'So what should I do next?' Kokichi hummed to himself. It would be too boring to delay the inevitable, so it's better off to get cracking with Natsumi's case and put the yakuza behind him. He decided to check the app about the cases and the truth bullets he had.

He was missing about the two last cases and some of the truth bullets wouldn't make sense without them. There was also the fact that he didn't know how many truth bullets he needed. He had... 13 truth bullets, but he didn't know how many left he needed to find, even with the three cases he already had. Did he have enough, or was he missing something, he didn't know.

"Hey, Sophia-chan," Kokichi called out to Sophia who chimed from her phone, "Do you know how many truth bullets needed per case? It will totes help me narrow down what I hafta do and stop looking for a needle in a haystack~"

Sophia looked  thoughtful, before she shrugged, "I'm not sure. All cases in Trials always end up different. I heard that they could be one-shot by a bullet to break the entire case or you need about half a dozen to chink their armor. It all depends on how you use it though. One misfired bullet and you will find yourself using a lot more bullets to fix that misfire."

"So, it's like that, huh?" Kokichi hummed, "I had been meaning to ask you Sophia-chan, but what else should I expect for the Trials? Is there anything else other than cracking cases with truth bullets to expect out of Trials, like minigames?"

"Hmm... yes, there are certain minigames," Sophia said, "But they are always usually related to the Trial, some puzzles and other quick time reactions. In general, there is Logic Dive or Psyche Taxi that involves a certain vehicle as you drive through some kind of road and pick up answers to questions to get to the right path, Hangman Gambit to find scattered letters for a closed door that will only unlock with the right word and Rebuttal Showdown where you have to fight opponents with Truth Blades to get your point across. There are other minigames but they all depend on the Court's theme and are manned by Monokuman arcade machines for further information. That's all I know."

"Mmm, good, very good, Sophia-chan. You're on your way of being a very useful guide. Keep this up and you might be promoted to subordinate of my organization," Kokichi said.

"I am not your subordinate, Kokichi," Sophia said quickly, "I am your friend and partner for the upcoming Court."

"Nishishi, quite serious, aren't you, Sophia-chan?" Kokichi snickered. He was surrounded by too many serious people these days: Rantaro, Kirumi, Sophia... That's why he had to be even more fun to balance all that seriousness.

"Mmm,  with all that, we are going to the Court tonight. Might as well message Amami-chan and see if he's available~ It would be deplorable as a supreme leader not to give his subordinate a chance~"

"I don't think Rantaro is your subordinate either," Sophia pointed out.

"Thanks, Obvious-chan," Kokichi said, minimizing Sophia's screen before he PMed Rantaro.

PM between PantaKing and Mystique

PantaKing: Heyo, Onii-chan~ I'm gonna explore the Court tonight after dinner. Wanna come?

Mystique: What, so soon? If I don't go with you, you are just going by your own, aren't you?

PantaKing: Of course not ><. I have Sophia-chan~ XD

Mystique: (typing... typing...)

PantaKing: Hmm~ am I about to hear a long speech?

Mystique: I'm coming with you.

PantaKing: Was that so hard now? Yay, more firepower.

Mystique: Anything you need from me until then?

PantaKing: Hmm... nah, just be on standby or do your own thing. I prefer subordinates who could think for themselves.

Mystique: Got it. What time?

PantaKing: After dinner, I have a bunch of evil supreme leader stuff to do until then~

Mystique: K. See you around then.

Then, Kokichi signed off, checking whether he had any other messages for the day before he decided to get the special menu from Teruteru. DICE worked quick with the delivery of the sex doll and he expected the chef to get the goods. Furthermore, with a look at Kokichi's inventory, he lacked any consumables for SP or anything to increase base stat.

Compared to medicine, Kokichi was not very confident that food could deliver for SP and base stats but it doesn't hurt to try. After all, this whole situation has run with game logic from the very beginning, and game-logic says not much is impossible. As for medicine itself, he decided he didn't have time to run errands yet. He also wanted to find an alternative to the errand-running, something that would give him a better deal in negotiations with Seiko. Kokichi always preferred having the upper hand.

Putting that aside, he needed to focus more on his efforts with Natsumi and the good thing about it was that it aligns exactly with his purpose of digging up any dirt about the Reserve Course. And since that was the main DICE objective from the start, Kokichi... no, King, was more than prepared for any kind of infiltration. Kokichi racked his mind for what else could be done before his meet up with Rantaro before arriving to the conclusion of collecting Friendship Fragments.

After Kirumi shown the Skill set obtained from collecting Friendship Fragments from different people, Kokichi noticed that each skill corresponds to the different Ultimates he befriended.

'If I want to go through Natsumi-chan's Court, what kind of Ultimate should I go for and what skills could I gain?'

From there, Kokichi planned his options...

***

"Oh, bonjour, Ouma, what brings you to the kitchen on this fine day? A pick-up, some dessert?" Teruteru asked, as Kokichi with his subtle grin headed into the kitchen. Kirumi, nor anyone else, was inside the kitchen at the time, only leaving Teruteru to man the kitchen for himself.

"Not really a pick-up but a menu. After all..." Kokichi said, with hands over his head as he finished the sentence, "I have delivered. Will you do me the same?"

"Wait..." Teruteru's eyes widen in understanding, "Does that mean... excuse me, let me check on something first," Teruteru, in his excitement, ran out midway whatever he was cooking. He must be really that excited.

While waiting for Teruteru, he decided to... mess around with the food that Teruteru is cooking. As a member of DICE, it was unsurprising that he had everything ready for crimes, whether petty or serious. He, like many other DICE members, existed to sow chaos. Now...

"By Rihanna!" Teruteru shouted once he came back none the wiser to Kokichi's antics, "It's... it's..."

"The end of my deal. So how about you?" Kokichi cut in as Teruteru, looking at Kokichi in admiration responded.

"Well, I wasn't sure whether you would deliver but I still prepared the special menu right here. Tell me what you want and I would whip it up in a jiffy," Teruteru said, as he took out a piece of paper in his pocket to give to Kokichi.

When Kokichi unfolded the piece of paper, he saw the types of food in the Special Menu... and couldn't really tell which foods can raise his base stats or increase his SP.

So he took out his phone and scanned the menu without Teruteru being any the wiser by a simple comment, "Hmm... these dishes..."

"If you want to know more about them, you can simply ask moi, Ultimate Chef at your service, with the best details about such savory dishes rather than a simple search on your phone," Teruteru responded to Kokichi's comment, thinking exactly what Kokichi wanted him to think.

Meanwhile, Sophia went to work and then pointed out the kinds of foods that could increase his SP, which luckily there were. As for base stats... no such luck. It seems like while the regular menu could help restore HP, it was the special menu that helps restore SP. Kokichi briefly pouted before schooling his face. If he wanted to increase his base stats... then, there was only one way...

For now...

"Nah, I think I'm good. I know exactly what I want. Can you whip these up for me, Hanamura-chan?"

After Kokichi listed down what food he wanted, Teruteru promised to whip up the following in a few hours after finishing up the dishes requested by others, as a chef is always busy for the hungry stomachs. That was fine because Kokichi can wait, and he could observe the chaos from afar while waiting for his order.

That was proven right when little fun surprises which ranged from the usual 'ay caramba' of natural fire breathing to the ludicrous voice changing effects that some people don't mind taking advantage to do 'I am your father' memes or squeal too high that windows may or may not have broken.

Unsurprisingly, Teruteru was suspected first and Kokichi second after the latter admitted that the former had visited him when being pressured as prime suspect from previous misdemeanor involving stew and aphrodisiac.

Kokichi was frankly insulted that he was suspected and unsurprisingly, there was no proof to stick the crime on him. Of course that was the case since those pranks were far too low-key for someone like him. It insulted him that people even suspected him in the first place because he had far better things to do in his time. At least, he got what he came for.

All in all, feel free to believe whether that is a lie or not.

<Obtained Special Menu>

<Obtained Love Stew x 10>

<Obtained Gyoza With Face x 16>

<Obtained TeruShrimp x 20>

[Quest completed: Give sex doll to Teruteru]

***

"Ah, sorry. Are you alright?"

"Heehee, no it's not alright at all. How could you bump at me like that? Am I so small and worthless to you as a lowly Reserve Course Student that you think you could just-"

"Wait, wait! I am also a Reserve Course Student so I definitely don't think of you like that. You got it all wrong!"

"But... but... you are not just a Reserve Course Student, right Hajime Hinata or should I say potential Ultimate of Ultimates?"

In the hallways of the Reserve Course department, the taller student of the two engaged in this conversation, Hajime, stiffened at the accusation before sighing in exasperation and addressing the issue at hand.

"Listen..." Hajime said, looking at the shorter student with greyish hair with long bangs that cover the left eye leaving the right murky colored eye returning his stare. He wore the standard Reserve Course Uniform with an additional accessory of a black scarf around his neck painted with what looked like a skeleton jaw.

Hajime wondered whether such an accessory is allowed to be worn for Reserve Course Students before dismissing it out of hand and continued staring at the smaller boy, as if prompting for something.

The boy picked up on it immediately, as he said a little timidly and childishly as he slightly backed off and pushed the scarf up his mouth so it looked like he was wearing a skeleton jaw mask and leaving his voice muffled, "The name is... Kichi Shou. What do you want to say, Hinata-senpai?"

Kichi Shou seemed small, a little timid and kinda childish. Hajime's thought after the introduction was whether a middle schooler simply sneaked his way into high school but dismissed the notion since if anyone wanted to sneak off into Hope's Peak, it wouldn't be anywhere here.

Nevertheless, Hajime continued, "Listen, Shou, whatever this is about me being an Ultimate of Ultimates has just been a rumor a year ago that blew out of proportion. If I were this Ultimate of Ultimates, I wouldn't be here, would I?"

'Nishishi, that's what you want me to think, Hinata-chan,' Kichi, or as people would know him better as Ultimate Supreme Leader Kokichi Ouma, thought.

Kichi Shou was Kokichi's Reserve Course student alias, complete with a wig, contacts, different neck accessory and personality to separate both boys apart from each other so people won't suspect them being one and the same if a person met both of them.

As for his absences in the past few days, they could be explained away by 'medical reports' which put him as a sickly boy who doesn't know how much time he has left to live and is in the hospital more than anywhere else in the world.

This time around, he had been well enough to go to school but as long as he kept a close eye on his health but it was more likely than not that he would be cooped up in a hospital.

Great backstory which covers up the bases with fake medical reports and no-visitors for anyone who tried to check up on him in the hospital, right?

So he can infiltrate whenever and wherever without any complications, which was what he was doing right now.

Hajime seemed to be waiting for Kokichi's answer after his spiel, seemingly uncomfortable with the silence Kokichi let stretch while thinking of his next move, before Kokichi himself broke it:

"Oh, you may not be the Ultimate of Ultimates but you were so close to becoming one. That's why I said potential Ultimate of Ultimates and many had the potential like you do, unlike the others who went through the same as you and can only be a certain Ultimate but nothing as grand as you. What made you so special?"

"Nothing at all. It's just a rumor really blown out of proportion if that's what you are hearing," Hajime sighed, rubbing his temples in exasperation, "Where did you hear this from?"

'Hmm, wanting to know my sources, for what end, Hinata-chan? To silence them? And for what, if they are, as you say, baseless rumors,' Kokichi thought, trying once again to find the most optional answer for Hajime's question.

"Oh... everyone of the Reserve Course students have been saying it to me. My classmates, schoolmates, even my teachers! They said they were jealous of your potential and confused why you never reached that potential. Isn't being an Ultimate us Reserve Course students aim to be? So why are you still a Reserve Course Student?"

"I... wait a minute," Hajime said, "There is no way everyone told you. That is a total lie."

"You... you don't believe me? But a classmate told me, and a schoolmate and even that old teacher when I asked about the rumored projects led by them!" Kokichi sniffed, to a now resigned Hajime despite the crying child.

"Ah, I should have seen this coming," Hajime sighed, "Could you be another person they sent to try coaxing me back to them. It's already been a year, and the answer is no! Give me a break!"

"... Excuse me," Kokichi said, timidly backing down from a sudden strange outburst but inwardly he was raising an eyebrow with whirring gears in his brain on how to process such a statement. Honestly, up until now, he had been giving BS the moment he opened his mouth to Hajime. At best, Hajime had actually been a needle in a haystack as potential information source for the Reserve Course after DICE's groundwork which contained rumors of Hajime's potential throughout various sources.

He actually wanted to meet up with Hajime for a while now after getting acquainted with his class better that orientation day, but then there was the Twin'verse thing...

So now that he got the chance, he had used the minor tidbits about an elusive them connected to the Reserve Course and their project he had vaguely heard from Natsumi and used as bait by the art of BS to fish for any further information of what Kokichi so far knew.

It might have caught interesting results, although he may not know how to piece the information together. But Kokichi followed the philosophy: Gather first, piece later.

"Eh, did I... ah, sorry, forget what I said. I shouldn't have jumped to... just... forget what I said, Shou," Hajime quickly backtracked what he said at Kokichi's confused look, immediately deciding that he was wrong with his assumption instead of pushing it to be right. Kokichi tilted his head, continuing to look confused at such an outburst.

When the silence stretched to an uncomfortable moment, Hajime sighed again and spoke up after seeing Kokichi's confused look not going away:

"Seriously, it's nothing. Judging by your reaction, I probably jumped to conclusions. You don't need to know anything more than that."

"But I want to know, Hinata-senpai!" Kokichi shouted immediately, shocking Hajime by such a sudden outburst before Kokichi realized himself and gave a bit of space as he spoke in a quieter tone, "They are coaxing you back? Does that mean you are someone special after all? Really a potential Ultimate of Ultimates? What made you so special? How can I become like you, Hinata-senpai?"

Kokichi looked at Hajime with sparkling eyes while Hajime sported the old-fashioned look of 'I am so done' written so clearly on his face that Kokichi could take out a marker and write those words out on Hajime's forehead.

"Why do I feel like I'm talking to a brick wall? Didn't I already say I wasn't anyone special?" Hajime muttered, before continuing in a louder voice, "Look, my potential as an Ultimate of Ultimates is a rumor. Since you are also taking part in their project, I will admit that I was a candidate but really, they want me back because I backed out of their project before they could get any good results out of my... tests and they have wanted to continue ever since."

"So you see, I'm just no one special, so you don't have to be like me, Shou. You are looking up to the wrong person."

Kokichi frowned at that answer, unsatisfied by it. He was sure there was a bunch of story behind it but only the right questions could bring it out, or else Hajime would keep denying anything Kokichi said instead of giving a proper answer leading the conversation nowhere, like Hajime had been doing so far. Maybe it shouldn't be so surprising, since they just met and why would Hajime spill the entire truth to a stranger? But what was the truth that Hajime had to deny so hard like that?

That's for Kokichi to figure out~

"Hmm... so you were a part of the project, huh?" Kokichi asked, before going for another attack, hoping this one would stick better than the rest, "Why did you back out of the project? Isn't the project suppose to help... people like us become the thing we always wanted to be? An Ultimate? Don't you want to be special? Isn't that why you were a part of the project? Why... did you give it up?"

"... You really ask a lot of questions, don't you, Shou?" Hajime asked, crossing his arms. Instead of backing down, Kokichi decided to give a petulant and stubborn look, conveying his seriousness when he said:

"Because I want to know. You say you are not special, Hinata-senpai but someone who has the potential to be the Ultimate of Ultimates, who is asked back by them for an entire year and even now... to me, you are a special senpai, and I just want to be like you so I can reach to your potential. Yet... you throw all that away, and for what? Why? When you could have been... when people like me want..."

"Shou," Hajime said firmly as if he finally realised something and softened his approach towards Kokichi, "You don't have to be an Ultimate to be special. And you don't have to reach to my potential to be special either. Someone once told me that it doesn't matter whether I had any talent or not because it's not the end goal, because it means I'm free to go anywhere and become anything."

There was a fond smile on Hajime's face before he continued, "She also told me a lot of things other than that, and she was one never to give up on someone. Maybe they sound like bullshit with Ultimate Talents and us Reserve Course students but the less you look at talents and more at your own life... I know people like you who accept the project don't really believe that, but honestly becoming an Ultimate is more hassle than it's worth, speaking from my own experience and the very reason I backed down."

"And what reason is that?" Kokichi asked, "You are telling me a lot of things why the Project is not worth it but you never specifically told me your personal reason."

Hajime fidgeted before he let out, "That's a long story. Something I'm not obliged to share with you."

Kokichi frowned but said nothing. Sometimes, there are secrets that couldn't be pried. At the very least, he had little to no information to get it out from Hajime. It cemented the appeal of getting closer to Hajime, definitely a key piece among the Project and unravelling it to the world. If only he had concrete proof, so he could laugh at Hope's Peak faces, say his job is done and continue his crime spree with DICE. If only it were that easy.

Kokichi had reviewed through his conversation with Hajime, getting an idea of how the Project is but still far away from its very essence...

"Then, can you at least tell me what you think of the Project? You say it's not worth it but considering how many people still sign up for it, it's not like you are doing anything to stop it," Kokichi pointed out.

Hajime shrugged, a tired look now gracing his face, "I will never agree with their methods, but what can I do to stop them? Or anyone who wishes to be an Ultimate by any means anyway? All I can do now is warn people with some of my own experiences. Whether they listen to me or not is up to them."

Kokichi frowned. It reeks of inaction and defeat. It feels hypocritical still to say one thing and do nothing about it. Of course, the Project... the Steering Committee who spearheaded the Project might be too powerful for a mere student to do a thing against it, but still...

"Oi, Hinata! There you are, your going to miss the next class if you keep up at that!"

To Kokichi's surprise, Natsumi had hurried over to Hajime taking his arm and dragging him back where she had come from.

"Oi, Kuzuryu! You don't have to pull me like that!"

"You know how strict that teacher is if you don't make it on time. Geez, why did I have to be your keeper?"

"I never asked you to?!"

"Are you two friends?" Kokichi asked, amazed as he would ever be of the spectacle in front of him.

"Umm..." Hajime said, as if he was unsure how to answer such a question.

"I'm his classmate, keeper and his master," Natsumi said, "Which is none of your business, brat. Hurry up Hinata, or else we are going to get a good scolding."

"I'm just your classmate! Geez... OK... OK... don't pull at me, Kuzuryu! Oh, bye Shou. You better get to class too, yeah?"

Kokichi nodded, as he watched the two abruptly leave. As far as information gathering goes, he had a good starting point as he would soon have to branch out. Hajime truly had a lot of potential, with unanswered questions he leaves behind, as well as truth bullets waiting to be added in the app. Him somehow being friends, no matter what Natsumi said, was a boon. He even wondered whether she was among the people recruited to coax Hajime back into the Project.

It was too bad he cannot chase after them now, knowing when to stop. Kokichi would just have to spend his time some other way.

***

"Saihara-chan! I found you!" Kokichi shouted as he ran and jumped onto the back of one startled Shuichi.

"Ouma-kun! Get... get off me, you're... you're heavy," Shuichi said, as in response for the unexpected piggyback he was giving Kokichi.

Instead of complying with Shuichi's demands, Kokichi just hugged Shuichi tighter and nestled on his back as he cried, "Waah! How dare you call me heavy? Are you saying I'm fat? Oof, you really need to understand girls better if you could so casually drop a taboo comment~"

"Aah... sorry, sorry. I'm not saying you are heavy, Ouma-kun. I... I just want you to get down from me already because I... can't hold on any longer. Please."

"Fine, fine," Kokichi huffed as he finally got down from Shuichi while the other spun to meet him eye to eye.

"You really need to work out, Saihara-chan. Then how can you give me surprise piggy backs?"

"Ouma-kun, I... I don't give out surprise piggy backs. What are you doing here anyway?" Shuichi asked, holding the brim of his cap down as he shielded his eyes from Kokichi's. Rude.

"I just got some free time on my hands and wanted to get to know my classmates better," Kokichi said truthfully, before getting into Shuichi's face and smiling when the detective stumbled away from him, "Especially you!"

"Me?" Shuichi asked, as if wondering why someone like Kokichi would want to interact with him. Actually, that wonder made no sense to Kokichi. As a criminal of long experience and a tinge of recklessness, why wouldn't he want to talk to the detective?

Well sure, he wanted whatever skill he could get if he hung out with the detective knowing that any mystery solving skill befitting of the detective would be useful as it gets when dealing with Trials. Not only that, among the Ultimate Detectives Hope's Peak have to offer that is between Kyoko and Shuichi, Shuichi was the one that intrigued Kokichi the most.

Kyoko was as straightlaced and blunt as she could get, from his own observations of her character during orientation and whatever else he could get from her after he found out her connection with Kirigiri and started digging.

Her most notable exploits were with the famous Detective Library or as Kokichi preferred to call it as DSC which stands for Detective Shelf Collection, a neutral organization that's a fun pain in the ass for DICE when they commit any exploits in Japan as any other detective agency / organization tends to be. it was also a useful place to get any information in various cases and detectives if DICE feels like assholes, or there's a better explanation but too long a story to tell.

Kyoko certainly had a good track record, but she was predictable and easy to understand, a true detective and unchanging in that regard, in comparison to Shuichi.

Shuichi, according to his files, was simply an assistant of a small-time but popular family agency. In comparison to Kyoko's more bombastic cases, Shuichi dealt with low brow stuff like missing pets and infidelity except for a murder case that got him the offer into Hope's Peak. To Kokichi, that made no sense. Kyoko was already the Ultimate Detective and she had every right to be, with her long history of perilous cases, evidenced by the time at the DSC. So, why was Shuichi also taking the mantle of Ultimate Detective?

Kokichi was also intrigued by Shuichi's behaviour, so unlike Kyoko's and not befitting any detective that he had so far come across in his many years of DICE and their criminal exploits. His shyness, lack of assertiveness at times and his hat always covering his eyes. It was the antithesis of detectives Kokichi knew, who would boldly face any criminal like DICE, assert themselves with absolute confidence and look at them in the eyes before they deliver their justice.

Yet, Kokichi knew Shuichi could assert himself when he needed to, like calling out his lies and there might be more than meets the eye with such a detective. It was the fact that Kokichi like digging beyond the surface of anyone, especially those little mysteries he uncovered out of Shuichi, that made him want to know Shuichi more.

Before Shuichi could do anything, Kokichi had taken Shuichi's hand and pulled him over.

Kokichi's smile was petulant and unwavering as he said, "Of course, so stop being a stick on the mud and get to know your classmate better, or is it that you want to remain oh so cold to me for three whole years?"

"Ouma-kun... I..." Shuichi said, between putting his foot down and going with the flow.

Spend time with Shuichi?

> Give him the 'puppy dog eyes' treatment
> Pull him closer

"Gah, alright, Ouma-kun, alright. Tone that down, won't you?" Shuichi asked, trying to shield himself from the cuteness that puppy dog eyes especially on someone small and cute like Kokichi work wonders with, characteristics he knew how to play around with.

"Thanks, Saihara-chan~" Kokichi said, as he pulled Shuichi further with no more resistance from the detective. He was contemplating how best to hang out with the detective, and before he knew it, they found themselves in front of the library.

"Is this where you wanted to take me, Ouma-kun?" Shuichi asked, somewhat doubtful about their destination.

"Of course," Kokichi lied confidently, "Since there are no crime scenes available to test your skills, maybe we should find mystery novels for you to analyze and  solve. I bet if you are a world-class detective, you only need to read the blurb as well as the cast of characters to figure out whodunnit."

"You are just making that up, and probably referencing something from a manga," Shuichi said, although he had no qualms letting Kokichi drag Shuichi inside the library and now resorting to their inside voices.

"Maybe I am, maybe I am not. Only a detective like yourself could unravel the lies and find the truth underneath," Kokichi said.

"Do you really think so?" Shuichi asked, "If you want someone to unravel your lies, then you can try your luck with Kirigiri-san."

"Nah," Kokichi said, "She seems a little boring to my taste, but that could be a lie. Really, you are my classmate, someone closer to me in comparison, and a detective yourself. Actually... don't you want to know me better as a classmate? And to know me better, don't you want to unravel my lies instead of letting someone else do the job?"

Shuichi had looked at Kokichi, their eye contact only avoided through the brim of the cap so Kokichi couldn't gather anything through the so-called 'windows of  the soul' but his facial features and small body movements had told him enough from his pursed lips to his hand almost going to his face before it stopped shortly.

Kokichi could already tell the detective was intrigued and curious, as if he desired to do what Kokichi had said. To figure out Kokichi Ouma, his classmate. When the detective had yet to say anything, Kokichi decided to press further:

"So why shouldn't I try my luck with you instead?"

Then, all to sudden, the spell broke. The lips stopped pursing themselves and his hands made nervous gestures that spell out more doubt than determination. Kokichi internally frowned at such small gestures, wondering what they meant.

"Sorry to disappoint but I'm just an apprentice," Shuichi eventually said and Kokichi actually frowned at such self-deprecation. Honestly, the detective would be a lot more interesting without it because such self-doubt was preventing Shuichi from doing the criminal analysis and probable chase that Kokichi craved throughout what would be a normal school time. Then again, he could be an emo. Even in school uniform, he keeps the black hat and... was that a faint hint of black eyeliner he's wearing for his eyes?

"Hmm, doesn't make sense to me," Kokichi said, "Surely the Ultimate Initiative shouldn't be so far gone to label some mere apprentice as an Ultimate Detective even when we have Kirigiri-chan here who could have just been the only one to hold the title. Instead, we have two Ultimate Detectives and you are one. What gives?"

In all honest truth, Kokichi seriously thought the Ultimate Initiative was too far gone to randomly label any stranger with weird Ultimates. For example, who would really label Kokichi himself as the Ultimate Supreme Leader, when first, DICE had absolutely no leader and, other than the Russian President incident, never made any indication he was a leader.

Secondly, Ultimate Supreme Leader sounds super childish and so out there. What prospects did Hope's Peak even bother to achieve when labelling him as such and improving him to... what exactly?

Back to Shuichi, he seemed contemplative as if it was a question he asked himself every single time and still never knew the answer. Then, Shuichi tilted his cap downwards to hide his eyes and mumbled, "Who knows?"

Hmm... should Kokichi be tactful in order to not waste the chances of deepening his bond of friendship or throw caution away from the winds and get the answers he wanted? A split second decision was made right then and there.

"Then, do you think the Ultimate Initiative was wrong to give you your Ultimate? Maybe you should have been another Ultimate entirely, don't you think?" Kokichi asked, lacing his arms to the back of his head as he observed Shuichi's reaction.

"Another Ultimate..." Shuichi murmured, "Not at all. I was honestly never suited for any Ultimate in the first place."

"Hmm, so does that mean you can only see yourself as a detective?" Kokichi asked.

"Would it surprise you if I said I never wanted to be a detective in the first place?" Shuichi said, smiling in a mocking way to himself, "I just helped my uncle's agency as thanks for taking care of me. If my uncle were working something completely different, I might have done something else... if I could do it."

"Your uncle took care of you?" Kokichi asked, surprised that he had been questioning Shuichi a lot like this. Usually, it's the other way around. Really, what kind of detective lets a criminal interrogate them? He questions Shuichi's competence.

"Ah yes," Shuichi said, "My parents work overseas, so my uncle and aunt take care of me instead."

"Ooo... what do your parents do? They could have brought you overseas with them. If they took care of you, do you think you would follow in their footsteps instead?"

"Oh, absolutely not," Shuichi said, the confident tone unexpected to Kokichi, "My father is an actor while my mother is a screenwriter. When I was young, my parents encouraged me to plays just to see whether I had any chops of being a child actor, to follow my father's footsteps. They even thought... hoped that I could be the Ultimate Actor one day."

"Instead, I wasn't talented enough by my parents' standards and when they got offers to work overseas, they decided to put me in the care of my uncle and aunt. It was easier for them to have a hands-off parenting approach by then," Shuichi shrugged as if it didn't mean anything, although there was slight bitterness in his voice as he said it.

It shocked Kokichi that Shuichi was so open to something as juicy as that, especially to someone like him. He was confused right now, wondering whether it was some form of naivete before pushing on to other questions.

"Then, in the end, you became a detective, even if you didn't want it. Did that mean you hate detective work? Is that why you couldn't answer definitely that you can see yourself as only a detective?"

For the first time, Kokichi could lose interest in Shuichi. If Shuichi had no motivation or dedication to be a detective... if being a detective was done half-heartedly, he wasn't a detective worthy of a criminal like Kokichi. Did he overestimate Shuichi, or...

"Oh, I... can't say I hate being a detective at least," Shuichi said, but did not elaborate. He didn't even answer the previous question about being anything else other than a detective. Finally, Shuichi moved on to another topic out of the blue.

"But I think you are acting more like a detective here than me right now, with all your questions. You said that you wanted me to unravel your lies, but instead I'm the one being unraveled here, huh?" Shuichi asked.

... So, that was how the detective chose to wiggle out of elaborating his answer any further, huh? And then decide to finally question Kokichi instead, as if searching for the motives behind his own incessant questioning. Let's see how Shuichi reacts to his own answer then~

"Nishishi, of course I'm trying to unravel you, Saihara-chan! That doesn't mean I'm a detective, you know? It's just how evil supreme leaders who are the best form of criminals are! And a criminal is a different side of the coin to a detective, engaging in a two-way street between them, figuring each other out while making their moves. You could say it's just like a game of chess~" Kokichi said, in a slightly nonsensical way but the true intent to be probing for something that couldn't be seen.

"Ah... as expected of the 'evil supreme leader', isn't it? A detective and a criminal, huh..." Shuichi murmured, gazing at Kokichi before looking away and pulling down the brim of his hat as he spoke a little louder, "Does that mean our game has already begun?"

Despite never looking at Kokichi's eyes, Shuichi's stance became more contemplative and thoughtful, even patiently awaiting Kokichi's answer. Shuichi's own statement didn't even dismiss Kokichi's, the true intent recognized and possibly even acknowledged. Kokichi had challenged Shuichi in a roundabout way, as detective and criminal while Shuichi acknowledged the challenge, trying to figure out Kokichi's intent and where all of this was going.

Just like a true detective despite 'just an apprentice' this and 'not worthy of an Ultimate' that. And yet... it was not as clear cut as that. Shuichi was a different breed of detective than Kokichi expected, with his eyes covered as if he did not intend to pursue the truth but will still solve a case, rise to a criminal's challenge... to what end? What kind of detective does that make him? Was Shuichi's kind of detective even compatible to Kokichi's kind of criminal?

Whether Shuichi was boring or not, whether Shuichi was a compatible detective to him and so many other questions, Kokichi would not be satisfied until he had all the answers. How unfair that the detective was making himself more of a mystery than the criminal could ever be. It shouldn't have even worked this way, or maybe it was because he did not ask the right questions. Either way, their game has indeed begun.

Before they could discuss any further, they had made it to a bookshelf containing mystery fiction where Kokichi was about to select a random book and ask fun questions while really, he would be messing around with the detective when he heard Shuichi let out an "Oh."

Kokichi's eyes had wandered around where Shuichi's did during his exclamation as he took out the book that seemed to interest the detective. It fell under the romance category but had elements of mystery to be shelved in the mystery category... probably accidentally.

Reading the summary, the main heroine who broken up with a cheating boyfriend went to a mixer and got hooked up with 10 guys. However, a fortune teller intrudes and tells the heroine that 9 of them were no-good liars leaving only one Mr. Right. Kokichi had flipped through and was disappointed to see there was no murder, only investigation on each and every liar in the quest to find Mr. Right. There was action, but no outstanding crime to solve to truly regard it as mystery in Kokichi's opinion.

"So you like these kind of stories too, huh, Saihara-chan?" Kokichi asked, surprised that Shuichi was the type to read such a story. In fact, it was targeted more towards the female audience.

"Yeah, did you really think detectives only like detective novels, Ouma-kun?" Shuichi asked, looking over Kokichi's shoulder to the words with nostalgia.

"Hmm, so you are a bookworm, eh, Saihara-chan? But romance? Didn't expect you to be so sappy, just like me but that's a lie," Kokichi said.

Shuichi shrugged, "It was one of my mother's favorite books that I got my hands on when I was young. I didn't even understand what it was about but it was my very first book I have ever read. So it's more of a particular attachment if nothing else. Personally, I think it's a good romance story after I read it again years later once I knew better."

Soon, they were talking about books with Shuichi recommending anything in the library that might interest Kokichi, ranging from his love of detective vs criminal trope to spy organizations. In exchange, Kokichi took away unfamiliar books to Shuichi and tried testing his detective skills but a flustered Shuichi claimed that Kokichi was asking for the impossible, which was a fair claim because Kokichi was really messing with him.

"You really sucked~" Kokichi said as they finally exited the library, continuing to mess with him.

"I'm glad you had fun," Shuichi sighed, decisively not rising to the bait,  "I hope you also enjoy my recommendation."

In Kokichi's hands was a mystery book that he had borrowed which Shuichi highly recommended. A favorite of Shuichi's about a detective solving puzzles the criminal left, playing their cat and mouse. Playing their game...

"Saihara-chan, what are you playing at?" Kokichi asked, deciding to go ahead with this role reversal for once. He would be the detective and Shuichi would be the criminal.

"Excuse me?" Shuichi asked, confused.

"Exactly what kind of detective lets the criminal interrogate him without even questioning him back, answering so openly, acting all buddy-buddy for no reason and drops his guard to such an extent? Isn't that so disappointing?" Kokichi asked, in an almost scolding tone.

So maybe the role reversal was a lie, since Kokichi was still a criminal, simply admonishing a detective.

"Or is that a lie?" Kokichi asked, smiling, "Because what kind of detective simply observes the criminal, letting me ask my questions and being so open to let my guard down? You asked whether our game has already begun, but you have already played long before me, isn't that right, Saihara-chan? Shame that you didn't bother to ask me any questions though... need to work on that~"

Shuichi looked tensed, then surprised and finally relaxed throughout Kokichi's whole speech, before answering, "... Well, as you said before, Ouma-kun, we are classmates so we should get to know each other better. I thought answering your questions would be easier than asking you questions since you're a liar, right?"

"Wha... I will never lie to you, Saihara-chan. I hate lies and jokes," Kokichi said.

"And that is a lie, isn't it?" Shuichi asked.

"Yep," Kokichi said, "But still very one-sided of you, you know, Saihara-chan? Now, I know a lot about you and you don't know a thing about me."

"Don't I...?" Shuichi asked, "Like you said, maybe I was observing you. And actions speak louder than words, right?"

Kokichi playfully gasped, "And you were so wishy-washy about whether you are a detective or not. Right there is someone playing their detective A-game."

"Do you think so?" Shuichi asked, "Does that satisfy you, Ouma-kun?"

What does that mean? Really, what is Shuichi playing at? Did the detective even had it in him to mess someone around? The answer Shuichi's  question was really simple, though~

"Not in the least! Prepare yourself, Saihara-chan! I'm definitely going to come back and play with you more!"

"I will see you then."

Calmly spoken, no fear. Was he not taken seriously??? In the end, if all this time Kokichi was taken lightly, there will be a time that Shuichi is going to pay hell~

[Justice -> Shuichi (1)]

It was unlike Kokichi to take such a slow and steady approach on anyone, or maybe that's a lie. There are many questions surrounding the detective, but Kokichi relished taking the time to get the answers out of the detective's mouth himself, not that it was hard. He couldn't believe how open Shuichi was with answering everyone of Kokichi's questions, including his family issues, but even then, his answers leave much to desire, leading Kokichi to... where? That intrigued him, and it was reassuring that despite his doubts of being the Ultimate Detective, he still had the talent of a detective. But how will that play out? Does that mean Shuichi could be an upcoming rival Kokichi was looking for? He hoped so, because that would make things real interesting if that happens~

***

"So what blackmail material can I find from you, Kimura-chan~" Kokichi said gleefully to himself.

"Why do you want to blackmail Seiko? I see absolutely no reason for it," Sophia piped up. Honestly, he knew that Sophia had only known him for mere days, but the answer to her question when it comes to anything Kokichi does should be obvious as hell.

"Eh... Kimura-chan is fishy so she has the potential to be blackmailed and this is more my style than being an errand boy. Game protags might be spineless yes-people falling over other people's whims for game progressions and quests but not me, bitches! I ain't no one's errand boy just for some rewards when I can do the easy way and blackmail people for endless rewards."

"That does not sound easy," Sophia pointed out.

"Silence in the peanut gallery," Kokichi said, as he went over his investigation itinerary for Seiko Kimura. All he needed to do was uncover the incident and see what he could use from there to blackmail her since she was so reluctant to talk about.

Unfortunately, fate seems to hate him on his absolute refusal to be a generic two-bit game protag because once he found out about Seiko's incident, it was actually proven to become an inefficient way to blackmail Seiko. As she had been tight lipped about it, Kokichi had been certain it was a private scarring event that she rather never revealed to anyone. If he figured it out, he could use it as leverage to maneuver her to his desire.

However, the incident was actually well known and infamous to the school. Imagine his shock when he had expected it would take time to find something probably well-hidden but eventually a trail leading to the result, that it took not time at all by simply asking Nagito, his go-to senior at the moment for information.

In summary from a surprisingly well-detailed but unbelievably chaotic story which Kokichi now suspected that Nagito had a hand into the incident even if the story said otherwise:

It all started last year, during the annual Practical Exam involving Seiko and her friend, Ruruka. Those two had been childhood friends, with Ruruka asking many favors from Seiko and Seiko complying through 'mutual friendship' (although Kokichi felt the master-servant vibe to it but he's usually that cynical). This time around, Ruruka asked Seiko to give a strength drug for her sweets for a better pass, as that was part of the exam for the Ultimate Confectioner.

However, things had derailed quickly because of certain incidents that had made the administration of Hope's Peak crack down on the Ultimate students that caused them to catch Ruruka cheating with Seiko's drug right when she was about to feed them to the examiners. Through a series of unnatural coincidences, the sweets had been upended and accidentally fed to a stray dog that happened to sneak into the examination auditorium. What happened next was something out of fiction, which Kokichi had to ask Nagito twice to make sure he got the facts right.

The dog somehow grown, about 10 times its size and wreck havoc, almost destroying the auditorium if not for the Ultimates responsible for the mess, Ruruka and Seiko, working together with the combined powers of sweets and drugs to subdue the dog and return it back to normal. That was the only reason why they haven't been expelled yet, but investigations have been made on both of them. With how addictive and possibly brainwashing Ruruka's sweet turned out to be after through testing and Seiko's variety of drugs that could bring supernatural consequences that should honestly be distributed with caution, both Ultimates were punished with constraints against their sweets and medicine. Obviously, the relationship between the two girls soured immediately, with a loud and aggressive argument witnessed by many being the final straw that broke the camel's back.

To Kokichi, that explained why Seiko who used to do free commissions now initiated 'give or take' and was very careful with the requests she take, if she didn't want a similar incident happening. What Kokichi did not understand was why the administration of Hope's Peak started cracking down on students during that particular time? When Kokichi asked whether that was normal for practical exams, Nagito had answered no. So when Kokichi questioned further:

"It wasn't for really anything important," Nagito frowned, "It didn't even involve any Ultimates. Only a relative of one and a friend of another, but because of some alleged connection to us Ultimates and some obvious lie of a conspiracy, the administration took it seriously. Although I don't understand why, they decided to keep a closer eye on us. It was just unfortunate it had to take place during the Practical Exam. Maybe it was just unluckiness but it was also lucky that the Practical Exam was cut short and thus had to be rescheduled..."

Kokichi now really suspected Nagito now, who might have a hand on that incident, if he mentioned how lucky he was for it. And unnatural coincidences with the dog just doesn't happen everyday and as an Ultimate Lucky Student... but he also had no proof and his real purpose was whether he could use the story to blackmail Seiko. Unfortunately, no openings could be found.

"Dang, do I really have to be a two-bit protagonist?" Kokichi cursed aloud, "I don't care that my phone has a list of quests but I don't want to do them the normal way, like an errand boy...!"

"But it is the easiest way," Sophia chimed in, who had been listening to Kokichi's curses thus far, "The simplest solution is always the straightforward way, and in this case, it is to be an errand boy. I don't know why you are so against it. It's great to help others and you can build a rapport between each other that will make the person be more lenient to you and your favors, leading mutual benefit for everyone in the near future..."

"Way to rub salt in the wounds. Only a goody two shoes would think that," Kokichi grumbled, but unfortunately Sophia was right. He just wanted to be someone out of the norm, but when out of the norm became too complicated and time-consuming in comparison to the easy, straightforward way, Kokichi unfortunately had to concede. His criminal pride...

He still had Kimura's contacts and had decided to text her, initiating a long negotiation to ease the bruising of his criminal pride, and he gotten a simple errand in exchange of the SP supplements that he seriously needed.

'If I had more time...' Kokichi thought bitterly, refuting Seiko's extremely unreasonable demands while she refuted his own 'unreasonable' ones. Honestly, Kokichi doesn't know what she's talking about, because she's the unreasonable one!

Well, he said, she said... is what their situation is. Honestly, if Kokichi had more time, if he chose to go to Court at a later date... because what was the rush? Why did he have to do such things inmediately?

Kokichi was not stupid. Natsumi... hostile from the start with Kokichi because of Hearts. Natsumi, in Court willing to kill Kokichi for his existence, for being an Ultimate when she cannot. Natsumi, part of the mafia, of ruthless killers, who would have no hesitation to carry out the same threat as Court-Natsumi... if the opportunity arises.

Kokichi rather finish things up before any such opportunity does come up. It's perfectly paranoid of him but it's his paranoia that kept him alive and out of jail all this time so he wasn't going to dismiss it now.

Unfortunately, he had to do more of this if he wanted more, or any other variety of medicine in Seiko's disposal. He better find that blackmail material quick~

Until then...

"Oh, so you are willing to help me out in exchange for... let me get this right, strengthening yourself physically and mentally as well as replenishing stamina?" Seiko asked over the phone, eventually moving over from texts to phone call for the ongoing negotiations.

"Yeah," Kokichi said, since what was mentioned was the only way he can say that he needed an item for increasing base stats and SP in real terms. He now wondered what the real term words would be for those things like ether and vitamins in Pokemon.

"Hmm... it's not like those type of medicines do not exist, but they don't come without their own side effects that shouldn't be prescribed to students unless really needed. You are not sick in any way that would require you needing any boost absolutely necessary for your body..."

The way Seiko worded it sounded more of a statement rather than a question, completely sure despite meeting the first time but uncaring about side effects and wanting items without fuss, he lied, "What makes you think my fragile and weak body is not sick? It's so hard just moving around every day and I'm running out of my own supplements. One day... maybe my fragile body might even collapse. I don't want that, Kimura-chan..."

Hey, this might even be a good way to 'blackmail' Seiko, appealing to her conscience and getting free meds. He half wondered whether Nagito's luck was rubbing off Kokichi because an opportunity like this was exactly what he needed to get out of that dreaded 'errand boy' protagonist stereotype.

"... There is something I need to check first. I'm going to hang up and call you back. Please wait a moment."

"OK," Kokichi finally said when it seemed that Seiko was awaiting a response and once that word left out his mouth, the beep of the phone was left for his ears to hear. He put it away from his ear as he looked at it with slight curiosity in his eyes while Sophia decided to show herself with the same curiosity.

"Hmm... she is the Ultimate Pharmacist, so maybe there was something urgent that she needed to take care of," Sophia speculated.

"If it was urgent, she would just hang up after informing me instead of waiting for my response. The way she sounded, she was in no rush so it didn't seem urgent," Kokichi argued.

"But she did hang up on you..." Sophia pointed out, and wasn't that something?

Before Kokichi could continue such speculations with Sophia, his phone rang with Seiko as the caller and he put her back on.

"Ouma-kun, can you please come for a check-up with Kurosaki-senpai tomorrow?" Seiko asked.

"... Excuse me?" Kokichi asked, keeping his surprise about this out-of-blue request to himself and waiting for clarification.

"Ah, it's exactly what I said. Kurosaki-senpai is the Ultimate Doctor so I wanted him to check up on your 'weak and fragile' body just to confirm that and know what medicine to prescribe you with," Seiko explained.

Kokichi can roll with this.

"What? Why so late? My... my supplements are running out and I need them quick, Kimura-chan," Kokichi whined, "Do you not really believe me about my weak and fragile body?"

"I'm sorry Ouma-kun but you are a known liar. It was only after I met you that I was put aside by one of the teachers to be warned about delinquents that could take advantage of the medicine I look over, and the delinquent in the top list was you Ouma-kun," Seiko said, and Kokichi felt proud of himself that he already established quite a reputation to himself when it had only just been a few days but miffed that he was classified as a delinquent. Call him a criminal at least.

"And you can't do the check up earlier than tomorrow?" Kokichi asked.

"Kurosaki-senpai is too busy today with an accident with several patients that need immediate care. The Sports Lab decided to initiate themselves too... extremely, leading to too many unfortunate patients that needed immediate care before things... escalated."

"I see," Kokichi said, rolling with that, "But what happens if I need supplements right now?"  

There was a catch in breath as if Seiko was contemplating something but eventually, she said, "I know you have already taken enough supplements of your own although they are not long term solutions. But they will last you until tomorrow, so please wait by then. Goodbye, Ouma-kun."

With that, Seiko actually hung up without even waiting for Kokichi's response. He looked at his phone, a bemused expression hiding his shock instead.

"Maybe whatever she had was urgent this time..." Sophia speculated.

Kokichi didn't deign to respond, instead focusing how to fool the Ultimate Doctor and Ultimate Pharmacist to get that special menu. He was not letting go the opportunity to avoid being a generic protagonist.

Unfortunately, he would have to bitterly admit that he failed this negotiation, unable to procure the needed supplements today. He will win next time, because damn right he wasn't letting this lie down. Until then, he had no choice but to simply work the Court without SP and base stat supplements, where he would probably have to anticipate exploring around the Court this time around would be as short as the first time he had infiltrated as King.

He really hoped he could get as much of an upper hand at Court as he can but that would not be the case. Such incidents prove once again that absolutely nobody can always get what they want. It's just how this universe works.

[Quest ongoing: Seiko's favor exchange]
>> (Optional) Trick Seiko into being sick in the check-up to get the Special Menu

***

"Hello, Toujou-chan. Glad to see you here~" Kokichi said to Kirumi in the Velvet Room, lounging in his throne as usual. Once he was done with the tasks required, he had finally decided to check out his Friendship Fragments in Kirumi's Compendium, as usual tucked inside her arms. Slowly, Kokichi felt like he was getting used to this kind of thing. He honestly had to anyway since he was sure to visit this place more often for transactions like these.

Kirumi shrugged, "Nice to meet you too. How may I serve you?"

"I want you to open up that book of yours like the last time and shoot that petal in me," Kokichi said, opening his arms wide as if anticipating such an action.

Kirumi sighed, "This book is called the Compendium, a record for all your Friendship Fragments, Arcana and Skills. Don't just call it some book from now on, Ouma-kun."

She then opened up the book, with one single petal floating above it before zipping through Kokichi and shooting into his heart just like the petals did to him last time. he would have to get used to things like that too. The screen popped up in front of him just in time as he could peer what skill the shy detective could give him when he levelled up their friendship:

Through Investigation (Lvl 1)
> Able to find the (redacted) in Trials (Cost: 80 SP, Active: 1 hour, Cooldown : 3 hours)

"Another redacted?" Kokichi asked, eyebrows raised.

"Until you actually experience the Trials, the words will no longer be redacted. It's redacted now so it won't spoil you for what's to come," Kirumi explained.

"Huh..." Kokichi replied, reading up the cost, how long it was active and the cooldown. Honestly, out of all the skills, this one cost too much and had the longest active and cooldown times. Since it was about finding something, what could this something be that would be so important to cost this much?

"And the skill name..." Kokichi mumbled, remembering what Kirumi said about the skills being dependent on the person that he had bonded. After all, Miu and Kirumi's skill names align with their own Ultimates although he was unsure about Nagito's but the fact that even though Shuichi was the Ultimate Detective, the tittle had to be 'Through Investigation'...

'Maybe he does take his work seriously...' Kokichi thought, almost gleefully as his interest in the detective was piqued. ... He had so much games prepared. But right now, this wasn't about Shuichi...

"Hmm~ It would be a shame if I left the room with just this. And I got a lot of coins to burn. Other than improving these skills of mine, is there anything else to spend on? Open that shop of yours, Toujou-chan~" Kokichi said.

"As you wish. As the Rebel and not the Wild Card, you are only opened to Skills shop, where you can either level up the skills you have or buy new ones," Kirumi explained.

Although Kokichi was slightly disappointed that the shop was more lackluster than he imagined, a screen of multitude skills appeared right before him. While the skills he obtained require those petals to unlock and buy their level ups, there were new ones that did not even require Friendship Fragments...

In the end, he smiled and bought one, saving the rest until he knew the full scope of the Court with so much redacted he had seen so far.

Kirumi hummed, as she was aware of his purchase but did not comment on it. He simply smiled at her questioning look, unable to wait to show such surprises to the rest of his team at Court. Unfortunately, there wasn't much things he could do in this Velvet Room.

Sensing the dissatisfaction from Kokichi, Kirumi simply said:

"I am sure that more will be unlocked in the Velvet Room but it's just too early for you."

Kokichi pouted, and yet he couldn't do anything about it. Real life was the hardest game to hack a win and a cheat after all. Nevertheless, the game is still on. It's Court time!

A/N: I noticed that it was a whole freaking year since I published this. I probably ended this chapter with a cheap cop-out but seeing the word-count, I decided to deal with suspense so I know how to move on with this story. Plus, I wanted to surprise the readers which explains the probably iffy ending. Don't get me wrong, I still love Dangansona for the potential but inspiration is hard. I will still try to keep up with this fic but I'm sorry to say this is lower priority in comparison to other works like KGB. Even so, I hope that any Dangansona fan could still enjoy this and I hope to read comments, knowing what others think of this story for the motivation and inspiration~