What if it Repeated? (Oumasai/Saiouma)

Chapter 24- New Rules

3 bars. He still had time. He didn't have to leave yet. He needed to know more. Kaede was gone. Why? The change between the two realities shouldn't be that drastic. And what happened to the challenge? Was that still a thing? How much time did he have of his hour? Kiibo had told him he was in a hurry and didn't have time to talk. Shuuichi grimaced. More likely he just didn't want to talk to him. Probably freaked him out when he didn't remember the whole class trial. The whole situation was teeming with suspicion.

Kiibo hadn't been lying. The second floor had expanded past its normal classrooms and Maki and Ryoma's labs were open. So would Kaede's he thought sadly. Why was she never alive to witness her own room? If everything worked out in the end, they would all be alive and there would be no need for specific rooms like these. They would be free...

Shuuichi stopped at the second floor landing and leaned against the wall, panting hard. Where was everyone? If Maki's lab was open she would most likely be outside it standing guard, right? He pushed himself off the wall and half sprinted, half stumbled to the end of the newly opened corridors. Sure enough Maki was there. Stony faced and staring at a singular spot on the wall in front of her.
"Maki!" She didn't even look up when he called her name, she just continued staring determinately at the wall. Had she not heard him, or was she just ignoring him? It was most definitely the latter... "Ma...!" He tried again, but stopped mid sentence when a glare was thrown his way.

"Can't you tell when someone doesn't want to talk? Aren't you meant to be good at that kinda thing? A detective and all." Shuuichi was taken aback. Rude. But he couldn't judge her too harshly. He doubted they interacted much if ever in this reality meaning he was essentially a complete stranger to her.
"Isn't that more of a psychologist or..." he broke off again. Not the time. He was both running out of time and Maki also looked like she would tear his arm off if he continued with that train of thought.

He had to find out if the mastermind's challenge was still a thing with the killing game in motion.
"I just wanted to know if you knew of a challenge set by Monokuma? Like for points." He hadn't expected Maki's expression to harden at that, her eyes also took on a fierce look,
"What of it?" She said sharply, pressing her back firmly to the door to her lab. Why was she being so defensive? He had asked a simple question. Unless...
"Have you been given a challenge?"

"That's not for you to ask. I don't have to tell you anything, especially concerning my own personal affairs." She spoke in a low growl, she looked murderous. Instinctively Shuuichi took a step away from her. This was not a good time to ask anything else. She seriously looked like she wouldn't hesitate to break each of his limbs off if he pushed the subject.
"A-alright, I'll see you around... then..." he reluctantly turned his back on her and proceeded to walk back the path he came. That was definitely strange. He felt a distinct buzz against his side and pulled out the small device. Shit. The bars were flashing now, only 2 left. It had also taken him 2 bars to arrive here in the first place. If he wanted to make sure he made it back he had to get out of here now. One thing that needed to be improved was this battery system, he had hardly anytime to explore anything. He snuck into one of the classrooms across the hall and pushed his weight against the backside of the door.

He just needed to push the button right? He pressed the button with a hesitant pause and waited. The dial began to spin back to the original position. 1 turn anticlockwise. Click. The floor disappeared and he felt the familiar floating and tightness around his throat. This time he had been ready for it and had gotten a large lungful of air beforehand. He felt himself fall and a couple of seconds later he was crumpled on a metal sheet with watering eyes. The tightening revered and he could finally breathe again.

"You're actually alive?! Can I get a Wahoo!" A boyish voice cheered.
"I don't want to say I told you so but... I really did, there was no way this fucking genius would mess up!" The other voice, this time female said. Shuuichi half smiled half grimaced at them as he pushed himself into a half sitting half lying position. He felt so weak. His muscles ached horribly. Kokichi fell to his side and put a hand on his shoulder in a comforting way.
"Hey, you ok? What happened? Find anything out?" Miu crouched down also, so she was on their eye level and watched Shuuichi with mounting interest.