Chapter 3: Act 3: Слоты
Location: Arcade, Hope's Peak Academy 2F
Day: 12
Time: 5:30 PM
The Arcade looked vastly different than it normally did. It was flashing brightly with strobe lights and disco balls. Some of the arcade cabinets had been repositioned, opening the center of the room and making a large spot for people to hang out. A section of it had been uncovered, and now instead of a carpeted floor, a large ball pit was in its place, filled with hundreds of multicolored balls.
There were streamers and helium-filled balloons all over the place. Some were tied to the game cabinets while others were allowed to float up to the ceiling. Music thumped throughout the venue, though it was from the jukebox near the prize counter. The disks were limited so there were bound to be some repeats. Regardless of that, Ibuki didn't seem too bothered by it.
A table filled with refreshments had been set up as well. Stacks of pizza, bowls of wings, and other things from the kitchen had been brought up, kept warm by some heat lamps that Kazuichi had managed to find. The prize counter was filled with all kinds of drinks, from regular juice to various kinds of soda. The arcade was a 10-year-old child's wet dream. Nothing but free food, video games, and all the soda you could stomach.
"Damn, this place looks a lot different than I had expected," Akira said, pausing for a sip of his soda. "Ibuki went all out, huh?"
"Yes, she did. I'm surprised she didn't waste all the helium in that tank." Hajime said, gesturing to the large tank by the prize counter. "I just hope she doesn't make herself sick on all that soda."
"You're telling me… I feel bad for Chihiro, she's gonna have to deal with her bouncing off the walls the whole night."
"Yep."
The Ultimate Lucky Student spared another glance around the room. By now, most of their friends had also arrived and were partaking in the festivities. Sonia was currently playing Smash Bros with Hiyoko on the GameCube, being completely dominated by the princess who had admitted to never playing the game.
She was wearing a royal blue kimono-style dress, with periwinkle-colored flowers. She was wearing a matching obi, tied into a butterfly bow behind her back. It extended down to a mini skirt with a ruffled hem, decorated with tiny stars. She was wearing thigh-high cornflower blue stockings and wooden sandals. Her hair had been left out of its usual ponytail, decorated with a blue flower. The look on her face as she mashed buttons made Akira feel sorry for whoever had to deal with her anger later on.
Kiyotaka and Mondo were at the billiard table, currently having a game. Hina was watching them play, but they had gotten very into it, hardly taking a break between turns. The game went by so fast that she wasn't sure who was even winning. The Ultimate Swimmer had been enjoying herself as well, a box of donuts in her grasp. Hikari and Mahiru were nearby, playing a game of Call of Duty, it seemed as though the photographer was doing a good job beating Hikari, who had a look of disappointment on his face.
Chihiro was playing a game with Ibuki, the pair repeatedly mashing buttons. Mikan was learning to bowl with Peko, who had decided to teach her. She was playing in the other lane, getting strike after strike with ease. The only other person currently in the Arcade was Kyoko, who seemed a little lost, not knowing what to do.
"Hey, I'm gonna go talk to Kyoko. She looks really out of place here," Akira said, causing Hajime to chuckle.
"Yes, she does. It's clear she's not used to big events like this. It's good she at least has one friend who cares about her."
"She's an interesting person, I'll tell you that much. She can be a bit abrasive but hell, she's honest," he replied. He finished the last of his soda, tossing his cup in a nearby trash can.
Kyoko looked up at him as he approached, an unreadable look on her face. He gave her a nod, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "Not a party person?"
"I wouldn't say that. I just haven't had the chance to attend one," she replied, glancing away from him. "If I'm being honest, I'd rather spend my time investigating the school. See if we can find some clues about the Mastermind, anything we can use."
"Now Kyoko, what did I say about giving the ol heat meat a break?"
She sighed, glaring at him for a moment. "I can't just relax, you know. Not when people are plotting things."
His smile dropped, causing him to straighten up a bit. "Lemme guess, Byakuya talked to you too? Probably filled your head with lies?"
"I'm not exactly sure they are lies, not when there's an overabundance of evidence. I'm gonna ask you once, and please, be honest with me. Do you know anything about the murder cases of Ryouma and Oryou?"
His face hardened a bit when he heard those names. He felt his throat tightening a bit, but he was quick to relax, looking away from her. "That's something I'm not allowed to speak about, Kyoko. It could end up costing me a lot."
"So it's true then?"
"Whatever you found, whatever Byakuya told you? It isn't the full story. And it's something I am not going to delve into. There are things about the world that have to be kept secret, because if the wrong person finds out, well… that would be bad."
"How bad?"
"Very bad… Perhaps one day I'll speak about what I know, perhaps I won't. Just know that you can trust me with anything. We all have secrets we have to keep, and this one is a secret that I have to keep with my life." he said, a firm look on his face.
"I see… I suppose you have the right to keep your secrets. After all, I haven't been forthcoming with my own. But, word of advice? I'd look into parting with a partial explanation unless you want Byakuya to use it against you. We both know how dangerous he is."
"I wouldn't worry too much about him. Something tells me he's going to be knocked down a peg or two soon." the young man replied, shrugging off her concern. "Anyway, I have some time before Sayaka comes up, do you want to play a game or something?"
"I'm not exactly the best at video games," she admitted, shifting her gaze away, looking slightly embarrassed.
"Don't worry about that, everyone sucks when they start out. You just have to find something you are good at. Do you have any interest in anything? RPGs, Racing Games, Music and Rhythm Games, Fighting Games?"
"None of those," she replied, causing him to frown.
"There has to be something…"
"Like I said, I'm not the best with video games. I never had the time to sit down and play anything."
"Hm… fair enough, I guess. We can continue talking, if that's alright? Getting to know each other would at least help us build trust with each other."
Kyoko didn't say anything, a pensive look on her face. Akira couldn't tell if she was annoyed or if she was considering her options. She was a very hard person to read after all. After a moment, she seemed to relent. "I suppose we can chat a bit longer. What would you like to know about me?"
"Let's start with an easy one. What school did you used to go to, before you came here?"
"Before I came here…?" she asked. She remained silent for a moment before answering. "I guess I was living abroad."
"Abroad? Was it an exchange program? Or did your parents work overseas or something?"
"My parents? I suppose?"
Confusion spread over his face. "Why all the question marks?"
"Okay, anyway," he said, breaking his silence. "So you were living abroad because of your parent's job. So what kind of work do they do?"
"Foreign government? Top secret clearance?"
"More question marks. Okay, so he does top-secret work for governments… Sounds like an interesting kind of guy." he thought to himself.
"Anyway, I kept up my end of the conversation, now it's your turn." Kyoko boldly said. Akira was taken aback by her statement, completely surprised. "I'd like to know more about the Reserve Course. It's something that I'd like to understand a bit more."
"The Reserve Course…?" he asked, a bit surprised by her request. "There's not much for me to share, really. The Reserve Course is the same as your average high school. Though it is far more brutal in a sense. The entrance exams are very hard, you aren't getting in with anything less than a 4. If you get in, you gotta constantly keep your grades up to stick around."
"I see… and what about the fees?"
"Those are terrible. The fees are paid in 3-month increments, four times a year. Each three-month period used to be one hundred and fifty thousand yen. But they increased them to five hundred thousand. The yearly fee rose to 2 million yen by the time I was selected for the lottery."
"That's astronomically expensive. Why would you willingly pay that ridiculous fee?"
"It's simple really. I paid those fees because I wanted a diploma from Hope's Peak Academy. People who graduate from here are guaranteed a good future. Talented individuals are trained in their talents and set up to lead a great life of success. But for people without talent, like me? Well… that piece of paper would guarantee us getting into a good college."
"Seems like a waste of time to me. What's the point in overworking yourself if all you'll get is a piece of paper? Not only that, what's to stop whatever college you apply to from denying your application?" Kyoko asked, causing Akira to frown.
"You've got a point there. I guess it was more of a personal matter," he admitted, rubbing his neck. "My foster parents weren't really the best. They didn't really pick me as much as I was placed in their care. They already had a son, Takumi. He was the golden child of the family, so everything was granted to him. It made me feel abandoned in what was supposed to be my family."
He let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. "Imagine being an orphan, being adopted, and still being ignored by your foster family. Of course, you'd want to do something to get them to notice you. To make you stand out from the crowd. Getting accepted into Hope's Peak would certainly do that."
"So you told them you were accepted into Hope's Peak, but they likely didn't believe you. After all, you were just an average person. That's why you decided to join the Reserve Course?"
"Essentially, yes. I had to work during my free time though, so I sacrificed everything. Video games, friends, sleep. I had to allot time to study and every other free moment, I was working." Akira said.
"Hm… What about your sister, where does she fit into all of this?"
"Maki wasn't adopted by my foster parents. She's not related to me in any way, she just took care of me when we were orphans. She did that with all of the older kids. I'm only two years younger than her, and I met her when I was six. She was eight and apparently had been childrearing since she was 4. She just had a knack for it."
"I see…" Kyoko replied, a look of understanding on her face. "I assume she also helped you with those fees?"
"Yep. She works as a child caregiver. Even as a high school student, she managed to get a good job at a daycare. Her boss was claiming her to be the Ultimate Child Caregiver, but I guess she wasn't special enough for this place."
"I'd say that's a good thing, she isn't involved in this game. Although, I suppose being captured and taken as a hostage isn't any better," she said, lips pressed into a thin line. "Anything else you can share about the Reserve Course?"
"It's completely separate from the Main Course. It has its own Headmaster and normal teachers as well. Most of the funding for the school comes from fundraisers held by the Steering Committee, or so I've heard. It's a typical three-year system, oh, and final exams are the ones that matter, though even if you fail, as long as you pay the school a huge sum, they'll expunge your grade and let you continue attending."
"Interesting." she simply said. "Anything else?"
"Uh… I can't really think of anything else. Oh… there's about 2,370 students in the Reserve Course, give or take. Attendance seemed to be going up. I guess it was because so many people admired the academy. They had just finished the New School Building after all."
"New School Building?"
"Yeah… were you not aware of that?" Akira asked. She shook her head, the expression on her face practically begging him to elaborate. "Well, apparently the new building started being prepared after Class 76's Graduation. By the time I joined the Reserve Course, the new building had been inaugurated and the current classes were moving to it. Do you… not remember that?"
"That's beside the point," she replied. "If the new building was recently opened, then that means this one was closed down. Perhaps that's why all of the windows were originally boarded up. To prevent damage or people breaking into it."
"That makes a lot of sense," Akira replied, ignoring the fact she had changed the conversation. He narrowed his eyes, thinking back about the other things they had discovered. "But then, how does The Parade factor into all of this? Students of Hope's Peak Academy were protesting for some reason or another. Could it have been the closure of the Old School Building?"
"I doubt students would protest about that. Perhaps it was due to the fees being raised? After all, you did say they went up to 2 million yen. Maybe the Reserve Course grew tired of such an exorbitant tuition fee and decided to protest about it."
"Would that be enough for the Steering Committee to shut down the school though? There's something that isn't adding up. Then there's that Tragedy that Monokuma mentioned. The one where the Ultimate Physicist supposedly lost their life."
"More questions that need answers. I'll be sure to make a note of this in my personal notebook, I recommend you do the same. We might not be close to figuring out this mystery but at least these clues will help us out." the lavender-haired girl replied.
"Right… Yeah, I'll do that when I can."
Kyoko looked away for a moment, focusing on something just out of the edge of the Arcade's entrance. This was of course the Ultimate Gambler, who looked vastly different to how she usually did. Gone was her normal outfit, and in its place was a fancier-looking dress. It was black and color, with long ruffled sleeves and decorative white cuffs. She was wearing a black leather corset, with red roses stitched onto the sides. It extended to her knees, consisting of many ruffled layers, each one decorated with bright red thread and shining white pearls. She wore flower-themed fishnet stockings and black-heeled slippers.
Her hair was also out of its usual drills, being split into even ponytails, completely straightened. She wore a small black hat on her head, with a decorative black veil. She looked paler than normal, her crimson eyes being accented by her black makeup, her lips were as red as rose, curved into a small smile. She looked nothing like the woman they were used to seeing. In fact, her appearance elicited an eerie feeling from Akira.
She smiled at the young man, folding her hands before herself. "Good evening, Akira, Kyoko. Are you enjoying yourselves?"
"Sort of," he said, giving her a once over. "What's up with the dress?"
"Oh, this? I've been waiting for a special occasion to wear this. After all, you have to dress your best when you are going to have an exciting night." she replied.
"R-right, of course," he said, ignoring the feeling her words gave him.
"Well, it seems as though you two are busy, so I'm not going to take up your time. For now, I think I'll observe Mondo and Taka's billiards game. It seems like an interesting affair." the gambler said. Without another word, the woman left, heading across the Arcade.
Neither said a thing after she had left. Akira just watched her for a moment, not knowing what to say. There was nothing he really could say. He felt the hairs on his neck standing on end, a foreboding feeling washing over him. "What the hell did she mean by exciting night? It's just a party, after all."
"We're surrounded by a rather peculiar bunch of people, aren't we?"
"Yes, we are."
In a nearby Arcade machine, the Ultimate Musician stood, mashing buttons repeatedly. Next to her sat Chihiro, who was in a similar state, moving her joystick around, timing combos and blocks expertly. After a moment, she ended up delivering the final strike, a smile on her face.
"FINISH HIM!"
"I'm sorry, Ibuki!" she said, inputting a command. Ibuki watched, a frown on her face as her character was brutally murdered.
"Liu Kang Wins. Fatality."
"Goddamn it, dude. How are you so good at this shit?"
"Me and my dad played a lot of old video games. We were hired by lots of places to install security systems. While he was doing that, I'd take a look at the cabinets. I managed to repair quite a lot of them." Chihiro said, giving Ibuki a smile. "It's actually thanks to a lot of the work that I did that the Video Game Player of the Century was found out to have cheated."
"Huh… no shit?"
"Mhmm. I was the one that figured out he used a Donkey Kong Jr. board instead of a regular Donkey Kong board," she said, looking back at the screen. "Though the aftermath was kind of a mess. I'd rather not get into the details."
"Still though, the fact that you learned how to play fighting games is interesting! I never would have thought about someone like you playing games like this!" the musician said. She let out a sigh, looking back at the screen.
"I played these a lot because the characters were so strong. I mean, look at Mortal Kombat. Some characters are able to dismember others with just a single pull. There were times I wished I was as strong as Liu Kang or Johnny Cage."
"Aw… but you don't need to be a rough and tough kinda gal. I think you're perfect just the way you are!" she said cheerfully. "You are actually a very strong person, Chihiro."
"I… I am?"
"Yeah! I mean… imagine having to survive in this kind of game? Having to see the awful kinds of things we are. You have the strength of will to keep moving, to live for your friends! I have full confidence that you'll make it outta this one alive!" Ibuki said, nodding her head confidently. "Mhmm! Yep~ I just know it."
"T-thanks for the vote of confidence, Ibuki. As much as I want to believe that, you never know. Someone could easily overpower me. Mondo has been giving me advice, and Hina is teaching me to swim but… I don't think I'll ever be as strong as them." she said, poking the joystick in front of her with her finger.
Ibuki crossed her arms, tilting her head a bit. "Hm… Even if you aren't, it doesn't matter! We all have our strengths. You have strength of mind! I mean, you can make sense of binary and stuff like that. All I can do is play guitar in funny ways… and every other instrument I guess."
"I suppose you have a point. Not everyone can do what I can." the programmer said, looking back at Ibuki. "Despite that, I'd want to at least become stronger. For myself. I've been a very frail person since I was young. It's actually the reason I…"
She paused, shaking her head. "Forget it, I'm not really ready to talk about it."
"Is it about you being a boy?"
Chihiro's eyes widened in shock, her jaw dropping in surprise. Her mouth opened and closed for a moment as she formulated words to say. Her shoulders dropped a bit, a frown appearing on her face. "How'd you find out?"
"Cuz I got crazy hearing."
"Huh?"
"Yeah! For whatever reason, I've been gifted with some hypersensitive hearing. I can distinguish who's who just from the tone of their voice. So naturally, when I heard a bit of a discrepancy in the bathroom, I kinda put the dots together." she said, causing Chihiro to give her a confused look. She rolled her eyes. "Boys pee standing up."
"W-well yeah, I know that but…"
"I realized you were a boy because of that."
Chihiro honestly didn't know what to say. She blushed a bit, looking away from her. "I see… that's embarrassing."
"Not really. So you chose to identify as a girl because you're weak?"
"Something like that. Everyone always made fun of how weak and frail I was. So I found it easier to just… start acting like a girl. My dad was very supportive, while my mom was concerned. After a while, she relented, deciding to raise me as a girl. But being here, seeing all of my friends dying around me… I want to get stronger. I want to be someone people can depend on, be proud of! I want to be just like Mondo, Taka, and Akira! Strong men who can save people in need!"
"Not all men are strong, you know? Some men are naturally weak too. And that's okay. You have to feel comfortable with who you are!"
"I know that… but I just want to do this for myself," she said firmly. "I've been pretending to be something I'm not for most of my life. I want to let go of that, to finally be myself. Not have to keep this facade. Even if I can't lift heavy things, even if I can't be muscular like Mondo or Taka, I just want to be strong for me… You know?"
Ibuki nodded, ruffling Chihiro's hair. "Totally understand ya, dude! I ain't gonna pressure you into anything, but maybe you should come clean about your secret! The first step to change who you are is to acknowledge that you have a problem!"
"Y-yeah… you're right. But I'm just not ready for that step yet," she admitted, an embarrassed look on her face. "Speaking of problems, Ibuki, I've noticed you're drinking a lot of energy drinks recently."
"Oh, that? Yeah… I tend to do that when I'm short on energy. I've been so scared and stressed I just haven't been able to stop myself."
"I know, but it's really bad for you. Chugging so much caffeine is going to hurt your heart. Will you promise to cut back on those drinks?"
The Musician remained silent, a small smile forming on her face. "How about this? If you come clean to everyone about who you really are, I'll quit drinking Monster! Like cold turkey!"
"Huh? Oh, but that's too soon!"
"Sometimes you gotta rip the bandaid off, Chihiro!"
"I…" she sighed, nodding to herself. "Okay! I'll do it! Just… give me some time to prepare myself, mentally!"
"You got it! But don't keep me waiting too long~"
Across the Arcade, the Ultimate Mechanic was leaning back against the prize counter, a cup of soda in his grasp. He had been digging into the pizza, watching the others moving about the Arcade. Ibuki had been ducking and weaving through the spacious room, making sure everyone was having a good time. But for him, he was having anything but a good time.
He had been dragged there by her, and had been keeping himself busy tinkering with the machines. He managed to make the pizza machine work faster, so the supply of pizza wasn't going to run out any time soon. He had also managed to get some of the other Games that had been affected by the cold back online. Chihiro's help had been great, since she knew the inner workings of programming and managed to get the stubborn ones running. Despite that, he just wasn't in the mood for a party.
His mind had been on other things, or rather, on one person. The Ultimate Princess, who hadn't even directed a word to him. She had stepped up to the counter a few minutes before grabbing some drinks for herself and Hiyoko. She didn't even acknowledge him. To her, it was as if he didn't exist, and it hurt.
It hurt that someone would go so far out of their way to pretend they didn't exist. But he didn't blame her for acting like that. He had been a terrible person to her and she was in her right to ignore him. He just didn't know what to do anymore. He wanted to go back to his room, to just stay there and stay away from everyone else.
That wouldn't be possible, of course. If he spent too much time away from the others, they would assume he was plotting against them. He wanted to just leave, to get out of this academy and go home, away from it all. That was easier said than done. He grabbed a nearby soda bottle, pouring some more into the cup, subtly wishing it was alcohol.
"Hey man, are you doing alright?"
Kazuichi jumped a bit, giving Hikari a small smile. "Yeah man, I was just lost in thought."
"About what? Must have been depressing if it's got you looking like that."
"I'd rather not talk about it, man."
The graphic designer looked across the room, focusing on Sonia, who had been rapidly mashing buttons. She let out a cheer of joy, apparently having won her battle, while Hiyoko looked angry, squeezing her controller tightly. He looked back to the mechanic, frowning.
"I think I understand now. You're having trouble with Sonia, aren't you?"
"That obvious?"
"Yep. All of us noticed she wasn't talking to you anymore, not only that, but earlier, she outright ignored you. What happened between you two? She's nice to everyone."
Kazuichi sighed, taking a drink from his cup. "I was an ass, that's what. I was a bit too forward with her, and I accidentally pressured her into coming with us to the pool. I may have said a few things that made me look creepy, and I blamed her for murder, twice."
"Oof… yeah that'd do it," Hikari said, a cringe on his face. "I think I would behave the same way as her, if I'm being honest."
"Dude, I really don't need this sort of shit right now."
"I'm sorry!"
"Just forget about it."
Hikari frowned, an apologetic look on his face. "Kazuichi, I think you should try and talk to her. If you give her a true, heartfelt apology, then she'd likely forgive you. After that, you could either start fresh or just accept the fact that your relationship is damaged."
"Oh yeah? How do you suggest I do that? I don't exist to her anymore."
"You could write her a letter. Make sure it's as heartfelt as possible, and then when it's done, you can slip it under her doorway. Set up a time to speak face-to-face. That way, you'll have your thoughts gathered and you'll be able to truly, properly apologize." Hikari said firmly, giving him a no-nonsense look. "But it has to be from the heart, no lovey-dovey crap, no little hearts, no doodles, nothing. Just pure words. From the heart."
"Pure words from my heart, huh? I suppose that'd work. I did ask Akira to apologize to her for me, but something tells me what she said to him changed his perspective of me. Because that's what I need, other ruined relationships."
"You haven't really taken the time to get to know people. You gotta put yourself out there, have a chat with someone. The more you get to know your friends, the more you'll be able to connect! Like for instance, did you know that Akira used to have a Kawasaki Motorcycle? Or that Mahiru was inspired to be a photographer from her mother's war photos?"
"Really? I didn't know that!"
"And that's why you have to take the time to get to know your friends! That is how we'll beat this game, you know?"
The mechanic nodded, finishing his drink. "You're right! I've been far too focused on dumb shit. I acted like a creep toward Miss Sonia and that's why she hates me. So I have to put work into fixing what I've broken. It's like a machine! I gotta find the part that doesn't work and replace it with a new one!"
"Exactly… kinda."
The pink-haired boy gave Hikari a grin, patting his shoulder. "Hikari dude, I owe ya one! Thanks for cheering me up, man!"
"S-sure."
He quickly walked away, walking around the area where Sonia and Hiyoko were. He joined Mondo, Taka, and Celeste, who were hanging around the billiards table. Hina joined Hikari shortly after, following his gaze. "Did you say something to him? Ibuki said he's been depressed all day."
"All I told him was to write a heartfelt apology letter to Sonia. It's clear he cares a lot about her, but he's just… misguided in how he approached her." the graphic designer said, reaching for one of the pizza boxes. "I probably shouldn't have encouraged him, but I couldn't just stand here having fun while one of my friends is depressed!"
"You're a good person, you know that? I certainly wouldn't know how to approach something like that. I've never really had a boyfriend." she said, a look of embarrassment on her face.
"Really? I would have suspected a girl as pretty as you to have had at least one."
"Nope, I always put my foot in my mouth. Besides, a lot of the boys I've talked to just talk about my boobs and my body. I want a person who gets to know me for me. Preferably one who enjoys donuts." she said, earning a chuckle from the boy. "Bah! Who has time for that kinda crap anyway? We gotta focus on getting out of here!"
"Here here! How about once we get out of here, you and I go on a donut date to celebrate?" he asked, causing her to sputter.
"Huh?"
"Come on, it'd be fun! I know a few local bakeries that make some of the best donuts around!" he said, wrapping an arm around her waist. "You and I could go taste the donuts of the world! Money's no object either! I invested in crypto so I'm pretty loaded."
"I'll consider it if you buy me an entire store's worth of donuts."
"Consider it done! As long as you're happy, I'm happy! That's why I love doing the work that I do! Being a graphic designer, seeing people smile as I bring their ideas to life, it's very fulfilling!" he replied.
"Is drawing really that fun?"
"Sure is! It's tied directly to your imagination, after all. Seeing your drawings come to life is always nice! I could teach you how to draw, you know? Imagine designing your own donuts, and then having those designs made by a baker?" he asked, causing her to gasp, a look of excitement on her face.
"Is that a thing that people do?"
"Yep! Someone has to design the shape of donuts, especially those holiday ones!"
"Awesome! I'd love to learn to draw then! I never considered learning a more artistic skill. Given how I'm more muscle-brained than skilled." Hina said, rubbing her arm in embarrassment.
"Don't worry about that! Drawing is a lot easier than you can imagine, you just have to keep practicing. How about we head to the art room tomorrow? I'll make sure to drill the basics into your head. And if you do a good job, I'll make donuts~"
"Sold!"
Across the Arcade, an annoyed Ultimate Traditional Dancer, who set her controller down. She was sick of losing to Sonia. She had never expected a princess to be so skilled with fighting games, but it seemed as though she was venting her frustrations. She was taking the game far more seriously than she had expected. She paused to open another pack of gummies, briefly glancing at the counter, tilting her head slightly.
"Wow, look at those two," she said, gesturing to the counter. Sonia followed her gaze, gasping a bit when she saw how close Hikari and Hina had gotten.
"There's no way! Are those two-"
"Who knows? I wouldn't let a guy put his arm around me like that. Maybe she's just easy to please."
"Oh, I doubt that. Hina seems like a fairly grounded person, swimming aside. I don't think she'd agree to date someone without a proper first date."
The blonde dancer smirked, popping a few gummy bears into her mouth. "I bet you he offered her a box of donuts."
"Hiyoko, I certainly don't think she'd agree to that." she deadpanned, earning a shrug from her friend.
"I dunno, but if someone offered me a lifetime supply of gummy bears and confeito, I'd accept," she said, sitting up a bit. "Although, I am much too good for any guy. He'd have to be very special to even get close. Or you know, have a fat stack."
"Here I thought you'd look for someone who has traditional Japanese values."
"Eh… I kind of do. The thing is, I want to have someone in my life that isn't so focused on being traditional. Yes, tradition matters, but it isn't everything. For me, the perfect man would be someone that puts family first, that treats me as an equal. Someone who isn't afraid to stand up for the weaker man." she said, sitting back a bit.
"So you value people who aren't afraid to stand up for what is right? To defend weaker people?" Sonia asked. Hiyoko nodded, savoring her candy for a moment before speaking.
"I was bullied a lot as a child, all because of my family name, because I'm the next head of the Saionji Clan. Honestly, I'd love to just be… whisked away, taken somewhere else. I love what I do, I love dancing, but knowing I have to deal with my family… and knowing they might treat my kids the same way. It just doesn't make me hopeful for the future."
"I'm sure it won't be so bad. We all have overbearing parents. Mine are quite loving, but being the princess of an entire kingdom can be daunting. I was trained in so many different things, my life was always busy. I was taught to put my kingdom before myself. Sometimes I wondered what it would be like if I wasn't born a princess."
"Hm… you ever think of abdicating?"
"Oh no… Even if I felt that way, I truly love my kingdom. Seeing the children enjoying themselves during the culture festivals, practicing our traditions, consuming a piece of Skong during the yearly Adult ritual… it's all so wonderful!"
"What the fuck is a Skong?"
Sonia let out a giggle, muffling it with her hand. "It's a creature native to Novoselic. Children in Novoselic aren't considered adults unless they consume one. In my homeland, I was an adult at the age of 12."
"Really? Could you like… buy booze and shit?" Hiyoko asked curiously.
"No… the Kingdom still has laws to curb that kind of behavior. We are allowed to consume alcohol in a family setting. Like a wedding, or a party. But I can't just go to the local gas station and buy a beer." the princess replied.
"I see…" she paused for a moment, wiggling her eyebrows. "Does that mean you can get married and have sex at the age of 12?"
The Princess blushed, looking away from her. "No… the age of consent is still 16."
"Then what the hell is the point of the whole Skong thing? You're an adult but not really? It's kinda pointless."
"It's tradition, Hiyoko. I thought you'd understand something like that."
"I mean… I do but… it's confusing. Forgive me for struggling to grasp the concept. I suppose I should learn more about the traditions around the world." the blonde girl replied, stretching her arms above her head. A look of realization flashed across her face, a genuine smile appearing on her face. "Oh! What about traditional dances? Are there any of those?"
"We've got plenty! The Couple's Dance for newlyweds is one of the most traditional dances that exist. It's the final act of the courting process, when the newly wedded husband presents his prized Golden Makango to his bride." she said, clasping her hands together. "Oh, it's just so beautiful! My Father blesses the marriage, and even has the wife cut the first slice of cake with his personal sword."
"Really? Will you teach me how to perform it?"
"I'd love to but… Well, I don't really know all the steps. You'd think I would, considering eventually I'll have to marry and produce heirs for the Kingdom. But regretfully, I don't know all of it. I only know the Wife's part."
"Aw, that's a shame. Still, I wouldn't mind learning that part… I can teach you some Japanese dances if you'd like?" Hiyoko asked, earning a vigorous nod from the princess. "Great! This'll be so much fun~"
"Sorry, I'm late guys! I was having a hard time getting into this thing."
The Ultimate Pop-Sensation stepped into the Arcade, an apologetic look on her face. She was wearing a bright pink, sleeveless dress, with white ruffles. She was wearing a dark pink ribbon around her neck, along with a sakura blossom pin on her collar. It had a layered skirt, with white and pink ruffles. She was wearing a pair of knee-high white boots. Her vibrant blue hair was tied into a side-ponytail with a bright pink bow. She looked absolutely stunning.
Akira, who had been busy playing billiards, looked up mid-break, missing the cue ball entirely. His cue ended up ripping the cloth, the tearing sound cutting through the silence. He looked back at the table, blanching a bit at the side of the tear. He looked up after a moment, seeing the amused look on Celeste's face. He glared at her but that only seemed to make her even more amused.
"Wooo finally! Sayaka's here, the real party can begin!" Ibuki cried, grabbing the girl's wrist, pulling her toward the center of the Arcade. "Come on! Have something first, relax a bit! We can begin the main event soon!"
"Don't hold back on my account."
Much to their surprise, the Ultimate Affluent Progeny, Byakuya Togami, had also shown up. He looked around the Arcade for a moment, arms crossed in disdain. "I cannot believe this is how you all choose to spend your time."
"You don't have to stay here if you don't want to," Hina said, glaring at the heir. "Just go to the library if you want."
"Believe me, I would. Sadly, that isn't an option, I was told to be here by the bear."
"Thaaaaat right~"
As if on cue, Monokuma arrived, a bright bubbly smile on his face. He looked around, hand on his chin as he admired his surroundings. "Man… I didn't think this place would look even more like a damn Freddy Fazbear's, but here we are! I totally hate that buy, by the way. I did the whole animatronic bear thing so much better than him."
"What do you want? We're sort of hosting this party here to you know, forget the shit you're putting us through." Hiyoko hissed, glaring at him.
"I'm here because you all decided to host a party in my school without inviting me! The Master of Head!" he said, clearing his throat. "But we'll have to rectify that huh? All of you are having so much fun playing all of these games I've provided, but now it's time we play one of my games!"
At the sound of this, the whole room fell silent. Hardened expressions appeared on some faces while others had looks of genuine fear on them. Akira stepped forward, fist clenched tightly as he glared at the bear. "Can you please just get out of here? Just for once, let us live our lives in peace. Isn't that what you want here?"
"Oh buddy, I don't really want that. You all know what I want. Sadly, this is non-negotiable. So! Everybody, vamoose to Classroom 3-C right this instant. Attendance is mandatory and if you don't show up, you'll be punished!" he said, flashing his claws for good measure.
He left shortly after, the silence once again returning, the only sounds coming from the arcade cabinets. Ibuki frowned, a look of sadness on her face. "Dammit… I wanted to host this party to forget about this game, not be forced into it again."
"Evidently, the Mastermind is a cunning foe. He was probably inspired by the fun you were all having. Regardless, whatever it is, we must adhere to his demands, lest we find ourselves punished like Hiro and Junko." Byakuya said, adjusting his glasses as he turned to leave. Sayaka grabbed the 8 Ball from the table, about to throw it when Akira caught her wrist.
"No no no no… don't do that."
"Come on, Akira, just one throw! He's not gonna die from it!"
"We can't take that risk, okay? Sheesh, girl. Hold back on your anger." he said, wrenching the ball from her grasp, placing it back on the table. "Things will be fine, let's just get this shit over with."
She let out a sigh, but nodded. She took a hold of his hand as they left the Arcade, following the others up to the third floor.
It didn't take them long to get there. The moment they did, they were greeted by something completely different. Gone were the desks that had once been stored there. The boxes that had been on the ground had been neatly stacked at the back of the room. There was a round table in the middle of the room, with eighteen chairs positioned around it in a circle, leaving a space open for Monokuma, who was standing at the podium. No doubt the spot one of Hope's Peak's esteemed teachers would have stood. Each chair had a golden plaque on it, bearing the name of who it belonged to. It didn't take long for Akira to notice they were in the same order as the Class Trial Court Room.
Monokuma clapped his hands. "Hurry it up! I ain't got all night here!"
With no other choice, the eighteen students took their seats, each sharing a look with their neighbor as they settled in. Monokuma cleared his throat, pulling out a retractable pointer, flicking it outward almost like a police baton.
"Now then, I'd like to welcome you to a very special game I like to call Слоты! That's Russian for-"
"Slots," Sonia said, immediately understanding the game they were in.
"That's correctamundo! A Golden Star for the Platinum Princess!" the bear cheerfully said, clearing his throat. "Ahem, now the rules are quite simple! The eighteen of you have defied all odds and have managed to survive! So I felt the need to give you all a massive reward!"
Pressing the button on his remote, the table opened up, revealing a roulette board. Though it looked normal, it was anything but normal. There were an even number of black and white slots, along with a Green Slot and a Red Slot. Akira looked closely, noticing it had exactly 26 slots, with 24 of them being black, while one was red and the other was green. Each one had a number from 1-24, all except the Red and Green slots. He looked up, seeing the nervous looks on everyone's faces.
"This is the magical Monokuma Roulette! It's been divided into 26 slots! Each one belongs to one of your captives! But the keen among you must have noticed the red and green slots, right?"
"Of course we have, it's not like we're blind!" Kazuichi said, sitting up in his chair. "What are they for?"
"Glad you asked, my friend! Those two slots are beary special, puhu! The Green One is the winning slot! That's the one that you'll want to aim for. Get the ball on that one, and you'll set all of your captives free!"
This caused everyone to straighten up, looking very surprised. "Buuuut… if you land on the Red Spot, well… that's when the fun begins. All of your hostages will be… well… they'll be executed."
Those words were enough to throw the room into panic. Akira kept his gaze firmly locked on the roulette wheel in front of him, a myriad of thoughts racing across his mind. "What the hell is this? Just to make us suffer?"
"Seems counterproductive. I thought you had those hostages to use as bargaining chips for us. Why would you risk us potentially winning and freeing them from your hold?" Kyoko asked, a look of curiosity on her face.
"An excellent question. Let's just say, I felt the need to risk it all in a high-stakes game. It's a gambit, you see. Besides, do you know how rough it is to take care of 23 hostages? The room and board is astronomical, and imagine how much food they need? Not to mention medical expenses, sheesh." the bear said, shaking his head.
"Maybe you should let them go if they're that much of a pain to you," Taka said, glaring at the bear in front of him. "They are innocent, they shouldn't be pulled into whatever it is you are doing to us."
"Yawn, don't try to make me feel emotions, Mister Moral Compass. I've got no morals to speak of! Oh by the way, I should mention, the hostages belonging to the dead students are included in this as well. Just because their loved ones are dead doesn't mean they get to miss out!" He continued, shifting his gaze toward the Ultimate Nurse. "That also means Mikan finally has someone to be used against her! That's right, you will be in charge of Komaru Naegi! Makoto's little sister. I really hope she doesn't die, because she's got quite a colorful mouth! How's that for a slice of fried gold?"
"H-huh? But that's… No! I can't do that!"
"But you're the Ultimate Nurse? Aren't you supposed to be responsible for the lives of others?!"
"None of them are my patients! They're innocent in all of this!" she screamed back, though Monokuma looked completely unphased.
"You're sadistic. How dare you force us into such a disgusting game?! And with innocents as well!" Hikari barked, glaring at the mechanical bear.
"Oh please, don't give me that shit. You know as well as I do that they deserve what they're getting. Such is the fate of those related to an Ultimate Student." he said, snapping his fingers. "Now, everyone place your right hand beneath the table… chop-chop~"
"Why if we don't?" Celeste asked curiously.
"I'll chop it off, and I won't hesitate either."
One by one, everyone placed their hand beneath the table. Pressing another button, Monokuma activated another machine. Loud metallic clangs filled the classroom, as everyone's wrists were bound onto the table by black and white bracelets. Akira tried to pull his hand, but found that it was firmly in place. He could still open and close it, but he couldn't do much more than that.
"These are also part of the game. This table was designed specifically for a game like this. I'm sure you can feel it with your fingers, but right at the tips, you'll be able to feel a button. This is what activates our little game. But to prevent someone from prematurely playing the round, only those who feel a vibration on their wrist will be able to activate it."
He pressed another button, causing the floor a few feet away from them to open up. From it rose a very familiar-looking slot machine. Monokuma pointed to it with his pointer, grinning like a maniac. "This is something you should all be familiar with! Our special slot machine! This is the main part of our game. When one of you feels the vibration, you'll have the choice to either press it, or pass, at the cost of a shock. If you do choose to activate it, it will select someone at random. That's when the fun begins!"
"W-What do you mean by that?" Sayaka nervously asked.
"Glad you asked, my favorite most ultimate idol~ . Whoever it lands on will have to make a beary difficult choice. They'll have to spin the punishment roulette! Depending on who it lands on, they'll have to make a choice! Whether they take a punishment or they give it to the hostage it lands on!"
He remained silent, drinking the moment in with a happy sigh. "Doesn't that put things into perspective, eh? The fact that you have the life of a total stranger in your hands. Imagine if it lands on your own hostage? You'll have to live with the fact that you killed the person who means the most to you, forever~"
"Why…?"
"Hm?"
"Why are you doing this? Do you not get enough despair from our suffering? We've lost five friends already… and that still isn't enough for you?" Akira asked, glaring at the bear. "Now you've got to put us in this game… to make us choose between the life of a stranger or punishment? What kind of sick bastard are you?"
"You should know that already, Mr. Ultimate Lucky Student. I'm the kind of person that feeds on your suffering, and gives the gift of despair to mankind as a whole. Because you Ultimates need to be kicked down a peg. Who knows? Maybe your Ultimate Luck will come in handy in this game…" he said, looking back at the slot machine. "Or maybe not! I look forward to the results!"
"What about slot 24?" Kyoko asked, looking up from the board. "There were 23 of us originally in this game of yours. But the Class Trial Court Room has an extra stand. Furthermore, there is a 24th slot on this roulette board. So, who does it belong to?"
"That slot? It belongs to someone but they're not important right now. I'm afraid I'm not ready to part with that secret yet. Now enough dilly-dallying! It's time to start this little shindig~"
He flipped his remote around pressing the button. Akira grit his teeth, but felt nothing from his bracelet. He looked around the table, no one saying a word. When the machine didn't move, the bear let out a chuckle. "So, I take it our first person isn't going to take the chance?"
He was met with silence, a disappointed look on his face. "Fine, I'll consider this a pass."
Mahiru let out a cry of pain, clenching her hand tightly on the table as the shock passed through her. She let out a sigh, glaring at Monokuma. "Good try, but you aren't going to get me to play your game."
"You'll have to eventually, hehehe~ Now on to our next choice~"
The mechanical bear waited for a few seconds, once again frowning. "Come on! Aren't you going to take the chance? What if you land on the Green slot?"
"What if we land on the Red one? This is a chance none of us is going to take." Hikari glowered, giving the bear a firm look. "Consider this a pass."
The graphic designer was met with a shock, far stronger than Mahiru's was. He took a couple of deep breaths, grinning. "That wasn't so bad!"
"This is not going the way I thought it would. Think about~ This is the chance of a lifetime, you'll be able to cut back, let go of your worries, and set them free. Wouldn't you want that? Think about it would you?"
Much to the surprise of everyone, the slot machine became active, causing them all to sit up. Akira looked around the room, a look of anger on his face. "What the hell? Who pressed it?"
"You're an idiot! Goddamn it, can't you see our friends and loved ones are in danger?" the Ultimate Biker shouted, slamming his fist on the table. "What the hell?!"
"I'm sorry! I can't risk my brother being threatened! He's the only person I got in my life." Hina said, tears brimming her eyes. The slot machine finally stopped, landing on Hiyoko's face. The monochrome bear turned to her, giving her a grin.
"Well well, the Ultimate Traditional Dancer. You know, I've seen videos of your dances, they're very beautiful. As I understand it, your father was the one who promoted your dances in the United States. He's from Minnesota, isn't he? Is he a Vikings Fan?"
"Fuck you."
"Oh sweetheart, you're attractive as hell but I have standards! Enough with the jokes… are you going to spin the wheel or are you going to take the punishment? Think about it, you have one shot, one opportunity, to set your loved ones free. Will you capture it? Or let it slip?" he asked, smirking at her. "Wanna spin the wheel?"
"I'm not going to fall for your whims. Whatever you want to do, you do it to me. You leave my Daddy and everyone else out of this." the dancer hissed, a look of anger on her face. Monokuma rolled his eyes.
"Alrighty, you said I could do it."
He jumped behind the podium for a moment, emerging with a blow torch in his grasp, along with what looked like a branding iron. He ignited the torch, holding the iron against the flame, watching with glee as it started to glow red hot. Hiyoko swallowed the lump in her throat, focusing on the iron in the bear's grasp.
"Last shot, I'm not one to give those you know. So how about it? You want to roll the roulette?" he asked.
"Hiyoko."
She looked at Akira, practically close to breaking into tears. He gave her a small smile. "We won't blame you if you choose to roll it."
"It isn't about that… this is something we have to do, right? Because we're being held against our will. Living with the death of a loved one, even if they aren't related to me… I couldn't bear it. It's alright…" she said, glancing at Hina. "I don't blame you either, Hina, so don't cry."
"I'm sorry, Hiyoko… I'm so sorry."
"Enough talk, it's punishment time~" Monokuma cheerfully cried. With a single swipe of his claw, he tore part of her kimono open, exposing some of her breast, and without hesitation, pressed the iron right on her skin.
Hiyoko's screams tore through the room, the bear was standing on her hand, forcing her to stay in place as he continued to press the brand harder against her skin. The smell of burning flesh filled the room, accompanied by the bear's sadistic laughter. He pulled it away after a full minute, blowing on it, a chortle leaving his lips.
"Damn honey, now you look smashing! Hope you like my face on your titty, hehe~"
"You sick Fuck!" Taka shouted, eyes wide and filled with anger. He slammed his fist on the table, glaring at the bear. "How dare you violate her in such a perverse way?"
"Violate? I did no such thing. Unlike you lot, I happen to value the purity of women, I would never take that away. I merely punished, she agreed to it." he said with a shrug, glancing back at the traditional dancer, whose breathing had become ragged. She picked her face up, tears rolling down her face.
"You'll get yours… Whoever is controlling you… you will rue the day you messed with us."
"Threaten me all you want, Missy. But I'm the one in control here," he said, returning to the podium, remote tightly gripped. "Now then, let's continue with our next target!"
Much like before, the slot machine started to spin. No one said a word this time around, they all just stared at it, waiting until it landed on someone's face. That target ended up being Kiyotaka. The Ultimate Moral Compass straightened up in his seat, staring at the bear with no hesitation on his face.
"I am not spinning the wheel."
"Ugh… come on! I went through all the trouble of setting this up for you. Ah… but wait, you aren't motivated enough, are you? Let me fix that." the mechanical bear said, pressing a button on his remote.
The chalkboard behind him slowly opened up, being replaced by what looked like a black screen. In an instant, 23 different camera feeds filled the screen, each one showing the same thing. A person bound to a chair, their faces filled with fear, anguish, confusion, and for some, sheer anger. The remaining students gasped, some looking away.
"M-mother, Father!" Sonia cried, seeing her parents bound together to a metal post. Two men were standing in front of them, rifles aimed at their faces. They wore Monokuma-themed masks, covering the entirety of their head. She turned back to the bear, growling at him. "You… I will make sure you suffer for everything you have been doing to us. The entire might of Novoselic shall come down on you like a rolling thunder!"
"Threaten me all you want sweetheart, but they mean nothing. I hear Novoselic isn't as strong as it once was, these days. Kinda in a poor state given the fact their King and Queen are my personal playthings, hehe." he said, turning back to Kiyotaka. "So, what'll it be, kiddo? Punishment? Or do you take your chances?"
"You once said we were being punished for some sin that we committed against you, no? Then punish me for that great sin. You leave my father out of this. It is my burden to bear, the cross I shall carry." he said firmly.
"Funny you should mention crosses."
Rather than the branding iron he had, he reached for a different one, this one bearing a cross. Much like the other one, he heated it up until it was red hot. "I hope you and Jesus get along well because this one is gonna be with ya for your short unimaginably painful life!"
He leaped forward, landing on the back of Kiyotaka's chair. Without much fanfare, the bear pressed the iron right against his shoulder blade. Kiyotaka didn't even flinch, keeping his jaw tightly clenched as the iron burned away his clothing, swearing his flesh. Though he had on a brave face, the tears of absolute agony were rolling down his cheeks, hardly contained.
Monokuma moved back onto the table, looking disappointed. "Wow? Not even a whimper? You are much stronger than I thought you'd… wait a minute… oh dude did you just piss yourself?"
He let out a laugh. "That's so gross!"
"Ignore him, bro! You took that shit like a champion!" Mondo cheered, giving his friend a thumbs up. "Don't let that psychotic bastard get to you!"
"I will not, don't you worry. Regretfully, it does seem like I couldn't hold it in. Apologies everyone."
"You have nothing to apologize for, Taka," Peko said, shifting her gaze toward the bear. "How long do you intend for this game to go, hm?"
"As long as it takes! This game is designed to make you feel despair."
"Do whatever you like, you won't elicit even a tear from me." Byakuya boldly claimed, a look of pride on his face. "I shall not fall to your theatrics nor shall I be punished."
"Do you intend to continue acting proud? With sweat pouring down your face? Byakuya, darling, I can see the worry in your eyes. You are scared for your hostage, aren't you? Why don't you point him out to us?" Celeste asked, glancing at the screen. "Is it the gruff-looking old man? The pink-haired woman with the mole on her face? What about that silver-haired girl who's looking at the screen with the ferocity of a lion? Or could it be the old man dressed in a fancy suit?"
"Why don't you shut your fucking mouth? I bet you are enjoying this, aren't you? You are the type to have fun with this sort of game."
"Trust me, I do not intend to fall to the whims of this madman. That being said, this is a game and it is one that I do not intend to lose," she said, glancing at the screen, her gaze focusing on the plump feline currently kept in a kennel, a look of worry on her face.
"Guys come on! We have to stay positive! I know things aren't going well for us now, but there's no point in giving the bear what he wants." Ibuki said, trying to remain hopeful.
"Sorry, Ibuki… but I find it hard to stay positive if we're forced to suffer in pain," Hajime said, bowing his head. "This is fucked, man."
"P-please… we just… h-have to k-keep hope!" Chihiro spoke through her tears, sniffling a bit.
"What's the point in having hope? Let's turn that into bone-crushing despair!" Monokuma said, pressing the button. This time around, the slot machine remained quiet, no one taking the bait. He let out a frown. "And we had a good streak going."
"Gaaah!"
"Kyoko!" Akira cried. The lavender-haired girl clenched her hand tightly, taking a deep breath to steady herself. "Are you okay?"
"N-nothing I c-can't handle."
The next few minutes were spent much the same way, with no one choosing the press the button, the shocks becoming harder and harder. Some people managed to get two shocks while others had managed to receive none. Monokuma seemed to be getting annoyed, slamming his pointer on the table.
"Dammit! What the hell is this?"
"You can't force us to play your game, asshole." Sayaka boldly spat, glaring at the bear, a smirk on her face. "Receiving a painful shock is much more manageable than your petty threats."
"Is that so?" he muttered, reaching for something on the podium. It turned out to be a radio, themed just like him. He pressed the button on it, clearing his throat. "Gentlemen, feel free to get a little feisty."
The 18 Ultimates were forced to watch the gunmen attacking their loved ones, striking them with the butt of their weapons, and at times, even their fists. Akira locked eyes with the screen showing his sister. She hardly flinched from the strikes she got, her eyes still locked on the camera. He could tell she was trying to break free from her bindings, but was unable to. After a moment, Monokuma told them to stop, turning back to the students.
"Will the shocks be manageable now, Miss Ultimate Pop-Sensation?"
She looked away for a moment, only for her eyes to fall on the corner of the screen, where four girls, who were dressed similarly to her, were all chained to a wall. Akira placed a hand on her shoulder, giving it a small squeeze. She sniffled a bit, but remained silent.
"Now then… we can't keep playing this kind of game. I think it's time someone spun that wheel… So! The next person who decides to pass is going to get punished!" the bear said with a grin. "Think about it, would you?"
"Think about it? You aren't giving us a choice, you fucking asshole." Kazuichi hissed angrily. "What the fuck do you get out of all of this, huh?"
"Despair! You know this, Pinkie! That is all I want in the end! Let's start the next round!"
Akira held his breath, expecting his bracelet to buzz, but was instead greeted by the sound of the slot machine. Everyone stared at it with bated breath, watching as it slowly selected a person. It fell on Sonia's face, the girl stiffening a bit. Monokuma turned to her, smiling at her.
"Miss Ultimate Princess! Step right up, would you take your chance and spin the roulette? Or do you want to take punishment? Hm? You know… you have very pretty eyes. It'd be a shame if someone were to take one out."
"Don't you dare threaten her like that, you bastard!" Hajime shouted, glaring at the bear, who only broke into laughter.
"Oh this is rich, imagine being a talentless hack and thinking you can defend a princess of all people? Buddy, she's a grown woman, she can make her own choices!" he said, spinning his pointer to the princess. "So, will you take a chance? I'm getting desperate here!"
"If I were to abstain, what awaits me?"
"A burning hot knife in your eye."
She sighed, looking around the table. "I'm sorry, everyone."
The monochrome bear was practically foaming at the mouth, watching the Ultimate Princess spin the roulette. He handed her the ball, and she waited for a moment before tossing it in. They all watched as it spun around, clinking against the edges of the slot until it finally landed on the number 13. Monokuma let out a grin.
"Congratulations! The Ultimate Princess's ball has landed on slot 13! That one belongs to Haruo Souda!"
"Dad!" Kazuichi shouted, eyes locked on the screen. He struggled against his restraint, glaring at the bear. "You bastard! Let him go!"
"No can do, bud. Now then, Princess, you gotta make a choice here. Do you take the punishment or do you give it to the hostage?"
"I-"
"Sonia you better not."
"Kazuichi, I can't just let him mutilate my face! I do not deserve this!"
"Neither does my father!" he shouted, glaring at her. "You said you were a princess before a person, right? That you care about others? Then why don't you take one for the team?"
"What the hell is wrong with you, Kazuichi?" Akira barked, grabbing the man's attention. "How could you hold this on her, huh? I thought you cared about her, are you seriously asking her to shove a fucking knife in her face?"
"This has nothing to do with that! I just don't want my father to get hurt!"
"And I don't want to lose an eye. This is unfair for the both of us." Sonia replied, shoulders shaking as a dam of tears spilled from her eyes. "I don't want to do anything."
"Well, you must, because if you don't, then I shall take matters into my own hands." Monokuma said, smirking. "Or you could take another crack at the roulette."
"Yes, yes please, I'll take anything. I do not wish harm on the family members of my peers." the princess replied. The bear smirked.
"Sure thing. Hey, 13, go with plan Alpha Zero Niner."
Everyone looked at the thirteenth square on the screen, seeing a thumbs-up flashing in front of the camera. Monokuma quickly changed the view, making the thirteenth screen take up the entirety of the monitor. The Monokuma mask-wearing thug reached behind his back, pulling out a Smith and Wesson revolver. He held a single bullet in front of Haruo Souda's face, before inserting it in the cylinder, giving it a spin. He closed it, pressing the barrel against the man's temple.
"What the hell is this? This is a lot worse!" Kazuichi screamed.
"Hey, Sonia was the one who agreed to this, right? It's a good old game of Russian Roulette! I'll cut you a deal. If Sonia wins, your father goes free, if she loses well… I don't have to tell you what'll happen." Monokuma said, turning to the princess. "Or, you could lose an eye."
"I… I can't! I'm sorry Kazuichi, I'm so sorry."
"Sonia, think about it. What if this was your mom or your dad, huh?" the mechanic asked, a desperate look on his face.
"I have an inkling you'd be doing the same," Byakuya said, picking at his nails. He shifted his gaze toward Kazuichi. "If Sonia's mother and father were on the chopping block, you wouldn't hesitate to issue your punishment to them."
"Shut up! I would never do that-"
"Because you care about her? Because you are in love with her? I doubt it. At the end of the day, all of us have been issued the same hand. You have to know when to hold them, and know when to fold them. I for one wouldn't let a psychotic bear take my eye out. Especially not for some stranger."
"Byakuya, shut up," Hajime growled, eyes burning furiously as he glared at the Affluent Progeny.
"You can silence me, sure, but you can't silence the truth."
"Tick-tock tick-tock, princess. You gotta make a choice. It's a 1 in 6 chance. You might get lucky, pray for a miracle." the monochrome bear said, shifting his gaze toward Akira. "In fact, why don't you pray for one, Akira? You have Ultimate Luck, don't you?"
"Stop this madness, you've shown just how in control of us you are. You do not have to threaten innocents." Peko snapped angrily. "You claim this is punishment and yet you haven't even told us what our grave sin is. What have we done to you ?"
"A valid question indeed. One that I shall answer." Monokuma said, turning away from him. "I was born into a world that values talented individuals over the common man. One that treats people like me like yesterday's trash. I am no one, I am nothing. But you… oh how I admired you, for such a long time. All of you with your golden opportunity, being able to come to such a fine institution… one that barred entrance to those of the lower world.
From the lower rungs of society, I built myself up. I worked day in and day out, and it amounted to nothing. All while you basked in your glory, gave unto your greed, always lusting for greatness. Yet you ignored the person who admired you the most, walked past him as if he didn't exist! That is why I did this, that is why I decided it was time for humanity to learn what it feels to be the other guy."
"Oh don't give me that shit." Akira spat, clenching his hand tightly as he glared at the animatronic bear. "I was born without talent too. I was just a regular old schmuck, who had nothing going for him in his life. I never met my real parents, and I grew up in a house that treated me as if I didn't exist. I worked hard to be who I am today."
"And yet you got chosen by a lottery. Don't think you and I are the same, Mr. Ultimate Lucky Student." the bear said, only for his demeanor to change. "Looks like we are out of time! Alright 13, pull that trigger for us!"
"No!" Kazuichi shouted, reaching in vain for the monitor. A loud gunshot echoed through the speakers, Haruo Souda's body slumping over in his chair, a mist of pink hanging in the air for a moment.
Up until that point, none of them had seen someone die. They had seen the aftermath of a murder, but never one like this. Chihiro let out a cry, breaking into tears as she buried her face in her hands. Grim looks overtook the others, some looking away from the screen while others were completely petrified.
"Sonia."
The princess shakily looked up, meeting eyes with Kazuichi, whose expression had changed entirely. His eyes were devoid of emotion, his face completely crestfallen. He looked directly into her eyes as he spoke. "I hate you."
"I-I… I didn't… I-I'm…"
The princess started hyperventilating, only to pass out moments after, slumping over in her chair. Hajime grabbed a hold of her, struggling to keep her from falling out of her chair. He looked at the bear with hatred in his eyes. "Let us go, we need to get her out of here."
"No can do. This game isn't over yet, no one has won," he said, grinning. "Just because she's unconscious doesn't mean she can't participate. And thus, the game goes on~"
It was silent for a moment, as the familiar sound of the slot machine once again filled the room. As the machine slowed to a stop, it landed on Celeste's face. The Ultimate Gambler sat up a bit, a bitter smile on her face.
"Well, I wasn't expecting it to land on me. What are the odds of that?" she questioned, glancing at the bear. "Well then… I shall be taking matters into my own hands."
"The Ultimate Gambler wishes to make the Ultimate Gamble?"
"Oh no, you dastard. I doubt even I have enough luck to win this, but I shall give it my best shot. After all, I do not lose." she said, spinning the roulette. She placed the ball into the board, watching as it spun around. Eventually, it stopped, landing on slot 21. Monokuma spun around, grinning as he did so.
"Number 21, looks like you're up next~" he cheerfully said, turning to Byakuya. "Tell me, Mr. Togami, how much does Aloysius Pennyworth mean to you?"
"Tch… not in the slightest. He is one of many butlers and completely replaceable."
"Is that so?" the bear asked, glancing at Celeste. "Then that means Miss Ludenberg is free to do as she wishes."
"By all means, feel free to do your worst."
"How cold." the gambler said, eyes falling on the blond man. "Here I thought you actually had someone important in your life. Don't tell me this man truly means nothing to you. He wouldn't have been captured if he wasn't."
"As I said, he's expendable."
"Then why is the look on your face one of absolute shock, hm?" the woman asked, lips curving into a small smile. "Is it because you actually care?"
"Celeste, maybe you shouldn't," Akira said. She shifted her gaze toward him, giving him a firm look.
"But dear Akira, shouldn't he experience the gravity of our situation? He who so casually gutted a deceased body, and acted like his worst possible self. I believe this is karma. Fancy that, the life of someone so important to you in the hands of an uncouth and brash woman. I suppose your luck has finally run out."
"Shut your mouth. You do not have the right nor the authority to speak to me the way you are!" Byakuya shouted, shooting daggers at the woman.
"What's the matter? I only speak the truth. Funny isn't it? That life and death both rests in the palm of one's hand?"
"Celestia, that's enough of that. Stop toying with him. It isn't right." Mikan firmly said.
"Mikan is right, you shouldn't be enjoying this," Sayaka said.
"Oh I'm not, darling, I'm not. I just want him to understand that any one of us could be put in the same spot. It doesn't matter how smart you are, how wealthy you are, or how lucky you are. All of us in this academy are exactly the same."
"Ha! Surely you jest, me the same as you? I am the Alpha and the Omega, the esteemed Byakuya Togami. I am the chosen among the chosen, and I do not intend to lose this game. Do what you must. But you will not hold this against me." the man said firmly.
"Then let us have a coin toss," she said, reaching into her dress. She pulled out a golden coin, which she slid across the table, right at Akira. He looked at it, eyes widening in surprise.
"A d-doubloon?" he mumbled, picking the coin up. He looked it over, seeing it had a cross on the front. Flipping it over, he saw that it had the royal crest of the Spanish kingdom, along with the day 1794. "Where did you get this?"
"The Hope's Peak Academy Fountain! Why, I have it in good faith that a certain someone made a wish in it! A wish that landed him the title of Ultimate Lucky Student!" Monokuma said, giving him a toothy grin. "Funny how the world works, huh?"
Akira took the coin in his grasp, squeezing it tightly. He glanced at Sayaka, whose face was a mixture of panic and fear. Despite that, she managed to give him a warm smile, which was enough for him to calm down. He looked at Celeste, who merely gave him a nod.
"Was this… something she planned? All of this just for a moment like this? No, it can't be… the amount of luck you'd need for something like this is insane. But she's the Ultimate Gambler… she'd need a certain amount of luck to win a game. Unless… she wasn't aiming to win this game, she was just aiming to get back at Byakuya." he thought, looking at the coin in his grasp.
"Alright then, my terms," Celeste said, causing everyone to look back at her. "Akira shall flip the coin I have given him. If it lands on heads, Mr. Pennyworth shall forfeit his life. Should it land on tails, then it shall be mine that shall be forfeited."
"Are you insane? You can't just kill him!" Byakuya cried, glaring at him. "You dare make a mockery of me?"
"Here I thought you didn't care for the old man. Wasn't it you that said he was expendable?" Celeste said, hiding her amusement. "I suppose you'll have to believe in Akira's Ultimate Luck, huh? Seeing as you went through so much trouble to test it out. You'll have to bank on it as well. Though it would be a shame if my life came to such a tragic end."
"Goddamn! This is not what I was expecting! This is the kind of shit I live for! Flip it! Flip it! FLIP IT!" Monokuma cried out, sheer excitement on his face. Akira looked between Byakuya and Celeste, sweat pouring down his face.
"Oh God… Why the hell does it have to be me? Why does it always have to be me?!" he cried, squeezing the coin.
"Trust in your luck, darling," Celeste said, smiling at him. "Do be sure to give me a good send-off. I dressed in my best attire. After all, one has to look their best to get married or to get buried."
"Trust in my luck… yeah sure." he thought to himself. He grasped the coin, looking at it closely before flipping it through the air. Time seemed to go in slow motion as it flipped through the air. After a couple of seconds, Akira caught it, slamming it down on the table.
He lifted his hand partially, staring at the coin, shoulders dropping.
"I'm sorry."
A/N: Kek. I had fun writing this one. What is a killing game without a little torture eh?