Prologue: Opening Pandora's Box Chapter 6
I do not own Danganronpa. It is a product of Kazutaka Kodaka and Spike Chunsoft.
A single hand squeezed an eyedropper, sending a glowing, golden liquid into the beaker. It mixed with a red substance and bubbled eerily, like lava inside a volcano. The hand lifted up the beaker and shook it lightly until the red was replaced with a warm gold.
The beaker tilted gently on a cone, the orange substance traveling through loopty-loops and mixing with other substances as well. As the color changed from blue, to green, to pink, and so on, it passed books and papers as well as broken pencils and crumbled papers, as well as one singular music box.
On a clipboard in front of the beaker were pictures of Ultimates and non-Ultimates alike with scribbled notes surrounding them.
This one has potential, one said, showing an image of a light brown-haired boy with heavy bags under his hazel eyes. A swirl was drawn beside him as well as the words I agree with Junko.
Useful skills, but unpredictable, another detailed under a portrait of a small, green-haired girl. She smiled sweetly, but there was something off with her eyes as though she was staring at not the photographer but anyone who dared to lay eyes on her picture.
A third had a red marker line circling around a white-haired boy in a green hoodie with question marks, money symbols and skulls drawn around him. Luck how? was written in all caps above the boy's head.
There were other pictures too that included Ancient Greek pottery, a mansion, and a library. Although there were no signs of markers on these pictures, the way they were crumbled at the corners showed that these pictures were very much used often.
The hands brought up a wax candle and placed the right pointer finger on top. A tiny flame burst forth and became the only source of light in the dark room other than the glowing liquid that was currently undergoing its water-slide-like ride.
The candle was held in the right hand and swiftly replaced the old one that quickly melted before it. In the palms of the left hand, the candle's predecessor was swiftly tossed into the trash.
Holding onto the source of the light, the figure walked through the dark corridor towards the contraption just as the fluids flowed into a small cup, where inside the contents was a bubbling black mud that squelched eerily.
The figure bent down under the table and dragged out an enormous coffin from underneath. Opening it showed a dusky skeleton with blackened bones as though charred from an inferno. It gaped wide open as though trying to cry out in pain.
Bits of bone were missing from the skeleton. Ribs and fingers and toes were torn off, as well as some teeth and even a thigh bone. Roughly, fingers clenched onto a rib and snapped it off. Hands sealed the coffin again.
The figure placed the rib inside the black goo inside the cup and shook it gently. It turned from its obsidian shade into something more like liquid silver.
Getting up, the figure walked to the music box, where it laid harmlessly on the table. However, in the barely lit contents of the room, the Greek marking on it seemed to be alive as the flames danced above the candle that the figure held.
They opened the music box's lid and dumped the contents of not only the cup but the entire supply of silver substance.
The box snapped shut and trembled violently and screeching and gasping cries echoed the chamber before settling down again.
The figure was about to go make more when an old television that originated from the 1800s turned on. There, the image of an irritated Mukuro Ikusaba was shown holding a body right beside her.
The figure went to a statue of a samurai in the far corner of the room. They pulled down on the sword.
The wall split open before the figure, revealing an old elevator. The figure pressed on some numbers on the keypad and made the journey up.
Mukuro dragged the unconscious body of Chisa Yukizome into the cellar underneath the founder's statue where a certain sunglassed man sat at a desk with his back facing her.
"So the wolf finally arrives back with her prey?" Hakashita said without turning to face the Ultimate Soldier, instead filing a number of papers in front of him.
Mukuro took off her mask and tossed it onto one of the tables in the room, and laid Yukizome onto the floor.
"What is it to you?" she said disdainfully.
Hakashita laughed.
"Ah, no need for that, my dear Mukuro. After all, we both are on the same side."
Are we? Mukuro thought as her fingers twitched towards her combat knife. She never liked Hakashita, the way he put himself in between her and her twin sister as well as insert his plans as though they were somehow better than Junko's, who happened to be the Ultimate Analysist for crying out loud.
She didn't like the idea of working with him, but Junko told her to play along with this alliance for now, so she can wait.
"Anyway, how was school?"
Mukuro scowled.
"You're asking me like we're friends. Why are you pretending to be a teacher here anyway?"
"Ah, well," said the man, "I've done my fair share of spy work on the Committee, so this is no different. Besides, this gives me a chance to interact with you and the other students. Gain intelligence"
Mukuro glared at him, her blue eyes cold and emotionless.
Hakashita laughed and turned around in his chair to face the soldier, revealing a pair of sunglasses over his eyes. He always kept them on for some reason or another, so Mukuro had never seen his eyes.
"Anyway, you're a student. Shouldn't you be studying and getting good grades and things like that?"
Mukuro merely scoffed.
"Whatever. I'm just here to follow my sister's plan."
Hakashita leaned forward, resting his hands on his chin and the table.
"You seem awfully obedient towards Junko, like a dog does with its master." He stated. "Anything she tells you to do, no matter how immoral it seems, you will do, don't you. You'll sink your fangs into the necks of any person your master happens to sic you on all while taking her abuse without a single shed of dignity. I've seen Junko stomp on you and berate you all while you blush lustily. That is the type of relationship that the two of you share, is that right, Mukuro Ikusaba?"
"..."
Hakashita smirked and stood up.
"I must say for a soldier who is credited for coming out of battle without a single scratch on her complexion, you are quite the masochist."
A knife was pointing towards his neck.
"Speak another word and I will slit your throat."
Amused, Hakashita put a finger on the tip and moved it away from his Adam's apple.
"Touched a sore spot, did I?" he said before getting his chair and sitting back down again. He went back to filing his papers while Mukuro glared at him behind his back.
"Tell me," said Hakashita, his back turned towards her. "What do you think about Hope's Peak Academy?"
"I don't really care about the school. It is just atonement for abandoning Junko to join Fenrir all those years ago. I swore I would never leave her side again and she was the one who wanted to come to the academy."
Mukuro blinked, not knowing why she is sharing one of her most personal secrets to a complete stranger.
Hakashita hummed.
"I see."
He turned towards Yukizome's sleeping form.
"Junko is preoccupied right now. She is having a 'double date' with Ryouta and Yasuke right now."
"I know. She said she wanted a 'test subject'."
"As expected of the Ultimate Soldier to follow orders right down to the letter!"
Mukuro decided to ignore Hakashita's comment. "And what are you doing?"
"Hmmm?"
"If Junko is testing her brainwashing on her 'test subjects'," she pointed towards the unconscious form of Chisa Yukizome, "What contributions are you giving to my sister? So far, all you've done is follow a plan Junko already made with few changes aside from saving a few Student Council students and chatting with the Reserve Course. So I repeat, what have you contributed to her cause?"
Hakashita drummed his fingers on his desk. "I sped things up."
"Speed things up?"
"Yes. I captured Izuru Kamukura, albeit not at 100% Ultimate Hope yet. I recruited the Reserve Course and now stoked their anger. You noticed the machinery around you." he spread his arms across the room. The security cameras, bits and bobs of metal plates and scattered blueprints layered across the floor. "My status as a Committee member allows me to smuggle government and Towa aided technology without anyone batting an eye. I managed to speed up your progress to finish by the end of this month. The second week of next month at latest"
Mukuro bit her lip. She did not know how Hakashita managed to speed up Junko's plan so much. Even with the support of Ultimates, this plan should've taken at least a year to finish.
Hakashita, sensing her disbelief, shrugged.
"Oh, don't look so surprised, Mukuro. I'm an efficient business partner. You could say it's my Ultimate talent." he chuckled.
The Ultimate Soldier merely turned away, not bothering to look at him as she walked towards Chisa. Grunting, she lifted up the orange-haired woman and began dragging her again.
"So cold. This is my thanks for all the hard work I've been doing?"
"Whatever." said Mukuro. "If you actually want to do some work, then help me move her. She was a pain in the ass to drag all the way down here without anyone noticing."
"Ah. I would, but in my old age, it seems like I'm not as strong as I'm used to." Hakashita mimed hunching his back, his face scrunched as though he were in pain.
The girl exhaled through her nostrils loudly. This had to be one of the most irritating geezer she has ever met.
Ignoring her annoyance, she decided to do it herself.
"Fine, but next time I'll let you take the trash out yourself."
She dragged the unconscious woman onto a metallic armchair, which immediately locked the woman's wrists and ankles, keeping her bound.
"Well, since I got here, I'll just wait here till Junko gets back. And tell her about this."
"Of course. It's almost morning. I have to get ready for class."
As Mukuro began to walk away, Hakashita suddenly spoke.
"Mukuro Ikusaba, do you ever think of the consequences of what you're doing?"
Mukuro stopped.
"No."
"Why?"
"Because I am the Ultimate Soldier. I do not question my orders."
"Even if it means bringing despair upon the entire world?"
Mukuro closed her eyes, imagining a pair of blue orbs staring back at her.
"Junko wants it. I'll give it to her."
"And do you think that she's the type to be satisfied with what's given to her?"
"She won't." Mukuro admitted. "She will always want more. Despair is her reason for living."
"And do you share that same purpose as your sister?"
"..."
Hakashita shrugged, a smile appearing on his face.
"Not my problem," he said. "Whatever path you choose is up to you, and I can't do anything about it."
He waved goodbye.
"I bid thee adieu."
She did not give him the same courtesy as she left through the trapdoor underneath the statue overhead.
"Hey, did you hear-"
"-a Reserve Course student got into the Main Course building!"
That morning, after getting out of bed, Makoto was making his way to class when he noticed the groups of Ultimates gathering around the hallway, speaking and whispering amongst themselves. It seemed like Natsumi Kuzuryu was the hot topic of the conversation today.
Naegi was not one for gossip, but even he had to admit the fact that a Reserve Course student breaking into the Main Course was quite the story. Considering how the security of Hope's Peak Academy should be airtight, a young girl breaking through was something big. Especially one from the Reserve Course, those that did not have a specified talent to benefit them in any meaningful way.
He winced in his head for thinking like that. Considering his own lack of talent, he was not in a position to talk considering he only got in thanks to that lottery. In fact, he wasn't really an actual Ultimate.
Trying to shake off his depressing thoughts Makoto began walking through the hallways, pushing through other students to get through.
"Excuse me. Sorry. Coming through." he apologized, trying to squeeze himself between some students. Fortunately, he was small enough to pull himself through the enormous crowds.
"-and she just fell from the ceiling lights. I don't even know how she got up there."
Makoto opened the door to Classroom 78 to find the rest of his classmates listening to Sayaka's retelling of the events that transpired the other day.
Hiro and Chihiro were the closest to Sayaka, listening eagerly as they dragged their chairs towards her.
Hina and Sakura were sitting together from their desks, with Hina stuffing her face with donuts she apparently brought for breakfast while Sakura crossed her huge arms and closed her eyes, listening carefully.
Leon and Mondo were both leaning back their chairs with their feet plopped on their desks with Taka standing behind them, almost looking like he wanted to reproach them with a finger up but at the same time trying to listen to Sayaka's story without being disrespectful.
Hifumi was listening in eagerly while Celestia was disinterestedly sipping a cup of tea the chubby boy apparently served her. Kyoko was standing beside them, rubbing a gloved hand below her chin and pondering quietly to herself.
Meanwhile, Junko and Mukuro were sitting in the back of the room where their desks were. Junko looked out the window in a bored manner with her head resting on her arms while Mukuro stared at Sayaka with a neutral expression on her face.
Byakuya was leaning on the wall far away from the other Ultimates with a scoff on his face. Toko was crouching beside him and constantly turning her head towards him. She looked as though she preferred to continue staring at the Ultimate Affluent Progeny more than listening to the Idol's tale.
"Hey Makoto!" Hina shouted, her voice muffled from a mouthful of donuts.
The Ultimates turned towards the Luckster as he entered the room.
"Hey Hina." he greeted and plopped down onto his desk. "I see that everyone is here today."
Everyone but Byakuya nodded in greeting.
Sayaka cleared her throat and continued her tale.
"The Kuzuryu girl broke into the Main Course building, somehow getting past security. The girl's brother followed her in and they began running away from the head of security, Juzo Sakakura, who tried chasing after them."
"K-Kuzuryu." exclaimed Hiro, his face turning stark white. He began to sweat anxiously and Makoto suddenly remembered their first meeting where the Ultimate Clairvoyent claimed that he only began to hide in Hope's Peak Academy because of his debt to a pair of yakuza siblings. He wondered if Natsumi and her brother were the same pair.
Judging from Hiro's reaction, most likely.
"Yes, Kuzuryu. The girl called herself Natsumi Kuzuryu." Sayaka clarified.
Leon gave a startled look. "Um, but isn't Kuzuryu some sort of gang or something?"
Togami scoffed in his corner of the classroom. Everyone's eyes turned towards him as he started speaking. "The Kuzuryus aren't some 'gang'. The clan is one of the most prominent Yakuza families in Japan. They have a lot of power and influence, even beyond the coasts of Japan. They have so much power that even the police are reluctant to lay a finger on them." He smirked as he pushed his glasses up. "But of course, a mere Yakuza would never be able to match the heir of the Togami Conglomerate in the field of influence."
Makoto did not know how to react to Togami's words. He looked around, finding a majority of his class baffled with only Kyoko, Celestia, Junko, and Mukuro looking unphased.
Toko looked lustily at Togami with a ruby blush on her face. "S-so cool."
Kyoko raised an eyebrow. "Togami, you sound as though you're familiar with the Kuzuryu Clan."
"Of course, Kirigiri," Togami responded, rolling his eyes. "As a Togami, it is my duty to learn about all the important figures in the business and criminal world. I've researched them thoroughly. However, I do not see why we should worry about the dilly-dallying of commoners. It's a waste of time," he tilted his head arrogantly towards the rest of the class, "Just like how listening to the gossipping of plebians is also a waste of my time."
"It isn't gossip," Sayaka frowned. "I saw the incident with my own two eyes. In fact, Makoto was there with me."
The Luckster nodded.
"What's this?" asked Hina. "You're getting involved in all the good stuff without us, Naegi-kun? Uncool."
"I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to."
Chihiro put a finger to her lips, a thoughtful expression on her face.
"Wait, so the girl that fell from the ceiling was Natsumi Kuzuryu? Isn't her brother the Ultimate Yakuza?"
"Yep," nodded Mondo, "some chump by the name of Fubuki of Class 77-A or something along those lines." He looked at the curious faces looking towards him. "What? I'm the Ultimate Biker Gang Leader, not some part of the damn yakuza. I don't have anything to do with those bastards."
"And that ridiculous haircut of yours may have contributed to your lack of brains." Togami sneered. Mondo rose out of his seat angrily but Sakura stopped him with an outstretched arm, forcing him to sit back down while glaring at the blonde boy.
"As I must educate you dullards as so, Fuyuhiko Kuzuryu is the member of Class 77-B, our seniors." he explained. "He was apparently chosen as heir to the Kuzuryu clan once his father perishes, which looks like it could happen at any moment considering the job occupation as a yakuza. His uncle, Kazuma Kuzuryu, was said to have been what propelled the clan into its current reputation of infamy."
"Ah ha!" exclaimed Hifumi, his glasses glinting. "A typical battle of clashing families and feuds from rival gangs that leads to one king building an empire for themselves."
"B-but what about Natsumi?" asked Chihiro. "Shouldn't she be a main course student as well?"
Togami shook his head. "She's a member of the Reserve Course. The school was built for the Ultimates and the commoners are only allowed access in the Academy if they're willing to pay the high price."
"Then what was she doing in the Main Course building?" asked Sayaka.
Togami shrugged.
"However, the security of the school is notably inefficient. I should make a complaint to the Headmaster over the quality of keeping the masses away from a place where I set foot in."
Makoto heard a grunt and looked at Kyoko, who's eyes seemed to twitch at the mention of the headmaster, but it was so fleeting that he must have imagined it.
Celestia moved her hand to her lips. "My, my. Seems like we have some trespassers. I would've thought that Hope's Peak would've taken the extra precautions to avoid this situation.
Mukuro suddenly spoke.
"If you're wondering where the girl is, she's back in the Reserve Course class. Security took her and her brother away to the principal's office. It was quite a spectacle."
"How do you know?" asked Leon. "Were you spying on them?"
Junko snickered. "If you're thinking about stalkers, take a look at the bookworm over there." She said, pointing towards Toko who paid no heed to anyone and instead was looking at Togami, much to his disgust.
"Me and Muku over here." The Ultimate Fashionista hugged her arms around the Ultimate Soldier. "Happened to be in the hallway where the principal's office was. We were talking and happened to see the security drag the girl and her brother into the room. It's a bit suspicious how the Headmaster decided to let it slide instead of detention for the boy and expulsion for the girl, but hey. When someone's family is paying a hefty sum to run your school, what are you to do about it?"
"The school is funded by the government," Taka muttered, not really sure whether or not to defend the honor of Hope's Peak Academy or the fact that the yakuza's sister got special treatment from the staff.
"Believe what you want," Junko waved off his statement. "She's under special surveillance, so it's unlikely she'll do anything again."
Kyoko narrowed her eyes. "And you know how?"
Junko put her hands to her heart. "Kyoko, dear, aren't you the Ultimate Detective? You couldn't figure out the information for yourself? Besides, isn't it the role of a detective to find out information themselves and not depend on others? Are you not taking the path to become a detective, but instead a snoop who goes around asking questions and expecting the answers from other people?"
"..."
Kyoko said nothing as the Ultimate Fashionista smirked smugly.
"And you say that you're not the type to talk back, huh? And here I thought the Ultimate Detective would have a little more guts."
Taka slammed his hands on the desk. "Junko, there's no need to be rude!"
The fashionista raised her arms in surrender. "Sorry, sorry. I was just having some fun. Lighten up, you guys.
Hina sighed. "Anyway, back to the point. A Reserve Course student got into the Main Course."
"And now they're under constant supervision," said Mukuro. "But the staff doesn't know how the girl got through security and Kuzuryu is not squealing anytime soon."
"That is indeed strange," remarked Celestia. She sat up. "But it is not any concern of mine. After all, the Ultimate Gambler must always keep a level head." She glanced at the rest of the class. "And it would do you all a favor to think the same."
She left with Hifumi following behind her, his pudgy legs sprinting to catch up.
Byakuya stood. "And I shall do the same. There's nothing worth talking about in a group of simpletons. I am above this."
He walked away.
"W-wait for me, Master Togami." Toko cried as she too left the classroom.
Junko and Mukuro both shrugged and stood up, leaving the classroom together.
"Hey, Junko. Where are you going?" asked Sayaka.
"Well," The blond model yawned. "Not like we have much to do anyway. Even our own teacher doesn't come to teach himself. He's probably off drinking booze again."
"Again?" exclaimed Taka, dismayed.
Junko and Mukuro both ignored him.
"I'm just going to sleep. Come, Muku. I have some beauty sleep to catch up on."
The Ultimate Soldier nodded and the two girls left. That left the rest of the twelve students sitting awkwardly in the room.
Hiro rubbed the back of his head. "Well, I guess now that everyone is no longer here, then that means we should go on with our day, huh?"
"Yeah." Hina said. She lifted a hand up in the form of a fist-bump. "I gotta check out the swimming pool again! Sakura, do you want to come with me?"
The Ultimate Martial Artist smiled softly. "I would love to Hina."
Leon stood up.
"Well, since class is officially dismissed, maybe I should start working on that new song for my album."
He turned towards Sayaka.
"Hey, Maizono-chan. Do you want to join me some time?" he smiled flirtatiously. "I could use some music lessons and learn this and that."
Sayaka smiled, although it was not a friendly smile. "I'm afraid not, Kuwata-kun. Maybe when you stop chasing after skirts, then I will reconsider."
The baseball star frowned.
"Well, can't blame a guy for trying." he said bummed out. "I guess Leon Kuwata must play solo."
He left as Chihiro quietly slipped away, murmuring that she has some kind of project that requires her programming skills.
Mondo grunted. "Well, that was a boring-ass class. Been a while since I took my bike for a spin. Maybe I should do it again." The biker said to himself leaving through the same doorway.
Taka grimaced. "Oh no. I know what that means." He ran after the biker shouting. "NOT IN THE HALLWAYS!"
Sayaka giggled softly. "Well, I'm going to the music room. I want to write a song." She gave Makoto a warm smile. "Do you want to join me, Naegi?"
Makoto blinked and bashfully scratched at his cheek. "Gee, Maizono, I would love to. But not right now. I'm not in the mood for it. I have some things on my mind right now. Sorry."
Sayaka smiled gently. "Okay. No problem."
She waved goodbye as she left the classroom, leaving only the lucky student and the detective.
Makoto began packing up his things. All the other Ultimates had something to do and he was the odd man out, with no talent to work on. You can't exactly improve luck. Luck was an uncontrollable element that came and went and Makoto was not in control of it. It wasn't like he had very good luck anyway.
Something fell to the floor. Makoto paused and placed his fingers around a rectangular shape with a paper-like feel and pulled up the fallen object. It was the card that he found after the Kuzuryus ran away. The kanji for 'Amatsu Mikaboshi' stared back at him in an inky black, a contrast against the white background.
"What are you holding, Naegi?"
Makoto turned around to see the lilac-hair girl staring at him, her arms crossed over her chest.
"Oh, hi Kirigiri. What are you still doing here? Don't you have somewhere else to go?"
The detective shrugged. "No. I was just thinking. I didn't expect the class to disperse so fast."
"Ah. Well, I'm done packing, so I'll leave you to it."
"Hold it."
Makoto blinked as Kyoko grabbed onto his arm.
"I was looking at your card," she said, gesturing towards the object in his hand.
The luckster paused and looked down at the white cardboard he was clutching.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Just something I found after Natsumi and her brother..." he paused to think trying to remember the name Togami mentioned and snapped his fingers, "...Fuyuhiko ran away from the security guard. Maybe it came from her or her brother's pocket." Makoto smacked his forehead. "Shoot! I just took something from someone. That's bad."
Kyoko took the card and examined it closely.
"Hmmm. Interesting."
"What is it?"
"The name. Do you know it?"
"Amatsu Mikaboshi?" the brown-haired boy frowned. "Isn't that a god or something?"
Kyoko nodded. "A Shinto deity."
"Wait, but that doesn't explain why it's written on the card. Is this someone's name or something?
The lilac-haired girl shook her head.
"We can't say for certain. From what I can see, Amatsu Mikaboshi could be anything ranging from a person, to an organization, to even a weapon. However, what I can infer from this is that the card was given to whoever had it in their possession, meaning either Natsumi or her brother received it."
She turned to Makoto.
"Who do you think had the card?"
Makoto paused, and stopped to think. His mind rescinded back and it almost seemed like the cosmos was swirling around him as glowing words floated around him. There was a set of boxes to his bottom right corner and to his upper left corner a timer, five hearts, and five stars stacked upon each other. He hummed to himself.
"Makoto." said Kirigiri, sounding slightly annoyed.
The Ultimate Lucky Student snapped back to reality, embarrassed.
"Um, sorry. I got lost in my thoughts for a bit. I think Natsumi had the card. Natsumi was the one who fell from the ceiling. The card must have fallen out of her pocket when she did so."
The Ultimate Detective raised an eyebrow.
"Are you sure? What if the card came from Fuyuhiko Kuzuryu? There is a possibility that this 'Amatsu Mikaboshi' could be the name for an underling for the Kuzuryu clan. You could have been mistaken."
"NO THAT'S WRONG!" Makoto shouted. "Natsumi had more to gain from the situation. As a member of the Reserve Course, she would of course want to get into the Main Course. She would be the one who wanted to receive help to get in. Besides that, Fuyuhiko was wearing the school uniform pants. Those only have two pockets on the sides and they are tight enough to keep a card safely inside without falling out when running."
"Even considering the Kuzuryu clan's status, Hope's Peak Academy is well-trained enough to guard itself from strangers that are not staff or students. They would not let anyone past the gate with no security checks, especially one affiliated with gangs. If someone did manage to break in, then why did no one mention it? Instead, I believe that Natsumi was the one who had it, not Fuyuhiko." He added.
Kirigiri raised an eye. "That is a logical deduction."
She paused and a small smile crept onto her face.
"Impressive, Naegi."
"Um, thanks?"
The detective looked him in the eyes. "I do believe there is some merit in interrogating Fuyuhiko, just to be safe. However, I can't say that it is no coincidence that Natsumi, from the Reserve Course and a well-known figure, managed to break into the Main Course building without being seen and this card happened to appear right after her fall."
She held up the card and tapped her finger on the ink writing.
"It is a shame we don't have more information. We may have to look deeper into the situation. However, you brought one theory up."
Makoto looked at her, baffled. "I did?"
"Yes. You mentioned how it is unlikely for outside help to come into Hope's Peak without setting some alarm bells. If Natsumi did receive help, it could've come from the staff or even another student."
The brunette took a step back in shock. "What? You think a staff member was helping Natsumi sneak into the Main Course building?"
"Maybe not intentionally. We need to look at the evidence carefully. For all we know, a staff member could've just forgotten to turn off the cameras or perhaps Natsumi did not sneak in and instead was brought in by an unknowing student or staff member. Or, maybe, Natsumi herself had connections in the school that allowed her access."
Kyoko crossed her arms and closed her eyes.
"Either way, it is suspicious how the girl was not immediately apprehended the moment she broke into the building and the fact that the principal decided to let her go with a warning is also a red flag."
Makoto nodded, not fully comprehending the situation. "I see. So, are you going to talk with Fuyuhiko yourself or...?"
Kyoko nodded. "I'm a fully-fledged detective capable of handling a few interrogations. I don't need anyone's help."
"Right. Sorry. I just thought that maybe it would be a little dangerous and I was just wondering if you needed some company, just in case."
"Thanks, Naegi. But there's no need for you to worry. This is a job for me, not you."
"Alright."
Kyoko walked towards the door and placed her gloved hand on the doorknob before Naegi shouted out.
"Wait!"
The lavender-haired girl paused and turned to the short boy in front of her. "What is it."
"I just noticed that you share the same last name with the principal. Is he related to you?"
Immediately, Kyoko's face turned cold. Her eyes narrowed and her lips became a tight line.
"Why should you care?"
"Eh?"
"We are not related. Not in the way you are thinking of."
"But you have the same surname. Isn't he your-"
"Enough. This is not something I wish to speak about. I hope you can respect that."
Makoto flinched as Kyoko slammed the door behind her shut.
A pang of guilt wormed its way through Kyoko as she marched through the hallways. She winced and stopped herself, placing her hand over her face.
"Ugh. Why did I snap at him? He didn't deserve that."
She looked down at the palm of her glove, her vision obscured by the dark material.
He asked about my father.
Making sure no one saw her, Kyoko took off her gloves. Her hands shook as she removed them. She stared at her palms, her fingers tracing over the burn marks. The blackened skin felt rough beneath her fingers. She clenched her fist, feeling the texture between her knuckles.
The topic of Jin Kirigiri was one of the easiest ways to get her to lose her cool. She only gave him acknowledgement as her birth father, but anything beyond that was giving him too much credit.
He's the principal of a school meant to guide students, but he abandoned his own daughter. she thought to herself bitterly.
The person who she considered her father is ironically Jin's own father Fuhito Kirigiri who raised her as his own after Jin walked out one day and never came back. She always wanted to be a detective, and her grandfather Fuhito mentored her willingly as his successor once Jin left.
However, the role of being a detective was a harrowing path to follow.
She remembered that day like it was yesterday.
A fire. A cliff. A fall.
Pale hands digging desperately through the rubble trying to pull the person underneath, white slowly turning black as the flames licked at her palms.
"The Kirigiris pride themselves on being above emotions. They must not pick sides. They must be just in their judgment, for that is how our clan managed to survive for so long." Fuhito's words echoed in her mind.
She never truly understood them until the incident. After that, she swore to never become attached to anyone else ever again.
Kyoko worked hard. She worked from behind the scenes as Fuhito's apprentice solving all kinds of cases and murders until she became desensitized to death. Where others flinch away from a still corpse, she would poke and prod the body. Where others would throw up at the sight of blood, she would gather a sample.
She never had a moment to herself, but it was alright. There was no room for attachment or sentimentality.
Kyoko was fine with that.
Really.
But her father was her one weakness. No matter how much she tried to put him in the back of her mind, emotions still played out erratically at the thought of him. She had to make it official. Kyoko had to cut her father out of her life on her own terms in order to move on.
Thus, she decided to break Kirigiri tradition by becoming the Ultimate Detective.
The girl made sure to sign up for Hope's Peak and considering her long list of cases solved and successes, it was no surprise to find Koichi Kizakura standing in front of the door of the Kirigiri Detective Agency with an acceptance letter in his hands.
Her grandfather made it clear that he disapproved of her choice to go to Hope's Peak Academy as that would give the spotlight to the Kirigiris. Their neutral status had meant that the clan were better off working behind the scenes and making themselves unknown to others.
However, she managed to win him over by arguing that she needs to expand her grounds if she wants to be the perfect detective. Hope's Peak Academy would offer her further education if she wanted to be the perfect detective. Fuhito eventually relented.
"Woah."
Kyoko blinked and took a step back as one Kizakura stood in front of her, a bottle of wine in his right hand.
"Kyoko-chan, fancy seeing you here."
Kyoko did not respond, only staring at the man with a flat expression on her face.
"How're ya holding up, kid?" the alcoholic man slurred.
"..."
Koichi chuckled and put his hand on his waist.
"Well, that's a pretty blunt reaction. You could've at least said hi."
"What are you doing here?" Kyoko asked, ignoring his comment.
"Just wanted to see my favorite student. See what's new."
"..."
"You know, when I first visited you, you were such a wee, little thing." he drunkenly laughed. "Jin, the idiot, was panicking and I was the one who had to calm him down. Told him everything would be fine."
"..."
"I offered him a drink and he smacked it away saying 'I'm going to be a father soon. I need to set a good example for my kid. No more drinking. I need to be responsible.'" Koichi shook his head. "Man, that was the first time I saw the guy actually look happy. And here I thought he was always brooding. He was such a serious guy back in the day. Never met such an emotionless guy."
He took another swig.
"But then he met that girl from the Uzuchi family. Don't know the whole story, but they fell in love and had you. And then...the rest is history."
Kyoko's fists clenched.
"..."
Koichi did not notice the tension he was causing as he continued. "You look like your mother. The hair, the face shape. But your eyes. You have Jin's eyes."
"Stop."
The older man blinked.
"Huh? What?"
Kyoko's eyes were blazing.
"Enough. Stop."
Koichi took a step back and put his hands in the air. "Woah. Woah. Hold on a minute."
"Stop bringing up the past. This is now. I have a new life and he has his own. We don't need to talk about this. He's not a part of my life anymore."
"Heh. That's a bit harsh, Kyoko."
The lavender-haired girl scowled and began to walk away.
"If you're only here to bother me, then you're free to leave. I have other things to attend to."
She turned away and left, but one thing Koichi mentioned made her stop.
"Jin's in the Reserve Building right now."
"What?" Kyoko turned her head.
"Jin's not on the main campus. He's in the Reserve Course Building right now. Mentioned that he has a special lesson reserved for them."
Koichi leaned forward and whispered in Kyoko's ear. "I know you were outside the door on that day Jin brought me and Tengan to his office."
Kyoko froze.
Koichi grinned and took a sip from his bottle. "You may be an Ultimate Detective, but there are some things you can't hide from the eyes of an Ultimate Talent Scout."
He took a swig again.
"Don't worry. You're not in trouble."
More seriously, he continued "The student council has been slaughtered. The Kamukura project was stolen. You know Jin's been looking into these things lately. He believes that he's the only one capable of cracking this case."
He locked Kyoko in the eyes with his own pale blue orbs. "But you and I know differently."
Kyoko put a hand to her chest. "You want me..."
"To take this case? Sure." he grunted. "Your grandfather and I may have some disagreements, but he taught you well. If anyone can figure this out, it's you."
Kyoko turned around and looked at the scout.
"Kizakura-sensei, I don't need your compliments."
"No. But we need your skills. Jin's just too much of a numbskull to listen to reason."
Kyoko hesitated. "Why are you doing this? Why are you helping me?"
"You remind me of a younger Jin. You two have more similarities than differences."
"Is that so?" Kyoko's eyebrows rose.
Koichi grinned and held his hands behind his head. "Yep. You two are a lot alike."
Kyoko did not believe that for a moment, but she had a golden opportunity in her hands.
She was NOT going to do this to help her father.
The Ultimate Detective was going to teach Jin Kirigiri a lesson. She would solve this case and show her father that she no longer needs him. Jin Kirigiri believes that he can simply hide away the Tragedy and the Kamukura Project from society? She's going to crack the case and expose the truth. She will make Jin Kirigiri fall onto his knees and beg for mercy to not expose his own failures as Headmaster.
Kyoko will simply...walk away and leave him there as she smears his reputation while increasing hers. Then she could put him in the back of her mind forever.
That would show her father the consequences of his actions. That would show him the errors of leaving the Kirigiri family behind. The errors of leaving her behind.
Kyoko closed her eyes.
"Very well. On one condition."
"Yeah?"
"You cannot tell anyone about this arrangement."
Koichi smirked. "I was already planning on it."
He stretched out his right hand.
"Deal?"
Kyoko extended her own right arm, the studded glove clenching Koichi's hand.
"Deal."