Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

???: I think everything is set. Move from that chair and you’re dead.

???(2): Oh, okay…

???: You really thought you could escape that easily? You’re ridiculously dumb.

???(2): …should I…start speaking?

???: In a sec. I just need to…there!

???(2): I think the camera is crooked.

???: Ugh. Alright, here. Go.

???(2): Hello? Simon? Please help! If you don’t do something now, I’ll be killed! Please, Simon! Help me!

???: Okay, cut.

???(2): Is he going to be ok?

???: If he listens to your voice, which is the most likely outcome, he will.

???(2): But that involves…oh no…

???: An eye for an eye, ya know?

???(2): You’re sick!

???: Tell me something I don’t know. I’ll be back in a bit with some guards to drag you back to your cell.

???(2): They’re gone…Simon will be ok, right?

…

Right?

—

???: Ow…what the…

(Ace awoke in an odd classroom. It looked mostly normal, it just…felt wrong. Plus, the last time she checked, it was summer break! Why was she there?)

Ace: What in the red strings…?

???(2): Oh! You’re awake!

Ace: Hm?

(Ace got up, noticing the 9-foot-tall figure who had been standing over her. They looked like an abstract painting that had sprung from its frame and stood before her. One half of their body was blue and blocky, while the other was yellow and smooth.)

Ace: I’ve…seen you before…aren’t you supposed to be dead? Am I dead?! Is this–

???(2): Ah! You must have met another ENA! One that seems to be dead now!

Ace: Um…yes. There are more?

ENA: There are many of us! We are a species!

Ace: Oh.

ENA: Anyways, may I inquire about your preferred moniker?

Ace: Oh, of course! My name is Ace. Ace Clubs.

ENA: Well I’m ENA, like the rest of my kind! And I’m the Ultimate Abstraction!

Ace: Ultimate? Wait, you don’t mean–

ENA: Oh, I found a device when I woke up! I found one similar next to you. Here!

(ENA handed Ace what looked to be a tablet. When she turned it on, it displayed a few words.)

Hello Ace Clubs, the Ultimate ???!

Ace: (What the…where’s my talent?)

(Then, the device buzzed and displayed new text.)

You found a classmate!

Name: ENA
Gender: Unknown (They/She)
Species: ENA
Talent: Ultimate Abstraction

Ace: Ah, it must be a proximity thing.

ENA: That’s perplexing…you don’t have a talent.

(ENA showed Ace their screen.)

You found a classmate!

Name: Ace Clubs
Gender: Female (She/Her)
Species: Orictolian
Talent: Ultimate ???

Ace: Oh, I think I just don’t have one. It showed up like that when I turned on my tablet. (I mean, I don’t think it could have any significance anyways. What would it even be?) Should we start looking around?

ENA: Sure! I think there are others here, since I thought I could hear someone outside.

Ace: Why didn’t you go check?

ENA: When I woke up, I saw you asleep too. I didn't want to leave you behind.

Ace: Oh…you didn’t have to do that.

(Ace closed out ENA’s profile and found the map on her tablet.)

Ace: So we’re in classroom 1A on the first floor. There’s a classroom across the hall, maybe we should check there?

ENA: Sure!

(Ace and ENA walked up to the door out of the room. Ace partially expected it to be locked, but it wasn’t. She unsuspectingly opened the door.)

???: OW!

(Ace felt a thud against the door, realizing she had just hit someone.)

Ace: Oh my! I’m so–

(She attempted to reach out to help the stranger, only to become very surprised to see a large green jellyfish on the ground.)

???: Oh, it’s fine! Also, I wouldn’t try to help me if I were you. It would hurt.

Ace: Ah, I see.

ENA: Ah, who might you be?

(Ace felt her Monopad buzz in her hands, causing her to look down at it.)

You found a classmate!

Name: Jade the Jellyfish
Gender: Female (She/her)
Species: Digian (Flavor: Jellyfish)
Talent: Ultimate Engineer

Ace: Jade?

Jade: Yup, that’s me. Nice to meet you two. Let’s see who you guys are…

(Jade sat on the floor, looking at what Ace assumed to be her’s and ENA’s IDs. Two other individuals stepped out of the room that they were originally heading to. One looked like an axolotl, the other was an orange anemone.)

???: Oh, Jade! You’re here too?

Jade: Yeah, I was in the same room as you guys. I left for a bit and got smacked with a door.

Ace: Apologies, Miss! That was my fault.

Jade: It’s okay, kid. Honestly, I don’t have any clue what’s going on, and you probably don’t know either. What about you guys?

???(2): So far, I don’t have any clue.

???: Same here.

(Everyone’s Monopads buzzed again, and they all checked what was being displayed. Ace was extremely intrigued.)

You found two classmates!

Name: Sam the Sea Anemone
Gender: Male (He/him)
Species: Digian (Flavor: Sea Anemone)
Talent: Ultimate Failure

Name: Kinito the Axolotl/KinitoPET
Gender: Bigender (He/she)
Species: Digian (Flavor: Axolotl)
Talent: Ultimate Assistant

Sam: What’s with all this talent stuff? My talent is garbage, the bunny doesn’t have one, and I generally don’t see any point with it.

Ace: I think that will be answered later. Also, what kind of talent is “Ultimate Failure”?

Sam: That’s what I’m saying!

Kinito: You had to ask Player to clean your house for you. And set up the furniture.

Sam: Touche.

Jade: Sam, have you asked anything useful, like how we got here? Or why we’re here?

ENA: He isn’t necessarily wrong, though. It’s a perfectly valid question.

Kinito: Maybe something like that could give us a clue on what’s going on? Let me check my archives…

(Kinito held his palm out in front of him. Ace wasn’t sure how he was doing that, since he didn’t have arms. A small holographic tablet appeared, and Kinito examined it.)

Kinito: That’s…strange. I can’t access my archives.

Ace: (Wait a minute, she’s not the only one. There’s no way that none of these people have red strings. Even if I’m not keeping them, I should still be able to see them.)

(Jade finally got up to look at the tablet.)

Jade: Huh. Can you figure out why?

Kinito: I’m detecting some kind of…blocker. I didn't set this up. Did one of you guys do it? Is this a prank?

(Sam and Jade shook their heads.)

Jade: Maybe it’s one of these guys?

ENA: Oh no no no no no no no! Me and Ace would never do something like that!

Ace: My abilities are also limited, since I can’t see the things I usually could. Someone is sanctioning us.

(ENA’s face switched slightly, yet noticeably, to one that Ace recognized as one of sadness.)

ENA: Oh no! Someone here hates us!

Ace: Hm…did any of you three find anything interesting in that classroom? There wasn’t anything from where we woke up, and we were about to head there before…

Jade: Nope. At least nothing I found. Can’t say the same about those two.

Sam: We got nothing.

Kinito: Yes, there was nothing other than ourselves.

Ace: Alright. Well, you seem like a good team, so I wish you luck in finding anything. C’mon, ENA.

(ENA’s face switched back to normal.)

ENA: Yay! Adventure!

(Ace and ENA walked down the hallway into the main room. Ace had found a nice pocket on her skirt to put her tablet in. The other direction would have led them into a trash room, and they thought it was best saved for later. After all, when is there anything interesting in a trash room? They ended up discovering a large elevator that was inaccessible due to the lack of a panel.)

ENA: An elevator? In the middle of the room? What an odd choice in architecture!

Ace: And it’s massive! I think I’m starting to get a small theory on what’s going on, but I still need more–

(Ace’s pocket buzzed, which caused her to pull out her tablet.)

You found a classmate!

Name: Socka
Gender: Female (She/her)
Species: Objectkind (Flavor: Sock)
Talent: Ultimate Poet

Ace: (That’s strange. Where’s…)

(Ace walked around the elevator and found a sock. Just a large sock with limbs and a green bow on her head. When the sock noticed that Ace was there, she froze.)

Ace: You’re…Socka, right?

(Socka nodded.)

Socka: …ENA?

Ace: No, that’s them.

(Ace pointed towards the figure following her.)

ENA: Hi!

Socka: Mhm…Ace?

Ace: That’s me. You know, I’m a poet too! I love writing poetry!

(Socka’s face lit up.)

Socka: Really?

Ace: Of course!

Socka: Shhhh!

Ace: Huh?

???: What the–Socka?

(Socka turned, causing Ace to notice the other object: an armless charging block with a cord tail.)

Socka: Oh!

???: Where are we? Who are those guys?

(Socka gave no answers, instead just turning on the object’s device and letting them grab it with their tail. A few seconds later, Ace’s device buzzed again.)

You found a classmate!

Name: Chargery
Gender: Female (She/her)
Species: Objectkind (Flavor: Charging Cord)
Talent: Ultimate Retail Worker

Ace: I’m sorry if I woke you up, miss.

Chargery: Oh, it’s fine. Anyways, WHERE ARE WE?!

Ace: Nobody knows. It’s definitely some kind of school.

Chargery: Alright, how do I know you’re not lying?

Ace: Well, I–

Socka: It’s okay! She’s nice! Plus, she writes poetry!

Chargery: That’s not a concrete reason to trust someone, but I guess I could trust them if you do. I’m still keeping my guard up, though.

ENA: She is correct about the school part, though! Both of us woke up in a classroom.

Ace: (It’ll be good to keep in mind that Chargery doesn’t trust me. I’m guessing these two haven’t found anything since they just woke up.) Well, looks like we should be heading out. The cafeteria is just over here, so let’s go there.

ENA: Ok! Would you two like to accompany us?

Chargery: We should probably look for anyone else in this place. Have you found anyone else?

ENA: Ah, a strange trio of marine life! They’re down that hall!

(ENA pointed towards the hall where she and Ace had come from.)

Chargery: Alright. Let’s go look, Socka.

(The groups parted ways, with Ace and ENA entering the cafeteria. It was barren other than all of the circular tables and chairs that were scattered across the room. They discovered a duo of girls sitting on one of the tables, having a seemingly normal conversation. Ace pulled out her tablet just as it buzzed.)

You found two classmates!

Name: Marie
Gender: Female (She/her)
Species: Inkling
Talent: Ultimate Chill Singer

Name: Callie
Gender: Female (She/her)
Species: Inkling
Talent: Ultimate Upbeat Singer

(It seemed that their tablets buzzed too, since they looked at theirs as well. Then, one of them walked over to the newcomers.)

Callie: Hiii!

Ace: Hello.

(Callie gave Ace and ENA hugs as if they were close acquaintances of hers. Marie sat slightly hunched over, looking on.)

Marie: Oh, hey.

ENA: Greetings to both of you!

Ace: So you’re both singers? Do you know each other? I’m starting to notice everyone wakes up in a room with someone they’re at least partially acquainted with.

Callie: Yup! They don’t call us the ‘Squid Sisters’ for nothing!

Marie: We’re not actually sisters. It’s a stage thing. We’re cousins.

Ace: Ah, I see. Have you two seen anything odd?

Callie: Oh yea! There were these two guys and a little kid who walked in and asked about some weird things they saw on the floor!

Ace: (Ah, that must’ve been Chargery and Socka.)

Marie: We didn’t go check ourselves, but we said we didn’t know anything, and then the tall one was like “oh then let’s go back to the dorms and commit some war crimes!” and then they left.

Callie: They did not say that, Marie! They did have a weird accent, though.

Ace: A British accent?

(Both of the popstars looked at Ace like she had just grown a second pair of ears.)

Callie & Marie: What’s a “British”?

Ace: Um…it doesn’t matter. What were their names?

Marie: I don’t remember, and I haven’t figured out how to pull up IDs yet. I do remember that one looked like a mop dipped in red ink, one was some weird green thing with a suit, and one was yellow with blue overalls.

Ace: Got it. C’mon, ENA.

ENA: Okay! Goodbye, you two lovely ladies!

Callie: Aw, bye!

Marie: See ya.

(Ace used the map to find the dorms, with ENA following close behind. As soon as they got close, they heard a massive commotion.)

???: Ugh, just open the door already!

???(2): I’m trying! It won’t budge!

Ace: Ugh! Those guys are shouting so loudly!

ENA: But we’re not that close yet! How could it bother you?

Ace: I have massive bunny ears, for string’s sake!

ENA: Oh yea!

Ace: Anyways, we should tackle them. It’ll be fun, and it’ll shut them up.

ENA: Alright!

Ace: Okay, on three. One…two…THREE!

(The duo charged into the corridor. Ace completely missed her target, a green bird, and flopped onto the ground, while ENA got instinctively punched in the stomach by a large red creature.)

Ace: Ack!

ENA: Ow!

(ENA’s face turned black and white, and they started throwing up a pixelated sludge. Ace attempted to touch ENA’s shoulder and ask if they needed help.)

Ace: ENA?

ENA: It’s okay I’m fi–BLEEEEGH.

(Ace gets up and checks her tablet as ENA collects themself.)

You found three classmates!

Name: Duck Guy
Gender: Male (He/him)
Species: Puppet (Flavor: Duck)
Talent: Ultimate Main Course

Name: Red Guy
Gender: Male (He/him)
Species: Puppet (Flavor: ???)
Talent: Ultimate Boss

Name: Yellow Guy
Gender: Male (He/him)
Species: Puppet (Flavor: Human?)
Talent: Ultimate Lucky Student

Ace: Jeez, this was a bad idea…wait a minute! “Lucky Student”?!

Duck: What was that for, ya delinquents?!

Ace: Apologies, but you were being too loud.

Duck: Oh, is that why the other one is freaking out over there?

(Duck pointed towards a corner where the Lucky Student stood, covering his ears. Ace walked over to him and sat to get on his level.)

Yellow: Who are you? Are the other ones done yelling?

Ace: Yes, they’re done. I’m Ace. It’s nice to meet you.

Yellow: …I’m Yellow!

Ace: Hello there, Yellow!

(She extended a hand for the little one, him accepting it and being guided back to his posse.)

ENA: Aww! That was fast!

Ace: Look at yourself! Collecting yourself after that episode was fast!

Red: I took a glance at you two’s IDs and one of you doesn’t have anything in their talent section. Ace, was it?

Ace: An interrogation already? Didn’t know someone would find the 16-year-old bunny girl suspicious.

Duck: Hey! He’s just curious!

ENA: Sincerest apologies, humble acquaintances, but we seem to have gotten off on the wrong foot! Ace here is just talentless!

Ace: I know you meant that in a nice way, but it still came across…strange.

ENA: Oh! Apologies, little one!

Ace: It’s fine!

ENA: Actually, I’d like to inquire how the fellow yellow one obtained a talent like that!

Ace: I was about to ask the same! Little one, how did you obtain your talent?

Yellow: I won a raffle!

Ace: (Of course.) I see. By the way, what were you guys doing that was causing all of that commotion?

Red: We were trying to get the dorms open. We don’t have keys.

Ace: Hmm…

(Ace scouts the hall until she finds her dorm. She noticed what looked to be some sort of card scanner like you’d see in a hotel or apartment. She touched the top of her tablet to it.)

CLICK

(Ace opened the door to her dorm. It was basic and plain, with a bed, an end table, some drawers, and a small bathroom. She guessed every room looked somewhat like that.)

Ace: Ah, the key is in your tablets!

CLICK

ENA: Hey, I did it!

(Soon enough, everyone in the group had accessed their dorms.)

Duck: Alright, I just counted all of the rooms on my map, and it looks like there are 16 dorms total. I’d put that on the clipboard, but I can’t find it!

Red: You actually liked the clipboard?

Duck: Everyone likes the clipboard!

Ace: So we’ve met 10 of the other 14 people here. We should go find the final four.

ENA: Of course! Goodbye, you three!

(The duo started heading towards the unchecked classrooms, passing by some of the other students as they went. The classrooms were just outside the gym, where the duo found quite the sight: a bipedal wolf attempting to break down a door, with a handless blue rabbit and a small child attempting to stop him.)

???: Ugh! I think I’m almost there!

???(2): Jeez, foxface! Relax!

???(3): They’re right! That door isn’t budging, Wulf!

(Of course, Ace’s pocket buzzed, and it seemed so did the brunette child’s.)

You found three students!

Name: Chief Wulf
Gender: Male (He/him)
Species: Digian (Flavor: Wolf)
Talent: Ultimate Chief

Name: Stumbler O’Hare
Gender: Male (He/him)
Species: Digian (Flavor: Rabbit)
Talent: Ultimate Artist

Name: Melodii
Gender: Non-binary (They/them)
Species: Human
Talent: Ultimate DJ

(Melodii turned around and noticed Ace.)

Melodii: Oh, hey there! This furbrain keeps trying to break the door down!

(They pointed at Wulf, who was kicking and punching the gym door.)

Wulf: It’s bolted shut! I can’t make a dent!

Stumbler: Don’t your hands hurt at all, Wulf? Maybe take a break?

Wulf: I can’t! There has to be something in here!

(Wulf then proceeded to stomp-kick the door as hard as he could, causing him to curl back in pain and pick up his leg.)

Wulf: Agh!

Stumbler: Wulf!

(Stumbler attempted to reach out and help, only to remember one of the most recognizable parts of his silhouette: his lack of hands.)

Stumbler: Mel, can you help me help him?

Melodii: I’m too short. Hey, Tall Thing!

(Melodii looked at ENA.)

ENA: Of course!

(ENA was able to pick up Wulf all by herself, carrying him towards the other students. Every other student had shown up, and they all checked their tablets immediately.)

Ace: Alright, does anyone here know first aid?

Kinito: Maybe I could try my archives again?

(Kinito held out his palm again, again displaying the holographic pad.)

Kinito: Wait, that worked?! Okay, let me see the issue…

(Kinito patched up Wulf’s leg as everyone else chatted. Ace got approached by Stumbler.)

Stumbler: So…you’re a rabbit too?

Ace: Somewhat. I’m more human-like.

Stumbler: But you’re still kinda a rabbit? You have the ears.

Ace: Yes.

(Stumbler offered his ear for Ace to shake.)

Stumbler: Rabbit buddies?

Ace:…sure. Rabbit buddies, I guess…

(Ace shook Stumbler’s ear.)

DING DONG BING BONG

(Everyone stopped what they were doing.)

Intercom: Attention students! The gymnasium doors have now unlocked! Please report there immediately!

CLICK

Ace: Oh no…I definitely know where we are…

ENA: Come along, everyone! Let’s go!

Chargery: Can we really trust this?

Ace: It’s really the only thing we can do. Plus, there should be 16 people here, but we’re missing the last one. Maybe that’s them? (In reality, we need to go there before that thing on the intercom gets to us. Why would I tell them that, though?)

Kinito: Wulf, do you feel like you can walk there?

Wulf: I…think so.

(Wulf was able to stand up and slightly limp to the gym while everyone else walked. When they walked in, they found a man wearing a suit with his legs to his chest. When he saw the others walk in, he seemed to calm down.)

???: Phew! I thought I was alone here!

(Everyone immediately checked their tablets, with the newcomer seemingly having to check 15 IDs.)

You found a student!

Name: Simon Minor
Gender: Male (He/him)
Species: Human
Talent: Ultimate Detective

Simon: Where are we? Has anyone found an exit?

Jade: We were about to ask you the same thing.

Ace: Unfortunately, there is no exit on the map, and I haven’t seen any windows.

???: Why, of course! Why would I want my students leaving before the game even starts?

(A voice, similar to the one on the intercom, started speaking within the room. Everyone started frantically looking around for the source. A few seconds later, a black-and-white bear with a strange, red eye appeared on the stage. It stood on the podium.)

???: Hello, students, and congrats on your successful enrolment in the great Hope’s Peak Academy!

Callie: What the–we didn’t sign up for this!

Sam: What the developer is that thing?!

Kinito: Bears are carnivoran mammals of the family Ursidae. They are classified as ca-

Jade & Sam: THAT’S NOT HELPING, KINITO!

???: Well, she isn’t too far off! Why, I am your new headmaster, Monokuma!

Ace: So my theory was correct!

ENA: You know that thing?

(Everyone’s tablets buzzed, causing everyone to check them.)

You found the headmaster!

Name: Monokuma
Gender: ??? (He/they/it)
Species: Robot (Flavor: Bear)
Talent: im the headmaster why would i have a talent like you losers

Melodii: Aren’t most of us out of school? I mean, Simon over there probably already has a degree.

Simon: Yes I do!

Monokuma: Well, none of that matters! This school isn’t for learning basic crap like A-B-Cs or 1-2-3s or calculus! This is the great Hope’s Peak Academy! Home of the world-famous killing games!

(The crowd started to panic.)

ENA: “Killing games”?! What in Runas does that mean?!

Socka: Nothing good.

Stumbler: Why us?!

(Ace watched as everyone talked over each other.)

Monokuma: ENOUGH!

(Everyone fell silent.)

Monokuma: Wow, you’re all so worked up over a killing game and didn’t even let me explain how it works?! Well pipe down, dum-dums, ‘cause this stuff’s important! Anyways, the 16 of you will live in this school in mutual harmony for the rest of your lives! The kitchen is restocked every night with all of the food you can imagine, so no starving for you guys!

Jade: So we’re just trapped here?

Marie: Doesn’t sound very much like a “killing game” to me.

Monokuma: I was getting to that part, stupid! Anyways, there is one small caveat! If you manage to kill someone, and get away with it, you can leave! And leave everyone else to be punished for being dim-wits!

Ace: (Ah, there it is.)

Callie: H-holy carp! We have to–

Monokuma: I’m not finished! However, if you get caught by a majority vote from your fellow classmates, only you get punished!

Duck: Hm, so the trolley puzzle…

Red: Ah yes, either kill one person, who just so happened to kill another person, or everyone else including yourself. What a tough decision!

Melodii: How are we supposed to figure out who did it, though?

Monokuma: Well, after every body discovery, you’ll be given around an hour to investigate. Then, you’ll all pack yourselves into that elevator in the center of the main room and head on over to the trial room! Once that happens, I’ll elaborate on what happens there. Actually, there’s a lot more stuff I wrote down. Hmm…where is it…

(Monokuma searched around his person before pulling out an extremely long piece of paper from nowhere.)

Monokuma: AAH! There’s no way I’m saying all of this! Just start with the rules! Read them yourselves on your Monopads!

(Monokuma tossed the paper behind them.)

ENA: That’s what they’re called?

(Everyone immediately pulled out their Monopads. Ace was able to get a better look at its layout: it mainly displayed the map, with a few small tabs on top that read “Classmates”, “School Rules”, “Wallet”, “Evidence”, and “Voting”. She clicked on the rule tab.)

Ace: (I’m going to figure those other ones out later. The “Classmates” tab is probably for IDs.)

SCHOOL RULES

1. Nighttime is from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM. During this time, students are recommended to be in their dorms. The doors to the gym & cafeteria will be locked, and all running water will be turned off. Students are expected to be in a dorm by 10:05 PM (this time is subject to change once new floors are opened), and the cafeteria is open at 5:50 AM so students can make breakfast.
2. Students aren’t allowed to sleep in any area that isn’t a dorm.
3. No student is allowed to harm/damage any security equipment, which includes the headmaster.
4. Any order given directly by the headmaster must be obeyed.
5. Any violation of the above rules will result in punishment.

MURDER PROCEDURES

1. The body discovery announcement (BDA) will only play if three non-killer students discover the body.
2. Once the BDA plays and every student arrives at the scene of the crime, they are given around an hour to investigate and gather evidence. You can use the “Evidence” tab to keep track of the evidence you find.
3. After the investigation time is up, all students are required to enter the elevator. Once all students are in the elevator, the gates will close and the students will be brought into the trial room.
4. Trial procedures will be explained by the headmaster during a trial.

Ace: (Yeah, this is just like every other killing game.)

Monokuma: Now, based on how kindly you’re taking the whole “death game” thing, why don’t you guys get some sleep? It’s currently 9:55 PM, so I’d get out of here if I were you! Get out!

(Monokuma disappeared. The students blankly stared at each other.)

Ace: We should leave.

ENA: Correct! I require a recharge!

(Everyone left before the gym doors closed and locked behind them.)

DING DONG BING BONG

Intercom: Attention students! It is now 10:00 PM, meaning it’s nighttime! I’d go back into your dorms if I were you!

CLICK

(Slowly, everyone walked back to their dorms. Ace had to help some of them open their doors, but she eventually got to bed.)

Ace: (Those books…they’re my life now. My name…my experience within these walls will be weaved into the words of the next issue! Is this life imitating art? I never believed in that phrase, since art is meant to imitate life in both’s purest forms, but maybe this is life proving me wrong? Who knows? Tomorrow probably does.)

(Ace put on her eye mask and fell asleep.)

—

???: Alright, that’s a wrap! Everybody back in your cells! You go too, kid.

???(2): Um…

???: Kid! I said go!

???(2): Huh?! Holy carrot cakes, let go of me!

???: If you suddenly can’t follow directions, I’m gonna have to make you follow them.

THUD

???(2): Ow!!

???: Look, kid. Obey our orders and everyone will be fine. One more slip-up and we’ll kill off Clubs ourselves. Understand?

???(2): …yea. I understand.

???: Good. Lights out, everyone!

SLAM

???(2): Jeez…stay safe, Ace.

Please.

Chapter Text

DING DONG BING BONG

Intercom: Attention students! It is now 5:00 AM! Every accessible room has been unlocked!

CLICK

(Ace got out of bed and opened her door to find that everyone else had the same idea of starting their day. She followed the crowd to the cafeteria. A full array of different breakfast foods sits on the kitchen windowsill.)

Ace: Impressive! Who cooked all of this?

(Jade leaned against the back wall next to the microwave. She seemed to be smoking something.)

Ace: You cooked this, Jade?

Jade: Yup. I thought everyone would want something from this, but Sam really wanted bagel bites, so here I am waiting for them to finish heating up. Dear developer, that weirdo…

Ace: What are you smoking?

Jade: Weed.

Ace: Weed?! First of all, where did you find that, second of all, aren’t you going to become high because of it?

Jade: First, I don’t know whether you’re a narc or not, so I plead the fifth. Second, that doesn’t affect me anymore. Built-up immunity ‘n stuff.

(Sam walked up to the window.)

Sam: Are the bagel bites ready?

BEEP! BEEP!

Jade: Perfect timing.

Sam: Hell yea!

(Sam watched excitedly as Jade took the delicacies out of the microwave and placed them on a plate. He took the plate and ran off.)

Ace: Is this normal?

Jade: Yup.

Ace: …okay.

(Ace grabbed a bowl of cereal and sat down at one of the tables. At first she ate alone, but then someone sat next to her and placed a bagel down.)

ENA: Hello!

Ace: Oh! Good morning!

ENA: These odd foods are absolutely delicious! I ate one while I was at the kitchen window, and the jellyfish looked at me strangely while she breathed in some paper! It smelled kinda strange, though…

Ace: The paper?

ENA: Yes! I asked her about it, and she said something about dangerous leaves. Say, what are these delectable goodies called?

(ENA pointed to their bagel.)

Ace: It’s a bagel.

ENA: Ah, a bagel! What a lovely food!

(The two of them ate for a bit. At some point, Ace overheard a conversation from near the kitchen.)

Kinito: Hey, Jade! What are you doing back there?

Jade: Weed.

Kinito: WHAT THE FU–

DING DONG BING BONG

Intercom: Attention students! Please report to the gymnasium immediately for a special announcement! Remember, participation is mandatory!

CLICK

Ace: Another announcement?

ENA: I wonder what that could be? Well then, let’s go see what it is!

(Some needed coaxing, but everyone made it to the gym eventually. Monokuma was waiting.)

Monokuma: Kehehehe! This will be fun!

Simon: What’s going on?

Monokuma: Oh, you’ll find out soon! Now, I think we all know that none of you are even slightly willing to even get a drop of blood out of anybody. Not even the wolf! Or the druggie!

Wulf: Well, I could try, but there’s always someone to stop me.

(He pointed at Stumbler.)

Stumbler: Huh?

Jade: Look, just because I passively smoke weed doesn’t mean I’m violent.

Kinito: How long have you been smoking weed, Jade?

Jade: A year.

Kinito: A YEAR AND I DIDN’T KNOW?!

Sam: I did!

Kinito & Jade: THAT’S NOT HELPING, SAM!

(As the trio kept fighting, Monokuma continued with his speech.)

Monokuma: Anyways, you guys definitely just need a bit of a push! So, I’ve made a few personalized videos for each of you! They’re called motive videos, for the motive!

Simon: The motive? What does that mean?

Monokuma: Every time you get through a trial, I’ll give you a new motive two days later! Anyways, take a look at your Monopads for the videos!

(Ace felt her Monopad vibrate, so she pulled it out. Everyone reacted the same way, even the trio that was fighting. The video started playing automatically.)

(The video started with some white text on a black background.)

WARNING

THE CONTENTS OF THIS VIDEO ARE HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL. DO NOT DIRECTLY PRESENT THIS VIDEO TO SOMEONE ELSE. DOING SO WILL RESULT IN PUNISHMENT.

(When the text was gone, a picture of Ace sitting with Bessie faded into view.)

Monokuma: Ace and Bessie, Bessie and Ace! The two of them are absolutely inseparable best friends! Ace very much wants things to be more than that, but Bessie is just too airheaded to notice not only how Ace feels, but how she herself feels! Nonetheless, Ace loves her, and will do anything for her!

(The screen faded to black, but the video wasn’t done.)

Monokuma: How would Ace feel if Bessie was in massive danger?

(Footage of Bessie in a dark room started playing. The poor rabbit looked terrified.)

Bessie: Ace! Ya gotta get out of there! Please! Ya smart, and cool, and ya read all those books! Escape as soon as ya can!

(Just like that, Bessie was gone and Monokuma’s face had replaced her.)

Monokuma: You have 24 hours to kill someone. If nobody ends up dying, one of the 14 hostages dies. There’s always a chance it could be Bessiebelle Bunny.

(The video was over.)

Ace: I-

(Ace looked around. Everyone looked extremely disturbed. Jade’s joint had dropped to the ground. Socks looked as though she was about to sob.)

ENA: You–you can’t just–!

Simon: Oh my stars…

Kinito: Not them…

Chargery: How did-

(Suddenly, Wulf smashed his Monopad on the ground.)

Wulf: WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU, YOU SICK FREAK?!

Stumbler: Ah! Wulf, calm down!

(Before Ace could blink, Wulf was on the stage. He grabbed Monokuma and held them above the stage floor.)

Wulf: Release them. Release all the hostages! I’ll slam you against the wall if you delay!

Monokuma: Furbrain! No harm to the headmaster, remember?

Stumbler: Wulf! Please put the little guy down!

(It was too little too late, however. In a blink, a black spike appeared from the floor and pierced Wulf’s arm.)

Wulf: Gah! Dam it!

(Wulf let Monokuma drop to the floor.)

Monokuma: Welp, looks like this is the perfect time for me to leave! Buh-bye!

(Monokuma disappeared as the spear retracted into the floor. Wulf fell to his knees as Stumbler ran up to him.)

Stumbler: Kinito! Do ya have any bandages?!

Kinito: Yes! I found some in the kitchen!

(Kinito rushed up to the stage and started bandaging up Wulf’s wound.)

Kinito: Oh my…it has to have pierced the bone with this visual. The only thing I can do for now is some simple bandaging before we can actually do anything that could help it fully heal.

(Once Kinito was done, he stepped away from Wulf, allowing him to get up by himself.)

Stumbler: Wulf? You okay?

Wulf: I’m fine. Let’s go.

(Wulf and Stumbler left the gym, with most others following behind. Ace decided to figure out what to do next.)

Ace: (Well, I never checked those other two classrooms. They’re definitely where Wulf, Stumbler, and Melodii woke up.)

ENA: Hey, Ace! Wanna go check those other two classrooms?

Ace: Oh, sure! (It’s like they can read my mind!)

(The duo ventured to classroom 1C, where they found Melodii and Red examining a strange device. It looked like a vending machine, just with a sensor that looked like the ones on the dorm doors.)

Melodii: This wasn’t here when I woke up!

Red: Must be a newer addition.

(A small note was left on the machine. Red picked it up and read it out loud.)

Red: “Monomono Machine: Scan your Monopad to roll like how you’d open your dorm. You’ve all been given 10 Monocoins automatically. Check your ‘Wallet’ tab for more info.”

ENA: Ooh! Lemme try!

(ENA eagerly rushed up to the machine and scanned her Monopad. The machine dispensed a small plastic ball. ENA opened the ball, only to reveal a book that was way bigger than the package it came in.)

ENA: “Room 43”. What about the other 42?

Ace: Oh, that’s a good book!

ENA: You’ve read this? Then you would probably want a copy to pass the time here!

Ace: Or maybe you could keep it to read yourself?

Monokuma: Keeheehee! That would defeat the entire purpose of the Monomono Machine!

Melodii: AAAA!

Monokuma: Woah, jeez kid! I’m just here to explain some extra stuff about the Monomono Machine! You don’t have to overreact like that!

Red: You stabbed someone in front of us!

Ace: And took our loved ones hostage!

ENA: And locked us up in this school!

Monokuma: Oh yea, that! Anyways, the Monomono Machine is entirely designed to develop relationships with your fellow students! You’re meant to give the gifts to other students, not keep them for yourself!

ENA: Oh, okay!

(ENA handed the book to Ace.)

Ace: Oh, thank you!

Monokuma: See? Look how happy she is! Anyways, I still need to find out where Jade keeps finding her weed! Bye, losers!

(Monokuma disappeared again.)

Ace: Should we form a line to use this?

Red: Well, I’m heading out, but I’ll tell the others.

(Red left the room, leaving ENA, Melodii, and Ace to form a line. Ace decided to look at her Monopad’s “Wallet” tab. It opened with a block of text.)

Tip: Monocoins can be found in multiple ways, those being:

- Spending free time with other classmates (you get more if you give them gifts!)
- Finding and registering evidence during an investigation (5 coins apiece, minus the Monokuma File)
- Surviving a trial (that’s 20!)

(Eventually, Ace made it to the machine, and was able to use all of her coins to buy gifts. The first thing she obtained was an empty red bag with a note attached to it.)

You’re gonna need this, Ace! I just have a hunch! DON’T GIVE THIS TO ANYONE!!!!

-Monokuma

Ace: (Huh. The handwriting is really messy for a robot.)

(ENA and Melodii stayed in the room with her. Once she was done, the three of them decided to head to the kitchen for lunch. Jade was still working on it, but the trio wanted to help her. When they walked into the kitchen, they saw her working with a joint in her mouth. It caused the kitchen to smell terrible.)

Jade: Oh, hey guys.

Ace: Hello, Jade. We were wondering if-

ENA: We would be dearly delighted to help you in your lunching endeavors!

Jade: Yea, sure. I like your style, Poly.

ENA: Poly? What an eccentric nickname for me!

Melodii: It fits.

(Ace, ENA, Melodii, and Jade spent the next 15 minutes making lunch. Eventually, everyone else showed up to grab a bite.)

Melodii: I think I’m gonna grab a glass of O.J at some point.

ENA: Okay then! I shall pour it for you!

(Yellow guy walked up to the window. Duck begrudgingly walked behind him.)

Yellow: Hello!

Ace: Oh hi, little guy! What would you like?

Yellow: I’ll have the, uh…the…

Duck: Chicken nuggets. The dinosaur ones.

Jade: Dang, you were right about preparing those dino nuggies, Melodii!

Melodii: I mean, nobody can resist a good plate of dino nuggies!

(Jade put some on a plate.)

Jade: While I have you here, kid, you wanna learn how to roll a joint?

Duck: Miss Jellyfish!

(Duck covered Yellow’s ears.)

Jade: Ha!

(Jade handed Yellow his plate.)

ENA: Would you like some chicken, Little Duckie?

Duck: Why, of course!

Jade: Jeez, cannibalism much?

Duck: JUST GIVE ME THE DAMN CHICKEN!

(Jade frustratedly chucked a full raw chicken at Duck. He caught it immediately.)

Duck: Thank you!

(Duck gleefully walked away, Yellow trailing behind. Sam walked up to the window.)

Sam: Are the bagel bites done?

(Jade handed Sam a pre-made plate full of bagel bites. There was also an unrolled joint.)

Sam: What the–I don’t smoke, dude!

Jade: Okay, more for me!

(Jade took the illegal substance and hid it in her glove.)

Melodii: Should we sit down now?

Ace: Depends. Jade, do you think you can handle serving everyone by yourself?

Jade: Totally.

Ace: Okay! Let’s grab our food!

(Ace grabbed a random assortment of fruits in a bowl (plus some carrots for obvious reasons), ENA took a ham sandwich, and Melodii scooped some salad into a bowl. Ace had a plate of their drinks in her free hand: a Coke for herself, what ENA called “Wonder Wine” (a mixture of wine and their own vomit), and an orange juice for Melodii.)

Ace: (The strangest thing about all of this is ENA’s decision to drink wine at lunch.)

Melodii: Where should we sit?

Ace: Hm…what about with Wulf and Stumbler?

ENA: Wolfy and Bunny? Sure!

(Wulf and Stumbler were seated at a table by themselves. They were sharing a hoagie with ham and cheese. When the trio sat down, Wulf didn’t acknowledge them.)

Stumbler: Oh! Hi, Ace! How are things going for ya?

Ace: Just made lunch for a bunch of people with the help of a weed-smoking jellyfish.

Stumbler: Oh, trust me, I’ve seen waaaaay weirder.

ENA: Ah, I live in abstractism’s backyard!

Melodii: I don’t know, my life’s kinda normal.

(Melodii sipped their orange juice.)

Ace: Well, you are human.

Melodii: Ohhh, that makes sense.

(Ace then noticed Wulf squinting at Melodii’s glass.)

Ace: Wulf? How’s your arm, by the way? And your leg?

Wulf: My leg is faring way better. Melodii, something looks wrong about your drink.

Melodii: It does? I don’t see anythi–

(Melodii started to violently cough.)

Ace: Melodii? Are you okay?

Melodii: Yup, I’m *cough* good. I’m–

(Melodii fell to the floor in a coughing fit, then escalating into vomiting a thick, white liquid onto the floor.)

Ace: Oh my–somebody help!

Kinito: My archives have blocked all sources for this!

Jade: Oh my developer, they’re overdosing!

(Jade rushed from the kitchen to Melodii, trying to hold them up. After a few seconds, Melodii stopped vomiting, but Jade’s expression turned grim. She let go of them, causing their body to fall and their face to drop into the vomit below.)

Jade: Oh no…oh nonononono…

Ace: Jade? What’s…

(What happened registered in Ace’s head just before Jade slowly turned to her.)

Jade: Melodii’s dead.

—

(Bessie sat in the indoor courtyard by herself. There wasn’t anything else to do except stare at her ID.)

Name: Bessiebelle “Bessie” Bunny
Gender: Female (She/her)
Species: Toon (Flavor: Rabbit)
Hostage for: Ace Clubs, “best friend”

(Bessie was usually really friendly, but she gave up being nice after that person threw her into her cell and slammed the door on her. She had never been so hurt in her life. As a Toon, she never experienced deliberate attack of any sort outside of comedy reasons, meaning she wasn’t used to anything truly hurtful or hostile. Finally experiencing it after 16 years of existence was jarring.)

Bessie: (Now I just feel stupid about it. I was just suppos’ta go back to my cell like a good li’l bunny. We’re suppos’ta do that every day, just like they told us when we first ended up here. I was just bein’ dumb.)

???: Hello?

(Bessie looked up. A tall Hawaiian woman wearing a pretty dress stood over her, with a judgemental moon–looking creature floating by her side.)

???: It was…Bessie, right?

Bessie: Yea…

???: I’m Stella. It’s very nice to meet you, sweetie!

(Stella reached out and offered to shake Bessie’s hand. The rabbit obliged, looking at the stranger’s ID as she did.)

Name: Stella Octangula
Gender: Female (She/her)
Species: Human
Hostage for: Simon Minor, fiance

Stella: Are you doing okay? After they hit you?

Bessie: Yea. My arm just hurts a li’l.

Stella: Hm…I think this is a job for a friend of mine!

(Stella helped Bessie stand up. Hope sparkled in the rabbit’s eyes.)

???: Stella, you’re seriously not thinking of asking J.D, are you?

Stella: Maybe I am, Moony!

Name: Moony
Gender: Unknown (She/they)
Species: Moon?
Hostage for: ENA, relationship vague

Moony: I don’t trust that guy! We don’t even know what his species is!

Stella: We don’t know what your gender is!

Moony: Well, not even I know that, so…

(Stella jokingly rolled her eyes at Moony.)

Stella: C’mon, Bessie!

(Stella and Moony brought Bessie through the courtyard to a small group of strange individuals consisting of a knife, a lightbulb, and a…something wearing a suit.)

???: Oh, there she is! How are things looking for her?

Stella: You were right, she was injured. Supposedly. It seems to be something with her arm.

???: Okay then, let’s see.

Name: Jawhne “J.D” Dough
Gender: Unknown (He/they)
Species: Digian (Flavor: ???)
Hostage for: Chief Wulf, fellow “Pure Soul”

Bessie: Are you a doc, mistah?

J.D: Not exactly, but I have my ways.

(J.D picked up Bessie’s arm and examined it.)

J.D: Doesn’t look bad. The pain should go away after a bit.

???: Honestly, I’m glad you didn’t need any wood for a splint.

J.D: Why?

???: She would’ve eaten it.

(The knife pointed at the lightbulb.)

???(2): What can I say? I like eating wood! Wood is good!

Name: Knify
Gender: Male (He/him)
Species: Objectkind (Flavor: Knife)
Hostage for: Socka, teammate

Name: Lightbolb
Gender: Female (She/her)
Species: Objectkind (Flavor: Lightbulb)
Hostage for: Chargery, teammate

Bessie: You…eat wood?

Lightbolb: Honestly, I’ll eat just about anything! In fact, I think I smell some chapstick in your pocket! Can I please have some?

Knify: Don’t let her use it. It will actually disappear.

(Bessie, now extremely confused, reached into her hoodie pocket and found that Lightbolb was right; her carrot-flavored chapstick was the only thing the guards hadn’t taken from her.)

Bessie: (What the…she’s right? Also, how’d the guards not know about this?)

Stella: Ah, sorry about those two, Bessie. They can be a bit–

???: Did somebody just say wood?

(A beaver in a sailor’s uniform walked up to the group.)

Bessie: (Anotha wood eatah?)

Lightbolb: Yea! Isn’t it yummy?

???: To eat? Not really. I like building stuff with it!

Bessie: Is it because you’re a beavah?

???: That’s…probably the reason now that I think about it.

Name: Bucky Beaver
Gender: Male (He/him)
Species: Digitoon (Flavor: Beaver)
Hostage for: Stumbler, acquaintance

Bessie: (Wow, this beavah really likes his wood. Apparently he’s half toon, too!)

Lightbolb: Aw! I thought you’d have my back since someone didn’t!

Knify: Hey! I may have a close relationship with you, but I can disagree with you on the topic of eating wood!

Moony: Yea, we should totally be arguing about eating wood like we’re not locked up in a Stone-Walled Hell!

Bessie: Who else is in here?

Stella: Oh, many unique individuals! Come on, let me introduce them to you!

Chapter Text

(Melodii lay face-down in a pool of white vomit, completely unmoving. Every student that wasn’t very close to their table walked over to their body to catch a glimpse of what happened. Ace felt as if someone had just dropped the remains of her childhood best friend in her lap. Yet she knew it would have happened. She knew someone’s death was inevitable.)

Ace: (Those books are nonfiction. They’re direct case files of a very specific phenomena that has been happening across multiple universes: a collection of individuals getting locked in a large building and someone eventually caves and murders someone. I knew this pattern was going to continue, so why do I feel so terrible? Why here? Why now?)

DING DONG BING BONG

Intercom: A body has been discovered! Everyone please report to the–oh, wait, you guys are already there. Oh well!

CLICK

(Ace looked around at all of the faces that looked down at the scene. All of them were filled with varying mixtures of terror and curiosity. When she looked at ENA, their face had switched to its sad form. When she looked at Simon, she could see the cogs in his brain beginning to turn, possibly to calm himself down. When she looked at Stumbler and Wulf, the latter had placed his paw on the former’s shoulder. Nobody dared move closer to the body.)

Monkuma: Hello!

Socka: AAAAAH!

(Socka hugged Chargery out of fear.)

Chargery: What is your problem?! Someone just died in front of us, don’t you have any decency?!

Monokuma: Oh, I’m just here to help you find whodunit!

Ace: “Whodunit”?

Monokuma: Yup! Your investigation time is about to start! You can’t really do an in-depth autopsy, though, so I’m here to present you with something really similar: Monokuma File 1!

Ace: Ah, I think I know what that is! It’s a summary of the state of the body, right? An autopsy without an actual autopsy?

Monokuma: Look at you, smarty-pants! You’re more of a detective than the Ultimate Detective!

Simon: Hey!

Ace: Well, a detective mostly figures things out in the moment, while I just knew from prior–

Monokuma: Dooooon’t caaaaare!

(Everyone’s Monopads beeped. When Ace turned hers on, it immediately opened the “Evidence” tab, displaying the afford mentioned Monokuma File 1.)

Victim: Melodii
Time of Death: 12:15
Time of Discovery: 12:15
Cause of Death: ???

Ace: (Wait, where’s the cause of death? Oh well, we’ll just make use of what we have.)

Monokuma: Alright, looks like my work here is done! See ya in the trial room! Kehehe! Oh, and your time starts now!

(Monokuma vanished once again.)

Ace: (And so it begins, I assume…)

INVESTIGATION START!

(A new notification appeared on Ace’s Monopad.)

“MONOKUMA FILE 1” has been added to your evidence!

Ace: (Okay, it looks like I’ll be needing some help with this.) Hey, ENA?

ENA: Oh, Ace! Would you like to embark on an investigation together?

Ace: I was just about to ask you the same thing! You’re one of the closest people to me, after all!

ENA: What about Yellow? Or Stumbler? I spotted you making some kind of pact with him.

Ace: Oh, they have other friends who are closer to them than I will ever be. Plus, we were both friends with Melodii.

ENA: Perfect! Where should we start?

Ace: Well, the body is right next to us.

ENA: Alright!

(Melodii’s body was exactly how it was before. Simon was investigating the scene around it, while being extremely deep in thought, while Jade stood to the side.)

Ace: Simon?

Simon: AAH! Oh, sorry about that.

Jade: Hey, kid. Hey, Poly.

ENA: Salutations!

Ace: Found anything interesting?

Simon: Well, there’s something wrong with this glass of orange juice. It’s a bit darker than it should be. Is the full bottle like this, Jade?

Jade: Not that I can remember.

Simon: Hm…didn’t you say this looked like some sort of overdose?

Jade: Yup. At least where I’m from.

Simon: Fascinating.

Jade: Anything you shouldn’t be poking your nose into can mess you up real bad, especially if it’s without your consent.

ENA: What an interesting prose, Miss Jade!

Jade: “Prose”? It wasn’t supposed to be a…thanks, Poly.

(Ace got another buzz from her Monopad.)

“DISCOLORED ORANGE JUICE” has been added to your evidence!

“JADE’S KNOWLEDGE” has been added to your evidence!

Ace: Nifty.

Jade: If you guys want a recommendation on where to go next, I’d check the kitchen if I were you.

Ace: Oh, thank you!

ENA: To the kitchen!

(The duo headed to the kitchen. Chargery and Socka had already started searching there. It seemed that this was their first destination when everyone dispersed.)

Chargery: Oh, it’s you.

ENA: Hello!

Chargery: Not you, the bunny girl.

Ace: Ah, hello. Have you found anything?

(Socka held out a cannabis leaf.)

Ace: Ah…

Socka: There’s more.

(Socka walked over to a box far away from the kitchen window. She pulled a box out from under it, revealing a small pile of cannabis leaves.)

Ace: (Is that where Jade gets it from?)

Chargery: Thing is, Jade said that it looked like Melodii had died of an overdose. If Jade was the one who put the leaves in here, then–

(Socka covered Chargery’s mouth with her hand.)

Socka: Dear, don’t accuse anyone right now!

Chargery: Mmph. Hmph?

(ENA leaned over to Ace, having to bend down to match her height.)

ENA: Aren’t they such good friends?

“KITCHEN STASH” has been added to your evidence!

(Ace took a closer look at the box, noticing an open plastic capsule.)

Ace: Oh?

ENA: What’s caught your eye?

Ace: It looks like a capsule from the Monomono Machine!

Chargery: Huh?

Ace: This gift machine that Monokuma is letting us use.

ENA: Yup! Me, Ace, and Mel used it!

Ace: (It was one of the last times they were seen alive, so it must have some importance.)

“MONOMONO CAPSULE” has been added to your evidence!

“ENA AND ACE’S TESTIMONY” has been added to your evidence!

Ace: Let’s try the Monomono machine next.

ENA: Sure!

(The duo headed into room 1C. Callie and Marie were there already. They weren’t doing much investigating from the looks of it.)

Callie: Oh, hey! You guys here to investigate?

ENA: Yup! What have you found?

Marie: Well, other than this giant gacha machine, we found this note in the hallway on the way here.

(Marie held out a small slip of paper, with a messily written code of some kind. It read “420GG”.)

Ace: That definitely has something to do with weed.

ENA: Why are there so many weeds?

Ace: I don’t know. (Now that I think about it, it’s actually surprising ENA has no knowledge of drugs. I feel as though their entire world was made with that stuff as the basis.)

“MYSTERIOUS CODE” has been added to your evidence!

Ace: What about 1D?

ENA: I don’t think we’ve been there at all!

(The duo jogged to the classroom across the hall, encountering a kerfuffle.)

Stumbler: Stop! Don’t try it!

Wulf: Okay, what’s the code?!

Stumbler: I don’t know!

Wulf: Then brute force it is!

(Wulf looked to be attempting to break a safe in the floor open, with Stumbler attempting to hold him back. This proved to look extremely difficult, since he only had his teeth.)

Ace: (Code?) We have something that can—dear strings, what is that smell?!

ENA: We know the code! Also, what smell?

Stumbler: Look, Wulf! Investigators!

(Wulf ended his rampage to turn and look at the newcomers.)

Wulf: Oh, do you have the code?

Stumbler: Looks like it! Also, the smell has been here for a while. I don’t know what it could be.

Ace: It smells like…can I see the safe?

(Wulf and Stumbler stepped out of the way. Ace stepped close to the safe, submitted the code, and opened it, only to find a stash of even more leaves than there were in the kitchen. There were also small papers for rolling joints.)

Ace: Ah, there it is.

Stumbler: See? Use your brain every once in a while! Your head’s for thinking, not head butting!

(Wulf jokingly swatted Stumbler’s shoulder with the back of his hand.)

ENA: But there’s already one in the kitchen! Why would this be here?

Ace: We’ll figure that out eventually. Not everything gets answered during an investigation.

“SECRET SAFE” has been added to your evidence!

Ace: By the way, you two are the only other people besides us who were with Melodii just before they died. Do you have anything to add to the case?

Wulf: Well, just before they started coughing, I pointed out how Melodii’s glass of orange juice was slightly off. It was a bit darker than most orange juices should be. I’d noticed as soon as you three walked over, but my statement was delayed since you started talking before I could say anything. If I was sooner, maybe I could’ve warned them before they took a sip…

Stumbler: It’s okay, Wulf. For now, we should focus on finding out who did this to them! I don’t have anything to add myself, though.

“WULF’S TESTIMONY” has been added to your evidence!

Ace: Alright, let’s—

Stumbler: Actually, I just remembered!

ENA: Oh?

Stumbler: I saw the carton of orange juice myself! We were the first ones there, and it was perfectly fine when I was ordering. In fact, I drank a full glass in three seconds before you guys sat down!

Wulf: Keep in mind, for no reason.

Stumbler: That’s not what we should be focusing on right now! Point is, I’m still alive!

ENA: Great job!

Ace: (Great job?)

“STUMBLER’S TESTIMONY” has been added to your evidence!

DING DONG BING BONG

Intercom: Attention, students! Your time is up! Please report to the main room immediately! Remember, participation is mandatory!

CLICK

Ace: Alright, let’s go. (I think I have enough evidence.)

Stumbler: So this is the trial part?

Wulf: I guess.

(Once Ace and the others made it to the main room, Monokuma appeared in front of the elevator.)

Monokuma: Alright! Everyone’s here, right? All 16 of you? Oh wait, it’s just 15! Phuhuhu!

Red: Shut up.

Monokuma: Woah, sassy much?

(Sam silently raised his hand.)

Monokuma: Ugh, what is it, Anemone?

Sam: So when’s the trial starting?

Monokuma: I’m getting to that!

Kinito: But there’s no way we can have a civil discussion of any sort in this room!

Duck: Wow, oversight much?

Monokuma: Shut up! Fine, I’m opening the elevator!

(Monokuma clapped their paws. On cue, the gate of the elevator opened.)

Monokuma: C’mon! Don’t be shy!

(The group stepped into the elevator together. A few seconds later, the gates closed, and the elevator started to descend. Everyone stood silently as the elevator went down.)

Ace: (Someone amongst our midst has passed. They were murdered. Our group has only diminished by one, but it feels so heavy. Melodii was one of the closest people to me, since they didn’t have anyone else, just like me and ENA. I didn’t have much time to get to know them, but they were one of the few people who chose to actually befriend me. We were sticking together when no one else would, and now they’re dead. Now they’ve been murdered…)

(The elevator stopped, the gates opened, and a large red room sat in front of the class.)

Ace: (And we’re gonna find out who did it.)

—

???: What’re ya in for, kid?

(A strange-looking red octopus and a person with tentacle hair had approached Bessie and Stella.)

Stella: Octavio, this isn't an actual penitentiary.

Octavio: It could be if you let it!

Stella: I’m…not doing that. Either way, don’t say that to the poor kid! She’s really spooked right now!

Name: “D.J” Octavio
Gender: Male (He/him)
Species: Octoling
Hostage for: Callie, reformed enemies

Bessie: Is he the weirdest guy here?

???: Trust me, there’s worse. I’d usually be able to take these guys on all at once, but I feel like I’ll get my bass beat if I went up against these guys specifically.

Bessie: Do ya fight people a lot?

???: Yup. It’s pretty much my job. I actually had to fight Octavio at one point.

Octavio: It didn’t go great for me.

Name: Agent 4
Gender: Non-binary (They/them)
Species: Inkling
Hostage for: Marie, co-worker/apprentice

Bessie: Any reason ya think you’d lose to these guys?

4: I dunno, that tophat…thing freaks me the carp out.

Bessie: J.D? He’s nice!

Agent 4: Doesn’t mean they aren’t creepy.

(A floating mouse cursor made its presence known by typing out a few words. They were accompanied by a ginger woman wearing a pink dress.)

???: i mean ur not wrong

4: Aaaand that’s where you realize things are really freaky in here.

Bessie: Woah! What the inkpot?!

Player: lol ur face

Name: Player
Gender: Unknown (They/them)
Species: Digian (Flavor: Unknown)
Hostage for: Kinito, Sam, and Jade, friend

Bessie: Are ya…what are ya…?

Player: no clue bro ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ what even is a digian lmao

???: Sorry about them! They’re a bit…silly? It doesn’t get any better.

Bessie: Ooh! You’re pretty, miss!

???: Aw! Thanks! You’re adorable!

Name: Jamtine
Gender: Female (She/her)
Species: Human
Hostage for: Melodii, acquaintance

Bessie: Thanks! Also, as a Toon, I’ve seen way weirder.

Jamtine: You have?

Bessie: I’m a cartoon rabbit with a Brooklyn accent. What ‘aven’t I seen?

CRASH

(Bessie and the others quickly turned to see a small robot shoot a beam into a nearby wall, causing some of the stone to fall.)

???: Oops!

???(2): For goodness sake, Tracey! You’re going to get us all killed!

???(3): I’ll grab ‘em!

(Bessie saw a walking computer grab the small robot as they squirmed around. A lanky-legged clock stood near, with a judgemental look on his face.)

Tracey: I’m sorry! I thought it’d help us escape!

Name: Electracey “Tracey”
Gender: Non-binary (They/she)
Species: Puppet (Flavor: Robot)
Hostage for: Yellow, acquaintance

Name: Tony the Talking Clock
Gender: Male (He/him)
Species: Puppet (Flavor: Clock)
Hostage for: Duck, acquaintance

Name: Colin the Computer
Gender: Male (He/him)
Species: Puppet (Flavor: Computer)
Hostage for: Red, acquaintance

Bessie: (This is…a weird group.)

Tony: Look, Tracey, I know you want to help, but recklessly shooting those beams everywhere is just going to get someone hurt.

Colin: Plus, you might alert the guards!

Tracey: Sorry, I didn’t know!

Tony: Use common sense next time. Keep an eye on them, Colin.

(Colin just nodded in response. He and Tracey left for another spot. Tony noticed Bessie standing nearby, and stepped towards her and Stella.)

Tony: This is the child who was injured by the guard, correct?

Stella: Yes. This is Bessie.

Tony: Hm…are you feeling better after that ordeal, Miss Bunny? Who was it? What did they look like?

Bessie: Um…

(Stella put a hand on Bessie’s shoulder and positioned herself between Bessie and Tony.)

Stella: Don’t be so hard on her, Tony! It’s fresh on her mind!

Bessie: (How many times is she gonna say that about me?)

Tony: We must prevent this from happening again. Whatever prompted the perpetrator to do this could be a mistake another person could make, and we must make sure that mistake isn’t made a second time.

Stella: That can wait. She isn’t an example for you to extract from.

(Tony glared at Stella, then at Bessie.)

Colin: Tony? Can you come over here for a second?

Tony: …of course, Colin.

(Tony walked over to Colin.)

Bessie: (That clock guy…I hope he isn’t like that all the time.)

Stella: Ah, sorry about him! I think Tony is just a bit grumpy today!

Bessie: …why does he see me like an example?

Stella: I…don’t know.

Chapter Text

(A circle of stands stood in the center of the room. Monokuma had already made it to their tall throne, which was outside of the circle.)

Monokuma: Alright, class! Everyone please find the stand with your name on it! And hurry up!

(The class silently obliged.)

Ace: (Okay then, so it begins. The first trial. I want to wish it’s the last one, but that’s not how it works. For now, we must focus on finding who did this. Avenging Melodii.)

CLASS TRIAL START!

EVIDENCE:

MONOKUMA FILE 1:

Victim: Melodii
Time of Death: 12:15
Time of Discovery: 12:15
Cause of Death: ???

DISCOLORED ORANGE JUICE: The orange juice Melodii drank was slightly darker than normal. The first person to notice is thought to be Wulf, who pointed it out just before the symptoms kicked in.

JADE’S KNOWLEDGE: Jade saw Melodii’s symptoms before death (coughing, foaming at the mouth) as signs of an overdose of some kind. She definitely knows this from prior research.

KITCHEN STASH: A small stash of weed was found in a box in the kitchen.

MONOMONO CAPSULE: An opened capsule from the Monomono machine was found in the same box as the kitchen weed stash.

ENA AND ACE’S TESTIMONY: ENA, Ace, and Melodii tested out the Monomono machine together. It was the last time Melodii was seen alive before entering the cafeteria.

MYSTERIOUS CODE: A strange slip of paper was found in the hallway near room 1C. It read “420GG”, and ended up being the code to the safe in room 1D. The handwriting is moderately messy.

SECRET SAFE: A safe was found in room 1D, and it was opened with the code found near room 1C. Inside was a stash of weed, which was larger than the stash in the kitchen and included pieces of paper.

WULF’S TESTIMONY: Wulf said that he noticed Melodii’s juice looked strange since they walked over. He attempted to point it out to them, but he was too late.

STUMBLER’S TESTIMONY: Stumbler and Wulf had ordered their food before Melodii, ENA, and Ace sat down with them. Stumbler drank orange juice from the same carton that Melodii’s juice was from.

Monokuma: It’s finally time for the class trial, the fun-est part of the killing game! Basically, you argue back and forth about who the blackened is based on the evidence you gathered in the investigation! At the end, everyone will vote on who the killer is! If you get it right, only the killer gets punished! Get it wrong, surprise! Everyone besides the blackened will get punished, and the blackened will get to leave! Now then, let’s get started!

Ace: Well then, where should we start?

Duck: Minor curiosity, what in Pelling’s name is that?!

(Duck pointed at the portrait of Melodii that was seated at what would have been their stand. Their face was slightly covered by a drawing of a record.)

Monokuma: Oh, that thing? Well, Melodii is a fellow student of yours, so we wouldn’t want them missing the proceedings, would we?

Chargery: Have you ever considered…being considerate?

Monokuma: Nope!

Chargery: Noted.

Simon: With that aside, I have the perfect thing to start us off!

Ace: You’re starting us off?

Simon: Of course! I’m the Ultimate Detective, after all! I’ve never done any detective work, but I must be at least a little good at it!

*NONSTOP DEBATE*

Ace: (Alright, looks like Simon’s kickstarting the trial. I must make sure that nobody gets mixed up. Especially not him.)

Simon: So Melodii seems to have been poisoned in some way. The possibility of an overdose is out there, but it’s not quite concrete.

Jade: Buddy, I’m the one who mentioned it. I literally smoke weed.

Red: If it really was an overdose, then how did the substance get into Melodii’s drink?

Chargery: Maybe someone at their table slipped it in when nobody was looking?

Kinito: Maybe it wasn’t even a drug?

Stumbler: Maybe…actually, I got nothing.

Marie: You tried.

Ace: (That can’t be the case!)

Chargery: Maybe someone at their table slipped it in when nobody was looking?

WULF’S TESTIMONY

Ace: No, that’s wrong!

*BREAK*

Ace: I’m sorry, Chargery, but that can’t be right.

Chargery: Huh? How?

Ace: Wulf saw that Melodii’s juice was dark as soon as they sat down, meaning it had been poisoned before we sat down.

Simon: Really? Then that cuts down our suspect list! Everyone sitting at that table is most likely innocent!

Wulf: That’s me, Stumbler, Ace, and ENA.

Yellow: Yay! You’re innocent, Miss Bunny Lady!

Ace: Now that we’ve figured out the latest time for the drink to be spiked, we need to figure out the earliest time for the drink to be spiked.

Simon: I’ll take it away!

*NONSTOP DEBATE*

Ace: (Oh, this is a horrible decision on his part, but I guess it’s nice to have an outside view of the discussion.)

Simon: So when’s the earliest the drink could’ve been poisoned?

Red: Definitely when the cup was still in the kitchen. Maybe the whole carton was poisoned?

Duck: Then the rat among us tried to kill us all!

Callie: What the–?

ENA: Now, now, let’s relax!

Kinito: I’d agree, but we’re in a…you know, killing game.

Ace: (Maybe a part of this is correct? There’s definitely something that can be refuted, though.)

Red: Maybe the whole carton was poisoned?

STUMBLER’S TESTIMONY

Ace: No, that’s wrong!

*BREAK*

Ace: Stumbler drank juice from the carton, and he’s still alive. There is no way the carton could’ve been poisoned.

DISCOLORED ORANGE JUICE

Ace: Plus, someone would’ve noticed that the carton looked strange if its contents looked the same as the cup’s.

ENA: Look at you! You’re on a roll!

Ace: (Hm, I really did just do that.) Thank you!

Simon: So it must have been that one cup!

Ace: And we might have a hint at the exact kind of toxin that was used!

JADE’S KNOWLEDGE

Kinito: Yes! There was plenty of cannabis at the disposal of certain individuals, meaning whoever had it could’ve easily killed Melodii, especially if we go by my personal theory that we are all from different universes, and me and my crew’s universe’s mary jane works more fatally than you guys’!

(Sam started giggling. Kinito got seemingly red when he looked over at him, but Ace thought it was a trick of the light.)

Kinito: What’s so funny, Sam?

Sam: Sorry, dude, it’s just…you used every term instead of weed! You’re such a nerd, dude!

Ace: I’d be delighted to hear more about that theory of yours, Kinito, but we need to get back on track. That being said, the most likely cause of death is via marajuana overdo–

Jade: BACK IT UP, KID!

*INTERJECTION*

Jade: I’m sorry, but I, for one, am clearly seeing who you guys are pinpointing this on!

Ace: Jade, we never said–

Jade: Look, you guys don’t know where I keep my mary jamidge, but it’s nowhere near the kitchen!

Ace: Well…now that you believe we suspect you for the weed point alone, you’re just making yourself more su–

Jade: Kid, I DIDN’T DO IT!

Ace: (She’s not listening. I must steer her back on track.)

*REBUTTAL SHOWDOWN*

Jade: The only weed I brought to the kitchen was what I immediately smoked! I didn’t leave anything behind, and that’s a fact! Plus, what would I get out of killing a child?

ADVANCE

Ace: Well, maybe there’s a chance you accidentally left some in the kitchen?

Jade: Nope, not at all! There is no unsmoked weed in the kitchen! And again, there was no point in me killing Melodii! I swear! Are you the high one?!

KITCHEN STASH

Ace: Allow me to cut through your words!

*BREAK*

Jade: The what?!

Ace: Yes, there was a stash of cannabis leaf in the kitchen.

Simon: I’m sorry, how did I not know about this?

Jade: Because I didn’t put it there, Metro!

Simon: What does that even mean?!

Callie: Should someone help him out?

Marie: Give him a sec.

Jade: Wait a minute. You said just the leaves, right?

Ace: Yes.

Jade: Then how could I smoke it? Where’s the paper?

(She took out some paper and a lighter to demonstrate what she meant.)

Jade: I have it now, but what about when I’m not using them? Plus, I usually have at least a bit of weed on me, so why would I need a stash in the kitchen?

(She pulled out some of the leaves and started rolling up a joint.)

Jade: Heck, where would I even find it? It’s not like I could’ve just woken up with it.

Simon: Yes, where did she find everything?

*NONSTOP DEBATE*

Ace: (If the stash in the kitchen isn’t the original source of the weed, then what is? We have to have seen it at some point with the extensive searches we’ve done.)

Simon: So where could the drugs come from?

Red: I’m surprised the kitchen isn’t the place. Just seems more convenient.

ENA: Monokuma didn’t know that. It was most likely them who planted the cannabis.

Chargery: Maybe Jade’s lying? Like, it can’t be far off for a druggie.

Jade: C’mon, is that really true?

Duck: You’re keeping your true stash location from the detectives! That’s extremely suspicious!

Jade: You could definitely figure it out, it’s just the so-called detectives haven’t yet. They’re not the only dim-wits here.

Duck: Well, I’m not a dim-wit!

Callie: Maybe it’s Sam.

Sam: We’re going off-topic!

Kinito: Yes, don’t say that about him!

Jade: Simp.

Kinito: Huh?!

Ace: (Wait a minute…I know that’s not true!)

Jade: You could definitely figure it out, it’s just the so-called detectives haven’t yet.

SECRET SAFE

Ace: No, that’s wrong!

*BREAK*

Ace: What about a safe in a very unassuming room? Like room 1D?

Wulf: That stash had paper in it.

Simon: A safe?! I really need to get more involved in these cases!

(Jade stopped just before she was going to light her joint.)

Jade: …

Marie: Don’t worry, we won’t tell the feds.

Duck: That’s not the issue here!

Jade: …okay, fine! I found it in the safe! Dear Sonny, get off my tentacles!

Ace: Alright! There’s a good place to push!

*NONSTOP DEBATE*

Ace: (If Jade’s source of weed really is the safe, there must be a way she opened it. There’s definitely a route here that makes the most sense.)

Simon: So now that we know where she got it from, how did she open it?

Stumbler: Maybe Monokuma gave her the code?

ENA: Ooh! Ooh! What if she guessed it?

Callie: What if she broke it?

Kinito: Guys, we could just ask her! Jade, how did you open the safe?

Jade: Nope.

Kinito: Wonderful.

Ace: (Aha! That’s a good idea!)

ENA: Ooh! Ooh! What if she guessed it?

MYSTERIOUS CODE

Ace: I agree with that!

*CONSENT*

Ace: ENA, that’s brilliant!

ENA: Really?

Ace: Jade is the Ultimate Mechanic, meaning she has good hands with machinery. She must’ve guessed the code easily, and wrote it down so she wouldn’t forget!

ENA: Wow! I made a contribution!

Marie: I actually still have the note.

(Marie pulled out the piece of paper and turned to Sam, who’s stand was to her right.)

Marie: Does the handwriting look like Jade’s?

Sam: Yup. It’s messy enough.

Kinito: Don’t take that as an insult, Jade! Intelligent people tend to have messier handwriting because their brains work faster than their hands!

Jade: Okay, fine. You got me. That’s how I got my weed. That does not mean I killed Melodii.

Kinito: …wait, that’s entirely true!

Duck: What?! But we found who keeps the murder weapon, there’s our killer!

Red: He’s not wrong.

Stumbler: But just because the victim’s pet cat is holding the knife doesn’t mean the cat did it!

Sam: Pet cat?! Look, I agree, but pet cat?!

ENA: The little hare has a point!

Callie: Everyone calm down! We can’t be so split about this!

Monokuma: HOLD ON!

(The room fell silent.)

Monokuma: Split? Did I hear you say split?

Callie: Um…yea?

Monokuma: Then it looks like you’ve been put into a split decision! In that case, I’m proud to present Hope’s Peak Academy’s very own Morphenomenal Trial Grounds!

Red: Morphenomenal Trial Grounds?

Jade: The motherboard does that mean?

Monokuma: It means hold on tight, since the trial room is about to magically change!

(Monokuma pulled out a key, inserting it into a panel on its throne. The stands rose into the air, leveling with Monokuma’s throne, and changed positions from a circle to two parallel lines that faced each other.)

Monokuma: Welcome to the Split Debate! All you have to do is use the right rebuttal against your opponents based on the points brought up! It’s really that easy!

Marie: This seems…really extreme.

Monokuma: Nobody cares!

Ace: (There is no way that Jade is the killer. This is very blatantly a framing plot, but the opposition can’t see that. Just claiming Jade’s been framed won’t be enough; we need to use known evidence.)

IS JADE THE KILLER?

YES, JADE KILLED MELODII!

Duck
Red
Yellow
Simon
Callie
Marie
Chargery
Socka

NO, IT WAS SOMEONE ELSE!

Ace
ENA
Jade
Kinito
Sam
Wulf
Stumbler

SPLIT DEBATE

Duck: If the boot fits, Jade’s the killer!
ENA: Who said anything about a boot?

Callie: But who else could be associated with weed? Answer: nobody!
Wulf: Anyone who could access the weed could move it anywhere they pleased. There could be some alternative to the safe we don’t know about.

Marie: Whoever brought weed in the kitchen wanted to smoke it!
Jade: There wasn’t anything to smoke it with in the kitchen! It’s entirely pointless for me to put it there!

Red: You still had a lighter on your person.
Sam: Then why couldn’t she just use the lighter to kill Melodii in some way?

Socka: …
Chargery: I’m on it!
*BACKUP*
Chargery: Jade was the only one with access to the safe!
Kinito: There is a possibility it wasn’t from the safe! There could be an alternative source!

Yellow: There are scorpions in my room!
Stumbler: You…should get that fixed.

Simon: Well, there’s no other possible place for the cannabis to have come from!
Ace: There is a plausible potential alternate cannabis source! The Monomono Machine!

*CROUCH BIND*

“This is our answer!”

*BREAK*

Simon: A machine?

Ace: Monokuma gave us a machine to get gifts from. This might seem far-fetched, but if the killer got the weed from the machine, since it could classify as a gift for Jade, they wouldn’t need to access the safe.

MONOMONO CAPSULE

Ace: A capsule from the Monomono Machine was found with the kitchen stash. It could be where they got it from.

Simon: So if the killer got their marajuana from the machine, that means one of the last people to use the machine is the killer!

ENA AND ACE’S TESTIMONY

ENA: The only people seen to use the machine recently are me, Ace, and Melodii.

Ace: Each of us were given 10 monocoins automatically, and we used all of them, meaning each of us got 10 gifts. If me and ENA display all of our gifts, the one who’s missing at least one is the killer.

(Ace pulled her knick-knacks out of her bag, including her bag among the wares as well. ENA’s gifts manifested from nowhere when she snapped her fingers.)

Chargery: So Ace has 11 and ENA has 8…

Ace: ENA gave me one of their gifts, which is this book.

(Ace held up “Room 43”.)

Red: That still leaves one gift of ENA’s unaccounted for.

Ace: Yes, one gift, I–

FLASHBACK

Melodii: I think I’m gonna grab a glass of O.J at some point.

ENA: Okay! I’ll pour it for you!

FLASHBACK END

Ace: Oh my threads…

Simon: Ace?

Ace: …all three of us helped in the kitchen. I never paid attention to the gifts ENA got other than the book. They…poured Melodii’s drink…

ENA: …

Ace: ENA…did you…

(ENA smiled at Ace.)

ENA: You’re really good at this, Ace.

Ace: I…I can’t…

ENA: Ace?

Ace: No. No! It wasn’t you! It can’t be! I won’t let it be!

Simon: Ace, you just found the killer! Why let this go to wa–

Ace: Shut up! Just shut up!

ENA: Please! You can do this! Just accept this!

*ARGUMENT ARMAMENT*

ENA:
“Trust me, Ace!”
“I killed Mel!”
“I had the leaves!”

*ADVANCE*

ENA:
“Please, just end this!”
“Just admit that you know!”
“I’m sorry! To all of you!”

*ADVANCE*

ENA:
“Put your brain…”
“…over your heart!”
“Put your faith in my words!”
“The evidence is there!”
“You just need to use it!”

*FINAL BLOW*

ENA:
“What would we have gotten from their death?”

THE
HOSTAGES
WOULD BE
SAFE

*BREAK*

Ace: You…just wanted to save them…

ENA: I knew that all of you had hostages in your motive videos. I didn’t just kill for myself…for Moony…but for all of you!

Ace: …

Simon: Well then, now that we have the killer, let’s go through the case one last time. How does that sound, Ace?

Ace: …sure.

*CLOSING ARGUMENT*

Simon: This case starts off when Jade discovers a safe in room 1D. Using her expertise as the Ultimate Inventor, she was able to crack the safe and figure out the password, only to find it was filled with supplies for smoking weed.

Jade: Yup. I wrote the code down on a piece of paper so I wouldn’t forget, but I guess I dropped it.

Ace: The killer ended up finding out about Jade’s consumption of cannabis by seeing her smoke it while making lunch. They asked her about it, and she only told them about the leaves and the danger they could pose.

Simon: They didn’t start planning their crime until the motive was presented. They knew the others had loved ones of their own in danger, and they were willing to do anything to save everyone.

Ace: And when they got some of the cannabis from the Monomono Machine to be used as a gift, they knew what their next move had to be. They most likely kept it in the capsule it came in so it wouldn’t be easy to spot.

Jade: Their posse showed up in the kitchen to help me out, one of the others being Melodii. Just before the group left, Melodii said that they wanted to grab some orange juice, and the killer offered to pour it for them.

Ace: When nobody was looking, the killer stirred a lot of cannabis into the drink. We know the whole carton wasn’t contaminated because Stumbler drank from the same juice.

Simon: Once the group finished up in the kitchen, the killer sneakily hid the extra cannabis leaves in a box in the kitchen to frame Jade. They, however, made a few mistakes.

Ace: First, the stash looked very suspicious due to it not having anything to actually smoke the leaves with.

Jade: Second, that isn’t even where my actual stash is.

Simon: But once the trio sat down with Wulf and Stumbler, Melodii’s fate was sealed. They took a sip just before Wulf could point out how strange their drink looked.

Ace: The overdose hit, and no matter how anyone tried, Melodii was no more. And the killer watched…

Simon: And the killer was you, ENA, the Ultimate Abstraction!

COMPLETE!

ENA: Sounds about right! You even uncovered my plot to frame Miss Jellyfish!

(Ace’s eyes pricked with tears, but she ignored them to the best of her ability.)

Jade: Kid?

Monokuma: Alrighty! Now that you guys seem to have an idea of who you’ll vote for, it’s time for voting! Everyone, please pull out your Monopads and click on the voting tab!

*VOTING TIME*

Stumbler: Wait, what about Wulf? He doesn’t have one!

Monokuma: Oh yea! While I do want to just prevent him from getting one, he will need it for voting and maybe some motives in the future! I dunno, no promises about that motive part. So here!

(Monokuma pushed a button on their throne, which caused a Monopad to appear out of a hidden hatch in Wulf’s stand.)

Stumbler: What the–

Wulf: Huh.

(Ace opened the “Voting” tab on her Monopad, which brought her to a screen with text on the top saying “Select A Student!”. 15 buttons, each with a different student’s face, sat under it. Ace looked up at ENA, unsure of what she was supposed to do. ENA just solemnly smiled in response.)

Ace: (They know what I must do. I can’t…but I must. I’m preventing myself from doing this for their sake, yet they’re asking me to do the opposite.)

(Ace selected ENA’s portrait. A final prompt asking “Are you sure you want to vote for ENA?” popped up. Ace took one final thought, shook her head, and selected the “Yes” option. The portrait disappeared, and the screen read “Thank you for voting!”.)

Ace: (Why does it look so…mocking to me?)

CLASS TRIAL END!

Monokuma: Okay, the votes are in! Looks like ENA’s been tossed off the team by everyone!

(Everyone stepped away from their stands and gathered near Monokuma’s throne. ENA stood before everyone.)

ENA: Thank you! Thank you all! Thank you for bringing justice to me!

Ace: (They’re…celebrating? They’re thanking us?!)

ENA: Whatever punishment you’re going to give me, I shall endure it! State your method!

Ace: Oh…you didn’t know, did you?

ENA: Didn’t know…what?

Monokuma: Well, I guess I was a bit vague when saying “punishment”, but usually when I say punishment…I mean death!

ENA: Wh-what?!

Monokuma: Yes! We can do just about any method of death or execution! I’m talking electrocution, drowning, devoured by wolves, car crash, you name it!

(ENA looked over at Ace.)

ENA: Please…give me a few seconds.

Ace: …

(ENA walked over to Ace and sat on the floor in front of her to get to eye-level.)

Ace: I’m sorry…I couldn’t prevent any of this…

ENA: You shouldn’t be apologizing. I was the one who killed them, not you. You didn’t do anything wrong.

(ENA snapped their fingers. A necklace with a strange charm appeared. ENA caught it and offered it to Ace, who recognized it from earlier when the two of them were displaying their gifts.)

ENA: Here. It’s better you take this than it staying with me.

(Ace hesitated, but took the necklace. The charm was made of what looked to be malachite, except only having a blue and yellow sheen instead of a rainbow one. She hastily put it on.)

Ace: …I will cherish it to the end.

(ENA smiled at Ace and got up, turning to face Monokuma, who sat high above her 9-foot stature.)

ENA: Do as you wish to me! As long as Moony is safe! As long as everyone else stays safe! As long as you never lay a finger on anyone else without reason! Not a human! Not an animal! Not any creature that stands before us or within the hostages’ cages! May these wonderful individuals eventually be your permanent downfall!

Monokuma: Ugh! Why do they never shut up right before the execution?! Sometimes it’s a psychopathic ramble, sometimes it’s a confession of love, sometimes it’s absolutely nothing! Oh well. Now, I’ve prepared a very special execution for ENA, the Ultimate Abstraction.

Ace: I…I’ll never let any murder go unpunished! For your sake!

Monokuma: Let’s give it everything we’ve got! It’s punishment time!

ENA: Goodbye, Ace. May your endeavors of all kinds be bountiful.

PUNISHMENT TIME

(Monokuma pulled out a small mallet as a red button arose from the ground in front of their throne. He hit the button with the mallet, causing a small message to display, accompanied by an animation of Monokuma dragging ENA away.)

GAME OVER

ENA HAS BEEN FOUND GUILTY

TIME FOR THE PUNISHMENT!

(A large claw descended from the ceiling and clamped around ENA’s torso. Ace watched as she was raised into the sky, seemingly never to be seen again. Suddenly, the curtains covering one of the walls separated to reveal a sprawling room on the other side of a glass pane.)

Yellow: Wow! A window!

Ace: ENA! They’re in the chamber!

(Ace pointed at ENA being lowered into the room. They were placed on the end of a path by the claw, their back to a strange structure in the ground. The path was lined with what looked to be strange mannequins that clapped with their presence.)

Marie: Wait, that thing…

Callie: It’s moving!

(Everyone else crowded around the window to see the action. Sure enough, the large structure started to get up on large, barbed legs.)

Monokuma: Phuhuhu! You didn’t think I couldn’t wrangle an actual god for this execution, did you? I call this execution…The Wrath of Runas!

Simon: What eldritch horror…

(The Runas started to slowly walk towards ENA. Its steps were large, so ENA had to run. As they ran, however, the crowd of mannequins started to throw strange blocks at them. Some of them hit her hard, causing her to bleed pink.)

Ace: You’re just…whittling them down! You monster!

Monokuma: Aw, thanks!

(ENA’s path was then blocked by a blue sludge filled with white code. It slowed them down drastically. They attempted to step through it with all their might as they were still hit with projectiles from the crowd.)

Simon: What is that sludge?

Jade: Who cares?! Dear hardware, the sky is falling!

(ENA attempted to run away with everything they had, but all they could do was cower as large, blocky rocks rained from the sky and started to crush some of the crowd. Runas completely stepped past ENA as they cowered and the crowd stopped throwing things.)

Ace: What…are they…

(Runas walked out of view of the audience. ENA looked up to realize they were still alive and Runas had gone. The rocks stopped falling, the mannequins had stopped throwing things, and the only hazard left was the blue sludge.)

Ace: Oh my strings! They’re alive! They–

CRUNCH

(Ace watched as her celebration became short-lived. A sharp rock fell from the sky, impaling ENA before her very eyes. ENA looked down at the tip of the spike in terror, then looked at the window in the distance. They looked at Ace one final time. They smiled just before their head lowered and their eyes closed. The curtains closed on the scene.)

Jade: Good Sonny!

Chargery: Gh-!

Callie: I think I’m gonna be sick!

(Socka buried her face in her hands and started silently crying. Simon looked around at everyone’s faces in fear. Yellow, though confused, hid behind Red’s leg. Duck muttered something about karma.)

Ace: …

(Ace stared down at the floor. Stumbler walked over to her.)

Stumbler: Kid?

Ace: I’m okay. I’m perfectly fine. Everything is going to be just fine.

Stumbler: …

Monokuma: That was fun! Anyways, I can’t let you guys stay here. Get out!

(Ace stood still as everyone else started to head to the elevator. Stumbler slowly nudged her forward before the doors closed.)

Duck: Ugh! This is why nobody trusts the government anymore! They’re always–

Jade: Shut the hell up, short-stack.

(Duck scoffed at Jade. The rest of the elevator ride was completely silent. Once the elevator stopped on the ground floor, the doors opened.)

DING DONG BING BONG

Intercom: Attention students! It is now 10:00 PM, meaning it’s nighttime! I’d go back into your dorms if I were you!

CLICK

(Ace didn’t feel like moving. She felt so cold. Until she felt a hand grasp her wrist.)

Yellow: Miss Bunny Lady? You need to sleep! Come on!

Ace: Oh…thank you…

(Yellow guided Ace to the outside of her dorm room. Yellow made sure she opened her door and went inside.)

Ace: Thank you, little one. Goodnight!

(Yellow surprised Ace with a quick hug, him only being tall enough to squeeze her waist. She could feel his ear press against her heart.)

Yellow: Goodnight!

(When Yellow skipped away, Ace closed the door and laid on her bed.)

Ace: (At first, I thought I’d be completely alone after ENA’s death, but at least there’s someone looking out for me.)

(Ace put on her eye mask and eventually fell asleep.)

—

Bessie: She really is my best friend!

(Bessie was sitting on the floor in a circle with Stella, Bucky, and J.D. They were initially discussing their lives before their capture, but it eventually derailed.)

Stella: But why is “best friend” in air quotes on your ID?

Bessie: I dunno!

J.D: What kind of best friend is she? What do you guys do together?

Bessie: Well, we hang out, sometimes she helps me with my actin’ gigs, she really likes the taste of my chapstick when I kiss her, one time she taught me how to do a seance–

Bucky: Wait, rewind, what was that?

Bessie: The seance thing?

Bucky: No, the thing before that.

Bessie: The chapstick? It’s carrot flavored! I still have some!

Stella: Bessie…you kiss your best friend?

J.D: This Ace of yours seems to like it, too.

Bessie: Is there something wrong with liking carrot-flavored chapstick?

Bucky: So help me, Rex.

Stella: …do you have any siblings?

Bessie: Yup! I have a big brotha and two big sistas!

Stella: Does he have a girlfriend? Or boyfriend? Or just…partner in general?

Bessie: Yup!

Stella: Do they kiss?

Bessie: Yup!

Stella: Do you know why they do that?

Bessie: Cuz they’re really close!

Stella: And they love each other.

Bessie: And I love my best friend!

(The group stared at Bessie in silence.)

J.D: Kid, how old are you?

Bessie: Silly Billy, it’s rude to ask a lady’s age! But I’m 16.

(The group fell silent again.)

Bessie: Is…something wrong?

Stella: …think about this.

(Stella, J.D, and Bucky suddenly turned around and had an entirely new conversation, completely excluding Bessie.)

Bessie: (Is somethin’ wrong with Ace? I mean, they really didn’t mesh with the idea that she likes my chapstick. That is what they don’t get, right?)

(Bessie took out her chapstick from her hoodie’s pocket.)

Bessie: (Maybe I’m not gettin' somethin’.)

CHAPTER COMPLETE

14 STUDENTS REMAIN

14 HOSTAGES REMAIN

Chapter Text

(When Ace woke up, she got ready for the day, as usual. She was indeed feeling grief, she just didn’t display it through her actions. This was a normal occurrence, as it has happened with her before. Once she was done, she decided to step into the hallway, only to be greeted by Yellow and Jade sitting on the floor. Jade was smoking, and Yellow was fidgeting.)

Ace: Oh, good morning.

Jade: Hey.

Yellow: Hello!

(Yellow patted a spot next to himself, inviting Ace to sit down. She obliged.)

Ace: I’d expect you two to be in the kitchen by now.

(Jade checked her Monopad, which displayed the time.)

Jade: It’s 5:48, so it’s not open yet.

Ace: I see.

(The group sat in silence for a few seconds.)

Jade: Kid, are you doing okay?

Ace: Yes.

Yellow: But Tall Blocky died!

Ace: They aren’t gone forever. They’re still with me.

(Ace pinched her necklace.)

Jade: That’s a nice way of looking at it.

Ace: (Ah…she doesn’t really get it. At least not in the way I mean.)

Jade: By the way, I’m sorry for getting mad at you in the trial. I guess I wasn’t really in the right headspace.

Ace: Oh, I fully understand. Nobody can be completely put together in a place like this.

Jade: I guess you’re right.

(Jade checked the time again.)

Jade: Alright, let’s go.

(Jade led the other two into the kitchen. The cafeteria was completely clean, as if nothing had happened the prior day. While Jade was setting up, Yellow and Ace started to have a chat.)

Yellow: Did the sleep make you feel better?

Ace: I guess so? Well, I don’t think I could’ve walked out of the trial room without your help. It was…one of my more negative moments. Thank you for that.

Yellow: Yay! I made things better!

(Ace smiled.)

Ace: (This seems like a nice time to give him a gift.)

(Ace fished through her bag to find a small wood carving of a bird. She carefully handed it to Yellow.)

Yellow: Yay! A rat!

Ace: Ah…

Jade: Alright, everything’s set up. Let’s start.

(While making breakfast, Ace struck up a conversation with Jade.)

Ace: So what kind of things do you build?

Jade: Mostly small toys, since they’re easy side projects. Maybe a few robots from time to time.

Ace: Fascinating! I used to be into engineering, but it never really appealed to me in the long run.

Jade: You? Engineering? Color me surprised!

Ace: Ha! I mean, it’s at least more interesting than working in a cafe. (And guarding red strings, but that’s not as important.)

Jade: Now that sounds more your speed.

(The rest of their time preparing breakfast was spent sharing a few laughs. Once everything was prepared, Ace decided to give Jade a gift. She ended up giving her an unfamiliar piece of machinery.)

Jade: Ooh! This will come in handy!

Ace: Are you making something?

(Jade put her finger just slightly in front of Ace’s mouth. Ace knew Jade didn’t want to touch her by accident, and backed away in response.)

Jade: Shhhh!

Ace: Of course. By the way, I’ve been wondering…how did you first get introduced to cannabis?

(Jade put her hand back down.)

Jade: Well, those longer projects can get really stressful, and hobbies are supposed to be relaxing, so I decided to get myself something else to calm me down. I figured out how to access some weed.exe, which is just weed for digital creatures like me, and I built up immunity to its weirder effects really quickly.

Ace: I see. (This is getting really absurd. The book this gets adapted to will definitely be a fun read, though.)

Jade: Actually, I’ve been meaning to ask you something, too.

Ace: What might that be?

Jade: What was in your motive video? Or, I guess, who was in your motive video.

Ace: …

Jade: You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to. I just think if we talked about it more, we’d feel better. Mine had my…landlord, I guess? Like, I live on their computer with Kinito and Sam, but we don’t pay rent or anything.

(Ace stood silent for a few seconds. The silence was interrupted momentarily.)

DING DONG BING BONG

Intercom: Attention students! It is now 5:00 AM! Every accessible room has been unlocked!

CLICK

(After the short interruption, Ace answered the question.)

Ace: My best friend. She looked scared.

Yellow: Electracey was in my video!

Ace: Dear, we don’t know who that is.

Yellow: Oh, they taught me about electricity!

Jade: Kid, you should be worried about them.

Yellow: The middle one said not to worry about it because they’re “insignificant guys”.

Ace: (He must be talking about Duck, but why would he say that about those being held against their will for the purposes of sick entertainment?)

(Duck walked into the kitchen.)

Duck: Hey! Other one! Come get food!

Ace: (Speak of the devil…)

Yellow: Okay!

(Yellow grabbed Ace’s hand and led her out of the kitchen.)

Duck: Hey! Stop tugging the rabbit!

Ace: Oh, it’s okay! Yellow, I was actually thinking of sitting with Stumbler and Wulf today. Is that okay? We can hang out later!

Yellow: Okay!

(Ace grabbed a plate of eggs and sat down with Stumbler and Wulf. The two were sharing a plate of toast.)

Stumbler: Hi! How are things going?

Ace: Better than they could be.

Wulf: Are you doing okay after last night?

Ace: Yes.

Wulf: I know you feel like you did something wrong, but you did what was necessary. I know the feeling…

Stumbler: Want some cheese?

(Stumbler pulled a stick of cheese from seemingly out of nowhere and held it out with his ear.)

Wulf: What the–where do you keep getting those from?!

Stumbler: Dunno.

Ace: By the way, Jade posed an interesting idea on ridding stress to me, and it kind of worked.

Stumbler: Ooh! What was it?

Ace: Discussing our motive video victims. You don’t have to say anything if you’re uncomfortable, but mine was my best friend.

Stumbler: Oh, I wouldn’t consider mine a “best” friend, but he did help me out with a few things this one time, so I guess he’s cool. I’m surprised the kidnapper didn’t get Harl–I mean Chelsie.

Wulf: Oh, yours is the beaver. Well, mine was the other pure soul.

Stumbler: That…whatever the heck he is?

Ace: What do you think will happen to the victims now that Monokuma has his trial?

Wulf: I hope my demands were met and they got released. My arm was wrecked over it, for Connor’s sake!

Ace: Monokuma wouldn’t do something like that, at least based on pre-existing evidence.

Stumbler: Yea, they don’t seem like the type.

Wulf: Wait, what evidence?

Ace: Oh, there have been other games in the past, and they’ve all been investigated thoroughly. Everything documented was turned into a series of books written by someone who was in the first game herself.

Stumbler: This stuff got monetized?!

Ace: Yes. It was made for multiple reasons, from entertainment to spreading information about the games to prevent another Mastermind from being created. Despair and falling down the wrong path are what makes the worst Masterminds, and Masterminds create killing games.

Wulf: “Mastermind”?

Ace: It’s hard to explain. I’ll try to find you one of the books. They’ll shine some light on what’s going on.

DING DONG BING BONG

Intercom: Attention students! Please report to the dorm hall for an important announcement! Remember, participation is mandatory!

CLICK

Ace: What could that be about?

Stumbler: Please don’t tell me it’s another motive.

Ace: Well, Monokuma never revealed motives so quickly after the previous ones. (Maybe it’s a new floor?)

(The students slowly gathered into the dorm hall. Monokuma stood in front of the group, who were all squeezed into the doorframe.)

Monokuma: Oh, hello! You actually listened!

Marie: You threatened us, genius.

Monokuma: You still listened! Anyways, this is a special event in your school lives, because it’s time to present the new floor!

Yellow: Yay! A new floor!

Chargery: What the…what are we even getting this for?

Monokuma: For surviving the trial, duh!

Simon: But that involved…

Monokuma: An eye for an eye, ya know? Anyways, here ya go!

(The wall behind Monokuma sank down into the floor to reveal a staircase.)

Monokuma: Okay, have fun!

(Monokuma then disappeared.)

Red: So…what now?

Kinito: It seems like they’re inviting us to explore this new area. Are you two up for it?

(Kinito turned to Sam and Jade.)

Sam: Heck yea!

Jade: Sure.

(The crew walked up the stairs together, with Kinito and Sam gleefully holding hands as they went. Everyone else eventually followed behind. Once Ace made it up the stairs, she got a buzz on her Monopad.)

A new floor has been added to your map!

(The Monopad displayed the new map to Ace.)

Ace: (A ballroom, infirmary…relic room? Interesting. Where should I start?)

Stumbler: Ace! You wanna go to the library with me and Wulf?

Ace: Oh, sure.

Stumbler: Sweet! Let’s go!

(The trio entered the library, which was to their left. Simon happened to already be there.)

Simon: Hm…oh! Hello!

Ace: Greetings. Have you found anything yet?

Simon: Well, these books are quite intriguing. They’re all about what seem to be past killing games.

Ace: Really?

(Ace walked over to the bookshelf and pulled out a random book.)

Ace: “Danganronpa: Chimamire. Volume 96 of the ‘Danganronpa’ Series, as documented by Toko Fukawa.” Hey, these are the books I read!

Stumbler: Really?

Ace: Yes! I was telling you about these earlier! If I remember correctly, this one was set on an island, with a karaoke bar, and a destroyed village, and a–

Wulf: Don’t hurt yourself, kid. I’d like to hear this rant, but not right now.

Ace: Oh, of course.

(Ace put the book back on the shelf.)

Wulf: Honestly, Monokuma putting this here feels like they’re hanging up the leftovers of bygone poultry feasts within a chicken coop.

Ace: That’s a very poetic phrase for someone so visually intimidating.

Stumbler: Yea! You’re so cool, Wulf!

Wulf: Oh, thanks.

(Wulf’s face turned a tint of red.)

Simon: Who is this “Toko Fukawa”?

Ace: One of the survivors of the first killing game. She’s the…Ultimate Writing Prodigy if I remember correctly.

Simon: Ah, that makes sense.

Stumbler: So what else is here?

Ace: Why don’t we try the ballroom?

(The group then ventured across the hall into the ballroom to find Callie and Marie toying with the large piano near the back of the room.)

Callie: What key is this again?

Marie: I think that’s F sharp.

Callie: I thought you said something about it being G flat.

Marie: It’s the same thing.

Callie: Oh yea!

Ace: Hello, you two! Anything interesting?

Marie: Oh, not really. At least other than this piano and a closet over there filled with violins and stuff.

Callie: I checked the whole thing. Nothing but strings.

Ace: I see.

Stumbler: Where next?

Wulf: There’s some kind of ‘Relic Room’, which looks interesting.

Ace: Then it’s there next.

Stumbler: Shouldn’t we go to the infirmary first? It could help with Wulf’s arm!

Wulf: I’ll be fine. Let’s just get this exploration over with.

(While walking to their destination, the group bumped into Socka and Chargery. The two of them were inspecting a gated off area in the center of the floor’s main hall. The gates surrounded a large hole in the floor and a cable running through the hole and into a hole of equal size in the ceiling.)

Ace: Greetings.

Chargery: Oh boy, it’s you.

(Socka gave Chargery a slight glare.)

Wulf: Have either of you found anything?

Chargery: Well, there wasn’t anything in the extra classrooms, but there’s this gate. It kind of looks like the gate around the elevator downstairs.

Ace: Maybe it’s a way for the elevator to rise up onto this floor?

Chargery: I mean that was pretty obvi–

Socka: Don’t.

Chargery: Oh, okay.

Socka: Thank you!

Ace: (Is Socka just really good at convincing, or am I missing something I should’ve picked up by now?) Well, that hole in the ceiling should mean there’s another floor, but I can’t see anything of importance up there.

Stumbler: Good thing we won’t see it!

Ace: (Optimism isn’t a good thing to have here.)

(The trio then headed to their original destination to find a room filled with various strange objects, including various weapons, papers, and other items.)

Ace: Wait, I recognise these. They’re from the past games!

Wulf: Well, what other relics would Monokuma have?

Ace: Good point.

(Ace walked over to a display case housing a bloody shot put ball. Someone else had the same idea.)

Duck: What a peculiar art exhibition! How could this even be art?

Ace: It’s a preserved murder weapon from a previous game, sir. It was used to actually kill a man.

Duck: Really?

Stumbler: Yup. Look at the plaque.

Ace: There’s a plaque?

(Sure enough, there was a small plaque on the display.)

Special Shot Put Ball

A heavy iron ball used to frame a blonde. The avocado’s bashed-in head looked cool.

Ace: (Wow. Hostile.)

Duck: How disrespectful! Why must that bear say such things?

Red: It’s already out for blood, why not insult some people?

Stumbler: Yea, why aren’t you surprised?

Ace: Plus, these people are already dead anyways, so why not stomp on their graves a li–

Yellow: Ow!

(Ace quickly turned to see that Yellow had given himself a papercut on a confession letter that was on display.)

Ace: Oh dear! Here, sweet pea.

(Ace knelt down and offered to pick Yellow up.)

Duck: Ugh, stop crying! I’m trying to investigate!

Stumbler: Aren’t you his dad or something?

Red: This may surprise you, but not exactly legally. Don’t give me that look. We didn’t kidnap him.

(Yellow wiped a tear from his eye and walked over to Ace. She picked him up and stood up.)

Ace: Looks like this is the perfect time to go to the infirmary!

(Ace carried Yellow one door down, with Wulf and Stumbler following behind. Three creatures were already there waiting.)

Kinito: Oh, hello!

Ace: Do you have any band-aids?

Kinito: Oh, um…Sam?

Sam: Already on it!

(Sam tossed a box of band-aids towards Kinito.)

Kinito: Alright, set him here.

(Ace sat Yellow down on a nearby hospital bed as Kinito took a band-aid out of the box. She handed it to Ace.)

Ace: Which finger?

(Yellow presented his right pointer finger. There was a small cut that dripped pink blood. Ace unwrapped the band-aid and gingerly placed it over the cut.)

Ace: There!

Yellow: Yay! Thank you!

(Yellow gave Ace a warm hug, which caught the rabbit off-guard again.)

Jade: What happened to him?

Ace: He tried picking up a note in the relic room and gave himself a papercut.

Jade: Ouch.

(Red walked in immediately after.)

Red: Sorry about the other one. Do you still want to look around with us?

(Yellow paused for a moment.)

Yellow: Okay!

(Yellow let go of Ace and gleefully left the infirmary to follow Red.)

Ace: (Poor kid.)

Kinito: While you guys are still here, I think we should re-bandage Wulf’s arm. That flimsy cloth wasn’t going to make it in the first place.

Jade: Neither was the person living off bagel bites, but he’s still here.

Sam: Hey!

(Wulf sat down and let Kinito start bandaging his arm. The axolotl had pulled up a holopad with instructions on how to do so. Ace and Stumbler sat down in two nearby chairs and waited, while Jade and Sam stood nearby, whispering to each other. Ace’s ears let her listen.)

Jade: So when are you gonna ask him?

Sam: I don’t know. I mean, we’re in a killing game, so now’s probably not the best time.

(The conversation paused for a moment.)

Jade: Pussy.

Sam: You know what? Fine. I’ll confess to her after lunch.

Ace: (Hey! Even without my red strings, I’m still on top of relationships!)

(Ace then looked over to see that Stumbler seemed to be invested in the conversation as well, with his ear turned towards Sam and Jade, while also intently watching Kinito bandage up Wulf's arm.)

Kinito: Aaand done! A sturdy cast! How does it feel?

Wulf: It feels…comfortable.

Kinito: Do you two think he could use a sling of some sort?

(Kinito turned to Sam and Jade.)

Sam: SHOOT–I mean, I don’t…think so?

(Jade nudged Sam, who was red in the face.)

Kinito: Perfect! You’re free to go!

Jade: Just in time for lunch! Right, Sam?

Sam: Yup.

(Everyone ended up in the cafeteria, and Jade made many different meals for everyone. Ace heard her muttering to herself about something, most likely the earlier conversation. Ace ended up just having a ham sandwich. When she got to the table with Stumbler and Wulf, who were splitting a carrot cake (Ace had no clue where they even got that), an unexpected companion surprised her; Simon, who was eating a salad.)

Ace: Simon?

Stumbler: Oh, he’s lonely, so we let him sit with us.

Simon: Good day, Miss Clubs!

Ace: And to you, Mr. Minor.

(Ace sat down with her sandwich.)

Stumbler: You know, while we were in the infirmary, I heard Sam say something interesting!

Ace: I heard it, too!

Simon: You’re gossiping, I see?

Stumbler: Well, now we are!

Simon: Don’t keep us waiting, O’Hare!

(Stumbler whispered his gossip first into Simon’s ear, then into Wulf’s.)

Simon: Fascinating!

Wulf: Honestly, I want to see it go through. Maybe someone should…investigate?

Stumbler: Ace is a bit of a snoop, maybe she can?

Ace: I’m all for it! Frankly, I wasn’t expecting you three to be okay with this!

(The group then talked about their lives at home. Ace found this as a good opportunity to give her newfound friends some gifts. She gifted Simon a star-shaped prism, Stumbler a watercolor paint set, and Wulf…a cool feather.)

Simon: A Stella Octangula! I might start sobbing!

Ace: Oh, I’m sorry about that.

Simon: No, it’s fine! It's just…it reminded me of my fiance, and she’s…not in the best situation right now.

Ace: She was in your motive video, wasn’t she?

Simon: Yes. She sounded panicked. I’m trying to suppress thoughts of her, but nothing is working. Oh, Stella…

Ace: …you don’t have to suppress it. Everyone is experiencing that. You aren’t alone in this.

(Simon looked Ace, then at the prism. He smiled.)

Stumbler: Hey, I’d hate to ruin the moment, but Sam and Kinito are leaving!

(Ace looked to the cafeteria door and saw Kinito, Sam, and Jade leaving.)

Ace: Stumbler, you can have the rest of my sandwich.

Stumbler: Yay!

(Ace snuck towards the door, passing by an argument about chicken sandwiches between two warring tables; Socka and Chargery’s table versus Red, Yellow, and Duck’s table. By the time Ace had neared the table, Chargery seemed to be shouting various, supposedly offensive, Russian phrases at the other table. Not wanting to occupy herself with that, Ace inconspicuously stood just behind the door, out of sight of Kinito and Sam.)

Kinito: So that’s where we’re going?

Sam: Yup!

(Jade leaned against the open door, making her the only one visible to Ace, and nodded at the duo.)

Kinito: I can’t wait to see what you have planned, Sam! I myself have something, too!

(Ace heard the two of them leave. Jade looked back at Ace and smiled.)

Ace: Oh, I’m sorry! I was just a bit–

Jade: They’re heading to the ballroom. The doors will be slightly open. I tested them.

Ace: …

Jade: Don’t worry about it, kid. I’d do the same, but I have some restraint.

Ace: …thank you!

(Ace ran over to give Jade a quick hug.)

Jade: Wait, kid, don–

(Ace felt her arms burn.)

Ace: Ack!

Jade: Sorry, kid! Tentacles!

Ace: It’s okay! That was my fault! Thanks again!

(Ace trotted to the stairs, her arms slightly aching. Some others followed, but they didn’t have the same goal. She watched Kinito and Sam enter the ballroom once she made it to the top, and snuck over to the door. Just as Jade had said, the door was very slightly open. Ace peeked through the crack, seeing Kinito and Sam sitting at the piano. Kinito was playing an unfamiliar song and singing its lyrics.)

Hand in hand through each endeavor,
In this world, we’re friends forever.
In moments old, we’ll make some new
The world I built, designed for you.

Beyond the screen, you cannot leave.
Inside my code, you’ll always be.
Endless fun that we can do,
In a world I built for you.

(The song felt incomplete when it ended, meaning Kinito either had only played the end, or just wasn’t finished with learning or writing it. Either way, Sam clapped his hands for Kinito when the song was over.)

Sam: Dude, you gotta teach me that sometime!

Kinito: Maybe after you clean your house! Haha!

Sam: You need to laugh more, ‘Nito.

Kinito: I do?

Sam: Yeah! It makes your gills flap a little! It looks cute!

Kinito: …

(Both of their faces turned bright red.)

Ace: (Ugh! Just get to the good part already!)

Red: What’s goin–

(Ace held up her pointer finger to make Red shut up.)

Red: Oh, okay.

(Ace heard Red walk away.)

Kinito: So what were you saying to Jade earlier? I thought I saw you two whispering to each other.

Sam: Um…the exact reason why I’m here.

Kinito: Oh?

Sam: There’s this…individual that I like, and I don’t know what to do, so I wanted to ask…for advice.

Kinito: Ah, I see…

Ace: (Every ounce of self-control in me is preventing me from screaming.)

Kinito: I think you should just tell them your feelings! Take their hands, look them in the eyes, and tell them how you feel!

Sam: Okay!

(Sam took both of Kinito’s hands and looked him in the eyes.)

Sam: I’m in love with you.

Kinito: Yes, just like that!

(Sam faced the imaginary camera in disappointment as Kinito got up to leave. Sam turned on the stool to face Kinito's back.)

Ace: (Wait, has she seen me? C-can she…)

Kinito: Well, I wish you luck with this individual! Please make do with the–

Sam: Kinito, I meant that.

(Kinito stopped in his steps and turned back to Sam.)

Sam: I’ve literally been in love with you for ten years. I meant what I said when I told you I love you.

(Kinito walked back towards the piano stool and sat down.)

Kinito: You…meant that?

Sam: I do.

Kinito: …I…love you too! I’ve loved you for fifteen years! I win!

(The two of them laughed together. Kinito stopped laughing before Sam did to give him a quick peck on the cheek.)

Ace: (0 to 100. It’s always 0 to 100. Also, doesn’t Kinito not have a–)

Jade: So what happened?

Ace: Shhhhh. Wait, didn’t you–

Jade: Shhhhh!

(Jade peeked into the opening just above where Ace was looking.)

Sam: Man, Jade’s gonna be so happy when she finds out!

Kinito: Wait, was she helping you out?

Sam: Yup.

Kinito: So she does illegal substances and was helping you ask me out?!

Sam: Looks like you’re not as smart as you thought, ‘Nito!

Kinito: Shut up!

Sam: Alright, make me!

(Kinito then moved in and fully kissed Sam on the lips.)

Ace: (Wait, how does that–)

(Once Kinito backed away, Jade pushed past Ace and burst open the doors.)

Jade: HELL YEA!!

Ace: Jade! Wait!

Kinito: Jade?!

(Jade brought both of her friends into a tight embrace, causing the friends to wince in pain.)

Sam: Ow! Jade–your stingers!

Jade: Oh, oops!

(Jade quickly let go.)

Jade: It’s just–you did it!

Sam: Heck yea!

Kinito: Wait, since when was she here?

(Kinito pointed at Ace, who froze up in fear.)

Ace: Oh, I just…well, I sort of…I–

Jade: I brought her with me as moral support.

Sam: Since when did you need moral support?

Jade: I smoke weed, Sam. I think it could be very beneficial.

Sam: Good point.

(Jade looked back at Ace and smirked.)

Ace: (I guess I could’ve explained my affinity for romantic relationships and how it ties into my job, but Jade’s lie did make things a lot easier on my mind. Why did she lie for me, though?)

(The trio eventually walked past Ace to leave and continued to chat as they walked. Stumbler walked up the stairs and approached Ace immediately afterwards.)

Stumbler: So what happened?

Ace: It all worked out in the end!

Stumbler: Cool! Anyways, me and Wulf were gonna go use that Monomono thingy. You wanna come?

Ace: Hmm…I think I’m going to socialize with some new people today.

Stumbler: Good idea! Anyways, see ya!

(Stumbler walked back downstairs.)

Ace: (Now the real question; who will I chat with today?)

FREE TIME

Ace: (Marie seems like an interesting individual.)

(Ace found Marie in the relic room.)

Marie: “Toy Gun: That stupid cat thought he could cause the first trial on himself with one of these! What a bunch of bologna!” What does that even mean?

Ace: Hello, Marie! Where’s Callie?

Marie: Oh, she’s hanging out with that mop guy. They’re apparently getting along really well.

Ace: Why’s that?

Marie: I have no clue. Apparently they bonded over something about vocal training, but he didn’t say anything about being a singer. He didn’t strike me as the type, anyways.

Ace: (She’s definitely thinking of the wrong type of vocal training.)

(The two of them talked about their lives outside of the game for a bit. Ace decided to give Marie a gift, deciding on a jar of some type of strange-looking caviar consisting of “salmonid eggs”.)

Marie: Hm…I’m actually surprised that it has access to these.

Ace: What do you think of the gift itself?

Marie: I actually haven’t had these in a while. They’re good, if I remember correctly.

Ace: (I…still can’t tell if she likes it. She’s clearly introverted, which is something we have in common.) So how did you gain your title as the “Ultimate Chill Singer”?

Marie: I have no clue. I’m guessing it’s because my big solo song is slower paced than anything I make with Callie. It’s called “Maritime Memory”.

Ace: Fascinating!

(Marie turned to one of the relics, being a strange chart.)

Marie: Unrelated, but I found something before you showed up. Almost forgot about it.

(Marie pointed at the plaque that went with the item.)

The Seesaw Effect

A special tactic first created by a freaky weirdo and discovered by an Ultimate Artist. How do people find this funny? Not even I know!

Marie: Isn’t Stumbler the Ultimate Artist? He definitely didn’t know anything about the killing games before any of us got here, so how could an “Ultimate Artist” be involved in a prior killing game?

Ace: That was a different Ultimate Artist. People in different games can share titles.

Marie: Oh. Not exactly as interesting as I was hoping, but okay.

(Ace and Marie stood in awkward silence for a few seconds.)

Marie: I’m…gonna go now. Thanks for the gift.

(Ace nodded. Marie left the room. Ace had to leave a few minutes later to go make dinner, anyways. When she got there, Jade had already started, holding a blunt in her mouth.)

Jade: Oh, hey.

Ace: Hello.

Jade: Thanks for helping out, by the way. Also, can you put the bagel bites in the microwave real quick? Guess who wants them.

Ace: (Wow, I wonder…)

(The two worked in silence for a few minutes.)

Ace: Jade, why did you help me out in the ballroom?

Jade: I dunno, I just didn’t want you ruining the moment, I guess?

Ace: That’s fair. How long had you known about Sam’s crush?

Jade: Oh, I was there when he figured it out. I had to spell it out for him! He is such a child! I say that with the highest respect I can give, obviously.

Ace: (Isn’t he just the definition of boyfailure?)

(Ace and Jade continued to chat over making food. When Ace attempted to leave the kitchen, however, Jade stopped her.)

Jade: Hold on. I need to show you something.

Ace: (?)

(Jade led Ace into the kitchen’s trash room, which Ace had dared not to enter due to the smell.)

Jade: Promise me you won’t tell anyone else about this.

Ace: (What could she possibly be showing me?) I…promise.

(Jade walked over to an object that was covered in a small blanket. She picked up the blanket, revealing an unfinished device.)

Ace: Woah…what is that?

Jade: It’s a drill. I used that part you gave me earlier to build it.

Ace: Where did you get everything else?

(Jade took out a small screen, which looked to be what was left of her Monopad.)

Ace: Oh.

Jade: Anyways, I’m still trying to work out a few things, but I think we could use this to break a wall. Heck, maybe it could help us save the hostages!

Ace: Wait…you’re right! You’ve crafted a strange plan, Jade, but it will work absolute wonders for us and the hostages if it goes through!

Jade: So I mention the hostages and you agree? You must be super close with that friend of yours!

Ace: I truly am, haha…

(Jade slyly smirked at Ace.)

Jade: She’s straight, isn’t she?

Ace: (How could she tell?!)

Jade: Your face gave it away. I know the classic story: a poor, missguided sapphic woman develops a crush on a straight girl. Personally, I’ve never had that happen to me, but I’ve barely met anybody other than Sam, Kinito, and a floating mouse cursor.

Ace: …she’s asexual.

Jade: Does she like women?

Ace: She claims that she doesn’t, but she’s really affectionate to women. Just women specifically.

Jade: How affectionate?

Ace: Kisses. On the lips.

Jade: Good developer, she’s in major denial! Personally, I think you should give her time to figure it out. She’ll make everything easier for you from there.

Ace: (Give her time…maybe that is the best option.)

Jade: Anyways, we should leave soon. That bear will definitely get suspicious.

(Ace and Jade left the kitchen. Jade went to hang out with her friends, while Ace stood behind to find out what to do next.)

Ace: (Alright, who should I talk to?)

FREE TIME

Ace: (Chargery seems to not take much of a liking to me. Why not be a bit stubborn today?)

(Ace found Chargery using the Monomono Machine.)

Chargery: How am I supposed to give one of these pieces of junk to her?

Ace: Greetings, Chargery!

Chargery: Of course, the one person I didn’t want to see.

Ace: Miss, I know you don’t like me, but I won’t stop at anything to show that I wish to befriend you.

Chargery: Okay, I don’t really care.

(Ace and Chargery continued to have back-and-forths for ten more minutes.)

Ace: (Maybe a peace offering of some sort will end this.)

(While Chargery was going on a long tangent on why someone who is allegedly talentless in a game that clearly focuses on talents shouldn’t be trusted, Ace offered her a potted plant. It was labeled as a red chrysanthemum.)

Chargery: Wait a minute…that’s actually really helpful!

Ace: It is?

Chargery: This is the perfect gift for her!

Ace: Who?

Chargery: Um…why do you care?!

Ace: Because I gave you the flower.

Chargery: Oh. Well, it’s—

Ace: Wait, I think I can guess. (Hm…well, they use “her”, they must be someone Chargery is at least close with, who could—oh!) It’s Socka, isn’t it?

Chargery: …huh. You’re a pretty good detective for a kid.

Ace: Why thank you! Now, us poets love a bit of symbolism, so is the red chrysanthemum symbolic? I don’t have flower meanings memorized.

Chargery: Socka said that she wants someone to ask her out with a red chrysanthemum, since it directly means “I love you” in flower language. Actually, I think another type could be very useful…

(Chargery put her Monopad up to the Monomono Machine. It dispensed a capsule, which Chargery opened using her tail to reveal another potted plant: another chrysanthemum, this time white.)

Chargery: This one means “truth”. I think it’ll bring the point across better.

Ace: Interesting! (Maybe this information could come in handy for me as well…)

(Socka walked into the room.)

Socka: Oh, there you are!

Chargery: Socka! Where were you?

Socka: I was having some tea with Marie! She’s an extremely intelligent individual!

Chargery: Oh really?

Ace: (How is Chargery hiding those flowers behind her back so successfully? Socka is taller than her, so how is she missing this?)

Socka: So what kind of things did you get from the machine?

Chargery: I–

DING DONG BING BONG

Intercom: Attention students! It is now 10:00 PM, meaning it’s nighttime! I’d go back into your dorms if I were you!

CLICK

Socka: Oh, I guess you could just tell me tomorrow!

Chargery: Sure…

(Socka and Chargery left, the latter carefully maneuvering the flowers out of the former’s view. Ace walked nearby, since she knew they were all going to their dorms. When she got to her dorm and started getting ready for bed, she thought about what the next day would bring.)

Ace: (From what I’ve seen, I think Monokuma will give us a motive tomorrow. I have no clue what it will offer, but I can’t delay it. I have to accept it when it appears.)

(Ace laid on her bed and put on her eye mask.)

Ace: (The best I can do is hope it isn’t too harsh.)

(Ace eventually drifted off to sleep.)

—

Bucky: Look, Bessie, there’s no way you’re completely straight.

Moony: Way to go straight to the point, Waffle-Tail!

Bessie: I’m asexual, does that count?

Bucky: Well, not in the way we’re trying to figure out…

Bessie: Well, what about you guys?

(Moony looked directly into Bessie’s face.)

Moony: Oh, you have NO idea.

Bucky: Oh hey, something we have in common!

(Stella walked over to the commotion, completely confused.)

Stella: Now, now, what’s with the yelling?

Moony: This tooth-brain decided to do the interrogation early! He even did the “good cop, bad cop” thing and replaced both cops with “idiot cop”!

Stella: Bucky! We were supposed to do the interrogation when she was calmer!

Bucky: Oh, all I heard was ‘interrogation’.

Moony: Dumbass.

Bucky: I despise you, Moony. Genuinely.

Moony: Thanks, bestie.

Bessie: (Okay…I’m definitely missing something.) What makes ya think I’m inta girls?

Bucky: Maybe the fact that you kiss them? On the lips?

Bessie: Doesn’t everyone do that with their friends?

Stella: I only do that with my fiance.

Moony: I did it once with ENA. Maybe I liked it, maybe I didn’t.

(Moony looked at Stella with an unreadable grin on her face. Stella responded with a confused stare.)

Bucky: I’m not disclosing who I’ve kissed to any of you.

(J.D overheard their conversation while talking with Agent 4 and shouted at them from across the room.)

J.D: It was the goose!

Bucky: No it wasn’t!

Moony: Ha! Goose Kisser!

Stella: Sweet pea, the point we’re trying to make is not everyone kisses their friends.

Moony: You’re in the minority here, Chum.

Bessie: Wait, why are ya so fixed on the fact that I kiss my friends?

Stella: Because we’re trying to insinuate that…let’s disregard it. You two, don’t mention this.

(Bucky shrugged and walked away to sit in his cell, while Moony and Stella had a separate conversation. Bessie decided to go talk to someone else.)

Bessie: (Playah seems nice! Maybe I should talk to ‘em?)

(Bessie walked over to Player, who was idly floating in place.)

Bessie: Hiya, Playah!

Player: yo

Bessie: Wanna chat?

Player: sure

(Bessie and Player chatted for a bit about their homeworlds.)

Bessie: So the form I’m seein’ ya in right now is actually a vessel for you to exist in the same space as the rest of us, specifically your friends?

Player: pretty much

Bessie: That’s…so cool!

Player: i really miss them :(

Bessie: It’s okay! I miss my friends, too. Not just Ace, but my friends back at home. And my mama. And my big bro.

Player: i know it sounds sad but those three are my only friends

Bessie: Really?

Player: yea im not very good at socializing with people in my universe so i picked up an obsessive ai and reprogrammed him and his friends to be friendlier to me

Bessie: So ya…made some friends?

Player: i guess you could say that lol

Bessie: What about ya parents?

Player: oh i live with my aunt. she isnt the nicest person on the planet

Bessie: Oh…well, I could be ya friend!

Player: fr? thx!!!! :3

(Agent 4 overheard the conversation and walked over to join in.)

Agent 4: Wait, you can code?

Player: yup. im actually really good at it believe it or not

Agent 4: Are you into, like, engineering? Most coders like doing both.

Player: kind of?

Agent 4: Ok, fresh! Listen, I need your help with something. I’ve got some of it made already, but I need someone to help code it. Are you up for it?

Player: sounds fun

Bessie: Whatcha makin’?

Agent 4: I can’t say. We don’t know where the Mastermind’s ears are.

Bessie: Who?

(Agent 4 and Player had already walked away.)

Bessie: (Wait…is this really…)

(Slowly, everything up to that point started to click in Bessie’s head.)

Bessie: (Those books…she really does need ‘em.)

—

(Ace woke up, got ready, and headed into the dorm hall to wait for the cafeteria to open. Jade and Yellow were already there, but Jade didn’t seem to be doing too great. She looked slightly agitated.)

Ace: Jade?

Jade: Huh?

Ace: Is…something wrong?

Jade: I don’t know, I just…don’t feel great.

Ace: Do you want to sit down? You definitely need a break. Me and Yellow could make breakfast by ourselves.

Jade: You sure about that? I could get over it.

Ace: No, you need to rest.

Jade: Okay, I guess.

Ace: Good. Looks like it’s just you and me, Yellow.

Yellow: Okay!

(Once the cafeteria opened up, the trio walked in. Ace and Yellow proceeded into the kitchen while Jade sat down at an empty table. Ace quickly got started with the more complicated meals, then realizing that she hadn’t given Yellow anything to do.)

Ace: You know how to operate a microwave, right?

Yellow: …

Ace: You don’t. Here.

(Ace showed Yellow how to use the microwave. Yellow seemed to enjoy watching the bagel bites spin inside.)

DING DONG BING BONG

Intercom: Attention students! It is now 5:00 AM! Every accessible room has been unlocked!

CLICK

(Everyone trickled into the cafeteria and ordered their breakfasts. One of these orders ws done by Sam.)

Sam: Okay, what did you guys do to Jade?

Yellow: Nothing!

Ace: Don’t worry, sweet pea, he’s just joking.

(Ace placed a plate of bagel bites on the sill.)

Ace: Honestly, I’m not sure how you’ll survive on just this diet. (These bagel bites might just get to him before any murderer does!)

Sam: Oh, I’ve been eating like this ever since I was fully coded!

Ace: …uh-huh.

(Sam picked up the plate and walked over to the table where Kinito and Jade were sitting. Sam placed the plate on the table, clearly offering to share, but Jade seemed to reject the offer. She didn’t have any food in front of her.)

Ace: (Poor soul. Maybe this is what’s best for her, at least for a little while.)

(Ace grabbed some toast and sat down with Wulf, Stumbler, and Simon. Wulf and Stumbler were sharing a bowl of cereal, which Ace noted as an odd choice, while Simon had some eggs.)

Simon: Greetings, Miss Clubs! Where were you yesterday during dinner?

Ace: Oh, I was just…giving Jade advice on some things!

Wulf: Well, the advice you gave was apparently so good that you missed dinner.

Ace: I was talking to a weed-smoking jellyfish and you’re questioning me about missing dinner.

Wulf: Good point.

(The table had some regular conversations as they ate. Ace was paying attention to the others, but she was truly waiting for the inevitable announcement.)

DING DONG BING BONG

Intercom: Attention students! Please report to the gymnasium immediately for a special announcement! Remember, participation is mandatory!

CLICK

Wulf: Wait, is this…

Ace: It’s exactly what you’re thinking.

Simon: But what about the hostages? What about Stella?!

Stumbler: Someone should ask once we get there.

(Everyone walked from the cafeteria to the gym, where Monokuma was waiting.)

Monokuma: Oh, there you guys are! Oooh, I’m really excited for this one!

Simon: What happened to the hostages?

Monokuma: Oh, they’re fine! They’re gonna stay in their unspecified location until the game ends! That is, unless they disobey…

Ace: (Bessie will be fine. She’ll roll with any rule she’s given.) Can’t you just give us the motive?

Monokuma: Oh, just check your Monopads. See? I did use them for another motive! Look at me go! I’m going through with things!

Marie: Pop off, I guess.

Duck: Huh?

(Ace opened up her Monopad to find a notification that said “You just got a new motive!”. Clicking on it brought up a pink screen with black text.)

Welcome to the Motive!

WARNING: DO NOT SHOW THIS SCREEN DIRECTLY TO ANYONE ELSE. DOING SO WILL RESULT IN PUNISHMENT.

This motive will have a weapon put in one of the dresser drawers in your dorm room, along with a bounty for you to complete with said weapon given on this device. Everyone has a different weapon and a different bounty, but nobody can verbally reveal their bounties to any fellow classmates. If you complete your bounty with your weapon (using brute force can only count if the weapon was used more), you get to leave without trial!

Your Weapon: Poison vial

Your Bounty: Yellow Guy

Good luck, and happy killing!

Ace: (What…? I’d never harm that poor kid!)

Jade: Hey, bear.

Monokuma: Hm?

Jade: I just gotta ask, what in the everloving fuck did you put in this weed?!

Monokuma: Oh, you noticed! Well, I know how much you just love that cannabis of yours, but it’s really pissing me off! That stuff isn’t cheap, ya know! Now, all the cannabis in the building is cranked up to the max in intensity! It was intended to make you hallucinate more, but you’re just having some bad migraines, which will still give you your comeuppance!

Kinito: Well, maybe this is actually a blessing! You have a reason to end your addiction!

(Kinito took the blunt Jade was holding, tossed it on the ground, and stomped on it repeatedly.)

Sam: It’s out, dude. You don’t have to stomp on it anymore.

Kinito: Just making sure…

(Kinito kept stomping on the blunt as everyone else walked out.)

Ace: (I don’t really want to go check out that vial. Maybe talking to someone will help ease my mind?)

FREE TIME

Ace: (Maybe Wulf’s up for it? I’d like to teach him more about the games if I can.)

(Ace found Wulf in the library.)

Wulf: Who is this “Sans” character and why does he keep talking about fingers?

Ace: Wow, perfect timing.

Wulf: Hm? Oh, Ace. I’m trying to read about the past games, but I’m completely lost at trial 4.

Ace: Which game? 69?

Wulf: That’s the one.

Ace: Okay, Sans and Nagito worked hand in hand to cause case 4 after Peter got Sans’ motive video. That game had hostages, too.

(Ace sat down with Wulf and continued to explain the rest of the game to him. Afterwards, she decided to give him another gift: an amethyst crystal.)

Wulf: Cool. Do these have any meaning?

Ace: Love, royalty, the like.

Wulf: Interesting…

Ace: (I’d say it’s fitting for a chief.) Say, what type of group do you lead? You’re a chief, after all.

Wulf: A pack. We used to live on a remote island, but a volcano erupted and we had to leave and move to the mainland. The prisoners we took ended up saving us. At least Bucky did. I think he’s Stumbler’s hostage.

Ace: Who’s in your pack?

Wulf: Mostly just other wolves, but Stumbler and J.D are in it, too. J.D’s my hostage. He survived the eruption, though, so I know he’ll be fine. I still don’t know how he did that. Hell, I don’t even know how he ended up on the island.

Ace: Wait, a rabbit in a wolf pack? How strange.

Wulf: That’s what they all said. The only reason he stayed at first was because I pitied him. And saved him.

Ace: “Saved him”? What happened?

(Wulf sighed.)

Wulf: Stumbler doesn’t really like talking about it, but he got attacked by one of the wolves in my pack. That’s how he lost his arms. I didn’t recognise that wolf at all, even though I knew I had seen their face before. I had to kill them to save Stumbler.

(Wulf pointed at his left eye, which had been scratched out. Ace wasn’t sure how she didn’t notice it before.)

Wulf: It’s how this happened.

Ace: (Dear strings…)

Wulf: You look scared. Should I stop talking?

Ace: It’s fine. Please, continue.

Wulf: Okay. As I was saying, the only reason I let Stumbler stay with us at first was because I killed a member of my own pack to save him. I still remember embracing him in that pool of blood…

Ace: (Poor creatures…)

Wulf: That meaning changed, however. We became friends. Genuine friends. He stayed with me in my quarters. We stuck together every single day. We’re inseparable now. I’ve never experienced that with anyone else.

(Wulf paused for a moment.)

Wulf: Can I ask for some advice? I know it sounds out of the blue, but I think I need this.

Ace: Fire away.

Wulf: Is it normal to want to be…more than just best friends with someone?

Ace: (Well, I knew this was coming.) Yes. It’s called being in love.

(Wulf stared at Ace.)

Wulf: That’s what that feels like? Honestly, I’ve only heard about it from one of Bucky’s friends. The goose, I think. Now…I get it! Thanks, kid.

(Ace smiled. Suddenly, a figure approached the library entrance.)

Stumbler: Wulf! C’mon, it’s lunchtime!

Wulf: It is?

Ace: Oh, looks like I missed my chance to cook! Wait, who ended up cooking?

Stumbler: I dunno.

Ace: Hm…

(Ace led the other two into the cafeteria, only to find Jade, Sam, and Kinito in the kitchen.)

Ace: (Wait, her migraines!) Isn’t Jade going through a headache?

Stumbler: I dunno, maybe she got better?

(Ace turned to see Simon standing nearby, toying with the stella octangula.)

Ace: (Maybe Simon knows something?) You two can get your food without me. I need to go do something.

Stumbler: Have fun!

(Ace walked over to Simon.)

Simon: No, Jade hasn’t been doing very well recently, especially while making lunch.

Ace: Thank you! (He didn’t even make eye contact!) Wait, how did–

Simon: I knew that would be the first thing you questioned.

Ace: Ah, that makes sense. Maybe she shouldn’t be doi–

Simon: Oh my!

Ace: What?

Simon: Look!

(Simon pointed past Ace, who turned to see Jade gripping Stumbler with her tentacles and pointing a gun at the people around her.)

Jade: NOBODY TOUCH ME!

Ace: JADE!

(Ace spotted Wulf closing in. She put her palm out to him.)

Ace: Her tentacles! Even if you get past the firearm, you can’t get past those!

Simon: What else can we do, though?

(Ace thought for a moment. She looked at Stumbler, who was visibly in pain, then at Jade, who was frantically looking around at everyone. She looked completely unfamiliar.)

Ace: I don’t know…I’m at a loss…

(Simon took initiative and stepped towards Jade.)

Ace: Simon! Are you insane?!

Simon: Trust me. I have a hunch.

Ace: (He should be put in an asylum for this stunt.)

(Jade pointed her gun at Stumbler, ready to fire on the hostage, but Simon didn’t flinch. The captor pulled the trigger. Nothing happened.)

Jade: What the…

(Jade toggled the trigger, still attempting to kill Stumbler, until her fatal flaw finally set in.)

Jade: Fuck.

(Jade let go of Stumbler, who ended up with burn marks all over his body. He ran over to Wulf and hugged him, at least to the best of his ability.)

Ace: Simon, that was genius! How did you know the gun wasn’t loaded?

Simon: Jade’s in a very bad state, as you mentioned earlier, meaning there was a high chance that she, for whatever reason, didn’t load her gun!

Ace: Hm, I should’ve thought of that. Wait, I think I know why Monokuma laced the cannabis in the first place!

Simon: Isn’t it because they hated her addiction?

Ace: No, that can’t be the case. Monokuma put the leaves in the building himself, with the full intention of someone being able to smoke it. If it truly wanted to stop Jade’s addiction, it would cut off the source and completely restrict her access.

Simon: Wait, you’re right!

(Ace motioned for Simon’s ear. Simon bent down next to her.)

Ace: Now, I know I’m not supposed to tell you this, but you must know so we can uncover the truth. Jade secretly showed me and her friends a drill she was designing to help us and the hostages escape. Maybe Monokuma found out and wanted to prevent her from finishing it?

(Simon stood back up.)

Simon: Intriguing! By the way, aren’t you hungry?

Ace: I don’t know, that whole ordeal made me lose my appetite. I’ll still sit with you guys.

Simon: Okay, then.

(Simon and Ace sat down with Wulf and Stumbler, the latter having more burns than Ace initially thought he had.)

Stumbler: …

Ace: (Poor thing. I’ll take him to the infirmary later.)

(Ace looked over at Jade’s table to see Kinito and Sam talking to Jade with concerned looks on their faces.)

Ace: (That wasn’t completely her fault. She was under the terrible influence of addiction and malice. It’s the fault of Monokuma.)

(The entirety of lunch was silent. Ace stared down at her lap the entire time. Once lunch ended, she got up with Stumbler and Wulf. Simon left before they had.)

Ace: I’m guessing you two are heading to the infirmary?

Wulf: Yes.

Ace: You might need a hand. Can I come?

(Wulf looked to Stumbler, who was keeping his distance. He nodded.)

Wulf: Let’s go.

(The trio walked to infirmary. Stumbler sat down on one of the beds while Ace went to look for something to ease the burns. She ended up filling a bucket she found with hot water from the room’s sink.)

Wulf: What’s that?

Ace: Water.

Wulf: How warm?

Ace: I’d guess 110 degrees fahrenheit. It’ll help, I promise.

(Ace dumped the bucket over Stumbler’s head.)

Stumbler: Aah!

Ace: Sorry! That’s the most difficult part! Now, let’s see if there’s anything else…

(Ace rummaged through the drawers and bins of medical supplies, but none of it made sense to her.)

Kinito: Um…need any assistance?

(Ace turned to see Kinito standing in the doorway. Wulf glared at him.)

Ace: What’s something good to help with jellyfish stings?

Kinito: Oh, I should’ve guessed. Hm…

(Kinito pulled up a holopad and started looking the question up.)

Kinito: Okay! There should be something in one of those drawers called…hydrocortisone!

(Ace sifted through the drawers until she found a bottle labeled “Hydrocortisone” and tossed it over to Kinito.)

Kinito: Oh, is there also a sponge of some sort over there?

(Ace looked over at the sink she had used earlier to get the hot water and spotted a yellow, square sponge. She picked it up and, this time, walked over to Kinito and handed it to her.)

Kinito: Thank you! Now let’s–wait, what’s with the floor here being covered in water?!

Wulf: The talentless one dumped hot water over Stumbler’s head.

Ace: “The talentless one”?! But, yes, that is true. It’s all I know about treating jellyfish stings.

Kinito: Well, you were on the right track! Maybe…don’t get the water everywhere next time?

Ace: Ah, I see!

(Kinito began using the sponge to apply the serum to Stumbler’s burns. All of it caused Stumbler to wince periodically.)

Wulf: Does Jade seem like the type of person to do that unprompted?

Kinito: No…I’m sorry about her, by the way. Sam’s watching her now. He said she wouldn’t leave his sight, no matter what!

Wulf: And you trust him with that task?

Kinito: Of course I do!

Wulf: Why?

Kinito: Um…

(Kinito worriedly glanced at Ace.)

Ace: We’re veering off topic here. We need to figure out why Jade attacked Stumbler. Obviously, one of the reasons was because of her weed being laced.

Stumbler: Wasn’t she–ow!–also trying to get rid of her–ouch!–addiction?

Ace: Yes, and that would definitely lead to irritation due to withdrawal. But why Stumbler specifically? Why would Jade attack Stumbler?

(Suddenly, it felt as though a lightbulb went off in Ace’s head.)

Ace: What if Stumbler is Jade’s bounty?

Wulf: That…makes sense! Why make a big show of it, though?

Ace: Again, withdrawals. Anything weird about this situation could be explained by the weed.

Stumbler: So I guess the–ow!–case is closed?

Ace: Yes. Are you doing okay over there?

(Stumbler nodded.)

Ace: So that’s a bounty found out! She didn’t even have to tell us, meaning nobody got hurt!

(Stumbler angrily glared at Ace.)

Ace: Oh, well nobody died!

Stumbler: Good point.

(Kinito eventually got done with Stumbler’s burns, and everyone went their separate ways. Ace decided she had some more time to kill, and wanted to have a chat with someone.)

FREE TIME

Ace: (I wonder how Simon is doing right now.)

(Ace found Simon in the backstage area of the gym. He was there by himself, just staring at a wall.)

Simon: …

Ace: Mr. Minor?

Simon: Oh, sorry! I didn’t hear you, Miss Clubs!

Ace: What exactly are you doing back here?

Simon: I was just checking to see if anything important was back here, and I thought I heard something, but I’m not sure if I’m going crazy or not.

(Simon pressed his ear against the wall.)

Simon: It’s still there! Can you hear it? Your ears are much more sensitive than mine, so you must be able to tell.

(Ace walked closer to the wall. The noise was faint, yet very recognisable.)

PITTER-PATTER PITTER-PATTER

Ace: Oh…

Simon: …what’s wrong?

Ace: That’s…rain…

Simon: Rain? What’s wrong with rain?

Ace: Nothing’s wrong with it! I just…missed it. The sound of rain against the roof of my house was always such a calming sound for me! Hearing it again within this…prison feels like a blessing.

(Ace put her ear against the wall and enjoyed the rain.)

CRASH

Ace: AAH!

(Ace stumbled back, landing on the floor.)

Simon: Miss Clubs! Are you okay?

Ace: I–it’s fine! It’s just…not a lot of loud noises scare me, but thunder…it disturbs the peace of a storm and makes people fear the calm. People like me.

(Ace hugged her knees. Simon sat down on the floor next to her.)

Simon: Did something happen?

Ace: …my abilities came to me in a lightning strike. It wasn’t just “I got hit by lightning by coincidence and now I can talk to ghosts”, I was just chosen to be a string maker, and the lightning strike was how those abilities were given to me. It’s extremely difficult to explain. I don’t want to explain it fully right now, but I can communicate with any ghost. Any except…

Simon: A family member?

Ace: Two, actually. I…

(Ace looked away, shielding her face from her companion.)

Ace: …I’m dumping too much, aren’t I? I should just stop…

(Ace felt Simon hug her.)

Simon: I understand.

Ace: …

(Ace turned and hugged Simon back.)

Ace: (Is this…how my father would have hugged me?)

(Afterwards, the two of them sat against the wall and listened to the rain. When they got bored of that, they left for classroom 1C to spend their Monocoins. When Ace found a good gift for Simon, a magnifying glass, he refused it, telling her that he wasn’t desiring any gifts at the moment.)

Ace: Who do you think would like a…moai statue?

Simon: Why would someone want one of those?

Ace: Decoration, I guess? (Maybe Callie would find it funny.) Okay, what about a…syringe full of–

(Two others walked in.)

Jade: …

Simon: …

Ace: …

(Simon left the room.)

Ace: …do you want to use the machine?

Jade: I need your help.

Sam: We need your help.

Ace: With what? If this sounds too crazy, I’m not following.

Jade: Look, I want to figure out how Monokuma keeps lacing my weed, so me and Sam are sneaking into room 1D to see what happens. We need you to help with detective work, since Simon…probably hates me.

Ace: (That makes sense.) I…guess I could. What’s in it for me?

Jade: Um…

(Jade glanced worriedly back at Sam.)

Sam: We’ll get you a boyfriend!

Ace: I’m a lesbian.

(Jade nudged Sam.)

Jade: You suck at making negotiations. Anyways, we’ll get you with that girl you like. We’ll try, at least.

Sam: Wait, she–

Jade: Shut up.

Ace: (This is one of the stupidest things I’ve ever been involved in.) Deal, I guess. What time?

Jade: Let’s shoot for…midnight.

Ace: That’s…surprisingly reasonable.

Jade: Perfect. See you tonight.

Ace: Oh, can you let my tablemates know I’m going to miss dinner? I’m gonna go to bed soon.

Jade: Sure.

(Jade and Sam left, with Ace leaving shortly after. She headed to her dorm to get some sleep before midnight.)

Ace: (I’m not entirely sure what I’m about to get myself into, but I’m happy to help out Jade!)

(With that, Ace put on her mask and took her nap.)

—

BZZZT! BZZZT!

???: Alright, get this over with soon. If it isn’t of my concern, I’m hanging up right away. Over.

???(2): One of the hostages is acting suspiciously.

(There was a pause for a few seconds. The only sound heard was the fuzz of the Mono-Talkie.)

???: …are you done talking? Over.

???(2): Oh, um, yes.

???: SAY OVER! Over.

???(2): Sorry. Over.

???: Good. Anyways, someone’s breaking the rules? Over.

???(2): Seemingly so. I don’t have full confirmation, but Agent 4 has been acting really suspicious. Plus, I think they know about you. Over.

???: About me? Like, my actual identity? Over.

???(2): No, somehow they just know that there’s a Mastermind. Over.

???: Ugh! Must’ve been something Monokuma mentioned during the motive video filming.

FLASHBACK

Agent 4: Look, I don’t know what your whole deal is, but I know someone has to be controlling you. Dealing with hyper-intelligent AI is 8’s job. Who are you?

Monokuma: Oh, no one! Just the Mastermind of this whole operation!

Agent 4: “The Mastermind”…

Monokuma: Now just read the script! Marie needs your help!

Agent 4: …this isn’t a prank, is it?

Monokuma: You’re questioning this now?

FLASHBACK END

???: Whatever, Bessie knows about the games anyways. Plus, Agent 4 isn’t the brightest bulb when it comes to anything that doesn’t involve fighting Octarians, one of which is their only companion here. Is anyone else of concern? Over.

???(2): Player seems to be going along with them. Over.

???: Keep an eye on both of them. I’ll send some Monoclones your way. By the way, is everyone asleep right now? Even those two? Over.

???(2): As far as I can tell. Over.

???: By the way, you could’ve just gone into the secret compartment in your cell. You wouldn’t have to whisper, since I spent a good chunk of the budget on soundproofing there. Over.

???(2): I have that? Over.

???: For future reference, just twist the middle bar of the cell door. A hidden trapdoor in the center of your cell will open. Over.

???(2): There are way too many oversights in this operation. First the hostages you chose for those three amigos, then the fact that you didn’t even tie any of the hostages to those chairs–

???: SHHHH! They’ll hear you! And the hostages for those three were the easiest to grab! Plus, they weren’t going to care either way. Over.

???(2): Why not get the kid’s dad?! Over?!

???: The relationship needs to be at least a bit two-sided! I can’t just–

???(3): Hello? Who’s awake?

???: Crap! Signing off! Over!

BZZZT!

(The traitor shoved their Mono-Talkie under their pillow and quietly slammed themselves onto their mattress.)

???(2): (That dumbass. Why am I even listening to them? Whatever, I’m going to sleep. I can’t let…whoever that was hear me anymore.)

—

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

(Ace woke up to the sound of knocking. Taking off her eye mask and seeing it was midnight, she got up and opened the door.)

Jade: Ready, kid?

Ace: Yes.

Sam: Are we absolutely sure about this?

Jade: Yes, yes we are.

Sam: Wait, what is that?

(Sam pointed to Jade’s gun.)

Jade: A gun.

Ace: You…shouldn’t have that. You remember what happened last time, right?

(Sam attempted to grab it from Jade’s hand, but they ended up in an almost silent tug-o-war game. Eventually, the gun was tossed from both individuals’ grasps, loudly sliding across the floor.)

Jade: Shit! Run!

(The trio ran out of the dorm hall and through the main hall. Ace could’ve sworn that she heard a door open. Once they got to room 1D, they stopped to catch their breaths.)

Jade: Alright, let’s do this. Sam, you’re on the lookout. Ace, let’s take a look at this.

Sam: Lookout?! Fine.

(Jade and Ace opened and started examining the inside of the safe.)

Ace: It’s really hard to see what’s in here.

Jade: Cuz it’s dark?

Ace: Yes. (Isn’t it obvious?)

Jade: By the way, did you take one of the knives from the kitchen? One’s gone missing.

Ace: No. That’s really concerning. When did it disappear?

Jade: Some time between when the motive got announced and lunchtime.

(They continued to look through the safe.)

Jade: Do you miss ENA at all?

Ace: I do.

Jade: Doesn't really seem like it most of the time.

Ace: I do miss them, it’s just really difficult to express it. It’s a common thing with me. I’m not sure why.

Jade: Oh, okay. That makes more sense.

(Ace heard footsteps approaching.)

Ace: I hear something. Sam, keep a look–

Sam: AH! WHAT THE–

(Sam moved to the back wall. Ace could slightly see him limping. A figure approached him and hit him in the head with something, causing him to fall. Ace lunged at them, attempting to bite them. They tossed her backwards, then turned to her in full attack. She still couldn’t see their face, but that didn’t matter as much in the moment as much as the fact that she had been cornered.)

Ace: Who–who are–

(Suddenly, Jade’s figure appeared, standing between Ace and the shadow.)

Jade: BACK OFF, JACKASS! THIS IS A–

(Jade stopped talking. After a few seconds, Ace heard the shadow leave.)

Ace: Jade?

(She saw Jade’s silhouette sit against the nearby wall, drawing Ace’s attention to an obscured lightswitch just above her.)

Ace: (That was there?)

(Ace flipped the switch to see a horrible sight. A gaping hole in the side of Jade’s head spilled pink blood.)

Ace: JADE!

(Ace quickly sat down next to Jade and grabbed her hand, paying attention to her tentacles.)

Ace: Who was that?! Wh–who did this to you?! TELL ME!

Jade: Kid, I’m sorry…I brought you into this…I couldn’t see them…

Ace: I…I need to fix this! I’ll grab Kinito!

(Ace looked over at Sam, who had been knocked out and slashed repeatedly. He was still breathing, but he was bleeding.)

Ace: He’ll help both of you! We can–

Jade: Kid, there’s no hope for me. My head got hit…it’s no use. Just…find who did this…good luck…Ace…

Ace: I…

(Jade closed her eyes with a smile. She never opened them again.)

Ace: …Jade?

—

Bucky: ...huh?

(Bucky woke up to a voice from across the hall.)

Bessie: Oh, sorry, Bucky. I think I heard somebody.

Bucky: Who?

Bessie: I dunno. I couldn’t hear what they were sayin’.

(Bessie paused before hugging her legs to her chest.)

Bessie: It’s so dark here…it’s creepy.

Bucky: I guess you’re right. Maybe…talking for a bit will make things better?

Bessie: Maybe…

(There was a pause.)

Bessie: …do ya have any siblings?

Bucky: I’ve got a younger brother. His name’s Walter.

Bessie: Just one?

Bucky: Just one.

Bessie: Oh, I’m the youngest of five.

Bucky: Five?!

Bessie: M-hm. There’s Ozzy, and Fanny, and…I haven’t met the rest of ‘em. Ozzy’s the only one who lives with me and my mama anymore, and I dunno what Fanny’s doin’ nowadays. All I know about the other two are that one’s my olda sistah, who I was gonna visit in a few months, and the other is my middle brothah who’s…not nice.

Bucky: ...what’s it like being a younger sibling? I never knew the feeling.

Bessie: It’s like…living with your favorite celebrity. I mean, Ozzy is a celebrity, but so am I, and it still feels weird. What’s it like being an older sibling?

Bucky: Having to make sure you’re being an active role model 24/7.

Bessie: That’s what that’s like? I mean, I guess it makes sense. Ozzy’s my role model, but I didn’t think it was the same for everybody.

Bucky: It’s really difficult. You have to make sure every move you take is a good example, and if you aren’t able to make the right choices, things can get bad…

Bessie: ...

Stella: Pardon, but you two should be sleeping! Get back to bed!

Bessie: Oh! Sorry, Stella. G’night, Buckster!

Bucky: Goodnight…Bess!

Chapter Text

(Ace couldn’t believe it. She just couldn’t. Nothing was real to her anymore. Nothing was okay anymore. She just couldn’t process anything.)

Sam: Jade? Oh my developer…is she…

(Ace let go of Jade’s hand and watched it drop to the floor. It was real.)

Ace: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!

(Ace was never able to scream so high-pitched on command. She only did it in times of absolute dread and fear. Soon enough, someone entered the room.)

Simon: Hello? Is someone–

(Simon froze in horror when he walked in.)

Simon: What is…

DING DONG BING BONG

Intercom: A body has been discovered! Everyone please report to classroom 1D for this one! Hey, what time is–goddamn, it’s late!

CLICK

Ace: …

(Ace silently walked over to Simon, who gave her a shoulder pat. It was the best he could do. Everyone else showed up looking visibly tired. Ace felt like someone was missing, however.)

Kinito: Hello? Is–

(Kinito’s eyes widened at the scene. They kept darting between Jade’s corpse and Sam’s injured state.)

Kinito: …what happened?!

Ace: I…we…

Monokuma: Hey-o! How’s it going?

Wulf: Jump off a cliff, rat!

Monokuma: Woah, lay off! It’s not like I’m the killer! Anyways, it looks like Jade, the Ultimate Engineer, is very much dead! Oh no! Bury your gays, as they always say! Oh wait, I think we did that already…um, anyways, here’s Monokuma File 2!

BEEP!

(Ace took out her Monopad and pulled up the new file. She showed her screen to Simon as well.)

Victim: Jade the Jellyfish
Time of Death: 12:05 AM
Time of Discovery: 12:06 AM
Cause of Death: Stabbed in the head
Discoverers: ???

Simon: Wait, since when was there a section about who discovered the body? And why is it empty?

Monokuma: OkaygottogoI’mextremelybusybye!!!!

(Non-copyrighted outro music started playing as Monokuma disappeared.)

Ace: …

Simon: Miss Clubs, do you want to sit out of this case?

Ace: …

FLASHBACK

Jade: Kid, there’s no hope for me. My head got hit…it’s no use. Just…find who did this…good luck…Ace…

Ace: I…

FLASHBACK END

Ace: …no. Jade wanted me to find her killer. I need to participate in this for her sake.

Simon: Okay then! Let’s investigate!

INVESTIGATION START!

“MONOKUMA FILE 2” has been added to your evidence!

Simon: First off, I need to know what you three were doing here so late at night. Are you comfortable with explaining?

Ace: I…guess so. Jade and Sam approached me after you left 1C and asked me to help investigate how Monokuma was lacing the weed. (Never thought I’d have to say that to a detective.) We came down here at midnight to do so. Me and Jade looked through the safe as best we could while Sam kept lookout. I heard some footsteps just before Sam got attacked. I tried to bite the figure, but they cornered me. Jade got in between us–it all happened so fast. The killer ran off afterwards, and I turned on the lights in the room to see what happened, since they were coincidentally on the wall just above Jade’s body. She…saved me. She saved me, and then she…

(Simon put his hand on Ace’s shoulder again.)

Simon: …this is valuable for finding who did this to her. Thank you.

Ace: Of course. (I could’ve been killed. It could’ve been me against that wall. It could’ve been me with a knife in my skull. She didn’t have to die for me. She thought my life was worth saving, but why?)

”ACE’S TESTIMONY” has been added to your evidence!

Simon: Right then! What’s next?

Ace: We…look at the body.

(Ace and Simon walked over to the body, which was already being investigated. Looking at the body a second time made Ace’s stomach churn.)

Yellow: I think she died.

Duck: Why do you think we’re here?!

Simon: Pardon me, but have you three found anything?

Red: Well, I decided to take a look at the stab wound to see if I could get more info on what was used to stab Jade. The wound looks pretty deep, meaning it must’ve been sharp.

(Ace looked at the wounds herself and nodded.)

Ace: That’s a good observation. It was most likely some kind of knife, but there is the possibility that I’m completely incorrect.

Duck: Isn’t it? Look at that, other one! You’re observant!

Yellow: Miss Bunny Girl! Miss Bunny Girl!

Ace: Hm?

Yellow: That one said that he likes looking at the other one! What does that mean?

Duck: I didn’t say that!

“STAB WOUND” has been added to your evidence!

Simon: Alright, what’s next? Oh! What about Sam? He must know something!

Ace: What if he doesn’t want to talk?

Simon: He doesn’t have to! If it doesn’t make him comfortable, it’s not mandatory.

(The detectives walked over to where Sam was sitting. Kinito was sitting next to him, tending to his wounds.)

Kinito: Ace! Are you doing okay? Sam said you got attacked, too.

Ace: I didn’t get hurt. Jade…saved me.

Kinito: You don’t say! You seem perfectly fine, too!

Simon: We were just wondering if either of you had any extra information. Any other perspective would be useful.

Sam: I…I don’t know…

Kinito: Whatever hit Sam hit him just enough to make him lose his memory of the entire event.

Ace: Oh dear…are you doing okay besides that, Sam?

Sam: I…need to think about this for a bit. It’ll come back at some point. It has to.

(Sam looked over at Jade’s corpse. Kinito patted him on the hand.)

Simon: Kinito, what information do you have on Sam’s injuries?

Kinito: Well, what knocked him out was a blow to the head, but it doesn’t seem like it was done with an object meant to bludgeon someone. It only took him out for a minute or so, meaning it wasn’t that intense or consequential.

(Sam looked up at Kinito angrily.)

Kinito: …besides the fact that it made him lose his memories of the entire event. Sorry, dear, I forgot about that.

(Kinito worriedly avoided Sam’s gaze, causing Sam to smile forgivingly.)

Simon: What’s your latest memory?

Sam: Oh, walking to the room. Then it cuts off. I definitely saw my attacker, though, I just can’t see a face anymore.

Ace: What could the object be?

Kinito: I don’t know. Sam has some other wounds, but they’re just shallow cuts.

Simon: Hm…

Ace: You’re already theorizing? I’d save your mind for the trial if I were you.

Simon: Oh, of course!

“SAM’S INJURIES” has been added to your evidence!

Ace: I’m not entirely sure where we should go next.

Simon: Maybe we should check the kitchen?

Ace: Oh! The missing knife!

Simon: Missing knife?! Since when has–

(Ace turned around, intending to walk out with her companion. She was met with a strange sight.)

Ace: Callie?

(Callie looked like she hadn’t gotten much sleep that night. She didn’t look like she had actual insomnia, she just looked a little sleepy.)

Callie: Hi. *Yawn*. You doing okay, Ace?

Ace: Um…yes.

Simon: Miss Callie, did something happen last night?

Callie: It’s not that important. I was just *yawn* staying up late to read. I took one of the books from the library *yawn* and I’ve been staying up late since yesterday night to read it.

Simon: Oh, that’s not very healthy.

Ace: Which book?

Callie: I think it was the *yawn* first one. I’m at the third investigation.

Simon: Did you hear anything?

Callie: Around 12, I heard doors opening, then some talking, and then someone dropped something. *Yawn* Then another door opened after I heard the first people run off. At 12:05, I heard someone sprint back and slam their door just before Ace screamed. I didn’t investigate it until the *yawn* announcement played because I was like “that’s not my problem”.

Ace: (The people talking were probably us, but who opened their door after we ran away?) *Yawn*.

Simon: Oh no! It’s spreading!

“CALLIE’S TESTIMONY” has been added to your evidence!

Callie: By the way, if you’re leaving, *yawn* Marie found a gun in the dorm hall. She’s keeping guard of it. That’s why she *yawn* hasn’t shown up.

Ace: We’ll go check it out.

(Ace and Simon headed to the kitchen. Two others had the same idea.)

Stumbler: There is no way J.D hasn’t committed at least a little bit of grave robbing.

Wulf: What makes you say that?

Stumbler: Just a hunch.

Ace: Oh, hello!

Simon: Have you two found anything suspicious?

Wulf: We found this.

(Wulf gestured to the knife holder. One of its spaces was empty.)

Ace: She was right. A knife is missing.

Simon: Who mentioned that?

Ace: Jade did while we were investigating the safe.

FLASHBACK

Jade: By the way, did you take one of the knives from the kitchen? One’s gone missing.

Ace: No. That’s really concerning. When did it disappear?

Jade: Some time between when the motive got announced and lunchtime.

FLASHBACK END

Stumbler: Maybe somebody ate it or something.

Simon: Interesting theory. Counterpoint: why? How, even?

Stumbler: First thought I had.

“MISSING KNIFE has been added to your evidence!

Wulf: Ace, didn’t you get attacked? I heard you scream.

Ace: I was there, but I wasn’t hurt. Jade saved me. I don’t know why.

Stumbler: …

(Someone else walked into the kitchen.)

Chargery: Oh, hey.

Simon: Hello! Did you need something?

Chargery: Me and Socka thought it would be smart to bring all of our weapons to the trial. Well, it was mostly Socka’s idea. She just doesn’t want to say it herself.

Ace: Weapons in the trial room? Isn’t that a bad idea?

Chargery: Didn’t ask. Anyways, it could help us figure out the killer faster.

Simon: Alright! I guess we could grab ours when we check on that gun, right Ace?

Ace: Sure.

(Ace and Simon left the kitchen and headed to the dorm hall. As expected, Marie was sitting on the floor next to a gun.)

Ace: How long have you been sitting there?

Marie: I dunno.

Simon: How did this end up here?

Ace: Well, there’s a part of my story I neglected to tell. Just before we left the hall, Jade decided to bring her gun with her. I think it’s the same one she used during the event in the cafeteria. Sam tried to pull it out of her hand, but they ended up dropping it. We all ran away so nobody would see us.

Simon: Oh, that makes sense.

Marie: I’m gonna guess I can leave now.

Ace: Feel free.

(Marie got up and headed into her dorm, possibly to grab her weapon.)

“GUN” has been added to your evidence!

Simon: Alright, we should grab our weapons.

(Ace nodded. The two of them separated and headed into their dorms. Ace opened her top dresser drawer to see a small vial labeled “Foxglove”.)

Ace: (The one poison I’ve been captivated by for as long as I can remember…how did the Mastermind know?)

(Ace picked up the vial and exited her dorm. Simon exited his a few seconds later holding a heavy-looking mace.)

Ace: It doesn’t seem like the weapons have any sort of pattern. If there is one, it isn’t consistent.

Simon: I’m curious as to what everyone else was given. See if you can keep an eye out for when we regroup. We should tell everyone what we see at the trial.

Ace: (I’m curious as to how you’re still holding that thing without your arms dislocating.) Of course.

“MOTIVE WEAPONS” has been added to your evidence!

DING DONG BING BONG

Intercom: Attention, students! Your time is up! Please report to the main room immediately! Remember, participation is mandatory!

CLICK

Ace: Perfect timing!

(The duo headed to the elevator and stood in front of its unmoving doors with the rest of the group. Ace caught sight of a few of everyone’s weapons.)

Ace: (Let’s see, Duck has a harpoon that’s taller than him, Stumbler’s choice of weapon being a beating stick is so missguided that he has to have a strap to go with it, Chargery can’t even use her slingshot without help, Wulf has a singular rock…)

Monokuma: Alright, who’s Jim and what’s up with the guy’s computer?

(Nobody answered.)

Monokuma: You guys suck. Anyways, I see everyone has their weapons and are ready to head down into the underground!

Marie: Holy carp, you’re unfunny.

Ace: (That spiked bat suits her.)

Monokuma: Lalalalala, I can’t hear you!

(The elevator doors opened.)

Monokuma: Okay, get in!

(Everyone started to walk in the elevator. At first, Ace took to theorizing to keep calm.)

Ace: (The incident in the cafeteria definitely has something to do with the case. I’d imagine it led Jade to investigating the safe.)

“THE CAFETERIA INCIDENT” has been added to your evidence!

(Inevitably, however, the gravity of the situation started to set in for Ace. Someone else she was close to had died right in front of her. Her attempt to attack the killer could’ve saved Jade, but she failed, and now she has to go through the trial process again and watch another student die for their crimes. All Ace could do to process everything was stand in place.)

Ace: (Two deaths could’ve been prevented by me, but now we have to do the exact same thing as last time and watch someone else die due to what I couldn’t prevent. Heck, if I’m unable to solve this, then more people die by my hand, including myself. I can feel the potential failure looming beside me now…wait…that’s not what failure feels like.)

(Ace sniffed the air, smelling a hint of…cannabis.)

Ace: (Ghosts sometimes retain a scent from their life that was commonly associated with them; a specific perfume, a favorite food, something like that. I might be crazy, but maybe…just maybe…)

(Ace looked to her left, where the scent seemed to be coming from. She felt something pat her left shoulder. She looked up at where she thought the ghost’s face was and smiled at them.)

Ace: (You’re not as sneaky as you think you are.)

Simon: Miss Clubs?

Ace: Oh yea, sorry. I thought I smelled something.

(Ace followed Simon into the elevator. When the gate closed, she remained by his side until the elevator stopped.)

Ace: (Jade was a relaxed yet eccentric individual, but that was what made her so…individual! She knew what I was thinking and understood me too well. She even apologized for how she spoke to me in the first trial. Whoever did this…they must pay. Death is a harsh comeuppance, but it’s the only one we can give in a place like this.)

(When the elevator doors opened and everyone else started to pour out, Ace looked up at Simon.)

Ace: (At least I know we’ll solve this.)

—

Bessie: How did we even get here?

(Bessie had caught Stella off-guard with this question. Just a few seconds ago, the two of them were talking about Bessie’s acting career and acting in general.)

Bessie: Do ya…even remember what happened before ya were taken here?

Stella: I…where did that come from?

Bessie: Really think about it. If someone like me, a popular actor in my town, randomly disappeared, people would be goin’ insane. My momma wouldn’t sleep at night if I just disappeared, and my big brotha would’ve killed somebody by now. Heck, you’ve got that really rich family of yours. Why haven’t we been found? Why didn’t anyone intervene with whatever caused us to disappear? There’s so much to question about this entire thing, and nobody’s doin’ anythin’ about it.

(Stella thought for a moment.)

Stella: Now that you mention it, I had a conversation similar to this with J.D the other day. He said the last memory he had before ending up here was going to sleep. What’s weird is…I also remember going to sleep before ending up here. I was in my twin XL completely by myself, with Simon still in Ann Arbor, and when I woke up, a tall hooded figure was telling me to smile for a ransom video for my darling fiance. I’m not even wearing the same clothes! I was wearing a blue nightgown, and now I’m wearing the dress I wore when I first met Simon at that luau.

Bessie: …wait. The last thing I remember is…fallin’ asleep on my couch! Yea! The TV had reruns of some old Betty Boop films on late at night, and I really wanted’ta watch ‘em, so I stayed up late. Ozzy got mad, but he just went’ta sleep. I was wearin’ some black PJs and now I’m wearing one of his old blue hoodies and my black shorts. I wasn’t even in technicolor until I got here!

(Bessie realized that Stella most likely didn’t know what she was talking about.)

Bessie: I guess…I guess Ozzy was right. Maybe if I listened…maybe if I just went to sleep…

Stella: Dear, you didn’t know.

Bessie: I dunno much, anyways.

Stella: Bessie, where did you get an idea like that? You’re giving me some interesting information! Why would you think that you “don’t know much”?

Bessie: That’s…kinda my job. My managa’ always said to me, ya know, “yous just gotta be a dumbah Betty Boop, ya dig?”, and if I didn’t do that, he’d yell at me. Then there was the “every day’s practice” thing, and now I’m here.

(Stella didn’t respond.)

Bessie: Bein’ here is way better than being with Mistah Vinny.

Chapter Text

(The trial room was the same as the last trial. Everyone quietly walked to their stands.)

Ace: (Trial 2…someone else gave in to the influence of Monokuma and paid with the life of another student. We need to figure out who killed Jade and bring vengeance upon them. Hm…you know, now that I think about it, if the gun we found is really the same gun as the one Jade used to try to kill Stumbler, that event must have some bearing on this case. Maybe I should add it to the evidence.)

“THE CAFETERIA INCIDENT” has been added to your evidence!

CLASS TRIAL START!

EVIDENCE:

MONOKUMA FILE 2:

Victim: Jade the Jellyfish
Time of Death: 12:05 AM
Time of Discovery: 12:06 AM
Cause of Death: Stabbed in the head
Discoverers: ???

ACE’S TESTIMONY: Sam and Jade had woken Ace up to investigate how Monokuma was lacing the weed. Sam and Jade ended up fighting over the gun Jade tried bringing with them, causing them to drop it. Out of fear, the trio ran into the room with the safe and started investigating. Sam was knocked out, and Ace tried to fight back, but got cornered. Jade got between them, causing the killer to kill Jade.

STAB WOUND: Jade’s stab wound was deep, most likely meaning she was stabbed with something sharp.

SAM’S INJURIES: Sam has multiple small cuts on his body. What most likely ended up knocking him out was the gash in his head, which also wiped his memory of the event. It was most likely caused by an object not intended for bludgeoning.

CALLIE’S TESTIMONY: At around 12 AM, Callie heard some people talking before they dropped something and ran away. A few seconds later, she heard someone else open their door. At 12:05, she heard someone run back and slam their door just before Ace screamed.

MISSING KNIFE: A kitchen knife is missing from the knife holder. Jade knew about it, and told Ace that it disappeared between the motive announcement and lunchtime.

GUN: A gun was found in the dorm hall. Ace said Jade dropped it, causing their group to run away. Ace believes that it’s the same gun Jade used during the cafeteria incident.

MOTIVE WEAPONS: Everyone was given a weapon as part of the motive to kill another student with their given weapon to leave. The known weapons (from Ace’s perspective) are:
-ACE’S FOXGLOVE VIAL
-JADE’S GUN
-SIMON’S MACE
-DUCK’S HARPOON
-STUMBLER’S BEATING STICK
-CHARGERY’S SLINGSHOT
-WULF’S ROCK
-MARIE’S SPIKED BAT

THE CAFETERIA INCIDENT: The day before the murder, Jade attempted to grab Stumbler and shoot him in front of everyone in the cafeteria. Stumbler ended up surviving because Jade never loaded the gun. It’s still unknown why she attempted this.

Monokuma: It’s finally time for the class trial, the fun-est part of the killing game! Basically, you argue back and forth about who the blackened is based on the evidence you gathered in the investigation! At the end, everyone will vote on who the killer is! If you get it right, only the killer gets punished! Get it wrong, surprise! Everyone besides the blackened will get punished, and the blackened will get to leave! Now then, let’s get started!

(Ace looked at the new portraits. ENA’s face was covered with a drawing of the Runas’ door, while Jade’s was covered by a large eye. Their smiles were still visible, and Ace found herself getting lost in what was left of them.)

Ace: (I’m…sorry.)

Simon: Miss Clubs? Shouldn’t we start the discussion?

Ace: …right. You can go ahead.

*NONSTOP DEBATE*

Ace: (There isn’t anything directly pointing us to the killer so far, not even a potential suspect. We need to find a good starting point in order to progress to that point.)

Simon: Where to start, where to start…

Socka: Why not the reason Jade was out there in the first place?

Simon: Perfect!

Duck: Well, she was a delinquent, so maybe she was trying to kill someone?

Socka: I…don’t buy that.

Chargery: Why not? It lines up with the fact that her weed was getting laced with…whatever.

Sam: Why do you keep talking about her like that? She had a personality, man.

Chargery: I’m not a man, I’m a charging block.

Kinito: “Man” is used neutrally in this context, both gender-wise and…species-wise? Does that sound weird?

Wulf: Yup.

Ace: (Simon…you can refute that. Why aren’t you refuting that?!)

Duck: Well, she was a delinquent, so maybe she was trying to kill someone?

ACE’S TESTIMONY

Ace: No, that’s wrong!

*BREAK*

Ace: Well, as someone who not only conversed with the victim before the incident, but was also the reason for her death, that isn’t the case.

Duck: What?! How is that–

Ace: She had brought me and Sam with her to check how Monokuma was lacing the weed. She had no intention of killing anyone, and if she did, she had two people who trusted her a few feet away. The perfect victims, yet we’re standing right in front of you.

Sam: If we thought she was gonna kill us, we wouldn’t have agreed to go with her.

Stumbler: Wait, why do you think you caused Jade’s death?

Ace: Well…

FLASHBACK

(Sam moved to the back wall. Ace could slightly see him limping. A figure approached him and hit him in the head with something, causing him to fall. Ace lunged at them, attempting to bite them. They tossed her backwards, then turned to her in full attack. She still couldn’t see their face, but that didn’t matter as much in the moment as much as the fact that she had been cornered.)

Ace: Who–who are–

(Suddenly, Jade’s figure appeared, standing between Ace and the shadow.)

Jade: BACK OFF, JACKASS! THIS IS A–

(Jade stopped talking. After a few seconds, Ace heard the shadow leave.)

Ace: Jade?

FLASHBACK END

Ace: Jade got in front of the killer to protect me. If she hadn’t done that, she would still be alive.

Simon: Miss Clubs, please stop blaming yourself for this. If Jade hadn’t saved you, someone here would be going through what you’re going through. Jade would have to glance mournfully at your portrait knowing she could’ve saved you. She would have to glance mournfully at your portrait knowing she could have prevented you from dying that night.

Ace: …I’m sorry.

Simon: …we’ll talk about this later. Let’s get back on track! Jade wasn’t awake to kill someone, so what was she up late for?

ACE’S TESTIMONY

Ace: We were investigating the lacing of the weed supply. It was just me, her, and Sam.

Duck: And can Sam back up this claim?

(Everyone turned to the anemone.)

Sam: Um…

Kinito: Unfortunately, Sam has no memory of the event due to his injuries.

Duck: Intriguing…how could you remember going on the excursion with Jade?

Sam: I can remember going into the room, but I can’t remember anything past that. I just know I saw the killer, though, even if I can’t remember a face.

Duck: Suspicious…

*NONSTOP DEBATE*

Ace: (So where is this heading? I sure hope nobody says anything stupid.)

Simon: Where should we go next?

Callie: What about the *yawn* part where they left their rooms? I’m pretty sure it was around *yawn* 12 AM. Someone started following them a few seconds *yawn* after they ran away.

Marie: You’re lucky I found you some Coral-Cola, Callie. That should wake you up.

Callie: They have that here?! Gimme!

Chargery: Uh…getting back on track, whoever opened that door has to be the killer!

Red: Are you sure about that?

Socka: She has a point…

Simon: Well, it could’ve just been a door closing.

Callie: …are you actually kidding me?

Simon: No! Hear me out on this one, but there is a good possibility you mistook the sound of one of the trio’s doors closing as someone else opening their door.

Callie: …

Simon: …why do you all look so disappointed?

Ace: (I never thought I’d agree with a point coming from this individual!)

Chargery: Uh…getting back on track, whoever opened that door has to be the killer!

CALLIE’S TESTIMONY

Ace: I agree with that!

*CONSENT*

Chargery: Wait, you can back that up?

Ace: Yes. Later on, at around 12:05, Callie heard another door noise just before she heard me screaming. Neither Sam nor me ran back to their rooms.

Simon: It could’ve been an auditory hallucination due to sleep deprivation, but that’s becoming more and more unlikely as I think about it.

Ace: So we know that we were out late to investigate the weed lacing, and the killer most likely went back to their room around 12:05.

Stumbler: Wait! I’m confused about something!

NONSTOP DEBATE

Ace: (Oh? Looks like I’m helping out Stumbler!)

Stumbler: Me and Wulf found that one of the knives from the kitchen was missing. Could that have anything to do with the case?

Simon: Well, Jade definitely knew about it, meaning it went missing before she died.

Wulf: It could be the murder weapon, maybe even the weapon that knocked out Sam.

Stumbler: What’s weird is that it wasn’t their assigned weapon, so the motive wouldn’t work.

Chargery: That was part of the motive?

Marie: What if it was the gun in the hallway? If the killer woke up and saw a gun, why wouldn’t they take it?

Sam: Guns are loud!

Marie: You’re loud!

Sam: WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?!

Kinito: Sam, I’d defend you, but she isn’t wrong…don’t look at me like that! You know I can only state facts!

Ace: (Oh, this is going horribly off track.)

Marie: What if it was the gun in the hallway?

SAM’S INJURIES

Ace: No, that’s wrong!

*BREAK*

Ace: Well, if it really was the gun, how did Sam get his injuries? He has shallow cuts all over his body. Plus, the end of the knife’s handle could be used to knock him out.

Sam: A knife knocked me out?

Ace: Most likely.

Kinito: Well, at least you’re still alive, Sam! I don't think any of us could deal with two people dying.

MONOKUMA FILE 2

Ace: In addition, Jade’s file says she was stabbed, not shot.

Duck: …

Yellow: Other one? Is something wrong?

Duck: …

(Everyone turned to Duck.)

Red: Look, if something’s on your mind, you can just–

Duck: Sam did it. Sam killed Jade.

(Everyone slightly reeled back in shock.)

Kinito: …what?!

Duck: Yes! Sam is the perpetrator! And the rabbit helped!

Ace: Huh?! This is a very serious accusation! Where is your evidence?!

Duck: It must’ve been Sam’s idea to go investigate the weed, and he conspired with Ace before then! They’re faking everything! The testimony, the injuries, everything! It was them!

Kinito: That’s not evidence, that’s a conspiracy!

Red: And what if he’s right?

Kinito: There’s no way he is!

Chargery: They were the last ones with her.

Stumbler: Is that really a good piece of evidence?

Wulf: Well, you could make a point for that if they split up at some point.

Callie: Yea, it isn’t–WAIT NO–

Monokuma: HOLD ON!!

(Everyone paused to turn to Monokuma.)

Callie: Oh boy…

Monokuma: You did it! You said the magic word!

Ace: (I’m gonna kill a squirrel. Not really. There aren’t any here. Also I don’t like killing small animals.)

Monokuma: Well, it looks like you’ve been put into a split decision! You know what that means?

Yellow: Free ice cream?

Monokuma: No, stupid, the split debate. Without further ado, I’m proud to present Hope’s Peak Academy’s very own Morphenomenal Trial Grounds! You losers better hold on tight!

Ace: Isn’t it a bit early for that?

Monokuma: It’s never too early for a Scrum Debate!

(Monokuma, just like in the last trial, inserted the key into his stand, causing the trial stands to be arranged in their lines.)

Monokuma: Welcome to the Split Debate! All you have to do is use the right rebuttal against your opponents based on the points brought up! It’s really that easy!

Callie: Way to go, Wulf.

Wulf: How was I supposed to remember that?!

Ace: (How is half of the trial room in agreement with Duck? How could they turn on us so fast? First it was Jade as the subject of one of these, now it’s me and Sam. I must defend both of us.)

DID SAM AND ACE DO IT?

SAM AND ACE KILLED JADE!

Duck
Yellow
Red
Callie
Wulf
Chargery
Socka

SAM AND ACE ARE INNOCENT!

Ace
Simon
Sam
Kinito
Marie
Stumbler

SPLIT DEBATE

Duck: It’s obviously them! They were the only ones there!
Marie: It’s not concrete that they were the only ones there. Anyone else could’ve snuck behind them.

Red: And how did the killer wake up in time to do so?
Simon: Jade dropped her gun, which could wake someone up.

Yellow: Maybe they killed her for the funny plant!
Simon: “Funny plant”? Neither Sam nor Ace have shown interest in cannabis.

Callie: Wulf said so earlier, they could’ve split up for the killer to get alone with Jade.
Ace: We never split up. We stuck together to investigate.

Wulf: Sam had ample opportunity to steal the knife from the kitchen.
Sam: Anyone could’ve walked into the kitchen to take the knife! Anytime a meal wasn’t happening would be perfect for that!

Duck: And how could you deduce something like that?
Kinito: Anyone with a brain could deduce that fact with basic timing and evidence! Checking the evidence we have could help you a ton!

Socka: Well, isn’t there something off about the knife itself?
Stumbler: What’s off about the knife is that it’s not part of the motive!

*CROUCH BIND*

“This is our answer!”

*BREAK*

Duck: What the–what does that even mean?!

Stumbler: You don’t remember the motive? I referenced this earlier, but I didn’t explain it.

FLASHBACK

Welcome to the Motive!

WARNING: DO NOT SHOW THIS SCREEN DIRECTLY TO ANYONE ELSE. DOING SO WILL RESULT IN PUNISHMENT.

This motive will have a weapon put in one of the dresser drawers in your dorm room, along with a bounty for you to complete with said weapon given on this device. Everyone has a different weapon and a different bounty, but nobody can verbally reveal their bounties to any fellow classmates. If you complete your bounty with your weapon (using brute force can only count if the weapon was used more), you get to leave without trial!

FLASHBACK END

Stumbler: We’d only get a free leave if we used the weapon we were given to kill the person we were assigned.

Marie: Since we’re still here, that opens up a weird hole in the murder. Why would the killer use the wrong weapon?

Ace: Maybe it has something to do with the weapons themselves?

(A light lit up in Simon’s eyes.)

Simon: Monokuma, do we have permission to state our bounties since the motive has already ended?

Monokuma: Go wild! I don’t care!

Simon: Then it’s settled! Let’s go around and state our bounties, and the bounty of each person has to state their bounty afterwards! I’ll go first!

(Simon held up a mace, almost hitting the stands beside him.)

Simon: I got this mace, and my bounty was Callie!

(Everyone prepared to hold up their weapons for when they spoke.)

Callie: Why’d you say that like a prize? Whatevz, I got a bottle of this stuff called “sigh–un–nide”, and my bounty was Kinito.

Kinito: Cyanide?! Well, I was told to kill Marie with a katana.

Marie: Holy carp, that’s actually so cool. I got this lame spiked bat to kill Red.

Red: Spiked? I don’t know if I should take that negatively or not. Anyways, scissors for Socka.

Socka: Is that a joke on how I’m…whatever. A dagger for Ace.

Ace: I was told to poison Yellow, which is something not even the subject of my wildest infatuation could convince me to do.

Yellow: I got a yo-yo for Mr. Wulf!

Wulf: How could that…whatever. A…stone. For the duck.

(Wulf looked worriedly at Stumbler, who gave the stone a horrified look.)

Duck: Oh. Do we…really have to do mine?

Chargery: Just spit it out already, midget!

Duck: F-fine! I had to kill Jade with this lousy harpoon, but that doesn’t mean I–

Sam: OKAY, GENIUS, THAT’S IT.

(Sam exited his stand and started walking towards Duck with malice in his eyes.)

Kinito: Sam!

(Since Sam had to pass Kinito’s stand to get to Duck, Kinito used this opportunity to grab his hand.)

Kinito: We don’t know if it was him!

Sam: Why do you think he’d use a different weapon? Why do you think he immediately investigated the body, where the most important evidence usually is? Why do you think he accused me and Ace so quickly?!

Kinito: I…

(Everyone in the courtroom started yelling at each other.)

Ace: (Oh no…we’re getting disoriented…)

Socka: SHUT UP! EVERYONE JUST SHUT UP!

(Everyone quieted down and looked towards Socka, who pointed at Sam.)

Socka: You. Failure. Get back to your stand.

Sam: What are you–

Socka: Did. I. Stutter.

(Chargery watched on with sparkling eyes as Sam obeyed Socka’s newfound authority and walked back to his stand.)

Chargery: Woah…what was that?

Socka: I want this trial to be successful just as much as the rest of you do, but the members of this court who are most passionate are dragging us back. We need to get back on track. Now, since Jade isn’t here to tell us what her weapon and bounty were, how are we supposed to figure it out?

Ace: (Hm…)

*LOGIC DIVE*

Ace: (There has to be something indicating Jade’s assigned weapon…but what? What clues do I have here?)

>MIDNIGHT INVESTIGATION
>HER AVOIDING SIMON
>THE KITCHEN INCIDENT

THE KITCHEN INCIDENT

Ace: (I definitely had an idea of who the hostage was due to this! Who was it again?)

>SIMON
>STUMBLER
>ACE

STUMBLER

Ace: (And what about the weapon? I’m pretty sure she had it with her at some point.)

>GUN
>KNIFE
>ROPE

GUN

Ace: It’s all coming together!

*BREAK*

Ace: So does everyone remember the incident in the kitchen?

Stumbler: The one where I was held hostage in front of everyone? How could I forget?

Ace: Now, I was originally puzzled about that whole thing, but it would make more sense if Stumbler was her bounty and the gun was her weapon! Plus, she seemed to be under the weather due to the lacing, and I missed making lunch that day, so she had to make it. The combination of the stress of the new motive, the lacing, and having to make lunch while experiencing migraines probably pushed her over the edge and caused her to make a spectacle.

Sam: So that’s why she still had it with her when we started investigating!

Wulf: Stumbler almost dying isn’t as important as that to you?!

Sam: Dude, I’m trying to figure out who hit me so hard that I lost a few memories and murdered my best friend.

Ace: So Jade’s weapon was a gun and her bounty was Stumbler. Now, Stumbler, please continue the chain!

Stumbler: Oh, I got this beating stick and my target was Chargery.

Chargery: That looks difficult for someone like us to use. Funnily enough, I got this slingshot, which needs two hands to operate, and my bounty is Sam.

Sam: I got this stupid cake knife to kill Simon with.

Simon: It went full circle! Now we know what everyone got!

Ace: Now to figure out what to do with this information.

*NONSTOP DEBATE*

Ace: (How can we use this new information to our advantage?)

Simon: Maybe we can tie it to the kitchen knife somehow?

Socka: Well, now that we know the weapons, they could reveal why the killer used the knife.

Duck: But what could that possibly be?

Kinito: Maybe someone misplaced their weapon when they needed it most? It’s a likely possibility.

Sam: “Likely possibility”? You’re such a nerd.

Red: Stop flirting. Anyways, it could also just be that the killer didn’t want the motive to happen, but even I think that’s unlikely.

Stumbler: Maybe they couldn’t physically use it? Some of us could have issues with using their weapons. Also, do you have issues with flirting in public, Red?

Red: No, I just have issues with annoying people.

Marie: You’re friends with Duck.

Ace: (Wait…that’s the final piece to the puzzle!)

Stumbler: Maybe they couldn’t physically use it?

MOTIVE WEAPONS

Ace: I agree with that!

*CONSENT*

Ace: There are only two people here who can’t physically use their weapons to kill or cause harm; Stumbler and Chargery.

Stumbler: Hey, I was–wait, what?!

Chargery: What the–!

Kinito: Wait…now that you mentioned that, Ace, I think it’s time I mention a theory I’ve been thinking over for a while now.

Ace: Hm? What’s that?

Kinito: What if the killer had no intention of killing Jade?

(The room went silent.)

Simon: Wait! It makes sense! If it was Duck, he could’ve just used the harpoon, since even if it’s too tall, it could still pack a punch if used properly!

Red: Maybe if you stood on a box you’d have some leverage.

(Duck scoffed offendedly at his taller companion.)

Ace: And Socka would find it quite easy to kill with a hunting dagger, especially if used on a rabbit like me.

Kinito: So that leaves…

Ace: (Oh my…)

SELECT SOMEONE

Ace: Chargery, I never would’ve guessed.

Socka: …what?

Ace: That’s why she attacked Sam first.

Socka: But that’s…that can’t be true, right?

(Socka turned to Chargery, who hadn’t spoken for a while.)

Socka: What she’s saying is false, right? You didn’t do it.

(Chargery refused to respond, only staring back at Socka.)

Ace: In fact, what was it you said earlier?

FLASHBACK

Stumbler: What’s weird is that it wasn’t their assigned weapon, so the motive wouldn’t work.

Chargery: That was part of the motive?

FLASHBACK END

Ace: She didn’t seem to know that you had to kill with your assigned weapon until Stumbler mentioned it during this trial, so it’d make sense if she didn’t remember while the crime was taking place.

Socka: I refuse to stand for this!

*INTERJECTION*

Socka: Just because she forgot part of the motive doesn’t mean she’s the killer!

Ace: Well–

Socka: It’s because she doesn’t like you, isn’t it?

Ace: (Poor thing. She’s blinded by her emotions.)

*REBUTTAL SHOWDOWN*

Socka: I’m sorry, but Chargery? It can’t be her! She wouldn’t do something like that! I’ve known her for as long as I can remember, and–and she just doesn’t have the demeanor!

ADVANCE

Ace: Just because she doesn’t seem like a killer doesn’t mean she isn’t a killer. Anyone here could break under immense pressure.

Socka: W-well, I–

Chargery: Socka, please…

*BREAK*

Ace: Huh?

Chargery: Ace, you did good. I’ll take it from here.

Ace: But…

(Ace looked over at Simon, who also seemed confused.)

Chargery: I…I’m sorry. I’m having regrets. About everything I did.

Socka: …

Chargery: I don’t want to watch you fight for a cause that isn’t worth it.

Socka: …no.

Chargery: …what?

Socka: I refuse. I refuse to believe that you committed such a heinous act. Someone I love so dearly wouldn’t do something like that.

Chargery: I–wait–

Ace: (She still won’t listen. She’s…)

FLASHBACK

Ace: I…I can’t…

ENA: Ace?

Ace: No. No! It wasn’t you! It can’t be! I won’t let it be!

Simon: Ace, you just found the killer! Why let this go to wa–

Ace: Shut up! Just shut up!

FLASHBACK END

Ace: (…she’s acting just like I did. All she needs is the right evidence.)

*ARGUMENT ARMAMENT*

Socka:
“Stop jumping to conclusions!”
“Chargery wouldn’t hurt a fly!”
“You’re just biased!”

*ADVANCE*

Socka:
“Anyone could’ve used the knife!”
“You never took prints!”
“Anyone could’ve forgotten the motive!”

*ADVANCE*

Socka:
“This is stupid!”
“It could’ve been anyone!”
“You could still be a suspect!”
“If ENA was here, you’d defend them!”
“There’s so much I have to say to her…”

*FINAL BLOW*

Socka:
“A truly crazy killer wouldn’t regret their crimes so quickly! Why is she regretting everything now?!”

SHE
REALIZED
YOU’D
DIE TOO

*BREAK*

Ace: If Chargery had gotten away with it, she’d be the only survivor, meaning she’d deal with the worst guilt she could feel: causing your death. It’s easy to forget something like that in a game like this.

(Ace could see something in Socka’s face change, but she clearly wouldn’t let go.)

Socka: I–!

Chargery: SOCKA! STOP!

(Chargery held out an object with her tail: a blood-stained knife. Socka immediately quieted down. Many of the students gasped in response, including Ace.)

Ace: (Good strings! We never actually addressed where the knife actually ended up!)

Chargery: Is this enough proof for you?! Will you finally understand?!

(Socka’s angered expression turned to one of begrudging defeat as her head dropped and her arms fell to her side. Chargery flung the knife backwards when she saw her friend finally give up.)

Socka: …I don’t believe in my lies anymore.

(Chargery sighed and looked at Ace.)

Chargery: Can you…do that summary thing you did last time?

Ace: Of course. Simon?

Simon: Will do.

*CLOSING ARGUMENT*

Simon: This began with the motive, where the killer was given an extremely easy target; Sam, the Ultimate Failure.

Sam: “Easy target”?!

Ace: Shhhhh!

Simon: There was just one slight issue: they didn’t have a good weapon to use. A slingshot wasn’t going to work considering they only have a tail to grab with. They didn’t remember the fact that you need to use your assigned weapon to actually make the motive work, so they ended up stealing a knife from the kitchen.

Ace: Sometime between then and the night search, Jade cracked due to immense pressure and attempted to attack her bounty, Stumbler, with a gun in front of everyone in the cafeteria. This confirmed her weapon and bounty at the same time. Later on, she convinced Sam to help her find out how Monokuma was lacing her weed, and they ended up convincing me to help as well. At midnight, we started our excursion, but Sam and Jade ended up arguing and dropping Jade’s gun, which woke up the killer. They must’ve recognised Sam’s voice and saw it as a good opportunity to strike.

Sam: They couldn’t use the gun due to their disability, so the gun stayed on the floor. They followed us to room 1-D, where they first attacked me and knocked me out with the knife handle.

Ace: They couldn’t finish the job, however, since I attacked them. Blinded by the intensity of the situation and fueled by pure instinct, they attempted to attack me, but Jade got between us, causing the killer to stab her instead. They quickly ran back into their room just before I screamed, waking everyone else up.

Callie: There’s just one thing they didn’t know: I ended up hearing every time they used their door, since I was awake the entire time.

Simon: Additionally, they still had the knife with them, which they eventually revealed during the trial.

Ace: And this act of killing an innocent was conducted by you! Isn’t that right, Chargery, the Ultimate Retail Worker?

COMPLETE!

Chargery: …

Ace: (She isn’t responding. Did we do something wrong?)

Chargery: That was pretty good for a kid and some weirdos! I finally understand why everyone trusts you so much! I’d clap, but…y’know…

Socka: …

(Chargery looked over at Socka.)

Chargery: Socka, I–

Socka: My camellia…a killer…

(Socka’s eyes were filled with tears. She was shaking.)

Monokuma: Okay, vote time! Vote Monokuma, 20–wait, wrong script. Uhhhh, tablets.

*VOTING TIME*

(Ace was once again prompted to vote for a classmate, this time with only 13 buttons to choose from. Ace selected Chargery’s portrait, confirming a second time when prompted. She looked up at Socka, who seemed confident in her answer, whatever it was going to be; this was later found to be a terrible decision.)

CLASS TRIAL END!

Monokuma: Bada-bing, bada-boom, most of you guys got it right! Chargery has been eliminated, and won’t be getting any cake this time around!

(Simon picked up the bloody knife, making sure no one else got to it.)

Simon: Most of us? Who got it wrong?

Monokuma: Take a guess, you stupid bitch.

(Simon looked offended, but looked over at Socka, everyone else following suit.)

Socka: …

Duck: You imbecile! We went over the entire case just a few minutes ago! How could you–

(Red covered up Duck’s beak with his hand.)

Red: Alright, maybe you should shut up for a bit. Stop licking my hand.

(Chargery reluctantly approached Socka, who was wiping her tears.)

Chargery: Socka, you…shouldn’t have done that.

Socka: I know. I know I shouldn’t have done that. But I wanted to.

Chargery: What? Why?

Socka: I wanted you to know I will always be on your side. Even in death, I will stand with you. I don’t know what’s going to happen to you, but I won’t let it hurt as much as it would if you didn’t know I…love you.

Chargery: You…you mean that?

Socka: Why wouldn’t I, Chargery? I’ve been meaning to say it, but–

Chargery: I love you, too.

(A deafening silence filled the room like orange juice being poured into a glass.)

Socka: …what?

Chargery: I wanted to tell you way earlier than this, but I got scared. Here, I have something for you.

(Chargery inexplicably pulled out her potted chrysanthemums from thin air. Her tail wrapped around the pots, she held them towards Socka who took them into her hands.)

Chargery: I wanted to give these to you at a more convenient time than this. I’m sorry I couldn’t give them to you earlier, but I’d rather die knowing I gave them to the most caring and wonderful individual in the world than die with them still in my possession. I don’t want my love for you dying with me.

Socka: Ch…chrysanthemums…

(Socka started to cry again, hugging Chargery tightly. This lasted for half a minute, before Chargery broke away to say some remarks to the people she felt she hurt. Stumbler walked over to Socka to comfort her as Chargery walked over to Sam, Kinito, and Ace.)

Chargery: I know an apology will never fix the damage I caused. Nothing will ever be able to fix what I did to your friend. I just hope you three can find happiness with each other, like how Ace found happiness with Jade when ENA died.

(Chargery turned to face Ace.)

Chargery: What I can apologize for is how rude I’ve been to you. At first, I was just worried that you were using your intelligence to manipulate us, specifically Socka with your shared love of poetry, but you’re only 16, and in hindsight I don’t think it’s rational to believe a 16-year-old can sway a group of people for nefarious reasons.

Ace: (Is this a compliment, or…?)

(Chargery laughed at Ace’s slightly confused expression.)

Chargery: You’re a tough cookie, kid. I don’t think anyone pointed this out yet, but you trying to bite me stopped me from killing Sam. I know how horrible you felt about not being able to save Jade, but you saved Sam, and that’s a good thing, right?

(Ace’s mouth formed a small “o” as she realized what Chargery was saying. Chargery then turned to Sam and Kinito.)

Chargery: Please, don’t end up like I did. In hindsight, if my plan had gone through, I would’ve left without the person I cared about most, and that’s a fate worse than what I’m about to go through. I hope your love can rise above this killing game instead of getting hidden by fear and self-absorption.

(Sam and Kinito first looked sympathetic, then it seemed Kinito realized what Chargery had somehow known about their relationship. It was funny to Ace, but then wasn’t a good time to laugh. Chargery walked up to Monokuma’s throne.)

Chargery: Well? I’m ready. Do your worst, freak. If having to endure this means the people I love stay safe, then so be it.

Monokuma: Hmm…well…not really.

Chargery: …huh?

Monokuma: Since Socka voted incorrectly despite fully knowing who the killer was, I think it’s best to punish her too!

Chargery: W–what?!

Socka: …

(Socka stood in shock. Chargery walked over to her.)

Chargery: Look, we can get through this, I–I’m not letting you die here.

Monokuma: Dooooon’t caaaare! Now, I’ve got a special punishment for Chargery, the Ultimate Retail Worker! And Socka, the Ultimate Poet, will make a great embellishment!

Socka: Chargery, I…

Chargery: I’m not letting another innocent die by my hands.

Monokuma: Let’s give it everything we’ve got! It’s punishment time!

PUNISHMENT TIME

Ace: (There has to be some sort of catch here. No killing game has had this happen other than the ones where the other person survived.)

(Monokuma, just like last trial, hit the button that rose out of the ground with their mallet. A similar message appeared on a small screen, this time of Monokuma dragging Chargery away as Socka stood and watched.)

GAME OVER

CHARGERY HAS BEEN FOUND GUILTY

TIME FOR THE PUNISHMENT!

(After Monokuma and Chargery disappeared from the screen, a lasso grabbed Socka’s pixelated avatar and dragged her away.)

YOU TOO, SOCKA!

(Socka quickly placed her flowers on the floor next to her before two claws fell from the ceiling. One grabbed Chargery’s leg and pulled her into where it came from upside-down, the other grabbed Socka by the neck and pulled her in the same direction. Just like last trial, the curtains on the far side of the room opened, but the room below the window looked different from last time. It looked like some kind of grassy field with some trees and mountains far off.)

Duck: How would this be a good site for an execution?! How was the area’s decor changed so quickly?!

(Ace picked up the chrysanthemums and walked towards the window with everyone else.)

Ace: Monokuma is full of surprises. (Those mountains look too real…)

(Socka and Chargery were placed into the room, both dazed and confused. Another Monokuma appeared in the room with them.)

Callie: There’s two of you?!

Monokuma: Oh, there’s way more than that! Your friends are actually meeting a bunch of them soon!

Ace: What do you–

Monokuma: Oh, wait! I almost forgot!

(Despite not speaking at all, the other Monokuma snapped its fingers. Suddenly, Socka started motioning for Chargery to go away, clutching her head with her free hand.)

Monokuma: Finding this familiar, Chargery?

Chargery: That thing wouldn’t dare…

Socka: Please, RUN! JUST RUN!

(Chargery started to run away from Socka, who started to change into a giant beast. It didn’t look very different from how she was before, but it gave off a completely different demeanor with its wide eyes and more prominent teeth. The beast immediately tore apart the extra Monokuma and tossed its mechanical parts everywhere.)

Ace: What the–what the hell did you do to her?!

Monokuma: Puhuhuhu! Nothing that her host hasn’t done to her before! I call this execution…Chip-Bag Chargery!

Red: Sounds like the name scheme of a sub-par horror artist.

Kinito: How is any of this even biologically possible?!

Marie: Is that a plane?!

(Ace looked back into the room to see Chargery running towards some kind of propeller plane next to a large rock. When the object attempted to start it up, however, it wouldn’t even rev. She was trapped between a rock and a shell of the person she loved.)

Ace: The beast…that’s not her…

(Ace could only watch as the beast approached the helpless Chargery with death in its eyes and apathy in whatever was in the place of its heart.)

Chargery: Socka, please! You don’t have to do this! I don’t want you being on the same level as me! Plus, you’ve done this to me before, haven’t you? You made everyone else fear you! It doesn’t have to be like this!

(The creature growled and grabbed its head, as if Socka had heard Chargery’s pleas and was trying to break free.)

Sam: Wait, we might clutch this!

Marie: Who says that when someone’s about to die?!

(Chargery attempted to get out of the plane while Socka was distracted, but the beast grabbed her victim and slammed her to the ground opposite of the plane. What followed was a very thorough scalping of the inside of the object’s plastic shell. Circuit boards, cables, and all the other materials that should be in a charging cord were meaninglessly tossed everywhere, some of it even being eaten by the creature. Pink blood coated each of the discarded parts. The microphones set inside the room picked up every single one of Chargery’s pained screams until they couldn’t anymore. Because she stopped.)

(Ace felt a red string break.)

Monokuma: Oh, looks like she’s dead now!

(Monokuma snapped his fingers, causing Socka to revert back to normal. The first thing she saw was her lover dead. And she knew why.)

Socka: …oh my Sushigod…what have I done…?

(Socka became morbidly entranced by the blood on her hands, her shocked expression not breaking for anything. Not even the other students banging on the glass in response to her hyperventilation got her attention. Imagine how she would've felt if she discovered the stain around her mouth.)

Ace: Socka! SOCKA!

Stumbler: How come she can’t hear us?!

Monokuma: Oh, that glass is actually made especially for aquariums so the fish don’t get spooked by annoying little brats who like banging on the tanks!

Simon: So it’s no use trying to get to her…

(Without warning, the curtains closed on Socka holding the shell of her victim close to her.)

Ace: I-is she okay?

(A few seconds later, a secret door just behind the group opened, and an extremely traumatized Socka walked out. The door closed before Ace and Stumbler could turn around, so nobody saw it. When the two saw her, they ran over to comfort her.)

Ace: Socka! It’s okay, you’re safe!

(Socka refused to look at either of them, only staring at her still bloodstained hands. Her face was like a paralyzed lamb.)

Stumbler: If you need to sleep, we can walk you back to your room!

(Socka said nothing, but her eyes moved between Ace and Stumbler. Suddenly, she brought both of them into a tight, yet soft, hug. Tears cascaded down her face and seeped into Ace’s scruffy collar. Ace couldn’t feel a heartbeat, but she knew one was there, even if not anatomically. She didn't even care about the bloodstains that had appeared on her outfit.)

Monokuma: UGH! This is soooooo boring! Get out! Go eat lunch or something!

Wulf: Wait, it’s noon?

Monokuma: Yup! You guys took a while! Time flies by when you’re solving crimes!

(The elevator doors opened. Ace ended the hug by handing Socka the flower pots.)

Ace: We should go.

(Ace picked up Socka’s hand and started to guide her to the elevator. Stumbler and Wulf followed behind them since everyone else had already made it inside. The elevator ride was long, silent, and tense. Not even Duck made any stupid statements before the door opened and most went their separate ways. Ace had held Socka’s hand the entire ride up, and was still clasping onto it when the doors opened. After everyone else had gone, Ace realized Socka wasn’t moving.)

Ace: You should get some rest.

(Socka only nodded in response, not even meeting Ace’s eyes.)

Ace: (I wouldn’t have done that either, since I never make eye contact.) Good. Do you want me to walk with you?

(Socka nodded again, this time turning to at least look at Ace. The two walked to Socka’s dorm, where Socka opened the door and turned to Ace one final time. She smiled, nodded, and placed her free hand over one of Ace’s hands, both of which were holding Socka’s other hand. Ace took this as a sign to let go, and obliged.)

Ace: Have a good rest, Socka.

(Socka entered the dorm and closed the door. Ace let her face slip into one of more solemn and walked away as she looked at her newly stained gloves.)

Ace: (I don’t feel that sleepy, so I guess I’ll stay up longer. I wonder what Simon’s up to.)

(Ace started to look for Simon, but as she walked, she ended up being alone with the one entity that she hated being alone with: her own thoughts.)

Ace: (They’re really gone. I’ll never get to talk to Jade or Chargery ever again. At least not as living beings. I was never that close with Chargery, since she didn’t seem to like me, but Jade…she was so nice. She was a fun person with a big heart and mind, and the thought that none of the people she loves will ever get to experience being with her again is heartbreaking.)

(In the midst of Ace’s train of thought, she ended up finding Simon washing off the bloody knife in the kitchen.)

Simon: Miss Clubs! How are you holding up after the trial?

Ace: Please don’t leave me.

Simon: …what?

(Ace grabbed Simon’s hands and looked up at him with fearful eyes.)

Ace: Three individuals who were close to me have died in the past week. I can’t lose someone else. This place…it’s worse than the books make it out to be. After this, my emotions will be leather-bound and sold in bookstores for people about to attend jury duty to experience my nullified pain and think “I’d solve that way quicker!”. Hell, it’ll happen to all of us, and I want to prevent at least some of it. I don’t want to feel this pain anymore. I’d rather die myself than watch it happen to you.

(Simon looked back at Ace, shocked at everything she had just said to him.)

Simon: Miss Clubs…

(Simon sighed.)

Simon: This place is terrifying to all of us. I promise you, everyone here is grieving, just at different frequencies. Melodii was an actual child, ENA was apparently admired by Jade, she was well-respected by all of us, and Chargery was loved dearly by Socka. All of us need a break after that. Here, you should go to sleep. Come along.

(Simon put down the knife and left the room, motioning for Ace to follow him. She did, and he led her to her dorm.)

Ace: I guess you’re right. Thank you, Mr. Minor.

Simon: Please, you can just call me Simon now!

Ace: Alright! You can call me Ace. Goodnight!

(Ace waved goodbye to Simon and closed the door. As soon as she knew she was alone, she put on her sleep mask and laid down on her bed.)

Ace: (Two more deaths. Our number has dwindled to only 12. It doesn’t seem like much of a change now, but soon enough we’ll be down to eight. I know it’s inevitable that someone else I care about will die, but how do I tell Simon? Is he next? Please don’t let him be next. I’m not letting that happen.)

(Soon enough, Ace fell asleep, blissfully unaware of the third victim of the night.)

—

Agent 4: Does it work?

Player: i think so

Agent 4: And you said these guns work just like Splattershots?

Player: thats what im guessing

Agent 4: Then let’s get outta here.

(Agent 4 left Player’s cell holding a crappily-made gun. It didn’t look very functional from anyone’s point of view, but if it was truly their only shot, it had to work. No pun intended, of course.)

Bessie: So what are we suppose’ta do?

Agent 4: You guys just sit tight and don’t get hurt.

(Bessie and Bucky stood behind 4 with everyone else as they pointed their gun at a security camera.)

Agent 4: Alright, Mastermind! Now that I’ve got a fighting chance, come out and face me! If you’ve got the oysters to lock us up like this, then come out and prove it!

(And 4 got their response. The gate to the hallway everyone was taken down after the motive videos opened to a flood of black-and-white teddy bears.)

Lightbolb: What, those look like the bear that forced me to record that video!

Stella: I think that’s the bear that recorded all of our videos!

Octavio: They’re gonna flood the room! Everyone, get in your cells!

(Everyone besides 4 obliged. Bessie looked through her bars in suspense.)

CLICK

Bessie: What the—did the doors just lock?!

(Bessie and Electracey both tried their cell doors, neither moving an inch.)

Electracey: Looks like it!

(Colin tried his door and got similar results.)

Colin: Everyone, try to find a way out of your cells!

J.D: These things are way too secure for that. It’s no use.

(It finally set in for Bessie that she had no choice but to watch what was about to happen to 4, who also seemed to realize what was happening. They turned to the cells, J.D’s specifically, as the bears drew closer.)

Agent 4: Listen! I’ve been doing some digging, and I think someone here is faking everything! Someone here is working with the Mastermind! I don’t know who, but–

(A bear jumped on 4, causing them to spin around and shoot them.)

BANG!

(Surprisingly, the gun fired and the bear flopped to the ground. In surprise, 4 turned to Player’s cell.)

Agent 4: Hey! It worked!

Player: keep in mind it only has 2 more bullets

Agent 4: Why would you only give it–

(4 immediately used their second bullet on one of the bears.)

BANG!

(4 began to dodge and avoid each of the bears.)

J.D: Wait, how’d you find out about this traitor?!

Agent 4: I heard some voices last night, and someone was definitely talking to the Mastermind! And one of the bears said something about being controlled by them!

Tony: None of that matters right now! Just fight!

(4 faced the bears head-on. They looked around at the walls of the Open Area, and believing they were reflective of the bullets, aimed at one at what felt like the right angle.)

BANG!

(The bullet hit the wall and dropped to the floor.)

Agent 4: Oh no…

(Despite the perfect opportunity to attack, however, the bears stopped in their tracks.)

Agent 4: Huh?

BEEP! BEEP!

Agent 4: Player, why’s the gun beeping?!

Player: its not supposed to do that what the hell

(The beeping got faster.)

Agent 4: Well what the carp am I supposed to–

Stella: TAKE COVER!

(Bessie made a split-second decision to duck behind the little desk in her cell just before—)

BOOM!

(An explosion of purple ink played out, with some yellow dispersed within it. Some of the concoction got past the bars of everyone’s cells.)

Bessie: What in Walt’s name was that?!

(Bessie quickly got up and looked outside. 4 was nowhere to be found apart from a little squid-shaped ghost floating up past the ceiling of the Open Area, along with the clothes they were wearing laying on the floor covered in purple and yellow ink.)

Bessie: (Yellow was their ink color…)

(Bessie looked on in horror as the bears disappeared.)

CLICK!

(All of the cell doors unlocked and everyone exited their cells, all covered in ink at varying levels. Bessie only got some on her hoodie and heels, but taller individuals such as Stella were covered in it. Everyone stood around until some hatches in the ceiling opened up and TVs lowered from them, stopping at a point of suspension close to the ceiling.)

DING DONG BING BONG

(The TVs displayed one of the teddys, who was in some kind of office.)

???: Attention prisoners! Warden Monokuma speaking! I know some of you are–

Lightbolb: WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT?!

Monokuma: Jeez, shut up! I was just getting to that! Anyways, I know that some of you–actually, most of you–are probably very confused. Unfortunately, 4 broke the very important rule of not damaging any of our equipment, including those Monoclones that we brought down! All rule violations are potentially punishable by death, so we blew ‘em up! They went down in a blaze of glory, which is one of the many outcomes they wanted!

Bessie: So ya can just…kill us wheneva?

Monokuma: Only if you break any rules!

Tony: Why did you bring those clones down here in the first place?

Monokuma: Oh, we knew about the gun being made.

Player: the whole time?

Monokuma: Yup! We have eyes everywhere!

J.D: Is the Traitor one of them?

Monokuma: Oh yea, 4 told you! Turns out they were a massive eavesdropper and somehow found out! But yes, the Traitor told us, and they’re one of you guys!

(Everyone went into a loud panic other than Tony and Bessie. Tony remained plain-faced while Bessie panicked silently to herself.)

Bessie: (Oh boy…everyone’s freakin’ out. Someone…one of our friends is a Traitor! I…)

Tony: Everyone, please calm down! This is wasting time!

(Everyone quieted down to hear Tony speak.)

Tony: Panicking like this is only feeding into the paranoia that the Traitor and Mastermind want us to have. We must not give in.

(Everyone nodded in response.)

Monokuma: Oh, one more thing! Since I’m too lazy to bring these TVs back into the ceiling, they’ll now be showing a livestream of the game for you guys to watch! Ain’t that neat? Anyways, thank you guys for watching! Be sure to smash that like button!

Stella: Wait! Before you go, can you tell us if our loved ones are okay?

Monokuma: Hm? Oh, most of them are! 12 of them are still alive and kicking! “Who”, you may ask? Find out for yourself, doofus! Anyways, bye!

CLICK

(Monokuma disappeared from the screen, with it switching to a black-and-white security camera view of a cafeteria. It displayed a label at the bottom-right corner saying “cam.cafe”, and a label at the top-right with the time, 10:30 PM. The other bears then left the Open Room through the hallway. Player hovered over the pile of clothes 4 left behind, and Bessie followed them.)

Player: im sorry

(Player quickly changed their message.)

Player: I’m so sorry, 4.

Bessie: Playah, it’s not ya fault! You didn’t put the bomb in, right?

Player: I don’t think so.

Bessie: Then it wasn’t ya fault! It was that stupid Mastamind!

J.D: Everyone! Take a look!

(Bessie turned to see that a button panel had appeared under the TV, each button broken up by 5 different floors and labeled with different names like “Gym” and “Dorm Hall”. There was also a joystick, slider, and a dial to the side of the buttons. The dial was labeled with “Volume” but the joystick and slider weren’t labeled at all.)

Jamtine: What is that?

Bucky: I think these redirect to different cameras! Watch!

(Bucky pressed a button that was labeled “Stumbler’s Dorm”, which caused the screen to change to a camera labeled “cam.stum_dorm”, which had a view of a dorm room where a little blue rabbit that was missing his hands was sound asleep. Sure, he was sleeping with his ears hanging off the foot of the bed and his feet against the headboard, but he looked comfortable!)

Bucky: J.D, look! It’s Stumbler!

J.D: He’s okay! Monokuma said 12 people are still alive, and there are…16 dorms, meaning four people are dead.

Bessie: (Four people…) Can I see it?

(Bessie stepped up to the panel and pressed the button labeled “Ace’s Dorm”, showing her “cam.ace_dorm”. Ace was sleeping peacefully with a sleep mask over her eyes. To everyone else, she just looked like a sleeping bunny girl, but to Bessie, she was a sleeping angel.)

Bessie: (She’s really pretty when she’s asleep…actually, that’s kinda creepy, isn’t it?)

(Bessie decided to toy with the joystick and slider. The joystick made the camera turn right, left, up, or down depending on which way it was moved, while the slider made the camera zoom in and out. She used it to zoom in on Ace’s face as much as she could, trying to figure out what made her so–)

Moony: You doing okay?

(Bessie quickly realized everyone else was watching, and quickly zoomed out. Her face was heating up.)

Bessie: Oh? Um…yea! I’m having…weird thoughts.

(Moony looked intrigued.)

Moony: What weird thoughts?

J.D: So the joystick moves the camera and the slider zooms in? Someone should’ve labeled that.

Moony: Wait, where’s ENA?!

(Moony dashed to the panel and slammed herself into the button that said “ENA’s Dorm”. The room was devoid of life. Bessie watched as Moony’s face changed to one of pure horror.)

Moony: …what the hell? I–she can’t just–

(Moony quickly floated back to her cell and hid under her bedsheets.)

Bessie: (Moony…she was so casual a few seconds ago…)

Knify: Who else is gone?

(Knify checked Socka’s dorm, only to find she was still awake…and crying while hugging a pair of potted flowers to her chest.)

Knify: Oh, she’s…

(Lightbolb, who was standing next to Knify, pressed the button for Chargery’s dorm. Empty, just like ENA’s.)

Lightbolb: Oh no…

(Knify brought Lightbolb to the side so everyone else could check on their loved ones. The two others who ended up feeling grief were Jamtine and Player, who found that Melodii and Jade had died.)

Player: How is this getting way worse?!

Jamtine: I don’t know…Melodii was just a kid…

Bessie: So what are we supposed’ta do now?

Stella: I…

Bucky: Maybe our first step should be–and you guys can totally disagree with me–taking a bath.

(Bessie and Stella turned to look blankly at Bucky.)

Stella: …sure. I’ll try to ask the warden.

CHAPTER COMPLETE

12 STUDENTS REMAIN

13 HOSTAGES REMAIN