Youth Center/Hotel Place

---

Mercy grinned, taking the red bag from Faqir and peering inside. Carefully, she reached into the bag and took the garnet into her hand, fingers running over the side of it. She stared at it, oddly touched. "This is beautiful."

Next to her, Eriko clapped excitedly, the girl's smile contagious. Taking the Tiger's Eye into her hands, she traced the pattern with her thumb and then held it from a distance, squinting. Stuffing the jewel into her chest, she rose from her seat and stopped in front of Faqir. After a moment of what looked like she bracing herself, she gave him a hug.

Vivara chuckled, watching her. "When I first met you, I didn't peg you as the kind of person who liked physical contact."

"I don't, usually," Eriko admitted, "but it's one of the biggest ways to show appreciation and I currently have a lot of it. I couldn't agree with Faqir more--with everything that's been going on lately, this is what we needed. Thank you!"

Ysabel smiled warmly, taking the magenta bag into her hands. "Thank you, Faqir."

Amelia looked at her necklace, chuckling. Her smile seemed oddly genuine. "I have a dress back home that this would've looked great with. Gosh, I have so many dresses back home that I miss. Frills and lace will always be the best."

"Moonstone," Faussin echoed, seeming thoughtful. "Sounds magical."

Vivara brought the blue topaz to her chest, her expression oddly wistful. "Papa had blue topaz. He kept it with him everywhere he went, and whenever I asked him why he would say it was magical. Thank you for bringing me a piece of him, Faqir."

Graham cackled, slipping his new necklace on over his head. "If this works, then heck, I'll be forever grateful. Sorry for stealing your stuff all the time. Thanks, man."

Eriko's eyes seemed to catch something sitting on the table. Her expression shifting slightly, she placed her hands on the table, staring at them. "That's... those aren't what I think they are, are they?"

So someone had noticed. Biting his lip, Madoka stood again. "Did you...are those..."

"Oh, right..." Faqir's expression was oddly nostalgic. "Well...I know they're not here anymore, but...Bonnie and Vona were still part of the group, right? I thought, maybe we can just hang something on the handles of their doors."

Clair's eyes softened. "Faqir..."

Faqir lifted the pink bag first, untying it and drawing out a gold chain. "See, this is rose quartz. It heals emotional wounds, restores harmony after conflict, and promotes appreciation of the arts. I figured, maybe we could use that to remember Bonnie. I had some extra laying around anyway."

Oni sniffled, fiddling with her fluorite.

"And..." Faqir hesitated, his cheerful expression suddenly somber. "...I mean...she was terrible, but...Xhevona was still one of us, right? A student. So..."

Madoka watched Faqir draw a silver chain out of the remaining red bag. Biting his lip, he moved closer to Clair, laying a hand on hers.

Faqir stared at the green gemstone hanging from the center of the chain. "...This is peridot. It alleviates depression, fear, anger, and anxiety, increases openness, and helps one understand relationships. I couldn't help but think...maybe if I had given this to Vona earlier, she wouldn't have..."

Faqir couldn't continue. Sensing his uneasiness, Madoka drummed his fingers on the table.

"I think they would have loved those," he said.

Faqir smiled, but by now Madoka could see when it was faked. "I dunno, Dr. X probably would have thrown it out. But Bonnie--I wonder what kind of use she could have found for it? Maybe she could have used it to decorate a mask or add to a cool costume."

Clair stood, patting Madoka's shoulder. "We could hang them on their pictures in the trial room. That way we could see what they might have looked like wearing them."

"That sounds like a terrible idea, Monokuma would probably trash them," Faqir replied. "...But I think I'd like to, just to see what it looks like."

---

Mercy smiled sadly, crossing her legs. "Even if they are no longer with us, we still have our memories of them, after all. We should do our best to honor them."

Eriko nodded in silent agreement.

Vivara seemed thoughtful. She crossed her arms, smirking somewhat. "I have a place to put them. It'll take a few days to prepare, but it should be worth the wait."

"What do you have in mind?" Finnian asked, fidgeting with his new jewelry.

"It's a secret," Vivara declared. "Be patient. You'll get to see it when it's ready."

Eriko smirked. "Thank you, Viv. I bet whatever you have planned is going to be lovely."

Mercy glanced at Vivara, admittedly curious. It was a known fact that the Ultimate Librarian was a woman of many talents (if she hadn't made that apparent already with her knowledge of several languages, medicine, and literature) so it was difficult to guess what she had planned. Whatever it was, however, Mercy had no doubt it was going to be wonderful.

Even if she didn't show it much, Vivara cared. Mercy could tell.

"I know I already said this," Eriko said, pulling the Ultimate Jeweler into another hug, "but thank you, Faqir."

Madoka felt an odd sense of relaxation wash over him at the sight of everyone acting just like normal.

They were students, weren't they? Not killers, not scared victims, but students. Every once in a while it was nice to remind themselves of that.

Faqir chuckled, patting Eriko's back. "Hey, it's no trouble. I like my job and I like you guys. It's like the best of both worlds."

Madoka suddenly felt guilty for viewing Faqir as more of a rude stranger than a friend. He shuffled his feet. "I...f-feel like I don't say this enough, but, um...thanks for trying, Faqir."

It wasn't the most encouraging thing he could have said, but Faqir seemed pleased by it.

"You know me, I love making you guys laugh. And also watching you freak out when I bring up your super obvious crush on Clair."

Madoka spluttered.

"Kidding! ...Except I'm not kidding, I'm not even remotely kidding. Anyway, you guys really don't have to thank me. It's the least I can do."

---

Mercy smiled, watching as everyone talked amongst each other, admiring their gifts, teasing people, and generally acting like a class of normal students. Relaxing, she leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes. She didn't know how long this peace was going to last.

But here's hoping it'll never stop.

---

A day had passed since Faqir had given them all her jewelry and everyone seemed to be in high spirits. After Vivara officially dismissed their morning meeting for that day, everyone began to scuttle off to wherever they felt like going, and Mercy was no different. Sighing contentedly, she headed for the door and in the direction of the fitness center. She was in the mood to punch something.

"Mercy! Wait up," Eriko called from behind her, enthusiasm seeming oddly forced.

Mercy glanced over her shoulder, stopping. "I'm waiting. What's up?"

She jogged over to Mercy's side, wearing a strange smile. She saluted. "Nothing much. I was just wondering if I could go with you to the fitness center today, is all."

Mercy raised an eyebrow. "I never thought you were the type to be active, but sure. I don't mind. Do you have anything in mind there that you want to do, or...?"

Eriko shrugged, walking alongside Mercy as they approached the fitness room. "Well, I'm not sure yet, to be honest. Why don't I watch what you do and try doing that? Perhaps you could teach me. You seem to like being active quite a lot, after all."

"I do," Mercy said, swinging the door open. "But the stuff I do may be a bit too advanced. I could try teaching you something more simple?"

Eriko walked in ahead of her, opening all of the locker doors and checking several other places in the room. Mercy watched her, quite weirded out at this point. It was perhaps more disturbing that all of the places Eriko was checking, a human body could fit. Was the girl checking for a corpse or someone hiding in the shadows? Mercy was almost afraid to ask.

Looking to see that no one else was in the hallway and then shutting the door behind her, Mercy turned to Eriko. "Is everything alright?"

"What are you talking about?" Eriko asked, poking her head behind a weights machine. "I'm being completely normal, thank you very much. And the more I look around the surer I am that we're alone, so I'll explain in a moment, but..."

She checked behind one last machine, then let out what sounded like a sigh of relief. Standing up straight, she turned to the Ultimate Hunter and took something out of her dress pocket, extending it to Mercy. It was her handbook. "Take this, please. In the event that my suspicions are confirmed and something happens, I would like you to look through my room. Don't let anyone else in, and make sure that you read every single thing I have left you inside."

"Eriko, please explain what's going on," Mercy said.

"Take this first," Eriko demanded. "And please hurry. It is very important that no one else knows you have this."

Hesitating, Mercy took the handbook. She looked at it for all of a second, then quickly shoved it into her pocket, glancing over her shoulder briefly. "Alright, I took it. Now explain, and fast. You're freaking me out."

Eriko knotted her hands together, nervously. "As you have most likely figured out, I did not come with you to work out. I solve puzzles, not gain muscle. And lately I've--well, I don't... I-I'm scared, Mercy. I'm really scared, and I-I'm not going to tell you why, so don't ask, but I just really want to have someone I trust with me right now."

Mercy stared at Eriko for a moment, the content feeling she'd walked out of the morning meeting with having almost instantly disappeared. "You want me to stay with you, but you can't tell me why."

Eriko bit her lip, as if choosing her words carefully. "Yes. Truth be told, i-it's probably just all in my head, but there's no harm in caution. If you're worried something might happen to you, I can leave and that's okay. That's perfectly fine. I'm just worried. I-I worry a lot, haha."

"Eriko, is someone after you?" Mercy asked lowly, her tone of voice surprising even her.

She bit into her lip with more force. "I said no questions, Mercy. Please."

"Erik--"

"No questions. Knowing things is dangerous," Eriko muttered, oddly serious.

Mercy took a deep breath, realizing there was most likely little to nothing she could pry out of the girl. Adjusting her jacket, she muttered, "fine. I'm going to imagine the most extreme situation there could be, then, meaning I'm not letting you leave my side. Got it?"

Eriko nodded her head, seeming immensely grateful. "Yes."

Mercy exhaled, cooly. "Good."

So much for a peace that lasts forever.

Madoka sauntered upstairs, playing idly with the apatite bracelet he wore. These were peaceful, contented times--maybe he could find Clair and spend some time with her.

As he approached the dance club, voices sounded from the casino. Curious, Madoka went to listen in.

The first thing he noticed was someone panting, in what seemed less from exhaustion and more from...sexual arousal?

Confused, Madoka pressed his ear to the door, listening intently.

A male voice murmured something, then Madoka heard a female voice gasp and let out a soft moan. When the female voice spoke, Madoka's breath caught in his throat as he realized he knew exactly who she was.

"I already told you, not all at once. Not right now..."

Clair? Something like jealousy rose in Madoka's chest. Who is she with? What are they doing? Is she in trouble? Should I open the door? Why didn't she tell me she...

The male voice muttered something incomprehensible. Clair squealed.

"S-stop..."

The breathless whisper set Madoka's heart pounding. Why...why does she sound like she's enjoying this? Clair isn't that kind of girl...

"I'm serious," Clair's voice insisted. "Monokuma's gonna stop us. You know how he gets, creep's probably watching us..."

Madoka could barely make out the male voice saying "I don't care."

He bit his lip, ear pressing hard against the door.

His hand jiggled the door handle. Thankfully, it didn't open.

Clair hushed her partner quickly, listening. "...Later, okay? Go hide, babe."

The male voice cursed. Madoka scrambled away from the door, brushing off his shirt. He was on his way back down the hall when the door opened.

"...Good luck charm?"

Madoka froze, torn between bolting and confronting Clair. After a moment, he settled on a compromise--pretend he hadn't heard anything. He turned back around, slowly, forcing an awkward smile. Clair smiled nervously at him, fiddling with the zipper of her jacket; Madoka realized it was lower than he'd ever seen it. He tried not to focus on her exposed chest, zeroing in on her eyes instead.

"I was looking for you," Clair said hurriedly. "I'm glad to see you came up this way. Could I ask you for a favor?"

For some reason, the way she said "favor" sent a shudder down his spine. Madoka gulped.

Play it cool, Madoka. Clutching his apatite, he asked, "What do you want from me?"

Clair laughed--that light, beautiful, airy laugh Madoka had come to associate with music--and took a step out from behind the door. "I was hoping we could play together, good luck charm."

Madoka tried not to think about how long her legs were, or how revealed her body was in the outfits she always wore. Most importantly, he tried not to think about what he had just overheard--the word "play" had a very different meaning all of a sudden.

Focus, Madoka. I-it's fine, you're fine, it's just Clair. You two are basically best friends, that's all.

That's all...

"I-I don't think..." Madoka paused to grasp the apatite in his palm. "I-I think Monokuma might get mad..."

What are you saying, idiot?! he thought miserably. Who cares what Monokuma thinks? Wait--beyond that, why are you jumping to conclusions?!

Clair looked briefly shocked, which quickly shifted to nervousness. "D-did you hear that?"

"H-hear what? I-I didn't hear anything, I just happened to be walking and then I stopped at the door but I didn't hear anything!"

Clair's face flushed. She rubbed her neck, pulling up the zipper on her jacket. "O-oh God, I'm so sorry. I-I didn't think anyone would be--listen, it's, um...I didn't mean it like that, er, not with you at least...oh God, I'm so sorry you had to hear that."

Way to go, stupid.

"N-no!" Madoka insisted, waving his hands. "I-I didn't really--I mean, what you do is your business so I won't...er, w-what did you mean?"

"Oh, right!" Clair fiddled briefly with her hair--Madoka noticed her emerald earrings, replacing the hoops she usually wore. "I was wondering if you could go find Eriko for me. Since she's the Ultimate Puzzler, I thought it would be fun to play a round of blackjack with her. I imagine her grasp of strategy is pretty good. I could be dealer! You can play too, if you want."

Of course it's innocent. What were you thinking she meant, moron?

"I'll find her," Madoka assured. "I-I'll be back, I guess?"

Clair grinned, taking a step closer. "Thanks so much, good luck charm. I'd get her myself, but, um..." She paused, seeming embarrassed. "I-I should probably do some cleaning up in there. Um, I'll see you later?"

The same twinge of jealousy pricked Madoka's heart. He forced it away--there was no reason to feel jealous of anyone. "Y-yeah, definitely. I'll be back, and then we can all play together?"

Why are you getting so embarrassed at that? It's totally innocent. Stop being creepy.

Clair seemed relieved. "Great! Then I look forward to seeing you."

With that, Clair waved "goodbye" and stepped back into the casino, shutting the door behind her. Madoka stared after her for a moment; then, sighing, he turned around and headed out to find Eriko.

Even if he couldn't explain why, he felt he would do whatever Clair asked.

When did I become so infatuated?

---

Mercy threw a roundhouse kick at the punching bag, half of her attention on her hits and the other half on the door. Eriko sat on the side, watching curiously. She glanced back at the entrance every now and then, clearly paranoid, but the more time passed, the more at ease she seemed. It was the opposite for Mercy, however.

Truth be told, Mercy had never been the most sentimental type. This didn't surprise many, considering she was the Ultimate Hunter, and for the longest time it never bothered her. Over the years, however, she found herself feeling more and more empty. Even when she learned of Bonnie's death--she'd felt almost nothing. Pity, perhaps. She'd taken the handbook from the girl's cold corpse without a problem.

But Eriko had been so shaken up. Eriko, who had seemed almost emotionless when they first met, was trembling--tearing up, even, her composure having vanished in an instant. Admittedly, it had taken Mercy off guard. The reason she'd paired herself with Eriko when investigating Bonnie's room was because she assumed the girl would be both efficient and calm. Being with someone who was a nervous wreck would only make them slower, and considering the circumstances, they didn't have time for slow.

Well, crap, Mercy had thought when she saw Eriko start to wipe away her tears. Guess this was a bad choice.

Of course, Mercy offered some words of comfort to the girl. Reacting to a death in such a way was only natural. If anything, it was more natural than anything Mercy could ever be. For the longest time, she'd envied people who felt what Eriko felt in that moment.

Amazingly, those words of comfort were enough to inspire Eriko to kick herself into high gear. She went through Bonnie's room quickly and efficiently, wiping her tears to the side as she did. It was her passion for puzzles and want to avenge Bonnie that allowed the girl to persevere.

And she kept her composure through the entire trial--and then finally, when it was all over, she let herself break down into strangled sobs. It was as if she'd been holding it in the entire time. And then, taking Mercy off-guard yet again, Eriko went to her of all people for comfort. Her--the pessimistic, unfeeling, cold-as-stone Ultimate Hunter. The same person who, 2 years ago, would've walked past a dead body on the street and just checked her watch because she was late for a meet-up.

Honestly, Mercy didn't know what Eriko saw in her. But the girl was attached to her, and quite frankly, Mercy didn't mind her company. She was delightful and refreshing, and there was something about her that set her away from all of the other people there. It was hard to be anything but happy in the girl's presence, her smile being simply too contagious.

So knowing that Eriko was in danger only served to put Mercy on edge. Eriko came to Mercy because she trusted her, and she now felt a responsibility not to let the girl down.

Inhaling and exhaling, she continued to go at the punching bag. It was therapeutic.

"You slowed down for a bit there," Eriko observed, tilting her head slightly. "Something's on your mind. You seem sentimental."

Mercy waved her off. "It was nothing. We all get like that sometimes."

"I'm sure," Eriko replied, though her smug smile said she knew better.

Madoka's steps slowed as he approached the stairs to the first floor. Regretfully, he glanced over his shoulder, noticing that Clair had already returned to the casino.

He continued down the stairs, his hand gripping the banister. He couldn't explain it, but somehow, he felt a spark when he and Clair were together--when they held hands, or patted each other on the shoulder, or just stood beside each other. It felt like a missing piece of him had been discovered--Clair was strong, passionate, controlled, gentle...everything Madoka wanted to be.

Maybe that was why he felt so strange. Clair obviously didn't view him in the same way--she wouldn't keep running off with Braeden and Faqir if she did. And yet he felt she could--he heard it when she called him "good luck charm" and saw it in her eyes when she smiled at him.

He was suddenly very aware of how desperately he wanted to protect her. In the beginning, Clair had promised to keep him safe, but he had seen in the way she broke on occasion that she needed saving too.

To date, he was probably the one who knew Clair the best. He had seen her in her strength, and he had seen her in her weakness. He had seen the tears she tried to hard to hide, the fear she so desperately tried to conceal. He had seen the way she covered all her feelings in a gentle smile and a softspoken heart of compassion. He had seen the way she tried to hold things together just to look out for him.

The least he could do was try to return the favor.

He turned a corner towards the girls' rooms, pausing when he noticed the chains Faqir had made for Xhevona and Bonnie hanging on the handles for their rooms.

He remembered with a sudden jolt the sight of Bonnie's corpse, the chilling confession Xhevona had made, and the merciless execution that had rendered Xhevona to a broken corpse. Madoka's mind flashed with an image of Clair, and he stumbled, grasping the wall for support.

I can't lose her too.

Being average came with perks, but it also came with pain--no one had ever really noticed Madoka the way Clair did. He wasn't remarkably terrible or amazingly talented, he was just...some guy. It felt like years since he'd had a true friend, someone he could talk to beyond "hi, how are you?"

The thought of losing that friend now brought tears to his eyes.

Why are you crying? She's fine, Mado. Everything will be fine. It's all going to be fine...

Forcing himself to pick up his chin, he continued onwards, trying to convince himself that nothing terrible would happen. Clair was safe, and so was he--they would make sure of it for each other.

His pace quickened.

---

Mercy stepped back from the punching bag for a moment, wiping the sweat from her face. Usually, she could steer her mind away from a subject, but that didn't seem to be the case today. Shaking out her legs, she grabbed her water bottle and gulped some down.

She finished with a deep breath, then turned to Eriko, hands on her hips. "There's something I've been meaning to ask you, Zamora. Why do you trust me?"

Eriko thought for a moment. "Why do I trust you? Well, it's sort of hard to explain. I can see in your eyes that you're an honest and strong person, and I'm drawn to it, I suppose."

Mercy actually laughed out loud. "Honest and strong, huh?"

"You don't believe those words?" Eriko asked.

"I think you're sugarcoating, to say the least," Mercy replied, grinning out of disbelief. "I hate to tell you, but 'honest and strong' is far from the truth. Try 'uncaring' on for size, take off your rose-colored lenses, and look again."

Eriko laughed. "I know I can be more idealistic than most, but I think I know a person when I see them. As the Ultimate Puzzle Solver, analyzing is something I've been doing for my entire life. You don't believe it, but you are an honorable woman. I am proud to know you and consider you my acquaintance."

She paused, watching Mercy's subtle reaction. "You don't like the word 'acquaintance.' Very well. Personally, I like the word 'friend' much better, but I didn't want to label our relationship as such without consulting you."

"Friend," Mercy confirmed, the word feeling weird in her mouth. Mercy Crocker didn't have friends.

Eriko smiled her contagious smile. "Friend! Wonderful. Well then, allow me to correct what I said before: I am proud to know you and call you my friend. You're strong, you're honest, and you're sincere when it counts. I wish to be like you one day."

"No," Mercy said, almost immediately, "you don't. You should appreciate who you are more."

Eriko chuckled, shaking her head. "You should take your own advice, Miss Crocker."

When Eriko didn't open her door, Madoka decided to try the laundry room, then the arcade, and lastly the nurse's office. He was heading back towards the sports center when his thoughts again turned to Clair.

Admittedly, he was desperate to learn who she had been with in that room. Was it someone who cared about her? Was it someone who saw her as more than just a body to play with? Was she just desperate for affection?

Madoka sighed miserably, pausing to sit at the edge of the fountain.

"What am I doing?" he muttered. "I need to stop thinking about her so much...it's a crazy thought, anyway. Not like I could...fix anything, at least."

He glanced at his reflection in the water, just staring at his own face. Average, just like everything else about him.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair.

"If she could notice me as anything more than some guy...then I'd really be lucky."

Resolving himself to find Eriko, he stood again, heading for the sports center. He checked the pool and the gym first, then, upon not finding Eriko, headed to the fitness center and knocked lightly.

---

Mercy moved to go back to her punching bag, then paused. If someone was really after Eriko, perhaps it would be wiser to conserve her energy. What she'd done so far was more of a warm-up, anyway. Nodding to herself, Mercy walked over to one of the many lockers Eriko had thrown open and whipped a towel around her neck, feeling refreshed.

"It's been too long since I worked out," Mercy muttered. "If only they had a shooting range or something here. That'd be relaxing."

"It'd also give us access to guns," Eriko pointed out.

Mercy grinned a little. "Oh, please. Put a gun in my hand and I'd be in my element. Heck, I'd probably just take all the guns from the range and stash them inside my room."

She giggled. "It does look fitting when I imagine you with a rifle strapped to your back. It's hard to tell what it is about you, but you have the look of a hunter."

"My father's friend used to say the same thing," Mercy replied, her grin only growing. She was about to sit down next to Eriko when someone knocked on the door, causing both of the girls' heads to turn.

Eriko stood immediately. Cracking her knuckles, Mercy brandished her towel like a potential whip and made her way over to the door, grin having vanished. She assumed her usual calm and indifferent look, opened the door and faced Madoka, who stood meekly.

Admittedly, seeing the harmless little Ultimate Lucky Student relieved most of Mercy's tension. Wearing a bit of a sideways smirk, she placed one hand on her hip and the other on the doorframe for support. "You're one of the last people I expected to be here. Not trying to work out, are you?"

Madoka jumped, hand flying to his bracelet almost on instinct--Faqir's gift had certainly given him a newfound sense of courage, if nothing else.

He took a deep breath. "A-actually, I was looking for..."

He paused, noticing Eriko standing behind Mercy. Well, certainly Clair wouldn't mind the both of them joining the group--although Madoka debated with himself briefly how many extra people he wanted to join their game.

"Clair was looking for Eriko," he announced. "She was thinking maybe we could all play some blackjack together? O-oh, um, Mercy, you could probably come too...m-maybe I could ask her?"

Mercy looked back at Eriko for confirmation.

Eriko's lightheartedness had almost completely disappeared, replaced by fake friendliness. The girl moved closer to Mercy, waving to Madoka politely. She smiled at him. "Blackjack, huh? Maybe some other time. Mercy is giving me some tips on working out right now, and we've only just gotten started."

Mercy's brow narrowed in subtle concern. Throwing her towel over her shoulder, she shrugged. "Too bad, I guess."

Is Eriko trying to avoid Clair, or does she just not want to go anywhere? Mercy thought, glancing at Eriko out of the corner of her eye. Of all the students there, Clair didn't really seem like a killer, but Eriko's instincts had proved to be incredible. For all the time that they'd been there, almost none of Eriko's predictions hadn't been spot on.

"A-ah..."

Madoka felt oddly nervous about going back to Clair without even succeeding in performing a tiny favor for her. If he couldn't even manage to bring Eriko back, he was worse than average--he was a failure.

Perhaps it was desperation, perhaps it was cripplingly low self-esteem, perhaps it was just being crazy...but Madoka vowed in that moment that he would not disappoint Clair by returning without more companions.

"I-if it helps, there's someone else there too?" Madoka hated to think about whoever that was pleasing Clair in the casino, but if mentioning them helped at all... "A-and, I mean...well, it's okay, maybe we could all go into the dance club instead? That's exercise, right? ...R-right?"

---

Eriko's interest seemed peaked. "There was someone else? Do you know who?"

Mercy crossed her arms, watching Eriko carefully. Things would be so much easier if the girl just told her what was going on, but she seemed intent on keeping her mouth shut. Thinking about it, Mercy couldn't help but wonder if the Ultimate Puzzle Solver had stuck her nose where it didn't belong and was somehow paying the price.

Suddenly more tense than usual, Mercy shifted.

"This is--well, Madoka, could you do me a favor? Could you sneak a peek at whoever was up there?" She paused, her fingers fidgeting. "A-and don't tell anyone I asked. I know that sounds suspicious, but hear me out. There's someone here that I really like and I want to know if it's him. If it is, I'll go play with you and Clair."

Mercy gave Eriko a look, playing along with her act. "Woah, hold on. You like someone?"

Eriko shrugged shyly. "D-don't tell anyone, okay?"

Unsurprisingly, Eriko being interested in someone struck something with Madoka. He nodded, offering an awkward smile.

"I'll go check," he assured. "Um, I'll meet you two back here, okay? I'll be right back."

Stepping back, he waved a "goodbye" to Mercy and Eriko, heading towards the stairs. Fear pricked the back of his mind, but he pushed it down. Whoever he saw here would be the man Clair had been with, he was sure of that much--but the prospect scared him more than anything else.

He ascended the steps, heart pounding with dread, and rounded the corner towards the casino.

At first, he saw no signs of anyone being around.

Then Faqir's head poked out of the casino. He made eye contact with Madoka, who stumbled backwards.

Faqir? Faqir and Clair? Clair and Faqir. Why didn't I see it? Why am I surprised?

Faqir blinked at him. "Don't tell Eriko!" he hissed.

Don't tell Eriko? Wait, did they start dating without me realizing it? I-I thought that hug yesterday was a one-time thing! Is he cheating on her? Does Clair know? He's stringing her along, isn't he? That...that bastard...

Madoka didn't say a word. He spun on his heels, stalking back towards the staircase. Whatever Faqir had said, Eriko deserved to know.

Mercy watched Madoka go, pursing her lips. After a moment, she opened her mouth to say something, but Eriko shushed her before she could speak. "No questions, remember?"

The Ultimate Hunter frowned. "I remember, I'm just not happy about it. If you can read me so well, then you're already aware of the fact that I like to know things. Things like who to look out for when my--" she paused, the word still feeling somewhat foreign, "friend... when my friend thinks she's in danger."

Eriko crossed her arms. "Please, just trust me when I say I'm not going to tell you. You of all people should know that I don't do things without reason."

Mercy frowned. "I know that, I'm just--I'm worried."

Something akin to a smile tugged at the corners of Eriko's lips. She playfully poked Mercy's shoulder. "It's not like you to admit that, Miss Crocker."

Mercy let out a sigh. "It's really not."

There was a moment of silence. Mercy shifted, putting more of her weight on the doorframe, whilst Eriko rocked back and forth slightly. She seemed lost in thought for a moment.

Mercy placed her hands behind her head, listening out for footsteps. Again, a fight was about the last thing she wanted, but the thought of one felt rather refreshing. If only the other students were more athletically inclined--she would've asked one of them to spar with her already.

Of course, there were a few who could bring a good fight to the table--namely, Braeden--but he was too perverted for her tastes.

"Mercy," Eriko said suddenly. She had that same serious tone from earlier.

Looking over at her, Mercy decided it didn't suit someone like Eriko and silently wished she'd go back to being her normal self. "Yeah?"

The girl smiled warmly. "You should find more friends. I feel like some people could really interest you, but only if you gave them a chance."

Mercy blinked. "That came out of nowhere."

She shrugged. "It just occurred to me and I thought that I should mention it."

Madoka's pace was hurried as he jogged down the stairs. His teeth clenched, but he couldn't tell if it was because of his strange mixed emotions at Clair and Faqir, or a sense of impending dread about the scenario. Something felt overwhelmingly wrong, but there was really no reason to be afraid--everything would be fine, right?

Right?

Pushing those thoughts to the back of his mind, Madoka returned to Eriko and Mercy, crossing his arms. Eriko deserved to know, no matter what Faqir had insisted.

"She's with Faqir," Madoka announced, hating how cold his voice sounded. He tried to mask it with an awkward cough. "W-well, if that would be okay, um...we can all head up together?"

---

Mercy raised an eyebrow. Faqir. Faqir and Clair? I guess they could get into trouble if left alone, but I never would've thought it'd have Eriko so rattled...

She crossed her arms, standing up straighter. She saw the way Faqir reacted to Xhevona's death, so it was hard to imagine he had anything sinister in mind. Then again, it could've all been a guise, right? One that Eriko would've probably seen through. Assuming Faqir was related to this at all.

Of course, there was no way for Mercy to know, considering Eriko wasn't going to tell her anything.

She huffed. Being left in the dark was infuriating.

"I-I don't know," Eriko replied to Madoka, acting unsure. "I think I'll just stay here if that's okay."

Any other time, it most certainly would have been okay.

But for some reason, Madoka dreaded going back up those stairs alone one more time. At least if he had others around, maybe he could gain the courage to say something.

That, and having a wingman wouldn't hurt.

He had a few approaches he could take: cover it up by trying to be sly, ignore it and leave Eriko and Mercy alone and just be a big boy, or tell the truth.

"I-I'll be honest with you two," he began.

Tell the truth it is.

"I'm scared to go back up there by myself, because now I feel like I'm losing Clair and she asked me specifically to go and bring you upstairs for blackjack, and ordinarily there wouldn't be any sort of problem but now I just really want her to like me and she's already upstairs there with Faqir and I probably shouldn't say this but I'm positive they have some kind of sexual relationship and it's really worrying me because I didn't think Clair was that kind of girl, so now I'm worried that he's doing something horrible to her and I really just don't think I should go up there alone because what if she doesn't like me..."

Too much truth, Madoka! Too much truth! WAY too much truth!"

It was too late to take it all back now. Madoka sighed miserably.

"...I-I'm sorry, I'm pathetic, I-I'll just go confront her...alone. Without backup. I-it's okay, I'll be fine. It's not like she'll be mad at me, right? ...R-right?"

Eriko blinked. "W-wait, what?"

That... would explain everything.

"You said that she and Faqir were--okay. That's weird," Eriko muttered under her breath, brushing the blonde hair out of her face. "I'm sorry we all had to know that. We, um... well. All of us together could be fun, I suppose. You, me, Mercy, Faqir and Clair..."

Eriko hooked her arm through Mercy's, flashing the Ultimate Hunter a nervous smile. Her grip was awfully tight. "...Y-you'll come, right?"

"Of course," Mercy soothed. She turned to Madoka, her words meant for Eriko more than they were him. "Everything is going to be fine. Don't worry."

Eriko nodded in fierce agreement. "Th-that's right. Shall we go, then?"

Mercy nodded, then hesitated, a bad feeling suddenly washing over her. "Eriko, are you sure about this?"

"I'm sure," Eriko muttered. "Everything will be fine. Yes, everything's going to be fine. No one else was there, right, Madoka?"

Madoka let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding. He smiled with a bit more courage, nodding.

"No one else was there," he assured. "I-it'll just be the...five of us. We can head up together whenever you're ready, I guess?"

At least he wouldn't have to go up alone. Clair would be happy with him.

But isn't she always? Aren't I just overthinking things? Clair is my best friend, right?

But am I hers?

All of these conflicting thoughts were beginning to make Madoka dizzy. He turned to face the fountain, pausing.

"U-um...well, if you need help carrying anything...maybe we can bring ankle weights or something? For...exercise reasons?"

I hope I don't sound like too much of a loser.

---

"Well, I don't think we were really planning on bringing anything up, but..." Mercy glanced back into the room, wondering if it'd be wise to have some kind of potential weapon with her. "Eriko, what do you think?"

Eriko shrugged. "Maybe that's not such a bad idea."

Mercy blinked; she hadn't expected the girl to agree. The more this went on, the worse Mercy felt about all of this. Breaking apart from Eriko for a moment, she went to grab some of the weights sitting on the shelves and returned, as Eriko almost immediately rehooked her arm back through Mercy's.

She flashed Mercy a smile. "Everything will be alright. Let's go!"

Why don't I believe you?

They started toward the stairs, Mercy's stomach twisting.

Madoka lead the others upstairs, admittedly slightly worried that Mercy had brought weapons. Was all of this some kind of misunderstanding? She wouldn't hurt Clair, right? Why would anyone want to hurt Clair?

When he swung open the casino door, Clair was nowhere to be seen.

Madoka stumbled backwards, his heart suddenly pounding in his chest. Where is she?

"She must have..." Desperate, Madoka moved further inside, looking around the room. "...C-Clair? Clair?!"

Where is she?!

That sense of dread Madoka had felt was overwhelming now. He ran to the dance club, throwing open the door and searching inside.

Nowhere. She's nowhere. Where is she?!

"O-oh gosh..." Madoka returned to the others, pacing. He buried his face in his hands, mumbling. "Sh-she's not in there. S-she's gone. She was just here--m-maybe she went back to her room? Where is she? O-oh gosh, please...p-please, I-I can't..."

Please don't be dead...please don't be dead...

---

"I-I don't like the looks of this," Eriko declared, all confidence suddenly draining from her features.

Mercy's grip tightened on the weights. She steadily backed the two of them away from any doors, wary of someone popping out without warning. Her heart thudded against her chest. The bad feeling was only growing, but why was it unnerving her so much? Where was that unfailing calmness that everyone in her life knew her for?

How come that, the one time it actually mattered, she couldn't summon it?

She took a deep breath. "Madoka, everything's fine. It's all fine. Why don't we go look for Clair if you're worried? We should start with downstairs."

"Mercy," Eriko said, pulling her into a hug suddenly. "Thanks."

"S-stop," Mercy nearly snapped, shaking her head. "Stop. Stop acting like that, okay?"