Chapter 2: Act 2: Our New Normal
Location: Dining Hall, Hotel Despair
Day: 8
Time: 7:15 AM
Akira was a bit sleepy. He had been up a bit later than normal helping Sayaka find an iHome and an iPod. Sadly, the pair hadn't found a thing. They did find a CD player but no music CDs. Sayaka had been so desperate for music, she had tried all of the CDs in the A/V Room despite Akira telling her they were all blank. Seeing the Ultimate Pop-Sensation in a fit was something he never thought he'd experience, but at least she was acting more like herself.
As per usual, everyone had gathered in the Dining Hall for breakfast. Sayaka had volunteered this time around, because he was just not in the mood. Chihiro hadn't shown up, and Ibuki had fallen asleep on the table, likely because she had spent most of the night in the Arcade. The only other person who wasn't among them was Byakuya, though Taka was likely pounding at his door to get him out. He was at least glad he had taken care of the trash the day before, that was one less thing for him to worry about.
He had spent most of the night thinking about the letter they had found. He had already jotted the entire thing in his notebook, writing various potential theories about it. Without a solid foundation of information, he wouldn't be able to do anything. He was wondering what the Parade had even been about. Were the students protesting, the people? Had it gotten so bad that the Steering Committee decided to shut down the school? If something like that had truly happened, then it would have been on the news, even the paper. But none of that had been in the headlines.
It just burned his brain. The more he thought about it, the more questions he had, and the more questions he had, the more annoyed he got. Without information, he wasn't getting anywhere, but he wouldn't be able to relax unless he figured it out. He was far from getting to that level, he doubted he was even close. But that itch for information was going to be a constant now, and he didn't know when he was going to get his fix. But even then, he was just too tired to care.
"Dude, you doin' alright? You look like you got an hour of sleep last night." Kazuichi said, sitting across from him. Akira opened a single eye, not bothering to lift himself up from the table.
"That's probably because I did get an hour of sleep last night. I couldn't stop thinking about that letter and what it meant," he said, holding back a yawn. He rubbed his eyes, struggling to keep himself away. "Sayaka slept like a log though, she was so pissed off she just passed out."
"Did she not find what she was looking for?" Hajime asked. Akira shook his head. "Ah man, that's a shame. Some music would have definitely cheered people up."
"Guess we'll have to listen to game music in the arcade." the pink-haired mechanic said, crossing his arms. "I was taking a look at the claw machines, and there's some pretty interesting prizes in there. I'm pretty sure Monokuma put a special prize in there for whoever can get it, but I doubt it'll be that easy."
"The bastard probably programmed it so it only closed 1% of the time. I don't have the time, the coins nor the patience for that bullshit." Akira said, finally forcing himself to sit up, resting his face in his hands.
"I might give it a shot. If anything, there's nothing really to do here, it'll keep my mind off of things." the black-haired boy said, rubbing his neck. "Who knows? Maybe I'm the Ultimate Claw Machine Player."
"Nah man, you're a cop, I can tell by the way that you stand."
"I told you before, man, I'm not a cop!"
"Good morning~ Would you mind if I sat next to you, Hajime?" the Ultimate Princess asked. Hajime shook his head, the girl taking her seat. "I was wondering, if you had the time, could we perhaps play through Super Mario Brothers Wii? I asked Ibuki earlier but she was hellbent on beating the high score on Gala Omega. Apparently, some girl named Chiaki set it incredibly high."
"Chiaki?" he asked, his face twisting slightly.
"That a name you recognize?" Kazuichi asked.
"It… sounds familiar to me."
"I don't remember reading anything on the forums regarding a Chiaki. Maybe a past student or something." Akira said. He let out a yawn, which he covered with his hand, groaning right afterward. "I might take a nap after this, I am in no mood for exploring."
The doors to the kitchen opened up, a tired-looking Hiro slowly made his way out of it. He was holding a teacup in his grasp, which he set down in front of Celeste, who had a look of annoyance on her face. Her expression shifted the second she received her tea. She gently lifted her cup, wafting the steam that came from it, glancing at Hiro.
"You brewed this with oolong tea leaves?"
"Y-yeah, the spirits told me that tea would bring out the richness of the milk as well as the smoothness of the tea itself," he said. She glanced at the cup for a moment, taking a small sip from it. She swallowed it, an unreadable look on her face.
The Ultimate Gambler always had a neutral look on her face, but this one was far different than normal. It was a blend of stoic, neutral, and annoyance. If one stared at her eyes long enough, they could see her soul screaming. With the speed of Hermes, she whipped the cup across the room, which shattered into a million pieces, spilling tea and porcelain in all directions.
"I HATE this kind of tea."
"Huh… I uh… don't understand." the man said, genuinely confused.
"Imagine for a second we were at a coffee shop– just any normal everyday cafe. I sit down and order some tea. They then ask me, "Would you like lemon, or milk?" Now, further imagine that I replied "Ah yes, I would like milk tea, please." In this case, along with my tea, they may bring me a small container of milk, yes?"
"Um… I follow you so far."
"Excellent. But, this is not for me! I am among those who prefer the milk to be a part of the process from the outset! The fragrance is just so overwhelmingly sweet that way… Adding milk or even lemon before you drink it is like dousing your fries with ketchup. Mere condiments! Whenever looking for a cafe, I first review the menu to see if it offers the proper style of milk tea." she said, continuing her rant, looking Hiro in the eye. "I cannot properly acknowledge any "milk tea" that does not add the milk in the brewing process."
"Jesus H." Hiyoko groaned, a look of disbelief on her face. Everyone else was in a similar state, completely thunderstruck by the Gothic Lolita's rant.
"How was I supposed to know that, man? I went through all that trouble trying to make it, and you wanted me to do more?" the clairvoyant said.
"Yes, I do realize it can be a bit of a hassle… Even in cafes that offer proper milk tea, it is always more expensive than simple tea with milk. It takes more time to prepare, surely… but." she paused, looking away dejectedly. "Why even bother creating a menu if you are not going to offer the highest level of quality?"
"But we don't have a menu."
"THAT DOESN'T MATTER! HURRY UP AND BRING ME WHAT I ASKED FOR, SWINE!" she screamed, so loudly her voice echoed through the dormitory. Hiro merely squealed, shooting into the kitchen.
"Right away!"
Celeste watched him go, lips curved in a tiny smile. "Hmhm… I do so love coercion."
"Huh… so that's what your voice sounds like without the fake accent. It sounds kinda pretty." the Ultimate Lucky Student said, causing the woman to giggle.
"Whatever do you mean, Akira? My accent isn't fake."
"Right."
"What the fuck was that about?" Mondo asked, scratching his neck.
"Y-yeah… you were like… a totally different person there," Hina added, a fearful look on her face. The woman merely giggled.
"Okay, note to self, do not piss Celeste off. If I do, make sure to hide in a place she can't get to me. Also, she has a pretty voice." Akira thought to himself, mentally making a note.
Sayaka finally emerged from the kitchen with breakfast, she had a confused yet frightened look on her face. She merely handed Akira his plate and sat down, saying nothing. It was obvious she heard Celeste's shouting. No one wanted to speak after that. They just ate in quiet silence.
"So… how about that airplane food, eh?" Ibuki asked, a cheerful look on her face.
"Oh my fucking God." Hiyoko cried in a deflated tone, practically slamming her face into the table. Kiyotaka quickly moved into the Dining Room, standing at the head of the table, looking concerned.
"Bad news everyone. There's a mystery afoot!"
"Eh? What happened?" Mahiru asked.
"It would seem Byakuya refuses to leave his room! I stood there pressing his doorbell over and over, but he never showed himself."
"This uh… might be a revolutionary idea but uh-" Kazuichi paused between bites of pancake, glancing up at the boy. "Maybe he wasn't in his room…?"
"I'd like to think so, but I'm worried something might have happened to him."
That statement sent a chill up Akira's spine. Memories of the last incident that happened flashed to the forefront of his mind. Looking around the room, he saw similar looks on everyone's faces. They were all thinking the same thing. He hastily finished his breakfast, downing the last of his juice as he stood up.
"It might be a good idea to check on him, just to make sure."
"Ah! I was just going to suggest that, Classmate Akira! Let us go everyone, we must search this academy from top to bottom!"
"Why the fuck are we gonna waste our time doing that?" Fuyuhiko cried. He was reading a book, calmly drinking some coffee, feet on his table as if he were in his own living room. "That dickhead made it obvious he doesn't want to be friends with anyone here. And I don't blame him."
"Regardless of whether he wants to befriend us or not, his life is in danger as are the rest of us. Should something have happened to him, we'd be down in the Class Trial Courtroom. And after the last time, I doubt any one of us wishes to return." Peko said firmly.
"I'll start looking right away! If he's hurt, he might need medical assistance." Mikan said, shooting to her feet. "I might not have medical equipment, but I'll still do my best!"
"Alright then, let's get to searching, I'll check the Gym!" Hina said, heading out of the dining hall. Akira let out a small laugh.
"I half thought she was running to the pool," he said, glancing at Sayaka. "Would you like to come along?"
"No, I want to finish my breakfast. You didn't tell me how good it was," she said, causing him to smile.
"Why would I do that? You can just read my mind, right?" he said. She smiled back, nodding.
"Glad you liked it."
The Ultimate Lucky Student left the dining hall shortly after. He had an idea of where Byakuya might have gone. So, instead of wasting time searching around the first floor. He headed straight to the Second Floor. He cringed a bit, still not used to the light blue lights covering most of the corridors. The outer areas near the library were under light red light, making his eyes even more strained.
He spotted Kyoko standing by the library entrance, leaning against the wall. She looked up after a moment, being greeted by her usual expression. "I see you and I had the same line of thought."
"He seemed really interested in this place yesterday, I figured it was the obvious place," he said. She gave him a nod, pushing herself off the wall. He opened the library door, gesturing for her to go in first.
Just as he had expected, the Ultimate Affluent Progeny was sitting in the library. He had a mug of coffee in his grasp. There was a small table lamp beside him, connected to an extension cord. The young man seemed completely entranced by what he was reading, hardly noticing their arrival.
"Um… Byakuya?"
"Yes?"
"Ah… I don't mean to bother you or anything, but Taka was looking for you. You didn't show up to the morning meeting so we were all concerned. They're out looking for you."
"And who asked you lot to do that?" he replied. Akira was taken slightly aback by his words.
"Uh… well, we just wanted to make sure you were alright. We all promised to meet up in the morning and eat together."
"A promise?" he said with a sigh, shaking his head. "Can't I get a second's peace and quiet around here?"
Snapping his book shut, he rose to his feet, slowly standing up. His movements were smooth and silent, almost like a shadow. By now, the others had started pouring into the library, all of them looking relieved that the heir had been found safe and sound.
"Byakuya! So this is where you were hiding?"
"The fuck, man? You can't just pull a Houdini on us like that!" Fuyuhiko snapped angrily. "We thought you were dead!"
"Indeed, all of us were quite concerned about you," added Peko, standing next to the young man. Byakuya merely scoffed.
"Well, you had no reason to be. I was just reading, I've never read such a… course novel before, but it might just prove useful at some point," he replied. Sonia looked at the book he had set down beside him, reading the title.
"The Last Devil to Die… a murder mystery novel?"
"Why would you be reading something like that?" Hina questioned, only for the man to smirk.
"It's as I said, its contents could prove quite valuable to me."
"Wah…. so you came here to study so you could plan to murder us?!" Ibuki cried, a look of disbelief on her face.
"Don't be stupid."
"Yeah… I doubt Byakuya would do that. He doesn't look like the type!" Hajime said, attempting to vouch for the man.
"Perhaps, but I have learned quite a lot. Just a little something to keep in mind," he said, looking away from the crowd. "If I decide to fight, of course, I'll come up with something original. Otherwise, this game of ours will be really boring, right? It's not often you get to take part in such a high-stakes, high-tension activity. So if you're going to do it, you have to make sure it's entertaining, hehehehe~"
Most of them were taken aback by his words, but Akira wasn't. He had suspected the rich heir would do something like this. After all, he was quite well-read on the Togami Family. Out of everyone in the academy, information about them had been the most readily available. He knew exactly the kind of person he was interacting with the second he met him.
"What the fuck do you mean by that? "Game"? That's fucked up!"
"But it is a game. It's a game of life or death, which is why we can only have one winner. That's all there's to it." he replied.
"He's right. It's a zero-sum game."
Surprised by Celeste, everyone turned to her, greatly confused. "What's a zero-sum game?" Hikari asked curiously.
"It's a school of thought, part of game theory. Essentially, a zero-sum game is one where one side wins and one side loses. Basically, the Mastermind that trapped us here, holds all the cards, and we don't have any. If we want to take those cards, we have to lose someone." Akira said, frowning. "Just like we gained the second floor of the academy by losing our friends."
"Ah… so it's like an elimination match in a sports meet?"
"Something like that," he said, replying to Hina's question.
"Hm… We've all experienced something similar before. Entrance exams, sports tournaments, job openings, and most social interactions fall into this category. Everyone must scramble to obtain something which is limited. For you to succeed, someone else must fail. This also applies to the school life we've been subjected to here. In this case…" she paused, hiding her small smile behind her hand. "Our 'limited resource' is that only one of us can successfully become the blackened."
"So this game was designed from the beginning to force one of us to try and defeat all the others," Byakuya said, fixing his glasses.
"T-that can't be what they had in mind!" Sayaka said, only for the man to scowl.
"This is why adaptation is so crucial. If those who want to escape were to disappear, there would be no reason in playing this game." the gambler said.
"But why would I want to stop playing? I'm having so much fun." the man said, giving everyone a malicious grin.
"Sounds to me like you don't even acknowledge the possibility that you may lose. Am I right?"
"Of course."
Celeste was honestly quite impressed with the man. "I see… you do not speak like the others. Exactly what I would expect from the Togami heir apparent."
"This is just… normal arrogance, right?" Kazuichi asked, slightly frightened at what was going on before him.
"You talk a mighty game, but have you considered what'll happen if you find yourself on the business end of a knife? Hm?" Hiyoko asked curiously. "You talk a good game, but I bet you're pissing your pants!"
"Heh… Pissing my pants? Hardly. Sweetheart I've never once considered a scenario where that would happen. Because it simply isn't possible."
"And why the fuck not?" Mondo shouted, towering over the man, a look of anger on his face. Byakuya merely glared at him, his vibrant eyes filled with annoyance.
"You know… I still can't believe it."
"Believe what?"
"How an uneducated, brain-dead, useless piece of garbage like you has survived this long." he returned.
"I'm gonna fuckin' kill you!"
"Like I said, I won't die," he boasted.
"Cease this right now!" Sonia cried, anger on her face. "We should all be working together toward our escape, not taunting each other like children. I understand we're all in a high-stress situation, but this is not how we should handle things."
"You know… I do find it impressive how someone like you is the princess of a nation." Byakuya said, causing her to shift her gaze toward him. "You above all else should be worried about your own safety, yet here you are risking your life befriending people who could kill you. Are you not worried that your death would throw your country into a frenzy?"
"I cannot afford to think about my country at this moment. Novoselic is a strong nation, and will prevail in my absence. I have been kidnapped twice, survived through a coup-de-tat, and was shot at in a foreign nation. This game is nothing to me. I have been trained to do whatever I can to survive, but if I have to lay my life down for the sake of my country, I will. Because that is what a Princess does. She stands above and beyond the call of duty to protect the people. And that is what I yearn to do here. You are not my citizens, you are my friends, and I will do everything in my power to ensure you survive."
"That's a pretty speech, princess, but words whispered through prison bars often lose their charm."
"It's no use arguing with him," Celeste said, smiling at everyone. "For him, the very concept of losing simply does not exist. He is the Ultimate Affluent Progeny, after all. A boy raised to succeed from the day he was born. He considers victory his destiny, and has lived his life accordingly. Tests and challenges are merely ways for him to stand victories. Even if it is a life or death situation."
"Hah… at least one of you understands."
"It is because I am the same as you. Games are meant to be won."
The man clicked his tongue, giving her the most hateful glare he could muster. "Are you trying to suggest we're on the same level? Close that vulgar mouth of yours."
"Oh? Well, I do apologize."
"Jesus, is that how you talk to all the women in your life? Or are you trying to show us how big your fucking dick is? Because if that's all this is, no one cares." Akira said.
"And you happen to be among the lowest specimens I have had the displeasure of meeting. The mere notion of coming to this academy by sheer luck. The fact that you are still alive is a mystery unto itself. Perhaps your luck will run out soon."
The Ultimate Lucky Student balled his fist tightly, knuckles turning white. "I have worked my entire life to become successful. But we weren't given the luxuries you had. I might be average at what I do, and I might not have the best grades, but I made it. I did something no one else in the history of this school has done, I left the Reserve Course. Perhaps it was Lady Luck that granted me my ticket, but I still made it. Besides, a real man makes his own luck."
"Mere hard work and determination will only leave you ragged. Anyway, let me just say this to all of you. You all need to try harder. If an opponent isn't going to give it their all, where's the fun for me?"
"T-that's a terrible way to look at it." Chihiro nervously said.
"Hmm?"
"This… isn't a game. Our lives are on the line, you know. To kill your own friends is… is…" she shuddered, looking away. "It's horrific!"
"Friends? Who decided that?"
"Forget it, talking to him about that is a waste of time. Clearly, he doesn't give a shit about us, so we shouldn't give a shit about him." Fuyuhiko said with a shrug. "Won't help him in the long run if someone attacks him. This game is a mutual benefit, you know. Gotta watch your back, because anyone can come for you next."
"But thats-"
"We're not friends." the heir said, cutting the programmer off. "No, quite the opposite, we're in a competition. We are enemies."
"B-But… you know-"
"But what?" he said, shifting his gaze toward the Ultimate Nurse, who had been nervously standing behind Akira. "Stop trying to force your contradictions on me and just accept what I'm telling you."
"Um…"
"If you have something to say, say it. Otherwise, keep your mouth shut."
"Hey! Don't fucking talk to her like that!" Akira shouted, almost in instinct as he stood in front of the taller boy. "Treat her with respect. One day you might need a nurse to save your sorry ass, and she'll probably remember the times you treated her like shit."
"Why the hell don't you bully someone your own size, eh? You wanna try that on me?" Mondo said, standing next to the Lucky Student, fists clenched. Byakuya didn't even seem phased by the pair.
"So… you are back to pretending to be friends, huh? And how long do you think that's going to last?!"
"Fuck you!"
"Is that all you can say? Unfortunately, you would waste your breath on such empty gibberish." the rich heir replied.
"Grrr… that's it, you're fuckin' dead!"
"Hey, calm down man! It isn't worth it!" Hina said, standing before the biker, only grunted his response.
"I am calm!"
"How is this calm?"
Byakuya clearly had lost interest in what was going on, as he turned away from them, heading out of the library. "Anyway… I don't have any intention of working with the rest of you any longer. To cooperate during an elimination game is… Well, frankly, it's a waste of time. And I hate wasting my time."
"I don't consider it a waste of time." Akira coldly returned, glaring at him. "Calling this a waste of time is the same as saying Makoto, Junko, and Leon's sacrifice meant nothing. And I am not going to let their memories die in this academy."
"And you think engaging in friendly group meals will help us get out faster? Someone could poison our food. You prepare food for Sayaka, don't you? And she prepares yours. Either of you could decide one day to take the easy way out. I'd rather not become a part of the Last Supper just yet."
"Quit talking as if you were in some fuckin' movie or somethin'!"
"All I am saying is that, ultimately, you are all free to do whatever you want on your own. Goodbye."
With that, he was gone. In the voice of his exit, a surge of emotions was left behind. Akira didn't know what to say, or what to do. There was no stopping him from going. His way of understanding things was far, far different from anyone else's. All he could do was stand, rooted in place, glaring at the spot where the Ultimate Affluent Progeny had just stood.
"What… the hell was that?" Kazuichi asked, finally deigning it safe to break the silence. "Was he serious?"
"Oh without a doubt, darling. It's just how he is," Celeste replied.
"Yeah well fuck him, then." Mondo hissed, anger still flowing through his body.
"B-but what he said isn't necessarily wrong. I mean… anyone could poison your food… You can't deny that possibility." Mikan said firmly.
"Living here is a game of trust, Mikan. You can't live in a place like this without having some degree of trust. We might be in a zero-sum game, but there isn't a rule saying we can't work together. We have to stay strong, and make sure everyone makes it to daylight together." Hikari said, a smile on his face. "We have to work together!"
"Tch… next you're gonna say "Friendship is Magic" or some sissy ass bullshit like that."
"Why… Fuyuhiko! I didn't know you liked My Little Pony . I happen to be a fan of Twilight Sparkle, she's my favorite. Who's your favorite pony?"
"Go fuck yourself, you fairy-bag puff of titty sprinkles." the gangster spat, brushing past him. Sayaka burst into laughter, covering her mouth as she tried to, and failed, to contain it. She caught the look on Hikari's face, forcing herself to stop.
"I'm sorry."
"Man… that guy really killed the mood. We should all go have a bath or something! Just us, the steam and our bouncy bits out in the open!" Ibuki said, grinning. "Come on, let's do that, it'll be fun!"
"Oh, a bath sounds lovely! I've never had a shared bath with another person before. I think I'd like to join you, Ibuki!" Sonia cheerfully said.
"Sick… Kyoko, Celeste, Sayaka, Mikan, Mahiru, Hiyoko, all the girls come on! I'll wash your backs!"
"I'll pass, you all enjoy yourselves," Kyoko replied, swiftly leaving the library.
"Yes, I'll be off on my own. It's been a while since I practiced my swordplay and I wish to be sharp, just in case. Perhaps another time." the Ultimate Swordswoman said, leaving right after.
"Booo! Ah forget them, come on! Let's go!"
Ibuki swiftly left, the other girls, minus Celeste, hurried after her, talking amicably among themselves. That left just the men, standing in their spots. Hikari looked around for a moment, a bright smile on his face.
"You guys wanna go do some shrooms?"
"Wha?"
"DRUGS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN A SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT!" Kiyotaka shouted at the boy, eyes glowing crimson. "Take me to your dorm right now! I shall purge it of the devil's fungus!"
The Ultimate Moral Compass dragged Hikari out by the ear, the boy crying in pain. Kazuichi left, muttering something about video games. Mondo followed after, along with Hiro and Hajime. Chihiro coughed into her fist, giving the others a small smile.
"I have something I have to get back to. I'll see you later, okay?" she said. And with that, only Akira and Celeste were left. The pair shared a look, the silence of the library becoming rather hard to deal with. After a moment, Akira decided to speak, giving the Gambler his full attention.
"So how much do I have to pay you to hear your natural voice?"
"What do you mean? This is my natural voice," she replied, in a sucrose-sweet tone. He merely rolled his eyes.
"Gotcha. There's a billiards table in the Arcade and I'm looking to kill some time, are you down?"
"Of course, it's been a while since I've played billiards, so forgive me if I'm rusty."
"Eh… something tells me you'll do just fine."
"Why do you say that?"
"Oh… didn't you know? I'm psychic."
Location: Bathhouse, Hotel Despair
Day: 8
Time: 9:00 AM
The bathhouse was a lot bigger than the girls had been expecting. As you entered, there were rows upon rows of wooden lockers, as well as robes, towels, buckets, and anything one would need while using the facility. There were open-air showers, a thick layer of steam emerging from the main room. The bath itself was large, with a steady stream of hot water. The entrance to the sauna was across the room, and there were massage chairs positioned near the back. It was truly a traditional onsen, down to the finest details. Hina let out a happy sigh as she leaned back against the edge of the bath.
"Ahh… Ibuki this was a great idea, I think we all really needed this."
"Yep yep~ Whenever I get really annoyed, I take a nice hot bath and just mellow out. It really gets the juices flowing, helps a lot with music too." the musician said, stretching her arms above her head, sinking a bit more into the water. "Plus, it's more fun to relax with friends."
"It's the first time I've ever experienced something like this. I heard so much about bathhouses when I was studying about Japan. It's so much fun!" the Ultimate Princess happily added. She had been busy washing her hair, making sure every single strand was covered in soap.
"Weeb."
"Shush! I am not a weeb, Hiyoko."
"Pfft, yeah you are."
The traditional dancer let out a cry as Mahiru sprayed her in the face, giving her an annoyed look. "Stop that, Hiyoko. I won't wash your hair if you keep being rude."
Sayaka let out a giggle, having focused on her own hair. She glanced at the seat beside her, noticing Mikan was still covered up with her towel, her bandages still in place. She gave her a small smile. "Are you nervous, Mikan?"
"H-huh? Oh uh… a little bit. It's just… I've never been to a bath with f-friends before." she admitted. "I don't know what to do."
"It's simple, get naked, use the soap, wash it off, and dive into the pool. What's so hard about that?" Hina asked.
"It's not that it's just… usually when people force me to take my clothes off, they throw rocks and mud at me. So I never bothered with stuff like that… at least until I got home," she said softly.
"Why would someone do something so terrible to you?" the photographer asked.
"I don't know… I never did anything to anyone else. I was just attacked for no reason. P-people always liked drawing on me. Doodling is really relaxing, you know."
"Jesus Christ, maybe the reason people bully you is because you have no spine," Hiyoko said, crossing her arms. "Look at you, you look like a kicked puppy. You gotta stand firmly on your two feet and kick them in the balls."
"Wah…what? Why would I do that? Do you know how painful that is? I don't want to hurt anyone, I just want to make them feel better!" she exclaimed, her voice echoing through the bathhouse. She gasped, looking away. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to yell at you. It's okay if you want to hit me!"
Sayaka shared a look of concern with the others, not knowing what to say. She finished rinsing off, setting the shower head down in front of her. "No one here wants to hit you, sweetheart. We're all friends here."
"Yeah! Sayaka's right, we can't afford to be mean to each other." Ibuki cheerfully said. "We gotta rock on and fight the power!"
"I know… I'm trying to be brave but I'm really scared. After what happened with Makoto, and what we saw Monokuma do to Junko I…" she looked away, closing her eyes tightly. "I see myself like that. I try not to imagine it, but what if I get forced to? What if someone beats me up and kills me? I don't want to die here."
"No one is going to die."
"Tch… don't be soft with her, Sayaka," Hiyoko said, standing up from her seat. She walked toward the nurse, arms crossed as she looked at her. "All of us are going to die one day, it's something we have to make peace with. But thinking about dying is no way to live."
She looked away, biting her lip for a moment. "I was like you, you know… bullied, made fun of, got my hair pulled, lots of awful shit. But I didn't let them win, I fought back. Because I was the heiress of the Saionji Clan, they gave me hell. They put bugs in my bed and nails in my shoes, and made my life hell. I realized somewhere along the way that if I didn't fight back, then they would win. That's what you have to do."
"But I don't like fighting… I like helping people," she said, in a quiet tone. "I was ignored a lot as a kid. My father was never in my life, and my mother treated me like garbage. Her boyfriend liked putting cigarettes out on my shoulder blades. It hurt the worst there… The kids at school did the same things, they used me as target practice or beat me up for my lunch money. It was the worst when I was 11. I just… learned to accept the pain and heal myself after."
She looked up at Hiyoko, a small smile on her face. "That's why I like being a nurse, because I've felt pain, and it's awful. I want to help people overcome that pain. I want to be there for people because people weren't there for me."
"Oh… sweetheart." Sayaka quietly murmured.
"That's a fair point, but you also have to think about yourself. Worrying and being scared is no way to live." Sonia said, turning to face the nurse. "I mentioned this in the library, but I've been kidnapped twice before. I was told from a young age that my life belonged to my people, and if they chose not to rescue me, then I had to make peace with it. I am incredibly scared, but I cannot show weakness."
She placed a hand over her heart, the firm look on her face remaining. "To show weakness in the face of despair is to be without hope. I do not intend to die here, and I do not intend to be killed. One must focus, not on fear, but on cooperation. That is how we shall get out of here."
"Even then… people are bound to die," Hina said softly, closing her eyes. "The Mastermind knows so much more than we do, we don't even know what his intentions are."
"She's right… that secret motive was enough to get one of us to consider doing something awful. Imagine what else he's planning?"
"Aw… come on guys! I invited you all here so we could have fun and relax, not talk about all this junk!" Ibuki said, looking a bit annoyed.
"S-she's right, we should act like normal girls," Sayaka said, turning to Mikan, giving her a smile. "How about I wash your hair for you?"
"H-huh? You want to wash my hair? Not cut it?"
"Why would I want to do that?"
"Oh…" she looked away with a frown. "My grandmother said my hair was one of my best features. She always brushed it and made it look really pretty. The mean girls in my school thought it was pretty too… so they grabbed some scissors and well…"
"So that's why your hair is like that? I thought it was some sort of fashion choice." Hiyoko said, shaking her head. "Seriously, you need to grow a backbone."
"Don't worry, Mikan, I'll take care of it. Honestly looking at it, it doesn't look too bad. I think if we wash it, brush it, and straighten it a bit, it'll hide the cuts." the Ultimate Pop-Sensation said, grabbing the hose. "Shame I don't have any of my usual products. I had this stimulating shampoo I bought from an Ex-Ultimate Hairdresser that encourages hair growth. That's why my hair is so long and shiny."
"Man, I would kill for something like that," Ibuki said, earning looks from the others. She let out a giggle. "Metaphorically speaking! I change my outfits for concerts a lot, so being able to get different cuts and also keep it long would be sweet."
"Having long hair is a pain in the ass though. It gets everywhere and it's annoying to manage, that's why I like pixie cuts." Mahiru said, as she stepped into the hot bath, sitting down on the edge of it. "But I will admit, I am jealous of Sonia, Sayaka, and Hiyoko. Your hair looks so soft and shiny."
"Hey, once we get out of this shithole, I'll hook you up with my hairdresser. She has the best products all across the world."
"Hehe… I like this… I've never had a group of friends I could be a girl around. No one in the royal palace was my age, and I wasn't allowed to spend time with the children of the maids. Being trapped within this academy may not be ideal, but at least there was a silver lining."
"Yeah like, we should totally talk about cute clothes and getting our nails done and junk," Hiyoko said, in a valley-girl tone. "That'll be like so totally cool~"
"Don't talk like that."
"You're no fun, Mahiru."
"Let's talk about boys!" Hina excitedly said, splashing around a bit. "Let's start with Sayaka and her totally obvious crush on Akira!"
"What?" she screeched, causing Mikan to jolt a bit. She turned to face the Ultimate Swimmer, ignoring the fact she was blasting the nurse in the face with water. "I don't have a crush on him!"
"Yes, you do! Taka told me he saw you holding hands in the Gym."
"That was because he was helping me get away from Hiro, that's all!"
"But you make breakfast for him," Sonia said, tilting her head. "Is that not typical behavior of a woman who's in love with a man? Traditionally, for a man and a woman to be in a relationship in Novoselic, the man must present the woman a Makango."
"A what?" Mahiru asked, brows furrowing. "That the hell is a Makango?"
"It's a creature with the ability to shrink and grow when it's fearful or excited."
"That's interesting, but don't change the topic! You totally like him, don't you, Sayaka?" Hina said, steering the question back. Mikan finally managed to get the hose out of her face, coughing a bit as she did so.
"I-" she paused, sighing. "Look, I can't really talk about this stuff, alright? Akira is sweet, and he's been helping me adjust here, but I don't have time for that. I… never told the boy I liked how I felt, and he's gone."
Realizing who she was referring too, Hina decided to move away from that topic. "Ah… Well um… Mikan, anyone you like?"
"N-no… I'm sure the boy I like isn't going to like me back."
"Oh? You? Have a boy you like?" Hiyoko asked, earning a nod from the nurse. "Who is it?"
"I'm keeping that to myself."
"We'll have to make sure you look super cute and presentable then, Mikan! We'll make sure you woo him." the idol said, grabbing a nearby shampoo bottle. "Now then, hold still while I start washing your hair. By the time I'm done with you, it'll be sparkling~"
"Taka said there were clothes in the warehouse, right? Maybe we can find a nurse uniform there." Hina suggested, causing the others to give her odd looks. "What? Do you know how many guys love nurses? I'm sure the guy she's crushing on will totally fall for her!"
"You guys are getting way too into it," Ibuki said, shaking her head. "Ah well… better to focus on that crap than anything else! How about we head to the Arcade after and have a party? There's lots of free pizza and soda!"
"Sure, why not?" Mahiru said, shrugging. "It's better than hanging out in that dusty library."
They all nodded in agreement. As they continued their uninterrupted bath time, Mikan's screams and protests as Sayaka continued helping her with her hair.
Location: Classroom 2-B, Hope's Peak Academy: 2F
Day: 8
Time: 10:00 AM
(Fuyuhiko, Hiro, Peko)
The Ultimate Clairvoyant was not having a good week. Not only had he woken up in a school trapped against his will, but now his life was at risk. When he had agreed to come to Hope's Peak, he thought he'd be getting free room and board, but this was not what he had in mind. He had been trying to contact the spirit world for days now, and he had heard nothing back. No matter how much he tried, he just couldn't make the connection.
Having sensed a collection of energy on the second floor, he stepped into the classroom, and moved some of the desks out of the way, placing some candles and incense on the floor. He sat down, leaning back against the railing, holding his crystal ball in his grasp. He held it tightly, sweat pouring down his face as he focused his energy on it.
"Come on… there has to be something. This place is huge, I'm sure there's an exit nearby, all you have to do is point it out to me!"
"Hey, dill hole."
"Aaaahhh!" he cried, almost dropping his crystal ball. He glanced toward the entrance, going pale when he noticed who had arrived. "Ahahahaha… F-Fuyuhiko, hey dude, how's it hanging?"
"Nothing is hanging, but you might be if you keep avoiding me," he said, crossing his arms. Hiro swallowed hard, placing his hands together.
"I swear man, I wasn't avoiding you, I'm just focusing on trying to find an exit for us."
"You can focus on that shit later, right now, you and I need to talk," he said, sitting down on the edge of a nearby desk. "I ain't gonna mince words, you have to pay your debt to me the second we leave this shithole, or we're gonna have a problem."
"B-but I don't have the kind of money man. I spent it all on a new crystal ball, it was a special one, used by Napoleon and George Washington," he replied. Fuyuhiko looked at him in disbelief.
"You spent 30 million yen on a piece of shit supposedly held by Napoleon and George Washington? Are you insane? No wait, don't answer that." the gangster said, cracking his knuckles. "You swindled my sister and isn't gonna fly. Natsumi is an idiot but you took advantage of that and charged her 30 million for a dumb ass reading!"
"Hey! Don't insult my readings, I told her that I only had a 30% chance of being right and she kept paying me. I didn't charge her thirty mill all at once. 200k is my normal rate and she kept handing me money. What was I supposed to do?"
"Tell her to stop, for one!"
"She's the daughter of a Yakuza and always brought a gun with her, how would I have done that?" Hiro shouted, fearfully looking away. "That girl is fucking scary man."
Fuyuhiko sighed audibly, shaking his head. "That idiot… she came to me telling me you had taken her to the cleaners, made me believe you demanded 30 million from her."
"Well, it's a lie, man. I might charge a little more than a normal clairvoyant for my services, but I don't swindle people. It's all a part of the contract you gotta sign when I do readings."
"You gotta understand, I'm in a bit of a bind here. Even with this information, if it's the truth, my Father is the one asking me to get payment back. You know what they do to people who don't pay their debts back, right?"
"T-they cut their fingers off…?"
"Worse than that. They teach you a lesson you won't forget. They ain't gonna kill ya though, people are a resource. They aren't gonna get the money they're owed if you are dead." he said, crossing his arms. "I ain't like that, I might be the next clan head, but I'm not a violent person."
"Huh? You aren't a violent person, but dude, you shout and scream and shit."
"Well yeah, I gotta project the image. If you rule by fear people won't fuck with you, and you won't have to get violent with people. I've been groomed for this shit since the day I was born. But it's up to me how I rule. And I plan to change shit when my time comes."
He looked away, scratching his head. "The world's a barbaric place. Especially my world… Everyone I know tries to settle things with violence. Everyone here has different values than I do. My old man likes to say "Predators are always stronger than their prey." He's a hothead. Even if it's just somethin' minor, he'll come at ya with everything he's got. My mom's worse, when they fight, she tries to kill him. Being a yakuza means you gotta be ready to kill the man you love to get your point across!"
"Jesus dude."
"I've been seeing this shit my whole life. That's why I'm not particularly scared about what's going on here. What's the point in being scared? Regardless of that, there is a debt that has to be paid man, and it's outta my hands."
"My hands are tied, collectively with everything I got, I have about 3 million yen. I'm already in debt with the Mob, and the last thing I needed was to incur another debt. Is there anything I can do to get you to forgive it? I'll do anything, man."
"You do know saying that to a Yakuza is tantamount to death, right? You'd be signing your warrant."
"Young Master, perhaps you should be a bit lenient on him."
Hiro let out a squeal, completely taken aback by Peko's arrival. He hadn't even sensed her, or heard the door open. Had she come in with Fuyuhiko? His fear was replaced by complete confusion as he looked at the silver-haired girl.
"Young Master? The hell kinda relationship do you two have?"
"Dammit Peko, I told you to stop calling me that,"
"Forget that for a moment. What's happening to us currently is far more important than whatever debt Hiro may have accrued," she said, giving him a firm look. "There is no point in getting him to pay for a debt you might not collect if something were to happen to you."
"Bold of you to assume something would happen to me." the young man said. Peko's gaze remained fixed on him, unwavering. "Goddamn it, alright. I won't harass him about it for now, but this is a serious matter. You know that."
"I completely understand, but I'm sure your Father would be open to negotiation once you explain what happened here."
"Yeah maybe, but you know what he's like. I doubt being trapped in some sick game will be enough of an excuse. That's even if he believes us." Fuyuhiko replied, groaning. "Goddamn it, what an annoying mess."
"Uh… hey man, I'll definitely work hard to earn that money for you. I tried telling your sister to stop but like I said, she didn't listen. I don't usually feel bad for my customers since they know what they're getting into, but Natsumi's different. So yeah, once we get out, I'll give you what I got and work on the rest."
"Forget it, there's no need to worry about it. But if you do wanna make it up to me and get me to forgive this debt… use your talent to get us out of here. You manage to pull that off, and we'll be squared."
Hiro's eyes lit up, a grin on his face. "You got it!"
Location: Arcade, Hope's Peak Academy: 2F
Day: 8
Time: 10:00 AM
"Man, you really suck at this game," Mondo said, standing at one end of the billiard table, watching as Akira lined up his shot. "Seriously, for an Ultimate Lucky Student, you have no sense of luck at all. You'd think you would end up winning one game."
"I'm going up against the Ultimate Gambler, do you think Lady Luck is gonna help me? If anything, Celeste's luck cancels mine," he said, narrowing his eyes. He looked around at the table for a moment before striking the cue ball. It was launched forward, striking the ten ball, which hit the 8 Ball, sinking it into the corner pocket. "Goddamn it!"
"Oh my… I certainly wasn't expecting that." Celeste said, covering her grin with her hand. "How many games is that, nine?"
"Ten." the boy dejectedly replied.
"I wanna give it a try," Kazuichi said, stepping up to the table. He had been watching them play since the beginning and had gotten the grasp of the game. "I might be able to actually win against her."
"I doubt that," Hajime said.
"You just don't believe in me!"
Akira rolled his eyes, tossing his cue stick to Kazuichi. "Be my guest, don't cry to me when she beats you."
The pink-haired boy merely grinned, watching as the Ultimate Gambler racked the balls. The stoic look on her face hadn't left, but her eyes were brimming with confidence. She took the cue ball into her hand, giving it to Kazuichi. "There you are, you get the break shot. Do make it easy for me."
"You'll be eating those words in no time, Celeste," he said, placing the ball down. Dabbing some chalk onto the tip of his cue, the Ultimate Mechanic stepped behind the table, taking aim at the center ball. His break was clean, sending balls in all directions, sadly, none of them fell into a pocket. "Damn."
"You just lost the game, Kazuichi."
"Shuddup, it's still a free game," he said. Celeste wordlessly took her shot, sinking the number one ball into the corner pocket. Kazuichi watched as she successfully sank every single ball, one by one until the 8 Ball was left. She looked up from the table, giving him a grin, sinking the ball without even looking at it.
"And there you have it."
"She didn't miss a single shot!" he said in disbelief. "What the hell are you made of?"
"I don't lose games, Kazuichi. I'm sure you would have known that by now." the gambler said, smiling.
"Seriously, if you went to the bar me and my boys frequent, you'd have cleaned us all out of house and home."
"I'm certain I would have, though at this point, I believe worrying about money is useless," Celeste said, her mood souring. "Our current circumstances have made things quite challenging for all of us. It doesn't help that Byakuya is being a bit difficult to deal with."
"Difficult? That guy's being a dickhead. Thinking of this shit as a game, I mean seriously, what's wrong with him?" the mechanic said with a growl. He finished racking up the balls, allowing Celeste to set up the break.
"But it's what it is. We cannot continue deluding ourselves any further. I mean, look at everything that's happened. All of us are being held against our will, there is a single rule that allows us to leave, but only when the certain conditions are met, and we are given incentives to do so. There's no better description for a game than what we are going through."
"Honestly, I'd like to know what the aim of all of this is for," Hajime said, a look of curiosity on his face. "It feels to me as if the Mastermind behind all of this has something against us."
"Something against us? What the hell, we haven't done anything to the bastard."
"Are you sure about that?"
The biker met the gambler's eyes for a moment. She finished sinking the last ball, straightening up as she set her cue down. "How do we know we haven't done anything to the Mastermind before? We could have met at any given time. I could have defeated him in a game, Kazuichi could have damaged some mechanical parts for him, and you could have cut him off in traffic, Mondo. Anyone of us could have done something to him."
"The thing that sticks out to me from all of this is that letter Sayaka found. How is it that this school was closed for a year and none of us knew about it?" Akira said, leaning back against the edge of the table, a pensive look on his face. "I gotta ask, how'd you guys get scouted?"
"I was approached by a man. He's a bit shorter than Mondo, wore this dumbass hat and smelled like booze. Said he saw potential in me, all because I managed to fix some lady's engine in the middle of the road with nothing but an Allen wrench and a pair of pliers." Kazuichi said, fiddling with his braid. "He thought that was impressive, that was just me pulling shit outta my ass."
"Interesting, the same man approached me as well. He had been following me for a while and caught me in an illegal casino. He bought in on my game and I stripped him clean of everything. What about you, Mondo?"
"Tch… yeah, same dude got me, this was after I was made the leader of the Crazy Diamonds. We were going on a victory tour for my brother, who had just gotten married. This asshole from a rival gang ended up breaking into this girl's car and stole her shit, so we went after him and beat him within an inch of his life. That's when he approached me." he replied, closing his eyes as he gathered his thoughts. "I accepted because I needed something to do after graduation, you know? Can't be in a gang forever."
"Admitting you have a problem is the first step. And even if you don't feel like you have one, it's admirable that you want to consider your life away from it all. You're a good man, Mondo."
"If you say so. How 'bout you, Hajime? Where'd this guy talk to you?"
He remained silent, pondering the question he was asked for a moment, the frown on his face growing. "I don't remember ever meeting this guy."
"What? But how could that be? If he's the official scout for the academy, you should have met him, right?" the mechanic asked.
"I probably did but I don't remember him. It's just like with my talent, I don't recall what it even is." the man said, sighing. "I don't think I'll ever figure out what I even am."
"I'm certain you'll recover that memory soon, Hajime. For now, worrying about it will only drive you mad."
"Hm… it seems all of you, sans Hajime, have the same memory. As for me, you know how I got here. I won the lottery and was sent my acceptance letter in the mail. Everything was normal when I got here, but when I woke up, it wasn't." Akira said. He stared at the ceiling, racking his brain for anything that stood out, but found nothing. "Nothing makes sense, and now that letter has left me with even more questions. Why did the students protest? Why did the Steering Committee call it a "Parade"? What did Hope's Peak do to provoke the Student Body? Why us? Why do we have to kill each other? So many whys but no fucking answers."
"I wouldn't sweat the details now, you're gonna give yourself an aneurysm thinking about it! You should leave that stuff to Kyoko, she seems to have her shit together." Kazuichi said, giving the man a pat on the back. "Now come on, how about you and I play a game? I'll give Celeste a break, I'm sure she's getting tired of beating you."
"Meh… alright," he said. Celeste handed him the cue stick, gesturing to the table which had already been set up for them. Kazuichi merely chuckled.
"You aren't winning this one, dude."
Akira cracked his knuckles, positioning himself over the edge of the table, stick firmly grasped in his hand. He merely looked up at the mechanic, a smirk on his face. "8 Ball, corner pocket."
With a single strike, he broke the balls apart, watching as every solid ball bounced around, falling into each of the pockets in numerical order. The cue ball, which still had enough energy behind it, struck the 8 Ball, sending it flying toward the corner pocket, sinking it without issue. Kazuichi's jaw dropped, a look of disbelief on his face.
"What. The. Fuck…?"
"I banked on my luck. I guess the old lady really does help me out when I need it."
"Damn, Akira was right, Celeste's luck was canceling his out, but when he's playing against someone else, it's got his back," Mondo said, impressed with what he had seen.
"Makes you wonder how something like this is even studied. Whatever the case is, seeing it in action is very impressive!" Hajime happily returned.
"The true test of luck lies within a game of chance," Celeste said, gesturing to the nearby claw machine. She moved toward it, followed by the four boys who looked at the prizes resting within it. "These machines are set to work only 1% of the time. If Akira can get three prizes out in a row, then he'll truly be worthy of his title."
"You're kinda putting me on the spot here, Celeste. Not only that but I'm out of MonoMono Coins. I wasted them all on the MonoMono Machine downstairs and all I have to show for it are Kitty Barrettes."
"Worry not, darling, I shall provide you with the funds. I actually have quite a stash of these coins in my dorm. I seem to keep finding them everywhere." she said, handing him 20 coins. It took five to play, so he had 4 tries. Glancing at the prizes within, he noticed they were different from what he was expecting.
Each one was a Mystery Box. They were fairly small in size, the size of a typical figurine at an anime shop. The boxes were black and white in color, decorated with a question mark. There were tons of them in there, likely filled with random artifacts and useless trinkets. Staring at the coins for a moment, he slipped all of them into the slot, watching the counter go up until he had his 4 credits.
Taking a hold of the stick, he started moving the claw toward the first box, which was sitting near the center of it. He positioned it precisely, pressing the button. The claw went down, very slowly, almost screeching as it did so. It grabbed a hold of the box, snagging it tightly and carrying it to the chute. Once it dropped, the claw reset, allowing him a second shot. The others watched his intense focus, the three boys shocked while Celeste merely smiled, watching him grab box after box. When the final credit was spent, Akira was finally able to claim his prizes, four medium-sized boxes.
"There's no way… no way that just happened!" Kazuichi said. He pushed past the others, sliding five coins into the slot. He took a hold of the stick, positioning it on a box, only for it to slip from the claw's grasp. He tried again and again, until he was out of coins, unable to get a single prize from within. "What the hell is this? It's not fair!"
"Ultimate Luck is no joke," Mondo said, chuckling. "You're the man, Akira, that was great!"
"Thanks, I guess, I never thought I'd get this lucky though."
"How'd you do it?" Hajime asked. The boy shrugged, glancing back at the machine.
"Would you believe me if I told you I just prayed? I asked Lady Luck for a miracle and she granted me one. It's how I got into the Academy, you know. On one of the worst days I had, I found a solid gold coin. I came here to the academy and made a wish in the fountain. Come that Monday, my name was pulled from the lottery."
He set the boxes down on the billiard table, frowning. "I didn't know there was another Ultimate Lucky Student though… and now, I'm starting to think my luck canceled Makoto's out and well…"
"I do not believe luck works that way, Akira. What happened to Makoto was… unfortunate, but it wasn't in your control. Sometimes, things like that just happen, and we cannot hope to ever reign them in. What we must do is learn from them, and adapt to the situation." Celeste said, giving him a smile. "Now then, how about those prizes?"
"Oh right," he said, grabbing the first box. He pulled it open, reaching inside it, eyes widening in surprise. "What the hell… this is my PSP!"
"What, are you serious?" Hajime cried. He nodded, turning it around, seeing his name laser etched to the UMD Drive Door.
"I got this customized when I bought it. Looks like all of my games and even the charger are in here. What the fuck? How'd Monokuma get his hands on this?" he asked, greatly confused.
"Seems like that damned bear rifled through our shit and put it in this machine. What a damn joke, you want your shit back, you gotta play for it. Sounds like something he'd do." Mondo growled, face glowing red in anger. "I wanna beat the fuck out of him!"
"P-please don't man, you tried that once and we almost died." the mechanic said, hands placed together in a prayer.
Akira reached for the second box, pulling it open. He tipped the box over, catching the items that were inside, an iPod Nano, along with what looked like a Bluetooth speaker. The charging cables were included with them as well. Flipping the device over, he saw Sayaka's name etched into it, and by the looks of it, it seemed like it was a gift from Apple themselves. The words Special Edition had been written beneath the Apple Logo. He set them down on the table, still looking surprised.
"Seems like Mondo was right on the money, the Mastermind took our stuff and put it in the machine," Hajime said.
"I do hope he didn't put any of my personal effects in there. It would be dangerous if anyone found them." Celeste said, sounding rather distraught.
The third box threw him for a loop. All that it contained were a pair of cyalumes, special colored sticks used for Idol Concerts. He'd never been to a concert, so he didn't know who they belonged to. The final box however felt rather empty. He shook it a bit, hearing something rattling inside it. When he opened it, all he found was what looked like a picture. As he pulled it out, he was greeted by three faces he didn't think he'd see again.
It was a picture of Leon, Makoto and Junko. Leon was leaning back against a wall, next to a window which was surprisingly, not covered in iron. Makoto was struggling to remain standing, as the Ultimate Fashionista had jumped onto his back. Judging by the expression on Leon's face, it seemed as if it was something that happened often. Junko had somehow managed to keep a grin on her face, flashing the peace sign to the camera. Her smile was bright, filled with joy, as was the expression on Leon's face.
Akira felt his heart twist around in his chest, a single tear rolling down his cheek. He handed the picture over to Celeste, who had been watching curiously for a moment. When she looked at the picture, she realized why he had been silent.
"How peculiar. I wasn't expecting to be greeted with this. Is this image even real?" she asked, handing it to Hajime.
"Looks like it, they're all wearing uniforms… and you can see it on Junko's breast pocket, the seal of Hope's Peak Academy. But this… makes absolutely no sense. They didn't know each other before this. How could this have been taken?" he asked.
"Maybe it's fake? I mean, you can fake pictures on computers and shit, right?" the biker asked.
"It probably is fake! I mean… look at the people on it. They're all dead, and they were strangers before this. Not only that but they put it in a claw machine. I don't think this is anything to worry about, man."
He looked at the picture again, frowning. "For our sake, I hope you're right."
"Mysteries upon mysteries continuously piling up in this esteemed academy. I do wonder what else is going to be thrown at us." Celeste said, her smile returning. "How about another round of billiards? I'll go easy on you this time."
"No."
"Eh, sure I'll take a crack at it," Mondo said, taking the cue from Kazuichi. While they continued their game, Akira decided to sit down, staring at the picture he had found. He had far more questions now than before, and he didn't know when he'd get an answer.
A/N: Whelp I hope you've all been enjoying this story so far. I just finished the second act of Chapter 4, placing this story in its end game. Chapter 4 might be the longest, but it's gonna be one of the most fun chapters I've devised. So look forward to it!