Sand is not a pale tan color. I haven't seen such a color on a beach for years.

The sands I've seen are shiny black, glittering particles providing mists of mythical sights along with a crystal clear beach. My parents were born on the same island, one with a volcano bleeding the beaches midnight. The Caribbean is a complicated place, and my mother had been lucky enough to adventure to the United States and live however she wanted before having four children.

Now, she only has three.

There should not be beaches after death. Ocean waves and brighter sun rays. This doesn't belong to my personal memories. I do not understand nor deserve this sight. I also know I am not visible, judging by the lack of sunlight on black-brown skin, or the feeling of warmth. Regardless, I am still me, and I am conscious in a place I should not be.

Someone else is here. I shall be very, very quiet and still.

A pink and white rabbit barrels out of nowhere, skirting onto the sand and appearing utterly horrified.

"Is anyone there?! Please, respond!" Her voice is shrill, panicked. The sense of urgency is enough to carve dread down my back. "Please, you got to come out! I-I don't know if you're hostile but…Please speak!" She squeaks, hasty, fearful.

I cannot voice my confusion nor can I talk. All I can do is observe. And all I see is a dysfunctional rabbit.

"Oh...Oh no…" The rose monstrosity whimpers. "T-This is bad," Her flip-flop ears wobble and twitch. "I can't see you but I know you're here. This place is dangerous." A rabbit trembling in fear isn't the most ridiculous sight. "You're not one of my students. I can't stop him from harming you!" She straightens, small Pikachu-like height and all. "But I can hide you! S-So, please. Please show yourself." The rabbit pleads, further dragging my conscious for her pathetic display.

"Puhuhu...Silly Little Sister!"

The rabbit shrieks. There's a monochrome bear approaching with a paw on his mouth.

He's (she's?) familiar. I know that bear. An icon somewhere in my memories.

"Hiding something? Someone? I thought you knew! I'm in control now. Whatever you do…" Through a swipe in the air, the rabbit is smacked to the floor with a shout. In the bear's hand, a large hammer. "Is useless! Sit down and stay, Annoying Sister!"

"Uwah! That hurt!"

"Now then Monomi...Where's that bug?" The bear chirps, bossy, and cheerful all in one.

"Y-You can't!" The rabbit, Monomi cries.

"Ohh, so there is one!" Monokuma laughs, loud and repetitive. His name comes like saltwater, a bitter pleasant relief of memory. "I knew I felt an intruder! I'm just about done with all these Future Foundation pansies trying to destroy my work," There's a pause, a sluggish, waiting pause as Monokuma peers in a certain direction. He's silent, still, and soon tilts his head. "Hey…" He greets. "You're trespassing on the wrong island, 'Bub."

I didn't mean to. Frankly, I do not know where I am. Where am I, to end up this far?

"Hear that, Monomi? It clearly talks to smart people! And you're an idiot so of course, it didn't talk to ya!" Monokuma chuckles.

"Uwah…" Monomi sniffles. "I was only trying to help you,"

"Shut it!" Monokuma easily kicks her, and she squeaks. The rabbit cowers. "You, Bug." The bear demands. "Why are you invisible? Are you that weak of a bug? Even me, a great ol' virus can do better. Who made ya?"

My mother did.

"We have too many smartasses here already for you to go pulling this shit." Monokuma sighs. "But I don't think you're from the same dorky organization Monomi is with." The bear straightens. "I've been bored you know! I'm so beary glad you showed up," In the sunlight, the hammer glints. "Those students of mine haven't started the killing game yet!" He whines, his teeth on one side widening. "Which is why I can bash you as a warm-up!"

May I ask you not to?

"Nope!" Monokuma waves the hammer. "This will be over in a moment!"

Monomi squeaks. She tackles him, regardless of his shout. This was the only chance given to escape.

Hesitation vanishes as I zoom forward to escape a crazed bear hellbent on punishment. It's a familiar feeling, running through a nightmare but managing to push past the force dragging one's legs. It's weird but welcoming all the same. I may not be properly seen but I also do not want to perish to the famous bear with a stickler for rules.

"Hey. Hey!" Monokuma snarls but he's a blur behind my back as I pedal to the metal in the form of invisible winds. "Stupid Monomi, get off!"

There's no need to look back at the sound of a thud and a cry. The swiftly following paw steps are a recurring nightmarish adventure.

Unlike most of the population, I am a master of Hide and Seek. I have become the tree, the bark has become me.

I am the roots, and this bear has nothing on the seeds.

"Where are ya?! Come out! I promise it won't hurt! I'm a bear of my word!" When Monokuma brushes past the hiding spot, the chance is taken. "Hey!" Oh, so he noticed the change of the wind. Underestimating him would be lethal if I weren't already aware of his status.

A hammer swings and my invisible body dodges in time. Suspicion bleeds forward as I look on for a further escape route in this preferred grace period.

Searing pain flashes across invisible skin. The urgency to collapse skyrockets but willpower shoves off claws.

"Oh?" Monokuma hums. "Could it be, you're more of a foreign malware bug?" His claws were floating around 1's and 0's at an alarming rate.

A feint. A true fighter it seems. This was not looking good. My side, my side hurts…

"Guess that doesn't matter." A red-eye gleams, and in return, silent vows to tear this brat to shreds raids my fleeting senses. "You might pose a problem for this game. Be a good insect and vanish!" The hammer is coming. It wants to end my current new existence. Me. A person who left the world too early. Slow-motion, this was. A horrible sense of deja vu.

Ah.

I see you.

An unaware young man is strolling the growth. Emerald eyes and a piece of unnatural hair sticking at the top of his head.

Someone else is preferred, anyone but he and the Hope Maniac was preferred.

However, the hammer was getting closer, and I wasn't about to die to a malicious monochrome bear.

Tag, you're it.

I leap, escaping the weapon as it crashes against the ground. Next is the lunge, and as I tackle the young man from the side, instinct digs in without remorse.

Hajime Hinata chokes on whatever breath he held. The young man freezes, unable to move as foreign invisible fingers dig and dig. He falls to the ground like a heap of fallen apples. Panic races across his face. Hajime has no idea what's happening. It's best he does not.

Entering someone else's mind without permission is painful. I could almost feel guilt down the nonexistent droplets of sweat. Regardless, my willpower is stronger than his.

He screams as I plunge into his subconscious, away from everything, and everyone. This must be agony for him, poor Hajime. He'll get over it.

The world falls away.

There is no longer a fake beach and sunny skies. Only darkness and the pleasant silence which came without it.

Safety.

...Wait. There's someone else here.

"Did I wake you? Your ruby eyes are truly colorful." My voice is a clash to the quiet. Regret pours immediately. Thoughts had become words. Words had spilled before the yearning to do so was achieved. The stranger had heard.

Ah. He's approaching in swift steps.

Hopefully, this can be solved without violence.