Chapter 1- In the Belly of Despair – (Ab)normal Days Begin
Our group remained frantic for the next few minutes, but I was one of the first to calm down. I told myself that I couldn't get anywhere worrying. It was getting to the point where the hysterics were starting to get annoying. Thankfully…
Pablo: [Flips open glass case on his nuclear watch and hovers finger above it] Enough!
…!
…everyone quieted down.
Pablo: [closes glass case] Now, that we've…
Benito: Yaa! [pushes Pablo to the floor]
Pablo: Oof!
Benito: You're incompetent bilgewater! And even if ye weren't, no one has business shackling the freedom of a pirate! [unsheathes sword and points it at the double doors Monobear escaped through] Now, its time to go after the real treasure! Let's keelhaul some bear!
Yasue: Yohoho! Yeah!
Hitomi: That bear'll walk the plank!
Pablo: Wait! [wheezes]
Okita: Yar?! Yeah, Yaarrr!
Before I knew it, we were all rushing through those doors.
[Forced to Move to Geology Hall]
Chiyo: Huh? That bear's gone! [scans the room] There's not even a trace of him left.
Nahoko: Damn it. And I was looking forward to whacking that bear into mush.
Pablo: [walks into the Geology Hall] And that's exactly the problem. [disappointed expression] Didn't you hear what that bear said? He'll kill us if we oppose him.
Wataru: But he's just a little teddy! He surely couldn't take all of us!
Okita: Yeah!
Kotori: [puzzled expression] I wouldn't be so sure… That bear has probably thought ahead and planned a way to kill all of us.
Monobear: Yep! In this museum, I'm practically everywhere at once! I could slaughter you all in seconds!
Ryouta: Eep! H-he's back!
Monobear: Not for long! Upupupu! [escapes into the foyer]
Pablo: [valiant pose] This is the exact reason this group needs strong leadership and firm order. I volunteer to be that leadership.
Nahoko: [disgruntled expression] ...Fine.
Pablo: For now, it appears that our captor has unlocked some of the museum exhibits. In order to create an environment safe from murder, I am ordering the investigation of these new areas and the reporting of any dangerous objects. I, and um... Takito will be supervising the exploration to prevent laziness and the concealment of contraband.
Takito: Whuh? I suppose I'm happy nobody will be supervising me.
Pablo: [salutes] Temporary Esperan Guard, To Work! [Marches off into an exhibit]
[Investigation Begin]
[Talk to Kotori]
Takito: …Er, Kotori, how perceptive are you?
Kotori: Very. It's a good trait to have.
Takito: So, have you noticed anything suspicious about the erm.. uh.. doors here? Supervising might be more boring than I thought.
Kotori: Well, it's pretty simple, so I might as well explain everything.
[camera pans to the doors leading to the foyer]
Kotori: These doors lead back out into the foyer. [charmingly points] They may look plain, but as the only way in and out of the Museum area, they're very notable.
[camera pans to the doors with a sign that says "Dino Room". There is also a cartoon dinosaur saying "Hey Kids! Come see Ally the Allosaur!" in a speech bubble poking its head above the door]
Kotori: This door leads to the Dino Room. Apparently, it's the museum's main attraction for children.
[pans to two green doors at the end of a side hallway]
Kotori: These doors are entirely unremarkable, and probably lead to another hallway.
[pans to doors with a sign saying "Cradles of Civilization" ]
Kotori: These doors lead to the museum's collection of artifacts from ancient civilizations.
[pans to sign that says "Geology Hall"]
Kotori: Finally, this area we are in is called the Geology Hall, although the actual rocks on display are further down the hallway.
Takito: Whew. Thanks, that's gonna help me a lot with orienteering myself.
Kotori: Don't mention it. Well, maybe just to Pablo.
I almost forgot I was supposed to do that. I guess doors are so… mesmerizing.
[Talk to Benito]
It'd be a good idea to seem nice to everyone here. Otherwise, I might get some secondhand resentment from Pablo…
Takito: Good job! These rocks are very heavy and sharp, and it would be a good idea to keep them locked up.
Benito: Heh? [shakes head] No, matey, I'm not really interested in how sharp these rocks are. [smiles widely] I'm after the shine of the geodes!
Takara: Shine! Treasure! Squaaawk!
Oh, of course, he's a pirate and all…
Benito: [sulks] But to be honest, I'm nowhere close to SHSL Thief, and the geodes are behind a fairy nice security system…
Hmm, there doesn't seem to be a way to open the glass cases, and I think I spy motion detectors on the corners.
Takito: At the very least, nobody can use them as murder weapons, right? …right?
Benito: [sulks]
Maybe that wasn't the right thing to say…
Benito: Oh, wait! [wide smile] I almost forgot! [A camera lens extends from Benito's eyepatch]
!
Benito: This is my secret weapon during my battle on the high seas! Meet "First Mate", the one-of-a-kind lens that lets me see my prey underwater!
Takito: That's impressive, but what does it have to do with geodes?
Benito: Photos, matey! It takes them! I may not be able to have the stones themselves, but I'll have their image forever! Yarharharhar!
I'm glad he found one use for it here.
[Talk to Yasue]
Yasue: [leaning up against the wall at the end of the hallway] Bzzz? Bzz Bzz.
Takito: Notice anything suspicious about that wall, Yasue?
Yasue: Bzzz… Yes Bertrand? Oh yes, that's terrible!
Takito: What's terrible? I didn't think something could be so terrible about a wall…
Yasue: [agonizing expression] Bertrand can't stand it here! All of his dead ancestors are on display!
Bertrand: [flies around Yasue's head] Bzzz…
She must be talking about the insects trapped in the amber samples. I don't actually remember seeing any bees in there…
Takito: So, why are standing so close to that wall?
Yasue: Oh, the wall? Bertrand told me that it was thinner than the others, and I was trying it out. [smiles] Wanna listen with me?
Takito: Sure. It'd be a good idea to check this out firsthand.
I listened in, and sure enough, I could Akinori talking to himself fairly clearly on the other side of the wall.
Yasue: I hear there's an excavated chapel on the other side that they airlifted in. [Pensive pose] I wonder if they thinned a walls a bit to make the chapel fit?
That was probably accurate, but it would worth checking out later, just to be sure.
[Move to Dino Room]
[Camera pans to T-rex's head]
Gah!
[Camera moves back to Takito's view]
It's a good thing the thing's dead. I hope this threat of murder hasn't made everything more frightening for me.
[Talk to Hitomi]
Hitomi: Hi there, Takito! Great day, isn't it?
Takito: No, it's really not. Don't you remember our situation?
Hitomi: Of course I do! [proud pose] But no one would dare lay a finger on Hitomi Yunokawa!
Takito: I wouldn't be so sure of yourself… we're all potential victims here.
Hitomi: Perhaps, but would you attack someone with a literal eye in the back of their head? I wouldn't, and I'm me!
I'm not entirely sure what that last sentence meant.
Takito: Well did you discover anything suspicious?
Hitomi: [ashamed pose] Well, you may think this is a bit obvious, but I thought the fake plants here were dangerous.
Takito: No, no, that's not obvious at all. Would you mind explaining how dangerous these plants are?
Hitomi: Well, first of all, they're everywhere.
She's right. We can't actually walk off a very small path here because of the plastic plants surrounding the dinosaurs' feet.
Hitomi: [turns around and opens her third eye] Secondly, they're very thick, and I can't see the floor.
Correct again. I'm starting to see her logic here…
Hitomi: [turns around but keeps her front eyes closed] So, if a murderer were to hide or dispose of something in those plants, we probably would never find it again.
Takito: Excellent idea. Still, I wouldn't have expected thinking like a killer from her. This'll definitely be something to tell Pablo.
[Talk to Tamaki]
Tamaki: [angry expression][talking to herself] Tch… How could they… I mean… Arggh!
I've only known her for a few hours, but I am bit shocked to see her this angry.
Tamaki: Ah, Takito, you have impeccable timing. I really need someone to vent to right now. [angry expression] If there's anything I hate, it's bad form at a public venue.
Takito: What's so bad about the Dino Room?
Tamaki: [angry expression] Did you notice anything about the doors on your way in?
Now that she mentions it…
Takito: They were kind of heavy. It took a lot of force to get them open…
Tamaki: Exactly! This is an exhibit for children! Why would you force them to do so much work!
Takito: Yeah, that might be a lot for little kids. But you are suggesting they should've done work on the door?
Tamaki: [angry expression] Of course I am! [happy expression] As the SHSL Hostess, I would ensure all the doors had the appropriate inertia. It's those little extras that really get your event up to SHSL quality.
I suppose I underestimated the talents of "the best of the country"…
Wataru would probably be upset.
Tamaki: Speaking of which… [brings out gourmet food sample] I made salads for everyone with the greens in the kitchen. I figured it was the best way to get the group together.
Takito: Thanks! [eats]
Delicious, but a bit dry.
[Talk to Itsumi]
Takito: So, Itsumi, as our resident dinosaur expert, would you mind telling me if there's anything suspicious about these fossils?
Itsumi: … [sulks] …No… They're just your standard dinosaurs.
[camera moves to stegosaurus]
Your average stegosaurus…
[camera moves to T-rex]
Your average tyrannosaurus…
[camera moves to allosaur]
And your really average allosaur.
Takito: Is something wrong, Itsumi?
Itsumi: [sighs] No. J-just don't ask me about archaeology again.
Takito: Sure. There probably won't even be a need to.
Itsumi: [resentful stares]
Takito: Oh, and I'm sorry for bothering you. I won't do it again.
Itsumi: [guilty expression] [sighs]
I just wish I could end a conversation with her feeling decent…
[Move to Chapel Hall]
[Talk to Okita]
Okita: …! [shock, then turns around to look at painting] Yep! Nothing behind these paintings! And they're hung straight, too! Heh heh.
I thought doing something like that wouldn't take so long…
Okita: I definitely was not doing anything in the restrooms, that's right Mr. Supervisor Sir!
Takito: Hmm? I shouldn't have been daydreaming about checking paintings… What did you do in the restroom?
Okita: Gah! [hands up and shocked expression] Ok you got me!
Takito: Got you?
Okita: Yeah… I was inspecting the bathrooms and marking their locations… I always record them when I visit places.
Takito: I kind of doubt his sincerity… Okay… Why don't you report your findings to me? And tell me about all the doors in the hallway as well. Let's see if he can do it...
Okita: [pulls at shirt collar] Um.. Okay.
[camera pans to doors leading to the Dino Room]
Okita: Those doors lead to the Dino Room, but you already knew that.
[camera pans to a pair of green doors at the end of a side hall]
Okita: I think those doors lead back to the Geology Hall, judging by color.
[camera pans to a pair of doors with a "Cradles of Civilization" exhibit sign above them]
Okita: I took these doors to get here, so I know they lead to the Cradles of Civilization exhibit.
[camera pans to excavated chapel entrance, which has no doors]
Okita: That's some excavated chapel they airlifted in, at least that's what Akinori said…
[camera pans to stairs behind metal grate]
Okita: These probably lead to the next floor of the museum. I guess Monobear doesn't want us up there for the time being…
[camera pans to bathroom doors]
Okita: And finally, the bathrooms. I counted three pairs of bathrooms in the museum. One here, one opposite the cafeteria, and one at the very end of the Dorm Hallway.
[camera moves back to Okita]
Okita: That's everything, isn't it?
Color me impressed. I guess should be less judgmental from now on.
[Talk to Ryouta]
Ryouta: H-hey T-takito?
Takito: Yeah?
Ryouta: If you know something important, and want to t-tell everyone… [mumbles]
Takito: And?
Ryouta: …B-but you're afraid someone could h-hurt you because of it, what should you do?
Takito: If there's something you need to say Ryouta, just say it. The rest of group will definitely be willing to protect you.
Ryouta: I'm n-not so sure…
I'm sure it's not as bad as he thinks, but it'll be important to teach this kid some bravery.
[Move to Excavated Chapel]
[Talk to Akinori]
Takito: Hey, Akinori! You seem really busy investigating.
Akinori: [turns around from doing task, sulks] Well, thank you for the kind words, but I'm not really investigating anymore. I've checked, and the most dangerous thing about this place is the candles.
Takito: So what are you doing?
Akinori: Now that I don't have a chapel, I've decided to temporarily repurpose this chapel. I've been trying to make suitable as a modern church.
Looking around, I noticed several Christian icons, like crosses and lambs, decorating the room. Some of them were probably there before, but I couldn't tell which ones…
Akinori: It's a shame though, because I've run out of things to decorate with and I still ought to put something on this statue of Mary…
Takito: Why not your necklace?
Akinori: [shock] N-never! [angrily shakes pocket bible at Takito] Never, never!
Takito: Woah! Wasn't expecting that…
Akinori: This is my custom made titanium rosary symbolic of my faith! [pulls out necklace to show it to Takito] First, it is unbreakable! Second, I vow to never let leave me! I have had these symbolic factors inscribed upon the beads in Latin, so I never forget them!
…[pants]
Wow. I really hit a nerve there.
Akinori: I apologize for lashing out against you, [pants] I just [pants] took it as an attack on my piety. [pants] Would you mind doing those breathing exercises with me again?
Takito: Sure.
I taught Akinori some breathing exercises again.
[Move to Chapel Hall]
[Move to Cradles of Civilization]
Well it certainly looks the part…
But for a museum run by Hope's Peak Academy, the things on display here seem a bit …lacking.
[Talk to Wataru and Satoko]
Wataru: Ah, Takito! Have you come to bask in our's country's rich heritage as well?
Takito: Well, no, but I've always had a soft spot for period stuff.
Wataru: [laughs heartily] Don't we all? [extends arm for handshake] Come, and look at collection of dotakus and katanas?
Takito: Well, I know what katanas are… And we'll probably have to dull them somehow… but what about dotakus? Satoko, do you know?
Satoko: [smirks] Of course. They're those heavy bronze bells. They're from really ancient Japan. [points pencil at Takito] I'm not sure why you had to ask me though. There really wasn't translation involved.
Wataru: [sad face] …and I wanted to answer that.
Looks like I accidentally denied them chances to show off…
[Talk to Chiyo]
Chiyo: [distraught expression]
Uh-oh, Chiyo looks upset. It wouldn't be good to have an emotional near-superhero about.
Takito: Chiyo, is something bothering you?
Chiyo: [crying] These people on this artifact! They're being treated so horribly!
That artifact? It's like an ancient comic on this weird triangular prism shape…
Takito: It's just a drawing…
Chiyo: But the people were real, and it's too late to help any of them! [cries] Look at the ID card!
Okay, Let's see here…
Artifact's ID Card:
"STANDARD OF BABYLON II"
by Unknown Babylonian Artist
Dimensions: 7' long x 1'6" high x 1' wide
This Standard is a depiction of the Babylonian Hierarchy, known for it's unique shape and for being on the first major pieces of art. Surprisingly for a piece commissioned by royalty, there are little embellishments, and it does not share the gilded "fence" upon its top edge like similar works.
I was hoping to find something to cheer up Chiyo, but it seems the standard is really as violent as she said it is.
Takito: Chiyo, erm, maybe you should look at some of the other artifacts.
Chiyo: [pouty face] But they're all gross and mechanical!
Takito: And this isn't?
Chiyo: …Good point. [joy] I'll go to the dinosaur exhibit soon.
[Talk to Nahoko]
Nahoko: [upset expression] Tch. All the money from the reserve program, and this is all they can get?
Takito: Really? The exhibits don't seem that bad to me…
[pans to Greek column]
Takito: Look at that actual Corinthian column!
[pans back to Nahoko]
Nahoko: Well, maybe that's impressive, but what about this cheap knock-off of Chichen Itza?
[pans to Model Chichen Itza]
Nahoko: Not only is it made of cheap plaster, but they only finished a quarter of it! Damn tightwads!
She has a point. [camera pans to the exposed side of the model] Anyone looking from around where Chiyo is would only see a wall of plaster. But at the same time…
Takito: I don't know Nahoko. It's pretty big, and if they made it full size, there wouldn't be room for anything else. Both the standard and the column are with only a couple feet of each side.
Nahoko: Tch. [crosses arms] I still think it's terrible. And why face the plaster sides towards the interior of the room? It's like they didn't care about hiding how fake it is.
I don't know… It might be fun to climb up and look down on everything else.
I had just finished speaking with everyone when Monobear gave us another announcement.
Announcements: Ding-dong, ding-dong! Ding-dong, ding-dong!
Monobear: Attention students! It is now 10 pm, and nighttime begins now.
We will allow the cafeteria to be open to grab your ID Cards tonight for one extra hour, but in the future, it will be closed for restocking.
The things around you may be timeless, but you are not. Please go to sleep shortly, and Goodnight…
Pablo: [shock] My, we've completely lost track of time! If it really is ten o' clock, you all should probably go to bed.
Itsumi: [angry] Hey! I'm not sleeping with 15 potential murderers around!
Pablo: [worried expression] Please don't worry… I and another student will be wandering the premises through the night. We will monitor each other as well, so any murderers would be caught immediately.
Ryouta: …T-that's good enough for me. It's nice to know I'm protected.
Everyone except Pablo went to his or her rooms. At the moment, I wasn't sure if having someone wander the halls at night would be good or bad idea. But before I could attempt to sleep on the issue, someone came knocking on our door.
Ikkaku: [opens the door] Hey, it's you.
Please don't kill me…
Ikkaku: [shrugs] Relax, okay? You look like I interrupted a nightmare. I'm only here because Pablo is making me deliver ID Cards as punishment for missing some important announcement this morning. It was probably about menus or some crap.
[hands Takito his ID Card] This should be yours. [slams door]
I held the ID Card in my hands for a while. It seemed oddly futuristic to me. After I turned it on, I made a strange discovery. Since I wasn't a student, it seems Monobear never bothered to give me a profile page. Mine only had a name and the words "NOT A STUDENT" in every other field. The only other thing of interest was the rules.
Rule No. 1
-Students must live together within the museum. There is no time limit on our museum stay.
Rule No. 2
-Destruction of museum property is forbidden.
Rule No. 3
-Students may investigate as much as they want and wherever is available to them.
Rule No. 4
-Nighttime is between 10pm and 7am. The Cafeteria is closed during Nighttime for restocking.
Rule No.5
-Violence against Monobear is punishable by death, as is the destruction of any monitoring systems.
Rule No. 6
-A "culprit" who kills a fellow student will graduate the school, provided that they are not declared guilty in the school trial for the murder they committed.
Rule No. 7
-Letting a culprit graduate will result in the execution of the rest of the student body.
Rule No. 8
-Murderers who are declared guilty will be executed publicly.
Rule No. 9
-Monobear reserves the right to make new rules at any time.
The rules seemed simple enough. But the meanings behind them seemed dire. Putting my ID Card on the bedside table, I slowly drifted off to sleep, and tried, for only a moment, to forget my situation.
-MONOBEAR THEATER-
Monobear: Thanks for reading-slash-playing "Dangan Ronpa: Legacy of Despair."
Monobear: I assure you; I've had as much fun with it as you will!
Monobear: I thank you for your purchase.
Monobear: Hmm? What's that? You didn't purchase anything?
Monobear: No, no, no! That's not despair-filled at all.
Monobear: You need to feel like you misspent your money, for at least a second.
Monobear: We'll have to send this problem to R&D immediately.