Chapter 9: New Horizons

9:51 A.M Day Three

Ground Deck

Bio Dome

"Anyone manage to sleep after last night? I've dealt with my share of trauma, but I think I'm running on nothing more than caffeine right now," Amanda stated with a tired expression.

"I totally know what you mean, my head was swimming all night. Still, I'm glad we were able to set aside our differences and work together. Seriously, as horrible as it was, it took a group effort to reach the truth. If nothing else, we should consider that as a small victory," Kaiyo said, mustering a weak smile.

Frida's eyes shone with intensity as she nodded in response. "Well said, we should view last night as a cautionary tale. One that we should endeavor to keep from repeating itself. Though it may seem hollow, we should bask in our triumph."

The Ultimate Exterminator rolled his eyes in response. "And what exactly are we celebrating? Three people dead in less than seventy-two hours. That doesn't seem like much cause for celebration."

"Though I'm loathe to agree with him on much, he does make a good point. Not dying last night...is hardly what I would consider some worthwhile victory," Hollie said in a flat tone.

Scott irritably crossed his arms and gave a scowl. "Shit, would you both knock it off? Can't ya see some of us are just trying to make the most of this bad situation? Not all of us enjoy moping and acting like there's no hope."

"Kekeke, there is a line between optimism and naivety, but I for one am quite thankful to still be among the living. That is in no small part due to your deductions." Galexialyn stopped next to the tree Alice was leaning against. They fixed her with a grin that was perhaps meant to be sincere, and yet still came across as unsettling. "On my blood, I will return the favor someday," they said as they hovered an arm over the medic.

"Uhh, there's no need for any such vow. Truthfully, I was just fortunate to get the sense that Shuhei was acting off." Alice shrunk slightly as she waved a hand dismissively. "It all came down to a hunch in the end, anyway."

Nerai watched the Occultist intently as her eyes narrowed slightly. "Instincts can be important in any investigation. Truth be told, I'm far better with physical evidence than reading people. I should have noticed how he was subtlety trying to steer us towards a particular conclusion. That is my failure."

"Aww, don't be so hard on yourself! It's like Kaiyo said before, we worked together. Like a puzzle, we had to figure out how everything fit together, right?" Bridgette suggested with a reassuring smile.

Jingai offered a bemused chuckle. "Bridge is right on the fucking money. I wouldn't beat yourself up, Agent. Besides, if history repeats itself, with Daniel and Shuhei being gone, you and Buns will both be needed more. Losing one of our primary medical experts and a lead investigator puts us in a vulnerable position."

"C-Can we talk about something else? I'm sorry, but it's just too much," Timothy murmured with a crestfallen expression.

The Construction Worker gingerly patted the boy's shoulder. "Hey, chin up, alright? We're gonna make sure something like that doesn't happen again. We just gotta keep our spirits up."

Konyu adjusted her robe before offering a tiny smirk. "Well, the show has to go on. Speaking of which, shouldn't our illustrious Captain make an appearance soon?"

The Historian pursed her lips in thought. "I was wondering the same thing, actually. In fact, I thought it was odd that we heard Nessa's wake up announcement, but haven't heard anything else from Monokuma. I wonder if he's preparing something dramatic."

"I can't say I'm upset that he's a no show. To be so cute looking, he really can be terrifying," Shiori admitted as she stared down at a now spotless charm in her palm.

"Meow, maybe the big bad Psycho got em! Case Closed, it's now a communal dating sim because the captain is dead!" Noelle poked her head out from a hole in the base of a nearby tree and flashed a peace sign.

A tic mark appeared on Rene's forehead. "Alright! Enough of your damn antics. I've had it up to here with your crap. Get out of that damn tree!" He stomped over to grasp the girl's exposed hand. Without warning, he yanked the redhead forward before letting out an uncharacteristically shocked gasp as he tumbled backwards onto the grass, and a very nude Contortionist landed on top of him.

She blinked a couple of times as she looked around the gathered group with a nonplussed expression, and down at the boy who was for once struck silent and seemed to be floundering like a fish as he tried to avert his gaze elsewhere, but seemed to be struggling. "Now that you've seen me nude, you have to take responsibility. Just be gentle. I bruise like a peach."

Amanda's jaw flexed a couple of times reflexively before she promptly shielded both Shiori and Timothy's eyes with her hands. She pushed down the look of embarrassment on her face as she tried to keep her tone level. "Noelle, explain yourself at once! Why are you nude?"

"Huh, was this some new rule I missed?" Kosaku asked with a baffled expression as he stared at the redhead with an innocent expression.

Scrappy shifted awkwardly before scratching his cheek. "Yo, I don't know, but it's pretty awesome. I mean, would you look at the size o-" the boy was silenced by Frida who clamped a hand over his mouth.

The Chocolatier sighed. "Scrappy, I must insist you not finish that sentence. Gods above, though, explain yourself, Noelle!"

The Ultimate Contortionist sat up while still straddling Rene's lap. "Meow, my clothes were catching on the tree. So I had to shuck them off. I guess since you've all seen me nude, it means we all have to have a giant polygamous marriage...followed by a giant orgy. I will prepare myself by stretching..."

Jingai smirked impishly as he tilted his head to the side. "Not exactly how I pictured this morning going, but definitely a far cry from last night."

An exasperated sigh escaped Hollie as she strode forward and dragged Noelle off of Rene by her cat collar, before thrusting a pile of clothes into her arms. "Idiot. Go change already, or no more massages..."

Noelle tilted her head to the side with an impassive expression before suddenly snapping a crisp salute and disappearing behind a couple of trees.

"As always, we thank you for tending to our resident alien," Konyu chuckled aloud before shaking her head.

Alice fought down the flush on her face. "My goodness, she's certainly not shy is she? She is peculiar but I do have to envy her boldness to a degree."

"Right?! I mean I would totally walk around with my boobs out in front of other girls, but I would lose it if that happened to me in front of a bunch of guys," Bridgette mused as she nodded her head vigorously.

A trill of unsettling laughter escaped the Occultist. "I wouldn't envy such a display. Besides, if either of you had the nerve, I'm not sure Rene could take it. We might have another death on our hands."

The mood in the room seemed to immediately darken at the mention as the boy in question bolted to his feet before brushing himself off. "T-Tch, as if. I'm happily spoken for, if you must know. The freak just startled me is all."

Kaiyo stifled a small giggle despite the boy's coarse tone. "I don't think anyone could have anticipated that. She's definitely one of a kind. Though before all of that, she did raise a good point. What if Monokuma really got killed, if this Psycho guy got to him?"

"I think it's far too soon to assume anything. If anything, I'd say it's just wishful thinking on our part," Nerai remarked tersely as she crossed her arms.

The Historian's brow furrowed. "You're most likely right. I hate to say it, but the fact is that there is still a killer among us. That's something we can't really avoid."

Timothy chewed on his lower lip anxiously. "But maybe it isn't one of us at all. This is a big station. What if there's someone else here? It doesn't have to be one of us here, right?"

"Even if it is...does that make them a bad person? Like, I know that killing is bad, but if they targeted Daniel for doing something so wretched...maybe they aren't all bad," Shiori suggested timidly.

Alice reflexively balled up her fists, as she tried to rain in her emotions. "...No matter what their intention is, no one should have the right to play god over who lives and dies. Daniel should have been forced to atone for his crimes, but he didn't have that chance. This sicko is playing judge, jury, and executioner. Which ironically...Monokuma has forced upon us, too."

"No kidding. What I wouldn't do to get my hands on him!" Scrappy spat.

With a distinct chime, the elevator in the center suddenly opened. Then Nessa's image flickered in front of them.

The AI offered a polite smile. "Forgive me for taking so fucking long. The Captain has not contacted me since last night. I can only assume he's indisposed."

"Shit, maybe Noelle was onto something after all," Jingai remarked as he quirked a single brow.

"Alas, we can only hope for such a boon. I will not accept it wholly till I see it for myself," Frida said with a dubious expression.

Amanda crossed her arms. "Speaking of seeing things for ourselves, with or without Monokuma...does your presence mean we can access a new area, Nessa?"

A moment passed as the glowing AI regarded the girl before nodding in affirmation. "Indeed, in tandem with succeeding in the previous trial...access to the next deck is now at your disposal. A map with Subdeck 1 will soon be updated on your Monopads. I believe you all will find this deck will make you feel like you're back home. Please try to recover and not let last night keep you down."

Kasumi glanced around the group once more before clearing her throat. "With that in mind, I think it would be a good call to remain in groups. After last night...I think we should avoid being alone as much as possible. Not that I think anyone has the motive to strike now, but we can't be too cautious going forward."

Standing in complete contrast to the Ground Deck, the first subdeck could be easily mistaken for a sprawling series of biomes one might expect to find back on Earth.

The geography consisted of an open plain that surrounded a sizable forest with a lake at its center. A large hill crested up above the tree line on the far side of the forest. Spread around the forest's edge resided several landmarks that were visible from the elevator.

Were it not for the elevator itself breaking the illusion, there would be no discernible evidence that the group had ever left Earth.

An artificial sky stretched across the horizon and perfectly mimicked the morning. Hidden industrial fans provided the occasional breeze that would cause the trees and grass to sway back and forth.

What was even more perplexing was the fact that there seemed to be no discernible boundary, as walking would only cause you to loop around the deck itself. Whoever built the room did so utilizing an architectural trick of slightly curving the entire deck, in essence creating a miniature planet...

One by one, each of the remaining students had segregated into smaller groups to explore the sprawling deck. As with the previous deck, agreeing to convene later in the evening to discuss their findings...

10:35 A.M Day Three

Subdeck 1

Ranch

"Goodness, I know we're in space but this feels so real," Alice mused with a fond smile as she raised a hand to shield her face slightly from sunlight before peering around a large pasture. Numerous domestic animals could be seen grazing in the nearby grass and in smaller pins. Several smaller buildings dotted the center of the Ranch. Most appeared to be holding areas for other critters, but there was also a barn, a storage building, a slaughterhouse, and finally a tiny farmhouse.

Shiori crinkled her nose slightly. "...Definitely smells like a real farm. Here, mister horsey," she said as she plucked a long piece of grass to hold it out over the fence towards the large black stallion.

The large animal nickered a couple of times before raising its muzzle and greedily snatching the offering from her hand.

"Heh, this is so nice, it kind of reminds me of those gardens that are made on top of bridges and other raised structures. I always love seeing those kinds of things. They look so cool. So this whole deck is like a super form of that!" Kosaku happily explained as he smiled brightly.

"Have you ever built anything like that, luv?" the Medic asked as she craned her head to look up at the towering boy next to her. "It's just amazing what people can do with the right skills."

Shiori silently tried to pet the horse she'd just fed, but the stallion, noting she no longer had any offering, merely turned away and trotted off.

"I never got to do any of the fancy stuff like that, though. Most of the jobs I've worked have been for pretty modern city buildings, but seeing all the creative stuff out there makes me wish I was smarter," Kosaku said as his smile waned a bit. Then he turned his focus towards the Witch.

The blonde tentatively reached out and patted the hulking boy's back. "Dear, don't be so hard on yourself. I think you're plenty smart already, but even if you don't agree...that's not something set in stone. You're a hard worker, so even if certain things don't click at first, I bet you'll work harder than anyone else to get better." She mustered a reassuring expression before following his attention. "Blimey, what's with that sour look?"

The Ultimate Witch fidgeted with her hood as she shifted her feet inward. "...He gave me the cold shoulder after I fed him. I feel used..."

Alice raised her bare index finger to her lips to stifle a small giggle. "Sounds like he's a cheeky boy. That makes sense, though. Looks like he's probably bloody wild and at that rebellious age. Don't take it too personally. I've seen ones like that take a nip at people."

"Oh well, I guess as long as you keep trying and don't lose your patients he'll eventually come around! They probably don't have a lot of experience dealing with people being up here," the boy said as he scratched his chin.

The Witch looked between the pair intently as a look of determination seemed to burn in her silvery eyes. "If all else fails, I will make a powerful love potion. I won't give up on mister horsey, he and I will be the best of..." she trailed off as she felt a pressure on one of her boots.

She gazed down to see what appeared to be a white cottony fluff. She only recognized what it was once she noticed its floppy ears. "BUN!" Shiori said loudly but in her typically flat manner. However, a rare excitement filled her eyes as she reached down and scooped the bunny into her arms.

"Such floof and a coat white as snow. How is it so spotless? It has to be real magic," she said as she hugged the critter. In return, the rabbit seemed quite content from the attention. It merely thumped it's back leg slightly before twitching its nose.

"I'm chuffed to bits to see her so happy. Seems like Mister Horsey just got dropped in a bloody heartbeat," Alice whispered to Kosaku before playfully elbowing him. "Think we could smuggle some critters back to the dorms? I don't think our Captain has any rules about that yet. It might do wonders for everyone's morale, too. So long as they don't mind a few extra responsibilities. Pellie might like the extra friends, too."

The boy gave a nod as he beamed down at the girls. "Ooh yeah! That could be really nice! Besides, the bun came right up to Shiori, and usually they're so skittish! It'd be a shame to force them apart!"

"Mhmm, and every witch needs a familiar, right?" Alice suggested before winking at Shiori. "Of course, such a lovely one needs a proper name. So what will it be dear?"

Shiori's brow crinkled in concentration for a long moment before she held the snow white rabbit into the air. "...Bow before the majesty of King Bon Bon. He is a humble and noble ruler. You may also address him as Mr. Bon Bon. But he demands respect," she said matter-of-factly.

"Haha! Hello, your majesty! I've never gotten to meet royalty before!" Kosaku said as he gently reached down and, with one large finger, lightly brushed the top of the bunny's head.

The bunny lifted it's head slightly before tweaking it's nose up at the Construction Worker. It's back leg again thumping lightly against the Witch's chest. The girl in response leaned down as if she was conversing with her new friend before nodding her head in affirmation. "The King approves of you and bestows to you the title of Knight of the Bunny Kingdom."

"Oh boy! Maybe I should make us a round table," Kosaku added as he rested his hands on his hips.

Alice was nearly in tears from suppressing laughter as she managed a tiny curtsy. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Sire. If you need anything, you need only ask. Consider me an ally of your people."

Shiori's eyes widened. The rabbit kicked a couple of times excitedly, with its nose wiggling. She leaned closer again, this time part of a conversation could be heard. "Uh are you sure? That's quite...Well if you insist. I will...Okay, I'll relay it," she said before looking intently at Alice. "King Bon Bon declares that you shall be his House Maid and attend to his every need. I'm afraid he was quite insistent. As for me, I am the court mage."

The Medic blinked a couple of times in quick succession. "Why do I feel like I pulled the short straw? Now I can only imagine what role your Majesty would assign everyone else..."

"Monokuma would be banished to the dungeons forever," Shiori said flatly before offering a tiny smile. "...Thank you for this. I can't remember the last time I've had so much fun," she admitted as she hugged the bunny in her arms.

"Of course! After last night, it's a welcome distraction!" Kosaku said as he gave a thumbs up. "So, want to take a look around at the rest of the place, see what other critters are here?"

"Mhmm! His Majesty approves of this idea and so do I," Shiori said with an eager expression.

Alice smiled warmly as she rested a hand on her hip. "We really do need to check this place thoroughly, or else we wouldn't have much to report. Besides, we can't defy the King, now can we?" she chuckled as she started towards the center of the Ranch...

11:08 A.M Day Three

Subdeck 1

Shooting Range

A soft hum left the Ultimate Sniper as she looked over the wooden structure before her. It was in a relatively empty, flat field. Several shooting ranges had been lined up side by side with multiple targets situated at the other end. Racks with guns and bows were placed around the counters. Large shelves containing various boxes of ammunition and quivers of arrows. Nerai's eyes narrowed slightly as she looked over the area.

"Well, it looks like this game is getting much more dangerous," Nerai commented as she looked back to Kasumi as the girl approached the area.

"It sure looks like it," Kasumi agreed, eyeing the weapons and ammo displays a little nervously, before her gaze shifted back over to the shooting range itself. "I don't suppose there's a weapons locker or something we could lock most of this stuff up at, is there? I'd feel safer knowing no one could easily access all this stuff. Though, I doubt Monokuma would make things that easy for us..."

"I don't think there's anything like that here. We'll have to bring this up to the others, if we want to move this much munitions to a place it could be secured. Though we should be fine if we just lock up the ammo," Nerai explained as she tapped her chin.

"Mm, I suppose so," Kasumi conceded.

She eyed the weaponry a moment longer, feeling a morbid fascination with them. She felt rather tempted to pick up one of the guns and try it out for herself. Given her lack of training, though, she imagined that'd only end poorly for everyone involved.

"Well, considering how many of us lack proper firearms training...it might not be too big a danger after all. I mean, if someone doesn't know what they're doing, they could easily shoot their own foot off," she nervously joked a moment later.

The Sniper shrugged slightly. "I suppose that's quite possible, but if they can't get it treated, that's another body, and the Captain may still make us have to figure out what happened with our necks on the lines," Nerai explained with a sigh.

"Either way, let's make sure we actually look around the area first. I'd like to make sure exactly what we have to deal with here," the Sniper said with a nod.

Kasumi nodded, letting Nerai lead the way as they both began to look around the shooting range. A few minutes of amiable silence passed as they conducted their search, but it didn't last forever. Kasumi felt the urge to speak up, and voice something that had been prodding at her mind for a while now.

"You know, I'm curious..." she finally spoke up. "About you and Alice. You've been pretty...secretive about this organization you both worked for."

"We have, but that is mostly because it is still a sore memory for us. So you'll forgive us if we aren't too quick to share all of those details," Nerai remarked as she eyed the Historian.

"That's fair," Kasumi stated, raising her hands up in surrender. "I do get that. We all have our secrets, and...not all of us are comfortable talking about the past. Still, you can't blame people for being curious. Most of us didn't know each other before...well, before all this."

Nerai nodded as her mouth frowned slightly as she looked away for a moment. "Yes, well, it has been quite awhile since I had even seen Alice. After our encounter with Psycho, we went our separate ways. So it's been a few years."

"I see," Kasumi nodded lightly. She opened her mouth to speak further, but abruptly paused as something caught her eye.

She furrowed her brow, bending over a moment later to pick something up. She held it up in the air, inspecting it curiously. "Now...I'm no expert or anything, but...isn't this a spent shell-casing, Nerai? Like, for a bullet?"

"It is, there's even some gunpowder here too," Nerai added as she had crotched down where the casting was found. "This has definitely been used before, but I don't think it was all that recently. At least, not since we have gotten access to it."

"Now that's strange. Does that mean someone was here before us?" Kasumi murmured, frowning in thought. "Though that doesn't make a lot of sense either. How strange. Do you see anything else?"

The Sniper was quiet for a moment as her eyes slowly slept over the floor. After a little while she moved over to a different counter and held up another casing. "There aren't many, but there are a few more scattered about. Some of these seem fairly aged as well..."

"Really? I wonder what it could mean..." Kasumi stated aloud.

Her eyes narrowed, the Historian bit her lip as she tossed over the possibilities in her mind. A certain possibility sprung to her mind...but with such flimsy evidence before them, she was reluctant to bring it up at all. Still, what other options remained?

"Unless Monokuma is just planting these out here to mess with us...and I wouldn't put it past him...I suppose it means someone else was here before us?" she ventured at last. "I mean, we've kind of talked about the possibility before. We started out with more students then there should be for a class at Hopes Peak, but even besides that...this is a space station. Presuming it wasn't just built for the purpose of this game...wouldn't it make sense for there to have been researchers, scientists, and other people living here?"

"It's very likely there were other people to help run this place, at least some of the time. Not to mention there is the teacher's room, but no sign of the teacher. Though, for all we know, they could even have been disposed of by the mastermind before starting up this game," Nerai added with a small frown.

"Indeed, that could very well be the case," Kasumi agreed as she heaved a heavy sigh. "There are still so many unanswered questions here...it's aggravating! It feels like the whole solution to these mysteries are right in front of my face, but I just can't see it..."

"Well we certainly don't have the whole picture yet. We will unfortunately have to hold out for now," the Sniper countered with a frown. "Though I can't say I like the idea of just resting on our laurels."

"Same here. But I'm not sure we have much of a choice otherwise," the Historian stated. "As long as we don't pull a McClellan, I suppose we should be fine. Unlike him, if we pursue answers when we're able to, we should be able to get to the bottom of this!"

After a pause, and a blank look from Nerai, Kasumi flushed and elaborated. "Ah, that is, McClellan was an American Civil War general on the Union side, who became infamous for being overly cautious in battle, much to his detriment. Sorry, that's the history nerd in me coming out, haha..."

"No, that's understandable. The group I was in was from the West so I know a bit more about the military from around the world. Can't say I knew about that particular general. In truth, for rather obvious reasons, I was more interested in Simo Hayha," Nerai said as her frown started to fade away.

"Ah! You know about Simo Hayha?" Kasumi eagerly inquired, her eyes lightly up as she stepped closer to Nerai. "He's a very impressive figure, isn't he? The White Death of Finland! To think he was able to kill so many Russian soldiers without a magnifying scope! It's honestly real impressive! If Hope's Peak had existed back then, I don't doubt he would have been the Ultimate Sniper of his day!"

"Perhaps, though he was in his thirties when he made his name. I was impressed when I was told about him after I had been counter-sniped myself, so I started working without a scope as well to not give myself away. Similar to Simo himself. Though I don't know how well I stack up against him," Nerai explained as she unconsciously adjusted the sniper rifle box still hanging over her shoulder.

"Ha, I'm sure you're just as good as him, Nerai!" Kasumi gladly declared. "I mean, you are the Ultimate Sniper after all! I have to admit, it sure would be fascinating to see you in action...ah, at a shooting range, of course."

Nerai's crimson eyes shifted towards the targets for a moment before giving a small nod. "Indeed, I wouldn't mind keeping my skills sharp. After all, I haven't had a good time to let Tsuma get any air either."

"...You call your gun 'wife'?" Kasumi questioned, before giving an uncaring shrug. "Well, if you want to indulge yourself, I'm not going to stop you! Just let me know how I can help!"

12:04 P.M Day Three

Subdeck 1

Greenhouse

Situated not far from the Ranch and Campsite rested an expansive Greenhouse. The rectangular structure was several hundred feet in size and beyond the base consisted mostly of glass, allowing sunlight to filter through each of the large panes. The interior of the building consisted of row after row of various crops.

Along each row were numerous sprinklers that appeared to be on a set timer. Near the entrance lay a small storage area with various gardening tools and fertilizer. The crops themselves were as numerous as they were varied.

It appeared that different plots of land even had different types of soils, with certain crops having heat lamps centered over them.

It was abundantly clear that the whole station was self-sufficient, due in no small part to this area.

Hollie shut the storage room door before her nose crinkled slightly from the scent of fertilizer. "Well, at the very least, starving is the least of our concerns. I had wondered how food could be sustained in a place like this, but it seems like that was planned accordingly."

"Hmph, shame that the minds behind that couldn't have anticipated a deranged individual taking charge of this operation. Then again, I suppose no one was particularly prepared for the bizarre events that were going on across the globe," Konyu mused with a shrug as she glanced over at Frida, who stood next to a cocoa plant. "I suppose we'll have no shortage of sweets at the very least. I'd be happy to help you market some," she offered with a small glint in her heterochromatic eyes.

Frida continued to gaze intently at the plant, before looking over at Konyu, their eyes meeting.

"What could you possibly know about marketing the food of the Gods? Especially such specimens as this one, one native to my native Mexican soil. Such a plant is holier than you could possibly imagine!"

The Merchant waved a hand dismissively. "Oh, I'm sure you're quite right. However, you have to learn how to market to people. Some folks will be immediately turned off by religion. If you want to expand your base, you have to know how to broaden your appeal."

The Chocolatier crossed her arms, giving her a serious look. "I'll have you know that I don't force my religion on anyone. Most people I know are Catholic, but that doesn't stop me from selling to them. Chocolate is for everyone."

"I agree, but I think you still need work on your marketing tactics. Like, take for example I was gonna sell chocolates to an atheist, I'd probably leave out the bit about it being the food of the gods. Think of it this way: I literally sold you a junk charm because I knew how to market it, right? It's really not much different," Konyu said matter of factly.

An exasperated sigh escaped the Acupuncturist. "Can we not get into this right now? We are supposed to be searching this place so we have something to report later."

Konyu wagged a finger in the other girl's face. "Don't fret, dear. We have more than enough time. Besides I want to hear what Frida has to say. She's not just a maker of chocolate, but a business woman in her own right. I wanna know how she ticks."

Frida grinned, her demeanor softening. "You're an interesting one, aren't you? I bet you're the type to try selling ice to an eskimo. But nevertheless, you are forgetting something: brand recognizability. I have an entire marketing department that makes sure the chocolates I make are instantly recognizable and trust me, more people than you think are taken in by chocolates with depictions of Aztec culture on them. There's so much bland looking shit on the market right now, your average consumer is just begging for something different. Once you get them to bite, you've got them hooked. That's how you get recurring customers."

"Okay, I can see what you're saying. Your brand MAY not appeal to everyone. However, those who seek out your specific items are gonna be rabid because they're so hooked on the elements they connect with. It's definitely distinct. Doesn't that mean you have a limited market, though? Sure, you're gonna sell boatloads in Mexico and South America, but are you just content with that?" Konyu questioned as she stepped closer so she was only a foot or so away from the much taller girl.

"Ha!" Frida laughed, stepping forward and looming over the other girl. "Listen, lady, you really think only Latin America is into this? In this increasingly connected world, the demand for ethnic food is skyrocketing. Take avocados for example. Mexican, but in the last few decades the sales have gone up nearly 200%. I dunno what it's like for you in Japan, but in the States you can't walk five miles without seeing some basic white girl spread it on their toast. Just because something's exotic doesn't mean it's going to fail in the wider market. The key is to create a demand for it. And insulting your customer's intelligence is a good way to kill that stone dead. You better pray this game isn't recorded, because after that fake luck charm stunt you pulled, you can kiss any future trust your customers have in you goodbye. What are you gonna do next? Start a pyramid scheme luring in suckers to try and sell 'em for you!?"

Konyu smirked as she rested her hands on her hips. "I could take those chocolates of yours, rebrand them and outsell anything you've done. You know why I'm so certain of that? Because I've done it before. Business is cutthroat and if you want to stay on top, you have to understand that. As for my reputation being damaged? What makes you think we're being recorded? Do you know something the rest of us don't?"

Frida placed a hand on her hip, triumphantly. "I don't need to. If you actually bothered to keep your pulse on the market, you would have seen that a killing game before this one was being broadcast from Hope's Peak. One that was also being hosted by Monokuma. If that's the case, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to assume this one could be televised as well. Oh, and I think you may have just admitted to committing corporate espionage and theft of intellectual property on camera. So let's hope the mastermind really did forget to set up a broadcast this time round or you may just be in line for a pile of lawsuits when you get back home." Frida said, finishing with a cocky grin.

"Your business might be booming right now, but if you make investments so recklessly you'll be homeless in no time," Konyu sighed dramatically. "Monokuma clearly isn't a real person, but some sort of figurehead. If you'd bothered to watch even a moment of that previous broadcast...then you would have noticed that there's no way the same person is operating that Monokuma and this one. We don't know what their motive is, other than that they seem to derive some entertainment from us," she said with a shrug. "And even IF you are right about everything you just said, I'll just find a way to rebound and invent myself again. Martha Stewart did it. People eat up a redemption story."

"Seriously, knock it the hell off or at the very least wait till the next motive actually kicks off. Both of you are giving me a headache," Hollie muttered as she shifted her weight onto her extendable cane. "Look, all this good or bad business means nothing if we don't live, right? That should be our priority for now."

Frida paused, looking at both of them for a moment, and then cleared her throat.

"Ah yes, you are indeed quite correct. It seems that I may have gotten distracted by the talk of coin and commerce. It has been a long time since I have been able to talk to one as knowledgeable as the siren of the market, but we do indeed have much more important things to worry about. I beseech your forgiveness."

Konyu straightened slightly before bowing her head. "Yes, I too may have gotten a bit...carried away. I suppose it's rare to find someone I can get so engaged with. You have our attention now. Speaking of which, are you alright? Did you hurt yourself or something?"

The Acupuncturist offered a trace of a smile as she shifted her weight slowly. "It's nothing to trouble yourself with. I've always been rather sickly. Some times are just worse than others. Though I can't afford to just lie in my room all day, can I? So let's just turn this place over. Then perhaps I will return to my room for a few hours. Then you both can debate to your heart's content."

"Indeed! Though if our search proves fruitful, I may be able to prepare a coca brew filled with many spices and herbs. Such drinks were brewed back in the Aztec kingdoms to give energy and strength, I believe it may do wonders for you," Frida said to Hollie, placing a friendly hand on her shoulder.

"Consider me sold already," Hollie responded with a faint smile. "Shall we, ladies?"

"Ready and willing," Konyu smirked.

1:45 P.M Day Three

Subdeck 1

Forest

The Ultimate Exterminator stopped amidst the well-worn pathway before casting a glance over his shoulder. "I said I didn't need anyone's company. Why do you insist on trying to coddle me like the others? You're wasting your breath, woman."

"I simply figured it would be better and quicker if I assisted you," Amanda argued. She gave the smaller male a smile. "Besides, it's not like I'm going to force you to talk to me. I'm a psychologist, not a journalist. Both might end in -ist, but there's a big difference in what we do."

"Tch, usually this is the point where someone storms off after I make a comment like that. Suit yourself then. Truth be told, I volunteered to check out the forest because I wanted to be left alone. I had presumed that no one would bother me out here," he muttered as he adjusted his cap. "Maybe it's not all bad, though. This place is a lot bigger than I first thought. Never would have thought to find a whole damn forest in a place like this. It would be easy enough to get lost in these woods without our gadgets."

Amanda's eyes darted around. "No kidding. For a man-made forest, this is impressive." She glanced over at Rene with an intrigued look. "And in all fairness, Rene, while you and Jin definitely use some colorful and harsh language, I have most certainly heard worse."

A dry chuckle escaped the boy. "Your line of work must really suck if that's the case. Of course, who am I to talk? I kill pests as a profession. It's hard to believe that even captured the notice of Hope's Peak. Though right now...I wish it hadn't."

"I said it to Kasumi, and I'll say it to you: All of our talents hold worth," Amanda argued, a stern look on her face. "Otherwise, we wouldn't have been considered to be part of our class at all." The Child Psychologist let out a small sigh. "I can agree, though. I could've lived without experiencing everything we've been through so far."

"Living is half the battle, isn't it? If you do live long enough, you'll have your hands full with keeping whoever else is alive sane. I know I'm usually such a bright eyed optimist, but there's no way what happened yesterday will be an isolated event. Now that it's happened once, it's bound to repeat itself. Shit, claustrophobia and true desperation hasn't even set in yet," Rene mused with a small shake of his head.

"Oh, trust me when I say I'm very much aware of that," Amanda responded. She let her fingers slide across the bark of a tree as they continued walking. "Call it a hunch, but I think I'll be having some sessions once we're all done looking over the new areas." She glanced over at Rene. "Will I ever see you on my metaphorical couch, Rene?"

A grumble escaped the boy as he stared down at his Monopad. "I wouldn't hold my breath. I've seen worse than this, and fear of death isn't exactly new to me. At least we're being fed well. I'd say you save your energy for those who can't cope."

The woman's lips pressed into a thin line for a brief moment before letting out a deep breath. "I wouldn't say therapy is just for those who can't cope. It's for everyone. Regardless of if you fear death or not, if you think you're strong or not, or if you simply care for life or not, therapy is helpful. Especially in a place like this where it might be hard to trust people." The woman's speech was interrupted by her tripping over a loose rock. "Oh, son of a gun!"

The shorter boy instinctively turned before snapping an arm out around her waist, preventing her from colliding with the hard earth. He quickly buried his alarmed expression with the normal indifference he presented. "Woman, if you spent half as much time watching your surroundings as you do talking, that wouldn't have happened..." He frowned slightly. "...Twist anything?" he asked in a low voice.

Amanda gently stood back up, dusting herself and properly checking her balance. "No, I should be fine. It isn't the first time my ankle's decided to give out on me in these heels." She gave the smaller boy a small smile. "Thank you for that, Rene. I would've eaten dirt if you didn't act quick."

"Don't mention it. You'd just be an even bigger pain if I had to carry you or some shit," Rene muttered with a noncommittal shrug. "Come on, we need to check all these different trails. Just watch your step and next time...leave the damn heels in your room," he grumbled as he started forward once more.

2:28 P.M Day Three

Subdeck 1

Lake

Nestled in the heart of the forest lay a moderate sized lake. It was surrounded by a sandy beach, and a generous clearing from the tree line beyond. On the south side of the lake, a small dock jutted some twenty five feet out into the body of water. There was a small shack upon it filled with fishing, boating, and swimming supplies.

Several life preservers, anchors, and fishing poles lay scattered on the dock near the small building. A few row boats with paddles were tied along the dock, as well as a single motorized boat and two jet skis.

A breeze caused a ripple across the surface of the water and the sunlight in the artificial sky cast a glow on the water, mimicking the afternoon setting perfectly.

Kaiyo beamed brightly as she rocked back and forth on her feet. "Gosh, would you just look at it? It's so pretty. I'm definitely more of a salt water girl, but I'm always at home near a body of water. Wanna go for a dip, boys?" she asked, glancing over her shoulder at Timothy and Scott.

"I-I didn't bring my bathing suit and I'm...I'm not so good at swimming," Timothy stammered as he regarded his prosthetic legs with an anxious expression. Instinctively Pellie let out a small whine before pressing her muzzle against his hand in a comforting gesture.

"Well the best way to get better is to do it!" Scott happily said as he pounded his fist against his other hand. "Besides, your boxers work just fine in a pinch!"

"Jeez. Learn to read a room, ya meathead!" 5A1K0 muttered as she carefully walked around the dock, taking care to avoid getting too close to the edge. "Timmy's legs would cause him to sink like an anchor and he doesn't have enough upper body strength to compensate with just his arms even if he wanted to take them off."

The Ultimate Diver eyed the prosthetics before rubbing at his chin. "Gosh, I didn't really think of that. I totally didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable. But you know what? I bet if you took them off and we used some floats you'd be able to manage just fine."

"A splendid suggestion!" GAB3 announced as he floated out over the surface of the water. "And with enough physical training, Master Tim might be able to overcome the need for them as well. I trust between Scott, Kosaku, and you, Miss Kaiyo, that it's entirely possible."

Kaiyo coughed slightly before mustering a broad smile. "Think you're up to the challenge, Scrappy? Maybe we could even start coming out here to mix up our morning exercises."

"Hell yeah! We can get you a ton of training if we switch up what you're doing. Work out different muscles and get gains all over!" Scott said as he crossed his arms with a grin.

The Robotics Engineer flushed slightly as he averted his gaze. "I-I don't want to be a burden on anyone. I know that I'm leagues behind all of you guys."

"Don't be silly! After what we've been through, we're all friends here now. You're not a burden at all. Together we can turn you into a lean, mean, swimming machine. Ooooh, speaking of which, can you imagine how much fun it would be to get everyone together here?" the Diver asked as she began to pace back and forth with an excited expression on her face. "Sunshine, swimsuits, and a beautiful lake. That's one awesome recipe. Oh recipe...we could probably do a cookout or bring packed lunches.."

"She never shuts up, does she?" 5A1K0 said in a deadpan tone as the bot watched the girl continue pacing.

"What's wrong with that? She has awesome ideas!" Scott countered. "A cookout sounds awesome! We got a lake now, so we may as well make the best of it!"

"Well said, Mr. Louis! It will make for a wonderful display of youth," GAB3 agreed as a smile appeared on his electronic display.

"Heh, I guess seeing some of these bodacious beauties in swimsuits could be sort of fun," 5A1K0 chortled before nudging at Timothy's leg with a conspiratorial look on her own display. "You could get a chance to ogle some real hunnies, Tim, or I guess in your case a hulking tower of man meat. Just imagine all those muscles on display..."

The Engineer's eyes widened as he anxiously fidgeted with his hands. "K-Kosaku shirtless? I don't know if I can face that again. I-I might just lose it," he said in a shaky breath.

Kaiyo, oblivious to the boy's murmurings, wrapped an arm around Scott's neck before guiding him into a group hug with Timothy. "Okay, boyos! I'm gonna need your help. We've got some real sticks in the mud, but I think if we work together...we can get everyone to come around. So this evening, let's band together and make this day at the lake a reality, 'kay?"

"I'm in. We all could use the downtime. Plus maybe we can get some of the prickly ones to cut loose a bit!" Scott added as he pumped a fist.

Timothy weakly nodded his head as he felt his face still extremely flushed. "Y-Yeah, I think everyone could use that especially after the last couple of days. I'll do what I can to help."

The Diver let out an excited squeal before deftly kissing both of the boy's cheeks. "Brilliant! I knew I could count on you guys. We'll be soaking up some sun and fun in no time!"

3:52 P.M Day Three

Subdeck 1

Campsite

The Ultimate Cheerleader twirled around on her feet as she inspected the collection of cabins and the firepit that made up the Campsite. "Oh my god. This totally gives me flashbacks of cheer camp. I had so many great days in a place just like this."

"Nyeh, is that how you got your peppiness?" Noelle asked as she tilted her head curiously.

Bouncy thrust her chest out before smirking proudly. "It might have helped fine tune some of my routines, but I've always had a ton of spirit. Camp just really brought me out of my shell. I made a ton of friends in the process."

The Contortionist, who was crouched near the ground, suddenly sprang to her feet before flapping one of her arm sleeves towards the taller girl. "Meow, teach me your ways! I already can bounce, but I have zero spirit and probably only one friend."

"Eh? You want me to teach you? I don't know if I'm super qualified for that. I mean, sure, I've helped some of my juniors, but are you sure you're up for it?"

Noelle's inexpressive face never faltered, but she nodded her head furiously. "Ready and willing, Mistress. Do you want me to start with stretches? You should know that I'm probably the only girl here that can perform cunnilingus on herself. I'm ready for anything you can throw at me."

The Cheerleader stared for a moment with a slightly shocked expression before letting out a snort. "That's great to know, but I don't think the physical side of things is gonna be what's hard for you. Being a cheerleader isn't just about running around and doing cartwheels and splits. You have to express yourself and your feelings."

"Negative. Noelle-chan is just an emotionless robot. She doesn't think she can express anything."

"Hey, what kind of attitude is that? You haven't even tried yet! Come on, let's try a simple exercise. I want you to let out the biggest yell you can, from your diaphragm. Really put some gusto behind it. It'll make you feel better and help you see what I mean," Bridgette instructed.

Noelle's passive expression shifted to one of concentration before she pressed her palms together. "Nngh...Ahhh." The "shout" was done in her typical deadpan manner, with her voice barely raised. "How was that? Full of spirit? Do you feel inspired, Mistress?"

Bouncy sweatdropped. "Ah, let's drop the Mistress talk. That makes me sound like I'm into something very different. As for your spirit, I-I think it needs some awakening. Maybe it would help if I showed you."

"Meow, I will watch like a hawk. A Kittyhawk. Nothing will get past me, I'll definitely catch it."

The Ultimate Cheerleader took a quick breath before she began to bounce in place. A smirk spread across her lips as she began to clap her hands and chant.

"A day of peace is finally here," she began, clapping in sync before bowing her head.

"And that alone is reason to cheer." she continued as she snapped her head up before bringing her legs together.

"Let's salute our fallen and prepare for a fight," Bouncy said, as her voice rose louder as she pumped a fist into the air.

"Because Monokuma will be defeated once we've dragged him into the light!" she exclaimed as she lunged forward and performed a cartwheel before finishing with her arms raised in a T-Pose.

The Contortionist mechanically clapped her hands. "My spirit is overflowing. It's over 9000 or 8000 depending on the translation. I'm ready to show my own spirit..." she said, her inflection never once changing.

Bouncy laughed nervously as she straightened slightly. "Are you sure? I mean, maybe we should go over a few more routines before you try properly."

"Meow...you're right. I'll show everyone my spirit later this evening. Nyeh, can I borrow an outfit, Mistress?" Noelle asked with a tiny smile on her normally blank face. "I want to do more than just annoy people."

"You can borrow anything you want, just so long as you don't call me that in front of everyone else," Bridgette snickered. "And I'll help however I can. Us redheads have to work together right?"

Noelle made a heart gesture with her hands. "You make the BTC proud. Come, we have to finish searching here so we can raid your wardrobe afterwards," she said as she began stalking off towards one of the two large cabins...

"Just what is the BTC? You keep mentioning it, but you never explain what it means," the Cheerleader said with a small pout as she fell into stride behind the shorter girl.

4:19 P.M Day Three

Subdeck 1

Shrine

Set deep within the forest biome of the sprawling Subdeck resided a raised grassy hill. A set of cobblestone steps spiraled some hundred feet up through a series of traditional Torri archways. At the top of the raised hill resided a fairly impressive shrine. The main building clearly took inspiration from classic Japanese architecture and lay in the center, while a building that appeared to be a storage area sat off to the left side. To the right, an outdoor Shinto altar could be seen next to a small koi pond. Throughout the open promenade were various Shinto statues that gave the area a sense of tranquility. Behind the main building was an outcropping containing what appeared to be several gravestones.

Galexialyn offered a quiet chuckle as they flicked their attention between the pond they stood next to and the nearby altar. "Heh, one would have never presumed to find such a place after traversing the ground deck. With the artificial sky and wind, one could even mistake this for Japan. What a splendid way of getting us to let down our guard."

"Well, this place was made by some stuffy, old, rich assholes. They probably just wanted it here for tradition or whatever," Jingai explained as he straightened out his skirt.

"Yes, I suppose that is also a possibility. Though I do wonder how much of our setting is due in part to the Mastermind's machinations and how much was developed previously. Shuhei did mention that this station was in development for quite some time," the Occultist pondered as they approached the altar at a lazy stride. "Hm, I wonder if anyone would object to me performing pagan rituals here? They might find it a bit distasteful," they mused as they clicked their tongue audibly.

Jin chuckled as he ran a finger along the altar. "Who cares if they do? You know how many people find my crossdressing ass 'distasteful'? Besides, I'm pretty sure the only person who will actually give a fuck is the mastermind, since they already brought down the hammer on your last one."

Chijimatsu offered a wide smirk. "Truthfully, I could care less if I appeal to the masses. I'm not here to seek anyone's approval. However I would be remiss to not admit that perception is important. Were it not for our buxom medic and our stoic sniper, Shuhei may have very well succeeded in his deceit. While I don't care on a personal level, I must keep such things in mind going forward."

"True enough, I guess. This kinda situation is all about keeping an eye out, but you're just going to drive yourself fucking nuts if you worry too much," the Chessplayer explained as he crossed his arms. After a moment, a small frown appeared on his face. "Hey, do you smell that? It's like someone burnt something a little while ago, like a candle or whatever."

The Occultist shut their eyes a moment before crinkling their nose. "Ah yes, I believe that is a form of incense, something you'd typically burn following a loved one's passing. It's quite common in Shinto customs. It is believed to help the soul of the deceased," they offered before opening their eyes to regard the contents of the altar closely. "That begs a question, why would something like that be here? I sincerely doubt our captor did such a thing for mere atmosphere."

"I mean, three people died last night, but no way the fucker behind all this would bother..." Jin muttered as he thumbed his chin. "Come to think of it, this place looks pretty fuckin' cleaned up, especially compared to how the storage room looks like a dusty load of shit!"

"Yes, it's surely unrelated to last night's events. The scent is far too diluted. I had hoped that, with our horizons opening, we'd have more answers. Alas, it seems we only have more questions," Chijimatsu pondered with a slight shrug. "Still, it is something noteworthy to discuss with the others."

"I guess. Sucks to leave this place so empty-handed, though. Guess we can look around a little more, see if there's anything hidden away," Jin started to explain as he turned to the Occultist with a smirk. "Or, since we're alone, we could make out, get our hands full one way or another!"

The Ultimate Occultist flashed a wicked grin before stepping forward and lightly patting the boy's cheek. "I admire your boldness, but you couldn't handle that. I'd absolutely eat you up. Now why don't you use the head not in your skirt and continue to search?" they suggested as they started towards the main building with an amused look still plastered on their face.

17 Survivors Remain

*AN* I'd like to shoutout the beta BouncingFish for all his work as this is final beta chapter. Furthermore I appreciate all of you who are reading and reviewing. I hope you enjoy what's to come. Have a happy and safe Halloween!

Review Section:

SqualinaTralala

Thank you so much for such a long and awesome review. Yeah I put a lot of thought into the idea that killing only new ocs would be in poor taste. It was good to balance everything a bit. Hope you enjoy this chapter and have a Happy Halloween =)

logal

Yeah I really liked the idea of there being this sense of something unresolved after the first trial. It makes sure that things will always keep a level of tension as people are considering who or where the killer may be.

TJMike

Haha I'm beginning to think you shouldn't mention which characters you like. Their not faring well so far Lol. Glad you're enjoying the reboot though!

Jedi2020

Yeah I kind of like leaning into the first killer being more sympathetic because it feels like just about anyone could have been thrown into that situation. It makes it hopefully more of a gutpunch because of that aspect.

PotatoSorcerer

I thought it was important to make sure even early on that people didn't just assume that the survivors of the original oc series would have plot armor. I thought it was a good way of showcasing that. Truthfully I didn't mean for the balance of characters to end up so fitting in this first arc. Even though it is something I have mulled over while outlining things. Also I love the theories, so keep em coming!