AN: Short chapter this time, sorry. Anyways please review, give me feedback on what I can improve and I'll appreciate the pointers.
Bit of a reminder that I don't own Danganronpa.
Day 16, 1245 Hours, Cafeteria
Ferris and Atsuko were enjoying lunch with Mary when they found them, while Rowland sat not too far off conversing with Alexander and Chloe, although the survivalist's responses were mostly one worded or gestures. Paris mumbled something about getting food and ducked into the kitchen as John sat across form Ferris and slid the journal over to him.
"Found this in the library," John said in hopes that the others would buy it, hoping Mary was too engrossed in her conversation with Atsuko to notice, "think you'll find it interesting."
"Believe I will! Any ground breaking discoveries besides what Rowland and soldier boy have told me?" Ferris said leaning forward with a conspiratorial gleam in his eye.
"Probably not," John responded giving half an ear to what the girls were talking about, deciding not to intrude when he realized the topic was Jane and how she was doing.
Paris arrived, carrying food for the both of them, allowing John to forget his worries for a second as she and the others engaged in conversation about life before the game, more people joining in as the conversation progressed and people came back from exploring.
Paris talked about the time she accidentally kicked an opposing goalie in the face and in her rush to make sure they were okay and apologize had yelled 'ARE YOU SORRY?' causing the person to leave the field in tears. Ferris had an amusing anecdote about joining a gang by accident when he helped a kid carry some things upstairs. Alexander divulged some of his less sensitive military workings, usually interacting with some of the men he worked with. Rowland narrated a short story about his family, telling about the time his older sister lost a fight to a mouse, much to his younger brother's amusement. Mary told of the time she shoved a critic off a pier because he complained the colors of a painting she had made for her uncle who was a fisherman had been a poor choice for the inside of a boat because they didn't match the atmosphere.
Chloe after a while told a few stories about hanging out with her cousins, about the time that a few others showed up. Louise talked about how she met Ferris, and how the eccentric chemist had greeted her by saying 'What is on the up? The roof, sky, space, stars, HA! Now come up with a stupid comeback.' Wilbur recited the group about sledding with his family during winter, witch Billy suggested he try skiing, mentioning he did it with his little sister. Jane told them about a time one of her coworkers accidentally burned off their eyebrows which elicited a condensing laugh from Perdita, who responded by saying that her none of their business when pressed for a story, while Barry who was leaning against a wall towards the back simply said "I had a falling out with my folks, why I started playing really."
After this John figured it was his turn and told them of the time he and his brother played catch and broke the neighbor's window, while Atsuko told them of how her family practiced Japanese traditions. There probably would have continued sharing if a voice hadn't interrupted them.
"Ah, aren't you all so cute! It's sickening," said Monokuma, standing on an empty table with Shi-ru a few paces behind him with a large stack of envelopes.
"Another motive? So soon?" Rowland asked.
Monokuma spluttered as Rowland stole his thunder of announcing the motive but recovered quickly, replying, "Yes! Can't have you bastards all becoming so buddy-buddy again can we? And you know as they say, no rest for the wicked, and some of you are very wicked," the childish voice taking a darker urn to the end as the penguin animatronic began passing out the envelopes.
Taking his John opened it to find that it read:
Due to the fact that John is an extremely boring loser with no discernible features, instead of one of his stupid boring secrets, we'll tell the world he doesn't have a brother, but a sister, if no one dies within three days.
John blinked for a second not fully realizing what he had just read. The everyman growled as he turned on the bear.
"How DARE you try and bring my family into this. They don't need to be brought into this!" he shouted advancing towards the bear.
Monokuma giggled as John was stopped by a firm grip on his arm. Turning, he saw that it was Chloe who was gripping his arm and shaking her head.
"Zero chance of survival that way, and it doesn't do them a lick of good," she said as he attempted to tug away from her vice-like grip.
John subsided after a few seconds, causing Monokuma to burst into gales of laughter at the defeated expression he wore, Chloe releasing him as he moved away from the bear.
"Sorry mate," Shi-ru said apologetically, "tried to stop him."
"And failed horribly! Isn't it just so despairing?" Monokuma said gleefully doing a pirouette before saying, "Remember three days!"
After that, he and Shi-ru vanished, and silenced once again took control of the room.
Alexander cleared his throat after a second and said, "Perhaps, we should try and neutralize the motive before it takes effect, and share the secrets which are being used against us."
John surprised everyone by saying, "It's, not my secret to share."
"Well," Perdita said after silence once again regained control, "if he isn't sharing, neither am, I."
She flounced out of the room, John following her with a muttered sorry, disregarding the people calling out to him. This was a low blow even for Monokuma, and John was feeling it. He would have shared if it had been his secret but, he couldn't share his brother's. John barely registered that he had gone into his room and flopped down on his bed.
When he did, it was only because the sound of knocking took his attention away from the surroundings of his pseudo room. He debated opening it, but decided that he was done for the day and needed to digest the information he had been presented. He didn't know how long he had just been staring at the decorations but knew that he might as well try something productive.
"Shi-ru," he called, hoping slightly that the penguin would fail to respond.
"Yes?" came the bird's tired voice as he appeared next to John.
Sighing John said, "Could you get me a computer? Perhaps a laptop?"
Nodding the penguin vanished; leaving john in silence except for the knocking which was interrupted as the door suddenly swung open and a package was quickly shoved through. A foot shot out to keep it open but John saw a blue and a white flipper grab it and pull it back as the door slammed shut.
"There you go," the penguin said, reappearing beside John, "consider it a favor because of, you know, I don't usually do this kind of catering thing."
Nodding to show his thanks, after which Shi-ru vanished, John began unpacking the laptop, according to the box. The sounds of knocking and voices through the door died away after a while, as John set up the laptop and did his best to get it working. Eventually he managed to open it and get all the programs he could working, some had been encrypted and blocked by firewalls, making him suspect that it might be similar to Adam's journal; and opened up a document and began typing in what he knew.
He started it like a journal, explaining all that had happened, waking up, the time spent in peace, the motive and Ferris's decay, Amelia's murder and Adam's trial and execution, finishing with the events of today, the new motive and information that had been gathered. John paused in his typing. After a moment he typed:
What does this show about the power that our captor has over us, all this missing time. What was encrypted in the lab taken with Adam's journal suggests that we all met and possible became friends. If this is so, does that explain why the bear is so dead set on our deaths being on each other's hands? Will the return of our memories in the future be used to drive the survivors to such lengths as to commit suicide, or worse? I am afraid, my refusal to tell my brother's secret may lead to someone's death because it broke whatever chance we had of defusing the motive right off the bat.
I hope no one does
John stopped typing as someone knocked on his door and called to him about going to dinner. It would help undo damage done by his reaction if he showed, but he didn't really feel completely prepared. John shook his head and finished his thought, changing the last word to do so.
I hope no one kills.
John closed the laptop, the lid clicking against the bottom, before standing up and opening the door, finding Paris along with Jane and Billy waiting for him. After confirming he was alright t the nervous soccer player and offering a greeting to the special effects wizard and the behavioral analyst, John moved down the hall towards the cafeteria, vowing to go to bed after the meal.