A/N: This chapter was finished on January 14, 2016; two weeks after this story's previous update. I was rather impressed about how fast I wrote this, but because I forgotten to do the editing process, I had to delay uploading it for a while. Five days later, I was finally finished and drank my favorite brand of soda (Sprite) to celebrate and you're reading this now like readers with good patience. Thumbs up you guys for the support; you know who you are.

Before you start reading, I feel like I should give you all a heads about what you're going to see in this chapter. Some of the stuff you're about to read may look a little... clunky. My Microsoft Word program decided to eat s*** so if there are any annoying grammatical errors you spot, it's not my fault and I apologize in advance. Besides that, there are some... things that might be disturbing in certain parts of the story as you read but rest assure, they're there for a reason. This Mellow Dias don't put things in this story― or any story― just to take the p*** out of a lime.

If you guys read the author's note at the end of the previous chapter, then you know what to expect. To be honest, I was actually kind of scared when I uploaded this because of a certain part in this chapter. Guess it correctly and you get a cookie... a delicious, internet cookie.

Oh, and before I forget, there will a joke that doesn't belong in this story from another anime. I just had to put in this chapter for this bit between― No, let them read it Mellow Dias. Don't spoil it for from the people trying to read and just get on with the story already.

With that said, please enjoy this along with the disclaimer and warning below. This chapter is going to be a helluva lot longer than the last one so grab a snack or something.

...

Dangan Island: The Ultimate Survival Trip

Chapter 2: The Friendly Waves Part 2

Disclaimer: I do not own Danganronpa. Its own by the guys at Spike Chunsoft. If I did, I would redeem Makoto Naegi into a total badass like Dante for Devil May Cry.

And now for the warning.

Warning: The following chapter contains mild to strong language, sexual themes, lame sneeze jokes, awkward moments, and possible OOC-ness. This is all in bold letters to emphasize how serious this author is about the list of things mentioned above.

...

Part 1

After enjoying a hot shower, which was way longer than I should've, and taking care of my personal hygiene, I felt refreshed for the first time since I awoke. Waking up on the wrong side of the bed happened to me plenty of times before, but not from having difficulty sleeping. I just couldn't fathom this situation I was in. Not a dire one in my perspective, but strange nonetheless.

A loud gurgling noise emitted from my stomach. I was so preoccupied with thinking about all of this that I almost forgotten about the hunger pangs that I've woken up with. Why did the pain make itself noticeable at this moment? I swallowed the lump in my throat to assuage my hunger. Going to Jabberwock Park was already on my mental "to-do" list, finding a restaurant or food stand to fill my stomach in the meantime would be good. I should talk to this "Usami" person about getting a mini-fridge in this cottage sometime today when I rendezvous her at this Jabberwock Park place Nagito talked about. As the saying goes, "You can't think on an empty stomach."

If I could remember my talent, it wouldn't be the Ultimate Comedian, that's for sure.

Part 2

Maneuvering around the cottages was easier than I expected despite the painfully, written directions Nagito had given me. That guy should consider taking calligraphy lessons sometimes. This must have been the sleeping area because there were other cottages that looked exactly like the one I was in. If Nagito was telling the truth about there being other people here, then they should be separated based on gender just like any regular high-school dormitory. Sleeping arrangements was something for me to think about on a later note. Instead, I made my way toward the area on the map that read "Hotel Mirai".

The first thing I saw was a large, rectangular pool that stretched wide enough to reach either side of the concrete. It split the current pathway I was on off into two different directions, like a fork in the road. Expensive bench chairs with even more expensive parasols were neatly arranged around the water container, as if they were seats for people to witness some kind of spectacle. I almost- almost, imagined myself lounging in one of those chairs, underneath the shade, a martini in one hand and a beautiful woman in the other (or maybe both arms) like that secret agent in those spy-thriller movies. Not like that would ever happen, but the thought entered my mind nevertheless. I walked around the pool, carefully watching my step so I didn't fall in.

Although the map's horrible illustrations by Nagito depicted the hotel as a ran-down building, its external appearance genuinely wasn't what I expected. The building stood two- perhaps three stories high. The pure, white color of the outer walls were like a fortress with every other aspect closely resembling a high-class establishment. The entrance was less evocative than one at some business conglomerate. The sign on top of the entrance's roof supported by two stone pillars, otherwise, is a professional thing printed in distinct, huge metallic letters rather than a piece of calligraphy attached to a wooden plank on display. It looked like a very nice place, one with a working air conditioner and hopefully, some food; the latter being the most important. I walked through the glass doors.

The hotel's lobby wasn't empty, but instead filled with grand furniture and shelves that could have passed off the entire place off as an expensive living room of a mansion. On the left side of the lobby were grand chairs neatly arranged around mahogany tables. Across from them, set on another shelf, was a… t.v? It looked like one of those old-fashioned models the Americans had during the Industrial Revolution, but if was anything far from it. The color was a hideous, bright yellow and its shape was oddly deformed on one side. A few feet away, near the entrance where I stood, was a bar. The shelves were fully stocked, containing various exotic liquors. I vaguely recognized one of the bottles as that popular brand of liquor seen on commercials with that bearded, debonair gentleman. The brewery's advertising campaign was called "The Most Fascinating Dude in the World".

Needless to say, this room was the textbook example of a high-class establishment.

Now if I can just find the cafeteria, I can grab me a quick bite to eat and head on over to Jabberwock Park. Unfortunately, it wasn't going to be an easy task at the moment. It wasn't impossible for me to search this hotel from top to bottom for an eatery, although not having as much energy from earlier even after taking a hot shower was certainly a factor. It was just-

There were repeated tapping sounds somewhere.

The noise…

More tapping.

Made it really hard…

An electronic voice emitted loudly, followed by more tapping.

To focus!

Where the hell was that noise coming from?!

Exasperated, I searched for the source of the disturbance and my gaze landed on―

A short, pink-haired girl.

She was just a few feet away from me on my right, playing on some old-fashioned gaming console, jiggling the joystick (no pun intended) and mashing the buttons as if she were one with the machine. She seemed intently focused on fighting some blonde man clad in a red karategi firing blue energy projectiles on the screen. Video games wasn't a particularly fancied hobby of mine, but even a normal guy like me can tell just by looking at her play that she was good. Very good.

Where did this girl come from, anyway? I didn't immediately notice her when I came in here. My eyes were more focused on examining the new environment. My peripheral vision wasn't bad, but it wasn't exceptionally sharp either. Perhaps that explained why I was seeing her now at this moment. Was my hunger blocking my sense of hearing? Or…

I shook my head. No. That didn't matter right now. What did matter, however, was that this girl was the culprit making all of that noise.

I should probably leave her be and go on about my business. If I don't eat anything soon, my other senses beside my hearing might begin to fail me.

However, instead of moving on to find something edible, I couldn't stop staring at this girl. Looking like a possible pervert was the last thing on my mind, but I still couldn't figure out why didn't I notice her any sooner.

Come to think of it, who was she? Perhaps she was a student from another school. I like to think of myself as a normal person going on with my life while avoiding weird situations and anyone associated with them. But if seeing this girl playing video games as a sort of escape from reality, then who to say that she wasn't doing the same.

Mustering up all of my coward, I cleared my throated and tried to get her attention.

"Um… Excuse me?" I called out.

The pink-haired girl didn't seem to hear me because she continued playing on the machine as if I wasn't here at all. Maybe if I was a little louder this time.

"Um, excuse me?" I called again.

Same result. It was like she was in another world other than this one. I don't know if she was doing it intentionally, but her silent treatment was starting to piss me off. If I was going to get her to notice me, then I needed to rethink my approach. This called for something drastic, the level that any normal human being would turn their head towards.

It might ruin my first impression in this girl's image, but at this rate, my ever-increasing feeling of hunger and anger had taken over what little rationality I had at that moment. Closing my eyes, I inhaled a deep breath, then after a moment of letting my lungs absorb all of my negative emotions until it reached their zenith, I opened my eyes, and released all of it through my mouth like a fire-breathing dragon.

"HEY! CAN YOU HEAR ME?!"

"Huh?..."

That must've gotten her attention because the hands that were rapidly playing on the gaming console suddenly frozen in place. The little, white pixelated ship that she was controlling a moment ago to fire at the colorful aliens floating above it was exploded by one of their bullets. The words "GAME OVER" promptly flashed in red letters as if telling her, "Your life sucks and has no meaning" while dramatic music played in the background.

The pink-haired girl just stared at the screen in silence.

"Alright, now that I've gotten your attention, mind if I ask you a few questions?" I asked.

No response came from the girl. She just stared at the game's demonstration. The countdown timer on the screen for her to insert another coin (or press the START button to continue if they were inserted beforehand) and continue from the current stage had ended long ago. She must have decided to stop playing her game so she could answer my question without any unnecessary distractions. How convenient.

"Anyways, I wanted to ask you where the nearest cafeteria was so I can eat something before I went to Jabberwock Park," I say. "By the way, do you think you can give me directions because I can't read this guy's handwriting. It's really crappy so I was wondering if you could show me around if that's okay with you."

No answer. She just kept staring at the screen.

"U-Um… Are you okay?" I asked, slightly nervous. "Did I do something wrong? Okay, I'll admit that interrupting you was kind of my fault but I'm tired, I'm hungry, I don't know what's going and I really need some…"

Before I could finish my sentence, the girl suddenly turned to face me.

"…Answers?" I finished with lowered confidence.

The girl that was completely absorbed in playing her game a few seconds was now looking at me with angrily with her cheeks puffed out. I might've been slightly intimidated by this girl's if the expression she had at the moment didn't made her look kind of cute. Called me a pervert, but that's what I truly thought.

"Hey, don't you know that disturbing someone is rude." The pink-haired girl says, irritated. "If this were a video game, you would've ruined a perfectly good chance to raise the first flag. That would've been really bad if you wanted to go on the Lovers or Best Friends route."

Raising flags? What was this girl babbling about? I've played a lot of video games when I was still in primary school but I never heard of any gaming terminology like that before. A social simulator, maybe?

"Hey, are you still deciding on what response to select," she asked impatiently. "In some games, responses are timed so you won't have all day to think about it. But in a situation like this, the best response is to apologize. That way, you can create stability in flag building while avoiding an early game over."

"O-Oh right," I say, not sure how to respond. For some reason, this girl was applying video game logic with real-life situations, but for now, I'll just have to roll it. "I'm sorry for messing up your game. I was trying to talk to you, but you couldn't hear me."

"It's fine," the girl says reassuringly. "I know you didn't do it on purpose, but I forgive you." She smiles at me. "See? Now you don't have to worry about losing that flag from early, but reaching the Lovers ending is going to be a bit harder from now on."

I don't know what this girl meant by that, but from the sound of it, she forgives me. Somehow.

"Anyways, weren't you going to ask me something or did you wanted to stare at me? That last option may cause you to lose that flag from earlier." She says knowingly.

It wasn't my originally intention, but I couldn't help but to stare at this girl. Her short light pink hair, her pink eyes, and her pale skin were all beautiful, a far cry from the preferred gleaming appearance from supermodels. I didn't notice it at first, but she had a hairclip attached to one of the bangs in her hair. It looked exactly like the pixelated fighter ship that exploded on the screen just moments ago. Seeing it again made me feel a pang of guilt in my chest. All in all, this girl was cute.

But yet, as a continued to ogle this girl like an idiot (or pervert at this point), I couldn't help but feel a strange sense of nostalgia. It was the same feeling from my earlier encounter from Nagito. I feel like should know this person, but I don't who they were. I've never seen this girl before in my life but it felt like I did. Somewhere...

But who was she?… And where did I meet her?...

Suddenly, there was a blinding flash of light and images that I've never had with this girl filled my mind. It was like seeing a slow slideshow of black and white pictures behind a blurry pair of glasses.

The pink-haired girl was standing beside me reading a book of some kind. It was only for a moment until there was another flash of light and another image showed the same girl from before but she was wearing a… white, two-piece swimsuit?!

This is a girl I've just meet, whose name is unknown to me and I'm already having… thoughts about her. I'm very disappointed in myself.

None of these memories didn't look familiar, but for some reason they were there. There was another flash of light and with it, another image came after it.

That one took me by surprise.

There was that same girl in the previous images, but now she was hugging someone. Who was that? I could only see their back, but judging by their average build and how that girl's chin could barely reach over their shoulder, it was probably a guy. I didn't know who he was, but when I look at him closely, he looked familiar. Very familiar...

That's when it clicked.

Is that… me?!...

I couldn't believe it― I didn't want to believe, but my eyes weren't lying to me. The plain, spiky hairstyle, the shoes, the weird-looking tie, and the face― my face. That was no doubt in my mind that that guy was definitely me.

But why was he― why was I there? Why was I hugging a girl I didn't even know? And why did she look so... content about it?

Before I could delve on those questions any further, there was yet again, another flash of light and that image disappeared along with the rest of those lingering thoughts.

I released a breath of air I didn't realized I was holding. Cold sweat that wasn't there a moment had suddenly formed on my forehead and my heart was beating inside my chest like a drum. What the hell was that?! A premonition!? I wasn't psychic― or at least, I didn't know it yet― but what I just saw wasn't something that couldn't be considered... normal.

No. Calm down, Hajime. You're just exhausted. Maybe I'm starting to hallucinate from a lack of food. Yeah, that had to be it. Seeing this girl just made me a little hungry is all. But why would seeing a total stranger elicit those kinds of feelings? Normally, when someone is desperately starving, they would start seeing normal objects and people as edible food products. I, on the other hand, see images of a girl who was unknown to me.

That last image of her hugging me was still fresh in my mind.

Just who was she? Those memories I had of her were alien to me, but they weren't just created from meeting her the first time, were they? However, as much as I wanted to consider them illusions, my senses didn't deceive me. I knew that they were real. I felt them.

"Hey hey, can you hear me?" The pink-haired girl called out. "I know it was rude of me ignoring you earlier, but returning the same treatment is kind of rude itself. That's bad for flag building, you know?"

"Huh…?" I gasped. I didn't even realize how deep in thought I was that I almost forgot that I wasn't alone here. That girl in those images was still staring at me with that same angry, puffy-faced expression from earlier. Now that I've seen it again, it felt as if I've seen a hundred times before. Whoever this girl is was someone I know. But when? And where? If I just knew her name, then that would make finding the answer a lot easier…

And, like my lips were on auto-pilot, I spoke her name.

"Chiaki…" I say quietly.

"Hm?" The pink-haired girl looked rather surprised by the name I've just announced. "That's my name, but how did you know that? This is the first time we've met and I've never seen you before..." The girl I called "Chiaki" puts a hand under her chin in a thinking manner. "Well to be more accurate, you haven't seen me before. So how did you know my name?"

"I… Um…"

I had no idea how to respond to that. I can't just say I knew it otherwise she'll think that I'm some sort of stalker. Contrarily, I don't think that's even possible, considering that I've just met her a few minutes ago.

"Your responds aren't timed, but you're going to lose that flag if you don't give me a believable answer."

"I… I…"

Dammit. I can't think of anything. Come on, Hajime. How can you convince a girl that you're never meet before but somehow knew her name without sounding like a creep? Think. Think. Think!

...

Crap! I can't think of anything!

The best thing to do in situations like this is to be truthful. However, because this girl didn't seem to be the type of person who would believe what would sound like an incredible lie even though it's the truth, I'll have to be careful on how I approach her. It may sound a bit strange, but she'll have to believe it until I can properly figure this out myself. Then again, we're in the middle of God-knows-where and on a field trip to collect Hope Fragments, so who's to say that she wouldn't?

As reasonable as that latter option sounds, I'm not going to follow through with it and risk looking like any more of an idiot than I already am every second I stand here in silence. So I opted on the first one...

And that was being honest.

"I don't know…" I swallowed air into my lungs. "I just looked at you and… something in my brain told that you were Chiaki," I say. "I can't really put it in words. Believe me when I tell you that I'm not a stalker or anything like that, but it felt like…"

"You just knew?" Chiaki chimed in.

"Y-Yeah. Exactly. You understand what I'm trying to say, right?" I asking, feeling hopeful.

"Hmm…" Chiaki hummed thoughtfully, as if debating over it. I don't know how I can be more convincing than that, but I really want her to believe what I said.

After a moment, she looked at me and spoke.

"Well... You don't seem to be a bad person and your explanation does sound kind of suspicious. But I believe you." She says.

"Really?!" I exclaimed. Perhaps I was wrong about Chiaki not believing me. In fact, she took my explanation quite easily. Maybe she just takes everything in stride?

"Your reasoning for knowing my name still sounds strange, but I don't think you're lying. You do kind of remind me of this character in this video game I'm playing who can do something similar. But you're not on his level…" She paused. "I think."

I'm not sure if I should be relieved or offended by those last words but I don't think she did it on purpose. Regardless, Chiaki believed me, for now at least until I can properly tell her. But when will that be? For all I know, we could be here for a week and we wouldn't form any sort of connection at all. But that last part about that guy in a video game…

My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of my stomach.

I felt the heat rush up to my cheeks. That's right, I was trying to ask Chiaki where could I get something to eat…

"You must be hungry. You were still asleep so you haven't eaten yet, right?" she asked.

"Yeah. I was going to ask you about that. Is there a restaurant around here somewhere?"

"Oh. Well, if you're looking for the cafeteria, it's upstairs. Just go up those stairs in front of you and you're there. Breakfast is already over, but lunch just started ten minutes ago. There's an unlimited buffet and everything's free so you can eat as much as you like." Chiaki explained kindly.

"Got it. Thanks." I say.

"Though there might not be anything left because someone might've already eaten all the leftovers…" she added. "I think."

...

At the beach, Akane Owari sneezed as she dodged another punch from Nekomaru Nidai while Ibuki Mioda cheered them on from a distance.

...

"Noted." I say. I've only meet Chiaki for ten minutes and I already thought that those two words were her trademark catchphrase. But I didn't care about that now. My mouth watered at the thought of food and my legs were already moving towards the stairs.

I was about to take the first step when I glanced back at the girl I was about to leave behind. Chiaki was looking at me, a hand over her chest and wearing a smile that said, "Go on without me. I'll be fine," but my head said "No, I shouldn't leave her here,". My stomach can eat itself for all I care, I'm not going to blow her off like this. Besides, I haven't even introduced myself and I still want to know who she is, even though I already know her first name.

"I almost forgot, I haven't even introduced myself," I say, turning to face Chiaki. "My name is Hajime Hinata. It's nice to meet you…"

"Hm?... Oh, right, introductions. You seem to already know my name for some reason but I can still do that." She says. "I'm Chiaki Nanami, the Ultimate Gamer. Video games are my hobby, and I'm a fan of all genres. Nice to meet you, too…"

This girl may have been focused on her game that anything else, but she wasn't trying to blow me off on purpose or be rude. She was just doing what the Ultimate Gamer does. How can she play video games without noticing what's around her? I will never know.

Chiaki Nanami… There was no doubt that she was the girl in those memories. I'll think about that another time when I'm not acting like a total jerk to girls today. On another note, I'll have to remember not to disturb her (intentionally) when she's gaming while I'm here on this field trip.

And just like last time, something beeped. I already have a pretty good idea what did so I dug into my pants pocket and sure enough…

On the top right hand corner of the e-Handbook's screen, in non-pixelated letters (Thank God) was a notification with a blue diamond saying, "Obtained Hope Fragment."

I stared at Chiaki in admiration.

Chiaki stared at me.

I stared at her.

She stared at me.

"Yeah, totally," she says casually, breaking the long silence.

"Um… Yeah. So I was going to the cafeteria…"

"Okay. See ya'," Chiaki says like an emotionless machine.

It takes all of my effort to suppress a vein from forming on my forehead. "I was wondering if you would like to join me? It looks like you've been playing that game all day and I thought you would want to take a break and get something to eat."

She gave me a blank stare. Did I said something say wrong? I was asking a girl if she would like to eat lunch with me and I'm pretty sure I didn't say anything offensive among those lines. I guess it was stupid of me to assume that she'll come along easily, considering that I'm a complete stranger who somehow knew her name.

Or so I thought.

"Okay."

"Huh?..." That response was all I could manage.

"I was feeling kind of thirsty and I can see you're really trying not to lose that first flag so I'll go with you." Chiaki says, pointing a thoughtful finger up in the air. "This is like one of those secret character events in the first part of the game where the protagonist sees an unexpected side of a character to reach the True Ending."

I don't know what that second part had to do with me asking her to lunch, but I'll just chalk it up as a slight grudge for messing up her game from earlier.

"Let's go so we can start the event," Chiaki says with a smile.

I nodded and waiting for her to be a close distance to me, climbed the stairs.

Part 3

Food: the primary source of energy need to maintain life and growth. Its filled with vitamins and nutrients to strengthen the immune system and provide the energy needed to perform various tasks. Besides the respiratory and circulatory systems working together to keep the heart and brain active and functioning, it's one of the vital things required by humans and animals alike to stay alive.

I've had pretty crappy food for as long as I remembered. My mom and dad worked their office jobs every weekday and I was always studying so that all of those overtime hours they worked to pay for my tuition wouldn't go to waste. Whenever I couldn't afford to buy anything from the school's cafeteria, I brought the lunch I made at my dorm using whatever stuff that was in the pantry or refrigerator. If there wasn't anything to eat there, then I would go to a nearby convenience store and buy a cup of cupped noodles or a red bean bun for lunch before going to school. This sometimes happened for breakfast and dinner as well. They were both hated options I had to choice one of, but when I had to provide my own lunch it wasn't a very tasty idea. Edible, but not tasty.

I didn't have anything like a part-time job to support myself because of the massive workload from my studies. Instead, my parents supported me, sending me whatever money that they had left over from their own necessities. As much as I wanted to tell them there was no need to do such a thing, I would be rejecting the hard work that they made harsh sacrifices for so I could attend… a school…

So I took the money and thanked them for it every time.

However, thinking about things were back then wasn't going to make the food on my plate disappear. I was tumbling the strings of pasta with my fork as if bored with it. Granted, it was delicious but after eating two servings, a slice of chocolate cake, and washing it all down with a glass of water, my huge appetite from before is kind of spoiled.

Chiaki seemed to be better off than I am, eating the all-too familiar red bean bun and drinking a bottle a milk. She didn't look sickened by her food choice unlike I was at the moment. As a matter of fact, she looked happy with hers. Funny. I was thinking about striking up a conversation so I can finally get some answers about all of this since I didn't feel like eating anymore, but I didn't know where to begin. The only form of communication that we had was our somewhat awkward introduction and saying grace ("Itadakimasu!") before eating our meal. Ever since then, we haven't say anything to each other.

I might as well take the first step and see where's this goes. I opened my mouth―

"So Hajime, are you enjoying the field trip so far?" Chiaki says suddenly.

"Huh…?" I say for the umpteenth time today. That word must be my catchphrase. "Oh yeah, well, I can't really say I'm enjoying it but it's not bad either so, maybe something between those lines, I guess?"

"Hmm… Well, if you're having trouble having fun here, think of it like a video game." She says.

"A video game?" I asked, confused.

"You don't have to worry about getting a game over if you mess up on a stage and you can continue as many times as you want. There's also collectibles, free time events, and plenty of side missions so you don't have to worry about getting bored. The best part about it is that you're not a time limit. But the worst…"

"...The worst?" I say curiously.

"Is that you only have 50 days to get all of the collectibles." She says with a grim expression.

"Really?" I asked, slightly disappointed. I was half-expecting Chiaki to say something about having limited lives or something, but I'll push that thought aside until she mentions it later on. If not, then I can ask her.

"But it's not just that."

"It isn't?" I asked.

"Yep," Chiaki says, holding up her index finger as if she was stating an important detail. "You only get one life in this game and if you lose of your health, you'll get a game over."

Never mind. Question answered.

"I-I see. I'll keep that in mind," I say, feeling edgy for some reason. "Hey Chiaki, mind if I ask you something?"

"As long as it's about a video game," She says, taking a bite out of her red bean bun.

Good. That makes this question a lot easier. "…That video game that you were talking about, can you tell me more about it?" I asked tentatively.

Chiaki stared at me like a big question marked appeared over her head. Weren't we talking about a video game? She talked about them a lot during our conversation earlier I figured―

"I didn't figure you were the type to play video games," Chiaki says, sounding a bit surprised.

"Well I don't play them that often. The only thing that could call a video game is the television," I explained. "What did I looked like doing instead?" I say.

"Reading a book," She deadpanned.

Yeah, I should've saw that one coming. Besides studying, that was one of the things I considered a hobby. Extracurricular activities like athletics and social clubs weren't all that interesting to me. My schedule was already packed with prep-exams and doing homework given by my teachers, so I couldn't join a club even if I tried. The only club I considered being a part of was the Going Home Club. There were no meetings or no club objectives to achieve. All the members (including myself) did exactly what it says on the tin: go home.

"Anyways, let's just say hypothetically, I'm the main character. How many people can I interact with?" I asked.

"Well, excluding the main character, there's only 15 in total. Eight boys and eight girls. The main character is a boy in case you're wondering. But…" Chiaki trailed off, looking kind of depressed. "There's one character that I avoid interacting with."

At the beach, Nagito Komaeda sneezed, dropping a stack of planks on the sand.

"Hmm... That's strange. Did I perhaps catch a cold from Hajime?" Nagito mused aloud. "Mikan said he only collapsed from exhaustion so that can't be it," he smiled to himself. "Well, it doesn't matter. He's seems like someone that wouldn't back down from anything, even if he was sick. I'm looking forward to seeing what hope he brings on this island…"

"Well I'm looking forward to seeing you pick up those planks," Mahiru Koizumi demanded. "You can daydream about the new guy later," She said. "He's going to wish he was sick when I see him…"

Okay. That's one mystery down. On with the next one. "You said that there were collectibles in this game, right? Can you tell me what they are?" I asked.

"There are these blue fragments that the main character needs to collect. He can only get them by talking to his classmates. Those are the free time events," Chiaki explained. "There is no other way to get them except with that method." She added.

"What about the side missions? Is there anything you can tell me about them?"

"The sides missions aren't too difficult. The main character's mission to gather all of the fragments before time runs out. The side missions are just there for a bonus."

"What happens if I don't complete the main mission or any of the side ones?" I asked.

Chiaki's head dropped, looking depressed. "The teacher would be kind of sad that you didn't complete it," she says sadly. "As for the side missions, all of the characters are required to participant, but it's not entirely connected to the main purpose of the game."

"That's to collect all of the fragments, right?" I asked, trying to piece the facts together.

"Yep," Chiaki says with renewed verve, nodding. "It may seem hard at first, but participating in one of the side missions does lessen the workload for the other people. Everyone would really appreciate your help, even though they may not say it. There's a reward at the end of it so there's some incentive if you think it's unpaid labor. There's also a time limit on those missions and you won't get your reward if it's not completed, so be careful."

I nodded in acknowledgement. Relaying all of the new information in my head (after decoding it from Chiaki's video game jargon), I tried to piece together everything. So there are 16 students here in total, counting myself and Chiaki. The purpose of this "field trip" was to gather all of the Hope Fragments before a certain time period, which was 50 days. It was mandatory for me to participant in these "side missions" and I wouldn't be compensated for it unless the job is completed in time. Those rules sound like the perfect example of a communist country. But if those are our guidelines, then I couldn't go against them unless I started a rebellion. All of this does answers a few questions, but it didn't answer the one I needed to know the most…

Where the hell was I?

I better get that cleared up before I lose the opportunity.

"Do you know where this game takes place?" I asked, hoping to get an answer.

"On an island," she deadpanned again.

"Really?" I say, taking a spit from glass of water. "That sounds like an interesting―"

The realization hit me like a punch in the stomach. I was so shocked by the new information that I didn't noticed how much water was going down my throat. I did a spit-take…

Right in front of Chiaki's face.

If this was some gods' cruel trick they decided to play on me by ruining a potential friendship, then I hate that god.

While thinking about the various of being an atheist to a higher power, Chiaki was calmly wiping the water I spewed off her face with some napkins. That had my saliva in it after all so that made me look like even more of an asshole than I am already. Why the hell did I do that?! I didn't do it on purpose but I just found that I― no, the main character of that game (me) she was playing was on an island― an island, which was, hypothetically; our current setting. Of course, that much should've been obvious because of the fact that my cottage was literally standing over the ocean. Damnit. I'm such an idiot…

"You must want to go on the harder route to reach the Best Friends Ending," Chiaki says, glaring at me. "I don't know if this is part of your playing style. But if you keep this up, you'll get an early game over before you begin the story."

"Sorry, it wasn't on purpose!" I say quickly. "I was just… surprised is all by the game's setting."

Chiaki didn't look like she was buying it. I'm telling the truth so why wasn't she saying anything? Managing these "flags" sure is hard work.

Why am I even thinking about right now?!

"Your responses aren't time, but if you choose the wrong response, you'll definitely lose a flag this time and slightly lower the affection gauge." Chiaki warned.

Now there's an Affection Gauge? Is she just adding new features every time I have to "pick a response"? I don't know if my current gameplay can handle this experience. Maybe I should just play it safe and pick the third option― No, no, no! Goddamnit!

"I didn't do it on purpose!" I say seriously. "If I wanted to get water on your face, I would've splash with you some if we were playing in the pool." Chiaki raised an eyebrow at my poorly, thought-out reasoning. "I would never embarrass you like this. Ever."

"Hmm…" Chiaki flipped the hooded part of her jacket over her head and her gaze fell to the floor, as if she was in deep contemplation. After a while, she returned her gaze towards me. I was expecting her to still look upset after that accident, but instead, she stared back at me with those kind eyes from before.

"You must have a very high charisma stat or be a very nice person," she looked marveled by my explanation. "That's the second time you've avoided losing a flag. You're on the right path on getting the Best Friends Ending, maybe even the Lovers Ending…" She paused. "I think."

I was still breathing a sign of relieve but I noticed that Chiaki's cheeks were slightly pink. They were almost the same color as her hair. For some reason, I felt my face grew a bit hotter just from looking at her.

"Ooooh, such a steamy romance! Do you perhaps think there's room for one more?"

I almost jumped out of my seat when I heard someone's voice from behind me. Instinctively, I turned around to see the culprit.

There was a plump boy, wearing a chef's outfit. He even had on the traditional chef's hat, but instead of carrying a spatula, he had a comb in his hand. What made this guy stood out was his hairstyle, dark brown hair styled in a pompadour like the Americans in the 70's. Besides that, and the way he was staring at me and Chiaki like were famous celebrities, it didn't take me long to figure out that this guy was one the who make the food.

"W-Who are you, and how long were you standing there?!" I say, struggling to keep my heart inside my chest. That must be the second heart attack I almost had today.

"Oh me? I was here the whole," the newcomer says. "I was in the back of the kitchen finding ingredients for dinner. But then I saw you mess up a potential dish of fine romance with Chiaki, so I thought l might provide you with some..." he trailed off, as if he was building up dramatic tension. "Assistance."

"I-I see," I say nervously. "But you still haven't answered my other question."

"Hmm?" the boy raised an eyebrow. "Oh, excuse me. I thought that Chiaki must have told you about me, but I guess my ingredients weren't in the correct dish."

"Um…" I'm not sure how to respond.

"Oh right, introductions," he says casually, combing out his pompadour. "My name is Teruteru Hanamura. On the streets, I'm known as the Ultimate Cook. But could you call me the Ultimate Chef instead? It has more of a… big city flavor to it, ya know?"

"O-Okay," I nodded. "My name is Hajime Hinata. It's nice to meet you too."

"Mmhmhm, I hope we can get along," Teruteru says, waggling his eyebrows at me. "Excuse me, Chiaki, but I can I borrow the new guy for a moment?" he asked. "It just need to talk with him about something. Then you can have you turn."

Chiaki stared at him blankly, then a moment later she said, "Okay. Just don't take too long. You're interrupting a special event and Hajime might lose a flag if he stays away from too long."

"Oh?" Teruteru gasped. "Was I being left out of the menu or something? Were you two were on a date?"

"I-It's not like that!" I exclaimed. "We were just talking about video games. Right, Chiaki?" I looked back at the girl in question, expecting her nod or something to back me up.

Instead, she was giving me that same angry, puffy-faced expression from before. What did I do? I told him the truth, so why are looking at me with that way? Or was that stare towards Teruteru's direction?...

"Don't look so jealous, Chiaki." Teruteru assured her. "I'll bring your boyfriend back, right away I've had my fun with him." He suddenly latched onto my arm. "Come on, Hajime. Let's discuss this in a more private manner…"

"W-Wait!" I stammered. "I still haven't―"

Before I could make up an excuse, I was already beginning dragged away by Teruteru, leaving behind an empty seat and an upset Chiaki. I really wish she would stop looking at me that way. It makes me feels like I'm the bad guy.

We didn't go far, but we were only a few tables away from Chiaki. I could feel her gaze burning in the back of my skull. Teruteru released his grasp from me.

"So, what's the deal with you and Chiaki?" he asked. "You two know each other?"

"Well, I…"

I closed my mouth. If I told Teruteru that I just knew her name without even meeting her, then he might think I'm crazy. However, that was the truth and there was no telling how he would react if I say anything. Furthermore, this guy was a complete stranger who suddenly made his presence known and not to be rude, I couldn't trust someone like that. Something about this guy felt… dangerous, and not in a life-threatening way.

"I see. So you're the shy type, huh?" Teruteru mused. "It's okay. That sort of flavor can attract anyone if they had the right looks and you look rather… delicious."

I immediately felt the urge to run away as fast as possible from this guy. Don't tell me he's…

"If I can get serious real quick," Teruteru says. "I can tell you that Chiaki doesn't like that kind of flavor. You need to change your palate― add some spices to the mix. I don't know how you were able to get yourself a date with her, but from what I can tell, she's a bit of a budding blossom, if you catch my meaning," he suggested. "What do you think?"

"…What?" I say, confused.

"Since she's a hardcore gamer, there's a good chance she's probably wearing polka dot panties. What are your thoughts on that?" he asked.

"I… don't know…" I say, half-answering and half not trying to think about that thought. I noticed a droplet of blood trickling down from his nose, but I didn't say anything about it. He must've did the imaging for me. I quashed the lurking curiosity with the rational part of my mind.

"If you want to know how to get in those panties, I can provide a more… hands-on lesson if you want," Teruteru says. "C'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon!" he urged.

This guy was being very persistent on the "hands-on lesson", something that I, along my sense of danger wouldn't agree to. I didn't want to be rude to this guy, by which I mean, not accept his offer to do something… indecent (?). So I had to turn down this guy's request. "…No thanks."

"Well, putting that aside for now… This might also seem unexpected to you, but…" Teruteru went silent, looking in both directions as if he was being secretive, before speaking. "I feel like Mikan could be a virgin," he whispered.

I almost choked on my tongue. Who was he talking about?! From the sound if it, she must have been another student here on this field trip. I sincerely hope that this "Mikan" girl doesn't meet this guy, or at the very least, doesn't talk to him…

At Jabberwock Park, Mikan Tsumiki sneezed.

"H-Huh?... D-Did I catch a cold?" She mused silently.

"I don't think so," Mahiru said. "I was like earlier but I think I was allergic to something."

"No way you can have allergies," Hiyoko Saionji said merrily. "I was probably that dumb girl over there that you allergic to. Get away from me before I start getting a fever, you skank."

"I-I-m sorry!" Mikan wailed, instinctively raising her arms as if she was going to be hit. "I-I didn't m-mean to make you s-sick on p-purpose!"

Mahiru light bopped Hiyoko's head with a fist, making the shorter girl yell in pain ("Ow!") as she clutched it. "Don't listen to Hiyoko. I'm not sick and you would never be the cause if that were to ever happen to me." She assured her. "Matter of fact, do you think you can give me an exam? My arm's hurts for some reason and I don't think it's from slapping that pervert Teruteru across his face from what he said to you…"

"O-Okay…" Mikan said nervously, smiling for the first time. "M-My room is like a nursery so if you would follow me…"

"Awesome!" Mahiru cheered. "Maybe if you have time, you can examine Hiyoko too, maybe?"

"Wh-What?!" Hiyoko looked horrified. "As if would like some trashy, skank touch me with those―!"

Mahiru raised her fist in the air menacingly, and like a trained animal, Hiyoko went silent. The photographer smiled at Mikan, and slowly, the young nurse found herself smiling back.

"I said something earlier about shy types and that's what she is. You see, girls like her are the easiest to get because they can easily attract people and they'll listen to you if you use the right motivation. For example, you can ask her rub your back and she'll do it in a heartbeat."

"That…" I paused, momentarily picturing the poor girl (a shy girl since I didn't know what she looked like) hanging around a bad crowd with less honorable intentions. "Sounds kind of bad." I say.

"It is," Teruteru nodded. "Her intoxicating flavor will be ruined if someone were to add to their… unique spices to her palate. That would be like making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and adding bananas to it."

"I see," I say, not quite getting the reference.

"You don't look like the type of guy that would ruin a good dish, so I'll give you some advice," Teruteru says. "Take a small bite, feel the texture of her juices on your taste buds, and if you like it, take another bite― But not too big!" He suddenly raised his voice, as if to emphasize his point. "Just keep sampling her palate until you're completely immerse into her fine flavor."

I don't know what he meant by that, but if he was like Chiaki and applying some unrealistic terms with actual reality, then I needed to handle this like I did with her conversations and just roll with it. "I'll keep that in mind," I say.

"Excellent," Teruteru cheered. "Now that we're done, I believe you have an unfinished date with that young lady over there. Of course, we can always discuss this somewhere more privately if you want."

"Th-Thanks for the offer, but I'm going to pass," I say, feeling the urge to run away from this guy slowly returning.

"We'll be seeing each other again," Teruteru say. "Tell me how Mikan tastes so I'll know what spices to add."

I could barely here anything he said because my feet were already walking away from him.

And to my unexpected surprise, there was that familiar beeping sound once again. I needed to set notifications like "Obtained Hope Fragment" to vibrate when I had the chance. Going through the effort of checking my E-handbook every time that happens would be bothersome, so I didn't.

When I got back to Chiaki, she didn't have that angry "puffy face" from earlier, much to my pleasure. I plopped down in my seat, feeling mentally exhausted.

"So how did it go with Teruteru?" she asked.

"Like a really bad sitcom," I say tiredly.

"That's too bad," Chiaki says. "But as least you triggered two character events in one day. Even if your playing style is like of weird, that should count as some sort of achievement. Right?"

"I guess," I say. "Anyways, do you know what time is it?

"Right now it should be…" she closed her eyes for a moment, and opened them. "1:30. Why did you ask?"

I was almost taken aback by Chiaki's show of checking the time. I guess being the Ultimate Gamer gave her an internal clock or something, but my question was answered so I wasn't going to go further on that. "Well, I think I've eaten enough so I'm going to put these dishes away before going to Jabberwock Park." I say, rising from my seat.

"Are you going to meet Usami?" Chiaki asked.

I nodded. "Yeah. I still don't know my way around the…" I struggled with the word. "Island… but I'll manage." I say.

"If you're having trouble finding your way around here, you can use the map on your e-Handbook," Chiaki advised.

I dropped the plate and silverware I was carrying on the floor. The plate shattered into pieces.

"…What?"

"There's a digital map inside of your e-Handbook," Chiaki explained. "You can access it by tapping the "Map" icon on your screen. Everyone knows that."

"I didn't," I snapped. "I was still asleep when Usami was passing those out. At least, that's what Nagito told me."

"I see," Chiaki says. "Most cellphones and tablets typically had a "Map" application pre-installed on their phones. When people what to find out where they are or want to find the shortest route to their destination, they tend to use that app the most. It can also lock on to your location using the phone's or tablet's built in GPS so it makes finding places like stores, restaurants, and movies theaters."

I can also see her saying that with "The More You Know" banner floating above her. Well, it was good thing that Chiaki told me this when she did. Otherwise, I would've been roaming around this island aimlessly lost for… who knows how long. I still had that slip of paper with the map that Nagito gave me but his handwriting was not the most reliable compass.

"I keep that in mind," I say. "I going to meet with Usami. It was nice being able to talk to you."

"Yep. I was better than playing a video game, but not better than playing Grand Theft Throttle."

I had to stop myself from laughing. This girl and video games. "Well, I'll see you later, Chiaki," I say. "Don't stay on your video games too long," I added as a goodbye joke.

"I can't keep that promise," she says seriously.

I could help but smile at her. Yep, that girl and video games…

Part 4

It was a peaceful afternoon for Kazuichi Souda. The young mechanic had walked to school, meet fifteen strangers who were his classmates,he'd seenhis classroom transported all of them to a tropical island like he was tripping out on LSD (not that he does it, mind you), and he saw a guy pass out on the bench with a smoking-hot chick dressed up like a nurse rushing to his aid and rested his head in her lap. Her lap! It has been three hours and that guy was already bagging a girl, and he wasn't even trying! If that keeps up, he'll have Miss Sonia in his evil clutches sooner or later. He had to keep a close eye on this guy, and when he makes his move…

Inside Kazuichi's Mind

"You shall not possess the princess's heart, you bastard!" Kazuichi proclaimed, completely decked out in white armor.

"Hah! You think you can take her from me!?" the "bastard" said, also decked out in armor, but pitch black.

"I don't think I can! I will!" Kazuichi drew his sword from its' scabbard and entered a fighting stance.

"Then you will die here," the "bastard" also drew his weapon, a long, blade emitting pitch-black energy, readying himself as Kazuichi did. "Once I kill you, I will enjoy having my way with the princess while your severed head watches as your life fades away."

"You got that wrong!" Kazuichi yelled. "Your head's going to be the one rolling on the floor as you watch me and Lady Sonia have our happy ending!"

"In your dreams, perhaps," the "bastard" said sardonically. "That fantasy of yours will be something you'll have plenty of time to think about while you're in the afterlife."

"Enough!"

An epic battle unfolds, both opponents fought fiercely, each have the upper hand one moment before the other somewhat turned the tables. Of course, Kazuichi won that decisive battle and made good on his promise.

As the "bastard's" severed head lied on the floor and his body bled gallons of blood, Kazuichi held his princess close to him as the set settled behind the clouds.

"Lady Sonia," he whispered. "I promised that I would protect you, didn't it? It was a long journey and they were many battles, but I never gave up because I had the one thing that keep me going..." he brushed back some of her hair with a gauntlet-clad hand to look at her pools of sapphire. "You…"

"My Prince…" She said softly. "I'm so happy that it was that I fell in love with. My kingdom and my family may be gone, but at least I didn't lose you…"

"Don't say that," Kazuichi said. "I'm long as your alive and I'm with you, then you haven't lost your kingdom. And your family? Well, you still have that. Your parents may be gone but you still have me and all of ours friends who helped me― helped us get this far. You haven't lost anything, you're still this country's princess…"

He hugged her tighter.

"And mine's as well."

"I glad you said that, because I have something to tell you,"

"And what is it?"

"I am with child, and you're the only man I've ever been so that means you're the father."

Kazuichi felt as if all of the air in his lungs left him.

Then he smiled, revealing his shark-like teeth and pumped a triumphant fist up in the air and yelled…

"Hell yeah!"

Back to the real world

Kazuichi eyes gleamed in excitement at the thought. If he could protect Lady Sonia from that guy, then that dream would become a reality, minus the sword-fighting. The mechanic added "Protect Lady Sonia from creeps" on his special "must do" list (which was naturally over "build a rocket) and continued walking towards his destination. He didn't have anywhere he wanted to go in particular since he was tired from all the work he did― well, Mahiru made him do. He understood that men were biologically stronger so why make him care all of that heavy crap? Carrying a crate full of flowers was like the equivalent of a crate full of rocks. If he did the math (something that he wasn't very good), then surely she would've understood how difficult it was for him, right?

He wanted to find a bench to rest his tired legs until he say one of his classmates, Gundham Tanaka, focused intensely on scribbling some ancient, rune-like markings in the sand around him in a circle. Kazuichi never understand any of that "chuuni-" crap that he occasionally babbled about when asked even the simplest of questions, but he didn't seem like a bad guy. Truthfully, he wanted to avoid him like the plague until their 50 days of this field trip was up. However, he was a classmate, meaning that he was part of this trip, meaning that he also had to collect all those Hope Fragment things Usami talked about. The only way he was going to get them was to talk to people…

Meaning that he was going to have to talk to him.

Kazuichi sighed wearily. He might as well go over there and get this over it. The sooner he formed some sort of connection with this guy, the easier it'll be to get all of the other Hope Fragments from him in the future. One of them was going to have to take the first step of being "best buddies" sooner or later, so their first encounter was inevitable, he supposed.

"Hey Gundham, what are doing?" Kazuichi asked, not out of curiosity.

"What am I doing, you say?" Gundham asked incredulously. "I'm attempting to cleanse myself of this negative energy by connecting with the Underworld and bath myself in its infinite darkness," he explained.

"Yer' that bored, huh?" Kazuichi surmised.

Gundham chuckled as if he was asked the stupidest question in the world. "As if a mere human can fully understand the darkness that envelopes me. You won't even begin to realize its' true terror until it is too late…"

"R-Right…" Kazuichi said, slowly beginning to regret talking to this guy. "I was going take a breather after all that work Mahiru made us do but since you're here and it's about that time for lunch, ya' wanna take a break from all of…" he tried to find the right word. "This… and grab a bite?"

"Ha!" Gundham scoffed. "You dare try to sever me from my ritual to connect to the Underworld for such an irrelevant luxury?" He smiled evilly. "You're an interesting human. Interesting, but foolish..."

"Y-Yeah, so are ya' coming or what?"

"If a lesser being demands the presence of the Supreme Overlord of Ice to sate themselves, then I wouldn't waste my energy joining their banquet…" Gundham stated.

Kazuichi had already gotten fed up at this point and was about to turn and leave-

"But you appear before me, undaunted by my overwhelming darkness, to ask such a simple request, one such as I can easily grant, and at the same time reject," Gundham nodded. "Very well, if you desire the company of the Dark Lord, then I shall be at your side."

Finally, Kazuichi thought. He didn't know if he had the energy to listen to one of Gundham's ramblings about darkness, or enough to convince this guy to came with him if he declined his offer.

"But know this, mortal…" Gundham warned. "If this meal isn't to my liking, then I shall destroy you without hesitation. Your soul will be casted into the Gates of Gehanna where you will burn in the fires of pandemonium!" he roared. "So keep me well entertained."

"Noted. So let's go already before Mahiru finds us and gets us to do some impossible task."

"Agreed. That woman emits such a sinister darkness that my Four Dark Devas of Destruction tremble in fear."

Kazuichi almost had to stop himself from laughing. This guy better consider himself lucky that she wasn't here when he said that. That darkness of his wouldn't save him from hers.

With that, the unlikely pair strolled off to the nearest restaurant.

Part 5

Gundham didn't talk much while he was eating. No ramblings about darkness, ice, fire, or whatnot. He just ate his food in silence like a normal person would in a public area, something that worked perfectly for Kazuichi. His original plan was to hang out with this guy until he (Gundham) couldn't tolerate his presence any longer and leave.

However, now that he was practically sharing a meal with a guy that was a complete stranger to him a few minutes ago, he curious to know more about him. What was the deal with the chuuni- crap that he occasionally ranted about? What's the deal with those damn hamsters? Why was he arm bandaged up? Those questions boggled in his mind with answers that were impossible to receive unless Gundham was a social butterfly. If he was going to get along with this guy, then he needed to establish some common ground.

Unfortunately, Kazuichi wasn't an expert at performing such a task. Instead, he decided to opt with a more… practically approach. There were both guys so this particular subject would be acceptable, right? All the guys in middle or high-school do it all the time so even a guy like him should respond to such a natural question, right? If Gundham wasn't going to start a conversation, then it was up to him to kick things off.

Steeling his nerves, Kazuichi asked the question that would decide everything.

"What type of girl do you like?"

Gundham, who was about to take another bite out of his vegetarian burger, froze like a statue.

I knew it, Kazuichi thought. This might be an easy Hope Fragment after all. A simple question that any guy could answer. If they couldn't, then they were considered―

The mechanic'strain of thought was interrupted by Gundham, laughing like some crazed madman. For some reason, the air around him was cold like winter.

"Let me ask you, mortal," Gundham said. "Why would you ask such a foolish question?"

"I don't know," Kazuichi said, shrugging his shoulders. "I thought that you might be interested in something else other than taking over the world…"

"I have no need for a companion or lover," Gundham said. "Such relations are beneath me and they would only be a hindrance in my conquest of ruling this world."

"O-Okay, but what about those hamsters," Kazuichi pointed out. "You seem pretty friendly with them."

"I rather prefer their company than a mere mortal's," Gundham said. "My Four Dark Devas of Destructions may look like mere "hamsters" in the eyes of lesser beings such as yourself, but if one has devoted themselves in the dark arts as long as I, then they will realize that this is only their temporary form."

"And what are their "ultimate" forms?" Kazuichi asked.

"I don't see no reason to answer you," Gundham stated bluntly. "By the time they abandon their physical forms and achieve their true power, you will be long dead. It's a shame you won't live to witness their awakening as I, Gundham Tanaka, reign in a new era of darkness upon this world! Fuhahahahahah!"

And just when Kazuichi thought that he wouldn't hear another one of Gundham's rants about darkness, his misgivings proved him wrong. He almost considered getting out of his seat, walking out of the door, and never speak to this guy ever again. Screw gathering all the Hope Fragments. He would rather be hanging out with Nagito right now. At least with that guy, they would have a decent conversation.

"But as for your earlier question, someone like a companion would be impossible," Gundham said. "My body is filled with poison and they would have long succumbed to its effects and perished. If someone were to stand beside me in this world plane, they would need to have bathed in the darkness of the Underworld for as long as I have and be blessed with its powers. Only then shall they be worthy of having a place at my side in the Tanaka Empire."

"I-I see…" Kazuichi said, forcing a smile. "Well those sound like some interesting…" He paused. "Things you want in your dream girl. But I'm a much simpler type of guy." He declared with glee.

"Really?" Gundham said haughtily. "You think that your standards are better than mine? The Supreme Overload of Ice?" he smiled in an evil manner. "Very well… Perhaps you can enlighten me on yours. Give me an unsatisfactory answer and I will destroy you where you stand."

"Well, just so you know, I'm happen to like a girl with blonde hair, long legs, a rocking body, and a nice rack." He confessed.

Gundham almost choked on his food when he heard Kazuichi's long list.

"You fiend!" Gundham roared, pointing an accusatory finger. "You base the things in your ideal companion on such lustful detail?! Kazuichi Souda, your preferences are as shallow as the pit of your soul. I fear that the wrath of my darkness would have little to no effect."

"Hey, don't judge me!" Kazuichi defended. "I didn't talk about you when you were describing your dream girl so don't make fun of mine!"

"Kehehe..." Gundham chuckled darkly. "You must be mistaken. I was simply stating the truth. You prefer the excessively attractive features of women that the actual person. Gluttonous fiends such as yourself don't deserve to exist in the Tanaka Empire and shall feel my wrath!"

"You just don't understand," Kazuichi said. "A girl with no perks like that is like looking at an R-rated movie with no sex scene. You were describing your girl with darkness and all that crap, but that's only just the inside. What about what she looks like on the outside?"

"Her aesthetic appearance doesn't matter," Gundham said. "As long she has an equal amount of darkness as I, then things such as attractiveness is irrelevant to me. The social wall between personality and beauty might not as well exist!"

"Yeah, right," Kazuichi said doubtfully. "You're just saying that so you don't look like the bad guy. I bet you got a hidden stash back at your cabin."

"You must think I indulge in those perverse pleasures like some pitiful, lonely soul," Gundham retorted. "The difference between a mere mortal like you and a Dark Lord such as myself is that I was being honest about my preferences and you were overly excessive in yours."

"I was being honest too!" Kazuichi yelled. "I mean, where are hell are you going to even find a girl like that?!"

In the Negima! Universe, Evangeline A.K. McDowell sneezed.

"Damnit. Maybe trying to sleep with the brat when he had a cold wasn't such a good idea after all…" the vampire mused. "Chachamaru… Chachamaru!" she called for her servant in a sickly, hoarse voice.

Like magic, the android appeared at her master's side. "Yes, Master?"

"I'm hungry," the vampire said.

"Would you like tea?" Chachamaru asked.

"No," Evangeline said, shaking her head a little. "Bring me the usual,"

"Of course," Chachamuru said, bowing shortly and going to retrieval the requested item. Before she reached for the door, she stopped.

"What's the matter?" Evangeline asked impatiently.

"One of my sisters was here with you to tend to your needs, correct?"

"Yeah," Evangeline said, glaring at her servant. "What about her?"

"Why isn't she here?"

"Blew her the fuck up," she said without hesitation.

"I see," Chachamaru nodded, unfazed.

"Glad you got that cleared up. Now bring me some blood!"

"And may I ask what kind?"

"Negi Springfield's!"

"In time, she will make her presence know," Gundham said. "And until it does, I will continue to immerse myself in darkness, growing ever more powerful each day…"

"Whatever," Kazuichi said, rolling his eyes. "I say your dream girl doesn't exist. I already saw mine already."

"Interesting…" Gundham mused. "Was it perhaps an illusion created by your mind when you realized that you were destined to live out your days alone on this earthly plane? If so, then I find your discovery quite unrealistic."

"H-Hey, don't go making up your own conclusions!" Kazuichi exclaimed. "I still haven't shown you my proof!"

"Then hurry up and present me this so-called evidence. My Four Dark Devas of Destructions are eager to unleash their terrifying power when the first falsehood reveals itself."

"Well, I don't wanna brag but…" Kazuichi trailed off, rubbing the back of his head before smiling a shit-eating grin. "I gonna do it anyway. I got a girl's underwear."

"…S-Such an answer does not exist!" Gundham said.

"No, it's true," Kazuichi said. "When I went back to my cottage, they were right there on my bed― Like right there! It sucks that there was no girl wearing them but she must've left them behind when I came."

"That story is as illusionary as that woman who owned them," Gundham said. "Kazuichi Souda, your blood shall be the first to be spilled to create the foundation of my empire!"

"No dude, I'm serious!"

"Then perhaps your soul temporarily detached itself from your physical body and saw an image of the afterlife?..."

"It wasn't dying and I wasn't daydreaming! I have the proof with me right now, and you can see for yourself!"

As fast as he said those words, Kazuichi reached into his pocket with confidence, eager to prove his sanity, and pulled out…

A magazine.

An erotic magazine, which promptly unfolded itself in front of Gundham.

Peering out of the corner of his eyes, Kazuichi dropped the magazine with an expression of undoubted horror. "Wh-What the fuck?!"

"You fiend…" Gundham snarled, all four of his hamsters suddenly appearing out of his jacket, glaring daggers at the mechanic. "You dare attempt to deceive me with provocative photographs of nude women?!"

"W-Well, not exactly," Kazuichi stammered. "I mean, if you into this kind of stuff, I'm cool with that. My mom found my secret stash one time and destroyed it so I don't know how I could have this one on me. I don't recognize this magazine being one of my old ones…"

"I'LL DESTROY YOU!"

"W-Wait a minute, hold on a sec!"

"Go, my Four Dark Devas of Destructions! Show this mortal your terrifying power!"

"Seriously, you got this all- AHH! WHAT THE HELL!? GET OFF ME, YOU DAMN RODENTS! GAHH! NOT THE EYES! I NEED TO SEE MY DREAM GIRL WITH THOSE! WHHYYYYY?!"

From that day forward, Kazuichi Souda, The Ultimate Mechanic who would go down in history for being the first human to suffer the almighty wrath of the Dark Lord, Gundham Tanaka, by the power of his Four Dark Devas of Destruction.

But did this unfortunate mortal live to see the tale?... No one will ever know…

Part 6

I took the stairs leading down to the back entrance of the hotel and walk out the door. Now that I had a full stomach and enough energy to last me until dinner, I can finally go the Jabberwock Park and meet up with Usami.I sincerely hope that she wasn't one of those hard-ass teachers that got mad at every little thing. But if I explain to her why I was late, then I'm sure she would understand. That is, if she was the understanding type.

According the map on the e-Handbook (which I checked beforehand), I should continue walking straight, make a left and Jabberwock Park should be just around the corner. This was way more reliable than those scribbles of so-called "directions" made by Nagito. If I'm lucky, this might just be a short introduction about the field trip which I've heard from my hypothetically, self-insert conversation with Chiaki and I can go to my cottage and hopefully try to make sense of all of this.

On the other hand, maybe I should try getting some answers out of Usami instead of trying to figure it out on my own and not get anyway. After that, I needed to talk to her about getting a mini-fridge in my cottage so I don't have to always go to the cafeteria when I was hungry. If I didn't know any better, I think the cook there was actually―

"You. Stop right there."

A gruff voice came from behind me and I immediately stopped dead in my tracks.

"Turn around so I can see your face."

My heartbeat suddenly risen. Who was that? It was probably a man, based on the average volume of baritone in their voice. But that applied to any male, including myself. It had a sense of authority and the moment I heard, I stopped. Could he perhaps be a police officer?

"Fine. If you're gonna stand there, then I'll just come to you."

As soon as those words were said, I heard the sound of approaching footsteps. Every step was like an earthquake growing more intense in magnitude. I could barely hear the sound of my own heartbeat over the loud thumping, noises of those giant footsteps― the sounds of imminent danger slowly getting closer to me.

Calm down, Hajime. There's nothing to be scared off. It's probably just a huge guy who wants to speak to you. He saw you, but you didn't see him. He didn't recognize you, thus, he stopped you so he can find out who you are, hence; the situation I'm currently in. That should make perfect sense, right? There were only 16 students here, including myself. Maybe this guy was one of them? Nagito didn't mention anything about other people being on this island so that couldn't be…

Wait a minute.

Or maybe that was it? What if this guy wasn't a student? What if he was someone that wasn't intended to be here? If that were the case, then…

Holy shit.

This guy behind me was a complete stranger. Of course! That had to be it! We were on an abandoned island, after all. I didn't see anyone here that might have looked like a staff employee. No one else wouldn't have noticed other people being here, probably because they thought there weren't any in the first place. Anyone could have come― Heck, anyone could have already been here on this island and we wouldn't even know it!

I weighed my options. I could stand here while this potentially dangerous person got closer to me and does… God-knows-what or― probably the riskiest, I can run and hopeful escape his line of sight and call for help. But this guy might have a weapon― maybe a gun, and I won't even know he has it unless I turned around and see for myself or if the bullet actually hits me. I might not even be alive if I do, hence; why that choice is unfavorable. It was a fight-or-flight dilemma and I would be the one deciding how I would respond.

It could be that I was aware of the danger and didn't carefully thought it through...

It was possible that I didn't think a huge man wouldn't do me much harm...

Maybe the rational part of my brain had ceased to function due to the weird encounters I had today with three students who were Ultimates...

Or perhaps, deep down I was a coward and simply wanted to take the easy way out. Why I thought of myself so lowly in this situation is a mystery to me.

Whatever the case, I choose the most rational option.

And that was to run like hell.

Gathering up all the energy I could muster into my legs, I bolted away from the man like a runner hearing the starting gun.

"Hey, what are you going?! Stop right there!"

I could hear, no― feel those giant footsteps approaching behind me. Damn. He decided to give chase. No Hajime, don't look back! Just keep running! You can worry about who's behind you when you're not dead.

Just run!

Run!

Run!

Everything seemed to blur as I sped past numerous trees and foliage. It all looked kind of nice for a moment until I left it all behind. Was there anyone out here? Somewhere? Anywhere? There are supposed to be fifteen other students on this island, how hard is it for one of them to notice a guy getting chased by someone?! How hard it was for me to notice them?! Dammit! Just run and don't worry about anything else!

I wasn't going to waste time and look behind me. That would be seconds I would lose and also taking my eyes off of what was in front. I would collide into someone― or something, and that guy might catch up with me, something that I couldn't allow. I quicken my pace.

I wasn't the best physically fit person in the world; I don't know how long I can keep running until I burnt out all of my energy. I needed to get rid of this guy and fast. An obstacle, something to put more distance between me and him. That was my only chance. If I could just―

I found my answer when I saw it up ahead.

A recycle bin.

That might work!

I made a beeline for the giant container. I don't know if it's full or empty but I'm wasn't going to waste time figuring that out. The recycling bin was coming in closer view in my vision every second I run. If I can time this just right…

Without stopping, I ran up beside it, making sure not to run too fast, but not too slow either so I wouldn't miss my window of opportunity. When my first foot stepped past it, I quickly extended my hand to reach for the rim. Once my fingers felt contact with metal, I retracted my arm, tipping over the recycling bin all at once. It hit the ground with a metallic "thud", but I didn't care about the sound. What mattered was the result.

Not a moment later, I heard something from behind me collided with it. It was no doubt the man that was chasing me but I wasn't going to look back and confirm it myself. His yelp of shock and pain told me everything I needed to know. I almost felt a wave of euphoria wash over me of how much that half-assed plan of mine actually worked as I kept running.

I felt my lungs burning for air. How long was I running? How much distance did I put between me and that guy? This was no time to be thinking about that. Not now. I had to keep moving and try to find someone that can help me.

That was when it clicked.

Jabberwock Park.

I was supposed to be meeting Usami there. If I could get to her, maybe she can help me.

I shook my head. Don't think like that, Hajime. It wasn't a matter if she can. She had to. There was someone on this island who wanted to hurt one of her students and she was my― our teacher for God sake. It was her duty to help her students with problems and protect them for danger.

If I can remember the directions from the map as well as I can, there should be a store called Rocketpunch Market just around the corner. I need somewhere to catch my breath and maybe think about how I should that handle that guy who chasing me should the situation calls for it.

With that desired location in mind, I made my way towards it.

Somewhere on Jabberwock Island

A black and white teddy bear watches the chase unfold in the comfort of some bushes.

"Upupupupupupu..."

...

Inside the Future Foundation apartment complex

Sex: It has many different meanings. In the biologically known definition of the word; it meant either two main categories of a species' gender, male or female into which humans and many other living things are divided on their basic reproduction functions. The male would seek out a woman of desirable traits and fertilize the female's egg with their sperm, which in turn may lead to the female becoming pregnant with the male's child. Once a period of nine months has passed after the date of conception, the female may proceed to give birth to a child, whose gender is either one of the two categories mentioned (male or female) and partially inheriting the father and mother's genetic characteristics. That child will be given a name and after years of careful parenting (if any), they too may find a suitable mate of their own and they may become parents themselves. This cycle has repeated itself for centuries, driving the world's population over 7 billion, and either shows no sign of ceasing.

The other meaning is a more straightforward term without the sciences behind it. Meaning sexual activity, also including specific sexual intercourse; or sex, and the meaning for that is, well… exactly what it says on the tin. "Banging", "Getting laid", "Sexing it up", "Hitting that", "Getting busy", "Getting freaky", these were some of the various terms used by adolescents and young adults when referring to sex as such, but not the most popular. The phrase, or rather word, used when it wasn't taking place in the privacy of a love hotel or a couple's bedroom and commonly used by Americans as a word of intense dislike...

The all dreaded "f" word with the "-ing" suffix added at the end…

And precisely what a certain fashionista was doing to a terrified, Makoto Naegi...

Well… not yet, at least.

That unfortunate boy in particular lied on his bed, spread-eagled. Both of his wrists were strapped to the metallic headboard of the bed and the same was done to his ankles at the footboard, all with black neckties. His mouth was gagged with a pair of blank panties (yes, they are) and his eyes were covered with a blindfold, matching the undergarments' color. Junko stood on one side of the bed beside him near the front door, gazing up and down at the boy with a thoughtfully, amused expression, as if impressed with her handiwork. Even after all of that work, she was still clad in lacy, black lingerie.

Everything in the room might as well be the color black.

"I must say, I did a hopelessly good job on setting this up if I say so myself," Junko said gleefully. "What do you think, Naegi-kun? Is the handiwork of the Ultimate Fashionista great or isn't it?"

Muffled yells were the only sounds that came from Makoto.

"Oh, right. You can't talk now, can you?" She said in a voice of mocking pity. "But don't feel all in the dumps there, Naegi-kun. Those panties you got shoved down your throat belong to that bitch Kyoko. All of my underwear "mysteriously disappeared" when I went woke up in that shithole." Junko shrugged. "Who knew that me and her shared similar tastes? Not this girl."

While the supermodel was preoccupied with a personal debate on how she and a certain detective shared similar preferences in undergarments, Makoto persistently struggled to get out of his restraints, but to no avail. His limbs weren't restrained with typical chains but with pieces of clothing woven together with threads of fabric, something that can easily tear if the appropriate amount of force was applied. So why couldn't he break free? Was he really that weak from a lack of sleep? Or...

"You can stop trying to escape, Naegi-kun" Junko said. "Those ties may be cheap, but I made sure to make those bindings extraaa tight, so you won't be leaving anytime soon." She smiled triumphantly, crossing her arms under her impressive chest. "We still haven't even started yet and you're already started trying to resist. You're going to like what I― no, what we are about to do next so you might not ever do much of that."

Out of apprehension, Makoto let the arms that were persistently trying to break their restraints go still. What was Junko going to do to him? No, the question should have been "What Junko wasn't going to do to him?". He expected to be tortured since the sole reason she was in his room was to see him, but nothing physical hasn't been done to him― well, except for having his arms and legs tied down and being gagged. So why wasn't she cutting off his skin with a knife or waterboarding him? Moreover, why hasn't she started with whatever she had planned?

"While I can do those despairingly cruel things to you and so much― and believe me when I say so much more, I'm going to hold off all of that until a much better opportunity presents itself," Junko explained. "I'm the type of girl that likes to see people entirely drowned in despair. It's so hot that I'm practically drenched. But I'm a sick bitch, so any level would be a turn on for me, I guess."

Makoto furrowed his eyebrows in mild bewilderment. Why did she still thought of herself like that, even after her death― her own suicide that she unexplainably survived? Granted, he fought against the Mastermind (Junko) that game so that he wouldn't have to witness anymore people― anymore of his friends die. Despite all of the pain and torment that she put them through, even a person like her, as evil and twisted as her obsession with despair was, Junko was someone he could call a friend. His friends, especially Kyoko, might have given him the third degree for that kind of thinking, but that was what he truly believed.

Inwardly, Makoto probably could have shown her that even a person like her could have hope, even if was just a tiny bit. But would had if he had stopped her form killing himself? Would she believe in the hope of causing despair? Would the effects of the Tragedy worsen as a result? Or perhaps, as slim as the possibility was, would everything end peaceful?...

Makoto's train of thought was interrupted by a loud, groaning sound from Junko. He couldn't see her― or anything― but he felt her presence across the room.

"Are you fucking serious?!" Junko's expression had twist into one of absolute disgust. "After killing most of your friends back at the academy, tying you up and blindfolding you, you still think that we're friends!?" She huffed a breath of equal feeling. "Ha! As if I would hopelessly consider turning to hope! People who cling to shit like that are truly the weakest!"

Weak? What was weak about having something to believe in, Makoto thought. As long as anyone had hope―

"Shut up! Just shut up!" Junko yelled. "I know what you're thinking before you even say it, so until we start our fun, here's what you're going to do: don't say anything! Don't do anything! Don't even think anything! Just. Be. Quiet!" She punctuated each word with a voice or rising anger.

Probably sensing the murderous intent that suddenly filled the room and that angering Junko any further would only add to it, Makoto did just that. Two of those things in her seemingly impossible list of commands he wouldn't have any difficulty doing due to his current... state, but not think? How could he not think in this situation? He was bounded and gagged against his will by someone who shouldn't be alive and can somehow read his mind. Putting up mental barriers didn't do Makoto any good; he tried ―and continued trying― but Junko would always find her way around his defenses. She couldn't mentally analyze people this well during the Final Class Trial so how did she―

"What part of, "don't even think anything" did you not understand?"

As much as Makoto wanted to explain to her that it was almost impossible to do that, he couldn't voice his (because of the panties in his mouth) opinion, much less think about them. He looked up the ceiling, or what he thought was it. All he could see was pitch black darkness. No speck of light made itself present, even though the miniscule holes in the fabric.

Again, everything in the room might as well be the color black.

What felt an eternity of silence ended for the Ultimate Lucky Student when Junko stared at him. Of course, Makoto couldn't see her, but he felt her eyes on him.

"I've already said this before, but I forget you're hard at hearing so I'll say it again..." Junko said. "Once you've felt the despair I've suffered, there's no going back. No matter how many people lend you a helping hand or how many friends you make, you'll never the same." Her eyes were downcast. "Not ever..."

Makoto couldn't see her face, but he didn't need to be analyst to know that her expression didn't match her voice. Her tone sounded angry, but there was... something else lingering in it. Sadness? Regret? Envy? He wouldn't know for sure until he got the blindfold off of his eyes to see for himself, which according to Junko, wouldn't be anytime soon. So why did she sound so―

"Now then," Junko announced, interrupting Makoto's train of thought. "I've already wasted enough time being all mopey and shit, so I'm going to make this a quickie and be on my way. This is your one and only freebie, but you can leave a tip for the excellent service," She shrugged nonchalantly. "I'll be taking all the money out of your wallet, even if you do."

"Mhmm!?..." Was all Makoto could manage through the... gag.

"Before we begin, it's a time for a pop quiz," Junko said, pushing a pair of glasses up on the bridge of her nose and holding a clipboard that mysteriously came from thin air. "Do you recognize the setup you're in? If you put your mind to it, I'm sure you'll figure it out."

Makoto, bewildered at the question's subject of whether she was referring to how he was retrained or something else entirely, figured he should start his thinking on the first. Both his arms and legs were spread apart and tied to his bed, and he has a blindfold covering his eyes so he couldn't see what was going on around him. For what purpose did she do that? If Junko was secretly a crazed religion cult leader in disguise of a supermodel, then he was probably being offered as a sacrifice for some sort of ritual. Of course, that wouldn't be a far hypothesis considering that she was― is the leader of a terrorist organization whose followers particularly did everything a religious cult did, the ones that killed people that is.

"Technically, we don't do everything like those hopeless groups of people," Junko corrected him, diligently taking notes on his clipboard. "We do our killings and sacrifices for the sake of despair. There is no God in Ultimate Despair, nor do they believe in one. Unless of course, it was me they were worshipping," She smiled. "Keep thinking, Naegi-kun. You're almost there..."

Even if Junko told him to do so, more questions formed in Makoto's mind that couldn't be answered. If this wasn't a ritual and he wasn't an offering for said ritual, then what else could it be? What other occasion would he be in this "setup" and why did she mentioned that it was familiar to him when it was the exact opposite?

Then realization hit him a like a ton of bricks.

His arms and legs were tied to the bed...

He was wearing a blindfold...

This setup should be familiar to him...

And it was.

He was in this particular situation before...

She was the one who suggested the idea and out of a sense of duty to the people he wanted to help, he agreed to it.

All to prove a point about the dangers of that program, an experiment that went horribly wrong...

Kyoko Kirigiri's experiment.

"Oh ho," Junko sounded intrigued, looking up from her clipboard that had two pages filled with notes. "It's seems you finally remembered. You are correct, Naegi-kun. The setup you're in is the same one Kyoko Kirigiri put you in a few hours ago? Besides your arms and legs being restrained by everyday neckties instead of handcuffs, it is nonetheless, still the same.

That didn't make sense, Makoto thought. He knew that Kyoko was thorough with making sure every possibility of her experiment being interrupted was avoided. She was a detective― and not just any ordinary one, but the Ultimate Detective so it was far to say that the event remaining a secret was certain. So how did―

"How did I know about your experiment?" Junko suddenly spoke, clinically flipping through her notes like a therapist. "While I wasn't around to see you get "killed" by Sayaka Maizono, I did, however see other things."

Makoto eyebrows risen in shock. How can Junko witness something without being present at the scene?! Did she secretly eavesdropped without Kyoko knowing? No, that couldn't be it― not with how calm and calculated she was. If so, then how did she do it without Kyoko knowing? When was she listening to all of that?

"I'll give you the same answer I did before..." Junko took off the glasses and put them... somewhere, glaring at the boy with a cold stare. Makoto couldn't see her face, but he felt the temperature in the room dropped in the negatives. "That's none of your fucking business."

As if to emphasize her point, Junko tossed the clipboard with the pages of well-organized notes over Makoto's immobilized form. It hit the wall with a loud "crack" sound and broke into two, unsegmented halves, paper scattering the floor.

"I've had enough of this expository bullshit!" She growled, smiling deviously. "Let's give it everything we got! IT'S... EXPERIMENT TIIME!"

Without warning, Junko jumped and landed perfectly on Makoto's groin (applaud if you want) and straddled him, making the boy "yelp" through the gag as a result. Women, biologically, were not supposed to be heavier than men, but Makoto stopped himself from finishing that thought and not think about it any further.

"I never thought I would give it up to one of my fans but shit, something's gotta give, right?..." She said awkwardly, averting her eyes, her face slightly pink. "It's my first time, so be gentle," she warned him. "If you try any funny business, I'll despairingly scream "rape" and you'll be sent to prison― or whatever passes for it these days, and you'll be the girl then."

She pulls out her stick of lipstick from... somewhere, removing the cap and pointed the red, pointy cosmetic down at Makoto's face.

However, before she could do whatever she planned with it, she heard a muffled sound coming from the boy beneath her.

"...mah..."

"Huh? What was that?" she asked, sounding annoyed. "I know you're short as hell, but you want people to hear you, you need to speak louder."

"mm mph gmh hmp,"

"Oh, right. The gag," Junko said, mentally slapping herself for his error. "Hope you got a gooood taste of your girlfriend's pussy, you fucking pervert..."

She reached for the pair of panties with her index finger and thumb, and using her crimson fingernails, she gently pinched the elastic that stuck out of the ball...

And forcibly yanked them out of Makoto's mouth.

The boy instinctively coughed and gagged on reflex, Junko watching him wringed in pain on top with an expression of complete disgust. His lungs burned for the oxygen they desperately needed, as if set ablaze and his tongue had a lingering combined aftertaste of lavender and soap. He needed water and help. Mostly water, but help.

"Stop thinking about being rescued," Junko said. "Your friends won't be coming anytime soon. I made sure none of that "Break-Down-The-Door-And-Save-The-Day", bullshit wasn't going to happen." She narrowed her eyes. "You had something to say, right? Now stop stalling and start talking before I shove something sharp and pointy down your throat!"

There was a long, pregnant pause.

"Shit. That came out wrong," Junko muttered. "But when you mad at a certain boy who acts like an herbivore man, what can you do?

"...Why?..."

"Huh? You said something?"

"...Why... are you... doing this?" Makoto all but managed between long, tired breaths.

Times seemed to stand still as silence washed over the two Ultimates. The question made the supermodel's expression falter into a blank one; an unknown tension seemingly removed their ability to speak. Makoto lied still, waiting on the moment for Junko to say something― do something painful to him and talk about despair, making him feel anxious and unnerved.

The silence was abruptly broken by Junko, who slowly began to laugh. Makoto didn't know whether he had said something humorous, but he couldn't see the girl and the slowly-increasing deathly, aura told his senses he was better off. Her features were hidden under her long, strawberry hair and his head randomly twitched like a damaged animatronic.

A few moments later, Junko's laughter ceased and her eyes were depressed and hollow.

"...Because I love you."

It was a simple answer. One that Makoto couldn't properly respond to.

"I love you so much that I infiltrated Future Foundations headquarters, come to your room dressed next to nothing... Just so I can see you.

Makoto couldn't see it, and he probably wouldn't believe it.

"I put my plan ahead of everything else, put up obstacles so our friends wouldn't interrupt our time alone... Just so I can see you."

She gently cupped Makoto's now trembling face with a hand.

"I love you so much that I tied you up, blindfolded you, offered to give myself to you..."

As she said that, another one of her hands cupped his cheeks. All the blood in Makoto's body turned to ice.

"All of this..." she said softly.

She slowly kneeled down as she pulled the boy's head upwards, bringing it closer to hers.

No.

"All of this..."

The proximity between them gradually become smaller by the second.

No!

"All of this..."

Their noses were touching each other, their lips barely centimeters apart.

No!

Using her thumbs, she raised the blindfold covering Makoto's eyes, just enough from him to see her. The sudden rays of light caused him to shut his eyelids in pain. The darkness allowed his vision to somewhat readjust to the world of color and when he felt his eyes were to a reliable degree, he slowly opened them...

And his eyelids flew wide open.

He should've keep his eyes closed.

The first thing Makoto saw after what felt like an eternity of darkness after the blindfold came off...

Were pools of blue under demonic slits.

"...So I can kill you."

Their lips brushed against each other's.

"I love you, Makoto~."

And before his mind could process any of this, she was kissing him.

Makoto Naegi had already gone mad at that point.

...

Inside the Future Foundation apartment complex's hallway

Yuu stopped dead in his tracks in the middle of the hallway.

"Yuu, what's the holdup?" Ryoga asked urgently, slowing down a few feet ahead of him.

"I sense a disturbance in the force," Yuu muttered ominously.

"What are you―!" Ryoga stopped himself before turning back to the hallway. "We don't have time for your foreshadowing crap! Someone's life is in danger and I need you to―"

"I know," Yuu interrupted. "I just have that a bad feeling that we won't like what we find when we get there."

"Of course not," Ryoga said with certainty. "If anyone heard a scream like that, they would be running for the hills."

"That too, but..."

Yuu let out a groan of exasperation.

"Whatever, let's just keep moving," he said hastily. "Help isn't going to get there if we're standing here like idiots."

Ryoga wanted to know more about "the disturbance in the force" Yuu mentioned, but someone's life could be in danger and asking questions at this point would be wasting time for them and that person's. With that though in mind, he ran to catch up with Yuu, who already a few meters ahead of him.

They made a left at the end of the hallway, Yuu stumbled and nearly fell because his feet lost traction from his speed as he was rounding the corner ("Fucking cheap-ass shoes, he yelled"). The apartments should be thirty meters ahead, where the source of the scream resonated, and his partner who somehow got ahead of him despite almost losing his footing a moment ago.

"Slow down, Yuu!" Ryoga yelled. "You might end up falling on your ass this time!"

"Piss off!" Yuu retorted, not looking back at him. "Just worry about keeping up!"

The area where the scream came from was straight ahead, only ten meters to go. Ryoga saw Yuu rounded a corner ahead of him. The kid was fast, Ryoga had to admit it.

"What the hell?!"

Ryoga finally reached the corner Yuu just turned a moment ago. Why was he swearing like something was horribly wrong?

His question was answered when he made the turn. In front of him, Yuu stood, both his hands balled in fist trembling in angry. Ryoga couldn't blame him, he felt his headache from their earlier "conversation" slowly returned to him as he stared at the problem...

Several school desks were neatly stacked on top of one another, the towering height of it all almost touching the ceiling. Long threads of white string were wrapped around the metallic leggings, overlapping the flat, wooden surfaces of the furniture then back again. The pattern repeated itself with the other desks that stretched across the hallway like a brick wall.

It was a barricade.

"The fuck is this!?" Yuu demanded. "Why is something like this here? Who the hell did this?"

"I don't know," Ryoga replied. "But I do know this: whoever's responsible for this really didn't want anyone to come through here."

"I can see that!" Yuu yelled, pointing at the barrier. "I'm asking you why is it here!"

"Calm down, Yuu," the taller man advised. "Whatever the reason is doesn't matter at this point. We'll figure it out after we get this out of our way."

"And how do you suppose we do that, jackass?" Yuu said sharply.

Brushing his co-worker's insult aside, he walked up to the barricade and pulled at one of the strings. "Since this wasn't here the last time we came this way; it was possibly built in a hurry."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning that thing might have some weak spots, like these pieces of string that are exposed like a sore thumb," Ryoga plucked at the string with a fingertip as if to emphasize his point. "If we can get one of these strings lose, then the whole thing will come apart. After that, we can push our way through the desks and be on our way."

Yuu eyes went in realization.

"That..." He almost yelled, rising a finger as if ready to prove something wrong, then lowered it. "Actually makes more sense." he finished in a slow, thoughtful manner.

"I'm glad to hear that. Now let's get to work." Ryoga stated firmly.

"Right," Yuu said.

The shorter man walked up to the barricade, grabbing one of the silvery threads wrapped around a desk and with a jerk of his arm, plucked it clean off the barricade with ease...

Or so he thought.

"What?" Yuu sounded surprised for a moment, but his astonishment quickly turned to anger as he attempted to remove the string again.

Same result.

He pulled at the thread from various angles, even using both of his hands when he realized one wasn't going to be very effective. Yelling like a bodybuilder about to overcome their limitations, Yuu tugged on the string with all of his might, practically dragging himself across the tiled floor. But try as he might, the barricade remained tall and unmoved in the slightest. Feeling the thread was about to dig deep into his skin, Yuu released his hold from it, rubbing in hands to ease the pain.

"What the hell is with this string!?" he snarled. "It won't budge no matter what I do!"

"It's probably reinforced somehow," Ryoga answered, eyeing the barricade with intensity. "Although when I look at this again, it looks like the stuff inside the storage closet past this hallway. I'm guessing that whoever did this got all these desks from."

"Hold on a minute," Yuu said. "You're telling me that this string isn't normal? Then what the hell is this!?"

"If I had to guess, this would probably the wire we used to captured..." Ryoga struggled to say the words. "Them."

"You mean the wire made out iron fibers that we used for that mission weeks ago?" Yuu said quizzically. "This crap doesn't look anything like it! The stuff we used was all metallic, not white as fucking Christmas!"

"Probably because whoever did this painted all over it to screw with us." Ryoga explained, lightly brushing a finger over one of the threads, as if to prove his point. The fingertip was speckled with tiny, snow white flakes. "See? By doing this, they could trick anyone into thinking that this was regular string. And when someone came to remove it..."

His gaze settled onto Yuu, who glared right at him.

"They wouldn't figure out that this wouldn't be the normal kind that could easily be removed, meaning we―"

"Wasted our time and looked like fucking idiots," the shorter man surmised, kicking the barricade in utter contempt.

"Well technically, you were the one who tried to take down the barricade without fully examining it, so I guess that makes that you the―"

"Unless you want your face to end up in a shit load of different colors other than this string here, it would in your best interest to not finish that sentence."

"I'm just kidding," Ryoga said, smiling.

"Sometimes I wonder about that," Yuu muttered.

A loud groaned echoed from the other side of the hallway.

"Did you hear something?" Ryoga asked.

"Funny. I was about to ask you the same thing."

Then they heard a voice. A very familiar, feminine voice.

"...N-Naegi... hurting... me..."

A long, silence filled the hallway. Both men could only stare in the direction where the voice's source came from.

Unabashed, the tallest of the pair spoke up. "That come from the direction of Makoto's room, didn't it?"

"Yes," Yuu nodded. "Yes, it did."

"And I'm guess that voice just now was Kyoko's, wasn't it?"

"Yes," Yuu nodded again, slightly faster that time. "Yes, it was."

"But that scream from earlier was definitely Makoto's, right?"

"Right," Yuu agreed, nodding his head even faster than before.

"I thought as much," Ryoga said thoughtfully, his fingers stroking his chin. "That kid woken up and is probably hurting someone. That, or he could the one been hurt." He turned to Yuu. "What do you think about―"

He stopped in mid-sentence when he felt the abrupt aura surrounding him. It was like the laws of gravity were inexplicably reversed during that moment. Ryoga couldn't see Yuu's face over his slumped head, but he could see the strands of his spikey hair were slowly splitting apart. The man knew what was about to transpire and he regretted not being more careful.

"You were going to ask me something, weren't you?"

The air seemed to grew heavy as Yuu said those words. The indignant tone in his voice he had just moments was gone completely and replaced with something... demonic.

"I was going to ask you what did you thought about―"

"Naegi and Kirigiri, right?" Yuu said suddenly.

"Well..."

"RIGHT?!"

The zenith of the barricade sudden decreased a few inches. The metal leggings supporting it all bent at odd angles. The flat, wooden surfaces splintered with lightning bolt-shaped cracks, scattering the floor with wood fragments. It was as if a boulder had fallen on top of it.

Ryoga knew in his heart that it was impossible to turn back at this point and sensing the intensifying, aura that threaten to crush his bones with every passing second, he decided to respond.

"Yes."

Like flipping the off switch, the aura that emitted from Yuu slowly grow dim, dissipating into nothingness. Ryoga felt the immense pressure on his body lift and his worries for being a quadriplegic as well. However, it would only be momentary relief for him as he prepared himself, physical and mentally for the imminent.

A second later, it happened.

The air surrounding Yuu slowly recompressed and exploded. Ryoga shielded his eyes with both arms, unmoved by the force of the shockwave, his jacket tail flapping helplessly behind him. Lowing one of his arms, Ryoga peered through the fierce wind that spun around Yuu like a tornado...

And his mouth dropped.

Nothing like the man known as Yuu wasn't present. His signature, spiky hairstyle remained intact, but instead of its normal black color, it was white as snow, including his eyebrows. The Future Foundation uniform that he despised so much wasn't the standard black, but gleaming, metallic silver. His eyes were the color of blood, irises in demonic slits. They were like those of a demon ready to tear their prey asunder.

The man that stood before Ryoga was no longer the sardonic, abrasive (and sometimes intelligent) Yuu that he knew. This man― this demon― was something far from human. Ryoga had only seen him once before and thought of it as an illusion created by his mind and forgotten about it. But now he had witnessed it again― the transformation, the features― and he couldn't deny it. He wanted to.

This was the arrival of a demon, a monster known to few who was fortunate enough to not lose their sanity upon seeing him. This was the bane of all mankind and the savior to all of who worshipped him. This was the "Cupid's Devil", known by his faithful followers as the "Overlord of Romantics". But there only one true name that was more befitting than those titles...

Yuuranga.

The "demon" held up one open palm and closed it. The arm's bicep muscle expanded, emitting a crunching sound as if it was on the brink of exploding. He did the same with other arm. Then, inhaling a deep breath, he stretched both arms behind his back in a macho-man pose and his chest puffed out like a balloon being filled with air, also making those same sounds like his arms.

Ryoga could only watch in bated silence.

Feeling satisfied, the demon known as Yuuranga finally spoke.

"It's been almost a year since I've used this transformation," he said. His tone was emotionless and cold like ice, and every word he spoke sent a chill down Ryoga's spine. "But now that a 'moment' like this has presented itself, it was time for Yuuranga to makes his surprise reappearance."

Ryoga didn't speak. He only stared.

"This barrier stands in my way of seeing a potential 'moment' of great joy to my heart," Yuuranga lightly touched the "barrier" with his fingers. "This is an obstacle that must be eliminated."

The demon turned to Ryoga, who flinched when his gazed stared down at him.

"Human. Do you have anything that I could use to cut this wire?" he asked, gesturing his head towards the barricade.

"I..." He faltered with the question, frantically trying to find the answer, but turned up nothing. "Don't have anything like that."

"I see," Yuuranga said. "Be sure to bring to carry a knife with you at all times, so this doesn't happen again." He advised.

"N-Noted," Ryoga nodded like a broken doll. There was a pause. "Hey! Since when are you giving me orders?!"

"It seems that I have no choice but to use my power to destroy this barrier," Yuuranga proposed, seemingly ignoring Ryoga's question. He sighed wearily. "There isn't the time to find a knife or anything to cut this wire, so I'll make this quick."

The taller man's eye went wide. "You don't mean―"

"Yes," Yuuranga said tersely. "That's exactly what I mean."

Like a machine, he reached into one of his coat pockets and pulled out...

A grenade.

"No! You can't use that!" Ryoga yelled, looking partially terrified. "You're not authorized to use explosives inside the building!"

"And do you think that will stop me?" he said doubtfully, glaring at the man with an icy, cold stare. "This barrier is in my way, so I will simply remove it."

"With a grenade!?" Ryoga said incredulously. "I thought you were going to use your powers!"

Yuuranga's eye narrowed. "Now why would I do that? Sure, I may change my appearance and personality while in this state, I don't however, obtain superpowers of any kind. Anyone who thought that is, well..." He searched his mind for the right word. "An idiot."

"Once the higher-ups hear about this, I really can't help you this time." Ryoga warned.

"I'm aware of that," Yuuranga said, not even looking back at the man as he advanced toward the barricade. "I'll taking full responsibility for my actions on a later time, but someone's life is possibly in danger and the 'moment' that I sense from across this barrier isn't going to last long." He stopped a few feet away ahead of Ryoga. "If you have a problem with the way I do things, you can allows stop me. That is, if you think you can."

"You―!"

Ryoga leapt towards the demon―

But faster than he could react, Yuuranga had already pulled the pin off the grenade, dropped it near the barricade with a metallic clank, and tackled him to the floor.

Three seconds later, there was a loud noisefollowed by an intense gust of wind surging from behind them. Ryoga could see wood fragments and metal scraps of various sizes zoom past him overhead. The thought of himself being a bloody, human pincushion entered his mind but he brushed it aside.

Yuuranga seized Ryoga by the collar and heaved him upwards until he was standing on both feet.

"Let's go," he said, already moving towards the newly made pathway. Ryoga gave a sign of resignation and followed.

Maneuvering through the wreckage was fairly easily. Remnants of the school desks that were partially intact were scattered all over either side of the hallway. Shrapnel and half-melted pieces of metal were mixed together in tiny, steaming pools of black with green blotches. A foul scent of smoke and burnt wood filled the air, making Ryoga cough occasionally as the pair made their way through the mess.

"My senses tell me that Makoto is this way," Yuuranga said, dusting himself off. "That boy better has his door locked so I don't take pictures."

"That's because you've been to his room before," Ryoga muttered, his eyes slightly watery. "And don't be harassing the kid and his personal life."

"Don't worry, human," Yuuranga reassured. "I'll divide my spoils with you. But I get the triple X-rated photos and you get the borderline stuff. That is, if I get any good shots."

"That's not what I meant," Ryoga said wearily, glancing back at the smoking wreckage behind them. "The higher-ups are not going to like this," he muttered.

"You said something, human?"

"Nothing," Ryoga said. "Nothing, at all."

A short run later, the two men finally reached their destination, Ryoga somehow managing to keep his sanity before Yuuranga could start a conversation ("It could decide the fate of this world, human!" he yelled). Stealthily, and carefully, they planted their backs against the wall and tiptoed across the hallway to the door of Makoto's room. As the two inched their selves closer and closer, they heard a familiar voice. They pressed their ears against the door.

"...sorry...hurt you..."

"...you didn't mean it..."

Judging by the sound of his voice, Makoto was definitely in his room but he wasn't alone. The other voice had a slightly higher pitch, it had to be feminine― a girl's voice. But who did it belong to? And why were they in Makoto's room?

"Hear that, human?" Yuuranga whispered, pulling out a cellphone and holding it as if were a loaded gun. "That's the sound of two lovers giving each other their innocence. I'm going to get me some good shots for sure. But I'm not too sure who's the girl in there with Makoto. Kyoko isn't here when she was supposed to be here watching her future boyfriend, so it could be her. I think I'm going to snap shots anyway and delete them if it's not the pairing I think it is behind this door."

"You better put that thing away before I break it," Ryoga hissed. "Why do you even want pictures in the first place?"

"That is none of your concern," he stated bluntly in a quiet tone.

"The reason I ask is because I am concerned."

"Irrelevant. The scream came from this room and someone's in there with Makoto doing God-knows-what to him and could possibly be a 'moment'," Yuuranga said. "When I give the signal, we kick down the door and we'll find out if me taking pictures was a good idea. Stand over there and wait for my signal."

Ryoga opened his mouth as if to speak, but instead; he closed it and nodded his head. He quickly slid across the floor, positioning himself against the wall on the other side of the door in one, smooth motion. The two looked at each other, communicating wordlessly.

Yuuranga held a hand up in the air with three fingers.

Three.

Both men readied themselves. One finger went down.

Two.

Yuuranga gripped the cellphone tightly in his hands. Another finger went down.

One.

Ryoga eyes the cellphone in Yuuranga's hand. The last finger went down.

Zero.

Quickly moving in front of door, Yuuranga kicked the door opened, aiming his weapon (the cellphone). Ryoga rolled out from behind him, entering a crouching position, his Taser gun drawn.

"Say cheese~!" Yuuranga said in a sing-sang voice.

"H-Hands in the air!" Ryoga shouted, glancing at the other man out the corner of his eye with an expression as if he were saying, "Really?".

Both men dropped their weapons when they saw who were they pointing them at.

...

They could have been thinking the same thing at that moment, or they were somehow connected by a psychic link.

No, the scene that laid before them could only be expressed in three words.

"What the fuck?" they said in unison.

...

To be continued...

A/N: Well, things are about to get crazy on the island and inside the Future Foundation headquarters if they haven't already. Hajime met two more Ultimates and is now running away from danger, Gundham unleashed the wrath on his Four Dark Devas of Destruction on Kazuichi, Monokuma's lurking in the bushes, Junko started her "experiment" on a poor (or rather lucky) Makoto; acting like a mind-reading crazy b****, and the Future Foundation duo are kicking in doors.

I imagine you have a lot of questions, but I can pretty much guess what you're thinking and these questions must be the ones mostly on your mind...

Where the hell is Kirigiri? Is Naegi going to be alright? How did Hajime know Chiaki? Why is Monokuma there? Did Yuu go Super Saiyan? Are Gundham and Kazuichi going to be hanging out more often? Are these sneeze jokes going to end? The answers to those questions will revealed...

Right now!

She'll be in the next chapter, he is literally screwed, will be explained in a future chapter, he's has an important part of the story, Yuu's just fanboying like a motherf***er (there's a deeper reasoning for that), yes, they will be hanging out more often, and maybe I'll cut down on those sort of jokes.

...

Then again, you really don't have to believe that list of answers because this Mellow Dias might change a few things depending on the feedback he gets. So keep those fingers crossed, guys and gals.

In the next chapter... a lot of crazy stuff's going down. Please leave a review. Comments and criticism are welcomed.

Until next chapter, everyone!