A/n - Sorry for slow updates, art above is by SatsukiTop! 

Oh no...

"I.. it's...I...um.." I had no idea where to begin as Mikako stared at me expectingly.

The one time I wish for someone to interrupt...

I mentally sorted through my options as fast as I could. The message said, "Get out of Danganronpa free card", so she knew it was some kind of place...

"It's...where I'm from."

It was either that or play dumb...

"You're....from.....Danganronpa....?" Her face said it all. "Do you actually think I'm that stupid?"

"...Yeah..." I croaked, my voice dry from both my motive video and the fact that I probably just screwed myself over.

"What should we do? WHAT SHOULD WE DO!?" Akane screamed. I looked over to her and desperately hoped that Mikako did the same.

"D-Darn it...I need to get out... but, how....?" Kiyoka was sweating.

"T-There is a way out..." Kizuna hissed.

Mitch shouted at her. "WHAT way!? Is there anything other than murder-....oh."

In a matter of seconds, the whole group stiffened. Everyone began to look at each other with eyes of distrust, but this time... I don't think I can say anything...

"E-Everyone... calm down! Wouldn't this be exactly what Monokuma's wanting us to do!?" Ayame cried.

Kiyoka nodded, but her voice still trembled. "M-Monokuma wants us to kill each other... We'll only do him good if we can't keep our trust..."

"Are you sure...? That we should keep your stupid "trust"...?" Mitch glared. Then he went off. "Fuck off!! So what did we find for three days without killing? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!! Who knows, maybe we'll get to find someone dead now!!"

Stop it...

"N-No way... that can't happen in here!" Akane's eyes filled with tears.

It will happen...

"Quiet playing angels. Didn't I tell you? No one wants to socialize in the middle of a bunch of to be murderers." Rei rolled her eyes.

So speak up, Y/n...

"We're pushed to our limits. I wouldn't be surprised if some savage bloodbath was occurring right now-"

SPEAK UP!

"NO!"

Their eyes fell to me. Again.

I bit my lip, the feeling of people watching... The feeling of a sharp shiver crawling down your spine like a spider. People expecting more out of you than you can give. Feeling as though you're being crushed by their eyes alone...

Why am I doing this? Why am I talking? Why would they care about what I say?

I heard someone whisper my name. My eyes were drawn to the voice's speaker.

Kiyoka...

She just wanted everyone to trust each other. She wanted to comfort me even as her own body shook with fear. She wanted to see her family again. She wanted to travel the world. She wanted to do so many things...

My mind drifted to that first night, where the two of us competed and laughed. Where we slept together, where she comforted me, where she walked around the hall during nighttime to make sure I was okay...

My eyes spun to Mitch. The one who would kill her.

His own body was shaking with fear, but he was coping a different way. He despised the mastermind as much as we did, but felt trapped in this school, trapped inside his own mind, angry but confused who to be angry at.

I knew he was dangerous to both the group and himself, but I envied his confidence at times. He had his flaws, but he had a passion. He was still a person, and he still had dreams. I remembered talking with him with Akane and Yuki. Beneath that star athlete persona was someone who just wanted to be understood.

I made a promise to the both of you....and even if you don't know it...I'm going to keep it.

It was all a matter of seconds, but I felt my resolve harden.

"I can't promise that no one will try to kill, but I won't let anyone die. We're going to leave this place with zero deaths." I spoke.

It was just two sentences, not nearly enough to tell them how I really feel, but it's all I need to say. It wasn't a reassurance or an empty promise, it was the truth. Even if they didn't know it.

"Don't pretend to play hero. It'll just put a target on your back." Rei ignored me.

"Are we really supposed to believe that? And be apart of your plan to stab us in the back?" Kizuna glared.

"Y/n wouldn't do that! She's telling the truth!" Kiyoka defended me.

"Stop it! No more fighting!" Akane exclaimed.

"Everyone, stop! We don't even have proof the videos were real!" I tried my best to calm everyone down.

"Right, let us think over the matter. The video was prepared by Monokuma, the mastermind. Would it be okay to believe the videos were just as presented?" Kanata wondered. Finally, someone being logical about the situation...

"R-Right. It's likely that he tampered with it. The vidoe looked simply too absurd to be real..." Ayame seemed to calm down. "And even if it was, the police wouldn't be doing nothing like they apparently how they are now."

"So he faked the video to make us kill!? Son of a bitch!" Mitch cursed.

Yuki turned to Tsurugi. "Tsurugi, what do you think about it?" He asked.

"Manipulation of the video... it's surely a possibility, but..." Tsurugi looked unsure.

"T-There isn't any other possibility!" Kiyoka tried to counter. It didn't matter. Even if the videos were fake, I could tell a feeling out distrust was already rooted inside them. For a few moments, no one else tried to speak. Even though it was only moments after breakfast, I felt like I could cry myself to sleep and never wake up.

"...We all seem exhausted. Let's return to our rooms and rest for a while." Tsurugi spoke up. No one had the strength to argue.

"Everyone... don't even think of doing it! Show Monokuma that he can't mess with us.." Ayame said.

"Hmph..." Rei left the room.

"Would anyone here really think of murder..? Haha....aha...ha..." Kiyoka whispered to herself. I put my hand on her shoulder and she forced a weak smile.

"I'll meet you in the dorm." I told her. It would be best to check on everyone right now. Even if Mitch is the one who's going to kill, I need to be sure that no one else is getting any ideas.

I heard Akane cry out to Yuki. Both of them looked equally scared, of each other and themselves.

I don't need to worry about them yet...

Kinji and Kakeru were the only people left in the room, most left as soon as Tsurugi suggested it. Even Mikako is nowhere to be found.

"Hey, Kinji, um..."

...what am I supposed to say? "Hey Kinji! How are ya?"

I can't ignore what just happened but I can't just be upfront about it either.

Kinji noticed my silence. "If you wish to know my intentions, I will neither suspect nor kill. Foul suspicion is as grave a sin as homicide. A man of the Christian faith must not be overtaken by such thought."

If foul suspicion is that serious, nearly everyone here is a murderer.

"Yeah, I don't suspect you. I just want to make sure everyone's alright after the video."

"You are considerate, but I am fine." Kinji said. He turned his back on me.

There goes that...

I turned around to see Kakeru trembling. I slowly approached him.

"Is everything okay?" I asked. Kakeru was silent for a moment.

"Y-Yes...I think I can get over it, but...I'm w-worried about the other guys..."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"....The courtroom...." He breathed. Then he suddenly shook his head dismissively.

"....Sorry. I think I just need to be alone right now..."

I nodded and walked away. No need to press. Kakeru won't hurt anyone.

I began to leave the room before Yuki stood in front of me and blocked my way.

"Are you alright, Y/n?"

"I was going to ask the same for you, but I'm fine."

Yuki and I were quiet for a bit. Was he expecting me to say more?

"Do you... want to talk about the videos?" He spoke up.

"I'll rather just check on everyone and forget about it." I replied. And that's the truth...

"I understand. I won't stop you." He smiled. "You said we'll get out of here with zero deaths... do you really mean that?"

"...I'll do my best to make it happen."

I noticed Akane looking at me and Yuki. As Yuki left the room, I began to approach her.

"Akane? Is everything alright?"

"Y/n...are you...going to kill?"

My confusion and shock must have been clear on my face.

What part of "I'm getting us out of here with zero deaths" says I'm going to kill??

"S-Sorry! Listen, Y/n.. you're-...you just-...."Akane stammered.

"I get it, you don't like me. But I promise that I'm not going to kill."

"No! That's not it! It's....you're different!" She blurted out. I felt my blood run cold.

Shit.

"W-What do you mean?" I heard my voice tremble.

"Y/n... you feel different than everyone else here... it's like you're unfamiliar to me. I-I'm sorry! I don't mean to be rude! You really do seem like a nice person!"

She recognizes me as a threat to Utsuro's plan, even if she can't remember...

"It's fine... we're all shaken up from the videos...but I'm really not going to kill." I told her.

"...I believe you." Akane hesitated.

....do you really?

I left the room. A part of me just wanted to go back to the dorm.

What if that's how they all feel?

What if they all think of me as a threat?

The words of the video played in my mind.

"But is our world safe from you?"

What does that even mean?

I hugged myself and felt sick to my stomach.

.

..

....

..What am I?

"What...are you doing...?" I turned to see Mikako right next to the AV room's door.

I spaced out again...

"Just thinking... about the motive. It was screwed up."

Mikako just stared at me.

"....how?....."

How... right. She didn't hear it...but she saw it. She knows that no one dies in it.

"Monokuma said some screwed up things." I said cautiously. To my relief, my bracelet didn't change.

"What about you? Is everything alright?"

"......" Her expression said it all. "You know damn well how I feel Y/n."

"Miss L/n? Is everything alright?" I heard a gentle voice next to me. Kanata looked to me with worried eyes.

"S-Sorry for worrying you, Kanata. Really, I'm fine." I forced a smile.

Whatever's wrong with me can wait. This is more important.

"Are you alright, Kanata?" I asked. Kanata's face morphed into an almost stern expression when I changed the subject, but she deflated as she recalled her video.

Her eyes filled with tears, "I....no... the video was too horrifying to describe. There were patients...and everything was on fire... Please Miss L/n... promise me you won't think of something terrible like murder."

"Never. No one is going to die, Kanata." I hugged her as she cried into my shoulder. I felt Mikako's eyes boring into my back.

She probably thinks I'm some kind of wolf in sheep's clothing..

But I could really die here now...

When Mitch noticed Kiyoka instead of Tsurugi, he killed her anyway.

I'm not the type of girl who envisions her own death, but my mind couldn't help the vision of myself being hung in the girls bathroom.

I found myself gripping Kanata tighter. After a few moments, Kanata stopped crying and I let her go.

She looked up at me as she wiped the last of her tears off her face.

"Miss L/n...thank you."

I forced a smile as I bit back my own tears.

They need comfort even more than I do.

I know everything that's going to happen while they are clueless.

...I have no right to cry right now.

"It's no problem! I'll always be here to help you!" I replied.

I forced back my tears and turned away as Kanata thanked me once again.

I turned around the corner and saw Teruya pacing the halls. He looked like a scared animal.

"Teruya? Are you okay?" I slowly approached him.

"G-Get away from me!" He yelped.

The sweat on his forehead, the internal terror as I got close... It reminded me of how I felt with Akane.

"Hey, Teruya. It's just me. I'm not gonna hurt you." I put my hands up.

"Anyone might be comin' after me! Don't ya come near, or...o-or I'm gonna b-butcher ya first!"

"I promise that I'm not after you."

"How do I kno'  tha'!?"

"I never break a promise. Teruya, you can trust me."

I began to step closer. He flinched.

"J-Just...leave me alone..."

I nodded, backing away. He needed to be alone right now, I can respect that.

I saw Mitch shaking near the end of the hall.

Maybe I can talk some sense into him....

Before it's too late.

"Shit, shit, shit...! If what I saw was real....this can't be true! This can't happen to me!" Mitch punched the wall in anger.

"Hey, Mitch, we all know how you fee-"

"SHUT UP! You can't understand me even a bit!" He yelled at me. I began to back away.

...back away? Are you really that pathetic? You're going to have to talk him out of murder in a few hours and you can't even calm him down?

I dug my fingers into my palm and stood my ground.

"We all saw our own shares of horrors, we all feel the same as you do! Just look around!"

Mitch scoffed. "Leave me alone, you have no idea what this means for me."

"I've spoken with the others, and they-"

"LEAVE ME THE FUCK ALONE!" He roared.

Alright, fuck that. I can't anger him too much...

I really am just making excuses for myself, huh?

"Are you alright, Y/n?" Tsurugi's voice snapped me out of it.

"I'm fine. How are you holding up?"

Tsurugi clenched his fist. "This is...beyond my capability. Since these motives were so viciously designed to target the weaknesses in our minds...The best we can do is to hope that no one thinks about murder... for now."

"But what about you, Tsurugi? Are you alright?"

He shrugged. "Frankly, I'm struggling to even get hold of myself. How did that video manage to-...It's certainly within the bounds of forgery. I'm sorry for my incompetence. Please continue helping the others relax by talking to them."

"I will, but Tsurugi, you're strong. I know you'll get past this. Starting tomorrow, we should stay in groups, maybe find a way to take our minds off this."

"...I agree. Thank you for your kindness."

"It's nothing. Remember Tsurugi, we'll find a way to make it out of this place, with zero deaths."

Tsurugi simply nodded, but with a rather distant look in his eyes.

...Was that doubt?

As I parted ways with Tsurugi, I heard rapid footsteps as someone ran over to me.

"Do not let yourself be fooled, Y/n! The motive must have been fabricated!" Ayame exclaimed.

I nodded, feeling oddly numb. "Yeah... I want to believe that, too."

"It mustn't be real. That is the most plausible explanation for its sheer absurdity...this is a trap laid out by Monokuma. I've been telling everyone the same thing, but it seems like they find my words hard to trust... Is it because of my lack of eloquence?"

"No, I know how you feel... everyone's just on edge. After the motives, whether it's real or fake, it's hard not to be."

"Y/n, I have a feeling like you trust my words, but don't at the same time... it doesn't concern me either way, just please don't think of doing anything out of line."

"Trust me, I won't." And I won't let you do anything either. Not that it was your fault to begin with...

I walked around the halls of the school and found myself passing the storage room.

Just behind a bookcase and down a hidden passage, Kisaragi is trapped in a cell, memories intact for now. It isn't until Chapter four when his personality is changed, since Monokuma visits him once.

What if I went down there and just grabbed him? He was classmates with everyone for a few months, he could tell them about secrets and other personal information they trusted him with.

I slapped myself. As soon as I touch the bookshelf, if my bracelet doesn't kill me, I'll get gunned down. Yamato also doesn't even know me, so he might think I'm working with Utsuro... even if Kisaragi got out, what would happen after that?

I heard frantic mumbling from behind me. I turned to see Kizuna around the corner, trembling in a mix of fury and terror. I began to approach her.

"This can't be....the school... my social status....they're gone...I have nowhere to go..."

"Are you alright, Kizuna?"

Her shaking abruptly stopped as she turned to glare at me. "...Don't talk to me right now. I can't bring myself to trust anyone, and honestly, I don't want to."

"You shouldn't shut yourself off like that. We need your help just as much as you need ours. We'll-"

"I don't need anyone." She spat. "Leave me alone, Y/n."

"....sorry."

I heard Rei chuckle at my expense, and how I was practically told to fuck off. I held my breath and went to Rei.

"Hey, Rei. How are you doing?"

"How was that, Incompetent? Was it a good enough reminder for what a killing game is about?"

"Getting told off or the motive?"

"Both are accurate examples. I warned you that playing hero would only end up getting a target on your back, and nothing is more pointless than playing friends here."

"You're not the type of person to kill, Rei. Like I said to Kizuna, you need our help just as much as we need yours. Even if you don't realize it yet."

Rei rolled her eyes.

"Go bother with someone else, Incompetent."

CRASH!

Rei and I turned at the noise, and I ran to it, knowing exactly what it was. Rei ignored it and turned her back on me.

Here we go, beginning of the murder...

My mind couldn't tell if I was determined or if I was screwed.

...

"...doing here?" I heard Yuki ask as I arrived. Haruhiko was on the ground with the smashed nameplates littering the floor. Both Kiyoka and Satsuki stood above him.

"Huh!? Y-Y/n! Y-Yuki! Y-Yo..." Haru stuttered. He was shaking.

"Hold on, is that-" Yuki started.

"The nameplates?" I feigned surprise.

"N-No! It wasn't me! I swear!" Haru cried.

"It was Haru! I'm innocent! For real!" Kiyoka exclaimed.

"Technically, it's all cause you ran into me, Satsuki!" Haruhiko tried to explain.

Satsuki sighed. "Now you're blaming others for your fault? Very disappointing. I didn't raise you like that!"

"Can someone please explain?" Yuki sweatdropped.

"Umm...how should I put this...So Haru and Satsuki were running into the hallway and bumped into each other... Then Haru did three amazing spins before hitting the wall and this is what we've got. I guess that's it." Kiyoka rubbed the back of her neck.

"Puahahaha! It's a double nametag kill!" Satsuki laughed.

"Damn, are we gonna have a class-...a funeral for it?" I joked.

"How can you LAUGH!? I broke school property! It's against the regulations! Didn't you read it!? Violaters are gonna get punished!" Haruhiko cried.

"Oho! They surely are! Damaging school property is strictly prohibited! Violaters must be given the proper punishment!"

Monokuma appeared.

Haruhiko got behind Kiyoka.

"Gaah! He's