Kyoko's bath is interrupted.

Before Kyoko could decide whether to forgive Tsumugi and risk lowering her defenses again, a troubling third voice inserted itself into their conversation. "Knock knock! Housekeeping!" a familiar and annoying high-pitched shout came from the other side of the glass door.

"Monokuma?" In a flash, Kyoko reflexively pressed herself against the wall in the small corner next to the door, feeling the wet condensation on her bare back. "As I'm sure you know, the spa is occupied. Don't blame me for what happens next if you decide to come in here."

"Sheesh, you never quit, do ya?" Monokuma giggled. "I'm not interested in your bear bodies," he quipped with comedic emphasis. "If you don't believe me, try opening that door right there! Nope, it's designed to lock when I'm in here to keep me out, keeping your privates private!"

"How reassuring." Kyoko reminded herself that the steam would obscure her form from anyone on the other side of the glass, so long as the door remained shut and the bath stayed hot. "Why are you here, then?"

"I was just making a courtesy visit to let you ladies know I've collected your things and they'll be cleaned shortly! That way you know when it makes sense to get out. Betcha didn't think of that, huh, Miss Smarty-No-Pants?"

"Thanks. You've made your announcement, so leave us in peace."

"Yeah, yeah. No respect, no appreciation. Kids these days..."

Kyoko exhaled, then took her place back at the bath's edge, listening to Monokuma hum tunelessly.

Tsumugi clapped her hands together cheerily. "We'll be here a while, then. Really, now there's no excuse not to have me wash your back!"

"You're taking this in stride, aren't you?" Kyoko wished it was that easy for her to relax. "Well, I suppose-"

As if to punish Kyoko for trying to take it easy, a high-pitched and dramatic **** yell suddenly came from the other side of the glass door. Immediately, the detective stepped the short distance to the door, intending to crack it open and see what had happened. To her surprise, the glass door really was locked. "What in the... We're trapped? What's going on out there, Monokuma?"

"Oh, nothing! I'm just practicing my role in Hamlet," the headmaster's cheery voice returned. Before Kyoko could begin calming down, he piped up again. "Not! I've been dismantled out here, you bozo! Some bastard just ripped my head clean off my body before I could defend myself! It's like a Build-a-Bear Workshop exploded out here! Total carnage!"

The detective decided she was willing to sacrifice some privacy to understand what was going on. She wiped her bare hand across the fogged-up glass to give herself a window into the next room, her sharp eyes quickly filling the space she'd cleared. In the next room over, the first highlight was what Monokuma had just announced. Indeed, the voice she'd been hearing was from his disembodied plush head, cut with a rough serration. It looked more like he'd been mauled by an animal than cut by a blade. Stuffing and unidentifiable circuitry littered the room.

More importantly, Kyoko saw a figure far in the distance, past the open VIP door and standing in the hall. It was someone in a dark coat, impossible to identify. He appeared to be running, but Kyoko could see he wasn't empty-handed: he was carrying a huge bundle in his arms. It was impossible to tell exactly what that bundle was, but she could at least recognize the soaked jacket she'd taken off earlier in the mix.

The ordinarily composed detective felt her throat grow dry. That wasn't just her jacket; that bundle had been more than big enough to include every item she'd left in her changing room. "Monokuma, whoever that was, he's clearly... taken our things! Do something about this!"

"Uh, sure, lemme try wiggling my ears at him," the bear head responded with audible sarcasm. "You think I'm not pissed off, too?! That snot-nosed punk would have never taken me in a fair fight!"

"Who?" Kyoko demanded.

"Doesn't matter who. I can take any of you kids in a fair fight! Not that you'll ever get to see that now, on account of my untimely demise!"

"So, you didn't see who it was." Kyoko stared a hole through him in frustration, feeling her stress already surging back. "He may have taken all manner of valuable things, including my wallet and cell phone. And, to make matters worse, we're locked in here."

Monokuma was quiet for a moment. In that moment, Kyoko thought he must be uncharacteristically apologetic and at a loss for words, until she realized he seemed to be holding back a laugh. "Upupu... Trapped? Weeell, about that..."