"So, what's the plan?" Kaito asked. I put my hand to my chin...how should I go about explaining this to them? I think maybe talking about the higher floors in a very simple way will make this plan be able to go faster...because if I try to explain all the things going on in my mind at the moment they are definitely going to get confused.

"The plan is to work our way up the floors, then if I'm right Shuichi should be at the highest floor," I said looking at the others hoping that was straightforward enough where they could understand me. Maki was the first to speak as the others took a moment to process the whole announcement and the danger Shuichi is now in.

"So, we work our way to the higher floors to find Shuichi, seems like a good start," She said, giving me a smile. That smile made me feel more confident that this whole plan was going to work. That we are going to find Shuichi, and find him well and alive.

"Yes, that's the plan," I said looking at the others.

"So, you think Shuichi is on the top floor?" Keeboy asked, making my shoulders slump a bit, I need to get them on board with this plan so we can find him before the time runs short.

"How do we know he isn't lying?" Tenko asked standing in front of Himiko protectively. I could tell she was more alert because Himiko was scared. It was sweet and endearing in a way...except that, since she said that others are going to doubt me and we won't be able to get anywhere.

"You are right about that...Kokichi is a liar..." Himiko whispered, poking her head past Tenko's side. I slumped even more and felt my whole confident facade from earlier start to slip as tears were threatening to fall from my eyes.

Why was I such a lying bastard? I should have been more honest back then so they wouldn't be doubting me now...because we need to get to Shuichi. We don't have time for the blame game...or even doubt. I was about to speak up about the time limit before Kaito cut me off.

"I believe in Kokichi," He said making me feel surprised. Sure, he said he believed in my ability to lead and make a plan...but some sense of pride came back to me knowing that Kaito was saying that out of all of them.

"You what-" Tenko started only for him to cut her off as well.

"I believe in Kokichi! Shuichi believed in him and trusted him enough to help him in the trials and to be his boyfriend! So I trust my sidekick and his decision making, so I believe in Kokichi! We should all believe in him because Shuichi does!" Kaito exclaimed wrapping and arm around my shoulders. I smiled and looked to the others again. They seemed to think on the idea of trusting me for a lone moment before any of them spoke.

"I agree!" Keeboy said making me feel my tears fade away. They believe in me, they believe that I can lead them to finding Shuichi...but what if I can't lead them to him, and what if he dies before we are able to make it. The weight came to my shoulders once more making me slump. I can't so this...why do they believe in me?

"Hey," I heard a voice call out as my eyes came up to find the source. I met Maki's eyes as she looked at me with her hands on either side of my shoulders.

"You can do this, we have a plan, and we are all standing behind you, what do you need us to do?" Maki asked. Some of the others chimed in with a nod or a yes. I smiled feeling the memories of the times I led my subordinates...and it made me smile.

"Thank you, let's get going then! We have no time to waste!" I exclaimed before I started giving out orders.

"Ok, we should break into two groups, one for the front and one for the back of the search party. Keebo, Tenko, and Himiko, you all take the back. Me, Maki, and Kaito will take the front. This is so we can be more aware of our surroundings. Let's just make our way up the floors and see what kinds of traps Tsumugi must have been talking about...and we are going to have to take on the extisals...so that's going to be a prob-" Keebo cut me off before I could finish my thought.

"Actually! Miu put some new modifications on me before she passed..." He looked to the side for a moment before resuming.

"I think I will be able to stall the extisals so we will be able to pass them!" He said with a proud smile. I'm not sure exactly what he means by stall...but I guess we are going to find out.

"Alright then! Get into your groups and we will start walking to the staircase!" I yelled as the students moved into their designated groups. I felt a familiar tension on my shoulders, similar to the one when we would go out to do a job in my organization...I missed this, sure it's stressful, but seeing a plan laid out and being able to work around obstacles is what I live for!

We walked out into the hallway and the whole layout seemed more weird that it was before. The walls were neon colors as the floor was almost black looking. It felt like a fucking maze...oh god, maybe this is like getting through a maze of roses to get the king...that's a weird ass analogy, but it works I guess.

"Ok, we are in formation. Are we ready to move," Maki asked, not seeming surprised by the scenery change...maybe she has had to do jobs where she didn't know the terrain, well I'm sure she has, but I'm still surprised regardless.

"Yes, stay close together," I said before signalling to move forward. The front group stayed a couple of feet in front of the back group. Kaito was in the front with me while Maki was more behind the both of us in the front. The back was Keebo standing in front of Tenko and Himiko. Himiko was still kind of hiding behind Tenko...I feel bad for her because right after having Angie killed she has to deal with another death right after a trial...and now knowing one of her friends was the mastermind...that just adds to all of that.

The halls were quite--too quiet. It was like a paralyzing silence because of the fear hanging in the air. I could almost feel the weight of it on my shoulders before the announcement went off.

"Oh~ Look at all of you working your way through the school! Good job getting started~ but be careful there are many traps and challenges that lie in wait for you~! But I can't spoil what they are just yet~ Because seeing the fear in your eyes is all I need~ Upupupu! Best of luck! Don't die!" Tsumugi yelled before the monitor flipped off leaving us back into the weird atmosphere. The neon glowing walls while the floor was a dark black...making it feel like it could be gone at any moment making us plunge to our death...

"God, she is being so different now..." Kaito said in a quieter tone. I could hear some of the others hum in agreeance. She has taken almost a completely different personality...just like the other me. I felt a shiver run through my spine as I heard a small whoosh.

"What the hell-" I asked only to be cut off by a cry out in pain. Himiko had gotten cut by a blade that came from an unknown place. I put my hand up to make the others stop walking. This could be a basic walk on the wrong tiles to make a blade fly at you...or maybe it could even be sound originated. That would make sense seeing as the blade only hit someone after I said something.

"Duck..." I whispered. The others Ducked down and as I thought there were more blades that passed over our heads. It took some of Kaito's hair with them...but honestly that did him a favor.

"It's sound originated..." I whispered again before more whooshing could be heard above the lot of us. I put a hand to my lips and slowly zipped my lips. The others gave me small nods telling me they understood to be quiet.

I moved my hands motioning for them to get up slowly before the others stood up and we started walking again. I made sure to make them walk slowly, because I wasn't positive if the sound had to be a certain volume or voice originated yet...and we don't have time to stay here figuring it out. If it has something to do with sound then we need to use that information and move on.

We walked in silence until I saw the staircase up to the second floor with flashing lights around it. It was mostly just things like 'you made it' and 'come up here' or some dumb shit like that. I looked to the others for a moment to see if they had any input.

"I think we should go up them," Tenko said, flinching a bit at the sound. This must have been out of fear of getting hit by an unknown blade...but no blade came. I relaxed a bit hoping that meant the first trap or puzzle was done with and we could move on.

"You made it past the first puzzle! Great job!!" Tsumugi exclaimed with a squeal. I covered my ears for a moment before she stopped.

"Look at poor Shuichi~ You better hurry up, only hours remain!" She said before the monitor abruptly cut off. I could barely see some things from a room I haven't seen before. It seemed like an ultimate lab...I just wasn't sure whose it could be. I sighed to myself putting a hand to my forehead trying to process what room that could be.

"Are you alright?" Maki asked gently, pulling my attention away from my thoughts. I looked up at her and gave a quick nod.

"There is no time to lose, let's get moving onto the second floor...I'm assuming that the puzzles and traps are going to get harder as we move up...so be ready," I said before taking a step up the stairs as the others moved to follow me to the next floor.

-Sorry for the later update--today was a pretty demanding day again, but I was able to take a moment to write this and give myself a break from today! Thank you all so much for reading!!-

-ShuichiOuma010-