(Nope, it wasn't a dream.

I woke up, and I'm still here.

So this shit is really happening, huh?

I wonder how it will turn out...)

Bzzt

(Huh?)

Bzzt

Bzzt

Bzzt

(What the hell keeps buzz-oh-it's that tablet I got.

I was so confused last night I didn't even try to use this thing.

But why's it buzzing like that, is it bomb?

No, all this wouldn't be set up if that bear was just gonna blow us up right now.

I grabbed my MonoSurface and turned it on.

"50+ New Messages"

What? From who?

Oh...it's Violet. She's sent dozens of texts.

"Good morning!"

"Hello?"

"Are you ok?"

Yeesh what's she so worried about? Of course I'm fine.

I've got one other message from someone else, from May.

"Let's meet up in the cafe on the first floor of the hotel when we all wake up, we need to talk."

That sounds like a good idea, she might be nature-obsessed but at least May knows to take initiative.

Guess I'll head down, but first I gotta change.

Change into...the exact outfit I'm already wearing...that's annoying.)

(I put on a new pair of the same clothing and went to my room door.

The moment I opened the door, someone fell onto me and we both fell onto the floor.

What the hell is-)

Violet: AH! S-Sorry!

(Are you serious? This is the most cliche thing that could have possibly happened...and I'm digin' it.)

Violet: Sorry!

(Violet got off of me and stood back up, I did the same.)

Ryan: What the hell was that?

Violet: I-I was just in leaning on your door to-well-to hear if you were still breathing. Surprisingly I couldn't hear you at all, you don't snore even though you look like a snorer.

(How does one "look like a snorer"?)

Ryan: Why are you so worried about me?

Violet: I was worried about you because everyone else has been in the cafe for over ten minutes now.

Ryan: Well sorry I'm a heavy sleeper, I think I deserve a nice long rest after what the fuck just happened.

Violet: I know but still, your extended absence was concerning. I-I mean someone could've...started the game already, ya know?

Ryan: I highly doubt anyone is gonna do anything like that.

Violet: That's what we were going to discuss in the cafe, we should get going.

Ryan: Alright...

(Violet and I got onto the elevator, went down to the first floor lobby, and went to cafe.

Just like Violet said, everyone else was already there. They were all seated at a large connected table and...they're eating?

We actually get breakfast?

Anyways, seems like they're already talking about something.)

Benny: It's weird right?

May: Yeah that's really strange, I wonder why...

(Then everyone noticed our entrance.)

May: Oh there you guys are, good morning Ryan.

Ryan: Good mo-

Benny: Hey you're ok! Glad to see you're not dead!

Paige: Yeah! Good thing Ry-in didn't end up dy-in! HONK!

Claire: You don't have to say honk after every joke...

Tom: There's no way he would've died anyways, we all went to our rooms and slept at the same time. And none of use are going to play this damn game.

Benny: He could've had a stress-induced heart attack or somethin'.

Ivy: Or maybe Ryan's been dead this whole time! That'd be an interesting twist and it'd prove ghosts are real!

Claire: It's too early for a twist like that.

May: Anyways, you two should grab some food and sit down with us. Cookie cooked up a breakfast buffet.

(There were various plates of breakfast foods placed on the cafe table. Don't mind if I do!

All this stuff looks pretty good actually.)

Ryan: Woah, Cookie made all this?

Cookie: Yes, cooking is my passion after all. I certainly think am better at cooking treats but hopefully my regular cooking is tolerable.

Beck: It's way better than tolerable dude! These pancakes are amazing, they just, explode all over my mouth!

Tom: Please stop saying things like that...

Cookie: Teehee, I'm glad you all like it.

(Violet and I picked out our food and joined everyone at their table.

I sat next to Violet, naturally.)

Violet: Did we miss out on any important discussion?

May: Uh a little. Benny was just telling us something strange about his MonoSurface tablet thing.

Benny: Yeah! Have you two used your tablets yet?

Violet: Yes.

Ryan: Just this morning, yeah.

Benny: Well when it turns on, what did it show for you?

Ryan: A shit ton of notifications from Violet, then it loaded for a bit and brought me to the messaging app.

Violet: It seems to load when you leave the startup-screen.

Benny: When it was loading it showed your name and ultimate talent, right?

Ryan: Now that you mention it...yeah. It said exactly what's on my name tag.

Violet: It does that for me too.

Benny: It doesn't for me! I didn't get a name tag and my tablet doesn't give me my personal information. My own identity is being hidden from me! It's being hidden from all of us!

Violet: That's very strange...

Ryan: Show us your tablet.

Benny: Oh uh, I can later, I left it in my room.

Ryan: Seriously? How are we supposed to believe what you're saying if you don't show us?

May: Um, that's exactly what I wanted us all to talk about this morning.

(Everyone turned their attention to May, who was sitting at the end of the table.)

May: I believe what Benny is saying because I trust him. We need to learn to trust each other.

Ryan: How am I supposed to trust some guy I just met? Having a hidden identity in this situation could obviously mean-

May: You just have to, we all have to. Trust is the only way we are going to get out of this. If we all vow, right here, that none of us will follow that bear's ludicrous laws, then we can all work together to find a way out of this.

Suds: That's a great idea!

(Is it though? How can I believe in these people, they all seem like idiots but, you never know.

And how am I supposed to believe there is a way out of this?

Why does this May chick have so much faith...)

May: Then let's all promise. I will not play the killing game.

Beck: I will not play the killing game.

Tom: I will absolutely not play the killing game.

Paige: I will not hay the billing lame.

May: This isn't the time for jokes.

Paige: Oh it's always the time for-erm-ok sorry. I will not play the killing game.

Claire: I won't play the killing game.

Chatty: I will not play the killing game!

(Does that really mean anything coming from a puppet?

Anyways we went around the table and everyone made the same, sudden promise.

But then, it was my turn.

I felt like an asshole for breaking the pattern but, this just won't work.)

Ryan: This is...stupid.

Tom: Yeah the killing game is stupid!

Ryan: No not that...well actually yes that but...our agreement is stupid.

Everyone: Huh?!

Ryan: Look I'm sorry but, how am I supposed to trust you people? How am I supposed to believe there is another way out?

Curt: You have to believe man!

Ryan: I'm not a kid, I can't just magically believe. In the real world, and especially in this type of situation, things like belief and trust are not real.

Violet: H-How could you say that?

Jenn: You must watch too many reality shows. New flash, they may say reality in the name but they are not-

Ryan: Look I don't know exactly why I'm thinking this way. It might seem rude to you all but it seems like logic to me. This whole setup is so elaborate, that bear said there's only one way out. He set all this up, it makes more sense to me to believe him than you guys. I just met you all, I can't share your optimism.

(Everyone fell silent.

Look I don't want to be that guy but, what I'm saying is true.

The game is the only way out, and this game is going to take over our minds sooner or later.)

May: So you're saying...you're saying you will play the killing game?

Ryan: I'm not saying that, I'm saying I can't trust that you guys won't play.

May: ...If that's what you believe then...keep believing it.

Ryan: What? Seriously?

May: Yeah...I trust that you won't play the game, and I can understand why you're turning your back on optimism. I'm sure we'll all earn your trust soon.

Ryan: Wha...what? How can you still trust-

(Violet stood up from her seat and pointed at my face.)

Violet: I'm with May! I trust that you won't play, and I will make you trust me!

Suds: Me too!

Cookie: Me too!

Chris: Me too!

Paige: Meme toot! Oh, sorry. Me too!

Claire: Me too.

(What the fuck? This is the exact opposite reaction I was expecting.

I thought they were all gonna hate me. It's not like I want them to hate me but, I believe in my logic.

I believe in my disbelief, and it seems...they all do too?

Everyone stood and vowed that they trusted me and vowed that I will earn their trust. I doubt that latter part but...ok.

This belief in me they have is...starting to change my mind...but that's their whole plan isn't. Some of these guys might not be genuine.)

Ryan: What's wrong with you guys?

May: We aren't bad people Ryan. Sure we all just met each other, but we're all kind, trustworthy, and hopeful people. Maybe you didn't get a proper first impression, or maybe you're just blinded by this situation. But no matter what, we will make you trust us, no matter how long it takes.

Ryan: O...ok...?

(Why the hell is she so scholarly?)

May: Now with that out of the way, here's the next thing I wanted to discuss. The alternate way out.

(There isn't one.)

May: There are still places we haven't searched, and places where we should search more.

Ivy: Huh? Where?

May: Well for one, we never went into the subway station after the earthquake. It's defiantly a mess down there but there could be an opening for us to get out through.

Chris: That's a good idea. I bet Cookie could easily push any rocks out of the way, like an unrealistically-hunky action movie star!

Cookie: Hey I-um-actually I might be able to help there.

May: There's also the alleyway between the theater and the karaoke bar, we haven't looked there at all.

Jenn: What would be in an alleyway other than Ryan's free candy?

Benny: Free candy?!

(Shut the fuck up.)

May: It's worth a look, anything could be there. Lastly, we should do a more thorough investigation of the casino, mall, and this hotel.

Jack: Why those such places?

May: The mall and hotel have several floors, in the mall's case it's impossible to check each one but, we should check as much as we can. As for the casino, Chris mentioned that there was hardly any electricity running through there yesterday. Maybe that has changed and if it has, maybe those games could lead to something.

Tom: What's a casino game gonna give us other than bankruptcy?

May: We'll just have to see. Let's split up and start looking, ok?

(Everyone nodded and decided on groups.

Honestly, I was hardly paying attention. I'm still baffled by how and why these guys trust me. I'm glad about it but at the same time it makes me feel uneasy.

Everyone split into groups and headed out, except Violet and I.)

Violet: We all really meant what we said, you shouldn't be so surprised.

Ryan: Huh?

Violet: This is a crazy situation we're in. Hope, faith, and trust are the most important things we need right now. We're all gonna work hard to give them all to you, ok?

Ryan: Yeah...ok...

Violet: Now why don't we go look around.

(I was gonna say "What? Why do you still want to be around me?" but then I realized, they all wanted to be around me.

They all wanted to share their optimism with me, so, let's see if they can do a good job at selling it.)

Violet: I think we should check out the subway station first. It's possible that your "walking on the tracks" plan from yesterday might actually save us all.

(There's no way those tracks are accessible after that earthquake...but we gotta have hope.

Ew, that sounds weird to say even in my head.

Hope, it's just such a childish thing to have.

Growing up takes away all hope, I know that, but I don't know how I do...)

Violet: Let's go!

(Woah, now she's getting antsy.

Violet grabbed me by the wrist and dragged me off to the subway station.

As soon as she opened the exit to hotel, she stopped in her tracks.)

Violet: W-Woah!

(Unlike yesterday, the entire city was lit up.

Every building was covered in bright, neon glass-tube signs. They were all brimming with light and color.

This place looks way less rundown now. Now, it's almost like the city is alive.

Even with all this light, the sky still appeared a dark shade of red.)

Violet: This looks...incredible.

Ryan: Yeah, I wonder why this was all kept off yesterday.

(It was probably just off to give everyone a more mysterious feeling.

Now that it's all lit up, it's like a place people would actually live. That bear is expected to us to live here, and this place looks habitable now but, no way in hell we're staying here.)

Violet: Oh look!

(Violet averted my attention to the TV monitor on the mall.

It was on and playing a bunch of weird advertisements featuring Monokuma, it also occasionally showed the "laws" we're supposed to follow.)

Ryan: What the hell is going on here? This is all way too elaborate.

Violet: Yeah..hopefully we'll find that out...

(Violet and I looked around in awe for a few more seconds, then finally made our ways down to the subway station.)

(Just like I thought, the station is a mess.

There are large rocks and support beams scattered all over the place.

It was difficult to move around but it seemed like someone made a tight path that lead to the train.

Violet and I shimmied our way through the rubble and ended up by the train.

May, Curt, and Cookie were there too.)

May: Oh hey guys..um...bad news-

Ryan: You don't even need to say it, I can see.

(This whole place is trashed, and the subway train itself is completely crushed.

And the tunnel it came from, wasn't even visible, it was hidden behind a huge wall of rubble.

Not even 10 people Cookie's size could move that mess.)

Curt: Grr...damn mother nature! If there wasn't an earthquake we'd have a way out!

May: Don't blame mother nature! She doesn't even want subway stations to exist do you know how much gas-

Ryan: There wasn't a natural earthquake.

Curt: Huh?

Ryan: Obviously, this area was destroyed by whoever brought us all here. They didn't want us to have an escape route so they set off a bomb or somethin' as soon as Violet and I arrived.

?: That's exactly right! Twelve thousand extra credit points for Mr. Ultimate Educator!

Everyone: AH!

Cookie: W-Was that-

(Monokuma jumped out of a rock and a hard place, literally.)

Monokuma: Ryan is correct! This station was deliberately destroyed by me so you guys would have no way of escaping! Isn't that great?

Curt: No that's terrible!

Violet: So when Ryan tried to walk along the tracks yesterday...if you hadn't blown it up he could've made it out of here?

Monokuma: Of course not!

Violet: No?!

Monokuma: Yeah duh-doy! I got lucky that the last person to show up was the only person who tried to walk out, but even if he wasn't last, it'd still be impossible for him to get out!

Ryan: Are you fucking kidding me...

Monokuma: Further down that exit tunnel is huge metal gate that only opens when a train is approaching. If anyone before Ryan tried to walk out they'd be stopped by that gate! Of course technically the gate would open when the next two people were arriving but, well, the escapee would just get ran over by the train!

Curt: You've thought of everything...

Monokuma: Of course I did, I'm smart! You can't let a dumb, unprepared person run a town, or a country for that matter.

(Was that some sort of political jab?)

Monokuma: Don't you see now, it's just like I said yesterday! There is absolutely, positively, no-siree way out of this city except for the game! So if you really want to leave that badly, start playing!

*boing*

-end -

(And just like that, Monokuma vanished again.

We were all left dumbfounded.)

Cookie: Damn...

Ryan: I mean, I don't wanna say I knew it but...I knew it. Whoever is behind all this is meticulous as fuck, there are no loopholes, we can't escape.

Curt: That may be the case...we really can't leave-

May: No! I still don't believe it! Every problem has a solution!

Violet: Yeah, I'm with May! We can't give up yet, there are still other places we can look!

Ryan: You two can believe in lies all you want, I highly doubt those buildings have secret exits.

May: Maybe they don't have direct exits but they could have ways to contact the world outside of this city. Or maybe just simple hints on what this place is and who's behind this, we can't give up...

Curt: Y-Yeah! I'm a man I can't give up so soon!

Cookie: Yeah! I can't be quitter, if I was a quitter then I would've never been able to become an Ultimate.

(This is annoying, it's going to be real sad for them to learn the truth I already know...)

Violet: Let's go look elsewhere.

May: You and Ryan can, there might still be somethings here.

(There isn't.)

Violet: Ok, let's go Ryan!

Ryan: Yeah yeah yeah.

(Let's go, let's go and lose hope.)

(Violet and I left the subway station and walked back to the surface.)

Violet: Let's check out that alleyway next, if any place is gonna have a secret exit, it'd be there.

Ryan: But Monokuma already said that there-

(Violet glared at me.)

Ryan: Alright alright we can check.

(We made our way over to the alley in between the theater and karaoke bar.

Once we got there, we saw that Benny, Claire, and Suds were already looking.)

Benny: Oh hey pals! Nice of ya to join us but, this place might be a little too cramped for us all.

Violet: Ah maybe, have you guys found anything?

Claire: There are no dead rats here...what a disappointment.

(I hope that's not all you've been looking for.)

Benny: As you can probably see there's a trash bin, and three wooden storage boxes, a side window to the karaoke bar...and that's it.

Suds: There are currently no secret exits or clues to report.

Benny: I've pushed down on all the bricks on the sides of the building and none of them are secret buttons.

Ryan: Is there anything in those wood boxes?

Benny: No they're empty, although the labels indicate they might've stored equipment that's in the karaoke bar, like the TVs and microphones.

Ryan: So it's a deadend.

Benny: We'll keep looking but...yeah it's probably a dead

Violet: Damn...the subway had nothing significant either, it's completely destroyed.

Ryan: Monokuma even showed up and told us there are no ways out of here at all.

Benny: Well we can't just believe that.

Ryan: How can you not believe that? He's the one who set this all-

Suds: We believe because we have hope!

Claire: ...Yeah...

Ryan: I'm getting tired of all this preaching.

Violet: I'm getting tired of your attitude, Ryan.

(I can't apologize for being a realist.)

Violet: Let's go check the casino. Good luck you guys!

(I don't see the point in checking anywhere...but she isn't going to let go of my arm...)

(We entered the casino and just like the city outside, it was lit up like crazy.

Defiantly more lively than it looked yesterday, but there's defiantly nothing significant in here.

It looked like Chris, Jenn, and Ivy where already looking around, Violet greeted them.)

Violet: Hey you guys! Find anything new yet?

Jenn: Breaking news! Power restored to local casino, all games are functional and you're pockets are emptiable!

Chris: We can't play anything though, there's still no currency anywhere.

Ivy: I bet gnomes took all the money, gnomes tend to do that.

(Violet and I approached the "exchange" booth.)

Ryan: You guys said this place uses tokens in place of real money didn't you?

Jenn: Yeah but there are no tokens anywhere, we can't get behind that booth because of it's glass windows.

Ryan: Well did you try doin' this!

(I clenched my fist and threw a punch at the exchange booth's window and-)

Ryan: OW!

(-it didn't work.)

Chris: That's probably bullet-proof glass dude.

Ryan: You could have said that before I-

?: Ay who da fuck's bangin' at my window?! Can't you greedy fuckers be patient?

Violet: W-Was that Monokuma again?

Ryan: Didn't sound like him...it came from behind this booth.

(Ivy, Chris, and Jenn joined us and gathered around the exchange booth.)

Ivy: I-Is there a ghost in there?!

Violet: Why are you trembling? I thought ghost hunting was your whole profession...

(Just then, something jumped up behind the window...it...it was Monokuma? No...this thing looks slightly different...)

?: What the fuck do ya want?! I'm tryna organize back here!

Chris: M-Monokuma?

Ivy: ...thank God it's not a ghost...

?: Do I look like fuckin' Monokuma to yous?

Chris: Uh, mostly yeah.

(This thing on the other side of booth looked similar to Monokuma, but was different.

He was half grey half black, had golden teeth, a gold chain, a tie, a cigar, an eye-patch, a small fedora, and a completely different voice and attitude.)

?: Well I ain't Monokuma cuse I ain't a fuckin' prick!

Ryan: You sound like a prick.

?: Shut your trap wiseguy! I'm Kurokuma, it is not a pleasure to make your acquaintance.

Jenn: Kurokuma? So you're like...a Monokuma rip-off?

Kurokuma: I ain't a rip-off 'cuse I'm bettah than the real thing!

Ivy: T-Then you're the one who's behind all this?!

Ryan: No he isn't, this is just another stupid robot. Why are you here?

Kurokuma: Well ya know...I've got student loans and shit.

Ryan: Uh...what?

Kurokuma: College has left my pockets bear so I'm workin' here full-time to fill 'em back up!

Jenn: H-Huh?

Violet: You...went to college?

Kurokuma: Yup! I'm a Bio major believe it or not.

Violet: I uh...don't believe it.

Chris: So you just work at this casino? That's all your for?

Kurokuma: Oh I'm for a lot more shit, but in terms of this shithole city, workin' here's all I do! I give this casino a bit of personality don't I?

Jenn: Yeah...almost too much personality.

(This is crazy, the person behind this has designed three robots, one to be mayor, one's a sentry gun, and one's a gangster casino owner?

Is there really just one person behind all this?

Well no matter what, they think these bear characters are way funnier than they actually are.)

Kurokuma: Now ya know what? 'Cuse you guys are fuckin' annoyin' - I mean uh - 'cuse you guys are first time customers, I'll give you some free casino tokens!

(The bear pulled out five envelopes full of tokens and slid them under the window's opening.)

Kurokuma: Here ya go. That's basically free money ya know.

Ryan: Then can I exchange it for real cash?

Kurokuma: Fuck no.

Ryan: Then what's the point?!

Kurokuma: Weeeellll there's actually no real currency anywhere in this shithole city, so I've decided to make those tokens casino-exclusive currency. You can trade those babies right in here for some fabulous prizes! They're like arcade tickets.

Ivy: If there's no real currency here then what are you getting paid?

(Why would you ask that? He's getting paid nothing it's a damn robot!)

Kurokuma: Don't worry I'm makin' bank, I just can't bring my earnins within this city.

Ivy: Oh that makes sense.

(How does it make-oh whatever.)

Ryan: So this casino is pointless.

Kurokuma: It ain't pointless! This place'll be a pretty fun distraction for ya guys, ya know, considering how you're all stuck here for-fuckin'-ever. So feel free to come anytime to play some games and earn some prizes! I'm goin' back to work smell ya posers later!

-end -

(Kurokuma walked away from the window and went...who knows where.)

Ryan: Well that was pointless.

Chris: It wasn't pointless, we met a new character!

Ryan: A new character who contributes literally nothing.

Ivy: Hm...but maybe some of these games have hints in them, why don't we try playing some?

Chris: That's not a bad idea.

(It is a bad idea, she's just looking for a distraction.)

Violet: I'm not very good at games so I'll just got help look somewhere else.

Ryan: I'll go too.

('Cuse I don't want to waste my time here anymore.)

Ivy: Alright, we'll let you all know if anything happens here.

Violet: Alright, good luck!

(Yeah happy gambling, you bums.)