"Everyone, gather at the gymnasium at this instant! We have a punishment to discuss!"
Today was the day.
Monokuma rang his voice across the school speakers, alerting everyone to meet up at the gym. Two days have passed without a murder, and such, a punishment was arranged for the killing game participants.
What the punishment itself is, no one knows yet. But they will soon.
Celeste was one of the first students gathered at the gymnasium, her stand floating in nervousness beside her.
"So, it is time", stated Byakuya, making his entrance in the gymnasium with Toko in tow. "Time to see what Monokuma plans for us, that is."
"Indeed, Byakuya", responded the mechanical bear, "Man, you're such a smart person. Too bad you're caught up with a bunch of morons who can't take directions well!"
"I'd say."
At this point, Celeste couldn't help but cringe at how friendly both Byakuya and Monokuma sounded like talking to each other.
Soon, enough, everyone else also gathered at the gym, the gambler noting that Hifumi was looking down today.
Is he still hurt about what I've said yesterday?, asked the gambler to herself. God, he has no hope.
"What is the punishment you have planned for us?", asked Makoto with slight nervousness, both Aoi and Sakura behind him.
"Gee, already excited, huh Makoto?", responded Monokuma. "I've never took you for a person that enjoys punishment! Kinky!"
Nobody dignified his comment with a response.
"Bah, why do I even bother making you guys laugh?", asked Monokuma to himself.
"Maybe we would laugh if you weren't such a sadistic motherfucker!", shouted Mondo.
"In any case, here's what the punishment is about!", said Monokuma, raising a control to the air. Everyone's eyes were widened for a moment. The dichromatic bear then clicked the red button in the control, causing a myriad of beeping collars to clamp themselves in the participants' throats.
"What the-!"
"And that's just the beginning!", said Monokuma with a gleeful voice. Mukuro didn't even bother listening to him, as she instead stabbed herself and used Fallen Soldiers' ability, making herself free of the collar.
"Geez, what a party-pooper", said Monokuma. "Good thing I've gotten rid of you as a minion!"
The rest of the class looked at Mukuro with widened eyes, with the exception of Celeste and Mondo, who simply covered his face in resignation.
"...I'll explain the details later", simply stated the soldier, not even bothering to look at the others. She simply had her deadly stare focused on the bear in front of her.
"Anyways, there's more to the punishment!", continued Monokuma, getting everyone's attention back. "Every floor on this school is now open, and you guys are free to explore them!"
"What's the point in doing that, though?", asked Aoi.
"Yeah, how is that a punishment?", added Yasuhiro confused.
"Now, now, I'm not done yet!", laughed Monokuma. "About the punishment itself..."
The entire class stood silent in order to listen what he was going to say next.
"Well, why explain all of it?", asked Monokuma to himself. "How about this? I'll instead say what will happen if no one dies by midnight. If no one dies, then one of those collars will release a poison straight into your necks, giving the unlucky one wearing it indescribable pain! Oh, and don't bother trying to get it off, messing with it or trying to destroy it will only release the poison!"
The entire class began sinking into despair from his words. Someone had to die today, one way or another...
"Oh yeah, and don't think that's it!", added Monokuma. "Because if you want to live, you're gonna have to fight for it!"
"What do you mean?", asked Kyoko, her expression as unfazed as ever.
"You'll see soon enough...", responded the dichromatic bear. "Until then, toodles!"
The bear then disappeared into the floorboards, leaving the students to themselves once more.
...The fuck was that about?
"What d-did he mean by fighting for our lives?", asked Hifumi nervously, back to his usual awkwardness.
"Well, I hope it's not what I think it means...", trailed off Mondo before hearing a thud outside the gym.
In fact, everyone did.
"...What was that?", asked Taka.
Turning around to the entrance, they saw that the gym's entryway was slowly collapsing into itself before exploding, leaving open a large hole into the rest of the school.
On the other side was a mechanic robot in green and black, it's serpentine head split into two colors like Monokuma. On one of its hands had a laser blaster, smoke blazing out of the device.
It wasn't alone, for more mechanical beasts were behind it, one even looking similar to a falcon with bright red eyes.
"I call these adorable machines Proto-Monobeasts!", said Monokuma on the intercom, the participants having their eyes wide in shock. "Basically, these beasts will continue attacking until a student dies. Until then, get running!"
"S-so you're telling us to survive these beasts to live, and even then, someone will d-die by tonight!?", panicked Toko, almost looking like she was about to faint.
"Indeed!", answered the bear cheerfully. "In fact, I've even come up with a name for such punishment!"
The students gathered together near the podium, sweat running across their faces.
"I've decided to name it: The Impending Termination."
Meanwhile, at the Future Foundation...
"What the fuck is happening!?", asked Juzo, looking at the gigantic screen displaying in front of him. Everybody else in the foundation was looking as well, faces of despair spread across their faces.
"Junko was tired of waiting for murders to happen, so she basically orchestrated one herself", responded Tengan, Munakata beside him having an anguished expression.
"I... I can't watch this!", cried Chisa to herself.
"You don't have to", simply deadpanned Ruruka, enjoying herself with a lollipop.
Diavolo simply sat there, watching the screen in silence. He couldn't come up with any words, but he didn't need to.
The despair spread across the room said more than enough, anyway.
Author's Note: Chapter 32 done! I've decided to end it here to appropriately divide up the story, so I hope you guys don't mind! As for the next chapter, I'll be sure to write out how everything turns out, so don't worry about expecting more cut-offs like this! Who do you think is going to be the unlucky one? What will come out of this? Is there any hope left for our participants!?
Also, as a little side note, I've decided to change Yasuhiro's stand name into Visionz thanks to The Knights of the V Table's comment! I have to say that I really like that name, as i think it fits Yasuhiro better than All of Me (yeah I wouldn't say that I listen to a lot of actual music/music bands, so I appreciate some music ideas from everyone). To V, I hope you don't mind that I use Visionz as Yasuhiro's new stand name! If you do, don't hesitate to comment about it so that I change it back!
Thank you guys for the support as always and until the next entry, I'll see everyone later!