[Warning] Will most likely contain: Cursing, violence, mature jokes, slight spoilers and graphic depictions of death

Introductions

Liars, Strangers And... A Change of Plans?

"Well this is strange," I murmur to myself, casually glancing around. Turning out of the little alcove where the bathrooms were located I found myself in the middle of a long hallway. The stone ceiling arched high above my head and there were pictures of important looking people hanging on the wall, bronze placards with neat engravings were placed beneath them, though I'm too befuddled by my current predicament to really notice. There are no people, none at all; no staff or visitors in sight just me and the soft sound of my footsteps on the glossy marble floors. Though the weirdest thing has to be the windows.

Metal plates bolted over each and every one of them. Or at least where I assume they should be.

"Paranoia?" I murmur to myself, throwing a skeptical glance at a bolted window. "Or a really bad decor statement?"

"It's nice to know I wasn't the only one thinking that," a soft voice murmurs behind me. Whirling around in panic I find myself facing a male not much taller than I am. He blinks owlishly at me with large green eyes behind a pair of thick, black squared glasses, his head tilted to the side in the universal expression of confusion. Skittering back a few steps nervously, I try to keep the pleasant smile though I'll admit I nearly pissed myself just now.

"Well, um hello, that's nice I guess," I tell him, fumbling for words. Okay. What. The. Fuck. I've dealt with insistent reporters, crazed fans and pushy family members before; I practically have a PhD in dealing with people. I'm not going to act like a bumbling idiot just because I'm by myself.

'You're the confident daughter of two of the biggest business tycoons of the modern world, ' I tell myself internally. 'You're an actress who's earned her spot on amongst the best of the best.' Is it sad that I have to tell myself my role in life to have a convincing, legit personality? To most people it would be, not having a solid personality I mean. I guess I've just grown used to it, my likes, dislikes, hobbies and looks are tailored to what is expected to me. I'm quirky enough that I'm memorable to the media, yet not overly so that I'd get labelled as a freak. People tell me I'm real and down to earth, but honestly I act like that because that's what they want to see. If they peeled back all the layers of the various roles I play they'd probably find a scared little girl too afraid to have her own personality.

But maybe that's just a little too pessimistic for my current character.

"Well, hello," I try again giving him a gentle smile, just the right amount of confidence playing at the edges. "My name's Moriyama Ryouko. You wouldn't happen to know what's going on, would you?"

For a moment he blinks at me rapidly and it reminds me of something, something I can't quite put my finger on… Aha! The way his eyes keep on fluttering open and shut reminds me off a flashlight being flicked on and off. That's just how big and luminous his eyes are; only seeming to glow brighter by because of the long lashes framing them. Bottom line, his eyes are more feminine than mine, yet also a lot more masculine at the same time. Honestly I need to be in direct contact with people more often, I've just ranted for a rather embarrassing amount of time about a person's eyes, what is wrong with me?

Right, everything technically, I keep forgetting.

"Not much…" he trails of sheepishly and I can tell from his posture and facial expression that he has something more he wants to ask. I give him an encouraging nod as I make the universal signal for 'go on…?' He coughs awkwardly and I have to hold back a giggle. "Sorry to be rude, but you wouldn't be The Moriyama Ryouko would you?"

"The…?" I ask questioningly pretending I have no idea what he's talking about. I really need to stop doing this… "Oh you mean my title!"

A polite nod.

"My apologies for withholding that information," I tell him inclining my head politely. "I'm here under the title Ultimate Actress. Are you one of the other students? Did they knock you out too?"

I see a little of the confusion in his eyes clear up as he nods. They should really change my title to Ultimate Topic Changer.

"Oh, you too? Thank goodness I thought it was just me… I actually have no idea how to get to the entrance hall; directions aren't exactly my thing…" He says trailing of once more and I have to smile. He's definitely a new student like me and he seems pleasant enough, maybe the others won't be that bad.

"Nice to meet you, um…" Great now it's my turn to trail off, how could I forget to ask his name? Was my introduction that self-centered? My etiquette teacher would probably smack me with a wooden spoon right about now.

"Oh it's fine it's my fault for steering away the introductions," he apologizes and I have to commend him for picking up on my thoughts and thankfully diffusing the tension. "Anyway, my name is Moriai Ayane, it's nice to meet you Moriyama-san."

Ayane Moriai

Ultimate Theater Actor

"Ryouko," I correct him, blurting out my given name without thinking. Alright think, think. What thought tangent made me say that out loud? "I'd prefer it if you call me Ryouko, I don't really enjoy being called by my family name."

"Ryouko-san then," Moriai amended, polite as ever. "Feel free to call me by given name also."

"I'll consider it, Moriai-kun, but I think I'll stick to your surname for now."

"Whatever you feel comfortable with."

A slight beat of awkwardness.

"Um so shall we get going?" I ask pointing over my shoulder towards the end of the hall; it's obvious that there is another broad hallway connected to it. Gesturing to the pamphlet in my hands once more I show it to him and gingerly trace the path to the entrance hall with my index finger, almost painfully aware of his presence.

Moriai doesn't strike me as a very dynamic person, though. It's more in the way he carries himself with subtle confidence, I'd say. He's probably around 5'5 (not much taller than my 5'3 really), with messy navy-violet hair that swoops to the side (a classic boy next door hair style if anything), and built surprisingly slim for a male, but he's far from effeminate with his broad shoulders and limbs. His clothes help accentuate his physique, but appear formal, just not in an exaggerated way. A mint-green vest over a white long sleeve button down, the collar ironed impeccably with equally ironed slacks though instead of dress shoes like one would expect he's wearing black & white sneakers. Coupled with his almost dorkish glasses and light sprinkling of freckles on his cheeks and nose he looked like your generic theater nerd, yet his posture labelled him as someone aware of himself and his surroundings.

I'll also bet that he's 10x times better than anyone I've ever seen perform. Not to mention if he's anything like me then his personality could very well change at the drop of a hat.

What a reassuring thought.

"Um, Mo─ Ryouko-san, it's almost 12:30 we should head to the entrance hall," Moriai interrupts my internal evaluation of him. Geez, I really need an alarm button or something. Nodding swiftly, I turn away from him confidently beginning to stride down the hall, expecting him to get the idea and follow.

As we round the corner, I finally organize my wits enough to cement my character and attempt to begin conversation with him once more. "So as the Ultimate Theater Actor, I guess you've been in quite few plays, huh?"

"Yes plenty, I've had roles in various popular plays and reintroduced a lot of the forgotten classics, that's probably one of the only reasons the academy even considered taking me."

"I think that's amazing, though," I assure him softly. It's not a lie either, theater actors perform the same role as hundreds and thousands of others and for Moriai to be deemed an "Ultimate" he must be the real deal. I've never had to play a character that's already been portrayed once, I've played various roles, used a hundred personalities, but I've never had to act out one that has already been established by someone else, the idea kind of unnerves me. "I can't imagine having to compare myself to another actor over just one role."

"Some of my roles are really unique actually," Moriai responded softly, hands wringing together unconsciously, but not in a way that implies that he does it often. "Sometimes the story seems the same, but no matter how similar, the characters will always come out different in subtle way. Because every theater actor understands, you have to stay in character, but also make yourself memorable. The interpretation of a character will always vary from actor to actor, that's just the way theater acting works."

"I see," I respond quietly, absorbing his words. Despite our similar titles Moriai and I have have been performing on two completely different levels; parallel to each other in difficulty, but completely different in application. Moriai's calls for him to put effort into finding something in the character that he can make entirely his own; remarkable, memorable and utterly unique. I do the exact opposite, my work calls for me to abandon my own personality and habits to portray a character as realistically as possible. There's something I want to ask him, though. "Performing live must really be rewarding, huh?"

"What do you mean?" he asks quietly.

"I mean you get to see the reactions to your work so clearly," I inform him, trying to keep my voice light. "You can tell you're amazing by the way people show up in droves to watch you perform, though I guess it must be really nerve-wracking in its own way."

"You have no idea," he tells me, a wry smile curling on his lips. "It's nothing compared to what you can do though."

"Hm..?"

"I've seen your movies and shows, I don't think there's a person in this country who hasn't," we're slowly beginning to walk faster since the end of the hallway is already in view; a high wooden arch leading into what looks like a circular room, distant figures of people milling around the space, that must the entrance hall. Despite the observation I keep a close ear on what Moriai is saying, as a fellow actress I have great interest in his opinion of my work.

"You seem to melt into every role you're given," he says a note of awe in his voice. "You've played such a diverse assortment of characters; it's amazing that you can change the way to act so effortlessly, it's enviable really."

"Thank you," I tell him, feigning shyness. It's the polite thing to say after all, even if I already have absolute faith in my talent; it's still nice to hear it from other people. As we approach the archway Moriai pats my shoulder sympathetically, though what for I cannot say.

"Well it's about time we meet our other classmates, Ryouko-san. I guess this is where we'll part for now," he says calmly before looking me directly in the eye. "I realize that it might feel natural for you to put on a facade, but I really do look forward to getting to know the real you." Without another word he turns away, making his way over to a group of boys speaking leisurely at one side of the room.

I stand stock still for a moment, not exactly sure how to feel about someone noticing right from the get go that my personality isn't entirely my own. Am I angry? I've worked hard to build up this persona, tailored to what the world wants to see, isn't it justifiable for me to be upset someone can read me? Or am I... Happy? That someone was able to notice that at least?

I can't really say. I've never thought of someone noticing at all.

"Hey what's up?" A loud voice calls out to me, effectively pulling me out of my inner musings. A girl bounds up to me with a brilliant smile on her face, she looks so determined to give me a high five that I use the short moment to make a quick inspection of her appearance. She's so tall, a good deal taller than Moriai and therefore a lot taller than me, her thin frame only adds to her height. Her raven hair is done up in two pigtails though some stands fall into her eyes which are a strange, brilliant red that are borderline hypnotic. She's dressed casually to go with her seemingly carefree disposition, a plain white t-shirt that hangs loosely from her skinny frame and casual denim shorts to match, she's wearing black knee high socks with comical planets drawn all over them, ending in black high tops which look worn from constant use. There's a pendant around her neck in the shape of Saturn, swinging wildly with her erratic movements; so much that I'm worried it would snap off its chord and fly off. Just looking at her the words high-energy, carefree and outdoorsey came to mind. Never mind if that last one isn't technically a word.

"Checking me out, huh?" she teases, dramatically putting a hand to her head in an exaggerated pose of long suffering. "You wouldn't be the first girl to exit the closet because of me. It's so sad that I can't accommodate all those lovely young ladies."

I feel my face turn red at her teasing, spluttering out excuses about how she's wrong as her smile widens further. Finally I manage to get a coherent phrase out, though my blush doesn't fade, "I do not swing that way!" I saw it coming really, but I can't help but feel extremely annoyed as she bursts into a fit of giggles.

"I-I'm just t-teasing," she manages to get out between giggles, clutching her stomach in mirth. "Geez, that blush of yours is adorable."

"Haha," I tell her dryly, finally managing to beat down my blush. "I'm dying of laughter inside, I swear."

"Aw, don't be like that~" she says, finally straightening to hold out a hand towards me. "The name's Nanto Hokuto, you're free to call me Hokuto! So let's hang sometime, 'kay?"

Hokuto Nanto

Ultimate Astronomer

"Aren't astronomers usually a little quieter and... Scientific I guess, Nanto-san?" I ask her, letting an eyebrow rise. Her expression sobers as she straightens, effectively towering over me though her expression is not unkind.

"Hokuto. And just because I like to study the galaxy doesn't mean I'm all textbook and theory, you know," she says matter-o-factly, crossing her arms. "That'd just be making the thing I love plain boring..."

"Oh, I'm sorry if I offended you. I'm ─" I begin earnestly a little ashamed of how awkward I've let this conversation become.

"Moriyama Ryouko, right?" she responds her bubbly personality bouncing right back. She grabs both my hands in her own, pulling me closer to examine my face. She looks about two seconds from hugging my like I'm a carnival plush toy. "I've seen plenty of your movies, but my favorite is that rom-com one! The one focusing on an astronomy club! You were so great in that!"

"Oh, you're not offended by it?" I ask her quietly. She tilts her head to the side, not completely sure what I'm talking about, I let out a sigh of relief, but decide to clarify anyway. "I mean you are the Ultimate Astronomer, right? You're not offended by a half-baked movie that only shows your talent in a rather immature light?"

A pregnant pause.

"Of course not," she cries, her grip on my hands tightening in what seems to be a reassuring manner. "I loved that movie and you were just portraying a high school astronomy club, of course I didn't expect any of the serious things in my line of work! And you really shouldn't call any your movies half-baked," she chastises lightly, letting go of my hands to wag a finger at me, with a pseudo stern expression on her face. "You really get into character for every single one of them, truly worthy of the title Ultimate Actress!"

Her words leave me speechless for a moment (seriously what is with the Ultimates, this is happening too often!). Sure I've grown used to the compliments, but I didn't expect them here, maybe a little acknowledgement, maybe a little recognition, but everyone here had done something amazing, I thought being something like the Ultimate Actress was no big deal, yet the first two people I've met have been really kind and amazed by my talent. I guess sometimes it's really great to be wrong. Beside me it seems Nanto had gone into panic due to my internal monologue.

Drats, I've done it again.

"I'm sorry I got your title wrong didn't I!? Let me guess, uhm, Ultimate Sweetheart? Ultimate TV Darling?" Nanto asks frantically racking her brains for my possible titles, causing me to giggle slightly, surprisingly genuine.

"No, sorry I was just thinking," I interrupt gleefully at her confused expression, though I have a feeling this will probably be the last time this ever happens. "You were right I am the Ultimate Actress. Sorry again, I tend to blank out when I'm thinking too much." To my surprise Nanto grins, throwing an arm over my shoulder, squeezing me tightly to her side, making me uncomfortably aware of both her breasts and ribs.

"You know what, I like you! Let's get along 'kay, Ryou-chan?" she tells me, smiling brightly. The nickname makes me flinch and splutter though, only my closest sister has ever called me that, and it took her four years to get me to accept it without me throwing a shoe at her in retaliation.

"I don't remember allowing you to call me that!" I cry loudly, feeling my face flush once more and Nanto releases me, her grin growing impossibly wider.

"Well it's cute; you're cute so it makes sense."

"That logic is debatable!"

"At least it isn't a black hole," she responds lightly, tugging a lock of my hair teasingly, leaning away with a light grin as I swat at her hand. "See you around Ryou-chan! I gotta go introduce myself to some of our classmates!"

Just like that. As quickly as she came, Nanto's gone again, moving over to serious looking girl with auburn hair and a prominent scowl.

I stand there a little bewildered, unsure of what to do now. Glancing around the room I observe the groups talking together, whether with animated looks of interest or long looks of suffering, obviously only keeping the conversation going for the sake of formality. Everyone is partnered up both willingly and unwillingly and I cringe at the idea of barging into any of those conversations. Well I guess I'll just wait, for someone to finish with their introductions and move on to the next person, preferably me so I don't just stand here in the center of them room looking like some awkward lighthouse.

Resignedly I move to the side of the room, ignoring the people chattering, to take in the architecture. A surprisingly simple chandelier is situated in the center of the room giving off bright and cheery candlelight, illuminating a painted mural of angels and demons sprawled across the low domed ceiling. The ceiling gives way to cream colored walls, while mahogany wood frames the arched entryways, the floors remain the same veined marble as in the hallway. There are six entryways, the two on opposite sides of the room are larger than the others and are covered with similar velvet red curtains. It's simply elegant and a mundane form of classy.

Out of the corner of my eye I see a figure move in the shadow of one of the entryways. Snapping to attention I focus my gaze there and unsurprisingly make contact with a pair of dark grey eyes. A person, obviously, hopefully, I really hope it's not something else. Hesitantly making my way over to the entryway, I'm surprised as a figure smoothly emerges from the shadows, I assumed that if they were trying to keep themselves hidden they'd be a little more reluctant to show themselves, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

"Hello," he greets calmly, holding a hand out to me which I taking immediately suiting my own personality to his serious demeanor. We shake professionally and I'm bitterly reminded of my father and older brothers, that was how they always seemed to greet me; no hugs or kisses, just curt handshakes. But none of them ever wore gloves like this boy does, standard leather, that conforms to the skin and is easy to move in. A detective's gloves, a criminal's gloves. "It's nice to meet you, my name is El-Dean, Dean Elias."

Elias Dean

Ultimate International Lucky Student

"You're a foreigner?" I ask politely, resisting the urge to pull my hand out of his grip, irrationally uncomfortable. There's a pit of suspicion in my stomach, though the reason I can't fathom, only that it's connected to this boy. After all his talent more than verifies any suspicions I may have, it explains his slightly accented Japanese and the stutter when he was introducing himself. He's probably not used to introducing his surname first, though I've never heard of an international lucky student. So I switch over to the language, "would you prefer I speak English?"

Subtly I take in his appearance, wondering if there were any clues of his nationality that I should have been able to pick up. He's about the same height as Moriai though he lacks the theater actor's slim muscle; this boy looks like he's never cared about being physically fit in the first place. His brown hair is cropped short though it's just long enough that you can see its subtle waves that fall into his stormy grey eyes. He's dressed in what appears to be the uniform I was shown before I got here; a long-sleeved white button down and a black necktie though instead of a brown blazer he wears a sweater vest, matching his ironed brown slacks and generic brown shoes. The only things remotely striking about him are the black gloves he wears on his hands and the cold analytically edge in his eyes. Besides that he's generic, forgettable and plain, a boy that could have been from almost any part of the world.

It'd be best if I don't say that though.

"Yes, American to be precise and no you don't have to," he insists politely in Japanese, his inflection steadily getting better. He drops our hands and I let mine hang limply at my side, resisting the urge to tuck it behind my back. "I'm sure not all of our soon to be classmates will be as linguistically diverse as yourself so it's better if I get used to speaking Japanese," a wry smile. "Besides I've wanted to brush up on it for a long time."

"Suit yourself," I tell him teasingly, glad that the tension has faded, that was just a little too reminiscent of home for my liking. Trying to avoid making the conversation awkward I knit my brows together, trying to keep my voice as polite as possible. "If you don't mind me asking, would you mind explaining your talent? I wasn't aware there was an international lottery."

"Oh that," he murmurs dejectedly, his face falling just a little bit. It's a normal and expected reaction, but I can't help but feel it's a little unnatural unaccompanied by the subtle shifts in the body that usually go with such an expression. To emulate an expression realistically is talent already, but it's nothing special if you can't remember the subtle motions that go with it, something very suspicious indeed. "The international lottery draw only started this year actually," a seemingly genuine performance with a sheepish head rub for good measure. "I don't know if my talent can really be considered, I'm the third person they drew since the first two couldn't speak nor had the aptitude to learn Japanese."

"Well you know what they say," I tell him, putting a finger to my chin, rolling my eyes upward in a mock thinking position, "third times the charm. Who knows maybe it's your luck that made them be pick non-Japanese speakers."

"That's a wonderful way of thinking about it, Miss─?" he trails off, a silent invitation for me to introduce myself.

"Ryouko Moriyama," I tell him in my best American accent, but make a face to show him I'm not really serious about all this. He flinches slightly, but laughs as all the same though I have still pout at that. I switch back to Japanese, "Is my accent really that bad?"

"Not it's fine, better than most actually," he says, his brows scrunching together. "It's just I feel like I've heard it before..."

"Okay, cheesy pick-up lines aside," I tell him jokingly, his face turns deadpan, indulgent but not amused at my joke. "Hey you opened yourself up for that one," I tell him, putting my arms up in defense; he makes an exasperated noise in the back of his throat. "Anyway, you've probably heard my voice before because of talent; I'm here under the title Ultimate Actress."

A pregnant pause.

"Oh, I'm sorry I didn't recognize you," he says apologetically, obviously unsure about how to approach the situation. "I don't really go to the movies often and I've never been one to watch anything but news on TV... So, um sorry..." I just have to snicker at his lame finish.

"No, no, you're good, I actually prefer it this way," I tell him, trying to calm myself. "Media can spread some pretty nasty─"

An explosion goes off behind us.

Yesterday

Time Unknown

"I need you to stall the killings," the hologram spoke flippantly, managing to sound annoyed even through the undertone of static. It was currently in the shape of a busty teenage girl, her face flawlessly done up with makeup and her long hair up in two long, messy pigtails. There was a phone in her hand and she looked positively bored by the current situation.

"B-but Lady J-Junko, they're set to wake up t-tomorrow we can't p-possibly delay─" the other figure in the room stuttered, notably more solid than the other. They were wrapped in a bulky coat with only a pair of unisex sneakers sticking out, their size could have been natural for either a male or female, while their hood was pulled low over the face, hiding their identity and figure, the hysteria in their voice only making it harder to define the person's gender. The hologram seemed unperturbed and merely continued scrolling through her phone before she responded.

"Now's not a good time for me."

"B-but my lady─" the figure cried.

"Listen up," she spoke slowly and menacingly, her expression saying she was absolutely done with this conversation. "The Despair Restoration Program has failed. Izuru is no longer under my control; he's been reverted back into Hajime Hinata and no longer has the capacity or talent to return to being a Remnant of Despair. Soon the virus removal system, that damn Alter Ego, will sweep through and eradicate me. It's gathered too much information about me and there are no longer any killing game participants to distract it, it will succeed this time. I won't be there to hold your hand anymore."

The figure kept silent aware that the hologram wasn't done speaking yet.

"It's too dangerous to start anything now, with the killing school trip in shambles the Future Foundation is on high alert for any particularly despair inducing incidents, another killing game would be at the top of their list. They'll be on the museum and inside before any of the fun can begin and we don't want that, right sweetie?"

"Y-yes m'lady," the figured stuttered, hopeless against the saccharine in the holograms voice. The girl smiled viciously.

"Exactly, it's been several months and the society has been able to gather that the dead from the killing school trip will be awakening in a few days. It will be the perfect distraction to start. The Future Foundation will be too busy monitoring them no matter how they emerge from their comas so the society will be able to put up appropriate obstacles around the museum for the games to play out. A society member will contact you immediately to when you can start."

"B-but y-you'll officially be gone by then," the figure stuttered, at a loss at what to say, Junko smiled coyly a fake blush spreading on her cheeks.

"Aw, you're worried for me," she cooed girlishly and the figure under the shadows of their hood, blushed intensely. "Don't worry about it, if all goes well I'll be back again, so don't fail, 'kay?"

"Y-yes Lady Junko."

[A/N] Oh my gosh this is longer than anything I've ever written... I'm so sorry it took so long for me to update! It's just school and my other story and school. I've got science reports, I've got essays and book reports and math. It's only the third weeeeek for the love of cheesepuffs. Ahem, anyway I just wanted to address something before anyone pointed it out. Yes Ryouko's personality does seem to change between characters; it's kind of a natural instinct for her to change personalities between conversations, trying to balance it out with the person she's talking to, to keep the conversation from being either too boring or too chaotic. This will be resolved as her character develops over the length of the story, I swear.

On the terms of updating it depends on what you guys think. Do you want me to keep the chapters this detailed or do you want me to pick up the pace and drop a little? That will greatly change the time of updates, this is my natural writing style so I'll feel a little uncomfortable writing otherwise, but since this is a SYOC it's also supposed to cater to those people that submitted these lovely characters so of course your call.

As for characters I have a few clarifications. In speaking they'll do introductions in standard Japanese form surname first and then given name, on their separate introductions, separated by line breaks they'll be in western form given name then surname followed by their title. I'd really like to hear your opinions on them and the chapter in general, also feel free to point anything too OOC so I can correct it immediately. Same goes for grammar of course.

I also want to introduce something:

[Question of the Update (QOU)] (I know it's awkward just role with it): Which character of this batch did you find the most interesting?