Chapter 3: The killing school life begins

The first one to speak up after that horrifying declaration was Ryoko Otonashi. The red headed girl stepped forward, arms crossed over her chest. A determined look showed in her red eyes as she marched up to the stage. "So you're telling me that all we have to do is kill someone and we're free to go." Skepticism and disbelief dripped in her voice. The red head clearly didn't believe what they were being told. "Why of course. It's very simple, just kill anyone."

"This can't be happening dude, this is so not happening." Yasuhiro's panicked outcry went unnoticed as everyone's attention was on Ryoko as she held her ground. "Sorry but that sounds too good to be true. Even if some did kill, how would they prove that they did it instead of someone else trying to take credit for their kill to get out?" Monokuma put his paws to his mouth, almost like he was thinking. The ultimate gambler then spoke up, adding her input into the discussion. "I must agree, there is no guaranty that you would really let us out if we do as you saw. I will not take the word of a toy bear."

"Grrrrrr, it seems that you're more observant than I thought you'd be. Ok fine, I thought I would explain this later, but I guess I'll say it now." A heavy silence filled the room, everyone waiting for Momokuma to continue. "You go me. Upupupupupupu, it's not that easy to graduate. When a body is discovered, the remaining students are given a certain amount of time to investigate the crime. And then must participate in the class trial, where you must figure out the 'who did it' and if you figure it out only the blackened will receive punishment for disrupting your communal school life. And if you can't, then everyone besides the blackened will be punished, and the blackened will be able to graduate and leave. To truly graduate, you not only have to kill, but sacrifice everyone else to do it. Upuupupupupu, how exciting."

Hearing that explanation made Makoto feel faint. How could this be happening, there was no way this could be real, it just couldn't. A reassuring hand squeezed her shoulder. Looking up, Makoto saw Sayaka giving her a confident smile. The idol was doing her best to reassure her best friend.

The next person to speak up is Kiyo, the ultimate ?. "So what do you mean by punished?" Monokuma looked at the blank-faced violet haired boy.

"Execution."

That was all the bear had to say. That one word silenced everyone with dread. This was worse than any of them could have imagined. To think that something like this could occur was beyond comprehension. It was too much, far too much. "Oh yea, I should tell you that each of you have been given a ehandbook. It's like a regular handbook but digital. All you have to do is push the button to turn it on." Makoto reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out a small screen. The others pulled theirs out too. "You might want to look over the rules on there. It would be a shame if someone ended up punished for accidentally breaking a rule." Turning on the ehandbook the first thing to appear was her name, Makoto Naegi. Once she found the regulations, Makoto saw a list of 10 rules. Rules 7-9 being about the class trial the bear had just explained. The last one simply stated that more rules may be added if necessary.

"Now I have one more thing to give to you all." The bear then hopped off the podium, landing in front of the students. "Here are your room keys; you're going to need them." After everyone was given their individual room key, the bear hopped back onto the podium. "Now no more questions, I hope you enjoy your new school life. Happy killings." With those parting words, Monokuma jumped behind the podium and vanished from sight. Mondo ran up the stage to look being the podium but of course, there was no trace of the self-proclaimed headmaster. "Damn it, I should have slugged that bear when I had a chance," Mondo exclaimed in anger. Considering that the fifth rule clearly prohibits attacking the 'headmaster' that most likely would have ended badly for the ultimate biker.

Everyone looked at each other, no one knowing what to do next. Makoto was starting to feel faint again. This really is just too much to handle. "There is no way anyone is killing anyone," the moral compass declared loudly, gaining everyone's attention once more. "If we are to survive this, we must work together and find a way to escape. I suggest split up into groups to investigate the school to find a way out." It wasn't a bad idea, it sounded quite reasonable to the luckster. Makoto could see that the moral compass was trying his best to take charge and keep everyone together in a calmly fashion. Leadership is definitely something the need right now, though a few didn't seem to like that. And by a few, Makoto means Byakuya and Mondo. The biker narrowed his eyes at Kiyotaka, "Who made you leader here. Why should we listen to you?" Kiyotaka seemed taken aback, surprised at being challenged so quickly.

And then to add fuel to the fire, the affluent prodigy just had to open his big mouth. "I had to say this, and I mean I really hate to say this, but, I must agree with the lug head over there. I have to reason to listen to a word to say." Mondo's narrowed eyes quickly turned into a furious glare, his focus switching to the heir who was so clearly looking down on everyone. "Who the hell are you calling a lug head?" Byakuya was unfazed by the murderous look being sent his way. The heir's only reaction was to snort in amusement. "If you can't figure it out for yourself, then it seems you are dumper then I first thought." That was the worst thing Byakuya could have said. Makoto could see a vein throbbing on Mondo's forehead, that wasn't a good sight. Makoto thought she heard Kiyotaka say something about no cursing, though no one seemed to have noticed for all focus was on the heir and biker.

"I have no intention of working with any of you, so if you'll excuse me, I will be searching for a way out alone." With that said, Byakuya turned on his heel to leave but didn't get very far. Mondo stamped forward roughly grabbing a fist full of the heir's shirt, pulling him closer in the process. "You're not going anywhere. Who the hell do you think you are, looking down on everyone like that?" Byakuya narrowed his own eyes, his blue eyes glaring like sheets of ice. "I know who I am, and it's better than any of you will ever be. Now let go of me this instant you muscle ape."

That seemed to have been the last straw, Mondo raised his free hand, which was balled into a fist, getting ready to punch the stuck up affluent prodigy right in his face. The smug look on Byakuya's face seemed to drop when he realized that Mondo might actually be serious about punching him. While a part of Makoto wanted to see Byakuya get his lights knocked out, she also didn't want to see the group fighting among each other. That would only give whoever it was behind this to get what they wanted. From the crowd of students around the luckster, several voices could be heard either encouraging the biker to punch the heir or telling them to stop it. The lucky student wanted to stop them from fighting, but there was no way she was putting herself between two guys that clearly looked like they were going to kill each other, she wasn't that brave. Luckily she didn't have to. Before Mondo's fist could make contact with Byakuya's classes, Kiyotaka jumped between the two pushing them apart. "Stop this bickering this instant. Fighting is not welcome in a school environment!" Most of the moral compass's yelling was directed at Mondo, whose rage has shifted to the white clad teen now in front of him.

Freed from the biker's hold, Byakuya wasted no time backing away from the situation. His smug look returning full force. Mondo tried his best to push Kiyotaka aside to get at Byakuya, but the hall monitor showed wasn't about to allow that, doing his best to keep them separated. "Get the hell out of my way." If Mondo had looked freighting before, it was nothing compared to right now. Kiyotaka stood his ground, "I will not, and profanity is not needed in this situation." For a split second, Makoto hoped that Mondo would back down, but that was only wishful thinking. There was no way that the bad-tempered biker gang leader would have done that.

"YOU SON OF A BITCH!" Before anyone had time to react, Mondo's fist slammed into the side of Kiyotaka head with enough force to send him crashing to the ground with a loud thud. While the black haired boy hadn't been sent flying, he did skid across the floor a few feet. Kiyotaka's head had hit the tiled floor when he landed, and he didn't seem to be getting back up. Loud gasps filled the air, many heads turning to look at Mondo with disbelief. Someone, possibly Aoi, let out a panicked, "Is he dead?" The biker looked away, his only defense being, 'he shouldn't have gotten in my way.'

Without thinking, Makoto ran to the hall monitor's side, shaking his shoulder. "Please wake up Taka," Makoto shortened his name without thinking, she just wanted him to wake up and prove that he was ok. It would be devastating to have a death and class trial on the first day. A low groan escaped past the boy's lips, his eyes twitching. Good, he was ok. Makoto looked up at everyone, who besides Mono seem relieved to see Kiyotaka hadn't died from the blow. Wait, there was someone missing. Looking around, Makoto realized that Byakuya must have slipped out of the gym during the commotion. So what, it's not like she cared about where that stuck up prick went anyway. That may not have been a nice thing to think, but hey, he wasn't nice anyway.

Without a word, Mondo left the gym to, heading who knows where. Makoto focused back on Kiyotaka who was already starting to regain consciousness. The hall monitor slowly pulled himself up into a sitting position, his left hand rubbing the newly forming bruise that was forming on his cheek. "I'm so glad you're ok Taka." Makoto said happily, still sitting on her knees right next to him. Noticing that everyone's attention was on him, Kiyotaka stood back up to his feet, "I am happy to see all of you were worried for my wellbeing. And to show my appreciation, I would like for everyone to call me by the nickname Makoto just gave me, Taka." Makoto felt her face flush; she hadn't seen that coming at all. Toko made a comment about how she hadn't been worried at all, but no one paid it any attention. Makoto felt the current group grow a little closer. Hopefully, that will be as bad as it gets.

Notes:

And there's chapter 3. thanks for reading and leave a review to let me know what you thought. Feedback is always appreciated.