DanganRonpa:

I'll Dance On Your Grave 2

Chapter 2

Update 8/16/2017; Fixed spelling errors.

Hajime's P.O.V:

"Hey, stop pulling on me, alright?" I asked her as she managed to swing open both doors with her hand. Of course, some red flags were starting to raise in my head, I figured that if this was going to be a robbery of some sort, I could easily run back to the street. She wouldn't dare attack me in the broad open with people driving and walking by!

"Sorry, sorry. Here, let's get out of the cold, ok?" She asked me as she closed the door behind us. Looking around, I quickly started to take in the environment. A white brick hallway with lights above lined the ceiling as the sight of a black single door was spotted at the end. The hallway was quite narrow, so if this girl had plans of walking beside me, then that'd be an issue; we'd have to walk in a single file line.

"W-Where is this?" I asked her, my gaze meeting hers again. On first glance, that same dead eyed gaze she had on her face hadn't left her at all. It was as if, it were monotone? The face she was making? Well I guess that wouldn't make too much sense. Devoid of feeling! Yea! She looked something like that.

"This is where me and my friends do stuff." She told me. Grabbing my hand, she started walking forward. And so did I.

"That's... not very specific." I told her, responding to her incredibly vague answer. Well what kind of stuff? The way she put it made it sound like this was a ring crime or something of that sort! But that would've been impossible! Right?

"Oh, we're here. C'mon, don't be shy." The girl told me, as we finally reached the black door. With a single pull, I watched as she pulled it open, and stepped inside.

"I have plenty of reasons to be shy right now!" I responded back. I didn't mean to be sarcastic with her, but her direct avoidance of my question raised even more flags than I had before. But I wasn't paying too much attention to that. The moment I stepped inside, I immediately caught view of a beaded curtain to the right of me, followed by some low volume jazz music. To the right, were a couple of jackets hanging on the wall, followed by a large green screen. If I recall, those were for making videos and what not right? I wasn't sure, I wasn't the expert of video making after all.

"Hey hey, Sonia we have a visitor." The girl said aloud. Maybe that was one of her friends? I didn't know. All I knew, was that I was starting to get bad vibes. I'm probably a naive fool for saying this, but maybe I was being too paranoid? Too distrusting? This is my first time here in a weird land, and if this was tradition, or a culture, then I certainly didn't want to offend anyone!

A few moments later, I watched as a tall, blonde haired woman slowly walked out from behind the curtain. Giving her a quick up and down, I noticed that like this one girl, she too was wearing something inappropriate for winter. She had on red heeled shoes, along with knee high black socks that covered her legs. She was wearing a green like dress, with a white shirt underneath to compliment it. A black bow was placed on top of her hair, and a red bow was placed right on her chest. But I made sure to give her only side glances so that she didn't know that I was looking at her. She however, was more open about it.

I watched as she ran her grey eyes up and down my body, almost as if she were doing the same to me. Her grey eyes studdied me up and down, multiple times. Now I knew these bad vibes were correct. I should probably excuse myself right now.

"Ah you know what? It's getting late, and I should probably start heading home. It was nice meeting you both!" I told them, even though I didn't even know this one girl's name. As I started to step backwards the blonde haired girl, who must've been Sonia, started laughing.

"Oh geez! You picked a really fine person to bring to us Chiaki." I heard her say. Ah, so this one must be Chiaki then.

"P-Pardon?" I asked them both as I watched Sonia approach me.

"We're sorry if we scared you! See, we were getting bored in here, and I asked Chiaki to bring back someone who looked like they needed something to do! You weren't especially busy with anything, right?" She said as she placed her arm around me. Well, truth be told, it was reassuring to know that these people weren't some vague criminals or something. But it still felt kind of off.

"Well, I wasn't really, but-."

"Perfect! Hang out with us then!" She said, and with that, both her and Chiaki grabbed my hands, and led me through the beaded curtains. Immediately upon stepping inside, I noticed another green screen at the end of the small white room. A couple of cameras were pointed at it, as well as a small fan on the floor. A brown carpet lined the floor as I noticed a couple of other girls hanging around. That, alongside a couple of posters hanging out around the wall comforted me. Ah, so were these ladies just taking pictures of themselves? Wow! And here I thought this was a drug ring or something! Not that I've ever seen one in real life that is.

"Why're you nervous? Come on, come on." Sonia said, still pulling on me. There was a girl next to the screen that was fiddling with her camera. She had short red hair, and surprise surprise, a green skirt on. Blackish tennis shoes covered her feet and long knee high socks covered her skin. She was wearing a white shirt underneath her dress like skirt, and she had on a red and white checkered tie. Yep, again something totally feasible in winter weather.

Looking to the left, I noticed another girl was sound asleep on a big black box or something. She had long blonde hair as well. Or at least, it appeared long. It was in the shape of a long ponytail. In addition, it appeared that she was wearing a kimono too! Was she from Japan as well? What a coincidence! It was reassuring to know that different cultures were accepted here.

"Ah! Who do we have here?"

I nearly jumped out of my shoes as a cheerful voice exploded out from behind me. Turning around, I watched as an exotic looking girl came into view.

"O-Oh yea! I never told you all my name. Weird right? Haha..." I forced an awkward laugh. I did raise a good point though; they didn't know who I was, what my name was, yet accepted me into their, hangout? Or something along those lines. I wasn't about to question it though. So I tried to go with the flow, and watched as this new face walked right up to me.

Immediately something about her screamed extremely off to me. Not only did her shoes have different colored laces, and didn't match. But her thigh high socks didn't either! One was pink, and one was blue! In addition, both of them had a multitude of holes in them! Was she poor by any chance?

Accompanying that, she had on a blue skirt, and a white shirt to go together with it. A long pink bow complimented her shirt, and she had an... arm warmer on her arm? Is that what it was called? Or maybe it was a long glove. I didn't care too much for specifics. Her finger nails were painted black, and she had long flowing black, white, and pink hair. Highlights maybe? She also had... two unicorn horns pointing out of her head. Alright, this must've been a cosplay thing or something. Was she not all there in the head either? Well, that was rude of me to think. And her eyes... her large pink eyes glared into mine. That color couldn't be natural, right?

"My name! It's Hajime." I told them, not really feeling comfortable about giving out my last name. After all, better safe than sorry right?

"Ah! Nice to meet you Hajime! I'm Ibuki! And you've met Sonia, Chiaki, Mahiru, and Hiyoko right?"

The girl known as Ibuki told me. I watched as she pointed out each and every one of the girls to me. Ah, so the one with the camera was Mahiru, and the one sleeping was Hiyoko. Got it.

"Sonia! Ibuki! Stop screwin' around and tell me what you're-." I new voice popped out as Mahiru turned around. The moment she saw sight of me however, she closed her mouth and shot me a surprised look.

"Nevermind! Hello hello! What brings you here, hm?" Mahiru asked me, as she slowly started to approach me. Was it just me, or was I half way surrounded by these people? I'm probably thinking too much into it. Being too paranoid was never healthy for the psyche.

"Oh! Chiaki invited me inside! To get away from the cold and what not. Haha, it looks like you ladies aren't too cold either." I told them, pointing out their unusual attire. Again, nothing wrong with dressing casual if you live or hang out somewhere. But was that really true? Did they really live here?

"That was very nice of her!" Mahiru flashed me a smile, and held out her hand. Well, so far so good I guess. I quickly reached forward and shook her hand back. With formalities out of the way, I started to relax a little. Maybe they were just other people who wanted someone new to hang out with, but were too shy? Too socially awkward? Ok ok, enough of the rude thoughts now.

"Haha, well I'm new to this city, and wanted to look around and- ah!" As I started to speak, I quickly felt a soft sensation press into my back. Turning around slightly, I noticed that Ibuki was close. Unnaturally close. Alright, that was a little weird. Ok, a lot weird. But again, socially awkward and what not. I wasn't gonna insult her because of that!

"Um, Hey Ibuki? You're kind of standing..." I started to speak. Almost instantly, I heard a soft chuckle, as Ibuki began to step backwards. She must've understood what I was about to say.

"Ugh, you guys are being so noisy." I heard another light voice break the slight silence. Looking over, I watched as the girl named Hiyoko started to rise up, and mutter a little.

"Be quiet! Go back to sleep. And don't hurt yourself while doing it." I heard Sonia's voice ring out to her. Oh man, she was right after all! Cold and snowy weather was perfect for sleeping in after all! So I didn't place too much blame on the blonde haired girl.

"Ah, so what did you guys wanna do?" I asked them, letting out a small sigh. I admit, the last thing I expected to do here was to be brought into a room full of older looking women. I'm guessing the plan was to invite me inside and awkward talk? Well that'd get so cringe worthy so fast. Luckily, one of them already had an idea.

"Let's take pictures! Hajime you don't mind right?" I heard Mahiru tell me. Like that, she held up her camera, and pointed it at me as if she was really about to take one herself!

"Oh ok! We could do that I suppose." I told her, re-adjusting my scarf just a little. So maybe this was it. Maybe they needed a picture subject! Alright, Well this wasn't a problem at all! So I quickly walked past them, and stood in front of the green screen. This was the first time I'd ever done something like this, so it was hard to hide the embarrassment when it was plastered all over my face.

"Ok ok! Cross your arms, and turn your head away." Mahiru told me. And with that, all of them started to approach me. No big deal, perfect picture shot and what not.

"Ah, like this?" I asked them as I folded my arms over top of each other. I looked away from them, and cast my eyes onto the brown carpet below. In the next instant, a flash went off, followed by the click of a camera.

"Great! Now give me a casual look. Put your hands in your pockets and look at me." I heard Mahiru tell me.

"Like this?" I complied once more by placing my hands in my pocket, and looking forward. Click! The same flash and sound echoed throughout the room.

"Great great! And now..." We went on for just a little while; I'd go into different poses as these women continued to watch me. Alright alright, I admit I was having a little bit of fun. This was my first photoshoot ever! And they picked me up so they could do that? Ok! I wasn't against the idea at all! I was liking this!

"Ok ok! We have one more request, ready?" Mahiru told me, as she started to fiddle with her camera.

"Sure! Bring it on!" I told her, flashing her a determined smile. This was it! The final request! What more did she have in store?

"Ok! I need you to take your clothes off!" She told me, and as she done so, she kneeled down and aimed her camera lens right at me. Did I hear her right?

"Ah what? Oh! Hahah! Alright you got me there. Now, what's the last request?" I asked her. There was no way I heard her right! Take off my clothes? As if this was the time and place for such a thing!

"Oh no I'm serious! Take your clothes off. C'mon, we won't look. For too long." I heard her say. Ok, now I knew that she definitely was serious.

"Oh! Oh no no, no I couldn't do that." I told her, my face becoming flush with red and heat. There was no way I was brave enough to take my clothes off in front of these strangers! What if it was a trap or something? Or what if this whole thing was a for a newspaper! Foreigner flashes females and goes to jail! No way! There was no way I'd allow that to happen.

"Huh? Why not?" I heard Ibuki ask me. Judging by her glance, I could see the slight twinge of... disappointment in her eyes? But why though?

"Why not? Well, because it's weird! I don't know any of you guys! And you want me to strip naked for a picture? Nuh-uh! Out of the question!" I told them. By this point, Hiyoko was wide awake, and her glare was fixed on me as well. Suddenly that feeling of being uncomfortable came by tenfold, as everyone's eyes was fixed on me.

"Is this guy serious? He of all people being prudish?" I heard Hiyoko say from the back of the room. Ok ok, this was fun and all, but now I feel as if I've overstayed my welcome.

"Relax! Relax, we're professionals ya know? We take pictures like this all the time!" I watched as Mahiru and Sonia began to approach me. Too nervous to back away, both of them came in real close to me, and embraced each of my arm within theirs.

"And Hajime, we just personally think... that you're right for the role." Sonia told me, her once royal like voice now hushed down to a whisper. Out of the corner of my eyes, I watched as both of them leaned down into my ear, and started breathing ever so softly. The chilling sensation of their breath in my ears quickly caused shivers to ricochet down my spine. Ok ok, now I now I needed to leave right now.

"Oh look at the time! My phone is going off! My instructor must be back at my place right now! I need to go and make sure that I meet her on time!" I quickly explained as I reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone. Walking past all of them, I quickly brought the phone up to my ears, and began pretending to speak to somebody.

"O-Oh yes! Ms. Smith! I'm on the way back right now! I'll be there in a flash! I was just... hanging out with some really cool people!" I hurriedly said. Turning around, I watched as every single one of their gazes were staring right at me. The tension was so thick, that one would need a butter knife to cut through it.

"Hajime, you don't need to go anywhere, do yo-." As Chiaki started to speak, I quickly interrupted her by shaking my head up and down.

"Heck yea I do! This is my first day here, and I need to make sure that I get home and plan for my day tomorrow! But uh, I know where you guys hang out! I'll be back tomorrow! Or something!" I told them, a false smile plastered on my face. With that, I quickly turned on my heel, and with all of my might, forced myself not to run out of there. As I walked towards the door, I slammed it shut behind me, and made a beeline back to my one room apartment.

Thump thump thump! The sound of my sneakers colliding with the cement below me echoed in my ears as I made a mad dash back home. I bet to any other passerbys, I looked like some crazy man, running wherever the wind was taking me. But that most certainly wasn't the case. And after about four or five minutes, I quickly opened the door to the complex, and made yet another bolt up the stairs. And within seconds, I was safe and sound, back in my temporary home.

"Hah! Ha! Hah!" The moment I closed and locked the door behind me, I fell into a heap on the floor. Gasping and begging for air, I lied there as I tried to regain whatever energy I spent running away from that freakish place.

"That... That was..." I started saying aloud to myself. What in the hell just happened? Was this a prank? If so, it certainly didn't feel like one. I bet there were killing themselves with laughter the moment I left there. That's right; pick on the new guy. That's absolutely a riot. Whatever.

"Hah... so freaky... so weird..." I muttered to myself as I slowly started to rise by up. I was over thinking it. Definitely. Maybe it was just a passing prank show or something this place does. I didn't care though. They can keep those traditions to themselves. I've got more important things to worry about; like school starting two days from now.

And that was that. I spent the next hour or so ordering a pizza on the phone, receiving said pizza almost an hour later, and watching some tv as I ate said pizza. As I relaxed in my chair, I noticed that even though it was dark out, snow was now regularly falling. Hopefully the roads won't be too slick tomorrow. I could catch a cab and ask the driver to take me around town or something! Now that'd be something else.

About four or so hours after I've returned home, did the faint sounds of Knock knock! Appear on my door. Waking up from my near nap, My head shot up as it appeared that someone had come to my door.

"Ah! I'm coming, hang on." I said aloud. Hopefully the other person heard me. With that, I rose up out of my chair, and stretched upwards. I was somewhat still in a daze, so that stretch really helped out. After about a couple of seconds, I made long strides over to the door, and asked my question.

"Who is it?" I asked again as I put the chain in the appropriate socket on the other side of the door. Better safe than sorry, right?

Knock knock! The same noise pierced the silence of my apartment. Great; were the doors sound proof? If so, then that'd be a problem. Nevertheless, I placed the bolt in the socket, and opened the door.

"Hajimeeee!"

A loud sing song vice pierced my ears. And at that moment, my blood ran cold. Because right outside, I witness the girl known as Ibuki smiling at me from the other side. Almost as if, there wasn't a care in the world!

"E-Eh?! I-Ibuki what are you doing here?!" I asked, my heart racing and my panic beginning to set in. I never told these women where I lived! Did they follow me? If so, how come I didn't notice! Were they ninjas or something?!

"I came to return this to you of course!" Ibuki said, and like that, she handed me a small piece of paper with writing on it. Hesitantly, I took it from her, and what I saw on it, caused my heart to drop into my shoes. There, was my full address, and instructors name on it. Of course, from that reminded I wrote to myself. Now, these women, knew exactly where I lived.

"U-Uhhh... I-I mean I..." I stuttered so heavily at that point. I was so nerve wracked that I could feel my body almost start to shake. But it seemed that she didn't notice, cause she started to talk again.

"Aren't you gonna invite me in? It was cold outside, and I'd really like to get to know you more!" She told me. And with that, she started pressing lightly on the door. If it weren't for that chain, she could've easily made her way in here.

"N-No! No no. Me and my father are spending quality time right now. He's in the bathroom, and you interrupted us!" I lied to her. Of course my father wasn't in the bathroom. But she needed to leave, and I didn't feel comfortable talking to her any longer.

"Hey... Why're you being so rude to me Hajime?" She asked me, a confused look on her face. What? I thought this was obvious?! You're a stranger that arrived at where I lived and you want to come in?!

"N-No! It's not that! It's just that me and my father planned this trip for a long time, and I didn't want to lose any more time to spend with him! Alright?" I told her, hoping that she'd buy it. And what do you know, she did!

"Awww! Maybe tomorrow ok? Ibuki will come by whenever you're free!" She told me. After she said that however, I gave her a small nod, and started to lightly close the door. The strange part though, was the fact that her glare never left mine. She stared at me all the way up until I closed and locked the door. I stayed there, pressing on the door until minutes later, I heard the sound of footsteps making their way away from my door. And as soon as they did, I once again collapsed into a heap on the floor.

"No...! No! H-How did they get this?! Did it fall out of my pocket?! They knew where I lived oh god, I'm gonna get robbed..." I chanted over and over to myself as I started breathing heavily. Well! Well at least I knew what they looked like if they did. So if I do get robbed, I could always tell the police what I know! Yea of course!"

I told myself as I for a second time, managed to rise up. All of this excitement, all of this tension was taking a toll on me. Pretty soon I'd start to grow grey hairs! Wouldn't that be something nice?

"Damnit. Ms. Irving, where are you?" I asked out loud as I pulled out my phone. Upon doing that, I realized that thanks to Ibuki's unexpected arrival, I missed a couple of text messages from her.

"Hajime! I'm at the corner diner. If you'd like to get something to eat with me, you can! Sorry I'm late!" I read her message, and sighed. Well, at least she was ok! I could use yet another bite to eat. Who knows? Maybe I'll tell her about what happened! Or not. Either way, I put my phone away and grabbed a coat and my keys. I was told not to go out at night, but if it's to meet my instructor, then I guess I could!

"On the way." I texted her back, and with that, I quickly put on a jacket, and locked the door behind me as I walked into the hallway.