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Chapter 1: The Killing Game Starts. Goodbye Trust

"Ahh, this is so stupid," Luke shouted as he threw his e-handbook on the table in frustration.

They were all in the cafeteria eating food that Monokuma prepared. At first no one wanted to touch food prepared by the bear. But Cress pointed out that it was a good bet that the food was safe. Monokuma wanted them to kill each other after all.

So while they ate, Monokuma handed out devices the size of their hand, calling them e-handbooks. But most of them had no clue how to work them. Monokuma soon got frustrated trying to teach, "backwoods bumkins" technology and just left. Thankfully Ludger and Kanonno had no trouble understanding how to use them and taught the others. Most of them were soon able to pick up how to use them. But Stahn, Lloyd, Luke, and even Sorey had a hard time understanding it. In Sorey's defence, he stayed amazed that just a small thing could hold some much information and functions that he failed to listen to Kanonno telling him how to get to the map of the school.

"Look, let's just go back to going over the rules the damn teddy bear placed on us," Yuri said as moved his finger across the e-handbook to get to the rules that were listed.

"Why?" Luke demanded. "Monokuma is the bad guy, why should we even listen to him?"

"Because, if we wish to escape, we need to know our boundaries and how far we can push," Cress explained.

"Right, so let's go over the rules Monokuma set up," Jude said as he started reading them off.

Sorey tried to get to where he could follow along, but couldn't find the rules. He was touching the screen and nothing was happening. Lloyd sat next to him and had long since given up on learning about the e-handbook. He now sat with his head propped up by his hands on the table with the e-handbook in front of him. Suddenly a hand reached over and pushed something that got him immediately to the rules. Yuri was sitting next to him and didn't show kind of reaction from helping Sorey. For now, Sorey read the rules;

Rule #1: Students may reside only within the school.
Rule #2: Violence against headmaster Monokuma is strictly prohibited, as is destruction of surveillance cameras.
Rule #3: Monokuma will never directly participate in a murder.

Rule #4: Night Time is from 10PM to 7AM. During those hours, the cafeteria and gym are closed.
Rule #5: Your e-handbooks are very important items. Make sure you do not damage them or lend them to anyone else.

Rule #6: When a murder is committed in the academy, a class trial will be conducted. Participation in this trial is mandatory for all surviving students.
Rule #7: A body discovery announcement will occur when three or more students discover a body.
Rule #8: If the killer (hereinafter referred to as "the blackened") is correctly identified during the class trial, only the blackened will be punished for their crime.
Rule #9: If the blackened cannot be identified, or if an incorrect student is identified as the blackened, all students except the blackened will be punished for the crime.
Rule #10: If the blackened survives the class trial, they are declared the winner. At which point, they will graduate from the Ultimate Academy and re-enter the outside world.
Rule #11: If innocent students (hereinafter referred to as "the spotless") continue to survive class trials, the killing game will continue until only two or three students remain.
Rule #12: The guilty party may only kill a maximum of two people during any single "Killing Game."
Rule #13: Violators of these rules will be exterminated.
Rule #14: The headmaster may add additional regulations to this list at any time.

"So there may be more," Kor groaned as his head dropped to the table after Jude read the last rule.

"It's probably so Monokuma could make sure he can control us," Milla summed up.

"But nowhere in the rules does it say we have to kill anyone," Asbel pointed out.

"Yeah, it only says what would happen if a murder does happen," Sorey agreed.

"Does that mean we don't have to kill anyone?" Stahn asked.

"There are no time limits or penalties for not participating in the killing game," Veigue said.

"We only have to participate in the 'class trial' right?" Lloyd asked, still trying to wrap his head around everything.

"So this stupid game won't ever start," Luke started to say and wore the first real genuine smile they've seen from him.

Sorey felt a bit relieved. They could stay in control of the killing game the whole time by choosing not to play. If they all agreed to a truce then-

"The killing game will happen, eventually," Yuri suddenly said which startled everyone.

"Yuri, what are you saying?" Sorey asked in disbelief. Could Yuri already be thinking about starting the killing game.

But Yuri held up his hand to keep everyone from jumping to the same conclusion Sorey had. "This whole thing was designed to naturally make us turn against one another," he explained. "We're stuck with people we don't know, with no way of getting out or to even see outside, and I'm pretty certain there are a few people in here who are desperate enough to do anything if it means getting out."

There were a few anxious glances around the table. Sorey looked from Velvet to Senel who kept quiet as people gave them the same anxious look.

"Not to mention that Monokuma thing most likely won't let us live peaceful lives here," Milla added.

"You're saying he's going to give us motives to kill each other," Ludger seemed asked, but sounded like he already knew the answer to it.

"Look, I'm just trying to be realistic here," Yuri explained. "If we don't mentally prepare ourselves, we're going to go mad and do drastic things."

"Then what should we do so no one has to die?" Kanonno asked with her head hung low.

Yuri didn't have an answer for that. But Yuri did have point. Everything was pitted against them to to drive them to kill one another. At this moment, Sorey couldn't even imagined a situation where he could kill someone. But Monokuma had this confidence that they would kill one another. And that made him afraid of what Monokuma had planned for them.

But I'm the shepherd, Sorey had to tell himself. It was his duty to save people and not give in to malevance. He absolutely would not kill anyone. If did, how could he face his friends, Mikleo, or Gramps? Not to mention, Mikleo and the others might still be tethered to him. If he gave in and murdered someone for his own selfish desires then they would be at risk to turning into dragons. He couldn't let that happen.

"I'm going to get all of us out of here," Sorey finally declared. But Sorey hadn't fully realized that he had said that out loud. He had even stood up and slammed his hands down on the table. And everyone was looking at him.

He got a little embarrassed by his outburst. Then Stahn suddenly asked, "How do you plan to do that?" He wasn't being condescending or anything. He generally wanted to know what Sorey had in mind.

"I, uh…" Sorey started to say. But he couldn't even come up with a decent idea.

"Playing the game is always an option," Velvet suddenly said.

Everyone grew tense at that and whatever relaxed atmosphere had been was immediately gone. Especially with how serious Velvet looked. She had such a cold look. She really looked like she was serious about killing someone.

"Hey, hey, you're not seriously thinking about killing someone, are you?" Lloyd asked as he stood up from his seat.

"I am," she said bluntly. "I already escaped one hellhole by any means necessary. I won't hesitate to do it again."

"But why?" Sorey asked. What could be so important to her that she would be willing to kill someone for.

"It's just as Yuri said, I'm one of the people who are desperate enough to get out of here," Velvet said as she got up and walked around the table to leave.

"Velvet," Sorey started to call out. He was going to try and stop her before she did anything drastic.

But someone caught him by his mantle and tugged him back to the table. It was Yuri still in his seat. "Just let her go," he told Sorey.

"But what if Velvet dose something?" Sorey asked. He couldn't let anyone die.

"Look, we just need to make sure none of us are alone with her," Yuri said calmly. In fact, Sorey felt admiration and bit of jealousy at how calm Yuri had been this whole time. "She probably feels like she's cornered, so she'll lash out. Give her some time to cool her head and she might be able to see things better."

Sorey still felt a bit uneasy. But he stayed put and gave one last look at where Velvet left. Yuri somehow knew that Sorey wouldn't hurry after Velvet and let go of Sorey's cloak.

"It's been a long day," Jude started to say. "What does everyone say to calling it a day?"

"It is less than an hour until night time," Asbel said with a sigh. They all had similar moods. There was no way any of them would be able to properly sleep under these circumstances.

"Let's all meet back here as soon as the cafeteria opens up in the morning and start searching for more ways to get out?" Cress said with a smile. Sorey wondered if he was that optimistic or if he was just doing that for everyone else's benefit.

"Sounds like a good plan to me," Milla said.

"For everyone's own safety, I'd say we all just go straight to our rooms and don't come out until morning," Cress said.

Everyone thought that sounded like a good idea and everyone started leaving the cafeteria.

/~/~/

There was still plenty of time before nighttime began. Maybe Sorey should talk with some of the others.

Free Time

For some strange reason, Sorey felt like he needed to talk with Velvet.

The two of them were silent for the longest time. Sorey really wasn't sure what he should say. She was pretty intimidating and seemed a little scary. But he couldn't just leave her be like Yuri said. She just seemed to so-

"What do you want?" Velvet suddenly asked which startled Sorey since he was thinking about what he should say to her.

"Oh, well...I just figured we'd talk for a bit," Sorey said. He didn't want to say he was worried about her. She was probably get more mad at hearing something like that.

"What's the point? In the end we're just going to kill each other," she said with a shrug. It was startling to see how calm she was in this whole thing.

"It's not like we have to," Sorey tried to defend.

"I must be nice to be so simple," Velvet said as she rolled her eyes.

"What?" Sorey asked sounding completely confused.

"You're clearly not worried even being in the same room as someone whose made it pretty clear that she would do anything to get out. Do you not have a care in the world or even want to get out?"

Sorey felt his hands make a fist. "I have things I need to do and people who are counting on me. So I need get out of here too."

"Good for you, now leave me alone," Velvet said with a shrug before walking away.

Sorey was taken aback by her her sudden exit. He wished he could have talked with her some more. He was starting to get an understanding about Velvet. She must have been lonely even before she got to this place. Velvet, what happened to you before you were brought here.

Sorey has competed one out of four friendship fragments with Velvet.

/~/~/

There was still a little more time left before nighttime.

Freetime

Sorey thought he should talk with Cress since he hadn't had much of a chance to talk with him yet. "Hey Cress," Sorey said.

"Oh Sorey, is there anything on your mind?" Cress asked.

"Oh, nothing like that, I just wanted to say that you really took charge today. You seem like you could make a good leader," Sorey told him.

Cress suddenly looked down. "Maybe not, I just want out of here as soon as possible. I was on an important mission with my comrades and my good friend is waiting for me to get back in time."

"I know what you mean," Sorey said as he started feeling the same as Cress. "My friends and I were in the middle of something important too. And if I'm not there, I'm really worried that my friends are in danger." Sorey just realized something. They had been in the middle of a town filled with malevance and and he was his seraphim friends vessel. Would they be okay? What if-

Sorey couldn't linger on those thoughts. "I'm sure they're doing fine without me," he tried to reassure himself.

Cress attempted in a smile. "That's what we need to remind ourselves. I have to believe that my friend Chester is okay. If I don't, I might do something I'll regret."

"You're right," Sorey agreed. "If I do what Monokuma says then I won't be able to face my friends ever again." If he killed someone, he'd no doubt be a helion. Then he would never be able to be with his friends again or even go home. He'd be a danger to them. "So that's not even an option for me."

"Sorey, I'm glad we're of the same mindset," Cress said. "We should meet to talk about our friends some more. Maybe that will help hold us accountable."

"Yeah, that sounds great." Sorey said. It'd be good to talk about his friends with someone. He hoped Cress could be added to his friends.

Sorey has completed one out of four friendship fragments with Cress.

/~/~/

Sorey woke up with a jolt whenever he heard the sound of bells ringing. Then it was followed by Monokuma's voice.

"Good morning everyone," Monokuma's voice said through the speakers in a way too positive voice. "Let's have another wonderful day to play the killing game. Let's get to plotting!"

The sound of the speakers turning off made Sorey give a defeated sigh. So it wasn't all a dream, he thought bitterly. He had hoped this was all just a bad dream. But he was still here and supposed to play this stupid killing game.

"Mikleo," Sorey called out in hopes he'd get a response from any of his seraphim friends. But there was only silence. Sorey still clinged to some kind of hope that his friends were with him and it was just the stupid bracelet that blocked his resonance or something. He needed someone he could trust wholeheartedly. He was sure if he met any one of these people any other time, they could have gotten along or become friends. But it was just like Yuri said the day before. Their situation was designed to make them doubt one another.

He shouldn't be wishing for any of his friends to be in this situation with him, but he did. Sorey didn't want to be alone with no one to fully trust.

Then he quickly slapped his cheeks. Enough, I'm the Shepherd, he told himself. I have to stay level headed if I want to save everyone. Yes, Monokuma said it himself. They were heroes. So he intended to live up to that claim even though he had done nothing to earn the title. For all he knew that was just some cruel joke of Monokuma's.

That's why he planned to beat Monokuma and escape with everyone.

But to do that, he would need everyone else's help. So he quickly got ready so he could meet with the others in the cafeteria like they promised.

Sorey's room was the second one on the right side as you entered the dorm hallway. The first room, and his neighbor, was Velvet's. Each room had name plates and even the e-handbook's map labeled each room. He stopped briefly in front of her room. She hadn't heard about them meeting in the morning and he wondered if he should let her know. He was about the raise his hand to knock.

But he stopped when he thought how angry she left last night and started walking away toward the cafeteria. Sorey entered the room when about half of the others already there.

"Morning, Sorey," Kanonno greeted when he walked in. Jude, Milla, Yuri, Luke, Veigue, Asbel, and Emil were already at the table eating breakfast.

"Morning," he replied as he walked over to join them. There was already plates set for them. Sorey wondered if Monokuma prepared the food for them. If so, Sorey really didn't feel like eating what the bear made for them.

Everyone looked pretty tired. They must have woken up similar to Sorey with feeling despair over the fact they were still here.

Suddenly Luke jumped up and said, "Someone's got to come save us soon, right?" Sorey sure hoped that was the case. But…

"But where is here?" Asbel asked out loud.

"Well surely we couldn't be too far from-" Jude started to speculate, but Yuri interrupted.

"I think it's a bit more complicated than that. I talked with Cress some last night and there are several things that don't add up."

"Same," Asbel pointed out. "I talked with some people last night and compared notes with Yuri this morning. Nothing about our homes add up."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Luke asked.

"What's the name of your hometown?" Yuri asked Luke.

Luke was a little taken aback, but answered, "Baticul."

"I've never heard of that town, has anyone else?" Yuri asked the rest of them. Everyone else shook their heads at that.

To which Luke slammed his hands on the table, making all plates shake. "What do you mean you've never heard of it?" He asked in a bitter tone. "It's the imperial city of Kimlasca."

"And I've never heard of that either," Asbel said. "I'm from Lhant, anyone heard of that town?"

It dawned on Sorey what Yuri and Asbel may have been hinting. But it was Milla who said it outloud first. "Are you suggesting we're all from different worlds?"

"Worlds, time. I'm pretty sure we're all not from the same place," Yuri speculated.

"Dimensions could be another possibility," Milla muttered.

"S-so if this is a different world…" Emil started to say but had to pause briefly. It was like he was afraid of being right. "Does that mean Monokuma is a god like he said?"

There was no response to that because they all knew that if that was true, then escaped seemed closer to imposible.

Suddenly they heard a loud yawn. It was from Lloyd who was just walking in the room looking like he just woke up. "Sorry, I over slept a bit," Lloyd apologized sleepily.

He was quickly followed by the sound of someone running in. Ludger soon appeared behind Lloyd also looking like he just jumped out of bed. "I overslept," Ludger said as he was catching his breath.

"Maybe we should wait until everyone else shows up to continue this conversation," Sorey suggested.

Several people agreed and even added they'd all think better with full stomachs.

/~/~/

One by one, everyone else showed up except for Velvet, Cress, and Stahn. Everyone seemed to assume Cress and Stahn were probably still asleep. But they were more worried about Velvet. Though she didn't know they were going to meet, Sorey thought for sure she would have at least come in to eat breakfast.

"Senel, are your hands still hurting from yesterday?" Jude suddenly asked Senel. He had been rubbing his hands together like they had been hurting throughout breakfast.

"It's fine," Senel snapped. "I'm just not used to hitting things without using iron eres."

Iron eres...Sorey wondered. Senel said the same thing yesterday. But he still had no idea what that even meant. A couple others also named things and terms that Sorey had no clue about. It was starting to become easier to believe Yuri and Asbel's theory that they were all from different times or worlds.

"I may not be able to use my healing artes," Jude kept on going, "but there is a nurses office with some medical supplies I could use."

"Geez, you're really annoying," Senel said as he got up like he was trying to get away from Jude. But he didn't walk away. He just looked at the others and said, "So are we going to search for a way out again?"

"Well it's not like there's much more we could do instead,' Kor said as he stood up.

"Yeah there were probably some things we missed yesterday," Kanonno said in a pretty chipper tone.

"A couple of us should go check on the ones who aren't here yet," Yuri said.

"They might still be asleep, I think Stahn said he was a heavy sleeper last night," Lloyd told them.

"Well it's not fair that they get to miss out on searching," Luke complained.

"B-but, maybe it would be best if we don't have Velvet join us," Emil suggested. But when all eyes turned on him, he quickly apologized.

"We can't make her get along," Yuri started to day. "But I'm sure as hell not about to leave her to her own device."

"You can be tempted to get into all kinds of trouble if left alone," Jude summed up.

"Sounds like Yuri just volunteered to go check on Velvet to me," Milla said lightly.

Yuri rolled his eyes. "What a pain," he said. But Sorey could tell that Yuri didn't really look that bothered by it.

A couple of others joined Yuri on checking on Stahn, Cress, and Velvet. Everyone else got into groups to search again. Somehow, Sorey ended up with Luke.

/~/~/

Sorey had no reason to dislike anyone here. They were all strangers and trapped in the same predicament. But he found that Luke tested that.

Luke wasn't mean and didn't seem purposely cause trouble. Sorey knew that deep down, Luke was kind. But man was he annoying!

There was a room they hadn't searched yesterday and it was what Monkuma called the School Store. It had all kinds of of supplies, and even though it was called a store, they didn't need to pay for anything. Things just got restocked once something was taken.

Sorey and Luke went in it. While Sorey was a but wonderstruck because he had never seen so much stuff in one place before, Luke kicked a box in frustration. "There's way too much stuff to look through," he complained.

Then he started walking out. Sorey quickly grabbed his arm to stop him. "Hey, there could be a clue or something in here," he tried to reason.

But Luke just pulled his arm back. "Someone else can search, I don't want to," he said so matter a factly. Then he walked back out into the hall.

Sorey followed him. "Come on Luke, we have to search too," Sorey tried to urge him.

"Fine, let's just check the entrance again," Luke snapped.

Sorey felt pretty confident that there was nothing else to discover there. But oh well, at least he could get Luke to do something.

"Do you really think no one can find us?" Sorey was suddenly surprised to hear Luke talk in a softer tone. When he glanced over, he saw that Luke suddenly looked much younger than he was. He was scared like a little kid. Maybe that's why he snapped like he did? He was just trying to be brave or something.

"Not sure," Sorey said honestly as he thought about what Yuri and Asbel said that morning. "But I'm sure there are some people who won't give up looking for us," Sorey tried to reassure.

"Geez, I know that already," Luke snapped and purposely started walking faster. "How dumb can you be," he muttered as he was walking to the entrance of the school.

Sorey just forced himself to smile. Or not, he concluded. That must just be how Luke was.

"I was only saying…" Luke started to say before he trailed off. He was right over the threshold to entrance hallway when he just stopped in his tracks.

"What's wro…" Sorey started to say before he saw what Luke did.

His whole body shut down. He couldn't move, speak, or even think. They had talked about this scenario happening...But Sorey just couldn't believe it really happened. It was so unreal. It couldn't be real. This had to be a dream.

It was only when Luke let out a blood curdling cry that Sorey felt like he was free from this paralyzing hold to finally react.

Laying face down beside the metal slab that blocked the entrance was Cress. But there was so much blood. On his head, on he metal slab, and even on the floor. Was he dead?

"Cress," Sorey called out and ran over to Cress. He didn't hesitate to grip Cress' shoulders. But his fingertips brushed against Cress' skin. Sorey recoiled because Cress was so cold. He was dead.

Sorey scrambled back to his feet. He just kept thinking over and over, Cress was dead. He was dead. He was dead. He was killed…

It wasn't long before they heard feet running toward them. "Hey, what's wrong?" The voice belonged to Kor. But he quickly gave a startled cry just like the rest of them and was followed by Kanonno's cries.

And before anything could be said or done, they heard the bells. Ding, dong, ding, dong. Then it was followed my Monokuma's voice that just filled them with dread. "A body has been discovered." Monokuma announced. "Everyone, please gather at the entrance of the school." They could hear the speaker cut off.

But Sorey had barely paid attention. His eyes never left Cress because he came to the sticking realization. The killing game had started. Just like Monokuma had wanted. Someone had killed Cress. He didn't want to believe it.

"W-what happen?" Kor finally broke the silence by asking.

"I didn't do," Luke quickly shouted. He was still a bit hysterical. He was holding his head like he too was still processing that Cress was dead. He even seemed to roll up in a ball in the corner.

Everyone else must have ran with all their might, because the others soon arrived. Several of them reacted just like Sorey had. "What did you all do?" Senel seemed to accuse.

"We just found him like that," Sorey defended.

"Sorey and Luke found him first," Kor suddenly said like he was shifting the blame. "Kanonno and I just came when we heard Luke screaming."

Luke jumped up at that. "I told you I didn't do it. If anyone killed Cress, it was her," Luke suddenly claimed as he pointed at Velvet. "You killed Cress, didn't you?"

It surprised Sorey a bit to see Velvet there. But she gave no visible response. She just shrugged and said, "Even if I was the culprit, why would I admit it."

Before Luke could argue more, they heard Monokuma's laugh. "Wow, now this is the fastest murder that's ever happen in a killing game. Way to be overachievers. I didn't even have to give you a motive or anything," the bear said sounding very impressed. Again, he seemed to just appear out of nowhere with them.

"Did you kill Cress?" Milla asked Monokuma.

Monokuma walked so he was in front of Cress' body and just laughed at that. "Didn't you read the rules? I would never harm a participant. The one that killed Cress Albane is one of you remaining fifteen participants. Doesn't that get your blood pumping? You're in a room with a someone who just murdered another person. You could probably still smell blood on them."

At that Sorey quickly scanned everyone. But he didn't see or sense any malevance. How could that be? Killing someone like this would cause someone to turn. It had too.

"You some kind of sick perv enjoying this?" Yuri asked Monokuma in a casual manner.

The bear's smile grew as he seemed to give Yuri a thumbs up. "You betcha."

"So now that a murder has taken place, we have to have a class trial, right?" Jude summed up.

"Yep," Monokuma nodded with much enthusiasm. "I'll give you all some time to investigate before the class trial begins."

"How long do we have to investigate?" Yuri asked.

That seemed to stump Monokuma a bit as he actually had to think about it. "You know, you all are the first to actually ask me that. Meh, the class trial will begin whenever I feel bored with your investigation."

"That's totally not fair," Asbel quickly objected along with everyone else. With their lives on the line, no one wanted the investigation to end up being something so fickle.

"Relax," Monokuma told them. "It'll be a few hours at least."

"But it takes real investigators days or more to find murderers," Ludger pointed out.

"Trust me, this will be easier," Monokuma seemed to try and reassure them. Then he gave a giggle. "I'll give you a hint though, the blackened is someone who is in this room."

It was a cruel joke. More anxious glances toward everyone. In this room was someone who was willing to kill a stranger just so they could get out. The question was now who that was.

"Oh, I almost forgot," Monokuma suddenly added. "In the spirit of fairness, since none of you are professionals, I will be giving you what I like to call the Monokuma File. It'll be in your e-handbooks. It'll tell you how the victim died and what not. Well, happy investiving." Monokuma walked out of the entrance as he waved them good-bye.