The day after the second-class trial is painful.

I don't think anyone got their answers in the end, minds filled with thousands of questions, wondering if things could have gone differently.

People don't know who to mourn.

How can you know when both were guilty, but innocent at the same time? It's as if by mourning one you're betraying the memory of another, in a way condemning them to the blame.

Some mourned both, but that brought up a pang of swelling guilt, making everyone upset.

Kokichi went along with his plan, either way, condemning Maki, but she had Kaito come to her defence. Ryoma's mind wandered during that event, though maybe he didn't want to defend her, it was hard to tell.

Monodam popped in and took over the killing game, handing out the usual prizes with Monomi's help. Monosuke never showed up.

Shuichi ended up taking the prizes, the only one willing to spend the day focusing on puzzles. It might just be his coping mechanism.

A Golden Hammer, A Magic Key and A Ninja Scroll.

Shuichi always acts like it's an instinct when he puts an item in its place, within seconds opening the stairway to the fourth floor and going deeper to explore the academy.

I avoid the fourth floor.

Instead, I spend the day walking around the academy, walking familiar paths and avoiding ones that serve as painful reminders.

Whenever someone comes up to me to ask about my lab, I smile and shake my head. I can't go up there, not yet.

The simple fact that it's open is enough.


"Do you think she would like this?" Keebo asks hesitantly, a frown on his face as he looks down at the makeshift grave we'd made for Miu.

"I think so." I grimace, glancing to the only other person with us, Gonta.

"Gonta think so too, it good gentleman behaviour!"

"Thank you." Keebo places a flower on the grave, a white tulip. "I know we have not done this for the others, but-"

"It's fine, we understand." I place a flower beside his as my hand rests on his shoulder, metal cool to the touch. "I think she knows what we've done for her too. It'll help keep her happy and in peace."

"My inner voice is... My inner voice is telling me this is true." Keebo grins before faltering back to a frown. "Would you mind me being alone for now?"

"Friend take time." Gonta smiles softly, releasing a single butterfly that flutters down onto the flowers.

She'd love this. She'd cry because of this.

I'd hug her and beg her not to leave me alone if I saw her again.


I never end up visiting my lab. I don't glance in the direction of the stairs, and I pretend it doesn't exist.

It's easier that way.


I spend some time with Tenko when her lab opens up. The open space gives off a calming vibe.

If only the owner of the lab did the same.

Tenko gives a small speech to Himiko and I, talking about who she'll fight for, who keeps her going. She brings up almost every female trapped in this twisted game, even Kaede. She adds Shuichi, Gonta and Keebos' names at the end of her list, hesitant.

She doesn't mention Miu, and I'm gone before she can turn around, Himiko's heavy, solemn gaze on my back as I flee.

In the distance, I can see Kokichi talking to Shuichi, a calculating gaze watching the detectives every move, weighing every word. He almost seems disappointed.


I want to scream. I want to scream at the world to send me back, to curse at it for sending me to this hell. But I can't. If I do, I'll just make things worse. I'm trapped.

My thoughts are stuck running in a circle. I'm not supposed to be here. My skin feels like it's burning alive. I welcome the feeling. I need that feeling, to know, I'm alive. Am I alive? Will my existence in this universe end, when the game stops? What will happen to me? Will I disappear? I don't want that. I want to live as much as everyone else here does

Where is Angie, the real Angie, did I erase her? If I did, what does that make me? If I've deleted her, am I no better than a murderer? It's no better than placing my hands around her neck and snapping it. I just did it indirectly this way.

"let go."

My legs weak, I collapse. My energy is gone as I breathe, my tears not stopping. I look around, only to find myself in front of the boiler room. How utterly ironic.


"Why didn't you come?" Kaito questions quietly, never turning to look at me.

"What do you mean?" I ask, I know what he means, I don't want to answer, I feel sick of all the lying. I did think it was a trap, even when I first played the game, but it was always just a theory.

"You know what I mean. When you guys didn't show up, we didn't know what to do. We still tried, but some of us weren't trying anymore," Kaito sighs. "I just don't get it."

I open my mouth, ready to say the same thing I told the others. I hesitate. Kaito is always someone who speaks from the heart, and right now, I don't want to use the same excuse I have before.

"I was scared. It felt wrong to go with you guys, like a trap. I don't know anymore." I drop my head down, too exhausted to keep myself sitting upright. Kaito drops down next to me before replying.

"I get that, being scared. But you have to push past your fear! You'll never get anywhere, always being scared of the consequences. It may seem impossible, but the impossible is possible! You gotta believe it!"

"Hey, Kaito?"

"Yea?"

"Thanks. For everything."


"So why were you out?" I question Kaito, curious.

We had moved to sit inside the shrine of judgment. I liked the place. It reminded me of a birdcage, which was ironic seeing as we're now living in a cage. It's a cage in a cage, and that just made this ridiculous. We'd moved out here so that we wouldn't disturb anyone else. We were both tired. At some point, my head had ended up on his shoulder, listening to his heartbeat, comforting me with the simple fact that we were alive, we were breathing.

"Couldn't sleep. You?" Kaito asks.

I shake my head. "It's rather difficult to sleep, given the circumstances."

"Yeah. It's all a real mess." He coughs, "It's hard to believe this is all happening."

Kaito continues talking, but it all falls on death ears. Oh.

I... I'd forgotten he was ill. He was suffering for who knows how long. How could I forget? In the big picture, I suppose-

"You ok?"

"Yeah, just thinking."


This part was a bit of a let down after the last one, but nothing tops a class trial. This is officially the third chapter starting! Enjoy!