Danganronpa: Twisted Tragedy (SYOC)

by SilverMark16

[Sequel to Corrupted Hope] Eighteen of Hope's Peak's finest awake to find themselves stuck in an abandoned theme park, Piero's Playground, the joyous place in the world! However, behind the smiles and laughs is a deadly game of tears and tragedy starring a Killing Game hosted by the eccentric Stanczyk and his twisted partner, Monoyena.

18. Adventures in Paradise Gloom (Part 4)

Chapter 2: Adventures in Paradise Gloom (Daily Life #4)

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Warning: This fic contains intense violence, lots of OFFENSIVE cursing (thanks Monoyena, you fucking asshole!), character death, gore and blood, sexual innuendos, and possible spoilers for the Danganronpa series. But hey, everyone lurking in this fandom has at least played the first Danganronpa so no need to worry much there! Right?

With that said, please enjoy!

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"Toast! Toast! Toast! Toast! Toast! Toast!"

Yakira Ye Zi raised his hand, gesturing toward his track team to simmer down.

It was the night of the celebration.

South Peak High had just won the district track team championships. And it was all thanks to the efforts of Yakira and his track team. Tonight, they were to celebrate this wondrous accomplishment. At least, that's what everyone at the party thought. Well within the party, with his optimistic grin, he climbed onto the nearest table, making sure not to kick away any unfinished plates of chicken onto the floor.

Once he was on top of the table, he glanced around and grinned.

He heard his teammates erupt into loud cheers of excitement for their team captain.

He sipped his drink.

Then, he raised his plastic red cup into the air.

For the first time in his life, he felt powerful.

Special.

Like he could do whatever he wanted just because of how accomplished he was.

And he had only one person to thank for supporting him all the way…

He turned to Daisuke Kido, who kept his distance from the loud hooting boys and girls. Daisuke had situated himself on the steps to the building's upper floor, giving him small silent nods of approval. Yakira took that as a sign to start.

"Thank you," Yakira slowly spun around the table, making sure to acknowledge everyone. "Thank you everyone who could make it here today. I just… Wow! Like there's seriously a lot of people here!"

Chuckles enveloped his audience.

"...But seriously," Yakira toasted his drink. "Thank you. I have nothing but good things to say about South Peak High. Great teachers. Great classmates. A great team. A really good coach."

As he scanned the room, his eyes landed back at Daisuke.

"...Great friends," he smiled, tipping a nod.

He turned to everyone else.

"Without you guys, I don't think the track team would've been able to do what we did today," Yakira said. "So, seriously. Thank you, guys, for everything."

Applause.

Yakira shook his head and held up his hand, gesturing for them to quit applauding. He wasn't done. There was more he had to say about everything. Taking out something from his pocket, he raised it high enough for everyone to see:

An envelope.

"Does anyone know what this is?" Yakira asked.

No one answered.

The students were either muttering amongst themselves in confusion or simply trying to find some way to read whatever was on it. As an envelope, it could literally be anything. But Daisuke knew all too well what it was…

"...This... is another reason why I held this party today," Yakira smiled. "This party wasn't to commemorate our win. It was to commemorate you guys for your undying support for the past four years of high school."

Yakira opened up the envelope and began to read its contents out loud.

"'To the family of Yakira Ye Zi…"' Yakira read out loud. "'Congratulations! Yakira Ye Zi has been accepted as an incoming student to Hope's Peak Brasília as the Ultimate Track Star!' Let's fucking gooooooooo!"

The cheering and the applause returned.

However, this time, it was thunderous.

Loud enough to shake the whole living room they were in.

"Drinks are on me, tonight!" Yakira exclaimed. "Tonight! We fucking party till the sun comes up! WOOOOOO!"

Daisuke watched as their classmates swarmed Yakira's table, each with words meant to affirm just how proud they were of their school's team player. Even the young Fast-Food Employee couldn't help but clap his hands as well. He knew that Yakira would've gotten accepted but to hear it from his own mouth… and see how excited he was…

Man.

Daisuke sure wished he had the courage to walk up to him and join the festivities. He tipped his head down, never noticing that amidst all the chaos, Yakira was keeping a close eye on him. As happy as the incoming Ultimate Track Star was, to see Daisuke alone like that…

His happy smiles shifted into something a little more somber…

…as he took another sip of his drink.

…

"H-Holy shit…"

Yakira threw up another shot of alcohol into the toilet.

He coughed and heaved.

The sickening feeling of his stomach churning all the wrong liquids was too much for him to handle. Patting him on the back was Daisuke Kido, who could only watch sympathetically as Yakira continued to puke his guts away. Daisuke kept his eye on him the entire night. It was surprising to him actually.

To see him drink like a truck one moment and get wasted the next.

"O-Oh fuck me… that was…" Yakira slowly turned back, wiping his mouth with nearby toilet paper.

Daisuke helped flush the toilet for him.

"Y-Yakira, I told you to watch yourself tonight," Daisuke frowned. "Y-You won the championships. Y-You did what you wanted to do and now you're going to be bigger than ever before. S-So, you have to–"

"Jesus, Daisuke, you sound just like my mom," Yakira laughed.

"O-Oh, I'm sorry," Daisuke tipped his head down.

"No no," Yakira patted him on the shoulder, drunkenly. "Don't be sorry. It's funny. It's really funny…"

Yakira rested his back against the toilet.

Sitting next to him, Daisuke noticed just how red Yakira's was. He supposed that's what they called an Asian flush. Jeez, for what he classified to be the spinning image of a man in high school, the liquor he could supposedly take in wasn't as impressive as he nearly had thought. And honestly, that just made him all the more–

He shook his head and glanced away.

He didn't want to think about that.

What he had with Yakira was perfect.

That's it.

That's all he wanted.

"Yo, Daisuke," Yakira drunkenly glanced at the wall. "Is the wall spinning or is it just me…?"

Daisuke glanced at the wall.

It was most definitely not spinning.

"It's just you," Daisuke responded.

He was more wasted than he thought.

Daisuke shook his head and stood up.

"Listen, Yakira," Daisuke sighed. "I'll go get you some water so you can–"

Yakira held onto his hand.

Daisuke blinked, his cheeks feeling warm.

"D-Don't," Yakira muttered. "D-Don't go… Please…"

Daisuke hesitated.

Yakira definitely needed water, but to see him practically begging him to stay. He had no other choice but to comply. Timidly, he nodded, plopping back onto the ground next to him. He felt how warm Yakira's hand was. He was about to let go, but that was when he felt Yakira's thumb caress his otherwise, sweaty palms.

"...Goddamn it, Daisuke," Yakira bitterly said. "Fucking piece of shit. It should've been you up there with me. It should've been you and me. Taking on the world together. Our New Life… together…"

Daisuke blinked and glanced away.

Yakira didn't mean it like that.

That's what Daisuke figured.

"Those guys should've known that it was you who made all the food tonight," Yakira grimaced. "It was you that helped me with the prep work. It was you who supported me all the way when no one else would. I wasn't the only one who was invited to Hope's Peak Brasília, you were to–"

"Hope's Peak Florence actually," Daisuke pointed out.

"Exactly!" Yakira hissed. "Goddamn it, Daisuke! You were supposed to share the spotlight with me! Not…"

Daisuke turned to look at Yakira.

His friend was close to tears.

The alcohol was wringing out the frustrations he had been having all night. In a way, Daisuke felt bad. Not for Yakira, but for himself. The signs were all there. So, how could Daisuke be so stupid? How could he not see what Yakira really wanted out of tonight. He looked at Yakira, ashamed.

"I– I'm sorry Yakira…" Daisuke timidly said. "I… I really am…"

Now it was Yakira's turn to look at Daisuke.

He watched as the room spun around him.

The walls.

The floor.

The door.

And yet, the only thing that was still to him was Daisuke.

Daisuke Kido.

His best friend.

The only true friend he's got.

He felt Daisuke's palms against his.

He could see Daisuke keeping his head down, as he always did.

God fucking damn it, Daisuke.

He held up Daisuke's chin.

"Y-Yakira?" Daisuke blinked. "W-What–"

Yakira pressed his lips against Daisuke's.

Daisuke's face completely flushed as he tasted Yakira's lips for the first time.

And by fucking God, it was everything he dreamt of. He felt his entire body relax. He felt his hands curling up, caging Yakira's hand within his own. He leaned forward and felt his eyelids grow weary. Was this what they meant when they said someone could melt under someone's kiss?

Yakira pressed his forehead against Daisuke's, their breaths hot and heavy. Their cheeks burned with pride. They separated for a brief moment to catch their breath, but goddamn it, they went back at it again, this time with more feeling.

Yakira rubbed his hands over the back of Daisuke's neck.

Daisuke trailed his hand over Yakira's arms.

All the while, passionately kissing–

Yakira quickly opened his eyes.

His body tensed up.

He quickly removed himself from Daisuke.

He panted heavily.

Both of their faces were completely red but from the looks of it, only Yakira was horrified over what had just happened.

He was shaking.

Daisuke didn't get the memo.

He leaned back in.

Yakira pushed him back, gently.

"N-No…" Yakira shuddered. "Oh fuck. Daisuke… oh shit… fuck. Fuck…"

Daisuke blinked and glanced down.

"I– W-What's wrong…?" Daisuke asked.

"I… I didn't mean to… I…" Yakira tried to verbalize an excuse over what had happened.

"H-Hey, hey, no no it's my fault," Daisuke shook his head. "I… I shouldn't have let it go on like that. B-But wow. It was… It was like magic–"

Yakira stood up suddenly.

Daisuke followed his actions, confused.

"N-No, no, Daisuke you don't understand," Yakira shook his head. "Th-That wasn't me. I… I'm not supposed to like you like that. I'm not supposed to… I'm… I'm straight. I'm straight… right…?"

"Y-Yakira…" Daisuke held out his hand.

"N-No, please… I…" Yakira hugged himself, as if he was protecting his body. "I…"

Daisuke could tell that his close friend was confused. For so long, Daisuke believed that Yakira didn't swing that way. But the way he kissed him just moments ago… The way he moved in and the way he spoke to him… Daisuke desperately wanted to reach out and talk to him. Tell him that it was going to be okay. That it was okay…

"I… I gotta go," Yakira quickly hurried out of the bathroom.

"W-Wait, Yakira!" Daisuke called out.

But it was too late.

Yakira was the Ultimate Track Star for a reason. And the way he left that bathroom practically broke his heart. Daisuke never drank that night, but it was that moment there in which the entire world spun for him. To see his closest friend running away from… to see the entire hallway spin… to see his entire world fall apart.

He stood there, pathetically, watching as Yakira distanced himself farther and farther away from him.

All while his cheeks still burned.

All while he could still taste Yakira's lips on his.

All while he could smell Yakira's scent…

He buried his face inside his hands, only allowing himself to mutter one single word…

"...Stupid…"

---

[Hotel Mirai]

---

(Daisuke's Room)

You know that moment in Gravity Falls in which Dipper says that there was no way that he would go and stay up all night thinking about Wendy and then he does anyway?

That was Daisuke.

But instead of Wendy, it was...

Plopped on his bed and staring at the ceiling, Daisuke gained little sleep last night as his mind constantly wandered toward the man known as Aidan Brighton. He flushed whenever he thought about him. His scent. His charisma. How optimistic he was and how he valued the lives of his friends. How generally positive he tried to stay…

How similar he was to Yakira…

Daisuke swallowed.

Now that was a name he hadn't thought about in a while.

Yakira Ye Zi…

The Ultimate Track Star currently attending Hope's Peak Brasília…

Just hearing that name again made his heart ache. He knew there was a reason why he was so attracted to Aidan, and he knew that reason was burnt into the back of his mind. But for that reason, to hit him so close to home…

God.

Wherever he was now, whatever he was doing now… Daisuke hoped Yakira was doing fine. He hoped that Yakira was having a good life with whatever he was doing. That Yakira held no grudge for what happened...

Maybe that's why Aidan Brighton came into his life.

Maybe he was the embodiment of that second chance he had always wanted with Yakira. But this time, it was with an entirely individual with a different name yet the same Talent. Daisuke hoped that for once, he wouldn't screw it up like the stupid idiot he was.

Please don't screw it up...

Please don't...

Mentally, that was all Daisuke heard. His pleadings, hoping whatever entity was out there would hear and answer his pleas. That what happened two years ago wouldn't happen again. That he and Aidan would work out just fine...

Please…

Daisuke hugged his pillow and thought about Aidan.

Goddamnit.

He really did like him, didn't he…?

---

(Lobby)

It took a bit for Daisuke to get ready.

Usually, as the Ultimate Fast Food Employee, he was the early bird gets the worm kind of guy. Always clocking in his hours and making sure all kitchen equipment was up and ready to go. Always making sure that he would be there to open the doors and take orders of other early worms like himself. Today was different.

It was always different for those whose chapter gets a focus.

Hustling out of his room, he expected himself to be late to the obligatory Morning Meeting. He expected himself to stumble onto a gathering of his peers and get called out for his tardiness. What he didn't expect was the Hotel Lobby to be completely empty today. Not a person in sight. Not Yukihiko leading the charge or Beauté at the bar…

Was he so late that they had already finished their Morning Meeting or…?

"Oh, Daisuke."

Daisuke felt a chill in his spine.

It was the typical feeling he got whenever Beauté snuck up on him just to freak him out. This time though, the icy chill came from a much unlikely source. Turning his head to his left, he watched as Kikuko slowly stood side-by-side with him. She looked to have been thinking about something rather important before noticing the larger male.

Her eye flashed blue.

"If you are looking for them…" Kikuko said, holding onto her hakama tightly. "I believe they all have decided to gather inside the park today."

"Y-You're late too?" Daisuke blinked.

Kikuko smiled, politely.

"I suppose you can say that…" Kikuko took out an ofuda charm and began to fan herself.

She didn't bother explaining anything further.

Daisuke realized he didn't know much about Kikuko. While she always seemed to be the most calm and stoic of the group, there was still an air of mystery surrounding her. An air of mystery that was enough to put chills in his spine and make him grow a little weary of her. He didn't know how to explain it exactly.

There was just something about Kikuko…

"Is there something wrong, Daisuke?" Kikuko tilted her head, curiously.

"U-Um, nope!" Daisuke shook his head. "N-Nope! N-Not at all! L-Let's go find the others! R-Right?! R-Right!"

"Do be careful today," Kikuko stopped him.

Daisuke paused and turned to the shrine priestess, a little freaked out.

"...The clouds are a little darker today," Kikuko noted. "I suspect it may rain sometime today. That's usually never a good sign..."

Daisuke gulped.

Whatever omen this girl was predicting, Daisuke didn't want to hear any of it. Hurriedly, he rushed past Kikuko and headed straight for the Hotel's exit. The shrine priestess who was so rudely left behind could only stand there and raise an eyebrow.

Daisuke may have seen her as someone so mysterious it was chilling, but Kikuko had different opinions when it came to the larger male. To see him so nervous all the time… She couldn't help but feel bad for him. Perhaps it was important to note that the environment here wasn't doing him any favors…

...Couldn't blame him, really...

---

[Pleasure Park]

---

(Square)

It didn't take long for both Daisuke and Kikuko to find where everyone else was.

Just follow the long Happy Highway path straight ahead and see the large group of people that crowded the large computer housing the results of the second Playtime Event: Hangman's Gambit.

There seemed to be commotion between the cast.

Standing behind them all, was Aidan, who kept his arms folded.

For the first time in a while, he looked absolutely serious.

Understandably, Daisuke's face heated up the moment he laid his eyes on him. He timidly approached the track star, backed away a few steps, and then tried to approach him again. He began to sweat. God, he had little confidence in trying to approach this man…

"Pardon me…" Kikuko walked up to Aidan with ease.

Get rekt, Daisuke.

"Oh, Kikuko," Aidan turned back, noticing both Kikuko and the blubbering pile of fat known as Daisuke. "Daisuke. You guys made it just in time."

Aidan handed Kikuko a water bottle.

"Water?" he asked.

"No thank you," Kikuko shook her head. "I was just wondering… What exactly is going on here?"

"Ah, all this?" Aidan gestured to the crowd consisting of all of the remaining playmates. "Well as it turns out…"

Aidan gestured to the monitor for both Daisuke and Kikuko to look at. And what they saw was something completely different than what it was when the Playtime Event was first announced:

The Boy (5) ~ Red

[]A[]A[][][][]

The Girl (4) ~ Red

[]I[][]E[][]A[]

The Brother (3) ~ Green

[][]EE[]OU[]E

The Sister (4) ~ Green

[][]IE[][]E[][]

"D-Did someone–" Daisuke squeaked out.

"I'll ask again, who did this?"

Daisuke got interrupted by Yukihiko, who had spent most of his time staring at the board with visible disappointment and frustration. While the Boy and Girl had remained untouched since last night, the Brother and Sister took visible hits for the sake of figuring out what the word was. That in itself was a freaky sight…

Yukihiko turned back to the group, his second-in-command, Roderick, standing behind him, arms folded. It definitely looked very intimidating with this femboy being assisted by a muscle man who believed that monsters existed.

"Who…" Yukihiko took a deep breath. "...Did this? Look, I'm not mad, I just wanna know."

"I did," Beauté raised her hand with a smile. "I did that."

Bullshit.

"No, no you didn't," Yukihiko knew this and glanced toward everyone else. "Anyone else want to speak up?"

No one did.

Yukihiko pinched the bridge of his nose.

The Playtime Event just came out and already it was causing problems.

The first Playtime Event hindered them physically through electric shocks and roadblocks. Comparatively speaking, this one here shouldn't even be too big of a problem. At least, that was what Yukihiko had thought.

Noticing Yukihiko's frustrations, Roderick stepped forward with a glare.

"Nay!" Roderick exclaimed. "One of ye be a scoundrel fer doin something like this behind Capt'n Yukihiko's back! She be puttin her trust in ye and this is where it be?! Arrrrgh!"

Yukihiko nodded.

He had to agree with everything Roderick said.

And secretly, he was relieved that he had someone like Roderick behind his back–

"W-Wait, did you just refer to me as–" Yukihiko suddenly turned to Roderick in realization.

"Look, does something like this really matter?" Issac interrupted with a sigh, scratching the back of Isolde's body. "From what I'm seeing, someone obviously went ahead and tried to play Hangman and took some huge risks. The Brother took heavy hits but hey, at least we know what word it is now."

"Yeah, it's 'SMEEHOUSE' right?" Aidan narrowed his eyes as a suggestion.

A small silence to honor Aidan's missing brain cell.

"...Anyway," Issac brushed his hair to the side and shook his head. "I don't really see what's the big deal in someone trying to answer for the other words, y'know?"

"Are you serious, Issac?" Yukihiko looked at the toymaker with visible disappointment. "Don't see the big deal? This is obviously someone trying to turn all the buttons Red so they can get everyone out to escape."

Yukihiko snapped his fingers and pointed to the Brother's "Lives".

"...At the cost of these children, no less!" Yukihiko frowned. "They already doused the Brother in gas twice! What's to say they won't do it again?!"

Issac folded his arms with a sigh.

"Is that really the case…?" Issac caressed Isolde on the head gently.

"W-What?" Yukihiko frowned.

"Is the reason why you're upset really because you're afraid someone is going to try to make sure all buttons are pushed to Red to sacrifice those kids…?" Issac asked, smiling at Isolde as he spoke. "Or is it something else? Like maybe this person is purposely throwing a wrench in whatever insane plan you're cooking up…?"

Yukihiko narrowed his eyes.

"What exactly are you getting at here?" Yukihiko frowned.

"Oh, not me!" Issac laughed, holding up Isolde's chin. "Isolde! Sorry, she gets a little mouthy at times… And I do have to agree with everything she says…"

Yukihiko tried to get a read on Issac.

But as many people have said, reading Issac was a seriously hard thing to do. Even Yukihiko wasn't sure if the toymaker was on his side or on Aidan's or… on relatively any side for that matter. He was always there for his Morning Meetings and always there to pitch in ideas. And yet, compared to mostly everyone else, Issac was of the few whose alignment he truly didn't understand.

Perhaps that was what they called True Neutral…

Realizing just how much he was showing his frowns and visible disappointment, Yukihiko took a deep breath and forced a smile. Clapping his hands together like a preschool teacher, he turned to his fellow playmates.

"Alright, alright…" Yukihiko calmed himself. "Maybe Issac is right. Maybe it doesn't matter who did it. What matters now is that no one else is allowed to touch this computer without permission."

"Ah?" Manon blinked. "Are you going to have someone guard it, Monsieur Yukihiko?"

"Yes, I am," Yukihiko folded his arms. "This will be a two-person job. So, if I can have two volunteers, that would be great."

Almost immediately, the first hand that shot up was Roderick's. Stepping forward to make sure Yukihiko could see him, the child caregiver noticed just how committed the deep sea fisherman was about all this. His teeth were clenched and his fists showed a valiant willingness to fight for him. It… actually looked pretty cool!

"Aye!" Roderick declared. "Leave it to me, Capt'n! I'll be makin sure no mutineers dare try to pull this scallywag job ever again!"

Yukihiko tilted his head.

"Oh, Roderick, handsome…" Yukihiko placed a hand over the fisherman's cheek. "Thank you so much for volunteering."

Roderick's face turned red.

"...But unfortunately, a captain needs his second-in-command by his side, don't you think?" Yukihiko smiled. "So, I cannot ask you to stand here all day making sure no one touches the keyboards. Do you understand?"

"N-Nay!" Roderick blinked. "B-But but…"

"Oh, I know you want to help…" Yukihiko softly told him. "But trust me. I need you…"

An intense heat rose to Roderick's cheeks.

"Oh, handsome…" Yukihiko gasped. "You're heating up…"

"N-Nay!" Roderick exclaimed, covering his face. "It only be a hot day! Need not to worry, Capt'n!"

"There is more cloud than sun today, though," Kikuko remarked silently.

Roderick quickly escaped Yukihiko's motherly grasp and covered up his embarrassment. To find himself so close to the young lassie like that was intoxicating at most. Yet, as embarrassing as it was, at least it hid Roderick's disappointment at wanting to do more to impress his captain…

Turning back to everyone else, Yukihiko folded his arms.

"Anyway," Yukihiko began. "Is there anyone else here who would like to volunteer for the job?"

It took a bit, but finally, Alisa decided to raise her hand.

"Ah, Alisa…" Yukihiko smiled. "Are you volunteering?"

"Indeed," Alisa pushed her glasses up and closed her eyes. "If you need someone to guard this computer with their life, I may be the best choice for the task. You will need someone who can get up early and be right here from when the park opens and until the park closes. As a keeper of time, I can do just that…"

"No arguments there," Yukihiko nodded. "Anyone else?"

Again, there was a moment of silence, but this time, it took a little bit longer for someone to volunteer. Most of these people didn't exactly want to be in a job where they had to stand around and do nothing all day. Key word being most of course, because a volunteer had walked up toward Alisa and directly toward the keyboard for the Girl's.

"Kazuki?" Yukihiko blinked. "What are you doing? Are you volunteering?"

Kazuki hummed to himself and glanced at the keyboard for the Girl.

Unlike any typical game of Hangman, there was nothing to indicate what letters have already been used, except Sempi who actually did that when she made her guesses. But breaking fourth walls was Beauté's thing so that wasn't going to work now, was it? Nevertheless, Kazuki ignored everyone around him and started punching in letters for the Girl…

"K-Kazuki!" Alisa widened her eyes. "W-What are you doing?!"

"N-Nay!" Roderick stomped up toward the philanthropist.

"Kazuki, stop!" Yukihiko narrowed his eyes.

Kazuki stopped punching in keys and turned back. The moment he did, immediately, he was grabbed by the neck collar by the large and intimidating Roderick Cutler. Obviously, no one was happy about the thing he just did.

"Nay!" Roderick exclaimed. "What be yer problem?! Are ye trying to kill the children?!"

Kazuki let his body remain limp as he chuckled.

"...Not at all…" Kazuki shook his head, gesturing toward the monitor for the Girl. "...Look…"

Everyone turned to the Girl's monitor. Sure enough, when Kazuki punched in letters, the results had changed. Compared to what it was before, what rested on the Girl's monitor was now the following:

The Girl (4) ~ Red

FISHERMAN

"He… solved it?" Fábio widened his eyes.

"...If I remember correctly…" Kazuki smiled at Yukihiko. "...You wanted us to find the buttons for specifically the Girl and the Boy… Right…? Well… Here you go… While you were talking about volunteers and stuff… I took the time to solve the actual puzzles…"

"'FISHERMAN'...?" Yukihiko muttered to himself.

"Aw man!" Aidan groaned. "So, it wasn't 'BIGGERCAR'?!"

"...I mean this in the kindest way," Riku retorted from the side. "Please get your head checked for tumors. Your answers are an insult to hanged men everywhere. Thank you."

Through the discussions happening in the background, Yukihiko blankly stared at the screen. If the Girl's word was FISHERMAN then that would literally only mean one thing, wouldn't it? He glanced toward Roderick, who had slowly let Kazuki go after this change of events. Thanks to Kazuki, they had their first clue as to where the Girl's button rested. That got them one step closer to…

"Alright," Yukihiko nodded. "Today, I would like all of our focus to be on finding the Girl's button."

He glanced at Kazuki.

"Kazuki," Yukihiko clasped his hands together. "Would you care to accompany Alisa in guarding the keyboards?"

"...Why not…?" Kazuki closed his eyes with a small nod. "I can spend my time solving these words..."

"Great," Yukihiko smiled before turning to the other 12 playmates. "As for the rest of us, I vouch that we will meet at Roderick's Attraction in approximately an hour. Just so you can all nourish up and do whatever you need to before we reconvene. Does that sound fine with everyone else?"

He was met with a mix of agreement here and there.

"Good," Yukihiko nodded in agreement. "Let us get going. Children's lives are on the line here…"

The playmates began to disassemble themselves, with each person going their own separate ways to prepare themselves for Roderick's Attraction. Alisa and Kazuki remained behind, standing in front of the monitors, making damn sure that no one would be allowed to press it. Also left behind at Pleasure Park was Aidan and Daisuke, with the former glancing at the monitor with determination.

"U-Um, Aidan…" Daisuke gulped. "Sh-Shouldn't we also get ready for–"

"Not at all," Aidan gave Daisuke a thumbs-up and smiled. "We'll leave that Button to Yukihiko's gang. In the meantime, I'm going to go find the other Buttons…"

Aidan headed directly toward the Jungle of Joy and stopped.

"Hey, you coming, D?" Aidan turned back with a smile.

Another date with Aidan Brighton?!

Hell yes!

"O-Of course!" Daisuke smiled brightly, wallowing behind the track star with skipping butterflies in his stomach.

Maybe… things won't be as bad as he worried about…

---

[Ultimate Karate Master's Attraction]

---

(Queue)

When the Ultimate Karate Master's Attraction opened up for the first time, it was no surprise Mara would spend most of Chapter 2 just hanging out here of all places.

Shortly after Yukihiko's little announcement about what had happened at Pleasure Park, Mara felt little desire to join his little escapades at Roderick's Attraction. Not like he would care. Once again, Yukihiko was the biggest Anti-Mara Activist out there…

Not that she could blame him.

She'd hate herself too.

With folded arms, she decided to hang out at the Queue this time around. She was on the right side of the pathway to the restaurant. Her eyes were fixated on the old Chinese mural decorated onto the wall. Tch. Now that she got a better look at it, already, she found herself immersed in the artstyle of the mural.

The dragon hidden in the clouds.

The tiger crouching on the grassy terrain.

Coming perfectly in between them was the sun, drawn as a circle with triangles surrounding whose tip curved ever so slightly.

Some symbol for peace, she imagined.

But Mara knew better.

This was no imagery of two animals being kept in peace.

This was an imagery of both creatures waiting to see which of the other would strike first.

The dragon…?

Who could easily swoop down and snatch the tiger from the ground?

Or the tiger…?

Who could easily pounce into the air and tackle it down.

Mara folded her arms as she glanced at the two animals.

The two stupid animals.

"Enjoying the art, I see!"

Mara turned around to see Stanczyk standing approximately 8 feet away from her. Now, I know that would mean that he would be way past the queue line and probably on the entire left side of the restaurant's queue… So, hilariously, he'll be standing where that decorative broken cage was.

Social distancing at its finest.

Especially, when he nearly died popping up from behind Mara the first time around.

"Oh, it's you," Mara sighed. "What are you doing here?"

"Checking on my best friend of course!" Stanczyk exclaimed with a cheery smile as he hopped onto the pavement and slowly approached her.

"Tch, we're not friends," Mara shook her head.

"Huh?" Stanczyk's mask shifted to that of confusion. "W-We're not? B-But… B-But I thought…"

"Please don't start crying," Mara grimaced. "It's annoying."

"Roger that, best friend!" Stanczyk instantly stopped and gave her a mock salute. He tilted his head, glancing directly toward the mural she was fascinated in. "Oooh! You want to know the story behind this Chinese mural, don't you? Don't you? Don't you? dOn'T yOU?"

Split second distortion.

"No, I don't…" Mara shook her head. "I already know what the mural is all about, thank you very much."

"Do you though?" Stanczyk tilted his head even further as if he were the Crooked Man. "Well then! What if I told you that the story this mural is based on is actually the story of…"

"Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon?" Mara folded her arms.

"Bzzzzt!" Stanczyk formed the shape of an 'X' with his arms. "Wrong! It's actually based on the story of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon!"

"Th-That's what I just said…" Mara deadpanned.

"Did you?" Stanczyk blinked. "Oh… Then, you'll also know that the story is a very interesting one!"

"So tiring…" Mara shook her head, turning to leave.

If this was Riku, she'd tolerate it. She had two of his Hope Fragments after all, and it really seemed like the two could at least tolerate the presence of one another. But Stanczyk was an entirely different breed. After all, he was the one in charge of this game. The one who put them in this situation in the first place. There was no way she would–

"Once upon a time, there was a tiger and a dragon that were once best friends!" Stanczyk recited.

Mara paused.

"The two creatures would do everything together!" Stanczyk grinned. "From hopping on hippos and crocodiles to eating bugs and singing songs and dancing with bears! Ohhhh! How wonderful it was! Until one day… the tiger fell in love with a female tiger and gave birth to a baby boy. And then, the baby tiger was brought up to this rock and shown for the entire animal kingdom to enjoy! And it was all like, the Circle of Life and–"

"Let me stop you there," Mara grimaced. "That is not how the story goes…"

"I-It's not?" Stanczyk blinked, confused. "W-What was the story I just told then…?"

"Some hash between Lion King and Jungle Book, I don't know–" Mara sighed and shook her head. "The real Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a martial arts movie based on a famous Chinese proverb."

Mara buried her knuckles into the palm of her hands.

"Lao Shi– I mean, Yu Xin, says that 'Behind a rock in the dark probably hides a tiger, and the coiling giant root resembles a crouching dragon,'" Mara recited. "It's saying that beneath every person is a hidden talent and unexpressed emotion waiting to be revealed."

"Ooooh," Stanczyk looked at her, intrigued. Like a child learning new things. "So, like me! I have a hidden talent for singing! I just haven't shown anyone yet because I'm too shy!"

"...No one wants to hear you sing," Mara kept her stance.

"T-That might be another reason why I haven't shown anyone," Stanczyk did the FROGGO cry emoticon. "B-Boohoo boohoo…"

"Anyway, the poem is a good incentive for those to keep moving on in life," Mara continued. "Because the idea behind it is that everyone has some undiscovered purpose in life. And whatever that undiscovered purpose is… Well, they'll just have to wait to see for themselves."

Mara lowered her arms and folded her arms.

"It's far from what the mural actually shows, however," Mara continued, gesturing to the mural. "Whoever painted this, took the idea of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, too literally here. You have literal tigers crouching and dragons hiding. This doesn't tell me anything about having that undiscovered purpose in life…"

Stanczyk stood beside Mara and glanced at the mural with intrigue. That shit-eating grin he had never wavered. And slowly, his eyes trailed toward Mara, whose gaze was as serious as ever. Then, it trailed back toward the mural.

"What does it tell you, best friend?" Stanczyk asked softly.

"...The dragon and tiger here are both waiting to see which one will attack the other first," Mara frowned. "What's separating them is the sun coming in between them. It acts as the one thing keeping the peace between them. But when the sun falls, what will keep them from fighting the other…?"

Stanczyk tilted his head.

"Their friendship?" Stanczyk asked.

"No!" Mara yelled in frustration. "Not everything is about the power of friendship!"

She sighed and shook her head.

"You're seeing the sun as a barrier between two friends…" Mara grumbled. "I see the sun as the only thing keeping things in order. Because the dragon and tiger will be stuck in this stalemate for as long as the sun rises…"

Stanczyk didn't say anything about the matter. He reckoned he understood what Mara meant behind this statement.

A stalemate that lasts forever.

Kind of like this Killing Game bent on the ideals of the Trolley Problem and sacrifice. On the principle that there was truly no right answer when it came to the Trolley Problem. A cruel stalemate that'll last until the sun sets. Tch, these murals and their hidden meanings…

Mara folded her arms and glanced away.

"...That's what this mural tells me," Mara mumbled.

Stanczyk glanced at the mural, then back at Mara. The mural. Then, Mara. And he repeated this action with repeated enthusiasm before grinning brightly.

"Wow!" Stanczyk exclaimed. "You're really smart! I would've never gotten that!"

"Sm-Smart?" Mara blinked slightly flustered. "I'm not– This isn't– Why are you even here talking to me about this? Aren't you supposed to encourage us to go around and kill each other?"

"H-Huh?!" Stanczyk widened his eyes. "I am?!"

"I'd punch you in the face if it weren't for that stupid rule," Mara clenched her fist, irritated.

Based on her gaze, Stanczyk knew that she meant it. But instead of showing fear as he normally would've done, this time, he burst out laughing. Wasn't laughter meant to mock her or anything. Just laughter showing genuine amusement.

"Hahahaha!" Stanczyk cackled.

"What's so funny?" Mara had to hold herself back.

"You are so silly, best friend!" Stanczyk laughed. "Just because I own the park in which the Killing Game exists in doesn't mean I want to see my best friends hurt each other!"

His grin widened.

"I want my best friends to stay here and have fun with me forever!" Stanczyk tilted his head. "There is so much to show you all in Piero's Playground! And I want you all to experience it together with me!"

Stanczyk was practically burning his red eye into Mara.

"We're best friends to the end, aren't we?" Stanczyk gleefully grinned.

Mara shook her head.

"As I said before, clown," Mara turned around. "We're not best friends. Least of all friends. If I were to be friends with anyone here, it wouldn't be with a freak like you…"

Mara prepared to walk away–

"AReN't yOu oNe, tOo…?" Stanczyk's distorted voice forced her to stop.

Mara turned around, her eyes flaring up. As she turned, she swore that she saw a dark cloud looming over Stanczyk's face. But a split second later, it vanished, replaced by Stanczyk's gleeful grin. Though he was smiling, his eye sockets were tearing up.

"I mean– I hate my best friends being sad…" Stanczyk tilted his head, curiously. "And you looked very sad. That's why I'm here."

Mara narrowed her eyes, suspiciously.

What… was he on about?

How the hell did he know how she felt? No wait. What right did he of all people have to try to comfort someone like her?! The more he spoke, the more she didn't believe it. And the more she didn't believe it, the more she trusted him less and less. She kept her distance from the clown.

"I mean," Stanczyk giggled. "You said that you wanted friends. That's what you said to that scary boy, right?"

"Riku?" Mara narrowed her eyes. "How did you–"

Oh right.

Killing Game.

There were cameras practically everywhere in this place.

All set to capture all of their moments and specifically the moment they went ahead and slaughtered one another.

Mara kept her distance and took a deep breath.

"That's why I'm here!" Stanczyk grinned. "You always look so lonely! So, why not give you company?! Doesn't that sound like a great idea?! You can have the friend you've always been looking for! And who better than your best pal, Stanczyk?!"

Mara couldn't see shit through the jester's mask. She couldn't read his aura or get a telltale sign on what he was truly plotting. She couldn't see what his endgame was in all of this nor whether he was actually just joking around… Setting herself up for a betrayal most foul. Whatever Stanczyk had in mind… Mara shook her head at the thought.

"Once again," Mara shook her head. "If I were to be friends with anyone here, it wouldn't be you…"

Mara turned away and this time, she had the last word in this conversation.

"...Don't bother me again, or you'll seriously regret it," Mara threatened before finally moving away from her Attraction.

Leaving behind a dumbfounded Stanczyk, the jester could only stand there pathetically as he watched Mara leave him. His grin shifted to a look of disappointment. His head tilted twitched and his red eye glowed ever so slightly. This time, he didn't let his distortion seep through. Instead…

…he slunk back through the restaurant doors, with the last thing watching Mara being Stanczyk's piercing red eye…

---

[Ultimate Deep Sea Fisherman's Attraction]

---

(Queue)

The promised time to meet up was an hour after their Pleasure Park Morning Meeting.

That was what Yukihiko had requested of them.

And yet, when Riku arrived at the ride's loading dock, the only people there were Roderick and Yukihiko, both of whom looked rather annoyed that no one else had showed up yet. Actually, only Yukihiko was annoyed at this. Roderick was more annoyed about the boats that were automatically being sent off to the ride.

"Nay!" Roderick exclaimed. "Where be the crab cages?! The fishing lines?! The steering wheel?! These be rowboats without the rows than fishing boats!"

"Well obviously they couldn't fit actual fishing boats on a children's ride now, could they?" Riku muttered, glancing to the side.

"I'm surprised you of all people showed up," Yukihiko twirled his braided hair with a raised eyebrow. "If you were hoping to stand to the side and wait for us to be finished, I'm afraid you'll find yourself very disappointed."

The child caregiver jerked his thumb toward the boats.

"This ride is on Automatic at all times," Yukihiko said. "So, there's no ride control panel for you to play with, sweetie."

"Tch, as if I'm here to poke fun at you... miserable welts," Riku grumbled. "Is it really so hard to believe that I wish to attend the festivities?"

"Aye," Roderick shrugged.

"Yes," Yukihiko firmly said.

Riku delivered a pitiful laugh and a sour grin.

"Tch, fair enough," Riku bitterly muttered. "And don't call me sweetie!"

In response, Yukihiko shot him an acknowledging smirk. When it came to those in his little circle of sacrificial lambs, Riku was in the same boat as Issac was, although, a little easier to read. It was clear Riku was someone who didn't bother to take someone like him seriously. If anything, Yukihiko practically figured that the only reason Riku joins him at all is for his own twisted and personal amusement.

So, with that in mind, upsetting this bastard was always a good thing…

"Nay," Roderick growled. "Where be the crew? It be past the meeting time—"

"Pardon. I apologize for the wait, but I believe most of us needed a closet change."

"A closet what—" Yukihiko swiftly turned to see a ravishing sight.

Kikuko had wandered into the Loading Dock, but this time, instead of wearing her usual traditional hakama, she was wearing her swimwear: A black bikini with a blue paint splatter pattern and a white cover-up. She kept her head down, a little embarrassed over what she was wearing of all things.

"O-Oh, honey," Yukihiko widened his eyes. "What on Earth are you wearing?"

"Please forgive me for the obscenity," Kikuko bowed her head, apologetically. "If I remember correctly, Roderick's Attraction is a log flume ride, meaning that the chances of getting wet would be high. And my hakama is dry clean only so I figured…"

"...That you should change into your swimsuit?" Yukihiko continued. "...Why didn't I think of that?"

"You didn't think about that?" Riku started to chuckle pitifully. "How ironic. For our so-called leader to not come prepared…"

"You didn't either," Yukihiko deadpanned.

"Incorrect," Riku held his jacket collar up to cover his mouth. "I simply chose to wear my normal clothes. Washing my bare back from this germ-infested boat is the last thing I wish to do tonight, thank you very much…"

"Aye," Roderick nodded. "I be in an agreement! A sailor always be wearing his normal clothes! Never some silly swim gear! Arrrrgh!"

"But, as far as I'm concerned…" Kikuko blinked. "This is just a children's ride. Not a real sailing adventure…"

"The ocean is never just a kiddie's ride, lassie!" Roderick declared, pointing his finger toward the shrine priestess. "Hear me words!"

Kikuko tilted her head curiously.

He definitely takes all of this sailing stuff seriously. If it wasn't the monsters that roamed in the dark, it was definitely the spirit of being out in the ocean and catching the most ridiculous things he could find. The life of a deep-sea fisherman was definitely something Kikuko couldn't vibe with.

"Oh la la~ Madame Unmei! You look truly fantastique! Bravo! Bravo!"

Coming in next was Manon, who pranced in like a fashion model on the runway. Strutting over to the group, Manon showed off the swimwear that her creator provided: A dark blue bikini top with matching women's swim shorts. The actress stopped in front of the three dudes and one Japanese girl, all watching as she posed for them to see.

"Well~?" Manon gleamed. "What do you zink?"

Their silence told her a thousand words.

Almost immediately, Manon started to cover herself in embarrassment. Unlike Kikuko, who came prepared with a white cover-up, Manon was practically showing skin. As such, the flustered feeling she felt as she desperately regretted what she did seeped back into her performance.

"Oh la la~" Manon's cheeks burned. "If you do not like it, at least say some zing, s'il vous plaît…"

"It looks just fine, Manon."

Nonchalantly, Fábio was the next one to arrive and much like Manon, his swimwear was just as simply designed. He was shirtless and wore nothing but a polyester-faded yellow swim trunks with a silver lace. Hanging over his bare shoulder was a towel, meant for drying off should he need it.

"Tch, did everyone decide to dress up in their swimsuits for this occasion?" Riku grumbled.

"Afraid so," Fábio ran his fingers through his ringlet locks. "That's why a lot of people are running late. But you know what, it's worth it. Rides like these are supposed to get you wet so… Why not wear something meant to protect your casual clothing. Am I right?"

"Now I really wish I had thought of it," Yukihiko grimaced.

Yukihiko watched as Fábio situated himself next to Kikuko. Unbeknownst to him however, Kikuko had been staring at his body for quite a while. Her eyes, widening in shock over how well-built he actually was. By the time she realized she was staring, she simply glanced away, her cheeks lightly blushing.

And honestly, Yukihiko couldn't blame her.

Because goddamn, Brazil just loves to horde all the hotties, now, don't they?

"Whoa now, are we late to the party?"

Speaking of hotties, Issac himself had just arrived at the scene, rubbing the back of Isolde's body with that charming KPop-like smile. Like Fábio, he was shirtless, exposing his average yet well-built body. He wore white swim trunks with black drawstrings. Isolde, on the other hand, was playing fashionista at her finest.

She wore a sunhat, swimming cover-up, and heart-shaped glasses, as if she were going to some five-star resort. With how much Isolde had on her body, one had to wonder if the reason Issac was late was because he was too busy dressing up Isolde.

"Wow…" Issac suavely chuckled. "Unmei, Levesque. Looking good!"

Issac paused and tilted his head.

"Hey, wait a minute," Issac chuckled. "Levesque. The tabloids always said you didn't know how to swim. Why on Earth do you even have a swimsuit?"

"...Quoi?" Manon blinked for a moment before widening her eyes. Covering her body and allowing her face to flush in embarrassment once more, she responded with flustered tics. "Oh non non non. Zis is for ze marketing! Not for actual swimming or for other people to stare at!"

"W-Weren't ye just showing off, before?" Roderick blinked.

"Yeah, and besides, isn't it kind of hard to not stare at–" Issac was about to say before he widened his eyes and turned to his caterpillar. "Hey! Hey! Isolde! Wait a minute! I didn't mean it like that!"

Despite the increase in attractiveness Issac had to his name, Yukihiko reckoned he was the same ol Issac with the same ol relationship troubles with that same ol toy caterpillar. Honestly, if Issac wasn't such a cipher, he'd definitely be more willing to interact with someone like him.

"Ah heh heh. I see we have saved the best for last…"

There was no need to question who this was.

Walking in was Beauté, flashing everyone with her deep red swim dress. Underneath this dress were black and red undergarments. Why did we need to know that? I don't know but it was put there in the app so, ask Grandma Sue about it. Regardless, the moment Beauté showered the room with her attention, her looks of satisfaction rose.

"What's the matter?" Beauté giggled with that condescending tone. "Speechless? You should've expected this was coming. In every Killing Game, it's always obligatory to have a 'Beach Episode'. But I suppose since there's no way anyone would throw a beach party, this being the next best thing shall do…"

She sighed in disappointment.

"Once again, this woman speaks a language none of us care to understand…" Riku muttered in the back.

"Ah heh heh…" Beauté giggled. "What's there to understand but flash some pure fanservice for those creepy pervs reading this?"

"Creepy pervs?" Kikuko tilted her head, confused.

"Ignoring that," Fábio shook his head and glanced around. "Is this everyone? Could've sworn more people would be joining."

"Well, we know Alisa and Kazuki are out guarding the computer," Issac shrugged, petting Isolde on the head.

"Unfortunately, Madame Gundo also could not make it," Manon looked down. "She said she had some important work to do…"

"And Aidan, Daisuke, and Mara were obviously not going to come," Yukihiko shook his head. "So, yes, this really is everyone."

To think that 8 out of the 14 playmates left were able to make it to this mission. That was still an impressive feat if Yukihiko had to say so himself. To think these people were willing to try to at least save one child from the brink of death. That…

Yukihiko could respect.

"Aye, the clue the Hangin Man be tellin us is that the button of the young lassie be hidden somewhere on me ride!" Roderick folded his arms. "So, we best be keepin a sharp eye out for it."

"Roderick's right," Yukihiko smiled. "Remember why we're doing this."

"To turn the button for the Girl 'Green' so she can survive, yes," Riku muttered.

"Exactly," Yukihiko nodded. "So, it's as Roderick said. Keep a sharp eye out for that button. And hang on tight. I doubt this will be a smooth ride."

"Based on the facade outside…" Kikuko hummed. "I believe that statement to be correct."

With that being the last thing Kikuko had to really say, the 8 playmates wasted little time and got to actually loading themselves onto the boats…

…

…Or not.

The moment Issac, Fábio, and Riku were allowed to pass, Roderick stepped in front of the girls (and Yukihiko), with a rather serious glance. Fixing his beanie and practically blockading them from the oncoming boats, Roderick shook his head.

"Nay," Roderick gruffly said. "Hold it there, lassies."

"Roderick?" Yukihiko raised an eyebrow. "What is the meaning of this?"

"There be somethin we be forgettin here…" Roderick folded his arms.

"And what would that be?" Kikuko raised her hand, curiously.

"Seating arrangements…" Roderick gruffly reminded.

"Seating arrangements?" Beauté scoffed. "Ah heh heh. Oh please, we're not in kindergarten anymore."

Slowly, she began to brush past the fisherman but almost instantly, Roderick grabbed her by the shoulder and heaved her back in line.

"Nay!" Roderick exclaimed. "Don't ye understand! This be boatin! When ye boatin, ye need to appease the Gods of the Sea!"

"But zis is a children's ride," Manon blinked. "Not ze ocean."

"Nay!" Roderick exclaimed, lowering his beanie. "Ye just don't get it! In boatin, any man who sails with a woman gets instant bad luck! That be why every sailor calls a ship a 'she'! So, I be apologizin but ye cannot sail with the men. Ye are gonna need to grab yer own boat!"

"But I'm a–" Yukihiko prepared to argue.

"I be not havin any debatin here," Roderick shook his head. "Bad luck in the seas is no joke! Please be watchin yerself in ye own boat, aye, lassies?"

"Again, I'm a–" Yukihiko was about to say before being cut off.

"Pardon me," Kikuko stepped forward with a frown. "But I believe you are taking such superstitions too seriously. There are such thing as good omens and bad omens yes, but you can't apply them to–"

"Better safe than sorry, lass!" Roderick folded his arms. "This be naught for debate!"

"B-But I'm a…" Yukihiko tried to argue one last time but at this point, it was too late.

Roderick had already given his strict warnings and walked toward the other guys who had been waiting to grab a boat for a while. As Yukihiko watched, irritated, he felt the presence of the other females of the group walk past him. One particular French girl stood beside him to give him a sympathetic glance.

"Do not worry," Manon shook her head. "He is just trying to protect you. Zat is all…"

"I'm a boy," Yukihiko hissed.

"Oh oui, I know," Manon giggled. "But I couldn't help myself, non?"

Patting him on the shoulder, the actress ran up to join up with the other girls. And seeing how Roderick made himself clear on this matter, Yukihiko supposed he had no other choice but to do the same. With a disgruntled groan, Yukihiko met up with the girls he was supposed to sit with and took one look at the boats they were supposed to ride.

Each boat was a six-seater, which had little effect on the groups of four that Roderick forced everyone to break into. With each boat were six rows, meaning only one person was allowed per row. As such, the boats were compact and tight, allowing riders to snuggly fit themselves in their seats.

Only one problem…

"Tch, where are the seatbelts?" was the first thing Riku said when he sat himself onto the sixth row.

"Quoi?" Manon remarked from the boat behind the boys.

The French actress had situated herself on the 4th row, noting what Riku was talking about.

"The seatbelts…" Riku repeated. "The handlebars. The thing that all rides need to make sure you stay seated?"

He gestured to his seat and sure enough, there were absolutely no seat belts nor handlebars of any kind. Nothing to keep anyone tucked inside their seats. In fact, the closest thing were the sidebars within each row.

"Log flume rides don't typically have seat restraints," Issac shook his head as he sat in the 2nd row. "But, if you need one for comfort, those sidebars should do."

He gave Riku a sly smile as he said this and as expected it certainly didn't assure the doctor of the safety of this ride. Perhaps he made a mistake boarding this thing…

"Ah heh heh," Beauté cackled softly, sitting in the 1st row of the girls plus Yukihiko's boat. "Now how is that fair? I thought Roderick said no girls were allowed on the boy's boat."

"There are no girls on our boat," Fábio blinked, sitting on the 3rd row.

"Hey now, if you're thinking about taking Isolde from me, you have another thing coming," Issac shook his head, cupping Isolde's chin.

"Nay, the caterpillar stays on me ship!" Roderick declared from the 1st row. "Caterpillars be a sign of good luck. Therefore, it be a scurvy member of me crew! Right, crewmates?!"

"Sure," Issac shrugged with a smile.

"I guess so," Fábio took a deep breath as he glanced around the boat that was slowly making its way toward the corner, turning far from the Loading Dock.

"Can I get off…?" Riku tried to stand but seeing how it was too late, the doctor was forced to remain in his seat.

By the time the boys' boat moved away, the girls' boat (which I will no longer specify also included Yukihiko because well… you get the point), started to move toward the same path.

"Oh, how elegant!" Beauté joyously exclaimed. "Perhaps we should try to imitate pirates!"

"No," Yukihiko simply said, folding his arms on the 2nd row.

"Let's not," Kikuko shook her head, sitting in the 3rd.

With Beauté's silly idea being put down, slowly but surely, their boats filed toward the same path the boys were at. Because for them, the ride was just getting started…

---

(Ride)

With the sound of the river stream flowing beside their boats, Roderick kept a watchful eye out for any monstrous creatures lurking in the daytime. The cave that their Queue had taken place in was slowly transporting them up a lift hill, forcing everyone to sit back and submit to the fact that they were now on the ride.

"Look alive mateys!" Roderick announced. "Look alive! There could be creatures of any kind lurking in these waters!"

"This isn't supposed to be taken seriously, y'know?" Fábio noted, a little sheepishly.

Once the boat reached the top of the hill, the boat tipped forward and planted itself into a new jungle-like environment surrounded by trees and the sounds of the Amazon's wildlife.

It was a little creepy and unsettling, especially with the large trees shielding the boats from the sunlight. The sound of a waterfall could especially be heard to the right.

Animatronic crocodiles and jaguars watched them curiously as their boat made its way under the Bridge and directly into the mouth of a giant engraved stone statue.

"Whoa, now that's cool," Issac chuckled.

…

"Hey, look, that's the Bridge connected to the Tunnel!" Beauté giggled. "Oh, how elegant!"

When the girl's boat reached this point, the surreal change in atmosphere overtook the four riders. Frankly put, everyone had to admire how top notch they elevated the jungle-theming of this area of the park.

Glancing toward the Bridge that Beauté mentioned, Yukihiko, likewise, recognized it.

"I suppose we are on the receiving end of wet torment from those water guns," Yukihiko nodded with a small smile. "If only this park was open to children and not the site of a death game. Maybe I would enjoy this a little more…"

"E-Erm, I do not zink I would want to get soaked like zat…" Manon pointed out, albeit a little nervously.

"Hang on, is that…" the moment the boat passed through the statue's mouth was the moment Kikuko spotted a Marcus Avventira animatronic standing to the left.

Not only that, but through the statue's mouth was yet another lift hill, slowly lifting the boat up to a higher point of the ride.

But all focus was on Marcus Avventira, who tipped his hat and gave the girls his iconic smolder. Unfortunately, the smolder really only worked with the real Marcus Avventira, but good try on the Piero's Playground imagineers' part.

"So, you decided to join me on this adventure," Marcus's animatronic spoke. "Have to say, it definitely wasn't your best idea. This could be my most dangerous adventure yet. So, stay alert and be careful. The hunt for El Dorado isn't going to be easy."

"Oh, we're just going higher and higher, aren't we?" Beauté spoke, excited by the thrill of anticipation.

Manon both held onto the side handlebars, nervously.

"Ah!" Manon gulped. "Perhaps I have made a mistake being on zis ride, non?"

"No need to worry, Manon," Kikuko shook her head. "Unlike roller coasters, this should be a much calmer ride for you."

"Ah heh, maybe you are right, Madame Unmei," Manon tried to stay calm.

Hearing Manon's nervousness seep through, Yukihiko couldn't help but shake his head in amusement as their boat continued to climb up the lift hill. It didn't take long for Yukihiko to realize that Beauté was right.

They were just going higher and higher…

…

Past the second lift hill was another route of water (no big drop) as well as more jungle-like decor. In the trees this time we're animatronic monkeys, watching them with intrigue. Just like the crocodiles and jaguars from the last section.

As the boat continued to drift along the river stream, Roderick hunched against the first row, his eyes intent on catching anything that looked remotely like a monster. In fact, it was so intense and focused that—

"According to the map, the lost city of El Dorado should be somewhere around this area," Marcus's voice spoke out through some speakers.

"Nay!" Roderick glanced around, violently. "Who said that?!"

"Well, looks like the paranoia set in a little early..." Issac laughed to himself.

"Roderick, it's just Marcus…" Fábio tried to reassure the fisherman. "You know. The animatronic we just saw like a minute ago…?"

"W-Was it really?" Roderick growled. "Or could it be a siren?!"

"…What?" Fábio blinked, dumbfounded.

"As much as I enjoy seeing you try to decipher this brainless being's speech…" Riku narrowed. "I believe you have all failed to notice the obvious d-drOOOOOOOP!"

SPLASH!

In the middle of his sentence, the boat had reached its first big drop, engulfing the four with water. Though, it was important to note that Riku was smart and as he sat in the back, he got the least wet.

"N-Nay!" Roderick gasped. "I be soaked already!"

"W-Where are we?" Fábio was very glad he wore a swimsuit.

"Looks to be a cave…" Issac was frantically trying to keep Isolde's hat back on her head.

And not just any cave…

…

…but a cave filled with gold and shiny things.

SPLASH!

The moment the girls' boat reached this section was the moment the four squeaked in surprise over how drenched they had gotten from the first splash.

"O-Oh wow that's cold," Kikuko shuddered.

"Ah non!" Manon was wet. "Zat was—"

"Now I really wish I brought my swimsuit…" Yukihiko grimaced, noticing how soaked his shirt was.

"Weeee, oh how elegant that was!" Beauté was the one who took the brute force of the splash. "The water is refreshing. And look just how beautiful this entire scenery is!"

She glanced around at the litters of gold strewn apart this section. As if they had all collectively found treasure of every kind. Above them, was Marcus Avventira, hanging onto what seemed to be the vine of a tree.

"Hey, I told you to be careful, didn't I?" Marcus remarked. "But it looks like you found something. The lost treasure given to the Spanish conquistadors that found this place first…"

The boat continued to drift along a stream of water as more imagery of gold was littered about. There were even skeletons resting on piles of gold coins and as well as a giant shipwrecked wooden ship poking out from the wall.

"…And I guess we found the conquistadors…" Marcus continued.

As the boat turned away from the ship, the girls could see Marcus Avventira stand to the right, a worried look on his face as the room got darker and darker.

"…Or did they find us?" Marcus questioned.

Soon, the golden gleam of riches and glory was replaced by a sinister green glow. The skeletons that the girls and Yukihiko once saw laid in peace were now up and about, moving sporadically.

The voices that echoed throughout the room:

"My treasure. My treasure. My treasure."

Straight ahead was a Marcus Avventira animatronic, engaging in what seemed to be a sword fight against a Spanish skeleton.

"A curse!" Marcus exclaimed. "I should've expected this! We need to get out of here! Hang on tight, adventurers!"

"Hang on tight?" Manon sank in her seat. Then, she widened her eyes in realization. "Oh non! Oh non!"

"Oh yes!" Beauté grinned excitedly.

Another big drop, this time sending the girls straight into the next room…

…

SPLASH!

…A room filled with the moving remains of skeleton conquistadors.

To fill the background of the walls were skeletons slowly assembling themselves again and lunging forward. A clear use of projection screens there. In front of the riders was Marcus Avventira, dueling a horde of skeletal conquistadors.

Turning through was another skeleton conquistador, though a more prominent one. This one wore armor, meaning it was probably the leader of the conquistadors. And as the boat passed him, the same few words exited his mouth.

"My treasure. My treasure. My treasure."

"I'll take care of these bags of bones!" Marcus exclaimed. "You guys focus on finding a way out of here!"

No one was more involved with this plot than Roderick Cutler.

"Argh!" Roderick exclaimed. "Get 'em! Get 'em Capt'n Avventira! Send these boney landlubbers back to Davy Jones Locker from whence they came!"

Issac turned back to exchange glances with Fábio and Riku. The toymaker was clearly enjoying himself.

"Haha," Issac laughed. "And they call me the weirdo…"

Both the figure skater and doctor would've shared his sentiment… had there not be another drop coming their way.

"Three drops?!" Riku exclaimed. "Which psycho thought it'd be a good idea to put three drops in one water ride?!"

"Don't forget the big drop at the end," Fábio reminded.

Slight pause.

"Four drops?!" Riku corrected himself. "Which psycho— I give up…"

Riku accepted his fate as the boat tipped down and sent itself sliding through its fourth drop.

SPLASH!

…

"Th-There are too many drops!" Manon exclaimed, widening her eyes in fear.

"I know!" Beauté exclaimed. "Isn't it just elegant?!"

And to think that this was going to be a simple boat ride.

Kikuko shuddered as she saw the corpses of skeleton conquistadors lift themselves out of the water. In fact, most of them spewed water directly toward her and Yukihiko, much to their dismay.

"Oh Seiryuu…" Kikuko sighed. "Please allow me to wash myself cleanly after this…"

"Still wishing I had worn my swimsuit," Yukihiko let out a frustrated sigh.

"Oh my, what's that?!" Beauté gasped, pointing straight ahead.

Because what popped out of the water this time was a giant sea snake. With a splash, water sprayed onto the four riders and with a hiss, more water shot out of its mouth.

"Eep!" Manon covered her hair. "Non! S'il vous plaît!"

"Great," Marcus audibly groaned. "Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?"

With the serpent's tail submerging out of the water (along with the distant noise of Roderick screaming out the name 'Ogopogo'), the boat continued to move along the stream, with the increasing amount of water being sprayed against the four riders reaching its max.

"Non non non non!" Manon suddenly screamed out. "Not another one!"

She pointed directly toward a lift hill higher than all the others have been: the final drop.

"Yes yes yes!" Beauté giddily exclaimed.

"Non non non non!" Manon shook her head immensely.

And slowly, their boat closed in onto the beginning of the lift hill…

…

And as the boys made their climb, Roderick was practically trying to keep himself calm with the help of Fábio and Issac. From skeleton conquistadors to a giant sea snake in the water, this was truly the Ultimate Deep Sea Fisherman's Attraction.

"Oh look, the last drop…" Riku scoffed as he sat back and waited for his impending doom.

"Calm down, Roderick," Fábio continued to reassure the fisherman. "It was just an animatronic. It wasn't a real sea snake."

"Nay!" Roderick exclaimed. "Not some sea snake! Ogopogo! A terrifying sea serpent that'll eat anything with blood and flesh on their bones!"

"Okay, well, it's not that either…" Fábio reiterated.

"And that's not a welcome sight…" Issac pointed straight ahead.

As the lift hill slowly made its way closer to the light of the attraction, Marcus Avventira made sure to stand to the left, with hope in his voice.

"The exit!" Marcus exclaimed. "We can get out… Wait. What the heck is that?!"

Right as the boat was soon to reach the peak of the hill, one last surprise awaited them.

A giant golden skeleton dressed in ancient Muiscan armor, moved closer to them. With its open gaping mouth and the steam flowing out of it, none of the four had any time to register what they had seen before the boat quickly slid down its final drop…

Its final 60-feet drop.

"THAT BE THE MONSTER OF THE RED SEA!" Roderick screamed.

"OH, I WILL ISOLDE!" Issac held onto Isolde, tightly.

"W-WHOAAAAAA!" Fábio held onto the sidebars for support.

"Finallyyyyyyyyyy—" Riku let out.

SPLASH!

…

"Hey!" Marcus greeted the four riders when they pulled over to the last section of the ride. "We made it! And what a discovery that was. To think that El Dorado wasn't a city but actually a god. I've seen my fair share of supernatural things but that… That takes the cake."

Manon didn't respond as the ride drifted past the last Marcus Avventira animatronic. That last drop was a breaking point for her. She felt her heart pound and realized just how soaked she was from everything.

Yukihiko and Kikuko too.

A 60-foot drop was no joke. And whatever that thing was at the end— some ancient god named El Dorado or whatever —it frightened the heebie jeebies out of especially Kikuko.

"That was… intense," Yukihiko had to wring water out of his braids.

"It was intensely elegant and exciting!" Beauté exclaimed. "Oh my! Let's go again! Let's go again!"

"Let's not…" Manon disagreed.

"Agreed," Yukihiko sighed. "All of that and I didn't see a button or anything."

Oh right.

They were trying to look for that button weren't they?

"Oh, always so serious, you," Beauté gave a smirk toward Yukihiko. "As if the button would be on the ride, if you understand what I mean?"

"Pardon me but are you meaning to tell us that you have figured out where the button is..." Kikuko raised her hand, relieved that she didn't wear her hakama to the ride.

"Of course I do…" Beauté smirked. "It would obviously be located…"

---

(Docks)

"Hey, it's the button."

When the boat reached the ride's unloading dock, the four boys immediately got out of the ride and hurried over to where the button was. As promised, a podium stood in front of the turnstile leading to the exit of the Dock. On the podium was a big red button and underneath this button was a single word:

'GIRL'

"See, I told you it'd be here!" Beauté smirked as her boat shortly arrived.

Quickly, all three girls plus Yukihiko exited their boat, almost about as drenched as the boys were. As they made their way closer to the button, Yukihiko took the lead and glanced at the button. Breathlessly, Yukihiko held his hand out to push the button…

"Still certain you want to press that button?" Issac remarked, having borrowed Fábio's towel to dry off Isolde. "You know if you do that, you'll be damning the Boy."

"Oui, Monsieur Santiago is correct," Manon frowned. "Zis might not be ze best decision…"

Yukihiko hesitated briefly before shaking his head.

"We went through four drops worth of splashes for the sole purpose of finding this button," Yukihiko told everyone. "Pressing this will at least assure that the Girl survives…"

"And what about the Boy?" Kikuko stepped up.

Yukihiko paused to contemplate an answer.

Then, he shook his head.

"...We'll cross that bridge when we find his button…" Yukihiko simply said.

With that said, no one dared to stop him when went ahead and pressed his hand onto the button.

…

Passing through the turnstile would lead the group to a set of stairs taking them up and out of the cavern they were in.

This also meant that once they're out of the ride, they're out of the ride.

Yukihiko was first, feeling vindicated that he had successfully made sure the Girl was safe. Behind him were Roderick and Beauté, the latter of whom maintained her smirk all throughout the decision that Yukihiko made. And behind those two were the others, drenched yet with at least a good idea on where this first button was.

"Nay, that be a scary ride," Roderick shuddered. "I hope it be not a problem for you Capt'n Yukihiko…"

"Oh honey, all I need to do is just prepare a swimsuit next time," Yukihiko shook his head.

He gave a side-glance toward the others and leaned in next to the deep sea fisherman.

"But you know, Roderick, handsome…" Yukihiko rubbed his chin. "Almost anyone could get on this ride and try to undo our hard work."

Roderick blinked for a moment before realizing what Yukihiko was getting at.

"Aye," Roderick folded his arms with a nod. "I be hearin ya. Ye need me to guard me own Attraction?"

"Now, aren't you glad I suggested you come with me instead of guarding that silly Hangman monitor?" Yukihiko smiled at Roderick.

"Aye, ye know me best, Capt'n," Roderick blushed, rubbing the back of his neck.

Yukihiko patted the larger male on the cheek before moving ahead up the stairs. As Roderick faltered behind with a small smile on his face, he felt the presence of a bloody red sea witch, giggling at this exchange.

"Nay…" Roderick gruffly sighed. "What do ye want, sea witch?"

Comparatively speaking, Yukihiko didn't seem to have a problem with Beauté running about like nothing happened in the 1st Trial. But Roderick on the other hand? If it were up to him, he'd definitely keep her hogtied on the mast of a ship. If he could find a working ship, that was…

"Oh, no need to be so hostile," Beauté giggled. "I just wanted to say that you and her would make a good couple."

"C-Capt'n Yukihiko, ye mean?" Roderick blinked.

"Oh, you know it," Beauté placed a hand over her mouth, licking her red lips mischievously.

"A-Arghh…" Roderick's face flushed as he folded his arms. "It be not like that. I be seeing Capt'n Yukihiko as a worthy leader. That be all…"

"Ah heh heh…" Beauté skipped past him up the stairs. "Whatever you say…"

Roderick watched the mysterious Ultimate leave him behind. It was obvious that Beauté didn't believe him for a second. Roderick wouldn't either. He felt his heart skip a beat as he thought about Yukihiko.

Then, gruffly, he lowered his beanie with a sigh.

Trailing behind them were Manon, Kikuko, Issac and Fábio, all four of them needing to traverse the steps leading up to the attraction's next area. And these were big steps too, which meant that at some point someone was about to–

"A-Agh–" Kikuko tripped and fell into Fábio's arms.

"Whoa, careful there," Fábio blinked. "You alright, Kikuko?"

Kikuko felt her heart grow heavy as she glanced at the figure skater in surprise. Again, the butterflies of confusion fluttered around in her stomach. In fact, they fluttered so hard that you could hear Wolfie cheering and Project crying.

"I um…" Kikuko felt her face grow warm.

The two remained in the same spot for a while, glancing at nothing but one another.

Classic rom-com scenario.

"Alright lovebirds," Issac gently shoved them along with a smile. "Let's not hold up the line back here with your flirting."

"F-Flirting what?" Fábio widened his eyes.

"W-We weren't flirting!" Kikuko insisted as well.

"And Isolde isn't my girlfriend," Issac laughed. "How funny!"

Fábio and Kikuko glanced at each other with the same shared thought in mind: That Issac was a weirdo who took playing with toys a little too seriously. Fábio slowly let go of Kikuko, allowing her to move up the steps gently. Kikuko on the other hand glanced at both Issac and Fábio, her eye flaring blue as she bit her lip.

Nevertheless, the two moved up, leaving Issac stuck with Manon. When the toymaker turned to her, she was watching the two with a satisfied smile on her face.

"Such a cute couple, are zey not, Monsieur Santiago?" Manon giggled.

"Nope," Issac brushed his hair to the side and shook his head.

"Q-Quoi?" Manon blinked. "Why not?"

"Because Isolde and I are the cutest couple here," Issac cupped Isolde's chin with a smile. "Isn't that right, Isolde? Oh, yes it is…"

Manon blankly stared at the toymaker.

"E-Erm, okay, I will just…" Manon moved on ahead.

Manon didn't want to say it or even think about it but at this point, it was clear that everyone had the same opinions she had about Issac.

"Tch, weirdo," Riku brushed past Issac.

Thank you Riku.

---

(Cabin)

Going through another set of turnstiles would lead the group into the Cabin, a small area with a nice wooden roof covering their heads and a clear view of the Ruins outside.

This was the exit to Roderick's Ultimate Attraction and while there were stands filled with hats and other minor toys and trinkets, the most peculiar thing to note were the machines placed by the wall. Above the machine was a hanging sign that read:

'PHOTOS'

"Photos?" Fábio blinked. "You mean…?"

"Ah, a classic to log flume rides," Issac stepped forward toward one of the three machines placed by the wall. "Usually at the really big drops of the ride, there's a hidden camera that makes sure to take pictures of everyone's reactions during the drop."

"Oh la la~" Manon gasped, feeling excited. "S-So zat means…"

"Yep, when we rode the rides, our pictures got taken after that giant Aztec skeleton thing," Issac chuckled.

"Muiscan skeleton, actually," Kikuko corrected.

"...Right," Issac nodded as he scoured for a manual of some sort to figure out how to get this machine to work. "The only problem is… trying to figure out how this machine works…"

"Sounds like some senile old-timer be getting confused as fuck!"

"Oh no…" Yukihiko sighed bitterly.

Beside him, Roderick stood his guard, engulfing his hands into fists and ready to fight the hyena with all he had.

"Oh yes!" Monoyena popped out of nowhere with a toothy grin. "Oh come off it will ya?! Don't act like you ain't fucking happy to see me!"

"I'm not…" Yukihiko grimaced, folding his arms. "None of us here are…"

"I am," Beauté giggled.

"Okay, so only the sane people aren't…" Fábio specified.

Monoyena let his jagged red eye scan the room for a bit. To him, there was something a little off with the group. Something so off that it was making him get silent for a reason. What was that reason? Oh wait—

"Hey, wait a fucking minute…" Monoyena gnashed his teeth together. "Did you fuckers go ahead and have a beach episode?! Without me?!"

Monoyena took out his Barbie Blade and twirled it around, his jagged red eye glowing with jealousy.

"Didn't realize you cared about those," Beauté leaned forward, almost mockingly.

"Yer absolutely right," Monoyena picked the insides of his sharp teeth with a cackle. "I fucking don't. What you do in yer spare time ain't my concern unless someone's getting bloody murdered."

Picking out a small piece of shrimp, Monoyena gnawed on it before continuing.

"Anyway, you wanted to know about the Photo Machine, didn't ya?!" Monoyena grinned.

"Yeah, well, I know the ride takes your picture but how exactly do you…" Issac continued to scour the machine.

"Gee, for someone who looks like they work at a Genius Bar, yer fucking retarded…" Monoyena growled as he waddled up to the machine Issac was at. "Move outta the way, Jung Kook!"

"Ah, the BTS references never fail to wound me…" Issac rubbed Isolde's neck with slight solemness.

The toymaker stepped to the side, allowing the group to surround Monoyena and see for themselves how exactly the machine worked.

"Look closely," Monoyena tapped the edge of his blade against the machine. "And I'm especially talking to you, Japs. Fucking keeping yer eyes closed all the time… Jesus fuck…"

Yukihiko and Kikuko especially didn't find that amusing.

"This machine is state-of-the-art technology," Monoyena explained. "If ya want to get yer picture, all ya gotta do is two things. First things first, put an eTicket into this little slot here…"

Monoyena gestured to a small slot where an eTicket was able to be inserted into, before scanning the room.

"Any one of you wanks wanna give me yer eTicket?" Monoyena asked.

No one complied.

No one except Beauté that is.

"Oh, well, if I must!" Beauté smirked, handing Monoyena her eTicket.

Taking it, the Monoyena did as he had instructed himself and inserted her eTicket into the machine's slot. That was when an image popped up on the machine's screen.

"Once you do that, the eTicket automatically connects to the machine," Monoyena continued. "That's when you get to select which picture ya want saved into yer Pictures App."

Monoyena scrolled through a set of Pictures that were taken during the ride's operation.

"All Pictures are pictures taken on the day of…" Monoyena explained. "Meaning, you'll get to see pics of all the rides that happened in a day. After the park closes, the machine resets and all pictures get wiped off for storage reasons. So, if ya wanna save a pic, best do it as soon as ya finish riding it."

"And how many Pictures can you save?" Kikuko asked.

"As many as ya want," Monoyena shrugged. "Back when this was a functioning theme park, each picture would have cost some moolah. But since this ain't a functioning theme park no more, fuck the economy! Am I right?!"

No one agreed.

"Anyway, that's all there is to it with this Photo Machine…" Monoyena picked his teeth again. "A good way to save memories of… whatever the fuck you shitbags are doing. Like seriously, what the fuck am I looking at here? It's like watching the cast of Baywatch get together for one big fuck party. Jesus Christ…"

"Okay, that's enough of that," Yukihiko waved off Monoyena. "Please leave. We get the gist."

"Yeah yeah, whatever," Monoyena grumbled. "Ya fucking trap…"

Next thing they knew, Monoyena waddled off to who knows where. The hyena had successfully done his job explaining how this machine worked and it did seem relatively simple. Beauté was the first person to step up to the machine and scroll through the amount of pictures taken.

"Oh how fun…" Beauté smiled. "There sure are a lot of empty boats. I wonder why that is."

"It couldn't possibly be because we're the only ones in the park, could it?" Riku rolled his eyes.

"Ah heh heh…" Beauté giggled. "I suppose so… Oh! I found our boats!"

Tapping the 'Save' option, it didn't take long for the machine to assure the mysterious Ultimate that the process was successful. Taking out her eHandbook from the slot, she glossed through the pictures that she had saved.

"Ohhh, how elegant these memories are…" Beauté giggled as she felt the others huddle around the second picture she saved.

…

The picture Beauté had saved depicted the boat involving herself, Yukihiko, Kikuko, and Manon, sitting behind one another like some sort of conga line. The boat itself was captured the moment it slid down from the golden skull's mouth. Beauté herself had her arms raised high in the air, excited. Yukihiko buried his face behind Beauté. Kikuko was gripping on the sidebars for support, her eyes closed. And Manon looked close to passing out. A clear indicator that she regretted going on this ride with them.

…

"Wow, it sure looked like Beauté had a lot of fun," Issac chuckled.

"Oh, I did!" Beauté covered one half of her face with perceived excitement. "Definitely a top tier ride and to do it in such a wonderful swim dress too. Ohhh, it was quite elegant!"

"Nay, where be the Capt'n?" Roderick muttered. "I can't be seein her…"

"Oh, Yukihiko's right there," Fábio pointed toward the person hiding behind Beauté. "See? His purple braids are flying…"

"Wow… didn't think Yuno of all people would be scared of a kiddie ride," Issac chuckled.

"That was far from a kid's ride, Issac," Yukihiko glanced away, embarrassed.

"Not as scared as the other two were though," Riku snickered. "Oh, how delightful…"

"I wasn't scared," Kikuko retorted, her blue eye flashing with a flustered frown. "I was just… bracing myself for impact. It was a very wet ride."

Kikuko was wet?

"Oui!" Manon nodded in agreement. "Moi aussi!"

"Sure, whatever you say…" Riku chuckled to himself.

"Zen perhaps we shall see what you look like when you are falling 60-feet, non?!" Manon declared, storming up to the machine and inserting her eTicket.

With much scrolling, she found the image of the boys' boat and subsequently saved it to her eTicket. Taking it out of the slot, she opened it up and waved it for everyone to see with a challenging gaze directed toward the doctor.

"Behold!" Manon exclaimed. "Your shame, Monsieur Arakawa!"

…

The picture Manon saved, as mentioned before, involved Roderick, Issac, Fábio, and Riku in the far back. Fábio had the normal reaction of reacting with his eyes and mouth wide open from the fall. But everyone else? Everyone else had something far wackier. Roderick's face was very similar to Manon's in which he had grown completely pale. In fact, it certainly seemed like he was horrified by the 60-foot drop he had to endure. Issac on the other hand… was kissing Isolde? And Riku was… Well, sad to say it for Manon, but Riku just looked like he had completely given up.

…

"S-Sacre bleu?!" Manon exclaimed. "You were not afraid?!"

"Shortly, before the third drop, my mentality was checked out elsewhere," Riku muttered. "But enough about me, what on Earth were you doing?"

Riku turned his attention toward Issac, who looked away, embarrassed.

"I-It was Isolde's idea…" Issac chuckled sheepishly. "She thought it'd be romantic if we kissed at the peak of the tallest climb…"

"I suppose zat does seem very sweet…" Manon noted, hiding her disappointment that Riku didn't have an expression she could laugh at with pettiness.

"Though, Roderick, sweetie…" Yukihiko turned to Roderick with amusement. "I'm surprised you were scared of the drop. With someone who sails the seas so often, I thought you'd be used to stuff like this…"

"Uncontrollable waves, aye," Roderick nodded, folding his arms. "Giant skeletal creatures looming from the shadows? Nay! That be surprising every time I see it!"

"E-Every time?" Yukihiko blankly stared at him.

The reason he looked so pale was because of that skeleton monster El Dorado thing at the end, not the drop itself.

Makes sense.

With a nod and a small smile, Yukihiko cleared his throat and took charge, as if he were a teacher at a kindergarten field trip. Clapping his hands together with a small smile of content, though a little uncomfortable with how cold he was from the ride…

"Anyway, I believe that's all we really came here to do today," Yukihiko smiled. "With the Girl button pressed, I believe the next thing on course for us is to find the Boy's button and then go from there."

Based on the lack of responses, Yukihiko took it as everyone coming into agreement with his proposition. He glanced at Roderick, who gave him a returning nod of acknowledgement. The larger male was to stay back and make sure no one else could ride the ride to press the Girl's button…

"I need to get myself changed," Beauté giggled. "But until then, I will most certainly ride this ride once more!"

No she will not.

Not with Roderick on the watch.

"Tch, what an uneventful experience…" Riku muttered, sticking his hands into his pockets as he left.

This guy was a liar.

He totally had fun with this ride.

"Ah, I must get changed and meet with Madame Gundo," Manon hugged herself, remembering that she was in her swimwear. "I will see you all later!"

And this girl had it bad for some cowgirl.

Hurrying off in her sandals, Manon left as well. And soon, Roderick and Yukihiko went their separate ways, with Issac eyeing Yukihiko most curiously. With a laugh, he turned to the last two: Fábio and Kikuko. The toymaker waved at them with a sly smile.

"Gotta go too," Issac chuckled. "Isolde needs to dry off. She gets… cranky when wet… You two have fun now. And don't do anything we wouldn't do, alright?"

Patting Isolde on the head, Issac smiled toward the two and promptly left, with Kikuko's flaring blue eye directly on him. It didn't take her long before she realized who she was standing next to.

"O-Oh, Fábio, you're still here," Kikuko blinked, her eyes slowly glazing over to Fábio's body. "Er um…"

"Well, I was going to get changed too, but…" Fábio twirled a lock of his ringlet hair. "If you want me around for a chat…"

Fábio smiled as he glanced to the side.

Kikuko opened her mouth to say something along the lines of 'she would like that' but something stopped her from saying anything. Her eyes flared blue once more as her hopeful smile turned into a small frown. She instinctively stepped back and hugged herself, feeling a chill against her spine.

Naturally, Fábio noticed.

"Kikuko, you alright?" Fábio blinked.

"Ah, apologies," Kikuko glanced away. "Please forgive me. While I would like to engage in another conversation with you, I do think I should shower."

"O-Oh… okay…?" Fábio glanced at Kikuko, confused.

"Apologies," Kikuko bowed her head, politely. "Perhaps another time."

Turning away all too quickly, Kikuko left the figure skater behind at the Cabin, hugging herself for comfort. If Fábio could see her face right now, he would notice how conflicted she felt. On the one hand, there were those feelings she was confused about. On the other hand, well… there was…

Kikuko shook her head and walked away quickly.

"...K-Kikuko… huh…?" Fábio blinked.

And poor Fábio had no idea whether he had done something wrong or not…

---

[Stanczyk's Secret Clubhouse]

---

(Treehouse)

"Y-You mean, it wasn't 'BLEEHOUSE'?!"

Unsurprisingly, one of the Buttons that Aidan and Daisuke had tried hard to look for was the button located directly by the 'TREEHOUSE'. Not the 'SMEEHOUSE'. Not the 'BLEEHOUSE'. Not even the 'KNEEHOUSE'. 'TREEHOUSE'.

There by the photo-op on the right was a podium with a big red button on it. Underneath the button was the word:

'BROTHER'

But unlike the button for the Girl's, it wasn't lit up, meaning whoever found it was could press it if they pleased, but nothing would really happen.

Shooting out his hand, Daisuke reached forward to press the button. A clear monkey brain moment as this was all based on instinct and the appealing nature of such a flashy red button. Before his hand made contact however, Aidan grabbed him by the wrist, snapping him out and forcing the larger male to blush.

"A-Ah, Aidan?" Daisuke widened his eyes.

"Careful, we shouldn't go and push it," Aidan reprimanded as he let go of the fast food employee's wrist. "Remember. If we do that, the older brother will be marked for death."

"A-Agh, right!" Daisuke quickly retracted his hand in fear.

He rubbed his wrist, his face heating up over how his crush had touched him so casually like that. As Aidan had his back turned, Daisuke kept his face tucked down toward the ground. With every moment that red pigmentation continued to color his face, Daisuke felt nervous. His legs wobbled and his hands sweated. His heart beat louder with each thump and–

"Not that it would've worked anyway since no one really solved it at the monitor..." Aidan mumbled before finally noticing Daisuke's odd silence. "H-Hey, D, you alright?"

"H-Huh?" Daisuke gulped.

"You looked like you were zoning out there," Aidan rubbed the back of his neck with a chuckle before taking out a water bottle. "Here. Maybe you need something to keep you hydrated."

Him and his water.

"A-Ah, no thanks, I'm fine…" Daisuke twiddled his fingers, nervously.

Aidan glanced at him for a moment.

"Huh, if you're sure about that…" Aidan mumbled, scratching the back of his neck.

Setting his bottled water to the side, Daisuke watched as Aidan fixed his posture and glanced directly in front of the button. In his point of view, it was like staring at a god, or at least one of those male lifeguards on Baywatch. In his mind, he was practically putting him on a pedestal. He fiddled around nervously until he could finally say at least one thing that had been on his mind for a while.

"You're really nice, Aidan…" Daisuke started.

"Hm?" Aidan turned back, a little confused at first, but shared a smile. "Oh! Thank you!"

"N-No, I mean it, y-you're just…" Daisuke twiddled his fingers. "You always try so hard to be positive. I wish… I wish I could be more like you."

Aidan considered what Daisuke said for a while. He was considered to be the most optimistic of the group. Optimistic despite the challenges and hardships they were forced to endure. Naive was another more common term to describe him. Everyone thought of him as naive. Everyone except…

Aidan softly chuckled.

"Well…" Aidan rubbed the back of his neck, bashfully. "It's not all good, I can promise you that!"

Daisuke blinked.

Based on his expression, it didn't seem like Aidan was too happy with that as a compliment. He watched as the track star started to think back to what life was like back at home. And now that the track star did find time to think about it, he also figured it was a while since he had any time to reminisce about home life.

"Being optimistic about everything is all I've really known," Aidan noted. "I mean, you already know that I have a twin sister, right?"

Right.

That twin sister who Daisuke stupidly mistook as his girlfriend.

That was an embarrassing moment for sure.

"Yeah well, I was born a few minutes before Nadia so technically, that made me the oldest of the two," Aidan grinned. "And as most older kids go, well… They're usually the ones that get showered with the most pressure to live up to family names and all that fun stuff."

Aidan's grin shifted into a more tiresome look.

"Parents really did everything they could to make me their golden kid," Aidan chuckled. "And where I stand now… Well, I guess you could say that it worked."

Sheepishly, he rubbed the back of his neck.

"A little too well for my liking," Aidan laughed it off.

Daisuke looked down with a gulp.

"I– I'm sorry…" he apologized.

"Huh?" Aidan blinked. "Hey, no need to apologize. It wasn't anything terrible or anything like that. I mean, I guess it was a little suffocating when you were expected to act a certain way but that's just normal parenting stuff, isn't it?"

Daisuke supposed it was.

With how much his own father forced him into sports, he'd like to imagine that he could relate to Aidan's circumstances. The only difference was that it didn't seem like Aidan was bothered by what he was presumably forced to do. In fact, if anything, he seemed to relish in the sports he loved to do. Especially…

"So… y-you just deal with it?" Daisuke asked. "W-With everything you're expected to do…?"

Aidan started to laugh.

"Well, yeah dude!" Aidan laughed, giving Daisuke a thumbs-up. "When you're asked to do something, you just do it! No need to complain all the time about it!"

"O-Oh…" Daisuke looked down in disappointment.

Thanks to the Hope Fragments he collected from Daisuke yesterday, Aidan instantly realized just why the larger male looked so disappointed. Quickly, he shook his head albeit a little frantically.

"Whoa whoa, let me rephrase," Aidan quickly said. "Look. When you're asked to do something, yeah you just do it… But only if you agree with it. Like, I love sports. That's why I agreed to get involved with it. You don't. You'd rather do something else. Completely different stuff…"

Aidan's attempt to assure Daisuke just didn't work.

With a sigh and a mental slap to the head over his slip of the tongue there, Aidan cleared his throat and tried again.

"...Yeah," Aidan sighed. "I just deal with it."

Daisuke looked up toward the track star.

"Look, D," Aidan rubbed the back of his neck again. "No one said life was going to be easy. Being the golden child who always had to remain positive and optimistic and see that there are other ways to counteract the bad things in society… It's hard but at the same time, I really do believe in that kind of stuff."

Aidan folded his arms, his gaze looking serious.

"And besides…" Aidan frowned. "After Alina… I…"

He grimaced over the thought of what happened to Alina Summers. With her being the first to snap despite her commitment to staying positive, it really did a number on the optimism in their group. To the point where it was quite literally everyone against him. Everyone except Daisuke of course…

"Maybe this golden boy stuff just got hammered into me when I was younger," Aidan sighed. "With Alina gone, someone has to keep the optimism and positivity going. Because without it…"

He shuddered.

"…Who knows what will happen next?" Aidan grimaced.

Daisuke watched Aidan's positivity fade as the reality that the Track Star so desperately tried to bury away sank in. The moment he thought about the aftermath of that Trial, was the moment his positive outlook to life cracked ever-so-slightly.

Aidan was the epitome of a golden child.

Positive.

Optimistic.

A do-gooder that doesn't take no for an answer.

That was the role he was practically thrown in the moment he was born.

Daisuke found it to be so unfair and yet, the more he looked at Aidan, the more he realized just how remarkable he truly was as a person.

Remarkable like…

"You really are so much like Yakira…" Daisuke spoke out loud.

"I'm sorry?" Aidan raised an eyebrow.

"A-Ah!" Daisuke gasped, covering his mouth in shock. "D-Did I say that out loud?! Ohhhh now you've done it again Daisuke! You've made a fool of yourself! Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!"

"Hey hey, calm down, D…" Aidan blinked. "Who's Yakira…?"

Daisuke squeaked, practically burying his face in his otherwise sweaty palms.

Should he tell him? Tell him how Yakira was practically him but with a different name? How he was basically the Beta version of Aidan? How he had a crush on Yakira and ended up ruining it by passionately making out with him?

No matter how much he thought this through in his head, the more of a bad idea this turned out to be.

"Yakira is…" Daisuke began. "Yakira is…"

Aidan looked at him expectantly.

"He's…" Daisuke looked away. "An old friend of mine!"

He spat out those words with attempted confidence. Keeping his face buried in his hands, he did try to peek through his fingers in an attempt to gauge Aidan's reaction.

"An old friend of yours?" Aidan blinked. "Hey, that's great! So you do have friends!"

Wow, Aidan.

"Um, well actually, I uh…" Daisuke glanced away. "I… don't know if we're friends anymore."

That took Aidan by surprise.

"Wait what?" Aidan blinked. "Why not?"

"I… uh…" Daisuke didn't exactly want to say that this Yakira guy kissed him or anything like that. Aidan could get jealous after all. "We just… had a falling out… That's all."

"O-Oh," Aidan rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "I'm… sorry to hear that."

"N-No no don't worry, it was my fault anyway…" Daisuke gave Aidan a small smile as a blush formed on his cheek.

Whether that was him thinking about that passionate kiss he had with Yakira or just him lusting over wanting that with Aidan was unknown.

"But you did say I was a lot like this Yakira guy…" Aidan rubbed his chin, a little intrigued. "How exactly? I'm curious."

"H-How exactly?!" Daisuke exclaimed, his face turning redder than ever. "Um, w-well…"

Daisuke took a moment to glance at Aidan, scanning his entire physique, his smile, his oblivious yet adorable face…

"…He's an Ultimate Track Star," Daisuke twiddled his fingers together. "J-Just like you."

"Oh wow!" Aidan grinned. "A rival!"

Oh. You have no idea, Aidan.

"He's also very brave and kind…" Daisuke continued along, his brow sweating.

"Huh, I guess I am pretty brave…" Aidan noted.

"And he was also my good friend for a long time…" Daisuke rubbed his hands together. "Someone I could count on…"

"Just like what we are now," Aidan gave Daisuke a thumbs-up. "Good friends!"

No. I want to be something more…

Daisuke stopped for a moment to think about what to say next. But the more he had to think, the more his face turned beet red. And the more than happened, well, the more he desperately wanted Aidan. Wanted to taste Aidan's…

"Yakira… W-Was my only friend back then," Daisuke looked down. "And like you… He was always expected to be the golden boy of his family. N-Now that I think about it, I guess that was the reason why we ended up becoming friends with one another in the first place…"

Aidan had to wonder if Yakira was his real twin all along.

"B-But he would always encourage me to hang out with other people and be friends with everyone…" Daisuke slowly sat down on the ground as he thought about Yakira. "H-He was… He was a great guy. Just like you, Aidan…"

The more Daisuke talked about Yakira, the more his voice started to crack. No matter how much he tried to avoid talking about that big elephant in his backstory, it was always there, hot in his mind. The heated feeling of passion as he buried his face into his…

…the broken feeling he felt watching Yakira running away from him…

"Whoa, D…" Aidan squatted down next to him. "Look. If it's hard to talk about him, I won't force you to talk about him. Okay man?"

Daisuke hugged himself as he felt tears slowly form from the corners of his eyes. Oh great, Daisuke. You did it again. You're crying in front of your crush. Pathetic…

"Aidan… I— I messed it up so much between us…" Daisuke buried his face into his hands once again. "I messed it up so bad and just seeing you again…"

Aidan blinked.

"…I'm just so scared," Daisuke spoke, miserably. "S-So scared to mess it up again…"

Aidan took a seat next to Daisuke as he placed a hand on the fast food employee's back.

"Hey man," Aidan tried to assure him. "It's alright. We all… you know… make mistakes. It's nothing to beat yourself up over."

Aidan definitely didn't think this was where this Free-Time Event was going. To comfort Daisuke yet again… As annoying as it could be to practically anyone else in the cast, for Aidan, it was a welcome experience. His good-hearted nature just wouldn't function right if he knew his closest friend here was in such emotional distress like this…

And while Aidan didn't really know Yakira personally, it was clear that he was very important to Daisuke. However hell Daisuke messed up their relationship, Aidan figured this Yakira guy should man up and forgive Daisuke!

"Look, based on your reaction here…" Aidan sighed. "…I doubt you were the person who messed things up in the first place."

Daisuke slowly glanced up toward Aidan, tears in his eyes.

"I mean, look at you man," Aidan frowned. "You're clearly more hurt than this Yakira guy who's probably living his best life as the other Ultimate Track Star in the world…"

Placing both hands on Daisuke's shoulder, Aidan gave him a stern yet determined smile.

"So, please, Daisuke," Aidan met the large male's eyes. "Don't blame yourself for whatever happened, okay?"

Daisuke bit his lip.

"G-God… You really are like Y-Yakira…" he spoke softly.

Through his tearful eyes, he saw nothing but Aidan's face, supplying him with a boost of confidence in his heart. The thumps of his heartbeat crescendoed louder and louder. He could smell the Cedarwood deodorant wafting off Aidan's body. God…he smelled so good.

And cupping the track star's cheeks, almost as if in a trancelike daze, Daisuke felt his breath shudder. He watched yet ignored Aidan's clearly confused face as he held onto Daisuke's wrist.

"Daisuke?" He blinked. "What are you—"

Daisuke pressed his lips against Aidan's.

Almost immediately, Aidan's eyes widened as he felt Daisuke trailed his hands over his neck. In his moment of shock, Aidan did nothing to try to break away from the kiss. He didn't retaliate. He didn't try to force Daisuke away. He just took it like a champ and kept his eyes wide open as he tasted Daisuke's lips for the first time.

And god dammit, Daisuke could feel it again. The same passion he felt when he made out with Yakira. The same melting feeling he experienced when Yakira kissed him. But this time, it was he who initiated the kiss. It was he who initiated his lustful desire.

Tasting Aidan's lips was like tasting the best flavor for energy drinks there was. And he couldn't wait to have more of it. His face heated up more and more as Daisuke sank deeper into the kiss, never once realizing that Aidan was mentally checked out during their moment.

Daisuke separated himself to take a breather but all too quickly dove back in—

"D-Daisuke, wait—" Aidan pressed a finger over Daisuke's lips, his chest practically heaving for air.

Daisuke slowly retracted his head away from Aidan's finger as he had to listen to what his crush had to say. But seeing the grimace on the track star's face and instantly Daisuke could tell it wasn't going to be good.

"Y-You… Y-You didn't enjoy it?" Daisuke's voice cracked.

"I—" Aidan cringed. "Look D. I… I…"

God.

What the heck was he supposed to say?

Daisuke quite literally stole a kiss from him and the poor track star clearly didn't see it coming.

"Look man, when you said that I was so much like this Yakira dude, I didn't think that—" Aidan was about to say before coming to the realization himself. "W-Wait. Did you… Did he…"

Daisuke's heart sank.

"Oh God…" Aidan groaned, covering his face. "Daisuke. I'm sorry dude. I didn't… Look man. You're a really nice guy and I'm so glad to have you as my friend but I just… I just... I don't swing that way."

Aidan could see Daisuke's heart break before his eyes.

"Daisuke…" Aidan's face grew pained. "I'm… sorry man… I didn't think that you-"

Daisuke suddenly stood up, his hands shoved into his pockets as he turned away. He kept his head down. He didn't know what he should've expected. Did he just think that Aidan was going to like him back? Just like that? Just like…

Daisuke hunched over.

"N-No…" Daisuke miserably said, his voice quivering. "I… I should be the one who's sorry…"

"Daisuke, wait," Aidan reached out his hand.

His efforts were futile. All too quickly, Daisuke had sprinted away from Aidan. Although Aidan had the means to chase after and catch up to him, he didn't. Instead, he just stood there, allowing thunder to rumble above him and signify the changing of weather.

Of course…

It had to rain at that very moment, didn't it? Kikuko was right. The clouds spoke of a bad omen. This was it. Daisuke ruined it and the rain that started to pour was evidence on what was to be a breaking point. A breaking point between who he thought was his closest ally in this game. And as droplets of rain pelted Aidan, the track star still didn't dare to move.

Instead, he kept his head down, remorseful.

Because now, it was clear to him.

Just like that, he had lost another ally.

And it happened to be the one guy that he actually liked calling a friend.

Daisuke and Aidan got closer together, but one got too close and broke everything apart.

And now both of them had that one burning question within them:

Whose fault was it this time?

---

[Hotel Mirai]

---

(Kikuko's Room)

Kikuko got dressed in her hakama after the hot shower she desperately needed.

Normally, not showers were supposed to be soothing and calm. But for some reason, this shower was far from the relaxation she needed. Because throughout her shower, all she could think about was him: Fábio.

Oh Seiryuu...

Why?!

Heavy pants escaped her mouth as she felt her heart beating ever so quickly. She was like a scared little rabbit. The energized blood pressure was bubbling like mad. Her face was red and yet her mind wandered through so many possibilities over what was going on. There was a knot in her stomach, trapping the butterflies within. The butterflies that screamed out Fábio's name.

She was conflicted.

Fábio Barbosa was definitely a good-looking individual with a promising personality to boot. He was always so kind to her and the way he looked whenever the wind blew past him… Oh Seiryuu, he looked so damn cool. And yet, whenever she wanted to think so positive of him, it was always the negative thoughts that overshadowed her image of him. It was almost as if she was bracing herself to be disappointed.

To be hurt…

To be betrayed…

She climbed onto her bed and hugged her knees.

She grimaced and bit her lips several times.

Why was she constantly thinking about things like this?

What exactly spooked her so bad about Fábio?

What exactly… didn't she trust about him?

Or rather, why didn't she trust him?

The feelings of hurt and betrayal were reserved for someone who had experienced that before…

And yet, for Kikuko, this was the first time she had ever felt something like feelings before.

She's never been cheated on. She's never been given empty promises, led on… Hell. She's never even dated or felt love or developed crushes or anything like that for that matter. She had so little time when it came to that. So for Fábio to come into the picture like that…

For him to make her fear emotional pain…

What exactly was she so scared about when it came to him?

No.

Why was she asking that question?

She knew exactly what the answer was to her debacle anyway.

She knew why she needed to distance herself from someone like Fábio.

She knew that there was something off about him.

She knew that he was dangerous.

She knew that he had to be involved in something big.

That thing behind him proved it!

Oh, Kikuko. You might be overthinking here.

Kikuko took a deep breath.

The guy has some demons in his closets. But so do you…

Kikuko suddenly opened her eyes, one of her eyes flashing blue.

Case in point, hahaha!

Kikuko held onto her hakama, tightly.

You know. With how much you're thinking about him. Makes me think that there's a secret desire buried under that hakama~

Kikuko inhaled and exhaled slowly.

Fábio and Kikuko sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N–

"That's enough out of you, Eiji!" Kikuko snapped.

She turned her head– her right eye flashing a fiery blue –to meet with a young boy, no older than eleven, standing directly next to her.

He looked exactly like Kikuko. In fact, he was practically the spitting image of a Kikuko if she was genderbent. His hair was notably shorter and he wore a young schoolboy's uniform but the hair color and loose brown hair was all there. Almost like looking at an alternative version of her…

There was a notable bluish glow emanating around him, like some sort of aura surrounding him. A soothing blue that told Kikuko that despite how absolutely annoying he was, he meant no harm.

Eiji placed his hand over his mouth as he giggled to himself.

"Whatever you say, sis~" Eiji giggled.

"I mean it…" Kikuko hugged her knees. "Just… leave me alone. This is my business. Not yours…"

"Okay," Eiji shrugged with a smile. "Fine. Girls need their alone time to think about their stupid boy problems, I guess. But just remember, sis. If you ever need your little brother…"

Kikuko closed her eyes as she listened to Eiji trail off. Slowly opening them back up, she glanced around her room. She shook her head and sighed. It was as she expected. He had disappeared without a trace. The room, once filled with a cruel chill in the air, was replaced with the warmth that her room desperately needed.

"Seriously, Eiji…?" Kikuko muttered to herself.

She continued to hug her knees as she thought about Fábio.

She didn't want to admit it.

She never liked to admit it.

But at this point, what other hope did she have when it came to figuring out who the hell Fábio Barbosa was?

Maybe…

Maybe she really was overthinking here.

Maybe she was driving herself crazy just assuming the worst kind of person Fábio could be…

There was only one way she could finally come to a conclusion about this.

…

And it was to reveal what she's been trying so hard to hide this entire time…

---

DANGANRONPA: TWISTED TRAGEDY

---

The Boy (5) ~ Red

[]A[]A[][][][]

The Girl (4) ~ Green

FISHERMAN

The Brother (3) ~ Green

[][]EE[]OU[]E

The Sister (4) ~ Green

[][]IE[][]E[][]

---

Another Daily Life finished equals another Trial Part not even close to being started! Goddamn it! Chapter 2: Adventures of Paradise Gloom was much harder than I thought it would be ;-;

The number of FTEs I had to cut from this chapter because I reached the 20K mark is unbelievable DX I'm hoping I can fit what I cut into the next chapter. At least one of them because those FTEs are very useful content D: We were gonna have a delicious Manon and Yumi FTE and an Alisa and Kazuki FTE. So, very sorry ExtraMeme that I couldn't give your character screentime this chapter ):

Trial Update: Dying :D

Anyway, what a cliffhanger am I right? I've been waiting so long to reach this chapter :D We got some questions involving Kikuko such as who the heck is Eiji? What the heck is going on with Kikuko? All will be answered soon enough :D Whenever I get to it...

And of course, the scene I've been dying to get to for Chapter 2: Daisuke kissing Aidan and ruining it for himself! Ahhhh! Yessss :D I've been waiting a while to write this scene! The moment I received the backstory from CandleFire45, I knew exactly when and how this would play out and I'm really happy about it :D Well, don't think Daisuke and Aidan are but who cares :D

Similarly, think this Roderick/Marcus Avventira ride was probably much easier to write than whatever the hell the Riley Destiny/Yumi one was :D Took huge inspirations from my experience with Splash Mountain with good ol ProjectDrama :D Did you know that Splash Mountain doesn't have seatbelts? :D And did you know it has four drops, not two? I didn't till I got on it :D

Splash Mountain better than Tiana's Bayou Adventure by the way :D

As promised, you guys get another chance to answer the Hangman question! If you're very sure of your guesses, you can just ignore this message and go along with your day! If you want to change your answers, you're free to do so. Note that you can only change it once! Please PM me this stuff too by the way :D

On a side note, congratulations to everyone who got FISHERMAN and TREEHOUSE though :D Especially emberblitz321 who got it right out of the bat and theotakureader101 who on call went: "Hey isn't it, TREEHOUSE?" Memorable moments indeed :D

Speaking of shoutouts...

Today's shoutout goes to Otterplay's Danganronpa: Algorithmic Alteration. He reached a body in his story so go check it out to see who it is :D The answer may shock you but I'll spoil one thing and one thing for you. It's not Ellen Ripley :D

As always, let me know how I'm doing with these characters. I did get the memo that Roderick is a little too campy but don't worry :D It's a slow build for his character... assuming he doesn't y'know, drop dead in Chapter 2 ;D But again, continue to let me know all the good stuff! Did you like the chapter? Did you love it? Do you love it as much as Issac loves Isolde? Because if you do, that's pretty weird, not gonna lie. Let me know anyway! Love to hear your thoughts :)

In the meantime...

Trial Update: Dying :D

---

Playmates Remaining: 14

---

Aidan Brighton - The Ultimate Track Star [Omakin]

Alisa Zachary - The Ultimate Clockmaker [ExtraMeme]

Beautè Morose - The Ultimate ? [Grandma Sue]

Daisuke Kido - The Ultimate Fast-Food Employee [CandleFire45]

Fábio Barbosa - The Ultimate Figure Skater [Rayy12]

Issac Santiago - The Ultimate Toymaker [oddlyillregular]

Kazuki Nobukatsu - The Ultimate Philanthropist [emberblitz321]

Kikuko Unmei - The Ultimate Shrine Priestess [WolfieRed23]

Manon Vivienne Levesque - The Ultimate Actress [Sempi]

Marabel "Mara" Garcia - The Ultimate Karate Master [Epifanio Therion]

Riku Arakawa - The Ultimate Doctor [theotakureader101]

Roderick Cutler - The Ultimate Deep Sea Fisherman [Orlando Butler]

Yukihiko Yuno - The Ultimate Child Caregiver [Weekaro]

Yumi Gundo - Ultimate Gunslinger [MrUtenaHolic]