It was a chance encounter that changed my time, the meeting betwee us became a long running connection. The day was the opening ceremony of the 78th class of Hope's Peak Academy. The woman known as Junko Enoshima would show me the enjoyment that came from despair.

"Rise and shine idiot, it's 7:00 AM"
The voice on the intercom signaled the dawn of a new day. Almost of the captives awoke from their slumber. As they began to pour out of their room, they encountered Tomoki standing at the dorm's exit.
"Greetings and good morning." Tomoki welcomed the first four out. The first four out (what seemed to be the early risers) were Taru, Sora, Ito, and Aiyaka.
"Looks like my profile on you is correct as always." stated Taru. "You've no doubt awoken at 6:32, plus or minus three minutes, and waited for others to awaken so you may discuss the beginning of a plan. From here you plan to gather us in one place, no doubt the mess hall due to the time and your ideals, to go over the rest. Am I correct?"
"Indeed. Reliable as always, my friend." Tomoki replied.
"Fine the, I'm starving. Catch you there." scoffed Aiyaka as she walked out of the dorms.
Ito and Taru followed Aiyaka, leaving Sora to be the only one remaining.
"Tomoki, should you need any help, I'm willing to stay."
"Worry not, I can undertake this simple task alone. Go ahead and eat with the others already present heading to the mess hall."
Tomoki patted Sora on the shoulder in reassurance. As he left, the next wave arrived. Kirika, Seiji, Takashi, Mitsuba, and Suzuki filed out. He told the five of the plans and headed towards Takura's room, the last to not wake up. He knocked several times and upon hearing no answer entered the room. He woke the sleeping editor from his deep slumber and brought (practically dragged) him to the meeting point.

Upon arrival, Tomoki took note of the room.
"May I inquire the whereabouts of Ms. Tsukira?" said Tomoki.
"Oh, she ate quickly and left saying she was bored." Kirika spoke.
"Come to think of it, wasn't she always the one with a short attention span." recalled Takashi.
"Indeed." said Taru. "She'd even skip class and you'd find her doing all manner of things. Genjiro was always trying to rein her in and he did succeed about thirty-six percent of the time. Seeing as he's not with us, someone will have to relay the meeting's information to her."
"All of this has been noted. I shall proceed with this meeting." Tomoki took a center seat and began his speech." With the information we know thus far, the advantage belongs to the mastermind of this act. They have covered their tracks well and left only the barest data behind. In order to apprehend the culprit, we must work together in groups of three or four to prevent interference from our investigation. Now I am well aware that most everyone must suspect each other, but we must prevent rash actions. I have secured rope from the storage room to use as a precaution. Should anyone attack you, you shall subdue them and restrain them with this. Once finished, alert the others and we shall hold a tribunal to decide a verdict."
"And what exactly is this suppose to achieve?" asked Suzuki.
"The least amount of discourse and death, my dear. The rules are clear: only the mastermind need be executed. In order for hope to remain among us, we must not die needlessly here."
Takura slid back in his in a downwards motion as he spoke.
"Is there more you need to tell us?"
"Indeed, it is but one little request. Should anyone have important details they are able to back up with facts, they should request a meeting with everyone."
"Okay got that." Kirika said as she quickly got up. "If that's all, Seiji, let's get going."
As the Ultimate Composer joined her in leaving, a voice spoke up.
"And where exactly do you think you're off to, you two?" questioned Ito.
"You know her," Seiji said, "no doubt this has triggered her artistic senses. To think in the thirteen years I've known her, she still has no tact when it comes to this issue."

Outside the library, a chaotic scene unfolded. Book after book flew out the door. The cause of this action was a single girl.
"Boring. Boring. Stupid. Oh...nah!"
Aiyaka continued her ransacking of the library with her goal in mind. Surely something interesting had to be present among these official and by the numbers books. She grabbed another then tossed it aside.
"Ugh..."
Aiyaka heard the sound and stopped the Outside the door, standing among the books, was a certain bluenette.
"You really should avoid flying objects. It's those type of thing that are hazardous to your health." Aiyaka called out in a mocking tone.
"You know, I came to tell you what you skipped out on in the mess hall, but now I feel less inclined to."
Ito stood in the doorway making a pouting face, clearly trying to get on the other girl's nerves.
"That's just like you, Ito." Aiyaka responded. "You look and act sophisticated and regal, but deep down you still act like a child. I really think -"
"Oh, I really forgot how crazy you were. You act all happy, condescending, bored, sad, just everything. Aiyaka, you're such a scatterbrain."
After sharing a short laugh, Ito told the other girl what was discussed in the mess hall.
"Don't worry about me, I feel like I'm one of the strongest here." Aiyaka stated.
"Really? I don't mean to sound like I'm putting you down, but you...you are handicapped." Ito replied looking at Aiyaka's right arm.
"Sure, sure, whatever you say, Strawberries."
The statement caused Ito to blush beet-red in embarrassment and question how she knew as Aiyaka left the room.

Taru was inquisitive. As a child grows eventually they enter a "why" phase. Everything they encounter, these kids question everything. Taru happened to be a man who never left this phase. As he grew, he wanted to know everything possible and sought out this knowledge. Throughout elementary and middle school his classmates knew he was always the one with all the answers. By the time he'd been scouted to join Hope's Peak, he'd developed an information network that extended from local town gossip to plans in the work in the Diet.
Since awaking her, he'd been bothered by the situation. Too many unknowns were present and it was driving him mad. Taking off his white jacket and purple shades, he leaned back in his chair. He'd taken some alone time to think in his room and he was still in his stupor.
"C'mon, who'd be the most likely to be the mastermind?" he thought to himself. "Think back to Hope's Peak and everyone's actions. Tomoki has acted calm and leader-ish, but he was always that way. Kirika and Seiji are truly in love and Monokuma stated only one would make it out, so it's not them. Aiyaka keeps going off by herself, but she's always been that type. Even back in class she exhibited that scatter mined behavior. Sora's always been a really nice, caring guy. He's always on the lookout for others and there's no way despair would be able to affect him. Okay, at this stage I'd wager these five people are innocent. On the opposite side, Takura and Ito are possibilities. Ito's a talented actor and could try to fool us with a performance and Takura's drowsiness could trick us. Hmm."
Taru continued his thoughts, staring holes in the ceiling. As time ticked on, a subtle sound alerted him.
Knock..knock...knock…
Getting to his feet, he opened the door; welcoming his visitor. They entered quietly and approached the center of the room.
"So, what is it you needed?" he asked.
The visitor remained silent.
As he approached the person, he noticed a small object. Unfortunately, he was to late.
THUMP!
His view darkened and constricted.
THUMP!
Red filled his left eye.
THUMP!

"Ding ding ding...Time's up!" Monokuma sounded. His voice echoed through the complex. "Too bad for you kids. You see, someone decided it was time to end our little stay. Mr. Taru Nakamura left us all alone; how rude of him. Now I'll give you all fifty minutes from you finding his body to get clues. I'm a busy bear after all. I'll alert you of what's after when time's up. Ta ta."
And just like that, the killings started. Ten stood confused of what had occurred. Taru was gone; replaced by an entity known as Despair.

"Damn" muttered Tomoki as Mitsuba and himself sat alone in the mess hall.
When the message sounded, everybody else had left the room already. The Ultimate Strategist thought to himself and came to the unsightly conclusion he didn't want to believe. Using the time when everyone left and the five minute grace period, any of the eight others were the possible murderer.
"Let's go. It's important to find the body and address the scene, correct?"
The voice snapped Tomoki out of his thoughts and back to reality. Looking up, the tall blonde had appeared by his side.
"You seem quite calm for what has transpired." he said looking at her straight, emotionless face.
"Trust me, I'm shaken." she replied. "As long as I imagine this like a championship game and I need that victory, I'm able to keep calm and think rationally."
"Heh, spoken like a true Ultimate in your field." he said, letting loose a small chuckle.
The pair exited the room and headed for the main entrance in hopes that if anyone had discovered the body that central room would provide an excellent meet up point. As they entered the entryway, they noticed Takashi seated, hands over his head.
"Why, why did this happen?" Takashi muttered, "Did those years we spent together mean nothing?"
Mitsuba walked over and took the seat next to him. Gently, she placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Takashi, just take deep breathes and relax. What happened." she said knowing what the cause of the distress was.
He sighed and took a breath.
"I...I heard the announcement so I went outside my room and started down the hall. There I noticed Taru's door was ajar so I went to check on him and investigate. I opened the door the rest of the way after knocking and I...I saw it."
The other two were silent.
"Taru...he was a great comrade." Tomoki said raised his voice and spoke more. "I'll gather everyone. We will address this in a civil manner."

Looking to the crime scene, Mitsuba was taken aback by the sight of the body, despite the horrors of the outside she had seen. Here laid a she'd known for years. Blood sprung forth from his head, leading a small pool around it. This pointed towards a single point of death. She neared the body to investigate. She couldn't let the culprit to get away with this murder.
"So Taru's the dead one, hmm?" came a deadpan voice in the doorway. "I'd have wagered Tomoki would've been the first death with his Ultimate Strategist talent."
Takura leaned against the doorframe.
"Would it be hard to watch your words!?" Mitsuba glanced up to Takura, shooting a glare.
The man approached the body, letting out a sigh. He flipped a stray hair strand from his face. His apathetic stare carved straight at the corpse.
"Straight head trauma. No other visible impacts. You determine this too?"
The straightforwardness of Takura's words took Mitsuba aback.
"How-"
"Sorry to intrude."
Three heads suddenly appeared in the doorway. Seiji and Kirika stood side by side with Aiyaka poking her head between them.
"So six of us have found it. Just what are the other four doing?" questioned Kirika.
The three entered the cramping room.
"Hey, you really check out the injury?" Aiyaka asked. She crouched down and parted his hair to see the injury.
"We already know what it is, straight head trauma." said Takura.
"Oh, really?" Aiyaka perked up. "Did you see the full extent of the injury?" She held up her bloody left hand. "You can see it's a bit mushed. This indicates the same weapon was used multiple times. The split in the skin shows a circular pattern. Hmm, just what could be used?"
"Wow, how...how did you know all that?" Mitsuba cried out.
"Truth is outside I've seen some serious sh-"
"Okay everyone is all gather." Tomoki interrupted at the door with the last four people.
Suddenly, a static noise screeched.
"Hello, this thing on? I'm not sure if you can hear, but I have something to say. You all seem to love wasting your precious time. All of your time limit left is a measy twenty minutes. Have fun, assfaces."
The ten hostages continued to investigate. Each minute ticked forward. Soon the first trail of despair would begin and drag everyone down.
Survivors: 10