Masaru stood in the middle of Priscilla's room as she retrieved Shoji's computer from under her bed. He then went to stand over her as she made her way to the desk and sat down.

Priscilla opened the laptop and the screen showed the same files and notes Shoji had on all his classmates. She then closed out of everything and clicked a file that was labeled secret passages.

A map and blueprints of the entire school popped up but anything above the second floor was blacked out. There were red circles that marked certain areas such as the school hallway bathrooms and next to the game room...

"That's..." Masaru had no words.

"Shoji had obviously seen something to make him document this in his computer," Priscilla said, "he didn't even tell me about this when we first started working together. I only found the file when I searched through the laptop the first time I had it in my possession."

Priscilla fiddled with her hands. "I didn't tell you about this before because I found you a bit suspicious especially after I saw the note Shoji left about you."

"I guess I can understand that," Masaru said, "so these secret passages or tunnels are hidden throughout the school?"

Priscilla nodded. "I thought I saw something close near the game room but maybe I was just seeing things."

"Do you really believe that?"

"No."

Masaru chuckled a little. "If you believe what you saw then you are probably right. Do you think this is how the traitor or mastermind secretly moves around?"

"It has to be." Priscilla zoomed in on the blueprints. "These passages seem to only be accessible by a wall and not an actual door or pathway. I guess it's more concealed that way where no one can just 'stumble upon it'."

"I hope you're not planning on entering one of those passages," Masaru told her, "at least not yet."

Priscilla said nothing.

"Priscilla—"

"I know, I know. I just can't help but think that I could catch whoever is using these passages in the act." Priscilla stared at the screen without looking up.

"Well, for that we'd need a plan," Masaru said, "don't do anything stupid."

Priscilla laughed. "I can say the same to you."

Masaru left her dorm now with new information and felt that he would have to keep a closer eye out for things.

Masaru wandered down the hallways and stopped at the computer room that he most definitely forgot about. For some reason he stepped inside and it looked the same as it did before. He hasn't been in here since the very first motive and he understood why anyone else wouldn't come back to this room.

The students family tapes were no where to be seen and the computer screens were pitch black. They were the same type of computers in the library and he clicked the start button but of course it didn't turn on. He started to get frustrated from the lack of access to things but then heard a whirring noise that sounded like something moving.

Masaru looked up to see the front wall in front of all the desks and computers slowly start to open like a door.

"What—"

As soon as the words left Masaru's mouth the wall closed so quick that he almost thought he imagined it. He blinked and now saw what Priscilla was referring to first hand. Someone was definitely secretly moving around the school and he cursed himself for making a sound. If he didn't then the person would've come out where he could see. It would make sense to use the computer room though since no one in their right mind would come back in here.

Masaru desperately wanted to try and attempt to open the passage on his own but he knew he would need a plan just like he told Priscilla. He exited the computer room quickly but ran into another student.

"Are you okay?" Toma asked him.

Masaru narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "Where did you come from?"

Toma pointed down the hallway to the dining hall.

"Right," Masaru said. He didn't need to become paranoid right now. "How is Piper?"

Toma cocked his head. "Do you mean Pippin?"

"Yes."

Toma smiled. "He is doing better. His bird friends help cheer him up."

Masaru stared into Toma's soul. "How can you be so chipper? Aren't you afraid of becoming the next victim?"

"Am I in danger?" Toma frowned a little.

"You're always in danger," Masaru said, "as long as we're trapped in here, you are."

Toma's shoulders slumped. "I think everyone is afraid of becoming the next victim. I do not know how I've gotten this far but someone has to stay positive for everyone else's sake."

"You're a nice guy," Masaru told him and Toma smiled bright.

"Thank you."

Masaru and Toma grew a bit closer.

Masaru made his way back to his dorm, sensing that the nighttime announcement would play at any moment. He passed Seto who was helping Winona move Pinku's things from Nao's to her room and Masaru entered his own dorm.

The atmosphere felt different now to Masaru and he wanted to say that he wouldn't let anyone else suffer but the next motive could change everything once again.

*. *. *. *.

"It is now 7am! Get ready for another beautiful day!"

When Masaru left his dorm the first thing he saw was Mizuno standing in front of someone's door.

"Is he still not coming out?" Masaru asked once he approached her and saw that it was Umeda's door.

Mizuno slightly turned away from him. "Yeah he said to go away unless I have food."

Masaru stared at her. "What's wrong with you?"

Mizuno sighed and faced him but couldn't look him directly in the eyes. "Look, about the last trial... the fact card Priscilla got about me was totally false!"

"You're still on that?" Masaru shook his head. "I don't remember half of what those cards said."

Mizuno perked up. "So you don't remember mine?"

"Oh, I remember that one. You like—"

"No!"

"What do you mean, no?"

Mizuno played with her hands. "Uhm... how about this. Once we escape from this place, give me a chance okay?" She held out her pinky finger and Masaru stared down at it.

"Not a chance."

"But why?" Mizuno whined.

"It's a trap so I don't want to."

"It's not a trap!" Mizuno folded her arms. "Come on, just do it."

"No."

"Just do it, man!" Another voice shouted.

Masaru and Mizuno turned to the door where the voice came from.

"And get away from my door with all that mushy stuff!"

Masaru looked back at Mizuno. "At least we know he's not dead."

Mizuno smiled and held out her pinky finger again but Masaru side stepped her and head towards the dining hall.

When he entered the dining hall he saw that everyone else was at the table. Winona had just come out from the kitchen with breakfast.

Masaru sat down and Mizuno sat down as well with a frown.

"So what's the plan?" Seto whispered as he looked to both Priscilla and Masaru.

"The plan for what?" Masaru asked. He didn't think he'd tell anyone about the secret passages yet and hoped Priscilla felt the same.

"We'll do what Masaru said before," Priscilla whispered to them, "wait for Monokuma to reveal the next motive before shutting him off."

"This is the first time I'm looking forward to a motive," Mizuno said.

"Should I go bring Umeda his breakfast again?" Winona offered.

Seto shook his head. "He needs to leave that room. It's not healthy."

"I agree but we cannot force him," Toma said.

"I'll bring him his food," Masaru said and stood up which surprised everyone, "what?"

"You're trying to be nice?" Seto asked.

Masaru ignored that and took the plate Winona prepared with him to Umeda's dorm. He stopped in front of the door and knocked which caused loud groans to surface from the other side.

"Do you have food?" Umeda's voice came through.

"Yes."

After a minute, the door clicked revealing Umeda who still looked disheveled like last time. He reached out to take the plate from Masaru but Masaru barged his way inside.

"Hey!" Umeda complained.

Masaru set the breakfast down on the desk and observed the guy's room that had somehow got even messier.

Masaru turned back to Umeda. "Get yourself together."

"But—"

"Not buts," Masaru interrupted, "you have to snap out of whatever this is. If someone becomes blackened again then you'd be a vulnerable target."

"Good."

Masaru blinked at Umeda who sat down and ate his breakfast like what he said was perfectly normal.

"At least I'd join big brother Matsu and Shoji in the afterlife."

Masaru pursed his lips before walking over and slapping Umeda across the back of the head.

"Ow," Umeda said dryly and turned around.

"You think that's what they would've wanted?" Masaru spoke, "for you to just give up and die? Look...". He thought back on the last class trial.
"I think someone targeted Matsuyama on purpose."

Umeda raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, it was Nao. Are you on something?"

"No, not Nao. The mastermind."

Umeda stood up with a serious expression. "Come again?"

"I don't think it's a coincidence that Matsuyama was killed right after we found out what his past was like," Masaru said, "Plus, the cards the other students received were ridiculous compared to yours and Nao's."

Umeda seemed to be thinking about it. "So the cards Monokuma passed out at the start of the motive weren't random at all." He bawled his fists. "They wanted to get rid of the two people who could've exposed them..."

Umeda grabbed his breakfast plate as if he were going to throw it at the wall but Masaru stopped him.

"We don't need to draw Monokuma's attention with your temper tantrum," Masaru said.

Umeda calmed down. "Fine. I'll put dying on the back burner for now. I'm going to kill this mastermind first." He sighed when he saw Masaru's stern look. "I was kidding about the dying part, loosen up."

"Just come out of your room," Masaru ordered before leaving the dorm. He stepped out into the hallway and saw Priscilla waiting for him.

"Is he okay?" She asked.

"He'll be fine," Masaru answered, "by the way I saw something in the computer room yesterday."

"You saw something?" Priscilla questioned.

"I think it was one of the secret passages. The wall opened up like a door but I made a noise which scared off whoever was using it."

Priscilla stared him down. "You made a noise?"

"I'm not perfect."

"You could've caught the person in the act."

"I'm aware of that."

Priscilla folded her arms. "Well good thing I have a plan."

"I was thinking of one too," Masaru said, "when we shut off Monokuma we can investigate the passages then. We would still need to be careful because even though the bear will be deactivated, the mastermind or the traitor can still very well make a move."

Priscilla nodded slowly. "But there is a sure way to catch the traitor or mastermind. A way that cannot be denied."

"And what way is that?" Masaru asked.

Priscilla put her hand on Masaru's shoulder. "I trust and believe in your detective skills."

"That doesn't answer my question," Masaru said but Priscilla was already walking away.

As time passed, Masaru was glad Monokuma didn't make an appearance to him but at the same time that was pretty concerning. He was now in the pool room along with Mizuno and Toma.

Masaru sat on one of the sun loungers in his usual black trunks when a shadow fell over him.

"Are you happy now?"

Masaru looked up and saw Umeda in neon green swim shorts with his same red sunglasses.

"Oh my gosh!" Mizuno called out from the pool before Masaru could respond and swam to the edge, "it's like I haven't seen you in forever!"

"Don't be so dramatic," Umeda said and sat on the same lounger as Masaru's.

"How are you feeling now?" Toma asked, also swimming over.

"Better than ever," Umeda answered half heartedly then leaned into Masaru, "how soon can I have the masterminds throat in my hands?"

"We already agreed to deactivate Monokuma after he gives the next motive," Masaru said in a low voice, "be patient."

Umeda mumbled under his breath and stared at the pool water.

"You're not getting in?" Masaru asked him.

"Don't feel like it." Umeda tapped his foot. "Don't feel like being in here either."

"All I said was to come out of your room. You didn't have to come to the pool room."

"Well I couldn't find anyone else," Umeda said then stood up, "but if I'm not wanted here then I'll—"

"Sit down."

Umeda did as he was told then glanced at Masaru after a hot minute. "Do you miss him?"

Masaru knew who he was referring to but did not answer.

"I'll take that as a yes," Umeda said.

"But I didn't say anything."

"Yeah and that shows that you miss him too much to even talk about him." Umeda leaned in closer. "You do realize I'm talking about Matsuyama, right?"

"Yes." Masaru snapped and stood up.

"Sit down," Umeda mocked.

"I don't have to listen to you," Masaru said, walking away as Umeda scoffed.

Masaru wandered the halls again after changing back into his regular clothes and decided to go to the gym. Maybe he could take a peek at what Monokuma had in store for him.

When he reached the gym doors he pushed them open to see no obvious signs of a new motive but what he did see were two people already inside.

Winona was crouched down next to Pinku on the court and whispered something to the snake as Seto watched her from the bleachers. Masaru walked over to Seto and sat down.

"What's she doing?" Masaru asked.

Seto shrugged. "She thinks Pinku is depressed and wants her to move around more."

Masaru wouldn't be surprised if the snake was a bit sad. Their original owner and the second person to take care of them were both gone.

"I don't think Winona should be responsible for the snake," Seto then said.

"Why? Is she not doing a good job?"

Seto shook his head. "It's not that. It's just... every person to take care of Pinku has died. It's like a curse."

"Kaneko and Nao only faced the consequences of their actions. They both made a choice that landed them in their position so it's not a curse."

"If you say so. But if Winona dies—"

"She won't." Masaru's attention was turned back to the sound of clapping from Winona and Pinku who was surrounding the girl and licking her face.

"Well, Pinku seems fine," Seto commented, "let's hope it stays that way."

Ding Dong!

"It is now 10pm! Return to your dorms this instant. Goodnight, sleep tight, don't let the bedbugs biiiittteeeee!"

"I'm surprised Monokuma hasn't bothered us with the fifth motive he's planning," Seto said just what Masaru was thinking.

"Then tomorrow may be the day," Masaru responded and made his way back to his dorm.

Every other student did the same but Masaru saw Priscilla standing by her door as if she were waiting for someone.

"You're not going to sleep?" Masaru asked her.

"I am," Priscilla said simply, "just thinking."

"You know, that's the same thing Nao said to me right before she concocted her plan."

Priscilla raised an eyebrow at him. "Oh yeah? But I'm sure she didn't think hers through. I won't be the second failure."

Masaru tried to look through Priscilla's facade wondering why she put emphasis on second. "Don't do anything stupid."

"Do I look like someone who would do something stupid?"

"No," Masaru said, "you don't." He retreated back to his dorm, cutting their conversation short, and did his best to sleep through the night.

....

Masaru awoke before the morning announcement and trudged over to his desk before sitting down. He found his notepad and flipped through everything he's written down.

The names of people he could trust, Mizuno's dumb thank you note, 4WD.CO, the four families names, and many other minor notes he's written down.

Masaru turned to the newest clear page and wrote down: Fight Back!
Hopefully this would be the last note he'd have to write in this school.

Right as Masaru began to freshen up since he couldn't go back to sleep, the morning announcement finally rang. He exited his dorm but the hallway was empty so he went to the dining hall which was also empty.

Masaru was a bit confused by that so he went to the back to see if anyone was cooking. Still no one was there. He then opened the fridge and the miso soup along with the rice that Matsuyama prepared for him stared back at him. He let out a heavy sigh and took the covered bowls before it lost its taste.

Masaru exited the kitchen, sat down and ate what would be his breakfast. Of course it tasted delicious; it was made by the best of them.

As he was on his last bite, another student ran in and looked at him with a bewildered expression.

"What are you doing?!" Mizuno asked looking out of breath.

Masaru showed her his empty bowl. "What do you think?"

Mizuno's eyes softened a little. "Oh, so you finally ate that." She then shook her head. "Never mind, just come with us."

"Us?" Masaru questioned, "I was wondering where everyone was."

"Then why didn't you look?"

"I was hungry."

Mizuno ran a frustrated hand through her hair.

"Priscilla is missing."

Masaru froze at that. "What?"

"When I woke up, I wanted to talk more with Priscilla about our plans but she didn't answer," Mizuno explained, "then Monokuma popped up and laughed at me because he said there was no one on the other side. When the others woke, they all helped me try and find her but we couldn't."

Masaru swallowed hard and stood from his seat before exiting the dining hall with Mizuno right behind him. They both entered the main area where the other students appeared frantic.

"I'm guessing you didn't find her," Seto said upon seeing Masaru.

"We literally looked everywhere," Umeda said with his hands on his hips, "maybe she escaped?"

"Without telling us?" Winona questioned.

"We need to keep searching," Toma told everyone.

Masaru didn't say a word and was not surprised by this outcome. He had told Priscilla to not act on her own but of course she had to do this alone. What was the plan here?

Masaru knew that the only possible answer can be one of the secret passages that she possibly got into. But there were three: the one near the hallway bathrooms, the one in the computer room, and the one near the game room.

The conversation Masaru and Priscilla had last night was obviously suspicious and he pondered on why she told him that she trusted in his detective skills. He tried to think of anything else that could have been a clue to where she could be...

"I won't be the second failure."

Masaru turned to one of the halls. "The second floor."

"What?" Seto asked, "we already checked—"

Masaru was already taking off towards the stairs and the others followed. He made his way to the game room and felt around the outside wall.

"What are you doing?" Umeda was looking at him like he was crazy.

Masaru continued to feel the wall until his hand pushed in on a shallow area. Then right before their eyes, half of the wall slid open like an elevator door revealing a dark pathway.

"Woah," Seto breathed out.

"What... what is that?" Winona asked, eyes wide.

Masaru entered the unknown area and walked down the narrow path with his classmates and when they did...

Ding Dong!

"A body has been discovered! Now then, after a certain amount of time has passed, a class trial will take place!"

There was no confusion to why that certain announcement rang because lying in front of them in this strange small room was the body of Priscilla Azumi, the Ultimate Curator.