Chapter 1
Welcome back! Welcome, to chapter 1 of 'Hope's Tactic'. In this one, will have the start of the killing game. Not the actual murders, just the introductions. And some things before we start; I'll change some friendships and interests just to make this somewhat more interesting, and the order of deaths will change. Now, we can begin.
Legend:
"Talking."
'Thinking...'
"Monokuma on Speakers"
"Monokuma Talking."
Chapter 1: Introductions
Makoto slowly started to open his eyes as he yawned and looked around him.
He was in a classroom with the windows blocked with metal plates.
"Okay... this isn't weird at all..." Makoto muttered as he stood up and started to walk around the classroom, trying to inspect it.
Not counting the blocked windows, it looked like a pretty normal classroom. Seats, desks, whiteboard. Nothing really of another world.
He looked at the camera that was at the corner of the roof and raised a brow. Was he kidnapped maybe?
"Ehm, attention! Everyone! Go to the gym so we can introduce ourselves! Don't be late!" A high pitched, childlike voice said from the speakers. Makoto looked at the camera one last time, before shrugging and walking to the door.
It isn't like he has anything better to do.
As he walked across the hall, he noticed as the rest of the windows were also blocked. He already checked if he had anything to defend himself, and as expected, he is clean of any weapon.
He opened the doors of the gymnasium and it looked that there were more people in there. He walked in and noticed that all of them seemed to be students. Just like him.
"Hey! What are you waiting for!? Introduce yourselves!" The same voice that before said and a boy in a white uniform and red eyes nodded firmly.
"It sounds like a wonderful idea! Let's do it!" He ordened and walked towards Naegi as the people started to talk with each other.
"Greetings! I am Ishimaru Kiyotaka! The Ultimate Moral Compass! I look forward spending my scholar life with you!" Ishimaru introduced himself and Makoto nodded.
"Hey. I'm Makoto Naegi. Ultimate Tactician. Nice meeting you too." he said as Ishimaru laughed.
"That's a strong name you have there! You should thank your parents for giving it to you! Now, you must work hard for it to no lose its meaning!"
Yeaaaaaah... this guy is kind of annoying.
"Will do. Now if you don't mind, I would like to talk to the rest." Makoto said as he walked away and looked for other people to talk with.
As he looked around, he saw a girl with a typical Japanese student outfit with a longer skirt, twin braids and round glasses.
She caught at him staring her and she gave him a glare "W-What are you looking at?" She said in a rude tone as Makoto looked around.
"Me?" He asked and pointed to himself. If she was going to be rude, he can play that too.
"Y-Yes! You probably think I am d-disgusting. A best to look..." She spat and Makoto shrugged.
"Nah, I usually stare at pretty girls." he answered, trying to embarrass her. And it worked.
Well, with side effects.
The girl eyes widen as a blush came to her face. Seeing her no respond to his flirt, he decided to walk away when he heard "White Knight...".
He quickly looked behind him to see the girl blushing madly as he raised a brow "What now?"
The girl said nothing as she just stared at him "Ehm... do you have a name?" He asked, not knowing where and how the situation turned this way.
"Toko Fukawa my knight..."
Makoto, now sure how she called her, nodded slowly "Right. Well, I am Makoto Naegi, nice meeting ya, now I have to go. Bye-bye!" He said as he quickly walked away as the girl smiled.
"Even your name is great..."
'Note for self; stay away from her...' Makoto mentally said before he bumped against a massive, muscular body.
It belonged to a girl, that had muscles where he knows he doesn't have muscles, white long hair, a sailor uniform that was torn, probably for mobility he deduced, scars on her arms and a serious face.
"Sorry 'bout that. Wasn't really looking." He apologized and she smiled.
"Do not worry. Mistakes can be made." She looked at him and raised a brow. "Despite your slim figure, I can see a warrior in you. Tell me; do you do Martial Arts?" She asked and Makoto shrugged.
"I know my fair amount of Krav Maga and some weapons. Does it count..." He said but stopped due to not knowing her name.
She chuckled seeing his problem "Sakura Oogami. And yes, it does count minus for the weapon part."
He smirked and nodded "Well Sakura, I am Makoto Naegi, and I can tell you also know your fair amount of Krav Maga, don't you?"
Sakura chuckled at his joke "That and more. Maybe one day we could spar and see how are you at it."
"I would love that. See ya around." He said and walked to someone else. Well, at least this Sakura chick seems cool headed for all the muscles she has. Maybe he can talk to her later.
He saw a red-haired boy and decided to walk and see what's his deal is. But before he could get to close, a girl with dark blue hair and blue eyes came in front of him. She was probably the prettiest in there. He already knows who she is, but didn't expect for her to hug him.
"I'm so happy to see you again, Makoto!" She said happily as she broke the hug and looked at him and his smiling face.
"Huh, didn't know you knew of my existence Sayaka." he joked as she giggled.
"How can I forget about you? You helped that crane in middle-school, you are funny and smart. It is hard to not remember you." She said and Makoto smirked placing his hand on his heart.
"Awww, you are going to make me blush." He said teasingly before closing his eyes "Welp, it is nice to see a familiar face here. Want to catch up once we are done here?"
Sayaka clapped her hands as she smiled "It would be great. Till later then." She said as she gracefully walked away. Makoto looked at her talk with someone else and once he looked in front of him, he saw the same red-head kid he wanted to talk with before.
"Yo." He said as this guy looked at him with a look of disbelief.
"Where you just talking with Sayaka Maizono?" He asked incredibly and he nodded.
"Pretty much. Why?"
He grabbed his hair "I tried to talk with her all the time we were here and she just decides to talk with you instead?! How!?"
Makoto shrugged "Don't know. I think we only spoke once back in middle-school and-"
"You went to the same school!?" He asked and Makoto nodded. He sighed before smiling "Well, that explains it. Name's Leon Kuwata. The Ultimate Baseball Star. Nice meeting you."
"Makoto Naegi. Ultimate Tactician and the same feeling." He said with a small smile and Leon nodded with a grin.
"Well, I won't lose to you for Sayaka's love!" He exclaimed as he ran away, leaving Makoto nodding slowly.
'Out of 5 people, I only want to talk too 2...'
He kept looking for more people, and he bumped with a small girl, in a green dress, light-brown hair and green eyes.
"S-Sorry..." She apologized and Makoto smiled.
"Don't worry. I also had part of the fault. My name is Makoto Naegi by the way."
"M-My n-name is C-Chihiro F-Fujisaki. Nice m-meeting y-you." She stutters out her name and Makoto nodded with a smile.
"See? It wasn't that hard, was it?" He joked and Chihiro's eyes filled with tears.
"I'm s-sorry if I-I upset you." She apologized and Makoto blinked.
"You didn't. Why would I get upset?"
"W-Well, Byakuya did." She said and Makoto raised a brow as he looked to a blonde kid with glasses.
"He does looks like someone with a stick up her ass, doesn't he?" He said and Chihiro laughed softly as she sniffed.
"I-I guess..."
"Don't worry, I'll go talk with him. See ya later." Makoto said heading to the blonde that gave him an annoyed look.
"And what might you want?" He asked in a tone that equaled his stare.
Makoto raised his arms in a sign of peace "Hey now, cool your jets Turbo. I just want to talk." Makoto said and Byakuya scoffed.
"Sadly, I am not interested in getting involved with your kind, so go away."
"C'mon man. No need to be sassy. Why don't you tell me your talent at least. Look, I am the Ultimate Tactician."
Byakuya smirked "Very well, I will amuse you. I am Byakuya Togami, the Ultimate Affluent Progeny." He said expecting Makoto to cower by that.
Instead, he only gave him a blank look "Annnnnnd?"
"Excuse me?"
Makoto sighed before smirking "Well, for me you only got here because Daddy fucked Mommy, didn't he?" seeing Byakuya narrow his eyes he decided to continue "After all, you don't have a talent. Just mere luck."
Byakuya, decided that he lost enough time and walked away, not before directing one last glare to him. Makoto looked back at Chihiro and gave him a smirk with a thumbs up, making the girl smile.
"Man, I totally saw that..." He turned to the sound of the voice of a tall student, with messy hair.
"See what?" Makoto asked and he grinned.
"That someone would put a jerk in his place. I'm Yasuhiro Hagakure, the Ultimate Clairvoyant! My predictions are 100% true a 30% of the times!" Yasuhiro introduced himself and Makoto nodded.
"Cool... gotta go." He said, not wanting to deal with some future or destiny bullshit. He then bumbed with a... well, fat student with glasses.
"Hey, sorry 'bout that." He apologized as the fat teen turned around and looked at him.
"Do not worry!" He said in a high-pitched voice that didn't quite match his size. "I am Yamada Hifumi, but you can also refer me by my artistic name, The Alpha and Omega."
Makoto nodded "I'm Makoto Naegi. Just Makoto Naegi." He said and Yamada nodded as he eyed him.
"Tell me Master Naegi, do you know anything about the 2D world?" He asked and Makoto raised a brow.
"No. I don't think so at least."
Yamada gasped in shock "Do not worry! As the Ultimate Doujin Artist, I will introduce to you the wonders of the 2D world! Just you wait!" He said before rushing away.
'How can someone say that out loud?' Makoto thought as he walked towards a girl with pale skin and lavender hair.
"Hey." He said and the girl looked at him.
"Hello." She responded coolly at him.
"I'm Makoto Naegi. Ultimate Tactician." He introduced himself.
"Kyoko Kirigiri. I... don't remember why I got here." She confessed and Makoto nodded.
"Well, I hope you remember soon. If there is something I can do, don't doubt to call me." He offered with a smile and Kyoko nodded keeping her poker face.
"I'll keep that in mind. Thank you."
Makoto nodded and walked to another tall student with a pompadour like hair-style. "Hey, big-guy." Makoto said and the person looked at him with a grin.
"Hey! Nice to fuckin' meet'cha!" He said and it took Makoto's training in reading people to know that he didn't say it with any harm. "I'm Mondo Oowada."
"Makoto Naegi. Hey, are you the biker guy or something?" he asked and Mondo nodded.
"Hell yeah! Ultimate Biker is what the school calls it. So, do you ride?"
"I did once or twice in a Hayes M1030 B2." Mondo raised a brow at the answer.
"Isn't that one of the army bikes or some shit like that?" Makoto nodded "How the fuck did you got to ride it?"
Makoto shrugged "Luck I guess."
Mondo laughed at his answer as he then pat him hard in the arm "We should totally go out to ride once we get outta here."
"Yeah, it would be cool." Makoto agreed as he then looked for someone else to talk with.
"Hello." He turned to the owner of the voice and saw that it was a pale girl, with red eyes and a gothic Lolita dress.
Makoto eyed her and nodded "Hello?"
She giggled "No need to be shy around me. I saw how you talked with everyone without problem. I am not that scary I hope."
'I had to deal with bigger weirdos, and some I just met...'
"Nah, just was shocked with your look. Makoto Naegi." He introduced and she nodded.
"Celestia Ludenberg, the Ultimate Gambler. Would you mind telling me your talent?" She asked and Makoto shrugged.
"Can't see why not. I am the Ultimate Tactician."
Celestia covered her smile with her hand "Oh, interesting. I guess that for that title you must have a great mind. One that wouldn't doubt on destroying his opponent at cold blood by using their weaknesses against them. Seeing how they get hurt. Ow, sorry I was in my own world for a second."
'Now that was accurate...' Makoto thought as he eyed Celestia warily. But before he can say anything, she interrupted him again.
"By the way, just call me Celes." She said with a smile that he could clearly tell it was fake.
He nodded "Yeah... not feeling like it, Celestia." He smirked seeing the corner of her mouth twitch lightly.
He left soon enough to a brown skinned girl, with blue eyes that smiled at him "Sup'?" she said and Makoto smiled at her.
"Hey, Makoto Naegi." He said and the girl nodded and put on a thinking face.
"Makoto Naegi, Makoto Naegi, Makoto Naegi..." She repeated making him raise a brow.
"What was that?" He asked and the girl smiled at him.
"Oh! If you repeat the name of a person three times, you will never forget its name." She explained before extending her hand that Makoto shook. "My name is Asahina Aoi, but you can call me Hina!" She said and at a difference from the last person he talked, she seemed truly happy to meet him.
"Sure Hina. So, what's your talent?"
"I am the Ultimate Swimmer. And you?"
"Ultimate Tactician. I hope we get along." He said and Asahina nodded as both walked away.
The last person there, was a pink-blonde girl with her hair in twin pig-tails. He was pretty sure he saw her in one of Komaru's magazines...
"Hey! Junko Enoshima here! Nice meeting ya!" She introduced herself and now did Makoto remember her. And meeting her in person, the first thing that came to his mind was:
"You look better in the magazines." Were the words that came from his mouth. Surprisingly, the model just laughed the comment off.
"Well, you know; they use a lot of photoshop and makeup to make the pictures look even better." She explained with a wink and Makoto nodded, deciding that the biggest breast comment would be too bad to make. In any circumstances.
"Anyway, how 'bout you introducing yourself?" She said and Makoto shrugged.
"Fine. Makoto Naegi, Ultimate Tactician."
"Oh, Ultimate Tactician. That means you are smart, right?"
"I like to think that way."
Junko grinned and before she could say anything else, the same annoying voice came back.
"Okay! Introduction time is over! Come to the next room to welcome you personally!"
"You hear him! Let's get in a line to meet our host!" Ishimaru exclaimed and Mondo growled.
"And why the fuck should we follow you?" He asked and Ishimaru face remained straight.
"I am the best option as a leader, due to my talent! Now, if we pro-"
"I don't give a shit about your talent!" Mondo exclaimed getting in Ishimaru's personal space. Makoto sighed as he got between the both.
"Look, Ishimaru; the people, we, should decide the leader. Not the other way around. So don't get all bossy just because you think you can guide us." Makoto said and Ishimaru found himself with no words to counter. "But you are right. We should go and see why the hell this place is like this. A problem with that?" He asked looking at Mondo that shook his head "Good! Let's go then." He said as he was the first one to enter the room, followed by the rest.
"Nice way defusing that situation." Sayaka praised Makoto that shrugged.
"Thanks. I got experience doing that." Sayaka tilted her head.
"Experience? How?"
"Long story. Maybe tell ya about it later."
They got in front of a podium that from there, a teddy bear, half white and half black, with the black side having a red eye and a grin, popped and sat on top of the podium.
"Welcome students! I am Monokuma! The headmaster of Hope's Peak Academy!" The bear said as all the students watched with shock.
"AHHHH! A TALKING BEAR!" Yamada screamed and Makoto shook his head.
"Relax. It is just an animatronic."
"NO! I am Monokuma! The director of this academy! And I came here to wish you good luck in your school killing life!"
'Eh?'
"K-Killing?" Asahina asked and Monokuma nodded.
"Yep! As you had noticed, the school is blocked. The only way to get out is to graduate. And the only way to graduate is to commit the perfect murder!"
Makoto narrowed his eyes as the rest started to panic or analyze the situation just like him. "And by perfect murder you mean?" Celestia asked and Monokuma laughed.
"Upupupu! Simple! Just kill someone and don't get caught! Easy right? Now..." Monokuma red eye shined as it watched the students absorb this situation.
"Let the killing begin!"
And done! That was chapter 1 of 'Hope's Tactic'. Hope you enjoyed. Now, I made this chapter for the purpose to show how Naegi personality is and the people he is more likely to hang out with. I know it was kind of boring, but bear with me, that next chapter will be better. And that's all! Remember to leave your Review that it helps my motivation, PM me for any doubt or suggestion, Follow and Favorite me and the story to know of any update.
Till Next Time.
Roy D. Harper.
Next Chapter: Exploring