(Kaede's PoV)

Ding dong Bing bong!

"RISE AND SHINE URSINE!" It was the Monokubs. I sat up on my bed and rubbed my eyes. Morning already? I thought. I changed into my Ultimate clothes and swung a backpack that I noticed was sitting on my bed, on. I confidently slapped both sides of my cheeks. Alright, time to start the day! I thought. I walked out of my dorm to meet up with the others. Apparently they were in the dining room which were near the dorms. "Kaede!" Kaito greeted me. I waved at him and sat down on a chair next to Rantaro and Tsumugi. "How's it going Kaede?" Rantaro asked. "It's been going good so far," I replied politely. Kirumi brought us all food and the ones that were there ate happily. Then Kokichi came sliding in yelling, "WHAT'S UP B*S?" I had to hide a giggle while the others groaned and rolled their eyes. "We literally just met and I already hate you!" Miu snapped. "Good because I hate you too," Kokichi said. "You degenerate male! How dare you ruin this peaceful morning?!" Tenko hissed. "Nishishi~ peaceful indeed considering the situation," Kokichi giggled. "Let's not talk about that," Ryoma Hoshi said in his surprisingly deep voice. "Oooh~ did I scare the dwarf man?" Kokichi asked. "You're one to talk. By your looks and actions, you look more like a grade schooler rather than a high schooler," Maki said. "Yeah facts!" Miu shouted. "Why are you all ganging up on me?" Kokichi wailed. "Come on guys, I'm sure he's just joking around," I suggested. "Hmmph!" Tenko huffed unhappily. "The levels of humanity in that conversation sure are high you know?" Korekiyo Shinguji asked. Kaito (who was sitting next to him) scooted farther away from him. Seeing them all here made me realize something. "Hey where's Shuichi?" I asked. The dining room went silent. "Oh my Atua, you don't think he-," Angie said but trailed off. I felt cold. Nononono, he can't, I thought. "I think Mister Detective is fine...but if you all insist I'll go check on him," Kokichi said confidently although I did notice some beads of sweat roll down his forehead and he raced off.

"Kaede go check on them," Maki ordered. "What why? I'm sure Kokichi has it under control," I said. "That's what I'm worried about. I don't trust him and I doubt he trust any of us...well apart from Shuichi and you possibly. I'll breathe easier if someone trustworthy checks on both of them," Maki explained. I looked at everyone and saw how they were avoiding my gaze. "Fine," I said and got up from my chair to check on both boys. I went up to Shuichi's dorm to already see Kokichi and Shuichi in a conversation. From here, it seems like Kokichi was teasing the navy haired boy. "But it's true! We were all worried! We thought maybe a killer got you but I knew you'd be fine because you're too valuable riiiiight?" Kokichi asked. Shuichi didn't look amused though. "Hey guys," I said, walking up to them. "Oh hey Kaede," Shuichi waved at me. "Wassup Kayayday!" Kokichi cheered. I chuckled while rolling my eyes. "We should probably go and eat breakfast," I said, pointing to the dining room. Shuichi nodded and pulled his hat down to cover his eyes. I wonder why he does that. The three of us walked back to the dining room to the others in conversations with each other.

"Oh hey Shuichi, glad you finally joined us," Kaito exclaimed. "I have made breakfast. Thank goodness that it's not cold for you," Kirumi explained. "Th-thanks," Shuichi said, shyly. He went over to where Kirumi placed his breakfast and sat down. Kokichi raced over to where he was and started to tease him again. Just in the span of a day, they both looked like they are becoming friends. It makes me so happy for them. I sat down to the spot where I was previously at and ate the food that Kirumi made. It seriously tasted good. "Wow this is good Kirumi," I exclaimed. "Why thank you. It is my duty as a maid to serve others," she curtsied, elegantly.

We all finished breakfast at different times. Himiko, Maki and Tsumugi finished first. Then Ryoma and Rantaro. After them, finished Kaito, Angie, Korekiyo, and Gonta. Tenko, and Shuichi finished afterwards and then I finally finished. Kokichi looked like he didn't eat much. I kept nagging him to eat more but he kept saying that he wasn't hungry. I felt worried about that. He already looked small for his age which probably meant that he suffered from malnutrition. I didn't push him to confirm this because I doubt he'd tell me...and he might lie to me about it. "We're going to the library remember," I said to Kokichi and Shuichi. "Yeah I know. I wonder what we'll find," Kokichi said and Shuichi simply shrugged. "Hopefully we'll find a lot of clues to form a full fledged theory," he explained. "Alright let's go," I said, happily and walked to the library with the two boys following me.

I sat down on a chair, reading a book that Shuichi said that he saw Rantaro had. It looked interesting. Something about framing others, how to tell a lie from a truth, and how usually there is a mastermind in the background, pulling the strings. What does that mean? I thought. "Found anything yet?" Shuichi asked and I shrugged. "It depends. What I find interesting is the mastermind part. What do you think of it?" I asked. Shuichi made a thinking face. "Since Rantaro shows no sign of recovering his memories, it's a possibility though that he feels like this situation that we are in right now is familiar to him," he suggested. "That's a smart finding Mister Detective," Kokichi said, swinging his legs back and forth from the table he was sitting on. Shuichi muttered a thanks while pulling his hat down. "Why do you do that?" I asked, looking up from the book. "Hmm? Do what?" Shuichi asked. "Hide your face with your hat," I replied. "Oh well...this hat was a gift given to me and sometimes I'm afraid of seeking the truth because the truth hurts sometimes. Seeking the truth made me unable to look at others in the face," he explained before looking away. "Leave the emo hat. What I hate more than anything in the world are liars so seeking the truth isn't bad. Sure it's painful but it's better than to corrupt yourself in lies," Kokichi explained. "Then why do you lie?" Shuichi asked. Kokichi put a finger on his lips. "That's my little secret nishishi~," he giggled. "He's right. Don't give up on yourself. Have a bit more of confidence in yourself, both of you. I promise that we'll make it out alive...together," I said, grabbing their hands and squeezing them. Both of them looked surprised at this gentle gesture. Shuichi's face lit up. "Th-thanks Kaede," he muttered shyly. Kokichi looked away. "Yeah thank Kayayday," he murmured. I smiled at them. We Will make it out alive. Together. All of us, I thought.

(Before I move on, I just wanna make this clear. Please refrain yourselves from making gentle jokes. They originally came from a little girl's trauma from Ultra Despair Girls and that type is Not used here. It's a bit disturbing that someone's trauma is being used as a joke. Anyway that's all I wanted to say before moving on with the story. Thanks for listening to my TED Talk. Onto the program)

"Anyway I wanna see the book now. Can I have it?" Kokichi begged. I handed him the book and he started to flip through the pages. "Oooh nice. I agree with this," he exclaimed happily. "What?" I asked. "'To corner a lie, trap them philosophically. The more pressure, the more likely the liar will crack, the more likely the lie will be exposed.' Basically beat them in their own game. Ohohoho~ this would be useful," Kokichi explained. I let out a sigh. "This might take us forever and we only have this day and tomorrow left before we all die," I said, folding my arms. "Why don't we start one step at a time? We could try to catch the mastermind or at least get a photo of them," Shuichi suggested. Kokichi looked up from the book. "How do you know that there is a mastermind behind this?" He asked. "There has to be someone pulling the strings here. Monokuma and his cubs may seem like plushies but someone must be controlling them," Shuichi explained. "Oh yeah you're right! So what will be the plan for that?" I asked. Shuichi put on a thinking face. "We set up cameras around here. Then we'll set up a motive so the mastermind will come here, like say Rantaro's talent or faking that we know who they are. We'll set up sensors and have one ourselves so once the cameras go off, we'll know," he explained the plan. Kokichi clapped his hands like an excited child. "That's so smart of you Saihara~Chan!" He cheered. "Saihara-Chan?" Shuichi asked. "That's a great plan. I'll ask Miu if she could make some cameras and sensors," I said. "Ugh why her?" Kokichi asked, clearly not happy about it. "Because she's the Ultimate Inventor. Don't worry I won't tell her why I'll need the cameras. Well not exactly, I'll improvise," I explained. "Meanwhile, I'll figure out what good places there would be to set up the cameras," Shuichi said. "Waaaaaaait! What about me??" Kokichi pouted. "Well we need to figure out how to get the mastermind here. What's your suggestion?" I asked, curious about what he has to say. Kokichi thought about it before putting on a smirk. "Just wait and see," was all he said. I wasn't quite sure whether he had good intentions or not. Well at least he could bring the mastermind here, I thought.

I went up to Miu and asked if she could make some cameras and a few sensors. She raised and eyebrow and asked why. I gave her the excuse of that I need it to watch over potentially dangerous places. She threw her head back and laughed. "Haha I thought you wanted it to spy over people while they are changing!" Miu said. "Wh-what? No it's not like that," I stuttered. "Didn't know you had those sort of thoughts, flat-chest. Fine I'll make you the cameras and sensors. Just you fu**ing wait!" She said. "Uh-huh..." I said, not sure if I made the right decision.

(Small time skip brought to you by Miu's inventions)

"And here you go!" Miu announced as she handed me a box that had the cameras and sensors. "Thanks, how were you able to make them on time?" I asked. "Monokuma told me if I want to invent something, I'll need to use my lab which he had the key for. He gave me yours as well," Miu explained and handed me a key. "Thanks...did you tell him about the cameras?" I asked as I took the key. She shook her head. "I don't need that fu**ing build-a-bear knockoff to supervise what I make," Miu explained. "Ah I see. Thanks," I said. "Anytime flat-chest," she said and walked off. Why does she insist on calling me flat. I'm not that flat...I think, I thought as I walked back to the library. Shuichi was there, muttering stuff under his breath. "And one would hide here. Ah perfect place to hide a camera. Oh Kaede, s-sorry I didn't see you there," he said. "I got the cameras and sensors," I said, handing him one. "That's amazing. Miu definitely earns the title of Ultimate Inventor," Shuichi said happily. Kokichi kicked the door open yelling, "What's up Fu**ers!" "Kokichi piped down. The mastermind could hear us," I explained quickly. "Whoops, sorry. Anyway, I send out a message to the mastermind, at least I hope they are the mastermind," he explained, putting his hands behind his head. "Care to explain?" I asked, tilting my head in curiosity. "Nope! It's a surprise," Kokichi explained. "We don't want to be here when the mastermind comes. Let's go and kill some time after we set up the cameras," Shuichi suggested. "So we don't wanna kill the mastermind?" Kokichi asked. "Then we'll be deemed as killers. No it's best if we rat out the mastermind and then figuring out what to do afterwards," Shuichi explained. Kokichi nodded slowly. "Yeah that makes sense," he said. We set up the cameras and sensors in the places that Shuichi thought was best to put them there. I handed him the sensors that would tell him once any of the cameras or all of them start going off. "Where should we go now?" Kokichi asked. I held up my lab's key. "Apparently we have these Ultimate Labs. Let's go figure out what mine is," I suggested. "Seems like a plan, let's go!" Kokichi giggled while Shuichi nodded and rolled his eyes at him. "You guys go on ahead, I need to double check something," I said. Both boys nodded and walked (in Kokichi's case skipped) out of the library. As soon as they left, my smile slid off my face. I'm sorry Shuichi but it must be done, I thought as I pulled out the shot put ball from my backpack from when I was waiting for Miu to finish the cameras. Shuichi's words of not killing the mastermind rang in my head. But if we don't kill them now, then someone will most definitely kill, I thought. I placed the ball in a little passage where it'll open up a few seconds after the cameras flash and kill the mastermind. I just hope this works, I thought.

A/N: I feel like writing the whole investigation onto another chapter so that's why it ended like this. I don't want to the chapters to be super super long. Just long enough to understand what is going on ya know?

Again, I have not played or seen the third game so sorry if I skipped a few scenes. However I have an idea on how I want to events to play out. Some deaths from the game will not happen here, some will however so don't keep your hopes up if your waifu or husbando dies. I'm sorry •_•

I think that's about it. Cya in the next one -Flare