Never Say Never
Disclaimer: I do not own Danganronpa or the characters associated with it.
Chapter 3
Act 21
"AAAIIIIIIEEEEEEEE!"
The instant that ear-splitting scream reached her ears, Hina jerked her head toward the art room, her face contorting with unfathomable dread. Like a bullet, she shot off toward the origin of her friend's scream. Once inside, she quickly surveyed the room, and when Celeste was nowhere to be seen, her blue irises locked onto the art supply room door. Dashing over, she unintentionally collided with the door, trying to twist the handle but to no avail. Realizing it was locked, Hina began pounding on the door with her fist.
"Celeste! Are you in there?! Answer me!" she shouted, bashing her shoulder into the door in a futile attempt to open it.
"AHAHHHH! AHHHHHHH!"
Hina froze as her friend's scream reverberated in her ears, her blood running cold as she flashed back to the moment she'd seen Sayaka…lying lifeless in Makoto's bathroom. Almost instantly, her imagination conjured the same image, but in the art supply room…with Celeste lying there instead…her body bleeding and broken as the life drained from her eyes—
"CELESTE!" Hina found herself screaming, shaking that horrific image from her mind. "HANG ON! I'M COMING!"
Without hesitation, the swimmer ran back to the entrance of the art room, steeling herself as she took a runner stance that Sakura had taught her. Kicking off, she ran at full speed and she slammed her body into the art supply room door, a powerful cracking noise echoing. However, as she collided with the wooden obstruction, her body was bounced back, causing her to topple to the floor. A painful grunt escaped her throat and her entire body ached but she ignored it, lifting her gaze only to have her eyes widen. A tiny crack had formed in the door, but it still seemed stuck in place.
At that moment, the door slightly shook as someone on the other side pounded on it. And then…Celeste's voice rang out:
"H-HELP! HE'S GOING TO KILL ME!"
The instant those words reach her, Hina felt a powerful rush of adrenaline. Leaping to her feet, Hina pounded on the door again, hoping to bash it open. Unfortunately, it refused to budge, but the swimmer didn't relent, banging her fist repeatedly into the unrelenting wood.
"Open! Open, you stupid door!" she shouted, tears of desperation brimming in her eyes as she threw her shoulder against the door. "Celeste…Celeste needs me! I have to—!"
"H-Hina! What the hell's goin' on?! Where'd that screamin' come from?!" a gruff voice suddenly shouted from behind her. Her blue eyes widening, Hina spun around to see Mondo charging toward her, a frantic look on his face.
Sniffling a bit, the Ultimate Swimmer turned back to the door and continued to pound on it as she answered, "I-I heard Celeste scream from inside here! But…But I can't…I can't…get it…!"
"Get outta the way!" the biker suddenly shouted, grabbing her by the shoulder and pushing her aside.
Hina would have complained about how rough he was with her…if she hadn't have seen his expression. His face was twisted with anger, but not the usual kind. It was…like a kind of righteous fury was pouring out of his eyes, his teeth gritted tightly as he lifted his boot and angled it toward the door handle.
"Not this time…" Hina heard him whisper as he steeled himself. Then, without warning, he viciously shouted, "No one's dyin' on my watch!"
Mondo's boot crashed into the door, the sounds of wood and metal cracking as it was forced open.
Hifumi glared down at Celeste, his eyes bubbling with righteous fury at the very sight of her. Not only had she manipulated him into attempting to kill their classmate, he now had doubts that Taka had even threatened her! In retrospect, he had always been skeptical of Miss Ludenberg's words…but she was a tsundere, so he figured she just wasn't good at being honest with her feelings. But now…it seems he'd been mistaken.
"This little…bitch! She tried to kill me! Tried to make a murderer out of me!" Unconsciously, he clenched his fist, his anger slowly building. "How dare she…how dare she think that she can—!"
"AAAIIIIIIEEEEEEEE!"
"W-Why is she the one screaming?!" a confused Hifumi frantically thought as Celeste's scream deafened him. "She's not the one who nearly got her brain smashed in with a—oh…right."
Suddenly, Hifumi realized he was still holding the large mallet Celeste had planned to bludgeon him with. Turning his gaze back to his would-be attacker, his eyes widened in shock. The usually smug and fearsome Celestia Ludenberg was nowhere to be found…in her place sat a frightened, frantic young woman with her back pressed firmly against the wall.
Her face was warped with fear and her eyes dilated as she stared at the hammer in his hands. Her fingernails digging into the floor as she visibly trembled, genuine terror radiating off her as he towered over her. At that moment, all of Hifumi's anger dissipated…replaced with acute understanding.
"She…She's terrified…" the fanfic creator suddenly recognized, his grip on the mallet loosening. "She…she thinks…I'm going to kill her…doesn't she—?"
Before he could act on that information, a furious pounding came from the locked door only a few feet away.
"Celeste! Are you in there?! Answer me!"
Startled by the sudden shouting, Hifumi suddenly gripped the mallet tightly with both hands. A sudden gasp grabbed his attention and without thinking he turned his entire body toward Celeste. Her crimson eyes were as wide as saucers, staring at his imposing figure who now appeared ready to bash her skull in. Realizing his precarious position, the fanfic creator shifted his weight in preparation to back away. However, before he had a chance to move, another set of screams ripped from Celeste's throat!
"AHAHHHH! AHHHHHHH!"
Taken aback by the sudden screams, Hifumi lost his balance and was forced to take a few steps back to catch himself. Steadying himself, the fanfic creator turned back to see Celeste eyeing the door before her gaze shot back to him. Instantly, he knew what she would try and do.
"No! If she unlocks that door, she'll tell everyone I'm the culprit! And then…she'll survive the bullying trial and get to leave while the rest of us are executed! I can't let that happen!"
Just then, without warning, Celeste shot to her feet, obviously preparing to dash for the door. Unfortunately, she underestimated how quickly the fanfic creator could move while under duress. On instinct, Hifumi leapt in front of her, brandishing the hammer and blocking her path. A weak yelp escaping her as her back hit the wall again, her eyes widening in sheer panic as he glared down at her.
"CELESTE! HANG ON! I'M COMING!"
"I can't just let Hina in here! Everyone will think I'm the one who planned everything! But if I do, Miss Ludenberg will just come up with another lie to protect herself—!"
Distracted by Hina's sudden shout from beyond the door, Hifumi barely noticed that Celeste had leapt back up to her feet and was running toward the other end of the room…directly toward the wall with the other wooden mallets! Panic coursed through the fanfic creator as he took off after her, catching up to her just as she began to reach for another mallet. His sweaty hand shot out, grasping the collar of her dress, and with a fierce tug and forceful shout, he yanked her back.
An uncharacteristic yell tore out of Celeste's throat as she lost her balance and fell backward, crashing into Hifumi's chest. Unprepared for this, the fanfic creator yelped and toppled onto his backside, grunting in anguish as Celeste landed on top of him, knocking the air from his lungs.
Just then, a loud bash echoed from the door, accompanied by a groan from who Hifumi could only assume was Hina. Hifumi jerked his head toward the door, indecision clouding his judgement as he tried to reason out the best course of action. Unfortunately, he didn't have time to come up with a plan as Celeste quickly regained her wits, pushing against his girth, and rolling off him before clumsily rising to her feet. On shaky legs, she ran for the door, stumbling multiple times as a winded Hifumi slowly picked himself back up.
Slowly regaining his composure, Hifumi's beady eyes widened as he witnessed Celeste reaching the door, practically slamming into it as she reached for the handle.
"No! She's going to deceive everyone! She'll get us all killed!" he frantically thought, unconsciously gripping the mallet he'd stolen from her. "I can't let that happen! I won't let that happen!"
Gritting his teeth, the fanfic creator grasped the hammer tightly in both hand before slowly advancing toward the unsuspecting Celeste…
"Miss Ludenberg…I won't let you get away!"
"I can't…I won't die like this!" Celeste mentally panicked as she ran at full speed toward the door.
She lost her balance, stumbling and barely catching herself, tripping over her own bright red heels as she ran toward safety. Unfortunately, in her haste, she stumbled once more, but this time she twisted her ankle as she fell. She barely felt the pain, the adrenaline coursing through her no doubt suppressing it. Ignoring the stinging sensation that pulsed with each step, she raced toward the door faster than a mouse fleeing a cat.
"…Just need to get there! I just need to reach the door!"
She didn't even bother to slow down, her lithe body colliding into the door with an unsavory thunk. She'd been lucky so far, acting on pure instinct as she evaded Hifumi's murderous advances. Her adrenaline was racing and that was probably the only thing that had saved her, allowing her to react quicker than she normally would. And now, with Hina just on the other side of the door, her escape from Hifumi's unforgiving rage was all but assured!
Glancing over her shoulder for an instant, she saw that Hifumi was already getting back up, but she still had time to unlock the—
The instant her hands touched the doorknob, she gasped. Her crimson eyes shot down to see the knob twisted and bent, the deadbolt jammed into the wooden frame of the door, preventing it from opening. Panic coursed through her veins once more as she grasped the doorknob with both hand and violently jerked it, twisting it every which way trying to dislodge it. Tears stung her eyes as her only means of fleeing to safety was quickly dashed.
"Dammit! How the fuck did this happen?!" She thought back to a moment ago, when someone she could assume was Hina, had tried to bash the door down. "Fucking fuck! This can't be happening! Why is everything so fucked up?! It wasn't supposed to be like this! This wasn't what was supposed to—!"
"Miss Ludenberg…"
Celeste felt her blood run cold as that harsh tone reached her, seeping into the depths of her already unstable psyche. With slow, jerky movements, Celeste turned her head to glance behind her, her breathing uneven and ragged. Her crimson eyes widened as she saw Hifumi standing right behind her, the glint of his glasses completely obscuring what she knew had to be murderous eyes.
"…I won't let you get away!"
In that moment, an all-consuming thought invaded Celeste's mind…a truth that even she couldn't lie about, "He's…going to kill me. I'm…going to die…"
Her life suddenly flashed before her eyes, seeing every joyful, peaceful, sorrowful, and tragic choice she'd made that had led her to this fate. And, even if it was only for an instant, she wished she could take it all back. She didn't care about money, fame, or…even her castle. All she wanted in that moment…was to live…to survive this horrific encounter and see another day. Even if it meant having to stay trapped in this school until the end of her days, she'd gladly accept that fate if she could be saved from the gruesome death that Hifumi obviously planned for her.
Sheer terror enveloped her very soul as she sharply turned back to the door, pounding her fist frantically against it.
"H-HELP! HE'S GOING TO KILL ME!"
She had no idea if anyone would hear her…and she honestly didn't expect anyone to come to her rescue. After all, with all the negative karma she'd built up over the years, lying and swindling so many people…it was almost appropriate that this would be her end, her own machinations becoming the foundation upon which her fate was sealed.
Even so…
"I don't want to die! I don't want to die! I don't want to die! I don't want to die! I don't want to die! I don't want to die! I don't want to die! I don't want to die! I don't want to die! I don't want to—!"
A sudden hand grasping the collar on the back of her dress disrupted her thoughts, as she was yanked away from the door and tossed back toward the center of the room. An undignified groan escaped her as hit the floor, pain shooting through her injured ankle as the aching of her body vaguely reminded her of the horrific dream she'd been having recently…the one in which she was battered and executed.
Shaking her head in a vain attempt to dispel the memory of the dream, her attention immediately shot back to her attacker as his massive footsteps echoed right next to her. Craning her neck up, her eyes dilated as she witnessed Hifumi standing over her, both hands clasping the wooden mallet she'd intended to take his life with…but would now be used to end hers instead.
All of her strength vanished as she stared up at him…her body trembling as she waited for the hammer to be brought down.
"Well…that went well," the fanfic creator congratulated himself, glancing between the door and Celeste. "Now that Miss Ludenberg is no longer near the door, the others will be able to knock it down without hurting her!"
Considering she wasn't actually injured yet, any injuries she sustained would have been blamed on him. And since he knew she was smart enough convince the others of almost anything, he didn't want to add to her testimony. But now that he'd gotten Celeste into the center of the room and away from the misshapen door, which seemed to have been jammed due to Hina trying to break it down, Hifumi was now prepared to set his new plan in motion. And as long as nothing unexpected happened, everything would turn out alright.
"Okay, so, as soon as everyone else gets here, I'll toss the hammer away and calmly explain to them that I was simply subduing her. I'm sure that they'll understa—".
In the midst of his thoughts, a thunderous cracking noise echoed from the door. With a nervous glance, Hifumi watched as someone's boot bashed down the door, tearing it off the hinges. Then, like a raging bull, Mondo burst through the door way, his eyes narrowed and furious.
"M-Mondo?! Mondo kicked down the door!"
Startled by the sudden intrusion, Hifumi completely forgot to discard the large mallet in his hands…a mistake that became apparent the instant Mondo's mad eyes locked onto him.
"Oh no…Mondo's looking for trouble!"
The biker glanced down at Celeste for only an instant before gritting his teeth and clenching his fists. "You son of a bitch!" he screamed before charging directly at an unprepared Hifumi.
In the midst of this new crisis, there was only one idea Hifumi found himself able to shout, "No, Mondo! No! Don't loot the room—egargh!"
With almost no concern for his own safety, Mondo dove at Hifumi and tackled him to the floor, the large wooden mallet flying out of the fanfic creator's hands. Pinned down with his face being pressed into the ground by Mondo's hand, Hifumi squirmed and tried to get free.
"Y-You donhu understann!" the fanfic creator tried to shout, his words muffled by the hand gripping his face. "She wassh, tryhing too—!"
"Shut it, you bastard!" the biker interrupted, his grip on Hifumi's face tightening, making the fanfic creator writhe beneath him. "I saw what you were trying to do! And I won't let you try to talk your way out of it!"
Unable to free himself from Mondo's grappling, Hifumi watched in horror as the biker raised his other fist high into the air. The fanfic creator squealed and struggled, trying to escape the rage-filled fist aimed directly for his face. However, Mondo held him tight and it seemed there was no way to escape. Even so, Hifumi flailed around useless, knowing that this would be over with a single punch.
"Haff mercy!" the fanfic creator screamed, his eyes begging. "Pleass don't usesh a serious punsh on me!"
Unfortunately, that plea fell on deaf ears as Mondo's eyes narrowed and he reared his hand even further back. An almost inhuman squeal escaped Hifumi as he squinted his eyes shut and prepared his face for the oncoming fist of doom.
Only…it never came. A few moments passed but nothing happened. However, Hifumi wasn't a fool. He knew that the instant he opened his eyes, the fist would descend and embed his glasses permanently into his face. It was a common element in fighting manga but he didn't want to experience it in real life! And so, he kept his eyes firmly shut as he continually prayed for Princess Piggles to swoop down and rescue him from this horrific—
"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" the gruff voice of Mondo accusatory echoed in his ears, inciting further panic in the fanfic creator.
Was Mondo seriously asking why he was averting his gaze from the fist that threatened to make his face one with his glasses? Did no one ever flinch when getting punched by the biker in the past or was he really that stupid—
"Preventing you from making another mistake…" a deep but feminine voice answered, followed by an angry growl from Mondo.
Suddenly realizing that Mondo hadn't been speaking to him, Hifumi tempted fate and opened a single eye. As his vision adjusted, he nearly gasped at the scene before him. Sakura stood over Mondo, her massive hand holding back the biker's fist in what could only be assumed was an iron grip. Meanwhile, Mondo visibly glared up at her but strangely said nothing, a profound expression of confliction etched into his visage.
The scene itself was moving in ways that Hifumi couldn't describe, and not just because it seemed he wasn't going to get one-punched today. From his pinned down position, he was at the perfect angle to view this encounter…and he was suddenly overcome by the desire capture this moment in the frames of a manga panel. If only he'd brought his drawing utensils with him…then he could have—
"Wait, wait! That's not important right now! I need to tell them of the danger that Miss Ludenberg poses—!"
"CELESTE!"
Before he could utter a word, Hina dashed over to the gambler and threw her arms around her, an act that normally would be reassuring but in this instance…brought a sense of foreboding to Hifumi. As the swimmer held her distressed friend close, Celeste shifted and angled her head toward the rest of them. Then, without any hesitation, Celeste opened a single crimson eye and glanced toward Hifumi. A silent gasp escaped the fanfic creator as he bore witness to the intense bloodlust hidden behind that single crimson iris.
"...You know not the horror you have unleashed!"
"Celeste! Thank goodness you're safe!" Hina practically shouted in her ear as she was pulled into the tightest embrace she'd ever had.
However, the gambler was still shell-shocked by everything that had occurred. It had all happened so fast; her mind was still racing and she couldn't get a handle on her emotions. That's why, as Hina's grip tightened, Celeste found herself easing into the embrace, laying her head on Hina's shoulder and letting her arms wrap around her friend in return. She took deep, slow breaths, letting the panic fade from her being as she gradually returned to a rational state of mind.
"I'm alive…I'm…still alive…" she pressed her face into Hina's shoulder, smudging her make-up as her tears soaked the swimmer's red sports jacket. "I…survived…but…everything…is ruined. Everything…that I planned…it was all…"
Very slowly, she adjusted her head on Hina's shoulder, angling it so that she could see out of her right eye. As that crimson iris opened, it just so happened to fall upon her accomplice…Hifumi, the betrayer…being held down by both Mondo and Sakura.
"Hifumi…he…he…he tried to kill me!" Instantly, the anguish and terror she'd experienced was wiped away, replaced with a maddening rage and thirst for vengeance. "How dare he double-cross me! Because of him, I've lost everything! I'll never see the outside world again! If only he'd shut up and stuck to the plan, then I could have…framed…him…for…"
Almost on instinct, the gears in her mind started turning, a new solution to her predicament already half formed before she even realized it. Her gaze narrowed as her only visible eye swirled with desire…with motivation! Faster than she thought possible, she rebuilt her perfect mask, fractured though it may be, and prepared to execute a final strategy that would enable her to achieve her dream!
"I haven't lost yet! Thanks to Hifumi's screw up…there's still one more trump card I can play!"
As malicious intent clouded her visible eye, only Hifumi managed to catch a glimpse of it, a horrified expression taking over as he surely realized his fatal error. At the same time, Celeste let a maniacal grin overtake her lips, hidden in the fabric of Hina's jacket, knowing that her former accomplice had realized that his fate was sealed!
"That's right! Lament your fate, fatso! It's time for Celestia Ludenberg to finally achieve victory!"
"AHH-HAAA!"
Celeste's loud wails pierced the room, turning heads as she openly sobbed into Hina's shoulder. Her petite body trembled, barely being held together by the swimmer's tender embrace. Holding onto her fearful friend, Hina's brows furrowed as she glared at Hifumi, righteous fury rising to the surface!
"Murderer!" she shouted at him, leaving him visibly stunned. "You tried to kill her! How could you!"
"N-N-No! That's not it!" sputtered Hifumi, desperately trying to explain his side. "You've got this all—!"
"Shut the hell up, you bastard!" Mondo quickly jumped in, grabbing the fanfic creator by the collar and shaking a fist at him. "You say another word and I swear to Christ, I'll smash your teeth in!"
"EIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEE!" a shriek erupted from Hifumi, one even more piercing than Celeste's sobs.
However, just like before, Sakura put a hand on Mondo, a silent warning that he needed to control his temper. Fortunately for the biker, he wasn't lost to rage and managed to lower his fist once more. Just as it finally seemed that things had begun settled down, a familiar furious voice shook the room.
"FOR THE LOVE OF SCHOOL DISCIPLINE, WHAT IS GOING ON IN HERE?!"
There could be only one person who would shout those words. Even though they didn't need to, everyone turned their gazes toward the door to see Disciplinary Committee Chairman Ishimaru, accompanied by Makoto, standing next to the destroyed door. As usual, the Disciplinary Chairman's aura flared as he glanced around the room. He took in everyone's condition before abruptly pointing an angry finger at the demolished pile of broken wood and metal hinges.
"Who is responsible for the destruction of school property?!" he demanded, his gaze alternating between Mondo and Sakura, obviously suspecting them.
Before anyone could say or do anything, Sakura turned and approached him. Even as she towered over him, his fury didn't dissipate, glaring up at her accusingly.
"Allow me to explain," the martial artist offered, her voice calm and clear. "After we split up to search, I came to the third floor to investigate. During that time, a loud scream echoed from the art room. I ran as fast as I could, but when I arrived, I saw that the door to the supply room was already broken down, and Hina was standing just outside. I shouted for her to stay back while I investigated, and when I entered the room, I saw Mondo holding down Hifumi—".
"So then, if it wasn't you or Hina that broke down the door, then who was it?!" Chairman Ishimaru unexpectedly interrupted, completely fixated on that one aspect of the story.
"For the love of—I'm the one who busted it down!" Mondo admitted, wanted to move thing along. "Celeste was howling like a banshee on the other side, so I—".
"Aha! Just as I suspected! It was you, Mondo Owada! Destruction of school property is a clear rule violation—!"
"Now's not the time for that!" Everyone was shocked when Hina's usually peppy voice interrupted him, her frustration completely overpowering his righteous fury. Still cradling a hysterical Celeste, "Hifumi attacked Celeste! He almost killed her!"
Chairman Ishimaru froze, his eyes widening in shock as he took a closer look at the situation. As he compiled this new information, Makoto sped past him and ran over to Hina and Celeste. Looking them over, he quickly glanced at Hifumi before letting out a relieved sigh.
"Well, at the very least, it looks like neither of them were injured. That's a relief—".
"H-How exactly…is that…a relief!"
Everyone gasped as Celeste finally spoke, her face shooting up from Hina's shoulder, allowing them to take in her runny mascara stained face. She choked back sobs, obviously trying her best to compose herself, but failing. Even so, she didn't back down, sending an accusatory glare toward Hifumi.
"He…He tried…to kill me!"
"Lies! Lies and slander!" Hifumi immediately interjected, waving his arms emphatically. "She was the one who attacked me! I merely took the hammer to defend myself!"
"Bullshit!" Mondo refuted, pointing at the nearby hammer. "I saw him holding it over her head when I came in—".
"When you destroyed school property, you mean!" Chairman Ishimaru immediately added, seemingly unable to stop himself.
Grumbling at the interruption, Mondo pushed past it and continued, "Look, the point is that I saw him with the hammer, ready to bash Celeste's brains in! He's lying through his god-damned teeth!"
"That's right! It's obvious that Hifumi's lying!" Hina agreed, leaving no room for error. "He's a monster and he needs to be restrained!"
"I agree," the deep tones of Sakura concurred. "Let's fetch some rope and—".
"W-Wait a second! We should at least hear him out!" Makoto suggested, shocking most of his classmates. However, out of all of them, Celeste was the one who appeared the most distraught by his suggestion.
"I can't…believe…you…" the hysterical gambler said quietly, turning her gaze toward Makoto, her eyes full of confusion and hurt. "You think…I would lie…about something like…this?! How…how could…!"
"Yeah! How could you, Makoto?!" Hina abruptly concurred, narrowing her eyes at the Lucky Student. "Celeste is obviously the victim here!
All at once, most of the students turned and glared at Makoto, who shrunk back as he nervously tried to explain himself.
"N-No! I didn't mean—I-I mean, I was just trying to—".
"Trying to what?! Defend a murderer?!" Mondo scolded, narrowing his gaze. "This is different from what happened to me or Leon! We caught him in the act! He's obviously the attacker!"
Backing down even more, Makoto was about to renege on his suggestion when a cold and calculated voice echoed:
"I think you've misinterpreted Makoto's suggestion…"
A tense silence filled the room as everyone's gaze shot to the doorway. Standing there, observing the entire situation, was Kyoko Kirigiri. And, much to everyone's relief, beside her stood Junko Enoshima, who stared at the scene with a determined expression.
Before anyone had the chance to comment, Kyoko continued, "As we don't know exactly what transpired here, we should get both of their testimonies before deciding anything—".
"K-Kyoko!" Makoto eagerly shouted, unable to hide the happiness and relief in his voice. "I'm glad that—whoa!"
Makoto let out a shout as he was practically shoved aside by none other than Mondo, who practically ran full speed toward the reappearing pair of ladies. Both of the girls tensed as the biker suddenly halted in front of them, and only Junko flinched as an intrusive pompadour abruptly slapped into her forehead.
"Where the hell were you?!" he frantically shouted, bits of spittle peppering her face. Completely unaware of how uncomfortable this was, the biker proceeded to lean in closer, his pressing into Junko's hair as he yelled, "We've spent half the damn morning looking for—ghuu!"
In the midst of his shouting, Junko's palm suddenly shot forward, slamming into his chest, and sending the biker flying onto his back. Time stood still as everyone in the room stared at Junko, who wore an expression of utter shock herself. Even Mondo, whose head was ringing from colliding with the floor, stared wide-eyed up at her, completely astonished.
Feeling everyone's eyes on her, Junko slightly shook her head before shouting, "Do the words 'personal space' mean anything to you?! Geez! You scared the crap out of me!"
All at once, Mondo's face burned brightly as he realized just how close he'd been to the Fashionista's face. And, as per usual, once he felt the growing embarrassment surrounding his actions, he defaulted to his usual way of responding…by shouting.
"I scared…w-what the hell is that supposed to mean?!" Mondo almost immediately fired back, leaping to his feet but making sure he didn't needlessly approach her. "You're the one who scared the shit out of me! Disappearing for so fucking long!"
A puzzled look crossed Junko's face, momentarily glancing at Kyoko, who also seemed confused.
"'Disappearing'? What are you talking about? Kyoko and I have been investigating all morn—".
"None of that matters right now!" a furious Hina interrupted, earning everyone's attention. "We need to focus on what really matters—".
"Agreed!" Disciplinary Committee Chairman Ishimaru concurred, enthusiastically clenching his fists. "The issue of the destruction of school property should be the foremost topic of discussion!"
A collective groan sounded and only Mondo found the words to retort, "That's not remotely important right now!"
"For once, I'd have to agree. I'm far more interested in how Junko sent you flying like a ragdoll," a familiar and slightly unwelcome voice echoed from the doorway.
A moment later, Byakuya stepped inside, a merciless glare aimed at the Fashionista. Just behind him, cowering behind the mangled doorframe, Toko poked out, lustfully eyeing the Affluent Progeny, as per usual. Considering she'd reverted back to her anti-social persona, everyone assumed Genocide Jill must have sneezed, giving them all a moment of temporary relief. However, that relief shattered as Byakuya advanced toward Junko, a malicious grin forming on his smug face.
"That was an impressive hit," the Togami Heir falsely praised before a snide chuckle escaped him. "Did your time as a homeless beggar teach you martial arts as well as medical knowhow?"
Junko furrowed her brow and seethed, "It could teach you some humility—".
"Now isn't the time for pointless argument," Kyoko suddenly intervened, turning Byakuya's harsh gaze onto her. However, she didn't so much as flinch, matching his gaze effortlessly. "Or are you suggesting that Junko should have continued to let Mondo spit on her face?"
"If it revealed where the two of you have been hiding all this time, I'd gladly let the brute salivate like a raging mutt," Byakuya condescendingly retorted, his threat clear as day.
"You son of a bitch!" Mondo seethed, his face reddening from pure rage. "Why don't you say that shit to my face?!"
With a sharp glare, Byakuya repeated, "I said that I'd gladly let a raging mutt like you—".
"ENOUGH!"
The entire room shook as Sakura bellowed over everyone's voices, her ferocious fighting aura immediately silencing even the strong-willed Byakuya. Utter silence filled the room as the students watched the martial artist's aura gradually recede, until she was more stood among them as a 'normal' student. Taking a deep, cleansing breath, Sakura calmly addressed the group.
"Now isn't the time for pointless arguments," Sakura instructed, echoing Kyoko's words from only a few moments ago. "Our time would be better spent working together to figure out exactly what happened this morning."
A soft silence permeated the room, making everyone hesitant to answer. After a few moments of this uncomfortable atmosphere, Makoto slowly stepped forward.
"She's right. There's a lot we don't know…" the lucky student concurred, glancing between Kyoko and Junko, then back to Hifumi and Celeste. Finally, he turned toward Kyoko and asked, "Would you mind telling us where you two were this morning? It might help us figure out what happened between Celeste and—".
"You still don't get it, Makoto!" an infuriated Hina cut in, her normally bright and cheery persona completely replaced. "Celeste is obviously the victim! Hifumi attacked her after faking his injuries this morning!"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, back up there!" Junko chimed in, confusion marring her features. "What do you mean fake injuries? And why was Celeste in the art room with Hifumi in the first place?"
"That doesn't matter!" Hina abruptly replied, tightly holding onto her traumatized friend. "All we need to know is that Hifumi tried to kill her—!"
"I think it's too early to jump to conclusions," Kyoko interrupted, her calm voice piercing the room with absolute certainty. "We should investigate and hear both of their testimonies before—".
*Ding*Dong*Bing*Bong*
Each and every student tensed as that terrifyingly familiar tone resounded through the halls of the academy. As one, they turned to view the monitor in the upper corner of the room. After a few moments, the screen roared to life with static, until the image cleared and the students beheld their hated captor…Monokuma!
Emergency! Emergency! It seems we have a victim of bullying!
In an effort to find the perpetrator, you will be given a certain amount of time to investigate.
Please use this time wisely, the class trial will begin very soon!
Just as quickly as it came, the message ended and the monitor went black, a cold chill running down everyone's spine. And then, less than a moment after the announcement ended, the speakers next to the TV roared with the sounds of a plan flying overhead…then crashing! Suddenly, the art supply room was filled with the lovely voice of the half-and-half bear…singing!
"Oh the bear, oh the bear, oh the bear is back! Stone cold sober as a matter of fact!"
Dancing across the floor, miraculously tossing origami flower leighs around the necks of each student it passed, came Monokuma. Dressed in a Hawaiian shirt and carrying a large burlap sack, the headmaster of Hope's Peak made a triumphant return, much to the horror of the students. With a final twirl, Monokuma struck a dynamic pose and laughed heartily.
"Ahahahaha! I. Have. Returned! And I brought souvenirs!"
Reaching into the sack, the demented bear smiled as it's hand pulled out…nothing. Even so, Monokuma extended his paw out toward them and began to chuckle.
"Puhuhuhuhu…I hope you enjoy it!"
As confusion began to set in, a recognizable beeping echoed from all of their e-handbooks. Retrieving them from their pockets, the students' expressions turned grim as they silently read the bright words on the screen.
Monokuma (Incident) File
As the students stared at the incoming message, the dread and tension from the previous trials came rushing back in. And once again, suspicious glances and frightful visages overwhelmed the room.
"What's taking everyone so long?" Leon groaned as he leaned against the back wall of the nurse's office. "Maybe I should go and check…"
From her seat next to Chihiro, Sayaka sent Leon a stern look. "Let's just wait a bit longer," she told him, holding in all of her worry as well. "I'm sure that any second now, someone'll—".
*Ding*Dong*Bing*Bong*
All at once, the three of them tensed, and as one they turned toward the monitor in the corner of the room. Just as they suspected, it immediately roared to life…and the image of Monokuma suddenly appeared.
Emergency! Emergency! It seems we have a victim of bullying!
In an effort to find the perpetrator, you will be given a certain amount of time to investigate.
Please use this time wisely, the class trial will begin very soon!
Before they could react, the sounds of a plane crashing echoed through the speakers. The terrifying sounds of explosions and crunching metal froze them in place, keeping them horrifically entranced until the speakers cut away to silence. That is, until a beeping resounded from Leon and Sayaka's pockets. Pulling out their e-handbooks, they gasped as they read the words of the message sent to them.
Monokuma (Incident) File
A few terrifying moments passed before Leon finally found the will to speak.
"Wh-What the hell was that?!" he shouted while pointing at the screen, before glaring down at his e-handbook. "And…why the hell did we get another 'incident file'?!"
"…I-Incident…file?" Chihiro squeaked, looking over Sayaka's shoulder as she opened it.
"Oh, that's right…you weren't awake when we got these last time," Sayaka reminded herself as she turned to show it to Chihiro. "Basically, it's like a Monokuma file…but not for finding a body."
"Oh, what a relief!" Chihiro prematurely answered before seeing the distressed looks on her friend's faces. "Wh-What? Is it worse than finding a body?"
A grim expression overtook Sayaka's features as she answered, "No…not exactly. We only get this file when…one of us attacks another student but don't know who the attacker is…"
Chihiro's eyes widened like saucers as tears welled up in the corners. "N-No…that can't be true! It must be some kind of mistake—".
"Sorry…but it's true," Sayaka cut in, gently placing a hand on Chihiro's shoulder. "We…We had to investigate when…you were attacked by Mondo."
Everything suddenly clicked in Chihiro's mind. The reason why Mondo had felt so terrible wasn't just because he'd nearly killed her…it was also because he nearly got everyone else killed as well. Even so, Chihiro didn't fault him. She truly believed that it was just an accident…and maybe…
"M-Maybe it's all an accident!" a hopeful Chihiro offered, trying to be optimistic. "Like what happened with Mondo! I know he didn't do it on purpose, so maybe this time—".
"It doesn't matter either way…" Leon begrudgingly informed her, his hands balling into fists. "Just like the announcement said, we still have to do another class trial! We have to suspect our friends and try to find out who betrayed…again! Dammit!"
Suddenly, Leon lifted his foot and mercilessly kicked the large cabinet in the back of the room. It lurched to the side and just as the baseball star prepared to kick it again, a hand firmly gripped his arm. His gaze shot over to see Sayaka, her eyes filled with determination, holding him back.
"I know how you feel, Leon. But getting upset and throwing a tantrum isn't going…to…help…?" She paused for a moment as she saw something behind the cabinet. "Do you see that?"
Curious, Leon followed her gaze until he saw a blue handle sticking out of from behind the moved cabinet. "What the hell is it?" he questioned, reaching down and grasping the handle.
Pulling it out from it's hiding place, Leon and Sayaka gasped as a blue mallet with the words 'Justice Hammer 3' was revealed. All the while, Chihiro looked on in confusion, not knowing the significance of this discovery.
Without a single word, everyone in the art supply room opened up the Monokuma (Incident) File.
Just like before, the file contained information related to the 'incident' in question. It made note of Kyoko and Junko's disappearance, the fact that Hifumi had vanished from the nurse's office and suddenly reappeared in the art supply room, and that there had been a confrontation between him and Celeste…though that portion was intentionally vague.
"'An altercation occurred between two students in the art supply room.'" Junko read aloud, her voice seething with frustration. Snapping her head up, she scowled at Monokuma and said, "You haven't told us anything we don't already know! What's the point of sending out this file if it's utterly useless?!"
Tilting his head in confusion, Monokuma answered, "Useless? You mean like a certain someone who missed all the action this morning?"
Junko clicked her teeth in annoyance before answering, "If you're not going to give us more information about the incident, then is why bother giving them to us at all?"
The demented bear let out a deep, disappointed sigh. "Oh boy…I figured you were just a little slow, not completely incompetent." As expected, the Fashionista gritted her teeth and was prepared to retort when Monokuma suddenly continued, "The purpose of that file…is so that the class trial can be conducted fairly!"
"W-What?!" the Fashionista fired back, genuinely shocked.
"Class trials are all about fairness. And if one student is left out of the loop, then they wouldn't be able to contribute to the trial! For example, if someone happened to be unconscious because someone hit them over the head with a dumbbell." Mondo flinched at the bear's words but said nothing. Unopposed, Monokuma continued, "This way, even someone who missed all the action, *cough* Junko *cough*, can be brought up to speed quickly and efficiently!"
The demented bear hadn't actually coughed, he literally said the word in the most mocking manner possible. And it worked, because Junko's hands balled so tight her knuckles turned white.
Even so, she managed to keep her voice even as she replied, "What I meant was…why doesn't the file give us information about what time Hifumi disappeared from the nurse's office? If this file is supposed to be in the spirit of fairness, why is certain information omitted?!"
There was a slight pause as Monokuma tilted its head and gave her a confused expression. "…Shouldn't that be obvious?"
Instantly, Junko's her eyes widened as understanding flooded her mind. Furrowing her brows, she answered, "It makes the trial fair…for us and the blackened."
"Exactamundo!" Monokuma concurred, an evil glint in his glowing red eye. "Can't have the odds stacked against either side! That would ruin the fun! Like never eating dessert before dinner! For some people, that's their only solace in life—".
"This still doesn't change anything!"
Hina's voice shook the room, her righteous fury evident as she helped Celeste to her feet. For her part, the gambler appeared to have calmed down considerably, even though she looked utterly despondent. Her mascara had run lines down her face, as if someone had splashed a bucket of water on her face, and her usual spirited visage was replaced with a worried expression. Despite that, a fierce flame burned in her eyes, the likes of which none of the students had seen before.
"Celeste is obviously still the victim and Hifumi is obviously still the culprit!" Hina roared, sending a menacing glare toward the fanfic creator. "I won't let you get away with what you've done to my friend! You better be ready for that class trial!"
No one had ever seen Hina act so hostile before. It was jarring to say the least. Hifumi practically reared back away from the swimmer, almost fearful for his life. Beside him, with an equally confused expression marring her face, Sakura stared at her best friend in utter shock. No one, not even Sakura had thought Hina capable of radiating such venom toward another human being. It was out of character…almost as if she was being manipulated into feeling this way.
"Now that's what I like to hear!" Monokuma shouted, reminding everyone of his presence. With a gleeful laugh, he proclaimed, "Ahahahaha! You'd best get to investigating! You don't have much time this go around!"
Just as quickly as he'd dropped that bomb on them, the floor beneath him opened and he disappeared into the darkness below, leaving the remaining students to uncover the truth.
"A-Another…class…trial?" Disciplinary Committee Chairman Ishimaru trembled as he collected his thoughts. "How…How did this happen?! I've spent so much time trying to prevent another trial! How could I have failed—"
He stopped himself, or rather, something deep inside him forced him to stop thinking those thoughts. He hadn't failed yet…he couldn't be allowed to fail. Failure meant that someone else could die, an outcome that he wished to avoid more than any other. No, he hadn't failed…not yet!
And so, Taka held onto that sliver of hope with everything that he had.
"…I-It will be fine! All I need to do is solve this mystery and ensure the culprit is punished! Yes…Yes, I need to determine the source of the conflict between us! Once I find the one responsible for igniting this conflict…I will make certain they won't be able to do so…ever again!"
Unbeknownst to everyone, including himself, for just a few seconds, the sheen of his hair flickered back and forth from white to black. And the flames in his eyes ebbed as he denied the doubt that slowly began to settle in his heart.
"Dammit! She's backing us into a corner!" Mukuro internally seethed, easily seeing through her sister's intentions. "Kyoko and I weren't even around for half of what happened! And it seems like no one has a clear grasp of the situation either! At this rate, someone's going to be left alone in this school…after the rest of us are executed!"
This horrific truth, which only she knew, that was the purpose of the 'bullying trial'. Since the attacker wasn't a blackened, even if they won the trial and everyone else was executed, they'd be forced to remain inside the school…an easy target for her sister to pick off when she wanted the game to come to an end.
"Even worse is that she doesn't plan to give us long to investigate! She never stated a time limit for each investigation so that she could control exactly how much we could uncover!"
The disguised soldier gritted her teeth and glared down at the floor, barely able to control her rage at being outmaneuvered. She'd spent too much time with Kyoko, too much time taking a huge risk. And now, all of her efforts would be meaningless because she wasn't able to prevent—
"Makoto, I need to talk to you."
Kyoko's voice from beside her was startling, for multiple reasons. The detective's voice was calm and collected, just as it always was, not showing even a hint of fear. Almost as if she wasn't bothered by the handicap they'd unwittingly forced upon themselves. Then again, it wasn't in Kyoko's nature to give in, so it made sense that she'd stay strong, despite the odds that were stacked again them.
In addition, the fact that she instantly sought out Makoto slightly worried Mukuro. Had she forgotten about the promise she'd made? Or was there some other reason she needed to speak to him? The soldier's mind was frazzled from all this new information, and considering she used to only follow orders, it was difficult for her to have to discern the truth for herself. Regardless, she waited patiently as the lucky student approached them, his concerned expression speaking volumes.
"W-What's up?" he said nervously, but with a good deal of relief as well.
"I need you to tell me exactly what happened since we split up this morning," Kyoko requested without hesitation. "There's a lot that Junko and I missed. And I'd appreciate a summary of events thus far."
Mukuro surreptitiously let out a sigh, feeling relieved that Kyoko was apparently keeping her word. Then again, Mukuro wasn't sure why she'd expected anything less from the detective. She'd proven herself trustworthy, in more ways than one, and the idea that she'd break their promise almost immediately after making it was completely illogical.
"Is that…just how my brain's wired?" she pondered to herself. "Have I spent so much time distrusting others that…I can't really trust them?"
Quickly shaking her head, the disguised soldier forced out those negative thoughts and chose to focus on what she could do now. With renewed vigor, she nodded alongside Kyoko and said, "That'd be a huge help! Lay it on us, Makoto!"
"Oh, uh…okay," the lucky student agreed, not expecting that request. Even so, he wasn't going to deny it. "Alright then, after we split up this morn—".
"Hold on," the authoritative voice of Byakuya cut him off, drawing all of their attention toward him. With a thick scowl, the Affluent Progeny huffed as he said, "Before we divulge information on our findings, shouldn't the two of you tell us exactly where you've been all morning?"
"Indeed!" the annoying voice of Chairman Ishimaru concurred, marching up to them and pointing an accusatory finger. "We searched the entire school for the two of you, but were unable to find you! Where were you hiding all this time?! Explain yourselves!"
The tension in the air grew thick as the girls were questioned. However, neither of them flinched as they were interrogated. Finally, Kyoko spoke.
"We don't have time for that right now." Her voice was full of conviction, her words carrying more weight than usual. "Monokuma has made it clear that we don't have much time to investigate. We need to spend this time as efficiently as possible."
"That's right!" Junko immediately concurred, putting her hand on her hips. "I don't know why you think we were missing but we can discuss that at that trial. Right now, we need to get to the pool and help Hiro."
A wave of surprise washed over the room as everyone's eyes widened.
"Y-You found Hiro?!" Mondo immediately shouted. "Where the hell was he?!"
"He's waiting for us in the pool room," Junko answered, a hint of a smile on her lips. "He's not going anywhere for the time being."
"That's great!" Makoto joyfully shouted, astonished but also relieved "So that's where you two were! That's a relief—"
"It sounds far too convenient if you ask me…" Byakuya said doubtfully, a hand pressed to his chin. "We've been looking all morning and couldn't find a trace of him or you for that matter. How did you manage to find him when none of us could find you?"
With a raised eyebrow, Junko answered, "Look, I still don't get the whole, 'we couldn't find you guys' thing. We found Hiro stuffed into a locker on the far end of the pool. But he's stuck in there. Kyoko and I have spent a long time trying to get him out, but he just won't budge! All because of that weird robot suit he's wearing—".
"Robot suit?!" Hina interrupted, as if piecing something together. "Then he must have been the one who attacked Celeste this morning! Remember, she told us about being attacked by someone in a strange robot suit—!"
"Lies! Lies and slander!" Hina found herself silenced as Hifumi suddenly started raving. "It was supposed to be Miss Ludenberg's false alibi! She and I worked together to put Hiro in—".
"How dare you…mock me…like this…" the quiet but fierce voice of Celeste pierced through, immediately silencing Hifumi. Her destitute appearance lent credence to her words, and she scowled as she continued, "First you attack me, and now you create vicious lies to try and place blame on me. Only a monster blames his victims for his own crimes. Have you no soul?"
For a moment, Hifumi was flustered, unsure of how to respond. However, he quickly regained his moxie and took a brave step forward.
"I am not the monster here, you are! You tricked me into trying to commit murder!" His words resonated through the entire room, but only Kyoko and Junko reacted to them. Each of them narrowed their gazes, glancing between the two suspects. Emboldened by the silence, Hifumi brashly continued, "And now you're still trying to place the blame on me! You're trying to kill us all and leave by yourself, you soulless yandere! If anyone is a victim here, it's—!"
A loud slap echoed as a gigantic hand softly landed atop Hifumi's head, the fanfic creator's words catching in his throat as he slowly turned his head. His bespectacled eyes widened as he recognized Sakura's hand resting atop his skull, a fearsome aura emanating from her.
"That is enough," she said quietly, obviously trying to control her emotions. "We will hear your testimony at the trial. Until then, I advise you to remain silent."
Hifumi flinched as if he tried to retort but whatever he wanted to say died in his throat. Realizing his precarious situation, the fanfic creator hung his head and mumbled, "…Alright."
Nodding firmly, Sakura turned to the rest of the group and said, "I'll take Hifumi to the red door. He and I will wait for the trial to begin. Obviously, I will be unable to assist with the investigation because of this."
"That's fine," the smug voice of Byakuya affirmed. "It's not as though we were expecting much from you anyway. You're better suited to the role of a guard dog."
"Prick. We're not exactly expecting anything from someone who alters crime scenes either," Junko openly criticized, staving off Byakuya's harsh glare before meeting Sakura's gaze. "No worries, Sakura. We've got this! We'll handle the investigation!"
With a warm smile, the martial artist replied, "Well then, it's time we were off, right Hifumi?" She patted his back, forcing him to take a step forward, like a prisoner being escorted to his execution.
"R-Right…" the fanfic creator defeatedly agreed, stealing a hateful glare at Celeste before being escorted out of the room.
Once they were gone, Hina took the opportunity to speak up, "I'm gonna take Celeste back to her room. I wanna help her clean up before the trial."
At this, a genuine look of shock crossed Celeste's face, even if it was only for an instant. "T-That is fine. I…appreciate your assistance."
Finally, after so much tension, the happy, bubbly smile that Hina was known for resurfaced. No one had noticed how much they missed it, until it was hidden away by the rage that had contorted the swimmer's visage. Assisted by her friend, Celeste slowly limped out of the room, but not before glancing back toward the discarded mallet. However, she only paused for an instant before allowing Hina to take most of her weight and departed toward the descending staircase.
"I'm, uh…I'm gonna go and check on Chihiro," Mondo awkwardly announced, unable to look Junko in the eye for some reason. "L-Let me know if, uh, there's anything I can do—".
"Actually, there is!" the Fashionista suddenly interjected, smiling wide at him. "We need someone strong to help us get Hiro out of the locker. Think you could lend a hand before going to see Chihiro?"
As she finished, she winked at him, something that wasn't atypical for her. However, for a few moments after her request, Mondo stood there in complete silence. And for a second, Junko could have sworn she saw a hint of pink run across his cheeks.
Then, much to everyone's shock, the biker suddenly answered, "W-Well, y-yeah! I'll, uh, I'll pull him out for ya! I'd pull anything out for you, Junko!"
As total confusion warped the room, Junko tilted her head to the side and replied, "Okaaaay…thanks, I guess?"
"R-Right! Now let's get moving!" Mondo shouted and walked past her, beelining for the doorway. "H-Hiro's not gonna unstuck himself!"
Before anyone could protest, the biker disappeared through the doorway, presumably heading for the pool.
"Well, that was…interesting," Junko awkwardly assessed before glancing toward Kyoko. "Go ahead and get the details from Makoto. I'll talk to Mondo and let him bring me up to speed."
The lavender haired girl nodded and said, "Let us know if you find anything."
"Got it!" the Fashionista replied.
"I think I'll accompany you as well," Byakuya suddenly offered, his intention becoming instantly clear. "We wouldn't want you disappearing on us again."
A deep sigh escaped Junko as she headed for the door. "Fine. Whatever. Let's get this done, and quickly!"
Junko's boots clicked along the floor as she left, with Byakuya trailing just behind her. As they left, the shadow of Toko followed, making the Affluent Progeny's request to travel together more understandable. After they were gone, only Makoto, Kyoko, and Taka were left at the scene.
"Makoto," the amnesiac girl quickly said. "If you would, I'd appreciate a summary of all the events I missed while Junko and I were trying to free Hiro."
"O-Oh, right!" the lucky student eagerly answered, probably a little too eager. "Well, after we—".
"Just a moment, Mr. Naegi!" Disciplinary Committee Chairman Ishimaru suddenly interrupted, earning strange looks from the other two students. "Allow me to recall the events! I must do my best to solve this mystery and I will admit that Miss Kirigiri's input will be invaluable!"
Kyoko immediately shot Makoto a subtle look, wordlessly pleading for him not to let Taka take over. Unfortunately, due to his peaceful nature, the lucky student didn't have the will to deny Chairman Ishimaru…and sent an apologetic look toward Kyoko in shame.
"S-Sure…go ahead, Taka."
Behind her lavender eyes, Kyoko suppressed the urge to groan, knowing it would only exacerbate the situation. Knowing that time was of the essence, however, she turned to Taka and said, "Please go over everything as quickly as possible. We don't have much time to spare."
With a frightening smile she assumed was meant to be reassuring, Disciplinary Committee Chairman Ishimaru began, "Of course! Now, let's begin with this morning! I awoke in my room, ready to take on the day and deal with any students who may disrupt the peace of our community!"
The tiniest of groans escaped Kyoko's throat as she listened to him explain how he dressed, brushed his teeth, and chose not to relieve himself. All the while, she miraculously held back a scathing comment about how he was wasting more of time…and that's when she heard it.
"—after bidding Alter Ego farewell, I headed to this very floor to interrupt a meeting that was to take place at 6AM! I found a note dropped by a perpetrator last night and because of that I—".
"Wait a second," she immediately cut him off, holding up her hand to ensure his silence. "You came here at 6AM? To this room?"
With a hearty laugh, Chairman Ishimaru answered, "No, no, not this room. It was the equipment room in which the perpetrators were supposed to meet and—Hey! Where are you going?!"
In the middle of his speech, Kyoko turned on a heel and headed for the doorway.
"To the equipment room," she said quickly, not even bothering to glance back. "I'll begin my investigation there. I'd appreciate it if you came with me and finished your summary…"
Before either Makoto or Taka could protest, Kyoko passed through the door, leaving both of them in shock. However, it took only a moment for the Disciplinary Chairman to shake off his confusion and speed-walk after her.
"Miss Kirigiri! It is not only rude but a violation of school regulation to ignore the Chairman when he is speaking with you!" Taka shouted as he proceeded to follow her, Makoto nipping at his heels.
"The nerve of those guys! Acting like you're a suspect!"
Hina ranted for the tenth time, her voice echoing down the hall as she helped Celeste hobble toward her room. They had made it all the way back to the dark red halls of the dormitory, and all the while, the swimmer continued to vent her frustrations.
"I mean, it's so obvious that Hifumi's the one who attacked you! Ugh…I guess being trapped here for so long is messing with our heads, huh?"
"Yes…I would agree," the gambler concurred, doing her best to block out Hina's ramblings.
Celeste's mind was still racing, unable to stop the traumatic events from replaying over and over again in her mind. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Hifumi towering over her, mallet raised and prepared to crush her fragile form. She grunted quietly continually forcing the event from her mind, trying to completely regain her focus. She would need to be at the top of her game during the trial—
"Alright! We're here!" Hina said cheerfully, unintentionally interrupting her thoughts.
"Thank you, Hina." Celeste said politely, taking out her key and unlocking the door.
Together, they pushed open the door and stepped into the gambler's room, with Hina gaping at all the trinkets and gothic memorabilia surrounding her. Still limping due to her injured ankle, Celeste allowed Hina to assist her until she reached her desk, where she kept all of her make-up and accessories.
"I should be fine from here," she told the swimmer, gently sitting down and reaching for her make-up kit. "I apologize for not being the most gracious of hosts, but would you mind stepping out now? I would like to reapply everything before—".
"A-Actually," Hina surprisingly interrupted, drawing Celeste's attention. "I don't suppose you'd like some help with reapplying your make-up?"
Genuine shock filled Celeste as she registered Hina's request. "I…don't suppose I would mind, but are you sure? Should you not be investigating along with the others?"
At this, Hina almost seemed to take offense, furrowing her brows as she replied, "There's no need for me to investigate! I know that you're innocent! They can search all they want, it won't change the fact that Hifumi was the one who attacked you!"
Despite herself, a tiny smile formed on Celeste's lips. If Hina was this adamant during the trial, it would be hard for anyone to refute her. Besides, it wasn't as though there was anything in her room that would incriminate her for the crime. In that regard, allowing Hina to remain would only strengthen their 'friendship', which the gambler knew was key to keeping Hina as an asset.
"Very well, if you wish to stay, I have no reason to deny your company," Celeste answered, turning back to her desk and sorting out all the make-up she would need.
"Great!" an overjoyed Hina shouted as she sat on the bed next to the desk. "This means we can start working on our promise!"
Puzzled, Celeste glanced back to her and questioned, "Our…promise?"
All at once, Hina's mood dampened. "You…don't remember our promise?" she inquired, obviously a bit hurt. However, she quickly rebounded and said, "You know! The one where you show me how to be more girly and I help you to work out more!"
Celeste froze as she realized that she had completely forgotten that promise, until now. It hadn't even been an afterthought, considering she planned to let her entire class, including Hina, be executed when she graduated. She never imagined actually having to fulfill her promise, and she was totally unprepared for it as well.
"Ah, yes, I remember now," she half-lied, turning to face the swimmer directly. "I do apologize but do not think we will have sufficient time to work on that promise today. Perhaps after the trial?"
A twinge of uncomfortableness settled into her breast, knowing that Hina was not going to survive the upcoming trial. It was a cruel thing to offer her, like promising a dying man the chance for freedom just before executing him…
Even so, Celeste didn't think much of it, until Hina smiled brightly and replied, "Sure! That sounds great! I can't wait to try some make-up! It'll, uh, be the first time I've ever tried it so…"
"Well then, I shall do my utmost to make sure it is a memorable experience…" Celeste said politely, turning away from Hina quickly but carefully.
Resuming her task of applying make-up, she wiped away the mess of runny mascara and caked foundation. She could feel Hina's eyes on her, watching her every move with anticipation, obviously excited for the false promise Celeste had just agreed to.
"It's a shame," Celeste found herself thinking. "It might have been fun to doll Hina up. There's so much I could have done with her tanned skin tone. Perhaps I could—no! Stop thinking like that! She's going to die…just accept it."
Accept it…Strange how she had to keep telling herself that. Almost as if she didn't really want to go through with her convoluted murder plot. What a stupid thought. Insane really. It wasn't like she could just go and confess to her classmates. Not after lying to their faces for so long, not after placing all the blame on Hifumi, and certainly not after resolving herself to survive alone even if that meant killing one of the only friends she's ever—
"Dammit, stop thinking like that!" she scolded herself as she applied foundation, letting the process hide her frustration. "I don't want to die! If I get found out, there's no way they'll let me off the hook! I know I wouldn't…"
Unintentionally, she reminded herself of how she'd voted in the two previous class trials. Execution. She always chose execution. It was as a matter of survival, believing it was best to be rid of obvious threats rather than risk them coming back in ruining her plan…just like Mondo had! If he had only been executed, her plot to kill Taka would have succeeded and she'd be in the clear by now…probably.
There was no way to know how things would have gone, even if Mondo hadn't interfered. Hifumi could have made a different mistake or even betrayed her like he had now. In the end, there was only one thing she could be sure of…if her crimes were exposed, her classmates would execute her. Of that, she had absolutely no doubt.
And even though there was a chance she might not be executed, her life would be a living hell of her own making!
"No…they would definitely execute me," she convinced herself, taking in a deep breath. "Unlike the first two class trials, it'll be obvious that my crime was premeditated. That alone will convince them to be rid of me…"
She knew that would be the case. If she was caught, she'd be the first execution their class saw through until the end. There was no doubt in her mind that her classmates would be completely unforgiving…especially—
"Oh, that reminds me," Hina said cheerfully, her warm smile triumphantly returning. "Did you ever find your earring? The one you lost in the art room?"
Snapping out of her frantic thoughts, Celeste hesitated for a moment as she ensured her cracked façade was in place. Minding her accent, the gambler faked a weak smile.
"No, I'm afraid I did not. I saw the door to the art supply room was open and foolishly decided to investigate that first," she lied, quickly conceiving that believable excuse. "But do not worry, I have an identical pair, just for such occasions."
"…I see," Hina replied, unintentionally drawing Celeste's attention due to her hesitation. "That's too bad. It's a very nice set of earrings…"
Celeste almost groaned as she instantly recognized the swimmer's sudden change in attitude. The gambler could see that, somewhere deep down inside, even Hina doubted her, questioning the lie she'd told her and their other classmates. She couldn't allow those feelings to seep in any more than they already had, otherwise it could be disastrous later. After all, Hina was her trump card, an ally that would be willing to fight for her innocence no matter the cost. If the swimmer wavered before the trial even began, it would only endanger her chances later on.
Not only that, Celeste had the added difficulty of trying to ensure that no one discovered her part in the attempted murder. At this point, it was completely her word against Hifumi's, and his was already susceptible to scrutiny. His aggressive behavior over the last few days tipped the scales in her favor, if only by a small margin.
With no evidence to support either of them being the attacker, it was obvious she had the advantage. As despicable as it was to admit, being a petite young woman earned her sympathy points that Hifumi would never be able to garner. Simply being a woman gave her an advantage in this situation…loathsome as it was to admit. She hated it but…she'd use any advantage she could to ensure her victory.
"I won't let myself get executed. I still need to fulfill my dream!" she reminded herself, glancing at Hina with wavering determination. "I'll do anything…use anyone to achieve my goal! Even if I have to break a sweet girl like Hina…I won't let that stop me!"
Biting back the guilt that tried to fight its way to the surface, Celeste pushed herself away from her desk. Startled, Hina looked over only to be caught in Celeste's determined stare, paralyzing the donut loving girl.
"There's something you'd like to ask me…isn't here?" the gambler suddenly asked, already devising a way to win Hina back over to her side completely.
Hina flinched, and for good reason. For all her sweetness and generosity, it was obvious that the distrust of their environment had just as much warped her perspective as it had their classmates. Because of that, even though she obviously wanted to believe in her friend, she found herself giving in to temptation.
"Why…Why didn't you call for me?" she asked slowly, almost frightened to voice the question. "I was right outside. You didn't even bother to tell me the art supply room was open. Why didn't you at least let me know what you were up to?"
It was slight, but Celeste could see the faintest glint of tears in the corners of Hina's eyes…and it almost broke her. Her mask was cracking again, barely held in place by the gambler's frantic need to survive, her paralyzing fear that execution was all that awaited her if she failed. And because of that, she managed to hold herself together, albeit barely.
Scowling and averting her gaze, Celeste finally answered, "I…I'm not sure. I saw the door was open and decided to investigate." She surreptitiously watched as Hina's expression darkened before continuing, "But, if I had to give a reason…I would say that I didn't want to put you in danger."
"Huh?"
A shocked expression warped Hina's face, just as Celeste had expected. Using that to her advantage, the gambler let a small smile creep over her lips before she continued, "I am…not used to relying on others. And even though you were so close, I did not think it was wise to involve you. After all, if you had been injured because of my carelessness, then—".
"B-But's that's why you should have called for me!" Hina cut her off, just as the gambler had predicted. Feigning surprise, Celeste remained silent as the swimmer protested, "If I had been there, you wouldn't have had to go through all of that horrible stuff! And because I wasn't there…you almost…you…could have…"
Celeste flinched as Hina was suddenly on the verge of tears, something she hadn't expected. And even worse, she felt a dull ache in her chest as she watched her 'friend' blame herself for not being there to help.
"I am terribly sorry," Celeste outright lied, ignoring the dull ache. "I never meant to upset you. I promise that, next time, I will be sure to call for your assistance if I feel it is necessary."
As those words left her mouth, the dull ache in her chest suddenly increased, and this time she knew why.
"'Next time', ha!" she mocked herself for her own wording, lowering her gaze to the floor. "There won't be a 'next time'. Everyone but me is going to die soon—".
"Promise…?"
The firm voice of Hina interrupted her thoughts. Lifting her gaze up, she peered into the swimmer's shimmering blue irises, feeling the determination and hesitation Hina must have been feeling this entire time. Normally, Celeste would have admired that kind of strength, but considering it was leading the swimmer to her own death…
"Promise me that next time you need me, you'll let me help you. I'm your friend after all!"
Celeste opened her mouth to answer, but nothing came out. Her own eyes widened as she found herself unable to utter a single word. All she had to do was say, 'I promise', and the deed was done. Hina would return to her usual bubbly self and be a great asset in the coming trial. Then, when her part was over, Celeste would discard her, like the rest of classmates, and finally be free!
She just needed to say those two words…so why the hell couldn't she do it?!
"What the flying fuck?! Why is lying to Hina so hard now?!" Celeste mentally shouted, fighting back that uncomfortable aching sensation once again. "It used to be so easy! She'd believe anything I said, do whatever I wanted! It's so stupid! I don't feel guilty for deceiving her! I have no reason to feel guilty! She's not my friend! I don't need friends! All I need is my castle! So…why the FUCK do I feel so horrible?!"
Almost unconsciously, Celeste bit down hard on her bottom lip, enough to sting but not to draw blood. As the pain registered, she took a deep breath and used it to force all other thoughts from her mind. She found herself doing the same thing she always did before a risky gambling tournament…pushing away all thoughts of guilt, or sympathy, or humanity in general…until only cold, cruel logic remained.
"I have no choice. This is a death game. To live, others have to die. There's no shame in surviving. No shame whatsoever…"
Plastering on her cracked mask, Celeste gave Hina a wide smile as she answered, "You have my word…"
Just as she had expected, those few words were enough to rejuvenate Hina's warm personality, a bubbly smile spreading across her face as her feelings were finally settled.
"Thanks, Celeste. I mean it." Hina words carried far more weight than she imagined, which only intensified as she finished, "And don't worry, I won't let anyone accuse you anymore! I promise that I'll be there for you this time! Just wait and see!"
Celeste inwardly flinched at those words, never imagining that such an innocent phrase could cut her so deeply. Before those words could haunt her even more, a dreaded sound reverberated through the halls of Hope's Peak Academy…
*Ding*Dong*Bing*Bong*
To Be Continued…
Greetings, my beautiful readers! We're finally heading into the class trial! Will the others uncover Celeste's plot? Can Hifumi convince the others that he is innocent? And what exactly happened between Kyoko and Mukuro during their absence? You'll have to keep read to find out!
I want to thank everyone who offered to be a beta for this story! I am so appreciative of all of you, and I wanted to thank you all for it! I have selected a new beta and with their help, I plan to get more chapters out very soon!
Please leave a review/comment to let me know what you're thinking or to ask any questions if you have any. Thanks again and until next time, have yourselves a great day, my beautiful readers!