Author's Note: Curious how this story evolved from a plot that was originally going to revolve only around Celeste. I'm not complaining how this is turning out, though.
Also, I'm not actually planning in advance what's happening in the story. It's all going down as I write it (most of it, at least. I do have a few things here and there that I have planned writing eventually).
Enjoy!
Celeste was already tired from waking up earlier from Monokuma's announcement, let alone the messed up sleeping schedule everyone was having. The idea of living here forever now seemed 'unbearable', as Monokuma would phrase it.
But whatever. Celeste had more important things to think about.
It as been 1 week since the enemy stand attack has occurred, and Celeste has used her time since remembering forgotten memories thanks to Cloakie. For some reason, she could now remember the time she spent at Hope's Peak and the friends she made there, despite initially believing that this was barely her first month here.
"..."
"...Mimi?"
"Hmm? Oh, I was just thinking about a few things."
Celeste and Cloakie headed to the gym at once, being the last individuals there. As usual, she saw everyone else waiting for her as soon as she entered.
No one's dead yet, so that's good... I think.
"Jeez, you really are a sleepy head, huh?", mocked Monokuma, giving a disturbing laugh. Everybody else just stared at him in silence.
"Anyways, I have good news to share!", the bear said, his eyes glowing red. "Well, good for me, anyways!". He then pressed a red button on a control, revealing extravagantly a stack of money. Piles upon piles of yen, all for the class to see.
"That's right! The next motive this time is cash!", Monokuma laughed. "Whoever kills and gets away with it gets a secondary prize of money. All real dough!"
The classroom only stared at the money in silence.
"Nobody here is going to kill someone just for money!", protested Makoto, who seemed more confident in himself. Weird.
"Speak for yourself, Naegi!", Monokuma responded, throwing a spear in his direction. Makoto jumped quickly in panic, tumbling down to the floor.
He's also gotten very athletic for some reason...
"Anyways, that's the prize you'll get for this time for killing someone!", Monokuma said with a happy face, almost as if ignoring what he just did a few moments ago. "Fail to kill each other in three days, and a punishment will be given out to everyone!"
"A p-punishment?", asked Hagakure, bracing himself for any spear Monokuma would throw. When nothing happened, he continued nervously, "You're kidding, right?"
"Haha! Hell no!", laughed Monokuma, disturbing the entire class. "All this hope you guys have is sickening! I plan squishing it out one way or another!"
"And what's this punishment you're gonna give us if we don't kill someone?", asked Hifumi, a drip of sweat coming down his forehead.
"Oh, you'll just have to wait and see!", dismissed Monokuma. "That is, if you're willing to let that happen..."
"O-oh, I see...", responded Hifumi before being quiet again.
"Anyways, that's it for now!", said Monokuma. "If you manage to get away with killing someone, you'll get them cash moneys! I even accept payment!". Laughing once more, the monochromatic bear dismissed everyone, leaving them to their personal demons.
"What a farce", remarked Byakuya arrogantly. He then turned to the rest of the class. "I hope none of you peasants are going to fall for Monokuma's trick. If you do, you'll meet the same fate as Leon. I'll make sure of it". He then walked away, Toko following close by.
"Way to encourage us", muttered Aoi with a pout. She then turned to Sakura and asked, "So can we practice Hamon Breathing now?"
The martial artist turned to her bubbly friend, a curious look on her face. After thinking it for a while, she responded, "Sure. I wouldn't mind practicing some more". She then turned to Makoto, who was still shocked by Monokuma's sudden attack. "Makoto, are you going to join us?"
"Huh? Oh, uhh sure", responded Makoto nervously before catching up with both girls, all three leaving the gymnasium.
"Also, that dodge you did earlier was awesome!", remarked Aoi with sparkles in her eyes, earning a blush from Makoto.
"O-oh, it's nothing", the luckster dismissed nervously.
And just like that, the class left one by one, leaving only Celeste and Hifumi, who was about to leave.
"Hifumi."
"Huh? Oh, Miss Ludenberg!", stuttered the otaku, running up to the gambler. "Whatever do you want, Miss?"
"Let's go to the cafeteria", said Celeste, already turning to the exit. "I want you to make me some tea."
"On my way, Miss Ludenberg!", declared the artist proudly. He then dashed to the exit with an impressive speed, leaving Celeste and Cloakie the only ones remaining.
"Mimi?"
"I'm just going to tell him something, that's all", said the gambler, not even looking at her stand.
Not long after, both Celeste and her stand headed towards the cafeteria, leaving the gym empty as always.
Meanwhile, at Sakura's dorm...
"It's apparent that Hamon Breathing has improved your reflexes, Makoto", complimented Sakura, who was brewing some green tea. "That's because Hamon Breathing accelerates the circulation of the blood, improving all body movements in the process."
"O-oh, I didn't know that", responded Makoto sheepishly, scratching his right check in nervousness.
"But why did Monokuma attack Naegi specifically?", wondered Aoi, who was already doing some stretches. Makoto dared to not stare at her. "Did Makoto do something to piss him off?"
"Possibly", answered Sakura. "It's a possibility that he's targeting Makoto because of his personality."
"M-my personality?", asked Makoto. "But I'm just a normal teenager."
"Hmmph, not exactly", responded Sakura, who finished brewing the green tea. Giving it to both Aoi and Makoto, the martial artist continued, "You've been proven to not fall into despair like Monokuma wants us to. And, you also have the virtue to inspire others."
"T-thanks Sakura", said Makoto, who was blushing a little. (The guy barely received any compliments, let alone from a girl). "Although I did wish Monokuma wouldn't target me specifically."
"That just means that you're gonna have to work harder!", Aoi remarked with a flash of inspiration. "Cmon, let's train already!"
"You have to finish the tea first", Sakura said, sitting down in a crisscross. "Then we can begin."
"On it!"
"Wait don't drink it too fast-"
"Oww! It burns!"
"I tried warning you...", said Makoto with closed eyes and a small smile. He admired Aoi's energy, but sometimes she was too hyper for her own good.
"Oh well, whatever!", the swimmer laughed it off.
"You really are something else, Asahina", Makoto said with a small chuckle.
Looking at her two laughing students with pride, the martial artist sighed.
It'll be like you've wanted, Zeppeli. I've found wonderful people to continue your legacy...
Meanwhile, at the cafeteria...
Both Celeste and Hifumi were at the cafeteria, the otaku rushing to finish the tea in panic. Celes only sat there, wondering in thought at her forgotten memories.
"Mimi?"
"Calm down already, Cloakie"
"Miss Ludenberg, h-here's your tea!", stuttered the otaku, placing down the cup of tea on Celeste's table.
Hifumi could only see an unreadable expression in response.
"A-are you okay, Miss Ludenberg?"
"..."
The gambler only raised the cup and shaked it a little, before giving it a dainty sip. The otaku could only shiver in panic at her answer.
"...Thanks Hifumi."
"I-I'M SORRY MISS LUDENBERG I'LL MAKE YOU ANOTHER- wait what?"
"I said thanks", the gambler said, directly starring at the surprised weeb.
"O-oh, uhh, you're welcome, Miss Ludenberg...?"
"I've been meaning to tell you this, Hifumi. You don't have to make me tea anymore."
"M-miss Ludenberg?"
The gambler only continued drinking the tea Hifumi made. "I also want to apologize for how I've been treating you. I won't act that way from now on."
"U-unbelievable..."
"That is all. You may leave."
The otaku only stood there, flabbergasted at Celeste's calm but resolute words.
"T-thanks, Miss Ludenberg."
"Oh, just call me...", the gambler turned to see a purple stand approach Hifumi, it's purple fog encasing the otaku.
It's the enemy stand!
"Hifumi, I want you to get behind this table."
"W-what, what are you-"
"Just listen to me!"
Following the gambler's orders, the otaku hid behind Celeste's table. The gothic-Lolita only stood up to face the direction Hifumi was just in.
"M-miss Ludenberg, why do you want me to be here...?"
"Just follow my orders, Hifumi."
The purple stand looked up at the gambler, letting out its slow but definable words:
"I can brainwash sleepy people."
"What?"
Celeste heard a loud thump behind her. She looked at where the sound was to see Hifumi snoring loudly.
"I've made him sleep the moment he arrived at the cafeteria, and ordered him to poison your tea", the stand continued. "It should be slow, but it'll eventually kill you. According to the poison bottle, your vision should be worsening about now."
"What are you...", Celeste stopped only for her vision to become blurry.
What? I'm poisoned?
"I see the poison is working perfectly fine."
"Y-you bitch..."
"Anyways, I could leave you here to rot, but I'll just impale you instead."
The purple apparition shot out a spike, barely grazing Celeste's left foot. The gambler only tumbled down in response, looking at where the spike landed.
It barely missed Hifumi.
Good, he's not dead...
"I forget that my accuracy is less than good", the stand remarked. "I'll take a different approach, then". His tail then extended twice the size, swinging it down towards Celeste. She stood up quickly and threw herself to the side, barely dodging the stand's attack.
Hifumi wasn't so lucky. He was whipped right into the cafeteria wall, creating a huge dent in the area of impact.
"...Whatever, I'll take care of that pig later", remarked the purple stand. It then turned towards Celeste. "Anyways, I think I'll have a better chance of doing it again now that your balance coordination is worse, as well."
Celeste then fell to the floor in the next instant, almost as if following the enemy stand's orders.
S-shit...
"Mimi!"
Cloakie materialized in front of Celeste with an enraged expression. It then evolved into Cloakie ACT 2, floating in a standstill against the purple apparition.
"It doesn't matter if you've improved your stand", declared the purple enemy. "The poison should still be in effect."
The stand is right. I still can't see nor move effectively, thought Celeste. Still, she couldn't think of giving up. She stood alongside her stand, looking at the purple apparition's direction.
"I'll make sure to send you back to where you came from."
"I'd like to see you and your stand try..."
Author's Note: Chapter 22 done! Yep, the enemy stand has returned! Has anyone suspected on who the user might be yet? I'd love to see everyone's theories! Also, here's a few responses to a few comments I received earlier!
• SparkyBoi: Thank you for your words of encouragement! About the blue portals, they're only capable of bringing things across dimensions, but they also hide another secret! I wonder what that could be...
• IzuchaoShipper99: I agree with the idea of Junko being DIO's child being a tad corny, thankfully that was not the idea in this story! Thanks for the ideas on what the stand's name could be, as well. It gives me an insight in what Junko's stand could represent! Thank you for the feedback!
• DeadFire354: Don't worry, this story will still provide some MUDAs! :D
Thanks for everyone's support and insight, I appreciate all who have read this story so far! Until the next entry, I'll see everyone later!