We all gathered in the gym as Angie showed us the peculiar flashlight. "So what does it do?" I asked her. "No idea! That's why I asked someone to help me!" Monokuma appeared in front of us.
He explained that the flashlight was called a Flashback Light. It would help us gain back our memories. But once we tried...
"No!" I stumbled back.
"Y/N, are you okay?" Kaito put his hand on my shoulder. "I-I saw a group of people... they were chasing me. I was given the option to get rid of my memories and talent." Everyone else looked at me. "I saw that too! Once I did, I became a normal student." Shuichi said.
I shook my head. "But... I didn't take away my memories. I attended a normal high school, but I knew that I was the Ultimate Psychologist while I was at that school.. with Kaede." I looked down at my chest and saw Rantaro's necklace. "Wait! When Kaede and I were in the dining hall with Rantaro! He asked us if we knew anything about the Ultimate Hunt!"
Kirumi spoke up. "I guess Rantaro is more important than we were letting on." I tapped my chin and gasped, grabbing Shuichi's hand. I dragged him to my dormitory, but I heard Monokuma's evil giggled from inside the gym. "Looks like our two smarty-pants left the gymnasium!"
I pushed Shuichi in my room and shut the door. "Y-Y/N, what-" "Look at this Shuichi." I shoved the floor plan from yesterday in his face. "Yes, that's the floor plan, what about it?" I pointed to the opening from the track of the bookcase and Rantaro's body. "Does it look like they line up?" Shuichi examined the floor plan and his eyes widened. "No..."
I put down the floor plan. "And Rantaro's wound was at the back of his head, right?" Shuichi nodded. "If the shot put ball had hit him, it would've hit him on the top of his head." I pulled out one of the photos from yesterday. "See? It shows him facing forward, not down."
I sat down on my bed and pulled out Kaede's clip. "I'm pretty sure Kaede planned to kill the mastermind, and thinking Rantaro was the mastermind by triggering the sensor, she did try to kill him." I looked up at Shuichi. "But... I think she missed, but the mastermind was there and took the shot put ball and threw it at him. They weren't in any pictures because of the intervals!"
Shuichi looked surprised. "Y-You figured out all of that?" I nodded. "Rantaro knew more about this than anyone. I think there was a mistake with giving us back our memories about our Ultimate Talents, and instead of giving him the memory of his Ultimate Talent, whoever kidnapped us gave him back the memory of the Ultimate Hunt."
"Upupupupu." Shuichi and I looked down to see Monokuma in my dorm. "Well aren't you smart, Y/N?" We both saw a flash and... nothing.
I woke up in the gym. "Y/N, are you okay?" Kaito knelt down next to me. "You just fainted. We were talking about how to escape, but you suddenly fell to the floor." I sighed and sat up. I doubt that's what happened, but I just don't know what did. I heard a loud snore and looked up. "K-Kokichi." I timidly called. "U-uh, what?" He said, looking around. Tsumugi sighed. "We are having a serious conversation right now."
"And where is it written that I have to take a serious conversation seriously? If we want to get out of here, we should just ask, shouldn't we?"
Maki scoffed. "If we ask Monokuma, he will just say the only way to get out is through the killing game." Kokichi laughed. "Not Monokuma. The mastermind! They're among us, aren't they?"
"I thought we agreed there wasn't." Miu reminded. "Oh, I forgot." Kokichi grinned. "If we tried to sniff out the mastermind again, we'd just repeat Kaede's screw up." That seemed to get Kaito fuming. "Quit messing around! Let me at him!" Kokichi made a run for it. "Kokichi!" I got up and was about to chase after him but Kaito stopped me.
"What a strange guy." Ryoma observed. "He always provokes and never says anything from the heart." I shook my head. "He says things from the heart, but it doesn't seem like he likes to show it. He has a 'tough' demeanour and doesn't let anyone in." I thought for a moment. "I'm not entirely sure why..."
Ryoma looked down, his eyes closed in thought. "He seems like he doesn't really wanna live. Although, I can say the same for myself. I have no reason to live past this and I don't plan to." And with that, Ryoma left.
Shuichi paused for a moment. "W-what?"
I do remember him saying that he didn't really plan on getting out of here. He even offered himself as a sacrifice. I simply need to know why. "Perhaps we should relax over a meal." Kirumi offered. "Can everyone please tell me their favourite food and beverages?"
Once we finished our meal, we returned to our rooms. I looked at the time. "Ah, bedtime is almost here." I laid down in bed, putting Kaede's hair clip and Rantaro's necklace to the side. "No reason to live..." I whispered to myself. I wonder what exactly made Ryoma think that, and better yet, what could make him stop.
I woke up the next morning and found a colourful tablet next to my couch, on the table. I sat down on the couch and turned it on.
Kaito Momota's Motive To Kill
I dropped the tablet and moved away from it like it was some deadly poison.
I ran to the dining hall where we all agreed to meet up every morning. "Y/N, I guess you got the video, too." Shuichi assumed and I nodded in response. "I think they are mixed up."
Kirumi told me that Kiibo and Kaito went looking for the others so we could gather here and discuss. Everyone arrived, but before anyone said anything, I raised my hand to silence everyone.
"If we didn't get our own motives, I think that's better. So don't tell anyone who's video you got and what the video contained. Then, that person won't have a motive." Most people agreed, except for one. "I disagree." I looked down at Ryoma. "And why is that?" Ryoma pulled his hat down. "Well, the videos are about our loved ones. Wouldn't you want to know as well?" Kaito burst out in annoyance. "Look, you may not have a will to live, but we do!"
Kokichi giggled. "It's not a matter of living or dying. It's this cooperation we keep trying to do." Tenko was rather confused. "Why do you think we shouldn't cooperate?" Kokichi explained that by cooperating, this will make Monokuma try to give us a reason to turn back on each other. I didn't want to admit it, but he was right.
As everyone left, they kept asking Kirumi to make them food, or bring them food, heck, even clean their room. "I can help, Kirumi!" I offered. She shook her head. "I don't want you to burden yourself."
I looked down at Himiko. "Hey, are you okay?" I knelt down in front of her and held her shoulders. She didn't speak, signifying that she didn't want to talk about it.
Since there were no classes in this school, we had a lot of free time. I spent some of mine in Gonta's research lab. "Bugs like you." He told me as a butterfly flew into my lap. I chuckled as he told me about different bugs and how they're born, what the eggs look like, and how long they're in the egg for. He had such a gentle voice and attitude for someone who had such a frightening outer appearance, if that makes sense.
After I left, I helped Miu with her inventions. Well, I say "helped" but I actually used me as a test subject. "Just use your freaky reflexes to get out of it if you think it'll explode." So far, twice the invention exploded, and four times it worked.
I went to the pool with Tenko and tried to teach her how to swim. "I'm holding onto you, you will not drown." I assured (if you're a boy, just pretend she doesn't mind you). "Y-Y/N, I'm not so sure about this!"
I helped Kirumi with the different tasks she was assigned, despite her saying she didn't need help. "Even if you don't, I really have nothing to do." I told her.
Finally, I heard the nighttime announcement, but I didn't quite want to sleep. I was also admittedly disappointed that I didn't run into Kokichi today after breakfast. It would've been nice to get to know him. I decided to walk outside and brought a water bottle with me from my research lab. I didn't have my suit or tie on, and I was only wearing my pants, shirt, and my shoes. I heard grunting coming from the benches and when I went to go see what it was..
"Shuichi? Kaito? What are you doing?" As they looked up at me, Shuichi collapsed on the grass and started panting. I sat them both down at the picnic tables and gave them a little bit of the water in my water bottle. "What were you doing out here so late at night?"
Kaito explained that he and Shuichi were doing push-ups for training, which sounded rather odd to me, since Shuichi was a detective, not a trainer.
"Why does Shuichi need to?" Kaito looked up at the stars. "I just can't understand why Kaede entrusted her wish to someone so weak. Do you think Kaede died because you made the wrong deduction? Do you think it's your fault?" I looked at Shuichi, who was looking at the ground. "Well it's not!" Kaito continued. "It was all her fault! Not yours! Her sins and regrets are hers alone!"
"I know!" Shuichi yelled abruptly. "I know that, but I just can't stop thinking about what I could have done. I'm scared... scared of revealing the truth and causing pain and suffering to others."
Since I didn't have my suit, I didn't have the handkerchief that was always in the pocket, so I didn't bother trying to wipe away the tears.
Instead, I got up and began walking away. "I'm going to leave you to it." As I walked away, I heard Kaito's answer to Shuichi. It seemed to make him feel better. I shut my eyes. "Is being a psychologist even worth it anymore? There's all these people here that can do my job."
I laid down in the grass and looked at the stars. It was calming, especially in the situation we were in. My job as a psychologist is to study humans, and try to understand their minds. But if they're only showing signs of suspicion towards each other, what am I supposed to do?
"Never thought you'd still be up." I sat up and saw my favourite purple haired liar, and the only one I know: Kokichi. "Oh... I could say the same to you." He lay down next to me and looked at the stars. "You know, you're the only person that doesn't seem to be too annoyed by me." I turned my head and looked at him. "What do you mean?"
"Well, everyone here thinks that I'm just a lying rat, and nothing else. But you've seen past every lie I've made. How?"
I chuckled. "Everyone has a habit that they do when they lie. I'm deciding not to tell you yours." He pouted. "Wow, okay Y/N." We lied down silent for a while. I sat up and looked at him. His eyes were shut and he had a neutral expression on his face. "Ah, he's fallen asleep." I lifted up the small boy and carried him back to his room on my back.
I woke up the next morning and stretched. "That was... actually a decent night's rest." I sat up in my bed, but I decided not to get out of it. I leaned on my head board and looked at the floor plans of the library.
"I... I don't think saying that Kaede didn't kill Rantaro would make a difference. I don't have anyone else in mind anyways." I put the floor plan on the shelf and got out of bed.
I went downstairs and ran into Shuichi. "Oh, can you tell everyone that I'll be hanging out in the library today?" He nodded as I headed into the building and into the basement.
I went into the library and stood in front of the bookcase hiding the hidden door. Once I opened it, I saw that the dust that was there a mere two days ago was gone. "So someone has been here."
I closed it and looked at the corner where we found Rantaro's body. I could still see the spots where there used to be dust, but it was taken off by duct tape.
I followed my gaze and saw the small opening made from books on top of the shelf. I pulled out a book and blew off the dust. "Beethoven Biography" I put the book back and scrunched up my face. Really? That's the first book I found? I decided to read a book titled "The Island of Rejects".
After a few hours, I feel the ground under me shake. But not because someone was here. I put the book back on the shelf and ran upstairs. I was in the school, but I no longer felt the vibrations. "So it's coming from the dormitories?"
I walked outside and saw a flash of green through the windows of the dorms, then saw Gonta burst through the doors of the dormitory, pure rage in his eyes. He was facing Shuichi and Ryoma. He charged and Shuichi fell to the ground. "Shuichi!"
Gonta looked at Shuichi. "Oh no! Gonta not mean to do that." I smiled and put my hand on Gonta's arm. "Don't worry about it, I'm sure he'll understand." Gonta waved to me as he carried Shuichi towards the school.
Wait a second.
"Gonta, why are you- huh?" But Gonta was already gone.
I went into the school. "The only place he could've gone was... his research lab." I ran to Gonta's research lab and opened the door. Everyone but Kirumi, Miu, and Ryoma were there. "H-huh?" Everyone looked at me. "Why wasn't Y/N brought here?" Shuichi asked. "Simple. Y/N and Gonta play with bugs together. Y/N likes bugs."
I smiled and closed the door. "So that's what that was about."
Gonta explained why he couldn't bring Kirumi and Miu in, explaining the incident with Miu. "Oh, your poor innocent eyes!" I exclaimed.
"Anyways, I'm gonna run some errands so I'll be back." Kokichi said. "Oh no you don't! Get back here!" I yelled, chasing after the running boy.
I came back, holding Kokichi by the arm. It took about half an hour, but a lot can happen in that time.
"W-What the-" Everyone was being chased around by all kinds of insects: flies, butterflies, spiders, you name it. "What's happening?" Gonta turned around. "Oh, Gonta is just showing everyone the incredible bugs!"
I let out a dry chuckle, still holding Kokichi's arm. "Gonta, you're very caring but... I think the uh... bugs are tired now. See?" A butterfly landed on my hand. Gonta nodded and all the bugs went back to their spots.
"Kokichi..." I scolded. "Give. Me. Those. Kubs. Pads." He begrudgingly gave them to me. "Gonta, Kokichi doesn't actually like bugs, you know?" Kokichi's lips straightened to a thin line and we all ran out of the room. "Phew... is that everyone?"
I looked around. "Wait, where's Kokichi?" Everyone looked around just as I heard Kokichi scream. "Oh god... we've gotta get him!" Kiibo held my arm. "But, why? He's already done so much damage."
"U-uh, because... he might get a... disease...? Do you wanna take care of him?" I told everyone to go back to their dorms as I walked into the research lab and came back out with a tired Kokichi on my back. "Don't be so dramatic, you're the one who got yourself into that mess."
I carried him to the dorms and noticed that he had fallen asleep on my back. "This dork..." I complained, even though I was smiling. I saw a small person walking in the dark. I thought it was my imagination, so I didn't think much of it and went to the dormitory building.
Shuichi opened his door. I guess he heard my footsteps. "Oh, you got him." He noticed.
"Could you open his door for me, please?" I asked as I held out Kokichi's dorm key. Once Shuichi opened Kokichi's dorm, I gently set him down on his bed. "Y/N..." I heard him mumble. I put my hand on his tensed arms and they relaxed."Sleep tight."
The next morning, the Monokubs told us to go to the gym for a magic show. "Ooh, it must be Himiko!" I changed out of the clothes I was sleeping in, but before I left, I brought some bandages in a tote bag Monokuma had given to me upon my request. "At least he gave me this much." I said to myself.
We were in the gym and I looked around. I guess some people weren't interested? I came a bit late, but I saw the piranhas and got the idea. I looked at Tenko and put my arm around her shaking figure. "She'll be fine!" I assured. "She's the Ultimate Mage afterall!"
Despite my words, I was definitely just as nervous as Tenko.
We watched as Himiko stepped into the water tank and Angie closed the curtains. "Angie, this is insane." I muttered.
I bit my lip, my shaking hands drenched in a cold sweat. Tenko was panicking, every ten seconds pointing out that Himiko hadn't come out. I dropped my tote back and covered my eyes. When I peeked through my fingers, I saw Gonta run up on stage and check inside the tank. "H-huh?"
The timer struck zero and the piranhas fell into the tank. "Himiko! Open them! Open the curtains, now!" Everyone followed Tenko, who was bounding over to the stage in a panic. When Angie opened the curtains, we witnessed an unbelievable sight...