Chapter 3: Part 2

"Yeah!" "Uh!" "Yeah!" "Uh!" "Yeah!" "U-u-u-uh!" N-n-not my real dad!"

All of these odd sounds came from an electronic keyboard, on one of those joke sound settings they sometimes came with. Of course, the person using the joke setting on her keyboard was Ibuki. However, the chipper musician was not a chipper mood. Her eyes were tired, her mouth was in a permanent frown, and her movements were slow. After pressing a few more keys, Ibuki was lay her head against the keyboard. Tears began drop from her eyes and she sniffed up some snort attempting to escape her nose. She sobbed softly to herself until she heard the sound of her doorbell ringing.

In just a matter of seconds, Ibuki used her arm warmer to wipe away her tears and she shoot up to her feet. She dashed over to the door and opened it, flashing her bright smile at the person standing outside her room. Said person was actually Sayaka, who looked a bit concerned for her friend.

"Gooooooood nom, nom, noming!" Ibuki cheered to the piano player. "How's it going, Sayaka."

"Good morning, Ibuki," Sayaka said. "That's going…well, actually a lot has happened this morning already. I'm kind of surprised you've been in your room this whole time."

"Oh, really?" Ibuki leaned back into her room, pretending to doubt check the time. "Whoopsie! Looks like Ibuki lost track of time playing her keyboard! Sorry!"

Sayaka frowned. "Ibuki, are you ok?"

"Of course Ibuki's ok! Don't be silly!"

Sayaka sighed and shook her head. "Ibuku, your eye shadow is smeared."

Ibuki looked down at her arm warmer and saw black smudges all over it. Still, Ibuki kept up her smile. "Oh, that's just nothing. Ibuki just sneezed."

"Ibuki, please," Sayaka said before taking a hold of the rocker's hands. "What's wrong?"

Ibuki's smile slowly faded away. "I…don't want to talk about…I failed."

"What?"

"I failed," tears sprinkled from Ibuki's eyes. "My party was supposed to bring us all together after we beat that motive, but…but it didn't work! Someone…. someone killed Kaito and Nekomaru!"

"Ibuki, that wasn't your fault though. You tried to lift our spirits. You…you just got to try it again. I mean, without you, I don't think we can overcome this."

Ibuki tightened her grip on Sayaka's hands. "I don't know if I can."

"If anyone can, it's you," Sayaka smiled.

Ibuki sniffed again before looking back at Sayaka. "I'll…Ibuki will try."

Sayaka nodded. "Great! Now, let's go get some breakfast. Besides, you got to meet Keebo."

"Oh, the robot?"

Sayaka smiled and nodded before taking a hold of Ibuki's hand. A complete reversal of their usual dynamic, Sayaka dragged Ibuki along with her towards the cafeteria.

"After that, we just couldn't be bothered to work the rest of the day," Kaede said solemnly, recounting the events of the killing game and the two trials to Keebo. "We all sat down here, had some wine, then we went to bed."

"And by morning, I finally turned your programming back on and…well, you know…" Chihiro said nervously.

Keebo placed his hand against his chin, clearly mimicking the standard pose for deep thinking all his friends would take. "I see…I'm sorry I wasn't able to wake up sooner. I could have warned you all about Tsumugi before she or Junko could've set their plan."

"Do not blame yourself, Keebo," Taka said loudly. "You were not in control of the situation you were placed in!"

"Yeah, you were busted up and shit," Mondo said. "What the hell even killed you anyway?"

"Yeah, I've put too much effort into fixing you up just to have you get wrecked like a virgin on prom night!" Miu shouted.

Mahiru tilted her head at Miu. "What does that even mean?"

However, Keebo would answer everyone's questions instead. "I had actually self-destructed. As we finished the last trial, I made sure these killing games couldn't keep going. I used all my weapons to destroy as much of the Ultimate Academy as I could before self-destructing by the dome that was keeping us in. I saw Tsumugi get crushed by some rubble, but Shuichi, Maki, and Himiko took cover somewhere."

"So, they're alive then?!" Tenko gasped.

"I think so," Keebo answered. "Like I said, I blew myself up. So, I don't know where they ended up going."

Tenko sighed and hung her head down. Noticing how disappointed with the answer Tenko was, Kaede placed her hand on her shoulder. "Hey. We got those pictures from the first trial. We know they made it out."

"Yeah…yeah, we do," Tenko's eyes lit up.

"While I'm sure all of you are happy you were able to catch up with your friend, I believe that there's something we all must focus on," Celestia spoke up over the rest of the group.

Everyone at the table turned their attention over to the gothic gambler. Both Sayaka and Ibuki were able to return to the cafeteria in time and seated themselves down.

"Keebo, you said you faced off with Tsumugi, correct?" Celestia asked with a polite smile. "I would like to ask if she said anything…odd about the nature of the killing game."

Keebo straightened his posture. "Yes…she said that all of it, all of the killing games, were fake. That it was all just a part of a TV show." Keebo paused and took a glance around the group. He saw that several of them had mortified expressions. He knew why. Telling everyone that their lives were lies was never going to be something that went over well.

"I'm sorry, everyone," Keebo said softly. "I know how you all feel. But it's the truth…It's just something that will take some time to get used to."

"N-no way," Miu spat out.

"That can't be true, can it?" Taka's eyes sunk in.

"I don't want my life to be a lie," Hiyoko nearly burst into tears.

"Gonta not really Gonta?" Gonta gasped.

"What spore of madness are you rambling about?!" Gundham clutched onto his right hand.

"How unfortunate," Celestia frowned. "She lied to you as well."

Keebo turned back to Celeste. "What? What are you talking about?"

"Take a look at this," Celestia pulled a small picture out from her jacket pocket. It was a photo of Keebo's classmates, smiling, and in uniform in front of Hope's Peak Academy. Everyone around the table leaned in to get a better look at it. "This was what was at the end of the hedge maze from the last trial. As you can all see, they were all classmates at Hope's Peak."

"What?" Keebo gasped.

"Wait, you had that the whole time?!" Mondo growled. "Why the Hell didn't you show us?!"

"Because it wasn't relevant to the murder investigation," Celestia said before looking at Keebo. "Now, if we were all truly just a part of a show, there would be no reason to build a full scale school like Hope's Peak. At most, you'd be on a studio set with rooms made to look like classrooms."

"Couldn't that just be some sort of background painting though?" Mikan asked.

"No, the building has too much depth to just be a painting," Mahiru commented as she took a closer look at the photo. "Plus, if it was a green screen, you'd notice oddities like a lack of proper shadows or even small things like their feet not properly settling against the ground. But this photo…there's no mistakes."

"But…but how could Tsumugi have manipulated our memories like that?" Keebo asked. "She showed footage of Shuichi, Kaede, and Kaito before the killing game and they were saying things that made it seem like it was just a show!"

"I think that answer is obvious," Celestia said with a smile. "She played with your memories just like Junko had erased our memories or manipulated the Ultimate Despair." Celestia turned her attention to Chiaki. "Am I wrong?"

"No," Chiaki said. "You can't create fake memories. The mind simply can't survive that. And there's just too many triggers for memories that fake memories can't replicate."

"So…it was just a trick then, but why?" Keebo asked.

"If Tsumugi's as big a fan of Junko as she said, then it has to be to create despair," Kokichi commented. "And what is a greater despair to feel than finding out everything you knew was a lie?"

Angie smiled and spread her arms out, an angelic aura emanated from her. "Nyahaha! At last, Atua has blessed us with the truth! That all of Tsumugi's words were just devilish tricks! Let us all rejoice, my friends!"

Before any rejoicing could occur, Monokuma slid out from underneath Rantaro's chair and flipped onto the main table. The stuffed bear would growl as he stomped his foot against the table. "Can you all stop talking already?! Talk, talk, talk! You guys passed the second class trial and you haven't even bothered to check the new floor! Whazzupwitdat?!"

Shinji sighed and adjusted his glasses. "We're quite aware we have access to the third floor. We're in the middle of discussing something."

"Like I care what you're talking about!" Monokuma huffed. "I need my entertainment! There has to be movement, discoveries, action! None of this sitting around crap isn't going to work for me."

"Can't we at least finish eating first?" Sayaka asked. "We usually get a chance for that."

Monokuma rolled his head as he let out a groan. "If you want to eat, just take your food with you. I'm not going to keep waiting on you spoiled brats to move at your own pace. The real world doesn't work that way. Now, get yourself a Hot Pocket or a roll or something and get your cute lil butts upstairs."

"Please…just shut up," Ryoma said.

"Bye-bye, my lovelies!" Monokuma cheerfully waved his paw before flipping off the table and rushing into the kitchen, disappearing behind the door.

"While I have my issues with Monokuma's choice of words, I'm afraid I must agree with him!" Taka proclaimed. "Everyone, follow me to the next floor. If any of you haven't had a proper breakfast, I recommend taking a small snack with you. Now, let us take off, my friends!"

Taka stood up from his chair and marched out of the cafeteria. There was a little scatter following this, with some of the group immediately following the first group leader and others staying back to get some more food. Ibuki's stomach growled loudly as she rummaged around for food. She'd snatch a spare bagel and shove it in her mouth before making a mad dash towards the stairs. Sayaka was far too slow to nab any spare food to snack on, leaving her stomach to ache.

"Hey, Sayaka?" Tenko called out from behind the pop idol. "I noticed that you left without eating earlier, so…" Tenko holds up a spare bread roll. "I saved some of my food for you."

"Aww, thank you, Tenko," Sayaka said with a bright smile. She took the roll from Tenko. "You're the best."

Tenko's face turned beat red. "Y-yeah! No problem!"

Sayaka nibbled on her roll as she exited the cafeteria. Tenko followed close behind the pop idol, unable to stop staring at Sayaka's blue hair sway from side to side, almost reminding her of waves from the ocean. Tenko gulped down some spit and focused on the investigation ahead.

It took some time for the group to walk up three flights of stairs, but after around six minutes, the group all met up on the newly opened third floor. Unlike the rectangular first floor or the circular second floor, the third floor was in the shape of a 'H.' Two long, vertical halls connected by one horizontal hall. The group entered from the middle of the left side of the floor. There were two doors at both ends of the first hall. Then there were three doors in the middle hall with two doors on one side and one on the other. Finally, the right hall had three doors. In the middle was, of course, a gated off entrance to the next floor, with two doors and ends of those halls.

"Once again, the layout of this building makes no sense," Shinji commented.

Taka placed his hand against his chin. "Do you think all of these floors will have these conflicting layouts?"

"Well, it's three for three now, right?" Mondo asked.

"Indeed, Monokuma certainly is a fan of creating these patterns," Kiyo said. "It makes me wonder if the theory of this being a simulation has more weight to it than we thought."

"I still have my doubts on that," Chiaki commented.

"Coming from a literal fake gamer girl, that doesn't mean shit!" Miu spat out.

"You know, can I say something?" Rantaro spoke up. "While the floors have been…unusual, I'd also like to point out how little time we've actually spent outside checking the design of this school. There could be a chance that this place isn't as impossible as we think."

"This place is an architect's nightmare," Mahiru said. "Only a lunatic would build something like this."

"We are being held hostages by a lunatic," Mukuro said dryly. "It's not out of line for him."

"How about we focus on the investigation?" Chiaki cut through the conversation. "We have a better chance of finding our answers that way."

"Of course, Nanami!" Taka shouted. "Once again, I suggest we split up to investigate all of the rooms before regrouping in the cafeteria to discuss any findings."

"Well, duh," Kokichi snickered before getting smacked on the back of his head by Mukuro. "Ow! What did I do?! I just pointed out how obvious that was!"

"Can you just shut up?" Mukuro growled.

Taka stood before the rest of the group. "Nanami and myself will be two of the group leaders…Taking Momota's place shall be Tojo."

Kirumi raised an eyebrow. "Me? I apologize, Taka, but why do you think I should be group leader?"

"It's simple, Tojo," Taka replied. "You have proven yourself to be a valuable ally, and the fact you've acted as the Prime Minister of Japan proves you can act as a leader."

"So, you are appointing me as the new group leader for my class?"

"For the time being. Nanami and myself will discuss that matter further afterwards."

Kirumi politely bowed her head. "I am honored."

Celeste stepped to her maid's side to whisper. "Remember, you still work for me."

Kirumi nodded. "I know."

"For the next two group leaders, it will be Sayaka and Shinji," Chiaki announced.

Taka performed a double take at Chiaki's announcement of the second leader, but he kept quiet. Sayaka, Shinji, and Kirumi all stepped forward and the five leaders would once again draw names out of Ryoma's hat. Taka's group consisted of Mondo, Angie, Hiyoko, Chihiro, and Tenko. Chiaki's group had Kaede, Gonta, Keebo, Gundham, and Hifumi. Kirumi's group consisted of Celestia, Miu, Nagito, and Teruteru. Sayaka's group had Ibuki, Ryoma, Rantaro, and Peko. Shinji's group had Mukuro, Kokichi, Kiyo, Mahiru, and Leon. With all the groups decided upon, they all split up the investigate.

Taka's group choice the first door on the left side of the floor. The room they entered was styled after a church chapel. There was dark blue carpeting across the floor with three rows of wooden benches on both sides of the room. The benches all faced an alter made marble with a wooden top that stood about half-way up to Mondo's chest. On the alter were three different books, all of which were far too thick to carry out. Alongside the walls of the room were several stain-glass murals lining them, all portraying different religious figures like Jesus Christ, Moses, Buddha, Vishnu, and Ra. In the corner of the room was a small table with various candles on it, with a crucifix and star of David hanging above it.

Angie's eyes lit up at the holy room. "Aw, most wonderful!" she cheered. "Finally, a true place of worship! I will finally be able to practice all of Atua's sacraments properly!"

"Oh?" Hiyoko stepped next to Angie. "We haven't even been worshipping right?"

Angie knelt and took a hold of Hiyoko's hands. "You have been worshipping well, but now you will have a chance to go through all of Atua's practices."

"Yay!"

Mondo watched the two talk, shaking his head all the while. He'd lean over to Taka to whisper. "Are you sure that the artist chick ain't crazy?"

"Of course not, bro," Taka proclaimed. "Yonaga has been a wonderful source of advice and is clearly a compassionate person."

"OK, yeah," Mondo scratched the back of his head. "But like, her beliefs and stuff…they don't seem weird to you?"

"I'm not one to judge another for their way of life. I don't judge you for being a biker gang leader, do I?"

Mondo's mouth hung open. "Shit, man…"

Realizing how harmful his words were, Taka chose to reword his statement. "I didn't mean to insult you, bro. I just believe the worries about Yonaga are misplaced. She has shown me zero signs that she poses a threat."

Mondo placed his hands in his pockets. "OK, man. Look, just promise me you'll keep an eye out, ok? I don't want you being tricked because you got the hots for her."

Taka blushed. "I-I do not! Look, just go investigate the room, please!"

"Sir thing, bro," Mondo chuckled before stepping further into the chapel.

Taka approached the alter to examine the three books. Each one was the sacred text of the three biggest religions in the world. The Bible, the Torah, and the Quran. All very interesting texts that had shaped millions of lives for thousands of years, but none of them were valuable in finding out the truth to the nature of the killing game. As Taka took a step backwards, he accidently bumped into Angie and Hiyoko.

"Oh!" Taka bowed his head. "My sincerest apologies, Yonaga and Saionji. I wasn't looking where I was going."

"There is no need to apologize, my dear Taka," Angie smiled. "I believe Atua led us to meet right by these books."

Taka raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

Hiyoko stood on her toes to gain a peak at the books. "None of them are books of Atua?"

Angie glanced over at the alter and shook her head. "No. It seems my traditions are far too niche for Monokuma to find. Did you know that those who work the hardest are considered the warriors of Atua?"

Taka couldn't help but smile a bit. "Really now?"

"But we must be careful, the enemies of Atua and the righteous are liars."

"Of course," Taka said. "Those that wish to deceive us are no better than Monokuma or the killer that framed Nekomaru!"

"Indeed, we must be careful of those like Kokichi or Celestia…or Chiaki."

"Wait…Nanami?"

"Angie says she's a liar for not telling us about the Future Foundation or the simulation killing game," Hiyoko said.

Taka opened his mouth, but he was too surprised to respond.

"Think about it, dear Kiyotaka," Angie placed her hands on Taka's shoulder. "She had information she refused to tell us, and by her own words, she isn't even a real person. She's some sort of…AI. Can we truly trust someone who isn't even real?"

Taka looked towards the floor as he processed Angie's words. "She has been kind and helpful."

"She has, but is it because she naturally is kind or because her "programming" has alternate plans?" Angie asked.

Taka looked towards Hiyoko. "But you know Nanami. You should know this is an absurd accusation."

"Please, she's always been a sleepy drag," Hiyoko snarked.

Angie smiled and took a hold of Hiyoko's hand before leading her deeper into the chapel, leaving Taka to process what had they had discussed.

Meanwhile, Chihiro had been finagling with his watch in the corner of the room. There seemed still be some kinks that needed to be ironed out. The electronic display for the time kept flashing instead of dim. He huffed as he sat himself down by the corner table. As he pulled out a small paper clip and plyers, Mondo approached him.

"Whatcha working on?" Mondo asked.

Chihiro looked up from his watch. "Oh. Hello, Mondo. I'm just working on this watch I made. It…it's supposed to emit Nekomaru's voice and motivate me with exercising."

"Oh yeah?" Mondo leaned over. "It kinda looks like him too."

"Yeah, I worked on it all night," Chihiro rubbed his eyes.

"That's pretty cool," Mondo crouched down next to the programmer. "He'd probably think it would be cool too."

"Yeah," Chihiro put his tools down. "I just wish I did more with him."

Mondo scratched the back of his head. "You know, that doesn't mean you're done training. I can try training you…for real this time."

"Y-yeah. Yeah, I'd like that," Chihiro smiled brightly.

"Alright, badass," Mondo smiled back.

As the biker and programmer discussed amongst themselves, Tenko watched them from the corner of her eye while skimming through some of the books.

The room which Kirumi's group had entered was a wood shop of sorts. Several tables were scattered around the room, all equipped with power saws and toolboxes filled with hammers, snails, screws, and screwdrivers. At the corner of the room were several rolling cabinets with more tools, most of which included blue-print pages, rulers, scales, as well as paint and paint brushes. Tools, tools, tools. Yet no clues as to what was actually happening. Miu dragged Nagito into the room as she surveyed it.

"I haven't been surrounded by so much wood since I went to the beach," Miu commented.

"I think I got a spare piece of wood for you to examine, if you'd like," Teruteru said with blood dripping from his nose.

"Please stop with the perverse talk," Kirumi said. "We're here to investigate the room and report any findings."

"I can't help but feel a bit nervous," Nagito said. "Knowing my luck, I'd turn on these power saws and cut my arm off."

"Quit your bitching, Nagicuck!" Miu yanked on Nagito's collar. "Get to work searching!"

As the two of them moved deeper into the room, Teruteru chased after them.

"If you have a second leash, I'd be willing to wear it," Teruteru shouted.

Kirumi pinched the bridge of her nose. "Three of the worst possible people to be partnered with."

"Pay them no mind, Kirumi," Celestia commented as she stepped beside her. "The foolish simply play among themselves while we get real work done."

Celestia stepped past the maid and examined the room. A smile formed on her face. "I
must say that I'm actually quite interested in this room."

"You are?"

"Of course," Celestia looked back at Kirumi. "I believe we've waited too long in converting this place into my personal castle."

"Well, Gundham, Peko, and myself already fulfill all your orders. What else is there for you to want?"

"It's simple. This place is just revolting to look at. It should be refitted for my aesthetic tastes. There's bound to be plenty of black and red paint."

Kirumi placed her hand against her chin. "Redesigning may take some time. I'm sure the others will have their opinions on it."

"Well," Celestia folded her hands together and smiled, "they'll just have to deal with it."

"And if Monokuma has a problem with redesigning the building?"

"It won't count as destroying property, will it?"

Kirumi thought it over for another moment. "I suppose not. I'll see what I can do when I have the time."

"Thank you, Kirumi. I can't wait to see what you can do."

While Celestia and Kirumi discussed amongst each other, Miu and Nagito wandered around the room. Nagito kept his hands stuck in his pockets, making sure that his hands wouldn't accident graze against something that would create a Rube Goldberg effect that wound someone. However, Miu's constant yanking made him panic, nearly tripping every few feet. Miu would smack her palm on a few wooden planks.

"Seems sturdy enough," Miu commented. "Not too used to using wooden planks for my babies, but I could definitely whip something up to use."

"Like what?" Nagito asked.

"I'll figure it out when I get to it, Nagicuck!"

Teruteru slid over to Miu's side, "May I make a suggestion?"

"If it's some leg-spread bed with a piston, I ain't doing it for you, shrimp dick!" Miu spat out.

"I wasn't suggesting anything sexual this time, I swear!" Sweat poured from under Teruteru's chef hat. "I'm suggesting something that can help us!"

"What is it, Teruteru?" Nagito asked with a polite smile.

"How about a cage?" Teruteru asked.

Miu stared at the tiny chef for a moment. "You sure this isn't some baby fetish shit?"

"No, no!" Teruteru shook his head. "You just said one of the few kinks I can't stand. No, I'm just saying some of the people here are that are just…too much trouble."

"Cockichi?" Miu asked.

"Yeah, him. Plus, we got whoever killed Kaito and Nekomaru. When we find out who did it, what do we do with them?"

"Good point…And I don't trust that soldier dyke either. Anyone waving guns around my head is going get their shit rocked!"

"Aren't the handcuffs enough?" Nagito asked.

"No, with Cockichi, we gotta do more," Miu said. "Alright then! Nagicuck, go get some wood! We're building these fucking cages now!"

"Right now?" Nagito asked. "Don't we have to get back to the rest of the group?"

"Fuck'em!" Miu said.

Nagito sighed. Knowing there was no way to weasel his way out of this, he went along with Miu's plan. Keeping with the range the leash allowed for him to move, Nagito began to gather wooden planks together.

The room that Sayaka's group entered was the least interesting one investigated so far. It was a conference room. A plain conference room. Blue carpet floor, beige walls, one large table with twelve chairs surrounding it. Finally, there was a projector in the middle on the table pointed at a projection screen. The amount of disappointment from everyone in the group was made known from their groans.

"Seriously?" Ibuki said. "There's nothing in here!"

"Well, maybe there's something hidden," Sayaka stepped towards the table and pressed the power button on the projector. "Maybe this has something on it."

The image that was projected was not some sort of hidden clue. Instead, what they were greeted by was a slide show with an image of a gradually decreasing chart with the title of "Marketing Residuals."

"Ok, so maybe not that," Sayaka commented before clicking the next button.

It was just another decreasing chart with the title of "Stock Prices."

"Not that one either," Sayaka stated before clicking again.

Once again, a decreasing chart called "Approval Ratings."

"OK, I'm guessing this is all useless," Sayaka said before shutting off the projector. She let out a huff and placed her hands on her hips. As she did so, she noticed something. From her waistband, Sayaka retrieved her magnifying glass. "Oh! I forgot I got this! Maybe we can find some fingerprints."

"No offense, Sayaka," Rantaro spoke up, "but you'd have to also dust the fingerprints and compare them with everyone's."

"O…k, but what if Monokuma left some on some sort of hidden panel?"

"I don't think stuffed animals leave fingerprints," Peko commented.

"Oh…I'm sorry."

"Hold on, maybe don't throw that idea out just yet," Ryoma said. "Maybe if we dusted the shotgun trap, we can find out who set it up."

Suddenly, the projection screen rolled up to reveal Monokuma clinging to the wall. "No can do, buckaroos!"

"GYAAAAAAAH!" Ibuki's eyes practically popped out of her skull. "How did you get here?!"

"I can get anywhere," Monokuma said as he plopped down to the floor. "As I was saying, you guys can't dust the shotgun trap for fingerprints. All crime scenes are properly cleaned up following the results of the class trial."

"What?!" Sayaka gasped. "Why?!"

"Why?" Monokuma tilted his head to the side. "What? Did you want to look at Kaito's dead body? That's real tacky!"

"No, that's not what I…what about the shotgun though? Why did you take that? It belongs to Mukuro."

"Too bad! You beat the trial! There's no more need for any of that scrap. It's disposable, junk, garbage, gone! That's how it's always been and how it's always going to be. Now, if you all excuse me, I gotta get my claws clipped. They're just so out of control."

Monokuma pulled one of the chairs out from the table before sliding underneath before disappearing from sight. Sayaka frowned as she faced the rest of her group.

"I'm sorry, guys," the pop idol said.

"Don't be," Ryoma responded. "The crime scene being gone isn't your fault."

"But now we have a new idea for when we investigate another murder," Rantaro said. "We can dust for fingerprints at a crime scene and compare it with the rest of ours."

"Please don't say that," Ibuki said while hugging herself. "Ibuki doesn't want any more murders."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to upset you," Rantaro said politely.

Sayaka glanced over at Ibuki. She was still shaken up over the events of the second trial. "Hey, how about we all just sit down and talk for a bit?"

"Really?" Peko asked. "You don't want to leave?"

Sayaka shook her head. "We can, but…I just think we need to sit down for a bit. We're still a bit shaken up over everything. Is that ok?"

"I don't see why not," Rantaro said before immediately sitting himself down.

Ibuki immediately sat herself down as well. With two others already agreeing to Sayaka's idea, both Ryoma and Peko shrugged and sat at the table as well. This already cheered Sayaka's spirits as her usual smile flashed.

"Alright," Sayaka sat herself down. "So, what do you all want to talk about?"

Ibuki smacked her hands against the table. "Ibuki wants to complete her party plan! We never got to go swimming at the pool!"

"Can't you go swimming whenever you want?" Ryoma asked.

"But swimming by myself is boring!" Ibuki whined. "And all of you guys need to get wet too!"

"Ibuki…" Peko said.

"We can play Marco Pollo, water gun war, dunking, sharks and guppies, water volleyball," Ibuki listed off.

"Ok, I'm sure we'll get the chance to do the pool party," Sayaka smiled. "It may be a few days though."

"Fine, but it better be tomorrow," Ibuki said.

"I…said a few days…." Sayaka said.

"Oh, while we're at it, have any of you used that hot spring by the pool?" Rantaro asked. "I could go for some heat to calm down."

"Woah ho ho!" Ibuki snickered. "I smell a bathhouse scene."

"Uh, sure," Sayaka raised an eyebrow. "So, I guess we have a pool party and some spa time settled. What else are you guys thinking about?"

Ryoma put a new candy cigar in his mouth. "Are you guys worried about what Keebo said?"

Peko frowned. "About us really being actors?"

"No way!" Ibuki said. "Ibuki sides with Chiaki! She said fake memories can't work!"

"Plus there was that photo Celestia showed us," Sayaka said. "There's some sort of connection between your killing game and Hope's Peak."

"I don't know," Ryoma said. "Something about that photo doesn't really convince me."

"Hey, this was supposed to calm us down," Rantaro interrupted. "Why don't we talk about something else?"

"If we find anything cool on this floor, we should party there too," Ibuki suggested.

"Is partying all you can think of now?" Peko asked.

"Nooooo way, Peko," Ibuki said. "Ibuki is thinking about how partying can cheer us all up!"

Sayaka couldn't help but chuckle. 'Honestly, I'm glad to have Ibuki back to her usual, weird self. It's nice to have someone who's always positive around.'

The pop idol sat back and listened to Ibuki rattle off more party ideas with Peko having to settle the hyperactive rockstar down.

Once again, this took a bit longer than I hoped. A few things were getting in the way. Once again, work and general ADHD stuff, but hearing about Rooster Teeth's closing and Akira Toriyama's death kind of hampered my mood for several days. It made me wonder the point of doing art was if someone can just kick you to the curb before you're even finished. It at least made my joke of Toriyama surviving the apocalypse awkward.

Anyways, this chapter was really about trying to mix up the group dynamics a bit. Sure, Angie and Hiyoko, Taka and Mondo, Celestia and Kirumi, and Miu and Nagito were all obvious duos, but there's a few more interactions that haven't been shown off in a while in the story. Like Mondo and Chihiro or Sayaka and Ryoma. Just shifting things around.

I'm a little worried my descriptions of the rooms aren't as strong or interesting as the second floor's. Same old doubting my writing. Let me know what you think. I'll try to get the next part out sooner. I may also write a short RWBY one shot as a tribute. Whatever the case, I hope to hear from all soon and have a good rest of the day.