Ding dong, bing bong.
"Good morning, everyone! It is now 7 a.m. and nighttime is officially over! Time to rise and shine! Get ready to greet another beee-yutiful day!"
I wake up, and stretch.
Ai steps toward the mound—
I shake my head, and get out of bed, and prepare myself for another day.
At breakfast, I feel some weird tension in the air. I wonder what that's about? Most people are talking normally. No, wait… it's coming from the head of the table. From Mizuki, and Shingo, and the First Mates. They're just… sitting quietly. Waiting. They look somber.
Huh. That's weird.
A short while later, I hear a rhythmic clapping. I look, expecting it to be Akiko—but it's our timid little Captain who's clapping this time.
"L-listen up, everyone," Mizuki says. "I have s-something important to say, so please listen c-carefully."
Her voice is louder and clearer than usual, and she's actually looking up at us. It seems like she's prepared for this.
"Unfortunately, I…I h-have…"
But now she's faltering. Her voice quiets a bit. She looks down.
"I have some… b-bad news," Mizuki finishes.
"Bad news?" says Jeff. "That sounds bad!"
"You're a true master of the Japanese language," Jun snarks.
"Wow, really? Thanks!"
"Um…" Mizuki mutters. "W-well… um…"
"I'll tell them, Captain!" Akiko interrupts. "Let me be the bearer of bad news. I can take the hit!"
Mizuki shakes her head. "I should t-tell them," she mutters.
Our Captain breathes deeply. She looks up. Then, with all the clarity and confidence she can muster, she announces:
"Someone here is a thief."
We soak this in.
"A thief?" says Jeff.
"But… what was stolen?" I ask.
"I'm afraid we can't divulge that information," says Naomi.
"Furthermore," adds Shingo, "even revealing where the theft occurred would be giving away too much. Unfortunately, the details of this crime must remain secret."
"Sorry, guys!" says Akiko. "You'll just have to trust that we wouldn't hide this stuff from you without very good reasons! Our Captain always acts with the benefit of her crew in mind!" She pinches Mizuki's cheek. "I mean—just look at this face. You know you can trust this face, right? Right?"
"Um…" Mizuki says, blushing slightly. "I'm s-sorry everyone, but we'll… have to do th-thorough room checks again…"
There's a collective groan, which I'm part of.
"Ugh," Tsubasa grumbles. "Seriously?"
"You have got to be fucking kidding me," Rin spits.
"Did you really expect anything else?" Naomi asks.
"We have no choice," Shingo agrees. "This was no petty pickpocket. Someone here has committed a fairly serious offense."
"Sorry again, guys!" says Akiko. "But we've gotta catch this person, no matter what!"
"Room checks will be slightly different this time," says Naomi. "The four of us—the Captain, the Quartermaster, and the First Mates—will all inspect everyone's rooms together, while the rest of you sit here and wait patiently. Of course, each of our rooms will also be checked by the other three."
"We'll be counting on you guys to keep each other in line while we're gone," says Akiko. "So please be good little boys and girls until we get back. Don't let anyone leave their seat. I know we can trust most of you!"
"Everyone," says Mizuki, "p-please give your e-Handbooks… t-to Akiko and Naomi."
Akiko and Naomi go around the table, collecting our e-Handbooks. I reluctantly give mine to Akiko. There's a lot of reluctance going around. But we all do what we're asked.
Well… all but one person.
"Coooome on now, Rin!" Akiko chimes. "Everyone else has ponied up, so now it's your turn!"
Rin slouches in her seat, pouting intensely, arms crossed.
"Um… Rin?" I whisper. "I, um… I think you should just—"
"God, fine," Rin growls. She tosses her e-Handbook toward Akiko, who just barely catches it in time.
"Thank you!" says Akiko. "Okay, now—behave, everyone! We'll be back soon!"
An hour passes.
At first, there's a period of anxious silence. People fidget in their seats. Next to me, Rin keeps cussing under her breath.
Eventually, Tsubasa and I get into a deep conversation about old video games. We're probably boring everyone else to tears—but it passes the time.
Finally, the door opens, and four people enter the cafeteria—looking quite a bit more exhausted and disheveled, compared to when they left. Naomi, I notice, is holding a golf club.
"Um… hi, everyone!" Akiko says, sounding a bit out of breath. "So, um… unfortunately, we did not catch the thief. However! We did find out that two of you have been naughty little rule-breakers!"
"Rin," Naomi says, holding up the golf club. "Would you care to explain why this was hidden under your mattress?"
"How should I know?" Rin mumbles, not even bothering to look.
"You don't know?" Jeff gasps. "But that means… someone is sneaking into our rooms, and hiding golf clubs under our mattresses! That's so creepy!"
"Um…" Tsubasa mutters. "I… don't think that's what's going on here, Jeff."
"Rin," Naomi continues, "this golf club is identical to the one you received yesterday as a gift. Did you, perhaps, receive two golf clubs, while pretending you had only received one?"
"I don't see how that's, like… any of your business," Rin answers, still not looking.
"It's totally our business!" Akiko retorts. "You were hiding a dangerous weapon from us! This is totally and completely against the rules!"
"Rule breaking c-cannot be tolerated!" says Mizuki, with more gusto than usual. "I will have to p-punish you for this!"
"Jesus fucking Christ," Rin spits, finally looking at the group by the doorway. "I'm fucking sorry for wanting to fucking defend myself. Is that what you want to fucking hear?"
"I expected this from Rin," Shingo says, brow furrowed. "But not from you, Takeru."
Shingo extends his arms, and shows us the objects in his hands. Two ninja stars.
"We found these in your sock drawer," Shingo explains. "Buried under your socks."
"It is pointless to deceive you any further," Takeru says. He's taking this much better than Rin; he's sitting upright, his expression stoic, almost defiant. "I received three shuriken yesterday—not merely one. I left but one of them in its original packaging, while stowing two others away within my own abode."
"You lied to us," Shingo says plainly. There's a trace of genuine hurt in his voice.
"I apologize for deceiving you, old friend," Takeru replies. "Yet I maintain that my actions were just. After Hiroto's untimely demise, the notion that we are safe in our own abodes has been whisked away like ashes in wind. I sought only to protect myself from demons who lurk in the night."
Meanwhile, our four leaders have taken their seats; the golf club and ninja stars have been placed on Shingo's table.
"Regardless," Naomi tells Takeru, "whether you think it's justified isn't the issue here."
"The r-rules apply equally to everyone!" Mizuki agrees.
"That's right!" Akiko adds. "Don't you remember Point Seven of the Pirate Code?"
"Point Seven: no dangerous objects! Semi-dangerous objects must be properly labeled! And don't think you can fake it! The Quartermaster's keeping a comprehensive list!"
"I remember it well," Takeru replies. "I implore you, however, to recall Point One of that same document."
"Point One: a pirate ship is a democracy! The will of the majority always prevails!"
"What are you getting at?" Shingo asks.
"Out of everyone gathered here," Takeru says, "Rin and I were the only ones with the opportunity to stow away a weapon for self-defense. Would it not be a tremendous coincidence, then, if we were the only ones with the desire to do so?
"Circumstances have changed tremendously since the adoption of our so-called 'Pirate Code.' Hiroto's murder has shattered our illusions of collective safety. Furthermore, we now discover that a thief has been operating beneath our notice. We inhabit an unglamorous hell ruled over by a devil who seeks to transform our comrades into demons. I obtained a weapon so that I may protect myself from the evils of this world. I am certain that others would like to have that choice, and will come to resent it being taken away from them."
"Fucking preach," says Rin. "If some, like, knife-wielding maniac breaks into my room? I'm not going to, like. Just ask him politely to, like. Leave me alone, or whatever."
"You're thinking too simplistically," Shingo retorts. "Every weapon adds more complications. Every complication is, quite frankly, an additional headache for the rest of us."
"Well," says Jun, "I see an obvious compromise. Let everyone keep one weapon for self-defense. Only one. Only if they want it. Make them get approval from the Captain. Make sure everyone knows they have it."
"Huh," says Tsubasa. "That… seems reasonable, actually."
"It does," Jeff agrees. "I don't see anything wrong with it."
"What do you mean?" Yuna snaps. "You don't see anything wrong with it!? We're talking about deadly weapons, here! Things that could kill you! There's nothing safe about this!"
"Use your brain, runt," Jun says, grimacing at Yuna. "Who in their right mind would commit murder with a weapon that everyone knows they own?"
"But… there's more to it than that," I say. "Remember the first Danganronpa murder? Sayaka took that knife from the kitchen, and two people saw her—but they thought it was for self-defense. And she told Makoto to get that sword for self-defense. But, in the end, both the knife and the sword were used against her. I know Sayaka was trying to kill Leon, but—"
"Yeah, she was," Tsubasa interrupts. "Which invalidates everything you just said. Sayaka wasn't acting in self-defense!"
"You're missing the point!" I shoot back. "Even if you own a weapon for self-defense, you don't know how it might be used! I—I think…" I look down, blushing slightly. "If I had a weapon in my room, I… think it would be more of a danger to me than to anyone else. Whoever's attacking me could… probably overpower me, and take my weapon."
"Then don't get a weapon," says Jun. "That's your choice. Let us have ours."
"It's not just your choice!" Yuna retorts. "If your weapon is used to kill you, that affects everyone else!"
"A big if," says Jun.
"Yeah," says Tsubasa. "My reflexes are pretty good, so—I think I can handle it."
"You don't know that, though," I argue.
"Well, you don't know that I can't," Tsubasa argues.
Meanwhile, the Captain and First Mates have been whispering to each other. Finally, they lean back from their huddle. "Okay, everyone!" Akiko announces. "The Captain has come to a decision, so listen up!"
"Um…" Mizuki says, her voice faltering. "We w-will hold a vote on Jun's p-proposition. However, it w-will not be an anonymous p-poll."
"We'll vote with a show of hands!" says Akiko.
"You won't be able hide behind an index card this time," adds Naomi. "If you support something so dangerous, you ought to let us know where you stand."
"I find these terms acceptable," says Takeru.
"Okay, then!" says Akiko. "Let's get on with it! If you think everyone should be allowed to own one weapon for self-defense, raise your hand!"
Rin and Takeru shoot their hands up immediately.
Jun, Tsubasa, and Jeff raise their hands, too.
Kenji's hand goes up.
"You too, Kenji?" I say, betrayal in my voice.
"I—I just want my pocket knives," he says, looking at me with apologetic eyes. "They have… sentimental value to me."
"This is no time to be sentimental!"
"W-well…" Kenji stutters, blushing slightly. "You… you did say that you wanted me to protect you, right?"
"I—I was just kidding around!" I reply, feeling my own face redden.
"I'm afraid he's beyond help, Koi," says Emi. "Every teenage boy believes himself to be an action hero in the midst of his origin story. Their brains have been thoroughly poisoned by testosterone. Logic is entirely foreign to them." She smiles at Shingo. "With rare exceptions, of course."
Shingo cocks an eyebrow, unsure whether to take the complement. Right now, he's the only boy with his hand down, and Rin is the only girl with her hand up. But there are two more girls than boys, so…
"I see six hands up," says Naomi, "and eight hands down."
"Looks like we have our…" Akiko begins.
Then Momoka raises her hand.
"Momoka!" Yuna gasps.
Momoka doesn't explain herself. She just keeps her hand raised, and her face down.
"…Um," says Akiko. "I… guess it's a tie! We don't really have, um, an official tie-breaking method yet, so…"
Emi sighs—and raises her hand.
"Emi?" I say, surprised. "But… you just said…!"
"Do not misunderstand me," Emi explains. "I have no intention of obtaining a weapon, and I would prefer if others refrained from doing so. However, I fear that an unpopular ban would be worse than no ban at all. Certain unscrupulous people may feel justified in circumventing such a rule. If these people are going to obtain a weapon regardless, it is better that they do so in a transparent, regulated manner."
"Well… I guess that settles it!" Akiko says. "The 'yes' votes have it!"
"Justice. Fucking. Served," Rin chants, slapping the table with each word.
"H-however," Mizuki says, "Rin and Takeru w-will still be punished f-for acting behind our b-backs."
Rin slouches, scowling.
"So, uh…" says Tsubasa. "…What about the thief? Isn't that how this whole thing started?"
"Oh, yeah," says Jeff. "I almost forgot!"
"Did you at least find any clues?" I ask.
"Unfortunately, we didn't," Shingo answers.
"But we'll be on the lookout," says Akiko. "So, remember—if you see something, say something!"
"I bet it was Monokuma," says Jeff.
"WRONG!" says Monokuma.
We gasp, and turn our eyes to the black-and-white bear in the middle of the room.
"How dare you accuse me of secretly committing theft!" he says. "If I was gonna steal something, I'd be loud and proud about it! I'd let everyone know! And don't you go besmirching my good name by suggesting otherwise!"
"Hmm," Momoka drawls. "You just besmirched your own name, though…"
But Monokuma has already disappeared under a tile.
"Unfortunately," I mutter, "I think he was telling the truth. It wouldn't really be Monokuma's style to do something like that."
"So… what now?" asks Tsubasa. "We just have to go on suspecting each other?"
"I see no reason to do so," Emi replies. "After all, the culprit is quite obvious. By the time I finish this sentence, everyone will already have this person in mind."
We try not to look at Jun, but our eyes settle on him eventually.
"Mind elaborating?" Jun says, shooting a mirthless grin at Emi.
"My, my—who might I be referring to?" Emi says, touching her cheek in mock bewilderment. "Perhaps it's the only known criminal among us, now that Ryu has been executed. Or perhaps it's someone who has betrayed us in the past. Perhaps it's an aloof person with a suspicious air about them. My, my… wouldn't it be odd if all of this applied to a single person?"
"If you have something to say," Jun says, gritting his teeth in the least mirthful grin I've ever seen, "why don't you come out and say it, you bitch?"
"Jun is definitely suspicious!" says Yuna. "No one who eats potato chips for breakfast could be a normal person! It's way too unhealthy!"
"No one asked, pipsqueak."
"P-please," says Mizuki, "let's be c-civil, everyone."
"If you're going to accuse someone," says Naomi, "it's best to at least have a shred of evidence. Accusations based on emotion are worth nothing at all."
"That's right," says Akiko. "So let's stay vigilant, but… keep trusting each other!"
That's a contradiction, and I think she knows it. Trusting each other was hard enough already. It'll be even harder going forward. I'm already dreading what's ahead.
Theft, weapons, land mines…
I can't just lie here in bed, thinking about all these awful things. I need to go do something.
-FREE TIME-
I decide to check out the Ultimate Origamist's Office.
I open the door, and enter the colorful room. As I expected, Emi is sitting at her desk, folding paper. New origami creations line the edges of the desk.
"Sorry—is this a bad time?" I ask. "I can leave, if you don't want me to distract you…"
"You may stay," Emi says, "or you may leave, if you'd like. Your presence is no distraction to me, regardless."
She hasn't looked up from the paper in her hands. I walk over to her for a better look. Her hands are moving incredibly fast. "You're really amazing at this," I say, awed. "I can tell that you've been practicing for years."
"Indeed. I was a small child when paper first came to life in my palm."
"I can only imagine how much hard work it took to become the Ultimate Origamist."
"Ah—do not misunderstand, Koi. Hard work, of course, is a necessary component of success. However, that work serves only to hone one's own natural talent. If that talent is not present from birth, no amount of work can bring it into being. No matter how much time you spent folding paper, I'm afraid your skills would never come close to matching mine."
Well, that's true, though she didn't have to say it like that…
"So," I say, "you said you have seven older siblings, right? Are any of them into origami?"
Emi stops folding, and laughs. "Oh my, no," she says, "certainly not. They have no time for such frivolous things. Not my eldest brother, the Ultimate Banker. Nor my eldest sister, the Ultimate Corporate Executive. Nor my next-oldest brother, the Ultimate Venture Capitalist. Nor…"
She goes on like this. I'm stunned.
"Wait a moment," I say. "Are all of your siblings Ultimates?"
Emi smiles bitterly, and continues folding. "We are Togamis," she says. "Success runs through our bloodline. We are tested for various talents at a young age, so that those talents may be honed. Specifically, we are tested for talents that would contribute to carrying on the family legacy." She pauses. "We are not tested for folding paper," she adds.
Emi's tone is a bit resentful. I stare at her hands—then look around at her beautiful creations. If Emi was born into my family, she'd be a superstar. Everyone in our extended family would worship her. But it sounds like the Togamis have different standards. She might be an amazing artist—but she failed at the talents her family actually values.
Emi finishes her origami angel, and places it on the desk. Then she grabs another sheet of paper, and starts folding it.
"Koi," she says, "because I respect you, I have gone easy on you today. However, I must insist that you put in more effort from now on."
"More… effort?" I repeat, perplexed.
"Obtaining information from people is no simple task. It takes quite a bit of cleverness to wring out uncomfortable details from unwilling targets. Through your strategy today was sufficient enough, I would like to see just how clever you can be. I am certain that your skills will impress me."
Strategy? Skills? What's she talking about? I thought this was a casual conversation!
Then again… Emi wasn't really raised to have causal conversations. She's a Togami. Everything's a battle for her. Even within her own family… she was raised to see her siblings as rivals from a young age. "Casual" doesn't exist in her world.
I feel like I got a bit closer to Emi today.
I'm lying in bed now, not doing anything, letting my mind wander…
Maybe I should go talk to someone.
-FREE TIME-
I decide to visit the Ultimate Moral Compass's Office.
Mizuki isn't there, though. Instead, I find Kenji sitting at the desk, reading a book from one of the nearby bookshelves. His eyes widen a bit when he sees me. "Koi!" he squeaks. "I mean… hi, Koi," he says more calmly, blushing. "I just… um…"
"Low on reading material?" I suggest.
"Y-yeah," says Kenji. "I read pretty quickly, so the books in here are… some of the only books I haven't read yet. There are some interesting philosophy books in here. Kant, Nietzsche, Heidegger…"
"Those are all… cool names," I say, feeling stupid.
"I've already read them in their original German—but it's interesting to compare the translated version. Anyway, I've gotten through ten books today, so…"
"Ten books?" I gasp. "Jeez, you read fast!"
"Y-yeah…"
"Seriously, that's amazing! You… you must've been some kind of child prodigy! I bet you were one of those super-babies who could recite poetry by the age of two! I'm right, aren't I?"
Kenji lets the book rest on his lap, and scratches his head, looking away. "Not exactly," he mutters, sounding a bit troubled. "Actually… I… didn't speak my first word until I was… six years old."
I stare at him. "Um… sorry," I say, "but I think I misheard you. You… didn't speak until you were… six?"
Kenji nods. "My parents were convinced that I was mentally impaired. Not that I blame them…"
I'm dumbstruck.
"One day," Kenji continues, "I got hungry, and blurted out without thinking: 'May I please have more food?' My mom was so shocked, she actually screamed. It was the first thing I ever said."
"I'm… confused," I admit. "How do you go from not talking at all to… that?"
"The thing is… even though I wasn't talking, I could still understand everyone. I understood people for years and years before I said anything to them."
"But… why didn't you say anything?"
Kenji shrugs. "I wasn't sure what to say. Or… more accurately… I wasn't sure how to say it."
"Sorry, but… I'm not sure I follow. Most babies' first word is 'Mama' or 'Papa' or something—it's nothing they have to think very hard about. What was holding you back from saying even something as simple as that?"
Kenji pauses. "Why 'Mama'?" he asks. "Why not 'Mother,' or 'Mom,' or 'Mommy'? How do I know which word to pick? That was… the kind of question that went through my head, whenever I thought about saying something."
Once again, I'm dumbstruck. Just like Kenji was for six years… apparently.
"Have you heard of the Library of Babel?" Kenji asks.
"Um… sorry, I haven't," I reply.
"The Tower of Babel is a biblical story about the origin of languages. According to the story, mankind tried to build a tower to Heaven—but God got angry, and he punished us by making different people unable to understand each other.
"Jorge Luis Borges, an Argentine writer, reimagined Babel as an infinite library with infinite books. Each book contains random strings of letters and characters. Almost every book is complete gibberish. But because they're infinite, some of them must have meaning. If you search the Library of Babel long enough, you'll find every possible sentence in every language. You'll find every book ever written. Every good idea. Every important insight. But… only if you search for year after year after year." Kenji pauses. "Sometimes… I feel like my mind is like the Library of Babel. Whenever I decide what to say… I have so many options, it can be overwhelming. If I've already found a book, I can save it somewhere to use later, but if I need to find a new book… I might have to search all of Babel to find it. Um… metaphorically speaking."
"I… think I understand," I reply. "So… your problem isn't that you don't understand people. It's that… you understand so much that it can be a little bit overwhelming?"
"Something like that," Kenji mutters.
I take some time to process this. Honestly… I have a problem where I sometimes blurt things out without thinking. But it sounds like Kenji has the opposite problem. He knows so many words and phrases in so many languages. But… at least in his case… could that actually be as much of a hindrance as a help?
I feel like I got a little closer to Kenji today.
I'm about to finish dinner when Yuna sneaks up behind me, leans down, and whispers into my ear: "Meet me in the classroom after dinner."
Before I can ask her anything, she's already walking away.
Just as Yuna said, I go upstairs when I'm done with dinner, and walk to classroom 2-A.
When I open the door, I'm surprised to find five people already waiting there. Yuna, of course. But also the four leaders—Captain Mizuki, Quartermaster Shingo, and the First Mates, Akiko and Naomi. They're sitting at various desks in a sort of haphazard semicircle.
I close the door behind me, and take a seat.
"Now that we've all arrived," says Naomi, "please tell us what this is about, Yuna."
I see—so Yuna gathered everyone here. She looks distressed. Anxious. Does she know who the thief is? Did she catch someone doing something suspicious?
Then Yuna speaks—and takes me completely by surprise.
"We need to put Momoka on suicide watch," Yuna says.
For a moment, we sit in stunned silence.
"Yuna," Naomi says softly, "will you please explain how you came to this conclusion?"
"What is there to explain?" Yuna shoots back, her typical energy suddenly returning. "She's obviously severely depressed! She doesn't eat right, and she doesn't sleep right, and she barely moves all day, and she acts like an all-around slob! Just two days ago, she told everyone that she doesn't want to be alive! And she's barely left her room at all since then, except when she has to! It's amazing that no one has done anything about it yet! I'm… I'm ashamed of myself for not speaking up until now!
"But I had to speak up, because this morning, we all voted on whether to let people own weapons, and… and Momoka voted yes! There's no way she thinks she can defend herself! She obviously wants a weapon to…" Yuna hesitates. "…To kill herself with!"
Again, we're stunned.
"Um…" Mizuki mutters. "I d-don't know much about s-suicide watch. However, I believe it is a v-very extreme measure."
"That's my understanding, as well," says Shingo. "From what little I know, suicide watch is primarily done in jails and hospitals, and involves twenty-four-hour surveillance by trained professionals." He adjusts his glasses. "Frankly, none of us here are trained professionals. Twenty-four-hour surveillance would be extremely difficult, if not impossible. We have neither the resources nor the expertise to carry this out, and I can imagine various ways in which we might make a mess of things."
"How can you say that when you haven't even tried it yet!?" Yuna shoots back. "Are you just going to let her die?"
"Yuna," Akiko says, her voice low and sad, "if we single Momoka out, and put a whole bunch of extra restrictions on her… it might just humiliate her, and make her feel even worse."
"I agree," says Naomi. "Momoka has not yet asked for a weapon, and I don't see us letting her have one any time soon. However, it's much too soon to begin treating her like an inmate in an asylum."
"I… I didn't think I'd have to argue for this," Yuna says, water trickling her eyes. "I… I thought you'd understand…" She starts crying. "Why… why don't you understand?" She cries, and sniffles, and wipes her eyes. "I know…" Another sniffle. "I know that sometimes, I can exaggerate a teensy bit. But this isn't like that! I'm really, seriously worried that something bad is going to happen! Momoka, she… she was already depressed before the killing game started, and this environment—it's the worst thing possible for her mental health. It's completely destroying her, and…"
Yuna's tearful eyes meet mine. "Koi, you… you understand what I'm saying, right?"
"Um…" Suddenly, I go from observer to participant. The shift is jarring. "Yuna, I… I don't know how to ask this—I don't mean it in a rude way, or anything—but, um… why am I here? I understand the Captain and everyone, but I… don't have any say in this."
"Because," Yuna says hoarsely, "you have a special bond with Momoka."
Once again, I'm taken by surprise. "I do?"
"Yes, you do! You shared your manga with her!"
I recall the nighttime room checks we had, back before room checks were abolished. Momoka checked my room twice. The first time, I lent her the first volume of Fruits Blanket; two nights later, we talked about it for a short while, and I lent her the second volume.
"I… guess I did," I say. "I wouldn't really call that a 'special bond,' though."
"It was special to her," Yuna retorts. "Don't you get it? That's the most she's talked with anyone this whole time! That's the most anyone has done for her this whole time! I don't think…" Her voice lowers. "I don't think Momoka has ever really had friends. I think she really looked forward to trading manga with you. Those room checks helped her get out and interact with people, and—I think shutting them down has been really hard for her."
I process this. No words reach my lips.
"Yuna," says Mizuki, "thank you f-for your input. We will ch-check up on Momoka every once in a wh-while, and… ensure she d-does not get w-worse."
"Are you even listening to me?" says Yuna. "I'm telling you, that's not good enough!"
We're stumped. For a moment, we sit quietly, unsure of how to respond.
"Yuna," I mutter nervously. "I… have to admit, I'm kind of surprised by this. You're the one who's always insulting Momoka—telling her she's fat, and unhealthy, and… stuff."
"Because I care about her!" Yuna snaps, tears leaking out. "If I didn't care about her, I'd just ignore her, like everyone else always does!"
She stands up, storms out of the room, and slams the door behind her.
We're left in awkward silence.
"Yuna…" Akiko says quietly. "She's… been a fan of Momoka's perfume products for years. But she'd never met Momoka until… the killing game started." Pause. "I guess… it was a little shocking, meeting her hero, and finding out that she's… like that."
It's 9:00 p.m., and I'm alone in my room, and my mind is swirling with thoughts. Thoughts about Momoka, and the thief, and betrayal, and distrust, and murder, and Ai stepping toward the mound…
I decide to go for a walk. That's what Hiroto used to do at this time of night.
As I walk, I think about Hiroto.
Without thinking about it, I wander upstairs, toward the Ultimate Attorney's Office.
I stand outside it for a moment. Then I grab the handle, and open the door—
"Die, tortoise scum!"
"You first, Slicer!"
…What the hell?
I did not expect to see this. Actually… what even am I seeing?
The first thing I notice: two masks. Kabuki-style masks. Jeff's kabuki-style masks, the ones of Slicer and Amadeus. They're being worn by two very different people—a large boy and a small girl—who are dramatically posing at each other. Toward the wall, Akiko and Naomi are sitting in leather armchairs, watching the performance unfold.
"No tortoise shall ever defeat me!" the masked boy says in Jeff's voice.
"We will see about that!" the masked girl says in Mizuki's voice. Mizuki's loud, clear voice. Well… loud and clear by Mizuki standards, anyway.
They haven't noticed me—but Akiko and Naomi have.
"Hi, Koi!" Akiko shouts, leaping from her seat and rushing toward me. "How about you escort me to the weight room?"
"I—"
"Great!" She turns to the others. "I'm leaving early, so go ahead and finish without me!"
She grabs my arm, shuts the door, and starts dragging me down the hall.
"Haha, oops!" Akiko says, smiling a bit too widely. "You weren't supposed to see that. Oh well!"
My head is spinning, so I can't respond. It's been a weird thirty seconds.
Soon, I find myself in the weight room by the pool entrance. Akiko sits on a bench, and starts stretching her arms. "I hope you don't mind keeping me company," she says. "I like to get in some weight training whenever I can. Swimming, too." She flexes, and winks. "I want to get so strong and fit that the Captain won't fear anything or anyone!"
"I… don't mind," I say, still greatly confused. How do I even ask…?
"Jeff's been giving the Captain speech lessons," Akiko says, smiling warmly at me. "He gives her a mask, and lets her play a character, and tells her how to enunciate. As a kabuki actor, he has a ton of control over his voice, so he's the perfect teacher for her."
"Oh," I say. "That makes a lot of sense, actually."
Akiko isn't stretching anymore. Complex emotions weave into her smile. "Part of me," she says softly, "wants her to rely on me for anything and everything. But I know that part of me is selfish. She won't be happy unless she can rely on herself, too." Pause. "She's really amazing, you know? I really think she could do some seriously incredible things, if she'd just learn to speak up for herself. I know I can't always be her voice." She stands up, walks to the dumbbells, and grabs one. "I can do other things for her, though." She returns to the bench, and sits down. "I can clear the path ahead for her. But I have to let her walk that path on her own two legs."
Akiko starts her workout. I watch the dumbbell go up and down, mesmerized.
"Hey, Akiko," I blurt without thinking. "Do you think Momoka will be okay?"
The dumbbell stops. Akiko smiles sadly at me. "Do you want me to tell the truth, Koi?"
"Um… not really," I admit. "Sorry—forget I asked."
Akiko starts lifting again. "I don't know if anyone will be okay," she says. "All we can do… is find our strengths, and hone them as much as we can. Maybe then, we can make the world better for at least one other person."
I watch the dumbbell move.
"You can leave, if you want," says Akiko. "I know you're not a weightlifting type."
"It's fine," I say. "Right now… I'm just glad to have some company."
Author's Note: the plot continues to thicken.
The next update is planned for Monday. After that, I hope to start updating faster—perhaps twice a week—until Chapter 2 is done.
STUDENT E-HANDBOOK: REPORT CARDS
~·~·~
Female students:
~·~
Koi Amaki
• Ultimate Fangirl
• 5'4"
• Eyes: hazel
• Hair: auburn; has an ahoge
• Outfit: navy-blue sailor fuku with a red necktie; pixelated Kyoko and Chiaki earrings; a pixelated Kaede pin in her headband
• Freckles
The protagonist. An otaku who loves the Danganronpa franchise—among other things.
~·~
Rin Ono
• Ultimate Golfer
• 5'10"
• Eyes: gray
• Hair: blonde (bleached)
• Outfit: a white button-up shirt that isn't buttoned all the way up, and a short skirt
• Tanned skin, and glossy makeup
A gyaru who was raised in deep poverty. Her golfing skills have brought her fame and fortune.
~·~
Naomi Shimizu
• Ultimate Mangaka
• 5'6"
• Eyes: reddish-brown
• Hair: red; tied up in a professional-looking bun
• Outfit: a businesslike suit
• An intense gaze
She's written award-winning manga since she was a child. Her works span nearly every genre.
She was appointed Second First Mate by Captain Mizuki.
~·~
Emi Togami
• Ultimate Origamist
• 5'7"
• Eyes: blue
• Hair: black; clipped up in a traditional Japanese style
• Outfit: an elegant red kimono
• A pink origami flower in her hair
She's often smiling—but what's behind that smile?
The late Byakuya Togami was her second cousin twice removed.
~·~
Akiko Narumi
• Ultimate Sailor
• 5'4"
• Eyes: pink
• Hair: white; pixie cut
• Outfit: a sailor fuku with a white top, blue necktie, and short blue skirt; a white sailor hat
• Very white skin
Despite her albinism, she's sailed around the world several times.
She was appointed First First Mate by Captain Mizuki.
~·~
Mizuki Tenshi
• Ultimate Moral Compass
• 4'11"
• Eyes: green
• Hair: light-brown; pigtails that begin below her shoulders and reach down to her legs
• Outfit: a plain, black dress, with a white collar, and a skirt that goes down to her ankles
• A pink armband
She's shy and quiet. But she cares a lot about enforcing the rules.
She was elected Captain by a one-vote margin.
~·~
Yuna Koyama
• Ultimate Dietician
• 4'8"
• Eyes: violet
• Hair: violet; tied up in a ponytail
• Outfit: a white lab coat that goes down to her knees
• Tiny
She can be pretty annoying—especially if she finds you eating junk food.
~·~
Momoka Ito
• Ultimate Perfumer
• 5'2"
• Eyes: dark-brown
• Hair: blue; frayed, tangled, and disastrously unkempt
• Outfit: a yellow sweatshirt that's too large, and a navy-blue skirt with little tears in it
• Looks like a mess, but smells amazing
She seems to barely have a grip on reality. As if she's drifting through life on good smells alone.
~·~
Male students:
~·~
Kenji Sasaki
• Ultimate Linguist
• 5'8"
• Eyes: brown
• Hair: black; slightly unkempt
• Outfit: a normal, dark gakuran uniform
• An all-around regular-looking guy
He speaks over 300 languages—but he's not much for conversation.
~·~
Jeffrey Silverstein
• Ultimate Kabuki Actor
• 5'9"
• Eyes: blue
• Hair: brown; short
• Outfit: white t-shirt, and blue gym shorts
• Strong-looking, though not too bulky
A good-natured, optimistic American who's loved kabuki theater since he was a child.
~·~
Tsubasa Haneda
• Ultimate Speedrunner
• 5'4"
• Eyes: green
• Hair: yellowish-green; spiky; sticks out in all directions
• Outfit: baggy jeans, and a loose, black t-shirt with a game controller design on it
• Several earrings. A sort of punk vibe.
A gamer who's easy to get along with. He's very straightforward, and tends to speak his mind.
~·~
Jun Mujun
• Ultimate Hacker
• 6'2"
• Eyes: brown
• Hair: black with blue highlights; hanging around his head in big, messy locks
• Outfit: jeans, and a leather jacket
• Tall and lanky. Bags under his eyes.
An enigmatic genius. It's hard to faze him.
~·~
Takeru Tao
• Ultimate Child Caregiver
• (not a ninja)
• 5'7"
• Eyes: violet
• Hair: violet; sticking straight up
• Outfit: a full black bodysuit, and a green camo vest
• Headband has a metal plate over the forehead; the Hope's Peak crest is carved into it
He seems to think he's a ninja. Kids love it. His parents don't.
~·~
Shingo Chiba
• Ultimate Accountant
• 5'11"
• Eyes: gray
• Hair: black; well-groomed
• Outfit: a black suit with a bowtie
• Thin-rimmed glasses
An orphaned prodigy. He's literally accounted for everything.
He was appointed Quartermaster by Captain Mizuki.