I woke up the next morning. Honestly, I hadn't expected to wake up here. I had felt as if this was all a bad dream, a nightmare from which I could escape with a little rest and recuperation. Obviously that had not been the case, as the TV from the room opposite screamed out as I woke.

"RISE AND SHINE SLEEPYHEADS, WE'VE GOT ANOTHER FUN-FILLED DAY OF CAMP AHEAD OF US! THE NIGHT IS NOW OVER, AND THE MORNING HAS BEGUN!" Monokuma said through the television. Truth be told, I hoped I'd never get used to that alarm. Everyone who wasn't already awake was surely awake now. I rolled to the side, and pulled myself up from the sheets I had grown comfortable lying in. Usually, I probably would have sat there a little longer contemplating some matter of importance, but the day felt pressing, and I needed to embrace it and ready myself for it. I clambered down the fragile ladder, and headed to the lounge where all the other occupants of the dormitory had gathered, most of them in their pyjamas. As I entered the lounge, the television still played the fake-newscast that aired secrets. Apparently it was about me now. I decided not to listen in too closely, for fear of hearing an incriminating story of some kind.

"Alright, we should probably head across for breakfast," Taro said. "Apparently according to what Kenji and I heard, Hisoka's prepped a cooking team consisting of Daigo and Leiko."

"Don't they... seem like a bad combination?" I asked.

"That's what I would've thought as well," Taro said. "However, Hisoka insisted that she had been most reasonable."

"That in itself seems suspicious," Kenji said. "Her? Reasonable?"

"You're just mad because she insulted your hat," I replied.

"And I have fair reason to be," Kenji retorted. "Geez, who insults a man's hat,"

"Relax, just chill out," Chizuko said. He was yawning, and obviously still tired, but hid it well with a cool demeanour and a sense of suave. "I'm sure she didn't mean it personally, just like people don't mean it personally when they insult my lucky hammer. They just don't understand, you know? They don't understand the connection behind it."

"That hammer's broken Chizuko, it's not even useful any more," Mayu said. "And aren't you pretty far from a yacht, Kenji? Why are you still wearing that?"

"I only came here with one outfit," Kenji said.

"Take off the god-damned hat then, you don't need it," Samuru replied.

"Hey, I like it!" Kenji said. "Don't push your lacklustre fashion expectations onto me."

"This is getting way too heated for a discussion over a hat," Jitsuko interjected. "Who cares anyway? Let's have breakfast in peace."

I hadn't even noticed Jitsuko. She was a hard woman to miss, that was for sure, but somehow I'd still gone and done a damn good job of it. She was wearing her lycra already, and looked as if she was more prepared to embrace her situation than any of the others here. The first step toward greatness is getting dressed in the morning, after all. Maybe that was some advice I should've taken on board myself.

"Yeah, I agree," I said. "Let's go."

Kiyoshi nodded, and everyone else agreed. With that, we left for the dining hall. The other two groups were headed over at the same time. We exchanged pleasantries, and entered the dining hall. There, Leiko and Daigo had readied a table with twenty-four places, each with two slices of toast and a small portion of omelette. Toppings such as butter and jam were found in the centre of the table. Leiko and Daigo had certainly gone all-out with the preparations, I wondered how Hisoka had motivated that pair to work together in synergy?

I seated myself up the opposite end of the table this time, closer to Hisoka. I wanted to get a chance to talk to him, and now was a better chance than never. It wasn't as if we had pre-allocated seats anyway. I sat opposite Hisoka on the second seat from the end. On either side of me was Erika and Sora, with Erika sitting on the edge of the table and Sora sitting closer to the centre. On Hisoka's side, he was accompanied by Noriko to one side, and an empty place on the other, with Noriko seated closer to the centre. I presume that empty place was for one of the two kitchen staff: either Daigo or Leiko. I introduced myself to Hisoka, and after a while, we got a little better acquainted.

Surely enough, after some time Daigo sat next to Hisoka. As far as I could see, he looked perfectly healthy and in his regular state of mind. Leiko hadn't pulled anything. Huh?

"Hisoka, how did you do that?" I asked.

"Do what?" He replied.

"Get her to stop being... her?" I answered. "Usually she's all over anybody else who's a dude, so why hasn't Daigo returned looking like a bat-out-of-hell?"

"Because I made a promise with her," Hisoka said.

"What sort of promise?" I said. "Somehow this sounds more sinister than it should be..."

"I offered to be her wingman of course," Hisoka said.

With that, I almost spat out the omelette I had been chewing, and forced it back into my mouth as my body tried to gag it up. I was at a complete loss.

"Her wingman?" I said. "What, so you want to help her in her weird exploits? She's a locksmith, and she's a pervert. She probably developed that talent just so she could spy on you guys in the change rooms, you know?"

"I don't think so actually," Hisoka replied. "Truth be told, I'm rooting for her."

"And next... you'll be rooting her!" Leiko said across the table. Turns out she had still got a seat a couple down from Hisoka, and had managed to listen in on the discussion.

"Heh, that was a good one," Hisoka said. "Up top!"

The two high-fived. This was the most bizarre show I had ever seen, but truth be told, Leiko looked happy. Perhaps this was advantageous to us after all.

"So, why go through this for her?" I asked.

"Because we all need to work together, after all," Hisoka said. "We can't just have some people being shunned to a corner and excluded, we have to work as a team against all of this! Look, I know she seems like an oddball, but we all have our idiosyncrasies: we can't afford to let them divide us at this point."

"You know, Hisoka, you have a real admirable commitment to all of this," I replied.

"I suppose, I just wish I had've committed to something while I wasn't in a death-game," Hisoka said, sighing.

"Well, I find myself in agreement with Hisoka about excluding people," Daigo said. "I think his actions today have proved that he is certainly capable of doing the unthinkable."

"Thank you, Daigo," Hisoka said. "Well, truth be told, I'm only as good as the people who are deciding to work with me. If nobody wanted to cooperate, it'd be useless. I think, deep in their hearts, everybody trusts one another slightly."

"That worries me, you know?" Noriko said. "After all, Monokuma did say there was a traitor in our midst. If that's the case, won't that throw a real spanner in the works with the whole community vibe you've created?"

"You don't have to worry about that," Sora said. "There's no doubt that Monokuma was lying about that, he just wants us to distrust one another, after all."

"I think you're right, Sora," Hisoka said. "And I hope you're right as well, with all of my being."

"Should there be a traitor in our midst, we should have little trouble finding them," Erika said. "They are bound to slip up somewhere. I will protect everyone until that point. I do not intend... to lose anymore."

The rest of breakfast continued for another fifteen minutes, after which I left the kitchen. I had a meaningful conversation with the others in that time, but now I had plenty of time to spare. I first headed back to my room, where I found both Kiyoshi and Mayu. I sat on my bed for a while, but I couldn't just sit around all day after all. I had free time now, I should use it.


FREE TIME


I left my dormitory, and headed out. I wandered around the central courtyard for a bit, and stared up into the sky once more. After a while, I noticed Sora staring at what looked to be a ladybug on the concrete near the main building. As I approached, he stared up at me. "Oh, sorry, I just found her inside and I figured I'd try and let her out," he said. "You need something?"

I decided I'd hang out with Sora a little, and help him with the ladybug. It was a little tedious at times, but somewhat fun, and I felt a little like a good samaritan for helping out. While we worked together, Sora asked me something.

"Hey Hitomi," Sora asked. "What's your life like outside of here?"

"My life outside of here?" I replied quizzically. "It's pretty good, I mean, I'm going to one of the most prestigious schools in the country."

"Fair enough," Sora said. "How were you going with school, before all this?"

"I was going alright, nothing remarkable though," I replied. "Really though, there was always too much pressure at Tsubaki to be the next child prodigy. The school was a little unreasonable, hey?"

"Yeah, I can agree with you on that," Sora said. "Tsubaki sure was unreasonable, but it doesn't compare to this twisted place."

"Hey, what was Tsubaki like for you?" I asked.

"Well, I was never exactly a stellar student, but my music teachers always thought I was pretty great," Sora said. "My ability was nothing to rival the Ultimate Conductor herself, but then again, no one was going to say that to me anyway."

"The Ultimate Conductor?" I asked. "I've heard that title around, but never really heard much about her. Did you meet her?"

"A couple of times," Sora replied. "I never really took a liking to her. She was rude to everyone, and seemed to look down on the entire music department."

"Why would they put up with her then?" I asked. "I thought the purpose of the Ultimate Initiative was to scout talented students who would inspire and aid the student cohort?"

"I think they saw something in her, perhaps," Sora said. "Honestly, I think she would've warmed up eventually. It's just... I wish I had what she had."

"What? A superiority complex and a small baton?" I replied.

"No, uh... how do I phrase this... Ugh! I'm lost for words!" He exclaimed.

"Don't worry about it," I said. "You've got one thing she'll never have. Actual friends."

"I... suppose you've got a point," Sora said. "Thanks, Hitomi. You're a nice girl."

"Thank you as well, Sora!" I replied. "If we all get out of here, we'll show her."

"I think you mean when," Sora replied, smiling a little.

"Yeah, when..." I replied, smirking back at him. I feel like my bond with Sora grew deeper today. After I finished, I headed back to my room. It looked like I still had some time left in the day, I might as well use it.


FREE TIME


I exited my room, and headed out over to the lake. There were a few people over there, including Leiko and Yamato, but I noticed Yona in particular. She was staring down at that empty family tree, with only her name written on it. After a while, she noticed me and stared back. "Oh, it's just you," she said. "What do you want?"

I decided I'd hang out with Yona, and together we tried to work out the mystery of the empty family tree. The truth was, we made absolutely no headway with our theories, but throwing ourselves at the challenge helped us to see eye to eye a little.

"So Yona," I asked. "Why are you trying to keep your distance from me?"

"Do I have to ask a question like that?" Yona replied.

"Well, I wouldn't mind an answer," I said. "But you don't have to."

"Well then I won't," Yona said. She seemed relatively adamant about it. "Don't take it personally though, it's not you."

"Well, do you mind if I ask what it is then?" I said.

"I'd rather not," Yona said. "Truth be told, I don't trust others. Let's just leave it at that."

"So, why not?" I said. "Surely there's a reason for it?"

"I just don't like to put my faith in people," Yona said. "It's proven a wise choice in the past."

"In the past?" I asked. "What happened?"

"I suppose it's another story for another time, but I suppose it's the story of how I ended up here in the first place," Yona said. "It's not a pretty story either."

"So, how could something that happened to give you a place at Tsubaki manage to be bad?" I asked.

"Look, stop concerning yourself with it, alright?" Yona stated. "I'm trying to avoid all that now. Just leave it be."

"Alright," I replied. "Provided you leave it behind, and try and work together with all of us,"

"Work together?" Yona asked. "Would you just forget your past so everyone could work as a team?"

"I think anyone in this situation would try," I replied. "Truth is, the past can be painful. Looking back on it can help us avoid mistakes, but dwelling on it too much is a mistake in itself. Just relax a little."

"I'll try," Yona replied. I feel like my bond with Yona grew deeper today. I wandered back to my room after that.


Evening struck. I decided to head down to the kitchen for dinner, which Yamato and Jitsuko volunteered to prepare according to Samuru, who was hanging around the dormitory. Samuru was watching the television, apparently too engrossed in everyone's gossip and secrets to notice the time. Most of the others had already left by this point.

"Come on, Samuru," I said. "We have to go!"

"Shh, I'm watching this," he replied. I tuned in myself to see what it was about.

"Hisoka Arai, the next in line of the artistic and scholarly talents of the Arai family! Just another of the twenty-four Tsubaki students who had disappeared from the academy seemingly without a trace. Interestingly enough, did you know that in the days leading up to his disappearance, Hisoka Arai had already been planning an escape? Using his accrued funds from his savings, Hisoka put down a deposit on an apartment near the red-light district, and intended to live out the remainder of his life away from Tsubaki! Oh, and how about this cutie as well - you know, Kumi Himura! Another one of the tragic victims of the disappearances, who had also been planning on doing a runner. For whatever reason though, mysteriously, Kumi disappeared before she could even grab her things. There was a bag, packed and ready for her to run away from the world, and on the night she was supposed to grab it she never returned home. Spooooky, huh? Tune in for more Mono-News right after this quick commercial break!

Have you ever felt like there isn't enough brutal murder in your life? Well, now you can catch the entirety of Miracle Danganronpa 9: Despair's Counterattack on Blu-Ray and DVD, featuring yours truly!"

At this point, I'd had enough. I tuned out of the Monokuma Broadcast. "Samuru, we have to leave," I said. "Everyone's waiting on us."

He begrudgingly agreed, standing from his position and heading to dinner. I thought about what I had seen on the television though. Kumi and Hisoka had tried to run away in the days leading up to our capture? From what? Was there something the pair of them had been trying to escape, or were their home lives simply the cause? Why? I couldn't understand it, but in honesty there probably was a reason for them running away. Still, if those were the sorts of things revealed on the second day...

...It made you wonder what would be revealed on the seventh.

I entered the dining hall, and took a seat. Together, we feasted on Omurice. As it turned out, neither Jitsuko nor Yamato were particularly good at cooking, but the result was alright enough to be considered edible. I didn't comment, nor did anyone else, but we were all in silent agreement. Yamato emerged from the kitchen after a while: it was then we noticed.

"What's with the hat?" I asked.

"I like wearing it, and I just got it from the inventory room," he replied. The moss green fisherman's bucket hat he wore did not suit the rest of his outfit, and looked incredibly out of place. With Goro, Kenji, and now Yamato, the room was beginning to look like a hat appreciation club. It was seven o'clock at night, why did he need a bucket hat anyway?

"It appears rather out-of-place, I must admit," Daigo said. "Although I suppose it is unacceptable to deride a man's choice in headwear."

"I think it looks alright..." Hoshi said.

"See?" Yamato interjected. "Hoshi liked it."

"...for a retiree," Hoshi concluded. "Not for a teenager." She laughed a little. It was kind of cruel, but still hilarious.

"Ugh, who cares," Yamato replied. "I'm allowed to wear whatever hat I like, aren't I? Goro hasn't got any comments about his hat, and look at it! The brim sticks out across his shoulders!"

"Don't worry about them," Kenji said. "Us hat-wearers have to stick together."

Yamato took a seat, and began to dig into the Omurice. He was visibly disappointed by it as well. Maybe he knew that his cooking skills were that bad, and hoped a situation like this might help him out a little, but the truth cut deep. For the rest of the evening, we ate dinner in relative silence. After that, I returned to my room, and headed to sleep. I suppose I was still troubled by this whole evening, and this whole place in general. Maybe I should've ask Hisoka about what I saw on the television? I don't know, maybe I'll get a chance tomorrow. I'll do it in the morning. I felt a tap on my arm, and turned to face the direction of the person who had tapped it. It was Kiyoshi. It was too dark to see the note paper she was holding up, but I could guess what it said from the few words I could see.

"You can't get to sleep?" I asked.

Kiyoshi nodded in response, and erased the notepaper.

"Well, I suppose the best way I found to get to sleep is a nice warm cup of cocoa before bed. It helps to calm the nerves a little," I said. "Think of it as my own personal remedy."

I got up from the bed, and headed into the kitchenette with Kiyoshi. I made her a glass of hot chocolate with the powder in the drawer, and that was when I noticed it.

"This... is a new tub of chocolate?" I said. "Where'd the old one go?"

Kiyoshi wrote something down on the notepad. "We finished it on the first day, it was really good!" the notepad read.

"That is fair, but if we finished it, who put this new one here - and when did they put it here?" I asked. "Was someone here while we were asleep, or was there some way for them to deliver supplies without our knowledge?"

Kiyoshi thought about it for a while, but didn't respond.

"Well, we'll check it out in the morning, but for now we've got to get some hot chocolate," I said. I heated up a glass of water, stirred the chocolate in, and added a dash of milk. I then gave it to Kiyoshi. She nodded thankfully, and smiled, then sat on the couch for a bit. The Mono-News was still playing, but she wasn't paying any attention to it. She just drank the cocoa while staring out the window, smiled, then returned to bed. I could've swore I heard her say something as she headed to bed.

"Thank you, Hitomi!" I thought I heard her say.

I hadn't at the time thought she had said anything at all. In reality, hearing her voice was something I thought was simply impossible. I headed to bed, climbed up the ladder, and tucked myself back in. "Goodnight," I said to no one in particular, and went to sleep.


MONOKUMA THEATRE

I've got angels on my side, you know? Ones who care about me and all that?

Really, isn't the person with angels always the good guy? I mean, there's no way you can fault angels.

There's no way God can be the Villain, and if I have his angels on my side, then I must be good. That's all there is to it.

That's why I have angels: because they believe in me, and they are pious angels through and through.

I don't believe in God, but my angels believe I am God, and I believe I'm an angel.

There's no way you can fight a good samaritan, is there?

They haven't done anything wrong, they never do.