Needless to say, Tanya's message of encouragement had not been well received by everyone. After knocking on everyone's doors and not getting responses, Tanya had had enough.

"Alright, we're going to go look for everyone who didn't answer, and drag the enthusiasm out of them!" Tanya exclaimed loudly before she turned to Makoto. "Right?"

"Er, I'm not so sure if everyone would be willing to agree..."

"Too bad! We'll make them do it!"

"I don't think forced hope is the best way to go about achieving our goals, Tanya."

"Oh, fine...well, what else are we supposed to do? We're stuck in this school..."

"I've got an idea! You guys can come swimming with me!" Aoi stepped out of her room, a bag slung over her shoulder. "I didn't really wanna go alone, anyway...and it could be fun with all of us!"

"Oh, that's a great idea! We should invite anyone that wants to come, too!" Tanya clapped her hands together energetically, "I'll go ask!"

"Uh, who are you going to ask?" Makoto scratched at his forehead, "no one's around right now..."

"I'll just go find people! We don't have that much of the school opened up. Can't be that difficult!"

"I-I mean, I don't mind having extra people, but I also don't really want certain people to spoil my swim with...their personalities, you know?" Aoi suddenly began to panic, her hand making it's way to her mouth. "Ah, I shouldn't say that! We should be open toward everyone..."

"Well, we shouldn't be forcing you to hang out with people you don't want..."

"Hm...Oh, I know! We can bring Sonia! She seemed super excited to go to the pool when it first opened up!" Aoi smiled, "do you guys know anyone else who wanted to swim?"

"No, but I think Himiko might enjoy it. Let's just go talk to them!"

After the trio traveled the notably short distance to Sonia's room, they knocked, and Sonia opened the door, her appearance in pristine condition.

"I apologize for my messy hair! It simply seems to be one of those days..." Sonia sighed, "anyway, what do you all require of me?"

"We're going for a swim! Would you like to join?" Makoto invited, and Sonia's eyes brightened.

"Yes, I would love to! However, I need to finish getting ready..."

"Oh, course!" Tanya grinned, "we're going to go ask Himiko if she wants to come, and then we'll come back to get you. Sound good?"

"Yes, that is perfect!"

Tanya, Aoi, and Makoto left to Himiko's room, and upon knocking on the door for a minute straight, the three realized Himiko wasn't there.

"Huh. Wonder where she could be," Tanya shrugged, "we should go look for her!"

"Yeah, we can go look when we go up to the pool," Makoto suggested. "Or maybe she's in the cafeteria, or the gym..."

"Hm...my swim is starting to get delayed pretty far back, but that's alright if it's going to make other people happy!" Aoi grinned. "Okay! I've got an idea. I'll go check the first floor, and Tanya checks the second floor. Makoto, you wait for Sonia! That work for everyone?"

"Sure," Makoto just shrugged, and with that, Aoi and Tanya both disappeared. He headed back to Sonia's room, patiently waiting for her to be ready. Once she was all set, they got Aoi, and headed to the second floor.

"I found Himiko! She was in room 2-A! She said she's been in here since eight!" Tanya grinned, and Himiko just waved.

"Nyeh...I guess I'm excited to go..."

The group, finally congregated, made their way to the locker rooms. Sonia smiled.

"See you on the other side!" Makoto flashed them a quick thumbs-up after scanning his E-handbook. He walked into the men's locker room before he changed into his bathing suit.

That was when he heard a girl's terrified scream, making his blood run cold.

What could be wrong? Nothing. They were in a school full of other hopeful students, Makoto tried to tell himself, only to be painfully proven wrong at the sound of Monokuma's voice over the intercom.

"A body has been discovered! Please convene in the pool as soon as possible!"

The...pool...?

Makoto swallowed his fear before he pushed open the door leading to the pool. The other three girls were all in bathing suits, but their eyes were fixated on something much more terrifying.

The severed head on the floor.

Gray, lifeless eyes staring up at nothing, blood dripping down from the victim's mouth...the rest of their body had been thrown into the pool, the water stained red.

Akane Owari had been brutally decapitated...and one of them had done the murder.