Quick note: This story will switch between the P.O.V. of different characters, it should be obvious who it's on, but if it's not stated instantly it will be soon. Seeing how I portray the view of other characters should be interesting. The narrator should only be used for the start of the story, enjoy!
Restart the Killing School Trip!
Chapter 1 – Minigames and Killing Games
"Hey! Are you listening to me? Are you ok?" Komaeda asked to Hinata, who was on the floor.
"Wha… what?" Hinata said in confusion as he pulled himself up.
Agh… dammit my head hurts. It hurts… a lot!
"Hey… are you feeling ok?" Komaeda asked.
"Y-Yeah…" Hinata said slowly, trying to clear his head.
"Well that's good, my name is-"
"Nagito Komaeda." Hinata finished off.
"Huh? How did you know…?"
"I… I don't know… it just kinda popped in my head." Hinata admitted.
"Oh… maybe you saw it online? There was a forum about Hopes Peak Academy and its attendants."
"Hmmm."
No… I didn't visit that site… something weird is happening.
"Well how about I show you around? I've had a chance to talk to eve-"
"No thanks." Hinata denied.
Something about this guy… I'm not sure I should hang out with him… this weird 'feeling.' I can't pinpoint it but… I just… what?
"Huh?! A-Are you sure?" Komaeda replied in surprise.
"Y-Yeah… could you just… leave me alone?!" Hinata said more aggressively than he meant to.
"Oh… Sorry." Komaeda pouted before leaving Hinata.
That was weird… I didn't mean to snap, but I did… it must be the situation. Let's see, we were taken to this island… I guess I should introduce myself to everyone. Let's see, the E-Handbook shows that there are 17 other Ultimates I to meet… wait how did I know I had a E-Handbook? It must be the shock of everything…
"Hinata!" Komaeda called before running over to Hinata.
"Oh, hey. Sorry about before."
"No hard feelings, it's just the heat of the island. By the way have you spoken to everyone?"
"Still haven't introduced myself to those two." Hinata said as he pointed to two people discussing in-between the cottages.
"Same here."
"Did you read about them online?" Hinata asked.
"I haven't been able to talk to them properly yet but I know the tall girl is Sato. I talked to the boy briefly but I didn't get his name… but now I wonder…" Komaeda goes into some thought before talking again. "Since they're talking, how about we check the E-Handbook?"
"Yeah." Hinata responded.
If we both didn't have much information on who they were then maybe it would be better to find out a bit first before talking to them.
"You shouldn't stare for so long." An authoritive female voice called, it was Sato. "If you want to speak with us then speak, do not hesitate." It sounded almost like an order, Hinata found himself walking towards them both without realising.
"I guess we have an excuse to join in and talk now." Komaeda said optimistically. Sato was a tall slender girl with a strong stature, long chestnut hair and brown eyes. She carried a bow and quiver on her back and was wearing tradition Japanese silk garments. The short boy besides her was very different in contrast, wearing a modern casual blue jacket. He had disturbingly black eyes and short black hair with a fringe covering his left eye slightly.
"You must have come to introduce yourself, I'll start then. My name is Kettei Tsuki, the Ultimate Determined. It's nice to meet you." Tsuki said cheerfully.
"Ultimate Determined? What does that mean?" Hinata asked.
"Woah, you better be careful with a question like that." Tsuki warned, still cheerful though. "Haha, you'll start an argument."
"What do you mean?" Hinata asked in confusion.
"Ooooh I remember! Tsuki there was a post about what your talent really meant online." Komaeda said.
"Ah so you saw that? There was a lot of online flaming and arguing over what my talent really is. Apparently some game brought a lot of controversial opinions about it." Tsuki responded.
"Yeah, a lot of people also claimed you were a fake as well. No one by your name was accepted into Hope's Peak Academy." Komaeda mentioned.
"Yeah you're right. There was a lot of debate whether I was good enough to get in by the academy, but I found out today I was accepted." Tsuki explained.
"Today?! You got accepted the day we start?" Hinata questioned.
"Hehe, yeah, I got the letter of official invitation this morning. Things are a bit blurry from there… like everyone else said as well but I ended up here like you guys. But enough about me, this is-" Tsuki said, as he was about to introduce Sato but she interrupted him.
"Akiko Sato, the Ultimate Archer. I look forward to speaking with you all." Sato finished.
"Sato, you've won numerous archery contests haven't you?" Komaeda asked.
"Indeed, that's how I made a name for myself." Sato confirmed, after a few moments of silence she spoke up again.
"Introduce yourself." She ordered.
"Oh, I'm Nagito Komaeda, the Ultimate Lucky Student. It's not much of a talent compared to you all but oh well." Komaeda said before turning to Hinata.
"Uh, my name is Hajime Hinata…" He said, Sato gave him an expecting look.
"And your talent?" She asked.
"We aren't going to judge. Two of our talents here are kinda unorthodox." Tsuki said.
"No it's not that… I just don't remember." Hinata admitted.
"How weird… maybe it didn't mean that much?" Tsuki suggested.
"What do you mean?" Hinata asked.
"Well some people here practically live by their talent while others kinda just roll with it. If you managed to forget your own, then it must not have been that important to who you are." Tsuki explained.
But… a talent is really important. I just forgot mine… that's it.
"I think it was just the shock of being here." Hinata replied nervously.
"I see what you mean Tsuki." Komaeda said. "When we met Owari she didn't really care about her talent but Sato carries her talent with her, am I correct in thinking archery is really important to you Sato?"
"You are. It is part of my identity." Sato confirmed.
"Well then you have nothing to worry about Hajime! You haven't lost your identity." Tsuki said.
"I guess…" Hinata said, conceding to their logic.
"There is something we should discuss with others." Sato said, changing the topic. "The reason me and Tsuki were talking beforehand was because of something disturbing I noticed."
"Disturbing?" Hinata asked.
"When I visited the cottage with my face by it I noticed something weird, the wardrobe already contained clothes similar to my liking. I asked Tsuki to change his cottage and the same thing, he has clothes similar to his style." Sato explained.
"So… whoever kidnapped and brought us here already knew what sort of clothes we wear?!" Hinata deduced, his own words concerned him.
"How weird." Komaeda commented.
"It is worrying… but have we really been kidnapped?" Tsuki asked. "I mean this really could be some sort of exam like Komaeda said before. Hope's Peak Academy… could be behind this."
"I don't think we have much to worry about then." Komaeda replied.
"Wait what?! You're just going to accept that and us living on this island?" Hinata gasped.
"Haha, well I don't mind for a while. I didn't really expect us to have a normal school life…" Tsuki said casually.
"Everything is safe and it's a good chance for us all to learn about each other, all we have to do to get off is collect those Hope Fragments." Komaeda added on.
"You're just going to believe that?" Hinata doubted.
"Well I do want to get off this island as well…" Sato said. "They can't keep us here for long I'm pretty sure it's illegal. A school can't keep us away from our families for too long, we all have people to see."
Ding dong, bing bong.
"Was that a school bell just now…?" Hinata said.
"Hey, look at the monitor over there." Komaeda pointed out.
"Congratulations everyone, you've taken your first into collecting all the Hope Fragments." Usami said through the monitor. "Sooo… I've prepared a present for everyone that'll make you all veeeery happy! A special minigame! Please gather at the beach where we all first met."
"That rabbit… gives me the creeps." Sato admitted.
"Really? Haha, I guess miniature talking animals have that effect." Tsuki said.
"Well she said to meet at the beach…" Komaeda reminded.
"I-Is that going to be ok…? I have a bad feeling about it." Hinata said.
"We shouldn't run from it then, if Usami has something to say we should listen." Sato announced before walking off.
"Guess we should follow her." Tsuki said.
"Come on then, let's go." Komaeda said before the three walked headed over to the beach.
"Hmph, it appears we've all arrived. We have a while to talk before that rabbit returns." Togami announced, various other Ultimate's compliment the island before Togami reveals to them that this is likely the Jabberwock islands. Some are nervous and talk about a way to get off the island.
"What if we build a raft with the trees?" Hinata suggested.
"Nonono! That's against the rules!" Usami chastened as she appeared. After going through the rules of the school trip and how they aren't allowed to litter Mioda speaks up.
"Hey didn't you say we were going to play a game?!" Mioda asked.
"Oh yeah, a minigame." Nanami specified.
"Of course I did! I added a new rule to your E-Handbook." Usami explained, everyone took out their E-Handbooks and looks, there is a new rule.
Rule 5:
Once in a while the teacher will set a minigame for the students to bond over.
"We have to play a fucking minigame!?" Kuzuryū shouted as he always does.
"Maybe you should give some actual input in the conversation instead of cursing?" Koizumi scolds.
"What the hell did you say to me bi-" Kuzuryū shouts back but Koizumi doesn't let him finish.
"Don't you curse again! Boys need to hold their dirty tongues!"
"Hey, I think we should find out more first." Nanami interrupts, before the argument could resume…
RUMBLE-RUMBLE
"Yeees! Arise Minigame Platform!" Usami announces loudly as the grounded started to shake. Sand whips up, hindering the Ultimates' views completely.
"Wh-What's happening!?" Hinata gasps.
"The sand is staining my otherwise pristine clothes." Togami complains.
"I-Is the ground really shaking?!" Tsuki shouts.
"Everyone calm down!" Sato calls but to no avail.
"I-Is this an earthquake?" Sonia asks.
"It appears someone has angered a dark god, fear not for I will defeat them!" Tanaka claims.
"No! Mr. Crabssss! I'm not done crushing you! Come back!" Saionji screams.
"Sand in eyes! Someone help Ibuki!" Mioda pleads.
I wipe the sand from eyes, I still have the feeling of queasy ness in my stomach, the same one you get when in an elevator moving up. I get up and look around to see my classmates pretty confused, most of them fell over, only a few managed to keep their balance when the ground had trembled. Togami, Owari, Sato, Pekoyama and Nidai. The latter three are helping other people up.
"Hinata you alright?" Komaeda asked me as he lifted himself up.
"No! The ground just…" Then it hits me, I look past Komaeda and saw the blue sky. We had been raised up on a platform. "Komaeda! Look!"
"Woah! I hope we aren't going to get pushed off. That wouldn't be hopeful way to ki-" Komaeda replied but his last words are cut off by a flying Usami placing a fence on the edge.
"This is the Minigame Platform! Here we will hold our hopeful minigames!" Usami announced before making her way next to a giant wheel with an arrow on top of it, similar to the one you see on quiz shows when deciding a question topic. The wheel is split into 18 different sections, each section has one of our pixel faces on.
"On the count of three I will spin the wheel, whoever it lands on will be theme of our minigame!" Usami said way too happily. "1... 2… 3!"
Ding
The wheel starts spinning and people start voicing their opinions.
"Can I ask what you mean by theme? How can we be a theme?" Sonia asked in confusion.
"Hey! I ain't no theme!" Owari complained.
"Do you fools really not understand? Think about it." Togami said, clearly disappointed. The wheel is still spinning.
"What do you mean by that?!" Koizumi asked.
"I think I know what he means, what makes us all special? Unique?" Komaeda mentioned.
"Oh, our Ultimate talents of course." Tsuki answered.
"So the minigame we play will be based off that person's talent… probably." Nanami theorised.
"Yup! Even now you're all working together! I also need to mention the winner earns a special prize so everyone do your best!" Usami encouraged… what happens if I'm picked? I don't remember my talent. The sound of the wheel slows down.
ClickClickClick, Click, Click, click… click… click.
I turn my attention to the wheel and who it lands on… Nekomaru Nidai.
"Bwahaha! I can be the first example! Tell me little animal, what am I supposed to do?" Nidai asked as he walks up to Usami.
"Well a special event has been picked out for all your other classmates and it's your job to tell them what to do and how to do it! Don't forget to give an inspirational speech!" Usami explained, missing out a large key detail.
"Sure! But what's the event?" Nidai asked.
"For the Ultimate Team Manager, as a man who rallies others, the event is a race of course! You're the motivator and the winner gets an oh so special priiiize! Now everyone be sure to do your best!" Usami explained.
"What has a race got to do with Nidai's talent?" Pekoyama asked.
"Actually any sport is related to me." Nidai answered. "Sure it isn't exactly a team sport but my job is about bringing spirit out of an athlete so that they perform at their best!"
"Hey that's good and all but why have we been lifted in the air on this platform?!" Soda complained.
"For dramatic effect of course! Anyway the race has been laid out so the platform will now descend! Everyone hold tight!" Usami warned before the platform we were all on starts shaking and dropping down. Eventually we made it to the ground… thank god.
"Sand! Beach! Oh beautiful ground never leave me again!" Soda greeted to the floor.
"Kyahaha! Lying on the ground suits you!" Hiyoko laughed.
"Pick yourself up! You should act like a man!" Koizumi scolded before grabbing Soda's shirt and pulling him up, ouch. Looks painful.
"Who placed these race track?" Komaeda asked, I turn my attention to what he meant. The coast of the island had a white line signifying the track…
"That's not possible. We were only on that platform for a few minutes." I replied.
"Phwoo! Anything is possible with this magic stick, now if the racers take place so that Nekomaru could give his speech!" Usami announced, this is ridiculous. No one would race at a time like this.
"Fuck that, I'm not taking place in a dumb race." Kuzuryū said dismissively.
"I-I'm not v-very good at r-running." Tsumiki stuttered.
"Well I'm up for it! The prize could be food right?" Owari said as she takes place.
"The prize is very special!" Usami replied.
"Hey Hinata are you going to compete?" Komaeda asked to me, I turn to him at his outrageous request.
"What?! Why should I?" I respond.
"Well that prize could have something to do with your talent? I'm curious." Komaeda said… there is a chance but it's pretty unlikely. Still I really want to know what it is…
"But… are we really just going to race because a rabbit told us to?" I respond back.
"Well it's nothing dangerous, just a race."
"I don't stand much if a chance against the Ultimate Gymnast."
"Well you may as well try, c'mon I'll race too." Komaeda said over optimistically… I can't believe I'm considering this… I check to see the competition, unsurprisingly not everyone was willing to race.
"I think I'll pass." I reply… something bad is going to happen. A feeling of dread and fear… something really bad… and it feels familiar somehow.
"Ok the first to know is that by participating you all-" Nidai started to say but he stopped at something…
The skies suddenly darken.
"Hey! Someone switched off the sun!" Mioda said.
Crackle… crack
A sound of static then filled the air, everyone looked in silent shock… then it could be heard.
"Mic check, mic check! One two, blah de blah bargh… Yes, yes we've done this before." It said through the monitor, something wasn't right. The voice contained malice beyond all thought behind its laidback casualness. My body shuddered.
"Don't be surprised! You all shouldn't be… riiiiight? Anyway let's get this show on the road again! Everyone meet up at the statues again!" It squeaked menacingly.
"N-No! That voice… that's impossible!" Usami gasped "…It's all up to me to stop him!" Usami announced before disappearing.
"The was an unusual occurrence… we should all head over to the centre island." Togami said.
"It's best if… we go too. Jabberwock Park, let's go." Nanami replied.
"What about my food prize?" Owari asked, completely oblivious.
"No time for the race, we should hurry." Pekoyama dismissed before heading off, she was joined others.
We all ran over as quickly as we could. A small robot bear known as Monokuma appears, claiming to bring back the despair once again. He the proceeds to defeat Usami and transform her into Monomi with a diaper…
"Aaaahahahaha! It feels good to beat up Monomi again!" Monokuma laughs. "Now then let's skip the part where you all cry about the Monobeasts."
We all express our surprise at another stuffed animal joining in… Monokuma then goes on to explain that this is now a 'Killing School Trip' where we must kill each other and not get caught through the class trials. People shout about how messed up that is until…
"Puhuhu. You guys must be professionals by now."
"What do you mean by that?" Togami questioned.
"Y-Yeah! I haven't killed anyone before!" Soda added on.
"Puhuhu… maybe you haven't. But what about those around you? Are you sure they aren't murderers?" Monokuma said.
"Bluhuhu blub, blub. Murderers?" Mioda asked.
"I-I won't believe that!" Hanamura said.
"Yeah whatever let's hurry this up! Too boring!" Monokuma shouts over us. "Time to kill Monomi then leave you all to wallow in this boring second rate despair."
"Uwah! What do you mean by th-" Monomi tried to say but Monokuma didn't give her the luxury to finish off before the statues in the middle started to make noises.
Crack
Large mechanic monsters leap out and into the air before they start open fire on Monomi instantly…
BANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANG
My ears were burning at the sound… once again various people starting screaming at Monomi's death before we noticed Monokuma kept to his word and had disappeared with what I assume were the Monobeasts. We all stood in silence for a moment, taking it all in…
"W-What the hell can we do against a monster like that?!" Nidai shouted in terror.
"Th-they're real? Surely it's more likely we all just hallucinated the same thing!" Tsuki doubted.
"N-No! I didn't see anything…" Hanamura denied.
"We can't deny that those things were indeed there." Sato argued back.
"Impossible! That's impossible!" Soda said.
"Not exactly impossible." Togami denied. "Those 'Monobeasts' are likely machines… meaning someone is controlling them and Monokuma."
"Who could be responsible?" Pekoyama asked. No one had an actual answer of course, leading to more worry among the group.
"There is something we need to be more concerned about then the one behind this." Togami said. "More than anything, we must be cautious of… ourselves. Being brought to a tropical island with complete strangers, and ordered to kill each other to escape… that creates fear we want to escape. That fear is our worst enemy."
I checked my E-Handbook and it was true. Rule 6 was about the class trial, rule 7 about the executions… and more rules leading to a total 13 in total. I read them all, it's important to know them. After memorising them I grabbed my new diary.
Day 1
I was able to talk to everyone for the first time today! Monokuma showed up and things turned bad!
"Huh? That's a very nice picture but is that all you're going to write Chiaki?" Monomi asked me, we were in my cottage.
"Well… I don't know what else to write."
"How about you try adding more detail? You have 17 other students to write about!"
"I guess… but why is there 17? I was originally told there would be 15 others. Did something happen?" I questioned.
"O-Oh… I really can't say. A lot happened that you don't know about… but that means they might need help just like the others."
"Hmm… so they are real?" I asked, this was a really important question. Monomi seemed to know something big had happened but couldn't tell me… hmm…
"I-I… I can't say."
"Do you know who they are Monomi?"
"O-Oh, you don't even know that Chiaki? I-I can't say then… I'm sooorry."
"It's ok, I understand." I replied before checking my E-Handbook, looking at the list of my classmates. On the male side was the nine boys… the last two was Hinata and Tsuki. On the girls side the last two was Sonia and Sato. So if this was added in order of entrance considering it isn't in chronological order or any other order apart from gender… assuming the new students were just added, that would mean that the two new students could be…
Hinata and Tsuki.
Tsuki and Sato.
Sato and Sonia.
The two new students are one of these pairs… probably. That's mean one of them could be like me, not real. The only suspicious one is Hajime because he doesn't know his talent… hmm… Of course I can't ask them or say who I am, I can't talk about it or write about it… at least I can think about it. Like a real person…
"Monomi can you tell me what Hinata's talent is?"
"U-Um… As teacher I know what it is, kinda… but you know I'm not allowed to talk about that. A teacher cannot give that sort of information away!"
"Yeah, I think dad talked about the importance of keeping someone's secret. Ok I think I know what to write about."
Day 1
I was able to talk to everyone for the first time today! Monokuma showed up and things turned bad! I decided I'm going to write more here as well. I think I might not be alone… Someone else here might understand me! I'm going to find out in any way I can!
"How's that Monomi?" I asked.
"Wh-wh-whaaat?! I didn't realise you were able to… hint like that Chiaki! I'm sooo proud!"
"I'm… surprised too."
Monokuma's Graveyard Theatre!
Welcome to the first and not last MGT, and that doesn't stand for male groping tournament! Anyway, I'm glad you could all join me here again for another spree of killing! And you were kind enough to provide me with two new students to get killing or killed as well! I almost forgot you were trying to kill me before. Anyway, onto the now! The MTG can of course only be viewed by my viewers, here we will hold live interviews with the dead, ready to hear the Despair from them first hand! After all, since this is our second shot at this we have to have something new… but we're missing something. New students, new theatre, new minigames… ahah! Of course! We need new murders! And for that I need to provide new motives! Hell I'll even open up the islands in a different order! That is all for tonight, thank you and goodnight Future Foundation!
Wait! Wait! I'm not done yet! I forgot to tell you a lot, if you make any attempts to enter my game again I'll kill the three that I have trapped here! No buts, the Despair most people here produce is all second rate and not as good as before, meaning I will gladly do anything to make it as good as first one! Also just because the game reset doesn't mean my power has! I resurrected all the dead as you can see… I wonder what more I can do! Ooooh I can't wait! Now if you don't mind me, I've got some lethal weapons to plant, people to trigger and a letter to forge! Just to speed things up, after all they would have done it anyway given enough time! But before that we still need an interview to do! Each theatre will talk to newly departed if there is one and also an agent of Future Foundation. So here we have it, behold the amazing detective, Kyoko Kirigiri!
"Sooo Kirigiri, are you enjoying the show?"
"How did you do this Junko? Hinata and the others all pressed both buttons and activated the shutdown sequence."
"Well that's because you three made a fatal mistake when you all entered here. And that's Monokuma to you!"
"You hacked into Future Foundation didn't you?"
"Upupupupu, maybe I did! When you three saps entered this world I gained access directly to the Future Foundation database."
"Somehow you managed to override the system and force a restart, while doing that you also hacked into the database and retrieved the consciousness of the two new students. You plan to bring despair once again to everyone and force them to click 'graduate' to bring your Junko land a reality."
"Are you suuuure? Then again you always were the smart one Kirigiri."
"Which is exactly why you didn't wipe my memory and put me as a part of the killing game, you didn't want me to solve the cases too easily."
"Hey! I thought you were on interview not me!"
"You didn't do the same to Naegi either because he is the Ultimate Hope and would help everyone turn against you. As for Togami it would cause a lot of issue with the imposter. So for now you've trapped me in this Funhouse, away from the other two so that we can't talk and devise a plan of defeating you."
"Well this certainly was an interesting episode of 'Kirigiri explains it all' but for now this interview is over. Next time we'll talk to either Naegi or Togami. Kirigiri you want to bet on who kills first?"
"No. Everyone at Future Foundation should have written down everything I just said."
"Upupupupu... it doesn't matter! I have even more hostages this time! Including your Ultimate Hope! Not that it matters..."
My eyes opened… dammit! I'm still here on this island… with everyone else! I rubbed my eyes before getting out of bed, of course I only got a few hours of sleep last night but sleep deprivation never got in my way. I got up, stretched my arms and legs…
I really wished this was all just a hallucination. That isn't the case though so I head into the shower… hold on. There are cameras in here… nope! I must have missed that before but there is no way I'm letting this happen, I turn back to my bed, grab my pillow case, take it off and place it on the camera. There you go, I'm not destroying the camera after all. Now that my privacy was in check, I grab a town and head for the shower.
Now I feel a lot better, I exit the shower in my towel to meet the last thing I was hoping to see.
"Monokuma appears! Kettei! What are you doing up sooo early?" Monokuma asked.
"AGHHH!" I instantly shouted, unable to hide my surprise and horror.
"Now, now. I didn't come to look at your scrawny body."
"H-How did you get in here!? I locked the door!"
"I don't use doors, anyway what are you doing up!? The morning announcement hasn't even gone off!" Monokuma yelled.
"I wake up early, that's just who I am. What is it like 6:30am?"
"Well since your up sooo early does that mean you're planning to murder someone?"
"What?! No! No one is going to kill anyone! Including me!"
"Oh really? What if I show you… *this*!" Monokuma announced before pulling a piece of paper out of nowhere. The first words I read are 'Medical Report – Kettei Tsuki' that's all I needed to see before I grabbed the paper out of his paws.
"Wh-Wh-Where did you get this!?" I asked, my voice was filled with worry and fear. Dammit! How does he know!?
"Puhuhu, consider this a welcoming gift… and a small punishment for covering your camera! I've updated the rules regarded that sooo you better do something! See ya!" And with those spine shivering words he left…
I look back at the old medical report… no! I left this life behind, I crunched it up… but I can't dispose of it. I can't litter and leaving it my bin is too risky… I can't take any chances that someone will see it, I left this life behind for good! I walk to my sink… I can't put it down the drain, that would be littering, kinda. How can I get rid of this permanently…? I can't dump it in the ocean either… Shit! I turn the tap on…
Squeak
I run the paper under water, then take it out just before it falls apart. I turn the tap off and look at the paper, it's still legible, barely. But I can't take the risk… I hate myself for having to do this but… what must be done must be done. I put the paper in my mouth and start chewing… it was horrible. I start to gag… but I have to go through with this. I stay determined and keep chewing, slowly the paper turns into small pieces of mush… by all means I should have coughed it out but I won't let that happen. Paper does not taste good at all… but after a while I stomach it down. Gross. Monokuma… I shouldn't underestimate him. But for now I need to eat some real food to forget this happened. I remove my pillowcase from the camera before heading over to the hotel restaurant…
"Hajime! Wake up!" Monokuma shouted.
"AHH! Wh-Wh-What the hell!?" I shouted back as I jumped out of bed.
"I have a new task for you Hajime!"
"What are you talking about? Why are you in here?"
"Maaaan this gets old fast! Look this time I want you to find a secret DVD that is located on each island, they are very important to the story so you better find them!"
"…" I'm speechless.
"Anyway get going, by waking you up early certain events should change! The butterfly effect and that boring stuff! Now wake up! Two boys are already at the restaurant. Ok see ya!" Monokuma said before leaving… what the hell was that about?!
...
...
I'm sooo confused.
Not to my surprise, no one else is here. Food is already perfectly laid out, ready for serving… I could still feel the taste of paper in my mouth. But I wasn't mentally prepared to consider who or what was behind the food… or whether it was safe. My encounter with Monokuma had shaken me…. I had to calm down before people saw me and got suspicious. I make a tea and grab some food before sitting down, trying to forget. I need to get off this island… just like Sato said before, I have family to see… but I can't kill someone for that. But really… I have to get away from Monokuma!
"Goooood morning everyone! Today is going to be another…" The Monokuma on the monitor says. So this is the morning announcement… I don't even bother listening to it. I just put my head in my hands at my dread of Monokuma knowing my past.
"Ah, hello Tsuki." I hear a voice, instantly I hide my own despair and put on a smile before lifting my head.
"Morning Komaeda." I respond.
"Are you ok? You didn't look too good when I entered." Komaeda said.
"Ha… I had an encounter with Monokuma. I don't want to talk about it."
"Oh, I'm sorry. Do you mind if I join you?" Komaeda asked.
"Of course not." I responded. I envied how optimistic he was… even in such a situation like this. As Komaeda sits downs someone else joins us… Togami and Hinata.
"Hmph, you two appear to be early." Togami said.
"Morning to you too Togami and Hinata. How come you two are up?" Komaeda asked.
"Because I woke up, what other reason could I possibly have?" Togami retorted.
"I didn't sleep well… and Monokuma came to my room." Hinata admitted, clearly I wasn't the only one who had the luxury.
"I'm dreadfully sorry, he also visited me before. Take a seat and eat the pain away." I advised.
"Is the food safe?" Togami questioned.
"I've eaten a plate of it so yeah." I answered.
"That was quite stupid of you, it could have been poisoned." Togami said rudely. So much for thinking that in a serious scenario like this people would cease such acts that get others to dislike them… *sigh*…
"Well I'm alive… so it's safe." I respond. Hinata took my earlier advice and hesitantly took some food. Togami also started filling his plate.
"…" Awkward silence filled the air. I guess no one had anything to say in a situation like this. There was also the miniscule chance that someone was going to kill someone right here, I doubt it though. Even if you were desperate to get off the islands, you wouldn't kill someone right here. Hinata just stared at his food, I assume he was unsure whether it was really safe. Hmm… I have a topic of discussion, but it isn't much better then silence.
"Hey Hinata, I never explained my talent to you." I said.
"No… you didn't." Hinata responded.
"I may as well show you, it's nothing crazy… just a bit odd. Komaeda try to hold my tea, it's hot though so be careful." I asked, Komaeda seemed like a nice guy so I felt bad for asking him.
"Sure… ow! It's really hot!" He said… as expected he retracted his hand instantly.
"Hehe, well my talent lets me overcome barriers like that." I then look at my tea, it was still boiling hot and thus so, the mug was too hot to hold. I grab it with my hand and lift in the air without flinching.
"Mainly the physical pain barrier." I clarified, Hinata looked at me with worry while Komaeda had morbid interest. I placed the tea back down.
"Of course that comes with the cost of injuring my own body. In essence my determination lets me control my body and overcome this sort of pain. Creepy isn't it?" I explained, in fact it goes a lot worse than that. I could have poured the tea on my skin and kept my cool but that was definitely going too far without a proper reason. No doubt I'd scare everyone here as well and risk my sanity. I turn to the sink a run my hand under water to avoid any one degree burns.
"Hey! Get back here!" I shouted at Soda.
"N-No way! I'm outta here!" He screeched back.
"Where do you intend to run?" I heard Sato say as she approached me.
"Anywhere but here! I ain't dealing with all this!" Soda shouted before literally running away.
"Koizumi, what is his problem?" Sato asked to me.
"I don't know, I just came out my cottage and he was panicking out here alone. I tried getting his attention but he just kept shrieking like an idiot."
"Well, it's been a while since the morning announcement. I saw a few others head to the hotel restaurant so we should as well." Sato said.
"What about Soda? If everyone else is gathering there then we're probably going to need him as well. Not that someone like him would contribute much."
"You're right, it's time to hunt then. Would you like to join me? This shouldn't take too long." Sato offered.
"What do you mean by hunt?" I asked in concern.
"Nothing bloody I assure you, but if he gets scared in the process then it's his own fault for running away, right?"
"Right!" I agreed, Sato had the right attitude. We head out to see where Soda ran off to.
"There!" Sato pointed into the distance.
"Where? I don't see him."
"By the farm, his hair sticks out." Sato said. Of course the Ultimate Archer would be able to see that far. I quickly head over there, I need to teach Soda a lesson for just running of like that.
"Soda! Get back here!" I shouted at him, we're just outside the airport.
"Why are you following me?! I'm gonna die!" Soda shrieked before running off, he's quick.
"Stop running you coward!" I shouted but I don't know if he even heard me.
Phoot
The sound of the wind being pierced shot through the air.
"WAAAAAAAAGH!" Soda screamed even louder, I turn my attention to him to see that he's been pinned to wall by an arrow that clipped the back of his jumpsuit and buried itself into the fence by him.
"Wow!" I couldn't help but be surprised… I look at Sato who was putting her bow away. She gave me a smirk as response.
"D-D-Don't kill me!" Soda begged, he tried remove the arrow but couldn't pull it out. I walk over to him and give him a piece of my mind.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing? How are we going to get through this if you just run away? Man up a bit!"
"I almost died! Sato could have killed me!" Soda said in response.
"I wasn't aiming at you, only your clothes. Now come back with us peacefully." Sato ordered.
"No way! You shot an arrow at me!" Soda denied.
"Ah, well this is going to be more difficult than I thought. Ideas Koizumi?"
"I'll just drag him back, that was a nice shot by the way." I compliment.
"Thank you, now we should depart. The others must be waiting for us." Sato said. I approach Soda and he ducks in terror. I try to pull out the arrow of the fence but its pretty deep in.
"Allow me." Sato said before grabbing hold the shaft of the arrow before pulling it out in one swift action. Soda instantly made a dash for it but I grabbed his collar and started pulling him back.
"C'mon… don't humiliate me like this." Soda said.
"Don't run off like a baby then!" I say back, still dragging him across the floor. If he had a shred of sense, he would actually pick himself up.
"Ngghhrwah." Soda made an incomprehensible sound before shutting up.
"Hey Sato, were you not worried about hitting Soda?" I asked, it seemed like a risky thing to do.
"I was, but it is pretty unlikely I would hit him. We were close quarters and I've never missed a shot by more than a millimetre that close before." Sato replied.
"Wow… how much do you practise?"
"Every morning at dawn, except for today. I found it hard to sleep last night so I woke up late." Sato admitted.
"Yeah me too, this situation is hard to bear." I replied.
"Which is why we need to stick together, isn't that right Soda?" Sato said.
"Nghhh." He groaned back.
"I suppose Soda gave you no choice, having him run around would be trouble." I said.
"Hey! I'm not a child!" Soda moaned from behind.
"Then how about you grab a pair and pick yourself up?! You are a boy, right?" I said before tugging his collar. Sato then opened the door to the hotel restaurant for me.
"Thank you." I said.
"Are you going to stand up now Soda, being dragged up the stairs would hurt." Sato asked.
"Nanami help me!" Soda begged but she looked like she was too busy with the arcade machine to notice. "NANAMI I'M GOING TO DIE!" He suddenly shouted… that got her attention.
"*Yaaawn*… what's happening?" Nanami asked before looking at Soda on the floor, then me grabbing him, then at Sato. "You shouldn't be shooting friends Sato."
"How did you figure that out?" Sato asked.
"Soda has a whole in his shirt and you're holding an arrow in your hand. Since it isn't in your quiver I thought you might have used it." Nanami explained.
"This is your excuse for being the last to arrive?" Togami said from the stairs, he must have come to see what Soda was screaming about.
"Soda tried to make a run for it so we caught him and brought him here." I explained, Togami better not have gotten the wrong idea.
"Ok everyone back upstairs, I have something important to discuss." Togami ordered. We headed up there to notice everyone else was already there and a large amount of food had been laid out.
"Now that you're on your feet how about you straighten up more! You should be embarrassed!" I inform to Soda.
"St-Stop pulling, I've already got a hole in my shirt… I don't need my sleeves ripped." He responded in fear, jeez he isn't on trial.
"Kyahaha! You're just a big coward!" Saionji mocked at him. "Be careful, people like you are usually the first vic-" But she was interrupted by a series of loud noises.
CRASH CLATTER
"KYAAAAH!" Tsumiki cried.
I turned to see what it was all about, Tsumiki had started to fall with her legs tied by some sort of cable but she was caught by someone.
"Woooah! Watch out there Tsumiki." Tsuki said after catching by her back. He then pushed her up straight.
"What sort of tripping was that?" Hinata asked.
"Indeed, if you had actually fallen you would have ended up in a… compromising position." Togami said.
"What a wasted opportunity." Hanamura moaned immaturely.
"Hey! Cut that out!" I shouted to him.
"I-I'm so sorry! Please forgive me! I didn't mean to fall!" Tsumiki cried.
"How exactly did you end up getting wires tied up around your legs?" Togami questioned.
"That was like a magic trick, you're beyond clumsy Tsumiki." I said.
"Well it was lucky Tsuki caught you." Komaeda mentioned.
"It was nothing, I just saw her starting to fall and stopped it. I've er, had experience with that sort of stuff. Hehe." Tsuki said.
"Hey what's that supposed to mean?!" Soda questioned.
"None of your business." Tsuki replied sternly.
"Anyway now that that's resolved we should get going." Nanami said, smartly moving the topic on and away from the incident. "Since… I'm getting sleepy."
"Yes, you all can eat breakfast after this talk." Togami said. "I already mentioned before both of you arrived that we need a disciplined leader. I have accepted that role."
"Wait just a second! You didn't even leave it to discussion!" I interrupted.
"Who else but me? Look at my title."
"Seriously! You're being too forceful!"
"Mahiru please! We already discussed this while you and Sato were out and we agreed to it already." Komaeda said.
"Well, I suppose if everyone's ok with it." I conceded.
"Don't worry, as long as I'm the leader nothing bad will happen. First act as leader is to host a party tonight at the abandon building that Komaeda suggested." Togami said.
"Woooo! A party! This is going to be sweet." Mioda cheered.
"What is the occasion?" Pekoyama asked.
"To wipe the idea of murder from your minds." Togami said rudely. "If we are to find a way to beat Monokuma and escape this island we need to get to know each other, which is why I have proposed a party. Attendance is compulsory by everyone."
"I'll do the cooking!" Hanamura announced.
"Tch, I ain't coming." Kuzuryū said.
"You have to." Togami replied sternly.
"Hey! Listen up!" That annoying squeaky voice said through the monitor. "Everyone head over to the park! No exceptions otherwise its punishment!"
"Hmph, it appears we must finish this talk early. But before that we need to designated cleaner for the old building." Togami said.
"Actually I have an idea." Komaeda said as he showed us some straws. "I thought something like this would come up so I made these. We can make the choice randomly by who picks the shortest."
"Good thinking." I praised. Komaeda was one the few boys on this island that seemed normal.
"Everyone take a straw." Togami said and we all did. Once we all showed our straws the results were…
...
"Me?!" Komaeda gasped at having the shortest straw.
"Well for the Ultimate Lucky student you're not very lucky right now are you?" Hinata laughed.
"Wait are we just going to leave all the cleaning duties to one person? That's a bit much don't you think?" Tsuki said.
"Are you offering?" Togami asked.
"Honestly I don't mind." Tsuki replied. "If we're having this party tonight then I don't mind helping to get it ready on time." That was surprisingly responsible for a boy to say.
"A-Are you sure? I can do it by myself." Komaeda questioned.
"Yeah I am."
"Good now we should get moving." Togami said. "Everyone meet at the park! Dismissed."
"Hey! What took you sooo long?!" Monokuma said as we arrived at the park.
"You should know, are you not watching those cameras?" Togami asked.
"Puhuhu, maybe I am. Anyway onto the Minigame!"
"Minigame? Another minigame?" I, Hinata, questioned.
"Well that's what the rules say, so you can blame Monomi for that. It was her rule." Monokuma said.
"Uwah! Don't blame me! You don't have the right to do that!" Monomi said, appearing out of nowhere.
"Sh-She's alive!" Mioda gasped.
"Yeah, yeah. I've heard this all before! Monomi is like me and has spares, deal with it!" Monokuma shouted. "Anyway onto the Monokuma Minigame. Time to play the Shooting Minigame!" But before anyone could comment a large amount of sand whipped up.
"Kyah! Is this a sandstorm?" Sonia asked.
"Miss Sonia cover your eyes!" Soda shouted.
"A powerful summoner has casted his dark magic! This must be a durude mage." Tanaka said.
"How can you keep up that dumb blabbering in a storm like this!" Saionji hissed.
"A durude mage casting a sandstorm? Ibuki has heard of something like that before!" Mioda shouted.
"Well that's beca-" Komaeda started to say but his voice suddenly cut off. As the storm dropped I saw I was trapped inside a curved room with see through walls. On my left was Nanami and on my right was Sonia. Each room appeared to be fit with speakers and of course Monokuma's voice came through.
"Monokuma Minigame number one, known as the Shooting Game! Right now you are all in a donut shaped building split into 18 rooms. Each room is equipped with a gun pointing to the room on your left, but don't worry they aren't going to kill your friend! Each gun is aimed at a photo of your classmate's home at the current moment in time, you have two buttons to click, 'Fire' and 'SD', standing for Self-Destruct. If you choose to fire and destroy your friends photo, then you get to see your photo. But remember you could still get shot from the person behind you and lose the photo regardless of what you picked. If you choose SD then your gun explodes into ashes, taking your photo with it… that's it! After everyone has picked- WHAT? It appears someone has already chosen an option so everyone else get going! Also if I spot anyone making hand signals or something like that you will be punished!"
I take a moment to think everything through about what Monokuma said. I lay out every potential option.
1. I click 'Fire' and I get shot. Then I lose my picture and destroy Nanami's picture.
2. I click 'Fire' and I don't get shot. Then I get my picture and destroy Nanami's picture.
3. I click 'SD' and I get shot. Then I lose my picture but Nanami has the chance of getting hers depending on whether she shot.
4. I click 'SD' and I don't get shot. Same thing, I lose my picture but Nanami has the chance of getting hers depending on whether she shot.
In each scenario I don't have anything to personally lose from clicking fire and something to gain. But I don't want to destroy someone else's picture for the chance to get mine. But is Nanami really the kind of person to shoot someone else to see her picture? I got an odd feeling about her… this is hard. But… I'm not going to destroy someone else's picture for my own. I take a look around to see who is aiming at who. Hajime(Me) Chiaki Nekomaru Hiyoko Teruteru Peko Togami Akane Fuyuhiko Ibuki Kazuichi Sato Gundham Mikan Ket Mahiru Nagito Sonia and back to me. We're all in one giant circle. I look down at my buttons and press one.
"Results are in! Let's see the results! Are you ready for the results?!" Monokuma said repeatedly before the walls around us started to sink back into the grounds but he kept talking.
"Seven bullets were fired but only four pictures were saved! Congratulations to Hiyoko, Akane, Gundham and Sonia for heartlessly destroying your opponents picture to get your own! I'll see ya all later, try not to kill each other until then… oh wait! Do try your best!" And with that he left... the last of the walls came down and we all looked at each other, clearly unsure what the bizarre game was all about. But what really mattered was that I was shot… by Sonia. I saw the ashes of my photo fall to the floor, I know I clicked SD so it would have been gone anyway but… it still hurts knowing that she had shot my photo.
"Hey Hinata… you didn't shoot me." Nanami said as she approached me.
"No… it didn't feel right." I responded.
"Hmm… was that the right decision?" She said more to herself then to me.
"Well you didn't shoot did you?"
"No… but…" I didn't hear what she said after that, if she did say anything. I looked back around to see who had shoot who. It looked like Hanamura had shot Pekoyama but he didn't get a picture because Saionji shot him.
"Are you trying to say something Hanamura?" Pekoyama asked coldly.
"N-N-Nonono! You see I just wanted to see h-how my diner was doing!"
"Kyahaha! Well now you can't cuz I shot you!" Saionji mocked.
Next was Owari who shot Kuzuryū who shot Mioda who shot Soda… and Kuzuryū seemed pretty mad.
"What the hell did you shoot me for!?" He roared.
"Well cuz I wanted to see my bros and sisters back home." Owari responded.
"Hey you hypocrite! You shot Ibuki you know?" Soda retorted.
"That's because I can! I'll easily choose any option that benefits me." Kuzuryū said back.
"Ibuki shot Kazuichi because he looks funny!" Mioda stated.
"That's hurts you know…" Soda pouted.
Gundham had shot Mikan…
"Your sacrifice shall be written in blood Tsumiki!" Tanaka announced.
"U-Um… I hope you didn't mind shooting me! I don't mind being shot!" She responded. That wasn't heated at all.
"Hajime! I must applaud your choice." Sonia said as she, Koizumi and Tsuki approached me and Nanami.
"But… you shot me." I replied.
"Yes well I thought it through... and in a game like this there are only a few options in which something is gained." Sonia explained. "By having you in front of me and Komaeda behind me I was confident that decent gentlemen like you two would not fire so by pressing fire I was able to gain something."
"That was very smart of you Sonia, I wouldn't have thought of it like that." Koizumi praised.
"It was anything special." Komaeda said.
"That was a weird minigame wasn't it?" I said.
"It was, the rules do specify it has to be a 'trust' minigame." Tsuki replied. "Monokuma tried to pin us against each other but it didn't work on us in particular."
"I guess some of you guys are responsible. Hinata didn't shoot Nanami, Komaeda didn't shoot Sonia and Tsuki didn't shoot me." Koizumi said.
"I didn't really mind losing the reward, after all I saw my family two days ago." Tsuki said.
"I don't like how Monokuma is trying to use a game to pin us against each other." Nanami mentioned.
"Regardless, would you all like to see a picture of my castle? I haven't looked at it yet." Sonia said before showing her photo. It was covered and waiting to be revealed. We gathered around her as she pulled off the cover…
"Kyah!"
"What the?!"
"Huh!?"
The photo showed an old castle that was broken beyond belief, as if it had taken part in a war. There were no signs of life and the market stalls around it were all emptied and semi destroyed.
"H-How could this happen!?" Sonia gasped.
"That's your castle?" Komaeda asked in shock.
"No! Well… the structure is the same but I am sure it was not in this condition when I left it a month ago." Sonia replied.
"It's one of Monokuma's traps." Togami said out loud. I looked around and everyone else had shocked faces, their photos must have contained something bad.
"Monokuma is trying to pin us all against each other." Togami explained. "Just so you all know there was no right or wrong answer is that minigame. It was simply a way for Monokuma to try and build distrust among us. All the photos contain a destroyed scene of something we once knew, I shouldn't have to say this but they are clearly fake."
"How can you be so sure?" Soda asked.
"Because these feats are impossible. We all arrived on this island yesterday, on that morning we all left our homes. Are you telling me our houses were destroyed in that short amount of time?" Togami said.
"That does seem impossible, but wouldn't it explain we haven't been rescued?" Pekoyama mentioned.
"We will discuss such scenarios at the party. For now, it is of the upmost importance we don't fall prey to Monokuma's plans. Komaeda and Tsuki, you both have a job to do Until then you are all on Free Time, dismissed." Togami said, causing everyone to depart.
Free Time will consist of conversations between different, but not all, characters. This doesn't just include people talking to Hajime, the others will talk to each other as well. But Hajime will get unique events that aren't copy pasted from the game. Just because two characters are talking doesn't mean they're definitely being shipped together, they could be spending time as friends. Also there will be variation, just because Hajime isn't spending time with Nagito this time doesn't mean he won't later. I plan for a lot characters to talk to others at least once and then there will be one person they spend more time with for things to get deeper. Free Time events may or may not relate to the story line. Whenever there is free time I will list who is talking to who beforehand and in order.
Hajime & Chiaki | Nagito & Kettei | Byakuya & Ibuki| Mahiru & Sonia & Sato.
"Nanami do you want to hang out?" Hinata said as he approached me. I finished my game before looking up.
"Sure Hinata, where do you want to go?" I asked. I should be nice to him… he decided not to shoot me in the minigame so that makes him a nice person… probably.
"Can we walk around the park? There's something I need to ask you."
"Sure, but can we make it short? I still need to get some sleep before the party."
"Yeah." Hinata agreed, we exited the hotel and started walking.
"So what did you want to talk about?" I asked.
"Have we… met before?"
"Huh…? No I don't think so."
"I know this sounds weird… but you sound familiar." Hinata said.
"No… I've never met you before." I said more confidently. This is the first time I've existed I'm pretty sure… this world is my birthplace. It's impossible for me to have met anyone before… probably.
"Ok… I've just been having this weird feeling."
"Weird feeling? That might be something important." I said.
"What do you mean?"
"When a game character usually has a feeling it usually foreshadows something in the future."
"Nanami… I'm not a game character."
"Well maybe there isn't as much of a difference as you think?" I managed to hint, maybe he doesn't understand what I mean. Maybe he isn't like me… he probably is a real human. But why did he say I looked familiar?
"I… feel like I've heard something like that before. But I don't remember." Hinata said.
"Maybe this has something to do with you forgetting your talent?" I suggest.
"Yeah… I feel like I'm really close to figuring it out now."
"Hmm… well if I'm familiar to you then maybe I remind you of someone you forgot? If we talk more it might help you remember."
"Yeah, I feel like this is helping. Thanks a lot Chia- ah, I mean Nanami."
"No problem. Was there… *Yaaawn* anything else you want to talk about?"
"Well I found this DVD today… do you know where I can play it?" Hinata said as he showed me a plain disc with a white cover.
"I can try play it on one of my consoles… where did you find it?"
"It was just hiding somewhere, it probably isn't anything special because Monokuma wanted me to find it."
"Well how about we check it out first?" I advised before we headed over to my cottage. I put the disc in a console and we both eagerly look at the screen. First it shows some text.
'Chihiro Fujisaki's free time with Makoto Naegi.' A non-fictional story recorded and stolen by Monokuma.
It's a short video showing two short boys talking about each other. One of them has hair like Hinata while the other looks really nervous. They talk about a mosquito bite for a while until they part ways.
"That was weird… why would Monokuma show us something like?" Hinata asked.
"I don't know… it might have some sort of relevance though."
"Why do you think that?"
"They said they were looking for a secret passageway… hmm…"
"…"
"Hmm…"
"So you have no idea?"
"No…*Yaaawn*" But one of them looked familiar to me, I wonder...
"Well I'll tell you if I find anymore. I'll leave you to sleep before the party. Bye." Hinata said before leaving.
"See ya."
I grab a broom and keep dusting the floor, this room went from pretty old and dirty to almost clean. That's all it is for now, a room, but soon, tonight to be exact, it will be a place of where hope first nourishes. Here on this island, there are 17 amazing Ultimates, all full of hope, and I have the honour to be in their presence! But to bolster their hope, to improve it, to empower it into Absolute Hope I need to start the killings. My plan has already gone into effect and I've tricked Monokuma into helping me as well. I got him to deliver a note to Togami suggesting that someone was going to die tonight, and he's throwing a party to try and stop it. I have a plan to get someone killed… maybe I will get killed! A sacrifice I'm willing to make.
"Hey Komaeda, I brought the carpet." Tsuki said as he dragged the carpet into the large room of the abandoned building.
"Wow, that thing is huge. How did you manage to bring it all the way here from the market?"
"It wasn't that hard." He replied. "By the way did you rig the straws Komaeda?"
"Why would you think that?"
"Well you just happen to bring them and it picked you, isn't that odd?"
"It is but I didn't physically rig it." I said, it was true.
"Ok then, it doesn't really matter. You want to roll out the carpet now? You've cleaned this room pretty well."
"I can do this is all by myself you know, I got picked fair and square." I said, so it wasn't really fair but that doesn't matter. With Tsuki around its going to be harder to plant the knife.
"Well now that I've seen how dirty the other rooms are you're going to need me here to clean. Anyway I don't really mind, it's nice to talk to you." He replied… nice to talk to me? An Ultimate is showing genuine interest in trash like me… I never expected such a thing. As always Ultimates go beyond my expectations, but that's all the more reason I need to do this.
"What's nice about talking to me?"
"Well… you're really optimistic. Even in a situation like this somehow you're still optimistic."
"I don't deserve your words of praise."
"What? Are you embarrassed?" Tsuki joked.
"Of course not."
"Well then let's unroll the carpet… 3, 2, 1, go!" He said and we did just that.
"Good job buddy. Tsuki praised.
"Buddy? It was nothing."
"Haha, whatever you say. Ok what else do we need to do?"
"Bring the tables from the storage room." I said, Tsuki nodded his head and we made our way over there.
"Woah, this place is not good for anyone's health." Tsuki said.
"It is pretty dusty, but I don't think we need to clean this place, it hasn't gotten any use." I mentioned.
"I guess. Ok let's grab the table then." He said.
"Alright, by the way Tsuki. How did you discover your talent?"
"Hmm, well ever since I was young I've always got done what I really needed to do… no matter what."
"That's pretty vague." I said.
"Well… I guess I can tell you this Komaeda. There's more to my talent then I say… but I can't talk about it right now." Tsuki said uncomfortably.
"Huh? How come?"
"People would… misjudge me. Especially in a situation like this… but considering most people here are trying to work together I might speak the truth later. But I fear that..." Tsuki trailed off. He's hiding something… something big… but also full of Despair. Hmmm, I wonder what that means…?
"Well everyone here is full of Hope, I'm sure they'll accept you for who you really are." I said.
"You're pretty cheesy Komaeda but… thanks. Call me Kettei."
"Huh? Really? Someone like me can use that name?"
"It's just a name Nagito, you alright with that?"
"Of course." I replied… after talking to Kettei I realised that Ultimates do harbour Despair as well as Hope. But if I can get them to overcome that Despair… then the world will be one step closer to Absolute Hope. Although now that I've made a friend I kind of Hope Kettei isn't the one to die first… by my hand or another's… what am I talking about!? Someone like me isn't allowed to hope for anything! Tonight there will be a murder, and I will make sure it happens.
Ibuki is walking… Ibuki is looking for someone special! Right now Ibuki is like monologue…ing, to herself!
"Helloooo Byakuya!"
"What?! Oh, it's you Mioda." Byakuya said as he turned around with a choppy face.
"That's Ibuki to me and to you."
"Of course, you insist on a first name basis. Now why are you talking to me?"
"Because Ibuki wanted to talk to you."
"Why one earth would you want to talk to me? What have I done to make you want that?"
"Ibuki thinks that you are a co-ool leader!"
"I haven't done anything as a leader yet, what could you possible like about me?" Byakuya said, Ibuki thinks he is getting annoyed but Ibuki doesn't care.
"You give super-duper speeches."
"Are you saying that you look up to me because of the words I say?"
"Yup!"
"Illogical, you shouldn't make your decisions like that. You could be easily manipulated by those smarter than you."
"What?"
"*Sigh* I'm saying someone could easily trick you."
"But why would someone do that?"
"Because there are some harsh people in this world who do cruel things."
"Like who?" Ibuki asked.
"Hmm, humour me Ibuki. What if I told you Byakuya Togami was one of those people?"
"Well now Byakuya is lying to Ibuki. Ibuki doesn't think you are one of those people."
"How do you know? You've never met Byakuya Togami before."
"But Ibuki has now, and Ibuki can say for sure that Byakuya is not one of those meanies."
"What if I promised to you that Byakuya Togami is one of those people? Now what would you say?"
"Well… I dunno. That's a hard question for Ibuki."
"Heh, let us continue this charade then Ibuki. What if I told you the reason I was not a mean person was because I am not Byakuya Togami? Then what?"
"Whaaat? But you look like a Byakuya Togami!"
"Hmph, indeed I do. But just because I look like someone doesn't make me them."
"Sooo… what is Byakuya trying to tell me?"
"What if I said… you were Byakuya Togami?"
"WHAT?! I'm the mean old Byakuya Togami?!"
"Heh, this was more enjoyable then I thought Ibuki. Someone like you would never realise the true extent of what we just discussed, but if you did then I would have never discussed it with you."
"Errrrrrm… what?"
"As expected you don't realise what I'm talking about, but know this. I'll consider hinting to one of the more deductable ones about this. Goodbye Ibuki, I have duties to perform before the party." And with that Byakuya left Ibuki alone… Ibuki is really confused.
"Sonia! Can I talk to you?" Koizumi called as she walked towards me. I was enjoying a walk along the island but company is always nice. Koizumi came up and walked with me.
"Ah, Koizumi. What brings you here?"
"I was thinking maybe you should become the group leader."
"No, perish the thought. I am merely a figure head."
"But still, I think you should give it a go Sonia."
"I am sorry but I think Togami is a lot more qualified. Although he is forceful those are the qualities that are needed to lead a large group such as ours."
"I guess… well I won't push you if you don't want to."
Phoot.
A piercing sound shot through the air. I looked ahead to see an arrow had buried itself in a palm tree.
"Oh my, that was rather sudden." I said.
"Well there's only one person who could have done this." Koizumi said as we both saw Sato approach us in her elegant dress, like a true Japanese woman in the novels I read.
"Hello Sonia and Koizumi, how are you two faring?" She asked.
"I'm still worried about that picture, but I do believe it is just a concoction that Monokuma has pulled over us." I replied.
"We shouldn't listen to what he has to say." Sato agreed for grabbing her arrow from the palm tree and removing it with a strong but elegant pull.
"Would it be ok if I looked at that arrow Sato?" I asked, she nodded her head and handed it to me. I looked at it in amazement.
"Wow, is this a genuine 'Ya' arrow? It must be! It has a bamboo shaft and hawk feathers!" I huff in excitement.
"You're very knowledgeable Sonia. It is indeed, I received them from my mother after I won my first competition. I've kept them since then, reusing them once fired." Sato replied.
"I didn't even know that Sonia… that's impressive." Koizumi stated to my surprise.
"What? You don't even know your own countries culture?" I asked.
"Well... it isn't exactly modern day culture." Koizumi said.
"But still, I thought this was all common knowledge."
"It isn't." Sato said. "My family is quite traditional which is why I know this but it isn't part of the educational system, if that is what you were wondering."
"I see… I must say that is a disappointment." I admitted.
"Ah… sorry we don't meet your standards." Koizumi said nervously.
"No, don't apologize. This must be what is known as a culture shock." I said to comfort them. I shouldn't have set my standards so high. I fear I may have hurt my new friends.
"I have a solution." Sato offered. "Everyone here is an Ultimate, meaning they should have high amounts of knowledge on their talent like I do with archery. You could talk to those with more traditional talents if you're interested in old Japanese culture."
"Like Saionji and Pekoyama!" Koizumi finished off. "I know, I'll arrange a tea party sometime after tonight's party for all the girls to get to know each other."
"That's sound like a wonderful idea Koizumi." I replied. "Perhaps we can start using first names as well afterwards. Of course I understand that I am a foreigner and am not giving such rights with my own name." I reminded, hearing others call me 'Nevermind' would be quite odd.
"On that note, I would be honoured for you both to call me Akiko." Sato, or now Akiko to me, said.
"Yes, please call me Mahiru as well. If things keep going this way, we'll be off this island soon!" Mahiru announced positively. I'm am very glad to have made two good friends.
Bing Bong, Ding Dong.
"Hey everyone it's almost night time. I want you all to head over to the park on the double, chop chop now! It's about those pictures I gave some of you." Monokuma announced through the monitor… that damn bear! I slowly make my way over…
"Hinata, you heard that too right?" I turned around to see Tsuki running over to me.
"Yeah… I have a bad feeling about this." I replied.
"I know what you mean but at least we have the party after… as long he doesn't interfere."
"What are the chances he doesn't?" I said.
"Well…" Tsuki started to say but didn't finish it at all, as we got to the park I noticed most of the others had already arrived.
"Where is Komaeda?" Togami asked.
"He's making a last minute check-up, once he's done he'll bring Hanamura here." Tsuki replied. We waited a few moments and they both arrived.
"Alright let's get this over with." Monokuma said in a depressed manner.
Monokuma spent the time explaining that we all had our memories erased from Hopes Peak Academy by Monomi and that her organization, known as World Ender, was the one who brought us to this island. We were all shocked at the news and denied it.
"That's impossible!" Tsuki said.
"But… does that mean those photos were of our houses after two years?! Wh-Wh-What happened!?" Soda said.
"The world ended… as the bear declared." Tanaka answered to our horror. The world had been destroyed… that was impossible. But then Monokuma mentioned something else…
"But there's something else as well! There are traitors among you!"
"Traitors?!" Nidai gasped.
"M-Multiple traitors?" I gasped as well.
"Yup!" Monokuma confirmed. "There are two traitors among you, that work for World Ender and both of them are killers!"
"K-Killers? No waaaaay!" Soda screeched.
"I don't believe that! It's a lie!" Hanamura denied.
"Preposterous! Do not believe such a thing." Togami said.
"Ohohoho! But it's true isn't it Monomi?" Monokuma asked.
"W-Well… what are you saying? Don't listen to him!" Monomi said as some sort of reply.
"Oh but you know it's true! Each traitor has a kill count of at least one so together they are killers!"
"But that's enough for now, it's about to be night time so get outta my sight!" Monokuma said before disappearing with Monomi. That was a lot to take in…
"Attention students, it is now 10pm…" The night time announcement rang through but I barely heard it, we were all staring at each other with accusative glares.
"Show yourself traitors!" Nidai shouted.
"What are you, stupid? Of course they aren't going to show their ugly faces." Saionji said.
"Then I'll beat 'em until they admit it!" Owari threatened.
"Hold it!" Sonia said. "We cannot believe Monokuma's lies, he is trying to pin us against each other. I do not believe there are any traitors among us."
"Yeah, now is not the time to doubt each other." Komaeda added on but it didn't have much effect, everyone was shocked at the news.
"A-Are we going to cancel the party?" Tsumiki asked.
"No!" Togami replied instantly. "As I said before, all Monokuma is doing is trying to pin us against each other. By introducing these ideas of the world ending, our memories erased and there being traitors he is trying to increase the likelihood of a killing. Now everyone head over to the party venue, for tonight we will feast and overcome Monokuma's fake motives." The speech seemed to have invigorated some hope into everyone as we all headed over to the once abandoned building… and then I saw it, for a split second I saw something.
An image of Togami dead under a table…
Reviews on what you like or don't like or just general comments are always appreciated! I tried to tick some main boxes with this fanfic.
· Old characters presented well.
· New characters are interested but not whoring attention. (This may have failed with one character :P)
· The overall plot line is interesting and new(ish)
· It has that Dangan Ronpa feel to it.
I'd like to remind any readers from my previous fanfic, (thanks a lot for sticking with me btw) that these stories will take place in alternate realities and thus the history behind my own characters are liable to change but they should still the essence of who they are. Thanks for reading as always!