(3rd Person's POV)

The...Ultimate Despair?

Sora had her eyes closed as she was in deep thought about what Kyoko told her moments ago.

"Make no mistake... They're the root of all the evil that has forced us to go through this. That is the Ultimate Despair. And that is our real enemy."

The Ultimate Despair... A group of people who caused The Tragedy one year ago... Those same people put together this killing game and began broadcasting it around the world. The most desperately awful group of people ever... That is the mastermind's true identity. But right now...

Sora opened her eyes. "We have to get out of here."

Kyoko nodded. "I agree. Figuring out the rest of the story can come after."

"So Kiri, do you still have that thing?" Sora asked. "Monokuma's "secret tool" that you got from the headmaster's room?"

Kyoko pulled it out. "Of course I do. It's an absolutely vital part of ensnaring the mastermind. I would never part with it."

"And it can open any door in the entire school, right?"

"That's right."

Then...we should be able to use it on that door, right? Sora wondered as she looked up to the door in the trash room.

Sora walked up the stairs and stopped at the door, with Kyoko following.

"Hey, Kiri. Could we use that key of yours to get through the door?" Sora asked.

"Let's find out." Kyoko responded, taking out the key with the Monokuma design on it and slid it into the keyhole. And then...

CLICK!

"It opened!" Sora exclaimed. "Finally, I can get outta here!"

"Wait." Kyoko grabbed Sora's arm, stopping her from going any further.

"Hm? What is it?"

"I...I just..." Kyoko put her head down, making Sora cock her head in confusion. "I know I said this already, but..." She shifted her head back up, facing the blonde with a remorseful look in her eyes. "I am truly sorry for what you had to go through because of me."

Sora raised an eyebrow. "...What this coming from?"

"I just want you to know...that from now on, I'm genuinely on your side. If there's anything you need from me, I will see to it to the best of me ability."

"...You really mean that?"

"Of course."

"Then..." Sora's expression suddenly turned stone cold. "When we get outta this place, you'll have to marry me, okay?"

"Wha-What?!" Kyoko sputtered out. "Where'd that come from?! ...You're joking...right?"

"...Do I look like I'm joking?"

"I...I couldn't say... Your sense of humor is very dry and deadpan."

Suddenly, Sora smirked as she chuckled. "Oh, don't worry about it. C'mon, let's go."

"Sounds good." Kyoko nodded.

They quickly opened the door and made their escape from the garbage pit.

Finally... They were finally free. But there wasn't even time to take a breath of relief. Because the real fight had just begun...

 ...

...

...

After leaving the garbage pit, Sora and Kyoko found ourselves in a tunnel extending straight up, like a chimney. There was a metal ladder leading up into the tunnel. They started climbing the ladder, intent on reaching the surface. 

The ladder was impossibly long; Sora couldn't even see where it ended. They climbed into the darkness... The passage was so dark and cramped, Sora couldn't even see her own feet beneath me.

"Kami..." Sora quietly groaned. "I had no idea we were so far down..."

"Don't lose your footing. If you slip, I won't be able to catch you..." Kyoko warned before she put on a thinking expression. "Actually, nevermind. You're as light as a feather. I can handle it."

"...Thanks, Kiri." Sora rolled her eyes. But still...now that you said it, I'm getting kinda anxious. ...Maybe talking a bit will get my mind off it...

"Hey Kiri, there's something I was curious about." Sora spoke up. "You said you're the Ultimate Detective, right? How long have you been doing detective work, exactly?

"How long...?" Kyoko repeated. "Ever since I can remember. I come from a long line of detectives. Detective work is in my blood. There was a time when being a detective was considered a sacred duty. My family's always seen it that way."

"So...does that mean your family's, like...famous or something...?" Sora asked.

Kyoko shook her head. "Quite the opposite, actually. Even among actual detectives, many people haven't heard of us."

"Really, now...? That's interesting. But still...how come? It's your family tradition, after all."

"Because we take pride in it."

Pride...?

"A detective is neither light nor shadow. We represent neither justice nor evil. That is how we can uncover the absolute truth." Kyoko explained. "We stand neutral in all things. And to do that, we have to stand separate from the rest of society. Which is why we've made a conscious effort to conceal our existence."

"A conscious effort...?" Sora questioned.

"It's kind of old-fashioned, and I can't say it's entirely rational..." Kyoko admitted. "But it's our family creed, and we do what we must to protect it. Because, like I said, it's our source of pride."

So that explains... Sora thought. Before I came here, when I was looking up info about the school online, I never saw anything about her. Because she hid herself on purpose, to protect the pride of her family...

Kyoko sighed. "And yet... I...gave up some of that pride."

"...Hm?"

"In order to enter Hope's Peak, I had to reveal myself to the school." Kyoko explained. "I did it knowing it was something a true Kirigiri detective would never do."

But the reason you gave up that pride... The reason you would go so far to enter Hope's Peak...

"You did all that to reconnect with your father, right?" Sora assumed. "I don't think there's any shame in that."

"...Reconnect...?" Kyoko frowned before shaking her head. "I had absolutely no desire to reconnect with my father."

"Oh?" Sora blinked. "But didn't you say that the whole reason you came to Hope's Peak is to reunite with your father after all these years? I image you would've had a lot to talk about."

"There's nothing I want to talk to my father about. There is something I want to say to him, though."

"...?"

"No matter what it takes, I have to find him and tell him, face to face..."

"Tell him what...?"

"...I want to sever all ties with him."

Sever ties, huh...?

"The last time I saw him...I was still very young. So I don't remember myself, but apparently he was extremely intelligent. He was in line to become the next head of the Kirigiri family. He was talented, he had a promising future. But he had no interest in detective work. So he cut himself off from the family. Not long after that, my mother died, and he simply...ran away. He went to my grandfather, and they had a huge argument. And young as I was...he left me behind."

"That's...rough..." Sora said. "But...I'm sure he had a reason for doing that. Perhaps he wanted to take you with him and your family wouldn't let him?"

"If that's true, then I need to thank him. Thank him for leaving me... Because unlike him, I take pride in the work I do. I take pride in my family name. So every last part of me is happy he didn't take me with him. If I'd gone with him, I never would have had the chance to become a detective."

"..."

Sora was above Kyoko on the latter, so she wasn't about to see her expression when she said those words. She couldn't tell what she might've been feeling at that moment. All she could tell was that compared to usual stoic self...she was being more emotional and talkative.

"I don't blame him, you know. He had his own life to live. ...That's what anyone in my position might say, right? But it's not true..." Kyoko shook her head. "There's one thing... One thing I can never forgive."

"Which is...?" Sora inquired.

"The way everyone else looked at me. I was never sad about being left behind. Like I said, I think it was a good thing. But when the rest of my family looked at me, they saw something different. They only saw me as the little girl that was abandoned by her father. That's how they see me even to this day. His shadow has been following me my entire life. I'm sick of it. I need him out of my life. I need to step out of his shadow. That's why I have to find him, and tell him we're no longer family. In order to settle the past... In order to remove him from my life forever. I have no doubt he forgot about me years ago."

"..."

"Our only connection is through blood, nothing more. Are we connected by heart and soul? No. Is blood really enough to call someone family?"

Only connected by blood, not by heart or soul... Sora thought. She sighed, not knowing how to respond to that. So instead...she just said nothing.

"By the way, Shirayuki..." Kyoko spoke up after Kami knows how long. "I noticed something about you. You're hair..."

"Hm?"

"...Are you really from Japan?" Kyoko asked. "After all, blonde hair is really rare, save for those of mixed ancestry..."

But Sora simply shrugged. "Meh. Who knows...? Maybe it's 'cuz I'm part-American. I've never really bothered to ask one of my moms about it..."

"...One of your mothers...?" Kyoko questioned.

Sora sighed. "Long story. I'll tell you another time..."

---

The two just kept climbing the latter in complete and utter silence. After who-knows-how-long...they finally reached the top.

"Finally..." Sora let out a relieved sigh, a small smile creeping onto her face.

"On the other side of this door...Hope's Peak is waiting for us." Kyoko said.

"We're...back, I guess. Though, I dunno if that's a good thing or a bad one..." Sora rubbed her head.

"Remember that hatch on the ground near the trash room? I'm fairly certain that's where we'll come out." Kyoko guessed. "I unlocked it earlier, so it should open without much trouble."

"Welp..." Sora started. "Here goes nothing..."

The blonde reached her hand up and pushed against the hatch. Then...

CREAK...

The hatch opened with ease. And so...

"Freeeedom!" Sora cheered as she jumped out of the hatch, with Kyoko following. "We're back!"

"But I can't believe how long that ladder was. I'm exhausted..." Kyoko mumbled.

Sora let out a peaceful sigh. She can't exactly say that they're safe and sound, but at least they're outta that rotten garbage pit. Now they're back at Hope's Peak...

"Kiri!" Sora lunged her body and glomped Kyoko.

"A-Ah! Shirayuki...?!"

"Thank you so much. I dunno how I woulda gotten outta there without you."

Kyoko awkwardly patted her back. "No thanks necessary. I was just returning the favor."

"So..." Sora let go as she wondered. "What now? I'm glad that I'm not dead of course, but if the mastermind finds out..." She grimaced. "And...I'm a little worried on what she'd do to you, too. Since you helped me, she might..."

"...You're worried?"

Sora blushed. "Kinda..."

"Then let's just get a concrete answer." Kyoko folded her arms.

"...Hm?" Sora wondered.

"Let's ask Monokuma if there's a problem with you escaping."

"...What."

"If we try to hide, it's only a matter of time till we're found out. And it's not like we can run away." Kyoko pointed out as she looked towards a nearby surveillance camera. 

"So you're saying that we should just give ourselves in now?" 

"Don't worry. What you think is going to happen, isn't." Kyoko assured her. "Because the mastermind is the one that's ensnared."

The mastermind is ensnared.... "You said that before. What do you mean by that...?"

"The mastermind stood exposed during the investigation into Ikusaba's death. There was a moment where the mastermind let their guard down." Kyoko said.

"Really...?"

Kyoko nodded. "If we can talk to Monokuma, we can confirm it. And it'll be better for us if we go to him directly before he tracks us down. That should help with out negotiations..."

"Ah...okay." Sora nodded in understanding. Still, I'm kinda...no, extremely nervous about this. But...

"Good grief... It's not like we have a choice, right? Let's get it over with..."

"Monokuma should be in the gym. Let's get going." Kyoko said as they walked off.

Chapter 40: End

To be continued...?