Silver Notes: This story is written in script. Bolded text is the protagonist's inner thoughts, and everything else is dialogue. Text in brackets is actions.

Prologue: A Blooming College Life - Part 1

When consciousness came back to me it did so slowly, like waking up from a pleasant dream I wasn't ready to leave yet. At least a minute must've passed before my mind fully awoke.

The first thing I felt was something solid and cold under my cheek, followed by a dull pain on my back and a strange soreness on my butt.

Ugh, did I fall asleep on the computer desk again?

I grunted and slowly raised my head. What I had mistaken for a desk was actually a long, wooden table like the ones they used at schools. In fact… looking more closely, that's exactly what it was.

The room I was in was dark, the only light coming from a small lamp hanging from the ceiling. The place looked like a classroom of some sort; all around me were identical rows of tables and chairs going down toward an empty space with only a desk in it. At the opposite wall was a huge whiteboard with nothing written on it.

I couldn't help but let out a sound halfway between a growl and a groan. Where was I? I'd graduated high school already, hadn't I…?

?: Look, that one woke up.

I jumped at the sudden sound. It was a young man's voice, smooth and rich as honey.

?: I can see that.

As I rose to my feet I almost tumbled face-first into the edge of the table. Still supremely confused and with my vision quite blurry, I looked up to the source of those voices.

There were two people a couple rows up, a boy and a girl which looked around my age. The one who'd spoken first was a lean and handsome dark skinned man, wearing a purple vest and bow over a short-sleeved black shirt. His smile was subtle but natural, and the carefree and confident way in which he carried himself could only mean one thing.

This guy's loaded, I thought.

The girl was harder to read. She was taller than all of us, broad shouldered and wearing a white and purple sailor school uniform. Her hair was carefully tied into a ponytail and her eyebrows seemed glued together. Her gaze was set everywhere except on us.

Boy: [raises hand, palm up] Are you feeling all right? Took your time waking up, huh? Don't know how you did it, those chairs are super uncomfortable, I can barely feel my butt right now

I stared at them for what must've been at least half a minute. After so much consideration, I opened my mouth and voiced what I thought of the situation:

Alex: …Huh?

Girl: [whispers to herself] Not very quick on the uptake, this one. [looks down] If you have any questions, direct them at him. I've already done my fair share of explaining for the day.

I didn't know whether to be offended or confused at her response, so I chose a mix of both. I looked at the boy and raised an eyebrow, at which he shrugged.

Boy: [smiles in a relaxed way] Don't listen to her. She's just grumpy because her beauty sleep didn't go as planned.

The animosity exuding from her eyes felt almost palpable after he said that. I decided to speak before a fight broke out.

Alex: [places hand against forehead] I… where am I?

Boy: Now that's a long story It all began when your parents met each other in…

I heard the girl sigh. She placed a hand on his shoulder and interrupted him:

Girl: We all woke up in this classroom without knowing where we were or how we got here. [bites thumb] We remember everything else about ourselves though, which I find stranger than the alternative. If my guess is correct, we're currently inside one of the many facilities which make up Marble Hills Academy. You can see its emblem pasted onto the corner of that whiteboard down there.

Her explanation was followed by a deafening silence, which permeated the entire room and seemed to make the air heavy and cold around us. I felt my eyes going wide. A thousand images flashed in front of my eyes in a moment alone:

Marble Hills Academy and Research Facility for Gifted Young Adults. The name sprouted into my mind, sending a shock throughout my entire body as my memories came back to me. I remembered the months of sleepless work I had to suffer just to stand a chance, I remembered my mother's face when she heard I'd been accepted to such a prestigious college, I remembered our tears as we hugged each other and laughed.

I remembered the feeling of my heart ready to burst from happiness. Marble Hills… the very name was burned into my skull, firmly attached to a feeling of boundless pride. I found myself not knowing exactly how to feel; if we really were inside Marble Hills… shouldn't I be happier? But then, how had I gotten here? Why couldn't I remember anything else?

I squinted and let out a small growl of pain, grabbing my head with both hands. Something felt wrong, like a very important piece of me was missing. But what…?

Boy: Well, I guess that's that. As expected from an Ultimate student, your explanations are very concise and to the point. Though I thought you didn't want to talk anymore?

Girl: [arms crossed] Better than listening to you.

Boy: Jeez, lady. [holds nape with both hands] Who needs enemies with classmates like this, am I right?

I blinked a few times and looked up.

Alex: [narrows eyes] C-classmates? Then… you two are also Ultimates? And… if this really is Marble Hills…

Boy: I'm guessing you were also assigned to class forty-eight? Then yes, that means we're classmates. I'd say introductions are in order; wouldn't wanna start calling you Star Boy from your appearance alone.

I unconsciously put my hand against the tattoo on my left cheek, feeling heat rise to my face. If what they were saying was true, then maybe all this was part of the academy's entrance exam? Then there was no reason to worry, right? All of this… all of this had to be normal. I swallowed and forced myself to smile, then looked up at my classmates.

Alex: Y-yeah. My name is Alex Santangel, and I'm a transfer student from Argentina. I'm the Ultimate Puzzle Solver, or at least that's what they chose me for. [rubs cheek, embarassed] Also… uh, I go by they, if you don't… if it's okay, you know…

Alex Santangel – Ultimate Puzzle Solver

Off to a smashing start, I heard a voice say inside my head. Maybe you should stutter more, that ought to make them think you're not a loser.

Despite my shaky introduction, the boy didn't seem bothered and instead stared at me with an interest I found… rather uncomfortable. It was as if he was looking at me through X-rays.

Boy: [strokes chin, smiling] Ultimate Puzzle Solver, huh? How… interesting.

Girl: What's that even good for?

It's not like I hadn't been asked that a million times, but it still stung a bit coming from one of my classmates. I was used to being made fun of because of my talent, so I decided to let it slide. Besides, she didn't sound angry or hostile; simply curious.

I stood up to my full height –which wasn't much, to be honest– and puffed up my chest as I replied:

Alex: [smug expression] Ever heard of Archimedes? Alan Turing? Sam Loyd? Puzzle solving has always been a skill which precedes greatness. Why, some of the greatest geniuses in history have dabbled greatly in p–

Girl: [raises hand, annoyed expression] Alright, I get it. I don't care that much.

Alex: …You asked, though.

Boy: [pressing hand against mouth] [giggling] Well… I think it's a nice talent.

Darius: [folds arms, smiling] All right, I guess it's my turn. Name's Darius Polk, and as for my talent… I'm the Ultimate Polo Player. Sucks, I know, but what are you gonna do.

Darius Polk – Ultimate Polo Player

I narrowed my eyes. These things had never been my forte but even I knew polo was famous for being a rich person kinda sport, much like golf. Still, if Darius was good enough to gain the title of Ultimate then at least his skills hadn't been bought with money.

Alex: Polo… so like, with the horses and the hammers? That's… pretty cool.

Darius: [shrugs] You can say boring, it's fine. I'm not much a fan of it either. [sighs, looking to the side] My parents made me play though, and I guess I eventually got good at it.

Kind of an understatement.

Darius: [hands in pockets] So, gonna introduce yourself? Or do you want me to give you a cute nickname we can call you by?

Raicho: [darkened expression] Don't. Just… call me Raicho. Raicho Sanda. I don't feel like telling you my talent, so don't ask.

Raicho Sanda – Ultimate ?

Woman of few words, huh. I couldn't say I entirely disliked that part of her; at least apathy and annoyance felt more real than whatever was going on with Darius. I liked him, but I had the strange feeling at least part of his personality was an act.

Probably just being paranoid, though. This situation is pretty weird.

Darius: [strokes chin] Raicho… the thunder bird. That's a pretty unique name.

Raicho: [surprised expression] Oh. So you know Japanese. [looks down, pouting] You've got me at a disadvantage. I have no knowledge of what your name means.

Darius: You're making it sound like this is a competition or something.

Raicho: Hmph.

The way they treated each other reminded me of some siblings I'd met, though I was sure if I ever said that out loud Raicho would find the most gruesome possible way to murder me. As it was, I decided to change the subject to a more pressing concern.

Alex: [smiling] Well, it's really nice to meet both of you. But… why is it just us here? Are we waiting for more people to come to class?

Darius walked toward the edge of one of the tables and sat down on it, crossing his arms. As he spoke his expression turned thoughtful, a strange shadow falling over his face.

Darius: Truth is, we can't really leave. Door's locked.

I turned around slowly, feeling a clump form in my stomach. The door at the other side of the room looked entirely made of metal, its lock covered by some sort of electronic device. Next to the doorknob blinked a small, red light.

Alex: [wide eyes] H-huh? W-why is it locked? Are we trapped here?

Darius: [raising both hands] Now now, try not to panic. I'm sure there's an explanation for…

Raicho: [darkened expression] We've probably been kidnapped.

I tried to say something, to laugh off what Raicho had said and call her dumb for thinking it, but my voice had vanished completely.

Darius: [furrows brow] Come on, now. Do you wanna make them feel like shit? We don't know what's going on and being negative isn't gonna fix anything.

Raicho: I'm just voicing my thoughts, you're free to not believe me. [thoughtful expression] Why else would we forcefully be put to sleep, though? They probably used some sort of anesthetic on us.

I closed my eyes for a moment and tried my best calm down, to push my anxiety as far down as possible. Darius was right; freaking out wouldn't help the situation, no matter how dire it was. Just like a puzzle, we needed to gather all the pieces of information we had on us and put them together into a recognizable image.

That thought helped ease my anxiety a bit, and as soon as I was able I tried out one of the many mental exercises I'd come up with for puzzle solving. Soon my mind was as clear as a shallow lake, and my breathing had returned to normal.

Alex: [bites thumb, looking to the side] Why do you think that? Jumping straight to that conclusion… you must have some sort of proof.

For the first time since we've met, the shadow of a smile appeared on Raicho's face.

Raicho: Well, I was the first to wake up. Then it was Darius, not long after. Then you, after almost twenty minutes. And he is still asleep…

I tilted my head to the side, confused. What did she mean by he? There wasn't anyone else in the r–

As I thought that, I heard a snore behind me and turned around so fast my neck clicked. Indeed there was another boy in the room, eyes closed and head of blonde hair resting on top of his arms. He wore an orange, sleeveless jacket on top of a black shirt. An expensive looking camera was tied around his neck.

Alex: [eyes wide] S-shit, I didn't even notice him! Is he… a kid? He doesn't look like a college student at all.

Raicho: [sighs] Yes, anyway. Looking at the order in which we all woke up, why do you think I suggested anesthetics? [tiny smile] You're the Ultimate Puzzle Solver, aren't you? It should be easy to figure it out for someone like you.

I puffed up my cheeks, hands curling into fists. You think you're so cool, don't you? Well just look at a professional in action!

The world blurred around me as I concentrated on the evidence. Considering what Raicho had said, and taking into account the order in which we all woke up…

Alex: I see… so it's because of size. The smaller a person is, the longer the anesthetics would last on them. That's why you woke up first and that boy is still asleep, right?

Raicho: [surprised expression] Indeed, that is my theory.

As far as theories went, it was a good one. However it carried the unfortunate truth that we probably had been kidnapped, a thought I really didn't want to entertain unless I had absolutely no choice but to. I felt the calm in my mind start to waver as that gnawing anxiety came back.

Alex: W-why would someone do that? Why us?

Darius: [shaking head] I'm telling you, you're both being too negative. [taps the side of his forehead, smiling] You're Ultimates, aren't you? You should expect the unexpected, you should relish in it! Are you really gonna freak out over something like this?

Alex: [fiddles with the fabric of his shirt] But… what if we really were kidnapped? If that's the case…

Darius: You're being too paranoid; don't listen to miss ultimate conspiracy theorist over there. You've read stuff about Marble Hills, haven't you? All the students talk about how weird the academy is and how quirky their teaching methods are; because that's how genius is! [smiling kindly] This could very well be the entrance exam, or the welcome ceremony. Maybe this is how they do things around here, you know? It's pointless to worry about it.

Despite my previous distrusting of Darius, the way he spoke and conducted himself was calming and exactly what I needed at the moment. I could feel my worry grow smaller with every word he spoke, and before he finished his speech I found myself slowly nodding.

Marble Hills… was this really part of the academy's plan? I'd heard they were rather loose when it came to teaching methods, but this was a bit much. Still, if it was simply a novel way to introduce us to our college life…

Virgencita, I really hope so.

Alex: I… guess that makes sense [looks up at Darius, smiling] Let's try to think positively for now, at least until something goes wrong.

Darius: [thumbs up] That's the spirit, kiddo.

Raicho: [looks down, pouting] Do whatever you want. Time will prove one of us right eventually.

With all that said, we were left without much else to discuss. I considered bringing up a few topics of conversation but figured that the atmosphere wasn't the right one for it. Yeah, nothing like discussing what kind of music or movies you like in what could very well be a hostage situation.

After some deliberating, my gaze set on that sleeping boy again, and a question sprouted from my mouth before I realized:

Alex. I wonder… is he really a college student like us?

Raicho: He's nineteen years old. His name is Oliver Bright and he's the Ultimate Cryptid Hunter.

We stared at her in silence for what felt like far longer than a few seconds.

Alex: [surprised expression] How… do you know that?

Raicho: I riffled through his pockets while he was asleep, and found his ID. I did the same for all of you.

Alex: [eyes wide] You did what!?

Darius: [folds arms, smiling] I actually caught her in the act when I woke up. Thought she was laying hands on me for a completely different reason.

He winked, and the sheer disgust and disdain in Raicho's expression could've probably killed if Darius weren't immune to it.

Raicho: In any case, he was the only one with an ID still in his person. [looks up at Alex] As for you, I took a couple mint candies from your right pocket. I hope you don't mind.

Alex: [shocked expression] Wh– of course I do! [throws hands up in the air] Who do you think you are to steal other people's cand–

Before I could finish my –completely justified– rant about candy theft, an electronic beeping sound boomed all around the room. Then, a computerized voice spoke:

?: To all students, please gather in the Main Hall. The welcome ceremony will begin soon and we need all sixteen of you to be present for it.

We heard another blip behind us, and when I turned around I saw the red light next to the door blink out, replaced soon after by a green one.

?: All classroom doors have been unlocked. Please proceed to the Main Hall without dawdling too much.

We stood still for a while, not knowing how to react. Raicho was the first to move; she unfolded her arms and started walking down the classroom with determination written all over her face.

Raicho: Let's go. We shouldn't be late.

Darius: [frowns] Hey, hold on. We can't just leave Oliver here.

Raicho: You can carry him on your back, can't you? [tiny smile] Ultimate Polo Player and all that, don't tell me you can't even carry someone his size?

Darius: [annoyed expression] Wh– why can't you carry him!? You're bigger than me!

Raicho: [disinterested look] Yeah, but I don't want to.

That's as far as the discussion went. Grumbling and cursing under his breath, Darius grabbed Oliver's unconscious body and carried him like a backpack as we made our way toward the door. It opened without a hitch, and with a heavy knot on my stomach I walked through and headed toward the unknown.

The hallway we walked into was maybe wide enough for two people, and that didn't include those who had another person hanging from their back.

As Raicho and Darius carefully skittered their way out, I took some time to look around. At my left the hallway continued for about sixty feet before it ended, and I could see three similar doors to the ones we'd come out of. Other classrooms, maybe? It was rather dark and my vision was still somewhat blurry, so I wasn't sure.

Raicho: There's a map here.

At our right the hallway widened slightly, and stuck to one of the walls was a large, framed piece of paper detailing the layout of the floor we were in. Raicho was the first to approach it.

Raicho: [arms crossed, furrowed brow] It seems we're on the left wing of the first floor, where some of the classrooms are located. That over there must be the bookstore.

Without looking she pointed at a pair of tall glass doors further left into the hallway, which were tied together with chains.

Raicho: If we want to reach the Main Hall we have to turn left there and then head right.

Darius: Nice one, miss ultimate cartographer. [uncomfortable expression] Can we get a move on? This kid's heavier than he looks.

Before we headed off I took one last look at the map, my gaze flying through it as if it were a puzzle. All the other commodities in the floor we were in seemed… a bit too normal for Marble Hills, if that made sense. Dining hall, gymnasium, rec room, garden, but no sign of anything that would betray the building as being the most prestigious academy in all of America. Maybe the other floors were different?

I wasn't able to finish the thought. Steps echoed behind me, followed by a voice so potent I couldn't help but unconsciously shrink at the sound of it:

?: What the hell do you think you're doing!?

We turned around in unison, and what I saw made me reconsider whether I was dreaming or not. The girl stomping her feet toward us was wearing the strangest outfit I'd ever seen: most of her body was draped in a thick purple cloak which was held with a silver broach above her shoulder. Under it I caught the glimpse of what looked like leather armor and boots. Her ginger hair was shaved on one side and long on the other one, falling stylishly to the side of her hawk-like face. Both her eyes and the five jewels sticking out of her golden tiara were a deep emerald, and I could've sworn her ears looked incredibly long and pointy like those of an elf.

All those things were surprising, yes, but nothing managed to terrify me as much as what I saw hanging from her back. As she stopped in front of us –a righteous fury burning in her eyes– I couldn't help but yell:

Alex: I-is that a fucking sword!?

Raicho and Darius looked similarly stunned as we all stared at the weapon on her back. The girl frowned, looking back and to the side, and without warning closed her fingers around the handle of the sword.

?: A sword, you say? To insult my weapon like that, you must be either too brave or too stupid. If you value your life…

?: Fuck's sake, lady!

Another voice came from the hallway in front of us, and a man followed soon after. The contrast couldn't have been more noticeable; he looked like the most normal guy in the universe, slim and pale with a three o'clock shadow on his face. He wore a simple blue shirt with a black tie and cap over his head.

He sighed as he walked toward us, hunched and hands hidden in his pockets. He was the most tired-looking person I'd seen in my life.

?: [slouched shoulders] You gotta be stirring my hotpot. Calm down, lady, you can't whip that sword out at everyone you meet.

?: [raises chin indignantly] How can I not react this way!? [punches her own chest] Do you not see what I see? These… bandits have kidnapped my companion!

As she said that she pointed at the unconscious boy hanging from Darius' back. There was a moment of confusion, and then realization dawned on all three of us.

Raicho: You've got the wrong idea. We didn't kidnap him, we just…

She couldn't finish speaking as the girl threw her hand forward, palm facing us and cloak cutting through the air behind her.

?: Trying to trick me, are you? How foolish… [smiles wickedly] Know that I've faced against the most powerful and sneakiest of Mazoku, and not once did they ever managed to fool me! Why, your insolence deserves the proper retribution…

Darius: [takes a step back, terrified expression] N-now, hold on! We're not…

Alex: Please calm down! [puts hand between them] I promise, we didn't do anything to him! We were all in the same classroom when the announcement happened, but he hasn't woken up yet!

I felt all gazes on me. My shoulders began to shake under their weight, but I did my best to stay still and not run from the terrifying woman in front of me. She narrowed her eyes, as if studying me, and after what felt like an entire minute she lowered her shoulders and moved her fingers away from the handle of her sword.

Darius: [whispering] Oh thank god.

The girl crossed her arms under her chest, still staring at me. I could imagine the cogs inside her brain turning and turning.

?: I see… maybe I was too fast to judge you. [thoughtful expression] However, your calming voice has tamed the raging hellbeast inside of me. If what you're saying is true…

Raicho: It is. [looks to the side, annoyed] We just saw him still unconscious and decided to take him with us to the Main Hall. Don't go flying off the handle for no reason, you maniac

?: [nods] I apologize; it seems both Oliver and I have caused you trouble. [grins widely] Even then, you decided to take him with you instead of leaving him behind! I can't thank you enough… please, consider me forever at your service from now on.

She certainly changes moods quicklyenough, I couldn't help but think. At least she wasn't threatening to turn us into human kebabs with her sword anymore.

?: [shakes his head] Lady, think you might wanna introduce yourself before swearing loyalty to them? Not that I care, but…

?: Oh! Right you are, my friend! [grins, showing teeth] You three are also students, right? If we're gonna be classmates then of course we should get to know each other better!

I exchanged a look with Darius and Raicho, both of whom seemed just as confused as I was. At least there was that.

Raicho: Before that, I wanna ask you... why do you have a sword?

?: Alright, I'll introduce myself first!

Raicho: [annoyed expression] Hey, don't ignore me.

Reena: [punches her chest] Where monsters rampage, I'm there to take them down! Where treasure glitters, I'm there to claim it! Where an enemy rises to face me… victory will be mine! [grabs handle of her sword] You may call me Voidmaster Reena! Famous swordswoman, sorcerer and known all throughout the world as the Ultimate Roleplayer! Nice to meet you all!

Voidmaster Reena – Ultimate Roleplayer

It took a second, but after her introduction the pieces started to fall together in my mind. Ultimate Roleplayer… that must've been why she was dressed that way and acted in such an outlandish way. The sword and elf ears must've been part of her costume as well. Knowing that, I couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.

At least she's not a murderer, I thought. Just really, really dedicated.

Unfortunately, Raicho wasn't as quick on the uptake as I was.

Raicho: [eyes narrowed] R…roleplayer? What is that? And that the hell kind of name is Voidmaster Reena? Are you a cosplayer or something?

Reena: [points at Raicho, smiling] Ha! You got some nerve to compare me to those impostors! [points at herself] Cosplayers merely dress as their characters; I become them! Embody them in both flesh and spirit!

Now that I had some time to look her over –without the fear of being chopped into tiny pieces– I thought I maybe recognized her outfit from some anime I used to watch when younger. Couldn't quite put my finger on it, though.

Raicho: I get it, you don't have to yell. [looks to the side and frowns] You're all too loud.

?: Yeah, tell me about it.

The tired looking man behind Reena sighed, and as he took a couple steps forward I noticed the huge bags under his eyes. Just looking at him made me sleepy.

Noah: By the way, I'm Noah Widrich. [waves unenthusiastically] They call me the Ultimate Security Guard. If you ever need something guarded for eight hours a day, give me a call. I might not have a gun but I've got a flashback throw that'll give those thiefs a nasty fucking concussion.

Noah Widrich – Ultimate Security Guard

We introduced ourselves as well, though I could tell Raicho was less than enthusiastic about the prospect. As we talked, a part of me wondered just how I felt about these people. I mean, they were going to be my classmates no matter what, but I'd never expect them to be so… unique, to put it lightly.

I gues it's better than if they were boring, I smiled to myself.

Raicho: If you're all finished making friends, we should probably get going. As many questions as your… existence raises, I would prefer not being the last person to arrive at the hall.

It surprised me how… not offended everyone was at her comment, me included. It seemed that in the few minutes we'd known each other we'd already gotten accostumed to Raicho's sour personality.

Reena: Well said! [grins widely] You, Darius! Hand Oliver to me, will you? I'll happily carry him until the sleepy son of a Mazoku wakes up!

Darius: [sighs in relief] Ugh… thanks, my back was starting to kill me.

As the blonde boy exchanged backs to ride on, I heard Noah speak behind us:

Noah: Oh right, I forgot to mention. There's two other people in the classroom we came out of [points to door at the end of the hallway] We left them back there because they were arguing about… I dunno, I wasn't really paying attention. Lots of screaming, though.

Reena: [nods] A raging battle to be sure! We didn't want to interfere, but it'd be a shame if they missed the ceremony due to something like that.

Raicho pinched the bridge of her nose, as if the mere mention of another commotion gave her a headache.

Raicho: I understand [turns toward Alex] You, go get them. We'll go on ahead.

Alex: I… wh–why do I have to go!?

Raicho: [looks at Darius, then at Alex] The both of you have been dependable sidekicks so far. You wouldn't want to ruin that image, would you?

I was about to protest, but then I saw her expression change. The smile she shone at me was geniune, I could tell just from looking at it.

Raicho: Keep it up and I might begin to tolerate your presence.

I threw one hand up and tried to speak, but no words came out. Feeling my cheeks turn red, I looked down and tried to ignore the fact that all eyes were set on me.

Alex: …Fine, whatever.

After all the things which had happened today –being threatened with a sword not being the weirdest one, somehow–, I had the vain expectation that whatever I saw inside the classroom wouldn't surprise me too much. Guess that's why I wasn't the Ultimate Hope, whatever the hell that'd mean.

It wasn't too bad at first. Sure, there was this one guy flailing around and shrieking like he was being chased down by an angry swarm of bees. Sure, the woman standing next to him with a worried expression had the entirety of her skin painted grey and wore the second strangest outfit I'd seen yet. Still, I managed not to panic too badly until I saw it.

?: Ghah! Get it away from me!

?: P-please calm down, friend! I assure you she is not dangerous in the slightest!

As I narrowed my eyes wondering who she was, I saw something slither up the guy's shirt toward his shoulder. It was almost as thick as my arm, grey-ish brown in color and with a head as big as my fist, two horn-like protrusions coming out the sides of its head.

My body froze, and I felt my stomach turn. As the snake continued to slither all over his body, I finally saw its tail; it was spiked and ended in a bulb-like shape, making it look like there was a spider attached to the end of it.

Alex: W-wha! S-snake!

As inane as my statement was, it did work in making both people turn to look at me.

?: Oh Ereshkigal, not again.

The grey lady took advantage of the fact his classmate had stopped moving and grabbed the snake from his body with a fluid motion, draping the creature around her as if it were a scarf. Relief was clear in both their faces as they took a step away from each other.

?: T-thank god. [leans against the wall, sighing in relief] I… I thought I was a goner!

Alex: Are you okay!? What's going on here? Why is there a snake!?

?: [clutches chest] Hell if I know, man. We all woke up here and before I could even introduce myself that monster jumped at me! [glares at grey lady] Do you wanna kill me or something!?

The woman took her time before speaking. She stood tall and elegant, her lips pursed in such a way she reminded me of my mother. She held the terrifying snake with one hand, patting its head softly with the other.

?: Believe me my friend, you were not the one in danger in this situation. [stern expression] Ki is not venomous, nor does she have any desire to hurt any human being. She simply wished to play. You should not judge others by their appearances.

I exchanged looks with the young man, and I could see in his face that he was as confused as I was. Something about the way she spoke… even if her words weren't directed at me it made me feel like a kid who'd been caught doing something I wasn't supposed to. I felt the strange urge to apologize.

?: Well… could've fooled me! [scratches cheek, looking to the side] Jeez… I'm a sensitive guy, all right? I could've had a heart attack from panic.

He had a thick, growly accent I somewhat recognized from the few times I'd traveled south of the country. His appearance was rather humble and simplistic, at least compared to the rest of our classmates; he wore a simple white shirt with a blue tee underneath. His hair was short and spiked up, the same color as his deep, blue eyes.

?: [rubs back of his neck] Guess… I kinda overreacted. Where I'm from, snakes are pretty darn dangerous. 'S probably why I freaked out so much.

?: [nods] I understand. I apologize as well for not properly controlling my friend. [scratches snake's head playfully] She must've sensed my nervousness at the unusual situation we found ourselves in, and tried to cheer me up by playing with you. I promise it will not happen again, unless you wish it to.

What the hell am I watching? I couldn't help but think. I hadn't done a single thing since entering the classroom, except stare slack-jawed at the strange events unfolding before me.

?: [turns toward Alex, smiling] Hey pal, sorry for making you see that. I don't usually freak out like that.

Alex: It's… okay. I just… swung by to see what was going on. Because of the announcement and all that.

?: [eyes wide] Shit, that's right! [leaps forward] I gotta go. I'd stay longer but I really don't wanna be the last guy, just like in high school.

Without another word he sprinted past me and exited the classroom, yelling toward us as he ran.

Markus: Oh by the way, the name's Markus; Ultimate Farmer! Remember that!

Markus Ferro – Ultimate Farmer

I was left alone with the woman wielding a terrifying snake as a scarf, her striking, golden eyes set on me.

?: Curious classmates we have, don't you think? [smiles courteously] To change moods so quickly… that boy sure is odd.

Yeah, you're one to talk.

I felt bad as soon as I thought that. As scary as she looked she hadn't done anything to me, and it was true that judging others by appearances was one of the behaviors I hated the most in people. Being afraid of her wouldn't be fair; I needed to give her a chance.

Alex: Y-yeah, you should see the others, they're even weirder. Also… it's nice to meet you, uh…

Anu: My name is Anu Ishtar. [bows respectfully] I'm sure you've already noticed, but I am the Ultimate Snake Charmer. Ki here is my good friend and companion. Both of us are delighted to meet a new friend such as yourself.

Anu Ishtar – Ultimate Snake Charmer

Despite the complete calmness in her posture and voice, I noticed her cheeks turning slightly redder and her lips shaking slightly. Her introduction seemed rehearsed as well, the 'friend' sounding kind of improvised.

She looks really nervous, I noticed. Maybe she's not used to meeting new people?

I introduced myself in kind, and as I did so I noticed something different in the atmosphere around us. It felt… lighter, less oppressive. Maybe I hadn't realized before due to all the confusion and panic, but all the rest had reacted differently to me talking to them. It had been faint and momentary for the most part. A raised eyebrow, a stiffening of their shoulders, a puzzled look. And maybe, just maybe, a bit of judging.

Being used to it in much larger amounts, maybe part of me had decided to intentionally ignore it. Maybe I was imagining the difference with Anu here too, though that possibility died as soon as she spoke again:

Anu: Alex… what a lovely name. [concerned expression] Um… forgive me for such a presumptuous question, but would I be right to assume that you prefer to go by they?

To say she caught me off guard would've been putting it lightly. Out of all the people to have gotten it right, the girl who dressed like an anime villainess was the last one I expected.

Alex: Y-yeah… I do, actually. I think you're the first person to notice right away.

Anu: [smiles to herself, petting snake] I have been told I'm good at noticing these things. Now, would it be all right for me to accompany you to the Main Hall? I'd feel bad if we were late because of me.

Alex: S-sure. Lead the way.

We exited the classroom together and made our way through the cramped hallway. I tried to judge how close should I stand to Anu as we walked, worried both about her personal space and about insulting her by acting afraid of her pet. Judging by what she'd said the species wasn't venomous or aggressive, but fear wasn't something which could be tamed by logic so easily. Still, I did my best not to show how terrified I was of Ki.

Unfortunately, it seemed I wasn't great at it.

Anu: It's okay, you don't have to force yourself to stand close to us. [drops shoulders] The simple fact that you're trying not to be scared of us speaks volumes of your open mindedness. I really appreciate it.

She probably meant that to be reassuring, but it only made me feel worse. I rubbed the back of my neck, cheeks tinted red, and tried to stammer a response:

Alex: You shouldn't have to settle for that. You said Ki isn't dangerous, and I believe you. I shouldn't be acting so afraid of her.

Anu: [smiles, eyes closed] …Thank you, Alex. You are very kind.

We didn't say much more as we finally arrived at the short path leading toward the hall. I could hear a cacophony of voices at the other side, my heart starting to beat faster and sweat forming on the back of my neck the closer we got. I gulped, and Anu must've noticed my nervousness because she placed a hand on my shoulder and smiled.

Anu: Now now, I'm sure our classmates will be delightful to meet. Let us greet them with a smile, my sweet Asushunamir.

I had no idea what that last word meant, but coming from Anu it sounded like the sweetest thing anyone could be called. I took a moment to breathe in deeply, raised my chin high and returned the smile as we entered the hall together.

Weirdly enough, I kind of expected everyone to turn and look at us as soon as we entered the hall. I'd seen the scene a million times in movies, after all. However, it seemed the fourteen people in the middle of the room had more worrying concerns than us at the moment.

The Main Hall was about the size of a small football stadium (soccer, my mind tried to correct me. I told it to go fuck itself.), built in the shape of an octagon. There were stairs leading toward a small depression in the middle, and all around I saw some of the floor's facilities I'd read about on the map. The dining hall and the canteen (both quite spacious) seemed to be locked, as was every other door. I noticed at least five hallways leading toward different parts of the building, one of them ending at a door with a window which let in a bit of what I thought was sunlight. The garden, maybe?

The rest of our classmates didn't seem bothered by that. I noticed the other six people I'd already met in the crowd, along with eight new faces all attached to cool-looking people who'd I'd love to introduce myself to if I weren't such a coward.

Markus: Hey, Alex! Over here!

Markus' voice rang from the edge of the group, turning a couple heads his way. He waved at us with a carefree smile, one hand in the pocket of his jeans. Next to him stood Darius, who seemed to be engaged in a conversation with Reena, a boy I hadn't met yet and a now awake Oliver. All five of them looked at us as we approached.

Alex: H-hey. How's it going? Is everyone here?

?: Yeah, I think it's just the sixteen of us. [raises a hand and waves] Oh, I'm Rick by the way. Or more specifically Richard Ricochet, the Ultimate Let's-player. Nice to meet you.

Richard Ricochet – Ultimate Let's-player

I introduced myself in kind. The guy seemed pretty nice at earnest, though I never expected a talent like his to be eligible for Marble Hills. Still, it would've been rude to mention it, so I kept it to myself.

Alex: Sorry for being so late, by the way. Looks like we're the last ones here.

Darius: It's all good; nothing's happened yet. [turns to Anu and smiles] Additionally, it's a pleasure to meet you, my lady.

He bowed to Anu in a way which made it difficult to guess whether he was being facetious or not. The tall woman simply smiled and bowed back, her lips stretched thin.

Reena: [grins widely] Finally got that hellbeast under control, I see. Good! If my classmates are this powerful then that means I can certainly count on them!

Before I could reply to her nonsense, Oliver pushed her slightly to the side and spoke, eyes sparkling with excitement.

Oliver: [looks up, starry eyed] Alex, right!? It's so nice to meet you! I know you were already told my name and talent, but still!

Oliver Bright – Ultimate Cryptid Hunter

Oliver: [places hands on Alex' shoulders] Thanks for bringing me with you while I was asleep, by the way! Wanna marry me!?

Alex: W-what!? M-marry!?

Oliver: [sticks tongue out] Just kidding! To earn the right to marry the Ultimate Cryptid Hunter you'll need to rescue me at least three times. Still, I like to ask people that.

Darius: [sighs] Yeah, did the same for us. Except Raicho, 'cause I think even he can tell it'd be a bad idea.

I looked around, trying to find here. There she was, as far away from us as possible while still technically being inside the group. As usual, she looked at everything except the people around her.

Alex: [smiling nervously] I can see that going badly, yeah. Still, you shouldn't be asking people that out of the bl–

?: Hey! Can everyone shut up for a damn second!?

All chatter ceased as the fifteen of us turned toward that voice. She was on the edge of the group, like Raicho, and the marked frown on her face made it clear she hadn't spoken out to make friends. She wore a pair of thick glasses and an orange and black sweatshirt. There was a scar on the side of her lip.

?: [throws hand up, frowning] Good. Finally some peace and quiet 'round here. Now, any of you wanna make yourselves useful and tell me what the hell's going on?

Well don't you have an attitude, miss. I glared at her, half confused and half angry. What the hell was her problem?

Rick: [smiles nervously] Huh? What do you mean? Isn't this the welcome ceremony or something?

Alex: Y-yeah… I thought so too.

Darius: Weren't we called here by the academy's staff? I mean, this is Marble Hills, right? Isn't that the whole point?

?: [shakes her head, scoffing] Wow, you're like a bunch of lemmings attending college. What are you gonna do next, jump from a cliff together because you think that's the right thing to do? [points at everyone] Tell me, why is no one here then? Why are all the doors locked? And why the fuck did we all wake up without knowing what's going on!?

Her words sent a shockwave of panic throughout the group. I could feel the atmosphere getting heavier, and as everyone exchanged looks I felt something cold grab at the inside of my throat. What if Darius was wrong? What if this wasn't normal, what if…?

?: A moment of your time, please.

The soft, rich voice which brought us back to reality did not mesh at all with the person it came from. She wasn't particularly tall, but her appearance and the sheer presence she emitted made me shiver just by looking at her. She wore a red turtleneck under a thick leather jacket, and there were various small cuts and a couple band-aids adorning her face. Her hair was a pale, almost white purple, shaven on one side of her head and falling gracefully toward her cheek on the other.

Monika: Before you say anything else, don't you think you should introduce yourself? Manners are important. [blank expression] I'll go first. I'm Monika Sirota, the Ultimate Biker. Very nice to meet you all.

Monika Sirota – Ultimate Biker

Her statement brought on her the entirety of the girl's disdain, directed in one look alone. She dug her hands in her pockets, shook her head and looked to the side before replying.

Rose: Jesus, fine. I'm Rose, all right? Rose Freeman, Ultimate Theoretical Physicist. There, are you happy?

Rose Freeman – Ultimate Theoretical Physicist

The whiplash I felt from those two was too much; their personalities seemed switched, almost. I would've never expected a famous biker to be as polite as Monika, nor someone smart enough to be recognized as the Ultimate Theoretical Physicist to be so incredibly crass.

Monika: [nods absentmindedly] Your talent implies that you're smart, Rose.

Rose: [smiles smugly] You think? Tell you what, if you find someone smarter than me in this group then I'll build you a statue out of fucking gold.

Monika: Hm. If you're as smart as you claim to be, then why did you try to send everyone into a panic? [raises palm to the side] You should know that acting like this is only going to breed more fear and suspicion in our group. How would you benefit from that? It's pretty stupid, if you think about it.

The imaginary mic drop was so potent I could physically feel the silence following it. Rose stood still as if she'd been doused with a bucket full of ice water, and I could see a few mocking smiles on the people around me directed at her.

Rose: T-then what the hell do you suggest!? [points at Monika] What should we do, brainiac!?"

Monika: We are all students chosen by Marble Hills, aren't we? Maybe we should start acting like it. [tosses hair to the side, casually] We are the best of the best; we are humanity's future. If we react with panic to a situation like this, we'd be doing the world a disservice.

Monika: I think it'd be best to wait here for a bit, and see what happens. If someone comes to greet us, that will be it. If not, we can figure out what to do from there. [breathes in deeply] We should not panic until we are given a reason to, don't you all agree?

Much like Rose before, her voice and words completely changed the atmosphere around us. It felt lighter, more hopeful almost. I felt the panic around us slowly vanish as people nodded and voiced their agreement.

However, that feeling was short lived. Behind Monika, a new voice spoke, one which did not belong to any of the sixteen of us:

?: Upupu… now that's what I call a speech!

The voice was high pitched and clearly artificial, as if it belonged to some cartoon mascot. It should've been a comical sound, something to make me laugh, but as I heard it all I felt was a terrible cold spreading throughout my entire body. The world malice came to mind, without rhyme or reason nor any kind of context.

We all turned toward the voice, and what we saw left us completely mute. In the middle of the octagon stood a strange creature, half white and half black in the shape of a smiling teddy bear. One of his eyes was a simple dot, while the other one stretched across half its face and glowed with a pulsing, ominous red light.

He opened his mouth, and that horrible voice came out of it once more:

Monokuma: Sorry for making you wait! I'm super embearassed that I'm late to this ceremony! [places both palms forward, grinning] Allow me to introduce myself! I am the one, the only, the handsome… Monokuma!

Monokuma: [turns to show primarily black side] I also happen to be the new headmaster of Marble Hills, and I am the one who is now in charge of all sixteen of you… in charge of the world's hope!

He placed both hands over his belly and let out a piercing, spine tingling laugh which echoed all throughout the hall.

I could do little but stare as that laughter bounced inside my brain, too dumbfounded to even speak. This was a dream, I was sure of it. What was happening in front of me… there was no way it could be real, not in a million years.

Alas, that hope –like many others– would end up being short lived. If only I'd known what was about to happen, the horrible events about to transpire inside the academy for which I'd worked so hard to be accepted to.

If only I'd known… that the Killing Semester was about to start.