"Morning, everyone." Monokuma said.
"Whoa! It's the psychopath!" Hagakure screamed in fear.
He appeared out of nowhere when we were just having breakfast. I can see Makoto's fist forming as he stares at Monokuma sharply. Kyoko is beside him, patting his hands.
"Now, I will introduce new gameplay! It's called 'Weekly Target!'" he said.
"What is this sociopathic idea of yours?!" Toko asked.
"Simmer down, man. I made this so you'll play an even more fun game!" Monokuma raised both his hands.
"What's so fun about killing, after all?!" Hina protested.
"Go ahead. Tell us if you really think it could excite us." Byakuya folded his arms.
"It is called 'Partner Target!' This person is available to be killed, for a specific person!" Monokuma explained.
Byakuya smirked.
"What's the difference with the past game rules?" he said, becoming interested.
"You can kill them and get graduated by bringing one of your friends!" Monokuma declared.
!!!
"And it's completely random! You can either reveal it or not; it's up to you!" Then he's gone.
I check my card.
Asahina.
And I know exactly what others got.
Kyoko and Makoto, they both got each other. Hina got me. Sakura got Chihiro. Toko got Mondo. Celeste got Taka. Hifumi got Yasuhiro.
Byakuya? He comes to Monokuma to protest.
"Why is this blank?!" he yelled.
"No. Your job is to accompany the killer. You can graduate if the killer isn't exposed. But you can also stay here by exposing them. So three people would graduate if a murder happens." Monokuma replied.
Others nod.
"If I didn't get exposed..." Monokuma nodded in agreement with Byakuya's statement.
"And if I even chose to help the culprit..." Byakuya continued.
"B-but you must confirm to me first by whispering to tell me which side you're defending." Monokuma added.
"So, that's all. See you in hell!"
And he's gone. Just like that.
"Guys, let's just confess who you got." Kyoko said.
"There is no reason to keep it a secret anyway." she continued.
Taka nodded.
"G-guys! Sorry, I gotta go for a while!" Chihiro said, holding her belly with her hands; farting sounds can be heard as she rushed out of the dining hall. Kyoko smiled slightly, not from her mouth, but from her eyes.
"I also have business." Celeste declared. And she's gone.
"Oh yeah, sorry, I also have something to do." Hifumi told us, following Celeste. Aww, they are such a cute couple. Sayaka and Makoto too. It's my fault someone has died.
But is there even a choice for me?
"G-guys?" Makoto asked. But everyone's just leaving.
"Guess I'll get going." Yasuhiro heads off first.
"Yeah, me too. There's no way anyone would kill, right?" Hina said.
Byakuya shook his head.
"The odds are not zero percent." He went out of the dining hall.
And everyone's gone.
Except for Asahina and Sakura.
Ugh. Why do they have to be so close? I went to Asahina.
"Hina." I called. She turned her head toward me.
"Actually..."
I showed her my card. Target: Asahina. Then, Sakura turned to me, pushing Hina away.
"I know you want to protect her. But I intend no harm. If I did, why would I confess anyway?" I countered gently.
Sakura looked lost in thought for a while until she lowered her defenses.
"Oh, I also saw Chihiro stealing glances at you guys." I continued.
"Before she left." I added. Sakura and Hina looked at each other.
Chihiro appeared suddenly. Sakura went to her.
"Chihiro, I have something to talk about." Sakura said in a masculine tone.
"I also have something to talk about. Let's head somewhere more private." she replied.
I went to Hina as they went to another place.
"G-go away! Killer!" she shouted.
"I'm really sorry if I ever made you feel threatened. What if we spend time together to deepen our trust?" I initiated.
She raised her head that had just been leaning down.
"Hmmm... I'm not sure we have the same hobbies, but... want to go stretching with me?" she asked.
Yosh! I nodded.
---
When we finally came to the gym, we found Kyoko and Makoto sitting side by side, with no conversation.
"Oh, sorry to disrupt your intimate time!" I said. Kyoko suddenly stood up and came to me, whispering.
"I'm sorry?"
"Oh, I thought it was your job to be close to him. Sorry to make you mad, but as a Monokuma spy, you'll need my help in uncovering the school's secret." I warned her, face to face.
Her face looked red. No, not love-blushing, but the rise of cortisol. She still looked calm, but blood pressure cannot lie.
"We already explored the school together before." she said coldly. I smiled slightly. Thank you, Kyoko.
"Wait." I pulled something out of my pocket and gave it to Kyoko.
"Hmm... how strange... I actually feel pleased." she said as she sprayed some of the blueberry perfume on her hands to taste the smell. Hope that could reduce her cortisol level.
She headed back to sit beside Makoto.
"So who did you get, Kyoko?" I asked.
"Makoto."
"R-really?!"
"And I got Kyoko too." Makoto said. His mood looked a bit better now.
Damn, seeing those depressed faces really made me feel guilty.
"Abu."
I think one day I really have to stop Junko.
"Abu?"
I can't just sit here in psychological or political warfare.
She could just shoot all of us to kill us anyway. I have to find access to her and stop her directly.
"Abu!"
"Ah, yes. Sorry, Aoi." I replied to her summons.
"Let's start doing the stretching. You can teach me, right?" I asked.
She smiled and nodded.
"Yes!"
---
"Oh god! Can I really keep this?" She said. I nodded.
She holds the kitten hairclip.
"Where did you get this?" She asked.
"Somewhere secret." I replied.
Then, Makoto suddenly came to me.
He rushed inside to the gym.
"Sorry Hina, I gotta talk to Abu." He said to her.
"Well then, have a good day!" She waved to me. I waved my hands back.
"Tell me what you told Kirigiri." He said with determined eyes.