CHAPTER 3: RISE OF THE SUN, FALL OF THE MOON
DAILY LIFE
It was a brand new day.
First thing I wanted to do is check on Eunji.
So here I stood, gathering my bearings as I looked upon Eunji's door.
Yeeun stood in front of Eunji's room, and was surprised to find it unlocked. But regardless, she made her way inside, and found Miyumi hugging Eunji.
"Sorry, am I interrupting?" Yeeun asked.
"No, it's okay." Miyumi replied.
"How are you feeling, Eunji?" The purple-haired girl asked.
"so and so..." Eunji sighed. "i don't feel like going out today."
"That's okay, I'll bring you your breakfast." Miyumi said. "If you don't mind."
"i-i'd appreciate that."
Eunji... it hurts me to see you like this.
But... I understand why.
After all... what happened to Ayaka...
Miyumi will be here for you.
And so will I.
"Just keep your door locked, and I'll knock in the jingle of one of your songs, and then you can open it for me, okay?" Miyumi said, and Eunji just nodded.
…
Miyumi and I met up outside Eunji's room.
"Eunji needs time." Miyumi replied. "I want to see her back to normal too, but... we have to let her recover."
"I miss Ayaka too, you know?" Yeeun sighed. "I was half expecting to see her in the hallway or... anything, really... but she wasn't there."
"I know." Miyumi said. "I was at the dining hall earlier, and I thought I was going to hear her laughing, but I was just greeted with nothing."
"..." Yeeun fell silent.
"Sorry..." Miyumi said. "Um... we should go to the dining hall."
…
Miyumi and I made our way to the dining hall, and the rest of the students were there – well, all except for Masahito and Eunji.
"Huh... the dining hall feels a lot emptier." Hirokazu said.
"Eunji and Masahito aren't here." Takashi observed.
"After yesterday, of course Eunji won't be here." Seungyeon sighed.
"Masahito made his own grave." Yeeun remarked, sitting down.
"I get that you're angry, but maybe you should be willing to give him a second chance." Izumi said.
"After all that shit he said to me at class trial? No thanks." Yeeun replied. "He wishes me DEAD. There's nothing forgivable about that."
"I suppose you're right to be angry." Kazuhiko said. "But still, It'd be better for our peace of mind if you two were to make up."
...we'll see.
There was just some silence as Youngjae served the food, also handing Miyumi an extra plate to give to Eunji. With no time to waste, Miyumi left the dining hall, while the rest of the students started to eat.
"What about Masahito?" Takashi asked.
"I already gave him some food earlier." Youngjae replied. "I'm sure he'll show himself soon."
"He's an asshole, but we all need to stick together." Kazuhiko said. "We can't fall into Monokuma's trap again."
That happened yesterday, but it was all Ichiro's fault.
I won't let it happen again.
But I don't think I can bring myself to be anywhere near Masahito for right now.
…
Time had passed, and breakfast was over.
But of course, it wasn't that simple.
Monokuma appeared.
"Heyo kiddos!" Monokuma said.
"Ugh, what do you want?" Seungyeon asked.
"Hey, where's Masahito and that spoiled idol? I need 'em here!" Monokuma remarked.
"Her name is Eunji, jerkwad." Yeeun replied. "Miyumi... can you go get her?"
"I'll be on it." Miyumi said, leaving the dining hall.
"And Masahito?" Kazuhiko asked.
"Hirokazu, go get him." Youngjae said.
"I'm on it."
…
Time had passed, and Masahito and Eunji were both here at the dining hall. With that, Monokuma made his announcement.
"Since you all survived ANOTHER class trial, more rooms in this school has opened up!" Monokuma announced.
"Oh... yay..." Seungyeon sarcastically replied.
"The third floor is now open, and some special surprises you'll have to go look for yourselves is open, too!" With that, the bear disappeared.
"Well, nonetheless, we should go explore after all!" Youngjae said. "Something could always pop up."
"Maybe." Takashi said. "Although I doubt it. Nothing popped up the other times."
"How deep underground are we?" Izumi asked. "How many floors does this school have?"
"I hope not too much." Kaori replied. "We should split up into groups."
"That seems like a good idea." Miyumi said. "Safety in numbers."
"I'd rather go see things for myself, thank you very much." Masahito remarked.
"Oh, yeah, sure, make it easier for someone to kill you." Yeeun snarked.
"Like you'd give a shit."
"Maybe I fucking would give a shit, you dick!"
There was just some silence in the dining hall.
"Whatever." Masahito said. "I guess Izumi and Youngjae can come with me, seems like they wouldn't hurt a fly."
"Sure." Youngjae replied.
I didn't even notice it, but Eunji had already left the dining hall without saying a word.
I tried walking outside, but Miyumi stopped me.
"Just let her be." Miyumi replied.
"Okay..."
…
Anyways, we eventually spilt up into groups.
I found myself with Hirokazu and Kaori.
"Has anyone noticed that blocked off area on this floor?" Yeeun asked. "Maybe it's been opened up?"
"Perhaps?" Hirokazu asked. "Let's check it out."
We walked over to the blocked off area, and saw it was now opened up. In there, it revealed a door to the nurse's office.
"So there was a nurse's office after all!" Hirokazu said.
"That's good to know." Kaori said. "That way, if I ever injure myself dancing, I can get it taken care of."
"I hope you don't injure yourself." The astrologist replied.
"Thank you for your concern, Hirokazu."
I walked inside the nurse's office.
…
Not sure what I expected though, to be honest.
It's a nurse's office.
"That's a lotta beds." Hirokazu remarked.
"Is that a refridgerator?" Kaori said, walking over to it and opening it. "And... blood packets? There's blood packets in here."
"Huh." Yeeun said. "I'm not sure if I like that."
"It makes me queasy thinking about where they came from." The astrologist said.
"This room gives me the heebies jeebies." The dancer said. "Let's get outta here."
…
We made our way up to the third floor, but as we were walking through the second floor...
We heard something.
"What was that..?" Kaori said.
"It sounds like..." Yeeun said. "Oh no..."
"What?"
I ran off, because I knew where that noise was coming from, and what was making it.
…
I ran into Ayaka's lab, and I found Eunji sitting there on the ground, holding a jacket that belonged to Ayaka.
"Eunji..." Yeeun said.
She looked up at me, not even trying to hide the tears in her eyes.
"Yeeun... I miss her so much." Eunji said.
"I know... me too." Yeeun replied.
Eunji got up from where she was sitting.
"I'm..." Eunji fell silent. "I'm going to see Miyumi."
With that, Eunji left the lab, just passing by Hirokazu and Kaori.
"Eunji?" Hirokazu said, but the girl didn't even respond as she walked off.
"This is Ayaka's lab..." Kaori said sadly.
"That's where Eunji went." The astrologist replied.
"We need to give her time." Yeeun said. "I still haven't gotten used to Ayaka being gone, either."
"Of course you haven't, none of us have." Kaori replied. "Ayaka... she... she died yesterday. It's still too fresh."
We just stood there in silence, until...
Monokuma appeared.
"Get a move on, I don't got all day watching you kids be depressed!" Monokuma remarked, holding a claw out.
"Alright, alright, you dipwad." Yeeun replied.
"I hate you, Monokuma, you know that?" Kaori asked.
"Of course!" With that, he disappeared.
"Let's get going." Yeeun sighed, walking out.
…
Finally, we made our way to the third floor.
"What labs do you think opened up this time?" Kaori asked.
"Maybe mine." Yeeun replied.
We walked around, and like in every other floor, there were three classroms, but we didn't really care about that.
And then... we stumbed upon a lab with a lyric note symbol on it.
"You don't think...?" Hirokazu asked.
"No way..." Yeeun said, running inside.
…
It is!
"It's my lab!" Yeeun said.
It's so beautiful!
I didn't realize the criminal organization would be so much detail into my lab!
"Wow, this is crazy." Kaori said, walking in.
"Yeeun, I think you got the best lab." Hirokazu replied. "Suddenly, I'm so jealous."
"Hirokazu, I think your lab is just fine!" The dancer said.
"There's so much to do here." Yeeun said. "I think I might spend a lot of time here!"
"We'll see about that." A voice said, and the trio turned around.
"Kazuhiko?" Kaori asked.
"This is a fine lab, I'll admit that, but I'm thinking we need to start enforcing rules." The racer said. "We've all been splitting up too much, that's why Jutaro and Ichiro were murdered. We need to start staying in numbers."
"Ichiro wasn't murdered, he killed himself." Yeeun snarled.
"Yes, that is right, but Monokuma ruled Ayaka the culprit, what else can we do?"
"Maybe be more sensitive?!"
"Yeeun, calm down." Kaori replied. "And you, Kazuhiko, get your head out of your ass."
"What are you proposing exactly, Kazu?" Hirokazu asked.
"Maybe a student council." Kazuhiko replied.
Monokuma appeared.
"Hey hey! That feels like a familiar idea!" Monokuma replied. "I've heard it 53 times!"
"The hell is this bear talking about?" Kazuhiko remarked.
"But a student council, hmm?" The bear said. "I'll allow it!"
With that, he disappeared.
"I don't think a student council would be a good idea, Kazuhiko." Yeeun replied.
"We could always put it up to a vote." Kazuhiko replied, then he left.
…
Anyways, after checking out my lab, we continued walking around the third floor.
We stumbled upon a lab with a script symbol on it.
"This is definitely Seungyeon's lab." Hirokazu said, he went to turn the door knob, but the door opened suddenly.
"Oh! I didn't think you three were here already!" Seungyeon said.
"I see you already found your lab." Yeeun said.
"Yeah, it's a decent lab, I suppose." Seungyeon replied. "It could've been worse, so for that, I'm thankful."
"Have you finished checking the entire floor?" Kaori asked.
"I have!" Seungyeon replied. "Masahito and Youngjae's labs have opened. And there's also a science lab, too."
"Science lab?" Hirokazu asked.
"That's where the air purifies that let us breathe are in." said Takashi, who just now approached them.
"Ah, Takashi, didn't see you there." Seungyeon waved.
"Just got here." Takashi said. "I wonder when my lab will open up."
"Yeah, that's right, you still don't remember your talent, huh?" Hirokazu asked.
"I wish I could say I was getting somewhere there, but unfortunately, I am not." Takashi replied. "It really bothers me."
"One day you'll remember!" The astrologist replied.
"Maybe once we get out of here, you can go see for yourself?" Kaori asked.
"Once we get out of here...?" Seungyeon asked.
"I mean, yeah!" Kaori said. "We're not going to give up yet, are we?"
"..." Seungyeon was quiet.
"Seungyeon?"
"Nevermind that." Seungyeon replied. "I'm going downstairs."
Seungyeon so swiftly left us, just standing there, confused.
"Why did she act so strange?" Kaori asked.
"Perhaps she may have lost hope." Takashi replied. "There's nothing we can do for her there, unfortunately."
"I get it." Yeeun replied. "Ayaka always talked about how we'd get out of here... but then..."
"We should still keep hope eitherway." Kaori replied. "For Ayaka. That's what she wanted us to do."
"Yeah!" Hirokazu replied.
"You're right." The songwriter replied.
Keep hope alive, for Ayaka!
…
The rest of our exploration wasn't that exciting.
I didn't bother with Masahito's lab, and Youngjae's lab just contained a lot cribs and stuff.
Seems like Monokuma treated Youngjae as a joke.
The science lab was pretty okay, there's a room behind it.
And the air purifiers...
I hope nothing happens to them.
…
Finally, I made my way back to the dining hall, just to find Masahito there.
We just stood there in silence, tensely staring – more like glaring – at each other.
It felt like a mexican stand off, except none of us had guns.
The tension was broken when Izumi entered the hall.
"Well, this is scary." Izumi replied.
"Sorry." Yeeun said.
"I was just gonna get food, but then she showed up." Masahito remarked.
"Didn't you already get breakfast?" The hacker asked.
"I did." The CG artist replied. "But I still need snacks."
"Sure." Yeeun snarked.
"Hey, Yeeun?" Izumi asked. "Can I talk to you?"
"Uh, yeah."
…
I went outside the dining hall with Izumi.
"What is it, Izumi?" Yeeun asked.
"I was going to tell Eunji, but she's occupied at the moment. You're the second most person I trust, so I'll tell you." Izumi replied.
"What is it?" Yeeun asked.
Izumi pulled Yeeun closer to her, and whispered into her ear.
"I've been developing something." Izumi said. "Something that may help us get out of here when the time comes."
"Seriously?" Yeeun asked.
"It's still a work in progress, you need to give me time." The hacker replied. "Which is why... I am asking for your protection.
My... protection?
"You seem capable enough of defending yourself, and I need someone who can have my back." Izumi asked. "Can I trust you to take this task?"
Izumi wants me to have her back?
She was going to ask Eunji for this first.
I don't know how I feel about just being her second choice...
But this is such an important breakthrough.
A way to get out of here?
"I'll accept." Yeeun said.
"Okay, good." Izumi replied, pulling away.
With that, Izumi walked off.
If Izumi really figures out a way to get out of here...
Then Monokuma really fucked up trapping a genius hacker in his school.
…
I made my way back to my room.
There's some time left today to do things, maybe I shouldn't waste it standing around.
-Free Time!-
