?: ". . ."

?: "A-Ah?"

Opening her eyes, the Ultimate Pianist, Kaede Akamatsu got up, observing her surroundings. The pianist pinched herself, assuming this was a dream, as she was dead...right? Wasn't she? She was killed by Monokuma… she wondered if Shuichi was alright, worried about him.

Kaede: "W-Where…"

KAEDE AKAMATSU - ULTIMATE PIANIST

Kaede tried to figure out where she was, sensing she wasn't in a very big room...it was small...like-

BAM!

The locker burst open as she found herself in a classroom. Feeling a large sense of deja vu, she looked around the classroom, finding a single door and another locker next to her. This all seemed incredibly familiar…

Kaede: (If this is what I think it is...this isn't going to go well.)

The pianist prayed that this was all a coincidence. She decided to open the 2nd locker, when-

BANG!

It slammed open, revealing a blond princess in a pink dress, with a tiara on her head. Kaede managed to narrowly avoid the door as the princess slowly stepped out.

?: "Huh...Where am I?"

Kaede: "Hi…"

?: "Oh hello! I didn't see you there…"

Kaede: "It's fine!"

?: "So what's your name?"

Kaede: "Huh? Oh! I'm Kaede Akamatsu."

?: "Nice to meet you. I'm Princess Peach."

PRINCESS PEACH - ULTIMATE RULER

Kaede: "Nice to meet you as well…"

Peach: "So...where are we?"

Kaede: "I don't think I want to know."

Peach: "Why would that be?"

Kaede: "...This place gives me deja vu."

Peach: "It does? This doesn't seem familiar to me at all."

Kaede: "I've had an experience in this setting you would not want to have."

Peach: "Oh? Would you mind elaborating?"

Kaede: "Yes, I would mind. It was horrible."

Peach: "I see…Where do you think we are?"

Kaede: "I hope I'm wrong, but I think...Hope's Peak Academy."

Peach: "...I've never heard of it."

Kaede: "Good. You don't want to."

Peach: "...So, what should we do now?"

Kaede: "Probably look around…"

Peach: "Sounds good."

The two leave, and walk through a few hallways. As they pass the gym, Kaede's about to instinctively head in, when Peach stops her.

Peach: "Why are you going in there specifically?"

Kaede: "Sorry, it's just...this whole place seems eerily familiar, and…"

Peach: "I understand. Let's get going!"

Kaede: "Right." (I think I can trust Peach, at least for now…)

The pianist and princess continue on until they end up in...an auditorium. This isn't where Kaede expected fourteen people to be gathered, talking to themselves until she opened the door, causing fourteen heads to turn towards her.

?: "Finally. The two jerks who put us here finally showed up."

Kaede: (They think we're behind this…but what the hell...they can't all be from Earth. There's a rabbit, walking on two legs...a pink blob...a bomb person- this is weird...but I need to focus.) "H-Hey! We're not behind this!"

?: "How do we know if you're being truthful?"

Peach: "We were forced here just like you guys!"

?: "I believe them! They don't seem to be behind this…"

?: "Who else would be behind this?"

?: "Someone we haven't met, probably!"

Kaede: "Probably…"

?: "What do you mean, probably? Are you saying it's one of us, huh?"

Kaede: "Yes. I am."

?: "And is there any proof it isn't you?"

Peach: "..."

Kaede: (We don't have any proof...do we?)

?: "Well, why don't they tell us who they are, if they're not the real villains?"

?: "Good idea. You two. Tell us who you are."

Kaede: "I'm Kaede Akamatsu."

Peach: "And I'm Princess Peach."

?: "Nice to meet you, Miss Kaede, and your majesty!"

Kaede: (What a polite little girl… she's so sweet, and adorable!) "Thank you!"

Kaede reached down and patted the bunny on the head, who squealed happily, enjoying the patting.

?: "No problem, miss!"

Kaede: "And what's your name?"

Cream?: "I'm Cream! Cream the Rabbit!"

CREAM THE RABBIT - ULTIMATE KINDNESS

Cream: "Now it's your turn, Amy!"

Amy?: "And I'm Amy Rose!"

AMY ROSE - ULTIMATE LOVER

Kaede: "You two are friends, I'm guessing?"

Cream: "Yep! We're best friends!"

Amy: "Yeah! Of course we are!"

Kaede: "Well it's nice to meet you, Cream and Amy!"

Amy: "Nice to meet you too, Kaede."

Cream: "Yeah! Nice to meet you, miss!"

Kaede: "How about you? What's your name?"

?: "Name's William. William Afton."

WILLIAM AFTON - ULTIMATE SERIAL KILLER

?: "You look like someone I could get along with."

William: "And why's that, kid?"

?: "It's like we have something in common...our LV…"

William: "The hell's an LV?"

?: "Probably should introduce myself first. I'm Chara, Chara Dreemurr."

CHARA DREEMURR - ULTIMATE GENOCIDER

?: "Wow, Chara, you made a friend! Good job!"

Chara: "You know why I'm trying to get on his good side, right Frisk?"

Frisk?: "Come on, why are you like this? Can't you just be normal for once?"

Chara: "Heh. You know why I'm like this."

Kaede: "What are you talking about?"

Chara: "Do you really wanna know?"

Frisk?: "Chara, shut up!"

Chara: "Make me, Frisk!"

William: "I have no idea what those two are bickering about."

Peach: "Me neither…"

Kaede: (Those two don't seem to get along that well…)

Cream: "Can you two please stop fighting?"

Frisk?: "I agree...Chara, can we stop fighting?"

Chara: "Eh, sure, why not."

Kaede: "What was that all about?"

Chara: "You really wanna know, huh?"

Frisk?: "...I-Let's change the subject. You two wanted my name, right?"

Kaede: "...Yes, that's correct, even though we could probably guess it from that conversation. Frisk, right?"

Frisk: "Yes, that's correct."

FRISK DREEMURR - ULTIMATE DETERMINATION

?: "Hi Frisk! You seem like a really good friend!"

Frisk: "How am I a good friend…?"

?: "You always know what to say to make people happy!"

Frisk: "H-Heh, thanks."

?: "So we should be friends!"

Frisk: "Alright then! What's your name? I never got it…"

?: "Oh, my name's Hat Kid!"

HAT KID - ULTIMATE COLLECTOR

Frisk: "Nice to meet you, Hat Kid!"

Hat Kid: "Nice to meet you too, Frisk!"

Kaede: "Everyone's being so wholesome…"

Hat Kid: "That's a compliment, right?"

Amy: "I'm pretty sure it is a compliment."

?: "Guessing I'm next, huh?"

Kaede: "Sure, do you want to go next?"

?: "Well, better get the introduction over with sooner or later."

Peach: "He doesn't seem that optimistic…"

?: "I can hear you."

Kaede: (That wasn't smart...now he's definitely not happy with her.)

?: "Well, let's get this over with. I'm Whitty."

WHITTY - ULTIMATE BOMB

Peach: "Nice to meet you, Whitty!"

Whitty: "Yeah sure. I wonder where Carol is, though…"

Cream: "Who's Carol? She seems like a nice person."

Whitty: "Nicest person I know. She's the only person who really cares about me."

Chara: "So she's your girlfriend."

Whitty: "Huh. What gave you that idea? Anyway, wanna introduce yourself, Nonsense?"

Kaede: (He changed the subject...interesting.)

Nonsense?: "Okay. I'm Nonsense."

NONSENSE - ULTIMATE NONSENSE

Nonsense: "Me and Whitty became-well, I wouldn't say friends, but at least acquainted due to the fact we both hate this one guy.

Kaede: "What's his name?"

Whitty: "Boyfriend, believe it or not."

Peach: "Interesting…"

Kaede: (Boyfriend...odd name.)

?: "Alright. I'm next."

Kaede: "Okay then, what's your name?"

Peach: "Wait, is that-"

Kaede: "Huh? You recognize him?"

Peach: "I do."

?: "I am Steve."

STEVE - ULTIMATE CRAFTER

Peach: "I didn't expect to see you here."

?: "Poyo!"

Peach: "Or you, Kirby!"

Peach quickly picked up the pink fluffball and hugged him. It seems she's quite fond of him to react so strongly to him.

Kirby?: "Poyo! Hi Peach! I found this machine on the ground, and now everyone can understand me!"

Peach: "That's wonderful, Kirby!"

Kaede: "Aw, a pink puffball! Adorable!"

Kirby?: "Poyo! Thank you!"

Amy: "So, you're Kirby?"

Kirby: "Poyo! Yes!"

KIRBY - ULTIMATE COPYCAT

Kaede: (Aw, such a happy reunion...but...I don't think it's going to last.)

?: "Anyway, there's only 4 of us left to introduce ourselves, right?"

Cream: "I think so…"

?: "So who's next?"

Chara: "How 'bout you, squiddy?"

?: "I'm not a squid. I'm more of an octopus myself."

Frisk: "Octo...interesting!"

?: "Thanks, Frisk, was it?"

Frisk: "Yep!"

?: "Alright. Well, I'm Agent 8."

AGENT 8 - ULTIMATE OCTARIAN

?: "And I'm Ellie."

ELLIE - ULTIMATE ESCAPIST

Kaede: "That was quick…"

Ellie: "I am, aren't I?"

Agent 8: "That was kind of rude."

Ellie: "Heheh."

?: "And I'm Gloria, Galar Champion."

GLORIA - ULTIMATE POKEMON CHAMPION

?: "C'mon Gloria, stop putting salt in the wound, heh."

Peach: "Did you try and do what Ellie did?"

Gloria: "Yep."

Frisk: "Huh...is everyone trying to one up each other?"

Chara: "Yeah."

Amy: "That was probably the quickest introduction, Ellie."

Gloria: "What about me?"

William: "Nah, you weren't that fast."

Gloria: "Darn it."

?: "So I'm the last one, huh?"

Cream: "Yes, you actually are…"

?: "Well in that case, I'm Leon. The former Galar Champion."

LEON - ULTIMATE POKEMON TRAINER

Gloria: "When we get out of here, Leon, wanna have another battle?"

Leon: "Sure! I'm down for it!"

Cream: "What kind of battle?"

Gloria: "Oh, just a Pokemon battle!"

Amy: "What's a Pokemon?"

Leon: "You don't know what Pokemon is?"

Kaede: (It's like you're the only two who do.)

Hat Kid: "So um...it's nice to meet all of you!

Kaede: "Nice to meet all of you as well…"

Cream: "Same to you, Miss!"

William: "Yeah. Same."

Amy: "This place is weird...I wonder why we're here."

?: "Oh do you now?"

Kaede froze. She heard that voice before, and the fact she was hearing it again made this nightmare much more real. Peach, sensing Kaede's familiarity with the voice, questioned her about it.

Peach: "What's wrong-"

MONOKUMA - HEADMASTER

Monokuma: "Hello everybody!"

Kaede: "Not you…!"

Cream: "W-Waah!"

Hat Kid: "W-Woah! Where'd you come from?"

Monokuma: "That doesn't matter, kid! What matters is that I am the headmaster of the school you are trapped in! And I see you've all introduced yourselves… wonderful! I'm sure you'll get along swimmingly...at least for now…! Puhuhuhu!"

William: "What're you on about, bear?"

Monokuma: "I'll get to that, Afton. Anyway, you all seem to wonder why you're here…!- Wait a minute...Kaede? How are you even, well, here? Didn't I personally kill you?"

At the word kill, many students gasped, with the only two to not have gasped being William and Chara, the former chuckling. simply chuckling.

Gloria: "Why're you chuckling?"

William: "Kid that comes back from the dead. Haven't heard that in a while. Not since-"

William stopped suddenly, as if he didn't feel like disclosing that information.

Kaede: "I hate you as much as you hate me, Monokuma."

Monokuma: "I know! Which is why I'm glad you're here, in the root of despair!"

Cream: "W-What do you mean?"

Chara: "Something about murder, I'm guessing."

Monokuma: "Correct! I'm happy to announce the 100th Killing Game! Congrats, students! You'll be forced to kill each other!~"

This announcement of a killing game did not go over well with the students. The only one to not say anything was Kaede, who was remembering the previous...trying to kill the mastermind, only to kill an innocent victim instead…

Leon: "K-Killing...game?! A-Are you a psycho or something?"

Monokuma: "Yes, yes I am! Tell me something I don't know!"

Hat Kid: "T-That sounds horrible!"

Monokuma: "Oh, I know! Does this sound like a nightmare to you?"

Peach nodded, her face pale.

The only person to not have a large reaction was Kaede, as she was expecting this. The pianist sighed and tried to come up with a plan that wouldn't simply end up with her and an innocent person dead.

Cream: "W-Why would anyone do that?"

Monokuma: "It's the only way to leave, silly little rabbit! Let me explain~ When you kill someone and enough people find the body, you'll investigate the murder! And then, after that, a thrilling class trial ensues where you figure out "whodunnit!" If you get it right, the culprit is punished, but if you're wrong...the culprit goes free, and everyone else is punished instead! Sound fun?"

Frisk: "No! That sounds horrible!"

William: "Sounds interesting."

Peach: "W-What do you mean interesting?!"

Chara: "Have to agree. Being a detective sounds fun."

Leon: "How could you say that?!"

Chara: "Past experience."

William: "Yeah. I've had a lot of experience with that."

Cream: "A-Are you a detective?"

William: "Not really."

Gloria: "Those two we definitely have to watch out for."

Kaede: "But...if someone does kill, will we be able to instantly point fingers at them?"

Amy: "Probably not…"

Whitty: "So you're saying, we can't trust anyone?"

Ellie: "C'mon, we can easily escape this school."

Nonsense: "Not sure about that. Have you seen any doors around here?"

Hat Kid: "I haven't…"

Kirby: "So our only way out is to-"

Kaede: "...Murder."

Cream: "I-I don't want to be here! A-Amy, p-please protect me!"

Amy: "Don't worry Cream. I will."

Whitty: "But...is there anyone we can truly trust?"

Kaede: (Anyone I...truly trust…)

Kaede let this sink in. She wasn't sure if anyone here could be trusted. Not even Peach, who was here from the start...though this was from her knowledge about her previous game…

But...what horrified Kaede the most...was that she might not even be able to trust herself. She shuddered, thinking about what she did in the previous game, not listening to everyone else parting ways, with the princess staying by Kaede's side.

Monokuma: "Alright! You all seem to be enjoying yourself, so I'm going to head out! Goodbye, students!"

Kaede: "Well.. he's gone."

Peach: "Is he going to do that all the time…?"

Kaede: "Yeah, he is."

Peach: "W-Well...should we explore this place?"

Kaede: "Exploration sounds good."