Chapter 1: This Could Be Anywhere In The World (Daily Life 2)

Junichi woke up in what felt like a nightmare. He was laying in the center of the large dining hall in a massive pile of his own blood. The last thing he remembered was intense pain, and now his entire upper body was unclothed and covered in blood-soaked bandages. He had a drip connected to one of his arms filled with more blood. Junichi could only assume that he was getting a blood transfusion.

The next thing he noticed, was the horrible pain he was in. "AAAAAHHHH!" he screamed out.

"You need to calm down, Junichi. The medication should be entering your system soon." said the woman with long blue-violet hair in a Monokuma-themed doctor's coat and red scarf. "If you start moving, you could aggravate the wound."

"I... I don't know what's happening." Junichi said, trying to ignore the pain. He looked over to see a Monokuma in a janitor's uniform, dipping a mop into a bucket of soapy water before pushing the wet mop against the streak of blood on the floor. The Janitor Monokuma looked at Junichi with an annoyed glance before turning back to mopping up Junichi's blood, smearing the blood around rather than actually cleaning it.

"You were injured trying to stop your friend from being executed." the doctor explained.

"Did I do it?" Junichi asked

"You did." She stated simply, Junichi sighing in relief. "I guess Monokuma lost interest in harming her after you got injured. So you did manage to do that, but you almost were killed in the process." She explained, holding a hand out.

"I nearly died, huh…" Junichi said, gazing emptily at one of his pale looking hands.

"That black spike that shot through your body? It was threaded between two major arteries of your heart, called the Subclavian Artery. It connects your heart to the vessels in your shoulders and arms. If it was moved one millimeter in either direction, it would sever the artery and you would have bled to death in 2 minutes." She explained. "You still required a transfusion of about 4 pints of blood from your injuries."

"R-really?" Junichi asked.

"Strangely, the spike threaded the hole in your clavicle and scapula. It came out between your ribs. No bones were broken, and no arteries were pierced. The only damage was to the soft tissue and the intercostal muscles, that and one of your lungs were bruised from the abrasion damage. It's.. almost miraculous, really." She explained, looking at her clipboard.

"Whoa… how did I… Wait, seriously?" Junichi said, stunned.

"Honestly, if you had no choice but to be impaled through your torso, this is probably the best possible outcome." She added. "Though, soft tissue damage and torn muscle is no joke. Your left arm won't function well for a few weeks, and you'll probably not be fully healthy again for a while after that."

"It still hurts a lot, but now that you've explained what happened.. I feel kind of lucky it isn't any worse," Junichi said, the doctor giving a low chuckle.

"Perhaps there is some merit in your selection as the Ultimate Lucky Student," she said. Grabbing a piece of fabric and looping it on Junichi's collar bone. It was a sling, she gripped his injured left arm, and pulled it into the sling in front of his chest. "You'll have to go one-handed for a while." She informed him. "At least a week before I think it's okay for you to use that arm again. And then afterward, you'll only be able to lift 10 kilograms in that arm and no more until you're fully healed."

"Ten kilograms…?" Junichi asked, the doctor sighing. The Janitor Monokuma soon pulled out a bucket of sawdust, using it to sponge up the blood-soaked water.

"I thought they taught metric in middle schools… 10 kilograms is a little over 20 pounds. At the most, you could probably hold a bucket of water in that arm." She explained. "Though you use your entire body when you lift something, so I advise you not to lift 10 kilograms or more in general."

"Oh…" Junichi said with an awkward chuckle. "What if I told you my grades weren't great?" He said, scratching some of his hair, looking at his arm and realizing he was sleeveless. In fact, he wasn't wearing a shirt at all. "Where's my hoodie?"

"I had to cut it up before I operated." She explained. "Manipulating you would have caused further injury, especially with how close that spike was to your major arteries. Cutting your clothes off means I can keep you still and still operate. "Your hoodie would have been destroyed anyway."

"Well, crap… guess I'm just gonna have to go shirtless, huh?" Junichi asked.

"Nope. Mr. Monokuma has supplied spare clothes for everyone in the Hanging Garden in their bedrooms." the doctor explained. "This should include plenty of copies of your jacket."

"Wait, how did he do that? How did he get my measurements?" Junichi asked.

"I had Kageri measure you the night we knocked you out!" Monokuma announced, ripping off his janitor's coat and throwing down his hat. "The Janitor Monokuma was the regular Monokuma the whole time!"

"...What?" Junichi asked

"Fun fact. Monokumas are Monokuma, funny that!" Monokuma said, pointing a finger to the ceiling.

"...Whatever, I guess."

"Ya know, I find it funny you didn't ask how we knew your blood type for that transfusion!"

Junichi looked over at his IV drip, Kageri quickly removing it so he could freely walk around the room. Junichi tried to stand up, but his legs immediately buckled and he fell back on the ground.

"Wait, you said you had Kageri measure me. Who's Kageri?" Junichi asked.

"That would be me. Dr. Kageri Saito, Head of MonoMedicine.

Kageri Saito: Head of MonoMedicine

"Oh… ehehehe, sorry. I probably didn't hear your name while I was screaming in agony." Junichi said sheepishly.

"It's fine. And yes, I did measure your body and the other's to make sure the clothes fit you all properly." Kageri said, helping Junichi back to his feet. "You might need help making it back to your room, so I'll offer you my shoulder," she said, Junichi nodding and turning back to Monokuma.

"Who are you supposed to be, anyway?" he asked.

"A mascot, that's all," Monokuma said matter-of-factly.

"But you can reply to me, you have to be controlled by someone…" Junichi surmised.

"I'm just somebody who thinks that people like you shouldn't exist!" Monokuma exclaimed, pointing a finger at Junichi.

"W-what?" Junichi asked, shocked.

"You're the wrong kind of hope, Junichi. I could explain… but I won't." Monokuma started, his playful tone fading. "My mission is to fix that and make the world a better place."

"The wrong kind of hope? I'm not any kind of hope! I'm just a normal guy! It's not like… It's not like I want to make the world a worse place. I just hang out and play video games most of the time. I have C+ grades! My mom taught me how to cook! I like manga! Nothing about me is anything special, or different. What kind of important person would be that needlessly average!?" Junichi shouted in confusion, though his exhaustion was making him start to gasp for air between sentences.

"Makoto Naegi," Monokuma said simply.

"The headmaster? What about him has to do with me?" Junichi asked.

"He was exactly like you. You look almost exactly like him, barring the red hair. You and he have so much in common, he spoke the same way about himself. He was the Ultimate Lucky Student, just like you. You even sound almost like him..." Monokuma said, counting on several fingers. "You're a Makoto ripoff, Junichi. I expect the same thing from you that I saw from him."

"I don't get it. You're implying I'm going to headmaster Hope's Peak? Why would I be interested in that!?"

"It made me realize that this whole thing is a cycle. And… another Makoto? Another one, really? Seeing you made me angry, angry enough to stick you in a killing game because I want to break that cycle. But not just any killing game… My killing game. A killing game… to save the world."

"How is killing supposed to save the world?" Junichi asked, very confused.

"Hey, no spoiler questions!" Monokuma said, jabbing a finger at Junichi. "Anyway, this big bear's got some thangs to do, so I'll see ya later!"

"Anyway… your prescription to deal with the pain is in your dorm room, so walking you to it has two purposes." Kageri said. "You need to take two capsules every 12 hours. One at breakfast, and one before bed. The pain should be dulled enough that you'll be fine unless you overexert yourself."

"So, I'll be good?" Junichi asked as he and Kageri walked to the dining hall door.

"Yes, as long as you aren't overexcited by outside-" Kageri said as she opened the door.

"Hiiii, JUNICHI~" Surumi exclaimed from the doorway, leaning from the side about a foot away from his face.

"Daaaaah! H-Holy shit!" Junichi screamed out, grabbing his chest from the pain his panic caused, he stumbled back and began to fall until Kageri caught him.

"...Stimuli." Kageri said with a sigh. "Surumi, Junichi nearly died. Are you sure you should startle him?"

"...Oh. I'm sorry, Junichi. I was just happy to see you were standing again." Surumi

"I-it's alright, just… don't do that again." Junichi said, holding a hand over his bandaged-over chest, his heart already pounding.

"Are you sure you're alright? Most humans aren't back up four hours after being impaled."

"I'm an expert surgeon, Surumi. I could re-attach Junichi's head to his neck with only a five-minute window." Kageri said.

".. My head didn't fall off, right? I hope not..." Junichi said.

"No. Now, come along." Kageri said, nudging him along the hall to the elevator. Surumi skipped along after them. As the three entered the elevator, Junichi began to think.

"So, you work for Monokuma, right?" Junichi asked.

"That's right," Kageri said with a nod.

"So, he thinks I'm ruining the world or something, but you seem so chill compared to him. Do you hate me too?"

"Of course not. I simply work for Mr. Monokuma. I retain my duties as a doctor first and foremost."

"Then wouldn't you have an opinion on trapping a bunch of 16 and 17-year-olds in a hotel to kill each other?" Junichi asked.

"There's not much I can do about that, unfortunately," Kageri said. "I will certainly do my best to prevent your deaths if you come to me, but otherwise I am to not in any way interfere with the Killing Suite."

"So, why work for him?" Junichi asked.

"It wasn't a choice I made willingly. None of the staff are here of their own volition." Kageri explained as the elevator came to a stop. "Some are… different than I. I assume you've met someone like that."

"Hojo?" Junichi asked since he was the first person to come to mind.

"He's certainly different from a lot of us," Kageri said in agreement as the doors opened. The three walked down the hall, stopping at Junichi's room.

"Here, allow me, Junichi. Dr. Saito." Surumi said, walking up to the door. She bent her knee at an angle, ripping the fastening of her sandal, pulling it through the loop and letting the sandal drop to the floor. "Hrm… I always hate having to turn doorknobs. Never as easy as door handles." she said as she made several awkward attempts to grab onto the doorknob with her foot.

"I hope your feet are clean," Junichi said, not wanting to touch that doorknob now.

"Of course they are! I have an attachment to my host body's limbs, cleanliness is important." Surumi said. "Now, let's see… aha!" Surumi said triumphantly. Through sheer determination and a touch of lunacy, Surumi managed to open the door, rearing back her foot to gently kick it open in full. "Victorious!"

"...Kay." Junichi said, kind of baffled. "So… this is my room?"

"Mhm. Now, please lay down on the bed." Kageri said, guiding him to the bed. "Surumi, check the dresser for one of Junichi's jackets."

Surumi nodded and gave a strange three-fingered hand gesture; only her index, middle and pinky fingers held up. Surumi skipped over to the dresser, opening up while Kageri worked to remove Junichi's arm from his sling.

"You'll need someone to help you in and out of your sling when changing," Kageri said, undoing the knot on his sling and letting his arm fall to the bed. Junichi winced slightly as Surumi looked through the dresser.

"So, this black T-shirt and the hooded sweatshirt with the 21 on it, right?" Surumi asked.

"Yeah… holy crap, did he really make that many jackets?" Junichi asked, lifting his head slightly to see a dresser full of hoodies.

"I think my boss more likely just bought copies of the same jacket online, instead of making them themselves." Kageri pointed out.

"Oh… well, that makes sense." Junichi said as Surumi walked over, throwing Junichi a shirt. Junichi lifted the T-shirt and slid his good arm into it, putting his head into the hole and try to get his other arm into it without lifting it. Surumi joined in, carefully moving the armhole close to Junichi's arm.

"Thanks," Junichi said, sliding his wounded arm through the hole before reaching for his jacket and sliding his arms into each sleeve. "Can you pull this onto my shoulders, Surumi?" he asked her. Surumi nodding and grabbing the hood of the jacket to slide it up his arms and onto his shoulders.

"Like that?"

"Yeah, thanks." Junichi started, reaching down to partially zip it up. "You're kind of strange, but I'm glad there are at least some nice people in this place."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah, I don't mind people being strange if they're alright people. I'm kind of used to being friends with the outcasts back in middle school." Junichi said as Kageri began to reset his sling.

"So, why do I need this sling?" Junichi asked.

"To keep you from tearing your pectoral muscle again while it heals. Your arm is fine, but slings are for shoulder and chest injuries, not arm injuries." Kageri explained, Junichi taking off his hat with one hand so he could adjust it. She tossed a small bottle onto his bed. "I'll leave you to rest. Don't overexert yourself, Mr. Ando."

"Will do," Junichi said as Kageri grabbed her bag and headed out of his room. Junichi turned to see Surumi leaning in very close to his face. "...Can I help you?"

"...I never noticed you had a small antenna sticking from your head." Surumi said, poking at a long stand of crooked hair at the top of his head.

"...Huh? Oh, that." Junichi said with a laugh. "My beanie messes up my hair, so I kind of stopped bothering combing it since it's gonna mess it up anyway."

"I see…" Surumi said, poking at his hair still.

"Can... can you not do that?" Junichi asked. "It's just hair, I don't have an antenna in there or anything."

"You don't? Well, that's disappointing." Surumi said with a pout. "I thought you would be anything besides normal from what the other human Ultimates are like," Surumi said, face shifting to a playful smile. "I thought you were in control of some kind of drone system!"

"Sorry to disappoint you," Junichi said, putting his hat back on his head. "I can't control drones or anything." He said, pulling it down low enough to line his face with his messy red hair. "I'm just a normal kid, with normal pants," he added with a chuckle.

"Perhaps in terms of biology and physiology, yes, but I would say you're an exceptional being in other ways," Surumi replied, smiling at him. "It is rare for humans to be so accepting and understanding of my situation, so to find someone who doesn't ridicule me... "

"I mean, you're a bit weird, but you're not an asshole or anything… You have to piss me off before I'd dislike you." Junichi said. "I'm not swarming with friends or anything… Even in middle school. Why would I be picky when it comes to who I can be friends with?" He asked, getting a quiet stare from Surumi.

"I'm just saying, Surumi… If we're both gonna be in the weirdo club, screw it, we might as well stick together!" Junichi said, giving a thumbs up. Surumi smiled and returned the thumbs up.

"Yeah!" Surumi exclaimed.

"Screw it, The Weirdo Club is here to stay," Junichi said. Surumi reached into her pocket and grabbed Junichi's beanie, pinning something onto it.

"What are you doing?" Junichi asked, Surumi turning to face him and revealing a pin she had placed on the hat. It was dark blue, with what appeared to be alien writing on the front that was a bright shade of green.

"This is a badge considering you a peacekeeper in the Intergalactic Federation! I felt like you deserve it for your kindness." Surumi said.

"Oh, that's cool! Did you make it?" Junichi asked, Surumi nodding. "What's it mean?"

"It's the Four Oaths of the Intergalactic Federation: Unity, Freedom, Knowledge, and Hope!" Surumi exclaimed.

"I see…" Junichi said before shrugging and putting the beanie on. "Well, I think it looks neat."

"Thank you," Surumi said, a soft growl hitting their ears. "Hrm… My host body is becoming weaker. Perhaps some nutrient slurry would be useful…"

"...Nutrient slurry?" Junichi asked, tilting his head slightly.

"Yes! Nutrient slurry for sustenance! We require nutrient slurry to feed our squishy organic bio-forms!" Surumi exclaimed. "Especially in the liquid form contained in silver pouches!"

"Like… like a juice packet?" Junichi asked, trying to decipher Surumi's bizarre proclamations.

"Exactly! You can drink it through your teeth!" Surumi said.

"Well, it wouldn't hurt to have something with these," Junichi said, shaking his pill bottle. "Swallowing pills without something to drink is awful."

Surumi nodded and skipped over to do the door, opening it to see Asana in the doorframe. "Ah, good evening, Asana!"

"Yo, Junichi alive in there?"

"Yeah, somehow," Junichi said, walking up to the door, putting his uninjured arm against the door to show the sling he was wearing.

"Goddamn, Red. I thought you were going to be out at least a week with getting a spear put in you." Asana said. "Guess they don't call you the Ultimate Lucky Student for nothing,"

"I'm gonna be hearing that a lot, huh?" Junichi said, Asana giving a lighthearted chuckle.

"Maybe," she said. "Anyway, I'm here to thank you for saving my ass."

"Huh? ..Oh, right." Junichi said. "Well... I didn't really think about what was happening. I thought something bad was gonna happen and just jumped out."

"I'll admit, maybe I could've dodged it since I noticed it too… But you tried to help even though you didn't have a reason to care. That takes a very special kinda person." Asana said.

"Honestly, I thought you were gonna call me an idiot," Junichi said. "Cuz I feel… really like an idiot for knowing you could have avoided it."

"I don't care how stupid or smart someone is. I care about what they got inside. Their guts, ya know? You seem to be a pretty normal dude, but you have some fucking courage deep in you and I respect that." Asana said. "Besides, if anyone was the idiot there, it was me. I lost my shit and went for that bear robot thing as hard as I could. I thought he was messing with us.. I didn't think he was for real! He's… a stupid bear thing. How am I supposed to take that seriously?"

"I guess we have no choice but to treat that seriously… But," Junichi said, looking away. "Thanks for saying I'm brave… I don't really do that kind of thing, though… I probably wouldn't do it again, to be honest." he said sheepishly.

"Not judging you, you sort of got impaled. I just.. Feel bad I almost got you killed, dude." she said, scratching the back of her head. "So, what're you nerds up to?" Asana asked.

"We are on a journey for sustenance!" Surumi chirped.

"Yeah, gettin' food," Junichi said, acting as Surumi's interpreter.

"Hell yeah! I've been doing a run around these halls and I could totally use something to fill my stomach!" Asana said, pumping her fist.

"I would thoroughly enjoy a juice pouch of human nourishment of the red flavor," Surumi said.

"Want to haul some ass to the dining hall, Junichi?" Asana offered, jogging in place for emphasis.

"Not sure that's a good idea, Six or so hours after being impaled," Junichi said

"How about you, Surumi? Wanna race me?" Asana asked, Surumi shaking her head.

"I'd rather stay behind to make sure Junichi makes it to the dining hall safely," Surumi said, Asana shrugging.

"Alright, nerds. I'll see ya at the elevator," Asana said, charging to the elevator.

"She's taking to being trapped in here like a waterfowl to a large pool of dihydrogen monoxide."

"...What?" Junichi asked, confused.

"Come along, Junichi. To the elevator!" Surumi exclaimed, pointing her finger down the hall. She took his hand as the two walked their way down. Junichi tripped a few times, Surumi supporting his weight as they made it into the elevator.

"About time. What took you two?" Asana said, pressing the button for the 18th floor as the door shut.

"Sorry, didn't tie my shoes. Don't think I can. Surumi, could you tie my shoes for me?" Junichi asked.

"Ah, sorry. This host body has difficulty tying knots." Surumi said with a bow.

"You're kidding…" Junichi said, the elevator heading down, the doors closing and their weight shifting in the lift.

"I have no reason to jest, Junichi. It's why I always wear sandals." Surumi said.

"You have like… three different reasons you wear sandals." Junichi pointed out.

"I'm multifaceted," Surumi said with a coy smile.

"Hold on, lemme do this," Asana said, bending down to tie Junichi's shoelaces, each one with a simple double loop with little or no string left over to trip him or flop off the sides of his shoes. "Boom."

"Thanks," Junichi said as the elevator came to a stop, the doors sliding open. They headed for the dining hall, seeing Touki heading back from that way. "Yo, what's up, Touki?"

"Oh snap! Welcome back to the land of the living, Junichi!" Touki exclaimed, putting a hand up for Junichi to high-five.

"Thanks, bro," Junichi said, giving Touki a high-five. "You getting some food too, dude?"

"Yeah… about that. You bled a lot… And apparently, they have to shampoo the carpets to get rid of the stains." Touki said, adjusting his cap with his gloved hands. "And Monokuma says they haven't got their food order, so even when they get the place clean, we're gonna be waiting a while."

"He trapped us in here and won't even give us food?"Junichi asked.

"He says he's gonna have a big banquet in a few days to make up for it," Touki said with a shrug. "Anyway, I was gonna check out the Mini Mall. You wanna come with?"

"Wait, this hotel has a mini-mall?" Junichi asked.

"Yeah, Monokuma said he wasn't gonna open that floor, but he opened it up to apologize for the food shortage," Touki explained.

"But won't a mini-mall require currency?" Surumi asked, Touki reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small handful of copper coins with Monokuma's face emblazoned onto them on both sides.

"While I was waiting for you to wake up, I found a few of these in random places like trash cans and between couch cushions. I asked Monokuma about them and said they're called Monocoins." Touki explained. "He said they're for the Mini Mall, the Arcade and Casino and for the vending machines. He also said something about a Mono MaKeen? I dunno what that was about…"

"I haven't seen them around here…"

"They're everywhere if you look. Mostly under chairs and tables. I'd also check behind paintings and under any decorations you see." Touki explained.

"So, if I just start smashing up furniture, I'll find money?" Asana asked, cracking her knuckles with a wicked smile.

"I don't think Monokuma will like you more if you start obliterating his furniture " Touki commented. "He also said something about inflation affecting the prices of goods, and boasting that you only need 3 Monocoins to buy a meal and not 450 yen."

"...Why would a talking bear care about economics? What is it, bearconomics?" Asana asked.

"...Hey, Touki, you got any spare Monocoins?" Junichi asked, Touki tossing his handful to Junichi.

"Heck yeah, dude. I got too many. I hate having coins in my pockets, they keep jingling when I walk and the coins hit against my thighs every step." Touki said, Junichi catching the underhanded lob and looking to see about 8 copper colored coins adorned with the bear mascot.

"Screw it, let's go shopping," Junichi announced, pocketing his coins and returning to the elevator.