Gooooood morning everyone!

I woke up the next day in about the same state that I did the previous day. I was sure it was about the same time, too, because of the Monokuma clock.

Gooooood morning everyone!

I closed my eyes again, attempting to blot out the noise of Monokuma and go back to sleep. After a couple more sounds of the alarm, I realized this was futile and that I should just deal with it.

Or I could get out of bed…

It was warm enough under the covers that I dismissed that idea as well. I sighed, waiting for the alarm to stop.

Wait… Is Izuru here?

I turned to the right, only to see Izuru's half of the bed empty again.

And, just like last time, he left a note for me. I grabbed it and started reading.

Good morning, Kyoko

I have some errands to run today

I'll be back eventually

Don't leave the house today, either

-Izuru

He'd be gone today too? Oh, well. Looks like I'd have to keep myself occupied again. There's only so much one can do on her own…

That's why people choose to be with others, I guess.

I got out of bed and started walking over to the bathroom. Izuru put another towel out for me today. He's very good at that; providing for me.

But still, I can't get the fact out of my head that he doesn't want me to leave the hideout. I wasn't even entirely sure why he didn't want me out. I'd have to ask him about that…

But eventually, I'd need to go outside. And then he'd have to let me out. But for now, it's a small price to pay for being with Izuru.

Honestly, did I need anything else?

I finished taking my shower and draped the towel around me. After drying my hair, I walked back into the bedroom and opened up my closet.

Hm… What would I wear today…

Maybe this lavender dress? I didn't try this one on last night. I guess I'd surprise Izuru with it.

I took off the towel and got dressed.

I looked at myself in the dress. I haven't worn one of these in a long time… Well, I guess there wasn't a need to. Until now.

I smiled, feeling only slightly prettier than I normally did. I then went off to eat breakfast.

And yes, it was the same breakfast as yesterday. Monokum-O's. As I ate, I thought about what I was going to do today.

In my head, I went through all the rooms in the house. And, not many of them appealed to me. Nothing really seemed productive at all, except maybe learning more about Izuru and what happened before the fall of Hope's Peak.

Hmpf. It seemed my detective instincts were getting to me, as they usually do.

But what I was most curious about was why my page was missing from that book I read yesterday. Izuru probably hid it… but where…

Without thinking, I began scouring the room and searching all the drawers for this missing page. I knew it was here somewhere… That paper must have been important enough, at least to Izuru, that he took the time to rip it out of the book.

Honestly, this room wasn't the most intuitive place to hide a piece of paper. But then again, it would make the most sense to hide something where no one would look.

But then again, Izuru never expected anyone to enter his hideout. So maybe it wasn't here-

Well, he could have hidden it somewhere else after our first night together, before he left.

Argh, so many possibilities…

I decided to give in and search the obvious location first - the bedroom. I went back there yet again and opened all the drawers, moved the clothes around, searched in and out of his shirts and his writing desk, and his nightstand. I even searched under the bed, but all I found were my clothes from two days ago.

Alright, it surely wasn't here… So I should check the next most logical location.

Which was technically the most illogical location.

Hm… which room was the worst possible location to store an important profile…

Oh, right. The swimming room.

I fortunately remembered the path to that room, so I quickly walked over and entered.

I got a glimpse of this room yesterday, but I haven't seen it this close yet. The pool was not too big, but big enough. The still water was a sky blue, slowly splashing against the sides of the pool. I wasn't really a swimmer, but it looked so inviting. Maybe someday I'd get Hina to teach me some of the basics…

I proceeded to look around the room for hiding spots. The floor wasn't wet, but I was careful anyways. At least I wasn't wearing heels…

It seemed the only spot to hide anything was in the lockers. There weren't very many of them, only three.

I opened all three of them. Two were completely empty, so I closed those instantly. The third one had some of Izuru's swimming supplies, like goggles, swim trunks, and a swim cap (which didn't look like it'd fit all his hair, but I'm sure he'd find a way).

Well, there wasn't much here. I took a second look over everything, just to be sure.

Wait… was that…

I reached inside the pocket of Izuru's swim trunks and grabbed something slightly sticking out. It was the corner of a white piece of paper, exactly what I was looking for. Excited, I started to unfold it and brought it to my eyes to read.

At the top of the page, I saw my name, Kyoko Kirigiri, and my picture as well. My eyes moved past the useless information I already knew and went down to the paragraphs below.

'Ultimate Detective… strenuous relations with her father, the headmaster of Hope's Peak... is very independent and headstrong…'

I knew all this, too. Now didn't these have a section about weaknesses?

'Weaknesses: Has trouble dealing with emotions. Is very stubborn.'

Stubborn? I am not stubborn…

Well, maybe a little...

But the first point hit me the hardest. The fact that people knew this about me and didn't let me know was a bit saddening. I've been struggling with that for the past week, and it was tough enough to muster up the courage to turn my back on the Foundation and follow my heart.

The question was, did I change? Izuru seemed to think so, but I wasn't so sure. These things don't just go away. I know I've made a small step, but I'd have to endure a much larger fight if I wanted to fully conquer myself.

Hm… that didn't sound as hard as it did before… maybe I did change…

Well, I gleaned all the information I could from this profile. It seems I was finished here.

Naturally, I put the paper back where I found it. Izuru might expect me to go snooping around his hideout, but I wouldn't give him any evidence that I did.

I somehow found myself in the TV room as I was dazing off in my thoughts. Not motivated enough to find more secrets, if there even were any, I turned on the TV and sat down.

Hopefully, it'd be something I'd actually want to watch this time…

But then again, Monokuma was always the one to crush everyone's hopes.

'And nooooooowwwwwww… Cooking with Monokuma!'

Hmpf. I wonder how this'll go…

I watched as a Monokuma with a tall chef hat and curly mustache prepared some soup that I've never heard of before. The bear spoke with a french accent, if you could even call it that.

I started flipping through the channels after some time.

'Monokuma… I am your mother'

Nope. I never wanted to see Junko Enoshima again...

'Ohhhh, and just like that, she's down! Only four to go!'

Wait, was this one of those Killing Sports that I read about in the Foundation's book? I just watched as a boy killed a girl very cruelly with a knife, blood squirting everywhere. Much to my dismay, the crowd went wild at that.

'Oh, it's a sneak attack this time! He better watch out!'

Nope. I changed the channel before I could witness another unfortunate murder.

'And todaaaaay, we have yet another missing person report! Isn't it great?'

'Upupupu! Of coooourse!'

Ugh, it was the news channel again. They seemed to be talking about someone who went missing…

Wait a second…

'An anonymous source has reported the disappearance of Kyoko Kirigiri, a famous detective and one of the surviving students of Hope's Peak.'

'She was one of the students who killed Junko Enoshima! How could she?'

They've got it wrong, just like they always do. Junko killed herself. We just... helped her a bit.

'We've got the lead detective on the Kirigiri case here today. What's the scoop?'

'Well… Uh… We don't have much information to go on... But I just know we'll find her! Ms. Kirigiri's a great detective, and I'll make sure she gets to safety, if it's the last thing I do, pal!'

Hm… it seemed like he had an easy job… I was already safe here, in Izuru's house.

And I was barely even 'Ms. Kirigiri' anymore. As much as I had detective blood in me, I wasn't a detective anymore.

Hm… Kyoko Kamukura was a bit more on point, but it wasn't the truth yet.

Now that I thought about it… would we even get married? What would that be like?

I tried imagining it, but something about Izuru and I publicly getting married seemed off…

Honestly, that was very far in the future. I shouldn't be thinking about that now…

By the way, what time is it?

I took a look at the clock underneath the television.

It said 5:10pm

Oh, it was that late already? Izuru would be home soon, wouldn't he?

I didn't know, but he probably would.

The thought occurred to me of making dinner for Izuru, since he made me dinner yesterday. He's given me so much, he surely deserved something in return.

I wandered into the kitchen, and looked in the drawers again for something that I knew how to cook.

Which wasn't much, to be honest. All these long nights being a detective left me with little time to learn how to cook.

Oh, well. I'd just make something easy. Like pasta.

I grabbed a box of multicolored pasta. To my expectation, the pasta was black and white, with a couple red pieces. I set it next to the stove as I filled a pot with water and started to boil it.

I waited a couple minutes until the water was bubbling, and then put in the pasta. After I began stirring the pasta, I heard the door open down the hall.

I started walking towards the library, but then I realized that I was cooking and that I shouldn't leave the food unsupervised. So I just glimpsed down the hall, looking to see Izuru when he passed by.

After a couple minutes, he did enter the hallway. He seemed… exhausted, as he was looking at the ground. It also looked like he was covered in something… it looked brown-ish from my current perspective. As the light reflected off it, the thought came to me.

Was… was that blood?

He stopped in the middle of the hallway, and looked down in my direction. He gave me a sly grin, and then continued walking.

Hm… what was he up to…

Well, I'd ask him at dinner. I concentrated again on the pasta, as it was almost ready. I stirred it a bit more before the timer went off, and then I started serving it in the bowls I laid out earlier.

After a couple minutes, Izuru walked in, hair wet from an apparent shower. My heart jumped a bit seeing him this close again. I approached him and gave him a passionate kiss, and he hugged me back.

Izuru then stared at the pasta, and looked back at me. I didn't think he expected me to make dinner for him.

"It's only fair." I said.

Izuru grinned at that, "Yes. Thank you."

I instinctively smiled at his response, and sat down and began eating. The pasta was a bit overcooked, but I was pleased with the result. It's not like I've been cooking all my life.

Izuru started eating as well. It seems he figured out the same thing I did, but by the look on his face, it didn't matter to him either.

With that out of the way, I wanted to know what he possibly could have done today.

"What did you do today?"

"Some errands."

"Please explain."

"I believe that is my business only."

Well, now I have to find out. "Are you sure you can't tell me?"

"Yes. I would prefer not to."

"And I would prefer to be allowed to leave."

Izuru gave me a stare, showing some surprise at my rebuttal. He then continued eating.

"Kyoko, you know why I can't let you do that."

"And why is that?"

"Because, they're on to you. The Foundation surely knows you're missing. If you come and go freely, they'd surely follow you. If they find out that you're living here with me, they would find a way into my hideout. And they would take me away… Of all times, I can't get captured now... Now that you're here... And now that my goal is within reach..."

I started thinking, as I was sure there was some happy medium we could achieve.

"Hm… That is true… There's no way I could convince them to not see you as a threat…But what if I don't let them see me?"

Living in secret would still be much worse than just living my life out like a normal person. But Kyoko Kirigiri is no normal person. As long as I'd be with Izuru, I could probably deal with it.

"I know my way around this city. I know all the secret passages, and ways to escape the authorities. I couldn't teach you everything in time. It would be years before you learned it all."

"I am a fast learner."

Izuru smirked at that, and then continued in a more serious tone, "It's too risky, Kyoko. I don't want to risk them taking me away... Away from you..."

I could understand that. I'd have to avoid the very Foundation that I was fighting for in order to live a content life. That wasn't optimal, but it might be worth it... Was there a better way, though?

"Hm… Why can't we move away in secret and not have to worry about all this?"

"This is much safer, as you'd probably agree. Unless… this isn't enough for you?"

"Of course it is. I don't need anything else." It was best to agree for now.

"Neither do I." Izuru gave me a sly grin as he ate more pasta.

We finished our dinner in silence. After putting away our dishes, Izuru started walking over to the TV room, and I followed him. I didn't know what he wanted to do, but I'd surely be with him while he was doing it.

Izuru slouched on the couch, and I sat right up next to him. He put his arm around me, and I rested my head on his shoulder. Izuru then turned on the TV.

'... a series of murders in the square today.'

Oh, yeah. I left the TV on the news channel. It seems Izuru didn't really like that channel, because he instantly changed it, to the Killing Sports channel.

Wait just one second…

"Is that… is that what you did today?"

Izuru stared off into space, as if he didn't really care anymore about keeping it a secret.

"Yes."

"But… but I thought you were done with that."

"Despair is a vital part of me, something I cannot rid myself of."

It was something about Izuru's monotonous voice that caused me to speak up, a bit louder than normal.

"Then why can't I do what I want? I had to give up everything for you… And for you to give up nothing in return..."

I instinctively started crying a bit. This wasn't right at all. This wasn't how it was supposed to be...

"Ok. What do you want?"

Izuru's voice was more forceful this time, almost growling.

I could hear one of the competitors in the Killing Sports getting slaughtered from the TV. The sound of blood splattering across the wall sent shivers up my spine.

"What do I want? I want a normal life. In which neither Hope or Despair matters. In which we're both free to work normal jobs, come home to a normal dinner, and do whatever we want. In which we won't be bothered by anyone else asking us to risk our lives to save the world from whichever group they decided was against them. I want you, Izuru. I don't want anything else. In fact, I want nothing else. I… just want you…"

Izuru seemed to warm up at my monologue, but he started staring off into space again.

"You know that's not possible. We're both Ultimates. Out of anyone, we're the furthest from normal. Our paths and responsibilities were set in stone since the second we were conceived. And sometimes, there are things we just can't escape from. Even if I did give up, the Foundation wouldn't believe me... Not that I want to give up. There's something I still need to do..."

Hm... What was that...

"What is it?" I asked, grasping his hand in mine. Maybe I could convince him otherwise...

Izuru gave me a look of slight annoyance, but he eventually conceded and gave a quiet sigh.

"My plan, my true goal for Despair... I've been working towards it for a long time, now... All these actions that I've been taking... They're just simple distractions so the Future Foundation doesn't suspect that something larger is underway... That's the real reason I murdered those people..."

I stared into his eyes, trying to get a read on his emotions. But after a second, he turned away from me again and continued speaking.

"Besides... If the Future Foundation noticed anything... I wouldn't be the only one in danger. You would be, too. It'd be too suspicious if my behavior instantly changed. That's why we have to act like I kidnapped you. We can't give them any reason to separate us..."

I didn't want us separated, either. But I'd never expect someone to actually kill people to protect me...

But was it truly for me, though? Or was it for his plan?

A slight sinking feeling hit my stomach at the thought that he could be prioritizing his plan over me - maybe even to the point that he'd fake his love just to further his plan.

No. I quickly shook off the thought. I knew he loved me. I saw it in his eyes that night. That look isn't something you could fake.

Or was it...

I decided to change the subject quickly to get the doubtful thoughts out of my head. I needed him to tell me more about something, anyways...

"What's this plan of yours?"

Izuru quickly responded, almost as if rehearsed, "I can't tell you."

What? Surely he can tell me, I'm his girlfriend.

"Are you sure? Don't you trust me?"

"It's not about you. I can't trust anyone with this plan. The entire plan could crumble in an instant if word got out."

"Izuru..."

He turned back towards me. My eyes were clearly trembling from all the drama. But his face was stoic, almost as if this had no effect on him. I mustered up the courage to speak up.

"Why can't you just give up... Like I did... Please..."

Izuru responded clearly. It sounded like he didn't want to bring this up.

"Because it's the only other thing important to me. It's not only for me... it's for a friend. I wouldn't be able to live with myself otherwise..."

"A... friend..."

The gears in my head starting grinding, trying to comprehend what he could be talking about. It had to be Junko, right?

'Oh, and that's the last kill! With the throwing knife, too!'

My eyes turned towards the TV, to watch as a limp body, with a knife through the heart, fell to the floor with a thump. The crowd went wild at the sight of a new champion, if the winner was even worthy of that title…

Hm? The TV's screen changed to black. Izuru must have turned it off.

I turned towards him, feeling about as strained as he was from this talk. But that feeling instantly disappeared as he gave me a long kiss.

"I believe I've said enough."

I nodded at his statement, and we just sat there, next to each other, for some time, my head lying on his shoulder.

I guess I could endure whatever boredom ensued in this house, if it was keeping us together. I was a bit disappointed that I couldn't talk him out of his plan. But there's always tomorrow. I'm sure he'd come to his senses eventually.

Still, there was something that wasn't sitting well with me... It definitely had to do with that plan of his... Although I didn't really suspect that he was using me just to have one less investigator on his tail, I still couldn't be too sure. I needed to know...

Eventually we went to bed. I couldn't let the topic sit too long, so I turned towards him, and even though he was sleeping with his back towards me, I spoke up.

"Izuru... Why would you do this now... You're already busy with your plan, and with everything you've been doing to cover it up... Why couldn't you wait... until you had more time to spend with me... It's been so boring without you... Unless you really don't-"

Izuru didn't bother turning around before he spoke. I've honestly gotten used to that...

"It was the perfect time... I needed to tell you, Kyoko... I needed to tell you that I loved you... Before it was too late..."

So it was about me, after all... But...

'Before it was too late'...

No...

"Izuru... Is your mission... that dangerous?"

Izuru didn't move from his position, still facing away from me. He didn't say a word, so I took that as a 'yes'. I've gotten used to that, too...

Suddenly my mind flashed back to my conversation with Makoto earlier. About Sayaka. About how defeated he was when he found out she was dead... Fear instantly gripped me, as I could very well lose the one thing I cared about, all thanks to some Despair-filled plan. As if Despair didn't take enough from me already...

My eyes widened as I sat up in bed and grabbed Izuru's side. I started nudging him a bit, anxious to stop him. It didn't matter what the plan was. I wouldn't let him risk his life.

"Izuru, tell me, please... I can't let you go through with this... Even if you have to steal and kill... I can't let you die... I love you too much... If you die from following Junko Enoshima, I'll never forgive my-"

"It's not... about Junko..."

Izuru's words shot through me like his gun from the Striped Bear. They were sharp and quick, stunning me to silence. I sat there motionless for a couple seconds, unable to comprehend what he just said.

So it's... not for Junko? It's... for someone else?

But who...

Izuru pulled the covers over him, shifting positions quickly.

"Despair isn't always on my mind, you know..."

However scared I was before, what Izuru said seemed to calm me. At least for now. I leaned over to him and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before laying back in bed.

"I know."

As I laid there that night, I still couldn't shake the feeling that Izuru was in danger. That I needed to do something about it. Even if it was for a friend... But what could I do, if he wouldn't even listen to what I said... The misery kept me up for a couple hours, before tiredness enveloped me and I fell asleep.