"Since you all refuse to invite your precious headmaster to your little get togethers, I've decided to crash them all!" Monokuma chirped in that same cheery sadistic voice.

"But... but..." Winona stuttered.

"I thought it was dead!" Seto stepped back.

Masaru glanced over at Priscilla and for the first time, saw a hint of horror on her face.

"Why is that thing still alive?" Umeda hissed to Masaru and Masaru looked over at Matsuyama who was wondering the same thing.

"Geez, you kids look like you've seen a ghost!" Monokuma cackled, "is it because of my disappearance?"

Nao stepped forward. "Where did you go?"

"You're not supposed to be here!" Mizuno whined, "I thought... I thought we were free!"

"As if I'd let that happen!" Monokuma said then narrowed his beady eyes at his students, "I've only experienced a little turbulence since one of your fellow classmates wanted to be a sneaky little hero."

The bear then jumped out of his seat and onto the table. "But I'm back now and better than ever! And again I come bearing gifts!"

"Gifts?" Masaru asked with a bad feeling.

"Your next motive!" Monokuma growled, still salty about being shut off.

"No!" Winona shrieked, "not again!"

"We were supposed to be out of here by now," Nao complained, "we're going to be trapped in here until the day we die."

"That will not happen," Toma said.

Matsuyama walked closer to Monokuma. "When will this end? How many more have to die until you realize that what you're doing doesn't serve any purpose?"

Monokuma tapped his chin. "I never really thought about it that way... I guess until I get bored!"

Masaru shook his head. There was no getting through to that thing and everyone else knew it.

"Now make your way to the gym for your reward!" Monokuma ordered.

Winona's eyes widened. "What? Now?"

"Of course! I can't have you all forgetting why you're here!"

"And why are we here?" Matsuyama challenged.

"For my entertainment but I promise it's much much more than that!" With that being said Monokuma left and the dining hall was silent.

"This will never end, will it?" Seto finally accepted.

"It will only end if we make it end," Masaru told them, "but right now we're too helpless so let's go."

"You're just going to give up?" Nao asked.

Masaru scoffed. "Do you have a better idea of what we can do right now?"

Toma looked to the monitors that were now on and working. "It seems like something did indeed disrupt Monokuma from his plans. He did not look too happy about it."

"Exactly," Umeda agreed, "it's already pissed so let's just go before he starts shooting at us again."

Priscilla also agreed. "They are both right. There is nothing we can do at the moment."

Nao huffed and was the first to leave with the others following after her, leaving behind their untouched pancakes.

"You've got to be kidding me," Umeda muttered at the sight of what awaited for them.

There was a long black table in the center of the court that held several weapons: a gun with an unidentifiable object beside it, a knife, a hatchet, a sword, and a black bat which was different from the ones used in the gym.

"I have a bad feeling about this," Mizuno said also staring at the table.

Monokuma took his place on the stage's podium. "For today's motive, the theme is truth!"

"Can the theme be freedom for once?" Seto asked and the bear growled at him.

Monokuma then jumped down from the stage and handed a parchment card to each student.

"You all will receive two facts about a random student," Monokuma explained, "one truth and one lie, it'll be your job to figure out which is which!"

"But here's the kick!" Monokuma continued, "two people will receive a card on the same person and one student's card won't be given at all!"

"This already sounds complicated," Umeda mumbled.

"It's confusing." Seto shook his head. "Why even do that?"

"For chaos!" Monokuma cheered.

Masaru looked down at his given card.

~Winona Masuya~
Winona likes heavy metal
Winona is the Ultimate Lion Tamer

Masaru blinked at the ridiculous facts and looked back up to see the others reading theirs but Monokuma was already gone.

"Too easy," Umeda commented after reading his and shoved it in his pocket.

"Maybe we shouldn't read these," Winona suggested, "it'll only make things worse."

"Too late for that," Nao said looking around at everyone else who had already taken a peek.

"This doesn't make any sense," Mizuno said with furrowed eyebrows, "let's just ignore them."

"She's right, these are useless," Seto said.

Matsuyama nodded but was still staring down at his card. "Yeah... it's just nonsense."

"Well, here we go again." Nao sighed.

"Should we all show who we got?" Toma asked, "that way we know whose card wasn't given and who got a duplicate."

"Absolutely not," Nao said, "that will create more targets if we know who has who."

The students all observed each other with doubt before everyone began to disperse, thrusted back into the killing game.

Masaru planned on going back to his room but Mizuno came up behind him and tapped his shoulder. He turned around and saw Toma standing at her side.

"I think we should show each other our papers," Mizuno said to him.

Masaru looked between the two. "Why?"

"I just think it's a good idea," Mizuno explained, "the three of us are close—"

"Not that close," Masaru said and Toma frowned, "why not include Matsuyama, Umeda, or Priscilla? We're close to them as well."

"That doesn't sound like a bad idea," Toma said, turning to Mizuno but she shook her head.

"It should just be us three for now," she said, "maybe we can share with them later at some point."

Masaru sighed. "Fine." He showed them his facts and they both read it.

"Well that's easy," Mizuno said, "Winona's obviously not a lion tamer so she must like heavy metal. Cool I guess."

Mizuno showed hers next.

~Seto Hamasaki~
Seto likes wasabi
Seto is good at throwing darts

Toma then showed his paper.

~Nao Nakayama~
Nao has a terrible memory
Nao's favorite color is red

Masaru was in disbelief. "These facts are uselessly hilarious. How could any of this be a motive?"

Toma shrugged. "Maybe someone has a secret."

"A secret?" Mizuno asked.

Masaru agreed. "That is possible. If someone has a secret then they'd be paranoid about who got whose paper.

Mizuno gasped. "The traitor!"

"Another possibility," Masaru said then looked down at her paper, "I think I still have the darts I got from the mono machine during the second motive. I could either have him throw those or simply ask him if he likes wasabi or not."

He then turned to Toma. "Nao having a bad memory is the obvious lie since she's a chess player."

"At least we know none of us will become a murderer," Mizuno said, "you know, since this information gives us nothing."

"I suppose so," Masaru agreed, "can I leave now?" Mizuno frowned but didn't stop him from making his way back to the dorm hallway.

Masaru prepared to knock on Priscilla's door but saw two people already standing there.

"What are you doing here?" Masaru asked.

Umeda turned to him. "The same reason you're here too."

Matsuyama knocked and Priscilla answered a minute later, letting them all in.

"I thought we did it," Priscilla said immediately, "I thought we had gotten rid of it."

"Well apparently not." Umeda crossed his arms. "What happened?"

Matsuyama thought about it. "If you managed to shut Monokuma off then maybe the person behind this just turned it back on?"

"But we should've shut it off for good," Masaru said, "what if it isn't the same Monokuma?"

Umeda snapped his fingers. "Right! This person probably came prepared with a bunch of Monokuma copies." He glanced at Priscilla. "Good thing we can just shut them all off one by one."

Priscilla sighed frustratingly and pulled out Shoji's laptop from underneath her bed. "It still won't turn back on. Just give it a while longer."

Umeda huffed. "Fine, I guess we can shut them off one by one later."

Masaru looked between the three. "So, in the mean time, does anyone want to share their fact cards?"

No one said a word.

"It's nothing bad," Matsuyama assured him, "it's just..."

"It would be better not to," Priscilla finished for him.

Umeda agreed then nodded at Masaru. "What about your card?"

Masaru saw no harm in it and showed them.

"So you got Winona's facts," Priscilla stated.

Umeda's eyebrows creased. "Did everyone get a stupid card?"

Masaru waited for him to elaborate but he never did.

"That doesn't give you anything to work with," Matsuyama said, "this motive is a bit strange."

"Did you show anyone else your card?" Priscilla asked.

"Maybe."

"So difficult." Umeda rolled his eyes.

"You're not showing me your cards so why should I tell you anything else?"

"He's right," Matsuyama said and Umeda pointed at him.

"Stop always being on his side."

Matsuyama blinked. "But he's right."

Masaru huffed and left Priscilla's room. He decided to go back to the mono machine to see if it was working again and of course when he walked in, Monokuma popped up.

"Welcome—"

"Why are you still here?" Masaru interrupted.

"Why must you always interrupt me!"

"You were shut off, were you not?" Masaru pressed, "don't act like you just decided to take a little vacation."

Monokuma stared him down. "Seems like you had something to do with that."

"Maybe I did, maybe I didn't."

"Sabotage!" Monokuma accused, "not gonna get rid of me that easily. Maybe I should just end the killing game and let you all rot in here until the die you grow old and die!"

"Still would be a better option than us killing each other," Masaru said then observed the bear's demeanor, "you're really bothered by this, aren't you? You didn't prepare for something like this to happen."

Monokuma only stared and Masaru figured he was right.

"Don't worry," Monokuma spoke with malice, "whoever is responsible for this will serve their punishment."

The bear disappeared and Masaru was now worried for Priscilla's safety although it wasn't just her who helped. He shook it off for now and put a coin into the mono machine.

You received a crystal necklace!

Masaru stared down at the electric blue crystal with a silver chain. He couldn't think of anyone who would even want this. It looked fake anyways.

Masaru left the mono machine room and saw Seto walking through the halls. He walked over and held his arms out so the guy couldn't pass him.

"What are you doing?" Seto gave Masaru a strange look. "Is that how you always initiate a conversation?"

"I didn't want you running away."

Seto crossed his arms. "Who said I was gonna run away?"

"Alright then," Masaru said, "do you like wasabi?"

Seto stared at him for a minute. "Why?" He then narrowed his eyes. "You got my card, didn't you?"

"No."

"Then you know who has it."

Masaru folded his arms. "Answer the question."

"Whose card did you get?" Seto asked.

"I could ask you the same thing."

Seto held his head. "This is already becoming too draining. I'll tell you what you want to know if you show me your card."

Masaru didn't want too many people knowing whose facts he had in his possession but still showed Seto anyways.

"I see," Seto said, reading Winona's facts, "Winona must like heavy metal then, that's wicked. Looks like I'm not the only one who got a stupid card."

In return, Seto showed who he got.

~Toma Nikolaev~
Toma is Irish
Toma is Russian

"And no I don't like wasabi," Seto admitted, "it's disgusting."

Masaru shook his head at Seto's card. "Now this is just getting ridiculous."

It appears that all these "facts" Monokuma handed out are just a bunch of nonsense. So why is it being used as a motive?

Masaru took the necklace he got from the mono machine and handed it to Seto. "Thanks for cooperating."

Seto accepted it. "You're very random," he said but looked pleased with the gift.

Masaru and Seto grew a bit closer.

"Well, I'm going to the dining hall," Seto said and left Masaru standing in the hallway.

At least Masaru knew that the truth on Mizuno's card was that Seto was good at throwing darts. He made his way back to his room with too many things on his mind.

4WD.CO, Priscilla's safety, Monokuma's reappearance, the new motive...

Masaru prayed that Shoji's laptop would turn back on soon because that was their last hope at this point. They would shut off every Monokuma if they have to no matter how long it takes.

The day passed by in the blink of an eye for the students and Masaru wondered how long they had been trapped in this school. He also wondered if the police or at least anyone were even looking for them but those thoughts were interrupted by the return of the nighttime announcement.

*.                     *.                         *.                       *

The next day, Masaru awoke with a mission.

He needed more information on 4WD.CO and their captor because the fourth murder was bound to happen somehow.

Masaru left his room and instantly went to Matsuyama's dorm before knocking, hoping he wasn't already at the dining hall.

Soon enough, Matsuyama answered with messy bed hair and without his brown coat. The columnist opened his mouth to question Masaru but Masaru brushed past him and into the room.

Matsuyama's room had beige walls and a wooden desk that held a typewriter and pencil holder. Masaru then saw that the fountain pen he gifted was also in the holder.

"You actually kept that?" Masaru asked, nodding towards the pen.

"Why wouldn't I?" Matsuyama shrugged, "I take it with me everywhere I go. It's a gift from a friend."

Masaru continued to observe the room and saw that the floor carpet was a darker shade of brown, the closet was open, full of other coats, and the bed had cedar brown sheets.

Matsuyama closed the door behind them and yawned. "I wasn't planning on making breakfast this morning."

"This isn't about breakfast," Masaru said and sat down at the desk like it was his own room, "tell me more about these four wealthy dynasties." He watched Matsuyama's face become uncomfortable. "I just want to know what they do but if it's too much—"

"No, it's alright." Matsuyama sat back down on his bed. "These families are not to be taken lightly. As far as I know, drug trafficking, money laundering, gambling, smuggling are not even half of what goes on in their business."

Matsuyama seemed to be reliving the past in his head. "I don't remember much as a child but I know my father had this special room he would always keep locked even from my mother. He'd come out from time to time covered in something but I only realized after I was a little older that it was blood." He sighed. "I don't know why my parents would ever want me to take over a business like that."

"Do you think Nao's parents are the same way?" Masaru asked.

"Since they are part of the four dynasties then it is highly possible."

Masaru tapped his finger on the desk. "This sounds like mafia talk."

"I wouldn't be surprised if it was. You know, growing up the only person who truly cared and raised me was "the help" as my parents called  him."

"So like a butler or servant?" Masaru asked.

"Yes. As a child I actually wished that he'd kidnap me and raise me somewhere far far away." He laughed as if it was ridiculous but Masaru could hear the pain in it.

"He even helped me when I learned that I wanted to become a columnist or a journalist," Matsuyama continued, "read articles to me, taught me how to write... he's the only one who knows my true ultimate that I enrolled myself as."

Masaru let them both sit in silence for a moment. He felt a little guilty for opening up old wounds but at least he had a little bit more understanding.

"Should we tell Nao about this?" Masaru asked, "I don't think she's aware of what her family is apart of."

"If that's the case then no," Matsuyama said strongly, "I would never wish knowing that kind of thing about your family on any other person. Let her believe her parents are the good people she perceives them as- at least while we're still trapped in here."

"I suppose I can understand that," Masaru agreed, "and are you sure these families don't know or have any interest in the killing game stories? Have any of your parents ever mentioned the word Danganronpa?"

"I think they're too busy in their work to involve themselves in a bunch of legends," Matsuyama answered.

Masaru stood up. "Thank you for telling me all of this. Truthfully, it still gave me nothing to work with but I'm sure it felt good to get it off your chest."

Matsuyama gave a small smile. "It did."

"One last question," Masaru said as he approached the door, "do you know if the Watanabe family or if the Bushida family have any children?"

Matsuyama thought about it. "I do sort of remember having playmates when I was younger but I can't make out their faces. I doubt my parents would let me play around just any other child though."

"Do you think one of them could have been Nao?"

Matsuyama chuckled. "I think I'd remember if one of the kids forced me to intend tea parties or paint my nails."

Masaru bit back a laugh as well then looked to the side. "So you're really not going to show me whose card you got?"

Matsuyama pursed his lips and kicked his feet.
"There's no reason to. I don't believe it anyways."

Masaru was still skeptical about that but still left the dorm.

Masaru and Matsuyama grew a bit closer.

Masaru made his way back to the mono machine room for the second time to use his last coin. He hoped he wouldn't have to come back to this ridiculous room now.

Masaru put his coin in the slot and his prize dropped below.

You received sunflower seeds!

Masaru shook his head and spoke sarcastically. "I wonder who I should give these to."

Masaru accepted the prize then went on his way. He found the person he was looking for near their dorm about to go inside.

"Oh, hi," Toma said as he saw Masaru approach him.

"Here," Masaru said simply and handed him the sunflower seeds.

Toma looked down at the seeds gratefully with a big smile. "For me? Thank you."

"Have you talked to anyone else today?" Masaru asked.

Toma shook his head. "Only you and Mizuno."

"Well, Seto had your paper, just so you know. It wasn't anything bad."

"Oh really?" Toma tilted his head. "What did it say?"

"It stated that you were either Russian or Irish."

Toma blinked in confusion almost like a lost puppy. "But I am Russian..."

Masaru nodded and pat the guy's shoulder. "We know buddy."

Toma held the seeds up. "I will tell Pippin you bring treats. Do you want to feed him?"

Masaru looked around for an escape and saw Nao walking past. "Sorry but I promised someone I'd do something other than... this."

Masaru and Toma grew a bit closer.

Masaru quickly fled and walked over to Nao who was striding to the dining hall.

"What do you want?" Nao asked, seeming to be deep in thought.

Masaru eyed her. "What's your problem?"

"Just thinking."

"About what?" Masaru pushed, "the motive?" When she didn't answer he continued. "Whose card did you get? Is it another stupid fact?"

"What are you talking about?" Nao questioned, "and I'm not telling you anything. Like I said, I don't need a target on my back."

Nao picked up her pace leaving Masaru behind.
He huffed then figured he should try and find Priscilla next, to check on Shoji's computer.

Masaru searched through the hallways for some time before finding the curator staring at the wall next to the hallway bathrooms. He watched her observe the area for a while then completely walk away. Masaru furrowed his eyebrows at that but still followed her back to the dining hall.

"Is there something I can help you with?" Priscilla asked, sensing his presence, with her back still turned as she made her way to the kitchen.

"Just checking in," Masaru answered and she knew exactly what that meant.

Priscilla grabbed a white mug and began to make what smelled like tea. She poured in a bit of honey in it and Masaru began to wonder if she even heard him.

"Follow me," Priscilla said lowly and Masaru did so back to her dorm.

Priscilla shut her door behind them then sat her tea on her desk. She then retrieved the computer from its hiding place and Masaru watched with delight as it turned back on with a glow.

He turned to Priscilla with a grin but she looked deadly serious. "What's wrong?" Masaru asked.

"Don't tell anyone about this," Priscilla ordered, "just not yet."

"Why?"

Priscilla took a deep breath. "At some point I want to tell everyone about this. Together."

"Everyone?" Masaru questioned, "I don't know about that. There is still a traitor among us."

"I know that but we have a way to stop Monokuma now even if we do it one bear at a time. We need everyone on board if we are going to escape from this school."

"Are you sure you want to tell every student though?" Masaru asked, "We already have Matsuyama and Umeda on our side. We can just tell Mizuno and Toma about this."

"When I say everyone I mean everyone," Priscilla stated, "we can't risk someone messing up our plans because they simply didn't know about it."

Masaru knew she had a point. "Okay, it's your decision." He looked down at the computer that once again displayed Shoji's notes and information. He wanted to view more of it but Priscilla shut the laptop and gestured to the door.

Masaru's lips formed a straight line and he took the hint, leaving the dorm room.

Time passed and Masaru felt tempted to throw away his piece of parchment paper since it was literally of no use to him at all. He wouldn't be surprised if others had already done so as he saw a group of people approaching him.

"There you are!" Mizuno said, smiling, "are you going to come with us to the game room?"

Toma, Seto, Winona, Priscilla, and Nao who looked like she'd been dragged along stood there as well.

"Matsuyama and Umeda are already up there," Seto told him.

"Well, if everyone's going then I guess I don't have a choice," Masaru said.

"Yup!" Mizuno agreed and grabbed his arm. The seven of them made their way up to the second floor and entered the game room.

Umeda was right back at the arcade machine playing a game but looked a bit saddened. Most likely because of the missing presence next to him that Shoji once filled.

Matsuyama, however, was sitting in one of the brown chairs reading a comic. He then stood up once he noticed the others coming inside.

"I hope we're not having another party," Nao sighed.

"We're still allowed to hang out," Umeda said, walking over, "why do you hate fun?"

Matsuyama gestured to the chessboard that sat on the small table. "How about playing something you love?"

Nao's eyes lit up for a second then she turned her head away stubbornly.

"Oh come on," Mizuno said, "don't be a buzzkill."

Nao rolled her eyes at her peers pleading stares then took a seat. She stretched her arms and cracked her fingers as if she were about to play the piano then looked up at the others.

"Does anyone else know how to play chess?" She asked and the room fell quiet, "this is why I'm an ultimate."

Seto took the challenge and sat down across from her. "How hard can it be?"

Nao did her best to teach Seto the basics but gave up halfway, saying the guy was hopeless.

During that, Mizuno saw Priscilla eyeing the pool table and asked if she wanted to play. Priscilla tried to play it off as nothing but Mizuno saw through her act and smiled as she pulled her over.

The chess game ended quickly since Nao played efficiently and Seto had no clue what he was doing. She abandoned her seat once she won and Winona filled it. Seto and Winona then began to play their own strange version of chess with made up rules.

Nao shook her head at them and the now messy chessboard. "So childish."

Everyone seemed to be having fun, forgetting all about the motive, and Masaru looked over to see Umeda attempting to teach Toma how to play an arcade machine. The bird keeper was pressing random buttons with a smile but from the vein popping out of Umeda's neck, Masaru could tell it was not going so smoothly.

Masaru decided to go sit next to Matsuyama who had went back to the comic he was reading.

"I didn't take you for a comic type of guy," Masaru commented.

Matsuyama set the book down. "I'm not but it's just something to read."

"Right... about the motive," Masaru started and saw Matsuyama's smile disappear, "I know no one wants to talk about it but do you think someone should guard the weapon table in case one goes missing?"

Matsuyama thought on the idea. "That does actually sound reasonable. Would we take turns?"

"I don't want to participate, I rather get my sleep in."

Matsuyama crossed his arms and held in a laugh. "You want others to do the work for you?"

"I said someone can do it. Not me."

"Maybe it's nothing to worry about," Matsuyama said, "I think we'd notice if someone had a weapon on them, right?"

"That's idiot talk." Masaru yawned, "I expect breakfast to be made for me in the morning."

Matsuyama didn't hold back his laugh this time  as Umeda appeared behind them and leaned against Matsuyama's chair.

"If you're taking orders, I want pancakes again since we didn't get to enjoy ours last time," Umeda told the columnist.

"I thought we would take turns making each other breakfast." Matsuyama pouted.

Umeda whined. "But you're the best cook here. We only want your food."

"Flattery won't get you anywhere," Matsuyama said and Umeda gave a dramatic cry.

"I also want some miso soup," Masaru added, "maybe some rice."

Matsuyama blinked. "I'm not sure if the kitchen has anything like that."

"Find it."

Matsuyama chuckled again right as an announcement rung out.

Ding Dong!

"Ahem! A body has been discove- oops, wrong one!"

"It is now 10pm, return to your dorms this instant. Goodnight, sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs biiitttteeee."

Masaru grit his teeth as the other students let out shaken breaths.

"That was not funny," Umeda spat out with clenched teeth.

"It's already this late?" Winona spoke and looked up from the chessboard.

"We'll finish tomorrow," Seto told her and the two exited the game room.

Everyone else did the same and Masaru retreated back to his dorm alongside Matsuyama, Mizuno, and Toma.

"Well, that was fun," Mizuno yawned then glanced at Masaru, "I'm glad you're attempting to socialize more with your friends."

Before Masaru could comment on that she slipped inside her room and Toma turned to him with a small smile.

"Pippin would like to thank you for the seeds," he told Masaru then went back inside his dorm as well.

"I'll see what I can do about breakfast," Matsuyama spoke next, "I'm sure we have some rice in the kitchen but maybe I can ask Monokuma about the soup. I'll have to get started early on that."

Masaru only stared at him. "I was just joking."

"Oh," Matsuyama frowned a little and Masaru sighed.

"But I would appreciate it."

Matsuyama smiled again. "Leave it to me."

They both went their separate ways and it didn't take Masaru long to fall into a deep slumber.
....

Masaru stared at the scene of a destroyed diner in front of him. At first he thought he was just a bystander but saw that he was actually in front of the yellow tape.

It seemed to be around fall time due to the orange trees that surrounded him and the thick black coat he was wearing to keep him warm from the slight chill.

The diner's see through glass was smashed and the inside looked ransacked. Stools were turned over and napkins, utensils along with any other item that would've been on a table were scattered across the floor.

Masaru looked to the ground to see number cards that labeled certain areas of the diner. There was one card near the cash register, one near a pool of blood at the entrance, and one that labeled the white outline of a body.

Masaru then looked to the side to see an ambulance parked and loading a black body bag into the back.

"Looks like a robbery gone wrong," Masaru said to himself as his eyes were drawn back to the pool of blood.

Masaru glanced over his shoulder to see one of the officer's approaching him but the dream faded before he could get anymore information.
....

Masaru awoke and clutched the sheets beneath him. The last memory dream he had struck him with uncertainty but this one was proof! Proof that he was actually a detective. Proof that he was an ultimate. It wasn't out of the ordinary that he would be helping a police investigation. He couldn't believe he ever doubted his talent and capability.

Masaru didn't hear any sign of a morning announcement so he seemed it was either midnight or early morning. He stretched just as he heard a faint sound that was kind of similar to a popping noise. It went off twice then it was silence. Masaru was already tired and was definitely not going to go and investigate since it very well could've been Monokuma fooling around so he went back to sleep without a thought about it.

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

Masaru felt well rested and wasted no time in jumping out of bed and getting dressed in a flash. He went to the dining hall and a pleasant aroma filled his nose. He guessed Matsuyama had already gotten started on breakfast like they said they would.

Priscilla, Seto, Winona, and Mizuno were present as well but it looked like Seto and Winona were leaving now.

"Good morning!" Winona greeted as she walked past him.

"Where are you two going?" Masaru asked and Seto stopped in place.

"Back to the game room to finish our chess match," he answered.

"You two don't even know how to properly play it," Masaru pointed out.

Winona smiled bright. "That's what makes it fun!"

The two left and Masaru walked over to the other girls. He wanted to immediately tell Priscilla about his dream to prove his innocence but couldn't do it in front of Mizuno.

Luckily, Mizuno pointed to the exit and addressed Priscilla. "I'll go too and set up the pool table again so we can play since you cheated last time."

Priscilla narrowed her eyes. "I didn't cheat I'm just good—"

"Byeee!" Mizuno left the dining hall leaving them alone.

Masaru turned to Priscilla. "Last time everyone was present for breakfast, what happened?" He observed the place, "I'm surprised Toma's not here, he's always up early."

When Masaru looked back to Priscilla she had a nervous look on her face and he noticed her skin pale.

"What's—"

A bloodcurdling scream interrupted Masaru's question and the two froze.

"Sounds like it came from the second floor," Priscilla spoke and swallowed hard.

Ding Dong!

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

Masaru immediately bolted out of the dining hall with Priscilla right behind him. As he made his way to the stairs he saw another person come out of the nurses room which was next to the staircase.

"Is that what I think it was?" Toma spoke, referring to the announcement.

Masaru didn't care to question why he was in the nurses room and rushed up the stairs without a word. He heard the others behind him as he made his way to the game room where the scream surely came from. There was a heavy feeling in his heart; a feeling that he truly hoped was wrong.

Masaru entered the game room and saw Winona and Seto standing frozen still with Mizuno behind them. Mizuno already had tears rolling down her face and looked ready to pass out. Her hands were reaching out for any sign of comfort and Toma rushed over to hold her.

Masaru stepped closer as a peculiar emotion stabbed at his heart and he finally allowed his eyes to fall on the body leaning against the left wall.

The body of Matsuyama Michio, the Ultimate Columnist.