Never Say Never
Disclaimer: I do not own Danganronpa or the characters associated with it.
Chapter 1:
Act 1
This couldn't be real…it had to be a dream. No, it was a nightmare.
Makoto Naegi told himself over and over that he was still unconscious after passing out in the school lobby, but the shaking of his legs forced him to realize that he was wrong. That strange half and half bear, Monokuma it called itself, had just informed all of them that the only way to leave this place was to commit the ultimate sin…murder.
Hesitantly looking to all sides, Makoto found himself completely surrounded by all his 'classmates':
There was Sayaka Maizono – the Ultimate Pop Sensation. The most popular idol in all of Japan and lead singer of an all girl group, whom she cares for as her closest and most dearest friends. Quite popular among boys and girls alike.
Near her was Leon Kuwata – the Ultimate Baseball Star, who had broken out into a cold sweat. He'd been named one of the best baseball players in Japan but despite his overwhelming talent, he openly voiced his dislike of the sport and his desire to change his talent to the Ultimate Musician.
Just beyond them was Junko Enoshima – the Ultimate Fashionista. A model whose beauty and grace were known throughout the world. Meeting her in person, however, something felt a bit off with this girl.
Almost fading into the background just behind her was Toko Fukawa – the Ultimate Writing Prodigy. Being a master of literature, she had already written a best-selling romantic novel. In addition, it was well-known that she tended to avoid contact with anyone as much as possible, especially in public.
Turning to glance the other way, Makoto saw one of his classmates scratching his head with a dull expression on his face. This was Yasuhiro Hagakure – the Ultimate Clairvoyant. A man who is either entirely honest or just plain stupid, he claims to be able to glimpse into the future with a 30% accuracy rate. He was held back many times, making him much older than all of his classmates.
Beyond him stood a fidgeting Hifumi Yamada – the Ultimate Fanfic Creator. A young man who's passion for the 2D and the arts had earned him recognition though all forms of fandom, going so far as to claim that he had absolutely no interest in anything 3D.
Not far from him stood Celestia Ludenberg – the Ultimate Gambler, who was also eyeing her fellow classmates. She was a strange girl dressed in Gothic Lolita, who claimed to have gambled her entire life. No one could see through the passive mask, behind which she hides her true emotions.
Growling angrily to her left was none other than Mondo Owada – the Ultimate Biker Gang Leader. He was one of the students who stood out the most, with his pronounced pompadour and duster. Even at his young age, his reputation preceded him as the well-known de facto leader of almost every biker gang in all of Japan.
Trembling slighting at the biker's enraged visage, Chihiro Fujisaki – the Ultimate Programmer, glanced around timidly. Although small and frail, she was considered a master of computer programming and even built a fully functional AI that was capable of learning on its own.
Sternly but cautiously glancing around nearby, Kiyotaka Ishimaru – the Ultimate Moral Compass, carefully observed the situation. This diligent young man was dedicated to the honor and rules of not only education but of the laws which govern the country. He believed in stern discipline and hard work above all else…much to the chagrin of anyone in close proximity to him.
Shifting his gaze over his shoulder, Makoto saw the overpowering gaze of Byakuya Togami – the Ultimate Affluent Progeny, glaring at him. Heir to the prestigious Togami Family, it was obvious that he'd been groomed since birth to lead not only his family, but the entire world as a born leader. He cared little for others as he did not see them as people, merely tools for him to use.
Averting his eyes away from the ferocious heir, Makoto instead focused on the nervous Aoi Asahina – the Ultimate Swimmer. Her usual bright and cheerful demeanor was slightly stilted but it seemed that, even in this situation, she trying to keep a positive attitude…also she has an insatiable love for donuts because reasons. She has won various sports championships but held the most records for swimming competitions.
Standing next to her, as if to watch over and protect her, stood Sakura Ogami – the Ultimate Martial Artist. Her imposing figure was enough to prove that she had won numerous tournaments, even some overseas. She was also known as a revered and formidable warrior, as well as an honorable woman. Due to her large size and massive build, she was given the nickname "The Ogre".
And then, standing far in the back, observing everyone quietly, stood Kyoko Kirigiri – the Ultimate…the Ultimate…what was her title again? She neglected to discuss her title, much to everyone's chagrin. Otherwise, she remained eerily silent.
And finally, the completely normal and unexceptional…Makoto Naegi – The Ultimate Lucky Student. Having been given his title for winning a lottery, he certainly was the most average of average students, with no noticeable talents or ideals…or at least Makoto thought of himself that way. Although he did consider himself to be more optimistic than others…
Normally, being in this school with such exceptional people was nerve-wracking enough, but given their current situation, Makoto found that these people could be far more terrifying than he had ever imagined.
Steeling himself as best he could, Makoto glanced around at everyone and saw the same picture of fear and despair spreading over them all.
All of the new faces he'd met only a few minutes ago were now glaring at each other, some with apprehension, others with disdain, and few in utter shock. No one had been prepared for this startling announcement.
"There is one way for you to leave this school. If one of you murderers another, then they will graduate and be allowed to leave!"
The demented half and half bear had chuckled to itself as it had watched the despair shroud the eyes of the now hopeless students. And an instant later, he disappeared from sight, leaving them all with feelings of distrust and fear.
For a moment, Makoto didn't honestly believe that any of his classmates would be capable of such a thing. Murder was not something anyone one of them would normally think about…right?
However, as he glanced around the room at the faces of his classmates, he was forced to realize that he really didn't know any of them at all. Added to that, the pressure of knowing that there was no way to escape and the notion that you may be betrayed by anyone at any moment, it was a boiling pot that could only be contained for so long. Sooner or later, one of them might give in to the temptation and actually commit murder.
No, judging by the look in everyone's eyes, the maddening fear and mistrust that was hidden away in all of them, it was not a matter of 'if'…but of 'when'.
Kyoko Kirigiri gazed around at the petrified faces of her fellow captives and sighed.
"At this rate, it's only a matter of time before someone snaps."
As this idea flooded her mind,she noted one thing that surprised even her. Her mind was clear and calm, despite the panic that should have been overtaking her. It's true that she was frightened, even fearful for her life, but somehow she was able to bury that terrifying notion and maintain her composure.
Glancing around to her classmates, she could only frown. The fear had quickly taken root in all of them, that much she could plainly see. Some hid it better than others, but for some reason, with only a single glance, Kyoko could see through them. Even Celeste, who held a perfect mask of indifference, held great terror in her crimson eyes.
"Perhaps this is my talent," Kyoko briefly wondered as she finished inspecting everyone. "Was I the Ultimate Observer?…No, that doesn't feel right."
A dull ache gnawed at her head as she tried to recall her talent and she squeezed her eyes shut. Now wasn't the time to worry about such things. As the only person here with a completely clear head, she felt inclined to do what no other seemed willing to attempt.
The students' gazes flickered between each other, all wondering who would be the first to break…the first to commit the ultimate sin of murder. It was just at this moment that one of the students seemed to break free of such terrors and was able to speak.
"So then, what are we going to do now?" a stern, female voice cut through the air, startling everyone.
Makoto slowly turned around to see the origin of the voice and was partially unsurprised at who had spoken.
Kyoko stood behind all of them, one hand resting on her chin in thought, as she questioned the nature of their situation aloud. Whether it had been to purposefully break them all out of the fearful stupor that they had been trapped in or simply an automatic reaction of her own devices, no one could tell.
But in either case, it was exactly what everyone needed to hear, even if it wasn't particularly hopeful or meaningful. That simple question had forced all of their minds back into working order and it soon gave way to much discussion.
"I can't believe I let myself get flustered by something like this! I am the Ultimate Moral Compass. If I cannot be a symbol of morality and order at a time like this, than no one else can!"
Kiyotaka cursed to himself as a cold sweat slid down his neck. He, too, had let the fear overtake him and in those brief moments of terror, his mind had briefly considered how far he was willing to go to get out of this school.
However, the moment Kyoko's voice had reached him, calm and decisive as it was, he realized that it should have been him taking the lead and settling his classmate's fears. It was fortunate he was not a jealous man, or else he might have been infuriated with his female classmate for doing what he could not. But as a man who could recognize his own faults, he felt only gratitude for her interruption.
For he was the Ultimate Moral Compass, one who aspired to keep order and preserve the honor and diligence necessary to achieve one's goals. And right now, everyone's goal should be to find a way to escape!
Now was not the time for thinking, now was a time for strict words and decisive actions!
"She's right. We need to plan out our next move, very carefully," Kiyotaka said to everyone, trying to bring order in this chaos. "I'm so ashamed that I let something like this startle me! Someone please, hit me!"
From across the room, Mondo scoffed and said, "What the hell is wrong with you, man? If you've got time to be a dipshit, you've got time to actually do something."
"Perhaps, but…what exactly is our mission here?" Hifumi asked carefully, still trembling after hearing the horrific news.
"Stupid! We have to find a way out, duh!" Leon blatantly answered, shouting at him incredulously.
"I…I already know that!" Hifumi wanted to shout back at Leon but felt compelled to stay silent.
After all, he didn't want to make any unnecessary enemies. Being one of the smarter and more artistic students, he felt rather outmatched by the brawn of his classmates, which translated to him that he could be seen as an easy target for murder!
So, for the time being, he would bide his time and try to stay out of everyone's way. He had no plans to kill anyone but if he was threatened, he'd show them the power his manga characters had bequeathed him!
The air around everyone was tense but luckily, a quiet voice was able to bring everyone to their senses.
"Sh-Shouldn't we take a look at the handbook then?" a timid voice suggested. Everyone turned to see Chihiro slowly lowering her hand. "We should probably get familiar with the regulations, so that we don't accidentally break them while trying to find a way out."
Everyone gave a quick glance at Mondo for a brief second, remembering his foolish attempt to harm Monokuma and the explosion that occurred moments afterward. As if a silent agreement was shared by all, as one they pulled out their e-handbooks and turned them on.
Chihiro breathed a quick sigh of relief, happy that everyone had taken the suggestion without incident. The Ultimate Programmer didn't even want to think about what would have happened if anyone had refuted.
"It's not like I would have insisted…but still."
Shaking off the negative statement that went through her head, Chihiro quickly followed suit with everyone else and opened up her e-handbook. The smooth technology in her hand gave her renewed courage as she began her work on the device.
However, the instant she turned it on and her name flashed on the screen, another symbol appeared to torment her…the symbol that designated her sex as male.
"Whoa!" Yasuhiro shouted in excitement, gaining everyone's attention. Holding out his handbook for everyone to see, he grinned and said, "My name came up when I turned it on! This thing is awesome!"
Makoto grimaced as he could almost feel the anger radiating off his classmates due to Yasuhiro's comment. Tension was quickly rising and everyone was beginning to grow infuriated with him for not only acting like a fool but for his outright denial that this situation was really happening.
"Thanks, genius. We already figured that out!" Leon shouted before going back to reading the rules.
Everyone else did the same and for the next few minutes, they all stood there and read the rules that would dominate their lives for the foreseeable future. However, it didn't take long before they all heard Mondo shouting in frustration.
"You piece of shit! Like hell I'm gonna let these rules hold me down! This is more bullshit than all the time I spent in juvie!"
His rage seethed and just before he exploded again, a soft but stern voice said, "Then by all means, feel free to go against these rules."
"This is just another gamble…"
Celestia Ludenberg smiled as her classmates turned to glare at her, particularly the biker she had just insulted. However, even under their accusatory stares, she held her composure perfectly, not letting a hint of fear seep through her guise.
There was absolutely no way for them to know the utter terror she was experiencing at this moment. Her eyes flickered down to the screen of her e-handbook, the name Taeko Yasuhiro mockingly staring back at her.
She had gambled, bet away many precious ornaments, and even wagered her own body in many a match. However, this was nothing like her previous games. In all of her former wages, never once was there a possibility of defeat…a way for her to lose. But now, she was trapped in a place where a single misstep would lead to her own death. And that wasn't the most horrifying part.
"I can't stay trapped in this shit hole! I have to get out of here! I'm so close…so close to achieving my dream!"
Just beyond these walls, there was a life of luxury and pleasure awaiting her. However, the price to leave this place was steeper than she wanted to pay.
A life…she had never bet her life before, much less put her own against another. And this time, to win, meant that someone here must die for her. For her to have the life she'd always dreamed of, the life she'd risked everything to attain, she had to become a killer.
And like it or not, it was a bitter pill to swallow.
That is why her mind kept repeating that single phrase, the one notion that gave her the strength to once more risk everything, her life included, just for that single, solitary goal. It was time to lay her cards on the table and ask for a new hand…
"This is just another gamble…right?"
All heads turned to see Celeste, her hands folded under her chin, staring at Mondo with a tilted smile.
"I would love to see what happens when someone officially breaks one of the rules," she added almost playfully, sending chills down everyone's spine.
"B-But I don't think he'd respawn after another offense. We all saw what happened last time," Hifumi warned, coming to Mondo's defense.
At the mention of that, the pompadour haired bike gritted his teeth and lowered his gaze. "Ever since I was a kid, my brother always told me, 'When a man makes a promise, he's gotta keep it, no matter what!'".
As those words set in, a look of confusion spread over all who heard. When it was clear that Mondo was finished, one of the students took it upon herself to speak up.
"Uh, so what?" an insensitive Junko questioned, folding her arms and scoffing at him.
Snapping his head toward her, Mondo seethed, "So! I've got a ton of promises that I have to keep on the outside! I can't afford to die here! That's 'so what'!"
Strangely enough, even though he was shouting directly at her, Junko didn't seem to flinch. She merely stood there and took his assaulting words with the same frown she'd had plastered on her face for a while now.
"Anyway," Junko said while fluffing her hair, "Does anyone have any idea what we should do now?"
"What about just waiting for the police?" Asahina asked, trying to be logical. "Surely someone's noticed that we've gone missing."
"That may not be true," Celeste said, twirling her hair with her gaze downcast. "As far as we know, we may not even be in Japan anymore. And there is no guarantee that anyone is even searching for us, given that we have only been 'missing' for a single day."
The group all lowered their heads, forced to admit that she might be right. No one had said it because it was almost unthinkable, but nevertheless, each student had pondered the same question.
Why had this been allowed to happen? Where were the police? Would they ever find them?
It was a grim reality that all of them had to face. Because, at least for now, they were all on their own with no one else to depend on. And with the looming threat of someone betraying them hanging over their heads, it felt nearly suffocating to have to accept.
"But…then what are we supposed to do?"
Asahina's legs shook as she tried to keep composed. However, even she could feel herself beginning to break inside. All this talk about killing and escaping, being trapped with no way out, it was all too much for her to handle. She wanted to go home, she wanted to go swimming, and she wanted to eat donuts!
Ever since she'd awoken in this place, she suppressed her growing fears. But now that there was virtually no escape and everyone was getting more and more agitated with their situation, Asahina felt as if she was going to explode. She wanted to do something but just didn't know what she could do to help!
"Someone…anyone…tell me what I need to do!"
As the silence dug into everyone, Asahina was overcome with the will to speak.
"B-But surely someone will…notice…that…we're—", the Ultimate Swimmer tried to protest before a hand gently landed on her shoulder.
Looking over her shoulder, Asahina found the tall, massively muscled Sakura giving her a solemn look.
"Let's not worry about that for now," her deep voice softly said, trying to calm down her classmate. "It hasn't been long since we got here. Perhaps no one has noticed as of yet. We should focus on what we can do to keep our spirits up."
Sakura gently smiled down at her classmate, having watched her slowly begin to panic under the weight of the situation.
Such perilous and life-threatening circumstances were not uncommon for the Ultimate Martial Artist, and unlike her classmates, she had experienced various touches with death in her life. And as such, she was utterly at peace with this desperate battle for survival. However, she knew her classmates were undoubtedly terrified. And even though she, too, held fear for her own life, she was prepared to be a pillar of strength to hold them all up.
At the very least, her new friend, Asahina, needed her to stay strong for her.
"Even if that is all I can do for them, I will use all of my strength to assist them!"
Hearing her newfound friend's kind, yet powerful words, Asahina felt newfound strength flow into her and she wiped away the barely formed tears from her eyes.
"Yeah…you're right!" she proclaimed, pumping both fist enthusiastically.
"S-So…what are we supposed to d-do now then?" Toko suddenly asked, her cheeks flushed from having to speak up. As everyone turned to her, she meekly pulled her shoulders in and continued, "I-It's not as if w-we have any idea what's g-going on. We could be w-walking right into t-that creepy bear's trap!"
"W-W-Why is t-t-this happening to m-me?!" Toko practically shouted in her head, grabbing her skull and raking her nails across her scalp.
Her mind was racing and the fact that no one bothered to answer her frustrated her even more! Did they think less of her for speaking? She should just give in and let her other side take over and—
"NO! I can't let that happen! If it does…they'll kill me for sure!"
But what if…she saw a dead body! Or blood for any reason! Or if she even sneezed too hard!
If this was one of her novels, a dashing prince would swoop in and save her before she turned and then lead her out of this hellish situation! A handsome and dashing young man…with honey-colored hair…and eloquent glasses…who spoke with such authority that it made her feel—
She almost slapped herself as she felt her body begin to heat up. Now was definitely not the time to be fantasizing about her classmate…err…Prince! Because, unfortunately, it felt like it was only a matter of time before her deadly secret eventually came to light.
For the time being, she decided to force herself into silence, fearing the monster that could be unleashed with a single nostril flare.
A collective silence overcame everyone. No one was quite sure what they should be doing. And she did have a point. Who knew what that psychotic bear had planned for them or if he was even telling the truth to begin with. What made it all the more frightening was that none of these students had ever imagined themselves being in this situation and it was more than daunting.
Or at least, for some it was.
"For now, we should split up and search the area," Kyoko's calm voice answered, again bringing everyone back to reality. "We won't get anywhere just standing around here, waiting for someone else to help us."
Oddly enough, Makoto found it refreshing that someone had managed to bring about a sense of calm while not upsetting anyone. And no one could deny that there was a calm and collected aura that just made whatever Kyoko said feel right. As if she had seen these kinds of situations before and knew how to handle them.
Makoto didn't have time to ponder the thought before another student abruptly spoke out.
"That's right! We have far too many questions that need answers!" Kiyotaka concurred, waving his arm out to point at everyone. "We'll need to find food and supplies as soon as possible! So, everyone, let's go and search for a way to escape!"
"Damn straight! Let's all start looking around!" Leon abruptly shouted, obviously feeling motivated.
"We should probably search in pairs, just in case something happens," Sayaka suggested, smiling brightly to encourage everyone.
The group slowly began to nod and agree with this plan, as it felt like the best option. Not only that, they were slowly forgetting about Monokuma's deadly offer.
Standing off to the side, Makoto smiled at everyone's enthusiasm. He couldn't help but marvel at how infections their determination seemed to be, as everyone tried their best to come up with a solution right away. Everyone was working together to try and find out what to do and it gave him hope that they could find a way out, together.
Seeing this suddenly made him feel a rush of motivation himself as he wanted to do his best for the group as well!
"Okay then, we can—", he started to say before a sharp tone cut him off.
"I'll be going on my own," Byakuya's harsh voice interrupted, startling everyone. Turning to look at him, the Ultimate Affluent Progeny folded his arms and turned his head away from the now staring crowd.
"A-Are you sure that's a good idea?" Makoto tried to reason with him, unsure of why he refused to join them. "I mean, we all have to work together to—".
"Shut up, will you?" Byakuya cruelly commanded, freezing Makoto where he stood. Turning his head back to glare at the Ultimate Lucky Student, the Togami Heir scoffed and said, "You don't actually expect me to go along with your little group outing, do you? Not when someone could be plotting to stab any one of us in the back at any time."
Another heavy silence fell upon the unfortunate students as they were forced to recognize his words. He had said what they had been keeping to themselves all this time, afraid to speak such a horrific possibility aloud. It was an inescapable fact that no one wished to acknowledge, and yet, they all new to be true.
Even so, some of the students didn't wish to be reminded of this horrifying predicament.
"Such ignorance from all of them."
Byakuya Togami seethed to himself as he folded his arms and glared at the peasants before him. The weak always gathered together to feel strong but watching such imbeciles forming a plan this foolish—no, this dangerous was more than he could stand.
If they wanted to get themselves killed, it was of no concern to him. However, they were trying to put his life in danger as well, and that he could never stand for.
Out of everyone here, he was the only one that truly deserved to survive. After all, the future of the Togami Family…no, the entire world, was resting solely on his shoulders. He had come too far, sacrificed too much for pathetic fools such as these to pull him down. And if they needed to be dealt with for him to survive, then so be it.
"They must learn what happens when you make such foolish choices…"
"B-But, you don't really think that—", Sayaka tried to say before she was rudely interrupted.
"Don't even bother finishing," Byakuya cruelly answered, almost seething at her. "You were about to say that no one among us would actually kill someone, am I right?"
"Uh…well, yes, but—", she tried to continue but found herself immediately cut off again.
"How can you be certain of that? Didn't all of you seize up with fear the moment the graduation rule was announced?" Byakuya questioned, turning his harsh glare onto everyone.
As he stared out across the room at his classmates, he watched as many of them hung their heads in shame. Aside from Kyoko and Celestia, everyone seemed to have a look of guilt plague them as they registered his words. Turning his fierce glare back toward her, Sayaka felt as if she was suffocated by his harsh gaze and fell into an embarrassed silence along with the rest of her classmates.
"Do you understand now?" the Ultimate Affluent Progeny mockingly pointed out. "None of you can say for certain who you can truly trust or not. I'm simply acting in accordance with what I believe is best for me. And because of that, I have decided not to foolishly put my life into the hands of untrustworthy commoners such as yourselves."
Not even giving anyone time to react, he began to move toward the door, leaving almost everyone in a state of shock. However, he didn't get far before a surprising figure moved in front of him and blocked his path.
"Hey! What's your problem?!" Junko shouted at Byakuya, hands on her hips and leaning forward aggressively. "Saying stuff like that will only make this harder—".
"Hmph, I won't waste my time with peasants like you, now step aside," Byakuya said harshly before pushing past the Ultimate Fashionista and heading for the door, ignoring the vicious glare she was shooting him.
"Asshole…" she grunted under her breath, tempted to flip him the bird.
Before she even had the time to fall to that temptation, someone shot past her and rushed in front of Byakuya, blocking his way again. The Ultimate Affluent Progeny slowly lifted his gaze to see Mondo cracking his knuckles and standing between him and door.
"Hey, asshole! You're not going anywhere! Not after pulling a stunt like that! Now apologize to the girl or else—".
"Move aside, plankton."
"W-What the hell?"
It honestly took a moment for Mondo to understand what had happened. Most of the time, when he made a demand, people fell over each other to do it. And anyone who was stupid enough not to listen to him, well, they knew what was coming!
That's why, when that arrogant prick Byakuya didn't move, hell didn't even flinch, something inside of Mondo began to twist. And unfortunately, just looking at the Ultimate Affluent Progeny made him feel like he was going to snap at any moment!
"You think you can look down on me! Don't fuck with me asshole!"
The entire room seemed to freeze as Byakuya had clearly insulted the Ultimate Bike Gang Leader. Even Mondo found himself caught off-guard by the odd but thoroughly disrespectful comment. However, the shock only lasted for a moment before he gritted his teeth and angrily shouted in the rich student's face.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean, huh?!" he demanded, feeling his anger boiling over.
With a mocking scoff, Byakuya pushed up the frame of his glasses and answered, "One insignificant little plankton floating aimlessly in the vast ocean. That is all you are and all you will ever be."
Mondo practically felt a vain in his head pop at the demeaning explanation and he furiously pounded one fist into his palm, emphasizing how badly he was going to have to hit something.
"You piece of shit!" the Ultimate Bike Gang Leader roared as he reared back and prepared to attack.
Just before he let his fist fly, someone threw themselves between him and Byakuya. Seeing that, Mondo ceased the attack and instead glared ferociously down at the young man that stood in his way.
"P-Please, both of you calm down! We can't afford to fight like this!" Makoto insisted, trying to calm the delinquent as he continued to glare at him. Unfortunately, the Ultimate Lucky Student discovered that his luck truly was as poor as he believed as Mondo turned the full force of his angry, monstrous gaze down on him.
"And just who the hell do you think you are?! Trying to be some goody-goody little bitch!" the Ultimate Bike Gang Leader shouted, raising his fist menacingly. "Do you think you can tell me what to do?! Huh?! Do you, punk?!"
Suddenly backing away from the menacing Mondo, Makoto waved his arms frantically to try and avoid the fate he'd set upon himself.
"No, no! That's not—!"
"Fuck you!"
Before anyone knew what happened, Mondo's powerful fist slammed directly into the side of Makoto's face, sending the small young man flying backward. Just before he lost consciousness from the sheer impact of the punch, Makoto felt a deep despair begin to take root in his mind.
"I'd almost forgotten…I'm trapped in a school filled with Ultimates…I really shouldn't be surprised by…" Makoto briefly thought before his body made brutal contact with the hard wood floor.
This was a surprising new development but one that wasn't entirely without merit.
Beneath her masterful disguise, Mukuro Ikusaba watched in shock as Makoto literally was blown off his feet from the force of the punch, sending him flying back and landing in a heap near the center of the gym.
Not many things could send a body flying like that, as least not without considerable firepower. Despite that, it was clear that the Ultimate Bike Gang Leader had done so much damage with only a single punch!
If she was Mukuro, it wouldn't be an issue and crushing him beneath her heel would be simple. However, as "Junko Enoshima" she had to maintain her position as a dimwitted, almost defenseless woman whose sharp tongue was her most deadly weapon.
With that in mind, she followed everyone else's lead as they stared in utter shock at what Mondo had done. The delinquent himself actually seemed surprised as well, obviously not expecting Makoto to have flown back so far! And in this awkward silence, no one dared to see if the Ultimate Bike Gang Leader had just committed their first murder.
Mukuro watched them all carefully, wondering who would make the first move. Her eyes flicked around, gauging everyone. She had thought that Byakuya, his interest peaked now that something interesting had happened, would be the one to move first. However, he remained rooted in place, more than likely not willing to dirty his hands and check if the boy was still breathing.
Beyond that, Mukuro was also surprised that Sayaka didn't appear to be moving. Even with her memory erased, she should still have remembered Makoto from their earlier days, and possibly might have been worried. But no, she also remained fixed in place, her hands covering her mouth in pure shock.
For a good two minutes, everyone remained still and Mukuro worried that, against her better judgment, she might have to step in just to keep the game going. She was trying not to stand out too much, but if no one checked to see if Makoto was alive, she knew that Junko would get bored and that wasn't good for anyone. To that extent, she prepared to go and check on him when she suddenly noticed someone had beaten her too it.
Everyone was shocked as Kyoko Kirigiri bravely marched toward the unconscious boy and fearlessly placed her hands on his neck and wrist, obviously feeling for a pulse.
"Is…Is he…?" Sayaka finally found the courage to ask, barely taking a step forward as she inquired.
Shaking her head, Kyoko rose to her feet and turned around, folding her arms. Her glare focused entirely on Mondo as he continued to stand there, fearful of what he may have done.
"Please learn to control your temper. He's lucky you didn't kill him," Kyoko's icy voice pierced through the silence, sending a mixture of shock and relief through everyone present.
Underneath her disguise, Mukuro almost snickered. Makoto truly was 'lucky' that Mondo hadn't hit him hard enough to kill him. But was that really the case? Being the Ultimate Lucky Student is what trapped Makoto here in the first place, but all it seemed like was that the boy simply had the worst luck in the world!
"Ironic really…" Mukuro thought to herself as she watched the scene unfold.
Finally breaking free of his paralyzing fear, Mondo's face reddened as he shouted, "W-Well! He shouldn't have gotten in the way! I didn't have any problem with him until he started treating me like I was the one being an asshole!"
No one was surprised as the Ultimate Bike Gang Leader defended himself but they were shocked as Kyoko walked toward him and stood directly in front of him, taking his harsh glare without an ounce of fear in her.
"You let your pride get the better of you, it's as simple as that. If you don't learn to control your temper, you may actually end up killing someone." Kyoko's eyes narrowed and Mondo practically flinched as he registered her words.
In any other setting, her comment wouldn't have brought much more than embarrassed anger. However, with the aspect of the killing game in effect, her choice of words took on a more frightful meaning. She was practically telling him that losing his cool and flying off the handle would lead to an early grave.
Still, he couldn't deny how frustrating this whole situation made him and controlling his wild emotions wasn't as easy as she insisted. And while he completely agreed with her, his pride wouldn't allow himself to admit it.
Confident he understood her implications, Kyoko continued, "There are no doctors here and no one to help us if we get injured. We can't afford to make reckless mistakes…especially when they can cost us our lives."
For a minute, it appeared as if Mondo was about to explode in rage once more, gritting his teeth with his face reddening. However, much to everyone's surprise, the Ultimate Bike Gang Leader let out a furious scoff before taking in a deep breath to calm himself. Exhaling slowly, he turned back to face Kyoko's stern gaze.
"You're right…sorry," he hesitantly admitted, obviously not used to apologizing. "I'll…uh, try to keep my temper under control."
"Good," Kyoko answered swiftly before turning back to the unconscious Makoto. "But we need to figure out what to do with him."
Scratching his head, Yasuhiro frowned as he looked down at the unconscious boy.
"Wow, the guy at the top of the Academy must be pretty crazy to set up a stunt like this! But I'm sure they'll call a doctor for the kid if we just leave him. I mean, they wouldn't let anyone actually get hurt…right?"
He didn't think that anyone would get hurt by this strange entrance exam but the Academy guys probably had everything under control. After all, they set up this whole thing, right? They were probably gonna jump out any moment and tell them it was all a show…that's how it would go.
He was certain of it. All of this it had to be a lie…right?
"We could just, you know, leave him here," Yasuhiro suggested, making everyone glare at him.
"We can't do that!" Sayaka abruptly protested, moving over to Makoto and kneeling next to him. "We should at least try to find him a bed or something."
"If I recall correctly, we all have an assigned room in the dorm area. Perhaps we could find his room and allow him to recover there?" suggested Celestia, a bored expression on her face.
Sayaka's face lit up at that suggestion and she nodded firmly before grabbing hold of Makoto and trying to lift him. However, even though she was able to pull his arm over her shoulder, the moment she tried to stand and lift him, she lost her footing and fell to the floor.
"Ow…" she muttered, rubbing her knees.
Leon looked around at his classmates as they merely watched as she tried to lift a boy, who was clearly heavier than he looked, up off the ground.
"What the hell? Is no one else gonna help her?"
It wasn't until she lost her footing and her knees harshly hit the floor that the red haired baseball player scoffed loudly and made his way over to her.
"Here, let me help."
Before she could turn to see who was speaking, footsteps sounded behind her and she felt Makoto's weight be lifted off her. Turning around abruptly, she found none other than Leon Kuwata hoisting the unconscious boy onto his back.
"It wouldn't do to let a lady do all the heavy lifting," Leon half-joked and half-flirted, winking at her as he adjusted his weight to carry Makoto easier. Turning to face everyone else, the Ultimate Baseball Star said, "Sayaka and I will take this guy to his room. Is that cool with you, Sayaka?"
Although initially stunned by his good-nature and suggestive comment, it didn't take the Ultimate Pop Sensation long to smile brightly and nod firmly.
"Yeah, and thank you."
Giving her a slightly cocky grin, Leon readjusted the boy on his back and answered, "Not a problem!"
Sayaka kind of wanted to sigh, knowing that Leon was being a little flirtatious. However, she couldn't deny that she enjoyed his willingness to help her and found herself smiling cheerfully as she turned to face her fellow students.
"Alright then, we'll take care of Makoto. The rest of you can get started without us."
"Very well then! We shall begin our search of the school in the meantime!" Kiyotaka brazenly announced before turning and randomly assigning everyone places to search.
Leon and Sayaka quickly exited the gym, with Makoto in tow. Once they were gone, everyone began to spread out to fulfill their role in searching the building they were being held captive in.
Watching from afar, Mukuro found herself slightly impressed with all that had transpired. She never expected any of them to be willing to work together, especially after Byakuya's distrustful attitude. But, it seems that both she and Junko underestimated Kyoko's resolve. And it was as frustrating as it was fascinating.
Even after losing her memories, Kyoko Kirigiri still recalled exactly how to handle a body. Although that also meant that she could pose a problem down the line.
One of the reasons for blanking most of her mind was to keep the Ultimate Detective from solving each murder case as it came up. Not only that, Kyoko was the only one who was confident enough to stand up to anyone in the group, making her somewhat of a peace-keeper. That alone could derail all that the Despair sisters were trying to accomplish.
Even so, as she watched everyone begin to decide where they would search, Mukuro felt a strange stirring in her chest. Watching her classmates band together and vowing to find a way out reminded her of her days with Fenrir.
Strangers banding together to fight and survive, that is what the famed mercenary unit had truly been like. Mukuro never saw her fellow mercenaries as friends or family but she recognized their talents and indomitable spirits. And over time, she grew to trust them with her very life.
And, for a fraction of a second, as she stared at her determined classmate's bold visage, she wondered if she could ever feel that way about everyone here…
"Impossible…" Mukuro told herself silently, lowering her gaze to the floor "They'll all be dead before long…and the despair will continue to spread to the entire world…just as it did with—".
"Hey, Junko!"
It took Mukuro a moment to realize that someone was speaking to her. Immediately resuming her air-headed nature, she turned to see Asahina and Sakura approaching her. Instantly resuming her guise, she turned and raised an eyebrow at them.
"What's up?" she said almost aimlessly, trying to appear absentminded.
"We were thinking it may be best to search in groups of three. That way, even if someone decided to do something…foolish, there would be another person there keep their intentions at bay," Sakura announced, her muscular arms folded tightly over her chest.
"Oh," Mukuro answered immediately, a bit surprised at the well thought out plan. "That sounds totally cool!"
Both Asahina and Sakura nodded to each other, pleased that their group was now complete. However, Mukuro had a very different reaction to this new arrangement.
Glancing out of the corner of her eye, the Ultimate Soldier briefly spotted Byakuya as he departed on his own. Silently, she wondered if his initial comment about wanting to travel alone had intentionally been used for this purpose. If he hadn't mentioned it, then everyone would have gone off in pairs, thus allowing for the stronger students to pick off the weaker ones.
And although she highly doubted that it was his intention to avoid that situation, she also couldn't deny that he seemed rather smug about something, evident by the grin she saw on his lips just before he disappeared from view. She made mental note to observe him more closely as, even with his memory wiped, he was still a most dangerous foe.
"Yeah, let's get to searching! And since we still don't know much about each other, it'll be a great way for us to learn more about each other! I've always wondered what it's like to be a model! You have to tell me your secrets!" Asahina enthusiastically shouted before rushing over to stand right in front of the disguised Mukuro.
The Ultimate Solider had to fight her reflexes as the swimmer girl grasped her hand and pulled her forward. All of her instincts told her to retract her hand and forcibly subdue Asahina but she successfully fought off that urging. Not only would that reveal too much about herself, she was certain that Sakura wouldn't take kindly to it, either.
And more than that, something about this whole situation was beginning to excite Mukuro. Oddly enough, she knew that it wasn't from all the despair her fellow classmates would soon be feelings. No, it was an odd sense of…belonging. A feeling of lightheartedness at being asked, or forced really, to spend time with the other female classmates.
And though Mukuro's mind thought of this event as nothing more than an opportunity to study her classmates as her future foes, somewhere deep within her subconscious, she was looking forward to simply chatting with girls her age.
"Gathering information is the first step to defeating your enemies," Mukuro reminded herself as she and everyone else began to leave the gym. "And although I already know far more about them than they realize, it wouldn't hurt to see exactly how much they can remember."
"Come on! Let's get to searching!" the excited Asahina proclaimed as she practically dragged Mukuro from the room, Sakura only a few feet behind.
"A musician?!"
Sayaka almost lost her footing as she walked beside Leon on the way to Makoto's room. Luckily, she caught herself without missing a step but the sudden movement drew the attention of the Ultimate Baseball Star.
"Yeah…is that so weird?" Leon asked, almost as if he was silently asking for permission.
In an instant, Sayaka realized that the normally laid-back and cheeky Leon was being completely serious for once. He'd been subtly flirting with her a few moments ago, inviting her to get something to drink with him after they dropped of Makoto, but then he sprung this on her. Honestly, she didn't know the best way to react.
"I'm just surprised," she answered honestly, trying not to sound apathetic. "I suppose there's nothing wrong with wanting to change your title."
She watched as her words brought a goofy and reassured grin to Leon's face. "Yeah! That's right! I have no reason to be ashamed or worried about not wanting to play baseball anymore! I'm here to follow my dream of being the world's greatest Musician!"
Strangely, it seemed that he was more trying to convince himself than her. Sayaka felt her chest tighten as she watched her classmate continue on toward the dorms, smiling like an idiot who had no worries.
However, the Ultimate Pop Sensation had lost all interest in smiling at the moment. She had been in the music industry for quite a long time and knew how difficult and disastrous it could be. Even at her young age, she'd seen so many people with dreams like Leon's be crushed underfoot, leaving them a broken shell of who they used to be.
And for some reason, she didn't want that to happen to Leon. He have been be a bit annoying, with all his flirtatious comments, but he seemed like a genuinely nice person. Watching a person as sweet and naïve as him go down this path, only for him to eventually become heartbroken and empty, wasn't something she could allow herself to do.
Sayaka had experienced that feeling of brokenness once herself, at the start of her career when no one would even give her an audition. No one encouraged her or even tried to comfort her. They all abandoned her and she had to find the strength to continue on by herself. It was a dark and nightmarish time in her life and honestly, she didn't believe that anyone should have to feel that kind of despair.
Not even the foolishly optimistic Leon Kuwata.
To that effect, she felt as if she needed to test Leon, see how serious he was about this dream of his and if he could handle the pressure of living that kind of life. It wasn't something just anyone could deal with. It required being merciless to your competition and doing anything…anything, just to get noticed.
Even if it meant utterly destroying a fellow singer's dreams and aspirations.
Sayaka knew that better than anyone. After all, she had personally destroyed a number of people's lives in the pursuit of the same dream. And if he wasn't prepared to do the same…the industry would tear him to pieces!
"So, why do you want to be a musician?" she asked carefully as they rounded a corner and headed toward the entrance to the dorms. "It's not just to impress the girls, is it?"
Flinching as if she'd hit the nail on the head, Leon laughed nervously and grinned at her. "N-No way! I wouldn't do something as petty as that! I'd just stay with baseball if that's all I wanted!"
Although his logic did make a great deal of sense, Sayaka wasn't fooled. She knew Leon was someone who craved attention but this was downright idiotic! However, seeing as he was rather talented in his own field, it wasn't inconceivable that he'd be able to play music if he was passionate about it.
To that extent, she smiled at him and continued, "I was just kidding. But does that mean you can play an instrument and sing pretty well?"
Hearing that, Leon's grin widened even more as he answered, "I actually play the guitar and even though I only started playing it a few months ago, I think I'm a natural! And though I've never actually taken a singing lesson, I just know that my voice is made for the stage!"
Almost immediately, Sayaka's eyes narrowed at his comment. In other words, he had absolutely no experience playing or singing. Disgust rose up in her as she wanted to scream at him for being such an idiot but she managed to control herself.
Many great singers and musician didn't start out as great as they became. Perhaps Leon would be like them and he just needed time, and an experience coach, to get him ready for it. However, something about his dismissive and lazy attitude told her that even if he did go for it, he might become bored and quit long before he even had a chance to get on stage.
However, she decided to give him the benefit of the doubt and instead asked, "Okay then, why doyou want to become a musician? You know it'll be a lot of hard work, right?"
Sayaka made sure she was being very serious with him. She wanted him to know that it wasn't going to be as easy as he imagined and that she, as the Ultimate Pop Sensation, was trying to get him to realize that. Luckily, it seemed that he was slowly beginning to understand her subtle warning.
"Uh, well…" he hesitated at first, seeming rather nervous for the first time since they'd left the gym. "I suppose it's because I like the idea of it all, you know? Going around to different places, playing music for people and making everyone have a good time!"
That comment actually confused Sayaka even more. How was that any different from what he was doing as a baseball player? He went to different places, excited the crowds and played the game well enough that everyone always enjoyed watching him. As far as she could tell, being a musician and being a sports star was practically the same thing to him!
Only that the latter was less emotionally draining, as all you had to do was hit a ball and run! He already had all the attention he wanted and everyone who watched him play loved him. He was practically a celebrity and had the carefree life he seemed to so desperately want.
And yet, for some reason, he was unhappy with achieving it through baseball. What did being a musician offer him that playing baseball couldn't?
With that in mind, she asked, "So then, what got you interested in music anyway?" Her question was polite but rife with a need to understand his reasoning. "I mean, you don't really seem the type, being the Ultimate Baseball Star and all—".
"And that's the problem," he interrupted her, stopping suddenly and turning toward her. "I never wanted to be a baseball star. I've always hated that stupid sport. I only used it to get into Hope's Peak so I could try and change my status. Once we get out of here, I'm quitting, cold turkey!"
Genuine shock overtook Sayaka's face as she heard her classmate, a boy who had never had a bad game or even failed to hit any pitch thrown at him, openly deny his own talent. He had been blessed with a gift that most people would kill to have and all he could feel was resentment for it.
Didn't he understand how fortunate he was?! Could he not see that he had it better than so many people his age?! He never had to fight and struggle to obtain his title, it all came naturally! He could have the life he wanted, making a crowd happy and just reveling in the popularity of being a sports sensation!
But instead, he foolishly wanted to go into music! A career that he didn't take seriously and thought he could make it in only because he wanted it! He didn't even realize how much you had to sacrifice just to get one single show! He had no respect for the business and barely any for himself! And he thought he could become a famous punk rocker!
And the thing that was the most infuriating…was that Leon had the gall to smirk as if he was proud of himself for being such a fool!
Sayaka's eyes darkened as she glared at Leon's back, her hands balled into fists. If she had a blunt object in her hands, she would have been tempted to crack it over his overconfident head! Just as she was getting ready to give him a piece of her mind, she saw him come to a stop just outside the entrance to the dorms.
A bit shocked, she could only stand there as he turned around to look at her. To her utter surprise, he wore an incredibly nervous expression but attempted to hide it with a smirk as he stared at her for a moment.
"So…do you think you could give me some pointers?" he abruptly asked, obviously not comfortable asking such a thing. "I-I mean, you're obviously way better at that kinda stuff and I thought that…maybe you and I could try, like, singing a duet or something?"
All at once, all of the rage that had built up in Sayaka vanished. She finally realized why Leon had come to help her with Makoto before anyone else. He wanted to talk to her about this, about his dream to be a musician…and he wanted to ask for her help.
The proud, stubborn, overly confident Leon Kuwata was actually asking for her help to achieve his dream.
Whether he would ever know it or not, the mere fact that he had gone so far just to ask for her assistance really impressed her. Sure, he was practically blindly rushing into the music business on what seemed like a selfish whim, but at the very least he knew enough to ask for help from someone who actually was in the music industry.
It didn't change the fact that he was being an utter fool, but at the very least he was passionate and determined to follow his dream.
And even though she should have declined him, crushed his dreams here before he had a chance to feel the pain of having his aspirations be trampled, in that moment, Sayaka just couldn't refuse him.
Against her better judgment, she smiled as brightly as she always did and replied, "Sure! I'd love to help you sometime!"
Although shocked, Leon felt a surge of joy as he registered her answer. "S-Seriously! You'll help me out?!"
Sayaka nodded to him with a smile before hardening her features and saying, "But bear in mind that I'm a strict teacher. And if I don't think you're cut out for it, I won't hesitate to tell you. Do you think you can handle that?"
Seeing her so serious stopped the Ultimate Baseball Star for a moment, realizing that she was not going to pamper him simply because of who he was. However, that didn't seem to deter him in the least, as he recovered an instant later and grinned back at her firmly.
"I can take whatever you throw at me! I won't let you down! I promise!" he excitedly proclaimed, assuring her that he understood.
A light chuckle escaped Sayaka as she answered, "Alright then, it's a deal."
Leon's face lit up with pure excitement and he couldn't help the enthusiastic shout that followed. Because of that, he almost dropped Makoto but managed to catch him before the unconscious boy fell from his shoulders.
Readjusting himself, Leon grinned happily at Sayaka before saying, "Alright then! Let's get this guy to his room so we can start looking for a way out of here! And maybe later, we can get some practice in!"
"…Right."
Leon barely noticed her lackluster answer as he increased his pace and headed through the entrance to the dorms. He didn't notice that Sayaka lingered behind for a moment, a melancholy expression on her face.
Mentally, she scolded herself for giving in to him and offering to help. She was convinced that he wouldn't cut it as a musician and by hiding her opinion from him, he was only going to be that much more disappointed when she told him the truth.
However, seeing his smiling face, so vibrant and full of happiness, she couldn't bring herself to deny him. And in a weird way, she didn't really want to refuse him anyway. She actually wanted to help him, wanted to try and help another entertainer rise to fame…instead of utterly destroying their hopes and dreams.
However, that is what made the decision all the more difficult for her. She could already tell that Leon was far too kind and laid-back to be able to succeed in the industry. All he wanted was a free ride that would be fun and attention grabbing, something to get more people to notice him. And while he wasn't necessary a bad person for wanting that, it did revive a hint of her previous anger toward him.
"Don't get into the entertainment industry with such frivolous thoughts…Leon Kuwata!" she whispered to herself.
…
…
…
One student does not have the will to kill:
-Makoto Naegi-
14 students 'remain'
To Be Continued…
Greetings, my beautiful readers! I wanted to get this chapter up sooner but my beta and I had an argument at 3AM about the proper use of an ellipsis in writing…sort version; she won. Plus, we needed to review this chapter in its entirety.
Also, if you haven't gone to check out her stories yet, you should. Her story, "Haunted" got me very eager to write again and we've been helping each other with our respective stories ever since. So, give her a look and enjoy it!
Other than that, I will say that this story will be updated on a bi-weekly basis, so that I have ample time to edit and write without pressure. I have a real person job that I go to almost every day and it eats a lot of my time. So please bear with that and enjoy the story!
Leave a review to tell me what you think of the story or give theories or if you have question! And as always, keep on smiling and have a wonderful day my beautiful readers.