"And now, our dear, fine, fellow, esteemed students!" Monochio declared once the class finally settled down. "Allow us to introduce you to… the D4DJ Battle Time Ring!" The grandiose Headcatster led the students through the first floor, to the very back. A locked door awaited them, the only one that had never been opened before. At least until now. Monochio used its claws to pick open the lock, and the students gasped. What awaited them was the most magnificent theater they'd ever seen!
"So… all of this has been right here… this whole time?!" Maho gasped, clasping her hands together, eyes going starry.
"As we have said before, this academy was created to cultivate Talent, after all!" Monochio bragged. "In particular, it was meant to have a musical focus and flare. That is why the academy logo has a music note in it! And of course, as you have all seen before, the front half of the academy is a normal high school while the back is… this." It gestured with its tail to the sprawling concert hall.
Beneath their feet (and paws), a red carpet. On either side, a sea of golden chairs with red cushion. Dead ahead, a massive wooden stage was concealed behind a big, bright red curtain. The ceiling was ornate and elaborate, golden. Arched pillars raced down every wall, covered in marvelous and fantastic paintings, carvings, engravings, and sculptures. There was also a balcony level of even more red and gold seats. Bright, white lights encased in gold and diamond glittered from above. All the large, heavy, black stage lights above the stage were presently off.
"Happy… AROUND!" Rinku's trademark cheer echoed as she raced down the red-carpeted aisle.
"There were plenty of other motives to choose from," Monochio purred, eyeing Rinku smugly. "However, in light of the… accident… in Stage IV, the fifth floor of the academy is still… under reconstruction. But fret not, for little was lost!" There weren't enough words to accurately describe the jaw-dropping, eye-popping radiance of the academy auditorium attached to the entire back half of the school (hence why some of the generators were immediately attached to that wall). The fifth floor, meanwhile, only contained more classrooms, similar to the second.
"Oh, Dalia, you would've loved it…" Marika sighed wistfully. It was the Ultimate Dancer's ultimate dream to one day dance on Broadway. This isn't Broadway, of course, but I dare say that it might even be better! If only we'd come to this motive sooner…
In the week since her passing, the tension between M4 and the others persisted. Even if their behavior in the fourth class trial was understandable, it put everyone on edge to think just how far M4 was willing to go to protect one of its own, even when guilty. It said a lot about their character. Would anyone else dare go that far? Would M4 kill if push came to shove?
Close by, someone else was mourning the loss of another student born for the stage. Oh, God… Was this where Noa was…?
Towa winced as she looked up at the big, wooden stage. Her thoughts were similar to Marika's. How cruel it was that this motive hadn't come sooner. Ah, but fear, Despair, and Monochio were an ultimate, deadly mix, and an unholy trinity. When combined, even the strongest and smartest students—such as Dalia and Noa—didn't have a hope. Marika couldn't help but wonder if Towa would've lied to protect Noa. It seemed that the only reason she hadn't was because she was too taken off guard by Noa's psychotic break. They all were.
At least Dalia didn't go down like that. Marika heaved another sad sigh. It wasn't easy watching her refuse to confess, arms crossed and face dark, but Marika understood and forgave her. It would've been much more disturbing if she'd snapped like Noa. Marika finally walked up to Towa to rest a comforting hand on her shoulder. At first, Towa jumped and pulled away in surprise and alarm, but when Marika flashed her a dazzling smile, Towa chuckled nervously, though she made no more move to move away from the Ultimate Model.
Even though the Ultimate Idol Enthusiast still had her suspicions of Marika's possible connection to Junko Enoshima, they understood one another's plight and pain. Towa knew Marika was thinking of Dalia. And Towa knew that Marika knew that she was thinking of Noa.
"C'mon, Marika, we're gonna do this for them!" Towa whispered, resting a hand on the one resting on her shoulder.
"Hope springs eternal," Marika chuckled weakly, squeezing Towa's shoulder. Towa nodded with a soft chuckle of her own.
The three DJs, meanwhile, were already onstage. "Woah! Sweet acoustics!" Saori cried, cupping her hands around her mouth and shouting at the ceiling. Beside her, Shinobu shrugged and rolled her eyes, seemingly unimpressed, but she was studying everything just as intently as Saori. And of course, Maho was just as—if not even more—hyped. The only damper on their excitement was…
"If only the other three were here…" Saki, Haruna, Aoi…
"Tough luck." Monochio shrugged. Despite its bulky body, it leapt gracefully onstage with the three DJs. "Anyway, now that you have been properly acquainted with the future arena, we do declare the D4DJ Battle Time officially… commenced!" Its retractable, red-tipped tail curled around a gold rope on the side of the stage. The rich red curtain blocking the back half of the stage slowly lifted up.
"WOAH!" All three DJs went slack-jawed. Behind the curtain was the largest, fanciest, most elaborate, modern, and high-tech set of DJ turntables they'd ever seen! Before long, they were all but pushing and shoving to be the first to try the sweet set of tables out.
"Oooh boy, I'm gonna have fun with these babies!" Shinobu grinned wickedly, cracking her knuckles.
"Oh… Wow! I've never seen something so wonderful before!" Saori gasped, reaching out to one of the discs only to draw back at the last second as if she was too afraid to even touch it, lest she break it or otherwise disrupt its perfection and beauty.
Maho could only ramble, squeal, and fangirl incoherently. One disc was black, one white, and the needle on it was as jagged and red as Monochio's eye. Naturally, they were curious as to where the high-tech turntables had come from, but Monochio wasn't spilling the beans.
"Tis some of the finest technology in the world! Truly one of a kind! But, it's top secret!" Smirking and cackling, the cat raised a claw to its toothy grin. "But what is not a secret is what lovely music it makes! Now, you three shall have a week to create the Ultimate Setlist of which we shall be the judge! We much anticipate this heart-pounding excitement!"
"Ohhhh, even with one year I don't think I'd be ready!" Saori despaired, knees knocking together as Monochio elegantly sauntered away.
"Oh, man, there's so many songs I could choose! So many sound effects and transitions! Say, did Monochio say anything about a time limit for each song and set?" The words flew out of Maho's mouth as her eyes and hands flew over the turntables and everything they had to offer.
Only Shinobu stayed silent, stepping back. Some might've assumed she was trying to avoid getting too close to Saori or Maho—literally and metaphorically. Others might've assumed she was trying to maintain her aloof persona, or that she was perhaps strategizing in her own way, sizing up the turntables, and her future rivals. They would all be wrong.
Shinobu's mind was indeed racing—just like the others, she agreed that there was far too much to do in too little time—but unlike them, she wasn't thinking about the show… Multiple times, her golden eyes flicked over to Rinku. It's going to be even harder to try to get her alone, but… I have to! It's the only way…! The only way to end this Killing Game! Let the D4DJ Battle Time commence indeed…
ooo
"Rinku?! RINKU?! Ugh! Where is she?!" Muni stomped her foot, hands on her hips. "How're we supposed to rehearse without her?!"
"Umm… Muni… I'm the only one that's performing here…" Maho said slowly, quirking an eyebrow, a tiny, bemused smile on her face.
"H-hey! W-w-well…! We just thought you'd like… the moral support! Yeah! That's it! To help you win! That's all…"
"Awww, you do care!" Maho teased. Muni pouted, crossed her arms, and stomped her foot again.
"It's not like that!" she whined. "It's a lot more complicated!" But while Maho continued to smirk, eyebrow still raised teasingly, Muni already regretted her words. She was telling the truth, but somehow, it was still more embarrassing than Maho realized.
To some degree, Muni truly believed that moral support would genuinely increase Maho's odds of winning, but Muni was also doing it for Rinku. It was the elephant in the room. No matter which DJ won the D4DJ Battle Time, only one other person could leave the academy with them.
But I didn't need to hear Maho say it to know that it's true! Muni thought, jealousy, hurt, and defensiveness welling up in her heart behind her crossed arms. Rinku and Maho were where it all began, after all. Not just the Killing Game, but their entire saga as a whole!
They were the co-founders of Hapiara! Muni might've been Rinku's childhood bestie, but she wasn't Maho's, and it was still to Maho whom Rinku first gravitated towards upon returning to Japan from Africa. And anyone with eyes and ears could sense that Maho liked Rinku too.
"You could take me to that place! To places where… I've always wanted to go!" Maho saw just as much in Rinku as Rinku saw in her.
Muni was but a third wheel, afterthought, invited along only to fill a quota, and because Rinku was too kind to reject her, and—admittedly—Muni all but forced her way into Hapiara, forcing two into three. Rei was fourth, but at least she had Esora when she was lonely.
And yes, it makes me jealous! Crazy jealous! Muni didn't typically like admitting it, but she flashed back to part of their first and only year together at Hope's Peak. For the entire time, Rinku's bond with Maho seemed stronger than her bond with Muni. It even culminated in a battle of their own, a rap battle. It did not seem that such a lighthearted solution would be found this time. And the thought of Maho escaping Hope's Pinnacle and taking Rinku with her, leaving Muni all alone, brought all of those unpleasant memories surging back.
Worst, and most difficult of all to admit, Muni couldn't even find it within herself to fully disagree. If I was Maho, I'd pick Rinku too…
But that didn't make Muni any less jealous, both of Maho and Rinku, and the Maho/Rinku relationship as a whole. She'd kept it down well so far, but the Killing Game had a funny way of switching up people's priorities. It actually wasn't just Rinku's idea to rehearse with Maho. It was her idea first, because of course it was, but Muni was quick to jump on the bandwagon and co-opt the plan, trying to keep Rinku's attention split evenly between herself and Maho. Though she wouldn't have minded if a little more went to her, since she wouldn't be stuck in a DJ booth like Maho…
"Ohhhh, Maho! Buddy! Bestie! You got this! Do your best! I'll be right here by your side no matter what!" Rinku had shrieked excitedly, all but tackling Maho in a hug and spinning her around. This happened not long after Monochio sauntered off, leaving them to their own devices.
"Ooof! Uhhh… th-thanks, Rinku!" At first, Maho was caught off guard by Rinku's overly enthusiastic embrace, but then she managed to hug the other girl back one with one arm. "Seriously, thank you, it really means the world to me. You've always been there for me, right by my side, partner! There's no one else I'd rather be with than you."
"Still wish I hadn't overheard that…" Muni grumbled to herself, pulling her bunny ears down over her eyes. Had it been anyone else, she would've accused them of sucking up to the DJ, but she knew Rinku all too well, and for once, she didn't like it.
Rinku really wasn't trying to win bonus points with Maho. She truly meant every word she said. Good or bad, she's gonna be there for her DJ.
But what about the VJ? Ugh. Knowing Rinku, the thought of being the chosen one wasn't even on her mind. She was just that good, pure, kind, and selfless! It was the very thing that made her so… so… so chooseable! And Muni hated it. And now, Rinku isn't even here!
"W-well… I guess we could start without her…" Maho suggested, but before Muni could rip her a new one for that little remark, she winced as if disagreeing with herself. She was trying to balance heart with head. Of course, it wasn't the same without Rinku, but with only one set of DJ turntables, the DJs had to take turns practicing. There was not a moment of practice time to lose!
Muni was equally displeased and conflicted. I didn't want it to be just me and Maho! But what else could they do except wait for Rinku to return from… wherever it was that she was? Hmmm…
ooo
"Hey, has anyone seen Shinobu lately?" Kyoko asked suddenly, worried and alert.
"Oh, not again!" Yuka sighed and shook her head. "And she didn't even bring you along this time!" she observed.
"Cut it out, Yuka! Now's not the time for teasing!" Kyoko blushed.
For a moment, Yuka looked at her in wide-eyed surprise. She hadn't been teasing. A moment later, though, she couldn't help but smile.
Well, there you go, Shinobu! You think Kyoko is so oblivious, but the one time we get proof that she isn't, you aren't even here to see it! Hmmm… Odd… It's not even just that Shinobu's been acting pretty sus since Stage IV. This is a D4DJ Battle Time! She, of all people, should be here, even if we won't get to practice until Hapiara is done! She usually loves scoping out the competition…
Yuka and Kyoko's eyes swept the auditorium, but Shinobu was gone. And… come to think of it… Where was Rinku? Hapiara was onstage, Muni singing and dancing alone in front of Maho. Rinku was mysteriously absent, though nobody else was…
While both Yuka and Kyoko felt their suspicions rising, there was an added edge for Kyoko. Something just wasn't right… What was Shinobu doing running around with other units' vocalists? Of course, there was no law against it, but… it just didn't make sense! Especially not with the D4DJ Battle Time! Kyoko shook her head, but she had as much idea as Yuka regarding what to make of any of it.
C'mon, Shinobu! Hurry back soon! Her troubled brown eyes stared intently and unseeingly around the concert hall.
By the time Shinobu returned, Hapiara's practice was ending, and Peaky's was beginning. No matter what Yuka or Kyoko said or did, though, their DJ refused to even breathe a word or whisper about where she'd been, or what she was doing. She was even more secretive than in Stage IV!
And who else should reappear, albeit several minutes later, but Rinku Aimoto? Though in both cases—and Kyoko would silently berate herself for this—she failed to notice when or where exactly the two runaways had come back.
"C'mon, you guys, let's get to work!" Shinobu said, shoving her way into the spacious and splendid Monochio Mix DJ booth.
You're one to talk! Both Kyoko and Yuka thought, though Kyoko's thoughts were just a little bit angrier.
"I already have some ideas for a fire setlist, but I need your input, especially yours, Kyoko. Though, try not to make it too peaky, ok?" Shinobu winked. Kyoko was so busy silently interrogating Shinobu that when Shinobu finally addressed her, she was completely unprepared.
"What? Why me?" she asked stupidly.
"Because you're the vocalist, duh!" Shinobu rolled her eyes. "You know what tracks sound best, but leave the remixes and transitions to me!"
"O-oh… Right…" Kyoko pulled the brim of her cap down over her eyes to conceal her embarrassment, passing it off as her nodding her head.
As Hapiara exited stage left, Maho and Muni got just as much out of Rinku as Kyoko and Yuka got out of Shinobu. Even though Rinku seemed like Shinobu's polar opposite, she was not so stupid that she didn't understand the concept and importance of secrecy sometimes, as much as she hated to keep secrets from her nearest and dearest friends and family.
Rinku only cheerfully shook her head and refused to answer any questions, including about why she refused to answer any questions. It was a silent battle of wills with stakes as high as the D4DJ Battle Time, and at least for the time being, Rinku was surviving.