Usually, the students of the 42nd class would argue and talk over each other.

Kousuke had to endure his classmates' arguments, and he would sometimes raise his voice, but in the end, it only proved that the class was close-knitted. Everyone was connected emotionally to one another, and everyone respected one another.

"So Kousuke, about this problem..."

Kousuke looked over at Miho. The girl was asking him questions about the math lesson he had finished teaching, and currently the class was doing exercises on the topic. Miho was confused by the subject, and because of this she had walked up to ask the class president.

"I'm not sure if I did it right," the acrobat smiled. "Is it right?"

Kousuke took another look at the problem, then at Miho. Honestly, he never expected the girl to be so responsible and determined. The acrobat would always ask questions from him and was always willing to learn new things. Honestly, it was quite unexpected, but not at all unpleasant - it allowed him to look at her non-discreetly.

He felt his cheeks flushing with unwanted heat, but determinedly held his composure and continued.

"So, you…"

He continued to teach Miho, and as time passed he felt himself looking more at the girl than at the problem itself.

It eventually continued for months, and when the first semester was about to end Kousuke found himself alone with the Ultimate Acrobat.

"Hey Kousuke!" Miho was smiling kindly at him. "Did the principal finish speaking with you?"

Kousuke nodded. "Yeah, he did. He said we did well this semester, and he hopes we can do better next semester after break."

"Really? Well, I guess that means we can't let him down!"

"Mhmm…"

Through his peripheral, Kousuke could see his classmates causing an uproar at their lunch table, especially Machiko and Hisashi, who were having a 'who can scream the loudest' competition. He already knew the wedding crasher would win though, but nonetheless the class continued to cheer for both impartially.

"Go, Machi!" Miho cupped her hands around her mouth as she screamed. She giggled before looking to Kousuke. "Y'know what? I'm glad you're our class president."

"Really?" Kousuke startled, thrown off balance. His cheeks blushed a red hue and he quickly o,averted his eyes to the ground. "Why? I haven't even finished grading your essays yet. I always end up falling behind when grading you guys, alongside with having to report to the principal about my curriculum."

"And how's that a bad thing? That just means you really care about us." Miho was smiling widely. "Just admit it! You think you're the best class president ever, right?"

"W-what…" Kousuke blinked for a long, solid second. He honestly did not know what to say.

Miho giggled. The look on his face must've been amusing. "You know, you're actually really cute if you're not trying to act upfront."

"M-me being upfront isn't an act!"

Miho rolled her eyes playfully. She watched Kousuke for a moment, thoughts he can't read racing in her eyes. She turned away from him, her voice falling to a softer tone. "I really do find you cute though."

"Huh?" Kousuke looked at the acrobat. "Miho, is there something wrong?"

The girl shook her head, standing from her spot. "Nope! I'll just go fetch a snack. I'll be right back."

Kousuke was unable to say anything as the acrobat left the table. He wondered if he had done something wrong. He was about to move before he suddenly felt a presence beside him.

"Yo!"

Kousuke frowned. "Hisashi…"

The horologist was sitting next to him, a playful smile on his face. "I see that things didn't go well with you and Miho, huh~?"

"Why do you care?" Kousuke crossed his arms, staring at the boy. "Nothing happened between us."

"You sure? I'm seeing some tension between you two~" The horologist giggled mischievously. "Even Zero could see it, y'know? We know that you've been wanting to confess to her, right?"

Kousuke's cheeks immediately blushed a red hue. "No, that's not true." He was silent for a moment, looking to Zero from the distance. The drama club leader was giving him an all knowing look. Kousuke quickly glanced back at Hisashi. "A-am I that obvious?"

"Yes, it's obvious as my affection for Koro," Hisashi said, blunt. "Kousuke, dear, you need to take the initiative and confess! If you don't confess now, then when? It won't be long before someone else sweeps her off her feet."

"I mean…" Kousuke bit his lips. When? If he delayed it, just when would he have another chance? "As the class president, I need to focus on your curriculums and-"

"Oh lord, you are one thick concrete wall, aren't you?" Hisashi rolled his eyes. "Look, a high school student doesn't only need to focus on their academics. A high school student also looks at the fun side of things! Especially love." He clicked his tongue, wagging his finger. "My sweet Kousuke, you need to loosen up a little. If you like someone, then don't hold back. Take the initiative!"

"I mean…"

Hisashi was about to speak, but he looked back. Miho was walking towards them. "Alright, I'm going to leave. Good luck, Kousuke~"

"Hisa-" Kousuke began, but couldn't finish his sentence, as the horologist was already moving back to the others.

Instead, he was now focusing his attention on Miho who had walked over to him. She smiled as she handed him a bar of chocolate, which he gratefully took. "You two look like you were having fun." She sat back at her initial resting place, beside him.

Having fun? "Did it look like that?" Kousuke sighed. "Thank you for the chocolate bar. I appreciate it."

The girl grinned widely, then opening her's and biting down. "So, what were you and Hisashi talking about? I never knew you liked engaging in gossip."

"Gossip? Of course not." Kousuke let out a small smile, then added, albeit hesitantly, "It wasn't anything special."

"Really? Are you sure?"

Kousuke's eyes widened. He saw Miho pouting at him, and despite him trying hard to not think about it - he found her cute. He was staring at her for a moment, looking into her eyes until-

"Kousuke?"

He quickly averted his gaze. His cheeks were a red hue, and his heart was pounding. "Uh… Miho…"

"Huh? What's up?" As if knowing, she let out a goofy smile.

Kousuke blushed. He couldn't back down now. "Miho, I…" He shook his head. He was hesitating too much, stuttering too much; he needed to be more succinct. "I-I like you! Would you please go out with me?"

Silence.

It was then did Miho threw her hands over her mouth, eyes widening.

Kousuke thought he messed up. He thought he was wrong, however-

"Y-yes! I like you too!"

Kousuke couldn't help but let out a yawn, stretching his arms as he watched Zero walk into the room. He had prepared breakfast for the drama club leader, and observed as Zero sat to retrieve a bowl before he proceeded to eat. It was only then that Kousuke followed suit, and silence escaped the room.

"... So," Zero began shortly after biting into his piece of tofu. "We need to get Chiyo and Kagami to help disguise me."

"Yes." Kousuke nodded, chewing thoughtfully. "Most likely, I think the best time to act would be around nighttime. We would still need time to prepare for this task and make sure you're prepared."

"I'll be fine, leader," Zero assured, amused. "Please don't worry about me."

"As the class president here, I have every right to worry for your safety." Kousuke frowned. "What kind of class president would I be if I just threw you in there?"

Zero's eyes widened, but his lips curved into a small smile. His cheeks were a faint pink color. "T-thanks."

Kousuke smiled in return. He plopped a piece of tofu into his mouth. "Alright, well, eat up as much as you can. I don't want you to work on an empty stomach, okay?"

Zero couldn't help but laugh. "Are you my dad or something?"

"No," the officer crossed his arms, "but I am your class president, so do fill yourself up."

The drama club leader nodded, and he continued to eat.

Kousuke watched the boy for a moment, then bit into the last of his meal before standing up. He placed the bowl into the sink. He would have to wash it later. For now, he had much more important things to do.

"Zero, I'll be back," he said, eyeing Zero, who slowly nodded his head. Kousuke smiled reassuringly. "I'm going to check on the others."

"Oh." Zero rubbed his shoulder. "Good luck."

Kousuke nodded in return as he walked outside of the house, putting on his shoes and moving down to the house next door. He looked around the porch for a moment. He could see the sun rising from where he stood. Beautiful colors of orange and yellow. A sigh escaped his lips, and then he knocked on the door.

The door slid open, revealing Takumi who seemed to have just awoken, his creamy blonde hair even more messy than it usually was. He let out a yawn before speaking. "Fact number one: Orochi Takumi here is very sleepy, even more so than a sloth itself."

Kousuke let out an awkward chuckle. He did feel bad for waking the boy up early. "Sorry. Is Hisashi awake as well?"

The investigator frowned. "Unfortunately, yes. He pulled an all-nighter last night to finish building the clocks for everyone else."

"What?" Kousuke bit into his lips. He quickly took off his shoes and walked into the house, and, without further need of communication, Takumi gestured into the bedroom. There, the officer saw Hisashi on his knees, hunched over a desk.

The horologist had circles under his eyes, and he was dozing off into reality and fiction. His head was nodding off, yet the boy was forcing himself to continue building.

There was about six clocks that had been created (including the one that Hisashi was holding right now and the one Kousuke owned). If he had counted it right, then Hisashi still had to create two more.

"Hisashi." The officer walked over to the horologist. He tried to get the boy's attention, but it wasn't working. Kousuke grabbed the shorter boy's shoulder, forcibly turning him towards him. "Hisashi, stop."

"Nn…" Hisashi was in a daze. He halfheartedly looked up to Kousuke, lips curving into a wry smile. "Hey, officer."

Kousuke frowned. He grabbed ahold of the clock Hisashi was holding, putting it to the side delicately. He needed the boy to focus his attention on him, after all. "Hisashi, you need to sleep."

"What's wrong with pulling an all-nighter?" The horologist raised a brow, tilting his head. His voice was hoarse. "I'm just trying to help."

"Not like this." The officer's grip on Hisashi was firm. "I know you well enough to know that you're the type to overwork yourself. You need to stop for a moment and rest. It's fine if you stop your work midway, as long as you prioritize your health first."

"I only have two more to build," the horologist whined. "It'll only take me a couple of hours. Don't worry so much about me. Miho will get jealous~"

Kousuke sighed. He knew that the boy could be strangely stubborn when it came to work.

I guess I have no choice.

Kousuke lifted Hisashi from the ground, throwing the boy over his shoulder. Kousuke expected thrashing and kicking, but unexpectedly, Hisashi was obedient, which only made Kousuke worry more. He brought the horologist over to the futon, and forced the shorter boy down. He wrapped the blankets over Hisashi's thin, languid body, then glanced over at Takumi. "Can you bring the clocks to my place? Also inform Zero of the situation and to not let Hisashi take them back."

Takumi's eyes widened, but he quickly recovered and winked to the officer. "Definitely, sir." He grabbed ahold of the items, and ran out of the room.

Behind him, Hisashi made a displeased noise. Kousuke sighed. "Hisashi, I know you want to help us, but it isn't good to overwork yourself," he began, speaking gently. "You need to rest."

"I don't need to," Hisashi pouted, turning over to the side. He refused to look at the officer. "I can't focus if I don't finish my work, Kousuke."

The officer frowned. "You think that'll make us happy? To see you give up your health in exchange for helping us?" Kousuke bit into his lips. "I don't know about you, but I don't think Koro will take this very well."

Hisashi's eyes widened. "Don't tell him anything."

"I'll tell him the moment you overwork yourself again."

The horologist looked at the officer, letting out a mischievous smirk. "Alright, fine. You win." He let out a sigh as he spread his arms over the futon. "I lost."

"Good." Kousuke smiled. He stood up firm, crossing his arms. "Just rest as much as you can. I'll be happy if you slept through the whole day. I'll inform the others about this, but rest assured I won't worry Koro."

"You better." Hisashi chuckled. "Or else I'll tell Miho that you're into roleplaying, especially roleplaying that of a police officer and prisoner. Ooh~"

"W-what? No, of course not!" Kousuke's entire face was red. He quickly cleared his throat, regaining his composure. "Well then, please rest and I'll go check on the others."

He was about ready to leave, but Hisashi's voice cut through the air.

"Hey officer, you'll make sure Koro is safe, right?"

Kousuke inwardly frowned. He looked back at the boy. "That's… an odd question. Of course I prioritize everyone's safety over anything else. Why? Is there something else you want to tell me?"

Hisashi was staring at Kousuke. It was as if the boy was staring straight into his soul, his silvery eyes shining in a suspenseful hue. "Hm, well, it's nothing." The horologist suddenly threw on a smirk. "I just want to make sure you'll protect Koro from any stalkers~"

"That's… strangely specific," Kousuke raised a brow, "but, of course, I'll protect Koro."

"Thank you, my dear officer~ Tell Miho that I love her, then!"

I think Miho would rather hear me say it than you, Hisashi. The officer rolled his eyes, leaving the room. He walked back to the outside, putting on his shoes. Alright, now to go meet Koro and Hyoushi.

Kousuke walked over to the next house, knocking on the door. As expected, the door opened.

"Kousuke!" Hyoushi looked genuinely happy. Genuinely happy, and as healthy as can ever be. He was holding his mandolin near him, strumming the strings while humming.

The officer smiled. "Is it alright if I go inside? I'm checking on everyone at the moment."

The mandolinist's smile widened and he stepped to the side. "Of course!"

Kousuke walked inside, spotting Koro, who was drinking a favorite of his - iced tea. The paramedic seemed to be in absolute joy, sipping his drink with a small smile escaping his lips. It was until he noticed Kousuke did he suddenly transform back into his nervous state. "U-uh, Kousuke, I'm sorry I didn't notice you sooner."

"It's fine." The officer smiled. "Did you and Hyoushi eat yet?"

Koro nodded. "Hyoushi was able to cook us some fried eggs."

Hyoushi took a seat down next to the duo, strumming out a reply in his singsong voice, "It was no problem~"

"I'm worried about Zero," Koro began, scrunching his nose. "He's risking his life to find the remote… If only I could think of a way to dissect the bombs out of our bodies…"

"Don't worry about it." Kousuke let out a comforting smile. "I'm sure we'll be fine. Zero trusts us, so we need to trust him. We still have a lot of time before our plan starts, so we have time to prepare."

"I mean…" The paramedic pursed his lips.

Kousuke averted his gaze. Koro would flip out if I told him about Hisashi. The poor guy is worried over everything.

Hyoushi cut into the conversation, trying to lighten up the mood with a song. "Don't worry Koro, be happy~ Everything will be fine~"

"T-thank you, Hyoushi." The paramedic couldn't help but let out a small smile. Though small, it was still nonetheless a smile.

Kousuke sighed. Thank god Hyoushi's with Koro.

"Alright." The officer stood up from his seat. "I'm glad you both are fine. I will go check on the others now."

Koro nodded slowly. "Of course."

"Be safe, Kousuke~"

The officer smiled as he headed back outside, now moving towards the next house. He knocked on the door and was met with the faces of Seishin and Kenta.

"How are you two?" Kousuke first asked.

Seishin was the first to reply, a scoff escaping his lips. "I'm fine, mortal. Do not fret over what had happened last night."

"Yeah, he's fine." Kenta reassured Kousuke.

"I see. That's good," the officer nodded. "Did you two eat? You two can head over to Zero and I's place. I think I made enough food to feed you two."

"Appreciate the gesture, but it's fine," Kenta let out a small smile. "We already ate."

Not surprised. Kenta is a food critic, so I have no doubt he's pretty good at cooking himself. Kousuke inwardly chuckled at that fact. "Well, that's fine. It's good to see that you two are fine and well."

"Of course we are, mortal." Seishin frowned. "It is still uneasy to know that there are restless spirits here…"

I would say my usual 'Jesus Christ, Seishin', but he's actually right, isn't he?

"True." Kousuke awkwardly scratched his head. "But don't worry. Once we get out here, we'll be able to try the villagers in court and give the victims a proper burial. I can assure you that."

The spirit medium seemed genuinely pleased by this, but he quickly scoffed and turned his head back. "Hmph, that is obviously the case."

"Well, then I'll go check in with the others." Kousuke waved to the duo. "I'll see you all later."

With the duo waving back at him, Kousuke headed down towards the girls' area. He moved straight from where Seishin and Kenta's house stood, knocking on the adjacent house's door.

"Kousuke?" Kiyomiko opened the door. "Is there something wrong?"

He shook his head. "I just wanted to check in with everyone."

"I see..." The girl frowned. "Chiyoko's sleeping at the moment, if you're wondering. She woke up a while ago, but then she said something stupid like 'I need my beauty sleep'."

"Oh, I see." Kousuke let out a sigh. Honestly, he wasn't surprised. "How are you doing then, Sana?"

Kiyomiko scoffed. "I'm fine. Do I not look fine?"

"No…" The officer let out an awkward smile. "... You look fine."

"Yeah, so don't bother me any longer."

Kousuke was unable to say anything as Kiyomiko closed the door.

Well, guess I'll check on the rest.

Kousuke couldn't bother to whine about it, so he walked over to the next house. He knocked on the door which opened within seconds. Chizu and Anna were to be seen.

"Hey Kousuke." Anna smiled at him, friendly even early in the morning. "Um… How are you doing?"

"I'm doing fine. What about you two?"

Anna let out a yawn, stretching. "I slept well. Not as well as a princess would, but definitely slept as well as a sloth."

Chizu spoke quietly, "I'm fine."

Kousuke was about to speak, but the storyteller was quicker. "How's Seishin doing? Is he okay?"

The officer was taken aback. He eyed Anna for a moment before nodding. "Yes. He said he's doing fine. He told us to not worry about him."

"Really?" Anna's eyes widened. "Thank goodness for that. It would scare me to think that a spirit would enter into his body and turn into an old soul forever."

… And Anna goes off with her usual stories. The officer sighed. "Well, did you two eat yet?"

Chizu nodded. "Of course we did."

"I see." Kousuke crossed his arms. "Well, since you two are fine, I will check on the others. I'll see you two soon."

"Bye!"

The officer smiled as he waved to the duo, then walked over to the next house. Knocking on the door was like a mundane, daily routine, and as always, the door opened.

"YO!" Machiko yelled straight at the officer's face. She couldn't help but laugh as she noticed the boy putting on a fighting stance. "Hahaha, I'm not gonna kill you, idiot! I can't believe you're still shocked by what I do."

"Geez Machiko." Kousuke lowered his stance, now putting a hand to his forehead. "If you continue to do that, it won't be long before I actually throw you over my shoulder."

Machiko grinned widely, but was stopped when Kimiko walked through the door. "It's too loud. Can you tone is down a little bit, Machi?"

The wedding crasher let out a boisterous laugh. "Haha! Sorry about that, Kimi. I forgot about you."

Kimiko eyed the girl in annoyance, but then directed her attention to Kousuke. "Why're you here?"

"To check on you two, though considering what just happened I can safely assume you two are fine." Kousuke crossed his arms, sighing. "So, did you two eat yet?"

Kimiko nodded. "We did a while ago."

The officer smiled. "Alright, well, if you two are fine, I'll check on the rest."

"Of course!" Machiko clapped loudly. "Woohoo! You go, Kousuke!"

Kousuke walked over to his last destination - Miho and Kagami's place. He knocked on the door, and within seconds was he greeted by a wonderful sight.

"Kousuke!"

Miho had wrapped her arms around him, holding him tightly in her embrace. Kousuke smiled as he embraced her back, the duo still in their little world.

"Woah, I know you two are like the Ultimate Couple, but calm down."

Miho suddenly released her grip from the boy, face blushing as she looked back to Kagami. "Sorry about that! Haha…"

Kousuke tried not to mind, and instead eyed Kagami with a knowing nod. "How are you, Kagami?"

"I'm good," the girl smiled. "Just a bit uncomfortable seeing you and Miho hugging each other out. It's still early in the morning!"

"At least we didn't kiss!" Miho whined.

The officer let out a small chuckle. He was amused by how flustered Miho was acting in comparison to Kagami who grinned at her. "So, you two are fine, correct?"

"Yes, we are," the tailor smiled sweetly. "Thank you for asking."

"That's why you came to check on us, right?" Miho clapped her hands together before putting her hands on Kousuke's cheeks. She squeezed them with a teasing grin. "You're so cute!"

Kousuke blushed as he eyed the acrobat. "So, how are you feeling, Miho? You're not bothered in any way, are you?"

"You mean about the entire situation and… well, me seeing the body." Miho released her grip on her boyfriend, now averting her gaze. She was silent for a moment, but forced a smile as she looked back at him. "I'll be fine. Don't worry about it."

Kousuke knew that the girl was lying. He knew she wasn't fine, but he knew she would hate him prying into that. Instead, he nodded his head. "Of course. Just please don't hesitate to come to me if you're worried. I'm your boyfriend for a reason."

The acrobat blushed, a giggle escaping her lips. "You're so sweet."

Kousuke wanted to say more, but was stopped when Kagami entered the fray. "Okay, lovebirds, let's not act this way around me." The tailor let out a playful chuckle. "I do not want to be the third wheel here."

"Sorry about that." He let out a small grin, then clapped his hands together. "If you two already ate, then I will be calling everyone else over."

Kagami nodded. "We ate."

"Oh, about Zero…" Miho bit into her lips. "I'm worried about him. Who knows what these shit-eating villagers will do if they figure us out? And especially with Monokuma…"

"Don't worry. That is why we are here for each other." Kousuke gave her a confident smile. "Our plan won't be acted out until nighttime falls, so we have enough time to prep everything out. Zero is confident in us, and we need to be confident in him as well."

"Mhm." The acrobat let out a smile in return. It was a wide, put-together smile. "Of course! I shouldn't be doubting anyone! Silly me."

Seeing Kagami and Miho confident, Kousuke decided to call everyone out. He asked the two girls to knock on the others door, and within minutes most of his classmates appeared outside.

"Where's Hisashi?" Koro asked, darting his eyes back and forth. Obvious worry was written over his face.

Takumi looked to Kousuke. He nodded, leading to the investigator speaking on his behalf. "Hisashi's taking a rest. He doesn't want anyone to bother him in his so-called 'beauty sleep'." The investigator then spun his cap around, winking to the paramedic. "Don't worry. I'm sure he's dreaming about you."

That caused the honey-eyed boy to instantly blush.

"So," Kousuke began, calling attention to his classmates, "we are here to discuss about our plans tonight. Zero will be going inside to look for the remote control for the bombs inside of us, and we will be occupied with keeping the villagers busy during that time frame."

"That means I have to disguise Zero with Kagami, right?" Chiyoko let out a yawn, stretching. "Mm… that's gonna take a bit of time."

"Well, we have until nighttime." Kagami let out a bright smile. "Please don't worry about us, Kousuke."

"Of course. I'm counting on the both of you." Kousuke chuckled before turning to Zero. "You are completely fine with this task, correct? Remember - there are risks needed to be taken."

"I-I'm sure." The boy nodded, a confident expression on his face. "I won't let you down, leader."

The officer nodded in return, then looking back at the group. "Alright, once Zero takes action, we need to do our best to occupy the villagers. Whether it be by asking them a plentiful amount of questions to causing trouble- we need to stir their attention onto us, not Zero. We also need to be mindful of Monokuma as well."

"That bear…" Seishin scrunched his nose, obviously disgruntled by what had happened yesterday.

"So, just cause trouble." Kiyomiko cupped her chin. "I see."

Kousuke clapped his hands together. "Alright, so everyone understands what needs to be done tonight?"

Everyone nodded their heads.

This caused the officer to let out a small sigh. "Alright, well, remember to gather here once the sun sets. For now, please prepare yourselves and rest up. Do not waste too much energy."

With those words, everyone began to scatter. Zero walked with Chiyoko and Kagami - the trio to work on the disguise. Kousuke could see Chizu heading back in her home as well as a few others.

Nonetheless, everyone had disappeared into their own world, and Kousuke was left with his.

Hm… I guess it doesn't hurt to check on Hisashi.

Kousuke made his way over towards Hisashi, the door protected by Takumi. The investigator noticed the officer, and within seconds he opened the door. Kousuke thanked the boy with a bow before heading over to where the horologist was laying down.

The horologist was currently sipping into a bowl of miso soup. Kousuke assumed that Takumi must've cooked some for the boy, and continued to walk inside. He slid the door shut as the shorter boy noticed him.

"Hey, officer." Hisashi grinned mischievously at Kousuke. "Don't worry about me. I'll get back to sleep as soon as I finish eating."

Kousuke nodded. "You better," he said, though the threat fell loose.

The horologist rolled his eyes in response. He took another sip before speaking again. "Are you here to check on me? To keep me company?"

The officer thought for a moment, then nodded. "If you don't mind, that is."

"No, I do enjoy talking to people." Hisashi smirked. "Especially with the class' dear Mr. Kousuke Hayashi."

The officer himself couldn't hold back a roll of the eyes, but decided he'll engage in small talk nonetheless.

Kousuke: Are you feeling better now?

Hisashi: I find it just adorable that you care about me so much. I bet Miho will be jealous!

Kousuke: … I'm being serious, Hisashi. Overworking yourself will achieve nothing. You need to take better care of your health.

Hisashi: I know, I know. I have tons of people whining to me about that. If not my dad or Koro, then it'd be you. Sheesh, everyone's checking me over!

Kousuke: Now that I think about it, you've never mentioned much about your family. I'm curious.

Hisashi: You're curious about my family? Cute, but I don't think it's worth your time. It's nothing that special.

Kousuke: I'm even more interested now if you put it that way.

Hisashi: Heh, not surprised. You aren't a class president for nothing, officer.

Hisashi: Hm, well, if you want the basic gist of it, I guess I could start off by saying that my parents are divorced? Hm… Yeah, I think that's where I should start. My mother and father divorced, and now I'm living with my father.

Kousuke: I see. Why did they divorce, if I may ask?

Hisashi: Isn't that something a bit too personal? Heh, well, it doesn't matter to me. I think they divorced because my mother cheated on my father. My mother considered my father to be too poor. We lived in one of the more...underdeveloped places in town, y'know? My father fixes clocks and creates them, but that's all.

Hisashi: I mean, if you even think about it, is there even a use for wooden and digital clocks anymore? Most people could just look at their phones nowadays. The need for those beautifully crafted clocks are…

Kousuke: …

Hisashi: Well, it doesn't matter! Since my father works as a horologist, I learned how to fix and create clocks. I had to help at his shop, so naturally I was forced to become a horologist at a young age.

Kousuke: I see, and that's why you became the Ultimate Horologist. It's because of your father.

Hisashi: Yup! Isn't that splendid?

Kousuke: It's certainly an insightful look into your backstory. Thank you for sharing it with me.

Hisashi: Do you have to thank me? Hm, well, it doesn't matter now. I'm already finished with my food, so I'll go back to sleep now, if you don't mind. I still need my beauty sleep.

Kousuke: O-oh, of course.

Kousuke watched as Hisashi passed him the bowl before falling back into a slumber. The officer was shocked at how quickly the horologist fell asleep, but figured it made sense - Hisashi was overworking himself, after all.

The officer placed the bowl at the sink, then moved back outside. Hmm, what should I do next?

Kousuke looked around the area. It was then that he noticed Zero walking outside of Chiyoko's house.

Frowning, the officer decided to walk over to the drama club leader.

"You alright?" Kousuke asked, catching the boy's attention.

"I'm fine." Zero let out a slight smile. "I'm just waiting for Chiyo and Kagami to finish. Chiyo's discussing to Kagami about how to make me fit into the villagers as much as possible."

"I see." Kousuke crossed his arms. "So you're just waiting for them outside."

"Mhm." The drama club leader fiddled with his fingers. "I just wanted to breathe in some fresh air, that's all."

"Well, you want to talk for a bit?" The officer let out a smile. "I don't want you to be lonely, after all."

Zero's eyes widened. His cheeks blushed faintly, but he slowly nodded his head. "S-sure."

Kousuke: Hm… So, Zero, I've been meaning to ask for a while, but that jacket you have on you… I noticed that there seemed to be a lot of pockets hidden.

Zero: Huh? You could tell?

Kousuke: Well, as a police officer, I do need to have a keen eye for detail. So, do you keep anything in your pockets?

Zero: Um… Well… It's not that much.

Kousuke: Do you think I'll judge you? Of course not.

Zero: Well, I guess you have a point, leader. First off, I have these.

Kousuke: Hm, notes and writing utensils, huh? It's nothing that surprising.

Zero: I guess. I also have these with me…

Kousuke: Napkins, chopsticks, candy… Have you ever thought of throwing them away? The chopsticks seem to have been used already and there are a few candy wrappers…

Zero: I-I haven't had the time to throw them away. Well, I also have a sewing kit with me.

Kousuke: Really? … Oh, wow, you do. Well, that's pretty handy. I'm sure Chiyoko and Kagami will be pleased to see with a sewing kit around.

Zero: Haha, I guess you're right. Well, I also have this sleeping mask… eye drops… telescope…

Kousuke: You… You really do have a lot of things on you, huh?

Zero: … rubber gloves… bandages… my wallet…

Kousuke: Um, Zero, hello?

Zero: Oh, I forgot I had these hidden here.

Kousuke: I-is that a pair of handcuffs?

Zero: Oh, yeah. They're just plastic though, so they're fake. I wonder why I have these with me though…

Kousuke: … Um, so, why do you keep so many things with you, Zero?

Zero: Huh? Oh, well, using a bag is more tedious in my opinion. And, well, this is the only jacket I was able to find in the store, so I thought I should put it to good use.

Kousuke: I see. Haha, that jacket does look quite big on you. You could probably hide in it if you wanted to.

Zero: … Yeah, that's right.

Kousuke: Hm?

Zero: … I can hear Chiyoko and Kagami calling me. I should head inside.

Kousuke: Oh, right! I could hear them too. Sorry about that, Zero.

Kousuke quickly stepped to the side, waving to Zero who waved back. The door was already opened and revealed Chiyoko and Kagami, who were calling the drama club leader over.

Zero walked inside and closed the door behind him.

Well, the officer began, taking a deep breath, I guess I should head back and take a break. I'm a bit tired myself, actually.

With that in mind, the officer headed back into his home. A rest was most welcomed, after all.

That rest was needed for what's about to come.

Hello, and here is the next chapter. i took a long time in writing this out, so I hope you can all forgive me for these horrible monthly updates. i wish I was as faster as some authors here on this site, but monthly updates would have to do. I kept you all (even the person who helps edit this story) waiting, and I apologize.

Lowrietial: "Thank you! It was all thanks to you."

liammarklh88: "Thank you for that. it's nice to hear that I am portraying Seishin correctly. I'll take in what you said into consideration. Hisashi is popular at the moment. I am glad you like that chapter. Of course, I do not mind hearing your considerations as well."

Shyjoker: "Glad you noticed the updated introductions. Of course, everyone will be getting their time to shine. Bonding till the murder happens."

jaughy: "Yes, it is hard to balance screentime and character development, but luckily I have around six chapters (going by Danganronpa's formula) to figure this out. Have a nice day/night as well."

ToonGuy: "Thank you. Kousuke is supposed to be a class president, so he will need to take action in order to protect his classmates. I am happy you enjoy Kousuke as a protagonist. Thank you for the kind words."

TheRoseShadow21: "Thank you."

Maestro Infinite: "I am happy that you enjoyed the previous chapter. Thank you."

RioA: "Thank you for enjoying the chapter. Of course, Kousuke is a class president for a reason. Thank you kindly."

CrimsonSpiderLily: "Kousuke is the class president for a reason. You do have a point there, it's true. Takumi and Kousuke's relationship are close and not only because they are a police officer and investigator. There's always more to a relationship in any given story. Risks do need to be taken, and people need to take the initiative. I'm glad you enjoy Kimiko's relationship with Machiko, and thank you for enjoying the story so far."

Wolffang1795: "Yes, I am trying to give alot of characters more screentime and/or more lines. Of course, i will take that into consideration. Thank you for being so understanding."

ThePersonOfNothing: "I'm glad you like the previous chapter, thank you."