A/N: Thank you once again for the reviews, and in this chapter, a lot more Danganronpa characters will get introduced along with one character who is hinted at in the title of the chapter. She was challenging to adapt to the story given that I wanted to ensure nothing dramatic that might change her character wouldn't befall her. However, given both that and her actions/motivations in the game, I did include something else to that, so I hope it works well as I intended.
I know under Britannian Rule the cost of such fame would've been higher, but the fact she avoided giving up much more so far gives me something else to work with and make use of. So let me know what you think and the rest I worked in smoothly, but I am contemplating if I should have Toko chase a certain someone or someone else…decisions decisions.
It's not that I am short on ideas I just have too many of them and I am trying to filter out the best ones.
Anyway, I'll keep the author notes short since this will be a long chapter, so here we go.
2/13/18: 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 12
The Demon and the Pop Star
The following day Lelouch's was upset, to say the least, although it was easy for him to hide the real reason for his sour mood because all of the students of Ashford Academy were in generally low spirits with their exact moods varying from student to student. Usually, their attitude was either that of very cautious or scared because of the devastation Monokuma's actions had left upon Area 11. The death toll from the sync bombing and attacks across the nation was still being calculated, but the damage was already exceeding ten thousand when combined the attacks in the other cities.
The devastation in the Toyko Settlement was unusually severe, which was another reason why Lelouch had observed at least half of his class was absent. Either they were victims of last night's rampage or their families had left Area 11 to return to the homeland where it was safer.
Unfortunately, they would be wrong as news was also coming in of Ultimate Despair inspired terrorist incidents in the Britannian Homeland, in Los Angeles and New York that had happened last night. It wasn't enough if they were part of Ultimate Despair or merely copying them, but the fact the group's influence was spreading to other Areas was troubling. Even more so if these other terrorist groups, now wearing the face of Monokuma, were part of Ultimate Despair.
I'll need to expand my own group before I even think about confronting them, which means I must obtain machines capable of competing with theirs.
Suzaku joining him would've been an enormous help to his plans, but the knowledge that he and Suzaku would be enemies on the battlefield was another source for his sour mood today. As much as he wanted to believe he could avoid it, or he could deal with Suzaku without killing him the logical part of his mind argued that eliminating Suzaku would be necessary. Further worsening his mood was the meeting between them last night was replaying in his head.
Change the system from within, it will just eat him up, or he'll be killed first.
Even if Suzaku found someone possessing the resources and influence needed for his desired change to happen, it would be virtually impossible under Britannia's current system. Not to mention those among the nobles and even the Royal Family wouldn't allow such changes to take place. If the one did decide to support Suzaku and became the next ruler of Britannia, he or she would face massive opposition or would end up assassinated before they have a chance to assume the throne.
The bigotry is hardwired in the most stubborn Britannians, and the royal family and various noble families are no exception. Such change, with some rather dramatic and extreme methods being used, would take years to implement and that is under the best conditions possible.
This was based on his own experience growing up within the royal family, which wasn't helped by the notion that most humans don't usually adapt well to change. Britannia was no expectation when many members of its nobility benefited from such a system including those in or with ties to its military and industrial groups.
Lelouch couldn't help, but let out a tired sigh.
That wasn't even his immediate problem because he had another one that jumped into his lap upon returning home. The girl who had granted him his Geass power had miraculously returned from the dead; however, the shock turned into irritation and obvious annoyance as the former prince remembered their conversation from last night after Lelouch staged an accident with a teacup to drag the green haired woman into his room for a private discussion.
"Who are you?" Lelouch demanded because he wasn't convinced that C.C was her real name.
"She said my name. I'm C.C."
Mukuro and Junko followed the two in before locking the door behind them.
"Why don't we get the elephant in the room out of here and ask," Junko began calmly before snapping at C.C, "HOW THE FUCK ARE YOU ALIVE!?"
C.C only smirked in response, but Junko wasn't letting it go.
"Ok, we'll observe it," Junko said before snapping her fingers, "Mukuro, snap this bitch's neck."
Before Mukuro could carry out her order, C.C quickly raised her hands defensively, "Now hold on! There is no need to act rashly!"
Junko used a wave of her hand to issue a silent command for Mukuro to stand down.
"As you have oblivious noticed if I am killed, then I'll revive after a short time. Usually within minutes, depending on what killed me." C.C explained before Lelouch inquired.
"It is related to the power you gave me," Lelouch having suspected the relation between her immortality and her ability to grant Geass. "I assume you are immune to my Geass aren't you?"
"That is right, but how did you know what it was called?"
"It is what the power is called isn't it, so why are you here?"
"I take it you are satisfied with the power?" C.C inquired while quietly staring at Lelouch.
"Very," Lelouch replied, "it allows me to speed up my schedule tremendously, which is a huge help."
"Your schedule?"
"This guy has been planning to bring down Britannia for years," Junko chimed in before pointing her thumb at the former prince. "That magic eye power you gave him allowed him to get a jump start on it."
Lelouch was grateful for his new power, but at the same time, the more prideful part of him was irritated that he didn't do anything to earn it and it was given to him. This came from his desire to be self-sufficient and capable of accomplishing tasks on his own, but Lelouch pushed those thoughts to the side because it would be wasteful not to make use of cutlery laid out before you.
"Oh," C.C said, raising an eyebrow, "you believe you can do it?"
"Please," Junko replied mockingly towards C.C, "Lelouch has been planning on bringing down Britannia since he was ten."
"I see, so I guess that much should've been clear from your performance on television," C.C said undoubtedly aware of the fact that Lelouch and Zero were one and the same.
Seeing no reason to hide it, "tell me what you plan to do? The military is still pursuing you, aren't they?"
"Not the entire military, but a small faction loyal to Clovis."
"That is rather questionable since I heard his right hand was arrested before Suzaku was," Junko explained. "He was stripped of his rank and charged with gross negligence and suspected of treason for leaving Clovis unguarded."
"Even if the military faction she mentioned isn't hunting her down there is Ultimate Despair." Lelouch pointed out before explaining, "Monokuma had Bartley as his prisoner for who knows how long. We should assume Monokuma is possibly aware of C.C's existence if the bear interrogated him for any information their group could use."
Junko smiled knowingly, but she continued to play along.
"The right-hand man and second in command of Area 11 no doubt possesses a lot of classified information Monokuma squeezed out of him," Lelouch said with both arms crossed over his chest. "No sensible organization that works against Britannia would've thought twice about it."
"You do have a point there," Junko said in agreement, although she already knew about C.C and the project Clovis was conducting. She still had Bartley interrogated, brutally, so Monokuma could reveal he knew what Lelouch understood without having to explain how Monokuma knew.
However, she did learn some additional information from Bartley that Lelouch didn't know about.
"With that said, what do you intend to do?" Lelouch asked the green haired immortal.
C.C was quiet for a moment until she answered without a hint of hesitation in her voice.
"I can just make do here," the green haired woman said, taking off the thigh length boots and the rest of her outfit before climbing into Lelouch's bed. "This should make for an acceptable place for me to hide."
"WHAT!?"
C.C. pulled up the covers over her mouth. "A gentleman would sleep on the floor."
"Don't joke around!"
Junko started laughing.
"Oh man, this is turning into one of those comedic sitcoms," Junko said in between laughs while holding her waist unable to contain herself. "She is just whipping you, Lelouch."
C.C. completely ignored her laughter and focused on addressing Lelouch, whose mood had only become further soured because of Junko's laughing. Mukuro continued to observe in stoic silence.
"If I get caught it would cause trouble for you too."
"It's dangerous to stay together," Lelouch leaned over her as she continued to lie in his bed defiantly. "If anyone else saw you in my room what I am supposed to tell them?"
"Makeup whatever you want," C.C. replied with indifference.
"That is unacceptable." Lelouch snapped as his patience with the girl had grown thin.
"I hate stubbornness." C.C. shot back before turning to her side.
Lelouch sighed in defeat; because he knew any attempt to remove her would possibly cause a scene which would attract unwanted attention even though he could ask Mukuro to help him. The result would be the same, and there was the issue of where he would hide her even if he did get her off the academy grounds without incident.
Junko, on the other hand, was amused by Lelouch unexpected misfortune in light of his plan's success.
"How the heck do you suppose she survived before she was caught? She has a real I don't give a shit attitude," Junko commented as Lelouch got onto his knees to pull up C.C's discarded clothing on the ground.
"You guess is as good as mine, but what I want to know is," Lelouch asked before turning to C.C. to inquire. "What do you expect out of this contract and what exactly is Geass?"
"Goodnight Lelouch!" The green haired immortal replied swiftly ending further attempts at a conversation.
A few minutes later, Lelouch, Mukuro, and Junko reconvened inside the Student Council Meeting Room.
"So what's your plan?" Junko asked with both arms folded over her chest.
"I can't have her staying here? I'll be leaving for Hope's Peak Academy the day after tomorrow when the entrance ceremony begins, so her staying here is out of the question." Lelouch said although it was the most obvious and pressing issue Lelouch was facing. "I'll have to start looking for an apartment near the campus to purchase. I'll move her there."
Lelouch had been planning to purchase an apartment for himself, using the money he won from Monokuma thanks to his Geass enabling him to use the funds without drawing suspicion once he placed his Geass on the right people. Of course, that didn't mean Lelouch was going to allow himself to become careless, so he was mindful as to how much money he used and whom he bought from.
Of course, his Geass gave him the means to use others as a proxy if he had to.
"I was already planning on buying my own place near the school so I can have a secondary location I have control over to use as a safe house and other purposes."
"If you are going to be running a rebellion having an alternate place to crash would be a good idea," Junko said in agreement. Lelouch will obviously be on the move a lot it would be easier for him to have another place to stay mainly if he was too tired to make it back to Ashford Academy.
On the other hand, for Junko Enoshima, if Lelouch had another place all to himself that also opened the door for other possibilities, more personal possibilities to be exact. A toothy smile appeared internally while Junko retained a neutral expression because she realized if she wanted her relationship with Lelouch to go further his apartment would provide an excellent location for that.
"I'll take care of it tomorrow."
Tomorrow had come, and Lelouch had spent most of his day inspecting apartments he had his eye on, but quality and price were not his only requirements. The former prince was choosing an apartment based on not just their location, but he was picking an apartment based on the number of conditions he had contemplated. Among those was the number of exits the building had, which included which of them would be useful if he needed to escape and which of them would provide opportunities for others to break in.
His other requirements were if the rooms could be potentially modified without requiring inspects to be conducted to ensure no one could pull any kind of surprise inspections or enter his room without his consent to avoid potential complications.
Lelouch knew he could use his Geass to ease some of these problems, but he decided against it. It wasn't out of a sense that he didn't want to be over-reliant on it, but considering the multiple possibilities, he was contemplating in his mind, including what could go wrong with his apartment choice he deemed it was best to keep his Geass as a last resort.
The former prince was currently walking down the street, passing a few apartments that had some rooms available. He had visited a few locations so far, and he was about to check out another apartment when he heard a noise that drew his attention. It was combining from within an alley, he was walking by.
"I never agreed to that!?"
The voice belonged to a young woman, although Lelouch considered ignoring it, he changed his mind after hearing the response the young woman received.
"Come on sweetheart if you want to keep your career going you got to spend some personal time with your manager." The second voice asked, clearly belonging to someone older. "I have been very generous in not demanding it from you sooner."
Lelouch didn't need to hear anymore where the meeting was heading. His disgust at what the man was implying coupled with his seething frustration from C.C. prompted him to take action. It was also an opportunity for the former prince to vent his frustrations.
Entering the alleyway, Lelouch spotted the young woman, who appeared to be as old as he was. She was Japanese, standing roughly five feet and five inches making her just five inches shorter than Lelouch. The young woman was likely a model or stage performer judging by how attractive the teenage girl appeared to be. The eyeliner and makeup she was wearing convinced Lelouch it was more of the latter. She had waist length dark blue hair and blue eyes with a fair skin complexion while she had hair clips in her hair to keep it in place.
The former prince very quickly, and obliviously deduced she was a high school student. The blue-haired woman was a traditional Japanese seifuku-style uniform consisting of a white long-sleeve shirt with a blue sailor collar and a pink bow. She also wore a blue tartan skirt, black thigh socks and brown buckled slip-on shoes.
"Is there a problem?" Lelouch inquired calmly, but his voice was full of disapproval.
The older man turned upon hearing Lelouch's voice quickly straightening his tie, "it's not what it looks like. I am this young woman's manager, and we were having a discussion."
Lelouch eyed the young woman before recognizing her, "I see, you are Sayaka Maizono, the lead singer of the group Sweet Orchard."
"That's right," Sayaka's manager said, adjusting the collar of his dark green suit.
Her manager was a man in his late thirties with slick back brown hair, a thin mustache and a fair skin complexion wearing a dark green suit with an orange tie. The man looked like someone you would find as a car salesman at a used car lot, which only made Lelouch suspicious of the man, yet at the same time, he instantly despised the man more.
Lelouch crossed his arms over his chest before saying, "A bit of an odd place to meet with your client in an alley I thought something was amiss."
"Well, this was an informal meeting, and I was asking Miss Maizono for some favors to help her career."
The former prince was right in his assumption, and a part of him wanted to use his Geass to force the despicable man to commit suicide on the spot, but the logical piece of his mind offered an alternative that would benefit Sayaka.
"I see, although given recent events I would be more careful," Lelouch said before reaching into his pocket to pull out a stack of one hundred Britannian Banknotes. "I would be willing to offer you an idea if I could purchase a moment of your time just around the corner."
The greed in the man's eyes was unmistakable coupled with a smirk, "Well alright since money talks. Wait right here for us Sayaka I doubt this will take very long."
"Yes, it won't," Lelouch said with a thin smile.
Sayaka was nervous, but she remained rooted in place as she observed Lelouch and her manager walk further down the alleyway before vanishing behind a corner. They were gone for about three minutes until her manager returned with Lelouch in tow.
"Sayaka, why don't you forget about spending that evening together and we'll focus on advancing your career."
Sayaka was figuratively floored by the sudden change in her manger's demeanor who wanted her to spend a private evening with him, but now he gave up on pressing the issue. It wasn't that she was glad that she didn't have to offer up her body to keep her dream and career alive, but she was nevertheless shocked by her manager's sudden change. She observed her manager walk away as Lelouch stayed behind with the young woman, but after he was long gone Sayaka turned to the young man.
"What did you do?"
"We came to an understanding, which allowed me to change his mind. He'll focus on your career and protecting your interests, so you can still advance your career and not have to," Lelouch began to say, but he stopped trying to find the best way to finish his sentence. "Do anything unpleasant. I assumed he wanted an evening of sex in exchange for keeping your career going."
Sayaka hesitantly nodded her head.
"Disgusting, but I am glad I was able to convince him otherwise," Lelouch said, trying to hide his stratification, which helped improve his mood. "I know being a celebrity demands a lot, but you shouldn't have to offer up your own body like that."
The young woman was a little suspicious about Lelouch, which was due to how he convinced her manager to stop his advances on her. The worse she had to do so far for the sake of her dream of being an idol posed in Prince Clovis's swimsuits, which was because no other professional models had managed to avoid it using a convenient excuse or having excellent connections. This had helped save Sayaka from making any more horrendous sacrifices, but after Clovis was killed, her safety net that kept her manager from wanting to use her for more private uses was gone. It was her usefulness as a model for Clovis's swimsuits and the money her manager made that had kept her safe, but now it seemed Lelouch had somehow prevented the worst from happening.
In the end, Sayaka decided not to question it further, but she remained healthily wary of the young man who came to her aid.
"I don't know how you did it, but just the same I am thankful that you did whatever you did to convince him," Sayaka said bowing her head respectfully.
"A simple thank you will suffice Miss Maizono."
"Please, you can call me Sayaka, Mr…"
"Lelouch, Lelouch Lamperouge," Lelouch said introducing himself.
"Thank you again, but if you don't mind me asking what school do you go to?"
"I'll be starting at Hope's Peak Academy very soon actually."
"Really," Sayaka replied with a look of surprise, "I'll be starting at Hope's Peak Academy myself."
"I see then we could be classmates."
"That would be nice because it would be nice to share a class with someone I know," Sayaka said, delighted at the prospect. "I haven't seen the full list of everyone attending as part of the new Class 78, but no one I know was among them."
"Going to a new school full of strangers can be difficult," Lelouch said in agreement recalling his own first time at a new school when he first attended Ashford Private Academy. He wasn't exactly the warmest person, but Milly managed to help him lighten up a little. Their conversation continued as Sayaka and Lelouch walked out of the alleyway a little. "I understand that experience too well."
Elsewhere in Area 11, Suzaku Kururugi was leaving the Government Administration building that was part of the Viceroy's Palace. Even though he was harshly questioned about Zero, he was ultimately released, and all of the charges against him were dropped due to Zero and Monokuma exposing the fact they had no evidence to actually prove Suzaku was the culprit especially with Zero admitting publicly that he had killed Prince Clovis. What had helped Suzaku get through his trial quicker was the fact that the administration and government of Area 11 had wanted his trial taken care of so they could focus on more pressing matters, especially as Princess Cornelia was expected to arrive tomorrow night.
Instead of a prisoner's uniform, Suzaku was wearing civilian attire as he had the rest of the day to himself. He wore a pair of black sunglasses, deciding it was best to conceal his identity for now. Suzaku public attire, while he was out in public, consisted of gray jeans, brown boots, a mustard yellow shirt, and a blue coat with a white stripe going down the middle of his back. He carried his belongings in a small bag hung over his left shoulder. Even though Suzaku was freed, he was still surprised by the events that had taken place and his mind was still trying to process much of what had happened.
His thoughts were interrupted when he heard a voice from above call out.
"Excuse me," A girl said as Suzaku looked up, his eyes went wide in shock to see said young woman falling towards him, "out of the way, please. Look out below!"
Responding reflexively, Suzaku dropped his bag and caught the girl before she could hit the ground.
Recovering from the shock of a girl literally falling into his arms Suzaku composed himself to ask the young woman as he lowered her to the ground so she could plant both feet on the ground allowing her to stand up.
"Are you alright?"
The girl looked up at him, she was Britannian, but her beauty was just stunning to Suzaku, who couldn't help but be captivated by it. She had a fair, if slightly pale, skin tone with waist-length pink hair and bluish-violet eyes. She wore a black choker with an orange and white dress with long sleeves and green wrapped around the torso. She wore a pair of red high heels, and her hair was uniquely styled which only made her stand out more in Suzaku's eyes.
"I'm sorry. I wasn't aware you were down here until I had leaped."
"Well, don't worry," Suzaku said as he helped the young woman to her feet. "I wasn't expecting a girl to come falling out of the sky and into my arms, either."
"Oh, my..." The young girl muttered before looking away for a moment seemingly worried.
"Huh?" Suzaku was concerned, prompting him to ask, "Is there something wrong?"
The girl looked back at him smiling, "Yes! There is something wrong."
Suzaku was a bit confused.
"The truth is bad guys are chasing me. So considering the circumstances could you help me, please?"
Lelouch and Sayaka were walking down the street together because thought it would be proper for a gentleman to escort Sayaka home. Not to mention, because they would be attending Hope's Peak Academy together, it was an excellent opportunity to learn about his future classmate. The information might not be all that useful, but the former prince saw no reason not to learn about his classmates given that all of them were the best of the best. Some could potentially make potential allies in the future, and maybe even Sayaka given her status as a famous pop star among the Japanese could be helpful in the future.
The two walked pass a café as they continued talking, but unknown to them, they had caught the eye of someone leaving the establishment.
"Ultimate Strategist," Sayaka said, repeating the title of Lelouch's talent, "an interesting title."
"I always had a talent for strategy whenever it's playing chess or similar games. I suppose I should thank our fellow classmate we'll be seeing for getting me noticed."
"Who was it?"
"The Ultimate Gambler, Celestia Ludenberg," Lelouch answered. "I encountered her a dozen times in some of the underground gambling games I took part in. She lives up to her title, and she is one of the few people who has bested me."
"You are too kind Lelouch, but I only bested you at games that weren't chess."
Sayaka and Lelouch turned around to see a young woman with a willowy figure and pale skin standing at five feet tall and five inches wearing a pair of red Mary Janes with a thick heel held secured by three gray buckles that added to her height. She possessed black hair and red eyes, although her hair appeared longer styled into a pair of drill-like pigtails they were in fact clip on. The girl wore a pair of gold circular earrings; each has an image depicting the cross engraved on them with a red gem placed in the center. Adding to her gothic lolita-themed appearance, she wore black nail polish and pink lipstick that couldn't be seen from afar. The rest of her outfit consists of a white blouse with a Peter-Pan collar, a black jacket that includes white ribbon lacing down the bell-shaped sleeves, fastened by a white ribbon across her chest to reveal her red tie. The tie itself had a black butterfly-like pattern layered on top of it with skulls attached to it. Her matching black skirt has many-tiered and features white lace.
Finishing her outfit, she wore black knee-high stockings trimmed in ladder lace and lastly upon her head was a white lace mob cap and a silver, gunmetal plated ring layered in overlapping sections on her right index finger.
"Sayaka allow me to introduce Celestia Ludenberg." Lelouch said taking this unexpected run-in with Celestia in stride, "and Celestia this is Sayaka Maizono."
"Ah, so you are the Ultimate Pop Sensation attending Hope's Peak Academy. I heard of you of course, because how can anyone not know the lead singer of Sweet Orchid?"
"Well thank you Miss Ludenberg," Sayaka replied politely.
"If I may inquire Lelouch what are you two doing together?"
"I was escorting Sayaka back home after she ran into a spot of trouble earlier."
Celestia smiled in amusement, "I see so you decided to intervene once again. Just like that time when a younger Britannian rear-ended an elderly couple, but he tried to shift the blame onto them."
"Oh," The young blue haired woman inquired.
"It happened some months ago while Lelouch and I were at a café together where we witnessed an accident at an intersection." Celestia began as she told the tale. "The younger driver was clearly at fault, but he kept trying to shift the blame onto the older couple. No one offered to help, so with a look of pure indifference on his face as he simply waltzed over to the younger Britannian's car and took the hook from a tow truck that had been stopped next to it while the light was red and attached it to the car. So once the light turned green, the tow truck dragged it away. Lelouch returned to his table with me without a word and still possessing a look of indifference on his face."
The young gothic-lolita dressed teenager was visibly amused by the story.
"It sickened me that no one was doing anything about it even though the truth about what happened was as plain as day," Lelouch commented. "They were a bunch of idiots."
"That's pretty harsh," Sayaka noted prompting Celestia to add.
"Lelouch is harshly honest sometimes, but that is part of what makes him who he is. If he has a strong opinion about something, he won't beat around the bush."
As Lelouch, Celestia and Sayaka began walking together Suzaku and the young woman he had caught from falling were walking through a small part after getting far away from the place where the two had met. However, it was apparent to Suzaku that the girl walking him with had lied about people chasing after her, although he was curious as to why she had told him such a lie. Suzaku was confident she had no malicious intent or anything to indicate foul play involved so, for now, he decided to merely play along for the time being.
"We haven't introduced ourselves yet, have we?" The young woman began before taking a moment to consider something before saying, "My name is Euphy."
"Euphy?" Suzaku said thinking it was an odd name, but he knew there were people were stranger names out there.
"Yes."
"My name is," Suzaku began before Euphy playfully interrupted him.
"Don't tell me." Euphy began, "Cause I already know it. You're a celebrity, son of Prime Minister Genbu Kururugi, Private Suzaku Kururugi."
Suzaku was thoughtful for a moment before his face turned serious as he asked, "You lied before. There's no one chasing you at all, right?"
Seemingly indifferent to his question Suzaku heard Euphy say meow to an injured stray black cat nearby. She was kneeling down before the cat making cat noises to placate the creature despite it hissing at her, but it soon warmed up to her enough to rub its face against her extended right index finger.
Once that was done a smiling Euphy picked up the cat holding him up for Suzaku to see.
With a smile, the young Japanese teen extended a hand to pet it, but the cat suddenly bit his finger prompting a painful grunt from Suzaku.
"Oh, my."
After buying some food and some drinks, including obtaining a Band-Aid for Suzaku as well as something to mend the cat's injured leg the two were sitting on some steps.
Euphy asked a question to Suzaku as she finished mending the cat's leg. "Do you have trouble with cats?"
"I like them fine. However," Suzaku answered before attempting to pet the cat, but he pulled his hand back when it hissed at him. "The attraction isn't mutual."
"I think unrequited love is a mark of a kind person. Oh," Euphy stopped her sentence short when the cat ran away.
The young girl was clearly disappointed. "The kitty ran away."
"Euphy, why did you tell me that lie when we met?"
Euphy didn't seem to be surprised her lie had been noticed, but nevertheless, she asked. "Do you ask because you're concerned about me?"
Suzaku was uncertain how to answer that, so he only replied, "of course."
"Good! Then you can accompany me some more." Euphy said before pulling Suzaku's arm encouraging the young man to accompany her. "Come on. It'll be fun."
Unknown to them Junko Enoshima, who was inside the Monokuma Control Room, was observing them using security cameras the park had to monitor Euphy's movements, although the fact that she began traveling around with Suzaku was unexpected. However, it wasn't an unwanted development prompting a wide toothy grin to appear on Junko's face.
A short time later after Celestia shared some of her encounters with Lelouch with Sayaka, the trio had reached the ground floor of Sayaka's apartment. They might've arrived sooner, but the trio was slowed down as they spent a long time talking to one another. Fortunately, it seemed neither one was bothered as they were too engrossed in the conversation they were having, although it helped that Lelouch enjoyed retelling tales about how he left some members of the nobility humiliated.
"I am glad for meeting both of you," Sayaka said, but her gratitude for Lelouch didn't fade. "I'll try to repay you for what you did."
"Don't worry about it Sayaka."
"I know, but I do owe you a favor." Sayaka offered, "Maybe when you need help I'll help you in turn."
Lelouch sighed upon seeing that nothing would deter her, "Very well, but it won't be anything unreasonable, fair enough?"
"I can work with that."
After bidding Lelouch and Celestia farewell, Sayaka boarded the elevator and began heading to her apartment, although she was grateful she couldn't help but wonder how Lelouch convinced her manager to stop his advances. All of her past attempts and even with her being very reasonable couldn't get him to cease, and it was known he had done that to a majority of his female clients especially the non-Britannian clients he had.
Sayaka prided herself on having what could be excellent intuition that she joked she was psychic, but no matter how hard Sayaka thought about it she couldn't grasp how Lelouch did it.
Well I should be glad, and I am sure he had no ill intent behind what he did, so maybe I should be happy I have a friend with who can be very persuasive.
Upon entering her spacious apartment on the top floor, Sayaka made her way through living room making a beeline for the bedroom before collapsing onto her bed. Her bed was queen size bed covered in pink blankets and sheets, being her favorite color, but for now, the young woman buried her face in her pillows. She laid motionless for three minutes before rolling towards the nightstand sitting next to her bed where she opened the drawer to pull out a magazine.
The magazine was from Eleven Weekly and on the cover was a picture of Zero with the primary article of the issue.
Exclusive Report: Zero's Identity!
Sayaka was doubtful they knew about Zero's identity otherwise it would've been all over the news by now, but he had cunning and audacity that had to be admired. Against all the odds Zero rescued the innocent Private Suzaku Kururugi from the Military while admitting he was the one who had killed Princess Clovis in retaliation for the mass slaughter of the people living in the Shinjuku Ghetto.
I wonder if he might be successful in freeing Japan.
Due to her Japanese heritage, Sayaka has been striving to achieve her goal of being a pop idol despite Britannia's culture and favoritism towards those of Britannia birth being a severe problem. It was thanks to Hope's Peak Academy existing in Area 11 that the Emperor had made a special law exclusive to Area 11 that allowed everyone, including Numbers, to pursue their dream goals so their talents could be put on display. This was to ensure that only the very best would be chosen for Hope's Peak Academy because the Emperor believed those among the Honorary Britannians and Numbers would be more driven to prove themselves.
This enabled the Emperor to push his own people to strive harder to be their very best under the belief that their success as an Empire caused their own people to lax, which he deemed unacceptable.
Of course, that didn't mean she didn't have to deal with Britannians who wanted to take advantage of her by threatening to derail her career, which she managed to avoid offering up her body by posing for Clovis's swimwear. Of course, that ended with his demise, which cost her protection until Lelouch came around unexpected like some form of divine intervention.
How long would that last?
Sayaka knew sooner or later she might end up with a new manager and she dreaded what more she would have to sacrifice for her dream, but upon seeing Zero, Sayaka wondered if maybe some hope existed where she wouldn't have to if Japan were freed from Britannian control. Since she was a child, she had hoped the Japan Liberation Front would do it, but as the years passed it became apparent, they weren't capable of liberating their conquered nation. She didn't condone terrorism, but she didn't want to see her dream die just because she wasn't born a Britannian.
Sayaka silently studied the magazine over; although she didn't know for sure, Sayaka hoped Zero would succeed where the JLF and other groups have failed.
Outside Celestia and Lelouch were talking down the street together, but with Sayaka now gone the young woman in Lelouch's company turned her heads towards the young man.
"You have quite the charm, Lelouch? I won't be shocked if you have a following of girls back at your school." Celestia offered humorously, but her comment actually annoyed Lelouch.
"You have no idea, and it's annoying. Those girls are just so shallow; all they see me for is the cool pretty boy." Lelouch replied making no attempt to hide his distaste for the attention he received from the female population of Ashford Academy. Milly didn't exactly help matters by making use of Lelouch's own popularity for her own amusement such as during the school event during the holidays that had the police called in.
"That doesn't seem surprising."
"Somehow I wouldn't doubt you've had a few boys hounding you for more than your looks," Lelouch said causally, although it annoyed Celestia slightly she reasoned that she should've known that Lelouch would've countered with a similar question.
"As you said it's annoying, but fortunately I am quite blunt and clear that I am not interested in them. It usually gets my point across. Otherwise, I have," Celestia explained while smiling before allowing a moment to pass before finishing her sentence, "ways of making them back off."
"Given all of the underground gambling rings and even the most dangerous ones you have been involved in I don't doubt that."
Celestia merely chuckled, "Anyway I assume then you'll be more than happy of accepting an invitation to Hope's Peak Academy. At least you won't have a horde of rapid shallow women as you put it causing you grief."
The former prince smiled at this, "Yes that will be relief at least."
Suzaku and Euphy were currently in the last place anyone would've expected to go, especially for a young woman who was vacationing. According to Euphy, she was spending a day off after arriving from the homeland, so she wanted to use her time to explore Area 11 and to see what kind of place it was. She had been going to school in the homeland for the last week before she was summoned to Area 11 by her sister who she would meet tomorrow night.
The last place Euphy wanted to visit was Shinjuku Ghetto.
The sun was beginning to set slowly in the distance by the time the two had arrived, which made the forlorn scene before them more appropriate. It was a small makeshift cemetery with headstones made from pieces of wood and pipes while pictures of those who died had been tapped upon broken walls with toys and flowers left at the feet of the headstones. Euphy and Suzaku were both quiet as they looked upon the small cemetery for those who had died in the mass slaughter that had happened days ago.
Even though they hadn't seen any corpses along the way, which as far as Suzaku knew had been taken care of, the scars from the battle were still the same as they were when Suzaku had been here last.
"Shinjuku Ghetto, ruined again," Suzaku said sadly, "and the people were beginning to come back too."
Euphy was silent, but the silence was broken by the sound of two Britannian Schoolboys on the hill behind them near the remains of a statue. Their uniforms indicated they were students of Ashford Academy with one of being more heavy set than his companion with blonde hair and an orange bandana while the other skinnier of the two had black hair.
Unfortunately, their admiration of the damage inflicted by the military and treating it like a tourist attraction quickly drew the ire of the ghetto's remaining resistance.
Tamaki advanced on them flanked by his friends Minami and Yoshida, and the first thing Tamaki did was slap the camera out of the hands of the broader set of the two schoolboys before shouting at them with nothing but fury in his voice.
"Get out of here, you damn Britannian bastards!"
Suzaku gestured for Euphy to stay before hurrying to the boys' defense knowing full well how the confrontation was likely to end without intervention.
"How dare a lowly Eleven speak like," The blonde haired teenager began before Tamaki interrupted him.
"Don't call me Eleven! I'm Japanese."
"Wrong." The thinner of the two schoolboys said, although despite being bold he was clearly scared of Tamaki. "You seem to forget you people lost. You're nothing but a beaten dog!"
This only caused a growl to erupt from Tamaki's throat, "You racist pig.
"Stop," Suzaku said as he came running up the hill hoping to intervene before things escalated. "Please no violence!"
"Stay out of this!" Tamaki roared as he tried to slap Suzaku in the face after he grabbed his shoulder from behind, but he narrowly missed slapping his sunglasses off his face instead.
"You're that," Minami muttered, as he and everyone else was shocked to see Suzaku in probably the one place they didn't expect.
"Are you Suzaku Kururugi?" Tamaki asked, but he didn't need an answer from Suzaku.
"The guy who killed Clovis?" Minami mentioned, but Yoshida corrected him.
"No, it was Zero who killed him."
Tamaki brushed it off. "This guy is nothing more than a slave. Big deal; you're an Honorary Britannian. Nobody cares. You sold your pride, your people, yourself, yet you call yourself Japanese? Not to mention you helped these bastards nearly wipe us out!"
Tamaki looked really to attack Suzaku as did his friends, but the two schoolboys began backing away ready to run at the first chance they had.
"No! You're wrong!" Suzaku denied, but this only worsened the situation.
"I am not wrong! You stinking Britannian lapdog," Tamaki said rushing to attack Suzaku, but the younger man grabbed Tamaki before flipping him over his shoulder sending him into the ground.
"Stop, please!" Suzaku asked as Tamaki recovered rising up to his feet, "I've warned you I've been trained for military combat. Don't make me fight against my own people."
Before Tamaki could argue further a very familiar voice caused everyone's blood to run cold.
"Upupupu, hello everyone!"
Everyone stopped to look behind Suzaku and Euphy who had hurried up the hill to join them to see Monokuma, which prompted a frightened Euphy to quickly take cover behind Suzaku. Monokuma was soon joined by over a dozen members of Ultimate Despair wearing the traditional suit and mask. Half of the gathered dozen members of Ultimate Despair were armed with assault rifles.
"I am Monokuma, the adorable leader of Ultimate Despair, nice to meetcha."
"Oh shit, it's that bear!" Tamaki shouted in fright turning white as a sheet before Tamaki, Minami, and Yoshida ran away as fast as their legs could carry them. Even the two schoolboys wasted no time running away leaving Euphy and Suzaku to contend with Monokuma.
"Now that I made my dashing appearance," Monokuma said striking a cutesy pose with one hand behind its head. "The first thing I got to say is that I am surprised to see that you Suzaku have gone from a man who was accused of killing a prince to a tour guide for a princess."
"What," Suzaku said as he was caught off guard by that revelation.
"Oh you didn't know," Monokuma said genuinely surprised by Suzaku's lack of knowledge about the identity of Euphy, although Junko wasn't. "That girl's real name is Euphemia li Britannia the Third Princess of the Empire, and soon to be the new Sub-Viceroy of Area 11."
Even though Suzaku was shocked, he stood his ground ready to defend Euphy to the death if need be.
"You won't take her without going through me?!"
Monokuma titled his head to one side confused, "take her? What are you talking about?"
Suddenly the sound of party poppers was head as the air was filled with colorful confetti before some of the Ultimate Despair members raised up a colorful homemade banner: Welcome Princess Euphemia!
Both Euphy and Suzaku were understandably dumbfounded.
"This is just absolutely poptastic," Monokuma exclaimed happily, "We'll have not one, but two royals in Area 11 now."
"You can't be," Suzaku began hesitantly, but at the same time, he remained on high alert. "You can't be doing this just as generous gesture."
"Why not," The two-tone bear commented, "why do you need a reason for everything?"
"You are an inhuman mass murder!"
"You say I am inhuman, but I was never human, to begin with because I am a bear," Monokuma replied striking another cutesy pose. "Besides look who called the kettle black, you helped the Britannia Army slaughter most of these people, so what makes you different?"
Suzaku was left without a way of countering Monokuma's accusation, but Euphy stepped in.
"Monokuma, why do you delight in the despair of others? What is your motivation?"
Monokuma raised a paw extending his claws clearly annoyed, "Again with the why? Do you ask a tornado why it tore through a town that sends cows flying? Do you ask an Earthquake why it turned a coastal city into new ocean front property?"
The bear struck a dramatic pose before continuing.
"Despair is something that can consume everything; love, hope, past, and futures. It can bring chaos to the world just like a single bullet can set off a world war. Just look at what I accomplished with my Killing Game? The entire Chinese Federation is having one of the most devastating civil wars in their most recent recorded history."
"All for what?!" Suzaku demanded.
"No reason, because the world is so boring," Monokuma answered, "I mean being conquered by Britannia changed Japan into a more fun-filled place, so I made it my mission in life to make everyone see that."
Suzaku and Euphy were left speechless because Monokuma didn't care about bringing about any positive change or even the future. He was a bear who seemingly just wanted to watch the world burn.
"Don't think of me as a monster. I am just a bear who is ahead of the curve." Monokuma said dismissively, "Besides Britannia just conquers and if you aren't Britannian, then you are doomed to sit at the bottom of the ladder for the rest of your life as a bottom feeder. So what gives you the right to judge me?"
"I am going to change Britannia from within that's why. Victory gained through dishonest means is no victory at all." Suzaku boldly declared.
Monokuma titled his head to one side seemingly confused and surprised at the same time. "Huh?"
"I concur with Suzaku," Euphy said, surprising Suzaku.
"Britannia needs to change from within because its current system has led to nothing but loss and heartbreak a factor in the death of my siblings."
The two-toned bear merely looked at them in what appeared to be stunned silence before…
"Ah-hahahahahahahaha!"
Monokuma began laughing before falling back onto his back where the bear continued to laugh hysterically for a full two minutes before finally stopping.
"Wait," Monokuma inquired with surprise, "you guys are serious?"
The bear broke into another into a fit hysterical laughter for another minute before Suzaku interrupted by demanding with an angry look in his eyes.
"Something funny?"
Monokuma managed to collect himself before responding, "Well if you believe in changing the system from within, a system enjoyed by the majority of the royal family and the nobility. Meaning chances are the system will kill you, because you got too many in Britannia who likes things the way they are and they'll kill you for it unless you kill them first. That might've worked with any other country, but not Britannia."
Euphy and Suzaku were left without a way to counter Monokuma's words, but the bear wasn't giving them a chance.
"The world is only as good as it allows people to be. What the so-called morals and codes of conduct people have is just a bad joke dropped at the first sign of trouble. Hell Britannia is at least honest that he doesn't try to pretend like other people. You, Princess Euphemia, are just the odd duck of the family who will never live to see her foolish ideals made a reality, because either they'll get you killed before I even have a chance. More than anything you'll be a cute doll your older sister will just use as a pretty puppet to be kept on her shelf."
Those words struck a nerve with Euphemia.
"YOU'RE LYING!" Euphy said with tears forming her eyes.
"Aw hell naw, everyone knows how Cornelia dots on you, so why did she really bring you here?"
"That's enough you words won't make me back down."
"Uh-oh," Monokuma said bringing both paws close to his mouth in a seemingly surprised expression, "did you awaken to your sense of justice? Well, it just so happens there is nothing more unethical than an unwavering sense of justice. After all, it's people with that sort of mentality that perpetuate war all over the world. Is that the kind of justice that has awakened within you?"
"I'll change Britannia from within even if it kills me!" Suzaku snapped defiantly.
"That is more likely to happen than you changing Britannia from within," Monokuma said before charging at Suzaku, although it was more of a waddle than a charge. "Ok you stupid boy with the Quisling and internal reformist tropes going for you, but I am just going kick your ass because your sense of justice is giving me nausea, so I need some relief."
Without hesitating Suzaku accepted Monokuma's challenge, and seeing how the bear waddled towards him, he thought this would be an easy victory.
Unfortunately for him, he was underestimating the one behind Monokuma's controls as Junko Enoshima switched Monokuma into battle mode. Junko brought her hands together before cracking her fingers in preparation.
Suddenly Monokuma displayed speed Suzaku didn't expect before appearing behind him attempting to sweep him off his feet with a sweeping kick, but Suzaku responded jumping over the bear's kick. Monokuma then leaped into the air before trying to punch Suzaku in the back of the head, but just as quickly he turned around and deflected the punch. The force of Monokuma's blow forced Suzaku back a few inches as a testament to the power behind the bear's strike.
Euphy, watching the fight unfold before her, could barely keep up with their movements. Monokuma's small size and seemingly incredible agility and speed gave him an advantage over Suzaku who was having a difficult time attempting to hit the bear as his foe's small size helped him with evading Suzaku's attacks. However, Suzaku realized getting hit by Monokuma in the head or chest could be potentially fatal as he blocked one of the bear's punches with his left forearm he felt as if his arm had been hit with a lead pipe.
Soon the bear and Suzaku began a rapid exchange of punches, but neither could get a blow in as Suzaku managed to parry the bear' punches as his lack of arm length didn't leave Monokuma with much regarding attack opportunities. Jumping back Suzaku attempted to drive his foot into Monokuma's head with a low sweeping kick, but Junko whose superhuman analytic skills predicted the attack and working the controls of Monokuma like never before not only dodged the attack before moving in to deliver a hard punch to Suzaku's crouch.
The blow floored Suzaku as Euphy ran to him, but before the young woman could reach him, Monokuma grabbed Suzaku by the hair and punched him in the face.
"Nyoooohohohoho!" Monokuma laughed before putting one foot on Suzaku's chest striking a victory pose, "We are on completely different levels."
The bear moved closer to an unconscious Suzaku before whispering.
"That means we view the world differently."
Monokuma got off of Suzaku and began walking away commenting, "It's like a character from a normal anime challenging a character from a super-powered battle anime. I'll be going now, but tell your boyfriend the next time we meet, he better hope he doesn't become a contestant on the new Killing Game I am planning."
Euphy said nothing to Monokuma, but she merely knelt down more worried for Suzaku's wellbeing as Monokuma's laughter faded as he and his followers departed.
Thankfully Euphy received assistance from Lloyd and Cecile who arrived on the scene having been following Suzaku and Euphemia, although they had called the police about Monokuma's arrival they knew they wouldn't come in time. They would've intervened earlier, but they were worried they would've endangered the young princess's life.
"Are you alright Princess Euphemia?" Cecile asked as she knelt down to check Suzaku while Lloyd lazily leaned against the ruined statue.
"I am fine, but Suzaku needs help."
"He appears to be fine," Cecile said as she checked Suzaku's pulse, "his injuries are minor, but I'll ask a doctor to check him."
"That Monokuma is a fine machine," Lloyd mused paying no mind to Cecile and Euphemia as he adjusted his glasses in contemplation, "I am very curious who not only created him but who controls him."
As the last of the day began to fade a small, but an unexpected noteworthy event was taking place outside the gates of Hope's Peak Academy as Mikan was walking past the main gate noticing the signs and decorations set up for tomorrow's entrance ceremony for the new Class 78.
"As of tomorrow I'll be an upperclassman," Mikan said to herself but flinched when Ryota slammed his hand on the wall near her head to get her attention. Mikan timidly looked up at Ryota who seemed strangely more intimating than usual, which his heavy-set physique helped to illuminate.
"You are coming with me!"
"Huh?!"
"I need you!" Ryota said with a seriousness that seemed strangely out of character for him, but before Mikan could protest the Ryota scooped the Ultimate Nurse before running down the street with her displaying remarkable strength and speed that seemed unexpected for him.
"Why," Mikan began on the verge of tears, "This is it! My life is about to become a late night movie!"
The following day Lelouch arrived at Hope's Peak Academy, although he had his academy uniform he decided to go in his Ashford Academy uniform. He wasn't alone because walking alongside him was his new neighbors who got an apartment next to his. Junko was dressed in her more preferred attire complete with her bow and bunny hairclips on while Mukuro was with them, but she swapped out her Ashford Academy uniform for a white dress shirt, a red ribbon tie, a brown skirt, long black socks and matching shoes with brown gloves over her hands.
The trio was approaching the main gate ahead of a young man, who was presumably a new student as well.
He was an average Japanese teenager with brown hair and a prominent ahoge on top of his head. They couldn't see it, but he also possessed hazel eyes and had a fair skin complexion was standing at least five feet tall and three inches. His choice of attire for his first day was a zipped-up dull green hoodie with a red stripe along the zipper with an open black jacket and green buttons worn over it. The rest of his outfit consisted of black jeans and red sneakers.
Makoto Naegi, the newly titled Ultimate Lucky Student for the freshman class, took his first steps into Hope's Peak Academy.
Following behind him was Junko, Mukuro, and Lelouch.
"So from this moment on we're going to be classmates, and neighbors!" Junko announced happily throwing her arm over Lelouch's shoulder.
Lelouch merely raised an eyebrow at her, Yes I should say I am surprised, but you likely went out of your way to make sure we were not only in the same apartment building but we would be next to each other.
After parting ways with Celestia yesterday the young gambler offered Lelouch the address of an apartment he should check out finding it fit his needs and expectations much better than anywhere else, so he purchased it only to discover that a few hours later Junko and Mukuro would be occupying the apartment next-door to him.
It was a little annoying, but it was convenient since Mukuro had offered to help him in his endeavors as Zero, although they would need to create a masked identity for Mukuro as well since her relation to Lelouch might potentially expose him as Zero.
"So the Ultimate Fashionista and the Ultimate Solider," Lelouch mused.
"Yep we got our old titles back, and you Ultimate Strategist. That title fits you to a damn T!" Junko said holding Lelouch closer to her.
"Good morning Lelouch," Sayaka greeted as she approached the trio from behind, "it's nice to see you again."
"Huh," Junko said before recognizing Sayaka, "Hey Lelouch when did you get aquatinted with Sayaka Maizono?"
"Junko Enoshima?" Sayaka said surprised to see the famed half-Britannian model.
Lelouch was both a little surprised and intrigued at the same time. "You two know each other?"
"We met a few times when I had to pose for a swimsuit magazine." Junko answered before asking, "So how do you two know each other?"
"We met yesterday where she was caught up in a bit of trouble, which I helped resolved."
Sayaka nodded, "yes, although I am curious how you managed to convince my manager to stop…you know? Still, I am very grateful regardless, so I am not too worried about how you did it."
Junko's eyes narrowed, I see so he used a bit of Geass.
"You just had to play the Good Samaritan once again," Junko said folding her arms over her chest.
"I guess it's like Celestia said." The pop idol noted recalling the gambler's story from yesterday.
"Lelouch is just full of surprises." Junko began before Sayaka and Junko became engaged in a conversation about the young man as Mukuro and Lelouch walked together. Likewise, the two following close behind entered the school.
The conversation kept going until they reached the gymnasium where seventeen chairs had been set up in front of the stage with the school flag hanging above it, and a podium with the school's crest was also set up.
Mukuro and Lelouch began looking around as the latter was curious to get a look at his new classmates.
One of them, apparently the tallest of the class caught Lelouch's eye.
"Is that Sakura Ogami?" Lelouch asked Mukuro.
"Yes," Mukuro replied, "she is the famed strongest woman in the world, or at least as far as anyone in Area 11 and Britannia is aware of."
Sakura stood a towering six feet and three inches tall weighing in at just over two hundred pounds with a powerful muscular build, although this, along with her deep voice, has caused her to be mistaken for a man at times. Thankfully Lelouch recognized the difference and knew she was defiantly a she, which was helped by what he had heard about her when he got word of the names of his new classmates before today. The Ultimate Martial Artist possesses long white hair that reaches midway down her back. Her reddened-dark skin coupled with a scar across her face were all signs of the intense training she has put her body through since childhood to train to the absolute peak of human physical fitness, her pale blue eyes added to her stern demeanor.
Like Lelouch, she was wearing her former school uniform that was a traditional seifuku style Japanese school uniform comprising of a white shirt with a blue sailor collar, a short blue skirt, and a red tie. The sleeves on the sailor fuku were torn off to make room for her muscular upper arms, which looked sturdy enough to potentially bend steel. As one might expect from her title, Sakura wore bandages wrapped around her calves and forearms. Her footwear was a pair of grey with blue tips Uwabaki.
"HELLO!" A young girl who was the same age as he greeted with a happy and cheerful voice.
The girl standing, being seven inches shorter than Lelouch in front of him was a Japanese girl, but Lelouch suspected she might be half-Britannian because of her tanned complexion. Regardless she had bright blue eyes and a curvaceous, athletic body, which her attire suggested she was in sports and very outgoing. Her long brown hair was fashioned into a ponytail while she wore blue athletic shorts, a red tracksuit jacket over her white shirt.
"Good morning Miss," Lelouch said offering his hand in a friendly handshake.
"My name is Aoi Asahina!" Asahina replied with a seemingly boundless optimism behind her voice.
"I heard that name before." The former prince said recognizing the name. "One of my friends on my old school student council mentioned competing against you when Ashford Academy challenged Asunaro High School during a swimming match."
"Oh," Asahina was immediately interested, "who was your friend?"
"Shirley Fenette."
"Shirley I remember here we met during that tournament, but boy was she really trying to keep up with me." Asahina mused with a giggle.
"Yes, I have because Shirley told me you like a swimming machine. You completely out swam everyone on the swim team including Shirley."
The young girl laughed before presenting herself with a rather modest expression, "I have been swimming for a long time, but I have always been active in other sports like baseball, basketball, volleyball, tennis, and track and field!"
Lelouch smiled before he thought, I can see why she and Shirley hit it off. I can see certain similarities between them, but Asahina seems much more active and outgoing in comparison.
"I see why Shirley spoke so highly of you. I haven't seen you swimming, but from her comments, it seems you made quite the impression. I guess your title must be Ultimate Swimming Pro."
"Nailed it!" The girl replied giving Lelouch the thumbs up gesture.
"Your optimism and energy are really something. You remind me of another person I know."
"Oh really, would that be me?" Suzaku joked as he approached Lelouch and Asahina with Chihiro walking alongside him. Chihiro wore the same attire while Suzaku was wearing the standard Hope's Peak Academy uniform for boys.
"Suzaku," Lelouch said with a look of genuine surprise, "I didn't know you got scouted for this school?"
Suzaku suspected the real question Lelouch had wanted to ask was how he was alive.
"Oh," Lelouch said being the gentleman decided to provide introductions, "Miss Asahina this is Suzaku Kururugi, and I guess I should've introduced myself I am Lelouch Lamperouge."
"You can just call me Aoi or use my nickname Hina, but nice to meet you Suzaku," Asahina replied before giving Suzaku a very friendly and energetic handshake.
"The pleasure is all mines."
"So Suzaku what talent did you get scouted for?"
"The Ultimate Knightmare Frame Pilot," Suzaku answered which didn't surprise Lelouch, but he was mindful of acting as if he was to keep up appearances.
"Sweet so your ultimate talent is piloting giant robots!" Asahina exclaimed excitedly.
"Yeah, and Chihiro Fujisaki is the Ultimate Programmer who works in my unit. She developed the operating systems among other things I am not at liberty to discuss." Suzaku said gesturing to the shy and timid Chihiro.
"I am pleased to make your acquaintance Chihiro," Lelouch said offering to shake hands with the Ultimate Programmer.
"Likewise!" Asahina chimed in.
Quietly observing them was another student who possessed the title of Ultimate Affluent Progeny.
He stood proudly at six foot one, being a tad taller than Lelouch, with a fair skin complexion, blonde hair and blue eyes with a pair of thin white framed glasses worn over them. He wore a black suit with a white dress shirt underneath with a green crisscross tie. He watched them, with arms folded over his chest, for a moment as his primary interest was Suzaku Kururugi being more than familiar with having been the son of Japan's last Prime Minister.
Byakuya Togami, the heir to the Togami Family, who is considered the heir to Japan's most influential family whose current family head led the Future Foundation as a member of the Steeling Committee.
Glancing around the room, Byakuya eyed another member of his class, the one who earned the title Ultimate Baseball Star.
The young man didn't dress the part, especially since his hair had been dyed orange and styled to have a spiky appearance including a goatee. He had a fair skin complexion with pale blue eyes wearing a white blazer jacket with the collar popped up. Under it, he wore a white shirt with a red grunge skull design upon it with dark blue jeans and white platform shoes. His other accessories included a padlocked chain necklace, two overlapping studded belts, rings, and an oversized safety pin on his lapel. He has several piercings located on his labret, his tongue, and six in his right ear.
Looking at him, no one thinks Leon Kuwata was a baseball player and looked like an aspiring member of a rock band.
Those two are somewhat questionable choices for students, Byakuya contemplated he looked at the young man Leon was sharing a conversation with.
His name was Mondo Owada, and due to his leadership of Area 11's fiercest and largest motorcycle gang the Crazy Diamonds earning him the title of Ultimate Biker Gang Leader.
I am shocked they didn't arrest him at the door.
Mondo stood at an intimidating six feet and two inches being slighter taller than Byakuya and a little shorter than Sakura. He had a muscular build befitting of his place as the leader of the Crazy Diamonds giving an intimidating figure which was enhanced by his black overcoat adorned with the symbol of the Crazy Diamonds along with orange Japanese text and dragon symbols on the back. Mondo had slightly tanned skin and small purple eyes adding to his imposing appearance while his dark brown hair was styled into a perm that a cross between an afro and a pompadour. Under his coat, he wore a white A-shirt, baggy black pants held up by a belt with the face of a Komainu on it, and white loafers.
Suddenly a booming shout drew everyone's attention.
"HEY, IT'S TWO MINUTES PASS EIGHT. YOU ARE LATE!"
"I AM SORRY!"
The one who had just loudly reprimanded the late arrival was a young man who was shorter than Mondo, but his strict and unrelenting adherence to the rules didn't diminish his disciplinary aura.
He acted more akin to a military drill sergeant thanks to his appearance and choice of attire. He possessed short spiky black hair and substantial matching eyebrows with intense red eyes. His school uniform was white, and it was actually styled after a Japanese Army Uniform with gold buttons. There was a red and gold medal on his chest and a red armband with the kanji meaning Public Morals, and knee-high black lace-up boots.
"NO EXCUSE AND YOU BETTER MAKE SURE IT NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN!" Kiyotaka Ishimaru snapped causing the late arrival to tremble in fear.
Kiyotaka Ishimaru, unsurprisingly, due to his duties and success as a Hall Monitor was given the title of Ultimate Moral Compass.
The unfortunate late arrival to bear the fury of Kiyotaka's discipline was an overweight young man with black hair with a small pointed ahoge on top of his head. He wore a pair of black thick-rimmed glasses over his little black eyes, and his skin was slightly tanned. His clothes consisted of a white button-down dress shirt, an orange tie with blue arrow-like patterns on it, a pair of dark gray trousers, and white trainers. Lastly to complete his attire is that he wore a light grey, unbuttoned cardigan, and an orange backpack.
Hifumi Yamada was left shivering on the ground, and he had been given the title of the Ultimate Fanfic Creator.
I take that back, the one on the floor is the most pathetic of the bunch. Byakuya thought to gaze at Hifumi with disgust in his eyes.
Among those not involved with the crowd was Kyoko Kirigiri wearing a purple jacket as she stood stoically in the corner of the gym keeping to herself with her arms folded. The last student was another female who wore a traditional Japanese school uniform with a long skirt compared to other girls and their own outfits. Her school uniform was purple with an orange bow on the front, and she wore brown loafers with white socks. Her long dark purple hair was styled into long twin braids with a small mole on the left side of her chin. She was a fair skinned young teenager of five feet and four inches with light purple eyes with round glasses worn over them.
The Ultimate Writing Prodigy, Toko Fukawa stood quietly in the corner had earned her fame for writing the number one bestselling novel 'So Lingers the Ocean' which became such a huge hit that won over many Britannians it propelled fishermen to the top of the hottest men polls.
The sound of a microphone being tapped echoed through the gym.
"Can I have your attention please?"
Standing behind a podium on the stage was a man in his late thirties with dark purple hair and light purple eyes resembling those of his daughter who was among the new students. His attire consisted of a black suit with a purple tie.
"As headmaster of the academy, I would like to welcome you all." Jin Kirigiri, the headmaster of Hope's Peak Academy, greeted. "As new students of Hope's Peak Academy."
Monokuma Theater:
Sailing the seas aboard a pirate ship with an appropriate flag on top waving in the wind with black and white sails, depicting Monokuma with a pair of crossbones under it. Standing behind the wheel was Monokuma wearing a tricorne as he directed the ship through the sea.
"You know back in the old days before we had electricity and technology; humanity was made of some leaner stuff."
In the distance, Monokuma began directing his ship towards a defenseless merchant ship.
"Now with all of these computers and television humans have gotten soft, which I suppose makes it easier for me to inflict humanity with despair since I have a lot of tools to work with." Monokuma mused as his ship pulled up alongside the merchant ship. "Then again maybe back then it was just as easy, and maybe it was quite simpler."
Monokuma began laughing before his ship opened fire on its helpless target with its canons.
A/N: Well this chapter became much longer than I was expecting, which was mostly due to the characters I had to introduce, the students of Class 78 including Lelouch and Suzaku who was a last minute addition thanks though Lloyd's connections and Euphy ultimately pushing him though.
Monokuma's introduction to Euphy might seem harmless, but you can imagine what might happen once Cornelia gets wind of it.
I should note that in the original games and anime, for those who haven't seen it, Suzaku had no chance against Monokuma since he could hold his own against some of Sakura's strength and skill as the Ultimate Martial Artist. The blow to the crouch might've been going a bit far, but it's just something I thought Junko would do given a chance.
In the next chapter, Cornelia shall make her appearance, and she'll have one hell of a mess to clean up while Lelouch is adapting to Hope's Peak Academy.
I have begun a new curiosity poll for me to gauge preferences for which Code Geass characters the readers of this story would like to survive. This is to help me measure that among my readers, so it helps me get a good idea.
Anyway, I hope to have the next chapter out in due time, but I am going to try to update one of my other stories first.
Thank you in advance for the reviews/feedback.