Mao took a day mostly to herself to calm down at least enough to go out and about again. The events of the previous still stung her skin as she brushed against anything. Like she was still being slowly brought back to reality. Magic was deadlier than it had seemed to be before, and Mao's takes on personal doors had dived lower than they already were.

Things were... different, to say in the least, but she could bring herself back up. She could try to. Taking her mind off of things was the best option, of course. Naturally, Mao carried on hand-made snacks like they were free samples and wandered around for other forms of distractions. There were new rooms available, yeah?

She made her way to the library, but her hand hovered over the door handle. Was it really ok to go in when the area was only accessed through the deaths of others? Mao chewed on her lip a bit, before taking the plunge and walking inside. Guilt weighed down on her shoulders, but she trudged onwards.

The maps on her ID said there were movies and such here, right? Maybe there would be some sort of cheesey musical or some sappy happy movie she could throw on. Mary Poppins or something like that. Seemed about right.

What a strange dream... Arlechenno di Mercurio groaned wearily, looking at the time. It was just his luck to be running late on the first day of classes.

"Cazzo! Of course...and no time for a coffee."

But no matter! A great magician always arrives exactly when he intends (and if he doesn't, he can sure pretend that it was supposed to happen like that). So he had gotten dressed in his usual attire, trying to shake off the remnants of the strange dream he'd had, and trotted along with the rest of the people moving through the hall. The strangeness of the situation made him chuckle. At least he wouldn't be the only one facing the teacher's ire.

The lack of other people in the school besides his classmates set him mildly on edge. Where was everyone? Surely they hadn't missed a memo about classes being cancelled. He had half a mind to just give up and head back to his room when the child had shown up. Though he certainly couldn't judge their fashion choices, Archie stared perplexed at their ears. Things just kept getting stranger. 

He glanced nervously around the courtyard as they arrived and-- oh dear. The black sky made his stomach writhe in discomfort. Something here was very, very wrong. He looked to the podium. Another strange child and a tall woman. An incredibly tall woman! Wow! Despite himself, he couldn't help but smile. What a beauty. Then there are introductions but try as he might he can't remember them past the few seconds after she's spoken. Verde, Blu and Rosso would have to do for now.

Archie sighed, running gloved fingers through the ends of his ponytail. It wouldn't do to panic, he was better than that. He should help keep morale up. He was a performer after all, it was his duty! He turned to the nearest person, putting on a reassuring smile to hide his own discomfort. 

"Well it appears as though we are in a rather strange situation, though I see no reason why we should be strangers. I am Arlechenno di Mercurio, illusionist extraordinaire. May I have the honor of your name?"

“It is just a little further, Passerotto.” The ex-thief’s voice was muffled by the gentle roar of the car’s engine. The pair rose and fell along with the smooth hills in the road, curving through the narrow passes between terraces and steep drops to roofs below. Arlechenno was as familiar with these streets now as he was his own hometown. Admittedly, it hadn’t been difficult. Between the relatively short distance from the city of his birth and the sheer amount of time he’d spent here over the last few months, it really wasn’t any wonder that he’d grown accustomed. 

He finally brought the car to a stop at the side of the road, pulling into one of the few small spaces allotted to him. Archie parked and turned the key. With the rumble of the vehicle quieted, the sounds of their surroundings finally started to leak through the doors. The distant rush of the sea, birds chirping, a soft breeze through leaves… Even though his passenger was blindfolded, Archie was sure that the beautiful day would not be lost on him. 

“We are here!” He declared before opening his door, going to the other side of the car to guide Benoit out. He smiled, carefully taking his boyfriend’s hands in his and leading him down the garden path with a beautiful view of the ocean. He’d kept it all a surprise as best as he could until now and he was going to keep it until the right moment. 

He’d signed the property deeds with his new alias that Wondercorp had given him, Federico Erminio Picasso, and had been working steadily to bring this place up to what it was now. He could only hope that it would be appreciated. He was nervous, to say the least of it.

Holding his breath Arlechenno turned the key, unlocking the way in to what he’d been pouring all of his spare hours into.

The cover story that is released and circulated throughout internet forums and professional media alike is that there was an accident. The incoming class of new Hope’s Peak students were sent on an all expenses paid study program, and there was a malfunction on the plane trip back that caused a crash.

A crash site is found, complete with twisted remains of a private jet and the burned and damaged body parts and corpses of the missing students. There is even a body that is identified by professionals as belonging to Arlechenno di Mercurio. Authorities continue to investigate the conflicting versions of events. The crash story is denied by some Hope’s Peak officials and supported by others. The added prospect of a conspiracy does some damage to the school’s reputation, but not as much as it might have with confirmation.

Benoit Lowell, Teddi Tatsumi, and Dai Fukou are on record as supporting the story of the trip and the accident. The mystery surrounding the event continues to be a controversial one in many circles. Many people pick sides, others dismiss the entire issue as a publicity stunt, or simply not their business. Whatever the case, the exact truth remains uncertain.

And those lost in the Hope’s Peak Tragedy leave effects of their own behind, like ripples in a pond.

Magic Mallum’s Wonder Emporium, the circus owned by Hidehisa Murahashi’s family, receives a massive surge in attendance and public attention. Several anonymous but generous investors revive the struggling circus and make it into a major attraction in the area of the Japanese countryside it calls home. People from around the world come to see the shows, which with the influx of funds are bigger and better - and safer - than ever. New, state-of-the-art equipment and staff are hired, new enclosures and handlers ensure the health and happiness of the animals, and when Twinkletoes the elephant reaches an age where performances are too much of a strain, she is happily retired to the Inoue Zoo, where she does very well, although she never stops hoping to see the clownish redhead who called her his best friend again. Elephants never forget, they say.

Any and every manga that Brittany “Moko” Smith worked on reaches a new height of popularity, and the sketchbooks she’d kept, along with the stories she’d had in progress, are taken up by her best friends so that her dreams may at last come true - even without her there to see them realized.

The fans of Yuri “Lily Rose” Kamisumi’s work, both old and new, long lament the loss of such an iconic author - the voice of a generation many call her - and are further saddened that her unfinished works are retired unseen. Shubbansha Bokkon, the publishing company run by her father and uncle, does reprintings of her previously released works, but states that in respect to the wishes she’d expressed during her life, any works in progress will remain unpublished. The press and any well-wishers are asked to please leave the Kamisumi family to mourn in privacy and peace, and all interviews are politely but firmly refused…

Although there is some minor scandal when Yuri’s biological mother, a well known British socialite by the name of Charlotte Woods, begins bemoaning her loss to the media, and anyone else who will listen. “She was such a perfect girl, my greatest regret is how we’d grown apart over the last few years. I never stopped thinking of her, oh if only we could have reconciled! How horrible that it’s now too late!” Fortunately Charlotte’s exaggerated and over-publicized grief over her estranged daughter only caused significant backlash and damage to her reputation, leaving her to quietly withdraw from public for the time being.

Meanwhile, the family of Mariko Tomomi had little comment, her parents professing that she’d moved out and become independent several years ago. Her uncle was quoted as saying that she was certainly unlucky enough to have died in an accident, but showed no interest in the investigation beyond that. Mariko’s various works in progress were scrapped or the concepts sold, and her running shows seemed likely to be cancelled - in fact, the entirety of the I! Glamorous Life! network that she’d exclusively produced content for collapsed after an anonymous source submitted overwhelming evidence that the company which owned the network, Ginsi, had covered up a wrongful death scandal on one of their sets and committed malicious acts of coercion in their contracts. Ginsi itself suffered a dramatic drop in net worth, and was ultimately subject to a hostile takeover by a rival entertainment company in the ensuing months.

With the truth unveiled, a youth rights activist group put forward that there should be greater protections for young adults and minors in the entertainment industry. With continuous efforts and the garnering of public pressure, the Mariko Tomomi Youth In Media Protection Act was introduced, something which required certain standards and time periods be satisfied when companies created contracts for new actors and writers in the film industry. Among other changes, exclusivity contracts for new talent under the age of twenty-five were no longer permitted to last for longer than five years at a time.

Meanwhile in Italy, Romeo Gallo’s sisters went through an appropriate mourning period for their golden brother. Bianca Gallo, the younger sister, began studying and learning to take on the role of running the Gallo brand in her brother’s stead, and showed a competent level of skill. Privately, the Gallo sisters gave support as needed to the Future Foundation, although publicly they simply continued on with the glamorous facade of their lives.

Archie watched as the wolves received their punishment, not fully understanding what was going on. It wasn't anything like he expected, although to be truthful, he really wasn't sure what to expect to begin with. Having an aspect of them taken away... based on Rowan and Kaoru's blank expressions and followed by Ina's reaction, he doubted it was pleasant.

But as quickly as it had happened, it was over. They were back in the courtyard. He listened to the following conversation, letting the three outline their options. But once they were done, he couldn't help but close his eyes and let the warmth of the sun wash over him, his thoughts buzzing around in his head like static. It all still felt so surreal somehow. It wasn't until after Hanako spoke and her words sank in that the lingering haze in his mind cleared.

It was over. They were free of the killing game. Despite everything, they'd survived. The magician cleared his throat before flashing a smile towards Hanako.

"So we have."

He picked at the edges of his sleeve, threatening to fray the cuffs with how often he'd been doing it lately. What should they do now? Stay? Go? What awaited them outside of the gate? Archie looked out into the ruins of the city from where he stood.

In the end, did it really matter which way they chose? The life that they all had had before was like a chapter in a book; finished and separate from what they were doing now, while it's effects were still felt. After a few minutes of contemplation, he stopped and directed his voice to the group of students.

"It appears that how we go on now is of our own prerogative, though personally I am reluctant to see everyone part ways as of yet. To me, it seems wiser to remain together for the time being and regain your memories, if you wish to, in the company of friends rather than strike out a path on your own. We have all been through a very..."

He paused, trying to weigh what he wanted to say.

"Difficult experience, and I would hate to see anyone else here alone or without support while everyone tries to continue on with their lives."

Although he often spoke more than was wanted or necessary, Arlechenno was smart enough to keep his mouth shut while Mao started her explanation, chewing on the inside of his cheek. Hearing her story... well, he doubted that she wanted his pity for what had happened to her. 

He flinched at every single strike Mao doled out to the podiums belonging to the deceased. His hands tightly gripping his own stand, knuckles turning white beneath his gloves as he wondered if she'd lash out at more than just inanimate wood. As she circled by him, Archie froze. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up and refused to go down, even as she continued her assault elsewhere. 

That fear refused to go away as things escalated. The magician glanced worriedly over to Zenjirou when the smog started to overtake Mao. Would he be okay? This was terrifying enough as it was for Archie, let alone him. His feet wouldn't let him move to the clockworker's side, paralyzed by the sight in front of them all.

There was no sigh of relief to be had, until after she was lost in the smoke and the black serpent disappeared as well. She was gone. There was still so much to process. His heart was pounding after such a blunt display of hatred and anger, they had to choose between sparing or executing the remaining wolves, and Hanako was crying... Archie wanted to go to her, but it looked like Touma already had it covered and he should probably stay where he is and focus on somehow not making things worse. Instead, he roughly tugged at the edge of his jacket sleeve.

It took him a while to find his voice again, like his own breath had been sucked away with Zertro's departure. He finally found his own strength to reply in Zenjirou's words of mercy. He cleared his throat and addressed Rowan and Kaoru.

"No more killing. While I do believe that the two of you should be punished in some way for helping to run a murderous game, death is not the answer. There has been enough bloodshed here, enough grief. I did not want anyone else to die before and I still do not now. I just want this to all be over, so that if there is still some way that we can move forward, we can."

Arlechenno cast his vote, staring down at his podium for a short while before looking back up and quietly continuing.

Archie blinks in surprise. What was Kaoru--? Oh.

"Dope? What? Oh, oh, no no no. Nothing like that at all!"

Archie waves his hands, seemingly flustered. Oh dear.

"Doppio... Japanese would be... er... Dual? Double? For your unique coloration." 

He repeats the nickname slower and the magician gestures up to his own hair, like that'll help with comprehension somehow. Double... hair? Oh! He must be talking about Kaoru's multicolored hair.

"As for Nube, that is...her..."

He trails off and just points to Mao's podium. Archie looks like he'd rather crawl into a hole and die right now. It figures that NOW is when people call attention his nicknames. After a bit of silent reflection on how much of a goddamn weirdo he is, he's able to contribute again.

"Anyway, I have no doubts that Nube is behind all of this. I am fully convinced of her role after all we have found and discussed."

At Kaoru's worry, Archie shakes his head. He thinks that he can alleviate those concerns.

Archie stayed quiet, listening to Touma and Minori. So that really could be Mao speaking. Hm... Something that Touma mentions made him perk up and want to add more to the conversation.

"Yes, it does seem that they may have inadvertently backed Doppio's claims with their reaction. That is rather convincing evidence for our accusation, no?"

The magician gestured absentmindedly to Kaoru. At least he's pointing out who he's talking about. He thought for a little while longer, running his fingers through the ends of his hair. There was something else though... something about this reminded him of a conversation he had before and remembering it still made his chest ache a little in worry. He glanced over his shoulder briefly to the specter at the Deceitful  and over to Zenjirou before turning back to the group and continuing.

"Nube being a part of that wolf now... that could be possible. Blu once mentioned that if person with more willpower were to make the same wish as a volition, they would overwrite that volition, in a way. Perhaps that is what is happening here. It would explain why they would be displaying some of her mannerisms now and not before."

Archie nodded in Iffi's direction in acknowledgement of who he's talking about, though he stilled at the words from Monowolf, his eyes narrowing.

"Someone...? Ah, perhaps speaking of the person who killed Nube. Well, I would assume that if any last words were thought to be relevant to this discussion, the culprit would have shared them already. Unless this is simply just an attempt to trick the culprit into publicly confessing their involvement, of course. This is the second time now that they have tried to get us to further discuss the murder..."

He paused for a moment before turning in Minori's direction. He drummed his fingertips along his forearm while he spoke.