Never Say Never
Disclaimer: I do not own Danganronpa or the characters associated with it.
IMPORTANT UPDATE IN AUTHOR'S NOTE
Chapter 3
Act 18
"I'm tellin' ya! She was awake!" Mondo shouted as Taka stood over Chihiro's sleeping form.
As he shouted, he wrapped a white bandage strip tightly around his forehead, the bleeding already beginning to subside. He seemed completely uninterested in his self-inflicted injury, focusing only on Chihiro's condition.
"She was talkin' to me and everything! Check her and see for yourself!"
"Volume!" Disciplinary Committee Chairman Ishimaru shouted back, pointing an accusatory finger at the biker. "Must you be so loud! How is Chihiro supposed to rest with you screaming like that?!"
"You're screaming too, asshat!" a desperate Mondo retorted before shaking his head and lowering his voice. "Whatever! Just make sure she's okay!"
Being the Disciplinary Committee Chairman, he had minimal first aid training and didn't know exactly what he should do, but he figured that checking a pulse and listening for breathing would be a good place to start. He pressed his ear to her chest and closed his eyes.
"…She breathing normally. And her heartbeat seems adequate," he concluded, pulling away and staring at the peaceful expression on her face.
It was then he noticed something…something off about her expression. Perhaps he was just imagining it, but it almost seemed as though Chihiro was…smiling. From what he could remember, ever since she had lost consciousness, her face had remained neutral. She had remained unmoving…almost like a doll. But now, even if it was slight, Chairman Ishimaru could see a change in her condition.
"That…That doesn't mean she's awoken…" Disciplinary Committee Chairman Ishimaru told himself, still struggling to believe his former friend's claim. "However…there is also no proof that Mondo is lying. So…for now at least…"
Turning to face his classmate, Chairman Ishimaru narrowed his gaze and said, "She appears to be in a stable condition. I can't be certain, but it seems that her condition has improved slightly…"
Hearing this, Mondo visible breathed a sigh of relief, a light smile etching on his lips. Seeing that, something within Taka churned. Somehow, he felt angered by the biker's relief, though even he couldn't explain why. Because of that, he cleared his throat to get Mondo's full attention.
"However, there is no proof that she has awoken. Therefore, it cannot be determined whether or not you were lying about her awakening. And until we have sufficient proof—".
"Proof?! Why the fuck am I supposed to prove that she woke up?!" Mondo retorted, getting right in Taka's face. "You said she was getting better and that means she should wake up soon, right?! So we'll just wait here and ask her when she gets up!"
"Y-You fool!" a flabbergasted Taka sputtered. "We can't simply sit around here waiting for her to awaken! She's been unconscious for several days! And she could remain unconscious for several more—!"
"Oh yeah! Ya wanna bet!" the biker shouted, his pompadour pressing into Taka's forehead. "We'll do it like we did with the sauna! Just like old times! We'll wait and see who leaves here first! And whoever does, loses!"
As the biker's challenge echoed in his ears, every fiber of Taka's being wanted to refute him.
He wanted to shout how unethical and pointless such a challenge was. He wanted to reprimand Mondo for even suggesting such a foolhardy thing. He wanted to uphold the school regulations and punish his friend for defying them. He wanted to keep his emotions under control and not give in to petty intimidation. He wanted to be a shining example of what following the rules and committing to excellence could be!
…He did none of those things.
"Very well then! I accept your challenge!" he found himself shouting before he even knew what was happening. A look of shock enveloped his face as he registered his own words, as if an internal struggle was taking place. However, he pushed it away and finished, "However, in case of emergencies—".
"EYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
Before Taka could clarify the details of their challenge, an ear shattering scream echoed throughout the school. Both of the boys tensed as that unsettling voice rang out. Taka was the first to act, speeding toward the door and charging into the hallway. He quickly glanced around but saw no one. An instant later, Mondo joined him.
"W-What the hell was that?! Shouldn't everyone be at the meeting?!" Mondo proclaimed, obviously having lost track of time. Just then, he noticed something immeasurably important. "Ha! You left the office first! I win!"
Taka's head tilted to the side, shocked and slightly appalled by Mondo's behavior. At the same time, he refused to let the biker's comment slide!
"As I was trying to mention before the screaming! All bets are void in cases of emergencies, like the one we're facing now!"
"…Whatever, man. I still won."
Grunting in frustration, the Disciplinary Committee Chairman knew it was pointless to argue, especially considering the potential gravity of the situation. Glancing up at the clock, Chairman Ishimaru scowled as he noticed that it was well past 7AM. He'd been so distracted dealing with Mondo that he'd neglected to inform everyone he'd need to postpone the morning meeting. And though a bit of his soul died at that thought, even he had to admit that there were more pressing matters.
"No one should be outside of the cafeteria right now! After all, the morning meeting is vital to everyone's survival!" Chairman Ishimaru scoffed, again perturbed that someone was violating school regulations. However, he quickly pushed that thought away and continued, "And if they are not at the meeting, something horrific may have befallen them!"
Mondo paled and clenched his fists as he said, "Dammit! Why did it have to be now?! Everything was just getting back to normal."
Taka flinched at those words but said nothing, at least until he came to an important decision.
"Judging by how muffled the sound was, I believe the scream came from one of the upper floors!" Disciplinary Committee Chairman Ishimaru insisted, clenching his fists as the fire in his eyes grew more intense. "There is no time to waste! We must investigate—!"
"Taka!"
From behind him, a cacophony of footsteps accompanied a worried shout. Spinning around, he was relieved to see some of his classmate racing toward him, with Makoto leading the charge. Running next to him were Kyoko and Junko, followed swiftly by Hina.
"Is everything alright?! What happened?!" the lucky student asked as they approached, startled to see that the Disciplinary Chairman was accompanied by the biker.
Without thinking, Mondo abruptly shouted, "Chihiro woke up!"
A mixture of shock and relieve crossed all of their faces, with Makoto in particular sporting an incredibly hopeful visage. However, before any of them could revel in this announcement, Taka brazenly stepped forward.
"We don't know that for sure!" he countered, earning disappointed stares from everyone. However, the white haired, blazing eyed Chairman paid them no heed as he continued, "She is resting now and there is no proof that she has awoken!"
Instantly, a look of fury overtook Mondo's face. Clenching his jaw, the biker stomped toward the group until he stood before an entirely confused Junko. Then, without warning, his hand shot out and grasped her own, earning a startled gasp from the Fashionista.
"Junko! You know medical stuff, right?! Come check out Chihiro and prove that she woke up!"
Before he could utter a word, Mondo abruptly tugged her toward the Nurse's Office. Junko stumbled as he forcefully pulled her, and she fumbled her words as she tried to comprehend his intention.
"W-Wait! Mondo! I can't—!"
Unfortunately, the biker paid her no mind as he marched toward the open office door. Just as Mondo crossed the threshold and took his first step into the office, he suddenly realized that something was missing. Before he could figure out what it was, a heavy force smashed into his back. He let out a startled shout as he flew forward, slamming face first into the floor with tremendous force.
Grunting from his now reddened face, Mondo spun around while still on the ground and glared up at…Junko?
Standing just outside the Nurse's Office, her palm extended outward with her fingers slightly curled, Junko Enoshima took several deep breaths. A mixture of fear and anger marred her features as she slowly lowered her hand, clenching both hands into fists.
"What the hell were you thinking?!" she furiously shouted, her face flushed. "Are you trying to get me executed?!"
Confusion spread through Mondo for a moment before his eyes widened in realization.
"Oh fuck! That's right! Shit, I'm…"
As he trailed off, he felt nothing but disgust for himself, having nearly gotten her killed. Then again, it would have been par for the course. First Daiya…then Chihiro…and now her. All of the people he respected…weren't safe around him. Without thinking, he pounded his fist into the floor.
"Dammit, why do I always hurt the people I admire…?"
"W-What was that?"
A light gasp escaped Mondo as his gaze shot up to see Junko staring down at him, utter confusion visible on her face. Mondo's face burned as he realized he'd said that last part out loud! Practically shooting up from the floor, the biker nervously readjusted his coat as he fought to regain composure.
"I-I didn't say shit!" he immediately blurted, his voice far louder than before. "A-Anyway! Sorry I almost killed you—err, I mean! Sorry about grabbing your hand and jerking ya—gha…I'm just sorry alright?! Get off my back!"
Junko reared back a bit, startled by his sudden outburst. However, she still seemed pretty furious, considering her face was still noticeably red. Then, unexpectedly, she fired back, "I'll get off your back when you chill the fuck out! Everybody's counting on you to keep Chihiro safe and if you lose your cool then we're all screwed! So, man the fuck up and stop apologizing!"
As the Fashionista shouted back at him, at a volume that rivaled his own, Mondo was stunned into silence. Not because of her loudness, but because, for the last few years, no one had ever dared to scream back at him. No one in his gang, and certainly not his classmates here. Hell, even back in juvie none of the guards had the stones to reprimand him.
And yet, this skinny little fashionista girl brazenly pushed back against him, with absolutely no fear in her eyes. It was almost like she thought…she could beat the crap of out him herself! You'd have to be completely nuts to think that a girl like her could take down a biker like him!
However, Mondo couldn't deny that her tone…her strength…truly surprised him.
Not only that, without even knowing it, Junko had said exactly what he'd needed and wanted to hear. Her show of confidence in him, even after almost getting her unintentionally executed, was something he'd longed for, but would never admit. Not to mention that she wasn't treating him like a child or insulting him by pitying his situation. Telling him to 'man the fuck up' was something he imagined Daiya would tell him. The only thing Junko didn't do was clock him in the face the way Daiya used to when he screwed up…and he wasn't sure if he wanted her to do that.
Regardless, before he'd even realized it, he'd hardened his features, doing exactly as Junko had told him. And she must have known it, because she was smirking at him almost triumphantly.
"I hate to interrupt this train-wreck of a scene," a smugly familiar voice startled everyone, compelling them to turn and see Byakuya standing in front of the nearby stairwell, with Toko cowering just around the corner. "But there is a corpse to be found. Presumably where that bloodcurdling scream originated from."
Without waiting for anyone to respond, the Togami Heir calmly turned and headed up the stairs, Toko eagerly nipping at his heels.
"C-Corpse?!" Taka shouted in utter horror, his aura wavering for an instant. Whirling around and glaring at everyone, he shouted, "I demand to know what has transpired in my absence!"
"We don't have time to explain!" Hina impatiently fired back. "Our friends are missing and we can't—".
"If you don't explain it all to me now, how am I expected to lead you all in our search?!" the Disciplinary Chairman angrily retorted. "As you said, time is of the essence, so explain it swiftly!"
Hina gritted her teeth and was about to shout something everyone would regret when Makoto stepped up. "Why don't we explain on the way? That way, we can search and get you caught up at the same time?"
Anger radiated off Taka as he tried to retort, "But then I won't be able to—!"
"I agree with Makoto, but we can at least give a brief summary," Kyoko affirmed, barely acknowledging Taka before turning to stoically stare at him. "Three of our classmates are still missing. And we need to investigate that scream immediate—".
"Wait, three?!" Disciplinary Committee Chairman Ishimaru shouted in disbelief. "Who are we missing?! I note that many of our classmates are currently unaccounted for!"
Without missing a beat, Kyoko answered, "Hifumi, Celeste and Hiro. Only they failed to arrive for the morning meeting. Currently, we've split up to investigate, leaving Sayaka, Leon, and Sakura to secure the first floor while we search the others."
His face twisting in disgust, Chairman Ishimaru angrily asked, "Are you saying that, without my presence, the morning meeting has fallen apart and we now may have a murder on our hands?!"
Kyoko's calculating eyes glanced over to him before she gave an exasperated sigh and began walking toward the stairwell "There is no evidence to suggest that, even if you hadn't missed the meeting, those three would have joined us. Besides, that's not important right now."
She was barely within earshot by the time she finished, already halfway up the stairs. Disciplinary Committee Chairman Ishimaru tensed at the severity in her voice, feeling as though he was begin challenged, which unsettled him. At the same time, however, he completely agreed with her.
"…Indeed! We must find our classmates and discover who was calling for help! Quickly everyone! To the upper floors!"
His blazing aura intensifying, the Disciplinary Chairman turned on a heel and speed walked toward the stairway. Makoto nervously laughed that, even in this time of crisis, Taka refused to run in the halls. It was something the lucky student admired about him, but simultaneously made him worry. After all, it would suck if you could only walk through the halls when an emergency occurred.
"I-I'll stay here and keep watch over Chihiro," Mondo almost apprehensively told everyone, before looking at Junko. "Do what we can and all that…right?"
A smirk appeared on Junko's lips as she answered, "Right! Leave finding them to us! But if Chihiro wakes up, come and get us, alright?"
A momentary flush stained Mondo's cheeks as he answered, "Deal."
Not wasting any more time, Mondo watched as Makoto, Hina, and Junko headed for the upper floors. As the biker watched them go, he turned around and walked back into the Nurse's Office. Closing the door, he took his usual seat beside Chihiro. However, unlike all the times before, instead of guilt plaguing his features, a warm smile decorated his lips.
"'Chill the fuck out'…huh?" he quietly repeated Junko's words to himself. "Been a long time since someone had the ball to tell me that…right, Big Bro Daiya?"
"EYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
Celeste's delicate voice was torn asunder as her ear-piercing scream resounded through the halls of Hope's Peak Academy. She could already tell her voice would be hoarse but at the moment, all that registered was unparalleled fear. Hifumi's bloody hand was still reaching for her, the droplet of his blood on her cheek rolling down and passing over her lips. To her horror, she reflexively licked her lips, the copper taste of her classmate's blood invading her mouth.
Instantly, she gagged and almost vomited, coughing furiously before her fearful eyes shot up to see Hifumi still reaching for her. Visibly trembling, she began to shake her head as his bloody appendage drew closer and closer. Scooting backwards to get away from him, she tensed when her back hit the wall, leaving her with nowhere to flee.
"N-NO! STAY BACK!" she screamed, true terror seeping in for the first time in her life.
Just then, her hand slid over something with a handle and she instinctively grasped it. Swiftly lifting it up, her eyes widened when she realized it was 'Justice Hammer 1', the mallet she'd left as 'evidence' for her classmates. Immediately feeling empowered, she grasped the handle with both hands and raised it high, gritting her teeth angrily as she prepared to strike.
"S-STAY AWAY! YOU FAT BASTARD!"
Suddenly, Hifumi stopped, a bewildered look on his face. His bloody hand dropped to his side and his stubby legs wobbled as he stared at her, a look of betrayal in his dilated eyes.
"M-Miss L-Luden…berg…? W-Why…are you…?" he tried to say, struggling to keep upright.
Almost instantly, Celeste realized what she was doing, and the consequences of her rash actions dawned on her. If Hifumi hadn't stopped himself, she would have clobbered him with the hammer…probably killing him. And in that situation, there would have been no way to convince the others that Hiro had been the one to kill the fanfic creator. Not with Hifumi's blood on her face…and presumably her hands if she'd have actually struck him.
That would mean death…the death of her dream…and of herself…she couldn't let that happen…not after all she'd done!
Forcing down all of her fears and doubts, Celeste managed to slowly lower the hammer, letting it slip from her grasp as she tried to calm her breathing. She was hyperventilating, sucking in ragged breaths as her heart beat faster than she'd ever thought possible. Celeste honestly couldn't remember if she'd ever been as terrified as she'd been a moment ago. And it was that moment of weakness that almost cost her everything.
However, as she began to calm herself, she knew it was best to work on damage control as soon as possible. She needed Hifumi for her plan to succeed, and since something had obviously gone awry, she needed to understand exactly how to rectify it. And that started with regaining any lost trust between her and Hifumi.
"I…I…apologize…Hifumi…" she barely managed to say, her accent slipping slightly. "I was…startled…and I…"
Before she could finish, Hifumi slouched forward. Celeste's eyes widen as she saw his kneel buckle, his oversized body tumbling…directly toward her! Gasping fearfully, the gambler tried to scamper away but it was too late. Before she even moved an inch, Hifumi's massive body collapsed right on top of her, his bleeding head landing directly next to her face.
His excessive weight smashed into Celeste's lithe body, knocking the air from her lungs. Gasping for breath, she struggled to breathe as her co-conspirator's large form practically crushed her. With so much weight pressing onto her chest, and by extension her lungs, no matter how hard she struggled, she couldn't take a full breath. Both of her legs and one arm were pinned beneath Hifumi's girthy body, prompting Celeste to try and claw her way out from under him with her free arm. Unfortunately, even with all her strength, she couldn't budge an inch. Her vision started to blur from the lack of oxygen, her strength slowly giving out as she grew weaker.
"N-No…not like this…! I can't…breathe! I don't…want to…die…not like…!"
Suddenly, the door to the rec room burst open and a familiar voice resounded in her ears.
"Hifumi!" the voice called out, with a slight pause before shouting again, "And Celeste!"
Even in her dire state, Celeste recognized the voice of Makoto and, gathering the last of her strength, she frantically called out, "H-Help…me…!"
Makoto didn't waste any time, calling out to someone still outside before rushing to her side and attempting to lift Hifumi off her. However, with his puny arms, he seemed incapable of even rolling the unconscious fanfic creator to the side, let alone get her out from under him. Fortunately, a few moments later, another familiar voice rang out.
"Celeste! Don't worry! We're here for you!" Hina shouted, rushing over and assisting Makoto with trying to free the pinned gambler. "Hrruh! Just…gah…hold on…ugh…a bit longer…!"
Through their combined efforts, they managed to lift Hifumi enough to allow Celeste to at least take a deep breath, her lungs burning from the lack of oxygen. And while she was still effectively pinned beneath the fanfic creator's massive form, she could at least breath easily. That is, until a voice she never anticipated echoed throughout the room.
"Hifumi! Cease this blatant sexual harassment this instant! If you do not, I will be forced to take authoritative action!"
An expression of pure horror overtook Celeste's face as she turned to see Taka standing over her, very much alive.
Upon reaching the second floor, Taka volunteered to help search the third floor with Makoto and Hina. Once they were gone, Kyoko had offered to search the classrooms, since they noticed Byakuya and Toko were already investigating the library, which left the pool for Mukuro to search.
"Dammit…what the hell is wrong with me?"
Mukuro's mind raced as she walked along the edge of the pool, glancing at the water as she made her way down to the far end. It was a long walk, which suited her just fine, because she needed time alone to think. Despite several minutes passing, Mukuro's heart continued to beat furiously, and she could feel that her face was slightly flushed.
"Adrenaline…it has to be. I'm still frazzled from countering Mondo…that's all."
When Mondo had suddenly grabbed her hand, and dragged her toward the Nurse's Office, she'd panicked. And while she'd made sure to hold back, she still sent Mondo flying like a rag doll. Sad thing was, that was just a love tap, something meant just to push back an attacker. She never realized just how much force she'd been putting behind what she'd considered a light hit. Honestly, she'd worried she may have injured Mondo, but was relieved when he'd stood up so quickly.
But then…what he said caught her completely off-guard.
"Dammit, why do I always hurt the people I admire…?"
For some reason, Mondo's words made her adrenaline pump and her body tingle with heat. She'd felt a hint of it when he'd grabbed her hand…which she noticed was rather gentle for such a strong biker like Mondo. And to top it all off, that weird pressure in her chest had returned! It only happened when someone like Makoto, Sayaka, or Mondo said or did something nice for her.
Reaching the opposite end of the pool, she leaned against the sole locker that occupied the area at the far end of the room. She took a deep breath to try and steady herself, but her heart continued to pound furiously in her chest.
"What…the hell is this?!" she said aloud, gripping her chest as she struggled to understand this feeling. "Why can't I…just figure out what's causing it?!"
Shaking her head, she retracted her hand from her chest and stared at it, remembering the warmth of Mondo's hand as he'd tugged her along. Why was that…such a pleasant memory? It should have been horrifying! He'd almost gotten her killed! And yet…all she could feel was that weird chest pressure that she desperately wanted to understand!
"Dammit…I don't have time for this!" she reminded herself as did her best to suppress that weird pressure. "Three people are missing! I should be more concerned about them!"
Balling her hand into a fist, she slammed it into the locker with tremendous force, enough to leave a noticeable dent. Strangely, at the same instant her fist indented the metal, a loud and terrified shriek came from within the locker.
"GHAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
Instantly on guard, Mukuro leapt back and readied herself, but almost immediately, the scream turned into a furious flurry of pleas.
"H-Hey! Is someone there?! I'm stuck in here and I can't see!" a familiar voice called out.
Raising an eyebrow, Mukuro carefully answered, "…Hiro? Is that you?"
"T-That sounds like…Junko?! Are you there, Junko?! What are you doing here?! Scratch that, what am I doing here?! And where is here anyway?!"
Still cautious that it could be a trap, Mukuro carefully made her way around to the front of the locker. She glanced around the area, noting of any hiding places someone might be waited to ambush her from, but found none. It was a very open area and the locker would have been the only place to stage a surprise attack from. Well, there was always the possibility that someone might descend from the room, and even though that was unlikely, the soldier still found herself glancing up and checking the crossbeams far above her head.
Once convinced that an ambush from anywhere other than the locker was impossible, the soldier prepared herself just in case Hiro tried to attack her the moment she opened the locker door. Clenching both hands into fists so tight her knuckles popped, Mukuro carefully gripped the locker door handle and swung open the locker…only to be utterly confused by what she found.
Stuffed into the locker was a blue, red, and golden gundam-looking robot suit. It was so tall and bulky that it was conceivable that Hiro might be hidden beneath the strange cosplay. Just to be sure, Mukuro raised an eyebrow and called out, "…Hiro? That you?"
"Well of course it's me!" a perturbed Hiro insisted, wiggling a bit and proving that he truly was trapped inside. Not only was he stuck in the suit, it seemed that he was unable to pull himself out of the locker.
"Yeah…it's not that apparent where I'm standing," Mukuro condescendingly replied, but believed him either way. "How the hell did you end up in there?"
"No idea! I went to meet everyone in the Rec Room like that message said, and the next thing I know, I'm trapped in here!"
"Wait…message? What message?" Mukuro asked, her voice deadly serious. She had a bad feeling, and considering her instincts had never failed her before, she knew it was wise to be worried. "I never got any kind of message…"
"You didn't? That weird…I figured that everyone must have gotten them. Maybe you just lost yours? After all, it was an important message telling us that someone found…a…way out…of the…school…" Hiro trailed off, only now realizing how foolish he sounded. With an aggravated groan, he protested, "Oh crap! Someone tricked me! How could they do this to me?!"
"Easily by the sound of it…" Mukuro whispered under her breath before a sudden realization dawned on her. "Wait…so someone attacked and stuffed you in this locker?"
"Yeah! They must have! I didn't stuff myself in here, that's for sure!"
Mukuro's face darkened as she asked, "And you have no idea who did it?"
"…Nope."
"…Shit," Mukuro cursed, gritting her teeth as pieced together what was really going on. "Hiro, stay in here and keep quiet! I'm going to get everyone!"
"Wait, what—?!"
Hiro's protests were cut off when Mukuro slammed the locker door shut and took off running. She didn't care who saw her, or if they questioned how she was able to run so competently in heeled boots. All that matter now was she finding her classmates and warning them…but then again…
"It may already be too late!" Mukuro seethed as she sped through the locker room and out into the hallway.
"Hmm…I suppose that's all this room can offer," Kyoko concluded as she put the last book onto the shelf.
All alone in the hidden room located in the 2nd floor boy's restroom, the amnesiac girl had spent hours poring over all the files left there. Unfortunately, even after reading each and every book and file, she still didn't have enough information to conclude how or why the Mastermind had put the killing game together. And while the Mastermind had been upfront about their desired outcome, it was hard to believe that someone intelligent enough to put this all together would be after something as abstract as despair. There had to be a deeper reason for the Mastermind to organize the deaths of Hope's Peak's newest class.
"I'll need to investigate further," Kyoko told herself as she headed for the exit. "For now, I should get back to the search."
Initially, she hadn't intended to spend any time in the hidden room. However, she considered that another of her classmates might have unintentionally discovered the room, and possibly utilized it to cover their tracks. After all, it was a great place to hide evidence…or a body. Luckily for everyone, the room was just as she'd left it last time, and she decided to finish her investigation of the room now. And considering that the Mastermind had more than likely noticed her coming and going from a bathroom of the opposite gender, she knew it was a matter of time before they took action.
As she closed the hidden entrance, she resolved not to let her classmates know of its existence. The less of them who knew, the better. A hidden room would only inspire the more ambitious of her classmates if they ever chose to play by Monokuma's rules. After all, there were various uses for a hidden room that was completely off camera. And she didn't know or trust her classmates enough to let them know of its existence.
"Perhaps…one of these days…I may feel comfortable to inform the others. But at the moment, there are very few I can trust with this discovery…"
Strangely, as she thought that, Makoto's face flashed in her mind. She paused as she briefly considered if Makoto was trustworthy enough to share this secret with. It was true that she found his naïve optimism a tad bit inspiring. However, she could not discount the fact that he was too optimistic. He believed that everything was going to work out in the end, and if their occasional interactions had taught her anything, it was that he truly believed in all of his classmates.
Honestly, she admired him for that…because it was something she just wasn't capable of doing. However, Makoto was too open…too easy to read. And sharing such valuable information with someone so…vulnerable, was too disconcerting for her to approve of.
After all, she had been raised not to—
"Argh!" she groaned as intense pain gnawed at her skull. "Dammit…every time I get close…"
Like many times over the past couple of weeks, whenever she got close to remembering something, anything about her past, a nearly unbearable agony would befall her. Sometimes, if she tried too hard to recall something, no matter how insignificant, she would be left with a migraine for several hours.
Oddly enough, it was times like these that Makoto often appeared before her, asking if she wanted to chat or simply hang around her in silence. Most of the time, they ended up staying quiet around each other. But sometimes…she found herself chatting with him about silly things. She almost smiled when she remembered how she'd tricked him into believing he'd embarrassed her that time he'd called her cute. She completely turned the tables on him, earning a blush that she only believed existed in manga. Not to mention…she wasn't offended if he truly did find her to be…cute.
However, she was warry of opening herself up to him too much. She didn't want to go through the pain of being hurt by someone she trusted…not ever again. And that was exactly why she'd chosen not to tell even Makoto about the hidden room. Trust was something to be earned and while Makoto certainly had earned her respect…her trust was something far more difficult to obtain.
With those lingering thoughts in her mind, she emerged from the boy's restroom and prepared to continue her search for her classmates when she turned, just in time for Junko to come barreling into her.
"Deep breaths, Celeste! Deep breaths!" Hina instructed her friend the instant they managed to pry her from underneath their overweight classmate.
"Quickly, Makoto! Go and fetch everyone! This matter needs to be addressed as swiftly as possible!" Disciplinary Committee Chairman Ishimaru ordered, not giving the lucky student the luxury of refusing.
Fortunately, Makoto seemed pleased with that task and immediately answered, "Right! I'll go get everyone! Be right back!"
He quickly sped out of the room, leaving Hina, Celeste, and Taka alone with an unconscious Hifumi.
Despite being out from under the landwhale that was Hifumi, Celeste was still panting heavily, her lungs greedily taking in as much air as the school's purifier could create. Plus, Hina incessant shouting was doing her no favors.
"Celeste! What happened to you?! Why were you up here?! And why was Hifumi on top of you?! And all bloody?!" Hina practically screamed, desperate for information.
In almost any other situation, the swimmer's concerns would have been encouraging. However, because of her now precarious position, all Celeste could feel was panic. And that was the least of her worries!
"Please Miss Asahina! It's obvious what's going on here!" Disciplinary Committee Chairman Ishimaru shouted, his voice further increasing the gambler's anxiety. "Clearly, this is a case of sexual assault!"
Hina and Celeste both paled at Taka's blatant accusation as shock consumed them.
Celeste, in particular, was utterly dumbfounded. Granted it was more from seeing Taka alive and well, but combined with all of the insanity she'd just been put through, her mind was in the throes of complete mayhem.
"How the fuck is he still alive?! Everything should have been settled HOURS ago! Hifumi royally screwed the pooch on this one! He was supposed to smash this bastard's brains in! Not get his own…skull…cracked…Oh God…"
Slowly, Celeste's eyes panned over to the unconscious Hifumi next to her. Taking a good look at him for the first time since he'd stumbled in front of her, the gambler struggled to keep her perfect mask from shattering.
"If…If Hifumi didn't attack Taka…it means that…someone else attacked Hifumi! Shit! Someone besides me was planning a murder?! But who the hell would it be?! Hell, it could be anyone! Dammit! This ruins EVERYTHING!"
Her carefully laid plan, her perfect alibi, the most opportune targets…everything she'd worked so hard for was slipping from her grasp right in front of her! No! This couldn't be happening! She couldn't let this happen! Even if there was another ambitious bastard out there messing with her plan, she couldn't afford to give up yet!
"You have to play out your gamble to the very end! Because until it's all over, you never know what might happen!" she mentally shouted, having to remind herself of the most basic rule of gambling.
Clearing her mind as much as possible, Celeste mentally checked off all that needed to accomplish:
She needed to establish an alibi, somehow convince Hifumi or some other unfortunate soul to meet her in the Repository, strike a killing blow, and then slip back into the crowd without being noticed. Simple…well, actually, it wasn't so simple…Hell, nothing was simple anymore!
Her illustrious plan was in shambles! Especially with another potential murder in her midst! Honestly, how could she have predicted that someone would attack Hifumi before he could murder Taka?! No way the Mastermind would interfere with her plans, right? So it had to be another student…but who the hell could it be?! No one should have known about their plan! Not to mention that it was too much of a coincidence for Hifumi to be attacked at such a critical time! Had someone overheard them and was using her plan to stage their own murder?!
Dammit, she'd need to sort that out later! Right now, she needed to focus on securing her alibi more than anything…but how the fuck was she supposed to do that?!
"Think dammit! Think! There has to be a way to salvage this! I've come too far…done too much for this opportunity to be taken from me! I'll never get another chance at this! It's now or never! But…what the hell am I supposed to do?! How am I supposed to explain all of this?! I don't even have a way to set up a proper alibi—!"
As if answering her desperate plea, an unexpected ally appeared to give Celeste the second chance she desired.
"A-Are you serious?!" Hina questioningly asked, obviously not believing the crazy Taka was spouting. "It looks more like someone attacked both of them! Why else would Celeste be so beat up and Hifumi so bloody?! They're obviously the victims here!"
Even in her frantic state of mind, Celeste could recognize an opportunity. If such an honest and trustworthy individual such as Hina vouched for her, it would lend credence to her alibi. And since there was no one who could truly refute her claims, Celeste's claims about being attacked by a mysterious stranger in an odd costume would become the truth that all of her classmates would have to believe! Hina had unwittingly aided her in her time of greatest need! And thanks to that…there was still a chance…a chance for her to use this newfound chaos to her advantage and execute a modified version of her original scheme.
Before she could interject, however, Chairman Ishimaru scoffed loudly, silencing everyone.
"Obviously, someone cannot see the forest through the trees!" the white haired, blazing eyed Hall Monitor countered, as if they were in a class trial. "The scoundrel, Hifumi, was attempting to sexually assault Miss Ludenberg and she was forced to retaliate with the weapon that Hifumi brought with him! However, he overpowered her and was in the midst of assaulting her when—!"
"T-That is not what happened!" Celeste abruptly spoke up, desperately trying to salvage her shattered plan. "Hifumi and I…we were attacked by a strange individual!"
"A strange individual, you say?" Disciplinary Committee Chairman Ishimaru skeptically repeated, narrowing his burning eyes at her. "And what proof do you have that such an individual exists?! Surely you don't believe we can just take your word for it! Not after you've clearly violated the nighttime regulation that you yourself put into effect!"
"Hey! Are you calling her a liar?!" Hina immediately countered, a determined visage settling on her face.
Seeing such dedication made Celeste feel the tiniest bit guilty for using Hina this way, but it wasn't enough for her to reconsider her plan. Not with such a perfect setup…
"It is fine…Hina," Celeste calculatedly answered, shaking her head dramatically. "I know…it would have been hard for me to believe too…if I had not seen it with my own eyes. But…I do have proof…"
"You do?!" a surprised Hina shouted.
"You do?" a skeptical Taka questioned.
Her confidence finally returning, Celeste reached into her pocket and pulled out the small digital camera she'd gotten from Hifumi.
"I took a picture of the culprit as he attacked Hifumi," she explained, earning the desired level of shock from both of them. "Here, let me…show…"
As she spoke, she pressed the power button, but nothing happened. Pressing her thumb down again and again on the power button, she was horrified when it refused to turn on. Growing frustrated, and a bit fearful, she held the power button in a desperate attempt to power on the camera. Just as her breath hitched in her throat and panic began to set in…a little red light came on.
Breathing a heavy sigh of relief, she resumed her confident visage and said, "Here, allow me to show you the mysterious stranger that attacked Hifumi and myself."
Turning the camera around, so that Taka could see the screen, she pushed the playback button and heard the camera click, obviously bringing up the photo of Hifumi being 'attacked' by Hiro in the Robo Justice suit. She watched as Taka narrowed his eyes at the screen, and she fought to keep herself from smirking.
"You see? This is proof that—".
"I don't see anything…" Disciplinary Committee Chairman Ishimaru cut her off, raising an eyebrow at the camera. "Did you forget to take the lens cap off or something? It's pitch black."
As his words hit her, Celeste flinched and retracted the camera, turning it around to see the screen herself. To her utter horror, just as Taka had claimed, only blackness encompassed the screen. Leaning closer to it, the gambler gasped as she noticed a deep crack in the screen.
"N-No!" she couldn't stop herself from proclaiming, momentarily losing her accent. "It was here! It was right fucking here!"
She double checked that the power was on, and that she'd pressed the right button to bring up the photo. However, just as she'd feared, the crack on the screen completely obscured the picture. And without the camera to back up her claims…
"Nothing…I've got fucking nothing!" she mentally screamed, panic settling back into her mind. "Everything hinged on that god-damn picture! How could this happen?! How did this piece of crap get broken—Oh fuck!"
Immediately, she figured it all out. Useless, stupid, worthless Hifumi's massive weight must have cracked the camera when he fell on her! She hadn't felt it when she'd been pinned under him, so she never imagined that it might have been damaged!
"Dammit! Is there nothing that fat piece of lard can do right?!" she inwardly flared, trying to find a solution to a problem she'd never anticipated. "Lie. That's all I can do now. Lie and pray they fucking believe me!"
"I-It must have broken when Hifumi collapsed onto me!" she immediately insisted, earning a skeptical glare from Taka. "It's the truth! After I was attacked by a strange man in a robot costume—!"
"Enough! Stop spouting nonsense!" Disciplinary Committee Chairman Ishimaru silenced her, infuriating and terrifying her at the same time. "I don't know what kind of game you're playing but it's obvious you're up to no good! How are we to know that you didn't attack Hifumi yourself and that you're not just playing the victim?!"
Celeste flinched, gritting her teeth as she realized she had no way to 'prove' her innocence. Not to mention that Taka was slowly catching onto how suspicious she actually was. Sure, he hadn't pieced together the fact that he was her intended victim, but it was only a matter of time before she was interrogated by everyone! And with the likes of Kyoko and Makoto investigating, there was no way her failed plan wouldn't be exposed!
"I've lost…I have nothing. It's literally my word against everyone else's. Do I…Do I have no other choice than to…fold—?"
"How DARE you!"
As that furious shout echoed in the small room, both Celeste and Taka slowly turned to see an infuriated Hina glaring furiously at the Disciplinary Chairman. With a fiery determination unlike anything either of them had seen, the swimmer stomped over to Taka and instantly began shouting.
"You heartless jerk! How could you accuse her of such a thing when she's obviously the victim?! She injured for heaven's sake! And all you can think about is how guilty she must be?! Your warped sense of justice is so infuriating! You can't just go around accusing people of attacking someone else! Especially when there's NO proof that Celeste did ANYTHING!"
Celeste's jaw practically dropped as Hina came to her defense, having never seen the swimmer get so furious about anything ever before. It was like watching a tame house cat transform into a ferocious lion! And Celeste wasn't the only one startled by her sudden ferocity. Taka was also stunned into silence by Hina's fervent shouts. The Disciplinary Committee Chairman was completely helpless as she continued to lay into him.
"If Celeste says that she was attacked by a weirdo in a robot costume, then I believe her! She's been a lot more helpful to everyone than you have the last few days and I won't let you badmouth her like that for no reason! So instead of blaming her for your lack of integrity, why don't you focus on trying to find who it was that attacked her and Hifumi, MR. DISCIPLINARY CHAIRMAN?!"
A heavy silence enveloped the room as Hina made her point crystal clear. Disciplinary Committee Chairman Ishimaru was speechless by her sudden shift in attitude, even his intimidating aura weakened in response to the swimmer's resolve. Huffing angrily at him, Hina turned her attention back to Celeste, flashing her a friendly smile.
"We need to get you two cleaned up," she said sweetly, extending her hand out toward the gambler. "Here, let me help you."
No matter how hard she tried, Celeste couldn't remove the surprised expression from her face. Never in a million years did she expect someone to have such faith in her, especially considering her usual persona. People were always skeptical of her, and for good reason. The gambler often exuded an air of superiority and even she knew that some of her lies were too fantastical to believe. Honestly, who would buy into the idea of Russian Roulette Mahjong? Or that she never lost a single match her entire life! Sure, it sounded plausible, given her talent, but most intelligent people could see that her claims were sometimes exaggerated. Not all of them…but some of them.
And that's why, as Hina smiled down at her, blindly believing the lie that would eventually lead to her own demise, for the first time in years…Celeste felt a twinge of guilt creeping into her soul. However, true to her deceptive nature, she easily convinced herself it didn't exist…
"She…She believes me? Even though I'm obviously the most suspicious here? Even though I could be lying to her? That's…unexpected, but it works out well for me! Her blind faith should be enough to convince the others of my innocence. Maybe not all of them, but certainly the majority. And that's all I need."
Almost instantly, Celeste's calculative mind reorganized and began configuring how to acclimate to this new information.
"Stupid girl…she's leading herself to her own death! How can she be so trusting? I always knew she was a naïve idiot…but I never imagined…she'd have such faith in me of all people!"
Despite the disruption to her meticulously thought-out plan, Celeste easily recognized that her situation was changing, and for the better. Things were finally turning back into her favor, and with such a devoted friend like Hina—".
"F-Friend? Why the hell would I consider a pawn like her a friend?! I don't! She's just a tool…a tool to be thrown away once I'm finished with it! Just like everyone else here! Besides…I don't have any need for friends! All I need is my castle!"
As Celeste mentally shouted at herself, clearing away her own doubts, she put on a pleasant smile and gently took Hina's hand.
"Thank you, Hina. But we must see to Hifumi immediately. He is badly injured," she suddenly shifted the conversation, which in turn helped draw suspicion away from herself.
Almost like she'd planned it, Makoto abruptly returned, with Sakura as reinforcements.
"H-Hey guys! I brought Sakura!" he frantically announced, obviously hoping he'd recruited the right person.
"Celeste! What has happened to you?!" the Ultimate Fighter exclaimed, worry spreading over her features. As she spied her friend's ruffled appearance and tired visage, her expression shifted to protective anger. "Who did this to you?! Tell me, who was it that attacked you?!"
"W-We do not know as of yet!" Taka abruptly reentered the conversation, finally snapping out of the daze Hina had forced him into. "All we can say is that someone has betrayed us! And I guarantee you, when we find them…they will be severely punished!"
It was only for a split second, but as he finished his speech, his eyes flicked toward Celeste. Pretending not to notice, the gambler slowly approached Sakura and answered her.
"I am fine, Sakura. Thank you for your concern," she swiftly answered before glancing down at Hifumi again. "But I fear that Hifumi is still in danger. We need to get him to the Nurse's Office as quickly as possible."
A frustrated grunt escaped Sakura as she realized she would be required to carry Hifumi massive form. However, it seemed that having to transport her classmate wasn't the only thing that displeased her.
"Very well, but please answer me this. Do you know the identity of your attacker?" Sakura said, wasted no time in pursuing the truth. "Was it the masked attacker Hina and I encountered a few days ago?"
Celeste inwardly grimaced as she suddenly remembered that a mysterious individual was among them. Perhaps that was even the person who'd attacked Hifumi and disrupted her plans. Either way, it was another element she hadn't accounted for…but she could use to her advantage.
"I…I am not sure," she hesitated on purpose, playing the victim as much as possible. "All I can say is that, whomever it was had to be a suspicious character indeed."
"Suspicious character? What do you mean by that?" Sakura pursued, still trying to wrap her head around what was happening.
As everyone hung on her ever word, and waited for her to explain, Celeste felt overwhelming confidence overtake her. And with that newfound determination, she decided it was best to direct everyone in a way that would benefit her the most.
"I shall explain, but I suggest we do it while transporting Hifumi to the Nurse's Office. We can also gather everyone and explain the situation to them at the same time," she instructed, knowing that no one had a reason to object at this point.
"B-But…" Makoto abruptly interjected, much to her fury and surprise. "Only Mondo's allow into the Nurse's Office right now! How are we going to treat Hifumi without being able to go inside?!"
Celeste slightly tensed as she realized she'd forgotten that tid bit of information. Fortunately, he luck hadn't run out quite yet…
"That's a good point…" Hina concurred, pondering the best course of action. "We could always carry the supplies out of the office and into the hall—".
"Out of the question! We cannot block the hallway just because we have an injured student!" Disciplinary Committee Chairman Ishimaru immediately intervened, his frightful aura returning in full force. His disconcerting attitude toward their classmate's plight sparked several glares, particularly from Sakura and Hina.
However, before anyone could refute him, he continued, "Therefore, I declare a state of emergency! As such, anyone shall be allowed in and out of the Nurse's Office for the time being! Once everything has been resolved we can discuss reinstating the ban on the Nurse's Office if necessary! Now then, let us find our classmates and reconvene in the Nurse's Office post haste!"
A collective look of shock overtook everyone's face as Taka made that declaration. And out of all of them, only Makoto, driven by hopeful excitement, found his voice.
"A-Are you serious?! That's great, Taka! Thanks—!"
"I told you before, do not call me Taka!" the Ultimate Moral Compass interjected, instantly reducing Makoto's sunny disposition. "You will address me as Disciplinary Committee Chairman Ishimaru! Now hurry and find the others! I want to have this matter settled before then of the day!"
And with that, Chairman Ishimaru stormed out, presumably heading for the Nurse's Office. As he left, Celeste barely managed to hold in a low growl.
"Bastard! I lost my chance to kill him and now everything gotta be adjusted! Why couldn't whoever attacked Hifumi have done it after Taka was bludgeoned!"
Completely oblivious to Celeste's internal seething, Makoto's cheery disposition returned and he nervously said, "Well…at least we can all go into the Nurse's Office again. Even if its only for a little while…"
"We should check in on Chihiro while we're taking care of Hifumi!" Hina added, a bright smile returning to her face. "Won't that be great, Celeste?"
Snapping out of her anger fueled trance, the gambler only barely registered what Hina had said, and so she eagerly smiled and said, "O-Of course…that will be…grand."
"I don't mean to push you," Sakura softly chimed in, having already lifted Hifumi and slung him over her shoulder. "But would you mind explaining how you came to be attacked? I'm eager to see if we can find the culprit."
That question reminded Celeste that she still had quite a bit of work ahead of her, and so she nodded softly and began explaining as they all left the Rec Room.
"You see…I awoke early and could not sleep this morning, so I decided to come here to read a magazine. And that is when I encountered…the suspicious individual…"
Kyoko was caught almost completely off-guard when Junko appeared out of nowhere and crashed into her.
The Fashionista had been looking the other way, and obviously hadn't seen Kyoko appear in front of her. Even as they collided, Kyoko noted that Junko must have been running quite fast, because the force of their bodies colliding sent her reeling back, to the point that she lost her balance. Just as she mentally prepared herself to fall backward onto the floor, a firm grip tugged at her sleeve.
To Kyoko's shock, she stopped falling and was even pulled back into an upright position. Her sharp eyes shot to her sleeve, seeing a feminine hand gripping her arm. Following it back to its owner, the amnesiac girl held in a startled gasp as she saw Junko holding onto her. However, it wasn't merely the fact that the Fashionista had prevented her fall that shocked Kyoko…
"Sorry about that, Kyoko…" she immediately apologized, carefully retracting her hand, and brushing off the other girl's sleeve. "I was in too much of a hurry. You okay?"
"In a manner of speaking…" was all Kyoko could answer as numerous red flags danced in her mind. Instinctively, her brain took in all of the evidence in front of her…
"She's not phased at all, even after colliding head on. She managed not only to keep her own balance, but to hold me upright as well. She not out of breath, even though she was running at a high speed for presumably a good distance. And…that expression…"
It took all Kyoko had not to react to the expression on Junko's face…it was completely neutral. Not a hint of emotion, nor even the slightest bit of personality was visible. It was like looking at a wall; an immovable, impenetrable surface…one that wouldn't crack even if you struck it with a sledgehammer. And her eyes…the sky-blue irises that usually shone brightly…had turned steely gray…as if nothing existed behind them.
As she took in her classmate's visage, Kyoko felt an odd sensation welling up inside her.
Fear…
In this moment, Kyoko Kirigiri was absolutely terrified. And even more horrific…was that she couldn't comprehend why. She knew that something about Junko's expression frightened her, but she honestly couldn't understand why. More to the point, how did she know to be fearful of such an expression? It was like an instinct, something buried deep down in her subconscious was telling her to be afraid. And even though she often acted as though she was emotionless, in truth, Kyoko was simply skilled at maintaining her composure.
She had felt fear many times since arriving at this school, and she hadn't minded that. After all, fear was proof that one's imagination was still functioning. Feeling fear wasn't a sign of weakness, it was a sign that you were still alive, and able to comprehend the dangers surrounding you.
However…this fear, the slight trembling in her arms, the staggered breath she quietly breathed, it was unlike any other she'd experienced before. All of her senses were on high alert, and it was all due to that expression Junko was wearing.
More than likely, the Fashionista wasn't even aware she was broadcasting such a visage. If she had been, there was no way she'd let anyone see it. Because it was an expression that most people would instantly recognize…
"The face…of a murderer…" Kyoko found herself thinking, not caring why she knew that information. "I've seen it before…I don't know where…or when…but I know I've seen this expression before—!"
Suddenly, without any warning or provocation, Junko expression abruptly brightened. It was so swift that Kyoko barely had time to react, let alone draw more conclusions.
"Jeez, I'm such an idiot! I got so focused that I didn't bother see where I was going!" Junko explained, obviously embarrassed about what had transpired.
Her eyes shone brilliantly, and a troubled but recognizable expression settled onto her face. It was like a switch had flipped, transforming Junko back into the person Kyoko had believed her to be. And even more unsettling…was that Kyoko's fear dissipated with that neutral expression.
All of the fear and anxiety she'd held a moment ago…completely vanished. Almost like it had never been there. More than anything, that unsettled the amnesiac girl. Reverting back to her usual expression shouldn't have clear Kyoko of her fears. After all, she still vividly recalled the horrifying visage Junko had only moments ago been broadcasting. By all accounts, she should still be fearful, having finally seen a glimpse of Junko's true face and now knowing that the Fashionista was hiding something.
However, she felt absolutely no fear of the Fashionista. Even as she graphically remembered those eyes that brought unparalleled fear to her being, now that Junko's expression had softened, Kyoko couldn't feel even a hint of those frightened emotions…and she didn't like that one bit.
"Just who in the world are you, Junko Enoshima? Kyoko mentally asked. "No…the more appropriate question is…What are you?"
Despite her uneasiness, Kyoko managed to reign in her emotions, practically forcing herself to think clearly.
"I know that searching for our missing classmates is important. However, unraveling this mystery has to come first," she told herself, fighting back her apprehension as she continued to calculate.
As unsettling as this encounter had been, Kyoko also realized how fruitful it was. Her suspicions had been semi-confirmed, and she now knew that Junko was hiding something potentially dangerous from everyone. And even if it wasn't directly connected back to their situation, there was no way Kyoko could turn a blind eye to what she'd seen.
"I can't ignore my suspicions any more. Junko is absolutely hiding something. Whether it's connected to our being here or not, remains unclear. Either way, I need to confront her. The question is…what's the best way to do that?"
As she pondered, Junko took that chance to speak up. "So, I'm really sorry about running into you but forget that for a second!" she practically shouted, her voice showcasing a hint of anxiety.
In the midst of Junko's fervently apologized, Kyoko surreptitiously glanced around until her eyes focused on the boy's restroom.
Immediately, a plan formed in Kyoko's mind. A dangerous plan…one that could cost her life if she wasn't careful. However, if she didn't take this risk…she might lose the only lead she'd come across since she began investigating the school. And so…even though it was risky…even though she was fearful of the outcome…Kyoko decided followed her instincts and said:
"Junko, there's something you need to see…"
"Dammit…I really need to watch where I'm going!" Mukuro scolded herself as she apologized to Kyoko for nearly knocking her over. "Well, whatever. I found someone. Now I can tell her about Hiro!"
"So, I'm really sorry about running into you but forget that for a second!" she insisted, her earlier determination returning. "Listen, when I was—!"
"Junko," the amnesiac detective cut her off, much to her surprise. "…There's something you need to see…"
A hint of perplexion decorated Mukuro's face as she absorbed her classmate's words. "Something I need me to see?" she repeated Kyoko's words carefully. "Did you find the others?"
Shaking her head, the amnesiac detective answered, "No…but I uncovered something incredibly interesting during my search."
Kyoko's stern tone immediately silenced the disguised soldier. Mukuro knew that, even with her memories erased, there was no way to wipe away her classmate's detective instincts. And if Kyoko had found something she considered to be vital, then there was no way she could ignore it.
"…Hiro's fine in the locker. I'll tell Kyoko about it once she's finished telling me what she's found," Mukuro reasoned with herself, putting on a startled visage to avoid rousing suspicion.
"R-Really?! What is it?!" she fervently asked, her enthusiasm surprisingly genuine.
"Follow me…" Kyoko said swiftly, before turning and heading directly toward the boy's restroom! Mukuro couldn't stop the look of genuine excitement that overtook her.
"No way…She found it! I don't know how but she managed to find the archive room! Yes! This is exactly what we need right now!"
Despite the overwhelming surge of positive emotions, Mukuro somehow managed to hold it all in as she let Kyoko lead her into the restroom. Once inside, she knew she needed to keep up appearances, plastering on a confused expression.
"Uh…you know that we're not allowed in here, right?" she sarcastically chided, hoping she was keeping her true thoughts from showing. "Although it kinds feels nice to break the rules like this. Imagine what Taka would say if he could see us now—".
"Back here..." Kyoko swiftly announced, already at the storage closet in the back.
"You don't waste any time…" Mukuro muttered as she joined Kyoko by the storage closet. Still needing to feign ignorance, the soldier raised an eyebrow and asked, "So…you found a storage closet? Are you suggesting we need to clean the—?"
Before she could finish, Kyoko stepped forward and pushed on the back wall, revealing the hidden room beyond. Mukuro let her jaw drop as she pretended to be shocked.
"W-Whoa! T-There's a hidden room!" she said convincingly, or at least she thought so. "H-How did you—?! I mean, when did you—?!"
"Come on," Kyoko sternly ordered, advancing into the room without waiting for her.
"H-Hey! Hold up!" Mukuro called out, slipping past various cleaning supplies as she made her way inside the archive room.
The room was as dark and dismal as it had always been. However, unlike all of her previous visits, this time Mukuro wasn't alone. Kyoko had obviously been her before, several times by the way she so quickly navigated the darkened room. Slowly following her into the deeper part of the room, the soldier quickly advanced toward the bookcase in the back, laying a hand on the shelf.
"Whoa…is this some kind of archive room or something?" she pretended to ask as she thumbed through a few books on the shelf. "It's all dusty and gross but…maybe we can find something that could help us figure out who the Mastermind is in here!"
"…Perhaps," Kyoko calmly answered, as if she had just come to a conclusion.
Although a bit perturbed by her classmate's tone, Mukuro knew she couldn't let this chance slip away. She needed Kyoko's help in order to help save everyone, that brilliant mind that had already saved their classmates lives several times now.
Honestly, there wasn't much dust on the books, indicating that someone had been reading them recently. Mukuro surmised that Kyoko had more than likely read through most, if not all of them already, concluding that this was where the amnesiac detective must have disappeared to during everyone's free-time. She'd noticed the detective's odd behavior some time ago but never had the chance to act upon it, at least until now.
Her hand slid over the book she'd been surreptitiously searching for and she pretended to grab it at random. Just as she pulled out that book, which happened to contain their class' enrollment papers, a stern voice startled her.
"Junko, please have a look at this…"
Recognizing Kyoko's distant voice, the disguised soldier turned around…and froze. Standing by the open doorway, which was their only source of light, Kyoko Kirigiri held a stern expression as she held something in her hand. It was a piece of paper, but that alone wasn't what shocked Mukuro.
No…it was the words Kyoko had written on it that truly sent chills down the hardened soldier's spine:
[I know you've been lying to us. Tell me who you really are.]
To Be Continued…
Greetings, my beautiful readers! Did any of you expect such a shocking turn of events?! What will happen now? Has Mukuro truly been found out? How will Kyoko's discover affect their situation? And will Celeste's plan come to any sort of fruition? You'll have to keep reading to find out!
So yeah, sporadic updates are sporadic. I'm writing when I find time, but between work, the DR IF project and so many other distractions, I'm doing the best I can to get delicious content out to you whenever I can.
That said, as I mentioned before, I have an important update concerning the DR IF project:
Recently, we lost a few of our actors, Kyoko Kirigiri, Celestia Ludenberg, and Kiyotaka Ishimaru. We are currently looking for new actors to replace them and I want to invite all of you reading to audition. Bear in mind, you will NEED to have a good recording microphone (no phone recordings please). Acting experience is not required but encouraged. For more information, you can send me a PM or you can email me at - hunterofcomedy hotmail . com. In the subject, please mention which character you want to audition for. I hope to hear from some of you soon!
Please leave a comment or review to tell me what you think will happen, ask questions, or just comment on the story in general! I appreciate each and every review I get and they do inspire me to get more writing done faster, so keep them coming!
Thanks again, and have yourselves a great day, my beautiful readers!