Part 101: Runaway

AUDIO: A Message from Rantaro



MUSIC: REAL/FICTION



Guess I should start from the beginning.





Now, Monokuma probably already told you this, but just in case... This killing game will continue until there are only two people left. Now the important part of that rule is that—





Well, the truth is...this isn't your first—





So watch your back. Trust no one. And never forget...





...No matter what.







Day 14.

After waking up from Monokuma's announcement, I headed to the dining hall as always.

MUSIC: Rise of the Ultimates



Good morning, everyone.



Good...morning...



...

There's a dark mood in the air of the dining hall today.











If you don't eat, then Gonta will eat you instead, Shuichi.

Ah, he'll eat me? Don't you mean my breakfast...?



He's not here yet?

He's probably still sleeping...

*sigh*

...





MUSIC: Cool Morning

H-Himiko?

Your "good mornings" are too quiet! It's cuz you're so quiet that you feel down!

*SIGH!!!*



...Weird. I thought you'd be the most depressed out of all of us.

Of course...I'm depressed. This is the most depressed I've been in all my 200 million years.



But...being depressed won't help those who died rest in peace... Tenko and Angie, too. If I stay depressed, they won't be able to rest in peace either.



S-So anyway... Please...t-take care of the...new me...

You're out of breath already. You're going full speed right out of the gate!

But it's just like Himiko said. Those of us left need to look to the future and live. For all the others' sakes.





Huh? Isn't that what we were talking about?

Ughhh...but now that there's less people, I might...be the next victim...

Woooow, so exciting! But I definitely don't wanna die!

Well, I guess that's the same for everyone else! Ah-hahahahahaha!



Just then, the door to the dining hall burst open, and...





Okay, maybe not that serious, but Gonta went to courtyard before coming here...



Yeah. More letters added...

MUSIC: Nightmare in the Locker



TSUMUGI: Wh-What about the world? What does it mean? Is there some crazy story going on?



No, I don't think that's a good idea.

...Why? Do you want to die?



Ah, right. That's just a habit of hers. But my heart skips a beat every time...

No one here takes credit for it, right? But now there's more added to it. It must have some meaning.

So, seriously, none of us here wrote it? If this is a prank, you better speak up.



If it was a prank, then they would've done it in a more obvious spot, not in the grass. There's nothing more depressing than an unnoticed prank.

It's like a titty no one wants to fondle!

Well, it could just be Gonta writing it, since he was the first one to find—



It's...ungentlemanly.

What is that writing...



Who's doing it? What does it mean?

MUSIC: Cool Morning



Thanks for the report, Gonta.

...Gonta just glad to help.

Gonta want to help, even little. Tell Gonta if you need help with something, okay?

O-kay, got it! I'll let you know if I want you to punch someone.



Y-Yeah... Gonta learn lesson after Insect Meet and Greet...



MUSIC: Mr. Monokuma's Lesson V3





Hm? Are you getting dizzy from the face I make when I concentrate really hard?

Your face...? It's always the same, isn't it?

Never mind that... You guys are probably eager for it, right?



Right? You guys can't live without getting a prize right now, right?





Only Monophanie says it this time.

MUSIC: Rise and Shine, Ursine!





Oh my... Forgetting your catchphrase is like the kiss of death for a mascot, y'know?







AUDIO: The Frying Pan is the Weapon!





Ngh? Where am I? Where's Kaoru...?

Ack! Your character is completely different now!



Pops... My family... And you... Thank you...for loving me!

C'mon! Remember already!





I've had about enough of them...

Heeey, give us some lovin', tooooo. I want my reward alreadyyyyy.

When did you get so friendly with Monokuma, Kokichi?

Okay, okay. The prize this time is—

MUSIC: Mr. Monokuma After Class V3

AUDIO: Secret Items III















A card key is the motive? What does that even mean?

So, the new area you can open with the card key... Is that where the real motive is?



No, we shouldn't. If we want to prevent another murder from happening—

Yoink! I'll take that card key then!

Kokichi used his lithe body to his advantage and took the card key from Monokuma.

B-But that Monokuma's motive! What if another murder happenl?



What?

Cuz this is the killing game and we're the players, plain and simple. Why *wouldn't* the players play the game?



No thaaaanks! See yaaaaa!





Running in the halls isn't normally allowed, but I suppose boys will be boys.

Also, I forgot to mention this, but I've hidden another Flashback Light somewhere.

I wonder what memories you'll uncover next! Happy hunting!





You forgot that, too!? C'mon, let's go!



MUSIC: Cool Morning



We cannot leave Kokichi alone with that card key motive...

But...aren't you curious about the Flashback Light, too?

Perhaps we should all search together, and look for Kokichi as well.



Right now, we need your skills as a detective, Shuichi.

Right... In that case, let me hold onto that. I'll look around again.



Now that you're so respectable, I'll let you pet me if you want!

Oh, I see, so Shuichi gets that honor.



Don't worry. When the time comes, we'll use your body as a meat shield.

Okay! Gonta hope time come soon!

No... You should hope that it doesn't come.



I'll search for a place to use these mysterious items.

MUSIC: Beautiful Lie





Looks like we'll be going to the farthest ends of the school. Let's start with the courtyard.





Are they renovating an old facility? Perhaps constructing a new building...?

At the start, Monokuma said they were supposed to be facilities for us.



It is hard to imagine that they built this entire facility just for us.

I also think Monokuma was lying. He is an exceptionally deceitful being.

"Being"? Well, he's a robot, isn't he?



Ah, no, that's not what I meant...



Why does it exist? Is it really just a place for us to have the killing game?







She's staring at Tenko's lab... I should leave her alone.



Or I'll become even more beautiful...

Ah...I see.



Is she embarrassed? About something she said herself?

...Did it look like I was blushing?

What?



Ah, that's right, I remember!



Ah...really...?

...

Oh, you just made Himiko angry! Someone like you wouldn't know this, but this is Himiko when she's mad!

No...I was just blushing.

What!? From your own compliment!?



Hm, okay! Then I'll keep at it!

Himiko...is really trying to change.



I have been reborn! I won't say that feelings are a pain anymore!

Y-Yeah... If I'm tired, I just gotta make a tired face...

I know how she feels, but that might be taking it a bit far.



While searching, I discovered that you can get Shuichi's thoughts on dead characters from examining their lab doors at the start of the chapter, too.



It's not embarrassing to express your feelings, it's only human... Himiko has changed, just like you wanted. She's not so lazy anymore... She's working hard, trying to live well. But...you exchanged your life for that. It's not fair...







Gonta? Are you looking for Kokichi?

No, not Kokichi...



No mistake this time! It definitely fly by Gonta's eyes!

Heeeey bug! Come out agaaaain! Gonta just wanna taaaaalk!



I'm sure he's interested, as the Ultimate Entomologist...

But...the memory of the Insect Meet and Greet is still raw...



Heyyyyy! Come out, come out wherever you arrrre! Where you hiding bug!? Come talk to Gontaaaaa!





I knew that fuckin' midget was running a goddamn cult!

I mean, if there really was a god...



Hah-hahaha! That kooky fuckin' bitch!

...





If he's not in the courtyard...is he inside somewhere?

You're...probably right. But apparently Kokichi is quite good at hide-and-seek. If he's serious about hiding from us, finding him may prove to be quite troublesome.

Troublesome?



Ah, no, it's nothing.

Please tell me! You don't need to hesitate. After all, we're friends.

Well... I just thought...perhaps a *robot* could find a human...



Shuichi...you're not even trying to hide your robophobia anymore.

What? Really?



That black object over there looks suspicious, doesn't it? The one with the red border.

Next time, putting things into other things.