Notes: Hello, my darling readers! Remember when I said I'd be distracted by the release of Danganronpa 3? Well, I may have underestimated how engaged I am with the end of the trilogy! So far, it's been pretty terrible to my heart, though-it's so hopeful with the cute parts (especially episode 2 of Side: Despair!) and so despairing in the worst parts (Especially... episode 2 of Side: Future...). If you're wondering if a particular character's fate in my story will correlate to their fate in Danganronpa 3, let me tell you something...

No, 'they' aren't safe here, either. You know who I'm talking about.

But don't fall into despair yet! Hope is risky, but it is worth having, all the same. Anyways, this chapter introduces another one of my own 'divergence points' from the DR universe. You'll know when you see it. As always, tell me what you think of this chapter, warts and all, and may you enjoy it! Please note that I have an important announcement to make at the bottom of this chapter, so please read the additional chapter notes once you finish with this chapter.

Makoto cursed himself, unconcerned that his fingers threatened to pierce skin as he clenched them. A fire raged in his heart, fueled by one-part fury, one-part fear, and two-parts confusion. At its peak, the fire coursed through his veins, and he and the fire became synonymous. When he felt a hand on his shoulder, though, the fire went through a transformation he could only perceive the aftermath of. A chill stillness burdened his legs, chest, neck, and head. He knew this feeling well, and in his mind its name festered: despair.

Makoto's pale hand touched the hand on his shoulder. A coarse, leathery, and pacifying sensation rested on his fingertips. "Makoto... we have to collect ourselves."

"Why...? Why again? Why can't it just end?" Makoto asked.

"How can it end? We don't even know if it's begun, or if that voice really is..." Kyoko passed from Makoto's back and lifted his chin up. "In any case, don't slouch over so much. It doesn't suit you."

"Right." Makoto forced a smile. "Right."

Makoto looked around himself: Takato, Masumi, and Ahodori seemed to have been stunned. Behind him, Aoi, Toko, Hiro, and Byakuya were anxious but appeared lucid enough. He turned to face his classmates. " I think we should tell these guys... what's probably going to happen."

"I have to agree," Byakuya said. "What we need least is paranoia forming from their ignorance. If that was really him, better to prepare them for his little game."

"I'm too old for this..." Toko bit her fingers. "Can I have just some peace without that stupid bear and his despair fetish?"

Aoi sighed. "You and me both. Once we beat him again, let's make sure he's decommissioned for good."

"Tell me what'll happen and how you know."

The demand came with an austere authority, and Makoto nearly jumped from it. The 78th class turned to meet the speaker, Yuta Oshiro, seated on the building's beginning step with veiny hands steepled.

"Oh..." Aoi furrowed her face, "you."

Yuta's frown did not waver. "Asahina. You and your class have something I want. Let's talk."

Aoi took a slight step back. "Y-you know my name?"

"I have ears: you introducing yourself to Kojima was enough."

Kyoko brushed her hair aside. "You talk like this is a business proposal. It's anything but."

"I don't play business. Will you tell me now, or will I have to wait until the rest of my class gather here?"

Byakuya scoffed. "And why, pray tell, should we privilege you over the others?"

"Unlike the others, 'Junko Enoshima', 'the killing game', and 'the world's destruction' intrigue me." Yuta looked to the sky. "Additionally, we both want that grating voice gone."

"W-whatever." Toko frowned. "Y-you're probably just putting up a brave face. You aren't above your––friends?––so just sit there and be quiet until they show up. This'll go better if everyone's working as a team."

"... You've told me what I needed to know," Yuta said. "What will happen will involve me in relation to a group. Therefore, group unity is paramount. I'll sit here and listen to what you have to say to everyone, then."

Yuta stayed silent afterwards, his gaze now on the group behind the 78th class. They turned around to survey the group: Takato seemed to have gotten his bearings back in order, as had Masumi.

Ahodori held her head low. "Whatever spoke, and its tone of voice... It is familiar." She searched inside her longcoat and rested her eye on what was within it. "Evil like that will die... I'll make sure of it."

"Ahodori..." Makoto almost reached a hand out to her but stopped himself. "What we're probably going to meet is not something we can easily deal with."

For a moment, her blue eye flickered to meet Makoto's. "... I have to try."

Irregular footsteps occupied the vacuum left by Ahodori. Soon afterwards, Hidetaka, Emilia, and Lemeza arrived at the building.

"G-ghost! I-I'm telling you, E-Emily, t-t-that was a ghost!" Lemeza seemed more diminutive than usual. Emilia was by his side at first, but once she caught sight of the 78th class, she skipped towards them. "E-Emily! C-come ba––" He stopped in place a few meters from Kyoko, retreating his hands into his pocket and increasing his hunch.

"... Hello again, Lemeza." Kyoko's countenance and tone betrayed nothing. "Your presence was needed. Good you came."

"... O-oh." Lemeza, in an act that made Makoto squint a bit, straightened himself up and stood like a cadet to their commanding officer. "I-if you need anything from me, just say the w-word."

"..." The raising of an eyebrow betrayed something now. "At ease. We just wanted to get everyone together."

"A-ah!" Lemeza rested his face in his hands. "I-I'm so s-s-sorry! I didn't... I didn't know your e-expectations f-for me! Damn it, I'm too arrogant! It'll get me killed, that's what my training told me! How could I have been so stupid?!" It took a near instantaneous pat on the back from Ahodori to end Lemeza's self-deprecating harangue.

"My darlings, I have found you!" Emilia's heels flew up in the air once she stopped in front of the 78th class. "Please, hesitate before making your company evanescent." She drifted her way to Makoto. "And Makoto... may I apologize to you? You may reject me, of course, and that would be... understandable."

"Oh, Emilia." Makoto scratched his neck. "I mean, if you don't plan on pranking me right now, I don't see why I won't forgive you. Just warn me in advance, you know?"

"Ah!" Emilia webbed her hands together. "What great news! I do regret my ignorance––now, in this place, is not the time for... puerile humor. Especially with this troubling development..." She put a finger on her lips. "For the remainder of our acquaintance, I will do everything in my power to serve you. Would you like to scare me, or shall I give you an explicit warning if I wish to frighten you? Oh! How about––"

"It's fine." Makoto smiled. "Don't get so worked up about it. We have some important stuff ahead of us, and I'd rather you not get too stressed out. Just talk to me like you would any other friend."

"Other friend... Answers that blend..." Hidetaka mumbled.

Hiro stared at Hidetaka for a long while. "Damn, really wish I could take this that easily."

"... Hidetaka," Makoto said, "it'd be better for everyone if you'd wake up."

Hidetaka shook his head lightly. "Oh, Makoto, just the person I wanted to see. I had the oddest dream just now..."

"You can... tell me about it later." Makoto put a light hand on Hidetaka's slender shoulder.

Hidetaka played with an errant strand of hair. "Of course, we ought to meet up in the town hall and figure out why that voice summoned us first. Frankly, I went this way not because I thought this was the town hall but because I thought you would have a good handle on this situation." He gave a vigorous nod. "Do you think I was right in that assumption, Aho-aho?"

"... Well," Ahodori walked to Hidetaka's side, relaxing her eye, "you're not wrong."

"Nah, Dori, that's way off!"

Makoto pivoted to the source of the declaration, but, before he could finish, a burly arm tightened on Makoto's shoulder and pulled him closer. Makoto's blurred vision was unnecessary to explain what happened; he only needed to hear the guffaw booming in his left ear to know that Daisuke Ota had arrived.

"... Taka's underestimating how awesome Maky here is!"

"H-hello to you too, Daisuke!..." Makoto gasped for air he was released by Daisuke and felt his lungs reinflate.

"... Maky?" Aoi stared at Kyoko expectantly.

Kyoko shrugged. "First time I've ever heard of it––I can't have all the answers."

Byakuya frowned. "Lovely, the indefatigable air horn is here. I can only hope he brought the other two here so we can proceed."

"Brrr, chilly reception I'm getting from Byagami! But," Daisuke gave a thumbs up, "not to worry there, buddy! I brought Saki and Sami with me!"

"Heh, more like I dragged your crazy ass along." Murasaki revealed herself from behind Daisuke's frame, surprising Makoto.

"Whoa! Were you always there, Murasaki?" Makoto asked.

"Yeah, I nearly got my eye poked out by that spike on your head you call hair." Murasaki rubbed her temples. "Really need to work up a sweat––headache's going to kill me."

"Oh!" Aoi pumped her fists. "We should work out together sometime! Been feeling the urge to go for a swim, and I hear there's water nearby!"

Murasaki grinned. "Hey hey, I knew I'd like you from the moment I saw you! That sea's going to face the wrath of the ultimate swimming pro and the ultimate ninja!"

"Yeah!" Aoi jumped in the air. "Double yeah!"

"Hm..." Hiro glanced around the area. "Where's that crazy chick and her monster? Maybe Shiva did actually strike her down... neat!"

"Neat," Asami said, appearing behind one of the central building's pillars and strutting down the steps, "is Woundwort having a nibble at your corn hair, dweeb."

"What?!" Hiro waved his hands around his hair pathetically. The only things he hit besides gnawed pieces of hair and air were follicles of white fur drifting in the air.

Asami winked as she passed Hiro, the rabbit Woundwort presenting itself on her right shoulder. "Fabulous performance on my part, as usual."

"Weeks of hard work and dedicated prayer for this hair... ruined by one rabbit." Hiro sighed. "Fair warning––I'm gonna get you back for this. No one can out-trick me!"

"Trick?" Asami couldn't hold back a smile. "If you can fool me, that'd be righteous! I love a good trick, so don't hold back!"

Hiro pulled out a translucent crystal ball from his coat and stared into it, grinning. "You asked for it..."

A deafening slam roared throughout the area, followed by a quick yelp from Makoto. Trying to avert everyone's attention and forcing a smile, Makoto turned his head with the rest of the group to the direction of the slam. Yuta's hand rested on the lustrous obsidian step, shaking in contrast to his still body and face.

"Abe, Kojima, lead our group," Yuta ordered.

"Y-yes," Takato blurted out, "we better organize."

"'Kojima'..." Masumi raised the corners of her lips up, though her eyebrows sunk down. "But it looks like our friends from the Future Foundation have something to say. I'll get them to listen."

Both Takato and Masumi walked to the building. Once they reached its base, Yuta stood up, passed by them, and joined his peers a few meters from the building. Takato coughed, getting the attention of the group. The 78th class glanced at each other throughout, nodding as they made eye-contact.

"Everyone," Masumi said as her collected voice traveled to Makoto's ears, "the Future Foundation has something important they need to reveal to us. That voice we all heard is strange and its words concerning, but that's exactly why we should learn more about our situation. Please remain calm as they speak––and no matter what, have hope."

Masumi beckoned the Future Foundation members to assemble in front of her. Slow steps accompanied solemn expressions as the 78th class lined up in front of the 79th class. All was quiet at the base of the large triangular building until Byakuya stepped to the forefront.

"We believe you and our class are here to participate in a game where the objective is murder."

Like a virus, confusion spread from face to face, marking its contamination with loose jaws, shrinking pupils, and twitchy bodies.

"The voice that announced the beginning of this 'ceremony' brought you here for one purpose: to get you to kill each other for the possibility of escape... or for the retrieval of your memories."

Ahodori stood, a glint burning over her eye of ice. "... What cowardly schemes. They seek to tempt us to our own ruin with false freedom? False hope?"

Kyoko moved forward, joining Byakuya. "That's right. Whoever has masterminded your arrival here will force you to realize that you will never escape unless you play by their own rules, instill in you a strong desire to leave, encourage you to distrust and hate one another, and add more and more motivations and conditions until it all results in someone murdering someone else."

"Murder..." Emilia's dull voice escaped her crestfallen lips. "... each other? They wish to make a spectacle of this?..."

"Yes." Kyoko crossed her arms. "In all likelihood, they literally want to make a spectacle of it. The reason we think this? It's because we're survivors of a killing game organized by that thing you just heard, and we had to sit and watch another game not too long ago. Your situation resembled the pattern too much to not be suspicious––and that voice more or less confirms our worst fears."

"No way," Murasaki growled, shaking her head with only a minimal amount of control. "No way. In fact, it's not just impossible, it's... it's fucking ridiculous! I've been through this entire damn town!" She waved her hand around, pointing it in the vague direction of the buildings around her. "How can they be recording us when there aren't any fucking electronics?! Hey, hot shit, think you can explain how some sick fuck could steal the future students of Hope's Peak Academy and make it impossible for them to leave or be rescued?! How could anyone convince me to even think about killing my best friends?! You think you can just bullshit me about some insane, disgusting, and evil ga––!"

"I know." Makoto didn't break eye contact with Murasaki as he moved to Kyoko and Byakuya's row. "I know it's crazy. Trust me, I've been so mad, so frightened, so held by despair before that I had also refused to even think about the possibility. But what you're about to face thrives on making you think it's impossible: It wants you to think there's no way you could be pawns in its show; it wants you to think there's no way it could kidnap you like this; it wants you to think there's no way despair can tempt you into doing the most horrible of things. A lot of the time, it really is impossible––and that's what makes it dangerous. Once you accept that what it is and wants are impossible... you make it inevitable. I know it's crazy. Trust me, though, when I say it hides its greatest weakness as its greatest strength. Once you accept that it's impossible, you can realize that anything is possible: you can realize you can beat it at its own game; you can realize that you can escape it if you just try hard enough and get a bit lucky; you can realize that, even if you can be tempted, you'll never fall into despair. It's dangerous because it's impossible, but that also means it's so easy to move on from it. Once you accept that anything is possible... you can stop it right there. I know it's crazy. I know. But..." he smiled a luminous smile, which sliced through the fog like the indomitable rays of the eternal sun, "... that's hope."

Murasaki stilled. Everyone in front of Makoto seemed inert, in fact, due to an odd energy blossoming within them. Enthusiasm, perhaps, showed itself through the glittery eyes and small smiles present on the faces of nearly all of the group––save for Hidetaka, who had mumbled nonsense and rested his head on his shoulder sometime before Makoto's speech.

"Are you done?" Makoto didn't need to look at Yuta to see his dour face. "Tell us something besides platitudes: what does this mastermind want?"

Makoto sighed, turning to face Yuta and the imposing building's far-off door, caked in shadows. "The mastermind... wants despair."

"Despair." Yuta stood up, his frown twisting into a smirk. "An ideologue. Disposable and empty then."

"..." Makoto hunched over, looking at Yuta's general direction. "Does anything actually affect you? Look, just follow my lead, I guess. I have more experience."

"Shut up and lead, then." Yuta ascended the flight, and once he reached the door, he stood, the entire impressive building like a frame around his portrait. "This building is the town hall––it's too distinguished and centralized not to be. If this mastermind wants to break the group, we shouldn't help them by separating."

The group trotted up the steps, joining Yuta at the top. He drifted to the back of the group once they arrived at the top. With a wary mind, Makoto approached the door's green handle and grabbed it. With a soundless twisting of the handle, Makoto opened the door.

"Dudes, who knew Maky was a verbal hurricane?"

"That was a pretty sweet speech, but is 'verbal hurricane' even a thing?"

"Odd how you're asking that, Asami."

"You know you love it, Takato!"

"W-w-we s-should be f-focusing on more i-i-important t-t-things, Asami..."

The chatter from behind Makoto elicited a small smile from him. It seemed as though his extemporaneous response had at least lifted the spirits of some of the youths. He enjoyed it so much, he would have stopped on the spot and listened further, if the long arched hallway was not stretched out before him. It was dim, with more lanterns hovering high over the polished marble floor. At the end of the hallway was a red door not unlike the one in the strange building Makoto awoke in. He marched to it like a stalwart soldier to the battlefield.

"Hey, Makoto!" Aoi ran up to his side. "When did you get so great at speaking? Must be a benefit of being the ultimate hope!"

"Oh, Aoi!" Makoto rubbed the back of his head and chuckled. "It kind of just came to me. Really, though, it was just to prep the others up. I'm no orator yet!"

Aoi shrugged. "You're way easier to get than most other talkers I know. They're always trying to make themselves sound smart and stuff, but you're interested in your listeners. You did good!"

"I could have done a bit better..." Makoto looked back, ever so slightly so as to avoid notice. "I mean, Hidetaka fell asleep."

"This isn't about Hidetaka, is it? He seems like a guy who's never bothered by anything." Aoi pouted, her cheeks getting redder as she continued on. "Yuta's just a jerk. We'll show him we can be counted on when things get serious."

Makoto grinned. "You could always slap him. Worked with Byakuya."

"What was that?" Byakuya's voice snapped through the air.

"Nothing!" Aoi leaned in closer to Makoto, a sly look on her face. "Nah, I save the slaps for someone like 'Mr.' Sakakura."

"That's one person I don't want to be reminded of..." Makoto breathed, relieved he couldn't feel any strain on his lungs.

"... We're here," Ahodori suddenly declared. Makoto and Aoi looked up to see the door a meter or two away. Ahodori, who had taken to the head of the group next to Makoto, stood her ground with her arm spread out on Makoto's chest.

"We could be..." Makoto looked up to Ahodori. "Don't worry. I'll handle th––"

"No." Ahodori's coat trailed on the pristine marble below it, and her footsteps quieted the conversations behind her. She turned her head slightly. "... I know how to check doors."

Once Ahodori reached the door, she drew a curved, serrated knife out of her coat. Makoto could see his own shocked face reflected from the knife's black blade. He watched as she rubbed down and patted the entire door. She leaned what was probably her right ear into the door, then squeezed herself to the wall opposite the door's handle. She grabbed the handle, giving it the most minuscule of twists. In what Makoto could understand only as a fluid dance, she pushed the door open, gripping her knife in her right hand as she slid from without to within, always in step with the motion of the door. She disappeared around the corner of the other side only to move across it and, after a pause, walk back through the door, her eye closed and her knife quickly sheathed into her coat.

"It looks safe. Keep close to me, though," Ahodori said. Hidetaka drifted to the entrance of the room, Yuta following close behind him with more deliberate steps. Soon, everyone gathered around the door and proceeded through it except Byakuya, Kyoko, and Makoto.

Byakuya tapped his elbow as he crossed his arms. "What exactly are you two waiting behind for?"

Makoto turned his head from Kyoko to Byakuya. "I'm wondering the same about you."

"I decided to stay in the back––both sides need to be guarded, after all."

"... Sorry." Kyoko shook her head slowly. "I was focusing on something."

"Kyoko," Makoto returned his sights to her, "what'd you figure out?"

"Nothing yet, but I can work out a thing or two, if you can help me." Kyoko motioned to the door. "Can both of you keep an eye on Lemeza and Yuta for me?"

"Huh? Why them?" Makoto looked to Byakuya, who looked a bit confused by the request.

"Just look at how they walk. Tell me if you notice anything off about them or if they seem normal to you." Kyoko moved to the doorway, passing through both Makoto and Byakuya. "I'll tell more later."

Byakuya frowned at her direction. "Vague as always, isn't she, Makoto?"

"Yeah..." Makoto shrugged. "I'll try and see what the deal is with those two. What's so interesting about how they walk?"

"We'll find out if both of you do your job properly." Byakuya waved a hand. "Get going. Stragglers make my job harder."

Makoto stared at his reflection on the marble floor. Looking up, he saw the room expand a number of meters from his front and sides. The capacious room was barren, with the only furniture before him being two long wood booths, made sinister by the curvatures and spirals marked into the walnut colored wood. The only source of lighting coming from two candle stands at each end of each booth. Ahead of the booths was an elevated, elliptical bench. It didn't appear to be occupied, but Makoto clenched his hands nonetheless.

Makoto shook his head and walked to the bench. Every one of the 79th class was seated in the first booth. As Makoto moved closer, he saw some words engraved on the back of the booth:

79TH CLASS––MRS. KUROASHI NOT INCLUDED!

Ahodori stood behind the booth. To her left, from the end of the booth to her left hand, sat Takato, Asami, Lemeza, Emilia, and Masumi; Hidetaka, Daisuke, Murasaki, and Yuta sat from the right end of the booth to Ahodori's right hand.

Makoto saw his classmates seated in the booth ahead. Another engraved message greeted him:

WELCOME BACK, DESPAIR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES!

Makoto cringed at the words. Nonetheless, he moved to the rightmost portion of the booth and sat next to Kyoko. He stared up at the bench, expecting at any moment to hear that spritely, mechanical voice he loathed.

"... Zzz... zzz..."

Makoto sighed. Hidetaka was incorrigible.

"... Zzz... zzz..."

"Does he have narcolepsy?" Makoto wondered.

"... Zzz... zzz..."

It dawned on Makoto that he should have seated himself somewhere not in front of Hidetaka.

"Makoto, you seem a bit irritated. Perhaps you should sleep it off?" Hidetaka's voice was boyish and marked with some spots of lucidity.

"What?" Makoto turned to face Hidetaka. "Ah, it's nothing. Just happy you're awake."

"... Zzz... zzz..."

Makoto's eyes widened, and he nearly bolted from his seat. His feet fell on the marble with a bang.

"Wha-wha?! Hey, don't disturb my beauty sleep, whippersnappers!"

Makoto turned around just fast enough to see a monochrome blur rocket through the air in an almost comical fashion. He felt his skin crawl and his hands lose control of themselves as he gazed at the blur landing on the bench with a cartoonish plop. His vision captured the image of a bear caricature, half white and half black, sitting down complacently with a wide grin in full display and its rotund belly falling out from its child-sized body. The bear image had nonsensical eyes––a dot on its white side and a jagged slash of dull red on its black side––and, of all things, a pilgrim's hat on its head. His instincts implored him to reject the nightmarish image, but the indelible truth stood in front of him. He resolved to settle things: Monokuma was back, and, he hoped, for the last time.

"Seriously, is this how you repay your hopelessly nice town mayor? Who do you think got all that venison for you, huh?! When have housing, clothing, and a beautiful view of the sea ever come for free?! Why I oughta––"

Makoto froze as Monokuma's sights fell on him, revealing, beneath the red glow coming from the center of the now translucent glass eye, cold machinery.

"––Ohhh... Well, if it isn't my favorite student of all time, Makoto Naegi! Aw, you must have been missing me so much, you woke me up with a bang. You're too kind to this bear! Puhu... Puhuhuhu!"

Makoto felt a fire bubble up inside of him, and all throughout his body, weights that he didn't even know he had dissolved away. He flew up from his seat, scanning the faces of his classmates for a second before he glared at Monokuma.

"Do you really think you can still scare me, 'Monokuma'? Why don't you cut the crap and show us who you really are!" Makoto's finger shot upward to Monokuma as the fire inside intensified.

Monokuma put his simplistic paws over his face, putting a perfunctory effort to hide his smile. "Man, I really am the best headmaster you could ask for! I took a little walnut like you and, in only a few weeks, turned you into a huge, singing tree! At least, I call it singing." One of his paws was now raised and angled at Makoto. "Tell me, what would you call that obnoxious monologue you had, what, two hours ago? It was so un-bear-ably hopeful, it made me weep! But I guess that's a fair trade, considering I axed most of your friends."

Makoto felt a strong tug on his left arm that prevented him from charging at Monokuma. He broke his stare with Monokuma and turned to see Kyoko standing up with him, her grip on his arm.

"So, you heard us talking outside this building. You know about us explaining your 'game' to the 79th class, then?" Kyoko smirked. "We're ever so sorry we did your job for you."

"That's right!" Monokuma cheered. "Your mayor wants to protect you!... Soooo I did away with that pesky 'privacy' thing." Suddenly, he jumped up, a strange and artificial blush on his cheeks. "Oh no, that's right! You graduates did take away my opportunity to throw these newbies into despair! Darn it darn it darn it!"

"W-wait!" Daisuke yelled. "So you seriously want us to kill each other?! Why, Doraemon, why?!"

"... Excuse me?" Metal claws popped out of Monokuma's paws. "My name is Monokuma. Mono. Kuma. Should I call you Kenny Rogers for being a donkey's behind with a death wish?"

"What was that, motherfucker?' Murasaki's cool voice made Makoto twitch. "Threaten Daisuke again. See what happens."

"Saki, cool out! I'm fine––"

"Both of you sit down and shut up before you get yourselves killed." Makoto turned to the left and saw Byakuya stare at the two. A second later, they looked at each other, nodded, and sat back down. "Good. Monokuma isn't above murdering people on a whim. He's childish to the core."

"You read me like a book, Byakuya!" Monokuma clapped his paws together. "How's that dynasty going? You're going to need to get busy and make like my little sister if you wanna have enough kids to fight for the right to succeed you! Toko should help you––"

"Shut up." Toko scowled at Monokuma. "I've seen enough of your face, and heard enough of your stupid voice."

"... Nevermind, then." Monokuma sighed. "So yeah, these oldies already told you the gist of things: you're stuck here in this town unless you murder someone. I have no idea what they're talking about when they say I would manipulate you in order to get some bloodlust flowing, though. I pride myself on being a hands-off headmaster-slash-town mayor. All the wonderful hope of escape, all the beautiful despair of death and betrayal... That's all you! I just watch and learn! puhuhuhu! So, wondering how you guys got here? Curious as to how and why you don't know about me and my awesome series of murder games?! I have all the answers!"

The room dimmed even as Makoto felt the tiny flame of the candle to his right radiate wheat. The empty room livened up with a dark susurrus. If Makoto turned around, he bet he would have seen the 79th class whisper and console one another from the nightmare before them. He figured this was the nature of the sound until his ears focused in on it. It resembled a mocking clap.

"You have all the answers?..." The sudden movement at the corner of Makoto's eyes startled him. "Ok then. I'll ask you a question, and you give me your best answer... Monokuma."

"Mrs. Kuroashi!" Monokuma tipped his hat. "Don't worry, you're a special, beautiful person... on the inside. Personally, though, I prefer my bread untoasted, puhuhu!" He put a paw on his chin. "Wait, I forgot: I'm a bear! We don't even eat bread! Anyways, what can I help you with?"

"My my, the affable bear wishes to bring up a woman's old history," Hidetaka whispered.

"Not now, Hide." Ahodori snapped a finger, silencing Hidetaka. "You've had some fun talking about me, but let's talk about you. So here's my question to you..."

"... Do you want me to kill you with my bare hands or my knives?"

"Now wait––"

It was over in a flash. Makoto had been staring at Ahodori and Monokuma, but he couldn't explain what occurred: Monokuma disappeared in front of the apparently motionless Ahodori, and in his place fell a slipshod assortment of bolts, beaten metal, frayed wires, and the shredded remains of a pilgrim's hat. Electrical crackling and cacophonous impacts screamed in the room, and Makoto had to look at the stunned expressions around him to accept that the disappearance of Monokuma happened in reality.

"Wh... WHAT THE HELL?!" Hiro yelled out, his hands on his head and his glasses stained with a splatter of black oil.

Byakuya stood up, his fist clenched and directed at Ahodori. "What is the meaning of this?! Do you understand how dangerous Monokuma is?!"

"Dangerous?" Makoto watched in awe as Ahodori pulled out a circular device with a timer attached to it. "This bomb's the only thing that's dangerous about that toy. I already disarmed it. Even the bear's last trick reflects his own vile nature."

"A-Ahodori!" Makoto ran up to Ahodori's side, his heart racing in his chest as he grabbed Ahodori's oil-stained arm. "Please stop this! Monokuma's got back-ups, I know he does! He'll... he'll..." He turned around, facing the squirming audience. "Everyone, spread out! You don't know what he's going to do next!"

It took a moment for many in the group to be cognizant of Makoto's pleas, but, once the danger fully registered, most of the 79th class bolted from the booth to the farthest corners of the room. Hiro joined them with a fit of crying and a call to Vishnu to protect him. Byakuya and Aoi coordinated the retreat, while Toko, Kyoko, Lemeza, Yuta, and Hidetaka remained.

"I'm... I'm ready for w-whatever Monokuma throws at you, idiot!" Toko cried.

"S-s-same, but... but y-y-you're not an i-idiot!" Lemeza retrieved his whip from his waist, clutching it tightly.

"Stay calm," Kyoko said. "I don't want any of you to do anything rash. We have to wait and see what happens." Yuta and Hidetaka nodded at Kyoko.

"Puhu..." That laugh echoed in Makoto's mind, sinking it into an even darker realm. "Puhuhu... AHAHAHAHA! You old crow! I knew I shouldn't have pissed you off! If I were alone––even if I had ten to the sixtieth power of bodies to spare––it'd be the last thing I ever did! Ah... it's a good thing I'm not alone this time."

Another Monokuma jumped up from the bench, and as soon as it appeared, Ahodori vanished from Makoto's grip and sights. He looked up to see Ahodori unleashing a flurry of coordinated punches, kicks, and maneuvers around the air surrounding Monokuma. The two of them jumped here and there, landing at the right corner of the room. Monokuma waltzed backward, shrugging at Ahodori's missed attacks.

"You're in my way, squid," Ahodori muttered out. Before Makoto could blink, black combat knives appeared in her hands. "Time to get serious, then." She danced in the corner, her coat billowing like a peacock's magnificent coverts. It was like Ahodori was writing calligraphy, with her knives as pens and the illustrious lines of light soaring and twirling in the dim room as her artwork.

"It's no use, Mrs. Kuroashi!" Monokuma turned his head to the sky and pumped his fists together, roaring like a reinvigorated warrior. "This is... the power... of FRIENDSHIP!"

At the instance of Monokuma's declaration, a bang ruptured Makoto's senses and nearly pushed him back just with its ripples. Makoto waved his hands around his face, coughing away the dust that had flown into his lungs. He opened his eyes to see what could have caused the near explosion.

Makoto saw Ahodori pushing her blades in front of her. She was in a struggle for dominance against... an upright red squid floating in the air.

"... What?" Makoto thought out loud.

Makoto looked behind himself: everyone looked at flabbergasted as he felt––save for Hidetaka, who seemed to be in a deep sleep.

Makoto looked back at Ahodori and the... squid. He blinked, then he blinked again. She was still locked in by the two most prominent and limber tentacles of the light red, smiling squid. Right, it was smiling––or, at least, something like a smile seemed painted on its mantle with white, incandescent paint. It looked like any other regular red squid (not that Makoto had seen many in his life, especially ones with black suction cups and no actual eyes anywhere on its body), but he cautioned himself that it was anything but. His fears were fully confirmed soon afterwards.

"Yes! These bonds we have made push me to levels I never imagined! Alone, bears and squids can only do so much; but together, we can achieve anything, even the impossible! :"

"Argh!" Makoto grasped his head. He felt an image invading his mind and drilling through his skull. It was... an impression of an emoticon? Just like the one he had seen materialize on the squid's 'face'? Why was he feeling pride swell in himself... that was beyond his own control?

"W-what the hell are you?" Ahodori spat out.

"Upupupupu! Don't you remember me? I, Squiddy the squid, remember you, line-like one! I remember when you born a beautiful baby girl! Oh, you were so adorable, line-like one! I forgive you for forgetting me! :D" The squid, calling itself 'Squiddy', leaned into Ahodori like it was about to whisper something. "I wonder if––" a screeching sound blared in Makoto's already aching head. He fell into his seat and hid his head in his hands. "––can forgive you for forgetting them? :("

Makoto watched with blurry eyes as Ahodori froze at Squiddy's question. Her hands, once exhibiting herculean strength and finesse, clumsily dropped the two knives she was holding. They were followed by her knees when they hit the floor. She arched her head lower and lower until she could go no further; then and there, the once marvelous fighter remained.

"Puhu... puhuhuhu... the despair of forgetting despair and hope, eating away at the forlorn soul searching for solace... how beautiful it is!" Monokuma rubbed his stomach as he walked up to Squiddy. "You're a much better partner in crime than the last few chumps I was stuck with! Nothing weird like a sister complex, or 'honor', or a freaky obsession with hope! Now that you've introduced yourself to Mrs. Kuroashi, maybe it's time we've made some more friends!"

"That's Squiddy the Squid for you! Helping people is its own reward, upupupu! :D" Squiddy put its feeder tentacles on its mantle. "Friends... I love friends, especially young line-like ones! They'll adore my slimy charm! :]"

Makoto looked around himself as Squiddy drifted to the bench, Monokuma in tow. Outside of Hidetaka, everyone had a resigned expression on their face. Aoi and Byakuya directed the slow trudge from the corners of the room to the booths before they themselves sat back down. He sighed as he returned his sights on the occupied bench.

Monokuma coughed. "Ahem, as your town mayor, let me apologize for the minor technical difficulties. Please be aware that I am a merciful bear who will let you all off with a warning: don't try and disrupt our peace! Mrs. Kuroashi will remember this, I hope. Anyways, since you know most of the rules for my latest and greatest killing game, I'll just familiarize you with the... new elements."

"That's me! XP"

"Yup! It's a squid! You see, Rome wasn't built in a day, but this town was! And do you know how? I made a partnership with the local population––this squid! In return for allowing me to host my game here, I've designated Squiddy the Squid as your supervisor during the game."

"Yes yes! I miss seeing line-like ones be line-like, so I grabbed the opportunity. Now, as your supervisor, my role here is very simple: I am here to watch over you! This land is peaceful, and I would love to keep it that way. Think of me as your guardian angel, protecting you while you sleep... bathe... change... ;)" Squiddy's ten tentacles wrapped around itself as it started huffing and puffing. "Oh no, I think I'm about to ink! :O"

"... I... didn't need to know that," Masumi said.

"Sorry, line-like one named Masumi! In addition to securing your safety, I can also act as your tour guide for this town! It's my home, so I know it like the back of my hand. Whenever Mr. Monokuma approves, I can also transport you to different locations for field trips and adventures! Now isn't that fun? I think it's fun! :)"

"Once you see all the wonderful vacation spots I've got planned for you, you'll see that my game's to die for!" Monokuma rolled around on the bench, laughing uncontrollably. "Oh, and one more thing. Since I think despair is a dish best served with love, I ain't going to provide you motives and all that boring crap. Let's just say that, instead, what I'll offer is..." his eye glowed again, "... mercy."

"Mercy?" Makoto stood up. "What do you mean, 'mercy'?"

Monokuma shook his head. "Makoto, Makoto, Makoto. I can't spoil the surprise just yet. Take your time enjoying your generations trip, then maybe I'll tell you!"

"Line-like one named Makoto, I can tell you that awesome things await your imminent future! If you're a member of this thing called 'the Future Foundation', does that mean you can see the future, though? Spoooooky! XO"

"..." Makoto snuck into his seat. His hopes for a game he could predict and control were dashed and scattered into the vast sea of despair. Did his friends feel the same way too? Could any of them explain the circumstances behind Monokuma's return, the strange new participants of his dreadful game, and the presence of a 'supervisor' so unnatural?

"Welp, I think this has been a satisfactory town meeting. If there're no questions to be raised––and I mean real questions––I'll be more than happy to adjourn this meeting!"

"Questions? Yes, I have one!" Hidetaka's voice ringed in Makoto's ears, and he forced himself to look as Hidetaka strolled from his seat to the front of the bench. "Forgive me, for I am perennially weary and a bit too young, but I have something of a basic question."

"Line-like one named Hidetaka, ask away! :3"

"Yeah, do it so I can get some sleepy eye, too!"

"Well..." Hidetaka tapped his way to Ahodori and raised her up, holding her hand along as he moved her from the corner she had hidden in to his seat. Monokuma gave a scoff at the act but let it pass. He then returned to the front of the bench, looked up at the two animals, then glanced at each and every one of the group, a mirthful smile on his face and clear eyes looking forward. "Killing is optional, correct?"

"Hm..." Monokuma rested his chin on his paw. "Yup! You can all live uneventful lives in this town, and I'll be fine either way! Like I said, I pride myself on being a hands-off game master."

"Then it's settled!" Hidetaka raised a finger into the air. "I will play your game by not playing! The pacifist route, if you will humor me."

"Hide..." Makoto raised an eyebrow at the strange display of positivity. "What are you... talking about?"

"... I am friends with all of you." Hide laughed. "And, beyond that, life is beautiful. We have some interesting talents that I have no doubt could help the world in many ways, but talent and how useful we are to the world aren't really that important: what I care about is you as you are. It's been a short time since our introduction, yes, but I consider Makoto and all of his classmates invaluable. I'm... hm..." He grabbed his chin.

"Oh, yes! I'm saying the future is secondary to the people who'll live in it. "

Makoto would have preferred a different explanation for how he acquired his first house.

Lying on a sparse bed in a dim room, Makoto wished he had something other than the past few hours to think about. Even his dirty clothes couldn't distract him, now that he had changed into a new suit found in the spacious closet of his bedroom. He humored himself with an image of Hide sleeping on any adequate surface of his house, and the image elicited an amused chuckle.

"Ok, kids, since I know it's hard to tell, it is now night time! Please be aware that during night time, you are prohibited from exploring certain areas of the town. That means no binging in the tavern! Otherwise, do whatever it is you please during the night! Hope you get plenty of shuteye, though, cause I'll make sure to wake you up early in the morning to greet a new day! With that out of the way, this town meeting is adjourned! Return to your houses if you want to review some of the finer details of your new life here! Puhuhuhu!"

Monokuma's final point did nothing to alleviate the miasma of defeat clouding the group. With a collective grumble, the group exited the room and left the hall. Makoto, recalling Kyoko's request, briefly observed the gaits of Yuta and Lemeza. Nothing seemed particularly off: Lemeza, skittish as always, crawled his way out; Yuta, who seemed remarkably composed about the whole affair, walked with his hands in his pockets. Makoto noted that he was the last to descend down the stairs, as he sat down on them and closed his eyes for a brief while before moving on, but that was all.

He wanted to check up on his friends and the 79th class, but he felt a barrier raised from all of them––save for Hide, who had fallen into a deep sleep after asking his question and was thus being carried along by a mute Ahodori. Makoto followed them along to the road left of the town hall's entrance, going down a windy, dilapidated path showcasing evenly spaced out, rectangular houses. As soon as they got there, members of the 79th class started splintering off from the group and headed straight to specific houses. The group reached a cul-de-sac with six houses, and Makoto realized that he and his classmates were the only ones left. Beyond the houses was a muddy plain encased in fog, where only the tops of leafless trees could be seen peeking through some distance away.

The six Future Foundation members nodded at each other, warming up the atmosphere a bit. Byakuya immediately marched to the nicest looking house on the cul-de-sac, Toko scampering away to neighbor with him. Hiro went off to the house on the far left, saying he felt a certain 'feng shui' coming from it. Aoi and Kyoko agreed to neighbor with each other, and Makoto accepted the last house on the right next to Kyoko.

Overall, he couldn't say he had poor accommodations. His two-story house had a living room filled with books, multiple guest rooms, two clean bathrooms, and this bedroom. Thankfully, his stairs didn't make any strange sounds, and everything was illuminated by pleasant-smelling candles. No surveillance cameras were present in his house, but he was still wary of letting his guard down. Nonetheless, he felt a soothing warmth flow through his body.

"Hide... He's optimistic." Makoto smiled, his mind getting cloudy. "And he's right. We're all friends here: it seems like the 79th class go way back, and they look up to us, in their own ways. We're going to get to know them a bit more... then we'll see that there's nothing to worry about. We'll definitely stop Monokuma and his new 'friend'. Because..."

He closed his eyes. "Hope keeps going."

Notes: Now wasn't that a strange turn of events? The game's on, and it's something you can never get fully used to. But there is hope, and that hope lies in you. We've officially reached the beginning of my story's daily life section. These sections mainly focus on character interaction and development. Since my plot is crystallized, most of the interactions are set in stone. I have decided, however, to offer some unguided direction to my readers. All daily life sections will include one free time event chapter, where DR characters of my choice will interact with selected OCs. How will I select which OCs will get their FTEs written? Why, through my readers, of course!

Www. Strawpoll . me /10817770

Posted above is the strawpoll I will use to determine the OCs for chapter I's FTE (Get rid of the spaces in between to view the poll itself!). You are allowed to pick up to three OCs. The poll will be considered until August 5th . Once it is August 5th, I will gather the top 3 choices and write their FTEs as the sixth chapter. I can't wait to see who you'll pick!

Until then, my darling readers!