AN: New chapter...late in the night. Last day of midterms are tomorrow. Hopefully that means faster updates. Also I turned down the gore in case the last chapter was...yeah. Also the gameshow is rather long so I can't exactly go in depth with all the torture sessions.

This is a short chapter, so yeah. Also, I know that it's been long since...a murder. I'm telling you now that I'm wrapping up the everyday life segments the next couple of chapters. In short? Someone's gunna die soon!

This chapter may seem rushed, but I didn't write it rushed. Instead, I just made it very fast-paced since I didn't want to write twenty pages about one part of the gameshow, since it's not over yet. I wanted to make Chapter 3 long, but not this long. I don't think Chapter 4 will be as long, but you never know. So I'm real sorry if you guys are getting tired of these constant updates that barely advance the plot. I mean, it advances the plot...but I know you guys want MERDER!

Just bear with me for a couple more chapters! Then after the trial is done, we'll be heading on to Chapter 4! Which will most likely not be as long as Chapter 3 was!

I would also like to mention that we're about 50% of the way finished this story. Maybe a more accurate prediction is 60%ish, but the point is, while I'm not really close to finishing, the end may come faster than one thinks.

King Okami: No trust me, you don't want to know what goes on in my head, lol. Thanks for the review!

Reven228: Oh you know I can't tell you that! You'll just have to wait. Glad you got the reference too! Thanks for the review!

Wmsm5ever: Yeah I think I made my gameshow more brutal than I would've liked to. And wow, now I really want to play it. When will my sister give up her damn DS so I can play it for once?!

TheRoseShadow21: Lol, thanks. Just don't throw up. That ain't good. Thanks for the review!

MizunashiFuyuko: IT AINT DONE YET! MORE CLIFFHANGER! No seriously though I'm sorry, I never meant to drag it on this long. Idk what happened lol. Thanks for the review!

Ode 30: Don't worry, it's over. The worst part's gone with! Thanks for the review!

Shadowplayer360: The resolution doesn't have as big of an impact as you think though, lol. Thanks for the review!

Gingericus36: I'll tell you now you'll probably hate the second class trial, lol. It's formatted exactly how you didn't like and I pulled evidence out of my ass at the last second, lol. Glad you liked it overall, though! Thanks for the feedback! I may just keep that in mind for future chapters. Oh also, I decided to give characters more than one line in a row because I didn't really want one sentence to drag on so long. It's more of a personal preference than a stylized part of the story and it most likely won't change. Sorry if it does seem sluggish though.

Location: The Drama Room | Time: 7:50 AM | Chapter Three | 24 DAYS LEFT

"Upupupu..." Monokuma laughed. "Nyahaha! Wasn't that fun, everyone?"

We all looked at him with fear in our eyes. This might have been the first time that the comic relief was able to instill fear into me. I saw what happened to Kirei, and didn't want to do anything. Unmei was standing on there, wearing a brave face, but I could tell that deep down, she was just as scared as I was. It was probably her way for owning up to Hikaru's death, but I don't know how this would change anything.

"Any more volunteers?" Monokuma asked with a sheer grin. It was expected, but no one came up after Unmei. "Time to pick at random then, I guess."

…

…

"How about you, Noah?"

Noah look up at Monokuma, his eyes widening. Even as a policeman, even the most terrifying thing could instill fear. Now that I could see Noah's fear, I didn't feel like mine was out of line. That bear was going to do something terrible to us. Noah got up onto the set, shaking, and Unmei stood next to him, brimming with a fake confidence.

"Now, now," Monokuma said. "Don't worry! This next one won't be so bad!"

Soundtrack: Mirai Nikki Battle Theme

ROUND TWO: UNMEI VS. NOAH

Meowykins entered the room holding a matchstick in his hand. Lighting it up, he advanced closer to Noah, and forced his shoes off.

"It's a similar theme, you see," Monokuma said. "Fire is pretty bad...it hurts especially when it comes to terms with skin. But fire can be good too, you know! Seeing as although it can be used to hurt other things, like pigs and rats and other stuff like that. So you really shouldn't be so afraid of it, Noah!"

Noah's legs were shaking violently, as Meowykins brought the lit match closer to Noah's feet.

"Don't worry," Monokuma said. "We won't let the flames go higher than your ankles. But you probably won't be able to use your feet, burned and all."

"W-wait," Unmei said suddenly. "How can I save him..?"

"Oh?" Monokuma asked. "You want to save him?"

Unmei nodded, and Monokuma nodded to Meowykins. Instead of something extravagant like Kirei's sacrifice, Meowykins simply moved aside. He took off Unmei's shoes, while Noah looked at Unmei with a mixture of gratitude and guilt. Meowykins took the flames, and I had to cover my eyes. Even though you could probably tell what went down after that. I had to cover my ears at the same time too. It's not like the screams of Unmei will help much.

"How...how can you do this?" Noah asked from his seat.

Ignoring Noah completely, Meowykins forced Noah off of the set and two the bleachers. Following the rules, Noah had to have been eliminated from the competition.

"Next up is Furo and Yoshinori! Get down there, you funky kids!"

I looked over at the both of them. They weren't moving an inch, but instead making glances at the nearest exit. Even though they knew that there was no place to run. Soon, Meowykins had to come and fetch the two of them, and force them onto the gameset. This tedious journey happened again and again. Soon, the whole gameshow set was covered in a deep, scarlet red.

"If you need a recap, here's how things went down!" Monokuma announced. He handed out sheets of paper to all of us. Written in red ink was a summary of all that happened. It seemed like that the ones who were injured today would have to participate in the next round anyways. I quickly scanned the sheet of paper in front of me. Most of the people on that list that sacrificed themselves had went with Meowykins somewhere to get treated. Was there anything good that came out of this..? Well, on the bright side, none of them chose to let their friends suffer. Everyone who had the oppurtunity saved someone from pain. For me specifically though, it hasn't ended.

But...there was a name that wasn't on there. Or three names, to be exact.

Round One: Kirei Vs. Takayashi | Result: Kirei advances to next round.

Kirei saved Takayashi from getting her legs crushed by the vice.

Round Two: Unmei vs. Noah | Result: Unmei advances to next round.

Unmei saved Noah from a royal feet burning.

Round Three: Furo vs. Yoshinori | Result: Furo advances to next round.

Furo saved Yoshinori from a slice to the eye.

Round Four: Ryoko vs. Shougo | Result: Ryoko advances to next round.

Ryoko saved Shougo from a force feed of green beans.

"Hmm...someone needs to get a free pass," Monokuma said. He looked around at the group that stood in front of him. It was me, Mirai, and Kaito. Scanning us once more, Monokuma finally came to a decision, pointing at Kaito.

"How unlucky, Kaito!" Monokuma announced. "You get a bye! You don't have to participate in this part!"

"But then..." Kaito said nervously. He shifted his gaze to Mirai and I. "Do...those two?"

"Well, I sort of made it that way on purpose," Monokuma admitted, as he cheeks flushed with red. "I mean, they make such a cute pair, right? So, it's only natural that we'd put them together. That's how primetime TV works these days."

Monokuma chuckled as Mirai and I were forced onto the set. This was it. Mirai didn't look afraid at all; instead, he looked awfully determined. I twisted my head to look at Mirai, and he looked back.

"D-don't worry," Mirai said. "You don't have to sacrifice yourself, or, um...I'll save you then. Yeah. I like that idea."

"Alright...final round," Monokuma said devilishly. "Let's see..."

Music Halts

"Keiko!"

I jumped immediately when I heard my name.

"Can you save poor Mirai, from a volley of bullets?"

Meowykins stood a few feet away from Mirai, a machine gun in his hand. He was ready to pull the trigger, and absolutely murder Mirai. Mirai looked nervously, as if he thought that he was going to save me. He thought that I had already made my decision. Well, I had. It just wasn't what Mirai thought it was. It would have been a bit of a sheepish decision to just let Mirai take it. I mean, everyone else sacrificed anyways.

It's not like I'm going to die or something. Monokuma said it himself.

So when the gatling gun started up, I pushed Mirai out of the way. Sharp pain flooded through my body. It wouldn't stop either. I could feel bullets flood into me, never stopping to give a rest.

As I fell to the floor, I could see everyone else at the bleachers staring at me in horror, and I could hear Mirai's cries as I fell asleep.

Location: ? | Time: ? | Chapter Three | 24 DAYS LEFT

Soundtrack: Persona 3/4 - Aria of the Soul

...It was day.

Light flooded from the window outside, instead of the everlasting darkness I was so used to. Yet the blinds were closed, and though a little bit of light managed to sneak through the blinds, the room was still covered in enough darkness so that I couldn't see the faces of those who confronted me.

"You must be more careful..." said a voice that pained my ears. It was the man. He was here again, it seems. "We cannot have you risking your life like that!"

"No introduction this time?" I asked. "What's so important that you just, had to call me on such a joyous occasion?"

Nanako wasn't here this time. I looked around the room for any sign that she might be here, but she wasn't. I wasn't going as far to say I liked her. It was obvious though, that I felt more comfortable with her than with this man over here.

"It was an emergency that I had to come like this," the man sighed. "It seems like you did not heed our warning."

"What warning?" I asked. "That I shouldn't trust my friends? You observed us, didn't you? You saw them save each other from the torture. Why shouldn't I be able to trust those people? Why should I have to trust you instead?"

The man let out a heavy sigh. "I did not expect you to understand so easily...yet I suppose that's what makes you, you!"

"You're talking like you know me," I said. "You don't know anything about me."

"What is there to know besides your personality?" the man asked. "I think...in this world, you are hot-headed, feisty, and ready to claw someone's eyes out. Yet over there, you are honest, yet kind. I know plenty about you to make assumptions, don't I?"

"You know shit about me."

"What else would you like to know?" the man asked. "There's actually is plenty of things I can tell you right now. Your mother, your father, your elementary school, your middle school transcript, your tragic past..."

"Tragic past..?"

"Oh, silly me," the man chuckled. "I slipped out something that should have stayed silent. Oh well, right?"

"Oh well, is right," I sighed. "I don't remember anything tragic about my life."

"But that's because you don't remember anything, do you?"

"What? Of course I..."

But as I thought about his words in the dark, I realized that this nefarious man was right. I didn't remember anything about my past. I didn't know my parents, or if I had any siblings. I couldn't even remember any of my childhood friends, if I had any that is.

"How upsetting..." the man said. "You really can't remember anything, can you?"

"...It seems like I can't."

"And the reason for that will be clear soon," the man sighed. "I think...you are about halfway through your journey. Your endgame will come faster than you think."

"Endgame..?"

The man got up from his seat, yet made no attempt to come closer to me. He stood up on the other side of the room, and spoke two words.

"Memento Mori," the man said. "A Latin word commonly used as an artistic and symbolic reminder that your death is inevitable..."

What was he saying..?

"Are you saying I'm going to die?"

"Perhaps you won't," the man said. "I honestly don't care either way. Yet, my job sort of requires you to survive, doesn't it?"

"So why am I here now?" I asked. "You didn't answer any of my questions."

"Oh, but I just did," the man said. "I have just saved you from death."

"What?"

"Do you not remember? You jumped in front of Mirai Minoshiro in an attempt to shield him from death. And while you have succeeded in saving his life, if it weren't for me, you would be dead right now as well."

"That bear said he wouldn't let any of us die."

"Oh, come now," the man said loudly. "Do you think you could have survived that many bullets, purging into your body at the same time like that? It's surprising you survived long enough to see the mortified faces of your friends! I would have thought an instant kill would have sufficed!"

"How would you even have done that?!"

"That's not for you to know."

"Ha," I chuckled. "I don't think you like me!"

"I don't think you like me either," the man said.

"Touche."

"Either way, your life has been spared for now. But consider this. Do you really want to die right now?"

"My life isn't more important than theirs," I said fiercely. "If I have an oppurtunity to save my friends from death, I'll jump to the occasion right away."

"...Such a wasted life," the man said. "Yet you don't get, since you sit there confused and unable to realize why such a philosophy is absolutely futile."

"What's so futile about it?!" I yelled out. "Haven't you had a friend you wanted to protect?!"

The man made no response to this. I could tell he heard me, and I could tell the words I spoke sunk into him. He pretended to ignore me and continued.

"Let me tell you this," the man said. "You're life is undeniably more important than any of those other students. I cannot tell you why..."

"Then I won't believe you," I said.

"...Alright, let me approach it a different way then," the man said. "Your friends...if you throw your life out the window, how would they feel in return? Isn't there another way to save others without risking your life?"

"Of course I wouldn't want to hurt them," I said. "But that's what sacrifice is about. There's no way to save them without my life being at risk. Not in that place, at least."

That place...I still didn't know what that meant, yet I was speaking as if I understood. This place and that place...what was the difference?

"...Nanako will not be here to help you anymore," the man said.

"What?!"

"If you will not comply to our wishes, you can simply make the journey in that place alone."

"...You didn't hurt her, did you?"

"Why would you care?" the man asked. "And no, you needn't worry about that. Nanako is safe as she'll ever be. She has just been assisting you too much. We have been putting you at risk."

"...You tell me things like, this world, that world, risk...I don't understand any of it."

"That's for the best," the man said. "I will still have to meet up with you once in a while. That is unavoidable. But...I believe it may be in our best interests not to confront each other for a few days."

"I think that's for the best," I agreed.

"I'm glad we can come to a middle ground," the man said. "Live a long, prosperous life..."

I heard the snapping of fingers, and the world around me turned brighter and brighter, until I was soon wrapped around a familiar white.

AN: In case you didn't read the first AN, the gameshow is NOT finished yet. The motive will be wrapped up in the next couple chapters or so, so please hang in there.

Also Memento Mori was NOT a reference to Persona 3 in anyway. The actual meaning though is so ominous that I thought it would fit well in the context of the story.