Chapter 3

I'm back! Welcome everybody to chapter 3 of 'Hope's Tactic'. In this one, we will have Monokuma's first motive and also the first murder! Who will be the victim? Who will be the killer? When will I get my self-respect back? All that and more, in this chapter! Never. My self-respect is like my dad. Still buying smokes... nah just kidding! Enough of lame jokes and let's start!

Legend:

"Talking."

'Thinking...'

"Monokuma Talking."

"Video."

Chapter 3: Meltdown

"Well, the room seems trap free, so yeah, let's see what the bear has for us." Makoto said as he guided the rest into the room. It was a dark room, with tables that had some monitors.

Sayaka and Makoto sat next to each other as the whole group started to watch the DVDS Monokuma gave them.

Makoto put his on the monitor and it started pretty normal.

It was a video of his parents and his little sister.

"Congratulations on getting into Hope's Peak Son.' His dad said and his mother nodded.

"We wish you the best of lucks in your stay there!"

Komaru nodded with a grin "I know you will do great, Big Bro!"

Makoto smiled. It was a nice video. But he knows something will ruin it all.

After a second, it came true his prediction.

His eyes widened as he saw the same couch his family was but all destroyed. A voice that of a woman he knew very well.

"Yaga, your family is in danger. If you want to find them, first you need to find me. And to do that, you'll have to get out. I know you will do everything it is needed to do that."

Makoto clenched his fists and narrowed his eyes 'Boss... What the hell!?'

He gave a look around it seems that his was a different reaction. Shock, horror, guilt, disgust. Everything was there. But by far, the worse reaction was Sayaka's.

He looked to her and saw her shaking. "AHHHHHHH!" She screamed as she backed down to a wall. "I need to get out of here!" She screamed and left the room in a hurry.

"Dammit. Sayaka!" Makoto said running after her.

He caught up to her and turned her around "Sayaka! Stop!"

"Let go of me!" She said as he caught her wrist.

"To do what!? Look at you!? You need to calm down!" Makoto screamed at her as her eyes started to fill up with tears. She suddenly broke out crying and hug Makoto as she cried into his shoulder.

"I promise you; I will get us out." Makoto said to her and she nodded.

*Later at night*

Makoto was laid on his bed thinking on the contents of the video. "Boss..." He said to himself.

The woman that took care of him in Fenrir. That taught him and molded him into what he is today.

Was somehow involved into this.

He rubbed his templates. In chess, there was one person that was the hardest to beat and it was Boss, besides the fact that in close combat, she was untouchable.

He needs to find out what's going on.

Someone knocked on his door and he looked at it. It was a hesitant knock, but a knock anyways. He stood up and stretched as he went to the door. He opened it to find Sayaka smiling to him.

"Hey Makoto, may I come in?" She asked and Makoto moved to the side to let her pass.

"So, in what may I help you?" Makoto asked as Sayaka sat on his bed.

"You see..." Sayaka rubbed her arm "I am afraid of sleeping alone, so I was wondering if I can switch rooms with you?" She said and Makoto raised an eyebrow.

'What difference will that do?' Makoto asked in his head. Sayaka looked nervous. She was hiding it well, probably with all her Idol experience, but he can see through that. Also, she seems to be hiding something...

He shrugged "Sure. But if you don't mind, I'll make guard outside." He said as he walked to the door as a shocked Sayaka looked at him.

"Guard? Y-You really don't need to do that!" She exclaimed and Makoto smirked at her.

"You said you were afraid, right? So, I'll make sure that no one tries to enter. Good night." He said as he got out the room, closed the door and sat on the ground.

Sayaka stared at the door with wide eyes. She took out the kitchen knife she was hiding and looked at it. Makoto was out so her plan to kill Leon was in danger. She needs to save her bandmates. She didn't want to lose everything she got just for this.

But... Makoto is willing to risk his life to keep her safe. And she will just betray him like that? She had done horrible things, one more can't harm that much...

No...

She can leave this place without committing murder! Makoto promised her! They will leave and save her bandmates! She is sure of that!

She threw the knife away and laid on the bed. She tried to sleep, but her conscience was in a battle. In the end, she passed out into the realm of sleep.

*Outside the Room, 12:00*

Makoto was tired. This isn't the first time he doesn't sleep because of guard duty. But that doesn't mean he enjoys it.

If he isn't wrong, Sayaka will try to kill someone tonight. The night call was made by Monokuma and someone will show up.

He will be slightly mad if no one comes.

He waited and waited, until he saw someone coming his way. Leon.

"Makoto? What are you doing here?" He asked him and he shrugged.

"Sakura asked me to stay outside her room. I don't know why." Makoto said and good thing he took out the name plate of Sayaka.

Leon eyes widened as he paled. He took out a piece of paper and read it. "T-That Ogre?" He said as he ran away "Thanks for warning me!"

Makoto smirked. He loved being a smartass.

*Next Morning*

"It is 7:AM! Time to wake up kiddies!" Sayaka slowly opened her eyes to Monokuma voice. She slept with her uniform as she sat up and stretched. She took a short shower, put on fresh clothes and opened the door for it to bump into something.

"Ow." Makoto said, with bags under his eyes as the door bumped into him.

"Makoto? Are you alright?" She asked worriedly and Makoto nodded tiredly.

"Yeah. Nothing that coffee can't solve." He said as he stretched up and stood up. He took a peek inside the room. "Hm, wonder how that knife got there..."

Sayaka paled as she shakily look at the knife laid on the floor. "I-I can explain..." She said as her voice betrayed her.

Makoto raised an eyebrow "Explain what? It wasn't like you tried to lure Leon to your room and killed him here and blame me." Sayaka gulped as Makoto got into the room and grabbed the knife. "Better get this back into the kitchen before people get worried."

He walked pass Sayaka that looked at his back scared "A-Are you not mad?"

Makoto stopped and looked at her with a small smile "Why? Like I said, you didn't try anything like that. Right?" He then continued to walk to the kitchen.

Luckily he was the first one there. He put the knife back with the rest and sat down as he started to make some coffee.

"AH! Makoto! Good to see you are awake!" Makoto turned to Ishimaru that was grinning.

"Was like that all night." Ishimaru raised a brow.

"All night!? But that isn't healthy! You at least need 8 hours at least!" He scolded as Makoto waved his hand in front of him.

"Relax... *YAWN* it was nothing out of this world."

"BUT-"

"Why are you screaming?" Asahina asked as she got with Sakura to the cafeteria.

Ishimaru pointed to Makoto "Our classmate here didn't slept all night!"

Sakura raised a brow "All night? Why?"

Makoto smirked "That's for me to know and you to find out."

Sakura scoffed as a smile formed on her face "Very well."

Not so long after, the rest started to fill the room, with Leon not able to look at Sakura, and Sayaka arriving last, and sat next to Makoto, that gave her a look from the corner of his eye.

"Well, it looks that we are all alive." Hagakure sighed and Mondo nodded.

"Yeah. No one had gone crazy for now." Sayaka flinched at that comment.

Togami saw that gesture and raised a brow "You look nervous, Sayaka. Anything you want to share?" He asked and Sayaka gulped.

"N-No..."

Celes smiled at her "Really? It looks like if you were jumped by someone. Or maybe... you tried to do something."

The attention switched to Sayaka that was fidgeting in her place. "I-I..."

"Give her some space. She is probably just nervous about the video. Right?" Makoto said and Sayaka quickly nodded.

Aoi frowned "Yeah! Leave her alone! Didn't you saw her yesterday!?"

Togami scoffed but stayed silent. The breakfast continued normally, with Sayaka giving Makoto side-glances.

Once over, Makoto walked away trying to find some more clues on how to get out or something about Boss.

"Makoto..." He stopped and turned to see Sayaka that was looking to the ground. "Thanks for sticking up for me."

Makoto smiled at her "No problem. Like I said, you didn't do anything wrong. You stopped on time. For now, let's focus on how to get out of here without killing anybody."

Sayaka smiled at him as she nodded and skipped next to him "Hm! And I will be your assistant!" She proclaimed and Makoto raised a brow.

"Assistant? I kind of don't need one." Makoto asked with a smile. He founds cute her way to help him.

She smiled at him "Well, if you need anything, I will do all in my power to help you!" She explained and Makoto rolled his eyes still smiling.

"Sure. If that makes you happy. Just... don't do anything stupid. Okay?"

Sayaka smiled softly and nodded "Don't worry. This time, I have you." She said happily as she walked ahead of him. "Now, what are we looking for?"

Makoto blinked as he smiled "A way to get out. Let's go."

They continued looking, not knowing that despair will come soon.

And done! That was chapter 3 of 'Hope's Tactic'. I hope you enjoyed. I did enjoy writing this chapter. In the next chapter, first murder will occur! Who will die? Who will be the killer? Wait next chapter to find out! And that was all! Remember to leave a Review if you enjoyed, because it helps my motivation, PM me for any doubts or suggestions, Follow and Favorite me and the story to know of any updates.

Till Next Time.

Roy D. Harper.

Next Chapter: Treason of Trust