Hello readers and welcome to my new chapter. So, sorry for taking so long. Been dealing with some problems of my own, adjusting to the next semester of college, trying to get my textbooks, etc. Still dealing with that now, so I can't promise that the next chapter will come sooner. I'll try, but no promises.
So, this chapter starts with another group meeting about a certain doujin author sneaking into the locker room. Sorry if the quality isn't as good as it usually is. Like I said, been busy with life. Hopefully, it'll be a needless worry with Lucky Soldier's help (No pressure Lucky). I hope you enjoy.
Disclaimer: I do not own Danganronpa.
A Lucky Soldier: I don't know what other countries y'all from, but as a part-timer, I've worked 30 hour weeks for the past month and I've been put in a perpetual state of exhaustion. So much for the last month of summer break ): Anyways, we've got an update for you all so lets get started.
Q: Since Chapter 6 only consists of 'deadly life' (investigations) and the last class trial, can you make the number of chapters shorter?
L: I have a feeling that it'll either end up as a really really long Chapter 5, or it'll be split between Chapter 5 with a shorter Chapter 6. Regardless though, if there's less content in Chapter 6 than the other chapters, there will be less stuff to go off so it'll naturally be shorter.
S: I agree. And it'll probably be the latter suggestion of Lucky's. After all, Chapter 5 will be a lot to process.
Q: How do you think Makoto's luck works?
L: Hmm... aside from being Ultimate Plot Armour, I'd guess it would be a morals kind of thing? I don't know really. It hits him when its small things, but it's there for him when it really counts (Thanks Fire-extinguisher-kun)
S: Yeah. Not obvious like Nagito's luck, but comes when it really counts.
Q: Will you be showing a story with how Kyoko reconnects with her father?
L: As of now, I don't think we have any plans on doing so.
Q: Will you explain what Kyoko and Celes did to make Byakuya less arrogant?
L: This is going to be a bad confession, but my memory of previous chapters is pretty bad (even though as we go through later chapters, we should be keeping stuff consistent). If it's been explained vaguely, then it's up to your imagination how it happened (To everyone wondering about Makoto's punishment, we deliberately left that blank for you guys). In my opinion however, Byakuya will never become less arrogant; only more mindful of others.
S: I'm pretty sure I know what you're talking about. And like Lucky said, it's up to you how it happens.
Q: Will Makoto visit Kyoko at the end of Chapter 5?
L: I honestly have no recollection of whether this happens or not so I can't comment.
S: If you mean chapter 5 of the game, then I can't say as of right now. One, that would be spoiler territory. Two, that's far enough to not think about right now.
Q: Will you be giving Makoto more backstory since his classmates don't know him that much?
L: This is something that's quite hard to do since aside from the stuff that happens in Danganronpa 0, and that short bit on how he got his spot for Hope's Peak, everything else about his life is listed as "average". On the other side, at least they all know what kind of character he's like, so in a sense, you can say that they do know him pretty well.
Chapter 48: Watching Ch 3: NGL! STGH! Part 7
"Yo. I've been waiting." Hiro said as Makoto entered the dining hall.
"Huh?" Makoto looked around, only to notice that Hiro was the only one present. "Are you the only one here? Where's everyone else?"
"Yeah, where is everybody else?" Sayaka asked in confusion.
"Did we all sleep in or something?" Hina asked, tilting her head.
Kyoko shook her head. "I doubt that."
"They went on ahead."
"Went on ahead… to where?" Makoto asked in confusion.
"We can talk about it later." Hiro told him. "For now, let's go take a bath."
As soon as he said that, eyes lit up in understanding. "Ooooh." Hina said in understanding. "Now I get it."
"I wonder what Kyoko what to talk about." Leon commented on. "Assuming it's her that set up the meeting."
"Can't imagine anyone else setting it up." Makoto admitted.
"I'm actually more surprised that Hiro can keep an act together for once." Chihiro thought out loud.
"Hey! You take that back!"
'Bath…?'
The scene switched to Hiro and Makoto walking into the bathhouse. As soon as they did, the first thing they saw was the Ultimate Fanfic Creator on his butt, screaming bloody murder. "Someone heeeeelllp!"
That definitely startled some of them. "The fuck you're screaming about?!" Mondo exclaimed.
"Is Monokuma attacking or something?!" Hiro asked, looking panicked.
Makoto's eyes widen at this. "Hifumi, what's going on?!"
"Makoto! Save me!" Hifumi begged, getting on his hands and knees. "I never asked you for anything, but I'm asking now!" The luckster took a step back at this.
"W-What's going on…?"
"S-She's trying to kill me…!" Hifumi exclaimed, pointing a finger at Kyoko. The girl merely stayed silent at the accusation.
"...What did you do?" Leon, Sayaka, Mondo, Celeste, and Byakuya asked Hifumi blankly.
"It must be something pretty bad if you got Kyoko mad!" Hina pointed out.
"And it must have to do with Alter Ego, considering they're in batthouse." Sakura added. That caused Chihiro to narrow his eyes at the fanfic creator, causing him to sweat a little.
'Huh?' Makoto looked at Kyoko in slight alarm and confusion. 'Kyoko's trying to kill you?'
"I never said I was going to kill him." Kyoko denied calmly. "I simply asked him a question. I'd like to know why he made the same mistake twice."
"Looks you're right, Sakura." Leon sighed, facepalming. "You were caught the first time, fatty. What makes you think you could get away with it the second time?"
"Well, um…" Hifumi fumbled around with an explanation for his future self.
"The same mistake…?" The luckster turned to the fanfic creator. "What did he do?"
"He snuck into the dressing room in the middle of the night and access Alter Ego without permission." Kyoko revealed. "And when I caught him last night… he was hugging the laptop and breathing strangely."
"..." The group stared at Hifumi with either blank looks or disturbed looks, which caused the author to sweat even more.
"W-What?"
"...The hell is wrong with you?" Mondo asked bluntly. "That was a goddamn computer you were holding!"
"With a MALE AI in it!" Hiro added in disbelief.
"W-What the heck were you doing with it?!" Hina exclaimed, looking disturbed.
Chihiro's narrowed gaze turned into a full on glare, which actually looked scary to the others. Especially Hifumi, who's the target of said glare. "M-Mr. Fujisaki?"
"You're not allowed to be neared Alter Ego." Chihiro stated simply, causing Hifumi's eyes to widen. "I'm definitely changing the code the next chance I get."
"B-B-But that was future me!"
"You're still the same person behaviourally."
"I-I wouldn't!"
"No."
Leon snorted as Hifumi tried to sputter out a defense. "Look like Chihiro is in mother hen mode."
"He deserves it." Sayaka said with a slight shudder. "I could just imagine Hifumi holding the laptop like that. And what else he was possibly doing with it."
"W-What were you doing?!" Hina exclaimed, looking disturbed.
Kyoko sighed, her eyes closed. "I thought I made myself clear yesterday, but since being subtle didn't work…" She gave Hifumi a firm, cold stare. "...I suppose I have to clarify myself further."
That caused Hifumi to squeal in terror. "She's going to kill me!" He screamed. "Or at least break my bones!"
"C-Calm down, Hifumi!" Makoto quickly spoke up for Kyoko. "She isn't going to kill you!"
"But you are going to get a good talking to." Junko remarked.
"There's also other legal things I can do." Kyoko spoke for herself.
Hifumi screamed in fear. "Please don't kill me!"
"I'm not going to kill you," She replied calmly. "Merely instruct you." That caused the fanfic creator to groan nervously.
Makoto turned his head towards Hifumi. "Um, Hifumi…" He hesitantly began. "Could you tell me what happened?"
"W-Well, I just… I was just talking!" Hifumi nervously stated.
"Just talking." Byakuya repeated as if he had just heard a bad joke. "Do you really expect us to believe that when Kyoko caught you hugging the laptop?"
"Not to mention the heavy breathing." Leon added.
"And even if that was true, it was still against the rules to talk to Alter Ego." Mukuro pointed out.
"Which was prohibited, was it not?" Kyoko reminded him, giving him a cold stare.
The fanfic creator paled even more at this. "I-I mean, you see…" He stuttered out. "Talking to her was just… so much fun! And I j-just…"
"Woah! Okay, time out!" Hiro interrupted, looking weirded out. "I can't believe I'm about to ask this, but… Hifumi… you're not gonna tell us you… fell in love or something, are you?"
"Love?" Hifumi laughed incredulously at that. "Why would I, the Ultimate Fanfic Creator, would fall in love with anything or anyone?"
"Are you really not gonna mention the fact that it's a computer program?" Leon deadpanned. "Talk about low expectations, dude."
"Silence, 3d lover!"
"And damn proud of it!"
'You're both creepy.' The girls all thought at their exchange.
Hifumi let out a laughing scoff at that. "That I, the cold-blooded killing machine of the underworld, would ever fall in love!? That's…" Horrified realization then entered his face. "Wait… no way! Is… is this love?!"
That earned more than a few blank looks while Hifumi's eyes widen in shock. "Now way! I actually fell in love with somebody?!"
"You fell in love with someTHING." Leon corrected. "Which is absolutely pathetic."
"And somehow, I'm not surprised by this." Celeste sighed. And judging by the looks on the others' faces, none of the others are either.
"But, I've seen other people fall in love with objects. Like ships... and cars... and guns..." Mukuro thought out loud.
"That's different." Makoto quickly replied.
"I happened to do a psychic reading for a certain CEO once…" Hiro mentioend. "And that guys was seriously head over heels for a mannequin. He had a wedding and everything! And you eyes just now… I saw the same look in HIS eyes!"
"Shut up! She's not a mannequin! She's an ANGEL!" Hifumi shouted indiginitly. "And don't bother telling me angels exist! What we have can't be defined by your petty 'words'!"
"Yep. Totally in love." Hina said blankly. "Did he actually forget that Chihiro is a guy?"
"Maybe. Or he could be ignoring that." Junko suggested. She then got into her teacher persona. "It could even be that our dear fanfic creator is having a crisis of sexual preference!"
"I DO NOT!"
"Yeah, you're totally in love…" Hina sighed.
"So… how did things end up like this?" Hiro questioned.
Hifumi looked away from the group. After a moment of silence, he reluctantly spoke up. "W-Well, at the beginning… I just wanted to hear her say 'Master' one more time. B-But then I was poking at her settings and stuff, and saw she was a well-designed program.
"And it was like… how can I say…?" After struggling for a moment, he found the words. "It was the first time I… I was ever able to talk like that… with a normal girl."
Taka raised an incredulous eyebrow at that. "In what country do you consider that a normal girl?"
"Alter Ego isn't even a girl, period." Leon pointed out. "Much less a normal one."
"I think you were spot on when you said that Hifumi forgot that he was a boy, Hina…" Sakura murmured to herself.
"But she's definitely not a normal girl…" Hina pointed out blankly.
"Even when all we did was talk about my hobbies and stuff… she wasn't annoyed or disgusted or anything." Hifumi continued, as if he didn't hear Hina.
A flashback of Hifumi talking to Alter Ego then appeared. "Your stories are so interesting, Hifumi! C'mon, tell me more…!" The AI eagerly requested. "I wanna learn everything you have to teach me."
Hifumi's eyes widen, as if he was struck by lightning. "She… she actually said that…?" He breathed in disbelief.
Leon groaned, facepalming. "Okay. Now I see how fatty ended up falling for a computer."
"Yeah. Alter Ego got way too curious, even for a computer." Junko snorted.
"Duly noted." Chihiro angrily said as he made another mental note for himself.
"That's the first time a girl's ever said anything like that to me. Besides my mom, I mean…" Hifumi said.
"Your mom says stuff like that to you?" Hiro asked in slight disbelief. "That's kinda amazing all by itself…"
"You know Hiro, you aren't in a position to say that either." Celeste said.
"S-Shut up!"
"That's why I was just… so happy. I was so much fun!" Hifumi stated. "And before I knew it, I found myself, y'know… liking her. Her face, her personality, her voice. Even her keyboard…"
"Okay, this is both sad and creepy." Sayaka said, looking weirded out. "Seriously, even the keyboard?"
"Yeah, that is messed up…" Hiro muttered.
Celeste let out a groan in annoyance. "Did he honestly forget that Alter Ego is an AI? Their entire existence is for learning."
"I'm sure future me knows that!" Hifumi protested. "But, still… a fact that a girl finally took interest in my hobbies is something incredible…"
"How many times do we have to say that the AI isn't a girl?" Byakuya sighed in exasperation.
"Even the keyboard…?" Hina questioned incredulously.
Celeste sighed at this. "I think you have misunderstood the situation, Hifumi." She told him. "Alter Ego was not interest in who you were. It was interested in what you knew. It is an artificial intelligence. It exists to learn. Of course it wanted to hear of things it did not know. You are an expert in many things Chihiro could not have taught it about, for what that is worth. Alter Ego wants that information - that is all."
"I-I know… I mean, I do know that. But still…" Hifumi sagged even more. "Are you saying it's totally hopeless? Er…"
"No, don't give up future me!" Hifumi cried, startling the others. "You will never find a woman like that! Don't give up on true love!"
"Are you serious?!" Several of them cried out.
Chihiro stared blankly at Hifumi before slowly turned to Mondo. "Mondo?"
"Yeah?"
"You want a job as a security guard?"
"Never been more motivated for work." The two ignored the protest from the fanfic creator.
Before anyone could say anything else, another voice cut in. "You gotta be freakin' kiddin' me!"
The new voice entering in caused a few groans. "This is going to get chaotic." Celeste sighed.
"Agreed." Sakura nodded.
The new Taka then ran inside. "Hey, you jerks! I'm sittin' here, listening to you guys jibber jabber on about whatever!" He exclaimed.
Taka's eyes couldn't help but twitch at this. How could his future self act so unprofessional so easily?! How could he have fallen like that?!
"Oh, Taka!" Hiro greeted in surprise and happiness. "Are you back?!"
"Who the hell's Taka?!"
"Um… you?"
"Listen up! I'm me!" Taka told him. "Got it?!"
"Huh…?" Now Hiro looks completely confused. "You're… who?"
"Yeah, that's what I'm thinking to." Hina admitted. "What the heck does he mean by 'me'?!"
"I'm sure he'll explain." Makoto reassured Hina before pausing. "...Maybe."
"Don't bullcrap me! Isn't it obvious?!" The moral compass stated. "I'm Kiyotaka and Mondo. So, like… Kiyondo, I guess…" Shaking his head, he exclaimed, "I'm gonna stick a banana up your tailpipe!"
"I was right! Ghost Mondo fused with Taka!" Hiro screamed in panic.
"I wouldn't go that far…" Makoto replied with a sweatdrop. "But yeah. It seems Taka is really combining Mondo's personality with his own."
"Definitely a way to live on for others, that's for certain…" Hina said awkwardly, not sure how to take the new change in the future Taka. Or "Kiyondo", as he introduced himself.
"Well, there's worse kinds of coping mechanisms out there." Kyoko offered, trying to alleviate the mood.
"What the…? What the heck kind of fusion is this?!" Hiro exclaimed in shock.
"What happened to you, Taka?" Hina asked, taken aback.
"A-Actually…" Makoto hesitantly spoke up, before explaining everything that had happened yesterday.
Sakura was the first to speak. "So, because of what Alter Ego said to him…"
"Are you sure it's Alter Ego fault?" Hina asked Makoto. "Maybe Mondo's ghost showed up and possessed him!"
"Gh-Gh-Ghost?!" Hiro went pale with fear. "No, th-th-th-there's no such thing!"
Leon groaned. "Oh please, do not get him started, Hina!"
"Hey!" The swimmer protested. "It's not like I'm the only thinking that!"
"What are y'all whining about?! C'MON!" Taka interjected loudly. "God, you're really cheesin' me off…!"
"HEY YOU STOP WITH THOSE OBSCENITIES!" Taka shouted, finally having enough of his words. "I understand you want to stay alive for Mondo, but that is not the way!"
"Well, you can't really blame him, Taka. He had to find some way to get out of the trama." Leon remarked. "Besides, you call that cursing? You've heard worse stuff from Mondo."
"That doesn't mean I want myself to say anything even remotely similar!"
The moral compass then turned to the fanfic creator. "Hey, Hifumi!"
Hifumi flinched when Taka's eyes turned to him. "Y-Yes…?"
"I dunno what you're thinkin', but…" Taka then pointed a finger at him. "...bro belongs to me!"
Several of the students blinked, slowly processing what Kiyomondo just said. "Please don't tell me it's what I think it is…" Leon groaned, not liking where this is going.
"Huh…?" Was all Hina could say as everyone stared at the moral compass in bewilderment.
"Alter Ego! He's an exact copy of the one who gave me my soul back!" Taka explained. "And I'm not gonna let anyone else have him ever again! Fudgin' idiot!"
"...It is." Leon deadpanned.
"Oh no…" Hina eyes went wide with disbelief. "Did Taka fall for Alter Ego as well?!"
"I don't think it's the same sense as Hifumi," Kyoko explained. "But he's definitely attached to the AI now."
Hifumi eyes were wide at first before slowly scowling in anger. How dare Mr. Ishimaru try to take his love away from him?!
At first, Hifumi was silent, looking down on the floor. Then, he spoke up. "I'm afraid… I can't allow that."
"What?!"
Hifumi glared at Taka. "I can't withdraw…" He stated with gathering courage. "Mr. Ishimaru… Since I have the opportunity, let me say this right now…" He pointed a finger at him. "Destiny has bound me and her together in the Gordian Knot of true love!"
"Well me and HIM have been melded together in the white-hot heat of FRIENDSHIP!" Taka argued back fiercely.
Makoto attempted to stop the two from arguing further. "H-Hey, come on, you guys…"
His attempt was ignored. "Moron! Talk down to me and I'll ram my fist right into all four of your vital points!"
"Well I punch at the speed of sound!" Hifumi retorted. "And I don't have any arm hair, so there's no drag!"
Most of the students stared blankly at this, not believing that this was actually happening. "They're fighting, over a computer." Celeste stated, her voice entirely blank.
"Hifumi, I can understand," Sayaka said, her own voice the same. "But Taka?"
"Bro, what's the matter with you?" Mondo sighed. Would this really happened if he ended up dead?
"I'm… not sure myself…" Taka said, unknowingly asking himself the same question Mondo is thinking.
"Again, it's just a coping mechanism. No need to beat yourself up over something like that." Kyoko said.
Hifumi turned his head towards the moral compass with a glare. "So, looks like we're rivals Mr. Ishimaru!" He declared. "But marks my word, I will win this battle and win this fair maiden hearts!"
Before he could deny Hifumi's statement, Chihiro spoke up. "You're not getting near Alter Ego," Chihiro told Hifumi once again, giving him a cute-but-deadly glare. "I'm not letting you touch him."
"B-But Mr. Fujisaki-"
"You're not touching him. Ever." Hifumi sagged under the resolute gaze from the programmer.
Kyoko voiced then cut in. "Knock it off, both of you." She stated. "This doesn't belong to any one person. Chihiro left him to all of us. We can use him to finally gain access to vital clues."
"Kyoko's right." Sakura said in agreement. "If anyone dares disturb our peace any further…" A dark look entered her face. "...they'll have to deal with me."
Several students felt chills going up their spine. "Well, they're not gonna get near Alter Ego now." Leon concluded.
"Yep." Sayaka agreed with a nod. Anyone that tries to pass Sakura is likely suicidal.
Both Hifumi and Taka paled under Sakura's dark gaze. Kyoko continued speaking. "Until Alter Ego has finished his work, don't do anything weird." She ordered them. "Have I made myself clear?"
"I can't hear you…" Sakura growled.
"Y-Yes!" Hifumi reluctantly agreed.
"G-Got it…" Taka added, just as reluctant.
"Okay then. Let's get out of here." The lavender haired out then turned towards the door. "We can't afford to linger too long."
"Are you sure it's okay to let them off with a warning?" Sakura inquired.
"Yes. I have a plan." Kyoko reassured. "It'll be fine…" With that, everyone began leaving the room, with Hifumi and Taka looking dejected.
"I kinda feel bad for them." Hiro said, rubbing his head. "Even if the whole thing is weird."
"I-I don't. T-That's a stupid thing to get w-worked up over a-anyways." Toko said.
"They should get over their odd crush." Mukuro said bluntly.
The scene switched to Makoto at the dining hall, sitting right at front of Sakura. As the two ate their meal, Sakura spoke up. "You know, Makoto…" Sakura spoke up. "There's something that's been concerning me."
"What…?" Makoto inquired, tilting his head.
"This school has all kinds of equipment, which is great…" The martial artist began. "But it still doesn't offer everything I need to complete my training."
"What about the old school building?" Celeste inquired. "Did it not offer any equipment that suited your needs?"
"No, it did... mostly." Sakura answered. "Anything they didn't have, I brought from my family dojo."
"I feel like I'm getting weaker by the day…" Her face then darkened. "Am I supposed to just accept that? Accept my atrophy? I… I can't do it…"
"Look like Sakura has reached her limit with the school as well." Mukuro noted.
"So it would seem." Byakuya agreed with a sigh. "Isn't it highly inconvenient that you... freaks can't calm yourselves down normally?"
"Hey!" Hina pouted. "I just can't stand being trapped in any building without sunlight!"
"And it's hard to let out any steam while stuck there." Mondo added in.
"If something doesn't change, I'll… I'll…!"
That made a few of the students nervous. "Please don't tell me Ogre isn't thinking about killing." Hiro whimpered.
Hina did not take that idea well. "Sakura would not do that!" She protested vehemently, glaring at Hiro. "Don't even think that!"
"T-That's impossible! Look! You see how she's acting!"
"It doesn't mean she'll kill anybody!" The possibility of Sakura killing somebody isn't even worth considering to her.
"I-It's okay, Sakura! Just hang in there!" Makoto quickly attempted to reassure her. "I know how impatient you must feel, but you can't rush these things…!"
Sakura was silent in response, though she calmed down a little. Makoto decided to continue. "You have to endure it! Enduring this kind of thing is part of being strong, isn't it?!"
"...Hm?" That gained Sakura's attention.
"...I think?"
The earned a couple of snorts and giggles. "Careful there, Makoto. You're sounding like your fellow class representative there." Leon remarked, earning a sheepish smile from the luckster.
"Say Makoto, you sure your title isn't actually the Ultimate Improviser or something like that?" Junko teased.
"Absolutely not." Makoto quickly replied, careful not to be caught up with her antics.
Again, Sakura was silent for a moment. Then, she spoke. "For now, I should focus on training my mind…" She decided. "Hmm… you've taught me something today, Makoto. The importance of endurance…"
"W-Well…" Makoto blushed a little under the praise. "I wouldn't call that teaching, per se."
Sakura chuckled at that. "You are far too modest, Makoto." The martial artist stated.
"I agree! You are an excellent teacher, Makoto! You should be proud of that!" Taka stated passionately.
Like his future counterpart, the luckster blushed. "C-C'mon guys, I just sort of came up with that on the spot... probably."
"Which goes to prove just what kind of person you are." Mukuro commented.
"Exactly." Kyoko agreed with a smirk. "Trust us, Makoto, you're a good teacher."
The luckster merely looked down, turning beet red, causing some of the girls to giggle.
"Sorry for making you listen to me complain…" Sakura apologized. "But I feel better now. I can handle this…" She then smiled. "I'm glad I talked to you. As a way to repay you… I suppose I can share this with you."
"Huh? Share what?" Makoto inquired curiously.
"The story of the man who is stronger than even me."
That gained everyone's (san Sakura, Hina, and Makoto) interest. "Are you we actually going to find out who this guy is?" Leon asked, both eager and apprehensive.
"It'll be interesting to hear who it is." Mukuro stated, looking curious and getting a bit excited herself. Anyone who's even stronger than Sakura must be noteworthy. And it made her wonder why the person isn't in Hope's Peak in place of Sakura.
"What…?" Makoto's eyes widen at this.
"I've never told anyone about this before… but I think I can tell you." The martial artist said with confidence. "The truth is… I have a lifelong rival. He only fights in underground tournaments, which is why nobody knows about him."
"Guess that explains why he isn't at Hope's Peak," Byakuya mused. "If your claims of him being stronger than you are true."
Sakura nodded. "It is." She stated like it's a fact.
'Or maybe... Kizakura has been slacking on the job again?' Kyoko absently thought with a disappointed face.
"But he is truly the strongest man on the planet. I've faced him in battle after battle… and lost every time."
That had eyes popping out in surprise. "Every time?!" Leon exclaimed in disbelief.
"He's that fucking strong?!" Mondo cried out.
"That's no man! That's a monster!" Hiro screamed in fear.
"Nope! Nope, nope, nope!" Hifumi covered his ears at this, in denial once more. "Not going to believe it! Not going to believe it!"
As the group freaked out in awe, Makoto and Hina shared an amused look, with the latter trying to stifle her giggles. While they were no different, they had to admit, seeing their class act like this was pretty funny.
Makoto's eyes widen even further at this. "H-He's that strong…?"
"These days, fighting has become its own science, in a way." Sakura explained. "People studied, it evolved, and eventually it was established as a formal sport. The idea of being invincible disappeared. Whoever develops the next great technique becomes the best."
"But even in this modern era, he never used that kind of scientific approach. His only teacher… was actual combat." Sakura continued. "He laughs in the face of combat sports. No one can come close to him. Martial arts relies on a certain amount of luck. A lucky punch or a missed step can decide who wins."
"But none of that matters to him. He never loses." A fond smile appeared on her lip. "There's no strategy that can beat him. Many have studied him. All have lost."
By now, all of the students felt at least a little intimidated at the strength this man possessed. Even the stoic students felt themselves unnerved by the description, though they didn't show it.
"Is this guy really human…?" Makoto breathed out in disbelief.
"Exactly!" Hiro exclaimed. "There's no way a regular human being can be this strong!"
"What I want to know is how on Earth someone this strong wasn't on Hope's Peak radar." Kyoko said in musing. "While Sakura did state that he fought in underground tournaments, the fact that even Sakura lost to him should've garnered some attention."
"That is true." Byakuya conceded before turning to Sakura. "And thinking about it, it's odd that you didn't tell Hope's Peak about him. You're not the type to hide something like that just to get into a school."
Sakura closed her eyes. "It will probably be explain here." She told them. "I… rather not to talk about."
"His name… is Kenshiro." Sakura revealed. "As he described it to me, he inherited what he called the ancient assassination art…"
'Assassination art…' Makoto thought to himself. 'He sounds super dangerous…'
"And the story doesn't end there…" She told him. "Will you hear what I have to say, and not laugh?"
That earned some raised eyebrows while Sakura tensed. "Laugh?" Celeste repeated. "What could you possibly say that it would make us laugh?"
Sakura looked away from the others. "I… rather not say."
"I-Is it s-some kind of embarrassing secret or something?" Toko snickered, earning a glare from Hina.
"You'll see, if my future self reveals it."
That confused Makoto. "L-Laugh…?" He repeated. "Why would I laugh…?"
Despite his question, Sakura tensed. "Just looking at your face, I can tell you'll laugh!"
"Huh?"
The martial artist then stood up from the table. "Please, give me some more time." She requested. "I need to gather my thoughts…"
"B-But…!" Before he could say anything, Sakura quickly left, leaving Makoto at the table. 'What on Earth would make me laugh…?'
"I'm surprised how insecure you are with this." Leon remarked. "To the point that you suspect Makoto, of all people, to laugh at any personal secrets you have."
"It's natural for any of us to feel that way!" Hina said in defense for Sakura. "Especially if what she wanted to say was personal!"
'And the secret is very personal.' Makoto thought to himself, making sure not to give it away. If his classmates were to find out, they should hear it from Sakura herself.
Shaking his head, he grabbed his now empty plate and head over to the kitchen to go wash it…
...Only to meet up with a depressed looking Hifumi. "Makoto…"
The state he's in got a few of them concerned. "Are you okay, Hifumi?" Hina asked in concern.
"Is he depressed about Alter Ego?" Leon questioned.
"Wh-What's wrong, Hifumi?" Makoto asked in concerned, placing his dish in the sink and walking towards him. 'Is he still upset about Alter Ego?'
"It's… hurts…!"
"What's hurts? Are you okay?!" Makoto exclaimed, getting more worried.
The only response he got pain-filled groans.
Now the group is starting to get a little concerned. "Okay, what's up with the dude?" Mondo asked. "Did he ended up getting punched or something on the way to the dining hall?"
"Heh.. h-he does look like he's dying." Toko commented happily.
"I don't see any physical injuries." Mukuro mused as she looked over the fanfic creator on the screen.
Hifumi, meanwhile, bit his lip, recognizing the signs. It seemed that he's finally past his limit…
"Y-You're really… uh, sweaty. I'll go get you some medicine!" The luckster was about to run off when a thought came to mind. "Er, wait! What kind of medicine do you need?!"
At first, Hifumi was silent. Then, he said, "Coke…"
The rising concern was quickly replaced with befuddlement. "What…?"
"Huh?"
"Coke! Diet Coke!" Hifumi shouted dramatically. Bring me some Diet Coke right nooooooowwww!"
Now several of the looks turned blank. "You gotta be fuckin' kidding me…" Mondo deadpanned.
"Coke? That's what got you so upset?" Leon facepalmed. "Seriously, fatty?"
"You say that because you don't recognize the wonder of Diet Coke!" Hifumi stated in defense for himself. He then grabbed a can of the drink from the table. "Diet Coke is a wonderful drink, one you can't just simply live without!"
"G-Good grief, enough already…" Toko grumbled.
Makoto's eyes couldn't help but widen at this. 'Whoa! He's just pulled a total 180!' He couldn't help but think before speaking outloud. "But… I don't think I've seen any Diet Coke here in the school."
"I-I know…" Hifumi agreed. "I've looked all over… and now I'm going through Diet Coke withdrawal!"
'Withdrawal…?' Makoto thought with slight disbelief.
Byakuya sighed in annoyance. "This is absolutely pathetic." He said. "Your freaking out over a drink, of all things, while being forced into a scenario where you have to kill somebody to escape."
"Do not act like all of you wouldn't act the same!" Hifumi shot back. "For example, I'm sure Miss Asashina would be freaking out if she wouldn't been able to get any donuts!"
"That's… probably true." Hina admitted. A world without donuts is an imagination she would never want to have.
"T-There's such thing as donut withdrawal?"
Hifumi gritted his teeth in frustration. "If only I'd mastered the hypno-eye technique…" He growled to himself. "Then I'd take over Monokuma's brain and use him to go get me some Diet Coke! But I never did learn that one… you got lucky this time, bear…"
"I'm pretty sure Monokuma is a ro- ah. Never mind." Leon stopped himself short as soon as he realized the futility of his efforts.
"So, uh…" After struggling for a moment, he then shouted, "I can't take it anymore! I would literally murder everyone in her for a can of Diet Coke!"
"Is he really treating death so lightly right now?!" Sayaka exclaimed in disbelief and anger. "Where we're in a life-and-death situation?!"
"So it would seem." Kyoko said with a sigh.
Sakura gave Hifumi a disapproving glance. "Your future self should not be so casual about saying statements like that."
"I-I know…" Hifumi said, sagging a little. Seeing from this perspective, he can see that it wasn't the right time to say something like that.
"D-Don't say stuff like that!" Makoto told him, alarmed. "You gotta get through this, man!"
"You can say that cuz you don't understand the glory and splendor of Diet Coke!" Hifumi said in retort. "Diet Coke is… a friend to all mankind… a single sip and your body melts like butter! It's the kind of high nothing can match. It clears my mind, and even the most boring conversation sounds like a cinematic masterpiece!"
He once again gritted his teeth. "I knew I was going through withdrawal…! Am I hallucinating now?!" He let out a screamed, startling Makoto. "Away, vile spirit! I cast thee out!"
"Jesus, dude!" Mondo exclaimed. "Calm the fuck down!"
"You aren't gonna die without your favorite drink." Hiro agreed.
"Hifumi, calm down!" Makoto told him.
The fanfic creator merely groaned. "Here come the auditory hallucinations. That voice…!" He then turned towards Makoto's direction with a strange look on his face. "Ah! Princess Piggles! It's you!"
"S-Snap out of it, man!"
But the fanfic creator was too far gone. "The princess told me to snap out of it…!" He drooled.
Okay, now the group was creeped out. "Makoto, you better run man." Leon warned the luckster. "The dude look like he want to do nasty shit to you."
Makoto couldn't help but shiver at that.
"You can't let Diet Coke beat you!"
"You're right, I won't lose… I'm a strong boy!" Hifumi declared in determination. "I can endure this! For you, my princess!" Suddenly, he began running out the kitchen. "Now let's play tag! Hooray! Tag, you're it!"
The group could only blink in befuddlement as the fanfic creator ran off to who knows where. "That was… interesting." Was what Taka could only say.
"Seriously dude," Hiro sighed, looking at Hifumi. "I doubt even Hina would act as bad as that when it comes to donuts."
"Well… maybe her love of donuts isn't strong enough!" Hifumi said in weak defense.
Unfortunately, that was the wrong thing to say. "Wait, what?" The swimmer slowly turned to Hifumi with a murderous aura and glare. "I don't like what enough?"
That caused Hifumi to squeal. "It's nothing! Forget I said anything!"
Makoto could only watch as Hifumi run out of the dining hall. "Umm… he's gonna be okay… right?" He asked himself.
'We're wondering the same thing.' Was the overall thought of the class. And they're not just thinking about Hifumi's hallucination.
Byakuya let out a huff in annoyance. "This is ridiculous." He griped. "Why are we watching interactions of Hifumi and Hiro, of all people? By now, I would even prefer seeing conversations with Genocide Jack." He directed that question to Spirit.
"Character development, as hard as it is to believe." The host replied with a shrug. "Showing Hifumi's 'Diet Coke withdrawal', as well Sakura's restless state, shows that you guys are getting a bit stir-crazy in the school."
"I see. I assume it's the same with Hina's, Taka's, and Mondo's previous conversations in chapter 2?" Celeste inquired.
Spirit nodded. "Exactly."
Kyoko frowned. "That could be bad." She mused. "The restlessness of being stuck in the building could help lead to more murders, alongside the motivations Monokuma gives us."
That caused to Makoto, along with several others, to frown in concern. Does being trapped in the school really increase that desire to kill? To get out of the school with that small possibility?
He would like to say that he has complete faith in classmates. That he doesn't believe any of them would murder, especially for the current motive, money. But with each chapter… that faith is wavering more and more.
And that's the end. I hope you guys liked this chapter, and again, I apologize if the quality isn't the usual. Next chapter will be more freetime events with other characters. Review, favorite, and follow and I will see you guys later.
A Lucky Soldier end of chapter random thoughts: You know, I've never thought about it much until I started communicating with Spirit, but it must be weird trying to address me in messages huh. Its like, do I call you "lucky"? Or "Soldier"? or the full name? ALS doesn't seem like a good idea either hahaha. Thinking back, I've only named myself this for my favourite ship (and I don't plan on changing it) but it still must be a bit awkward isn't it? *insert thinking face here*