"Hmph..." Gundam puts his feet up on the table, apple in hand. The animal breeder sits alone in the diner, taking a break from walking around. He had explored the islands before they started up the real simulation and this whole debacle began. Gundam had split up with Komaeda after meeting Tsumiki at the pharmacy. Komaeda was always more of a people person and Gundam, well, he was an animal guy. So the animal breeder sits in the diner, absentmindedly enjoying some peace and quiet. He honestly hopes it stays this way. The bell above the door rings as it opens. Gundam glances at the person coming in, surprised to find Kuzuryuu glaring back at him.
"Oy, what are you doing here?" The gangster remains standing in the doorway. Gundam snorts and goes back to looking out of the window.
"I could ask you the same question, obscene one." He takes a loud bite out of his apple, causing the gangster's eye to twitch.
"Yeah? Well why don't you clear out before I get angry?"
"I see no reason for such an action. I have no desire to depart from this spot." Gundam crosses his arms and turns to stare at the gangster with a half-lidded look of annoyance. Kuzuryuu bristles.
"You're really pissin' me off. I'm not in the mood to deal with your shit, especially not after that fucked up stunt you pulled during the trial." Kuzuryuu stomps angrily into the kitchen, walking out a moment later with a plastic tray in his hands. The tray holds a hamburger and a little, thin carton of french fries.
"Oh please, I was merely saving you asinine mortals from making a gargantuan mistake." This seems to just make the gangster angrier, making him take a harsh bite out of his food. He swallows roughly and glares at Gundam.
"I'm not talking about you almost getting yourself killed like a dipshit. I'm talking about that fuck-witted comment you made about Peko."
"Oh, that?" Gundam scoffs. "That was merely a method of stopping you from acting like an unnecessary fool. You need not constantly insult the people you reside on this island with. You do realize that angering the wrong people will have severe repercussions." Kuzuryuu doesn't take kindly to this. He slams his palms onto the table and stands up. Gundam shoots him an uninterested look.
"You know what? Fuck you, you stupid retard. At least I have the might to back up my words." Gundam narrows his eyes.
"What is that supposed to mean, you imbecile?" Kuzuryuu grins evilly, finally having the upper hand.
"I'm saying that even though you act like a tough macho man, you're really just a prissy little bitch that screws around with his stupid furbags all day." Gundam clenches the apple core in his grip. He slams his free hand into the seat of the booth, pushing him up and giving him enough momentum to roll onto his feet. Gundam stands up on the table, glaring down at Kuzuryuu.
"You best cease your empty hostilities against me and four of the most deadly creatures in existence, lest you be smote where you stand." The two boys stares each other down, when the door bell jingles again. They both glance at the new person, a very startled Mioda. She gasps when she sees the two boys squaring off.
"Oh no! The Mutual Killing is here too!" The light music club member lets out a shrill shriek and dashes out of the diner. Gundam and Kuzuryuu glare at each other, then follow Mioda out of the diner. They spot her running towards the beach house, and pursue her. Mioda skids to a stop, with Gundam and Kuzuryuu barely stopping behind her. The three stare as Nidai and Owari brutally beat each other, leaping through the air and smashing together. Owari drops her leg onto the coach, who catches it and tosses her up into the air again. He then leaps up and drives a savage punch into her stomach, sending her plummeting into the sand. Little grains of sand spray everywhere, peppering the three kids on the beach. It seems they're at the end of their battle. Nidai lands on the sand gracefully and walks over to Owari, placing a foot on her chest.
"You are WASTING YOUR ABILITIES!" The coach bellows at Owari. "You have so much potential and yet you do NOTHING with it!" The gymnast just huffs.
"Whatever." Mioda gasps, digging her nails into her cheeks.
"It's over, ladies and gents! Nekomaru-chan has singlehandedly ended the fight! Literally!" The light music club member throws her head back and howls, making Kuzuryuu cover his ears. Gundam flinches, reaching into his scarf to comfort the four gods resting within. One of them bites his hand, displaying their irritation.
"You! Do not make such an aggravating noise again! Your clamor weakens the integrity of the Four Dark Gods of Destruction!" Gundam shouts at Mioda, who matches his tone with a cheeky grin.
"Yes sir, Gundam-chan sir!" The animal breeder is about to tell off the girl when Nidai comes up to them, Owari sulking after him. Gundam addresses the coach.
"What was this fight about, spirited one?" Gundam raises an eyebrow.
"This was not a fight." Nidai crosses his arms and scratches at his nose.
"More like a b-b-b-b-beatdown!" Mioda chimes in, grinning. Nidai shakes his head.
"It was a training fight. We were sparring. It wasn't a real fight."
"That's bull. It looked damn real to me." Kuzuryuu stares skeptically at Nidai.
"Ha!" The coach lets out a curt laugh. "Please. It would be hard to have a real battle with a coach. It was nothing more than a quick spar."
"Quiiiiiick?!" Mioda gasps, leaning back so far she nearly falls over. "That battle lasted at least five minutes! That's way too many minutes for Ibuki to minute! She doesn't even have a minute making book!" The musician grips her face in mock horror.
"Again, it was not a battle. It was a duel." Nidai shakes his head.
"You bet it was a duel. A duel I'm going to win next time." Owari licks the scrapes she has from slamming into the sand. The gymnast spits out a glob of snot and blood, making Kuzuryuu take a step back to avoid getting the mixture on his shoes. He swears at her, but she doesn't respond.
"Gasp! She's alive!" Mioda puts a hand over her mouth, staring at Owari. Nidai just nods.
"There's no way one such as her would be taken down by something as simple as what we just did..."
"Simple?" Kuzuryuu scoffs. "I'm surprised she isn't fuckin' dead." Mioda nods in agreement and Gundam just snorts.
"Hah." Owari laughs, seemingly happy despite having been nearly beaten to a pulp. "It wasn't that bad. Besides, now I have something to look forward to." She grins, staring down Nidai, who glances impassively at her. "Old man Nidai is strong, sure, but I'm going to prove that I'm stronger!"
"If that is the case, then let me offer you some advice." Nidai turns his attention to her, staring into her eyes. "Your timing, your intervals, your application? Mediocre at best." Owari's grin falls, and she glares at the coach. "While you are certainly impressive, having gotten this far on talent alone, you will not be able to best even one of my weakest players with that kind of skill." Nidai jams a finger into the gymnast's chest. "You must TRAIN! AND TRAIN HARD! TO BE AN EXPERT, YOU MUST FIRST MASTER THE BASICS, DO YOU UNDERSTAND?!" Gundam, Kuzuryuu, and Mioda lean back as Nidai yells Owari.
"Bah. Whatever." Owari shakes her hand at Nidai dismissively.
"Perhaps when you learn this, we can spar again." Nidai crosses his arms, signaling the end of the conversation.
"Hah, I wouldn't miss that chance for the world, old man." She turns to walk away, when Komaeda comes up to the group of five.
"Ah! There you guys are! I've been looking all over for you." The luckster pants, as though he's just run ten laps around the island, which Gundam suspects he may have done, all things considered.
"What is it you wish from us?" The animal breeder raises an eyebrow, staring down Komaeda.
"It's not me. Togami wants us to gather by those ruins near the bridge to the central island."
"Eh? Ruins?" Owari scratches her head. "I don't remember any ruins."
"Feh, of course you don't." Kuzuryuu snarks. "Just follow my lead, you dimwit." The gangster walks away from the others, kicking up little flurries of sand. Nidai shrugs and follows him, the rest of them quickly following suit.
"Finally." Togami huffs, crossing his arms when he sees the six of them arrive. "You'd think that an order like I gave would be easy to follow out. I guess not." The imposter snorts and turns away. "Now that we're all finally here, we can begin our discussion."
"Yeah, but we're not all here. That kid with the weird hair isn't here." Owari chimes in, picking at her ear. A look of uncertainty crosses Togami's face when she mentions Hinata, but he quickly shakes it away.
"Whatever, we're wasting time. Someone, if we can find him, can tell him later." Togami begins talking again before anyone can continue on the Hinata subject. Gundam crosses his arms with a sigh. "Anyway, as I was saying before I was rudely interrupted, first things first. I want to hear reports. What did we find?"
"I-I found a pharmacy!" Tsumiki excitedly exclaims. She quickly launches into a fit of tears and apologies. "I-I'm sorry! It's just... it had lots and lots of medicine! I could give anyone a shot if they get sick or injured, so don't be afraid!" The nurse giggles excitedly. Kuzuryuu scoffs.
"If anything, you're just making people more scared." Tsumiki bursts into a sob, causing Koizumi to glare at the gangster.
"I found a library that had plenty of books on the occult, as well as serial killers and great heroes!" Sonia clasps her hands together. "There were so many interesting tales! One detailed the journey of a boy who bent vicious creatures to his will, becoming a great hero that was the strongest monster handler of them all! There was also one of a man dressed as a player of a sport where you hit a ball and run around bases, I think called baseball! He cleansed the world, but it turns out that he was the true evil the whole time! And one told of an underwater city meant to be a utopia, only for it to fall to vice and sin with the introduction of a valuable resource that made its users crave more and more! Ooh also-"
"Enough." Togami cuts her off. "This has nothing to do with getting off of the island. It sounds like you got caught up in reading fairy tales."
"Oh dear, it appears I did..." Sonia sighs. "I apologize."
"Yeah, I found a diner." Kuzuryuu remarks. "Although the mutt whisperer here also found it." Gundam feels his eye twitch. He is this close to beating the gangster's face in with his own fancy shoes. Nidai speaks up before Gundam's emotions get the best of him.
"There was nothing interesting with the private beach and the beach house, unfortunately." The coach shakes his head. "Just cases full of drinks and a broken shower..."
"Well that's that, then." Togami crosses his arms. "While you simpletons were flitting around uselessly, I was making an important discovery."
"But Togami-kun... You were just walking around this building..." Hanamura chuckles lightly.
"I am aware of that. But have any of you actually looked at these ruins? You can't tell me this doesn't look familiar." The imposter gestures at the building behind him. Everyone turns and stares at it for a few moments. Suddenly, it clicks in Gundam's head. These ruins... they look like Hope's Peak. He doesn't recognize them. Where did these ruins come from? A few of the sharper students quickly figure it out as well.
"Oh! I... see it!" Koizumi chimes in. Nidai nods in agreement. Komaeda glances over at Gundam with a confused look, to which the animal breeder responds by shrugging. Kuzuryuu snorts and looks away.
"Now follow me." Togami motions at the others, and the group obediently follows Togami as he marches up to where the front door would be. He stops just short of it, then points at the door. "Go clean that off."
"You're kidding... You can't just order us around." Koizumi says, putting a hand on her hip and sighing in irritation. Togami rolls his eyes.
"Someone go do it." He stares at the group until Komaeda heads toward the door and brushes some of the dust and grime off with his coat. He takes a surprised step back when he sees how... high-tech the door looks.
"Woah! Ibuki doesn't think that's normal!" Mioda runs up and helps Komaeda finish cleaning it off, wiping her hands on his back when she's done. Komaeda shoots the musician a weary look before taking a step back. The rest of them inch closer to the door to look at it.
"Hey look! There are words!" Mioda points excitedly to some scratches on the otherwise immaculate door. Gundam squints, noting that there are indeed words on the door.
"The words of the makers... they read 'Future'." Gundam crosses his arms.
"Yo, who cares?" Kuzuryuu grunts, walking up to the door. "Let's get this damn thing open. How's this stupid thing work?" Kuzuryuu bangs on the door a few times. Saionji laughs at him.
"How about the computer thing on the side? Gosh, I didn't realize how great and observant you are." The dancer snickers, placing a hand on her lips. Kuzuryuu glares, moving over to the small computer built into the wall next to the door.
"How about you shut the hell up? Now all we gotta do is figure out a password, and we'll be golden." The gangster reaches forward, finger tips centimeters from the screen, when Togami's voice stops him.
"Don't touch that."
"Hah, why should I listen to you? What's it gonna do, tell me I can't get in? Ooh, scary." Kuzuryuu scoffs, and goes back to press the screen, when Togami casually walks over and yanks him backwards by the jacket collar. Kuzuryuu swears, stumbling and nearly falling. Mioda and Saionji laugh, and he shoots both of them a death glare. "What the fuck?"
"I'm sorry, I didn't realize you wanted to die." Togami points up at something draped in vines and overgrowth. Upon closer inspection, Gundam can tell that it's a wall mounted machine gun, aimed right at the space in front of the computer screen. A few students gasp in surprise, and Hanamura lets out a pitiful squeaking sound. Kuzuryuu tenses up slightly.
"Bah, whatever. Looks like we're out of luck." The gangster flicks his hand dismissively at the door, making Saionji giggle.
"Why are you chickening out? What's the worst it can do, tell you that you can't get in? Ooh scary." She ends with a quiet cackle, making Kuzuryuu glare at her.
"Oh yeah? Well screw the gun, let's see the worst I can do." He starts marching toward Saionji menacingly. Koizumi goes to put herself in between the two, but Gundam acts faster. The animal breeder's instincts kick in, and he shoulders the gangster hard enough to make him topple into the dirt. Togami goes to break up the fight.
"Alright, that's enough." Kuzuryuu ignores him, launching up from the dirt to tackle Gundam to the ground. The animal breeder slides back half a foot with the gangster on top of him. Kuzuryuu throws a wild punch, catching Gundam in the jaw. A quick burst of pain shoots through him, and Gundam responds by thrusting his head forward, smashing his skull into Kuzuryuu's nose. He reels back slightly, and Gundam uses that chance to roll them over, pinning Kuzuryuu's arms to the ground with his legs. The animal breeder raises his arm to punch Kuzuryuu in the face. He hears a few screams in the background, but tunes them out. Gundam drops his fist, but Kuzuryuu jerks to the side, throwing Gundam's punch sideways and driving his fist into the dirt. The gangster then jams his knees into Gudnam's back and rolls backwards, throwing the animal breeder off of him. Gundam skids to a stop and jumps to his feet, Kuzuryuu doing the same. They square off, the rest of the world tuned out. That is, until Gundam feels himself yanked back forcefully by a meaty hand. His adrenaline gets the better of him and he swings around, intending to backhand his new assailant. Nidai simply catches the swing and uses it to flip Gundam over, throwing him to the ground. As the animal breeder stares up into the sky, dazed, he hears Kuzuryuu and Togami yelling at each other. Their fight brings him back into reality.
"... is enough! I am tired of you acting out for no reason!"
"Piss off! You can't tell me how I'm supposed to act!"
"I am your leader, you idiot! It's my job to tell you how to act!" The same arm that flipped him into the dirt comes into view, and Gundam takes the hand, letting it haul him to his feet. He looks wearily at the coach, who stares at him in slight disappointment. Gundam just scoffs.
"I realize that Kuzuryuu is being brash, but you must learn to control your feelings." Nidai says to him, crossing his arms.
"I care not for your advice, spirited one." Gundam says simply, turning away from the coach. A glance at Kuzuryuu reveals the damage caused. His suit is ripped in a few places and his nose runs with blood. Gundam runs a hand over his own jaw, feeling it already beginning to swell. The skin angrily buzzes at him when he touches it, spikes of pain jamming into him. The animal breeder gazes impassively at the horrified reactions of most of the other kids, interested only in Saionji's anger and Komaeda's worry.
"Oh goodness! Togami-kun, you should have let the battle continue, I had my money on the scarf kid!" Monobear cackles.
"Y-you were betting on their lives?! That's howwible!" Monomi glares at the monochrome bear. The kids turn to the two arrivals with varying degrees of anger and annoyance.
"Eesh, tough crowd." Monobear raises his arms in mock surrender.
"Tell us what this building is." Togami diverts his attention away from Kuzuryuu.
"Um... well..." Monobear looks confused, then worried, then guilty.
"How about you then?" The imposter turns to glare at Monomi, who starts shaking.
"W-well... y-you see... it uh..." The rabbit trails off, refusing to answer.
"Are you seriously not going to say anything?" Togami scowls at the two.
"Perhaps it has something to do with the reason this island is empty, aside from us..." Nidai ponders out loud, staring back at the building.
"But if they're hiding, it has to be for a good reason, right? Does that mean we're in trouble too?" Koizumi glances around nervously, then sighs.
"Yeah, all these theories are great... but it's a shame we can't confirm them..." Monobear scratches the back of his head.
"Why not?" Togami stares Monobear down.
"Well, you see..." Gundam raises an eyebrow. The bear seems almost... embarrassed. "I can't really get in there..."
"Eh?" Kuzuryuu looks at Monobear in disbelief. "Why not?"
"Well... Monomi and I may have the power to 'teleport' as you kids might call it, but I can't really... teleport into that building." Monomi gasps in surprise, but otherwise remains silent. "So yeah, it's a mystery." Monobear chuckles. "But I have high expectations for you bastards. You can do it!"
"So," Kuzuryuu grins, "all we have to do is find the traitor, then?"
"What are you going on about?" Togami glances at Kuzuryuu.
"Don't you remember? That raccoon thing said that there was a traitor. Obviously the traitor knows the password. We just have to find out who it is, rough 'em up a little, and get the password." The gangster turns to glare at Gundam. "My money's on weasel breeder here."
"Did you not find yourself satisfied with the beating you received earlier? I would gladly administer another." Gundam clenches his fist and takes a step toward Kuzuryuu, who laughs.
"I'd like to see you try." Kuzuryuu grins cockily at him, but Togami gets between them before Gundam can give Kuzuryuu the beating he so greatly deserves.
"Enough you two." Togami stops them. Kuzuryuu just rolls his eyes.
"Whatever." The gangster turns to Monobear. "So who is it? Who's the traitor?!"
"Upupupu..." Monobear covers his mouth and chuckles.
"Wh... what's so funny?" Hanamura asks shakily.
"Oh, nothing much. I was just wondering if you bastards had ever heard of the World Destroyers."
"Hey! Don't change the subject!" Kuzuryuu clenches his fist.
"No, no I get it. It sounds like a name made up by a kid in primary school, right?" Monobear chuckles. "It's a shame they actually exist."
"So who are these World Destroyers?" Togami stares down Monobear.
"Well you see, it's pretty self-explanatory. They destroyed the world!" The air gets weighed down with a heavy feeling.
"D-d-d-destroyed the w-w-world?" Tsumiki stutters out.
"Yup! And I'm not even exaggerating! They ruined the world. Death, destruction, corruption, the whole nine yards. Maybe the title of World Destroyers is pretty accurate, huh?" Monobear puts a paw on his 'chin', staring off in thought.
"A-are these terrorists of some sort?" Hanamura runs his fingers through his hair, hands shaking.
"Hmm... I guess you could call them terrorists..." Monobear snickers. "Although aren't terrorists the losers? 'Heroes' is what they call the winners, right? That would make these guys the heroes that destroyed the world." Gundam clenches his fist and the lies Monobear spouts. He doesn't want to say anything, but he knows this is wrong.
"That... that doesn't make any sense!" Koizumi says, clenching her camera strap. "Are you saying these World Destroyers put us here?"
"Mu... World Destroyers... does that mean Monobear and Monomi are part of this nefarious group?..." Nidai stares down at his fists, lost in thought.
"Curious indeed..." Monobear grins. "I guess the only thing we can say for sure is that the traitor and the reason you bastards are here... they are both undoubtedly linked to this World Destroyers group, huh?"
"What would make us targets of a super duper evil group like that?..." Mioda scratches at her head. The remark nearly draws a nervous chuckle from Gundam, but he forces it down.
"Bah, quiet. I've told you before and I'll tell you again, there is no traitor. Besides, that is the most far-fetched story I have ever heard. There is a point where things get practically nonsensical, and this 'World Destroyers' story crosses it. This is yet another one of Monobear's ridiculous spiels in a failed attempt to get us to kill each other. So piss off, you toy. We have no time for you." Togami crosses his arms and snorts.
"Hehehe..." Gundam finds himself chuckling at Monobear. "Not to worry, you dingus. I will remember your stories. As I dine over your ragged corpse."
"..." Monobear hangs his head and sighs. "So ungrateful, the lot of you. I spent my precious time to help you find out how you got here and you reward me by dismissing my facts as stories?..." Monobear bears his claws angrily. "Well fine! See if I ever try to help you bastards out again! I'm telling you the truth! It was the World Destroyers who trapped you here! That's why you need to find the traitor and kill them!" Gundam finds himself glaring at Monobear, knowing that the bear knows damn well the 'traitor' is dead.
"Y-you need to be quiet!" Monomi throws up her arms and shouts at the bear.
"Hah! Maybe it's you who needs to be quiet, sister dear." Monobear grabs onto the rabbit's ears, making her whimper.
"D-don't gwab my ears! Owww!" The students watch as Monobear drags off Monomi, both of them disappearing when they blink.
"...Ibuki didn't get any of that." Mioda glances around slowly.
"I am afraid I don't understand either." Sonia plays with the bow on her chest.
"Hmph. What does it matter?" Togami crosses his arms and stares at the ruins. "Monobear never says anything truthful. What is there to get, besides the fact that he's a filthy liar? Let's go back to the central island. It's getting dark." Gundam glances up at the sky, noticing it colored orange and streaked with purple. How long had they spent listening to Monobear's nonsense?
"It is late." Komaeda says. He runs a hand through his hair and sighs. "I think we should get to bed. We'll need to have our energy for whatever happens tomorrow, right?" A few of the other kids nod in agreement, breaking off from the group and heading back toward the hotel. Others hang around the ruins for a few moments before leaving as well. Gundam finds himself near the tail end of the group with Tsumiki. The nurse fusses over him, poking and prodding at his swelling jaw.
"Oh dear! I-I-I'm sorry! D-d-did that hurt?" Tsumiki pokes at his jaw again, making Gundam wince. It hurts to open his mouth to talk, but he has to get her to stop touching him.
"Yes. Yes it does. Now stop." He turns to look at her and she sniffles.
"I'm sorry..." She rubs at her face and Gundam sighs, placing a hand on her shoulder. Tsumiki flinches at his touch.
"Look. I apologize for my... unnecessary rebuke. I am just irritated by my injury. What do you recommend for it?" Gundam half-smiles, the bruised end of his face unable to follow the other end, at the nurse's happy expression at him asking her for help.
"Oh! Well I would recommend putting some ice on it, for sure. Try not to irritate it too much, and avoid food that would require excessive force to chew..." Tsumiki's smile drops as she continues. "O-oh! I'm sorry for t-t-telling what to d-do..." She tears up, but Gundam chuckles.
"Do not cry, timorous one. I asked for your advice, therefore, I appreciate you telling me what to do. I will apply said frozen liquid to my wound when I arrive at my cottage. Thank you." Tsumiki smiles shyly.
"Oh... it w-was no p-problem..." She giggles and Gundam smiles. While the other kids head back to their cottages, Gundam heads to the restaurant. He pushes the door open, entering the kitchen, and begins his search. It actually gets late enough that the nighttime announcement chimes through the restaurant. It's then that Gundam notices how dark it is, dark enough that he has to turn on the light to continue his search. He eventually finds what's he's looking for, a small plastic bag, that he fills with ice. He presses it to his face as he walks back to his cabin. The ice makes his face go numb after a few moments. The animal breeder has no idea if it's working or not.
"Hnn..." Gundam mumbles to himself as the ice chills his face. He heads into his cottage and begins to undress himself for bed. The Four Dark Gods leap out of his scarf, scampering up onto their perch again. Gundam chuckles, collapsing onto his bed ungracefully. The lack of stamina, both from standing around all day and fighting with Kuzuryuu, hit him and he's asleep just moments after he hits the mattress.