Welcome back to another chapter. In recent news I've created a Discord I'll post the link at the end of the chapter and it is also on my profile page. Everything you need to know is in the rules section of my Discord, but it's a fun server with many different stories. And I'd like to thank Parafin and El Torro for joining the team and offering to be betas.

Dormitory Hallway 3:15 PM

Ryoko's POV

I was just leaving my dorm room after cooling off from my encounter with Ouma. There was something about him, most likely his stupid voice, that just... just set me off. I found my beginnings of my sojourn interrupted when the ultimate feministic misandrist, Tenko, and the ever lazy Himiko bumped into me. Luckily for Himiko, she has yet to do anything to trigger my dislike of lazy asses, but it seemed to me that it would start today when she and Tenko started bickering between each other without even apologizing for brushing up against me.

"Come on, Himiko. Come to the gym with me," Tenko pleaded to the short, red-headed 'mage.'

"Nyeh, that's too much effort," Himiko whined.

"Himiko, working out is good for the body. I could even teach you some Neo-Aikido,"

"But, nyeh, it's just so much work. I really don't want to do that, Tenko." She began slowly backing away from the fitness freak.

Tenko looked up from Himiko just long enough to notice me towards the end of the hallway, slowly making my way towards them. Tenko then smiled, possibly thinking she may have someone who could aid in her argument.

"Ryoko, don't you think Himiko should get in the gym a bit more?" Tenko asked, raising her voice slightly, as if she was making sure I heard her.

"I think the gym can help anyone out, especially the likes of Hifumi." I scoffed at the thought of looking like Hifumi before continuing. "But, it's by choice, so if Himiko doesn't want to then she shouldn't be forced to."

"Ryoko, you aren't helping," Tenko hissed in my ear as I stood next to her.

"If you want what's best for her, let her do what she wants. She's her own person," I whispered back, as we watched Himiko walk away from us.

"You know I want what's best for her, that's why I want her to train so she can defend herself," Tenko reasoned. "You aren't giving Himiko enough credit! She's a perfectly valid mage!" Tenko continued.

"...Then when is she going to do something valid?" I asked.

"When she feels like it! It'll happen on her own," Tenko answered crossing her arms.

"...Just like her working out?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"...Um"

"I get your point, Tenko, but think about it. If you want to be with her, you have to let her make her own decisions, you can't make them for her. Like you say, men don't let women make their own decisions, you're trying to do that with Himiko right now," I explained, being as blunt as possible.

"I… guess you're right, I have been a bit of a hypocrite lately. Thanks for pointing that out."

"No problem, I was taught to be straight forward. Usually it's best for both parties if people are straight with others," I explained.

"Well, since my plans with Himiko have been canceled, you want to hit the gym for a bit? I know I could use some more exercise to get my mind off of this stupid game," Tenko inquired.

"I've got nothing better to do, so why not?" I responded, "And maybe we'll kick some of the guys' asses while we're at it, I'm sure some of them are there."

"Yeah, let's do it," Tenko cheered as we left for the gym.

"But before we do that, why are you so concerned with Himiko?"

"...If I told you you'd laugh at me, I'm not ready for that just yet." Tenko smiled slightly waving the question aside.

"Fine by me, just let her be her own person, how about that?" I responded, dropping the discussion.

Cafeteria, 3:37 PM

Makoto's POV

When Mahiru and I sat across from each other, the conversation almost came to a standstill. Besides occasional looks at each other, dialogue does not come easily between us. I finish my ribs quite handily and wipe at my napkin as I head up. Mahiru finishes her chicken cutlet without much flair and does the same, dabbing at her chin.

"Thank you, Naegi, for inviting me along," Mahiru said. "I appreciate you pulling out my chair. It's nice to see that there is another man who has yet to forget the ways of chivalry." She rose from her seat and started towards the doors.

I mumbled, "Thanks for coming over."

The photographer leaves the cafeteria and closes the door behind her while I finish off my drink. When I finally finish it I carry Mahiru's left behind cup and my own to the dish washing receptacle. As I close the door to the conveyor belt I step back, bumping into a moving mass. "Sorry!" I hastily shouted, turning around to see a pile of spaghetti flying high in the sky. I back away once again, and the person I bumped into receives the brunt of the spaghetti. "Sorry, Nagito."

The other lucky student smiles and walks over to the trash can, where he dumps the spaghetti off of his head and into the bin. Almost suddenly he reaches his hand into the bin, holding up something shiny. "What are these things?"

At that point, an all too familiar voice speaks up, scaring the daylights out of the two of us. "THEY'RE MONOCOINS!"

"Monocoins?" Komaeda asked.

"Once a certain location is available, then you can use those for anything your heart desires, so long as it's available in that location, so unfortunately no freedom!" The bear cackles and dances out of the room.

"Well looks like my turn of luck has struck again," Nagito says wistfully. He plucks out the coins and I see him count out a total of fifteen. "It is serendipitous that there are many Monocoins here rather than a few."

"Maybe Monokuma is supposed to scatter them?" I speculate.

"Perhaps," Komaeda says, pocketing them. "Perhaps not."

I look around to see that the cafeteria is currently… in motion? Many of the tables are rearranging themselves to form a new layout. As I look around I see Miu fiddling with a control stick and Keebo moving in the same direction with the tables. I look on worriedly as Miu finally stops fooling around with the control stick.

"Oh look, it's the two luckless fuckwits," Miu says as the two of us run up to her.

"Didn't you see Keebo darting around the room?" I ask worriedly.

"I don't mind," Keebo says quietly.

"Where did you even get such a remarkable...remarkable control box?" Nagito breathed heavily as he took ahold of the control box.

"Fuck knows why it's here," Miu says quietly. "And don't ask me why metal boner hair is following me."

"Miss Iruma, you know that this hair is in fact an antenna, right?" Keebo asks quietly. "And with your vulgar attitude, I felt as though I must learn at least a hint of vulgarity in order to remain human… bitches…"

"Yeah, don't strain your circuits, my metal hooker."

"You're normally so polite and it wouldn't be normal to hear a nice guy like you cursing so brazenly," I remark.

"But back to the subject at hand," Keebo continues. "Miss Iruma and I were wandering the halls and found a room with this toy in it."

"This is not a toy," Nagito says. "And I'm giving it, against my better judgement, to miss Iruma once more. She seems to know more about it and I have yet to see Mister Soda anywhere. Miu and Soda as of yet are our main technological experts, what a remarkable thing."

The three of us stare blankly at Nagito as Miu tugs Keebo along. "Hey, wait up!" I shout, chasing after them.

I hear the sounds of Nagito tailing behind us, and Miu sighs loudly. At that point there's no stopping the albino from joining us. Nevertheless, we turned into the room where they found the control box, and it's to my shock that it's one of the classrooms that Rantaro and I marked as not important. "But this isn't important," I say, shocked.

"Well we found it in one of these cabinets," Miu says bluntly. "Easier to break into than my pussy."

"What else did you find?"

Keebo points over to a pile of random props. Komaeda walks over to them with a bit of a skip in his step, a bit too skippy if you ask me. He looks around in the pile and holds up a manila folder branded with Monokuma's face on it. "Nothing in this one."

He digs through the pile and finds five hundred bills with monokuma's face on them. "...Don't tell me they're supposed to be Mono-currency," I complain.

"Oh, sure, the Americans can put their faces on the bills, yet when I do it I'm a villain," a voice complains. Emerging from the pile, the annoyingly wicked bear jumps out. "For that, no Mono-bucks!"

The bear's swipe is fierce and Komaeda looks at us in bewilderment. I turn to Keebo and he is mirroring his expression. "It appears as though I was undeserving," he says with a sad smile. "Unlike you two, and Mister Makoto to an extent."

"What's that supposed to mean? We're both ultimate Lucks," I say, walking up to the pile on my own. As I do so, my foot rolls over a canister with a Monokuma-shaped lid on it. I almost tumble into the pile when both Miu and Nagito rush to catch me. "...Whether it's good or bad, we have it."

"But you have more," Nagito says. I'm suddenly aware of the gripping pressure that he's applying on my forearm and I try to move. "You have hope… Naegi."

He lets go abruptly and Miu is forced to steady my balance, almost falling on a Monokuma cigar. "Jeez, I thought I was the horny one," Miu snipes. "This pile has nothing in it."

"...Very well," Nagito says. "I suppose we'll all just leave it be."

"Why so ominous, Mister Komaeda?" Keebo asks. The three of us turn to him and see that he's shrugging. "Is that not a typical way of formatting questions?"

"No it ain't, colddick," Miu says.

"Right, I'll see you all around." I back out of the conversation awkwardly. "I'm going to look for Sayaka."

"Don't bump uglies without protection. We haven't found them yet."

Hallway Wing 1-A 3:48 PM

Ichiro's POV

I was doing my own investigation of the new wing of classrooms that had opened up to us. It wasn't anything spectacular. Just a bunch of classrooms. However, I continued my search, you never know, the bear may have left something behind which may be a clue on how to get out of here or what happened here. I was about to open up another one of the classroom doors when it burst open slapping me right in the face knocking me over.

"Oops. Sorry, dude," Yasuhiro said, scratching the back of his head before extending a hand to help me up which I accepted. "I was kind of in a hurry to get back to my room."

"What for? Curfew isn't for another, like, six hours."

"Well, my crystal ball here," Hiro stated, holding out his crystal ball for me to see, "just showed me some… interesting stuff, and I wanted to get back to my room to write it down."

"Why not just stay in your room?" I inquired, raising and eyebrow.

"I used to, but after Ibuki died in her dorm room I just don't feel that safe there anymore."

"That's understandable, I guess. By chance, would you want to share what you saw?"

"Naw, man. I still don't think I have all of the pieces yet. I'm probably going to consult my tarot cards tonight as well."

"Well then, how'd you become the Ultimate Clairvoyant?" I asked as we started to walk towards the dorms.

"Well, I always wanted to know the future, man. It fascinated me, really. I started researching about people having visions in dreams and stuff like that, which lead me to fortune telling. I got lucky and found a set of tarot cards in a dumpster, and it just started from there."

"Huh, that's interesting. Have you ever thought about trying to see the past?" I asked.

"Yeah I have, but I tend to see to see the future better. However, what's odd is that this time I'm seeing a bit of past, present, and future. I can't tell what it is, but I'm led to believe that we all knew each other at some point. But I can't seem to explain how."

"Wow, man. I hope for your sake that you're right. We might be able to get some needed answers."

"How about you? How'd you get your talent? I mean it's an american sport so I find it hard to imagine that you're from Japan," Hiro inquired.

"Originally yes I am from Japan. At around the age of ten I moved to America because my father needed to move because of his business. My dad enrolled me into football as a way for me to make some new friends. Little did he know I was actually really good at it. I became a top young prospect for colleges, but my dad was forced to move back to Japan, so those opportunities went out the window. But I played in a football league in Japan that allowed me to get noticed by Hope's Peak, who offered me an opportunity to join the school."

"I got to say, man, the time and dedication that each and every one of us here has had to go through to get to where we are now is insane to me. Like, the athletes like yourself had to work endlessly to perfect your craft and to become the best," Hiro said.

"Hiro, you've said a lot of stupid shit, and you've done a lot of stupid shit, but you actually seem like a decent guy."

"The game just gets to me, man. I'm not the brightest person but man when the pressure gets to me and I do some stupid stuff man,"

"Hey I may seem like an asshole sometimes but, I think I get it. In football some handle the pressure better than others, so I kinda get from where you're coming from." I smiled, clapping him on the back as we came across his dorm room.

"I appreciate you giving me the time of day, man. No one else really has." A slight smile crossed Hiro's face.

"It's no problem, dude, and I hope you find the answer you're looking for. I think we need something to hope for, or at least something to know."

"I know, I'll do what I can," Hiro exclaimed, extending his hand out for me to shake which I accepted. Before I walked away and he shut the door to his room.

Dormitory Hallway 3:55 PM

Makoto POV

I turn the hall and step into my room for a brief moment. I empty the contents of my pockets instinctively. It's been a habit of mine since I was little, ever since I walked home with pockets full of coins plucked from the streets, but as expected of this isolated gilded cage, my pockets have usually contained nothing.

This time, however, I found a piece of paper. "Let's hang out tomorrow," the note reads. I flip it over and see that it's from Sayaka. She's got a music note acting as her signature and it has a strong red color. I wonder if Leon added his own touch to this, I mused.

I put the note on my desk to find that my trash has filled up with random trash effects. I rifle through the contents and find nothing of note. With a sigh I sit at my desk and stare at the patterns on my ceiling. "There's no trash dispensary, is there Mister Monokuma?"

"Boy that's respectful of you!" I jumped and turned around to see Monokuma dancing on my bed. His fists are balled and he's rocking them side to side, occasionally going in between both fists in a flossing motion. "Eh, we don't really care. For your small shit, just chuck it into the incinerator."

"That seems dirty," I commented.

"Who gives a fuck about the ozone layer?! Just do it!" The bear disappears when he throws some kind of smoke bomb and I'm left coughing and coughing in its wake.

Quietly I bend over and tie off the bag that's in my trash can without much flair. With a sigh I open my door and push open my door. The walk to the incinerator is boring, but at least it gives me some time to think and muse about things. The incinerator is open and I take note of the scenery. True to Monokuma's word there is some kind of firebox with a raging blaze within. To the best of my ability I could see a pipe extending upwards and outwards. I open the door to get a large flame almost bursting in my face. I back up into a mass of muscle and cover my face in horror, dropping my back.

"Careful Mister Naegi," I heard Sakura calmly said.

"Makoto why'd you open the door so close to your face? Is it because you're not much taller than me?" Aoi bubbly asked.

"I just wanted to throw my trash away," I said quietly.

"Are you okay Mister Naegi?" Sakura asked.

"I'm fine, but I'm going to head off after I chuck my trash in there. Maybe to see Mikan or someone."

"If you're blind then I'm willing to help you out," Aoi says perkily. "Here, I can take the trash out. But why in the incinerator?"

"Monokuma told me." I'm met with a confused look from Sakura and an inquisitive look from Aoi. "Beats me.

The swimmer opens up the door to the flames and throws my trash in without much windup. "I see what you mean Naegi, that's a really hot flame. Why do I get the feeling that Monokuma was just trolling you?"

The three of us look at each other and move out of the alcove that makes up the incinerator room. I notice that Sakura and Aoi have been tightly talking to each other as I make my way to the infirmary. "So what was it you were saying about your family at home Sakura?"

"We're an old family," Sakura says simply. "And for that matter most of them travel. There are many of us who have chosen to remain in Japan. You said you came from a family of athletics as well right?"

"Yes! My brother and I were supposed to head on tour for many different competitions. He's like the second best swimmer, after me, with our dad on the police force it's our mom that goes with us. She's annoying at times but she loves us."

"What of you Makoto?" Sakura asks, turning to me.

"Me? I'm just normal. My parents are both salary-workers and my little sister is a solid B student, just like me."

"Everyone has a unique family," Aoi says optimistically. "I bet you did a lot of fun things before coming here! Right?"

"Not really, but I did enjoy going with my sister to those invention conventions. And every weekend we would find a brand new park to hang out in. I personally think that was rather fun but it's not anything like swim meets or martial arts tournaments."

"The important manner is that you have fun," Sakura says as she opens the door to the infirmary. "Bonds with your loved ones are nothing to take for granted. And now they are mere memories."

"EE!" Mikan squeals when she turns around. She's holding a bottle of alcohol and a rag in one hand, almost dropping it as she recovers. Breathing heavily, Aoi runs behind her and catches her as she falls backward, her butt sticking out as she gets herself wet with some water. "Sorry!"

"What are you apologizing for?" I ask.

"I'm so clumsy! And I got myself wet for no reason! You probably needed help and I-"

"Mikan it's okay!" Aoi shouts. "I think Makoto just wanted to check in on his face."

"Oh, well then that's fine," Mikan says, straightening up with a bit of a shudder. "I'm sorry for my unprofessionalism but nothing's wrong with Makoto. Why would you think that?"

"When he was disposing of his waste in the incinerator he got a face full of flame," Sakura says gruffly. I touch my face and it still feels as smooth as it was before.

"Don't worry Makoto," Mikan says. "I can tell from here that you are perfectly fine. There is hardly a scorch on you! Don't worry about that."

"In that case I think I'll head out then," I say quietly.

"Ooh I'll join you Makoto," Aoi says perkily. "It's been fun talking with you and I know Sakura needs to talk about something with our lovely nurse here."

"That I do," Sakura says. She stomps over to Mikan, who momentarily recoils, and the two begin talking in a hushed whisper.

"Well Makoto," Aoi starts. "You have a little sister? I guess that we're both big siblings, huh?"

"Yeah I guess so," I reply. "So did your little brother do swimming because of you?"

"Our entire family had a big affinity to swimming, he got it from our parents more than anything. He's annoying but I'm faster than he is so that shuts him up quickly. I just miss him. I hope he isn't in trouble."

"I feel the same way. After that DVD we had, Komaru has been on my mind a lot more. She can take care of herself a whole lot but she's a teenage girl so-"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Aoi asks, more curious than offended.

"I mean that uh, she uh, she has her fair share of worries, more than a teenage boy would have I assume."

"Meh, fair enough," Aoi agrees. "I'd think that whatever troubles that they'd be you'd be willing to help them out well and good. So Mister Naegi, are you heading back to your dorm? I think I'm going to sleep. I haven't had a donut in a long time."

"That sounds like a good plan to me," I say contently. "Unless that-"

"Attention, student body: please report to the gymnasium for an important announcement!"

"Well, there go those plans," I said, shrugging as Aoi and I share a glance.

"...He's not going to give us a break...is he?"

"We'll get through this one, I'm sure."

Motive Revealed

Gym 4: 23 PM

Ichiro's POV

"Attention, student body: please report to the gymnasium for an important announcement," the bear called.

I was just laying in my bed at that point waiting for dinner, and my mood immediately soured when I heard him speak. I knew it was a motive that he wanted to announce. I considered not going, but I remembered that this bear could do whatever he wanted and get away with it, so I decided not to push my luck. I got up from my bed, and opened my door to leave.

I walked down the hallway, seeing a few familiar faces. Ryoma was just ahead of me, and it looked like Sayaka and Leon had just turned the corner and were chatting with each other. I turned the corner and walked to the gymnasium. I wasn't in any particular hurry, but it wasn't long before I came across the gym doors like I did day one. I opened the set of doors and made my way over to Ryoko, who nodded at me, so I returned the gesture.

We waited just a minute more for the likes of Hifumi and Tsumugi to walk in from who knows where. And then, once again, the bear popped out from nowhere, announcing his unwanted presence.

"Welcome, students of Hope's Peak. I hope your day has been as great as mine has."

"Fuck off, you stuffed build-a-bear," Fuyuhiko snapped.

"How dare you say that to your headmaster. But alas, you did lose your closest friend, or maybe she was something more."

"Get on with it, Monokuma, some of us don't have all day." Togami rolled his eyes at the exchange.

"Punctual as ever . As you wish, I brought you all here for your next motive."

"Figures," Toko grumbled under her breath.

"This motive doesn't have to be acted upon, but the risk is worth the reward. Each of you will receive an item that is almost never thought of as a murder weapon - things such as buckets and electrical wires that bear my seal of approval are considered Monokuma Weapons. If the weapon is used as the murder weapon that ultimately kills a victim, you get a free pass out of here. No trial. No nothing."

"I assume these weapons are almost impossible to kill with then. I mean, you wouldn't willingly give someone a free pass unless the task was near impossible," Kyoko stated.

"You'll just have to see for yourselves. You each have had one placed in your rooms. Have fun, kiddies." Monokuma cheered before disappearing once more.

Once again, Monokuma left us with a motive soon after death, and once again, it wasn't an easy one. Someone will definitely be tempted by this motive. The question was whom.

And that's it, I hope you all enjoyed it. Here's the Discord for those that want to join and I hope you do. Discord:https(colon)(backslash)(backslash) (backslash)rrEANE7

Again I hope you join and let's get this story to 20 favs and follows by chapter 20.

Corn: I'm glad you enjoyed the focus on Ibuki and Leon, Fuyuhiko will get a little spotlight later, but let's be honest, he'd just lock himself in his room. MakotoxMahiru has not been decided yet and I'll not disclose if Makoto will get with anyone or not. And we'll see how your predictions work out for you.