ACT 1: Begin
That Summertime Sadness
"Um... This is an announcement from Hope's Peak Academy's Field Trip Executive Committee. Good morning you bastards! It's another beautiful tropical day, enjoy it for all it's worth. It could be your last... Upupupu..." Gundam wakes up with a groan. Sunlight makes a semi-successful attempt to push through the curtain covering his window. When he tries to get up, he realizes he can't feel his arm. With a grunt, he glances over, finding the dancer layered over it. When he tries to move his other arm, he can't move that one either. The animal breeder looks over in annoyance, finding the luckster laying on that one. He traces the boy's body with his eyes to find his legs pinning down Gundam's torso. He takes a deep breath, then bellows loudly.
"Release me from your hold! Did you not hear the malicious creature's announcement?!" Komaeda wakes with a start, rolling off of the bed and landing with a dull thud. Saionji just rolls over, keeping his arm trapped under her. She slaps Gundam sleepily.
"Shut up... I'm trying to sleep..." The white-haired boy sits up silently, rubbing his head. Gundam rolls his eyes and pushes the dancer off of his arm. Pins and needles flow throughout his entire body, and he quickly shakes them away. After standing up, Gundam reaches forward, grabbing the girl under her arms and hauls her off of the bed, placing her on her feet. She sways unsteadily before falling backwards, back onto the bed. "I don't wanna leave..."
"Oh please. This is not the time for that." Gundam crosses his arms, but Saionji ignores him, grabbing a pillow and covering her face with it. Komaeda moves to sit on the bed, forearms resting on his knees. The luckster sighs.
"Tanaka-kun, yesterday was a thing, you know." Komaeda looks up at him and Gundam deflates.
"Shit..." He had hoped it was a dream or something. Gundam had fully expected to wake up, having dreamed the entire fiasco that had happened yesterday. No dice. He groans and presses his palm against his face. "I did not want to believe that was... a real occurrence."
"Nobody does..." A knock at the door interrupts them, and Gundam goes to answer it. The gymnast, Owari, stands there, picking at her ear with her pinkie finger. She opens an eye as the door opens. Gundam grunts.
"What is the reason for disturbing my slumber, lithe one? I see no reason for you to be interrupting the precious time I need to groom the Four Dark Gods of Des-" Owari stops him by pushing her finger to his lips. Then pushing until Gundam is forced to take a step back.
"Shh. Shut up. I don't care."
"Hn-!" Gundam sputters, unsure of why he's been getting cut off a lot recently. He slaps her hand away from his face. "Don't touch me again, foul human! Do you realize what kind of risk you take by doing that?! Such a simple seeming action could easily disintegrate your very being! And if it didn't I would gladly destroy you mys-"
"I said shut up. God, you talk a lot." Owari cocks her head, looking annoyed, and places a hand on her hip. "Jeez, if I had known you'd talk so damn much I wouldn't have volunteered to do this."
"Do what?"
"That Togami guy. He wants everyone to meet up in the restaurant. Dunno why. Don't care why. Just take your time, alright? He's stopping breakfast as soon as everyone gets there, and I'm hungry." The girl glances past Gundam, spying Komaeda sitting on his bed. Her eyebrows fly up. "Woah. I guess I didn't need to tell you to take your time. You look like you're busy." It's just now that Gundam remembers he doesn't have a shirt on. Damn it. Owari laughs, turning and walking away. "Later, dude."
"No! It's not-! Hng..." Gundam's protests die out as she walks away. "I swear by the unspeakable name of the divine judge..." The animal breeder grumbles and slams the door. Saionji bursts into a fit of laughter as soon as the door shuts. Komaeda chuckles quietly. Gundam jabs a finger into the luckster's chest. "Do not laugh! This concerns you as well!" Gundam feels his eye twitch as the boy just laughs again.
"Sorry Tanaka-kun. It's just... hehehe... your reaction." He covers his mouth with hand. Gundam points at the door angrily.
"Out." Komaeda just smiles and gets up. Saionji stifles a few giggles and Gundam glares at her too. "You as well." She huffs angrily.
"That's unfair, Big bro Tanaka."
"I really do not care." Saionji sighs and slides off of the bed, fully awake now. She grumps angrily after Komaeda, who's already on the boardwalk connecting the houses. The luckster turns back to Gundam with a smile. "We'll see you at the restaurant in a bit?" After receiving a nod from Gundam, Komaeda and Saionji walk away. The animal breeder hears an excited 'Big Sis Koizumi!' and chuckles. Gundam spends the next five minutes getting dressed and grooming his hamsters.
"Alright. Come my lords, a feast waits for us!" He sticks out his arm and the hamsters jump onto his hand, running up and nestling themselves into the nooks and crannies of his clothing. Gundam heads out of the cottage, passing Pekoyama on his way to the hotel. She stops him for a moment.
"Ah. Tanaka. Good morning. I was wondering if you had seen Souda or Hinata recently. We're still waiting for them. And you." Gundam raises an eyebrow and racks his brain. He did see the mechanic, who was blubbering his eyes out and soaking his feet in the water off the edge of the boardwalk. Hinata, however, was a mystery.
"I have seen the mechanic. He was acting like a punished child, sobbing his childish eyes out near his cabin. As for Hinata..." Gundam crosses his arms and closes his eyes. "I'm afraid I cannot help you there." Pekoyama nods and thanks him. On his way to the restaurant, Gundam passes Nanami, playing a game on the machines there. He shoots her a look.
"What? I just wanted to play a game." The gamer just stares at him blankly. Gundam shakes his head with a sigh and heads upstairs. He gazes over all of the kids sitting at the tables, talking and eating quietly. Kuzuryuu sits silently by himself on the other side of the room. Togami stands by the stairs, chastising Gundam for being late. Nidai and Owari sit together, near Mioda and Tsumiki. Next to them sit Koizumi and Saionji, the latter practically in the former's lap. Komaeda causally chats with Hanamura and Sonia. When the princess spots Gundam, she waves him over.
"Ah! Tanaka-san! You can sit with me!" Hanamura wilts slightly, but otherwise welcomes Gundam over. He nods and grabs some food on a plate, mainly for his Four Dark Gods. He places himself next to Sonia, who happily forces him into the conversation. He listens politely, feeding his hamsters as the others talk. Sonia proceeds to gush over how cute him feeding them is and Gundam yanks his scarf up over his cheeks, mumbling his thanks. The stairs creaking makes him turn his head, finding Hinata and Nanami standing at the top. Pekoyama had also managed to slip into the restaurant without him noticing.
"You're late Hinata. And where's Souda?" Togami keeps his arms crossed, staring intensely at Hinata. The boy looks like he's about to take a step back, but remembers he's standing at the top of the stairs. He visibly swallows.
"Uh... he uh... ran off. He said he was running away."
"U-um... is there even anywhere to run away to?" Tsumiki quietly asks, then cowers as though somebody is going to hit her or something.
"Big bro Souda's just being a huge dumb head! There's nowhere to run away to!" Saionji giggles evilly and pops a strawberry into her mouth.
Nidai huffs. "Can we really blame him though? After what happened yesterday..."
"Haha... something happened yesterday? Strange, I don't remember that." Hanamura combs his hair nervously. Koizumi shushes him with a glare.
"Anyway, why are we all gathered here?" Togami just turns to stare out of the window.
"We're not starting until Souda gets here." A chorus of groans rises through the restaurant. Hinata just looks confused.
"Ah, you gathered us here Togami? What are we even going to talk about?" Owari smashes her fist into her palm.
"Obviously we're going to talk about how to take down those Mono-whatevers!"
"B-b-b-but they've got all those g-g-guns though!" Tsumiki stutters out, then cowers as Nidai bellows at her.
"BULLETS CANNOT PIERCE SPIRIT! SAY IT WITH ME!" Nidai and Tsumiki both repeat 'bullets cannot pierce spirit', one a lot louder than the other. Gundam bites back the urge to laugh. He scoffs instead.
"While that is a rather accurate observation, spirited one, let me give you some advice." Gundam smirks. "A truly strong person knows how to use their inside voice." Saionji snickers from across the room.
"Whatever. Let's just get this over with. I mean, it'll probably just be some sort of lame pep talk." She rolls her eyes. Gundam wonders where this attitude is suddenly coming from. Togami huffs.
"I've told you lot already. This is the last time I'll say it. We're not starting without everyone present." He glances away as though it's final. Koizumi lets out a disgusted noise and stands up, carefully moving Saionji off of her. The dancer whines, but the redhead just smiles pleasantly at her and Saionji quiets down with a pout.
"Look. I'll go capture him. Don't do anything stupid while I'm gone." The photographer angrily stomps out of the restaurant. Hanamura chuckles.
"I'd certainly let Koizumi-san capture me. I mean, she's already captured my heart." Gundam rolls his eyes. Mioda scoffs and Kuzuryuu, somehow hearing him from across the room, cringes.
"Disgusting..." Togami turns to everyone present.
"Well then. While she's gone, I suggest we use this time wisely. Let's eat!" The moment he finishes speaking, he dives into the piles of food sitting around. Everyone save Hanamura, Owari, and Mioda looks at him, partially in disgust and partially in awe. Gundam finds himself mesmerized. How it was possible for someone to eat that fast was beyond him. Due to his fascination, he misses part of the conversation about the food, brought back only by Hanamura's outraged shouts.
"I'm offended that you would compare my exquisite masterpieces to this... 'food'. Ugh." Hinata, who had placed himself on Sonia's other side, leans back in surprise.
"Woah, don't get so upset!" Hanamura points an accusing finger at Hinata.
"I have every reason to be upset! My food is so much flavorful and visually appealing than this! You'll be astounded when you try it!" Pekoyama raises an eyebrow.
"What do you mean?" Hanamura just chuckles.
"It won't just be your jaw that drops! Your underwear will fall too!" He points at Pekoyama. "Like your black thong!" The swordswoman blushes heavily, and Hinata reels back in surprise. "Your blue boxers aren't safe either, Hinata-kun." The boy's eyebrows shoot up into his hairline.
"Y-you bastard! How did you..." Pekoyama accuses Hanamura and excuses herself from the table, making the cook chuckle quietly. It's then that a door slams downstairs, and the students can hear a whimpering. Koizumi and Souda walk up the stairs. Koizumi puts a hand on her hip and pushes Souda forward.
"Sorry. Have we kept you waiting?" Souda sniffles pathetically and Koizumi bops him lightly on the head. "Quit whining. Aren't you embarrassed as a man, acting like a little kid?"
"Leave me alone... I wanna go home..." The mechanic pulls the beanie down over his eyes. Koizumi just groans and goes back over to her seat. Togami gets up, blocking the stairwell with his girth. This forces Souda to have a seat, taking the nearest one, which is next to Hinata. The boy pats Souda on the back as he whines. Saionji giggles menacingly.
"Hehe. Big bro Souda looks tough, but he's just a big ol' scaredy cat on the inside. People like that are often the first victims, you know." She shoots Souda a smirk and the mechanic wails.
"Lemme go hoooooooome!" Togami shushes everyone by clearing his throat.
"Well. It looks like everyone is finally here. Maybe we'll actually be able to begin." This sends the group into a huge discussion, which is clearly not the thing they're supposed to be talking about. Hinata goes around and talks to everyone. Gundam just brushes him off.
"Eat well, my Four Dark Gods of Destruction. Feed heartily!" Hinata raises an eyebrow and leaves. Eventually, everyone quiets down, with Togami shooting a harsh glare at everyone.
"Ahem. Let's begin. Now." The imposter heir adjusts his glasses. "Let me ask you all a question. Right now, what is of the utmost importance?" Kuzuryuu scoffs at him.
"Feh. What a retarded question. Just get on with the damn lecture already." Togami crosses his arms and glares. "If you want me to 'get on with the damn lecture' then you will answer the question."
"Food obviously. Food and sleep." Owari stops stuffing her face to answer, then goes back to messily shoveling food in her mouth. As strange as it is to say, Owari eats a lot less... interestingly than Togami. Gundam quickly turns away from the mess she's making.
"And bowel movements." Nidai gets an intense look in his eyes. "EAT WELL, SLEEP WELL, SHIT WELL! THERE IS THE ANSWER!" Togami waits for a moment before sighing.
"...Are there any serious answers?" Komaeda strokes his chin before hesitantly speaking up.
"Are you talking about bonds?" Hinata just looks confused.
"Huh?" Komaeda continues.
"I mean, if all of us work together, there's nothing we can't do, right?" Komaeda smiles. "Together, we can produce a hope that will shine brighter than any despair! So we just need to stick together and we'll all be okay!" Saionji blows a raspberry into the air.
"Big bro Komaeda, I can't believe you said all of that seriously!" Komaeda scratches the back of his head and laughs.
"Aha, sorry. That was kind of corny, wasn't it?" He shrugs.
"No... he may be onto something." Pekoyama, having moved far away from Hanamura, says. "After all, Monobear made these rules with the intent of making us doubtful of each other, did he not?" A few students apparently hadn't checked the student ID since they got it, pulling it out and going over the 'Mutual Killing' rules. Togami smiles.
"Perfect answer." He crosses his arms, his smile quickly falling into a smirk. "In a situation like this, we must stand as a unified group." The few students that weren't listening before start paying attention. "But these naïve 'bonds' are not what a group needs to be held together." Komaeda looks confused.
"Then what do we n-" Togami cuts him off by flinging his arm out in a grandiose manner.
"What we need is a leader!" Murmurs of consent flow through the room. Nidai nods in agreement.
"Every good team has a captain, this is true."
"And I think we are in full agreement that said leader will be me." The room falls into silence.
"...Huh?" Hinata voices everybody's opinion. Togami brushes him off.
"Alright, now that the preliminaries are settled, we can get onto the main issue..."
"Hold up just a moment!" Koizumi stands up, pointing her finger at him.
"...What?" Togami looks at her in irritation.
"Huh? I mean... uh... don't you 'what?' me!" She puts her hands on her hips. "That's way too aggressive! You can't just up and declare yourself leader! What makes you think you're qualified to lead us anyway?" More murmurs, this time from students who agree with Koizumi, make themselves known. Gundam leans back in his seat and scoffs. This should be good.
"Is there anyone better to lead than me?" Togami raises an eyebrow. "In case your simple mind has forgotten, I'm Byakuya Togami, Super High School Level Heir." Gundam scoffs again, and Togami looks at him strangely. Komaeda shoots Gundam a warning glare. "Anyway, it's been pretty much decided by the moment of my birth. I was born to lead and that's that."
"W-well you're still too aggressive!" Koizumi bristles, slamming her palms against the table. Komaeda raises his hands, moving in between the two.
"Koizumi-san, hold on a moment. I agree Togami-kun is being rather aggressive, but considering out situation, isn't that somewhat of good thing?" Koizumi backs down slightly.
"W-well yeah, but... what about Sonia-chan? She was born to lead too."
"Oh, I don't think I'd be a very good leader in this situation. My role is more um... how would you say... decoration?" Sonia cocks her head and smiles at Koizumi somewhat guiltily. The photographer sighs and sits back down, a light blush on her face.
"Well... if everyone else is alright with it..." Togami grunts, turning back to everyone else.
"Well then. It's decided. Unless someone else wants to object." He waits a moment in silence then nods. "Do not worry. As long as I am your leader, no one will die. I will lead you all to safety. That, you simpletons, is a promise." Mioda practically jumps out of her seat, nearly knocking Tsumiki out of her's in the process.
"Kya haaaaa! That was so cool and reassuring! Byakuya-chan is so cool!" Togami looks at her with a strange look, then clears his throat.
"Anyway. Now onto the main issue. There is something you need to see. Follow me to Jabberwock Park." The heir stands up without warning and stomps out of the restaurant. A few students, namely Nidai and Mioda, jump up and dash after him. A few others reluctantly leave their breakfasts and follow. Hinata sighs.
"He sure is aggressive." Koizumi runs a hand through her hair.
"I think we picked the wrong leader." Most of the students file out, complaining and grumbling. Gundam glances around. The only ones left are him, Hinata, Owari, and Komaeda. Hinata comes over to the animal breeder and the luckster.
"Eesh. Either of you have any idea what just happened?" Gundam rolls his eyes and Komaeda scratches the back of his head.
"I guess it doesn't really matter. We should get going, Hinata-kun." Gundam nods.
"Come, fools. The Four Dark Gods of Destruction desire action. Onward!" Gundam marches out with Komaeda, leaving Hinata with the gymnast. They pass Sonia, Saionji, and Koizumi on the way out. The princess peppily waves to Gundam, who hesitantly waves back. The photographer urges them on, telling the pair it's a girls only meeting. Saionji sticks her tongue out at the two, then winks at them. The pair continue on. Komaeda turns to Gundam after they pass the cottages.
"Tanaka-kun, what do you actually think of Togami-kun being our leader?" Gundam closes his eyes and crosses his arms.
"I think that he has obviously never met the real Togami." Komaeda chuckles.
"That's for sure."