✧ Chapter 40 ✧
[ Inside an Amalgam of Fate ]
✧༺♥༻∞　　｡.｡:∞♡*♥

Monokuma stared at their hands, before narrowing his eyes, "Ehhh? Are my circuits glitching or am I seeing an act of love? Holding hands? That's the violation of code twelve!"

Shuichi could've pulled his hand away but if anything, he tightened his grip. Kokichi did the same, giving Monokuma a small defying smirk. "You're not seeing things, Monokuma!" the purple haired student said, "We're holding hands!"

"Ah- no no NO!" the bear shook his head, stomping on the ground like a little kid, "A act of love! Horrible!" He stormed around for a few seconds, the trio watching him.

"What about you, blonde?" he suddenly turned to Kaede, who was keeping her hands on her black hoodie. "What do you- is that a Remnant of Love's pathetic little hoodie I see with my very own eyes?!"

Shuichi watched as Monokuma flung out his paw, his razor-sharp claws glinting, "Grrr- I'll turn ya to shish kebab! You traitorous liars! All of you are gunna get punished!"

"But Kaede didn't show an act of love!" Shuichi stepped in, trying to stand up for the girl.

Monokuma growled even louder, as an alarm blared loudly. "Even worse! She turned out to be a traitor! A Remnant of Love! Disgusting!" he pulled out a controller, "And ya know what I do to traitors against my group? I KILL 'EM!"

Kaede could've looked surprised, but she didn't. Instead, she seemed determined.

"Wait-" Shuichi faltered, not expecting this sudden turn of events, "Monokuma, that isn't included in the student handbook!"

"Kaede Akamatsu, Ultimate Pianist!" Monokuma twirled around as Kaede held her head high, "You are found guilty of being a traitor! ITSSS PUNISHMENT TIME!" the bear hit a button with a mallet as Shuichi cried, "NO!"

"Shuichi!" Kokichi held him back as multiple spears shot up from the ground and impaled Kaede's body. "Kaede!" the detective froze as the girl was speared in the back. "No.. NO!"

Kokichi hung onto Shuichi's arm, trying to hold him back as the blue haired boy cried for the girl. Kaede squeezed her eyes tight, obviously in pain as blood dripped onto the grass. Her hands held the spear, which was protruding from stomach. However, the spears didn't kill her just yet.

They retracted into the ground, making Kaede fall in front of Monokuma's feet. The other students gasped and muttered amongst themselves as Shuichi didn't lower his shaky arm. The pianist glared up at Monokuma, blood trickling out of her mouth as she slowly tried to sit up.

"I don't care.. what you say, Monokuma." she smiled through the tears, her arms shaking as she supported her weight, "Friendship.. love. It will win against the Mastermind behind this.."

"Kaede.. Kaede.. please!" Shuichi continued to reach for her but was held back by Kokichi, who seemed to have gone quiet.

The girl turned to the two boys as much as she could, her eyes starting to close. "Have confidence in yourselves. I never was a traitor.. and I never will be."

Shuichi blinked the tears away, his hand falling to his side as she relaxed, barely alive, but breathing. "Take care of-."

There was a sudden sound  a blade unsheathing and a sweep of a hand. Shuichi and Kokichi gasped. They froze as Rantaro got to his feet, the rock which Kokichi had dropped earlier now coated with fresh blood.

"Fiend!" Monokuma grumbled loudly, "Why'd choo do that? You interrupted her final words!"

Rantaro laughed softly, before finally laughing even louder as students started to mutter with more mixed emotions. "Her death was pathetic! It was so full of love for her friends!" he looked at his blood stained hands, "So full of despair."

"C-Cheezus- kiddo! You're scaring me!" Monokuma paled as Rantaro continued laughing, looking down at Kaede's lifeless body. "One by one, they'll fall-."

"I'LL KILL YOU!"

Shuichi felt Kokichi let go of his arm, and run forward to punch Rantaro in the face. The purple haired boy cried as he kicked the traitor to the ground, "I SWEAR I'LL KILL YOU!"

"Kokichi!" Shuichi leapt forward as the leader continued punching Rantaro, "Kaede didn't deserve a friend like you! You liar! You murderer! You insane. BLOODY. MANIAC-."

Shuichi held Kokichi back as he cried, "I hate you! I HATE YOU!" Kokichi screamed, losing his composure completely. He didn't seem to be faking, in fact, the tears trailing down his cheeks looked scarily genuine. He had never cried for anyone before..

"Shh.. K-Kokichi.." Shuichi held him close as Kokichi sobbed, his hands clutching the detective's shirt. Everyone was still, watching the scene unfold before them.

"Well, that was a show," Monokuma whispered as Rantaro kneeled, pink blood spilling from his lips. "However, we have one more punishment to dole out for you, Ultimate Adventurer.."

Rantaro's eyes widened, shooting a glare at the bear. "What do you mean? I've done everything you asked."

"Nope!" Monokuma clapped his paws together, making them squeak like a plushie, "You interrupted my execution! So you gotta pay! If ya didn't interfere, you would still be my top traitor! But now, ehhh.. nah."

Rantaro stood up, rather shakily as Monokuma hopped up and down, "Rantaro Amami! Ultimate Adventurer, traitor and bossy douche, you're found guilty of-!"

The green haired male, staggered to his feet and stomped on Monokuma's face. Shuichi flinched as Rantaro swiftly stabbed the bear's red eye with a knife. "You traitor-!" Monokuma twitched slightly before shutting down.

"..." The green haired student smiled to himself and suddenly sprinted away, the other students giving him a wide berth. All except two unexpected people, that is. "You're not allowed to run, you degenerate male!" Tenko held out her hands.

"Chabashira, move over. Unless you want your heart stabbed like Akamatsu," Rantaro glared at her, his magenta eyes glinting with humour and remorselessness. "Oh wait, you don't have a heart I can pierce."

"For the sake of Kaede," the Akido master replied, "And all those you killed, or betrayed, you deserve hell." with that, she suddenly aimed a kick at his neck and pinned him down with a loud thump.

"Nyeehh.." Himiko went up to Rantaro and tied up his hands with a rope she pulled out from her hat, "With my magic, you can't unbind yourself!"

"For the sake of Miss Akamatsu.." Kirumi stepped up as well, holding a broom and looking at Rantaro with distaste, "We will do whatever we can to help."

"Gonta not sure Gonta approves of this," the taller student spoke up meekly, "Gonta think Rantaro better off with Monokuma."

"Right you are!" a shrill voice voiced out again. Monokuma twirled in the air and landed near Rantaro's bound up body, his feet hitting the ground. "Don't ya remember, silly avocado?" the bear patted Rantaro's cheek sharply, "I've got many many clones!"

The green haired student's eyes widened as realisation dawned upon him. "No.. I'm not going to die because of this. I'm not done!" he started to yell as Monokuma pressed a button.

Tenko glared at Rantaro, muttering, "Good riddance to the stupid degenerate male.."

A grass covered trapdoor slid open, revealing a seemingly bottomless pit of darkness, "Here ya go, ya piece o' trash!" and with that, Monokuma rolled Rantaro into the hole and kicked him off. With a scream of shock, the traitor was finally disposed of.

Kokichi continued to hang onto Shuichi's shirt as Monokuma spun around to face them. "So!" the bear clapped his paws together, "A ticket to the hospital for you two."

Shuichi nearly forgot about that, as Kokichi gripped his arm tightly. He expected the leader to protest and start snapping at Monokuma, but to his surprise, he did the exact opposite.

"Whatever you say, Monokuma," the purple haired student smiled through his tears, "As long as you tell one more truthful thing to me.." he held out his pointer finger.

"Eh?" the bear tilted his head, "Whatdayya want?"

"That trapdoor where that traitor went," he pointed, "Where does it lead?"

Monokuma scoffed, waving a paw absentmindedly, "To the rubbish chutes. After that, they'll be sent to the incinerator. I should probably dispose of Akamatsu's body as well that way-."

"You lay one paw on her," the usually quiet Kirigiri spoke up, her light lavender eyes fixed on the bear's, "You'll have to answer to us. We will hold a proper funeral for her. You have my word."

Kirigiri looked right at Shuichi, who met her fierce gaze with his. He could trust the girl.. after all, he looked up to her. And he knew she never broke a promise.

"E-Eh.. Okay. Whatever ya say, Miss Detective." Monokuma pressed his paws together again, but rather timidly, "But.." he suddenly tilted his head, "Can I just say.." he turned to Shuichi and Kokichi.

"Shuichi Saihara and Kokichi Ouma!" Monokuma raised his arm to the sky.

"Ultimate Detective and Ultimate Supreme Leader!"

Shuichi closed his eyes.

"You're both found guilty for being in Love!"

Kokichi tightened his grip on Shuichi's hand as a Beast Monokuma dragged out two metal chains, which Monokuma fastened around their necks with a swipe of his arm.

"ITTTSS PUNISHMENT TIME!"

Shuichi didn't lose his grip on Kokichi's hand as they were finally dragged away, students watching them.

"Ouma.." Shuichi muttered, his eyes still closed as Monokuma led the way to the hospital, "I trust you."

Friendship. Trust. Love.

Everything was important.

So Ouma..

Shuichi opened his eyes and looked at the boy.

Was it worth it?

✧༺♥༻∞　　∞༺♥༻✧

[ Monokuma Theatre ]

NO. Don't talk to me right now! I'm seriously pissed off that one of my students turned out to be a traitor! Hmph! But anyway, it seems I still gotta do my job..

Anyhoo, thank you to yourAweeb and InkyBlah for commenting and voting, you guys are great supporters to my cause ya know! 

Andddd *checks list* don't worry, DarkAngeloid686 and YusBoiItsGood ! I didn't forget you two! Thanks for the votes and comments! Author and I are very grateful!

This next one goes to Nekonaj ! I'm sorry I didn't mention ya earlier when you've been one of my most dedicated readers! Jeez, it's kinda difficult keeping track of all yer awesome readers.. but you deserve a mention too! Thank ya!

Next, this goes to luvtofu ! Thank you for reading so far, and author-chan actually loves your stories a lot ya know? You've got talent! And you deserve more attention! *clap* *clap*

Anyway, thank you for reading, dear readers! 'Cause soon, it's gunna be one heck of a mind blowing journey! See ya in da next chapter!

♥ End of Chapter Forty ♥

[ End of School Journey ]