I scampered out of the elevator after Akira, "hey, Akira wait for me." I call, getting her attention. She turns to me and stops. Everyone else bustled past until it was just us in the hallway. Akira was quiet until the elevator pinged and the door shut, shaking her out of her stupor.
"Hey Sanyu," she replies quietly, I didn't like how subdued she sounded. Akira may have been reserved in the beginning but after getting to know her, now it just felt wrong.
"Can I talk to you?" I ask, "about what just happened."
She stared for a second before sighing, "ok." Now that I had the go ahead I was lost, I wanted to talk to her but I don't know what to say.
"I guess, uh, I wanted to tell you... that this wasn't your fault," I start, "or well, Yukihiro's choice was, um, her choice?"
Akira shoulders shook and I suddenly had the fear I had made her cry, until I saw her face. She was smiling slyly, "as much fun as it is to hear you scramble your words I don't want to be stuck in the hallway forever," Akira said and began walking, I followed after her, "It's nice that your trying, but I guess I'm just having trouble processing what has happened. I mean it all just hit me, I didn't even vote because it felt so surreal."
"You were one of the two that didn't vote?" I asked shocked.
"It's strange isn't it, for the whole investigation I was fired up to find Yukihiro's killer but once it came down to it, I froze. Just hitting the button made it feel so final, that if I picked Alan it would mean her death was over that the execution would be her conclusion and I guess I didn't want that... I didn't want her memory to end because it had its resolution." Akira went silent, I didn't notice it before but she had put her sunglasses on, so I couldn't see her eyes but I could tell she was tearing up.
"Akira.." I trailed off not knowing what to say to that.
"Ah, Can we just... stay off the topic for now?" She asks, "I can't handle it, not so soon."
"Yeah ok, but if you ever need anyone to talk to I'm here," I reassure, "Yukihiro was my friend too... I think."
"You think?" Akira questioned.
"Well I think of her as a friend but for all I know she could have hated my guts," I joke, Akira stopped walking and turned to me.
"No, she was your friend, and so am I," she reassured right back. Akira's words brought me back to the first case when I was trapped in the storage room with Danny, back then it made me sick to my stomach with nerves, but now the idea isn't so scary, being friends isn't so bad I guess. We start walking again and I notice we are on our way to the dorms.
"Oh, well thanks," I reply.
"That was the most monotone thanks I've ever received," Akira laughed, her laughter was cut short by a startled yell when the whole hallway went black, "what the!?" Just as soon as it happened the light came back.
"Did the power just go out?" I ask in disbelief.
"Yeah I guess it did," Akira replied, "but it wasn't for very long so it probably doesn't matter."
"When I was younger the power would blink out for a second at my house all the time," I say, "though that might have been because our power was being cut."
"Huh, when I used to live in Miami it would happen too," Akira added, "usually it happens because of a number of reasons, like a branch or animal touching the wire."
"Really?" I wonder, Akira nods.
"Once I was in the middle of fighting a boss battle in this game and I was so close to winning when suddenly the power cut out like before, I lost almost all my progress in the game because I forgot to save," Akira recounted, "now I'm a compulsive saver, it could have auto-save and I'd still do it just to be safe."
"I've never really played too many video games, mostly I just spent my time outside and far away from my house as I could get."
"Haha, yeah me too, sometimes it's nice to get out and active, I always enjoyed surfing!" Akira agreed, I get the feeling she misunderstood what I meant but I don't want to bring down the mood when she finally looks happier. Before I knew it we were back at the dorms. Yukihiro's murder had taken place around 11 and it's 3 am now so nothing would be open yet and it's best if we all got some rest after the emotional day, "Good night I guess." Akira nodded with a 'you too' before entering her room.
Right before I entered my room I saw M enter the hallway, "Hey M," I say getting his attention, "did you go somewhere?"
"Mmh, yes I checked out the 3rd floor stairs, the gate was... open," He replied, "but I figured it would be suspicious to go there alone." M then entered his room and shut the door. I yawned just now realizing how tired I was, I tiredly grabbed for my key and unlocked the door, I opened it to find James sitting up in the bed staring at me warily.
"Um... this my room," James said slowly, "did I not lock the door behind me?"
"Oh sorry I'm next door," I apologize, "and not locking your door is kinda dangerous." I shut the door behind me, that was weird I could have sworn I unlocked the door. I look at my key and realized I hadn't used my normal key, I had used the extra one (the one with the strange Monokuma design) if it could unlock both my door and somehow James—yawn—... I'll have to look into it later, right now I'm too tired to process the implications.
The next morning I sat in my bed long after the morning announcement, before I had thought that because I went to bed so late I wouldn't have trouble sleeping, boy was I wrong. Eventually I left my room, I slept maybe a hour- 2 tops- and I'm tired. Too tired to deal with whatever was happening in the cafeteria.
Kenta was standing on a chair directing all attention to himself. "We have something important to discuss," Kenta proclaimed, "during the trial we discovered that among us is quite a few despair, and also we will address the poison plan— you're not getting off that easy Kojiro." Kojiro pointedly looked away.
"First off we need to lock down anything potentially deadly," Yoshiki suggested.
"That's impossible, if we do that then we'll just have some obscure weapons we will never be able to guess in the trials," Evan stated.
"What makes you think someone will even kill again?"
"By not being stupid, we haven't even received the third motive and tensions are already at a high," Evan bit back, "if I ever felt more sure about a death it's now, we have this despair crisis and not to mention everyone is still grappling with the fact we were all almost poisoned in one fell swoop."
"Then what should we do?" James asked, Evan stopped and thought for a second.
"I'd suggest pairing up, but after last motive I think we all have had quite enough of each other," Evan contemplates, "so perhaps we should all just stay as far from each other as possible, to ease tensions until we all feel better prepared to face our problems."
"Well I don't disagree," Veliah commented, "but if we're all separated it would be simple to isolate and kill." Everyone was quiet, thinking about what was the best course of action. I honestly think splitting up would be good for us because right now we're just grating on each other's nerves, just some quiet time would give us time to wind down. For all it's good though, if someone gets isolated it could backfire.
"Maybe we keep a watch on suspicious people, or try and know where everyone is?" Yoshiki put out.
"We did something like that in the first motive, with the log out book, and that just ended up helping the murder."
"We could find out who's despair-" James suggested,
"And what? Pin the blame on them?" Haruna snapped.
"Do we really need to address the despair?" Veliah asked, "It will only bring unnecessary distrust."
"We have a right to know," Yoshiki inputs, "and not to mention Monokuma and despair go hand in hand."
"Really?! Just because some of us are despair doesn't mean we are the mastermind," Haruna said heatedly.
"We can never be too sure!" Kenta chimes.
"I don't understand why you're trying to rile them all up?" Kojiro asks Kenta, "considering your position."
"Ah well, there's no fun in a story unless we have viable conflicts," Kenta replied, waving him off, "oh right, Kojiro, I believe you are currently the only one who knows who all the despair are, you wouldn't mind sharing with the class would you?"
"I will do no such thing, I don't trust any of you to use the information wisely and I myself only came upon it by mistake," Kojiro stated, "but I suppose I could tell you this, currently only 5 us are despair."
"Five? that's half of us," Evan noted, "I'd say us non despair are at the disadvantage, it would be best for us to know who's who."
"You all sound pretty divided," a voice said, we all turn to the doors to see Monokuma teacher 55, "if you want I'd be happy to tell you! But that's not why I'm here, I'm here to remind you that the third floor is now open and your welcome to explore!"
"The third floor!" Danny said loudly gaining attention, "we should all check out the third floor and put this behind us, partner up and leave the despair accusations for another less tense day, or better yet, never!"
"Fine, ok dismissed, be back by 2 or we'll have to go find you," Kenta waved off, he set off out the cafeteria followed by the others. I joined up with Akira who had started talking to Danny.
"Thanks for changing the subject," Akira says to him, "I don't want to deal with that right now."
"Oh, thanks," Danny blushes, "it's just- I hate it when people go and jump to conclusions and punish others for no reason!"
"I agree," Akira agreed.
"Well, I guess the three of us can go explore together," I suggest.
"That be good, but let's not go to the third floor just yet, one of the Monokuma teacher restocked the MonoMono-machine and I'm itching to try it," Akira informed.
"That thing? From the first game?" Danny asks.
"Yep and I have Mono-coins, found them hidden around the school," Akira said passing out three coins each, "I have like 150 of them so don't be shy to ask for more."
"That's a lot..."
"Listen, there is literally nothing to do here but talk to others and I need something to keep me occupied," Akira justified. I didn't even know the coins existed let alone go around and try and find them, but now that I knew maybe I should start looking for them too?
We all walk onto the School store and step up to the machine, "you think it has the same items as in the previous game?"
"One way to find out," I put my first coin in and turn the knob, out fell a little black and white ball. I open it to find a plate of sea salt, feeling slightly cheated I put in another coin. Another plate of sea salt... third times the charm, I turn the knob and I'm rewarded with... mineral water... "this thing is rigged."
"I'm sure it's not," Danny said hopefully. He put his first coin in and got sea salt as well, "oh, well there must be a surplus of salt here?" He put in the second and received a cute little kitten hair clip, "here Akira, you can have it, it would look better on you than me." Danny then pocketed his third coin to save for later.
Last but not least was Akira's turn, she put in her first coin and turn the knob but nothing happened, she then wiggled the machine.
"It's stuck," Akira assessed, "we are going to get that prize, I payed good money for that." I don't know if Mono-coins count as money, but I know they certainly aren't good money.
"Shake the machine," Danny suggests, I backed away not wanting to be associated if things go south. Akira and Danny brace the machine and rattled it until something clucked out on to the floor. Akira picked it up and examined it, it was a wooden bath bucket with a towel inside, there was a tag on the side. How did that fit in the machine?
"A man's fantasy?" Akira read, "My intuition is telling me I shouldn't give this to any man." Akira packed her spoils and left the school store to her room.
"My intuition is telling me we just lost something special."
Eventually Akira joined back up with us and we started onto the third floor, along the way we bumped into Evan and James, "weren't you just saying we should split up?" I ask Evan.
"Not right now, just some time in the future," he replied defensive.
"Speaking of running off alone," James started, "I saw Kojiro disappear into the art room awhile ago, should we check on him?"
"I don't see the need," Evan stated and the two went the opposite way.
"After the last motive, someone should go make sure he isn't planning anything," Danny said before back peddling, "not that I'm suspicious he'd do anything! I'm just worried about what the others will think!"
"I'll go see what he's doing," I volunteer, "you two can continue exploring, I'm too tired to walk around the school anyway." I yawn to prove my point and leave the two.
Eventually I find the art room and Kojiro inside, he was drawing a picture on one of the canvases, "hey Kojiro," I greet.
"Oh-Sanyu, I didn't expect you to come here," Kojiro acknowledged, "your little key ring from the first round wasn't what I called quality, but I'm glad that failure didn't stop you from taking another stab at it." I thought I did good on it, wonder if Veliah still has it?
"Here, we can find you something easy to work on in the storage room, I remember this from my Hope's Peak days," Kojiro said, walking into the art storage room, "I'm going to be here for hours trying all these different materials, we may be in a life or death situation but that won't stop me from having fun."
Should I hang out with Kojiro today? He may have tried to kill everyone else, but if what he said about despair is true then I probably have nothing to worry about being alone with him. I grab a canvas and some supplies and sat down, for a long time I just stared at the blank board not knowing what to paint. Eventually I settled on painting a car because that's the only thing I could think of, In my contemplation of what color I should make it Kojiro started talking.
"Past, present and future," Kojiro said, "the truest form of hope and despair."
I stared at him, what kind of edgy line is that, "what does that mean?"
Kojiro angled the canvas to me, showing off the straight and messy lines as well as some already painted spots. It was a painting of Hope's Peak, in front of the building was a lightly sketched depiction of everyone. It would have been sweet if it wasn't for the fact those who were dead had been filled in with black, making them a sort of shadow.
"If we were to discuss your future would you feel hope or despair?" Kojiro questioned me, he put the painting back down, "or maybe the past brings more conflict?"
"I don't really care," I reply ignoring him.
"Now for us the past is most certainly on the despair side, and don't deny it I've seen the list," Kojiro continued, "can't do much about things back then, do you miss your life before the most despair inducing event in history?"
"No."
"Quick to reply," Kojiro jokes.
"You freaked people out with the poisoning scheme and I don't think people are going to trust you for awhile because of that, and your defending of despair only makes it worse," I say to him changing the subject, Kojiro just keeps painting until he finishes coloring Evan's hair before replying.
"They just don't realize what I'm doing is for the best, you can't just fake hope and get along like that."
"Fake hope is better than no hope," I contemplate, "when you have no hope you get desperate and you're pushing buttons."
"No one's gone haywire because of me yet," Kojiro said exasperated.
"Alan."
"The poisoning plan was the only thing I was involved in, not what he did."
"Quick to reply," I joke back.
Kojiro makes a mocking face, "oh, ha ha." Kojiro goes back to painting but I notice he's switched to filling in what I can only assume to be Alan's figure, "I didn't vote for him, I figured it wasn't right to, he was simply following his ideology," Kojiro admitted. I was surprised to hear that but it wasn't as shocking as Akira's confession, "though I do wish he brought me in on it, I probably would have helped him," he added in an after thought.
"Despair killed millions for their beliefs," I say solemnly, "What if I'm pushed back to that evil thinking."
"I'm a reformed despair just like you," Kojiro replied a bit forcefully, but then coughed awkwardly in embarrassment at his outburst, "but that doesn't mean I'm always the good guy just like despair isn't always the the bad, things are subjective even when you understand the whole situation."
I stop my scribbling and think over what he said, I suppose in a way he's right. I then freeze up, I hadn't even noticed it but I just straight up told him I was despair, and while that may not matter to him it does to me. I've spent the last few years erasing (and repressing) that part of my past and I won't have some friendly conversation ruin my work, I'm going to have to be more careful about this later on.
"I think that's enough hanging out today," I reply a bit coldly. I look down at my artwork, it was a mess of ugly colors bleeding together, I didn't like it, "here Kojiro, you can have it."
"Thank you, a bit of exploration into abstract?" He asked, I don't reply and hurry to the exit, "oh you're leaving? Well I'll see you tomorrow." I felt bad leaving like that but it was for the better. I head down to the stairs when I meet Yoshiki.
"You're still up here?" Yoshiki asks, "it's already past the meet up time, but Danny and Akira told us where you were."
"Oh, I haven't gotten to explore yet," I say a little disappointed.
"I could run you through the rooms real quick if you want?" Yoshiki offers and I agree.
We first go to the physics lab, it was exactly the same as seen in the first killing game, the big ball like generator whirling as it did its thing. Next we hit up the class rooms and met a Monokuma teacher but they were easily forgettable. Finally we visited the recreation room where it had a nice atmosphere.
"Well this was fun and all but I'm tired," I say, yawning once again, "I'm going to go and take a nap." I then hurry down stairs and stop at the door to my room, when I stop. Last night I was able to enter James's room, we had both assumed he hadn't locked his door but that can't be it because I remember unlocking it. I look at the Monokuma key and then at the silent hallway, it wouldn't hurt to try.
I go to James's door and rattle the handle, locked. I use the key and find it really did work, I relock the door and go down the line, every dorm door I tried yielded to the Monokuma key. I look down at my new found advantage, I should keep this to myself, it might come in handy later and I also don't want some killer getting ahold of it. I enter my room and place the Monokuma key tied to Yuzuru's bracelet under my mattress, it wouldn't do to keep parading it around where others could see. Then I finally settle down for a glorious nap.
"Would everyone please come to the gym," the announcement woke me up, I still don't think I got enough sleep but I'd probably get threatened with execution if I don't attend the meeting, so begrudgingly I head to the gym. Yoshiki and Akira greet me on the way there.
"Think it's the motive?" Akira asks.
"Probably," I reply. We enter the gym and stand near the stage, soon the lights dim and a spotlight flickers on to shine on a microphone. I wonder why they're getting so dramatic with the lighting?
The same female Monokuma speaker from last round sauntered on to stage and takes the microphone.
"It's the same woman speaker from last motive," I say to Yoshiki and Akira. So what happened to the first speaker 21 must have been a outlier, like how M had said they were tying up loose ends.
"Of course it is, you'd think me so replaceable?" She said sadly, dramatic tears forming in the Monokuma masks eyes, "How cruel... after all the trouble I went through to inform you of the next motive, the third motive!" There was a hush as people awaited the announcement.
The female speaker tapped the microphone and cleared her throat, "the first thing we recognize in this world is our family, and then our friends. We grow to care and love the few who love us back, we don't think of it often and maybe even take it for granted. So I want you all to think of your most loved one and then ask yourself... are they important enough to kill for?" A ominous feeling shadowed her words, "because this is exactly what this is about." Another Monokuma teacher rolled out a small table with a metal box on it, the female speaker opened it and produced a stack of papers, "this here is a complete report on your family members, including but not limited to; their locations, their well being, and the best way to find them."
"So this motive is information on people we know?" Evan asked.
"Yep, if they were missing before then they aren't anymore! Maybe even those you thought dead are secretly alive?" She singsonged in reply, "Aww, I can tell you don't believe me?"
"Of course not."
She then shifted through the papers, tapping her foot as she did so, "Hmm, here we go! Oooh Yoshiki looks like your kiddo has gotten mixed in a bad crowd..." she looked at another paper, "James, not much left for you is there?"
James winced slightly before recovering, "How do we know your not just making this up?" He asked.
"Still don't believe me? Ok how about a name then? Danny, your lil' sis Giselle is in trouble, bla bla bla, impending doom, all that business"
"What? How do you know about her!" Danny exclaimed, "is she ok?!"
"Better murder and find out," the female speaker replied, she placed the stack back in the metal box and the other Monokuma teacher rolled it away, "in your rooms you will find a note detailing some information on their status, but only the escaped blackend will be able to get the complete reports for all their loved ones. You are all dismissed."
I stand still for a bit, Yoshiki was already gone before the speaker even finished. But still next to me Akira wavered on her spot, her eyes were wide but I don't think she's seeing anything, "Rosita? Sean? Everyone?" She whispered in disbelief and confusion, then muttered "no no she's gone— but not the others." I look at her questioning, who was Rosita and that other name? A family member or friend? But Akira ran before I could ask her, in fact I was one of the last few still in the room. It was just me, Kenta, Kojiro and Haruna, the three of them must have no one left or else they would have ran out like the rest.
I walk over to the three, "Do you want to check the bulletin board?" I ask unsure, Kenta shrugs, but everyone follows.
The bulletin bored
1, Students may reside only within the school. Leaving campus is an unacceptable use of time.
2. "Nighttime" is from 10 pm to 7 am. Some areas are off-limits at night, so please exercise caution.
3. Sleeping anywhere other than the dormitory will be seen as sleeping in class and will be punished accordingly.
4. With minimal restrictions, you are free to explore Hope's Peak Academy at your discretion.
5. Violence against headmaster, and teachers is strictly prohibited
6. Anyone who kills a fellow student and becomes "blackened" will graduate, unless they are discovered.
7. Don't be wasteful with our resources.
8. More rules may be added if necessary.
"Number 7—Don't be wasteful?" Haruna reads, "What, is Despair going green," she snickered at her joke.
"Well it's a rule now," Kojiro points out irritated, "doesn't matter how stupid it sounds." The small group then dispersing.
On my way to my room I thought about the motive, I honestly couldn't think of a person still alive that this motive would involve, but what if there was someone still out there for me? Would the mastermind actually be able to find this mythical person? I find myself strangely eager to find out. I enter my room and see the folded strip of paper on my bed, briefly I worried they might have found the Monokuma key, I check for it to find it hadn't moved, with that out of the way I snatch the paper and open it.
Lucky! Lucky! Mr. Sanyu you have no one to care about or anyone that cares about you! So you get a pass on this motive! Unless of course you want to kill for the fun of it then that's allowed too!
There was a little smiley face drawn at the bottom, but it only served to make me mad at the letter and myself. It was stupid for me to have thought there was someone left, I even knew the possibility was nonexistent... but it still hurt to have it confirmed like this.
Well hello, I'm glad everyone liked the theater so that will appear after every execution! And it's been a year since we've started so yay! *air horn* also do you guys think I should up the rating?
Question for you: who do you think are despair? (But don't out your own character!)
Please review ;)