Where could she have gone?
She can't have gone far. I should check around the school...
I'll just have to look for her I guess.
Eventually, I found her in one corner of an empty classroom. She was sitting in a chair, hands on her knees, staring absently at the floor. She looked like maybe she was upset, or angry. Or, no, she didn't have any expression at all. There was nothing on her face that you could call emotion. It was as if her original mask had been stripped away.
Malachi - Sayaka? Are you okay?
Sayaka - Yeah... I'm fine. Actually, no... how could I possibly be fine? What did we do to end up like this...? Why are they doing such terrible things to us...? I want out! Let me out of here right now!
Malachi - Sayaka! Calm the fuck down!
As she thrashed around, I grabbed her by the shoulders.
Sayaka - ...!
Malachi - I understand. I know how you feel right now. When I think what might have happened to my family, but now more than ever we have to stay calm! This is exactly what they want. They *want* us to lose our composure and stop thinking rationally. Think about it - those videos have to be fake! Because if those things really had happened people out there would be in an uproar. Our families, the police, everyone! Right?
Sayaka - ...
Malachi - So let's just calm down, okay? Otherwise, we've already lost. As long as we work together, I'm sure we can find some way out of here. And help might even come before that.
Sayaka - But... what if there *isn't* a way out? What if help *never* comes?
Malachi - If that happens then I'll get you out of here myself.
Sayaka - Please... help me...
Her voice was small and shaky. It looks like it was working.
Sayaka - Why...? Why is this happening to me? To kill, or be killed... I just can't take this anymore...!
Malachi - Sayaka...
Sayaka - ...
Finally, she raised her face up from my chest. She looked at me with those big, wet eyes of hers.
Sayaka - Can I... can I believe what you said?
Malachi - Huh?
Sayaka - That you'll help me get out? No matter what it takes...?
Sayaka - Malachi... You're the only one I can trust. So please... No matter what happens, please always be there for me. I need you on my side...
Malachi - Huh?
Malachi - Of course I'll always help you.
Sayaka - ...
Sayaka - Thank you, Malachi. Hearing you say that, I feel like I can keep going. I can get through this... as long as you're here with me.
The smile I'd come to know so well returned to her face.
It felt a little forced, but still...
It was a huge improvement over how she was before.
Monokuma - ...It's standing up!
Sayaka - Kyah!
Monokuma - Malachi! It's standing up!
Malachi - *What's* standing up!?
Monokuma - Do you even have to ask? Your flagpole!
Malachi - Get the hell out of here!
Monokuma - No! No! I wanna join in!
Malachi - Damnit! Well if you won't leave, then tell us what the hell is up with those videos!
Monokuma - Ahh... it's about to come out... It's gonna come out! My pristine, pure white stuffing! My honest, innocent stuffing is about to come gushing out!
I balled up my fist, took aim, and swung as hard as I could. I had never put so much energy into a single motion before in my life. I leaned back, channeling all my power, and let go with everything I had...!
Monokuma - Guwah!
Sayaka - A-Are you okay!?
Monokuma - If I hadn't avoided your punch, you would have just violated school regulations. But boy are you slow slow slow slow SLOW! I could've downed a thousand-dollar full-course dinner in the time it took you to finish your swing! Your speed, agility, alertness, passion, boldness, sense of despair, antagonization, it's all lacking!
Malachi - ...
Sayaka - What the heck was that just now...?
Malachi - He just wanted to mess with us...
Sayaka - Well, for now... you wanna just head back?
Malachi - Yeah...
Monokuma had come along and swiftly destroyed the good mood we'd just created. Sayaka and I headed back to the dorms.
Malachi - You should get some rest, Sayaka. You still look pretty shaken.
Sayaka - I'm sorry for making you worry about me... You're right. I'm going to lay down for a bit.
Just like that, with a nod and a small bow, she disappeared into her room.
Now on my own, I headed off to tell everyone that Sayaka was okay. Once that was done, I decided to go back to my room. It was hard to think after watching that deranged video. I needed some rest of my own.
Malachi - Jeez... Seriously, what's going on here? There's just so many problems. I can't even decided what the biggest problem is... That we're trapped in here? That what I saw in that video might be real? Monokuma? What the mastermind has in store for us? Or... are *we* our biggest problem?
*Ding dong*
Huh?
Malachi - It's almost 10 o'clock. Nighttime's about to start so how come someone's here?
Regardless I went and opened the door.
Sayaka - I'm really sorry to come by so late...
Malachi - Sayaka?
Malachi - Sayaka? What are you doing out so late?
That's when I noticed...
Her body was trembling.
Malachi - Is everything okay...?
Sayaka - Sorry to bother you, but... something really weird just happened.
Malachi - Something... weird?
Sayaka - Just a little while ago, I was laying down in my room... And all of a sudden, my door started rattling and shaking.
Her voice sounded like all the air had been squeezed out of her lungs. Just hearing her talk made me tense up.
Sayaka - It was like someone was trying to force the door open. My door was locked, so they couldn't get in, of course. But they started shaking the door harder and harder. I was so scared I couldn't even move.
Malachi - So what happened!?
Sayaka - After a while, it just... stopped. I let some time go by, then I got up and opened the door to check outside... But there was nobody there.
Malachi - Someone tried to force their way into your room...? But... who would do something like that?
Sayaka - It's not like I'm suspicious of anyone here, but still... it makes me nervous. What if something like that happened in the middle of the night? What would I do then...?
Malachi - You don't have to worry about that, right? I mean, we can't go outside during nighttime.
Sayaka - But that's just a promise we made, right? If someone decided to break that promise...
Malachi - Then... Why don't you stay in my room tonight? Would that make you feel a little better?
Sayaka - What!?
Malachi - All it said in the school regulations was that we had to sleep in "the dorm rooms", right? It didn't state specifically *which* room each person had to sleep in. So...
Sayaka - B-But... two people sharing one room is... you know...
Malachi - ...Ah! jeez, I'm sorry! I didn't even think about that! Honestly, that didn't even cross my mind!
Sayaka - No, I know, me either. It's not even that I mind the idea, but...
Sayaka - Um, if you don't mind, could we maybe switch rooms? Just for tonight?
Malachi - Switch rooms...? If it'll help put your mind at east, then it's totally fine with me.
*Ding dong, bing bong*
Sayaka - Oh man, it's already nighttime...
Malachi - Okay, so it's settled. I'll head to your room right now.
Oh, if we're gonna trade rooms, we'd better trade keys, too.
Sayaka - Ah, that's right. We'll have to trade keys.
Something resembling a smile had made its way to her face.
Thank goodness. It looks like she's already started to get back to normal.
Malachi - Okay, we'd better trade keys, then.
Sayaka - Yup, let's do it.
We exchanged keys, and when I looked back up at her again...
there was another worried expression there.
Sayaka - Malachi... please be careful. If someone comes to the door, don't open it no matter what.
Malachi - I won't. The same goes for you, Sayaka. No matter who it is, don't open your door for anyone.
Sayaka - Even if I'm sure it's you, I absolutely won't open it. Otherwise, what's the point of even switching?
Malachi - Oh, by the way... Just so you know, my bathroom door tends to get stuck. There's a little trick to opening it... You have to turn the knob, then lift up on the door while you pull it out. Just do that and the door should open no problem.
Sayaka - OKay, but the showers don't work during nighttime anyway, right?
Malachi - Oh, that's right. I totally forgot...
Sayaka - But I guess I might use it when I get up in the morning. So thank you.
Malachi - Okay, well, I'd better get going. See you tomorrow, Sayaka.
Sayaka - See you in the morning.
Sayaka gave me one last parting smile, and I headed off to "my" room.