(Holy shit....okay. It has been awhile since I've updated. Sorry guys. But anyway, I'm coming back to hopefully finish this story. If not this time, then definitely after the next hiatus if one comes. But don't worry, I'm never calling quits on this story. I love Danganronpa v3 too much to do that. In fact, I have a sequel planned for this story. Okay, now where were we here.....oh yeah. Maki was choking Kokichi.)

"GH! M-Maki....w-what are you.....talking about....?" I managed to choke out, grasping onto her wrists. 

"Don't you lie! You know exactly what I'm talking about! I told you not to touch it, didn't I? Now tell me where it is!" Maki hissed. Her tone was low, and held a threatening edge that promised a bad time. "Maki stop! Let him go!" Shuichi said in a panic.

"Maki Roll, calm down! Put Kokichi down!" Kaito said, hurrying to stand beside her. 

"I'm not lying.....I-I don't even....know w-what....you're talking about....." I choked out. I tried to look in Maki's eyes, but her grip on my throat prevented me from moving my head at all. However, I was surprised to feel her grip disappear completely, causing me to fall on the ground with a thud. I gasped, then began to cough violently as I tried to regain my breath.

"Kokichi!" Shuichi said, kneeling beside me and placing a hand on my shoulder, "Are you okay?" I began to balance my breathing to normal, rubbing my sore throat while looking at him. "Peachy...." I murmured. Shuichi helped me slowly stand up as I turned to face Maki.

"Now, what precious treasure of yours was stolen to piss you off so much? Maybe I can actually help you find it." I said. Maki blinked, looking at me surprised, then looked away as she messed with one of her pigtails. Kaito sighed as he rubbed the back of his neck.

"You saw that book by our coats, right? The black one with the red ribbon on it?" he said. I perked up.

"Oh yeaaaaah. If I recall, I was told 'touch it and you die', right?" I said with a small smile, doing my best impression of a scary Maki. The Ultimate Assassin apparently didn't find that amusing, and shot a glare at me.

"That book was my diary." she stated. That was when my smile fell. That was her diary.....oh fuck. Every smart guy knows that touching a girl's diary is a death wish. And if someone touched Maki's diary.....she'll take them straight to hell. 

"Yeah, I guess when we came back from that game of 'tag' last night, it wasn't here. We couldn't see a damn thing last night, so decided to try looking here in the morning. But its nowhere to be seen." Kaito explained.

"That can't be good. Who else was out last night?" Shuichi asked.

"Just us four apparently. We asked everyone else, but they said they went to bed that night. And it didn't seem like anyone was lying." Kaito said.

"But someone was lying." I looked to Maki, who had a shadow cast over her eyes. She clenched her fists tightly. "I've had that diary for years, ever since I was a little girl. Maybe it sounds cliche, but I put all my feelings and emotions into that book. Personal things. Things that got me through the training I went through as an assassin. And someone stole it. Someone is reading that book!" she said, practically shouting. 

"Maki..." Shuichi said. Kaito gave her a sympathetic expression before placing a hand on her shoulder, putting on a confident smile. "Don't you worry, Maki Roll! We'll find your book! I promise!" he stated.

"....how?" Maki said. 

"Everyone said they were asleep last night?" Shuichi said, placing a hand over his mouth slightly. Kaito nodded. "Yeah. Although, Keebo said he saw Monokuma walking around last night." he said. I perked up. Monokuma? Wait a minute.....

"Forget it." Maki turned away from us. "Someone is lying about that book, and they won't fess up. And obviously no one is gonna give it back. Besides....they probably read the whole thing already. There's no use trying to get it back." with that statement said, she began to walk away. Kaito perked up and followed her.

"Maki Roll wait! Don't say that!" he said as they both walked away. When they went back inside the academy, I placed a hand on my chin.

"Hmm, tell me, mister detective. If you're really the Ultimate Detective, do you have a suspect?" I asked. Shuichi narrowed his eyes and nodded.

"I sure do...." we both looked at each other.

"Monokuma." we said in unison.

*    *    *    *

Shuichi and I walked towards his Ultimate lab and swung open the doors. Sure as hell, there was Monokuma sitting in a lounge chair by the fire....holding Maki's diary.

"Thought so...." Shuichi said. Monokuma jumped, holding the book close. "W-What the- why are you two here?!" he said. "This is Shuichi's lab after all." I replied. Monokuma blinked. 

"Oh yeah. That's true. Sorry, there are just so many of you, I lose track of a few small details." he said. I hopped in front of him with a smile. "Speaking of details," I said, pointing to the diary, "Wanna tell me why you have something that doesn't belong to you?" I asked. 

"Oh yes, this little book? I found it while I was taking a nice stroll last night. I guess some careless student left it on the bench on the courtyard. My curiosity got the best of me, and I snagged it." Monokuma explained. 

"Why isn't it open then? I figured you'd want to read it." Shuichi said.

"Believe me, Pooichi. I've been trying to open it for hours, but it won't unlock!" Monokuma stated. I pointed to the little silver lock on the side. "Wanna give a pal a hand?" he said. "Don't mind if I do~ Yoink!" I chirped, grabbing the book from his grubby paws. 

"Hey! Give that back!" Monokuma whined.

"Oh I'll give it back, to its rightful owner. Come on Shuichi~" I said, about to walk out the door. 

".....are you sure you don't wanna take a peek for yourself, Kokichi?" 

Monokuma's words made me stop at the door. "I mean, it is Maki's diary. Aren't you even the tiniest bit curious what juicy secrets she wrote in there?" Monokuma said. "And if I did read it, Maki would probably kill me." I stated. "That's only if she ever found out. And you're a great liar, aren't ya?" Monokuma said.

"We aren't gonna read Maki's diary. That wouldn't be right." Shuichi stated. "It won't hurt to have a little peek inside, will it?" Monokuma said. I looked down at the book, eyes narrowing. Shit, now he has me all curious. Now I actually do want to look inside. I mean, she seemed pretty upset to have it be taken. Makes you wonder what she wrote in here......

"Even so, you said there was a lock on the book. We can't look inside even if we wanted to." Shuichi countered. 

"Hmm, I seem to remember a certain supreme leader having a knack at picking locks. Am I wrong, Kokichi?" Monokuma said. I could practically feel his smirk. Dammit Monokuma.....

"Still having doubts? Okay, then think of it this way. You're just reading a story book. I mean, all of Maki's memories are fake, remember? All of your memories are. So, you're not really reading her personal thoughts....you're just reading fiction." Monokuma said. My eyes widened. That's right. The memories inside this book....are fake. 

If I read them....it wouldn't make a difference. I glanced over my shoulder at Shuichi, feeling the need on his opinion. He opened his mouth to speak, but then closed it and awaited my next move. I again looked to the book. Maki's thoughts and memories....her feelings. She said she poured everything in here. I've only known her for her scary threats.....so what awaits behind that scary mask?

.....but.

She did write these secrets with real feelings. Maybe the memories aren't real, but the feelings behind them are. That's why she got so upset over them in the first place. They matter to her, despite them being fiction or not. 

"Nah, I'm good." I replied. I looked back at Shuichi with a grin, ignoring the shocked expression on Monokuma's face. "Come on Shuichi!" I said. Shuichi looked at me surprised, but smiled and we both left his lab together.

"Wait!" we both paused and looked back at Monokuma, who crossed his arms across his chest.

"How did you two know I was in this lab anyway?" he asked. "Monotaro." we both said in unison before shutting the door. We both walked down the hallway, with me practically skipping beside Shuichi. The Ultimate Detective chuckled, and I glanced at him curiously.

"What's so funny?" I asked. "Nothing." Shuichi replied.

"Liar." I said. "Look who's talking." Shuichi countered. I shrugged, looking up for a moment. "By the way Shuichi, you looked like you were going to say something back there, but then you didn't say anything. What was that about?" I asked.

"....I was going to tell you not to read the diary." Shuichi admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. I tilted my head, feeling more then a bit curious. "Really? Then why didn't you say anything?" I asked. "I wanted to see if you wouldn't read it on your own....and you didn't." Shuichi said. He looked at me and flashed a smile, a proud one.

"I'm glad you chose the right decision." he said. I felt a blush creep up on my cheeks, but looked away and faked a cough.

"I see, so mister detective was testing me~ Don't tell me you had doubts~" I said mockingly, trying to turn the tables on him. This made him blush this time, looking away in embarrassment.

"O-Of course not, t-that's not what I...." I chuckled and patted his back firmly.

"Nee-heehee~ I'm just kidding Shuichi! Don't look so nervous!" I said. Shuichi blinked, then chuckled. "Y-Yeah, of course...." he said. "So, where do you think Maki went? I imagine she'll want this back as soon as possible." I said.

"Most likely at her lab. She and Kaito hang out there together all the time." Shuichi said. 

"Ooooh, I think I hear wedding bells~" I chirped. Shuichi nodded. We were coming across to two separating hallways, one leading left and the other to the right. I turned to the right, leading towards Maki's lab. But to my surprise Shuichi turned to the left, so I paused and looked back.

"Uh, Shuichi. Maki's lab is this way, ya ding dong." I said. Shuichi paused and turned to face me. "Oh, sorry. Kaede wanted to show me and Gonta a song she wrote, and I promised to meet her around this time. Hope that's okay." he said.

"Do I look like your mom that needs to give you permission? Go and have fun, Shuichi!" I said. Shuichi nodded and began to walk away. I gave a small wave as he walked away. Strangely, I wanted to follow him, to be closer to him....to..hold that hand of his.

However I sighed, then turned and walked the opposite direction, heading to Maki's lab.