So… we split up into our groups. The first group of Fumiko, Komei, Bunko, Geretsuna, and Sake filed out of the gym to go look for the dorms. The second group of Yurei, Asa, Naruto, Masakazu, and Jirou left soon after, leaving just the five of us, Masako, Tama, Mitsu, Verona, and myself, in the gym to formulate a plan. We have to find Kenta… we just have to!
"So, gang, what's the plan?" Tama said, looking at the four who remained.
"I imagine we should try to go upstairs and find Kenta," Verona said. "he could be literally anywhere, the little creep…"
"Hey, no need to call him a creep!" Mitsu exclaimed.
"Is that really the important part right now?" Verona replied.
"We just need to find him," Masako asserted. "That's what's important. Nothing else matters right now!"
"Wow when'd you get so randomly assertive?" Verona said, rolling her eyes.
"When I realized people might be killing each other!" Masako exclaimed.
"If he's dead, then who would have had the opportunity to do it?" Tama pondered. "Wouldn't the killer have to disappear too?"
"Guys! Let's not think so negatively!" Mitsu objected. "I'm sure Kenta's just fine. He probably just needed some time alone to process everything!"
"We can't rule out the possibility that the worst has happened..." Tama said solemnly. "But we shouldn't automatically assume the worst either."
"Prepare for the worst, hope for the best," Yukika nodded.
"We should stick together," Masako decided. "Anyone going alone is just begging to get killed."
"Something tells me that Naruto kid is probably going alone," Verona chuckled.
"Hey!" Mitsu objected.
"Dark humor is a coping mechanism, isn't it?" Verona shrugged nonchalantly.
"Well, it's not one I appreciate," Mitsu pouted.
"I'm serious, guys," Masako said urgently. "We need to hurry up and find Kenta. Asap."
"What's the rush?" Yukika asked curiously.
"If we don't know where Kenta is, we don't know what he's thinking," Masako said anxiously. "And he could be planning something for all we know!"
"He would never do that," Mitsu said. "Kenta is our friend! There's no way he'd betray us like that!"
"We've known him for maybe an hour, tops," Verona pointed out.
"Guys," Tama interrupted. "Masako's right. We need to get a move on. Standing around and arguing isn't going to solve anything."
"We should split up," Mitsu decided. "Masako and Verona can go together, and then Tama and Yukika can come with me."
"I thought we were sticking together?" Yukika asked.
"No one's going to be alone," Mitsu smiled. "So there's no problem."
"No, that's stupid," Tama said bluntly. "No need to complicate things further! We should just move forward together as a group."
"Okay!" Mitsu cheerily replied. Tama looked at the cheerleader.
"Um… okay," Tama continued. "So, where do we want to search first? First floor, second floor, third floor, fourth?"
"May as well work our way up, the others are probably already going to the above floors," Yukika said.
"So we're starting on the first floor, then?" Mitsu asked.
"May as well," Verona shrugged.
Alright, I think we're finally getting somewhere. Let's save Kenta!
The five students then marched cheerily out of the gym, ready to save their friend. Then they noticed that five students were standing at the entrance to the stairwell to the second floor, the five students meant to search the rest of the school.
What the…? Shouldn't they be on the third floor yet?
"IT! WON'T! OPEN!" Yurei screamed while shaking the gate.
"What's going on?" Yukika said, walking up to the five. "There's a gate?"
"No fuckin' SHIT there's a gate!" Yurei exclaimed, kicking at the gate.
"There's no need to get so worked up, dude," Verona said, looking at the skateboarder.
"No NEED?!" Yurei exclaimed. "There's no NEED for us to be locked up here, but we are!"
As tactless as he is… he's right. Why are we even locked up here? What is causing this?
"Alright alright no need to get all worked up," Jirou said to Yurei, who was banging on the gate. "We just need to get to the bottom of this!"
"I guess all we can do is look for Kenta…" Asa said, concerned.
"Fuck that shit, I'm going to my room," Naruto said, walking away.
"You're not going to help?" Yukika said, looking at the memelord.
"Fuck no I'm not," Naruto laughed. "Why would I worry about his dumb ass? Probably already got himself killed. Kid's an easy target."
"An easy target?" Mitsu frowned.
"You're not going anywhere," Jirou said. "We still have several rooms to explore here that aren't a part of the dorm area." He turned to Tama. "If we find Kenta, we'll send someone to let you all know."
"I appreciate it," Tama smiled.
"So where are we going to look, then?" Yukika pondered.
"It's entirely likely that he's taken respite in the shelter which has been designated unto him," Masakazu suggested.
"Meaning...?" Verona asked.
"He's probably in his dorm room," Asa explained.
That does make sense... almost too much sense.
"We should check on that," Masako decided. "Come on, guys. Let's leave them to their search. We have to find Kenta!"
"The dormitory area is over yonder," Masakazu stated as he pointed away from the caged-off stairs. "Or at the very least that's where the last five left, and have not returned."
"Thanks!" Mitsu chirped.
Masako, Mitsu, Tama, Verona, and Yukika headed towards the area where Masakazu pointed, leaving Asa, Jirou, Masakazu, Naruto, and Yurei alone.
"Alright, with those buffoons out of the way," Masakazu began. "Let us search this floor!"
"Thanks for the narration, genius," , pushing past him. "So, does anyone have any ideas
"Let's just do the logical thing and go through each room in the order we reach them," Asa said, looking down the hall.
"Are the bathrooms even worth checking?" Yurei asked as he walked away from the gate and looked to his left.
"Perhaps not for a simpleton such as you, but people such as myself are more thorough than that," Masakazu boasted. "I shall search the women's restroom."
"Um?" Asa said.
"I don't know what you think you'll find in there, but it's not much different from a men's restroom," Jirou said.
"And you'd know?" Naruto asked, an eyebrow raised.
"I've been in the girls' room before if that's what you're asking," Jirou said.
"Well, I gotta take a piss anyway," Yurei shrugged as he entered the men's room.
"Same, actually," Asa admitted as she entered the women's room.
Jirou, Masakazu, and Naruto stood there in wait. A minute later, Yurei left the restroom.
"Yeah, it's a normal fucking restroom," Yurei said. "Are we done here yet? I'm getting fucking bored."
"Yep looks normal to me," Asa said, walking out of the restroom.
"So that was totally useless, alright!" Naruto said, walking off.
"We've still got plenty of this floor to search so don't get ya panties in a wad, honey," Jirou said, getting in Naruto's face.
"Get the fuck out of my face, trash," Naruto said, raising his voice.
"Alright, let us get this search back on track," Masakazu said, pointing towards the next door. "What is that door?"
"Probably the nurse's office," Asa said, looking at the door. The five walked towards the room and burst into the nurse's office.
"What the-?!" Masakazu exclaimed, looking at the nurse's office. "How did you know this was the nurse's office?!"
"It was on the door, genius," Asa said, rolling her eyes.
"Ah, I see," Masakazu said. "I knew that! I was just testing you!"
"You guys are fucking obnoxious normies," Yurei said, walking out of the nurse's office.
"What does normie even mean?" Asa asked.
"Only fucking normies ask what normie means," Yurei explained.
"Look who's talking, normie trash." Naruto spat.
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING TRASH?!" Yurei exclaimed, getting in Naruto's face.
Asa sighed loudly, and she, Jirou, and Masakazu walked away from the two.
"Those two are whacked out," Jirou said, walking down the hallway.
"Agreed," Asa said.
"I must say those two will be nightmarish to live with, for sure," Masakazu rolled his eyes, referring to the Meme Lord and Skater.
"Let's hope we get out of here before they become too much to bear…" Asa said, solemnly.
The three walked up to a small door, they carefully opened the door to reveal a small, packed room with all sorts of objects scattered about seemingly at random.
"Is this some sort of… merchant camp?" Masakazu said, looking around the cramped space.
"It looks like a supply closet," Jirou said, looking at the tiny room.
"Well obviously he's not in here, so let's just go on," Asa said, peering around.
The three walked out of the small room and noticed the two they left behind standing right at the door, waiting for them.
"I see you abandoned us," Yurei said.
"Not really abandoned per se," Asa replied. "but you two seemed to be having a lover's quarrel, so there was no reason for us to intrude upon that, wouldn't you say?"
"Lover's quarrel?" Naruto exclaimed, looking at Yurei before turning his attention back to Asa.
"It was a joke," Asa said, rolling her eyes.
"Of course it was, I knew that!" Naruto said indignantly as Yurei rolled his eyes.
"Stop this needless bickering so we can get back to the important matters at hand," Masakazu said. "Like, for instance, trying to find the missing boy?"
"I guess you're right," Asa said, continuing down the hallway.
The five continued down the hall to the next door, marked "A/V Room", Masakazu went to turn the doorknob, only to realize the room was locked.
"Hm?" Masakazu said, wiggling the doorknob.
"What's the matter? Can you not open doors?" Yurei scoffed.
"Not locked ones!" Masakazu exclaimed, swinging back to face the skateboarder. "You think you can do any better?"
"Stand aside and watch the man do this," Yurei said, walking up to the door. He began kicking at the door repeatedly. Soon enough the door began making splintering noises and suddenly the five heard a loud pop behind them.
"Just WHAT do you think you're doing?" A loud, shrill voice protruded from behind them, they knew the voice. The five turned around to see Monokuma standing in the hallway right behind them.
"Monokuma!" Asa exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm making sure Yurei doesn't get killed for violating a school rule!" Monokuma chuckled. "That'd be absolutely unBEARable! Upupupupu~!"
"The fuck? It says we can search the school at our own discretion," Yurei spat.
"Yeah, I'm not seeing anything that says we're breaking any rules here," Jirou said as he looked through the rules section of his e-Handbook.
"Swipe a bit further!" Monokuma said jovially. "I just added it! A shiny new rule, ta da!"
"Rule #4b: The only exception is locked doors, which shall remain locked for student protection. Violation will require the strictest punishment!"
"Fuck's sake..." Naruto muttered
"Isn't it wonderful?" Monokuma laughed. "I love rules, and it'd be such a shame if one of you did something to compromise them!"
"This rule didn't even exist until now!" Yurei shouted.
"Rules always exist, even if you're not aware of them, aren't they?" Monokuma mused. "The laws of gravity were always in effect, even before Isaac Newton pointed them out."
"You're just trying to distract from the fact that you didn't think to enact that rule until now," Asa said flatly.
"Probably," Monokuma shrugged.
"You think, if we find enough loopholes, he'll keep adding rules until we get to Rule 34?" Naruto snickered.
"Considering this new rule is listed as 4b, I doubt it," Masakazu said.
"Ugh! No one GETS it!" Naruto cried.
"I get it, it just wasn't very funny," Jirou said.
"Let's just keep looking," Yurei said, disgruntled.
"Did we check that room over there?" Masakazu asked as he pointed to a room behind them.
"I don't think so," Asa said.
The fivesome moved towards the door in question, which was labeled "School Store".
"A school store?" Naruto asked. "Fuck, I don't have any money."
"Oh, there's no need to worry about that!" said the voice of Monokuma from behind him. Naruto jumped in fright. Monokuma continued speaking. "Anything at the school store can be taken free of charge. Yen is 100% useless here at Hope's Peak Academy!"
"Tell that to the reserve course students," Asa scoffed.
"However!" Monokuma continued, ignoring Asa. "There is a nifty gachapon machine in there. The MonoMono Machine! You can spend Monocoins on neat-o prizes with the MonoMono Machine. Who knows? Maybe you kids will find something cool."
"And from where do we procure these Monocoins... not that I care," Masakazu asked.
"Oh, you'll find them lying around," Monokuma chuckled. "Of course, there is a way to get them in bulk, but... oh, you'll see what I mean eventually."
"There is some pretty cool stuff in there," Jirou said with his mouth full of chips.
"When did you get those?" Asa asked.
"Like ten seconds ago," Jirou said. "Want one?"
"Not really," Asa said.
"Fine, more for me then!" Jirou said, eating more chips.
"Alright, how much more even is there to explore around here?" Naruto asked, looking around.
"Well, there is that huge door over there…" Asa said, pointing at a giant red door at the end of a long hallway.
"Oh my god that's so… tacky!" Jirou exclaimed, looking at the door. "Who said red went well with this color scheme? Whoever did needs to be fired, yuck."
"Is that really something we need to worry about?" Masakazu asked, shaking his head.
"You just don't understand," Jirou said, shrugging.
"Clearly we don't understand your pansy-assed crying about color schemes and shit," Yurei said.
"The fuck did you just say to me?" Jirou said, walking up to Yurei.
"I said your pansy-assed bullshit doesn't matter," Yurei repeated sternly.
"Clearly this group was a really bad idea in the first place," Asa said. "Too much idiotic testosterone."
"I fear you may actually be correct in that assumption," Masakazu said. "Regardless, are we searching that room or not? Who wants to test out the door?"
"I-I'd rather not," Naruto said, inching away.
Masakazu sighed loudly, "I guess I shall test this one too." He walked up to the door and tugged on the handle, but the door did not move. "Well, I supposed this door is also locked. Quite a shame, I wanted to know what was behind there…"
Suddenly, another pop was heard and Monokuma was once more standing right behind Masakazu.
"Stop doing that!" Masakazu exclaimed, backing into the door.
"Upupupupu! Did I scare you?" Monokuma chuckled. "What a baby! Anyways, behind that door is an elevator to the courtroom!"
"Courtroom?" Masakazu asked.
"Courtroom!" Monokuma echoed. "Whenever one of your classmates ends up becoming blackened, the class trial shall be held in the room behind these doors!"
"What do you mean, when?" Asa asked.
"I mean he obviously means when someone wants the fuck out of here, they'll kill," Yurei laughed.
"How do you know someone's gonna kill?" Jirou asked, alarmed. "What are you planning?"
"I mean, isn't it fucking obvious?" Yurei asked. "Sixteen dynamic personalities locked in a small area? I highly doubt we're all gonna stay peaceful forever. That's just a pathetic pipe dream. May as well fucking adapt while you can."
"How the fuck can you have that mindset?" Asa looked at the skateboarder in pure revulsion.
"I kinda have to agree with her, honestly," Naruto said. "I mean I'm all for good nihilist memes but like, what the fuck?"
"Yes, yeeeees," Monokuma moaned. "Let your hatred for him grow. Maybe it'll develop into something... deeper."
"I ship it," Jirou remarked. Asa and Naruto turned to look at Jirou. "What? I know a cute couple when I see one!"
"Whatever!" Monokuma said. "Yeah, that place is off limits until the moment of truth! Upupupu!"
And with that, the bear disappeared in the blink of an eye. The five students looked around, confused and scared.
"Ugh… that bear creeps me the fuck out," Naruto said, shuddering.
"You and me both, girl," Jirou said.
"Well, other than those classrooms which I highly doubt someone like him would go to since that's all there really is to explore around here… shall we go report to the others?" Masakazu asked.
"Nah I thought we should just walk around here a bit long, yes we should go report ya goddamn idiot!" Yurei said, rolling his eyes.
"Oh just shut the fuck up, dude," Naruto said.
"Fuck you, cunt," Yurei retorted angrily.
"Girls, for fuck's sake can we just get to the others," Jirou said, thoroughly exhausted with the two.
"Fine," Naruto said.
The five students then turned and walked towards the door to the main living quarters, ready to inform the others about their findings.
As the five students were searching the first floor, another group of five comprising of Fumiko, Komei, Geretsuna, Bunko, and Sake were searching the dorm area of the school. The five began looking around the dorm area to see what they could find.
"Welp, where's my room?" Sake asked.
"You will not be going to your room," Geretsuna huffed. "You will help us search the area, as you volunteered to."
"Fuuuuuuuuck," Sake groaned.
"Should we split up?" Komei asked.
"I don't think that's a good idea," Fumiko admitted. "Not to make any judgments here, but... Monokuma did say that thing... about killing..."
"What thing?" Bunko asked.
"The small one makes a good point," Geretsuna snorted. "Can't trust anyone to be by themselves. But where should we look first."
"I don't fuckin' know. How 'bout the the fuckin', the fucking that place," Sake said as she pointed to the door directly to the right of the door through which they entered.
"Might as well," Komei decided.
The five entered the door to find themselves in what looked like a cafeteria room.
"A cafeteria?" Geretsuna asked. "Are we to assume there will be food?"
"No, this place is for the biweekly dance parties," Komei remarked.
"Really?" Bunko asked. "Monokuma never said anything about that."
The other four shot Bunko a look.
"What?" Bunko asked.
"Screw that, I need to know if there's booze!" Sake shouted.
"You kids, I swear," Monokuma sighed as he appeared behind the students.
"Oh!" Fumiko gasped. "Where did you come from?"
"Well you see, when a mommy bear and a daddy bear love each other very much..." Monokuma started. "Let's just say there's a reason the beds Goldilocks tried to sleep in were so unstable."
"Gross," Komei winced.
"If you bothered to explore the room further..." Monokuma continued. "You'd see there's a kitchen in the back there."
"But is. There. Booze?" Sake asked in a deadly serious demeanor.
"Goodness me! What sort of headmaster do you take me for?" Monokuma asked, seemingly offended. "You children are underage! You shouldn't have access to alcohol."
"You sure? It'd make things a lot more... interesting," Sake said with a big grin. "It might, I don't know, encourage someone to commit murder..."
"Hm, you drive a hard bargain," Monokuma thought aloud. "I'll consider it."
"Love ya to pieces," Sake told the bear.
"What about tendies?!" Geretsuna hastily added. "Are there tendies?!"
Monokuma groaned. "Yes. There are frozen chicken tenders in-"
Geretsuna made the closest thing he could muster to a dash with his heelies towards the kitchen.
"What's wrong with him?" Komei asked, looking at Geretsuna.
"I must get to my beloved TENDIES!" Geretsuna slid across the floor on his heelies to the kitchen.
"Hold it you fat fuck!" Sake exclaimed, causing Geretsuna to freeze out of nowhere. "You're not getting you fucking tenders or whatever the fuck until I get fucking WASTED!"
"He just said no alcohol, though!" Geretsuna whined, still balanced on his heelies.
"So fucking what? I'm the Ultimate Mixologist! I'll find a way! I'll find a waaaaay" Sake exclaimed, running towards the kitchen.
"I guess I can't stop you doing that, but get people drunk and baaaad things might happen upupupu~!" Monokuma snickered as he disappeared without a trace.
"Well then," Komei said.
"So fucking what? Still gonna get wasted!" Sake cackled as she ran to the kitchen to brew alcohol.
"Come on," Komei said, clearly irritated. "You guys can get wasted later, we have more important shit to do."
"What could be more important than booze?" Sake asked.
"Or tendies?!" Geretsuna sobbed.
"What the fuck are tendies?" Komei asked.
"Only the most delicious food in the land!" Geretsuna exclaimed.
"The land?" Fumiko questioned.
"Yes, the land!" Geretsuna marvelled, reaching for the sky. "The marvelous world of tendie land! It's real, y'know! They try to tell me it isn't, but it is!"
"...Isn't that the only food in this so called 'tendie-land'?" Bunko asked.
"No!" Geretsuna exclaimed. "There's Doritos and Mountain Dew! And potatoes as far as the eye can see! But only the sweet succulent tendies reign supreme!"
"What the fuck is wrong with you?" Komei looked at Geretsuna, legitimately concerned.
"Nothing!" Geretsuna exclaimed.
"I highly doubt that…" Fumiko muttered.
The five students then walked across the courtyard to a room only separated by a curtain. They walked into a small room with lockers lining the walls.
"So this is just… a locker room?" Fumiko asked, looking around.
"There seem to be no cameras here…" Komei said. "That's actually really weird."
Sake laughed, "They probably don't wanna get a suit or some shit! They probably couldn't handle my bodacious body, though! Ahaha!"
"Ooooh I know I can't!" Geretsuna said, eyeing up Sake.
"Don't bite off more than you can chew, big boy," Sake said, winking at the conspiracy theorist.
"As much as I love this awkward sexual tension, there really doesn't seem to be much going on here…" Komei interrupted. "There's a door there, anyone wanna go check it out?"
"Oh! I will!" Bunko exclaimed. "I wanna be useful!"
"Alright then," Fumiko said with a small smile. "Then go check out that room! We'll be right behind you."
"Okay!" Bunko grinned and walked over to the door, she slowly turned the knob and suddenly steam began bellowing out of the room. Bunko immediately began screaming.
"What the?!" Geretsuna exclaimed. "The demons of Selzar are here! I knew they'd come for me one day!"
"It's a sauna," Komei said curtly.
"O-oh…" Bunko said, looking in as the smoke dissipated.
"Well this was a colossal waste of time," Komei turned around and walked out of the room.
"W-wait!" Bunko exclaimed as she scurried after Komei. "But where do we search next?"
"Probably the next door," Komei said flatly, walking towards the door adjacent to the locker room.
Komei and Bunko, followed by Geretsuna, Sake, and Fumiko walked into a small room with washing machines and dryers all around the room.
"It doesn't take a genius to figure out what this room is," Komei said.
"Yeah, even I know what this is!" Bunko said, confidently.
"Good job!" Fumiko said, encouragingly. Bunko smiled broadly.
"Well, I guess there isn't much to search here!" Geretsuna exclaimed. "I mean… unless someone is hiding in the washing machines…"
"Hiding in the washing machines?" Bunko asked. "Wouldn't that hurt?"
"Yeah, and that's why I highly doubt he's in one of these," Komei said. "We may as well go now honestly."
"That's it?" Sake asked. "Not some overly long conflicting conversation or some shit? You're fuckin' boring!"
"Shut up," Komei said.
The five slowly walked from the laundry room and across the courtyard to a small hallway adjacent to the dorms. As they approached the end of the hallway they realized that in between them and the stairs to the second floor stands a large, metal gate.
"What the!?" Geretsuna exclaimed yet again.
"Is that your only reaction to surprising things, tubby?" Sake asked.
"It's not like I control what I say when I am scared, Miss Sake!" Geretsuna said, glaring at the girl.
"I could make a joke but I won't!" Sake exclaimed.
"Enough! What's the meaning of this gate?" Komei exclaimed, eying the gate.
Suddenly, a loud popping noise was heard and suddenly Monokuma was standing right behind all of them.
"Upupupu~!" Monokuma cackled loudly. "You rang?"
"Yeah! What's up with this gate?" Komei asked the bear.
"Oh that silly old thing!" Monokuma exclaimed. "That's just to keep you guys from getting too far too fast! What's the fun if you can find everything immediately?"
"What is there to find?" Fumiko asked quietly.
"That's for me to know, and for you to find out! Maybe!" Monokuma laughed as he said this.
"Your laugh is really cold…" Bunko said. "It scares me."
"Oh no! Did I hurt your feelings?" Monokuma asked mockingly. "Gosh, that's so despairing! Upupupu~!"
"You know you are quite obnoxious!" Geretsuna exclaimed.
"Look who's calling the kettle black, kid!" Monokuma replied.
"Hmph!" Geretsuna huffed loudly as Monokuma laughed.
"Whatever! Don't worry about the gate!" Monokuma exclaimed. "Look! A door! I wonder what's over there!"
Monokuma pointed towards a door to the side of the stairwell. The five students looked over at it and suddenly, Monokuma disappeared. The five looked around rapidly looking for the bear to no avail.
"Where did he go?" Komei exclaimed.
"Who fuckin' cares?" Sake said. "Let's just go look at the room!"
The five walked into a large, grey room with shelves lining the walls as far as the eye could see. Any type of supplies imaginable: food, water, bedding, clothing, it was all there. The five gazed around the room, amazed at all of the supplies.
"Wow!" Geretsuna marvelled. "There seems to be enough here to last a lifetime!"
"But is there booze?!" Sake exclaimed, looking around. "If not, I'm not interested!"
"Is all you think about getting drunk?" Komei asked Sake.
"Yep!" Sake replied triumphantly.
"Anyways… it seems that there are years worth of supplies here… but why are so many supplies needed?" Fumiko asked.
Suddenly Monokuma popped up behind them once again. "Excellent question, Miss Kitsu!"
"Stop creeping up on us!" Bunko exclaimed.
"Hmm… nah!" Monokuma snickered loudly as Bunko looked at him angrily. "The reason is because you guys will living here for the rest of your lives! May as well give you all of the necessities! I'm not a monster!"
"Yes you are!" Bunko exclaimed. "You're awful!"
"Calm down, Bunko," Fumiko said, comforting Bunko. "Don't' let him get to you!
"Ugh!" Bunko exclaimed loudly, tears in her eyes. "I hate this!"
"Upupupupu~!" Monokuma laughed. "Ahahahaha! These tears are so absolutely despairful! It warms my heart. As much as I love tormenting children though, I have more important things to do! Buh-bye!"
"Wait!" Komei exclaimed, but sure enough Monokuma was gone in the blink of an eye. "Fuck!"
Sake then dashes out from the back of the storage room. "Don't worry everyone! We have booz-" Sake then looked around at Bunko and Fumiko embracing, Komei swearing, and Geretsuna in the corner panicking.
"I see I've come at the wrong time..." Sake muttered under her breath.
What is going on here?
The five students turned around and noticed the third group: Yukika, Masako, Verona, Mitsu, and Tama were standing in the doorway. They ran in and quickly made it to the other five.
"We heard screaming, what's wrong?!" Yukika exclaimed, running up to the five.
"Fucking Monokuma!" Komei exclaimed, looking around the room. "He was here!"
"Monokuma was… here?!" Masako shrieked, grabbing her hair. "No way… no way! There's no way he could've been here!"
"Well believe it, because he was!" Geretsuna replied from the corner of the room. "I almost dropped my tendies! Almost!"
"That would've been a tragedy!" Tama exclaimed. Komei looked at Tama, completely done with this conversation.
"Where'd he go, though?" Verona asked. "Surely he didn't just vanish into thin air!"
"That's exactly what he did, actually…" Fumiko said slowly. "One moment he was here… the next he was gone."
Really? Now Monokuma can just vanish in thin air?
"So what happened to make him show up?" Yukika asked the group.
"It seems like every time we ask questions, he shows up!" Sake exclaimed loudly.
"Why?" Yukika asked.
"Don't fuckin' tempt fate like that, idiot," Komei said flatly.
"Did you guys manage to search the whole area?" Masako asked curiously.
"Most of it," Geretsuna said as he pushed his glasses up. "We haven't searched the dorm areas or any rooms around it."
"No sign of Kenta?" Yukika asked.
"Sorry..." Fumiko frowned.
Damn. Where could he be?
"Maybe he went to his dorm room. I dunno," Verona shrugged.
"That's a good idea," Tama smiled. "Let's check there, gang!"
"We'll keep looking around for any helpful rooms or something," Komei told the other group.
"I will not rest until we find the liquor cabinet," Sake said solemnly.
"Is drinking your only personality?" Geretsuna scoffed.
"Is being an awful perma-virgin yours?" Sake retorted.
"...Carry on," Geretsuna said.
"Alright alright everyone!" Tama interrupted. "Let's go look for Kenta somewhere else! He clearly isn't wherever you guys just searched!"
"Didn't we just go over this?" Komei said.
"Oh, right! Yes! The dorms!" Tama exclaimed.
This guy…
"So… let's go check that before Tama forgets again," Verona quipped.
"Forgets what?" Tama asked.
"Never mind that…" Fumiko said. "Let's go!"
"Oh, we're doing that now," Komei said flatly. "That's fine, just ignore me."
So the ten students walked out of the storage room and out into the hallway towards the dorms. They turned into a red hallway with dim lighting, doors lining the hall. Each door had the face of one of the students on it.
"Oh, cute!" Mitsu exclaimed. "It looks like the doors all have our little faces on them!"
"Fina-fucking-ly!" Sake groaned.
"You're not resting until we find Kenta," Verona chided.
"Literally kill yourself," Sake responded.
"Actually, Kenta's room is right here next to Sake's," Yukika pointed out.
"So knock already," Komei said impatiently.
"Why am I the leader again?" Yukika asked.
"Just do it, man!" Masako cried. "I'm getting anxious."
Aren't clowns supposed to make other people anxious, not the other way around?
Yukika sighed before gently rapping on Kenta's door, which was met by a brief shriek from the other side of the door.
"That doesn't sound good," Bunko pointed out.
"Kenta? Is that you?" Yukika asked.
"I forget, is it against the rules to break down doors?" Komei asked as she cracked her knuckles.
"Yeah, it looks like they just added that rule, actually," Verona said as she checked her e-Handbook.
"Of fucking course they did," Komei sighed.
"This means we know where the twerp is, right?" Sake asked.
"I think so?" Yukika answered. He tried knocking again. "Kenta? It's me, Yukika!"
After a brief pause, Kenta's door opened a crack. He seemed to be keeping it from opening too much with a chain lock. Kenta peeked through the crack of the door, saw ten people looking directly at him, and immediately shut his door.
"Yep, he's still not dead. I'm taking a nap," Sake said flippantly as she left into her own room.
"How could you be so callous?" Mitsu frowned as Sake left.
"Ignore her," Tama suggested.
"Maybe he's just nervous that there are so many people," Yukika suggested.
"Yeah, you guys go keep searching," Verona coaxed. "Kenta considers me and Yukika his friends for whatever reason. Let us talk to him."
"That's fair," Fumiko nodded.
"Stay safe!" Masako urged.
The eight students shuffled off into different directions, leaving Yukika and Verona in front of Kenta's door.
"Kenta? Everyone else is gone," Yukika assured as he knocked on the door.
A brief, metallic sound came from the other side of the door, likely Kenta undoing the chain lock, and Kenta opened it.
"Come in," Kenta said weakly.
Yukika and Verona entered Kenta's room.
It's weird to think that I'm in someone else's room before I even get the chance to go into my own, but I'm glad Kenta's safe if nothing else.
"Sorry if I caused a fuss," Kenta apologized morosely.
"Is something wrong?" Verona asked.
"Of course something's wrong!" Kenta cried. "I just wanted to go to Hope's Peak and meet new friends and graduate and become successful and now all of a sudden some jackass is starting up this killing game thing again?! I thought the despair had died!"
Kenta began hyperventilating. Yukika and Verona each put their hand on Kenta's shoulder.
"Well, we're here for you," Verona said, not smiling, but with a certain warmness to her.
"You can trust us," Yukika added.
"Can I?" Kenta asked. "Think about it: the last killing games were caused by a Hope's Peak student in the name of despair. Who's to say that someone here isn't doing the same?"
He could have a point... but I don't know.
"That doesn't make any sense," Verona said as she shook her head. "We were all there when Monokuma was there. Nobody could have been controlling him."
"That's what they want you to think!" Kenta cried. He sighed. "Sorry if I'm being too loud. I'm just scared, you know?"
"We're all scared," Yukika assured Kenta.
"But hiding from everyone is just going to make you look suspicious," Verona added.
"You think?" Kenta asked.
"Well yeah. Someone who spends their time away from everyone else is probably planning something," Verona explained.
"Someone might kill me if they think I'm suspicious, huh?" Kenta asked quietly.
"Probably," Verona shrugged.
Verona's being a bit more blunt than I'd choose to be, at least out loud, but she seems to be doing a decent enough job consoling him.
"You're right," Kenta said. "Give me a couple minutes to calm down, and I'll come out of my room."
"We'll tell the others to meet up at the gym," Verona decided. "Come join us when you're ready."
"...Alright," Kenta said with a slight smile.
This moment… this is the hope we need to survive! Verona and Kenta are stronger than despair! Stronger than this! We will survive!
The two walked out of Kenta's room and into the hallway, which was now deserted.
"Well… I'm glad he's alright," Yukika said, relieved. "I thought for a second we had lost him."
"Thankfully not, I don't know if I could've taken a murder so early," Verona replied.
"I don't know if I can take a murder ever," Yukika said, his face turning pale.
"Eh, I'm no stranger to seeing people die," Verona said frankly.
"O-Oh," Yukika responded.
"I might tell you about it later, might not," Verona said. "For now we should gather the others into the gym."
"R-Right," Yukika nodded.
Well now I'm really curious.
After some time, the fifteen students sans Kenta arrived one by one in the gym, however as they waited, Kenta never arrived. No matter how long they waited, The Lucky Student never showed up at the gym.
Something's gotta be wrong… I thought we had gotten through to him… could we have been wrong? Now's not the time. We can't look for him again. We've wasted enough time as it is.
"Alright, let us commence this… meeting," Masakazu said solemnly.
"Yes, let's!" Tama exclaimed. "First matter of business, what was found in the first floor!"
"We found basically nothing," Jirou said. "Just a bunch of empty rooms. I mean there was this room with a weird machine with Monokuma's face in it."
"I concur. There was really not much of note." Masakazu agreed.
"I haven't found a reason to live yet, but otherwise it was fine," Naruto grumbled.
"So… nothing?" Verona rushed.
"Don't fucking rush me, bitch," Yurei said to Verona.
"Who are you talking like that to?" Verona said walking towards Yurei.
"Alright, alright!" Tama exclaimed. "Enough of this! We will get nowhere with this!"
He's right, we're getting nowhere already. Someone has to have something to bring to the table.
"So, what did the second group find?" Yukika asked.
"We found the kitchen!" Bunko exclaimed, proudly.
"Yep! We also found the storage room, with lots of supplies for us to live comfortably." Fumiko added.
"That's it?" Yurei said, angrily.
"Yeah? Did your crew of dumbasses find anything more than that?" Komei retorted. "It's not like you guys brought much to the table."
"We found a nurse's office," Asa recalled.
"There's also a school store," Jirou added. "And, yes, to answer the question on everyone's mind, they've got chips."
Literally nobody was wondering that.
"Well that's a load off my mind," Geretsuna said with a sigh of relief.
Okay, I set myself up for that one.
"There's also a gate preventing us from reaching higher ground," Masakazu added. "Not even I could bring it to falter."
"You didn't even try. That was all me, dipshit," Yurei spat.
"We found a gate, too," Geretsuna mentioned.
"So the second floor is completely blocked off, huh?" Tama asked. "So much for being free to search the school."
"Well shit, from what I've seen, what we have is pretty cozy," Verona said as she idly put her hands behind her head. "You know, for a situation where we're being held against our will and forced to kill each other."
"Beds are actually pretty comfy," Sake nodded. "Wish our fuckin' showers didn't have cameras in them though."
You weren't shy about showing your body off to me when we first met...
"The human body is a beautiful thing," Bunko said matter-of-factly.
"And yet humanity is one of the ugliest things in this world," Naruto said with an empty smile.
"That's not true at all!" Mitsu cried. "Each and every one of you is a beautiful soul and I won't be told any differently!"
"Guys, we're getting off-track here," Masako interrupted. "So, Yukika, Verona, you said Kenta would be here. Where is he?"
"I'm not sure," Yukika admitted.
"He probably pussied out again," Yurei scoffed.
"That or he's plotting to kill one of us," Naruto said with an even bigger empty smile.
"...Oh," Fumiko frowned.
"Naruto, stop that," Masako winced. "Kenta is not going to kill anybody. No one here is killing anyone!"
"Is that naive optimism, or a threat?" Naruto chuckled.
"What is your problem?" Verona glared.
"It's like I said: people are foul creatures," Naruto explained. "Driven only by what will benefit them. You may not want anyone to kill anyone. But being locked in this building with fifteen other teenagers? Someone's going to go stir crazy. Who knows? It might even be you."
"It sounds like you want us to kill each other," Jirou said with disgust.
"Maybe I do," Naruto chuckled. "Shit, kill me if you really want to. I've been after that sweet release for years."
It wouldn't be a Hope's Peak class if we didn't have a sociopath, would it? Give me a break...
Everybody began murmuring to each other about the topic of killing and the fear that someone might do it.
"That's enough!" Masako shouted. The room fell silent. "Nobody is killing each other. That is final. If anyone so much as considers killing someone, talk to me about it. Talking with other people is the best way to let your negative emotions out."
"Yeah!" Yukika said. "That's the spirit! We have to do our best to survive, no matter what!"
"Agreed!" Tama exclaimed.
"I suppose so," Masakazu said solemnly.
"Oh, okay," Naruto laughed. "If that's how we're gonna play."
Several people looked at Naruto weirdly.
"I guess that's all for today…" Yukika said to the others. "No need to stick around here all day. We need to make ourselves at home."
"What about Kenta?" Fumiko asked.
That was the question, wasn't it. What about Kenta, though? He seemed alright when me and Verona went to talk to him, but he didn't show up. I feel like something's off about that guy, and I don't know what.
"I'm sure he's fine," Yukika replied. "Probably just tired, or something."
"Well, alright," Fumiko said with a clear distrusting tone in her voice.
Soon the thirteen other students left the area, leaving only Yukika and Verona in the large gym.
"He's not okay, is he," Verona said softly.
"I don't think so, sadly. And I thought we had gotten through to him!" Yukika said, angrily.
"Well, I guess he's just gonna have to work this shit out on his own, you know?" Verona replied. "Nobody can force him to change. He has to do it himself."
"Yeah… I guess you're right," Yukika said. "Hopefully he gets better."
"We'd better catch up to the others," Verona said. "They might begin to wonder where we went off to."
Yukika chuckled slightly, "Yeah, we'd better."
And that's how my life at Hope's Peak Academy begun. I've already made a couple friends - well, one friend and one weird guy who I'm kind of friendly with. Also I wish I could have met them in less dire circumstances. But Masako's right. We can always talk it out if things get too negative. Communication is key to winning MOBAs, so I know what she means when she says that talking can save people's lives. Granted, people's actual lives are on the line, not just avatars in a game. But it's the same principle. Right?
Things are going to be alright. At least... I hope they will...