The sixteen of us are at the dining hall, our mouths melting from Kirumi's fine delicacy! I swear to God she is the best damn cool I've ever met!

"Delicious Kirumi! You always make the best meals!" Tenko stated. "Yeah, it's really good." Himiko said.

"I appreciate that you enjoy it, but praise isn't needed. It is a maid's duty to serve others until they are satisfied." Kirumi replied.

"Are you kidding? The whole world should know if your cooking!" Kaede stated. "Indeed, you needn't be so modest of your skills." Kiyo added.

"Thank you, Kirumi. It means a lot to us for you to go this far." Ryoma said. Kirumi blushed, but smiled.

"Thank you....everyone."

"Seconds please!" I said, holding out my empty plate.

"Me too please!" Kaito said. "I asked first!" I stated. "Who cares?! I want some too!" Kaito said.

"Not if I eat it all!" I said. "Why you-"

"Both of you degenerate males have some respect! I don't care if she's a maid, that's no excuse to treat her like that!" Tenko snapped. Kirumi just giggled and took both plates.

"Please be at ease. I am more than happy to give you both seconds." She replied, calmly walking back to the kitchen. I sighed and leaned back in my chair. As I did, I looked around the room. I eventually looked to Ryoma. I noticed he was a lot more chatty with the others, and he wore a big smile on his face.

It made me curious. What's got him in a good mood? "Hey, Ryoma? You alright?" I asked. Ryoma looked at me, seeming puzzled.

"What do you mean?" He asked.

"You just seem more happy, that's all." I replied. "Its true, you do seem to be in a better mood then normal." Shuichi said. Ryoma chuckled.

"Ah, that. Honestly, I think it was that tennis match." He said. Gonta tilted his head.

"Tennis match?" He said.

"I haven't been on the court in years. So, going back to it....felt good," he looked to Gonta and I, "you two are actually pretty skilled. I'm impressed. But I owe you a rematch." He stated. Gonta and I looked to each other, then we smiled.

"Sure thing! Sounds fun!" We both said.

*    *    *    *

"Oh man I'm stuffed...." I muttered, walking down the sidewalk on the courtyard. It was definitely nighttime, as the fake sky painted a dark midnight blue. I wanted to go for a walk, since I really didn't feel sleepy.

"Geez, a Panta sounds great right now." I murmured. My gaze wandered around the courtyard....until they landed on something I didn't expect to see.

Rantaro. Sitting on the roof of Miu's Ultimate lab. I blinked, slowly approaching it.

"Rantaro?" He snapped out of his trance and looked down at me.

"Kokichi? What are you doing our here?" He asked. I effortlessly climbed up the building and got to Rantaro.

"I could ask you the same thing." I said, plopping beside him and swinging my legs over the edge. He looked up at the sky, eyes narrowing.

"Just looking at the stars." He said.

"Ohhh, you mean the fake stars? Probably just headlights or something." I said. Rantaro nodded. "Probably." He murmured. There was a moment of silence, and I slowly grew bored, so I decided to start up small talk.

"Do you remember any of it? The old killing you participated in?" I asked. His figure tensed, and for a moment his eyes widened. Then he looked down, a shadow casting over his eyes.

"....yeah, unfortunately." Seeing his obvious discomfort I averted my gaze to the ground.

"Great starter, Kokichi...." I thought.

"I regret everything about it," Rantaro continued, fists clenched, "so many friends...gone. And when it's over, you think you're free. Man was I wrong...."

"Sorry, guess I should've brought something else up instead." I said. He gave a sad chuckle and leaned back, looking at the sky again.

"Its fine. I'm sure someone was bound to ask." He said.

"Well, I hope you don't mind me asking you something else," I said, "I wanted your opinion on something. Since you're the Ultimate Survivor." Rantaro tilted his head, seeming curious. "Okay then, shoot." He said.

"What do you think about our chances of escaping are? To getting to the outside world. Think we'll ever get outta here?" I asked.

That's when he put on a smile. "Honestly, can't say I would know. Life is too unpredictable to try and calculate that stuff. Anything can happen." He said.

"Anything? Like we all explode suddenly? Or we turn into animals and eat each other? Or one of us gets electrocuted by the toaster?" I said. Rantaro laughed, placing a hand on his head.

"Hahahahaha! Where the hell did you come up with those ideas?" He asked.

"Well, I have been told that I'm a crazy bastard." I said, gesturing the cuckoo sign with my finger.

"Aren't we all. But you know....I hope we do get out. And I'll certainly try hard to escape." Rantaro said. "Oh yeah? Why's that?" I asked.

"....I have to find my sisters."

"Huh?" I said.

"Years ago, I lost twelve sisters. Not at once, but they kept disappearing, one by one. For a long time, I've been trying to find them. I'm sure they're all still alive! I know they are! I just have to find them! And I certainly can't do that here."

The more I listened to Rantaro's story....the more I frowned.

"That's a lie you know."

Rantaro looked at me, holding a blank expression. "That's a part of your fake past, remember? That fake shit Team Danganronpa shot into your head. You didn't lose anybody. Just your identity." I stated coldly. There's no other way around it. That's just the cold, hard truth. And the truth hurts.

That's why I stick with lies.

"Is that what you think?" I blinked, looking at Rantaro.

"Eh? What do you mean? Course that's what I think! Tsumugi explained it to us, remember?" I said.

"I'm afraid I can't believe that. The memories I have, they feel too real to be fake." Rantaro stated with a smile.

"That's the point, idiot." I said.

"I'd like to think that my life is real. That I am real. That's what I want to believe. No, that's not right....I do believe. And nothing is gonna change that unless I'm shown proof." Rantaro stated confidently. I looked at him shocked. How....can he do that? Just ignore reality like this. Our memories are fake....right?

"And if you're wrong?" Rantaro shrugged.

"Then that's my mistake. And I can deal with my own mistakes." He replied. I chuckled, scratching my head.

"You really are a moron." I said.

"And you....are the most confusing person I've ever met." His words caught me off guard, and I looked at him with a tilted head.

"Come again?"

"I don't understand you, honestly. You tease and insult everyone, make them go so far as come close to wanting to fight you. Then you do these other things: apologizing to Kaede, being friendly to Gonta, making Ryoma really happy by playing tennis.....save my life.... " he turned his body to face me, giving me a serious expression.

"Tell me the truth. Are you trying to be out friend? Or are you pushing everyone away?" I couldn't help but just....stare. Struck by his words.

What....am I doing?

Why aren't I acting like myself, like in the first time line? Why am I being like this? Maybe....the guilt I've been feeling is getting to me, and I don't realize it....

I stood up, sighing.

"I'm going to bed." I stated, leaping down from the building. Rantaro didn't protest, or try to stop me. I turned to look up at him, putting on my signature smirk.

"Later, mister Ultimate Survivor!" I called, then began to walk away.

".....that's not my true talent." I paused, and glanced back at the boy. He smiled.

"They only gave me that title since I survived the old killing game. I'm really the Ultimate Adventurer." I looked at him surprised, then smiled, turning away from him.

"Night then, mister Ultimate Adventurer!"

*    *    *    *

I sat up and yawned, stretching my very, very sore body.

"Holy shit, playing tennis really did do a number on me..." I sniffed at my scarf, grimacing at the smell of dried sweat, "aaaand time for some clean clothes."

I immediately took a quick shower and slipped on some new clothes, sighing in satisfaction. "Ah, much better. Now to eat more of Kirumi's delicious foo-"

I inhaled sharply upon looking at my table.

Laying there.....was a Kubs pad. And I was already aware of its contents.

*    *    *    *

We had all gathered in the dining hall....holding our Kubs pads.

"Okay, so I guess it's obvious we each got one of these things." Kaito said, holding up the Kubs pad. "No shit, Sherlock. But what the hell are they anyway?" Miu said. Suddenly one of the Monokubs popped out of nowhere, Monosuke.

"Those would be your Kubs pads. Each one contains a motive video for everyone. Father got bored, so he wanted to present you with these gifts." Monosuke explained.

"Motive video? I see, I see. But but, why we're we given each other's videos? Huh? Huh? Huh?" Angie said, swinging her head side to side.

"Is it just me, or is she stranger than she was in the first time line?" I thought.

"Huh? The hell are ya talking about?!" Monosuke snapped.

"She means, why did we not receive our own videos? For example, I did not receive my video, but rather someone else's." Kiyo clarified. Monosuke blinked, seemingly surprised. Then he face pawed.

"Ugh, course my idiotic siblings would screw this up....it's too early for this. Just fucking exchange them. I don't care." Monosuke stated, then left in a huff.

"Grumpy...." Kaede muttered.

"So, these videos are supposed to be our new motive?" Kirumi said.

"It would appear so." Rantaro replied. "So then what should we do? Exchange them back and watch them?" Miu asked.

"No, we cannot exchange them. If we watch them, that motive could drive us to participate in the killing game." Keebo said. "I guess so, but...." Kaede said. Shuichi stared at the Kubs pad he held before looking up.

"I'm not sure if I feel comfortable with not seeing my video." He said. Kaito sighed, scratching the back of his neck.

"Nah, we shouldn't watch'em. It could be dangerous." He said. But the look on his eyes told me otherwise. He wants to see his video. Maki frowned.

"I don't need to see my video. In fact, I'm leaving." She stated, walking to the door. Shuichi and Kaito perked up.

"Maki, wait. Hold up a sec!" Kaito said. She didn't listen and continued walking....until I placed a hand on her shoulder, stopping her.

Immediately her glowing red eyes were glaring at me.

"What?" She hissed.

"I have an idea," I said, turning to look at everyone.

"Let's watch the videos together."