Chapter 7

After Monokuma and the Monokubs left. I could hear the sound of ringing from my coat pocket. Not just mine actually, everyone's Monopad was ringing as well, so we pulled out our respective Monopads.

I turned on my Monopad, and after my name flashed on the screen, there was a new menu that didn't exist before, appearing on the screen. I tapped on that menu and it showed me the rules and regulations of the killing game.

"So this is the regulations of the Ultimate Academy for Gifted Juveniles," said Ryoma.

"I don't understand why someone.. would force us to do this. What is his purpose?" said Kirumi, pondering.

"The rules are pretty elaborate. This will not be boring," said Kokichi cheerfully.

"That's hardly the problem here!" shouted Tenko.

Angie raises her hand, "Hey, hey. What does the sixth regulation mean?"

I looked back on the tablet screen to check the sixth regulation. It says: 'The killing game and class trials will continue until only two surviving students remain.'

"Only two students? What would be the reason for that?" asked Angie.

"Perhaps because you can't do trials with only just two people," said Shuichi.

"Nyahahaha, I see! You're so smart, Shuichi," said Angie.

"To hell with all this crap! Who's stupid enough to get along with that?" said Kaito while raising his Monopad, fully intending to smash it to the ground.

"Kaito, wait!" I exclaimed while trying to stop him. But before I got to him, Rantaro already moved ahead of me and held Kaito's arm.

"Whoa, hey. I wouldn't do that if I were you. According to school rules, break this and you will be disposed of by the Exisals."

"Who cares about the rules? No way I am gonna play this messed up game!" said Kaito.

"Kaito, I understand how you feel. Everyone is. But it's not good to disobey him for now. It's too dangerous. We are in a disadvantageous position," I tried to explain it calmly to him, hoping he is a man with reason.

"She is right. This is not about playing the game or not. What I mean is it's better to go along with the rules for now. We can think about how to deal with the killing game later," Rantaro followed up after my explanation.

"Tsk, fine," said Kaito reluctantly. He slowly put down his arm. I let out a relieved sigh.

Miu clicked her tongue annoyedly, "Why are you stopping him? Just forget about this idiot, so the world will have one less idiot to deal with!"

"Hey! Who are you calling an idiot?!" said Kaito, looking upset at Miu's remark.

"HEY QUIT FIGHTING ALREADY!"

A very loud voice suddenly reverberated in the gym. I turned around and saw Kaede was looking at all of us sternly.

"Whoa! Why are you yelling all of a sudden?" asked Kaito.

"This is not the time to fight amongst ourselves. In this situation, we need to work together!"

"I agree with Kaede! We must not forget who the real enemy is! My master always told me that the true strength needs to be directed in the correct direction." said Tenko.

Himiko let out a squeaky voice as she trembled greatly, "A-anyway…. don't panic… J-just stay calm...like me.."

"Whoa you are shaking too much!" said Angie.

"Anyway, why don't we work together and search for an exit again?" said Kaede, proposing a way out.

"But we have searched everywhere, and there is no hole to that wall," said Tsumugi gloomily.

"Wait, if there is no hole in the wall, then how did we get in here in the first place?" asked Keebo.

"Right? There must be an opening somewhere! At times like this, the worst thing we can do is to fight amongst ourselves, because that's what the one who trapped us here wants! So let's work together and prove them wrong!" said Kaede determinedly.

Silence comes down within the room instantly. Kaede looked at us awkwardly, "W-why are you so quiet? Did I say something wrong?"

"Kaede.." I said while nodding approvingly. "I totally agree with you. Let's fight together."

"Quite the contrary, Kaede. Your speech reverberates deeply within us; it rendered us speechless. I too, shall fight with you," said Kirumi.

"Heh, I was gonna say that, but you beat me to it. I agree with you! We can't give yet!" said Kaito while giving a thumb up.

"Ooh let's split up and search for the exit! Atua will give us his strength," said Angie.

"Count me surprised. I admire your determination," said Rantaro as he gave his usual eye smile.

"Oh wait! It might not matter much, but Gonta saw a manhole earlier. In the grass, behind the school building."

"A manhole?" asked Kaede.

"Gonta thinks it may be the exit. But it is probably not so simple. Sorry."

"Y-you gotta mention such an important thing faster!" said Tenko.

"Gontafindamanhole! Gontathinkitistheexit!"

"No, I am not talking about how you said it! You're talking too fast!"

"Anyway, we better check out that manhole as soon as possible to prove Gonta's claim. Gonta, please lead the way," said Kirumi.

Gonta put his fist in front of his chest, "Okay, everyone follows Gonta!"

With Gonta leading, everyone started to leave one by one. I was about to follow as well when I see Rantaro approaching Kaede.

"Kaede, that was impressive back there."

Kaede looked confused, "Huh? What is?"

"The way you speak up your mind earlier. You sounded so sure and determined. The mood changed instantly with a few words from you. I think everyone looks up to you."

Kaede seemed flustered at the sudden compliment. With a bashful smile, she replied, "Wh-What? No way. I just say what my heart feels, that's all."

"So you did it unconsciously? That's even cooler." Rantaro sincerely complimented Kaede, but a second later, his face changed, "You have what it takes to win."

"What?"

"Precisely because of that, you may get the attention of whoever's planning this. They definitely wouldn't want us to work together."

There he goes again. I sometimes wonder if Rantaro got a split personality. How can people change their character in a flip of hand like that?

"They will be coming to get you, Kaede. Watch yourself. You are too...straightforward. I kind of worried about you."

After saying that, Rantaro walked off, leaving me, Kaede, and Shuuichi.

After he left, Kaede sigh dejectedly, "And away he goes. As always, I can't read him at all."

"I think he just wants to warn you? At least that's what it looks like to me... Being too strong-willed can become a disadvantage in this kind of situation." said Shuuichi.

"Don't worry too much, Kaede. He may be like that, but I think he is looking out for you in his own way," I tried to reassure Kaede, who looks worried.

Shuuichi also tried to comfort her, "S-sorry. I didn't mean to dampen your spirit like this."

"That's fine, Shuuichi. I know you are also just trying to look out for me. Thanks for worrying about me, you guys."

"Rantaro is quite a mystery... He even forgot his own Ultimate talent. But is something like that is that easy… to forget?" said Shuuichi while looking deep in thought.

I chose my words carefully, before I said, "He is indeed a mystery. He looks oddly relaxed even in the middle of chaos earlier. I think it's because his body still remembers it well."

"You mean, his behavior has something to do with his Ultimate talent?" asked Shuuichi.

"That's what I think. There are many cases of amnesiac patients who still remember their habitual behavior without realizing it. It's because even if the brain sometimes forgets, the body still remembers it well."

"As expected of Ultimate Therapists! You sound so convincing and professional!" said Kaede excitedly as she held my hand in hers.

"You jest. It's just a piece of common knowledge," I said embarrassedly.

"I wonder what his Ultimate talent is..." said Shuichi. He seemed to be very concerned about Rantaro. Is this his detective intuition kicking in?

Nevertheless, I do agree with Shuichi to some degree, as I also wonder about that. At this point, I didn't know if I can believe Rantaro or not. However, I don't think he is a bad person. I don't want to believe he is a bad person. I mean, just earlier, he tried to protect me from Exisals, right? No bad people would do that for a person he barely knew.

And I assumed Rantaro also thought the same about me. We are not friends, and it's not like we trust each other. However, if I can, I'd love to be his friend.

"Welp, there is no point thinking about this. Let us go to the manhole as well?" said Kaede.

"Yeah, let's do that."

With that, we left the gym and went to the direction of the courtyard.