The next day, Masaru was glad to say he felt like himself again as he made his way to the dining hall. It was morning and he hoped he could observe more of the game room now that he was feeling better.

Masaru walked in and saw Mizuno, Toma, and Matsuyama as usual but this time Nao and Shoji were also present although Shoji looked extremely cranky at the fact that he was up this early.

Masaru could feel the gloom in the atmosphere as he came closer for some reason which was particularly coming from Mizuno and Matsuyama.

"What's wrong with you two?" He asked.

Nao must have left Pinku in her room and she side eyed Mizuno. "Go on. Tell him."

"Yesterday when we were at the pool," Mizuno started, "I know you all saw Monokuma show up but you didn't hear what he said."

She fell silent and Matsuyama continued for her.

"Supposedly we're supposed to receive our next motive today."

"Already?" Masaru questioned, "I wonder what it will be this time."

"Don't entertain the thought," Mizuno told him.

"This is sad and all," Shoji yawned, "but it doesn't distract me from the fact that I'm still hungry."

Mizuno looked to Matsuyama with puppy eyes. "Will big brother Matsu cook us breakfast to make us feel better?"

Matsuyama chuckled and sighed before standing up and heading to the kitchen. After a while, the others joined them in the dining hall and Mizuno broke the news to them.

"This is just splendid," Priscilla mumbled.

"Alright, when are we going to kill that thing?" Seto asked, irritated.

"I'm gonna go crazy if I spend another second in a class trial," Valini said shutting her eyes and Herb rubbed her back.

"What are we going to do?" Winona asked.

"What do you think?" Shoji rolled his eyes, "wait for the next murder."

Masaru didn't want to admit it but the guy was right. Unless they could magically find an exit in the next two minutes they'd be reliving everything all over again.

Everyone ate the breakfast that Matsuyama brought out with the help of Winona and the table was silent. Some people tried to make small talk but there was no use for it.

Then just like before, Monokuma appeared then frowned once he read the atmosphere.

"Why aren't y'all in a good mood?" Monokuma complained, "I was hoping to ruin it."

"What do you want?" Umeda snapped.

"Oh you already know!"

Everyone at the table groaned and they indeed already knew where to go. Mizuno tapped Masaru's shoulder as they all walked to the gym.

"After whatever Monokuma has planned for us, meet me in the game room."

Masaru narrowed his eyes. "Why?"

"Just do it," Mizuno whispered, "I'm inviting a few others but don't tell anyone about this, okay?"

Masaru shrugged and entered the gym after everyone else. Once he stepped inside, he felt a chill run down his spine and couldn't help but think of Arata. This was the place he tried to get the others to have fun but now he's gone. He even told them not to continue this killing game but here they were, in the same predicament.

Monokuma took his place on the podium and addressed his students, getting straight to the point. "I'm sure you already figured but the last motive's theme was justice! However, today's theme is friendship!"

Monokuma observed their unimpressed faces. "Wow! I thought you all would love this theme, you know since you're all about the power of friendship!"

Nao crossed her arms. "And what does that mean?"

"I hope that means you'll let us go," Umeda said.

Shoji shook his head. "You're an idiot."

"Shut up and let me reveal the motive!" Monokuma then cleared his throat, "as of now, if someone becomes blackened and succeeds in graduating they can pick one student to escape with them!"

"What?" Winona breathed out.

"I'm sure you've all made great friends," Monokuma continued, "I'm just giving you a chance to save one of them!"

"This motive is going to be a problem," Priscilla said lowly.

"That means there's a strong chance of someone becoming an accomplice," Masaru said then looked at the others, "interesting."

"No, not interesting," Valini said, "this is messed up."

"How are we supposed to believe you?" Herb asked, "last time, you lied about getting rid of the traitor so why would we believe you now?"

"Speaking of the traitor, they're still among us, aren't they?" Shoji said looking around at everyone skeptically.

"That was only because I knew you all wouldn't be able to catch them," Monokuma explained, "fine, fine, last time was a trick but you're the ones who fell for it! This time I promise I'm telling the truth!"

"Don't trust it," Seto said, "every motive has been a trap. Our families, finding the traitor... this psychopath just wants us to kill each other for eternity. There is no escape."

Seto's words shook everyone's core but they knew it had to somewhat be true. Monokuma glared at him and his claws slid out.

"Sounds like someone is sassing their headmaster," the bear growled.

"Bite me."

"Maybe don't provoke it," Winona whispered to Seto.

"Whatever!" Monokuma huffed, "do what you want with the motive, I don't care!" The bear then disappeared from the stage.

"Someone's cranky," Shoji snickered.

"He is not a truthful bear," Toma said, "don't fall for it."

"This is getting a bit repetitive," Nao flipped her hair then exited the gym, "I need to feed Pinku."

Masaru observed his classmates and knew he would have to establish the current relationships at some point but then he looked at Mizuno who was exiting next along with everyone else. He sighed then guessed he should follow her order and headed to the game room.

Masaru made his way to the second floor and when he entered the game room he saw Mizuno was already there but no one else.

"Is this a joke?" Masaru asked right as Matsuyama, Toma, Priscilla, and Umeda followed in after him.

"Why did you call us here?" Umeda asked.

"Great, you all came," Mizuno said in all seriousness.

Toma looked around the room. "What is wrong?"

Mizuno glanced at Masaru. "I know I said Nao was crazy last trial but I think we need to find this traitor. Now."

"And how do you suppose we do that?" Priscilla asked.

"I don't know yet but if we find the traitor before the time for this motive runs out then we can torture them into telling us who's behind this."

"Torture?" Matsuyama questioned.

Umeda nodded in approval. "I like that idea."
He then looked over at Masaru. "Aren't you a detective? Do you have anymore suspicions other than the stupid ones you gave last time?"

"No," Masaru said, not going down that road again.

"Well you need to start investigating or something," Mizuno said, "we'll help! It can't be that hard."

Masaru looked to Priscilla who actually had a sure way of being of great use due to Shoji but she didn't return the gaze. He didn't blame her for not telling them though.

"I've interviewed people for columns before," Matsuyama offered, "I'll talk to the others and see if anyone acts suspicious."

"Great!" Mizuno cheered, feeling confident now, "this traitor is going down."

"What are you guys doing?"

Masaru turned towards the entrance half expecting to see Monokuma but instead Seto and Winona stared back at them.

"Nothing that concerns you," Umeda told him.

"Doesn't matter," Seto said and gestured for Winona to continue and she stepped forward.

"We were actually thinking of throwing a party in the game room," she told them.

"A party?" Priscilla asked, "we were just given our third motive and you want to throw a party?"

"That's exactly why we're doing it," Seto defended.

Winona agreed. "We don't want things to get depressing again and we all had fun in the pool yesterday. I don't want everyone to shut down because of Monokuma."

"And plus we can keep an eye on everyone in case someone tries to do something stupid," Seto added, "we can still have fun while doing so."

Mizuno pulled Masaru and Matsuyama closer to her. "This could be a good opportunity for you two to investigate!" She then rushed over to Winona's side. "What can I do to help?"

"I will help as well," Toma said.

Seto tapped his fingers. "Well the game room pretty much has everything entertainment wise but we'll need drinks, ice, and food."

Everyone looked to Matsuyama at that last part but Mizuno waved her hands.

"Big brother Matsu already made us breakfast. We can make the food ourselves."

Umeda side eyed her. "Big brother? I thought no one calls him that, hm?"

Mizuno ignored him and left the game room with Toma and Seto.

"We'll start the party tomorrow!" Winona said before leaving, herself.

"Everything that just happened in the past ten minutes was stupid," Masaru said.

"I don't think attempting to catch the traitor is a bad idea," Priscilla said then glanced at Masaru, "and something tells me we'll have a bit of luck in that." She then left the room as well and Umeda shook his head.

"She sure is strange," he said then turned to Matsuyama, "what are you going to do now?"

Matsuyama shrugged. "I guess prepare to interview our fellow classmates tomorrow."

While those two talked, Masaru left before they dragged him into the conversation. He was planning on going back downstairs but someone in the pool room caught his attention. He decided to go inside and saw Valini swimming by herself. When she spotted him she propped herself up to sit on the edge.

"Did you want to swim too?" She asked.

Masaru shook his head. "Why are you by yourself? I thought you'd be in your room after Monokuma's motive reveal."

Valini pouted. "I'm tired of being scared all the time. I'm trying to be like everyone else."

"Well, everyone else is scared just like you. But it's good that you're trying to change I guess."

Valini kicked her feet in the water. "You know, the only reason I became a swim suit model in the first place was because people kept telling me I have a great body. Mostly creepy men."

Masaru blinked at her. "That's not a good thing."

"But over time I began to love it," Valini continued, "I was born to be in front of a camera."

"I'm sure you're a natural," Masaru said dryly but Valini smiled big at the compliment.

Masaru and Valini grew a bit closer.

"Well, I'm gonna go change in the locker room," Valini stretched and went on her way and so did Masaru.

Throughout the day, the only thing Masaru saw were people preparing for the party. Mizuno helped Winona in the kitchen to make the food for tomorrow and Seto set up the stuff for making drinks. Masaru even saw Herb assisting Toma in bringing decorative supplies up to the second floor. He didn't know where they got the stuff from but the next thing Masaru knew, the nighttime announcement was going off.

*. *. *. *

"Am I going to be given an execution?" Masaru asked a blurry face standing across from him. He was in a very little detailed room which was dim.

The person tilted their head. "Do you want one?"

"Just answer the question."

The person groaned dramatically. "You're no fun. Why would I give you an execution, huh? As if I'd let anyone kill you."

"You're the one not being fun."

"Then why are you here?" The person asked, stepping closer.

Masaru crossed his arms. "I'm playing this game for a reason, remember? How is it going to be fun if my life isn't on the line just like everyone else?"

The person stared back at him before cackling. "Wow, you're just as crazy as I am. Still not giving you an execution."

Masaru felt himself continue arguing but the room around him was getting foggier and foggier...

......

Masaru awoke with a jolt and a sickening feeling. He immediately threw the covers off of him and rushed to the bathroom before throwing up into the toilet bowl. His fever was slightly gone but the bile that came up was completely unrelated to that.

Masaru then wiped his mouth and trudged over to his desk. The memory dream he'd just experienced was too confusing for him to understand and he didn't want to understand it at all. Because if he really thinks about it, it seems like he knew whoever was behind this personally. Maybe he even had a part in setting this up...

Masaru shook his head. "Impossible," he mumbled although the scene couldn't stop replaying in his head. Did he himself know who the mastermind was? It didn't seem like he was being forced to participate in this killing game.

Masaru got dressed although his mind was elsewhere and he left his dorm. The hallways and even the dining hall were empty so he made his way up to the second floor. He of course went to the game room first and saw the party people setting up the place.

Winona and Mizuno spread the food they prepared yesterday onto one of the brought in tables and Seto did the same with the drinks. Toma stood on a chair as he plastered gold streamers onto the wall and Herb placed red balloons near the entrance.

When Mizuno saw Masaru walk in she instantly rushed over.

"Avert your eyes!" She told him, "we'll start in the evening, you're gonna ruin the surprise!"

Mizuno pushed him fully out into the hallway then disappeared back inside. Masaru grumped and now didn't know where to go. He guessed he would go back downstairs and try and find Shoji or Priscilla.

Masaru walked back to the dorm hallways and approached Shoji's door first. When he knocked he was only half surprised when Priscilla answered.

"Oh, great," Priscilla greeted him, "you're here." She pulled him inside and Masaru saw that Shoji was seated in his same spot.

Masaru stepped closer to the guy and Shoji turned around his laptop with a sly grin.

Masaru read the screen that now said 99%.

"How long will it take to get to 100?" Masaru asked.

Shoji shrugged. "Doesn't matter. We'll soon know who's behind this in no time." He then looked to Masaru and Priscilla equally. "And... I want to let Umeda in on what we're doing."

"Excuse me?" Priscilla said, already not liking the idea, "if I were going to let another person in on this it would either be Matsuyama or that Mizuno girl."

"Well it's my computer and I trust him," Shoji argued stubbornly, "he won't tell anyone if I tell him not to."

"I see no problem with it," Masaru said, "isn't he also good with computers?"

"He's a game designer," Shoji made clear, "it's not the same. Anyways, I'm going to show him during the party."

Priscilla sighed. "Fine, it's your choice."

Throughout the day, all Masaru did was wander aimlessly around the school until evening finally came. When he arrived at the game room once again, half of the other students were already there. Nao, Umeda and Valini were the last to arrive.

The room had two tables that were obviously brought in from somewhere else like Masaru saw before. Finger sandwiches, chips, fruit, and brownies sat on one table and a bowl of red liquid next to a bunch of plastic cups sat on the other. There was one machine, however, that Masaru didn't see when he first came in here this morning.

"What is that?" Masaru asked, gesturing to the black box with two microphones attached to it.

"A karaoke machine," Seto answered with a smile.

Nao raised an eyebrow. "And where did you get that from?"

"Monokuma gave it to us," Winona said awkwardly, "he said he wanted to pitch in..."

"You should've pushed it down the stairs," Umeda told them.

"Who cares let's just start the party!" Valini cheered and clapped her hands.

Masaru took a seat in one of the brown chairs and watched everyone else have fun. Umeda and Shoji were occupying the arcade games although Umeda was the only one playing them. Winona and Seto were hogging the karaoke machine, not like anyone wanted a turn, and Matsuyama cheered them on even though they were making everyone's ears bleed.

Nao was sipping on a cup of punch by herself while Mizuno found a board game at the bottom of the book shelf and convinced Toma and Priscilla to play with her. Valini and Herb conversed with each other in their own world.

Masaru watched Nao in her antisocial behavior and figured he should talk to her. He got up to do so right as Seto set his mic down and addressed Winona.

"I'm gonna go get more ice," Seto told her and nodded to the drink bowl that had few ice cubes, "I'll be right back."

Seto left the game room and Winona looked to Matsuyama.

"Do you want to join me?" She asked.

Matsuyama waved his hands. "No, no I can't—"

Winona pulled him up and handed him Seto's abandoned microphone. The whole room seemed to pause for a short lived time when the columnist first sang due to his great voice but for some reason Masaru was not surprised by that at all.

Masaru continued to approach Nao and when she saw him she avoided his gaze.

"Ugh, don't make it awkward," Nao said and took another sip.

"Don't make what awkward?" Masaru asked.

"Look, just forget about all the crying and stuff that happened. I was feeling emotional."

"I already did," Masaru said then glanced around the room, "where's Pinku?"

"In my room of course." Nao answered, "I need to refill her water bowl at some point although she mostly just lays in it."

Masaru nodded then looked at Mizuno. "Why don't you join their game?"

"Why don't you?"

Masaru pursed his lips. "I will if you do."

"That's dumb," Nao scoffed, "you won't do it anyways."

Masaru narrowed his eyes and walked over to the students who were playing the board game just as Seto came back with one bag of ice.

Mizuno did not look too happy about whatever was going on with the game but her face lit up when Masaru sat down. Then her face slightly changed when Nao sat down as well.

Priscilla didn't acknowledge them and was still looking at Mizuno. "You still owe me a thousand dollars—"

"Masaru! Nao!" Mizuno cheered, "I guess we have to start over since you two want to play."

The hiker scrapped the game board and Priscilla rolled her eyes. Masaru spent time with them playing the board game although the rules were confusing. Halfway through Priscilla went to the bathroom before coming back a while later. This time she didn't rejoin the game and Masaru took that as a sign that he should leave it too.

Everyone seemed to be having a good time at the party but Masaru was starting to get bored. He grabbed a finger sandwich as Toma left for a while after announcing that he should go feed his birds.

Later, the bird keeper came back and Masaru was now watching Valini and Winona perform a song with the karaoke machine. Afterwards, Valini went back over to Herb who was fiddling with his hands either nervously or anxiously.

Masaru finished his sandwich then spotted Matsuyama near the drink bowl and walked over.

"I have a problem," Masaru whispered and Matsuyama turned to him with worry.

"What do you mean?"

Masaru sighed. "I've been regaining some of my memory but I don't know if that's such a good thing." He wanted to bring up the latest one he's had but he didn't want Matsuyama to not trust him because of it.

"Why wouldn't it be a good thing?" Matsuyama asked.

"Well," Masaru tried to think back on the other dreams he's had, "I sort of remember walking into the school on my own. I thought we've might have been kidnapped and just woke up here but it seemed like I knew where my room was."

Matsuyama's eyebrows furrowed. "Last thing I remember was packing and getting ready to go off for college. My mother was supposed to drive me there but after that everything gets foggy. Next thing I know, I was in my dorm but at least my bags were still with me."

Masaru nodded slowly. "My things were also in my dorm."

"But you said you remember walking into the school, right?"

Masaru looked to the side. "Yeah, but I could just be remembering wrong."

"Don't worry too much about it," Matsuyama told him, "but continue to try and remember whatever you can."

Matsuyama then looked around the room to make sure no one was too close to them. "I've been speaking with the other students like I said I would. I didn't really interrogate them but no one gave me any suspicious behavior." He then bit his lip. "But they did wake up in this school the same way I did..."

Masaru sighed, figuring he was the one that looked suspicious now, and saw Nao beginning to leave the game room but Winona stopped her.

"You're leaving already?" Winona pouted.

"There's really nothing here for me to do," Nao said, twirling her hair, "and I should get back to Pinku."

Before Winona could convince her to stay, Nao was the first to leave the party.

"Wow, buzzkill," Umeda commented and walked over to Masaru and Matsuyama, "do you want to play arcade games with me?"

"No," Masaru said, bluntly, and searched for where Shoji was and saw him speaking with Priscilla probably about what he mentioned earlier.

Masaru then saw Valini leaving next and when Winona asked her why the model mumbled something about feeling sick then left. Herb followed after her most likely out of concern.

"I don't mind playing but I can't promise you that I'll be good," Matsuyama answered Umeda.

Umeda gave a thumbs up then side eyed Shoji. "I was cruelly abandoned so I need a new partner."

Matsuyama and Umeda walked off and Masaru decided to go over to Priscilla and Shoji.

"I decided I'll tell him tomorrow," Masaru heard Shoji say when he stood next to them.

Shoji glanced at Masaru and huffed. "I'm assuming you heard that."

"I thought you said you'd do it during the party," Priscilla said, crossing her arms.

"Yes but I want to make sure we actually have something first before I go and get Umeda's hopes up," Shoji explained, "we were at 99% last time so I'm going to go check if it's completed yet."

Shoji started to walk off then turned back to them. "And I'm not coming back so don't try to rope me into any stupid party activities."

Shoji left and Masaru turned back to Priscilla.

"What are you going to do now?" He asked.

Priscilla looked to Mizuno across the room. "Not play anymore board games that's for sure."

Masaru let her be and walked over to Seto who was reading a stack of comics he found on the book shelf.

"Are you having fun?" Seto asked without looking up.

"Partially," Masaru admitted and Seto set his comic down.

"I wanted everyone to stay in my sights but a few people left," Seto shrugged, "I guess it can't be helped. We just wanted everyone to have fun so no one even gave a second thought about the motive."

"That's actually pretty smart," Masaru gave him credit and Seto rolled his eyes.

"You make it sound as if I'm an idiot."

Masaru didn't answer and Seto narrowed his eyes.

"I don't think you have anything to worry about," Masaru said, thinking of Shoji, "we're going to get out of here soon enough."

Seto raised an eyebrow. "Why do you seem so sure about that?"

"Like I said, don't worry about it."

It was getting late but the students that were left still partied on. Masaru made his way over to Mizuno who was conversing with Toma. He didn't know what they were talking about though because once he approached they both went quiet.

"I hope you know that was suspicious," Masaru told them.

Mizuno sighed then scratch the back of her neck. "We were just discussing traitor related stuff. I still think it's Nao by the way."

"That's the last person I would be suspecting," Masaru told her.

"I don't want to suspect anyone," Toma said.

"She was the first one to leave," Mizuno continued, "why was that?"

Masaru pretended to think about it. "Maybe because she has to take care of Pinku and it's not like any of you are trying to be her friend."

"You're not either."

"We should all try," Toma suggested.

"She needs to become a tad more likable for me to do that," Mizuno said.

Masaru observed the rest of his classmates who were having a good time.

"I'm leaving now."

Mizuno looked horrified. "You can't! Have you even tried a brownie yet?"

"I don't need to," Masaru said, "I'm tired and the nighttime announcement should be going off anytime now."

"You should get some rest then," Toma said but Mizuno still looked unsatisfied by the decision.

Masaru left the game room and took a deep breath. He didn't know that socializing could be mentally and physically draining.

He began to walk towards the stairs just in time to see a figure disappear around a corner. Masaru couldn't see who it was so he followed them to where they went which was the locker rooms but when he tried to see who it was, all he saw was the boys locker room door close.

Masaru could use his mono pad to open it and see for himself but he was already too tired so he made his way back to the first floor. It was only when he was halfway down the steps when he heard a high pitched scream. He bolted down the rest of the stairs and entered the dorm hallways where he saw two people standing.

Nao was standing in someone's doorway with a pink bowl in her hands and Valini stood next to her with an alarming expression. Masaru got a familiar dreadful feeling when he approached the girls and as soon as he did that triggered a special announcement.

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

Masaru's dread was confirmed and he stared down at the body lying inside their own dorm with a heavy heart.

Shoji Isao, the Ultimate Hacker, was dead.