Can you read me? This is your Headmaster, Monokuma! Welcome to the official halfway episode of the Ultimate Despair Purgatory. I hope you're all enjoying watching these bastards act irritatingly chipper despite the fact they're dead, because I'm not! There's not nearly enough despair here for my tastes.
Upupu... Which leaves me with one option. I'll have to increase my viewing enjoyment by adding some despairingly luck-based party games...
Haah-! Six students are dead already... Two more, and 50% of the cast will be in here. Won't that be a crowd? Monokuma out!
Haruna: Reeeeeeei!
Rei: ...
Haruna: About freakin' time another girl showed up! It's a party now!
Rei: Excuse me, but...
Rei: Do I know you?
Haruna: Y... You forgot about me?
Kioshi: Sucker. Looks like trying to be memorable isn't working so well for you.
Rei: Eh? Another one...
Rei: Where are all these characters coming from?
Kioshi: ...
Kioshi: Okay, I can understand forgetting about the victim... but I was a culprit! You know, the guy who died back in case one?
Rei: ...
Rei: Oh, I'm so sorry! I remember now.
Rei: Ehehe... It's been a while.
Takao: Heh. Not for all of us.
Rei: Oh, hello! It's good to see you again.
Kioshi: Hey... didn't you kill him just before?
Rei: Yes. What about it?
Kioshi: Right. Just checking we're on the same page because, uh... that was a very casual greeting.
Haruna: Never mind that! You sure had a flashy execution, Rei!
Haruna: Makes me wish I killed someone. Then I could have gone out in style!
Ichigo: It was good, but... I'm not sure which execution I like best.
Kioshi: Mine, obviously. It was thematic AND had a retro game reference.
Shunari: Dude, you didn't even die on screen. I think my execution nailed it.
Kioshi: If by 'it', you mean 'the english language'. To a tree.
Shunari: Hey, back off. Your execution name had a pun in it too.
Kioshi: Yeah, but at least it contained real words.
Shunari: W-well... we shouldn't even be using the names as some kind of measure for how good it was!
Upupu... Just wait until they see the next execution I have in store.
Haruna: Oi, shut your mouth! This is our time!
Oops... my mistake. I'll be quiet now.
Haruna: Thank you. Jeez...
Hey, wait a sec! You bastards can hear me? Since when?
Haruna: Since the start... you mean you didn't realise?
O-of course I didn't realise! Why didn't you say something earlier!?
Kioshi: We just assumed you liked talking to yourself.
Ichigo: Is now really a good time? This is getting a bit too meta, even for this section.
Hmph. Fine, fine...
Ichigo: Huh? He left something behind.
Shunari: Is that... a video game?
Ichigo: Oh... it's Mario Party.
Kioshi: You heard what he said, right? Luck-based party game.
Haruna: It's about time we got some new entertainment around here. Let's play!
Ichigo: Yeah, count me out. I've never been a lucky person.
Shunari: That's so boring, man. It's 4 player!
Ichigo: ... There's 6 people here, you know. What about Rei and Takao?
Takao: I'll pass, I think. It's pretty obvious bait for whatever he wants. Despair, wasn't it?
Haruna: Probably... But what do you expect us to do, not play it?
Haruna: How about you, Rei? Wanna play with us?
Rei: Me...?
Kioshi: If you go first, then you can come play with us while Takao does his thing. It'll be more fun with four people.
Rei: Um, are you sure you want me? I don't really play games much...
Haruna: Aw, don't worry. It'll be fun, trust me!
Rei: A-alright then. Let's do it.
=== FREE TIME! ===
:==:| Art Room
-Rei-
Kuroda: Hello, Rei.
Rei: G-good morning. Are you here to do some painting as well?
Kuroda: I just came in to say hi... but I suppose it couldn't hurt.
Rei: Come sit down, then. I could use an opinion once I finish this picture, too...
We spent some time working on our separate art projects. In the end, I just doodled on some paper...
Rei: We've been in here for a while now...
Rei: I've been thinking about what would happen if we can't escape.
Kuroda: That's a little depressing, isn't it?
Rei: But it got me thinking. Is Tsuki doing okay without me...?
Rei: I think, if I ever forgot what she looked like... That's the thing I'm most afraid of.
Kuroda: Tsuki... That's your horse, isn't it?
Rei: Y-you remembered...? I'm impressed!
Rei: Anyway, I can still clearly picture Tsuki... so I wanted to make a painting to preserve my memory of her.
She rotated the easel as she talked, presenting the picture she had been working on to me. It was of a horse - presumably Tsuki.
Kuroda: (This painting... is extremely lifelike.)
Kuroda: That's pretty amazing. You're really good at painting.
Rei: O-oh, no. I can't really draw anything except horses, you see.
Rei: Whenever I couldn't be out horse riding, I'd just draw them instead.
Rei: It's a bit sad, isn't it? My life basically revolves around horses...
Rei: But I can't help it. They're such amazing animals.
Kuroda: I don't think it's sad at all! The opposite, actually.
Kuroda: It's good to have something you can be passionate about.
Rei: Y-you really think so?
Rei: Mmm... I guess it isn't so bad, if you look at it that way...
Rei: T-thank you, Kuroda. It was nice to talk to you.
Kuroda: (Leaving her painting to dry, Rei left the art room.)
Kuroda: (I think we understand each other a bit better now.)
Haruna: Finally! Come on, let's get started!
Rei: Y-yes!
Ichigo: Have fun... I guess.
Takao: Shall we get started?
:==:| Kitchen
-Takao-
Takao: Hello, Kuroda.
Kuroda: Hey... Are you cooking something?
Takao: Oh, just a family recipe. Want to help out?
We talked for a while as Takao cooked. He was doing most of the work, so I only made a token effort to help out.
Kuroda: It's coming along nicely, I think. Do you do this a lot?
Takao: Not really... it's too time consuming. I was here for at least three hours before you showed up.
Kuroda: What!? That recipe must be pretty involved...
Takao: Yes, quite. Estimated cooking time was about an hour, I believe.
Kuroda: Wait... an hour?
Kuroda: (He's been cooking for four hours... Is this guy for real?)
Takao: Don't look so shocked. I always take things at my own pace.
Takao: I have to, or I'm never happy with my work.
Kuroda: (Now I think about it, he's been very exact about cutting up the ingredients...)
Kuroda: Uh... is this how fast you work as a doctor, too?
Takao: Heh. At my own pace doesn't necessarily mean slow, you know.
Takao: It's different for everything I do. Treating patients is my talent, so I'm actually very fast at that kind of thing.
Takao: Speaking of which... did you know I can tell when people are lying?
Kuroda: Wha... Why are you sounding so accusatory all of a sudden?
Takao: You're feeling restless, right? Don't try to deny it.
Kuroda: (Crap... he's good.)
Takao: It's all right... most people would get bored after standing around for a hour. I won't get lonely, I promise.
Kuroda: But... how did you know?
Takao: I can see your nose grow when you lie to me.
Kuroda: ... Seriously?
Takao: No, of course not. Now go on, go do something else.
Kuroda: (I did as he said, and left him to finish whatever he was cooking...)
Kuroda: (I think we're a bit closer now.)
Takao: Hm. I think that's enough for now.
Takao: Let's take a look at this game you're all playing...
Kioshi: ...
Haruna: ...
Shunari: ...
Takao: 20-0-0-0. In Rei's favour.
Rei: You were right, Haruna. This is fun!
((Probably could have put this in the previous chapter, but eh. It's time for RTE again, so pick one of the following rooms you want to see.
- 4F Classrooms
- Chemistry Lab
- Headmaster's Office
- Music Room
I hope you enjoyed the chapter!))
