Beneath the Mask [Oumasai]

Chapter Twelve

Shuichi's POV

We all crowded around Himiko in the small bathroom. I felt slightly uncomfortable in there, since it was the opposite gender's restroom. I wasn't the only one, as Keebo had a flustered expression as well. The other two boys on the other hand didn't seem bothered at all.

"Um, what exactly are we doing in the girls' bathroom?" I asked awkwardly.

"I'll show you." Himiko stepped inside the supply closet and pressed her palm against the wall. With a low, rumbling sound, the wall began to shift, slowly revealing a secret passageway behind it. Himiko motioned for us to go inside with a proud grin on her face, as if she just showed us her best magic trick.

"Wow, that's pretty neat! Let's go see what's hidden here." Kaito went first into the passage with long strides. I would have been more cautious if I was him, since we had no idea where the tunnel would lead us and if there's any danger there.

To my relief, we reached a hidden room without running into traps or anything else that could harm us.

The room itself had quite a girly design. It's black walls had hearts and pink roses on it and the couches were as red as the hearts. Next to the northern wall stood an enormous machine with an object covered with a pink sheet in front of it.

The closest furniture was a white and pink trashcan, something that could definitely have some clues in it. Apparently I wasn't the only who wanted to check it out, as Kokichi was already peering into it. "Huh, would you look at that. A shot put ball."

"What's this doing he-" I went quiet when I spotted an unusual detail about the ball. I lifted up the heavy object to get a better look. There was something on it that shouldn't have been there. According to the first murder case that is. "This is-" I picked that something off of the ball  "a pink fiber."

Kokichi just stared at the small fiber in shock. He must have realized it's importance too.

Before either of us could say anything, we heard Kaito's surprised voice from nearby. "Is this a Monopad? And why is there blood on it?"

The other four of my classmates crowded around the table that the suspicous object was laying on. Kokichi and I joined them so we could see the Monopad too.

Keebo picked it up and examined it. "Let's turn it on and see who it belongs to."

The device showed a complete map of the academy. Except for the secret room. I suppose the mastermind wanted to keep it hidden from everyone, even from the person who had that strange Monopad with them.

We studied the map a bit, and was able to deduce that this secret room was also connected to the library. Not that it was a surprise to anyone. We also noticed some other places where we haven't been before, two of them being ultimate labs. Rantaro's and Kokichi's. It's a shame we didn't get to discover those. But we had no time to waste, if we all wanted to get out alive.

Other than the map, the Monopad also had a message titled "Clue to end the killing game". Hearing what the title was, I got a sudden rush of excitement and hope. That message was able to bring us one step closer to escaping.

I peered over Keebo's shining shoulder to read what was written on the screen.

The mastermind who is behind the killing game is hiding somewhere within the academy. Your best chance of exposing them is when Monokuma needs a spare. At that time, the mastermind will go to the library's hidden door. To prove this hint is accurate, I will predict something. The first thing you will remember is the Ultimate Hunt. Only share this information with people you know you can trust. How you determine that will mean your life or death. -Rantaro Amami