(Kaede's POV)

I awoke the next morning, feeling more refreshed than normal. Maybe it was because I was finally able to leave the confinements of my room, or maybe it was something else entirely...

I carefully shifted on my bed, grabbing my crutches to support myself. As I got up, I noticed something odd on the table by my bed.

I moved towards it and carefully inspected it. It looked just like my Monopad, just a bit bigger. With no other options left, I tapped the screen, which immediately lit up.

"Alright! Back by popular demand, it's time for the motive video. Who is the most important person in your life?" Monokuma's voice rang out. I was confused, the most important person in my life?

On the screen in bold text, it read: Himiko Yumeno's motive video.

Could this be Himiko's video? But why do I have it..?

"Himiko Yumeno, the Ultimate Magician" the recorded Monokuma voice piped up. "She performed all across the country, dazzling hundreds of people. Of course, she couldn't do it all on her own. Her family was more than happy to assist her in her acts.

"However..." The recorded voice continued. A sick feeling began to overwhelm me. "A terrible tragedy soon left the family in despair...". The screen changed, now showing Himiko's family gathered together.

Some of them had expressions of anger, others sadness, and a few, fear...

"What could've happened to this one happy family? It's a secret! Find out for yourself" Monokuma signed off, his high-pitched laughs echoing in my mind. The screen was dark, the video had ended..

I was left alone with a cold feeling. Why..? Why would Monokuma, or whoever was controlling him, if they even existed, do this..? Just so we play their awful game?!

I decided to hide the 'Kubs pad' in the corner under my bed. Not the best hiding spot, but someone would only find it if they, 1. Somehow got into my room, which I kept locked now, and 2. Be looking for something like that in general.

The chances of someone finding it were small, but it still filled me with worry. The last thing we need is someone finding a reason to kill, like I did...

I need to make sure something like that doesn't happen again!

Shaking my head, I exited my room to  get breakfast at the dining hall.

As I left the building, a certain robot came running up to me

"Kaede! Come quick!" I was stunned by the sudden appearance.

"Kiibo, what's wrong, I was just on my way to the dining hall" I asked the robot. Kiibo looked a little relieved as I said that.

"Oh good, I'm rounding up everyone and having them meet in the dining hall" Kiibo said.

"I'll get there as soon as I can, see you soon!". Kiibo smiled and waved a goodbye before running off to find the rest.

'Alright, sounds like it's something important. Could this have something to do with the Kubs pads?'.

The rest of the way to the dining hall went undisturbed. I pushed the door open, balancing carefully, and entered.

The only people who were there at the moment were Shuichi, Himiko, Angie, Tsumugi, Kirumi, and Korekiyo. Less than half of the people who were suppose to be here. 'I guess Kiibo is still trying to find everyone'.

"You're not the only one who got one, Shuichi" Angie teased. "We all did".

"We have all been given 'motive videos'" Korekiyo observed. "However, they have been mixed up".

"It's true, I got one as well" I chimed in. Now the attention was on me. I noticed Korekiyo and Tsumugi both had matching expressions of surprise.

'Oh yeah, not everyone knows I'm up and moving on my own'.

"When I woke up, there was a Kubs Pad in my room, but the video on it wasn't even mine-" Tsumugi shared with us. However, she was cut off by, surprisingly, Kirumi.

"Tsumugi, we should discuss this once everyone is here" Kirumi suggested, her tone firm and solid.

"Kirumi is right, Tsumugi. We should wait until everyone is here, so we can figure out what to do together" I agreed with her.

"Oh, sorry... you're right" Tsumugi apologized. The blue haired girl turned away from her, looking slightly upset. I sat down next to Tsumugi and began to make light conversation with her to help cheer her up.

"What do you mean, once everyone is here?" Shuichi asked the Ultimate Maid.

"Kaito and Kiibo went to gather everyone else so that we may discuss our plans" Kiyo answered for her.

"Shall we wait for everyone then?". We all agreed to that, better to fill everyone in then leave people out. "Until then, I can provide you all with massages-".

Just then, everyone else arrived at the dining hall.

"Thank you for waiting! We gathered everyone else!" Kiibo thanked us.

"My word... and after I was about to finally experience one of Kirumi's famed massages..." Kiyo complained.

"Wh-What do you mean? Are you also suggesting that I cannot read the air?" Kiibo asked the Anthropologist.

"So what is it? Why did you drag us here?" Maki asked, shooting a glare at Kaito.

"Didn't I tell you? It's about the Kubs Pads" Kaito answered, slightly annoyed. "Monokuma gave us a new motive. We can't not talk about it".

"That thing that looks like another Monopad?" Maki's voice was monotone. "That is a motive?".

"Maki, haven't you watched the video on the Kubs Pad yet?!" Tenko questioned the dark haired girl.

"No. I ignored it because I figured it was something stupid" Maki answered, her voice not changing even in the slightest.

"That's actually really courageous in a weird sort of way..." Tsumugi chimed in.

"You don't have to speak up, but this is important, so you should at least listen" Kaito said. This time, it was Kokichi who spoke up.

"So, what are these videos?" He asked.

"No doubt they're motives from Monokuma" Kiibo observed. "But, why were they all mixed up...?".

"Y-Yeah! Why Gonta get Tsumugi's video-" Gonta started to ask before being interrupted by Kiibo.

"No! Don't say it, Gonta!" Kiibo yelled.

"Hm?". Gonta looked confused. 

"Aah... I heard it... I see... So Gonta has my video..." Tsumugi confirmed.

"Huh? Was Gonta not supposed to say it?" Gonta asked.

"Who f*ckin' cares!? We're gonna exchange 'em anyways, right?" Miu scoffed.

"No, we cannot exchange them" Kiibo stated.

"I'm gonna have to agree with Kiibo on this one, maybe it's better if we don't" I agreed with the robot.

"Why not? They're videos of the most important people in our lives" Ryoma questioned us.

"And that is precisely why we cannot exchange them" Kiibo's tone didn't change at all as he spoke.

"Although we do not know why our motives were mixed up" the Ultimate Robot continued. "As long as we don't exchange them, we don't have to see our motives at all".

"So it's better to just ignore them..." Himiko's said in a small voice.

"Yes, that is what I think" Kiibo agreed.

"Th-That true... If we ignore them, then we won't have a motive" Tenko agreed as well. I'm glad she was on board with this, at least I'm not alone with my opinion.

However, one voice arose from the crowd. "I'm against that". The voice belonged to Ryoma.

I turned to look at the small man, shocked. I guess I could understand where he was coming from, but still...

"Huh? Against it? Why?" Tsumugi asked the tennis player. "If you see that video, it'll turn into a motive, right?".

"That's why I want to see it". Ryoma's tone was blunt, as if he was saying something he wholeheartedly believed in.

"You do?" Shuichi asked, standing up from his seat.

"You were saying something like that before... That you don't plan on surviving" Kaito said, in an annoyed tone. "It might not matter to you whether you get killed or not but...".

"We're different! We all want to live!" The astronaut shouted. "Wake up already! You're like some zombie wandering around with no will to live!".

"Kaito-" I start to say, Ryoma cuts me off, however.

"No will to live, huh? Hmph, if that's how you see me, then so be it" Ryoma grunted. "But I've got no plans to change my opinion. That's just not cool".

"Ryoma-" I try, this time getting cut off by Kaito. I just can't get a word in, can I?

"Wh-What did you say!?" Kaito questioned the small man.

"Who cares? Ryoma just stated his opinion" Kokichi spoke up. "Actually... I feel the same way as him".

"Are you... trying to cause trouble again?" Kiibo accused him.

"Don't get the wrong idea. I'm not saying we shouldn't care about killing or dying..." Kokichi's expression dropped. "But I think it'd be better if we didn't cooperate with each other".

"What are you saying, Kokichi?" I inquired.

Kokichi ignored me and continued rambling. "Actually, we definitely shouldn't cooperate with each other!". I'm not sure if he actually didn't hear me, or if he did and was being a jerk.

"We shouldn't cooperate? Why not?!" Tenko questioned the purple haired gremlin.

"Think back to all of Monokuma's actions so far" Kokichi informed, a smirk growing on his lips. "Whenever we tried to work together, Monokuma would retaliate with a plan to make us suffer".

His gaze shot over to me and swear I could feel his eyes staring into my soul. "It happened when Kaede over here wanted us to cooperate, and again with the motive videos, right?".

I shrunk in my seat, wanting to get away from the eyes that were now on me.

"Which means, the more we try to cooperate, the more he'll try to make us suffer" Kokichi finished. I chose to not listen anymore, a dumb move I'm sure. I just couldn't help but feel guilty being around these guys.

I could hear the others continue to talk with each other. I was only focused on getting something to eat at the moment, however.

One by one everyone left, leaving me, Tenko, Shuichi, Himiko, Angie and Kirumi in the dining hall. Kirumi offered me some tripe hot pot which snapped me out of my thoughts.

I politely agreed and ended up enjoying some of Kirumi's cooking. As we ate, we all promised each other to not exchange our motive videos.

Kirumi offered to help me back to my room after everyone was done. I however, declined, I knew how busy she was going to be and didn't want to add to it.

I was back at my room before I knew it, relaxing on my bed. 'I know Kirumi said I should rest, but... I want to see what everyone else is doing..