(See the end of the chapter for more notes .)

Here we go!

The FTEs for this time around were Takanashi and Mai!

While I was working on the chapter, V3 came out! I want to state here for the record that I have played it, but nothing in that game will matter in terms of this fic's story. I planned out this fic's plot ages ago - before even DR3, as a matter of fact - and I'm sticking to that plot, regardless of what additions have been made to the overall story for the series. Basically, when you read this story, imagine that V3 (and to a lesser extent DR3) were never made.

In all seriousness, my classes and exams are all done for the year, so I'm spending my holiday writing up a storm! Sorry for the massive gap in chapters - although I guess you're used to it by now... I genuinely don't intend to have these big breaks, but that's what always ends up happening.

Guess who's finally back from the dead?

Chapter Text

Monokuma: DING DONG DING DONG!

[We see Monokuma on a TV screen, lounging in a chair comfortably, as he sips a glass of brandy through a silly straw.]

Monokuma: Good morning, class!

This is your amazing principal Monokuma letting you know it's 7 o'clock! Nighttime's over!

Which means it's time to get out of bed and stop being a lazy bastard!

...Ah, and before I forget.

I will be holding a brief conference in the Assembly Hall soon.

Attendance isn't compulsory...

...but if I don't see you there... *sniff*... I might just cry...

I'm getting teary-eyed just thinking about it... *sniff sniff*...

And when I cry, I can't see if I accidentally hit the button that floods the tower with neurotoxin gas.

So, for your own safety... and my feelings... you better attend!

That's all!

...Huh! That's the most I've said in ages! I feel really happy now!

...Ah, the mic's still on. Whoops!

[The screen blinks off. We see Minami's Room.]

Ugh... I'm still so tired...

But if Monokuma's holding a meeting, I had better attend...

Probably in my best interest to skip my shower, just this once.

...Please don't let it be another motive...

[OST: Re: Welcome to Despair Academy]

[Move through: Green Hallway -> Foyer]

Looks like everyone's here already...

Tamura: [Grimacing] Fifty thousand yen says this is gonna really fuckin' suck.

Chiba: [Smiling half-heartedly] What do you expect from the bear in the big black house?

Okazaki: [Thinking] Is that a joke? Cuz, like, I think it's going, like, over my head...

Enoshima: [Cruel smile] Or it's going through it, whore.

Hagino: [Stern] If you have to talk, Enoshima, why don't you give us some useful information?

What's this meeting about?

Enoshima: [Chuckling softly] The glorious Monokuma doesn't give me details of his plans.

After all, I am merely human, while he is divine...

[Grinning, drooling slightly] Such things are far beyond my comprehension.

Urayama: [Dismissive] We need to face the facts that Enoshima is and always will be utterly useless.

For now, let's just wait for Monokuma to open up.

Mai: [Excited] Well, even if you said it in a not-so-nice way, Suma, you're totally right!

[Determined] We should wait wait wait for the door to open riiiiiiiiiight up!

Takanashi: [Uncertain] ...Are you feeling alright, Minami?

Minami: As much as is possible.

[OST: None]

[The doors to the Assembly Hall slowly swing open.]

Guess that's our cue...

[Auto-move to Assembly Hall]

[OST: Mr. Monokuma's Lesson]

Monokuma: [Annoyed] Ah, there you all are! You're late!

Urayama: [Dry stare] How can we possibly be late? You only just opened the doors.

Monokuma: [Both paws in the air] Several milliseconds ago! Honestly, you lazy kids, never showing up exactly on time...

[Neutral] Ah, anyway, it's time for a special meeting. I think you'll all enjoy it...

Noguchi: [Arms crossed] Enough stalling. Just reveal the motive.

Monokuma: [Thinking] Motive? I haven't got a motive.

Okazaki: [Confused] But, like, you always call us here to reveal a motive.

Monokuma: [White side] Not always! This time, I just wanted to have a friendly chat, bear to student body.

[Neutral] It won't even take too long, either. I understand how you young-uns like to rush through everything...

...so I compiled everything I wanted to say into one sentence.

[Paw behind head] Like when an athlete promotes a sports bar made of condensed apples, it maximises the impact of information when you make it into one bite-sized chunk.

Enoshima: [Sweating, tugging at collar] Please, Monokuma... tell us... give us that sweet suffering...

Monokuma: [Annoyed] Alright, alright! Keep your bulging underpants on, Emo-shima! Sheesh!

All I wanted to say was...

[OST: Mr. Monokuma's Extracurricular Lesson]

Monokuma: [Neutral] Did you really think you would get away with that meeting in the bathhouse?

Hagino: [Covering mouth, gasping] W-what...?

Tamura: [Surprised] Ya mean... ya knew!?

Chiba: [Furrowed brow, eyes shut] There must have been a voice recorder in the room that we missed...

Monokuma: [Both paws in the air] WRONG! There's no recording equipment anywhere in the bathhouse.

[Chuckling] I may be holding you here against your will, but I'm no pervert!

Washio: [Wringing hands] Th-then, how did you... um... find out...?

Monokuma: [Blushing] Why, a little traitorous birdie told me, of course!

Tamura: [Enraged] Hang the fuck on! We kept that fucker Enoshima outta the loop the whole time!

There ain't no way in hell he told ya!

[OST: None]

Monokuma: [Chuckling] I never said he told me.

...What...?

Muramoto: [Sweating profusely, teeth gritted] Then... you cannot be insinuating that...

Takanashi: [Hand covering mouth, surprised] You mean... someone else is a traitor...?

Monokuma: [Bashful] Ah! I already went over my sentence limit. I better keep mum on the rest of the information!

Tamura: [Snarling] Waitta minute! Ya can't just --

Monokuma: [Neutral] That concludes the meeting! You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here.

[Claw out, eye glinting] So, get outta my hall, you brats!

[Auto-move to Foyer]

We all stood around for some time. None of us knew what to do with the information we had just received.

So we stood in silence, barely moving, all deep in thought.

When one of us finally spoke up, it was the last person we expected.

Enoshima: [Staring, smiling eerily] ...Heh.

[Chuckling softly] Heheheheheh...

[OST: Re: Weekly Despair Magazine]

Enoshima: [Cackling] Ahahahahahahahahaha!

Noguchi: [Scowling] What's so damn funny!?

Enoshima: [Cruel smile] You all tried... SO hard... to keep your little get-together a secret...

[Arms either side, grinning] ...and it was all for nothing! Don't you just love the beautiful, all-encompassing despair you've been filled with?

Mai: [Puffed-up cheeks] Hey, creep! At least we didn't get taken apart by our boss!

[Wagging finger] You're supposed to be the big baddie here, and you didn't even find out about our meeting?

You suck at this whole 'traitor' thing, huh?

Enoshima: [Enigmatic smile] Oh, I agree. I definitely agree. Which makes it all the more precious.

I couldn't avoid scrutiny. But the second traitor did.

[Grinning, drooling slightly] Which means you'll all feel that overpowering feeling of grief and betrayal again soon...

[Cackling] It's so delectably glorious! Ahahahahaha!

[OST: Re: Beautiful Dead]

Chiba: [Exasperated] Ugh, I can't bear to be around him anymore. I'm leaving.

Okazaki: [Nervous] B-but, like... what do we do about, like, this second traitor?

Hagino: [Looking down, melancholy] For now... there's nothing we can do.

Just live out your daily lives normally. If we get suspicious of each other, Monokuma wins.

Muramoto: [Arms crossed] I am in accord. We must ensure our own harmony.

Enoshima: [Chuckling softly] Harmony... heh heh... how futile...

Noguchi: [Eyes narrowed] Can we go yet? If I spend a second more next to this filth, I'll be ill.

Hagino: [Sighing] Of course. You may all go your separate ways.

I am sure this will be alright...

Hagino's optimism isn't exactly reassuring...

...but I have to admit, I want to believe things will be okay too.

Key words being "want to".

[Fade to black.]

[OST: Re: Welcome to Despair Academy]

[Fade in to Minami's Room.]

Mmm... I feel like stretching my legs a little.

Maybe I should go hang out with someone.

[Move to Green Hallway]

[OST: Re: Beautiful Dead]

[Move through: Foyer -> Blue Hallway -> Stairwell -> Botanical Garden]

[OST: Third Island Theme]

[Move through: Cream Hallway -> Sun Lounge]

[Talk to Takanashi]

Takanashi: [Biting brush] Oh, uh... hi, Minami...

So, um... uh...

[Smiling shyly] Did you want to hang out with me?

[Frowning] I'm... not doing anything interesting right now, but still...

Do I spend time with Takanashi?

-> YES

NO

Minami: I don't care what you're doing, I wouldn't mind a chat.

Takanashi: [Grateful] Oh, great! So, uh... okay...

[Fade to black.]

Takanashi and I spent a while in the Sun Lounge.

We weren't talking about anything in particular, just making small talk.

It was actually kinda relaxing to spend some time chatting about things that weren't serious.

But, unfortunately, the conversation did end up heading down a darker path...

[Fade in to Sun Lounge.]

Takanashi: [Twiddling brush in hand] So, do you have any pets?

Minami: Not at the moment. I had a fish once...

Takanashi: [Neutral] What was it called?

Minami: Oh, it was so long ago I can barely remember. I think I was six?

I overfed him one night, and we found him belly-up the next morning.

Takanashi: [Uncertain] ...Oh...

Minami: Something on your mind?

Takanashi: [Frowning] ...I had a fish once, too...

Her name was Kopokopo. She was a neon tetra.

...I have no idea what a neon tetra is.

Takanashi: [Smiling awkwardly] I gave her the right amount of food every day...

Always kept her filter running...

I even filled her aquarium with little things for her to play with.

Minami: Sounds like you really loved this fish.

Takanashi: [Smiling shyly] ...I did.

[Frowning] But... my mum didn't.

Minami: ...Oh?

Takanashi: [Fixing glasses] She thought that Kopokopo was a distraction.

Minami: From what?

Takanashi: My schoolwork... but mostly my calligraphy practice.

Minami: Ah, kind of a taskmaster, huh?

Takanashi: [Eyes shut in horror] ...One day, I came home to find Kopokopo pinned to the wall with a nail.

Minami: W-what!?

Takanashi: My mother had killed her as a reminder.

[Eyes shut, gripping brush tight] "You can't let yourself get distracted! Practice your calligraphy at the cost of everything!"

Minami: She sounds like she has a few screws loose...

O-oh, I'm sorry!

Takanashi: [Frowning] ...Don't be. That's a pretty accurate assessment...

Minami: But... why did she care so much?

Takanashi: [Twiddling brush in hand] ...Well, you can't tell anyone this, but...

[Biting brush] ...she actually got rejected from Hope's Peak Academy. The first one.

Minami: Really...?

Takanashi: [Frowning] Yeah... since she failed to get in, she wanted me to enter the new one.

And... it all went downhill from there...

J-jeez... I can't imagine dealing with a mother like that...

Takanashi: [Smiling awkwardly] ...Um, I'm kind of tired... I hope you don't mind if I go now...

Minami: Go ahead.

I'd like to talk again, if you don't mind.

Takanashi: [Looking in admiration] ...I don't... at all...

...

[Uncertain] ...*ahem*

[Smiling shyly] So, um... bye for now...

That poor girl...

What else did her mum do to get her to practice for a Hope's Peak application...?

In any case, I should probably go back to my room as well...

[Fade to black.]

[OST: Re: Welcome to Despair Academy]

[Fade in to Minami's Room.]

Hmm... I'm feeling a bit lonely.

I guess I'll go pester someone...

[Move to Green Hallway]

[OST: None]

Huh? What's this?

Someone left a note outside my room...

"Minami. Meet me in the Cold Storage Room in 5 minutes. I have information for you."

There's no name... this looks incredibly suspicious.

But, on the other hand... it's exactly the sort of thing I want to check out.

Hmm... I got it!

I just need to take some precautions.

And I know just who can help me...

[OST: Beautiful Ruin]

[Move through: Foyer -> Blue Hallway]

[Talk to Muramoto]

Muramoto: [Neutral] Miss Minami. Salutations.

Minami: Muramoto... can I bother you a little?

Muramoto: [Bowing head] But of course. Please, offer your concern.

Minami: Someone left me a note to go to the Cold Storage room in fifteen minutes.

It's something I wanna do, but at the same time, it's the most suspicious thing that has ever happened here.

Muramoto: [Hand on chin]You wish for me to accompany you?

Minami: No, no! Then, whoever sent the note might try and avoid the meeting.

Just... if I'm not back in an hour or so, come down and check on me, okay?

Muramoto: [Eyes closed] You comprehend the risk you are taking, I presume.

Minami: ...Basically.

But I've got to do this.

Muramoto: [Neutral] ...Very well. I shall be there in an hour.

Minami: ...Thanks. I know it's kinda selfish of me to ask, but...

Muramoto: Think naught of it. I shall meet you later.

Alright... got some insurance set up.

I guess there's nothing left for me to do but head on down...

Please let this go well...

...and not end in me dying.

[Move through: Stairwell -> Botanical Garden]

[OST: Third Island Theme]

[Move through: Cream Hallway -> Pharmacy]

Whoever summoned me is right on the other side of this door.

...Well, here goes nothing...

[Auto-move to Cold Storage]

[OST: Re: Despair Syndrome]

Minami: Oh... it's you, Hagino.

Hagino: [Confused] Minami? What are you doing here?

Minami: I got your note, so I'm here to see you. I wouldn't come here for any other reason, honestly.

Hagino: [Concerned] ...I came here because I received a note, as well...

Minami: ...What?

[OST: Tropical Despair]

[We see the door suddenly slamming shut. Minami and Hagino are gasping in surprise and fear.]

Hagino: The door!

Minami: What's going on!?

[The sound of clattering wood and shattered glass emanates from behind the door.]

Hagino: What was that!?

Minami: Argh...! The door's stuck! I can't open it!

Hagino! Give me a hand!

[We see Hagino and Minami struggling to open the door in vain.]

Hagino: Hnnnnnnnnnng...! I can't... move it...!

Minami: It's no good! Something must be blocking the door...!

[Back to Cold Storage.]

Hagino: [Covering mouth, gasping] Heavens above... wh-what do we do...?

Minami: Don't panic... I asked Muramoto to check on me in an hour...

Hagino: [Clutching prayer beads, sweating profusely] A-an hour!? No! I can't take an hour! Get me out of here!

[Shouting angrily] Help! Whoever's out there, heeeeeelp!

Minami: Get a grip, damn it!

Whoever shut that door obviously isn't going to let us out... You just need to calm down!

Hagino: [Teary-eyed] N-no... no! I can't do this! Open the door, goddamn it! OPEN THE DOOR!

???: [Off-screen] Well, now, isn't this interesting?

Minami: Who's there!?

???: Tell me, false priest... how do you feel right now?

Scared, I'm guessing. Or maybe... despairing?

Minami: Damn it, show yourself!

???: Can't. I'm on the other side of the door.

So sorry, of course...

Honestly, though, I'm surprised at you, Minami.

I'd have thought an ambrosia like you would work it out sooner...

Hagino: [Clutching prayer beads, sweating profusely] Wh-what do they mean by "ambrosia"...?

Minami: ...It's Enoshima... damn it...

Enoshima: [Off-screen] You see, after that meeting with Master Monokuma, I had the most wonderful thought.

I'm forbidden to kill anyone. That's an official rule.

But if I lock you two in here, and you happen to freeze to death, well...

Technically, I'm not the one killing you, am I?

Minami: Let us out, you son of a bitch!

Enoshima: Temper, temper.

Incidentally, Minami, are you begging me to let you free because you're trying to save Hagino, or save your own skin?

Minami: I...

Enoshima: Ah, but I had best be going.

My small piece of advice... huddle together for warmth.

And know, as the light inside you fades...

...that despair always triumphs.

Minami: Enoshima! ENOSHIMA!

[OST: Re: Despair Syndrome]

Hagino: [Teary-eyed] H-he's gone, Minami...

I... I'm scared...

Minami: One hour until Muramoto shows up, Hagino... we'll be fine...

Hagino: [Shouting angrily] That's easy for you to say!

How can you be so calm?

I... I don't do enclosed spaces!

I'm not okay right now!

[Teary-eyed] I'm... not okay...

Damn it... I'm such a bitch...

[We see Minami hugging a sobbing Hagino.]

Minami: I'm sorry, okay? It's going to be okay...

Hagino: I-it's so cold in here...

Minami: It'll be okay, I promise...

[Fade to black.]

We spent a long time just keeping each other warm.

Eventually, Hagino calmed down enough that we could stand apart.

It was a while before she spoke up again...

...and by that point, we were both shivering.

[Fade in to Cold Storage.]

Hagino: [Shivering] ...W-who do you think it is...?

Minami: H-huh?

Hagino: [Looking down, melancholy] I-I mean... under the c-cover...

Do you think it's anyone we kn-know...?

Minami: ...M-maybe we should check...

Slowly, I approached the gurney.

I tried to comfort myself with the knowledge that I'd seen dead bodies before...

...but that just made me feel worse.

I reached to pull back the cover, but...

...I just couldn't do it.

Minami: ...Sorry... I-I really d-don't want to...

[OST: None]

Hagino: [Queasy] I... I under... sta...

Minami: H-huh? What's wrong...?

Hagino: I don't... f-feel so...

[A loud thump is heard.]

Minami: H-Hagino!? Hagino!

She fainted!

Oh, God, oh, God...

What do I do...?

Minami: Hang on, H-Hagino...!

I just have to...

[Pounding noises are heard.]

N-no! I still can't open it...!

I-I'm not strong enough...

I...

[Fade to black.]

At that point, I finally gave in.

I couldn't get through the door.

Hagino and I were going to freeze to death.

Nothing could stop that...

...so I gave up, and fell to the floor.

[There is silence for a while. Then, thumping noises are heard, getting louder before there is a loud crash.]

???: Fuck, there they are! Move 'em!

???: I hear your command!

???: Please be okay...!

[There is more silence for a while. Finally, we fade in to Minami's POV, staring up at a ceiling. Takanashi is looking over her with a concerned frown on her face.]

Minami: W-where...?

Takanashi...?

Takanashi: Oh, thank heaven, you're awake.

[Fade in to a bedroom, similar, but slightly different to, Minami's.]

[OST: Re: When You Wish For Execution]

Minami: Ugh... my head...

Takanashi: [Nervous] Oh, um... can I get you a pillow...?

Minami: ...This is the second time in two days I've woken up with you hovering over me...

It's embarrassing...

Takanashi: [Frowning] Needing help isn't embarrassing... especially after what you went through today...

Minami: Where am I?

Takanashi: [Smiling awkwardly] Um... well... my room.

[Frowning] Hagino needed medical help more than you, so...

Minami: Oh, God! Hagino! Is she okay?

Takanashi: [Biting brush] She has a nasty cold, but they think she'll be okay...

Minami: Phew... I was worried...

...How did you find us, anyway?

Takanashi: [Twiddling brush in hand] Muramoto led us down there, and we found the cabinet pushed in front of the door.

It took him, Tamura, and me all lifting together to move it, but we got it in the end...

Minami: Nng...

Takanashi: [Gasping] Where are you going? You need rest!

Minami: I want to see Hagino.

Takanashi: [Uncertain] ...I can't stop you, can I...?

Minami: ...

Takanashi: [Biting brush] ...Okay... just be careful...

[Auto-move to Red Hallway]

Alright... Takanashi said Hagino needed medical attention, so...

[Move through: Foyer -> Green Hallway -> Medical Bay]

[We see Muramoto and Noguchi standing watch against the back wall while Hagino lies in the bed, a blanket over her, and mucous dripping from her nose.]

...Ew...

Hagino: Oh... hi, Binabi...

I'b nod feelig so good...

[Back to Medical Bay.]

Hagino: [Nose running, puffy eyes] Sorry I'b nod standig up to greed you...

Bud I'b jusd nod up to id righd n-ah...

Ah... aaaah...

[Sneezing] ACHOO!

Muramoto: [Neutral] Miss Hagino, please refrain from talking too much. The chill of the air will only make your humours drain with more celerity.

Noguchi: [Dismissive] That isn't how colds work, and you know it, you anachronism.

Minami: Ah... Muramoto I understand, but...

Noguchi, what are you doing here?

Noguchi: [Sincere] Would you believe me if I said I was looking for cold medicine?

I've found five bottles of formaldehyde, but that's it so far.

Hagino: [Nose running, puffy eyes] D-don'd worry... I'b gonna be alrighd...

Minami: Since when did you care about helping people?

Noguchi: Since someone attempted to kill you two.

[Glare] On that note, who was it? Tell me.

Minami: As if you need to guess.

Muramoto: [Eyes averted] T'was Enoshima, the devil, was it not?

Minami: Got it in one.

Muramoto: [Arms crossed] Miss Tamura and Mr. Urayama are hunting the fiend as we speak, but naught has been spied of him.

Noguchi: [Disgusted] He's going to pay for what he's done. That, I can assure you.

Minami: ...Don't do anything drastic.

Noguchi: [Scowling] You are in no position to lecture me on what is smart.

I assumed you were intelligent up until the point you wandered into the most obvious trap in the history of mankind.

Minami: Go to hell.

Noguchi: [Smirk] Already there.

Hagino: C-could you two please be a bid more quied? You're givig be a headache...

Noguchi: [Dismissive] Of course. The one of us who is non-essential to your wellbeing shall leave.

[Glare] Minami. Get out.

Minami: ...You're such a tool, Noguchi...

[Auto-move to Green Hallway]

[OST: None]

...He might be a tool, but he's right...

By walking into that trap, I could have gotten myself, and Hagino, killed.

God, I'm such an idiot... All I do is make things worse...

...Maybe if I go talk to someone, I can make myself feel better...

[OST: Re: Beautiful Morning]

[Move through: Foyer -> Blue Hallway -> Stairwell -> Entrance Hallway -> Central Lounge -> Stage]

[Talk to Mai]

Mai: [Excited] Hiiiiii, Hanni! Hey, listen to my voice echo in here!

[Shouting] Echo! ...cho!... ho!...

[Cheerful] Wanna try? It's super fun!

Do I... spend time shouting at nothing with Mai?

-> YES

NO

Minami: Sure, why not? *ahem*

Echo! ...cho!... ho!...

Mai: [Giggling] Okay! It's Mai turn! Get it?

This is going to be a long game, isn't it?

[Fade to black.]

I spent a lot of time playing with Mai.

As usual, she was full of boundless energy.

Was she just on a sugar high or something? Like, every day?

It was some time before she had spent enough energy that she was willing to talk like a normal person.

[Fade in to Stage.]

Mai: [Hands clasped, beaming] Hey, Hanni! Can I let you in on a super duper tippy-top secret?

Minami: Only if you promise never to call it a "super duper tippy-top secret" again.

Mai: [Mock sadness] Aww, you're no fun...

...

[Cheerful] Okay! I promise never to call it a super duper tippy-top secret!

So! Wanna hear it? Huh? Huh? Huh?

Minami: For God's sake, just say it already...

Mai: [Dramatic pose] Here goes...

...

[Surprised] Wait! I can't say it yet!

Minami: Why not?

Mai: [Excited] Because first you gotta guess it!

Minami: What? What sense does that make?

How am I supposed to guess a secret I know nothing about?

Mai: [Thinking] ...Uh, well, um... Okay, I got it!

[Neutral] It's a secret about me!

Minami: That doesn't narrow it down in the slightest!

Mai: [Surprised] ...Oh, right.

[Cheerful] Weeeeeeell... it's a secret about my birth!

Minami: Your... birth?

Mai: [Neutral] Yep! Something special about it!

[Excited] Can you guess it, Hanni? Can you can you can you?

She's getting impatient... I better take a stab at it...

Something special about Mai's birth... Could it be...?

A: She wasn't born in a hospital

B: She wasn't born in Japan

C: She wasn't born at all!

Answer: B

Minami: Uh, maybe you weren't... born in Japan...?

Mai: [Hands clasped, beaming] Dingdingding! You got it in one!

Minami: Wait... seriously? I was just taking a wild guess...

Mai: [Cheerful] And you got it! Yippee!

In fact, I'm only half-Japanese!

[Bashful] Or, well, three-quarters Japanese. It's a little complicated.

Minami: Then, uh... where were you born?

Mai: [Neutral] Beirut!

Minami: Beirut, Beirut... that's in Lebanon, right?

Mai: Yep! My mum was Lebanese-Japanese!

She met dad on a trip to visit her family in Shikoku, and he went back to Beirut with her.

[Hands clasped, beaming] And the result of their steamy love was the little bundle of joy you see before you!

Minami: I... really didn't need to hear that.

Mai: [Neutral] Anyway, that's why I always write my first name different to how it's usually written!

[Wagging finger] See, my name isn't actually the Japanese name, "Mai" - it's the Arabic name, "Mai"!

They sound exactly the same, but the Arabic one's what's on my birth certificate!

Minami: ...Huh.

I always thought she just figured the kanji wasn't cute...

Minami: So you were born in Beirut. Neat.

But then I have to ask - why did your family move back to Japan? Did something happen?

Mai: [Forcing a smile] ...Oh, uh, my family didn't move. Just me!

...

Minami: ...Mai?

Mai: [Cheerful] This was fun, Hanni! Let's talk later, 'kay?

[OST: None]

And she's gone... That was kind of an abrupt end...

I wonder why she decided to cut it off so quickly.

Did I say something to offend her?

...Probably. Wouldn't be my first ever mistake...

Monokuma: DING DONG DING DONG!

[We see Monokuma on a TV screen, lounging in a chair comfortably, as he sips a brandy through a silly straw.]

Monokuma: Attention all students! It's 10 o'clock, which means Nighttime has officially started!

All water systems will be turned off, and the cafeteria will be locked.

Oh, and although I can't imagine anybody MISSING the twerp...

If you're wondering where our dear friend Junpei is, he's a little tied up at the moment.

But don't worry... I guarantee you'll see him tomorrow... Upupupu...

Good night, sleep tight! Don't let the murderer bite!

[The screen blinks off. We see the Stage.]

...Jeez, that was ominous...

What does he mean by, "you'll see him tomorrow"?

I mean... I'd honestly rather NOT see him tomorrow, but...

Monokuma... what are you up to this time?

Anyway... I had probably ought to go to bed...

[OST: Re: Welcome to Despair Academy]

[Move through: Central Lounge -> Stairwell -> Blue Hallway -> Foyer -> Green Hallway -> Minami's Room]

[Examine Bed]

Today hasn't been a very fun day, has it?

I'm just... exhausted...

Everything I do seems to go wrong...

...and I got someone hurt today because of it...

I... just want to sleep...

[Fade to black.]

MONOKUMA THEATRE

[OST: Mr. Monokuma's Lesson]

Monokuma: Ah, I love when the weather begins to grow cold, don't you?

The thought of all the leaves drifting down from the trees...

The light being mottled through their orange and red splendour...

The way that it all crumples ever-so-subtly underfoot to make that beautiful crunching noise...

It reminds me of a man I knew once.

He used to be young and strong, until his hair started to fall out.

And his skin got those liver spots.

And his bones started to crack and creak with arthritis.

Ah, yes... I love it when things start to die.