Quietly, Loudly

"...Well? Not a bad plan, right?"

"....."

Byakuya Togami regarded the girl who had sought him out without warning and launched into a lengthy explanation of her so-called brilliant plan, and let the silence stretch while he thought.

Highly suspicious.

She did not even look like the Junko Enoshima the public knew. And unlike Togami himself, who made a point of keeping the others at a firm distance, she was strangely uncooperative with them in her own way — and every time things started going well, a chill would steal across her face. There was something distinctly off about her.

Which meant that even if she ranked below Kei, the Ultimate Counselor who already knew the secrets of the killing game, or Sakura Ogami, who had confessed to being a spy, the girl standing in front of him was still someone to be watched with extreme care.

And the plan itself isn't terrible, but...

He had survived the Togami family's filthy wars of succession. There was not a scheme in the world that could make him so much as blink. Still — could a mere gyaru lay out a plot this vicious without a flicker ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of guilt, without the slightest hesitation?

"Um...? I, like, really worked up the courage to say all that... Is it that bad...? Wait — you're not gonna tattle to the others, are you!?"

Enoshima mumbled it timidly, but even that struck Togami as wrong. It felt as though she had forcibly pasted a fake personality over herself to hide whatever she really was.

"Your plan has a critical flaw. Where exactly do you intend to obtain the chemicals?"

"Ah, that... um... Monokuma...!"

"Puhuhu... and what business do a pair of outsiders have with me?"

"You've been listening to everything we said, right? So, like... you wouldn't happen to have any chemicals, would you...?"

"Puhuhuhuhu! Enoshima, aren't you being a little too direct? You really are a riot! Puhuhu..."

"Look... you might find this funny, but our lives are on the line. So. Do you have them or not?"

"Puhuhu... if it's chemicals you want, you'll find them in the chemistry lab on the fourth floor... I was going to open the fourth floor tomorrow anyway, so help yourselves!"

"Great. Then that's settled, right?"

"....."

Togami stared at the girl beaming up at him without a care in the world.

I knew it. There is something ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠about this girl.

The instincts that had kept him alive through the Togami family's vicious power struggles were screaming now. Junko Enoshima... no. The girl standing in front of him might well be more dangerous than Kei or Ogami.

"...I'll cooperate. For now."

"Awesome! So we're in the same boat now, huh?"

"E-even if we're working together for the moment... if you so much as lay a finger on Master Togami... I won't just sit back and watch..."

"Relax. I have zero interest in hitting on some serial killer's crush, okay?"

"Urgh... I don't like you..."

"If that's all, I'll take my leave. If the three of us linger here any longer, we'll draw suspicion."

"Okaaay~ See you tomorrow~! Don't forget the plan, 'kay~?"

"....."

Byakuya Togami left the library sunk deep in thought.

"Haa... I was so worried he wouldn't go for it... Thank god..."

"I'll say it one more time... if you so much as touch Master Togami...!"

"I already told you I wasn't going to?"

"But... gyaru like you are... y-you know... loose, aren't they...? Heh heh heh... a... a... achoo!"

"What is wrong with you!? I'll have you know I take perfectly good care of myself! That's just a stereotype...! And you're getting spit everywhere! Cover your mouth!"

Ikusaba left Fukawa to her gloomy snickering and sniffling and turned to go — then a voice, low and almost casual, stopped her cold.

"...Mukuro Ikusaba."

"........!"

Ikusaba's face twisted into something ugly. Killing intent rolled off her as she looked back.

"What... did you just say?"

"Pff... fuhuh... fuhuhuhu....."

"Answer me...!"

"Fuhahahahahahaha! Mukuro Ikusaba! What the hell is with that look on your face? Gyahahahahaha!"

Behind her, Fukawa had already become Genocider Syo, doubled over and clutching her stomach with laughter.

".....Genocider Syo. You should not have said that."

Mukuro Ikusaba's expression went ice-cold as she started toward her.

"Ohoho? What, you wanna throw down right here? I'm Genocider Syo right now, you know? I'm not going down that easy!"

"You said my real name. That means you die. That's all."

"Fuhahahahaha! And after you kill me? You gonna turn yourself in? Kuhuhuhu...!"

"..."

"Look, you might wanna kill me, but I don't particularly feel like killing anyone who isn't a super cute guy! How about we both pretend we didn't see anything and call it even? Kuhuhuhu..."

"Not a chance."

"I clocked you the second I first saw you, you know that? If I'd wanted to spill your secret, I would've done it ages ago!!"

"....."

"Honestly, as long as I've got Master Byakuya, I don't care what else happens! So do whatever you want — as long as you don't lay a hand on Master Byakuya, I won't say a word! Deal!?"

"And why should I believe that?"

"Because I haven't told a single person so far!! And if we actually fight in here, you're the only one who loses! Am I wrong?"

".....If you go back on your word, you'd better be prepared."

"Fuhuhuhu, what, you think I was born yesterday? Although now that I think about it, I kinda have been getting played my whole life!"

"....."

"Oh, and just so you know — my other personality always carries a pepper shaker, so I wouldn't go getting any ideas about jumping her... fuhuhu..."

Ikusaba's face had gone completely cold. She turned on her heel and walked out of the room without another word.

"Heh heh heh heh heh..."

Genocider Syo kept laughing long after Ikusaba was gone. Then, all at once, the laughter cut off, and she murmured to herself.

"Alright. That should be enough tape..."

In the middle of all that chaos, Naegi had slipped up to her and tucked something into her pocket. She hadn't known what it was, but it had felt important, so she'd snuck a look when no one was watching. A cassette tape, with a scrap of paper stuck to it.

It really was a cassette tape, with both a record function and a playback function. Genocider Syo had wondered why on earth he'd given it to her — and then she'd kept reading, and her first thought had been why should I?

Then she'd read the rest, and something in her had started to shift. The line about Togami being in danger had put a real knot of anxiety in her gut. And then she'd seen the postscript, and that had settled it.

"Eheheheh... Master Byakuya... looking happy because of a gift from me... eheheheheh..."

And so the counterattack began — quietly, and loudly.

Morning. I headed to the seven o'clock breakfast gathering that had already become routine, and found everyone clustered together fussing over Ogami.

"Ogami, how's the hand? You were bleeding pretty badly yesterday..."

"I can't just stand by and let an injured person fight alone. I may not look it, but I spent years as a biker gang leader — I've had my fill of fights. Let me back you up."

"I'll help too... I could at least throw something from the back and keep them off balance, you know?"

"Fighting is something one must never do... but if our classmates' lives are at stake, then I shall assist as well!! Allow me to aid you!!"

"Everyone... I am grateful that you would stand with me. But this is my fight. You need not help. No — you will not help."

They all looked at Ogami with worried eyes, but her resolve was iron. And that was when Monokuma popped out of nowhere.

"Puhuhu... how truly moving..."

"Shut your mouth, Monokuma."

"....."

I snapped at him, good and angry, and Monokuma clapped both paws over his mouth, still grinning as he muttered to himself.

"Bad-boy Kei isn't so bad either, maybe...? Puhuhu..."

"Just say what you came to say. You're going to open the fourth floor and tell us to go have a fun little killing game, right?"

"Oh? How'd you know? Have our telepathic powers finally synced up?"

I ignored whatever nonsense he was spouting and found myself thinking.

Isn't the floor opening a little fast?

It could just be that Enoshima was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠getting impatient because there hadn't been a single murder yet. But I had a feeling there was more to it than that.

"Anyway, Kei's already filled everyone in, so I'll be on my way! You kids have fun!"

And with that, Monokuma vanished.

The opening itself had landed without much of a bang, but the fourth floor was a fairly important place. The chemistry lab, for one — you could get your hands on poison there.

The headmaster's office and the student council room were sealed for now, but they held the secrets of our school life, so we'd have to be careful.

And in the data processing room, Junko Enoshima herself was hiding. Of course, I couldn't let on that I knew that. Not yet.

"So? What do you all think?"

"Not a bad idea..."

"I'm in! Sakura's in too, right?"

I was still sorting through my thoughts when the room around me suddenly got loud.

"What? What's going on?"

Naegi, standing next to me, answered.

"Ah — the girls are all going to take a bath together. To celebrate Ogami being on our side, apparently...?"

"I figured that in a situation like this, building some camaraderie couldn't hurt. So I suggested it."

Kirigiri said it with a look that meant a great deal more than the words. Ah. So that was the play.

"Then how about we hit the baths too? The girls are going first, so we'll go after. We could use a little camaraderie ourselves."

Right. It was about time I told the others the truth. Kirigiri would handle the girls; I'd handle the boys. A bath was as good a place as any.

"Yes...! Then before we investigate the fourth floor, how about we loosen up a little and head over right now?"

Asahina sounded oddly thrilled at the prospect. The other girls agreed, finished breakfast, and headed for the bathhouse.

"Haa... sinking into the water like this, I can finally feel the tension going out of me..."

"Indeed... there has been much to be tense about of late. Everyone... rest easy, if only for now."

"C-Celeste... was that a wig...?"

".....I'll trust you to keep a lady's secrets."

"W-why did you drag me along... I have to attend to Master Byakuya..."

Watching them finally let their guard down in the first peaceful atmosphere they'd had in a long time, Kirigiri spoke up.

"Everyone. If I could have your attention for a moment."

"Hm...? Kirigiri, what's up?"

"Would you listen to what I have to say?"

".....?"

Curious faces turned toward her. Kirigiri drew a small, tight breath, ready at last to tell them the truth of the killing game — and that was when a voice cut across the steam.

"Hey... I heard you all got together without me...? Ngl, my feelings are a little hurt..."

"Enoshima. What are you doing here?"

"Don't glare at me like that... I thought about it all day, okay? And I figured I should trust Ogami and the rest of you after all..."

".....The way you keep latching onto whoever's convenient — you're like a bat, aren't you?"

"Haa... yeees, I'm so sorry. I've committed an unforgivable sin. Want me to get on my knees naked and beg?"

"Kirigiri... come on, just let it go this once... The more people we have on our side, the better, right?"

"Hah..."

"Hehe... sorry about yesterday. Ogami. I should've trusted you more."

".....It is fine. That you have come to regret it now is enough."

"Then I guess I'll just slide in too?"

Ikusaba gave an awkward little laugh, sat down on one of the stools along the wall, and raised her voice.

"Alright, alright! As a peace offering, I'll give you all a massage myself! Normally this'd cost you a fortune, but today's on the house!"

"Enoshima, are you actually good at massages?"

"Yep. Photo shoots mean a lot of brutal poses, so my muscles are always locking up. I felt weird going to a massage parlor all the time, so I just learned how to do it myself!"

"Ooh... then could you do me? I've been swimming so much lately my shoulders are killing me..."

"Yes, yes~ Anytime~"

"Okay, let's see... nnh... haah... nngh... oh that's so good... Sakura...! You should try this too...! You work out so much, you're always saying your muscles are all knotted up lately...! Haaaahn..."

"She does appear to be quite skilled... I will be fighting the mastermind before long. A massage may prove useful. I shall try it."

"....."

"By the way, Kirigiri, you said you had something to tell everyo— mmph!?"

Kirigiri clapped a hand over Maizono's mouth and shot Ikusaba a hard look — but Ikusaba was already absorbed in working her hands into Ogami's muscles.

"....Mmph! ....Nngh!"

".....Ah. Sorry."

"Pwahhh... K-Kirigiri... what on earth was that about... ah... wait, don't tell me...?"

".....?"

"Were you... hoping for some relationship advice...?"

"....."

Kirigiri's face tightened. Maizono apparently took that for embarrassment, because her own face went pink and she started talking faster.

"W-well, I suppose it would be a little embarrassing to ask everyone... but just the two of us... that might be okay..."

".....What?"

"The truth is... I've had something on my mind lately too... I promised Naegi we'd go on a date, but I have no idea what we're supposed to actually do..."

Kirigiri, who had about as much romantic experience as a certain someone from a few days ago and had absolutely not signed up to give dating advice, was just starting to look genuinely cornered when the bathhouse door slammed open.

— Crash!

The boys — who had very clearly said they would wait outside the changing room — were now sprawled across the bathhouse floor. The girls stared at them, not yet understanding what they were looking at.

"I-I was trying to stop them! As a member of the disciplinary committee! I was certainly not talked into anything, I would never—"

Every girl in the room went ice-cold.

The aftermath that found the boys once they had been dragged back out of the changing room was enough to send a shiver down the spine of every Hope and every Despair watching the footage in real time from outside the academy.

"Never... ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠doing that again..."

"Even so... I believe it was... worth it..."

"Y-yeah... it was seriously incredible..."

".....I only saw Ogami."

"I-if that's what being a man is... I think I'd rather go back to dressing as a girl..."

Damn it. They never got caught in the game. So why did we get caught here? I'm pretty sure Kirigiri looked at me like I was a bug. I can't even show my face to her after this...

"Hey, Kei — didn't you say back in the changing room that you had something to tell all of us?"

"Right. Yeah. That's what actually matters here. Okay. There's a truth I've been wanting to come clean about."

"A truth you want to come clean about? What is it?"

Naegi and Fujisaki's eyes sharpened. I drew a breath, ready at last to tell them the truth of the killing game—

— Crash!

A tremendous racket exploded just outside the bathhouse door.

"W-what in the world! Don't tell me the girls were peeping on us?"

"There's no way..."

"Th-this is bad! Sakura... Sakura's...!"

"A-Asahina! What do you think you're—"

"Sakura collapsed...!"

What?