The group of five that consisted of Niles, Rantaro, Kokichi, Maki and Miu, made their way up to the third floor. Idle chatter was made between the five, a lot of it bickering and berating between Miu and Kokichi with an occasional comment tossed in by Niles. Maki only split from the group for a brief moment to check on her lab to make sure that no one snuck into her lab before she and the other four got up to the third floor. After double checking that no one was in the lab and that nothing had been removed, she rejoins the group. Once Maki had rejoined them, Niles leads the group over to the pixelated doorway
"I really did not like this doorway for two reasons - I could not get it open which was frustrating due to that I am an excellent lockpick, and the fact that it looks extremely out of place," Niles says.
"It is really ugly, that's for fuckin' sure," Miu says, looking the door up and down.
"Yeah! Ugly like you!" Kokichi immediately retorts, causing the blonde to become slightly flustered. Rantaro shakes his head a bit at the two.
"Why do I feel like a tired dad?" Rantaro asks with a heavy sigh.
"Because you are dad!" Kokichi and Miu respond in sync. This causes Niles to snort, covering his mouth with a hand as to not burst out laughing.
"...You walked into that one," Maki says to Rantaro.
"Yeah, yeah I did. But if I'm dad, that also makes Niles dad," Rantaro says, causing Niles to immediately stop laughing.
"Oh no no no... I am not being dragged into this shenanigan," Niles says, wanting to put a stop to that before it started.
"Too late! If you're gonna date Rantaro and he's dad, that also makes you dad, Dad!" Kokichi says. "Wait - they need different names since Dad and Dad would be confusing-"
"Well Rantaro is dad," Miu says. She and Kokichi both stroke their chins in thought.
"...Daddy for Niles," Maki says quietly, throwing that in just to mess with Niles. Since Niles had been closest to Maki in position, he chokes on air.
"MAKI-" Niles says, his eye widening. "I didn't know you had that sort of thing in you-"
"Well hanging around you certainly influenced my vocabulary," Maki responds.
"What did she say? I didn't catch it-" Miu asks. Maki looks at Niles, a smirk appearing on her face since her plan had actually worked.
"Daddy," the brunette responds. This time, Rantaro starts laughing seeing Niles of all people actually flustered and grips his sides as he laughs. Niles's tan face was now a little flushed as he covered his face with a hand. He was holding his tongue as he knew any comment he could make would come to bite him in the ass.
"YES!" Kokichi shouts, stars in his eyes. "Dad and Daddy!"
"Rantaro dearest, this is completely your fault," Niles huffs at his boyfriend.
"Oh I'm sorry Daddy, we didn't mean to upset you," Miu snickers, causing Rantaro to laugh even more.
"And you, are the worst," Niles huffs at Maki, pointing his finger at the Assassin.
"Don't know what you're talking about," Maki retorts. "Now are you going to open that door or are you going to pout like a big baby?"
"Fine! I see how it is! I'm just here to be used as a mere tool and a punching bag for people's tauntings!" Niles says dramatically as he goes over to the door and uses the key to open it. As the key gets used on the pixelated door, it shatters into numerous pixels, each one dissipating into the air and leaving an open archway revealing some stairs up to the next floor.
"Thanks for opening the door Daddy!" Kokichi says cheekily before dashing down the hallway and up the stairs, Miu cackling as she follows after the short male. Maki decides that she didn't want to be within smacking range of Niles, despite knowing that he could easily shoot her from a distance. The brunette hurriedly follows after Miu and Kokichi knowing damn well this was indeed her fault.
"Are you going to be alright?" Rantaro asks Niles after he calms down from his laughter fit.
"Yeah, I'll be fine. Just uh didn't expect to be called Daddy is all," Niles admits, still glaring a hole into the back of Maki's head. Deciding not to question the situation further, Rantaro starts to walk after the other three with Niles.
"Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad hurry uuuuuuuuup," Kokichi whines out when the taller two males were only just heading up the stairs. "We got a creepy but cool atmosphere up here!"
"Patience Kokichi," Rantaro calls back with a chuckle. He decided to just embrace the whole Dad and Daddy thing as he knew it wasn't going to go away anytime soon. Besides, he found it funny and oddly endearing despite knowing it was mainly just to irk him and Niles. Also, seeing something playful get under his boyfriend's skin was both impressive and amusing.
"But I don't have any! I'm not the Ultimate Doctor!" Kokichi retorts. "Or maybe I am~ Maybe Ultimate Supreme Leader is just one big lie~"
"If you're the Ultimate Doctor, then I hope no one gets sick," Niles comments.
"Dayum- Get roasted ya fuckin' runt!" Miu laughs at Kokichi, having stopped walking to laugh and not walk into a wall.
"Oh shut your mouth you stupid whore-" Kokichi scowls also stopping and glaring at the laughing blonde.
"Whatcha gonna do about it~?" Miu challenges, managing to not get flustered this time.
"Now now children, it wouldn't do well to fight amongst one another, now would it~?" Niles hums out as he and Rantaro catch up to the bickering Ultimates.
"Deciding to embrace your role as Daddy, Niles?" Maki asks, her face neutral but the faintest hint of playfulness in her eyes.
"No, no I'm not Maki Roll. I'm simply calling those two what they are - children," Niles says, throwing the nickname from Kaito at her in response.
"...Don't you dare use that on me," Maki glares, hand instinctively reaching for a knife.
"Don't call me Daddy, and I won't call you Maki Roll," Niles says plainly.
"Fine," Maki huffs. "But let's find use of that hammer then, shall we?"
"Mhm. Though you were right about this being creepy.." Rantaro says as he looks at the very bizarrely colored room. "It's like we're in some old... horror movie world."
"It's a little cheesy in my opinion," Miu comments, looking around. "Left, right or kinda straight ahead?"
"Well it's good thing there's no straight option cause I don't think anyone here is straight," Niles chimes in, causing Rantaro and Kokichi to snort.
"...You're not wrong on that. But that door down to the right looks like a Research Lab," Maki says before heading that way to see who's Research Lab it was. The others follow suit and everyone was able to tell that this was most likely Korekiyo's Lab. Since Maki reached the door first, she opens the door and heads in inside.
"Yup. This is Korekiyo's Lab alright," Rantaro says. "Let's not touch anything or move anything out place..."
"Definitely don't want to be trapped in here with him alone, that's for sure," Niles hums out as he heads towards the other door. The others quick to follow him out, making sure not to bump or walk into anything. None of them wanted to be in there when Korekiyo came around. The group of five notice that they were in the corridor that would have been down the kinda straight path from the intersection. They continue away from the intersection and pause in front of a suspicious looking wall.
"Well that's totally not the way up," Kokichi comments sarcastically.
"Definitely not," Niles says, playing along before continuing onwards again. He comes across the next Research Lab but upon seeing the door, he scowls. "Damn. Angie's Lab so it's going to be locked."
"Aren't you an Outlaw? Couldn't you just ya know, pick the lock?" Miu asks, arching an eyebrow.
"And die for breaking the rules? No thank you. If this was the real world, I absolutely would break in if needed. But I'm not stupid enough to try to break in, as curious as I am," Niles answers.
"Buuuuut I think we all can agree good riddance to Angie~ She was really weird," Kokichi comments.
"Absolutely," Niles and Miu say to Kokichi.
"I can't in good conscience agree with that statement, despite the fact that her death was as just as it could be," Rantaro says.
"And this is why you're the moral compass of the group," Maki says to the green haired male. "I... am indifferent. I did not care for Angie but I was not joyed at her death."
"I really am," Rantaro says, sweatdropping a bit.
"You knew I was chaotic darling~ And you fell for me regardless~" Niles smirks at his boyfriend.
"Can't deny that," Rantaro chuckles, smiling a bit.
"Ewwwww Dad and Daddy are flirting!" Kokichi says, making a face of playful disgusting before running away as if he was going to catch cooties from the two. The other four shake their heads, various degrees of smiles and laughter coming from each as they follow Kokichi back to the intersection. With only one last way to go, the group takes yet another right to continue exploring the fourth floor. Niles, Rantaro and Maki poke their heads into the three doors lined up next to each other, each to only find an empty and dark room behind the doors.
"That's weird..." Maki says, stepping back. "Empty."
"Mine was empty as well," Rantaro says as he leaves.
"Third was empty. Bizarre. Maybe they're just rooms to be used for whatever," Niles says.
"Huh, fuckin' weird indeed," Miu says, looking backs. "Though I think this blonde genius has figured out where to use that hammer~ Come smash this shitty glass pane!"
"Oh wow! You used your brain for once! Who knew you could actually use it!" Kokichi gasps, slapping both cheeks with his hands in faux shock.
"Rantaro darling, would you like to do the honors~?" Niles asks, handing the hammer to Rantaro. The Adventurer looks at the golden hammer for a moment before taking it into his hands.
"Sure," Rantaro says before walking to the glass pane. He grips the hammer and then swings, the face of the hammer hitting the glass, causing the pane to shatter into multiple pieces. A very different looking door and hallway was revealed to the others, causing Niles to be very confused by what he was witnessing.
"What in the shit kind of door is that-"