A disclaimer: The views in this story do not match those of the author, and furthermore, he apparently doesn't own Code Geass or Danganronpa.
A/N: Thank you guys for the reviews and I got my hand on a new grammar checker program. I hope will at least help with my grammar as I write the chapters, so far it seems to be working well so I went back and I did a clean up on some of the chapters. I am not expecting one solution that solves all of my grammar and spelling issues, but I hope it helps in making the story better/easier to read.
I also finished my complete playthrough of Danganronpa and its School Mode (unlocked all character endings) with Danganronpa 2 next on my list. (I watched the anime and read the related manga books for the series before the game so that probably helped with my playthrough.)
Anyway, without further delay, here is the next chapter.
02/11/18: chapter edited and cleaned up
"Dialog from a flashback and the person reading something in their mind."
Thoughts (unless used to emphasize a word in a sentence)
Chapter 5
Despairing Intermission
Junko was reviewing the news and social media websites to gauge the public reaction of yesterday's first execution as well as the report of the first two victims before the execution. Of course Junko, as Monokuma, revealed the secrets surrounding them to explain the motive that led to their deaths. Naturally, it led to a lot of outrage over social media threads, which only made things worse for the authorities with even Hope's Peak coming under fire for Hojo's experiments and drugs he made.
Despite people worrying over the identities of the other participants of the Killing Game generally fearing someone close to them had been abducted for the game. Junko was disappointed by the lack of despair from those taking part, although she eyed some distress and fear amongst themselves following the first execution. Still, it wasn't what Junko Enoshima was looking for, and after mulling it over since yesterday, she had come to the conclusion why which she began to explain to her guest.
"I think the next Killing Game needs to have people who can be a little more friendly to one another," Junko mused, "so any trust that gets destroyed will create more despair especially if they close to anyone who dies or commits murder."
"..."
"I know I could have brought in Milly or one of the others, but maybe I didn't out of consideration for you."
"..."
Junko smiled, "but then again that would only drive him to hunt me down more so than before. Not that I would mind, but I rather he focuses more on going after Britannia and plunge the whole world into war so we can spread despair like wildfire since nothing helps spread despair like a good world war."
Junko's guest didn't move from the shadows but spoke again.
"..."
"Well, if he really did try to hunt me down he would find out about me in due time since we both know he isn't stupid and more likely to take a more different approach compared to the so-called intelligent agents under the Viceroy." The strawberry blonde noted with what seemed to be complete indifference.
"I guess that is true, but what about today?" The guest inquired.
"As planned you'll take over for me until Monaca can, after all, we have to make public appearances otherwise some might get suspicious," Junko explained before leaving a notebook behind for her guest who was set to take over as Monokuma for a time until her replacement came along.
Junko rose from her chair, preparing to leave with a dark smile on her face as she stands in was ready to take over for her.
"Everything you need including the new interface is ready for you, so operating Monokuma and taking over for me, for now, shouldn't be a problem," Junko said with a smile as she put a hand on her guest's shoulder. "...have fun."
Following the morning announcement, which was typically Monokuma announcing a new day had started and the curfew was over everyone as always made their way to the cafeteria. Lelouch was more cautious than usual, but fortunately, he didn't have any problems making his way to the cafeteria for breakfast. The atmosphere was strangely quiet, which was no surprise given yesterday's events, but Lelouch was sure some were planning a murder already while others might have been waiting for an ideal opportunity since they all knew that killing alone wasn't enough.
The real trick was not only pulling off the murder, but the best way to get away with it was to blame it on someone else. The rules made it clear that they had to vote for someone otherwise the murder could risk being discovered through a possible accidental vote especially if said person was someone most of the people here might have suspected would've killed. Given the events of yesterday, Lelouch feared his way of deducing who the killer was might've made him a target for a murder to eliminate someone who fears might be exposed as a killer. Lelouch knew he could use it to his advantage since some might want to keep him alive at least until they commit their own murder.
The game had become even riskier for Lelouch Lamperouge.
*Ding-dong ding*
At that moment all eyes were on the nearest monitor.
"Attention all players," Monokuma spoke as his face appeared on the screen, "would all of you please report to the auditorium for a special announcement."
Finishing his meal, Lelouch followed the others as they made their way to the auditorium. Some didn't want to go yet they all knew if they didn't go Monokuma would possibly kill them for defying him. With that in mind everyone filed into the auditorium, but upon the last person entering the gym, Monokuma appeared as he popped up from behind the podium landing on top of it in a sitting position.
"Good morning everyone!" Monokuma greeted in his usual laid-back tone, but Lelouch readied himself for whatever was coming next. "Since you all passed the first trial I figured I would reward you guys with some presents, two presents in fact."
"Two presents?!" Gao Hài inquired with one hand on his chin.
"Yep… the first present is in your rooms, but I wouldn't show them off. Then the second present is that I have opened up a new area for you to explore and I encourage all of you to check it out." Monokuma explained as on the monitor behind him a security gate that had closed off a section of the playing arena was being lifted allowing entry into what lay beyond. "So go forth and explore the new world that has opened before you."
Once the meeting was over Lelouch, and everyone else returned to their rooms.
Upon entering his room, Lelouch found a small box gifted wrapped in white wrapping paper tied with black ribbon and a bow sitting on his bed. He picked up the gift and began opening it, which was roughly about the size of a shoe box, but he was shocked upon what he discovered inside.
I see, so you are giving us weapons now.
Responding to precisely what he thought Monokuma spoke, "Yep, give that man a prize!"
Lelouch was surprised that the bear had realized what he was thinking but other than that he had grown used to Monokuma suddenly showing up in his room, seemingly at will, so that didn't surprise him as much.
"So judging by your words from the auditorium, I assume not only does each of us have a weapon, but it's a different weapon correct?"
"Yup yup," Monokuma responded in a positive tone, "each of you got a different weapon with some of you get some of the more traditional classic murder weapons like a brass candlestick, a heavy wrench, and a rope with a noose on it, a knife and other ones."
"And the reason for telling us not to brag about them was for our own benefit because if that person's weapon were used during a murder, we would instantly suspect them."
"Exactly and being the host of this game, I got to keep things fair and even amongst all of the players."
Lelouch said nothing to that knowing that antagonizing the bear would only endanger him needlessly.
"Since you are here, let me ask you? When will you present our next motive, because I am sure you'll either offer the monetary reward to the players officially or you'll do something else?"
"Good question, but more than likely if I get bored again."
"I see," Lelouch said even though he had expected such a response, but it did confirm what he already knew was going to take place. But when Lelouch turned away his attention to put his gift down while determining an excellent way to carry his gift without alerting anyone to what exactly he had Monokuma vanished once again.
I guess I better explore this new area…
Meanwhile, as everyone in the Killing Game went about exploring the new areas open to them.
Junko was apparently less than happy about the assignment assigned to them by Milly. The Ultimate Despair had an alibi to build, but it didn't mean she had to like it. Seeing her sister's expression Mukuro understood what her sister was feeling, but she was hopeful they could get it over with quickly. After all, the task ahead of the sisters was to clean out some abandoned club rooms in a small old building located on the far corner of the school. It was one of the original buildings left when the academy was first built, and over time the other buildings had been built up upon further and improved. Part of this was because when the school first opened the administrators wanted the school's students to be active, so it allowed for a wide range of clubs to be created. This was furthered by the rule that all students had to be part of a club or the student council, but while the main building typically had all of the clubs the old annex had all of the unwanted clubs.
The old building they had to clean out was where the strange and unusual clubs were established since as far as Junko knew these clubs were too bizarre or just outright wanted nowhere near the other clubs.
"Jeez, this building has more of the feel of a haunted house than a clubhouse for the school's unwanted clubs," Junko commented with a sigh.
The hallway they were in had no windows and because of its lack of use the halls reflected that with dust and even cobwebs crowing around some of the door frames. Even with the hallway lights turned on the house felt more like a cheap haunted house you find on some discount fairground than a school building, primarily since the hallway at the far end was dark like a pathway leading to hell.
In preparation for the task ahead of them the Despair Sisters came with cleaning supplies. Junko had a broom and dustpan with a bucket carrying sponges, towels and cleaning solutions. Mukuro's choice of supplies was a mop with a bucket of water. Both were wearing aprons with Mukuro's being plain white, while Junko wore a pink apron with cartoon rabbits printed on it.
"So how the hell did Milly rope us into this?"
"It is because no one else was available," Mukuro answered flatly.
"Well, no shit idiot?" Junko snapped without hiding her clear distaste for their task. "Milly is doing another marriage interview, which will just end with the guy getting kicked in the dick. Shirley is at a swim meet."
"Rivalz is out sick with hemorrhoids."
"Yes, while Nina is studying in the lab again, but I wonder if she'll blow it up again."
"If that happens again she'll be expelled."
"Actually surviving such a blast is her main concern, you idiot." Junko shot back.
That reminds me...how did she escape injury from the last time?
Pushing the thought aside, for now, Junko and Mukuro came to the first club room they needed to clean out since the school was planning on remodeling the building to serve a new purpose at the school which the sisters suspected would become the new classrooms for more gardening and environmental specific classes.
"Alright, let's get this shit over with," Junko said not wanting to do their task, but they had little choice, especially if she wants to keep people including Lelouch from suspecting she was the leader of Ultimate Despair. "What is the first room?"
"Let's see," Mukuro began before using a gloved hand to wipe away some dust from the nameplate to read it out loud, "The Fall-Down-Seven-Times-and-Topple-Eight-Times Club."
"What the hell kind of name is that? It makes no sense at all, but I suppose it should be no surprise since that club is dead right?"
"Yes and according to what I heard it's been dead for two years."
"The introduction to the club is still here," The Ultimate Soldier leaned in closer to read the tapped introduction that was under the door's nameplate, "It says we are a negative club that believes in falling seven times and toppling eight times. Our activities have no victories, and the philosophy of losers is our policy. We shall be looking down as we walk and our values-"
"Ok, that's enough, or do you enjoy assaulting my ears and brain with such garbage. I can't even imagine how a club with such a stupid idea behind it got established in the first place. I can't even tell if these guys were in despair from being picked on or something or…" Junko was saying before pausing for a moment to think. "No, I am giving them too much credit. This club was established and ran by idiots."
"We just need to clear out the room and keep any documents for the Academy archives."
"Oh hell no I say we just toss a Molotov cocktail and that'll take care of it." Junko noted before adding, "Besides who would want a record of this club anyway?"
Mukuro didn't argue against her sister, but first things first were that they needed to open the door. Unlike the other buildings in the academy, this one didn't have automatic sliding doors, so they had to turn a doorknob to open the door. However, once the door was open, they were greeted with an unexpected sight that even caught Junko off guard.
"Oh," Junko said with a look of surprise.
Upon inspecting the room, the two found it was completely empty save for some old white blinds on the single window the room had. Besides that, the clubroom was utterly deserted, seemingly never used.
"Well, if the rest of the rooms are like this then we'll be done in no time."
Junko proceeded to enter the room upon which Mukuro cried out.
"LOOK OUT!"
In seconds Junko was tackled to the ground, but before she could give an angry retort, she heard a loud crash followed by water droplets showering down on the duo. The sound caused Junko to pause as Mukuro calmly slipped a coin from a pocket before tossing it into the air.
This time Junko saw it as a highly pressurized stream of water hit the coin in the center before the same hit sent the coin flying to another corner of the room.
"I see, so there are high-pressure water guns installed inside the room, so they don't use bullets; however, they are still very destructive," Mukuro said calmly assessing the situation. "There must be a sensor hidden nearby that must trigger the guns if you walk in at a certain height. Hence the club's motto I suppose about always looking down."
"Who the hell thought installing something like that in a club room was a good idea and why wasn't there some kind of accident or something while it's been closed down?" Junko exclaimed in surprise with a hint of anger especially since her head would've been hit had Mukuro not intervened.
Mukuro shrugged her shoulders before saying, "I guess this really means no one has touched these club rooms in the last two years."
"No shit, Sherlock," Junko said before she and Mukuro crawled out of the room. After leaving Junko slammed the door shut. "The fucking janitors here are as lazy as shit."
"I could disarm the trap…it's only a matter of finding a way to disable the system and its sensors from the outside." Mukuro pointed out, although they knew about the one sensor who couldn't tell if there was more hidden throughout the room.
"And do what? We can't clean this room." Junko said before rising back up to her feet. "We'll come back to this room later, so what is the next one?"
Mukuro who was already on her feet inspected the nameplate of the next club.
"This one is called the…the Landmine Club!"
Junko was left slack-jawed at what she just heard, "seriously, how the hell hasn't anyone died in this part of the school."
"Maybe the landlines are just old and used ones they had collected?"
Junko began waving her hand dismissively at her sister, "yeah, you believe that, and you walk in, and then we'll see what happens I'll check out the next one."
Reading the nameplate of the next clubroom Junko could only raise an eyebrow, but at the same time, this club seemed to be relatively normal, words she used rather loosely, compared to the last two.
"Frog Lovers Club…"
As Junko was about to open the door, Mukuro decided to play it safe and use her broom to open the door, but at the same time she opened the door as Junko opened her door, there was an explosion of a Claymore mine going off. Mukuro was safely out of harm's way as was Junko, but the blast triggered something in the room Junko was opening causing her to be completely covered from head to toe in what was some kind of dark green grease-like substance.
Junko was frozen as her mind was trying to grasp what she was covered in until she muttered while ignoring the fact a Claymore went off near her older sister.
"Mukuro…what the fuck is this shit?!"
Moving closer to inspect her sister Mukuro had used a finger to bring some of the grease-like substance to her nose to smell it before pulling back from the horrible odor.
"This…is toad grease."
"Toad…grease?" Junko asked with a shaky tone of voice, which Mukuro nodded in confirmation. How Mukuro knew it was toad grease was a story best left untold as it came from her time as a mercenary in the EU. It wasn't long before Junko stopped shaking as she got over the fact she was covered completely in disgusting toad grease, and her tone of voice took on one full of rage ready to come out. "There is a bulldozer at a construction site down the street from here….I am…GETTING IT!"
As Mukuro struggled to calm down her younger sister from doing anything too rash there were people in another school reeling from the announcement that Professor Hojo Shingetsu not only committed murder but had been executed after he had been found out. Of course with the revelation that he had been creating experimental drugs and testing them on his own son that unleashed a scandal that rocked Hope's Peak Academy. Nevertheless, the school continued operations as usual thanks in part to the protection they enjoyed from the Emperor.
It was after school, but some students lingered around to make time for friends. Among them sitting under a tree in the courtyard was Monaca in her wheelchair dressed in a blue school uniform complete with a skirt and red bow tie. With her were four others with one of them being Nagisa Shingetsu, Hojo's son and a student of Hope's Peak Elementary Division.
He wore a uniform similar to that of Monaca's, but unlike hers, he had shorts instead of a skirt.
Nagisa had a fair skin complexion with short blue hair, but it was styled to possess two cowlicks in shape of cat ears. His eyes were a lighter blue compared to his hair and had odd diamonds representing his irises.
"So how is your new home life treating you?" Monaca asked of Nagisa who began blushing at the question before answering as he struggled to regain his composure.
"Actually, it has been a lot more pleasant with him gone, and I have so much free time on my hands now."
It was hardly a surprise to Monaca, but she knew about the constant abuse Nagisa was put through as he was used as a lab rat. He was raised for the sole purpose of testing and pushing a child to his very limits and possibly beyond as his father fed him drugs and performance enhancers to push him through hours of studying and bettering his skills. As a result, he barely had any chance to sleep, but with his parents gone as his mother had died as a result of an unfortunate accident when she committed suicide by driving her car into an oncoming train.
Of course, Monaca knew better as it got written off as a suicide thanks to Junko and her influence with the police department.
"You don't miss the drugs or the long nights?" The not-so-pleasant of their group asked with a raspy voice, which was due to the leather mask which he wore was made out of mismatched patches of leather and other materials that were possibly capable of doubling as a gas mask due to the breathing tubes hanging below his chin. Through the eye holes of the mask it could be seen that he had gray eyes, and like the rest of his friends had a usual scalpel pattern as irises.
Like the other boys of the group, he wore the same school uniform as everyone else of Hope Peak's Elementary School Division.
"I mean having all those needles must've felt great," Jotaro Kemuri said which Nagisa found unpleasant to listen to, but that was how Jotaro usually was as he had a fascination with dark and disturbing subjects.
"Oh come on enough about that. I mean no parents; Nagisa is living the free life!"
He was the most athletic and energetic of the group possessing suntan-skin with red hair and bushy eyebrows, and blue eyes with a flame pattern iris. Aside from his uniform, he wore a pair of white headphones on his head.
"Come on Masaru," Monaca lightly, but jokingly scolded, "it must be lonely living all by himself now, so if you want Nagisa, you could come spend the night at my house sometimes."
"Oh a sleepover that sounds like a good idea," Masaru Daimon complimented liking the idea while seemingly not realizing the invitation was more for Nagisa.
"I don't think that invitation was intended for you."
The last member of their group was a girl with very long pink hair tied into pigtails and matching pink eyes with speech bubbles acting as the irises. She wore the same style of school uniform as Monaca and was the natural opposite of Jotaro in personality and appearance to a degree.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Masaru snapped at Kotoko Utsugi.
The group was interrupted from further conversation by a trio of visitors with Nagisa recognizing one of them as one of his father's favored students whose teachers as well as her own talent that he had helped develop further allowed her to take the title of Ultimate Pharmacist. The female teenager was short for her age with a height of five foot three with purple eyes and a sickly complexion. She has medium-length hair that had a distinctive style to it while being pale gray hair in color, but what made her stand out was the dark purple respirator mask covering her mouth.
Like female students of the high school division of Hope's Peak Academy, she wore the brown skirt, a matching school jacket with a white dress shirt and red bow tie. However, like some students, she modified her uniform a little by adding in a purple vest, purple gloves with a single white stripe in the middle. She also wore a purple belt wrapped around loosely around her waist while she wore long black stockings and purple Mary Janes.
"I am sorry to hear about your father Nagisa, but with everything, he did to you…" Seiko Kimura began as she was trying to find the next words to say, but nothing came to mind that felt appropriate.
The second female of the group intervened, "oh come on, the guy was experimenting on his own kid, so who knows what else he was doing. I don't get why you got to apologize on his behalf."
Ruruka Andoh, the Ultimate Confectioner, was almost the polar opposite of Seiko and her appearance reflected that as she was slightly taller than Seiko possessing lilac eyes, short strawberry blonde hair, and a petite, cheerful demeanor overall. Her high uniform was also modified to fit her choice of style that included a thick fur trimming around her neck, white thigh high socks and pink boots with multiple straps. Lastly completing her look was her signature pink hat and a green ribbon with strawberries on the ends.
"You two are not exactly doing a good job," Sohnosuke Izayoi pointed out bluntly.
The last member of the trio was male and taller than both Ruruka and Seiko because he was five foot eleven with a lean frame as a result of his work and talent of being the Ultimate Blacksmith. He also has short pale blonde hair, sharp brown eyes, pale skin and a severe expression. He wore the standard academy uniform consisting of brown pants and a matching jacket while he wore a white dress shirt and red tie. Like his two friends, he customized his attire with a red trench coat, dark red fingerless gloves, and dark brown boots.
"To be fair given what Nagisa's dad was doing to his own child makes trying to offer condolences to the child who suffered is problematic," Monaca offered logically.
"I know it might not appear normal for the child to be unmoved by the death of his parent, but knowing what I endured who could blame me," Nagisa said while shrugging his shoulders.
"Well, this turned awkward," Sohnosuke said, deciding to intervene for the sake of both Seiko and Ruruka when they were unable to come up with suitable responses. "Anyway, I should probably be a little more up front and tell you that Ruruka made candy for you and the rest of you as something to help you through this difficult time. It's not much I know, but neither of them felt comfortable not doing something. Of course, I know two of you also lost someone to Monokuma's game, so you have our condolences as well."
"I see," Nagisa answered, although he was indifferent to the offer of sympathy, he knew it was best to keep up appearances for the sake of avoiding suspicion and besides…what child in their right mind would turn down free candy? "Your kindness is unnecessary, but it is appreciated."
"Yes, well," Ruruka said thankful for the save her boyfriend had provided, "here you go, and there is enough for the rest of you."
Ruruka left the group a large bag of candy and sweets in a pink plastic bag before she, Seiko and Sohnosuke decided to excuse themselves. Once they were well out of earshot, the five children began talking again.
"Man, if more people keep feeling sorry for you that might mean a lot more treats." Masaru mused with a big smile, but in truth, he was annoyed when no one else had offered such sympathy when his own father had been killed.
"Well, who cares about that, we got free candy for it!" Kotoko said; because like Nagisa and Masaru she didn't care about the fact her father was dead, and her mother would probably die next soon enough.
"Yes and soon enough big sis will take care of all of our problems and those evil demons we called parents will be gone," Monaca said with a sweet smile. She knew just as she arranged for Haiji to take part in the Killing Game she also helped set up for the parents of her friends to be included as well as all of them had done terrible things to each of them.
Masaru's father was a lazy and abusive alcoholic who would press Masaru into going out to buy beer for him, but either on purpose or was just too drunk to realize that Masaru was far too young to buy it, so he always ended up being beaten for it.
Jotaro's mother mistreated her child, although not in a physical sense, but rather in an emotional way. He knew from the day he could comprehend and understand that Jotaro was an unwanted child with his mother openly wishing he would die because his birth had left her unable to pursue other goals in life and more. The emotional abuse got to a point where he was so convinced he was ugly he was made to wear a mask and Jotaro found it easier to be hated than to be loved.
Monaca had been, and always will be, just the outsider to the family, although she endured physical and emotional abuse growing up until she was paralyzed from the waist down, which caused the family to stop their mistreatment after realizing they might have been the cause.
Yet all of that paled in comparison to what Kotoko endured as she had suffered far more horribly than Monaca, Masaru, Jotaro, and Nagisa had together at both the hands of her father, but more so because of her mother.
"But you know," Kotoko began before eagerly munching on some candy, "maybe we should keep Ruruka alive in our paradise as long as she makes plenty of sweets."
"That is an excellent idea, maybe we'll keep the adults who can make sweets for us, and they'll get to live once we build our paradise," Monaca said, agreeing while everyone else was of similar thought. On the other hand, they were too busy munching on the candy given to them to care at the moment.
Their paradise would be a city that would be a haven for children, by the children and only for the children.
It would be a place that would be adult-free one way or another.
Inside the Killing Game Arena Lelouch cautiously explored the new area discovering three rooms dubbed the Multimedia Room, Chemistry Lab, Tool Room and a Library. The Multimedia Room, true to its name, was filled with portable cameras and pocket recording devices which Lelouch made sure to grab one seeing that such a thing could be useful. He pocketed one after testing if it worked and if it could work if he turned it on while it was in use inside his coat as a second test. The room also had monitors on each desk with a DVD player while there were massive speakers positioned around the room with a large screen on the far end allowing the room to double as a small theater if need be.
Was this place a school that was repurposed for this game?
The more of the new rooms Lelouch saw the young man was sure this place must've been a school at some point before Monokuma, and Ultimate Despair remodeled the whole building to fit their twisted designs.
I suppose this could mean we might be under the blocks of the Toyko Settlement since I know the blocks were built over the ruins of Toyko even those many of those buildings were supposed to have been cleared away.
The former prince theorized that hosting a game of this magnitude in the ghettos would run the risk of discovery, but if you hid it under their noses, then it could go on without risk of detection much more efficiently. The blocks that compose the Toyko Settlement were designed to act as a counter to Earthquakes. Because of their size and how tall the blocks alone stood around the surrounding area, it might be possible to hide a hideout below them especially if any of the buildings at the base were intact enough for such a purpose.
It wasn't a solid theory because any buildings should've been cleared away, but who knows if someone was bribed to leave a few or if the construction crews had cut a few corners to save on costs.
Lelouch inspected the tool room, and he found it filled with various tools such as wrenches, screwdrivers, electric tape, hammers including an electric hand saw. The room upon further inspection, assuming the location of this place was a former school, was likely a tool shop class as some desks and workbenches were dotting the windowless room.
Plenty of different murder weapons to use here…
After collecting a few things, he could easily pocket the young man decided to investigate the library, or instead he merely decided to poke his head in as he didn't imagine anything to be particularly useful there.
Upon peaking inside Lelouch saw bookshelves filled with various books and saw six rows of books, including a smaller room in the back which must've been some kind of archive. He thought about exploring it later because for now, it wasn't a priority.
The last of the new rooms was a chemistry lab where it had storage shelves holding various chemicals and reagents along with three tables with ready to use chemistry sets that included vials and multiple tools for mixing chemicals together. Lelouch inspected the storage cabinets, three in all, which each one marked from left to right: Vitamin Supplements, Reagents, and Poisons.
I better start planning to eat out of cans from now on.
Being in the chemistry room did give Lelouch a few ideas, and after looking around, he remembered a chemical concoction he had created to escape a teacher when he sought to sneak out of school. He was no chemist, but he knew enough to pass the class with an A and how to create a concoction to create a very potent smokescreen.
Maybe I should make a vial or two so if I need to escape I'll have a quick means to do so as long as I am not facing someone like the Knight of Eleven.
The smokescreen chemical wasn't hard to make since Lelouch had everything he needed on hand, so he created three vials' worth, and he used the electric tape to seal them as the chemicals were already reacting. Lelouch would need to be mindful of storing them someplace safe; although he was confident, the tape would hold he wasn't sure if the reaction would be the same since he had never prepared the concoction only to store it for a time.
Maybe I should test one out tomorrow, but for now…
Lelouch was about to clean up and leave, but his thoughts were interrupted when he noticed Minoru Kemuri entering the room. The seemingly neutral expression on her face and the fact she had both hands behind her back hiding something made Lelouch feel nervous, and on alert, although he hadn't put the vials in his pocket yet he still had everything he used before him. However, Lelouch slipped one hand into his pocket inside his uniform jacket seemingly to pull something out, but in reality, he was flipping on one of the tape recorders he collected.
"Are you feeling a nervous being in a room with a Japanese woman?" Minoru asked with a sweet tone, which seemed oddly out of place a she appeared to be one of the quieter ones.
"Not at all, but you can't deny something could happen given the game we have been pressed into," Lelouch said, withdrawing his hand which held a pen that he had for useful purposes, but it hid the fact he had a tape recorder going. He made it appear he was going to use it to write something down, but it was a lie.
"You have a point, but with four people dead some might become desperate to escape," Minoru said, moving closer, but Lelouch placed the pen on the table while his hand was near the chemistry set as his body tensed up suspecting a blatant attempt to lower his guard. Still, Lelouch tried to play it off casually to avoid prompting a preemptive response from the older woman.
Lelouch nodded in agreement, "yes, which is to be expected as well, but there is the question if the bear will honor his promise of letting the survivor go."
Minoru said nothing, but she got in arm's reach of Lelouch before she spoke.
"Let's find out since you are a," Minoru said before she revealed what she had behind her back, a battery powered hand saw with a five-inch-long blade, as she lunged at Lelouch grabbing her shoulder with her free hand. "EASY TARGET!"
Fortunately for Lelouch, he was expecting foul play and was ready as he leaned back and tossed one of the bottles of chemicals he had been using into her eyes blinding her. She lost her grip on both her weapon and Lelouch as she instructively reached for her eyes as the chemicals were having a nasty effect on her eyes. Lelouch didn't stop because once he was freed, he shoved the woman away before dropping one of the vials to create a smokescreen as a precaution should she recover. It was unlikely she would rise to her feet, but since his life was at stake, he didn't want to take any chances.
"I HAVE TO KILL YOU…SO I CAN LIVE!" Minoru screamed in pain as she tried to open her eyes, but the chemicals made them useless for now. "My life…is more important, and I have much I want to do once I get rid of that useless baggage of a child I have."
Using the table as a guide, Lelouch navigated his way through the room and managed to make his way to the open door thanks to it having been left open. Once he was out Lelouch was met by the others who had heard the sound of glass shattering and screaming from Minoru as the chemicals had apparently done more damage to her eyes than Lelouch had thought.
"What the hell happened in there?!" Kusakabe demanded.
"Minoru tried to kill me with a saw, so I fought back," Lelouch answered, but everyone seemed skeptical at least those of the Japanese side.
"Hey, I got proof!" Lelouch said before drawing out the tape recorder and playing the recording of Minoru as well as that revealed her intent to kill Lelouch. "She tried to kill me, so I hit her in the face with some chemicals on the table."
"So self-defense, but is she alive?" Kewell asked with his arms crossed over his chest.
"I hear her from here, so I believe she is." The Black King pointed out.
"So what happens when someone botches a killing?" Luciano asked prompting Monokuma to appear.
"THEY GET PUNISHED!" Monokuma announced upon appearing before putting both hands behind his back, "Anyone who tries to kill a person, but fails gets instantly executed."
"I see, so death by poison," Kewell said, but Monokuma began laughing sadistically.
"Actually, because her attempt was so bad and poorly planned I am going to use the special punishment I made for her," Monokuma began before adopting more angry expression. "I am so angry right now I am not going to simply punish her with lethal injection for this botched murder attempt. I mean a potential class trial has been wasted, but furthermore, this will be an example to the rest of you to plan your murders better."
Without another world, Monokuma went into the lab and returned moments later by dragging Minoru out the door and then down the hall. Minoru had seemingly begun to recover her, but the eyes were unusable because of the chemicals haven't been washed out.
"All players report to the Multimedia Room for a special feature," Monokuma announced as he continued dragging Minoru down the hall with one arm.
"Where…what…where are you taking me!?" Minoru asked in horror as she tried to struggle, but despite Monokuma's size his grip and strength were surprisingly unyielding.
"Oh come on…you tried to murder, but failed BADLY, so you are going to be executed as an example to the rest of them to plan their murders better or else." The two-tone bear announced to Minoru who began struggling like mad to escape, but the bracelet activated injecting her with a drug that immobilized her. "Oh, don't worry; it will wear off in a few minutes…I mean your despair wouldn't be worth watching if you couldn't try to escape RIGHT?"
Minoru began crying out for help, but no one attempted to help her.
"I guess this is just like your life…no planning. You just lived from one moment to the next, but you just wanted the easy life, so you offered yourself to a Britannian noble who knocked you up and then tossed you aside after you got pregnant with his child." Monokuma explained as he continued to drag Minoru away, "I mean seriously the guy was a member of the nobility. You honestly thought he would marry you after he had his fun with you. So stupid and you even hated the kid saying you didn't want him wishing he would die. Well, after today, you won't have to worry about that anymore."
Unlike the exuberantly laughing Monokuma, the unfortunate woman being dragged away to her execution continued crying and screaming for help even though it was apparent no one was willing to defy Monokuma for her sake, especially after she tried to murder someone.
Once they were out of sight, everyone filed into the Multimedia Room with everyone finding a chair to sit in. After the last person had walked in, the lights in the room dimmed before the monitor on the far side of the room activated revealing Monokuma seated upon his throne with a very familiar device being raised up before him.
"I am so upset that we couldn't have another proper murder and a trial, but on that note, be sure to use the library because I made sure to stock it with plenty of books about mysteries to give you some ideas. The archive room even has some real police files possessing information, unsolved cases, not even the public is allowed to see." Monokuma explained before adding with a devilish smile as Minoru was still crying and screaming for help in the background. "So with that out of the way, let's give it everything we got…IT'S PUNISHMENT TIME!"
"NOOOO!" Minoru cried out as Monokuma hit the button on the pedestal in front of him starting the usual animation as the following text was displayed.
Game Over
Minoru Kemuri has been found guilty
Time for the punishment!
Minoru was dropped down a trap door before landing in what appeared to be an old hallway belonging to a former rundown apartment complex, but without the use of her eyes, Minoru began feeling the walls to figure out where she was unaware that the wall behind her was moving towards her. She desperately tried to find a way out, but all she could do was hopelessly bouncing off the walls and any doors, she discovered were fake with only doorknobs attached to the wall. At the opposite end of the hall, a hidden passageway opened to reveal a ten-foot drop into a pit that was filled with a deadly assortment of snakes, bugs, lizards and who knows what else.
Hallway Drop Execution
Without her eyes, she couldn't see what was ahead, which was probably both a blessing and a curse.
It wasn't long before the wall caught up to her pushing her towards the end of the hall where the pit awaited. But the wall stopped just two feet away from the edge, prompting Minoru began exploring, but when she walked towards the edge Monokuma appeared out of the passageway before tripping Minoru causes her to fall into the pit.
Minoru tried to grab hold of something, but there was nothing as she fell back falling towards the bottom of the pit. She screamed of course, but when she hit the ground, she landed in the middle of the hole as all of those deadly creatures converged upon her. The snakes began biting into her along with anything else, although she tried to escape, the venom now in her system started to do its work. It took a few minutes of listening to Minoru shouting for help until finally, she stopped.
The screen switched to Monokuma upon his throne.
"Now that is what I have been looking for…the look of despair on her face was priceless!" Monokuma said in a state of ecstasy. "Upupupu…oh, I feel so much better now, I can feel the adrenaline rushing through every inch of my stuffing. Making that example was totally the right call! Anyway, the rest of you can go now, but remember when you kill someone you better pull it off because if you fail and everyone finds out then instant execution."
With a final signature laugh, Monokuma vanished as the screen went black and the room returned to its regular lighting.
Lelouch was among the first to leave before he went downstairs and made a quick pit stop by the kitchen to grab some canned food along with a can opening and some bottled water. He didn't feel remorse nor did he feel sorry for Minoru since she tried to kill him to escape, so she brought her own death upon herself. It might've been a bit excessive, but he had to consider the possibility someone might attempt to poison him or someone else.
As he retreated to his room, Lelouch had one thought going through his mind.
I got to make a move now, or I won't last much longer.
Later that night Junko had returned to Monokuma's control room to relieve her follower after covering for Junko for the entire day, but when she returned, she had brought someone else with her to go over what had taken place. Junko was busy going over the recordings of the events that had happened while she was gone and was made aware of Minoru's murder attempt by Lelouch which ended in complete failure resulting in instant execution.
She hadn't expected Minoru would attempt to murder Lelouch, but given how she led her life always trying to do things the easy way without any planning, it was doomed to fail. The despair she experienced during the execution and before gave Junko the pickup she needed, especially considering what had happened to her and Mukuro earlier in the day. Mukuro managed to convince her sister not to proceed with her destructive plan and instead opted to sue the previous club members as the academy pressed criminal charges against them as well.
"So only nine remain," Junko's guest commented.
"I am sure that number will start dwindling down by tomorrow. Hell, I won't even need to threaten our players with their loved ones at this rate."
The woman present with Junko was the same age as Junko standing at five foot eight with long, knee length, cerulean hair that starts smoothly and becomes wavy the lower it goes. Her eyes are soft teal and round while she wore a pair of rimless glasses. Her uniform was the standard Hope's Peak Academy uniform, but her outfit replaced the skirt with a brown knee-length pleated dress, adorned with six white buttons on her waist and dark blue suspenders holding it in place. She wore a pair of black loafers with matching knee-high socks.
"I have no doubt of that."
"I agree, but how did the improved interface control system work?" Tsumugi Shirogane, the Ultimate Cosplayer of Hope's Peak Academy Middle School Division, inquired with her right index finger under her chin.
Soon she would join the High School Division as part of the upcoming Class 78.
"It worked out better than expected, so are that much closer to creating a more portable control system for Monokuma so we'll no longer need big rooms like this one," Junko answered with a big smile before turning her attention towards Tsumugi. "Is your costume ready so you can start filling for me so I can focus more on running things here and you can become me and take my place at Ashford Academy for a little while."
"Everything will be ready for tomorrow, and no one from Hope's Peak will ask questions about my disappearance." The Ultimate Cosplayer replied with a confident smile, "as far as they know I am overseas obtaining materials for my next costumes."
The Ultimate Despair smiled darkly, "isn't it wonderful that unlike most schools that other than studying for an end of the year exam, you barely need to attend classes as long as you are practicing your talent."
"It's worked perfectly for your purposes, but on that note, are you alright with me unable to keep tabs on Yasuke for a while?"
Junko considered that thought for a moment before she answered, "Nah don't worry. He is still loyal to me out of our childhood friendship, but if he thinks he can win me over at this point, he better start dreaming."
"Oh," Tsumugi said as a smile formed on her face, "didn't you say something different to Mukuro and Yasuke?"
"I did, although I am willing to give Yasuke another shot, I am about to write him off as a lost cause." Junko began to explain something to Tsumugi that she hasn't shared with Mukuro. "Lelouch is far more interesting, and despite my expectations, he is lasting much longer than I expected, which is just… wonderful!"
Having predicted almost every aspect of her life and how events would play out nothing put a smile on Junko's face than despair and when something unexpected and exciting she did not foresee happens.
"Let's face it Yasuke has grown dull I mean ever since his mommy died, he has been eating out of my hand," Junko said with dismissive hand gestures. "Even when he was against my plans he still followed me out of some misguided sense of loyalty and love he doesn't capture my interest like Lelouch does. His rage has been itching to get loose, and I am providing a chance for him to do so here. If he wins, I am hoping that having tasted the blood of putting down people who deserve their death will push him to begin his war against Britannia."
"And when he does act to destroy Britannia he will likely do whatever it takes?"
"Exactly, because just look at me." Junko said, pointing both index fingers at herself, "Do you know how amazing it is at what you can get done when you don't concern yourself with right and wrong."
"If Lelouch is similar then…" The blue haired teen said, letting her sentence trail off.
Junko grinned evilly.
"I'll spread the despair, and he'll spread war and chaos in his wake. We are like two peas in a pod!"
Unaware of the conversation taking place Lelouch had made his way to the archive, although it was risky coming out at night, Lelouch found another way of reaching the library, and he was making use of it. Of course, that was not all he did, and his plan for escaping was dependant on proper intelligence gathering. Once his plan was in place, Lelouch seized the opportunity and began investigating the archive room, although he didn't wholly believe Monokuma's claim about the legitimacy of the documents it was still worth checking out.
For someone able to abduct a member of the Knights of the Round I can't ignore the possibility, and there is a chance that someone else could use that same information to plot a murder.
As Lelouch explored the library, he noticed most of the books seemed to be mostly about murder mysteries and related crime stories which he presumed was likely meant to provide ideas and inspiration for the players. Lelouch entered the archive room where he found its shelves that lined the walls of the small room with case files and black folders containing copies of confidential information and police reports.
I better not linger long, so I better go through these quickly.
Lucky for Lelouch the archive was well organized and each shelf was divided under specific categories, so Lelouch began his investigation of the "Unsolved Homicides" section looking at the titles of each police report until something caught his eye.
"Genocide Jack: Investigation Report…CLASSIFIED"
Lelouch took the file deciding to give it a look over while he looked for a few more records to read in private.
I heard about this murder, although some sources call him Genocide Sho instead of Jack.
The former prince had hoped to maybe find something about Ultimate Despair, but he had already ruled out the likelihood of Monokuma leaving behind such information was zero. After seeing a few more files and records that caught his eye, Lelouch departed the library and made his way back into his room to go over the reports.
First, I need a shower…
He felt tense and still feeling shaken up from the attempt on his life and needed a moment to unwind more appropriately, although he managed to take care of some critical components of his plan the young man felt something more was required otherwise he wouldn't be able to focus on the here and now.
The former prince glanced at the camera watching him before hurrying into the bathroom since it made him uncomfortable knowing he was being watched. He was mindful to avoid changing and always slipped into the bathroom whenever he needed to shower, but despite believing he had privacy in the bathroom, he was dead wrong as Junko instantly noticed that Lelouch had just gone into the shower.
"Nice so he is taking a shower," Junko exclaimed with a big smile much to Tsumugi's confusion.
"I thought the bathrooms didn't have cameras?"
"Nope, but Lelouch's does," The Ultimate Despair answered with a big smile before winking upon which she added, "hidden ones in his shower."
Tsumugi's cheeks turned a slight shade of red upon which Junko turned on the cameras in the shower, eager for Lelouch to step into the stall once he was done undressing.
The blue haired woman raised an eyebrow as she began to suspect something else based on their previous conversation earlier. "Has this influenced your decision to focus more on Lelouch?"
"Not as much as you might think. I mean, sure Lelouch is skinny but, "Junko began chuckling with a twisted, perverted smile on her face, "well, let's just say he makes up for it and it is something I can safely say he probably inherited that from his dad."
Miss Shirogane thought it might be best not to pursue that line of questioning further, but she did inquire.
"Are you fine with me watching this?"
"Oh, don't worry, I won't mind, because if I am in a good mood. I might even let you and Lelouch join in on the action to have ourselves one hell of a threesome," Junko said with a devious grin, which surprised and didn't surprise Tsumugi at the same time. She didn't voice an objection to it, but it was a further sign that Junko Enoshima was likely a bisexual, a depraved bisexual.
Junko held onto her virginity saving it for Lelouch because if they were to ever become sexually intimate and if the former prince noticed she wasn't a virgin he might grow distrustful of her. It was a fact that Tsumugi knew that Junko was more than aware of.
"Besides, even if he refuses the idea he is a male high school student. Once I get him in bed give me some time, and I am sure I can get him to be more…open to the idea of a threesome, hell, maybe I could get him to make his own harem for some real kinky fun. I am sure people would love that." Junko said, but Tsumugi had a strange feeling that last part wasn't directed at her.
The Ultimate Despair knew that Lelouch because of his experience with the Britannian Royal Family he would be against the idea of a harem in any shape or form. The fact that Lelouch was distrustful and suspicious of others didn't help, which was one of the critical reasons Junko had become so interested and fascinated with Lelouch.
Unlike Mukuro and Yasuke who I manipulated to the point of making them pawns who will eat up whatever I give them Lelouch is stubborn, prideful as hell and someone who either wants things done his way or the highway. There would be no way I could manipulate him as effortlessly as Mukuro and Yasuke.
That was precisely the key reason why she felt so attracted to him. Even if she became his lover, Junko knew she could never fully control him, which was fine for her because he would become boring if she could. She could influence some things, but possessing the same level of the hold she had on Mukuro and others was unlikely.
It would make everything much more interesting in the long run, but of course, since despair was her fetish in life Junko Enoshima would likely kill Lelouch one day to experience the despair of murdering the one she loved. After all, what better way to bring despair that the royal family being wiped out with the knowledge that one of their own brought them down and the whole empire with them.
All that depended on the fact if Lelouch could survive her killing game.
Come on Lelouch don't let me down… defy my expectations and win like you always do.
Monokuma Theater (02)
Monokuma was dressed in a white space suit with a fishbowl top, allowing his head to be easily seen. He was sitting on the ground on the moon by the Britannia Moon Landing site where many years ago Britannia had managed to land a man on the moon before Charles vi Britannia's rise to power as the next Emperor. Behind Monokuma was an iron-maiden capsule designed in his image and modified to double as a rocket capsule had landed a distance behind the two-tone bear.
Monokuma was quietly, looking at the Earth in the distance before beginning to speak.
"The Moon," Monokuma began, "decades ago a dozen astronauts used a computer no more powerful than a pocket calculator to land here. They had guts back in the day."
The bear's red eye flashed bright red.
"Little did they realize that going home that one-day dipshits back on Earth, especially those from outside Britannia, would use devices millions of times more powerful to go online and claimed it never happened."
Monokuma began to stand up, but as he did so, he picked up a moon rock which he started inspecting once the bear was standing.
"It kinda makes you want to give up on all of your dreams doesn't it?" Monokuma said before tossing the rock, "Despair punks, it's all about despair."
A/N:
Survivors Remaining: 09
This chapter ended up being much longer than I had planned and I wasn't even going to kill anyone as I intended for this chapter to be more of an intermission before the next murder. I thought it was a good time to introduce the children who will become the Warriors of Hope. As well as some Hope's Peak Academy students who will become involved later in the story while at the same time providing a look into how the academy was handling Hojo's demise.
Decided to have an attempt on Lelouch's life in this one and being paranoid and knowing he might be killed because of his performance in the last trial turned out to be justified. But now he must step up his game, or he won't be as lucky next time. And what is his plan Lelouch is devising, well, I have left some hints in this chapter and some of the previous ones, and if you guys felt I left out some things, there is a reason for it.
I am also grateful for the suggestion of other pairings besides Lelouch.
Byakuya Togami and Kallen Kozuki… an exciting pairing choice, but one that will see them butting heads a lot, which nevertheless it would be one of those pairings to see play out regardless if it works or not.
But what about Toko (the author looks around almost expecting her to jump out of nowhere and attack him for suggesting something that wasn't Byakuya and Toko).
I did toy with the idea of Toko and Lelouch if only to create an in story joke where Lelouch tends to attract the "crazy ones" lol.
Makoto and Kyoko might happen, but I'll leave it open until they are introduced.
Mikan and Nagito might also happen too, but best to wait until they appear.
However, I wouldn't expect a harem in this story since any harem involving Junko comes with the danger of being killed by her just so she can experience their despair or even Lelouch's. Even if Junko didn't kill Lelouch anyone else involved may not be so fortunate, so it would best if a harem didn't happen if only for the sake of other characters not ending up killed to feed Junko's fetish.
Also, the discussion was designed to play up the Peeping Tom and Depraved Bisexual tropes related to Junko. Somehow I wouldn't put the idea of her having her own harem or even being part of one as something she might go for…I am not sure why…call it a gut feeling.
That and I rather have my story be judged by its other merits than it having a harem.
Lastly, I decided to repurpose some characters from Danganronpa V3 for the use of this story, and anyone familiar with the game will understand why I had to repurpose them for the story.
Tsumugi is going to be Junko's body double, and right now she is something of Junko's secretary and spy who keeps tabs on Yasuke.
Haven't quite decided on the other characters at this time, but if I need more characters for the story, I got no shortage of characters to work with/use.
Anyway, thanks in advance for reviews and thanks for reading.