A/N: as the title suggests it's a chapter almost dedicated to Lelouch interacting with his fellow students while he will meet a few for the first time.
It's the eve of Cornelia's arrival in Area 11, and Monokuma doesn't intend to let up. Of course, it's a question of what will happen once Cornelia begins taking a more active role in events.
I had a little trouble with events near the end of the chapter, but I think they turned out alright but that small number with a particular song from the anime had me a little concerned. It was meant as a call back to a specific event during the Despair Arc of the Danganronpa 3 anime but modified.
Anyway, thank you all for your reviews and feedback on the last chapter.
02/15/2018: 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 13
School Mode
Lelouch collapsed onto the track field in the back of Hope's Peak Academy. He was sweating profusely with his entire body lacking the energy to move. The former prince was dressed in gym clothes, which consisted of blue shorts and a white shirt. Lelouch was trying to grasp how he was roped into this as he typically avoided attending gym class, even during his time at Ashford Academy.
Damn you Junko!
As Lelouch lay on the ground cursing his own misfortune, he recalled the events of the previous night where he, Junko, Mukuro all gathered at Lelouch's new apartment for a special get together. Lelouch and Junko shared a falsified story of how they escaped Shinjuku Ghetto, crediting their survival to Clovis calling in units that formed the encirclement creating a breach that allowed them to survive. The chaos caused by the resistance cell has also helped.
As for C.C, who was hiding in the second bedroom, Junko and Lelouch told Suzaku they lost track of the green haired girl during the chaos.
"Other than that the old survival gang, minus Nunnally, is back together," Junko exclaimed before drinking a soft drink.
"I glad you two made it, but I never would've expected we would attend the same school together," Suzaku noted.
The group was sitting in the living room of Lelouch's apartment which was spacious enough for twenty people with a black sofa, a forty inch television standing upon an entertainment center against the wall. The walls were white with polished wooden floors and surrounding a wooden black coffee table aside from the sofa facing it, and the television was a cushioned black chair, one just opposite of the other and one just next to the couch forming a slight semicircle. Lelouch sat in the chair to the left of the sofa facing the television while Suzaku sat opposite while Mukuro and Junko occupied the couch.
The apartment wasn't fully furnished yet, but it had all of the necessities.
"I know," Junko said in agreement, "what were the chances of that?"
"How did you get noticed for Hope's Peak Academy as the Ultimate Knightmare Frame Pilot?" Lelouch asked although he knew how yet it was for the sake of appearances. "Usually they don't allow non-Britannians to pilot Knightmare Frames expect for testing."
"That's true, but in a way it is testing," Suzaku mused, "The problem was that the unit I am with now couldn't get their hands on a pilot."
"And this new machine you pilot is supposed to be a new model?" Mukuro inquired.
Suzaku nodded, "Yes, the Lancelot is the first seventh generation Knightmare Frame with combat capabilities exceeding all current Knightmares while doubling as a test bed for new technologies."
"I am shocked no one else had wanted to pilot a machine like that," Lelouch commented as he was genuinely surprised by that.
"I don't know each individual reason why potential pilots refused, but my superiors think it was because the new machine lacks an ejection block."
"That's it?" Junko said before muttering, "Cowards," under her breath.
Suzaku sighed, having heard that, but he didn't attempt to argue against it.
"I guess that worked out for you," Lelouch said. "Maybe we should get together at Ashford Academy so you can meet Nunnally. She'll be pleased to meet you."
"How about a surprise party?" Junko suggested, which Lelouch agreed to.
"Yes, we can surprise her with Suzaku."
"That sounds like an idea, let me know when you guys will have it."
Shortly after that Suzaku departed for the night and following his departure, an uneasy silence fell upon the room with Lelouch lost in deep thought until Junko interrupted him.
"So what are you going to do?"
Lelouch looked towards Junko, who merely possessed a passive expression upon her face, "You know he'll be a serious problem in the future? You remember how that machine of his picked apart those resistance fighters you had armed with those stolen machines."
"I haven't forgotten about that," Lelouch replied with his voice as cold as ice, "Cornelia is as typical as your normal Britannian is to the point that she will not use Suzaku because he is Japanese no matter how effective the Lancelot is. The only reason he'll remain its pilot because Suzaku's unit is under the authority of my older half-brother Schneizel and the Britannian Homeland, so Cornelia has no say over their choice of personnel."
Even though Suzaku couldn't tell them everything about the unit he belonged to Lelouch and Junko did learn that it was under Schneizel el Britannia's control and by extension the homeland which Cornelia, even as Viceroy would have little to no control over.
"Not to mention she's nothing like Clovis, although she is as Britannian as he was, Cornelia is no fool. For instance, she wouldn't set up someone as a scapegoat for murder, nor would she be quick to assume a non-Britannian was solely responsible for spying and sabotage efforts. She is more than aware of the kind of corruption and greed among the nobles, so she won't think twice about investigating anyone she feels is working against her."
"Basically what you are saying that it's more than likely that Cornelia will not only be cleaning up Area 11 of terrorism, but she would cleaning the government and military internally of any corruption."
Lelouch took a sip from his glass of ice water, "I would be shocked if she didn't, besides considering everything that has happened, I am certain she'll be going after anyone who has either sold weapons or information to terrorist groups or collaborated with them in any way."
"Of course I am sure as a princess competing for the throne. Cornelia has likely dealt with various individuals with ties to noble families and businesses that support other members of the royal family who wish to see her removed from the competition for the throne so their choice would have a better chance for the throne." Junko noted before adding, "I heard a few months ago that Alexander Krushevsky, the CEO of Krushevsky Arms was killed during a demonstration in Area 14, Papua New Guinea. The rebels that infiltrated the demonstration as it turns out were supplied weapons and intelligence by a rival corporation."
The former prince nodded, having read about that incident online recently. "Yes, and it's because of incidents like that is the reason Cornelia isn't afraid to point the finger at a fellow Britannian with evidence providing any kind of wrongdoing on his or her end."
"Her attitude towards non-Britannians is just like Clovis's attitude," Junko mused, "but she is just much more intelligent and competent enough to recognize when people from her own side might be trying to undermine her for their benefit."
"That's right," Lelouch said before glancing at Mukuro," Mukuro and I had talked about her at length because Fenrir had a run in with Cornelia before she left the group. She wasn't part of the operations Mukuro faced on the battlefield, but any information helps me when it comes time for me to face her."
"I remember that, and it was a good thing too since Fenrir was only recently wiped out by Cornelia before she came to Area 11."
Mukuro had heard the news about the group she had joined up to learn survival and combat skills leading to her being recognized as the Ultimate Soldier in Hope's Peak Academy Middle School division before she and Junko had left for Ashford Academy. She didn't have all of the details, but they were hired by the Middle Eastern Federation during the last days of the conflict. Unfortunately, all they did was delay the inevitable, and in the end, Fenrir was wiped out, but not before taking a lot of Britannian soldiers including a good portion of Cornelia's troops with them.
"However, that doesn't solve our most immediate problem. What will you do about Suzaku, because I can't imagine your older half-brother will allow Lancelot and its pilot to be sidelined forever?"
Lelouch wanted that to happen ideally, but he was deluding himself to the cold truth that he and Suzaku would face one another on the battlefield as enemies. He knew Cornelia would keep him out the battlefield out of prejudice and pride, but in the back of his mind, he knew the chances of him entering the battlefield was possible either through circumstances that might make it necessary. It was likely to happen with Suzaku used as a desperate distraction or should Cornelia be in danger then Euphemia could order his deployment to protect her.
Those were only a few of the possibilities that could happen that would force a confrontation between them.
"No matter how you look at it you and Suzaku will be enemies on the battlefield, it's unavoidable," Junko said knowing what Lelouch was thinking about. "It's only a question of when and how."
"I concur with her," C.C. said making her presence known after emerging from the second bedroom. "You need to decide on how to best deal with him."
Lelouch closed his eyes, although Suzaku wasn't an immediate problem, he knew that in the future a clash between his troops and Suzaku was inevitable. Complicating matters was the fact that Suzaku's skills combined with the machine he piloted made him nearly unstoppable on the battlefield if their last confrontation didn't drive that point home.
"You could use your power on him to make him join you?" C.C. suggested with a cold tone in her voice.
Junko flashed a toothy smile that was full of approval. "I like that!"
Even so Lelouch was adamant to avoid resorting to such a solution against Suzaku, but Lelouch knew something would need to be done.
Returning to the present Lelouch collected himself, but no matter what his body wasn't responding as all of his limited strength was already spent. Sakura was in the lead, having taken it from Sayaka despite having an early advantage, followed by Makoto and Leon with Hifumi trailing behind them. Everyone else was on the sidelines watching the others run, Lelouch lay motionless on the ground until he could hear footsteps approaching him. The former prince managed the strength to turn allowing him to see who had hurried to his side.
Seiko Kimura knelt down next to him, tilting his head to look up at the Ultimate Pharmacist.
"Who are you?" Lelouch said, grateful that his ability to speak wasn't impaired by his exhausted state.
"My name is Seiko," Seiko replied before pulling out a bottle labeled as "Profligate" which struck Lelouch as odd, but he couldn't protest due to a lack of strength while assured she wasn't going to poison him in public. "This should help your exhaustion."
She slipped Lelouch the medicine as she poured the light pink liquid into his mouth before he swallowed it. In mere moments Lelouch a fresh rush of energy course, though his being as his exhaustion melted away. He felt a pleasant sense of renewal that allowed Lelouch to stand up with Seiko offering a hand. The former prince was amazed at the effectiveness of the medicine she gave him as Lelouch felt energized.
"That was amazing," Lelouch said, unable to pick a more suitable compliment, "did you make that?"
Seiko nodded, "it's a medication designed to renew the user and cure all fatigue. I used a combination of herbs and chemicals create it with no ill side effects."
"I see," Lelouch said clearly impressed, although he was curious as to how she fashioned it, he knew he wouldn't be able to grasp the science behind it even with his own formidable intellect.
"Having trouble with Physical Education?"
"I think what you saw is rather self-explanatory," Lelouch replied jokingly to hide the annoyance of his body's own lack of endurance.
Seiko reached into the duffle bag she was carrying to bring out another bottle labeled "Reanimator" leaving Lelouch wondering what it's capable of.
She has an intriguing choice of labeling.
"This might help." Seiko offered before explaining, "I should warn you this is quite potent."
"Really," Lelouch said before opening the bottle to gaze at the green liquid inside. "Potent huh."
"Yes, so one teaspoon should be," Seiko said as she continued to explain as she tried to bring out a disposable teaspoon, but panicked when she saw Lelouch drink the contents of the cylinder-shaped bottle. "WAIT, YOU WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO DRINK IT ALL!"
"Huh?!"
At that moment Lelouch felt a powerful surge of energy explode throughout his entire body as his thin limbs began bulking up with solid muscle as did the rest of his body. Never in his life had Lelouch experienced such an intoxicating rush of power as he felt a strength he never had before. Seiko was stunned over the sudden transformation Lelouch underwent, but more so when a smirking Lelouch decided to put his enhanced body to the test by running to catch up with his classmates.
In an almost comical fashion, Lelouch took off in what could be called a mind-blowing burst of what could only be described as superhuman speed, leaving a cloud of dust in his wake. Makoto, Sayaka, Leon, Hifumi, and Sakura especially were stunned by Lelouch suddenly overtaking them. Junko, Mukuro, and Suzaku were left not only speechless by the display, but they were slacked-jawed as well.
"What the fuck happened?!" A flabbergasted Junko demanded.
"That's not even possible?" Suzaku muttered as he was in complete shock as he was convinced this was some kind of dream or Lelouch has hired a bodybuilder to stand in for him.
Mukuro only stood there in stunned silence.
Even so, the unbelievable scene continued to unfold before them and the rest of the stunned members of the 78th class. The only one Lelouch couldn't get passed was Sakura, who began putting forth all of her strength to push ahead of Lelouch and stay in the lead.
After a problematic endurance race, Lelouch finished in second just barely tailing behind Sakura.
Sayaka, Makoto, and others eventually crossed the finish line with Hifumi being last.
Seiko hurried to Lelouch, but strangely his muscles were beginning to shrink and return to normal. The former prince was understandably disappointed, but he wasn't surprised as he suspected his superhuman strength and speed he gained would be temporary. It was disappointing just the same, but possessing it for the short time he did was terrific.
A part of him wanted to experience it again.
That would be a bad idea since you might become addicted, Lelouch internally cautioned himself.
He had no intention of becoming dependent on such concoctions, but Lelouch recognized that someone of Seiko's talents could prove to be invaluable because he was sure the medicine she could produce would benefit his rebellion and even make the offer of humanitarian aid more possible thus building a stronger rapport with the people increasing support. Of course, Lelouch was also considering the military benefits her concoctions could be of considerable use.
Her recruitment to the rebellion he sought to build would be immensely beneficial overall.
I should get close to her and observe her. Lelouch thought, but he knew he would need to be careful.
He could force her to join with Geass, but that would potentially backfire on him. Lelouch had no intention of using his Geass as a tool of recruitment in any event, but still, Seiko was definitely someone who would make an invaluable recruit to bring to his side.
"What did you give him?!" Junko inquired.
"Another recovery agent like the first one I gave him, but it had the side effect of enhancing the user's physical abilities for a short time," Seiko explained with a matter of fact of tone.
"Talk about potent." Makoto managed in-between breaths, but at the same time was still stunned from Lelouch's comeback during that race. "I never would've thought anyone could create something like that."
"That is why she is called the Ultimate Pharmacist." Byakuya pointed out. "I had heard about some of the various remedies and concoctions she produced, but was the first time I saw one of them in use."
This only piqued Makoto's interest, because now he was curious about Seiko's other creations.
"Considering the effect it had on someone like Lelouch I believe it's proof enough of her skills." Sakura complimented.
"I agree," Lelouch said as Seiko found herself to be very popular suddenly.
Around the same time, Euphemia li Britannia was acting officially as the newly appointed Sub-Viceroy of Area 11, which as part of new duties at the recommendation of her older half-brother, Schneizel el Britannia, she would act as the liaison between Area 11's government and Hope's Peak Academy. Euphy would serve as a go-between the school administrators and government for the exchange and relay of information and if needed provide her approval as a member of the royal family should a situation arise that would require it.
This included emergencies naturally.
Jin was leading a tour around the school alongside the company of two other men. The older of the two was in his late sixties with tanned skin and a sullen face with a stooped appearance, making him appear shorter than most standing at four feet and seven inches. His silver hair that has paled in his old age was upset, and he wore a pair of glasses over his amber eyes. He possessed a mustache and beard, dressed in an olive green suit with a red tie, black vest, a white dress shirt with black pants and shoes.
His name was Kazuo Tengan, formerly the headmaster of Hope's Peak Academy before he retired, becoming the Chairman of the Future Foundation while acting as an intermediary for the Steeling Committee which held influence and control of the two.
Accompanying Euphy was the tallest of the group standing over six feet tall with a large and muscular frame that was furthered by his purple colored military uniform bearing the rank of general upon his broad shoulders. He had tanned skin and light brown hair with a diagonal scar running across his face with blue eyes.
"Is this the psychology lab?" General Andreas Darlton inquired as the group entered a spacious room that appeared to be a laboratory stocked with customized computers and equipment you wouldn't expect to see in a lab decided to psychology and neuroscience, but this room was where one of the Academy's most ambitious projects was under development.
"Yes and this is the system core of the Neo World Program." Jin Kirigiri answered before showing the group a collection of computers, each standing a towering ten-feet tall, with several monitors attached to it, but the rest of the machine was designed for one of the most advanced computers in the world.
"You mean the Psychotherapeutic Communication Simulator? My brother, Prince Schneizel mentioned it to me." Euphy said with an expression of curiosity on her face, although she couldn't grasp the technical details she nevertheless knew the machine was created using revolutionary new developments in psychotherapy technology and administrative software thanks to the contributions of the Ultimate Programmer, Ultimate Neurologist, and the Ultimate Therapist.
"Once the technology has been perfected and tested this will offer the world new ways for people to recover from the most extreme and traumatic experiences," Kazuo explained.
"The Neo World Program works by the subject resting in one of these pods," Jin explained as he walked around a large capsule that was large enough for one person to lie down inside. "Inside those devices will attach to the subject's cranium synchronizing the brain to completely immerse the subject within a synthetic virtual world that can be shaped to whatever to suit the subject's needs in a world the user would be convinced is as real as the world we live in."
"So the brain is tricked into thinking its real," Euphy asked, prompting Jin to nod in confirmation.
"This is designed to be the ultimate reality, the perfect place to create new and more pleasant memories to replace traumatic and bad memories with."
"I assume it hasn't been released to the public because it's too real?" Dalton inquired.
Kazuo sighed before adjusting his glasses, "yes, because we want to create safeguards because of that. If something such as death happened to a user within the program, then their brain will be convinced he or she is dead, so their mind would cease functioning entering a catatonic state which they'll be unlikely to wake from."
"Oh my," Euphy said, feeling worried.
A new voice suddenly joined the conversation.
"All the more reason the usage of this system must be handled with the utmost care. Any misuse would have disastrous consequences."
Everyone turned their heads towards the voice to see a young woman older than Euphy by one or two years rolling towards them within an electric wheelchair that had two computer monitors. A larger one was mounted in front of the young woman while the second, a smaller monitor was behind it, but positioned in front of her above the keyboard.
Had she been able to stand she would've stood at five feet tall. She had a slightly pale complexion with shoulder length blue hair and matching eyes.
Like all other female students, she wore the same uniform as female students except for the addition of a red scarf around her neck, and she wore black socks with a pair of white loafers.
"This is Miaya Gekkogahara, the Ultimate Therapist," Jin said providing an introduction.
"And this is my avatar Magical Girl Miracle Usami!"
The computer screen displayed a cartoon-style rabbit with matching feathered wings and upright ears with a pink bow. Miaya was dressed in a white and pink skirt, a pink bib and a gold necklace. Then to complete her magical girl themed appearance, she carried a pink staff, which is topped by an upside-down and right-side-up golden heart with a red gem in the center of it, framed by a pair of small white wings.
"How cute," Euphy complimented.
"Thank you!" Usami replied in Miaya's place, but the fact Usami spoke for Miaya made it clear that the girl was mute.
Dalton came to the same conclusion as well, but neither Euphy nor he thought to discuss it out of consideration for Miaya.
As Euphy and Miaya began discussing the Neo World Program in more detail, Lelouch was on his way to the classroom where Class-78B could be found. According to Junko, it's the class where one of Junko's friends Tsumugi Shirogane, the Ultimate Cosplayer could be found.
Junko had told her that Tsumugi was formerly part of the middle school division of Hope's Peak Academy who gained entrance as the Ultimate Cosplayer for her near perfect recreations of outfits of fictional characters, but she also had praise for being able to imitate those characters flawlessly down to their style of talking and mannerisms.
Now that Lelouch thought it, he recognized the name as the one whom Milly had obtained her cosplay outfits from.
Lelouch cautiously opened the door, but someone aware of his presence on the other side opened the door.
"May I help you?"
The woman before him was only one inch shorter than he, but she carried herself with a serious and a strict sense of professionalism while at the same time maintaining a refined and formal air about her.
She seemed to be a thin young woman the same age as Lelouch, but unlike the latter, she was apparently much more athletically capable than he was. Her attire was odd for a high school student, but it likely fit more of her Ultimate talent. She possesses dull silver hair and green eyes with a slightly pale skin complexion. Her outfit was that of a maid consisting of a black button up pinafore with a spider web motif on the right-hand side. Under that, she wore a white dress with a black collar and a purple tie. The rest of her outfit consists of a black version of the headband worn by Sayoko, matching gloves with silver rings attached to them, black tights and black shoes with white laces.
"I am Lelouch Lamperouge of Class-78A. I have an appointment with Miss Shirogane. I was instructed to meet her here." Lelouch said politely introducing himself.
"I see," the young woman replied, "I am Kirumi Tojo the Ultimate Maid, pleased to make your acquaintance."
"The Ultimate Strategist, likewise." Lelouch offered politely.
"Ah, praise to Atua!"
Lelouch turned his head to the source to spot a young woman who wasn't Japanese or Britannian, but rather a Pacific Islander if her appearance and attire was any indication. Furthermore, the name of the deity was familiar.
"And you are?" Lelouch asked as he approached the desk where the woman in question was sitting crisscrossed on her chair in what seemed to be a meditative pose.
"Yah-hah!" The girl laughed. "How are ya? My name is Angie Yonaga! I'm the Ultimate Artist!"
The seventeen-year-old Pacific Islander possesses almond skin and round, pale blue eyes. Her hair is a light platinum blonde that looks white and is tied into two wavy ponytails by small, thin blue hair bands. She appears to have three piercings around her belly button. Her attire consists mainly of a white, frilly bikini top and a plain blue skirt with frills sewn to the bottom of it. Around her was a pink utility belt, which holds her carving tools alongside pink pouches holding additional tools presumably. Angie was also wearing a yellow smock which reaches below her knees and leaves her wrists exposed. Her frock has black symbols on her shoulders. Her footwear was simple white slip-on with dark soles. Lastly, she wore a simple, beaded necklace with a seashell in the middle of it.
"Atua," Lelouch said, trying to think where he heard that before realization dawned on him, "I remember now, Atua is the island god of Waponi Woo."
"You correct," Angie replied. "I didn't expect many would be familiar with the island of my birth, especially this far from home."
"It was something I had to research in preparation for a topic island-themed party the Student Council President at my old school wanted to do." Lelouch was explained, but he left out how Milly tried to twist more towards a more risqué party using some claim it was part of the island's tradition when some themes from Waponi Woo ceremonies were being introduced into the party.
At least I have someone from the island to ask if I somehow get pulled into another island-themed party.
Waponi Woo was part of the Britannian Empire, but due to the island's small size and lack of strategic importance, its inhabitants have been left to their own devices. Its people were still regarded as Honorary Britannians and Numbers, but they were deemed sevens because they put under the justification of Area 7 (Hawaii) and its Viceroy.
There was one thing Waponi Woo had, and it was the world's most unusual plants. Some were quite exotic, but others were dangerous which fetched a high price on an international market. So marketing began where the people of Waponi Woo revealed imported goods and more in exchange for plants and some other exotic items such as pearls and intriguing pieces of art and artifacts found on the island allowing the island and its people to flourish.
Seemingly reading his mind Angie inquired, "Did she try to turn the party into something that was uncomfortable for you claiming it was part of the traditions of my island?"
Lelouch was surprised but wondered if others had probably ended up in a similar situation as him. He couldn't find much when he tried to research the island and its culture when Lelouch searched online, but he had heard claims about its people having very odd and some unsettling customs.
He found it odd there was no complete information, which at the time Lelouch assumed was due to Britannians who omitted the info out of some kind of racist spite.
Of course, this brought up the question how Angie was admitted to Hope's Peak Academy given she lived on an island and not Area 11.
Before the conversation between Angie and Lelouch could progress further, Tsumugi approached the two. "Thank you for coming to see me, Lelouch."
"You must be Miss Shirogane?"
"Please no need to be formal with me. You can call me Tsumugi, I don't mind."
"Very well, Tsumugi," Lelouch said, but he was suddenly interrupted.
"Hey, who the fuck is this guy?!"
Entering the classroom was a young woman standing two inches shorter than Lelouch. She possessed a slightly pale skin complexion with waist length blonde hair, topped with two ahoges, and bluish-grey eyes with her irises had an unusual ragged pattern around her pupils. She wore a pair of brown goggles on top of her head and a pink sailor uniform with a matching skirt. The rest of her attire consists of black fingerless gloves and matching black boots with gold buttons and buckles on them. Oddly she had black straps connected by gold rings on his legs and clothes attached to her white socks. Lastly, she wore a black choker, and two smaller black collars, around her neck.
"Miu it is rude to suddenly walk in and demand an introduction when you haven't offered one." Kirumi scolded.
"Ah fucking can it, people should know who I am," Miu replied giving Kirumi the middle finger.
"Actually I don't!" Lelouch replied coldly.
"WHAT THE FUCK!?" Miu shouted, both angry and dismayed to hear that. "Then remember this shithead!"
Miu struck a dramatic pose before a pair of retractable mechanical arms emerged from the backpack she was wearing.
"I'm the gorgeous girl genius whose good looks and golden brain will go down in history! I'm the one, the only, the legendary Ultimate Inventor herself," Miu declared proudly before finishing. "Miu Iruma!"
Lelouch was distinctly unimpressed, which was partly due to her attitude souring his opinion of her.
Still, haven't heard of you. Lelouch thought while resisting the urge to roll his eyes.
"So what have you invented?"
"I am working on inventions where you can read and eat while you are sleeping. I mean just think about how much time is wasted on sleeping."
Lelouch wasn't sure how to respond to that one, but thankfully Tsumugi interviewed on his behalf.
"Let's go Lelouch, the commission I have for you is done."
"HEY," Miu roared in anger, "Don't ignore me!"
Tsumugi and Lelouch ignored her as the two left the classroom leaving behind a furious Miu, but became quickly depressed.
"Uh please come back." The blonde haired inventor replied meekly.
Kirumi merely sighed.
In one of the nearby rooms, which Lelouch assumed was likely a crafts room dedicated to sewing and tailoring since there were wall cabinets filled with a wide selection of cloth and different materials. Workstations with a sewing machine and drawers filled with needles and different threads and other accessories. There was an area with mirrors with various types of mannequins and a changing room.
It was quite the set up as the equipment and materials were likely the best in the market. At least that's what Lelouch assumed based on the quality of the tools and materials he had seen available for the other students.
After searching through a cabinet, Tsumugi gave Lelouch a package sealed within a cardboard box.
"Here is what Junko told me you wanted."
"Thank you."
Lelouch accepted the package.
"I wish you've done a cosplay commission instead," Tsumugi notes sadly, but her expression brightened before adding. "Then again, you know who could be the star of his anime someday. Such an anime would be the kind of hit to spawn sequels, light novels, and some OVAs."
Lelouch wasn't sure how to respond to that, but he was wondering if he should place a Geass on her as a precaution. It was fortunate that there was no one nearby.
The former prince carefully considered his next words carefully. "I appreciate the enthusiasm, but we probably shouldn't mention that here."
"That's a good point about that. Sorry, I let my hobbies slip into my conversations."
"It is fine, but we should be more careful."
"Fair enough," Tsumugi offered before glancing around the room. She moved closer to Lelouch before asking him. "So I heard Mukuro needs some for the cosplay party right?"
Lelouch knew what she was talking about, although he had reservations about the idea of having Tsumugi craft a costume to hide Mukuro's true identity. Of course, Lelouch knew this outfit, unlike his Zero attire, would need to double as a function combat dress uniform to compliment her skills.
"I've made cosplay for Mukuro before, so I got her measurements."
"That's convenient," Lelouch noted warily, although he discovered recently from Junko that most of the cosplay outfits the Student Council had used came from Tsumugi through Junko's connections to the Ultimate Cosplayer. This made him feel a little more at ease, but he was hesitant to involve Tsumugi.
"If you are worried that my involvement might cause problems, then don't worry because I have done some secret orders for people like Junko, so your privacy is in good hands."
"I suppose," Lelouch said, seemingly not convinced, "but some materials would best be used and trying to obtain them might draw some attention."
"That is true."
"So if I acquire them, then would it be a problem?"
Tsumugi took a moment to complete that as she rested one index finger on her chin.
"No, it wouldn't, and I have everything else I need back at my own workshop at home. Besides," Tsumugi began blushing as her eyes began sparking. "What I create will be something original that will be part of the anime because of your actions."
Lelouch only sighed internally, but if Tsumugi were as good as Junko claimed then, he'd trust her judgment.
Later that night Lelouch was dressed in the government official cosplay Tsumugi had provided the former prince with. It went along with the fake papers, and Lelouch had prepared beforehand by convincing the right people. The bodysuit he wore gave him a substantial set frame coupled with the mask he wore gave him a more stern and ridged appearance with a bald head and a brown goatee. Lelouch worn colored contacts to mask his eye color, but had tested them to ensure his Geass power would not be impeded by them.
He wore a black business suit with a matching briefcase in one hand.
This feels a bit uncomfortable.
"Lelouch, can you hear me?" Mukuro asked through a concealed earpiece in his right ear, which his mask helped hide even further.
"Loud and clear," Lelouch replied using one hand to adjust his tie.
Mukuro was sitting inside a blue four-door rental car. It sat parked down the street while Mukuro wore a blonde wig with a pink sweater and glasses to disguise her appearance.
"As planned I'll watch the front and keep you informed if anyone of interest enters."
Or a potential threat...
"If everything goes well, I should be out fairly soon."
"Be careful."
Lelouch walked up the steps as he entered the Britannian Justice Department where Lelouch believe he would find evidence of a cover-up. Specifically, he was seeking the files on Hajime Hinata, because following Suzaku's rescue the former prince did some research by putting critical members of the local police department under his Geass.
Lelouch discovered that the Area 11 division of the Imperial Bureau of Investigation had taken over the case, which was extremely odd.
What had narrowed down his search to Hajime Hinata were the unusual circumstances surrounding his being expelled, which was only compounded by the fact his tuition was being covered by the school itself. His Geass made collecting the right information from the right people remarkably easy.
The fact his file had been sealed away within Hope's Peak Academy instead of the record room within the Reserve Course Building was another red flag, although he was mindful to keep a low profile while investigating. His Geass helped him get much further in his investigation that he couldn't have pulled off through ordinary means, but he had been mindful every step of the way not to be careless.
Then finally Lelouch had discovered that after Hajime vanished, his mother and father were victims of a home invasion that claimed their lives.
They were killed to silence them.
Entering the building Lelouch approached the receptionist at the desk.
"Can I help you?"
Lelouch activated his Geass in preparation for the first of many times to come this evening.
"Yes, you can..."
Lelouch wasn't the only busy that evening because later that night Cornelia would arrive from the newly established Area 18 which would close whatever window of opportunity he had because the new Viceroy would begin restructuring the colonial government. Junko via Monokuma, as she sat behind his controls in the secret control room, was going to conduct a special event to welcome Cornelia. As much as she wasn't interested in anything stiff or psychotic she wanted to remind Area 11 that even with a new Viceroy nothing would change.
She also wanted to greet Cornelia differently at the same time.
Inside a glamorous ballroom, a private party was being held by a small group of Britannian nobles. They weren't just any members of the nobility living in Area 11, but in reality, they were Area 11's most influential men and women who sat in the highest seats of power just below the Viceroy. They all came from wealthy families and gained their positions through some ways using blood relations and bribes. They were in the luxurious mansion of one of their celebrating the newly arrived Viceroy feeling unusually confident that their places will be safe regardless of whatever changes she sought to implement.
"What's this?!"
One of the maids of the mansion rolled a massive and towering layered cake with white frosting and lined with pink frosting. The cake itself was five feet tall needing a pushcart to move it into the center of the ballroom.
"I know we this is a party Lord Clarence but isn't this is a little much."
The well dressed and middle-aged Lord Clarence expressed a sense of confusion at the cake's appearance.
"I didn't order a cake to be made."
Suddenly the top of the cake revealed to be a false top, exploded into a shower of black and white confetti. Followed by the explosion; Monokuma emerged from the top of the cake to the collective horror of the party goers.
"Whiter than fresh snow and blacker than the darkest night it's me, Monokuma!" The two-tone bear announced dramatically to the small stunned crowd. Monokuma looked to his crowd seemingly confused by their silent and frozen, horrified expressions. "Oh have your outlooks in life changed because of my cuteness?"
Monokuma became playfully flustered.
"Your bodies can't live without it?"
"RUN!"
The terrified parting nobles made their way towards the double door exit of the large circular room, but their escape was blocked by members of Ultimate Despair armed with assault rifles, the maid was counted among them, blocking every exit.
"Don't run," Monokuma said with a cheerful smile. "I just want to play a game."
Sometime later that same evening Lelouch and Mukuro had both returned to the apartment together after delivering the rental car from where they got it from. After Lelouch had covered up their purchase and usage of the vehicle, the two entered the safety of Lelouch's apartment. Once inside, the door locked behind them, Lelouch retrieved a soft drink from the kitchen before sitting on the sofa.
Mukuro sat in the chair near him.
"Do you have all of it then?"
"Yes, and it confirms the cover-up and who ordered the shutdown of related investigations. With everything else I got it's more than enough to unleash a scandal that would destroy the Steeling Committee especially if I were to expose it." Lelouch explained as the primary objective of his infiltration was to collect documents and anything related to Hajime Hinata's disappearance along with anything tied to the cover-up that followed. If needed Lelouch would have enough for blackmailing the school and the Future Foundation if he needed it.
If he wanted to expose it, then he had plenty of evidence at his disposal to use, which not only prove the human experiments Hope's Peak Academy was secretly carrying out it would expose the Area 11 government itself having been involved.
Lelouch grinned maliciously as there were many options open to what he had now, but before he could do anything with it, he needed to track down Hajime himself. If he exposed it now, he'd likely vanish, and any chance of tracking him down would slip away.
I am just grateful I managed to get all of this before Cornelia arrived.
"Then Cornelia will be busy restructuring the government?"
"I doubt the military will be the only part in Area 11 she'll be restructuring. Of course given their blunders recently, especially in Shinjuku Ghetto, she will be quite harsh upon the military and those in the highest ranks. Given recent events involving Monokuma, it's clear there are informants and spies within other branches of the government that Cornelia will likely want to clear out. Considering everything I have heard about her I would've done the same thing myself."
Lelouch was hoping that would be the case, and if the internal corruption were even worse than he had suspected, then that would work in his favor.
Regardless Lelouch couldn't afford to slow down because as Zero he needed followers now, especially for what lay ahead.
At that moment realization of Lelouch's secondary objective dawned on Mukuro.
"Information on Hajime wasn't your only objective was it?"
"Yes, because my goal was to determine to what extent Cornelia would investigate the Area 11 command structures within both the military and government posts."
"I see, so I assumed you confronted it?"
"Yes," Lelouch replied before taking a slip from his soft drink. "I couldn't determine the full extent, but apparently Cornelia had requested that agents from the OSI and other intelligent agencies be dispatched to Area 11 to conduct a large-scale internal investigation before she arrived."
"If she has the Office of Secret Intelligence involved, then she isn't just looking at people within the highest positions of power," Mukuro said as this confirmed one of the first things Cornelia would do upon her arrival.
"As I said I knew Cornelia intended to clean house once she arrived. She knows that during events such as Clovis's murder and Monokuma's recent Killing Game along with a long list of blunders that the government and those in charge have proven inept." Lelouch explained before taking another sip. "If she wants to wipe out groups like Ultimate Despair then it's critical that she clean out those incapable of fulfilling the duty of their position, and any traitors too. She can only accomplish so much with her own soldiers, so having a more restructured government led by more capable leaders will a vital key to her success."
"It's a question of how long such an undertaking would take?"
"Exactly, and I am sure there will be attempts from those who don't want to lose the high positions they earned through questionable means. So they will try to hinder Cornelia's efforts. The best case scenario for me is this drags on for months, but I should act under the assumption that Cornelia will accomplish this sooner than later." Lelouch took another slip, but this time he drank whatever was left of his drink. "Not to mention I doubt she'll be idle waiting for those results, so she'll begin systematically wiping out any resistance groups she finds."
"You sound as if time is against you."
"It is," the former prince answered, "which is why I must group from one man with a mask to one with followers behind him. Otherwise the opportunities I would've had to undermine and bring Cornelia down will dwindle."
Besides that Lelouch used the opportunity to acquire whatever information he thought could be useful, but he was mindful to Geass the right people into not only helping him gain the knowledge he wanted. He had them in conjunction with their orders to erase all evidence of his presence there along with forgetting they saw him.
Around the same time at a unique hanger within the Viceroy's Palace the transport plane carrying Princess Cornelia li Britannia, the newly appointed Viceroy of Area 11. Unlike the more compassionate and lady-like demeanor of Euphy, who was also present wearing an elegant pink and white gown while a group of other soldiers and government officials were behind her to greet the new Viceroy, Cornelia was her complete opposite.
Being eleven years older than she was wasn't the only difference between her and her elder sister the newly appointed Viceroy. Befitting her title as the Goddess of Victory, Cornelia radiated a disciplined and ruthless aura while her militarist attire consisting of a purple uniform trimmed with gold and white possessing a white cravat completed the image. She wore a white cape with an oddly designed high collar. She had shoulder length magenta hair with matching lipstick and lavender purple eyes.
Cornelia approached her sister with a stern expression.
"I heard what you did, Euphemia. You shouldn't be so reckless. I am glad that thing didn't harm you, but you really shouldn't have been without a proper escort." Cornelia said lightly scolding her sister, but she was thankful nothing had befallen her. This wasn't helped by knowledge of Monokuma's reputation which had nearly led to Cornelia losing all composure when she had first heard about it.
"I know," Euphy said with a sigh, "forgive me, sister."
"You will address me as Viceroy here, Sub-Viceroy Euphemia," Cornelia said interrupting her younger sibling. "Because we're sisters, we need to follow a stricter protocol."
Euphy was caught off guard but recognized there was no ill intent and it was merely her sister encouraging her to adopt a stricter work ethic.
"Yes, I understand."
Cornelia turned her attention to a minister who seemed nervous about something, which was likely caused by whatever the soldier standing behind him had whispered into his ear. The minister was a man in his fifties with graying hair and a mustache wearing a formal blue suit.
"What happened!?"
"He struck again."
"Who?"
As typical of the sadistic two-tone bear, his recent actions were being broadcast across Area 11. This time Monokuma could seem atop of the cake had made a dramatic entrance through with the highest ranked leaders of Area 11's government trapped in a ballroom with the infamous Monokuma.
"So we're going to do a special event to welcome Area 11's new Viceroy by having you all kill each other," Monokuma announced in a very cheery voice.
Various voices of disbelief and fear erupted within the room drowning one another out, but there was little need to guess what their reactions were.
A member of Ultimate Despair dressed in the traditional suit of the organization rolled out a cart to the opposite side of the room. It had a machine gun, a sword, a chainsaw, a crowbar, a combat knife, a spear, a shovel, a taser and a handgun with lastly a frying pan.
"On that cart are some party favors I have prepared for you," Monokuma said pointing to the cart. "Be sure to grab one because if you don't get a weapon, then it sucks to be you."
Monokuma began laughing, adding to the tension and fear blanketing the room.
"The last one standing gets to live."
"You can't be serious!?"
Monokuma was instantly annoyed before using a paw to rub his forehead.
"Why do people say that? When I say kill until there is one left, then that is exactly what it means."
The two-tone bear leaped off from the cake before happily skipping away towards the exit of the ballroom. As Monokuma did so the rest of the cake split open, revealing a giant bomb had been hidden within it.
"Naturally there is a time limit, but if that's not enough to motivate you, then I can some very amusing bits of information about all of you. Like I know someone among you sold a daughter you had with a mistress to a brothel." Monokuma chimed almost dismissively before his tone darkened before saying. "Then one of you sold supplies and food for relief aid on the black market, but some of you sold information and decommissioned weapons on the black market as well. I can't imagine your new boss would like that last one."
Everyone was silent, but their fear was evident upon their faces.
"Do you know what makes a human being decent?" Monokuma asked standing at the door. "Fear. And therein lays the problem. None of you have anything left to fear anymore. You rest comfortably in seats of inscrutable power, safe from everyone below you. So whatever belief of invincibility you had is out the window now. If you want to live with your secrets, save then be the last one standing otherwise you will all get the ax, and I'll expose you."
With those words a massive blast door, installed by the mansion's owner for protection, slammed shut, followed by massively armored plates sliding over the windows sealing the group of nobles inside.
"You can begin now, and here is some music by yours truly," Monokuma said through a hidden speaker while security cameras installed by the owner enabled the bear and anyone to watch what happened in the sealed room.
A moment later music with a strange, but unsettling, cheerfulness of the music began playing. A chorus of "come on" with an added "what's wrong?" sung by Monokuma could be heard before a female vocalist began to sing.
"This is a pure, just, and beautiful world."
Suddenly one of the female nobles made a mad dash for the table filled with weapons, but she was quickly intercepted. As the other nobles were quick to join in restraining her. Another used the chance to slip away to grab a weapon from the table.
"Where everyone strives to be right." The vocalist sang before another chorus of "come on" was heard.
Using the machine gun the middle-aged noble opened fire, but before pulling the trigger, he was observed by another noble whose warning allowed the others a chance to dive for cover as gunfire ripped through the room.
"But we play hide-and-seek with our feelings." The vocalist sang before adding. "Though it's only too easy to see through it all."
The female noble, plus one other was gunned down, but the one armed with the machine was careless having emptied the entire magazine. Now defenseless another seized a weapon, a sword, to deliver swift retaliation.
In the enduring conflict between the two, the remaining nobles began to pick up weapons.
"Our hearts are racing in excitement." The singer said. "Can we just do whatever we want? Oblivious, we take the bait."
In seconds a bloodbath erupted as the nobles who made up the Ruling Council of Area 11 turned on another.
"There we go." The vocalist sang. "And mess everything up, upupupu."
"What's wrong," came the chorus.
The next line of the verse was sung just as one of the desperate nobles cut down another co-worker using a chainsaw.
"We calmly devour each other."
"Extreme is the Monokuma Song," the vocalist sang, followed by another chorus of "come on" before the vocalist sang another verse of the song. "We snap at anyone and everyone!"
Another member of the nobility fell with a blow to the side of the head with a shovel before bashing his victim repeatedly unless he was dead.
"There we go." Monokuma sang as the song neared its end.
"And roar all over the place, ahaha." The female singer said before Monokuma added: "what's wrong."
Only a few victims remained, but song neared its end just before one of the three survivors was killed by a chainsaw-wielding noble.
"We devour each other with a smile on our face."
"Come on!" Monokuma sang before the female singer sang the last line of the song.
"Hateful yet adorable is the Monokuma Song."
"What's wrong?" Monokuma sang before the song ended after a chorus of "Come on!?"
After the song wrapped up one noble was left standing amongst the bodies of those he sat with the council. He was laughing maniacally as he had apparently lost his sanity. He held the shovel and a combat knife in one hand while covered in blood.
The scene shifted to Monokuma with a still shot of the surviving noble.
"Upupupu," Monokuma laughed before explaining. "It doesn't matter if you are a person with strong morals or no morals at all. You are only whatever the world allows regardless if you are good or not with the experience of that world-shaping you."
Suddenly Monokuma's red eye flashed with a malevolent light.
"But when the chips are down people will turn on one another." Monokuma explained in a dark tone. "No different when animals want to survive, so when you want to survive you'll forget whatever morals or attachments to people to save yourself. Thus, you'll taste the despair of the cruel reality of the world. I am just ahead of the curve is all, and I'll prove my point to all of you soon enough…especially you Princess Euphemia. You can't change Britannia from within with idealism alone because those who benefited from the system you want to change will see a dagger will be found in your back."
With a final laugh, the broadcast ended.
Lelouch sat at the blank television screen, thinking and calculating, at what had just happened. He knew with the ruining council of Area 11 wiped out Cornelia would need to find replacements. This would work in his favor of slowing the famed Goddess of Victory down even if it was a minor inconvenience.
However...
"This is going to be a problem. Cornelia will go after Zero first."
"Huh."
"Ultimate Despair would be risky to challenge for Cornelia given their history and the fact no one really knows what the full extent of their resources are," Lelouch explained. "With the need to replace government leaders now coupled with restructuring and clearing out any traitors she'll be unable to focus on Monokuma. She'll focus on fortifying her defenses to prevent a repeat of what has just happened. As such, she'll wipe out any smaller and dangerous threats quickly to keep them from becoming a problem."
"You killed a prince, and you don't have many followers," Mukuro said realizing what Lelouch understood.
"Yes," Lelouch replied in confrontation, "so I am a threat Cornelia can deal with and swiftly before I can have a chance to grow so she can focus her full attention on Monokuma."
It was merely a question of how.
Monokuma Theater:
Monokuma was sitting in the stands of a race car stadium watching various high-speed race cars zip pass one another while trying to get ahead of the car in first place. During their attempts, some of the vehicles had nearly crashed during their bold, but very reckless efforts to get into first place.
"Recklessness is a beautiful thing," Monokuma said before eating some popcorn. "It's so beautiful I want to print T-shirts with the words Reckless Beauty on them."
Suddenly a car slammed into another before the two spiraled out of control colliding with the other racers leading to a devastating pileup. Monokuma pulled out a used wrench from behind his seat before winking at the reader and then hiding said wrench behind his chair again.
"Because recklessness is the stuff dreams are made from. It makes you want to run at full speed with no regards for your limitations. It is what makes you excited about anything." Monokuma explained. "Some say its foolish, but recklessness is what causes new events. So while you are still alive live your life so recklessly that you will be immortal. And if haters laugh at you, then let them, because they just don't have the same love for wild beauty like you."
A/N: well I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter and the last portion of the chapter worked out as I intended. Although I am trying to avoid making Monokuma/Junko into a Mary Sue, I admit it is easy to get carried away when I enjoy writing with them quite a bit.
I thought the song would be something to add to the level of brutality in the short mutual killing game Monokuma ran among the highest leaders of Area 11's government, although I assume it's a type of council I had no real information on them, so I had to adapt my own ideas.
Now that Cornelia is formerly involved I hope her presence will allow for things to even out, but Lelouch knows he is in trouble since Cornelia will move to take Zero out of the game. If he is left alone, he will become a more significant threat before focusing her full attention on Ultimate Despair/Monokuma, but that is merely the tip of the iceberg as she has internal corruption and other resistance groups to deal with.
Some of the Danganronpa V3 characters (likely all of them at one point) will appear in this story, but heavily modified to be adapted into the story, and I am ignoring the revelations of chapter six to make that adaption easier. I won't say anything else to avoid spoilers for anyone who hasn't played the game. I'll have no shortage of characters if I need a few later and I don't need to create any OCs to fulfill any roles which is something else I am pleased about.
If anyone felt out of character, let me know, because this is my first time with a lot of them so any constructive feedback so I can find more ways to improve.
I am also working on the outline for the next Killing Game and taking what I have learned doing the first one I am going to do bigger and better than the first one. I expect it will happen around the timeline following events with Mao and the Narita. However, I have a basic outline so far, and nothing is set in stone yet as other events and factors might influence the second Killing Game.
Now, what additional information did Lelouch get during his infiltration besides finding evidence of Hajime's disappearance and any idea of how in-depth is Cornelia going to investigate internal corruption?
See you guys' next chapter.