And now we officially start with the story itself now that everyone is introduced. Hope you all are ready for whoever might be the first to get killed off! Anyways, let's get started!
Chapter 1-1: Pure Love True Hate- Daily Life
Nobody moved for quite some time after Monomaho made her exit, all of the events that just happened running through their minds, as if they would find something that would give it away as some joke.
"I-is this really happening?" Konohana asked.
"Apparently so." Mila said, crossing her arms.
"There has to be some kind of escape, right?" Phoebe asked, grasping at her skirt.
"I doubt it, Ms. Witch's magic backfired when she tried and I doubt any offering I give will result in anything better." Yvette said, rolling her eyes.
Everyone stopped their arguing when Gerald suddenly bursts into tears. "I don't wanna be part of a Killing Game! A-Aren't we supposed to be friends?" She cried, as Hanako cooed soothingly and wrapped her arms around the smaller girl. Call it what you will, but she had grown somewhat fond to the Undead girl beside her.
"And we aren't!" Cora said as she stood up with conviction and determination. "We won't be part of this... disgusting game!" She said. "That cat can't make us kill each other! No matter what!" She exclaimed, trying to motivate the others and it was somewhat working, the oppressing atmosphere around them had lessened.
"Well, there's always the front door." Aster said casually. "Just because magic won't work doesn't mean normal methods won't."
"But Monomaho said that all exits were sealed. Wouldn't that make it impossible to open?" Takeshi asked.
Aster shrugged. "It won't hurt to check... well, it might, but it'll be fun to see how you all react to it."
"Oh, shut up." Kenzo said, glaring at him.
"He does bring up a point though. We could at least go a see for ourselves." Hanako said.
"Right, let's go everyone." Cora said as she lead the group out of the lounge and towards the entrance.
"Oh dear." Phoebe said, shocked.
"How is that possible?" Noburo asked.
"We really are sealed in here, huh?" Hanako said, as they all stared at the wall of thorns that overtook the front door.
"It's just a bunch of thorns." Chase said. "Just chop them down."
"Why don't you do it then?" Kenzo asked.
"That would be rather beneath me. Besides, don't we have some beings who can do that without needing to touch it?" Chase asked.
"No, there's some... foul magic surrounding it. Who knows what may happen if we tried to interfere." Hanako said.
"I have to agree with Ms. Witch." Yvette said as she shuffled her tarot deck and pulled out a card. "It would be rather unfortunate for anyone if they attempted escape."
"It's best if we just avoid it for now." Yuria said.
"Maybe there's another way out of here." Loch suggested, making the others look at him. "What?"
"Something smart actually came from your mouth." Chase said.
"Aside from that, he brings up a good point." Mila said. "That stuffed cat couldn't have sealed away every exit."
"Why don't we split up and search?" Cora suggested.
"Might as well." Aster said before he walked off.
"That was fast." Koichi said, his mask still the blank one.
"I suppose we should follow his example." Phoebe said before the group of students slowly split off to search around the mansion. Hanako was about to walk off herself before she felt a tug on her dress. She looked to see Gerard standing there.
"Can I look around with you?" She asked, her usual self slowly coming back but she was still clearly frightened about the current situation.
"Sure, I don't mind." Hanako smiled before they started their search for a way out. "Perhaps there are some rooms we didn't see when we got here."
"Yeah, maybe." Gerard said, nodding in agreement.
"Come to think of it, I never did find where our bedrooms are." Hanako said, putting a finger to her chin in thought.
"Oh! I know where they are!" Gerard said, jumping in place lightly.
"Well, lead the way then." Hanako said, smiling lightly at seeing the other being back to her usual self.
"Okay!" Gerard said before she ran off, making Hanako run after her to keep up as they went down the halls.
Hanako followed the Undead around various turns until they stopped in front of a pair of double doors with a sign above them reading 'Guest Quarters'.
"Huh, so this is where our rooms are." Hanako mused.
"Yep!" Gerard said from right beside Hanako, startling her a bit. Seems like the smaller girl's fear is still present, which is understandable in this situation. "Here, let's head inside!" Gerard said as she pushed the doors open to reveal a small common room with a hallway on each side of it.
"Do you know which way my room is?" Hanako asked.
"Oh yeah! All the girl's rooms and to the right and all the boy's rooms are to the left." Gerard said.
"Why is it set up like that?" Hanako wondered before a puff of smoke appeared beside them, causing Gerard to cling to Hanako again as Monomaho appeared.
"Oh, that has a simple reason. Makes it easier for slumber parties, don't you think~?" Monomaho said. "All you girls getting together, doing each other's make-up, exchanging gossip, plan a murder~"
"Would you stop that? We aren't going along with your game." Hanako said.
"If you're so sure~" Monomaho giggled. "Some of the others might not be so resolute~" The cat giggled again before she disappeared again in a puff of smoke.
"If it wasn't so insulting I would be impressed by her magic." Hanako said.
"A slumber party sounds nice, though." Gerard said. "But with everyone."
"Maybe, but let's continue looking around first." Hanako said.
"Okay." Gerard said before they left the Guest Quarters and continued down the hall. The same pattern continued down it until an out of place door soon came into view, the door looked like a traditional classroom door, even built like it would open like it would in school, oddly enough.
"What's a door like this doing here?" Hanako asked as Gerard looked at it, curious.
"I'm glad you asked!" Monomaho said as she appeared again with a poof of smoke. "This is an entrance to an Ultimate Lab, a room specially designed for one of you to hone your Talent. This is still a class you know, can't stop learning~!"
"So, does that mean there's one for everyone?" Gerard asked.
"Why yes~ Unfortunately, not all of them are complete yet. So most of you will have to wait." Monomaho explained. "Anyways, if that's all, I'll be going~!" The cat said before she disappeared again.
"Should we go inside?" Gerard asked.
"Well, I guess it couldn't hurt." Hanako said as she reached for the door and opened it.
The room itself looked like a traditional Japanese classroom, although it only had one desk, but with everything else needed and several additions, a small lab area in the corner, a wall of text books and other literature, a chalkboard covered in math formulas and the like.
"This must be Konohana's Lab. It would fit with her Talent after all." Hanako said as Gerard hopped over to the lab area and looked over everything there.
"Huh, I didn't think they would be this accurate about this..." Konohana said as she stepped into the room.
"When did you get here?" Hanako asked, watching as Konohana seemed to be staring at something but she couldn't figure out what exactly it was.
"Something told me there was a surprise for me nearby, so I follow it." Konohana explained as she walked up to the desk.
"And that something would be?" Hanako asked, hoping for an answer before Konohana suddenly let out a squeal and went towards the wall of books and pulled out one.
"Yes, a mythology book! I just love reading all the stories about the gods, like the one with Susano-o..." Konohana continued on with her stories, completely lost in her world.
Hanako sighed but her lips quirked up a bit when she saw Gerard listening intently to what Konohana was telling her. "Well, she should be able to distract her at least." She said before she stepped out of the Lab, letting the two enjoy each other's company as she continued on.
"How many more Labs are open right now?" Hanako asked herself as she walked, before she stopped when she heard more voices ahead.
She headed towards the voices to see a door to another Ultimate Lab that was slightly open, the door itself looked rather magical in design, but it followed a certain theme as some of the design on it looked voodoo in nature.
"This must be Yvette's Lab, since the door looks specialised for a certain kind of magic." Hanako said to herself as she pushed the door open fully.
The room itself looked like a traditional witch doctor's set up, with various tools and items set up all over the room and at the center was a table was sitting with Yvette going through her deck of tarot cards with Aster and Koichi watching.
"Damn it!" Yvette yelled as she dropped the cards. "Nothing is changing in the cards, we're stuck here. And there isn't an offering I can give to the Loa that will even remotely change it."
"Trying to see if you would get a new reading?" Hanako asked as she walked up to the group.
Koichi quickly changed their mask to a surprised one with yellow features as they turned to face Hanako. "When did you get here?"
"Just a moment ago."
"It's none of your business but yes I was." Yvette said as she gathered her cards.
"I don't see why everyone's so desperate to get out of here so bad." Aster said, making the others look at him. "There's nothing we can do, so might as well get used to being around each other."
"You can stay here for as much as I care, but I want to leave." Yvette said.
"Then kill someone." Aster countered, making the others freeze.
"Y-you can't be serious. Why would I do something as stupid as that?" Yvette demanded.
"You were the one who said you wanted to get so badly. I'm just giving you the only option we have available." Aster shrugged.
"That is not our only option." Hanako said, glaring lightly at Aster. "We will not resort to following that cat's rules."
Aster hummed a bit as he stared back at her. "Hm, I can see you're determined about that. I'll give you props for that." He said before he headed towards the door. "But can we say the same for anyone else here? I would watch my back if I was you." He advised before he left.
"He knows how to liven up a room, huh?" Hanako said after a few moments of silence.
"If you say so." Koichi said as they quickly changed to their default mask.
"Whatever. You two get out of here, you're messing with my concentration." Yvette said, waving them away.
"Fine." Koichi said as they headed out the door, Hanako shrugging and following them.
"Oh!" Hanako said as she remembered something, stopping Koichi from going any further down the hall. "Gerard and I were discussing the idea of having a slumber party in a few nights. You interested?"
"Perhaps, thanks for thinking about inviting me." Koichi said as they switched to their happy mask. "Since you did that, I'll help spread the word and see who else wants to join."
"Thanks, that would help." Hanako said, watching as Koichi waved before disappearing down the hall.
"With that going around, that should take everyone's minds off our situation for a bit. Now, who should I try to find?" Hanako said to herself as she continued walking.
Okay, and here we are with the beginning of the first chapter! Sorry if this took so long, I hit a bit of a slump when it came to how to start this. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this chapter and see you all next time!