to become your stepping stone! If absolute hope can be born from that…then my life is nothing special."

Hikari frowned, not understanding why Nagito saw himself as worthless. Everyone deserves to live…even if they don't think so…I mean, they're alive for a reason.

The Luckster beamed at everyone. "However, if you're going to kill me, make sure you discuss it with me beforehand, okay? You see, if you do that, then I can cooperate with the killer."

"Are you seriously…intending to help the killer?" Hajime asked warily.

"It's really not that big of a deal. If you're students of Hope's Peak Academy…If you're the symbols of hope who possess the chosen talents…Then it shouldn't matter to you guys at all if I cooperate with the killer, right!?"

Gundham crossed his arms, feeling a bit uneasy from what Nagito was saying. "Hmph…Declaring so confidently that you'll side with the killer…"

Hiyoko pursed her lips. "Maybe this was his plan all along. Since he's willing to work with the killer, he wants us to think it's better for us not to kill him…"

"Well, I don't mind what you think of me…" Nagito chortled. "In actuality, thanks to Togami-san, I'm starting to feel a small desire to live. Mostly, I just want to watch everyone destroy all the despair that comes for you, one after the other…! Ahahaha, just kidding!"

Akane glared daggers at the boy. "Hey, can I punch ya? I just won't be satisfied till I punch ya!"

Hikari sighed, feeling very exhausted. At this point, Chiaki and Sonia linked arms with the Spirit Medium. Hajime's mouth tilted downwards, tired himself. "Can we stop this? Reasoning with him will be a waste of time…"

Nagito gaped slightly at Hajime. "Huh? Even Hinata hates me now?" He smiled sadly. "That stings…I felt you and I were quite similar."

"What does that…?"

"You hold a special feeling towards Hope's Peak Academy…just like me," Nagito interjected.

"Don't put me in the same category as you…!" Hajime countered.

"But how can you say you're not? Monokuma said it himself…We don't know anything about each other's true nature. No, if it's true that our school memories were stolen, it's the same as not knowing our true selves, too. Especially for you…right? Someone who can't even remember what his talent is…" Nagito stared straight at Hajime.

Hajime stared back silently before saying, "Owari-san…please feel free to punch him."

Akane jumped from foot to foot, getting pumped up. "Will do!"

Nagito sweatdropped, holding his hands out in defense. "…H-Hold on!"

Sonia started to cry, standing beside Hikari, upset that her friends were going to fight one another. "P-Please stop this at once! Nothing will come from fighting like this. There…there is something else that we must do."

Hikari raised an eyebrow. "There is?"

"We must not argue with each other in a place like this," Sonia pleaded with a serious expression on her face, tears slowly subsiding. "There…is something more important we must do."

"…Which is?" Gundham asked.

"Do our best." Hikari closed her eyes with a knowingly smile. Some of the others seemed confused. "Well…We must first leave here…and get some rest. And then…we shall all work together and do our best. Do our best so that we may never come back here again." Sonia frowned and said softly, "That is what…I believe we must do now…I am sorry…If only I was a better motivational speaker…"

"No…That really touched my heart…!" blubbered a teary-eyed Kazuichi. "You're totally right…! What we need to do right now…is do our best…! If we do our best…it's definitely going to pay off, right?"

Sonia smiled gently. "Yes, that is right."

Hikari nodded in agreement, smiling at the Princess. "Your words remind me of Togami-san's encouragement for us. I believe he also told us to do our best too."

Fuyuhiko placed his hands in his pockets. "But…what do we have to work hard at?"

Sonia just kept smiling. "I do not know, but we must do our best!"

"…Jeez, I don't get you at all. Are you some kind of moron?"

"Well, it's fine if you don't know," Chiaki said blankly, her left arm still liked with Hikari's right arm. "What matters is that you hold on to the feeling that you have to do your best." She smiled softly. "So…let's do our best. Let's make sure a killing like this never happens again."

Mahiru looked worried, frowning. "It's scary, but…doing our best is our only option. There's no way I'm doing what Komaeda-san said."

Everyone gave some form of agreement that they all would do their best. Hajime nodded. "Yeah, you're right. Let's definitely work together and leave this island!" With that said, the teenagers repeated their goal to do their best over and over as they headed to the elevator that would bring them out of that dismal place.

Sonia and Chiaki walked back to the cottages with Hikari, arms still linked with hers to make sure that the Spirit Medium got back safely. Hikari smiled tiredly as they reached her cottage. "Thanks Nanami…Nevermind-san…"

Sonia smiled encouragingly. "You don't have to be so formal with me, Seishin-san." Hikari's smile grew a bit and nodded. "Remember, we are all going to do our best!"

Chiaki stared at Hikari quietly while Sonia waved good night and walked to her temporary home. "Are you sure you're okay?"

Hikari opened the door. "I'll be fine. I think some sleep will help. See you in the morning." Chiaki blinked and nodded as Hikari stepped into her cottage, closing the door behind her. The black-haired girl took off her shoes, necklace, and glasses before collapsing on her bed and falling asleep. Chiaki frowned and went to the hotel, feeling wide awake.

The Gamer knew she wouldn't be able to sleep at all after the murder, trial, and execution. She wondered who was behind this killing game and Monokuma as well as how Monokuma could have possibly entered into the Neo World Program. She knew the answers wouldn't be obtained so easily…she'd just have to try her best like everyone else. For that moment though, she needed to play the arcade game in the hotel's lobby to relax and get into a lull. Playing video games not only gave her joy, but also a sense of peace. It was how she was programmed after all.

The AI quietly opened the door to the hotel lobby, closing the door behind her. She walked up to the arcade game "Dig Dug" and kneeled down, turning on the power switch with a simple flick of her finger. A sense of peace washed over the girl as the game's audio came on. She stood up and loosened her fingers with a smile before she started the first game of the night. Once in a while, Chiaki would step back and stretch out her hands in order to keep them from getting cramped. During her minute breaks, she would look out to the window to silently watch the scenery. She happened to see Hajime walking around the pool and staring at the sky while the pink-eyed girl stretched out her arms. She observed him briefly before going back to her game. She had almost beaten her earlier score so she was confident that by the end of the night she'd have a new record.

From the corner of her right eye, Chiaki saw the lobby door open slowly. She kept her cool, her hands moving over the buttons due to muscle memory. She sensed the presence of someone walking towards her…by her…past her…towards the stairs to the hotel restaurant.

Maybe they wanted a snack… Chiaki surmised, her eyes re-focusing on the game. Suddenly, the game over screen flashed brightly in her face. She stared at it in silence before realizing that she most likely lost this early into her eighth attempt to beat her top score was because she was distracted by whoever was here. She couldn't shake this feeling that she had to go upstairs. So, Chiaki turned off the game and turned to the stairs. As she placed one foot on the first step, she heard a faint thud. Heart starting to beat faster, Chiaki quickly sped up the stairs to the darkened kitchen and dining area.

The person was walking out of the kitchen clumsily, eyes glazed over and holding a knife loosely in their grip. Chiaki walked a few steps into the dining area, studying the situation. She kept her guard up, but knew something bad would happen if she didn't do something fast. The person very slowly lifted the hand wielding the knife as if intending to attack the Gamer. Chiaki, thinking on her feet, stepped close to the person and slapped their wrist hard. Fortunately, the knife dropped to the floor with a clatter and the person took a step back, holding their wrist.

"N-Nanami…?" Hikari stammered, seeing a very blurry outline of her friend. She felt her whole body shake and saw a hazy image of a knife by her feet. "What…What is going on?"

Chiaki put her hands on the other girl's shoulders, causing Hikari to look back at her. "I don't know…you didn't seem yourself, I think. Has this happened before?"

Hikari frowned, trying to think. "U-Um…I…My parents have told me that I sleepwalk once in a while…not that often though…" The Spirit Medium closed her eyes tightly, her shaking intensifying. "I…I grabbed a knife…? N-No…Wh-What if…I…I could've killed you…" She started sobbing bitterly, her hands quickly covering her face.

Chiaki's expression softened. "But you didn't, Seishin. I'm still here and you're still here. Come on, it's been a very stressful night. Let's go back and sleep."

Hikari shook her head furiously, still feeling the stinging pain on her wrist. "N-No! What if I sleepwalk again…? I'm…scared…"

Chiaki stared at the Spirit Medium breaking down. It wasn't too shocking…Hikari was accused of murder to find out that she would've been the first victim if Byakuya and Teruteru had not intervened. All those feelings must have transferred to her unconscious leading to this scenario. It was understandable that Hikari did not want to go back asleep. "Hmmm…well…how about we play a game in my cottage? It'll help you relax...maybe."

Hikari hiccupped a bit, contemplating if she should or not before giving in. "O-okay…"

Chiaki smiled and took Hikari's arm. "We have to stop at yours first…you need your glasses and shoes." Hikari nodded weakly as Chiaki guided her down the stairs outside since it was faster.

"I hope…no one saw me like that…" Hikari whispered fearfully, shivering slightly at the chilly night air.

The Gamer knew that Hajime was out here earlier at some point. She speculated that he must have went to sleep before Hikari's trip to the hotel only because she had a feeling he would have gone after her if he saw her in this disheveled state. Chiaki turned to her friend comfortingly. "No…I don't think anyone saw you..." When they reached Hikari's cottage, they walked through the doorway, the door having been left ajar. Chiaki swept around the room with her eyes for anything suspicious as Hikari put on her red framed glasses and slipped on her shoes. The Gamer wanted to make sure that there was not going to be another killing because Hikari didn't close the door due to being asleep.

"I'm ready, Nanami." Chiaki turned to the black-haired girl and nodded. Once outside, Hikari locked the door and they made their way to Chiaki's living space. Chiaki took out her own key and unlocked her door, opening the door and gesturing Hikari to enter. The Spirit Medium stepped in, not too surprised by what she saw.

The room was similar to her own: Chiaki's bed was situated exactly where Hikari's was in her own room, the only difference between the two beds were that Hikari's pillows were white and Chiaki's were pink, and the bathroom was identical to Hikari's. The positioning of the surveillance camera and monitor were different: the camera in Chiaki's room was set on the back right corner directly above a black arcade machine with a huge red Monokuma eye on the side and the monitor was lofted in the center on the back wall above two windows covered by pink billowy curtains. A couple of plants hung in her room, one below the monitor and above her big black flat screen television and the other plant hanging next to the arcade machine above a poster of a girl Hikari presumed to be a protagonist of a video game she didn't know. A potted plant stood beside the bathroom door. A tan colored couch rested against the back wall next to the wooden coffee table, a wooden bedside table behind the long table. The flat screen was positioned on the coffee table facing the front wall. Multiple game systems laid around the floor, a small rug on the right side of the room with a small furry pink floor chair on top to provide comfort during long hours of play. A couple of empty snack wrappers and soda cans scattered around the chair.

This is really a typical video gamer's room… Hikari thought as she studied the room, Chiaki closing the door behind her. Maybe I could stop at the supermarket tomorrow and get a couple of plants…my room feels a bit…empty compared to Nanami's…

Chiaki stood waiting patiently as Hikari looked around. "Do you have any preferences of video games?"

Hikari blinked and turned to her sheepishly. "Sorry…I…never really played before…" A sparkle gleamed in Chiaki's eye as she took the bespectacled girl to the rug, almost forcefully sitting her down. Hikari gawked at Chiaki in bewilderment as Chiaki turned on the television and connected a couple of wires to it, moving to an older game system, placing a game cartridge in and pressed a button. The television screen became alive with white text.

"Then we can play a classic multiplayer game. This is considered to be the first commercially successful video game with obvious reasons," Chiaki explained, her face glowing with excitement at the opportunity of showing her passion of video games to another person. The hooded girl handed Hikari a controller and started to explain how to play the game with the controller's buttons and directional pad. Once she believed that Hikari understood the controls, Chiaki started the game. At first, Hikari had a slow start, Chiaki earning ten points before the Spirit Medium got the hang of playing, earning herself one point before the match ended.

By the end of their fourth match – Chiaki winning every game, but Hikari managing to score a couple of points each game – the blue-eyed young woman yawned loudly. Chiaki gave her a side glance. "Tired?"

Hikari let out another yawn before nodding. "Mmm…I still don't want to sleep. Can I watch you play a game? I honestly would rather watch you play than play video games myself." She smiled shyly.

The Gamer blinked and shrugged. "Okay. I'm just glad I didn't steer you away from gaming because of my enthusiasm for it...I think." Chiaki got up from her perch on the rug and turned off the game to change systems and games as Hikari giggled to herself.

"Of course not, Nanami. I'll be happy to play games with you as long as you're patient with me."

Chiaki started up the system before sitting back down next to Hikari. Hikari wasn't quite sure if she knew what the game was until the title screen flashed its name: "Dark Cloud." "It's not that popular of a game," Chiaki mentioned as she started the game. "I like to play it once in a while. It's just a role-playing game in a fantasy setting. The main objective, to put it simply, is to defeat an evil genie and save the kingdom." Chiaki continued to explain certain features of the game she liked about the game as she progressed through the main plot. Only until Chiaki reached the halfway point did she notice Hikari's head resting against her right shoulder, the Spirit Medium having finally fallen asleep.

Chiaki stared blankly at the sleeping girl before turning back to the game. I'm glad she went to sleep…but why am I happy? I really don't understand…and her body's always so warm. At times, I feel uncomfortable, but my body just moves on its own to physically comfort her. After this is all over, I'll ask Onii-san about this…he might know why I'm having these issues. The Gamer continued to play, holding her breath during boss fights, paying full attention to the television, the light from the screen illuminating her pale pink eyes. She let out a deep breath once she defeated the final boss as sunlight was trying to enter the room from the windows, the curtains blocking out most of the light. Not long after did the morning bells sound off throughout the island.

*Ding dong, bing bong*

"Ahem," Monokuma recited his morning announcement on Chiaki's monitor above the TV as if nothing out of the ordinary happened the previous night. "Hope's Peak Academy's School Trip Executive Committee has an announcement to make…" Luckily for Chiaki, Hikari was starting to wake up, yawning loudly and sat up with a stretch of her arms. Chiaki got up and turned off her game. "Goooood morning, everyone! Looks like today will be another beautiful, tropical day! Now then, let's show some enthusiasm and make sure we give it our all today!"

"Oh!" Hikari gasped, looking around frantically. "I'm so sorry! I fell asleep here. I hope I wasn't a bother…"

"You weren't," Chiaki said assertively, looking at the Spirit Medium with her usual blank stare.

Hikari sweatdropped slightly. "Um…did you sleep at all?"

"No."

"…"

"…"

"Uh…Well…I'm going to go get myself ready for breakfast…take a shower…and whatnot…" Hikari said slowly, feeling awkward with the silence, getting up and dusted off her skirt.

"Okay," Chiaki nodded in understanding as Hikari headed to the door, slipping on her shoes. "I'll see you in the hotel restaurant for breakfast." Hikari stopped at the doorway, her hand resting on the doorknob.

"Hey…Nanami…?" Hikari turned slightly to see the other girl. Chiaki blinked as Hikari smiled softly. "Thank you…for last night…" Chiaki felt the corners of her mouth turn upward and waved a hand which Hikari reciprocated and left the Gamer's cottage. Chiaki wasn't quite sure what part of last night the Spirit Medium was thanking her for…the moral support during the trial, stopping her from killing someone, keeping her company the rest of the night, or maybe it was all of it? The young AI sighed to herself before making sure she had everything she needed for the day and left her home, locking the door behind her.

After getting ready for the day, Hikari reached the hotel, a dark feeling gnawing in her stomach. It could just be from hunger since she really didn't eat much of anything since the beginning of last night's party, but she knew it most likely was from anxiety about her sleepwalking last night.

What if it happens again…? What if I kill someone in my sleep…What if… The constant "what if"s plagued her mind, but she couldn't also run from the situation. All of her friends are there and it was their unofficial meeting place to discuss what they should do. Hikari bit the tip of her thumb, her legs still not moving to the door. Then she remembered what Sonia wanted everyone to do from that day onward.

"Do our best." That's right…I just…have to do my best. Hikari repeated this phrase over and over in her mind as she leaned forward in order to make herself move, her legs guiding her to the hotel stairs outside that led to the restaurant. As she took heavy steps up the stairs, Hikari heard voices coming from the open area of the second floor. Seems like I'm the last one arriving…

"Still, I understand about Mr. Ham Hands, but is there even a reason for us to be sad about Hanamura's death?" Hikari heard Hiyoko's childish voice as the black-haired girl entered the room and walked to the closest table, grabbing a plate and putting various breakfast foods on it. She looked around and the feeling in her stomach felt tighter.

The air feels so heavy in here…Everyone's so down…But it's understandable…I mean…Two of our friends were killed… Hikari frowned as she grabbed a glass of juice and sat down to Akane's right.

Kazuichi's hand ran over his pink hair, looking at the Traditional Dancer with unease. "Wh-What the heck do you mean…?"

Hiyoko blinked, her sleeves covering her hands so that only the tips of her fingers were visible. "Well, he was a crazy guy who killed someone! He totally deserved to die!"

"Hey…" Peko said softly, looking stoic as always. "I understand how you feel, but you're going too far."

Hiyoko smiled smugly, looking to the side. "Huuuh? Is it all right to defend a killer? Are you trying to justify murder?"

"No…that was not my intention, but…" Peko answered, sweatdropping slightly.

"Then you gotta hate him more than ever. You gotta hate him from the bottom of your heart," Hiyoko demanded, her expression becoming a bit creepy, leaning to the Swordswoman. "He's a stupid, piece of trash, bastard who committed the lowest crime possible. He derserved to get killed. In fact, I'm rather relieved that he was executed. If I could have, I would have totally spat on him too."

Hikari deadpanned. Of course you would have, Saionji…

Akane lifted her head and started sniffing the air. "Hm…Hmmmm?" Hikari glanced at the Gymnast, at first thinking she was smelling the food in front of the Spirit Medium, but the brunette was looking away from Hikari.

Hiyoko pouted, staring at Akane. "Geez, what gives? Does a pea-brain like you have something to complain about?"

"Well, it's not about that, but…" Akane raised an eyebrow. "…somethin' smells, don'tcha think?"

Hikari's face deadpanned once again. Are you a bloodhound…?

"Don't tell me…" Ibuki smiled nervously, poking her index fingers together. "It better not be another dead body!"

Akane concentrated on determining the mystery scent. "Nah, it's not the smell of blood…this time. It just smells really bad."

Hajime sweatdropped. "S-Smells bad…?"

"Kinda like how a bar or nightclub smells after closin' time, you see."

"Hey, hey, hey! I don't know those smells!" Kazuichi exclaimed, pointing at Akane. "You must've had a pretty rough life!" Everyone started smelling around them, trying to confirm Akane's claim.

"…Now that you mention it, I do smell something. It's like a sewer or rotting garbage…" Peko said with a slight disgusted expression.

Hikari put down her utensils, having been eating during the conversation until that moment, the odor reaching her nose. She suddenly lost her appetite as she plugged her nose with a pinch of her fingers.

"I got it!" Hiyoko cried out, jumping happily. "I know what it is! Nidai's breath probably stinks!"

Nidai howled in laughter, hand rubbing the back of his head. "Gah-hahahaha! You've got me there!"

Hajime still sweatdropped. "She didn't say anything remotely funny just now…"

Akane shook her head slowly. "No, it's not Nidai. This smell is comin' from…" She pushed herself up from her chair and walked around the room, nose pointing upwards. When Akane stopped, she stood in front of the source of the stench. "…you, Saionji." Hikari covered her mouth with her free hand to hide the urge to laugh, almost blowing a raspberry.

"…Huh?" Hiyoko blinked, mouth agape.

The Mechanic stepped closer to the short blonde and took a whiff of the air. "Wh-Whoa!" He almost stumbled backwards, surprised, waving a hand in front of his face. "It's true! Saionji…you reek!"

"Tch! A rotten smell stings my eyes…!" Gundham grunted, gritting his teeth. "As if a demonic eclipse is about to commence…!" Hiyoko whimpered a little, eyes wide at the tables turning on her. A second later, she suddenly cried loudly, head tilted back and eyes closed, having the appearance of a young child whose candy was taken from her. Everyone was taken aback at the Traditional Dancer's reaction.

"Oh my, my! She's crying!" Ibuki exclaimed in surprise.

"Hey!" Mahiru yelled at the group, yet her glare was directed at the boys. "I've said it before, but you guys are really insensitive!"

Kazuichi rubbing the back of his head, trying to save himself. "Ah, no…it actually doesn't smell that bad…I mean, as long as I breathe through my mouth…" Unfortunately, Hiyoko only cried louder, much to his dismay.

Akane placed a hand on her hip. "Are you even takin' baths?"

Hiyoko stared at the taller girl, hiccupping, her cheeks having a tinge of pink. "…No."

"Y-You haven't bathed…!?" Hajime asked in shock.

I…I can't help it…" Hiyoko's voice cracked, biting her lower lip in an attempt to prevent incoming sobs. "I can't tie my kimono sash by myself…" Her efforts proved futile when Hiyoko began crying noisily again. Hikari frowned, feeling pangs of guilt now for almost laughing at Hiyoko.

Mahiru, the mother figure of the group, smiled gently towards her friend. "H-Hey…Saionji…You don't have to cry so much…I'll tie your sash for you, okay?"

The blonde pig-tailed girl sniffled and hiccupped, staring at the Photographer warily as if not sure if she should trust her. "…Really?"

Mahiru closed her eyes, letting out a nervous giggle. "I can only tie a simple knot, but…if that's okay with you, I can teach you."

"Yaaaay!" Hiyoko cheered, jumping again in glee, her face blotchy from crying, snot dribbling down from her nostrils. "I love you, Koizumi! I'll give you a kiss!" At this point, she practically glomped the redhead.

Mahiru squirmed in Hiyoko's arms, blushing lightly from embarrassment. "H-Hey Saionji…You don't have to hug me."

"…Kehehe, she appears to have taken a liking to you," Gundham chuckled, arms crossed and eyes closed.

Ibuki smiled happily, her tongue sticking out slightly as she winked, her open eye sparkling. "Welcome to the world of girl love! It's slippery when wet!" Hikari almost choked on her toast when she heard that.

Mikan looked around with concern. "Um…anyway…What happened to Kuzuryuu and Komaeda? It seems they are both…not here…" The Spirit Medium, recovering from that near-death experience, blinked and looked around the room, also finding the two boys to be absent.

Tsumiki's right…I thought everyone would be here.

"I saw Kuzuryuu earlier near the hotel," Peko affirmed. "I invited him to breakfast, but he declined."

Hajime shrugged. "Well, that's just Kuzuryuu being Kuzuryuu, but…"

Akane raised an eyebrow. "Who cares about Komaeda!?"

"He is cursed…A child who summons misfortune, so to speak," the Breeder pointed out.

Hajime frowned. "Well…that may be, but…"

"J-Just letting you know…" Nekomaru disclaimed, "I don't know anything!" The Team Manager fidgeted even more as everyone was starting to stare at him. "W-Without hesitation, I-I don't know anything about Komaeda at all!"

Hikari sighed. That sounds suspicious…Granted, I don't care about Komaeda right now, but…I don't want him dead. I don't want to go through another trial.

Kazuichi chimed in. "That's right! Forget him! Let's just forget about that creep already!"

Hikari sweatdropped. That's even more suspicious!

Chiaki stared at the two nervous boys and tilted her head. "…They're obviously acting suspicious, aren't they?"

"I-I'm not suspicious!" Kazuichi yelled defensively, sweat starting to form on his face.

Nekomaru nodded, sweat already shimmering on his face. "Hmph! That's right! I-I'm not suspicious!"

"What's up? Did someone get kidnapped or something?" a high-pitched voice called out. A second later, Monokuma popped in from the kitchen.

"Y-You came just at the right time!"

"Hm? At the right time?"

Nekomaru grimaced, clenching his fist. "N-No…it's nothing…"

Monokuma started blushing, his body temperature rising which is quite a feat for a stuffed animal. "I don't really get it, but…you must've yearned for me. Your outlook on life has changed due to my cuteness, so your body can't stand to live without me, huh? 'I-I can't help myself, you know…M-My body…reacts to Monokuma…on its own…'" The bear covered his mouth with his paws. "…Somethin' like that?"

Hikari closed her eyes, eyebrow twitching in annoyance. "I don't think so…"

"…Who cares about that?" Mahiru said, looking on edge since Monokuma showed up. "Just hurry up and tell us why you're here."

"To be honest, I'm searching, too," Monokuma informed the group. "My valued servant…has disappeared."

"Servant?" Hajime wondered out loud.

Monokuma clasped his paws behind his back, looking down. "You know, my Monobeasts…One of them just disappeared…" Everyone looked confused, not sure what to make of this. Monokuma tilted his head, a paw to his chin. "Maybe I cut back on the cost of their food too much? Perhaps they're boycotting me?"

Gundham kept his calm and collected pose. "'But…that guy is the weakest of the League of Four…How shameful for a Monobeast to lose to a mere human…'…That's what you want to say, right?" the Chuunibyou asked with a small smirk. Monokuma looked at the Breeder with annoyance, growling slightly. "Though this is merely the prelude, the climax will occur soon after…"

Hikari blinked at this minor confrontation between man and beast…well, stuffed beast. Even though Tanaka is a bit weird, he does sound very cool at times.

Getting fired up, the gothic looking teen got into an intimidating pose. "Now then, let me hear your scream! I shall make such sweet music for you!" But this only irritated the orchestrator of the killing game even more.

"Hmhmhmhmhm!?" mumbled the evil bear.

Mahiru sighed heavily. "Hey Tanaka…You should stop playing with that stuffed animal."

"I'm still being called a stuffed animal…" Monokuma whined, turning his back on everyone, dejected.

Hikari raised an eyebrow. Well, you are one though…

Monokuma continued to mutter to himself, but loud enough for everyone to hear. "Oh well…It looks like you guys don't know anything about my Monobeast either…Then it's a waste of time for me to worry about it. I don't wanna go bald from worrying too much." The stuffed bear turned to the teens. "A wise catbot once said, 'Our eyes are on the front so we can keep moving forward!'" As everyone wondered about what he was talking about, Monokuma disappeared from sight.

Peko looked concerned. "Hey, what do you think he meant just now? He said something about a Monobeast disappearing…" The swordswoman wasn't the only one concerned. Hikari stared at her now empty plate, fingering her necklace.

A Monobeast missing can be a problem…What if it goes berserk? What if it will attack us unprovoked? As Hikari thought of worst case scenarios that involve a rampaging Monobeast, the two-toned stuffed rabbit popped into the room.

"Um…Were you in the middle of something?" Monomi asked timidly. "If so, I can just come back later…"

"Then leave," Akane commanded with a serious air.

"Kya!" Monomi sobbed. "At least ask me to leave kindly!"

Chiaki blinked and stared at the bunny. "Ah, before you leave, I want to ask you something. Did you have anything to do with the missing Monobeast?" People started perking up, turning to Chiaki and Monomi.

Monomi jumped up with a paw raised high. "Tada! Yes! That's right!" She placed her paws on her hips proudly. "Tadaaaaa! I'm the one who defeated the Monobeast!" Many of the teens felt their jaw drop, wondering how on earth Monomi managed to deal with a Monobeast.

"Y-You did!?" Hajime asked, dumbfounded.

"You serious?" Kazuichi doubted, itching his cheek. "Defeating a monster like that…How the hell did someone like you pull that off?"

"Anyway!" Monomi said cheerfully, ignoring questions she didn't want to answer as usual. "I've released the bridge gate for you all!"

"Bridge gate?" Hikari asked.

Chiaki tilted her head. "Hey, hey. If the gate is open…That means we can go to the new island across the bridge, right?"

"I-IS THAT TRUUUUEEEEEE!?" Nekomaru roared in excitement.

Monomi smiled, still proud of her mighty achievement. "Ahem! That's totally right! Now that you all can go to more areas, let's all get along and live a fun life together for sure this time! Love! Love!" The rabbit hugged herself, feeling very optimistic that things are going to be all right if they listened to her wish.

Hikari felt more at ease with this turn of events. There's a new island to explore…there might be spirits there though I doubt it. In any case, we can find out if there are any clues to escape this place. Sorry Monomi but I'm not planning on staying here long, especially if I am unable to use my talent here.

Many of the girls voiced their intention to escape as well as their disapproval of living there, much to Monomi's dismay.

"L-Living together on this island isn't what's important…W-We need to find a way to escape," Mikan said quietly, wringing her hands.

"Geeez! Of course!" Mahiru sighed loudly. "Escaping from this island is our main goal!"

Monomi tilted her head in confusion. "…Huh?"

Ibuki nodded, raising her index in the air, looking angry. "Nobody wants to live a swashbuckling, Hollywood type, action film!" Hikari stared blankly at the Musician, not sure where that came from.

The Nurse whimpered, tears forming. "I want to live a life where I can be more average…a life where nothing happens…That's better for me…"

Hikari nodded. I couldn't agree more, Tsumiki.

"All right!" Kazuichi exclaimed, the Mechanic getting excited, fists clenched in the air. "If you can find anything that can be salvaged for boat parts, let me know immediately!"

"Umm…" Monomi faltered, her ears drooping sadly. "I-It seems that…everyone's united on a path that's different from what I had planned…"

Gundham grinned, lifting his hand to the air. "Fuhahaha! Now then, let us disperse! The time has come to release the cursed seal!"

"All right!" Akane shouted, cracking her knuckles. "Let's find a way to leave this island!"

"That is…impossible…" Monomi cried softly.

Hajime raised an eyebrow, his attention on the depressed rabbit. "…Hm?"

"Leaving the island…is no longer possible…"

"…No longer possible? Hey…what's that...Ah!" Hajime jumped a little in surprise when Monomi left abruptly.

Hikari felt the blood drain from her face as she listened to Monomi's words. Impossible to leave? That can't be true…We have to at least try! She felt reassured when everyone seemed to ignore what Monomi said. Hikari stood up when her friends started leaving to explore the new area. A few people started to branch off to do their own thing like Hiyoko and Mahiru going to the smaller girl's cottage. So, Hikari ended up walking with Akane, Kazuichi, Sonia, Gundham, Mikan, Chiaki, Ibuki, and Nekomaru to the bridge that connected the first island with the central island. Hikari sweatdropped when Chiaki walked with her eyes closed.

"H-Hey…I hope I didn't keep you up all night…" Hikari whispered to the sleepy Gamer.

Chiaki yawned and shook her head a little. "Mmm…you didn't…For some reason, I couldn't sleep." She rubbed her eyes sleepily as Hikari decided to keep an eye on the tired girl to make sure she didn't end up sleep walking like she did with Hajime just a couple of days ago.

Man, that felt like that happened years ago… the Spirit Medium thought nostalgically as the group reached the central island and headed to the bridge with the wooden arch labelled with the number two on the plaque above the bridge's entrance. The metal gate that blocked the teens' access to the second island was lifted and the Monobeast that was guarding the path across the water was nowhere to be seen.

"Wh-Whoa! That monster really is gone!" Kazuichi yelled in shock.

Hikari was also very amazed that Monomi somehow defeated the huge Tiger Monobeast. I wonder how she did it…I definitely give her credit. I would have never been able to have done that.

"I wonder what's on this island…" Sonia pondered as the group travelled across the bridge to their destination.

"H-Hopefully nothing s-scary…" Mikan stammered, feeling anxious at the thought.

"If we're lucky, maybe there'll be a harbor," Kazuichi said optimistically, stars in his eyes, imagining getting his hands on anything electronic or mechanical to build a boat.

"We won't know until we get there," Hikari pointed out with a small smile.

When they reached the second island, they all stood on a small tract of dirt with its borders covered with white flowers. A shorter, narrower bridge greeted them which led to the main second island. The first structure they could see was a massive ruin of a building covered with thick green vines and trees.

Hikari blinked, tilting her head slightly to the right. I feel like I have seen this building before…I can't put my finger on it…

Ibuki jumped in excitement. "Wahoooooo! Let's explore!" She happily ran over the small bridge to investigate the new area. Everyone soon followed the Musician.

"So…um…do we want to explore together or does everyone want to split up?" Hikari asked, feeling a bit shy to take the initiative and grab everyone's attention.

"Hmmm," Sonia thought deeply, a hand on her chin. "Perhaps we could split up and explore, meeting together around dinnertime to discuss our findings? That way we would cover more ground in a short amount of time."

Kazuichi gasped, smiling brightly. "That's a very good idea, Sonia-san! As expected of our SHSL Princess!"

Hikari sweatdropped. Really buttering up to her, aren't you, Souda… So, everyone started to separate and go off on their own to inspect what grabbed their attention. Hikari was the last to leave the group, her eyes closed. Hmm…still no spirits… the Spirit Medium thought with a frown. She turned to her left and glanced briefly at the ruin. "Maybe I can check it out with everyone later." The bespectacled girl moved on, walking eastward on the paved path.

Not far off, Hikari came upon a diner with a useless and empty parking lot. "A diner? Here?" The building appeared to be an old-fashioned American diner she had seen in magazines and books her older sister shared with her years ago. Neon lights placed over the door and on the roof indicated that the building was indeed a diner. Not too far way was a thick black pole that held a rotating sign that said "Pork Burger" and above it was a rotating image of a pig between a bun and lettuce. "Well, let's check out this place first then…" Hikari walked to the diner's entrance, glaring at the monitor and camera positioned blatantly to the right of the door. She opened the door roughly, annoyed at Monokuma's intention of seizing her and her friends' privacy. The interior was everything she expected of a diner: a counter, barstools, booths, and even a jukebox. She also anticipated that there would be a camera and monitor in here too. What she didn't predict was someone already sitting down at a booth who looked a bit surprised at the interruption of his solitude.

"Oh…it's only you…" the Yakuza muttered, glancing at who opened the door before scowling towards the intruder, a plate of crispy French fries in front of him on the table. "I'm trying to eat right now! Go away, you dumbass!"

Hikari could feel her face heat up in embarrassment, biting the edge of her lip, stepping a bit towards the door. However, something inside her made her stop. Wait…why should I? I have a right to be here… Instead of leaving like Fuyuhiko wanted, Hikari walked to the booth he was sitting at and slid in, sitting across from him.

Fuyuhiko scowled at her. "What the fuck are you doing? I told you to get lost!"

Hikari looked at him sternly, feeling adrenaline running through her body as she stood her ground. "You can't tell me what to do, Kuzuryuu." She was actually astonished that her voice didn't crack or show any sign of nervousness.

The blond sneered at her, eating a fry. "I can always kill you here and now."

"Somehow…I doubt that…"

Hikari jumped slightly as Fuyuhiko slammed a fist onto the table before taking a steak knife from the table, the blade pointed towards the Spirit Medium. "Don't tempt me…" he hissed darkly. The two sat there quietly, just staring at each other waiting to see who would back down first.

I cannot give in first. I have to show him that I am not afraid of him. He might be acting like this because he doesn't want anyone close to him since he is a yakuza. Hikari clenched her fists underneath the table, steeling herself to hold this stare off for as long as it takes. She wasn't even sure why she was even interacting with Fuyuhiko to begin with. Maybe because he reminded her of the bullies from her past and she finally wanted to stand up against that behavior. Perhaps it might be that she sensed that he was really lonely and wanted friends even though he thought he didn't deserve them. Whatever the case, Hikari was staying there, sitting across from the boy who was currently threatening to take her life.

Fuyuhiko gritted his teeth, his golden eyes watching the girl intently, his grip on the knife handle tightening. What the fuck is up with this bitch? She's really beginning to get under my skin… He closed his eyes and sighed in irritation, placing the knife back down. "Whatever…you're not worth it…" he muttered as he decided to just ignore her and look out the window. Hikari didn't move, her face unreadable even though she was utterly petrified when he brandished the steak knife at her.

Whew…part of me thought I was going to die…But I had a feeling he wasn't going to do it… Her eyes eventually landed on the plate of fries, her mouth beginning to water. They look really good…maybe I can sneak one… She glanced between the absentminded boy and the plate before slowly moving her hand to the appetizing side dish, silently taking a lone fry and quickly popped it into her mouth. Hikari closed her eyes and smiled in bliss as she chewed.

Eyes still focusing outside and deep in his thoughts, Fuyuhiko went to continue to eat before the fries got cold. He blinked when his hand touched a smooth texture and turned his head to see Hikari caught red-handed, her hand underneath his. Both teens' faces turned scarlet, yet for different reasons. Hikari felt very embarrassed that she got caught, knowing that she was pushing her luck, but couldn't help herself as she fell victim to the deliciousness of the French fries. The Yakuza did feel slightly embarrassed for touching a girl's hand, however, that quickly dissipated when he realized the situation, the redness in his face becoming the result of anger. He abruptly stood up, feeling the rage itching to be released. Hikari scrambled out of the booth, stumbling to the door. "Sorry! Sorry!"

Fuyuhiko stood there, fuming, breathing heavily through his nose as he stared at the plate in front of him and saw there was only a couple of fries left. He closed his eyes as he felt a vein throb above an eyebrow. That bitch…she really had the guts to take MY food like Natsumi did… He frowned, feeling a small pang of homesickness at the thought of his little sister. Shaking his head, the Yakuza went behind the counter to make himself a hamburger. I swear the next person who comes in and disturbs me will get his fucking head ripped off…

Reaching the safety of the outdoors, Hikari leaned forward, hands on her knees as she was catching her breath. "Very smart, Hikari…" she scolded herself as she wiped the sweat from her forehead before continuing to look for anything that could help the group escape the island.

Nothing of importance caught her attention as she searched throughout the whole area. She came upon a beach house and a pristine private beach, a pharmacy where Mikan was basking in all of medical supplies, and a library before making it back to the overgrown ruin. Maybe on my own time I can look through the library's books to see if there might be any clues… Hikari thought as she walked to the ruin's entrance. She blinked, seeing Chiaki staring at the ruin intently. "Nanami?"

Chiaki blinked and turned to the Spirit Medium. "Ah…good. That way I won't have to track you down. Stay here while I get everyone else." Hikari stood there surprised as the Gamer walked off in a determined manner.

"Uh…Okay?" Hikari tilted her head and gazed at the weathered building. She must've found a clue or something… She took this time to inspect the structure as her friends started arriving. Hikari couldn't really tell how tall it was, but it was very huge. She was amazed that no one spotted the silhouette from the other islands. Trying to see the top at this angle would really strain your neck muscles… she thought with a wince, a hand to her neck as she tried to relieve the muscle tension. I swear I've seen this place before… Hikari thought again, eyebrows furrowed. If there wasn't as much overgrowth then maybe I could figure out what this place could have been… Not much time had passed when the last of the teens arrived, excluding Nagito.

Nekomaru stared at the building, hands on his hips. "What the heck is this…? Such a gigantic building."

"However, it is clearly faded…it looks like an ancient ruin," Sonia remarked.

"It seems…Perhaps this is an actual ancient ruin?" Peko asked, arms crossed.

"H-How should I say this…" Mahiru contemplated out loud before saying what's on her mind. "Don't you think this building…resembles a school?"

"A school?" Hikari wondered.

Kazuichi itched his cheek nervously, changing the subject. "…You found something, right Nanami? What did you find?"

"I'll fucking cut you if this is a waste of time," Fuyuhiko cautioned bitterly. Hikari sweatdropped.

Is he still mad from earlier? Man, can he hold a grudge…

Mahiru rolled her eyes. "I…didn't know you were also here."

Fuyuhiko scoffed, crossing his arms. "That bitch over there kept bugging me…so I finally came."

Ibuki smiled excitedly, bouncing around Chiaki. "Did you maybe find a way to get off this island?"

Chiaki followed Ibuki with her eyes quietly before tilting her head. "Nope. Nothing like that."

Hikari smiled a little, eyes closed. That's Nanami for you…very blunt.

"Then…what in the world did you find?" Gundham questioned, arms crossed.

Hajime looked deep in thought. "If it's not a way off the island…Does it have something to do with this island's secret?"

Chiaki pulled her hood over her head, staring at the ground. "Hmm, about that…I don't know."

Hikari blinked. "What do you mean?"

"…It's like it doesn't belong with a building like this…I keep thinking about it and it feels unnatural." Chiaki lifted her head and stared at the structure which caused her hood to fall back. "It's like…a comic book originally about baseball becoming a side-scrolling action game… It's unnatural like that. Look, that door over there," Chiaki said, pointing to the ruin's entrance. Everyone's eyes followed the direction her finger was pointing, the teens subconsciously walking closer to the entrance. There was a certain feel to the door in Hikari's mind.

"It's hard to make out from all the dust but…this is the door you mean, right?" Hajime asked the Gamer.

"Yeah," Chiaki replied. "It looks like that's the door to the ruin."

"Hey, so what's wrong with the door? Can you go inside?" Mahiru queried, looking curious.

"Before we attempt to go inside…Let's try brushing off some of this dust and clearing some of these root things off the door. If you do…I'm pretty sure you'll understand what I mean by 'unnatural.'" Kazuichi and Hajime went close to the door and started to clear the door from the dust and natural debris to reveal the real appearance of the entrance.

It seems…advanced… Hikari thought as she studied every inch of the circular door. Especially with a Gatling gun right next to an electronic touchpad… She eyed the security system nervously.

Hajime seemed to have similar thoughts. "What is this…door…? It doesn't feel like it belongs in an ancient ruin…"

"What's going on?" Mahiru asked, rattled. "It's like…a door from a sci-fi movie, don't you think? It definitely doesn't fit with an ancient ruin…"

"And…what is this symbol on the door?" Hajime continued, leaning forward to take a closer look at the door's surface.

"Oh?" Nekomaru hummed, scratching his chin, glancing at the symbol himself. "It looks like it's Japanese…"

"Ah, you're totally right!" Ibuki agreed cheerfully.

"U-um…I'm sorry if it's just my misunderstanding…" Mikan whispered fretfully, "To me, it looks like…it says 'mirai'…or 'future'…"

Fuyuhiko glowered, his small amount of patience already running low. "Hey bastards, who cares about a symbol on the door!? More importantly…how do you open it? What's inside?"

Hikari directed the group to look at the display screen she noticed on the door. "It looks like some kind of liquid crystal display next to the door…"

Fuyuhiko blinked, actually showing surprise. "Oh, right! That must be the key to open the door! It's probably set to open when you type the password!"

Hiyoko grinned at the Yakuza cheekily. "Acting all high and mighty…So what's next? It's obviously impossible to put in the password without any hints. Ah, are you saying that a normal person can't open it but a yakuza can? That's hilarious!" Fuyuhiko glared at the smallest teen of the group, not appreciating her comments.

Hikari refrained from doing a facepalm. She really likes to antagonize people, doesn't she…One of these days she's going to regret being so confrontational.

"Ah, I think we should wait," Chiaki suggested. "Doesn't that seem dangerous?" She indicated towards the Gatling gun. "That thing next to the panel, doesn't it look like a gun? …In fact, that's totally a gun."

"G-Gun…" Hajime murmured, turning to face the weapon. "Huh!? That's a gun!?"

"If it is…it's probably very dangerous. It's possible you might get shot if you mess up the password…Right?"

"I wouldn't say 'probably'…more like 'definitely,'" Hikari mentioned, sweatdropping.

Fuyuhiko clenched a fist, aggravated. "Dammit…! I-It can't be helped…Looks like…it's better if we don't mess with it…for now…"

Hiyoko covered her mouth, giggling. "Kehehe…He's totally freaked out…"

The blond male seethed glowering at Hiyoko. "Shut the hell up! You do it then!"

"But still…" the pink-eyed girl thought out loud, ignoring the banter between the two blond haired teens, "a building that looks like an ancient ruin, with a door that looks like it's from a sci-fi film…It's definitely unnatural. This is probably an important place."

Kazuichi blinked. "Important place, huh…The problem is, how is it important?"

"Um…" a meek and familiar voice chirped followed by another unforgettable and familiar voice. An awkward silence loomed over the area as the humans stared at the stuffed animals, anticipating the two to say more.

Peko crossed her arms. "…You're both quiet?" Akane stretched out her arms, preparing for a fight as expected.

"You guys know about this buildin' too, right!? Just be honest with us!"

"I-I'm s-sorry…!" Monomi squeaked, looking very nervous, her ears drooping and looking away. "I have no…I have no idea at all…" Monokuma was also standoffish.

"Meh…I…don't know either…" he mumbled, turning his back towards the group.

"Um…for now…everyone should focus on gathering the Hope Fragments…" Monomi advised weakly, her paws fidgeting against each other and ears still drooped forward a bit.

Hikari raised an eyebrow. "Huh…Still?" Is that still our objective even though Monokuma took over? I mean…I did gain a couple this morning…one when I was with Nanami this morning and one when I was in the diner with Kuzuryuu…they ended up in my pocket out of nowhere… She placed her hand in her pocket, feeling her electronic handbook with the Usami keychain attached as well as the Hope Fragments she got today, ignoring the banter between Hiyoko and Mikan.

Nekomaru frowned. "Is it possible that…there is a connection between this door and the reason this island is uninhabited? For example, this place might be a shelter, and there might be native inside."

Mahiru smiled nervously. "Is something happening that would make them hide in a shelter? If so…we're all screwed."

Hajime glanced to the Spirit Medium, stepping a bit closer to her and bent his head down slightly to be able to whisper his thoughts. "Seishin…is there any chance you regained your talent? Was there any spirits around the island or around here in particular?" Hikari blushed deeply when she heard Hajime's voice so close to her, almost jumping five feet in the air like a spooked cat.

"U-um…no…I don't think it's back…" Hikari whispered sadly, her eyes looking down at the ground, feeling the familiar weight of uselessness in her chest. "I didn't sense any spirits anywhere here…if this is a shelter due to something horrible happening, I should have been able to sense those who didn't make it to the shelter or even the spirits' auras inside the building if people were in there for a substantial amount of time…"

The boy looked a bit confused. "Why's that…?"

Hikari looked at Hajime seriously. "Two things…One, spirits who wander the earth tend to stay around certain places or people whether they're close friends, enemies, or family. If people are inside, I could sense the spirits' presences inside, yet faintly. Two, if people did use this place as a shelter a very long time ago, there is a possibility that supplies have ran out and the survivors could be dead. I would sense their spirits if that was the case…" Hikari frowned, looking away from Hajime. "However…since I can't use my talent, we wouldn't know right now…"

Hajime frowned and nodded silently. That's right…I'm not the only one whose talent is lost…That was pretty insensitive of me to ask about all that… His thoughts were soon interrupted by an annoying high-pitched laugh.

Monokuma stared at them with paws covering his mouth, laughing arrogantly. "Hmmm, several possibilities have crossed my mind. But it looks like there's no way to confirm it yet. That door is really sturdy. But…not in a material sense. More essential than that."

Akane placed a hand on her hip, clueless. "…Huh? What're you sayin'?"

"For instance…even though Monomi and I can come and go as we please, we can't enter what's beyond that door."

Monomi jumped in absolute shock, paws raised in the air. "Hwaha!? You can't go inside, too? Does that mean you're the same as me and-"

"Heeeey! Keep your tongue in your mouth!" Monokuma warned, a blue blast erupting from his paw towards Monomi. The blast sent Monomi flying for miles. Hikari thought she heard Monomi's pained and faraway voice in the air as the rabbit flew back.

"KYAAA! My body can't handle a supersonic meteor rush like that!"

Once he saw that Monomi was gone, Monokuma turned to the teens bashfully, rubbing the back of his head. "There…Now that I've shut up my sister with a fantastic Pegasus Meteor Fist…This is the mystery of Jabberwock Island. A mystery that even Monomi and I can't solve." He leaned back and laughed loudly, his paws on his tummy. Hikari could've swore that his red lightning-shaped eye glowed eerily. "That's why I have high expectations for you guys! One day, you'll be able to solve that mystery!"

Hikari fingered her necklace, biting the inside of her cheek. That's making me not want to figure it out…

Fuyuhiko grinned, feeling confident. "Heh, that seems easy enough…All we gotta do is remember what that black and white tanuki said before."

Hikari closed her eyes, trying to think about what Fuyuhiko meant. Maybe…he's thinking about that time…?

"Hey, why are there seventeen of you? If a total of sixteen students from Hope's Peak Academy were arranged to come to this island…That's right! There's probably a traitor I don't even know about hiding among the group...Just kidding!"

Hikari's eyes shot open, remembering that conversation now, gripping her necklace tightly. I…I tried to block that out…what if I'm the traitor without knowing it…? What if subconsciously I wasn't sleepwalking last night and I was trying to… A gentle pat on the back brought the Spirit Medium back to reality. She turned to her right to see Chiaki staring at her with a strong look that made Hikari relax slightly.

"If there's a 'traitor,' they probably know how to open the door, right? And there's probably boats or a way to contact the outside world beyond that door," Fuyuhiko theorized.

Mahiru gasped in surprise. "Or…maybe whoever's controlling Monokuma and Monomi is hiding there!"

"B-but…," Mikan stuttered, smiling weakly, "do you really think there's a traitor among us?"

"No shit! Of course there is!" Fuyuhiko shouted with conviction. "Who the hell is it!? Hurry up and confess!"

"Th-There isn't…There's no traitor…anywhere!" a feeble voice piped in, a battered Monomi army-crawling to the group.

Hajime sweatdropped. She came back quickly…

The Yakuza faced the two-toned bear. "Monokuma…what about you? You're the one who mentioned it…" However, Monokuma only giggled to himself, paws covering his mouth mischievously.

"Puhuhuhuhuhu…."

Gundham frowned, feeling unnerved. "…What's so funny?"

"Oh, just…Have you guys heard of an organization called World Ender?"

"…World Ender?" Hajime questioned, confused.

Fuyuhiko glared darkly towards the bear. "I-I'm the one asking you a question! Don't just change the subject!" Monokuma kept his impish attitude, his eyes looking as if they had a sparkle to them.

"I understand why you'd want to just ignore it…World Ender is such an embarrassing name. So embarrassing that only middle school students…no, wait, elementary school students would come up with it." The bear laughed manically. "But the name is unavoidable because that organization actually exists!"

Peko's eyes narrowed. "So what is this…organization?"

"Puhu…It's literally what it says…" Monokuma raised his black paw up, a sinister aura appearing around him. "Those guys ended the world!"

Mikan shrieked in horror. "E-Ended the world!?"

"Um…That's not an overstatement or a metaphor, you know. Those guys really did end the world. So don't you think it's appropriate to call them World Ender?"

"You mean…they're a terrorist organization…?" Peko asked hesitantly.

"Terrorist, huh…That might be accurate. But only losers are terrorists. If they manage to win, they become 'heroes.' In that sense…they're more like heroes. They're the heroes who ended the world!"

Hikari felt her heart pound against her ribcage. I don't get it…the world ended? And by heroes…? I really don't get this at all… She felt like her brain was about to short-circuit from trying to process all this bewildering information.

"The only thing I can tell you is…" Hikari heard Monokuma begin to say, "The organization that the traitor is working for, the ones who brought you to this island…World Ender is behind it all!" Monokuma laughed hysterically again.

Peko, seeing some of her peers become petrified, stood her ground. "Don't panic…It's another made up story to trick us, like when he said we lost our school memories. I can't suspend my disbelief for something as ridiculous as 'World Ender'…There's no way that organization…or the traitor exists!" Fortunately, her speech reassured her friends.

The Breeder smirked, arms crossed. "Monokuma…I shall listen to you spout nonsense all you want, while I puff cigar smoke at your lifeless body." At this, Monokuma looked to the ground, disheartened.

"My, my…I was kind enough to keep you guys informed. Are you calling me a liar!?" He looked at the teens menacingly, showing his claws. "Gnnnngh…if you keep acting like that, I'll do 'this' and 'that' to your various body parts…!" He jumped up and down, arms flapping. "Anyway, I'm telling the truth! The World Ender organization is the final boss of this island! Plus, one of their members is hiding among you guys! That's why…you guys gotta find that traitor and kill them dead!"

"H-Hey! You better stop…" Monomi warned him, seeming to have recovered from his last attack.

"Shut up, Monomi!" Monokuma demanded forebodingly. "Big brother-defying trash like you needs to be punished!" He stomped over to the rabbit and roughly grabbed her ears and began dragging her away.

"Noooo! Don't pull my ears! They're gonna come…come off!"

Everyone stood there, not sure what to think. "What was that…just now…?" Hajime asked, dazed.

Kazuichi fixed his beanie more securely on his head. "Is there…anybody who understood what he was talking about…?"

"Um…Not a clue…" Sonia replied, hands clasped together.

Chiaki yawned loudly beside Hikari, a little bit of drool forming. She looked at her friends obliviously, hands on the straps of her pink kitty backpack. "For now…since the sun is setting, we should just go home for the day. I think…it's a waste of time for us to keep thinking about this."

Hajime smiled weakly at the Gamer. "Y-You're probably right…"

Hikari nodded. "Sounds like a good idea…" She did feel very tired all of a sudden. With that, everyone left to go back to their cottages. When Hikari made it back to her cottage, she was worried that there was going to be a repeat of what happened last night. Those thoughts and thoughts that she might be the traitor carried on while she got ready for bed. Once she laid down and rested her head on her pillow, Hikari felt her eyelids heavy with sleep and allowed herself to fall into a deep slumber despite her persistent anxieties.

Days Left: 18
Survivors: 15