The next day, I left my cabin - locking the door behind me as Satoshi waited by the stairs, leaning against one of the pillars while he sat, fixing his nail polish.
"Seriously? Did I really take so long to get ready that you started doing your nails?" I folded my arms and shook my head, sitting beside him.
"N-No! That's not why..." he defended himself, nearly smudging the polish in his shocked state. "It's just...I forgot to do them yesterday, and I already spent so long this morning with my hair...so since you still weren't out yet, I figured-"
"You figured that you'd fix up your nails while waiting for me 'cause you knew I'd take ages." I finished his sentence for him with a laugh at the end.
"...Y-Yeah. Sorry." Satoshi apologised with a sigh.
"Hey, it's fine," I reassured him. "You're making good use of your time, so I can't blame you." I then replied as he blew on his nails to dry them off quicker.
This...reminds me of Kokoro and how she'd do her nails. Hell, she even did mine one time.
I wasn't there when she died, so all I can do is imagined what happened through descriptions. But even so...
I miss them. Not just Kokoro, but Yuna, Kairi...Everyone.
Even Yukari and her shitty attitude. She didn't deserve death...None of us do.
Yet we're all stuck in this hellhole. If it weren't for our situation...we could've been happy. Akemi could've properly changed for the better and everyone else could see it.
If someone had asked me back when I first arrived here if I'd miss Akemi, I'd probably be offended and insult them for even asking. But now...I definitely miss him. He really could have had a real chance to change, but Shunsuke took that away from him.
But that's the thing! I can't blame Shunsuke...or any of the other killers. Their actions were manipulated by Monokuma and his stupid motives of course!
Yet...still, they died. And I could've been a victim too for my recklessness. The only reason I'm still alive right now is thanks to Shimura. So...I suppose I owe my life to him.
I should have been more careful. I should have never fallen for...her trap.
That girl...she-
"Chiyo?" Satoshi called out to me, snapping me out of my thoughts.
"H-Huh?" I jumped, blinking a few times to readjust.
Satoshi had gotten up, seemingly finished with his nails while I was thinking for ages. "Are you ok? You...kind of spaced out for a bit there."
"Me? Yeah, I-I'm fine." I shrugged. "I was just thinking about everyone..." I sighed.
"O-Oh..." Satoshi hummed in reply.
"I miss them, you know," I added.
"I'm sure everyone does. W-Well, except her." Satoshi responded.
Seems like it's a universal rule now not to refer to that girl who shall not be named...
Well, she deserves it! After all the shit she's pulled...
"Hey," Satoshi spoke up once again, gaining my attention. "How about we go to breakfast now? Shouko and Kenjiro want to see you."
"Oh really now?" I perked up, tilting my head. "Now...do you mean that, or are your nails finally dry enough for us to go eat?" I smirked.
"No- Well, yes...but that's not it!" He exclaimed. "They're actually the ones who sent me to come to get you, you know. I was already planning to pick you up but it sounded like they had something prepared."
"Wow...Now I'm dying of curiosity." My grin only widened as I stood up. "What is this - a surprise or something?"
"To be fair...I don't even know myself." Satoshi admitted. "But you know them. They'd never do anything intentionally malicious...I-I hope."
"Yeah, yeah. You're right." I laughed. "Let's go see what they have in store for us then, hm?"
Satoshi nodded and followed behind me and I marched towards the dining hall, my head held high in spirits as my mind raced with different possibilities that awaited me when I entered the room.
However, when I eventually did reach the dining hall and pushed the doors open with Satoshi peeking over my head at what was prepared, nothing could have prepared me for it.
"H-Huh...?" I stammered, my eyes widening.
I saw Kenjiro and Shouko both sat at a table for four - not surprising due to the short number of us. There were two seats left for Satoshi and me, and before one of them was a plate with...
...a grilled cheese?
"Eh...?" I muttered as I approached the two.
"Ah, Chiyo!" Kenjiro smiled. "I'm glad you're here."
"Same..." Shouko chimed in with a yawn. "I was worried you wouldn't turn up again."
"And that would've been a...p-pity." The psychologist added, chuckling slightly. "Especially seeing as Shouko had to get up so early to find the recipe."
"R-Recipe?" I stammered. "You mean...the recipe for this grilled cheese? F-Finn-"
"Yeah...That's right." Shouko rubbed her eyes yet smiled. "Finn's recipe. Akihiro made me write it down for him since he asked Finn about it...So it's uh...definitely creditable."
"Oh god...I can't believe this..." My eyes widened in joy as I sat down before the plate. It did look exactly like how Finn would present his grilled cheeses...and it smells the same too...
"You haven't even eaten it yet." Satoshi reminded me as he walked out of the kitchen with his own sandwich in his hands, the mint ice cream melting effortlessly between the two warm slices of toast.
Even that thing can't ruin this moment. However, I still don't get why Satoshi enjoys them so much.
But he was right. So I picked up the sandwich and took an eager bite from it, my mouth immediately being assaulted with familiar flavours.
This...really is just like the way Finn used to make them. It's nearly identical...
This is amazing!
Archie clearly thought so too, crawling out of my bag into my lap - the smell most likely reminding him of his previous owner.
"Wow, you guys..." I happily said between bites. "This is perfect."
"Well..." Shouko paused, thinking of what exactly to reply with before just smiling. "...W-We're glad!"
"Exactly...Couldn't have said that better myself." Kenjiro replied with a brief laugh. "We were just so happy you're alive...s-so we wanted to treat you to a meal! A-As a surprise, of course. And when Shouko said she knew the recipe to Finn's grilled cheese...we both got the same idea."
"Damn. You guys must have really missed me then to get me this awesome gift." I grinned.
"In all fairness..." Kenjiro continued, though the smile on his face never faded. "It's not every day one of your friends on the verge of death makes a miraculous recovery and wakes up. So...obviously we had to celebrate somehow. I'm glad this worked out."
"Yeah..." I rubbed the back of my neck. "It sure was a miraculous recovery, all right."
Satoshi sighed, slightly dampening the positive mood with the harsh reality. "We all thought at least once that you were dead. As good as gone...but in the end, I never gave up hope. None of us did. So...I'm really happy you're with us Chiyo."
"So are we." The other two chimed in, speaking at the exact same time.
"You guys..." I glanced at each one of them, my heart swelling with pride as their smiles were infectious. "...Thank you!"
-
"Come in." I heard Shimura say from behind the large metal door. With some effort, I pushed it open using my free hand, entering the room to see Shimura inside. He was lying across one of the slabs meant for dead bodies with his legs crossed, a book in his hands and a completely neutral expression.
This dude...He really looks like he lives here. Hell, he's lying across that cold ass metal slab like it's some comfy sofa or something!
His eyes initially didn't wander off the pages of the book, the title showing some girl with purple hair and insanely sharp teeth.
She kinda looks like that one Neko Neko Necromance dude...Are they related or something?
However, when Shimura finally noticed it was me, he put the book down by his side and sat up. "Oh, it's you."
"Obviously. Who else would it be?" I replied, putting the plastic bag I had in my hand down on the slab he was sitting on. "How do you even entertain yourself down here? It's so dead..."
Shimura perked up, seemingly itching to make some sort of shitty pun. "...Metaphorically and literally dead. Just open one of the compartments and-"
"Seriously?!?" I exclaimed.
I walked into that one...it's my fault.
"But...Akihiro was kind enough to bring me a bunch of books from the lounge to read. That combined with this one game console he managed to borrow for me entertain me for the most part. All of this stuff was replaced the next day, so no one noticed." He explained.
I nodded along, looking at the two piles of books that were left on another slab that was pulled. The taller pile I assumed was read while the other was unread.
Seems like he must be running out of books then.
On the floor near one of the room's outlets was the console, messily left there with its cables out for later use.
"I see..." I hummed a reply.
"I've got to say," Shimura continued, waving the book he was just reading around. "The tutorials in here aren't too bad."
"Tutorials?" I repeated, slightly confused.
"It's a book full of escape artist tricks. Getting out of handcuffs, ropes...stuff like that." He shrugged. "It's kind of useful. The Mizuki girl who explains them does a really shit job though." Shimura then sighed. "And she's meant to be the Ultimate Escape Artist...while I have to rely on the book's images to guide me."
"Ok, ok, I get it. So you're three hobbies in this place are reading, playing video games and apparently doing impromptu book reviews?" I folded my arms.
"It would appear so." Shimura set the book down and noticed the plastic bag. "What's that meant to be?"
"A bunch of sandwiches I found in the kitchen." I bluntly replied.
"A...Bunch of...sandwiches?" He slowly repeated.
"Grilled cheese if you're curious." I pulled each sandwich out one by one in a neat, orderly line.
"How'd you even get all this stuff?" Shimura leaned forward, clearly curious.
"Well, Kenjiro and Shouko ended up making me one of Finn's grilled cheeses for breakfast today." I began to summarise for him.
"Now isn't that nice of them?"
"Of course. And it tasted perfect too. Little did I know that it took them over ten times to get it right..." I continued. "So yeah. Basically leftovers."
"And you're giving this to me because...?" He trailed off, waiting for me to continue.
"Because most of what you eat is just yucky slop and you're running out of food anyway. So this is no big deal. Why should these leftovers be put to waste anyway?" I shrugged.
"I see...thank you." He nodded, getting up and taking the bag, shifting stuff around so there was space for the food to be stored. "You sure it's safe to eat?"
I scoffed. "Of course! Their cooking is actually decent, you know? No need to be so doubtful."
"You do realise you're saying that to the guy who faked his death? Of course, I'm going to be suspicious of everything."
"...Fair enough." I cleared my throat. "Well, I assure you it is safe."
"Good to know." He nodded.
I spent a few moments chatting with Shimura as I helped - No forced - him to clean the morgue.
If he's going to here live, he should at least make it presentable.
...Although, I suppose he doesn't really look presentable, does he?
However, my mind couldn't stop bringing up all the stuff I found in one of these doors. All those things that...incriminate Shimura.
He...could be working for the mastermind.
I hummed slightly in a way to discreetly investigate by using the disguise of small talk. "So...how is solving the riddle to the secret room going? Get anything yet?"
"Nope," Shimura answered immediately, not bothering to look up from the stack of clothes he was managing. "Not a single thing. Either that damn bear is too good or maybe I'm just stupid."
...I know that's a lie! Come on, that shit I found with the map and the weapons list is obviously from the secret room. Where the hell else would it be from?!?
He's blatantly lying to me...Shimura barely even let me finish my question. If that's not a sign of a liar, then I don't know what is.
I know I said I trusted Shimura but...can I really rely on him like this?
"...I see." I nodded. "Well, I suppose that's a shame then. I wanted to know what was in there."
Please tell the truth...
"Definitely." He weakly nodded, his head not even rising from where he was looking at. "I'm just as curious as you. This is some mystery, huh?"
"Damn liar...!" I muttered as low as I could, masking my frustration through gritted teeth.
I figured it was time for me to leave by the time the cleaning was done.
Well, I say 'done' but with the amount of mess Shimura left, it will ultimately take a few hours to days to properly make a somewhat decent room here. There's still so much rubbish.
I don't get how people can live like this. With just piles of trash...
How the hell does Shimura do it?!?
We spent the last minutes together finishing up with me reminding him to eat and drink regularly, especially with his condition.
He's the damn pharmaceutical toxicologist or whatever...Why do I have to remind him about basic necessities?!?
Eventually, I left the morgue, yet my doubts about Shimura couldn't disappear.
In fact...they only continued to grow.
-
I exited the clock tower, closing the door behind me and stretching my arms.
"Geez...I should hit up the gym again." I mumbled but then paused.
Wait...I could totally do that now! It's not like I have anything else to do today, so why the hell not?
With my mind pumping out determined thoughts, I began walking to the gym, failing to notice the sounds of footsteps behind me.
But wait...Although, I suppose it would feel lonely now that I'm the only one using it basically. With both Tatsuo and Yuna gone now...it's just...so-
"Chiyo!" I heard someone call out behind me.
I guess that must be who the footsteps behind me belong to...
I slowly turned around, yet my expression shifted to one of pure disgust and revulsion at the sight of Ryoko, innocently waving with a large smile on her face as she approached.
Yet I wouldn't dare give her another chance, harshly turning back around and continuing my walk.
"Huh?!? Chiyo...!" She cried, speeding up to catch up with me - yet finding it hard in her heels. "Can you just wait for a second? I just want to ask you something..."
"As if I'd wait for you!" I exclaimed, not even bothering to look back at her. "You fucking tried to kill me remember! So back off. No one wants to see you."
"Eh...? Really?!?" She acted shocked, gasping loudly. "Yeah, smart observation genius." Ryoko sighed, almost as if she audibly rolled her eyes.
I forgot she kind of has a grudge against me...
But why the hell should I care?!? Ryoko's childish vendetta against me is nothing near what I have against her. Someone ignoring you isn't as bad as someone trying to fucking murder you, ok?!?
"Look, I'm not talking to you because I'm interested in you, you know. So get off your high horse!" She shook her head, stepping in front of me and blocking my way.
"Ugh...Fine!" I yelled. "What the hell do you want?"
"You see...As much as I hate to say this, this is a matter I can only discuss with you. So-"
"Just spit it out!" I clenched my fists.
"Oh, a-alright! There's no need for that..." Ryoko folded her arms across her chest. "I just wanted to know...How's your friend Shimura?"
"...Eh?!?"
"Like...how is he doing? I miss him you know! Shimura is just so interesting..." she continued, chuckling at my reaction. "What? Don't act like that. He's definitely told you already. And with all this time you spend disappearing...well, I assume you must be with him then!"
"W-What are you saying?!?" I faced her. "Yeah, he told me about you. But what the hell is wrong with you?"
"What? Oh, am I a bad guy for wanting to know the well-being of one of my idols?" Ryoko scoffed.
"The fuck? You get over your obsession with me...just to now obsess over him?!? What's this, another crush or some shit?" I glared at her.
"And what of it? All of the hatred for me he feels... the passion Shimura has for wanting to kill me...that's more satisfying than seeing your face, Chiyo. He's just so...Ah, I can't describe it!" Ryoko squealed.
"Ew." I flinched. "That's just...yuck."
"It's too late to be jealous, Chiyo." She cackled. "You had plenty of time to-"
"I'm not jealous!" I cut her off straight away. "As a matter of fact...I feel bad for him. We've been in the same boat."
"Whatever." Ryoko hummed. "It's not my fault he's just so much more interesting and fun to toy with. You've gotten...boring, you know? Boring and bland after being used time and time again."
"B-Boring?!? Bland?!?" I repeated before turning away once more. "Whatever. I don't deserve to listen to you and neither does Shimura."
I carried on walking, yet my fists remained clenched as I heard Ryoko following on behind me with a slight skip in her step.
"Really? Defending Shimura? You act like he's a saint!" Ryoko shook her head. "He could be just as twisted as me you know!"
"So? That's impossible. Everyone is better than you." I replied coldly, Ryoko pausing suddenly. "What...? Finally realising how stupid you sound?"
"Not at all." She weakly smiled. "In fact...I find it quite humorous how much you're protecting Shimura even when we're the only two who even know the damn man is alive. I mean, I assume Akihiro did as well with their...relationship, but he's clearly not in the picture anymore."
"Of course, I'd protect him. I'm not a fool like you." I bluntly said. "And don't waste your time craving Shimura's attention like with what you used to do to me. You know he's not stupid."
"That's such old news." Ryoko walked by my side. "Get over it!"
"..." I couldn't be bothered to even acknowledge her anymore, just simply walking to the gym as if no one was following me.
Am I really going to be forced to spend time with her?
-
Should I allow Ryoko to follow me and-
Ah...what's the point in even thinking?!? Even if I said no, she'd follow me anyway! So there's no point in giving me the illusion of choice in the first place.
"You know..." Despite ignoring her, she just continued. "You really do want to protect Shimura. Like he's an angel. Though...it's almost like you refuse to acknowledge or explain all the terrible things he's done."
"Oh really? Like what?" I tilted my head at her, a bland and uninterested expression worn across my face.
"So I really must remind you..." Ryoko firmly stood in place, her heels sinking in the mud she found herself in. "You see - first of all..." She cleared her throat. "Listen to me, ok!"
"Just great. Here she goes again..." I mumbled, my head hanging down as I opened the doors to the gym and stepped inside with Ryoko following behind me without a care.
Ryoko can go on for as much as she wants here since I wouldn't care or even bother to pay attention. It's not exactly a secret how much we all hate her, so whatever.
Though...one last attempt to get her to leave wouldn't hurt.
"So? Spit it out." I rolled my eyes as I took my bag and blazer off. Ryoko had just hyped up her whole argument just to not say anything in the end. "Nothing? That you can leave me alone now."
"...He's gone to that secret room, you know." Ryoko finally spoke, my eyes widening once I realised.
I paused momentarily at this news, yet sighed. "I had my suspicions."
"Hm? So Shimura didn't tell you?" She perked up. "But what about your pact? I thought you guys told each other everything!" Ryoko gasped. "I can't believe he'd be so secretive...How admirable."
I just rolled my eyes. "If Shimura lied to me, he probably had a good reason to. Don't try and manipulate things."
"But...With all the weapons in that room and the mastermind there as well, you never know." She continued. "I mean...Shimura and the mastermind could be working together. Or even be the same person! You never know who you can trust here."
"...Fuck off. Your shitty attempts to manipulate me won't work." I turned my back to her and got on my preferred treadmill, adjusting the settings.
"Hm..." Ryoko fell silent once again as the sounds of the machine starting filled the room while I began to run.
"Why are you still here? I told you to fuck off, didn't I?" I asked.
"Just so you know..." Ryoko said. "If I ever end up dead, the most likely suspect is Shimura. Without a doubt."
"..."
I couldn't reply. I couldn't even deny it.
As much as I hate to admit it, Ryoko is right. Shimura would be the most likely suspect in her murder. His intellect and talent are in a category of their own, but that combined with the weapons in the secret room and the possible support he has from the mastermind...Shimura could kill anyone.
But the most damning evidence of all is the fact that...he told me. Shimura said himself...
He wanted to kill Ryoko. He said we should've done it!
"You know I'm right, don't you?" Ryoko spoke, interrupting my thoughts. "After faking his own death, he'd be no stranger to committing a murder. Isn't that just exciting?"
"No. It's not." I firmly stated.
"And the fact that Shimura even told me too...! It was at that moment that he truly became my true idol! Someone with pure, unbridled hatred for someone like me...Someone I finally wanted to meet was here all along!"
What a creep...
Yet, the fact that Shimura openly told Ryoko he wanted to kill her...
"I understand you won't get why the newfound obsession with Shimura." Ryoko hummed. "I've given up on trying to get you to understand it. But the attention...it's so enjoyable."
"...All of the negative attention is enjoyable?" I gave her a blank stare.
"Of course. After hating life itself and the people around me...After being a symbol of perfection, universally loved by everyone...Having someone with as much malice as you used to have, someone who doesn't see you as perfect, but as an insect- no...a parasite...it's the best feeling in the world right now."
"A...parasite?"
"Yes. That's exactly what I'd describe myself as. I mean, I did cause many deaths. And like a parasite, I just didn't leave you alone because I found you interesting...but you really ruined that, you know? So now...let's say Shimura is the most fascinating one in my eyes." She weakly chuckled.
"Wow." I acted shocked.
"You're performance is so convincing!" Ryoko replied, playing up to my sarcasm.
"Whatever." I scoffed. "If you have nothing else to say, just leave. It's not like I even wanted to talk to you in the first place."
"...Hey, want to know something interesting?" She spoke once more, a large grin spread across her face.
"If it's from you, then no." I sighed.
"Huh? That's no way to talk to someone." Ryoko chuckled. "But I'll tell you anyway. I wasn't always like this you know."
"What? Are you going to blame your parents or talent or something? That your perfect life made you this twisted and hateful?" I assumed, crossing my arms over my chess.
"Oh, no! I don't mean in that sense." She chuckled. "I mean...I've changed entirely."
"...What the fuck do you mean this time?"
"To be fair, I'm not quite sure myself. Before this killing game...well, I still thought the same things I'm thinking right now - you know, hating life and all that." Ryoko began.
"So you didn't really change at all." I gave her an unimpressed look.
"I suppose not," Ryoko smirked. "Yet I wasn't vocal about my beliefs at all. I...repressed them. Set up a front in front of the world while being a hateful being in the background. But this killing game...it's as if the repression I put myself in never existed! Like it was completely erased while increasing my desires."
"What...?"
"I don't know how or why this suddenly happened, but it was the best thing to ever happen to me. The freedom...I could never ask for more. Whether my change was natural or thanks to the mastermind, I'm thankful." Ryoko concluded, one final smile resting on her face.
"...Right..." I gulped, glancing away.
I don't know what just happened, but this unwanted time with Ryoko served to just leave me more confused. And not only that but...now I really wonder what the hell is up with her.
"Oh! Would you look at the time!" Ryoko jumped up from the gym bench she was sitting on. My eyes followed hers, seeing it was almost nighttime.
"What about it...?" I wondered.
"Oh, nothing for you to worry about yet." She replied. "It's just...I've got something big to prepare for. You'll see more tomorrow, so don't worry, ok? Your personality is already vile enough without the stress!"
"Why the- H-Hey, you bitch!" I called out to her, yet it was already too late as she had skipped out of the gym.
I just sighed and stepped off the treadmill. "I really can't stand that girl..."
Archie then crawled out of my bag, standing up on the bench Ryoko sat upon after seemingly waiting for her to leave.
"...And looks like I'm not the only one who thinks that." I shook my head, walking over to my eight-legged friend.
I guess Archie really is my friend now...
Well, this spider has been more supportive of me than Ryoko, so yeah, he definitely does sound like my friend.
But Ryoko...what the hell is she up to? The only thing I know is that I can't be good.
...I suppose all I can do is wait for tomorrow when she'll apparently reveal what she's up to...Yet that doesn't stop my doubts or worries at all.
-