(AN: Hello again! Another update coming your way!
AssAssinAtEd: Thanks for the review! Hope that time limit adds a dose of despair!
Reven228: Thanks for the review! I wonder how it'll affect our students mentally?
King okami: Sorry I didn't get Noah to say anything again, but that'll happen with plenty of other students, so don't worry about character development.
Ode 30: Naw man! It'll take 45 days before that happens! (Joke, joke.)
MizunashiFuyuko: Thanks for your free-time nominations and the review!
Kougari: Thanks for the review! Glad it reminded you of something, lol.
Cartoonfanatic1: Sorry about making you worry – and sorry about the lazy part of me not bothering to tell you that he's still in the story, lmao. Thanks for the review!
Wmsm5ever: Thanks for the review, and thanks for listening too! :P
FateOblivion: IDK! What did he do to Monokuma?! :O :O :O We'll find out pretty soon I hope…
Masuyo Takishima: Thanks for that character analysis! It was great to see an opinion on every character, haha.
Celes Ludenberg: Thanks for the review! Yeah pretty heartbreaking isn't it? Hope some "hope" can come in and save them. :O Oh I totally spoiled the ending of this fanfic. (No JK I'm tormenting everyone.) Anyways, lol, I hope you'll be able to think of some nominations for next time! Thanks again!
Masumo: I'm sorry! I know I haven't referenced him much or talked to you about him much, but I assure you, as I planned the story out, he's going to get some development. ...Hehe, spoilers like that are so slight that they don't give away anything but leave certain plot points in suspense... Anyways, don't worry. And that goes for every character, so if you feel like your character is being neglected, I am aware of it and will fix it in the future. Enjoy the story for now, and try to forget about how much lines your character has, but more of the role that they're going to have in the future. Will he be killed off? Will he be a villain? Or will he survive? Why is he important? These are all things that each character I plan to have fill the story. So reviews like this DO make me feel a little sad that I can't make everyone happy, but this response hopefully remedies some of that.)
Soundtrack: Persona – Aria of the Soul
"…Hello again." A familiar voice came from in front of me. I was… in that place again. The place that I never could remember when I woke up from this reality. "I suppose there's only a few days left until that life will end, isn't that right?"
"You know about his plan?" I asked grittily, referring to Monokuma. The man nodded, giving off his sinister aura.
"We are not assisters to Monokuma," Nanako said, "but we are not assisters to you, as well. You can say we are free-lance, which is not one-hundred percent false."
The man nodded in agreement, and I stared at the two of them with contempt.
"Interesting," the man said, observing me. "I still find it very interesting… your journey from that mind to this mind is sound."
"What does that mean?" I asked. "Why are you always so vague..?"
"Because I am around you of course," the man sighed, as if he had to tell me that a million times before. "Your role in this cannot be revealed just yet."
"Like always though, we are just here to check up on you," Nanako said. "Please do not think of us as your enemies, since it'll be much easier if you do not see any hostility in us. Though of course, we are not your friends either."
"She speaks the truth," the man followed up. "We are not your enemies – yet we are not your allies. We are just here to see two bridges connect."
Bridges..? What bridges..? Nothing except stone walls around me…
The man took a glance at his watch, and walked outside of the room, nodding to Nanako. Nanako nodded in response, and took a look at my face. Her gloved hands were placed on my chin, and her face was pressed up close. Her eyes were bottomless with emptiness. I couldn't sense any sort of emotion in her at all – like she's possessed by the devil. She took out her clipboard and began to write on a piece of paper.
"I'm just making observations," Nanako said, as if trying to soothe me in the insanity that was ensuing.
I looked away, angry that after I'm put back into that world, I'll forget everything that happened. Then, when I come back, everything will pile back into me. I hated it – it felt awful coming back like this just to remember that you'd forget everything again. Especially since what's happening now seems to be important about what's happening over there.
All my new friends… they're going to be killed because I have no idea of what's going on. A machine began to make a beeping noise – pulsating with activity. My head began to hurt; I guess I was thinking too hard about the whole thing. I sighed and leaned my head back on the wooden chair, tugging at the IVs slightly. While I did that, Nanako took a pitiful look at me.
"I'm sorry," she said, while continuing to observe me. "I wish I could help more, but unfortunately, my job is not to bond with you."
"If you want to help me you can let me out," I snapped.
"…If I do that," Nanako sighed. "…No, never mind. I shouldn't indulge my personal information with you."
If she does that? If she helps me get free? What's going to happen?
…Does it have anything to do with that man?
"What's your relationship with that man?" I asked. "If you can tell me anything – it's that."
Nanako paused, reluctant to say her next words. Hesitantly, she spoke up. "He's just my boss."
"Bull," I sighed. "That's BS."
"I suppose so, in your mind," Nanako said with a grin. "…If we ever have a single encounter like this again, perhaps I can help you a little more."
"What do you mean?" I asked. "You mean… my current situation?"
"It's not a good idea for me to indulge in that right now," Nanako responded, giving off a vague answer. "Just know, the next time we meet, it'll be with my master."
"…You just said master now," I said.
Nanako looked slightly startled at my observation. "I did?"
I nodded rapidly. "He's your master? What does that even mean?"
Nanako didn't respond, and she just looked away. I felt like I needed to know about her more… She said she could help me, so… maybe she can free me? Or free my new friends – wherever they're at? I would be lying too if I said I didn't pity Nanako just a little bit. It sounded like she was forced to be doing this – instead of doing it under her free will. Doing things without a free will… it's something I'd never imagine being able to do.
"…Oh, I don't need that pity," she said, noticing my thoughts with by my expressions. "It's fine, really."
I nodded, and Nanako put her cardboard down. "I'll see you next time."
==NANAKO'S REPORT CARD HAS BEEN UPDATED==
ID: Nanako / Role Unknown
|||Nanako revealed some things about herself, and offered to help Keiko.|||
Closeness Level: 1 == Level Up! == 2
With the snap of a fingers, I soon fell into a familiar darkness that would soon wrap around me. And like tradition, I woke.
…And like tradition, I wouldn't remember a thing.
Music halts
DAY FOUR – 44 DAYS LEFT
Soundtrack: Re Beautiful Morning
Waking up in my bed, I sighed, thinking about the day before. I looked at the glass floor that would soon break – an electronic calendar was placed by my bedside; it read 44 days left. I guess it was more of a clock than a calendar, but it hurt to know that we'd all be killed within a little more than a month. Yet – I couldn't even fathom to think one of us killing another. Would we? Would we take the time to plot a murder..?
Sighing, I got up from my bed and headed out through the door. I went to the cafeteria – the others were sitting down, silently eating and looking at each other. Everyone had confused emotions, unsure of what to do in our current situation. Heading into the kitchen, there was a note on the table: "to Shougo." I suppose that food was for the sixteenth student: Shougo Arisu.
I was extremely horrified when I saw that he was trapped inside that fish tank. I was even more terrified to see that there was water filling the tank – just like how water would fill into ours. I wondered if there was a time limit to his life; is that an incentive as well? It felt like the cherry on top of an ice cream cone. The ice cream being obviously the end of our lives in a month. I picked up the tray and left the silent cafeteria, heading towards where Shougo was.
I knocked on the door out of politeness, and gently went inside. The fish tank was filled about a fourth of the way, and water slowly began to pile inside. Shougo's burgundy suit was tattered and dirty. His gray hair brushed past his eyes as I opened up the top of the fish tank and slid the tray inside. It felt awful to feed him like I would feed a fish, but this was the only way he could get food. He nodded in thanks, and let out a slight smile. I smiled back, and sat in front of the fish tank.
"So," I sighed. "You did something bad to Monokuma, huh?" I looked up and saw a pitiful Shougo nod. "What exactly did you do..?"
He brought his hands to his head. Not in a panicked way, but in a way of wanting to recollect something.
"I tried to attack him," Shougo said weakly. "But apparently I had to be punished for that."
Shougo ran his hands through the water, no longer fearful that it would soon drown him quickly.
"I'm sorry," I said.
"No, it's my fault," Shougo said.
Our conversation was made up of brief words and phrases, and it was uncomfortable being here. But it didn't sit right with me to leave him alone without any company.
I looked up at the collar wrapped around his neck. Apparently there's a motion sensor along the top of the aquarium that will set the collar off when it gets past it. The collar would electrocute Shougo, and he'd die. That's what I heard from Shougo the day before.
"This is disgusting," I said to myself. "Monokuma can't treat people like this."'
Soundtrack: Monokuma Sensei's Lesson
"Like how?" asked a fuzzy voice.
Turning around, I gasped with shock as Monokuma stood in front of me. He was surrounded by a light that came from outside of this dark room, and he flipped on a light switch.
"Damn," he started, "the darkness is depressing, isn't it?"
"What do you want?" I asked angrily.
"I wanted to check on Arisu-kun," Monokuma said adorably. Monokuma opened up the fish tank, and hopped inside of it. I tried to get him out, and Shougo looked visibly disturbed and uncomfortable, on top of being trapped in a fish tank slowly filling with water. "Mmm! Fun! You're lucky I'm filling this tank with warm water!"
"S-stop it," Shougo stuttered. "Get me out of here..!"
"You'll get out of here when blood is shed," Monokuma scolded. "For now, enjoy this like you would enjoy a fun waterpark! I love waterparks – back in the day, me and a couple of buddies from the Amazon would head into Wet & Wild and scare the crap out of some tourists. Of course, my buddies were tranquilized and put down later, but I managed to get away, being the agile bear that I am."
"I-is that so," I said silently.
Monokuma nodded, and began to rub Shougo's cheeks. "You are filthy. Want some toothpaste?"
Shougo brought his fist up in an effort to attack Monokuma, but I pounded on the glass and shook my head as a signal for him to control himself. Shougo got the message and put his fist down, and instead rubbed the glass with his hand.
"I suppose you'd need a toothbrush too," Monokuma said. "Dental hygiene is very important – I would know since my dentist says I'm his best patient. Always use the best toothpaste, he says. Always use the softest toothbrush, he says."
"P-please let me out," Shougo begged. "I learned my damn lesson already..!"
Monokuma placed one paw on his chin and another on his hip, as if he were thinking about it. Finally, he said… "Sure!"
Shougo's face lit with delight, and mine did too, except after that, Monokuma began to laugh evilly.
"Upupupu! You believed me?" Monokuma asked, still laughing hard. "Of course I can't release you! You are an impeccable part to our little incentive going on! But I have to thank you, your little outburst made me come up with a response that was completely LOL! Haaassshhhhtaaaag!"
I clenched my jaws together, and balled up my hands into little rolls. Fighting the desire to punch Monokuma square across the face, I began to bite my tongue in an effort to distract myself. Monokuma took notice of this, and climbed out of the fish tank.
"I don't want to see Keiko go Liu Kang on me!" Monokuma said, as he ran out of the door. "Enjoy your breakfast Shougo, nyahaha!"
As Monokuma ran out of the room, I sighed. I apologized to Shougo, and he nodded as I left the room. Honestly – I can't do anything with that bear watching me like a hawk…
==SHOUGO'S REPORT CARD HAS BEEN UPDATED==
ID: Shougo Arisu / Super Highschool Level ?
|||Shougo enjoyed Keiko's breakfast delivery and her defenses against Monokuma.|||
Closeness Level: 1 == Level Up! == 2
Walking outside of Shougo's room, I looked at my watch. I suppose I had some time to kill, since it's not like anything else was going to happen. Thinking this, I walked outside to see if there was anyone to pass time with.
Soundtrack: Re Beautiful Days [Piano Arrange]
==FREE TIME==
AN: Like in DR Plus, my Free-Times, Investigations, and Trials will be in script format. So enjoy. Each chapter will have four Free-Times, maybe more if I feel I can weave it into the story well without bombing a chapter with Free-Times, lol. It'll be in order of most voted to least voted, just because it's a cliché, :P
[I walked past the cafeteria, and I saw Mirai looking a knife intently. He rubbed at the handle and placed his fingertips on the blade.]
MIRAI: Ooh. This is sharp.
Should I hang out with Mirai?
YES
NO
MIRAI: Oh, Master! I was just observing this knife, its real sharp, isn't it?
KEIKO: Yes, it is…
[I took some time to teach Mirai about knife safety.]
MIRAI: Thanks Master! If you hadn't come, I'd probably have killed myself.
KEIKO: Well, just be careful around a knife from now on.
[Mirai looked around again, and touched the table. He began to straddle the table, and he then looked at me.]
MIRAI: Master, do you know what the point of a table is? I'd like to know.
KEIKO: …To put stuff on it?
MIRAI: But there's the floor for that. The floor is a lot bigger than the table, too.
KEIKO: Well, yeah, but the floor is also dirty, keep in mind.
MIRAI: But I looked up a word in the dictionary the other day. A "janitor" apparently is supposed to clean the floors.
MIRAI: So wouldn't that mean that the floors are clean?
KEIKO: …No, see, the janitor doesn't clean it all the time. People are walking on floors all the time though, so… yeah, it's not clean most of the time.
MIRAI: I see, I see… So what's the point of a janitor?
KEIKO: When things are too dirty, it has to be cleaned.
MIRAI: Hmm… I don't really get it, but okay.
[I feel silly having to explain this stuff to him… he doesn't seem like he's lying about not knowing this stuff, but it seems a little hard to believe that he doesn't know this already.]
MIRAI: Oh, and what's the point of a chair? You can just sit on the floor too!
MIRAI: And your pants give you protection from all things dirty, as well. So there's no point for chairs when we can all sit on the floor, right?
KEIKO: …
[I take the time to politely teach him about common sense, and Mirai walks out of it mostly fulfilled.]
MIRAI: Thanks for teaching me, let's do it again!
KEIKO: You're welcome…
[I find it really hard to believe that Mirai doesn't know all of this stuff. But why? How did he grow up as a kid..? Even still, he's smiling genuinely, as if he just learned something brand new. So he probably did… right?]
==MIRAI'S REPORT CARD HAS BEEN UPDATED==
ID: Mirai Minoshiro / Super Highschool Level ?
|||Mirai learned lots of common sense from Keiko.|||
Closeness Level: 2 == Level Up! == 3
[Walking past the auditorium, I saw Kaito on the stage.]
KAITO: Hmm…
Should I hang out with Kaito?
YES
NO
KAITO: Oh, Keiko, you want to help me rehearse?
[Kaito and I rehearsed for… something.]
KAITO: Ah… you're a good actress, aren't you?
KEIKO: Thanks, and what are you rehearsing for exactly?
KAITO: It's just a play I wrote. I was able to write dialogue perfectly.
KEIKO: Well, you are a word twister, I guess. I was sort of confused about what that title meant exactly.
KAITO: It just means that I'm clever with my words.
KEIKO: …Oh, yeah, I can tell.
KAITO: Hmm?
KEIKO: Nothing.
KAITO: Okay, well, want to talk?
KEIKO: Are you going to come on to me..?
KAITO: N-no..! Who do you take me for..?
KEIKO: Oh, calm down… It was just a joke.
KAITO: …Y-yeah, sorry.
KAITO: It's just that people see me as a pervert sometimes.
KEIKO: …Oh really now?
KAITO: Yeah.
KEIKO: I… don't really see it.
KAITO: I'm a word twister. I can sense lies.
KEIKO: I-I'm not lying..!
KAITO: Anyways, I've lived my life with people judging me. For how I look… for how I act…
KAITO: Sometimes, I think of, perversion, as an escape.
KEIKO: …
KAITO: …Oh, sorry. I'm opening up to you way too fast.
KEIKO: That's okay, but we are just friends anyways, so I'd have to agree with you.
KAITO: …Friends? We are?
KEIKO: Uh, yeah… aren't we?
KAITO: …Yeah. Sure we are!
[I continued to talk to Kaito about various things, without the perversion of course. I couldn't help think there was more to this "escape" though. Kaito doesn't really use perversion as an escape, does he? Isn't there more to that story..? And his shock about us being friends wasn't really nice either…]
==KAITO'S REPORT CARD HAS BEEN UPDATED==
ID: Aikami Kaito / Super Highschool Level Word Twister
|||Kaito was glad to hear that he was friends with Keiko; he uses perversion as an escape..?|||
Closeness Level: 1 == Level Up! == 2
Music halts
*Ding, dong! Ding, dong!*
"Attention, meow! It's nighttime! During this period, some services will be shut off, and the cafeteria will be closed for business. Sweet dreams, all! Meow..!"
Meowykins' voice blared through the speakers, and I realized that it was already ten o' clock. I headed to my room, and tried to get a good night's rest.
Soundtrack: Re Beautiful Morning
DAY FIVE – 43 DAYS LEFT
Waking up, I rubbed my eyes, and got changed. I decided I would eat at the cafeteria today instead of entertaining Shougo. While that did make me feel bad, I didn't want to see Monokuma again. I wondered for a while if he was sad that I didn't come to see him, but I shrugged it off, thinking that someone else would go to deliver him breakfast. As I sat down with my tray of food, Noah was sitting there with Yayoi, staring at me with suspicious eyes.
"Uh, hi," I said nervously. Noah nodded, his face still buried deep into his folded hands, and I tried to ignore his gaze by associating with Yayoi.
"Uh, good morning, Yayoi," I said to her.
"What's so good about waking up to a life where you're just going to wake up and die one day?" she yelled. "Nothing's so good about it!"
Yayoi returned to her depressed slump, and I backed out of the conversation not wanting to continue it. I continued to eat as the others piled onto the cafeteria table, and soon everyone was eating, still with an awkward aura around us.
"So," I started. "Did anyone give food to Shougo..?"
"I did," Yoshinori said. "We talked a lot, but at the end of it, I think he was sadder than when I first came in. Did I say something to him..?"
"Honey, honey," Micky sighed. "You are a dull knife."
"Um, what?"
"You are way 'to the point,' at times," Micky sighed. "Sometimes I wonder why you even question why people are scared around you..!"
"…Well," Yoshinori said stuttering. "It's just that I have a tendency to speak the truth. Nothing bad, I say, right guys?"
We didn't respond and let Micky and Yoshinori continue to bicker. Mirai was playing with his food, creating a stack of bacon, and the others were staring at him with estranged looks.
"Quit playing with your food," Furo snapped. "It's getting annoying."
"Sorry, master," Mirai said, with a tint of disappointment.
"And don't call me master," Furo sighed.
"Roger that, sir," Mirai said.
Furo cursed under his breath while Mirai innocently sat at the table. I looked at Hideki who was rapidly shaking his ElectroID, as if he were playing a game. Of course, he did have a video game addiction, but I didn't think it would have been bad enough for him to go under withdrawals.
"Quit shakin' that damn thing," Ryoko sighed. "It's getting irritating."
"Honestly," Noah agreed. "It's not helping in any way for you to freak out about games like that. Wouldn't you rather get out first..?"
"I just need five minutes," Hideki panicked. "Five minutes with a goddamn FPS!"
"U-Um, if I may," Kirei said nervously. "But I think that you're shaking that machine a little too much… what if it breaks? Monokuma wouldn't be really happy if it broke, right..?"
"Oh, no, it won't break," Takayashi assured. "I tried to break it the other night and Monokuma got all upset and told me that it won't break. I think it made too much noise."
"It would have broken the glass," Hikaru said. "I do believe that making sound waves like that could shatter the glass – or if you were hitting it against a glass wall. That would obviously break the glass."
We all stared at our empty plates.
"Hey," Unmei said. "I got an idea…"
"What?" Ryoko responded. "You gonna do some math and win a trip to Las Vegas for the state champions? Go to town Johnny Five…"
"N-no," Unmei responded angrily, puffing up her cheeks. "It's just that if everyone here can swim a little, we can make a hole in the floor and just swim out of here."
Elated, we all stared at Unmei with excitement. What she was saying was true. The water wouldn't flow into the glass since we're on top of it, and gravity. Some would pile in, sure, but we could just jump into the hole we create by breaking the glass… and swim to the top of the ocean..!
"But we do not know how deep we are," Hikaru noticed.
"We'll just have to swim rapidly," Unmei responded. "I'm sure if we're that deep, a few popped ears is worth our freedom."
"I-I could play games," Hideki said peacefully. "I can get home and just play all the time..!"
"I-I can swim a little," Kirei said, reassuring herself. "I'm sure I can swim to the top..!"
"B-but what if we land up in the middle of the ocean?" Rhyssa asked. "We wouldn't be able to get help that far in, right?"
"We never know until we try," Unmei said in response.
Rhyssa bit her nails nervously. "B-but..!"
"Do we have a problem with this plan or what?" Furo asked. "I say let's go for it. Better than waiting to die down here anyways."
"N-no, not a problem, but –"
"I like it," I said, offering my opinion. "I'd rather jump to the opportunity, rather than not do anything about it."
"No, wait..!" Rhyssa gasped nervously. "I can't swim..!"
We all stared at her with a blank expression as she made her confession.
"I can't swim, so…"
"Then I shall carry you," Hikaru said. "Do we not have a problem anymore?"
I looked at mostly everyone, and our faces were filled with slight smiles. To think that we could actually escape this way was unthinkable, but I'm glad we actually had a plan instead of doing it like this. Everyone began to pat Unmei on the back. Well, she is a problem solver. I guess her skills aren't just behind a textbook after all.
While everyone was celebrating, the mood suddenly dropped. Mirai began to speak, and his words stung of a surprising truth.
Soundtrack: Re Despair – Syndrome
"That's not a good idea," Mirai said.
We all looked at him at that moment with confused eyes.
"Tch, why should we listen to a person who plays with his damn food like you?" Furo sneered. "I say we do it!"
"There are two reasons," Mirai said, still possessing his innocent voice, in contrast to the despairing truth. "One, can we really just abandon Shougo like that?"
A pit began to form below my heart. I forgot all about him – he seemed incredibly pained, and there's no way he could leave with that electric collar around his neck.
"Second, I find it strange that Monokuma hasn't arrived here," Mirai said. "We were talking about a plan to escape, a good one I might add, and he hasn't come to voice an opinion at all."
"Voicing an opinion is the wrong way to say it," Yoshinori agreed. "He'd tried to have stopped us by now, but instead… he's probably just watching us."
In denial, I sat on the glass wall, scrunching my body together.
"No way," I said. "H-he's just..!"
I heard murmurs of disappointed coming from all of us. Mirai got up, beginning to test something, and he took an apple and smashed it into the ground. A hole formed from where Mirai threw the apple, and Mirai took a second fruit and threw it into the hole. It floated to the side of the glass building, and as it rose to the surface, something disturbing, yet reassuring at the same time was displayed.
Soundtrack: Re DISTRUST
The fruit was electrocuted. We all backed away quickly from the hole as sparks and some slight smoke rose from inside of it. The glass around it cracked, and began to crack all the way to the sides of the building. I took a glance at water around us. I saw sparks everywhere – it almost seemed like a cartoon. The fruit, I noticed, was completely burned and rotted, and it continued to float to the top.
"Surprise!" Monokuma said, arriving as this ordeal continued. "Impressive, Mirai! I didn't think you were that smart to notice that!"
Mirai didn't respond, and looked at the rest of us, smiling. He seemed to be satisfied he was able to save us, yet I think some of us were just angry at him for not letting us escape. I saw Yayoi – her expressions were furious, as if she wouldn't have cared if she were the fruit itself. Did she want to leave that much? Yayoi moved slowly towards the water, but the others held her back as she tried to scramble for the body of water. Mirai looked slightly disturbed, but looked at Monokuma next.
"You didn't come to stop us," Mirai said. "Why?"
"Because it would have been funny to see you guys fry," Monokuma said. "Nothing more, nothing less."
Rhyssa looked relieved that she didn't have to go into the water, and the others looked at Monokuma fearfully. Monokuma yawned, and stretched his arms out.
"Yup," Monokuma said. "The water electrocution is how I get my fish, too. Delicious! You know, fresh fish is the best fish."
"Shut up!" Furo yelled, his hands balled into fists.
"I thought up of everything," Monokuma said. "You guys shouldn't even think of escape, because if you tried that little stunt just there… Well, let's just say you would have been the next menu item at the Kibougamine County Fair!"
Monokuma laughed his evil laugh, and disappeared as the others were left in his dust. Angered, Noah punched the wall.
"Are we just going to wait to die..?" he asked weakly. "What can we do?!"
"…He said to kill each other," Yayoi said. "H-he said to escape, we'd have to kill each other..!"
"No! Hell no!" Furo yelled. "You will not think about killing someone here!"
"I'm not!" Yayoi screamed. "I just… I want to go home..!"
I looked at the security camera angled right at us. Monokuma must be laughing at us wherever he was…
"We all do," Hikaru said with an urgent tone. "But what we must do right now is stay calm. Unmei, do you have anything else that you thought up?"
"C-c'mon, Unmei!" Kaito begged. "Think of something..! I believe in you!"
Unmei fidgeted with her thumbs. "I'm sorry… I only thought of that one solution… I-I'm sorry..! I could have killed all of you!"
"D-don't blame yourself," Kaito stammered. "No, Monokuma wanted one of us to be offed. Maybe as an example."
"But I saved the day!" Mirai said proudly.
"Not the time!" Ryoko yelled. "Okay, you saved us! But what are we going to do now?!"
I got up from my slouched position, and stood up. Everyone was panicking, even though Mirai's intentions were to save all of us. Would we really get out of our situation alive..?
"S-shouldn't we just live out our lives here?" Kirei asked nervously.
"Are you telling me you like this place?!" Ryoko screamed. "I want to get the fuck out of here! Everyone else here wants to get the fuck out of here! But we can't because that fucking bear thought of everything..!"
"I-I'm sorry!" Kirei whimpered. "Please don't curse me out!"
"Y-yelling at Kirei won't do anything!" Rhyssa yelled. "We have to just calm down and think! Let's think! Alright you guys?"
"Monokuma literally thought of everything, didn't he?" Noah asked. "Maybe Kirei is right…"
"You mean you don't want to get the out of here?!" Furo asked with rage. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
Noah frowned and began to lose his calm composure. "No! I want to get out, but I don't want to take someone's life! I'd rather live out here and die, rather than kill someone, and watch the rest of you die!"
We all looked at Noah, and he ran his hands across his face. "No, let's just stay here. We need to come together, and become friends, or otherwise, we won't think of anything."
"So you're saying we should just wait to see if a solution comes to us?" Takayashi asked. "I-I can deal with that instead of waiting to be electrocuted like that poor fruit. Y-yeah, everyone do what Noah says!"
"B-but I need a game," Hideki whimpered.
Ignoring him, the others calmed down. We all understood what Noah was saying. We had to strengthen our bonds together, and just maybe we'd find a way to get out by discussing with each other. I smiled at that idea. If we had a chance to get out, calming ourselves and becoming good with each other was the best solution. With that, breakfast ended, and we all dispersed.
Music halts
With the time left in the day, I decided to do what Noah suggested. Strengthen my bonds with the others…
Soundtrack: Beautiful Days [Piano Arrange]
==FREE TIME==
[Down heading towards my room, Hikaru was tracing his finger across the glass floor.]
HIKARU: Oh. Hello.
Should I… try and hang out with Hikaru?
YES
NO
HIKARU: Yes. I would enjoy that.
[I talked to Hikaru, surprised at his ability to interact with me.]
HIKARU: …You must be afraid.
KEIKO: Afraid of what?
HIKARU: Are you not startled that I am a prisoner? Quite a renowned one, if I say so myself.
KEIKO: Not really. Whatever you did was in the past, right?
HIKARU: What I did in the past... it's nothing I can erase from my life.
KEIKO: True, you can't erase it.
KEIKO: But you can grow past it, can't you?
HIKARU: …
KEIKO: If I broke a kids arm, I could never forget that.
KEIKO: But that kid could still be my friend. I mean, it was just an accident.
KEIKO: You seem nice, I'm sure you didn't do whatever you did on purpose.
HIKARU: …
HIKARU: I suppose you are right.
HIKARU: That is one of the reasons I was allowed to come to this school.
KEIKO: To grow past whatever you did before you were arrested?
HIKARU: …
HIKARU: I do not mean to indulge you with my personal matters.
HIKARU: But I am almost certain that I did not commit the crime that everyone thinks I committed.
KEIKO: You mean you think you were falsely convicted?
HIKARU: Yes. There's no reason to do what they think I did.
KEIKO: …What was this thing that's so terrifying?
HIKARU: What is it?
HIKARU: No, I do not want to concern you with what I did. I just want you to know…
HIKARU: Behind this orange jumpsuit, it's not a cold-blooded person.
KEIKO: …Yeah, I know that.
KEIKO: If I were afraid of you, I wouldn't have asked to hang out with you.
HIKARU: …
HIKARU: You are correct on that, as well.
[Hikaru cracked a smile. That's nice, that under his calm composure, there's an actual person. He feels, he cries. Judging from his personality, I think I can believe Hikaru when he says he didn't do anything either… But, what is it exactly that he "didn't do?" What was his crime? I didn't want to bring out a subject that he'd be uncomfortable with… but I couldn't help but feel slightly intrigued.]
==HIKARU'S PERSONALITY HAS BEEN UPDATED==
ID: Hikaru Nise / Super Highschool Level Prisoner
|||Hikaru told Keiko he was falsely accused for the crime they think he committed.|||
Closeness Level: 1 == Level Up! == 2
[Ryoko was coloring on her arm with a marker in front of the art room… should I go say hi?]
RYOKO: …It's you.
Well, too late. Should I hang out with her?
YES
NO
RYOKO: I guess.
[Ryoko took the time to make various "tattoos" on my arm.]
KEIKO: This is really amazing art.
RYOKO: It's nothing.
KEIKO: I always imagined tattoo artists as…
KEIKO: Well, never mind.
RYOKO: …Say it, I hear it all the time.
[As she sad that, a sneer grew on her face.]
KEIKO: No, you aren't, so I won't say it.
RYOKO: Well I think it was along the lines of trashy, ghetto, or stupid, right?
KEIKO: N-not exactly.
RYOKO: I like drawing art. That's it. I think putting art on your body is a good way to express yourself.
RYOKO: That's why I make tattoos. I want to help people express themselves…
KEIKO: That's cool, really.
KEIKO: You know, I never really wanted a tattoo, but after hearing that, I'm almost convinced.
RYOKO: Almost, huh?
RYOKO: Well, that's good, I guess. We can always stick to colored markers anyways.
RYOKO: Besides, it's permanent. It's not for everyone.
KEIKO: I always wondered if it hurt to get a tattoo.
RYOKO: Hurts like a bitch.
[Ryoko laughed a bit.]
RYOKO: Oh, and by the way, I never do tattoos of tits.
RYOKO: Or dicks, on that matter. Anything like that is out of my profession. Hell no.
KEIKO: Even you have your standards, huh?
RYOKO: Of course.
[Hmm. Ryoko's not exactly what she seems to be on the outside, is she? She has her properties like everyone else, and she only sees tattoos as a way to show expression. That's cool – I feel like I understand her a little better now.]
==RYOKO'S REPORT CARD HAS BEEN UPDATED==
ID: Ryoko Ieyoshi / Super Highschool Level Tattoo Artist
|||Ryoko sees tattoos as an expression, rather than a piece of taint.|||
Closeness Level: 1 == Level Up! == 2
Music halts
…
...Huh.
…This again. This feeling again…
…
Soundtrack: Persona – Aria of the Soul
"Hello."
This time, the voice was not of the man, but Nanako, who was smiling across of the table.
"I suppose I was lying when I said that the next time you'd meet me would be with my master. He is currently out right now on a business trip."
Even he has business trips, huh?
"…I don't know what to say," I smirked. "Do I say good to see you, or fuck you?"
"You're nothing like yourself in the school, are you?" Nanako asked. "Well, that's okay. I also told you that I'd help you out, didn't I?"
"…You did."
"So I did. And I won't turn back on that promise, since you seemed to show a genuine sympathy for me. I'm going to keep our meeting brief, but I still have to do my routine checkup."
Nanako came up with a familiar clipboard, and she began to scribble down a bunch of notes as I stared at her with a confused stare.
"How are you going to help me?" I asked. "That's what I want to know?"
"The information you want," Nanako started, "is most likely out of my grasp. It's nothing I can tell you, but what I can do is help you get across your journey."
"My journey? What are you talking about?"
"You do know we can monitor you while you are in the school, correct?" Nanako asked. "I will not reveal how, or why we do it, but while we can monitor you, we can monitor the others as well."
"Why is it only me being observed?"
"That is a secret, well hidden. It will be revealed to you soon, I suppose. I don't really know what to tell you about that."
I frowned with disappointment. "So how are you going to help me this time?"
"I'm giving you a warning," Nanako said. "I'm going to wake you up now… and I want you to proceed slowly to where Shougo is being kept."
"How do you know his name..?"
"I told you. My master and I can monitor all the activities of you, and your fellow classmates."
I looked at her with glaring eyes. "Why do you want me to go in there?"
"I'm not one to give out spoilers," Nanako said. "But I'm sure it is quite obvious from the context, isn't it?"
I laughed. Not playful laugh, but more of a laugh to question the sanity of a person in front of you. "Hell, I'm strapped to IVs being sent to a world where I don't even know what's going on. Forgive me ma'am if I don't know exactly what you are talking about."
"You are true, I suppose," Nanako said. "I would feel the way you do too, if I were in your situation."
Nanako laughed. Her laugh was different from mine. Was she actually enjoying herself?
"We'll see each other again soon," Nanako sighed. "Again, like I said, I want you to go to Shougo's room. It should still be nighttime."
"But wait," I said. "I won't even remember your words."
"I'll make sure you will," Nanako said. "I might even provide a sign for you."
"A sign?" I asked. "What kind of sign?"
"I said I might. I never said I would. Besides, you should remember it anyways."
"I don't see why I should," I said. "And from evidence before, I don't think I will."
Nanako shook her head in disapproval.
"Put some faith in me, please," Nanako said. "I will make sure that you remember, okay?"
"Well, I hope you live through this ordeal," Nanako said.
==NANAKO'S REPORT CARD HAS BEEN UPDATED==
ID: Nanako / Role Unknown
|||Nanako helped Keiko with her "first task."|||
Closeness Level: 2 == Level Up! === 3
"Goodbye now," Nanako said. "I hope you had a nice rest."
Nanako snapped her fingers, and the darkness soon wrapped me again, leading me to the world where I rest without a memory of what transpires here.
It pains me to think like that.
Music halts
I woke up on my bed.
My mind was pounding furiously. Why did I feel like this? What was this voice inside my head?
I feel the need to check up on Shougo, but why? What's this feeling tempting me to go? What is happening to me?! I hold my head and run to his room. My mind carries me on its down as I approach its big metal doors.
Words rang inside my head. "He's in that room… he's in it."
This voice… it didn't belong to me. It belonged to someone else, but why was it talking to me? Whatever it was, I felt the need to go inside… my head was telling me to. I have to. I have to check.
Why? Why?! I didn't understand why, but even so, I have to do it, don't I? I'm telling myself. I'm telling myself that I have to open this door. I don't understand it, but something is telling me to.
My hand slowly reached for the handle.
I placed my hand on it, and began to slowly turn it.
The door slowly creaked open.
And…
Continued in Chapter 1 Section IV
(AN: And I leave with a dick cliffhanger. Byeeeeee!)