Hope's Peak University: Parity in Despair

by TheUsernameCounts

From the university pamphlet: "From the raging success of our Academy and a hint of my inspiration (tehee) introduces Hope's Peak University! Folks are always lookin' for more cunning and sophisticated young men and women to unite our wonderful nations. Your interest in joining means the universe to the world, and we'll all cheer you on after your acceptance..." - Monokuma

25. Suchi Free Time Event 1

Suchi Free Time Event #1:

I walked up to a panting Suchi and greeted her, "Hey, Suchi! Is everything alright?"

Suchi replied, "Oh, hey! I'm just gettin' me a good workout in. Care ta join?"

"It's been a while. I don't see why not."

We spent time together doing push-up and sit-up reps.

[NO PRESENTS CAN BE GIVEN ON THE FIRST FREE TIME EVENTS]

I heavily breathed, "How many was that?! 30 and 30 each?"

She responded, "I thank so! Not bad fer a greenie!"

"Huh? Do I look sick?"

"Naw, mate! Issa nickname from my ol' town. It means that ya just started som'n new!"

"Well, thank you for considering that. Speaking of your old town, I don't think you've talked to much about where you're from."

"Issa long story, but I grew up on da farm outta da countryside backroads. I climbed ev'rythang as a lil' kid. When I was 9, I climbed every damn tree on our property! I fell sometimes, but that just meant I was climbin' right back up."

"The transition from that to big-time acts must have been jarring, no?"

"Naw, not really. Each of dem trapezes is like another tree branch to jump to. It's like I was born as a spider monkey instead of a human. It feels so damn free."

"I never even made it past the monkey bars on the elementary school playground…"

"Ya know wut? Acrobatics ain't too far off from that, so yer already in a good spot to start swingin'! The next step is gettin' your balance straight, like this." She proceeded to a one-handed handstand and continued, "How 'bout dis: I'll stay right here until our convo is done?"

"Alright, then… what got you into acrobatics?"

"My ol' town made most of its bank from its worl' famous circus act. I ended up joinin' and, despite the bastard industry, being a famous acrobat is the most liberatin' thang I coulda asked fer. What yer source of freedom?"

"Oh… uh… finding answers to tough questions in general feels mentally liberating at least."

"Dat's a solid choice, especially for getting' all of us outta here! Now you might wanna get outta here before I punish ya fer keepin' me in dis position fer so long!"

"Oh, ah, right!"

I swiftly let her be after that.