Gundam stands on the beach with the other students. All of the monitors on the island had lit up with a message from Usami, congratulating the students for successfully collecting their first set of Hope Shards. He assumes that Komaeda and that Hinata kid had gone on to talk to everyone else. Something seems rather off about Hinata that Gundam can't quite place. It was... strange. He can not explain it. While he had been thinking, Togami had started lecturing everyone. Gundam rolls his eyes as Togami reveals what was already known to him. This was (a virtual replica of) Jabberwock Island. Hinata begins to display his doubts, despite the chorus of pleasant tones expressing their contentness with the island.
"This is strange, however you think about it!" Hinata motions wildly, trying to convince someone, anyone. Gundam slaps him lightly on the shoulder. "Hn-"
"Your fears have made you irrational. Take a moment to cool your head." This only makes the boy more irrational.
"B-but we were supposed to be in Hope's Peak! Now we're on this island and-" He is cut off once again by other students voicing their opposing opinions. Everyone turns in surprise when Usami speaks up, objecting roughly to Hinata's suggestion to make a raft out of trees. She then goes on to speak of the rules again. It takes Togami, Komaeda, and Nanami to finally calm the boy down, if somewhat unwillingly. Mioda chimes in, directing the conversation.
"Usami-chan! Ibuki heard you mention 'pwesents' in your announcement! Ibuki wants one!" Usami puffs out her chest, somehow, and proceeds to hand everyone a... strange charm resembling her. Some, like Kuzuryuu and Togami, are quick to toss the charm, claiming it to be trash. The others quickly follow suit. Gundam glances around. The ones who have yet to toss them are himself, Komaeda, Saionji, and Nanami. The lavender-haired girl looks offended, while his companions look guilty. Gundam also feels rather guilty, but the four slowly toss their charms into the pile as well. Usami clutches her head sadly and whines.
"You children are so mean... I don't even want to give you the other pwesent..." This catches everyone's attention, and they turn back to the rabbit. "It's not as gweat as the other one... but I prepared a motive fow you to have fun..." She somehow pulls out eight blue and eight pink bags from behind her back. Komaeda smiles, and quickly tries to hide it.
"Usami... are those... swimming bags?" Usami puffs out her chest again.
"Yup! I thought swimming would help everyone become fwends! Wuv, wuv!" Nothing happens for a moment, as everyone seems to mull it over. Hinata is the first to speak up.
"You can't be serious. You really think that we would want to swim? I mean, nobody even knows how we got here and you think we'll jus-"
"YaaaaHOOOOOOOO!" Mioda barrels past Hinata, knocking him sideways. She grabs a pink swimming bag and speeds off toward the hotel. A chorus of voices rises up behind him, and Gundam glances back at the other kids happily chattering amongst themselves.
"Now we're talking! Let's go for a swim!" "I'm in full agreement!" "It's been years since I've been to the ocean!" "Let's go CHAAAAAAANGE!" A majority of the group runs up to Usami, grabbing a bag for themselves and springing off to the hotel. Hinata gets knocked to the ground in the stampede and smacks his head against one of the trees. Komaeda and Gundam head over to him to see if he's alright. Gundam swears he sees a... distortion of sorts around Hinata when his head impacts the trunk of the tree. However, he stumbles again and bonks himself on the head again and the anomaly isn't there anymore. Gundam thinks it must have just been a bit of glare from the light. It's been years since he's seen natural sunlight like this.
"Ah, Hinata-kun, are you alright?" Komaeda asks. The boy presses a palm to his temple, then nods.
"Yeah. I'm fine. I just... I'm fine." Komaeda pats him on the shoulder and Gundam helps the boy to his feet. Komaeda is the one that addresses Hinata.
"I hope you'll join us Hinata-kun. It'd be more fun if you come swim with us." Komaeda gives the boy a smile and the two leave Hinata to lean against the tree. They grab their bags from Usami and head back towards the hotel. Once they're a reasonable distance away from everyone, Komaeda turns to Gundam. "You saw it, right?"
Gundam nods. "I knew there was something odious in his demeanor. We must be cautious around him, for he could very well be an unnecessary variable that could lead to trouble." Komaeda cringes.
"I agree that we need to keep an eye on him, but let's... tone it down a bit?" Gundam sighs.
"Fine. But don't say I didn't warn you."
"I'll remember it."
Gundam laughs, admiring the amazing spire he had crafted from the sand. Everything is going how Naegi said it would. He hears joyous laughs and splashes, as well as pleasant, if bored, conversation from kids not swimming. Everyone is having a great time. Everyone, that is, except for Hinata. Gundam glances over at him angrily debating with a timid Usami. He can't make out what's being said, but eventually Togami steps in, saying a few choice words to Hinata, apparently. Realization dawns on his face, and Gundam chuckles. It seems he's finally accepted what's going on.
"Hey, you guys didn't forget about me, did you?" Hinata calls out to everyone in the water, waving excitedly. It's when Komaeda raises his hand up to wave back that it happens. One moment, it's sunny and everyone is cheering and playing. Then a ripple goes through the air and everyone is looking around in confusion as the sky lets out an ominous rumble. Clouds darken the sky and nobody moves, waiting for something to happen. Gundam leaps to his feet, going for Usami. Komaeda seems to have the same idea, and they're halfway there when a crackle resounds across the beach and a taunting voice speaks through the monitors scattered everywhere.
"Mike check, mike check! Is this thing on?" All of the monitors light up with a distorted image. "Ah~ I just love tropical islands!" Gundam feels himself paralyzed in fear. What about this voice scared him so much? Nothing but the waves, the wind, and the voice could be heard. All of the students stand silently. "Upupu, are you guys scared? It's okay if you are, I would be too! I'm such a spooky guy after all! Anyway, you bastards being scared isn't important. I want you guys to head to Jabberwock Park so we can close this boring introduction. And don't bother changing, I've locked all the doors on the island. The cold is just so despair inducing, don't you guys think? Upupupu..." The monitors shut off and everybody slumps as the fear leaves them. Gundam clenches his hand. What did that rabbit do? This definitely wasn't supposed to happen. Before he can confront her, Usami runs of, claiming she 'has to do something about this'. Gundam swears under his breath. The six clothed students run after her, leaving the rest of the bathing suit clad class standing dumbfounded.
"...Come. Let us advance. We waste valuable time by standing here." Gundam motions in the direction the others went and a few students move to follow him. Koizumi puts her hands on her hips.
"You can't be serious! We can't just go in our swimsuits! It's indecent, and what if we catch cold or something?" Gundam rolls his eyes.
"Please. That... thing said we need to go. And all the doors are locked."
"We can just go to the supermarket-"
"All of them." The two square off, staring each other down, before Komaeda steps in between them.
"C'mon guys, we don't need to argue here. Maybe we can just-" The monitors crackle to life again.
"Maybe I didn't make myself clear enough~ There's a time limit now! You have two minutes." The monitors shut down, and the kids stand confused again.
"ONE MINUTE AND FOURTY-FIVE SEEEEEEECONDS!" Nidai roars a few moments later and everyone on the beach takes off for Jabberwock Park at full speed.
Note: Because I found it funny that in the game Monobear let the kids who went swimming change back into their clothes. Also this is kind of a filler chapter for the huge one I'm writing next for the end of the prologue.