Hello readers and welcome to my new chapter. So… this chapter felt weird/difficult to write. Mainly in the second half. One part was due to the rather long exposition dump given by Kyoko (Had forgotten how long this info dump really was); another was trying to figure out the class's feelings regarding Kyoko's betrayal, then sudden rescue. Suffice to say, those feelings would be complicated, and not so easily defined; and writing that out was an effort and a half.

But I did it! Granted, I'll likely have to split the info dump into two chapters, but I'm getting it done. Hoping the break, where the class can confront these issues fully, will be much easier to write out. Anyways, I hope you enjoy.

Disclaimer: I do not own Danganronpa.

Chapter 104: Watching Chapter 5: 100 Miles; Pain of a Junk Food Junkie Part 16

"The massive high school towers over all the other buildings in this bustling urban area. It's like the school stands at the center of the entire world." As Makoto spoke, the screen lit back up to show a screenshot of Hope's Peak. "Hope's Peak Academy…"

Suffice to say, this brought a new wave of confusion to the students.

"Huh?"

"What is…?"

"Is that…?"

"It brings in top students from every field imaginable. A government-funded school of privilege…" Makoto continued. "They say that if you come here and manage to graduate, you'll be set for life. With hundreds of years of tradition, it sends the cream of the crop into the workforce every year."

"Are we… back at the start?" Taka asked in befuddlement. "I feel that this was addressed from the very start of this viewing…"

"It was…" Chihiro confirmed, looking just as confused.

"Is this… a dream…?" Celeste guessed, her eyes narrowed. "Are we seeing another of Makoto's dreams…?"

"I would say it's more of a recollection…" Hifumi corrected slightly.

"It was built to raise hope in the nation's future. Which makes 'Hope's Peak' a pretty fitting name." The image then got close to the front of the school. "There are two things you need to attend this school. One, you have to already be attending high school. Two, you have to be the very best at what you do. No ordinary student could enroll here. The only way in is if you're scouted by the school itself."

"And standing there at the gate of the ultimate school filled with ultimate students…" The scene then scrolled to show Makoto standing in front of the school. "...was me."

The present Makoto found himself clenching a knee with his free hand. Really? Now was the time to bring up his insecurities? Sure, it's indirect, but…

The screen then suddenly turned black, with everything silent for a long moment. Then a sleepy "...Nng?" entered into the speakers. The screen lit back up to show a familiar scene of Makoto waking up in a classroom. "W-What…? Where am I?"

"Yep. This definitely seems like a dream here…" Leon remarked, crossing his arms. "I'm just wondering why we're seeing it…"

"M-Maybe it's to show how everything seemed n-normal at the start…" Toko suggested, grimacing. "And transition t-that… to Makoto's s-situation now."

Her words got the whole room tense yet again. Looks of guilt, worried faces, frowns of displeasure were spread all across the student body at the idea of compare-and-contrast.

'It wouldn't be weird for me to zonk off in the middle of some boring class or whatever, but… what was I doing asleep here just now?' Makoto wondered to himself. 'It wasn't any classroom I'd ever been in before.'

"What the heck is going on…?"

Yet again, the screen went black. And yet again, it slowly lit itself up, to now show an unconscious Makoto lying on the ground. "Gh…!" Slowly, the lucky student opened his eyes, bringing himself back into consciousness.

'I'm… awake.' Makoto thought to himself, slowly sitting himself up. 'Or…' As he lifted himself up, the camera expanded… to show the garbage pit the luckster was now in. 'Was this another dream?'

"...Holy. Hell." Was all Leon could say, mouth agape. "Is this… does the old school building actually have that big of a pit?!"

"How the hell are we supposed to know…?!" Mondo exclaimed back, looking just as shocked. "None of us went jumping into the fucking garbage chute to check!"

"And… is that a plane I see?!" Sayaka noted, eyes wide as the saucer.

"And the rocket from the beginning…?!" Hifumi added, holding his cheeks in shock.

"And TANKS?!" Hiro shouted fearfully.

Immediately, analytical minds took note of these extreme oddities. Even Kyoko pushed back her guilt for right now to analyze what they're being shown. There were already theories made that there were those attempting to break them out of the school; that defenses were set up to keep that from happening. The presence of those militaristic vehicles further solidifies that very idea.

However… tanks? Planes? Just what kind of defenses were set up? What was being thrown at them to try and break them up? Why throw this much?

'A dream… inside a hopeless nightmare.'

"...I think Miss Fukawa was accurate in regards to the transitioning of where he started, to where he is now." Hifumi gulped.

"A dream inside a hopeless nightmare…" Celeste quoted with a grimace. "If only that was the case."

"But no. This is just one continuous, seemingly unending nightmare…" Taka finished, also holding an unpleasant frown.

Makoto then gagged and held up his nose. "No… this isn't a dream." He spoke nasally. "What an awful smell…"

Slowly getting up, he looked around at the piles of junk. "This must be some kind of… underground garbage pit." He mused to himself. 'A heck of a situation to find myself in.'

Despite themselves, some couldn't help but snort. "No shit…" Mondo grumbled dryly.

"Doubt any of us would imagine the day you went through…" Leon remarked, looking at the present luckster.

Makoto could only nod, this scene, along with everything else, leaving him unable to respond much. "Y-Yeah…"

"I'm rather focused on the military vehicles within the pit, admittedly…" Byakuya stated, eyes narrowed. "I can't say for certain, but… they likely came from the outside. Remnants of whatever attack that took place outside Hope's Peak's walls."

His words got looks of shock from those who didn't make similar conclusions. "Are you… do you actually think that military grade equipment and vehicles are being sent to break into Hope's Peak?!" Taka voiced incredulously. "And that they failed in doing so?!"

"Wait, wait, hold on! Couldn't… Couldn't these just be props or something?" Hina hastily suggested, looking rattled. "Something to trick us into thinking that way?"

"Trick whom? The mastermind clearly has not intended for any of us to be thrown in the garbage disposal." Celeste countered, despite feeling just as unnerved. "And we all know that the rocket is very much real."

Sakura reluctantly nodded in agreement. "As disturbing this may be, we have to conclude that these are real." She stated. "And they're likely the remains of attempts to break us out."

"But… why? Why are they using equipment like that?" Sayaka questioned, a mixture of befuddlement and anxiety mixing in her tone. "How strong are Hope's Peak's defenses that they have to use stuff like that? And why… why go this far for us?"

While no one wanted to say it aloud, sixteen students trapped in a school didn't sound like it was worth tanks and planes. It was overkill even! So why? And how was the mastermind able to set up defenses that can counter such things?!

"We're missing something here…" Byakuya said, an irritated scowl forming across his face. "Something that'll connect the pieces in front of us. A reason that would explain everything our future selves discovered…"

That was something no one could disagree with. What piece are they missing, exactly, that would connect all of this? Was it something already seen, discovered, or hinted at? Or is there more, beyond the identity of the mastermind, that they need to get?

'And it's just the start of my problems…' An anxious look entered the luckster's face. 'Am I going to be stuck here till I waste away and die?'

"No, I can't let that happen…!" Makoto shouted out. "Not after what my good friend went through to save me!"

The scene flash-back to the appearance of Alter Ego. 'Alter Ego… saved me.' Makoto stated to himself. 'And he used up the last little bit of his strength to do it…'

It then transitioned back to the present situation. "So I can't give up now! For myself, and for my friend!"

Makoto's words and thoughts jolted the group out of their pondering/worries. "Even when faced with the hopeless, you have yet to give up…" Sakura noted with clear approval.

"...Of course…" Makoto nodded softly to this. "After all… Alter Ego used what part of himself to hide in the network to save me… so giving in despair would spit at that sacrifice…"

Despite his optimism, he could see that his future self's situation is pretty hopeless. Stuck in a pit, likely with no way out of there, any food and water in there spoiled and toxic… it would be pretty easy to just give up. Maybe even… find a quick way to end it.

But he couldn't imagine himself doing that. Especially not after being saved by Alter Ego, someone his future self considered a friend. Someone who they all thought they wouldn't see again. Who got immediately erased by the mastermind after revealing himself.

And speaking of the AI…

"Chihiro…" The lucky student turned towards the creator of the AI, to give him a smile filled to the brim with gratitude. His eyes were even shining with some unshed tears. "Your programming skills… it REALLY did help… I'm really grateful that you brought Alter Ego into the school. That you did all you could so that we could get out, and figure out the mystery of the school! Thank you, Chihiro…"

The words of gratitude stunned Chihiro for a moment, with the boy finally taking in what his creation did. Once he finally processed this… he returned Makoto's smile with a massive one of his own. With his own tears, tears of happiness this time, stinging his eyes. "I'm glad… I'm glad I was able to help in the end. That Alter Ego was able to save you! I'm… I'm happy that none of our efforts are a waste!"

The saving of Makoto's life… it brought about a big weight lifted off the little programmer. For much of this viewing, he felt that he contributed to very little in stopping this killing game. Alter Ego would have proven to be a big contributor, but he was destroyed the moment he did something of any importance.

Seeing his own creation interfere with an execution, one from a false trial at that, and knowing that Makoto will be saved by Kyoko in the end, made it feel as though contributed majorly in the end.

"You definitely got the last laugh in, little dude…!" Suddenly, Mondo wrapped an arm around the smaller boy and brought him in a one-arm hug, a wide grin across his face. "Betcha the mastermind never thought that you would've been the one to watch out for!"

"Agreed! You did very well in bringing Alter Ego for the survivors to use!" Taka exclaimed with his usual passion, pumping a fist over his chest. "It may not have been able to do what was originally intended, but his bravery gave the chance for a classmate to be saved! I find that more than satisfactory!"

"Even long after you're gone, you were able to give the mastermind a middle finger…!" Leon, having headed over to the couch Chihiro was one, ruffled the boy's hair with a wide grin. "Nice one, man! Nice on!"

"Three cheers for Chihiro…!" Hina whooped, pumping a fist exuberantly. She was soon joined by Hiro, Hifumi, and Junko.

All the while, Chihiro could only laugh as his more exuberant classmates celebrated his creation's interference, and Mondo and Leon continued their brotherly affection. A few tears slipped down his eyes, as he felt light; much lighter than he has been since the start of all this. For the first time, it felt as though the moments of strength and bravery were being paid off, rather than being punished.

As half the class was celebrating, Makoto looked on silently with a smaller smile now in place. He meant what he said before. He was grateful for what Alter Ego did, and in turn, was grateful for Chihiro for creating him and bringing him into the school. And he was glad to see his classmates celebrating this victory, his survival, and Chihiro's victory over the mastermind.

However… the luckster himself still couldn't help but feel heavy. Still felt a sorrow, a hurt that he just couldn't shake off. At least not right now.

"I managed to find a stairway to a door in the pit." Narrator Makoto spoke as the present luckster got to the large door. "However…"

'It's locked…' Makoto thought grimly as he wrestled with the knob. He tried pushing, pulling, and kicking at it with all his might, but the door didn't budge. "Getting out of here isn't gonna be that easy…"

'Well, if I'm not getting out of here anytime soon…' Makoto thought decisively, heading back down.

"I decided to look around for some food." Narrator Makoto stated. "But…"

"There's plenty of food here, but it's all rotten…" The luckster groaned, holding a rotten piece of food.

"Next I searched for some water." Narrator Makoto continued. "And again…"

Present Makoto looks at all the liquid with an uncertain look. "How can I be sure which liquids I can drink, and which ones are an all-around bad idea…?"

Seeing the struggle the future luckster was going through tempered the celebration, with several of the students feeling unease. "Yeah, things really do seem bad there…" Junko said with a fake grimace.

"Honestly, if I didn't know Kyoko would come to rescue him, I would be more worried…" Hina admitted, biting her lips nervously none-the-less.

"He would still need to survive until she's able to come get him…" Byakuya reminded her, a small scowl across his face. "Something which is made difficult without any viable food or water."

"I really do hope Kyoko comes soon then…" Sayaka said with an anxious frown, her grip on Makoto tight once more.

The detective felt the same, silently urging her counterpart to be as quick as possible in saving Makoto.

"I feel like I'm blocked in on all sides." Makoto sighed. 'But that's still not enough reason to give up. Because…!'

"Because I'm still alive!" The luckster then shouted up at the roof. "As long as I'm alive, I'll never give up!"

"...Damn, dude." Leon couldn't help but remark, shaking his head in slight disbelief. "Even when you're in the literal gutter, with no way out, you're not even a little discouraged."

The others were just as surprised and amazed by their lucky student's resilience. Despite being trapped in a garbage pit, with no food, no water, and a door that's unable to be broken (At least not by him)... he's still trying to move forward. Still keeping his spirit, not collapsing in anguish or in sort of despair.

"It's truly impressive…" Taka spoke in admiration and amazement. "To stand stall despite the odds… to hold such an indomitable will…"

"Makoto really is strong…" Chihiro muttered once again, a wide smile across his face. "I knew he was! He's definitely not in the bottom rung…!"

"He got a bit of muscle on him, sure…" Mondo remarked, crossing his arms with furrowed eyebrows. "But it's that goddamn heart of his where the guy is really showing strength."

"While it doesn't seem like much… this truly does feel impressive." Celeste admitted, keeping her bafflement and amazement hidden.

Makoto himself was one of the few that wasn't surprised by this. After all, being the optimist that he is was the only notable thing about him. He couldn't imagine himself just giving up that easily, even in that dire situation. 'Though is it really that impressive, when I can't do a thing with it…?' The luckster couldn't help but think.

'It's easier to keep moving forward when there's a way out…' Kyoko mused to herself. 'Even a miniscule chance can keep one from wavering. But to persevere, even when there's no discernable way to get out of the mess you're in… how many could actually do that?'

'...He lacks the physical capabilities required to be a soldier…' Mukuro thought to herself once gain. 'Yet not only does he have a heart to protect and help others… he has an inner strength, a will, that outclass many other soldiers. Even those in Fenrir… would find it difficult to match that kind of will…'

Even Junko found herself taken aback by this never give up attitude; unnerved, even. Here he is, stuck in an actual dump, with spoiled garbage and sewage water as food sources, unable to break down the door right above him… yet this nobody lucky student still declares that he ain't giving up. When there's no one else to hear him or judge him.

She could easily class it as false bravado. As someone desperately clinging to hope before they fall deep into despair. Yet… those thoughts could not stop the rapid heart-beats. The tightening of her chest. The small shake of her hands that she couldn't seem to stop naturally. 'What is this… what the hell are you making me feel, Makoto Naegi?'

"After making that proud declaration, the next thing I decided to do was…" As Narrator Makoto spoke, the present luckster gathered a makeshift blanket and pillow before… "...go to sleep."

"..." It took a moment for the group to process that decision the future luckster decided to make. But once they did, snorts and brief laughs couldn't help but leave several of the students.

"Sorry dude, but… screaming to the roof you ain't gonna give up, that's your game plan?" Mondo snickered, covering his mouth. "Just call it a day and hit the bed?"

Despite his mood, Makoto found his cheeks turning red. The giggles coming from Sayaka did little to alleviate his embarrassment. Even Kyoko found herself smiling in slight amusement.

"To be fair, that's probably the best move he could make at the moment…" Celeste stated, giggling herself none-the-less. "Having his body get into a relaxed state of sleep will slow his hunger and thirst significantly."

"Which should give Kyoko the time she needs to get there…" Sakura stated. That brought back down the moment of levity, the air getting more serious and the smiles/laughter fading for the moment.

"My sleep was deep and uninterrupted. That was the only way to preserve what little strength I had left, after not being able to eat or drink. I can't be sure, but I think at least a full day had to have passed. And all I did was sleep and sleep… It was like I was waiting for some kind of sign to come falling out of the sky."

"C'mon, Kyoko, get there already…" Hina murmured, crossing her fingers and biting her lips once again.

Similar thoughts and murmurs ran throughout the room as they watched what seemed to be snippets of Makoto just sleeping through a full day. Some were anxious, others more composed.

Then finally…

"However… rather than a sign…"

A loud crunching sound entered into the pit, startling the lucky student awake. "What the-?!" Makoto exclaimed, looking around. His eyes then fell onto a new pile of garbage that formed into an odd shape.

Immediately, that got the student body's interest, eyes lighting up with growing hope. Could it be…?

"Did something fall down over there…?" The lucky student wondered, getting up from his make-shift. Curiously, he went over to the odd-shaped trash pile. "Did a giant piece of trash just fall down here…?" He stretched his hand towards the pile slowly before…

"A giant piece of trash? Rude." Makoto's eyes widened at the very familiar voice, just as the source in question emerged from the trash. With a cup of ramen stuck to her head. "This place smells awful."

"YES!" Half the class shouted to the roof-top. Students shot up from their seats as they cheered on the appearance of Kyoko.

"Kyoko's is finally here to rescue Makoto…!" Hina whooped excitedly, both fists pumped towards the roof.

"Looks like the two of you were right…!" Leon exclaimed with a grin, referring to the luckster and the detective. "Kyoko jumped down into the pit for a rescue mission!"

"A sign really did fall out of the sky, in the form of Kyoko…!" Hiro declared, pumping a fist forward at the TV.

"And with the master key that she has obtained, that'll make such rescue incredibly easier…!" Hifumi stated, adjusting his glasses yet again.

"Looks like the giant fucking middle finger is gonna continue to hold up at the damn bear…!" Mondo held a both happy and vindictive grin.

As her fellow classmates celebrated, Sayaka let out a sigh of relief before a more focused expression was aimed at the screen. Yes, she's more than happy that Kyoko's there to rescue Makoto. That her luckster wouldn't suffer a fate of starving to death surrounded by garbage. However… she didn't forget that Kyoko herself put Makoto in that position in the first place. And she wants to hear what the detective counterpart's will have to say for herself.

Byakuya was another student that wasn't yet celebrating. He knew that even if Kyoko pulled Makoto out of the garbage pit, Monokuma would not let this slide. So, he was waiting. Waiting to see… 'Just what exactly is your ace in the hole, Kyoko?'

"K-Kyoko?!"

"You look like you're doing better than I expected…" The lavender-haired girl noted.

"Wh-What are you doing here?" Makoto asked, still stunned.

"Isn't it obvious?" Kyoko asked rhetorically. "I'm here to help you."

Kyoko also let out a small sigh of relief. While she was confident that her future self would come to Makoto's rescue, it's good to see that come to fruition; keeping those expectations from being subverted. But like Byakuya, she knew it wasn't over yet. Getting Makoto out would be the first step; ensuring that he doesn't be put in another execution is the second.

Like all of his classmates, Makoto was glad to see that the future Kyoko was here to help his future self. Even if it was just for the chance to one-up the mastermind, he's not gonna scoff at getting out with all body parts attached. Though… 'How do you plan on stopping the mastermind from trying another execution, Kyoko…?'

That got a smile from the lucky student. "I'm glad to hear that, Kyoko…" His eyes then moved to what's stuck on her hair. "Umm… you've got a bit of garbage in your hair…"

That got a startled, embarrassed look from the girl, finally taking notice of the cup ramen. She made a quick, sharp shake to get rid of it.

Yet again, bouts of laughter left the students' lips, this time aimed at Kyoko's expense. "Can't believe I didn't notice the ramen sitting on her head…!" Leon laughed, holding his stomach.

"Kyoko looked so embarrassed for a moment…!" Hina giggled, covering her mouth.

The detective herself turned away from everyone, willing for her cheeks not to burn in embarrassment. The slight of chuckle from the luckster beside her made that particular battle tougher; though her heart felt a bit lighter, hearing Makoto let out those chuckles.

Kyoko then faced Makoto again. "First, I have something for you." Reaching into her jacket, she took out two rolls of bread and a bottle of water. "Go ahead and eat it. We can talk once you're finished."

Makoto's eyes immediately lit up at the sight of the food. "Th-Thank you!" He snatched the food and drink from her hands, and devoured it within seconds. He let out a satisfying breath. "Whew, that really hit the spot! Now I've got all the energy I need to keep going!"

"All he needed was a pick-me-up, and the little dude gets ready to roll…!" Mondo remarked, shaking his head in slight disbelief.

"Is it really much of a shock? We've witnessed his never-give-up mindset be pushed within this pit." Byakuya responded with a raised eyebrow. "And you could hardly call it bravado, when there's no one to try and convince of your endurance."

"Maybe. However, it's still surprising who resilient one can be when placed in such positions…" Taka admitted to. Even his counterpart was brought to his limit, and had to be pulled out by the persona of his bro Alter Ego had taken.

"So you still haven't given up, then." Kyoko noted, a small smile coming across her face.

"Of course not!" Makoto shook his head. "After all, the fact that I can keep going forward is about all I'm good at…"

"Well, that's not such a bad thing to be good at." The girl offered, still smiling.

"Definitely…"

"No question about it…"

"There really are worse things to be good at…"

"And it's not like it's the only thing he's good at either…"

Yet again, Makoto found his cheeks burning at his classmates' words. Really, was his optimism that big a deal to others?

"But Kyoko…" Makoto then spoke with a small frown across his face. "Why'd you come to rescue me?"

"To pay a debt." The girl answered. "Or, no… to atone."

"Atone…?"

And just like that, the room grew quiet and serious; everyone recognizing that they're about to approach the more tense topic. Any embarrassment Makoto felt vanished, replaced with an anxious tension; Kyoko looked downward, hair shadowing her upper face yet again; and several students either held tense looks, neutral ones, or nervous expressions.

"During the trial, even though you knew I was lying, you didn't say anything." Kyoko pointed out.

"So… you knew that I knew…" Was the luckster's response.

"But even though I knew, I did nothing to help you." Kyoko then admitted. "I… abandoned you."

"Don't say that!" Makoto immediately protested. "You didn't abandon me!"

But the lavender-haired girl refuted his words. "No, that's exactly what I did. I abandoned you in order to save my own life. You were trying to save me, and I couldn't bring myself to do the same for you."

Her words, her admittance, caused the room to grow colder. It was one thing to connect the dots, and figure out what Kyoko was doing. It was another to get confirmation of her own actions.

Some such as Sakura and Byakuya felt inclined to forgive. While they're far from approving of Kyoko's actions before-hand, they still recognize this as merely a possible future, not something that actually happened. And with the girl herself jumping down to save the very person she left to die initially, she's working her way to redemption.

Others such as Hina and Chihiro were more conflicted. On one hand, the future Kyoko is at the pit now, ready to get Makoto out and give him food to regain his energy. On the other hand… the sting of betrayal they felt for their luckster has not lessened one bit, and they couldn't just easily let go of what she did before. Not when the results would've been way different without Alter Ego's interference.

And there are those like Sayaka and Mukuro… who found themselves slowly growing furious. Yes, they can see that the detective has come to rescue the lucky student; but that didn't change that she brought him in that situation in the first place. Without Alter Ego coming in to stop the execution, Kyoko would've just left him to die. It was only thanks to that heavy dose of luck that she was able to do this rescue in the first place.

And Makoto himself… he was on the conflicted side. Grateful that Kyoko came to his rescue; yet knowing that it was only due to Alter Ego that she was able to do so. Feeling that same hurt, that same distress, that he felt days ago with Sayaka; yet wondering if he should let this go, considering the results. He felt as though a war was going through his war heart, and it caused his face to contort with that clear distress. With that conflict.

"But listen, not that I'm trying to make excuses, but… there was a reason that I had to survive no matter the cost."

"...Are you actually serious?" Sayaka spoke softly, incredulity and anger mixing within her tone. "You say that you're not trying to excuse yourself, but that… it sounds exactly like that! Like you're trying to justify your actions!"

"I'm not." Kyoko's voice was just as soft, though more curt and controlled compared to the idol's disbelieving rage. "My counterpart is merely explaining herself. Makoto deserves that much, at the minimum, and there's little that would make it not sound like an excuse."

"True enough…" Celeste spoke up in acknowledgement, sounding rather monotone yet again. "And no explanation will change the very fact that she abandoned him. Left him to die while prioritizing herself."

"...Let's continue to listen, and see what the future Kyoko has to say." Sakura advised. Silently, the group heeded the martial artist's suggestion and focused on the screen once again.

"Why did you have to survive?" Makoto asked her.

"I'll tell you. I'll tell you everything…" Kyoko promised him. "The reason I have to survive… is so that I can do what I came to this school to do."

"What…?"

"I made up my mind to come to Hope's Peak Academy for one very important reason." Kyoko revealed. "Or at least, I did, once."

"Once…?" Makoto spoke, sounding more confused.

"Until recently… I'd forgotten what it was."

The luckster's eyes widened at this. 'You forgot? But that's…!' His mind then flashbacked to what Kyoko revealed to the group about her talent, and her lack of memory of it. 'Then… is it really true? You lost your memory?'

"...Are we getting into a long exposition dump?" Hifumi couldn't help but ask. "It feels as though we are…"

"Kyoko has been hiding a l-lot of things…" Toko spoke, surprisingly with minimal stutter. "And she may have regained/found more of her memories. So it is l-likely that the explanation will be long…"

'And in turn, really, really boring…' Junko bemoaned, resisting the urge to slump. Having calmed down from the weird feeling she felt with Makoto, this was becoming more and more mind numbing for her. The only thing that kept her awake is wondering what the detective got planned to keep lucky boy from getting executed.

Cause the moment the two come up from the garbage pit, her counterpart won't hesitate in axing him for good!

"Exposition or not, this is still providing us with information…" Byakuya stated, eyes narrowly focused on the screen. "And now Kyoko is finally sharing all that she knows."

"Finally…" Leon sighed, rustling his hair in annoyance. "And it took Makoto nearly getting axed, twice, to get her coming clean…"

No one commented on what he said. None of them wanted to touch on it, not now at least. But there was clear tension within the class, one of confliction and silent fury.

"Do you remember, Makoto? Do you remember the first thing that happened to each of us as soon as we arrived at this school?" Kyoko asked him.

'The first thing…?' After a moment of thinking, Makoto spoke. "You're talking about when we fainted, right? I fainted, and when I woke up… I was trapped here."

"I fainted too. And when I woke up… I noticed a strange feeling of… separation within myself. A disconnect." Kyoko revealed. "Thinking back on it now, at that point my memory was gone."

"So that's what it felt like…?" Chihiro murmured, concern and sympathy across his voice. "Not having her memory as a detective? Of anything related to that…?"

"It makes sense. It is the core of who Kyoko is. What her life revolved around." Sakura stated. "To take that away… it's like taking a piece of one-self. Like knowing that a piece is missing, yet unable to figure out what it is."

"...I can't imagine how that would feel…" Makoto spoke softly. "I mean, all our future selves lost two years worth our memories… but nothing that would make us the core of who we are."

Yet again, Kyoko found herself caught off guard by the kindness Makoto was showing. While she was certain that he wouldn't spit out in vitriol or fury, she didn't think he would speak up like that. Show any level of sympathy for her plight.

'Then again… this was the same boy who empathized with the one who tried to frame him in the very first trial, wasn't it?' Kyoko remembered, and acknowledged. And the more he showed that empathy… the more she felt her future counterpart made the wrong choice. Regardless of how that choice resulted in the end.

Sayaka, however, was not surprised. 'That's just like you, Makoto, to show sympathy like that…' The idol thought sadly. 'Even to people who may not deserve it…'

'...You're too kind…' Was Mukuro's thought, her fist clenching. While at this point, she wouldn't trade Makoto's altruism for anything, she feels as though it places him in constant danger. That his kindness goes little in being rewarded.

Honestly, a part of her was surprised she wasn't making any attempts to gut Kyoko. But the soldier guessed that her warring emotions, and the constant twists and turns, kept her seated and in control. After all… the detective was not the only one guilty of leading Makoto into the execution chamber.

"At that time… I'd forgotten. I couldn't remember why I'd come to this school, and I couldn't remember what my 'ultimate' ability was."

"But… what would make you forget all that?" Makoto asked with a frown.

"Strange, isn't it?" Kyoko spoke in agreement. "It's hard to imagine it happened by chance. It seems much too convenient."

"Are you saying you think you lost memory because…?"

"I don't think. I'm positive it was the work of the mastermind. They stole my memory…" The lavender-haired girl stated certainly.

"B-But… why would they want to do that?" The luckster questioned.

"There's only one reason I can come up with." Kyoko stated. "Because of my purpose, and my ability. Somehow, they would interfere with the mastermind's plans."

'So the mastermind just… stole them from you?' Makoto thought, sounding unable to wrap his head around that.

"And it could also mean…" Kyoko continued. "...somehow, my memories may be connected to the mystery of this school, and the mastermind. Which is why I have to get them back."

Byakuya snorted. "Considering what they know, that isn't a bad guess." He remarked. "But I think she underestimated the importance of those specific memories. As I stated days before, it's likely to get rid of her abilities as a detective. To keep the game fair in their eyes."

"Like you said, with what they know, it was a good deduction." Kyoko shot back, unwilling to take that lying down. Though her words lacked some of the bite she usually would have.

"That's why I've been investigating things by myself this whole time."

"But if what you say is true, why didn't you ask the rest of us to help you?"

"If I did that, and we all worked as one, the mastermind would have noticed right away." Kyoko answered. "Plus… there's always the chance that the mastermind is actually one of us…"

At that last statement, several eyes widened. "Wait… you actually suspected that one of us would've been the mastermind…?" Hina asked, dumbfounded.

"Wait… was that why she didn't want Makoto to tell anyone else about the key…?" Taka exclaimed in recollection, remembering the key reveal. "Cause she suspected that one of the survivors was the mastermind…?"

Kyoko sighed. "...It's not something that could be easily brushed off." She said, defending her counterpart's position on this. "Previously, there was a spy among the group. The mastermind being a part of the class wouldn't be that much of a stretch, wouldn't it?"

"She has a point…" Byakuya hummed. "And our future selves were suspicious of her in return, so it's not like it was one-sided…"

"...All this suspicion was why we ended up in the place we did!" Hina spoke up yet again, anger and frustration in her tone. "All the side-looks we give each other, not saying anything to anyone… it's why over half of us died; why Makoto almost ended up being crushed to death!"

That got a snort from Toko. "So, w-what? Do you t-think that trusting each o-other from the get-go would h-help?" She said bitterly. "Please. E-Even if we did, that b-bear wouldn't let that stand. This c-chapter proves that, doesn't it?"

"And if the mastermind was within the group itself, that would make it easier to derail any sort of camaraderie between the class…" Celeste spoke grimly. "With all the risk that comes with it, that possibility could not be ignored."

Still, those answers did not satisfy Hina, judging by the frustrated scowl. So Sakura decided to speak up, placing a hand over her friend's shoulder. "There was no clear answer as to what to do…" The martial artist said softly. "None of the options given to us made an obvious path forward. Whether we had worked together fully, or branched off by ourselves… we cannot say that either option wouldn't have led to deaths that have happened."

"..." Reluctantly, the swimming pro settled back down in her seat. However, it was clear that she was still rather unhappy.

Makoto's eyes widened at this. "What…?"

"Well, don't make too big a deal of it. It's just a possibility." The lavender-haired girl assured him. "But since it is a possibility, we can't ignore it, right?"

'The mastermind… one of us…' The luckster repeated to himself. 'If she believed that, then of course she couldn't trust anyone around her. In which case, it only makes sense that she would look into her missing memory by herself.'

"...Honestly? I can also see why Kyoko said shit to anyone." Leon admitted, rubbing the back of his head. "Sure, I still think she should've said something, anything, at some point… but could she really say anything about her memories at the start? Especially, in her eyes, the mastermind could've been one of us?"

"In that same vein, the idea of invisible treachery was what kept us apart, Leon…" Sayaka argued. "If we had tried to find a way to actually work together, then we maybe would've had a better chance. Could've stopped the killing game before it even began."

"...Like Sakura said. There's no clear answer." Makoto said softly, looking down. "I don't think there was a correct one to begin with. Obviously, I would've liked it if all of us could've worked together… but was that possible? Could we have? I just…"

"Makoto…" More and more, Sayaka found herself worried for the luckster. It feels as though that optimism of his, the move forward attitude that really defined him… was dimming. Not by much, but it was noticeable enough to be concerning. 'How much… how much of this is affecting you…?'

"That being said, there was a limit to what I could do by myself." Kyoko then admitted. "Which is why I asked you to help me."

"But… why me?"

"Because among everyone, you were least likely to be the mastermind." Kyoko stated with a slight chuckle. "That was just intuition, but…"

"Yep…"

"That tracks…"

"Makes sense…"

"Out of all of us…"

And for the umpteenth time, the lucky student found his cheeks turning red at the nods and verbal agreements of his classmates. Seriously, what's with these silent implications regarding him?!

"I-I see…" Was Makoto's awkward response. "Your intuition was right, though. There's no way an ordinary kid like me could've been the mastermind."

"Why did you have to say it like that…?" Hina inquired with a frown. "It's not because you're 'ordinary', or whatever. It's because, you're… you!"

"To add context to Hina's rather abstract statement, you're someone who can be easily trusted by all of us." Celeste spoke, her voice softening by a noticeable margin. "Even the more weary members of our class could eventually see your honesty."

"As stated several times before, you're open to the point of foolishness." Byakuya remarked. "And while I find it a disadvantage for any person to have… it's something you make work for your benefit."

"You… have a strength that the mastermind wouldn't have." Chihiro spoke earnestly, fists clenched. "You're able to hold your head up, no matter what. That's not something that could be faked."

"In other words, someone who's trustworthy. Who's very open with everyone. Who's kind and very optimistic." Sayaka added, her voice taking an earnest, almost pleading tone. "So… don't take yourself for granted. Don't think that we think of you as just this normal high-school boy. To us, you're more than that…"

The lucky student was silent, uncertain on what to say to that. His cheeks weren't going to cool down anytime soon, he knew that; and Sayaka's, and everyone else's words were effectively combating this melancholy, this hurt, that was attempting to encompass his heart.

Suddenly, flashes of the dream he had, one where he "understood" entered his mind. "Gh…!" The luckster choked, holding his head. 'It's just like the dream I had before, but… Why did that just happen…?'

Of course, that little tidbit caught the attention of the others. "Makoto's memories…!" Hiro gasped in shock. "It's trying to come back up again…!"

"It really does seem as though our memories were suppressed, rather than erased…" Sakura observed.

"And those lost memories could be the focal point that they need to figure out the major mystery…!" Taka spoke in musing, his eyebrows furrowed. "Which would mean they need to regain those memories, or even just figure out that they lost those memories."

"Easier said than done. But then again, these flashes do improve those odds…" Celeste hummed.

Meanwhile, Byakuya looked down in thought. 'We only have one chapter left, along with an epilogue…' He recalled. 'Which would mean that if our future selves are to solve all the mysteries of the school, it will be in that last chapter. But how will… Is this what the future Kyoko intends? To exploit this failed execution? The fake trial even? To take this hole, and further open it up as much as possible?'

'...All the answers will have to be in the last chapter.' Kyoko concluded, clenching her fist. 'One way or another, they'll be confronting the mastermind directly. Monokuma won't overlook Makoto's survival. So in order to save his life… my future self will have to push the fact that the trial was fake from the start. That it has no legitimacy. And with the knowledge of the killing game being broadcasted across all airwaves…'

"Are you okay…?" Kyoko inquired, eyebrows furrowed.

"O-Oh, yeah… it's nothing." Makoto attempted to assure her, lifting his head up. 'It is nothing, right…?'

"Nope. It's not nothing." Hifumi stated, shaking his head. "It's definitely not nothing."

"It really feels as though they're being led to figure out that their memories are missing…" Chihiro hummed. "I mean, there's the pictures, our stuff scattered around, the moments of recollection we have…"

"Hard to keep dismissing all this shit as fake or nothing serious when they keep fucking happening…" Mondo grunted.

After a moment, Kyoko continued. "Even now, I still trust you, you know. It's just… I'm not used to relying on others." She admitted. "I know I never asked you for help right away, so I understand if you're not convinced…"

'Honestly, I was convinced.' Makoto thought to himself. 'I think… that's just her personality.'

That last thought caused the group to start laughing yet again. "And yet another mental diss from our lucky student/class rep…!" Leon exclaimed with a grin.

"Seriously, who knew you had that snarky side hiding in ya little dude…?" Mondo remarked, wiping a tear from his laughter.

"And I'm happy to hear how self-aware Kyoko is…!" Hina giggled through her covered mouth.

Makoto kept his eyes away from everyone, yet again feeling sheepish for the thoughts of his future self. As he did, his eyes met Kyoko, who also took to blocking her own sight in embarrassment.

For a moment, the two stared at one another. It was a rather long moment, at least it felt that way for the detective and the luckster, before Makoto looked away; unable to say anything, and uncertain on what to say. Kyoko, in response, instinctively reached out to his free hand before stopping, hesitation clear in her movements. Eventually, she pulled away, both her glove-covered hands gripping her sleeves as she turned away.

Makoto knew that his future self holds no grudge over what Kyoko had done. That he still fully trusts the detective, even with what had happened. So… why? Why was he unable to feel that same trust? Unable to let go of that hurt, that feeling of betrayal?

And that's the end. I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. Like I said, complicated feelings all around. Combined with Kyoko doing an exposition dump, and you got a chapter that's rather difficult to write. Apologies if this is a more lack-luster chapter, but I did all that I could to spice it up here and there.

Just one more chapter until I'm done with the reaction of the fifth chapter. Then it'll be another break chapter (Or chapters, rather) before heading into the reactions of the final arc of the visual novel (Whoo Wee, that'll be a doozy. I'll say that). Review, favorite, and follow and I will see you later.