Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The last thing the Ultimate Pianist saw before she finally lost all the air in her lungs was the despair growing on everyone's faces.
She couldn't have imagined how she looked to them - because she certainly felt worse.

But that despair.
This wasn't what she wanted. This wasn't supposed to happen.

She had her chance to apologize, to just give up with the rest of them. But instead she thought she could do something so foolish such as murder and end this killing game once and for all... how pathetic.
Now Shuichi is all alone and it's all her fault.

. . .  When Kaede woke up she was choking on air, her vision was morphed by a green tinted light before it... opened? With a ‘hissing’ noise. 

Kaede took this moment and sat up immediately, coughing up a lung as a woman in a lab coat rushed to her aid, assisting her by holding onto her shoulder and forcing a gas mask onto her mouth.

After a few seconds of catching her breath, now with an aid, she waved the arm away and rubbed her eyes.

Her memory eluded her as to what occurred just before this. But she knew it hurt...
When she looked up a distance away she saw Shuichi, Maki, and Himiko talking with a man in the same lab coat the woman before her wore. She didn’t recognize the two lab assistants. 

Shuichi? 

That's right.
That place.
That killing game..

“Wh - what’s going on? Where am I?!” 

The woman before her answered but Kaede's voice immediately drew in the detective's attention, “You are in the rehabilitation facility. Kaede Akamatsu, right?” Kaede nodded. “Please remain calm, the killing game you were previously in was a simulation prepared by Hope’s Peak Academy. This was not meant to harm any of our students and it was altered by an unknown parasite. We have been trying to rescue and resuscitate those involved.” 

As she spoke Kaede fazed in and out of focus and consciousness. “Wait… this.. That whole game was fake?!” 

Shuichi cried out, “Kaede!” He looked the same as he was in the killing game, but his uniform was different and nothing like his striped suit. He ran towards Kaede and skidded to a stop on his knees, tears forming in the corner of his eyes.

“Shuichi,” She breathed out and instantly pulled him into a tight embrace. “Is it true…? Was everything we went through really fake? The killing game wasn’t real?”

“That’s right. It's true.” He breathed out. “It was a training simulation infiltrated by the virus known as Monokuma.” Shuichi pulled away but held onto Kaede’s shoulders, searching her eyes. “What’s the last thing you remember?”

“Dying.” She exhaled uneasily and put a hand up to her neck. “It still hurts…”

The scientist stood up. “That will be a side-effect of the simulation.” 

Shuichi looked to her to elaborate.

“Many of the students who have perished in such ways, Akamatsu for example, will suffer from temporary phantom pain. Due to the way you passed away, you will be short of breath for a while and sore around the throat.” 

Kaede looked to the floor. “This is just all so much to take in… wait, what do you mean other students?” She asked before she looked at Shuichi.

His eyes only became more glossy as he cried: “I’m sorry Kaede, I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t save everyone.”

“Shuichi,” Kaede looked at him helplessly.

“I will give you two some space. Akamatsu, please address me if you have any more questions Saihara cannot answer for you.”  She nodded before walking back towards the other scientist. He seemed to be elaborating further to Maki and Himiko who didn’t seem to be paying attention.

“It’s ok.” Kaede felt herself lie. It wasn’t really ok, to know that the others died after her… “I - I know you did your best. I know you tried.” 

Shuichi sobbed but nodded barely. “I really did… but no matter what I did it just kept happening over and over again.” Kaede slowly stood up out of the pod she was sleeping in and Shuichi rose pathetically to his feet as well. 

Kaede took his hands in her own. 

“Shuichi, look at me.” He did. “I’m not mad at you.” That was the truth. “I believe you, Shuichi. I know you tried.”

Shuichi quickly wiped his tears away - finally Maki and Himiko approached the two.

“Nice seeing you awake.” Maki spoke first, Himiko nodded tiredly.

“What happened, why are you three together?”

“We were the only survivors of the killing game.” Himiko answered. “Everyone else didn’t make it.”

Kaede looked to Shuichi with utter shock. “Only three of you survived?”

He pulled his hat over his eyes and looked away, Kaede felt herself cringe. She didn’t mean to upset him further.  “Well - any good news at least? I - I get now that this is all fake… is uh.. Is anyone else awake?”

“Just you.” Shuichi started but was cut off the male scientist began to elaborate:

“We are unsure how the waking process will go. It will either be based off of injury, or order of death.”

“If that’s the case…” Shuichi looked over and Kaede saw what he was looking at and approached the pod.

She felt anxiety and shame fill her chest as she stared down at Rantaro Amami. 

“His circumstances are different.” The man explained, “This was not his first killing game.”

Shuichi’s eyes lightened with some form of recognition. “That’s what the video said - in the simulation.” He supplied. Shuichi turned to Kaede, explaining to her as he was sure she was confused. “In the killing game, Rantaro earned the title of the Ultimate Survivor because he had survived a previous killing game.”

“Three to be precise, he kept moving from location to location but has never left the pod.” The scientist’s voice lowered into a grim tone. “We do not know if he’ll ever wake up.”

“Ever since he was killed,” The woman spoke up. “We saw a difference in his brain waves but he has not woken up yet. We give him a week before we determine him brain-dead.” 

“What?!” Kaede shouted. “You can’t do that! He’s still in there somewhere!” She argued and Shuichi grabbed her by the shoulder. 

“Kaede, calm down.” He mumbled. “I’m sure Rantaro will be just fine. As long as there’s brain activity he’ll be ok.” 

Kaede bit her lip and looked away. “You said similar injuries could determine the order… so what happened to everyone?”

“You will all be filled in once everyone is woken up. We will determine if we shall show the footage of the events of the killing game or refer to a transcript.”

“Recording? Do you mean the cameras?” Kaede asked.

The woman shook her head no and approached the back of the room, in the middle of all of the pods was a figure cloaked in fabric. She tore the drape off and revealed a familiar robot. His eyes wide open but pitch black and his jaw slack. 

“Keebo!” Kaede found everyone shouting with her. Shuichi ran up to him first but didn’t get too close. “Is he alive?” He asked. 

“When K1-B0 perished in the simulation, the live footage ended there and you all woke up seconds later. We have extracted the film from it, but the robot was never alive.”

“That’s robophobic.” Himiko muttered, much to everyone’s surprise. 

The two authorities in the room were silent.

“You have to fix him.” Maki demanded. “He is a student just like us, he deserves that chance at life.” 

“The way to fix him would be restoring his memory chip and reconnecting his circuits but-”

“Then do that.” She threatened. “He’s not just a tool for recording, Keebo became our friend and he’s the reason we made it out of the game in the first place.”

Kaede looked back and forth between everyone, awe-struck with just how much she had missed. And just how much everyone’s friendship had grown. 

The two scientists looked between each other before the man sighed and approached the computer. Shuichi trailed him, “I’ll make sure everything is there.” He whispered, promising to the two girls who fought for Keebo.

Kaede felt entirely in the dark. “Can't someone just tell me what happened exactly?” 

“There’s a lot to it.” Maki answered, turning to address her. “I’ll just establish what you need to know: You didn’t kill Rantaro.”

Kaede felt her whole world crumble. “... What?” 

“You didn’t kill Rantaro, your shot-put-ball missed . The mastermind came out through the secret door with their spare and hit Rantaro in the back of the head. She took your old one and framed you. You died for no reason.” Despite how blunt Maki was Kaede felt the room spin and she found herself stumbling up against her own pod.

“Who… how did…?” Slowly her fragile reality was beginning to fall apart.

“Shuichi figured it out in the final trial when Keebo freaked out and started destroying the school… Keebo killed the mastermind and that’s how we got out.”

“But - how did - oh my gosh - th- this is.. already so much...”

“Maybe we should save it for another day.” Himiko yawned. Both her’s and Maki’s outfits were different from the killing game.

Kaede looked down at her own and realized hers was as well.

“What are we wearing?”

“Our original uniforms before we entered the simulation. We were all in different schools before Hope’s Peak so…” Maki shrugged.

Kaede held her head. She was reeling with information. The killing game was fake and everyone is alive, she didn’t kill Rantaro, and Shucihi broke out of his shell and befriended two people Kaede never expected. 

“Who was the mastermind?”

Just as she asked this, two more pods opened up.

. . .  Two more scientists appeared in the room, and Kaede figured she’d number them now. 

Scientist three rushed over to Miu Iruma as she gasped loudly once she was free, sitting up and reeling, scratching furiously at her neck. The assistant was rather rough with her, shoving the oxygen mask into her face at first Miu pushed it away, choking out profanities but lost her breath and opted to pulling it back over her mouth aggressively as she caught her breath. 

Ryoma Hoshi was a little different. Opting instead to coughing up a lung as scientist four was patting his back firmly like a child and holding up the oxygen like it was a last resort. 

Kaede was no detective but even she could piece together that Ryoma and Miu also died of some form of hanging or suffocation.

Part of her wanted to run to both of them, overjoyed to have her wilder fantasies come to life. Everyone is alive, they made it out together! Now hopefully they can all be friends like she encouraged...

But just as quickly as the two Ultimates regained control of their breathing, the scientists began to fill her in on the same spiel.
Kaede could only stand back to watch and wait before she could reunite with her friends. 

“... We’re going to turn in for the night.” Maki looked down at Himiko as she offered her hand, Himiko accepted it and the two walked out of the room together.
Leaving Kaede to watch the two walk off, and she was confused.
Did they just get to leave?

“Akamatsu,” Scientist lady number two approached her, the same one who woke her up. “It is getting late and it is recommended you return to your room as well.”

“My room?” Kaede felt flashbacks of the dorms from the killing game fill her mind. “Am I not allowed to go home?”

“No, not yet. While you are here you all will be under psychological watch, in case there are any mental or physical side effects from the killing game.” 

“For how long?”

“Until a week, at least. Just after everyone is awoken, only then will you be able to go home, if you chose not to attend Hope’s Peak Academy.” She explained. “I can escort you to your room if you’d like.”

“No,” Kaede shook her head. “No thank you, I’ll just - I’ll walk with Shuichi.”

The woman stared at her silently before nodding subtly and walking away.

...  As Kaede turned back to look at her friends - Miu rose to her feet, stumbling til she snatched the gas mask and oxygen tank attached to it, already storming off. 

“Miu!” Kaede called after her but she walked away, struggling to flip her off. 

“I’m goin’ to my room! Keebo is the only one allowed to come knock !” She yelled as she disappeared behind the corner. 
There was a deep sigh as Kaede lowered her hand and felt disappointment consume her. Ryoma sat by himself on the edge of his pod staring at the floor indifferently. 

Kaede decided to approach him, “Hey Ryoma.” She breathed out and he looked up at her.

“Hey there, Kaede… it’s actually good seein’ you awake.” 

Kaede felt the disappointment quickly dissipate with hope and joy. “It’s really good to see you too… what happened?” 

His sigh only dragged out longer and deeply. His uniform was also widely different than what he wore in the simulation. “Not long after you, I also died.” 

Kaede’s eyes widened.  “Kirumi killed me. She found out I had nothing to live for… and I don’t think I do even out here.” 

Kaede couldn’t find the words. Ryoma was murdered? And sweet Kirumi was the one who killed him? 

“It was right after me?” 

He nodded and stood up. “I’m only staying here ‘cause I have to. But once house arrest is over I’m dropping out of Hope’s Peak Academy.”

“What?!” Kaede gasped. “Ryoma, you can’t!”

“Why not? I have nothing going for me, and being trapped in any building with Kirumi will only make this awkward.” He shrugged. “Awkward isn’t the right word - but I know we’ll both be uncomfortable around each other.”

“But… but we all promised to be friends with each other outside of the killing game!”

“I hate to break it to you Kaede, but if more people died after me, chances are no one is entirely happy with each other.”  He began to walk away too. “I’m going to my room. You should too, start thinking about your future now that you have one.” 

...  And Kaede was once again left with the pit in her stomach, she depressingly turned to Shuichi who was nose deep in the computer before he stood up straight.

“That’s everything. Wake him up.” He ordered like he was in charge before running down and standing before Keebo. Kaede stood beside him. 

The two watched expectedly, Kaede only knew Keebo from how he acted before she had perished and he was very stiff while also emotional and very easily offended. 

“How much has he changed since I died?” She whispered.

“A lot.” Shuichi answered as Keebo’s eyes illuminated in a solid blue light before the wires connecting him to his chair were ripped off and finally Keebo blinked rapidly before they melted back into how they looked in the simulation. Normal. Almost human.

His eyes scanned the room first, landing on - “Shuichi!” Despite his excitement, remained glued to his seat. He looked over, “Kaede!” he cried before scanning the room again. “Where are we? What’s going on?” 

“Keebo,” Shuichi sighed and offered out his hand, Keebo shyly took it for some reason turning red before Shuichi let go. “I’ll explain everything soon as I can, but what’s the last thing you remember?” 

“I remember…” Keebo looked past Shuichi. “I remember my signal being disturbed… the trial… destroying the school… and killing Shirogane.” 

Kaede’s face is stupefied. “Wa - wait! You mean to tell me Tsumugi-”

“-Was the mastermind, yeah.” Shuichi finished. He shook his head and turned his attention back to Keebo. “Not much happened after that, as soon as you destroyed the simulation we woke up.”

“Simulation?” Keebo’s face fell. “As if the events of the killing game were only virtual?”

“That’s right! Everything was fake, everyone is alive.”

“So it was like a dream?”

“A shared dream, I guess. But everyone was put into a group simulation run by Hope’s Peak Academy - it was just corrupted by the virus known as Monokuma.” 

“Everyone also committed all those murders… but everyone is alive …” He seemed to be thinking, lost in thought and if Kaede listened carefully she could hear the circuits in Keebo’s head fry.  “I.. I understand… is everyone back now?” 

“No… only Kaede, Ryoma, and Miu are back. We’re still waiting for the others.”

“But you, Maki, and Himiko are fine.” He clarified and Shuichi nodded. 

"Ok." Kaede saw Keebo doing the math behind his eyes and she realized how much he both changed and hardly changed at all. "You had said... Miu is awake?" He asked, tentatively. 

"Yes," This time Kaede answered. It might be seen as manipulative but if there was anyone who could remind Miu of their plans to be best friends after the killing game, it could be Keebo. Just the look in his eyes when he asked for Miu. And how she asked specifically for him? She'd be surprised if they didn't become friends during the killing game.  "Actually, Miu locked herself up in her room but she told us only you were allowed to come in and check in on her." 

Keebo's eyes widened, as much as they could, in surprise. "Really? Specifically for me?"

"It's true." Shuichi supplied. "I can show you to her room... it's getting late and we're all meant to stay here til everyone wakes up."  

"Thank you Shuichi. Kaede, will you be joining us?"

"Huh? Oh! Uh - sure-" In truth, Kaede wanted to stay here and wait for everyone to wake up. The idea that Rantaro or Kirumi would get out with no one familiar to explain to them what happened- 

But Kaede ended up walking with the two boys, taking an elevator up to the floor where everyone's rooms were. Their names were on the outside of their doors unlike their pictures - still it was too close to the game for comfort. 

. . .   "There," Shuichi pointed. "Miu's room is right there."

"Perfect." Keebo hesitated, standing in the elevator still. 

"You okay, Keebo?" Kaede questioned. 

"Yes, I am functional. I just..." He flexed his robotic fingers. "I am just unsure why she would want to see me."

"What do you mean?" Kaede pressed, stepping out of the elevator hinting for the two to follow. They did. 

"I feel responsible for the way Miu perished in the simulation. If I had been more careful and perhaps more clingy to her she would not have been ambushed." 

Kaede didn't know exactly how Miu died in the killing game, she wasn't sure if Miu was even a victim or the culprit herself. "What happened? If I'm allowed to know."

"Miu was ambushed by Kokichi and Gonta." Keebo explained entirely casual. "Kokichi had manipulated Gokuhara into strangling her. Likely she had no idea who was responsible for her murder."

Kaede was reeling by the second. "That's... that's horrible!" She cried. How could Kokichi do that? How could Gonta do that? 

"Well Miu was attempting to kill Kokichi first but..." Shuichi paused and shook his head. "No, that doesn't matter. Keebo, you go check on Miu. Kaede and I will turn in for the night."

"Right." Keebo walked off, stopping in front of Miu's door.

. . .  Shuichi and Kaede stood in front of her room for a few seconds. 

"I'm... I - I'm really happy to see you Kaede." His eyes became glossy again. "It was really hard.. losing you."

Kaede smiled sadly. "I'm really happy to be here." She shrugged. 

"I'm still sorry. I just... I couldn't be you. I couldn't move anyone the way you did." 

"Shuichi," Kaede took his hand, just as she did when they were in the classroom together. "It's alright. We have a second chance now. And I'm positive now that we're out of that game we can work together to bring everyone together again." She assured and Shuichi replied with a weak grin of his own.

"Right... good night, Kaede."

"Good night, Shuichi." 

Shuichi walked away and down the hallway to his own room. 

Kaede sighed as she heard his door shut behind him and walked into her own room. It looked like that of a hotel, it even had a change of clothes on the bed waiting for her.

Her own dresser, mirror, bathroom, and an oxygen tank? Kaede approached it and took off the note attached to it: "If you are struggling for oxygen, as a symptom of the simulation, we have provided you an oxygen tank. Simply put on the mask and push the button and it will turn on. For further medical assistance be it mental or physical, press the call button beside the bed." 

Both very sweet and a little bit too much, Kaede thought. 

Regardless, she changed into the pajamas provided to her and laid in bed, staring at the ceiling.  Today was too much, she was getting used to breathing again, being alive, a second chance, and everyone she knew was alive and well too!

She could work on convincing Ryoma tomorrow, she thought.  Kaede would just take a quick nap before going back down to check on the others. 

It was going to be tough, especially considering... Shirogane was actually the one who framed Kaede. She was the reason Rantaro died and Kaede got executed. If it wasn't for her the entire killing game wouldn't of happened.

Does Kaede hate Shirogane? 

Chapter Text

Keebo knocked exactly three times before there was rustling on the other side.  Keebo recalled when Miu had been murdered, he wished he could cry then too.

So when Miu Iruma opened the door, in a uniform entirely different from her usual already complaining, "I said only Keebo could-" But she stopped when they saw each other.  Keebo's eyes detailed into that wobbly effect and he frowned as Miu stared at him with her mouth agape.  "Holy fuck." She breathed.

"Uh... can I... come in?" And with that Miu grabbed Keebo by his weird-robotic collar and pulled him inside her room. Keebo yelped as he stumbled into the room and aggressively slams the door.  "Miu!" Keebo shouts before she turns around and instantly embraces him.
Keebo feels his metaphorical heart skip a beat. 

She pulled away just as fast, resting her hands on his shoulders. "Is it really you, Keebs?" 

"Yes, Miu. It's me. I - I can't believe you're alive!" Keebo's voice became shaky. "I'm - I'm so happy...!"

"Hey hey, quit crying." Miu shook him gently, letting go. "I'm still breathing, you're breathing, I think, we're all alive." 

"I am just... I am so sorry I was unable to help you." 

"It's fine."  Miu scoffed, turning away. 

"No it's not! If I had known what Kokichi was planning I could've-"

Miu growled in irritation, "That little shit! He killed me!"

"No, not directly."  Miu turned around, staring at Keebo. "Gonta mixed up the wires on the headset. Kokichi used his confusion to manipulate him into killing you." Keebo explained and he saw the complicated expression on Miu's face.

"You mean that large dumbass killed me?!" Miu barked. "That's even worse! He couldn't read by himself!" Whatever rude remark that was, Miu huffed and sat on the edge of her bed. Keebo timidly joined her. 

"I'm sorry."

"You have nothing to be sorry for, Keebs. Really. I was the one who tried to kill Ouma."

Keebo kept silent and so did Miu.  They stayed like that for a few minutes before Keebo took it upon himself to speak up again, "Like you said, you're still alive."

"And force to attend this stupid school that got infected by a fuckin' virus." She spoke bitterly before looking at Keebo. "Are you attending too?"

"Well, I am an Ultimate. So I suppose so, yes." Keebo stated and smiled slowly when Miu grinned at him. Miu reached over and punched him lightly on the arm. 

"Well at least I get to go to school with you and not those boring ass npcs!"

Keebo laughed nervously. "But... but what about Kaede's wish? About us all being friends?" 

Miu's expression softened and she turned away again. "That's a stupid wish now, Keebs." 

"But-"

"Do you really think we can be friends with Kokichi?" 

Keebo fell silent, it was his turn to draw his attention to the floor. "... It will be difficult." 

"It's impossible. I'm not gonna get all buddy-buddy with that fuckin' freak!" Miu crossed her arms. "And what about you? I didn't see you with Shuichi or Kaede... did you make it out?"

"No... my mind was corrupted by the mastermind and I ended up destroying the Academy and... Shirogane." 

Miu eyed him silently. "So Tsumugi was the mastermind?" 

Keebo just nodded.

"And she fucked out with your circuits?" She asked, poking him. Keebo reeled and gently swatted her hand away. 

"Not in the way you're thinking." Keebo snapped but shook his head after. "I apologize, I do not wish to think about what will happen when... she wakes up.." 

"I don't wanna think about Kokichi wakin' up." Miu sighed before rising, unbuttoning her shirt.

Keebo's eyes widened and he quickly grabbed a pillow from Miu's bed covering his face. "Wh- what are you doing?!"

"Uh, gettin' changed? Going to bed?" 

"Ri- right! Of course... I'll - I'll be going then, to my own room." Keebo stood up, still shielding his eyes as he shuffled towards the door. 

Miu watched him leave before sighing fondly, throwing her shirt and skirt off before changing into the pajamas provided to her by the scientists. 

Not even a few minutes passed, as Miu unfastened her bra did she hear another knock on her door. She exhaled in irritation and opened it. Nearly surprised to see Keebo again.

"I do not have my own room." He sounded very embarrassed, and based off the red pigment on his mesh face - he was. 

"What, you wanna sleep with me?"

Keebo's collar surrounded his neck, fastening and covering his nose and mouth as steam quite literally exited his ears. "Do not ask such a question!" 

Miu laughed and repeated her action earlier, grabbing Keebo's collar and pulling him inside with a shout. 

. . .  In the middle of the night Himiko was woken up by her door opening and the light of the hallway shining directly into her closed eyes. The darkness she was usually greeted with turned into a weird red color that caused her to groan out in annoyance and threw a pillow over her face. "Five more minutes." 

"Himiko?" A voice asked.

A very familiar voice.

  Himiko shot up in bed and threw the blankets off and onto the floor. "Tenko?!" She sobbed. The light in her room flickered on and now Himiko could see both of them. Angie with her finger on the light switch and Tenko just at the foot of her bed. Her hair was undone, her eyes were tired and her shirt was half undone. Angie looked the same as always but her uniform was different compared to the simulation as well. Still, her smile towards Himiko somehow knew all. Just as it did back then. 

"Himiko!" Tenko broke down into tears as Himiko flailed, crawling out of her bed as she embraced both girls. 

"I - I'm sorry!" She wailed. "I'm sorry for saying you were always bothering me! I'm sorry everything was such a pain! It was all my fault you guys died!"

"Do not worry, Himiko." Angie whispered. "We both know it was not your fault, you did not know any better." She whispered. Angie looked up at Tenko, she met her eyes through tears. "Neither of us did." 

The three girls remained tightly embraced with one another, weeping quietly amongst themselves. 

. . . There was a loud alarm next to her bed-side that caused Miu to groan loudly in her dimly lit room. She rolled over on instinct and tried to silence whatever alarm went off, she hit her hand roughly a few times before it seemed to stop on its own.  Then there was a knock at the door.

"God fucking dammit." Miu snapped, sitting up and looking over at Keebo. He refused to sleep in the bed with her so she put a pillow and the bed sheets on the floor and he seemed just as satisfied with that.
His eyes were wide open and they shifted to match Miu's gaze.  "Good morning Miu."

"Mornin'." She grumbled before stretching, the knock on the door repeated itself and she groaned louder before she got out of bed and walked towards the door.

Miu had fully expected to see Kaede or Shuichi trying their daily routine but when she opened the door the lady who had woken her up was there. 

"Good morning, Iruma." She greeted and Miu just nodded, scratching the back of her head.  "I wanted to inform you there will be breakfast in the dining hall on the first floor, the alarm you heard this morning is a regular occurrence that will continue until your last stay here. Just something to wake up our students."  She explained swiftly and Miu felt like slamming the door on her face. "Anyway, Akamatsu wanted to be kept up to date so we decided to fill in everyone as well: Chabashira, Yonaga, and Gokuhara woke up from the simulation sometime in the middle of the night." 

Miu heard Keebo's breath hitch behind her.  "Okay." Was all she replied with.

The scientist stared at her quietly before briefly nodding. "Breakfast is downstairs, dinner will be around five, have a good rest of your day."  She said before turning around and disappearing down the hallway. 

Miu shut her door and turned towards Keebo. “I’m gonna get changed again, you watching?” 

Keebo groaned and threw his hands over his eyes, not moving from his position on the floor. “Please stop joking like that!” 

Miu rolled her eyes. “Seriously, I don’t mind if you’re in here while I change-“

”I mind very much!” Keebo’s voice raises an octave as he rises and shuffles towards the door. He stops as his hand grabs the doorknob: “Will I see you downstairs? For breakfast?”

“Yeah, probably.” She shrugged, already moving to take off her shirt.

“… Will you be okay with Gonta possibly being there?”

Miu exhaled through her nose, turning her head but with her back to him, just barely able to see Keebo. “Yeah, I really don’t give a fuck. I’ll be fine.” She snapped and before Keebo could get another word out she took her shirt off.

Keebo made a funny noise and she heard the door slam shut behind him. 

She was being honest. Miu most likely wasn’t going to be bothered by Gonta - he wasn’t the last face she saw while she was choking to death. 

It was Ouma's. 

Miu bit down harshly on her lip as she tore off her clothes and threw on new ones.
She really didn't feel like going to breakfast with Sherlock Homo and flat chest one two and three. 

Really Miu is only doing this for Keebo. She recalls in great detail just how close they became in a short amount of time. Part of her is still fascinated by Keebo and how he managed to come out alive and still robotic.

  Miu smiled fondly to herself, buttoning up her shirt. Keebo had not changed a bit. 

. . . Kaede was notably regretful she managed to sleep til morning announcements without actually checking up on her classmates in the middle of the night like she promised herself. 

Because of her carelessness Angie, Tenko, and Gonta all woke up without any familiar face to properly greet them. 

Kaede had quickly gotten herself dressed without giving much care to her appearance - tying her hair back and most likely wearing mismatched shoes. It didn't matter, she was very eager to go greet her friends again. 

Being alive was still something to get used to - at first Kaede convinced herself she couldn't sleep because she was so excited to be reunited with everyone again.

And definitely not because she was scared she'd never wake up. 

Before she would go downstairs, Kaede knocked firmly on Shuichi's door... but received no answer. That's fine.

She assured herself.

Shuichi was either still asleep... or already downstairs without her. That's fine! It just mean he broke out of his shell and you know it's been so long, he possibly forgot about their routine - waking each other up for breakfast.

It was fine, Kaede walked towards the elevator but stopped herself. Timidly she looked at Gonta's door and cautious approached it.

She wasn't sure how long she stood just outside his door before she built up the courage to knock. There was a long period of silence and Kaede almost walked away but just as she turned the door opened.

There stood Gonta, his gigantic stature and gentle demeanor. The only difference Kaede noticed was his red puffy cheeks and bloodshot eyes. All nervousness instantly faded from her as Kaede frowned deeply; "Gonta? What's wrong? Are you okay?"

Instead of answering Gonta sniffled and his bottom lip quivered as he opened the door more, Kaede took the hint and walked inside. She shut the door behind her. As expected Gonta's room looked just like her's - everyone's must look the same. Gonta shuffled backwards but still stood before Kaede silently whimpering. 

"Why aren't you at breakfast with everyone?" Kaede asked, she wasn't sure what fate became of Gonta - well, she knew he was responsible for the death of their friend.

Gonta sobbed, embracing Kaede tightly as he spoke: "Gonta cannot bring himself to face Miu! Gonta couldn't protect her! Gonta failed her! Gonta failed you!" As he broke down with Kaede in his arms Kaede tried not to let the building claustrophobia or the lack of air she was getting in her lungs bother her as she choked out.

"You didn't fail me, Gonta!" She tried, patting him awkwardly. "It's okay! None of it was real!"

"Doesn't matter..." He weeped. "Gonta hurt Miu, Gonta couldn't save everyone. He tried to do as you asked - really. Gonta and Shuichi tried to save and protect everyone." He shook his head, finally releasing Kaede - not listening as she took a loud gasp for air. "In the end Gonta, is the reason friend died." 

Kaede had to compose herself, she didn't want Gonta to think he was the reason she was panicking now. But she couldn't catch it no matter how hard she tried - Kaede forced a sentence out despite herself. "You're... you shouldn't put.. all the blame on yourself, Gonta. I... I don't think Miu is upset..." 

Gonta turned towards Kaede and stared at her silently. "... Really think so?"

"Yes." She exhaled. "Keebo has been with her... all night... I'm sure he's... talked some sense.. into her... you know how smart.. Keebo is.." She tried, gasping sharply again. Her neck stiff and she wondered if she slept on it wrong. 

Gonta stood in silent consideration, still sniffling and wiping away his tears. "Maybe if... Gonta apologize to Miu then..."

"Yes I think she'll forgive you." Kaede blinked and noticed the room seemed to be getting smaller. She wished she could stay and help but - Kaede took Gonta's hand. "Why don't we get out of here? Go downstairs and... eat with everyone?" She practically begged and Kaede was overjoyed Gonta agreed.

The two left his room and once they did the more open space made Kaede feel instantly better. She tried not to think about the tight enclosure of the elevator as they made their way downstairs. 

When Kaede made her way downstairs in the dining hall with Gonta trailing behind her - she was surprised to see Maki, Shuichi, Himiko, Tenko and Angie all sitting together at a big table. Talking rather intently amongst each other while Himiko leaned against Angie. 

Miu and Keebo were at their own separate spot - Keebo kept looking over at the group far away from them but Miu continuously tried to get Keebo's attention with her own loud conversation. 

"Kaede!" Shuchi suddenly shouted, he rose from his seat and approached the two. A hush fell over the room as all eyes fell on the three now. Shuichi stopped and looked over at Gonta. 

"Gonta... it's good to see you." Shuichi spoke so earnestly, Kaede wondered how Gonta's trial truly played out. 

Gonta frowned. "It good to see Shuichi too... but is he really happy to see Gonta?"

Shuichi replied by pulling Gonta into a weak hug. "I am. I... I'm sorry... I thought by explaining what happened... it would.. everyone would-" Kaede was surprised as Shuichi started to cry. She awkwardly backed away and felt tense as Gonta instantly returned his gesture. Sobbing once again.

"Shuichi helped Gonta understand... he just... he just didn't mean to hurt everyone... did not mean to hurt.." Gonta looked up as there was a loud "bang!"

Just across the room, Miu had slammed her hands harshly against the table - knocking her chair back as she rose from the table. "I think I lost my appetite." She spat and began to walk away.

"Miu, wait!" Keebo stood to follow her but she surprisingly waved him off. 

"Go talk to your precious cult leader- you've been looking at her all morning." She growled before storming past the three. No one missing how she flinched away from Gonta as he turned towards her. 

Keebo stood at the table looking disappointed and depressed. 

Gonta matched his expression as he tried to follow Miu but was stopped as Shuichi took his hand. "Give her a minute, Gonta." Shuichi muttered. "It's going to be a long time before anyone forgives anybody." 

Kaede looked at Shuichi with silent consideration. Forgiveness will take time. It always does. And Miu is just stubborn, of course she'll come around to Gonta.

Won't she? 

Chapter Text

As Miu leaves and the double doors shut behind her there's a tense and quiet atmosphere in the room. Gonta looks worse off than when he entered and Kaede feels partially to blame.
She was the one who told Gonta if he just talked to Miu it would all work out. But she didn't take into consideration Miu's feelings at all. Keebo definitely told Miu the full story due to the way she reacted - the irrational part of Kaede wanted to be angry at Keebo for saying anything. Why couldn't he just keep it a secret? 

But it really wasn't Keebo's fault, he even seemed like he was trying to get Miu to reach out. Kaede bit her lip, contemplating her next words when-

"Gonta," Shuichi spoke up. "Why don't you and Kaede come eat with us?" Shuichi off gently, already offering his hand to whoever would take it first. Gonta seemed too upset to eat but took his hand anyway and followed Shuichi towards the breakfast buffet. Kaede lingered back before following awkwardly. As she trailed behind her eyes lingered on the two girls watching her with minimal interest. Though Tenko seemed very excited to see Kaede awake - Angie had a far away look in her eyes. 

When the two got their meals and joined the others at the big table - Angie rose immediately. Gonta and Kaede both felt a twinge of fear that Angie held some sort of invisible grunge before she walked over and grabbed Keebo by his hand. "Come sit with us!" She cooed, dragging him over. 

"Forgive me, I wasn't aware the invitation extended to me-" Kaede recalled Keebo not being able to eat and she guessed the same applied outside of the simulation as well. 

"That does not mean you are unwelcome to sit with us!" She forcefully sat him down next to her.  Keebo seemed rather timid at the idea to sit with Angie and now Kaede wondered if it was jealously that made Miu push Keebo away as well. Did something happen between Angie and Keebo that made Miu feel threatened by their relationship? 

"Kaede! It's really so good to see you again! If I didn't have Himiko's legs in my lap I'd totally get up and kiss you!" Tenko, who was way too enthusiastic for either a victim or a culprit chirped as Kaede sat down beside Gonta and Shuichi. 

Despite her enthusiasm not quite matching Kaede's current internal conflict she was feeling - she tried to mimic her joy. "I'm very happy to see you too, Tenko. How are you?"

"Way better now that everything turned out to be fake." The brief mention of the killing game made Tenko's eye twitch despite bringing it up herself. Keebo looked like he was going to say something before Angie cut off him off, 

"Yes, we are doing just fine! How have you been?"

"I only just got back yesterday." It almost sounded like she went on a trip. Like they all did. 

"Angie and Tenko came into my room last night... we all had one big sleepover." Himiko for once looked well-rested and truly at peace. Her head once again laying against Angie and according to Tenko - her legs laying in her lap like their own little rag doll.

"I had no idea the two of you got so close." Kaede tried her hand at small talk.

"Ah, that's all Angie's doing really." Tenko spoke humbly. "She came up with this student council idea - Keebo and Gonta were even apart of it." 

"It's true." Gonta supplied. "... Gonta wonders, are we still student council now?" 

"I am also curious about that status... especially considering one of the members turned out to be the mastermind." Based off of Angie and Tenko's expression they did not know that. 

"No... you don't mean-" Tenko asked but Shuichi just nodded, quickly. 

"Yes, Shirogane was..." 

Angie tilted her head in consideration. "Angie does not know if Hope's Peak has a student council..."

"You're still going to attend Hope's Peak?" Kaede questioned, recalling her conversation with Ryoma yesterday. Actually, speaking of Ryoma... Kaede looked around.
He wasn't in the dining hall. 

"Of course we are." Angie seemed confused. "Everyone is going to attend class, even Miu said so herself!" 

"But..." Kaede stopped herself, maybe Ryoma didn't want anyone to know? Shuichi gave her a suspicious yet knowing look. "... Anyway, a student council? With you three, Keebo, and Gonta? That's a weird group." Kaede tried to laugh.

"Yes, well, Angie convinced us all to join through her strong connection with Atua." Keebo explained. Angie remained oddly quiet at the mention of her god's name. 

Kaede smiled sadly. "There's just... so much I missed." She shrugged. "It just kind of feels like..." She trailed off and realized everyone was looking at her expectantly. "Agh! Sorry, I didn't mean to... nevermind that. Uh, what do you all plan on doing today?"

"Well since we're not allowed to leave, I was told they have a gym here!" Tenko supplied. "I was gonna probably spend most of my time in there til dinner. Anyone is welcome to join me! Especially you, Himiko!" Tenko grinned and Himiko just blinked as slowly as possible in response. 

Kaede looked between the two girls and briefly glanced at Shuichi. He didn't look back at her, looking only at Gonta as he silently filled him in. "Himiko, Maki and I all made it out together."

"What about Kokichi?" 

Kaede didn't think it was possible for the room to become more tense. 

"He's rotten, Gonta. You shoudn't associate yourself with him, even when he wakes up." Maki lectured. "If he's smart enough he'll drop out." 

Gonta and Kaede were shocked into silence. 

"Kokichi was always quite the trouble maker." Angie hummed. 

"Did he really only get worse once we were gone?" Tenko asked, her eye twitching again. 

"Yep." Himiko yawned. "Worst of the worst. Him and Tsumugi." Himiko shuffled in her seat and the two girls took this as a cue to stand up and let Himiko out of their booth they were in.  "I'm gonna take a nap." She looked towards Tenko. "Wake me when we go to the gym." And with that Himiko waddled off. 

When did she get so tired all the time?

Angie stood as well, her uniform drastically different from the game. She was missing her bright yellow cardigan and her uniform was dull and bland. "Angie is also going to retreat outside for a while. Just for some fresh air. They have a small garden here, would you like to join me, Gonta?"

"A garden?" Gonta stood up abruptly almost mimicking Miu's exit - "Gonta will join Angie!" He quickly rushed to her side and the two walked out in nearly peaceful silence. Once the two left it was just Shuichi, Tenko, Kaede, Maki, and Keebo. 

"So, Ryoma didn't decide to show up?" Maki asked. 

"No." Kaede confessed. "I think he wants to be alone for a while... but I still think I should visit him." 

"Ryoma's awake too? Yeesh, Kirumi's not up is she?" 

"No, it's just who you've seen so far... everyone else is still asleep..." Shuichi looked downcast.

"Still, everyone is expected to wake on their own within the week. After the wellness-check it will be a straight transfer to Hope's Peak." Keebo suddenly smiled sadly. "I hope I will be able to attend." 

"What do you mean?" Kaede asked.

"Well, there was no room prepared for me here... I am worried I was not expected to return, and Hope's Peak Academy does not have room for me."

"Of course they have room for you." Maki spoke softly. 

"If they don't have a room for you where did you sleep?" Shuichi inquired, reasonably so. 

Keebo's neck-piece covered his mouth and nose instantly as he blushed a deep rose color. "... I slept in Miu's room last night."

"Dirty pervert!" Tenko roared, standing up and leaning across the table, pointing her finger into his chest. 

"We - we didn't do anything!" Keebo pleaded. "I swear! I did not sleep in the same bed as her! I was on the floor!"

Seeing Keebo turn bright red and Tenko get so angry at him made Kaede laugh, even Shuichi did. It felt both so familiar and she felt so far away...

"Shuichi," Keebo suddenly spoke up. "If... if Miu is still upset with me tonight... may I..?"

"Yes Keebo, you can sleep in my room." Shuichi sighed fondly. 

"Thank you." He seemed revealed before standing up carefully, looking pointedly at Tenko. "Tenko, can I speak to you outside? With Angie and Gonta?" 

"Uh, sure." Tenko looked back at the group before shrugging and shuffling out of her chair. She followed behind Keebo cautiously. 

Now it was just the three. Well, it was.

"If everyone else is leaving, I am too. I finished eating a while ago." Maki stood up, pushing in her chair. "I'm going to use the workout space before Tenko throws her party in there." She finished, walking away.

Kaede poked idly at her breakfast and suddenly she didn't seem too hungry. She could just tell Shuichi was itching to leave as well. "You going to join her?" Kaede asked, pulling him out of his thoughts. 

"Ah, um..." Shuichi fidgeted nervously. "I just... I was thinking because... well... uh.."

Kaede waited patiently for Shuichi to gather his thoughts. 

"I - I know Maki said... we should give Ryoma some space... but uh.."

Kaede found herself lightening up at what Shuichi was getting at, "You want to go check on him anyway, huh?" 

"Ye - Yeah... I do." 

"Can I... come with you?"  This time Shuichi shy-ed away and Kaede wondered why. "What's wrong?" 

"I'm... I'm worried if you and I... go around together... it might... Ryoma might think we're trying to convince him.. to do your plan again."

Oh. "I... I understand." Kaede looked downcast.

"Really?" Shuichi brightened up now.

"Yeah. Do what you need to do, Shuichi. Just... just tell me how he's doing. Alright?"

"Yes, of course I will." And with that Shuichi rose to his feet and left Kaede all alone in the dining. hall with just her thoughts. Her very upsetting thoughts.  She could join everyone outside - she could use that fresh air right about now but.. no... it was clear Keebo had a plan to talk to everyone again. Most likely about whatever Kaede missed.
Despite Shuichi and Gonta explaining they failed to save everyone - for some reason it sure sounded like everyone did become best friends in the killing game.
Without her. 

. . . Angie and Gonta had walked around for a while. Gonta would stop every other second to point out an insect he spotted in the ground and patiently Angie would comply, kneel down, and find it just as fascinating as he did. 

"Gonta... really missed you Angie." 

He doesn't mean that. "Aww, Angie really missed you too!" 

"Gonta sorry he couldn't protect you." He was being honest.  Angie's sorry too.

"It's alright! We cannot change the past now. We are all lucky to be receiving a second chance!"  Normally Angie would be thanking Atua for such a divine privilege but...

"Angie, Gonta." Keebo suddenly spoke up - approaching the two of them with Tenko trailing beind him nervously. "I wanted to discuss something with you all."

"What is it, Keebo?" Angie titled her head curiously as she stood - Gonta rising beside her and towering over everyone. 

"I... um... well..." He now stuttered awkwardly, Tenko gave him a pointed and rather annoyed look. Most likely Keebo had dragged her away from a conversation with Kaede.  "I supoose I wanted closure."

"Closure?" Angie echoed.

"I am positive as you said earlier, there is already a student council at Hope's Peak Academy. However, I do not want the friendship we all had to be discarded. Though we were all following the will of Atua I truly felt apart of something for the first time and... I do not want to lose it." 

Despite his selfish reasoning Angie understood what Keebo was trying to say. Being apart of this group with everyone and following Angie's religion to it's core made Keebo feel something he rarely ever gets to feel.
Human. 

"Aw, Keebo." Tenko scratched the back of her neck, briefly locking eyes with Angie. "Of course we're all still going to be friends and hang out... we just might not..."

"We all might not be such dedicated followers of Atua, but we can still form our own group! All of us and Himiko!" 

Gonta looked between them all bewildered, slowly catching on. "We form club? What about an insect club?" 

"Not an Atua club?" Keebo inquired and Angie shook her head. 

"We can be whatever club we want to be. An insect club, a magic club, or even a Neo Aikido club!" She cheered and the teenagers surrounding her mimicked her cheerful attitude.
Angie has not heard the voice of Atua since she woke up - and she hasn't ever. For as long as she has been an artist as far as she remembers she has never let Atua "possess" her. It was interesting to think the simulation took such drastic measures to either change their personality or alter their memories. Angie pondered silently if in an attempt to make them forget how they became apart of a killing game it scrambled her brain to confuse her faith for her talent. 

Yes Angie believes in Atua, and she loves her god. But thinking back to who she used to be in the simulation felt all too wrong to her.  And part of Angie was curious if the others could relate. And she wanted to ask. She wanted to ask Tenko if Neo Aikido even existed - if it was something she made up long ago or if she was just as embarrassed for her behavior. 

"We can come up with a club name later," Tenko waved her hand. "But Keebo, if it makes you feel better. Then yes, we all intend to remain a club and remain good friends with each other."

"Yes, that does make me feel better." Keebo smiled. 

"Come with us! Gonta can show everyone the bugs in the garden!" Gonta, in attempt to keep this group together, carefully took Angie by the hand who took Tenko's who took Keebo's and pulled them along to the next spot.

. . .   Shuichi returned to his room first. He spent hours after breakfast pacing back and forth in his room debating on what he was going to say to Ryoma. While he was no Kaede who could cheer anyone up just by being herself - and he wasn't Kaito - Shuichi's pace slowed. He still wanted to be there for everyone. Like he promised Kaede. 

Sometime after lunch was served - Shuichi skipped that meal - he decided to work up the nerve to knock on Ryoma's door. 
There was that anxious paranoid part of him that dreaded no response. What if he opened the door and Ryoma was dead? Murdered? What if he shouted for the others to come and the body discovery announcement played?

Before Shuichi could stand there and panic anymore, the door finally opened. Ryoma was still in his uniform from the day he woke up and just by looking at him and the state of his room behind him - he clearly hadn't changed since waking up. 

"Ryoma," Shuichi greeted with a strangled voice.

"Shuichi." He replied.

And the two stared at each other silently. 

"How... how are you doing?" Shuichi twisted the cuffs of his sleeve nervously as Ryoma quirked a brow.

"How am I doing?"

"Ah.. um... I- I'm really sorry... that was a stupid question." 

"It's fine." Ryoma lied. "I'm fine." He didn't ask Shuichi how he was. "You need something?"

"Just uh... you didn't... or rather you ha - haven't been down to eat with us... so... just concerned."

"Right." Ryoma leaned out of the door frame a bit looking around. "Kaede put you up to this?"

"No, I wanted to check in on you myself... is.. is that ok?"

"Sure. I'm fine." 

"Right.."  More silence. "... Would you like to join us for dinner?"

"Not really. I'm sure Kaede has told you I plan on dropping out of Hope's Peak, right?"

"Ryoma, please don't quit because you think no one cares about you."

"That's exactly why - I have nothing to live for."

"We all care about you." Shuichi insisted and Ryoma shook his head.

"No, you don't." 

What the fuck- "Yes, I do. Even for the week we've been friends, when Kaito wasn't harassing you. I thought we could become really good friends and I don't want you to throw your life away because of this."

Ryoma huffed, searching his pocket for a candy cigar. "It's easier for you to stay, you survived." 

"Well Kaede didn't, and she's doing her best to keep everyone friends." 

"That's not gonna work. I think you know that better than I do."

"You may be right... but I'm willing to try." Shuichi spoke determinedly. 

"Not a smart idea, kid." Ryoma huffed and shut the door calmly. Leaving Shuichi alone.

"We're the same age." 

. . . "Hey." Maki was suddenly beside Kaede and she shot up with surprise.

"Maki!" She held her chest. "You scared me." 

"Sorry." Maki said and stood beside her, following her gaze. "Still waiting for Rantaro to get up?" 

"Yeah... I just... I know I didn't... I know I didn't kill Rantaro, but I still feel guilty for the state he's in."

"You weren't the one who trapped him in these killing games, he's only like this because of whatever kept putting him in these simulations. If anything, it's his own fault."

"That's a horrible way to think of that!" Kaede turned towards Maki, raising her voice.

"Is it?" Maki defended, still speaking quietly as she always does. "In the simulation we all entered Rantaro's lab. He left a video for himself because he expected to get farther than he did. He said he chose this killing game - that he wanted it. That might be true for out here too. Maybe he volunteered to keep coming back." 

Kaede's mouth dropped in surprise as she turned back towards the pod that encased Rantaro. "No... no that doesn't make any sense! That doesn't sound like him at all!"

"Kaede, you didn't fucking know him." Maki snapped. "None of us did. For about two days at most we knew of him but he never talked to any of us." She shrugged. "As far as we're all concerned it makes perfect sense he chose this life. When he wakes up he might go back in." 

"You're making Rantaro sound like a sick pervert- you're starting to sound like Miu."

"Don't compare me to her." Maki threatened, her expression darkening. 

"Now you have something against Miu?" 

Maki shook her head. "I don't have anything against Miu. We just don't know anything about Rantaro. You're still trying to force everyone to be friends but it won't work. You have to accept that. Keebo won't forgive Shirogane, Ryoma won't forgive Kirumi, and no one is going to forgive Ouma. That's just how it is." 

"You're wrong! We all were working so well together before Rantaro died - we all wanted to escape together and be friends!"

"Are you going to forgive Shirogane? She's the one who killed Rantaro - and you by default." 

Kaede bit her lip and Maki stood tall in front of her. "That's what I thought. You should go Kaede, the last thing anyone wants to hear when they want up is your petty plan to be best friends again."

And with that - Kaede stormed out of the room with hot tears brimming out of her eyes. She muttered something pathetic Maki didn't quite catch and the dim light of the room outside filled the room and disappeared just as fast.

Now Maki was all alone in the pod-room.  She made her way towards Kaito's pod. He was sleeping so soundly and Maki wondered if he would wake up with the phantom illness he died with - or if he truly had such an illness at all. She wasn't sure what they changed in the simulation compared to real life - Maki had always been an assassin and Keebo had always been a robot. That was something they could never trick their brains into believing. 

As she stared down at Kaito, Maki whispered pathetically, "Wake up you idiot. I need you." 

Just as she said there she heard the faint hissing of a pod behind her sliding open.

Chapter Text

   Maki spun around and was shocked to see Korekiyo Shinguji, Ultimate Anthropologist. 

Out of his old uniform with his bandages falling off of his arms as he scratched furiously at them, old red lines across his pale skin reopened, he screamed in a raspy voice: "Get off Miyadera! Stop!" He pleaded. 

Maki stared in horror - all the lab assistance should've been on a 24/7 watch yet no one dare come to his aid. Maki didn't even want to look at him. Shinguji was a bit of a pyscho - a history of murdering 98 girls and Maki had every reason to believe he may have held this reputation in real life. Maki took the dagger from her stockings and threatening pointed it at Shinguji as she approached. 

"I'm melting!" He roared, before noticing Maki. Looking up at her, snapping him out of his delusions. "... What are you doing here?" He inquired.

"You're not melting, dumbass. And you're not dead either. Everything was a simulation that we got stuck in." 

Korekiyo stood up shakily, not bothering to step outside of the pod he was previously asleep in. "So it was all fake?" His voice trembled and Maki found herself gripping tighter onto the dagger she was holding. 

"I said that already."

Korekiyo exhaled sharply, stumbling out of the pod and grabbing Maki's shoulders for support - she instantly and aggressively shrugged him off, causing Korekiyo to stumble to his feet. He looked back at her with concentration. 

"You do not get to touch me."

"Message received."  Korekiyo paused and put a hesitant hand up to his face, his fingers delicately landed on his mask before he ripped it off. Maki reeled expecting to see lipstick and hear that ghost's voice again but was surprised to see no such marks or makeup. In fact, Korekiyo looked normal and even handsome under his mask.  Korekiyo matched her gaze. "What?"

"Aren't you... don't you.." She glanced to his mask and back at his face. "Don't you usually wear lipstick?"

Korekiyo visibly curled in on himself. "No." He spat. "I was never ever anything like what she wanted me to be. No matter how hard I tried nor how much she claimed to have loved me nothing stuck." He explained rapidly words pouring out of his mouth before he caught himself and straightened up, but Maki noticed the tears brimming at his eyes. "I understand your confusion with the events of... I suppose the simulation, now... but you need forget it."

"What?" Maki snapped. Forget it? How could she forget such a train-wreck such di-

"-disgusting and vial persona isn't real. It never was. I am a mere anthropologist with a narcissistic former older sister I no longer want to think of! And nothing more! If it satisfies you, forget we ever talked at all." 

Korekiyo looked around before spotting the exit and running out. 

Maki let her arms fall with her dagger hanging loosely in one hand. She looked up at the surrounding windows and saw no lab assistance on duty but not long after Korekiyo ran away she heard a faint alarm in the distance. Apart of Maki wanted to feel bad for the unpleasant welcome and reality he was about to get from security but the other part of her bit back that he deserved it. 

Maki started to make her leave before another scientist bumped into her on the way in. "Sorry-" Maki apologized as she stumbled back. 

"We apologize," She replied. "For not staying at our attended stations. We are dearly sorry you had to deal with Shinguji on your own." 

Maki didn't respond, she didn't care to. She tried to walk past but felt herself stop at the sound of another pod opening. Both her and the scientist froze and looked to the source of the noise as the figure immediately sat up and cradled his head. 

When Rantaro Amami made eye contact with Maki Harukawa a blood vessel burst in his eye turning it a bright pink, at the same time blood began gushing out of his nostril. 

Before Maki could mentally process Rantaro being awake he was swarmed instantly by more assistance.
Maki found herself mimicking Korekiyo's previous action and sprinting out of the room. 

. . . The distant alarm coming from downstairs caused Kaede to shoot up from her slumber and she hastily throws off the blanket she was covered in and stumbles into her slippers as she races out of her bedroom. 

She takes the stairs down to the floor of the pod-room and is both surprised and distressed at the double doors leading into the room to be closed. There's no lab assistance outside the door - as Kaede walks up and pulls them open she feels weak at the sight. 

Rantaro is practically wrestling against the lab assistance who shout in protest that they are trying to help him. He has gauze stuffed into his nose and a messy job at bandages wrapped around his head covering his left eye. Two males restrain his arms but he leans back against them and kicks the oncoming helpers away as he shouts names Kaede does not recognize - but then he looks over as the door opens. Everyone does. And she sees his shoulders visibly slack as he breathes out: "Kaede?" 

"Rantaro.." Kaede looked at all the lab assistance and began to shoo them off, "Get off of him! He's fine, can't you see? Let me talk to him!" 

"Akamatsu, what are you doing here?" Scientist number 2 asked her. 

"I heard the alarm from my room and I wanted to make sure everyone was ok."

"That alarm was not for Amami." Scientist number.. five supplied which only filled Kaede with more dread.

"Who was it for?"

"Classified." The lab assistant before her snapped and sighed. "Listen Akamatsu, we need to finalize medical checks up on Amami before he can return to his room for the night. Meaning he needs to be on a twenty four hour watch, to prevent him from falling back into a coma."

Kaede chose not to vocalize how little sense that made. So Rantaro did that for her, ripping his arms off of the lab assistance and tripping out of the pod they refused to let him out of he got himself a little into the center of the room before he spoke up: "That sounds like bullshit to me." 

"The further you resist the more security you will be under." Someone stated blandly, Kaede was too damn tired to keep labelling them. 

Rantaro tossed the gauze from his nose onto the floor. Much like everyone else his uniform was also much too formal compared to his relaxed outfit in the simulation. 

"Have you even told him everything was fake?" Kaede asked. 

"I've gathered." Rantaro answered, crossing him arms and not looking at Kaede. "I just want to go home, check on my sisters. They're the only thing I know are still real." He tried. 

Before Kaede could ask what he meant by that - the lady who tried to get Kaede to leave turned and addressed Rantaro.
"Before any of you can leave it is very important for your health to be under this watch. You're very lucky to be alive, Amami. If you refuse to be treated tonight you might not live tomorrow to see your sisters."

"You threatenin' me?" Rantaro asked, his eyes darkening with such a disturbing gaze Kaede did not remember. 

"No." She deadpanned. "You've been in and out of simulations for over the course of a few months. It's going to take your brain a while to understand when you sleep at night you're not falling into another medicated blackout." 

With this response making much more sense Rantaro just scoffed and turned away.

"This is not the time for you to be acting like a teenager. Please just peacefully accompany us to the medical room." She reasoned and Rantaro remained silently stubborn.

This time Kaede spoke up, "What if... he can get a phone call? You know? Call his sisters?" 

Rantaro looked over to Kaede and slowly nodded. "Yeah... I'll do whatever you want if you let me call my sisters. Tonight."  

The lab assistance looked between themselves before the woman before her, Kaede deemed the one in charge, sighed heavily and agreed. "Fine. Take him to the medical room and give him your phone." She waved her hand and the scientists escorted Rantaro out - but he ripped his arms away whenever they tried to touch him. 

As Rantaro walked out of the room he spared a passing glance to Kaede and it was... kind. The doors shut behind him and Kaede was strongly confident in her original belief in Rantaro. Take that, Maki!

"My sincerest apologies, Akamatsu. We did not mean to disturb you or the other students."

Kaede laughed politely. "Well it seems like I was the only one who came out to investigate... what was the alarm for earlier?"

"It is meant for us - if a student were to awaken without a proper debriefing and well... let's just leave it as a recent student panicked a little when he woke up." 

"Oh.. uh... who was it?" 

"Classified information. But I assure you, they have been escorted to their room and are doing fairly well now... You better return to your dorm. We are expecting two more students to wake up shortly now."  With that, the woman in charge turned away from Kaede and began to approach one of the charts hanging off of the pods.

"Wait!" Kaede called, following her close behind. Not needing to rush. "I want to be there, I think it's important for my friends to see-" 

"It would be better for you Akamatsu to get some rest, I'm sure you'll see them in the morning." She tried, turning around and now shooing Kaede out of the room. "It is very late and I am sure you are very tired. Trust your friends are in good hands." 

Kaede was successfully shoved out of the room and the doors slammed behind her.

"Huh." 

What the fuck. 

. . .  Miu woke up to a knock at her door a little bit before the breakfast alarm.
She knew who it was before she even opened the door.

"Hey." She answered as Keebo stood nervously fidgeting in front of her door. 

"Hello Miu, I was... I was wondering... if you wanted to have breakfast..? Alone? Instead of with Gokuhara.. or everyone... be - because I can tell you need the space."

Miu considered this. While anyone else would normally appreciate the alone time she never verbally asked for and Keebo not opting to sleep in her room last night.

She did not appreciate it. 

"You got some nerve to leave me hanging last night and now come barging in like I'll eat with you!" She snapped and Keebo notably flinched, shrinking into his neck brace.  Keebo was more than welcome to have friends other than Miu but to say it didn't bother her when Keebo didn't chase her back to her room and try to get her back out to talk to everyone was just-

"I'm... sorry?"

"You should be." Miu bared her teeth and watched Keebo's eyes look downcast. The two were silent before Keebo spoke up again:

"So... I take it you do not want to eat in here... quietly..."

"For fuck sake - fine! If you're gonna twist my arm. I'll eat breakfast with you Keebo." Miu stepped out of her room, not bothering to change out of her pajamas as she grabbed Keebo by the arm. "You're gonna come with to grab my food though."

"Of course!" Keebo suddenly seemed ecstatic, blushing at Miu's touch.
Miu rolled her eyes. 

. . . "Something wrong, Kaede?" Tenko asked as she invited Kaede to walk to breakfast with them. Usually Shuichi seemed like he'd do so but for some reason he was taking extra care with Gonta today. "Survivor's guilt" Angie supplied her with but Tenko didn't think so, personally. 

"Ah, not really... well... it's just last night when the alarm went off? I thought it was for Rantaro.. because he uh.. he woke up last night."

"Really?" Himiko was surprised.

"Wonderful news!" Angie clapped her hands together.

"It is! I really hope he's going to be joining us for breakfast this morning... all the lab assistance really wanted to keep him far away from everyone but... anyway the alarm wasn't for him, but they wouldn't tell me who it was for..."

As the four girls got closer to the cafeteria Maki stood pacing in front of the doors with Shuichi and Gonta kind of awkwardly watching her.
Once Maki caught sight of them she stopped and approached Himiko first. "Good, it's you guys. Don't go in there."

"Why not?" Kaede demanded. 

"A lot of people woke up last night, or so I heard. Miu and Keebo are already insidie... Rantaro's in there-" Kaede's eyes lit up. "But so is Shinguji."

Kaede watched as simultaneously Angie, Tenko, and Himiko's faces all dropped in horror, terror, and disgust.  "... What did Kiyo do?"

Himiko scoffed and crossed her arms, while Tenko mimicked her actions but took it so far as to spit off to the side. Gross. Angie was the only one willing to explain, "Apparently he killed me and Tenko within the span of a few hours in the game."

"All in the name of his sister or whatever." Himiko shuddered.

"Yeah well," Maki started but stopped. Shaking her head. "Nevermind." She wouldn't defend Shinguji. "I didn't want you guys going in there with him.. he doesn't seem like he's going to take his food elsewhere so..." 

"Well that's fi-" Kaede started but was surprised when Himiko cut her off, shouting angrily with tears bursting from her eyes:

"It's not fine!" She sobbed. "Don't say it's okay because it's not okay! He really hurt Angie and Tenko and I'll never forgive him! Never!"

"I'll never forgive him either! Not after how much pain he put Himiko through in the trials!" 

"Thank you, Maki." Angie lowered her voice. "We will find something to eat elsewhere. You all are more than welcome to join us." Angie took Tenko's hand who took Himiko's hand and the three girls walk off.
Kaede did not follow them.

As she turned around to face the cafeteria doors she found herself face to face with Maki.

"Are you really gonna go in there? Are you going to talk to him? Forgive him? You know he's supposedly killed 98 girls before." Maki spoke lowly and her eyes seemed to glow red. Kaede bit her lip. Unsure of what to say, she wasn't given the full story either and had just found out Korekiyo had killed Himiko's closest friends - obviously affecting her deeply. But she couldn't just not give Kiyo a chance, he may have been very creepy but-
"He is not our friend."

"Maki," Shuichi started and both girls turned their attention to him. "What were you going to say earlier...? When Himiko brought up why Shinguji killed them... you sounded like you were going to defend him-"

"I would never do that." Maki insisted, her hair flying behind her as she stepped towards Shuichi. "I found him last night, he woke up just as I was about to leave." Maki turned to Kaede. "Just after you left."
Kaede's eyes widened.

"The alarm I heard... you did something to Kiyo didn't you?!"

"I did nothing. He tried to run away on his own, like an idiot. Anyway before that he took his mask off and told me he was "nothing like what she wanted me to be". I'm not sure who he was talking about, but.." She eyed Shuichi and he understood right away.

"His sister... it could be possible he really was being possessed, and he didn't love his sister at all."  Shuichi theorized leaving Kaede to look back and forth between the two but Maki shook her head. 

"Doubt it. Look, I'm going to get food and go back to my room. You do whatever you want, just don't try to get me involved." Just as Maki said that, a loud roaring voice boomed above them.

"Hey now, I can't have my side-kicks fighting one another!" Kaito Momota approached from behind, wearing purple slippers, in his white plain pajamas. 
Kaede turned around and grinned widely. She had always like Kaito, he was just as cheerful and optimistic about escaping as she was. But Kaede was surprised and stumbled back as Maki and Shuichi practically shoved her aside.

Both rushing towards Kaito and embracing each other in one tight group hug. Kaede never saw Maki cry before - but both her and Shuichi were sobbing into Kaito's chest as the three held each other.
And Kaede thought Himiko, Tenko, and Angie were close. 

Kaito laughed as they pulled away, immediately Maki punched Kaito in the chest before muttering a quick apology as he stumbled back. 

"Kaito," Shuichi breathed. "It's really good to see you."

"I bet." He joked and Maki scoffed. 

"You idiot, I can't believe it took you this long to come back to us." 

"Uhh, my bad, I guess?" He shrugged. "Anyway, what're we all standin' around for? I got us this early so I could eat!"

"Well," Shuichi started before Maki cut him off.

"Shinguji is in there."

Kaito stared at her blankly before understanding a few seconds later. "Oh I get it! You need someone to set that weirdo straight, just leave it to me." Kaito said proudly already walking towards the doors, but paused and formally greeted Kaede with a hug of his own.

"It's really good to see you, Kaede." He muttered, pulling away just as Kaede hesitated to hug him back. "Are you doin' alright?" He asked with genuine concern in his voice Kaede might cry.

"Ye - yeah.. yeah I'm alright..."  Before she could finally have a normal conversation Kaito ditched her and ran towards Gonta, practically embracing him and was surprised to see Gonta return the crushing gesture. 

"I'm so sorry Gonta." she heard Kaito whisper as Gonta's eyes grew glossy with tears threatening to spill.

"No, Gonta the one who sorry... thank you for trying to protect Gonta." 

"Of course, buddy." Kaito pulled away and gave Gonta a strong pat on his back. "Anytime... now if you excuse me I gotta go talk to this guy bugging my sidekicks-"

"Kaito, that is really unecessary-" Shuichi started, holding out his hand to try and stop him.

"Sidekick!?" Kaede asked, a little too loud. 

"Seriously, don't-" Maki threatened at the same time. 

But Kaito had already thrown open the doors. "Shinguji!" He roared catching the attention of the four inside. 

"Kaito," Maki hissed. As the group now (Kaede, Gonta, Maki, and Shuichi) all followed Kaito into the cafeteria. Off to the side grabbing an assorted amount of food was Keebo and Miu, both turning in surprise and annoyance. 

Across the dining hall was Kiyo and Rantaro. Rantaro wasn't involved in conversation with Kiyo, holding onto a phone he must've been granted from the lab assistance but it seemed Kiyo was trying to talk Rantaro's ear off.
Kiyo turned his attention to Kaito and carefully eyed everyone behind him. "... Yes?"

"Heard you woke up and you're bothering a few of our classmates."

"... By being alive." Kiyo deduced, he was beginning to be bothered. Without his mask on it was a lot easier to tell.
From next to her, Kaede saw Shuichi kind of bop his head in a "well technically" kind of way but made no move to speak up. 

"Should we stop this?" Keebo whispered.

"Why the fuck should I care? He was a creep anyway." Miu muttered. 

"What about what he said earlier?" Keebo reminded. "When Shinguji first entered the room, when he apologized for his behavior. He does not seem too "creepy" now."

"Could be a gag." Miu shrugged. "Why're you defendin' him?"

"I am not!" Keebo insisted, still trying to keep his voice down. "I am just... It is.. nevermind. It is unimportant." 

"Well- Uh-" Kaito stumbled through his words and Rantaro looked up lazily at the scene. 

"What's this about?" He asked. 

"In the simulation." Kiyo said like he was reminding him. "I suppose you weren't listening. My mind and memory was corrupted during the simulation so I acted out in a most disturbing and foul way that I am now paying for dearly."

"You were in love with yo-" 

"Don't!" Korekiyo spun wildly, turning to Kaito cutting him off. "I am well aware of my memories in the simulation, I do not wish to relive them nor talk about them unless you wish for me to keep defending myself."  Korekiyo eyed Maki, who was standing off to the side. “I am doing my part to apologize for my behavior and attempt to better myself. However I will not eat alone, transfer schools, or give up because it makes some of you uncomfortable to see me.” Korekiyo spoke proudly yet his insecurity was shining through his eyes. “If you cannot accept my apology then so be it.”

He turned back towards Rantaro and seemingly picked up where he left off without any hesitancy.

Leaving Kaito standing in the doorway like a fool.

Miu watched the scene before her and turned to Keebo, “Let’s get the fuck outta here.” 

“You do not wish to greet Rantaro?”

”I “wish” to eat my fuckin’ food. Now come on!” Miu shouted and Keebo followed behind her swiftly as the two walked past the crowd by the doors.

”We-well… uh…” Kaito looked back at everyone. “Th-there you have it! Seems… fine to me.”

Maki squinted her eyes and scoffed. “Whatever, I’m going to my room.”

”Ah- wait— Maki!” Shuichi shouted after her but didn’t budge. Kaito was the only one who chased after her. Well, Kaito and Gonta.

Shuichi and Kaede looked at each other.

”So… Kiyo did some bad stuff, huh?”

”All of the culprits did… but it seems like this wasn’t really his fault this time.” Shuichi pondered aloud, looking back at the only two boys left in the cafeteria. Again it seemed like Rantaro was too preoccupied by the device in front of him for Kiyo’s words.

”What’re you up to?” Kaede asked innocently, aiming her question at Shuichi who wasn’t looking at her.

“I wanna talk to him.” Shuichi said, looking at Shinguji. 

“And… is that really a good idea?”

”Well we do all wanna be friends again don’t we? I’m… trying to learn how to save everyone… even if I can’t forgive.”

Kaede stared long and hard at Shuichi.

Who can’t you forgive? She wanted to ask. 
But he already walked away. 

Chapter Text

Kaede didn't feel like eating breakfast alone so she didn't eat at all.  A few seconds after leaving the dinning hall however, she heard distant footsteps behind her catching up to her. Out of pure paranoia Kaede tensed up and spun around coming face to face with Rantaro. "Oh! It's just you." She sighed in relief.

"Yeah, just me." Rantaro shrugged. "Not hungry?"

"Not really." Kaede mimicked his shrugging, turning around and continuing her walk. "Well - I was but... it's kind of lonely eating breakfast all by yourself isn't it? I mean Shuichi wants to talk to Kiyo, Maki and Kaito aren't really friendly with me, Miu and Keebo are an isolated group and Angie, Himiko, and Tenko don't wanna be anywhere near Kiyo." 

As Kaede rambled, Rantaro nodded pocketing the phone he had. "Yeah, I'm really grateful for Shuichi taking Shinguji away from me. Not that I have anything against him, I was just trying to get in contact with my sisters."

"Didn't.. didn't you call them last night?"

"I was able to get my mom and ten of my sisters on the phone but the rest of them are..." Rantaro looked off. "Pretty sure my original talent was something the simulation bullshit their way through." He knew that wasn't true. He had a real Ultimate Talent just like everyone else, but when he agreed to be in these games - everything was becoming a blur.
When Kaede didn't respond, Rantaro looked over at her.

"... Your original talent?" 

"Oh. Yeah, I have no idea who or what it was before I became the Ultimate Survivor but everything I remember about my family and my twelve sisters was the same throughout." Rantaro explained rather casually, Kaede noticed his eyes seemed entirely out of focus. "The Survivor thing- that stuck until you - or rather Shirogane killed me."

"H- how do you know it was Tsumugi?! I - I thought-"

"Well I was still alive when your shot-put missed me, y'know? And then I heard the door behind the bookcase opened and I turned around just in time to see her face before she... well. You know how it went." Rantaro cleared his throat. "Anyway, I'm trying to reach the rest of my sisters but I think I'll have to leave the country for a while in order to do that." 

"Oh.. they're.. not home?"

"Something like that." Rantaro followed Kaede into the elevator. "What's your plans for the rest of the day?"

"I... I dunno. Sit around I guess? I.. there's only Kirumi, Kokichi, and Tsumugi left to be woken up but.. I don't think anyone would be happy if I waited for them to wake up."

"Who cares what they say about that?"

"Haven't you heard what everyone did yet?"

"No, not really. I know Shirogane was the mastermind.. 'cause context clues but not really sure what else is going on." The elevator door opened and Rantaro stepped out. "I'll be talking to my family though. But.. if you wanna wait for everyone no one's gonna stop you."

Kaede remained in the elevator, deep in thought.

"Oh by the way." Rantaro added before the door shut on him. "Kirumi's already awake. So it's just two left."

"What?" The doors shut. 

. . . "Hey Shinguji."  Shuichi sat down beside him and watched Korekiyo eye him suspiciously before muttering a greeting in reply.  "Uh... how are you?"

"Well, after a one-sided conversation with Rantaro and being publicly shamed by both Momota and Harukawa, I am doing just fine." 

"Ah, Yo- you are a lot more sarcastic than I remember..." 

"I personally blame the simulation for mind altercation."  Korekiyo answered. "I'm sure I wasn't the only one who received such a drastic memory or personality change." 

"I.. I suppose it wouldn't be s- so impossible for... a simulation to manipulate someone's mind."

"So you believe me?" 

Shuichi looked up at Korekiyo who glanced down at him briefly, his mouth now exposed and it was pressed into a thin line. 

"Be- believe you?"

"That I am not who I was in the games, nor in the class trial. That the person you are speaking to right now, who loathes Miyadera with the fury of a thousand suns, is the real Korekiyo Shinguji." 

"I..." Shuichi eyed him. Truly considering. "I... I really want to believe it. I believe we were all pu-put into a very intense and manipulative situation that was meant to bring out the worst in us... an-and it just so happened to ruin all of our relationships... bu-but I am choosing to believe you wouldn't actually murder anyone. In real life."

Korekiyo blinked. "You don't believe any of the culprits from the simulation would commit such a heinous crime such as manslaughter?"

"Not intentionally, like we were all lead to believe... an-and I think... I believe Kaede is doing the right thing... trying to bring everyone together.. again." 

"Let me ask you, Shuichi. Do you believe in the power of companionship so much that you think any of those three girls would forgive me."

"I believe..." Shuichi started, "But-"

Korekiyo stood up. "That was all I needed to hear." He gathered his meal and Shuichi noticed it was empty, must've been eating while engaging in a conversation with Rantaro. "Because I know you are curious as well, I do not plan to drop out like Ryoma decided to. I am going to live my life the way I intend, as my own personal vendetta against the ghost of my elder sister and the virus known as Monokuma that corrupted this simulation... whatever it's original intentions were." 

As Korekiyo left. his last statement made Shuichi think.

The simulation's original intentions? 

[Insert drastic timeskip, we went from late morning to nighttime now]

. . .  “Miu?” Keebo suddenly spoke up. “I was… I was talking to the former Student Council the other day and…”

Miu stared intently at the device before her. She was quite literally in her bra and panties. Keebo at this point had gotten used to her antics.

“And… well the conversation turned rather emotional. Gonta began to cry… and then Tenko and Himiko talked about womanhood and then the killing game again again.. and then also began to sob… when I asked Angie why everyone had become so emotional, she explained it to she explained to me that this is simply—“

“What friends do!” Angie chirped, her face very dry compared to the others. “Truly close friends will share their deepest emotions with one another! Tenko and Himiko trust you,” Angie leaned in and whispered. “They consider you to be their friend so both are not ashamed to cry in front of you, isn’t that wonderful?”

“— which brings me to what I want to ask you.”

“… Okay.” Miu briefly looked up from the voice box she was tinkering with. It was going to be a surprise function since she so vividly recalled something about Keebo wanting to sing.

“We’re friends, correct?”

Miu nodded.

“I was… I was wondering if you wanted to engaged in a … personal conversation? It is fine is not! Tenko encouraged me to ask for your consent.”

“So you told your student council you were gonna try gettin’ emotional with me?”

“No! I just.. I just told them I was going back to your room.. and.. Tenko began to lecture me on the importance of consent and—“

“I get it. Cute. Ok, sure, what do you wanna talk about?” She didn’t put her newest invention away.

“Ri- right, okay…”  Keebo started but stumbled and faltered. “I am… unsure how to begin.” He seemed flustered now.
Miu started silently glossy over Keebo’s features before sighing somewhat heavily,

“Here.” She put the voice box aside on the side table and scooted over in her bed. Patting the spot next to her. “Sit down, do you want me to ask you something? Would that get you started?”

Keebo watched Miu’s hand move and allowed himself to sit down on the very edge of the bed. Miu eyed him silently.
“Ye- yes.. I believe asking the right questions will provide a good conversational topic.”

“Sick, okay.” Miu considered this. She readjusted herself and asked, “The other day, why were you trying to defend Shinguji?”

“I- I wasn’t trying to defend him! I was just…” Keebo looked away and fell quiet again.
Miu glared, feeling mostly responsible for the way Keebo would shut down on his emotions. Like she was the one who made him second guess himself or feel insecure. 

“Go on… you.. what?”

“I just… when I saw everyone hiding behind Momota while he was trying to talk down on Shinguji though he was just currently minding his business.. I suppose I… I felt like an outsider. I usually do but it was different, it reminded me of how everyone else would stand by and perceive Ouma torment me for simply existing as I am…” As Keebo elaborated his voice didn’t shake nor did his eyes gloss over like everyone else but it was still obvious this topic upset him. 

Miu felt fully to blame now. She used to torment Keebo - maybe not as bad as Ouma used to - but she still stood by and watched most of it happen. 

“And…” Keebo paused.”

“And?” Miu persisted, as gently as she could. 

“And… it causes me to worry.. when everyone else wakes up and we are all reunited together again at Hope’s Peak Academy. Will I still be viewed differently from everyone? Will Ouma still ask me inappropriate questions? Will I receive weird looks from my peers? Will I ever be enough to earn the respect and friendship of our friends? Will I… ever matter?”

“Hey, come here.” Miu grabbed Keebo by his shoulder and pulled him into an embrace.
Of course Keebo tried to resist and stammer at first - his face turning hot but allowed Miu to remain in her position. Keebo’s metal skin was cold and pitched against her in uncomfortable ways but she remained all the same. “I’m just giving you a hug.”
Keebo didn’t respond and the two remain like this silently before Miu spoke up again. “… Some people typically hug back.”

“Oh, of course…” Keebo shyly wrapped his arms around Miu, returning the gesture. 
They stand in each other’s arms a few seconds longer before Miu spoke up again.

“You’re always going to be so fucking important.”
Miu tried to hug him tighter and wonder if Keebo could feel it. 

“You’re always going to matter and be so fucking special and… it doesn’t matter what Ouma says, or even Kaede, or… fuck even what I say.” Miu herself started to shake and she wondered why. “You’re so fucking special to m… to everyone.” Now she understood. “Okay? You’re so fucking important.” She always wanted someone to say this to her.

During her speech Keebo was trembling just below her own skin and in a shaky voice he responded, “Okay…”
The two sat in silence again, still holding each other.

.. Eventually Miu let go. Red marks were left on her skin from where her circulation was briefly cut off and Miu tried not to let her new idea show on her face but-
She should get Keebo some clothes, just large enough to go over his armor but tight enough to not look like a child. Miu wiped her tears away. 

Keebo looked down at his hands as Miu pulled away and she watched him, trying to tell if he was feeling better before she asked her next self indulgent question. 

“Did you…” she began, but..

“Did I what?”

“Did you… in the simulation… did you.. were you sad? Did you cry? When I.. when I died, I know you don’t have the ability to yet but…” Miu looked at him pathetically. “Did you want to?”

“Of course I wanted to cry!” Keebo responded nearly immediately. “I wished… it made me feel horrible for being a robot.. I… I could never understand Gonta’s struggle and failure for not being able to protect everyone, but for the first time I truly felt it.” Keebo looked downcast. “I felt responsible even if I had no idea what was going on. Though that’s why I felt guilty for not knowing… I know logically it wasn’t my fault but I still felt to the blame i…” Keebo briefly glanced up at Miu. “I had lost my closest and dearest friend throughout the events of the situation… you treated me with the most kindness and interest.” 

Miu had dried her face now and stared quietly and longingly at Keebo. Her eyes flickering down to his lips - Keebo pretended not to notice but couldn’t stop himself as the brace surrounding his neck immediately shut around his mouth as they typically do.

Miu hummed shortly and turned her body away from Keebo. The bracer removed on Keebo’s command and he wanted to shout - he wanted to tell Miu it was ok! If she wanted to- to kiss him now- he could- it would—

“Don’t tell anyone but… I really hope I’m able to keep makin’ you feel loved and interested in now that we’re outta that game.” Miu took Keebo’s hand in her own and  Keebo thought he would melt with his fast his circuits over heated. 

“I - I won’t?”

“You shouldn’t have to feel bad about being a robot. Fuck sometimes I wish I was a robot. Sounds cool as fuck.”

Miu turned back, looking at Keebo.

“That is what unfortunately made me most pathetic… I couldn’t fly.. or shoot lasers… but you helped me with what was most important! With my flashlight function, the recording function,” Keebo explained. “You made me.. feel better.”

Miu watched him silently before suddenly grabbing his face and turning it gently to the side.

“Miu?! Wh- what are you doing?!” Genuinely don’t think Keebo’s face had not been red this whole conversation. 

She brushed his shockingly soft hair aside and found his ear - it was designed to look like over-the-ear headphones , Miu delicately hovered her hand over them. “You said before your hearing is very sensitive?”

“Ye- yes…”

“But your vision sucks ass?”

“My vision is poor, yes.”

Miu traced the outer rim of Keebo’s ears before suddenly leaping off the bed and to the other side of the room.
Keebo looked over to her with wild confusion. “What are you doing?”

“How many fingers am I holding up?”

Keebo sighed and squinted, his vision was rather blurry but he could still tell. “Two.” Miu changed them. “Three….“ again. “Four…” again. “Five… Miu what are you doing?”

“How was that?” 

"Blurry." And in another swift motion Miu stumbled over to her side table and pulled out a hot-pink pair of reading glasses and slid them onto Keebo's face. Then she ran away again, holding up two fingers. 

"How about now?"

The glasses were very tight around Keebo's face but... "Woah!" Keebo shouted causing Miu to flinch but he was ecstatic. "It's not blurry! Are these yours Miu?"

"Yeah sometimes I use reading glasses, don't tell anyone." 

"I will not! Wow!" Keebo looked around the room. "These are wonderful!"

Miu began to think aloud, "I wonder if I could remove those lenses and incorporate them in your eyes so you don't have t-"

"Oh, but I want to wear glasses! I feel so... normal." 

Miu looked back to Keebo and her expression softened. "Fine. Keep 'em." 

Keebo blinked. "Don't you need these?"

"Eh, I'll get another pair. Don't worry about it." She waved him off and jumped back onto her bed, causing Keebo to fall off. 

. . .   Kaede really couldn't believe it was Rantaro who encouraged her to come down here, but she did it.
In the pod-room. And true to his words everyone's station was entirely empty except for two of them. Kaede approached the pods, keeping her footsteps silent as to not disturb the lab assistants in the upper deck.

If the order of who woke up was similar to how they died, Kaede wondered what seemingly the two most hated members of their class had in common. Death wise. 

As Kaede got closer to Tsumugi's pod she felt her heart-rate speed up - not in a loving way at all - pure anxiety was causing Kaede's legs to tremble and her ears to ring. To think it was her, all her fault that the killing games began. Kaede wondered if Tsumugi knew what she was getting into. Did she know it was a killing game? Was she excited? Did she code this virus in the first place? Just how at fault is Tsumugi?

But as she pondered she stumbled back at the lid of her contraption hissed open with air leaking out of it. Hardly five seconds past before just across from her another pod echoed the same. Now there was really no going back, no running away from it.
Kaede would face this challenge head on.
However, she did back up as two lab assistants ran towards the two students just waking up and tried to calm them down and catch them up at the same time. 

Kaede felt like a larger presence had entered the room with her and she felt weirdly outnumbered and anxious. She tried not to listen into the conversations in but found herself turning in alarm as more lab assistants ran in to surround Kokichi's area in particular. 

"Oh."

Kaede snapped her heard towards Tsumugi, she was being helped out of her pod by a woman and let her go once Tsumugi stood up by herself.
Locking Tsumugi and Kaede into a very awkward and horrifying staring contest. 

"How did I know you were going to be the first person that greeted me in hell?" Tsumugi teased lightly and Kaede didn't recall her being this... dark. Or dramatic. 

Kaede bit her lip and said nothing. 

"She's quiet. Well, I don't blame you. I wouldn't want to talk to the woman who murdered me either." Tsumugi looked past Kaede and to Kokichi who was now being helped out of his pod before collapsing onto the floor and groaning.  "Ouma too? Well, simulation or not it feels like a punishment for something." Tsumugi looked back towards Kaede. "Tell me, is everyone else awake?"

Kaede kept quiet again and let the lab assistant answer positive to Tsumugi's question, but Tsumugi kept staring at Kaede. 

"Are you going to keep giving me the silent treatment? I'm a little disappointed... I kind of expected you out of everyone to greet me with open arms. You or Angie. But I'm sure Keebo or even Shuichi told everyone what I did." 

"Mhm." Was all Kaede could mutter. She turned back to Kokichi as he loudly began to insult his helpers and stood up to his less intimidating height. 

"You really expect me to believe it was all a lie?! Goooosh I'm not stupid, what do you think I'm Gonta?" Kokichi joked obnoxiously before his eyes fell on Kaede. "Oh great. This is hell."

"Hey, I said the same thing!" Tsumugi chirped and Kokichi's face fell at the sight and Kaede wondered if he knew she was the mastermind. 

"Oh this really is hell."

"No, it's not hell." Kaede tried. "Everything really was a simulation... and everyone else is awake and sleeping in their own rooms.. we were all just waiting on you." 

The two antagonist remained eerily silent with this information.  "Everyone's awake?" They both asked at once.

"Everyone." Kaede repeated.

"Welp! Back in I go!" Kokichi tried to crawl back in but Kaede quickly grabbed his hand and pulled him back-

"Wh- Hey! No! Absolutely not!"

Kokichi ripped his hand away from Kaede's. "Why do you even care? Didn't you hear all the shit that happened from Shuichi or Miu?"

"I... I only heard a little. I still don't know everything yet... but still, you shouldn't give up yet just because you don't wanna face them."

Tsumugi stood behind. "Oh, does the same apply for me?"

Kaede didn't answer, earning a scoff from Kokichi. "Whatever." He crossed his arms.

"So, what's this I heard about rooms?" Tsumugi asked, now approaching the woman who helped her, understanding she wasn't going to get any pity from Kaede. 

"Why are you here? You got nothing to feel guilty about, other than killing Rantaro. Why aren't you making out with him?" 

"What."

"Oops! I meant making up." Kokichi grinned and Kaede shook her head.

"I just wanted to make sure you weren't waking up in a strange room with no familiar faces..."  

"Oh, ew, so you were just being nice."

"Why is that gross?" 

Kokichi shrugged. "Whatever, alrighty then, take me away! To my room!"

Kaede's eyebrow twitched and she was beginning to recall how... difficult Kokichi used to be. 

. . .  Himiko woke up to a knock at her door and instantly jumped out of her bed. "Coming!" She shouted and heard a muffled response from the other side.

She had gotten used to this routine now for the past three days, Tenko and Angie would knock on her door for breakfast and she'd get up and join them. Tenko would try to invite Kaede, Kirumi, and maybe even Miu depending on what they felt like.

Today was a little earlier as they were attempting to beat Shinguji to the dining hall so they didn't have to savage for food. 
But when Himiko opened the door she was surprised to see her two friends but with Kaede and Shuichi as well. 

"Apparently breakfast is mandatory for all students today." Tenko explained suspicously, glancing at the two newcomers. 

Himiko also instantly grew suspicious. "What'll happen if we leave? Or don't go?"

Kaede shrugged. "Not sure! They uh - they just told us it was mandatory... maybe we're leaving earlier?" She tried, briefly glancing at Shuichi who pulled his cap down over his eyes, glancing away. 

"... Fine, but I don't care about what trouble I get into if he's there, I'm leaving."

"I am too!" Tenko raised her hand but put it down as Himiko pushed past the group to leave her room. They all made their way downstairs.

Kaede mentally prepared herself. She managed to convince Kaito to get Maki to stay in the dining hall, Ryoma was also hard to convince but it took her and Gonta to tell him it was mandatory, and then Miu had Keebo to assure her to stay and well it was just a trip to convince everyone it was a mandatory attendance.
And it was all Kokichi's idea. But Kaede went along with it. The best way to get everyone re-introduced to their peaceful selves again and be friends is to all be put in the same room.

As the group entered the dining hall, last, on cue Gonta made sure to block the doors with his body - not making it entirely obvious.

Himiko gasped when she saw Kiyo and instantly tried to leave but Gonta stood proudly in front of the doors.

A few of the students were already seated and eating but Miu, Keebo, Kirumi, Kokichi, Maki, Kaito, and Ryoma were standing tensely. 

"Oh. I see what this is now." Maki spoke up first. "Kaede lied to us." 

Korekiyo scoffed. 

"I mean I was kind of suspicious about a mandatory breakfast, but I do get it." Rantaro shrugged. He was the only one sitting with Korekiyo. Though Miu and Keebo were standing awfully close to the table like they were considering it. 

"Kaede!" Kokichi shouted way too joyfully before grabbing her by the hips and hiding behind her. "I'm so glad you're here! I was running circles around Maki! She was threatening to kill me! So was Miu!"

"Anyone fuckin' would you snot-nosed serial killer!" Miu yelled from where she stood, Keebo flinched away. 

"I really do not see the meaning of this." Kirumi spoke up. 

"I just-" Kaede started but Gonta added on,

"We all just wanna be friends again! Like we promised!"

"That's never gonna happen." Himiko spoke lowly, eyeing Korekiyo.

"If looks could kill." Korekiyo spoke up. His chair was facing away from the doors but he could still feel the heat of Yumeno, Chabashira, and even Yonaga's gaze burning in the back of his head.

"And if you seriously expected any of us to forgive him," Miu pointed at Ouma and then Shirogane, "Or her, you're a bigger blonde bimbo than I thought!" 

"You don't have to bully Kaede for this, I agreed to her plan too." Shuichi spoke up. "Me, Kaede, and Gonta all want to... give this a second shot." 

"Yeah!" Kaede spoke up again, gently pulling Kokichi's hands off of her waist. "And... I understand the lingering anger and fear in the room so... maybe an apology is in order?"   Everyone looked at each other. "Li - like... um..."

"Gonta start." Gonta spoke up, stepping away from the door, but luckily no one was attempting an exit yet. That meant there was still hope. 
Or everyone was really interested in what he had to say.

Kaede watched Keebo gently but firmly grab Miu's shoulder to prevent her from running. Miu shot a dirty glare at Keebo.

"Gonta is very sorry Miu! Gonta did not meant to hurt you or anyone!  He wished he could have protected you instead!" Gonta shouted and his voice echoed off the walls of the dinning room. 
Everyone watched Miu visibly go rigid. 

There was a few confused looks before Keebo elaborated. Not needing to. "In the simulation, Gonta was responsible for Miu's death." 

"Whatever." Miu muttered, but it did not seem to make Gonta feel better.

"If anyone should be apologizin' for that it should be his dumbass!" Miu roared, pointing at Kokichi who tried to hide further behind Kaede.

"MMmmm, I dunnooo - If we're apologizing maybe we should go in order! Sooo whoever killed Rantaro should apologize!" Kokichi grinned madly, looking at Kaede but hid his surprise well as Rantaro sat up and notably turned to look at Tsumugi.

Everyone followed his gaze.

"Oh, so we all just know or?" Tsumugi pointed at herself.

“Brother she’s not even apologizing.” Rantaro turned to Korekiyo, pointing a thumb at Tsumugi.

“Brother?”

“It’s slang. How old are you?”

“Does emotionally unavailable answer that question?” Korekiyo humored.

“… how old are you-“ 

"Yes, Rantaro, I apologize. I am sorry." Tsumugi spoke so plainly Rantaro looked back at her and tilted his head.

"Are you?"

"Would getting on my knees make you believe me?"

Kaede's eye twitched at the same time as Rantaro's. He stood up, walking away.

"This is ridiculous, she doesn't care about anyone or anything." Maki hissed. "She was the mastermind, of course she isn't sorry for any of it." 

There was a muted waves of realization as Maki had just outed Tsumugi's identity. 

"Well that felt familiar." Kokichi teased, looking pointedly at Maki. "Whose next? Mom?" 

“I am not your mother and I don’t care about any of you!” Kirumi practically screeched before she stormed out of the room, pushing past Gonta.

Shuichi honestly expected as much.

Rantaro stood beside the gang, next to the door. He lowered his hand after casually checking his pulse. “What’s up with her?”

Chapter Text

Ryoma scoffed and started walking towards the doors as well.

Rantaro blinked looking back and forth as the scene.

"Well this is going swimmingly." Korekiyo quipped, taking a long sip of his tea. 

"If Kirumi gets to leave I wanna go too." Himiko spoke up. 

"I don't wanna be anywhere near those two." Maki added, not name-dropping but it was obvious who she was referring to. Both were still in the room. 

"Wait! We can all still hang out together!" Kaede tried. "We're all going to be in the same school and most likely the same class. We can't avoid each other forever!"

"It's not a question of avoiding, but the question of forgiveness." Keebo finally made his presence known and took this moment to address Tsumugi, looking at her pointedly. "I do not forgive you for anything you've done." 

"I wouldn't expect any less from you."

Miu gripped Keebo's hand and yelled from across the room, "The fuck is that supposed to mean?!"

"Aww, how cute! Even outside the simulation you still treat that robot like your own sex doll." 

Both Miu and Keebo glared daggers at Kokichi.

Kaede turned and looked rather disappointedly at him. 

Korekiyo took this time to stand up. "Then allow me to go next in the apology order." But as Korekiyo turned to look at the three girls they avoided his gaze. He frowned but spoke anyway, even as Himiko began walking to the door. "I was not myself in that game and I am fully convinced it was the simulation altering my personality and memory for twisted purposes. It should be known whatever I believed in there to force me to murder two innocent women... I do not feel any of that presently. I encourage you all to forget the Korekiyo you've known in that simulation and instead acknowledge the person before you now."  As Korekiyo sat down, Kokichi broke out into applause.

"Bravo! I could almost believe you!"

Korekiyo leered. It took a few seconds after Korekiyo finished speaking before the three girls officially left the room. 

"Let's seeeee, whose next to apologize?"

"You." Maki, Miu, Keebo, and Kaito said at the same time.

"Should I sit down? Is he gonna take a while?" Miu teased.

"If he even apologizes at all!" Kaito joined. 

"He won't apologize, he makes a joke of everything. We're wasting our time with this. I should never have showed up." 

Rantaro watched Kaede's face fall in utter disappointment at how the events before her played out. 

Kokichi's face also fell into a similar thin line before he threw his arms behind his head in a relaxed motion. "Well! I guess that settles it! Is Keeboy gonna apologize to Shirogane?"

"WHy the fuck would he-" Miu roared but Keebo cut her off.

"Yes, actually."

The room fell eerily silent as Keebo turned to face her. "I apologize for abandoning the laws of robotics, when my systems were breached in the simulation I lost all control of my conscious and body which resulted in your death. Though given the circumstances your death was the best case scenario for all of us, I regret being the one to do it." 

More silence followed.

"I... don't know how to respond to that... it doesn't really sound like you're sorry."

"I am apologizing for killing you." Keebo reassured. "While I do feel bad about your death I am also pleased with how the events played out. Perhaps it was my corruption that prevented Maki, Shuichi, and Himiko from having to sacrifice their lives so only two could survive and escape without mental trauma." 

"Personally," Miu spoke up. "I think that's well said."

"Accurately describes how I feel about it." Maki added. 

"Well... maybe.." Shuichi glanced away. 

"Oh so we're all in agreement then? I deserved to die no matter what?" Tsumugi asked.

"Suuuper cool, Keebo! You managed to turn what was supposed to be a heartfelt apology into something so cold and threatening!" Kokichi shouted and Kaede finally had enough, stepping away from him and pushing him forward. 

It was Keebo's turn to leave, this time with Miu chasing after him.

"That's another apology onto your list." Rantaro jested, briefly glancing down at Kokichi. 

"Oh whatever! He's just a robot! Hit on the head and his memory gets rebooted!" 

"That not funny!" Gonta protested. 

"Oh please don't act all good on me now. Any of you." Kokichi snapped before Miu stopped in front of the door and turned back to everyone.

"You know this is exactly what he was worried about last night. You two fuckers waking up and reminding everybody he's not the same as we are." She spat and grabbed both handles on the door.  "This was a dumbass plan, no one likes anyone here and especially not Shirogane or Ouma." Miu briefly glanced at Shinguji. "At least he's not trying to cause anymore problems."  And then she slammed the doors loud and harsh.

The remaining students in the dinning hall consisted of; Kaede, Rantaro, Gonta, Shuichi, Kokichi, Maki, Kaito, Tsumugi, and Korekiyo. 

“…” Kaede twisted her sweaty palms together, kind of ringing her fingers nervously. 

“And seriously good job Kaede. You really thought putting all of us in the same room together was going to magically remind of us how we promised to be friends? Did you really expect Himiko to forgive Kiyo so easily? Or even for everyone to pretend Kirumi never actually wanted us to survive with her ‘cause she thinks she’s too good for us?” Kokichi tilted his head. 

Kaede blinked. It was literally his idea- 

“Ouma.” Shuichi spoke up. “That’s enough.” He looked down rather sternly at Kokichi despite attempting to hide his face behind his hat.

Kokichi's grin faltered as he barred his teeth in a forced smile. "Whatever!" He spun around back to the crowd. "Who wants to eat breakfast with me?~"

"I'm out of here." Maki began walking away and Kaito like usual chased after her.

"Wait!" Kaede and Kaito both found themselves shouting at the same time.

Maki turned to Kaito, "If you want to spend time with everyone you can do that without me. I know at Hope's Peak we'll all be forced to hang out together, but while we're here, I'm going to be by myself far away from everyone for as long as possible." And with that, Maki left. 

"That answers that! I'm gonna get something to eat, it's no Kirumi's cooking but it'll have to do for my evil needs!" Kokichi cooed as he walked towards the buffet. 

Kaede stood frozen in the front of the dinning hall while Tsumugi followed suit grabbing her own meal. 

"... That didn't go as planned." Kaede whispered.

Shuichi sighed. "I had a feeling it wouldn't."

"And you agreed to it anyway?" Kaede questioned, very clearly upset. 

"No! Well - I did agree to it - I- I guess I just thought... I believed in you.. so... I had some hope.." 

"Looks like as long as Shirogane, Ouma, and Shinguji are in the room no one is really gonna forgive anybody." Rantaro spoke up, with his arms crossed over his chest. "What did Tojo do?"

Shuichi exhaled, "Now that everyone is awake it's only a matter of time before they round us up for a group summary of the events of the Killing Game." Shuichi's expression hinted annoyance as he added, "I'm just getting really tired of telling everyone who killed who and who did what.." 

Rantaro whistled lowly. "Then I won't ask anymore. Anyway, I was hoping to tell everyone but I guess I'll just tell you and Kaede."

With that the two looked back at Rantaro expectantly.

"I won't be here for the first week at Hope's Peak. I'm leaving tomorrow night on some other personal matters."

"But - but aren't you supposed to stay? For wellness and stuff?" Kaede questioned. 

"Oh yeah sure, but with enough convincing and parental approval, I can kind of do whatever I want... as long as I agree to call the facility every night and do technical check-ins." 

".. Where are you going?" Shuichi interrogated.

"Just around the country."

"Someone's eager to get out and about again." Kaede attempted to be light-hearted and Rantaro mimicked her smile but both parties could tell there was something deeper he was masking.

"Well, we'll miss you... hey, keep in touch with us okay?"

"I'll be back." Rantaro assured. "And don't feel guilty, Kaede. I'm not leaving because of any of you guys." 

"I - I knew that... but.. thank you, Rantaro." Kaede smiled sadly. 

. . .  Kaito sat down and silently ate with the group. Specifically Shuichi, Kaede, Gonta, and Rantaro.

Shirogane and Ouma attempted to sit with Shinguji since "they were all the same" but Shinguji left as soon as they sat down. 
Leaving those two alone.

"I... kind of feel bad for Kokichi." Kaede whispered.

"Not Shirogane?" Gonta raised the question.

Kaede looked away, remaining silent.  Everyone looked between each other awkwardly before Kaito spoke up.

"Both of them suck, Shirogane was the whole reason that killing spree happened and Ouma just made it ten times worse for everyone! They deserve each other."

"Kaito, there's something I want to ask you later if you don't mind." Shuichi mumbled.

"Yeah whatever you need, sidekick."

"I gotta ask," Kaede raised her hand partially. "When did this whole sidekick start.. and what does it mean?" 

"Well, during the simulation.. after your trial I was kinda..."

"Shuichi was pretty depressed for a while I hired him on as my sidekick! We would train in the night and solve crimes together!" 

"Why would a detective need to train?" Rantaro asked. 

Shuichi's face turned red from embarrassment as Kaito wrapped an arm around him. "To get stronger of course!" 

"Right." Kaede and Rantaro mumbled simultaneously. 

"I gotta say, I really didn't think I'd miss you guys all this much." Kaito spoke his thoughts aloud. "I really thought we were finished, at least when I got executed." 

"I think we all thought it was kind of it." Rantaro said. 

"Gonta was just.. scared." Gonta looked around. "Sorry! Did not mean to bring conversation down!"

"It's alright Gonta," Shuichi reassured him. "We're bound to talk about it sooner or later..." 

"Gonta just keep feeling like he mess up..." 

"I get that feeling too, Gonta." Kaede sympathized and a bittersweet silence fell over the group.

"Why don't we forget about the game right now? No good in being depressed, it's useless and you can't do anything with it! Let's talk about somethin' else!"  Kaito usually struggled with motivational speeches like that, helpful ones anyway. Shuichi recalled when he was depressed Kaede passed away instead of being sympathetic Kaito told him it was not manly to be wasting away in bed.
He had the right intentions and idea but his mindset could use a lot of work. 

"But what to talk about?" 

"Well... what do you guys think Hope's Peak'll be like? We're gonna be with a bunch of other Ultimates!" 

Kaede grinned like a child, "That's right! I'm actually so excited to get back to school with everyone!" 

. . .  Korekiyo left muttering to himself.

To be put on such a level with Ouma and Shirogane, who was apparently the mastermind of the entire operation. Though, was she?
Did she know of the virus that would turn everyone against each other?
Korekiyo considered this conversation for another day, with someone like Shuichi who could rationalize it out. 

Instead, Korekiyo walked towards the elevator and sighed at the Out Of Order sigh and began his approach towards the staircase when he saw Harukawa sitting on the edge. 
Fantastic.

Maki looked up and met Korekiyo's eyes and scowled.

"Charmed." He responded. "If you don't mind, I am also trying to retreat to my room."

"Stairs are temporary blocked off, for cleaning. I think it's stupid but right now we're all confined to downstairs. Tojo's already letting the doctors have it."  Korekiyo sighed and leaned against the wall before Maki snapped again; "Find somewhere else to loiter." 

"Apologies, I was under the impression I live here too." 

"You're really gross you know that?"

"So I've been told." Korekiyo barred his teeth. "What must I do to convince you that wasn't real? Hm? Must I pour all of my hardships onto you before you understand Miyadera is nothing like me and I loathe her deeply?" 

Maki stood up. "I don't trust you. I don't trust your manipulative nature and I never liked you."

"I understand, this is what you wished to say to me after the trial, correct? Get it out of your system then." 

Maki curled her hands into fists and snarled, "You think you're smart? Do you wanna die?" 

"I think I am very intelligent, yes. This is how I earned my title - being an anthropologist is always meant to be about observation and if that disturbs you, you'll have to forgive me." Korekiyo elaborated, eyeing Maki threateningly. "Though I am not afraid of you. Despite your Ultimate talent as an assassin I do not harbor any ill-will towards you." 

"Do you hate anyone?"

"I despise Ouma just like the rest of you. Iruma is also rather annoying." 

Maki huffed. "Well if you hate Ouma that doesn't put you as low on my list as him."

"What list? Likability?"

"Something like that." Maki vaguely humored. 

"You are aware once we all attend Hope's Peak you will be obligated to tolerate me or pretend I do not exist."

"It's going to be the latter. It will be for everyone." 

"I theorize you'll enjoy the challenge." 

Maki leered and shoulder-checked Korekiyo as she walked past him. 

. . . "This is ludicrous!" Kirumi shouted. "I was the closest thing to Prime Minister Japan has ever seen! They need me! My people need me!"

She was being physically restrained but it didn't stop her from interrogating the lab assistants. "I am no fool! I know you are keeping secrets from me! Why has no one come looking for me yet?! Why am I not returning to my original position as a maid?!" 

"Tojo, you must calm yourself... in the simulation we are unsure of what happened behind closed doors due to our limited control and vision through K1-B0 so most of our resources are uncertain... however it is possible many backstories have been twisted or dramatized during the simulation."

"What are you trying to say?"

"You are the Ultimate Maid, but it is possible you were never in such high of position as Prime Minister." 

. . .  "Fuck me running" Miu muttered as she found herself alone in the dining hall with Rantaro. After the events of this morning, it was very sperse with who would take their chances coming in here without being ambushed by Kaede for an unwanted therapy session.

"Don't know how anyone would manage that." Rantaro bantered, grabbing a tray for himself. "Come here often?"

"Shut up, small-dick."

Okay- "Nevermind then." Rantaro took notice. "Hey, isn't Keebo usually with you?"

"Yeah? What of it?"

"... Where is he." Rantaro asked like it was obvious that's where he was going with the previous inquiry. 

"In my room, he can't eat so... we hang out in there."

"Cute." Rantaro commented casually and Miu glared.

"Whatever cryptic." 

"Wow. Okay, do you have a problem with me or-"

"Other than your girly eyelashes and you thinkin' you're hot shit. No. Don't know if you remember but we never talked for the two days you were alive." Miu laughed. "Some Ultimate Survivor!"

"Yeah, ha ha. Good times, love reliving it. So you're jealous."

"Jealous?!" Miu screeched. "WHy would I be jealous of you?!"

"Sounds like my eyelashes make you envious."

"Makes you sound queer."

"Sounds homophobic."

"Sounds sexist!"

"How- you know what? Nevermind. Good talk, Miu."

"It's Iruma you for,  smartass." As Rantaro walked away and to a table Miu found herself muttering, "Pretty bastard, thinks he's smart-shit."

Rantaro whispered in an exhausted exhale to himself, "Can't believe we all thought she was hot on the first day-"

. . .  "Cutie~" Angie cooed.

Throughout the days Tenko and Angie have returned they've been spending every night in Himiko's room. Himiko and Tenko were both highly encouraging with this miracle of a second chance - both girls were desperate to do things they've always wanted to do. "Normal teenage girl things." So, 

"Awh, you really think my hair should be worn down more often?" Tenko flushed, raking her fingers through her straight pale brown hair. 

"It does look really good, and it's different from the style you wore in the killing game."

Tenko frowned and Angie spoke up, "I hear we're getting a full screening tomorrow... though they're doing a mental health check first, just to see who exactly is ready for it." 

"I'm ready for anything!" Tenko challenged.

Himiko absently looked at the ceiling. For these sleepovers, Tenko had refused to turn off the overhead light. Angie shut it off when she thought Tenko was asleep but both girls were immediately alarm by her whimpering and soon her panicked breathing. 
Because of the way Tenko had died in the simulation, she had apparently developed a new phobia of the dark. 

Himiko still wasn't too sure how Angie had dealt with such trauma - she was murdered in darkness too. 
But Himiko wasn't going to pry on how Angie coped with it. 

Speaking of Angie, she had let Tenko braided her hair into three separate sections and was bopping her head lightly as to shake them around. 
With Himiko's hair being so short, it was kind of difficult to do makeovers with her. 

"Still, Angie is kind of worried for our most sensitive classmates... and how our trial played out."

Tenko shivered, "I'm so not looking forward to hearing or even seeing Shinguji's whole alibi or reasons for what he did." 

Himiko just nodded, silently considering the apology she recieved earlier this morning from Shinguji. Part of her wanted to believe him, wanted to take his apology and believe it truly was the killing game who turned him into someone she can never be friends with. 

But the other part of her was tired of being manipulated by guys like him and Ouma. 

So she was only going to believe in Tenko, Angie, and the two friends she survived with. Call it falling back onto old habits - but everyone else never cared about her the way they all did. 

[Next day.]

. . .    "Let's begin, shall we?"

Tsumugi sat directly across from what she assumed was a trained therapist. He sat casually with no clipboard but Tsumugi took note of the recording device and thought comedically of Keebo's ridiculous function he was so proud of. 

"Sure." Tsumugi nearly forgot to respond. 

--- "This will be a regular check in with the students and victims of the Killing Game." 

"I see what you did there, added victims since I won't be a student." Ryoma Hoshi huffed out, nearly amused. "Smart."

"Is there anyway we can convince you to remain at Hope's Peak Academy?"

"Probably not."

--- "The scientists are attempting to fish through any security footage from the simulation and supply it that way. If not, I'm sure some visuals will be supplied. Does that bother you?" 

"Why would it? I saw all the important stuff." Miu complained. "I don't really need to see Ouma being a bigger bitch than he already is!"

"So you hold a grudge against Kokichi Ouma?"

--- "Yes." Maki answered.

--- "Well... maybe." Gonta confessed. 

--- "Uh, of course I do!" Kaito shouted.

--- "I do not know anyone who does not." Shuichi answered, solemnly. 

--- "I can't really say I do." Kaede acknowledged honestly.  "I never got to know him for who he became later after I died... sure, when I tried to rally everyone together he quickly tried to turn them against me and he teased a lot of our friends... a lot.. especially Shuichi and Keebo. But I'm positive he was just scared."

--- "Scared?" Kokichi laughed.  "Why would I be scared of the killing game? Did you know I worked with Monokuma at one point? It was so much fun!" 

--- Kirumi stayed utterly silent for the entire hour. 

"I do not believe you are ready to participate in the screening with your other classmates." 

--- "Reconsider."  Korekiyo pleaded.

--- "Why?" Rantaro demanded, snapping back into reality. The therapist before him took careful notes and Rantaro briefly eyed the doctor in the corner of the room.

"You have not been paying attention, not maintaining eye contact, "zoning out", inquiring about Ultimates I do not know of, and not being entirely honest about your experiences in the other two killing games."

In the corner of his eye, the Ultimate Pedestrian, she shook her disappointedly and Rantaro snapped his gaze towards the doctor before glancing back. "That could be anything."

"Amami, are you seeing things?" 

"How do you mean?" 

"If you are experiencing any mental hallucinations or illusions we may be forced to keep you, preventing your early release and travel."

Rantaro scoffed, "You can't-"

"We can void any parental decisions if you are not showing any progress mentally or physically - poor health is not suitable for travel."

"No, I am not seeing things." Rantaro insisted. "If you need to keep me under watch again in the medical room tonight I am willing - I just - I have to leave tomorrow night. I need to see my sisters." 

"Very well." 

[Quick timeskip: mid afternoon.]

. . .  "Hey Shuichi."

"Hey Kaede," Kaede took one look at Shuichi and could swiftly tell he did not get much sleep last night. For starters:

"You're not wearing your hat."  She took note of his messy bed-head.

"Oh, ah-" Shuichi tried to turn around and retreat to his room but Kaede quickly stopped him. 

"It's okay! I always thought you would look better without it... come on, let's not be late."

Shuichi was stiff and resistant at first but along Kaede to physically pull him along.  "O- okay..." Admittedly: he was nervous. Scared, even.  It was the day of the student screening for the killing game. He knew they couldn't use Keebo's footage anymore because of his revival so he wondered what exactly they would attempt to recover.  While technically the surviving students were excused from this, Shuichi wanted to be there to support Kaede and the others. 

When they entered the screening room on the first floor down the south corridor they didn't expect to see the current display.

Korekiyo was sitting by himself all the way in the back while Himiko was most certainly arguing with the lab assistants about Angie and Tenko wanting to be excused from the screening, the two girls stood nervously behind her.
Gonta sat in the back as well, but farther away from Shinguji.

Rantaro was front row and center somehow taking up three seats as he laid back and lazily waved at the two as they entered.

Maki and Kaito sat together, hand in hand while Kokichi was talking Tsumugi's ear off of the corner of the room - neither of them sitting.

Kirumi was nowhere to be found and neither was Ryoma, they were either going to be late or someone was going to have to fill them in later. 

Keebo and Miu were also standing off to the side - both having an in depth conversation with a few lab assitants holding wires - Shuichi took a shot in the dark this had something to do with Keebo's memories of the simulation and briefly abandoned Kaede's side - approaching the two. 

Kaede took a breath like she was going to say something but fell silent. She was going to have to get used to Shuichi running off to his other friends...

"What's going on here?" Kaede intervened, standing beside Himiko as she stops her incessant yelling at looks at Kaede.  "Angie and Tenko don't wanna be here for the screening! None of us do! No one is ready!"

Kaede took a brief glance at Tenko and Angie. While Tenko tried to keep a brave face on Kaede noticed her hesitantly, eyes flickering to Himiko as she spoke and only nodding along to her words.
When Angie gazed pointedly as Kaede it was her who lightly shook her head 'no'.

Kaede glanced at the lab assistant. "Uh - hey - excuse us for second..." Kaede tried, gently guiding Himiko away who only followed as Tenko and Angie took a few steps back.  "Now - I'm not saying you're wrong," Kaede began. "I really don't think any of us wanna relive this at all right now but... maybe it's important for Angie and Tenko to be caught up on everything that happened?" Kaede suggested carefully, avoiding crouching down. She didn't want to seem like she was patronizing Himiko by physically stooping to her level. 

Himiko scoffed. "You don't even know what Shinguji did, I don't -" Himiko faltered but shook her head. "They don't wanna see what he did!" 

"Well, maybe they can step out for that part? But... I think it's important for Tenko and Angie to decide what they want to and don't want to experience. I... I missed everything so despite how bad it is.. I would still like to be in the know." 

Himiko just shook her head again. "Not Angie and Tenko. We just wanna go back to our room." 

Kaede briefly glanced at Angie and Tenko, both girls held each other's hands tightly in their own, looking personally conflicted.  "Just... I'm sure if you ask them they will let you leave for their deaths... I mean, you don't even have to be here at all- but I'm sure you came for moral support!"

"I just think that stupid therapist was wrong. It's no good for any of us to be reliving this so soon."

"Well you're not wrong there but.. just think about it, okay Himiko? Even if I made it as far as you guys I would still wanna know what happened to my friends."

"Not everyone here is my friend. Hardly anyone here is my friend." Himiko spoke like she spit venom at Kaede and approached the lab assistant again. Only this time Angie and Tenko lingered back. 

Kaede stood up straighter and held her own hands, feeling somehow worse than she did before she entered. 

"Show us where you're sitting, Kaede." Angie requested and Kaede looked up at the two girls... suddenly a little hopeful. 

. . .  "I don't give a flying fuck what you were gonna try and do! You leave Keeb's outta whatever experiment you're gonna pull!"  Miu roared, putting a protective arm in front of Keebo, who seemed very flattered by the action. 

"Wh- what? What are they doing?" Shuichi asked, surprising himself with just how accusatory he sounded and felt immediate guilt. 

"They wanna stick some wires in Keebo 'cause they're having a "hard time" pulling up accurate footage. Well we don't need "accurate" footage! No one even wants-ta be here!" Miu defended. "I even offered to help with whatever the fuck is holding us up but they won't let me!"

Shuichi's eyes landed on Keebo's fearful glare at the wires one of the lab tech assistants held lazily in his hands and Shuichi shocked himself once more when he actually agreed with Iruma on her argument. 

"Iruma is right, you shouldn't put Keebo through any of that. Just let her assist you with the computer." Shuichi instructed, briefly glancing back at Keebo - silently asking if what he said was right.
What he didn't expect was a surprised and almost speechless response from Miu. 

There was silent exchanges between both technology experts before they ultimately conceded after their muted debate and guided Miu towards their set up. 

"Here Keebo, would you like to sit with me and Kaede?" 

"I.." Keebo looked back at Miu and then towards the seats. "Where will you be sitting?" Keebo asked. 

. . . Miu ended up having to sit next to Rantaro and Keebo. It involved Rantaro having to adjust himself in his chair, still not sitting like a normal fucking person but making enough space for Miu. Instead of thanking him, she shouldn't have to, Miu sat down with a loud huff.
The two briefly glanced at each other. Mutual side-eyeing happening as both thought something similar:
Curse him/her for being so good-looking. 

Eventually after some debriefing the screening finally started and Miu's finger twitched. Itching to hold onto something - why was she so fucking nervous? She's lived through all of it before. If anything she'll just see-

Miu looked at Keebo.
His face was stern and expressionless as his lips were pressed into a thin line. Unknowingly he took up both arm-rests but no one corrected him. Miu glanced to his hands before she felt pressure against her left arm and snapped her face towards Rantaro.

Rantaro glanced down at their hands and found he had accidentally leaned too close again Miu.  "My bad." He whispered just as the cameras showed the students being surrounded by existals. 

"Wh-Whatever." She muttered. 

-- Kokichi found himself flinching at the sound of Monokuma's voice.

-- Tsumugi had taken off her glasses, pretending to clean them. Not staring at the screen as the first motive was announced before there was a drastic cut to Rantaro Amami's death.

-- Rantaro instinctively gripped his head and felt phantom migrane occurring. When he looked to his left instead of Miu, he saw an old killing game participant who died first in his previous simulation. She pointed at the screen and laughed, elbowing Rantaro.

-- When Kaede witnessed her execution from the outside perspective, twisted piano notes blarring making no real melody or steady beat before utter silence and the piano shutting on her she grabbed Shuichi's hand. 

"I'm sorry." He said.

She didn't know why he was apologizing. 

-- Himiko left the room when her magic show was annouced.

-- When the next deaths to follow were Ryoma and Kirumi the room was tense and silent, for the two who passed weren't in the room with their peers. It almost felt like they were still gone. Truly dead.

Kokichi felt like he could laugh.

-- Tenko and Angie both coincidentally had to use the restroom when their deaths and trial occured.

--  Korekiyo loathed every second of his image being slandered on a bigger screen, this time for everyone to see. 

After days of trying to convince everyone who had perished before him and those who witnessed his downfall he was nothing like what they recalled, so see it all be denied and his wrongdoings repeated this time for him to watch like it was a "cringey digital footprint" made Korekiyo want to sink into the ground beneath him or go coffin shopping the next day. 

He was isolated in the back of the row despite Gonta just a few chairs down from him, but Korekiyo watched his trial in brief video cuts and images and felt his breathing pick up. He heard his heart thump in his ears as a ringing from somewhere else in the world overtook his hearing and his peripheral vision began growing dark. 

At this rate, Korkeiyo was going to faint. And no one was going to assist him.

He heard his own laughter muffled, he wasn't sure if he was laughing at his own state or if it was from the video playing. Despite himself, Korekiyo tried to stand but couldn't move.

He would faint, or maybe perish again.

Everyone would be greatly satisfied with that outcome, surely. 

He heard distant muttering around him before he felt a sharp pitch in his leg and looked down to see Maki glaring up at him. Out of all people, she pointed next to him and when he turned he saw a lab assistant trying to gain his attention. With her help, she escorted Korekiyo out of the room. 

Maybe he was not ready after all...

But he desperately wished to see how everything played out - at least that's why begged to reconsider in the first place.

And why he was now.

He wasn't excited to see his peers die any longer, it felt rather like he was proving it to the others he had moved on from his crimes.
But clearly he hadn't.

When Angie and Tenko walked past him back inside the screening room, only Angie gave him a sparring glance. 

-- Why did Maki even help him out?

Maybe because his heavy breathing was getting on her nerves and quiet questions of "can you hear me?" "Are you alright?" was getting on her nerves. Not that she was even trying to pay attention to the trial before her.
She was only here to support Kaito.

Looking down at the front row, Shuichi has all the love and support he needs.

Maki does her best to ignore the content she feels with that. 

-- Gonta covers his ears and rocks himself back and forth throughout the entirety of the fourth segment of the simulation.  Only Kokichi seems to notice, when part of him wants to go bug Gonta over this it's Tsumugi who has a firm grip on his shoulder.

The action makes him anxious but she doesn't spare him a second glance. Her glasses are reflecting the screen before her, just when Miu gets killed. 

--  When Miu sees her death her body instinctively reacts and she reaches over, grabbing Rantaro's arm.

The two pause and stare at each other for a bit long before Miu lets go, rubbing her hands on her skirt before Rantaro watches Miu do the same with Keebo. Neither individual seems bothered and Keebo even flushes red. 

-- It's the fifth murder of Kokichi Ouma, the trial of Kaito Momota, and the disruption of Keebo's thought process that shocks Kaede the most.

So much she finds herself turning and looking at Kokichi.

He is staring daggers at Shuichi.

Kaede can feel the detective tremble under her grip. 

-- Maki cringes and actually lets go of Kaito when there is a brief video of her pleading to Kaito not to die, because she loves him.

Neither ultimate look at each other.

-- It's the final act that gets a reaction out of Tsumugi, she leaves first.

Shoulder-checking Korekiyo on the way out as he stands in the doorway.

It's unclear how long he's been observing and it's unclear how long Tsumugi has been pretending not to be watching any of the killing game.

Now known to the students as "Danganronpa."

-- "How boring!" Kokichi chirps once it's all over and all eyes fall onto him.

"Fuckin' pyscho." Miu stands up, stretching briefly before grabbing Keebo and pulling him to his feet. "Let's get the fuck out of here." Her voice softens when she speaks to him.

Some of the students find themselves glancing at one another, those who died early on looking pitifully at the ones who lasted longer. 

Those who survived past the third segment are only glaring harshly at Kokichi, and towards Tsumugi as she left.

"Well." Rantaro stood up, looking at Kaede almost knowingly. Shuichi copied his expression.

"... This is going to be way harder than I thought." Kaede confessed. 

Chapter Text

After the screening yesterday no one really talked to each other and everyone attended dinner at separate times.

In the total silence and dark hours, Rantaro Amami , Ultimate Survivor  - went on his first trip back home... to find his two missing sisters. 

Of course, the Research Facility didn't need to know those were his intentions. 

. . .    It was the next morning and honestly Kaede wasn't expecting it to be this full.

Of course Himiko, Angie, and Tenko weren't present for breakfast when Korekiyo was here - which he was.
And ever since their absence yesterday Kirumi was still missing but this time Ryoma was present.

But pretty much everyone else was despite how separate they kept themselves from certain other students.

Same tables. Kaito, Shuichi, Gonta, Ryoma, and Korekiyo sat together, Maki was by herself. 

Keebo and Miu kept to themselves, but close and together.

Rantaro was missing due to his travels. 

And this time Tsumugi and Kokichi sat at entirely different tables.. it was at this point Kaede decided to put her plan into motion.

Across the room, Shuichi looked up from his plate and his eyes trailed Kaede. 

. . .   "What do you want?" Kokichi muttered, he was by himself. So being approached by Kaede he could immediately tell her intentions; pity. 

"How are you doing?" Kaede sat down and Kokichi wondered how funny it would be if he quickly got up and left.

"Fine." He chirped. The two sat in momentary silence before Kokichi reacted, "Oh! Did you want me to ask you how you're doing?" 

Kaede sighed, "Nevermind." As she stood up Kokichi felt his chest tighten.

"Wait, Kaede!" He yelped and she froze, staring at him. "Stay." He insisted before switching up and grinning again. "Come onnnn! Let's talk!"

Kaede sat back down.

"You obviously came to me a for a reason." Kokichi leaned forward, feigning interest. "What? Wanna join my secret organization?" Kaede breathed to get a word in but Kokichi cut her off again: "Too bad! We aren't taking in any new members. The leader is suuper strict... I'm lying of course, I'm the leader."

"Can I please speak?"

Kokichi whistled. "Wow, okay, sure. Guess I'll just shut up then!"

Kaede groaned in irritation, leaning forward putting her face in her hands. "I don't know why I thought talking to you would be easy... I just... I know how well you keep tabs on everyone. We all witnessed it in bits and pieces of the screening and.. well... I was hoping you'd help me try to get to know everyone again?"

Kokichi blinked as his response and Kaede went on,

"I just... I don't know, I feel so left out. It feels like," Kaede looked over at Shuichi's table. There he sat with Gonta, Kaito, and even Korekiyo and Ryoma. "It feels like he made so many new friends... even if some of us hate each other." 

When Kokichi didn't say anything Kaede kind of deflated in her spot and turned back to face him, pouting angrily. "You can say something now!"

"Woo, thank goodness! You were talking for an awfully long time! Sooo... you just want me to tell you what I know about everyone from stalking them?"

"Well uh-"

"Okay! But only if you agree to be apart of my secret evil organization! Or my henchmen!"

"Can I just think about it...?" Kaede smiled nervously. "H- How do I even know if the information is worth it?"

Kokichi sensed Kaede's nervous nature... but also detected a hint of playfulness in her following question. His smile notably turned more relaxed and.. genuine. "FIiinnne... I guess I can share some of it with you to convince you!" 

Kokichi chirped and took out a notepad from his back pocket.

. . . “Why does she like that idiot?” Maki asked, to no one in particular. As she rose to throw her food away, stopping by Shuichi's table. 

Korekiyo of course took it upon himself to answer that question. “She is the only one willing to forgive him and accept the change he tries to convince everyone, even himself, he is capable of.”

“Trauma bonding is also a possibility.” Ryoma muttered, half joking. 

“If that were the case we’d all be bound together by a string stronger than fate.” Korekiyo mused.

Maki eyed Shinguji dangerously before storming out of the room, like usual it was Kaito who abandoned his breakfast to follow her. 

. . . "Those sons of a bitches," Miu muttered through a mouthful of breakfast. Keebo stared at her lazily. "Once we get the fuck outta here you won't have to worry 'bout anyone usin' you like that." 

"You do not need to feel offended for me, Miu." 

"You're not upset?!"

"I am unsure how I feel in regards to these lab assistance trying to use me... though I am sure once we have access to the world outside of this place at Hope's Peak I will be able to find a rather good lawyer and sue for the metaphorical "dehumanization" I experience through incessant robophobia." Keebo explained rather casually that Miu threw her head back and laughed.
Nearly choking on her food.

"If we even have laws like that, yeah, sure." 

"How do you mean?"

"Well we all know the world isn't fucked since we're alive and here. But doubt anyone's seen anything like you before. Even as an Ultimate, I haven't invented a robot yet - and all those fuckin' bears were just AI."

"Ah, I see your point." Keebo pondered.

"I'm sure there's an Ultimate Lawyer." 

"Do not tease me." Keebo pleaded but his hardened expression softened as the sight of giddiness and laughter in Miu's eyes. "I.. I have a question for you, Miu."

"I actually got a couple as well - but you go first."

"A - a couple for me? Please then, allow me to answer whatever you're curious about."

Miu stared at Keebo for a second before shrugging. "Alright, since everything in the simulation was total BS, you don't have any of the light or photographic memory functions I installed in you, do you?" 

"I..." Keebo considered before attempting to make his eyes glow. They did not. He attempted to print a photo of Miu. No results. "No.. I do not."

"Do you want me to re-apply those?" 

"Would you?" Keebo inquired, more surprised than compliant.

"Only if you want to, I put a lot of my hard ass into those!"

"... Did you mean to say your "hard work" or "hard ass work?"

"You know what I mean." Miu replied suggestively and Keebo ignored her, continuing with the previous statement:

"I suppose so... really the only reason I agreed to such things in the first place was to assist with investigations but now.. well we aren't doing any investigations."

"Still, it'd be nice in case the power goes out, or you can't remember someone's name so you're like "hol' up I gotta picture of 'em"." 

"I have a photographic memory already and I would never forget someone's name... though I see your point. Very well, you have my permission to reinstall any programs you'd like... there is one condition I have." Keebo shifted uncomfortably.

"What?"

"I'm not going to analyze any... well.. you know.."

Miu's face burned red from pure embarrassment and roared: "Forget that, okay?! I'll - I'll just fuckin' go to the doctor or somethin' or use my own camera! Jesus fuckin' christ..." 

"That is preferable." 

. . .  Kirumi Tojo paced the floors of her insanely tiny room, her shoes had been kicked off and scratched the wall and her short and neatly done hair was frizzy and unwashed since the day she woke up. She knew she stunk, she knew she was being erratic and unprofessional but how else do you deal with this information? 

In truth, Kirumi felt like a child. She felt like how she used to act in middle school. She was beginning to question everything she's ever done whether it was real or if all of her memories were a fabrication - however as soon as she brought that idea up to the therapist she had been assigned he shot down the idea immediately. Almost too quickly. 

Kirumi recalled the name of her mother and father and first pet but she could only remembers fragmented pieces of her childhood before the sudden jump into becoming the Ultimate Maid.
However she was never the maid for the Prime Minister, as she's been told. 

Throughout childhood Kirumi had been reckless and sassy.  In fact she cannot stand to be in the same room as Miu Iruma because it was too much like looking into a mirror from her past. She was never that vulgar but the audacity she had was matched to Iruma's.

She recalled sitting on the table when she was little and her mother scolding her for it; Get off of there! Don't you know sitting on tables will make you end up as a maid? 

Well now here she is.
The Ultimate Maid confined to her living quarters because she cannot handle going out there to greet anyone. Especially Hoshi.

No, she can never see herself as friends with any of them. Not even Akamatsu. The sheer embarrassment that would overtake her, how she tried to manipulate everyone in her trial so she could go free for the greater good - now having to face them only to admit she was never in such a high position of power.
Kirumi Tojo is still the preppy, self-centered, princess from her youth, who made-believed too hard and now she is nothing but a shitty maid!

With a loud screech, Kirumi turned around and flipped her dresser over, she heard the sudden whirring of a device and turned drastically - tearing her security camera off the wall of her room. 

[ https://docs.google.com/document/d/1e1UH9L9w8RcF7gYU5-zgVxj8oXOwPZOZpGpTy9QNl8E/edit?usp=sharing ]

[You gotta cpy and pste the link, Yes I drew that ^^]

. . .  Most of the students had abandoned the dining hall by now but not Kaede.

Despite her expecting to receive minimal information about her peers, she assumed Kokichi had forgotten what he was doing and who he was with because he told her practically everything about everyone. 

How he knew close to nothing about Rantaro but recent events made Kokichi theorize he's some kind of sadist who volunteer for each killing game, though Kaede refuted that as soon as she heard it. 

"I mean the only thing remotely interesting is how everyone found him so fucking attractive in the first half?"

Kaede grinned. "I wasn't the only one then?"

"I knew you liked him!"

Kaede scoffed. "Not in that way, shut up."

 Ryoma despises his existence and believes he's gotten rid of everyone who has ever given him a chance or felt faith in him and Kokichi thinks something bad will happen to Ryoma if he really does drop out. He had always been depressed and reclusive in the killing game. Huh. 

How Kirumi may be a humble maid but anyone with "half a brain" can tell she's just as self righteous as every member of the government combined, she thinks too highly of herself and being humbled has turned her aggressive.  She pretended to be kind and caring not because she's a people pleaser but to make herself feel good by doing good. Or so Kokichi says. 

How Angie's core personality traits seems to be her god and her artwork - but Kaede hasn't her heard talk about either thing. 

Tenko and how he only can speculate she's madly in love with every women she looks at and does truly have a hatred for men even he can't bullshit a reason for yet. But Tenko is bright, optimistically naive, and too reckless for her own good. 

Korekiyo and how he will most likely never change. He was violent, super creepy, and very talkative about what fascinated him in the killing game. Kokichi shyly admitted he wasn't lying about how much he hated his sister but Kokichi claimed boldly he will most likely remain a murderer and pyschotic.
Kaede wanted to refute it but felt she should actually sit down with the taller boy first. 

How Gonta was kind and considerate just as Kaede initially remembered but easily manipulated and too gullible for his own good. Gonta told everything about his life to Kokichi and repeated it fluently to Kaede but made it obviously there was a lot he speculated about his history. While Kokichi talked about Gonta and how forgiving he was - Kaede noticed a twitch in his smile and Kaede almost wanted to encourage Kokichi to let go of the mask he projected but didn't want to interrupt. 

Miu was always a vulgar girl with an unfortunate gift at being tech-smart but not nearly street smart. Though everyone did not miss how she magically seemed to guess every blackened in the trial immediately - she was very easy to doubt herself. Kokichi admitted to absolutely hating Miu for being so cocky and too submissive despite how she projected herself. Which was an... interesting thing to hate someone for.

Kaito who was naturally an idiot, but a sexist one at that. In the screening when Kaito verbally put Shuichi down for being depressed - Kaede was initially offended for Shuichi but was shocked to see him accept such bizarre ways of encouragement. He cannot see reality for what it is, Shuichi is the leader and he is but a side-character to his main story. 

Keebo who has always been stiff and emotional despite being a robot - but that's all he'll ever be to anyone. So he shouldn't try to be anything else...

And Tsumugi. 

"You don't have to tell me about her." Kaede spoke, looking away and staring at the plain girl who sat by herself. Her eyes had that deep far away look in them and Kaede almost wanted to ask her what she was thinking about.

"Don't wanna kiss and make up with the mastermind?"

"Not particularly." Kaede confessed, and Kokichi was silent. 

"Then why me?" He finally asked after what felt like an eternity. Kaede looked back at him in surprise and he held a dark expression. 

"What do you mean?"

"Ugh, I mean why are you trying to forgive me? I hate you, you know." 

Kaede frowned. "I believe we all can be friends again."

"But not Tsumugi?"

"She started this whole thing! She watched everyone died and... well I guess that's the biggest difference between you two." Kaede explained and her gaze softened as she looked Kokichi in the eye. In turn his eyes widened in silent realization. 
"You tried to stop the killing game... in your weird twisted ways. Shirogane just sat back and watched with a smile on her face." 

Kokichi was silent, as he observed Kaede's features trying to figure her out. "Mmmm okay... Hey, Remember how useful Shirogane was during the killing game? I mean we really needed her cosplaying skills.”

And to the Supreme Leader's surprise: Kaede threw her head back and laughed.

[Time jump, evening.]

. . .   "Have you been talking with Himiko?" Maki brought up to Shuichi as the two were outside together. Kaito had been wanting to continue the training they had done but both deemed it way too early, not only that but they've heard some minor details from the medics Kaito's disease could lead to phantom chest pain. 

"Not since she's gotten back with Angie and Tenko..." 

"I understand she's going to take this second chance to be with them again, but for surviving with each other..."

"You're feeling left out?"

"No." Maki snapped and Shuichi reeled. "I'm not feeling left out, it just feels like for all we relied on each other back in the simulation... it's like she's forgetting that." 

"That still kinda sounds-" Shuichi began but then Maki quickly lowered her gaze in a threatening way and Shuichi's vocal range changed as he came up with a different response: "SounDS- Like - yep - like exactly what you said. The thing yo-you just said. Mhmm. She's definitely... not with us like she used to be." 

"It's just weird, I figured once everyone woke up some of us wouldn't be too different than how we were in the killing game-" Maki would rarely recall the simulation, certain parts of it at least. This was one of the exceptions, when she was complaining about someone else. "-but even people like Shinguji and Yonaga are acting different."

Shuichi suddenly beamed, lighting up a bit. "Ah - I was hoping you'd say that. I noticed it too, especially regarding those two. Angie isn't mentioning Atua anymore around everybody and Shinguji never wears his mask anymore and he's trying really hard to befriend everyone, especially Rantaro. I think it has something to do with Rantaro mentioning his adventurer hobbies, I don't think he was ever actually confirmed to be-"

But Shuichi stopped himself mid rant as Maki stared at him silently. "Am.. Am I talking too much?"

"No it's not that. You don't actually like that idiot, do you?"

Shuichi reeled, it was so close to a previous question regarding Kaito back in the simulation Shuichi almost instinctively repeated his answer back then and cringed, his face shifting into a frown. "Why do you ask?"

"Don't avoid the question." 

The conversation quickly muted as Kaito barged outside wearing a twin white button up, matching Shuichi's. 

. . .   Shuichi went back in first, he had taken notice Maki was lingering back, particularly physically close with Kaito too. 

Kaito almost ruined it by following behind his sidekick before Maki spoke up. "If you weren't getting executed what would you have said?"  She blurted out.

In took Kaito way too long to process her question and even when he had an idea he still asked: "... Huh?"

"In the simulation. I'm -" Maki bit her lip and shook her head. Kaito eyed her hair as it shook in a delayed motion with her. She opted to tying it back into a braid instead of her usual pigtails and it shortened the length but not by much. 

"You should cut it." Kaito said without thinking which cut Maki off - who had actually still been talking. Both parties locked eyes and Kaito felt his face heat up. "Uh.. my bad. What was that?"

Maki seethed, lowering her gaze. "Can't believe I fell in love with you." She hissed, walking past him when suddenly he grabbed her by the wrist.

Instinctively and like a puppet on a string her body moved before her mind could catch up and she threw Kaito to the floor. Stepping on his throat.  Maki blinked a bit in surprise before quickly stepping off of him. "I'm sorry." She whispered. "I don't know why I did that." 

Kaito coughed a bit, sitting up and curling in on himself as he coughed more and Maki felt her heart-rate pick up. She hadn't had a panic attack since basic training and now- 

"I'm-" He huffed, cleared his throat, and then choked again. "I'm fine. That was my bad." When Maki saw Kaito spit up blood she felt herself grown faint. 

From a distance Tsumugi watched silently from her window and she even thought this was all too dramatic. "Can't you two calm down?" She shouted to them before disappearing behind her bedroom curtain. 

As Maki turned towards the building with a newfound hatred for Shirogane, Kaito stood up behind her and took a deep breath, turning to spit up blood mixed with saliva. "I was asking you to repeat yourself?"

"I-" Maki turned back, brought back into her body and her mind as she gritted her teeth. "I told you I loved you in the simulation before you died... if I didn't tell you... if I had said it earlier. Would you have said it back?" 

Kaito stared at her. 

In the simulation Shirogane had confessed to Maki that she was destined, written, to fall in love with Kaito. But Kaito wasn't exactly written to die. 

Kaito facial expression twitched and he sighed, looking down as he scratched the back of his neck. "No, I don't think so." 

Chapter Text

Tsumugi Shirogane does not sleep soundly. She never does. 

She tells her therapist she has nightmares and when she asks about them Tsumugi tells her she doesn't remember them. 

But they're usually the same. Someone is being executed, and while everyone cries Tsumugi smiles. 
Monokuma has tea parties with her.
Rantaro turns around just in time to see her bash his skull in and fall to the ground like a rag doll. He's still alive for about three seconds when his eye shifts and locks contact with her's as she watches him fall. 
Shuichi calls her out in front of the people she was lowkey disappointed survived. 
And Keebo's false apology rings in her ears and she thinks about how everyone she condemmed to a murderous simulation all simultaneously agreed she deserved nothing less than the death penalty.

She stares at her ceiling all night and her voice shakes with fear when she asks why they didn't allow locks on the doors. 

She wonders if the lesser of her classmates like Ouma, Shinguji, or even Saihara would attempt to try their hand a real-world murder. She knows she'll be the first to go. 

She almost doesn't leave her room but it's shockingly Shinguji's boldness that inspires her to eat her pathetic tray of fruits and mush. 

Shinguji doesn't talk to her and Shirogane doesn't make an effort to talk to him. 

When she's caught taking a 0.1 second glance in Keebo's direction, Miu grabs him by the wrist and drags him out of the room and previously the gesture would seem erotic or suggestive. Or even rude, but it isn't. Keebo can't eat and he's been spending a lot of time with Iruma - most than the self-proclaimed Student Council Tsumugi was non-verbally kicked out of. Sometimes she catches Keebo and Yonaga meeting up with Chabashira, Yumeno, and Gokuhara. When she wants to inquire about why he didn't invite Iruma she stops herself and walks away. 

Keebo doesn't seem to mind when someone like Iruma treats him anyway she pleases. At least that's how Tsumugi sees it.

Ouma is the fastest to comment on these behaviors but both parties treat him with the same amount of disgust and loathing they do with her.

She almost wants to befriend him, but she knows better.

Two of the most evil people in the world she never interact with each other. One could damage the other's reputation more than it already is.

Though Tsumugi's noticed one thing that occured within the span of a day and now it repeated itself today.

This morning.

Kaede Akamatsu, Ultimate Pianist, takes it upon herself to sit with Kokichi Ouma, Ultimate Supreme Leader. 

And Tsumugi cannot figure out... why. 

In the simulation she knew how everything was going to play out - it was like someone whispered it into her ear. The only kind of surprising things were most of the murders but even then she knew no matter what she and Saihara would never die. 

Kaede was meant to be with Shuichi, Maki falls for Kaito but Kaito was never meant to last long enough to tell because of his disease - speaking of.

Those two aren't sitting together. 

Harukawa is sitting with... Yumeno, Chabashira, and Yonaga. Huh.

Interesting. 

Saihara, Momota, Shinguji, Hoshi, and Gokuhara are all still sitting together. Saihara asks about Harukawa but Momota dismisses it. 

Tsumugi flickers her eyes to Shinguji and notices his eyes trailing the room in a similar matter. Had things turned out different, he would've made an excellent mastermind. 

But no, Tsumugi was chosen for a reason.

Where was she? Oh yes. Himiko falls in love with the idea of Angie before Kokichi manages to tease his way into her childish heart. Keebo of course falls for Miu but Tsumugi knew Miu wouldn't last long - she was surprised she didn't die in the third chapter. She isn't likeable in the slighest. 

Maybe if things turned out different there too, they could've been friends. But again. Not possible. 

It's when Tsumugi is the last to leave the dinning hall - she didn't want to walk out by herself in front of everyone. It felt too much like middle school - Kokichi Ouma lingered by the doors. 

“You ever gonna tell them the truth?” Ouma spat, vaguely. Tsumugi approaches him as casually as she pretend to be. 

“You know I’ve tried." She hasn't. Another lie. "It doesn’t make a difference to anyone.” Tsumugi held herself in her own arms, looking downcast. “I never asked to be the mastermind. I never even volunteered. You get kidnapped by your dream school and suddenly a virus decides you look like someone who could manipulate these students.”

“I wasn’t just talking about that.” His voice is hard to discern if he's angry or earnest.

“Oh. You mean the cousin thing.”  After the two antagonists woke up and Akamatsu took Ouma to his room. The next day they were both called in for extra medical due to being crushed as their deaths. During this one of them stupidly let Tsumugi's entire family history slip.
Out of everyone it had to be Ouma who heard it. 

“Mhmmmm!”

“That’ll only makes things worse. The cousin of Junko Enoshima inventor of the despair virus known as Monokuma? They’d all have a field day.”

“You’re so boring.”

“Don’t pretend like you’re enjoying the hate either, Kokichi.” Tsumugi grinned, madly. facing him finally.
“How does it feel to get Kaede on your side? Does it feel good? Do you think everyone will forgive you because our savior likes you? Do you want her to fall in love with you so maybe everyone will forget all the shit you put us through? I may have killed Amami and Akamatsu but I didn’t kill Gokuhara, Iruma, or Momota. And I certainly didn’t lie and lie and lie til I pushed everyone away from me.” As Tsumugi rambled she kept taking small steps closer to Kokichi until she had him physically backed into the wall.
“You ruined everyone’s lives. And that wasn’t randomly decided. You made it happen all on your own.”

Kokichi stared up at her with master poker face but glossy eyes. He suddenly scoffed and then sniffled, rubbing his nose with his knuckles. “Why are you so mean?”

. . .  Rantaro still hasn't come back, and it was getting closer to the day where everyone is transferred to Hope's Peak.
Or at least that's what they've been telling themselves. 

While Rantaro made it to the first location, he's practically harassed every person he's ran into on the whereabouts of his littlest sister. 
After his mom in fact confirmed he had himself been missing for nearly two years and his sisters had been missing for even longer - he didn't ask how. He already seemed to know.
That part of his backstory where he managed to lose all twleve of his sisters on some sort of family trips - three years most of them would surely be dead. That's what his mother believed.
She begged for him to come home, forget about his sisters but Rantaro couldn't. To him, they were the only thing he knew for certain were real and he could hold onto them.  Hold onto that. 

Rantaro planned on staying for at least three days before going to the next location. But his phone buzzed with messages and calls from the facility his classmates of the third killing game were being held.

No one told him anything about the other two they were in.  He only made few friends from those simulations regardless, these current classmates of his weren't his friends. He knew them for like three days and even then he didn't talk to half of them.
Rantaro could see himself becoming friends with Shuichi, Kaede, maybe Korekiyo, Angie, and possibly Gonta or Keebo. But the rest didn't really impact him. He recalled thinking Miu was really pretty but he could tell everyone thought about that before they actually got to know her.
Even know when he woke up again he was taken aback, but then she opened her mouth.
She was really funny.

Digressing, Rantaro had to get a hotel for the night. Maybe he'll accidentally block the Research Facility's number. Maybe he'll call his mom, or maybe he'll text Kaede. 

Maybe he'll drop out of Hope's Peak Academy too. 

. . .  As per-usual Miu was hanging out with Keebo in her dorm room as she was snooping around looking for things to take with her to Hope's Peak the next day. While they were all getting on an immediate bus transfer to the campus, they were also allowed to leave whenever and go back home. Unfortunately, Miu has zero contact with her father and she cannot remember her address for the life of her. Even all her memories from her past, which were lowkey kind of fuzzy, but did come rushing back into her head. 

Surprising herself, she wasn't really in a rush to return home to all of her stuff, she was a world famous Ultimate Inventor so the world was awaiting her grand return once she graduates and brings them more great inventions.
None she can even remember but it's not a big deal - there's just too many to count!

There was minimal chatter and conversation between her and the Ultimate Robot. None entirely focused on whatever they were talking about initially but Keebo sat stiffly on Miu's bed just watching her throw anything she wanted to steal into a bag. Kind of like how you go into a hotel and raid it. 

Somewhere along the way Keebo stumbled over his words - not unusual - but then he stopped his sentence dead in his tracks. When Miu turned to look at him he looked horrified, not staring at her as his eyes shifted around the room. 

"What's wrong with you?" Miu asked, not letting any concern leak into her voice. 

Keebo blinked back into reality and shakily waved it off as nothing - "My apologies, I believe I talked over you."

He hadn't but Miu shrugged it off as well. "Alright," And attempted to pick up on whatever nonsense they left off on. 

. . .  Later that night two drastically different Ultimates found themselves walking down the hallway to the same location. 

And when they ran into each other - 

"What the heck are you doing (here)?!" Both students shouted in unison as they backed away from one another out of surprise and as if the other were carrying the plague.

Kaito Momota, Ultimate Astronaut, stumbled back in the pajamas offered by the facility. All the gel used to keep his hair up and spikey was gone and that's when Tenko Chabashira, Ultimate Aikido Master noticed all length and flat it really was.

Tenko had stumble back and thrown her hands up defensively ready to take down the possible threat. When she realized it was Kaito her face defaulted into disgust. 

After a few seconds of silence, Kaito took it upon himself to answer first: "I'm going to check up on Kirumi. I know it's kinda late but we're all being transffered tomorrow and she hasn't said a word to anyone since that apology." 

Tenko scoffed. "What apology? You mean the one where she told you boys just how much she hated you before she ran off?" 

"Wh- hey! No! She said hated all of us!" Kaito not really defended his case.

Tenko scoffed again, her face scrunching into something smug and comedic that make Kaito exhale sharply through his nose.  "Uh-huh. Last time I checked I'm pretty sure it was you boys like Gokuhara and Ouma calling Kirumi "mom" that made her upset! The last thing she'd want to see is some "step on me mommy" man."

"Oh but she wants a "step on me queen" after her?"

Tenko flushed red and gritted her teeth. 

"Is that why you're out here too?" 

"Not that I have to answer some dude, but yeah! I'm gonna cheer up Kirumi and invite her to breakfast with Himiko, Angie, Maki, and I before the bus!" 

"What makes you think you'll do any better than me?" 

"Oh please, I saw the way you decided to cheer up Saihara in that simulation. You really thought telling someone to get over their depression was going to help anyone?" 

Kaito didn't know why that particularly struck a nerve but it did. So he shot back: "Cause you were real good at helping Himiko out with her's."

"What?" 

"Don't know if you saw it either, but in your trial I was the one who helped her push through the trial! I got her to believe in you and in herself! You thought telling her she had magic and feeding into delusions was a good idea." 

"What do you even know about Himiko?!"  Tenko raised her voice, practically screamed and raising her hands - no longer intending to defend herself. 

"Have you even bothered to get to know her yourself?!"  Kaito retorted, crossing his arms tight over his chest as he stepped closer. 

"More than any of you! All you ever did was bully Saihara and manipulate Harukawa she fell in love with you!"

"And you know so much about Harukawa too!?" 

Tenko took a breath to retort but faltered. She stopped and eyed Kaito really now, he had a line of brush across his cheeks at the mention of Maki. "Harukawa?" Tenko repeated. "My god... she doesn't love you does she?" 

Kaito's face lit up in rage as he eyed Tenko up and down before gritting his teeth and louting out a muted shout. Turning away and throwing his fist against the wall - not strong enough to leave a dent or a hole in it but enough Tenko jumps back at the sudden burst of rage.
Kaito intentionally avoided taking his anger out on Tenko.  She bit her lip as she watched Kaito reel his fist back and cradle it in his other hand.

Just as that noise occurred Kirumi threw open her door and the two looked over, wide-eyed.

[ https://docs.google.com/document/d/1e1UH9L9w8RcF7gYU5-zgVxj8oXOwPZOZpGpTy9QNl8E/edit?usp=sharing ]

"Can you two stop fucking yelling?"  Despite her vulgar words and seething expression painted on her face, Kirumi looked rather calm, composed, and very tired. 

"Sorry." The two whispered at once. 

Kirumi looked between the two before sighing, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Let's have breakfast. The three of us."

Kaito blinked. "... Right now?"

Tenko actually hit him this time as Kirumi seethed. "She means in the morning, idiot!"

"Tomorrow morning." Kirumi clarified, extra. "Just the three of us. Does that satisfy all of you?"

The two looked between each other. "Uh-"

"And I will not be cooking it." Kirumi said finally before shutting the door. 

. . . Keebo found himself creeping around the first floor pod room, though everyone was awake something had piqued his curiosity he needed to see. 

When he peaked cautiously into the room he saw a few lab assistance with clipboards and tablets in their hands scribbling and scrolling idly. All of which looked up in alarm but once they saw it was Keebo they did not seem to relax at his presence. 

"Forgive me," He began. Miu was practically comatose in her sleep - a joke he would not repeat to her nor anyone for that matter - and after he heard Kirumi lecture his two other classmates in the hallway that was when Keebo snuck out. "I did not mean to disturb your work."

"What are you doing down here?" One of the lead assistance cut to the chase, one of the techs who wanted to shove wires into his head. Keebo cleared his throat awkwardly as he felt ghost of sweat coat his face. 

"I just would like some clarification on something."  Keebo confessed and shyly made his way inside the pod room. Folding his hands awkwardly as his eyes shifted around. Sixteen students if Keebo counted himself, but as he looked at the pods he only saw fifteen. Was he the missing student? 
A question he was too nervous to ask so he licked his lips as he inquired: "I was curious about my ability to hear the voices of the audience in my head during the simulation. Was that... fabricated? Or-"

"That was most of our staff attempting to reach out to you to rescue our students. However our messages of assisting in your rescue was altered by the virus to make us seem like fans of the Killing Game known as Danganronpa." They answered and Keebo nodded, barely.

"So I should not be hearing any more voices. None what so ever?"

One of them eyed him suspiciously. "Are you still hearing voices, K1-B0?" 

"No." He lied, very quickly. Too quickly a few of them looked at him now with curiosity and Keebo cursed himself mentally. "I was just- I had a few conversations with Miu about some functions and just... required some clarity about these functions but I.. I just have one more question and I will be leaving you all in peace." He tried to justify quickly, already back towards the door he entered.
Thankfully no one stopped him and they awaited his final question. 

"Well," He thought. "I suppose I have two. Forgive me, I was curious if I will be joining my fellow classmates as a student as Hope's Peak?" A few of the scientists eyed each other and he saw the vague expression of humor plastered onto their faces like Keebo was joking. He almost wanted to shout, call them robophobic. But he held his metal tongue. 

"Well, when you all transfer to Ultimate Academy for Gifted Juveniles, I suppose you will be joining them. No reason for you not to, you were created to learn from your peers." One of them shrugged off and Keebo reeled for more reasons than one.

"The... the Ultimate Academy for Gifted Juveniles...? I - I thought we were all going to Hope's Peak Academy?" 

"No. Well, not quite." The woman shook her head. "It will explained to you all, no need to tell it to K1-B0 first." She spoke to him but wasn't exactly speaking to him. It made Keebo feel...

Insignificant. 

"My final question then, when I was awoken..." He looked at all of their faces and half of them weren't even paying attention to him anymore. In fact, most were leaving. Keebo frowned. "I assume I did not wake up in a pod like the others, did I?"

"Of course not, you're a machine. You were plugged into to the simulation after you were built." 

"Right.. that's all." Keebo turned and quickly retreated back to the second floor. 

As Keebo took the hallway and the stairs back to Miu's room - he felt a little more disappointed with his answers. Though that is what he gets for lying to the professionals, he supposes..

During his conversation with Miu earlier while she was ransacking her own room- 

"I do not believe I was particularly drawn to any of our classmates. In or out of the simulation."

"Not even my hot ass?"

Keebo chuckled, awkwardly. "I d-"  All of a sudden an unfamiliar voice broke through his thoughts and announced it's presence in his own head as it said

"Tell her."  

Keebo stopped and turned drastically to observe the room. Did someone come in? Was Miu unfinished with her speech? Was it someone outside?

"What's wrong with you?" Miu broke him out of his thoughts.

It was so similar to one of the voices he heard during the simulation. Which know appeared to be one of the employees designed to keep the class safe, Keebo wished that assured him. At least it wasn't a total stranger... but still.

Maybe one of them was messing with him, they clearly showed no interest in his personal life to be aware of Keebo's complicated appreciation for Miu's existence.  Yep. Appreciation. 

Keebo tentatively reached up to his "cowlick" as he stopped in front of Miu's door. 
In the simulation when this was ripped off his head he couldn't hear the voices anymore, but he put all of his friends in danger and started to destroy the school.

If he did the same would he go ballistic and start destroying the research facility?

Keebo lowered his head and shook his head. No, he'd leave it for now.

Miu might know the answer to this. Maybe Miu could fix him.

He's positive the voice from earlier was just a tease from one of the lab assistance but the idea of his thoughts still being tracked, read, and generated for him made Keebo horribly anxious - he threw open Miu's door and shut it behind him gently as he treaded inside.

Knowing Miu was in there and someone was actually happy to greet him in the morning provided some comfort. 

Chapter Text

Night 2, 

 "Where are you?"

"Think you got the wrong number." Rantaro was already pressing end-call.

"You're supposed to join your classmates at The Ultimate Academy for Gifted Juveniles."

"I was permitted late entry." He refuted. "I got a signature." Don't know how the fuck they forgot that. 

"You have three more days."

"So it really doesn't matter where I am then, huh?" 

"Amami, it is important for you to join your classmates under supervision before-"

Rantaro ended the call and turned off his phone as he rolled over in his bed. Three more days wasn't enough to find his sisters. 

. . .   Himiko laughed as Angie dangled her by the ankles across her back. Tenko was running a little late from her private breakfast with Tojo this morning. 

"Bright and early rather than dark and scary!" Angie chirped as she approached the early risers. Those who had zero contact with any of their families had opted not to take anything the Facility had offered to give them as they prepared to move into Hope Peak's dorms. 

Notably, Ryoma would not be joining them.
Apparently. 

Not particularly something Angie has concerned herself with- as ruthless as that may seem. She's made her views on Ryoma's past pretty clear in the simulation - as well as how she feels about each individual culprit. 

Kaede seems like she means well but unfortunately Himiko cut their time to witness each apology short.  After the screening Angie witnessed Kaede didn't even murder Rantaro but the fact that she still plotted it changed absolutely nothing. 

As far as Angie is concerned - she is trapped in another school with a bunch of murderers.

She thought she could rely on Atua, but even in a simulation she was left disappointed. Once more. 

She was never occult or even Atua crazed- while she still believes in him she was never such a dedicated devout. Angie believes she's mentally touched upon this.

Now that's she's thinking of it again; she hasn't picked up a paint brush in forever. She cannot even remember her painting process. Maybe she can ask for her old sketchbooks?

Looking back usually helps when you're trying to remember. 

"Angie can you put me down? The blood is rushing to my head.." Himiko whined, snapping Angie out of her thoughts before obeying Himiko's wishes and gently kneeling down to drop her. 

Soon more students began to crowd out the garden area as a large bus began to roll up there were few excited cheers and whispering amongst the crowd.

In particular Angie took note of Shinguji, Ouma, and Shirogane standing farther away from the crowd while everyone was pretty squeezed up by the bus. 

Of course, Akamatsu was actually the only one trying to migrate Ouma into her little gang but clear protests from Kaito and Gonta (surprisingly) made her smile sadly before returning back to the group.

Tenko was panting heavily as she raced, placing a firm hand on Angie's shoulder and Himiko's head. "Sorry for being late! I really did try to get Kirumi to hang out with us but she still seems mad at everyone." 

"Who can blame her?" Himiko justified. 

Tenko chuckled awkwardly at that and Angie briefly flashed threatening eyes at her and Tenko quickly shut up. Glancing away from the two of them. 

. . .  Shuichi wasn't sure he was looking forward to the long bus ride with all of his semi-friendly peers. 
When they were allowed to board the bus Himiko, Tenko, and Angie were quick to take the back seats and as for who sat next to who-

Miu + Keebo

Kaito + Gonta

Maki + Tojo (The only two who had a mutual silent agreement not to say anything to each other the entire ride. Both seeming to have a mutual hatred for everyone including each other.) 

Shirogane was sat by herself, an empty spot open for either Ryoma or Rantaro to sit but neither were present at the moment. 

There was a brief pause where Kaede and Shuichi locked eyes. The only seats left were an empty two-seater or someone had to sit next to Ouma. And Korekiyo hadn't boarded yet. 

The silent conversation ended as Kaede briefly side-eyed Ouma who was looking at the two innocently. 
It seemed like for some reason there was an understanding that Shuichi wanted to befriend and reincorporate Korekiyo into a friend-group with everyone while Kaede felt partially sorry for Ouma for some reason even unknown to Shuichi.
Other than pity. 

Kaede quickly smiled reassuringly at Shuichi before taking a shy seat next to Ouma. 

Leaving Shuichi to take a spot next to Korekiyo. 

"That was quite the mental conversation you two had." Korekiyo quipped as Shuichi sat beside him. 

"Huh?" Shuichi questioned as he practically cornered himself into the window seat. Not because he was ashamed to be with Korekiyo, ever since his millions of apologies and wishes of redemption Shuichi has been keen on giving him a second chance.
He's also one of the only other competent people he can have a intelligent non-hostile conversation with besides Maki. The bus began to drive away. 

"I just mean it was a noble sacrifice. You two would sit together and I'd have to take my chances sitting with either Ouma or Shirogane. Though, I must admit I do not think she is the asshole we all think she is." Korekiyo brought such a heavy topic up so casually, even turning to briefly glance at the plain girl before looking back at Shuichi with interest.
He was interested in what he had to say. 

"Uh," Shuichi considered this. "Well... I suppose there could have been.. at least with how vo- vocal you are about it.. I assume there may have been some fabricated memories or just glitches that made you the way you were.."

Korekiyo's expression notably relaxed as Shuichi spoke and added onto the thought. "If Shirogane willing chose to be the mastermind of the killing game, assuming then she knew it was a killing game and willing went into that with the ability not to be murdered, then she willing chose fifteen strangers to forever hate her. Which seems like a disinteresting choice for anyone. Unless you're Ouma, he decides to have anyone hate him within five seconds of a conversation." 

"Well, yeah-" Shuichi sighed. Part of him wanted to defend Ouma strictly because Kaede was but he'd be lying if he said Ouma did not make him want someone to just pull out a gun and shoot him mid-lie.  "But.. I guess I hadn't thought of..." Shuichi leaned forward, looking at Shirogane.  "I guess I didn't think of the idea that maybe Shirogane is actually just as innocent as most of the culprits."

"That isn't to excuse what she put you through. I'm partial towards redemptions due to my own experiences."

"But not Ouma?"

"I can tell there are things he does seem to regret but unlike most of us he doesn't seem to be putting in the effort he's capable of in trying to befriend everyone."

"Korekiyo, can I ask you something?"

"You just did, but sure."

"Okay asshole," Shuichi teased. "Do you think... do you think Kaede's plan on everyone being friends again is-"

"It is never going to work." Korekiyo exhaled, pulling a piece of rogue hair behind his ear. He should cut it short (he debated.) "It's a pessimistic outlook, but it's absolutely true." 

. . .  "Did you want the window seat?" Maki asked casually. 

"I don't care." Kirumi responded coldly.

"Cool." 

. . . "Awhh do you liiiiikeee meee?" Ouma coos and tries to fall against Kaede's lap but instantly she grips his shoulder tightly and shoves him back against the window. 

"Is it alright if I sit here?"

"Well it's either with me or with the girl who got you and Rantaro kiiillled, sooo..." Ouma lifted his hands up like he was physically weighing the options and Kaede exhaled sharply, dejectedly.

Kokichi held his tongue, briefly recalling Tsumugi's threat just the day before about his advances on Kaede.
Not that it bothered him or anything. 

"Why'd you sit here anyway? Worried about Kiyo's fragile feelings?"

"A little, actually." Kaede admitted and Kokichi's face fell. He squinted suspiciously. 

"Really?"

"I know it's hard to believe, especially hard for you of all people, but I really do want all of us to be friends again. Kiyo has always been apart of that group since the beginning... so yeah, I wanna be friendly to him." Kaede turned and smiled rather pathetically at Kokichi. "And you too."

Kokichi scoffed before leaning back and laughing. "That's really funny. How many times are you gonna activate that selective hearing all musicians have when everyone tells no one is gonna forgive anyone." 

"I know we all can get along!" 

"Put Himiko and Korekiyo in a room together." 

Kaede frowned. 

"Oh! Or better yet, me and Gonta!"

Kaede's frown grew sterner.

"Keebo and Tsumugi?"

Slowly turning into a pout.

"Shuichi and anyone he's basically d*xxed announcing their crimes to eveyone." Kokichi hollered like it was the best joke in the world and based off some uncomfortable silence and staring, he was drawing much attention.

"Kokichi, that's enough!" Kaede snapped and Tsumugi eyed the two. "Why can't you be a little optimistic that everything will turn out fine?"

"You're idealistic." Kokichi stuck his tongue out. 

Kaede crossed her arms over her chest and pointed her legs away from Kokichi as she turned away. 

. . . "I've noticed you have been very distant from everyone else.. even after I invited you to our new student group." Keebo brought up casually. 

"Of course, everyone besides you is a fuckin' loser." 

Keebo blinked. "I have many issues with that statement-"

"What, you wanna be a loser too?" Miu poked Keebo's chest accusingly. Keebo flushed and shrunk back into his neck-bracer. 

"We- well, no. That was not the... thing I had an issue with." 

"Good." Miu snapped, leaning up against the window seat she had called dibs on. 

. . .   "How are you doing Gonta?" Kaito decided to take a shot in the dark with small talk. 
He's never had a thing against him until the murder trial where he got mad at Shuichi and Ouma for a while for how they treated him.  Gonta has always seemed like a super friendly character, and he cared a lot about literally everyone and everything. Insect or human. 
Even now it's admirable how he can manage to almost forgive someone like Shinguji. Though, the biggest issue Kaito had with Shinguji was how weird he used to be.

Now he still seems weird but, Kaito watched Shuichi willingly sit down beside him. He pursed his lips as he leaned over to watch them talk.

"Gonta is doing just fine. Gonta little tired but, how is Kaito doing?"

Nearly lost in his thoughts, Kaito was brought back by the sound of Gonta's voice and he politely smiled. 

"I'm always energized and ready!"

"Gonta glad to hear! Gonta very excited to get to Hope's Peak." 

"Yeah, I'm pretty psyched too..."  Kaito awkwardly rubbed his hands on his pant legs as Gonta just nodded along. 

And silence fell over the two again. 

. . .  The silence between Kokichi and Kaede was something tense and uncomfortable.

For both parties. 

Kaede looked up and noticed Shuichi and Korekiyo seemed to be having an intellectually charged conversation. Rather quietly.  At one point Shuichi turned around and stared at Kaede.
His eyes spoke for him as he briefly glanced to Ouma and softened when they looked back at her: Are you okay? Do we need to swap?

Kaede smiled in return and just side, turning back towards Kokichi. 

"Are you at least excited to meet any new students?" Kaede asked cautiously. Kokichi perked up once Kaede started talking again -  "I'm sure there are Ultimate Labs as well. It might be weird at first but I never got to use mine." 

Kokichi leaned his head against the window, "Sure, but I can't really run my lab without my devoted followers."

"Are any of them Ultimates?"

"Nope." Kokichi sighed falsely fondly. "Aren't they so lucky to have me?"

Kaede chuckled awkwardly. "I wouldn't know." 

"Maybe you should join and find out!"

Kaede flushed and leaned back as Kokichi suddenly leaned forward. 

"Oh I don't... what's that?" Kaede suddenly perked up pointing behind Kokichi.

He turned around and looked out the window. "Looks like we're driving past Hope's Peak Academy..."

"Huh?!" Kaede moved forward and pressed herself beside Kokichi as she looked out the window.

"You'recrushingme!" He choked out, sounding nervous.

"Oh! Sorry!" Kaede backed up and noticed Kokichi suddenly paling, looking sweaty. "I'm so sorry, Kokichi. Are you okay?" Filled with genuine concern for her fr- for Kokichi. She placed a cautious hand on his shoulder. 

Kokichi slowly turned to Kaede, still panting before noticing her hand and swiping it off. "Yeah, I'm fine." He lied, like usual. "It looks like they're taking us to a different campus..." As the two watched as the veichle slowly pulled up to a school neighboring Hope's Peak.

"Oh my god..." Kaede breathed out. 

"You know what's funny, Kaede? I was lying earlier."

The students all rose frantically and speratically as the bus doors opened, no one wanting to get out as the building before looked just like the Ultimate Academy for Gifted Juveniles. 

. . .   It was quite the battle and it took a lot of convincing before most of the students got off. Shuichi, Maki, and Himiko were fighting for their lives - of course Himiko ran off as soon as Angie and Tenko were escorted.

Shuichi and Maki clung to each other as a Professor and bus driver had to drag them off the bus. As soon as they did so, Maki ran up to the tour guide and grabbed him firmly by the scruff of the neck.  "Why did you bring us here?" She threatened. 

"I thought this place.. didn't exist?" Shuichi pondered, following her train of thought. 

The escort stood between Maki and the boy, trying to coax her off of him.  The guide himself looked just like a student with a formal uniformed jacket on covering his green hoodie. He had messy brown hair and that's when Shuichi recognized him.

Didn't Tsumugi cosplay him in the final chapter?
Shuichi looked over and based off of Tsumugi's faint expression - that was definitely it.
It was like seeing a ghost.

"It - it's a totally normal procedure! Most Ultimates go through this all the time!" He instantly tried to explain as he also attempted to pry Maki off of him. "The Ultimate Academy for Gifted Juveniles is just - it works as a transfer school! You all get your own dorms like Hope's Peak and even your own personal labs! We even share a campus, you're welcomed to come visit Hope's Peak and use it's resources any time!" 

"That does not clarify why we were brought here. We do not need to be transfer students." Korekiyo defended, Maki was too caught up in fighting to make a back-handed remark to him. 

"We-well, like I said! Some of the Ultimates who go to Hope's Peak now had to come here first! Like all the second years! They went through the same thing. It's just temporary - it's - the facility just wants to keep track and watch over students recently coming out of the simulation!" 

"Sounds like a loada bull but whatever." Miu whispered and Keebo bit his tongue.

He was informed this is where his classmates would end up. He just.. he did not know why he did not warn them.
When Keebo glanced at Kokichi he quickly turned his head away. Huh. 

Eventually they did pry Maki off and the student stumbled back.  He fixed his uniform and waved the escort away mumbling a brief: "I'm okay. I got it from here."   He then turned to address everyone.  "My name is Makoto Naegi. I'm a third year at Hope's Peak Academy and I'll be giving you all a tour of your school."

The characters displayed before Naegi were certainly interesting and providing a lot of deja vu.  "I'm sure I'll get to know everyone throughout the tour.. please follow me!" 

Begrudgingly they did so. Maki, Kirumi, Gonta, and shockingly Korekiyo lingered in the back of the herd.

As everyone approached the Academy, there were drastic notable differences from the simulation. For example,

"It's not in construction anymore?" Shuichi questioned. 

"Nope, before you guys were released this place always goes through some renovating for new students, so I guess it just kind of stuck that way in the game." Naegi explained. 

The school itself was much more cleaner and Gonta was already getting distracted by how many insects he saw. The lawn was cut and there were only two buildings in the distance from what the class could see. 

"Where's your lab?" Miu asked loudly. Naegi turned around and watched as Miu leaned down to speak with Keebo.

"What're you looking for?" He cross-questioned. 

"Keebo's lab ain't here." Miu pointed at the Ultimate Inventor's Lab. "It was on top of mine in the game. You have mine, where the hell is his?" 

"Ah.. and you must be the Ultimate Inventor and the Ultimate Robot... what a pair." Naegi humored and watched Miu rolled her eyes and Keebo flushed. "From my understanding we weren't expecting sixteen students... though I was told they had expanded the Ultimate Inventor's lab horizontally rather than vertically. I imagine your labs remain combined.. just... larger." He shrugged as he opened the main doors and welcomed everyone inside. 

"Wait.. you weren't expecting sixteen of us?" Shuichi interrogated.

"No, your robot friend wasn't expected to join us..."  Naegi frowned, awkwardly and apologetically. "I.. I'm not sure if he has his own dorm room."

Keebo frowned. "Again...?"

Miu charged forward and grabbed Naegi by the back of his hood and Maki allowed a small smile to appear as she did so. "Well then someone's gotta tell them to put on in for him!" She growled. 
Keebo merely watched with an unreadable expression as Naegi shy-ed away and mumbled some explanations and excuses.  He put a hand over his chest, where he robotic heart would be as he felt it squeeze and skip metaphorical beats. 

"I'm - I'm sure there's plenty of space.. here just... let me continue the tour! So you can meet your professors and get to know the classrooms. Once we're done in here - you guys are free to explore the shared Campus of Hope's Peak Academy."

"We're not allowed inside of the other building?" Kaede inquired. 

"Unfortunately you have limited access. You're only allowed limits to the first floor lounge, lobby, and library." 

"How disappointing." Kokichi whined. 

"Sorry.." Naegi shrugged as he walked further down the hallway. 

The interior of the academy struck fear into the students as they timidly walked through the hallways. There were notable differences.
Clean floors with no grass, the windows were not boarded up and easily see-through, the classrooms looked friendly and there were even some Professors inside - only Kaede, Shuichi, Keebo, Angie, Himiko, Tenko, and Gonta took it upon themselves to introduce themselves to the teachers. 

Naegi walked past a few Ultimate labs - Kaede practically sprinted into her's like it was a present and shrieked with joy.

"The Ultimate Pianist?" Naegi asked. 

"What gave it away?" Kaito humored. 

"And you are..?"

"Kaito Momota, Luminary of the Stars!" 

"Ah, the Ultimate Astronaut."

"Yep!" Kaito posed proudly. "You probably have a lotta questions for me don't you?" Despite the fact that Kaito has never actually been in space-

A strange look crossed over Naegi's face before he shook his head lightly. "Sorry, I ... maybe some other time okay?"

"Huh." Kaito watched Naegi walked away and gesture for the students to follow. Shuichi grabbed Kaito's shoulder from behind.

"You alright, Kaito?"

"Yeah, just... that was weird." 

. . . The labs were located on varying floors just as depicted in the simulation, Korekiyo and Maki were reluctant to enter there's, however the undead students stopped in awe at Rantaro's.

"I can't believe he isn't here for this." Kaede whispered. 

"Maybe it's for the best." Shuichi replied hushedly.

"This is so messed up." Maki hissed, looking pointedly at Naegi who stepped back cautiously. "This is a carbon-copy of his lab in the simulation. The class trial set up, the blood in the mannequin's head, the safe, the frames-" Maki went on before stabbing her finger into his chest. 
"I know you didn't have a say in the design but you better find who did so they can take this down."

"Maki," Kaito spoke up suddenly and Maki turned to face him, her hair swinging back dramatically as he looked pointedly at him. "Sorry if this kinda out of the blue but.. why do you care so much?" 

Maki's eyes only grew sharper and briefly anyone could hear Korekiyo 'tsk' at such a question. "You're right, maybe the Ultimate Survivor of three killing games should just walk into a class-trial look alike with X's over all the frames." Maki gestured to it all.  "Are you an idiot?" 

Kaito frowned awkwardly and rubbed the back of his neck. "Just.. didn't think you cared about Amami is all." 

"I don't give a fuck about him, this is just messed up for anyone to go through." Maki justified and suddenly snapped her gaze at Korekiyo, who seemed to be matching it. 

"Sorry to interrupt.." Naegi suddenly spoke up, all eyes on him. "Are you talking about Rantaro Amami, The Ultimate Survivor?" 

"Do you know him?" Shuichi asked suddenly, Kaede looked between the two with surprise.

"Not personally, I've heard of him though... everyone knows that guy." 

There a silence over the class as a few unspoken questions erupted. Well, Shuichi was nearly vocal with his "What's that-"

"Come on, we'll finish up this floor and go explore Hope's Peak before you're escorted back here." 

. . . When they all arrived to the actual grounds of Hope's Peak the air around the students were lighter but tense as many stared at them with interest and slight mixed disgust.  Kokichi took it upon himself to make faces back at everyone. 

"There are a few classes going on inside so I won't give you guys a tour inside but just know the Campus hours to transfer students and limitations are posted outside the doors.  You're all welcome to walk around a bit out here - maybe get to know some of the second and third years." Naegi shrugged pathetically before rubbing his arm shyly. Looking around hopelessly himself.

"Why were you put in charge?" Kirumi suddenly asked.

"Huh?"

"Well it's clear you don't know what you're doing."

"Uh-"

"Kirumi!" Tenko hissed with no malice as she suddenly abandoned Himiko's side and ran towards her. "While I agree with that a woman of superiority should've been put in charge-"

"Uh." Naegi just looked between the two. "Well I uh... I was the survivor of the first killing game."

"First?" Shuichi practically raced over - prepped for interrogation. "How many killing games are there?"

"There were fifty three." A new voice suddenly spoke up, another student with long lilac hair and a purple vest approached. She sounded awfully similar to Kaede and stood tall beside Naegi. "Congratulations. You were the last ones out." 

"Oh my god." Shuichi muttered, his face suddenly red. Kaede looked at him with surprise. "I.. you're... are you..." He cleared his throat. "Kyoko Kirigiri. I presume...?"

"Yes presume correct. You've heard of me."

"All too well.." Shuichi admitted shamefully. "I'm.. also the Ultimate Detective."

A different expression formed on her face before she quickly masked it, sparing a brief glanced to Naegi who shrugged in response. Shuichi eyed the two. 
There's something they're not telling him.. or everyone else.

"Well, your friends can introduce themselves to others but don't expect to get too friendly." She explained. "Not everyone here is as nice as Makoto." And with that she took his hand and walked away. 

"Maybe that's why he was put in charge." Himiko wandered over, commented, before grabbing Tenko's hand(successfully causing her to seize up) and pulled her away from Tojo. 

... As Korekiyo strayed not too far from the group he locked eyes with a very stranger looking boy. With pale skin and hamsters coming from his long purple scarf that trailed longer than his black coat overlapping his uniform. His hair was gelled up to look like an ice cream cone. He stared silently at Korekiyo with his heterochromatic eyes. 

In reply, Korekiyo arched a brow. "Can I help you?" 

"Are you challenging me?!" He roared and suddenly the blonde girl he was talking with blinked in surprise, stumbling back before looking over at Kiyo now as well. 
He looked between the two.

"... Challenging you?" 

"I can tell just by looking at you, a dark past clouds this on-"

"He means you have aura!" The blonde one spoke up. 

[ somewhere across the world rantaro is losing it]

Korekiyo blinked slowly. "What."

... "Woah."  Tenko gasped as the three girls wondered for a bit.

Himiko sighed almost irritably. "Woah what?"  

Tenko pointed. "Who is that?" She asked, her breath taken away as a rather petite girl with a red-swim jacket on and her hair tied up in a high-ponytail was talking to a much larger girl with the build like Gonta's. Her hair was white, long, and sharp with her uniform practically ripping through her muscles. 

Himiko and Angie looked on with minimal interest while Tenko sprinted at the two. 

"Love or admiration?" Angie teased. 

"Let's hope she's just really into buff women..."

"Why?" Angie cooed. "Is Himiko jealous?"

"No." Himiko spat a little too quickly. "I just don't want everyone thinking the transfer students who go to a juvenile school are freaks... we already got Keebo standing out and Maki threatening our tour guide..."

"And we have people like Iruma and Shinguji attending our school." 

"Everyone's gonna hate us." Himiko dreaded. 

"Most of them." Angie humored. "We are not to let our classmates define us. If they do... then maybe we should not be friends with any of them anyway." Angie spoke already following in pursuit of Tenko.

"Such wisdom... did Atua tell you that?"

Angie's frolicking faltered but she kept a smile on her face. "Nope. Just off the dome." 

Kaede was the first one at the bus, the earliest one. 

She watched as her friends wandered for a bit, briefly talking to a few upperclassmen but mostly sticking to themselves. Her phone suddenly rang. 

Her parents had sent her some of her belongings to the academy before hand, before coming to Hope Peak's campus she grabbed it from her dorm. Kaede eagerly looked to the name expecting a call from her mom but was surprised to see Rantaro's. 

When she answered, she wasn't greeted with a "hello" or "how are things going" but a: 

"I found my little sister."

Chapter Text

"Oh." Well she wasn't expecting that.

"I know, isn't that great?" On the other end, Rantaro sounded exhausted and Kaede could just picture that tired smile on his face. 

"Ye- yeah! That's wonderful! I - uh - what are you doing now?"

"Heading to the next place I lost my sister. I have only a few more days before they drag me back."

".. How... how was your sister when you found her?" Kaede turned her back to the students as they began to pile back onto the bus. A few stopped a bit away from her to watch this conversation.

"Unrecognizable."  Rantaro's voice cracked and Kaede felt her own breath hitch. She's never heard nor seen him emotional with just how short they had known each other. But for some reason he seemed casual on showing it. His voice ached with something of disappointment and pride.  "Some foster couple took her in, she knew her name and she remembered us but... well when you're over seas I guess it's hard to return a lost kid to her real family." 

"Was she angry?"

"I couldn't tell." 

There was silence on both ends before- "Why did you call me, Rantaro?"

A bit away Shuichi, Kokichi, Maki, and Tsumugi were struck with silent surprise.

".. Well I told you I would, didn't I?"

"Did you?" She genuinely could not remember. 

"Well, I said I would keep in touch and I'd rather talk to you than anyone else."

"Even Shuichi?" Kaede questioned, almost defensively.

"Nothing is wrong with Saihara, you just don't ask as many questions as he does. Any deep ones, anyway."

Kaede laughed. "I.. guess that's fair." 

"Akamatsu, we need everyone back on the bus now." The bus driver cut in and Kaede jumped a bit in surprise. She watched as the four students walk in, Shuichi in particular eyeing her. 

"Sounds like you gotta go."

"You heard- nevermind. Yeah, moving into the dorms starts today... actually there's something I should-"

"We'll talk again when I find my youngest sister. Shouldn't take long, so you can save it them. And Kaede? Don't tell anyone we were talking."

And with that, he hung up. Kaede stood for a bit before the sound of the horn honking surprised her again and she grumpily boarded. Taking a seat next to Kokichi.

"Your boyfriend calling?"

"What?" She snapped. "No. It was... my sister." 

Kokichi's eyes went wide and lit up - Kaede Akamatsu just lied. Loudly. To his face and in front of everyone. And there's no way no one didn't catch it-

Shuichi, sitting in front of them perked up. "Kaede, do you have a twin sister- like - actually?"

Kaede found herself glaring at Shirogane. "No, I don't have a twin sister." 

Tsumugi pretended not to notice. 

. . .  "Fuck yeah!" Miu cheered as hours passed, when everyone was back to the class from the Killing Game.

Many cars, some familiar, some strangers, pulled up and older men and women came out. Miu ran towards her parents cars and leapt into her mother's arms. 

Shuichi approached his uncle shyly before being pulled into a tight embrace and Kaito was cautious and treated his grandparents with care. 

"Oma.." Keebo spoke up hesitantly, while Miu was finally happy and distracted, he took this moment to speak with someone he also did not favor amongst the other students. "Do you not have any parents visiting?"

"The only family I need is my secret organization. And they're not here. Probably thrown in jail and left to rot without their leader." He spoke coldly. "I'll find em later." Oma waved off before briefly glancing at Keebo and smiling sinisterly.
"What? No inventor coming to greet you and bring all your junk from home?"

Keebo's mouth formed into a thin line as he looked ahead.  Kokichi scoffed.

"Did you bring my shit?" Miu instantly began to search the car and pull out suitcases and cardboard boxes. Some of her equipment she recalled having since forever were shinning like they were brand new. 

"I - uh - I wasn't sure what you wanted me to bring." Shuichi's uncle shyly handed over three suitcases and a brief case. 

"Textbooks, telescope, can't forget your star-chart..." His grandma began piling things out of their trunk.

Korekiyo stood before his parents silently, his hands neatly folded behind him as they placed two suitcases down and just.. quietly discussed.

Maki watched in utter silence, filled with burning curiosity over what his home life must've been like. If they knew of him and his sister.. out of her thoughts Maki noticed a few staff members of the Academy shooing away a white car before taking a suitcase from them and approaching Maki with it. 

"We do not usually inspect our student's items.. without consent." 

"Why do you want to search mine?" Maki was already reaching for it. She assumed the car was from her orphanage - just handing over old items.  "It's because I'm an assassin, isn't it?"

They were silent but reluctant to hand it over. Maki snatched it away.

"If there's any weapons inside it, I'll just put them in my lab. I know it hasn't changed."  Maki walked away.. but their hesitancy and how quick they were to send off her old orphanage caretaker made her uneasy...

While most of the students were swarmed with family, Tsumugi saw a familiar veichle pull up and discreetly entered in, the car drove away just as fast. 

When she got into the car, she wasn't too surprised by who she saw. "Hello cousins." 

"Awh, what? No hug?" Junko Enoshima, the former Ultimate Fashionista turned Ultimate Despair. Tsumugi wasn't sure how she did in the other simulation but all Tsumugi knew was she was altered to carry on her cousin's mission.
Beside her was her twin sister, Mukuro Ikusaba Ultimate Solider. Shockingly, Mukuro was scrolling through her own phone lazily. Tsumugi can't even remember why those two had separate last names. 

"What do you want Junko?" 

"Oh come on now, Tsu. You act like I wasn't a victim either?"

"How are you still allowed to do this? The mastermind of all killing games, you made the Monokuma Virus, what are you doing here?"

"I'm here to drop off your stuff since Aunty and Uncle don't care to see us."

"I'm not associated with you. I never wanted to be the mastermind of the fifty third killing game."

"Are you kidding?! I guaranteed your survival! If it wasn't for that dumbass robot, you would've won it all!" 

"You never answered my question, how come you're able to do this?"

"With some therapy everyday, constant surveillance and oh yeah - my sister only being allowed to spend one hour every week with me? I'm pretty much free to do whatever." Junko rolled her eyes as she explained, Mukuro briefly looked up. 
Despite their opposite talents, Tsumugi always preferred Mukuro over her sister.  Before they both went batshit insane.  
"How are you still able to do this?"

Tsumugi bit her lip, and her hands scrunched up into fists. "I suppose I'll be getting special treatment too." 

"You know there's something I could do about that..." Junko whistled. "For like.. a totally small price of course."

"Why would I want whatever you have to offer me?" 

"I can tell the facility when I hacked into the Ultimate Experiment, I hacked into your memories. They'll believe me when I say you were totally innocent through all of it, just some mental manipulation."

"The Ultimate... what are you even talking about?"

"Awh she doesn't know?" Junko cooed leaning into Mukuro.

"Thirty four minutes left. . ." She reminded, before continuing her sister's sentence. "When Junko took over previous simulation that contained students like Makoto Naegi and Nagito Komeada.. those simulations were a series of virtual kidnappings done on our part. Since there were so few Ultimate level people in the world, it was a method of pure torture on the human pysche. On the Ultimate's pysche. You classmates were an entirely different story. Something the facility was inspired by us."

Junko cut her sister off, just as it was getting interesting: "And we totally copyrighted out killings games - even if they ended up in failiure. So like, we had to do something about it." 

Tsumugi was reeling, blinking like she was a computer trying to compute all the information suddenly given to her. "I.. I still don't understand-"

"Well none of that like really matters right now, okay?" Junko cleared her throat. "Point is, I can get you your classmates approval back, free you from consequences, all you gotta promise me in return, is a dinner date with that Rantaro Amami." 

Tsumugi was getting sick of this, she turned her attention to the window and notice just how far they were getting from the Academy. "... Why do want to see Amami? What's so special about him?"

"I didn't realize how funny you try to be Tsu!" Junko spoke aloud as she kicked her feet up. They were in a limo and Junko rested her heels onto the seat beside Tsumugi. "He's the Ultimate Survivor! The killing games might not have been real but to survive three of them - especially with how complicated the murders were in each one!"

"Aren't I more impressive?" Tsumugi tried. "I was the one who killed him."

"Yeah, when he couldn't remember his identity! When you can actually remember your Ultimate it's a totally different story. If anything, you kind of ruined the killing game before it began."

"Forget it. If anyone knew I was siding with you everything I'm trying to work for is going to be over before they begin." Tsumugi spoke firmly. "Take me back to the school, and don't bother with my stuff. I never wanna see my old cosplays again." 

"I know you'll change your mind, Mugi." Junko threatened.

"We'll drop me off first." Mukuro spoke up. "I know you'll make the right decision, Shirogane." 

Like this was considered a right fucking decision, but whatever.

. . .  Seeing her parents again was a very silent and mutually awkward exchange. Her parents were looking at Kirumi like she an entirely different stranger. Not even her father commented on how less of a brat she seemed to be. 

Now here she was in a room that was too much like the simulation, folding her laundry, and not caring to decorate the place... she heard a knock at her door. 

Many of her classmates kept their doors opened while they organized their dorms and cleaned it up. Especially Kaede, to encourage some time to spend closer together as friends. Kirumi rather be left alone.

Then she heard some muttering and whispering outside her door and it gave her deja vu of the night Chabashira and Momota were fighting over who would be spending time with her... actually-

Then her door swung open; "You disgusting male! What if she wasn't answering cause she was getting dressed!" Chabashira roared, pointing accusingly. 

"We- well it would've been locked if she was!" Momota defended and once again the two stood in her presence causing her nothing but irritation.

"Can I help you with something?" There she goes again. Playing the maid, even if it was the only thing she was good for anymore.

"Come hang out with us!" Chabashira shouted, before quietly adding. "Please?"

Momota, facing away from the Aikido master, rolled his eyes. "Come on a walk with me and my sidekick!"

"I can't believe you're gonna replace Maki with Kirumi!"

"And you're trying to add her to your weird little cult!"

"We are not a cult! We're just friends! You're just jealous Maki seems to like us more than you!"

"Do you ever shut up?!"

"Enough out of both of you." Kirumi raised her voice. "Momota, I will escort you on a walk, without Saihara, and once that is over-with," Kirumi turned to face Chabashira. "Chabashira I will spend quality time with you in the same length of time our walk takes. Is that fair to everyone?"

The two were silent and looking between each other for a moment before begrudging they sighed. "Fine."

As the two started to leave, she stopped then. "Wait,"

Tenko and Kaito both stopped in her doorway.

"Why are... why are you doing this?" She asked.

"What are you talking about?" Momota questioned. 

"Why are you inviting me to do things all of a sudden? I don't want to talk to any of you anymore." She added kind of aggressively on the end. 

The two looked between each other again. 

"You don't really mean that," Momota spoke up and Chabashira smacked him on the arm. "What?! Look - I - I'm just..." Momota looked back to Kirumi who replied with a look of impatience. "I'm just.. taking off that mask of yours." Tenko look surprised. "Like I did for Maki." 

Kirumi was silent and then Chabashira spoke up her reason: "... You seemed like you could use a friend. Someone who didn't think of you as just a second mother or a maid to be bossed around.."  Momota turned and glared at Chabashira.

The two waited for Kirumi's reply and as she was late to deliver it, they left.

"Huh.." 

. . .   Keebo walked into the sixteenth empty dorm room and had what you could almost call an anxiety attack.
Nearly.

Well it was the most unsettled he's felt since he was told everyone would be attending the Ultimate Academy for Gifted Juveniles.  Without Professor Idabashi visiting him and his faulty memory of his home address, Keebo walked into a spare dorm (not even meant for him) with the same colors, sheets,

  Everything was the same. 

“They're watching us too.”

Keebo practically jumped out of his artificial skin as he looked around wildly before spotting no cameras in his room and his door shut.  Maybe it was someone outside. 
Surely.

He was still in the same proximity as his classmates, perhaps he could go.. 'out' with one of them? Perhaps finally decorate his room. Keebo turned back to face it and did his best to imagine it.

Keebo did enjoy the traditional Japanese look - that is just how he could do this room! And he'd put his own portrait and name on the door so everyone knows it's his. 

While he may be entirely incapable of picturing it himself he could ask Tojo or Iruma or even someone like Shinguji for assistance. Yes, someone like Shinguji would surely be helpful for a traditional Japanese decor.
And Iruma would most likely assist him with organizing.

Part of Keebo felt guilty if he were to ask Tojo, the Ultimate Maid, for assistance with his room. Especially when she seemed so bitter to literally everyone about everything.

So Shinguji and Iruma seem like the best choice.  With this in mind, Keebo left and went upstairs, knocking on the Ultimate Anthropologist's door. 

 . . .  "What the fuck do you want?" Miu snapped, interrupted as she was organizing her gear into separate containers. Her closet finally looked normal and at least her bed looked familiar, though she was probably never going to sleep. 

In her doorway and now in her room stood Kokichi Oma.  "Why do you... why are you so nice to him?" He asked, uncharacteristically serious.

"Huh? Who the fuck?"

"Don't play dumb, skank!" Kokichi shouted but there was the playful bullying tone in his voice.

"Heeeeee!" Miu recoiled, instinctively she wanted to turn around. Look for Gokuhara. Like she was being ambushed once again. "He-hey! Really! Who the fuck are you talking about?!" 

"Woooww, so she does pretend to be smart! I'm talking about Keebo you dumb bitch!" 

"Whuh..." Miu paused, finally connecting the dots. "Why am I nice to Keebo? Why the fuck wouldn't I be?" 

"Oh you can cut the dumbass act now, it's getting suuuper annoying! We all saw how you fondled him that one time - and how you teased him but still treated him like an inanimate object just like the rest of us!" Kokichi snarled.  "And now you're treating him like a kick puppy! Asking why he doesn't have a room, why they were gonna use his footage, he's just a machine! Why are you being so different?!"

"Because I made a mistake!" Miu countered, yelling just as loud. "I can realize that just like the rest of you! As soon as I woke up I knew I could only stand talking to that emotional try-hard cause at least he'd seen the best of me! Even at my worst, even when I touched him and made him do the shit that maybe he didn't wanna do he still..." The words died on Miu's tongue in silent realization before she continued:  "... He still trusted me! And if anything once I finally got to know him.. when I wasn't distracted trying to survive or building dumb inventions - when he got real with me, especially after the screening, I knew I fucked up. He may be a dumbass machine but he's ten times more human than half of your lame-asses!"

"You like that robot more than Kaede? More than Shuichi or Gonta or Kaito?"

"More than any of you fuckin' losers." Miu hissed. "Now get the hell out!" She yelled, but her voice died out and sounded.. scared.. at the end. "... P..please.."

Kokichi eyed her before shrugging. "Whatever, figures an inventor like you refuses to be with an actual human." And with that Kokichi left. 

. . .  Rantaro was sat next to his sister on the plane back home. He'd spend the time with her now before moving onto the next location, finding his second youngest sister there. 
Hopefully.

Beside them was a familiar Ultimate. The Ultimate Actor from his first killing game. Problem is when he turned to address Rantaro there were nails in his hands and lining down his face.
That's right, he died second. 

"Are you okay?" She suddenly asked him.

She asked him?

Why?

"Uh... yeah? Why? Are you okay?"

"I'm... fine." She replied awkwardly. "It's just... well you.. what took you so long?" She finally asked.

"I... it's a very long story.. for another time."

"... Okay." 

When Rantaro looked back to the Actor he was gone. He ran a hand over his face. 
No, he wasn't seeing things. 

He was fine.
Rantaro Amami was perfectly fine.

. . .  When Angie went through her items she found only two sketchbooks, and she recalled having many more. She debated on contacting her family about this mistake, surely there was somewhere she had hidden them.

They must go back, check, and return all of them to her. Not a single one should be missing.

Angie had been an artist all of her life, working hard despite the alteration of her god Atua doing all of the work. That wasn't entirely true. Yes her devotion often motivated a lot of her paintings and illustrations but she never allowed herself to become complacent with her skills. She made an effort to draw everday to hone the craft.

And well, being called the Ultimate Artist was like someone took all of her sketchbooks and set them ablaze in front of her. 

She knew everyone worked hard for their talent - unlike Keebo, most likely - it was never handed to them simply because they asked.

When she opened these sketchbooks she didn't recognize the illustrations looking back at her. She flipped every page, looked at the dates, the stickers she added onto the covers.  

If Angie could redo her Ultimate title, it would be the Ultimate Abstract Artist. That was always her favorite genre, ink was her favorite medium, and that Spanish artist Dali was her favorite. 

Here it was just a bunch of scribbles, like someone was in a rush, forging bullshit. Some of them she did remember creating - those memories she clung onto like a life line in her already foggy and self-doubtful past.  She found herself throwing her sketchbooks across the room and hitting the door.

When the door opened Himiko stood there with Tenko shyly behind her. 

"Are you okay, Angie?" 

Angie wasn't going to acknowledge how she had forgotten to lock her door, and how Himiko seemed to avoid knocking and just grinned widely.

"I am doing just splendid Himiko! Have you finished setting up your room? Can I see?" Angie cooed, tilting her head and playing clueless as Himiko smiled lazily in return.

"I was hoping you'd say that. Come on!" She cheered with an energetic pep in her step and Angie followed suit.

Behind her Tenko stood, briefly glancing at Kirumi's door. 

"What is it, Tenko?" Angie whispered, too merry for the environment. 

"Nothing." Tenko lied. And Angie let her. She couldn't bring herself to care much for Tenko's antics, even after the screening. Angie found herself playing the part for Himiko. For everyone.  She admired Kaede's optimism about being friends again - though her logic and ideation was greatly flawed the idea was there and it needed to be followed and mastered accordingly. Kaede would never get anyone there.  Not with Oma whispering into her ear. 

"If you say so!" Angie murmured, frolicking after Himiko. 

Chapter Text

. . . Rantaro could get away with most things. If he was sly enough.

But missing the first week of classes was apparently unacceptable no matter the reason.  He managed to find his sister before he was physically tracked down and put back on a flight to home, and then escorted in a limo to the school.

It was hard to explain to his sisters that he wasn't going away again forever. He was only going to school and he'll be back home every chance he got. Like a college student living off campus, after classes he'd most likely return home.

Although it took a lot for Rantaro's mom to convince him it was okay for him to go. Out of the one sister he found, he still had one left, since the rest were safe and sound at home already, and he was being forced to attend a school he didn't really want to go to. 

"I have to find them." He pleaded but she assured him just because he would be away doesn't mean she'd give up looking either.

"What have you been doing then?" Rantaro asked, and he didn't mean for it to sound accusatory or like he was mad but-

"Waiting for you." She sobbed. 

Rantaro hugged his mother tightly, and his eleven sisters...

Like he said, he could get away with most things. But two sisters was better than none. 

So when the limo started going towards Hope's Peak Academy, Rantaro pulled out his phone and started texting some of his classmates.

On the first week at their new academy, everyone was having a difficult time adjusting to their new scheduled classes, their own study times in their labs, and very limiting freedom.

While they were allowed to explore both the Juvenile Academy and Hope's Peak to their leisure - it was another story of leaving campus. Which Keebo found out, when he wanted to decorate his dorm:

"What do you mean "we can't leave"?"  Keebo had asked one of the facility researches, as they were testing out the cameras. Which were all over the school, just like in the simulation.

And just like the simulation, they worked and were being watched constantly.

"You have some limits for your own health concern as well as your Ultimate status drawing too much attention. We'd hate for you to be swarmed by strangers who admire you."

"Why is that a concern?" Shinguji asked. He had agreed to go out with Keebo for this adventure but politely insisted Iruma did not join them. While Shinguji had expressed his distaste for Keebo in the past (with not understanding what exactly his purpose was) he made a vow to amend relationship statuses with everyone. Including the robot. 

"We're trying to ensure your privacy. You all just came out of something very traumatic..."

"Surely you can make an exception. Keebo's room is far too close to the simulation for comfort. Perhaps we can just run to a nearby shop to change it around." 

"Is it troubling you?" The scientist turned to Keebo, genuine curiosity painted onto his face. 

"... Yes." Keebo side-eyed Shinguji but complied. 

"Very well. Temporary access is granted but do return by scheduled nighttime." 

It was then all the students learned about the strict rules of leaving campus, talking to non-Ultimates, the surveillance, and now constant, weekly, therapy sessions. 

Korekiyo of course, found a way to opt out. After a month it was up to the students if they felt well-enough to stop these sessions but Korekiyo managed to escape sooner and return to his family's psychiatrist. The Research Facility did their best to convince him otherwise and even tried to contact the professional to send over personal patient notes to them.
Of course Korekiyo's family, which had surprisingly been non-distant towards him, turned that around very swiftly. 

Korekiyo kept note of this.

About the second week at the Juvenile Academy, the students still had not fallen into rhythm. There was their basic homeroom classes of course, but it was just the sixteen of them at this school.

So each student was in every single class together. Maki's master plan of ignoring and avoiding Oma, Shinguji, Shirogane, Iruma - had all gone to hell on the first day. 

Kaede, however, was thriving. She found herself befriending her professors quite easily and even working on talking to one "new person" every day. Whether they wanted to talk to her or not.

The only person she would never talk to is Tsumugi Shirogane...

Tsumugi was going through her own personal hell once the second week of classes had come to an end. Besides the hesitancy to let the students leave the campus, Tsumugi had more restrictions put on her.

Unlike the other students, her alone time was restricted. She was free to return to her dorm as she pleased but Tsumugi had certain hours to be in her lab unlike the unlimited time everyone else had. 
Tsumugi was to avoid and not interact with Junko and Mukuro.
  Like the other students, but to a more extreme, she was required to go to counseling everyday, and her screen-time was limited. Like a child. 
And now some of her classmates had even inquired about the same no-interaction rule with Tsumugi - meaning someone could put a fucking restraining order on her. 

Every time she was cut off from cosplaying or even scrolling on her phone she considered Junko's deal more and more...

... Kaede was considering Rantaro's words to her one day during lunch. She often found herself sitting either with Shuichi, Kaito, Gonta, and Korekiyo. Or Angie, Maki, Tenko, Himiko, and Kirumi. And on the rare occassion, she won't show up for lunch and find herself in Kokichi's dorm. 

"Looks like as long as Shirogane, Oma, and Shinguji are in the room no one is really gonna forgive anybody."

It's a horrible idea, and an even worse thing to do. To exclude them like that... but if Kaede can get everyone to just be at ease with each other again.. she has to get everyone in the same room together. Without those three. 

Maybe. Just maybe...

"Hey Shuichi?" Kaede turned to face him, sitting next to him during their lunch period. Shuichi has also seemed to grow more during these two weeks so far. He naturally seems to get along with most everyone - shockingly most of the culprits seem to think he's very reliable as well. Kaede was almost jealous at how much he had changed and how befriended everyone... without her.

"Yes, Kaede?" He responded calmly, turning away from a quiet conversation he was just having with Kaito. 

"I had an idea to bring everyone together aga- don't look at me like that! You haven't even heard me out!" Before she could even finish her sentence Shuichi's face twisted into a disappointing frown. 

"The last time we tried anything like that it went very bad." 

"I... I know but... well I had a different idea.. about how to go about it." When Shuichi stayed silent Kaede took it as a cue to keep going: "I was thinking a lot about what Rantaro said a while ago, before we arrived at the Academy."

"Mhm.."

"He said, well, he kind of theorized as long as Kokichi, Shirogane, and..." Kaede briefly glanced to Kiyo and lowered her voice. "And Kiyo are all in the same room as the rest of our classmates, no one is going to get along."

Shuichi's eyes shifted a bit as Kaede spoke, like he was trying to crack the code of what Kaede was saying before she finished elaborating. Something she hadn't realized she missed. He used to do that a lot in the simulation, covering his eyes with his hat as he did so. "So... what's your plan?"

"I was thinking of inviting everyone out to lunch.... exceptthosethree-"

"That's... kinda mean." Shuichi didn't imagine spending so much time with Oma would affect Kaede but here we fucking go.

"I- I know! It's... well.. okay... hear me out, Shuichi. I don't like the idea of excluding anyone but think about it! How else will everyone get along?" 

"... Time?"

"I..." Kaede sighed and rested her hands in her palms. "I... I know that but... do you really think it's gonna take "time" for anyone to forgive Kokichi? How long do you think it'll take before Himiko even wants to be in the same room as Kiyo?"

Shuichi briefly glanced to the others who seemed to just be politely listening as Gonta went on a tangent about all the bugs he saw today. Shuichi turned so now he was knee to knee with Kaede. "Look, I understand it's... it's really difficult to see everyone like. It was especially difficult to rewatch it again.. bu - but.. I don't want to put Himiko and Maki in a situation where we're forced to forgive everyone again... and I know you don't want to put Oma or Kiyo in an insolation situation that could only pin eve- everyone against them." 

"I just don't know how to fix this" Kaede wanted to say but instead she bit her lip and just nodded. "Alright... yeah..."

. . .  "You wanna try that dumbass plan again? Wow! You're more gullible than Gonta, Kaede!"  Kokichi giggled as they walked through the hallway. Gonta, who was walking past, paused and looked over.

"Huh?"

. . .   "Hello Shuichi."  Korekiyo greets as Shuichi exits his lab, why Korekiyo is on the fifth floor is beyond him currently but it didn't seem like he was waiting for him. In fact, he was lingering around Rantaro's lab. 

"Hey... Kiyo. What're you doing up here?" 

"Just some of my own research. Rantaro's lab is intruiging, no?" Korekiyo asked, a notebook in his head and already walking towards the room he spoke of.

Shuichi glanced to the stairs and then shyly followed behind him.  Arguably, Shuichi has been getting along with Korekiyo most of out all the non-survivors (not counting Kaede).  He brought a new perspective into every tiny thing, and while Shuichi has never been too interested in the concept of humanity - Korekiyo's fascination with pretty much every little thing made him sound nearly non-human.  Keebo seemed to be rather fond of Korekiyo's conversations from a far as well. Though Shuichi hasn't spoken to the robot in a while. Too occupied with Miu.

Shuichi walked into the lab with Korekiyo who was already eyeing the portraits and writing things down while Shuichi shifted uncomfortably just looking at the place. 

"Does this room make you uncomfortable?" Korekiyo asked, without looking over.  

"Well, yeah. A little. It looks just like a trial room."

"Nearly, I imagine all the labs make everyone slightly uncomfortable. Though most of my relics are missing. Which is... interesting."

"Oh yeah, most the poisons and files from my lab are different or gone too."

"If this place was under construction and altered while we were stuck inside Danganronpa, I understand how there would be drastic changes. But for me to be missing priceless artifacts from my study - well it doesn't seem like some places are taking my Ultimate seriously."

This usually happens, sometimes as the two talk, Korekiyo will begin to get into a few conspiracy theories just on the tip of his tongue he indulges to Shuichi. While he's not much a theorist and more focus on discovery and establishing actual hidden facts, Shuichi does entertain his ideas. He finds they both love mysteries like these to solve. 

"Do you think when Shirogane spoke about streaming this to an audience, that was true?"

"While that could explain their hesitancy to let us out in the public... our families know we are all alive and well. And I imagine Hope's Peak would fight to clear the name's of their students for their reputation. Considering you have students from the very first killing game attending this school, which also provides the idea that multiple killing games occurred as at the same time. If the fifty-third killing game was the last one and the third years are from the first one." 

"That sounds correct..." Shuichi walked over to Korekiyo and looked at the photos with him. "I imagine if it was really streamed through Keebo's eyes to the scientists.. maybe they don't trust us with certain things." 

"But Harukawa is still allowed an Ultimate Assassin's lab..." 

"Well that is her talent."

"I have no doubts Harukawa wouldn't harm a hair on anyone's head - but it is interesting they let her hold real weapons from recovering murdered students." Everyone knows the weapons are real, Maki cocked a gun and fired it inside the building on the fourth day. Unintentionally of course. "It was wise to provide her with the only key to her lab.. I was unable to investigate it myself." 

"So you're investigating everyone's labs?"

"Not everyone's." Korekiyo clarified, his expression faltering as he did so. Right. There's no way Himiko, Angie, or Tenko would allow him to even be on the same floor as them at the same time.

"Tenko probably blocks her lab with her body as a shield." Shuichi didn't realize he said that last sentence aloud until he heard Korekiyo's interesting laugh afterwards.  

"Wouldn't be too surprising." Korekiyo hummed.  The two remained silent for a bit before Shuichi scratched at his wrist idly and took a breath to speak: 

"Do you think Shirogane didn't want to hurt us all like she did?" 

"... I don't believe so, actually, no." Korekiyo finally looked at Shuichi. "Has that statement and theory of memory altercation bothered you?"

"I've... just been noticing a few of our classmates acting different than how they were in the simulation."

"Besides Yumeno's more optimistic attitude and Tojo's hatred for anyone who looks at her."

"Ki..kind of? Miu is way more nicer to Keebo, Kaito still has some toxic masculinity in his personality but he's been softer on Gonta, and Rantaro just seems..." Shuichi couldn't explain it so Korekiyo did:

"He's never present in his own body." Shuichi looked at him. "Oh of course I've noticed. Before he left, he'd check his own pulse four times a day." 

"It's different with him, he's been in three simulation before us and the researches have done so many medical checks on him..."

"I do wish he was here." Korekiyo supplied. "I'm taking notes about his lab while also listing some questions I'm curious about... I've even done it with Harukwa but ever since her newfound friendship with the women of the student-council, she'll never talk to me again."

"I don't know why she hates you as much as Tenko does." 

"To put it lightly." Korekiyo added sarcastically. Jokingly.

"Right," Shuichi guffawed. "Maybe I could talk to her."

"I was surprised she fell in love with Momota before she fell in love with you." 

"Really?" Shuichi flushed red. There maybe was a time he'd thought about Maki in that kind of way but then again there was a lot of very pretty people in that simulation going through so many situations that were not suited for romance.

Korekiyo nodded. "You two would've been just fine for each other. I think Momota must feel the same, since he turned her down."

Shuichi's eyes widened. "What."

Korekiyo looked just as surprised. "Apologies, I thought it was obvious with how separate they've been." 

"No - yeah - it - it is- I guess I just didn't... didn't imagine you'd know too but... maybe I should stop underestimating you." Of course Shuichi knew, Kaito had to tell him yes, but he never imagined Korekiyo would be so perceptive. 

Korekiyo giggled again. "Perhaps you should. Is that why he refused her heart? Because he thinks she likes you?"

"No, he just... he just was honest. In the simulation he never felt that way about her and after seeing the screening and seeing Shirogane say she was... wr- written to fall for him... he just... didn't believe her."

"Yikes."

"Yeah." 

"Do you like her in a romantic sense?" 

"I don't know... Probably not. I'd have to wait now that we're not fearing for our lives every day."

"Well, any day could be our last but in this situation it's a little less obvious."

"Why the fuck would you say that." Shuichi asked, exasperated.

"Forgive me for triggering your impending doom, I forget not everyone thinks that as often as others." 

"Back to Shirogane." Shuichi lightly patted Korekiyo on the bicep. 

"Right, I do not believe she genuinely seems interested in everyone's downfall. If she truly didn't care about what she had done - she would be more verbal about it. There's no reason for her to put up an innocent front any longer." 

"Do you feel bad for how others treat her...? Like.. she's an evil mastermind?"

"Do you?" Korekiyo turned the question back around. 

"I feel bad when we all agreed she deserved to die."

"That was a little fucked up admittedly, but I have not treated her entirely different from you. She and Oma just both annoy me. But so does Iruma. So I treat them how anyone who annoys me is treated."

"Oh."

"Mhm. Would this conversation encourage you to maybe hear her out?"

"..." Shuichi looked back at the portraits on Rantaro's wall. At all the portraits crossed and he wondered if it was Junko Enoshima who ran those games or Tsumugi Shirogane. "I don't know." 

[Class is over, late afternoon early evening]

. . .    After classes, Keebo found himself where he always does. With Miu inside her dorm room. He had changed over the first week. Now wearing MIu's reading glasses, which he was horrendously teased for by Kokichi and even Himiko. But they have greatly assisted his eyesight and made him feel more normal despite taunts.
And since he could not take his robotic armor off - he was stuck putting clothes over his bulky body. Shockingly, he was wearing one of Miu's hoodies. 
He wasn't aware this was a common thing amongst humans - or friends- but after a three days, Miu stole his favorite zipper-jacket. And instead of returning it Miu simply gave him one of her hoodies, as a trade. It was bright pink, matching his glasses, and on the back it read: "Smart Ass" with an arrow pointing down.

"Part of me wonders.. what's inside of me." He suddenly spoke up.

Ever since their transfer to The Gifted Academy for Juveniles - Keebo has been more emotional than he usually is. Which is very ironic, because he's supposed to be an emotionless robot who struggles to comprehend human emotions and interactions. But Miu has never seen something so good at it.
He's better with his feelings than half of the entire class.
Anyone more emotional than him - probably pooichi or flat chest number three. 

Miu would also normally make a suggestive joke or cuss him out for being so intimate and send him off to someone who actually cares about this, like Angie, Keebo's new therapist. 
But Miu wanted to be better for him, she didn't know why.  Well, she knew why cause she told Oma. But Keebo inspired her to be a better person. For some fuckin' reason. 

"I have never seen my interior wiring and no one found my body when I self-destructed so it was never confirmed if I even bleed the same as the rest of you... I - I feel so isolated yet the same simultaneously and I am unsure how to proceed like this." He looked to Miu nearly helplessly.

It wasn't Keebo's fault he would dump all of this onto Miu or Angie.
Because of his metal body, and the staff refusing to refer to him as "Keebo" and only calling him "K1-B0", they hadn't assigned him a therapist.
Keebo has told Miu he's tried to ask for one but the staff member he asked had actually laughed at him. 

She was pissed off for him. Can't believe she's believing in this robophobic crap but it's apparently real. And whoever invented Keebo in the first place seemed entirely out of the picture to step up for him.
And it's obvious how everyone feels and felt about the robot. 
Miu seems to be his only ally. 

"Do you like... wanna try to find your blueprints or somethin?" She wasn't sure how that would help him at all with whatever he's feeling inside but-
"We can leave now and try... I know you said you don't remember where you live but like - they probably have your blue prints somewhere with our files."

"You would really wander around helplessly to assist me?"

"You're fuckin' coming with, bitch. I'm not gonna get lost by myself."

“She's too nice to you.”

Keebo smiled shyly, ignoring the voice, and fiddled with the strings on the hoodie. "I do not know if our efforts will be futile. There must be an explanation as to why I've forgotten his address... perhaps Professor Idabashi has already passed?" 

"Well that'd be a problem if it is your blueprints you're looking for."

"I understand your logic, it would provide explanation as to what is inside of me but... I do not know if what I feel is physically impeded in me or not."

"So you feel different from us cause you're a fuckin' machine, but you feel the same cause you.. feel."

"Yes." 

"And you don't know how to continue like that..."

"Yes."

"Well you got the clothes, so you're not walking around technically naked."

"I did not think of that." Keebo flushed. 

Miu cackled and Keebo felt the artificial heat he was feeling on his face increase ten fold.  Keebo recalled being infatuated by Miu's laughter during trials but now without the taunting and hidden stress behind it all. It was more appealing.

"I think you just keep goin' how you usually are. Unless there's something you want to change about it."

"I just wish these feelings had a label."

"Does "confusing" count?"

"I... suppose." 

"Then there. We all get confusing ass feelings sometimes." Miu leaned against him. While Keebo was positioned in Miu's desk chair she scooted off of her desk and leaned her chest forward on the backing of the chair behind him.  "As far as I'm concerned confusing feelings are the most human emotion of all."

What is this feeling building in Keebo's chest? When Miu gets closer to him he wants to shy away but lean into her all the same. 
When she teases him he gets flustered but not offended.
And when she is out of character trying to be nice to him Keebo wants to learn her jokes to make her feel more welcomed as well. 

“Tell her!”

Keebo looked down at Miu's hand resting on the arm rest.  "You good?" She asks him when he's silent.

“Tell her!”

Keebo realizes now. He wants to holds Miu's hand. "Mhm." He mumbles because he's too distracted by these confusing feelings.

“You love her, you metal dumbass.”

Oh.

Miu gets a text, when she looks at it her eyes widen but she grimaces in annoyance. "What is it?" Keebo asks, now concerned as she walks away from him.

"It's from Amami." 

. . .   "So we're not actually bench-pressing." Kirumi inquired as she sat in Momota's lab with him. Staring above at his miniature planetarium he had full control over. 

"Nah. I figured star-gazing is more your style." 

"I see..."

The two sat in silence for way too long. Too long, Kirumi began to count the seconds, then minutes. And after she determined thirty minutes to go by she readjusted her position and eyed Momota.

"Aren't the stars so beautiful?"

They're artificial but- "Sure."

"You don't like stargazing?!"

"I... cannot say I have.. practiced it?"

"You sound like Keebo." Momota scoffed and Kirumi paused before she acknowledged what he was trying to say:

"I sound autistic?-"

"Wha- no?! Uh.. no? I mean - I meant you sound robotic, you can stand to relax a bit y'know. No one has been asking you for favors or chores."

"I haven't been doing any of that, no."

"Yeah.. so... what have you been doing all this time?"

Self loathing. "... I suppose I have been doing my own personal cleaning. And when I am not, I am spending time with you and Chabashira." 

"Oh... well... you don't do anything else for fun? Like exercise? Or...?"

"No."

"Okay.. well.. I can make you a list of shit to start doing for fun."

"What."

"Yeah like - you could stop cleaning and actually do something fun like create music, go dancing. star gaze, workout, maybe draw, I dunno."

"You think cleaning isn't fun?" Kirumi inquired. She had kept her answers short with Chabashira because the girl would ask such simple questions.
It was different with Momota... because he was asking dumbass questions. 

"Nah not really."

"I think it's fun."

"Oh... okay... that's kinda weird but I guess that's what women are into."

"What."

"Are women not into that?"

"That's a bit of a sexist mindset."

"Sorry! I didn't mean for it to be.." He shrugged, helplessly.

"You know, you and Chabashira could stand to spend less time with me and perhaps more time together. You two have a lot in common." 

It was Momota's turn to consider Kirumi's words, and he did so. Very silently. Looking back at the stars.

After what felt like another thirty minutes of internally counting the seconds - Kirumi stood up slowly and as she was about to leave his lab, Momota stopped her.

"Do you think Chabashira likes me?"

Kirumi grimaced into something annoyed and disturbed, and she let it show on her face as she turned back to look at Momota. Who reeled at her reaction.

"I meant like in a friends way-" No he didn't but whatever.

Kirumi shrugged, sighing deeply. "I do not know. Ask her yourself." And she left.

Maki saw Kirumi leave Kaito's lab and she felt an indescribable feeling deep in her stomach. 

[ Nighttime-ish]

. . . Shuichi stood outside Shirogane’s door and hesitantly raised his fist to knock.

“What are you doing?”

Shuichi jumped in surprised and spun around to see Maki, standing with her hair trailing behind her and in a sports bra and shorts, covering her exposed skin with a long dark red cardigan that felt to her kneecaps, Shuichi didn’t recognize. Must be from her closet. She crossed her arms over her chest.

Shuichi didn't know she was attending training today. She hasn't for the past week. Unless that's just her pajamas... 

“Oh…uh… this.. this isn’t my dorm.. heh-“

“Yeah, you’re on the girl’s side of the dormitory.”

“Oh— did I say my dorm? I meant Kaede’s—“

“Save it. Why are you trying to talk to her?” The way Maki enunciated made it clear she didn’t want to speak Shirogane’s name.

“I just… I was thinking about something Shinguji talked to me about.”

Maki made a face and replied; “Why are you talking to him?”

Shuichi’s grip on the book he was holding tightened. He wouldn’t get defensive or reckless over Shinguji, while they were getting closer, he still felt he only knew Korekiyo on the surface level. Of course, he still felt Korekiyo was a good guy. But Maki was being way too judgmental.  “He’s actually a great source of information and provides some intellectual conversation.”

“You can get that with anyone. Someone who’s not creepy.”

“Maki, what’s your problem with Shinguji?”

“He says he’s changed, but I don’t trust him. He hasn’t even denied killing all those girls.”

Shuichi hasn't even heard Maki directly ask him. Shuichi hasn't asked him, because it's probably not true either.
“So what? You’ve killed people.” The words were out of Shuichi’s mouth before he could stop them. And quickly as they left he slapped a hand over his mouth and looked on in surprise.

Maki didn’t even flinch. “That’s entirely different and you know it. I’ve been vulnerable and explained everything to you. You know I regret every decision I’ve made, you know I regret everyone who I’ve had to kill. I idolize to be ordinary and instead I’m stuck with a talent I’m never going to use except to be experimented with and stalked by this fucking facility!” As she spoke her voice grew louder until she was nose to nose with Shuichi.
“The difference here is if he killed all those girls it was because he wanted to. I had to kill all those people." She jabbed her pointer finger into his chest and he stumbled back.  "So don't compare me to him."

"But you're both sorry! Aren't you? You're both trying to be better people now! I- I didn't mean to make you-"

"The fuck did I just say?" Maki spat. 

"I think you said "don't compare me to him." 

Both Ultimates turned their head in alarm. Shuichi terrified while Maki easily slipped an ice-pick from behind her ear. Shuichi turned to Maki in surprise before doing a double take.

Standing with two suitcases and like six carry-ons in hand and on the floor was no other than Rantaro Amami.  "I'm not interrupting you two, am I?" He asked casually. He knew he was that cuck-

"Amami?" They both spoke at once. 

Maki and Shuichi looked at each other briefly before Maki shoulder-checked him as she stormed into her room and shut the door behind her. Leaving Shuichi in a daze before quickly walking down the steps.

"What're you doing here - I - you're a little late, but-"

"Yeah." Rantaro sighed, with a strained smile. "That's why I'm here." He looked around before pointing. "Is that my dorm?" 

Shuichi looked over. "Well if it has your name I imagine so-"

And Rantaro laughed. Fuck him for acting so cool. "Well, when you're right, you're right." Rantaro began to haul his luggae over and Shuichi picked up two bags.

"Here, let me help... just so you don't have to do much and can go to sleep."

"Thanks." He mumbled as the two dragged his stuff into his room. Rantaro stared at it with an unreadable expression and Shuichi wondered if it was too close to the simulation for-  "I'll have to make it look good another day, but thanks for helping out, Saihara." 

"Ah, um, no problem." Shuichi backed out of Rantaro's room and just as he grabbed the door knob, Rantaro spoke up.

"You should probably make up with Harukawa. I imagine it's not fun to lose such a close friend like that."

"A close friend?"

"Well anyone you survive the killing game with is either a trusted ally or they just got lucky. Someone like Harukawa doesn't just get lucky." Rantaro spoke wisely before shutting the door on Shuichi.

Shuichi looked up at Maki's door before sighing and returning to the girl's side of the dorm.

But instead of knocking on Shirogane's door this time, he knocked on Maki's. And he waited.

He waited a few minutes before trying again... and then again.. and then-

"What?" She barked as she threw open the door. "I'm trying to sleep." 

"I'm sorry Maki. That was... that was too much. I want us to keep being close, especially considering we made it out together... not with Korekiyo." 

Maki's expression shifted subtly into something softer before she scoffed and whispered: "Yeah.. okay... Good night Shuichi."

Shuichi felt the anxiety that was about to kill him dissipate into relief as his shoulders laxed. "Good night, Maki." 

Chapter Text

The next morning was a little more complicated for the students. Especially Rantaro, who just flew in last night. 

He was lost - like he hadn't been in this school for a killing game at all.
Well, in his defense.
He did die first. 

Still, he was late to classes, got distracted talking to some of his classmates who seemed to tolerate him, and worst of all: He hadn't even seen his lab yet. That was the thing Kaede and Shuichi (as well as Maki) was dreading the most. His reaction. 

Other than that it was more or less your typical day: Everyone avoids Shirogane, Oma makes fun of Keebo for trying to wear people clothes, and Himiko is attached to Angie and Tenko's sides like a magnet. 

"Nice glasses." Rantaro compliments to Keebo in passing and he looks thrilled for once. 

"Thank you!" 

"They're pink too. Cute. Did Iruma give them to you?"

"I.. I am not allowed to say." Keebo suddenly blushed and quickly exited the conversation.

Huh. Meaning she did. Rantaro locked eyes with Iruma for that split second and she flipped him off as she followed behind the robot. Cool. 

Yep. Your typical day. 

In most, if not, all of his classes. Rantaro found himself sitting between Kaede and Korekiyo the most.  And he would notice Kiyo making side-glances to him. His eyes filled with a million questions that were personal, introspective, and absolutely random. 
While Rantaro wasn't fond of being the center of attention, he certainly wasn't bothered by Korekiyo's burning curiousity. It was almost like a dog begging for some human food. Not to say Korekiyo is a dog - cause that's rude. 

"How have you been?" Rantaro decided to go with.

Korekiyo seemed to perk up at this sudden conversation starter before going back into his normal posture and responding quietly and creepily: "Just fine. And yourself? How was your trip?"

"As good as it could be before I had to come back." Rantaro leaned back in his seat, or against the desk. His chest was against the back of the chair and his back against the desk. His legs through the hole beneath the backing. An uncomfortable way to sit in Korekiyo's eyes but Rantaro didn't find it.  "I was in the south pacific, Fiji." 

"Sounds enchanting." Korekiyo humored, it was hard to tell it Rantaro was truly interested in what he was saying himself. While Korekiyo believed Rantaro striked up this conversation because he likes Korekiyo's input, Rantaro could occasionally shift his eyes to the other corner of the room like someone else was getting his attention. There was no one over there. "Did you spend most of your time in a boat or on the island?"

"Honestly a bit of both, but I guess if I had to estimate... more time on the island sounds about right. The water was somethin' else. Just as I remembered." Rantaro reminiscised and Korekiyo couldn't shake the opportunity to learn of his classmate's past.

"Just as you remembered?"

But as soon as he asked, Korekiyo noticed a change in Rantaro like he was snapped out of a daze. He was no longer looking off or looking at the corner of the room. Instead he said, "What?"

"You said just as you remembered." Korekiyo clarified. Rantaro blinked and looked off again. "You look lost."

Rantaro's brows furrowed in concentration before he asked, "Yeah uh... what day is it again?"

Entirely off topic, Korekiyo noted but continued all the same. "Fiji."

(AUTHORS NOTE I MEANT TO PUT A DAY BUT READING BACK I THOUGHT IT WAS SO FUNNY THAT KIYO JUST ANSWER HIS QUESTION SO I JUST KEPT IT—)

Rantaro looked madly befuddled before connecting the dots. "Oh, yeah... I haven't been there in a while. I used to do a lot of traveling before... sorry, is this getting sensitive for you?" Rantaro awkwardly repositioned himself in his chair, now facing Korekiyo with the full attention he could probably muster.

"I see, I haven't been myself. And no, you do not have to fret. I don't mind if you bring it up. The experience with the games, I assume." 

"Didn't know you were chill like that, Kiyo."

Korekiyo tilted his head, and squinted in confusion. "I... suppose...? Are you referencing something again?"

Rantaro practically cackled into his arm - and damn what a sight - as he just shook his head. Leaving Kiyo to wonder if he could look more into media anthropology now that he was free from the virtual hell.

The two continued a silent and casual conversation about traveling. Rantaro found out Korekiyo was a bit of a travel nerd himself, but he supposed it made sense for his talent. "I'm sure there's an abroad thing for us."

"I've been meaning to look into it personally, yes. I wasn't aware you'd be interested?"

"I had an old love for traveling before everything went to shit." 

"Hm." Korekiyo hummed. "So did I. I would travel with the purpose to earn more intel and learn about the world around us and the people. Do you travel for a similar purpose?"

"You could say that, I definitely get around to learn.."  

"But not for the same information."

"That's getting somewhat personal." Rantaro chuckled, almost nervously.

"You do not need to tell me." Korekiyo insisted. "I just.. know these things."

"You're a very observant guy, Kiyo. I guess that's what makes you an Ultimate." 

Korekiyo smiled, his eyes squinting as he did so and Rantaro could almost admire the sight. "I suppose it does."

There were still a million questions Korekiyo had for Rantaro, but he was very satisfied with how this conversation had played out. Both parties involved were.

. . . As the day went on, Kaede decided to go forth with her initial plan of inviting everyone to have lunch together. Everyone except those three. 

Was she nervous? Yes. Was this a bad idea? Absolutely. Was it going to work? Debatable. Very debatable.

She started off easy, asking Shuichi and Kaito and Gonta. Shuichi gave her a knowing look but agreed to it all the same. Convincing Miu and Keebo would prove more difficult but once Keebo heard it was a group lunch, and once Miu heard Kokichi wasn't invited, the two were willing,

The hardest part was her fellow girls. Specifically - as Kokichi likes to call them "The Cult". There was a running gag in the simulation Angie was running a cult of some form during the "third chapter" of the killing game. But it wasn't Angie who was leading everyone this time around... it was Himiko. 

Kaede approached them shyly, wringing her hands. Kirumi was there and she looked like she didn't want to be.
Maki saw Kaede approach and her already pressed frown grew more bitter. 
Tenko however, like she usually does, lit up and bounced from her seat when Kaede approached. "Are you finally coming to sit with us?!" She cheered and Himiko eyed her.

"No - not quite..." Kaede smiled gingerly. "I was wondering.. if you'll let me invite you all to a group lunch?"

"This isn't another trick, is it?" Maki asked outright.

"I'm glad you asked-"

"You don't look glad." Angie murmured.

"I'm glad - uh - It's actually.. I didn't invite Kokichi, Kiyo, or Shirogane to this lunch."

The looks she received were perplexing.  "That's... low of you." Maki.. complimented?

"Very out of character." Kirumi added her two cents, looks like everyone is gonna say something-

"As long as Shinguji isn't there, I'll go." Himiko decided with a nod and Angie quickly nodded along with her.

"Oh- uh- yeah! If... if everyone else is going.." Tenko grinned awkwardly and Kaede could tell she had more to say.. but didn't.

"If this is a request of me I shall fulfill it." Kirumi stated simply and Maki sighed, rolling her eyes.

"Okay. Whatever." 

"Really?!" Kaede beamed.

"... We just said yes-" Himiko replied.

When the time came for this lunch, prior to the actual lunch period, as to not draw out too much suspicion, Kaede took everyone outside in the garden area and everyone sat down separately from each other. Shuichi was slumped over with a guilty look plastered onto his face. Kaede was surprised to see Tenko mimicking this look- and while Kaede felt partially guilty herself, she wasn't going to show it and ruin this. 

"So... how has everyone been doing?" Kaede started after a few minutes of silent eating. 

More silence followed as a few people looked at each other awkwardly before Kaito spoke up, Maki immediately rolling her eyes. "I think it's going great so far! I just think the second and third years over at Hope's Peak are kinda stuck-up." 

"Oh yeah?" Rantaro asked casually before being cut off.

"Oh absolutely." Himiko agreed. "They keep looking at us weird... sometimes I think it's Keebo's fault."

"Wh- what does that have to do with me?! That's robophobic!"

"But it's true-" Miu began,

"What?!"

"Not the robot thing, dumbass! The stuck-up thing! The only people I've actually talked to were those Hagakure and Soda dudes." Miu added. "Soda was a massive pussy and weird as shit - Hagakure was a bigger dumbass but at least he wasn't a total wuss about everything!"

"So he was the only nice one." Keebo translated with ease.

"Why does that name sound so familiar.." Rantaro whispered to himself. Hagakure, where does he know him?

"Angie has a feeling they're looking down on us because of our school..." Angie inquired. "I suppose it makes sense-" She agreed with herself, "This is the Ultimate Academy for Gifted Juveniles after all! They probably think we're criminals.." 

"Yeah, what's that about anyway?!" Tenko finally participated. "Juveniles? I haven't committed any crime!"

"That you know of at least." Maki muttered.

"Well - I guess it makes sense why Maki is here then." Kaito spoke. And Maki gave him a threatening glare.

"You have a problem with Maki, whore?" Tenko growled and Kaede paled.

"Let's not be brash-" 

"Let her let off a little steam!" Miu encouraged as Keebo cowered. "Don't you know the best way to make friends is talkin' shit about others?" Miu laughed abroriously.

"Is it?" Keebo questioned. 

"Well she's not entirely wrong." Rantaro shrugged. "Everyone is getting lively." 

"But she just called me a whore!" Kaito pointed as Tenko, briefly glancing towards Kirumi. Like she was going to do something about it.

"... Do you want me to say she's wrong?"

Miu fell back with laughter and Kaede found herself giggling along to the madness of it all. Despite a few uncomfortable faces. 

"Yes?!"

"Very well. Chabashira, Momota is not an identified whore."  Kirumi clarified. "Perhaps try a different more accurate insult."

This time Tenko laughed as Kaito guffawed. "I didn't know you were so funny, Kirumi!" Tenko clapped. 

"How joyous! This feels just like old times, on my island and before the simulation ruined everything." Angie clapped along as well.

"Yeah, we all seem to be getting along great without those three."

Oh shit. 

"Which three?" Rantaro inquired.

"The only three missing." Keebo informed. "Oma, Shirogane, and Shinguji are not here."

"They... weren't invited." Kaede admitted shyly. "I just... I thought... I supposed I wanted everyone to feel comfortable around each other... and I notice those three had a tendency to bring the room down..." 

Amongst the crowd only few felt conflicted. Kirumi, Rantaro, Gonta, Shuichi, and Keebo all looked at Kaede with complicated gazes and drifting opinions of her now running through their minds.

"That's not-" Rantaro started but was cut off.

"Well it worked." Maki shrugged.

"That's not to say I don't like them! I just-"

"You like Shinguji?" Himiko reeled.

"Well-" Kaede tried but Tenko quickly grabbed onto Himko's hand in comfort while Angie subtly and quietly shook her head.

"Hey, it's okay if Kaede likes to talk to Kiyo. He's actually a really cool guy once you talk to him."

Tenko growled and rolled her eyes to sky as Himiko snapped her gaze to Rantaro. "Don't let him fool you.." 

"It's true." Shuichi finally decided to speak and Maki spared him a glance. Something that wasn't threatening or angry but... tired. "I've talked to Kiyo a lot and... I really like him. He's different now, and he would never-"

"I forgot! I left my paints out, unsealed. Himiko, let's go. Angie doesn't want her painting to be ruined." Angie stood up quickly, Himiko following suit.

"Wait-" Kaede reached out but Shuichi stoped her.

"It's alright, Kaede. Let them go." And they watched as the two girls walked away. 

Tenko watched on hesitantly and anxiously. Shifting in her position as she looked back at the two and the group. Gnawing on her lip as she considered what to do.

"Sometimes," Shuichi spoke up for the eleven remaining students to hear: "you'll get along well with some people and some don't. Like Kiyo for example. It's okay for us to enjoy his company, and it's okay for Angie and Himiko not to... but if their opinions of you change just because you're friends with him, well... that's not something you can fix." Shuichi shy-ed away. He wanted to say "some friends aren't worth keeping", but he couldn't bring himself to.

He loves Himiko and Maki. He survived with them and they are forever trauma-bonded. Himiko might hate him for giving Korekiyo a second chance - but that's unfair of her. Shuichi hasn't changed. Kiyo has. And it's for the better.
If she refuses to allow herself to see it and understand it, that's solely on her.  As for Angie... it was hard to tell where she was at mentally. It always was.

"Well said bro!" Kaito gave him a fist-bump while the remaining students were silent.

"I suppose that is... a valid argument... but I can also argue against that. I acknowledge Shinguji's efforts of change, but I cannot understand how anyone can befriend someone like Oma." Keebo argued.

"He doesn't want to change." Miu added. "He makes no fuckin' effort to apologize or behave any different from Danganronpa! He's still a little fuckin' bitch to everyone all the time!"

"But he's-" Kaede tried but when all eyes fell on her she looked down. She wanted to defend Kokichi... but what has he done exactly that has changed her mind? "I eat lunch with him sometimes.. and he's... funny. And he's back-handed sure but there's something about him that-"

"Sounds like you're in love with him." Maki suggested, her tone bellicose. 

"Wh- what?!" Kaede's face turned red. "Don't be- shut up! I don't like anyone that way! I just.. I just wanna give him a second chance is all!"

"He doesn't deserve shit, Bakamatsu. Get it through your sick fuckin' skull!" Miu barked. "Not all of us are gonna be friends, not all of us are gonna forgive, and especially a cunt like Oma!"  Rantaro whistled lowly as Miu spoke, she snapped his gaze towards him and he raised his hands up defensively.

"Gonta... Gonta want to forgive him... he want to... but... Oma do not talk to Gonta... do not say hello... only tease..." Gonta explaiend solemnly. "If Oma different with Kaede... could Kaede tell Oma.. Gonta want apology?"

Everyone stopped and looked at Gonta... then looked towards Kaede.

"Yeah," Kaito tried. "If he's all cool with you, tell him he's gotta start being cool with us." He demanded. "Equal rights."

"Please do not say that." Keebo deflated. 

"I... I guess.. I could try... and talk to him about that?"

"That would be much appreciated by your classmates." Kirumi spoke for everyone.

"... Now what about Shirogane." Shuichi said.

"Shuichi." Maki spoke lowly. "Shut up."

"I mean it-" Shuichi tried.

"Me too." She threatened. 

"... what about her?" Rantaro shrugged. Knowing this must be what the two were arguing about the day prior. 

"I just.. wanna know if anyone could forgive her."

"Not possible." Maki and Keebo spoke at once. The two briefly glanced to each other.
Both had drastically different yet the exact same motive for hating the girl.

Maki hates Shirogane for the purpose of starting this killing game in the first place. Making everyone kill each other and the distrust she experienced amongst her own peers. Except one, or two. Kaito Momota changed Maki's entire universe and she finds out it was Tsumugi who puppeteered the entire event to happen. Did she even like that idiot? She felt like she did, she thought it was enough, maybe those feelings were real.

Keebo was quite literally puppeteered. It's been rumored every killing game had a traitor who knew the stakes, who knew just as much as the mastermind. Keebo didn't know anything, he wanted noting more than to be liked and accepted amongst his peers and Keebo died before he could pursue it with the survivors. 

Shirogane had manipulated Maki's heart to fall for such a dumbass... who didn't even love her back. Playing with her emotions and creating a living hell...?

Keebo was taken over by the twisted mindset of Tsumugi's own admiration for her own pyschotic system and forced to kill himself as a only method of freedom from Shirogane's control...

Tsumugi Shirogane cannot be forgiven.

"... But what if-" The bell rang. 

All of the remaining students jumped in their spots with surprise and fear before they all realized it was time to go.

"Thank you for this, Kaede." Kirumi rose first, "I... thought it was useful." Kirumi walked away with Kaito and Tenko chasing after her.

"Yeah, it was funny as hell for like three minutes." Miu sniffed. "Come on, Keebs. Let's skip lunch and do some upgrades."

"Oh boy." He muttered as Miu dragged him along.

As everyone dispersed Maki stared at Shuichi one final time, her hands balling into fists before she stormed off. Shuichi wanted to chase after her but Kaede rested a hand on his shoulder - and when he turned to face her, her eyes were glossy and her cheeks red. 

"I feel horrible."

"... Do you want to apologize to them?"

".. Yeah." She whispered.

Rantaro watched the two, hands stuffed into his pockets as Shuichi walked in the opposite direction with his hand on Kaede's back.  Instead of following out of curiousity, he looked towards Gonta who hadn't moved.

"What're you up to?" 

"Gonta found a bug!"

Rantaro couldn't tell if Gonta was oblivious to all the chaos that had occured but quickly decided that wasn't it when he recalled the input Gonta put that changed the corse of the entire conversation... instead, Rantaro decided he must be coping with the stress of it all.

Rantaro huffed with some humor and knelt down. "Show me." He requested. 

[ We skip lunch like real men, Lab timeeeee... ]

. . .  Korekiyo knew he would find Maki just outside her lab on the third floor. She sat herself on the floor, her knees up to her chest and leaning against the double-doors leading to the interior of her lab.

"Do you normally skip your assigned lab time?"

"Do you?" Maki hissed back without much thought.

"I'm allowed to. Visiting each lab and floor of this place, as well as the garden of our neighboring campus, is all apart of my own personal studies." 

"... Okay."

"Your lab is the only one I haven't looked into."

"And you're never going to. Do you really think I'd trust you or any of the other culprits with these weapons?"

"Of course I don't. Maybe you'll indulge me then if I inquire about yo-"

"How about I interrogate you?" She snapped. "I don't want my name anywhere in your goddam notebooks." 

"..Do you have questions to ask me?" Korekiyo asked, ignoring her snide remarks, though it was mostly rhetorical. 

"Just one." Maki supplied, tilting her head threateningly.

"Alright, I'll humor you if you humor me. I have one question for you as well."

"... Whatever." Maki sighed and the silence that followed was her cue; "Did you really murder ninety eight girls?"

Korekiyo was caught off guard and his throat ran dry. In a millisecond a million thoughts ran through his mind, he didn't want to take too long to reply as Maki is the type to take his silence as a confession and permanently ruin his reputation with her, but Korekiyo didn't really care how he was perceived by her. He cannot honestly say he hates her, because her judgement is so impaired by emotions and survivor's guilt. But Korekiyo could live with never speaking to her again. He didn't owe himself or Kaede the idea of befriending everyone because he's acknowledged it himself it wasn't possible. 

"No."

If Maki was surprised she didn't show it well enough for Korekiyo to pick up on it, but her silence encouraged him to elaborate.

"I never murdered anyone, once again apart of my past was drastically changed. Most likely for the source of entertainment... but, I have ruined the lives of ninety eight women."

"... How so?"

"I never put my hands on any of them, but I manipulated them. Made each girl feel sorry for me and my sister, a similar tactic I'm sure I tried in the simulation with Kaede... I separated them from their friends and made them lose trust in their own familial lives. I suppose in a cult-ish way now that I'm recalling all of this aloud to you... I'm going to stop there." Korekiyo announced before he triggered any unpleasant and unwanted memories. 

Maki eyed him skeptically. "I can't understand you."

"Well that's to be expected, I-"

"Shut up and let me fucking talk."

"... Yes ma'am."

"I can't understand you at all. You're a creepy character and you've done bad things... but you're trying to improve.. but not trying at the same time." Maki noticed Korekiyo get visibly upset by this. "Like... I understand you wouldn't have a relationship with your sister now, and not kill anyone for her either.. but... you just act like everything is fine, and it's really annoying."

"May I elaborate then?"

Maki just stared.

"I attend therapy with my family's psychiatrist. As well, I do not go around announcing my trauma to everyone or openly feel bad about it for that reason. It's personal." 

"... You really go to therapy?"

"Repetitively, I will not show you any physical evidence for my privacy." 

Maki would never admit it aloud. But Amami and Shuichi were... right. He's kind of obvious once you talk to him. "... Alright.. that makes sense."

"My question for you may be backtracking but I would still like to ask." 

"... Fine. What."

"I was curious as to why you hate me so much. But if it was solely because I wasn't... vocal or flamboyant enough with my redemption arc then I have my answer." 

"... Yeah. That was it.. in the simple version."

"Now you must specify."

Maki exhaled as she thought about it. "I guess I hated you so much for how sadistic and pyschotic you were. You killed for such a grotesque reason with no sympathy or regret for the victim's or their families. But that was all in the simulation... even outside of it you still apologized but you kept walking around and talking ominously. I..." Maki bit the inside of her cheek. "I'm so used to people like Kaito and Oma yelling everything about themselves as a way of explaining why they're not a bad person to why you should hate them. I expected as much from you."

"... I see. If we never had this conversation you would go onto assume I was still some pyscho killer?"

"Yeah, probably."

"And you found my actions to be less noble than yours."  Korekiyo watched Maki's eye twitch. "That is not to say you are worse because of your talent-"

"I'm an assassin, right? So why should I care? I haven't done a single job since we left that simulation." Maki defended. She didn't need to hear from Shinguji what she heard from Shuichi yesterday.

"I am not trying to compare myself to you. I find it..." Not beautiful. Never beautiful. "Intriguing."

"What? My humanity isn't beautiful?"

Of course Maki decided to— “Do you want me to call you beautiful?"

"Fuck off." Maki flushed all the same, turning away.

"Sure." Korekiyo made a move to walk away, but Maki wasn't done.

"I still I can't..." Korekiyo stopped and waited. Maki was hesitant to continue, and Korekiyo connected the dots as to why. He put his notebook in his back pocket. ". . . I can't bring myself to kill anybody for some reason."  Korekiyo blinked. "I've threaten you, Shirogane internally, and Oma under my breath but I can't bring myself to do it in a crowded room... what's wrong with me?"

"Perhaps you are afraid there will be punishment for your crimes." Korekiyo offered, as he always does. When it's not Shuichi offering his timid people pleasure opinion - it's Shinguji who will give it to you as he sees it. In somewhat moderation. 

"But there isn't any punishment! Not for me! Danganronpa was fake. I have nothing to be worried about."

"You're worried everyone will see you as Oma sees you and how you often view yourself. A murderer."

Maki paused at the last statement. "You don't see me as a murderer...?"

"No." Korekiyo answered straightly. 

"... Why?" Maki asked, almost accusingly. 

Shinguji took the time to consider this. "I suppose since I haven't seen it for myself." Korekiyo has typically been considered to be a "see it to believe it" kind of person. But-
"Make no mistake, I do not consider someone like Kaede to be a killer either. Rantaro is clearly alive and it was the environmental efforts that forced her into such a mindset. You're different in..."  Shinguji's face suddenly contorted and Maki tilted her head expectantly. She was unable to make out the expression he wore.
"in a very... in-descriptive way..."
Shinguji stared down at Maki in near awe. 
He cannot figure her out.

"... Okay." Maki stood up. Korekiyo stumbled back, nearly. 

"You going to your lab?" She asked him.

"Yes, I am."

"I never got to look at it." She stated simply.

"Correct... is ... would you like to accompany me?"

Maki shrugged. "I was going to look at it anyway. But I guess I'll walk with you."

Indescribable. It was clear Maki was making some effort - giving Korekiyo a chance - but her refusal to look at him was clear she was lost in her own thoughts of contempt. 

.  . .  Shuichi stood back outside of Oma's lab as Kaede let herself in, apologizing for something Oma probably had no idea was occurring but he just assumed that it was gnawing at Kaede's conscious like she had done something wrong.
Really, Shuichi found himself feeling bad they didn't invite Kiyo. And maybe Shirogane.

He has to talk to her at some point, this was getting out of hand. Especially with the few things he’s seen Shirogsne be limited to, and especially hearing someone talk to Amami about some form of a restraining order against her. 

“Huh?” Kokichi finally asked after Kaede apologized for it all. “You’re really apologizing for my own idea? If anything it sounds like I should be apologizing for how bad it turned out!”

Kaede was stunned to silence.

”Of course I’m not going to apologize, though.” Kokichi smiled. “Why would I? I didn’t do anything wrong... and it sounds like you didn’t either.”

”… Huh?” Kaede was baffled. “Is this— are you forgiving me? Or—“

”Forgive you?! For what?! Well unless you’re apologizing for the first trial in Danganronpa when you lied to everyone half an hour. Sure!”

“I… I’m so confused.”

”Apology accepted. You can go now.”

“Wh— that’s it? Really?!”

”Did you want me to yell at you? Tease you? Have you been spending a lot of time with Iruma recently?”

“No?”

”Well I can’t think of any other reason you’d want me to keep talking to you, unless you want me to talk dirty to you li—“

Kaede suddenly flushed. Usually tangents or jokes like that would make her laugh but- "Ugh! Why can’t you just be straight with me?!”

“No one in our class is straight, you have such high expectations Kaede!” Kokichi suddenly broke into tears. “Give us a break! This is just like Danganronpa! Forcing us to conform to your heteronormative standard!”

“What the fuck are you talking about?!”

Kokichi reeled back in laughter and Kaede decided she’s had enough for the day, storming off. 

“Let’s go.” She sighed and said as she passed by Shuichi, he got up and immediately followed behind her.

Kokichi shut his door.

… Before the designated scheduled lab time, Rantaro figured he’d stall as long as possible before he had to face with whatever room the Academy had gifted to him.

Instead, he found Miu hauling box full of random clothes, wires, and cleaning products.

”Woah, need help with that?” He asked casually strolling over. 

Miu looked over as she used her knee to steady the box. “Fuck off!” She barked and then stumbled. Rantaro back away with hands raised as he watched Miu continue to balance and tip the box over, before she accusingly looked back at Rantaro with a glare.

”You gonna fuckin’ take it or not?!”

Rantaro exhaled through his nose and took the box, his fingers brushing Miu’s as he did so - she flinched and pulled away with a blush coating her face.

“It uh-“ Miu cleared her throat. “It’s going to my lab.” She walked on ahead and Rantaro followed suit. 

“Your lab is outside, isn’t it?”

”Yeah.

”Cool, I’ve never seen it before.” Only bits and piece from the simulation, but Rantaro can’t remember what it looks like anyway.

Miu blew away a stray hair in her face. Her hair was shorter than he remembered and far more curly. Despite Miu having her old wardrobe back from her parents she still had a rolled up button up shirt and a short skirt as her usual attire.

Her goggles that were sitting neatly on her head were drastically different from the simulation but shined like new. Maybe her parents bought them for her as a “welcome back” gift, Rantaro mused to himself.

”Yeah, keep dreaming! I bet the idea of my sick-ass lab makes your pants shrink.”

What the fuck. Rantaro grimaced, “You know I don’t have to see it if you don’t want me to.”

”We- well, of course you can go in… it’s really cool! It’s a combo of my lab and Keebo’s.”

”Very sci-fi I bet.”

”Yeah it is! But Keebs hates it.”

”Where is Keebo?”

”At the lab.”

”Is all this for him?” Rantaro inquired and Miu snapped her gaze back to him with a bitter expression. 

“You always ask so many fuckin’ questions?”

Yes. “Sometimes.” Rantaro shrugged. Looking into the box he noticed a combo of pink and blue clothes, though mostly blue and oversized. 

“Yeah, they’re for him. It’s maintenance day.” Miu grinned fondly and suggestively that made Rantaro smile awkwardly.

Despite how uncomfortable he was at the idea Iruma was going to go more in detail about her sexual relationship before they actually had a normal conversation - he continued to make small talk.  ”You two are really close.”

”Fuck yeah, you jealous?”

Kind of. “Admittedly, yeah. I never got that opportunity with this class.”

Silence fell over the two and Rantaro wondered if he should’ve kept that part private.

”… What about the fuckers from your other killing games?”

They’re haunting him. Rantaro could feel the Ultimate Victim clinging to his arm, he remembered the boy thought sticking with the Ultimate Survivor was his ticket out of the killing game. When he looked down at the boy there was bullet-wounds lined in his gut like a connect the dots game.

”… I don’t know where they are.”

Miu was quiet again and the awkward air around her was out of character. Rantaro took a breath to get a word in, to tell her it was fine. He was going to travel too much for friendship anyway and he really didn’t—

“… That fuckin’ sucks.”

He laughed. “I guess, but—“

”We could,” Miu twirled her hair and Rantaro finally saw the blush and sweat painted on her pretty face.

”Keebo doesn’t eat but uh… you could like eat dinner with us… maybe?”

Rantaro slowed to a stop as they came to the final set of stairs before they reached the lobby.

“What?! Don’t fucking look at me like that! I’m not fuckin’ flirting with you! Dumbass!” Miu fumbled with her words before she growled, “You sleazy fuck, if anything you’ve been flirting with my gorgeous ass this whole time!”

Rantaro immediately backtracked and held in his own laughter. Iruma was very quick to assume these things, he just noticed.  “I’d love to have dinner with you two.”

Miu cackled. “Of course you do! Try not to get too excited though! You won’t get into my lab or my panties that easily!”

”I’m really not that kind of guy.”

Miu huffed with stifled laughter and then surprisingly held the front doors opened for him.

Rantaro and Miu were quiet til she got to her lab, which she snatched the box from Rantaro and shooed him off.

”Keebo is so shy.” She cooed. “He doesn’t like anyone knowing the maintenance I perform on him.” 

“… Sure. Have fun.”

”We will.”

As the doors shut, Rantaro frowned, partially disgusted by the suggestive nature and atmosphere those two constantly hold.
Not so much jealous. 

. . .   Himiko had left Angie's lab a little ago, claiming to go look for Chabashira, leaving Angie entirely alone in her lab. 

Giving her the opportunity to finally paint.  Much like in the simulation, Angie would not paint or draw in front of Himiko, much to the magician's disappointment, but the reasoning was entirely different.

It was not some sacred ritual that couldn’t be interrupted- Angie never felt like the Ultimate Artist.

Angie stared at her canvas and her palette shook nervously in her hand. She was insecure. 

She wasn’t sure what clouded her vision or thoughts in the simulation, but now that she was back and conscious, it was easy to see what was in front of her.

Angie wanted to start simple with a self portrait but every color she mixed, every stroke of paint, every plan she wanted to commit to in her sketchbook-

The Ultimate Artist can surely do better than that.

She internally critiqued herself - every time she pushed the bristles to the canvas she hesitated and let it linger before she found herself throwing both the brush and the palette across the room. 

It wasn’t easy to spot, her lab was a carbon copy and maybe that’s what stunted her creativity. But she always saw things as black and white. 
Angie never understood Tenko’s mentality - how she’s giving Momota and Tojo a chance. How devoted she is the Himiko because of her crush on the girl but flirts with Kaede all the same… 

She was passionate, strong-willed, and defiant about every little thing. She was too passionate about all the wrong things.

Angie could paint Tenko… but she wouldn’t. Angie is her own muse, no use in painting someone she hardly finds herself thinking of.

Now here Angie is, thinking instead of painting, standing in her lab with ink on the floor done without intention. 
But there must’ve been some intention behind it. 
Why else would they work so hard to make it look so traumatizing?

Maybe that’s something she could work on, cleaning her lab and trashing it with intention. 

Grabbing buckets of black and white Angie began to throw them on the floor and at the wall. 
She looked to the camera and grinned at it.

Whoever watches her will get a kick out of this, and for good reason.

This is what art looks like.

As Angie danced and spun and shouted with exertion - destroying the already messy interior she finally stopped and looked in the mirror.

Paint drenched her uniform and splashed onto her face - she stormed up to the mirror and grabbed its edges - making it appears like she was grabbing her own shoulders.

”Why won’t you paint?” She asked. She begged.

No one replied. 

. . . Shuichi and Kaede found themselves running into Rantaro on the fifth floor. The two wanted to have their own lunch together in Shuichi’s lab - they heard wild crashes and shouting below them, Shuichi anxiously wanted to investigate the sound but when they spotted the mysterious Ultimate they were suddenly stopped.

”Hey Rantaro.” Kaede greeted, stepping forward.

”Hm?” Rantaro looked over, his eyes shifting between the two of them before looking back at Kaede and masking his expression with a calm smile. “Oh hey there.”

”You… finally going to check out your lab?” Kaede asked as casually as she could muster, folding her hands behind her back as Shuichi rubbed his arm anxiously.

”Yep.”

”Is that a good idea?” Shuichi pondered aloud.

”Well, if they used my old talent, yeah. That’d be great.”

”Maybe you’ll finally know what you originally were!” She lied. Why was she lying? Why give him false hope? Shuichi looked at her questioningly. 

”Maybe.” Rantaro chuckled at Kade’s optimism but Shuichi saw through it.

“You might be disappointed…” Shuichi murmured but Rantaro heard because he instantly snapped his gaze towards him. “..Ah um.. Sorry… didn’t mean to—“

”Hey, it’s alright Shuichi. No harm done…” Rantaro assured and looking back to his door silently. “Well, no time like the present.”

Shuichi wanted to reach out and grab him. Stop him. But he hesitated and—

When Rantaro opened the door a familiar sight greeted Shuichi and Kaede when they first investigated this lab on the tour. The same roses, trial chairs, picture frames and large safe cramped into a tiny scarlet room. 
Vermillion and ebony accents in every corner - it just sparked the idea of death and not so much mourning in your heart.

Shuichi shrunk back just seeing it all again, but Kaede stepped forward with Rantaro, but he kept going further into the room. Hands on his waist as he looked around.

With his keen eyes, Shuichi saw Rantaro’s pupil dilation shrink with detestation. 

 ".. Hm." Was all Rantaro said.

He knelt down and plucked one of the roses from the vines. His eyes glanced over it with no light in them and an entirely empty smile rested on his face. Shuichi felt his blood ran cold and he wondered if this was a mere side effect or ability he carried as the Ultimate Survivor. 

All the two could do was watch as Rantaro stood and walked around his lab more. Running a lazy hand over the round table, briefly glancing at the safe, and finally approach the portraits with X's over them.

Kaede and Shuichi felt a mutual chill run down their spines as Rantaro let out an instinctual laugh.

".. Are... are you good, or-" Shuichi began when suddenly Rantaro started ripping off the portraits.

All of them full of strangers neither of the two recognized. "Who are-"

Kaede tried, but Rantaro spoke up:  "Ultimate Actor, Ultimate Hostess, Ultimate Pedetritian, Ultimate Skydiver, Ultimate Psychologist, Ultimate Runner-up-" Rantaro rambled on as he took off each portrait and threw them randomly away. With such force and anger that Kaede and Shuichi backed away fearfully.

His breathing becoming ragged as he now began to trash his lab. "... We should go-" Shuichi whispered.

"We - we can't help him?"

"I'm not equipped for that." He whisper-yelled back.

As Rantaro was lost in his world he turned back towards Kaede and Shuichi.

Only Ṡ̷̹̣̻͖̦̍̀͒t̶̛̰̬̼͓̹̝̎̉̑̔͘ǘ̷̡̡͖̮̰̗͙̞̑̌̈̌͑̔͊͠ͅd̴̪̩͂̐̑͋̿͘͝ë̶̺̲͍̫̱͕́͑̽n̵͔̘̺̦̝͗̑͑͆͘t̷̮̙̼̥̰͕̭̓̄̂͛̚ ̶̡̛̻̦̆̄̔͒̈́͗̓̈́Ä̸̙́̂̽̈́͊̄̾͝]̴̞͔͉͉͉̬̗͈̣̾̾͂̂̅and ̵̡̦̻̤͕̙͙̦̥̈́̌́̉͌̇͝ͅ[̵̡̄̐̉͒̂͘Š̸̛͍͕̠͙̟͚̈́̃̈̐͑̊t̵̪̺͖̹͔̮̲̻̪͚̄́͌̎͠ữ̵̡͇͔̀̓͊d̸̻̺̪̊̃̿͝ę̷̛̻̮̤̳̠͎̥͙ǹ̶̨̰̙͓̺̳͚͘t̵̮̠̪͕̝͙̪̦̾̽͑̾̍͝ ̷̢̧̗̤͚̼͖͍̥͉̅̀̉̑͌̅́̄͋͝B̸̠̰͉̉̒̔͊̎̒]̷̨̳̜̭͉̂͐̃̎̀͊̾̂̔̚ͅstood in their places.

Rantaro stumbled back against the chairs when they looked at him.

”Rantaro? Are you alright? Do you need water?” Kaede coaxed.

”Do you need us to leave?” Shuichi asked though it seems he was more begging. 

When Rantaro looked back up - it was just the Ultimate Pianist and The (second) Ultimate Detective.

Why are there two Ultimate Detectives? Though, it makes sense if Shuichi isn’t a homicide detective like—

Rantaro blinked rapidly and just shook his head. “I-“ he started and looked around the room again.

He stared silently at the portraits and noted a few seemed to be blank and broken. “Yikes, sorry about that.” Rantaro laughed nervously, brushing his hands on his shirt. “Kind of uh…” he cleared his throat. ”What did you ask?”

Kaede and Shuichi exchanged looks that made Rantaro cringe.

”Did you want water?”

”Water would be great, thanks Kaede.”

”Of course.” Kaede seemed overjoyed at the idea of helping him - which made Rantaro smile in return. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”

Rantaro just nodded and followed Kaede out of the room - briefly meeting eyes with Shuichi who instinctively looked away guiltily. Pulling his hat over his eyes. Rantaro spared an apologetic and pitying expression before leaving with Kaede.

Shuichi stood in the lab by himself before approaching the portraits. Recalling each Ultimate Rantaro mentioned, Shuichi had an idea.. 

. . . Tsumugi stood in the center of her lab, staring at the clock before her. Out of all of her limitations, the restriction of lab time wasn’t all that bad. She wasn’t sure why she even cosplayed at all anymore.

She looked down at her phone and noted the same, sure the curtailment of screen time was also annoying when she had actual homework to be down - though the professors made some accusations - she wasn’t really chronically online anymore. If anything she just wasn’t sure how long she had to be careful before they decided to stop treating her like a criminal. 

Tsumugi didn’t consider herself to be terribly impatient but the whole idea of this alienated her from her peers despite the desire to talk to her classmates like she was one of them.

It was this isolation that made her consider Junko’s deal.

But Amami would never willingly go with her…

There was a knock at her lab door,

when Tsumugi obediently opened it she was surprised to see Shuichi Saihara there. 

Chapter Text

. . . "Can I help you, Saihara?" Tsumugi asked, visibly taken aback as she retreats into her lab so Shuichi can step inside.

He does so nervously, Tsumugi can see him pick at lose dead skin on his nails. "I just... wanted to ask you a few questions."

Despite herself, Tsumugi felt a nervous nostalgic smile appear on her face; "Are you interrogating me?"

Shuichi reacted by actually choking on air as he shook his head wildly. "No- no no no - I am not int- interrogating you-" 

Tsumugi watched this poor soul struggle before she allowed herself to feel a little guilty for teasing the first person to give her a chance like this, "I'm sorry, Saihara. Do you need a drink?"

"No." He spoke firmly after gaining back his composure. "No, I'm fine. Let me... sorry, can I ask you something?"

"Sure." Tsumugi limited her responses, maybe her humor was not in good taste. Especially not after the Killing Game Simulator. 

"... When you agreed to participate in what the Facility had in store for us.. well.. I guess did you know what you were signing up for?"

"No." Tsumugi replied, honestly. "I have no idea why any of us were there and I don't remember anything before we were put in the game... and if you're asking if I wanted to be the mastermind?"

Shuichi held his breath.

"Of course I didn't." 

He exhaled through his nose and Tsumugi watched his shoulders fall. "Is.. that really true?"

"Do you really think I had a say in what was going to happen to any of us? Whatever it is the facility put us in a virtual world for - it was then hacked by a Killing Game Virus and I suppose it decided at random who was going to be the mastermind, who was going to take Junko Enoshima's place." 

"I... yeah... yeah that makes sense." 

"I know everything I did in the simulation was horrible, but none of it was me." 

Shuichi stared at Tsumugi like he truly wanted to believe her. "In the game, you spoke a lot about how you wrote for Maki to fall in love with Kaito, how you wrote some of the twists and the executions.." The more Shuichi spoke the more he looked like he was going to be sick. "Was all of that true? As soon as you gained the rights of the Mastermind, did you gain full control of the world?"

"I..." Tsumugi wasn't sure what the right answer was this time. Does she lie to him and say no - she had no idea what was going on after she set up Rantaro's death in the first half.
While she manipulated Harukawa and Momota's relationships, it was never personal. 
She certainly didn't mean for Akamatsu to figure out there was a mastermind among the students, to figure out all she had to do was kill Tsumugi and then everything would be fine. It scared Tsumugi how much she thought she knew.

"I did, yeah... or I thought I did? I didn't know why I was the mastermind, I just suddenly had memories of starting make-believe killing game. I knew how most things were turn out... except.."

Saihara stayed stern and silent. 

"Except I had no idea Akamatsu was trying to kill me until I looked over the cameras... Amami wasn't supposed to die." Tsumugi admitted and now Saihara stood alert.

"Wait.. Rantaro wasn't supposed to die by you or Kaede?"

"No..." Tsumugi tried to get across how uncomfortable she was growing with this conversation, with the truth, but of course Saihara wouldn't allow it. 

"Who was supposed to die, Shirogane?"

Tsumugi wasn't sure how to word it. She essentially messed up the entire killing game but it somehow worked into her favor - she never manipulated certain things to happen, if anything the first trial she got through with pure dumb like. The rest went somewhat smoothly with a few hiccups here and there and she still believed she knew who did what and who fell in love with who ... all because- 

"In the first chapter of the Killing Game Simulation... Kaede Akamatsu was supposed to kill Shuichi Saihara." 

The silence was so loud Tsumugi could fairly hear her heart racing, she watched Saihara internally reel and process this information as he slowly and unconsciously brought a hand to his chin as he was deep in thought. Tsumugi merely sighted it like she wrote it. They were quiet, the two of them for a while. Tsumugi kept her breathing short and quiet as to not worsen any tension but she grew anxious and very sweaty. 

".. Alright.. thank you Shirogane."  Saihara didn't sound thankful but Tsumugi could tell he wanted to be totally alone.. but...

"Wait." Tsumugi called after him as Saihara stopped in front of her lab door. "... I'm sorry, Shuichi." Tsumugi wasn't a prideful or egotistical girl. Now that she was away from her hobby, away from her family, now that she's facing the consequences of the actions she wasn't in control of - now that she's had a chance to put it all together. Saihara was someone she should apologize to.
Saihara, Akamatsu, Amami, and Keebo. 

A weird look overcame Shuichi's face and he stared at her like that for a while but mustering up a reply that made Tsumugi's stomach churn and hope crumble.  "... Alright, Shirogane."
And then he left.

. . .   Rantaro knocked on Iruma's door just as the bell rang for final meals, no food in hand. He wasn't sure if he had to grab food and then meet her inside of if they would all walk together like he usually sees Iruma and Keebo do, but-

His questions were answered as she answered the door in a bra and pajama bottoms. "Oh hey."

Rantaro blinked. "... Hey."

"Keebo isn't here yet so if you wanna come in and wait that's fine."

Rantaro avoided eyeing her up and down because that was just disrespectful in itself. "Ah, you sure? I can always come back with my food-"

"Keebo watches me change all the time it's not a big deal." Iruma snapped in retaliation and Rantaro was taken aback.

"... Does he actually?"

Miu flushed and looked away. "We- well he puts his hands over his eyes and apologizes..." Rantaro blinked. Was she purposefully trying to flaunt her relationship with Keebo? "But like I bet he totally peaks and takes a look!" She suddenly gained back her confidence. "Who the fuck wouldn't?!"

Rantaro didn't know how to reply so he just shrugged. 

"Anyway get the fuck inside, I'll throw on a shirt and Keebs'll be here a sec." With that, Rantaro hesitantly entered and sat away form Miu as she threw on less revealing attire.  When she was done Miu practically threw her body onto her bed and Rantaro laughed at the gestured and as she wrapped a blanket loosely around her thighs.

"What?" She snapped.

Rantaro shrugged, still smiling. "You just seem comfortable." 

"I would fuckin' hope so, this is my room after all!"

"Right." Rantaro hummed and looked away. His mind growing fuzzy and static briefly filling his hearing as he'd let his mind wander through hell and back. Subconsciously Rantaro put two fingers firmly against his neck and was met with rhythmic pulsing.  Still alive. Of course he is. That's what he's good at after all...

"Yeesh, the fuck did those come from?" Iruma asked, successfully snapping Rantaro out of his daze, he looked back lazily:

"Huh?" 

"You got nasty-ass marks on your arm."

Rantaro looked down and in his idle movements, his long sleeve had folded over revealing some faded purple and blue bruising. "Ah, just from my trip. Stumbled into a nasty part of town." 

"Jesus, the fuck were you doin'?"

Rantaro shrugged. "I dunno, pretty careless of me though - usually I'm good at avoiding those spots but... can't be helped." He shrugged again. 

"Weirdo." He heard Iruma muttered.

"What's so weird about it?"

"How do you manage to get jumped on your first trip?"

"This was not my first." Rantaro spoke without thinking and felt the panic rise in his chest. This wasn't his first trip...? Of course not, he's been traveling before.. how could he have-

"Hah! That's even more pathetic!" Iruma cackled. "How the fuck do you get jumped on like your fiftieth trip?!" She teased and Rantaro scoffed.

"Dunno, must've taken a wrong turn. Sometimes it happens... you ever been jumped before?"

"Why, you offering?" Iruma fired back like he was threatening her.

"Of course not!  No one tourists deserves that..."

"Huh," Iruma rolled away from him in her bed. "Sounded to me like you were flirtin' with me."

Rantaro opened his mouth to snap back with his own witty remark before they both heard a robotic knock at the door.

"Finally!" With great energy in her step, Iruma swung open the door to reveal the robot of the hour.

"Hello." He greeted before turning his attention to Rantaro. "Hello, Amami." 

"Hey Keebo, hope I'm not interrupting."

"Do not worry, if Miu invited you I am sure your presence is most accepted."

"Yeah yeah he's chill - can we finally get dinner?! I need to feed this gorgeous brain of mine!" Iruma practically begged and the three of them left as soon as Keebo had just entered.

... It took only minutes before they all returned again. Rantaro sat back at Iruma's desk while Iruma jumped back on her bed, plate of food in both parties's hands.  Keebo walked in calmly before taking a seat at the edge of the bed with Iruma. 

There was some awkward silence amongst the group and Keebo tried his best not to cringe internally at the sound of food becoming mush between his classmates teeth and tongues.  

"So, how long have you two been dating?" Rantaro suddenly spoke up. Keebo's face turned a bright crimson and his bracer covered up his mouth and nose as he physically flinched. 

Miu on the other hand, began to cough and hack - coughing up her food as she punched herself in the chest several times.

"Miu- are you alright?!" Keebo asked behind the mask. 

"Fu - f- fuck! Jesus!" She breathed and delicately pushed Keebo away as he reached for her. "Wh- what the fuck are you doing askin' shit like that?!" Miu allowed herself to be flustered, now pointedly glaring at Rantaro with a matching pink complexion to Keebo's. 

Rantaro very quickly held up his hands defensively. "My bad! I didn't mean to make it awkward, I just thought-"

"You thought wrong, skinny penis!"

"I do not think Amami s-"

"Shut up!" Miu snapped. "We're just friends." Miu spoke firmly, crossing her arms.  Rantaro didn't say anything but he noticed Keebo practically deflate, looking away dejectedly. Seems no matter what he says something is going wrong.

"Right, my bad... so... how'd you two become such good friends?"

"We were always friends since like later in the simulation." Miu reminded. "I seem to be the only bitch who treats him like a person!"

"That is a fair assessment, yes..." Keebo agreed. "While Shuichi and Kaede, as well as the student council, do their best to treat me now as their equal it does not stop people like Oma and Yumeno from tormenting me with their robophobic remarks."

What a loud 'smack!' Miu slapped her hand on Keebo's back, proudly boasting: "Keebo's got no fuckin' spine! I'm the only one who tells everyone to fuck off!"

"I see." Rantaro appeared both perplexed and impressed. "Well, you'll have to yell at me too if I treat you any differently than a person, Keebo." 

"Your consideration of my feelings is more than others attempt. Thank you."

Rantaro took a long awkward sip of his drink.

"Anything else you wanna fuckin' interrogate us about?"

Rantaro put his drink down before he began choking on it. "I haven't interrogated anyone in a long time."

Another hush fell over the room and Rantaro might as well have seen himself out right there-

"You were in two previous simulations, correct?" Keebo aksed and Rantaro just nodded.  "How did you manage to survive all those motives?"

Rantaro understood the curiosity Keebo finally wanted to express, and he also noticed Keebo limiting his phrasing, on account of Miu's uncharacteristic silence. When Rantaro looked over at her she was shy-ed away and quietly picking at her food like the conversation had made her lose her appetite.

"Uh... well.. it definitely was a challenge.. made a lot more enemies than I did friends." After he said that Keebo seemed contemplative and Miu finally spoke up.

"Were any of those chicks in those games as hot as me?!" Miu cackled. In her own attempts to lift her own spirits.

Rantaro allowed a pity-laugh to escape him and he pretended to consider this. "Hm, I dunno. I don't think I was paying much attention to how anyone looked."

"Pft, yeah right! I know for a fact even during all the murders everyone was still hard-on just from being in the same room as me!"

". . ."

". . . Anyway, do you guys uh.. remember what you were up to before the whole simulation stuff?" Another bad question it seems, for Keebo looked away embarrassed while Miu bit her lip. "I mean... I don't remember what I did before everything started so maybe this was-"

"I do not recall. I am unsure if I was even constructed for the sake of living or if I was built for the purpose was stopping Danganronpa." Keebo confessed. "I had asked the scientists at the research facility, I do not have any documentation of my creator, Professor Idabashi, but I was informed I was not put to sleep like the rest of you, but simply plugged in... I do not know where my Professor is now." 

Rantaro knew he should leave. Apologize and leave. Here he was asking inappropriate questions, making things awkward, this was a friendship - a close relationship he had no right intruding upon. Even if Miu invited him. 

"I got into a car accident before the whole thing. I was in a coma for a while and when I woke up suddenly I was stuck in a killing game with a buncha fuckin' dweebs." Miu gave a sparring glance towards Keebo, like he was an exception. Of course he was. "Before that? Who fuckin' knows! Probably makin' the coolest shit ever!" 

Rantaro avoided asking questions after that. He let Iruma and Keebo lead the conversation, occassionally the topic would cut off and suddenly Rantaro was listening to those two go back and forth with their own witty one-liners and Rantaro didn't feel too jealous but instead.. at peace. Being surrounded by friends just having a good time almost grounded him from the nightmares he experienced with his eyes opened. He felt his pulse again, but this time putting his fingers to his wrist. 

... Eventually Rantaro saw himself out, Iruma walking him to the door and shutting it behind them.

"You leaving Keebo in there?"

"He's sleeping over tonight." Miu supplied. "Sometimes we do that." She shrugged. 

"Oh.. that's..." Rantaro felt a warm feeling in his chest, and he remembered. He finally remembered something. When he would have a sleepover in his room with all of his sisters. They would bring sleeping bags and sometimes they'd move it into their living-room area and they would stay up together. Rantaro would paint their nails, braid their hair, and they'd watch movies all night.  "That's really cool." He smiled.

Something in Iruma perked up and her eyes lingered on his for a moment too long. "Do... do you wanna sleep over with us?" She asked, suddenly flustered. She looked away and pursed her lips. 

Rantaro was suddenly pulled out of his memories, and back to reality. Baffled. "Like... tonight?"

"Well fuck! Don't act so excited!" Miu suddenly growled, jabbing her finger in the air.

"Heh, my bad." Rantaro shrugged it off. 

"Yeah or tonight, or... like... whenever." she huffed.

"Um... nah. Not tonight. Keebo seems like he really likes his time with you." Rantaro made an excuse, "Also I'm trying to find out about that abroad thing... I'm planning on going on a trip again.. real soon..."

"Oh." Iruma muttered.

"... But uh, how about... tomorrow night? When we don't have to get up so early..." 

Iruma's face was unreadable before she guffawed and punched Rantaro in the tricep, he stumbled back. "Hah! I get it! You plan on keeping me up all night?! Well I hope you're at least entertaining!"

"It's not at all what you're thinking." Rantaro deadpanned.

"Whatever, boner! See you tomorrow night then!" Iruma roared with confidence again and walked back into her room, shutting the door behind her.

Rantaro stood there for a moment longer, rubbing his arm before he realized how weird he looked standing out here by himself.

As he went to go downstairs he bumped shoulders with someone-

"My bad-"

"Oh, I'm sorry, I-"

But they both stopped.

Rantaro and Tsumugi Shirogane now face to face with each other.

They hadn't talked since her "apology" in the facility's cafeteria. . .

"Amami."

"Shirogane."

"I'm-"

"I have to go." 

. . .   Maki stood in front of a intricately painted butterfly knife in the far corner of Shinguji's lab, before casually moving towards a doll beside it. She took only a small glimpse, noticed the golden leaf katana was removed, and walked furhter into his room before deciding she had seen enough. But now Maki felt a little more awkward, Shinguji had only spent a few seconds at his desk just taking notes and doing a count of every item in the room.

Now he was just watching her. 

Maki could feel his eyes on her, and then slowly and suddenly creeping up behind her - she had just understood he wasn't the murderer she had thought he was but the footsteps slowly creeping closer and closer-
Maki spun around, her hands that were folded behind her back now allowing a dagger to slip from her sleeve as she backed away.

Shinguji didn't seem to notice her threatening nature nor her paranoia as he continued to approach even as she turned and backed away. Maki took a breath to speak before Shinguji cut her off by pointing at the doll:

"Are you interested in the Kimekome doll?"  

Maki paused before finally looking over and realizing he was talking about the doll she had zoned out standing in front of. Now that her attention was drawn to it she blinked, standing up and allowing her hands from behind her back to drop to her sides, still holding the previously concealed dagger.  "Uh... yeah. I guess."

"Horrifying, isn't it?" Shinguji turned to stare it. "I've always loved dolls."

"Really?"

"Mhm. I preferred the straw dolls, commonly referred to as "Wara Ningyō". But do not mistake this interest of mine either, I do not consider them Voodoo dolls nor practice anything of the sort. That's a closed practice and not as malevolent as many think it to be." 

"... I just liked normal felt dolls." Maki turned back to the figurine. "This one is cute. Reminds me of a doll one of the kids at my orphanage had." 

Maki watched in her peripheral vision Shinguji straighten up like he had something he was going to ask, but held his tongue. Which was... abnormally considerate.  "There is that theory children who grew up with dolls are horrifying."

"You are a creep."

"And you're terrifying."

Maki hummed, looking away. "I should probably-"

"There's many other brief child-conspiracies. Did you ever grow up with those horrifying American Nursery rhymes about the Black Plague and the London Bridge?" Shinguji leaned forward with great interest and Harukawa swallowed, suddenly on guard.

"... Yeah. Sometimes I sang those to the kids at the orphanage too."

"There's also such tests those songs have altered the way children and now adolescence accept such world tragedies, would you like me to elaborate?" 

Harukawa ended up listening to Shinguji ramble on about how much he detested such obvious false theories and then some he genuinely believed to be fact - pulling up his own research and evidence to defend his own cause....

During the whole interaction Harukawa found herself zoning in and out of his rambles. Part of her wondered if under different circumstances could this be how Shuichi would've turned out? She didn't want to consider the thought, Shuichi was perfect just the way he is - no one should be changing this much as so fast just in a few days-

"I should go." Harukawa finally spoke up. 

"Seen all you've liked to?" Shinguji turned, his arms folded behind his back as Maki backed away, he noticed her hesitantly to turn her back to him.

"Yeah. I think so." Maki briefly glanced around the room. "Definitely full of... your kind of stuff.." 
But it was pretty awkward to slowly... walk backwards to the exit. And then Shinguji did something. He turned around, facing away. 

"Most certainly." Shinguji humored. Facing away from Maki, Maki was able to turn around and leave the room.

Once Korekiyo heard the door shut behind Harukawa, he turned towards the door and sighed. He itched for his notebook - though the entire time with Harukawa touring his lab like a museum they were entirely silent beside the brief small-talk - he craved the drive to grab his notebook and take note of his findings on his classmate.

But what for?

She would make a wonderful fr-

Korekiyo shook his head madly and leaned forward against the table. "No no no no no no-"  He muttered to himself. He wouldn't fall back into that mindset, those disturbing ideas. To trick Harukawa, to think of her as some sacrifice. How demented!
She's dead and long gone - now it was just Shinguji.
If he wanted a friend(who so happened to identify as female) then that's his friend. He will not think of Harukawa in any other way. In fact, Harukawa might be the only girl-friend Shinguji might have.
Besides Akamatsu of course, if they were to ever have a normal conversation again where she didn't keep looking at him like a lost-cause. 

Korekiyo stood up straight and adjusted his uniform shirt, as well as his hat.  

Now that he was calmer, more himself, he started to think again. Were these the lasting side-effects they were initially referring to? Whenever someone who had been killed woke up, they were experience phantom-pains and hallucinations of their death. For many nights at the Facility, Korekiyo would wake up screaming(Gokuhara's room being next to his, definetly heard the noise) and scratch his arms and triceps furiously til they burned and bled. To stop himself from melting. 

Korekiyo flexed his thin hands. In the simulation he wore bandages covering both of his arms, entirely, and even still in present day he does so.

Both instances for the same reason he had covered up so long ago. 

. . . As Maki left his lab she sighed exhaustedly and walked back to her dorm, occassionaly glancing out the window.

She stopepd when she saw that familiar white van again. The one that showed up on move-in day that held her belongings. A van that belonged to her orphanage...

Maki squinted as she saw some professors and even security shout and shoo the van away rather aggressively, Maki couldn't see who was inside the van nor hear what they were arguing about but it arose suspicion in her. Was her orphanage trying to take her stuff back? Were they... trying to take her back?
Both adults looked around the courtyard after the van left and then returned to their duties. 

Maki lingered there for longer before allowing herself to drop it for now and finally return to her room. 

[ Last chapter and previous segments was like tuesday, today is thursday ]

[ Further clarity if you were curious, rantaro, keebo, and miu had a sleepover all together on wednesday. I did not write that portion but youll see why later]

. . .  Chabashira and Kirumi walked around the campus of Hope's Peak together before the two girls stumbled into Momota just waving off one of the second years. 

Nekomaru Nidai, Tojo believes, they were having a pretty heated conversation - most likely about weights and testosterone or whatever it is makes them "manly" - and once Kaito spotted the two girls his face dropped.

So did Tenko's. 

"Oh my." Kirumi did her best to fake surprise. "I wonder what Momota is doing here?"

"Yeah! What are you doing here, male?! This is Kirumi and I's picnic!"

"Uh? No! Kirumi said we'd be pic-nicking today!"

Both parties turned to look at Tojo who wore a scary poker face. "My my, it seems I have mixed up my schedules..." Tojo pondered as Chabashira and Momota both looked back and forth between each other. 

"Well someone is gonna have to-"

"Oh dear! I forgot I had a meting with my... counselor at this time as well... perhaps you two can instead partake in this picnic and wait for my return?" 

Chabashira fumbled and sputtered before Momota spoke up: "Well how long is that gonna take?!" 

"Should not be any longer than half an hour... will that wait suffice?"

"We can just reschedule!" Chabashira tried. "I don't have to eat with him!"

"Well I would just hate for all this food to go to waste... it sure would.. upset me. If it did. And I had wasted time." 

Chabashira and Momota both looked back and forth between each other once again before Chabashira groaned loudly and Momota sighed heavily. 
He scooted over and Tenko flopped down next to him, sitting on her knees.

Tojo allowed a false smile to appear. "Wonderful, I will try to be back shortly." And with that, she left the picnic basket between them and started walking away. Far away.

As Tojo began to return back to their own seperate campus she felt distant footsteps following her. She stopped and turned around, her life would normally flash before her eyes but no one in their right mind would sneak up on someone who had been identified as a culprit in the simulation.

Unless it was another culprit.

Like Kaede Akamatsu.

"Can I help you?" Kirumi asks, instinctively, once more. She's torn between wanting to keep up appearances but she hates asking that question.  She doesn't give a single fuck what anyone wants from her, or how she can help. In fact every second with people like Momota and Chabashira is infuriating... why do they like her so much? She's petty and a pathetic excuse for a maid - and for someone like Momota whose practically sucking off of Saihara. And now Akamatsu is approaching her - 

"How did you manage to get Kaito and Tenko... eating lunch together?"

"It was easy." Kirumi supplied. "They wanted to spend time with me so badly, and I don't care much for either of them." After Kirumi said that she paused and felt her stomach churn. Well... no she doesn't care for them but they care for her... why does she feel so bad about that?

"Oh.. well..." Akamatsu smiled sadly, wringing her hands. "It's really cool how you managed to get them to.. kind of get along... even if..."

"Even if I manipulated them? Isn't that how you did it with everyone a few days ago?"

Kirumi thought she'd feel better dismissing Akamatsu but seeing her face fall made that pit in her stomach grow deeper. Could this be her talent's doing? Wanting to please everyone? She can't really say she cared for anyone... especially Saihara. She hates him with a burning passion. Akamatsu is friends with Saihara. 

"It's.. well... I guess it's not really different but..." Akamatsu sighed. "I feel horrible. I felt horrible and I.. I apologized to Kokichi and Kiyo."

Kirumi paused. "You did?"

"Yeah. I just... I want us all to get along but if that means excluding others.."

"Akamatsu," Kirumi wasn't sure how to approach this. "Do you really think we're all going to come out of this as friends?"

Akamatsu looked up at her with surprise. "... Yeah. Of course." 

You're an idiot. Was on the tip of her tongue, but she's sure Akamatsu has heard this many times before.   Pathetic is a better word.  It was, but...
"Do you really believe that... or are you just hope for the best?"

Something in Akamatsu's expression broke and she looked up at Kirumi with wide eyes. "... Maybe." 

"Well, having hope is something..." Kirumi cleared her throat. "It's nice to pretend, I suppose."

"Pretend? You - you think I'm just- I really want us all to get along Kirumi!"

"Are you aware of how many obstacles stand in your way? You cannot possibly expect to kill sixteen birds with one stone." 

"Most of us don't really have problems with each other!"

"I'm sure our classmates - especially Saihara - have already given you an itemized list of how we all feel about each other."

"... No.. I just... I could tell from the simulation how some of us feel about each other.." 

"Oh really?"

"Well.. I assume so.. I-"

"Did you know I hate Saihara?"

Kaede stopped. "What?"

"I fucking hate your friend, Akamatsu. I hate him and I will never forgive him, even if I were stuck in another school with him for weeks."

"... But why?"

"Didn't you know? Hm." Kaede gave her a look but Kirumi went on. "The same reason you should hate him too. He sentenced you to death." 

"I asked him to do that!"

"I didn't. I didn't care if anyone else died, that's why I murdered someone in the first place... isn't that why you set up your plan? You believe we all could be friends but the mastermind was the exception." 

That stunned Kaede into silence. 

"How can you confidently say "I want us all to be friends" if you intend to exclude Shirogane? I don't suppose you apologized to her that day too, huh?"

When Kaede didn't respond Kirumi took this opportunity to walk away.

Kaede waited there, not following her but...  she was going in the same direction.

As harsh as Kirumi was she was right.

Kaede was being not only a bad friend, but a hypocrite and a bad person...

. . . There was a knock at Tsumugi's door. 

When she opened it, the last person she expected to be there was there.

"What are you doing here?!" She snapped angrily, she should've just shut the door.

"Well hello to you too, Mugi." Junko Enoshima pushed past Shirogane and walked into her room, looking around. "Still the weeb you always were."

"You're not allowed to be here-"

"Oh? Hmmm I dunno, I got some restrictions lifted for good behavior. Especially with Makoto's permission."

"Makoto Naegi?"

"Yeah! Who knew I had to take orders from him, isn't that crazy?! But he saw how nice I was being to plebs like Hifumi and Mikan so now he's letting me visit my sweet beloved cousin!"

Tsumugi allowed herself to swallow that information before she finally asked, "What are you really doing here, Junko?"

"What a buzzkill! I thought you'd be a more fun mastermind! But you're such a bore!"

"My whole thing was being plain..."

"Mhm.. whatevs! I just came to tell you that my offer to you was totally cancelled! Times up!"

"Wh.. huh?" Tsumugi blinked in surprise. Not that she was even considering it but- "What do you mean?!"

Junko held up a letter, encased in a black and white envelope. "Perks of coming here without supervision, no one can see what I do - especially when Mukuro joined those engineering Ultimates and gets access to the camera system!"

Tsumugi was stunned to silence, trying to piece together Junko's plan as she explained herself.

"I get to slip my own personal invitation to Rantaro under his door myself!" Junko grinned, something about her smile was sinisterly close to Kokichi's. "I don't need you anymore!" 

Tsumugi in an instant launched herself at Junko, pushing her against the wall and snatching the letter from her hand. "I won't let you! I won't let you ruin this!" 

Junko seemed to allow it to happen, cackling madly as she squirmed out of Shirogane's grasp.  "Awwwh, don't tell me you're in love with the Ultimate Survivor? You're more like me than I thought!"

"I am nothing like you!" Tsumugi held up the letter and then tore it in two. "See?!"

"Are you trying to prove that to me or yourself, Mugi?"

"Get out! Get out or I'll tell the supervisors what you were doing here!"

"But you already tore up the letter, dumb fuck."

Tsumugi scrambled to peel open the actual paper but found it to be... blank on both sides. "Whuh..."

"Did you really think I'd go old school and slide a letter under his door like some school girl?! What do you take me for?"

"Then you-"

"Texted him, like a normal fucking person!" Junko grinned and walked towards Tsumugi.

Tsumugi backed up until she was against the wall. Junko pet her head absently. 

"I'll let you know how it goes. Enjoy your own personal hell..." Junko approached the door and before she left looked back and said; "Such a shame you didn't beg for help when you had the chance." 

Leaving Tsumugi totally alone in her room for what felt like hours, She rose to her feet and threw open the door and-

Kaede stood on the first floor with wide eyes, staring at the exit, most likely where Junko had just walked past her.

Kaede and Tsumugi made eye contact. 

"What did you do?" She whispered but Tsumugi felt like Kaede screamed it at her.

Chapter Text

Waiting for Kirumi slowly became a losing battle and Tenko started to realize she was set up after an hour and a half of total silence. 

Momota however, was entirely oblivious to the situation they were put in. Opting to look away and sit apart from Tenko, staring off into the distance with a squinted expression.

Tenko sat obediently on her knees and her fists resting in her lap. 

There was silence between them, even as Tenko figured it out. Part of her wanted to say something and the other part felt she didn't owe him an explanation if she got up and left...  "Kirumi isn't coming back." She settled.

"Huh?" Momota turned to her like he hadn't be in the same world she was. "What do you mean?! How do you know?"

"We've been here for an hour, idiot! Kirumi promised us only half an hour and it's been waaay too long." Tenko suddenly grew anxious and fidgety. Sweating suddenly pouring out of every pore in her face - she tended to have a sweating problem but no way would she admit that - "What if something happened to her?! And that's why she didn't come back? Kirumi always keeps her word!"

Momota scoffed at her behavior and she snapped her head in his direction, pursing her lips in an annoyed way. "Nothing happened to her, she's just running late! Even if she is an Ultimate Maid doesn't mean she's always gonna be on time. She probably got side-tracked helping someone else! She'll come back... but you can go if you want."

"What." Tenko deadpanned.

"Well it was supposed to be a me and her picnic." Momota answered, before popping a grape into his mouth. 

Tenko's eye twitched at the action. "Is that a challenge?! I see what you're doing here, you male! You really think I won't wait here forever! I will! I won't let Kirumi think I abandoned her!" As she grew louder in her affections more of the upper-class-men walking by stared at the two bizarrely. 

"Yeesh, I didn't mean it like that! You in love with her or somethin'?"

"Of course you think that - you probably think that's hot don't you?!"

"N- no! What do you take me for?!"

"A pervert!"

"Oh come on! I don't get off on that sorta thing! I'm into someone else!"

"... Huh?" Tenko totally blanked, her face turning dumbfounded. "You are...? Is it Maki?"

Momota suddenly flushed and looked away in shame. "No. It's not Maki." 

"... Then... who?"

Momota sighed and looked away, irritation blossoming on his face. "I didn't think you'd find a guy's love-life to be interesting."

Tenko remained in her position but her posture notably relaxed and she kind of sunk-in on herself. "Well... I am curious as to why you broke poor Maki's heart. Especially when she confessed her love to you before you died."

Momota made another face and scooted further away from Tenko. "I didn't mean to upset her, okay? She just asked me if I loved her back and I was honest! A man is always honest!"

"Well how did you tell her?"

"She asked me if I loved her back and I said "not really."  Once Momota answered there was a pause before he let out a shout of pain when Tenko suddenly back-handed him between the ribs. He was left gasping for air for a few minutes as Tenko screamed - now definitely getting annoyed stares from pass-byers. 

"No wonder she's so depressed you moron! That's no way to turn down a girl! You totally broke her heart!"

As Kaito was thrown back, sitting up onto his elbows he shouted with vigor: "How else was I supposed to do it?! Isn't honesty the best policy?!"

Tenko stood up on her knees and threw her hands over her face in distress: "FUck, you're an idiot!"

"Don't call me that!" Kaito sat up now. "If you think you can treat her better I don't know why you're not dating her!" 

Tenko lowered her hands in a flash and glared at Momota flushed and enraged. 

"What? Do you like Yumeno?"

"You don't get to concern yourself with my love life!"

"Then I shouldn't have to tell you mine!"

"Fine!"

"Fine!"

The two crossed their hands over their chest and looked away from each other. 
There was a long stretch of silence between the two, before...

"But I think you should talk to Maki." Tenko muttered, she heard Momota sigh exasperatedly from behind her. "Even if she doesn't wanna see you, you two were such good friends in Danganronpa."

Momota huffed again and Tenko found herself growing agitated.

"I tried, she doesn't wanna see me. She only talks to Shuichi... and now she's talking to Shinguji."

Tenko froze. ".. What?"

"Yeah, I saw them walking to lunch yesterday."

"... What were they talking about?"

"Nothin' really. Just side by side all quiet and creepy." They almost look good together. Kaito pondered, but shut the thought down before he said it. 

Tenko was silent again and Momota was too.
Finally Tenko's stomach rumbled. Another long and more embarrassing pause - until Tenko finally turned around and started eating some of the snacks she brought with Kirumi.
After a few seconds, Momota joined her.
The two eating together in silence. 

[ Skipping to evening, late at night. ]

. . .   Rantaro knocked on Iruma's door with a pillow in hand. 

Yesterday when he had a sleepover with Iruma and Keebo it was... still pretty awkward.  Iruma and Keebo were way closer relationship wise than Rantaro was with either of them. Any jokes Keebo cringed at Rantaro huffed in amusement, Miu roared with laughter at Keebo's attempts at humor and Rantaro found himself pitying his ideas of comedy. 
Keebo and Rantaro were too nice. Just to put it that way.
They both worked well bouncing off of someone like Iruma - but when it came to each other they were too nice to ask any in depth questions, Keebo wanted information and Rantaro wasn't mentally here for half the shit Keebo inquired about.
Rantaro didn't really want to get to know Keebo - or rather his functions - the way Iruma always bragged and asked about. 

Keebo of course had a personality, just in the presence of other company his personality consisted of "Almost," when he attempted to be human, and "Fascinating isn't it?" when presented his robotic features.

And if anything, Rantaro felt like a third wheel. He envied their friendship but he'd be an idiot not to see the obvious romantic tension at least Keebo held for Iruma.

And that was the most human thing about the Ultimate Robot.  Which Rantaro respected. He can get behind befriending a guy like Keebo - but maybe not when Keebo is enamored by someone like Iruma. Maybe after Keebo finally asks her out, Rantaro can sit down now, without Keebo seeing Rantaro as an experiment or a threat to their relationship.

That's what Rantaro thought anyway, and then Miu opened the door. "'Sup cabbage-patch-fuck." As usual, her sleep wear consisted of as little clothing as possible.

Rantaro stood with a tanktop on and some plaid pajama bottoms. "That's a new one." He replied to her greeting casually and walked inside as she stood aside for him. Shutting the door behind them.  He immediately took notice of the different atmosphere once the door closed.

"Keebo's not here?"

"Nah, he's not joining us tonight." Miu shrugged and sat on her bed. She pat a spot next to her and Rantaro felt his face heat up.

"Is there uh - a reason for that?" He cleared his throat and stiffly walked towards the bed, unsure if he wanted to sit down or not. 

"He said he wasn't feeling it- probably trying to get used to his own room. I guess it is kinda awkward sleepin' with a hottie like me all the time!"

Rantaro couldn't get over how she would say things like this but then get flushed whenever Rantaro would ask if her and Keebo were dating. Rantaro sat on the bed. "Right... it has nothing to do with me, does it?"

"Why the fuck would it?"

Rantaro shrugged. "I just... don't wanna be a third wheel, y'know?"

Miu glared harshly at him, quirking a brow and Rantaro really got to admire her features up close. Her piercings, specifically her septum piercing, her beauty mark, and her very intense... oh god that's right she has blue eyes. Blue eyed people are freaky. "Nah, I don't know. Third wheel - you act like only two bitches can be friends."

"Well, I don't mean it like that." Rantaro adjusted his position in his spot. Usually he'd also sleep on the floor and Miu would have Keebo sleep in the bed with her. "I guess I just feel isolated from you guys... not just you and Keebo."

"Why?" Miu questioned with little interest, pushing herself further back and leaning against her pillows and headboard. 

Rantaro exhaled through his nose. "Well, I'm going abroad by like maybe next week? So I won't be around. I thought I told you about that but I can't remember who I've told this to. And dying first kind of puts you at a disadvantage when it comes to making friends."

Miu didn't say anything and Rantaro felt once again out of place. What was he even doing in this girl's room? Were they friends? Did Miu want to be his friend? That was a switch up considering how obsessed she is with Keebo.
Could it be pity? That's something Kaede could offer though, her pity. Why does Miu care about Rantaro all of a sudden?

"We can still be friends dumbass, haven't you ever heard of long-distance? That's how I met all of my friends."

Rantaro blinked in surprise. "Really? That's how you met your friends?"

"Well I did just fucking say that so - yeah. Everyone around me were either fucking pyschos or made me want to shoot everyone and then myself whenever they opened their mouth. I found the little gay people in my phone to be more appealing."

Rantaro huffed, with humor. "I never took you for the type.. maybe that's why you like Keebo so much. Cause he's all technical."

"That's robophobic I think." Miu teased. 

"My bad." Rantaro replied. "Can I ask then... why are you trying to befriend me?" He looked back at her. "This just feels more up Kaede's ally than your's." 

"I'm being nice, dickhead. Can't I be nice?" Miu retaliated with obvious anger and Rantaro held up his hands defensively. 

"I think you're nice." He deflected. "Really nice... to some of our classmates."

"You try to be nice to Oma and let me know how that goes." 

Oh that's right Kokichi Oma exists- "I kinda forgot about him." With that statement, Miu roared with laughter obnoxiously loud and contagious Rantaro found himself chuckling along with her.

Miu's laughter died down as she heard Rantaro's trail off. Fuck his laugh is attractive. 

"Sorry, I'm not sure what to talk about... I know you typically lead Keebo in conversation."

"Yeah, well, we mostly talk about emotional shit and life and I hate talking about that right now." Miu frowned. Is she mad at Keebo? She's acting mad. She's acting bitter.

"You and Keebo having... any problems?"

"Nah. I just can't stand talking to anyone right now."

"Ah." Rantaro awkwardly shift in his spot again. 

"Not you." Miu justified, though she didn't really have to. "For some reason I'm fine if we talk. We don't talk that much and you're like the only other nice guy here."

"What about-" Gonta. But she was killed by Gonta. "Never-mind, lost my train of thought." He lied.

Miu didn't reply and Rantaro realized how he was sitting was making him feel stiff... so he laid back against the mattress. Now him and Miu were side by side.  "What do you want to talk about?" He asked, looking at the ceiling. The idea of laying in bed with a hot girl was not something he was thinking about.
But Miu was.

Miu was very aware there was a very hot guy laying next to her in bed. Both in their pajamas. He knew he was attractive too. But did he find Miu attractive? Is that why he's being so casual? Because she isn't good enough for him? "I don't care. Just whatever'll waste time." 

Rantaro nodded but she didn't see it.
Rantaro doesn't want to talk about the game and he could tell it wasn't something Miu was fascinated by either.
Some of their classmates were off limits because of their connection to the game.
And Miu doesn't remember her personal life. 

"You like cartoons?" Miu brought up lazily.

When Rantaro woke up in the middle of the night - a nightmare he didn't want to relive nor talk about - he sat up and noticed he was still in Miu's bed.
Even worse, she was up against the pillows sleeping with her mouth wide open as the colors from the cartoon they had started up an hour or so ago was still playing it's episodes and were shining in Miu's face illuminating her features- and Rantaro was below her, his head lined up with her open stomach.
Practically on top of each other as their legs entangled. 

His nightmare quickly left his mind and all he could think of is what Keebo is going to do when he finds out. 

[ Next day ]

. . . Kaede sat restlessly in her room. Getting up and pacing the floors to laying back on her bed and tossing and turning. It was supposed to be her lab time, but every time she saw that piano her throat would close in tight on her and she couldn't breathe nor speak. 
Her therapist told her it was going to be a lingering phantom pain from the simulation, and especially with her guilt of putting Rantaro in danger and betraying her friends her mind feels she should continue to be punished tenfold. 

In her execution however, her last thought was that she deserved this. Her first thought was to not look anyone in the eye. 
Everyone was surrounded in front of her like this was a performance - watching her be publicly shamed for what she had done. That cursed dream of escaping with everyone - oh but if you're the mastermind you're the exception!

When she saw his body, in her gut she knew it wasn't true. She couldn't bare the thought that Rantaro Amami was a bad person. She trusted him, she felt she knew him even if he didn't know or trust himself. She wanted to escape with Rantaro. With Shuichi's aid they'd surely find out his talent in the real world.

Well now here they are, in the real world. Rantaro Amami is the Ultimate Survivor of previous killing games and Kiyo has openly theorized that Rantaro is being haunted by his dead friends.  

Kaede always finds herself questioning if she or anyone else from this class could replace the ones Rantaro had lost. They don't seem to be at this school... though Rantaro is usually seen with the third year Yasuhiro Hagakure and the second year Nagito Komeada. But no one recognizes him, nor remembers him.  So they can't be his friends.

Kaede offered at one point, verbally offered to Rantaro that she would travel with him to find his friends from the previous killing games. Since they were both fake they must be out there somewhere. You'd think it'd be the third years but no. 

Imagine waking up from that horrible experience and one of your friends just isn't there... waking up and Rantaro isn't there.  Or Shuichi.

Kaede doesn't want to consider the guilt she'd feel. Especially if she found out they would put someone like Shuichi, a survivor, through the same kind of torment. Was that the sick prize the mastermind granted their survivors? Another killing game?

Kaede rolled onto her side. It didn't matter. She didn't make it out alive. She didn't make it out alive, and worst of all she died first. Taking away not only her opportunity to befriend everyone but Rantaro's as well.

All of his previous friends are gone and he can't make any new ones or fall back on the current cast because Kaede took that opportunity away from him. If he has no friends it's all Kaede's fault.

Her not having friends is all her fault. Shuichi the shyest person alive has way more friends than her, can smooth talk anyone into a simple and welcoming conversation. People trust Shuichi.
Whenever Kaede finds herself joining their conversations there's always a tense pause. Like they expect Kaede to want something from them. 

Kaede rolled her face into her pillow as she began to wail like a child.

Kaede remembers crying like this when she was younger. Crying over the same question, the same stress.

Why don't I have any friends? Is there something wrong with me? Is it me?

Kaede was positive most of the cast was an only child like herself - that's right she lied. She lied in front of everyone, in front of Kokichi, she doesn't have a sister. 
Kaede was an only child and she remembers her efforts in trying to befriend everyone in her classes before this. But when you're the piano freak who doesn't have an ounce of free time to spare to really get to know everyone - and then when you do have a break no one wants to hang out with you - it's a no-brainer as to why this trend of having no friends went on to the present circumstances.

Kaede wanted friends so bad she killed one of them for the sake of others. And then she manipulated them and left out three really nice people for the sake of getting along with everyone.

Well, if you could include Shirogane in those "three really nice people?"

There it is. Back to the original problem at hand.

Kaede cannot forgive Tsumugi Shirogane. But who can? Keebo definitely won't - he's already said. But Shuichi believes there's something more to the situation, Shuichi wants to talk to Shirogane. 

Kaede wanted to talk to her too. At first. Kirumi is a really good manipulator, Kaede thought rudely.
She almost had Kaede going to talk to Shirogane. To apologize to her.

But then Junko Enoshima, the worst of the worst and the original mastermind for all of the previous killing games, was walking out of Tsumugi's room.

They aren't even supposed to interact with each other. So what is she planning? Were they conspiring a new killing game? Was it going to include all the previous culprits? Victims? Was Rantaro going to get kidnapped into another killing game? Was Shuichi?

The paranoia made Kaede toss and turn, sniffling as hot tears pooled from the corner of her eyes.

Why is being alive so stressful? 

And why is Shirogane still here? If she was causing all of these problems, mentally, for all these students - why did they keep her here? Experimentation? Just because Shirogane is a student like the rest of them, does she really have to attend the same school?

It was obvious students from other killing games didn't all go to Hope's Peak Academy. At least not right now.

Why couldn't it have been Shirogane's idea to drop out instead of Ryoma's?

Kaede could curse herself, being this cruel. Thinking all of these horrible and rude things about her classmate.

But her classmate did get her killed. And everyone else killed. 

Kaede clung to her neck as she thought about it - why them? Why her? How did it ever come to be like this? Especially when Shirogane is clearly planning something too. 

Kaede sat up and took a strained deep breath through her open mouth. "Okay... Calm down..." She tried to reassure herself. She's been all over the place in her mind for the past... Kaede looked at the time.

"An hour?!" 

An hour of just self-loathing?! Kaede immediately rose from her spot on the bed and rushed into the bathroom, splashing water on her face and changing her clothes. She was going to have dinner with Shuichi and then tell Kokichi to make some time at lunch tomorrow so they can talk.

Sure she's been having issues with him but she needs to keep her promise - tell Kokichi that the others don't know how to act around him because he's... you know.

With a better way to phrase that in the back of her mind - Kaede left her room.

. . .  Angie, Himiko, and Gonta were all outside together. 

Initially it was supposed to be a student council meeting, but Keebo had to sit out due to "not feeling it" today. Whatever that meant. Angie wasn't going to worry - sure Keebo was having a difficult time and would come to Angie to vent- which she encouraged - but he didn't want to talk about it so she wasn't going to push it.

Tenko was here for obvious reasons, so it was just the three of them. 

Gonta was off talking about some bugs he's found and Himiko had stolen Angie's newest sketchbook, giving her hand at drawing. She was awful at it - and Angie wasn't going to tell her. 

"Have you talked to that second year who wanted your picture?" Himiko asked lazily, interrupting Gonta mid-rant.

"Huh? Oh, does Himiko mean Koizumi?"

"Yea." Himiko nodded. Angie and Himiko had both the displeasure of meeting Koziumi and her little friend Saionji. Koizumi was fine, Saionji was very annoying. Especially for her age. And especially how she enjoyed killing bugs in front of Gonta. 

"Gonta unsure why Koizumi wanted his picture so bad, but Gonta totally forgot!" Gonta looked around suddenly before whispering. "Gonta did not think she was real, thought she was NPC."

There was a sudden strong silence among the three as Himiko stopped the line she was drawing and looked at Angie with wide-eyes. Angie didn't pay any mind to either of them, so Himiko too it upon herself to ask for clarity.

"What do you... what do you mean, Gonta?"

"Well - Gonta thought because we still in simulation, she will not exist unless Gonta go back to greet Koizumi."

Angie blinked.

Himiko's mouth was opened agape and she swallowed, "Gonta... what do you mean since we're still in the simulation?"

"Gonta not sure how to answer? Remember in Danganronpa we were in simulation and Gonta thought it was a dream?"

"Mhm..."

"Well then Gonta do bad things, get punished, and wake up from another dream! Or... simulation... so Gonta think he finally get it now! This simulation too! That why Gonta not worried so much about the other school. Gonta know it not real. And that why Gonta keeping far away from Oma... even if Gonta want to talk to him again.. Gonta think it for the best if he going to survive this simulation!" Gonta explained rather casually, turning his attention back to the grass where he was most likely watching some ants march up and down. 

Himiko was now sweating profusely, looking at Angie intently for some kind of help with the situation. But Angie only replied with a calm look of her own.

"Uh... Gonta.. you know this is real life now right?"

"Hm?"

"Like.. we're not in a simulation anymore. I know it was probably really confusing waking up from two but, I promise this is it now." Himiko tried, looking at Angie again pathetically like she was asking for her input, her confirmation. "Have you talked to your therapist about this?"

"Sure," Angie shrugged. "If it was another simulation would Angie still be here?" She cooed.

But Gonta shook his head, standing up. "No! Gonta not say anything until now! We still all in headset... or pod? Gonta cannot tell which one. Gonta tried to use phone to say his name or take headset off but nothing work. Gonta sure once something bad happens we all wake up again in a new one! Gonta just doesn't want to be the one who does the bad thing... too scared... execution hurt like a bitch." 

Himiko stood up with him. "Gonta! We're not in a simulation! This is real life!" She began shouting angrily, only because now she was getting paranoid too. What if this was another simulation? What if when they wake up from this one too, Angie and Tenko will still be dead? What if everyone but her, Shuichi, and Maki are dead after this?

Angie, still criss-crossed on the floor looked up at the two and started to notice the panic on both of their faces. She blinked absently and grabbed Himiko's sleeve from where she was sitting. "Himiko? Why don't you go find Tenko? I am positive she and Kirumi can clear this whole mess up no problem!"

Himiko snapped out of her spiraling thoughts looked to Angie, then back at Gonta, then nodded quickly back at Angie and sprinted away. 

Gonta watched Himiko leave and looked back at Angie. "What wrong? Was it something Gonta say? Did she not know this not real?" Gonta asked profusely, worried. 

"No need to fear Gonta." Angie coaxed carefully, slowly rising and wrapping her arms around one of Gonta's, comfortingly. "It's different than how you understand it Gonta... think of it like this," Angie didn't know what she was saying. In truth, she was pulling this out of her ass. "None of this is real, but it's not a violent game! The truth is... when Angie and Gonta died we both went to heaven! Atua has welcomed us into this new world with open arms! Everyone is alive and accepted this new reality. No one is fake but nothing is real!" Angie, master of the Poker Face, smiled sweetly into Gonta's eyes. "Does that make sense? Angie and Atua are so terribly sorry we did not explain it to you sooner!"

Gonta stared down silently at Angie for a few minutes before nodded slowly, squinting in understanding. "Gonta think he get it... this is what death is... so.. why Shuichi, Himiko, and Maki here if they survive previous simulation!"

"Isn't it obvious? They didn't! Keebo's explosion killed everyone and now they are all here! Oma and Shirogane and Shinguji are still twisted and not so friendly, but Atua has granted them a second chance anyway, isn't that nice?"

"Ah! Yes! Very nice of Atua!" Gonta cheered. "So...no one know the truth about this simulation? About heaven?"

Angie felt her smile strain and her grip tighten. "Mhm! So let's just not talk about it anymore, especially in front of the others! Okay?"

"Okay."

"Promise?" Angie tried.

"Gonta promise!"

Thank Atua.

Angie can only be a therapist to one person at a time. And Gonta is a little too real for her. At least with Keebo, Angie can give her opinion and he'd be satisfied with anything.  

By the time Himiko came back with Tenko, no Kirumi, Angie and Gonta were sat again in silence. Angie rose to greet the girls and simply whispered: "I handled it." 

Chapter Text

When Kaito woke up for the first time in a long time, he couldn’t breathe.

He was coughing for seemingly hours and the oxygen tank made him feel worse. It took a while before he stopped coughing and another half hour before he caught his breath.
What could he say? It’s hard to breathe when you have a disease where you cough up blood, and he just so happened die in space.
They warned him of the phantom pains he’d experience.
Despite the fact that he suffocated to death before he hit the ground he still woke up merely a few seconds after Kirumi.

Which is... actually what prompted his current desire: To tear down her walls. 

. . .  "Tojo,” Kaito breathed out looking surprised. He was sent to a different medical room for extra check ups.
Of course his execution was rather gruesome but he didn’t consider Tojo’s to be that bad. “… Hey.”

Tojo walked past him and ignored his greeting, taking a seat with an empty gaze she lowered to the floor as the nurse began to check her blood pressure. Okay. That’s… fine. This whole thing is crazy and she’s probably still in shock. But once all was done for him that day, Tojo stood up and began walking out- so Kaito jogged to catch up with her. “Hey Tojo, you doin’ okay?”
Once again he was ignored and Tojo took it upon herself to increase her pace. Very obviously ignoring him. Still he pursued and persisted, “That was crazy, wasn’t it? Wakin’ up from that and it all wasn’t real?” No reply. ”I mean everyone’s alive too. Kaede, Gonta, even Shui—“

Kirumi Tojo spun around and grabbed Kaito firmly by his old school uniform. Her hands involved and sweaty— her hair standing on end as she glared threateningly into his eyes. “Are you insinuating that Shuichi Saihara made it out alive of that hell hole?” 

Chapter Text

Once Rantaro had moved himself from Miu's bed onto the floor, and woke up pretending like nothing had happened between them, even though they both knew that wasn't the case... Rantaro returned to his dorm room.

It held a map of the world on the wall as well as countless framed photos of his sisters plastered around it. Red string connected certain states and continents together like Rantaro was trying to solve something.

He looked at it like a foreign object before dropping his pillow onto the bed. He turned back and gazed at the five calendars all next to each other on the eastern wall. He knew it was August... he looked at the calendar on the far right that read March. 
Well.
He wasn't sure what month it was but Rantaro took the red pen hanging on a string and crossed off the previous day. It was Saturday. Which meant he could go home. 

Speaking of, Rantaro quickly searched for his phone - as usual he demolished his bed and practically dismantled his closet in the furious process of trying to find this object he couldn't remember where he put - before finding in the same place he always leaves it.
Charging on his desk. Only this time in his fury of searching he knocked it on the floor with a thud.

Rantaro knelt down and picked it up, the physical contact made the phone lit up in response and that's when Rantaro noticed the text message waiting for him.

He sat on his bed as he opened it, an unknown number:

" Rantaro Amami,

HEEEEEEEEEYYYY it's your bff and i really wanna catch up with you! Can you meet me in my dorm for a little chat????? it's in hopes peak but dw you have access to the whole ass campus cause youre like suuups special or whatever.

Love yours, Junko Enoshima <33333 "

. . .   Maki didn't intend to spend as much time with Shinguji today as she did. As usual she was passing by, ignoring her lab at all costs and instead held a gym bag with her as she was casually making her way across the courtyard to Chabashira's lab.
She was given specific permission to use it - but Maki had only agreed to try it out if no one else was going to bother her. She didn't want an audience of Yumeno, Yonaga, and everyone watching her technique. Maki was tired of being a lab rat to observe and study. 

Running into Shinguji in the courtyard, on the way to Chabashira's lab, was less than ideal.
He had been pacing when Maki silently walked past him. But something in the way he was moving, biting idly at the end of his bandages hand, made her steps falter.

Maki stepped comedically on a twig and Shinguji’s head snapped up to meet her gaze. “There you are.” He breathed.

Maki squinted. “Were you looking for me?”

“Yes.” Shinguji practically hissed with a trace of panic lingering on his tongue. Maki looked hopelessly ahead at the lab before sighing and allowing her duffle bag to drop to her side.
She was in for another fifty minute conversation it seemed.
Where did her backbone go.

“What is it?”

“Did you hear what they’re going to do with us?”

Maki’s heart rate spiked in response. “… What do you mean? What are you talking about?”

“The therapists.” Shinguji spat out like the word was poison. “They’re doing group therapy sessions tomorrow morning.” Shinguji held himself like his skin was crawling.

“… What kind of group sessions?” Maki inquired further. If it was what she thought it was, she had no reason to worry.
But that meant—

“They are going to put the culprits and victims in the same room as each other to talk out their issues.”
That meant: Shinguji has every reason to worry.

“Oh.”

“Oh is right.” He shockingly humored her.

Maki stood there lingering for a while. Shinguji was silent and awaiting any reply she might put in, which is what prompted her next question: “Why are you telling me this? Why were you looking for me specifically?”

She watched Shinguji’s shoulder fall and almost felt bad. “It was either you or Shuichi. I felt you could supply me any comfort he couldn’t.”

Maki nodded stiffly. “He isn’t the best with that.”

“He is not.”

“… But I’m even worse at it.”

“Try me.” Shinguji nearly pleaded. “I know you won’t lie. I know you’ll be honest… and maybe your negativity and awkwardness is something that will mentally prepare me for hell tomorrow.”

. . .  Keebo knocked on Miu's door later that day. 

“Hello Miu!”  Keebo greets as soon as he steps in the room. Miu, who had been writing or.. sketching? Something with a hunk of metal in front of her, jumps in her seat. She snaps her notebook shut. Despite that Keebo had knocked first Miu still seems caught off guard. “Apologies.”

. .  .   When Rantaro entered the dorm room of the Ultimate Despair , admittedly he was anxious and visibly shaking.
This girl ruined his life on three separate accounts, well two if you don't count whatever obsession Tsumugi had with her as something she was willingly associated with.

She sat on her bed with that brown animal-patterned fur coat wrapped loosely around her model body..  That's right, before the killing games began she used to be the Ultimate Fashionista. 

Rantaro despised that was something they held in common: the simulations changing their talents. 

"Aren't you gonna take a seat, Rantaro?" Junko Enoshima asked with such familiarity in her voice. Like they had been good friends.

"I'd rather you not address me by my first name." Rantaro opted to leaning against the door, knowing the exit is within reach if this conversation gets too dangerous made him feel some form of control.

"Awwwh, why? You were like, always my favorite y'know."

"What do you want?" Rantaro sighed.

"Straight to the point! Come onnn, don't be like every other protagonist - Makoto and Izuru bore me so much now! ... But youuuu," Junko leaned forward, twirling her finger in her hair. "Mukuro thinks you're a sweetheart and if she wasn't obsessed with Makoto I'm sure you two would've been so cute together."

Is that what this was about? "I'm not going on a date with your sister."

Junko huffed. "That's not what I brought you here to discuss..." She suddenly leaned back, resting her elbows on her matress. The position looked increasingly uncomfortable.  "I wanted to praise you for your new Ultimate title! After the first killing game, it was obvious you earned it - but to survive a second one!" She gasped like it was surprise.

"I didn't survive the third, not that impressive." Rantaro attempted to talk-down something he didn't even consider an accomplishment. What she thought was impressive was actually traumatizing. 

"Oh don't downplay yourself, Amami!" To his surprise, she actually obeyed his wishes about his name. "You actually totally would've survived the third one too - Tsumugi just fucked it up and went off her own script for it."

"... What-" That was something he hadn't heard. From Saihara or any of the staff. 

"Yeah! Shuichi was supposed to go in to find no one there and Kaede's shot put ball kills him."

"But wasn't Shuichi supposed to be the leader?" Why would they keep that from him?

Junko reeled with laughter. "Noo! You were! Why do you think we kept you around for a third one? Do you know how exciting it would be to see how long we could keep someone in a killing game before they finally lose their mind to despair?!"
Oh Rantaro was losing his mind alright. He was just really good at hiding it.
"Your hope was a whole different breed! Don't you remember what you told yourself in those videos?"

Rantaro does. It's almost the only thing he remembers clearly. 

"Remember, you wanted this killing game, so you have to win it. No matter what."

That was a letter to himself, from the second killing game.

As Rantaro reminisced there was a strange pull in the back of his head and in his gut. Something that felt increasingly dreadful but also exciting.  
Attempting to shake off the thought and these feelings, he shook his head. 

But when he looked at Junko her outfit was entirely different, the same black and white uniform she would always be wearing in the final trials. With the monochromatic bear bears in her hair and pinned onto her breast pocket. 
Rantaro couldn't blink back the illusion this time, and he found himself growing stiffer and more uncomfortable.
Why wouldn't it go away? Why did he feel like he was standing on that podium, in the trial room? Was he on trial? What-

"What is this? What does this have to do with you asking for me?" 

"MMmhmmm, I have an offer for you." Junko stood up and Rantaro practically pressed himself flat against the door.

"What is it... ?"

"Oh don't be such a baby." Junko scolded and approached her desk that had a few papers on it. "Do you remember how much fun those games were?"

"Are you fucking crazy ?" Rantaro's gaze darkened but Junko just grinned wider.

"Come on! You remember the thrill of it! Waking up in some place new, new friends, new enemies, new areas to explore- it's a twisted mind game and only you know you'll make it out alive because it's in your blood! You hold a twisted hope I've been aching to see more of. Even if you roll over and play day you still won't die! Even if you decided to murder another student again you'd be just fine!" "

"I'm not going back. I can't-" Rantaro frantically searched for the door handle, not wanting to turn his back on the Ultimate Despair, when he felt the other survivor(s) grab the back of his neck. "You can't make me go back." Rantaro spoke determinedly.. scared.

"Just think about it!" She turned with a stack of paper in hand. "I've already volunteered to be apart of the scouting group! We'll see if they actually let me in buuuut... There's some Ultimates I know you're gonna love!"

Ratnaro shook his head, not looking at the hallucinations, not looking at her. With an aggressive tone, he managed to speak:  "That's exactly it! I watched everyone I cared about die or become the worst person of themselves they never should have been capable of."

"Isn't that why you said yes to a second game? To a third?"

"No..." Rantaro breathed out.
The reason he agreed...
"That wasn't it."
What was it again, Rantaro?
"I won't let you manipulate me, Junko. Not again."

"You know you want to," Junko got closer, grinning madly. Like this was some sick funny joke. "I know you want to! Don't tell me at the end of it all you wouldn't willing throw yourself into a new game just like you always did: With a smile on your face." 

Rantaro shook his head wildly, getting a headache from such violent movement and fumbled turning the door knob.
Junko was right in front of him now, and Rantaro grew frantic, rapidly throwing open the door before Junko grabbed his wrist, sliding a business card into his hand.
" You really gotta do something with all that talent, Rantaro ." 

Rantaro pulled his wrist out of her grasp, pausing and adjusting his shirt, his attitude returning back to his cool demeanor. "No, I don't."

He managed to walk calmly out of her room before making a sprint down the hall. Horrified as the windows appeared bolted shut and the students looked dead. 

Chapter Text

After the events of yesterday, Rantaro was somewhat surprised he was the first person in the counselor's office.
Well, other than the therapist awaiting him.
He sat upright and gave a brief nod to the boy before looking back down at notes on a clipboard. 

Rantaro sat himself at the far end of the couch and waited a few minutes before looking at the door. He wasn't early... if anything he had shown up a few minutes late. So, "Am I the only one doing this?"

The therapist looked up at Rantaro: "The victims and culprits were given two separate times to enter the office, just to give both parties a chance to mentally prepare themselves."  He clarified.

"Oh." Rantaro nodded slowly. "Yeah that makes sense... so is it gonna just be me and Shirogane?"

"Not quite." 

Just as the doctor spoke the doorknob twisted itself timidly before Kaede opened the door and walked inside. She didn't meet the eyes of the man hosting the session but instead made eye contact with Rantaro and smiled more confidently compared to her behavior entering. 

"Hi..." She whispered, shutting the door behind her and taking a seat directly next to Rantaro, in the middle of the couch.

"What are you doing here?" Rantaro asked. It wasn't that he wasn't happy to see Kaede. Far from it, he was relieved he wasn't going to be trapped in here with two people he rather not speak to. 

Kaede seemed to wilt at his inquiry and brushed a stray hair behind her ear. "I... have no idea." She looked to the therapist for an answer. 

"You act as both the culprit and the victim in this case, and we felt it unfair to leave you out of the conversation." He explained without looking up from his notes, flipping a page front and back a few times, comparing notes. 

"Oh." Kaede hadn't expected that answer, she paused and looked at Rantaro. "Is it... okay that I'm here with you?"

"Yeah, I don't mind." He seem to shrug off and look off to the side. Kaede's curiosity was suddenly piqued. Rantaro had developed a reputation of not being "present" in a conversation but now it seems he was actively trying to get lost. Like there were much better thing to be thinking of than what was about to occur.

Kaede lightly tapped his foot with her own. He looked over at her, his dazed eyes suddenly locking back in and he gave her a questioning yet concerned look. Kaede in return offered a weak smile and mouthed: 'You okay?'

Rantaro smiled in return and just replied with 'Thanks' before looking anywhere but at her and the therapist.

Kaede might delve into that later. 

[my favorite personal headcanon ive invented is rantaro will reply to a sentence with an answer that kind of sounds like he was listening but also makes no sense. him and kiyo will both do this and have a perfect conversation with each other. anyway-] 

After some awkward silence, and only Kaede's nervous quiet breaths being heard there was a knock at the door. Both students shot up in their seats, Rantaro now sitting at attention and Kaede trying to calm even though both students were far from calm. 

"You can come in." The therapist spoke for them, counteracting the statement he had told Rantaro prior about them "being ready." 

Tsumugi Shirogane entered the room, silently shutting the door behind her and took a seat at the very end of the couch, practically pressed against the side. 
Both parties avoiding each other at all cost.

The once nervous yet silent energy in the room quickly grew tense and threatening.

"Alright, I'm Dr. A, nice to sit down with you all. The purpose of this session is the hopefully set some ease amongst each other. We don't expect you all to be best friends by the end of this but hopefully you can all understand that what happened in Danganronpa is long behind us."

There's that thing about moving on again, Kaede though absently. 

"So, before we begin does anyone have any questions?"

There was silence. 

"Alright, firstly, we're going to be going over how the events of the first chapter impacted you all and then share any concerns or troubling thoughts you have going to school with each other."

There was silence in the room again, Kaede and Rantaro briefly glanced at each other but no one said anything. Until-

"Well as you can imagine, I'm sure Amami and Akamatsu have many concerns."  Shirogane spoke up.

"Don't speak for us." Amami refuted. 

"Well you're not saying anything so I figured-"

"That doesn't give you the right to decide for us. It never did." Akamatsu finally took the initiative to look at Shirgoane. 

Shirogane's gaze darkened. "I didn't ask to, it's just how things played out. You tried to kill Amami first!"

"Because I thought he was you!"

And once again the room was plunged into silence.

"Should I go then?" Rantaro raised his hand lazily, clearly his question was in an attempt to lighten the mood but the looks he received made him bite his tongue and look away.  "My bad."

"Everyone knows your plan by now." Shirogane shrugged. "I don't even know why you're here, Akamatsu. I killed Amami."

"I'm here for other reasons." Akamatsu defended. "... I didn't mean to yell earlier."

"Is that all your sorry for?" Shirogane egged on.

"What was the question again?" Amami suddenly asked.

"It was supposed to be our concerns, we're already covering what happened in the first chapter." Shirogane answered. Once again Rantaro seemed to acknowledge her answer before disappearing.

Not physically disappearing but he wasn't metaphorically in the room with the two girls anymore. Dr. A seemed to take notice of this and wrote notes down. 

"So you are all still rather uncomfortable with each other in classes and in the dorms."

"Yes." Shirogane answered again.  Kaede side-eyed Shirogane. "If you do not answer we're going to be trapped here forever." Shirogane warned. "I'm just trying to get this over with like the two of you so badly want to."

"Didn't you hear, we're not supposed to get along right after this session. We're expected to be here for an hour."

Idly, Rantaro found the clock, just to see how much time had passed in this broken conversation. But something was off. His scheduled time to show up was 10am, yet the clock read 4am. 
He squinted. That couldn't be right.

"Couldn't hurt to actually speak when you've been spoken to."

Kaede's expression was almost hilarious, it was like Shirogane was trying to annoy her and Rantaro.
Almost like Kokichi would do.

Kaede still hadn't spoken to him since...

"Doesn't matter. You killed Rantaro and framed me, and we still don't get along. What else?"

"Why do you not seem to trust Shirogane?" Dr. A began.

"She was the mastermind...?" Kaede shrugged. She thought of a million reasons - one of them being how Junko Enoshima left the girl's room. 

"But has she done anything to make you believe she's up to something?" The therapist eyed her.

Shirogane was suddenly nervous. What? The entire session was about her but now it was... becoming about the mastermind persona she had. It was beginning to feel like the doctor wanted Kaede to say something that would get Tsumugi into more trouble than she was already in.

Rantaro looked at the doctor. Something was wrong there as well. His former appearance he had when Rantaro walked into the room - was growing different by the second. His face was changing into some unrecognizable grey culprit. 
He attempted to blink back the illusion but it was taking longer this time. He needed something else to focus on. 

"No...?" Kaede tried, unsure of her own answer.

"Then maybe we should work on trust next," Dr. A recommended. He took a breath to move on but-

"But she's plotting something!" Kaede suddenly shouted, rising to her feet and pointing a finger at Shirogane.

The therapist arched a brow, awaiting further explanation, but Kaede froze. Something about snitching on Shirogane didn't seem... right. Even Rantaro was eyeing her now. She needed a scapegoat. Kaede could hear Kokichi's laugh echoing in her mind and made a decision: With a resigned sigh, kaede sat down, her fists falling onto her lap again.

"Her and Oma were talking privately a while back."

The dread was clear on Shirogane's face. "You were there for that...?"

"What."

Shirogane now appeared confused. If Akamatsu wasn't there then - did she just lie? "Uh-"

"What were they discussing?" Dr. A gained interest once more.

"They were... just catching up." Kaede concluded. But her gaze lingered on Shirogane, waiting for her to add more. If there was even more.

"That's right." Shirogane instantly agreed. "Since everyone hates us so much we stayed back and talked. That was all..." Despite this, Shirogane still seemed ashamed of something.

Silence seemed to be a frequent visitor among them.. Rantaro had thought he found the distraction he needed from his mind but once the girls well quiet he suddenly made eye contact with Shirogane.

"You don't look so good." She mumbled and Rantaro can imagine how he must've been hunched over staring wide-eyed like something would change.

Kaede then looked at him.

"Rantaro, watch out!"

"What?"

"I said, wat-"

Rantaro jumped in his seat and looked over as a silver shot-put ball landed just inches away from him. He looked up as to where it could have come from and saw Kaede's bookshelf trap.

How she managed to set it up in the therapist office this fast was beyond him.

His heart beat loud in his ears, he knew what would come next, when Rantaro turned to address Shirogane she wasn't there. She'd be behind him any minute. And then he'd die again.

But it was different - Kaede was in front of him. Would she die too? He couldn't let that happen, he made a promise.

"Kaede-"

When he met the girl's eyes they were full of concern.

"Are you okay?" Kaede whispered once more. Rantaro's eyes were still clouded.

"Are you?" He shot back, not intending to sound aggressive but the way the pianist looked at him was like she made Rantaro upset. "Where's Shirogane?"

"Still here.." Shirogane made herself known dismissively, appearing just behind Kaede.

Rantaro leaned forward and once the cosplayer gauged to what he was looking for she raised her hands in mock surrender. "I'm not planning anything!" She shouted. "Can't everyone just assume I'm as plain as I used to be? Just for the day?"

But she was going to kill Kaede.

Rantaro stared at her and Kaede noticed Rantaro's shoulders and chest rising more dramatically.

He promised to get everyone out.

Kaede put a hand over Rantaro's and he jerked back, his eyes coming back into focus. "... I'm okay." Kaede had answered his question from earlier.

The therapist watched the two ground each other while Shirogane was gloomy in the corner.

"You know, I think we'll call it for the day."

Kaede and Rantaro walked out together, Kaede insisted on taking Rantaro's hand in her own as they walked to get him some water.

Tsumugi stood by the door and watched the two walk away.
She thought interfering with the script would make things interesting.

But maybe the events should have played out as is...

"Shirogane?" Shuichi Saihara's voice was clear as day just on the other end of the hallway. 

Tsumugi turned and saw the boy looking anxious, his uniform nearly undone and his bed-head was frazzled.
Entirely unprofessional as he used to be in Danganronpa.
Now he just looked like any other teenage boy.
How plain... how... boring. 

"I need to ask you something." Shuichi breathed. 

. . .  Kirumi was well aware who was waiting on the other side of the door for her. Normally as a maid she’d arrive first and early, but this was one event she was fine being late for, or not showing up at all. It would be her first time seeing the Ultimate Tennis Pro after she refused to apologize to him back at the Research Facility. So now she must confront him. With a therapist present.
Joy, rapture.

Waiting and attempting to anticipate his reaction or analyze just how horrible this would go proved much worse than just getting the hour over with. 

So Kirumi opened the door and saw Ryoma Hoshi sitting at the far end of the couch they were expected to share.

The therapist looked at her as she entered and sighed in a “finally” type of way that made Kirumi stiffly walk inside with no greeting and sat down.
She watched the therapist get up and shut the door behind her.

How careless of her to forget that simple detail…

"Let's begin then, shall we?" The doctor spoke up. "I am Dr. B, I'll be the therapist hosting this session today."
When neither student replied Dr. B kept her thin-lipped expression as silence filled the room. "Begin whenever." She reminded. 

But more silence followed, the two didn't even look at each other as tension began to fill the room.

Hoshi wasn't going to make the first move and Kirumi was too high-strung to bullshit her way through this torturous meeting. 

“Okay… how about we try some prompts then?”

That got the two’s attention as both parties sat upright and stared ahead at her. Like robots awaiting a command. “I think we should go back and forth with our opinions on the current situation and then each other… I will have Hoshi begin.”

That was the first time Kirumi really looked at the boy. He seemed to somehow get shorter, it was March going on April and he was wearing an excessively baggy hoodie, his hair was greasy, his eyes were smaller than the bags under them, and his once puffy and circular face from the simulation seemed slimmer. Like he hadn’t eaten in days.

Kirumi’s face must’ve portrayed just how shocked and disturbed she was because when Hoshi looked at her he rolled his eyes and his gaze darkened into something unnatural. “Well, I think all of this is pretty stupid.”

“Elaborate.” Dr. B encouraged.

Please don’t, Kirumi internally said.

"If you think forcing forgiveness after a few weeks of solitude from both parties is an acceptable way to go about this, you've all got a ways to go." 

Kirumi's hands curled into fists on her lap, pondering if she could get away with playing mute for the day. 

Without taking any notes the therapist just nodded. "This is experimental for now, we do not expect any forgiveness to happen within the first session."

"First session?" Kirumi inquired. So much for staying silent..

"Yes, we will be doing regular sessions with the culrpit and victims. At least up to ten before we start building some trust between you to."

"Not gonna happen."

"Unlikely." 

Hoshi and Kirumi both spoke at once. 

"Let's skip to that then," Dr. B flipped to a different page on her clipboard. "Hoshi in the simulation, Tojo claimed you willingly let her murder you when you turned your back to her."

"Yep, she did say that." Hoshi confirmed apathetically.

Kirumi side-eyed the tennis player.

"Is that not what happened?" Dr. B wanted a clarified reply. 

Hoshi shrugged. "I knew she wanted to commit murder. It was obvious when we were alone together."

"And you still turned your back to a potential culprit?"

"Mhm."

"Why?"

"Because I'm su-"

"Does that even matter? It was either Hoshi or anyone else. He was the first person I ran into." Kirumi quickly justified - taking the topic of conversation away from where she knew it was going.

She was not trying to be rude. The truth is she didn't want to sit in on a conversation where Hoshi would talk about his hopelessness for literally everything for a hour straight.

Because then Kirumi is the suddenly the bitch who managed to convince this poor bastard into letting her take his life instead of him doing it himself.
And also this was not a conversation she was mentally well or prepared to have.

"So you would have chosen to take out anyone, not Hoshi?"

"He was in the wrong place at the wrong time you could say."

"Why were you so desperate to commit a murder?"

"Same reason as everyone else." Kirumi attempted to shut this line of thinking down immediately.

"Which was?"

"Everyone wanted to escape. So did I. Next question."

This time Hoshi side-eyed Kirumi. 

"Very well... as of right now - where do we stand relationship wise?"

"I haven't seen him since he dropped out." Kirumi answered. Hoshi nodded in agreement. 

"... So...." Dr. B urged for them to continue. 

"So I don't have an opinion on Hoshi. And I imagine he doesn't have one on me."

"'S true. Even if Tojo killed me - that's all in the past."

Dr. B seemed surprise, taking down a few notes. Kirumi's hand twitched as she searched the room for a clock. How she desperately wished to get out of here...

"So you two are on good terms?"

"Far from it." Hoshi replied. 

"You could say we are like strangers." Kirumi answered.

 If he had died today, nothing in my life would change. And I know he feels the same about me. 

"Then..." Dr. B paused, staring at the floor. "It seems as though we are simply trying to make two students just become closer friends."

Kirumi was suddenly delighted. "Precisely. This entire exercise is pointless for us. I insist you send whatever group is following us in for their appointment." She rose to her feet. 

Dr. B was aghast as Kirumi suddenly seemed ecstatic to be rid of this conversation. "I... I suppose we can pick up next time..." 

"Wonderful." Kirumi threw open the door and walked out. Hoshi on her heels as she did so.

There was a brief silence between the two as the door shut behind them. Now a victim and his culprit were in his quiet porcelain hallway. 

He looked at her.  "I've gotta get going, I was gonna do something before I got dropped into this." Now no longer maintaining eye contact, Hoshi began to walk away and Kirumi was going to let him.
She hadn't given two fucks about that little man or his well-being. 

... But, after being forced every day of her life since she got here to spend it with two of the most grotesquely kindest, more sincerest, generous people she had the displeasure of meeting-

"Wait." Kirumi stopped Hoshi. His back to still to her.  Why? After everything?  "Why are you doing this...?" 

"Doing what." His voice was as empty as it was in the simulation. 

"You won't face me... it is as almost if y-"

Hoshi turned around and met her gaze.
Dead eyes staring into the desperate.  
"What if I do?"

Kirumi's gloved hands balled into fists. "You're sick. You are a sick little bitch who thinks he can get the best of me!"

No reply so Kirumi felt the need to go on.

"I won't hurt you like I did before." Kirumi's gaze lowered. "It is not worth it. None of us will walk out of this place satisfied or free. You'll still be alive the next day and I'll still be as useless as any other maid." 

"Well," Hoshi put his hands in his pocket. "You may be right about one thing. You're always gonna be trapped here if you let them keep you here."  Kirumi blinked, her eyebrows rising in surprise. "But you're wrong about me. Tomorrow no one will see me again." 

"What are you going to do tonight, Hoshi?"

Hoshi didn't reply instead he stood there silently waiting. Waiting for Kirumi to act, as this was going to be her only chance to do so before Ryoma Hoshi would leave their lives forever.

Even worse.

That damn bastard was going to make sure Kirumi Tojo, his killer, was the last person to see him before he goes. 

Kirumi bit back her words and thoughts that had anyone heard, had anyone thought, would not only ruin her reputation but make her sink lowered to someone like Oma's level. And she didn't want that.

Hoshi's death held no burden on her conciense back then and now all she could do was fear if it would this time. If she chose not to tell anyone, if she chose not to get help. If he let him walk out of those doors. 

After an eternity, Hoshi turned his back to Kirumi and began to walk.
He only stopped once he heard the pounding of Kirumi's footsteps.

"Hoshi, I'm so-"

"Just don't."

As fast as he was, unintentionally Hoshi missed when Kirumi attempted to grab him from behind. The tennis player disappeared down the hallway when Kirumi raised her head. She had fallen to her knees in attempt to stop him.

Kirumi rose to her feet and sprinted down the hallway, turning the corner only to find no sight of the boy.

Kirumi took a few more small steps, looking around drastically as her hair strayed and frizzed from her distress.  It was only for a few more minutes did Kirumi stop her search.

As she took shameful steps back to her dorm room one more thought came to mind. 

At least no one can say she didn't try.

. . .  Keebo had spent so much time crying over this his tear duct tank was empty.
Of course, he couldn’t refill it himself without Miu’s help. Since she’s the one who built it in for him anyway.

“You rely on Miu for a lot of things, don’t you?” Angie asked rather casually.

Keebo blinked out of his thoughts and turned his head towards Angie. Brows furrowed and suddenly suspicious. “… is that a bad thing?”

“Relationships shouldn’t be codependent, Keebo.” From across the table Keebo notice Himiko choke on her drink that liquid flew out of her nose. Keebo turned to address her but Angie did not bat an eye. Opting to stay smiling at Keebo.

He recalled during one of their sleepovers Rantaro admitted to being creeped out by Angie, almost afraid. But he’s weirdly not scared of Shinguji is something interesting. Keebo will analyze later.

He turned back to Angie. “I do not think of myself as codependent towards Miu. There is much I can do on my own without her.”

“Maintenance?” She tilted her head the other direction.

Keebo swallowed. “Non-robotic stuff. I can do just fine on my own. I don’t need her to survive… metaphorically.”

Miu just so happens to be the only one who studied how he functioned. She helps him clean his circuits, upgrade any functions, and refill his tear ducts. She’s not the sole reason his robotic heart beats. But it would be nice to maybe have a backup engineer in case him and Miu never speak again…

Angie dabbed her lips with her napkin as she rose from the lunch table the group was sitting at. "I have to go now!" She cooed and began walking away when Himiko asked:

"Where are you going?"

"Probably attending that ther-" Keebo attempted to speak before Angie cut him off.

"I have a therapy appointment!"

Himiko squinted. "You usually have those on Wednesday."

"Well I changed it to Sunday, for convenience. I was going to spend lab time with you on Wednesday, Himiko!"  Angie grinned with such strain Keebo was beginning to wonder if something had metaphorically flown over his head.

"Ohhh... okay. Bye." Himiko waved lazily and Keebo watched Angie frolic away too quickly. 

That was... suspicious. 
Why did Angie not tell Himiko the truth? 
Though it's probable because she is a survivor even Shuichi or Maki may not know what is occurring today but was it supposed to be a secret? Keebo did not get scheduled a time to meet with anyone, but Miu still told him of the events today.

Keebo looked back at Himiko who didn't seem to care about the interaction. Himiko glanced at Keebo and the two locked eyes. There were questions and unspoken words burning behind Himiko eyes and bumping against each other in her head like a dvd screen... she opted to looking back down at her sandwich.
It was just the two of them. 

. . .  Korekiyo attempted to recall the time he had spent with Maki yesterday as a method of mentally preparing himself and building that courage. 

While she offered no real advice on how to speak to women, it was nice to be momentarily distracted from what was about to go on the list of worst days of his life. He can only imagine what horrors awaited on the other side of the door.

Korekiyo began to muse the results as he gently grabbed the door knob... perhaps Yonaga and Chabashira had already told the doctor how horrible he is and how he must be detained.
Oh but, what if Yumeno insisted on joining the two like she always does? That would certainly be a predicament. 

Perhaps this was all a ruse to get Korekiyo to reveal private family matters he shares with his own personal therapist.
He has never seen a school counselor before and he hadn't planned to.

Maybe he just won't say anything unprompted. Korekiyo nodded at this final thought before opening the door to find both girls pushed practically up against each other at the end of the shared couch. 

Korekiyo stood in the doorway before looking to the therapist. Oh dear. It was a male.
That wasn't going to do any of them any good.

The Ultimate took a single step inside and shut the door behind him without needing to turn around. He noticed the way the doctor had positioned himself against the wall implied... Korekiyo's eyes lingered to the other end of the room where a separate isolated reclining chair was.  
The therapist took a breath to speak but Korekiyo did not need to be told twice. He walked over in cold silence and sat down. While there was plenty of space for Korekiyo to sit beside the two victims without them needing to practically be on top of each other, you didn't really need to be an anthropologist to read the room.
He looked up in attempts to make casual eye-contact with Yonaga and Chabashira only to find both of them staring holes into his head with a threatening gaze and a deer-in-the-headlights-look. 

What a marvelous start.

"Everyone comfortable?" Stupid question.

"Only when that male is five hundred feet away from us!"

"I'm practically taped to the wall."

"No one was talking to you, pervert!" Chabashira yelled at the therapist put up a timid hand.

"I know you feel bad... I'm happy you feel bad. You should feel bad about it for the rest of your life... even if none of it was real."

"Chabashira, if I may... you do not despise me for killing you..?" The idea was beyond Shinguji. And.. well of course it was simple to hate someone for something they may not have actually done. That is both delusion and paranoia. 
It was just the idea that they were capable of doing something similar. And to everyone in the school; Shinguji had even confessed wishing he had more time to murder all the women, it was only a matter of time before he had acted on those. 

"Of course not! I just... I wish it was only me... knowing I died and I couldn't be there to comfort Himiko in the aftermath of it all... knowing you killed Yonaga and I failed to protect her from someone like you... that's what hurts the most." Chabashira grabbed at her chest. And Shinguji nearly saw Shuichi in her words and actions. "You knew the consequences of your actions and you did it anyway... the only difference now is it doesn't matter your reasons. They were bullshit - now I.. don’t know why you did it." 

“In the simulation it was—“

”Now.” Tenko finished. “If your sister manipulated you- but if it wasn’t for her now… then why? What is your reason now for hurting them?”

If Kiyo was hurting them all now - it wasn't consciously nor willingly being done.
The quiet over the two was enough for Chabashira to gather herself, adjust her skirt and wipe her tears away with her backhand before looking up at Shinguji with a sour face:  "Nothing to say, male?"

"You've said it all." 

Chabashira huffed, seemingly satisfied with the outcome as well before she turned around and stormed off int he direction Yonaga had previously headed. 

Shinguji turned around and saw Maki just at the other end of the hallway.  "... Why would you let her get away with that?"

"... Not forgiving me?" Korekiyo asked lowly as he made his way towards the end of the hallway. 

"No." Maki took of chunk of her hair and played with it. "I mean... she thinks you did all of that because you could get away with it."

"She is not technically wrong in her deductions. While I don't or didn't want to hurt anyone... the me in Danganronpa felt I could get away with both murders. Regardless of who I may have done it for... I'd rather her believe I wanted to kill for the fun of it, rather than believe I was in love with Miyadera."

"Do you hear how... weird that sounds?"

"I do.." He stopped just in front of her. 

"Well it's just... it sounds like how I thought of you... a killer for fun." 

"Well you did forgive me eventually, didn't you?"

He saw Maki's shoulders fall and her expression grow soft and stubborn. "... Maybe."

"Maybe?" He mused. "Well-" But stopped once something caught his eye. "Huh."

"What?" Maki asked, following his gaze. It was that white van again. "Why do they keep coming here?"

"That's yours isn't it?" Korekiyo asked. "It had your weapons in it on the move-in day..."

"Yeah." Maki replied, not too surprised he had kept track of who owned which veichles. "This is like the third or fourth time it's come by since then... and they keep chasing it away."

"How odd." Korekiyo commented. "... Do you wish to confront them?"

"No...the staff does it for me." Maki said, she started to walk away but when she didn't hear Korekiyo's footsteps behind her she turned and noticed him still at the window. "What is it?"

"Do you... think they're trying to take you back?"

Maki considered that. Korekiyo had warned her he'd been one for theories but noticed he posed them as questions instead of forcing it down your throat. "If they are..."

"Would you go with them?" He looked at her this time as he asked this, something in his eyes looked... worried.

"Of course not." She instantly answered. "That was hell on Earth. More-so than this place... I actually.. like it here more than the orphanage."

Korekiyo's gaze lingered on her before nodding, "Good." 

. . .  "Tenko!" Himiko called out to the girl as she left the Academy and walked into the garden area. "We're going to Gonta's lab tonight to watch the fireflies. You coming with us?" 

Tenko stared at the little witch girl for a minute before grinning. "For sure! Let me ask if Kirumi wants to come with us!"

"Oh..."

Tenko stopped in her tracks, just as she was about to hunt for the Maid. "What? What is it? Something I said?" Tenko instead approached Himiko.  

"No... it's just you've been hanging out with Kirumi a lot.. and we kind of like the student council as is."

There it was.
Just what Shinguji said it was.

Himiko clearly saw the bead of sweat drop from Tenko's face as she gave Himiko a deer-in-headlights-look. "Oh...? I mean.. you used to say Kirumi was welcome to eat lunch with us-"

"Yeah. When we eat lunch it's not the Student Council. Us hanging out together is... and it's more fun when it's just you, me, Angie, Gonta, and Keebo." Himiko explained.

"Oh... yeah.. I guess. Okay, just us then... no Kirumi..." Tenko felt the guilt curling inside of her gut that made her want to vomit.

When Himiko smiled, she felt sick. 

. . .  Miu didn't say a word when she entered the therapist's office and didn't say anything when Gokuhara made his appearance and sat down beside her. 

The fucking big-back took the weight with him too, it was like a seesaw effect with how Miu suddenly rose up in her spot. "Goddamn." She muttered. Gokuhara looked at her but she didn't spare a glance in his direction. 

"Alright, let's begin then okay?" The man spoke. "I'm Dr. D-"

Miu found herself cackling loudly at the name, but stopped when she heard Gokuhara awkwardly luaghing with her. Silence fell the room again.

Dr. D cleared his throat. "Anyways, I'm Dr. D and I will be hosting this session. Normally we allow some free-flow conversation but for the sake of clearing the air I think we should go ahead and do some throwaway prompts. How was your week so far?" He addressed the two of them. 

"Shitty."

"It okay."

"Oh? Why was it bad, Iruma?" 

Oh god why wasn't it? Miu got into a fight with her best friend and he had yet to come running back or apologize to her, Rantaro asked her out - that wasn't the bad part - it was trying to find a day when he wasn't going to flake on her for their date and where even would they go with their stupidass curfew rules? Dating in this life is once again a fucking nightmare. She flunked her english test, her lab looks like shit because she refuses to clean it up until Keebo comes back for his scheduled maintenance... which was tonight... So hopefully he gets his fucking act together.
Because Keebo needs to apologize, not her!

Miu shrugged instead. "Being stuck here every fuckin' day is a nightmare." 

"Ah, I see the curfew on this campus has troubled a few students but as a reminder it is for your privacy and safety."

"The fuck is so dangerous about going to a fast-food joint?" 

"You could get recognized."

"I wanna be recognized!" Miu sat up from her slouched position, stomping her foot on the floor- causing Gokuhara to jump in his seat, once again making Miu bounce along with him.  "The whole reason I tried to kill that dickhead was to get back to where everyone knew me!" 

There was no reply from the therapist this time… and then beside her Gokuhara startled to sniffle and sob.
“Oh you gotta be fucking kidding me.” Miu hissed.

“Iruma!” Dr. D was surprised but why should he be?

“Fuck are you crying about?” She turned to address the entomologist. 

“Gonta just... just upset Iruma still mad at him... Gonta doesn't..." He choked up. "Gonta not know.. what to do... to make it okay again..."

Miu's lip twitched. "Firstly, we were never cool even in the simulation. I tolerated your dumbass like anyone else. You meant as much to me as any other big-dicked teen on the planet... secondly, I'm not fucking mad at you."

Gokuhara paused, quietly quivering as he tried to understand the words Miu had just spoke. "Iruma... not mad?"

"No. I'm fucking pissed at Oma!" She growled. "The only thing your dumbass did was allowing yourself to be manipulated by him and because you didn't listen to my fucking instructions ended up killing me in the process. I could've fixed this! If I had gotten rid of that fucking cunt, we'd all be ten times happier!" 

. . .  Kokichi practically skipped into the room and took the opportunity to sprawl himself out on the couch, taking up all of the room so Momota would have nowhere to sit. "Alright! Send him in!"

The therapist looked at Kokichi perplexed and that was always his favorite thing to see. 

"Yeeesssss?" He urged a reply out of her as he turned around like a Cheshire cat. 

"Do you... not want to wait a few minutes? Do prepare yourself?"

She wasn't his usual therapist, he had driven all three of them away. And Kokichi could tell right away she wasn't anyone's personal therapist either. They must've hired her on last minute, or maybe every therapist every Ultimate saw today was some person none of them had met before. Kokichi began to build questions in his mind - the most prominent one being if she was even legit. Was if she was from the research facility with no actual qualifications?

Kokichi blinked then smiled. "Nope! Send him in!~"

But he will dive into that later, that's a guarantee. 

After a three minutes of silence Kaito Momota walked through the doors, took one look at Kokichi and walked over in a quick motion swiped his legs off the couch and sat down.

"Hey! Kokichi shouted as he nearly ate shit falling off the couch.

"Alright, let's get this over with." Momota spoke before leaning forward with his hands forward, his legs apart in a manspread that made Kokichi's nose wrinkle. 

"Give me some space, man-whore!" Kokichi retaliated. 

"Hey!" Momota snarled smacking Kokichi's elbow away as he tried to reclaim more of the couch than he needed, or deserved. "Don't call me that!"

"Why not? First it was Makiroll, now you're hanging out with the raging lesbians. Do you just like girls who could kill you? I think that's what we should be talking about today!"

"God you're such a child! Do you ever go a second without insulting someone!?"

"Gosh you know what! I don't think I called you an idiot while you weren't in the room with us! Did I?" Both boys suddenly looked to the therapist who seemed shocked by their cartoonish display.

She looked between the two and sighed. "I'm going to interrupt the two of you now, if you do not mind. If you cannot keep your hands to yourselves there's another chair I can pull into the room." While her words were harsh her voice was soft spoken and polite.
Kokichi was icked to compare that kind of speech to Kaede.

Oh right. He still hasn't talked to Kaede...

"For now, I am Dr. E. I'll be hosting this therapy session for the day - I had a schedule prepared for what we were going to discuss but it seems you two have plenty of energy to work on your current relationships in your own friend groups and out."

Momota looked away shamefully while Kokichi opted to sitting upright and smiling widely. "Alright then!" He looked at Momota. "Let's talk."

"About your attitude? I think everyone should be here for that. Did Kaede even tell you we're waiting for your apology-"

Kokichi tried not to let the surprise show on his face as he said: "Ohhh! That's why she was being such a bitch!" Everyone in the room winced. Even Kokichi. "Yeahh, she told me about your plan to get me to be besties with Gokuhara and you again but I wasn't into it soooo - we're not friends anymore!"

Dr. E looked just as unsettled as Momota.

"You're not... you and Kaede aren't friends anymore?"

"Nooope!"

"Are you okay?"

Kokichi stopped smiling. Instead he was baffled, staring at Momota with wide violet eyes. "... Huh."

"I asked if you were okay... Kaede was kind of the only one to give a shit about you after everything you did to literally everyone... so.. it probably sucks you and her had a fight."

Kokichi, against his better judgement, thought about this. 

He knew initially Kaede had only pitied him. Approaching him on day one to steal his information so she could get on everyone's good side again... and in the process... had ended up befriending him. Actually.

He had known their friendship was built on a lie from day one. But.. was that actually the case anymore?
Had she really been enjoying herself whenever they spent time together?
Had he?

Or had he been lying to himself and her. And was that fair to Kaede?
Just when we was beginning to like her.

It's different now, no one is going to die tomorrow. While his organization and background is unfamiliar and temporary: Kaede had grown to be consistent. 

But for such a people pleasing personality she has, she isn't as reliable as he was.

When he wasn't lying.

"Well, what can you do about it?" Kokichi shrugged. "You're not friends with Makiroll anymore!""

Oma knew what he was doing with those words.

And Momota knew as much.

"We're not talking about that right now."

"Oh why not? Isn't she jealous you suddenly befriending the resident man-hater and filthy maid?"

"Hey!" Momota raised his voice, it boomed off the walls while Oma just smiled. "I don't appreciate you talking about them when they're not here to defend themselves."

Kokichi metaphorically put that in his back pocket. His grin grew more sinister. "Ooookaaaaay. I won't talk about anyone anymore when they aren't here!"

"That's not what I meant and you know it!" Momota groaned and leaned back. "Look just because you're having some issues with Kaede, doesn't mean you can be mean to my friends... I understand it's hard right now-"

"Soooo hard."

"SHut up!" Momota roared. "I'm trying to be nice to you, god dammit! I was trying to say if you need a friend, Kirumi, Tenko and I are here! Hell even Shuichi or Rantaro might hang out with you if you ask."

There were those names again. But that can be considered later. Did- "Did you just offer to be friends with me?"

He exhaled. "Yeah, I did. Don't make me regret it."

Kokichi was silent. "........ Whyyyy?"

"I'm being nice, fucker. You need a friend right now and besides Kaede - I'm about to be the only fuck tolerating you." 

"Oh jesus, you want me to thank you so you can feel good about yourself? Have you even talked to Chabashira or Tojo to see if they're okay with that?"

"We're friends! They'll be fine with anything."

Kokichi rolled his eyes. "You're still the idiot you've always been. Do you really think that'll work?"

"Uhh, yeah. But you have to put in the effort too. You have to be nice to my friends, Oma."

"I don't have to do anything. No one should have to change to fit in!"  

That's what he liked about Kaede. She never asked him to change... just to try..

Momota huffed and sat back against the couch. "Whatever. There's no reasoning with you."

"Oh so now you're giving up." Kokichi teased.

"No." Kaito Momota looked him in the eye. "The offer is still on the table and it will always be. Even if you're going to be flaky and a dickwad about it... I'll still believe in you the way Kaede wants to believe in you."

Kokichi tried to think of a reply but he was finally bored on this conversation. Bored of this topic. "Mkay, we done now?"

"Uhh..." Dr. E looked between the two. "Any... any final exchanges? Or...?"

"Nope! Byeeeee!"

"Wait!!" Momota stood up, grabbing Kokichi by the arm as he tried to escape. The boy flinched violently pulling away as he pressed himself against the door.
All eyes on him.

"What." He snapped.

"I was..." The astronaut cleared his throat. "I... I was talking to Gokuhara and well, it got me thinking..."

He laughed. "That's new."

"Let me finish! I was trying to tell you - in case it wasn't obvious - I... I forgive you."

Kokichi put his hand on the door knob. "... For what?"

"Wh-" Momota was visibly confused. "I mean... I forgive you for asking like an asshole. When you told me your plan to stop the killing game.. it made up for some of the shit you pulled... not all of it but.. yeah..."

"Oh."

Kokichi and Kaito stared at each other silently. Maybe waiting for Kokichi to fall into tears, or thanking him with a hug, maybe in another universe they'd be on good terms and even friends now.
But that's impossible.

And even Kaito knew that.

"Well of course, you fucked up my plan after all!" He cooed before the supreme leader threw open the door and skipped off.

As he frolicked through the hallway Kokichi passed by Hoshi as he walked out the front doors. "Heeeey Hoshi! Gonna go drown yourself?!" He called out but was left ignored.

Hm. 

. . . Keebo knew he was breaking the rules but he couldn't help it. He had taken the bus back to the research facility without permission, but once he was recognized through the security cameras approaching the grand doors someone let him in.

Shockingly, Keebo recognized the boy who opened the doors.

"Aren't you our tour guide?" Keebo recalled his name:

Makoto Naegi stood in a much nicer suit than his usual in the doorway with a stupefy face. "Uh... what are you doing here?"

"I need to speak with the scientists who assisted in our rescue from the simulation known as Danganronpa V3. It is imperative they meet with me immediately." Keebo did not mean to force his way inside by Naegi was no budging and looked unsure of himself or nervous.
"Is there a higher up who is able to let me inside?" Keebo asked as softly as he could.

"I mean... I guess if it's a functional issue then-"

"That is precisely it. I have a functional issue Miu cannot assist me with and I must see one of the scientists... please." 

Naegi fought with his thoughts for a minute as he stared at the ground with purpose before sighing and stepping aside. "Let me escort you to the lab."

And with that, Keebo managed to find his way inside the Research Facility that housed the students during the worst weeks of their lives. 

Naegi didn't attempt small talk, and Keebo appreciated it. He was busy trying to think of what he was going to tell them. He had to explain that it was unfair the disrespect he was being treated with as a robot - he is a student just like the rest of them and deserves the same treatment. Which meant therapy. 

Normally, he'd invite Iruma with him for this, as she was always good at sticking up for him.
But now that they are no longer friends - Keebo had to fend for himself.

This was going to be the proof he needed that he could take care of himself. 
Not just proof to Angie, but to himself, Himiko, Oma, everyone who had those robophobic thought clouding his judgement would soon understand Keebo is a real, breathing, living, person.

He did not realize how this would fall apart as soon as he stepped into the room.

Naegi was waiting outside, and now all the scientists looked up from their work and eyes fell onto him.

"K1-B0?" One of them acknlowedged. "What are you doing here? The rules permit students from returning to Research Facility for any reason."

"I..." Keebo tried not to let the words die on his throat. They were granting him an audience. This is what he wanted. "I have some... concerns I would like to address.." He spoke shakily, timidly.  Some eyes fell off of him but the woman addressing him kept contact.
At least he had that. 

"I do not feel I am being treated fairly as my other classmates are."

The lead scientist sighed, she was the one who had told Keebo of their transfer to the Juvenile Academy. "How so?"

Keebo once again was emboldened. "I feel I deserve therapy appointments like my peers! I went through the same trauma from Danganronpa as the rest of them. I was impacted too."

And she laughed. She laughed in his face. Just like the last time he brought this up to a professor.

"Do not mock me! I am real and I have feelings!”

"Oh don't start, K1-B0. You know what you are, a robot."

"A robot with a beating heart, and a father who raised me too! My classmates treat me with respect you do not! I want to know why and what can be done to change this!" 

"It'd be a waste of our efforts and resources trying to solve your problems on top of everyone else's. We're helping real people truly impacted by this. Your class especially requires all of our attention."

"But I'm in that class as well! If it's a waste of resources I'd be more than happy to join a group therapy session of so-"

“Oh for god— you’re not real!” The scientist practically screams at Keebo, causing him to physically reel back, he began to tremble. He didn’t even know he could do that.

“... What?” He needed further elaboration. He required it.

“The real Idabashi, the real child of the inventor you thought built you is dead. His son is dead. You are not his. You never were his. We built you from scraps! You’re spare parts of our computers because we needed to save the Ultimates that mattered !” 

Keebo’s head whirred loudly in the room as the woman before him breathed heavily, still enraged for reasons Keebo couldn’t comprehend.

“But… but I was built by Professor Idabashi, my- he’s my father-“

“That was a fake backstory the virus granted to you with data we fed into the machines. K1-B0 your only purpose was to save the students from the simulation and you failed. You are no longer needed- the fact that you managed to stick around this long without us dismantling you is all thanks to Saihara.” She began to turn away from the robot. “You should thank him.”

K1-B0 stood silently lingering only for a few seconds in a space he was unwanted and unwelcome in before he was made self aware and quickly exited. Naegi was outside waiting for him but Keebo couldn't stand having someone accompany him currently. Besides, he knew the way out. He could find his own way back to campus... if he was even wanted there anymore.

After this stunt he pulled - he imagined going back and being sent away again to be scrapped for parts or for his memory.

Though Keebo was a preacher of the opposite mindset in the simulation and even to his peers currently - while the Ultimate Robot stood at the bus stop only one feeling was present in his empty soul.

Despair. 

Chapter Text

. . .   It was Monday morning in the new world and that meant classtime was afoot. 
Gonta Gokuhara, the Ultimate Entomologist, laid in his under-sized bed staring at the ceiling debating with himself what would happen to the fake reality they lived in if he missed one day of classes?

Yesterday with the therapy appointments had gone about as well as anyone had originally expected, though it provided Gonta with some peace. It seems in this world Iruma is still rather snappy and bitter towards everyone but she does not hate them. Instead, what is motivating her sour attitude is her current relationship with Keebo.

Gonta pondered, he's friends with Keebo - at least that is what the robot told him. Would it be. helpful if Gonta tried to talk to Keebo about Miu? Would that be the kind thing to do? Would a gentlman do that?

[like i said gonta is not in particular my favorite so we do not get to see much of his suffering or much of him throughout this fic. my bad ]

...  Monday, Mid-Day. Lunch time. 

It had been two weeks now since Kaede has seen Shuichi at lunch or in her spare time.
Yesterday she went to his lab but the door was locked. Today, she knocked gently on the door and after some convincing on her part - Shuichi let her inside and found him sitting at his desk with his head in his hands, red string running from his bulletin board to the wooden floor, scattered papers everywhere, and a very very disheveled detective.

...  Miu stormed out of her lab, once again the day Keebo was supposed to come in for a tear duct refill or, hell even just to see if his eyesight has gotten better since he’s been wearing those reading glasses or hers ever since Miu gave them to him.

. . .  "Oma, I need your help."  K1-B0, Ultimate Robot, has had enough time sulking in his room. After the events of yesterday when he was told the human he was based off of actually passed away, along with Idabashi his supposed inventor/father figure - Keebo had started to piece together a few things. 

His entire past, his backstory, everything he remembers growing up was a lie.
Just how Korekiyo Shinguji, was never romantically involved with his sister.
So... what else was a lie? How many of their memories were altered by the simulation? Intentionally or unintentionally?
And why haven't they been told this sooner? Leaving Keebo to believe his inventor was ghosting him.. for Shinguji to have to justify himself because this horrible facility refuses to confer with his cries that he isn't the same.

What else are they hiding? 

And worse, Keebo has been hearing more voices than ever, even now. They're telling him to dig deeper, to find the truth.. and normally he would ignore this voice, due to his prior experiences in Danganronpa: his inner voice controlling him were despair-obsessed fans who encouraged manslaughter.
But now he isn't sure who is talking to him... maybe it's someone different. Someone better. It is the same voice after all, overlapping its own speech patterns but defiantly the same person on account of the same speaking mannerisms. 

"Huh?" Kokichi looked up at the robot. He was sitting by himself at lunch time today, Kaede wasn't here, possibly avoiding him.
Miu wasn't here either. At least not yet, so Keebo had time to act. "Didn't you get into trouble for speaking to me?"

"How did you know that?" Keebo suddenly frowned, surprised that this news had spread as quickly as it did.

"You seem to forget Iruma is the loudest creature on the planet! We should put her on display!"

Keebo grew defensive. "Just because Miu and I are having problems, does not mean you can talk about her like that."

"You and Iruma are having problems? I was just kidding!"

Keebo's frown grew sterner.

"But that was just a lie, of course." Kokichi rolled his eyes.

"This is serious Oma, I need your help."

"It'll cost you!~"

"I imagine what you will find will be payment enough.." Keebo looked around before lowering his voice. "I need you to break into the Research Facility we woke up in, and I need you to steal everyone's files and return them to me."

Kokichi opened his mouth to retort with a joke but stopped as it died out in his throat. He searched the bot's eyes for any hint of lies or guilt but he looked determined and.. upset. "Ohh? What? Found out something you shouldn't have?"

"In a sense. Apparently my inventor never invented me. And he was never my... I am not a real miracle- just a bunch of scraps meant to save you all from Shirogane."

Kokichi's brows furrowed, now he rose to his feet. "But don't you... didn't you say he liked raised you? And you went to a school of his own creation?"

"I have no doubt my... Idabashi was a great and intelligent man. But just as it is for Shinguji and most likely many others, my memories were entirely fabricated by the Research Facility going into the simulation... I may not even be an Ultimate.. I'm... just a robot." Keebo's expression shifted into pure downcast despair. Like this was something he had been reflecting upon for hours and had thought about it constantly.

Kokichi didn't have the time or patience to tell him he's special - especially considering what he just heard. "So you think everyone else has false memories and you wanna get the files to prove it?"

"Yes. I am asking you to take a big risk in assisting me, but if it provides you any comfort I am also attempting to confide in Shuichi for this."

Kokichi's nose wrinkled. "Why? Because he's a detective?"

"Precisely."

"... Well if you're not the Ultimate Robot, he might not even be an Ultimate Detective." 

Keebo bit his bottom synthetic lip as he pondered this possibility. "... Though that could be the case.. being an Ultimate doesn't replace the fact that I am still a robot and he still a detective."

Kokichi's gaze lowered.

He gets it now. He knows why I like you so much.

The voice cooed in Keebo's mind but as usual, he ignored it. "I am willing to have hope in Shuichi... but in order to not diminish his confidence so he can analyze and deduce this mystery - do not inform his at all of the possibility he might not be a detective. In fact, the entire theory should be disregarded, as of right now it only applies to me and me alone. You all still have your memories of how you received your talents. Right now, we must trust those are real... until you retrieve our files."

Kokichi rolled his eyes, and lifted his hand to check his nails. "You know as much as I am loving this whole thing, but don't you remember what happened the last time I cooperated with someone? What if I get caught and tell them it was your who planned this? Do you think they'll destroy you ?" 

Keebo glared harshly, if he had any water refills he'd surely be sweating. "...You can refuse, but you are the best person for the job. I need you for this, Oma. If I go back, there is... a strong possibility they will take me apart for being a nuisance... but if I can get you and Shuichi sent there and you both return with the files we can solve this mystery and all will make sense." 

Kokichi's eye twitched. "... Don't send Shuichi in with me."

"What?"

"Shuichi will only mess it up. He can't act cool to save his life, and there's like nooo way I can do improv with him."

"But... you cannot provide the distraction and take the files all by yourself, and I cannot return."

"Right, so don't send in Shuichi, send in someone else." Kokichi eyed the robot.

"... Who did you have in mind?"

. . .  Monday evening, lab time.

Rantaro was surprised to see Korekiyo in his lab. He hadn't talked to the boy in a while. Rantaro was too busy remembering, trying to get to know Miu, therapy, finding his sisters, classes, etc. 
They would talk to each other in passing with their own person updates. "How are you?" "What day is it again?" "How are your sisters?" "Fine, how's yours?"

I mean, at the time it was a very awkward situation and Korekiyo quickly forgave him because it was obvious to anyone now who paid any decent attention Rantaro was slowly losing his mind. 

Of course, Korekiyo wouldn't phrase it that way. 

"Hey Kiyo, Whatcha' doing here?" Rantaro asked keeping the suspicion low in his voice. Korekiyo turned away from the portraits mounted on the wall depicting Rantaro's long gone deceased friends. Every time he came in here he'd tear them off the walls only to find someone had placed them back precisely where they were. 

Without his mask on his smile appeared more sincere as it reached his eyes. "I've been meaning to spend more time with you, Rantaro. Forgive me for that."

Rantaro shrugged. "It's alright. I've been taken up with Miu and just been... busy." Rantaro cleared his throat. "I got approved for that abroad stuff next year so... I guess our time together is gonna be more limited. Sorry."

"No need to apologize, I have applied for the same and awaiting to hear back." Korekiyo informed. "What brings you to your lab? You never come in here." 

"When you're right you're right." Rantaro shrugged and approached the circular table that many of his classmates had associated with the trial grounds.
This time only, Rantaro took the chance to count how many chairs their were - twelve. 

Fifty three killing games and typically only two survivors would be - not. Wouldn't work in this case. 

Rantaro wasn't entirely sure what his lab was used for - which is why he never used it. If the killing games really are over- or if Rantaro wasn't going to be sent back into another then surely he can ask for his lab to be transformed into something more useful.

"Is something troubling you, Rantaro?" Korekiyo observed and the resting smile Rantaro wore on his lips tugged in unsettlement. 

"Not exactly, if I'm going abroad do you think they'll bother changing the way my lab looks?"

Korekiyo humored him: "I doubt even if you ask now, they'll change the way your lab looks." 

Rantaro laughed with no real joy or effort into it as he took a seat at the table, Korekiyo made a move to sit down beside him but Rantaro stopped the boy before he could: "Wait,"

"What is it?" Korekiyo stopped, his hand just resting on top of the chair. 

"I don't know." Rantaro confessed. He was never superstitious in his life, and yet he couldn't shake the feeling if Kiyo sat down at this trial table something awful would happen to him. "I just... don't think you're allowed to sit here." 

Korekiyo's eyes spoke louder than his words: "... Of course." There was more building on the Anthropologist's tongue that nomrally Rantaro didn't want to disucss... but this time:

"What is it?"

"Hm?" Korekiyo turned back around, he had walked a good distance away from the trial-table, seemingly making his leave.

"You have something you want to say, I can tell." Rantaro smiled to put the kid at ease. "What is it?"

Korekiyo's eyes lingered on Rantaro, searching the boy's face for earnesty and once he found it: "I just find it so intriguing how much you have changed."

When Rantaro remained silent, Kiyo continued. "I never knew you all too well in the simulation and yet could tell you were a charming person with strong beliefs." Korekiyo hummed and then giggled his weird laugh. "You would wear nail polish on your hands and yet when Shuichi implied he was a homosexual you suddenly got defensive like he had a crush on you."

Rantaro turned red and looked away shamefully. "Well, I don't think I was in the right mind... I had a lot to focus on and a lot I couldn't remember."

"Naturally, but now here you sit before me even more stressed and yet your life isn't in any danger since we all know who you are. No one wishes to harm you, Rantaro but you refuse to let me join you at this table because you believe we are on different levels entirely." 

The Survivor squinted, "You think I think I'm better than you?"

"No. I can tell you want to protect me, that is also why you hate it when anyone enters your lab. That's why you never enter your lab. It's a curse and burden for you - you fear if I sit down here with you something so awful may happen to me- like say I get put into another killing game - and come out of it when the same mental drain that has tolled you."

Rantaro bit the inside of his cheek. "You really are something, Kiyo."

"I do my best with what I have... Rantaro, you should know you're not the only one with... memory issues."

Rantaro eyed the now nervous boy in front of him. In the blink of an eye, Korekiyo who had his hands folded behind his back who stood with the confidence of someoen who knew the answers to the universe themselves - who was so composed as Kirumi was in the simulation. 
Suddenly behaved like he was revealing a deep dark hidden truth.

And maybe he was. 

"What are you talking about?"

"I cannot remember anything about my sister other than the bad parts... Gokuhara never mentions his family, Tojo has publicly admitted she never worked for the Prime Minister, and Yonaga seems to be reluctant to draw in public which leads me to believe she may not know how to d-"

There was a knock on the door to his lab. 

Both Ultimates glanced at each other before Rantaro rose, pushing his chair and approaching the door with Korekiyo trailing behind him. 

Tsumugi Shirogane stood in the doorway. She was nervously fretting her hands, cracking them anxiously as she couldn't look Rantaro in the eyes, and yet- "I know you don't want to see me or talk to me, especially after yesterday but I have something to ask you."

Rantaro blinked, exchanging looks with Korekiyo who was looking back and forth between them.
Shirogane and Rantaro both looked at Kiyo and he quickly got the message: "Excuse me."

As Korekiyo slipped out, Tsumugi took a step to walk inside but Rantaro slammed his hand on the doorframe and nearly closed it in on her foot.

She shot a questioning and surprise gaze at him.

"We will not talk in here." 

. . .  As suspected Kaede found Shuichi in his lab at the boy looked like shit to put it lightly. There were bags under his eyes indicating he hadn't slept properly in weeks, partially empty and untouched plates of food, and it smelled like a boy lived here. the second question that popped into Kaede's mind after 'are you okay?' was: "What's the mystery?"

Shuichi shot up despite having let Kaede in earlier. 

"Uh..." He looked around. "It's... it's really complicated to explain."

“Well… it’s clearly upsetting you.” Kaede found herself a spot on a random wheelie chair in the corner.

“If I tell you Kaede, it’s going to ruin you too.”

Kaede’s brows twitched and her expression distorted into concern. “Shuichi, what’s going on? I haven’t seen you in weeks and when I do see you you’re always in a hurry.”

“It’s really hard to explain.” Shuichi sighed. “I don’t even have it all figured out yet… if I tell you out know you might be told false information or just.. my theories… well… mine and Kiyo’s.. and Tsumugi’s.”

Kaede’s expression was now of pure shock. “Tsumugi?”

Shuichi winced at Kaede’s reaction. “Listen, I.. I found out a lot about her over the course of..  and everything about the game and the purpose of the simulation— it wasn’t Tsumugi’s choice to be the mastermind… her cousin forced her into that role.”

Kaede stood up. “Wh… why are you trusting her? What do you mean her cousin forced her too?”

“ Tsumugi Shirogane’s cousin is Junko Enoshima... It seems Junko thought Tsumugi wanted to participate in the family business - like being a mastermind - and she didn’t want to.”

Kaede’s head was reeling. “It was a killing game- what did she expect ?”

“That’s what I’ve been learning… The True Intentions behind the Ultimate Simulation.”

“… Shuichi what the fuck are you talking about?”

Shuichi sat back down in a huff. “I know it’s crazy, Kaede. But I’m being honest… they told us the simulation was infiltrated by the Ultimate Despair’s virus known as Monokuma, and people like Kiyo and Tojo have been experiencing false memories with being Prime Minister and being.. with his sister. Right? Well that’s not the only thing I think got fabricated among our classmates.”

“… what are you trying to say?”

Shuichi took a breath, ready to deliver his final closing argument like usual— when there were precisely three knocks at the door.

Kaede and Shuichi both turned their attention as a second later Keebo enters. “Shuichi, I need a favor from you.”

The robot stopped looking between Shuichi and Kaede. “Should I… come back?”

Kaede wanted to say yes but Shuichi said: “No it’s fine, what is it?”

Keebo flashed his eyes at Kaede and she got the message.

“We’ll… we’ll finish this later, okay?”

Shuichi nodded weekly- possibly under the assumption Keebo just needed a question answered and he could get back to convincing Kaede everything was a misunderstanding. If anything, Kaede should both be traumatized yet pleased about what he was figuring out.

Kaede left just as Keebo took an artificial breath to speak: “I need your help stealing files from the Research Facility.”

Shuichi paused. “… What?”

“I’ve learned some… troubling news that I need more information regarding my existence.. apparently I am not an original creation, nor a miracle, made by Professor Idabashi. I am a mock up that was only designed to save you all from the Killing Game Simulator... and apparently I was going to be demolished for fialing until you told them to revive me... thank you for that."

"Please, don't thank me." Shuichi begged. "Is that why you need me? To confirm this theory?"

"Not quite... I began to ponder if my entire life was a lie, what else are they keeping from us? So I have already asked Oma to steal the physical files of each student from their lab... and now I am asking you when we retrieve them to analyze them and confirm their authenticity." 

Shuichi's eyes widen, he birefly glanced at the research he'd been piecing together... with these files it could crack this case wide open. "I... if Oma manages to steal them? How are you planning this?"

"Well, Oma says he will do something that will send both him and Kaito to the Research Facility for either disciplinary, questioning, or further psychiatric assistance. When they arrive - both him and Kaito will create a distraction that provides Oma enough time ot sneak away, steal what he needs, and return with no issue."

Shuichi gripped the side of his head, reeling just from information overload. "You're dragging Kaito into this?!"

"He was not my first option, But Oma insisted he could work better with Kaito than anyone else."

"Does Kaito know about this plan?"

"He will know whatever Oma decides to inform him of."

"This isn't going to work." Shuichi exhaled. "There's too much at stake for everyone."

"Please Shuichi." Keebo begged. "I just need you to confirm if the files are entirely accurate based off your knowledge - you've spent time withe very single student willing or not from the simulation. You know everyone enough to confirm if there's no falsities in the statements.. I just need this confirmed... I need to know who Keebo Idabashi was before I replaced him."

Shuichi suddenly looked at the robot... and the boy before him. "Keebo..."

"Please allow me this. This will be the first and last favor I ever ask of you Shuichi."

It would be the final piece of this mystery... "Okay.. if it works... I'll look at the files, Keebo." 

"Thank you."

...  As Kaede left Shuichi's lab with the intention of returning to her own, she briefly stopped in her tracks with she saw Rantaro Amami and the Mastermind of the fiftythird killing game walking out of the Ultimate Survivor's lab and down the hallway- most likely returning to Shirogane's lab.

Why?

That's what Kaede desperately wanted to call out to the two. After everything!? Especially after the therapy sessions yesterday? Did Kaede misread the room entirely and Rantaro had trusted Shirogane now? Was she tricking him?

Kaede's breath began to pick up, she desperately grabbed at her neck.

If she was, he was going alone with the girl who had murdered him. Was he a fucking idiot?!

She should do something, right? She should stop him from making a horrible mistake and yet-

"Kaede, you okay?" Gonta's voice rang out from behind her. 

The girl spun around the depsite the vertigo affecting her vision and tried her best to ignore the boy. "Just fine, thanks Gonta... where is Rantaro and Tsumugi going?"

"Oh Gonta have no clue. Gonta up here 'cause he lost his favorite moth. Do not tell other Moths. This moth really important, can Kaede help Gonta find him?" 

Kaede looked back at the two dispearing down the hallway- was Shirogane holding anythng? She didn't look like she had any weapons in her pocket? Were there weapons in her lab?

Kaede face-palmed in the briefing no one dead got to see her lab, she should've investigated it during he tour or at least with Shuichi!

"Kaede?" Gonta lightly tapped hte girl's shoulder which caused her to stumble back.

"Huh? Oh... sorry Gonta I... I'm really busy."

"Okay, Gonta understand, everyone seem really busy since school start, Gonta wonder if the simulation we're in--"

But Kaede ignored the boy, she began to struggled down the steps - nearly tripping on several occasions and grabbing the railings for dear life.

Chasing after the two in her condition might upset Rantaro if it really was nothing-- or he could be dead right now and the killing games would start up-

But at least Kaede could be useful int he trial she witnessed it- did she? Gonta stopped her from-- 

"Wow, you look like you survived your execution."

At the bottom of the ever-long staircase was none other than the boy she had all intended to avoid.  Well, ever since their argument on Friday.
Something in Kaede's chest squeezed when she saw him- an ache of seeing an old friend. Or a lover.

"Th- that's not funny." Kaede was very obviously struggling and Kokichi seemed to have every intention of standing there and laughing at her. 

Kokichi continued. "Saw you ignoring Gokuhara back there, that's so mean! What did he ever do to you?"

"Kokichi I don't have the time for this right now-" Kaede took a step, lifting her hand to wave the boy out of her way before she tripped and stumbled with a running start.

Kokichi being on the other end, unintentionally caught her, stumbling with the girl as they both him the floor.

Kokichi hissed in pain, his eyes shooting open as he felt hte pressure of Kaede on top of him and immediately began to panic: "No! Get off! Get off of me!" He writhed underneath her before the Pianist shot up and got off of him, sitting beside the Supreme Leader as she looked at him with surprise.

"I'm off, I'm off." She assured and Kokichi instantly shot up with her, holding himself in his arms, they two made eye contact.

"I'm sorry... I didn't mean to-"

"I was lying of course," Kokichi stood up and brushed himself off. "I just wanted you off of me, you're so heavy you know? You could crush anyone! Thank god Ryoma isn't around!" 

Kaede looked up at him, searching his eyes for something unclear before she stood up as well with a sigh. "I'm going to my lab. Bye."

Kokichi watched the pianist walk away.

Every part of him ready to turn around and go bother some other poor bastard- Keebo didn't say exactly when he wanted that plan of his done, so he could hypothetically go harass Kaito now, but... 

Kokichi skipped after Kaede grinning like a child: "Whatcha' gonna do? Is playing music for yourself even soothing compared to listening to it?"

"I'm the only one who knows how to play an instrument."

"Nuh-uh, I can play every single instrument!... except the piano. That's was the only one I never learned." 

Kaede had kept quiet and the boy was beginning to wonder if she was just going to ignore him the entire time-

"Am I a bad person for walking away from him?"

Kokichi is suddenly silent with a straight face, the two had stopped just in front of her lab now.

"What?"

"I just... left him there. Is that really okay? Do I still have time to go back?"

Kokichi had initially thought Kaede was talking about Gonta but there was something else. A hidden identity within her words, someone else she was worried about.

No, she was worried about a few people... 

"Of course you're not a bad person."

Kaede's eyes widen as she looked at her classmate. Kokichi's expression had never been more serious. Kaede even remained silent- waiting for him to backtrack claiming it was a lie.

"I'm... you don't think I'm a bad person?"

"Duh! Who told you you were?"

"Nobody."

"I don't think they're a nobody."

The tension between the two Ultimates was so thick a knife wielded by Maki couldn't cut hit.

Just a few days ago this boy had admitted to never wanting to befriend Kaede and even thinking of her as annoying.

And now he stood before her assuring her she was no bad person, not a nobody.

Kaede felt seen, even jsut for the few minutes Kokichi would offer her.  Oddly, it felt... good.

"Do you like me?"

Chapter Text

He had yet to ask Miu for that upgrade/function... though with the current circumstances of their relationship he doubts that will ever come to fruition. 

Despite the most recent heart shattering news he heard as well as his ever decreasing chances of being close with Miu - Keebo still got up to go to class. 

Throwing on one of the clothes donated to him by Miu, he put on a white plain t-shirt, oversized black pants, and his electric pink reading glasses.
Keebo stared at his artifical reflection and smiled with confidence.
While times were dark, he still found himself feeling happy that he had the materials to look somewhat human along with his classmates. Despite how he'd be teased for it.

There was a chipper knock at his door, Keebo opened it to find the student council waiting for him. 

"Are you ready, Keebo?"

The robot in question nodded. On the rare occassion Keebo wasn't conjoined at the hip with the Inventor, he'd be off with his other close friends.  While the simulation prevented him from getting to know and appreciate his peers in Angie's former-cult, now that no one was fearing for their lives and being paranoid around one another - Keebo had grown to appreciate Angie's company despite her creepy nature that came with it. 

"Let's go." He replied, walking out of the dormitory building with the group surrounding him. 

Everyone had the exact same classes together around precisely the exact same time. Occasionally. Miu would try to find ways to access one of the second year's.. Soda's lab in Hope's Peak but was frequently denied access and has been mocked by the Ultimate Mechanic in question for it.

Of course, he may not even be an Ultimate either... but that wouldn't make sense.

It could be everyone who attempts the Ultimate Academy for Gifted Juveniles were separated from the others for a reason... though Keebo will not allow himself to speculate until he deed has been done, in fact, the robot wonders if the plan has gone into motion.

The robot mentally cursed himself, perhaps he should've led the distraction instead of leaving the time to act upon Kokichi.
Who knows what the mischievous classmate is planning. 

"Keebo?" Gonta looked at the robot with innocent eyes. "Gonta was wondering if he could talk you, pretty urgent."

Keebo blinked in surprise, it had been a while since Keebo had any one on one time with Gonta personally. Neither of them really spent any time together when they weren't with the student council.

"Of course, Gonta. When would be sufficient for you?" 

"After Angie introduces you to one of the third years!~" The artist herself cooed, physically putting herself between the two. "We all know you haven't been spending much time with Miu, so Angie wanted to introduce you to other people who share your interests! Chihiro Fujisaki should be outside after our first class, ya?" 

Keebo hadn't personally recalled agreeing to this, he briefly flashed Gonta a look of surprise who didn't seem bothered at all. "Really? Gonta then want to introduce Keebo to Miss Nevermind. Very friendly!"

Keebo blinked in unsure silence. "That is very kind of you both..."

Before he could reschedule this - as Keebo did not feel like finding new friends. It was an impossible task to replace someone like Miu Iruma - Tenko spoke up. "He needs more women in his life! Keebo, I will introduce you to Sakura and Aoi!" 

"... Very very kind, but-"

"It's obvious he misses Iruma." Himiko spoke up, surprising them all. "So, you should probably spend time with someone who is nothing like her at all... I think you should talk to that weirdo second year." The student council all looked at the young mage, totally clueless. "The one Rantaro likes for some reason? He's got white hair and his jacket looks like he stole it from a homeless guy..."

"Ew! Komeada?!" Tenko shouted. "No one in his class or the whole school likes him!"

Keebo frowned. "You want me to befriend the one person despises most?"  What do they take him for? The robot version of Kaede? 

Angie nodded enthusiastically. "Why not!? After first period, Fujisaki, then Nevermind, then Asahin and Ogami, and then Komeada!" 

Keebo bit the inside of his cheek as his mouth pressed into a thin line. "I don't know... I appreciate how you all want me to move on or feel better, but I feel as though I am moving too fast.. I mean.. It's not like Miu will never speak to me again... I just have to talk to her."

Silence once again fell over his group of close friends and Keebo wondered if he had done something wrong. 

"I suppose... I suppose I could talk to her.. after meeting everyone?" Keebo tried and the group immediately interrupted in chatter as they continued walking. 

"Wonderful! I have heard wonderful things of Fujisaki from Ishimaru and Owada-"

"Nevermind very friendly! Her boyfriend scare Gonta a bit but maybe Keebo will like him too!"

"Aoi and Sakura will toughen you up and teach you to respect women more! As much as you like Miu you could still stand to-"

"I've never met Komeada... you'll probably find him sulking by himself outside. Lucky students don't have Ultimate labs-" 

. . .   Keebo wanted to sit next to Miu like usual but he found her sitting beside Rantaro and Shinguji. He could've sat beside her at the end of the row of chairs - but sitting beside her while Rantaro was practically in the middle of conversation with the two felt insulting, so the boy sat next to Shuichi who had his eyes on Shirogane and Oma. Wonderful.

By the time that class was over, no one missed how Angie took Keebo by the hand and sprinted like a track-star out of the building and to the next campus over. 

Angie and Keebo were stopped at the front gates by one of the staff, "Excuse me, first year students from the Delinquent Academy do not have registration to enter the building-"

Before they could be given any trouble a kind voice interrupted the start of an interrogation: "Excuse me, I think they're here to see me." 
Keebo and Angie both looked over at the man stepped to the aside, much smaller despite being older, was a boy(?) with short ginger hair, a very feminine face and brown khaki slacks over his uniform.  He stepped forward with a smile; "Angie Yonaga, right?" 

"That is right!" With a bold step forward inside the academy, Angie shot a smug grin towards the faculty before pulling Keebo inside as the two followed after the third year.  "We appreciate you letting us spend your lab time with you, Fujisaki!"

"Not a problem, I'm actually really excited."  Fujisaki grinned, turning around now making eye contact with Keebo. "I'm the Ultimate Programmer, so I've never met a real physical robot before." The boy held out his hand for Keebo to shake, Angie watched with excitement radiating off of her as Keebo shook the boy's hand and followed him inside the lab. 

As the two entered, Keebo physically reeled back at a high-school student with short-cut midnight black hair, he turned his head stiffly and pierced the group with his bright red eyes. There was a massive scar going along his forehead, Angie made the connection to Frankenstein's monster. 

"Ah! Kamakura," Fujisaki greeted like he was a normal visitor. "Can I help you?" 

Kamakura looked at Keebo and Angie and glared harshly back at Fujisaki. "My name is not Kamakura."

Looking shockingly embarrassed, Fujisaki wilted: "My apologies, Hinata... what can I help you with?" 

"I want to see Chiaki." 

Fujisaki shot back up, "Oh of course! I was actually hoping Keebo would help me out with something related to that."

Kamakura - or Hinata looked back at Keebo and the stared at one another. Despite being a robot, Keebo felt a chill go down his spine as Hinata stared at him with... resentment. Hatred? Something disliking.

Fujisaki ushered Angie and Keebo over to the corner of the Programmer lab and sat them down at a round couch with a coffee table in the center, Hinata stood to the side, staring off at a large TV screen.

Fujisaki stared at the duo patiently with a blank smile. In his periphreal vision - Keebo noticed Angie's eye twitching and her fingers tapping idly, pointing at Keebo like she was going to reach for him. 
It was rare to see Angie so protective of anyone that wasn't Himiko and it was... nice as it was disturbing.

"I am... confused." Keebo confessed. The two students looked at him. "I was invited here to befriend you, and yet I feel you have only agreed to see me for a higher purpose."

Fujisaki sunk in on himself again. "Ah, I'm... I'm sorry, I'm not very good at asking for things."

"Angie thought this was just going to be a friendly chat with some snacks." Angie barred her teeth, sweetly. "Is that not the case here?"

"Well it can be both! I uh... I really wanted to meet the Ultimate Robot, and get to know you more! It's just... Hinata here had a request that I wasn't sure if you could help us out with-" As Fujisaki gestured to Hinata, he stood up straight and spoke sternly, entirely emotionless. 

"One of our classmates was an AI in Danganronpa and we want to transfer her consciousness into a robot body." 

"... I'm very sorry, Keebo. I really wanted to spend time with you but there were other matters involved."

As Fujisaki tried to ramble on more excuses, Hinata continued. "The Research Facility, or better known as Future Foundation, was going to use the scraps they used to build you, as a body for Chiaki Nanami. But instead, we have you."

Angie grabbed Keebo's wrist. The robot jumped in surprise and looked at the artist who stared ahead like nothing was wrong. Though Keebo definitely felt like he was being threatened. 

Fujisaki tried to justify it again, "It's not that we're going to take you apart, in fact it's so nice meeting you Keebo and you're wonderful, I was just wondering if you knew any other robots or knew how to build something for Hinata to-"

"I cannot build robots, nor do I know anyone who can help you." Keebo spoke curtly. If he had circulation or blood, Angie would be cutting off the flow with how tight she was holding onto him. When the robot stood, the artist stood up as well. 
"I apologize. I do believe that you were excited to befriend me, and I am sure under different or better circumstances we could have made good friends." Keebi briefly eyed Hinata. "But it seems you are preoccupied. We will reschedule some other time for our... free time." 

With Keebo's speech to the Programmer done- Fujisaki stood up with glossy eyes, now shaking like a leaf. He spoke to apologize or say something else but it was too late - Angie had already pulled Keebo away and down the hall, out of the building. 

"... I'm sorry." Angie whispered as the two made their way back to the Ultimate Academy for Gifted Juveniles.

Keebo's brows furrowed. "Why are you apologizing?"

"I thought Fujisaki would be better than that." Angie confessed. "He was nothing but sweet when I met him and yet he only saw you for your parts." Angie's nose wrinkled like she was disgusted, and it was the first time in a while Keebo had seen someone so positive about robot-rights other than Miu or Shuichi. 

"I am sure he is still as nice as they say... it was that other boy who seemed to be.. a disturbance."

"I have never met him before." Angie commented. "And I do not want to again." With a tilt of her head and mad grin, Keebo dropped the subject.

"... Thank you for trying." Keebo looked down and noticed his hand still in hers. Gently as he could he squeezed her hand. "I may not have found a new friend in a stranger, but at least I know I have made a good one."

. . .  "Gonta so happy you take him up on his offer! He think you and Nevermind will be good friends!"

As they were returning to Hope's Peak campus grounds, Keebo took this moment to remind the entomologist of his earlier request: "Gonta, what did you want to talk to me about?" 

Gonta stopped in his tracks, looking confused before piecing it together relatively quickly, "Oh! Gonta wanted to talk to you about Iruma! But is that okay?" 

Keebo's robotic shoulders sagged in relief.  "Yes, please."

Gonta grinned. "Gonta wanted to tell you that during therapy session on Sunday, Iruma seem very upset that you two not talk anymore."

Hope suddenly came charging back into Keebo's circuits at lightning speed.

Okay, don't get too excited.

"Really? She - Miu was upset?"

"Yes! Iruma in bad mood during session and only talk about you not speaking no more. Gonta know now that it's a sensitive subject. Angie told Gonta that everyone know but to keep it quiet-"

Keebo frowned. "... Everyone knows?"

"That what Angie told Gonta... sorry! Gonta did not mean to make Keebo upset!"

Keebo smiled. "It's okay, Gonta. Thank you for telling me this, now I feel more encouraged to talk to Miu today."

Gonta paused. "Did... did Keebo want to now?"

"Didn't you mean to introduce me to your second year friend?"

"Well, not if Keebo isn't ready!"

Keebo considered this. While it could prove beneficial to have more friends out of his year... if this horrible theory is the truth, will it even matter?

"... Very well. Let's go." Maybe the upperclass men know something his classmates do not.

. . . "Aoi! Sakura! This is Keebo!"  The two upperclassmen looked at the robot with minimal surprised gazes. Keebo stood stiffly by the Aikido Master's side, she presented the robot boldly, just rising after she bowed, looking over at Keebo she realized something and smacked his arm. "Bow!" 

"Oh! I am so sorry!" Keebo did as he was told. 

Aoi and Sakura both laughed quietly. "You do not have to do that." The larger one instructed. "It is nice to meet you."

"I'm Aoi Asahina! Tenko's told us a bit about you!" 

Keebo rose, "Only a bit?" He frowned.

"She mostly speaks of the women in her class." Sakura added. Tenko stood there with a dark red blush coating her face. 

"This isn't about me! It's about Keebo! He wants to befriend you both!" 

Sakura just nodded. "Any friend of Tenko's is a friend of ours." 

Keebo stood up straight with a wobbly grin. "Really?"

"Of course!" Aoi cheered stepping forward. "Tell us about yourself Keebo, you like to swim?"

"I cannot swim... I would sink straight to the bottom of the pool."

"How much do you lift?" Sakura inquired.

"My strength is that of an elderly citizen..." 

The two third years exchanged glances with one another. "So..." Aoi started again. "What do you like to do?"

"Um..." Keebo really considered this. He had enjoyed spending time doing mundane things with with Miu. Watching her invent, draw, sketch, listening to her... "I've been interested in singing."

Silence fell over the studio and Keebo could just feel Tenko sweating buckets beside him.  She really wanted their approval..

"Singing!" Aoi repeated. "... I know Sayaka used to do that a lot... uh there's a second year who’s in a band too?" The swimmer in question looked to the martial artist for help.

Sakura nodded. "Yes, if you wish to train this interest of yours I suggest spending much of your time with Sayaka and that second year Mioda."

Keebo was quiet, considering this. "Very well. I shall do that then-"

"Oh but we can still hang out!" Aoi quickly justified. "Why don't you tell us about school? Or your classmates? Everyone is super curious about stuff over there and you seem like a real interesting guy, Keebo!"

Suddenly the robot beamed, "Really?! You're interested in me?!"

"Certainly." Sakura concurred. 

The girls spent the rest of the time with Keebo over explaining his functions, his theorized construction and how much a miracle he believed himself to be(leaving out how the Future Foundation diminished his confidence in himself and in his stories)... 

. . . Keebo stood out like a sore thumb on the campus grounds. Himiko had speculated Komeada would naturally be here during lab time and Sonia and Gundham had even given their fair share of advice on how to approach the Ultimate Lucky Student.  Different from their tour guides's luck, apparently Komeada was just born with ying and yang of fate constantly giving him miracles but balancing out his prosperity with misfortune. 

The robot wandered around, getting weird looks from some of the upperclassmen before the robot overhead a very loud argument in the distance. He turned his attention to a very very large muscular student, he looked old enough to be a teacher and there was practically electricity radiating off of his body as he yelled. Beside him was a girl in very revealing clothing, her brown hair was spiked in every direction and the two were side by side shouting distaste towards... who Keebo had assumed to be the boy he was looking for. 

With cautious and fearful steps, Keebo approached. 

"Pardon me-" 

"And another thing about-" The girl turned to him. "Huh? What's that?"

Keebo deflated. "Excuse me, I am not a 'what'-"

"I think it's a student?" The larger boy leaned forward, squinting. "A... robot?"

"Hah!" The female student cackled. "He looks like a punier version of you when they made you a robot!" 

"When they... pardon me?" Keebo looked between the three of them totally lost. The one he deemed  Komeada looked up at him with wide eyes from the ground. 

"Who are you and whaddya want?" The girl put her hands on her hips, not only mimicking Miu's stance but her voice as well - the similarities made Keebo feel queasy. 

"Uh.. My name is Keebo and I was wondering if-" the robot briefly glanced towards the boy on the floor. "If I could speak with.. Komeada for a bit?"

The two muscular students exchanged glances with each other before the larger one sighed. "Fine, but he needs to be back here for training."

"We are not training that lunatic! His form fuckin' sucks!" 

Komeada rose up from the floor and Keebo had noticed how sweaty the second year actually looked. It seems the argument sprouting from his poor training technique.
While the two continued to argue Keebo guided the Lucky student a good distance away and sat beside him on a bench.

"I should probably thank you for resucing me from Nidai and Owari." Komeada began. Sighing deeply. "Ever since the killing game, all my classmates have hated me... except for Nidai. But maybe because we're both dying."

Keebo blinked.
He had no idea how to respond to that.

"Ah, I'm sorry... here I am talking about me. Why were you looking for me? You're a first year aren't you?"

"Yes I am, K1-B0, the Ultimate Robot."

Komeada's eyes widened a fraction. "Now that's interesting, in the simulation our friend Nidai was turned into a robot- but he was nothing like you. You seem to be far more superior. How did you go about earning such a title?" Komeada was more energetic than previously seen, leaning forward.

Keebo instinctively leaned back. "I suppose I was just... created with that title. As I am the only robot that actually exists in this world..."

"Simply existing can't be a talent." Komeada refuted, and Keebo was reminded of a similar question/argument Korekiyo had back in Danganronpa. "Can you fly?"

"With adjustments..."

"Control other electronics?"

"No..."

"You must have powers then, like laser-eyes... or maybe X-Ray vision?"

"I am a robot, not a superhero!" Keebo shouted. "I am excellent without all of those functions! I can see in the dark, record conversations, and print out my photographic memory!"

Komeada stared at him blankly. "... Is that really it?"

"Is that not enough?!"

"Well, I do suppose it's a better talent than mine. I'm just lucky... what can anyone do with that?"

Keebo remained silent before, "Well... I suppose it is better than being lucky."

"How rude of me, I never introduced myself! I'm Nagito Komeada, how did you know where to find me?" 

"Ah, a friend of mine refered me to you. Her name is Himiko Yumeno?"

Komeada's brow furrowed. "Another first year? Huh... why was she looking for me?"

"She wasn't." Keebo supplied. "She thought we would possibly make good friends."

"Now that's even more interesting, I wonder if my time with Rantaro made her assume that... unfortunately I don't spend time with anyone from the first year class except Rantaro."

"Oh... well, why is that? If you everyone over here hates you?"

"Well I guess you're included now in this exception, since there's no way to fake your talent. Unless you're secretly human?"

"If I were, I would have perished from starvation... what did you mean by faking my talent?"

"Oops, my bad. I wasn't supposed to say anything." Komeada leaned back. "Doesn't matter, I'm sure Rantaro will figure it all out eventually. You know Rantaro Amami, don't you? He's wonderful."

Keebo scooted further away. "I... yes, I know of Amami."

"The Ultimate Survivor, I've never met a more hopeful soul!" 

"... It is quite the story."

"Has he told you? Rantaro never tells me anything, he's always downplaying his achievements! Even if they cannot be any lower than mine." 

Keebo was beginning to realize why Rantaro and Nagito seemed to get along so well. 

"Actually... why don't you have any friends over there? I assume everyone would want to befriend a robot." 

"I do have friends! Is it just..." Keebo sighed. "I am currently arguing with one of them and my classmates had encouraged me to find someone new as to move on."

"Huh? Why do you need to move on?"

"She does not like me anymore." Keebo confessed sadly.

"Oh... well that's a bummer." Komeada huffed. "Did she tell you all of that to your face?"

Keebo paused. "... No."

"Huh? Then I'm confused... how could she hate you?" 

"She has been avoiding me." 

"Maybe you've been avoiding her." 

Keebo paused and finally looked Komeada int he eye, the boy really did look horrible. Skin nearly as white as Keebo's and his pink hair from his scalp had almost gone totally white. Keebo would had assumed the boy was albino if he was not directly in the sunlight.

"I.. have not been seeing her in a while... it could be we're just missing each other."

"Who knows? If you're never around it's impossible to tell how she feels."

Keebo stood up, he had not expected to receive such helpful information from one of the most hated students in all of Hope's Peak.

"Thank you, Komeada! I will go find her right now!" Without waiting for a reply, Keebo sprinted off back to the Juvenile campus.

The first place he checked was Miu's lab - skidding to a stop he noticed Korekiyo and Harukawa walking inside the building talking to one another. "Have you seen Miu?"

"It appears you just missed her." Korekiyo answered.

Keebo took a deep breath and made his way inside the dormitory building. 
If she wasn't in her lab during this time then... 

. . .   Keebo knocked on Miu's door. Three times precisely.

The robot was expecting no answer, or even for the girl to cuss him out on the other side. But to his surprise- the second Keebo's hand returned to his side the door threw itself open and there was Miu.

Her expression was hard and seething, her makeup had only been applied to her lips and one side of her eye, like she was getting ready for something. 

"May I come in?" Keebo asked tentatively, which was answered by Miu grabbing him by his robotic collar and pulling him inside with a yelp.

She shoved him aside, and shut the door, without greeting him verbally Miu returned to her mirror with mascara in hand. 

Keebo was unsure what to say, or do.
So he stood stiffly to the side and observed the girl.  Her eyebrows were arched in concentration and unspoken anger. Her once soft eyes pierced the mirror as she judged her expression and no doubt the now uncomfortable presence in the room just behind her. 
It was like being with Rantaro Amami - even not physically right now - brought out a different side to Miu Keebo had never seen before. 

"You're late." She finally said after maybe five minutes of silence. 

Keebo jumped, startled out of his thoughts. "... Am I?"  He did not recall if Miu had actually invited him over at a certain time- if she even did at all.

"Yeah, to all of your scheduled maintenance, cleanings, upgrades, and sleepovers." Miu growled, turning her neck to look at him. 

Keebo looked at her with a befuddled expression before piecing things together internally in his mind. "You were... you were waiting for me? Even after-"

"Of course, dumbass!" Miu shouted now, standing up. "You didn't fuckin' show!"

"I - I thought you didn't wish to speak to me anymore! I thought after that fight we had..."

Miu's expression broke - revealing that soft and caring girl Keebo had come to love before it morphed back into annoyance. "Whatever. The fight doesn't matter okay? I was... I'm sorry or whatever."

Keebo's eyes widened. "What? But I talked to Oma, and it was upsetting because he had orchestrated your murder-"

"I'm not your fuckin' handler, Keebo! You can talk to whoever you want I don't care."

"But I went behind your back-"

"You didn't." Miu spoke firmly and the room went mute.

"... But you said-"

"I know what I said, and now I'm saying something else. You didn't you... you were being yourself. You saw a classmate upset and tried to help them. I can't change that about you no matter how many upgrades I add."  There was acceptance in her voice.

"So... all this time.." Nagito Komeada was right.

"Yeah, you fucking ditched me."

"... Forgive me, Miu. I did not mean to upset you further."

".. Cool." Miu grabbed a few papers from out of her drawer as she opened it. "Anyway, after I go out tonight, you need your water filter replaced, your hearing could be better in your left side of your ear, not to mention your eyesight needs checked- oh and I also actually have to reset your hearing for this feature on your voice that I-"

“I am in love with you!” Keebo shouted. Leaning forward with his hands crumpled into fists - his false flesh turning pink with such passion.
The papers. She kept track of everything and despite how late she may be out with Rantaro tonight she still had every intention of completing everything on that list. As she announced each piece of tech she had kept firm notes and details on - Well.
Keebo couldn't do it anymore.

Miu let the papers fall from her hands. “Oh shit, really?” She choked.

Keebo looked up at her pathetically.

Miu stared at the robot with wide eyes and an awkward smile. The two were locked in a staring contest before Keebo stood up straight.

"I know I'm late." He confessed. "Amami has asked you out and I do not want to ruin your growing relationship with him. I never want to ruin anything for you, Miu. I just... I just needed you to know how I was feeling before it ruins what we have... I do not want to lose what we have... I do not want to lose you. Not again." 

Miu was silent. The boy before her a perfect image of the robot she was fell in love with in the simulation. Only now were his awkward attempts at fitting in covering his body. She stared into his electric blue eyes through the bright pink reading glasses she gave to him.
Miu put her hand on the desk, the papers of his upgrades scattered to the floor, just beside the lipstick she ws going to wear out tonight was the voice box with singing accommodations she made for him.
It was going to be a surprise. 

"And I understand if you do not feel the same. I do not expect you to." Keebo waited and he kept waiting. Miu's eyes were shifting in searching, her mouth pressed into a thin line and if Keebo had any sort of social cues he could see the formula of what to saw building behind her frontal lobe. Instead the robot waited.

"You're getting ready for your date with Amami, yes? Then I will leave you to it... and I will be at your lab tomorrow for maintenance."  Keebo lingered, hoping to hear anything from the girl but when he received nothing the robot turned and headed for the door.

Aww, boo hoo. I was rooting you for as well.

Keebo ignored the voice, he had his hand on the door knob before Miu grabbed him fiercely by the back of his shirt - spinning the Ultimate Robot around he was entirely unprepared as Miu cupped his face with her hands and pulled him tightly - pressing her lips onto his.

Keebo had his mouth closed tightly so her lips were entirely smushed onto hard plastic but still she persisted. 

After a few seconds of the closeness, Miu pulled away. "I..." She breathed. "I'm in love with your dumbass too..." 

Keebo was frozen in his spot. "... But Amami-"

"I'll work it out..." Miu stared at the robot, her eyes briefly flashing back to his lips.

"You should know you do not have to say it back simply because I did-"

"Shut the fuck up, Keebo! I love you, okay?! I've loved you since Danganronpa - why do you think you were the only one I wanted coming to my dorm once we were free?! Why do you think I kept eating breakfast with you even if I didn't want to or if you couldn't? Why do you think I apologized?!"

Keebo was breathless, if he even had one, his face was burning up and he had to technically force his collar to not retract over his lips. "... Then.. then why-"

"I can't be a gorgeous genius twenty four fuckin' seven! Cut me some slack - I'm telling you now how I feel!"

Keebo stared at her with wide eyes. "Truly? You... you really feel the same way?"

Miu's response was kissing the robot once more, this time he was able to return it. 

Chapter Text

Miu woke up groggily, her eyes coated in sleep and her hair that was once curled for the occassion yesterday was nearly matted in nots. 
She turned over and groaned in irritation as her mascara and lipstick stained her pillow case.
What sucked was this was the second best sleep of her entire life. If she's counting falling asleep with Rantaro, and not a few months inside a pod.

The memory of sleeping cuddle up against Rantaro reminded Miu of the absence in her bed. The girl turned towards the edge to find Keebo lay stiffly on the floor with his eyes wide open, they shifted subtly to Miu's direction.
"Goodmorning Miu."

"What the fuck are you doing on my floor?"

Keebo looked away shamefully, a blush coating his plastic skin. "I was worried.. if I had slept in your bed.. you would find my... body.. uncomfortable to sleep beside..."

Miu blinked, entirely unfazed. With a deep sigh she dropped her pillow and blanket on top of Keebo- "Wh -what are you doing?!"

"Make room, big boy." Miu demanded before Keebo felt Miu fall slowly beside him - with a blanket covering his torso Miu wrapped her arms and legs around the robot and adjusted the pillow to be under both of their heads. "Better?" She mumbled, ready to have sleep consume her once more.

"... We're going to miss first period-"

"Save it." The inventor snapped and after a few seconds of Keebo awkwardly listening to Miu's peaceful breathing before he closed his eyes as well. 

. . . Wednesday Morning, First period

 Rantaro had waited for Miu outside of the dormitory walls for an hour before he realized something was terribly wrong.

Instead of calling for her, looking for her, or actually doing anything about it - Rantaro had let his paranoia consume him whole.

The former Ultimate Survivor who had been threatened by the former Ultimate Despair, was nearly convinced she had kidnapped Rantaro's crush as a leverage for him to join a new killing game.
Or worse, took her to participate in it with him.

That night he searched the girl's lab where she would normally be but with no luck, he didn't hear any sound from her dorm so she must not have been in there.
His flexibility with access to Hope's Peak was lenient but there was no way they'd let him in at hte dead of night, no less to confront Junko.

These fears were just as realized this morning when Miu did not make it to class. Rantaro fumbled to pull out his phone, ready to call Junko Enoshima and negoitate with the pyscho path before Rantaro took note of something else.

Keebo wasn't here either.

Korekiyo suddenly placed his hand on top of Rantaro's phone to block the screen - successfully scaringt he shit out of the boy - he snapped out of his panic, having to look up to address the Anthropologist. "It appears Keebo and Iruma sorted things out yesterday." He explained with a still face, like he had no idea he was preventing Rantaro from making a huge mistake.

"What do you mean?" Rantaro questioned.

"He seemed to be looking for Iruma yesterday, that was just about the end of lab time and the beginning dinner time for us." Korekiyo elaborated with ease. "I suppose the two made up last night and have become conjoined once again." 

Rantaro slid his phone into his back pocket. "Oh... sure." 

The Anthropologist eyed Rantaro, making the Survivor frown. "What is it?" 

"I was just curious, you and Iruma seemed... intimate."

"Yeah, I thought so too." Rantaro sighed, before his mouth twitched into a smile. "I should've guessed." With his hands on his hips, Rantaro just chuckled. "Keebo was in love with Miu, I should've just let them work it out slowly instead of... doesn't matter anymore." 

Kiyo arched a brow questioningly before shrugging it off with his friend, if Rantaro wasn't going to elaborate, he wasn't going to push it. 
He had another priorities currently. 

Eventually, the first year class got to see the new couple during their next class together. 

. . .   Wednesday Afternoon, one hour before the official lunch time

“Hello everyone!” Keebo greeted his friends as he sat down with the student council outside.

“Wow, Keebo!” Angie cooed. “You seem to be in a very good mood today!”

"I am!" Keebo agreed. "Glad you noticed!" While he couldn't join them in their meal, he still decided he would sit with them and enjoy the beautiful weather outside. 

. . .  Wednesday Afternoon, five minutes before lunch. 

Korekiyo actually noticed a few things about Keebo, despite him being a robot he has a tendency to display his emotions like an open book which makes it very easy for Korekiyo to understand why he does what he does despite the impossibility of an emotional artificial intelligence.
Regardless, Korekiyo notices Keebo has a tendency to allow himself to be more vulnerable with Miu Iruma than anyone else.

For example, “Keebo, are you left handed?” It was a very innocent question Kaede asked mostly to make conversation, while she has never been openly “robophobic” towards Keebo she has expressed she feels a strain on her relationship with everyone.

“Hm?”

“I just noticed you write a lot with your left hand.” She pointed out a second time.

“Wh- well yes I suppose I am dominant in my left hand… but do not become confused, I am able to use both hands to write.”

“Oh wow! At the same time?”

Keebo flushed. “Of course not!”

“I just - sorry! I just figured since you’re ambidextrous and a robot you might-“

“That’s robophobic! How dare you ask me that?!” Keebo retreated from the topic of conversation by physically removing his presence, though he doesn’t use this tactic often. In the simulation he would often result to becoming utterly silent until he found a new topic to participate in. 

. . . Wednesday afternoon. Lunch. 

  Miu had not intentionally been avoiding Rantaro all day, she just needed to figure out what she was going to say to the boy. 

The Survivor in question had been more avoiding her, or at least giving her space or whatever he was doing to be nice. He actually didn't seem fazed at all she didn't show up for their date last night. So... fuck him.
Kind of.

Miu was lowkey excited to be out of this dump anyway, and with a super hot guy who thought she was both funny and cute? Part of her was bummed to miss it... but the other half wouldn't give up what she had with Keebo.
Ever since the day she woke up she wanted to hear his stupid voice again - really even now he was still the most kind considerate and human fucker amongst these losers. 

Of course, then there was Rantaro.
When Keebo cared too much, Rantaro was able to cue when to back off and give her space. And he never felt like talking about anything intense or emotions all the time... even if Miu wouldn't mind getting to know and his home life more. She knew he had sisters, liked to travel, and couldn't find his way out of a paper bag.  Not nearly enough as she knew about Keebo.
She knew everything about that robot. 

It's not like she's suddenly not interested in him and she wants to break up... if they were even dating.

Oh fuck did she technically cheat on him?

Shit.

The inventor stood in front of Rantaro’s dorm room. The door was shut with total silence on the other side, Miu maybe didn’t know everything about Rantaro but she knew he wouldn’t spend more than two minutes in his lab. Everyone kind of knew that fact about him— when it came to his past and what he been through in the previous Danganronpa simulations- Rantaro was running from it. With a steady hand… miu threw open his bedroom door.

Chapter Text

. . . Wednesday Afternoon, one hour before the official lunch time

Kaito was really doing anything today when he was approached by Tenko Chabashira just half an hour before lunch time.  He had gotten to known the Ultimate Aikido Master relatively well with both of their goals aligning: Get Kirumi Tojo, the Ultimate Maid, to make more friends.

Only in the process of trying to befriend her, they ended up finding a lot more in common than initially suspected.

This would be the third time around now that Tenko has invited Kaito to her lab to spar with her. Since he enjoyed training so much with Shuichi, practicallty every night, she thought he'd have a good time getting his kicks out of her workout routine.

Unless she found out he did fuck-all.

And with his anger issues? Which he would normally take out on a living-dummy than her straw filled ones?
It was about time she properly trained him.
And get him to control his anger.

And as much as hated to admit it, he really appreciated that she welcomed him into her own private space.
even more so that she encouraged him to be rough and act like a boy despite how often the two would get into arguments over his "overbearing masculinity."

Today, Kaito was beginning to notice, was going differently. The Aikido Master in question was distracted and her eyebrows were knit together in an irritated way. Despite that, she wasn't saying anything to Kaito as he worked out.
“You okay?” Kaito tilted his head. Tenko was holding the punching bag for him but her grip was too loose - if he was actually pissed he’d end up hitting her indirectly with the bag flying backwards into her face.

“What?” Tenko snapped, readjusting her grip.

“You just seem out of it.”

“I’m fine.” Tenko assured, though her expression remained sour.

Kaito stood up straight, halting his hits. "You don't look fine." 

"I said I'm fine!" Tenko roared, standing up straight before swinging at the punching bag that caused Kaito to stumble back as it hit him in the stomach. 

Kaito grunted partially in pain before looked back up at his newest girl who happened to be a friend and just eyed her angrily. "Yeah. Cause that makes me believe you're okay. Seriously, you can tell me! It's not like I'm gonna judge you or tell anyone." 

Tenko looked guilty for her actions but quickly turned sour again, muttering to herself as she approached her bench on the side and slouched forward with her hands holding up her head.

With a deep sigh, Kaito approached her and sat beside her.  "Is it Himiko?"

The Aikido Master eyed him. "How do you know that?" 

"Well I've been noticing whenever you're not with Himiko you're with me and or Kirumi, and when you're not with us, you're with Himiko... it's weird, it's almost like she hates Kirumi for some reason." 

"You noticed that too?!" In an instant, Tenko shot up back on her feet. "I thought I was crazy for judging her! I mean-" Just as his classmate started, she stopped and looked back cautiously at Kaito. "Why do you care?"

"Tenko," He began - despite the fact that she was unaware he was using her first name for other things - this would be the first time he actually addressed her by her first name. And she didn't stop him. "Like it or not, I think we're pretty good friends by now." Tenko took a breath, most likely to refute but Kaito went on: "So of course I'm gonna care if you're having a shitty day. I want to know what I can do to help you out."

Tenko muttered, "What would you do?"

"Well, with Shuichi I did training with him but since you're in good shape..." Kaito sighed, putting his hands on his hips. "I guess we can talk?"

Tenko's eyebrows shot up in surprise as she stared blankly at the man before her. When she first got introduced to Kaito, despite his male-ness she hadn't like him with how rough he could be. Sometimes when someone is having a hard time like Shuichi, Gonta, even Himiko - he would result in yelling, pushing, calling them weak.

So for him to offer his words and kindness to her... "You really have changed since Danganronpa." 

Kaito's eyes went huge. "Wh- what? Really? Wait- what the hell is that supposed t-"

"You wanna know who didn't change?" Tenko suddenly crossed her arms peaking bitterly. "Himiko! She's still obsessed with Angie only this time? It's like she's the one leading the cult! I can't invite Kirumi to sit or eat with us but Keebo can make new friends outside of our year since they never talk to us? She's controlling who talks to who, who says what, both her and Angie! I thought with us not having to kill each other- the cults might be put to an end!"

Kaito wasn't entirely sure what to say. "Oh... yeah... that kinda sucks-"

"I tried talking to Himiko but every time I take a breath to speak, Angie is there to shut me up! And I think Himiko is worried about how much I like Kirumi."

"You do like her a lot, yeah-" 

"Can anyone blame me?! She feels horrible for trying to get us to sacrifice ourselves to her, and she's totally anti-social but I think she wants to be friends with us! Why else would she be spending so much time with you of all people?"

"Hey! She spends time with you too-"

"Kirumi and I have a mutual understanding as women! I just... I hate seeing her alone and in pain. I want to do whatever I can to be there for her and comfort her. She clearly feels lesser than everyone else and I want to tell her she's not! I care about her so much I-" 

Tenko stared at the astronaut with wide eyes as he gazed back at her knowingly. "Woah... do you... like Kirumi?"

"Sh- shut up!" Tenko bit back. "You don't know what love is, male!"

Ignoring how accurate that was and how much it actually hurt, Kaito stood up and approached her. "Hey! No one said it was a bad thing! Have you told her yet? Have you told Himiko yet?"

"Of course not," Tenko sighed. "Himiko would definitely disapprove if it's outside our little friend circle... not to mention Kirumi is probably straight. Or not looking." 

"You'll never know if you don't tell her how you feel." Kaito began before wrapping his arm tightly around Tenko who yelped in surprise. "And I'm gonna help you! Kaito Momota, Luminary of the Stars, is great at helping out his sidekicks!"

"No!" Tenko hissed, pushing and hitting Kaito to let her go. "I am not your sidekick - Male! You wouldn't know how to ask out a girl!"

"That's why I'm helping you do it!"

The two continued to have their fights and banter as the clock chimed the duo left Tenko's lab and hadn't noticed someone pointedly walking towards them.

. . . Wednesday Afternoon. Lunch time.

“Heeeyyyy Momota!” Kokichi had no issues walking right up to the astronaut who seemed to be in the middle of a conversation with the resident man-hater of all people.

“Ugh, what the hell do you want?”

Kokichi eyed Chabashira briefly before tilted his head trying to get the boy away from her. “I have like a huuuggeee favor to ask you, Mkay?”

“I better go.” Chabashira said stiffly. “I don’t wanna be in the same space as this degenerate.” Only Oma say both the knowing and suspicious gaze in her eyes. Clearly lying about her exit.

As Tenko walked away, Kaito tried to stop but she was already gone. “Jesus Oma, what the hell is it?!” With that Oma grabbed Kaito’s sleeve and tugged him out inside the main school - near the front does of the ground floor. “Hey! Let go!” Kaito ripped his arm away. “What the fuck are you doing?!”

“I’m planning on tormenting Gokuhara of course! I figured since we worked together in the past you’d have no problem helping me injure or even frame another student!”

Kaito was physically baffled by Oma’s sudden bold claim— he had worked with Tenko on separate accounts briefly and even just before this about controlling his outbursts of anger. But Oma was ready to destroy all that progress by offending one of kaito’s good friends. “What did you just say?” He interrogated through gritted teeth.

“Come on space man!” Kokichi suddenly roared, raising his voice. And in Kaito’s peripheral vision he noticed some of the students and even staff approaching- their attention grabbed. “You know you wanna! Don’t you wanna frame your ex girlfriend for murder? We both know that psychopath deserves it!”

Kaito’s brows furrowed - Oma was being a lot more… aggressive than usual. “What are you up to?” He muttered, suspicion laced into his voice.

Kokichi suddenly pulled Kaito’s arm in close as the boy whispered: “Come on, Momota. You’re the only one who can do folly work with me.”
Kaito’s eyes widened. Why was he trying to cause a scene all of the sudden?
Kokichi’s desperate gaze was piercing into his magenta eyes and the supreme leader continued with a boisterous voice: “It was you who was ready to sacrifice everyone’s lives before you chickened out on the last minute! You owe me this!”

“… What the fuck are you on about?! If anything you’re the psychopath!” Kokichi was barely able to hold back his grin as Kaito ripped his arm from the boy’s grasp once more and took his by the collar of his shirt. “I’d never do anything to hurt Gonta or Maki! You’re insane!”

“Do it.” Kokichi bit back. “Hit me!”

That’s when staff members began taking action— “Alright you two, that’s enough—“

“Given the opportunity—“ Kaito raised his fist, he looked Kokichi in the eyes.
As a final are you sure? he searched Kokichi before the boy’s grin widened and with that— Kaito struck him across the face. “I’d send your ass back in that press!”

With Kokichi on the floor with a bloody nose and a surprised painful gasp from him as well as the spectators.
One of them being Kaede Akamatsu, the staff grabbed both teens as a siren went off. Kokichi stood up before they were physically restrained and as a retaliation, shoved Kaito to the floor and got on top of him before they were snagged and separated.

Somewhere across the academy, Keebo stood up tall with his eyes widened.
It was happening.

. . . Kaito and Kokichi were sat in between two of the faculty members as they were being driven out to the research facility. But they couldn’t drop the act yet. They had to stare each other down, with bitter and angry gazes. But behind Kaito’s rage- he was desperate to know why.
What was Kokichi up to?
Why now?
Kaito would have to explain to Kaede what had happened if he was ever going to see her again. He wasn’t sure how long this correctional meeting of theirs would last. Kaito had to help Tenko with her date as well the following day… Kaito huffed and exhaled sharply out of his nose. Kokichi better have a really good reason for this. 

The boy was fiddling with his oversized plum hoodie and the hem of the sewn bits on the car seat.

Eventually they arrived at their destination.

"Stay here." The faculty informed as he got out of the car. Just leaving the two boys and the driver. Kaito would've used this time to ask what the fuck was going on - but Kokichi would continuously shoot him with pointed looks. Trying to keep him silent.

After what felt like an eternity; the two boys were escorted into a separate room, just five doors down from the pod-room where everyone woke up.  Kokichi scanned each door like he was trying to see through it- 

Eventually the two were put inside what looked like a counselor's office. On the way - that's when Kokichi spotted it. 
As the two were sat down, Kokichi whispered into Kaito's ear: "When I say "bite me" I need you to throw me at the doctor." 

Kaito's eyes widened. "Wh- what the--"


"Momota Kaito, and Oma Kokichi." One of the staff who helped Iruma from her pod sat down before them on the other side of a long wooden table.
Behind the two boys who were sat next to each other was a security of some sort - though he was wearing the same uniform was the woman who was about to question them. 

"So, I was told from a few eye witnesses that this argument seemingly started out of nowhere. Can you tell me what caused this?"

The two, without moving their heads, stared at each other - like the other was waiting for permission to speak. The silence lasted for a few minutes. Kaito watched keenly, witnessing the plan form in Oma's head in real time.

"Momota," The lady suddenly began again. "How did the fight begin?"

With Oma finally looking away from the astronaut, Kaito took a breath and spoke: "Yeah, he was speaking his bullshit again. Said he had a plan to kill Gonta and he wanted my help."

The scientist eyed the supreme leader. "Is that what you said?"

"Of course not!" Kokichi's silence was something of a dream as he roared. "Kaito here is obviously lying to get me in trouble!"

"Why would he do that?" She tilted her head.

"Because he's hated me from the start." The boy explained all of this with that horrifying smile on his face. "He's hated how much I've lied, how I've insulted his ex-girlfriend and soon to be his new one! Kudos to you for making Tenko straight by--"

Kaito without prompt or any signal - rose from his chair in an instant, grabbing Kokichi by the scruff of his front collar. His eyes burning with pure rage. "The fuck did you just say about her?!" Tenko had shockingly grown to be one of his closest friends at this point. So to hear-

"Bite me."

Time froze for Kaito Momota in that instant.

In the moment when he was about to launch his number one enemy at an innocent adult woman who had rose from her seat with them in shock - and the security lingering behind them not ready for the sudden movement, one prominent question screamed in his mind: "Why do you still trust him?"

It was something that came up when Kokichi approached him today practically picking a fight who no rhyme or reason to it.
While Oma always picks fights with everyone he never intends for them to turn physical, and yet he was counting on Kaito to take it personally. Like he saw how Tenko was trying to control his anger and Kokichi knew ever button to press, every trip of the tongue, to knock those walls down.  

In the simulation, when Kokichi forced Kaito to kill him - he had two guns pointed at his head. 

1. Kokichi gave him the antidote so he was indebted to him

and 2. If Kaito didn't kill Kokichi, Maki would have.

And he was glad he did it - he would have been no help in discovering the mastermind.

That deal was never based on trust - he was manipulated and a deal was made.

But now, Kokichi's ass was about to get chucked across this table and for what? Because Kokichi needed Kaito to trust him this once? He had no idea what the kid was planning, why he was doing this. He had something in mind clearly, but what for? Things were going fine in the academy - sure some of them didn't get along but it was never this bad until Oma convinced him to make it bad.

The Supreme Leader had a plan up his sleeve that he was holding Kaito out on. And maybe for good reason.

Kaito willingly fucked up his last one but outing himself to Shuichi. 

Was Kokichi then worried Kaito was gonna spill his guts? So once again he was playing on his classmates emotions? 

Didn't matter.

He was already roped into it and it's not like he's able to question Oma for a motive now. He wasn't ever able to. They were being watched...

Is that what this is all about? Eyes on them? Kokichi needed to act out for the attention? Or the lack there of on the Juvenile Academy?

Why? 

Why was he doing this?

... Time picked up full force when Kaito did as he was commanded like a pavlov dog - and with all of his strength Kokichi was flung across the table coliding in with the scientist.

In a matter of seconds the man behind Kaito was on top of him forcing his hands behind his back and the woman now on the ground was searching for her glasses and Kokichi.

"Where is he?!" She yelled from the floor and while Kaito's face was smashed into the wooden table top he noticed that plum hair color scittering out of the door. 

. . . In the hallway, Kokichi panted as he nearly lost his grip on the lady's keychard - with a quick flick of his wrist he pulled the fire alarm and slid into the third room- with the use of the keycard- from the interrogation chamber as the sirens and water went off. 

With the alarm barring outside, silence greeted the boy in the files room as he ran towards the filing cabinets, opening each one and ravaging through them like a raccoon in the dumpster. To try the laptop on the desk would be nearly impossible to hack into unless he brought Iruma iwth him - but she asks more questions than Kaito does and not to mention she's too busy fitting two dicks in her mouth to help. Or one, since Keebo has remained dickless since Kokichi bothered asked about it.

Footsteps marched just on the other side of the door and he imagined each staff member evacuating - hopefully the alarm would continue so when Oma made his grand appearance outside no questions could be asked. 

After what felt like hours - a label on a locked drawer caught Kokichi's eyes.
" Class fifty-three, Ult. Exp. Pre-Game Files. "

With the speed of a fox, Kokichi attempted to pry the drawer open, saving the demanding inquiries in his mind aside before he turned to the desk, throwing everything to the floor before finding a ring of keys.

The footsteps grew limited now, but some closer to the door. By now they were looking for him. With fast breaths and sweat beading down his forehead Kokichi threw opened the drawer and grabbed every file inside. 

Intentionally wearing such an oversized hoodie, the boy lifted up his shirt and stuffed the files underneath them before shoving the bottom hem of his shirt into his pants, tucking them in. He crossed his arms firmly over his chest and sprinted out of the room, sliding with the floor as he ran out. Grabbing the lever of another alarm and pulling it too. 

"Jesus, Oma!" Kaito barked, standing to the side of two big men who held him back by the arms. A honking nose of a truck horn made it's whereabouts known as it sped towards the facility. Oma was nearly drenched from the sprinklers. "Come on! They gotta reschedule our sesh since this is gonna take a while." Kaito instructed as they were both practically shoved inside the car. Kaito eyed the smaller kid, "Where'd you go anyway?"

"I was scared since you attacked me, freak!" Speaking of, the two men holding Kaito back joined them in the car as it drove out of the way of the firetrucks and back towards the academy. "So I hid in the bathroom when the fire alarm suddenly went off." Kokichi turned to one of the cops. "I think one of your employees was smoking on duty!" He sanged but no one gave him the time of day.
Keeping his act up, and giving him an excuse to keep his arms crossed and the files secured- the boy began shivering on demand. 

Kaito scoffed and rolled his eyes.

Once again the ride back to the academy was in totally silence other than the chattering of Oma's teeth. The two were escorted inside to the dormitory building.  Before they were released they were expected to be picked up tomorrow and excused from the classes they missed for the fight. Kaito given descriptive instructions to stay away from Oma for twenty four hours.

However, the second they left, Kaito turned towards Kokichi. "What the hell, man?!" 

"Shut up, Momota." Kokichi snapped, still holding himself. "I know you wanna know why and you have a lotta fucking questions but they're gonna wait til after tomorrow, okay?" Kokichi asked, suddenly pointedly glaring at the cameras in the top left and right corner of the dormitory.

Kaito looked up, eyeing them both before sighing deeply. "Whatever, man." He groaned in irritation. "But that's the last time you're ever gonna ruin my fucking life, okay?" 

"Oh for sure!" Kokichi beamed, bopping his head. "Yeah, expect us to like never ever talk to each other again." 

. . .  Keebo waited anxiously in his lab, pacing back and forth. Miu was getting herself dinner and most likely she would decide to eat there with Rantaro or come back to grab Keebo and take him with her.

However, he had declined going overall. Needing to wait for Oma if he were to come back tonight. Today. Or if at all.

It was a risky move, having him pull a stunt like that and with Kaito of all people. 
What was he thinking anyway? Oma was a loose canon - he couldn't be trusted with a dull spoon lest he'd throw it at someone's head. Not a terrific metaphor but Oma was the opposite definition of trustworthy and Keebo was beginning to doubt sending the boy in at all.

Especially with poor Kaito, the astronaut strives to do and be good - and now getting roped in with Oma?
The alarms earlier told him it was wrong. A terrible idea..

That was all pushed aside when Oma, almost soaking wet, walked in with a bundle of loose files stacked on top of each other.

"Hey." He began. "I think you're gonna need a real detective for this." 

Chapter Text

. . .  Wednesday Night

There was a gentle knock as the detective's lab door. He hadn't left his lab other than for sleep and occasionally food, he thought the longer he spent piecing things together on his own the more he could connect the dots and solve this mystery.

What Shuichi Saihara didn't realize he needed was the help of others.

Like Keebo.

When the detective opened the door the robot awaited him with a very downcast and almost fearful expression.  He wanted to pull the robot in and ask him what was he so worried for? What had he discovered? What were his opinions on his findings?

But alas, the two could only do a silent exchange: Keebo handed over the files to Shuichi and turned away from the boy. 

With a heavy thud, the lab doors shut behind him. 

. . . Thursday Morning

With a full lunch tray in hand, resting beside him on a marble bench, and both of their long, undone, dark hair nearly entangled with each other in the wind. Maki Harukawa finds herself in the most peculiar relationship with Korekiyo Shinguji. 

Somedays, she would think of this boy on a regular basis fondly, and almost friendly. But she'd rather drop dead than willingly work with him on a school project or walk with him to her lab with the chances of someone like Himiko seeing them together. Or Kaito.

She has made up her mind to forgive him, now that she knows most of his memories and actions were controlled by the simulation... which technically means Shirogane was the culprit, since she confessed to writing everything about the "characters" and "plot" in the simulation.

What a bitch.

Korekiyo made it a habit since the therapy sessions that they would spend most if not all of their meals outside by the main gate.
As to why?
Maki was oblivious.

The two ate in pure silence for a while, occasionally Maki would look over to analyze the boy's unusually feminine face- every time she did so, his eyes would be closed like he was taking in the breeze surrounding them. 

Finally he opened them like an owl, turned his neck to perfectly be face to face with Maki - in surprise she turned away quickly with her embarrassment showing up on her face. 

"Yes?" He tilted his head.

"... Why do we keep eating together every day?"

Korekiyo's silence caused Maki to turn her gaze back onto him. He seemed... surprise? And almost contemplative.

"Would you rather be eating with someone else?" 

"I dunno." Maki defended quickly. "I used to eat with Himiko but.." She shrugged, looking back at the ground. "I just stopped, I guess." 

"Well, I've never eaten with anyone else... apologies, I lied. I used to eat with Shuichi and the others but he's been Missing In Actions as of late, you could say."

"So you noticed that too, huh?"

"I am sure Saihara has a good reason for not being around." 

"Yeah yeah..." Maki scoffed. "Maybe if I finally go to training..." She mumbled. Maki promised Kaito nearly forever ago she'd start training with the two again but she never specificed when. And everyday she sees the Astronaut he's always shooting a look in direction absently, but he's never made a move to approach her.
Recently his attention is occupied with Tenko and Tojo. Which is also weird.

"Everyone is just being so weird." 

Korekiyo huffed and the Assassin looked at him. "Quite the statement."

"It's true." She quickly supplied. "Look at you."

"Look at me." 

“Literally everything is wrong with you.” Maki said.

“Is that why you’re in love with me?” Korekiyo asked way too calm and Maki began to sputter. She stood up, nearly throwing all of the trash from her breakfast onto the grass.

"You cannot say shit like that!" She hissed fiercely through her teeth and if it hadn't been the trick of the light - Kiyo would've swore her eyes glowed a vibrant bright red. Matching the blood that rushed to her cheeks. 

He shook his head lightly, he did not fully intend to make her upset. "Apologies, I was..." Trying to be funny? Please. 

Korekiyo stood up with his tray, offering out his hand, flatly. "Let me throw that away for you. We can reconvene at a later time." 

Without looking at him, Maki shoved her tray into his open palm. "Reconvene? This wasn't a meeting." 

"No, I suppose it was.. just two friends. Spending time together." 

Maki didn't reply as Korekiyo walked past her, unintentionally wiping some of his hair into her face. 

. . .  Later, Thursday afternoon, ??? til lunch.

Tenko hadn't seen Kaito since the events of whatever the actual fuck he was doing with Oma yesterday. The duo were excused from class this morning for another mysterious reason so Tenko decided now was as good time as any to spend her lunch and lab time with Kirumi Tojo.  

The maid's name in the girl's mind echoed harmoniously in her mind at the name tasted sweet on her tongue. 

To say Tenko was excited to finally have some alone time with her dear friend was an understatement for sure. She hasn't heard nor seen the girl since those victim-culprit therapy sessions.
Well, if you don't count classes. Or lunch.
But Kirumi would always excuse herself the second she could get away from the professors or the astronaut and aikido master.

The more Tenko's memories lingered on this, the faster her legs began to move til her casual walk to the Maid's quarters were suddenly a full sprint. 

Kirumi wasn't in her dorm at this hour, which she would typically be to avoid the foot traffic of the students she was avoiding... and she hates her lab because of her secret inferiority complex- at this Tenko assumes that's what it is/called-

But that would be the only other place she'd be. Surely. 

As Tenko began her march back to the school building Himiko grabbed her by the skirt. "Tenko! Student Council is eating lunch inside this time. Let's walk together!"

She used to be so sleepy, lazy, and nearly pathetic. Tenko thought fondly. Now since the events of Danganronpa - true to her word and promise - Himiko was more excited to be alive and see everyone and just breathe air. 
If Tenko didn't feel how she felt about the mage right now she'd be overwhelmed with pure positive emotions for Himiko's devotion to change. 

And weep at her reluctance ot accept what actually comes with it. 

"Uh just a second, Himiko. I have to go find Kirumi."

Tenko willingly ignored the unhappy expression on Himiko's face.

"But it's just-"

"I know I know!" Tenko replied, getting irritated. They were inside now. The Ultimate Maid's Lab is located on the second floor. "Look, I'll be quick, okay? This is important."

As Tenko was racing towards the staircase, Himiko grabbed her by the hand. "No! Kirumi will still be here tomorrow!"

"So will the student council! Now let go!" Tenko tugged her wrist away. "You aren't a child, Himiko! I don't each lunch with you guys everyday!" Chabashira raced up the staircase and turned a hard right down the hallway to the maid's lab only to skid to a stop just a few steps outside of the lab doors.

Kirumi was on the floor.

Her back against the wall with her knees pressed up against her chest. Her gloved hand was covering her mouth as she stared widely at Tenko with bloodshot eyes that were huge in horror - her hair was frizzy and sticking up in odd places. One of her glove hands were covering her mouth in either shock or to stifle her cries, in the other hand was a letter, partly crumpled from either the messenger or the receiver - the contents were too small to read and hard to see due to the violent tremor of the girl's hands.

Tenko's face went from horrified to pure emotional concern as her eyebrows furrowed and her gaze softened. "Kirumi.." She breathed to speak, a small step to comfort her. Such a beautiful and refined woman like Kirumi does not deserve to be on the floor in such disarray like this. The sweat beading down Tojo's face indidcated she had maybe run to her lab to hide. But from what?

Or who?

Before Tenko could actually do anything- "Tenko!" The footsteps of the Mage and even one following her, most likely Angie's the way it sounded like the student was skipping every third step- made Kirumi shoot up and run past Tenko.

As fast as the day she died, she brushed Tenko's shoulder harshly and uncaring. The letter still crumpled in her hand and the speed causing Tenko's hair to fly back from the breeze. 

"There you are!" Himiko was behind her now. And most likely, so was Angie.

Kirumi was gone. Long gone.

When Tenko turned to greet Himiko it wasn't a fake cheesy grin, nor a tearful frown full of concern.

But when she looked back at her best friend, who she had once loved, all she could feel was contempt. 

. . .  Thursday, Designated lab time. 

Usually the last thing Kokichi expects to hear is a knock on the Ultimate Supreme Leader's lab. Especially considering it was still located in the basement of the school similar to the simulation. 

And like the simulation, everything that was seen in his lab then, was in here now.
Everything, except the getaway car. 

He was leaned back against the fake throne on the top of the miniature staircase, looking through the photographs of his "henchman", of course after reading through those files, Kokichi ripped each photo to shreds.
They never existed.

He didn't even exist.

With a jump, skip, and a twirl to the laboratory door, Kokichi shouted loudly: "Whoooo is it?!~"

A muffled voice echoed from the other side: "Kaede!"

Knowing exactly what she was here for and all the courage int he world to face his friend who was unknowingly living a huge-ass lie, he opened the door with a grin. "Kaede! Welcome!" He stepped back as she stepped inside.
Looking up and around like it was some impressive space.

It wasn't. 

"What brings you of all people to my humble abode?" He cooed, sitting on one of the trunks filled with pranking junk. 

"I wanted to talk to you about what happened yesterday." She spun around, her skirt spinning delayed with her. 

"Wow! Straight to the point, huh Kaede!" Kokichi tilted his head. "Whatever could you wanna ask me?!"

"I think you know." She settled for and when Kokichi cocked his head to the other side, Kaede sighed. "Why on Earth would you go and pick a fight with Kaito?!"

"Ugh, don't tell me you thought it was all real, did you?"

Kaede paused, Kokichi had to physically prevent himself from smiling at the sight of gears turning in her head. "What do you mean?"

"Obviously I did it for a reason! What did you think I wanted to get thrown over to the Research Facility? I mean, I guess I did. But Kaito had to come with!"

"Why? Why did you do it?"

"Caaaaannn't tell you! Not yet anyway, hey aren't you hungry? I like totally forgot to eat today." Kokichi hoped off his crate as he heard Kaede scoff, still he went on. "You think if we get on our knees and beg Tojo might actually do her fucking job for once?" 

"Please don't try to distract me, Kokichi. This is serious!"

"And why do you care so much?"

"Because Kaito fucking hit you?! And you two had to be separated because you two were going to keep at it until someone did, and now you're telling me you had a reason to? Why would you do that to him? To yourself?" 

Kokichi stood in front of his lab doors as Kaede approached him with these questions. With a heavy sigh, Kokichi rolled his eyes. "Look, I dunno. Okay? Someone needed something from that lab and I was the only one who was good at stealing. Having a criminal record and all." 

"You.. you stole something? Really? What?"

"Look, if I tell you what it is you can't ask me anymore questions okay? Cause I already threw all of the files away to my dealer and I'm totally done with doing jobs for people from now on! Okay?"

Kaede bit her tongue. It wouldn't be good enough, she needed to know. 
Except, Kokichi already told her what he stole. Intentionally or not.
But if it was intentional, was he trying to tell her the truth for once?

"What was in those files Kokichi?"

"Woah! Where'd you get files from! Next thing you're gonna ask me is why those files had all of our information in it- but don't ask me! Cause I don't know! I told you, I gave those files of ourselves before the simulation to my dealer."

Kaede stared harshly at the ground, trying to make sense of the nonsense Kokichi was spewing at her.
What was the honest truth, and what was he making up to satisfy her curiosities. 

"Can we please go eat now? I'm like, starving to death, you know?"

Files of everyone before the simulation?

Shuichi telling Kaede it wasn't Shirogane fault..?

The original intentions behind the Ultimate Simulation...?

With a heavy sigh, Kaede approached Kokichi, taking his hand and walking out of his lab with him.

. . .   There was a knock on Maki's lab and she knew who it was before she opened the door.
Of course, she opened her door anyway, just a crack. Sticking her head out to see Korekiyo Shinguji standing tall waiting for her.

Like nothing happened during meal-time, Maki shuffled out of her lab, holding the door closed behind her.

Something was in the air, because Korekiyo was acting more bolder than usual. "Am I still not permitted entry?"

"You're not special." Maki replied, but she didn't mean it in the way she typically would. "None of the former culprits can come in."  When Korekiyo's brows creased in some form of offense, Maki quickly back-tracked. "Even if you wouldn't do it again, which I know you wouldn't. Those are my rules. I don't want anyone to get any ideas."

"And what would they say if someone saw you willingly let me inside."

Maki's gaze soured. "Don't do that."

"Apologies," Korekiyo cleared his throat. "It's fine. I recall being present in your lab at one point during the simulation. I am sure nothing has changed." 

"Why are you doing this anyway?" Maki asked, something similar in her question previously during breakfast. 

"Elaborate." He knew what she meant, but there was something about hearing the assassin's meek, quiet, very stern and strong voice that keep him thinking. 

"Why do you keep... investigating, I guess. Shuichi didn't need to look through everyone's lab and yet you insist you do."

Korekiyo took a deep breath, though not loudly. Maki watched the rise and fall of Korekiyo's chest as he looked off to the side. "It is not requirement of mine, yet I do it for my own personal research. I remember my personal life and personal travels more than I remember how to actually study and use my talent and mind. I figured if I explore the classmates I have around me it might strengthen those parts I have forgotten." 

Maki tilted her head. "You don't... remember how to use your talent?"

"In a way, I don't. I know what has been taken from my lab, I know everything there is to know about Yonaga per-say, with her Polynesian and Māori god, and I can nearly read someone like Oma and your expressions like a book."

"... But?"

"But I do not remember how I did it." Korekiyo confessed. "Everyone has their techniques. Yonaga paints in isolation, Shuichi I imagine works in similar ways, Kaede needs an audience, you work in the shadows, but I do not remember my tactics. Did I have a ritual to remember? Was traveling all I did? Is my mind so solid I just know these things?" 

With unknowing how to reply, Maki just shrugged. "I... I didn't know that."

"I never talk about any of this with someone who isn't my therapist."

"Not even your parents?"

"They have been avoiding me." 

Maki's eyes went wide and her pressure was off of her lab door as she stood up straight, addressing Kiyo like the person he was. "Your parents avoid you?"

"Be it guilt for letting my sister... for letting Miyadera do what she did, or rather there is something they know that I do not, and are trying not to tell me." 

".. Is that how they usually are?"

"That's how I imagine most parents are." 

"I wouldn't know." And Korekiyo laughed. With that weird "kekeke" laugh of his and Maki's frown twisted into a smile. She wasn't even trying to be funny and yet here this asshole was, laughing with her. "... Fine." Maki turned around and held the door open.  Korekiyo stopped his shuddering with his fits of laughter and his eyes went wide. 

"... Are you certain?"

"Whatever." She muttered. "You can look around but I'll be making sure you don't touch a single thing. Got it?"

"Of course," And with a little too much excitement, he walked inside. 

. . . Evening. Lab Time is officially over. Now what?

Wednesday came and went with a short and interrupted conversation with Miu and now he is unsure where he stands with her exactly. So what does he do? Rantaro sits on the couch in the remodeled lounging area of the academy. Somewhere on the first floor - replacing what used to be the warehouse.
Not that Rantaro remembered that fact.

He was minding his own business and the television was on. With some cartoons - the same one he watched that night in Miu's bedroom and the sound of the animations made Rantaro think of her.

There was a lot to hate about Miu Iruma. 

But most things people despised about the vulgar classmate, Rantaro found himself yearning for.

Her curly strawberry blonde hair would shake with her laugh and boarous voice, and the way her eyes shook with such intensity but her inventing hands hard at work slaving over metals and gears were soft to the touch and knew exactly what they were doing too with how gently they would caress someone's skin or even picking up a pencil.
And her inappropriate jokes and reactions made Rantaro's side hurt with laughter - she drank her milk out of the jug, and put it in before the cereal. 
She's right handed the way she grips a pen is something no one has seen before, and she doesn't sleep well at night.

Rantaro was positive after he fell asleep, Miu was up for hours. 

Not that he knew why, because she didn't want to talk about.

She had those phases of pure uncensored emotion - but she wouldn't cry. Just scream and yell. And only two people were strong enough to be on the other end of it.

Him and Keebo.

At least she has someone now who will remember all of this - reminiscing before Rantaro forgets it all. Like he always forgets. 

Lost in pure thought, Rantaro hadn't heard Kaede or Oma enter the room til he saw them. 

“Oh my god what did you do to your hair?” Rantaro sat up from his slouched position on the shared couch.

Kaede had just walked in, twirling her choppy short hair shyly. “I let Kokichi cut it… why? Is it bad?” Rantaro looked past Kaede and saw Ouma snickering behind her with sewing scissors in his hand.

“No.” He’s lying. “Just- just like - why don’t I clean it up a bit okay? My sisters used to do this all the time-“ Rantaro stood up and ushered Kaede into the hallway. "Let's go to my dorm, yeah? I got some proper scissors somewhere int here and I can fix-- save-- make it.. better ?"

"Oh! Uh, sure? Okay..."

In fits of laughter, Kokichi stayed behind, flopping onto the coach and switching the channel to the local news station. 

Chapter Text

Thursday. .  .

Kirumi never gets mail. In fact, she isn't sure they ever deliver any mail to the other students. Everyone uses their phones for messages, even the Maid.

And yet here she was, standing outside by the front gate being handed a kind of crumbled white envelope, at first Kirumi already thought she knew who it was from. With a silent 'thank you' Kirumi retreated into her lab, where a envelope opener was located in one of the drawers, and proceeded to read the content of the letter. 

... And surprised was the first word to pop into her head, and maybe even bombarded, and defiantly outrageous, and finally devastated.

Like the five stages of grief - no the four - because Kirumi outright refused to accept this:

Dearest Kirumi,

It is with a heavy heart we must inform you of the truth. You are not our daughter, and you never were. You are very bright young lady with an intriguing future before you. But we cannot be there to see it grow. 

We have tried informing you of this fact, also with a letter, when we gifted you all that furniture and clothing, but we were under careful watch of the facility that hired us to play family. So now we are telling you in a more discreet way. We are just sorry it took so long.

We are not your real parents. We never were.  What you remember growing up with, wasn't with us. And we cannot keep pretending. 

Understand, it was nothing you did, darling. Far from it.
We are no longer being compensated to play this role for you and therefore cannot afford to keep you under our guardianship any longer. Please refrain from returning to what you think is your home. 

We wish you luck and hope on your journey with your new now authentic real life.

And for your sake, discard this letter and forget us. 

Lots of Love, Mr and Mrs Tojo

"Bullshit!" She practically screamed, throwing the metal letter-opener onto the floor with a crash as the paper began to crumble more in her clutch. "Fucking bullshit!"

Her parents aren't her parents? Pathetic, wretched excuse! She's their daughter! She may have been a bitch in her youth but the point of parenthood is to love her unconditionally no matter what!

To lie like that?! What a tedious... piteous.. deplorable absolve to just disown your daughter like that!

All those years of her prissy bitchy behavior must've finally got up to her - she thought her execution in the simulation was traumatic and revenge enough for how she used to be growing up.
And yet for some reason in the simulation her spine turned to jello and with no backbone she did everything she was asked of her... and yet even then under whatever influence she was in to think she was more important and kind than she actually was - she still couldn't take it anymore and knew someone must die by her hands. It was beginning to be too much.

Kirumi was pacing in her lab now but every turn and spin was met with those plastic and cardboard cut outs of people with similar professions.

Oh but even then, maybe her parents were disappointed she turned out this way.

A bitch in her youth and now a worthless pathetic adult.
What do maids even get paid?
Less than what she thought she was making as a prime minister.

How pathetic. She used to love nothing but to serve and clean and assist and now talking to anyone besides those two buffoons who crave nothing from her but her company make her ill. . . Those two. One day they'll want something more from her. Or maybe just seeing her now, as is, stuck up and unwelcoming Kaito might realize she's no better than the ugly parts of his ex and Iruma combined and leave. And Tenko... a gorgeous girl who cannot see any ugly in anyone... Oh how Kirumi wants so badly to believe Tenko will like her forever.
But she's going to see the rot eventually.

The rot that is Kirumi Tojo. Now that all of her shine has withered the mold is beginning to appear, indulging in such only makes you sick. That is what consists of the Ultimate Maid.

You can love her for all she may insist to stand for - a beautiful rose that you go to pick in the garden until the thorns prick your fingers. 

A lie so sweet in your ears but tastes like poison on your tongue.

Craving the desire for a partner, a friend, any form of companionship, yet unwilling to put in the effort.

Is nothing ever her fault anymore?

"How..." She seethed, her free hand running a trembling motion through her shortcut hair. Her teeth grounded together and she exhaled fiercely through her nose. Her anger, the fire burning began to wither and shrink,  before her lip began to wobble and her legs grew unsteady.

She wanted to run.

She wanted to run away.

But unlike her execution that awaited her in Danganronpa, Kirumi couldn't run home, couldn't run to her supporters, nor employer, and especially not her friends. Kirumi Tojo had no one to run to, and that was all her fault.
She pushed everyone far away - beyond arms length ever since she woke up, with the intent to keep it that way. 

Stumbling out of the room with energy building in her quads, yet the reality of the situation crashing down on her, Kirumi threw open the doors of her lab before she crashed against the floor against the wall.

Having tripped over her uniform and own feet, Kirumi ached as she exhaled, which slowly began to turn into hyperventilating. A tremor ran through her form as a shaky hand ran through her hair as she tried to find any methods of grounding herself but the overwhelming awareness of just how much Kirumi had severely fucked things up for herself overcame her.

Her parents disowned her, no one bothered to approach her anymore, and what kind of an Ultimate is a Maid anyway? If you're always pushing people away and barring her teeth at her classmates no one will ever feel... safe enough to approach her and give her a purpose.

Now she's all alone. A useless daughter and a poor excuse for what a maid could be.

Needs to be.

"Kirumi.."

The maid's eyes shot over towards Tenko Chabashira. In her tall wide-leg stance, she had a nervous hand against her chest. She took a breath after a few more seconds of staring at her. 

And Kirumi wanted her to. Oh how for once she wanted Tenko to sprint towards her, fall onto her already red and kind of dry knees and grab her by her shoulders to ask what was wrong.

Kirumi might not tell her, but she just needed someone to remind her that as a Maid she is in fact wanted. 

Especially after recent events... but...

"Tenko!" Footsteps were thumping on the staircase leading towards Kirumi, Tenko's company was more than welcomed and yet - the idea of a whole reunion with classmates she knew she needed to change for but couldn't manage a sappy confession; made Kirumi shoot up and run past Tenko.

Running past Yonaga and Yumeno at an overwhelming speed that nearly caused her to topple down the stairs, Kirumi knew the next best place to return to was her dorm room.
And especially during this time of the day, which happened to be lunch, she didn't want to be seen like this.. running for her life once more. 

. . . Thursday Afternoon, going on evening. Just before Lab time.

To say Tenko was worried about Kirumi was an understatement. 

She just witnessed her dear - no - best friend having a true mental breakdown and was stopped from helping her. Worst part? Kirumi looked like she was willing to accept her help. Now here she was, running rapid around the campus looking for the girl - who honestly should've been a track runner with her speed at this rate. Tenko, still with her sweating problem, was leaking everywhere as she checked every classroom, Kirumi's dorm, her lab again after an hour, and it seemed like Kirumi just dispeared into thin air.

Like a ghost.

Speaking of: "Tenko! What're you doing right now?" Kaito, Ultimate Astronaut, and shocking Tenko's second good friend, which she didn't want to think about right now, inquired like he had a favor at the end of his question. 

Tenko wasn't really in the mood, but like Kaito, she promised to get better at that.
Just not right now.

"Looking for Kirumi." She breathed out exasperated, "Have you seen her? Cause if you haven't, I have better things to be doing."

"Uh no, haven't seen her. But hey-" Kaito grabbed the girl by the shoulders as she tried to make a run for it. "Look, I'm looking for her too okay? I wanted to talk to her about you."

The statement put a pause in Tenko's motives. ".. What do you mean "about me?" What is there to talk about?" She demanded, almost too quickly. 

"Well, I know you really really like her so I wanted to help you out with that! Be a girls girl!"

"Not what that means, and I don't want your help." Tenko once again tried to move past him, but was stopped.

Tenko let out a frustrated huff and Kaito held his hands up defensively. "Tenko, please. Let me help you out here."

"Kaito," She almost vomited just saying his name. "Why are you... trying so hard to be like... my wingman?" 

"'Cause I think you need it." Tenko put her hands on her hips and that was the universal sign - to Kaito at least - she was restraining herself. "Okay, okay! You don't need it.. just... I want to help you out, okay? Because... when I was having a hard time befriending Maki again.. you kind of knocked some sense into me." This time Tenko frowned, sympathy leaking through as Kaito scratched the back of his neck. "You really helped me out talking to her so now I wanna return the favor! You seem to really.. really like Kirumi and I wanna make things work between you guys, cause I think she likes you back."

"You really think she-" Tenko blinked, clearing her throat as she shook her head. "Okay, you know what Kaito? You really wanna help me out? Please go find Kirumi."

With a jump in his step and snapping his fingers Kaito jogged away: "You won't regret this!"

"Yeah yeah I better not." Tenko muttered nasally as she watched her friend run off. With a heavy sigh, Tenko made her way upstairs towards the Ultimate Assassin's lab. 

"It is... quite terrible timing to be falling in love with her right now." Shinguji seemed to manifest out of fuck knows where and Tenko jumped a foot off the ground in fear- spinning around and holding her hands up high and defensively. 

"Oh." She blushed, from pure embarrassment. "It's just you."

"It is just me."

Tenko seemed to just process what he had said. "... Okay, male, and why would I take advice from you?"

"It's not advice. Well, it could be advice but it was more... a warning." Tenko arched a brow and Korekiyo stepped back. "No, Not a warning. Why would I threaten you? It was... comedy. I was being humorous. Kekekehe. We laugh." Tenko didn't lower her arms. "We don't laugh." Korekiyo decided, quickly nodding and stepping back. "Good talk." 

Tenko watched Korekiyo walk backwards then turn around and sprint out of the hallway of the third floor. 

Admittedly, Tenko was only on the third floor to hunt for Kirumi - just to make sure the girl didn't sneak into Maki's lab for whatever reason she may have for doing so. 

It wasn't that she didn't trust her - as a former culprit she might do something crazy but Tenko trusted Kirumi ten times more than she trusted any male.

Still beside herself, Tenko quickly stepped inside and just as quickly stepped out when she noticed Maki was polishing her daggers. 

No sign of Kirumi... so with a deep quivery, shaky gasp, Tenko puffed out her chest and continued to search.

. . . Designated Lab Time, Thursday.

Kirumi did not return to her lab, nor her room after she sprinted away from Tenko.

In fact, she knew she'd be perused by the girl, or girls, if she had chosen to confide in her cult. Not that Kirumi expected her as much to, but even so she went to the one place she knew they would never find her. 

In Shinguji's lab.

It was definitely harsh of her, and despicable. Hiding in the lab of someone she knew very little about to avoid someone who held deep trauma related to that person.

But in Kirumi's defense she needed to be alone.

Sure Shinguji's lab was as creepy as every single human on this Earth thought it was but the peace and quiet hum of the AC unit installed in the ceiling outmatched the steady heel click of Kirumi's pacing feet, labored breathing, and cooled the hot tears that stained her cheeks.

In her head she continuously tried to ration out exactly what had transpired. Her "parents" weren't her real parents... of course, that was all still a ruse. As they simply just orphaned. And that was it, she just...  couldn't figure out what she did wrong. And why now. They hadn't even visited her to drop off her things, which should have been a tell-tale sign they did not want anything to do with her. 

But... why? She's... is she not traumatized? She died, brutally. Fell from the ceiling - the sky - after being stabbed repeatedly by thorns and sliced by razors.  All while her acquaintances watched. 

If you watched your child die - or if it wasn't broadcasted - if you heard of your child dying, you would most certainly rush to greet them with open arms.

With an enraged shriek, Kirumi clawed her hands through her hair. "Even that skank got a warmer welcome!"

She wanted to kick... scream, punch... she wanted to hit. No, she needed to hit something. 

And she couldn't do it in here. Kirumi took a deep breath, putting her hands on her hips she looked around. 
Definitely not in here. Too much history, too many relics, and Shinguji would be pissed.

And Kirumi... actually didn't want Shinguji to be pissed with her. Especially considering she.. wanted to be better.
And Shinguji doesn't seem to hate literally anyone.
Neither does Akamatsu... maybe.. she should talk to Akamatsu.

Regardless, destroying the classmate's property is unprofessional and irresponsible... so the next best place to actually get her anger out is..

"Oh you're kidding." With a heavy sigh and a low whisper, Kirumi cautiously snuck out of Shinguji's lab and began her trek towards the Ultimate Aikido Master's lab.

. . .  Kaito had his typical way of greeting Kirumi.

From afar with one hand stationary in the sky as a weird waving formation- followed by him chasing her down and keeping his respectable distance as they chatted. However, he had apparently been moved up his friendship list as this time all she received was her name called out to her as a verbal warning: “Kirumi!”

Before he saddled up beside her and wrapped his arm around her back and rested his hand on his tricep. Her eyes went one- well one of them did as a chunk of her grey-green hair covered the other. “Got a second to talk?”

“What do you want?” Normally Kirumi would greet anyone with a “can I help you?”  Even if she didn’t mean those words.

“Look, it’s about Tenko.”

At the mention of someone she actually thought about fondly, Kirumi’s stiff posture melted. “What about her?” She inquired.

“Where are you at right now? Like emotionally and all?” He suddenly got in front of her and took her by shoulders.

Kirumi blinked. “What does this have to do with Tenko…?”

“Look, she’s crazy about you. And if you’re not in the right space of mind to give her the love she deserves—“

“Kaito, clown down.” Kirumi was baffled. To put it at a minimum. Tenko was crazy about her? "Isn't she crazy about every female she sees?"

"Well, yeah, but you're different!" Kaito assured. "Why do you think she keeps wanting to spend every second with you? WHy do you think she gets mad at Himiko when she won't let Tenko spend time with you-"

"Yumeno doesn't allow Tenko near me?"

"Not the point of this second-hand confession, Kirumi. Look, I just want you guys to be happy together. And I need to know if you're in a good mind-set to put all you can into this relationship."

This really all was way too much. And now of all days, and being told by Kaito Luminary of the idiots all day.
Rude, but still.

With a gentle touch, Kirumi removed his hands from her shoulders. "Kaito," She began her tone kind and minimum compared to her shrieking earlier. Kaito eagerly waited her reply with wide eyes, practically bouncing on his feet. "What the actual fuck are you asking of me?" 

With a losing sigh, Kaito put his hands on his hips, kicking at the ground as he looks away.  "Maybe you should hear this from Tenko..."

"... You really believe Tenko.. likes me. Genuinely. And not just because I'm a girl and not a boy." 

"... Yeah, Kirumi. I do. I've seen it with my own eyes. She.. really really likes you. You must be like all she thinks about and talks about and she's really worried about you like all the time-" 

"You are describing that last part and it makes me think of my therapist-"

"Look, Kirumi. I'm serious about this. She has a huge crush on you and I want you both to be happy, okay? That's why I need you to tell me if you can handle it. Because you're going through rough patches, we all are, but seriously with you - you have a bad day like every day."

"Hm." Kirumi's mouth twitched upward. "You.. really seem to care about... both of us. Which is..." Pleasing. "Nice to hear."

"I do. I consider you both my sidekicks."

"Don't."

"My bestfriends then, okay? Now... where are you heading so I can tell Tenko."

Kirumi wiped her gloved hands off on her skirt and began patting down her hair. "You can tell her in ten minutes that I will be in here lab."

"Ten minutes?"

"I really want to hit something."

"Oh, well, I can hold the punching bag for you if needed-"

"No. You'll only piss me off more. Just do as I say, this one time."

"Yes ma'am!" Kaito with pep in his step jogged off, and Kirumi quickly retreated to the Aikido lab. 

. . .  Thursday Night

Now she was growing frantic.  She had sent Kaito off about two hours ago and had yet to actually hear from the classmate again. 

She was sure Kaito couldn't fuck up talking to Kirumi... unless he was pouring Tenko's heart and soul out to the Maid for her. Lovely. Perfect. Fantastic even.

Tenko was back in the Ultimate Maid's Lab. She had spent all of lunch, lab time, and at this point most of the evening searching for this girl.
So where the actual fuck was she now? 

Kirumi couldn't leave campus, none of them could. She wasn't in the limited areas in Hope's Peak because Tenko had checked - not to mention interrogated the second closest girl to her aesthetic and talent: Celeste Ludenberg and this other dude who had clairvoyance but he had said Kirumi was moving at a fast pace, so fast he couldn't keep track. Which was stupid so she kicked his shit in, then got kicked out. Lectured a little by Rantaro.

Didn't make a difference. Time was running out and Kirumi was not doing well mentally and she really needed someone... right?

I mean.. Kirumi was going to elt Tenko comfort her then and there at lunch time... Himiko and Angie just scared her off. So.. obviously now she was waiting for Tenko to come find her. 

Right?

"It could be.. she really wanted alone time?" Tenko was unfortunately lucky enough to find Shuichi finally emerged from his weird ass cave- aka his lab he has been hiding in since a few weeks after they got here... for whatever reason. 

"I didn't ask for your opinion, swine!"

Shuichi looked like utter shit with his hair on end, eye bags, similar to how he'd appear whenever he was in deep despair. But this wasn't about him right now, it was about Kirumi.
And ironically enough this was the person who hated Kirumi the most.

"Okay so you... you did." 

"Whatever!" Tenko hissed. She had found the detective for once in the community kitchen and decided to vent aloud, which was stupid in hindsight. Shuichi was never helpful. "Your opinion would matter to be if you finally decided to become a woman."

"I'm... sorry?" 

"... You really think she wanted alone time?"

"That's how most people handle their issues... that's how I handle my issues."

Tenko wrinkled her nose. "How do women do it, though?"

"Tenko.. you're a woman." Tenko paused. "Where do you go when you're really upset?" It was so stupid Tenko could kick herself. And with a heavy hand pounded against the table Tenko hissed and turned towards the doors when Kaito ran in.

"Kirumi's in your lab!" Kaito shouted, heaving as he knelt forward. "Oh my god... I need a second..." He continue to pant in attempts to catch his breath. Shuichi leaning his back against the table while Tenko stood idly in front of him. Both watching this very pathetic act.

Tenko turned to Shuichi, "Aren't you worried about his condition or something?" 

Shuichi blinked in surprise. "It... it wasn't a real thing, so.."

Tenko nodded, mostly to herself, before turning back to Kaito. "So... you found her?"

"In your lab yeah," Kaito nodded, smacking his lips as he exhaled, finally standing up right. "She's watching you for." He held up his hand for a high five. "Go get 'em... girl.." 

With no intention nor the time to argue Tenko reluctantly reached up high, high-fiving him, before absolutely sprinting out of the room - so fast she nearly ate shit on the ground, but kept her running speed up.

Shuichi watched the exchange with an unreadable expression. "So... you and Tenko."

"Yeah! She's my friend!"

Shuichi nodded, and looked off to the side.

Kaito examined his sidekick's features and noticed how tired his eyes were and the deep frown lines he was beginning to have. "Hey, don't worry man! I'm never going to replace you or Maki!"

Shuichi just nodded, a small smile briefly flashing over his lips. 

"Speaking of... when did uh.. when did Maki say she was going to come back to training?"

"Haven't seen her in a while..."

"... When are you coming back to training?" 

".. So... Tenko and Kirumi?"

. . . Thursday Night

Tenko sprinted across the courtyard to her own lab with such purpose, her shoes dug into the dirt and kicked it up. When she reached her double doors she did not hesitate to throw them open and what a sight to await her.

Kirumi her discarded her dark blue cardigan covering her even darker button up but even then, her sleeves with rolled up to her triceps and the ribbon tied around the collar was disregarded, her long skirt was swinging wildly as her shoes with lost with her jacket. Kirumi was ruthlessly attacking a model dummy attached to a stick. 
So much though that her knuckles were purple and blue. 

With silent yet clacky steps, she approached. "Kirumi."

The Maid in question, didn't seem to hear her, ripping back and punching again. She was grunting with each hit but there was a pain in her eyes that over-sought the anger. Tenko didn't want to get too close to her, in case she'd get her shit rocked. But even still,

"Kirumi..!" She tried louder, just as her fist met the dummy's chest she realized the Aikido Master's presence, and slowly turned to look at her. 

"Oh..." Was all she said. And now Tenko got to really look at her face. Her cheeks were red and puffy, from the tears she had shed earlier or from punching furiously now it was hard to tell. And it was hard to tell if it was intentional now, so Tenko couldn't tell. How clever of her, but she was always clever. And her fists were still cracked and bruised, she hadn't busted anything thank god - she still looked as perfect as ever. But her hair was frizzy despite her current attempts to idly pat it down. And her eyes were shifting like she didn't want to look her in the eye.
Kirumi's eyes were a darker duller shade of green compared to Tenko's chartreuse ones.  Of course, after all of her fighting she still managed to keep a chunk of hair over one of her eyes - keeping it hidden. "I hadn't realized how much time had passed..."  

"Are you okay?" Tenko tilted her head, the worry finally seething out of her voice.

And Kirumi was impressed. So much this girl before her wanted to say, yet she settled for just one question.

"I... Yes. I am now."

"Were you.. okay earlier?"

"No."

"Did you want to talk to me about it?"

"Perhaps I did earlier... but... I suppose it couldn't hurt now." Kirumi took a deep breath and walked over to the beach Tenko sat at with Kaito just the other day. The two sat side by side.  Kirumi looking downcast and she hesitantly rubbed her knuckles, they were clearly injuring her but Tenko didn't want to get up and leave just as she was about to pour her heart out.. so Tenko did the next best thing and took the girl's hands in her own, wrapping her fingers around her knuckles.
It clearly caught the maid off guard as she blinked her eye in surprise and met Tenko's gaze which lingered with determination. Ready to listen.

So there really is no going back... she's going to tell her woes to the loudest, one of the most obnoxious, reckless, charming, radiant, incredibly sweet, considerate, generous, and most beautiful girl in the entire school. 

"So... what happened?" 

"You... you know what? Hold that thought." 

And before Tenko could ask if she went too far with the hand-holding Kirumi leaned in and kissed her on the lips. 

All of Tenko's dreams simultaneously came true in that moment.  She finally had her first ever kiss, and it was with a woman. Those two were her sole dreams and both were accomplished. Despite that, Tenko took way too long to return this kiss and a few seconds after she did so, Kirumi pulled away but not far enough. The two were nose to nose.
Usually, in every movie Tenko watched and in every book Tenko has... read summaries of, they would always describe the way the person's lips felt and the taste on their tongue.

Well, Tenko felt like she was going to vomit, so she tasted the last thing she ate which was like maybe half a bowl of rice. And then you have the way Kirumi's lips felt... both of them were drenched in sweat. Tenko because she had been crazy in panic, running around all day, and now insanely nervous and hella flustered. And Kirumi had also spent all day running around, crying, and recently exercising. So their lips were wet with sweat. So also a little salty.

Nothing about this kiss was perfect and even still, fireworks went off in Tenko's head as Kirumi did so. 

"... I talked to Kaito." Kirumi confessed. And Tenko was immediately turned off.

"Huh?"

"That's not what I was upset about." Kirumi quickly justified. The two were still extremely close that whenever her lips moved to speak, they would brush up against the other's. "I... I was upset about a letter I recieved from my parents."

"What happened? Is everything alright?" 

"Yeah, they're..." Kirumi took a deep breath through her nose and leaned back, away from Tenko. "I am sure they are fine but... in very complicated terms they appear to have.. disowned me."

Tenko was not expecting that and it took her out of the romantic mood she was ready to be placed in and stood up. "Wh- what?! What are... do you have the letter?" Kirumi nodded towards her cardigan and Tenko stood up slowly and tried not to appear racing towards the cardigan - searching through it before she found a very crumpled up piece of paper.
And read it over. 

And it was... weird. To say the least. 

"This... this sounds more like they..  are un-adopting you? Were you adopted?" 

"No Tenko, I wasn't adopted. I remember them being my parents and now I am being informed they.. never were." 

"That literally makes no sense." Tenko scoffed and read over it again. And again. And she could only imagine how many times Kirumi must've done the same. "I... I'm sorry." Tenko turned to face Kirumi who looked up at her with surprise.
"I wanna know what to say to make it feel better and I wanna tell you maybe it's a stupid joke or a lie or... but it just makes no sense... to me. And I'm just.. sorry..."

Kirumi just nodded as she spoke, before looking down again.

"And your... former parents kind of suck." 

A laugh stifled from Kirumi caught Tenko's attention, as she put the back of her hand to cover her mouth but her shoulders shook. Tenko began awkwardly laughing with her before she realized Kirumi's laughter was quickly turning into sobbing.

At the speed of sound, Tenko ran towards her, skidding on her knees and grabbing her hands again, pulling them gently away from her face. "Hey hey," She tried. "Kirumi, it's going to be okay. Alright? They're not your family, they wrote it themselves."

"I'm... it's all my fault. I pushed everyone away.. I was such a bitch..." She sobbed but Tenko shook her head and stood up tall, taking Kirumi to her feet. 

"No you weren't. Kirumi if your.. if your parents cannot love you because of some stuff in the past or even because of how you are now then they were never your family... We're your family, the fifty third class of Hope's Peak is your new family. And we all love you... whether you chose to spend time with us or not." 

Kirumi looked up slowly into Tenko's eyes. 

"... I love you." 

Kirumi's lip quivered before she broke down once more and embraced Tenko tightly. 

. . . Friday Morning 

The next morning Kaito was in awe. 

Kirumi was talking to him. Kirumi and Tenko.

They willing sought him out during lunch and he sat across from the two as they were holding hands, and talking, and fuck even Kirumi was laughing! She was asking about Tenko's homework, Kaito's stargazing hobby, she wasn't a total chatterbox but by god she was clearly trying and Kaito was fascinated by it.

"So," Kaito leaned in as Kirumi had to run to her room, she spilt some sauce on her gloves and needed to change them out. "I guess me talking to Kirumi went well then?" And Kaito doubled over as Tenko elbowed him in the ribs.

"You're lucky you're a dumbass." Tenko whispered, "I talked to her about it after you did." She confessed. Tenko watched Kaito struggle with his breathing again before reluctantly sighing and helping him stand back up. "But.. unfortunately..  I guess... I do owe you some credit, male. You made the confessional part easier."

"Well," Kaito coughed, holding his stomach. "I'm glad I could help."

"Even if it should've been me." She grabbed him by the ear, snapping. 

"Ow ow ow, okay... okay!" Kaito laughed and pulled away. "Seriously though... we're all cool. Right?" 

"Yes." Tenko and Kirumi spoke at once. The Maid walked down the staircase and adjusted the gloves she was wearing. 

"We are cool."

Chapter Text

. . . Friday Morning

Kirumi had spent the night on Kaito Momota's floor with Tenko, her newest girlfriend. 
Why in his room of all places? Good question.

He was just so excited that the two girls had gotten together that he insisted on having a sleepover - and it was originally in his lab but because it was on the first floor just above Oma's lab everyone was a little paranoid at the idea of what goes on in that place, especially overnight.  

It was sweet admittedly that Kaito cared so much about their blossoming relationship and they both had part of him to owe for how smoothly it went and saved Kirumi a lot of admitting her feelings.

Except that was something she needed to get over. Starting today.

Yesterday she was totally alone in her time of need and it was all her fault, so she realized she needed to improve on that.
Aka: Kirumi Tojo needed to make friends. And with Kaito and Tenko's persistent advice she decided will use... some of it.

But who to approach first...

Kirumi insisted she would eat breakfast with someone new and lunch with Tenko. As she scoured the breakfast assembly line in the shared kitchen there was a list of people instantly Kirumi decided she wouldn't approach. 

Miu and Keebo were once again attached at the hip, she would occasionally whisper something to him and he'd either blush or laugh loudly and almost fake - not to be mean but because he was trying his best to understand her humor.
It was almost sweet - like she could see some of her future relationship in those two. 
They left hand in hand, with Miu saying something about hearing adaptors.

Kokichi Oma couldn't keep his hands off of Kaede Akamatsu's hair. She was laughing about it but continued to push his hands away and readjusting it herself. Kirumi had just noticed she cut it to match the Maid's length. Which was.. interesting.
Actually, Kirumi tilted her head, it matched Oma's length more.
.. Weird.

Yumeno and Yonaga were nowhere in sight. 

Same went for Shinguji and Harukawa.

Shirogane as usual grabbed her share and sat down in the corner, and Saihara grabbed his and opted to sit with Akamatsu and Oma, who(Oma) looked at him(Saihara) like he was third-wheeling. 

This just left her... Amami, her girlfriend, Gokuhara, and Momota. 

Picking her poison decently wisely, Kirumi approached the Ultimate Survivor. Normally her girlfriend would want her to approach and woman first about possible friendships but the only woman left to speak to was.. her girlfriend. 

"Hello." She greeted coldly which shocked Rantaro out of whatever daze he was in.

"Oh, hey Tojo."

"I was wondering... if we could eat together." Kirumi's words were robotic and stiff and if Rantaro wasn't looking directly at the girl he'd imagine she was being held at gun point.

"Oh, for sure." Rantaro shrugged. "Wanna go in your lab? Mine kinda sucks."

"... Sure." 

With careful steps they entered her lab and sat down across from each other at a long table with a white cover table-top. And they sat there quietly. 

The small sound of chewing on their individual meals was loud as hell to both teens. 

"... How have.. things been?" Kirumi tried.

"Oh uh... pretty okay." Besides the fact that Miu and him haven't talked much and he kind of misses her. 

"Me as well." 

"Oh yeah? Feels like we haven't seen each other in forever, what have you been up to besides classes?"

"I've been... preoccupied with Mo- ahem - Kaito and Tenko." 

"Oh? That's a weird trio."

"Well, what of you and... Iruma and Keebo? I was under the assumption the three of you spent some time together."

"Yeah," Rantaro laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck. "Not so much with those two. Kind of been on my own or with my family." At least not physically, but every chance he got he would call them or meet one of them halfway from campus as to not get in trouble. 

"Oh. That is... bad?"

"No. I love my family, and I do miss my friendship with those two but they're a couple now so I'm giving them space."

Kirumi kind of perked up with something that she could finally respond with: "You should do what Kaito does with Tenko and I."

This caught Rantaro's attention. "You and.. Tenko?"

"Yes, we are dating."

Now Rantaro sat up from his slouched position, "No way! That's really cool, Kirumi. Since when?" 

"Yesterday, we.. started dating yesterday. Partly with Kaito's help hence why he insists on hanging out with us."

"Huh, that's.. kinda... cool." Rantaro nodded. It was weird of Kaito to be kind of inserting himself into a relationship but Kirumi seemed fine with it so he wouldn't say anything. Even so, "I wouldn't say that I was the reason why Keebo and Miu ended up together. They starting liking each other in the simulation, if anything me asking Miu out nearly ruined everything."

"Oh." How does Kirumi even reply to that. 

"Sorry, I'm... kind of finding out I'm really shitty at talking about stuff that isn't depressing."

"Oh, well... that's.. that's alright."

"Even in Danganronpa I could only talk about how I wish I knew what my talent was... think I scared Kaede because I insisted it was something evil."

"I can understand." Kirumi cut Rantaro off before he could keep listing more depressing examples. "Once I was... out of the simulation I definitely had a difficult time connecting with my peers so... I decided today I would try to change that."

Rantaro laughed, but it was filled with self pity. "Sorry I kept talking down about myself then, didn't mean for our first talk to be kind of a bummer."

"It's alright, I don't expect every conversation to go smoothly... I believe we both could use some assistance talking to each other and our classmates like "normal people.""

And Rantaro laughed.

Kirumi blinked in surprise, she wasn't trying to be funny, really. She was just being honest - both of them should work on getting better at talking. Or at least, Rantaro not trauma-dumping during a conversation.
Maybe he was skipping these therapist appointments, Kirumi thought about it originally but decided it was free and doing nothing for an hour instead would drive her crazy.

Unsure of how to react, Kirumi laughed with him. 

 . . .  "So how have things been, Shuichi?" Kaede asked casually, the three of them were sat side by side by side. 

"Okay.." Shuichi picked idly at his food. "Just busy.. with classes and stuff."

"Since you're in your lab so much you must be working on a really difficult case, right?"

Shuichi stopped at looked at Oma dead in the eyes, while Kaede looked between the two with some caution. Last she spoke with Shuichi after she had shunned himself away in his lab for weeks, nearly a month on end, he was actually working on a case.
It was something to do with Shirogane and the "real intentions of the Ultimate Simulation" but before Shuichi could actually explain it, and also explain why he called Shirogane "Tsumugi" - Keebo had interrupted them. 

And yet, he seems like Kokichi knew about this, or at least more on the matter more than she did. 

"Yeah... kind of..." Shuichi mumbled looking away again. "How have.. you guys been? I noticed you two have been hanging out a lot."

"Yep! That's right!" Kaede spoke obnoxiously loud, trying to take control of the conversation again. "We sure have."

"Oh, yeah, uh, I like your hair Kaede." Shuichi pointed out now that he was looking her in the eye. Something else, she had noticed - well she noticed when they last spoke - but Shuichi was no longer wearing his hat:

"Thank you! And I like yours, now that you're not wearing a hat anymore your hair is super cute!"

"Oh... Thanks..." Shuichi looked away again bashfully.

"Now Kaede and I look so much alike, don't you think?" Oma added, getting extremely close to Kaede, practically pressing his face against her's - causing her to laugh and elbow him off. 

"Yeah, I really like it short actually, feels a lot lighter." She conceded and missed how Kokichi tauntingly stuck out his tongue at Shuichi. 

Shuichi was entirely unsure how to feel about Oma trying to make Shuichi jealous over how close he had gotten with Kaede.
And unsure if Oma knew how embarrassing it was that he was making it really obvious that he has a huge crush on the pianist.

"That's cool." Shuichi just nodded. 

"Hey uh, what... what have you been working on in your lab? Are you okay?" Kaede tried again, if Kokichi knew, which he was implying he did, maybe she can finally understand now.

"Oh.. yeah.. I'm okay. I just... been looking over a few files so I've been busy.. I'm sorry, it's all confidential and I don't know how much I can talk about yet."

"Oh... okay well, if you ever need to get anything off your chest," Kaede put her hand on top of Shuichi's, mirroring that moment from the classroom where they had first met. "I'll be here for you." 

"Thanks Kaede." Shuichi offered a sad smile, meanwhile Kokichi Oma was staring holes into Shuichi's head.

. . . Friday, Designated Lab Time

"There you are," Korekiyo Shinguji crept up behind Kirumi as she walked onto the fourth floor. The Anthropologist was just stepping outside of his lab. "I've been meaning to speak with you." 

"Have you now?" Kirumi had only spoken to Shinguji in passing, but usually that ends up lasting a lot longer than just actually sitting down and talking to him. "What can I... What do you want?" 

"You left this in my lab." Korekiyo held up a small green earring, real jade, something Kirumi regularly wears with her uniform.

"Oh." Now it was Kirumi who quickly grew embarrassed. 

"Worry not, Tojo. I understand my lab is the closest thing to a museum we are allowed to visit... and I am quite glad it was you of all people who infiltrated my space."

"... Why?"

"Your company is much appreciated compared to anyone that isn't... as reasonable as Rantaro or Maki, per-say." 

Kirumi found herself.. smiling. "I don't know if I can talk to you."

"Oh?" Korekiyo tiled his head. "Do elaborate."

"Well," Kirumi began, staring down, fiddling with the earrings she was just handed between her fingers. "I'm dating Tenko now."

Korekiyo was silent, Kirumi looked up at the empty expression on his face. "That admittedly was not what I had anticipated you saying to me for the first time since the simulation." He confessed.

"Apologies," Kirumi replied. "Just thought you should know, she may be telling everyone very soon."

"I imagine so, yes." Korekiyo stood just in front of her awkwardly, should he invite her to sit somewhere? Where would they go?  "How did that happen?"

"I... well, I'm unsure how much you had observed Tenko-"

"Very little."

"Or me-"

"You needed your space."

"But she's been forcing me to spend time with her and Kaito a lot ever since we left that research facility... I guess overtime we just... grew closer than I had expected us to..." Kirumi's voice lingered and Korekiyo subtly began leading her into his lab, where they could sit on a bench just beside the entrance.

"I expected you to quit. Like Hoshi." As the Tennis player's name Kirumi froze, gripping her earrings tightly until her knuckle went white.

"No... I just had planned to get through school with never interacting with any of you. Ever."

"Well, Momota had always seemed like the type to take care of strays- as he did with Maki."

"How is that going for you?" Kirumi inquried as earnestly as she could. "You two seem... very close." The two sat side by side now.

"I would hope so." The Anthropologist hummed, speaking his wish into the world. "We have spent a lot of quality time together and she was the first to truly trust me again." He picked idly at the bandages cover his finger tips and nails. "She was at the bottom of my list of people who I had expected to get along with."

"Who was the first?"

"It was a tie... between you and Kaede."

"Oh." Kirumi hummed. "Well that is to be expected, Akamatsu desperately wants us all to get along. I hear she's even with Oma all of the time now."

"Very true." Korekiyo nodded. "You do not sound pleased to be talking about her."

"My last interaction with her went rather... sideways, I suppose you could put it." and with that creepy smile of his, tilting his head Kirumi decided to elaborate: "I basically told her if we're all going to be friends the best way to start is by her forgiving Shirogane."

"Hm," Korekiyo humored. "Quite the impossible task. For anyone... due to her claiming to have written our backstories, memories, and orchestrating every single event that happened in the simulation." Korekiyo took it upon himself to add, recalling that Kirumi was one of those people who wasn't present for the screening. 

"Oh... she claims to have.. written our backstories...?"

"Which is why most of the information isn't true... like my former sister."

"Like how I believed I was the Prime Minister."

"Precisely. We all hate her for that - of course there's this theory--" 

"I'm okay, thank you."

"No problem." Korekiyo prevented himself from derailing down the conspiracy theory train as Kirumi's command.

Kirumi idly tapped her right fingers on top of her left knuckles, still enclosed on the earrings. “Shinguji,” Kirumi began but he already corrected her:

“Korekiyo. Or Kiyo.”

“Korekiyo,” She repeated, “I know you hung around my lab often in the simulation and we were often seen together as I assisted you with tasks but… would you call us friends? Now?”

“Well,” Korekiyo breathed and Kirumi prepared herself for the tangent. “Friendship isn’t built off of me ordering you to do something and you happen to be in the same room doing it. I wouldn’t consider us friends then, no… but if you please, I’d like to befriend you now. Now that I don’t consistently think about killing you and you don’t think about killing me.”

Kirumi’s smile stretched more into a wider genuine one. “Your humor leaves much to be desired, Kiyo.”

“I’ll work on it.”

. . .  Rantaro stood before the portraits of his former companions in the past killing games. 

Their faces blurred to his eyes, by either trauma or his growing mental decay that is forcing his eyes not to recognize these faces. Most likely the trauma. 

And these faces, these Ultimates, were from the killing game before V3, and before that one. Approximately twenty nine students are mounted on this wall and not only does the Survivor not know where any of them are, or if they're even alive, and least of all... if they're even real.

And every single time he tears these crossed out portraits on the wall - someone comes in and puts them all back in the exact same spot.

With a heavy sigh, and the crack of his knuckles - like clockwork - Rantaro begins to take off the portraits on the wall.

... Because Rantaro never investigated his lab properly, he didn't think to explore the hidden cameras in the corner of his room watching his movements - nor think to check if his safe was just a prop now or still hiding secrets unknown to this former Ultimate. 

. . .  Friday Evening

  Kirumi found Akamatsu and Oma together in the community lounge area. 

It was a simple procedure, she'd apologize to the Pianist for snapping at her that one time, explain she wants to improve on getting to know everyone, and finally pray Akamatsu doesn't misunderstand this means she's going to befriend everyone. Because, once again: impossible. 

"Hello you two." Kirumi greeted with her hands folded out in front of her, she didn't miss the way Oma shot up from his leaned back position on the couch just beside Akamatsu, his eyes slit into suspicious squints. 

"Oh!" Kaede reacted to Kokichi's abrupt movements before acknowledging the maid. "Hello Kirumi.. what's going on?"

"I wanted to speak to you, or rather I suppose apologize for our last conversation."

Akamatsu's brows furrowed in brief confusion before they shot up in realization. Going through a roulette wheel of reactions before she finally breathed to speak, "Oh! It's alright don't worry about tha-"

"Huuuuuh? Why is it alright?" Kokichi fucking Oma suddenly butts in and Kirumi does her best to hide the distaste at the sound of his voice on her face. 

Akamatsu appeared just as surprised by his outburst, looking at him with wide eyes. "... Huh?"

"Didn't you like totally tell Akamatsu to go try and befriend the very girl who killed her?" 

"... I told her to talk to Shirogane." Kirumi confirmed, nodding stiffly.

"So why would that be an okay thing to do? Especially waiting soooo loonnngg to finally apologize? What changed?" With a playful tilt of his head, Kirumi knew it wasn't really the case but his knowing gaze made it feel like he knew exactly what had changed in her life. He knew exactly what was going on. 

The same facade Kirumi was unaware he put on frequently in the Killing Games when he claimed to be the mastermind. 

"It's... It's fine, Kokichi. Kirumi probably had a lot going on! I mean we all do!" The girl in question remained stiff in the doorway as Akamatsu gesutred towards her, still sat beside the boy who refused to budge, physically and on the topic of conversation.

"Mmmmm I dunnoooo... does Kirumi really think she did something wrong? Or is she just finally tired of feeling guilty?" 

"Kokichi." Kaede warned, her tone firm yet still soft with some craving. 

Kirumi's eye twitched under her thick piece of hair. "I'm sorry, Akamatsu. I know what I did probably offended you and regret my words... so I was just hoping to move on from this."

Kokichi opened his mouth again but Kaede physically stopped him by slapping her hand directly over his mouth. "It's fine, Kirumi. Seriously. I forgive you, we can be friends."

Friends.

Kirumi blinked in surprise. "That's-"

"Agh!" Kaede yelped and reeled her hand back, "Kokichi that's disgusting!"

Kirumi put the pieces together what just happened as Kokichi had his tongue sticking out and Kaede wiped her hand vigorously on the couch. He laughed at her before wrapping his arms around in a half hug, in his attempts at laughing boldly Kaede's shoulders shook with some awkward laughter as well.
Successfully making Kirumi uncomfortable with the energy created in the lounge today. 

"I'll... leave you two to it then." Kirumi mumbled, but as she left, the devil himself chirped after her proudly:

"Looking forward to your inevitable next apology, Kirumi!~"  

. . .  Friday Night.

Chapter Text