[UNFINISHED AND DISCONTINUED] A promise to keep.

The promise

Why...?

"Why couldn't you be more selfish, Kaede? If you were, you could have gotten away with this. You could have survived." "If only you had framed me instead-"

"Hey, Shuichi..." Kaede called out. I didn't want to let her finish her sentence.

"If you had lied..."

"Hey, Shuichi! An ultimate detective like you should keep looking for the truth." Said Kaede, tears pouring out of her eyes as she smiled at me.

How could she tell me to look for the truth? Does she not see what happened because of it?

"Alright, that's it." Monokuma called.

That's when I zoned out, I was trying to make sense of it all. I stopped listening to everyone until I heard Kaede yell at everyone to stop protecting her.

"Enough, you guys... I've already prepared myself for this."

"You're giving up?" I said, "But why? You said you'd never give up..." " that we'd get out of here together..."

"...So why are you giving up now!?" I said as tears fell from my eyes uncontrollably. Did you mean what you said, or was that a lie too!?" I choked through my tears.

"We can still do something! Please..." I pleaded.

"I'm not giving up. Because I have you."

Kaede went on about her wish while I hung on to her every word.

Everyone started accepting her wish, agreeing to honor it

"I have a special punishment prepared for the Ultimate Pianist, Kaede Akamatsu!" Monokuma said with his stupid grin.

"W-Wait, wait a second! Kaede, please," I pleaded

"You can't lose to this killing game! I know you can beat it!"

"let's give it everything we got! It's..."

"...PUNISHMENT TIIIME!"

"I believe in you guys! So please, believe in yourself!" Kaede yelled through tears.

"...Okay? It's a promise." She finished.

When Monokuma pressed the button, my head was swarming. I watched a Monokuma-themed choker wrap around Kaede's neck, pulling her up. I reached for her but only met her fingertips.

The next thing I knew, she was sitting on a piano. I wondered what Monokuma was going to do to her.

I watched Monokuma hang her to her death by making her play the piano. My eyes filled with tears. Why did the truth have to punish the innocent? Why couldn't I find a selfish murderer?

I felt warm tears drip out of my eyes, I stared at my fingertips. If they had reached her, I could have probably saved her.

I watched as the piano sped up. I watched as everything around her went haywire.

I caught a glimpse of her eyes. I saw spirals in her eyes, the same ones that were on the first culprit I ever caught.

Tears stopped dripping down my eyes. I lowered my hat and looked down so I wouldn't have to look at her anymore.

After a bit, the piano stopped. I heard a sudden crunch, and I heard a splatter.

I looked up and saw the background behind Kaede had fallen, crushing her.

I looked back down immediately, warm tears pouring down my face again.

Suddenly a hard punch met my face.