"(F/n), wake up."

My eyes flutter open to see Sara gently shaking me awake.

"Sara...? What is it...?" I mumble sleepily.

She glances at the door before turning back to me. "I just heard commotion outside. Can you come with me please?" She asked.

I sit up and and yawn as I rub the sleep out of my eyes. "Okay..."

"Need help getting up?" Sara asked with a tilt of her head.

I nod. She smiles and grabs my hands before pulling me out of bed. "Let's go."

I blink a couple times in an attempt to wake myself up while Sara takes my hand and leads me outside our bedroom.

As soon as we're out, Gin runs up to us. "Big sis Sara, bis sis (F/n)... It's terrible, meow..."

The worry in his voice makes me finally wake up. "Gin, what happened honey?"

"The old guy..." He whimpers. "Was killed...woof."

I narrow my eyebrows in confusion and Sara lets out a small "...Huh?"

"Come to the Monitor Room...meow..." He grabs my hand and leads the way.

Old guy??

Wait...

Just as I was starting to catch on, we walked up to our friends standing by one of the monitors.

The monitor with professor Mishima's AI.

Sadly, my fears came true...

"It IS broken..." I whisper.

"W...What...is this..." Sou asks as he clutches at his scarf.

Gin squeezes my hand tighter. "The old guy...he's..."

"Who would do something so cruel...?" I notice Kanna shivering right besides Sou.

Keiji shakes his head, he's standing over by the monitor controls. "No good... Seems the computer in front is just for booting it up. The AI was stored on the monitor itself."

"Mishima...can't be booted up anymore." He lets out a heavy sigh.

I look over at Sara, her grip tightens on my hand and she clenches her teeth.

She's mad, I can tell all too well.

"...Sou. You did this, didn't you?" Keiji's voice snaps me out of my thoughts. He was now right in front of the beanied man.

"Wha...!?" Sou looked at him like he just grew an extra head. "Y...You're wrong! I would never...do such a thing...!" He motions to the broken monitor with the hand that wasn't clutching his scarf.

"U...Um..." Kanna stepped in between the two males and straightened her back as she looked the policeman in the eyes. "...Kanna was with him the whole time. It wasn't Sou."

I'm pretty sure Kanna wouldn't lie about something like this.

That means he has a solid alibi...

Keiji raised an eyebrow and glanced at the teal haired boy. "Always with him...? This late into the night?"

Kanna nodded. "It's Kanna's job to watch him, so... We slept in the same room..."

"Excuse me?" I ask as I narrow my eyebrows at Sou.

He flinches and pulls at his beanie. "...I was worried 'cause she wouldn't let me leave. Though it ended up giving me an alibi, huh..."

I stare at him for a moment and examine his face for any tell that he might be lying. I see him straighten up for once under my gaze.

I let out a sigh and nod at him. "Alright. I believe you."

"H-Huh??" He looks at me wide eyed.

"I said I believe you. I'm choosing to trust you on this." I point at him and give him a serious expression. "Do NOT make me regret it."

He seems to be at a loss for words before looking away. "Thank you..."

...

Did he just smile or was that my imagination?

Before I can dwell on it, Keiji speaks up again. "...I'm beat. Never run into a case with such an unclear motive behind the crime."

"Who was the first to discover this?" Sara asks.

He gestures to himself with his thumb. "That'd be this policeman here."

"It was you, Keiji...?" She tilts her head and crosses her arms. "...What was the situation?"

Keiji rubs his neck. "Ahh, well... Couldn't get to sleep, so I thought I'd have a chat with Mishima." He points at the cracked monitor. "When I came in...well, it looked just like this."

The ginger girl raises an eyebrow. "Is that true?"

"...Yep." He looks off to the side. "It's a shame. Really is."

...

Somehow I doubt that.

I don't like doubting him and believing Sou, it feels weird.

Still...

"Um..."

I turn around and cover mu mouth.

Nao glances around at everyone and rubs her wrist anxiously. "Has something happened...?"

S H I T

"Mya!?" Gin leaps over to her and attempts to push her out of the Monitor Room. "Don't come in, woof!!"

"Huh?" Nao puts her hands on his shoulders in an attempt to steady herself and stop him. She looks over to where everyone is standing, side steps Gin and walks over to us. "What are you-?"

Her face falls.

"Pro...fessor...?" She whimpers and covers her mouth.

"Nao..." I step over to her. "...Do you need a hug?"

She doesn't say anything, just lightly nods. I wrap my arms around her and rub circles on her back. She lets out a shaky sigh.

After we seperate Sara slowly steps over to us. "Nao... Do you have any idea who would have done this...?"

Nao closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. "You mean...who broke it, don't you..." She shakes her head. "...I don't know the culprit."

There's silence for a moment,

"...Um." Nao plays with her fingers and looks Sara in the eye. "Please...don't look for the culprit."

"W...What do you mean by that?" Sara stutters.

Nao opens her mouth to speak but closes it. She turns her back to us and hugs herself. "Please let me be alone for a little..." With those final words, she walks back in the direction of her room.

Dear God...

How much more does this poor girl have to suffer??

I notice Keiji scanning the room with a concentrated glint in his eye. "Hmm... No clues around that I can see."

"Meow? No bits of wood on the ground like when the other monitor got broken, woof?" Gin asks.

Keiji shakes his head at the boy. "Nope, nothing."

I rub my chin in thought. "Maybe that means that the culprit in this incident is different from the last one?" I ask.

"That's very probable." Keiji picks at his collar. "This is one nonsensical incident. Would love to solve it right away, but... We need rest. Let's do a detailed investigation tomorrow. Asking Reko and Q-taro can wait 'til tomorrow, too."

Gin looks up at Keiji with pleading eyes. "Mr. Policeman... You gotta...find the culprit, meow..."

"...Right." Keiji gives him a small smile.

I clap my hands together. "Alright, looks like that's all we can do tonight. We'll investigate this incident tomorrow. Keiji?"

He raises an eyebrow. "Yeah?"

"I think asking the Receptionist Doll if he saw anything could be a good lead as any. Can I ask you to do that tomorrow?" I crack my knuckles as I wait for him to respond.

Keiji nods. "That's a good idea, I'll ask." He looks over to everyone else. "Okay everybody. Try and get some sleep. See you all tomorrow." He gives a small wave before putting his hands in his pockets and retreating to his room.

I turn to Sara. "Let's go back to bed. God knows YOU need it." I chuckle.

She rolls her eyes with a small smirk. "You're not wrong. C'mon." She puts her arm around my shoulders and we walk back to our room.

Once we're inside I wobble over to my bed and fall into it face first. "If there's one good thing about this place, it's that these beds are comfy as fuck."

Sara snorts at that.

There's silence in the room for a couple seconds and I notice Sara isn't going to her bed. I sit up. "You didn't fall asleep before this incident, did you."

Her eyes widen. "W-What? How'd you-?"

I sigh and give her an unamused expression. "Sara you think I didn't notice you tossing and turning the whole time I was falling asleep? C'mon give me more credit than that." She frowns and looks away. I pat the spot besides me on the bed as I lean against the wall. "C'mere."

Sara looks confused but does as I say and also leans against the wall. The matress dips beneath her as she puts her weight on it. "Why...am I doing this?"

I pull the covers over us, put my head on her shoulder and wrap my arms around her. "I'm trying to help you fall asleep."

She raises an eyebrow at me. "How do you know it'll work?"

I shrug. "It helped to have someone next to you last night, didn't it?"

The older girl stays silent for a moment before wrapping an arm around me. "Maybe you're right... Thanks, for everything."

I smile at her. "No problem. I'm very thankful you've helped me this whole time as well."

I snuggle into her side while she lets her head fall onto mine.

"Hey Sara?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't let what happened in the Main Game plague your mind. It isn't your fault."

"..."

"Goodnight."

"'Night, (F/n)..."

...

[DREAM]

I jolt up from a transe and look around.

"A classroom?" I mumble as I look around.

It was my class back from my normal life, down to the innapropriate doodles on the desks and the chewed up gum underneath them.

I stand up and walk up to the window.

"Ok it's either insanely dark or this is a void... Not comforting..." I sigh and rub my neck.

I know this is a dream...but I don't understand what it's supposed to mean.

Thats when I heard the classroom door open.

"Miss (F/n)?"

I freeze.

No way...

I turn around and look at the source of the familiar voice.

"Professor Mishima!?" I shout.

He smiles warmly at me and closes the door behind him. "Indeed, it is me. There's no need to shout!"

I examine him some more before letting out a dry laugh. "Is that cigar in your hand or do my eyes decieve me?"

He stops dead in his tracks right in the middle of the room.

"P-preposterous!! I've already told you many times that a teacher should not smoke!" He exclaims.

I jog up to him and wrap my arms around him. "God... I'm so happy to see you!"

He chuckles and ruffles my hair. "My, my! I didn't expect you to miss me so much. Since I got executed right at the very beginning..." My smile falls.

"I just wish you stuck around longer..." I pull back. "You got executed due to our ignorance and I always keep kicking myself for not looking behind that damn door!" I run a hand down my face and look back up at him. "You deserved so much better..."

Mishima stays quiet for a moment before pulling out two chairs for us. "Sit, please."

I do as he says and wait patiently for him to reply.

The professor fixes his glasses. "Miss (F/n), I'm not at all surprised you blame yourself for my demise, however you have to know that it was not your fault at all. Not yours, not anyone else's."

"I know..." I sigh. "I guess...the thing that makes me really feel guilty is the fact that Nao has to live with the fact that our votes killed you. I wish I could just make her pain disappear..."

We sit in silence for a minute.

Suddenly I feel a hand on my shoullder. I look over at Mishima to see him smiling at me once again.

"Miss (F/n), I've said this before but you have a very kind heart." He puts a hand on his chest. "I couldn't ask for a better support system for Miss Nao. With you by her side, I know she'll move on from my death."

I give him a half smile. "You know you're the best teacher ever, right?" He chuckles.

"I try." His face suddenly turns serious. "While I do want you to make sure miss Nao is alright, please remember to take care of your own well being, alright? Those people need a strong leader who is in the right head space and is healthy enough both mentally and physically to lead them."

He takes his hand off my shoulder and offers me a handshake instead. "Could you grant me that request, miss (F/n)?"

I stare at him for a moment before taking my hand in his and shaking it. "Of course, professor Mishima. You can count on me."

There's a peaceful silnece in the classroom as we seal the deal.

*Ding, dong, ding dong. Ding, dong, dong, ding*

We look around the classroom and I notice the clock on the wall.

"Why is the clock going backwards?" I ask.

Mishima smiles sadly before standing up. "Because it appears it is time for me to take my leave."

"Oh right... This is a dream after all." I frown.

The kind man reaches his hand to me and helps me stand up.

"The truth is in the eye of the beholder, miss (F/n)."

With that, he walks out of the classroom...

...

[Author's Note]

GUESS WHO'S BACK, BACK AGAIN!!!

GOD IT FEELS GOOD TO WRITE AGAIN!

Guys I am SO sorry for not updating for so long. School has been such a bitch.

Maybe now that we're going back to learning from home I'll be able to write more.

I'm gonna start writing the next chapter right after I finish writing this note.

I can't wait to show you guys the many ideas in my brain for this fic.

I WILL finish it. That much I promise!

I love you all <3

Kaja is finished here ^^

[Word Count: 2323]