We spent the rest of the drive in complete silence. At some point, Roman decided that he didn't want to be bothered with idle chatter and completely clamed up on me. That was fine by me. Talking with Roman could be difficult at times. We were so different from each other in both personality and interests. It was tiresome not having somebody who shared any of my interests, but beggars didn't have the right to be choosers. I watched the highway lights pass us by as we got off the exit. The airfield was less than a few minutes away, and only now was I really beginning to feel the anxiety build up in my stomach. I'd barely been to any parties or get-togethers, let alone anything as prestigious as this. I couldn't blow it tonight; I couldn't afford to.

"Holy...shit," Roman's crass language brought me out of my thoughts, and he had a good reason to curse. We could see the Royal Wing.

And, to be fair to Roman, holy shit.

Gigantic didn't feel like a large enough word for the double zeppelin sitting still in the open airfield. As the car approached it only got larger and larger. From my perspective, it looked like it could dwarf some buildings with its mass.

"Credit to Volkov," Roman mumbled, "he knows how to make a statement."

"I can't believe it's real," I said breathlessly, "it's so big."

"That's what she said," Roman said, still stunned in shock. I couldn't help but roll my eyes, even when in awe he still found a way to be crude.

We pulled into the end of the airfield, waved in by a few security guards after showing some ID. The lights coming from the Royal Wing got brighter and brighter as we approached. The lights weren't only coming from inside the zeppelin, they were also coming from floodlights placed around the large crowd and the news vans sitting on the outskirts of the said crowd.

"Quite the turnout," Roman said absentmindedly, bringing his car to a stop and putting it into park.

As I stepped out of the car and scanned the crowd, it started to make a bit more sense. People weren't just randomly scrambling at the zeppelin. A shiny red carpet divided the sea of people into two sides. Velvet red ropes buckled to gold-colored stanchions guided to the path to the gigantic aircraft. I didn't realize how blinding the light was until I was up close. Flashes from cameras burst from all directions and I began to feel a little overwhelmed.

Roman on the other hand was lavishing in all the attention. He waved to different parts of the crowd, his predatory smile as wide as it could stretch. I clutched my purse strap tightly to my body as my heels hit the carpet. Despite only being a few feet long the walk felt like it lasted my whole life. I could hear news reporters talking over each other, but I couldn't hear a word any of them were saying. Everything was just so...loud.

"Lap it all up, Strings," Roman said to me, roughly patting me on the shoulder, "this is what it's all about."

I couldn't even tell whether or not I was enjoying the attention. I'd performed in front of crowds before, but this was different. The attention felt different like it was less personal. Like I was being cheered at just for being there as opposed to anything I'd done myself.

We finally reached the end of the carpet and I felt myself stop in my tracks.

Standing almost directly under the zeppelin was the Ultimate Oil Baron: Kazimir Volkov, and with him was Taijiri Akihara, the Ultimate Airship Engineer.

Seeing Mr. Volkov on the TV didn't come close to the feeling I was having of seeing him in person. He stood tall and proud; roughly 6'3". His olive skin clashed with his dark grey mutton chops beard. His face was fat and friendly in a sort of Santa-like way. He was dressed in all black as he smiled down at me and Roman, his hands behind his back. He was a portly man, almost as wide as he was tall.

Taijiri Akihara on the other hand was the exact opposite. Whereas Mr. Volkov was portly and round, Mr. Akihara was thin and gaunt. Whereas Mr. Volkov's face looked well-rested and made-up, Mr. Akihara's was exhausted and almost sallow-looking. His eyes were sunken in like he hadn't slept in a week. His black hair was tied into a ponytail and was greying at its roots. He was holding a clipboard and pen as he warily eyed me and Roman.

Mr. Volkov showed no such hesitation, taking a big step forward with his hand extended.

"You must be Ms. Inagawa. It's a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance!" he smiled, his gloved hand taking mine.

I felt my breath hitch, "You know who I am, sir?" I managed to squeak out.

He threw his head back with a hardy laugh, "My dear, of course, I know who you are! I've watched multiple tapings of your live performances, and I have to say I'm impressed with what I've seen!" His voice was loud and jovial and had the faintest hint of a Russian accent.

I could barely contain my excitement. I felt like I was going to fall onto my face. I had one of the world's most elite entrepreneurs standing in front of me and he actually knew who I was.

"Th-thank you, sir!" I said just a little too loudly. I fervently shook his hand and tried to regulate my breathing. Mr. Akihara made a tick on his clipboard and then looked to Roman.

"And I'm to assume that you're Roman Dolarhyde?" he asked, sounding bored. Roman eyed the string bean man up and down suspiciously.

"How do you already know my name?"

"You're the only other person who hasn't been accounted for yet," Mr. Akihara responded, tapping his clipboard with his pen.

I was surprised to hear that. We were the last ones? It's not like we'd arrived late.

Mr. Volkov looked surprised as well, "Are you sure, Taijiri? It feels like we've barely greeted anyone." he questioned.

Mr. Akihara flicked through the pages of his clipboard and shrugged, "Well, it's them and Ichiro Abe, but he called me and alerted me he wouldn't be coming earlier."

The Oil Baron's eyes widened with shock, "Ichi isn't coming! I wish he would've told me!"

I recognized that name. Ichiro Abe was the former Ultimate Psychologist. He graduated from Hope's Peak in...I want to say 1991? However, I couldn't be sure. That made me start to think of how many former Ultimates I'd get to meet. Two were already standing in front of me!

Ultimates were celebrities in Japan, and celebrities had connections.

Mr. Volkov shook his head and folded his arms, "That's truly a shame. He would've loved this," he said solemnly. That solemness didn't last, however, as he turned back around to face me and Roman with his large smile.

"Well, let's not get caught up in all that!" he said cheerfully, clapping his hands together, "Since you two are the last up, that means that you get to join us on the walk-in!"

I didn't think I could get any more excited than I already was. I was going to walk into the most prestigious party of...probably this century, and I was going to enter by the side of its HOST!

"Dope," Roman said in a manner that made me want to hit him. He clearly didn't understand the opportunity that he was being presented with. "So, how do we get on board this monster anyhow?" he continued.

Mr. Volkov only smiled and stepped aside so we could get a better view of what he'd been standing in front of. I was confused by what I saw. Connecting the two zeppelins was what looked like a large glass box with two see-through sliding doors on the front of it. I could see a few chairs situated on the inside of it. The box connected to both the left and right zeppelins via glass walkways. I never considered how people would wall between two separate zeppelins, or how they'd even connect for that matter. Good thing Mr. Volkov had come up with something.

...I hoped it was safe.

The four of us walked into the glass box and the doors immediately sealed shut behind us, causing me to jump.

Mr. Volkov chuckled, knocking on the glass, "Completely airtight, just as requested. Incredible work as always, Taiji."

Mr. Akihara grunted at the nickname but still nodded in recognition, "The party will officially be beginning in the zeppelin on the left, after a brief speech by both myself and Mr. Volkov, the guests'll be able to explore the entirety of The Royal Wing at their leisure." the tall man explained.

Walking on glass was a new experience that I didn't know that I'd be having, but Mr. Akihara assured me that it was perfectly safe. I believed him, but it still made me dizzy, and we weren't even off the ground yet.

We walked down the short walkway and approached the double doors to open the zeppelin, but I stopped when I saw the small sign above them.

"'The Helios'?" I read aloud, hoping someone would explain what that meant.

Mr. Volkov shut his eyes and sighed, almost wistfully, "Helios: the Greek god of the Sun. He was thought to have ridden a golden chariot which brought the Sun across the skies every single day from the east to the west."

Roman scoffed, "Yeah, that's great and all, but uh...why's it on a sign on your zeppelin?"

Mr. Akihara sighed, "It's the name given to this specific zeppelin. Mr. Volkov...insisted on a Greek god's motif during the creation of The Royal Wing." The poor guy sounded like he was having war flashbacks.

"So, what's the name of the other zeppelin?" Roman questioned, gesturing to the walkway on the opposite end of the room.

"'The Gaia'," Mr. Volkov responded, "The Sun and the Earth. I thought that it was quite fitting." he hummed, almost like he was dreaming.

"Again, you will be seeing a repeating motif throughout the night," Mr. Akihara groaned.

Mr. Volkov, once again, let out a hardy laugh. He playfully slapped Mr. Akihara on the back, causing the thin man to lurch forward, "There's no better a pantheon to pull from, Taiji!"

We walked through the double doors, and I once again found myself at a loss for words. It was like we'd walked into a different world. It was a gigantic and opulent dining hall. Countless tables were spread across the large room, almost all of them filled with two to three people. They were a wide variety of ages. Some looked about my age, and others looked only a few years older like they'd graduated from school not long ago. There were even those that looked to be reaching their sixties or seventies.

Everyone in this room, one way or another, was involved with Hope's Peak.

And I was officially a part of that lucky elite. I was somebody.

It took everything in me not to start crying.

Mr. Volkov gave me a comforting pat on the shoulder, "You and Mr. Dolarhyde go and find a vacant table. Taijiri and myself will be delivering our quick speeches momentarily, and after that, the night is yours to enjoy."

With one more kind smile, Mr. Volkov strutted off, approaching a nearby table with a friendly greeting. Mr. Akihara quietly followed behind him.

Roman gave me a playful punch in the arm, "You heard the billionaire, Strings. Let's go find us a table."

I'd almost forgotten about his existence, however, I was unlucky enough to remember him. He skipped ahead of me, eyes locked on an empty table. I followed after him, weaving into between other tables and other guests moving around from place to place. I wanted to stop and say something to some of them as I had recognized a couple, but there'd be time for that after the party officially started.

I took a seat across from Roman, who had already taken a seat. The table itself was simple, just a round top with a pristine white cloth draped over it. The only thing actually on the table was a golden candelabra that held three lit red candles. Under any other circumstance, I would've found the scene almost romantic.

However, Roman being the one I was sharing the table with kept that idea from going any further.

"I'll give them this, Strings," Roman said, absentmindedly looking up at the high ceiling and the sconces on the walls, "they sure as shit spared no expense with this whole thing."

"Why would they?" I rhetorically asked, placing my purse on the table, "It'd be pointless if they didn't go all out."

Roman tapped his fingers on the tabletop, "I mean, we haven't even gotten off the ground yet, and I'm pretty sure this is the biggest fucking room I've ever been in!" he exclaimed just a little too loudly for my taste.

"Almost makes you wish you'd dressed a little more appropriately," I said icily, still not too happy about his last-minute wardrobe change.

"You kidding?" he questioned, "Wear a stuffy outfit like that? When there are ladies here to impress?"

I removed my glasses and pinched the bridge of my nose, "You exhaust me, Roman." I said dejectedly.

"And yet...here we sit, Strings," he said in a manner that I hesitate to call suave and wiggled his eyebrows at me, "there's no need to be jealous."

I almost choked on my spit, but managed to get out a laugh, "There's nothing you have for me to be jealous about, Roman, and I can guarantee you that."

He shrugged, "We'll see if you're saying that by the end of the night," he said cockily.

I could only roll my eyes.

A few minutes of comfortable silence passed between us, I was content in trying to focus in on the conversations around me. The room was so loud that all the voices around me were bleeding into each other, and it all just sounded like a single voice. I hoped that we'd be allowed to explore soon because I could tell that being in this room too long would give me a headache.

I found some respite, however, as the loud talkers in the room were cut down by the short screech of a microphone being plugged in.

The whole room turned toward the noise where a podium was set up. Mr. Volkov was there, a mic in hand, as Mr. Akihara stood off to the side.

The oil baron once again tapped the mic, making sure to get everybody's attention.

"Can everybody hear me okay?"

A quiet murmur of acknowledgment.

"Good," Mr. Volkov straightened his tie, "Anyhow. Welcome! All of you! To the Royal Wing!"

A small round of claps passed over the crowd.

"You are all here," he started, "because you deserve to be. 300 years have passed since Hope's Peak Academy first opened its doors, and from the very beginning, they have had a singular purpose. That being to find the most talented among the youths and give them the individual academic experience that they need to flourish. Scientists, musicians, athletes, playwrights, artists, engineers, men and women of all kinds have walked out of the doors of Hope's Peak and changed the world for the better."

Mr. Volkov had the whole room enraptured, even Roman had decided to stop being snide and actually listen.

"I, myself, have been extremely lucky to have graduated from Hope's Peak. I'd always been a skilled entrepreneur and shrewd businessman, being the heir to a massive oil conglomerate will do that to you." Mr. Volkov bragged, "However, I was still very much green, but Hope's Peak molded me into the tycoon that stands before you today. There are graduates in this crowd that can definitely vouch for what I'm saying. Some humans are inherently talented; some have skills that just...cannot be taught. However, that isn't enough for success, not in the slightest. Skills have to be honed, lest they run the risk of becoming atrophied and useless. That is, truly, what Hope's Peak is there for."

He was right. There would always be some people who had it and some who didn't.

I was one of those lucky few…

"You should all feel honored, and I am honored to have you all here in front of me tonight," Mr. Volkov said earnestly, trying to blink away a tear, "But we don't need to get this sentimental this early into the night! We'll be getting the party started properly in merely a few minutes, but first...a few words from the mind behind the beautiful mechanism we currently find ourselves in...my good friend; Taiji Akihara!"

The crowd clapped as Mr. Volkov stepped away from the stand and Mr. Akihara took his place. The gaunt man tiredly waved off the applause, getting all of us to quiet down.

"Thank you Kazimir for the introduction. I'd hate to delay the fun any longer so I'll do my best to be brief. As stated, my name is TAIJIRI Akihara," he enunciated," and I was the Ultimate Airship Engineer during my time at Hope's Peak Academy. A very niche specialty, I know, but that's where my talent sits."

Cue polite laughter.

Mr. Akihara continued, "I've been...blessed...to be able to peer into the world of Hope's Peak and all that that entails. I've taken long looks behind the curtain and seen what makes the system...uh...w-what make it tick."

Mr. Akihara mumbled something to himself, before stopping completely. A brief murmur of confusion passed over the hall. Mr. Volkov approached the podium, but Mr. Akihara put his hand up to stop him.

"I'm okay, Kazimir," the haggard engineer reassured, "I'm just a little...uh-overwhelmed that I finally get to truly speak how I feel."

Mr. Volkov, although hesitantly, did back off and let his friend continue. We watched as Mr. Akihara shakily reached into his overcoat and pulled out...something. I couldn't tell what it was from my distance from the podium. However, the people who could tell what it was began to look concerned.

"I've...uh...always been one to keep my feelings to myself, but for the first time I feel I'm really...really...in a position to share," he said, his voice slowly growing in confidence, "and I'm uh...I'm disgusted." he finished, almost spitting the words out like they were poison in his mouth.

The mumbling from the tables grew just a little louder, a few people were quietly getting to their feet, but nobody made a move to leave.

Mr. Akihara's hands clenched the sides of the podium, "I'm disgusted that Hope's Peak can parade wealth like this while its fellow Japanese citizens go hungry at night because their beautiful children weren't gifted.'' The man was seething.

"The fuck's going on?" someone from a table behind mine whisper-yelled. I turned back to Roman, who was subtly eyeing the doors that we came through. I knew that look, he was waiting for his chance to make a break for it.

"I've been...I've been a SCOUTER for Hope's Peak, and do you wanna know what I've seen? I've seen some of the most talented youths the Earth could ever see, and sure that's great, but what about the others? The other members of the sports team who thought they were worthy enough? The ones who I have to look in the eye and tell them they aren't good enough?" Mr. Akihara said, almost wailing.

Mr. Volkov, once again, approached the podium, but Mr. Akihara just pushed him away. The airship engineer knocked twice on the podium and then snapped his fingers; not really sure what that was.

Mr. Akihara grabbed ahold of the mic and turned back to the crowd, "Do you all wanna know where the funding for The Royal Wing came from? I'll give you a big hint, it wasn't just outta Kazimir Volkov's pocket!" he yelled, slamming a hand against the podium.

At this point, people were getting fed up. People were now booing Akihara and getting up from their seats.

Roman was one of them, "Alright, this is all bullshit." Without another moment, he lept from his seat and grabbed my arm, "We're fucking outta here, Strings."

He pulled me from my seat and I barely had enough mind to grab my purse. Others were also standing at the entrance we'd all come through. Two large men were ramming their shoulders into the doors but weren't having any luck.

"They fucking locked it!" one of them yelled. Mr. Akihara chuckled darkly from the podium, "Yeah, you're uh...you aren't getting out from there. In fact, you're not getting out at all."

"What about that doorway?" I pointed to the hallway that led deeper into the zeppelin, but that hall was blocked off by a portcullis. Some of the guests who'd been closer to that exit tried their luck, but all they were doing was pulling on the metal gate. No progress was being made.

Mr. Volkov finally managed to push Mr. Akihara off of the mic, "Ladies and gentlemen, please remain calm! I do not know what has come over Mr. Akihara, but I'm to assure you that this is not part of the intended plans for tonight!" he said in an attempt to create damage control.

"Of course you don't know what's going on, Kaz!" Mr. Akihara laughed, "You never paid attention! You never cared! I was able to do whatever it is that I wanted! And that includes a system of gas pipes to pump gas through the vents!" he said manically, placing the thing he pulled from his jacket over his face, which I could see now was a gas mask.

The moment he mentioned gas, it was almost like that activated the effects. I immediately started to feel faint and my vision became slightly blurry. I saw Roman stumble and brace himself against the wall, but he never let go of my arm. The battering against the door became more frantic, and I whipped my head around to look at the rest of the crowd. I saw that a few members of the party (maybe ten or eleven) were also reaching into their jackets and purses and pulling out gas masks of their own.

This was a setup.

"Welcome to the real party, Hope's Peak!" Mr. Akihara shouted, sounding elated, "Welcome to what you deserve!"

I coughed and fell to my knees. I felt a faint tug on my arm before the grip Roman had fallen away completely. I started hearing the thud of bodies all around me and I felt like I was going to throw up. I watched as those who had put on gas masks started moving bodies around as Mr. Akihara continued to hysterically laugh.


It's done and over with. Now the show can really start properly! The cast has been selected and has been posted on my profile, so that's where you can check that out! I'm excited to get this rolling. It's gonna be a wild ride.

Until next time.