I wasn't sure what to expect the next day but after hearing arguments between Gonta, Kokichi, Kiyo, Ryoma, and Keebo, I went to the dining hall to see Kaito, Tokuko, Miyuji, Kaede, and Tenko already there.
From the sounds of it, it seems like Kaito and Tenko were told about Gonta, Angie, and Kokichi's true natures. I thought to myself.
"Uh, Sharla? Do you mind telling us who the hell were those three? 'Cause I am completely lost here." Kaito asked.
"I-I can't help but agree with the degenerate." Tenko admitted.
"I think it's best if you see it to believe it." I said.
"It's pretty crazy, I'll go with you so I can get a bloody good look on your faces." Tokuko offered with a smirk.
No one had any objections as she left with the astronaut and the aikido master following behind her.
Miyuji looked down with a light blush and tears in her eyes. "I wonder if I did the right thing by confessing to Gonta."
"Don't be so hard on yourself, Miyuji." I told her. "Your confession prevented your own brutal death and saved Gonta from execution."
"Besides, me and you both don't want to die yet." Kaede muttered. "Even if the mastermind sends us into despair."
"You're both right." The vocalist responded as she wiped away her tears. "Besides, Angie asked me to meet her in her lab."
"We'll go with you." Kaede said as the three of us left the dining hall.
When we got to the fourth floor and entered Angie's lab, six more statues were in there along with the other four and the faux artist herself. This time the lifelike statues looked like Maki, Kirumi, Shuichi, Monokuma, Monotaro, and Monokid. Like before, the reality of them felt like if they never died.
"You made more of them, Angie?" I asked.
"Yes, and I didn't want Monokuma and his cubs to be left out despite what they've put us through." The platinum blonde-haired girl answered.
"Well they certainly look as real as they could get." Miyuji pointed out.
It's hard to believe that Angie's artistic talents were preserved by the Flashback Lights. I thought.
No matter how crazy it may seem knowing she already had drawing skills during and after the Killing Titan War was crazier than what I thought it was going to be.
Regardless I asked Miyuji and Kaede if they just wanted to hang out for a change of pace, to make up for what happened when the motive was revealed.
I don't want them to think I only hung out with them because I wanted something! And this time there won't be any dangerous people around to sour the mood. This should help me calm down some after what happened in the gym. I thought to myself.
It was fun, spending time with them. Miyuji even offered to write lyrics for Kaede's piano pieces in her cozy little lab instead of her personal room. Not that the vocalist was trying to hide her confusion going through the pianist's music collection, I found that pretty funny.
Regardless, it was amusing to see both musically-gifted girls work together to create a melody that's sure to entertain.
Which made the Monokubs' televised interruption all the more jarring. Though with how late it must have been getting we should've been expecting the nighttime announcement, so that was our own fault.
DING-DONG, DONG-DING
"A body has been discovered!"
Soon after, I instinctively ran to the pool area. The sound of Kaito's muffled yelling as I approached was as much of a relief as it was heart-wrenching. But when I joined him there was a glimmer of hope, beyond Kaito's own survival.
Kaito was doing chest compressions. Despite hearing the bell, despite the horrors they were faced with, he was still trying to bring Ryoma back.
And if anyone here besides me knew how to do CPR right it was Kaito! I thought.
But it didn't help the world come into focus that much. At least I felt I could somewhat fake it now.
Kaito was trying to say something to me, but she was spared worrying him by a different sort of interruption. Though it was a shame the first thing I heard somewhat clearly were the Monokubs' voices announcing it was nighttime already. Which meant it was 10 o'clock. 10 hours since we left the dining hall.
"Jeez, we're lucky I got him out as soon as I did then huh?" Kaito muttered to himself, voice betraying any attempt at a calm facade he had as he took another ten-second pause. "Hope I'm just lucky enough."
"Well it's not like those bears would really bloody punish us for breaking the 'no pool at nighttime' rule in this case, could they? I mean it's for an investigation-" Tokuko tried to offer, flitting around Kaito trying to see if there was anything she could do to help. But Ryoma wasn't responding.
And every time Kaito's pushing failed to get Ryoma to cough the more my heart sank again.
Seeing Kaede tearing up again got Miyuji's attention as she started trying to comfort the pianist, seeing as there was nothing she could do for Ryoma or Kaito.
I felt really sorry for Kaito because now all of his best friends except Tokuko were dead. First Maki, then Shuichi, and now...
He has lost Ryoma Hoshi. The one person who also had faith in him after nearly becoming a murder victim that he now is.
Damn it. How could this happen again? Who could've killed Ryoma and shattered Kaito's confidence? I thought to myself.