Monokuma quickly jumped up. "This is the first time I've ever seen a unanimous vote! So then I guess I don't need to build up any suspense. You got it right for the third time in a row! The blackened of this trial, the one who killed Mikayla Weissberg, was none other than your very own Marcel Lawson!" He cried out in pure joy.

Paul trembled as he glared at the calm and collected expression on Marcel's face. "I can't believe that you would go against me like this! You swore yourself to the cause! To me! You may have the grades of an honor student but you still are an incompetent fool!"

Marcel sighed. It was beyond strange hearing him speak without his surfer lingo and hippy-like tone. "The only reason I joined your little cult was because the fool I portrayed would have done so. I only played my character to trick you all and judging by everyone's faces, I'd say you are the fool for being fooled by that act."

"Well, everyone was fooled so I guess Kai has lost his title of Ultimate Actor for that reason and for not figuring out Marcel's act sooner." Paul chuckled to himself.

Luca glared at the hacker. "Leave him alone. If it weren't for Kai we'd all be dead."

"Oh look, now Luca's trying to be the Ultimate Bodyguard to this washed-up actor. Or just a mindless fan girl but then again it's hard to tell with you." Paul taunted him, making Luca growl lightly.

Marcel then rolled his eyes. "Let's just ignore that egotistical maniac. He can only store up so much ego in his laptop before it bursts out and that happened the day we met," Paul sneered at him but made no comeback as Marcel looked to Luca. "Don't let his words get to you. He just doesn't understand that there is beauty and strength that lies within the camaraderie of friendship and the simplicity of the relationship.

Luca could only smile and nod, seeming impressed by his words before he then turned his attention to me. "You ignore him too, Kai. I know even the Ultimate Actor can't spot someone putting up an act if they've been method acting the role for so many years. Besides, I wouldn't be able to pull off any other role or character as you can. I can only do the one-act. The Ultimate Actor is more suited for you than ever for me."

I was amazed at his speaking skills. They were on point when compared to Helen's motivational speaking skills. But that just made me shake my head. "Why are you being so kind to us after what you did? I'm so confused. I thought you were our friend but you killed Mikayla for the chance of your dream coming true. Why are you saying these generous words of encouragement when you tried to betray us?"

Marcel looked away. "I'm sorry things had to be this way but I couldn't hold myself back any longer."

Willie scratching his head, spoke up, "Um… I don't really git what yur saying there."

"Well perhaps in order to understand me, you need to know about who I truly am," Marcel paused before his eyes went cold and his voice became monotone and dark, "So I'd advise you better shut the hell up before I make you my second victim here, swine."

Willie gulped nervously as he dabbed the sweat now on his face with the handkerchief tied around his neck. To say I was shocked by that sudden twist of his demeanor from his obvious dislike to Paul to being kind and gentle to me and Luca only to go back to dislike… no maybe hatred to Willie.

Marcel began, "I may have lied about my superior intelligence but for the most part, I was being honest when I spoke about myself with you all. I am the Ultimate Surfer and I did surf a tidal wave which helped me earn a place here at Hope's Peak. I love hanging out with my surfing friends back home, I think friendship is the best thing in the world," he again paused as he looked at Willie, "and yes I did participate in BDSM with other guys before. Except I wasn't as submissive as you might think I was." He let out a slight giggle which in turn made the cowboy shiver at the thought.

"Of course, I lied about my gluten allergy but then again you already deciphered that here. There are a few other things here and there but those are nitty-gritty details that don't matter. However, the big one I will recall is my conversation with you, Kai. Do you know what I'm referring to?" Marcel asked of me.

It didn't take me long to answer. "You mean our talk in the library and about that tragic incident in your past, right?"

He nodded, "That's the one. I only slightly twisted the truth there. My parents did love me at first but my toy poodle, Boomer, was more loved than me. I never blamed him though. He was the cutest dog and I loved him too. But because of how rushed I was to get to the beach and surf, he did get out, followed me to the beach, and out to the ocean before the shark made him into a shark snack. After that, my parents hated me beyond capacity however they did more than just ridicule me and hit me as I told you. My father took his anger out on me by using me to get himself off while my mother watched."

I felt my stomach twist in disgust. I saw I wasn't the only one who found this revelation revolting. Most everyone also had the same look as me.

"He raped you?! That's horrible!" Shana shouted out.

Marcel shook his head. "Well they did a lot to me but with what I was already dealing with at school, you'd think I could go home and feel safe. Yet I never felt that with how they treated me. When Boomer was alive they treated him like a son who deserved all the love and me like the dog who got mediocre love. But then he died and then how I was treated wasn't even on the same level as a dog's filth, whose only seen as disgusting and a nuisance to clean up after. I was less than that in their eyes. That was… until the incident."

"When they died in that crash because thugs cut the brakes and jammed the controls of their car." I finished his thought.

He nodded. "Yes. However, there was something else about there I twisted when I told you. The thugs were the ones charged with my parent's deaths but they weren't the ones who killed them. Their true killer… was me." Marcel admitted.

Now utter shock covered our faces, a mask that quickly replaced any previous expressions found on us.

Damian shuddered as his wild eyes stared at Marcel. "You… you killed your own parents? But why? I mean yeah I get they were terrible to you but didn't it make things difficult without them?"

"Absolutely not. In fact, my life got exponentially better with them gone forever," Marcel answered.

"But wouldn't it have been a challenge to kill anyone, partner? I mean you were just a kid." Willie questioned him.

Marcel again shook his head. "Not for me. You see, they were unforgivable monsters who probably would have killed me had I not killed them first. They chose their fate and I just helped karma out by sending them to hell where they belonged."

This was all so much to take in. I had to lean on my pedestal just to keep me standing up straight. "So then what about the thugs who were arrested for your parent's murder? How were they charged and not you?"

"Easy. That's where I played the game by being the boy who cried wolf. I pointed them out when the police interrogated me and they didn't doubt a ten-year-old kid who wept like a baby who deeply missed his family. Besides, the police were already trying to arrest that gang of criminals anyway. They never killed but they stole from people and vandalized their homes, raped young girls, and created chaos around the island with their acts of arson and speeding. They also deserved their fate so I lied about them killing my folks and in doing so I helped the cops find their criminal hideout when I told them that one of them chatted about meeting up at their base near the volcano," Marcel explained.

Luca looked down. "That's terrible what you went through. And how terrible all these people were in your life."

Marcel folded his arms and had them rest along the top of the banister of his pedestal, his finger tapping against his arm. "However one thing I didn't account for was that I had sent a dangerous group to prison and because of that I was then enrolled into the witness protection program for my safety if they ever got out, escaped, or hired hitmen to get revenge since they knew they were innocent. At least of the crime for murder."

"Wait, you're in the witness protection program? Then that means…" Shana started as Marcel nodded.

"That's right," He continued, "Marcel Lawson was the new name given to me. My birth name was Flynn Haberkorn but I left that life behind so even though I'm still breathing, I consider Flynn to be dead and Marcel to have been born that day."

"That was why you started acting like an idiot because Flynn was a genius and Marcel became the fool so no one would know who you truly were. At least the innocent witness you pretended to be," I summarized.

"That's right but there's more to it than that," Marcel added.

"What do you mean?" Tommy asked him.

"Well, you see I had an ulterior motive for acting like a dumbass. See once Marcel was born, I was able to become the one thing I wanted to be. A vigilante who seeks out the predators of this work and stop them because of the prey they would maliciously stalk and maim and maybe even kill," Marcel replied.

"Metaphorically speaking, right?" Ollie questioned.

"Oh no, not at all. See I have a particular hatred for a certain group of people. They make my blood boil and my anger flares up something fierce," Marcel said with a cold tone now in his voice. I felt major chills down my spine and goosebumps form on my arms with how frigid his whole exterior became.

Melinda gasped in pain as she grasped her head. "Gah!"

"Melinda? What's wrong? Did your wound open up?" Luca asked worriedly.

Melinda shook her head as she looked up before saying, "It's not that. It's with what Marcel just said, it sounded familiar but I don't know why. I'm so sorry. I-I know I'm no help." She whimpered and gasped as she began crying.

Suddenly a red-faced Monokuma screamed and jumped up with a giant gravel and slammed it against Melinda's skull! The girl quickly toppled to the ground going limp as Monokuma stood over her, breathing heavily as his frame trembled.

"What the hell, man! You probably just killed her!" Luca screamed at him.

Monokuma now leaned against the giant gravel like a cane and yawned. "Well, excuse me but I honestly don't think I could handle another minute of Sienna 2.0 over there. So I figured I'd try and hit here reset button to get her back to her demo mode. Isn't that how all of you kids work?"

"We're not machines! Besides I'd rather have Sienna 2.0 than the first edition of bitchy Melinda!" Shana shouted out.

Soon we heard a quiet laugh that grew louder and louder as Melinda slowly lifted herself up with her pedestal. She had a woozy look in her eyes yet a wide grin on her face. She kept herself propped over the banister as she kneeled on the ground, unable to stand up. Soon we heard her say, "Whoa, what a rush. I haven't felt this great since a moose charged me when I was twelve. Granted, I got back at him and mounted his head in my bedroom."

Willie groaned out, "Aww hell no! That actually worked?!"

"Did I not say that you kids had reset buttons?" Monokuma asked as he hopped back onto his throne.

Willie gulped. "I best keep my hat on at all times if that's the case."

"...You're hopeless." Shana deadpanned at him.

Paul smiled. "Welcome back. I must say that vacation you took was most useless of you."

Melinda giggled. "Well, what can ya do when you get clicked by a stage light?"

"So then I take it you recall everything that was discussed here?" Paul inquired her.

"Oh yeah, I remember it all. If he weren't already on the chopping block, I'd kill that little weasel for betraying us but I know he's already doomed," Melinda answered staring at Marcel who simply rolled his eyes at her.

"So you recalled something from what Marcel said. Do you remember now what that was since you got your memories back?" Tommy asked of her.

Melinda smiled. "You better believe it. But with what I'm about to say, you may not believe me. Strap in kiddies because I'm about to expose someone's dirty, little secret."

I felt a quick pause as if we all went into automatic mode and prepared ourselves for what Melinda was gonna tell us. But honestly, after what I've already heard, it doesn't feel like anything can surprise me at this point.

Melinda started, "It was about a year or so before we were invited to the school here when my father had the news on and called us all down to watch a special news bulletin. If anyone can recall, there was a string of mass murders all across the country for years before then. However, no one thought them to be connected because none of the victims had anything related to the others. Yet they were all connected by something that was found on all the bodies. A single petal from some exotic flower but that was seemingly the only thing that connected the victims to each other and for the longest time. The police declared their killer as a psychopath who was killing random people all across America. But with the latest kill I heard about in the news bulletin, which was nearly one-third of an entire team of high school football players who got massacred by this psychopath, they found the clue the killer intentionally left behind to tie the loose ends. A note that was found on one of the dead jock's body. Unfortunately, the reporters said the police weren't going to release what the note said and who the officially named killer was so that's the most I know. Those damn officers haven't let anyone view that note and knowing them they destroyed it."

"Actually, they haven't," Paul responded as he was now typing on his laptop. "Luckily, I have thousands of records and files saved to the hard drive of my laptop, most of which are already broken into as I've hacked them out of the mainframes of the government and all that they hide in them. I'm positive I have that particular file Melinda mentioned on hand."

After a moment of furious typing being the only sound, he smirked. "Aha! Here it is. The note is still in NYPD hands but they conveniently typed out the entire note for the records here."

"Well, what are you waiting for? Read it!" Damian shouted out.

"Well, maybe I could. However, I don't think I will." Paul teased as he smiled sadistically.

"Why the fuck not?!" Shana screeched out.

"Mainly because none of you have a right to know. However, I can make an exception in exchange for something else." Paul smirked.

Ollie squinted at him. "What are you doing?"

"A simple trade. I will give you the information you need…" Paul paused before he pointed at me. "And all I want in return is for Kai to abandon the rest of you and join my group!"

I gasped out as I felt my heart stop. I heard Luca scream out, "Like hell that would ever happen! Kai wouldn't ever think of abandoning us to save himself and work with you!"

I felt the shadows blanket my eyes from everyone as my breathing slowed and my head lowered. "Fine…"

Luca looked to me with a look that reeked of pure horror. "Kai? No, you can't do that! I won't let you!"

I looked up at him and yelled, "I'm not doing this for him! I'm doing it for the information! We need to know what the note says and this is the only way."

Paul smiled as he was turning his laptop around for all of us to see but then it was slammed shut before we could see. Paul's smile instantly disappeared as we all saw Marcel standing next to Paul with his hand holding down the laptop. Marcel and Paul glared at each other with such intensity in their like angered warmongers who dared not take their eyes off the other. But soon Marcel did break it and looked to me.

"Kai, this isn't the only way. You will not accept his shady deal." Marcel spoke sternly to me.

"Then how will they get this information?" Paul growled at him. Marcel sneered at him before walking back to his seat in the circle. He closed his eyes as he began speaking.

"You may be asking yourself why are all these innocent people are being attacked and killed like wild animals. None of the victims have anything that connects them is what you're thinking except for the flower petal I leave with each victim, marking them onto the list of my killings. And you're also wondering who could be psychotic enough to murder all across our glorious United States of America. Well whatever you think is right for all these questions, you can stop because you are wrong. I'm no psycho murder. I'm a hero. The hero who killed the Congress judge who bribed many jury members to do his bidding to let criminals waltz free and imprison innocent lives. The hero who helped those interracial couples who tried to enjoy a peaceful vacation to Yellowstone Park only for an elderly lady to belittle the white man for dating someone black and calling her sick and a slave to mankind. And even now, I'm the hero who avenged the untimely death of an LGBTQ+ student at this Florida high school where these jocks that lay before you had mocked, ridiculed, and beaten him, or should I say her, to the point where she committed suicide on school property. This is the true connection between my victims so you may now cease this nonsense about calling me the psycho murderer and refer to me by a name that is more becoming of me. Signed, the Bully Slayer."

Marcel opened his eyes and saw the color-drained faces of everyone. Even Paul looked spooked as he lifted his gaze from his laptop screen. "He recited the note, word for word with one hundred percent accuracy."

"The only way he could have done that for a note that's still in police custody…" Ollie started speaking as Marcel finished her sentence when she couldn't continue, "Is because I was the one who wrote that letter. I'm the serial killer known to the higher officials as the Bully Slayer."

Everyone, including Paul and Melinda, were stunned dead silent. 'This surfer from Hawaii is a serial killer who murders bullies? I take back what I said earlier. I was definitely more than surprised even after everything I already learned.' I thought to myself as my head felt dizzy with all the plot twists Marcel kept throwing at our faces.

"So you kill bullies?" I asked him, once I regained what little composure I had left in me.

Marcel nodded. "Yes. Anyone who bullies and mocks others to racists or uses their powers to get away with shit. As long as they are scum to anyone innocent on this planet, I felt like I should eradicate them. And what better way to find these targets than to act like a stupid and easily manipulated surfer dude."

"So then you acted like an idiot around us so you could test us to see if we were bad enough for you to kill," Ollie stated.

"You're a sharp one alright. Yes, while I did come to Hope's Peak to be a civil student, I never pass the chance to be on the lookout for bullies. And schools are breeding grounds for bullies. I took on my fool persona to trick you all and see how you would treat me and each other. Some of you were definitely good enough for me to target you. For being manipulative…" Marcel glanced at Paul, "or threatening and conniving…" He looked at Melinda, "or downright sexist…" He looked to Willie who gulped, "or even to someone who judged someone else in such a negative light." His eyes then landed on me and felt my heart drop.

"Y-You wanted to kill me?" I asked in horror as I felt my eyes get pricked with tears.

Marcel looked away in silence which made me collapse in despair. I saw Luca immediately rush to me and hug me tight against him.

Luca glared at Marcel. "Why the hell would you want to kill Kai!? He doesn't deserve this after all he did for us!"

I put my hand on his arm as he looked down at me, concerned and confused. "No, he's right. I did see him in a very negative way when we first met and I avoided him because of how stupid he was acting. I judged him without knowing anything about who he actually was. I… I did deserve to be on his hit list"

Luca couldn't believe I was saying this and yet couldn't find a way to speak out his disagreement.

Marcel then looked back at me. "But I found myself trapped in the school with you all and under strict circumstances that Monokuma put us in. Because of that, I had to lay low and keep my persona up. With no way to escape, I couldn't risk exposing myself and kill my targets. Especially since I'm not allowed more than two kills. But then one of my targets surprised me. He approached me… and asked me what I was doing in the library."

I looked up at him, immediately recognizing that he was referring to me.

He continued, "Then I began telling him my idiot persona's past and he was invested with everything I confessed to him. By the end, he had come to accept the idiot he was involved with and he started to show signs of wanting to be around me more. I knew at that point he was no longer a target. He was a dear friend I would cherish forever." Marcel smiled at me with tears in his eyes.

I couldn't believe it. After all this time he really did and still does think of me as his friend! Even after I called him out as the blackened.

"Not to mention the one who's been there for everyone's time of need…" Marcel continued speaking as he looked to Luca who now bore a small smile at him after hearing what he said about me, "the girl who comforted me with stories and spoke with true and honest yet blunt opinions…" He looked at Ollie, "one who at times was vain but who has a heart of gold and her boyfriend who is sweet, open, and understanding…" He looked at Shana and Tommy as they smiled at each other and held hands, "and then there's the guy who tried to help everyone through times of peril and despair." His gaze ended on Damian, which the DJ gave an appreciative smile to but soon frowned.

"Then why did you kill her? Why did you kill Mikayla and try to frame me for it? I get that you soon made it seem like it was Melinda and not me but still you only kill those you consider bullies! Mikayla was so compassionate and beautiful and loving. She wasn't judgemental or sexist or racist or anything! So why her?" Damian begged to know as tears streamed from his eyes.

Marcel breathed out a sigh as he looked Damian in the eye. "Just like how Kai had changed his opinion on me, so did Mikayla. Mikayla was all those things you said, at first. Then Sienna and Brenda died and she lost herself, becoming depressed and grieving from the loss of her beloved friends. Yet there were times when she got angry and malicious and who was the poor soul she latched it onto. Me! Every time she let her sadness turn to rage and when she added some venom in her mouth, she spat it out in my direction. Occasionally Melinda or Paul but the majority of it was for the idiot I played."

"But she was getting better! She was getting over that depression! She would have been back to her old self!" Shana cried out.

"If she truly was getting better then why did she never apologize to me for the hurtful words she said? She never once approached me and ask for forgiveness for all the spite and rage that she targeted at me! Besides, in the end, she went along with it because she knew she deserved it," Marcel spat out.

Shana quivered at his words. "Did you say she went along with it? She… let you kill her?"

The surfer nodded. "Her anger toward me made me target her but her sorrow and pain made her an easier target than you think. See, after you left Mikayla this morning, I went to check on her so I could get her ready for her death. I rang her doorbell and this is what happened."

Mikayla opened the door and peeked through the crack. "Shana, I just said to… oh, Marcel? What… what do you want?" She asked confused.

Marcel smiled at her. "Sup dude! Well, no one has seen ya for a while now and, ya know, we're all like worried about ya, man."

Mikayla sighed out. "Well, I already told Shana there's nothing anyone can do to help me."

"But I do have a way," Marcel said before leaning in and whispering in his normal voice, "I know about your photosensitive epilepsy."

Mikayla gasped as she quickly opened the door and looked down the dormitory hallway before slipping back in as Marcel casually escorted himself inside with both hands behind his back grasping the iron pipe he got from the school store.

He closed the door by leaning back on it before walking up to Mikayla, who now sat at her desk with her calendar book in hand. She sighed out before looking away.

"I should have known you weren't an actual idiot. So what do you want from me? I bet you're here to kill me." Mikayla growled out as tears formed in her eyes.

"What I'm here for… is to ensure our dream comes true." Marcel confessed.

Mikayla then scoffed at him. "Don't make me laugh. Our dream? You know nothing about what I dream of."

"Actually I do. Your dream is to help all the animals in the world." Marcel told her.

"Shows what you know. That's an old pipe dream." Mikayla spat at him.

"You're right. That's not what you dream about anymore. You dream about being with Sienna and Brenda again." He responded back which made her gasped in shock, confirming that was right. "I know that you want to live out your dream to help all animals but you want Sienna and Brenda by your side. Without one, the other is impossible."

Mikayla's eyes overflowed as she began crying into her hands. Marcel then leaned down as she wept and whispered into her ear. "However, I came to inform you that it's not impossible."

The veterinarian sniffled as she stopped her sobbing and looked at him. "It isn't?" She whimpered out, puzzled.

"Of course not. Both of our dreams can come true if we work together. You see, my dream is not too far off from yours. My dream… is a world free of bullies. A world free of conflict, discrimination, hate, and violence. In short, my dream is world peace. It's outlandish to think such a dream is even possible but I have a strong feeling that Monokuma can make it a reality with the power he's shown off to us more than once. And what will come of my dream of utter world peace, no animals will be harmed ever again. No more black marketing or owners beating their pets or organized dog fights or, best of all, no more hunting of any endangered animals. Because we know if Melinda gets out of here, she'll continue hunting the animals you save."

"Then why not kill her?" Mikayla asked.

"But then you're other most desirable wish can't come true. To be by Sienna and Brenda forever they need to be here. But unless we can revive their spirits and undo the damage to their bodies then there's only one way to make this dream come true. By getting you to them. Now you know why you vital in all I have planned. I'm not being selfish in what I'm doing. Sure I'm gonna have to sacrifice the others to make my dream a reality but I'm doing this so you can see your dreams come true. You can watch me from above as Monokuma and I reform the perfect peace across the world to save all humans and animals while Sienna and Brenda remain forever there by your side. How does that sound?"

Mikayla was a loss for words as she processed everything Marcel told her. Soon her frown slowly curled up into a wide grin as she lightly giggled. She blinked as her eyes suddenly went into a spiral. "This is the answer I've been looking for." She slowly set her calendar book down on the desk before she kneeled on the ground next to her bed with her back turned to Marcel. "This despairful hope I feel. It's invigorating! I'm about to die but in the end, knowing I'll get the two things I desire more than life itself. My animals will find safety and happiness with Marcel's dream coming true thanks to Monokuma. But best of all…" She paused as she lifted her head up to the heavens above as graceful tears flowed from her eyes as she hoisted her hands high above her head. "Sienna… Brenda… you're coming back to me. Please come get me at the gates of heaven with open arms. I'm ready to go to them."

Marcel now stepped up to her and held the pipe high above his head. "You will not regret this." He whispered as he brought the pipe down and slammed it into her skull as blood squirted out and she collapsed to the ground. Despite the blood, Marcel knew he did not kill her. Even though she went along with his plan willingly, he wanted her to suffer a death worthy of the bully she had become as he got the restraints ready.

"That's when I hid the note and pipe and bound her." Marcel finished recalling what happened.

"So you were willing to betray the friends you made so Monokuma could make your dream of world peace a reality." I summarized his story.

He nodded. "Basically. My dream always felt too out of reach but when Monokuma presented it as the next motive, I knew I had a shot of making my overly optimistic dream become real. But there's one thing even I don't understand."

"What's that?" Melinda asked in a huff. Clearly, she didn't like hearing about what was said about her.

"When Mikayla woke up in the auditorium, she should have realized what was happening and yet despite that she obviously fought back. She broke her hand restraints, loosened the ropes holding her down, and removed the gag. But she should have known it was all in an attempt to kill her for our dreams to come true so I'm confused why she resisted if she willingly went along with me in the first place." Marcel explained.

Monokuma suddenly laughed out, "AAAAAAHAHAHAHAHA! Well, if you really want to know why I can give you the answer! It's time for the third exciting installment of "The Victim's Final Moments"! Please turn your attention to the monitor!"

We did so as it turned on to the surveillance camera feed inside the auditorium. It zoomed into the stage and we saw Mikayla lying there, tied up and unmoving with the gag in her mouth, her hands bound behind her back, and the duct tape sealing her head wound from bleeding. Soon we heard Damian starting up the party with the introduction he gave and we saw Mikayla wake up from his booming voice coming from the speakers. Sure enough, she looked around confused but she didn't freak out like I thought she would. She was totally aware of the situation she was in. But then I heard my voice when I dedicated my performance to Mikayla and those we lost. Mikayla seemed to perk up when she heard me say her name.

Then I started singing the song I performed and honestly hearing myself in the background was a bit strange. As the song progressed, the vocals echoed across the stage and auditorium. Soon the song ended and I saw Mikayla blink as her eyes again were overwhelmed with tears. It was zoomed in on her close enough that I saw a single tear roll off her cheek and fall down through the railing and hit me on the forehead.

'That's what that salty water drop was. It wasn't rain, it was her tear.' I thought to myself how stupid I was for not realizing that sooner. But then the music began sounding out and then we saw Mikayla struggling and fighting against her restraints. Then the monitor shut off and leaving us to stand there in the dark for a moment. I sighed as l placed my hands in my back pockets and shook my head only for my left hand to get jammed by something in that pocket. Curiously, I pulled it out and remembered I put Mikayla's calendar book in there. I was holding the book a bit loosely as I noticed a page was sticking out.

I reached in and grabbed the paper as Marcel said, "Well, that's the reason she fought back. I guess you gave her the hope she was looking for in the end, huh Kai? She didn't want to die. Dammit, my plan was foolproof too."

Marcel didn't get a response out of me because I was now staring at a folded paper with a picture on the front. It was Mikayla with some girl I hadn't seen before.

She was maybe fifteen and of Japanese-American descent like Manako. However, she had long magenta hair with lime green, metallic silver, and scarlet red streaks and highlights being held in a high ponytail. She had blue-grey eyes, a thin, but athletic body frame, and a somewhat developed body. She also wore a fishnet midriff top with one long left sleeve, a backless black leather breastplate, a pair of black leather ninja shoulder pads, a pair of black spandex pants, a pair of black leather kneepads, a black leather ninja gauntlet on her right hand, a pair of rose-tinted goggles worn on her head, a pair of black leather Ninja sandals, and she had a bunch of prop ninja swords on her back, including a Katana, two Wakazashi short swords, and a pair of Tanto knives. She seemed like quite the real-life anime character.

I flipped the picture and I read some text on the back. It said "The Ultimate Animal Saving Team! Animal Rescuer- Hana Jovi and Animal Veterinarian- Mikayla Weissberg".

'So this girl was Hana Jovi, an animal rescuer. She and Mikayla looked like two professional partners in the picture and not much like old friends. Maybe that's all they were.' I thought before I put it behind the folded paper and began opening it up. My eyes scanned over it and I lightly gasped.

Luca looked at me and asked, "What is that, Kai?"

"It's a written letter from Mikayla to all of us," I replied back.

Shana gasped. "What?! Well hurry the hell up and read it!"

I nodded as I looked back at the letter and began reading, "Before I came to this school, I was living my life a bit repetitively which wasn't bad but nothing big or extraordinary seemed to happen besides what I would do for work with my mom and a close colleague of mine. But then I came to Hope's Peak and I made so many friends. But then I began losing them and then I lost the two I deeply cared for. In fact, I lost the two I had fallen for. At first, I only saw Sienna and Brenda as friends and then Sienna became a little sister to me, and then I lost her and then Brenda and it took me some time to realize that I had actually fallen head over heels for both of them. It was the same way I felt at first when Luca and Damian were so gentlemanly to me which I found to be beyond sweet."

'She… was in love with Sienna and Brenda… and she liked Luca and even Damian too?" I wondered in surprise.

I continued reading, "However with Sienna and Brenda gone, I find it hard to go on. Kai, you have been such a beacon of light for everyone, not just me, and I know you'll continue to help the others as you did for me when needed. Shana, you're such a kind person and I wish we had gotten to be better friends but even though we didn't get as close as I wanted, I want you to know you are such a dear friend I will always cherish."

I felt my heart flutter at her words for me and I saw Shana tear up as Tommy hugged her close. It seemed the doubts Shana had told me during the investigation were just put to rest by the words I read.

"I won't be able to apologize for not opening myself more after the others died since I plan on finding a way to join our friends in heaven. I'm sorry Kai and Shana for being so difficult with accepting your help. I'm sorry Luca and Damian for not being able to talk more and I know you'll both find girls who are worthy of your love. I'm sorry Ollie and Willie for not being as accepting of your unique personality as I should have. Paul and Melinda… I don't have anything to say to you except burn in hell when you die." The others smiled when she apologized to them but Paul and Melinda sneered, of course.

"But most of all," I paused as I looked over at Marcel who raised an eyebrow. "I'd like to give my deepest and sincerest apologies to the one who deserves them most. For being so harsh and angry towards you when you didn't do anything wrong. I hope one day you may forgive me but honestly, I don't expect it. Either way, I now feel terrible about how unfairly I treated you when I got mad during this depression and I hope you find the hope you're looking for, Marcel. I hope most of you survive this and get out together. Time to find a way to heaven.

With deepest regards and regrets,

Mikayla Weissberg"

Everyone looked over at Marcel who had a smile on his face before tears began overflowing and streamed down his cheeks. "Dammit," He whimpered out as he lightly shook, "So she did regret and did want to apologize for her behavior to me. That means I didn't kill a bully in the end after all. I went against the very thing I swore to never do and that was kill someone who wasn't a bully or someone who would redeem themselves. Now I'm glad you uncovered me, Kai. I deserve to burn in hell for what I've done."

"But Marcel," I tried to argue but he stopped me with a raise of his hand.

"No. I went against the code I set for myself even if it was unknown on my part. Still, even though Flynn deserves to burn in hell for all the murders he committed, I wonder if Marcel can be free of damnation. Maybe if I become him in my final moments of life, I can receive salvation when I die." Marcel responded in a thoughtful gesture.

"Sounds like we're all done here! Now I can finally get on with the most thrilling and the most beautiful execution you're about to see so far!" Monokuma cheered out, happily.

"Here Kai. I doubt you'd ever want to think of me after I betrayed you but I want you to have my most treasured possession." Marcel walked over to me and pulled something out of the pocket inside his swim trunks. It was an exotically and beautifully colored hibiscus flower made out of some hard stone.

Shana gasped and she shouted out, "That hibiscus is made out of so many diamonds! Not to mention the different colored pieces are perfectly formed together to make it seem like it's one smooth ceramic art piece but shines like the diamonds they are! How did you get something so expensive?"

"All I'll say is that one of the victims I killed had a wife he would beat and she was so grateful to be freed from his domestic violence that she crafted this for me as a reward. This was my second kill after my parents." Marcel answered as he placed it in my hand.

I looked up at him and surprised him when I hugged him close. "It's not your fault! I don't blame you for what you did and I don't hate you for killing Mikayla who already felt like she was dead. You were both just lost and we just couldn't do anything about it." Marcel smiled at that and hugged me back.

"Boring! Let's just get to the fun part of this chapter! Now then I've prepared a very special punishment for Marcel Lawson, the Ultimate Surfer!" Monokuma shouted out.

Marcel then pulled my head in real close so my ear was next to his mouth as he whispered loudly, "Listen, Kai. You know I had an accomplice but even I don't know who it was but I have an idea of who it most likely is. I gave that note to Monokuma and told him to give it to whoever it was most useful to. Since Monokuma can't interfere with our daily lives, I'm positive he passed it onto the traitor. All I can say is think back to the party and you should be able to find something amiss. Don't let the traitor get too close. As for the mastermind, I doubt they're terribly close at all but they may be closer to you than you think."

"What does that mean?" I whispered back my confusion.

"Hey! What are you two doing? Why are you holding up my special punishment!?" Monokuma growled at us.

"No time. Just remember what I've said." He whispered back before he lifted his head away and gave Monokuma a goofy grin. He then spoke in the dumb surfer voice we were originally used to. "Heeey man! I was just wanting to hug my bro one final time before I leave."

Monokuma squinted his eyes at Marcel but just shrugged. "Eh well. Oh by the way you're gonna want this!" Monokuma somehow pulled Marcel's giant surfboard from behind him and chucked it over. Marcel caught it and nodded.

"Radical, dude! Looks like I'm gonna be surfing one last wave before I go. Granted I dunno where I'm going but I plan on riding this most tubular wave until the ends of the world! Take care, my homies! Maybe one day we can all go surfing together through the clouds when we get together for the final reunion! Marcel Lawson is out! Peace, love, and pizza pie!" Marcel cried out happily.

"Let's give it everything we got! IIIIt's PUNISHMENT TIIIIIIIME!" Monokuma screamed out. The red button quickly rose up in front of him as he pulled out the gavel and spun it in his hand. His red eye glinted as he did a front flip and slammed the gavel down on the button. The screen lit up with pixelated Marcel appearing on it.

"Marcel has been found guilty. Time for the punishment!" It read as the pixel Monokuma ran in grabbed the panicked Marcel sprite as he was dragged behind the bear until they both disappeared from stage right on the screen.

(youtube. watch?v=ba-o18U03wY Now imagine this with a kind of surfing beat like Pump It by the Black Eyed Peas)

Marcel smiled big and undeterred as a scenic ocean was being filled around him as he soon began floating up on top of his surfboard. The water kept rising and rising as an island was built far away in front of him. Storm clouds rolled overhead as it began raining hard on Marcel. Then a Monokuma dressed up in a seagull outfit flapped around Marcel and flew up into the storm clouds and suddenly from those clouds fell not only the rain but hundreds of rope nooses cascaded down and now hung from the clouds at various positions and altitudes.

Hanged Loose

Marcel had his eyes closed as if he was waiting for something. Then suddenly his eyes opened wide as a sudden wave exploded up behind him and he immediately jumped up and as the wave slammed into him, he was already surfing along with the wave as if he knew it was there. He smiled big, full of confidence as he surfed to the top of the wave and did an exemplary backflip and landed back on the wave like it was nothing. But as soon as he was facing forward along with the wave, he almost went headfirst into a noose. He managed to quickly tilt his board down and nosedive down the wave to dodge it but another one waited down there as he did a serpentine to the left and up the wave but no matter how high or low or how far right or left he surfed on the giant wave a noose was there and ready to snag around his neck as he navigated his way through the wall of nooses.

The further into the forest of nooses he surfed, the more nooses were there as Monokuma suddenly appeared again, now dressed as a dolphin as he leaped through the water looking happy and carefree before he landed neck first into a noose and began looking panicked as he choked and died. Yet Marcel's face remained undeterred as he pressed on and surfed by each noose barely scraping through them as they now began slapping his face. But he kept surfing and dodging throughout this impossible maze of death and then suddenly his neck got snagged by one and the noose tightened around his throat as he rode forward.

But the unexpected happened as the rope in the cloud connected to that noose broke off and instead of getting hung to death, Marcel cruised onward with the wave as he slid across the shore of the island, safe and alive. Marcel looking proud of his skills and what he accomplished only to realize there was something hanging off the rope around his neck as he looked down and saw a bone-shaped dog tag hanging off of it with the name "Boomer" inscribed. For the first time in this punishment, Marcel lost his smile and the color in his face, and then from out of nowhere a great white shark popped onto the shore with blinding speed like from the Jaws movie. It savagely bit into Marcel from behind and, just as fast as it appeared, dragged him back into the ocean with a trail of blood that spewed from his body as it stained the sand and waters where he was dragged away.

Just when it felt like Marcel had survived his punishment, he was gone in the blink of an eye. I growled in disgust having seen that the noose was only supposed to act as a collar and Marcel was supposed to be in the place of his dog, Boomer, who died to a shark attack. He managed to turn this execution into something personal to Marcel and that pissed me off.

"How dare you do that to him!" I shouted in anger.

Monokuma shrugged it off like it was nothing. "Oh, you mean the fact I made him relive a painful memory or the fact I made him relive and experience that memory from his dead dog's perspective? Either way that was so thrilling to watch! I don't know whose face was more priceless, the dumbass Marcel or the psycho serial killer Flynn! AAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

"You're sick! Marcel was not the psychopath here! That role belongs to you and you alone!" I screamed at Monokuma.

"Well, you can't label me without labeling everyone else around you. I wonder how your lives will go on from this point on. I'm beyond curious how things will turn out for you all! Let's get excited as your school lives here in the school will continue on! Forever and ever! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Monokuma laughed maniacally as he vanished from the courtroom, leaving us all there in a state of mixed emotions.

After a small moment of silence, Paul spoke up first. "I can't believe that fool wasn't a fool. He was a genius serial killer who betrayed my pact. Well, he was expendable anyway. He was of no use to me in the end so I say good riddance to that fodder."

I growled at him as I turned and shouted, "Will you just shut up?! We don't need to hear your narcissistic comments about your cult group and people's choices! We have our own agency to choose and Marcel was never truly with you. He was always looking out for himself and those he cared about around him. But then again, he understood that sympathy and compassion for others are more powerful than any physical strength or political influence over others. That's why he killed off bullies like you who don't understand those sentimentalities."

Paul turned his head from me. "Having influence over others is essential to being the most powerful and respected leader of all. Simpletons who can't appreciate that aren't worth my time to try and explain what you can't comprehend."

Luca walked next to me and placed his arm around my shoulder. "Then there's no point in trying to explain how your philosophy of thinking won't give you respect but will instead make you hated and shunned by those you seek to control."

Paul huffed as he walked away with Melinda desperately trying to keep up but having difficulty thanks to her dizziness and injuries. But before he passed me, he latched onto my arm making me scream out in pain. Luca shouted at him and began pulling at him to get him off me as Paul pulled me up to him.

"Listen well, Kai Brugger. I don't intend on losing this. I will get what I want and one way or another, you will join me and my group." He whispered as Luca finally pried him off and pulled me away from him, holding me in a protective manner in case Paul tried something else. But he didn't as he and Melinda left.

I looked up at Luca awkwardly. "Um… Luca, you know you can let me go now."

Luca soon realized that he was still clinging me close and jumped back. "S-Sorry! I was just worried he'd hurt you."

I nodded. "I understand. I really do appreciate that you have my back though."

Luca nodded back. "Of course! I'll always be there for you since I know you'd do the same for me and everyone else."

Soon the rest of the surviving class came over to me. They all were smiling despite what we've just been through.

"Frizz man! That was some scary shit but I know we can get through this. After all, there ain't no way he can get us to kill each other!" Damian confidently said.

Willie nodded, "That's right, partner! I feel more energized than a buck wild stallion in a rodeo on steroids!"

Shana blinked at him, "What does that even mean?"

Willie shrugged, "If you don't get my lingo, there ain't no point in tryin' to explain it to y'all."

Tommy saw steam billow out from Shana's head as he quickly turned her away and grabbed his hat. "Remember, yell into the hat and get your anger out that way."

Shana nodded before she took it and screamed what were most likely muffled curses for a solid minute before she eventually lifted her red, dirty face from the hat. She panted out like she just ran a marathon as she began calming down before giving Tommy his hat back.

"Wow, Tommy. I'm impressed that you have a way to help Shana cool down fast." Ollie said with a grin.

Tommy lightly blushed. "All I did was replace a pillow with my hat whenever she's outside her dorm since all her hat would do is echo her swearing louder as if she was in the mines she works in."

We all chuckled at that as Shana rested her head against his shoulder. "I'm grateful for you being so patient and supportive of me. Honestly, I don't know how I'd get through this without you." She then looked at everyone else. "Or any of you."

We all looked at each other and smiled. The feeling was mutual and we made that known but one of us turned away with shadowy eyes. "Ollie?" I curiously asked of her.

Ollie sighed. "I don't think I can say the same. I kept myself neutral in all this. And now thanks to Marcel's betrayal to Paul, I'll be forced away from you all again to ensure he keeps his grip on me tight and unmoving."

Luca approached her and turned her slowly to face him with both hands on her shoulders. "You may be right but he doesn't control your feelings or choices. If you want to be around us then be around us! If you want to be alone then that's your decision! He can't be your puppet master because you are not an empty shell for him to fill!"

"I know but with his ingenuity in hacking and his mindless robot at his side, it's not like I have much going in my favor," Ollie replied, quietly.

Suddenly an idea popped in my head. "Maybe there is. You tend to be monotonous with your tone and body language which I believe you can use to your advantage."

"What do you mean?" Ollie asked me.

"I'm saying make them think you're still with them and when you find opportunities to be away from them, you can come to see us. That way you can become more acquainted with all of us!" I explained.

Ollie soon broke into a smile. "Yeah. Yeah, I'd like that."

The others all smiled back at her as we all soon made our way back to the school together. While Ollie had to catch up with Paul and Melinda, the rest of us made our way back to the auditorium where we found the stage entirely cleaned up. Not only was Mikayla's body gone but every trace of the party was gone too. Not to mention the light that Marcel sabotaged looked like it was never broken or even touched. Damian was relieved to see Monokuma put the missing Bluetooth plug that Marcel took was on his DJ equipment which was the only thing of the party left onstage.

Soon we departed to the cafeteria and got ourselves some dinner. The six of us were chatting about random things as we ate and soon nighttime was upon us. We all went our separate ways back to the dormitory hallway and to our rooms as everyone was getting ready for some much-needed rest. I went into my room and soon laid down on the bed. At first, I found I couldn't sleep as I held the diamond hibiscus above me to the light as the light shined its radiant glow into my eye. It made me think of Mikayla and Marcel and how I lost two dear friends. I gripped the hibiscus tightly in my fist.

'I wonder if Marcel's theory of him dying as his innocent, idiot persona can help him be redeemed for all the murder he committed as the Bully Slayer. I certainly hope that is the case. But now I need to focus on the others. I don't care what happens to Paul and Melinda but the rest of us need to get out of here. I won't let them down. I need to remain the beacon of light to guide them in the correct direction and help them through the rest of this foggy despair. I won't let despair get to us again. I refuse to let Monokuma win.' I soon felt myself drift into unconsciousness and I fell asleep with that declaration still fresh in the back of my mind.

Chapter 3: Plans are Made, Dreams are Shattered

END

Deceased Students: 7

Surviving Students: 9

I shifted around as I felt my body and mind slowly wake up from slumber. I looked around and realized that I had woken up for no reason. I groaned as I tried to pull myself to sleep by singing myself a lullaby Terry would always sing to me when I was little but it doesn't exactly work when you're singing it yourself.

I knew it nighttime wasn't over since the morning announcement hadn't woken me up and thanks to the lack of clocks around, I couldn't check the time myself.

"Well, I'm not getting back to sleep by myself. I might as well do something." I said to myself before I tried to think of something I could do. The cafeteria was closed off again so eating wasn't an option and I was pretty sure the library was also restricted during nighttime hours but then I recalled one unique place in the school that was only available at night. "The pool! The electric conductors are turned off during nighttime! I can go for a swim!"

I knew I'd be putting myself in potential danger going out alone but with the last class trial just happening, I figured I'd be safe. Especially since there was no time for a new motive yet.

I quickly gathered up my gear and began making my way to the second floor. As I traversed the stairs up and began making my way past the gym and to the doors of the pool, I heard a ruckus of voices sound from down the hall.

The phrase curiosity killed the cat repeatedly played in my mind over and over but my body moved on its own down the hall and found itself in front of the cracked door to the nurse's office. I peeked inside and gasped as I saw Monokuma yelling at someone else in the room who was throwing up a fit.

The individual paced back and forth before stopping and looked to Monokuma. "Listen! Can't you work something out? What you promised me isn't enough! You know I can't stay here much longer!"

"Aww. Well, that's a shame now, is it. But unfortunately, your request is super mega denied! As long as this game is running you're gonna have to stay here with everyone else until this is over. I guess you'll just have to keep playing this game. Unless you plan on ending it yourself." Monokuma giggled.

My eyes and frame shook at the sight in front of me! The individual turned away from Monokuma towards my direction as they faced me but did not take notice since I was still peeking in. The individual sighed out before letting out a single, aggravated, "Frizz man!"

Chapter 4: Fragile Line of Trust In Ruin

So this was my second longest chapter ever! Over 10,000 words alone in this chapter with the Daily Life of Chapter 1 being over 12,000. This one was rough too but hopefully I did okay with it. Tell me what you guys thought of Marcel, Mikayla, and everyone's reactions. Did I perform Marcel's execution well enough? What about the next chapter reveal? Leave a review and let me know! Now that I'm getting back into the daily life chapters, I need to ensure I stay motivated enough to finish these chapters so they keep coming out in a timely manner! But until then take care and stay safe in these despairful times! Puhuhuhu~