(3rd Person's POV)

DING, DONG! BING, BONG!

"Good morning, everyone! It is now 7 a.m. and nighttime is officially over! Time to rise and shine! Get ready to greet another beee-yutiful day!"

Risen up by the irritating announcement, Sora made a cute little yawn as she got out of bed and went into the bathroom. She did her normal routine as she took a five minute shower, brushed her teeth, and put on her attire.

After laying on her bed for a few minutes, she stretched her arms. "Welp. Guess I'd better get going to the dining hall..."

---

The blonde went out of her room and made her way to the dining hall, all while humming an...interesting tune.

"Who's that little girl, looking sweet as can be~? Who, with the effervescent personality~? It consumes your life, wondering "who is she?"~"

I guess Sora just likes Man On The Internet.

While she was walking, there was a few stragglers in the hallway. But Sora was too busy cheerfully singing her narcissistic song to pay them any mind.

She soon went into the dining hall, but because of her little nap she took, Sora was the 5th person there, with the 6th and 7th being Kyoko and Makoto. Interestingly, though not at all surprising, Taka wasn't there.

"So, the people here today are the same as yesterday. Just us seven." Hiro mused. "Well, I guess that's not all true. Shirayuki's here, too."

"...Huh?" Sora got knocked out of her absent-minded state as she tilted her head. "Were you talking about me?"

"Togami and Fukawa are a lost cause, but..." Sakura trailed off as the students turned to an empty seat.

"It looks like Mr. Ishimaru's decided to stop coming for good, too..." Hifumi pointed out.

"It's like he's just...given up." Hiro let out a deep sigh.

"It's pretty ironic that the one who enforced the rule of us comin' here didn't show up himself..." Sora quietly snarked, despite that, she does feel bad for the situation Taka was in.

"Indeed, although it is understandable. For people wound as tight as he is, when you snap, you snap hard." Celeste said.

"I wish there was some way to make him better..." Makoto put his head down.

"On another topic..." Celeste shot a glance towards a certain mystery girl. "Kirigiri, did everything go alright last night?"

"Yeah, I didn't have any problems." Kyoko nodded. "I went and checked on the laptop a little while ago, and there weren't any problems there, either. But..." She seemed to hesitate, but continued. "It's related to this case, so I suppose I should be blunt. I have to make a new rule. Using Alter Ego and Doppelgänger without permission is prohibited. Someone going in and out of the dressing room would draw unwanted attention from the mastermind."

"I would have thought that would be obvious. Why do we need to make a rule about it?" Celeste asked.

"That's a good question. Do you have any thoughts on that, Yamada?" Kyoko turned her head and made a subtle at the doujinshi writer.

"N-No... It's just like you said. We all need to be...very careful..." Hifumi slowly said as he began to start panting, making him look even more suspicious.

"...Huh?" Hiro looked at him.

"Whatever, let's just hurry up and eat! We don't have time to stand around flappin' our lips!" Hifumi suddenly yelled.

"...What else do we have to do?" Sora tilted her head.

"Jeez! Why're you talkin' like a pissed-off drill sergeant all of a sudden!?" Hiro exclaimed.

The students ate breakfast in a rush, and headed back to their rooms.

---

Sora was now in her new and improved room, simply laying in bed, quietly snoring with the girl unconsciously grasping onto her pillow.

Also, on the side of her was a cleaned, blood-free poster of the big-breasted supermodel that she found in the men's locker room during the most recent investigation.

Hours had passed in Sora's room before she woke up. Making a cute yawn, she jumped out of her bed.

"Wonder if anyone else's around..."

---

Free Time Event: Kyoko Kirigiri

Walking out of her dorm room, Sora sluggishly walks around to see if anyone's around, and thankfully it was someone that she's wanted to talk to for a while. While they were walking, Sora tapped them on the shoulder.

"Hey, Kiri." Sora greeted with a yawn and an absent-minded smirk.

"Ah, Shirayuki." Kyoko folded her arms. "What brings you here?"

Sora stayed silent for a bit before yawning again. "Wanna hang out?"

"Hm...well, I suppose I have nothing on my plate, so I could kill some time with you." Kyoko nodded.

A smile graced upon the blonde's lips. She spent some time with Kyoko. She feels as if they've gotten closer.

---

"..."

"..."

Sora unconsciously put her arms behind her back. Neither of them have said anything in over 10 minutes... Normally, she's all for quiet, but...this is getting awkward.

Sighing, the short blonde cleared her throat, deciding to break the ice.

"Sooo...."

"If you're expecting a conversation, don't. There's no need for it." Kyoko said.

"I mean...I, uh, get where you coming from, I really do, but...can't we at least talk for a little while?" Sora asked. "Besides me, you seem to be one of the smartest people here. And... I don't wanna make an enemy out of someone like that."

"You're saying that your friendship with me will lessen the chances of you being killed, correct?" Kyoko looked straight at her. "You could make that argument. But are you asking for some kind of deep connection?"

"...Define "Deep connection"." Sora requested.

"You could just be deceiving me, pretending to be my friend so you can gather information." Kyoko narrowed her eyes. "Maybe this absent-minded and laid-back personality of yours is just a façade to better manipulate me."

"...Huh." Sora simply said. "You...aren't the most trusting person, are you?"

"Well then, let's do a quick test, shall we?" Kyoko suggested. "If the friendships you've made here are genuine, then this should be an easy question."

"...Alright." Sora yawned. "Hit me."

"Are you ready? You consider Hina one of your friends, yes?" Seeing Sora shrug, Kyoko continued. "If that's true, what is her ultimate ability?"

Hina's ultimate talent... Sora thought. It's...

---

-Nice Body

-Running

-Swimming

---

Hold on... Sora thought. Ultimate Nice Body? No no no! That's not right! You know it's not! But...it's not exactly inaccurate, either....heh...heheheheh...

While she was thinking, Sora made a subtle, but still perverted smirk, much to the confusion of Kyoko.

"Why are you making that face?"

"Huh? ...Oh nothing..."

---

-Nice Body

-Running

-Swimming

---

"Hina...she's the Ultimate Swimming Pro. Obviously." Sora answered.

Kyoko nodded and made a hum. "Well...asked and answered. Then your pleas of camaraderie for me are true."

"Told you." Sora said.

"Yes, of course. You do seem like someone who could and would lie for her own benefits, but even if you did, I would see right through them." Kyoko mused, as if she was scanning the girl.

"...Okay?" Sora tilted her head in a confusion manner, her ahoge bobbing up and down.

"Okay then, as promised... What would you like to know about me?" Kyoko asked.

"Okay, then..." Sora rubbed her chin before coming up with an answer. "What school did you go to? Before you came to Hope's Peak, I mean."

"Before Hope's Peak... I guess I was living aboard." Kyoko responded.

"...Eh?" Sora raised an eyebrow. "Did your parents work out of the country or something?"

"...My parents? I suppose?"

What's with all the question marks...? Sora thought.

"What kind of work did ya parents do, then. Did one of 'em have a job offshores?" Sora asked.

"...Foreign government? Top secret clearance...?" Kyoko replied.

Sora sweatdropped. These answers are so vague. I swear she's doing this on purpose...

But before she could ask another question...

"I kept up my end of the deal. This should be enough, right? I'm leaving now." Kyoko said, and with that, she turned and walked off.

That was the most one-sided conversation I've ever had... Sora deadpanned. But... I suppose it can't be helped that much. Besides, I'll get a chance to talk to her again, I'm sure...

---

"Zzzz..." Sora was in her room once again, living the hedonistic lifestyle.

DING, DONG!

"Zzzz...eh?" Sora lazily opened her eyes, wiping the drool from the corner of her mouth. "Who...?"

Getting out of bed, she sluggishly walked to the door. When she opened it, she saw...

"..."

"Taka...? What're you doin' here?" Sora tilted her head.

"...Is it true? Can I really...see Fujisaki?"

Sora raised an eyebrow. "Alter Ego? Whaddya want with 'em?"

"He's...still alive?" Taka asked.

"Not...really, no..."

"Let me see... I want to...talk to him..." Taka requested.

Sora folded her arms as she cocked her head to the side. Kyoko told everyone that their not allowed to use the laptop. But...

When the heck has she cared about rules?!

"Okay. Let's go. Just don't make too much noise, capiche?"

"..."

"That's the spirit."

Chapter 20: End

To be continued...?