That Wasn't Supposed To Happen

The Beginning Of The End

"Since this will be the final class trial, I've come up with a special rule! So listen up!" Monokuma began with a grin. "If you can figure out Mukuro's killer, and go on to solve the mystery of this school... you guys win!"

But that wasn't the whole condition, Chihiro knew that.

"But if you can't... then I win!" Monokuma continued gleefully. "And of course, waiting for the loser is the super exciting, super heart pounding punishment!"

Kyoko crossed her arms, "Are you saying that if you lose, you'll execute yourself?"

"Yup, I sure will!" Monokuma answered, nodding.

"...And that's final? No loopholes? No wiggling out of it later?" Kyoko asked, continuing to question the bear.

"Of course not! Bears never go back on their word!" The bear answered, grinning.

"Monokuma, may I ask something?" Taka asked, his voice slightly strained. Monokuma nodded in response and Taka continued to speak. "Is the... mastermind really just one person?"

The bear tilted its head, "Hm...?" It hummed, nut didn't answer anything.

"Why would you suggest that, Taka? Of course the mastermind is only one person... right?" Hina responded with a slight frown.

"I have evidence that suggests otherwise," Taka answered, his voice clipped.

"E-evidence? What kind of evidence?" Chihiro asked, confused where Taka was getting at.

What does he mean?

Before Taka could answer that, Byakuya sighed, "And is that 'evidence' a picture of our class?" He asked with slight annoyance.

"Hey, I also have a picture like that!" Hina said.

Sakura nodded, "So do I, dear... A picture of all of our classmates...."

That's... not completely right...

"I-I think we all have one... but I'm not in my picture..."

Taka looked at him, "Neither am I... That's why I thought-" He cut himself off.

"I believe that goes for all of us. None of us are in the picture we got," Sakura explained, a small frown present on her face.

"But... why?" Hina asked, her head tilted in confusion.

"I-I think the mastermind laid a trap to make us each think... everyone else was working against us," Chihiro explained, his gaze traveling to Monokuma.

The bear gasped, "Huh? I laid a trap? A trap!? How rude! What grounds do you have for such audacious accusations!?" It asked, angerly pointing its paw towards Chihiro.

"Well... like I said... I-in each case, the only one not in the picture is the person who received it..." Chihiro answered.

Monokuma laughed, "Puhuhu... Figured it out, huh?"

"Yeah, I thought that must be it. But how was that a hint?" Kyoko asked, though Monokuma didn't answer.

It was then that Chihiro got on idea in mind.

"L-listen, can I see everyone's group photo? It's not directly connected to what we're talking about... but I'd like to check something..." He asked, his gaze on the podium.

The others nodded and gave him their photos. As he looked at them, something just felt weird.

There's something strange about all of them. Something he can't quite pin down... Something...