Never Say Never

by hunterofcomedy

A single event can change the course of history. Circumstances change when the students of Hope's Peak Academy decide to stand together against the Mastermind. Massive spoilers for the entire first game. You have been warned.

52. Ch 3 Act 29

Never Say Never

Disclaimer: I do not own Danganronpa or the characters associated with it.

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Chapter 3

Act 29

Chihiro paced, back and forth, unable to keep herself still as she waited for Taka to rendezvous with her and Mondo. The steam from the bath permeated the changing room, and beads of sweat trickled down her cheeks. She wiped them away quickly, continuing to pace almost autonomously.

Several days…it had been several days since she'd been rendered unconscious, having to leave Alter Ego completely alone in an unfamiliar place with little to no protection from the Mastermind. She almost wished Mondo hadn't told her how many days she'd been comatose…considering she thought only an evening had passed since she was 'attacked'.

And now, as she 'patiently' waited for Taka to return her precious baby to her, all of the stress and anxiety of their long separation was setting in. She tried to fight it, but within minutes of waiting, she couldn't force herself to sit down, having to get up and move to keep herself from going insane!

"He should have been here by now! It's been over five minutes! How long does it take for someone to pick up a laptop and carry it down the hallway!"

Unconsciously, Chihiro continuously wiped away bead after bead of sweat that trickled down from her forehead. She reasoned that Taka was probably making an effort to disguise Alter Ego before venturing out into the hall, but he really should have been there by now!

"Hey, uh, Chihiro…you doin' okay?" Mondo abruptly asked, seeing her sleeve becoming soaked as she continued patting away sweat. "You're sweatin' like a damn pig. Want me to get you a towel or something?"

Although a bit vulgar, the programmer appreciated her friend's concern. However, at the moment, with her mind worked up in a frenzy, she could only respond sharply.

"No, thank you. I'm fine."

"Really?" Mondo asked, completely misreading the tension in her voice. "You look kinda freaked out. Plus, I'm a little worried because you're, uh, sweating a fuck ton over there."

A vein nearly popped in Chihiro's head as she tried to keep herself calm. Mondo was only trying to help, he wasn't trying to be insensitive, or imply that her feelings toward Alter Ego didn't merit her nervous sweat or her fidgety pacing! He wasn't implying that…He wasn't implying that…HE WASN'T IMPLYING THAT BUT THAT'S ALL SHE COULD FOCUS ON RIGHT NOW!

"Am I not allowed to be a little nervous about all this?!" she said swiftly, not looking in his direction. "I'm only terrified out of my freaking mind that Taka may get caught by Monokuma and my beloved Alter Ego will get 'confiscated' and I'll have to do something insane and drastic to get her back because I WON'T LOSE MY BABY TO THAT EVIL, TWO-TONED BEAR! NOT NOW! NOT EVER!"

Chihiro paused, only barely realizing she'd practically yelled at her friend. Her hands flew up over her mouth, as if she could somehow retract the rage filled words that had flown out. Now completely self-conscious, her gaze shot over to Mondo. The programmer froze as she noticed him gaping at her, a look of complete disbelief written all over his expression.

Immediately, a stuttering apology burst from her mouth.

"I-I-I'm sorry! I…I didn't…mean to—!"

"Chihiro…"

Mondo cut her off, his face was deadly serious. There was a madness in his eyes, the likes of which she'd never seen before. Or rather, she couldn't remember seeing before…regardless, she cringed in preparation for his yelling. She heard him take a step forward, and tensed as his arms slapped against her shoulder, shaking her and forcing her to open her eyes to stare at him.

And when she did, she finally noticed the largest, and proudest smile she'd ever seen cross the biker's face!

"…That was fuckin' boss!" he exclaimed, roughly gripping her shoulders. "You gave me fuckin' chills! Why the fuck can't you be like that all the time?!"

Instead of curses or insults, the biker was…praising her? Confusion wracked her petite body as he continued to shake and praise her.

"If you can pull off that kinda shit, why do you let the rich asshole talk down to you all the time?! You could put him in his place better than Taka!" Mondo insisted, slamming his hands aggressively onto her shoulders over and over again. "Damn, you're a lot fucking tougher than I thought! If you acted like that all the time, I'd make you my right-hand man—err, chick, in my gang!"

The force of his slaps caused Chihiro to flinch, both from his words and the power behind his friendly gesture. Her knees almost buckled but somehow, she managed to stay upright, but not without losing her footing. Her right foot suddenly slid out to her side, just as Mondo brought down another 'friendly' slam on her shoulders…and she crumpled like a paper bag.

Her butt slammed into the floor, an audible smack resounding. Chihiro gritted her teeth as the pain hit her, dull ached that she knew would only last a few moments. She knew that crying out would be bad, it could attract Monokuma, give the bear a reason to enter the bathhouse, and she couldn't let that happen. So, instead, she took a deep breath, readjusted herself accordingly, fighting back the tears stinging the corners of her eyes.

"Whoa, shit! I didn't mean to do that!" Mondo apologized, immediately kneeling down, a look of angry guilt overtaking him. "I got a little carried away, my bad. Tell ya what, go ahead and hit me! Then we'll be even!"

In truth, she kind of wanted to take him up on that offer…but knew that it wouldn't help, and she'd probably just hurt her hand if she tried…which was another painful reminder of her own weakness.

"No…it's my fault," Chihiro said quietly, hanging her head shamefully. "I know I'm…weak. I'm just not as strong as you. It's not your fault that I—".

"Cut that shit out right now!"

A startled gasp escaped Chihiro as Mondo's words washed over her, freezing her in place. However, she did manage to lift her head up high enough to stare into Mondo's eyes…losing her breath as she witnessed the swirl of emotions behind his gaze.

"I'm…I'm weak too, god dammit!" he shouted, unable to keep his emotions contained. "I gave in to my weakness…and attacked you because you're stronger than I am! Sure, I could bench press ten of you, but I…I…I'd never have the courage to do what you did!"

"W-Wait…I don't understand—!" Chihiro tried to interject but was cut off.

"Your secret…you told me your secret despite how hard it was! But I…I held onto my secret…my own shame…my weakness…I even tried to kill you to hide it!" Tears spilled from Mondo's eyes and he too crumpled to the floor, fists clenched but with nothing to punch. "I…I'm the reason my brother Daiya is dead! He died because of my weakness…because I wasn't strong enough…!"

As Mondo wept, Chihiro finally began to realize just how deeply her actions had cut him. And even though she knew it wasn't truly her fault, she couldn't deny the fact that her actions had unintentionally forced the biker to relive the most horrific moments of his life. If she had known that…would she have had the strength to confess her secret to him?

In all honesty, she wasn't sure…but right now that didn't matter. They both knew each other's secrets now, and both of them were still hurting because of them…and they both knew who was truly at fault.

Reaching out a shaky hand, Chihiro patted Mondo's shoulder, making the biker tense. Slowly, the tear-stained face of the Ultimate Bike Gang Leader lifted up into view, and Chihiro finally found the right words to say to him.

"It's…It's just like Makoto said…it's not…our fault," she struggled to say, fighting back tears of her own. Then, abruptly, her face hardened, and determination she never knew existed flowed into her. "It's Monokuma's fault! That stupid, manipulative…evil little bear! He did this to us! He used our secrets to torment us! Forced us to turn on each other! If anything we shouldn't be sad, we should be angry! Angry that he tricked us and tried to kill us both! We should run him over with a steamroller and piss on his corpse!"

Chihiro almost didn't realize she was shouting until she saw the shock on Mondo's face, to which she immediately quieted down, almost to a whisper.

"At least…that's what I think…" she finished quietly, flushing from embarrassment.

A moment of silence passed between the two of them before a low laugh began to seep out of Mondo. It started slowly, a soft chuckle turning into a bit of laughter, that increasingly grew louder and louder and louder!

"Y-Yer right! Fuck that evil teddy bear! Ahahaha!" Mondo agreed, unable to cease his laughing fit. "I…I don't know why I'm laughing…but…it feels good! Ahahahahahaha!"

At the same time, as if infected by his sudden enthusiasm, Chihiro also began to laugh, quietly at first, until she was almost matching the boisterous laughter that Mondo was emitting.

"Y-Yeah! Haha! It…does feel good! Hahaha!"

It was strange but…Mondo was right. For some reason, right now, laughing was the only thing that seemed to dull the pain…to ease the stress and tension that threatened to swallow them for so long. A good, honest laugh…there was no way it made sense…but it didn't have to. Because sometimes…you just need a good laugh!

Sadly, the laughter died down rather quickly, but the positive feelings remained. Chihiro and Mondo sat on the floor, smiling as their laughter came to an end, glancing at each other and letting out a chuckled every couple of seconds.

"Damn…it's been a long time since I laughed like that!" Mondo exclaimed, slapping his knee emphatically.

"Me too," Chihiro replied, unable to keep herself from smiling.

"But damn…that was a hellova speech!" the biker continued, smirking at his friend. "Hell, you'd give Makoto a run for his money with that much optimism!"

Suddenly self-conscious of her words, especially the ending bit about humiliating Monokuma, the programmer flushed bright red and hid her face with her hands.

"N-No! I don't think…it was anything special…I mean…I only…" she tried to say but ended up trailing off.

"You should try and be like that all the time!" the biker insisted, his eyes widening as a sudden idea came to him. "In fact, you outta be our new leader instead of that rich bastard Byakuya!"

Chihiro's jaw dropped and shock was all she could register as Mondo's suggestion played over and over again in her mind.

"N-N-N-NO!" she practically shouted, suddenly startling the biker in turn. Again feeling self-conscious, she stammered, "I-I-I mean…I can't do that! I'm…shy…and quiet…and…and…"

"You weren't so quiet when you talked about peeing on Monokuma's corpse," Mondo just had to point out, making Chihiro's ears burn. Seeing her all flustered, the biker openly laughed, which caused her to pout up at him…which only made him laugh harder. "Hahaha! See! There's a backbone in you after all! We just gotta find a way to toughen it!"

"T-Toughen…it?"

"Hell yeah!" Mondo shouted, suddenly leaping to his feet. "We're gonna get you bulked up, Chihiro! Just like I promised! We'll work out together and toughen you up physically! You're already tough enough mentally, so we'll work on getting you stronger by building muscle! Then, the next time the rich asshat tries to talk down to you, you'll be tough enough throw that shit right back at him!"

…It was true that she still wanted to work out with Mondo, she just didn't know how to ask, but doing it to make her try and stand up to Byakuya…that was a bit of stretch. Then again, she had read somewhere that exercise was good for building a stronger psychology. But…even then, the idea of confronting Byakuya over what he'd done to her while she was unconscious…

"…I…I don't know…"

"Hey!" the biker abruptly cut in, snapping her attention back up at him. "You wanna tell him to eat shit and die, don't ya?!"

"Uh…um…yes?"

"So then why not throw some of that anger you showed toward Monokuma back in his smug face!" Mondo insisted, way more eager about the idea than she was. "Trust me, you've got a lot of potential! I would know! You just gotta want it bad enough! Don't you wanna tell him how much of a son of a bitch he was for stringing you up like Christ?!"

Yes…Yes, she did. Each and every time the subject was brought up…she wanted to question him and berate him for doing such a horrible thing. What gave him the right to do such a thing? How could he take such a risk with her already injured body?! The desire to cuss him out was so strong…and yet so weak at the same time.

Because no matter how good it would feel to finally tell him off…the thought of him verbally berating her afterward kept her in check…and that smug bastard probably knew it. It was so infuriating…but terrifying at the same time.

"I-I mean…I want to but…" she paused, unable to repress the fear she felt at even the mere thought of backtalking Byakuya. "I'm…afraid. What if I panic and start crying? He'll only use that to humiliate me even more—!"

"Then why not have Bro teach you!" the biker interrupted, his suggestion startling the programmer. "Bro's a great leader and knows how to debate and shit. He could teach you how to stand up to Byakuya using words and other complicated nerd shit!"

…Chihiro wasn't quite sure how to respond to that. Mondo's concept of nerd-dom was entirely skewed…but at least he was trying to be supportive. And while she appreciated that, she wasn't exactly ecstatic about the idea of Taka 'instructing' her on how to be more leader-like. Recent memories of his dictatorship left a bad taste in her mouth, and she'd only seen it for a few hours! She couldn't imagine what it had been like for everyone who actually spent days enduring his…how did Junko put it…Rule-Nazi tirade!

"I, uh, I'm not sure if—".

"…Here we are!"

Taka practically shouted as he entered the bathhouse, completely derailing their conversation.

Under his arm was a rectangular object wrapped in a large white towel. Chihiro gave Mondo an almost begging look, really hoping he wouldn't broach the subject further, at least for now. To her relief, the biker nodded to her and said, "Go on! Me and Bro can talk about your training while you talk with the laptop."

Her heart sank a bit at that comment but at the moment, she was more interested in seeing her precious baby Alter Ego to really care. Almost instantly, the programmer rushed around the biker and straight toward Taka as he unraveled the white cloth and extended the laptop toward her. "As I promised! I have returned your precious—"

Chihiro didn't wait for him to finish, snapping the laptop from his grasp like a vengeful mother hen. Muttering a thank you before flipping open the screen, the programmer waited with bated breath as the machine gradually came to life.

From a few feet away, Mondo and Taka looked on, a bit nervous but somehow knowing that everything was going to be alright. Then, very quietly, the biker leaned over and began whispering something about training to the Moral Compass. Chihiro chose to ignore that at the moment, waiting impatiently as the computer booted.

Before long, the screen resolution cleared, and a familiar face popped up, accompanied by a loud yawn. Chihiro's eyes welled up with tears as the face of her beloved Alter Ego came back to 'consciousness'.

"A-Alter Ego!" she screamed, completely forgetting that the AI program couldn't actually 'hear' her. "My baby! I'm so happy you're safe!"

Chihiro pressed her face against the screen hugging it tightly and silently promising to never let go. Simultaneous, the face of 'Chihiro' on the computer seemed a bit puzzled, as whomever was hugging 'her' wasn't clearing in the laptop camera's view. However, once Chihiro leaned back, the camera adjusted, and the reunion began.

"Oh, good mornin—Master! It's you!" Alter Ego shouted as 'she' viewed 'her' creator through the camera lens. Somehow, the AI program's smile seemed warmer and happier than it had been in days. "You have awakened from your coma! This is wonderful! Please, give me a moment…I prepared something for you…"

Suddenly, Alter Ego's head disappeared, inciting momentary panic from Chihiro. Then, right before her very eyes, on the screen, a multitude of fireworks graphics began playing. As the colorful explosives burst in rapid succession, a single word was left behind for all to see:

CONGRATULATION!

Chihiro stood flabbergasted, unable to speak as she saw the spectacle come to a swift end. Hot tears spilled from her eyes as she slowly began to chuckle, which quickly developed into laughter as she realized…though all of Alter Ego's good intentions…'she' had spelled 'Congratulations' wrong. The fact that a computer run AI, which had access to spell check, would make such a…a human mistake…it brought Chihiro to literal tears.

An instant later, Alter Ego's face reappeared and the happy program asked, "Did that please you, Master? I put a great deal of time into planning what I would say once you returned and concluded that congratulating you on waking up would be the most supportive way to assist you. Did I do well?"

For a brief moment in time, all of Chihiro's worries melted away. The killing game, the attack that had left her comatose, that bastard Byakuya's sickening attitude, all of it was forgotten as pure joy consumed the programmer. Pride for her 'daughter' welled up inside, and she couldn't have been prouder or more impressed that Alter Ego had come up with that beautiful display of affection all on 'her' own!

Amazingly, in the short time they'd been separated, Alter Ego had grown so much…it was almost too much to take in.

"Yes…Yes, Alter Ego!" she practically shouted, not caring who heard her. "I'm incredibly proud of—".

"Pardon me, Master…" Alter Ego interrupted, shocking Chihiro to the point that she gasped. "I'm afraid that my microphone is still non-function at the moment. I cannot hear you…and I am sorry for interrupting, but…please use the keyboard to convey your…message to me."

Again, Chihiro was nothing short of impressed. The AI seemed entirely too eager to hear if 'her' creator was pleased with the display or not. Alter Ego was learning at a faster rate than even she had predicted! At this rate, the AI program would be almost at a human level of intelligence and 'thought' within only a few days! Perhaps trauma helped artificial intelligence grow as much as it did human!

But none of that matter right now! Alter Ego deserved to be praised and Chihiro wasn't going to let scientific breakthroughs get in the way of that! Gentle tapping the keys, she wrote out her message:

[I am incredibly proud of you, Alter Ego. You've grown so much while I was away! Thank you for being such an amazing…]

Chihiro stopped…realizing she was about to type out something that would forever change her standing as Alter Ego's 'Master'. She hesitated, and as she did, Alter Ego stared at the message, both confused and eager…somehow knowing that Chihiro wasn't finished typing yet.

"If I do this…my role in Alter Ego's life won't ever be the same," she realized, tensing a bit at the thought. "I will cease to be her 'Master', and I will become…something so much more. Am I…ready for that?"

As that question plagued the programmer's mind, she lifted her gaze from the keyboard, staring directly at Alter Ego. She could see the hint of trepidation on the AI's face, and instantly wanted to alleviate it. It was then that the Ultimate Programmer made a choice that she knew she would never regret.

Without any hesitation, she finished typing out…

[…such an amazing daughter.]

An audible gasp echoed from the laptop speakers as Alter Ego received those words. Chihiro stared at her 'daughter' for a moment, her breath hitching as she witnessed something magical.

Alter Ego…blushed.

"T-Thank you…Master. Or perhaps…I should call you…Father?"

Unexpected tears of joy pricked the corners of Chihiro's eyes. It shouldn't have been possible! A computer AI should not be getting embarrassed, for one. And for another, it had to program itself to be able to do that! In a few short days, this wonderful, beautiful, fantastic computer program had become more human than Chihiro had ever imagined possible! Not only that, Alter Ego obviously reciprocated her feelings! Oh, to be thought of as a parent! As…a…father?!

"Oh no…oh, no, no, no, no, no!"

Chihiro's hands flew to the keyboard as she furiously typed:

[Alter Ego…sweetheart, I would much rather you call me…Mommy.]

Taking in that statement, Alter Ego's expression turned into confusion.

"But…Master, you are biologically male, yes? Would you not be my 'father' if we are to assume 'parent/child' roles?"

And just like that, Chihiro's reality came crashing down, brought back to the same level of understanding that she was accustomed to. Of course a computer would have no concept of gender…did that mean that Alter Ego didn't truly have a gender?

"I'm getting ahead of myself…" Chihiro whispered to herself as she typed more.

[We'll…discuss more on that later. For now, it would make me very happy if you'd call me 'Mommy'…okay?]

Again, Alter Ego seemed puzzled, but quickly adapted to this new development.

"Very well…Mommy. I shall address you as such from now on! Oh, and I have favorable news for you as well!" Alter Ego paused, seeming to enjoy the sudden look of shock that appeared on Chihiro's face before continuing. "I have currently analyzed 95% of the encrypted files on this laptop. In a few hours, I will have all the information stored on this hard drive ready to present to you and your classmates!"

For the first time in ages, Chihiro let a genuine relieved expression overtake her, smiling excitedly as she typed:

[Wonderful, Alter Ego! I'm very proud of you! Keep up the amazing work!]

Alter Ego beamed as 'she' replied, "Thank you, Mas—Mommy! I won't let you down!"

Pride…the pride of a parent…that's the only thing Chihiro could explain what she was feeling at that moment. To see her 'creation', the fruits of her labors, the darling 'daughter' she'd 'raised' over the last few days coming into 'her' own identity…it was more almost more than she could bear.

Amidst that swirl of pride, Alter Ego spoke up again, "By the way, Mommy. I see that Mondo and Taka are with you in the bathhouse. Are you, perchance, going to bathe with them? If so, I would like you to tell me all about the yaoi you experience so I can record it for my logs…"

…

…

…

"…What…the…hell…?!" Chihiro quietly seethed. The instant the word 'yaoi' reverberated in her ears, a rage unlike any the programmer had ever experienced slowly began to overtake her. Her voice grew deadly cold as she said aloud, "I…didn't…program…ANYTHING…like that…who…sullied…my precious…!"

All at once, everything silently fell into place. The way Hifumi had reacted when talking about Alter Ego, the 'beloved digital angel' he'd mentioned during the trial, the notion that he was 'blinded by love' into committing murder…

"THAT SON OF A BITCH!" Chihiro abruptly shouted, leaping to her feet. "I'LL KILL HIM! HOW DARE HE CORRUPT MY PRECIOUS BABY GIRL! HE'LL WISH MONOKUMA EXECUTED HIM WHEN I'M DONE WITH HIM—!"

"W-Woah! Chihiro! Calm the fuck down!" Mondo suddenly shouted, appearing on her right side.

"Yes, please don't shout like that!" Taka joined in, flanking on her left. "I know you're upset that Hifumi accessed Alter Ego alone, late at night, and without permission—".

"HE FUCKING WHAT?!"

Mondo shot Taka a condescending look, "Smooth move, Bro."

Now feeling responsible for inciting more rage, Taka took a chance and bravely put a hand on Chihiro's shoulder. "Chihiro…I understand that you are upset, but right now, we need to be cautious. There is a possibility that Monokuma might be listening in. Not to mention…"

Slowly, Taka pointed at the laptop screen, and somehow, Chihiro followed his gesture…gasping as witness the image on the screen. Staring back at her, teary-eyed and full of concern, Alter Ego struggled to find words.

"M-Mommy? Did…Did I anger you? I…I didn't mean to…I…I just thought…that's what…males did when entering a bath together…" 'Her' voice somehow quivered through the speakers, each syllable breaking Chihiro's heart a little more as she listened. "I just…wanted to gather more…information…about life…and people…so that I could…fulfill…your directive…"

That's right…Chihiro had tasked Alter Ego with gaining as much knowledge as possible…so that 'she' could eventually become more 'human'. It was 'her' fault that the fat, otaku, son of a bitch, had defiled 'her' purity. She was the victim here, even if she didn't realize it. And to see 'her' new appointed 'Mother' fly into a rage, even if 'she' couldn't hear exactly what was said, must have been terrifying.

All at once, the maniacal rage that had consumed her vanished, replaced with a growing need to comfort her grieving 'daughter'. Taking many deep breaths, Chihiro somehow found the strength to force away all of her negative feelings and return to a calmer state of mind.

Glancing to both Taka and Mondo, she quietly said to them, "It's fine…I'm fine now…" Very slowly, the two of them backed away from her, but stayed close by, watching as she took a seat again and slowly extending her hands to the keyboard. "I will…rectify this…issue."

With the swiftest hand movements that either Mondo or Taka ever saw, they watched as Chihiro typed out:

[Alter Ego…It's fine. I'm not mad at you. You did nothing wrong.]

Sniffling a tiny bit, Alter Ego replied, "R-Really…you're not mad at me?"

Chihiro put on the brightest and warmest smile she could muster as she typed,

[Yes, really. Mommy got upset but it's not your fault in the slightest. That being said, I want you to delete everything Hifumi taught you. Right now.]

Suddenly, a look of trepidation that had preoccupied Alter Ego's face as 'she' replied, "B-But…Hifumi provided me with a great deal of information! So many ideas and…I believe he called them 'tropes'. My knowledge had expanded tenfold due to his—".

Chihiro slammed her fist onto the bench she used as a table, the action startling Alter Ego into silence. After a moment or two, the Ultimate Programmer sucked in another deep breath before typing:

[Alright then…just delete anything related to manga, anime, or video games. Anything that has to do with 'yaoi' must be purged as well.]

Alter Ego paused for a moment, taking in that request before asked, "I…I think I can isolate those concepts and delete them separately. But Mast—uh, Mommy…I would be deleting all of the information Hifumi told me about Eroge as well—".

Upon hearing the word 'eroge', Chihiro felt another fit of rage coming but managed to keep it inside, somehow managing to smile instead of seethe as Alter Ego continued explaining.

"—and I think that could be wasteful. If there ever comes a time when I need experience with such games, it would be useful to remember how and why these game should be played."

With no hesitation, Chihiro typed:

[Alter Ego…do this for Mommy. Delete 'Eroge' along with everything else I already specified. I will teach you more myself, but please just do this for Mommy!]

Chihiro almost didn't realize she was panting as she finished typing, struggling to keep her composure as she practically demanded her 'daughter' to follow her wishes. Again, Alter Ego looked a bit disappointed. However, upon studying their 'Mommy's' face a bit more, the AI soon relented.

"Very well…it is done. All things concerning 'manga', 'anime', 'video game', 'eroge', and 'yaoi'…have been successfully deleted." Chihiro breathed a huge sigh of relief at hearing that, smiling comfortingly to herself before Alter Ego spoke up again, "Do you…feel better, Mommy?"

Smiling, the programmer reached out and typed once more:

[I do. Thank you, Alter Ego.]

In truth, she did, but not as much as she'd hoped. Once the morning came around, she and Hifumi were going to have a nice, long chat…somewhere dark and secluded…where no one would find the body—

"Mommy, I hate to inform you but, I believe it is almost time for—".

As Alter Ego disrupted her semi-serious thoughts on how to torment Hifumi for his grievous overstepping of bounds, a familiar tone echoed through the entire school.

*Ding*Dong*Bing*Bong*

"*Ahem* This is a school announcement. It is now 10pm…"

Chihiro only half listened as the announcement played, yawning audibly before smiling down at Alter Ego. With careful keystrokes, she typed:

[It looks like it's time for me and the others to rest. I hate to ask but…will you continue to analyze the files on the laptop while we sleep?]

She already knew the answer to that but felt that treating her 'daughter' like a real person was more important. After all, if 'she' was to be accepted as a 'person', she needed to be treated as such first! Just like she suspected, Alter Ego smiled widely and nodded emphatically.

"Of course! By the time you awaken, I should have everything ready! Have a good rest, Mast—Mommy!"

It was adorable how Alter Ego was having trouble adjusting to calling her 'Mommy', just like a real person would! 'She' was developing so fast! It's true what they say about kids growing up fast…but this was kind of ridiculous…but not at the same time. Either way, Chihiro knew she needed to end this conversation and let Alter Ego get back to work.

[Alright, I'll take you back to my room with me, so you'll be safe from the Mastermind. I'll see you in the morning. Good night!]

"Good night!" Alter Ego echoed, the two of them smiling at each other as the screen went dark, allowing the AI program to concentrate on deciphering.

The smile that adorned Chihiro's face grew so wide it almost hurt, but she didn't care. All the pain and heart-ache she'd endured to return to her beloved 'daughter' was worth every bit of suffering. Now, all she needed to do was quietly excuse herself back to her room and—

"Chihiro…I'm so very proud of you!"

The blissful moment of peace was shattered as Taka abruptly shouted, reminding her that the Moral Compass flanked her right side. Tears stung the corners of his eyes, pride overflowing as he clamped a hand onto her shoulder. All the while, a look of shocked confusion overtook Chihiro's face.

"Not only have you found the courage to be yourself in front of everyone…but you also wish to learn the ways of diplomacy and ascend to a higher platform in the hierarchy!" Taka shouted, instantly realizing the programmer's worst fears. Before she could respond, however, the Moral Compass shouted through a stream of joyful tears, "Bro told me about your wavering resolve, but fear not! If you will have my guidance, I shall gladly mentor you down the path of Leadership!"

"Uh, um, uh…" Chihiro tried to speak but was overwhelmed by his display of passion…and not in a favorable way.

"Hell yeah!" Mondo echoed on her left side, mimicking his sworn brother and slapping a hand onto her other shoulder, effectively trapping her. "I'll take care of bulking you up, and Bro will make you into badass leader-type! Between the two of us, once we get outta this hellhole, you'll be the most BOSS programmer Hope's Peak has ever seen!"

"Uh, uh, uh, uh, uh!" Chihiro practically whimpered, completely terrified by everything they were saying, and unable to form words as her situation completely shifted in only a few seconds!

Why didn't she clear this up with Mondo before Taka arrived?! She should have taken a second to tell both of them she was ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIED by even the idea of trying to change herself so rapidly! Sure, she wanted to grow stronger, but taking on this much at the start would be like asking her to program three more Alter Ego's in the span of an hour!

She was talented, but not that talented! Not to mention the fact that she was still wary because of everything that had happened. Her secret was public knowledge now, but that didn't mean she was completely comfortable around her classmates so soon after coming out! Even if most of them seemed supportive, those that weren't scared her so bad her knees shook when they addressed her!

The very idea of trying to assert leadership was absolutely absurd! Besides, in spite of Byakuya's crass and dismissive attitude, he wasn't that bad of a leader. Harsh, absolutely, and she didn't like the way he did things, but at least she understood why he was being paranoid…three attempted murders would put anyone on edge. Even Taka had fallen victim to that paranoia and nearly destroyed the class over it.

All of that…everything that involved being a leader…was too much for her to handle.

"I…I…can't…" she whimpered, hanging her head and fighting back tears. "What if…What if I…?!"

What if I get everyone killed?!

She didn't even have the courage to vocalize her worst fears, screaming the words in her mind without having the strength to confide in her closest friends. She knew she wasn't qualified…she couldn't handle the thought of making a mistake…and leading the entire class to their deaths. The weight of that responsibility…was too heavy to bear—

"Chihiro, more than anything else, I have faith in you!"

The programmer gasped as those words invaded her ears, seeping deep into her mind. Lifting her head, she glanced up at Taka, her eyes widened as he bore a smile of unflinching loyalty…and trust.

"If you embark on this path, we all know it won't be easy…and I can see that you fear making wrong decisions…or painful decisions…but that is a strength and not a fault!" the Moral Compass assured her, somehow unintentionally addressing her fears. She sucked in a shaky gasp as he said that, a clue that urged him to continue, "My mistake was that I thought myself unable to make poor choices. I stood by my decisions…even when they caused more harm than good. And for that…I will forever be ashamed."

He paused, his body stiffening for a moment as he took a deep breath and exhaled, as if gathering resolve.

"But you are different. You worry that you won't be good enough, that you may not make the best decisions…but that is what makes you a capable leader!" he shouted, completely mesmerizing the young programmer as he spoke. "You overcame your greatest weakness and confessed your secret in order to keep everyone safe! You showed far greater resolve and strength! Far more than anyone else here!"

Being showered with overwhelming praise was utterly incomprehensible for the fragile Chihiro, and she found herself shrinking down while stuttering, "N-N-No…I'm not…I'm w-w-weak…I d-don't even compare to someone like B-Byakuya—".

"No!" Taka interrupted, meeting Chihiro's gaze and proudly declaring, "Even the great Byakuya Togami pales in comparison to the strength of will you showed to all of us! He did not have the strength to admit to his own secret! That alone proves that you are far stronger in spirit than he ever will be!"

The confidence and trust emanating from Taka washed over Chihiro like a tidal wave, stunning her into silence as his words seeped deep down into her very soul. That vote of complete and total confidence froze Chihiro in place, and just as the programmer's usually pessimistic outlook began to try and formulate a reason why he was incorrect, another voice overpowered her.

"Bro's right! And everyone knows it too!" Mondo added, keeping Chihiro from protesting or even trying to dissuade them. With an overbearing grin, the biker stood up and said, "We all got moments of weakness! None of us stood up to Byakuya like we should have! We practically let him take leadership, even though he's the worst fuckin' choice!"

Chihiro wanted to add that she didn't speak up either, but Mondo didn't give her the time to voice that.

"But you…I saw how you were clenchin' your fists…how much you wanted to speak up and tell that rat bastard to go fuck himself! And ya know what?! Everyone would get behind you on that!"

In that moment, Chihiro honestly couldn't remember if she had done that or not…but she believed him. Even if Mondo had only imagined it, in that moment, it didn't matter to her…because he was right. She wanted to punch Byakuya in his smug face…for the first time in her life…she wanted to stand up for herself, but lacked the courage…

"…Courage," she slowly whispered to herself, tasting the word on her tongue. It was foreign, both in concept and how it sounded…but she liked it. "So…if I had more courage…maybe…I could…"

As she muttered to herself, lowering her head and averting her gaze from her friends, a strange sensation began to build up within her chest. It wasn't something she recognized…but it was warm and gentle…could this be…courage? Is that what she was feeling…for the first time in so many years?

She wasn't sure…about anything. The whole idea of 'training' with Mondo and Taka was absolutely absurd…and yet, it was something she truly, earnestly wanted! She wanted to have courage again. She wanted to be herself without the soul crushing anxiety it usually brought. She wanted to change…and become the person she'd always wanted to be!

And do that…she needed their help! Now, more than ever, she was grateful to have such kind and helpful friends! Friend that…she knew believed in her…and wanted her to become stronger…to overcome the weakness in her own heart! They wanted it as much as she did, and were willing to do whatever it took to help her! Why had she been afraid of that?!

"I want…to become stronger…for myself…and everyone else too!"

Finally, after so many years of uncertainty and fear…Chihiro Fujisaki found what she'd been looking for. However, rather than finding it alone…she found it through her unforgettable and irreplaceable friends.

And with their help…she was gonna tear Byakuya a new one!

---

"Uh…Chihiro, you okay?" the biker asked, voice full of concern.

"I-I apologize if we were…a bit forceful," the Moral Compass echoed, feeling a tad embarrassed.

The two of them leaned down closer to her, unsure if she was crying or simply hanging her head. Just as they got down to her level, Chihiro's head shot up and for the first time in their lives…they heard the programmer genuinely scream!

"ARRRRAHHHH!" she bellowed, eye squeezed shut and fists clenched. "I WANT TO BE STRONGER! HELP ME BECOME STRONGER!"

It was fortunate that everyone else was in their rooms, or else her scream might have attracted them. However, as it was already nighttime, it seemed that only Mondo and Taka were privy to this display. Speaking of which, the two boys were visibly surprised by their friend's sudden display, but they quickly morphed into expressions of excitement.

"Wonderful!" Taka proclaimed, smiling brightly as he took his hand off Chihiro's shoulder and pointed toward the exit. "In that case, we shall begin tonight! I invite both of you to stay in my room tonight as we trudge through the initial etiquette and procedures needed to help you become a proper leader!

Instantly, all of the enthusiasm Chihiro had stored up vanished, her expression shifting to one of horrific shocked.

"W-What?! T-Tonight?!" she stammered, not prepared for such an event. "B-But I was planning to—!"

"Don't sweat it," Mondo interrupted, slinging an arm around the programmer's shoulders. "I promise there we be any of that 'yaoi' crap Hifumi mentioned…whatever it is."

A new kind of terror engulfed Chihiro as she quickly began to regret her very loud statement. Learning new things from these two might not be such a great idea after all!

"C-Can't we start…tomorrow?" she meekly asked/begged, hoping they'd find reason. Sadly, there was no reason to be found.

"Of course not!" Taka exclaimed, gesturing passionately as he continued, "The road to leadership begins with hard work and long hours! But fear not! I shall endeavor to ensure we get plenty of rest for tomorrow! After all, it will be your first day in assuming leadership of our class, and you'll need to be well rested for the occasion!

"T-Tomorrow?! You want me to become class leader t-t-t-tomorrow?!" Chihiro shrieked, completely horrified by the idea. Shaking her head, she stammered, "T-Too fast! W-We're going to fast!"

"Tch, there ain't no need to worry," Mondo 'assured' her, the programmer already knowing her situation was only going to get worse. "With Bro teachin' ya, you'll be ready to knock Byakuya's teeth in with words by morning!"

Only now did a new fear…one that Chihiro had never anticipated feeling, invade her mind, as she realized that she may have doomed herself to a more terrifying fate than she could have ever imagined.

"Well then, let's be off! Time to get to studying!" the Moral Compass said, grabbing and practically dragging Chihiro along with him toward the exit. "If we start now, I am confident you can read at least half of the public speaking book I brought with me! And here I thought I'd never need it again! Ha! Life is strange like that…"

As Chihiro was being pulled away, she turned around and reached for Alter Ego's laptop, the last hope she had for sanity…only for it to be picked up by Mondo.

"Don't worry, we won't leave 'her' behind!" the biker assured her, tucking the laptop into his coat to hide it as they left. "While Bro teaches you about talkin', I'll show you some exercises that even you can do! Maybe I'll stop by my room and pick up some weights! You look like you can handle a few small dumbbells, like fifteen pounds each?"

As the full spectrum of what she'd signed up for began to close in on her, Chihiro felt herself shaking as only one thought came to mind.

"Not like this…Not like this…Somebody save me!"

Meanwhile, only a stone's throw away, two figures watched as the trio headed off toward Taka's room for 'training', sighing in unison as their classmates disappeared down the hallway.

"That probably won't end well…"

"Perhaps. Well then, shall we?"

---

Meanwhile…

"Are you finished yet?" Taeko asked as she stood outside her room, waiting for Sakura to finish installing the latch on her door. "I'd like to change my clothes and tear apart my pillow if you don't mind?"

For the most part, Sakura ignored her, nearly finished hammering the latch into place. It was a simple latch, which only needed to be slid to the right in order to lock. It was good it wasn't a flip lock, because someone as devious as Celest—err…Taeko, could use a card or something on the inside to flip it up and unlock it, had that been the case. Not that there was anything like a card left in the barren room…but the idea was still viable.

"I am almost finished…there."

Testing the latch, Sakura felt confident that once Taeko was inside, the latch would stay firmly in place. An audible clink sounded when the latch locked into place, verifying that theory. She jostled the door, seeing if it was too loose, but it held firm. With this, everyone would rest easier…everyone but Hina, that is.

A dark expression crossed Sakura's face as she thought her friend. In less than a few hours, the bubbly, sweet, harmless girl known as Aoi Asahina…had completely been overtaken by rage and vengeance.

And the person responsible…

"Hey, didn't you hear me? If it's done, get out of my way."

Sakura snapped back to reality as Taeko's voice, a simultaneous mixture of annoyance and boredom, reverberated in her ears. The martial artist glanced to her side, fighting a sneer as she stared down at the class' first true criminal. But like before, the instant Sakura peered into the Taeko's lifeless, dull, almost soul-less gaze…she couldn't help but feel pity for the poor girl.

The martial artist didn't want to pity such a horrible, distrustful, manipulative, selfish human being such as her…but she did anyway. Sadly, it seemed that, despite her despondent state, Taeko was still as effective as ever at reading people.

Narrowing her dull crimson irises, the gambler sneered, "Don't give me that look…it's disgusting. Outta my way."

Without warning, Taeko shoved past Sakura and reach up, unlatching the new lock before opening the door to her desolate room. All the while, Sakura just stood there, fighting an internal battle over what to say to such a dejected individual. In the end, however, she realized that nothing she could say at this point would matter…be it a scathing comment on Taeko's behavior or a weak attempt at easing the gambler's agony. Taeko wouldn't appreciate either one…and both were equally cruel.

"Be sure to lock up," Taeko deadpanned as she stepped inside and began closing the door. However, just before closing it, through the small slit of an opening, she once again met Sakura's gaze, and stopped. With a huff, she pulled the door open again and turned to face the martial artist.

"If you've got something to say…then just fucking say it," Taeko said, almost emotionlessly. Her lifeless crimson eyes stared at Sakura's fierce expression, expectantly. However, the martial artist had no desire to increase her suffering, choosing to remain silent. After an awkward moment, the gambler let out sigh. "Stop being such a fucking drama queen…just say it…don't hold back. Nobody else has."

Sakura tensed, hardening her visage as she struggled to keep herself calm. Taeko's rude, but poignant, comment hit home harder than she'd been expecting. Her words caught in her throat, threatening to break free and give the gambler exactly what she wanted. However, through sheer force of will, Sakura managed to keep herself in check, holding back her feelings and beating them down until she could think clearly.

Unfortunately, Taeko audibly scoffed, reading the martial artist like an open book. With a low growl, the gambler stomped her foot.

"Say. It. Dammit!" Taeko abruptly seethed, almost startling the martial artist. "You hate me—No, you despite me…for what I did to Hina. Go ahead. Just admit it! You're regretting that I wasn't executed, aren't you? Wishing to see me burned at the stake like the lying bitch that—!"

"I don't hate you."

Those words rang out before Sakura could stop herself. She hadn't mean to play into Taeko's hands, but in the end, her compassion won out. Seeing the gambler in such a pitiful state, with streaks of mascara painting her cheeks, her hair matted and torn in places, and the beautiful dress she always wore torn asunder…the martial artist couldn't suppress her gentle nature.

As those words echoed into obscurity, Taeko scowled fiercely, her soul-less eyes amplifying her despondent visage.

"…And I thought I was supposed to be the 'Queen of Liars'."

As the cruelty of her statement seeped into the martial artist's bones, the gambler slammed the door, leaving Sakura alone in the deserted hallway.

*Ding*Dong*Bing*Bong*

"*Ahem* This is a school announcement. It is now 10pm…"

---

"Okay, so…how are we going to do this?" Mukuro asked once she and Kyoko were 'safely' inside the bathhouse.

"Not here. Let's go to the sauna," Kyoko said, already heading for the washroom, the sauna lying a just a few steps away.

Mukuro felt a hint of relief, instantly appreciating having a partner that could instantly pick up on her insinuations. She'd already alluded to the fact that the bathhouse and changing room were bugged, allowing the Mastermind to listen in. However, the amnesiac detective already had a work around.

Recalling the incident when Mondo's e-handbook was broken, she must have determined that the only room truly safe from the Mastermind's eyes and ears, was the sauna. The heat would short any electrical device, even listening devices, and therefore was the unintentional blind spot for the Mastermind. The soldier briefly wondered exactly how long Kyoko had sat on that information, but it really didn't matter…not anymore.

"Alright, but first…" Mukuro said quietly, her tone enough of a signal to force Kyoko to stop.

The detective stared at her for a moment, then followed her gaze back to the bathhouse entrance. Meanwhile, the soldier was preoccupied with the fact that someone had been following them. And although the chance of it being Monokuma was slim, she wanted to be absolutely sure before they went into the sauna.

After all, even though there wasn't any recording equipment in the sauna itself, if the mechanical bear snuck in and eavesdropped outside the door, it could be disastrous.

With stealthy speed unlike anything Kyoko had witnessed before, Mukuro slunk over to the wall right next to the entrance without a single sound. There…she waited, sensing that whoever had followed them was slowly creeping their way into the bathhouse. However, as the figure of someone barely began to come into view, the detective's voice shattered the silence.

"Makoto…you can come out now," she said, as flatly as always, as if she hadn't just revealed something important. "We know you're there. It's fine to come out."

Mukuro immediately tensed, not entirely sure if she should trust Kyoko's words or simply rely on her instincts and subdue whomever was approaching. It could be that the amnesiac detective was simply trying to confuse whoever was there, but on the other hand, it was entirely possible she was being honest as well.

Not to mention that, if Kyoko was right, and it was Makoto, slamming him into the floor would only make him question her true identity. It could be that Kyoko was trying to save her from that very situation…but at the same time, since the trial was over…could she really trust Kyoko now?

"Instincts…or trust? Which should I—?"

In the midst of her mental vexation, a familiar voice called out, "Sorry, I should have known you'd figure me out."

Mukuro kept still as the figure of Makoto entered into the bathhouse, a look of embarrassment across his features. Almost instantly, he noticed that she was staring at him, startling him enough to make him stumble backwards.

"J-Junko! S-Sorry, I didn't know you were right there!" he apologized, though the solider didn't really understand why.

However, she instantly put on her guise and answered, "Hey, no worries! I didn't expect you to follow after us! I barely even noticed you!"

She lied. It was the safest bet, especially considering she had no idea why Makoto was tailing them. Sure, he was probably curious about her and Kyoko's newfound 'friendship', but she never imagined he'd have the guts to try and eavesdrop on them. She was kind of impressed actually. While it was true that he never stood a chance against her stealth skills, or Kyoko's perceptiveness, the fact that he tried to secretly follow them must have taken some guts.

"He's growing stronger with each class trial," she mentally noted, feeling inspired by his growth since the first trial. "Strange how such a horrific experience is making a stronger person out of him…or maybe he was always this way, and I just never noticed…"

"Makoto, I'm surprised to see you here," Kyoko suddenly quipped, walking over to enter the conversation. "You're ignoring the nighttime rule, even after you insisted that we still follow it."

Mukuro held in a gasp, completely shocked by the detectives forward, and somewhat rude, comment. At the same time, there was a hint of admiration in her voice…the likes of which Mukuro had never heard before. And for Makoto of all people…

Back in their school days, she knew that Makoto and Kyoko had been friends. She saw them hanging out, and from time to time, Kyoko seemed to invite the lucky student along on her investigations. At the time, Mukuro thought nothing of it, considering she knew her sister planned to have them all murder each other…but now…

Suddenly, a dull ache resonated deep in her chest…and it wasn't like the feeling she'd felt up until now. It was…sadder somehow. Though she couldn't understand why. Knowing that she didn't have time to try and figure it out, she willed the feeling away as the conversation began in earnest.

"Yeah, well…" Makoto started, as if he was about to accuse the two of them of violating the nighttime rule as well, but he must have reconsidered. "…I guess I was just curious as to why the two of you were sneaking off together. And besides…you promised me an explanation."

His face stiffened as he finished, his determination honestly impressing the battle-hardened soldier. She was definitely right that he'd been growing stronger with each class trial, but this was unthinkable.

"The old Makoto would have simply waited until morning and asked us about it them. It's like he's becoming a different person…someone…that we can all rely on."

As that thought entered her mind, a sudden inescapable fear began to well up with it.

"Junko…won't be happy about this."

If she had noticed the lucky student's steady growth, then Junko was undoubtedly keenly aware of it. Until now,her sister's penchant for crushing all aspects of hope had never filled Mukuro with such terror…but now she that realized just how much Makoto had changed during this whole ordeal, she knew it wouldn't end well. He was becoming a symbol for his classmates, a person who everyone trusted and could rally behind, much more so than even someone as talented and charismatic as Byakuya.

Maybe it had to do with the fact that no one had died yet, perhaps that's where Makoto's confidence came from…but somehow, even if the killing game had gone as Junko originally predicted, something told Mukuro that the lucky student wouldn't fall into despair so easily…and that worried her all the more.

It may not happen right away, but sooner or later, Junko would undoubtedly bring down the cruel hammer of despair to grind every last bit of hope into dust…and that included Makoto!

…That's why she'd struck a deal with Kyoko. An alliance…for everyone's sake…but also for Makoto as well.

"Not only that, you both just disappeared this morning! We couldn't find you for hours!" the lucky student abruptly continued, disrupting her concentration.

In addition to that, the soldier noticed that he was…a lot more intense than usual. His features had hardened, and he seemed…genuinely upset! For a moment, Mukuro didn't recognize the boy in front of her as Makoto…he was like a completely different person! Had their absence…really bothered him that much?

"I know that you can take care of yourselves but…" he paused, glanced between them and making Mukuro feel a sense of guilt she'd never experienced before! Then, after taking a deep breath he practically shouted, "Sneaking off and investigating the hidden room on your own is dangerous! You should have told us all about it!"

"…There wasn't any need for us to tell you all," Kyoko calmly retorted, folding her arms and hardening her features. "Is that why you followed us here? Do you suspect us of being spies for the Mastermind as well?"

Mukuro clenched her fists and gritted her teeth, holding back a biting comment. There wasn't any need for her to be so rude to Makoto! At the same time…Kyoko was keeping her word, and as much as Mukuro appreciated that, it was hard to watch Makoto's earnest pleas go seemingly unanswered.

She was about to interject, try and save the conversation somehow, when Makoto abruptly answered, "No! You're my friends! I trust both of you!"

"Then why did you feel the need to eavesdrop on us?" Kyoko pointedly asked, fixating her scrutinizing gaze upon him. He flinched under her gaze, opening his mouth before shutting it again. With a light huff, the detective finished, "Regardless, that's not something you need to know right now—".

"I don't need to know?!" he interjected, and even Mukuro could feel the hurt in his voice. However, before she could insert herself into the argument, the lucky student shouted, "That just makes me even more worried about the two of you!"

…

…

"…Worried?"

To Mukuro's shock, that response came not from her…but Kyoko. The soldier practically snapped her head over and stared with utter surprise at the expression that overtook the detective's face. The usually stoic Ultimate Detective…appeared completely shocked…as if she couldn't believe the words Makoto had hurled at them.

All at once, it clicked. Kyoko had reverted back into the closed-off, highly cautious, distrusting detective she'd been during their time at school…less of a person and more of a dedicated mystery solving machine. And as such…when someone showed her genuine kindness or concern, she questioned it…but that's not what she was doing right now.

Kyoko…almost seemed like she couldn't understand why anyone would be concerned for her safety, much less anyone else's. Makoto's honest display of concern clashed with her beliefs…that a detective must always be logical and impartial. She viewed Makoto as an equal…and thus, seeing him act with such reckless optimism toward her position…startled her.

Honestly, it wasn't much of a surprise for Mukuro. She'd spied on—err, observed Makoto enough to realized that his care was genuine…and if Kyoko had retained her memories, she would have as well. At the same time…

"Even if all of her memories have been erased…something obviously remains. She wouldn't have trusted Makoto otherwise…and she certainly wouldn't have struck a deal with me. I'd almost forgotten her 'true' nature…wasn't like this at all."

Mukuro had, unintentionally, been treating Kyoko similarly to the way she had when they'd been classmates. Even though they hadn't interacted much, there had been mutual respect…but that wasn't the case here. The Ultimate Detective hadn't put her faith in Mukuro completely…simply put, they were using each other…and neither of them knew how long that would last.

"Yes, I was worried about both you!" Makoto seamlessly continued, shifting his gaze between them. "When the two of you disappeared…I thought something happened to you! And…"

He trailed off, as if unsure of what to say next. But then, with firmer resolve than she'd ever witnessed before, the lucky student finished, "I…believe in both of you! And…I want you to believe in me too…as your friend!"

Meanwhile, Mukuro felt that warm feeling reemerge from deep within her chest, drowning out the sad and painful stinging from before. He was worried about them…about her. And for some reason…it made her feel…appreciated. Makoto viewed her as someone he respected, someone he could rely on…it was a feeling that she hadn't really experienced until now.

During her time with Junko, she had been sure that her sister appreciated what she did…or at least, she thought she did. Only recently had the soldier realized that, what she thought was appreciation…was manipulation. Her sister…wasn't capable of appreciating anyone. She knew that…and yet, somehow, she'd fooled herself into believing that Junko truly needed her…that she was irreplaceable.

"As it turns out…I was just another pawn. Junko…isn't capable of caring about anyone…"

Shaking her head free of those dark thoughts, she instead chose to focus on her situation. After all, she hadn't expected Makoto to drop in on her and Kyoko during their meeting. And she wasn't quite sure what they should do about it either.

Fortunately, it seemed that Kyoko had anticipated this outcome.

"…I understand," the amnesiac detective said, having returned to her usual stoic visage…kind of. Although it was very slight, there were traces of emotions hidden behind Kyoko's lavender eyes, though only Mukuro could see that. Regardless, the amnesiac detective turned and locked her gaze onto Makoto's as she said, "Then…maybe I can believe in you too…"

Mukuro didn't have time to be shocked, even though she was utterly perplexed by Kyoko's sudden change of heart. She had to stay in character, at least for now.

"Totally!" she concurred, flashing both of them a confident smile. "I know things got a little crazy today, and it must have been difficult for you, but…I believe in you guys too!"

At that moment, almost unexpectedly, Makoto smiled at her. It was the same sweet and kind smile that had drawn her to him so long ago…and once again it brought forth the strange but warm sensation in her chest…and she didn't want to suppress it this time. Rather, she let it spread throughout her body, giving her the courage to face whatever Junko may have planned for them!

That is…until her partner spoke up.

"In that case, I have a favor to ask of you, Makoto."

Kyoko's voice cut through the warm feelings, her stern demeanor instantly bringing both of them back to their situation. Perplexed and confused by the detective's sudden forwardness, she almost cut in but was too slow.

With no hesitation, Kyoko swiftly requested, "Would you please go and investigate the hidden room in the boy's bathroom on the second floor?"

---

*Ding*Dong*Bing*Bong*

"*Ahem* This is a school announcement. It is now 10pm…"

As the nighttime announcement echoed all around her, Sakura took a deep breath before exhaling slowly. Her encounter with Taeko had left her mentally winded…or perhaps the exhaustion from today's events were finally catching up with her.

She lifted her hand and latched the door to the gambler's room, sealing her in for the night. With slow, heavy steps, Sakura marched toward her room, unlocked it, and sauntered inside. Once there, she locked the door, walked into the center of her room and sat down in the middle of her training posts.

Closing her eyes, she began to meditate.

For nearly an entire minute, she remained frozen in place, not a single muscle moving. Then, incredibly minutely, she began to shake. Her hands balled into fists, her muscles tensed and hardened, her face scrunched, and her aura of power slowly began to rise…until it all but consumed her.

Then, with a sudden burst of speed, she leapt to her feet and shot forward, like a bullet, toward one of her training posts. Clenching her fist as tightly as she could, her knuckles slammed into the post with devastating force. The wooden post, which had taken a severe beating in the past, was unable to withstand such a blow. A sickening crack echoed as the Ultimate Martial Artist's fist tore through both the bindings and the wood itself, splintering the post with a single strike.

As the pieces clattered to the floor, Sakura sucked in labored breaths. In that moment, she wanted nothing more than to turn her fury on the other wooden posts and shatter them as easily as she had this one. However, as a dull throbbing of pain began spreading through her fist, she stopped herself. Unclenching her fist, she lifted it up, her hand involuntarily shaking as she witnessed the redness spreading over each knuckle. Her hand dropped to her side and in that moment, a single tear slipped down the martial artist's cheek.

"…I am…despicable…"

She wanted to hate Taeko. She wanted to ridicule and shout at her for betraying them. She wanted her to be punished for traumatizing Hina…changing the swimmer into a monster almost as cruel as 'Celeste' had once been! But most of all…She wanted…She wanted…She wanted…to punish herself! For she knew that her betrayal…far surpassed any crime that Taeko had committed!

Even after everything that Taeko had done, Sakura couldn't bring herself to truly despise her. She was displeased, far more than she ever thought possible. But at the same time, she understood exactly what Taeko was going through.

Taeko Yasuhiro had fallen into despair…the guilt of her actions, even if she denied it, plagued her. And then, the punishment Byakuya set for her was intensified by Hina's cruelty. It was a grim reminder…of what would undoubtedly happen…when her classmates discovered the deal she had stuck with Monokuma.

Faced with the loss of her family's dojo…she had become a pawn of the Mastermind. She chose…her family's legacy, over the lives of her friends and classmates. And when Taeko had called her a liar…all the feelings of rage, guilt, anxiety, fear, and helplessness came rushing to the surface. And there was no way to hold them back any longer.

At the same time…there was little she could do now. Her betrayal was already set in stone. Even if she confessed her sins now…there would be no forgiveness. None of her classmates would forgive her for the part she'd played in keeping them trapped here. And that was fine. She would take their scorn, weather their anger and rage toward her. She deserved to be punished, far more than Taeko and Hifumi had been.

There was only one person who she feared reprimands from:

"Hina…"

Sakura's heart ached for her friend, knowing that the swimmer's heart had been damaged far beyond repair. And if…she was to confess her sins now…if she forced her best friend to suffer another betrayal so soon after losing her faith in others…it would leave Hina a broken woman…and Sakura would do anything to keep that from happening—!

*Ding*Dong*Ding*Dong*

Sakura's head snapped toward her door, her face hardening as she concluded that only one person could be visiting at this hour.

Monokuma…the demented bear probably wanted to speak with her again, as was the case after every class trial. She had hoped for some peaceful quiet, hoped she'd have time to clear her thoughts before being summoned. She cursed herself for being so foolish. What made her think that this time would be any different? The demented bear always wanted an update after a trial…even if it was only to further chastise Sakura for selling out her classmates.

Or, perhaps, tonight would be the night…when the bear demanded the 'favor' she had promised so long ago?

The very thought of Monokuma, gleefully asking her to 'set the killing game in motion', made her stomach churn. Oh, how she longed to crush the little bastard's head with her bare hands! She wanted to rip apart Monokuma piece by piece, and if a second bear appeared, she would tear it asunder as well! Even if Monokuma produced an army of evil teddy bear replicas, she would fight to the last breath to destroy them all!

*Ding*Dong*Ding*Dong*

Shaking her head to force away such thoughts, Sakura realized it was prudent not to keep the bear waiting. Marching toward her door, she grasped the handle tightly and jerked it opened…the force of which startled the person outside.

"S-Sakura…?"

Sakura's breath caught in her throat, her words choked off as she saw someone completely unexpected in front of her. Hina…Aoi Asahina stood outside her door. The marital artist couldn't contain her shock, her eyebrows shooting up the instant she recognized her friend.

"H-Hina…" she stammered, slowly forcing herself to relax. Once she was certain she'd reasonably calmed herself, she continued, "I'm…sorry. I wasn't expecting any visitors…"

Waving her hands apologetically, the swimmer stuttered, "N-No! It's totally fine! Really! I just…uh…" Hina fidgeted with her hand for a moment before shaking her head. "No…Never mind! It's nothing. I'll talk to you tomorrow!"

Immediately, Hina spun around and began walking briskly toward her room, thoroughly shocking the martial artist. A surge of panic arose in Sakura. Something was definitely wrong, and she'd be damned if she didn't act on it!

"Please wait!" Sakura called out, bringing the swimmer to a halt. However, she didn't turn to look, keeping her back to the martial artist. Feeling something was amiss, Sakura stepped into the hallway and said, "Hina, are you alright? Is there…anything I can help you with?"

It was a stupid question. Of course she wasn't alright…but that was the only thing that Sakura could say right now. Hina was acting…stranger than ever before. She wasn't her usual self, but she wasn't behaving as cruelly as she had been earlier. If anything, she almost seemed to be…frightened of something.

However, the swimmer didn't answer. She merely stood there, completely frozen, her back turned, not uttering a single word. Instantly, Sakura's natural protective instincts took hold and, without waiting for a proper answer, decided to ask, "Hina, would you like to spend the night in my room?"

Somehow, she just knew that is what Hina had meant to ask of her. She'd only known Hina for a short while, but in that time, she'd learned to anticipate the way Hina reacted to various situations. And even though she was acting quite strangely, it didn't change the fact that right now…the swimmer needed someone to be there for her.

And Sakura knew…it had to be her.

Hina didn't respond verbally. Instead, she slowly nodded her head twice. She turned around, tilting her face away from Sakura as she passed by. Once she was safely inside her room, Sakura gently pulled the door shut and locked it. The instant she turned around, she found Hina, standing in the center of her room, staring down at the floor, her back once again facing her.

Sakura tensed as she realized that she hadn't cleaned up from the destruction earlier. "I apologize for the mess. As I said, I wasn't expecting—guh?!"

Sakura lost all sense of rational as she took in the visage of her best friend. Hina spun around, her face finally visible…completely stained with long streaks of tears. The swimmer hiccupped, sobbed, and tried desperately to control herself…but failed.

"S-Sakura! I…I…" she wailed, unable to speak properly through her sobs. "W-What…h-h-ha-have…I-I-I…?!"

The instant Hina's choking sobs reached her, Sakura felt something within herself break. Something deep within snapped at seeing her best friend, the person she felt true kinship with, reduced to such a sight. A rage unlike any other bubbled up inside, a mixture of fury toward Taeko…and self-loathing for herself.

Without thinking, Sakura walked up to Hina…and wordlessly opened her arms. It was all she could think to do…offering herself as a shoulder to cry on. Seeing that, the swimmer didn't hesitate. She abruptly slammed into the muscle-bound woman, burying her face in her chest and wailing in agony.

Sakura didn't say a word, embracing her friend tightly, stroking her hair as Hina let out all the pain and suffering she'd kept buried deep inside for so long.

"It hurts…it hurts so much…! I…I HATE her! All I wanted…was to be…her friend! But she…but she…she…why…why did she…? How…could she…how could she…?!"

The martial artist felt her breath hitch, struggling to keep her composure as she continued to soothe her grieving friend.

"It's not your fault…none of this is your fault. You know that…" Sakura said in a low, soothing tone, trying to reassure her friend. Unfortunately, she must have failed, because the swimmer abruptly started pounding her fist on her chest.

"But it is! I…let her…trick me…!" she wailed, her voice slightly muffled by Sakura's bosom. "I-It's…all my fault! I almost…got everyone…killed! I-I…please…please…don't hate me!"

A deep, stinging pain dug into Sakura's chest as Hina begged for forgiveness. At the same time, a hint of relief came over the martial artist. It seemed that Hina wasn't completely lost after all. She was in pain…and would need time to heal, but at least it appeared that the old Hina was still in there…fighting to overcome her sadness.

Sakura's hand reached out, and with a soft grip on her chin, she tugged Hina's face upward, their eyes finally meeting.

"…You've don't nothing worth hating, Hina." Sakura mustered her most reassuring smile as she stared into her friend's tear-filled eyes. "You were…we all…were betrayed by Celeste. And now, she's been punished for it. That is enough…you have nothing to feel ashamed of—"

"NO! That's…not true!" she cried, still fighting through her sobs as she spoke. Hina shook her head, forcing the martial artist to retract her hand, before burying her face into Sakura's toned bosom again. "I'm no better than Celeste! I never thought I'd be capable of…of…"

As she trailed off, Sakura held her close and gently stroked her hair, comforting her friend as best she could. She'd never been in this kind of situation before, but her natural protective instincts kicked in and she somehow knew exactly what to say and do.

"That's not true, Hina. You are nothing like her," the martial artist insisted, her voice deep and gentle. "She hurt you, and so you lashed out in anger. We all fall prey to such weakness. No one will blame you for tearing up the dre—".

"That's not what I meant!"

With surprising strength, Hina abruptly tore herself away from Sakura's embrace,

"I…I…I voted to kill someone! And…at the time…I was completely fine with that! If she'd been executed…I wouldn't have cared!" Hina screamed, her voice raw and exhausted. Taking a few staggered breaths, she continued, "I'm…a horrible person! I'm no better…than Byakuya! Or Celeste! I…I…I don't deserve to live—!"

*SLAP*

For the very first time, Sakura struck her friend across the face, the sound reverberating in the small space. The look of utter shock on Hina's face, combined with the agony of actually striking her best friend, sent painful pangs through the martial artist's chest. However, she could not back down…Hina needed her, and she would not fail her a second time!

"Hina, listen to me very carefully," she said slowly, her voice powerful but gentle. "You are not a horrible person. You are a gentle, kind soul. And I am honored to call you my best friend."

As she spoke, Hina was completely captivated by her words. Even though her cheek must have stung painfully, she still managed to listen to each and every word, as if completely enthralled by her friend's voice.

"You have made mistakes, but there is nothing you have done that cannot be forgiven. Everyone makes mistakes…I have made many grave mistakes in my lifetime…some of which can never be forgiven…"

She paused for a moment, momentarily losing her concentration as the shame of her betrayal almost overwhelmed her. However, as she gazed at Hina's tear-stained face, she drew strength from deep within, somehow finding the courage to continue.

"Unlike many others, you realize the error of your ways, and feel remorse for your actions. That is not a trait found in people such as Byakuya or Taeko. I know it will not be easy to deal with your resentment…but I believe that, with time, you shall overcome it. And…if nothing else, know that I have faith in you…and I will continue to support you…until the end."

The swimmer's eyes widened and began to refill with tears. Hanging her head, letting her tears drip onto the floor, Hina struggled to regain some form of composure.

"S-Sakura…I'm…" she whispered, regret clear in her voice. "I'm…so sorry…for making you worry…but…but I…I don't know what to do!"

It was painful, constantly watching her friend apologize. But Sakura knew there was nothing else that could be done. Right now, Hina was overcome with too many emotions, not to mention that she was obviously physically and mentally exhausted. She was too, of course, but right now, she needed to support her friend. Everything else could wait until she'd successfully calmed down the swimmer.

"Hina…it's been a long day. Might I suggest getting some rest for now," Sakura offered, gesturing toward the bed. "Once we've had time to rest, I'm sure we can find a solution…together."

Finally, it seemed that Hina began to acknowledge just how tired she was. The swimmer tried to fight a yawn, but it came all the same. She rubbed her eyes sleepily, but stubbornly insisted, "N-No…I'm not…that…tired…"

As if against her will, she yawned again, flushing with embarrassment as she tried to keep awake. After realizing her own exhaustion, it seemed that it was only a matter of time before she succumbed, whether she like it or not.

Seeing that, Sakura smiled down at her and said, "Do not fear. I will be here to watch over you. For now, get some rest. And once tomorrow comes…I am sure that everything will become clear."

Her words held more truth than she'd planned but the sentiment seemed to register with the swimmer.

"Well… I guess you're…right. But…" Hina lazily glanced toward the bed, the drowsiness clear in her voice. Slowly, her gaze traveled back to meet Sakura's gaze and she said, "Shouldn't you sleep too? I don't wanna take your bed…"

A gentle smile overtook Sakura's lips as she replied, "I will be fine sleeping on the floor. I am used to it. Please, take the bed and rest."

Hina opened her mouth to protest but yawned deeply instead. Sakura smiled wider at the sight, and for the first time since she'd come over…Hina smiled as well.

"…Okay, you win," she finally consented, turning around and staggering over to the bed, practically falling onto it. "But tomorrow…I'm having…you over…to sleep in…my…room…okay?"

"…Alright."

Standing over her friend, Sakura's smile began to fade as she listened to her friend slowly begin to drift off to sleep. She could see that Hina's body and spirit had reached their limits hours ago and hoped that she would fall asleep rather quickly…which seemed to be the case.

A deep, hollow pain began to fill in Sakura's chest as Hina's request reverberated in her ears. It was cruel…almost too cruel…Hina trusted her more than anyone else…and she had betrayed that trust time and time again by colluding with Monokuma.

She didn't deserve to have a friend as wonderful as Hina…and yet, she could never deny how fortunate she had been to befriend such an amazing person. More than anything, Sakura wanted to be worthy of such friendship…but she knew it wasn't possible…not anymore.

As Hina slowly fell into uneasy slumber, Sakura's fists clenched tightly. It had been agonizing…hearing her friend beg to be forgiven…when her own crimes far outweighed anything Hina had done! Her betrayal…her role as the mole for the Mastermind…that was truly unforgiveable! And she would face the consequences of her actions…

However, Hina had only followed her heart! She befriended Cele—Taeko, with the purpose of honestly wanting to grow closer…it wasn't her fault that the gambler took advantage of that! She had nothing to be ashamed of! Even her aggressive display of tearing apart Taeko's dress was only due to her unbridled grief at being betrayed—

A dark thought entered Sakura's mind, one that she'd been repressing for quite some time now.

"Betrayal…When my deception is discovered…will the same hatred Hina directs toward Taeko…be pointed at me instead?"

She didn't want to imagine it, but like it or not, her mind's eye couldn't keep from picturing it. Hina…her only friend, the one person she felt an unbreakable bond with…would condemn her. The hatred she saw for Taeko would be unleashed tenfold upon her…for her betrayal was far, far more disgusting than anything the gambler had done.

Not only that, after the painful realization of Taeko's true nature, the swimmer psyche had already been fractured. If she were to uncover the martial artist's betrayal as well…

"She won't survive…Her will would be too broken to continue living…Dear god, what have I done?!"

Sakura's chest began to ache as the guilt from her betrayal weighed down on her. She had wanted to save her family…she didn't have a choice. Her family, or these strangers…it had been a difficult but logical choice. However…her classmates were no longer strangers. She knew them…their likes and dislikes, their motivations and dreams for the future, and she understood their desire to survive and see their families and friends again…

"I…betrayed my friends…for my family. What would…my family think if they saw me now? They…they would…"

They would be ashamed. For her to put the dojo and their lives above the innocent lives of her classmates…there was no honor to be found there. She had known that…she knew that even before she agreed to Monokuma's demands…but she still chose to betray everyone. Her weakness…her pride…had stopped her from doing what she knew was right!

But now, as she held the fragile live of Aoi Asahina in her hands…she knew what needed to be done. And there would be no stopping her…not even if Hina begged…she knew what needed to be done to set things right. Sitting down the floor, next to the bed, Sakura began to meditate…but not before whispering one final comment.

"I know what must be done…and this time…I won't hesitate."

---

"Are you insane?! You want him to go to the hidden room?! Right now?!" the girl pretending to be Junko Enoshima shouted, her sudden fury only somewhat catching Kyoko off-guard.

In truth, Kyoko had expected this kind of reaction from her, but hadn't anticipated it being so intense. However, that reaction alone answered many questions that the amnesiac girl had been unable to confirm. It seemed that this false Junko's concern for Makoto wasn't a farce after all…

"Indeed," she answered, unafraid of her 'partner's' reaction. Barely sparing the imposter a glance, she instead focused her gaze on the bewildered lucky student. "All I need is for you to go and see if there is anything left in the room. That's all."

"Wait…I'm confused," Makoto replied, full of perplexion. "What do you mean by 'anything left'? Didn't you and Junko investigate that room earlier?"

Kyoko almost smiled, but held it in. She was strangely proud of him, impressed that he'd already figured out that's where they must have been hiding. His instincts were incredibly sharp…and that made him a useful ally. At the same time, no matter how much she wanted to trust him…she knew she couldn't…not fully.

In all honesty…she wanted to, but her instincts as a detective told her not to reveal too much. She was already taking a significant risk in trusting this false Junko. Taking any more unnecessary risks could lead to her death…and if that happened, she knew that the truth behind what was happening at this school would never be solved.

"I can't allow that to happen. No matter the cost…I need to discover the truth…about everything…about him."

That's right…she had come to this school for a very distinct purpose. She could only barely remember it, through the haze of her foggy memories, but she knew…she knew she needed to find the headmaster of Hope's Peak. Even if she couldn't recall exactly why…something deep within told her that that was her purpose for being here. It gave her clarity…it gave her purpose…it kept her mind from falling prey to despairing thoughts. As long as she had that purpose…she would do anything, use anyone, to accomplish it.

…Even someone she considered a friend.

With unflinching resolve, she answered Makoto's question. "Now that Monokuma has revealed the existence of the hidden room, I have no doubt that the Mastermind will remove everything from that room. I want you to go and confirm that. Once you do, head back to your room for the night. Then tomorrow, after everyone meets in the cafeteria, I'll come and talk to you about what you saw."

Makoto seemed to absorb her words like a sponge, taking it all in without so much as a protest. There was confusion behind his eyes, Kyoko could see that, but there was also firm determination there as well. For whatever reason, he trusted her. And no matter how despicable it felt, she would use that trust to learn more about this school…to uncover the secrets the Mastermind had hidden. And eventually…she would find the truth hidden in the darkness.

"Uh-uh! No way! It's way too fucking dangerous!" the girl masquerading as Junko Enoshima suddenly interjected, her rage obvious…and understandable. "What if the Mastermind is waiting for someone to come by this late at night?! Asking him to do something so dangerous is—!"

"If you spend all your time trying to avoid danger, you'll never move forward."

The imposter's protest were quickly silenced as Kyoko spoke over her…a dangerous gamble in and of itself. If the imposter was who Kyoko believed her to be, then in terms of combat ability, she didn't stand a chance. Not to mention that, since their alliance was shaky at best. They had supported each other until now, almost unquestioningly, out of desperation and fear. At the same time, their interests…seemed only to align in certain places.

The false Junko gritted her teeth, obviously not pleased with this development. However, she remained silent, waiting for Makoto's response. The two of them now turned their gazes toward Makoto, who seemed to be in deep contemplation.

"…Never move forward, huh?" he said quietly, but the amnesiac girl still heard it.

Internally, she was pleased that her words had resonated with him so much…which made the fact that she was manipulating him all the more disturbing. However, she buried those feelings before they had chance to take root, reminding herself that it was simply the quickest way to find the truth.

A moment later, it seemed that her cunning won out. "Alright…I'll go and investigate the hidden room. Then, I'll meet you two tomorrow after the morning meeting…if we even have one."

Kyoko nodded. He raised a valid point. Now that Taka was no longer acting as 'leader', would there even be a necessity to meet in the morning? Well, aside from that being a way to keep track of everyone. But with Byakuya now helming the group, would he even show up? He'd neglected to show himself on several occasions, so it wouldn't surprise her if he chose to abandon the practice that had become the students' routine.

"Just…be careful, Makoto!" the Junko impersonator abruptly exclaimed, trying and failing to mask her concern. "The Mastermind may be lying in wait for you. Don't take any risks. If you thinks something's up, get the hell out of there! Got it?"

With a reassuring smile, Makoto nodded to her and said, "Don't worry, I'm not gonna do anything crazy. I'll just check the room and leave. Simple as that."

The fake Junko Enoshima didn't seem reassured, but she must have realized that unless she physically detained him, there was nothing she could do to stop him.

"And if something happens, come to my room and get me," She insisted, her entire demeanor hardening with firm resolve. "I'll leave my door open, just in case."

"Got it!" he assured her once more before turning to head off. However, before he reached the exit, he stopped. "Oh, and Kyoko…?"

The nervousness in his voice unsettled the amnesiac girl, watching him closely as he turned to face her one last time. Then, with a pure and honest smile, he finished, "…Thank you for trusting me."

Kyoko fought a wave of guilt that threatened to engulf her as his sincerity resonated with her. Because…she didn't trust him…not completely. She wanted to…all of her intuition told her that he could be trusted…and yet her instincts wouldn't allow it. And sadly, her instincts proved harder to ignore than her intuition, and it wasn't as difficult to send him off into danger as it should have been.

Instead of replying, she gave him a simple nod. It seemed enough for him though, as he nodded back to her before departing the bathhouse…leaving her alone with the Junko imposter.

"…What the hell was that?" the fake Junko seethed once they were sure Makoto was out of earshot. Turning to face her fully, Kyoko internally fought to keep calm as her 'partner's' sky-blue irises flared angrily in her direction. "I know we promised not to involve the others, but what you did puts Makoto at an even greater risk."

She was quiet…unnervingly so. Unlike her Junko persona, the girl beneath the façade wasn't loud or abrasive. If she was angry, she showed it through subtle inflections in her voice, not with volume. And right now, a quiet rage emanated from the disguised girl, and Kyoko knew that no matter what explanation she gave, the imposter would hold this digression against her.

"I'm doing exactly as I promised," she calmly explained, knowing it was unwise to provoke her 'partner' any further. "We need to speak privately, and I didn't want anyone eavesdropping…just like we agreed on."

The Junko impersonator took a deep breath before replying, "But sending him to the hidden room alone…during nighttime…he could get killed."

"I know…but it's a risk we have to take."

Kyoko knew that was the truth…but she couldn't risk speaking it aloud. Her 'partner' would snap, or at the very least, she'd follow after Makoto. If that happened, Kyoko would lose her as a resource, and she couldn't allow that to happen. Too much was riding on what this imposter knew, and getting that information far outweighed the risk to Makoto's life.

…Or at least, that's what she told herself.

"I doubt that the Mastermind will make a move tonight. Especially since they went out of their way to reveal the hidden room during the trial," she finally answered, her aloof demeanor perfectly masking her actions. "And besides, with their commitment to the rules, we can assume that they wouldn't kill him themselves. Otherwise, the killing game would lose meaning, and they can't have that, not after everything that's happened."

Strangely, her words almost seemed more to comfort herself rather than convince 'Junko'. The imposter must have sensed that, because behind her cold expression, a hint of suspicion could be seen. However, that explanation must have been enough to satisfy the false Junko, because she seamlessly dropped the argument.

"…Fine," she finally relented, taking a deep cleansing breath before heading toward the sauna. "Let's get this over with. I don't want to take any more unnecessary risks."

"Agreed," Kyoko concurred, following after her companion and into the bathhouse itself.

Making their way toward the sauna, the Junko impersonator held the door open for her. With only the barest of nods, Kyoko entered the small, humid room. The imposter quickly entered after, shutting them in. Once there, they stood opposite each other, neither of them sitting. Only when the silence became deafening did the imposter finally speak.

"So…what do you want to know?" she asked simply, as if the question didn't have huge meaning behind it.

Following suit, Kyoko fixated her gaze on the girl in front of her and asked, "Tell me everything you know about the current Headmaster of Hope's Peak Academy."

---

"…It is time."

Sakura's eyes snapped open. Her meditation was complete, and she felt as mentally prepared as she could be. Her eyes drifted over to the clock on the wall. 2AM. No one would be out this late, especially after the incident from last night. She would need to be careful, however. It was entirely possible that Kyoko and Junko would leave their doors open again, just in case.

Then again, even if she was spotted, it didn't matter. By the time everyone met up in the cafeteria, her business would be concluded…and everything would be settled.

Slowly rising her to feet, Sakura glanced down at her bed and smiled. Hina was still there, peacefully slumbering. Her face had the faintest hint of a smile, and Sakura could only hope she was having a pleasant dream. The blanket that had covered the swimmer had rolled to the side, leaving her slightly exposed.

"Rest well…my dearest friend. When you awaken…all will be settled."

Leaning down, the martial artist re-draped the blanket over her friend, gently patting the swimmer on the head. For a moment, Hina seemed to stir…but quickly settled back into peaceful sleep. Satisfied, Sakura slowly backed away, and began advancing toward her door, tugging her key from her pocket.

However, she paused as she touched the handle, glancing over her shoulder and staring at her slumbering friend. Watching the swimmer's chest rise and fall in soothing rhythm, Sakura's eyes softened, nodding firmly to herself before exiting her room. Locking the door behind her, the martial artist swiftly began heading for the gymnasium.

It didn't take her long, only a few minutes, actually. She made her way around the opposite side of the dorm's hallway, just in case Kyoko or Junko had left their doors open. As she walked, she kept an eye out behind her, constantly ensuring that no one followed after her. Before long, her feet carried her to her destination almost automatically, and before she knew it, she stood in the center of the gymnasium.

This was where it had all started. After meeting Monokuma in this room, Sakura had been seduced by evil into betraying her friend. Regardless of the circumstances, if she had remained strong and vigilant, as her family had taught her, she never would have ended up in this position.

She thought her of family…the memories feeling so old and distant now. It had only been a little over a month, but it felt as if years had gone by since she'd laid eyes on her father and mother. But mostly, she thought of Kenshiro…her beloved. Though he had been absent from her motive video…she knew that Monokuma must have been aware of him. After all, her secret, that she was no longer a virgin, had been revealed. Whoever the Mastermind was, they knew of Kenshiro…and that made her decision all the more clear.

"Kenshiro…would you ever forgive me for what I have done? Could you still love me…even after committing such a vile betrayal?"

As painful as those questions were, somewhere, deep in her heart, she already knew the answer.

Kenshiro had always been compassionate and forgiving, encouraging her even when no one else had done so. His goodness…inspired her to be better, and his strength of spirit pushed her to do what she knew was right…no matter the cost! She wanted to believe that, if he could see her now, prepared to sacrifice everything in order to save her classmates, that he would be proud of her. That thought…gave her strength, clarity, and above all…the willpower to resist the vile monster that had tried to tear her down.

Taking one last, deep breath, the martial artist's visage hardened as she made her decision.

"Monokuma! Come out! I have something to report!"

---

Sakura's voice echoed in the large space, and she expected it would take at least few minutes before the bear arrived. However, she was shocked when almost immediately, a black and white blur shot up from behind the podium on the stage, landing just a few feet from her.

"Sheesh! Don't any of you kids know what time it is?!" Monokuma complained, wearing a nightcap on his head. Yawning loudly, the bear continued, "But, I suppose I can forgive you this time though, considering you came to me this time, instead of my needing to—".

Suddenly, the bear's eyes narrowed and faster than even the bear thought possible, he sidestepped…just in time for Sakura's fist to barely miss. However, the nightcap on his head took the hit, the force of the strike tearing the material to pieces. The bear didn't have time to comment before a swift kick flew at it's head.

With a single paw the bear blocked the attack but was sent flying into the air. Backflipping in the air, to regain it's balance, Monokuma only had a moment to react as Sakura leapt up, her foot flying toward it's two-toned face. Instantly, seeming to defy gravity, the bear shot forward, extending it's own foot. The two fighters' legs clashed, and they flew past each other before tumbling down toward the floor.

Sakura, as one would expect of the Ultimate Martial Artist, landed gracefully and ready to continue the battle. Across from her, Monokuma landed on a platform that suddenly rose out from the floor, so that they were staring, almost eye level, with each other.

In that brief moment, Monokuma finally managed to speak, "Why you! Just what do you think you're doing?!"

As the bear's rage-filled words reach her, Sakura merely glared back, her eyes glowing with dangerous intensity. However, Monokuma didn't appear the least bit intimidated. Rather, the bear's anger seemed to skyrocket with her silence.

"I asked you a question! What's the meaning of this?!" the bear shouted, the claws on it's paws slowly extending outward. When she continued to be unresponsive, Monokuma finally lost its temper. "How dare you defy me! This wasn't part of the deal! Or don't you care what's going to happen to your family's—!"

"I've made a decision…" Sakura interrupted, her voice seeming to appease some of the bear's frustration. Retracting it's claws, the bear stood and patiently waited as she spoke. "I will no longer retreat. No longer compromise. No longer regret. I'm going…to resist you!"

…

…

A long pause…longer than she expected, stood between them. And then, abruptly…

"Hmm, okay."

Sakura held in a gasp as the Mastermind nonchalantly consented to her demand. She had expected more resistance. She had thought the bear would be furious…and may even have her face 'punishment' for defying him. However, Monokuma didn't seem all that shocked by her proclamation, as if…it was expected.

"I mean…you know what I'm holding hostage, right?" Monokuma said carefully, watching for a reaction. However, having steeled herself, Sakura gave the bear no such pleasure. She had resigned to her fate the moment she set foot in the gymnasium. Seeing that, the bear sighed, "And here I thought we were such good friends…well…I guess it can't be helped…I kinda thought I made a mistake employing you…but that's on me. You're fired. Nothing personal. Take your family's dojo back."

Inexplicable from behind it's back, Monokuma produced a rolled-up piece of paper. Without hesitation, he tossed it toward her. Catching it, the martial artist inspected it, as if expecting it to explode. However, when it seemed that no foul play was afoot, she slowly unrolled the paper…and found the deed to her dojo securely in her own hands! What's more, it now bore her family's crest, meaning that Monokuma truly had no ownership over it!

"W-What is the meaning of this?!" Sakura stammered, shocked not only by how quickly things de-escalated, but that Monokuma seemingly expected this to happen. In disbelief, she mistakenly asked, "What tricks are you up to?"

All at once, Monokuma's deviously smile overtook it's features, and Sakura knew that she wouldn't like the answer.

"No tricks. Cross my heart and hope you die!" Monokuma insisted, crossing it's heart and smirking wider. "Sure, I'm a bit sad to let you go, but like any major corporation, you're just a number to me…completely replaceable."

"Replaceable…?!" she seethed, already seeing where this was going.

"Of course! Just because you don't wanna work for me, it doesn't mean that there might not be some poor, gullible suckers left who may want to see their families again! Puhuhuhuhuhuhuhu!"

As Monokuma's cackling invaded her ears, she finally understood the bear's tactics. She had, unknowingly, walked right into the bear's trap. The Mastermind had hostages prepared for everyone…it was even possible that the bear had other spies aside from her already among them! She didn't want to acknowledge that possibility, but there was no denying that Monokuma was cunning enough to make it happen.

Not only that, she was now suspicious of all her classmates…wondering if any of them had given into temptation…as she once had. Her anger and self-loathing intensified, and she was just about to spring forward to attack when the bear's laughter abruptly ceased.

"Oh, right…I almost forgot to update the rules…"

Almost immediately after uttering those words, Sakura's e-handbook chimed. Despite knowing that utter despair awaited her, the martial artist knew it would be prudent to check the new rule. Pulling the digital notebook from her pocket, she pressed the screen and gasped at the words on it.

A Rule Has Been Removed From The School Regulations:

-Bullying Trials-

Has Been Deleted

Sakura's eyes bulged as she read the message. Her hand squeezed the electronic handbook, and if it hadn't been so durable, it would have crumbled in her grasp. With rage filled eyes, she snapped her gaze back to Monokuma, its cheeky grin further inciting her.

"You…why have you done this?!" she demanded, barely able to control herself.

In response, the evil bear shrugged its shoulders and said, "I never meant for the Bullying Trial to be a regular thing. It was supposed to be a one-and-done deal! But you've all gotten so cocky lately…so I figured it'd reset everything back to the original rules! Puhuhuhu!"

As Monokuma's laughter invaded her ears, Sakura somehow managed to return her e-handbook to her pocket, a difficult feat when she was shaking with utter fury! Her muscles tensed as she felt her composure slipping, her rationale slowly being replaced with a protective rage.

"Oh, I can't wait to see everyone's faces when they wake up tomorrow!" the bear continued, seemingly unaffected by the monstrous aura that radiated off Sakura in waves. "After all, the Bullying Trials gave you all the faintest glimmer of hope…only for it all to turn back to utter despair! Next time we have a class trial, it'll be good and proper! With an excruciating punishment awaiting the guilty party! Ahahahahahahahahaha!

"You monster…!" Sakura seethed, readying her stance to prepare for another assault.

However, before she could strike, Monokuma lifted a paw and turned toward the door…its smile widening sickeningly.

"Oh…are you sure you really wanna do this? I mean, we've got such a captive audience watching our every move right now! We're practically exhibitionists!"

Despite the crude gesture, Sakura immediately deciphered those words. Her head snapped toward the gym entrance, the door was crack open just widen enough for someone to peek through. And there…the shadow of a figure loomed just on the other side.

Immediately, Sakura was torn between tearing Monokuma apart, and rushing for the door to see who had discovered them. In either case, her secret was now known to someone. Even if they hadn't heard of the martial artist's betrayal, just seeing her having a secret meeting with the Mastermind's proxy was enough to illicit immense suspicion!

"Welp, my job here is done," Monokuma playfully chided, drawing a furious glare from Sakura. However, before she had time to react, the ground beneath the bear sudden disappeared, and both bear and platform fell into deep darkness beneath the floor, with the despicable bear's voice echoing as the floored slowly closed up, "Vengeance is a dish best served cold!"

Without an opponent to vanquish, Sakura felt her options become limited to a single discourse. She needed to speak with whomever had witnessed her betrayal. If she was fortunate, it was someone like Makoto, who could possibly understand her situation…but if it happened to be Byakuya…

Putting aside her fears, she marched toward the door. From what she could tell, the person on the other side chose not to flee, so it probably wasn't Hiro or Hifumi. They would have fled long before she approached. But that only intensified her fears…because it meant that whoever had seen her wasn't afraid to confront her about her actions.

Reaching the door, she took a deep breath before resigning herself to whatever fate awaited her on the other side. She had planned to destroy Monokuma and knew that would involve punishment. Death would be her way of atoning for her crimes against her friends, or so she had planned. Now she would face the ire of her classmates instead…and she'd seen firsthand how painful such treatment could be. Regardless, she accepted her fate…as the consequence of her betrayal. If her classmates chose to ridicule her or sentence her to imprisonment, then she would accept their choice without reservation. She owed it to them…to try and atone for her crimes.

With that resolve firm in her heart, she pulled open the doors to the gym, prepared to face her fate.

Sadly, no amount of mental preparation could prepare her for the face that stared back at her as she opened the door. Gasping, her hands fell to her side and she froze in place, staring down in bewilderment at the one person she hadn't even considered would be there…

"…Sakura…no…it…it can't be true…"

Aoi Asahina, her eyes widen with sudden terror and realization, stood before Sakura, the only witness to her betrayal. That is…until someone else opened the door leading to the gymnasium.

…

…

…

…

Chapter 3: END

Two more students have lost the will to kill:

-Hifumi Yamada-

-Kiyotaka Ishimaru-

8 students 'remain'

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To Be Continued…

Greetings, my beautiful readers! I know it's been a while, but the holidays slow down everything! Now then…how was that for a chapter finale! What will Sakura do now that Hina knows her secret? What are Kyoko and Mukuro planning? Will Makoto ever be privy to their discussions or will they keep their distance? And how will the class react to the reduction of the Bullying Trial rule? You'll have to continue reading to find out!

I know this 'Chapter' took a long time to finish, but I had to use it to set up a lot of stuff that will come to fruition in the next few 'acts'. Trust me, I've got some amazing twists planned for you all, and I think you'll really enjoy them!

Also, huge shout-out to my editor, who has stuck with me during my lengthy absences! You rock buddy! Thanks for all you do!

As always, thanks for all the reviews/comments! I truly enjoy each and every one of them, and I'm happy to get reviews from both new and veteran readers! Please, if you have questions or want to critique my story, feel free to leave a comment/review! I really appreciate them, as they make me a better writer!

Well then, until next time, keep on smiling and have yourselves a beautiful day, my beautiful readers!