Makota Naegi's perspective
"Why are we here again Gonta?" Hajime asked as he and I entered Gonta's room.
"Gontas asked us to stop by and help him with something, and we're here to help him," I replied.
"Aw friends, Gonta is so happy you could join me!" Gonta exclaimed, seeing us walk into the room.
"Happy to be here Gonta!" I responded.
"That makes one of us," Hajime whispered under his breath.
"What'd you need us for if I may ask?" I asked the big teenager.
"Well… Gonta wanted to share his passion for bugs with his friends. But Gonta didn't know how to do that."
"And you wanted our help?" Hajime asked, his annoyance shining through, but unnoticed by Gonta.
"Yes. Gonta isn't exactly good with words. And wanted a couple people to help him out."
"We'll be happy to help!" I replied.
"We will?" I nudged Hajime in the side before he could finish causing him to hold his rib cage in pain. "Yeah yeah we'll help," he said with an eye roll.
"Gonta, thanks you guys. Meet my pet ants. Gonta got an ant farm for a gift from the evil bear."
"That's really neat, Gonata. How many are in here, do you know?"
"Precisely twenty-one ants in total!" Gonta smiled, clapping his hands.
"And you want to do some sort of show and tell?" Hajime asked.
"I guess so… Gonta just wants to share his passion with his new found friends!"
"I have an idea. Why don't we organize a class show and tell?" I suggested.
"Gonta likes that idea!"
"Sure, just bring all the conflicting personalities together," Hajime added.
"Come on Hajime. We have to grow closer together to get through this!" Gonta replied.
"I'm with Gonta on this one Hajime."
"Whatever. How do you guys intend to even set this up?"
"Well I mean the cafeteria is as good of a spot as any," I suggested.
"And maybe Gonta could help provide some sort of snacks for the event!"
"Let's leave the food to the cooks," Hajime said with a worried chuckle.
"Gonta understands. But how will we announce this idea?"
"We could just announce it at the next breakfast. Most everyone that would consider showing up would be there," I stated.
"That could work. Too bad we don't have anything like posters or something like that. Or even like an online message board," Hajime stated.
"Yeah. But Gonta likes to think positively and maybe announcing in person will draw a larger crowd."
Maybe Gonta. Maybe. I think Hajime and I should be going. You have a good day Gonta."
"Thank you!"
Hajime and I exited the larger boy's room and left for our own rooms that were closer to the main corridor. "You seem a little extra pessimistic today Hajime?"
"Just woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning."
"You sure?"
'I'm sure. It's been rough for all of us. Just gotta adjust."
"You're right. But still…"
"Don't worry Makoto. I'll be fine. Have a good day," Hajime reassured as he entered his room giving a dismissing wave.
Ichiro Aiko's perspective
Following my conversation I lingered around the cafeteria for a bit. Waving to those that entered in and out. And helped Kirumi out with some of the cleaning. Eventually Ryoma strolled into the cafeteria after nearly everyone left, save Toko who sat by herself in the corner of the cafeteria mumbling to herself. I was walking back out to collect more dishes that some of the more messier students left behind.
"Oh hey Ryoma, Monokuma's alarm not wake you this morning?" I greeted him as he pulled up a chair to sit down.
"No, his annoying voice woke me up alright. I just like to… eat with less people around," Ryoma replied, adjusting his chair to face me.
"I get that. People find peace in their own way. Do you want me to get you anything?"
"Cereal will be plenty for me. I don't want Kirumi doing anymore than she already has," Ryoma said, adjusting his beanie to be a bit lower on his forehead.
"I'll get it for you, just a sec." I strolled into the kitchen and waved to Kirumi who waved back. I went into the cupboard and grabbed whatever generic brand of cereal the bear had supplied us and poured it into a black and white bowl. I then grabbed some milk from the fridge and poured it in as well. As I walked back out I saw Ryoma had shifted his chair to kick his feet up onto the table and made himself comfortable.
I handed him his bowl and sat across from him, "You know we haven't really spoken to each other much since that first trial," I stated.
"Yeah. But with about forty-five plus people here. I'm sure you've found plenty of interesting people to talk to during that time."
"Yeah, but sometimes the bonds people make in times of need or trauma or stronger than the ones that form over years through sunshine and rainbows."
"I suppose that's true. But what do we even talk about? The weather?"
"Aw yes it's got a chance of raining did you here?"
Ryoma chuckled then responded, "But you understand kid. Despite it only being… max a couple a weeks, we're going to quickly run out of things to talk about."
"We all have pasts and ultimate talents. I'm sure we'll have plenty of stories. Enough so we don't become bored as we try to find a way out."
"Kid, I don't encourage giving up hope, but I'd be lying if I said I thought we'd get out of here without loss."
"What… made you this…"
"Odd? Adult? Cynical?"
"I don't mean it as rude, but it feels like you're a seventy year old war vet yet you're not even older than nineteen."
"I don't like indulging in my past. It's not something I like to talk about."
"Everyone's got secrets, I can respect that."
"I appreciate it. I'm sure at some point there will be no more secrets left. Like you said kid. Everyone's got a story to tell."
"I guess you have a point."
Ryoko Katsumi's perspective
"Why are we in your room again Junko?" I asked the fashion model.
"Because. We gotta teach you how to be a bit more girly," Junko replied as she went through her dresser drawers looking for something.
"What Junko means is she wants to teach how to use makeup," Sonia added, as she placed her hand on my shoulder.
"But I don't need or want makeup."
"Well girl, you're getting it anyway."
"I don't like watching you squirm Ryoko. But this is mildly amusing."
"Thanks Sonia… thanks."
"No problem!"
"Alright now where is it?" Junko mumbled to herself.
"What are you even looking for?" I asked.
"My makeup kit has everything, from lipstick to blush to anything a woman could want."
"You mean anything you could ever want."
"Oh relax Ryoko. We're just having a bit of fun. Besides, what else are we going to do for fun?"
"Work out?"
"Oh you can do that later. We're doing this now," Junko stated.
"Junko I swear you're the bane of my existence."
"Aw thanks honey."
As I surveyed around the room a bit more. It looked like my room. Windows blocked by steel plates, red walls, a neatly furnished room. However Junko had clothes sprawled out across her desk and it reeked of perfume.
"Alright I found it!" Junko exclaimed, interrupting my thoughts.
"Yay! We can finally introduce Ryoko to the world of makeup!" Sonia shouted, clapping rapidly like a little girl who just got a My Little Pony toy.
"I still don't know how you guys talked me into this," I said as they dragged me over to Junko's desk that was outfitted with lights and mirror.
"Sit down and relax, I'll take good care of you."
"I'm sure you will," I said with a roll of my eyes.
In what seemed like hours Junko and even Sonia had managed to turn me from a normal human being to feeling like a bonafide clown.
"You look so beautiful Ryoko!" Sonia cheered from the bed.
"What can I say? They don't call me the Ultimate Fashion Model for a reason," Junko replied.
"I feel like I'm about to perform for the circus," I deadpanned.
"Oh don't be like that. Junko made you look really pretty!"
"This may be a school. But I don't see a school dance happening anytime soon, Sonia."
"Well maybe we can organize one!" Junko added.
"How about no," I said.
"Why not? It'd be fun!" Sonia retorted.
"Because it's a waste of time and effort."
"Aw did someone have a bad dance partner," Junko mocked.
"No, they're just no fun."
"Do you need dancing lessons?" Sonia asked.
"No. I just don't consider proms to be fun,"
"Sure girl… sure," Junko replied.
Makoto Naegi's perspective
"I didn't see anything in that room, I'm gonna call it," Sayaka mentions offhandedly. "Maybe watch the others play in the gym or something. I need some rest. I want to get singing again."
"That might not be appropriate in the situation we're in," I mentioned. "But if you think it'll make people-"
"Can you help train me? With the songs, I mean. I can show you how to pitch a few," Leon chuckles, a trace of his old self resurfacing. Sayaka beams as she grabs him by the wrist. "Sorry Naegi, you won't mind if we go relax on our own right?"
"Not at all."
"Cool, see you during lunch," Sayaka beams. "Or maybe after my lunchtime nap. I won't be entirely sure."
Leon and Sayaka make their way down the hallway with a bit of energy in their steps. There's only one room left for me to check and knowing my luck it'll be something unimportant.
I get the strange chill that I'm interrupting something as I look through the room. A blond head is facing the chalkboard with a piece of chalk in his hand. He raises his rather short arms and taps on the board for a moment before dropping it. "No use," he mumbles.
"How are you holding up Fuyuhiko?" I ask, getting a shock out of him.
He looks at me with the same look of exhaustion that's been plaguing him for the past couple of days. Peko's trial wasn't more than a week ago but he looks like he's aged two years at once. "How do you think I feel fuckhead?" he snarls.
"I just want to know if there's any progress, I'm sorry!" I back into a desk and fall into its seat. "I know losing someone is-"
"Platitudes don't mean anything," Fuyuhiko snipes. There's suddenly a thick air of tension between us that's so large you could probably run into it. I sit at the desk as I look around the room. There's a world map- an old one- torn into many pieces and the one that's most intact is the piece that contains Japan, but it's covered in a Monokuma face. I sigh loudly as Fuyuhiko turns again to the chalkboard.
The door opens again. "Forgive me, I was looking for Madame Chabashira," Himiko says. "Though I need to take a little cat nyap."
"Better get rest while you can," Fuyuhiko says in a low and shocking voice. We turn to him to see the chalk in his hands spinning between his fingers. "Not gonna be easy with chatterbox and fuckwads all about."
"That's not a nice thing to say," Himiko says offhandedly. "Words have power."
"Only if you give them power," Fuyuhiko says offhandedly. He scratches the chalk on the board in a bored manner. "Names are more powerful than words if you ask me. Isn't that right sun child? Or is that the Truth, Makoto?"
"I suppose you have a point," I chime in. "But people take words at different values since we're all so-"
"If I had a hex and enough mana to cast it, I'd cast it on you!" Himiko shouts. Her hat flops behind her as she throws what looks to be a small stick at him.
"Hey let's calm down and-"
"Are you really that deluded?!" Fuyuhiko snaps the chalk in his hands. "I just lost someone who has been there my entire life! I didn't even get the chance to tell her I appreciated her! And you're concerned with this mythical bullshit of sage and auras! How did you even get in this hellscape in this first fucking place?!"
In between the chalk dust I can see Humiko fuming. "Well," Himiko says curtly. "I never...You're not doing her legacy a favor you dragon breathed toe! Choke on the eye of newt and may the rest of your day be filled with uninterrupted sadness."
She storms out of the room with her hat flopping behind her. "That wasn't called for Fuyuhiko," I scolded. "I get the situation is fraught but she has merit to her words."
"Whatever." He sits on the desk with her legs dangling several inches off of the ground. "You're still here?"
"Forget I said anything I guess." I sit up from the desk and close the door behind me. I wonder if there's anyone I can talk to in the cafeteria."
Ichiro Aiko's Perspective
As I waved Ryoma off and helped Kirumi with her final cleaning duties, I noticed Toko still in the corner, mumbling to himself.
"Should one of us talk to her?" I asked Kirumi, nodding my head in the direction of Toko.
"I don't know… she seems to be a bit… in her own world at the moment," Kirumi replied.
"I guess. But I mean as dark as it may sound… maybe one of us should check on her so she doesn't, you know…"
"Don't worry Ichiro, I get what you mean. And perhaps you're correct, but I'd like to have faith that it won't come to that."
"I guess some of us just need a bit of faith. I'll check on her anyways, get some rest Kirumi."
"I will. Just knock if you need anything," Kirumi replied, bowing towards me and then taking her leave.
I strolled over to Toko who sat alone in the corner, mumbling to herself "Please keep out, not yet, don't hurt master Togami." It just sounded like a bunch of incoherent mumbo jumbo but it seemed as though she was having an internal conversation with herself.
"Hey Toko are you doing alright?" I asked.
"AH! GET AWAY FROM ME! PERVERT!" Toko shouted, jumping back out of her chair.
"Relax Toko. I just wanted to come over and say hi."
"N-no one ever just comes over just to say hi."
"Not everyone is evil and diabolical."
"No, everyone has an e-evil quality. I-it just takes something like this for it to come out."
"That's not always true though."
"Y-yes it is."
"Toko I don't know what you've been through. But I'm sorry you feel that way."
"J-just go away."
"Fine then." I said getting up and leaving the cafeteria wondering what the heck was up with her.
Ryoko Katsumi's Perspective
My stomach rumbles loudly when I open the door to the kitchen. "Just about time for the late lunch then," Aoi jokes lightly. "I want to talk to Gonta right now. I'll leave you alone. Maybe I'll find Sakura."
"Any idea where she could have gone?" Aoi tilts her head when I ask her the question. "Anyone she was battling with lately?"
"Battling? Oh no," she clarifies. "Meditating. I'm sure she found Tenko and Akane to meditate with before they-actually they might be battling. Silly me!"
"Right," I chuckle. "I'll see you in a bit then." She turns the corner to the main cafeteria with a bit of a skip in her step. What I wouldn't give to be as optimistic as she is right now. What I wouldn't give.
Several people are still in the kitchen hunched over trays and dirty dishes. "Miss Tojo, I implore you to take a rest!"
"Be that as it may Miss Nevermind, I cannot leave a mess untouched. As long as there is a need, I shall fill it, it is my-"
"But you only had an hour of forty minutes of rest!" Sonia insists. "You could teach us so that you may be able to rest!"
"An hour is optimal, an hour and forty minutes in a living residence as full of this is not. Everyone has their needs."
"Could you teach me?" I speak up. Kirumi and Sonia look up from the pile of dishes. "Just enough to get me doing something other than walking and talking to everyone else."
"I am not a teacher," Kirumi says in a placid tone. "My teaching would hardly be adequate. I suppose that is in fact a request I can manage. It is simple enough."
"But she can use your expertise nonetheless!" Sonia chimes in. "If you are greeted with Death's unforgiving hand then we can still have someone fit to keep the house."
"I would prefer not to think about it like that," Kirumi mentions. "Regardless, Ryoko, I hope you have a keen eye for detail."
"Only the keenest." I pick up a rag from the ground, slipping slightly as I move my foot over the previously covered area.
"I had that rag there for a reason," Kirumi says. "It looks as though that rag still needs to be there based on your earlier slipping. It appears as though the flour was not enough for the oil to be cleaned up."
"Unfortunately that was the last of flour for the day. Today shall in fact be a light dinner depending on what our peers want to eat this time around," Sonia mentions. "Do you have anything in particular you want to eat Ryoko? Because I for one can go for some novoselic pastries for dessert. If you have an idea for our main course I'd very much like to try it."
"Let's focus on cleaning up those dishes first. I have a feeling that this automated dishwasher won't help us at all." As I finish my statement the automatic dishwasher begins to steam. "I guess I made it angry, but it's true."
The next thirty minutes is me talking with the others about the dishes, the meals we could make, and other issues in the kitchen. The dishes are still palatable so I make a request for either a tuna casserole or some lasagna. "Lasagna?" Kirumi asks. "I'll have to re-familiarize myself with that recipe, it's not common in Japan."
"I've had Lasagna, it's similar to Curry Doria except they use pasta," Sonia mentions.
"Pasta? Does it take long to make?"
"No I can show you right now-"
"Actually I hardly touched most of the kitchen tools," Sonia interjects. "I can work on the Pasta right now. Ryoko looks like she could use a break."
"I would and wouldn't say that if that makes sense."
Time Skip
I had left the kitchen to get a quick break and to just briefly relax. However just as I had sat on the hard benches there's the sound of a clatter that echoes through the gym. I look up to see that some of the other bleachers have closed up. "How'd that happen?" Leon asked, looking at the side of the bleacher.
"There's a lever on the side of these things," I automatically replied. "Who flipped them?"
Standing up, I follow Leon to the side of the bleachers where we see the fluffy behind of one of Gundham's hamsters disappear into one of the floor vents. "I didn't think they knew how to open them," Leon remarks.
"I'm getting really nervous that one of these days we'll find one of them with a murder weapon. But that shouldn't be much of a concern."
"I guess," Leon says rather boredly. "I'll see if Mondo or Sayaka are up to anything, maybe Sayaka is done with her nap, I'll see you around Ryoko."
I wave goodbye to the baseball player as we turn into the hallway, heading off in different directions. Without looking where I'm going I find myself colliding with Maki. She falls to the ground briefly but picks herself up quickly. "Sorry Maki, are you okay?"
She blinks rather tiredly but shakes her head. "I am alright. How are you faring?"
"Not too bad. Those were some quick reflexes you have."
"My orphanage was on a hill. I had to care for some kids who fell down rather frequently." She pauses for a moment and she looks a bit to the left. "Did you hear that?"
"No but it must have been one of Gundham's hamsters," I dismissed.
"How many of them does he have again?"
"Beats me, I haven't had the chance to ask." The conversation slows to an awkward stop. "Want to grab something to eat?"
"After I finish my patrols. Our favorite Hall Dictator wants us to search the patrols."
"If you sound so annoyed by them why are you doing them?"
"I'm bored," she says simply. "Come on, let's work up an appetite. It's almost time for dinner anyways."
Our walk through the halls is boring and aimless. Maki gets down to her hands and knees with surprising frequency and scopes through the classrooms we go through. As we pass the laundry room Mondo comes out with his jacket all wrinkled. "Looks like you were busy," I joke.
"You don't know the half of it chick," he says rather boredly. He scratches his head and I hear some sound of water squishing. "You're staring at me funny."
"She has wide eyes," Maki claims. Just behind Mondo we see a mass of blankets tumble down. "Are you okay Mister Soda?"
From the pile of blankets I see Soda's spiky purple hair from the pile. He holds a thumb up as he tries to make his way out of the pile.
"You're more than willing to join us."
"Sure," he obliges with a shrug. There's another squeaking sound as he walks over to us and the three of us continue to walk down the corridors.
We go through two more classrooms and find nothing of note. "How long do these patrols last?" I ask Maki.
"By this time I'm about done but since I've picked up you and Mondo I think we'll be done in ten minutes." She closes the door behind her to the last classroom.
I drag Mondo out of the way of the closing door and he shrugs. "Can't keep your hands off of me I guess," he says with a laugh.
Maki points to the last door, the computer lab, which we haven't been in for a while, and I open the door. There's a bit of resistance as I shove the door open. "Mondo, can you help me?"
Rather nonchalantly he pushes his shoulder against the door and gives a mighty shove, almost losing his balance before Maki and I hold him up. "That's strange," Maki notes. As we look through the dark room I find myself tripping over something round...and fleshy.
My eyes adjust to the darkness as I fumble around on the floor. I grab onto the desk and push myself ever so slightly higher. I sit on a chair to catch my breath. "I found the light switch!" Mondo calls out.
"Then turn it on," Maki says. There's a sound of fumbling and then Mondo turns on the switch.
When my eyes adjust I rub the spirals out of my eyes. Once the brightness becomes comfortable I see just what-or who I tripped over. Gonta lies prone on the ground, his hair spread out not too far from one of the other doors to the computer lab. He doesn't look good, but by the faint bit of dust swirling all around his nose he looks still alive.
"HOLY FUCK!" Mondo shouts.
"AAAAAA." Soda screams.
I look around the room and see several rows in front of me. Someone sprawled over the computers. The petite body hangs over the largest monitor with blood from their head spiraling down.
Bing Bong Bing Bong! A body has been discovered! Following a brief period of investigation, we will commence our school trial!
Maki takes several steps over Gonta's body towards the body. She lifts off the hat from the corpse's head. Blood stains the front of her adorable little witch outfit. Her staff is hanging against the desk. "She's dead," Maki says simply.
Himiko Yumeno, the Ultimate witch, lies limp over the monitor.
A/N: Sorry for the long ass break, going to try and get through the trial before we focus on other projects again. Again sorry for the wait. Hope you guys enjoyed the FTEs today.