Archive of Our Own

“Damn…” Kaito cursed under his breath. He finally stepped back in defeat, his hand on his hip. “I guess Shuichi isn’t coming out.”

Maki frowned at Shuichi’s closed door. He had shown up to breakfast acting weirdly clingy, but then disappeared altogether. Usually he’d spend the morning and afternoons with any of them, usually Gonta or, for whatever reason, Kokichi. But no, he had attended breakfast, excused himself prematurely, and disappeared for the rest of the day.

It was strange behavior for the detective. Extremely strange.

“Maybe something happened,” Maki suggested. She didn't want to think Shuichi was hurt anywhere, but she couldn't deny the grim possibility.

“Nah, I'm sure he's fine,” Kaito, ever the optimistic idiot, shrugged off her concern. “He probably just isn't feeling very well. I’m sure he’ll be up to training tomorrow! And he’ll have to do two-hundred push-ups to make up for skipping out on tonight!”

“That's not how exercising works.”

“He’ll be fine.” Kaito shot her a big grin. “Well, looks like it's just us tonight.”

Maki rolled her eyes. She could handle being alone with Shuichi– as pathetic as he was, he was sensible, and usually left her alone if she didn't feel like talking. Even better, he was quiet. And although his quietness stemmed from shyness rather than from being introverted, she could at least appreciate him on that front.

Kaito was none of those things. Kaito was very extroverted, very loud, and very, very persistent. Hence, why Maki was here in the first place.

“Let's just go,” Maki muttered, already starting towards the door. She didn't know what was going on with Shuichi, but she figured she’d find out eventually. And if he didn't show up tomorrow, she could always go break down his door and–

–okay, wow, that was a lot of plants.

Opening the dorm to the dormitory revealed to her a vastly different courtyard than the one she had seen a few hours ago. She had been in her room most of the evening, not wanting to interact with anybody after dinner, but she could say with certainty that this was not the same as it was before.

Over the course of the killing game, the greenery overrunning the academy had been gradually cleaned up. Trees were cut down, grass was mowed, bushes were uprooted so leave a completely clean courtyard. Maki hadn’t cared for the changes, focusing only on the renovations made to the academy itself.

Now, it was like all of the flora that had been torn up had not only entirely regrown, but expanded even further. Moss and roots crawled onto the pathways, small trees about the size of Himiko or Kokichi stood scattered across the overwhelming field. Even then, some bushes were taller than those trees, some looking as if they homed berries. The gazebo was all but invisible in the mess.

The things that caught her eye the most were the flowers. All across this mess, sakura-pink flowers bloomed on the trees and bushes, speckling the green with color.

“What the fuck?” Kaito asked beside her. “What the hell happened out here!?”

Maki stepped out of the dormitory all the way, looking around. It seemed like the outer edges of the Ultimate Academy were still as clear as the Monokubs had left it, so the only area affected by this strange overgrowth was the center of the upper courtyard. However, that didn't make it any less strange– in fact, it only made her even more confused. Why was this area specifically suddenly completely overrun with flora? And how had that happened within just a few hours?

“I thought the grass out here looked a little longer, but I thought it was growing back normally!” Kaito exclaimed, nudging a particularly big fern with his foot. “Where are we gonna train now…?”

“Forget training. This is more important,” Maki said. “Trees don't just sprout up overnight, let alone in a few hours. We need to find out what's happening here.”

Kaito sighed. “I swear, if this is just some crap Monokuma’s pulling, I’m gonna–”

“H-Hello…?”

The sound of Himiko’s wary voice made them both pause. Immediately, a sense of inexplicable wrongness washed over her, but she couldn't place a reason why.

“Himiko?” Kaito, apparently sensing nothing wrong, called into the tangled mess of shrubs and roots. “Hey, Himiko! Is that you?”

“Nyeh… I think my foot’s caught in something,” Himiko called back. “I think I’m stuck.”

Again, something felt off. The closest feeling she could assign to it was an uncanny valley. It sounded exactly like Himiko, down to the pace and edge of her words, but it felt wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong. All of Maki’s instincts screamed at her to stay away, to approach the situation with the utmost caution.

She didn't know what Kaito’s instincts were telling him, if he even had any. Because without a second thought, he stepped into the growing forest. “We’ll come help you! Stay put!” Turning to her, she added, “watch your step, Maki Roll.”

Maki glowered at him. “I'm not the idiot to watch out for. Don't go in there.”

She knew her warning would be useless, and lo and behold, it was. Kaito was already pushing his way into the thick shrubbery, doing absolutely nothing to watch out for himself.

Seeing as she trusted her own abilities, she begrudgingly followed him in. As much as he’d deserve it if he stepped into a trap, she figured she couldn't, in good conscience, let that happen.

Going further into the flora, Maki couldn't help but feel like it was only getting denser and bigger. She worried she might have misjudged just how big the trees were, but her observations didn't usually tend to be inaccurate. Either this was a rare instance of her being wrong, or the plants around her were growing before her very eyes.

“Eesh. Usually I’m all for forests, but this is way too much,” Kaito remarked unhappily, brushing away another giant leaf. He stumbled back when it rebounded and thwacked him in the face, earning a startled yelp. “Ow! This would be a lot prettier if there was a path! Hey, Himiko! You close?”

A moment passed. Maki eyed the darker corners of the green suspiciously, unable to shake the feeling that they were being watched. It was making her uncomfortable, even if she knew she could easily fight off any potential threat.,

Then, sounding chillingly close, “I think I’m stuck.”

The same tone. The same volume. It was as if her voice had been looped.

As if she isn't talking to us at all.

“Uh…” Kaito cast her an uneasy look. “Yeah, we know… listen, we’re gonna go get some garden shears, alright? We’ll be right back.”

“...anyone…?” The disembodied voice whimpered in Himiko’s voice.

“We need to go,” Maki told him in a hushed voice. She didn't know what was going on here, if this was all some sort of joke or there was actually something lurking, but she didn't like it. She wanted to be as far away from it as possible as fast as possible.

“If this is some prank Kokichi is pulling on us, I swear to god, I’m going to kick his ass,” Kaito muttered. “I knew he was plotting somethi–”

It happened fast. Faster than it took for her to blink.

In just half a second, something snapped shut around Kaito, engulfing most of his lower body. It was green, massive, paler colored cilia just barely not impaling Kaito through the abdomen and arms.

It was a gigantic venus flytrap.

Maki immediately lunged forwards, trying to help Kaito pry the thing’s mouth(?) apart. She didn't have time to think about the insanity of this whole situation, how utterly nonsensical such a creature was. These things had the word “trap” in their names for a reason, because they were deadly.

“Holy shit–” Kaito coughed something weak, clawing at its side. “Wh-What the hell is this thing!?”

“You should’ve been watching your step, idiot!” Maki snapped at him as she unsheathed her knife, careful to avoid cutting Kaito as she drove it into the wall.

A shrill chirp from nearby sent a cold shiver down her spine. She watched as the flytrap suddenly tilted to the side, bringing Kaito down with it, crashing into the ground. As he groaned from the impact with the ground, Maki realized three things very fast.

One, the flytrap wasn’t attached to a stem. It was attached to a tail. A tail she had failed to see thanks to the impressive camouflage of it's colors and even flowers.

Two, whatever this thing was, it was responsible for the strange growth of flora. Setting aside all logic, that meant that it had also managed to mimic Himiko’s voice. And going off of what it had parroted from her, Himiko long since stepped into this thing’s trap.

Three. If the flytrap was big enough to swallow Kaito’s entire lower body…

…then how big is the creature?

Maki tumbled as it suddenly yanked its tail(?) backwards, taking Kaito with it. She didn't waste a moment before lunging at it, trying to pin down and stop it from moving, but it was strong. She felt like she was trying to manhandle a superpowered crocodile.

“Ow!” Kaito yelped as she accidentally kneed him in the side, momentarily pausing his wild thrashing. “Maki!”

Wrestling its tail wasn't going to work. There was more of a chance it would throw her into a tree or thorn bush than she would have any luck pinning it down. She gripped her knife and shifted gears, turning her eyes towards the hulking figure she could see rising from the green. She moved, intending to strike its back–

–but it struck her first.

And by the time her body hit the ground, all of the wind knocked out of her, it was already long gone. It, and Kaito.

It didn't knock her out. She might have blacked out for just a moment, though she wasn't sure whether that was from hitting her head or the thing jumping over her, briefly blotting out the sun. But, as much as she hated to admit it, all she could do for a few moments was lay there, stunned. Not only because she had been slammed into the ground at alarming speeds by at least the size of an Exisal, but because there was a creature the size of an Exisal. Something that could manipulate plant growth, could mimic people's voices, had a tail with a giant flytrap, and who knows what else? 

She knew the voice had been wrong, but it was so easy to assume something logical behind that wrongness. For example, the plausibility of it just being a looped recording of her voice was far more believable than whatever the hell just happened.

As soon as she was able to move her limbs, Maki stood up, staring at where the flytrap had just been. She didn't know which direction it had taken Kaito, but she needed to find out fast, before he got hurt, or worse.

And Himiko, Maki remembered as she booked it back to the dormitory. That voice it used… it must have been her trying to call for help. But wouldn't she have panicked more if it closed around her?

Whatever. The details didn't matter right now. She rapidly rung Gonta’s doorbell a few times, urgently waiting for him to open the door.

Next to herself and maybe Kaito, Gonta was in the best physical shape out of all of them. With almost superhuman strength, a fit body and the ability to run far and fast, this situation was exactly up his alley. Not only that, but from what little Maki knew about him, hadn’t he grown up around or in the woods a lot? He’d surely know a lot about living there, which, she assumed, was exactly what they’d need when facing this creature. It made plants grow, its natural camouflage relied on forested terrain– it had a venus flytrap on its tail. It wasn't hard to deduce where this thing lived.

That raised the question of how it had ended up in the Ultimate Academy, but she was more worried about saving Kaito and Himiko at the moment. This place had seen enough death as of late.

It took a few more doorbell rings, but finally, Gonta opened his door

“Oh! Maki,” Gonta greeted her, his smile friendly. “What are–”

“There's a problem,” Maki told him bluntly. “Something kidnapped Kaito and Himiko.”

All of the color drained from Gonta’s face instantaneously. “Wh-What!? Are they okay!?”

Probably not. “I don't know, but we need to hurry. Help me wake everyone up.”

Gonta nodded hurriedly, the weight of the situation thankfully not being lost on him.

It didn't take long to pull everyone out of their rooms. Some were a little harder to drag out, like Kokichi and Miu– who she was surprised wasn't in that computer room for once. The only one she couldn’t drag out of his room was Shuichi, which considering the current circumstances, was making her a little worried.

Needless to say, they were very surprised to see the state of the courtyard.

“Unbelievable…” Tsumugi breathed.

“Plants are back!?” Gonta cried out in shock.

“Even the trees are growing back…” K1-B0 observed, stepping towards the overgrowth. Maki caught him by the shoulder, stopping him in place.

“Don't go in there,” Maki said, raising her voice so everyone– Kokichi– would hear her. “That's where Kaito was kidnapped.”

“What happened, anyway?” K1-B0 asked her, wisely stepping away from the flora.

Maki dropped her hand back to her side, frowning. “Me and Kaito came out here to train, when we saw this.”

“You guys ditched Shuichi?” Kokichi obnoxiously gasped. “Wow! Fake friends!”

“‘Training’ my ass! Admit it, you guys wanted a private area to hook up!” Miu laughed loudly, immediately reminding Maki why talking to these people always felt like a chore.

“Shuichi wouldn't come out of his room,” Maki said, responding mostly to Kokichi. “We figured he must be feeling sick. Anyway, when we came out, we heard Himiko calling for help from in there. Kaito wanted to go help her, and I only came with to make sure he didn't get himself killed doing something stupid.”

“I'm taking it that it didn't end well,” Tsumugi commented warily. “So what happened? What took him?”

Maki frowned. “I don't know. I didn't see it. Kaito got caught in a giant flytrap, but it knocked me down and ran away before I could get him out.”

“A giant flytrap…?” K1-B0 echoed in disbelief. “Does such a thing even exist?”

“Not just that. Creature mimic Himiko’s voice too…” Gonta pointed out. “How big is creature?”

“My guess is that it was about as big as one of the Exisals.”

Miu snorted incredulously. “No fuckin’ way you morons believe this? I know not all of us are blessed with a golden brain like me, but this is fucking stupid! Any sucker with two eyes and their mom would know nothing like that exists!”

“Well…” Tsumugi hesitated as Miu’s powerful gaze swiveled towards her. “I didn't think anything like the Exisals could exist, but look where we are now.”

“Of course they exist! They’re technological!” Miu barked. “It’s not impossible to make anything if everyone puts both of their heads together! I could make a fucking Exisal if I really wanted to!”

“I believe what she is saying is that creatures such as the one Maki described cannot be real,” K1-B0 translated. “And to an extent, I agree with her. If creatures like these truly existed, surely we would have heard about them before.”

Maki grit her teeth. “I don't have time for your skepticism. If you’re not going to believe me, then go back to bed. I’ll go after them myself.”

“Gonta will help Maki!” Gonta declared. “Gonta believe Maki… Gonta see things humans not know about with forest family all the time. Gonta never heard of this before, but Gonta want to help!”

“I-I’ll help too!” Tsumugi exclaimed. She smiled at Maki, lifting a practical finger. “This sounds like something straight out of an anime! Or even better, a fanfic! And I’m plainly experienced with both!”

“I’m not going to sit around while three of our classmates are missing. I’m going to look as well,” said K1-B0. “Which direction did it run off to? Perhaps there's a reasonable explanation for it.”

Maki didn't think there was one. She pointed towards the stairs that led to the lower courtyard. “I think it went that way.”

“You think?” Kokichi repeated haughtily.

There wasn't enough force in the world she could glower at him with. “It threw me to the ground before running off. I was a little dazed.”

“That’s okay!” Gonta interjected before Kokichi could say something stupid back. “We just have to split up!”

“Oh, no you don't!”

The arrival of Monokuma wasn't much of a surprise, but it wasn't any less of an annoyance. Maki glared down at the robot, briefly contemplating simply walking away.

“Sorry, buckaroos, but I can’t let you chase this thing down!” Monokuma shouted, indignantly throwing its paws up. “I’m handling it as fast as I can, but one wrong move and your classmates are gonna be plant food! This is a very delicate matter!”

“You know what it is?” Tsumugi prompted.

Monokuma sounded a sigh. “I was hoping it wouldn't be let loose… but my adorable little cubs got my sister’s genes and are really, really stupid. Their stupidity… gah! It’s so cute! So cute I don't even care that that thing ripped them to shreds before the next execution!”

“Tell us what it is,” Maki ordered impatiently.

“Believe me, I would! But I’m under NDA. I’m not legally allowed to talk about it,” Monokuma pouted. But, he perked up. “But, you guys are the ones locked in here with it, I guess I’ll deal with the lawsuit!”

“It sounds like you’re locked in here with it, too,” Kokichi pointed out, his hands placed casually behind his head. “It already got your kids! Who’s to say you’re not next?”

“Even if I do die, I’ll be back!” Monokuma said confidently. “I’ve got loads of back-ups on stand-by, specially made for this exact situation!”

“That's not important!” K1-B0 jabbed a finger towards the robot. “Tell us what that thing is, and what happened to Kaito, Himiko and Shuichi?”

“Shuichi?” For a moment, she’d dare to say Monokuma looked confused. It didn't elaborate on the brief pause though, continuing normally. “Well, all of them are alive, for now.”

“For now?” Maki echoed.

“Listen! Of the three of those things that were brought in here, I was told this one was the least likely to escape!” Monokuma barked. “I thought we had it under control! This is a worst case scenario! Apocalyptic! Life-ending! This thing could destroy the entire structure killing game!”

Maki did not miss that. “Three” of those things? There’s three?

Miu’s eyes widened. “Destroy the killing game…? Y-You're telling me this thing could end the fuckin’ killing game!?”

“Technically, yeah,” admitted Monokuma, “but that's a good thing for no one! Not only are these creatures extremely powerful and omnivorous, but they tend to self-identify as carnivores! The water one rips sharks and whales apart faster than you can blink! The fire one eats hikers for lunch, dinner, and breakfast! And the plant one…” Monokuma shuddered. “This is the worst possible one that could escape. Not only is it gonna overrun the academy, but it's arguably the most dangerous one! At least with the other two you know you're being hunted– this thing is ruthless! There’s only a 25% chance of not dying to this thing, and even then the effects of its venom would make you wish you were dead!”

“We’re not going to have to worry about these “water” and “fire” creatures, are we?” K1-B0 inquired worriedly.

“Huh, them? Nah, that ship has sailed. They’ve been dead for a while,” Monokuma reassured them. “They were hardly a threat anyway, because they were easily containable. The problem with this one is that it’s unpredictable. One minor trigger, and all of your captured buddies are dead.”

So they’re all alive so long as we’re careful, Maki concluded. She could be careful, as careful as she needed to be to rescue Kaito, Himiko and maybe Shuichi.

Even then, what really happened to Shuichi? Where is he?

“So as your Headmaster, it's my duty to make sure you don't get yourselves killed,” Monokuma continued. “I’d advise staying in the dormitory and not leaving until further notice! Cozy up in somebody’s room and barricade the door with as much as you can! I’ll deal with this.”

“What’re you gonna do if we don't?” Kokichi asked. “I'm totally invested now! You can't tell me there's an evil monster in the academy and not expect me to go tame it!”

“I don't think that's going to work…” Tsumugi pointed out mildly.

“If you do go out to look for it, I can't punish you,” Monokuma confessed reluctantly. “But it’ll make MY job a lot harder, so I’m telling you to stay! In! Your! Rooms! It's a lot better than getting eaten by this thing. Or stung, that's probably even worse.”

“Umm… Gonta have question,” Gonta spoke up. “Creature… what's it called? Is it ambush predator?”

“No one can really decide what they’re called. Elementals, Earthborns, Chikyuuki’s… I don't care what they’re called! They’re a problem!” Monokuma tilted its head, thinking. “And it prefers to be an ambush predator, but I know it’ll fight if it needs to.”

“Umm… we don't even know what “they” are,” Tsumugi said.

Monokuma’s eye flashed. “Well that's not my problem, is it? Go back to your room and bunker down! I’ve got to try and capture this thing before it kills my students! That's my job! And whatever you do… stay away from the Shrine of Judgment!”

With that declaration, Monokuma disappeared. As irritating as it was, Maki was content with having more information to work with. She didn't like the thought of approaching this blindly.

And at least they aren't in immediate danger, Maki thought. That meant they could spare a little more time to make a legitimate plan.

Gonta had his arms crossed, his brows furrowed deeply in thought. Kokichi took notice of this, grinning slyly his way.

“What's going on in there, Gonta?” Kokichi prompted him, turning all eyes towards the entomologist. Maki’s included.

“Gonta thinking… creature very powerful. Able to grow plants fast,” Gonta recalled, glancing at the overgrown mound. “Mimicking human voices… strong enough to knock down Maki and kidnap Kaito. Gonta think creature is apex predator. Dominating food web.”

“...okay?” said Kokichi. “Glad you caught up, but we’ve gotta be serious now. Obviously we’re not gonna sit around and do nothing! Poor Himiko could be gobbled up any minute!”

She decided to ignore the intentional exclusivity of Kaito in that sentence. “How does this help, Gonta?”

“To beat nature threat, you have to be nature threat! Think nature threat,” Gonta said. He smiled brightly. “So we have to become apex predator, too! All of us work together to take down creature and rescue Kaito and Himiko and Shuichi!”

Nature threat… Maki hadn’t dealt with those before. She kept her range of danger strictly to humans, so something like this was a bit out of her league.

Still, she was one of the few capable people among this group. She needed to be there to rescue her classmates. No one deserved to be eaten by a giant plant monster– except for Kokichi, if anyone– even if they were stupid enough to walk directly into its trap.

“Do I really gotta help with this?” Miu groaned. “I just spent all day and night putting my pussy to the grindstone! Even a girl like me needs a bit of time to recharge!”

“Shut up. You’re helping,” Maki told her, leaving no room for argument. “All of us are. Gonta, you‘re the one who knows the most about this kind of thing. What do we do?”

“Should we really leave Gonta in charge?” Kokichi drawled skeptically. “I mean, when have his ideas ever ended well?”

Tsumugi shuddered, hugging herself. “The Insect Meet and Greet…”

“That was hardly Gonta’s fault!” K1-B0 argued. “Please… we must learn to move past it.”

“Wh-What the hell happened during the meet and greet?” Miu demanded, looking between the two of them in alarm.

Tsumugi’s eyes darkened. “I don't want to talk about it.”

And Maki didn't want to know. “Focus. We need to be quick. Gonta, any suggestions?”

Gonta, who had been looking increasingly more guilty the longer the others spoke, jumped as he was addressed. “Oh, right! First, Gonta wondering where creature taking friends. If creature hunting one by one, and friends still all alive, then creature must have nest it is keeping friends at.”

K1-B0 perked up. “The Shrine of Judgment. Monokuma cautioned us away from it.”

“Then that's probably where the nest is,” Maki concluded.

“Enclosed space… water source… yes, good place for nest.” Gonta nodded seriously. “Second, creature is ambush predator, meaning it waits for its prey to come to it. Creature expert of disguise… we don't find it until it finds us. That mean we need to be extra careful when walking around. If weapon is flytrap tail, like Maki said, then everyone need to watch where they step.”

“Flytraps don’t usually go off unless a trigger hair is touched,” K1-B0 mused. “Maki, earlier you said that it mimicked Himiko saying she got her foot stuck?”

“She said she thought her foot was caught in something,” Maki confirmed. “But if she was caught in the flytrap, she would have been panicking more, if she was able to talk at all. The flytrap alone was at least as big as she was.”

“Sooo, what? The flytrap’s sticky?” Kokichi guessed. “If we step in it, our feet will get stuck? Easy! Let’s have Kiibo stomp around in there until he gets his feet stuck! Then while it’s distracted eating Kiibo, we’ll swoop in and stab it ‘till it dies! Problem solved!”

K1-B0 glared at him. “Why am I the one being eaten!?”

“Actually…  maybe not so bad of plan…” Gonta murmured. Upon K1-B0’s alarmed look, Gonta rushed to correct himself. “N-Not the sacrificing and eating part! But, part where we find it. Gonta think, maybe we lure it into trap? If we build big cage, then push creature into cage, we trap it that way!”

Maki thought the plan over. Considering what Monokuma said about its venom, fighting it could end disastrously. She, Gonta, and maybe K1-B0 were the only ones here equipped to fight it in any way. If any of them got stung, she highly doubted Monokuma had an antivenom ready to cure them.

Unless we don't have to fight it, she considered. If we can find it without getting stuck…

“We’re going to need a cage,” Maki determined, looking at Miu. “How long would it take for you to make a cage big enough to trap it?”

Miu looked at her as if she had just called her a slur. “I-I have to waste my talent on bullshit like this!?”

“This thing might eat you if you don't,” Tsumugi pointed out.

That sobered her up quickly. She curled in on herself, avoiding their gazes as she tapped her cheek thoughtfully.

“Umm… w-well…” Miu hummed under her breath, calculating. “I don’t fucking know! I’m an inventor, not a constructor!”

Fair, Maki thought. “Can you modify doors?”

“Of course I can!”

Maki pointed at the dormitory doors. “Then we can use the dormitory to trap it. Monokuma can extract it from there. Make the doors lockable only from the outside, and impossible to open from inside.” 

“Virgin work! Give me an hour!” Miu shouted, confident.

An hour. Not as long as Maki had feared– impressively short, actually– but it was still an entire hour. Did they have that kind of time to spare? She didn't think Himiko was very likely to enrage the creature enough to be eaten, but Kaito…

“Kiibo,” Maki said, waving off her worrisome thoughts. “Do you have thermal vision?”

“Thermal…?” K1-B0 echoed contemplatively. “I do not believe so… why do you ask?”

“Of course the robot wouldn't understand!” Kokichi snarked. “All living things give off heat signatures! It can't hide from us if we see it first!”

K1-B0’s eyes widened. “Are you suggesting I…?”

“I have a plan,” Maki addressed the entire group. “We’re going to need walkie-talkies, Kiibo’s thermal vision, and the modified doors.”

An hour and a half later, the plan was in motion.

First, K1-B0 needed to find the creature. Miu had given him the ability to enable thermal vision in his eyes, and after a bit of testing and troubleshooting, he decided they were sufficient enough for the task. With the walkie-talkies and shovel they had found in the warehouse, he was cautiously traversing the forest.

And yes, “forest”. That’s what everyone had taken to calling the overgrown patch. And on the topic of it, Maki was pretty sure that in the hour and a half it had taken to prepare everything, it had grown tenfold. Some of the trees were taller than Gonta now, and even the space around the walls were starting to grow back. 

Gonta wasn't confident that the creature would give chase to K1-B0 when he did eventually find it. But if it did, K1-B0 was going to run for the dormitory, and lock himself in his own room. Then from outside, once the creature was in, all of them would shut the door, thus trapping it inside.

The chances of this going wrong were unfortunately high. The chances of someone getting hurt were unfortunately high. But fear was no excuse not to try.

Maki scowled as Kokichi snatched the walkie-talkie from her again.

“Kiiboy, have you found anything? Over,” Kokichi whispered into the receiver. “Remember, if it puts you in its mouth, don't struggle! It’ll spit you out since you’re made of metal!... over.”

“Even over the radio, I cannot escape your robophobia,” K1-B0 lamented.

“Give me that,” Maki grumbled, pulling the walkie-talkie out of his hands. Kokichi backed away from her with his hands up, cringing at their brief skin contact. “Do you see anything?”

“Not yet…” K1-B0 replied. “The plants are a little distracting. I just saw three flowers instantaneously bloom.”

“Creature definitely hunting…” Gonta murmured. “Kiibo, be careful!”

“Don't get eaten!” Kokichi added unhelpfully.

“I am not going to get eaten,” K1-B0 protested. “Please have more faith in me.”

“I feel like we’re in a horror movie…” Tsumugi commented as the walkie-talkie cut to static again. “I think Maki’s going to be the final girl. She seems like the type. Gonta can be the scholar!”

“Miu’s the comedy relief, because her entire existence is a joke,” Kokichi offered happily.

Miu squawked in outrage. “A-A joke!? You’re calling MY blessing of a presence a joke!? At least I’M actually worth something! The world needs me and my golden brain, unlike you!”

Before Kokichi could respond with something equally as unnecessary, the walkie-talkie turned on again.

“I see it!” K1-B0 whispered. “It’s much smaller than I thought… but I see its head!”

Miu leaned in uncomfortably close to the walkie-talkie. “Which one!?”

“I think we’re pushing this day’s quota for dirty jokes…” Tsumugi murmured hesitantly.

“Can you find the flytrap?” Maki asked him, decidedly ignoring that.

“I'm looking… it’s shaped strangely,” K1-B0 reported. “It's as if all of its body heat is collecting in its head and chest…? I can't see its legs or tail at–”

Maki didn't need to hear him yell over the walkie-talkie to know what just happened. She was moving before she could even process the familiar SNTHAP of the flytrap, something she heard even from the outside stairs of the building.

To K1-B0’s credit, he was making a lot of noise. It was easy to find where he had been captured, especially with how fast she had been running.

“Maki!” K1-B0 shouted when he saw her. His eyes, orange from his thermal vision mode, quickly flitted back to something a little to the left, looking horrified. “It's… it's huge! I can see its heat spreading back throughout its body!”

Maki didn't even think about looking over her shoulder to see. She drew her knife and, without having to worry about the delicate flesh of a human, stabbed the flytrap, pushing down as hard as she could. If she could cut it open, that meant they might be able to get K1-B0 out.

Gonta, who she didn't realize had followed her, wedged his fingers into the flytrap and started pulling, grunting with the effort. K1-B0 was struggling as well, having dropped the walkie-talkie to try and pull at the flytrap as well.

And yet despite all of this, hardly a dent was made in the flytrap. Her knife had only managed to pierce the very outer layer of the flytrap, no matter how hard she pushed.

The flytrap falling to the side nearly brought her and Gonta down with it. She wretched her knife free, whirling around.

Oh, it was massive.

Even if she couldn't make out every single one of its details thanks to the darkness and green pressing around her on all sides, she could make out its hulking figure. It craned its neck around, that same ominous clicking sound ringing throughout the air as it glowered down at her and Gonta. Its pupil looked fractured, three slits of glowing yellow pinning her to the ground. Something fluttered around either side of its head, and she watched in alarm as it revealed its set of four arms. The first two looked unsettlingly human-like, but the thinner ones beneath those were anything but, instead looking more akin to supersized stingers.

Monokuma’s words came back to her, and she cautiously stepped back, gripping the handle of her knife.

“Woah-ho!” Kokichi exclaimed from somewhere nearby– probably closer to the path. “Kiiboy, use your flashlight eyes!”

“That's–!” K1-B0 paused from his place on the ground. “...that's not a bad ideAAAH–”

K1-B0 yelped as he was abruptly dragged away, the creature rapidly curling up its tail and closing the space between the flytrap and its bigger body.

“KIIBO!” Gonta cried out, and much to Maki’s surprise, he charged directly at the creature.

Without much else of a choice, Maki joined him.

Whereas Gonta was aiming for its tail, Maki approached with the intent to harm. She brandished her knife as she aimed for its back, painfully mindful of the two large stingers it flexed as the two of them approached. 

She feinted to the side as it made a grab for her face, managing to get a good strike on its wrist. She drew her blade back with blood staining the steel, the creature letting out an alarmed kkrrw! as it lurched backwards.

At the same time, it didn't ignore Gonta. It used one of its secondary sets of arms to shove him away, though it avoided actually stinging him. He looked surprised as he stumbled backwards, then confused, staring at the creature with some sort of new understanding.

In his split second of hesitance, it lunged at him with the wit of a panther, wrapping all sets of arms around him and trapping his arms against his sides. It was like a strange hug. One that Gonta was very trapped in.

Oh that's not good.

“Damn it!” Maki cursed. How was this going even worse than she had feared? And why had Gonta allowed himself to get caught!?

Whatever, she needed to act! Maki rushed forwards, worrying a little less about its stingers and stabbing it in the first area she could. Which, as she found out, turned out to be its upper arm. It jumped back, holding both Gonta and K1-B0 close to itself as it hissed, which was not an easy task. K1-B0 was shouting from his flytrap prison, Gonta was fighting to free himself– how strong was this thing that it could so easily overpower all three of them?

Using her knife was a risky move, especially with Gonta practically acting as a shield for its chest. She didn't want to hurt her classmates, but fighting something so big and so fast was already a difficult task, nevermind the human shields.

Think, think, think–

It clicked, and she acted.

It was a difficult spot to hit, especially as the creature whirled around, intending to bolt. Maki jumped onto its back, using its tail and the flytrap as a foothold. Even as it thrashed, trying to shake her off, she grabbed onto the first thing she could with one hand– its ruff, which made it shriek– and drove her knife into its throat.

If the other two were dead, then clearly Monokuma wasn't too concerned about whether these things were alive or not. And considering the threat it posed to all of them, killing it was the only option that guaranteed their absolute safety.

Maki leapt away from it, only just barely managing to bring her knife with her. Its entire body had gone rigid, but it didn't collapse. It didn't even drop Gonta like she had been expecting it to.

It let out a gurgly hiss, kicked her with one large paw, and was gone the next second, carrying Gonta’s and K1-B0’s alarmed yelling along with it.

Maki stared after it, frozen.

Because not only had this thing just taken two more of her classmates, but it had walked off being stabbed in the throat.

Close by, Kokichi whistled. “Uh oh.” 

***

Don't get him wrong, he's seen tons of weird things before. But this might take one of the higher spots on that leaderboard.

Kaito couldn't give you an exact number for how long he and Himiko had been sitting here, but it had to have been over an hour by now. That thing, whatever it was, had dragged him to the Shrine of Judgment, which was now pretty much impossible to traverse if you weren't that thing. Leaves and vines and everything else green covered the windows above, almost completely blocking out the moonlight and making it very dark. Foliage hung from the ceiling, bushes and moss covered every surface.

The space he and Himiko were sitting was really the only clear space, and only barely. The ground they sat on was made up of large, soft leaves and moss, giving them a little cushioning. A protective barrier of similar materials surrounded two quarters of their area, encircling the large space. One quarter wasn't covered because it was the wall to the fountain, and the other was the entrance and exit of what Himiko had been calling “the den”.

You may wonder, why didn't he just walk out? There was nothing in his way. Sure, the door could be locked, but this creature growled and hissed and acted like a wild animal. It wouldn’t know how to lock a door, right?

Well.

The minute it left after that first ten minutes, Kaito immediately tried to leave. Himiko had been warning him against it, insisting it wasn't going to work, but he needed to at least try. He couldn't just sit around, waiting for the creature to come back and eat him! He needed to fight back!

…is what he had thought about fifteen seconds before that same creature all but materialized behind him, lifted him by his jacket like the scruff of a kitten, and carried him back to the den.

It didn't hurt him. It wasn't rough while handling him. It only hissed at him scoldingly when he tried to leave again, and when he finally agreed to stay his place, it left.

Apparently, the same thing had happened to Himiko. She tried to leave after she thought it left, got to the door, and suddenly got picked up and carried back to the den. They unanimously decided that pushing its temper was a bad idea, and that they should just wait for their friends to come save them.

It made Kaito angry, having to sit around. But between being captured and jostled violently while being carried into the Shrine of Judgment, his lungs were not feeling very good. He didn't want to make himself completely useless by pushing himself, and he especially didn't want anyone finding out about his illness. He just had to believe in his friends, and that they’d get him out of here.

After a little while of waiting, the creature did come back. This time with two of their friends in tow.

“Ow!” Gonta yelped as he was dropped into the den, falling flat on his butt. K1-B0 was shoved beside him a moment later, almost falling onto Himiko.

The first thing Kaito noticed about the two was that there was blood on Gonta’s forehead and in his hair. K1-B0 saw it too, inhaling sharply.

“Gonta! You good, man!?” Kaito asked him.

“Hm?” Gonta cast him somewhat of a confused look. He reached up to touch his forehead, blinking in surprise down at the blood that stuck to his fingers. “Oh! Don't worry, not Gonta’s blood. But is… is creature okay?”

Kaito hadn't noticed it before, but the creature was crouched low on the ground. It stayed hunched over the fountain and making strange gasping, hitching sounds. It had one of its hands wrapped around its neck, blood seeping from between its fingers.

K1-B0 stood up, cringing down at the lingering stickiness clinging to his feet. Kaito understood the feeling– he had long since taken off his slippers because of the horrible feeling.

“Maki stabbed it through the throat,” K1-B0 reported grimly, keeping his voice low, probably so as to not agitate it.

Himiko paled. “Th-Through the throat…?”

“Is it going to die?” Kaito asked, glancing between his friends and the creature. He hadn’t gotten a good look before, but something about the way its face was shaped was… familiar? More human-like, although it was hard to tell in the dark.

“Gonta hope not…” Gonta winced sympathetically. He stood up, wringing his hands out nervously. “Creature… I think is not trying to hurt us. Creature could have stung any of us many times, and didn't. Creature even stop itself from stinging Gonta when we fought.”

“Huh? Really?” Kaito looked back at the creature, surprised. “Then why the hell is it kidnapping us!?”

“Shh,” Himiko dryly scolded him. “It’s gonna eat you first if you yell at it.”

The creature let out an agonized whine, its voice weak from the blood filling its throat. That immediately shut all four of them up, gazing at the creature uncertainly as it dipped its hand into the water, washing the blood off, and then lifting it back to its throat. It was… cleaning its wound?

“Gonta doesn’t feel any intent to harm from it…” Gonta continued after a few moments. “Gonta going to try to help. Maybe Gonta can gain creature’s trust.”

K1-B0 blanched. “I-Is that a good idea!? What if it hurts you?”

“At least worth it to try,” Gonta pointed out.

Kaito watched the creature try to care for its neck wound, perplexed. Something about the way it acted was so unsettlingly human, but it didn't have the same alien feeling as it had trying to mimic Himiko’s voice. Its behavior felt more genuine than the words it tried to speak.

“If Gonta thinks he can do it… then I believe in him,” Kaito decided. “If we earn its trust, it has even less of a likelihood of hurting us! I say we give it a shot!”

“Nyyeeeh…” Himiko mumbled warily. “But it's hurt… everyone knows hurt animals are the meanest.”

“Gonta has been wild and hurt before,” Gonta offered, a little sadly. “Gonta understand how being hurt in wild is being afraid… if Gonta shows kindness, maybe creature will be less afraid.”

“I suppose that's all we can do for now…” K1-B0 hesitantly agreed. “Alright, I support this idea. But please be careful, Gonta.”

“Gonta will!” Gonta promised.

Kaito stepped back as Gonta cautiously walked out of the den. He moved slowly and timidly, as if trying to make himself appear as small as he could.

The minute he moved, the creature’s head snapped up. It let out a long, gurgling hiss, seeing Gonta leave the den. The sound made all of them freeze, the sound striking some primal chord of fear deep within their bodies.

Gonta shrunk back, though it was hard for somebody so big to make himself seem smaller.

“Gonta don't want to hurt you…” Gonta told it gently. He exposed his hands, turning his palms upwards for the creature to see. “Gonta just want to help you. Neck wound looks like it really hurts… Gonta think, maybe he can tend t–”

He didn't get a chance to finish his sentence. Kaito only saw a blur as it lashed out with one hand, and the next thing he knew, there were three, large claw marks raking Gonta’s arm. He had somehow found the reaction time to shield his chest, but that didn't change the fact that that was a lot of blood.

“Gonta!” All three of them cried out. Kaito seized Gonta by his uninjured arm, yanking him back into the den.

“Ow… ow…” Gonta was whispering, pained tears pricking his wide eyes. He hugged his wounded arm close to himself, wincing and grimacing in pain.

“I told you! Hurt monsters are the meanest!” Himiko huffed as both he and K1-B0 crouched down beside Gonta, anxiously checking his wound.

It seemed deep, the blood already soaking into the fabric of Gonta’s clothes. Kaito did his best to roll up his sleeve, to try to get any potential clothing debris out of the wound, but Gonta’s clothes were a little more tightly fit.

Off to the side, the creature had shrunk backwards, its ruffs flattened and its eyes glistening in the miniscule moonlight. It stared at Gonta, though Kaito couldn't tell whether it was angry, worried, or pleased with itself.

“Gonta, are you alright?” K1-B0 asked him in concern.

“G-Gonta… Gonta will be alright,” Gonta gritted out. “Gonta deal with scratches all the time growing up… Gonta will be okay.”

“I don't know, man. This looks really deep,” Kaito pointed out, ripping off his own coat to use as a makeshift bandage. It wasn't the most sanitary, nor was it probably recommended in any first-aid guides, but what else did they have? Leaves? “We need an actual first-aid kit or something…”

“I know there’s one in the warehouse…” K1-B0 mused. Lowering his voice into a whisper, he added, “we can't get to it unless one of us escapes, though.”

“But we can't escape,” Himiko reminded them. “The creature will just stop us…”

“Shit…” Kaito cursed quietly. “We’ll… just have to try again! It can't catch us all if we all charge it at once!”

“I… think it could, actually,” K1-B0 admitted. “It took on Gonta and Maki at the same time.”

Alright, then that plan was out the window. Kaito sat back once he was finished wrapping Gonta’s injury, taking a moment to silently mourn the loss of his jacket.

“It’s okay. If Shuichi can escape, we can too,” Gonta stated in an attempt to lift their spirits. “How did Shuichi escape?”

K1-B0 perked up. “Ah! I’ve been meaning to ask about that! Where is Shuichi?”

Where is Shuichi. The question that had been weighing on him heavier and heavier as the night progressed. He thought Shuichi was in his room, but then this whole situation started, and Kaito had assumed that like Himiko, he was captured without anyone else there to sound the alarm.

If Shuichi wasn’t in his room, and if he wasn’t in the Shrine of Judgment…

Then where was he?

“Nyeh? Shuichi was never here,” Himiko broke the news far less delicately. “I was the first one who got caught by the creature. I haven’t seen Shuichi at all.”

“Shuichi… not here?” Gonta echoed in growing horror. “But Shuichi not out there either. Everyone think he captured earlier…”

“When was the last time anyone saw him?” K1-B0 questioned with sudden urgency.

“I saw him at breakfast last,” Kaito offered.

“Same here…”

“Nyeh… me too…”

“Me as well.” K1-B0 wilted slightly, looking far more worried. “You don't think…?”

He didn't have to say it out loud for all three of them to understand. Kaito’s gaze automatically shifted back to the creature.

Or rather, where the creature was. All that was left to show it was there at all was the drops of blood smeared across the ground.

“Gonta wonder…” Gonta murmured thoughtfully. But, after a moment, he shook his head. “No, probably not. Definitely unpossible.”

Kaito sighed, staring at the blood smears. Now not only was the creature roaming free again, but it was hurt and aggressive. As Himiko said, hurt animals were often the meanest, because in their condition they couldn't differentiate a friend and a foe.

Please be safe, everybody…

***

“I don't… really know how to use this.”

“You’re using the fucking axe, Plain Jane!” Miu snapped at her. “It's not that hard! Just swing it and hit stuff!”

Tsumugi looked warily at the blade, skeptical.

The four of them were in the Ultimate Assassin’s Research Lab. Maki had armed herself with a crossbow, Miu had a large mallet, and Kokichi had helped himself to a few pocket knives. One hidden in his bandana, another in his pocket, and a third in his hand. So even if he lost one, he was equipped with two more. It was always good to be prepared.

Especially against whatever the fuck they were fighting.

Kokichi thought he had been doing a very impressive job of keeping his shit together so far. Hearing Kaito had been taken, he wasn't at all surprised. It was what he had been taken by that made him feel like he was the comedy relief in some shitty horror movie.

He had only gotten a glimpse of it from outside the forest, but it was huge. Its flytrap alone was big enough to swallow him whole, let alone its entire body. Kokichi usually didn't mind his height– shorter than average, sure, whatever. He could live with that.

But seeing that monster, and the way it had single-handedly subdued Gonta and Maki? Kokichi had felt very, very small.

Hmm. Maybe he should grab a fourth knife. Just in case.

“Remember, don't attack it unless it attacks us,” Mak said. “And don't stop, for any reason. It's fast, and it will not hesitate to grab you.”

“Don't worry! I’ve got a GENIUS idea!” Miu exclaimed, which Kokichi automatically translated as we’re either going to catch it flawlessly or I’m going to get us all killed. “There’s a bunch of huge nets in the warehouse. We won't have to fight it if we trap it!”

“Huh! This line of thinking sounds so familiar,” Kokichi hummed. “So who’s the bait this time, since we already lost our robot sacrifice?”

“Clearly you, dickcheese!” Miu shot back. “No one here fucking likes you!”

Kokichi wasn't surprised. He didn't like them either– except maybe Tsumugi, who he didn't like either. She was kind of just… there, a lot of the time. And he felt like he would like Miu if she didn’t make it extraordinary difficult to do so. The work she did was impressive, but her accomplishments were a little difficult to admire when she was such a prick.

As for Maki, she was an assassin. Needless to say, Kokichi didn't like murderers, much less people who made being a murderer their paid occupation. It was gross.

“Wooow!” Kokichi gasped. “I can't believe I'm being ganged up on! Tsumugi, are you seeing this? My best bestest friend of all time?”

“Since when am I your best friend!?” Tsumugi demanded in alarm.

“Finding it is going to be a problem,” Maki mused, blatantly ignoring their banter. “Even Kiibo’s thermal vision had a hard time finding it, and he's gone now.”

“So should we break into the nest?” Tsumugi asked. “I feel like that's a really bad idea all around…”

“It probably won't be at the nest,” Kokichi pointed out. “It's out hunting us, remember?”

“And it could be anywhere,” Maki agreed. “We need a way to get rid of the forest. If we take away its cover, we–”

“AHA!” Miu shouted suddenly, making him and Tsumugi jump. “I’ve got it! I already have an invention for this job back at my lab!”

“I don't think an underwear ray is going to help us,” Kokichi drawled.

“Shut up! It's not the underwear ray!” Miu barked, inadvertantly confirming that there was, in fact, an underwear ray. “I’ll show you! Let's go!”

“Let's grab the net while we’re at it,” Maki suggested while Miu was already halfway out the door.

This is going to end terribly. Miu was smart when it came to making things, but she was usually overzealous, and in his experience, overzealousness led to disaster. He kept his eyes peeled as he followed behind Maki, Tsumugi taking up the rear.

(Good. He didn't want to be in the very back.)

“I hope Gonta and Kiibo are okay…” Tsumugi commented as they descended the second floor’s stairs. “And Himiko. And Kaito, and Shuichi.”

“Don't worry! The monster probably ate them,” Kokichi sneered.

Tsumugi stared at him, alarmed. “That only makes me worry more!”

Reaching the first floor, Maki stopped suddenly, lifting her hand warningly. Kokichi instinctively stopped, and although he’d love to get on Maki’s case for trying to order him around, he supposed her assassin instincts weren’t something he could argue with. Especially not at a time like this.

Unfortunately, not everyone got this memo.

“What is it?” Miu demanded at her usual volume. That is, loudly.

“Shh,” Maki snapped at her. “Do you hear that?”

"We need an actual first-aid kit or something…”

Kokichi stepped off of the stairs, straining his hearing.

“…actual first-aid kit or something…”

“Kaito?” Maki whispered. But the realization struck her quickly, and a dark look washed over her face. “The creature.”

“We need an actual first-aid kit or something…” Kokichi heard it again, this time a little louder. “We need an actual first-aid kit or something… We need an actual first-aid kit or something…”

“What the hell is it doing?” Miu demanded in a low, anxious hiss. “Why is it saying that?”

“Who cares?” Kokichi scoffed. “It's distracted. Let's go while its over there, and not in our way.”

“But what about the net?” Tsumugi fretted.

“We can get the net later,” Maki, somehow the only other reasonable person here, told her.

“I know there’s one in the warehouse…” That was K1-B0’s voice now. And then, once more, Kaito’s. “We need an actual first-aid kit or something…”

It repeats things it’s heard. That meant someone in the nest needed medical attention, if they were talking about needing a first-aid kit. Who was hurt? Himiko? Shuichi? Gonta?

“Let's go,” Maki urged them all, already walking forwards.

She didn't need to say it twice. With no further arguments, Tsumugi and Miu hurried after her. Kokichi slowly trailed after her, still listening to the monster cry out in his classmate’s voices.

Wait. Kokichi stopped walking. It lured Kaito in with Himiko’s voice. It’s talking in Kiibo’s and Kaito’s, and we saw Gonta get taken. That’s still no word from Shuichi.

He looked over his shoulder, eyeing the hallway that led to the warehouse.

Even if it did kill Shuichi, wouldn’t it know somebody screaming would be more likely to lure somebody in? It’s already smart enough to use Himiko’s voice calling for help. Assuming Shuichi screamed– I don't know why he wouldn't– why wouldn't it use that? Especially on Maki and Kaito?

There was something wrong about all of this. Some unanswered mystery, something inexplicably off. For whatever reason, Gonta had paused while he was fighting it. For whatever reason, it was yammering about a first-aid kit, while also trying to, presumably, get into the warehouse.

Was it… trying to find a first-aid kit?

In that case, wouldn’t it be too big to fit through the door to the warehouse? Gonta had to duck when going through a lot of the doors here. Not only was this monster bigger than him, but it was also beefier. Chubbier? Kokichi hadn’t gotten close enough of a look to tell.

A very, very bad idea was forming in his mind. A potentially life-ending idea.

He looked back at Maki, Tsumugi and Miu, who continued walking onwards without him. They hadn’t even noticed he stopped, jerks.

Well, if I do die, there’s nobody to miss me. ♪

The thought wasn't as comforting as he wanted it to be.

Kokichi turned on his heel, and sped back down the hall.

He didn't plan on approaching it. He was gripping his pocket knife tightly, fully prepared to use it. His only goal here was to watch it, and try to gather information.

Most of all, he wanted to know what happened to Shuichi. He was the only person still unaccounted for in this whole mess, and Kokichi wanted answers.

The monster was indeed at the warehouse. It looked like it had ripped off the door– Kokichi could see it crumpled like paper on the ground nearby. The monster was trying to reach into the warehouse, clawing at the frame and trying to push itself inside, only to be stopped by its own shoulders.

“We need an actual first-aid kit or something…” It whined in Kaito’s voice again, stamping its foot on the ground. It looked like it was throwing a temper tantrum, which Kokichi found just a little amusing. And in Himiko’s voice, “nyeh… I think my foot’s caught in something.”

It was so much more unnerving to see the creature speak in their voices than hearing it from afar. Kokichi stayed carefully around the corner as he watched it slump back, breathing hard.

“Gonta don't want to hurt you…” It breathed in Gonta’s voice, making Kokichi freeze. “...anyone…?” Himiko’s. Then back to, “we need an actual first-aid kit or something…”

Miserably, it laid down flat on the ground and put its hands over its face. The gesture was so uniquely human Kokichi wasn't sure whether to laugh or vacate the area as fast as possible.

It's trying to get into the warehouse, Kokichi concluded. To get a first-aid kit. Gonta must have gotten hurt trying to talk to it, for whatever reason.

If it wants to hurt us… why would it get something to treat Gonta’s wound?

Actually, better question. It's not only intelligent enough to understand that Gonta needs a medkit, but it understands where to get it? How smart is this thing!? Is it as smart as people?

Kokichi flinched as the monster suddenly dove at the door again, frantically clawing at the door frame. It kept making pathetic clicking sounds, grunting as it attempted to squeeze its body through the door again. Of course, to no avail. It was more likely to bring the entire wall down than it was to fit itself through the door.

And still no word from Shuichi, he noted with a small frown. He stepped back, looking over his shoulder. That's it, I'm going to lockpick my way into his room. If he's just been napping this whole time, I swear I'm going to set all of his teeth on fire.

He turned his head forwards again, and found himself touching noses with the monster.

Kokichi couldn't help the embarrassing and very unmasculine shriek that escaped his mouth. He scrambled backwards, almost falling flat on his ass in his haphazard attempt to put space in-between him and the beast. He looked away for, what, four seconds? He hadn’t even heard it move!

The creature flinched back as well, its ruffs flaring. Kokichi had half the mind to turn tail and run– that's what all of his instincts were begging him to do– but his logical mind pointed out that he would not get away if he did run. He knew how fast this monster was, he knew it could catch up to him in a single stride if he bolted.

So if running wasn't an option–

He stepped back, gripping his knife, at the same time it stretched out its arms, probably intending to grab him.

But before either he or the creature could act, something whizzed through the air. It flew over Kokichi’s head, and he didn't see what it was until it was already sticking out of the monster’s eye.

The monster reared back on both legs, letting out a deafening roar. The sound shook the floor beneath him, as if a ship’s horn had just exploded directly into his ears. He didn't even have time to think about it as arms wrapped around him, one human-like arm, one large stinger.

His ears were ringing painfully, but that didn't stop him from driving his pocket knife into its arm, scrambling backwards. His heart almost lurched out of his chest when he felt somebody grab his arm and pull him back, but he was– shockingly– relieved to see that it was only Maki.

“What the hell were you thinking!?” Maki snapped at him once he was pulled to relative safety. “I should’ve let that thing swallow you.”

“Wooow, my life was saved by the bloodthirsty assassin! Saving me so you can kill me yourself, huh?” Kokichi sneered. “How nobl–”

His words were drowned out as the monster shrieked again, and he winced as he heard something rip. It had torn the arrow out of its eye, leaving half of its face a bloody mess.

Maki was already running, smart move. Kokichi turned and darted after her, blood roaring in his ears. He wasn't denying it was a stupid idea, but yikes! If Maki hadn’t realized he was in trouble, he might’ve died!

And now I’m in debt to the assassin, Kokichi thought with a small groan. Maybe I should’ve let it eat me.

Which, with what happened as he was thinking that, could be arranged.

One minute he was running, the next he was on the floor. At first, he thought he just did the absolute worst horror movie trope of all time and tripped on something. But looking at his feet, he realized that, no, he could still keep his dignity, because there was a vine coiled around his ankle. 

And the monster was very fast approaching.

In that moment, his mind blanked. All logic and reason was thrown out the window as pure instinct took over, making him curl up with his hands over his head. This was how he died, this was how he died, this was how he died–

Four THUMTHUMPS, and Kokichi was still alive.

Instead, he heard Maki shout.

Looking up, he saw that the creature had pounced, pinning Maki to the floor. It knocked away her crossbow, hissing down at her. Realizing it was distracted, Kokichi struggled against his binding, reaching into his pocket to grab one of the spare pocket knives he had grabbed. He didn't know where the first one had went– it might still be in the creature’s arm. He wasn't sure.

Maki was putting up a fight, he could hear her. His hands were clammy and shaky, making holding the knife difficult as he struggled to saw through the vine that had… what? Spontaneously shot out of the ground? You meant to tell him this thing had that much control over plants? Fuck that. Nooo way.

For a moment, in his haze of panic, he looked over his shoulder.

…

He looked just in time to see the flytrap close around Maki, trapping her.

Okay. Yep. Time to go.

Kokichi cut himself free, just barely managing to pick himself back up–

–when his feet suddenly left the ground.

“Hey!” Kokichi shouted, thrashing and kicking and doing everything he could to be a general nuisance. “Put me down you freak!”

Of course, it didn't listen. It hugged him close to its chest, trapping him in place with all four arms. He eyed its stingers warily, suddenly not finding the heart to struggle so violently. Its chest was warm, its arms strong and firm– like being hugged by a bear. It breathed shakily, in and out, through its mouth.

Then that was it, Kokichi realized.

He and Maki were captured.

…this was the most humiliating day of his life.

Kokichi sulked as the monster started moving, for some reason making its way back to the warehouse. Its movements were jerky and stiff, but otherwise almost completely silent. It also moved very quickly, Kokichi realized– in just a few seconds, it had made it back to the warehouse, crouching down in front of the scratched up doorway.

“–first-aid kit,” it spoke in Kaito’s voice, like broken up radio static. And, much to Kokichi’s shock, it gently lowered him to the floor, nudging him into the warehouse.

“Uh.” Kokichi looked up at it, stumped. “I thought your whole thing was trying to capture me? You know how many hiding spots are in here, or are you really as stupid as a dumb animal?”

It wilted at the insult, but repeated the same thing. “–first-aid kit.”

“Soooorry, but I'm the Ultimate Supreme Leader here. I don't take orders from Shuichi-eating monsters.”

“It didn't eat Shuichi,” Maki interjected sharply. “It would have used his voice by now.”

It planted itself firmly in the doorway of the warehouse, leaving no room for him to escape. 

“–first-aid kit,” it said. And then with Gonta’s voice, as if it were splicing the words together, “help… Gonta.”

Okay. So it was conversing now. How lovely.

“Gonta needs the first-aid kit,” Kokichi deduced. “So you hurt Gonta, and you’re too big to get through the door, so now you’re demoting me to an errand-boy to get it for you? Yeah, I don't take orders from Gonta-hurting monsters.”

Its ruffs flattened. He’d say it was giving him sad, wet puppy dog eyes, if its left eye hadn’t been shot out by an arrow. It was really difficult to look at.

But after a moment, its gaze suddenly sharpened, and it let out a chilling hiss.

“–first-aid kit,” it spat again, its words layered with a warning snarl.

Noted. Don't piss off the monster.

Kokichi lifted his hands innocently. “Okay, jeez! You could at least say please.”

“–please,” it parroted right back at him.

The sound of his own voice made him shudder. But, he figured, he might as well help Gonta, his only true friend left in this mess. Even if he was probably still a little upset about the Insect Meet and Greet. Ahh, simpler times. Horrible times, but simpler.

Luckily, he already knew where the first-aid kits were beforehand, so it didn't take him long to track it down. He picked one up without issue, his movements a little slower from how tired his body was, and made his way back to the creature. An easy task, getting groceries for a scientifically impossible monster. He knew the Ultimate Academy was absurd, but really?

Coming back to the door frame, Kokichi was surprised to see that the monster was gone. And that thought stayed with him for a grand total of three seconds, as when he approached the door to check, he found himself back against the creature’s chest. It must not have wanted him to toss the first-aid kit and then bolt into the warehouse, meaning that Kokichi just walked head-first into its trap. He was feeling extra stupid today, and it was starting to frustrate him.

It didn't take long for the monster to leave the school. It carried him and Maki across the courtyard, moving swiftly back to its nest. At the very least, Kokichi would finally be able to answer whether Shuichi had indeed been captured or not.

But if he wasn’t, isn't that weird? Kokichi thought as they passed the dormitory. He was acting off all morning, and then disappeared for the rest of the day.

…

Wait.

It would have taken all day to set up a nest, right? The monster would have needed to not only make it secure, but make it comfortable. A nest provided a safe space for its inhabitant, and in a place like the killing game, making anywhere “safe” would be a momentous task.

This morning, Shuichi had been latched onto everyone for the whole time. He had excused himself early after only barely managing to eat breakfast, as he had a difficult time letting go of somebody’s arm. First it was Kaito, and for a moment Maki, before she shook him off and asked him if he wanted to die. Then, he had hugged onto K1-B0’s arm, who, though confused, allowed him to stay so long as he made an effort to eat his food.

The whole time, Shuichi barely talked. Kokichi charted this behavior as extremely odd, but figured, it's Shuichi. He's a little weird sometimes, so maybe he just had a nightmare. Or maybe this was part of a grander plan, and Kokichi needed to start preparing for another class trial. If that was the case, he had his eyes locked on Miu.

But nothing happened. Quite literally, because Shuichi went back to his room, and never returned.

And only when Shuichi disappeared, did this monster appear.

Kokichi felt his breath hitch.

(“We’re not going to have to worry about these “water” and “fire” creatures, are we?” K1-B0 inquired worriedly.

“Huh, them? Nah, that ship has sailed. They’ve been dead for a while.”)

No way.

There was no way. Right?

As Kokichi was finally set back down, Maki being placed beside him moments later, he could only stare up at the creature.

The shape of its face. The color of its eyes. The way its hair was styled, whilst unkempt and greener, still bore resemblance to him. The triangles under each of his eyes, something Kokichi had been puzzling over since the moment he saw him.

Was the monster… Shuichi?

The first-aid kit was ripped out of his arms, effectively yanking him back to reality.

“What happened to creature!?” Gonta was urgently demanding, even as Kaito rushed to his aid with the first-aid kit. His arm was wrapped in Kaito’s jacket, and when Kaito pulled that jacket off, Kokichi could see claw marks. Oof, yeowch.

Kokichi opened his mouth, trying to retort with something witty and sharp, but his words died in his throat. If he was right, that meant all of them had been relentlessly attacking Shuichi.

And he didn't fight back.

He only ever pursued and detained. He never fought. Even as he was stabbed, as he was kicked and hit, as he ripped the arrow out of his eye, he never struck back. He shouldered through every injury, all to bring everyone here.

Kokichi watched the creature– Shuichi?– keel over the fountain, whimpering and quietly crying.

“Kokichi?” K1-B0 prompted him. “Are you alright? You didn't hit your head, did you?”

“Huh? Is Kiibo worried about me?” Kokichi teased, though he found it hard to maintain his tone when all he had playing on repeat in his mind was the image of an arrow embedding itself in Shuichi’s eye. He stood up, putting on a smile. “Aww, how sweeeeet, that the robot’s trying to care about me. Too bad you’re incapable of real human emotion! ♪”

K1-B0 opened his mouth to retort, but then closed it. “I see you’re feeling okay enough to be robophobic…”

“Did it have to take him?” Himiko protested to nobody in particular. “It was a lot more peaceful when he wasn't here.”

Okay, rude. But for the sake of the situation, Kokichi opted to ignore that. He watched Shuichi use the fountain water to wash out his wounds, similar to how Kaito was cleaning Gonta’s wound with the supplies in the first-aid kit. K1-B0 and Himiko had turned their attention to him, worried. Maki was the only one not by Gonta’s side, instead glaring at Shuichi.

Now, if Kokichi was picking up on the patterns so far, Shuichi was going to go out and pick up Miu and Tsumugi as well. They shouldn’t be too hard to track down, Kokichi figured. Even if they were armed, neither of them were particularly dangerous. Except maybe Miu, but he didn't think that was important at this very moment.

And sure enough, after he cleaned himself of blood, Shuichi turned and fled from the nest again.

On one hand, knowing the monster was Shuichi made him feel a lot better about his chances of survival. Shuichi’s carefulness to not hurt them– sans Gonta– spoke volumes on his intentions, even if Kokichi… still wasn't quite sure what those were yet. Why he was kidnapping them all was still a mystery, right up there with how did he turn into that?

“That feels better…” Gonta sighed in relief. “Is Kokichi and Maki okay?”

“I’m fine,” said Maki. She glowered at Kokichi. “I only got caught because he wanted to watch it.”

“Well excuse a guy for having some curiosity and whimsy,” Kokichi scoffed. He needed to pull himself together– he couldn't let this new discovery derail him. “I wasn't planning on getting caught either. You’re the one who shot it in the eye!”

“M-Maki did what!?” Gonta cried out in horror.

“Nyeh… now it's definitely gonna eat us.” Himiko’s shoulders fell dejectedly. “And I haven’t recharged on my MP… we’re doomed.”

“We’re not doomed!” Kaito argued. “Maki, nice going protecting Kokichi! Even if he is… Kokichi. I know that took strength.”

Maki deadpanned. “...thanks.”

“What did I ever do to any of you!?” Kokichi whined melodramatically. Tears formed in his eyes, and he sniffled. “I-It’s almost like you want to see me get eaten… like you want to watch it rip my skin open and slurp up my intestines like spaghetti… and my lungs are the meatballs on top…”

“Must you be so descriptive?” K1-B0 demanded.

“Gonta won’t let creature eat Kokichi!” Gonta declared. “Gonta not even sure creature want to eat any of us. Creature acting more like… mommy.”

He almost laughed at how a lot of his classmate’s expressions blanked.

“What?” Kaito asked him dubiously.

“Creature been delicate with all of us… only lashed out when Gonta scared it,” Gonta explained. “Maybe creature think we its babies, and is trying to get us all back into nest…? Gonta unsure…”

“I don't think it’s a mother,” Maki replied flatly. “It isn't acting paternal. It's acting possessive.”

“What do you know about moms?” Kokichi could help but remark.

The glare Maki shot him could have lit him on fire. He let out a giggle, and quickly skirted behind Gonta.

“Do we… wait for it to come back?” K1-B0 questioned. “If Gonta is correct and it's not going to hurt us, then what did it bring us here for?”

Kokichi had a reason in mind. And if he was right, then all of them were going to owe Shuichi big time.

***

Blood still tasted warm.

It wasn't a taste he was particularly fond of. Animal or human blood, he had never liked it. As a sapling, he had tried both, and all he had thought was, I hurt this creature.

He could sustain himself fine on plants and berries. As a person, he never had to worry about his carnivorous desires, because he had forgotten about this form altogether. Hidden from the face of immense danger, he never needed this form.

But those little cubs had tried to hurt him. They yammered on and on about what a danger he was, and how he needed to be… oh, what was the word…?

“Removed”.

He didn't want that to happen.

It was the tipping point. The final straw in a building mountain of stress and fear, one that had been growing and growing for years now.

He ripped those cubs apart faster than he could breathe. They were a danger to him and his friends. They had to go.

Never before had he used this form as a weapon. His claws could shred, his stingers could inject his lethal venom, his fangs could rip. He was a dangerous being. He tried to be a gentle one.

He made sure his murder of Tsumugi Shirogane was quick.

Now, coming back to his nest, he gently deposited Miu in the space he made for his friends. They were all still there, thank the trees. This was where he could keep them safe.

With all of his friends safe, he stepped back, sending his spirit into the floor. Roots crawled upwards, finally blocking the door. The nest was safe, he wanted his friends to be safe, he wanted to feel safe.

Safe, safe, safe, that's all he wanted.

“Why the hell is it covered in blood!?” Kaito cried out upon seeing him. 

Right, yes. Blood was scary, and he didn't want to scare his friends. Because if they were scared, they might hurt him again, and he didn't want to be hurt.

“I-I don't know, but I'm pretty sure it killed Tsumugi!” Miu yelped, scrambling backwards. “I couldn't see anything, b-but she's not here! I'm pretty fucking sure she's dead!”

Horror spread through his friends in a grim wave. He didn't understand why– she was the mastermind. The one who kept this killing game going. He remembered it when he transformed, and he understood that to stop the killing game, she needed to die. She had failed to consider his extended memory when trying to induce amnesia.

He could remember everything in this form.

Everything.

“Ts-Tsumugi’s… dead?” Himiko whispered. Her head swiveled to look at him, like he was the bad one. “Y-You… you killed Tsumugi!”

His neck throbbed. His eye and wrist hurt.

“Don't antagonize it,” Maki scolded her. Her eyes glinted darkly; dangerously, as she glared up at him.

Was she angry? He thought she sounded angry. It was always difficult to tell with her, but even harder in this state. 

Then… why was she angry? He did a good thing, didn't he? So why did his friends look so afraid of him? He thought he was good. He used his monstrous self for good.

Maybe they didn't know. Maybe they couldn't remember who Tsumugi was. He wasn't sure– this had all been very confusing.

Himiko was crying– Gonta looked like he was about to join her. Miu was shaking, though she also looked angry. Maybe a little depressed. K1-B0 and Kaito looked mournful.

Kokichi only stared at him, contemplative.

Clearly, his presence was causing them distress. He had wanted to clean himself off in the waterfall, but perhaps he should wait until they calmed down. He didn't want to scare them again– he didn't want them to hurt him again. He’d never fight back against his friends. He’d squash them like ants.

He fled into the density of his plants. He still knew every move they made, every word they uttered, even as he hid himself on the very opposite side of his nest.

Finding his perch, he laid down. It was a relief to finally sit still, to let his aching wounds rest. He was very good at not being killed– the earth had designed his body in a way that it’d take only absolute extremes to truly kill him. There was no wound he couldn’t heal from. Even his eye, eventually, would heal itself. He just couldn't transform back from this shape until it was healed, which… wasn't ideal.

He wondered, in that moment, if his friends even knew who he was.

For a bit, he dozed off, letting his friend’s voices wash over him. After a while, their initial panic receded, replaced only by grief. A little bit longer after that, and he felt them begin venturing out of the area he made for them. That was fine now– he was keeping a sense out for the door. If any of them so much as breathed in its direction, he’d drag them all back to their area.

It was blocked with roots anyway, so he doubted escaping without his help was possible. Just as he intended. He didn't want them leaving the nest– not yet.

(Monokuma was still alive, wasn’t it? That's fine. He’d rip it apart. Grind it to bits. Stomp and crush and shred and kill kill kill kill kill!!! Kill that monster that killed his friends! An eye for an eye, a life for a life. Whatever it took to protect those dearest to him.)

…

He started paying attention again when his friend’s somber air turned back into panic. He opened his eyes, unfurling his antennae fully.

Hm? Kokichi had split off from the group. Actually, he was getting awfully close to him, but he couldn't smell any silver or steel on him. He was approaching unarmed.

“Are you out of your goddamn mind!?” Kaito was whisper-shouting, presumably at Kokichi. “Don't go near that thing!”

He could feel Kokichi trying to climb up to his perch. He didn't know why he was trying to do this, but he was certainly making an attempt.

“Gonta don't think that's good idea,” Gonta added anxiously. “Creature lash out when scared… sneaking up on creature maybe bad idea.”

“Maybe you guys are the mean ones,” Kokichi retorted, grunting as he almost lost his foothold on whatever it was he was trying to climb on. He gave up after a moment, placing himself back on solid ground. “How would you feel, having people scream at you and attack you just ‘cause you’re big and scary? How would you feel if your friends stabbed you through the throat and shot arrows in your eyes?”

His ears perked. He felt his ruffs twitch.

“What the fuck are you talking about?” Miu demanded after a moment of stunned silence.

“I'm saying, maybe we’ve been a bit rude to our friend!” Kokichi continued. “If he brought all of us here without hurting a single one of us… what do you think that says about the person he did kill?”

…huh? He lifted his head, looking down at Kokichi. He was at the very base of the tree, facing his friends with his hands outstretched theatrically.

Kokichi didn’t… call him an “it”. He called him a “he”. He didn't mind the it pronoun– sometimes, it felt fitting and comfortable– but most of the time people only used it derogatorily. He’d like to be called an it in the way a flower was an it. Full of life, loved and appreciated for its beauty, for what it gave to the world. Not because he was seen as less than human, and thus inferior.

If Kokichi, among the people calling him ”it”, was referring to him as “he”... did that mean…?

“What are you trying to say?” K1-B0 asked the boy warily. “You don’t think… Tsumugi was the mastermind… do you?”

“Wooow! You got that a lot faster than I thought you would!” Kokichi exclaimed. “Ding-ding-ding! Ten points to the robot!”

“Now hold on! Do you have any proof?” Kaito interjected. “There's nothing to prove that Tsumugi was the mastermind!”

“The fact she was killed at all is the proof,” Kokichi replied easily. “And I'm sure he had a reason. If anyone’s gonna have proof, it’d be him. What, don't tell me you guys don't know…”

Confusion and disbelief. He looked between all of his friends from above, hoping they’d make the connection. If they didn't know, then maybe they’d be less scared of him if they did…? It wasn't like he could tell them who he was– his vocal chords didn't work like that. He was incapable of forming his own words. Only sounds, and noises he had heard previous. As capable as he was of thinking, in this form, his brain was simply not wired to be able to conjure his own sentences. All he could do was repeat what others had recently said, because soon he’d forget what those sounds were, and he wouldn't be able to use them anymore.

“‘Him’...” Maki echoed. Her eyes sharpened. “No.”

“No?” Kokichi prompted.

“No. You’re wrong.”

Hey, that's his line–

“What is it?” Kaito asked her, turning his focus to his other sidekick.

“He's saying the creature is Shuichi,” Maki explained darkly.

His heart jumped hopefully.

“Oh, please,” Miu snorted incredulously.

“You’re all too close-minded!” Kokichi complained. “We face Exisals and talking robot bears and Kiibo and buildings appearing out of nowhere, but this is too unbelievable?”

“Why am I part of that equation!?” K1-B0 demanded.

“There's no way that thing is Shuichi!” Kaito shouted, seeming to forget all about being quiet. “Shuichi would never do the shit that thing has done! Much less kill somebody!”

…oh.

If he did try to communicate his identity… even if they did believe him, they’d still just be angry, wouldn’t they? He shrunk back onto his perch, disheartened.

“Wait,” said Gonta, thoughtful. “...Gonta think…”

“Gonta, he's just lying again,” Himiko told him. “That thing isn't Shuichi… Shuichi would never hurt somebody.”

But he had.

“Maybe… Kokichi is liar. Gonta learned his lesson,” Gonta agreed hesitantly. Kokichi only smiled at him. “But Gonta think we should ask creature. It’s able to talk using friend’s voices, right? Gonta think we able to communicate that way.”

“Wow! Gonta actually had a good idea!” Kokichi gasped in mock surprise. “I didn't know he was capable of those! Ideas, I mean.”

“Stop being an ass,” Kaito snapped. “But… is that really a good idea? It only uses our voices as bait, not to talk to us.”

“Wait.” Surprisingly, it was Maki who spoke up. “...it can talk to us. It told Kokichi to get the first-aid kit, since it couldn't fit into the warehouse.”

That had been difficult. He felt as if he had been using every molecule of brain power just to scrape a few words together in a way they’d understand. They were too little to understand the message behind his clicking– like prey animals, they only froze, or ran away.

“Wait, really!?” Kaito whirled around to face her.

“Yuppers!” Kokichi affirmed cheerily. “If we gave him the right words, he could talk to us! After all, he can repeat anything he hears.”

“Who fucking cares!? I don't want to go near that monster!” Miu barked. She stepped back, sweating. “Who’s knows when it’s gonna flip it's shit and kill someone again? I-It could kill me!”

He wouldn't, he wanted to say. He wouldn't hurt his friends.

Moving slowly so as to not agitate his wounds, he sat up. The rustle of leaves definitely caught their attention. They all looked up at him in varying degrees of uncertainty and wariness. He didn't like being looked at like that, especially not by the people he cared about.

“Heyyy, Shuichi!” A shiver of delight crept down his spine as Kokichi called him by his name. “These meanies don’t think you’re you! Isn’t that just rude?”

He stared down at Kokichi, deciding to stay quiet.

“Maybe,” Kokichi continued, “they don’t want to admit that the person they’ve been fighting is their favorite detective. The person they’ve been trying to kill. ♪”

He felt Maki clench her jaw. Kaito’s hands balled into fists, and Gonta winced guiltily.

“Can creature confirm? Is creature… Shuichi?” Gonta called up to him.

They were all looking up at him. They could see his cues. And without fear shrouding their view of him, maybe they’d listen.

He gave Gonta a small, affirming nod.

“No way,” Kaito immediately huffed. He looked pale. “No way– there’s no way! No way that thing is Shuichi!”

“Y-Yeah…” Himiko’s agreement was more hesitant, but she lifted her fists. “Shuichi wouldn't hurt anybody!”

“Then where is he?” Kokichi challenged the both of them. 

Of course, neither of them had an answer.

“Maybe…” K1-B0 mused. “If it– or, he, is Shuichi, then maybe there is a physical similarity. If that is you, Shuichi, may we look?”

He doubted it’d be much help. He was too covered in blood to yield any good results for them. And going down there meant opening himself up to attack, and he didn't want to be hurt again. Not when he didn't know how to prevent it passively.

But K1-B0 was looking up at him with… something. It wasn't the uncertain fear, the caution he thought he needed to approach him. He didn't know what emotion that was– not recognition, not yet– but he thought it was a good thing.

Putting his faith in his friends, he slowly descended from his perch. Kokichi hurried backwards, giving him space to plant his paws on the ground. He kept his stingers folded close to his body, pressing unthreateningly against his sides. And, even more slowly, he lowered himself onto his hands. He preferred walking on all fours– it was more comfortable, and far faster to move around on.

The way his friends all backpedaled as he moved made him feel even worse. He laid down on his stomach, hoping to appear as small as possible.

Kokichi was the one to approach him, despite his friend’s quiet warnings. He didn’t seem deterred by his bloody appearance, nor his more inhuman features.

“See? Look at the hair,” Kokichi pointed out, gesturing at but not quite touching him. “It's greener, but it's the same, isn't it? And he has those triangle thingies under his eyes. Just like Shuichi.”

“What even are those?” Himiko wondered distractedly. “I thought it was make-up…”

“I thought it was a birthmark,” K1-B0 offered, reminding him that a lot of his friends had the collective attention span of a singular fly.

“Who cares? It's clearly Shuichi,” Kokichi said. He could feel it in his voice– relief, was that it? The way he breathed easier, like a weight had been taken off of his chest. “And hey, Shuichi! Can you tell us why you killed Tsumugi? I'm sure our kind-hearted detective wouldn't kill someone in cold blood! Was I right? Was Tsumugi the mastermind?”

Blood was pretty warm, actually.

He nodded.

Surprise rippled throughout all of his friends. He watched the revelation individually process, their reactions ranging from disbelief to contempt.

“...I'm so confused,” Himiko confessed, being the first to speak. “Shuichi’s a monster… Tsumugi’s the mastermind… I don't get it.”

Monster. He felt his ruffs flatten, his antennae drooping.

“Well now you’re just being mean,” Kokichi automatically jumped to his defense. “Shuichi does all this for us and you call him a monster? For shame! Almost as bad as Maki shooting out his eye!”

“OH!” Gonta’s loud exclamation made everybody jump. “Oh– sorry! Sorry, but– but Shuichi still hurt! Hurt really bad!”

As a human, most certainly. That stab to the neck would have long since killed him by now. But in this form, his injuries only felt like a minor inconvenience– the plants he revived a few hours ago were giving back to him. At the very least, the bleeding had stopped.

Gonta swiped up the first-aid kit from where it had been discarded in the moss. He quickly brought it back to him, crouching down beside him and grabbing one of those weird smelling pads. He instinctively shrunk back, scrunching up his nose.

“Umm… can Kaito help?” Gonta requested, pausing to look up at the astronaut. “Gonta doesn’t know what to do with medicine stuff… first-aid training difficult for Gonta to remember. And Gonta’s arm still sort of hurts…”

Kaito hesitated. He looked from Gonta, to him, and back to Gonta.

“...you’re sure that's Shuichi?” Kaito asked Gonta. That initial disbelief was gone, as was that refusal to believe. Now, he only seemed uncertain; stuck between the two ideas. To believe, or not to believe.

“Gonta sure,” Gonta affirmed without a second thought. “Gonta think about it before… but now Gonta sure. Creature is Shuichi.”

And apparently, that was all he needed. With a small nod, Kaito’s lip curved into his usual, confident smile.

“Alright! Step aside, I can do it!” Kaito declared, bounding forwards. “We got first-aid training in the school I went to. It's pretty helpful stuff to know as an astronaut.”

Kaito took Gonta’s place beside him, wielding the medicine stuff– he couldn’t remember what each individual item was called. His memory of everyday words was a little spotty in this form. He knew how to hunt, and he knew how to survive, and that was all he needed to survive in the wild.

He laid his head down and tried to let himself relax as Kaito tended to his wounds. It was just cleaning and bandaging, but every touch made him jolt, his body desperate to escape from the perceived danger even as he, in his conscious mind, knew he was only trying to help.

He did a very good job keeping his claws tucked firmly beneath his chin. He felt his fingers flex at times, his overwhelming instinct to defend himself nearly winning him over, but he was good. He didn't hurt his friend. He kept his claws right where they needed to be, free of innocent blood.

(Except Gonta’s. He had panicked, because if Maki hurt him, who knew what his other friends would do? Striking first was always advantageous. So long as he kept the upper hand, he’d be safe.)

His neck was fully wrapped. And afterwards, so was his wrist. There wasn’t much they could do for his eye, and even then, his face was not someplace he was comfortable letting his friends touch. He made sure to communicate as such by growling whenever Kaito or Gonta or even Kokichi made a reach for it.

“Shuichi,” K1-B0 addressed him soon after he was all patched up. He lifted his head, gazing at the robot. “Do you think you are able to turn back into who you were before? A human?”

Oh, he was definitely capable of it. He just couldn't do it right now without choking on his own blood and dying. Or, maybe more likely, passing out from the pain.

Still, he nodded.

Kaito lit up excitedly. “Wait, then can you turn back now?”

Immediately– frantically– he shook his head. He could, in theory, but transformation was meant to be private. The only reason he transformed that first time, back when his uncle found him and took him in, was because he had been trying to learn what it was and couldn't figure out how to go back.

“He survived a stab to the throat in this form,” Maki pointed out reasonably. “He probably won’t survive it if he turns back.”

…and that, yeah. That was also probably important.

“Why’d you stab him in the throat?” Kaito asked Maki, promptly causing her expression to blank.

Her answer was simple. “I thought it’d kill him.”

…

Oh. Okay.

“Must you be so blunt in front of him…?” K1-B0 winced.

“Maki need to apologize,” Gonta added, shooting her a meaningful look.

“Sorry.” Her apology was immediate, though he didn't think he felt any better. “I didn't know you were you, or what you were trying to do. I was trying to save Gonta and Kiibo.”

Save Gonta and K1-B0? He hadn’t done anything worthy of making her need to save them, had he? If he had, he certainly didn't mean to. He was just trying to rally everyone into his nest so he could keep them all safe. Monokuma was still prowling about, so even if he had killed the mastermind and those cubs, that bear was very much still a threat.

“I guess as an assassin, the only way you know how to solve your problems is murder,” Kokichi commented with mock sympathy. “Boo~hoo… poor miss assassin… I guess it was only a matter of time before you started killing your friends, too!”

All of Maki’s muscles tensed, but he beat her to it. He sprung forwards, snatching Kokichi up into his arms before Maki could seize his neck. She moved fast, but he was faster.

Understandably, Kokichi yelped as he was suspended in the air by his midsection. Maki, too, looked up at him– him, not Kokichi– in surprise, seeming stunned that somebody could act quicker than she could.

“Oh! Phew!” Kokichi exclaimed, and although he had that theatrical flair in his tone, he could feel his heart beating fast. “Thanks, Shuichi! I thought she was gonna–”

Very gently, but still sternly, he squeezed Kokichi. Just a little bit. Enough to get him to shut up, before he enraged Maki further. Really, he didn't get it– if he was so afraid of her, why did he keep trying to make her mad? His survival instincts were so odd.

“Woah.” Himiko blinked. “Shuichi’s faster than Maki now…?”

“In wild, have to be fast,” Gonta explained understandingly. “Being fast means running from predators, or chasing prey.”

The notion sent a shiver down his spine. He didn't like chasing anything, thank you.

“Everyone! We cannot be fighting each other,” K1-B0 said. “In such uncertain times, it is important we maintain our unity. We need to be ready for anything.”

“Yeah! So stop being so antagonistic, Kaito,” Kokichi agreed pointedly.

Kaito glared up at him. “What the hell did I do!?”

He couldn't help but roll his eyes. He was almost tempted to put Kokichi down and letting them duke it out, but he didn't. Because he was smart. Everyone deserved to leave here alive.

He felt his tail twitch as he looked up at the dome overhead. Beyond his nest was the End Wall, an impenetrable force in the way of them and freedom. Wait laid beyond that wall, he wasn't sure. It could be a flat desert, stretching for miles in all directions. It could be a lush jungle, vines and bushes waiting to tangle them up in all directions. For all he knew, they were at the bottom of the ocean.

No matter what was outside though, he wouldn't let that stop him. Shuichi wanted out of this place.

And he was taking his friends with him.