There's no denying that everyone was just as confused as Chihiro when they saw the white/black bear spring up onto the podium. I was just as...and disappointed.
'So much for a flashy intro. A split faced Tedbot? You're kiddin'!' I thought.
"I am not a teddy bear!" it spoke out, "I... am...Monokuma! And I am this school's headmaster! Nice to meet you all!"
He seems so upbeat and cheery...Yeah there's me and Aoi, but his was completely missing the beat. This school is full of Ultimates like me but this was insane if that bear runs this place!
"Wh- Whaaaaaah! That teddy bear can talk!" Hifumi exclaimed.
"C-Calm down! I'm sure there's just a speaker inside it." assured Kiyotaka.
The bear became irritated at the fact he was referred to a toy again, "I told you already, I'm not a teddy bear..." it then repeated loudly, with its hands in the air, "I'm Monokuma! And I'm your headmaster!"
"Waaaaah! It moved!" Hifumi yelled out of fright. Seriously, he must be too into 2D if that freaked him this much out.
"Seriously man, calm down! It's prolly just a remote control toy or somethin'" said Mondo.
"How dare you compare me to a child's plaything! You've cut me deep. Deeper than the Mariana Trench..." Monokuma pouted, looking sad.
"Well, what ya gotta say that makes you differ, Tedbot?" I questioned the bear.
"My remote control system is so complex, even the folks at NASA can't recreate or even comprehend it!" it boasted, "Ah, but don't make me say stuff that might destroy NASA's dreams. I just couldn't BEAR that!"
"...Really?" I just huffed out at the reaction of his pun. Never mind what was said before.
"Indeed "Really". You are...unfortunate," added Celestia.
"Now then, moving on! We really must hurry and get started..." said Monokuma.
"Giving up already? No other stupid bear puns?" Junko questioned.
"Quiet down now, quiet down. Ah, okay, so...!"
"He has abandoned the gag..." Sakura stated.
Great. Even though I allow people to say what they say, puns from him are gonna tick me off a little.
"Everyone, stand at attention and bow! And...good morning!" Monokuma announced.
"Good morning!" Taka shouted as he and only he alone followed that instruction.
"Y-You don't have to s-say it back..." Toko stuttered.
"Don't bother. He was gonna do so anyway..." I muttered over to her.
"Now then, let us commence with a most noteworthy and memorable entrance ceremony!" Monokuma continued, "First, let's talk about what your school life here will be like. Now, ah, make no mistake-you few students, so full of potential, represent the hope of the world. And to protect such splendid hope...you will all live a communal life together solely within the confines of this school. Everyone will live in harmony together, and adhere to the rules and regulations of the school."
Well, that's different. This is beginning to turn out like a College or Uni. So it ain't gonna be so bad.
"Ah, now then...regarding the end date for this communal life...There isn't one! In other words, you'll all be here until the day you die! Such is the school life you've been assigned."
Okay...now that's totally different and it's gonna be so bad!
"Wh-What did he just say? Until the day we d-die...?" clarified Toko?
"Oh, but fear not! We have quite an abundant budget, so you won't lack all the common conveniences." reassured Monokuma.
"That's the least of our worries right now!" exclaimed Sayaka.
"Yeah, what the hell? You're saying I have to live here forever? You're screwing with us, right?" Junko questioned.
"I am not screwingwith you! I am no liar, of that you can be 100% sure," answered Monokuma with what seemed to be serious, "Ah, and just for your information...you're completely cut off from the outside world. So you don't have to worry about that dirty dirty land beyond these walls ever again!"
"Cut off...? So all those metal plates all over the school...They're there to keep us trapped in here?" Makoto guessed, referring to the steeled windows with large screws holding them in place.
"That's exactly what they're there for," the robot bear answered, "No matter how much you may yell and scream for help...help will not come. So with all that in mind, feel free to live out your life with reckless abandon."
"Come on, what the hell is this?" questioned Leon, "I don't care if the school or whoever else is behind it all, this is just a really bad joke."
"Are ya gaggin' with us again, Tedbot?!" I accused, finding all this to be crazy, "'cause all I hear from ya is a bunch of crap!"
"Yeah! Cut this shit out! It isn't funny anymore!" Mondo supported...actually supporting me.
"You keep saying this is a lie, a gag, or a joke. A bunch of sceptics, all of you. But I guess you can't be helped, huh? You all grew up in an age where you're taught to doubt your neighbour..." Monokuma shrugged, "Well, you'll have plenty of time to find out whether or not what I say is true. And when that time comes, you'll see with your own eyeballs that I speak the undeniable truth."
"Having to live here forever would be...quite the problem, " Celestia spoke, touching both hands to her heart.
"Come, now. What's the matter with all of you?" it asked us, "You decided of your own free will to attend Hope's Peak Academy, didn't you? And now, before the entrance ceremony is even finished, you've already decided you want to leave?"
"Nothin' was mentioned about bein' sealed for life when we got invited until now, Tedbot! Like...We had no say in that!" I shouted, letting my anger show on that topic. Not having a say in things, no matter what they are will always tick me off. Even beyond that.
"Tedbot? Is that the best you can come up for me? You street rats must be so short minded and outcast if you can't even bother to stick to real names." Monokuma responded to me.
I didn't get fully enraged, but I was annoyed at what he said. I ain't a bad apple that spoils the bunch. And I taught the world that.
"So there's no loophole or nothin'? Ya being that serious?" I pressed on, seeing if he's hiding something.
"Well, if you're really that desperate...I guess I did forget to mention one thing. There *is* one way for you to leave this school..." Monokuma revealed.
"R-Really...?" said Toko, beginning to look a little relieved but still introverted.
"As Headmaster, I've crafted a special clause for those of you who would like to leave! I call it...The Graduation Clause! Now, let me tell you about this fun little rule. As I mentioned, in order to maintain an environment of harmony here, we rely on a communal lifestyle. And if someone were to disrupt that harmony, they and they alone will be allowed to leave the school. That, my students, is the Graduation Clause!" explained Monokuma.
"What do you mean by, "disrupt the harmony"?" Byakuya asked.
I admit, there's gotta be a catch. A single slap or punch ain't gonna cover it...
"Puhuhuhu..." the bear giggled an a disturbing way, "Well, you know...If one person were to murder another."
"M-Murder?!" Makoto exclaimed, taken aback by this revelation.
"Stabbing, strangling, bludgeoning, crushing, hacking, drowning, igniting, how you do it doesn't matter," Monokuma listed the methods, "You must kill someone if you want to leave. It's as simple as that. The rest is up to you. Give it your all to achieve the best outcome in the worst way possible."
Rotting in this school and not living life or Killing a peep and you will be free...? What kinda graduation is this?! I may have grown in urban surroundings and became streetwise from my time as an urban dancer, but after that...incident...I never threw down since!
"Puhuhu. I bet *that* got your brain juices flowing! Beats the heck out of a human catching a salmon, huh? Like I said before, you guys are the hope of the world. But you know...Taking that hope and seeing it get murdered creates a darkened shadow of despair. And I just find that so...darn...exciting!" the bear responded, actually getting a thrill out of all of this.
"What the hell are you talking about?! To kill each other is...It's...!" Leon reacted, but can't think of a way to describe it.
"To kill each other is to kill each other. I'm sure there's a dictionary here somewhere if you need it." Monokuma spoke. If he was hinting at Leon being stupid...I saw it.
"We know what it means, that's not the problem!" Aoi shouted, "Why do we have to kill each other?!"
"Yeah!" added Hifumi, "Stop blabbering on with all this nonsense! Just let us go home already!"
"..Blabbering?"
The way it slowly said that word wasn't good...at all.
"Blabbering, blabbering, what do you mean blabbering?! Stop blabbering on about blabbering on! You guys just don't get it, don't you? "Let us go, let us go!" You keep saying the same thing over and over and over and over...! Listen. From this moment on, this school is your home, your life, your world. Got it? And you can kill as much as ya wanna kill! So go ahead, go on a kill-kill-killing spree!" screamed Monokuma.
"Hell no! Ya really think that tantrum's gonna make us-!"
"Alright, come on... How long you gonna keep this up?" Yasuhiro interrupted me, not being phased by any of this.
In fact he was still the same as before.
"Eh?" responded Monokuma in confusion.
"You got us, okay? You scared the hell out of us. So you can go ahead and reveal the trick now." he replied.
"What the-?! Frizz-Fro! How slow are ya?!" I exclaimed. No doubt everyone thought similar, even Monokuma must be thinking that in his system.
"Reveal the trick...?" the bear repeated, looking just as puzzled.
"Yeah, cuz I mean... Y'know, this is all some kinda trick and all, right? So uh, like..."
"Dude, shut the hell up and get outta my way."
This time it was Mondo who interrupted Yasuhiro, pushing him out of the way so he was in front of Monokuma.
"Listen up, asshole! This shit's gone way too far! What the hell kinda joke IS this?" he demanded in a rumbling voice that rivalled thunder.
"Joke? What, you mean like your hair?"
Good thing I kept my words and actions mentally for that moment because...SHOTS FIRED! (With my hands as shooting pistols included). But I was brought back to reality by the sound of "FFFUUUUUUUUUUUU-!" ringing my ears with a sudden BOOM!. What was thunder then came lightning because Mondo kicked his feet off the floorboards and launched himself into the air. Like the speed of a bullet, he lunged at Monokuma and grabbed him, pulling him up off the floor.
"Gotcha, you little piece of shit! I don't know if you're a toy or a stuffed animal or whatever the hell! Either way, I'm gonna rip you to fuckin' shreds!" he threatened.
"Waah! Violence against the headmaster is in violation of school regulations!" Monokuma cried out, waving his arms...paws in the air.
"Shut the fuck up! Let me outta here, or I swear to Christ..."
A beeping sound was suddenly heard throughout the gym, which made everyone confused. Well other than Mondo, who was still letting out his anger at the robot bear.
"What, no smartass comeback this time?!" he pressured, but Monokuma stayed silent and the beeping went faster, "Stop that goddamn beeping and SAY SOMETHING!"
"Watch out! Get rid of it!" Kyoko warned, as if she knew what that thing was.
And it dawned on me, too.
"Huh...?" Mondo responded in confusion.
"Hurry up and throw it!" she and I exclaimed at the same time.
Without a second thought, Mondo tossed Monokuma away from him and into the air. And it was perfect timing, too because the robotic teddy bear exploded. The force of the explosion almost knocking everyone, even me, off their feet.
"The hell?!" he gasped out, "Th-That sure as shit wasn't a joke. It blew the hell up..."
I was just as shocked as he was. Not from the explosion, but the fact he actually would've died if he didn't throw it away. This to me was no doubt serious!
"But you know...This means that teddy bear has been destroyed, right?" Chihiro pointed out.
True...But I had a hunch it wasn't that simple, even as my ears began to ring from the explosion. And god damnit was I right...
"I told you, I'm not a teddy bear! I'm Monokuma!"
As if from out of nowhere, another robot bear that looked exactly the same as the one that exploded popped up.
"Uwah!" exclaimed Leon, "There's another one...?"
"You son of a bitch! You seriously tried to kill me just now!" Mondo growled out.
"Well, yes. I was serious about trying to kill you. You did violate one of the school regulations, after all," answered Monokuma, unsheathing it's claws, "I'll let you off with a warning this time, but you'd better be careful from now on. Any naughty boy or girl won't get off with just a little swat on the but."
"H-Hey...So does this mean there's like, a bunch more of you around somewhere?" questioned Junko.
"Monokumas have been placed all over the school, yes. Plus, don't forget the surveillance cameras installed everywhere. And if you're caught breaking any rules, well...you all just saw what happened, right? Puhuhu...And I won't be so forgiving with my punishment next time. So don't let it happen again!" it warned.
"Th-That's not even punishment. That's just...wrong..." Aoi uttered out.
"Now then, lastly...To commemorate your joyous entry into our school, I have a little something for you..." Monokuma announced, before pulling out 16 of the same thing for us, "Tada! This is our official student handbook! Pretty cool, huh? As you can see, it's fully digital. So naturally, we call it...The e-Handbook!"
...That's a lack of a better name when all there's no response.
"Ahem. Yes, well, moving on...This handbook is absolutely vital to a healthy school life, so don't lose it! When you start it up, it will display your name. Always make sure you have the right one! Now this is not your everyday notebook. It has so many more uses than that! Also, it's completely waterproof. Splash it, wash it, drown it, it'll keep on ticking! And thanks to it's space age design, it can withstand an impact force of up to ten tons. Very resistant! It contains all of our school regulations, so make sure you review them thoroughly! You'll hear me say this a lot, but any violation of school regulations will not be tolerated. Rules are strict, yes, but they also protect. Society, for example, would be utter chaos without laws. The same applies here! Which is why it's crucial to have strict punishments in place for violators. Okay, well...that brings our entrance ceremony to a close! Please enjoy your abundantly dreary school life! And...See ya!" it concluded.
And as it appeared from nowhere it disappeared to nowhere. We were all left in a state of shock and time to take in what Monokuma said to us.
"So, guys... How would you define what we just experienced?" Kiyotaka asked us all, which broke the silence that was left.
"How...? Why...? I don't understand any of this..." Leon uttered, still in total shock and confusion.
"We have to l-live here forever...? Or...k-kill? Wh-What...? What just happened?!" cried Toko.
"Damn...This is insanity! Pomp, ya nearly had a dance with death! Ya doin' okay?!" I asked walked over to Mondo.
"Yeah...Yeah, I'm good. Shit..." he answered back, trying to compose himself.
"Everyone, we need to just calm down." Kyoko spoke out, more calm than the others, "First, let's take a second to summarize everything we just heard. Based on what Monokuma said, we essentially have two choices. Choice number one is that we stay here, living a "communal life" together until the day we die. And the other choice is..."
"If we want to get out of here alive, we have to kill someone. Right?" Celestia finished.
"But...killing someone...That's..." Chihiro spoke timidly, looking like she was on the verge of tears.
"We were abducted out of nowhere and stuffed into this place meant to look like a school. And now we're supposed to start killing each other? This is...This is...This is just...What IS this?!" squealed Hifumi.
"A lie, is what it is. All these ridiculous things we've heard... This all has to be fake!" Kiyotaka denied.
"A peep almost died Kiyobider! How serious do ya wanna get?!" I exclaimed over to him with seriousness.
"Right now it doesn't really matter if it's real or fake. What matters is...Is there anyone who's seriously considering all this...?" Byakuya asked.
To which none of us had a response to that question. We all began to look at one another with a hostility almost having its own beat. I definitely wasn't gonna consider it, but only myself knew that. What about the others? Even if I told so out loud, it could pass off as a lie. And the same could be said to the others, too. The lingering question of "Who is gonna betray us?" starts lingering in everyone's mind.
This school "Hope's Peak Academy." isn't a school of hope, as there was no beat of happiness that could be heard. Instead I got imprisoned in a school of hostility, a school of calculating silence. A school of Despair.