"Hamon Breathing?", Makoto asked, facing the Ultimate Martial Artist, Sakura Oogami.
"Indeed. I can teach it to you if you want", Sakura remarked.
Makoto saw this as an opportunity to get closer with Sakura, since he took any chance to bond with the other killing game participants. Plus, Sakura seemed like a reliable person, so there was that, as well.
"Sure, I wouldn't mind learning", Makoto said. "B-but it's not hard, is it?"
"Hmmph, it's not hard to learn", Sakura said with a small smile. "It's just that it takes a long time to master, is all."
"Oh, ok", Makoto said, slightly relieved at the martial artist's words.
"I'm also teaching Aoi how to use it, so I'd like to tell you when I'm doing these classes", Sakura said, turning to the exit.
"Training classes?"
"There isn't any problem in that, is there?"
"Uhh, no there isn't."
"Alright then", Sakura said, stopping at the Cleaning room entrance. "Training begins after Nighttime."
"A-after Nighttime?", Makoto asked nervously. He was all for bonding with people, but at a dangerous time like that?
"Indeed. Looking forward to teaching you". Sakura then proceeded to leave the cleaning room, leaving the luckster by himself.
"Geez, what did I just get myself into?", Makoto asked awkwardly to himself.
A week later, Junko's room:
"You think your sister is gonna do something now that nothing is happening so far?", asked Fallen Soldiers, turning to face the supposed model, Junko Enoshima.
"Probably. My sister is the type to get bored fast", said the model, throwing a set of combat knives on a worn-out wooden target.
"...You better watch yourself", remarked Fallen Soldiers. "Something tells me that not even you are safe from her wrath."
The model gave a small sigh. "...I know."
The supposed "Junko Enoshima" trapped in the killing game is actually an individual named Mukuro Ikusaba, the Ultimate Soldier, and she works under the real Junko Enoshima, her younger sister. Junko Enoshima is the alleged mastermind of the killing game, and Mukuro Ikusaba was initially working under her command. During the start of the game, though, Mukuro was almost killed by Junko, despite not knowing about it beforehand. What many would consider a betrayal has left the soldier in a state of confusion. Now that her sister has basically abandoned her, Mukuro has no idea what to do next.
"Also...", Fallen Soldiers asked, raising his left hand at his chin. "I've been meaning to tell you this, but what's the deal with you and your sister hiding your real middle name?"
The mercenary was only silent at the question. She then spoke up and answered:
"...My sister hates our middle name. That's why we don't use it"
"I mean, I just don't see what's wrong with using 'Brando' as a middle name...", wondered Fallen Soldiers.
Mukuro could only turn away from her stand in response. She then picked up another combat knife and threw it at the target. "Thing is, our fathers' side of the family comes from English descent. Junko rejected our parents, especially our father."
"That would explain why she has unusually big eyes for a Japanese person", Fallen Soldiers thought out loud.
"Maybe...", replied Mukuro, laying down on her bed.
"...You gonna do something else now?"
"No. I'm tired for today."
"...Alright. Sleep tight then."
Both individuals then decided to call it a day for now. Although, something else was happening around the same time.
After Nighttime, Boys' Gym...
"...And 100! How about that?", asked a sweaty boy, looking up at his partner. The pompadour-wearing individual raised a thumbs up in response.
"I'd say you're getting stronger, dude!"
The small boy gave a hearty laugh in response.
"Hey, what's funny?"
"I just noticed that your hair looks like corn!"
"H-hey! That's not funny!"
"It is, though!"
While at first being a little pissed off, hearing the small boy laugh so innocently made his partner laugh in response, as well. They spent several minutes laughing in happiness.
"...Hey Mondo", asked the kid, changing into a slightly more worried tone. His parter turned to face him.
"What's up?"
"...You think we're going to have a chance getting out of here?", the boy asked, obviously showing worry at his own question. His partner was silent for a few moments, not responding at all.
"...Mondo?"
"...It's not going to be easy", the bike rider responded. "But as long as we remain strong, we will get out of here."
Granted, escaping from the school was not going to be as simple as simply finding an exit. Not even stands were strong enough to break the walls. He proved that himself.
That wasn't going to deter the bike rider, though.
"Trust me, I'll find a way to get everyone out of here", said the pompadour-wearing individual, extending his arm towards the sweaty kid. "It'll be a promise between men, got it?"
The boy shook his head sideways with a smile. "...Much more than that, Mondo. As friends."
While at first surprised, the pompadour-wearing teen gave a small smirk.
"...Got it. It'll be a promise between friends."
Both teens shook hands afterwards, leaving all fears and doubts they previously had behind.
Both boys then heard a knock on the door.
"Hey Bro, we should be going to bed already! Remember that rest is good for the body!", said the person on the other side of the door. The individual in question was wearing a clean white uniform.
"On it, Bro", responded the bike rider. Turning to face the small boy, he said, "We have trained enough for today, dude. Taka's waiting for us outside."
The meek individual responded, "S-sure, I'm also feeling a little tired after today's training". He then gave a small yawn, feeling much more drained.
"Let's go."
Both boys then exited the gym and walked to their dorms, the uniformed teen following them and engaging in a conversation with them.
I'm glad I've been able to meet friends like these..., though the bike rider in a state of bliss.
In an unknown location inside the school...
"Puhuhu, such a wonderful moment of friendship", said a feminine individual, looking at one of a series of monitors in a dark room. The monitor showed an image of Mondo and his friends.
The person then gave an exaggerated face of disgust. "Ugh! It's too wholesome! So boring!". Feeling a sense of emptiness, the teen smacked her head right into the desktop, shattering the affected area. Raising her head up, the individual continued, "It's sooooo BORING! Nothing is happening at all!"
She then proceeded to cry a stream of fake tears, her forehead bleeding from the injury she just gave herself.
sniff* "There's no despair in this killing game anymore, and it's all because of these stupid, hope-infected idiots!" *sniff*
The girl then stopped crying, putting up a cutesy expression. "As if failing to kill my sister wasn't despairing enough, now I get this as treatment! Sooo not cool!". She then put a pout on her face, saying, "That flat-chested bitch deserves it, though."
The individual then stood up from her chair and walked towards a white board full of scribbles and ideas. "Good thing I have this backup plan in case no killings are taking place! It's so despairing I might even leak!", she said with ecstasy.
She then turned to face the monitors with a deadpan expression in the next instant, saying, "Well, there's also that thing I gained recently. What did Owada call it? A stand? Yeah, I could use that too. Not now, though."
A humanoid figure materialized in front of her, having an unreadable expression and an endless void for its eyes.
"I still haven't named you yet, huh?", the individual asked with a monotone voice. She then raised her hands to her face with a high-pitched voice, saying "No worries! I'll give you a name later!"
The humanoid figure gave no response.
"...No response, huh?", said the individual dejectedly with a hand on her hip. "You're as boring as my sister. So not cool."
The apparition disappeared afterwards, leaving the girl to herself.
"Oh well, at least you're useful, unlike that bitch of my sister!", said the individual with a disturbing laugh. She then sat down again and adjusted her black cardigan.
Facing the set of monitors, her eyes then transformed into a series of black and white spirals, devoid of all humanity. Her fingers ran through her bloodied forehead, licking the dried blood with manic insanity.
"Now, I say we could kick up this little game a few more notches, right?"
Author's Note: Chapter 20 finished! I decided to focus a little more on the side characters this chapter, that way this story doesn't feel like it only focuses on one character! (Although that was the original intention). In any case, I appreciate everyone's support! Until the next chapter, I'll see everyone later!