We're off to a great start in this chapter. Everyone seems to have banded together(somewhat), and there are new parts of the school to explore. But will it last? Or is someone going to create new divides in the student body? Am I building up to something, or am I just trying to sound ominous for no real reason?
Enjoy this chapter to find out.
Chapter 8
That morning, I yawned as I stood in the gym, watching but not participating in Monokuma's little game. Just like the killing game, I suppose.
"Okay! Lift your arms up, and down!" He encouraged. "One, two, three, four!"
"One, two, three, four!" Taka repeated, who was the only one actually following Monokuma.
"Now reach waaay up, and bend waaay down! Tighten those muscles! Let's add a little strength and a little speed to those young bodies of yours!"
I haven't done any serious exercise since 2012. Then again, Danganronpa came out in 2010. I was dragged across dimensions, so why not time, too? I haven't really had a way to confirm the date, given that I'm trapped in a school with no calendars. Asking one of the students would probably make me look stupid. Either way, I wasn't about to start working my muscles at Monokuma's say-so.
"Ahh, doesn't this feel just great!?" Monokuma asked us, even those who weren't Taka. "Being stuck inside like this, you gotta make sure to stay healthy!"
"You're the o-one keeping us "stuck inside"..." Toko reminded him.
"Don't sweat the small stuff! That's my motto." Monokuma said coolly. As coolly as he is able, given we all hate him. "Whoa, I sounded pretty cool just now, don'tcha think? Did you fall in love with me? Am I just to die for? Am I just to die in writhing agony for?"
"So... why did you call us here?" Sakura asked. "Certainly it wasn't just to make us exercise..."
""Just" to make you exercise?" Monokuma repeated. "JUST to make you exercise!? If exercise makes you laugh, exercise will make you cry!" I'm pretty sure Sakura is the last person who needs that speech. "Now, if you keep doing these exercises, you will uncover the secret of the Assassin's Fist! Passed down from generation to generation in the empire of darkness... The power can be yours!" For just $19:99!
"That sounds like the kind of junk a middle schooler would come up with..." Hifumi said. If even Hifumi is dissing your weird Anime-power, you know it's lame.
Makoto stepped forward, as he always does. "It doesn't matter! Just get to the point. Did you really call us down here just to exercise?"
"Of course not!" Monokuma yelled. "You think I have that kind of free time on my hands!?"
"Okay, so then..."
"Ahh, I'd like to make an announcement!" He said, calming down. "Every time you overcome a class trial here as Hope's Peak, a whole new world will open up to you!"
"A whole new world...?" Hiro repeated. Someone call up Aladdin.
"It'd really suck if you had to live here forever with nothing new to stimulate you!" Monokuma explained. "Besides, I know how you kids get these days with your ADD and your ADHD. I gotta keep you motivated! So go ahead, look around all you want! Enjoy the brave new post-trial world till you explode!" Hopefully metaphorically, and not actually. With a blink, Monokuma was gone. Goddamnit.
"A new world...?" Makoto repeated. Do these kids need hearing-aids?
"Is he talking about... a way to get outside?" Hina wondered hopefully.
"That seems... unlikely." Celeste said.
"Well we don't know till we look!" Mondo decided.
"Whatever he meant, it seems we'll have to search the school one more time." Sakura deduced.
"Okay, then let's split up and start investigating!" Taka announced. "When you're done, everyone meet back up at the dining hall and we'll share what we found!"
"You're basically a one-trick pony, you know that?" Byakuya stated.
"More like a staple food source! Now let's get moving!" I'm not sure how comfortable I am comparing a pony with a food source. Actually, nevermind, I'm completely comfortable eating a pony. I'll eat anything non-sentient.
Anyway, Taka marched quickly out of the gym, with several students following him. Say what you want about him, but he was born to lead. Instead of grouping up like we did on the first day, everyone kinda just went their separate way. Rather than follow most people up to the second floor, I decided to check the rooms open on the first floor. The bathhouse, I'm not really too interested in, but the warehouse might actually have things I can use.
As I entered, I was slightly taken aback. Just like the school store, it's way more packed in person than it is in game. Shelves upon shelves, boxes upon boxes. Also, Taka was here.
"Al, I see you thought of searching this area, too." He observed. "Just look at it all! Food, clothes, anything we could ever need!"
"Except a way out..." I lamented. Still, I had to admit, there was more stuff in here than I probably owned back home. Towels, paper towels, laundry detergent, canned foods, sacks of vegetables and grain, and hundreds of cardboard boxes that aren't opened. Taka and I spent a few minutes walking between the shelves, taking stock of everything.
Unfortunately, I didn't spy any electronic parts, but my eyes landed on a shelf with some buckets on it. Simple plastic buckets, only big enough to hold about a gallon of liquid. I took one off the shelf.
"What are you planning to do with that?" Taka asked, with a slight accusatory tone.
I stared at him blankly. "Explain to me how this is dangerous in any way." I said, holding up the bucket. He didn't respond. "I just thought, since water's turned off at night, this might be useful. I could fill it with water every evening, just in case."
He nodded. "Right. It's always best to be prepared."
I glanced through the shelves, and spotted some plastic water bottles down the aisle. I walked over and plucked a few, dropping them in the bucket. "And I could keep some chilled drinks in the mean time." It might not sound that exciting, but I've been trapped in the school for days, working tirelessly on a near-hopeless device. I think I deserve some ice water.
Looking up, I noticed a rack of track suits. All different colours and sizes. I spotted the small, blue tracksuit that would become Chihiro's.
Taka must've picked up on my staring. "Are you planning on picking out a tracksuit?"
I considered it. I was out of shape, especially compared to some of the more physical Ultimates. But my main specialty was mental, both the physicist part, and knowing the future. Besides, this morning, Monokuma reminded me that I loathed physical activity. I shook my head. "Nah. Not today. Tell you what, I'm gonna go put this stuff in my room, then I'll come and search the second floor."
"Sounds good. I'll see you in the dining hall." He said as we split up.
And meet him at the dining hall I did. My search of the pool and the library didn't really reveal much I didn't already know. I still wasn't quite sure how the swimming pool could exist above the gymnasium, but maybe the Ultimate Architect came through one year and messed with everything.
I waved to Taka and the other students who were there as I sat down at the end of the table. Once everyone arrived, Taka began. "Okay, ladies and gentlemen! How'd it go? Did anyone discover any interesting new anything!?"
"There's a library!" Hifumi offered enthusiastically.
"And a pool! A freaking pool!" Hina exclaimed. "And locker rooms filled with exercise equipment!" Wow, we get cool things whenever someone dies? Mass murder time! Haha, gallows humour isn't really funny anymore.
"There was not, however, anything resembling an escape route." Sakura lamented.
"Yeah... she's right..." Makoto confirmed.
"Well hey, there's no reason to get all sulky!" Taka said. "Wait till you hear about my amazing discovery! The warehouse and bathhouse on the 1st floor of the dorms are now open! And the warehouse is chock-full of food, clothes, whatever you want! There's so much it's insane! So go ahead and stuff yourself to the gills whenever you feel like! Ha-ha-ha!"
"Keep in mind, of course, that going out at night is still prohibited. Please do not forget..." Celeste reminded.
"Okay, and what about a fuckin' way out of here?" Mondo asked. "You find anything like that?"
"Oh, well... umm..." Taka stuttered.
"There wasn't anything in the warehouse we could use to get our asses outta here?" Mondo pressed. "Nothin'?"
"U-Unfortunately, no... not that I saw..." Taka answered.
Mondo shook his head. "You fuckin' people... Who gives a shit if we have a goddamn pool now!? Or a warehouse, or whatever the fuck! We're still trapped in this piece of shit school! We need to find a goddamn way OUT!"
"Now now. There is no point in taking your anger out on us." Celeste said calmly. "Adaptation is the key, yes? For now we must each find a way to enjoy our current situation."
"Whatever you say, ya fuckin' loon..." Mondo said, turning from her.
"For now, let's just continue our investigation, and let everyone know if you should discover something." Taka said.
"So, are we done for today?" Kyoko asked, already getting up to leave.
"W-Well... yeah, I guess so." Taka decided. Everyone slowly left the dining hall.
I stayed up for the next hour, working on the teleporter. I finally started actually putting pieces together. I connected batteries from each device together, and had them all connected to the particle disperser from the raygun. Even though there wasn't any completely exposed wiring, I was still careful not to spill my ice water as I took a couple sips. That plastic bucket is really tying the room together. It's nice to have something in here that I can call my own.
The next morning, I was eating my typical breakfast sandwich in the dining hall. Recalling what the events of today should be, I wasn't too excited. Still, I would go along with it, and keep my head down, like usual. Eventually, Makoto entered the dining hall.
"Mornin', Makoto!" Hina greeted him with a wave.
"Good morning..." He greeted back. "Is everyone here already?"
"Nope!" Hiro said. "Still waitin' on Byakuya and Taka."
"Byakuya's no surprise, but it's strange Taka's not here yet..." Makoto said, looking around.
"Knowing Taka, I imagine he is trying to get the King of Tardiness up and out of bed." Celeste said with a light laugh.
"I'm sure they'll be here soon enough." Sakura assured. "Just be patient..."
"I don't mind waiting for them, but there is one problem..." Celeste said.
"Which is...?" Makoto asked.
"I am thirsty." Celeste said shortly. Knowing what was coming, I felt like just getting up and passing her my glass of milk, but I felt she wouldn't appreciate the gesture.
"How the hell is that a problem!?" Mondo asked.
She scanned the room until her eyes fell on the fanfic writer. "Hifumi, would you make me some tea?"
"...Huh?"
"Milk tea, if you please."
"Wh...why me?"
"You're roundish figure reminds me of the owner of the coffee shop I used to frequent." She explained. "I can feel my throat drying out. Quickly, please."
"O-Okay..." Hifumi gave up as he waddled to the kitchen. The rest of us continued our breakfast, and a few minutes later, Hifumi came back with a tray carrying a tea set. "Thank you for waiting!"
"Hmhmhm. Finally..." Celeste said, picking up a cup gracefully.
"You c-could've made some for the r-rest of us, you know..." Toko complained.
"I emphatically decline! You're not my type at all!" He basically yelled, as if it didn't make his sound like an ass. "Hmhm... it's all about the law of causality, basic instinct, act and react!"
"Well then, if you don't mind..." Celeste smiled as she delicately brought the cup to her face. "...Wait." She cocked her head to the side, with a weird look on her face. She spun around and threw the cup at the wall with powerful force. With a loud crash, glass and tea flew everywhere.
"What the-!?" Hifumi started. "H-Hey! What are you doing, my little white rabbit!?"
"I HATE this kind of tea!" She answered.
"U-Umm... I don't understand..."
"Imagine we are at a coffee shop- just any normal, everyday cafe. I sit down, and I order some tea. They then ask me, "Would you like lemon, or milk?" Now, further imagine that I replied, "Ah, yes, I would like milk tea, please." In this case, along with my tea they may bring me a small container of milk, yes? But this is not for me! I am among those who prefer the milk to be part of the process from the outset! The fragrance is just so overwhelmingly sweet that way... Adding milk or lemon right before you drink is like dousing your fries in ketchup- mere condiments! Whenever looking for a cafe, I first review their menu to see if it offers the proper style of milk tea. And I cannot acknowledge any "milk tea" that does not add the milk during the brewing process!" Man, I do enjoy story time with auntie Celeste.
"Umm... I went to all that trouble to make you that tea... and you wanted me to go even farther?" Hifumi asked once he got his jaw off the floor.
"Yes, I realize it can be a bit of a hassle..." She admitted. "Even in cafes that offer proper milk tea, it is always more expensive than simple tea with milk. It takes more time to prepare, surely, but... why even bother creating a menu if you are not going to offer the highest level of quality!?" Someone should tell her about fast food.
"Well, um... we don't actually have a menu..." Hifumi pointed out.
"That does not matter." Celeste asserted, her accent slipping. She quickly jumped out of her seat and violently jerked her finger at Hifumi's face. "Hurry up and bring me what I asked for, swine!"
"WHAAAAAT!? O-Okay! Your little piggy will bring it right out!" Hifumi dashed back into the kitchen.
Everyone else continued to stare at Celeste as she gracefully sat back down. "Hmhm. I do so love coercion."
Hina blinked at her. "You were like... a totally different person just now."
"Yeah, shit... You really went psycho there." Mondo agreed.
"Whatever happened to that "adaptability" talk?" I asked with a smirk. Celeste could only chuckle at our shared reactions.
Just then, the doors flew open, and Taka finally arrived. Byakuya was nowhere in sight, and Taka looked worried. "Bad news, everyone! There is a mystery afoot!"
"Huh? What happened?" Hiro asked.
"It would seem Byakuya refuses to leave his room!" Taka said. "I stood there pressing his doorbell over and over, but he never showed himself."
"Maybe he just... wasn't there." Makoto suggested.
"I'd like to think so, but I'm worried something might've happened to him." When he said that, everyone exchanged uneasy looks. Eh, who cares about Byakuya anyway, he's a dick.
...Alright, fine. I don't want him dead, either.
"I-it might be a good idea if we all split up and go look for him." Makoto said.
"Ah! I was just about to suggest the same thing!" Taka agreed.
"Stop trying to one-up e-everyone..." Toko said.
"Okay, then I'll go check his room one more time." Hina said, rising from her seat. "I'm just gonna keep hammering that button till I get a response!"
"Very well, then the rest of us can go check the rest of the building." Sakura said.
"Yeah. Before it's, y'know... too late." Hiro hesitated.
Leaving the dining hall, we all split up. I strolled around the school, trying to look like I was taking this seriously. Usually, things are hard to time using my game knowledge. In the game, narrations can just say how long something took, but I actually have to live through it in my experiences. I tried to time my search so that I'd be on the second floor when Makoto found Byakuya. Sure enough, as I was climbing the staircase, I heard Makoto shout, and quickened my pace to get to the library. Several others arrived at about the same time.
"Byakuya! So this is where you've been hiding!" Taka shouted.
"The heck are you doin' here, man?" Hiro asked.
"We were very concerned..." Sakura said.
"Well you had no reason to be." Byakuya said condescendingly. "I was just reading. I've never read such a... coarse novel before, but it might just prove useful at some point."
"Wh-What were you reading?" Hina asked.
"A mystery novel."
"W-Wait, so are you gonna use what you're learning in there to betray us!?" Hifumi gasped.
"Don't be stupid."
"Yeah!" Makoto quickly pitched in.
"It's just something to keep in mind."
"Yea-what?" Makoto asked, his face falling.
"If I decide to fight, of course I'll come up with something original." Byakuya said. "Otherwise, this game of ours will be totally boring, right? It's not often you get to take part in such a high-stakes, high-tension activity. So if you're going to do it, you have to make sure it's entertaining. Mhmhmhm..."
"What the fuck do you mean, "game"!?" Mondo roared. "That's fucked up!"
"But it is a game." Byakuya asserted. "It's a game of life and death, which can have only one winner. That's all there is to it."
"He is right." Celeste agreed. "It's a zero-sum game. It is a part of game theory, a mathematical model. In game theory, what we are going through now is a "zero-sum game." In this type of game, in order for one person to gain something, another must necessarily lose something. In other words, it is a situation in which participants must compete for position or resources."
"You mean like... a kind of elimination match." Sakura said.
"Entrance exams, sports tournaments, job openings- most social interactions fall under this category." Celeste continued. "Everyone must scramble to obtain something which is limited. For you to succeed, someone else must fail. This also applies to the school life we have been subjected to here. In this case... our "limited resource" is that only one of us can successfully become the blackened."
"So, this game was designed from the very beginning to force one of us to try and defeat all the others." Byakuya said.
"Th-That... that can't be what they had in mind!" Makoto argued. Um, I think it's pretty obvious that it is, though.
"This is why adaptation is so crucial." Celeste claimed. "If those who want to escape were to disappear, there would be no reason to continue playing the game."
"But why would I want to stop playing? It's so much fun..." Byakuya said with a twisted smile.
"It sounds as if you do not acknowledge even the possibility that you may lose, am I right?" Celeste asked.
"Of course." He answered shortly.
"You do not speak like the others." She noted. "Exactly what I would expect from the Togami heir apparent."
"...It's just normal arrogance, isn't it?" Hiro said.
"You talk like that, but what if you end up dead!?" Hina asked Byakuya.
"I won't." He said. "It simply isn't possible."
"Who the fuck do you think you are!?" Mondo asked what was on everyone's minds.
"You know, I still just can't believe it..." Byakuya said, slowly shaking his head.
"Believe what!?"
"That an uneducated, brain-dead, useless piece of garbage like you has survived this long."
"I'm gonna fuckin' kill you!" The biker threatened.
"Like I said. I won't die."
Hiro shook his head. "You keep saying that, but-"
"Do not bother arguing with him." Celeste warned. "For him, the concept of losing simply does not exist. He is the Ultimate Affluent Progeny, after all- a boy raised to succeed from the day he was born. He considers victory his destiny, and has lived his life accordingly. Tests and challenges are simply ways for him to stand victorious. Even if it is a life-or-death situation... Is that not so, Byakuya?"
"At least one of you seems to understand."
"It is because I am the same as you. Games are meant to be won."
Byakuya sighed, frustrated. "Are you trying to suggest we're on the same level? Close that vulgar mouth of yours."
"Well, well. I do apologize."
"Anyway, let me just say this to all of you." Byakuya said. "You all need to try harder. If an opponent isn't going to give it their best, where's the fun for me?" Oh, well, we wouldn't want to spoil your fun, sir.
"Th-That's a terrible way to look at it..." Chihiro cried.
"Hmm?"
"This... isn't a game." Chihiro asserted. "Our lives are on the line, you know... To kill your own friends is... is... It's horrific!"
"Friends?" Byakuya repeated. "Who decided that?"
"...Huh?"
"We're not friends. No, quite the opposite. We're in competition- we're enemies."
"B-But... you know..." She hesitated.
"But what? Stop trying to force your contradictions on me and just accept what I'm telling you."
"U-Um..."
"Yes? If you have something to say, say it. Otherwise, keep your mouth closed." Byakuya said, turning away from her.
Chihiro stood there, trying to think of what to say. Eventually, she just quietly said "... I-I'm sorry..."
Mondo stepped forward. I did, too, but I wasn't sure what I was gonna do. Still, I was Chihiro's friend, and I did hate Byakuya's attitude, so it would be stupid for me to sit out of this.
"Hey, shithead!" Mondo growled. "You get off on bullying people that can't fight back? You wanna try that on me!?"
"So, you're back to pretending to be friends, huh? And how long do you think that's going to last?"
"Fuck you!"
"Is that all you can say? It's unfortunate you would waste your breath of such empty gibberish."
"That's it! You're fuckin' dead!" Mondo cracked his knuckles as he got up in Byakuya's face.
"H-Hold on! Just calm down!" Hina got between them.
"I AM calm!" Mondo calmly shouted.
"How is this "calm"!?" Hina asked.
"Anyway... I don't have any intention of working with the rest of you any longer." Byakuya repeated. "To cooperate during an elimination game is... Well, frankly, it's a waste of time. And I hate wasting my time."
"Waste of time...?" Makoto repeated.
"Engaging in "friendly" group meals is out of the question. Someone could easily poison our food. And I'd rather not become part of the Last Supper just yet."
"Quit talking like you're in a fuckin' movie or something!" Mondo fumed.
"All I'm saying is that, ultimately, you are all free to do whatever you want on your own. Goodbye." He walked out of the room, without sparing anyone a passing glance. We all stared after him, with varying degrees of anger and confusion. No one here could really understand the way he thought. Except for me.
Well, I'll never understand him, but I knew what made him tick. As the others started talking again, I left the library. A few of the others took note, and even called after me, but I didn't listen to any of them. I glanced down the hall, and saw Byakuya heading toward the staircase, as smooth and silent as a shadow.
"Hey!" I called after him as I quickened my pace. He kept going, with no change to his movements at all. "Did you hear me, asshole, or are you ignoring me?"
He stopped, and turned toward me, looking very frustrated. "I was trying to ignore your inane yelling. What, are you here to echo your friend's pitiful sentiments?"
Ouch. What I wanted was for him to stop being such a dick. Problem is, Byakuya doesn't work with emotions. He likes statistics, numbers, logic. I kept my anger down. "No. You said that working together during an elimination game is a waste of time, but I don't think that's true." He folded his arms and gave me a look that said "oh, please," but I ignored him. "Surely someone like you can understand the importance of alliances."
"Sure, but this game is different." He said. "It's not like we're sitting around a campfire, counting votes for who has to leave. Elimination in this game means death. And, like I said, I won't die."
"Okay. But when you go around, talking about how easy it is for you to kill people, no one's going to trust you. And when they don't trust you, you're gonna be the most likely suspect if you actually do kill someone. Whether or not you are the killer, getting voted off will lead to your death."
"It doesn't matter how imbecilic you all are, I won't just let you all vote wrong and kill me with your stupidity. I'll solve the case all by myself, if I have to."
"Oh, well, it's good that you just decided not to be wrong."
"Are we done here?"
I took a deep breath. I wasn't too sure what to say to him. "I'm trying, very hard, to be civil, and to keep everyone alive." He raised an eyebrow slightly at my wording, but said nothing. "You're making this a lot harder than it needs to be."
"Well, tough. Life is hard. Not that someone like you would understand that." He spun on his heels, and continued walking to the stairs. "So quit whining, and leave me alone." A moment later, I was standing alone in the hallway, alone, fuming. I had tried talking Byakuya down a peg, and in the end, got my ass verbally kicked. The darker parts of my mind wished that he'd get killed. The more logical parts of my mind told me that was a bad thing. I hated fighting with me.
I decided, now that it was free-time, to return to my work. Now that the bathhouse was opened up, I had the perfect place to work on my teleporter, without worrying about the mastermind breathing down my neck. After relocating my parts and tools, I sat in there, with no cameras or monitors, using a bench as a substitute desk, alone. It was the same as when I was working before the class trial, but back then I was fine with having some alone time. Now, after spending so much time with the rest of the class, I was feeling kinda lonely.
Eh, I'll have plenty of opportunity to be overwhelmed later. There's still twelve other people here, and the building isn't large enough to have us spread out too much. Even if I didn't want them around, I'm kinda stuck with my fellow classmates. Besides, it's not like anyone else is going to die, right? Right? God, I hope I can save them all.
I really hope so.
Heh, yeah, Byakuya's a dick. But it's okay, because he probably, maybe, hopefully won't kill anyone. Albert's also getting more involved. Maybe he can actually change things. I should stop trying to foreshadow things.
In the next chapter, more things will happen, and everyone will be great friends.
