Truth, Perjury, and Sacrifice

Break-in

The first snowfall of the year was just beginning as Nagito, Hajime and Karen met in front of the Academy doors. "Well, good morning, you two! What brings you here?" Karen asked. The two back doors of her car opened and out stepped Kotoko and Nagisa. Kotoko waved at Nagito as Nagisa rolled his eyes; both immediately went inside the building.

"He's getting better with not looking like he hates everyone," Hajime said with a grimace.

"He still hates this arrangement. He'd rather be with Byakuya, I think. Anyway," she waved them on to join her in getting out of the cold.

"Anyway, we're here for a meeting with Kyoko, Makoto and Mikan," Nagito explained.

"Mikan? What's the meeting about?" Karen asked as she pressed her staff ID card against the reader. Hajime and Nagito glanced at each other, unsure if they could discuss that information. "The students? Is something wrong?"

"Not really, uh, well I guess we're not sure right now," Hajime said.

"Then I'll join you and see for myself. Not worth getting you in trouble over, I'm sure." Karen pulled out a stack of index cards and resituated her shoulder bag. "Let me talk to a few of the students first and I'll meet up with you. Where's the meeting happening?"

"Makoto's office," Nagito said. "Don't take too long."

Karen squinted slightly, "Uh, right." She wasn't sure as to why he was being so curt lately.

"It's fine that she knows. She works with more than just Shirogane, which is surprising," Kyoko said, pouring her second cup of coffee for the morning. "Anyway, what have you found out?"

"Someone who used to work with Future Foundation helped them retrieve the plans for the New World Program," Hajime said definitely. "Whether it was intentional or not is unclear, but you're not going to like who it was."

Kyoko and Makoto stared at Hajime. Karen stepped through the office door, "Wow, what's with this tension?"

Hajime stood at the sight of her, "Karen. We think Munakata entered headquarters and stole the Neo World Program for the 79th class."

Karen blinked. "No, you're wrong. Munakata would never help anyone to create chaos like this. What's your proof?"

"It's circumstantial, but we found his prints on the scanners and the cabinet. The security footage was cut right as he was entering your office."

"It would explain how the kids got ahold of the information."

"No, it doesn't. Again, Munakata wouldn't just fork over that kind of information." Karen shrugged, "Munakata was an ass and I couldn't stand him for the longest time, but I respected his dedication to maintaining order to a degree. If they followed him, then maybe I can see them sneaking the files out, but no one...," she stopped talking. "Maki Harukawa. An assassin could possibly double as a thief with their stealth, right?"

"It's possible," Kyoko nodded. She placed her fist against her mouth in thought. "Was there any evidence of tampering?"

Hajime and Nagito shook their heads. "We even had Fuyuhiko, Peko, and Kazuichi with us to make sure we didn't miss anything."

"So, the person would have to be stealthy enough to go undetected by Munakata and tail him throughout the building, sneaking through the doors he opened," Makoto said. "Miss Marukawa would be the only one who could pull that off."

"No, I believe Miss Tojo could as well," Karen said, "She's proven herself to be quite the multi-tasker as a maid. She could easily be a maid for yakuza or a politician with her skillset." Karen sighed, "Did you find out the reason for stealing the program?"

"No, but they were trying to restructure it," Nagito pulled out a set of documents. "The code has been altered, but none of us understand what these changes mean."

"If Chihiro were here, he could," Makoto said; he, Kyoko, and Karen exchanged glances. "Maybe we could ask Alter Ego?"

"It's our best shot until I can find someone trustworthy to review the code," Karen said.

"And only one student would be knowledgeable enough to do such a thing. Miu Iruma," Kyoko said. Just as she said that the door opened once again and Mikan joined the meeting.

"Um, there's something else you all should know."