(AN: Hi guys. Wanted to upload Chapter 2, but I'm also going to be uploading Free-Time's that Yayoi and Hideki would have had if it wasn't for their untimely deaths. That'll be after both of my stories end and I have some spare time, since I wish to finish this story and the Free-Time's will only take up more time.
King Okami: Thank you very much!
Reven288: Thanks a lot! I know, that pun was amazing.
Ode30: Brother and sister, you mean, lol. Yayoi IS a girl after all. Thanks for your free-time nominations!
Paku159: Awww…sorry about that. Too bad I had to kill off your character this early, but it is Danganronpa after all.
Kougari: Thanks! Glad you liked it!
FateOblivion: Wow you're gorethirsty, lol. Getting a finger chopped off and being electrocuted in a huge USB isn't good enough, EH? JK, thanks for the review!
MizunashiFuyuko: Don't worry, it's an actual computer hacker, lol. Thanks!
AssAssinAtEd: Hmm… I wonder… You're welcome to PM me your theory since I am interested in it. Of course I won't tell you whether or not you're right or not, but… hehe. Thanks for the review!
TheRoseShadow21: Ikr? Thanks for the review!)
Soundtrack: Persona – Aria of the Soul
"…Welcome."
This again.
"It's only been a short while, hasn't it? I feel as if maybe we are calling on you too much."
"Shut up," I said. "I don't even know what to think anymore."
"Oh?" the man asked. "I see. You are confused."
I clenched my teeth as the man walked closer and closer to me. Adjusting his mask, he brought his hand to my chin and rubbed it tenderly. It disturbed me in ways that you couldn't imagine – his disgusting touch filling me with a feel of violation that exceeded all others. I wanted to hurt this man so much.
"You are feeling hostility," the man noticed. "It is to be expected, isn't it? You seem to be upset about our whole ordeal."
"Well, who wouldn't?" I asked angrily. "I'm trapped in a goddamn chair with these wires extracting blood from me for who knows why..!"
Getting sick of the image of the man, I tilted my head away from him. Nanako was sitting on the other side of the table, writing things down on her clipboard.
"Now, now," the man said. "I called you here to discuss, not for you to rant to me about your grievances. So… the firsts of your comrades has been offed. How does that feel? Are you angry? Upset? Confused? Worried?"
"Afraid," I said, cutting the man off. "Afraid that I'll be next and I'll never find out who you are and what's happening to me..!"
"…Interesting," the man said. "You have an exceptional resolve. Hoping to get out of that terrible situation and entering the world where Nanako and I reside. However, what if I tell you that this side… will disappoint you?"
"…Sides? What do you mean? What sides?"
"Ah… you're starting to get a grasp of your situation now."
"I… I still don't know anything..! You're lying…"
"…No. You are figuring things out. Slowly but surely, you will reach the truth that you so desire. Nanako, are you finished with your observations?"
"Yes sir," she replied. "I have them here on this clipboard."
"Excellent," the man said. "Well, Keiko, it appears… things are more and more stable now."
"What do you mean? Stable?"
"We do not require these daily checkups anymore," the man responded. "You will be free to live your real life in that world… treasure each moment, and I wish the best of luck to you."
"W-wait a minute…"
But before I could make any objections, he snapped his fingers.
"This will not be the last time we meet, but it may be a while before we can speak to each other again."
As he said that, I felt a burning pain run down my spine, and I fell into a familiar white light that took me to a world where I wouldn't remember anything. This ending was bittersweet for me. I'm not sure which was real and which was reality, but the fact that I could only remember certain things here… I wasn't sure what to think. I still won't remember anything over there though. I'm not sure how much I have to make that clear to myself… I won't remember anything. I won't remember anything… I won't remember a thing…
Music halts
I woke up in my bed. The clock to the side of me says: "Countdown Paused." I recalled Monokuma saying something at the last trial… We have five days more to find out what's going on and escape from here. So I guess there's more to do than just live here and wait to die. We actually have to find out how to get out. Which I didn't mind… the quicker I got out of this "underwater school," the better for me and everyone else. Sighing, I leaped off my bed, and stepped on something squishy.
"Ow!" moaned a familiar voice. Horrified, I leapt off the idiot that lay down beneath my bed, and he looked at me, his eyes squinted. He was rubbing his chest in pain, and sat down on the floor, crestfallen. "That hurt, Master..! You're so mean!"
Soundtrack: Soul Eater – In His Mind
(AN: Love this BGM… lol.)
"W…What the heck?"
He backed up to the corner of the room as I stepped on his stomach, and he rubbed it gently, his eyes squinted and his attitude worsened.
"Why are you in my room again?!" I yelled. "I thought I told you to stay out..!"
"No!" Mirai protested. "You told me to stay out of your closet!"
"I also implied for you to stay out of my room!"
"…Oh," Mirai said, realizing what I'm saying. "You did not make that clear."
I slapped my forehead, and began to push Mirai out of the room. Mirai tried to resist and stay back, and try he did. It was incredibly hard to move him from his position. He tripped over as I pushed him once more, and I pulled him out of the room holding his legs. His fingers clawed against the floor as he shouted words of protest. I took Mirai out of my room, and scolded him.
"I told you! You can't just go into someone's room like that!"
"But Master..! I was worried… I thought maybe you would have gotten hurt…"
"Why would I have gotten hurt?!"
"W-well, there were two attempted murders yesterday… Master Hideki and Master Shougo, and Master Yayoi who killed Master Hideki, so… I wanted to make sure that no one would kill you."
"What about the others?" I sighed. "If anything, they need more protection than I do… Like Kirei for example. She's really… uh, delicate. She'd need some help!"
"But Master Kirei is a maid," Mirai said. "She must be handy with a broom as a weapon."
"I doubt she has a broom that she could use as a weapon in her room," I snapped. "Besides, brooms don't make for good weapons at all..!"
"…Really?" Mirai asked. "But the wooden part of the broom is rough and hard. I could give someone a nice beating… I think."
I bonked him on the nose, and Mirai squinted again, grabbing at his nose.
"Ow!" he complained.
"Just stay away from my room from now on! And don't talk about beating someone either!"
"Y-yes, Master… I understand… I'm sorry… Please forgive me…"
I sighed, and motioned with my hands for Mirai to leave, but he didn't move away.
"Go!"
"But I'm not in your room," Mirai said. "If I can't stay by you, then I'd rather wait in front in case someone decides to kill you."
"No one else is going to try and kill each other!"
"…Really?"
"Yes!"
"Hmm… maybe you're right," Mirai said, grabbing his chin. "But what if someone were to seriously maim you! I'd have to protect you from that..!"
"Like I said, there's other people that could use your help..!"
"…B-but… I'd rather be with you Master Keiko."
"Why me?" I sighed.
"Well, you're teaching me a lot of things I didn't know," Mirai said. He raised his finger as if to make a point, and continued to speak. "For example, I didn't know that a broom would be a proper weapon. I thought brooms would be good, but you said that they wouldn't, so now I know that they aren't."
…He had a really… young thought process.
"If I tried to do this with someone like Master Hikaru, instead, he would be extremely rude..! In fact, I tried to talk to him just today you see. It was 4:00 AM, and –"
"What?! Why would you wake him up that early?!"
"Hmm, I wasn't tired," Mirai said. "But when I left Hikaru's room after he began to yell at me, I got a little drowsy and came into your room."
"B-but… Hey! I locked the door anyways!"
Mirai's cheeks puffed up, and he held something behind his hand. He refused to show it, and he backed up to the wall and kept what he was holding nice and hidden.
"Uh, what are you holding there?"
"…Nothing," Mirai said, his cheeks still puffed.
I forced Mirai out of the wall, and what he was holding fell on the glass floor and made a small crack. It was a screwdriver, a paper clip, and a monkey wrench. So he was holding more than one thing behind his back, huh..?
"Why do you have these?" I asked, tired out.
"N-no reason!" Mirai insisted. "I… you see, I like metal things."
"I find that hard to believe," I said. "You wouldn't have refused to show me if that were the reason."
"W-wow! Master, your power of inference… it's amazing..!"
I generally am and try to be a nice person, but Mirai was really getting on my nerves a little bit. I didn't hide this, being extremely worn out, and I bonked Mirai twice more.
"Ow! Master, stop hitting me!"
"Did you use those to break into my room?!"
Mirai innocently shook his head, though he was filled with very obvious lies.
"N-no! Y-y-you see, the door was already unlocked! Maybe a little fish swam through the cracks of the floor and unlocked the door itself! Yes! That's what happened!"
"…You lie."
"W-wow! Master's at it again..!"
"How do you even know how to break locks like that?!"
"…I reserve the right to stay silence."
Mirai looked flabbergasted as I sighed, and walked into my room, slamming it shut behind me. I felt a little bad afterwards leaving Mirai outside like that – he was so innocent he was probably rather upset right now. Ignoring this feeling, reminding myself that he broke into my room, I got changed, and prepared for the rest of the day. While we were supposed to look for a day out, I doubted that we'd find anything special today. I didn't want to spend the rest of the day in my room, I headed out, ignoring a sulking Mirai who trailed slightly behind me, before he gave up and went elsewhere.
Soundtrack: Beautiful Days [Piano Arrange]
==FREE TIME==
[Taking a peek in the math room, I saw Unmei looking at a math problem scribbled in chalk.]
UNMEI: *sigh* This is easy…
UNMEI: Oh! Keiko, I didn't see you there!
Should I hang out with Unmei?
YES
NO
UNMEI: O-oh! Uh, okay.
[I spent the next few moments trying to come up with impossible math problems.]
UNMEI: Hm… those were too easy too.
UNMEI: I'm a little disappointed…
UNMEI: …Oh! Sorry, not at you!
UNMEI: Just a little disappointed in myself..!
KEIKO: Why..? I'd love to be able to solve things like you.
KEIKO: And it's not just with math… on the road, too.
UNMEI: I-I guess you're right.
UNMEI: I never really thought about it that much, but…
UNMEI: I guess I just don't like having my life decided for me..?
KEIKO: What do you mean..?
KEIKO: You're amazing. You can solve things fast but that doesn't decide your life or anything.
UNMEI: …I-I guess it doesn't.
UNMEI: But knowing everything at a first glance…
UNMEI: H-ha… it gets sort of tiring, you know?
UNMEI: …Anyways… uh…
UNMEI: What do you think about Kaito, haha..?
KEIKO: He's a pervert, at that…
UNMEI: …Oh!
UNMEI: I know, right? That weirdo..!
UNMEI: …
UNMEI: Er…
UNMEI: Hmm.
KEIKO: Anyways… I'm still amazed you could solve all those problems.
UNMEI: …Like I said, I'm tired of it…
UNMEI: But you wouldn't understand.
KEIKO: …Right. Okay.
UNMEI: H-hey… I enjoyed this, okay?
KEIKO: Yeah, I did too.
[Unmei is one weird girl… Of course, I wouldn't say that to her out loud, but… I wonder what's her deal with some things? Oh well, I guess. I could just talk to her later.]
==UNMEI'S REPORT CARD HAS BEEN UPDATED==
ID: Unmei Shirosaki / Super Highschool Level Problem Solver
|||Unmei showed some discomfort about being able to "solve everything," and showed some interest in Kaito…|||
Closeness Level: 1 == Level Up! == 2
[Furo is sitting alone again on the stage… I wonder what he's drawing.]
FURO: …
[He's not responding..! Should… I try and hang out with him anyways?]
FURO: Oh. You.
FURO: Uh, I guess.
[I spent some time looking at Furo's drawings.]
FURO: …
KEIKO: …
FURO: …
FURO: Uh, what do you want?
KEIKO: I just wanted to talk.
FURO: …Talk about what?
FURO: Nothing to talk about with me…
KEIKO: …Well, your drawings are cool.
FURO: That's it, right?
FURO: All you can say is that they're cool.
FURO: …And that's it.
KEIKO: You really don't have anything to talk about..?
FURO: No.
FURO: It's not like I even want to talk either…
KEIKO: Ah… you're an anti-socialite?
FURO: …
KEIKO: You should open up to us just a little bit, all things considering…
KEIKO: We'll never get out of this place without trust in one another.
FURO: …
FURO: Trust…
FURO: …
FURO: I guess… I could try to be a little less abrasive.
FURO: Even though I won't guarantee I'll be friends with anyone here.
KEIKO: Well, at the very least…
FURO: I know…
FURO: Anyways, I'm going to continue drawing.
FURO: You can do whatever.
KEIKO: Okay…
KEIKO: I think I might watch some more.
FURO: …
FURO: Whatever.
[He's so… silent. Like he doesn't want anything to do with anyone. I wonder what his problem is..?]
==FURO'S REPORT CARD HAS BEEN UPDATED==
ID: Furo Shirohashi / Super Highschool Level Sketcher
|||Furo wished to have nothing to do with Keiko.|||
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, y'all! Meow!"
DAY SEVEN – 48 DAYS LEFT: COUNTDOWN RESUMED
The alarm blared beside my bed, as I struggled to wake up. My mind was completely groggy – I didn't get much sleep last night. Upset over the lack of energy, I decided I might sleep in a little bit, but that probably wouldn't be the best thing to do today, since the countdown started again. I looked at the clock; sure enough, I was right. It read: 48 days left, countdown resumed. We have a little more than a month to figure out what was going on, and get out of here as soon as possible.
Monokuma said that every time we survive a class trial, a certain number of days would be added on to our countdown… I wonder how Monokuma can alter the area like that..? He can't control how the water bends into the glass, or whatever he said. I remember something about expanding glass, and I can't see how that would even work under his control. I guess I shouldn't think about it too much, seeing as the situation I'm in right now is already really surreal for the average person to consider. I leaned my legs off the side of my bed, and scanned the area below me to make sure that Mirai wasn't creeping up on me again. I got changed, and slowly opened the door, scanning the area again for the same reason.
I headed to the cafeteria, my floor making loud clops against the shiny glass. I could see the water below me as it flowed, and the fishes swam past. It felt sort of like my roles were reversed. I'd admire fish in their small aquariums my whole life, but now I'm the one in a fish bowl, playing a game for the fish to probably enjoy. It's a funny way to say revenge, really. Eventually, I reached the cold hard metal doors. As I reached out for the handles, Noah walked up beside me.
"Oh, Noah," I said, acknowledging his presence. "Good morning."
He didn't respond. He still must have been enervated about everything during the class trial – the lack of trust we all had really took a toll on him.
"…Good morning," he said, responding finally. He rubbed his face with his two hands. His normal demeanor had vanished. He looked like a different person. His clothes and face were the same, but there were shadows under his eyes that had formed from exhaustion, and he sagged a bit while walking. I felt bad about accusing him, since I should have known he didn't do it. He wouldn't have told me the information about the katana if he did do it.
"I'm sorry for accusing you," I said, putting my thoughts on the table.
"Oh… please don't worry about it," Noah said, letting off a slight, yet tired smile. "I put that behind me already."
"Doesn't look like it," I said, with kind intentions. Noah chuckled for a split second, and shook his head.
"No, I guess you're right," Noah said.
The mood was silent for a second, and Noah finally opened his side of the door, pushing me back into reality. I followed, and I wasn't ready for what I saw next.
Soundtrack: AoE Second Suite Movement 5P+3P
A dog that meowed was standing on the big center table, wielding two big assault rifles.
"Meow! Welcome y'all! It's the Meowykins game show! Answer my question wrong, and you die!"
"What?!"
"I'm totally kidding, meow," Meowykins said. I let out a sigh, but still looked up with fear.
"Why do you have those guns?" Noah asked.
"Oh, these things? Yeah, Monokuma gave me them as a present. It's pretty cool, right? Meow!"
The awkwardness of everything shook up the room. As Noah and I waited, looking up at Meowykins' assault rifles, the others came in, each having the same reaction.
"W-what the hell?!" Ryoko muttered. "We've seen some weird shit, but seriously?!"
"W-we were supposed to have a meeting," Kirei said. "W-why are you here, Meowykins? Would you like to be a part of our little tea party..?"
"We are not having a tea party, little girl," Micky said.
"O-oh."
"No, Monokuma told me to keep watch over you. I heard there were sharks with laserbeams on the top of their heads!"
"Sharks with laserbeams on the top of their head?" Mirai repeated.
"Yup! Sharks with laserbeams on the top of their head!"
This went on for… a while. Meowykins was aiming his assault rifles at the glass window in front of us.
"U-um, Meowykins," Unmei stuttered. "What are you aiming at exactly?"
"I'm getting ready for the sharks with laser—"
"Right, right. Sharks with laserbeams on the top of their head," Kaito interrupted. "We get it."
Meowykins nodded, and kept his eyes lined up in front of the assault rifles. We all sat in front of each other, but we were silent, not wanting to say anything in front of Meowykins.
"So how's about that weather, y'all?" Meowykins asked.
"What weather? We're underwater," Furo said.
I looked at the end of the table, and Shougo was looking there. He looked dejected, completely out of energy and even sloppier looking than Noah. The others noticed my stare, and looked at Shougo with me. Shougo rubbed his eyes with his hands, and finally noticed us.
"What is it?" Shougo asked.
"…Nothing," I said. "You look a little tired."
"A little?" Ryoko chuffed. "Ha! He's completely brickhoused!"
Shougo let out a small sigh. Meowykins, trying to keep our spirits high, began to intervene.
"Meow! Please do not fight in front of the dog with the assault rifles in his hands!"
Ignoring Meowykins, Shougo decided to speak.
Soundtrack: All All Apologies
"I'm sorry for deceiving you guys," Shougo said softly. His voice was ragged and weak, and I felt a twinge of sympathy for him.
We didn't respond to his sudden apology, though. Shougo looked at us with hope in his eyes, but continued to stare down, realizing his rejection. This felt wrong… Shougo of course only was trying to protect his little sister. I might've done something similar. At the very least, I wouldn't reveal anything to the others.
"Well, I forgive you," I said, standing up. I reached my hand out, and Shougo looked at me, eyes widening slightly.
"No, that's okay," Shougo said. "I don't really like anything that stems from sympathy… forgiveness included."
"It's not sympathy," I protested. "I'm just… I would have protected her too, if I were her older sister. I wouldn't reveal my family away, right?"
Shougo looked at me, and I gave a smile. It seemed cliché, like I was in some lame shounen, but this felt right. Shougo needed forgiveness.
"…I forgive you too," Mirai said. "Yeah… Family… that's important, right?" Mirai suddenly sounded a bit sullen. Mirai and I both shook hands with Shougo, who looked a little taken aback.
"Thanks," Shougo said. "…I'm sorry, again… I know I shouldn't play with human lives like that."
"But you weren't really playing with them," I said. I looked at the others. They were all looking down, unsure of how to feel. We could all read the atmosphere. Meowykins was looking at us with confusion, but he shrugged it off, continuing to focus his aim on the vast ocean.
"Well, I guess Keiko's right," Kaito said. "Forgiveness is the one thing that leads to happiness. Of course, our happiness will be us getting out of here, right?"
"…I guess he's right," Takayashi agreed. "It won't be much help if we all were hostile to each other."
Everyone looked and smiled at Shougo. Shougo deserved forgiveness. It's how people learn, right? The happy mood continued, and we all began to laugh. For no reason, we just laughed. Shougo was smiling, which was nice. He must be devastated over the death of Yayoi. But if we get through this… it'll be fine. It'll be all fine.
Soundtrack: Re DISTRUST
"Oh please! You guys are so out of it!"
We looked at Micky, his legs on the table. He waved his hands for us to look away, but we continued our stares.
"What?! This fucking twat-face, twat, totally decided to try and kill us! I mean, why should we forgive him of all people?"
"H-hey! Micky!" Unmei snapped. "Think about what you're saying.
"Oh please! Don't bitch around me! Bitch around that goddamn mistake over there, please!"
Micky waved his hands with a feminine touch, and we all looked at Shougo. He did look a little shocked, but he was trying his best to maintain his composure.
"You wanna stop talking?" Ryoko asked. "Cause if you keep it up I can easily stick my foot up your ass!"
"I'm not scared of you!" Micky responded. "I got into this school as a goddamn bodyguard! Not like you weaklings can do anything about it, right? Ha! I mean, really..!"
Micky's sudden personality change indeed shocked the rest of us. I could even hear Meowykins chuckle behind me.
"There's no need for this hostility," Hikaru said, attempting to calm us. "We have all agreed to forgive Shougo!"
"You did, not me," Micky said. "Please don't lump me in with you guys, Jesus Christ!"
"Alright! That's it! This guy needs to be fucking neutered!" Ryoko yelled. She got up, and balled her fists, and lunged towards Micky.
"Come at me!" Micky said. He easily dodged Ryoko, and Ryoko swung numerous punches at him, missing each time. "I don't hit girls, no matter how burly they are!"
"Did you just call me burly?!" Ryoko yelled. "Jesus Christ..!"
"G-guys..! Please stop it!" Kirei stammered nervously. "We have to work together..!"
I looked at Shougo. His face was completely twisted. I couldn't imagine the guilt he must have been holding inside of him. The death of his sister probably pierced him, and now there's this brawl between all of us.
There was no way we were going to get out at this rate.
"You guys! Stop it!" Mirai demanded, puffing his cheeks. "Look out the window!"
Mirai pointed at the glass panes against the wall, and we all tilted our heads. My mind was blown at the sudden turn of events.
Soundtrack: Monokuma Sensei's Lesson
"Nyahahaha!"
Monokuma walked up behind us, holding building tools.
"Let's do this!" Meowykins yelled.
"Right you are!" Monokuma said.
My eyes were still mostly focused on what was actually happening outside.
Meowykins shot his guns rapidly. The glass broke and water piled in extremely fast. Red swirled through the water. We would have drowned, but Monokuma rapidly got wooden planks and replaced the glass as soon as it broke. It was amazing to watch, to be honest, as Monokuma was piling it on the glass with such extreme speed. He definitely looked like an advanced android, as Meowykins shot through the glass. I looked beside the planks, and I saw…
Someone wearing a deepsea diving suit. He looked like he was going to rescue us, as he had a badge on his helmet. There was a submarine a few inches back, but that was destroyed too. Bullets pierced through the man as I watched in horror.
"Yeeeeehaw!" Meowykins yelled. "Monokuma and Meowykins combo attack! Nyahahahaha!"
(AN: Yeah the ending was weird as hell, wasn't it? I wonder how this will come into play with everything..? VOTE FOR FREE-TIME!
I'll be honest though I'm not 100% proud of this chapter, but I hope you like it anyhow...)
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