"It was certainly nice of Enoshima-San to invite us to this," Kaede said as the 48 Hopes were all dressed up in their best outfits for the party.
"My sister always has to be the center of attention. It's how she's managed to get this far in the fashion business." Mukuro said as she was at a table with Ibuki, Sayaka, and Chihiro.
"Man, Ibuki really wishes to be the one on stage. But Ibuki is sure that Junk-in-the-Trunk will be amazing!" Ibuki pouted.
"Please don't word it like that..." Mahiru sighed from her table with Mikan, Hiyoko, and Miu. "It's bad enough trying to keep Natsumi and Sato from killing each other. At least Hajime is handling things well."
"Oh, I've never been to one of these 'nightclubs' before! How thrilling!" Sonia said as she sat with Kazuichi, Gonta, and Gundam.
"Hey, does anyone know if Ben is gonna show up?" Hajime asked as he sat with Makoto, his younger sister Komaru, and Toko.
Komaru was a girl with short, dark brown hair with a tint of green and de-saturated green eyes. She also sports an ahoge, similar to that of her brother's.
"M-Maybe he chickened out...Not that I can blame him really..." Toko muttered as she fidgeted to herself.
"Come on, Toko. Chin up. Maybe he's just running late." Komaru reassured. Komaru and Toko had actually been friends before the year began, Komaru even moving into the Reserve Course from her old school at St. Koa Girls Academy to hopefully be closer with her friend as well as her brother.
Suddenly, a car horn was heard before the front doors swung open as a tall lanky figure stepped in. His bright yellow zoot suit and inkblot tie made him stand out but his spikey black hair and green face were the real eyecatchers.
"How-Do?"
The strange figure strutted down to the bar area and hopped into one of the stools, spinning around in it before stopping by propping his feet on the table leisurely. The bartender huffed in annoyance but cheered up when the figure took out a wad of hundreds and tossed it to him.
"What do you want, sir?"
"Give me a Green Christmas, no ice."
"As you wish."
"Who's that guy?" Leon asked as the 48 Hopes were all currently looking at the strange figure. Mikan stared in recognition as Hiyoko noticed her.
"Hey, Pig Barf! What's got you staring at that weirdo?"
"H-He saved me a few days ago. I was jumped in an alley b-but he was there!"
"Wait, you're telling me that's the same guy who killed those rapist assholes?" Miu asked as she leaned over Mikan's shoulder. "Besides that green painted face, he's looking pretty smooth."
"Such fascinating features..." Korekiyo hummed, starring in disturbed interest at the figure. "I have never seen any person like that before. No...could it be?"
"Something on your mind, Kiyo?" Kokichi asked while absently stirring his straw around his drink glass.
"Hey, Sato," Hajime said as he turned to Sato. "Doesn't that guy look kinda familiar?"
Sato sat down at Hajime's table as she got a good look at the figure before turning back to her former classmate and shaking her head.
"I think I'd recognize a guy that weird, Hinata-Kun."
Also staring at the bizarre figure was a group of five young adolescents who seemed to be all 8-years old at the most. These were the Warriors of Hope, the adopted younger siblings of Junko and Mukuro as well as friends of Komaru and Toko and also currently the only students of Hope's Peaks' Elementary Course.
The leader of the little group was Monaca Towa, the Lil' Ultimate Homeroom. Monaca was a girl with short green hair tied with a red ribbon and matching eyes with a distinct manji pattern as the iris and wore a knee-length dress with a decal of a pelvis and spine on its back. She was also in a high-tech wheelchair.
Next was Nagisa Shingetsu, the Lil' Ultimate Social Studies. Nagisa was a boy with short blue hair with cowlicks that are in the shape of cat ears. His eyes are a lighter blue and have diamonds representing the irises. He wore a light grey plaid jacket over a blue shirt, and shorts that match the jacket. He also wore a brown-orange scarf and a bowtie underneath it.
After that was Masaru Daimon, the Lil' Ultimate PE. Masaru was a boy with tanned skin covered in small bruises and cuts. He has red hair, bushy eyebrows, and blue eyes with a flame pattern iris. He wore white headphones over his ears and a white tank top with a big number 10 on the back. Underneath, he wore a red and black striped shirt as well as matching armbands and socks, blue shorts, and white and red sneakers. He also had a small bandage located above his right knee, and another under his left eye.
Following him was Kotoko Utsugi, the Lil' Ultimate Drama. Kotoko was a girl with ankle-length light pink hair tied into high pigtails and vivid pink eyes with speech bubble-like irises. She wore a hot pink hairband with two horns atop, both bent in and the left one having a white bow with pink polka-dots by its base. She also wore a frilled white shirt that had black outlines by the collar and had a brownish-black jacket that had a light pink bow by the bottom left. The jacket is unbuttoned and a puffy brownish-black skirt which both have pink accents. She also wore mismatched white thigh-high socks with pale pink patterns, one with a criss-cross pattern than the other with a parallel line pattern, and ankle-high boots with the top-edge being pink and white with white bows on each boot and the bases are pale pink with the heels colored hot pink.
Finally, there was Jataro Kemuri, the Lil' Ultimate Arts & Crafts. Jataro was a boy wearing a stitched-together leather mask that hid his cute face. His eyes were grey with scalpel pattern-like irises and he wore a baggy brown dress shirt with a red tie, orange-brown shorts, and a brown apron.
"What a weirdo..." Nagisa said, shaking his head.
"I like him. That suit is really snazzy but the green face ain't adorbs at all!" Kotoko said as she inspected the figure's clothing.
"I feel like he's a nice guy despite how weird he looks..." Jataro shyly said.
"Maybe he's a Superhero in disguise!" Masaru suggested.
Monaca hummed silently as she listened to her friends before checking her phone and finding a message from her father and brother telling her that some of their stocks had been stolen by a green-faced weirdo. A small smile graced her lips, feeling a sense of satisfaction at how it was plain to see that this green-faced charming figure had stolen from her family. However, she wasn't exactly bothered considering how they had treated her.
"Guys! Big Sis Junko is gonna sing now!" Kotoko excitedly said as everybody at the nightclub turned to the main stage, seeing a spotlight shine down as the curtains pulled back, Junko strutting up in a leopard-print cocktail dress with a fur boa around her neck.
"And now, we have the fashion world's rising star; Ms. Junko Enoshima!"
The crowds clapped as smooth seductive jazz music began playing, Junko smirking as she gave a sway of her hips and began to sing.
Love makes me treat you the way
that I do
Gee baby, ain't I good to you?
There's nothing too good for a boy
that's so true
Gee baby, ain't I good to you?
I bought you a fur coat for Christmas,
a diamond ring,
a Cadillac car, and everything
Love makes me treat you the way
that I do
Gee baby, ain't I good to you?
The green-faced figure was sipping his drink before gasping when he noticed Junko singing and swaying on stage. His jaw dropped as his drink spilled out his mouth and onto his pants. He then shot up with a cartoony SPROING, went straight as a needle as he smiled in excitement before giving off a wolf whistle as he smashed his glass over his head.
Love makes me treat you the way
that I do
Gee baby, ain't I good to you?
There's nothing too good
for a man so true
Gee honey, ain't I good to you?
I know how to make a good man happy,
I'll treat you right
with lots of loving just about
every night
Love makes me treat you the way
that I do
Gee baby, ain't I good to you?
Giggling in excitement, the green-faced figure leaned back as he kicked his feet in the air before straightening back up as his head turned into a green version of the Tex Avery Wolf, howling as Junko continued to sing.
I served you candlelit dinners,
and breakfast in bed.
Took your car to be serviced
when your engine went dead
Love makes me treat you the way
that I do
Gee baby, ain't I good to you?
They got me paying taxes for what
I gave to you,
Gee baby, ain't I good to you?
Ben (Come on, we all knew it was him) whistled loudly before taking out a giant hammer and smashing it over his head several times, causing several cartoon bumps to poke out of his hair. He then grabbed his neck and slammed his face into the table as the bartender looked at him like he was insane before he got up and zipped over to the band, striking a pose as the spotlight shined on him.
"What the heck? How did he get there so fast?!" Kazuichi exclaimed as the 48 Hopes couldn't help but stare in confusion. Junko also noticed Ben and even though she didn't recognize him in his transformed state, she had to admit he was dressed pretty nice.
"Who's that good-lookin' guy?" The Ultimate Fashionista chuckled to herself.
"LET'S ROCK THIS JOINT!"
Grabbing the drummer and spinning him around, the man found himself dressed in more jazz-oriented clothing. Admiring his new threads, he began playing a new tune as his bandmates, now dressed similarly to him, began playing along.
Ben skipped down the stairs and then slid up to Junko and took her in a dip before dancing with her as the music began in earnest. The 48 Hopes didn't know why, but they found themselves standing up and joining in the dance.
"HEY PACHUCO!"
Summer '43 the man's gunnin' for me
Blue and white mean war tonight
They say damn my pride and all
The other cats livin' down the east side
Or maybe just my brim's too wide
Hey Marie you better grab my jack
And zip gun for me
'Cause I'll face no shame
Tonight's the night I die for our name
Well I like to be swingin'
Dancin' and singing
Just having a good time
Free to do whatever
Now more than ever
I've got to stick with that gang of mine
Taking a rose in his mouth, Ben took Junko in a lavish tango as she grinned, the two of them gazing into each other's eyes.
"So, wanna tell me your name, stranger?"
"Why ruin the moment, my love? Say, would it be alright if we changed partners?"
"Only if you come back to me."
Ben then let go of Junko, playfully twirling her as he then zipped over to Mukuro, dancing with her next as the Ultimate Soldier flustered, finding herself swept off her feet. One by one, Ben danced with each of the 48 Hopes and even got the Warriors of Hope, Natsumi, Sato, and Komaru into the fun. Finally, he spun back to Junko, taking her in one last dip as they leaned close together.
"Gotta say, you've made tonight infinitely more fun for me. What can I do for ya?"
"How about just a little kiss, sweetums?"
"Wish granted."
Junko grabbed Ben's face and pulled him into a deep, passionate kiss as the crowds went wild. Mukuro, getting over the dancing fever, stared at her sister in shock as she kissed what she thought was an absolute stranger who just showed up and started taking over the joint with his music.
As for Ben, the non-Mask part of him was currently having a panic attack at the fact he was kissing Junko Enoshima herself while his Mask side was enjoying every bit of it. However, the romantic moment was ruined when a gunshot rang out and a bullet impacted Ben's head. Pulling back, Ben tapped his temple before feeling something in his mouth and spitting it out into his hand, revealing it to be the bullet that shot him.
"What the hell?!" Junko barked angrily, pissed at the moment being ruined. "Who killed the moment?!"
Haiji came in, a pistol smoking in his hand as the Towa Security Force came in, all of them ushering for the patrons to not interfere as Haiji approached Ben angrily, Junko sliding out of focus to watch the fireworks go off.
"Alright, you lime-faced son of a bitch! I want to know what you've done with my family's money and I want to know right now!"
"Okay." Ben calmly said as he put on a green eyeshade on his head, a cigarette in his mouth, and an old-fashioned antique cash register, which he began deducting the sums on.
"You've got 17.5% in T-bills amortized over the fiscal year, 8% in stocks and bonds. Carry the 9, divided by the Gross National Product... fortunately, funeral bouquets are deductible."
"SHOOT HIM!" Haiji shouted to the security forces to open fire on Ben, who cackled like a goblin and bounced around as if he was on a super-powered pogo stick, dodging the bullets before spinning around and dressing like a cowboy, taking out a revolver. Haiji quickly drew his gun again and shot the revolver out of Ben's hands before firing a shot right into his chest.
"Ya got me, pardner..." Ben wheezed as he fell to his knees. As Haiji and the Towa Security Force approached him, he reached out to one of the guards and put a hand on his shoulder.
"Hold me closer, Red. It's getting dark." Ben said weakly before coughing. "Tell Auntie Em to let Old Yeller out."
"I will..." The guard said, becoming emotional.
"Tell Tiny Tim I won't be coming 'ome this Christmas." Another round of coughing.
"No! Don't do this! Not to Timmy!"
"Tell Scarlet I DO give a damn." Another bit of coughing, followed by a fart. "Pardon me."
And with that, Ben went limp as the guard bowed his head, holding him close. The other guards wiped tears from their eyes and even Haiji looked emotional...until an Oscar came from out of nowhere which Ben gleefully took.
"THANK YOU! YOU LOVE ME! YOU REALLY LOVE ME!"
"HOW?!" Haiji asked after getting over his shock. "I SHOT YOU RIGHT IN THE DAMN HEART!"
"And you're too blame because you give love a bad name!" Ben retorted, pointing at Haiji before zipping up to him. "Also...I know all about you, Haiji Towa. You like 'em young, huh?"
"W-What? How did you-?!"
"Well, here ya go! As young as you like!"
Ben then pulled out a baby doll and handed it to Haiji, who looked at it in confusion before it opened its arms and grabbed onto his arm. As the Towa Scion tried to shake the doll off, it suddenly started ticking and before anybody could react, it exploded, severely damaging and burning Haiji's arm as he screamed bloody murder, his guards moving to help him as Ben zipped back to the front door.
"Ladies and Gentlemen! For our Grand Finale, I give you; THE ONE-ARMED PEDO!"
Laughing like a maniac, Ben zoomed off into the night as Mikan hurried over to tend to Haiji's wounds. The only ones not freaking out were Junko, Mukuro, the Warriors of Hope, and Komaru.
"Serves that creep right," Mukuro said calmly as Junko was laughing her ass off.
"Oh man, after all the shit he and his asshole dad put Monaca through?! I gotta ask for that green-faced lover boy's number!"
"Whoa! He took down the Demon Brother!" Masaru said as he turned to Monaca. "What do you think, Monaca?"
Seeing her abusive brother writhing in agony on the floor as Mikan patched up his severely mangled arm made Monaca smile. If only someone could give her father similar treatment, then she'd be happier than she'd been ever since she found real friendship in her fellow Warriors of Hope as well as family in Junko, Mukuro, and the Naegi Family.
"Yes, yes, I understand. Just tell me how he's doing and when he gets better." Tokuichi sighed as he finished his call with the hospital before sitting in his chair, rubbing his forehead in stress after he had heard his son had been crippled permanently by the same green-faced maniac who had stolen from them.
"Haiji, you idiot. You should have guessed this lunatic was more dangerous than he let on..."
Suddenly, the doors to his office burst open. Getting on guard, Tokuichi paled in terror when he recognized the green-faced thief and mutilator standing before him, holding a giant muffler in his hands.
"HOLD ON TO YOUR LUGNUTS, IT'S TIME FOR AN OVERHAUL!"
Yipping like a cowboy on crack, the madman spun around in a tornado, kicking up everything in the room as Tokuichi screamed in terror, lightning flashing inside his room as his cries of agony were heard throughout Towa City and beyond.
Next Time: Winding Down at Hope's Peak!
In the next chapter, we shall have more 48 Hopes stuff with Ben included in on the fun as things start to unwind from the events at the Coco Bongo.