I forgot to post yesterday omfg. I was even talking about my plans to update and somehow managed to forget. But you know what? Everything's fine. The chapter is here now, and that's what matters. Enjoy.


In the corner of the room, curtains are pulled back to reveal a giant lottery machine. It's made all of gold, and across the top is an image of Monokuma wearing a suit, complete with a top hat and cane. The three slots begin spinning wildly, until all three slow down and land on Junko's face. As it stopped, the whole machine lights up, confetti coming out of nearby horns and the word 'GUILTY' flashing in red below the slots.


"Uh oh! Looks like eleven of your twelve votes were correct! The killer was in fact, Junko Enoshima! Seriously, voting for yourself, soldier? What kind of loser does that? Puhuhuhu!"

We did it. We found the killer, but... I think I created a huge rift between us. If this was really the truth, then Mukuro is going to live. And she's the one who planned everything.

Monokuma flew up from his throne and sat at the foot. "Now go on and have your angsty teen drama. Come on, don't be shy! I brought snacks!"

"Shut up." Leon spat at the ground beside him. "You stay out of it this time."

"No can do! I'll have to dole out punishment, remember? Consider it a grace that I let you say your last goodbyes." He stuffed popcorn in his mouth. Where does he always get that bowl from, exactly?

"There's no need." Mukuro stalked up to Monokuma,going around the rest of us at the stands. When she reached Monokuma, they stared at each other, unblinking. Then she fell to her knees and bowed. "Punish me instead, please."

"Mukuro, what are you doing?" Junko grabbed her arm. "Don't be stupid; get up!"

"I'm the one who planned all this," she said flatly, not listening. "I'm the one who killed Hiro, even if I didn't land the killing blow myself. So execute me instead. We all know that this is what's fair." She looked back up, face devoid of emotion. "Don't we?"

"*yawwwn* Goodness, this must be what it's always like for you, huh?" Monokuma pulled a- Is that a live salmon?- out of his bucket of popcorn. "This must be just one more dead face for you! I've seen your records, you know. Your codename was 'The Iron Mask' because you never cried once except then."

"What?" She stood up. "You wouldn't-"

"Well, they did catch you as the accomplice. Isn't it only fair that they know what pushed you to this point? Honestly, it's like you have no heart at all for your classmates! Puhuhuhu!"

"Wait!" Chihiro plead. "Don't tell us! Whatever we think of her right now, you shouldn't reveal her secret! That's supposed to be her choice!"

"Yeah! You don't get to decide that for her!" Junko stomped her foot down on the gilded tile. The hollow sound echoed around the room.

"Well... If you all unanimously decide you don't wanna know, then maybe I'll keep quiet! What do ya say?"

"Tell us." Celeste put a metal clad finger over her lips, grinning widely. "I believe we have earned it."

"Celeste!" Why did she say that?!

"Okay!"

Wow, no hesitation! Then again, I don't know what I expected.

"No, please!" Junko begged. "If you tell us... then what was any of this even for?!"

"Jeez, you're a boring kid. Shut up!" He almost whacked her on the head, but Mukuro's death glare stopped him. "Oops! Almost broke my own rule! Whoopsies!"

"It'll be alright, Mukuro." Junko knelt by her sister. "I'm still here for now, alright?"

I sat on her other side. "Whatever your secret is, you won't face it yourself. Okay?" What she's done is awful, and she can never take it back, but Monokuma pushed her to this. She's still my friend, and right now, she's hurting. So I'll stick by her anyway!

She pushed herself up into a sitting position. Her features were totally blank. "Thank you."

Junko threw her arms around her. "Hey, family first, right? I've got your back!"

"Family first, eh? Oooookay!" Monokuma leapt up to the throne's armrest, towering over us all. "Sit back, class, and hear the tragic tale of two sisters!

"It all started when two young girls were put in the same primary class. A pasty pale, freckled girl with no father, and a beautiful blonde with a perfect little family! The two were sat beside each other, and soon became the best of friends! But when one was invited to the other's house, and looked just a little too much like a certain father figure, well, let's just say there was no more happy Enoshima family!"

No more happy family? Then...

"That's right! Mr. Enoshima was a lying whore! The two girls were forbidden from speaking to each other, and young Junko was moved far, far away by her father so they could never meet again! And little Mukuro's vulture mommy wasn't much better, either. She banned her from ever seeing her dear friend and sister ever again! Of course, these little girls were determined, and sent letters to each other in secret! They must have thought they were so clever, puhuhu!

"Until one day, the letters stopped coming! Young Junko, still under the custody of her father, was determined to find her sister and friend again. She didn't like the way her father treated her, and she didn't like how quiet her mother had become. She didn't like the news she'd heard of her sister's family, and she didn't like being shoved into her good little girl box. So she rebelled. When the letters stopped coming from her sister, she rebelled. She dressed herself in the clothes of a rebel. She called on others to rebel with her. She wanted to destroy the status quo, the world that kept her away from those she loved. She wanted to break every rule that had been placed on her. So she rebelled.

"But I'm getting ahead of myself! We don't care about what Junko does in her spare time! We're here for the secret of Mukuro Ikusaba, and how it comes from when she stopped sending letters. For you see, her mother had caught her in the act! Her letter had been torn away and burned, her spirit destroyed. And poor, weak little Mukuro ran away from home, terrified and heartbroken. Her mother searched for her, of course, but it was in vain. For when she was found, it wasn't by her mother. She'd run far, far into the woods to escape the suffocating home she was raised in, and found herself face to face with a pack of wolves. But wouldn't you know it, she managed to avoid attacks from all of them, until the wolves were called back by their masters.

"You see, the wolves were a test- Fenrir, the wolf god, had chosen her. A large mercenary group with that god as their namesake had been watching her carefully, and had seen how fast and agile she was. So when she suffered through a wolf attack without even a scratch, they offered her a place in their guild. With some weapons training and empty promises, she was almost ready. But there was one little obstacle in the way. You see, Mukuro had a mother. And that mother was looking for her. Fenrir had a strict rule when it came to their child recruits, you see. A child with parents would be searched for."

My blood ran cold. It couldn't be...

"Young Mukuro, so vulnerable and easy to mold, with reflexes like you've never seen from such a young child! She was the ideal candidate. And with one parent short already, all that was left was just a small test of loyalty." He cocked his head, a hand on his chin. "So she made a deal, a contract written in blood. To fight for Fenrir, become their strongest wolf, and get the chance of freedom! And all for the low, low price of one mother's life, by her very own hands!"

There was a dead silence. Everyone waited for him to keep talking, but he just flopped back down to his cushioned seat. "What? What are you all staring at me for?! I'm not the wolf! I'm just a bear!"

"You... You're wrong!" Junko yelled. "Mukuro's mother died from a break-in! I saw the story myself!"

"No. I killed her." Mukuro pushed herself away, standing back up. Any sign that she'd ever cried, ever felt, was gone. "It's true. And I'd do it over again." She turned around to the rest of the class. "I killed my mother. I'm the Iron Mask, Fenrir's greatest Wolf." She pulled off her glove to reveal her tattoo. No, it's a branding mark, isn't it? "And it doesn't matter what my assignment is. I will always follow my orders."

This isn't who I thought Mukuro was at all. I scooted myself back, putting as much distance between us as I possibly could. She's really, really dangerous.

"No one ordered you to do this!" Junko stood up right in front of her, hands clamped down on her sister's shoulders. "Stop trying to scare us!"

"They should be." She said it matter-of-factly. Not only was her face a mask, her voice was too. "I did what I needed to do. I don't regret anything I did." Her words sent a shiver down my spine as I kept moving back. "I only regret your outburst. Now this last mission won't be completed."

"How can you say that to them?! How can you say that to me?!" Junko hugged herself, her entire body shaking. "We tried to kill everyone here! Doesn't some part of you feel guilty?! Because I do!"

Mukuro just put a bare finger to her forehead. "I told you when we woke up here that I would make sure you got out. That's been my mission." She turned away from her and put her globe back on. "But now you'll be punished. So this mission is over. I have no more family, and with that, no reason to align myself with your friends."

"So we were only ever Junko's friends?" Chihiro's voice floated up from the ground where he sat curled up. "None of us ever meant anything to you?"

Mukuro didn't say anything in return. She just stared at her sister.

"I don't know why you're all surprised," Byakuya said loudly. "You all should've expected someone to betray you eventually. It doesn't matter how close you appear to be. Survival is always the top priority."

"No," Junko spat. "It's not. It never was." She looked over the rest of us, eyes full of tears. "She messed up. We both did. But please don't let her do this to herself."

"Okay, if you guys aren't gonna break out into a fight or something, then let's just cut it here. Emotional drama just gets annoying after a while," Monokuma huffed, standing back up on the throne. "Now then, I've prepared a very special punishment for Junko Enoshima, the Ultimate Fashionista!"

"But that's not fair!" Chihiro yelled. "Junko's barely even gotten to speak! Doesn't she get to say goodbye?!"

"Let's give it everything we've got! It's..."

"I'll be fine, doll. Keep living for me, you guys. Kay?" Junko have us the biggest smile she could, but her tears just kept coming.

"PUNISHMENT TIME!"


A red button rises from the front of Monokuma's throne, stopping before him. He raises his gavel high to the sky, the polished wood catching the light, before he slams it down with full force. Above him, a wide monitor opens up and flicks on, revealing an older, 8-bit image of Junko.

JUNKO ENOSHIMA HAS BEEN FOUND GUILTY.

An 8-bit Monokuma slides across the screen, dragging Junko away by her neck.

TIME FOR THE PUNISHMENT!

A darkened, unlit space opens up to the class, and upbeat, fast-paced, synthesized music plays loudly from all throughout. Flashes from cameras and the excited muttering of a crowd comes from the long walls as spotlight after spotlight switches on, one by one, illuminating a pristine runway with more bulbs tracing its edge, until the final light reveals the black curtains in the back.

Eyes On The Bleeding Runway!

More colored lights dance across the opening- pink and yellow and blue, overlapping and creating new colors- until the curtains swing open, revealing Junko. She walks with purpose down the runway, posing for the cameras and flirting with the audience. The smile on her face seems warm and genuine; she's at home on the runway.

Suddenly, the lights all shut off and on, going from a bright white light to an ominous red. There's confusion and interest in the hidden audience. Junko hesitates for a moment- only a moment.

A THUD makes the room quake. Junko nearly falls over, but catches herself, turning it into another pose for the audience. They're loving it. They're loving her, and the 'oohs' and 'aahs' resume.

Another THUD and the curtains Junko came through are squashed. A huge, red heel the size of a small house is crushing them. The audience goes silent, and all the lights of the room come on. The runway extends even farther than anyone thought. The audience has disappeared entirely, and the music has screeched to a halt. Junko is alone.

She begins to run. And with every long bound she makes down the runway, the huge heel moves forward. With how much space it takes, it's a wonder it fits in this hall, or even how it's moving. She keeps running. Somehow, the nonexistant crowd is still murmuring around her, but the words have changed- 'unprofessional, improper, unprepared.' And the loudest of all- 'Boring.'

The end of the runway draws near. Freedom seems so close she can taste it. But it isn't meant to be. As she reaches the platform, the bulbs on the runway explode one by one, arcing bolts of crackling energy to the ceiling, too high to jump and too close together to squeeze between . She stops running in time to not be fried, but she's gasping for breath, the adrenaline saving her sapping away. Her legs give out under her and she collapses, trapped. A shadow encases her, and she looks up. The heel is poised over her, ready to strike. She closes her eyes.

*THUDSQUISHCRASH*

EXECUTION- COMPLETE


...What did I just watch?

I felt glued to the floor. I could barely process how I was feeling. Junko... You were just standing right here with us. How...?

"Ah... Aaaah... AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Chihiro bolted towards the runway. The heel was unmoving on its platform, blood seeping out from the sides. Before anyone could react, he'd leapt onto the runway and was pulling at the heel. "AAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

"Hey! Heyheyheyheyhey! Get off of there!" Monokuma scolded. "That's not meant for you!"

"GET OFF OF HER!" He kicked at the heel, as if he thought he could knock it off balance. "GET OFF!"

Then he made his way to the front of the shoe, wedged his hands under the sole, and started pulling. "LET... GO!"

There was a flash of movement, and then he disappeared. Sakura had grabbed him and dumped him down on the ground below. She knelt down beside him. Mukuro watched them silently, then darted away towards the elevator.

"Junko..." Chihiro tried to wipe away his tears, but he only managed to smear blood on his face. "Why...?"

Toko gripped her braids and put her arms around her legs like a little kid, falling onto her side. "It's not fair... IIIIIIIt's not fair... Shhhhhe was nice... shhhhe was popular, aaaand she was nice anywayyyy!"

Everything around me felt like it was moving in slow motion. All of my senses felt heightened, and the air around us was crackling, from the tension and the leftover electricity. I saved us, but at what cost? Is it even worth it to live like this?

I felt myself being yanked to my feet. Strong, gloved hands had a hold on my shoulders. "Don't give up yet," Kyoko said from behind me. Her hands were big and heavy, but her voice was actually kind of gentle. "You may be the only one they'll all listen to now."

She's right. Everyone around me was divided. Celeste seemed fine as she always was, but everyone else was looking really bad in one way or another. Mukuro had disappeared entirely.

"Guys..." I moved to the center, so everyone could see me. Someone has to pick up all these pieces, so... "We have to keep moving."

Everyone's attention fell on me. "How helpful," Byakuya said sarcastically. "I forgot that the cure to watching a classmate killed in front of you was to just 'keep moving.'"

I ignored him. "Junko's last words were to keep living. It was the only thing she ever really asked for from any of us." I forced my tears back. "She was always willing to help us with whatever we needed, right? So isn't it the least we can do?"

"It shhhouldn't have been hhhhher," Toko managed. She pushed herself up to her knees. "Shhhhhe was jussssst a pawn... for hhhhhher sister." The hatred in her eyes was clear. "And the rrrrrrrreal killerrrrrran away."

Byakuya moved to her side and offered her a hand, pulling her to her feet. "This happened because you were all blind fools. Because she was a blind fool," he spat. "Friendship and teamwork have no place here. They don't exist."

"No." Chihiro managed to climb to his feet. "Mukuro is nothing but selfless. She and Junko were as much a victim of this game as Hiro was." His arms and face were stained with Junko's blood. "Their fault wasn't trusting too much. They didn't trust us enough. Mukuro didn't trust us with her secret. And now look!" He held out his hands. "Junko's blood is on our hands! We're the ones who killed her! Not one of us is innocent!"

"This isn't your fault, Chihiro," Hifumi sighed. "It's not any of our faults."

"Hifumi is right! Monokuma is to blame for this!" I agreed.

"Yeah, him and Mukuro," Leon growled.

"Yyyyyyyou all don't underrrrrrrsssssstand thissssss game," Toko growled. Nnnnnnnone of yyyyyyou do."

"Everyone, please, stop fighting!" I don't know how much longer I can manage this. "Turning on each other is just what Monokuma wants!"

"What I want," Monokuma asserted, "is for all of you to have this conversation somewhere else. The longer I wait to clean up, the more the blood and guts will stain the carpet! Gross!"

"Fuck you!" Leon threw his middle fingers up. "Go to fucking hell!"

"Awww, stop it! You're making me blush, Leon-sama!" Monokuma put his hands on his cheeks and started wiggling like a nervous schoolgirl. "You really think I'm that naughty?"

Leon's black and white face turned all green. "Uhhhhh..."

"Let's all just get back upstairs," Makoto suggested. "I don't really wanna be here anymore."

"The elevator is back down," Kyoko told us. "Let's go."

We all piled back into the elevator and went up in frosty silence. It felt even emptier now without Junko and Mukuro. It's all so unfair... We barely even got to hear anything from Junko in the end. I don't even know if I can be angry at her, even though she still tried to kill the rest of us. Did Mukuro manipulate the whole thing so we'd all be mad at her instead? Or was she really just that obsessed with her 'mission'? I wish I could tell...

Eventually, the doors opened back up, and we all went out to the hallway. "What time is it?" Makoto asked the group.

I went to check my watch, but it wasn't there. I never did get it out of the pool.

"It's eight pm," Kyoko told him.

"I'm going to take a shower," Chihiro said quietly, disappearing through the doors.

"Yeah, I'm gonna grab some food," Leon decided. "Anyone wants to come, then come on." Makoto and Hifumi left with him.

"Well then, I will be making tea, if anyone wishes to join me," Celeste decided. "Toko? I know you liked my brew this morning."

Toko just glared at her. "Assssss if I'd ffffffffall fffor that," she sneered. "I know alllllllll about yyyyyyou."

She dropped her smile. "I think you are playing a dangerous game. Are you sure you will not reconsider?"

"Please," Byakuya interrupted. "Jealousy isn't a good color on you." He pushed up his glasses, smirking. "I've already told her all about your pathetic attempts to fool us. It's actually quite laughable, how desperate you are. But you'll only ever be a shameful copycat of a true aristocrat."

"Yyyyyyou messed up my makeup on purpose!" Toko growled. "You wwwwwwanted me to look lllllike an idiot in front of him!" She whipped face me. "And yyyou're no better! You tricked me!"

"What are you talking about?" Does she mean when we dressed her up? I thought that went well! "None of us have done anything but try to help you!"

"Hmph. Y-You would say that. But I know better n-now. None of you will e-ever make a f-fool of me again! O-Our love will stop all of y-you!"

"Love?" I looked at Byakuya's face. His eyes had a fiery malice I'd never seen before. I felt a chill like the heat was being pulled from my bones. I think I've made a horrible mistake. "Toko, we didn't-"

"Shhhut up! I don't care what you say!" Toko gripped Byakuya's hand with her own. Surprisingly, he didn't pull away, although he looked very uncomfortable. She looked at me with a mix of distrust, anger, and guilt. "I can't believe I-I ever thought you were a-anything more than a ditzy snake," she spat at me. "I should've known. Y-You're all the same."

"That's enough," Sakura stopped her. "Don't take your grief out on Hina. She's only ever been kind to you."

Celeste moved to stand beside me. "She is also the one who just saved your life," Celeste reminded her. "You do not seem very grateful."

"None of you kn-now what you're talking about!" Toko spat at us. "B-Byakuya and I could've figured that out j-just as easily!"

"But you didn't," she laughed, "did you?"

Byakuya shook Toko's hand off. "I've heard quite enough from you all. I'm leaving."

She chewed at her thumb. "Y-You're right. Let's go." And she followed him out.

"Wait!" I went to follow them, but Kyoko moved to stand in front of me, blocking the way. She just shook her head.

Celeste sighed. "There is nothing more we can do. Whatever is happening between those two, it is not something we can control."

"Maybe, but that doesn't make this okay," Sakura growled. "I feel like I'm going to be sick"

"This is all my fault," I realized. "I'm the one that suggested she talk to him in the first place."

"Maybe so," Kyoko conceded. "But one way or another, the truth always makes its way to light. You just have to figure out how."

"Can I?" Somehow, I can't shake the feeling that everything that's happened is somehow my fault. Everything that's happened today was because of me- finding Hiro's body, uncovering Mukuro's lies, Junko's execution... "All of this is because of me. So I'll fix it, no matter what!"

"That's a lot to put on one person," Sakura said uneasily.

"Maybe, but if not me, who else will do it?" I'm this class's only leader now, so it's my responsibility.

"All of us will. After all, we are meant to live a communal life, are we not?" Celeste opened the doors, and Kyoko walked out briskly. "We can start by having some tea."

"It doesn't feel fair. Hiro and Junko should still be here. They all should." I didn't even have the energy to cry anymore. I just felt empty.

"Then eat for them as well." Sakura leaned down to be face to face with me. "Your kindness is one of the strongest things I've ever encountered. Don't let this despair control you." She smiled at me- a genuine, honest smile. I felt a little stronger just looking at it.

If Sakura really believes in me this much, then maybe I can do this. Yeah, I can definitely do this! "You're right. I can do this! We all can!" I'll keep living, for everyone that's passed, and everyone that hasn't!

"Then if you are ready, I would rather not sit by myself," Celeste said, tapping her heel. She looked distracted.

"Ah- Right!" I gave Sakura a peck on the cheek and ran out the doors. "See you later!"

Celeste let the doors swing closed as we went down the hall. She smiled at me. "I must admit, that was not what I was expecting. Congratulations."

I realized what I'd done. Oh my gosh, I totally just did that on autopilot! "Oh. Ohhhhh God! Why did I do that?" I could feel the blood rushing to my head. "I actually did it! I kissed her! Well, only on the cheek, but she was just standing right there and it just felt natural in the moment and- oh gosh! What am I gonna say the next time I see her?" I felt my stomach drop. What was I thinking?! "I didn't even ask first! Oh, no, what if she's mad? What if she doesn't even like girls and I just made her super uncomfortable?" Shit shit shit shit shit-

"I would not worry about it if I were you," Celeste replied. "She seemed to be quite happy about it, from what I could see. Did you even look at her face?"

"No! Oh gosh, what have I done?" What if she never wants to talk to me again? What if I've ruined our friendship forever?

Celeste pat my shoulder. "Do not worry yourself over it. For now, we should just try to enjoy a decent meal and some tea."

We got to the dining hall. Leon and Hifumi were sitting at the long table. Hifumi waved us over. "Greetings, ladies! Makoto's making us a big vegetable stew! Do you want some?"

"Stew sounds great." I collapsed into a chair. I hadn't eaten all day, and my hunger was catching up to me. I didn't work out at all today either... Damn it!

Celeste sat beside me. "I suppose I can stomach a stew for tonight."

As if on cue, Makoto popped his head out of the kitchen. "How many bowls do we need?" He saw me and Celeste. "Five?"

"Make double, just in case more people show up," Leon suggested.

"Okay! I'm on it!"

Hifumi launched into a store detailed explanation of a manga he had sitting in front of him. I listened to him talk, happy for a distraction. After some time had passed, Chihiro joined us. He'd changed into a set of fluffy green and white striped pajamas, and all the blood on his face and hands had been scrubbed off. "Are you guys having dinner?"

"Yeah, Makoto's making stew," Leon told him. "Want some?"

He smiled sadly. "Sure." He sat across from me, by Leon. "Um, so..."

"Don't worry, Chihiro! Everyone here accepts you, one hundred percent!" Hifumi declared with a thumbs up. "No matter what you identify as!"

His cheeks turned a dusty pink. "Thanks. I'm glad something good came out of today, at least." He laid his head and arms on the table. "*Sigh...*"

Makoto wheeled out a big pot and a stack of bowls. "Soup's on!" He ladled bowls out for all of us. He pat Chihiro on the head. "You okay?"

"I will be," he said, pushing himself back up and taking his bowl. "Thanks."

"No problem. It's the least I can do," he assured him.

Then Kyoko walked in, her usual neutral expression on. She said nothing, just watched Makoto with his stew.

Makoto started filling more bowls wordlessly. "Is this everyone?"

"Toko and Byakuya were nowhere to be found," Kyoko told him. "Sakura wanted to go straight to bed."

He nodded in understanding and sat down. "Then, let's eat."

No one spoke as we ate. I think we were all too tired to say anything. The stew was hot and filling and had just the right mix of veggies and broth. Even though none of us spoke, I felt a little calmer. Little moments like this... They make me feel a little stronger. Like we're more united.

But are we really? Can we ever be again?

Eventually, Kyoko spoke. "Hiro's room is locked, just like the others, and everything Junko owned is gone from her room. It's like she was never there."

"No way," Chihiro gasped, voice barely above a whisper. "Everything?"

"Everything." She glanced over at me. "I can only imagine that it's because Mukuro still has to live there."

"That piece of shit," Leon muttered. "She'd better not show her face around here. Framing Chihiro and trying to kill us all."

"Not to defend her or anything, but I believe Chihiro was framed by mistake," Hifumi corrected.

"Can we not talk about this?" Chihiro interrupted. "Please?"

"Yeah, let's just drop it," Makoto agreed. "It's probably bad luck."

Nothing else was said after that. We could barely even touch our stew.


Eventually, nighttime came, and I went back to my room. I fidgeted with my alarm clock, trying to set it up for the morning, but I gave up and set it down. I doubt I'd get anything done anyway. I was ready to sleep, but before I could lay down, something glittered in the corner of my eye.

The crystal skull I'd found yesterday for Hiro was still resting on my desk. Grief welled back up in my throat, hitting me all at once. They never even got to see it... Was it really only yesterday that I found this for them?

I fell back onto my bed, bunching up the blankets and pillows and sobbing into them. I can't keep doing this... I have to though! How long will I be able to keep this up?! I cried and cried late into the night, for the friends I'd lost, for the place we were in, for every relationship that was falling apart, and eventually, I cried myself to sleep.


Chapter 2-Selfishness and Selflessness Are Often the Same- End

11 Students Remaining


Alone in the darkness, Monokuma sat on a large rolling chair, illuminated by blue light. Monitors surrounded his chair, and underneath them was a panel set up like a PA system. On each monitor was a room in Hope's Peak. He played with a red string, tying it and untying it over in his paws. Behind him, a single door opened, revealing the silhouette of what could only be a student.

"Well, about time you showed up! Man, that trial really was something, huh? Talk about chills!" He spun his chair around to look up at the student. "It's like I was saying earlier. All any of you really need is a little push for things to get exciting! It's like a movie! Like how that one girl went and killed before there was even a chance of things getting boring!"

He spun his chair around in circles, hanging onto the armrests like a child. "Puhuhuhu! This is a really good spot. Yeah, a reeeeally good spot! Once things really get moving, it'll be like a rollercoaster. There won't be any stopping it! After all, fear and despair charge forward at a speed nothing can hope to match! Although, I must admit, I'm disappointed."

His crimson eye glowed menacingly. "I went to all that pain and effort of making you part of the group, and you couldn't play your part! You do remember you were supposed to make the first move, right? Not that sugary pop princess? Well, it's no biggie. After all, you certainly have other uses! So just do your best to make things more exciting from now on, okay? And keep on coming with those reports!"

The student leaned against the doorway, arms crossed. "Fine. But I'd like to ask a question. It's something that's been bothering me, but- Never mind. You wouldn't tell me."

"Why, there's no need to assume such things! I consider myself to be quite the benevolent Headmaster, after all. Ask me anything!"

"Anything? Then... who else amongst us is helping you?"

Monokuma tilted his head, putting the string down. "Whatever do you mean? I've only reached out to you. What could make you think anyone other than you would betray your tight-knit little class of friends?"

"You always refer to me as part of a 'group' or a 'team,'" the student specified. "That implies there's more than just the two of us, doesn't it?"

"Hmm, yes, I suppose it does," he conceded. "And with that, I have answered a question, as promised! Now, run along. Oh, but do remember-" He spun his chair back to the monitors- "I don't take kindly to rebellion. So no stunts unless they bring about despair to all. Unless, of course, you want everyone to know the truth."

"No. That won't be necessary." The door slammed shut, and the student took their leave.

"Puhuhuhuhu... So easy to manipulate," he hummed to himself. "Still, that was a tad bit annoying today, how that other girl tried to play around with me. Oh, well! Despair to all means for me as well! Nyohohoho!"


Chapter 3- Every Good Story Needs A Hero

Daily Life- Begin


When morning came, I went through my routine as best as I could, but it all felt hollow. Not even a good swim could take away this empty feeling.

I was the last one to get to the dining hall. Byakuya and Toko had both abstained again, and now Mukuro was gone, too. Everyone else was sitting at our table. Makoto waved me over. "Hey, did you get any sleep?"

"Barely." I plopped down into my seat. "What's for breakfast?"

"I'll make us something!" Makoto offered. Amazingly, he still seemed somewhat upbeat. "I don't know how to make much, so is everyone okay with eggs?"

"An omelet would be wonderful," Celeste ordered. "If you would."

"Uh, how do you want your omelet?"

"A simple French style will be fine."

"Alright. French it is," he said nervously. "Yup. No problem." He dashed off to the kitchen.

"Anyway, we should keep breakfast brief," Kyoko told us. "Since we had another trial, then there should be more open to us."

That's right. After... the first time, the second floor opened up. "Kyoko's right. If there's anything new that could help us, we need to find it!"

"Um, I'll stay down here, if that's okay," Chihiro said sheepishly. "I wanted to use the bathhouse again."

"I'll sit this one out too," Hifumi decided. "In case one of the others turn up."

"Oh, but we are supposed to be staying in groups, are we not?" Celeste asked. "Very well, then. I will stay in the dining hall too. Besides, I would much rather not go gallavanting about like some sort of junior detective before I have finished my tea."

"Well, okay. If that's what you'd prefer. Still, we could find something super helpful, or at least something we can use everyday." I know we won't find anything we can use to escape, but maybe we'll at least get something to keep us occupied!

"Hm. I suppose you make a good point. Do let me know what you find, then."

"Yeah, of course! After breakfast, we'll all meet in here to talk about what we found! Oh, and someone should try to find Toko and Byakuya, too. I know they both don't wanna have breakfast, but we still shouldn't leave them out."

"I shall attempt to find them, as well as Mukuro," Sakura decided. "It could be dangerous to leave them unmonitored."

"Maybe they'll do us a favor and kill each other off," Leon grumbled.

"But I don't want to go through another trial," Chihiro sniffed.

Leon looked ashamed. "I didn't mean that literally, Chi. I just mean they'll keep each other busy, ya know?"

"Oh. Well, I guess that's fine, as long as no one else gets hurt!" he smiled.

"Perfect. Then the rest of us can start looking! As soon as we're done eating, of course." I looked at everyone. I didn't realize just how few of us were left. Only four of us will actually be searching the new floor. When did our class get so small?


Once the four of us got to the third floor, we decided to split up. I stood in front of a door with a sign that said 'REC ROOM'. Inside was a pool table, dartboard, magazines, and all sorts of other games. Surprisingly, though, the room was already occupied.

"Toko?"

"H-Hina!" She ducked behind the pool table, peeking over the top. "What are y-you doing here?"

"Some of us decided to check for anything new after the trial." I didn't move from the doorway. Maybe without Byakuya here, I can try and get through to her! "What about you?"

"W-We decided to check earlier this morning. M-Master and I."

"Master? You don't mean Byakuya, do you?" That's a little creepy...

"Who else w-would I mean?! Ahh, he's so am-mazing, isn't he?!" She stood back up, hugging herself. "A-Anyway, we've already checked this wh-whole floor, so if there's a-anything useful, then M-Master must've found it already. So don't bother!"

"You know, Toko, we really missed you at breakfast this morning. Aren't you hungry?"

"N-No! Of course not!" She stomped towards the wall, avoiding eye contact. "Besides, there's a-always the warehouse!"

"Well, yeah. That's true." I stepped a little closer. "But isn't it better to eat all together? Eating with your friends really helps a lot, trust me."

"Hmph. I've a-always eaten by myself. Why w-would it matter? It's just f-food." Her stomach growled in protest. She grabbed a magazine off the shelf, pretending not to notice.

"You didn't eat meals with your family? Did they work a lot or something?" I moved to stand beside her. "Come on, you can't tell me you didn't like eating with us. I mean, we're friends!"

"We're not friends!" She shoved the magazine back into its place and tried to move around me. I blocked her. "Let me leave!"

"Not until you admit that you're hungry." I put my hands on her shoulders. "I know you're acting like you don't care at all, because you think that you have to. But I saw you last night after... Junko, so I know that you do care, even if you won't say it! So stop doing this to yourself."

She grabbed my wrists and pushed me off. "Are you really doing this for me? Or to m-make yourself feel better?" She stalked to the door. "You're all the same. And y-you'll end up dead if you can't l-learn to fend for yourself." And she slammed the door behind her.

I felt a mix of things. Concern. Fear. Guilt. Is she right? Have I been doing all this for myself? Am I really so incompetent by myself? I wanna care about Toko, and everyone else here, but it feels like I'm just distracting myself. Is that a bad thing? Should I be more independent? I've always been a team player, but maybe that's doing more harm than good.

"Eeeeeeeeeee!"

"Toko!" I ran out the door and saw her face to face with Mukuro Ikusaba. She wasn't doing anything, but Toko was brandishing some kind of sharp object- scissors?- and shaking them at her. "G-G-G-Go away!"

"Okay." She went around a terrified Toko and continued down the hall.

"Hey, Mukuro, wait!" If the others are up here, I can't just leave her by herself. Who knows what'll happen? "What are you doing up here?"

She turned back to face me. "I'm mapping out the third floor," she said blankly. She pointed back in the direction she came from. "Over there is nothing but classrooms. I couldn't find anything deemed useful."

"I'll be th-the judge of th-that!" Toko decided, taking off towards the classrooms.

"Hey, Mukuro, you should go back downstairs. I don't think anyone wants to talk to you right now." Myself included.

She just nodded. "Understood. I'll wait in my room until the post-search meeting." And she marched over to the stairs.

Oh, thank God. I released a breath I didn't realize I was holding. She didn't do anything. Will she do anything? If Junko is dead, then maybe she won't…

No. She could still kill for herself. I have to be careful not to get too close to her.

I went back and looked over all the stuff in the rec room, just in case, but there wasn't anything that caught my eye. There were a lot of magazines, but nothing worth saving for later.

"I see you've found our collection!" Monokuma hopped onto the pool table behind me, ignoring my surprise. "We've got cars, motorcycles, sports- stop screaming, it's just me- swimsuit models, fashion, cooking, serial killer weekly, home decor- everything you could want, really!"

I barely stopped myself from hitting him with the magazine. "Does that mean we're gonna get new issues of these when they come out?"

"Oh, ah... new magazines are a bit hard to come by. But, rest assured, I, Monokuma, as your headmaster, will do everything in my power to bring you your magazine fix! Buh bye!"

He bounced away. Monokuma had taken over the biggest school in Japan, kidnapped all the Ultimate students, and forced them into a killing game, but he struggles to buy magazines? I left the rec room and headed further down the hall in the other direction. It opened up to a large space with long pillars, illuminated in an eerie blue. Against the left wall, there was an archway opening to what looked like an art lab. Farther to the right, I could see a narrow hallway with purple light.

Inside the art lab were several sculpting models and canvases, with a back wall covered in what looked like kids' drawings. Kyoko was examining the wall closely, tracing her finger along the closest drawing.

"Hey, are you looking for a pattern or something?" I walked over to her. "It looks like it's just a mess, doesn't it?"

"Yes, it seems very out of place for an Ultimate high school, wouldn't you say?" She tugged at one of the drawings. "They're not exactly the sort of high quality you'd expect."

"Maybe they're all up there to cover up something even more important," I suggested. "Like, if we tear them all down, then there'll be something underneath."

"I've considered that. But if we were to tear it all down and be wrong, then we could be losing some sort of important clue." She tapped her chin. "So how do we decide if the risk is worth it?"

"Hmm... Oh! Maybe we can check the warehouse for a camera or something later. Then we'd be able to snap a picture and have it on hand for later."

"I don't remember anything like that being in the warehouse, but I suppose it doesn't hurt to check again. Alright, then. Let's keep looking around for now." She went to the door in the back.

"What's in here?" I followed her, looking around. There were all sorts of sculpting tools and other things, and some sort of paper on the ground.

"This would be an art repository," she told me, surveying the room. "It seems mostly normal."

"Yeah, but what is-" I picked up the paper. It was actually a photo. "This... Hey, Kyoko, check this out..."

The photo had three very familiar faces in what looked like a classroom. In the middle were Sayaka and Junko, posing like they were taking some kind of selfie. And behind them, holding up a middle finger to the camera, was Mondo. All three of them were smiling, and behind them was a set of windows. Open, unplated windows.

Kyoko took the photo from me. "How curious..."

"Hey, you can't have that! That's mine!" Monokuma appeared and snatched the photo away suddenly, jumping back and holding it close to his chest. "You are NOT allowed to touch my things!"

"Then don't leave it lying around for us to see." She turned abruptly, taking me with her. "We'll be off, then. Besides, it's not as if we can unsee it."

"Yeah, that's right! Get out, you disgusting snoops! Get out!"

She closed the door behind us. "That was strange. As far as I was aware, the only ones to know each other before coming here were Sayaka and Makoto, and Mukuro and Junko."

"Yeah, and even then, they wouldn't have looked that old, right?" Maybe Sayaka and Makoto, but Makoto wasn't there. Junko and Mondo were. I guess it could be photoshopped, but... that's a lot of photoshop...

"Let's keep looking. If a photo like that can be found, then there could be others." She started to leave.

"Wait! Shouldn't we be looking in the lockers and stuff? Maybe there's something hidden in there."

"No, I think Monokuma wanted us to see that picture. He wants us confused. Otherwise, he wouldn't have left it in such an obvious place for us to find."

"Maybe, but then why take it away right after we found it? Wouldn't that defeat the whole point?"

"I'm not sure. One possibility would be to make us question ourselves. Without being able to see the picture again, we might start to wonder if those were actually our classmates in the picture, or if they were really in a classroom." She smiled. "But we both saw it, so we can confirm each other's memories."

"Huh, I guess that makes sense. I mean, that totally sounds like something Monokuma would do." It still seems too complicated, though. It would've been easier for him to just not show us. So why bother?

We got back out to the hall and saw Makoto and Leon heading towards us. "I guess everyone's found everything there is to find. Let's head back, guys!"


When we got back to the dining hall, we saw Byakuya, Mukuro, and Toko there with Celeste and Hifumi, and it didn't look pretty. Byakuya and Hifumi were bickering really loudly, Toko was curled up under the table, and Celeste and Mukuro were watching it all go down beside the table.

"Stop being so difficult," Byakuya commanded. "After all, aren't you all the ones preaching togetherness and teamwork most of the time?"

"I will not allow an attempted murderer to sit and chat with us and learn about everything we've discovered!" Hifumi squealed. "She's tried it before; what's to say she won't try again?!"

"You'd give her the opportunity to gain an advantage in the game? If there's something she's discovered that we all haven't, wouldn't it be better to let her at least share it with us all?"

"Or it would give her a chance to learn all of what we have discovered without sharing herself," Celeste said from the table. "Not that it affects me either way, so long as I am not the one attacked when the time comes."

"If you'd rather I not be here, I will leave," Mukuro decided. "I have no new information to report anyway."

"Wait, hang on!" Even if she's killed, it's more dangerous to let her roam around by herself. "Stay here. We need everyone to be here for this meeting."

"Understood." She pulled out a chair and sat.

Leon gripped my shoulder. "You still want her around us, Hina? After what she's done to us? To Chihiro? To her own sister?"

"No. But I do think the entire remaining class needs to stick together, regardless of what's been done. She's still better than Monokuma anyway." Hopefully no one could notice my shaking. "Besides, we need to strip her of her weapons."

"You want to take my weapons?" she said. "Why?"

"So you can't use them again," Makoto said shakily. "But Hina, what if she pulls a gun on us while we're trying to take her stuff?"

"When Sakura gets here, we'll have her hold her down. We'll also clean her room out, too." I won't let anyone else die to her. No one.

"Wh-wh-where are we gonna keep it all?" Toko and from under the table. "I-I-It's not like there's somewhere w-w-we can put them where no one can access them."

"What about the trash room?" Byakuya suggested. "Then only the person on cleaning duty will have access to the weaponry. That sounds fair, doesn't it?"

"Yeah! Th-that's perfect! As e-expected of Master," Toko swooned.

"Hey, Makoto. You're on trash duty next, right?" Leon asked. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a large key. "Here you go. All yours."

"Oh, right! Thanks!" He took the key. "I mean, I guess I can watch any weapons we find if everyone's okay with that?"

There was a moment of silence as we all waited for someone to disagree. No one did. "Perfect!" I broke the quiet. "Then Makoto, you're in charge of the trash for a week, right? Then I'll be in charge after you. Sounds good?"

"If I may," Mukuro spoke, "I'd like to be able to keep one knife on my person, for self-defense."

"Oh, but you got your Ultimate Soldier status by being untouchable in combat, did you not?" Celeste asked beside her. "Then, would a self-defense weapon not be unnecessary for you?"

"She could still be attacked in her sleep. Let her keep a knife," Byakuya decided. "It might make things more interesting. Of course, you'll have to show all of us what it looks like so we'll know whose knife it is, should it be found in someone's back."

"That's fine." She pulled a knife from her best and laid it out on the table. It was the same knife she'd drawn during the trial, although the dried blood on it had been scrubbed away. "This one."

Toko jumped out from under the table and snatched up the knife. Before anyone could move, she was at Byakuya's side, putting the knife in his outstretched hand. "Interesting." He held it up to the light, inspecting the blade. "Not too big, but big enough to have sliced open the fortune teller's neck, of course. Fine. Keep it."

"That's not just your decision, Byakuya." It was like steam was coming out of my ears. "Who in their right mind would try to kill the Ultimate Soldier? Especially after she's already killed now?"

"She had killed before this game had begun," Celeste said. "The only difference is now someone you knew is on her kill count."

"It's probably best not to argue. As long as we're all aware of what this knife looks like and who's holding it, there's no reason to deny her keeping it," Kyoko decided firmly. "I'll go and find Sakura, and after our meeting is over, she and Makoto will confiscate the other weapons and take them to the trash room. Can everyone agree to that?"

She had a point. There wasn't really a good reason not to let her have it. If we don't, she might decide to attack someone anyway, and we won't be able to mark who used the weapon. "Okay. Then once you're back with Sakura, we'll start the meeting." Kyoko nodded and walked out.

"Chihiro hasn't come back from the bathhouse yet," Hifumi reminded her. "We can't quite start without him, can we?"

"Oh, I'll get him!" If I remember correctly, he'd hidden that laptop in the bathhouse. Maybe that's what he's working on in there. "Be right back!"

Before anyone could protest, I dashed out and into the bathhouse. He was sitting on the bench and typing on the laptop like I thought. "Hey, Chihiro! We're about to start the meeting. Everyone's waiting."

"Oh, right! I forgot, sorry..." He went to close the laptop, then stopped. "Actually, can I show you something first? Just between us?"

"Sure. What's up?"

"Okay, great!" He turned the laptop around for me to see, and on the screen, illuminated in green, was his face.

"You made a digital image of yourself?"

"More than that. This is the super secret project I've been working on for Towa company, the Alter Ego. It's a learning AI! I actually had already finished the program, but it was supposed to make its public debut in a couple months. This is only the second in existence. I came up with all the programming myself! Luckily, this laptop had just enough space to fit him on it after I fixed it." He tapped a USB plugged into the side. "When all our phones and tech were taken, Monokuma missed this. He probably thought that since I didn't have anything to plug it into, that it'd be useless."

"Oh, wow! So it can talk and stuff? Can it hear us right now?" No wonder Chihiro's the Ultimate Programmer. This is something I've never even heard of before, much less seen in person!

"Yeah, he can talk. But he can't hear us or anything unless you use the laptop's microphone, and that part of the laptop is completely broken. I can't fix that with coding. He can see us through the camera though, and we can talk to him through the keyboard! Go ahead, ask him something!" He held out the laptop for me to take.

I sat down and rested it on my lap. A learning AI... "Gosh, I don't know what to say to it. Is it like a person?"

"Kind of. Think of him as like a baby, but one that can fully access the internet and speak all languages fluently. Well, normally, anyway. Without a stable connection to the Web, he's restricted to just this laptop and whatever languages he has saved in his data. See, the more he learns, the more he grows, and the more space he takes up! So right now, he's more like a toddler with fluent Japanese and coding abilities."

"Okay. Hmmm..." I typed in 'What's your name?'

The floating Chihiro head smiled. "My official name is Alter Ego Prototype 1.2, but you can call me Ego! What's your name?"

A text box popped up in front of the screen. "Go on, answer him," Chihiro beamed.

I typed in 'Aoi Asahina, Hina for short.' "Will he understand that?"

"Nice to meet you, Hina!" Ego chimed.

"He's getting much better at understanding commands," Chihiro said excitedly.

"That. Is. Amazing," I whispered. This AI is the coolest thing I've ever seen. Chihiro's really impressive. How much time has he spent on this program alone? "Are you gonna show everyone else?"

His face went white. "Oh, um... I'm not so sure that's a good idea. Can we keep this a secret for now? I don't want anything to happen to him." He typed something into the laptop.

"Okay! I'll start on the files right away!" Ego chimed.

Chihiro walked over to the open locker, put him back, and locked it up. "Promise me you'll keep him a secret. I'm... really worried right now about our class." He looked at me with pleading eyes. "You'll keep it secret, right?"

Oh no, his puppy dog eyes are just like Yuuta's... Well, I would've kept it anyway. "I won't tell a soul." I held up my hand. "I swear. Now let's get to that meeting."

He smiled, relieved, and went to the doors. "Okay. thanks, Hina. I knew I could trust you."

"No problem, Chihiro. I always keep my promises!"