Kyoko crossed her arms as she stared straight at Junko, who was grinning while staring straight back.

"Who knew the detective princess could have some fun, huh? Too bad you didn't go all the way."

"Don't change the subject, voyeur. What sort of convoluted nonsense have you started now?"

"See, that's the problem with you and Kamakura. All you two do is just react. Are you really worried about the end of the world or not? I mean, not like you haven't lived through it before right? Upupupupu."

"So you decided to do something constructive? Color me surprised."

"I dunno. You somehow pull off the purple look. But sure. I just felt like it." She opened up a laptop she was carrying. "It's like those crazies that try to catch Bigfoot on camera!"

"You calling anyone crazy is certainly..."

"Insulting? Demeaning?"

"...absurd." Glancing around her surroundings in the open beach, Kyoko moved over toward her. "Where did you get this?"

"Does it fucking matter?" She started opening a few programs, a suspicious look from the detective peering over her shoulder all the meanwhile. "A-ha! Look, I caught something! See?"

"Hm. And what did you exactly catch?"

"A nosy detective."

Kyoko could only scoff as she shifted her eyes away from the screen. Junko closed her laptop screen and stood up with an excited squeal. "Time to go see what mama's caught herself!" As she bolted away, the lavender-haired detective pursued the strawberry blonde. Eventually she caught up to her and heard a bunch of annoyed wailing coming from the fashionista.

"Hm? What's wrong now?"

"I...I caught a..."

Kyoko looked upward and saw a familiar white-haired man caught in a net.

"Sorry to ruin your fun." Nagito replied.

"I didn't even get the right luckster! Augh!"

Crossing her arms, the former SHSL detective asked with edge her in tone. "Was this supposed to capture Makoto-kun?"

"No. But it would've been better than this idiot!"

"Whatever dastardly plan you concoct, your goals will never come to fruition." Nagito declared, still inside the net.

"Fine! Then I'll just leave your hope-obsessed dumbass in there!" Junko taunted, sticking her tongue out at him.

"Ah, wait..." Nagito started to hold his own head inside the net. "P-Perhaps I was too rash about this."

Kyoko sighed and moved over to the net, being hung by an unassuming palm tree. Taking out a switch-knife, she cut the bottom apart and he fell onto the sand below.

"I appreciate you getting me out of here, Kirigiri-san. You needn't have worried about—"

"Just appreciation is enough, Komaeda-san."

"Seriously, this is ruining my mood." Junko's face turned to a grin. "Perfect."

Nagito held himself. "What a truly disgusting creature you are."

"I doubt you were planning on catching the culprit with selfless intentions, Enoshima." Kyoko mentioned as she put away the blade she wielded.

"Who said I was selfless?" Placing her hand over her grinning mouth, she continued. "Who knows what amazing possibilities are there if I could figure out how this works?"

"A complete subversion of Makoto-kun's ideals. Of course."

"He's my inspiration you know. Upupupupu."

"Once again, I implore you. She's too dangerous to leave alive." Nagito begged.

Kyoko looked away from both of them. "I'm afraid that's not entirely my decision. Nor am I the person you would have to convince."

"Love you too, Kiri." Her lips curled into the fashion of a Cheshire cat.

"Were you the only one around here, Komaeda-san? It seems unlikely that you would simply wander by yourself into Enoshima's trap."

"An impressive deduction! You see, I was following Hanamura-kun."

"The SHSL Cook?"

"Yes! He mentioned he was on a date with someone."

"Hm?" Even Junko was perplexed. "A...date? Man, I always knew your class had some shit standards."

Ignoring her, Nagito continued his explanation. "Though it was not my right to be curious, I had no choice. Especially since Hinata-kun told us to explore every single possibility presented to us. Alas, I had tripped over some uneven pavement and found myself in the trap."

"And where did Hanamura-san go?" Kyoko inquired.

"I'm afraid he didn't notice me while I was following him. I have no idea where he went."

"Any general ideas on which direction he went?"

"I believe he was headed toward the second island."

"Hm. We were just there yesterday. Though, aside from the odd choice of a date partner, there's nothing particularly suspicious about going there specifically. Plenty of people are wandering around." A few moments pass in silence as Kyoko continued to ponder. "But...when I showed up, there were many people around. It may be how the person was going around undetected."

"So what is it that the mastermind is doing exactly?" Nagito asked.

"Something that obviously doesn't look suspicious to normal people." Junko smirked. "What? Were you expecting some sort of magic Monokuma to show up?!"

"That would not be too surprising."

"They'd be caught pretty quick, moron."

Ignoring the two fuming crazies, Kyoko continued. "The question is now what is it they're exactly doing to produce results. It must be subtle. Yet powerful enough to mess with space and time."

"Hm. It sounds like a riddle." Nagito commented. "What could it be, I wonder?"

Makoto found himself facing toward the former SHSL Heir, sipping tea and looking over a few things from a dossier while sitting across from him. His eyes looked up from the old-fashioned paper reports and focused squarely on the former SHSL Lucky Student. Taking another sip, Byakuya gulped down the small amount of hot liquid with poise and grace.

"Is everything alright, Togami-kun?"

"Hm. Are you curious as to what is going on in my new holdings?"

"That's what you were looking at?"

"Indeed. There seems to be a mild profit at how outrageous the new season of their killing game is. There is another one currently in production."

"I mean, I know sometimes you've said that you can put a price tag on almost anything, but seeing the killing game as entertainment has always been...weird."

"The unwashed masses enjoy watching tragedy when it does not concern them. Have you heard of the term schadenfreude?"

"I...don't speak whatever language that is."

"German, you cretin." Byakuya adjusted his glasses. "Taking pleasure in the misfortune of others. It's a psychological phenomenon. Perhaps you should read more books, hm? Can't have an associate of mine not understanding even the basics during intelligent discourse."

"I'm no scholar."

"You could be so much more, Naegi."

"I've always been more about practical knowledge. You know this."

"Does actually bothering to read books make that mutually exclusive? You have a responsibility as an elite."

"Are you still really going on about that? I'm not an elite here."

"Perhaps. But knowing you, that will be temporary."

Makoto sighed, not wanting to push the issue any further.

"And as for the case at hand: it seems no signs of any strange technology, human-made or otherwise, has been involved. I'll be sure to send my condolences to Hagakure."

"Something to do with aliens?"

"He would not shut up about it while intoxicated."

"So then what could it be? Magic?"

"Normally I would call that preposterous. But anything goes in this strange place. I, however, highly doubt it's "magic" in the fantastical sense. The truth tends to be much more mundane."

"Really? You think so?"

"Enoshima isn't our opponent this time. The game has different rules. Operating as if we're going against that deranged lunatic would get us nowhere."

"You have a point. But what makes you confident that the way things are happening could actually be mundane?"

"After surviving The Tragedy, anything else that someone comes up with can only be mundane in comparison. Do you not recall Monaca Towa and Kazuo Tengan? They attempted to emulate her methods and madness, but they had actual tangible goals and thus fell short. The difference is there if you paid attention."

"When you put it that way, I guess it makes sense. But that doesn't answer the question. What is it that the mastermind is doing?"

"I'm sure you'll come up with an answer on your own."

"...thanks, Togami-kun."

"If not, then it seems I have vastly overestimated what intelligence you managed to gather over the past few years."

Losing all feeling of gratefulness to his classmate, he only responded. "Right." Makoto finally stood up and began to walk out of the room. "I'll come back with news. That's a promise."

Suddenly hearing the tapping of footsteps from outside, he immediately stopped as the door swung open with Kyoko and Junko barging into Byakuya's quarters.

"Seems news follows you around, reporter." The blonde business magnate pinched the bridge of his nose. "And I take it that it's bad news."

"We need to head over to the second island. Now." Kyoko ordered.

Mukuro stared down Hajime as they were both outside of the library in the second island. Completely staying on guard, she continued to eye him wearily. He, on the other hand, found her acting completely as he predicted.

"Still hate me, huh?"

The former SHSL Soldier narrowed her eyes in response.

"Look, I was just doing some snooping out here on my own. Or is it because you dislike me for a different reason?"

After some more tense silence, she finally responded. "I don't understand."

"A simple, but pretty loaded statement."

"Don't patronize me Kamakura."

"What did you want to ask me Ikusaba?"

Pursing her lips, she struggled to form a sentence she felt that she would be okay with.

"It has something to do with what you've been doing lately, right?" He asked, staving off his incoming boredom. "Going around and doing some people watching. I've done that a few times myself."

Hajime walked past Mukuro while she kept watching him.

"You and me. We had a similar role in Enoshima's plans, didn't we? Making sure she got close enough to the finish line to be satisfied."

"There's no way we're anywhere close to the same."

"Oh? Is that so?"

"She killed me for her despair."

"Your voice doesn't hold the same conviction it did when we first met. You're right. But you're not okay with it. Not anymore."

She didn't reply.

"Enoshima killed her own lover. Perhaps Naegi-san is too nice to say this, but I'm not. You desperately wanted to be held to the same standard as Matsuda was."

He turned around and looked straight at her.

"But she didn't kill you personally, did she? She did it with a second-rate trick."

Another pregnant silence came from Mukuro.

"I do recall you not being able to sleep during the entirety of your killing game. It was televised, if you remember. I'm guessing it was because of your fixation on the SHSL Hope. And I was able to deduce this being a complete outsider to that phase of her plan. What did you think your sister was thinking about you at that time?"

"That's..."

"The only reason I'm saying all this is because you started thinking a little more for yourself."

"Hmph. Are you saying she...disposed of me?"

"Gaining the most out of people she uses is her way. You of all people should know that. The only reason things are turning out differently now is because people now realize what blindly going along with her insanity costs."

"So she wanted the despair of killing her sister while getting rid of...something that might have gotten in the way of her plans."

"The Mukuro Ikusaba from back then would have been alright with this."

"...yeah. I would have been."

"Back to the question you wanted to ask me."

"I think you may have answered it." Mukuro looked away. "You have no love for her, but you're not out for revenge."

Hajime replied with a bitter smile. "Believe me. If I could take revenge on her, I would. But I don't have that power or capability."

"I'm confused. You? Not having power or capability?"

"It's not a matter of killing Junko Enoshima again or stopping her plans. If that woman truly feared death, she would've died again a long time ago. Long before I even would have a chance to try. And failure is something that she subconsciously yearns for."

Another heavy reminder that Mukuro truly did not understand her sister's twisted thinking.

"Then what?"

Hajime grinned. "Even if you knew the answer, you wouldn't be capable of it either."

A twitch sprung up on the black-haired girl's face.

"No need to be upset. You should focus on your own affairs."

Cooling herself down, she answered. "You might be right."

A low rumbling could be heard. Raising an eyebrow, Hajime looked around. Suddenly hearing some screaming from people, he looked toward the cause of the mass panic. A four-legged creature barely resembling a Monokuma was running around, terrorizing the locals. Its long, fluffy tail swung around and damaged nearby buildings as it rampaged through the district nearby. Hinata rolled his right shoulder as he prepared himself to face the strange machine.

Mukuro, already aware of his overwhelming martial prowess, looked around for other dangers.

The black and white mechanoid roar and swung its claw right at Hajime. An effortless dodge came out from Izuru Kamakura himself. Keeping away from the lethal claws of its front paws, he jumped over the attacks and winded up a halfhearted punch and swung right at the middle of its back. Once his fist connected with the outer shell of the quadruped beast, the metal collapsed on itself and the Monobeast crumpled from the single impact.

It was a sure victory for him with one punch.

Sighing, he looked around and the people looked amazed. They began to cheer for him. Not particularly looking for any merit for his feat, he politely acknowledged the praise and continued walking down the street for any traces of where the strange machine came from.

The freckled ex-mercenary, on the other hand, ran into a familiar portly-looking cook hanging onto a ledge of a newly ruined building. Jumping up and bringing him to safety, he cried for a while.

"M...Mamaaaa!" Teruteru sniffed, then eyed Mukuro. "Well, well. My hero. Any way I can repay you?"

"No."

"Ouch! No need to shoot me down so fast, baby."

"Do you remember?"

"Remember what? I'd think I'd remember a hottie like you."

"Your time as a part of Ultimate Despair."

His grateful and lusty look turned into a grimace. "...yeah. Yeah, I do. You're not gentle at all, are you? I do like it a little rough, but that's a little too much. Even for me."

"Everything alright, Hanamura?" Hajime leaped over from where he was, landing next to the both of them.

"Hehe. Looking sexy as always, Hinata-kun. I'm alright and ready for action anytime."

"You don't remember anything before you showed up here, do you?"

"No, sadly I don't. It's all murky like poorly-made stock. I was making some food back on the island...er, well, this is still the island isn't it? But yeah, then I showed up and that weird furry robot chased me around!"

"Sounds similar to what happened to me." Mukuro commented.

"Doubt the creatures are brought here on purpose. Anything else you can tell me?"

"...well...if you must know, I have a tingling in my loins." Teruteru whispered.

Mukuro raised her eyebrows, slowly losing her patience. Hajime, however, continued the questioning.

"And what made you feel horny?"

"Well, when I feel this way, it's like someone whispered some sweet nothings into my ears. It sounds a little old-fashioned, but sometimes that's a great way to get into the mood."

A few possibilities showed up in Hajime's thoughts. But it seemed like he was getting closer to the answer of the mystery.

"Thanks. You've been a good help."

"Maybe you can give me a reward for being such a good boy, eh?"

"Sorry."

"Hm. Being rejected by two hotties so quick! My burning heart can only take so much. Still, it's nice to see you again."

Hajime smiled. "Yeah. Likewise."

"Oh come on! Monokoppa! Ugh, Kamakura can be such a party pooper."

Raising an eyebrow at Junko's insistence to name the strange machines that show up, Makoto rubbed his eyes as he looked around. Police were directing the affected population to safety. While the rampage of the Monokoppa was only for a short amount of time, the damage was very much real. Some unlucky people were crushed by the debris of destroyed buildings and dozens of others injured.

Byakuya walked up to them with several of his underlings. "We managed to recover someone else."

Makoto looked over and Sayaka was flanked by two black-suited bodyguards. Her clothes were dusty and her pink bow was slightly torn.

"Upupupupu. Looks like you've caught a naughty idol." Junko grinned.

"Maizono-san. We need to talk."

"Naegi-sensei, I..." She looked down. "Okay."

The convoy headed back to the military vessel they sailed onto the first island with. Byakuya, with only disapproval layering his expression, walked out and left Makoto alone with the SHSL Idol in one of the rooms. A dim light was above them and only shined on top of the blue-haired girl herself, leaving the brown-haired male in the darkness.

"...it's not looking good for you. You were in the wrong place at the wrong time."

"I haven't done anything wrong."

"So what were you doing there on the second island?"

Sayaka moved her hair over her right ear, and didn't answer. "Look, I—I don't think you'll believe me."

He studied her quietly for a few moments. She arched her posture a little forward, looking meek toward him. Her eyes had a softened and frightened expression on them. It wasn't quite the same as the day before the first case that sealed his fate long ago, but he couldn't ignore the similarities presented to him. Taking a page from Kyoko's book, he held back whatever his gut was telling him to say and carefully started to construct what he should be saying to her at a time like this.

"This isn't about believing in you. It's about finding the facts of what happened today."

"Sensei, everyone else out there has already condemned me. I could tell by the looks in their eyes."

Taking another pause, he immediately shut down his gut feelings. "That doesn't matter right now. You have to convince me that you aren't causing trouble. People have died, Maizono-san."

Slowly losing her patience, she asked. "Do you think I'm the one that let that monster out in the streets? I almost died too!"

"Then you can tell me what happened. I just want the truth."

The performer looked upward at the ceiling. "Okay. But please don't think I'm crazy."

He nodded.

She sighed and took a moment to compose her thoughts. "Remember that dream I told you about?"

"The one where we were both students, right?"

"Yes. I've been having more of those dreams. And lately, I've been hearing my own voice. But it's not mine. If that makes sense."

"What did this voice tell you?"

"She...I...it was a warning."

"A warning? About what happened today?"

"Yes. And that someone was trying to bring her back. I don't quite understand what she meant by that but..."

Makoto couldn't help swallow the lump that formed in his throat. "I—I see."

"I always joked about being psychic, but it seems I am a bit of an esper now. In a way."

"So you weren't with Teruteru Hanamura?"

"Oh, heavens no. I don't know him that well but his reputation precedes him. But I wanted to try and stop what was about to happen. I didn't get to see him, though. That monster showed up out of nowhere and started rampaging through the streets. I ran as fast as I could and...well...ended up hiding from it under some rubble that fell near me. Then some men in suits found me and helped me up."

She looked at him expectantly.

"It's a very strange story. I can see why you were hesitant to share it."

"You must think I'm insane."

He shook his head. "No, I think you're more unlucky than anything."

"Hm? I don't get what you mean."

"I'll need to have a talk with Munakata-san, but I believe you."

"You do?" She started to light up.

"I'm sure Kyoko-chan has some questions for you as well." He looked back and Kyoko opened the door on cue.

"Oh. I guess I'll be in here for longer." Sayaka sighed.

"I'll try not to take up more of your time, Maizono-san. After all, your chaperons must be worried about you. But there's more of your story I'd like to clarify and expound on."

Makoto gave her an apologetic smile as he stood up. "This doesn't mean you're in trouble. Just answer as truthfully as you can."

He moved outside as Kyoko took over his seat. Closing the door behind him, he could hear Kyoko beginning her interrogation.

"An interesting tale she shared with you." Byakuya's arms were crossed. "Still, it's not the strangest thing that's happened today."

"She wasn't that close to where they found Hanamura-san, right?"

"No, she was not. Several blocks away under some scattered chunks of debris. Seems she was headed toward where he was rather than away from it."

Komaru walked in with Toko by her side. "Is Maizono-san okay?"

"She's fine. Just mostly scared." Makoto replied. "Still...the whole thing about a voice that sounds like her in her head. You don't think...?"

"I will not make baseless conjecture. Especially about the occult." Byakuya spat. "Heavens know how much I've already heard from Hagakure's rants about it on the way here."

"What? Are you guys talking about ghosts?" Komaru asked. "I mean, I've talked to a ghost before!"

"D-Don't bring that up, Komaru." Toko bit her thumb. "That was so stupid! If it was r-real, I was the one who exorcised it with a meme."

"Doesn't Maizono-san always joke about being psychic? She'd probably be way better at communing with the dead than I would be!"

"Th-That's not a comforting thought, Komaru." Makoto groaned. "Still, it might be a good idea for her to stick around with us. She's already involved herself."

"Hmph." Byakuya sneered. "Do as you like. Considering you already willingly subject yourself to the whims of dead enemies, I doubt you can fall further."

Junko smirked. "Of course he can. He'll do it when he finally falls for me."

"Even your insufferable bear puns would be preferable to this bilge."

"Hello, Hinata-san."

Hajime was outside of Chisa's room, having just discussed the day's events. The human Chiaki smiled as she held her handheld console.

"Oh. Afternoon, Nanami. Are you by yourself?"

"Mmhm. Owari-san wanted me to tell you that she wants a rematch. Also something about letting you cop a feel if you win again."

A nervous and slightly annoyed laugh came from him. "Right. Figures. How are you doing?"

"Huh? Fine, I guess. It's hard to play some games here. There isn't a rec room where I can set up my consoles for multiplayer. It's hard to get everyone together, too."

"Ah, don't feel so bad about it. Do you like to swim?"

"Hmm... I don't think I hate it. But I can't say I love it, either. Do you like it?"

"I like having to fight against the waves sometimes. It's interesting."

"Interesting? That's kind of a weird way to put it."

"I get bored easily. Though that's my problem."

"Speaking of which, I'd like to play some games with you. I brought some that you might like." She showed a few physical copies of games from her backpack.

"Some of these are competitive games, right?"

"Yeah. You seem really good at games, so I wanna try and go against you this time."

"...you sure?"

"Uh-huh."

Chiaki looked fired up, clutching her Game Girl with intensity. Hajime chuckled a bit and took out the handheld that she lent to him. Both of them walked over to the hotel lobby and occupied a couch. Not letting up against her, the dozens of matches between them went in Hinata's favor. He couldn't help but analyze her movements from her hands.

Another match, another win. Still, he didn't find himself particularly bored. He seemed more interested in her tenacity. Eventually, she pulled a surprising move where she took an on-the-ground combo into a finisher and actually won a match against him.

It took twenty-five tries.

"I...wow...are you sure you weren't a SHSL student?" Chiaki looked to be in awe. "I had to go all out."

"Definitely wasn't."

"You're not even a sore loser. You're kinda cool, Hinata-san."

"Me? Cool?" Hajime found himself bashful even though he had no reason to be. "I mean...losing's important, too. Why would I get mad about that?"

"Ah, well. Some guys' egos get really bruised when a girl beats them." Her expression could only be described as smug, her lips shaped as if she wanted to whistle.

"I guess there are more important things to me."

"Really? Like what?"

"Enjoying the little things. Especially surprises."

"You sound like a thrill-seeker."

Hajime sighed. "That's not too far from the truth."

"Why do you get bored so easily?"

"It's because of my past, I guess. I've, uh, got a knack for predicting things. And it's not like I can turn it off."

"Really? So that's why you look for surprises?"

"Pretty much. But being bored isn't that bad, either. I can predict things, but it doesn't mean it'll always go 100% the way I want it to."

"That's a good way to think!"

"I didn't always think that way, though. It ruined a lot of people's lives because of my decisions. Especially someone I used to care about. To think I did something so stupid because I...ah, I don't want to torture you with a sob story."

Chiaki looked sympathetic. "You lost someone close to you?"

"I don't know how close we were. But I know I did a lot of things I can't take back. And at the end, when I could've done something, I still didn't."

The SHSL Gamer kept quiet for a few moments. She didn't know what to say. Hajime studied her in equal silence.

"...I'm sure that person probably felt the same way about you. That's how those kinds of stories go in games, after all. Don't torture yourself over it. It'll all work out, Hinata-kun."

Hajime found his eyes narrowing in response.

Junko wrapped her arms around the shorter brown-haired luckster, stopping him while he was on his way back from talking with Kyosuke about Sayaka's testimony.

"Whoa!" Her grasp kept him from advancing forward. "Hey, what's the big idea?!"

"What? Can't I hug my favorite person in the world?" She leaned forward and nearly buried her face in the back of his head, causing him to flinch. "Upupupu. You smell nice."

"Er...thank you? But I really need to be going."

"What's the hurry, what's the hurry?" She placed an open palm on his chest, pouting her lips and changing her tone into a slightly whiny and yearning one. "I might let you get away sometimes, but not today. I don't feel like it."

"Seriously! I'm in the middle of something."

"Do you think you can do much more than this? There are others working on the case. Why not relax a little bit." She started nipping him on the ear.

"Wh-wh-wh-wh—?!" He could feel his face starting to burn hot. Trying to get a hold of himself, he retreated quickly into his thoughts.

"Nope. Not going to let you ignore me, either." She blew into his ear.

"Why are you trying to stop me?"

"Stop you? Ehehe. It would be a shame if the game ended too fast, don't you think?"

"You...!"

"Besides. If I can't have the secret to whatever's happening, I can still get this."

Despite being a little insulted, he continued his questions. "Just what are you trying to do? Wasn't ending the world enough?"

"Oh come on. Ending the world was always a means to what I really wanted." She released him from his hug and walked in front of him. "A world something more to my liking."

"Despair again?!"

"It was the only choice I had, Makoto. The only thing to bring excitement to my life!" Her words come out as if she's singing a song, dancing around him in the meantime.

He grabbed her by the shoulders. Though she could easily overpower him, she looked straight at him with a neutral expression.

"Look. I get it. You went insane over the boredom. But if you think I'll just stand aside and watch you make the same mistakes again, you're dead wrong!"

"Oh? A vow to stop me, Makoto? Just like old times." She moves forward, changing the stance to where it looks like hes embracing her instead. "You make me sick to my core. How dare you give me hope?"

"What?"

"This wasn't how it was supposed to go."

Makoto blinked a few times, processing what she just said.

"The noble hero stays true to his one true love despite the evil witch's efforts. In despair, the witch resolves to finally throw away the last vestiges of her humanity and harden her heart to have the conviction in her plans. Finally killing the wicked witch, the hero laments what a pointless fight it all was."

She grasped him by the neck. "You! You're not following the script!"

He grasps her by the wrists with a fiery and defiant gaze.

"That damn look on your face! You're scared, but you just look death straight in the face. You despair, but you keep hoping. Damn you, damn you, damn you, damn you!" She finally lets go of his neck, causing him to take a few deep breaths. She starts to walk away from him but he grabs her by the wrist.

"You just don't learn, don't you?" Junko screeched.

"I've learned plenty. Letting everyone hate you and not even reaching out to anybody. Come on. You've just been trying to get high off the despair for the entire time we've been here."

"Tch. If you know, then give me it. I crave it. I want it."

"You just think you do. You know what I think? You're scared."

"Scared? Me?"

"It's all you've known, right? But when a different answer finally shows up, you just ignore it. Or at least try to. That brain of yours won't let you."

She softened in gaze to his surprise. "Words really are power, aren't they?"

ANote

"Look, Tojo-san, you don't have to do all of this." Kaede pleaded.

"It's the least I can do." Kirumi curtsied, despite no longer wearing a maid outfit. "They repurposed me to have this SHSL talent. It would go to waste otherwise."

"Can't believe they let you use the on-site kitchen." Rantaro mused. "Doesn't look too bad, right?"

"Looks good, actually." Ryoma observed. "None of this is poisoned?"

"Oh no. There would be no need for such a thing. And...it would go against to what I had promised you all."

"She does have a point. Let's dig in, guys." The SHSL Pianist commanded. "You too, Tojo-san."

"...if you insist."

Seeing how readily she agreed to it, Ryoma let down his guard and partook in the meal that she carefully crafted for them.

"Still mad at her, Hoshi-kun?"

"Not mad." He swallowed a bite of some roasted chicken. "I'm more upset at myself than anything. I gave up."

"I see. I apologize for taking advantage of it."

"It's more along the lines of what they did with your storyline, right?"

"Mm. Yes. I suppose that could be a reason. To make me believe that I was Prime Minister of Japan. Me? In this political climate?"

Ryoma stopped eating for a bit. "But they make these stories somewhat close to the truth, don't they? Just who are you, Tojo?"

"I suppose it wouldn't do any good to hide my identity any longer. Especially since my family will recognize me when this footage is released. And I would not want anymore distrust to spread."

Being pleased with how she responded, he gave her his full attention.

"I am descended from the wartime general who once served as the Prime Minister, Hideki Tojo. Our family had always harbored political ambitions, especially after our family's fall from grace."

"So...I guess you want to become a politician?" Kaede asked.

"Yes. I wanted to be of service to the people."

"Using that dream of yours, I guess that might be where the whole maid and being prime minister thing came from."

Ryoma sighed. "So, revealing that whole thing made you go nuts basically."

"It was very shameful of me. If you wish for revenge, I will not stop you."

"Stop it. I'm not a thug. There's no point in me doing anything like that. There's barely a point in anything, honestly."

Kaede turned to him. "Hoshi-kun."

"Sorry. Just slipped out. Heh. Trying to sound cool but sounding uncool in the end. Typical."

"Look, even though this happened in the killing game, I know you two probably are just trying to be polite. You shouldn't blame each other and you shouldn't blame yourselves. If anyone's to blame, it's Team Danganronpa."

"If you put it that way, you make it sound like we are absolved of all crimes. I cannot permit that." Kirumi responded.

"I'm not saying that! I'm just saying...if you guys can eat together like this without problem, then you two can put it behind yourselves."

"Akamatsu does have a point there. I didn't put up a fight and you did what you thought you had to. Not like we got out without getting messed up, either. That execution was pretty brutal."

"It was...a just punishment. But if you are willing to move past this, then I shall too."

Kaede smiled. But deep down, she knew that things wouldn't be settled as easily as they have been for the past few cases. And she felt like that Shuichi realized this too. Things would only just get crazier and messier from then on.