Chapter 40
There was no breakfast meeting. Everybody locked themselves in their rooms except for Akira, and Isamu.
“Misaki?” Isamu asked. “You’re here?”
“What do you mean?” I asked her.
“We thought you would lock yourself up too.” Akira explained.
“No, my vision…it can’t be real. Then they have to tell me themselves to prove it.”
“Also, why is that a motive?” Akira asked. “Seems too easy.”
“And, Misaki said something about doubt, right?” Isamu added.
“Exactly,” I agreed. “Which is also why I’m not believing it.”
Just then, Amaya walked in. She yawned. “Sorry, I’m late. Huh? Where’s everyone else?”
“You came too, Amaya?” I asked, slightly relieved.
“Of course.” She said.
“People started locking themselves in,” Isamu explained. “After that motive.”
“Ah, like who’s the mastermind,” Amaya said. “Well, mine was ridiculous.”
“Ridiculous?” I asked.
“I mean, when did Misaki ever show such evilness?” Amaya said. “She’s smart and wants to help find the mastermind too. If she was the mastermind, she wouldn’t have helped us in the last few trials.”
My cheeks heated up. “A-Amaya, I’m glad you think all that, but-”
“So Misaki isn’t the mastermind,” Amaya finished. “I believe in her. When she was in my vision, I instantly knew that I had a fake.”
“Well, we can definitely eliminate you two.” Akira said with a smile.
“Well, I can say the same to you, Amaya,” I said. “After all, my vision was ridiculous too.”
She smiled.
“But we can’t let it stay like this,” Isamu said. “Doubting each other like this won’t end well. We’d be stuck here forever.”
“You’re right,” Akira said. “Do you have any ideas?”
“How about we meet each in one room without the others knowing?” I suggested.
“Aha, I see,” Amaya said. “But how?”
“By writing letters,” Isamu replied. “I can write a letter to everyone to meet me somewhere alone. They trust the Future Foundation anyway, right?”
“I’ll deliver them off.” I said.
“But meet where?” Akira asked.
“The art room!” Amaya exclaimed. “It’s calming there!”
“Okay, we can also write the letters in the art room,” Isamu said. “Misaki, follow me.”
I followed while the other two discussed.
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Isamu wrote four letters and I knocked on each person’s door and dropped the letter before heading back to the art room. Amaya and Akira were there too.
“They should be able to come,” She said. “We can host a painting activity. It releases stress.”
“I agree,” Akira said. “But be ready for their reactions when they see each other in the same room.”
Just then, Etsuko walked in. And then her eyes widened. “Hey, the letter said to be alone! What are Amaya and Misaki-”
A few others walked in.
“E-Etsuko?” Hanako asked. “What are you-”
“What the hell?” Katashi asked.
“I am very confused.” Satoshi said.
“Guys, calm down,” Isamu began. “Sure, the letter told you all to meet you here, but that’s because we can’t just lock ourselves in right?”
“It’s like what Monokuma said,” Akira began. “Only one of us has the real one, but how are we to know? That’s why we must stay together. No one can harm each other that way.”
“So we decided to start a painting activity.” Amaya said.
“A-Are you sure that this is right?” Hanako asked.
“Yeah, just forget about the motive,” I said. “And let’s act normal again.”
Etsuko sighed. “Okay. I guess it sucks being alone.”
“It can’t hurt to paint a little, right?” Satoshi asked.
They came closer and got paints and paper.
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“I-I think I’m already having fun!” Hanako exclaimed, squirting a light shade of pink.
“Hey! You took all the pink!” Etsuo yelled, grabbing the bottle. She squeezed it too tight and the paint flew up and splattered on Satoshi’s paper.
“My painting!” He cried.
Amaya laughed. “Here, all the pink you need.” She squirted all huge amount on Etsuko’s paper.
She gasped, and then threw the cup at her face.
Soaking, Amaya laughed. “You’re gonna get what’s coming to you.”
“Guys, relax, don’t make a mess.” Akira said.
I laughed when Amaya squirted red paint at Etsuko’s face as people were cheering. And as revenge, Etsuko squirted black paint at Amaya. They were both a mess and everyone was laughing.
They both excused themselves to wash theirselves.
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That night everyone had smiles on their faces.
“Better not mess with me,” Etsuko began. “Or all pour that bucket of paint on your face in your sleep.”
“And I’ll paint a mustache on yours in return.” She laughed.
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I head to bed, entering a dreamless sleep.
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