(3rd Person's POV)

The three would then try to navigate in the dark. Key word being try, as none of them can see jack shit.

"Ah! My arm! Who's touching my arm?!" Toko screeched.

"Your arm?! Who's touching my chest?!" Komaru cried. "Aki!"

Akira would simply cough into her fist, not confirming nor denying the accusation. "Hm?" She turned her head to see a bright sparkle in the distance. "What's that...?"

The girls would then head towards the direction of the sparkle, only to see a Monokuma!

...A small plushie version of Monokuma that a Monokuma Kid was playing with. The Monokuma plush also had a glowstick attached to it.

"...?"

When the Monokuma Kid spots the girls, they jump over the counter, accidently kicked a can of paint and ran off, leaving her glowstick behind.

"Ah! Hold on!" Toko called before grunting in frustration. "How do we get out of here?"

"Well, at least it's going to be a bit brighter now." Komaru said, holding up the glowstick.

"Th-That little brat! I'm... I'm sure she knows how to get out of this place!" Toko grumbled.

"Let's try following her footprints." Komaru used the Detect setting on her Hacking Gun to do just that as they other two followed.

---

Eventually, after traversing through the dark for a few minutes, the girls found the Monokuma Kid, partly on accident. 

"Got you!" Komaru instantly took action and caught the Monokuma Kid in a bear hold.

"Nooooooo!" The Monokuma Kid cried.

"Y-You!" Toko pointed at the Kid. "I bet you know exactly where the exit is, right? T-T-Tell me!"

"Uh huh..." The Monokuma Kid nodded as she pointed and brought them to an emergency staircase.

"An emergency staircase, right here? Thank Kami! Truly perfect for an emergency like right now!" Toko jumped for joy. " Let's hurry and get out of h-"

BONK!

But the Monokuma Kid would just slam one of the doors into Toko's face, knocking her to the ground.

"Tee hee..." The Monokuma Kid giggled as she closed the door, leaving the girls.

"Can't say I didn't see that coming..." Akira muttered.

"Wait! Hold o-" Komaru tried to say before an explosion rang out, knocking the girls back.

---

Meanwhile, in Toko's fantasy...

"...Toko... Hey, Toko! You better listen well... If you wash black clothes too many times, the color fades. But there's a way to combat this. It is a simple method. First, do the laundry like you normally would."

"Y—Yes... Do the laundry...like usual..."

"But before you rinse it off, add a little bit of beer to the water."

"Oh yes, I will! I'll add beer...anything!"

"And just like that, faded clothes can be fully restored!"

"Ahhh... I'm starting to get better at doing laundry!"

---

"Th-Thank you very much..." Toko gushed. "Now I can be the first livestock for Master..."

"Toko, get a hold of yourself!" Komaru shook her.

"...Ah!" Toko snapped out of it, getting up. "Wh-What?! What happened?!"

"We found the emergency exit, but it's blocked!"

"Th-That brat... She betrayed us. A little more and I would've blown up..."

"I don't think she was our ally from the start..."

"Sh-Shut up! This is your fault!"

"Why is it my fault!?"

"You're the one who said you wanted to contact Future Foundation! And now this happens! Thanks to you, I got caught in this damn trap... Take some responsibility!"

"Responsibility!?"

"Argh, who cares!? I don't want to hear your excuses! I just need some light, yeah! Light! More light! More liiight!"

"..."

---

Komaru broke a part of the tower, the exit in sight. "Yes! Liight! Now we can get outside!" Toko said as she rushed outside. "Eeek! The light, the liiight!"

"Are you okay...?" Komaru tilted her head.

"No, I'm just happy!"

"Well, you didn't have to scream about it!"

"But still, it's good that we're finally outside, but now what do we do?"

"I-I'm sure there's a way to get down..."

---

"Looks like we can get down with this ladder, but... What floor are we on again?" Komaru wondered.

"Better than being in the dark! C'mon, let's go!" Toko said as they descend down the latter.

---

Meanwhile, with the Warriors of Hope...

 (WARNING! THIS PARTICULAR SCENE CONTAINS SOME TRIGGERS! IF THIS IS DISTURBING TO YOU IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FASHION, PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF KAMI-SAMA, SCROLL DOWN UNTIL I SAY IT'S SAFE! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!)

"Jataro's not coming back, huh?" Kotoko sighed as she was rubbing a crying Monaca's shoulders. "Think he got beat by those three chicks?" She assumed before shrugging. "Well, not like I care. I hate him anyway."

"Taro probably got himself killed..." Monaca sobbed. "Cut, ground down, crushed and stretched, squashed into paste, burned and eaten! Poor little Taro... Even though I hated him."

"..." Kotoko stopped. "Anyways, Monaca... Why are we not holding a funeral this time?"

"...A funeral?" Monaca questioned before realization what she meant and putting on a smile. "Oh, that. I got bored of that. Doesn't really matter, we can't even fill the coffin anyway."

"W-Well... if you got bored of it, guess we don't really have*to... ...But, um..." Kotoko timidly spoke up. "Do you think Jataro really died?"

"...Hm?"

"I mean, if he did die, we should have found his body, right? I was just, y'know...a teeensy bit curious. That's all."

Monaca blankly stared at her. "...It's sounds like you're saying Monaca is wrong."

Kotoko froze. "...Huh?"

"Like! I! Said! You're! Trying! To! Say! Monaca! Is! Wrong! You're! Questioning! Monaca!" Monaca waved her fists around in a temper tantrum.

"N-N-No! Not at all! There's no way Monaca could be wrong!" Kotoko frantically shook her head before trying to think of a subject to calm her down. "And speaking of wrong, aren't the people who put Worcester sauce on fried eggs just wrong!? I-It's so obvious that fried eggs taste best when you drown it in maple syrup, right!?"

"Mmgh..." Monaca pouted, still looking a bit upset.

"Look, I was just a little curious, that's all! My head's just a little out of place right now is all... I'm just a teensy bit curious!" Kotoko defended. "Like about why mailboxes are always white, or how enemies become friends right after a fight!"

Monaca sighed. "You...don't have to worry about things like that."

"I-I'm sorry! It's not like I have bad feelings toward Monaca or anything!" Kotoko went down to her knees as she begged. "So please, please don't hate me! Keep loving me forever and ever!"

"..." Monaca stared down at her before making a warm smile. "Yep, yep, I already know that. It's not something to apologize over. I know you're just a sweet, gentle little girl."

At that moment, Kotoko stopped all movement. "...Huh? Gen...tle...?

---

"Kotoko, you were so cute, as always! The director, the producer, the sponsors, everybody was super happy! And now...there's another business you have to attend to. And your mom's gonna come with, okay? It's going to be alright... Kotoko is just so sweet... Everyone will be gentle with you... Very, very gentle..."

---

"No..." Kotoko's face went blank as her eyes turned dull. "I don't want...gentle..."

"..." Monaca would just stare at her.

Kotoko sobbed. "I-I'll do anything, please... Just not that..." She said between hiccups of nervous and erratic breathing.

"..."

"I-I'll do my best, with singing, and acting... So pleaaase... Anything but gentle..."

"Oh, ooopsies!" Monaca innocently placed a finger to her chin. "I totally forgot. Gentle is a bad, baaad word for Kotoko... Jeez, to make you end up like this... It's as I've always known, Demons are the worst." She then rolled closer to Kotoko and socked her straight in the jaw. "How can they be so blind?" She continued to punch Kotoko as her eyes darkened. "Blind to their foolishness, ugliness, noxiousness, bad smell, boringness... To their own damnation. Even blind to the fact that they scarred Kotoko like this..." Suddenly, she stopped as she hugged her. "It's okay. Monaca won't be gentle."

"...Demons...are filthy, smelly, ugly chunks of meat, more worthless than dirt..." Kotoko said slowly, her voice raising. "And disgusting, filthy Demons...deserve a disgusting, filthy death. They should choke on their on poop and suffocate!" She roared. "They should just hold it in, and hold it, and hold it until their intestines explode!"

"Jeez, Kotoko! That's so gross!" Monaca reprimanded.

"Um... What are you guys doing?" A voice said behind them as Nagisa walked in.

(Alright, it's safe now.)

"Ah, it's Nagisa!" Monaca exclaimed.

"Now's not the time for banter. We've got a lot of work to do here!" Nagisa scolded.

Kotoko snickered. "Oh my oh my, are you perhaps...jealous?"

Nagisa blushed. "Wh-What're you talking about? What do I have to be jealous of?"

""It's not like I'm jealous of you"..." Kotoko teased. "Is that what you're trying to sayyy?"

"Like I said, it... it's not that at all!"

"Hey, what do you mean, "jealous"?" Monaca's eyes darted, trying to figure out what they meant.

"Kyaaa, Monaca, you're so innocent!" Kotoko squealed. "I could just put whipped cream on you and eat you up!"

"Ahaha, I don't get it at all!" Monaca laughed. "And hey, more importantly, you mentioned there was work to be done... Did something happen?"

Nagisa nodded. "Yes, I've received a report from the Monokuma Kids I sent scouting earlier. Those three schoolgirl Demons are sending a communication from Towa Tower."

Kotoko frowned. "Don't tell me, they're trying to contact that Demon society, Future Foundation?"

"It's not a problem. I already scrambled their transmission. We also have a hostage. Future Foundation can't make a move regardless." Nagisa assured them before making a dark smirk. "And... I have a plan. By taking advantage of those three Demons, we can massacre all of the remaining free-roaming Demons."

"You mean...the Resistance?" Kotoko correctly guessed.

"As long as they exist, our paradise cannot be completed. We should take this opportunity." Nagisa said.

"Amazing, amaaazing! I don't really get it, but it sounds super amazing!" Monaca joyfully clapped before going in to hug Nagisa. "Well done, Nagisa!"

"W-Wait, Mona... Hey!"

"Hm? What's wrong?"

"I-It's nothing, just... Y-You're a little close to me is all..."

"Awww, you're such a shy boy, Nagisa! Meow! Your plan... If it works, our paradise can finally be built... And when that happens, the Warriors of Hope will level up to Saviors!" Monaca beamed. "Hm, as our new leader, I will continue to have high expectations of you, sir!"

"Y-Yeah, you're right... High expectations for me!" Nagisa mumbled.

Monaca release the hug and turned around. "Didja hear that? Our children's paradise of smiles is going to be ready soon!"

Silence.

"Hey, you're listening, right? Kurokuma?" Monaca called.

More silence.

"Oh, right... You can talk now."

The curtains in front of the kids opened up to reveal...

A full black-colored, gangster-looking Monokuma!

It leaped into the air. "Wahaha! I can finally talk! Finally!" It exclaimed as it landed back into its chair. "Wheeeee! Hi hi hi there!"

Kotoko looked at the bear in a combination of fear and confusion. Nagisa just shrugged with a defeated sigh, while Monaca just blankly stares at the bear, who she called Kurokuma, like she's high as kites.

"Phew, that was tough!" Kurokuma let out a relieved sigh. "I shall not be silenced! Not after keepin' quiet for that damn long!" He laughed. "Damn, even someone extremely good at talkin' like me is already tired out from runnin' my yap! It's like, the hero is still in its child phase, but the warrior alien brother already showed up! ...That example sucked! Damn this fatigue, I'd say I'm only about a third as sharp as usual!" He looked down at the kids. "So anyway, the hell are we talkin' about? You sayin' something about making adults into sausages? Gonna pull out the organs, grind 'em up, make 'em into yummy, cruelty-free cuisine? And then, ya gather 'em up, sell 'em in a supermarket, and become an urban legend? Huh? ...Now that sounds awesome. I wanna see that! Hahahaha!"

The three kids sweatdropped as Kurokuma continued rambling on.

---

Meanwhile, with the Ultra Despair Girls...

"We're not at the first floor yet?!" Toko groaned as they arrived at the end of the ladder. "This is an emergency ladder, why'd it stop halfway?! Jeez, this half-assed ladder! Wh-Where's the person in charge!?"

"Looks like we gotta head back inside from here." Komaru said as she pointed to the 2nd floor Towa Longue.

"Ugh... You're saying I have to walk through that dark place again?" Toko nervously put her hands on her head.

"We're already on the 2nd floor. Just a little bit further and we're out!" Komaru pointed out.

Toko sighed. "I-I...might actually be cheered up a little... I'm not the shrewish woman I used to be."

"...Shrooms?" Komaru misprounced.

"Yeah, you know what? I don't think I'll rely on you any time soon." Toko rolled her eyes.

"I-It's gonna be alright! This is just the last hope, that's all." Komaru smiled.

"The last hope? That's not reassuring at all!"

---

The three then proceeded to head into the longue. Looking around, they saw a power panel where Komaru would promptly shoot it with the Move bullet.

The lights then slowly but surely flickered on. "Finally, we're out of that horrible darkness." Toko sighed.

"Yeah, all we gotta do now is get out of here." Komaru said as they walked to the exit before a Monokuma Kid burst out of a locker.

"AHHH!" Toko shireked.

"Hey!" Komaru called after them in a scolding tone. "That was mean! You scared Toko half to death!" She yelled as Toko's eyes rolled to the back of her head and flopped backwards to the floor.

"Actually, I think they scared her full to death..." Akira remarked.

"Hm?" Komaru found a note on the floor. "A challenge? Again?"

"Challenge: Find the light in the darkness."

"Hmmm..." Komaru mused as Toko groggily got up. "If you type in the password on that laptop on the counter, the shutter should open...

"I feel like...we've done something like this before." Toko mumbled.

"Leave it to me!" Komaru grinned as she gave her a thumbs-up. "I'm in my element! I, the Riddle Queen!"

Toko sweatdropped. "Wh-Why would you want to give yourself such an embarrassing title?" She said as Komaru sped off.

---

"Alright, I'm back!" Komaru met up with the two girls and entered the password into the laptop: 2197.

The shutters then opened up.

"Yayy!" Komaru cheered. "There's no riddle I can't solve!"

"Yeah, calm down lady, you only solved a child's riddle." Toko snarked.

---

Finally, after many trails, the girls managed to get out of the tower.

"Phew, now I'm tired..." Toko panted.

"It's a good thing we got out of there okay... But being trapped, and that sudden blackout? What's with that...?" Komaru wondered.

"It's those brats, obviously." Toko responded. "They found out we contacted Future Foundation somehow. That's why they interrupted the communication. After that, we... We really won't be able to contact Future Foundation ever again..."

"...Will Makoto come save us?"

"Like I told you, he can't! If Future Foundation shows up, Master will be in danger!"

"But what about me and Aki?!" Komaru turned to her. "Is it okay that we're in danger? We're just regular girls! We're not part of Future Foundation or Hope's Peak or anything!"

Toko shook her head. "Yap all you want, you can't change the facts."

"...Toko... What you said earlier... You weren't serious, were you?" Komaru asked with a pained look.

"Wh-What do you mean?"

"You said...you were gonna kill me."

Toko turned her head away from her. "If you're going to just go ahead and summon Future Foundation, I will prevent it."

Komaru darted her eyes down. "So you were serious...."

"That's right, I am serious! I will do anything for the sake of my Master!"

"So you'd even kill...your friends?"

"What? Friends? Did you think I'd feel differently if you started using the word "friend"?" Toko narrowed her eyes. "Don't even try it... I won't be fooled."

"B-But that's...horrible... I didn't mean it that way at all... I really... I really do trust you..." Komaru assured her.

"Hmph..."

Akira would only observe this moment of tension with a grimace before letting out a sigh.

---

Meanwhile, with the Warriors of Hope...

"...And then, Hendrix himself came to my live concert three times! In my dreams, anyway." Kurokuma was still talking. "What, you didn't think I'd still be talkin'? Well guess what? I'm stiiill talkin'!" He looked at the camera. "Hey by the way, when is that meat party with the pool of blood in Hell gonna start? This is gonna be a once in a century event! I'd go even if I had to pawn off my wife for a ticket! Hahaha! Massacre! Banzaaai! M to the A to the motherfuckin' "ssacre"! Oh yeah! Massacre, what an awesome word! It's downright magical! It has a great ring to it, a beat to it, the beatbox beating of my heart!" He then started beatboxing before eupting in laughter. "Hahahaha! ...So yeah anyway, Hendrix was like--"

"Hey, how much longer are you gonna talk?" Nagisa cut in, looking quite annoyed.

Kurokuma chuckled. "Hey, you can't stop me! I'd kill you! My fans would kill you! Or maybe I just have to win you over. Should I go help a granny cross the street or somethin'!? Jeez, interjectin' into my witty banter!? You HI bastard! Horrific (H) Idiot (I)! Hahahaha!"

Monaca sighed, now realizing how bad of an idea this was. "...Never mind, just be quiet."

"..." And with that, Kurokuma quickly shut himself up.

Monaca shook her head. "I figured it would be a good idea to ask for advice every once in a while, but I guess not."

"He may be our Advisor, but I really cannot stand all the noise every single time..." Nagisa complained.

"We already have great ideas for hurting the adults, so we can get rid of him if we want..." Kotoko suggested.

"But we've already lost so many of our friends. Let's just keep him in silent mode, hm?" Monaca said.

"..." Kurokuma said nothing.

"Ufufu, you're so nice, Monaca!" Kotoko giggled. "In that case, I have no objections!"

"If Monaca is fine with it...so am I." Nagisa said.

"Now, let's hear about this plan of yours, Nagisa. How are we gonna annihilate the Resistance?" Monca inquired.

"Simple, really. We crush their secret base."

"Huh? Did you find out where it is?" Kotoko asked.

Nagisa nodded. "Yes. If we ambush the place they believed to be safe, they will panic and be flushed out. Like ants who've lost their nest, they will wander aimlessly above ground. And in that weakened state, we crush every last one of them. The Resistance dies with them." He smirked.

"Oooh, Nagisa! How vulgar!" Kotoko playfully shivered. "If you weren't on our side, I'd totally pee my pants in fear!"

"Of course, we have every right to kill them. They've quite earned their fate." Nagisa justified.

"Yep, yep, right! As expected of our new leader, you sure have a good plan, meow!" Monaca beamed. "But, instead of "right to kill them"... Isn't it more like "duty"? We promised Big Sis Junko that the Warriors of Hope will annihilate the Demons."

"Wooo wooo, Nagisa and Monaca are so vulgar! So cool!" Kotoko squealed in admiration before her face shifted into a determined, but cold expression. "There's no way I can lose now! I gotta work hard and hunt, hunt, hunt down those Demons!"

"Ufufu, even though our team is missing a few members, we're really getting pumped up!" Monaca grinned. "...Right? You guys think so too, yeah?" She looked up at Kurokuma.

"Oh fosho!" Kurokuma spoke up. "I agree so hard my nodding looks like headbanging! Comin' up with that bitchin' plan, all without your Advisor? You sure have grown! ...Whoops! I didn't mean like, grown like...in the adult way! You guys wouldn't like that! It's like complimentin' a ninja for standing out so much! Phew! That was a close one! Daaamn close!"

Nagisa groaned. "Hey, why are you talking? Monaca didn't give you permission."

"Aw, be easy on me, Naggy-sa! Monaca brought it up! Didn't you hear her say, "you guys think so"? Obviouslyyy I'm included in there!" Kurokuma laughed. "Riiight Monaca!?"

"...Hm? I didn't mean that at all."

"Dun dun duuun! Hooold up! It's true that I maaay have chatted just a little too much... But talkin' is like, my whole purpose in life! If you tell me to shut up again, I'll die! Dieee I tell ya! Probably, definitely, no, seriously gonna die!" Kurokuma dramatically whined. 

"Jeez, you're hopeless..." Monaca rolled her eyes, but relented. "Fine, just keep it down, okay?"

"Hahaha, I ain't gonna say "thank you." Aw gee, I sure hope there's no one in your group that can read minds... Don't wanna say a lie that's gonna get sniffed right out! Hahahaha! Oh, yeah..."

Nagisa sighed. "Seriously..."

"Hellooo!" A voice called as the Servant walked in. "I apologize for being late, everyone."

"Hey, hey, hey! Where the hell've you been!?" Kurokuma pointed his cigar at him. "You totally missed my hilarious dialogue!"

The Servant chuckled. "I was running an errand for out Miss Fighter. It sure was difficult finding sweet chestnuts!"

Kotoko walked up to him. "...Are these chestnuts properly peeled?"

"...I'm sorry? No, why?"

"What are you, nuts!? This is downright nuts! I asked for peeled nuts! Unpeeled nuts are like, a completely different food." Kotoko pouted.

"Ah, as expected of the great Miss Actress, your orders are quite detailed." The Servant sighed.

Kotoko's face went blank as she glared at him. "Hey, even if you're our servant... You keep bringing up ancient history and I'll kill you."

The Servant awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck with his covered-up hand. "Sorry, sorry. I'll peel the nuts for you, forgive me."

"...Guess I have no choice. I'll forgive you." Kotoko put on a smile before replacing it with a impish grin. "Noooot!"

She then started throwing multiple desserts and cakes at the Servant. "Take this! Take this! Useless servants deserve to end up like this!"

"Hahaha! Good, good! Go for it!" Kurokuma laughed as he egged her on.

The Servant chuckled. "Ah, this is troubling... I prefer salty things to sweet ones..."

---

Meanwhile, with the girls...

Both Komaru and Toko turned their backs to each other, with Akira in the middle of the two. Despite no words being exchanged, it was clear that tensions were beginning to rise. Akira felt a bead of sweat quitely roll down her face. She was never really good at being a mediator 

"..." Komaru began to walk away.

Toko turned her head to her. "Hey... Where are you going?"

"...It has nothing to do with you." Komaru responded in an cold tone.

"Nothing to do with me?" Toko turned around, facing Komaru. "You've got some nerve, saying that while doing nothing on your own!"

"Nothing? You think I've done nothing?" Komaru's eye twitched.

Ah, crapbaskets... Akira thought, knowing exactly where this was going.

"It's true that you've saved me a lot, but I've been working hard too, y'know!?" Komaru clenched her fist. "Saying that I haven't done anything, that's too far!"

"Hmph, what do you want? You want me to praise you? You want me to say "thank you"?" Toko scoffed. "Too bad. I've never praised or thanked anyone my whole life."

"And that's why you don't have any friends!" Komaru snapped.

"...What?" Toko looked taken aback before regaining her composure. "L-Leave me alone... I... I like being by myself. R-Rather than tagging along with someone like you, I'd be better off dying a solitary death..."

"Someone like me? Meaning what?" Komaru narrowed her eyes, leaning her head in a warning matter, daring Toko to elaborate.

"Someone who always has an excuse. A coward. Using that word "normal" as an excuse, always getting help from others... You're the type of person who always says, "There's nothing I can do about it," right?" Toko gave her a pitiful and condescending look. "You're nothing like your brother. Well, it's not like I really acknowledged him either..."

"..." Komaru looked at her with a blank look.

"Okay, this is getting really out of hand..." Akira mumbled, rubbing her palms with her index and middle finger. "Listen, I know you guys are frustrated, but-"

"Shut it, Aki." Komaru spat.

"...What." Akira stared at her.

"I said, shut it." Komaru repeated, walking up to her and grabbing her by the collar. "It's all you do, anyway. You barely speak most of the time, and only watch people do stuff for you, and the moment you decide to actually act, you want us to listen to you?"

"Komaru..." Akira furrowed her brows. "Let me go."

"Or what? You'll keep glaring at me?" Komaru tightened her grip. "You know...I can tell in your eyes...that you don't have any friends, either..." She hardened her glare. "You know nothing about what I'm going through. A friendless loner like you could never understand a single thing about me. So why don't you do everyone a favor and do what you do best. Keep quiet and stay that way...Akira."

Akira body froze. A dark shadow casted over her face, her expression unreadable. She pried Komaru's hands off her and walked to the side, folding her arms.

Komaru clicked her tongue. "Fine..." She began to walk away again.

"Wh-Where are you going?!" Toko yelled after her.

Komaru didn't even turn back. "...To find Shirokuma."

"You can go back to that dump if you want, it won't make any difference."

"...Better than being here." Komaru coldy replied as she heard Toko's footsteps. "...You don't have to come with me."

"Unfortunately, I can't do that. I have my reasons..." Toko cryptically said.

"...That doesn't make any sense at all..." Komaru grumbled as she, extremely begrudgingly, relented and allowed Toko to follow her, along with an extremely silent Akira.

Chapter 13: End

To be continued...?