First of all, as usual... review replies!
TheRoseShadow21: I do feel like I have to apologize to you especially for the hiatus of 72nd Class since Yura was actually a character I grew fond of really quickly, since she and Sachi were, probably, the most interesting premise I'd seen in a DR story, so I'm terribly sorry for leaving them unwritten. As for your QoTC answer I have to agree on Ibuki and Kirigiri, although I find Chiaki to be slightly overrated. Ruruka though, really surprised me. I'm on the bandwagon that doesn't like her, especially since Izayoi was my favourite DR3 character, but as always, I obviously respect your opinion of her! Thanks for your review!
Katastic Writer: Thanks for understanding my point of view, and who knows, maybe I'll go back to it in the future! I'm glad you liked Kikyo and Maruko's FTE's and are interested by Yuzuru's! I have to agree with every one of your female favourites, no doubt about it. I do have to say I can't like Peko as an individual character as much as I absolutely love her design and relationship to Fuyuhiko, though. She took the same boat as Izayoi in regards to lack of character development besides her caring for her love interest and fully submitting herself when compared to him. But I can definitely respect your choices, especially that Ibuki there, haha. Thank you so much for you review, as always!
SongBirds-Lullaby: I'm finding that Kiyoshi seems to be a 'hate-him-or-love-him' character by the mixed reviews I'm getting from him. Kikyo, Yatarou and Tsukushi do make an adorable little group! How awful would it be if one of them dropped dead, huh? Thanks for your review!
Crimson Spider Lily: I'm glad to have you back on the reviews! I'd be interested in seeing your 'possible victim' list, if at all possible. Theories are always welcome! Your opinions on the free times and the little squad Tsukushi has going on for him were fun to read as always! Also, that's a lot of female favourites, although only Sonia and maybe Celes coincide with my top 5 favourites list. Again, thanks for the review!
BIBOTOT: I'll be sure to be a bit more careful. Thanks for reviewing!
ACT 2: No Hope Allowed
CHAPTER 4: SHSL Party Planners
EARLY MORNING
Location: Motel Entrance
The usual squad had grouped around in the motel entrance, mimicking the morning meetups we had at the kitchen back at the resort. I must say, being thrown around different sectors of the city ruins routines, but I can't be mad at all the different sceneries we'd be able to see. Now if only I could examine them all without being in such dire circumstances, maybe I'd be happier.
"You mean... you don't want to go home now?" Riou asked as we prepared ourselves to leave the hut.
"N-No, that's not it!" I defend myself, rolling my eyes at my loud thinking once again. "Of course I want to go home... I miss the offices and my family and friends too... but, aren't you curious?" I asked. It hadn't dawned on me until late last night, when I was trying to fall asleep... what I said during the trial, about finding out who the mastermind is and bringing them to justice... I really meant that. Maybe the secrets of Anghern would be worthwhile to uncover, especially since that'd mean we'd leave. Right?
"Tsukushi." the Boxer shook me lightly - which, with his massive strength, wasn't 'light' as all. "Get a grip, man! What do you mean?"
I sighed and crossed my arms, leaning against the inside of our motel room, right beside the door. "It's just... don't you want to find out what's happening? Who brought us here, and why? Why don't we remember anything about our school lives? What don't we remember? There's loads of questions..."
"Maybe you lawyers are keen on that shit." he confessed and sighed dismissively. "But me, I'm more of a physical kind of guy, you know? Not that I ain't curious, hell, I am... it's just I'd rather leave this shithole asap."
"S-So you're not gonna help, then?" I was a bit disappointed. For the past couple of days, Riou and I had gotten pretty close, and we'd sort of become emotional crutches to each other. We'd lounge around a bit at home, during meals or something and just hang out. So for him to say he'd just bail as soon as he can was a bit sad, although I can definitely understand him.
"Hey, hey, never said anything of the sort."
"Huh?"
Riou wrapped an arm around me and pat my shoulder blade, crushing me ever so slightly in between his biceps. "I want to leave this place as much as you do. But I'm not one to leave people behind, so I'll help. With what little I can. And then we'll leave here together, alive and well."
I sketched a smile onto my face and hugged him back for a while before cocking my head to the right, gesturing him to leave. "Thanks, Riou. Now, let's go."
The door opened and closed, and we were met by the grins of all others - even Shizuka and Kiyoshi. They all looked the happiest they'd ever been since the trial, which given the past few days, isn't saying much. The tension in the air had easened considerably since the moment the trial ended, and maybe that'd be for the best. There was still the shivering and shy Chigusa, tugging away at Maruko's clothing, and Yuzuru and Shizuka were as stern and distrusting towards others as always - although I'm not sure the Assassin was genuine about her distrust.
"Are you done with your inner monologue now, Mister Hananari?" Blackjack woke me up from my observations and bowed.
"S-Sorry, you guys. Morning!" I greet and receive a few other greetings in return. "What's the deal with today's meeting? No point in eating breakfast here."
"Yes, indeed. Plus, I believe everyone else ate using the food inside the fridge in their rooms?" Akahana asked rethorically, and judging by the lack of objections, it seemed she was spot on in her guess. "As I assumed. Now, the motive of the meeting is as follows... Kikyo, Yatarou and Tsukushi have an announcement to make regarding today's schedule." she reminded me of something I'd apparently forgotten overnight. The party!
Kiyoshi sighed and muttered a complaint. "Yeah, don't mention me. See if I care." he puffed his cheeks and crossed his arms in annoyance - a sentiment quickly dismissed by the Prosecuting Attorney.
"Er-hem" Frances cleared her throat to attract attention, and then asked. "Schedule? We never went by any strict schedule... aside from nighttime and these occasional morning meetings, we've got free reign over our days."
"That's correct, yes." Yatarou confirmed. "But us three spent some time together last night and... we had an idea."
Silence ensued. "Yeah...?" Yuzuru asked, almost as if she was genuinely curious about the festivities we had in store. "Out with it, already."
"We think we should host a party this afternoon!" Kikyo cheered, being received with little to no enthusiasm. "H-Hey, come on, guys. A party!"
"Party?" Riou squinted. "That's the first I've heard of it." he side-eyed me with a playful smile and I scratch my head. Leave it to me to forget stuff, I guess - which isn't really something a defense attorney can take pride in.
"Yeah, a party!" Kikyo confirmed and continued. "After all that's happened for the past couple of days, I think it'd work wonders for us as a group. There'd be food, and maybe some entertainment... I don't know. It'll be a small get together so we can relax, you see?"
Glances and stares were being thrown around us like dodgeballs and no one but the low rustling of the leaves in the wind dared break the silence of the motel. Kikyo, Yatarou and I exchanged worried looks and pondered in silence. Maybe the party is a lost cause? If we don't have any participants, then what good is it?
"Sounds good." Maruko smiled forcibly. "Count me and Chigusa in." the Gardener didn't seem too excited about the party, but she complied. With a sigh, she rubbed her sleepy fist against her eyes, draped by a few eyebags and tinted a slight red which I could only assume was from tears. I sketched a smile and she looked away, at her own feet. "U-Um..." the Translator caught my attention. "Anyone else?"
A new wave of silence came, but not nearly as long. "Sure." Akahana shrugged. "I do agree with you three... this is a good way to reform our bonds after what happened."
"Sak-jack and I can come too!"
"Sackjack?" Eita took wind of the Tapdancer's slip-up, but was ignored as Yori's voice rose above his.
"I would definitely like attending the party, should Eita be willing to do so..." he indirectly pleaded for the Estimator's appearance, which he agreed to without a second thought. "Thank you." the blind boy smiled and held on tighter onto Eita's arm, almost mimicking Frances and Blackjack, as well as Maruko and Chigusa.
"Good god..." Kiyoshi dragged out a complaint "I'm getting so many couple vibes here, fuck off with the pheromones, you guys." he yawned, earning a mirrored yawn from me.
Shizuka and Yuzuru were unfazed by the whole conversation. Their expressions remained unchanged throughout the entire planning and inviting, but eventually the Street Magician spoke up. "If you are all attending, I have no reason not to. There should be no danger."
"Y-Yeah, what he said." the Assassin agreed.
"Hmph, pushover." the Custodian groaned lowly.
"Aaaanyway..." Kikyo's energy was back in the form of a huge grin that took over the lower half of her face. "That makes all fourteen of us, right...?"
Looking around... Riou, Kikyo, Yatarou, Frances, Blackjack, Shizuka, Yuzuru, Eita, Yori, Maruko, Chigusa, Kiyoshi and Akahana were all in on the party? Was this actually happening?
I think I speak for most of us when I say I hardly expected this. Especially when Shizuka, Yuzuru and Kiyoshi were added in the mix - a trio that hadn't really been the most cooperative in group activity ever since we reached Verdant Views. But I can't say I'm not happy about the outcome of it all.
Maybe there is a slight bit of hope for us all.
"I, too, have an announcement to make." Blackjack interjected, making a few pairs of curious eyes turn to her. "But I shall make it after today's party. I feel as it's not right to do so right now."
"If you're not gonna say it now, don't get our hopes up..." Kikyo sighed with a pout. "Now I'm curious!"
Yatarou put a hand on her shoulder and smiled. "Don't worry, we'll find out soon enough, right?" he comforted Kikyo, and Blackjack nodded, confirming his statement. "See? Just wait a tiny bit longer."
"I believe we're done here?" Shizuka asked, turning around to return to his motel room, Yuzuru following behind him, not unlike a lost puppy.
"Yes." Akahana asserted. "I don't believe anyone else has anything important to say?" she asked and once again, guessed correctly as the lack of interruptions made itself clear. With that, Shizuka and Yuzuru went to their hut and the rest of us diverged.
Time to go and plan the party!
MORNING
Location: Anghern Gallery
Kikyo, Yatarou and I had been taking a walk around town for a few minutes, checking out the various buildings for the party's location. "But I thought we were going to do it at the park?" the International Tour Guide seemed to be a bit confused as me and Kikyo searched for a new place.
"Yeah, but I didn't remember something major yesterday night..." Kikyo explained. "Kiyoshi and Eita both reminded me of it this morning before leaving the motel. The park has a major bug problem, remember?"
"Hm, I think I remember Kiyoshi complaining about them." he recalled. "But, then again, what hasn't he complained about, am I right?"
I agreed with Yatarou with a small chuckle. "Can't argue that. But where are we gonna host the party? Valley Views had the resort but Verdant Views doesn't feel like the best party place... I mean, are we partying down at the shrine?"
"Hey, hey, hey, hell no! Not unless we take everything of value from it, and I bet you don't want to move all those scrolls and statues someplace else." Yatarou reminded and I nodded in agreement. "Maybe the library?"
Kikyo stopped in her tracks and went into full-on thinking mode. "If we take all the sculptures and tools from the art gallery and store them someplace else, maybe it'll be a good enough place for a party... I mean, it's got tables and it's a pretty big space. Oh, and libraries are supposed to be silent..."
"Well, maybe in the real world." I stated. "I don't think Monokuma would make a scene over us having a party in the library."
"I guess you're right... but with all the books and the dust, I don't think that'd be the ideal party place." Yatarou had a point, but the gallery - while not as dusty - also had its fair share of problems.
We all made our way to the gallery, encountering Yuzuru on the way who just nodded cordiously and walked away without a second thought.
"She isn't with Shizuka?" Kikyo asked with a slight tone of mockery in her voice, as she typed something out on her handbook and slipped it back into her pocket.
"Maybe she's gonna meet him somewhere." the International Tour Guide's guess wasn't too far out of the realm of possibility, I confess, but something was clearly wrong. Yuzuru seemed... a bit too rushed.
But maybe it's just me being paranoid... after all these past few days, can you blame me though?
Here we are. The Anghern Ar- "Riou?"
"Hm?" the Boxer turned around to greet us. "Hey, guys, finally... what do you need me for?"
"Huh?" I asked, with little to no idea of what he meant. "I didn't call you, did I?"
I felt a warm hand on my shoulder and a girl pushed past, between me and Yatarou. "No worries, I did."
"Oh, got you." Yatarou nodded and turned to Riou. "What are we gonna need our buddy bodybuilder for here, though? I doubt he'd be willing to help us clean."
"Hey, don't write me off as a useless mass of muscle." he muttered under his breath with a furrowed brow and clenched his fists, flexing his arms slightly. "I can help, hear me, pipsqueak?"
Yatarou rose his hands nonchalantly and looked to the side with a sly smile. "Just kidding, just kidding, don't hit me!"
"I called Kiyoshi too..." Kikyo checked her handbook once again. "But no dice. Sounds like cleaning is our job."
"Well, jeez, sorry if I'm not a SHSL Sprinter or some shit." I could feel Kiyoshi's eyes roll even if I wasn't facing him. "I'm here, I'm here, woop-dee-freakin'-doo. What you need me for?"
Kikyo's grin grew slightly. "Cleaning, duh!" she revealed and Kiyoshi threw her another eye roll as he entered the room.
"Figures." he sighed. "Good thing I cleaned some of this place up a couple days ago or we'd be having ourselves a dusty ass party... I sure as hell wasn't gonna clean that all in a day."
"So much for hating dirt, huh?" Yatarou hit the Custodian lightly with his elbow and he glared at the Tour Guide menacingly, although he was too busy smiling to notice. "Now then, let's get to work!"
A couple of cheers - and a groan (guess whose it was) - echoed in the musty gallery before we were all delegated different tasks and got to doing them as quickly as possible. Wiping a couple beads of sweat off my forehead, I looked around to see everyone hard at work. Riou was sweating bullets while carrying heavy sculptures around to places where they wouldn't bother us while Kiyoshi ran after him, angrily cleaning the circumferences of dust left by the sculptures' pedestals and the trail of dust Riou's feet were making all across the floor. Kikyo and Yatarou were cleaning up the tables while I finished carrying all the stray tools on them to the supply closet in the back. With every passing minute, the gallery looked more and more like a slightly adequate location to host a party at - although the Monokuma paintings on the wall were, at the very least, a bit unsettling.
No place to put them, though. If we did, that stupid bear might come over and bother us, so I'd rather abide by his dumb rules.
"Aaaaand that's that!" Riou wiped his gleaning forehead with his wrist and grinned at Kikyo's announcement. "This place looks great, guys!" she squealed, excited about the coming party.
"Hoo-wee, this took a while!" Yatarou sat down in a wooden stool and sighed.
"So, no one is gonna thank me?" Kiyoshi complained and yawned. "You know what, whatever. I never liked you guys, anyway." he groaned and crossed his arms.
"Thanks, Kiyoshi!" Kikyo smiled genuinely and hugged him from behind, startling him.
"H-Hey, what you doin'!? Let me go, bitch!" his face was quickly gaining a red coloring and he struggled to run away from the Hairstylist's embrace. "Y-You don't need to thank me, s-so just... ugh!" he insisted on being released, and that he was, but Kikyo's smile never left her face.
Riou's laughter sounded like a roar compared to Yatarou and I's joking chuckles. "Would you look at that!? Looks like the janitor pipsqueak's blushing now."
"Sh-Shut the fuck up!" he looked down and blushed even harder. "A-And don't call me a fucking janitor, you biceps-for-brains retard! I'm a Custodian, damn it. I'm leaving, see y'all later, dumbasses." he snapped and rapidly rushed out of the gallery.
We all laughed off Kiyoshi's discomfort as just that - discomfort. Maybe he wasn't keen on being hugged, or maybe he just isn't used to it. Can't say I feel any interest in hugging a nagging piece of crap like him, to be fair.
EARLY AFTERNOON
Location: Motel Room #1 (Tsukushi and Riou's Hut)
"Thanks a lot for the help today, Riou." I thanked him as he got out of the toilet, a towel wrapped around his waist.
He looked up at the top bunk, where I sat with a chicken sandwich and a can of Monokuma-brand lemonade in hand, munching away a couple hours before the party. "It's not like I had anything better to do. And I'm always happy to help you out." he shrugged, hiding himself in the bottom bunk, out of my sight. I looked down to see the dry shorts that hung on the stairs being replaced by the moist towel, and Riou groaned lowly as he got dressed.
"Yeah, I know, but I just wanted to thank you. You're the best, dude, seriously."
"Where's all the sappiness coming from, Tsukushi?" I could hear in his voice that he had a smile on his face, as he was probably making fun of me. "Nah, seriously, it's okay. It's like I told you, I... I really don't mind helping you out. If you ever need anything, hit me up, you hear?"
I smile and take another bite. "Loud and clear." I paused. "I want to ask you something."
"Y-Yeah?"
"What's your opinion on all this?"
By the sound of the mattress below, Riou was shuffling and shifting on the bed, making the metal railings shriek as he sighed. "I told you... it's kinda messed up. I mean, we're all being put in such an unreasonable position, you know? And all this sadness and such, it's really getting to me."
"I d-didn't mean that. I meant the party." I sighed as I corrected myself a bit too late, as, judging by his tone, my lack of specification put a bit of a lid on the Boxer's mood. "Sorry."
"O-Oh!" he recomposed himself. "What about it?"
"Do you think it'll help us get a bit closer again? Or do you think stuff will just be like this until the end?"
Riou sighed and took his time before replying. "I... I don't really know. I want to think this will all help us trust one another again... because that sure as hell ain't happening now. Ask the maths pipsqueak, he'll probably now. The dude knows the future or some crap, he'll tell you."
"Meh, I don't think he could." I recalled Eita's weak point and shrugged. "Let's just keep a positive attitude. I'm sure things will turn out alright if we don't let our negative thoughts get the best of us!"
"Yeah, let's hope that's what'll happen." Riou said as he went over to the fridge. "What about the party food? Should we take something?"
"Kikyo told me she'd ask Frances and Blackjack to make cupcakes, Maruko's gonna make sandwiches and she and Chigusa will bring fruit as well. Yori and Eita're gonna bring biscuits and Akahana, Shizuka and Yuzuru'll bring drinks." I explained. "Since Kikyo, Kiyo, Yatarou and us two already helped out with the place, we don't need to bring anything. If you want to make something go ahead, though."
The Boxer sighed. "Sounds good... I just hope there's not any chocolate."
AFTERNOON
Location: Anghern Gallery
"These cupcakes are awesome, dude!" Yatarou was sat down, munching on his third consecutive muffin while Frances smiled at the trays she and Blackjack had brought to the gallery and carefully set on the table. On it were various cupcakes with different colours. "Where'd you get the ingredients?"
"Strangely enough, Monokuma was the one who brought us all the necessary tools and ingredients." Blackjack revealed. "We simply asked for the essentials, but he insisted on giving us some more things than initially asked."
I suspiciously tilt my head to the right and frown. "Then are all these ingredients safe? It's not like Monokuma is incapable of poisoning some of it."
"We made sure to ask that, and he said he didn't... He said he wouldn't interfere with the game by killing someone himself out of nowhere."
Chigusa fidgeted on the farthest seat, to Maruko's left, looking intently at the covered table. "So Monokuma can net us free comida if we ask him?" the Translator asked.
"That'd make him quite the delivery man, but yes. According to what we know, yes." The Information Broker confirmed as Frances snuggled closer to her and shot me a quick yet soft glance. Blackjack looked at her and gave her a tiny smile.
"Awww!" Kikyo swooned. "You two're adorable together!"
Frances and Blackjack blushed and looked away from each other like a flustered soon-to-be couple would. "N-Nonsense. Frances and I are simply friends." the Tapdancer's expression grew a bit heavier and she looked down.
"Then how come you never call her 'Miss insert surname name' like you call everyone else around?" Yatarou's filled mouth didn't impede him from questioning Blackjack what also seemed to be on Kikyo and Maruko's mind, judging by her expressions.
"I-It is simply because we have grown closer to each other than I have with anyone else... don't look too into it." she broke her characteristic behavior by becoming as flustered as she did, frankly, but it's understandable. Being put on the spot like that would make anyone awkward.
The three classmates sighed, defeated. "Wishful thinking, I guess. You'd make a cute couple anyway, though!" Kikyo complimented, the Translator nodding in agreement.
"Th-Thank you." Frances smiled and tugged Blackjack once again. "Do you guys want to check on Yori and Shizuka? They're having a magic-off or something, it'll be fun!" she suggested, and we all went to the other side of the gallery.
Yuzuru and Eita were entranced by their friends' abilities, while Kiyoshi simply slumped, resting an elbow on his knee and his cheek on his palm, an uninterested expression on his face. Riou's eyes were squinted, as he was trying to wrap his head around the subtle movements behind the magic tricks. "Hm, very interesting." Eita commented to himself before standing up and whispering in Yori's ear.
"Nothing gets past you, huh?" he chuckled. "Yes, that's exactly how my trick works. Good job, again." he smiled politely as he congratulated the young Estimator.
"Hey, I wanna check it out too!" Frances chirped, dragging Blackjack forward to see the show, as well as Chigusa who, strangely, was lighting up ever so slightly with every passing minute.
I even heard her talking to Maruko in a decent tone of voice earlier.
Kiyoshi's yawn brought my attention to him, although no one else seemed to notice. "Check the magic tricks out, Kiyo, c'mon."
He looked at me sleepily and rolled his eyes. "Yeah, sooo interesting. Might shit my pants at how excited I am." he sighed. "Just knock it off. Magic isn't what teens do at parties. They drink and dance and shit. And play sexual games or whatever."
"S-Sexual games? Drinking and dancing? You're into all that?"
"Like hell I am" he shook his head. "You think I'm gonna leave my house just cause some stupid kids are wasting their livers and shoe soles away? Fuck that."
Somehow, that feels like something Kiyoshi would think. A good night of sleep or a nap beats any party to him, I reckon. "What about the games?" I was scared to ask, but did so anyway out of wanting to involve the Custodian in something.
"Nah." he simply responded. "I'm okay with that kissing game with the bottle but that's about it. Make me take off this jumpsuit and I'll bail."
"Wanna play it then?" I suggest.
"Huh?" his eyes scroll a bit more open. "I guess, if people join in."
"How'd I get roped into this?" Riou groaned as he was being forced to open up the game. Around the circular table sat everyone who'd gathered at the party, and in the center of it, an empty soda bottle. The bottle spun...
and spun...
and spun...
and it stopped.
"O-Oh" It was Yuzuru. Both their eyes shot open and they awkwardly shifted. Funny thing that they were already next to each other. "U-Um, do we really have to?" the Boxer complained. "I mean, come on."
"Hey!" the Assassin puffed her cheeks and furrowed her brow.
"That could be seen as quite offensive, Ryielo-san." Shizuka commented from the opposite side of the table.
"Hey, hey, don't back off now!" Kikyo had her elbows on the table, fingers intertwined over her sly and devious smile. "Time for a kiss!"
Riou turned his head to the right, and Yuzuru complied by turning to her left. Their faces got closer and closer, inching away slowly until they gave each other a quick peck on the lips before turning their backs on each other, both blushing. "Th-There!" Riou stuttered, looking away. "You all happy?"
"Nahh" Maruko joked. "Do it again!"
Riou glared at the Translator and shook his head. "Kn-Knock it off, pipsqueak. I did it once already!"
"Was it that bad?" Yuzuru muttered under her breath, rolling her eyes sarcastically. "Ugh, aaanyway. Next?"
First spin goes to... "M-Me!?" Chigusa whimpered with her eyes shot open. "O-Oh, okay..." she felt forced to accept her fate as she weakly spun the bottle. And the bottle spun...
and spun...
and it stopped.
"Let's do iiiiit" Yatarou chanted as he walked over to the Gardener, who had been surprised so much she'd gone completely stiff.
"U-U-Uh, s-s-s-sure..." she stuttered immensely as she clenched her eyes shut and leaned forward. Yatarou softly closed his and leaned to kiss Chigusa. And so they kissed... and kissed.
"G-Guys?"
And they kissed.
"Ayyy, someone's having fun."
And they stopped. "There. That's how you kiss." Yatarou boasted with a chest filled with pride, eyeing Riou and Yuzuru with a sly smile before winking at Chigusa and smiling at her.
She wouldn't move. "U-Uh, I'm gonna go to the bathroom. Maruko?"
"Oh?" the Translator saw Chigusa's expression and expressed a bit of worry for the Gardener. "Um, we'll be right back." And with that they were off.
"Hey, Yatarou, seems like you rocked Chigusa pretty hard." Kikyo mocked. "She'll probably throw up or something."
"I hope she's okay." Yatarou scratched his head. "I didn't go too hard anyway. No tongue or anything."
A round of chuckles spun around the table before the next spin. "Frances and... Blackjack"
"You've got to be kidding me!" Maruko squealed. "The cute would-be couple is kissing!"
"I would rather not force Frances to anything." Blackjack voiced with a stern voice, although her blush gave away her true feelings. She was embarrassed, as one would be by kissing a friend.
"Just a peck!"
"You can do it!"
"Don't chicken out now, c'mon!"
Cheers and words of encouragement rang clear in the Tapdancer and the Information Broker's ears, and eventually they faced each other.
The room fell silent as Frances and Blackjack looked each other in the eyes, but their necks wouldn't move. Seconds passed, and they simply looked at each other intently, following every movement. It seemed like time had stopped - no fly dared to buzz, no one spoke up and Frances and Blackjack didn't even blink. It was like something off a cheesy film, really. And that's when it happened.
Frances pulled Blackjack in for a kiss, and what a passionate kiss it was. The Tapdancer's arms were around Blackjack's shoulders, and hers were around Frances's waist. A round of 'awwww's filled the room and we all smiled, although not one of us managed to grin wider than Frances was after releasing the Information Broker from her grip. "Th-There" she said.
"Wh-Who's next?" Blackjack moved on with the game, nonchalantly.
Everyone exchanged looks. "Let us move on." Akahana said.
Round upon round made their way onto the game. Yori and Shizuka. Yuzuru and Eita. Frances and Akahana. Kiyoshi and Kikyo. Yatarou and Blackjack.
Kiyoshi and...? "Can I make a small suggestion?" Kikyo intervened. "I would like for this next round to be extra interesting."
"Hm?" I asked. "Tell us then."
"What if, for this round only, we play seven minutes in heaven?" she suggested. "It'll be a fun twist. And we're all friends here, so... what do you think?"
"I have to go into the closet then?" Kiyoshi raised his brow. "With... whoever is the next one here?"
To my surprise, no one had any objections to Kikyo's idea and so the bottle spun - with the stakes higher than ever.
"Shoot..." I mumbled as the bottle cap pointed at me. "Just my luck."
"Ah fuck." Kiyoshi cursed and stomped his foot. "Seven minutes with this shithead? In the closet?" he sighed.
"Them's the breaks, Kiyo!"
"I feel sorry for Tsukushi."
"You both agreed to it, soooo..."
Kiyoshi pounded his hand on the table and shut everyone up. "Yeah, yeah, I fucking get it, guys. Jeez... chill. Let's get this over with, Tsukushi." And we walked over to the closet, Akahana close behind with the key in hand and...
click.
Hang out with Kiyoshi?
[Yeah, sure] [Oh, heeeeeell no]
[It's not like I have a choice...]
Tsukushi: So... what's up?
Kiyoshi: Can you just not make this any more awkward than it already is?
Tsukushi: We're stuck here for seven minutes, Kiyo. Cooperate.
Kiyoshi: What're even supposed to do? Do I need to get on my knees and suck dick?
Kiyoshi: Cause I ain't gonna do it.
Tsukushi: I-I wouldn't make you... do that...
Kiyoshi: Can never be too sure, right?
Kiyoshi: Talk to me about shit, then. Go wild.
Tsukushi: I.. I haven't really talked to you before so...
Tsukushi: Tell me about yourself? How did Hope's Peak find out about you?
Kiyoshi: I worked as a janitor for my father. Cleaning has been my thing for ages.
Kiyoshi: Blame my sister for being a stupid little pigshit and turning my house around all the time.
Tsukushi: For someone as... laid-back as you, it's weird to see you clean for a living.
Tsukushi: And I thought you hated being called a janitor?
Kiyoshi: I fucking do! Which is one of the many reasons I hated my job back home.
Kiyoshi: My dad just ordered me around. Told people to 'call the janitor to fix it' and shit. Pissed me off.
Kiyoshi: And I had to scrub the entire fucking building down by myself. No one else did a thing.
Tsukushi: H-Hey, that's not cool... how come you didn't quit?
Kiyoshi: It was my dad's business, dumbass. Not rocket science, really.
Tsukushi: He didn't let you then?
Kiyoshi: You lawyers types really do have brains, huh. Yeah, he forced me to stay.
Kiyoshi: The pay wasn't bad, though. Especially for a family member. And I got to make my sister drink her own poison.
Kiyoshi: She's the tidiest girl ever now. Serves her right.
Tsukushi: Didn't know you had a sister... is she around our age?
Kiyoshi: I told you she was younger than us, shithead.
Kiyoshi: She's in middle school now. About twelve by now, I reckon.
Tsukushi: R-Reckon? He's not even sure?
Kiyoshi: God fucking damn it, these seven minutes in hell bullshit is pissing me off.
Kiyoshi: I feel like I've been talking to you for seven days. Sick of you.
Tsukushi: And here I was, thinking we could grow a bit closer.
Tsukushi: Well... can't win them all.
Kiyoshi Ikeda
Despair Shard obtained!
Kiyoshi was a tough nut to crack, as I expected due to him being distant and overall a huge asshole to people. He started working in cleaning at home, cleaning his younger sister's messes, and eventually scored a job at his father's firm. There, he worked non-stop, and was usually looked down upon by the other workers for being younger, but was unable to quit his job, no matter how much he disliked it. As I'd gathered beforehand, he hates being called a janitor.
"Most awkward seven minutes in my life, I'd say." I answered Maruko's question - who had come back with Chigusa by her side, as expected. "Or four, since we actually spoke for the first three" I added, but only in thought.
"Aww, that's sad." Kikyo pouted. "I thought you two'd come out of the closet - both literally and metaphorically."
"The fuck?" Kiyoshi groaned. "I ain't dating this sack of shit, dude. Not if you paid me. I ain't even gay, so knock it off."
Akahana stepped forward. "Shall we play another round?"
"Now the party don't start 'till I walk in..." a robotic bear sounded off from the gallery entrance. "Monokuma's here, baby! Did you miss me?"
Shoot.
A/N: That's all for now, folks! I hope you liked today's update - with a little bit of Kiyoshi sprinkled in for a change. I've been noticing you guys either love him or hate him for being as big of a jerk as he is, so I think this FTE will have mixed reception. As usual, I appreciate reviews! Tell me what you liked and comment on the overall chapter - don't be a silent reader, please.
QOTC: Any final guesses as to what the motive is, this time around? The answer will be revealed next chapter!
Until then... Yamazaki out!