A/N: Thank you all for your patience. I will PM you all shortly asking you for further information about your characters in regards to their reaction to the first killing and for free time events which will take place in the next chapter. Every chapter containing Free Time Events will be marked with an [F] and I'll grant free time to those who have supported me endlessly so far.
Hope you are all still enjoying it!
Danganronpa: Spine Tower
Chapter 1: A Bright Light of Hope
- FLOOR 31 –
CANTEEN; KITCHEN; LAUNDRY
CANTEEN
In this unpredictable, awkward atmosphere, I stood evaluating the thoughts of the students as they gawped at me and Shogo.
My… reputation, my image… all ruined by him! All why he is enjoying the fact that I feel humiliated!
Soundtrack: Junk Food for a Dashing Youth [Dangan Ronpa OST]
"This is *definitely* not what it looks like!" I swore immediately jumping to my defence.
"Ken m'dear, we can keep all this hush-hush if you don't want the skeletons to fall out the closet," he spoke loud and clear, obviously attempting to humiliate me.
"HAHAHAHA!" Hirosuke's laugh trembled throughout the canteen. "I see you took the idea of exploring wrong folks… We didn't mean to explore each other, HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
"N-no! He was practically naked as soon as got in there!" I stressed.
"Hmph, what a pair of fucking queers," Neith grunted.
"Only those who are in denial would blast such words," Shogo teased, still casually showcasing his body.
"WHAT DID YOU FUCKING SAY?!" Neith growled, fronting a clenched fist.
"Awwwwwww, I personally find this is SUPER cute! The two of you standing there in spotlight like that reminds me of those Yaoi manga's!" Sayuri fussed, not attempting to hide the fact she is blushing.
"If this is the moment for you to open up about your sexuality, then go right ahead!" Rina compassionately encouraged.
I think she actually believes I *am* gay!
"Hey pink pansy boy, com' up here for a threesome, so we can entertain these horny ladies!" Shogo addressed Yuko.
Yuko flared up like a tomato. He pretty much remained silent as he hung his head down as if he had been struck by humiliation.
"I have never been associated with such profanity in all my life," Sophia repulsed shunning her face with her backhand, "show some dignity!"
"I a-agree… shouldn't w-we be f-f-focusing on any…um… what we f-found d-during our investigation… of… um… the t-tower?" Juighe nervously suggested, prodding his fingers together.
Soundtrack: Beautiful Ruin [Dangan Ronpa 2 OST]
"Okeydokey! I'll start by looking on the brighty side of things!" Sayuri sung, throwing her arms up. "We have a MASSIVE super-market on the 29th floor, packed with cute clothes, sugary goooods, um… ha! A gift shop full of plushy adorables!" Sayuri screamed gleefully.
"Super, genial," Alice added. "The kitchen is also stocked with fresh food and the freezer is big enough to store a week's supply, so we won't be getting hungry!" She informed us clasping her hands together in appreciation.
"Indeed this is positive considering our predicament, but has anybody found any valid clues that may help us understand a bit more about the criminal organisation and the claims they made yesterday?" Yuko asked.
"As a matter of fact, I've unearthed a clue which may seem agreeable with the cat's claim regarding our memory loss," Sophia exclaimed.
Her formative manner and the remark about the memory loss struck our attention like lightning.
"Well… what is it?" Junsi asked impatiently.
"The bio-metric sensors that grant us access into our dormitories support the theory that our memories are indeed stolen just as the criminals have previously stated." She explained.
"Simple door locks can predict that, how?" Rina queried with a slack expression.
"Of course, in order for these bio-metric sensors to unlock by scanning our index finger, surely they must have registered our fingerprints beforehand." Sophia explained.
It's handy to have an ultimate puzzler on board; she can really fit in all the missing pieces. But it must be true… our memories have just vanished, but from when?
"Impossible! We cannot have our memories simply lost like that. This is ludicrous!" Yuko answered; his chin tremoring.
"Calm down, it is only a possibility. We cannot draw conclusions from one tiny piece of evidence. We have to tackle this from all sides to the situation." Hirosuke reassured bearing a relaxed posture.
"Even so, we must not rule out that possibility. It's vital, right?" Junsi stated.
I hate to be pessimistic… but the likelihood of us waking up straight after our time in the limo seems unlikely now.
"Moving forward," Kairu prompted, "I found this in the lecture theatre which may give us an insight to our location." She placed the construction plan of the tower on the canteen table.
It was what she showed me earlier, the 28 floors of the tower built on top of a pre-existing building. But what could that be?
She explained it briefly to the group, but all it managed to do was add further confusion to our, already, scrambled brains.
"If we could just somehow identify the original building then we may be able to find out where we are," Kairu explained.
"We could well and be in- or should I say- on top of the hotel our ceremony was supposedly held at." Hirosuke contributed.
I vaguely listening to the students offer their stories one after another, but I began to warp into half daydreaming state. I gazed through the transparent glass window of the canteen. It was small, but I could see blue skies. That's right it's lighter now!
"Have any of us been on the rooftop this morning?" I anticipatively asked.
All the students were silent, until I heard a quiet murmur in the crowd of students. "I-I… um… was about to, but… I g-got s-s-scared," Juighe anxiously admitted throwing his hair over his eyes in shame.
"I told the pussy that flying monster was gonna make breakfast outta him, he squealed like a girl when I practically threatened him to go up, ahaha!" Neith chuckled pleasantly.
"Bullet c-came to my r-rescue… a-and t-told him off," retorted Juighe.
"Wur is that deluded kid?" Fukumoto brought to our attention.
Soundtrack: Paused
We all scanned the room needlessly, as the quietness alone was enough to indicate Bullet wasn't here. We glanced at each other mirroring back the same thought…
He must be on the rooftop!
Then quickly we all crammed into the elevator to the highest point of the tower… maybe now we'll find out where we are…
- FLOOR 33 –
ROOFTOP
From my first glance, I didn't spot Bullet, but then again we were all hit with a dome of light. I walked onto the rooftop embraced in a world of blue. The air got my taste buds tingling. I can taste salt… Not a flurry of a cloud was in sight, just blue, as bright as a bird's wing.
Eagerly, I ran across the rooftop until the surroundings appeared from beyond the barbed wire. I halted immediately when I saw where we were.
So this is where we are…
Soundtrack: Beautiful Days [Dangan Ronpa OST]
A blanket of blue shimmered in the strong morning sunlight, just like gold did when you opened a treasure chest. It stretched so far that it felt endless, but islands, small islands surrounded us. Are they habitant?
"This isn't Tokyo; this… is like a summer's paradise, uuh belle!" Alice said in admiration.
"All that surrounds us is sea; miles of it," Junsi added intensely scanning her surroundings.
Shogo's cheeks shined as he stretched out his body, almost absorbing his surroundings. "No offence ladies, but this sight is more spectacular than your faces combined!"
"If we happen to be located, by what appears to be in the middle of the ocean, how the hell did we all get here?" Kairu observed, analytically studying the surroundings rather than admiring them.
"Does anybody remember taking flight on a plane or boarding a boat!?" Hirosuke yelled. He stood back by the elevator, understandable considering his phobia of heights.
We all shook our heads and all I could vaguely remember was being drugged up in the limo. I had no recollection of a flight or voyaging across the sea.
"This further supports we the cat's remark about our memory loss," Sophia indicated.
"No, no, no, no!" Yuko whined digging his fingertips into his hair. "Communications with the outside world are much more unlikely now, how are we meant to send out an SOS?" He questioned crashing his knees to the ground.
"Duuude, you're getting me tired just by watching you… *yawn* loooose control. Seriously dude, look at the islands surrounding us, they must have seen that monster machine crawling the building. I betcha, that some folk is on the phone right now calling the police or even the military," Daisuke guessed, negligently sunbathing.
"Someone will rescue us in no time," Rina confidently added.
"Come on guys!" Kairu's impatient voice urged. "If we take into account our memories *have* been stolen, which seems likely at the moment… surely our family and friends would have had this investigated by now. But we've had no sign of help or anything!"
"Yes, I'm starting to feel a bit chilly. Can we not discuss this back inside?" Shogo shook in the cold still half-naked.
"Okay, let's *presume* that we are neglected on this tower," Hirosuke began, voicing his loud thoughts in the consideration of the more fragile students, "then why not signal an SOS message on the rooftop ourselves?"
"Perfect Idea," Rina agreed quickly.
"Maybe people on the surrounding islands could help us then," Alice added.
"That's if we carelessly assume that those islands are habitant, hehehehe," Gina giggled. "They could be ghost towns for all we know."
"It's a crucial point," Junsi nodded in agreement. "Why would that monster bear have a tower placed somewhere open to the public view?"
"Reporters, the media, helicopters and possibly even military forces would be inspecting this tower from head to toe if that was the case!" Yuko confidently stated with a sharp posture.
"What the bunch o' us gonna do to signal help anyway, werr just sittin' ducks," Fukumoto stated, impatiently pacing the tower.
"I got it!" Sayuri exclaimed. "While I was down at the super market I found boxes of fireworks. If we set them off not only will people here them they might be able to see them," she put forward excitedly.
"Perfect! Let's grab some now. The quicker the better," Rina said fuelled with eunthusiasm by the idea.
"To-tally love the idea dudettes, but from what I saw there is only enough to set say… five off," Daisuke revealed.
"Setting fireworks off during the daytime seems pretty pointless," Sophia disputed looking down her nose.
"How should go about this then? Set off one firework per night to, or to set them all off for a bigger impact?" I asked.
"Let's just make the sky KABOOOOM like the 4th of July and set them all off tonight!" Sayuri swiftly decided.
"Such a careless decision," Sophia argued with a glass shattering tone. "We are all unaware on what the day is and therefore may face the possibility of setting off the fireworks on a celebratory date. This would not provide a reason for people on the outside to see it as suspicious," she continued, making a valid point. "We should set one firework off per night, at the same time. Surely one intelligent soul out there will identify this as an SOS."
"Agreed," Sayuri approved flashing a confident smile.
"That's all good if we are lucky enough to actually have any life surrounding us," Kairu discussed further.
"Let's all worry about that if our plan fails," Hirosuke said. "Getting worked up now will only cloud our judgement until we are blinded by the grief this bear is inflicting on us."
"Now we have something to look forward to, what should we do?" Rina asked smiling sweetly.
"*yawn*… I'm gonna crash on my bed after shooting the last of the zombie ambush on my game, hehe," Daisuke chuckled.
"Sh-should w-we not be w-worrying about Bullet?" Juighe fretted.
That's right we haven't seen him… It's unusually quiet, thankfully.
"W'll there's no point waitin' t'll the cows come home!" Fukumoto piped. "Let's git off this roof before early birdie catches 'is worm."
I take it she means Monobird.
We all approached the elevator and it seemed our answer was waiting for us.
*ping*
Soundtrack: Junk Food for a Dashing Youth [Dangan Ronpa OST]
"Civilians, I hope we are all keeping safe!" Bullet greeted us as the doors slowly revealed his outrageous appearance.
"How could you let your people worry Bullet?" Rina dived into his arms and hugged him tightly as if he was her childhood blanket.
Bleggh! Is she really falling for this superhero act?!
"Please don't worry pilot girl, I've mustered a terrifically amazing plan…" he stopped in a teasing manner, but I think we all wanted him to spit it out.
"Is it another one of your lame and exaggerated heroic acts, hehehe," Gina giggled underneath her sleeve.
"He's probs been playin' video games like me and com' up with some idea like the mana cannon… or some bazooka zombie gun," Daisuke chuckled.
"FUCKING SPIT IT OUT!" Neith growled forcefully pushing his foot forward.
"As a matter of fact, I've established a simple plan that you people won't have any issue with and hopefully support," he huffed. "However we must all meet at the lecture theatre first and foremost."
Soundtrack: Paused
We all moaned under our breath convinced we'd be wasting our time. Bullet pressed the elevator button leading to the lecture theatre fronting a cheesy smile.
- FLOOR 28 –
LECTURE THEATRE
Soundtrack: Beautiful Ruin [Dangan Ronpa 2 OST]
It was organised just like a classroom. We had name badges indicating the seat we were supposedly had to be seated at. On each desk was on A4 sized piece of paper which was my name list of what initially looked like another set rules, but I felt unmotivated to go through them.
We all sat down exchanging glances of awkwardness and confusion, while Bullet stood confidently at the front of the class just like a teacher all the kids would be scared of.
"What the friggin' hell is this," Shogo queried in absolute confusion.
"That sir is a contract consisting of the policies and procedures we need to consider whilst in the clutches of the evil bear and bagpuss," Bullet replied charismatically.
"Duude! This is handwritten, how'd ya write all this up so neatly in such a short space of time?" Daisuke questioned in amazement.
"It is what our hero must commit to when his powers have been taken away from him," Bullet stated grasping his heart as if he had lost something important to him.
Like the other students did, I briskly looked through the set of principles;
POLICIES & PROCEDURES
KEN ROKUROU
1. After Monokuma's morning announcement, students should immediately proceed to the canteen and contribute to the morning ceremony. In this morning ceremony, students will take turn to cook under the supervision of baker-girl, Alice. After eating our breakfast we'll then discuss our plans and then you are freely allowed to do what we please during the rest of the day. Please see this process as establishing and maintaining bonds.
2. After Monokuma's night time announcement, students must remain in their personal rooms until the morning announcement the following morning. This is a crucial measure put in place to ensure we can rest in our rooms safely without worrying what another student may be doing on the other side.
3. Since it is unknown to us on what date we are currently on, a calendar has been drawn onto the back of this paper so we can be organised on what we do. The weather, temperature and climate have been taken into consideration and therefore the estimated month is possibly March. Since it is impossible to identify the date, it's been decided that the day we woke up in this tower was the 1st of March and therefore today's date is now the 3rd. Use this calendar to write down important events I may announce in the future. Feel free to collect everybody's birthday and write it on the calendar.
4. THE MOST IMPORTANT, PLAIN AND SIMPLE. WE DON'T TOLERATE KILLING!
Please sign: ...
"Daaaaaaaamn! It makes me tired just from reading my name- WHOA! You got patience man!" a bewildered Daisuke praised Bullet.
He still hasn't got past his name?
"Hmph, this is fucking bullshit," Neith grunted tracing his finger down the paper. "I'm a fucking high-school bully, I can't fucking follow these lame ass rules!" Neith asserted in frustration. Immediately he scrunched up the paper with no hesitation and lobbed it on Bullet's head.
"Hehehe," Gina giggled.
"Please civilian, consider this as our first step to establish new bonds," Bullet pleaded.
"We should be honoured that we have someone like Bullet leading the group forward," Rina argued in Bullet's defence.
Shogo posed heroically taking it all in his stride.
"The key concept I truly believe we must take into consideration if we wish to follow these rules is adaption," Yuko declared. "If we are in constant denial then then our mental stability will become corrupt and therefore we lose to the temptation of despair. If look through a more optimistic lens then we have the potential to adapt to this experience." Yuko continued.
"He's right, if caged monkeys can adapt in Darwin's experiments then so can we!" Kairu approved Yuko's theory.
"That is truly the heroic spirit I admire!" Bullet beamed, his heart contended as Kairu and Yuko handed in their signed contracts.
The students quickly followed in Kairu's and Yuko's steps by handing in their signed contract. I, however, was still sat at my desk.
I can see how this is like a security measure and an optimistic idea of us all getting along… but I'm not sure. I feel… torn. But torn from what hope and despair?
"Ken!" Bullet called dragging me from my dilemma.
I looked up to see him watching me, judging me along with the other students.
The longer I think about this the more suspicious people will become of me and if I don't sign it then people think I'm going to kill.
Weighed down by the pressure, I scribbled down my signature and handed it over to Bullet.
The only student who didn't sign was Neith.
"I followed enough rules during school, I 'ent following this bullshit!" He vowed agitatedly as he stormed out the lecture theatre.
"Blast! I see that the he has taken the side of the villain," Bullet cursed. "Let that path of fate teach him a lesson that he should never turn his back on justice!"
"Give the boy time," Hirosuke domineeringly suggested in a friendly manner. "He'll change the tune soon enough when he realises this isn't a school."
Soundtrack: Paused
After 99 per cent of us signed our contracts we all agreed to go back to our rooms or spend more time exploring the tower.
- FLOOR 32 –
DORMITORIES
KEN'S ROOM
I entered my room and released contract from the grasp of my hand. It probably swept under a desk or something, not that I cared.
*knock knock*
I answered the door to the expected Kairu. She walked in as if this was her own room and pinned the contract onto the back of the door, precisely so that it didn't appear wonky when standing from a distance.
She looked at me and then glanced around the room. "Um… where is your contract Ken?" She asked in disappointment.
"Oh… err… it was on my desk but when you opened the door it wafted somewhere in the room," I lied, biting my lip under her interrogating eyes.
She picked it up from beneath my desk and pinned it up the same way as she did hers.
"I'm going to help stock the kitchen with Hirosuke, catch ya later," she said leaving the room.
I can't wait for her finger to get better, so she can grant me back my privacy…
I leaped onto my bed and rested my bead on the palm of both hands summarising the events of today.
Maybe this isn't too bad after all. It's not like I am surrounded by a bunch of freaks… well some of them are. I suppose it could be worse.
"AAAAAACHOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
Soundtrack: Ms. Monomi's Practice Lesson [Dangan Ronpa 2 OST]
What the fuck was that!? I leaped up like a frightened cat and scanned my room.
Kairu's gone! Who could be hiding in my room?
"Woo hoo! It's me your friendly pet cat! Kyakakaka!" Akaneko snickered as he crawled from under my bed.
"What the fuck are doing in my room?!"
"Catching spiders and door mice," he responded licking his lips and rubbing his belly.
"How the hell did you even get into my room, I mean you have fucking paws! How the hell did that register on the fingerprint activated door locks?" I asked trapped in puzzled state.
"These two paws have amazing talents. I yearn for the day when I can use them violently, kyakakaka," the wacky cat hissed blowing his paws.
"Anyway, scram you dirty rodent," I ordered sweeping my hands at him like shooing away a pestering animal.
"I am your deputy head-master, you cannot simply shoo me away human, kyakaka."
"Well, what do you want?" I stood impatiently cross-armed.
"*cough* a gift *cough*," he coughed purposely."However, considering your foul mouth and your lack of appreciation when it comes to my cleaning services, I am debating whether to honour you with such a warm-heartedly present," he teased.
"If it's not a one-way ticket out of this hell hole then get outta here," I declared disinterested.
"Hmmpphh! You are supposed to give in and beg me for it, purr!" The cat hissed in defeat.
"I've learnt to resist presents, gifts or any other type of pleasure after that incident in the limo."
"Blah! Ya can have it for free then!" The cat backed down defeated. "It's an electronic gift you can access using you e-handbooks."
"I'll figure this out for myself," I insisted. "Now leave."
He did like I ordered, but sauntered out my room as if to take the piss.
Soundtrack: Paused
Curious to see what this 'electronic gift' was I opened my e-handbook.
/ E-HANDBOOK / OPEN /
+ Map
+ Rules
- Report cards [OPEN]
[List of student's names]
/ E-HANDBOOK / CLOSE /
It was a list of all sixteen students including myself, each with a profile embedded; the first tab featured their weight, height, blood type, birthday, super high-school title and a simple photograph of themselves. The remaining six tabs were blank.
Why are they blank? I suppose time will tell.
In fidgety and slightly can't-be-bothered attitude I returned back to my bed stretching out like a tired mammal and then I slowly drifted off into a short but slumber sleep.
…
Soundtrack: Beautiful Ruin [Dangan Ronpa 2 OST]
It must have been a few hours later and I awoke but not as I hoped I would. I groggily got out my bed and noticed Kairu engrossed in a book.
"What tiiime is it *yawn*- wait! How did you get in my room?" I panicked.
"You moron, you left it open a tad bit and of course I didn't want to disturb you from your beauty sleep so I let myself in." She explained her eyes still firmly planted on the book.
"I-I could have been… naked… or summat!"
"Please don't disturb my imagination while I'm reading," she sighed scornfully.
*knock kock*
Who could that be? Please not anyone else with a cut finger…
I dragged my feet to the door and grumpily swung the door open.
*click*
"YAY KEN!" Sayuri screamed in joy.
Geez her happy outbursts really irritate me sometimes. But… was I glad to see her! She was the perfect girl, angelic facial features, heavenly blonde hair and dreamy pink eyes that hypnotized me the longer I gazed.
"Um… earth to Ken, yoo-hoo," she waved her hand against my eyes as if I was lost in some trance- oh, um… maybe I was.
I shook my head as well as my fantasizing thoughts. "S-sorry, I'm gormless when I'm deprived from my sleep." I chuckled.
"Liar!" Kairu shouted from inside my room. "You just got the hots-" her voice immediately became muffled as I slammed the door shut behind me.
"Eeeeeeek! Why are you holding Kairu prisoner in your room?" Sayuri shot out a very imprecise accusation.
Long story…
I briefly explained the short version of why Kairu was staying in my room for the time-being, but Sayuri's engaging eye contact made me believe she was expecting some sort of dramatic story with a romantic twist.
"At least you were not planning to kill her," she sighed in relief.
"Er… N-no! No definitely not!" I reassured her; worried she would come to such a conclusion. "Anyway, are you here to ask me out on a date?" I teased, biting my lip. Yeah, she likes me.
"You must be psychic! As a matter of fact I chose to invite you to help me set off the first firework!" She smiled convincing me she was impressed I initiated the idea of a date.
Soundtrack: Paused
Maybe she has fallen for my charm and my cheeky behaviour. More of a reason to keep it up!
- Floor 33 -
ROOFTOP
Soundtrack: At Our Parting (Piano) [Sword Art Online OST]
I set-up the firework using the supplies from the supermarket and ignited the fuse. I quickly ran 50 feet reuniting with Sayuri. Being the gentleman that I was- or perhaps should be, I took off my blue jacket and delicately wrapped it around her and edged my body in closer so she could be embraced by my warmth. Why am I so hot- well that's obvious I have the hottest girl watching a firework explode in the sky.
We both gazed at the sky which was now glittering with diamonds and then before our eyes the firework hissed and shot up like a rocket.
*BANG*
Colourful lights dispersed. While we watched the colours fizzle out Sayuri placed her head on my shoulder and tightly clutched my blue jacket she was holding. I placed my arm around her and she tucked her head further down towards my chest. What I was hoping was affection was in fact loneliness. She rejected any further advances I made such as lightly kissing her neck… It was if she just wanted a warm blanket to enclose herself in and presently that was what I was to her. I could almost feel the despair lingering over her, but could she feel this?
Soundtrack: Fading
To be continued.