The Forged Memory

Perhaps… this photograph truly was a high-tech forgery by Monokuma…?

“What are you doing here, Kamimura?” Ishii asked, stepping closer when she saw me standing alone, seemingly lost in thought.

“Oh, it’s Ishii… I found a group photo of us here.” I handed the picture to her.

“A-a group photo…?! Is this real? Let me see…” Her gaze immediately fixed on the picture, and it was clear she was just as astonished by it.

“This… this is far too strange, isn’t it?! Why are we all standing together, laughing and talking? It’s as if we’re all old acquaintances… Could it be that we already knew each other before this?”

“So you’re just as clueless as I am, then…”

“Is there a possibility… that this photo was forged by someone else?” Her demeanor grew suspicious, and she whispered to me with an almost eerie, conspiratorial air, as if haunted by her own thoughts.

“Hmm… I can’t rule out that possibility. Perhaps I should hold onto the photo for now; it might prove useful someday.”

“Useful, you say? Hmm… I truly don’t understand you, Kamimura. Still, I suppose your choice is a good one. We can keep it as a memento.”

“Right… I’ll show it to everyone later.” With that, I tucked the photo into my sailor skirt, and Ishii and I left the auxiliary room backstage.

It appeared the third floor was largely explored; reflecting on it, I couldn’t recall any missed spots.

Pulling out my student ID, I glanced at the time—five o’clock in the afternoon. Unbeknownst to me, I had been so engrossed that I’d even skipped lunch. It was time to head to the dining hall and fill my stomach.

****

“Oh, right, I have something I want to show everyone…” Once everyone had finished their meal, I pulled the photo from my pocket without a second thought.

“What is this… a photo?” Akino asked.

“Yes, everyone, take a look at this group photo and tell me if it rings any bells…”

“A group photo?! Let me see!”

“It’s real… these are everyone’s faces!”

“Huh? Why am I wearing a medal…?”

“Look, look! Yuusuke and Suzuki in the photo are chatting so happily!”

“Huh?! No! This is fake! How could I possibly be associated with *that* guy?!” Yuusuke erupted in a flurry of furious denials.

“What’s wrong? Did you just lose your composure (TL Note: ‘Po fang,’ a Chinese internet slang term meaning to lose one’s cool or get flustered, especially when teased)?” Katagiri teased, a playful smirk dancing on her lips.

“Ah?! Who lost their composure?!”

“You two… did you break up?!” Amemiya’s eyes widened, and she covered her cherry lips in utter shock.

“If you don’t care about keeping your face intact, I can certainly help with that~” Yuusuke grinned wickedly, clenching his fist.

“There’s no mistake… this can’t be wrong… Even the hair on my mole is perfectly clear!” Akino adjusted his glasses with a slight push of his finger.

“Uh… you seem to have a soft spot for your moles…?” Ishii’s mouth twitched slightly.

“No, no, no… I have a particular fondness for *certain* moles! For instance… tear moles!”

“Tear moles?”

“Exactly! Don’t you agree that women with tear moles are incredibly sexy and captivating?!” He delivered his impassioned declaration with fervent enthusiasm.

“That actually makes some sense… several of my friends with tear moles are very popular with the opposite s*x…”

“Right?! Tear moles are the most alluring kind of mole! Bar none! They’re an absolutely essential element for a doujin (TL Note: A self-published work, often a manga, typically with explicit content; ‘honzi’ or ‘doujinshi’ protagonist) heroine! Just imagine her, looking so delicate and charming, shyly approaching me, and my lower half would already be utterly captivated by her~” He sounded like a complete pervert, so agitated his glasses nearly slipped off.

“Why did you suddenly turn into such a pervert?”

‘Me… a doujin heroine…? What utter nonsense! That’s absolute bullshit!’

“Ah… Anko-chan is going to turn lewd—mphh?!” I frantically clapped a hand over little Nanase’s mouth.

“N-no, don’t say such things…!” I whispered into her small, adorable ear.

“Eek~?! My ear tickles… Anko-chan, don’t eat me…” Her small frame trembled, her cheeks flushed a faint crimson, and the warm breath from her cherry-like lips and hot air from her nose brushed against my hand.

“I’m not going to eat you, so just act normal…” ‘Why do I suddenly feel like a villainess…?’

“Hehe~ Just kidding~” Nanase-chan playfully stuck out her little tongue and winked at me.

“I’ll remember this grudge, Nanase-chan~”

“I-I’m sorry… Anko-chan…”

“What does everyone think about the authenticity of this group photo?” I asked, raising my voice to address the room.

“I think it looks quite realistic…” Chisaka was the first to offer her opinion.

“I agree with that point!” Takahashi chimed in with unexpected enthusiasm.

“Hmm… while I don’t recall anything, the photo does seem very real…” Kitajima mumbled to himself.

“Well… seeing everyone getting along so harmoniously, I’m convinced this group photo must be genuine!” Habara declared grandly, thumping his chest.

“I disagree… Don’t you all think this could be a scheme orchestrated by Monokuma?” Yuusuke interjected, challenging the consensus.

“Hmm…?! Who’s calling my name now?” Monokuma suddenly sprang into existence.

“Monokuma, did you forge this group photo?” Takagi asked, directly confronting the bear with his suspicion.

“Hmm…? Group photo? What group photo? I have no idea what you’re talking about… How utterly bizarre…” Monokuma tilted its head, feigning ignorance.

“Tch! Take a good look at this photo! Don’t tell me you don’t recognize it!” Yuusuke snatched the photo and thrust it towards Monokuma, forcing it into its view.

“Ooh… I see… Kehehehehe~”

“You see…? So you *do* admit it, then?” Kitajima stared intently at it.

“Kehehehehehe~” Monokuma continued its incessant laughter, a sound not merely jovial but laced with a distinct malevolence.

“Stop trying to brush us off with that disgusting laugh of yours!” Ishii, standing nearby, found Monokuma’s laughter utterly repulsive.

“Exactly! If you know what’s really going on, just spit it out already!” Katagiri urged, pressing Monokuma for the truth.

“Didn’t I just tell you? I don’t know anything, okay…? However, the one thing I *can* tell you is that this photo wasn’t forged by me~”

“It wasn’t… forged by you…?”

“That’s right, that’s right!”

“You’re still trying to deceive us, aren’t you?” Yuusuke said, his face etched with suspicion.

“Why would you think that…? Am I really so untrustworthy…? Oh, well~ It doesn’t matter whether you believe me or not anyway~ This photo isn’t really worth bothering with, you know~?”

“Everyone… I don’t think Monokuma is lying… It’s possible this group photo was forged by someone else entirely…” I voiced the suspicion forming in my mind.

“Then… who forged it…?” A sudden chill ran down Yuusuke’s spine.

‘What could that person’s motive possibly be for doing this…?’ Takagi’s mind swirled with unanswered questions.

“Alright, alright, if there’s nothing else for me, I’m off~” Monokuma departed without a moment’s hesitation.

Takagi picked up the group photo from the table and pondered it once more. Then, as if a thought had just struck him, he turned to me. “Huh…? Kamimura, why aren’t you in the group photo…?”

“Perhaps the person who forged the photo simply forgot about Kamimura?”

“Uh… does that really make sense?”

“It might be that I was the one taking the picture, so I couldn’t be in it with everyone else…” I stepped forward to offer my explanation.

“If that’s the case… then who left the photo in a place like this…?” Takagi stood rooted to the spot, lost in contemplation.

Regardless, this group photo had to be connected to Monokuma somehow. The mere fact that it had tampered with their memories confirmed this photo was anything but simple.

“Everyone probably doesn’t remember what happened in the motive video, right? Could it be that what’s depicted in this group photo is also something we’ve forgotten? The photo might actually be real…”

“Well… it doesn’t really matter, does it…? Whether the photo is forged or not, it has nothing to do with our escape plan.” Amemiya, seeing their continued confusion over the picture, sighed with a headache.

“Hmm… you’re right… For now, the most important thing is figuring out how to escape.” Takagi nodded slightly.

“Indeed… It won’t be too late to investigate the photo once we’ve all gotten out of here.” Yuusuke also agreed with Amemiya’s point.

“Speaking of which, the first-floor infirmary has been unlocked!” Arisumi suddenly remembered something important.

“The infirmary’s open? Then we don’t have to worry about injuries anymore!” Habara exclaimed, overjoyed.

“Do you, by any chance, know anything about medical care?” Amemiya asked him, her expression deadpan.

“Uh… I… I don’t… I’m sorry…” Habara quickly apologized, realizing his blunder.

“Well then, everyone, let’s get back to our own business. I’m going back to my room to sleep…” Arisumi rubbed her tired, aching eyelids, clearly exhausted.

“Wait, everyone!” I quickly called out, stopping them.

“What is it…?” Habara looked at me, puzzled.

“Where did Suzuki go again…?”

“Oh, that kid said we were too slow getting to the dining hall. He was starving, so he ate by himself and went back to his room to rest early.” Kitajima recounted what he had seen.

“That guy really likes to do things his own way, but perhaps that’s for the best… At least we won’t have to deal with his annoyances.” Ishii grumbled, clearly annoyed by Suzuki’s personality.

“In that case… I’m heading back to my room to rest as well… Goodnight, everyone.” Yuusuke waved goodbye over his shoulder as he exited the dining hall.

“I’m going back to my room too. I wish you all sweet dreams.” I offered them my goodnight blessings.

“Goodnight, Kamimura,” Takagi, Nanase, and the others replied.

After showering and drying my hair, the physical and mental weariness all dissipated one by one as I sank into the soft bed.

‘Tonight, I’m sure to have a good dream…’