(3rd Person's POV)

After searching the control room in the Data Center, Sora continued walking through the halls of the school. The blonde had her mind made up as she stopped and reached the destination.

The headmaster's room... Sora thought as she went inside.

---

So...this is the headmaster's room. I've heard an awful lot about it, but this'll be my first time that I see it for myself...

"Ah, Shirayuki. It's you..." A voice said as Sora turned her head to see Byakuya.

"Togami..."

"Well, you came to the right place this time. Would you like to see something interesting?"

"Uhh...sure. What do you mean "something interesting"?"

"Take a look at this..." Byakuya handed her a booklet with the Hope's Peak emblem on it. "It was on top of that pathetically ostentatious desk."

Sora took it and read the title. "Class #78...Student Registry...?"

"It contains profiles for all of us...and Ikusaba." Byakuya informed. "Apparently class #78...refers to us."

"Wait, when we found Ikusaba's profile in Kiri's room..." Sora recalled. 

Byakuya nodded. "That's right. It also mentioned class #78. This must be where Kirigiri got that page. And since the rest of our profiles are listed in there along with hers...there can be no doubt. Ikusaba was a student here at Hope's Peak Academy, just like the rest of us." He deduced.

That must be how Kiri learned about her... 

"But it seems that Kirigiri was in a hurry..." Byakuya said.

"How so?"

"I'm talking about when she stole it. The uneven tearing, the way the paper had been crumpled, she must have been in a hurry."

"Well, she did sneak in to get it, so it's not that much of a surprise that she was rushing. What's your point."

Byakuya smugly smirked. "She was in so much of a hurry...that she only got the first page."

"...What?" Sora wondered.

"Correct. Ikusaba's profile actually contains two pages."

"...What." Sora deadpanned.

"In other words, when it comes to this profile...there was more information about Ikusaba that we still didn't have." Byakuya said.

"Well, what kind of information was it?" Sora asked.

Byakuya groaned. "Why do you ask me to explain every little thing? You can read, can't you? It seems to be some sort of detailed report put together by the headmaster himself. I don't know what kind of man he was, but I'm glad he left us such an interesting clue..."

Sora rolled her eyes and tuned Byakuya out as she skimmed through the report.

---

"Ikusaba reappeared suddenly, and in the background an entity floats, close but just out of reach. The entity known as...the Ultimate Despair. Right now, I can't be sure if this is a single person, or some kind of group. Whatever it is, Ikusaba definitely has some sort of connection to it.

"I have a bad feeling about all this. I need to push forward with my research into the Ultimate Despair. And I need to pay attention to Ikusaba's behavior, too. This is just my gut feeling, but I think she's dangerous. Despite the countless battles she must have gone through as a member of Fenrir, when she entered Hope's Peak, she didn't display any signs of battle wounds or scars. That fact alone proves her tremendous skill in battle.

"Naturally, I want to believe in her. She's one of my students, after all. But if I decide she's a danger to the other students, I will be forced to take all reasonable measures."

---

Sora pursed her lips in contemplation. Mukuro...was a part of the Ultimate Despair. I don't think there can be any doubt about it now. But...wouldn't that mean Mukuro and the mastermind were allies? So why...? Why would they kill Mukuro? Did she outlive her usefulness or something? Plus, even the headmaster seemed to be afraid of what Mukuro was capable of. They would've had to take her completely by surprise to kill her like that... Or...maybe it means the mastermind is even stronger than Mukuro was...

Byakuya noticed the look that Sora had. "What's wrong, Shirayuki?"

"...Hm?" Sora looked up at him.

"You seem to be lost in thought. But I should probably point out one other thing. There's another important bit of information within the file that you should note."

"Which is...?"

"Did you notice the picture in there? A picture of a girl perhaps you've never seen before? A girl who seems to be included as part of our class #78. That should be enough for you to figure out who the girl is.  And further information about that girl is included in the file. 5 foot 7 inches, 97 pounds. And it even lists her vitals...31-22-32." Byakuya informed before focusing back to Sora. "Well? What do you think?"

"What do I- What, are you asking me if she has a nice body or something? 'Cuz if you are, then..." Sora absent-mindedly rubbed the back of her neck.

Byakuya rolled his eyes. "How can someone be so smart and yet so simple-minded..?" He muttered. "What I'm trying to tell you, is maybe you'll want to keep that in mind for later. Maybe you'll make your way back to the corpse, and maybe you'll think, "Oh, could that mean...?""

I-Is he trying to say that... the body in the garden...isn't Mukuro's...?

"Personally, what I'm thinking seems all but impossible. But it wouldn't hurt to confirm, right?" Byakuya shrugged. "That's all I was trying to say. What you do with that information is your business."

And now I'm back to being his errand girl...

Truth Bullet: Mukuro's Profile

"Oh, and one last thing..." Byakuya spoke up. "It's a bit of advice from me to you, so I suggest you pay attention."

"What advice?" Sora asked.

"You seem to be getting along with Kirigiri quite well." Byakuya chuckled. "You even have your own little nickname for her."

Sora made a small smile of amusement. "What, you jealous?"

Byakuya scoffed. "Of course not. All I'm saying is that you shouldn't put too much faith in her."

"...?"

"The cost of that faith might be more than you can afford."

"And that's supposed to insinuate...what, exactly?"

"Just what I think. Call it a hunch."

"A hunch, huh..."

"But my hunches tend to be proven right. The advice is free this time. Take it or don't, as you will."

"I'll keep that in mind. Thanks, I guess..."

"..."

---

Sora walked up to the 5th floor. She walked through the halls before she looked towards the dark hallway.

"..."

STEP! STEP! STEP! STEP!

Again, she could hear the impact of her steps, mostly due to her stilettos clacking against the floor. A drop of sweat rolled down her face.

I hate the dark...

Finally, she managed to make her way to the "RAW" labeled door. She gently pushed it open as she went in.

---

So...this is the Bio Lab... Sora thought before shivering and hugging herself. Why the heck is it so cold...? I know it's supposed to some kinda preserver for stuff, but it feels like I'm in a refrigerator that has the temperature down by -5 degrees. Seriously, is that really necessary...?!   

Trying her best to not let the cold get the better of her, Sora looked around to get a feel for her (very cold) surroundings.

There's some kind of weird machine or something built into the wall. And on the left side, there's a bunch of glowing blue lights... But on the other side...

Sora went to the other side and saw the same kind of machines. I think I've heard of these before...

"Oh, I think I've got it..." Sora remembered. "It's some kinda...fridge for storing dead bodies."

Does that mean that...the Bio Lab is actually a morgue of some kind?

Turning away from the fridges, Sora walked to the frozen desk in the middle of the lab and picked up an orange booklet.

"It looks like...an instruction manual."

---

"We offer an eco-friendly alternative to standard dry ice for all your cadaver needs. In addition to the germicidal lamps, we also provide an ozone generator for the removal of ethylene gas. Simply insert the cadaver, and the blue light will let you know the automated systems have activated. Temperature and humidity levels will be adjusted automatically for optimum settings. With our system, anyone can keep a body fresh as a daisy for as long as you need! In the unlikely event of a problem, the red light will activate and an alarm will sound immediately. The exterior is stainless steel, and we do offer an optional leather upholstery upgrade package."

---

Sora raised an eyebrow. An instruction manual...for the fridge?

Disregarding that, her eyes shifted and noticed a whole stack of tarps.

I've been seeing a lot of those lately...

Sora then turned her head to examine the fridges more. There's some kind of weird machine or something built into the wall. And on the left side, there's a bunch of glowing blue lights... But only some of the lights are on... The ones on the left. Sora's head snapped to the ones on the other side. The right-hand lights are off...

"Well, looking around, I think I get it... It seems clear to me now... It was a makeshift morgue." Sora said.

Truth Bullet: Bio Lab Secret

Sora looked towards the lights. "And about those lights by each slot... It looks like it's set up so that when a slot is occupied, the blue light comes on. Which would mean, inside each slot lit up in blue...another one of the victims is..."

Truth Bullet: Bio Lab Lights

"..." Sora let out a sigh, the area she's in being so cold that one could actually see her breath of air. I need to defeat the mastermind. That's the only thing I could do for them right now... 

"And to do that, I have to investigate every single place I can."

---

Which brings me to here... Sora thought, now in the dojo.

"..." Toko lightly bit her fingernail as she stared at Sora.

"...Hm?" Sora noticed her. "...Oh Fukawa. So this is where you were."

"A-Ah, Mistress! I-I'm sorry for staring! Does it b-bother so much that you w-want me out of your sight?!" Toko offered.

Sora sighed, shaking your head. "No, you don't have to do that. ...Anyway, have you found some sort of clue?"

Toko shook her head. N-No... I didn't find anything... Not one s-single clue!" She scowled. "I figured since this place was r-related to the case, it would have to h-have something, right? But there wasn't a-anything out of the ordinary here!" She then started getting angry. "Give it b-back... Give me back my precious t-time!"

"...Just calm down, Fukawa." Sora rolled her eyes.

"Don't tell m-me to calm down! Do you have any idea what I-I'm going through right now? When everyone finds o-out, they're gonna call me useless! G-Good for nothing!"

"No they're not."

"Master will!"

...Can't disagree with that one.

"I don't want that! I'm sick of a-always being looked down on! Why w-won't anyone accept me...?" Toko demanded to know, though it was more of a rant to herself.

Sora sweatdropped. She doesn't think she'll get any clues here, so...she'll just get going.

"Gh...ngaaaAAaAAAahhH!" Toko screamed in frustration while Sora awkwardly left.

---

In the garden...

Sora blinked. "What."

When she entered the garden, the first thing she noticed was that...Mukuro's body...was gone.

"It...what...how?" Sora sputtered before sighing. "Maybe I should check the toolshed. Just to be sure..."

---

But when she went into the toolshed, Sora searched but...

"I can't find anything close to a dead body." Sora muttered. "But if it's not here, then...maybe it's in the Bio Lab?" She guessed. But corpses aren't the only thing I need to check in here. There's one other thing... That tarp. A tarp played a key role in another case, so... I'd better look into it...

Sora walked to the stained and dirty tarp on the ground and crouched down. The killer used the tarp to keep the sprinklers from getting the body wet. Which means the killer might have left some clue behind here...

"...Hm?" Sora moved her head closer as she noticed a small stamp on one corner of the tarp. "It says...Bio Lab."

So...this used to be in the Bio Lab, then?

Truth Bullet: Tab

Well...looks like that's all I needed to check in here.

---

Sora headed out of the garden. But once she did...

DING, DONG! BING, BONG!

"Umm, this is a school announcement... Is everyone working hard? Is your investigation coming along nicely? Well then. Since you're all giving it your best, your generous headmaster will give you a little hint! Puhuhu... For those of you who are interested, please make your way to the gym ASAPossible!"

The monitor shut off as Sora let out a sigh. Yare yare dawa... Now he wants to give us a hint?

"It's suspicious for sure, but...guess I don't have a choice in the matter..."

---

In the trophy room...

"..." Hiro was there, his arms crossed and looking depressed.

"What's up with you?" 

"Uwah!" Hiro shrieked as she saw Sora in front of him. "S-Shirayuki?!"

"Why'd you act so surprised...?"

"O-Oh, no reason!"

"Okaaaayy... You heard Monokuma's annoncement, right? You here to hear what he has to say?"

"I...I... I just did, actually. I'm on my way out..."

"Really? What'd he say...?"

"...Listen, sorry, b-but I...!" Hiro placed his hands on his hair in fear. "I gotta go!"

"What the-? Hiro, where are you-?" Sora tried calling out, but he was already gone. He ran off like a frightened animal. It was like he was trying to avoid someone... I was hoping to talk to him about the notebook I found in the locker...

Sora let out a sigh as he continued on her way.

---

Sora was alone in the gym. The silence was deafening until she looked forward and saw Monokuma jump up and land on the podium.

"Hello, welcome! Welcome, hello! Are you ready for your final hint!?" Monokuma chirped. "Well, it just so happens to be in the envelope on the ground in front of you!"

Envelope... Sora thought, looking down to see a white envelope. Oh no...this isn't gonna be another one of those envelops that reveals that I'm a les- uh, I mean...

"Puhuhu... And just so you know, I won't be answering any questions about what you find inside!" Monokuma told her.

"...Do I need to ask questions?" Sora raised an eyebrow.

"Don't worry, just get on with it!

Monokuma's cryptic words didn't make her feel any better, but she picked up the envelope...and opened it.

"..."

What she found...was a single photograph.

It featured a bunch of faces she recognized extremely well. It was everyone who'd come to Hope's Peak at the same time as she did. The photo seemed to be taken in winter.

But...

"There's someone next to Enoshima..." Sora muttered. "She's the only one I don't recognize... Wait, that's not true. I do recognize her! That's right... When Togami and I were in the headmaster's room, and we looked at that file..." She recalled. "That girl is...Mukuro Ikusaba..."

What...? Why...? Why is Mukuro here with everyone else? And even more than that... Sora thought. Just having everyone here posed like this is weird enough by itself. And they're all wearing matching uniforms. I don't remember anything like this... AND now that I'm looking at it...it's not even everyone.I'm not in the picture. She noticed. The picture has all sixteen other students, but not me.

"I...I don't..."

"Puhuhu... How long are you gonna keep up this rambling soliloquy of yours, Hamlet?" Monokuma giggled. "You're kinda gettin' in the way standing there, ya know?" His eye started glowing red. "So...I mean...get out!"

"But what about-"

"I told you, I'm not fielding any questions! What kind of mystery would this be if I gave you all the answers? That'd be totally out of left field! dugretTt/r@@2e!-- brRRrqffqZZzzkkKk>3" Monokuma yelled.

Sora blinked. "...What."  She assumes that means he's done talking. B-But...the picture... Dammit...

Truth Bullet: Group Photo

---

So in the end, all Sora found in the gym...was even more confusion. And with that confusion in hands, she left the gym disappointed.

"How does this even count as a hint...?" Sora wondered. "All it did was confuse me and left me with more questions than answers..."

Is that what Monokuma was going for? Did he put together a fake photo just to confuse me...? But it looked so real, so full of life. How could anyone fake that...? Everyone but me...everyone...but...me...

Sora clenched her fist in frustration. "What does this mean...?" She grumbled as she left the trophy room.

Chapter 44: End

To be continued...?