Hello readers and welcome to my new chapter. So, no big delays this time, hooray! My allergies decided to come up early, but I powered through whenever I could. Hope my allergies didn't mess with the quality, though I guess Lucky Soldier would fix anything I mess up in. Hope you enjoy the chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own Danganronpa.

Questions section! (Not too much this time around, but I try scrounge as much as I can)

Q: Regarding the FTEs and when we should do which character:
L: Overall, there seems to be a general consensus of "don't just do the characters who are involved in that chapter, mix it up!" kind of deal. And actually, I agree! Coincidentally (or maybe not..), Spirit also put in a part of Kirigiri's FTE so there's that!
S: It's kinda a coincidence, but not so much.

Q: Will you be including the bad end from CH5?
L: I am about 80% sure that Spirit has said no before... but I'll let him answer this one.
S: If I didn't, I'll say it now: I most likely won't show it. I may mention it to the cast, but I won't show the bad ending.

Q: Will you be including the Bath House bonus scene?
L: I am also... 80% sure that Spirit has said no to this one... actually as I'm responding to this, I think Spirit has said no to all the extra stuff.
S: Yeah, I think so as well. If I didn't, I'll say it now: I won't be adding most, if not all, the extra stuff in Danganronpa.

Chapter 26: Watching Ch 2: Boys' Life of Despair Part 3

After the meeting, the scene switched to the class returning to their dorms for the night. Makoto and Kyoko were beside one another as they walked down the hall in comfortable silence. The soft footsteps of sneakers and the clacking of the detective's heeled boots complimented each other throughout their silent stroll in the night.

Suddenly, the comfortable cadence of their footsteps was interrupted as Kyoko broke the silence. "Are you scared, Makoto?"

"Huh….?" Makoto looked up at the sudden question.

The others were also surprised by that question. Both from the fact that Kyoko was the one to break the silence, and the nature of the question itself.

"That was out of the blue." Junko stated bluntly.

"Also, aren't you a couple days too late to be asking that question? I really hope this wasn't how you actually opened up to Makoto." Leon sarcastically said.

"Why the sudden interest? You didn't seem awfully interested the first time he said 'hi'." Sayaka added.

Kyoko shrugged. "I'm guessing maybe my future self wants to get to know Makoto after the first trial."

"Being trapped in a place like this…." Kyoko clarified.

"Wh-Who wouldn't be?" Makoto rhetorically asked. "Of course I'm scared, being trapped in this insane school…" 'More so now, with what happened.' He added mentally to himself.

"Ah. That's good."

That earned several more looks of confusion and befuddlement. "Am I missing something, or what?" Mondo asked. "How the fuck is that good?"

"Maybe even Kyoko has a weird side that no one else knows about." Hina thought out loud. When she caught the look that the detective gave her, she immediately felt embarrassed and rubbed the back of her neck apologetically. "Ahh, sorry!"

"Listen, my future self will explain." Kyoko said, already knowing what she meant by that.

That earned a befuddled look from Makoto. "That's….good?"

"Fear is proof that your imagination is functioning." Kyoko explained. "Frankly, I feel bad for anyone who can't feel fear. Without imagination, you can never deduce which action to take next."

"Ah." Celeste nodded to herself. "A most interesting thought."

"But what about you? Your future self is pretty damn calm." Leon pointed out.

Kyoko rolled her eyes. Of course she is. She doesn't let herself show her emotions so openly.

"But what about you? You seem totally calm." Makoto pointed out. "You don't act afraid at all."

"I'm scared too, of course," Kyoko told him. "I simply hide my emotions. There's no advantage to be gained from letting others see how you feel."

"You hide…? Huh….?" Makoto was confused at that.

"What I mean is, I'm not as foolishly open as you are." Kyoko stated bluntly.

'Foolishly open….?'

Sayaka huffed. "Did you have to say it like that, Kyoko? There's nothing wrong with being so open with your emotions."

"You and I both know, full and well, the dangers of being so open and trusting." Kyoko countered calmly. "Or do I have to remind you of what happened in chapter 1?" Sayaka winced at that, and stayed silent.

The two are now at the middle of the hall, with everyone else already in their room. "Also, the 'fear' I experience is a little different from yours, I imagine." Kyoko added in.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Makoto asked curiously.

"How can it be different?" Hina asked, tilting her head.

Kyoko stayed silent, knowing that her other will say the difference, as well as surprised that her other is being this open to Makoto. She guessed the last chapter got her future self to see the same thing within Makoto that she herself saw.

"You're afraid of what you might lose, right?" Kyoko asked rhetorically. "I'm afraid of what I've already lost."

"Afraid….of what you've already lost?" Hifumi repeated, confused. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Yeah. How can you be afraid of what you already lost?" Hina asked as well.

"Wait a minute….is it ghosts?!" Hiro exclaimed in panic. "Are there ghosts haunting her?!"

Once again, the sound of facepalms echoed the room. "Why the hell does it always come back to ghosts?" Mondo growled in frustration.

"I'm sorry….I don't understand." Makoto admitted.

"I know." She simply stated, turning away from him. "Goodbye." And with that, she left her room.

Hina pouted. "Hey! You can't just do that! You didn't even explain to him what you meant!"

"Of course not. I'm not the type to open up about everything." Kyoko retorted coolly. "Not even to someone like Makoto."

"I would be surprised if you did." Makoto admitted.

Makoto sighed. "Well, we're just still getting to know each other." He figured to himself as he opened the door to his own dorm. "Maybe we'll talk more next time." With that, he went into his own room and the screen went dark.

The next day started with a slightly different morning announcement. Makoto groaned as he woke up to the blaring bell that rang through the dorms. "Good morning everyone! It is now 7 a.m. and nighttime is officially over! Time to rise and shine! Get ready to greet another beee-yutiful day!" Monokuma broadcasted through the monitors.

"Oh, that's right!" The bear said in an afterthought. "I wanted to let you know that your e-Handbooks have been updated! New regulations have been added, so please take a look and enjoy your school life more than ever before!" With that, the monitor turned off.

Makoto got up from his bed with a small yawn. 'He must be referring to yesterday…."Loaning your e-Handbook is strictly prohibited."' Makoto thought to himself. "But right now, I need to hurry up and head to breakfast."

The scene switched to Makoto walking into the dining hall, where most of the remaining students are at. "Mornin', Makoto!" Hina chirped at her seat.

"Good morning," Makoto greeted, sitting down. "Is everyone here already?"

"Nope! Still waitin' on Byakuya and Taka." Hiro informed him.

"Really? Taka isn't there?" Mondo commented in surprise. "That's strange. Usually, bro would be at the dining hall first thing."

"I agree. I would be." Taka remarked with a frown. "Maybe I'm trying to get Byakuya out of his room? He has been tardy before."

"I hope it's that." Chihiro said, a bit nervously.

"Byakuya's no surprise, but it's strange Taka's not here yet…." Makoto said with a small frown.

"Knowing Taka, I imagine he is trying to get the King of Tardiness up and out of bed." Celeste remarked.

"King of Tardiness? How very mature of you." Byakuya snarked. "I just don't believe I should rush out of bed for you commoners."

"I'm sure they'll be here soon enough. Just be patient…." Sakura reassured them.

"I don't mind waiting for them, but there is one problem," Celeste stated.

"Which is….?" Makoto inquired.

"I am thirsty."

"You're thirsty?" Leon repeated in slight disbelief. "How the hell is that a problem?!"

"Well, I don't want my throat patch while I'm waiting." Celeste stated. "There's nothing more horrible than the feeling of a dry throat."

"That's Celeste for you." Makoto sighed.

"How the hell is that a problem?!" Mondo questioned in slight disbelief.

Celeste ignored Mondo and turned to the doujin artist. "Hifumi, would you make me some tea?"

"...Huh?" Has the response of the overweight fanfic creator.

"Milk tea, if you please." Celeste requested.

"Why….why me?" Hifumi hesitantly asked.

"Your roundish figure reminds me of the owner of the coffee shop I used to frequent." Celeste explained.

'That's your reason….?' Makoto thought incredulously.

"Yeah, I still call bull on that." Leon said bluntly. "No way that's the reason."

"Well, believe it or not, it is." Celeste retorted.

"I can feel my throat drying." Celeste told Hifumi. "Quickly, please."

"O-Okay…." Looking unable to refuse her order, Hifumi went into the kitchen.

Leon rolled his eyes. "Ever since the beginning the school, you let Celeste order you around."

"Like I said before, I wasn't max levelled at the time!" Hifumi stated. "I am now!"

"Then how come you still act like her servant?"

"Cause, if we were to fight, our attack powers would destroy the school!" Hifumi declared. "So to avoid that, I serve Ms. Ludenberg, though there are times that I purposefully face her wrath!"

'Why does he have to say these things out loud?' Celeste couldn't help but gripe in her mind. It's embarrassing.

A few minutes later, Hifumi came back with a small tray of tea. "Thank you for waiting!" Hifumi stated proudly.

Celeste giggled. "Finally…."

"Hang on," Makoto looked closely at the tea. "Oh, no."

"What is it?" Sayaka asked him, as not only herself, but a few others were also curious and concerned as to what he had noticed.

"The milk isn't separated from the tea." Was all Makoto said. That was all he needed to say, judging by the several 'ahs' he got from his friends. Around the first few weeks, when Celeste began ordering around Hifumi, one of her request has been milk tea, like her future self requested. And they have a feeling it will be play out the same way.

"You c-could've made some for the r-rest of us, you know…." Toko mentioned.

"Y-Yeah. Why didn't you?" Toko asked him.

"I believe future me will explain!" Was what Hifumi said.

"I emphatically decline!" Hifumi stated to her. "You're not my type at all!" He then laugh a little. "It's all about the law of causality, basic instinct, act and react!" That got a small growl from Toko.

Toko growled herself. "L-Like you're any better! I d-doubt anyone would fall for y-you!"

"I will not fall by such bitter words! I will remain standing and triumphant!" Hifumi declared.

"Well then, if you don't mind…." She held the small tea cup delicately in her hand with a small smile. But then she pause. "...Wait."

She cocked her head to the side….and threw the cup as hard as she could on the wall. Everyone else jumped in shock from the shattering of the cup. "What the-?!" Hifumi gasped in shock. "What are you doing, my white little rabbit?!"

Hifumi pouted, remembering the exact same thing happening back at Hope's Peak. "You didn't have to do that, Ms. Ludenberg."

"It wasn't the same tea that I enjoy. It needed to be disposed of quickly." Celeste replied coolly.

"I HATE this kind of tea!" Celeste stated in disgust.

"U-Umm….I don't understand…."

"Imagine we are at a coffee shop-just any normal everyday cafe. I sit down, and I order some tea." Celeste began setting an example. "Then they ask me, 'Would you like lemon, or milk?' Now, further imagine that I replied, 'Ah, yes, I would like milk tea, please'. In this case, along with my tea they may bring me a small container of milk, yes?"

She then pointed at the remains of the milk tea. "But this is not for me! I am among those who prefer the milk to be a part of the process from the outset! The fragrance is just overly sweet that way. Adding milk or lemon right before you drink is like dousing your fries with ketchup - mere condiments! Whenever I look for a cafe, I first review their menu to see if it offers the proper style of milk tea. And I cannot acknowledge any 'milk tea' that does adds the milk during the brewing process!"

The overall reaction was….wide eyed bewilderment.

The reactions of the present class was the same. No matter how many times they hear it, it stills bewilders them how Celeste take the smallest of things so seriously. "I still don't understand why you rant over fucking tea." Mondo stated bluntly.

"Of course you don't. Your sense of taste is as dull as your brain."

That got a growl from Mondo, as vapours of anger streamed out of his ears. Oddly enough though, he managed to stay calm in his seat as it's ingrained into his head to not hurt women, even if they're capable of fighting, like Sakura and Mukuro.

"Umm," Hifumi started, still baffled. "I went to all that trouble to make you that tea….and you wanted me to go even further?"

"Yes," Celeste answered. "I realize it can a bit of a hazzle. Even in cafes that offer proper milk tea, it is always more expensive than simple tea with milk. It takes more time to prepare, surely, but….why even bother creating a menu if you are not going to offer the highest level of quality?!"

'The dining hall doesn't even have a menu.' Several thought blankly.

"Well, um….we don't actually have a menu…."

That cause Celeste to lose her temper. "That doesn't matter!" She exclaimed angrily, holding her covered index finger up. Her accent was lost as well. "Hurry up and bring me what I ask for, swine!"

"WHAAAAT?!" Hifumi screamed in terror. "O-Okay! Your little piggy will bring it right out!" With that, Hifumi ran back in the kitchen in fear.

Celeste settled back into her usual mood. "Hmhm. I do so love coercion."

"...That still scares the living daylight out of me." Leon stated.

"Yeah. That temper of hers is scary." Hina said with a shudder. Several others nodded in agreement.

"Though it's fun to get Ms. Ludenberg angry sometimes." Hifumi said, a bit mischievously. "She acts a lot like those tsundere."

"Hifumi, will you shut up?" Celeste nearly growled.

The others looked at Celeste in shock. "You were like….a totally different person just now." Hina pointed out.

"Yeah, shit….you really went psycho there." Mondo agreed. Celeste merely giggled.

"I would hate to be the bastard that angers her. Actually, I'd almost feel sorry for anyone that does." Mondo deadpanned as Chihiro shuddered in agreement.

'I knew there was more to her when I first met her,' Makoto thought to himself. 'I'd hate to have her as an enemy. Seriously man. She's one scary chick….'

Celeste held an amused smile. "Is that what you think of me, Makoto?"

The luckster chuckled sheepishly. "Yeah, it was at first." Keyword, "was". Now that he knows what she's really like, it wasn't all that bad. Most of the time.

Suddenly, the dining hall door flew open and Taka came storming in. "Bad news, everyone! There's a mystery afoot!"

"Huh? What happened?" Hiro asked.

"It would seem Byakuya refuses to leave his room!" Taka told them. "I stood there pressing his doorbell over and over, but he never showed himself."

Byakuya rolled his eyes. "Did it ever occur to him that I might not even be in there?"

"Maybe he just….wasn't there." Makoto suggested.

"See? Even a person with average intelligence can figure it out."

'I wouldn't say average.' Kyoko thought. As average as Makoto was, he did have a surprising amount of hidden intellect and insight within him.

"I'd like to think so. But I'm worried something might have happened to him." Taka said in concern, immediately alerting everyone else in the dining hall.

"I-It might be a good idea if we all split up and go look for him." Makoto suggested nervously as he got up from his seat.

"Ah! I has just about to suggest the same thing!" Taka stated.

"Stop trying to one-up e-everyone…." Toko told him.

"Okay, then I'll go check his room one more time." Hina volunteered. "I'm just gonna keep hammering that button till I get a response!"

"Very well, then the rest of can go check the rest of the building." Sakura said.

"Yeah. Before it's, y'know….too late." Hiro said nervously. No one said anything else and quickly began the search for the Ultimate Affluent Progeny.

While everyone else slowly felt their adrenaline get to them, Byakuya, simply rolled his eyes.

"Like I would let myself be killed like that." Byakuya stated, gaining the attentions of the others. "I'm probably up in the library."

"And likely reading too." Kyoko sighed. After all, the Togami heir always had a strange interest in that old library.

The scene switched to Makoto looking around the hallway. 'Where might Byakuya have gone….?' Makoto thought. His eyes has then set on the stairs leading to the second floor. 'Maybe he went to check out the second floor again….' With that thought in mind, he went up to the second floor.

The scene switched to Makoto at the door of the library. Slowly, he opened the door. When he saw who's in there, he cried out in surprise. "Byakuya?!"

There was the Ultimate Affluent Progeny, sitting at the desk, reading a book, with a cup of either tea or coffee in his other hand.

"Looks right you were right, Byakuya." Chihiro said.

"But you should be at the dining hall!" Taka raged. "Not at the library!"

"And you got everyone so worried, too!" Hina pouted.

Byakuya rolled his eyes. "He didn't ask for anyone to find him, did he?"

"Hey, uh….what are you doing?" Makoto inquired hesitantly.

"I'm fishing. What does it look like I'm doing?" Byakuya asked rhetorically, not looking away from his book. "I'm trying to read. So if you could be quiet…."

"Oh….sorry." Then Makoto's eyes shot back up in realization. "Wait, no-! What are you doing here? Everyone's super worried! We've all been looking for you!"

"Who asked you to do that?"

"B-Because…." Makoto fumbled for an explanation. "We're all supposed to meet up in the morning and eat together. We made a promise!"

"A promise?" Byakuya sighed in annoyance. "Can't I get a second's peace and quiet around here?" Snapping his book shut, he slowly stood up from his chair.

"That what I wish for everyday." Byakuya sighed. "Unfortunately, peace and quiet rarely comes by in Hope's Peak."

"Here, here." The more reserved Ultimates agreed with their own sighs.

Moments after he got up, the others came in the library, hearing Makoto's shouts. "Byakuya! So this is where you've been hiding!" Taka point an accusing finger at Byakuya.

"The heck are you doin' here, man?" Hiro sighed.

"We were very concerned…." Sakura added.

"Well you have no reason to be. I was just reading." Byakuya informed them. "I've never read such a….coarse novel, but it might prove useful at some point."

"Wh-What are you reading?" Hina asked hesitantly.

"A mystery novel." Byakuya answered shortly.

"A mystery novel?" Suddenly, Hiro started panicking. "Wait, is gonna use that knowledge from the novel to betray us?!"

"H-How, sneaky of him," Hifumi said nervously.

Byakuya rolled his eyes. "Relax, you simpletons." He chided them. "The knowledge will probably be useful when another killing happens."

"Don't say it like another killing is going to happen." Makoto protested. The heir sighed.

"Makoto, like it or not, another killing is bound to happen. There's no ifs, ors, or buts about it."

"W-Wait, so are you gonna use what you're learning in there to betray us?!" Hifumi accused nervously.

Byakuya rolled his eyes. "Don't be stupid."

"Yeah!" Makoto agreed.

"It's just something to keep in mind."

That statement caught the group off guard. Especially Byakuya. "Wait, wait, wait, what did he say just now?" Leon questioned, wide eyes.

"'Something to keep in mind'?" Junko quoted with wide eyes.

"Yea-what?" Makoto turned to Byakuya with a confused expression plastered on his face.

"If I decide to fight, I'll come up with something original." Byakuya continued, a smirked plastered on his face. "Otherwise, this game of ours will totally be boring, right? It's not often you get to take part in such a high-stakes, high-tension activity. So, if you're going to do it, you have to make sure it's entertaining." He ended that with a small, sinister snicker.

Throughout his whole speech, the group looked at the whole thing with a mix of shock and disgust. "Game? Boring?" Sayaka repeated in shock.

"High-stakes, high-tension activity?" Chihiro repeated, her face getting pale.

"Is fucking Togami actually enjoying himself?" Mondo growled.

Byakuya silently glared at his future counterpart on screen. What on earth is he saying?! It wasn't his thing to bend to another's will, especially not in a situation like this.

"What the fuck do you mean, 'game'?!" Mondo growled at him. "That's fucked up!"

"But it is a game." Byakuya persisted. "It's a game of life or death, which can have only one winner. That's all there is to it."

"H-He, actually thinks that this is all a game?" Makoto stuttered in shock.

"It appear so." Sakura said grimly.

"He is right." Celeste agreed with the heir. "It's a zero-sum game."

"Huh?" Makoto gain a confuse look. "Zero-sum game?"

"What the heck does that mean?" Hina asked, still looking shock. "And why is future Celeste agreeing with him?"

"My future self will explain." Celeste said.

"Huh?" Now Makoto turned to Celeste in confusion.

"It is part of game theory, a mathematical model." Celeste explained. "In game theory, what we are going through now is a 'zero-sum game'. In this type of game, in order for one person to gain something, another must necessarily lose something. In other words, it is a situation in which participants must compete for a position or limited resources."

"You mean like….a kind of elimination match." Sakura clarified.

"Entrance exams, sports tournament, job openings-most social interactions fall in this category." Celeste continued. "Everyone must scramble to obtain something which is limited. For you to succeed, someone else must fall. This also applies to the school life we have been subjected to here. In this case….our 'limited resource' is that only one of us can successfully become the blackened."

"So, this game was designed from the beginning to force one of us to try and defeat all the others." Byakuya stated.

"Th-This is- How can the two of you treat this so casually?!" Makoto exclaimed. "As if this is a regular competition?!"

Byakuya gritted his teeth. "I….I don't have an explanation for this." And it was hard for him to admit that. This whole thing was similar to the Togami initiation he participated in years ago. Despite not showing it, a part of him never liked it. A couple years ago he may have acted like that, but seeing it the way he was now, was eerily wrong.

"I guess my future self is just adapting to this." Celeste suggested. But that was a lie. She knows why her future self is doing this. After all, she knows herself.

"Th-That….that can't be what they had in mind!" Makoto protested.

"This is why adaption is so crucial." Celete chided him. "If those who want to escape were to disappear, there would be no reason to continue to playing the game."

"But why would I want to stop playing? It's so much fun….." An evil smile went on Byakuya's lips.

"H-He thinks it's fun?!" Chihiro questioned, tears building up in her eyes.

"Did Celeste and Byakuya both lose their goddamn minds?" Mondo growled. "They're talking like fucking loons!"

Kyoko narrowed her eyes. From what she can guess, it's their way of coping through the whole ordeal. Acting as if this is a game to them, that they're untouchable.

Junko had to stop herself from giggling uncontrollably. She knew Byakuya was a perfect candidate for the killing games! His superior attitude wouldn't let him admit that he's in danger in the killing game, so he treats it like it's an actual game!

"It sounds as if you do not acknowledge even the possibility that you may lose, am I right?" Celeste inquired.

"Of course." Byakuya confirmed.

Celeste giggled at that. "You do not speak like the others. Exactly what I would expect from the Togami heir apparently."

"...It's just normal arrogance, isn't it?" Hiro questioned.

Byakuya normally would've said that it wasn't arrogance, that it was pure confidence. But the way his future self is acting shocked him into silence.

"You talk like that, but what if you end up dead?!" Hina retorted.

"I won't." Byakuya told her. "It simply isn't possible."

Kyoko sighed in aggravation. Is Byakuya really arrogant enough to believe he can't be killed?

"Who the fuck do you think you are?!" Mondo growled angrily.

"You know, I still just can't believe it," Byakuya suddenly said.

"Believe what?!" The biker questioned.

"That an uneducated, brain-dead, useless piece of garbage like you has survived this long." Byakuya stated coldly.

"THE FUCK DID HE CALL ME?!" Mondo roared, looking ready to go over towards Byakuya and pummel him. Luckily, Chihiro and Taka grabbed his arms before he could. "Your future self is asking to die, Togami!"

Byakuya merely looked away, not bothering to address that with a response. But inwardly, he winced at what his future self said. He's condescending towards his classmates, sure, but he didn't ever go this far.

That angered Mondo immensely. "I'm gonna fuckin' kill you!"

"Like I said. I won't die." Byakuya repeated.

"Your arrogance might be your undoing, Byakuya." Kyoko remarked. "You are not invisible, and the situation isn't a game. Everyone's has an equal risk of death, and you're not an exception."

"I….know that." Byakuya reluctantly said to Kyoko.

"You keep saying that, but-"

Celeste interrupted Hiro. "Do not bother arguing with him." The gambler advised. "For him, the concept of losing simply does not exist. He is the Ultimate Affluent Progeny after all - a boy raised to succeed from the day was born."

"He considers victory his destiny, and has lived his life accordingly." Celeste continued. "Tests and challenges are merely ways for him to stand victorious. Even if it is a life-and-death situation."

"Yeah, that does describe Byakuya to a T." Makoto agreed with a sigh.

"Good thing we brought him to our level, thanks to Celeste and Kyoko." Junko chirped. "Give him a good old taste of a reality check."

"Silence, you fashion addict." Byakuya said in annoyance. He does not want to be reminded of the day Celeste and Kyoko knocked some of his arrogance out of him.

"...Is that not so, Byakuya?" She directed that question to the heir himself.

Byakuya smirked. "At least one of you seems to understand."

"It is because I am the same as you." Celeste declared. "Games are meant to be won."

That wiped the smile off of Byakuya's face. "Are you trying to suggest we're on the same level?!" Byakuya questioned, as if insulted. "Close that vulgar mouth of yours."

Celeste rolled her eyes. "I have forgotten the days you were that arrogant." The gambler casually said. "And that rudeness of yours."

That surprised Celeste a little. "Well, well. I do apologize."

"Anyway, let me say this to all of you." Byakuya addressed everyone in the room. "You all need to try harder. If an opponent isn't going to give it their best, where's the fun for me?"

By now, nearly everyone is getting frustrated at the heir. "He actually thinks this is fun?!" Sayaka angrily said.

"People have died in the game! Our FRIENDS have died!" Hina growled.

Mukuro sighed. Arrogance has always been a trait she frowned upon whenever assessing members of her squad in Fenrir. More often than not, they are the ones who die on the battlefield first, thinking they are superior to everyone else.

"H-How could he say things like that?!" Chihiro exclaimed, the tears threatening to spill. She turned towards the present heir. "Why would you say those things, Byakuya?! It isn't a game! Not at all like a game!"

Byakuya continued to be silenced by his own behaviour as he simply crossed his arms and stared at the screen, not budging at all to the reactions all around him.

"Th-That's a terribly way to look at it…." The one who stated that was none other than Chihiro.

"Hmm?"

"This….isn't a game." Chihiro stated to Byakuya, tearfully. "Our lives are on the line, you know….to kill your own friends is….is…."

"It's horrible!" She finally yelled.

Her shout surprised the group. "Wow, Chihiro." Leon said in awe.

"I never thought you had it in you to speak up to Byakuya like that." Junko said, genuinely surprised by Chihiro's courage.

The programmer looked down. "W-Well, I couldn't stay silent while Byakuya say those things. It's just wrong."

"None of us disagree with you on that, Chihiro." Taka said comfortingly, putting a hand on her shoulder.

Byakuya scoffed. "Friends? Who decided that?"

"...Huh?"

"We're not friends." Byakuya stated. "No, quite the opposite. We're in competition-we're enemies."

"B-But….you know…." Tears began leaking out of Chihiro's eyes.

"But what?" Byakuya questioned in annoyance. "Stop trying to force your contradictions on me and accept what I'm telling you."

"U-Um…."

"Yes? If you have something to say, say it." Byakuya said harshly. "Otherwise, keep your mouth closed."

Despite not being the one directly addressed by those words, Chihiro still instinctively recoiled and teared up. "I-I'm sorry…."

"Don't be. He's the one who's wrong." Leon said, clearly bitter about the way he was treating Chihiro in the future.

"Yeah! Calling this game fun, declaring that he isn't friends with us, and making poor Chihiro cry!" Hina stated, just as angry.

"This behavior is definitely not something I approve of." Sakura said softly, her eyes closed.

"Hey, shithead!" Mondo shouted. "You get off on bullying people that can't fight back?! You wanna try that on me?!"

"So, you're back to pretending to be friends, huh?" Byakuya remarked. "And how long do you think that's gonna last?"

"Fuck you!"

"Is that all you can say?" Byakuya asked him. "It's unfortunate you would waste your breathe on such empty gibberish."

That was the last straw for Mondo. "You're a dead man, Togami!" He roared and prepared to charge the Togami heir.

But before he could, Chihiro got in front of him and held her hands up. "Don't, Mondo!" Chihiro pleaded. "It's only the future Byakuya that's saying this, not Byakuya himself! You can't hurt him for what he can't control!"

Mondo growled, looking at the very still Byakuya with an angry glare before slowly sitting back down.

"I don't blame him for wanting to strangle him." Sayaka muttered darkly. After all, she herself is pissed at Byakuya, and was before during the investigation of her murder.

That ticked Mondo off even further. "That's it! You're fuckin dead!"

Before Mondo could do just that, Hina got in front of him and held her hands up in a placating way. "H-Hold on! Just calm down!"

"I AM calm!"

"How is this 'calm'?!" She questioned in disbelief.

"Yeah! You look like a raging bull!" Hina pointed out. Then she looked at the currently angry Mondo. "You look like one now too!"

"Can you blame him?" Leon asked. "Byakuya is working his short temper here."

Byakuya turned away from everyone. "Anyway….I don't have any intention of working with the rest of you any longer." Byakuya declared. "To cooperate during an elimination game is….well, frankly, it's a waste of time. And I hate wasting my time."

"Waste of time….?" Makoto asked in disbelief.

"Engaging is 'friendly' group meals is out of the question. Someone could easily poison our food." The Togami heir pointed out. "And I'd rather not become part of the Last Supper just yet."

"Quit talking like you're in a fuckin' movie or something!" Mondo growled at him.

Byakuya began walking out. "All I'm saying is that, ultimately, you are all free to do whatever you want on your own. Goodbye." And with that, Byakuya left.

The group was silent, digesting what Byakuya told them. "Was….was he actually serious?" Hiro asked hesitantly.

"Yes. It appears that, in fact, he is." Celeste sighed.

"Ho-How could he say crap like that?!" Hina questioned in anger and disbelief. "Treat it like a game?!"

"It's insane!" Hifumi agreed. Would the heir really act like that in the situation?

"But why?" Taka questioned. The moral compass turned to the heir. "Why would you say such things?"

Byakuya sighed. "Think what you like. If I had an answer to this, I would have shared it already." He said with a little less confidence than his usual demeanor.

"Was he serious about all that….?" Hiro asked hesitantly.

"He was, without a doubt." Celeste confirmed.

"Well fuck him, then." Mondo stated.

"B-But what he said….he might not be n-necessarily be wrong…." Toko argued. "I mean, can you s-say for sure someone won't poison our f-food?"

"Seriously, Toko?!" Hina exclaimed with mouth agape.

Leon rolled his eyes. "Of course you would try to defend him!" Leon griped. "The dude could do nothing wrong in your eyes!"

"Sh-Shut it. M-Master's perfect in every way." Toko hissed at him. "Y-You should wish to b-be like him."

"Uh, no thanks. Rather not be an arrogant asshole."

"Hey, come on! You too, Toko?!" Hina exclaimed.

"Well, it's n-not like anyone would care even if I w-was gone, right….?" Toko asked all of them. "Actually, I bet you all w-want me gone! You all think I'm d-digusting!"

That got sighs from everyone, with Sayaka being the first to speak. "Oh no…."

"Here goes her 'Enemies everywhere' mode." Hiro continued.

Toko did not take that well. "Wh-Who gave a-all of you permission to assign me a m-mode?!"

Makoto waved his hands in protest. "None of us think that…."

"You j-just think you don't think that!" Toko accused.

Hiro sighed. "I know some people like to play the victim, but this is just….totally out there."

"You think I d-don't know, but I do….you want me g-gone!" Toko declared. "And I'm s-sure….the rest of you want the same th-thing, do you?!" With that statement, she ran away from everyone.

"Seriously, what the hell kind of life did you have to become….that?" Mondo questioned.

"A whole lot of factors could lead to that kind of mentality actually." Mukuro chimed in. "Persistent betrayal, lack of socialization, lack of support from family and friends in addition with continues physical trauma, childhood trauma, emotional trauma... and the list goes on." The soldier began explaining, but ended it short as she noticed Toko getting more uncomfortable by the second.

"For a soldier, you seem to know a lot about this topic." Kyoko said, causing Mukuro to shrug.

"Had to research for one of my escort mission."

"Well whatever it is, I'm contempt not knowing whatever it is." Leon stated.

"As you should be." Makoto and Byakuya muttered.

"Ah, hey! Toko wait!" Makoto shouted, but there was no stopping her.

"Just let her go. Once she gets going like that, there's nothing you can say to bring her back." Celeste advised as Makoto stopped at the door. As the writer's footsteps faded into silence, everyone stood there taking in everything that had transpired.

"Soo, it seems like rich boy and emo girl are going to be alone for a while." Junko commented.

Sakura sighed. "It appears so."

"Can't say that I'm too surprised about this." Sayaka said. "Those two are the most anti-social out of us all."

'Not to mention their difficult personalities.' Makoto thought to himself. Best not to say that out loud, lest he earns their wrath.

"Still….I don't think any of us expected Byakuya to say those things." Sayaka continued, clenching her fist in anger. "Treating it like a game, saying that he's having fun…."

"And saying that he plans to kill someone." Hiro added.

"But…..will he?" Hifumi asked nervously. No one had an immediate answer to that one, even the brilliant minded Togami heir found himself to be baffled by the one person he knew the most.

And that's the end. I hope you guys liked this chapter. And once again, I hope my allergies didn't bring down the quality. Review, favorite, and follow and I will see you guys later.

Editor: Don't worry, I got you :)