Chapter 3: Act 2: Tension
Location: Dining Hall, Hotel Despair
Day: 11
Time: 6:00 PM
"That's about all I managed to find. I'm just glad that we have access to proper medical equipment now. We're fully prepped for everything, including surgery should we need it. Though I'm not a surgeon, I have the skills to perform one in an emergency. There's also a lot of blood stored in the fridge in case we need it." the Ultimate Nurse said.
"The thought of having surgery performed on me by someone who isn't a doctor is not one I wanna have. But I am grateful that you are here with us, Mikan. What other things were you able to find?" Hajime asked.
"Quite a lot, actually. We have everything we'd need, from casts to splints, painkillers, anesthesia, even opioids and narcotics. However, those are locked behind a cabinet that opens with a combination. Monokuma said that since I was the only one qualified, I was the only one who would get the codes. They change daily and they'll be sent to my e-handbook. It's a preventative measure."
"Excellent, the last thing we need is someone abusing drugs. We have enough to worry about." Sonia said, clearing her throat. "Hajime, Chihiro, and I ventured to the Physics Lab. Sayaka and Akira joined us as well. Monokuma told us the large machine located inside was an air purifier. He also said something that stuck out to us quite a lot."
"Oh? And would that be?" Celeste questioned, a curious look on her face.
"He said it was built by the Ultimate Physicist, who no longer goes to this school. Apparently, they died in some sort of Tragedy. Monokuma didn't elaborate, but he did warn us about messing with the cleaner. So I recommend that no one touches it." Hajime said, giving everyone a firm look.
"Thank you for sharing, Hajime, Sonia. Anything else to report?" Kiyotaka asked. Chihiro held her hand up, earning a nod from the Ultimate Moral Compass. "Feel free to share."
"We found a digital camera in the physics lab as well. It happens to be a limited edition Princess Piggles camera. But it seems to be cosmetically damaged. It turns on but it doesn't have a memory card." she said. Akira pulled the device from his pocket, placing it on the table.
"It's kind of useless to us now. I did notice it has the name "Yamada" taped to the bottom. But I have no idea who that could be," he said with a shrug.
"Would you mind if I took it?"
The Ultimate Lucky Student shared a curious look with Celestia, who merely gave him a bright smile. "I just thought, if no one was going to use it, I might be able to find a use for it. Though since it doesn't have a memory card, it wouldn't be able to store photos."
"Don't worry about that, I have a spare one," Mahiru said, reaching into her fanny pack for a moment. She pulled out a black Lexar memory card, handing it to the gambler. "It's an 8GB card but I'm sure that should be enough. Pictures don't take that much space."
"Why thank you, Mahiru, I shall make sure to repay your kindness in the future."
"It's alright, memory cards are really cheap so I don't mind parting with one. Just as long as you take really good pictures with that camera, I'll be happy. We need to make as many memories as we can, even if this place isn't exactly the happiest."
"Okay then, would anyone else like to share their findings? We've already spoken about the new rooms we gained. Any progress on finding a way out?"
"Bro, come on man... If there was a way out, we would have found it already. Every single place we go to is covered by these damn plates. We need to start making peace with the possibility we won't get out through the windows." Mondo said, clicking his tongue. "If only I had a damn wrench or a blow torch."
"Me and Akira noticed something on the third floor," Sayaka said, grabbing their attention. "When we were heading toward the Physics Lab, we passed by a set of doors that were boarded up tightly. The sign above the door read "Virtual Reality Room". We're not exactly sure what is contained there, but it's probably some sort of VR Setup."
"Virtual Reality? Hope's Peak Academy was working on something that advanced?" Kazuichi asked, completely taken aback. "The size of the servers to run something like that must be massive!"
"If it's a simple setup, a normal server would be able to handle it. However, if they were planning on making a FullDive System with its own Virtual World, then you'd need no less than three supercomputers to run it. It would take quite a lot of money to get a system like that up and running." Chihiro said, practically salivating. "Oh if I could have a look at the code, that would be awesome!"
"Does that mean we'll be able to go into S.A.O.? Will we die in real life if we die in the game?" Ibuki asked, bouncing a bit in her chair. "Yo actually, screw S.A.O. that place better have a 1:1 rendition of the Pokemon World! I want a Squirtle!"
"Squirtle is lame, you gotta go with Greninja! Now that is a kickass Pokemon!" Hikari cheerfully said.
"Wrong! The best starter in the entire series is clearly Samurott! I mean look at it! It's a badass narwhal that uses its shells as swords! It's the coolest thing ever!" Hiyoko said.
"Perhaps we can save this chat for later?" Peko asked, her words cutting through the conversation.
"There was one last thing that we found. It left us a bit disturbed and well… it's made me a lot more worried than I had been this morning," Akira said, reaching into his pocket. He set the collar he had found on the table. Hina looked at it oddly, clearly confused.
"Is that a dog collar?"
"It is, I found it in a box within Classroom 3-C. There were a lot of boxes filled with pet supplies, including a box full of dog toys, treats, and other things. This collar was at the bottom. Normally, that wouldn't be out of place, but the tag belongs to my puppy."
"Your puppy? What would that be doing here?" Mikan asked.
"I'm not sure, I'm trying to think about why it would be here. I know for a fact I didn't bring Casper with me, because I wasn't sure if pets were allowed in the dorms." Akira replied, a pensive look on his face. "My sister was left in charge of caring for Casper, while I talked to the Headmaster about it. Since she was kidnapped, I'm sure they got my dog too."
"That isn't the only thing. Akira handed me a collar with a tag as well…" Celeste said. The gothic lolita reached into her sleeve, placing another collar next to Casper's, the tag was in the shape of a fish, a name etched in fancy script. "This is the tag belonging to my cat, Grand Bois Cheri. Furthermore, the box it was likely in was filled with all of his toys, things that I for a fact, know I purchased for him."
"If those two collars are here, and they're toys are here too then… does that mean they were here?" Mahiru asked.
"It isn't out of the realm of possibility, but neither I nor Celeste remember bringing them with us. In fact, it's the opposite. There's so much that I don't understand and it's driving me insane." Akira said.
"Tch… who the hell just takes someone's pets as bargaining chips? That's disgusting. If someone did that with my Chuck, I'd break their knees, make sure they'd never walk again." the biker said angrily.
"I suppose I have no choice but to assume my baby boy is safe and sound. Grand Bois is a very smart cat. I doubt he'd let himself be captured, and if he did, he'd find a way out. As for Casper, if he was still a puppy, then he likely would have been easy to win over." Celeste said, making Akira sigh.
"Yeah, you make a good point. Give that fluff ball a milk bone and he's your friend forever. Dammit, I hope he's alright. Maybe Maki left him with a trusted friend of hers before she was caught. That's all I can hope for."
"Fret not, friends! I'm certain your pets are safe and sound. Sadly, we must focus on ourselves before focusing on anything on the outside. As painful as that might sound."
"It's quite fine, Taka. Like I said, I'm not worried about Grand Bois Cheri in the slightest. Honestly, I am far more worried about Casper, as he's still young. He'll be in my prayers, Akira, truly," the red-eyed girl said. Akira smiled at her words.
"There's only one thing left on the docket, dealing with the Crowned Prince of Douchebags," Hiyoko said, setting her water bottle down. "What will we do with him? We can't just let him keep wandering around the academy. Especially because we're not sure what he's capable of."
"Unfortunately, there isn't much we can do about him. It's not like we can force him to comply with our demands, even if we have the numbers. That would make us no better than the Mastermind." Kyoko said, tugging her glove as she glanced around the cafeteria. "We're gonna have to get used to his less-than-favorable actions."
"But we can't just let him gut corpses like that! It's super disrespectful and fucking unnecessary!" Ibuki cried.
"Worry not, I'll ensure that doesn't happen again. I know a lot of sword techniques, including ones that aren't deadly. If he needs to be neutralized, he will." the Ultimate Swordswoman said, a hateful tone in her voice. "He still owes me for what he did to Fuyuhiko after all. He's on thin ice as far as I'm concerned."
"We shouldn't worry about him. I talked with him earlier." Sayaka said, leaning back in her chair, arms crossed. "It went as well as you all think it did. He was in the Library Archives, I guess that room opened up today as well. The only thing he kept saying was that someone here was dangerous, and that the information confirming it was in that room. Honestly, I vote for us to ignore it."
"Why? Shouldn't we be aware of who this person might be?" Hikari asked, sounding a bit concerned. "If someone is dangerous and they're among us, we should be prepared. After all, our lives would be in danger."
"There's no need to worry, none of us are in danger. My intuition never steered me wrong. That information is only going to have a negative effect on us. It'll make us start doubting each other, plotting against one another, until we end up like Hiro. Scared, paranoid, and volatile. We do not need that." the Ultimate Pop-Sensation said.
"Sayaka has a point. Why bother with a bunch of information that's only going to make us even more paranoid than we are? We gotta stick together, not fall apart." Hina said cheerfully. "Which is why we should-"
"We're not going to the pool!" everyone said in unison, causing the Swimmer to frown, blowing a raspberry at them.
It was quiet for a moment, only for Taka to once again take the lead, clapping his hands. "Ladies and Gentlemen, we've done quite well today. However, we must not lose sight of our end goal. We must remain resolute against the storm of despair we have all been dumped into. I assure you, we will get out of it alive."
"Kiyotaka is right! We have all been through so much already, and we have lost important people. Friends and loved ones. But if we all stick together, and truly work toward building something hopeful, we will make it out alive. We mustn't give into despair, no matter what Monokuma throws at us next, let us all continue fostering friendships together." the Ultimate Princess added.
"Hell yeah! I already made this offer to Akira and Sayaka but me and my best bro are gonna be making birdhouses. If anyone wants to join us, we'll be starting at 10 tomorrow in the art room. We'll make the most badass-looking birdhouses ever!" Mondo said, an excited look on his face.
"That sounds like fun! Do you think I could join too?" Chihiro asked.
"Sure! Like I said, anyone is free to join!"
"How about we have a party afterwards?" Ibuki suggested with a grin. "Not only would it be something fun for all of us to do, but we could use it to give our friends a send-off! We can host it in the arcade!"
"A party does sound like a fun idea. The more time we spend together, the harder it will be for Monokuma to motivate us to murder. The Arcade has tons of things for us to do. It's a wonderful idea!" Hikari said.
"I'll make sure to check the machines up there, make sure they're still working just fine. Especially after the cold it was subjected to. I'm sure all of the gaming consoles are doing alright but they're not made to last in that kind of temperature." Kazuichi added. He briefly glanced at Sonia, who quickly looked away from him. He frowned, but continued on like normal. "With the tools in the art room, I should be able to repair whatever else becomes damaged. So if you need anything fixed, don't hesitate to ask. It'll keep me distracted."
"This is gonna be so much fun! We need to make sure everything's ready for the opening act of the party! Sayaka Maizono live in concert!"
"Huh? What?" the idol said, completely stunned by Ibuki's words. "Y-you want me to perform?"
"Of course! You and Akira had no problem singing karaoke up there, so why not have a little fun at the party?! I'm sure everyone here would love to hear you sing." the musician cheerfully replied.
"I dunno… hosting a concert is way different than karaoke. I've kept up with my vocal exercises at the very least but…" she frowned, shaking her head. "I'm sorry, but I'm just not comfortable doing that. I've never had a concert without my friends, and on top of that, we don't have any instruments."
"Aw, come on Sayaka… you can't bail out on us."
"You shouldn't force her, Ibuki. It takes time to practice for things like that. Imagine I just had a dance recital without practicing my routine? I could end up messing up or worse, injuring myself." Hiyoko said, a firm look on her face as she spoke. "Besides, pressuring her into doing something she doesn't want to do is wrong."
The musician became dejected, shoulders dropping a bit. "Okay, you're right. I'm sorry, Sayaka. I was out of line for suggesting something like that."
"It's fine, Ibuki. Honestly, I'm not opposed to it if I was ready. It's just that I like giving it my all in every performance. My friends are sort of my good luck charm, so I don't think I'd be able to do my best without them."
"A good luck charm, huh? Seems like you already have one of those." Celeste said, glancing at Akira, who had been busy jotting things in his notebook. He briefly looked up, seeing everyone's eyes on him.
"Um… may I help you?"
"Sayaka needs a good luck charm, will you volunteer?" Hikari asked curiously. He scratched his head with his pen, greatly confused.
"I mean… I guess…?"
"Hm… okay, I have an idea! I'll sing one song! But Akira has to perform with me, after all, he's the only one here who knows the choreography to one of my most popular cover songs." the Ultimate Pop-Sensation said, turning to the boy. She gave him a bright smile, fluttering her eyes, making the boy blush. "Will you agree to join me?"
"Fine, but I get to see the magazine."
"Magazine? What magazine?" Kazuichi queried, only for Sayaka to clap her hands.
"Alright, that works for me! Come along now, I have to make sure those Cyalumes you pulled out of the claw machine work," she said, grabbing a hold of his wrist, squeezing it very hard, to the point where he let out a cry of pain.
"Damn, she's got him whipped," Mondo said, shaking his head. "A moment of silence for our brother, Akira, who's likely gonna get his ass kicked. For alas, he clearly mentioned something his woman didn't want anyone knowing about. Amen."
"Amen." Taka mimicked, head bowed in prayer.
"Well, if this is everything, I'll take my leave. I'd like to do a more thorough investigation of the third floor." Kyoko said, about to leave when Ibuki grabbed a hold of her hand.
"Don't leave, Kyoko! You're always out on your own, don't you wanna hang out and do anything fun?"
"I'm afraid not. I won't be able to solve the mysteries of this school if I focus on parties and other silly things. I lost valuable time during the last motive, time that I wish to make up. Now, if you could excuse me." she said, pulling her hand free. She disappeared moments after, heading into the academy.
It was quiet for a moment, only for Mikan to speak up. "She's jealous of Sayaka."
They all turned to the Nurse, incredulous looks on their faces. "What? Did I say something bad?"
"No, but all of us want to know what the fuck led you to believe that?" the dancer said.
"Oh… that's easy, since I was young, I learned to read people's faces. I can generally tell what people are thinking. It's how I'm able to determine if someone is sick, tired, annoyed, in love, all of those things." she said, standing up straight as she continued to speak. "Kyoko had a firm look on her face but you can see it in her eyes. She kept looking at Akira and Sayaka, and when Sayaka was clearly flirting with Akira, she grew annoyed."
"There's no way that's true… I mean, she never shows emotions. Other than annoyance and shock." Mahiru said.
"You can see the emotions on her face if you know what you are looking for. The only one truly unreadable here is Celeste. I've been trying to figure out her true emotions since we first woke up here, and it's nearly impossible." she said. The Ultimate Gambler gave her a sucrose-sweet smile.
"And you never will. It's called a poker face for a reason, darling. If you could tell what I was truly feeling then I wouldn't be much of a gambler, now would I? That being said, I am looking forward to this party. If anyone wishes to play billiards with me, I am quite happy to oblige, just be prepared to not win."
"Yeah screw that, the last time I played against you, I ended up regretting it. If we put money on that, I'd have lost all of my clothes, my hog, and my nuts." Mondo said, shuddering.
"Aaaahhhh! I'm so excited for tomorrow, it's gonna be the bestest most funnest party ever! And everyone but Byakuya is invited! Woo hooo~"
Ibuki's cheerfulness was infectious. But everyone was of course left baffled, wondering how and where she got so much energy.
xxx
"Did you seriously have to mention the damn magazine?" Sayaka asked, clearly annoyed with her roommate. "Seriously, does the concept of 'keep it secret' mean nothing to you?"
"I'm sorry, Sayaka. It's not like they know what the magazine even contains. And no one ever will." he said, holding his hand out. "Now, can I see it?"
"Absolutely not!"
"Do you trust me?"
Her eyes grew wide for a moment. She let out a sigh of acceptance, reaching behind her back for the magazine she had found. Akira honestly wondered where it was that she kept it, but that wasn't important at the moment. It had been rolled up, so tightly that you couldn't see much of anything. That was exactly how he kept it. Instead of walking to their dorm, he continued down the corridor, taking the long way toward the trash room, the idol following right after him.
He reached for the key he still wore around his neck, sliding it into the control panel. The gate slowly rose, allowing them access to the incinerator. Everything had been cleaned. No sign of broken chairs, wood, or trash to be seen. It was like that when they had come back from the Class Trial Room. It was as if they hadn't been there, sticking it out and using the incinerator as a makeshift fireplace. He stepped up to the incinerator about to throw the magazine in when Sayaka stopped him.
"Aren't you going to look through it?"
"Why would I do that? You don't want anyone to see it. That includes me, I respect your wishes. When I get out of here, I'll take my personal copy and burn it as well." he said. She held her hand out, gesturing for him to return the magazine to her.
She unrolled it, flipping through it for a moment until she got to the center. It was a pin-up portrait, which she unfolded. She looked at it for a moment, a small smile on her face. "Despite me hating this whole magazine and how horrible it was to get photographed for it, I will admit, this is the only one I like.
She turned it over, allowing him to see it. It was a picture of Sayaka, wearing a beautiful white bikini. She was standing between two pillars, with flower arrangements around her. There was a thin satin wrap around her waist, covering her bottoms entirely. The filters they had used accented her figure, and made her look stunning. Though she had a smile on her face, the look in her eyes was vastly different.
"If you look closely, you can see me screaming for help," she said, slightly above a whisper, causing him to break into laughter. He muffled it with his hand, shoulders shaking a bit.
"Jeez, that came out of nowhere."
"It made you laugh so it was worth it," she said, looking back at the picture. "Usually, they don't let you keep anything that you wear, but I begged to keep this one. The whole summer collection was designed by Junko Enoshima, so I needed to keep it."
His smile dropped the second he heard the name, looking away from her. "Do you want to tear it out?"
"No… I still have the swimsuit, in fact, it's in my dorm, but I'm not gonna wear it any time soon. I doubt it fits me. I was sixteen in this picture, the girl's have grown a bit." she jokingly said, folding the image up. "But you can have it if you want."
"Alright… but you have to sign it for me."
"Just as long as you don't jerk off to it."
"I won't! Besides, who the hell has the time for something like that?" he asked, cheeks glowing crimson. She carefully tore the image out, making sure the paper wasn't too torn up. She tossed the rest of the magazine into the burning chamber. "Do you want to press the button?"
"Mhmm… I've wanted to personally destroy one of these for a while. Last chance to look through it."
"I'll be alright. I don't need a magazine when I have the real deal standing next to me. I guess this shitty game did do something good for me." he replied with a grin.
"I'm not modeling for you though,"
"Yeah, yeah."
The flames roared to life, burning the magazine to ashes within seconds. Despite it being completely gone, the pair kept staring at it, feeling a bit of solace in the flames. Akira hardly noticed her slipping her hand into his own. He gave it a small squeeze, not really minding this little action.
Location: Art Room, Hope's Peak Academy 3F
Day: 12
Time: 10:15 AM
Several students had made their way to the Art Room shortly after breakfast. Mondo and Taka had been excited to start making birdhouses with everyone. The Art Room was abuzz with chatter, everyone slowly going through the day. Despite what had happened two days prior, they had managed to move on, as well as they could. The sounds of hand saws echoed through the room, likely the first sounds of building since the school had shut down.
Sayaka and Akira had, predictably, stuck together. The idol had suggested using popsicle sticks for theirs. He merely agreed, gathering the materials she requested while she drew out a rough sketch on a piece of paper. He was honestly impressed with how artistic she was. Every single line she drew was perfect.
Sonia, Hajime, Mikan, and Hikari had teamed up on theirs. The graphic designer wanted to create a bird mansion, and had ended up designing a large one within seconds. Sonia had been completely enamored, speaking about traditional Novoselician building techniques and other lavish things. She had even spoken about chandeliers and stained-glass windows. Hajime was, of course, confused as to why birds needed those things, but the smile on her face had been enough for him to stay quiet. Mikan had been hovering around, keeping watch in case someone got hurt.
This left the final group who had joined, Hina, Peko, Hiyoko, and Celeste working on theirs. Rather, Hina, Peko, and Hiyoko were, Celeste was merely sitting down, legs crossed as she watched what the others were doing, convinced that she was more of a 'supervisor' of sorts. Mahiru had been busy taking pictures of everyone, having convinced herself to start building an album, given how many people they had lost. She had a few pictures of the victims, and looked to change that.
"Ah, this is the life! Nothing but the sounds of cooperation, hand saws, and the smell of wood!" Kiyotaka cheerfully said, a look of pride on his face. "It is a shame we couldn't get everyone else on board."
"Someone's gotta prepare the arcade for Ibuki's party. You know how excited she was about that. She practically dragged Kazuichi off by the ear." Mondo said, laughing. "Poor guy, I feel bad for him."
"I always wonder how it is she gets all that energy from. Because seriously, even when the rest of us are down, she's always bouncing off the walls." Mahiru said, looking away from her camera.
"I'm convinced she drinks crack water the second she wakes up," Hiyoko said, holding back the urge to laugh. "I mean, what else could explain it?"
"How about the metric ass-ton of Monster Energy Drinks she consumes? I've seen her chug down two BFCs in a row."
"She what?" Mikan cried, dropping the handsaw in her grasp. "Can you say that again, Hina?"
"I saw her chugging two BFCs?"
"Pardon me, but what is a BFC?" Celeste asked, looking up from the book she had been reading. She had found one next to one of the statues, and seemed to be enthralled in it. Akira set his pencil down, brushing the eraser marks from the table.
"B.F.C. stands for Big Fucking Can. It's this huge can of Monster Energy Drink that contains the equivalent of four standard monster cans. One of those has 190 milligrams of caffeine, the BFC is 32 ounces, or the equivalent of four regular cans. So times that 190 by 4 and you get enough caffeine in your system to stop your heart."
"Jesus Christ, and she drinks two of those?" Mondo asked.
"And chases it with half a bottle of coke."
"We're uh… gonna have to talk to her about that. Consuming so much caffeine can only lead to heart problems in the future. That's the last thing anyone needs," Sonia said, looking rather worried.
"Indeed! We're gonna have to cut her off, cold turkey!"
"Taka, that would do more harm than good! In order to get an addict to improve, you need to start by waning them off their drug of choice. Forced detox could end up having worse consequences." Mikan said, shaking her head. "I'll see if I can speak to her. We have to take our health seriously."
"Perhaps we should start hosting daily exercises?" the Moral Compass said, causing Hina to smile.
"We could all go to the pool!"
"That's your solution to everything," Sayaka said with a giggle. "But I wouldn't be opposed to it, I love swimming. Maybe we could get Celeste to join us next time."
"Absolutely not, darling."
"Aw."
"You should consider it, Celeste. It would go a long way to build stronger friendships!" Hikari said, giving her a grin. "Or is it because you don't want to ruin your hair?"
"No that isn't it. I've said it before, but I just don't wish to ruin my makeup during the day. As for my hair, I can easily style it as I need to. Though I was quite surprised about it." she said, twirling a strand between her fingers. "I don't usually say this to people, but my pigtails are actually fake."
"I knew it!" Hiyoko said, holding her hand out to Mahiru. "You owe me!"
"What the fuck am I supposed to pay you? I'm flat broke!"
"Meh… I'll think of something."
"Wait, Celeste, your hair is fake? I could have sworn it was real. It looks really good." Sayaka said, earning a nod from the gambler.
"It does, doesn't it? As I was saying, originally, my pigtails were clip-ons, however, on my first night here, I made a peculiar discovery. My fake pigtails were actually in my closet. The hair you see on me is 100% real."
"Ha! You owe me now, Hiyoko!" Mahiru returned with a grin, earning a hiss from her friend.
"So… you style your hair every morning?" Hina asked, tilting her head slightly. "It must take a lot of ironing and hair spray, that's for sure."
"Indeed it does, I was left quite stupefied by this. I kept my hair short because it could be tough to manage it. However, when I realized my hair was real, I was thrown for a loop. Being trapped within this school hasn't given me any chances to get it cut so…" she paused, leaning back slightly in her seat. "I'd rather cut back on the care routine. Especially when dealing with chlorinated water."
"Fair enough. It takes forever to style my hair too, keeping it gathered nice and neat is a bitch and a half." Mondo said, chuckling. "I remember my brother kept tellin' me it looked like a damn corn cob. I punched him in the jaw after that one."
"You know, Celeste, if you are having trouble managing your hair, I could assist you. Perhaps braiding it will be better for you." Peko suggested.
"Hm… a pair of braids would be a rather cute style. But I think you wear them better than I ever could. I think I'll keep it the way it is for now." she said, earning a nod from Peko.
Settling back into their previous routine, each group continued working on their houses. Sayaka had already designed and built the base, making a thick layer of popsicle sticks. Akira had focused on preparing the walls, having started with the entrance and the hole for the perch.
It had been like this for a few minutes, quiet chatting between groups on how they would put their little houses together. But it was broken by Celeste, who started to read out loud, from the book she had been looking at. "And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them, over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword and hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth."
The entire room fell into silence as she finished reading, the power behind her words causing them to stop. She looked up from the book, a frown on her face. "This passage was left highlighted."
"Revelations 6:1-17," Akira said, leaning against the edge of his table, eyes closed as he thought about those words. "The four horsemen of the apocalypse… wonder why someone would highlight that particular verse out of all of them."
"Oh… Akira, I didn't know you were religious."
"I'm not, but I was raised in an orphanage that was part of a church. So I got really familiar with the word of God," he said, shrugging. "The Horsemen of Death, given the power to kill those who didn't believe in the Lord. There is one debt that all men pay, and he's the one who claims it. Seems like a fitting passage, considering our situation."
"Everyone, please! Mondo and I arranged this so we could forget about what is happening, not for us to keep thinking about it!" Taka said. Celeste adopted an apologetic look as she closed the bible in her grasp.
"My apologies, I didn't mean to bring the mood down. I just figured I would share that little tidbit. I should have saved it for later."
"It's quite alright, Celeste. You found something and you felt the need to share it, no harm, no foul! Let's just keep enjoying ourselves here! We're gonna build the best bird mansion in Hope's Peak!" the designer said, stepping away from his sketchpad. "Behold! The Bird Mansion! Three stories, 7 bedrooms, 4 and a half bathrooms, a kitchen, a living room, and of course, the stained glass windows!"
They all stared at the sketch, disbelief on their faces, all while Sonia happily clapped. "I love it! This is going to be a wonderful house to raise little ones!"
"You do know birds don't need bedrooms, right? They'll just build nests wherever there is space." Hajime said. Hikari shushed him.
"Just let her have her fun. Come now, comrades! To the bandsaw! We must cut the wood and prepare the materials to build our future!"
"Hell yeah!" Mondo shouted, his booming voice echoing through the room. "Forget our own solitary houses! Let's build this one together!"
"Excellent idea, bro! Let's get things done!" the Ultimate Moral Compass said, a bright smile on his face as he and Mondo headed to the back room with Hikari and Sonia.
"Aw… I was really liking how our little house was coming along," Sayaka said, frowning as she looked at hers and Akira's house. All of the walls were in the process of drying, almost ready for the final build. Akira smiled at her, patting her shoulder.
"Don't worry, they can keep working on that big one, you and I can finish this one. Personally, I think ours will be a lot better than theirs," he said, causing her to smile.
"You know, Akira… I have something I'd like to discuss with you."
The Ultimate Lucky Student was honestly surprised. He hadn't even heard Celeste approaching their table until she was right next to them. Sayaka gave him a small nod, silently telling him she'd be fine for the time being.
He followed after the Gambler, stepping away from the Art Room, far enough that no one else would hear them. She turned to face him, hands folded in front of her. The look on her face told him everything he needed to know. Their conversation was going to be a serious one, and he honestly wasn't prepared for it.
"Byakuya is actively plotting against you."
"Is he now?"
"Yes, we had a chat after the Class Trial. He considers you a threat, I do not know why, but it seems as though he knows more about you than he lets on. It isn't my place to ask about your background, nor does it interest me. But he is a dangerous player, you've seen what he's capable of."
"Right… doing something so sick just to test my Ultimate Luck… I didn't even believe in my talent until recently. I don't know why he considers me a threat. I'm not a dangerous person." he replied. Celeste looked him right in the eye, her crimson eyes boring into his blue ones.
"You're a good liar."
"Almost as good as you."
Celeste let out a laugh, a genuine smile on her face. "Oh, you're certainly an interesting person, darling. Regardless of that, it will do you well to maintain your affairs to yourself. Knowing Byakuya, he might set you up to fail. You are our most important piece in this game, we cannot afford to lose you."
"I'm not going to die here, Celestia," he said, using her full name for the first time, hinting the seriousness in his voice. "I wasn't kidding when I said I knew martial arts."
"Yes, I know you can handle yourself, but can your friends do the same? It won't be hard to use them against you. To use Sayaka against you." she said. Akira subconsciously glanced over his shoulder, at the Art Room entrance. He could see the girl in question speaking briefly to Hajime about something, a smile on her face. "She means a lot more to you than you care to admit. And regretfully, she could become nothing more than a tool. A tool for your undoing."
"What exactly am I supposed to do then?"
"It's quite simple. We must work together, in secret, of course. As a Gambler, I have quite a lot of luck myself. In fact, if not for the fact that I am good at winning games, I'd likely hold the same title as you." she said.
"Work together… to achieve what, exactly?"
"Remove Byakuya off the table. He's a threat to everyone here, but he's an intelligent one. I am not suggesting we kill him. Just make him understand that people's lives, including his own, aren't his to interfere with."
Akira looked away for a moment, narrowing his eyes in thought. "How would we do that?"
"You leave that to me. I'm certain Monokuma will issue a motive soon, but I have an idea. One that will benefit all of us as a group, and will ensure Byakuya doesn't bite off more than he can chew." she said, holding her hand out. "May I count on you when the time should arise?"
"It depends… What exactly am I supposed to do?"
"Oh that's simple, darling. I want you to pray, bank on your luck, trust in it, have faith in it. That is how we'll get through this particularly difficult patch." she replied. Akira hesitated for a moment before shaking her hand. "Excellent, when the time comes, you'll know exactly what to do. Every Queen needs a King."
"And which piece am I?"
"You'll figure that out soon enough. Now then, are you a fan of gyoza?" the gambler asked, taking the Ultimate Lucky Student by complete surprise. The pair, of course, didn't notice the presence of another student, hidden in the shadows, listening in to their conversation.
Location: Library Archives, Hope's Peak Academy 2F
Day: 12
Time: 10:59 AM
Kyoko stood in silence as she poured through all of the text in front of her. When Sayaka had mentioned the library archives were open, she had wanted to inspect them. Knowing that Byakuya would be there put her off, as she didn't want to interact with him. She decided to wait, and it had paid off, as she had the entire library to herself.
It had been a vast trove of information. An entire section was dedicated to police reports and murder investigations, assassination attempts, trafficking and Yakuza dealings. There was an entire file on the Kuzuryuu alone. All of it was invaluable, but one stood out from the rest, a trio of files detailing some of the more recent brutal killings across Japan. She had already read through the Murder Case Files of Genocide Jack, and now, the Murder Case Files of Ryouma and Oryou had caught her attention.
So she read them, every single detail on every single page, memorizing the position of bodies, the photographs, everything. This file seemed to be the only one who had been recently read, which meant Byakuya had likely been the one reading it. And if he had, then perhaps he found it interesting and useful. It was when she got to one of the middle pages in Ryouma's Case File that she saw a familiar-looking scene.
The body of a man laying face down, arms outstretched, lying in a pool of his own blood. The image next to it was of that very man, completely disemboweled. The images burned deep within her mind, as it had been the same position Fuyuhiko had been found in. The same one that Byakuya had set up during the previous trial.
Her ear perked up as she heard the audible clicking of the library door being opened. Within moments, the man in question stepped in. He hardly hesitated, heading straight to the archives, smirking as he saw her. "Good to see someone else is enjoying this new trove of information."
"I wouldn't say I'm particularly enjoying it," she said with a shrug, glancing back at the file in her hand. "I've got to ask though, this particular image shares a lot of things from Fuyuhiko's murder. But until yesterday, this room was inaccessible. How'd you get the idea for such a gruesome scene?"
"It's quite simple, Kyoko. As I am a member of a distinguished family, I have access to all sources of information. All of the files contained here are the same ones I have back home in my personal library. I've poured through them countless times. Let's just say, I've become rather intimate with some of these cases."
"Hm… Alright then, but why choose this one?"
"Again, a simple answer… I wish to expose the truth to the brain-dead idiots running around this academy. The truth that is hidden in plain sight, veiled under a thin light, and yet it's a comforting sort of lie, isn't it?" the man said.
"You suspect someone among us is Ryouma?"
"Oh, I don't suspect. I know . And I wish to expose him for what he is, nothing more than a fiend who is doing whatever he pleases." Byakuya said, stepping past her, grabbing the larger casefile of Ryouma and Oryou. He flipped to the end, showing her one of the pictures. "This should tell you why I wish to expose him."
Kyoko read the words attached to the paper, written in red ink. "Victim name, Tokiomi Togami, [Age: 56], Cause of Death: Multiple Gunshot Wounds. The victim also showed signs of blunt force trauma as well as multiple bone fractures."
She looked back at him, seeing the firm look on his face. "Now do you understand?"
"I would if you elaborate."
"Tokiomi Togami was my uncle. He was a good man who ran one of the largest sectors of the Togami Conglomerate. He worked hard alongside my father to provide energy and mechanisms at an affordable price to anyone that needed them. However, he became entailed in less than favorable ventures. He was working hard to clear his name, all while keeping his image as clean as he could… However, the people he owed money to grew impatient, and thus… they dispatched someone to send a message to the Family."
He clenched his hand tightly. "My uncle was the one who taught me everything I needed for my well-being. He was one of the few who disagreed with my Father's methods. The Togami Family isn't like your normal nuclear family. The Head of the family doesn't wed one woman, he holds relations with many women, and the heirs have to fight to become the universal heir. In my case, it was 15 of us."
"Seems like a brutal method to find who'd become the next head," Kyoko replied.
"Indeed it is. My uncle abstained from participating in the family's methods, and wed to a woman whom he loved dearly. I was abandoned by my mother on his doorstep, and he raised me as his own. I had to be prepared for the battle against my siblings, and should I lose, I'd be forced to renounce the Togami Name. I couldn't let that happen. So I fought hard, and I earned my right. To be recognized by my father, but at the end of the day, Tokiomi was my true father…
So how do you expect me to feel when I find out the person responsible for his death may be among us? Hm? Do you expect me to stand here and continue to let him live?"
"You want to see him dead? That isn't going to bring your uncle back," she replied, closing the file in her grasp. "You should let the justice system handle it."
"Normally, that's something I would consider, but this person is dangerous. He's from an organization that has connections. Deep connections . The kind that circumvents the law. All of the files you see there? It's all a formality. The moment he gets caught, someone somewhere will come out of the woodwork and free him. After all, he's a valuable asset they can't afford to lose." he said, looking away from the woman, a look of anger on his face. "Such is the fate of someone who works for the High-Table."
"The High-Table?"
He remained silent, looking away from the violet-clad girl for a moment, picking at his fingernails. After a moment of silence, he decided to speak. "The High-Table is a secret organization. 14 of the largest families around the world appoint a representative for their family. They essentially control everything, even this very academy. They offered the Togami Conglomerate a spot, but my Father refused, wanting to stay clean. They didn't like that, but had no reason to pursue anything, until they arranged to embroil my uncle in their dealings."
"So they set Tokiomi up, and then sent a hired hand to eliminate him, as a means to force the Togami to join them? That seems a little far-fetched."
"And yet it's true. You can ask Pekoyama if you'd like. The Kururyuu's hold a seat in the very organization. It's why the Yakuza are largely left alone. Of course, things have to appear normal for society, so the Government is still allowed to act against them, but only against those who are dealing in the open."
"And you believe one of those hands is among us? Hope's Peak Academy is controlled by the Government. I doubt they'd let an assassin into their ranks."
"They allowed Genocide Jack to join as the Ultimate Murderous Fiend. When it comes to talent, Kyoko, this academy will do anything. Anything to get their hands on what they want, and he has quite the skillset." Byakuya replied, adjusting his cufflinks. "Regardless of that, he is someone I will take care of. But don't fret, I'm not going to soil my hands. If anything, I'm going to let the game handle that for me."
Kyoko didn't say anything, not knowing what to say or what to even think. But there was something about this all that didn't seem to make sense to her. "If this is all true, when why does he hold the title of Ultimate Lucky Student?"
"Why? Because he's clearly lying. We're all students of Class 78, it's what we were told when we were accepted. Each class has 1 Ultimate Lucky Student, and yet there were two locked in here. He claims to be part of Class 79, but that class hadn't been announced yet." Byakuya said, adjusting his suit. "It's clear that he infiltrated the Academy, posing as the Ultimate Lucky Student, only to hide his true Ultimate talent."
"No, that can't be possible."
"Hm? Why's that?"
"That's because…" she paused, her words trailing off. She clutched her head, eyes closed tightly, a slight throb causing her to grit her teeth. "I'm sorry, I have to go."
"Well, you can't leave me hanging. You seemed to be onto something there, don't tell me you are holding that information for yourself," he said, smirking. "Ah… I see, you wish to protect him, don't you? He's among the few who has the intellect and problem-solving skills to beat the Class Trials. Or is there something else there?"
"Tch… think whatever you want. I don't have time for this kind of talk. There is no proof that what you are saying is accurate. So until it can be proven as a fact, I'm not going to trust anything you say. After all, anyone who desecrates the body of a deceased person is far less human than the one who killed them."
"You won't be saying that when he stabs you in the back. It's best not to entangle yourself with that kind of person, Kyoko. That will guarantee your survival." Byakuya said. She didn't respond, instead leaving the archives. The Ultimate Affluent Progeny smirked. "Well, if the idol didn't want to listen, that's fine, but planting the seed of doubt in her mind will certainly get us far. It's so easy to wrap these fools around my finger."
Glancing back at the files, he let out a smirk. "Making use of everything is how you win this game. If the Mastermind can play dirty, then so can I."
xxx
"So, do you agree to those terms?"
Monokuma let out a chuckle, which evolved into a boisterous laugh. He was practically beaming, completely not expecting this. "This is fantastic! You know when I started this game, I never thought someone would approach me with something like this!"
"I take it, you agree?"
"Of course, I agree! Anything to cause you dastardly little fiends a bit of despair. But what I need to know is… Why?"
"I have my reasons. I'd like to test your chops, as it were. I know how people like you operate, you want the people you are holding captive to squirm. But I intend to give ourselves a bit of leverage and take several pieces off the board."
"I see… You just want to make things interesting for everyone, huh?"
"Far from it, actually. As I said, there is someone among us that has become problematic, and I believe he needs to be taken care of. This is something that you'll benefit from, you'll still have plenty of people for you to manipulate."
"Hm… Yes, you are right. There are tons of little pawns for me to play with, but you yourself are a pawn. You are aware that if this goes south for you, everyone around you will make you their newest target, right?" Monokuma asked, earning a smirk from the woman.
"I am well aware of that fact, but it's a risk I'm willing to take. I am going to subject myself to the same deal. I want it to be equal, after all."
"You seem to have a lot of faith in yourself, are you hoping your talent will be enough to bail you out?" the mechanical bear asked curiously.
"Not mine, but the talent of someone else among us."
Monokuma let out a laugh. "I get it, another ploy to make use of someone else in the game. I like it. You people like to think outside of the box, that's the kind of thing I look forward to seeing. But make no mistake. Talent alone isn't going to get you out of this one."
"Talent alone doesn't make the person, it's how they use that talent in order to achieve what they want."
"And yet talent is the reason the world is suffering. It's because of people with talent that the normal person suffers. No one ever seems to care nor understand what it's like to be born as a normal person. Without a single thing that makes them special. But sure, you all keep pressing forward, drowning in avarice, lusting for more and more." Monokuma said, looking rather furious as he spoke. "For talented people, it is never enough, and then, well… then you have people like Byakuya Togami, who look down on the rest of us for the things we will never have."
"That's the way of it, then? You are doing this to us because you were dealt a bad hand?"
"Oh Celestia, I am doing this for far less than that. Let's just say, mankind needed a little reminder… a reminder of what happens when they become too comfortable." Monokuma said. His demeanor changed, becoming its usual peppy self. "Whelp! Enough of that eh? I'm interested in your wager and I accept! It just so happens that I have something ready for us all to have fun with~"
"Wonderful, then I await the moment you decide to act. But I assure you, we are going to win… after all, Celestia Ludenberg doesn't lose."
"Keep telling yourself that, Taeko," Monokuma replied with a laugh, swiftly leaving the room. Celeste said nothing as she continued to smile. The second she knew Monokuma was gone, she grabbed the nearby kettle, whipping it at where he had stood, watching it shatter into a million pieces.
"Calm yourself, darling, calm yourself. Remember you hold all the cards and have all of the pieces lined up. Things will go according to plan." she told herself, a smile appearing on her face. She spared a glance at the table, spotting the collar Sayaka had given her. Nodding to herself, she rose to her feet. "Well, today promises to be an interesting evening. I'll have to be dressed in my best."
The Ultimate Gambler set out to get ready, she had a party to attend to, after all.
Location: Bathhouse, Hotel Despair
Day: 12
Time: 12:00 PM
"Have you finished examining the contents of that memory card?"
"I did Master, just as you requested. The contents of the memory card do not show any signs of tampering. I did extensive checks to ensure no editing software was used to create it. Sadly, I was not able to verify the date the picture was taken." Alter Ego replied, causing Chihiro to frown.
"That's unfortunate. How's the decryption of the hard drive coming along?"
"The decryption is currently at 19%. A lot of it is junk files that were left behind to cause clutter. Everything of importance has been cataloged and saved. My rough estimate for 100% completion has gone down to 7 days!"
"That's wonderful! Keep up the great work, Alter Ego! I'll check in with you tomorrow! I've decided to tell a close friend about you. From there, we'll decide if we'll reveal you to everyone else."
"Understood! I'm happy to hear I will finally be meeting your friend! Take care of yourself, Master! I understand your worries but I have full confidence things will become better soon!" the AI said cheerfully. Within moments, the laptop returned to Sleep mode, allowing Chihiro to let out the breath she'd been holding.
"I was hoping we'd get an accurate date on that picture. It could have gone a long way to figure out how long the Academy has been like this. I really hope Alter Ego can find more information for us. There's something seriously wrong happening in this academy," she thought.
The Ultimate Programmer rose to her feet, keen on going for a walk. The party wouldn't be until a few hours, so she had a lot of time on her hands. Though she had quite a lot on her mind. She knew if anyone stumbled onto Alter Ego, the Mastermind could find it, and that would put a stop to getting out of Hope's Peak Academy. She needed to keep her cool and act normally, at least until she could speak to Akira about it. Thankfully, she was good at keeping secrets, considering she had been keeping one for a very long time.
Just as she was about to leave the hotel plaza, she heard a pair of voices. It didn't take long to see it was Akira and Sayaka. She had noticed both of them had gotten rather close recently. She didn't know why it was, but for some reason, seeing them together just felt right. As if they were meant to be together. That strange sense of deja vu seemed to return, giving her a great sense of confusion, as if she had seen this scene before. She shook her head, holding her head for a moment as she waited for her mind to clear up.
"Are you alright, Chihiro?" Sayaka asked, sounding concerned. She looked up at her, giving her a nod.
"I'm alright! Just had another weird sense of deja vu. It's been happening a lot recently, but it's nothing you should worry about."
"Hm… you should talk to Mikan about that at some point. I know we all get that sense sometimes but I don't think it's normal for you to have it so often." Akira added.
"Oh no no no! I don't want to worry her with something like that. I'm sure Mikan has a lot of other things she'd like to tend to. Speaking of, how are the preparations for the party coming along? I haven't had the chance to head up to the Arcade yet."
"You should see it! Ibuki found some helium tanks in the Physics Lab so she's been blowing up all of the balloons in the Arcade. The whole place resembles a damn Chuck E Cheese. Did you know the Arcade also had a ball pit?" the idol asked. Chihiro shook her head. "Yeah, neither did the rest of us. Ibuki set it up and has been pelting Kazuichi with the balls whenever he thinks about something depressing. It's kind of funny."
"Ibuki planning a party has done wonders to keep him distracted. I'm not exactly his biggest fan at the moment, especially after what Sonia told me. I'd rather keep that to myself, though." the Ultimate Lucky Student said, shaking his head. "Anyway, we should continue on with what we came down here to do."
"Ah, before I forget. Akira, would you mind coming to the bathhouse tomorrow after breakfast? There's something I need to speak to you about, and it has to be kept secret." the petite girl said, a firm look on her face.
"Certainly, it's not like I have anything to do tomorrow."
"Great! I appreciate it, oh but… Would it be alright if it's the two of us for now? The less people that know about this, the better. Sorry, Sayaka." the programmer said, giving the idol an apologetic look. Sayaka didn't seem bothered by it, holding back a giggle.
"It's quite alright, Chihiro. Akira is a free person, he can hang out and speak with whoever he wants to. I can't hog him all the time."
"Good! The last thing I need is to make you mad, since you two are dating and stuff."
"Oh great, not you too." the boy dejectedly said, hanging his head slightly. "We're not dating, Chihiro, we're just really good friends."
Her eyes grew wide in surprise. "Oh! Oh God, I'm so sorry. I just assumed that you were since you were so close to each other. And I saw you two holding hands a couple of times. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have assumed anything."
"Don't worry about it! I only hold his hand whenever I'm nervous, it's an awkward tick of mine. I used to do it a lot with my Father and with Satomi as well. I should probably stop doing it, the last thing I need is people thinking things,"
"Aw… and I like holding your hand too, how unfair," Akira said, a fake frown on his face. He let out a laugh the moment Sayaka glared at him. "I was kidding."
"See? This is exactly why I thought you two were dating. You're just so good together, there's something between you two that just gives me hope. Like I can take on the world if I have to." Chihiro said, a genuine smile on her face. "Alright, I think I'll be going now. I'm sure you want to practice for your performance later tonight. I think I'll go see the Arcade now."
With that, the programmer took off, leaving the two completely rooted in place. Akira adjusted his glasses after a moment, giving Sayaka a small smile. "Don't pay too much attention to that, okay?"
"Can two people's happiness really give others hope?"
"I mean I guess…? You know what they say, the power of love solves everything!" he said, rubbing his neck. "Well… it solves almost anything. I doubt even the power of love could get us out of this shithole."
"Fair point. Anyway, go get those Cyalumes already! I brought my iPod with me and my speaker, so we'll be able to get some practice in." she said. He rolled his eyes, stepping away from her.
"As you wish, Princess."
"Don't make me slap you!"
He laughed quietly, entering his dorm shortly after. He walked right to his dresser, pulling the first drawer open. He pulled out the Cylumes he had gotten from the claw machine a few days back. He stepped out of the dorm, ensuring the door was locked behind him. As he stepped forward, he felt something underfoot, causing him to look down.
"Huh? What the hell…" he thought, as he knelt down, picking the object up. He tilted his head in confusion. "A key? That's odd… why would this be here?"
He shook his head, pocketing the key as he continued heading back to the plaza. He spotted the Ultimate Pop-Sensation leaning against the nearby wall, her gaze fully on her iPod.
Akira watched her for a moment, taking in her appearance. She was dressed in a tank top, much like she had worn a few days before. She was wearing a pair of high-waist shorts, held up by a bright blue belt, along with bright blue Converse sneakers. She looked very cute, her hair having been tied up into a ponytail. He found himself flushing a bit, his cheeks feeling very hot. He took a deep breath, looking away.
"Idiot, she's just a friend. There's no way you feel something for her, and besides, there are more important things to worry about than sappy love. It's not like agency idols can date anyways." he said, shaking his head. "Keep your head in the game."
"Akira, why are you just standing there?"
"Huh? Oh Uh…" he paused, coughing into his fist. "You know fish can hear you thinking just before you sneeze."
"What?" she replied, sighing audibly. "Stop being an ass, come on, we don't have much time here."
"Hoo, Crisis averted." the young man thought as he closed the distance between them. He handed the Cyalumes to Sayaka, who quickly checked them over. She turned them on, shifting through the colors until she found Blue and Pink, smiling.
"There we are! Glad to know these things have the right colors. Now then, do you remember the routine?"
"Of course I do, I watched that music video every morning before I went to school."
"Fantastic! Then let's get started, I'm gonna put you through the wringer~" she cheerfully said. Akira felt a bead of sweat form on the corner of his head, he was not ready for what he was in for.
"Hey, before we start… Did you happen to lose a key?"
"Huh? A key?" Sayaka asked curiously.
"Yeah… I found one just outside our dorm," he said, reaching into his pocket. He held it out to her, earning an odd look from her. "I thought maybe it went to a drawer or something?"
"Nope. None of my drawers have a key, and that one doesn't look like a dorm key either. Maybe it goes to one of the doors in the academy?"
"Maybe… seems rather weird though. I wonder what kind of key it could be?" he said, tilting his head a bit in thought.
"It's the key to destiny!"
"Alright Roxas, maybe we should focus on that dance, yeah?" he asked, pocketing the key once more. He took the cyalumes in his hands, rolling his shoulders. "Alright, I'm ready to learn, Miss Maizono!"
"Good, because this is not going to be easy for you~," she said, hitting play on her iPod. As the music started filling the plaza, Akira was unsure of what the Ultimate Pop-Sensation had in store for him.
A/N: Man this site truly is a ghost town. Lots of stories I've seen recently are well written but have low engagement. It's sad. Oh well, it is what it is.