Fujiko

Nothing like losing half your friends to make you totally homesick. But I'm not the type of girl to just cry myself to sleep when there's stuff to be done! No matter how dainty I may look, I'm a go-getter!

I march into the kitchen and grab a box of pasta out of the cabinet.

"Woah, woah, woah," Tozen interjects as he walks in the room. "What are you doing here?"

"My family used to always make angel hair pasta on Friday nights and eat it together! So I figured, hey, it'll be like a taste of home," I explain.

He sighs heavily. "I mean, that's really sweet and understandable, but the last time anyone let you in here, you started a grease fire, Fujiko."

"But there's no oil involved here," I point out.

"Yes, but I wouldn't put it past you to accidentally overfill the pot and burn your hands because it boiled over. Just let me handle it," he insists.

"Fiiiiiiine. But I'm not leaving! I'm gonna watch you, so that I can learn how to do it perfectly and you can leave me alone next time," I tease.

He rubs at his temples. "If you must. Okay, so first off, it's good to have a pot that's at least slightly deep. Fill it roughly two-thirds of the way. Maybe a little less. Tap water is fine." He demonstrates. "Now, this is a gas stove, so when you put the pot on the burner and turn it on, you're gonna hear a few clicks. Make SURE you actually see the fire ignite, because if it's just the gas, that's really dangerous. Now we'll just throw in some salt and wait for it to boil."

We spend a minute or two in awkward silence as I fidget, restless. "Can we just... talk? Like normal freaking people?" I plead.

"Sorry... I know this isn't about me. It's just... it goes against my ideals and beliefs about the world so strongly," he mumbles.

"What about it tips you off so much?" I ask, clacking my nails against the countertop impatiently.

"Doing that feels like a cheap shortcut," he denounces with a surprising amount of force.

"I just didn't want to talk about it. I didn't want them to hate me. And I didn't have faith in my own ability to move on. Because I know from experience that it takes me WAY too long to move on, and that was when I didn't have to see that person's face for weeks! Kana... I have to see her every single day!"

"But the hurt is important! The pain we suffer through is one of the most important things in the world! We all have our own deep, personal scars, and the process of overcoming it through our own willpower is part of the reason we're alive! It shapes our entire identity! I've been fighting... for years... just to be who I am now. And I'm still flawed as hell, but I just want to keep pushing through." His fists are clenched in determination, and his eyes are fierce.

"If my pain could hurt someone else, I don't care about how it'll impact my identity or whatever. My feelings could've really hurt the dancers, so I just wanted them gone, okay?"

"Look, I... I get it. I do. I'm bad with romance, too. I have a ridiculously tough time accepting it if anyone has feelings for me. Even if I reciprocate."

"Why? What happened?" I ask, starting to feel more sympathy.

"It's stupid. You'll think I'm just being overdramatic," he closes up again.

"Nuh-uh. I won't, I promise."

He sighs once again. "I had someone. When I was fourteen. And I was so excited, cause I thought she loved me for me. It's dumb to put so much faith in a relationship at that age, I know, but I was just so thrilled to be wanted like that."

"How did it end?"

"I won't get too deep into it. We'll just say that her reason for dating me was shallow... and I lost the thing that made her like me in the first place. Since I stopped being what she wanted, she left. And it was like I could suddenly see all of the red flags I'd ignored for so many months." I set a hand on his shoulder. He backs away from my touch, as if on instinct. "Sorry, sorry. Just... not in the mood."

"That's fine. A good friend of mine panicked so much when I confessed my feelings for her that she literally dropped her phone into the school fountain," I giggle a little, thinking about it. "It hurt so bad at the time, but it was honestly a pretty stupid reaction on her part! Now, I'm not petty enough to say I hope her phone got soaked beyond repair, but if I WAS petty enough, it'd be good revenge for her ditching me." As if my own laughter gave him permission, he chuckles himself.

"Ah, shit, I got distracted. The water's been boiling for a while now. Do you want your pasta firmer or squidgier?"

"Soft pasta," I request.

"Alright, so then we'll put it in for five minutes. Lower the heat to mid-heat... I usually go for six, if it's numbered. You don't have to stir the whole time, but it's good to do so every now and then so that the noodles don't stick together. Grab a colander and put it in the sink, would you?" I obey, briefly having to try and remember what a colander is. A few short minutes later, the timer beeps. "You can take it off the flame. Pour the contents of the pot into the colander. Careful, it might be a bit heavy."

I lift it with only a small amount of effort and take a few steps toward the sink. "Fujiko!" he suddenly scolds.

"What did I do wrong this time?"

"Turn off the fire first! How are you so bad at this?" he laughs.

"Shit! How AM I so bad at this?!" I have to stop myself from doubling over in laughter so that I don't spill SCALDING PASTA WATER all over myself!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Monterio

I don't get bored very easily, since I'm used to entertaining myself and my little brother while we waited for our parents to get back home from work. Exhibit A, I'm currently in my room alone, juggling hacky sacks from the store and making stupid faces in the mirror. Because apparently I'm in that kind of mood today.

I hope Minato is okay... I hope Tatsuya, Emika, and Shohei are okay, too. It's been a long time since I've gotten to spend any time with Kana's siblings. They always made everything so lively. There was never a dull moment when I was with her family, ever since the minute I met them. Goddammit, I'm lonely.

I flop down on the floor near my bed and reach under to grab the onion. Do I wanna do this right now?

Ever in-sync with me, Kana opens my door. "C'mere," I call out. "It's out of the camera's range, I think."

"Holy shit. So you CAN talk," she teases, referring to the day we first met. She sidles up beside me, curling in on herself. "I hope Minato's doing alright. He's always been such a good kid."

"What a coincidence. I was thinking of your siblings."

"Knowing my siblings, they're doing just fine. Probably worried as hell about us, but they can handle themselves. Emika's probably flirting it up with a guy right about now. Tatsuya would be studying for college entrance exams. Shohei... dear LORD, who knows what sort of trouble he's getting into with his friends?" She opens her eyes wide at the possibilities, and I can't help myself but to laugh a little. But I scoot away from her ever so slightly. She takes a deep, shuddering breath. "Look, I'm... I'm sorry. I shouldn't have just assumed that you agreed with me. If there have ever been times where I've overpowered you and made you feel like your opinion doesn't matter to me, I'm so, so sorry! I understand if you can't forgive me, but—!"

I interrupt her. "Holy shit, so you CAN apologize," I play right back, giving her a gentle nudge.

She gives a weak giggle. "Gosh, I nearly forgot how scary you can be until you reminded me with that outburst. I must've really pushed your buttons, huh?"

"It's not all your fault. I should've communicated better before I just... exploded like that. It was unfair that I expected you to just read my mind."

"So, Mr. Brightside... in what way have you somehow improved even more as a person? I know you're constantly trying to find opportunities whenever something bad happens," she comments.

"I think I can feel more comfortable asserting myself. So hopefully I won't let it build up until it's unbearable anymore."

"Awesome! Start now. I wanna know what's going through your head! We may be like two sides of the same coin, but obviously I don't know everything!"

I can feel my heart start to thrump like crazy in my chest, so quickly I worry I might just die on the spot. "Please don't hate me, but... part of me is really glad Fujiko did what she did before talking to us. Wait, don't make that face, let me explain!" God, I'm sweaty. This shouldn't be so difficult.

"Yo, are you okay? You're giving me that look that you give when you're trying not to show me that you're panicking," she calls me out with a swagger.

"You know that all I want is for you to be happy. If Fujiko had confessed to you, and you wanted her, too... I wouldn't have stopped you," I admit, looking down at the ground and fumbling around with the onion. "Cause... I know that we haven't dated since we met, but we never officially decided that we're exclusive. If this isn't what you want, I'll gladly stay by your side exactly like this forever, but... I want to finally label us. I want to be able to call you my girlfriend, Kana. That's my opinion, right here and right now. You're a fireball, and I want you to be MY fireball. So, um... what's your opinion?"

Her eyes are so fond and warm. "Damn, you're really chatty today." She grabs my head and pulls me in toward her so that our foreheads are touching and our noses are about to nuzzle. "Allow me to take care of that for you." She kisses me deeply, and I sink into it. I run my hands through her hair and she lays her arms around my shoulders in a loose embrace. And I'm sure our hearts are beating in the same rhythm, same time signature. After a long while, she finally pulls away from me a little. "You know what this needs? Music."

I sigh. "Unfortunately, we can't. We heard from Monoinu that Monokuma's not gonna give a motive for as long as the schism lasts. That's why I made sure we're out of the camera's view. We have to hide that we made up. I promise that I'm yours, but we just have to keep it quiet a little while longer."

Her eyes widen in alarm and understanding. "But I've been in here for a LONG time! What if Monokuma starts to wonder what I did in here? I can't just walk out and pretend like nothing happened!"

"I've got that covered." I shake the onion a little bit in my hand.

"Fake tears! You're fucking brilliant!"

"We're gonna pretend like I didn't forgive you." I pull out a kitchen knife that I swiped last night and start chopping into it, right on the floor. She bends down and starts to purposefully inhale it.

"Damn, this is freaking potent!" Her eyes start to go red, and tears begin to well up in them. "How do I look?"

"Perfect. Just like you always do."

"Fuck, you're so smooth!" she exclaims in delight. "I love you, my life partner."

"I love you, too."

She beams at me. The next instant, however, she puts on an expression so simultaneously heartbroken and bitter that it nearly knocks me out. She stands up abruptly and stalks out of the room, body language fierce and tense.

That's my girl. Shit, that's such a nice thought.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kana

It's been a whole week since we made up, and I haven't even been able to actually interact with him at ALL since then. It's fucking unbearable, I tell you!

Today, I'm gonna fly solo. It's been pretty cool chilling with the people on this side of the schism. I don't normally hang out with too many of them, so this has been a good opportunity, as Monterio would put it. Self-improvement and all of that good shit. But there are times where even I want to be alone. I got supplies out of the craft room and warehouse, and so now I'm making art! I am not in any way good at crafts, but just like with everything, I've got enthusiasm to spare. I'm messing around with everything: glitter, watercolors, charcoal sticks. Basically, I'm just making a hell of a mess under the guise of art. I'll leave the museum-worthy shit to the real artists and focus on my choreography. I'm making stuff for everyone. It's probably gonna come across as super juvenile, but I don't give a crap.

For Monterio, I'm just doodling little inside jokes. And maybe one or two hearts. It doesn't feel ALL that different, but it's still got me a bit excited. But like I said! This isn't all about him. I'm drawing Azumi's performance from our little impromptu talent show. I'm making a collage with like, macaroni and split peas and all sorts of stuff like that for Tozen. I'm making a little dude out of modeling clay for Haruto, and a picture of both of Ren's guitars (including how shiny his electric one is), and a little painting of Yuu as a Fairy Godmother giving Cinderella a glass slipper. Because that sounds like the sort of hilarious shit that he'd be into.

I even start to make a few things for some of the people on the other side. Like, a cool action picture of Aika for Joanie. And one of those corny little friendship bracelets you'd make when you're ten for Fujiko...

After a long morning of crafting, I tuck everything safely in my room and decide to take a dip in the pool again. I don't feel the need to have Bisque tell the other side that I'm taking it; this isn't a group outing. I take my swimsuit with me and make my way over there.

And I immediately fall to my knees. Because there, floating in a cloud of scarlet red, is the unmistakable form of Joanie Moore, the Ultimate Director. "H-Holy shit," I hear myself say, but I feel as though I'm having an out-of-body experience.

Trembling, I force myself to stand. And then I take off my heels and begin to sprint. As fast as I possibly can. "WAKUMI! FUJIKO!" I call, over and over, ears ringing. I can't get the image out of my brain. It's lingering like a shadow in one of her movies. Please. Please don't be dead, Fujiko. Not before I can make it up to you!

I find Wakumi first. "Wench, what're ye bellowin' like that fer? And why're ye screamin' fer me? We haven't chatted in two n' a half weeks!"

"Wakumi! Wakumi!" I scream, grabbing her arms. "Joanie's dead! She's— She's—!!"

Her eyes immediately go feral, and she squeezes my arms so hard I'm scared she might break them on the spot. "Tell me where she is right now or I'll cleave ye ta the brisket in two seconds flat."

"Pool! She's in the pool!" She practically throws me aside and dashes in the opposite direction of me. Once again, I have to command my body to rise from the floor. But I have to make sure Fujiko's okay. If one of the two girls who got hypnotized is dead, I can't let myself relax until I see her alive and well. I run to the beautician's, searching every single rack of clothing in the damn place. "Fujiko, please!" I wail.

"Kana?! Kana, what's happening?!"

I practically tackle her to the ground in a hug. "OH THANK GOD! YOU'RE ALIVE! YOU'RE OKAY!"

"Kana, seriously, what on EARTH is going on here?!" she squeals, trying to wipe tears out of my eyes.

"Joanie's gone! She's dead! And I was so, so scared that you might have been killed before I could say I'm sorry! I'm so sorry for being so terrible to you! I was being short-sighted, and unfair, and— and—!" I cry, squishing her.

"I forgive you, and I'll apologize back later, but we have no time now! Come on, we have to go!" She picks me up off the ground and we hobble to the pool, arm-in-arm, crying together. The instant Fujiko steps in there and sees the pool stained with blood, the announcement goes off.

Ding Dong Dong Ding!

"A body has been discovered! After a certain amount of time, which you may use however you like, the class trial will begin!"

People begin filtering into the room, but I can barely tell who, because it feels like my peripheries are fuzzy. I can feel the familiar feeling of Monterio holding me to himself as he comforts me. I lightly claw at his chest, trying to soothe myself and stop crying. I didn't cry for the other two, and I feel like I need to be a rock for the group, even if that's not necessarily the case. I detract for a moment just to count the people. Five... Eight... Eleven. Okay, good. At least there's only one dead. It's fucking sickening that this is my reaction. Only one dead, and I'm treating it like a goddamn blessing. This is fucking absurd.

Wakumi is poised over the water, sticking her hand in the pool. She suddenly snaps her attention over to the group furiously. "Ah, whoever did this better be grateful ta whatever deity or guidin' force they believe in. Listen here, ye rotten, heartless bastard. Monokuma's grizzly executions look lily-livered compared to what I want ta do ta ye. So watch yer DAMN back!"

The words rattle us to the core and seem to linger in the room. She's really gone.

[A/N] I will be putting up a fake page of FTE's so that people who haven't read up till here can't tell that it's not a double murder. Joanie is the 5th dead, so that's the page you should check for her events.