When I woke up on the day the time limit is set to expire, my first instinct was to go to Classroom A. I got up there and saw Kaede and Shuichi there.
"Sorry I'm late, guys!" I said.
"Ah, it's alright. We just got here too." Shuichi complied.
"How did it go? Did Miu finish the cameras?" Kaede asked.
"She must have been working all night. She was even too tired to make fun of me... Anyway, here's the result. Two cameras that will take a picture when the sensor detects movement... And this one will take a picture and trigger this receiver. Of course, they're turned off right now, so they aren't taking any pictures..." The detective explained as he showed me and Kaede the cameras.
"Since they're disposable cameras, we'll have to manually wind the film, right?" The pianist asked.
"Yes, Miu thought of that. She told me that the cameras will wind automatically."
"So once they're set up, they'll take pictures every time the sensor is triggered?" I asked.
"She also modified them so that they'll be completely silent, to not attract attention."
"They're completely silent... This is perfect." I muttered.
"It needs to be... These are absolutely essential to our plan."
"And do these cameras have flashes?" Kaede asked.
"Yeah, they still have flashes on them, But I switched them off. They shouldn't be a problem. But, we need to make sure they don't get turned on by accident and alert the mastermind." Shuichi advised.
"Yeah, we'll be careful. I'm impressed, though. Miu modified them to our specifications." The pianist admitted.
"Alright, I'll tell you a little bit about this classroom before we set up in the library."
"Huh? Tell us about this classroom?" I repeated.
"Yes, I think this is the perfect place to keep watch after we set up the cameras." Shuichi exclaimed.
"That's fine, but why this classroom?" Kaede asked.
"Because we can see anyone who goes down to the basement. With the door open a little..."
As he said that, Shuichi pointed at the open door and the three of us looked down to see the stairs to the basement.
"Look. You can see the staircase, right?" He asked.
"Oh yeah, you're right! We can keep a lookout for anyone who goes down to the basement!" Kaede exclaimed.
"There's one more reason I chose this specific classroom."
I looked around and saw a air vent in front of the room.
"Is this... a vent?" I asked.
"It's connected to the library in the basement. You'll recognize the smell immediately." Shuichi responded.
"The smell?" I repeated. I lean closer to the vent and immediately I exclaimed "Hey! It smells like musty old books! Does this lead to the library?"
"It's probably a vent to control the humidity in the library."
"But a vent in a classroom? That's an odd design choice for a school..." Kaede muttered.
Then again, everything about this school is odd... I thought.
"This vent is the other reason I chose this specific classroom to keep watch. This vent is just big enough for someone to be able to fit, so we should watch this carefully too." Shuichi advised.
"I don't think I could fit through there... Well, maybe I could but it'd be tough. Well, I guess this is the perfect spot to keep a lookout." Kaede exclaimed.
"Anyway, it's time. We should set up the cameras now..." The detective said.
It's time to set our plan into motion... There's no turning back now... I thought as we exited the classroom, went down the stairs and entered the library.
"So where did you want to place the cameras?" I asked.
"Let's aim the one linked to the receiver at the moving bookcase. If we place the security sensor on the bookcase itself, then when it opens... the receiver will let us know." Shuichi theorized.
"And if we place the camera to face the moving bookcase..." Kaede muttered.
"Yes, the camera should capture the exact moment the mastermind moves the bookcase."
"Then where are we putting the other two sensors?" I asked.
"Well, there are two entrances to the library. The front entrances near the stairs, and the rear entrance to the hallway... Let's aim one at each entrance. That way, we'll have pictures of everyone who enters the library." The detective advised.
"But how about over there?" Kaede asked as she pointed to the vent. "Didn't you say a person could fit through the vent that connects to the classroom? Wait, shouldn't we make sure a person could actually fir through it?"
"I think it'll be fine, since we'll be keeping watch in the classroom... But we should investigate it a little more, just in case." Shuichi exclaimed.
"You can use that ladder to get up there." I said as I pointed to the moving ladder.
Kaede nodded as she positioned the ladder below the vent and climbed up. Me and Shuichi looked up to see her at the vent.
"Whoa... Now that I'm up here, this is pretty high. It's kinda scary..." She admitted.
"Do you wanna switch?" Shuichi asked.
"Nah... I'm fine... By the way, can you see my, um... delicates?" The pianist wondered.
"Ah! Sorry!" The detective shouted as he blushed.
"Sorry, huh? So you did see them..." Kaede muttered as she blushed hard.
"Well, he can't unsee them now." I snarked.
"Urgh, there we go!" The pianist groaned as she reached for the grate on the vent. I heard a clank as she spoke, "Oh, the grate came off pretty easily."
"Did you break something, Kaede?" Shuichi asked.
"Um, no... I didn't break it..." The pianist replied.
Afterwards, she pushed the grate into the duct, lifted her body and looked inside.
"So how does it look, Kaede? Can someone fit in there?" I asked.
"Hmmm... it would be pretty difficult, but you might be able to crawl through. I can't really get to the vent with all these books in the way, though..." The pianist muttered.
"Well, we'll be able to see the entrance to the vent in the classroom... So that should be OK, right?" Shuichi replied.
"Just in case, I'll stack more books around the vent so no one can get through."
After she said that, Kaede began to arrange the books around the vent. After she finished stacking the books, she climbed down the ladder and stayed silent for a bit.
"Kaede? What's wrong?" I asked in concern.
The pianist stayed silent before she exclaimed "This will work... This will definitely work!"
"...Huh?" Shuichi muttered.
"I think this plan might actually protect everyone! Yeah, it definitely will! This plan is perfectly composed like Chopin's ballades! I actually really like complicated contraptions, like Rube Goldberg machines and stuff. So I'm positive this will work! This setup is perfect!" Kaede exclaimed.
"Y-You really think so..?" Shuichi asked.
"Of course! We'll definitely catch the mastermind, and then we'll all escape! So let's hurry and set up the cameras!"
"Yes, so, I think it would be a good idea to set up the cameras between books, so that-" Shuichi started to say but was cut off by Kaede.
"Oh, hold on. I had an idea while I was on top of the bookcase... What if we place a camera up there? I'm sure the mastermind wouldn't notice it."
"Ah, but with all the books stacked on top... I don't know if there's room for the camera." The detective muttered.
"Then I'll test it out while you and Sharla prepare the sensor on the bookcase. I'll organize the books on top of the bookcase and see if I can make room for a camera. That way, we won't waste any time, right?" The pianist exclaimed.
"Y-Yeah... that sounds like a good idea." Shuichi agreed.
"Alright! Then let's do it!" Kaede said.
A while later, the three of us managed to reorganize the books and set up the cameras and sensors. Once we were done, we left the library quickly and went into the hallway.
"Now we wait for the mastermind to show themselves..." Kaede muttered.
"There's still some time left... Do you want to go see anybody?" Shuichi asked.
"No, I'd rather focus on the plan. Besides, I'm sure everyone else is safe. Plus, once we get out of here, I'll have all the time in the world to see them." The pianist said with a soft smile.
"I can understand that. Then, let's go to the classroom." I said as we went upstairs and went into the classroom.
This is it... There's no going back anymore... I thought to myself.
"...Let's keep the door open a little. So we can see anyone going to the basement." Shuichi advised.
"Yeah..." Kaede agreed.
"Ah... Kaede? About the... security sensor receiver... Could you hold on to it, please? I just feel like... you'd be better suited for that than me. Ah, there's power switch on it. Make sure you don't turn it off by accident." The detective muttered.
"No... you hold on to it, Shuichi. You're the one who came up with this plan... And... I trust you." The pianist responded.
Shuichi then told us about his first case as a detective. The victim deserved their death and he never forgot the look in the culprit's eyes. Therefore, he wears his hat so that wouldn't have to look at anyone in the eyes. Kaede gently reached out and held his hand.
"Kaede..?" Shuichi said her name in confusion.
"I wish there was a piano here. I would play you a song to help you cheer up! Hmm... a pretty song to play for you... Oh, like 'Clair de Lune' by Debussy! It's a soothing song that calms your heart, like the moon's reflection on the water..."
Shuichi stayed silent and Kaede kept speaking, "You noticed, huh? Yeah... I'm shaking, too. But... I'd be a mess if you weren't here. I wouldn't have been able to do anything... I've would've been so lost... I'm glad you're here with me, Shuichi. With you by my side, I feel like I can stand up to anything. You give me the courage I need to take on the mastermind. So, please... be more confident. I believe in you, so you should definitely believe in yourself!"
"...OK. I'll try. I don't if I can, but I'll try..." The detective obliged.
"Yup, that's a promise." Kaede exclaimed.
After she let go of Shuichi's hand, I quickly changed the subject.
"I'm not being rude but, I think you would look cooler if you didn't wear that hat." I said.
"Wh-What are you talking about?" The detective asked.
"What? I'm serious here. Once we get out of here, I want you to show us what you look like without your hat, OK?"
He was silent as I kept speaking, "Come on, I just want to see you smile. I made a promise to someone long gone that I would protect everyone. That hasn't change a small bit no matter what happened to me. Even a single smile brightens up my day. I will protect everyone from the mastermind."
"Sharla... your kindness truly helps us in times like this." Kaede admitted.
The three of us talked about our interests to kill time. Then suddenly, the moment happened. The monitor turned on and weird music started playing.
"Wh-What is this weird music? Is it coming from that monitor?" I asked.
"Maybe it's a warning that we need to start killing. The time limit is almost up..." Shuichi theorized.
"Th-They need to stop screwing with us! How much suffering do they want from us?!" Kaede yelled.
"Wait, Kaede..." The detective muttered, keeping silent for a bit before saying "I hear people talking... in the hallway..."
"Huh? People talking?" Kaede repeated.
Me and Kaede peaked through the gap in the classroom door leading to the hallway to see Kaito, Gonta, Maki, Tenko, Angie, Himiko, and Rantaro heading downstairs.
"What's a big group like that planning to do..?" Shuichi wondered.
"It's almost nighttime, right? If they're all heading to the basement right... Could the mastermind be with them, too? Kaito, Gonta, Maki, Tenko, Angie, Himiko, and Rantaro... One of them is the mastermind?" Kaede muttered.
"It is unusual... for such a big group to all go to the basement. They're not planning on going to the library, are they? That would be bad... They'll scare off the mastermind from using the bookcase and ruin the plan."
"What?" Me and Kaede said in shock.
"I'm going to check out the basement!"
"I'll come with you!" Kaede yelled.
"No! You and Sharla stay and keep watch, Kaede!"
With that, Shuichi dashed out of the classroom and ran downstairs.
Kaede clearly couldn't stay still, so she grabbed the broom from the corner of the classroom and started cleaning for seemingly no reason at all.
"Shuichi... Please come back already..." The pianist pleaded.
She kept distracting herself with cleaning until Shuichi came back.
"...Kaede? Why are you sweeping..?" He asked.
"Huh? O-Oh, no reason... Anyway, what about the people down in the basement?" Kaede exclaimed.
"Everything is OK. They all went to the Game Room." The detective responded.
The Game Room? Why there? I thought.
"...There's only one hour until the time limit." Shuichi said, noticing the warning on the monitor.
"Yeah, it's almost time..." Kaede muttered.
"Are you sure the mastermind will go to the library, Shuichi?" I asked.
"I'm sure that the mastermind will make their move soon. If Monokuma is going to show up when time runs out, the mastermind will go to the library-" The detective started to say but was cut off.
What cut him off happened so suddenly.
My heart nearly leapt out of my chest as the receiver in Shuichi's hand suddenly went off.
"Sh-Shuichi, the receiver!" Kaede yelled.
"Someone moved the bookcase! Hurry, guys!" The detective shouted as he ran out of the classroom.
"Wait for us! Come on, Kaede! The mastermind is on the move!" I yelled.
"O-OK!" Kaede obliged as we ran out of the classroom and ran to the library.
Kaito and Tenko joined us as we entered the library and saw the moving bookcase close on it's own. Looks like we just missed them!
"Where is... the mastermind..?" Shuichi muttered.
We quickly walked towards the moving bookcase. And then, not too far from the moving bookcase... we saw...
Rantaro Amami, who had yet to reveal his Ultimate talent to us... ...laid dead on the ground.