Daily Life
It was the morning after the third class trial. Just like it was any other day, I got up after the morning announcement and walked over to the dining hall, where everyone else was waiting. "Good…morning everyone." I greeted weakly.
"Yeah…good morning." Kaede returned the greeting with a weak nod.
"Good…morning…" Keebo sighed with a sad expression. Yeah, I kind of figured this would happen. No one can really be happy when such a dark atmosphere is hanging all around us. But that's to be expected after what we've been through. After what just happened, who can expect any of us to be enthusiastic? Well…there were actually two exceptions. Two people who were somehow very enthusiastic at this very moment.
"What's wrong, bro!? Not gonna eat!?" Kaito pretty much shouted at Shuichi happily when he saw he wasn't eating his breakfast.
"If you don't eat, Gonta will eat you instead, Shumai." Kokichi added with a smirk.
"He'll eat me? Don't you mean my breakfast…?" Shuichi asked, sweat beginning to form on the side of his head. I sighed while shaking my head. Of course these two doofuses were still acting the same way, as always. It's like nothing can ever get them down or make them change their ways. It's a little reassuring, actually.
"Speaking of Gonta, where is he? He still isn't here." Rantaro asked.
"Good question. I haven't seen him since this morning." Kaito nodded.
"He's probably still sleeping..." Keebo replied.
"But he's never slept in before, has he?" Kaede asked with a frown.
"..." Damn, the atmosphere here is killing me! It's so heavy, like it's mentally beating everyone here, myself included.
"Hey! Why are you all moping around like this!? Look alive! We're teenagers, aren't we!?" Tenko then shouted with her usual energy, though there seemed to be a lot more now than before. "Your good mornings are too sad and quiet! If you talk like that, you'll never feel better!"
"Tenko?" I questioned with a curious look.
"Weird. I thought you'd still be the most depressed out of all of us after what happened." Maki noted.
"Of course I'm depressed! I've never felt this much pain and sadness before in my life! It's like my heart was crushed and stomped on before it was burned to a crisp!" Tenko shouted. "But being sad isn't going to help anyone! Not me, not any of you, and not any of the people who have died! That wouldn't make Himiko, Angie, or any of them happy! So I'm going to keep living like I always have: with positivity! This is Tenko Chabashira's new start!"
"New start? Would it really be a new start if you are not changing anything about yourself?" Kirumi asked.
"W-Well…I might have reconsidered some things." Tenko admitted while poking her fingers together nervously. "I've…thought about how childish I can be, and how naive I can be. I can't always change that kind of stuff, but I can at least try. So… that's why I'll try to be nice with all of you. Even…" Tenko made a face before she shook it off and continued. "Even…the boys."
"Oh? Is our misandrist finally giving up her male hating ways?" Kokichi asked with a curious expression.
"Only if you don't act like a degenerate, Kokichi!" Tenko shouted at him before her expression softened. "I've had to learn over and over here that…not all boys are bad, and not all girls are good. That's been proven to me many times. First with Tsumugi, then with Angie, and now…with Himiko. It's been beaten into me so much I want to throw up! So, I just want to get along with everyone now, no matter what!" Tenko exclaimed before she gave a slightly sheepish look with a small blush of embarrassment. "S-So…please take care of…the new me…"
"Wow, I don't think I've ever seen Tenko this embarrassed unless it was involving Himiko." Kaede said with a bit of surprise.
"Well it's embarrassing for anyone to admit that they were wrong about something. Especially when it's a personal belief you've held for so long." I pointed out.
"And she's right, isn't she? Those of us who are alive need to keep on looking towards the future and live for everyone else who can't." Rantaro told us with a smile.
"Yeah! Let's cheer up and work hard! This game is only just getting started!" Kokichi proclaimed happily.
"Game?" Shuichi asked him.
"Huh? Isn't that what we're talking about?" Kokichi asked. "Ugh…but now that there's less people…I might be…the next victim." He then said with a horrified look on his face, but he then swapped it with one of pure excitement. "Woooooow, so exciting! I definitely don't wanna die! Well, I guess that's the same for everyone. Ah-hahahahaha!"
"You're still saying crap at a time like-" Kaito began to growl before Gonta burst into the room.
"Everyone! This serious!" Gonta told us with a panicked expression.
"Oh no, the colossal highschool girl is on the other side of that wall, isn't she!?" Kokichi screamed in terror.
"Where did you even come up with that?" Kaede asked him with a raised eyebrow.
"Okay, maybe not that serious." Gonta told everyone. "But Gonta went to courtyard before coming here."
"Then did you see more stuff added to the graffiti?" Rantaro asked.
"Yeah. More letters added…" Gonta nodded before showing us a note of the letters he saw now and where they were.
"I'm not sure what it's trying to spell…" Keebo stated as he looked at what Gonta showed us. "Maybe…'The swords'?"
"Maybe 'Those words'?" Rantaro guessed.
"Or maybe… 'This world'?" Kirumi commented.
"Wh-What? What about the world? What does this message even mean?" Kaede asked.
"Is there some crazy story happening that we aren't aware of?" Tenko pondered as she put a hand on her chin.
"It's probably just graffiti, right? We should ignore it." Maki told us.
"No, I don't think that's a good idea." Shuichi shook his head.
"...Why? Do you want to die?" Maki asked him, though her face wasn't nearly as threatening as one would expect it to be.
"What?" Shuichi asked, a little startled by her sudden question, causing me to chuckle a little.
"You've asked me that question a few times, too. You said it was a habit of yours, right?" I asked her.
"Yeah. Sorry." Maki mumbled as she played with her hair a little. With that apology, Shuichi released a deep breath he was holding before he continued.
"As I was saying, no one here takes credit for it, right? But now there's more added to it." Shuichi began to explain. "It must have some meaning."
"So, seriously, none of us here wrote it? If this is a prank, you better speak up." Kaito told us.
"But Gonta stumbled onto the writing by coincidence, right?" Kokichi pointed out. "If it was a prank, then they would've done it in a more obvious spot, not in the grass. There's nothing more depressing than an unnoticed prank."
"That's true. This was purposely hidden for some reason." I nodded with a curious look.
"That's true. Whoever is writing this message to us is clearly putting in a lot of work. If it went unnoticed this entire time, it would have been for nothing." Rantaro added.
"Well, it could just be Gonta writing it, since he was the first one to find-"
"Gonta never do that!" Gonta cut Kokichi off. "Gonta never make trouble for everyone! It's…ungentlemanly."
"Then what exactly is that writing?" Kaede asked. It was an important question we couldn't help but ponder about. Just what does this message mean, and who was leaving it for us? Was it a clue to escape, or something more sinister?
"Well, I don't really get it, but… Maybe it's some kinda clue." Kaito suggested. "Thanks for the report, Gonta."
"...Gonta just glad to help." Gonta replied with a small smile. "Gonta want to help, even little. Tell Gonta if you need help with something, okay?"
"O-kay, got it! I'll let you know if I want you to punch someone." Kokichi answered with a smirk.
"No! You don't get to tell Gonta what to do anymore!" Tenko chided Kokichi.
"Y-Yeah…Gonta learn lesson after Insect Meet and Greet…" Upon hearing Gonta say that phrase, nearly all of us shuddered. The memory was still fresh, even if the worst of it had been purged from my memory. Bugs…so many bugs… ugh…!
"Tch, booooring." Kokichi sighed before turning to me. "At least I have my precious, loyal goon, riiiiiight Rinny?"
"I…uh…sure." I gave up trying to make an excuse to not be pulled into whatever scheme Kokichi was planning and just accepted my fate weakly. It couldn't possibly be worse than everything we've been through so far, right?
"Oh ho! My ears are burning! Are you guys talking about me again? You must love me!" As if on cue, Monokuma popped out from nowhere, just like usual, and began the usual daily skit that no one could be bothered to care about. "Hm? Are you getting dizzy from the face I make when I concentrate really hard?"
"Isn't your face always the same though? Since you're just a teddy bear?" Kaede asked with a tilted head.
"Never mind that… You guys are probably eager for it, right?" Monokuma asked. "My prize, that is."
"Prize?" Kirumi repeated in a slightly confused tone.
"Right? You guys can't live without getting a prize right now, right?" Monokuma asked with excitement pouring out of his expression. "That's what I thought, so I brought a prize!" Monokuma then gestured to the door, and in came Monodam, who looked less than pleased to be doing anything for Monokuma.
"..."
"Oh, c'mon, Monodam! Do your catchphrase that you and your cute, dead siblings always used to do!" Monokuma told him, but Monodam just stayed silent, causing Monokuma to huff and pout. "Hmph! Fine then! People like me way more than you cubs anyway, so I'll just do this myself."
"It looks like even Monodam has gotten sick and tired of his own father." Rantaro noted with a chuckle.
"Heeey, give us some lovin', tooooo. I want my reward alreadyyyyy." Kokichi whined.
"When did you get so friendly with Monokuma?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Okay, okay. The prize this time is…" Monokuma began as he pulled the objects out from behind him. "Ta-da! The priceless Octobrush, the twisting Spiral Key, and… a card key! Which just so happens to be the next motive, too!"
"Did you just say…motive!?" Shuichi exclaimed.
"A new motive!? Already!?" Kaede shouted in a panic.
"Yep! This mysterious card key is your next motive!" Monokuma told us with a cruel smile. "Yes! The old fashioned carrot and stick method is the perfect way to handle this and speed things up after the long drag of the last arc!"
"A card key is the motive? What does that even mean?" Kaito asked.
"So, the new area you can open with the card key… Is that where the real motive is?" Maki questioned.
"If that's the case…I can only think of two areas where a card key could be used." Rantaro said. "The hidden door in the library…"
"Or the exit at the end of the underground tunnel." I finished.
"One of those areas…is where the next motive is?" Kirumi questioned, doubt showing from her expression.
"Puhuhu, that's a secret. Why don't you use it if you're so curious?" Monokuma asked us as he set the prizes down on the table.
"No, we shouldn't. If we want to prevent another murder from happening-"
"Yoink! I'll take that card key then!" Kokichi cut Keebo off as he took the card key off the table.
"B-But that Monokuma's motive! What if another murder happen!?" Gonta exclaimed in a panic.
"I wouldn't mind that at all, y'know." Kokichi replied happily.
"What?" Shuichi muttered with a confused look.
"Cuz this is the killing game and we're the players, plain and simple. Why wouldn't the players play the game?" Kokichi explained with a twisted grin.
"Quit screwing around and just give it to us!" Kaito shouted.
"No thaaaaaanks! I think I'll go and-"
"Yoink." I said as I pulled the card out of Kokichi's hand as he flaunted it around. Kokichi's eyes widened as he turned around and saw me right behind him with the card in my hand, which I was now holding far above him since I was much taller than him. "You weren't paying attention to me since you were too busy taunting the others. Next time, watch your six." I lectured him as I placed the card in one of my coat's inside pockets before zipping it back up again, preventing any attempt Kokichi could make to try to steal it back. I was honestly a little shocked Kokichi didn't expect anyone to try to steal the card key back from him like this. It's what he would have done if one of us grabbed it first. Besides, I'm the one who sits closest to him, so it didn't make sense to me that he just let his guard down around me like that. In fact, my actions seemed to have completely blindsided him as he stared at me with a look of confusion and shock before they turned into a deep pout of betrayal.
"Riiiiiiiiiny! Why did you do that? I thought you said you were my loyal goon and were gonna help me make this game exciting!"
"Yeah, I only said I would help you if you weren't going to do stupid stuff like that." I corrected him with a sigh. "Besides, it's not like I'm going to just not use the card key. I'm going to just check it out myself later."
"But isn't that still dangerous?" Tenko asked me.
"Probably, but when have things not been dangerous here?" I asked her with a shrug. "Besides, I'm sure I can handle whatever this motive is. It's not like the previous ones were pulling any punches, especially when it came to me. This one can't be that much worse, right? Besides, I've gone through some pretty terrible crap myself, so I think out of anyone here, I have the best shot at managing it."
"Are…you really sure about this?" Kaede asked me with a worried look on her face.
"More sure than sure." I replied with a smile. "Just trust me. Besides, I'm the only one who can go check the underground tunnel if this card key is for that console that's there, so we don't really have a choice. Speaking of which…" I then turned to Gonta. "Hey, Gonta. Could you move those big rocks that are blocking the underground passage? I might have to go down there to check things out."
"Oh, right. Gonta do that." Gonta gave me a nod.
"With that taken care of, I guess I should ask a question before we start investigating." Rantaro said before turning to Monokuma. "Is there another Flashback Light for us to find?"
"Yep! I've hidden another one of those precious Flashback Lights somewhere once again!" Monokuma nodded. "I wonder what memories you'll uncover next! Well, that is, what memories all of you except Mister Wakuri will uncover next!"
"Die a violent death." I cursed him.
"And you as well, my good man! I hope that isn't any kind of foreshadowing for the future!" Monokuma shot back. "Happy hunting!" And with that, Monokuma left, yet Monodam stayed behind. In fact, he seemed to look at us with an expression of confliction.
"Hmm? Monodam, is something wrong?" Gonta asked him.
"..." He didn't say anything as he left, having said nothing at all since he arrived.
"He's a little strange now." Kaede noted.
"He did just lose all of his siblings, and his father is still Monokuma." Tenko noted.
"I kinda feel bad for him." Kaito muttered.
"Why? He's still on Monokuma's side, isn't he?" Kokichi asked.
"Maybe not. He did help us in the last case, and when he took over, things were actually going a lot smoothly." I commented. "Perhaps…we can trust him. For now at least. He seems like he wants to help, or at least, wants to get revenge against his father."
"That would be advantageous for us. Monodam is the only cub who can control an Exisal, after all. Having him on our side would be the best thing we could hope for." Rantaro nodded.
"Let's worry about Monodam later. We should begin searching the new areas and look for the Flashback Light." Shuichi said.
"That is a good idea." Keebo nodded. "How will we start our search this time?"
"I know where the Octobrush goes. There's something near Angie's lab where I think it can be used." Shuichi told us. That's right. There were those hanging scrolls next to her lab at some kind of shrine. It was strange before, but I never gave it too much thought.
"And what about the Spiral Key?" Kirumi asked.
"Hmm…" I hummed before a thought came to mind. "I think I know. There's a door near the gym we haven't been able to open yet, right? It's a key, so I'll go see if I can unlock that door."
"Sounds like a plan." Kaede gave me a smile. "You and Shuichi really have become so reliable. I'm glad."
"Well, it's all thanks to you and the others." I told her as I returned the smile.
"Shuichi and Rin are so amazing. Gonta wanna be useful to everyone too." Gonta admitted.
"You are, Gonta. You're one of the most helpful people here." Rantaro told him.
"Don't worry. When the time comes, we'll use your body as a meat shield." Maki then said.
"Okay! Gonta hope time come soon!"
"No! That's not okay! We would never use you for such an awful purpose!" Tenko shouted.
"Hmm… Hey, not to change the subject, but does this place seem different to you guys?" Kaito asked.
"Different?" I repeated.
"Yeah. It feels more…clean in here." Kaito explained.
"Now that you've mentioned it, all the shrubbery that used to be here is gone." Rantaro said as he looked around the dining room.
"Actually…it was the same way outside." Shuichi nodded. "There's a lot less green than before."
"I guess the Exisals are still doing maintenance." Kaede guessed.
"But what exactly is this place? What was it before we came here, and why does it need this level of maintenance?" Kirumi questioned.
"It could be some kind of old facility that's being renovated." I guessed. "There is a bit of old decor around this place."
"But didn't Monokuma and the cubs tell us this was a facility made for us?" Kokichi asked.
"That was probably a lie, don't you think?" Kaito asked. "There's no way this place was actually made specifically for us. The research labs, maybe. The entire school, no way."
"That's true. They had to add in my own room at the start of this, which proved this place wasn't made for me at least." I added.
"It is hard to imagine that they built this entire place just for us." Shuichi agreed.
"I also think Monokuma was lying. He is an exceptionally deceitful being." Keebo stated.
"Yeah! Just like me!" Kokichi chirped happily.
"That's not something most people would be proud of." I told him as sweat formed on my head. "Also, Keebo, 'being'? Isn't Monokuma a robot?"
"...Rin, have you been a robophobe this whole time?" Keebo asked me with a shocked and offended expression.
"N-No, that's not what I meant." I told him. "But this place certainly is strange. All the more reason we need to investigate, right?"
"Yes. Let us proceed to the new areas then." Kirumi said. With no objections, we all headed off to open up the new areas available to us. The first area that I went to was the door near the gym, along with Kaito, Tenko, Maki, Kirumi, and Kokichi. I stared at the door as I took out the Spiral Key from my pocket. A checkered pattern door. Is this the entrance to Kokichi's lab? But there isn't a sign outside it like the other labs. With my curiosity growing for every second I looked at the door, I inserted the key and turned it, causing the key to be destroyed from using it and creating a clicking sound that came from the door.
"It's unlocked…" I noted as I opened the door and led the others inside, immediately stopping the moment we entered.
"A spiral staircase?" Kirumi questioned as we looked up at the massive structure.
"It's so big! How far does it go?" Tenko asked.
"Of course… Spiral Key. That makes sense." I grimaced as I looked at what I knew was going to be a problem for me. "This better be worth it." And with that, we made our way up the stairs. We kept walking…and walking…and walking…and…walking… After we climbed a few flights I had to stop and take a break. My legs…are killing me. Damn…that…bear. Of course, I was the only one who was having any problems. Tenko was sprinting up the stairs like it was nothing to her, and Kaito and Kirumi were keeping a steady pace. Meanwhile, Kokichi and Maki were walking slowly, but they didn't seem fazed at all by how far up we had gone already.
"Is that really all you can do? Guess that's what you get for skipping out on training." Maki told me.
"Lay…off…me…Ugh…" I groaned as I placed my hands on my knees while I panted.
"Wow, Rinny. You really aren't too fit, are you." Kokichi teased me.
"Shut…up. I'm just…not good…with this many stairs…" I complained as I looked at the wall. "We've already…climbed up to the 3rd floor? Why does it feel like we've been at this longer than that?"
"It's the spiral staircase. It makes you feel like there's more than there actually is." Kokichi told me. "Or maybe it's just because you're not as fit as the killer over here, or the misandrist that's still sprinting to the top."
"Watch what you say around me if you want to keep your tongue." Maki threatened Kokichi with a dark glare.
"Don't fight. Please." I told them as I straightened my posture again. "Okay, let's keep going." And so, we continued on. We passed the 4th floor, then the 5th, and after that, we were at the top. "Phew…Finally…at the top." I panted once again as I leaned against the railing.
"You seriously need to keep up with leg day." Kokichi told me with that stupid cheeky grin of his.
"Shut…up…Kokichi…" I told him sternly as I grabbed the collar of my shirt and used it to fan myself.
"From the looks of things, this looks like the very top of the academy." Maki said as she looked out a window that was on top of the staircase. I hobbled over and peered out the window as well, and just as she said, from this perspective, it seemed like we were finally at the top of the school. Still, I guess they still need to do a bit more maintenance up here, since there's still some weeds and vines covering a little of this part of the school.
I then turned my head to look at what was ahead of us. "The 6th floor, and all that's here for us…is a single room?" It was true. There was only a door that greeted us at the top. It was a blue door with stairs painted on it, as well as a large rocket outline around the door. There were even windows on the door to make it look more like a rocket.
"From the design, it's easy to tell it's Kaito's research lab." Maki said before sighing. "They made us climb all these stairs just for the Ultimate Astronaut's lab?"
"Seriously…why is Spaceman's lab so important it gets to be all alone on the top floor?" Kokichi pouted.
"Agreed. This…wasn't worth it." I nodded as I held onto my thighs, which were burning. Badly. "But we have no choice. The others are probably already inside. Let's head in and see what's so special about this place."
"Yeah. there might be something useful in here…probably." Maki nodded with a doubtful look.
"Then allow me!" Kokichi exclaimed as he rushed to the door and pushed it open. The moment he opened it, it was like we entered a different world, or rather, a different planet. The lab was designed like it was a spaceship on a new planet like Mars, with the ceiling designed like a dark, starry night. Actually, the stars were being made with a projector that was in the room.
"This is amazing… It looks like the cockpit of a real spaceship." I gasped as I looked around the room.
"It's pretty cool, right?" Kaito said as he saw us enter. "Perfect for my research lab!"
"So you can actually operate this, Kaito?" Kokichi asked, a genuine look of amusement and awe on his face as he looked at the cockpit in front of us.
"It's not actually part of a real spaceship, right? It's just a simulation, yeah?" Tenko asked.
"Well, I've never seen this kind of machine before, but I've trained with something like it." Kaito told her. "Well, I guess it'll all work out!"
"What reckless confidence. As expected from our idiot Spaceman." Kokichi teased. "I doubt anyone would want to be in a spaceship with you."
"This is a simulator?" I asked as I looked inside the cockpit, ignoring Kaito yelling at the little supreme leader as I did. "It seems a little too complex and elaborate to just be a normal simulation. Then again, it's not like I've ever seen something like this before."
"That's what I thought." Kaito told me. "But nah, no way it's real. I mean, what would it even operate?"
"Excuse me, I think I found something of interest." Kirumi told us as she climbed out of what looked like some kind of space vehicle that was in the lab.
"What's that? A file?" Maki asked as she looked at what Kirumi was showing us.
"The…" I trailed off as I read the title of the document, feeling my heart drop.
"The Gofer Project?" Tenko finished for me.
"What? What the hell is that?" Kaito asked.
"Well, it's a document about this thing, right? What does it say?" Kokichi asked.
"Well…" Kirumi said as she opened the document up. "The Gofer Project. The last hope to save humanity from the disaster raining down from space. Burdened with this imperative project are boys and girls of exceptional talent. That is the purpose of the Gofer Project. The Seed of Future Hope." All of us paled a little at the details of the file.
"D-Disaster raining down from space?" Tenko repeated with a horrified look.
"And talented boys and girls are burdened with this project. A project that's the last hope of humanity?" Maki added.
"W-Well…what about the rest of it? What's it say!?" Kaito asked in a panicked voice.
"I am sorry, but the rest of the document is blacked out." Kirumi said as she showed us the paper. Just as she said, the lines after that were all blacked out, impossible to read.
"Did Monokuma do this!? Is he just screwing with us?!" Kaito yelled.
"This certainly is interesting though." Kokichi noted. "What do you think this is? It sounds pretty ridiculous at first, but what do you think?"
"It does sound like the plot of a movie, doesn't it?" I gave a dry chuckle, remembering what Foresight told me back when we opened up Gonta's lab. Actually…I haven't been having many Foresights as of yet. That's strange, and now with the appearance of the Gofer Project here, I can't help but wonder why Foresight told me about it.
"But do you think the talented boys and girls part of this file is referring to us?" Tenko asked.
"And what could the seed of future hope mean?" Kirumi asked.
"It's like Noah's Ark." Maki noted.
"Huh? Noah's Ark?" Kaito asked.
"It's a Bible story, from the book of Genesis. It's one of the first things you read about in the Bible." I told him, once again explaining the story like before. "God told Noah to gather his family and a pair of every animal kind onto an ark he was to make to survive a massive disaster that God was going to send as punishment for humanity's immense sin. In the story, it was a flood that covered the world."
"And the thing about that story is that the ark was built with gofer wood." Maki told him. "Of course, it's just a story from the Bible, but to choose that name in particular…"
"And with what the file mentioned… A disaster raining down from space. Perhaps that's this project's 'Flood', if you will." Kokichi smirked with a knowing smile.
"It does seem related when you put it like that, but what about us? Why is this even here?" Tenko asked.
"Maybe…we'll find out soon. Knowing how Monokuma does things, I doubt he would let us find that file just on a whim." I grimaced, not liking where this was going."
"If we find the next Flashback Light, maybe we'll remember what this is all about." Maki suggested.
"Then we should continue our search." Kirumi stated.
"Well, it doesn't seem to be here in Space Idiot's lab." Kokichi sighed.
"So it must be somewhere else!" Kaito exclaimed, ignoring Kokichi's insults. "We gotta go look for it first."
"You're right… This place is useless to us now." Maki sighed.
"I'm gonna pretend I didn't hear that… Cuz we gotta find the Flashback Light!" And with that, Kaito led the others out of his lab. However, I stayed behind and looked at the lab one last time. The Gofer Project, Foresight, and one more thing were on my mind. "Then, after gazing upon the stars…" I repeated part of the secret message as I stared at Kaito's lab. This lab had a projector that was showing the stars. It's like a planetarium. In fact… I walked over to the projector and examined it quickly. It had settings that could alter what it showed. It could show outlines of constellations, close up of galaxies, stars, and planets, and more. It really is like a planetarium. I wonder…does this room have to do with the hint?
I took out the Survivor Perk, as I still had it. I'll have to hand this back to Rantaro soon. It is his, after all. And luckily, it seems there isn't any trace of that message anymore. It seems like it deleted itself right after it showed itself to me. I sighed as I put the device back into my pocket and left the room. There's still so much to figure out. I just hope I can do it. Or else who knows what will-
"Rinny! Give me a piggyback ride back down!" Kokichi ordered me as soon as I exited the lab. Snapped out of my thoughts, I deadpanned as I stared at the little imp, who was looking back at me with a childish grin.
"...No way in hell." I responded as I made the painful trek back down the stairs, Kokichi whining and pouting behind me the entire time. Why me…?
