A Kokichi Motive

Somewhat figured it out..?

(I am still alive I promise. Just extremely lazy and busy)

Shuichi's POV:
Okay. Let's rethink this over. Kiibo was near me once I fell asleep, and then once I woke up he was gone. I can only assume during that time I was asleep, he managed to get in. The real question is.. how long was I asleep for? Maybe I should ask around.

>>Investigation Start!<<

Who was also around me apart from Kiibo? I think I saw Gonta not too far out. If I can find him, maybe he can give me some information. I walk around, in my attempts for searching for Gonta. Where could he be? Looking around, I try to find anything that might help me solve this little predicament, and yet there the answer is, bright as day. I see Gonta staring at the ground somewhat far away. I presume he thought he saw a tiny bug again. Jogging my way over, I happen to catch him by surprise.

"Woah! O-Oh! Hey Shuichi! Can Gonta help you with anything?"

"Hi Gonta! And yes please! Do you happen to know where Kiibo went while I... fell asleep?"

"Oh Shuichi fell asleep during work time? That's okay! Gonta can show you where Gonta saw Kiibo last!"

Gonta pointed at a land of grass not to far from here. Sadly it was just where I happened to pass out of exhaustion.

"Alright thanks Gonta!"

I head back over to the grassy terrain. So he was here last.. What else would help me? I walk around looking for anything, and I happened to find a shovel. I'm assuming this has to be Kiibo's but I don't know for sure. This seems to be the only clue I have right now.

>>Shovel added to truth bullets section in your Monopad<<

Hm.. Is there anything else?? I guess the only other thing is that it seems like there's a part of the ground that was partially dug up. What makes it noticeable is how every hole around it was dug really deep, but for this one to have been barely started? Seems a little suspicious.

>>Partially dug hole added to the truth section in your monopad<<

All I can think of are two options. Either someone (possibly Kiibo) started to dig this hold then gave up, or something/someone distracted them from finishing the job. I grab the shovel that was lying on the ground. For every clump of dirt I got, it was thrown behind me like it was nothing.

*Thump, thump, thump, thump, cling!*

What was that noise? I drop the shovel and start to dig with my hands. At this moment I didn't care if I got dirty, for I had extra uniforms anyways. After a handful or two of dirt, I noticed something. It seemed to be silver. Should I get everybody? Should I make sure it's important first? I don't want to waste everybody's time.

I dig around the silver object until I get a clear view of it. It seemed to be a lever of some sort? Is it dangerous? I had gathered up my courage and pulled the lever.

. . .

Nothing? That doesn't make sense. Why would a lever be over here if it didn't do anything? Especially for it to be underground.

Then I saw it. A trapdoor had opened up not to far away. I'll investigate by myself for now. I grab the shovel and head over. Since Kokichi managed to get trapped in here, I decided to bring the shovel to prop the trapdoor open. I'm not willing to get myself trapped into a secret underground room thank you very much.

I hop into the room, place the shovel where it needed to be, and investigate this new found area. At first glance I see a couple things that were noticeable on camera. The grape panta bottles, the DICE posters, the bed, shelves, and dirt leaking through the ground. Upon further inspection, the stuff must've been here for a while. We could be talking about a week, which honestly worries me. Then a thought hit me.

Is Kokichi dead?! No, no. I don't think he would be. After all, humans can last without food and water for a little bit. I have to calm down, and stop assuming the worst. Then I'm the corner, I noticed him. A little Kiibo huddled in the corner, and I have to assume a look of boredom on his face.

"SHUICHI!"

I automatically get pulled into a hug by Kiibo.

"I thought I would've been stuck in here for at least a week or so! I'm so thankfully you came here, I was starting to get bored."

Kiibo started muttering so many things to me at once. My brain went into overload.

"Kiibo, I'm happy to see you safe and sound. The door is still open if you want to go see everyone."

Kiibo's little eyes light up with joy.

"Oh my goodness definitely! Bye Shuichi! Thanks so much!"

He went to run out of the door but I grabbed his hand before he could leave.

"Have you found any clues to where Kokichi would be? He suddenly disappeared from this room, although I thought he was trapped."

I let go of his hand while he began to think.

"No, I haven't seen anything unusual, sorry Shuichi. But maybe he escaped and is just hiding around?"

I take the idea into consideration. Escaped huh? If that was the case, would the timer have stopped?

"Thanks Kiibo, you can go now! I have to check something."

Kiibo waves me a goodbye, and then headed out. I grab my monopad and boot it up. I go to look at the timer and sure enough...

Wait...

What????

(963 words)