Review replies time!

Katastic Writer: I've been trying to get that balance just right with me alternating between a 72nd Class chapter and a Walls chapter, and I'm glad you enjoy that diversity! I'll have to agree with you on the Verdant Views sector being something peaceful and very enjoyable, and Yori's altercations with Frances because of Blackjack are certainly an interesting concept. You'll just have to wait and see, I guess. Thank you so much for the review!

Guest: I tried my best to make this post-death-of-two-friends scenario seem as realistic as possible, and I can only hope it's been successful. Thanks for your review!

TheRoseShadow21: You've made some very intriguing guesses there! We'll just have to see how the story progresses and see if any of those becomes a reality, won't we? Thanks a lot for your review!

SongBirds-Lullaby: It's great to have you back on the reviews! I'm glad you enjoyed the trial, as well as all the details about it. Asuyo and Yuki's deaths are only the begginning of this despair-filled escape, and these poor fourteen kids have no idea... I really enjoyed reading your QOTC answer, and I think my answer is pretty close to yours, although I'm not sure how well I'd sympathize with Asuyo after everything went down. Thanks for the review!

And now, on with the chapter!

ACT 2: No Hope Allowed

CHAPTER 2: Aftermath

MORNING

Location: Shooting Range

"If the map is to be believed..." Yatarou tapped his device, opening a bird's eye view of this new sector of Anghern. "That building over there should be the shooting range."

Looking in the general direction his index finger pointed would reveal a wooden-log-cabin-like structure with two metallic doors on its front, as well as smoked glass windows that made it hardly possible to peek inside. The roof, also made from wood, had a chimney protruding from its slope, giving a cozy air to it.

I raised a brow and checked my own Electro-ID for the map. "Are you sure this is a shooting range?" I question. "I mean... this doesn't look like one to me."

"Let's go inside and see then." Eita led us in, grabbing each door by the handle and pulling them to reveal the building's interior.

Or should I say... lack of interior.

It should come as no surprise that a shooting range needed quite a bit of length so one can accurately target practice without being able to reach the target with a couple of steps, but for some reason, the fact that the farther wall was nowhere to be seen struck me as odd, initially. Where the wall should have been, was a glass pane that reached to be a bit above waist level, and behind it was a massive field of grass, on the other side of which stood bright red and white bull's eyes. The walls of the cabin were dotted with ornamental bows and rifles, which given the current circumstances, understandably made me uneasy. To the right, a door reading 'Breaker Room and Storage' was open, and I could peek to see a wall with flashing buttons and a circuit breaker, as well as closed closets - which I assumed stored bullets, arrows and other ammunition that'd be used for the shooting range's true purpose - shooting the targets.

"Are those Tsukushi's steps I hear?" a familiar voice spoke up from the storage room. "Eita and... Yatarou seem to be there as well." Yori pondered before guessing the other two footsteps correctly - just showing off how good his hearing his.

A female voice - probably Frances, I presume - responded with a simple 'Hm', and quickly glanced at the entryway of the range. "Oh, hi everyone. How're you doing?"

"Kikyo?" Yatarou tilted his head to the side and scratched his cheek. "I'd thought Frances was helping Yori out... where is she?"

"She went to the library and asked me to take care of Yori if she doesn't come back before the meeting time." the Hairstylist explained with a sigh, as she turned around to rummage through the weapons in the closet as I assume she was doing beforehand. "I wouldn't put my money on it, though..." she added sadly, although it sounded a bit like a complaint.

Eita, Yatarou and I walked into the breaker room and looked around. "Why'd you say that?" I ask while looking at some other bows pinned onto the wall by nails and string, and the rifles on small metal grip handles.

"She went to meet Blackjack over at the library." Kikyo explained. "And judging by how close they've become... I don't know, I feel like Frances'll just dump Yori."

"Kikyo..." Yori mumbled with a bit of regret in his voice. "Please don't talk about Frances in that light. She would not replace me. She knows full well... that I need her to do some things around town. So..." he tried to defend the Tapdancer, but his voice wavered unevenly, like he was unsure of himself and didn't believe what he was saying. With a sigh, he quieted down and Kikyo looked at him with sorrow in her eyes. Yori slumped down in the wooden stool he sat in, and I looked at him with pity.

"If I may." Eita intervened, unaffected by the tension and heaviness in the air. "I don't think sitting down in this musty room is good for Yori." he spoke truthfully. "So I think it'd be best for him to take a walk around town."

"Y-Yeah!" I agreed, recalling something the Magician told me when we first met. "You once told me that you had a good sense of direction, even with your disability, right? Well, it'll be good for you to walk around and get some fresh air. You'll know the area a lot better, then!"

Yori looked in our direction, his ears capturing where our voices came from and smiled, still a bit down on the recent events - although I felt like Frances was his biggest concern. "It would serve me well, yes. But I feel like it's careless for me to walk around alone without prior knowledge of this sector..."

"I can walk alongside you." Eita offered his help, and the remaining three people - me, Yatarou and Kikyo - looked at him with surprised expressions. Maybe it was because the Estimator hadn't ever showed he cared for the rest of us, or Yori's genuine smile that so greatly contrasted the gloominess he radiated before, but the situation was definitely surprising - in a good way. "There doesn't seem to be too much of interest here aside from the weapons and ammo. So I don't mind moving along."

The Magician thanked Eita for his offer and reluctantly accepted it, not wanting to be dead weight for his human walking cane. "You two be careful." Kikyo gave a few words of advice before the metallic front doors slammed shut. "Wow... talk about unexpected."

"Tell me about it..." Yatarou praised. "Who knew Eita could be so caring towards people. I always thought he was just an empty husk with no feelings - what with the way he speaks and all. But sure seems like he's a person!" he joked, easing the tension in the room just a tad, before a massive coughing fit bent me over. "Hey! Hey, Tsukushi, you okay?"

Tears welled up in my eyes as one last cough came from me. "Ah, shoot, sorry." I beat my clenched fist onto my chest lightly and cleaned my throat. "Just a bit under the weather." I excused myself.

"You weren't feeling too well before, either..." Yatarou worried, and Kikyo followed suit.

"You should rest. We can wrap up stuff on our own. Go back to the motel, okay?" and just as she finished her sentence, all three of our handbooks rang. Confused, we all checked it simultaneously, being met by a worrying message.

Riou Ryielo: Everyone, emergency meeting at the library! Akahana's orders!

I hadn't even begun to understand what was going on before my legs sprinted on their own across Verdant Views's perimeter, Yatarou and Kikyo's steps following me as we hurried to the site.

"I hope everything's okay..." was my first thought.

Call me paranoid, but after the danger we've been put through these past few days, I wouldn't be surprised if Monokuma gathered a bunch of murder case files, filled with gruesome explicit pictures of dead bodies and called it a day...

Ugh, that was way too graphic... what the hell am I thinking?

MORNING

Location: Anghern Library

The library doors were slammed open by the time we got to the building. I stormed in, being met by a few other stares as Akahana stood in the center of a circle of people. "Is everything... alright...!?" Kikyo's fatigue was greater than her worry for the situation at hand, and she couldn't help but pant in between words. "We... ugh, came here... as soon.. as we could..."

"Breathe, Miss Namikaze." Blackjack instructed, Frances by her side. Looking around instinctively, I saw the bare-chested Riou, as well as Yuzuru. "Miss Nakajima has made it clear she must wait for everyone before she reveals her reasoning for calling us here."

Yatarou grabbed at his knees and slumped, looking forward. "You mean you don't know what's going on either?"

"She hasn't disclosed any information." the Information Broker confirmed his thoughts as the Tapdancer tapped her foot on the ground impatiently. "We were searching the gallery when we were called upon. Did any of you gather worthwhile information?"

"The templo doesn't have anything too interesting. Jus-"

"The shrine is the most interesting building in this sector." Yatarou corrected the female voice who had just chimed into the conversation, glaring back at the Translator who had just came inside like she had just proclaimed war.

"W-Well... I guess... if you're into that sort of thing...?" Maruko's mood was visibly dampened by the Tour Guide's interruption, making her flinch and slump down a bit. Clutching at her right arm was a familiar face - or a familiar hat covering a face, I should say.

Carefully, I mouthed. "Is she okay?" Maruko simply flattened her lips into a straight line and shrugged with her left shoulder, not to disturb Chigusa's peace. With a glum expression, I look at the timid Gardener and look away at a glance. It's only natural she's shaken up.

Before the remaining people wandered in, I had more than enough time to give the library a good enough look, although it wasn't anything out of the ordinary really. Wooden walls and a high ceiling with a beautiful chandelier atop us, dark mahogany bookcases reaching as high as the ceiling above us, and a circular balcony that went through the perimeter of the room. At the second floor - or balcony level, I'd say - the back wall was made of stained glass so you could only see from the inside out. Dotted around the ground level were more bookcases, although not nearly as tall as the ones supported by the wall. A booth was built into the wall in the back, presumably where a librarian would be sitting.

And as I finished observing the library's finer details, Yori, Kiyo, Shizuka and Eita had yet to arrive.

"Man, are guys always this late?" Frances puffed her cheeks up and leaned on the bookcase behind her, tilting her head back so the back of it was rested on the shelf.

"I would not account for Shizuka or Kiyoshi if I were you." Akahana said, arms crossed and with a stern expression.

A new voice arose in our midst and we all turned our heads to the door, where two familiar boys walked in. "That was the most mathematically probable outcome. And my calculations are always correct." Eita said as he helped Yori inside, his clear eyes shining and a smile much more inviting than the last time we saw him.

"Sorry to keep you waiting." the young Magician apologized for his tardiness. "I'm afraid I can't ever rush anywhere." he took on a bit of a sad smile before returning to his clueless glee again. "What would the matter be, Akahana?"

"I see we're all here." the Prosecuting Attorney noted, making Yori's head tilt toward her voice. "Please, accompany me to the balcony level, if you please." she said as she led the way to a stairwell hiding from my line of sight by a few rogue shelves of books. The ascent was a slow and quiet one, and the spiralled stairs leading up to the balcony reminded me of the resort.

Ah, how life was peaceful back there.

Akahana silently gestured us to the window in the back, on the other side of which was a set of ruins of what seemed to once have been a building. The rubble seemed oddly familiar, no matter how unnatural it would be for one to be familiar with random piles of rubble.

"I-It can't be..." Chigusa peeked from under her hat and started shaking uncontrollably before falling to her knees, quickly being aided by a worried Maruko. "Th-That... Th-Th-This...!" her voice was squeaky as she sobbed. "A-A..."

The Gardener went quiet, only muttering 'Ah' repeatedly, stuttering for what seemed like forever. "Chigusa... what's wrong about that pile of crap of there...?" Yuzuru asked the frail girl with genuine worry in her voice. Some of us looked at the Assassin with disdain, although I didn't approve of the animosity. "What do you mean by Ah?"

"A-A-As-"

"Ass?" Yatarou questioned aloud, not noticing his own mistake. "Wh-What about it...?"

"It seems Chigusa was the only one to reach the conclusion I aimed." Akahana explained, hands on her hips as she walked to the inner side of the balcony, resting her back on the wooden artsy railing. "Maybe I should jog your memories a bit." her voice was serene and it almost felt like she didn't care about Chigusa's panic.

Maruko instantly snapped back at the self-proclaimed leader of our group with a glare and a feral tone to her voice. "What the hell is wrong with you?! Chigusa... Chigusa's really not okay! What the hell is going on, Akahana!?"

"Yeah, what's the deal with these ruins!?" I ask, vocalizing everyone's question.

"Do any of you know where we happen to be?" Akahana furthered the suspense even longer than needed, and so Maruko's rage grew larger. Riou stepped forward and acted as a barrier between the laidback Prosecuting Attorney and the hotblooded Translator. "Well then... I'll tell you. Welcome to Anghern's Local Library, also known as... Liternature."

And suddenly, a flash appeared before my eyes, reminding me of the bitter truth.

"L-Liternature...?" the heavy-heartedness I felt was almost palpable by everyone else as I muttered those words. "That's... That's the building..." Quickly enough, eleven pairs of eyes were set on the mess of rubble before us. "A-A... Asuyo's over there?!"

"Asuyo...?" Yori voiced with a surprised tone and immediately searched for the glass, rubbing his hand on it. "Is Asuyo really alive!? Please, someone tell me what's going on!" I had yet to see such a drastic mood change on our friendly neighbourhood Magician.

"Of course not, you moron!" a figure appeared on the other side of the window, three balloons inside his clenched hand. "I know you're blind, but sheesh, are you deaf too!? E-xe-cu-tion, pal! That means death for that little Landlady, you hear?"

Riou glared at the black and white bear and gritted his teeth. "M-Monokuma..."

"Zero..." the bear mocked with a sinister tone to his voice. "Yeah, yeah, it's me. Hi, steroids." the Boxer clenched his fist and was about to punch the glass wall away when I instinctively held him back. Feeling my hand on his bicep, he stopped in his tracks and looked back, dropping the aggression he was about to ensue in. "Aww, do I see a cute couple? I wouldn't start shipping before the second trial, you guys! That didn't end well back at the islands!" he mocked once again and took to the skies, floating up with his balloons.

"H-Hey! Get back here!" Riou called, roaring everyone's eardrums to pieces.

"You called?" he was suddenly behind us, making everyone gasp in surprise.

"Wh-What is th-the m-m-m-m-meaning of th-th-this?!" Chigusa snapped, stuttering and shaking her way onto an argument against Monokuma. "A-Asuyo... sh-she...!"

"Yeah, she died over there." he nonchalantly confirmed our suspicions. "Y'all saw this very same building during the execution... do you have memory loss? Oh wait... YOU DO!" he laughed maniacally and - literally - gave himself a pat on the back. "I'm on a roll today. You guys don't seem too cheerful, though."

The fact he ignored our heartache over our dead friend's execution made me angrier than any bad taste joke he could pull out his ass. Lives were at stake and he was simply not giving a crap about it... that's what took me over the edge the most. "Step the fuck aside, you stupid bear!" I sprinted past him and around the back to the library in what felt like only a few seconds, although it should have taken me about a minute to make the whole way there. Piles of rubble varying in size and shape boasted themselves in front of me, probably covering what was left of our deceased friend.

"Sh-She's under all this rubble...?" Kikyo mumbled to herself, not noticing Riou's effort to clear the rocks, at first. "I... I'll help!"

"Huuuuuuh? What're you doing?" an unpleasantly familiar certain monochromatic bear's voice scratched at our ears once more, making us all look in his direction. "Ooh, spotlight's on me! Makin' me feel like a true movie star, you guys, stop iiiiit!" he fake blushed.

"Cut the act." Eita was emotionless as ever, but it'd be plausible to think he was remotely angry or at the very least, had had it with this goddamn bear.

The stuffed animal-looking robot snickered and shrugged. "Sounds like we got an Estihater on our hands." he high-fived himself and laughed aloud once again. "You should really start laughing at my jokes! It's rude not to." he was only met by silence and Riou's ininterrupted efforts to dig up Asuyo from under the pile of rubble she was - slightly unreasonably - buried under. "Soooo, steroid boy over there. What you up to? Trying to dig up the ancient remains of the rare Asuyosaurus?"

"Can it." Akahana's pristine lady-like figure wavered slightly as she scoffed at the mastermind, making the bear visibly gasp.

"Oooh, I was able to draw some emotion out of the obligatory coldhearted leader character! I'm proud!" he smiled and puffed his chest. "Aaaaanyway, if you're looking for dead bodies, those ruins over there are a no-no! No dead bodies whatsoever." he promptly explained. "I'm not going to just leave corpses around town! How unhygienic of you to think that! Dirty boys and girls, all of you! So... sooooooo... dirty..." his voice suddenly grew lewd.

"Shut the hell up." Kikyo interjected.

The mastermind sighed and shook its head. "What a tough crowd today. You know what, I'm hurt! Good luck finding that chick's dead body, I ain't helping!" he crossed his arms and walked away with puffed cheeks and a childish annoyed expression on his face. "See you later, dumbasses!"

His exit made us all trade glances between each other - Yori excluded as per usual. What was happening...?

Everything is so surreal...

We're being held hostage by a psychotic plushie and looking for a dead girl's body...

What... what has my life spiraled into?

LATE MORNING

Location: Anghern Gallery

After splitting up again to complete our new objective, I happened to go to the one place I had yet to investigate. A grand brick building filled with clear windows to let the light in and an entryway ornamented with pristine old-fashioned decor and incredible details. The inside was just as impressing, although by how different it was from the outside. For a gallery, the outside made it seem like a renowned art museum, and while I do get that vibe from the interior, the strewn painting, sculptures and supplies were thrown without any noticeable pattern, making it seem more like an artist's free-time study than anything else.

"Agh, god... why can't they let me sleep..." I heard groans and complaints and eventually noticed their origin - a boy with a brown jumpsuit, with a cleaning rag and a spray bottle in his hand. "Hey! Yeah, you, gimme a hand here, lazy ass." Kiyoshi ordered, gesturing me to come closer which I reluctantly ended up doing. "Grab a mop or something and get to work. This place is flithy!"

I sigh and roll my eyes, refusing to do as he asked. "For heaven's sake, Kiyoshi, I've got bigger fish to fry." I spat at him a bit rudely and began scouting my surroundings, looking for any hidden doors, trapdoors, below every tablecloth and behind every sculpture. "Goddamnit!" I cried, angry. "Where is she!?"

"What are you going on about?" the Custodian raised an eyebrow and dug his nails into a probable itch on his right arm, resting his cleaning supplies on a table next to a selection of chisels. "Where is who? I'm the only one here."

"Asuyo!" I shout and keep checking every nook and cranny for handles, buttons, levers, whatever. "Asuyo's body..."

"Y-You serious? You sure you didn't hit your head, dumbass?" he questioned my sanity, unaware of our circumstances. "Asuyo... she died in that building. She's not around here, is she...?" for once, I could see some genuine worry in Kiyo's tone, almost like he actually cared.

Avoiding losing time with needless explanations, I kept searching for her. Maybe I had hopes Monokuma's 'execution' as he called it was a failure. Maybe she was still alive! We can't give in to Monokuma's despair, right!?

Right!

Right.

R-Right...

"W-We found her!" Frances and Blackjack opened the door to the gallery, making me and Kiyo look at them.

"Where is she, Frances!?" I asked, sprinting over to them and grabbing the Tapdancer by the arms, shaking her ever so slightly before realizing what I was doing, promptly stopping and apologizing. "S-Sorry... where did you find her?!"

The blue-haired girl nodded in forgiveness, giving Blackjack time to respond in her stead. "The central plaza, near the sundial... and Mister Batora's body is also there, I believe." All hopes I had within drained in a matter of seconds, and my hopeful grin soon turned into a grim pout. It was foolish of me to hope for them to still be alive anyway... "Are you okay, Mister Hananari?" Blackjack asked, presumably worried.

"N-No." I answer dryly and walk past them, outside the building. "Let's just go..."

LATE MORNING

Location: Anghern Central Plaza - Graveyard

Inside the graveyard's waist-high stone walls, only dirt with small tufts of grass grew, stepped on violently by large rectangular headstones. It was a sight I didn't bother to take in the first time I came around to the central plaza, back when meeting Asuyo and Shizuka... and now I'm saying goodbye to Asuyo in the same exact location... what are the odds, huh?

"Is... she really down there?" Kikyo stepped forward and lay one hand on the tombstone reading 'Asuyo Uemura, SHSL Landlord', with a picture of her taped on it carelessly. A few tears came to her eyes, but she quickly wiped them away and turned around to the rest of us - or me, Akahana, Kiyo and Riou, as it were.

Akahana nodded firmly and explained her reason to believe it. "Monokuma confirmed it. I don't think he'd lie about this." The remainder of us were all crying and sobbing at Yuki's headstone, leaving Asuyo only to herself and the Hairstylist, bringing a new set of tears to the latter's eyes as she knelt down in front of the tomb and closed her eyes.

"Is she... praying?" Riou commented, asking me lowly, which I only reply to with a nod. I was too distracted for my own good... after all, what am I doing here? Why don't I go and join Kikyo, or the others? Why do I not want to cry in front of Asuyo and Yuki? They're... They... Well, they're...

I can't even bring myself to say it now... great.

The crowd dispered sooner than I expected, and an even stronger and tighter atmosphere grew around us. Chigusa was only held by Maruko, the frail girl holding the Gardener the best she could. Blackjack and Frances walked off together, and more and more heads began disappearing in subsequent exits, until only me, Riou and Kikyo remained.

"G-Guys..." Kikyo limped towards us with a slumped back and red eyes. "I have... I have to ask you something." Riou tilted his head in curiosity, although I wasn't too keen on reacting too loudly at anything at that moment. Kikyo then added. "Do... Do you guys think anything like this will happen again?"

My first instinct was to say 'no' but something deep inside me resonated and I felt obliged to think the opposite. Maybe my hopes weren't as strong as I initially thought or maybe this 'despair' Monokuma is forcing us to feel really is as hypnotising as he wants us to believe. "Of course not." Riou comforted the Hairstylist, even if I felt he wasn't fully sure of his words. They felt hollow and dishonest. "Chocolate pipsqueak was a special case. She had friends to protect... the motive struck a nerve... and although I can't say I agree with... all this. I mean, it's understandable. We shouldn't worry, everyone here is sane. We'll all leave together!"

Shizuka's words struck me once again as I was reminded of the bitter truth. Once one of us kills, the ball starts rolling, and the body count starts rising.

"Don't you have anyone you want to protect?" Kikyo asked, ignoring Riou's comforting words.

"I..." Riou looked away for a second and stood in silence, sniffing a few seconds later. Was he crying? "I gotta run. See you back at the motel, pipsqueaks." And with a cordious nod, he left, paying no heed to Kikyo's apologies or calls.

The Hairstylist sighed and grabbed the sides of her head, intertwining her fingers with her hair, messing up her bun. "Agh, I didn't mean to make him uncomfortable... I... I want us to forget all this. I want us to be happy again..." she confided in me as I embraced her, and as if on cue, she started bawling. "I... Tsukushi, c-can you tell him, that I-I'm sorry? I didn't m-mean to make h-him sad." she begged in between sobs.

"Kikyo..." I hugged her a bit tighter and she hugged me back. "I'll be sure to tell him that. Truth is, I'm scared too... this is insane, all of it. But I can assure you we'll leave here alive. I promise you, okay?"

Her swollen amber eyes looked up to me and she tried to force a smile onto her face. "Th-Thank you..." We stood there in silence for a couple more minutes before she finally calmed down and thanked me once again. "It... It should be around meeting time by now. Let's, um, go to the motel, okay?" and with an affirmative nod, we both made our way to the inside of Verdant Views.

Truth is, maybe comforting is what I need right now.

Kikyo needed it. And Chigusa as well... Maybe Frances is holding onto Blackjack for emotional support, too. And maybe... just maybe... I need someone to hear me out too. Thing is, everyone is on edge after all this. Can I really not bottle all these and let them go away over time, as things get a little better?

Yeah... that sounds like a plan. Let's not be a victim of our circumstances.

I'll be the emotional support everyone needs... and I'll get everyone out alive.

MIDDAY

Location: Motel Entrance

Everyone seems to be here... even Kiyoshi and Shizuka attended, which given their attitude today was a bit surprising, actually.

"So, what did you find?" the Street Magician started the discussion with a question, so that someone could cure his voluntary ignorance. "The map has told me this section of town has an art gallery, a library, a shooting range, a shrine and a park, correct?"

"If we don't count the motel, then sure." Yuzuru mimicked Shizuka's apparent indifference when speaking. However, since she knew the current circumstances as well as the rest of the crew - excluding the two guys who decided to abstain themselves from investigating. "What?" she asked Maruko what her glare was for.

"Nothing." she dryly responded, adding to the tension.

"A-Anyway!" Kikyo forced herself to speak, and started explaining part of our findings to Shizuka and Kiyoshi, summarizing them one last time for us. "I went to the shooting range and the library. The range is pretty wide, really good to spend time and to target practise. There's a breaker room that acts as a storage room as well, and lots of ornamental rifles and bows and such. Pretty neat decor, I must say!" she chirped, although I could feel a bit of straining in her voice.

Yatarou took Kikyo's lead and continued. "The sanctuary is really culturally exhilarating! Lots of traditional japanese sculptures, paintings and scrolls filled with writing. I think it deserves further looking into... and I'd be more than willing to do so!" he smiled forcefully, being met by cold, distant gazes which made him advance. "A-As far as the library goes... it's huge and filled to the brim with books. We found the ruins behind it..."

Silence ensued.

"The park was pretty nice too. Very open and park-ish. There were pathways leading to a few benches and a fountain... other than that, it's basically grass."

"Which basically makes it a perfect napping stop!" Kiyoshi interrupted my explanation as he scratched his arms fervently. "So don't go buzzing around there. I'll be trying to relax, ya hear, fuckheads?"

Eita shook his head. "If bugs are your cup of tea."

"Frances and myself investigated the gallery before everyone met at the library." Blackjack continued. "Nothing of note, I'd say. Some paintings, and sculptures, as well as a closet with cleaning supplies. The whole building was one-story-high and quite unorganized, if I may be honest."

Kiyoshi's incomprehensible moans and groans made it clear he agreed with the Information Broker regarding the state of the grand hall of the art gallery.

"We also discovered the central plaza is still open to us." Maruko finished. "And Monokuma was right... we can't go into Valley Views now. We're locked again."

"This is quite troublesome." Yori muttered to himself, and Eita held his arm tighter, as if caring for his friend. "We also saw our friend's last resting spot... the Anghern graveyard."

Shizuka's interest was clearly piqued at the topic. "Excuse me, what?" he asked for Yori to repeat himself, only to keep talking. "We are holding the dead bodies of Asuyo and Yuki in the central circle of the city? How morbid." he added unenthusiastically, even though he sure seemed to be keen on learning more about it mere seconds ago.

"Yes." Eita's confirmation was slightly unnecessary, but welcome nonetheless. It's the thought that counts, I assume.

After Eita's voice spread to places farther away, the group fell silent, and we looked at each other awkwardly, unsure of what to do next. Without a farewell or anything of the sort, Shizuka and Yuzuru quietly retreated to their room, and Maruko and Chigusa followed suit, although a bit more cordially.

"We'll see you guys later... Chigusa and I are going to be here if you need us." she nodded and closed her door, locking it behind her. As if repeating the way we left the city center, people simply started to leave, dismissing themselves without a particular order, until only me and the person I least expected to stay behind remained.

Hang out with Frances?

[Yeah, sure] [Oh, heeeeeell no]

Tsukushi: Hey... Frances?

Tsukushi: How come you stayed behind?

Frances: Saku- I mean, um, Blackjack wanted to speak to Eita in private...

Frances: So I don't have much to do.

Tsukushi: Saku? Who's Saku?

Frances: N-No one, hahaha... No one at all!

Tsukushi: Frances... I'm a defense attorney. You really think I wouldn't notice you lying?

Tsukushi: It's... Blackjack's real name, right?

Frances: Ugh... no way I'm trickin' you, huh? Well, it's okay.

Frances: Yeah, it's kind of her name. I stopped myself before revealing it all.

Frances: Don't tell her I slipped though! She'll kill me if I do!

Tsukushi: W-Watch what you say...

Tsukushi: S-So you and Blackjack have been pretty close lately.

Tsukushi: What's the deal? I don't remember you being that close back in Valley Views.

Frances: We... Well, we just hit it off really well, I guess. She's a beautiful girl, and very nice.

Tsukushi: You interested in her? Romantically speaking.

Frances: I-Is it that obvious!? Oh, god, I hope not... I thought you'd only see us as good friends...

Tsukushi: I was only asking... Didn't suspect it that much until now, but thanks for the confirmation.

Frances: Goddamnit... please, pleeeease don't tell anyone.

Frances: I don't know if she feels the same!

Frances: She probably doesn't, but I'd rather keep this thing going for a while longer... I kinda need the support right now.

Tsukushi: Yeah, I can kind of understand. It's always an added challenge to figure out if someone your gender likes you.

Frances: You mean...?

Tsukushi: Yeah, yeah, I'm into guys. Not that big of a secret, but now you know.

Frances: Oh! That's cool. Wouldn't have guessed.

Tsukushi: Back to Blackjack though... don't you think you've been a bit too clingy?

Tsukushi: Not to bash your crush or anything... but Yori was pretty down in the dumps about it earlier.

Tsukushi: He really trusted you to help him, you know? And now you're ignoring him for her.

Frances: I've... Ugh, I'm sorry. Just been through a lot lately and I've been kinda selfish.

Frances: I'll try my best to make it up to him later...

Tsukushi: I sure hope so! I'll be checking on that regularly, you hear?

Tsukushi: Moving on... and if you don't mind me asking, obviously.

Tsukushi: I want to learn more about you! How you got into tapdancing for example.

Frances: Oh that's easy. My birth father tapdanced a lot and my stepdad is a businessman.

Frances: So I learned everything I knew from my birth father and made myself known thanks to my stepfather.

Tsukushi: O-Oh, your mom remarried?

Frances: Yeah... my father isn't around anymore...

Tsukushi: Sh-Shoot, really stepping on unstable ground here.

Frances: Don't worry. There's no way you knew. So, don't beat yourself up about it!

Frances: I want to learn more about you as well! Tell me how's life as a lawyer.

Tsukushi: Well... I work at my mom's office in Tokyo, and we employ around twenty-something other defense attorneys.

Tsukushi: My mom's a defense attorney, and my father's a police officer so I guess I've had a knack for solving crimes and such ever since I was born!

Frances: Ooh, I'm a big fan of mystery novels as well! My dad used to read me those all the time!

Tsukushi: Isn't too fun when you're in an actual murder-mystery novel though...

Blackjack: Thanks for your time, Mister Kurogane.

Frances: O-Oh, B-Blackjack! That was quick!

Blackjack: Hello, Mister Hananari. Did you keep Frances company?

Tsukushi: Yeah! I'll be going now, though. After all that's happened today I think I'll stay inside for a few and take a nap.

Blackjack: I see. Farewell, then.

Frances Baishou
Despair Shard Obtained!

Frances learned how to tapdance from her deceased father. After learning how to do it, she took a liking to it and eventually, her stepfather - a businessman - gave her a little push into stardom, giving her the spotlight she needed to be called upon by the school. She also has a crush on Blackjack, but hasn't told anyone yet - not even her - about it, since she's not sure if she reciprocated the feelings. They're pretty cute together, though!

EARLY AFTERNOON

Location: Motel Room #1 (Tsukushi and Riou's Hut)

For some reason, I've been feeling pretty lightheaded today...

Then again, with all the stuff that's been happening lately, it's nothing to be too surprised about. I'll just doze off for a bit.

A/N: And that's the end of the discovering Verdant Views section! What do you think of the new sector of Anghern that the students will have to mess around in now?

QOTC: What building in Verdant Views do you like the most? And where do you think the next murder will take place?

I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter and don't forget to leave me a review telling me your thoughts and answering the QOTC (it makes me happy to read and reply to you all)! Until next chapter... Yamazaki out!