Chapter 2: Act 4: Bitter Cold II
Location: Gymnasium, Hope's Peak Academy 1F
Day: 9
Time: 1:00 PM
It took a bit of time for everyone to gather at the gymnasium. The 20 remaining students all had looks of worry on their faces. What previously had been faces of joy were now decorated with expressions of worry. It had only gotten colder in the academy, something they had all noticed, especially those who had gotten out of the pool. Everyone had hurried to dry off and change back into their regular clothes, wanting to get whatever heat they could. As everyone had settled into their spots, the mechanical headmaster of Hope's Peak Academy emerged, landing in front of the students, clapping his hands avidly.
"Welcome everyone, welcome! How have you been enjoying the second floor? Are you loving the video games and the pool?"
"Out with it, bear, I don't have time for your useless prattle." Byakuya snapped, a look of annoyance on his face as he rubbed his arms. "And turn up the heat, would you?"
"I'm afraid I can't do that, boss."
"Huh? Why the hell not? It's fucking freezing!" Hiyoko barked, face contorted into anger.
"You're telling me, I just came out of the pool. My nipples are diamond, bro." the mechanic said, shivering. He had returned to wearing his jumpsuit, and he was shivering even with it fully zipped. "Seriously, we need heat."
"Of course you need the heat, we all need a good temperature to survive, or else we'd get hypothermia and we'd die! We can't have that, can we? Sadly things aren't going to be that easy. You see, I've been watching you guys have fun and I am not about that shit so I'll be giving you all your second motive!"
Jumping down from the podium, he stopped before the students, looking up at them with a bright toothy grin. "All of you are very interesting people, all from different walks of life. I'm certain you all have people in your lives who encourage you to do your best, right?"
He paced in front of them, remaining silent as he walked, using his silence to build tension in the room. "You all must be missing those people right about now, right? Brothers, sisters? Parents, lovers? Hell, one of you killed just for the chance to see her sister again. Imagine the kind of motivation you gotta get in order to do that?!"
"Shut up! The only reason Junko did what she did was because she was desperate. We aren't going to fall for your schemes!" Akira boldly announced, words drenched in venom as he glared at the bear. "Whatever you say, we aren't falling for it."
"Oh… oh but you will. All of you will because these people are important to all of you. As I said when you first arrived here, I have a limitless budget. And with that budget, I was able to get my hands on a vast information network. I know the private details of everyone you've ever met. I know who your parents are, who your siblings are, who your pets are, I know who you've fucked, who you've wanted to fuck, and who you jerk it to at night, hehe…"
He turned away from them for a moment before whirling around, holding 20 matching envelopes in his grasp. They were manila folders, colored black and white with the emblem of Hope's Peak Academy at the front. "It's as they say, information makes the world go round, so here's some information that all of you will appreciate!"
One by one, he passed the folders out. Each one had the recipient's name on it in fancy calligraphic lettering. Akira looked at his for a moment, sharing glances with the others. He merely shook his head. "Don't fall for it, you guys. It's just another means to get us to betray each other."
"Aw, I wouldn't do that… but I'd take a little gander at the pictures inside those envelopes if I were you. It's life and death," he said. That little seed was enough to get everyone to start opening the folders.
Akira closed his eyes for a moment, deciding to bite the bullet. He untwisted the chord around the loop, keeping the folder's contents safely within. He pulled out the glossy photograph that was contained within, his eyes widening in shock.
"Wha…. What the fuck is this?!"
The picture was of a young woman, a year or two older than he was. She had long, black hair tied into twin tails with red hair ties. She was wearing a long-sleeved red shirt, with a black ascot around her neck, tied at the front with a large white ribbon. She was wearing a black skirt, along with thigh-high red stockings and brown boots. She was bound and gagged to what looked like a metal chair. Three men were standing around her, all wearing Monokuma-themed masks on their heads. The one closest to her had a gun aimed at her head. The girl's crimson eyes were filled with anger, not a hint of fear in them.
Akira felt his breath catch in his throat as he stared at the picture, heart beating hard in his chest. Everyone had similar reactions, causing Monokuma to laugh. "Ahahaha! That's the look I was waiting for! Bet you those pictures changed your tune, eh?"
"What is the meaning of this? What do you plan to do with him?" Byakuya shouted, clearly angry at what he had seen.
"Me? Oh nothing, nothing at all. Don't you worry, the people in those pictures are absolutely safe! But for every day that passes without a murder, not only will you all have to deal with the temperature going down, but one of them will be randomly picked for a special punishment!" the bear said, laughing maniacally as he did so. "I like to call this motive, Captive Roulette! For each day no one dies, I'll spin a wheel! If it lands on your face well… your loved one is not gonna have a pleasant time…
But don't worry, I'm not gonna kill them. That'll be all up to you. I'll be spinning a separate wheel, and that one will decide what happens to them. If you want to spare them, you know exactly what I want."
He looked away for a moment, hands behind his back. "Oh yes, the thermostat is currently set to 65 degrees Fahrenheit. It, however, will go down every 4 hours until we hit the negatives. And don't worry, it isn't going to stop. Either you all freeze to death and your folks become free by default, or you kill someone and free them that way. Just now that choice lies entirely within your hands. If I don't see a body by 9 AM tomorrow, well… The wheel will get spun. Have fun with that!"
"Y-you can't do this to us!" Hiyoko cried, tears rolling down her cheeks. "My daddy is innocent, he has nothing to do with this. If anyone needs to be punished, you do that to me!"
"That's not how things work here, sweetheart. Each and every one of you has committed a grave sin against me, and I am getting my payback. You were all raised in a world that loved and nurtured talent, but you kicked people like me to the curve. Always looking down on us. Well, now the shoe is on the other foot. You will sit here and you will stew in your despair, and I will continue drinking it in, hehehehe! So have fun! Oh and feel free to build snowmen when it starts snowing in here. HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Though he was angry and scared, what Monokuma had said stuck out to Akira. They had all done something to him? But that didn't make sense. They had never met. Could it be that the Mastermind behind all of this knew them all?
"Of course, he knows us, he just admitted to having an information network. He probably dug up information on all of us and is lording it as some sick prize. And now our loved ones are going to pay the price for some sin we never did."
He looked back at the picture of his sister, taking a deep breath. "I'm not gonna cry. You taught me that when the going gets tough, the tough kicks ass. You'll be fine, because you're tough, and so am I. We'll be fine, sis. We'll be fine."
"So… what are we going to do now? They have my little brother." Hina said, a look of fear on her face. "I don't want anything to happen to him."
"Grr… that fucking bastard! If only I could contact my boys, we wouldn't be in this fucking mess! My sister wouldn't be-" Fuyuhiko growled, clenching his fist tightly. "Fuck!"
"Fuyuhiko, please stay calm. I'm certain this is all just a bluff in order to make us react this way. What we must do is remain calm and not fall for his ploy." Peko said.
"She's right, this is all just an elusive mind trick by the Mastermind. However, it does beg the question, what exactly is this sin we've all seemingly committed? Quite curious, isn't it?" the Gambler asked, adopting a sweet smile. "Oh well… it seems we're going to have to deal with the nippy temperatures for the time being."
"Man, nothing phases you, huh?" Mondo asked, shaking his head. "I still gotta deal with the fact they got my boy. Takemichi's one tough son of a bitch, but they got him all chained up and shit. Fuck man, what the hell is this?!"
"I'm more impressed by the network of information," Sonia said, a nervous look on her face. She looked away from her picture, swallowing the lump in her throat. "What kind of person are we dealing with? And how did they get enough influence to subjugate an entire kingdom?"
"Wait? They're holding the entirety of Novoselic hostage?" Hikari cried, a look of disbelief on his face. "Jesus Christ… Who the hell did we get caught by?"
"This is but one clue as to who it is we are dealing with. We must tread carefully, because the next few hours are going to be among the toughest in our lives. This has turned into a mind game. It's all about which one of us will crack first." Kyoko said, shoving the picture she had gotten back into her envelope. "Regretfully, my life is just as important as my captive's, and I am not willing to lose it without a fight."
"Man… that's cold! You care more about your life than your loved one?" Hiro asked, shivering fearfully. "I can't be like that man, they got my Mom, she's the only person in my life that I love with all my heart. Not even my deadbeat dad is in the picture, man."
"Classmates! We must not falter!" Kiyotaka said, standing in front of the others. "We have been dealt a dirty hand, but we must remain strong against the tides of despair. We are all currently going through a storm, and it is a bad one. But we must not lose sight of what is important!"
"Taka is right! We can't continue bending to the tides like reeds in a river of misery. We must press on. I shall continue to fight, and I will liberate my kingdom. I am more than just a princess and my people are more than my subjects. I will not let Monokuma nor the Mastermind sway my heart. I will continue onward, until the end!" Sonia bravely said, a look of confidence on her face.
"Easy for you to say… it's going to be a lot harder for the best of us." Mahiru muttered, glancing at the photograph which showed a picture of her father, bound and gagged to a pole.
"I do wonder though," Chihiro said, eyes narrowed slightly. "The Mastermind's network must be expansive if he was able to find all of our loved ones. Sure, he likely got that information from our student records, but being able to take over an entire kingdom?"
"Maybe he's bluffing about that one?" Kazuichi asked. Sonia turned the picture over, showing an image of Novoselic's Royal Palace, being surrounded by Howitzers, HIMARS, and even Missiles, all aimed at the building.
"I do not believe this is fake."
Akira narrowed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath as he moved to the front of the gym, turning to the others. "Look, things are dire, for all of us, but I think we have to take this calmly. As messed up as it is, we have to prioritize our lives first. How will we save them if we don't save ourselves?"
"Hah! Easy for you to say, my daddy was bound and gagged and is being held against his will!" Hiyoko barked. "How could you say something so heartless!?"
"My sister was caught too. I love her with all my heart but she can take care of herself. Believe me, my sister is one tough bitch. I doubt she's going to let herself be killed by Monokuma's Men. We must think logically and not fall into his schemes. Look at what happened last time."
"Hah… you are free to give all the pep talks you want, but nothing is going to change our situation. This game just got interesting, and it isn't going to be long before someone acts." Byakuya said, swiveling on his foot. "I, for one, am not going to waste my breath spitting platitudes at each other. Feel free to leave me out of it."
"You know, if you keep playing the lone wolf act, you're only going to make things worse for yourself," Akira said, causing the young man to stop. "We're all in this together man, like it or not. You can at least confide in us, trust in us. If we work together, we can-"
"Stop, just stop," he said, turning to face the man, face filled with fury. "I am sick and tired of your pep talks. Nothing you say or do can change our situation. You can stand there saying all the right words but it will amount to nothing. So don't waste your foul breath on me."
The Ultimate Affluent Progeny left, throwing the gymnasium into silence. Akira sighed, shaking his head. "I don't know why I even tried."
"Because you have a kind heart, Akira. Deep down, you care about everyone here. You aren't worried just about yourself or your loved ones, but for the sake of everyone here. That is quite the admirable trait to possess." Sonia said, smiling at him.
"Admirable though it may be, it leaves him open to attack. People who wear their heart on their sleeves are the most vulnerable." Kyoko said, turning to leave. "I recommend you tread lightly, people like you are usually the ones that end up hurt the worst."
As if on cue, the vents in the gymnasium began blowing harder than before, a wave of cold air beginning to flood the room. Everyone's faces changed to expressions of fear. Even Celeste seemed to be perturbed by the current circumstances. But Kyoko kept a neutral one on hers, true to her word, she decided it had been much better to hide her emotions than show them. Akira wished he had that kind of strength, but he knew he likely never would.
xxx
About fifteen minutes had passed since the latest motive had been issued. Though they wanted to remain together, it had gotten far too cold for them to stick around. Almost everyone had returned to their dorms, keen on dressing warmly. Kiyotaka had searched the warehouse, passing out thick blankets and comforters to everyone who needed one. Byakuya had locked himself in his room and wasn't going to come out any time soon. He seemed the most bothered by the motive. Akira guessed that he even had someone important in his life.
The Ultimate Lucky Student had been in the process of looking through the warehouse as well. There was so much stuff in there that he didn't even know what to look for. He did, however, get lucky in finding a thick winter trench coat, which he immediately slipped into. He managed to find a knit-hat as well as some gloves, stuffing them into his pockets. He heard the door behind him opening, Hajime entering the room. He gave the boy a wave, shivering a bit.
"Find anything worthwhile?"
"Not really. I was lucky enough to find some winter wear but I dunno if there's any more. This room is huge, so there might be a lot more stuff in the back. If only we had access to a lost and found bin or something. You tend to find a lot of stuff in those." he replied, turning back to the box he had been sifting through.
"I'm sure you have experience with that sort of thing," he said, coughing into his fist. "Sorry, I didn't mean to say something so callous."
"Don't worry about it. I'm not exactly happy being an orphan but that came with its own set of circumstances we overcame. The winters weren't particularly bad, but our orphanage was underfunded, so we had to be picky with the heat. It wasn't this bad though." he admitted, shaking his head. "Anyway, I'd rather not talk about sad stuff."
"Neither do I, sadly there's no shortage of that sort of thing," Hajime admitted. As he dug through one of the crates, he let out a chuckle, finding himself a winter coat. "Looks like I'm not freezing any time soon."
"Hey, lucky find! Guess my luck is rubbing off on people," he said with a chuckle. He cleared his throat, turning back to his own crate. "I hope you don't mind me asking, who'd Monokuma take hostage?"
Hajime frowned, looking up from his crate. "I'm not sure. It wasn't my parents and I don't have any siblings, but they have some girl as my captive."
"Some girl?" he asked. Hajime nodded, reaching into his pocket. He opened the envelope he had gotten, handing the picture to Akira.
She looked around their age, having a pale complexion and soft pink eyes. She had silvery pink hair reaching down to her neck, and was wearing a white button-down shirt, with a matching pink skirt, long stockings, and boots. She was wearing a green jacket, bearing the crest of Hope's Peak Academy on the left breast. The most noticeable feature was the Gala Omega hairpin on her hair.
"She looks… familiar." the boy said, a pensive look on his face. "She's really pretty though, maybe she's your girlfriend?"
"Hah… that's a laugh. No, I doubt she's my girlfriend. I'm far too plain and boring to have done." Hajime admitted, frowning. "I really want to know who she is, but I just can't remember. When I look at that picture, my heartbeat picks up, and I feel my throat tightening. I feel this immense sense of worry and I don't know why."
"Hm… definitely a girlfriend then. Even if you don't remember her, she's in danger, and probably scared for you. We have to remain strong, Hajime." he said, handing the picture back to the taller boy.
"Yes… it's been rough, and this cold isn't gonna help us, but I think we can manage. I'm just scared something will happen to her, and everyone else."
"Eh… It's just a little cold, we'll manage. It could be worse, it could be extreme heat. And I don't know about you, but I like the cold better than the heat." Akira said, holding back a chuckle as he reached the bottom of the crate. He pulled out what looked like a dress, smiling. "Jackpot, Sayaka's gonna love this."
"Hey man, I gotta ask…. I noticed how close the two of you have gotten. Do you… have feelings for her?"
Akira remained silent at his query, a frown on his face. "Not really. She's very beautiful, I'll give you that. But in a place like this? I'd rather focus on getting out. Gotta put those feelings aside, you know?"
"But what if this is your last chance? What if you were to die and never told her how you felt?"
"How do you know I even like her?"
"Because I'm psychic," Hajime said, taking Akira by surprise. He broke into laughter, shaking his head. "Aaah… I always wanted to do that. Sayaka teased me with it yesterday and I wanted to use it on someone else."
"God… her little joke is spreading around, it seems," he replied with a roll of his eyes. "I'm gonna be honest with you, Hajime, I haven't thought about that kind of stuff. Sayaka is… fragile. Well no, fragile is the wrong term. She's in a state of vulnerability. She's already lost a close friend, and likely latched onto me because she was scared. It was a fight-or-flight response. Fact of the matter is, we're still strangers, acting on feelings like that might lead us down the wrong path."
"It might, but it might not. I dunno… if I had someone like that, I'd like to at least consider my feelings toward them. Just in case something were to happen. Wouldn't want to have any regrets or anything. On top of that, I've been having this odd sense of deja vu."
"Deja vu?"
"Yes… like I've met everyone here before. It's hard for me to grasp, but the more I speak to you, and everyone else, the more these feelings come out. Strange, isn't it?
"It is strange… I had that feeling as well, back on the first day. With Chihiro and Hina. I have the same sort of familiarity with Kyoko. Sometimes, I feel like I'm the only one who gets what makes her tick." Akira said, sighing. "Maybe it's the cabin fever starting to get to me."
"Yeah… maybe. We should probably get out of here, it's starting to get a lot colder. Sonia said she was going to start making tea and hot chocolate. Warm foods and drinks should help us stave off the cold, if only for a bit."
"That's nice of her. I think I'll go help her."
"Actually… I kinda wanted to help her out." the boy suddenly said, causing Akira to give him a firm look. He understood almost immediately, holding back a laugh.
"Have fun then, Hajime. We'll get through this man, I enjoyed our chat here."
"Same! I'm glad I'm not alone here, I'd have gone insane by now."
The pair went their separate ways, with Hajime heading toward the kitchen. Akira headed back to his dorm, slipping the key into the lock and swiftly entering. It was a lot colder in the dormitories than in the larger areas of the school. He looked around for a moment, finding a large mass of blankets on one of the beds. He stood at the edge of it, holding back a laugh.
"Knock knock, Miss Sayaka Maizono, I found something to keep you warm."
She stuck a single arm out, opening and closing it for a moment. He handed her the dress, which she immediately pulled in. After a moment, she uncovered herself, brushing her hair out of her face. "Where'd you get this? It's totally cute!"
"I found it in the warehouse, at the bottom of a crate. Go put it on, it's lined in wool so it should help. I also got you some of those fuzzy boots you were talking about. I don't know if they're your size but it's better than nothing." he said, reaching into his backpack for the boots he had found.
She immediately dove into the bathroom, closing the door right after. It didn't take her long to re-emerge, wearing the dress he had found for her. It was a cute winter dress, which was a rich navy blue in color, lined with thick white fur. It had a furry collar, and an attached wool-lined shawl. It also featured a pearl-lined bow on the front, with matching furry bows on her hips. She was wearing a pair of white tights along with the knee-high fur-lined boots he had found for her. She had a bright smile on her face as she looked at herself in the mirror.
"I look so cute in this, and it's really warm too. Thanks for finding it, Akira."
"Y-you're welcome," he said, flushing a bit. He looked away for a moment, reaching into his pocket for the knit-hat he had found. He shortened the distance between them, placing it on her head, adjusting it a bit. "Now it's complete."
"If I didn't know any better, we look like we're about to go sledding," she replied, giggling. Her expression changed a bit, the frown returning. "Still… I'm not so sure we'll be able to make it out of this one."
"Of course we will! Don't tell me you are losing hope now."
"I'm not! It's just…" she sighed, walking toward her dresser. She grabbed the envelope she had been handed earlier, giving it to him. She gestured for him to open it, which he did. He pulled out the glossy picture, eyes widening when he saw four girls wearing identical outfits, each of them bound and gagged. He looked up from it, a sympathetic look on his face.
"Oh… Saya."
"I'm so scared for them. I don't know how it was that Monokuma was able to get them, but I am beyond angry. But I have to contain that anger, because I don't know what he's capable of. If he was able to brutally kill Junko the way he did… what do you think he could do to them?" she asked, biting her lip. "I try not to think about it, but those are my best friends, my sisters! I'd give anything for their safety, but I also don't want to die."
"I don't blame you for being conflicted. We were dealt with a heavy mind-fuck of a motive. If we don't kill someone, the temperature goes down. Not only that, Monokuma will select someone at random to hurt them violently. All to get us to become so desperate we'd consider killing. It's disgusting."
He took a hold of her hand, giving it a tight squeeze. "But we'll be fine. It'll be a little hard to deal with at first, but we'll get through it. Just don't lose hope, okay?"
"I don't know what I'd do without you, Akira. I'm glad we're friends, if you weren't here to keep me sane, I likely would have fallen victim to Monokuma's motive. Hell, who knows? Maybe in some alternate universe, I'd already be dead."
"Don't think like that. Happy thoughts. Remember, you became the Ultimate Pop-Sensation to spread joy to everyone. Now come on, Hajime said Sonia was making tea and chocolate for everyone. It'll do us good to have something hot."
She nodded, following him out of the dorm room. It had gotten a lot colder than before, causing him to check his watch. It was already 4 in the afternoon, meaning they had breached the first four-hour barrier. The temperature had gone down and he didn't know how much it had. All he knew was that the bitter cold was going to continue for the time being. Stepping into the Dining Hall, they were blasted with what amounted to an arctic cold front.
The only people present were Celeste, Chihiro, and Kiyotaka. The Ultimate Gambler was dressed in an outfit similar to Sayaka's, only hers was jet black in color. She didn't look too different from how she was normally dressed. Chihiro was the opposite, wearing thick clothing, making her look almost overweight. She had a hood pulled over her head, and had a blanket wrapped around her body. Taka, meanwhile, was still in his normal outfit, seemingly not bothered with the cold.
"Hey Celeste, are you still willing to adapt?" Akira jokingly asked, causing the woman to let out a genuine laugh, covering her mouth with her hand.
"Why, of course, I am, darling. It's just a little bit cold, nothing more, nothing less."
"I do wonder how long the Mastermind intends to do this. Monokuma said he isn't going to kill us personally, but eventually, it'll be so cold we'll be at great risk." Chihiro said, hugging herself tightly. "Though I gotta ask, Taka, aren't you cold?"
"M-me? Of course not, this is nothing! I used to go on morning runs in the middle of the winter. Haha, this just helps get the blood flowing! I am far too hot-blooded to let a bit of cold slow me down!" he happily replied. His smile fell as he looked around the dining hall, sighing. "Though I am worried about the others. There's only so much cold some thick blankets can stave off."
"It's a test of willpower at this rate. There'll be a point where we're gonna have to do whatever it takes to survive. As long as we have the stoves in the kitchen, we'll be fine." the Ultimate Lucky Student said, maintaining a smile.
"Hi, Guys!" Mikan happily greeted, as she made her way into the dining hall. She, like Taka, was dressed just in her nurse's uniform. She didn't at all seem bothered by the cold. "How are you all holding up?"
"Better than we all thought," Sayaka answered, shivering. "It'd be better without these damn vents blowing the cold air right at me."
"You could move your seat."
"No, I like this seat," she said.
"Worry not, everyone! These drinks will certainly help you all warm up!" Sonia said as she and Hajime left the kitchen. She was pushing a cart filled with steaming cups of tea and hot chocolate. There were also a lot of thermoses, likely filled to the brim. "We made plenty so make sure to drink it all. We've got plenty more to go."
"I didn't know how to make your tea, Celeste, so I hope you are alright with regular green tea," Hajime said, passing her a cup.
"At this rate, I can't really complain. I appreciate it, Hajime, truly," she replied.
"We're gonna go around delivering these to the other dorms. I hope the others are at least inspired to leave their dorms. Locking yourself in your dorm isn't a wise idea." the Ultimate Princess said, gesturing for Hajime to follow her. Akira grabbed two mugs of hot chocolate, handing one to Sayaka, who gratefully took it.
"Can't believe we've been reduced to this." the voice of the Ultimate Biker said, as he entered the dining hall, having taken a mug of chocolate from Hajime on his way in. He sat a few seats down and across from Akira. "This is insane, man."
"It's all a psychological game, if we remain strong then Monokuma has nothing on us," Mikan said, smiling. "Though for me, it's quite literal. He doesn't have a thing on me."
"What do you mean by that, Darling?" the Gambler asked. The Ultimate Nurse sat up a bit, a bitter smile on her face.
"It's as it sounds. My envelope was empty, all it contained was a letter from my mother saying she had disowned me. The only person who ever really loved me was my grandmother, and she passed away a few months before I was scouted for Hope's Peak." she said.
"Oh… Mikan, I'm so sorry."
"Why? I'm the lucky one, none of my loved ones are in danger. But the same thing can't be said for you. I-I'm not good with words but… just know that I'm praying with all my heart for your friends and family." she said.
"Let's just not talk about this shit. Yo, Akira?"
"What's up?"
"You gotta let me know man, what kinda hog are you drivin'?"
"Hog?" the boy asked curiously, narrowing his eyes in thought. "Oh! You mean motorcycle, right?"
"That's right! You gotta have one, right? You look like the type to love a sweet ride."
"I did at one point, but I had to sell it for money. Tuition fees were getting high and I didn't want to lose my standing in Hope's Peak," he admitted, a look of sadness on his face. "I was saving up for a Kawasaki Ninja 400, but life got in the way."
"Damn dude, that fuckin' sucks. But hey, you got good taste in motorcycles. I ride a custom Kawasaki too. The V-twins got that monster power, it's like you're dancin'. Course, it ain't just for anyone, you gotta have the skill to handle it!"
"I've never been on a motorcycle. What's it like?" Sayaka curiously asked, sipping at her hot chocolate.
"It's fuckin awesome! Nothing screams excitement like tearing up the asphalt, feeling the wind on your face, and hearing that engine purr. The monster sound comin' outta the straight pipe… hot damn!" Mondo said, a bright grin on his face.
"S-straight pipe?" Chihiro asked, looking confused.
"The straight pipe is the term given to a bike that's got no muffler. So it sounds a lot louder than it normally would." Akira explained.
"Hey, how about when we get outta here, we all go for a ride! I'm sure my boys can hook you up with a hog you can borrow. Sayaka can ride with you, I'm sure she'll love cruisin' around the city."
"Can I really? It sounds so much fun!" the Ultimate Pop-Sensation asked, looking excited.
"Sure you can! Hell, the Crazy Diamonds might be mostly men, but we have a few chicks who are just as hard as we are. I'll get one of 'em to give you some lessons. You'll be riding among the best in no time!"
"Honestly, I didn't think you'd want to drive one of those death traps," Celeste said, setting her teacup down. "They are nothing but gas-guzzling noise makers."
"What'd you say? Clearly, you don't know fuck about shit if that's your opinion of a motorcycle. Alright then, we're gonna bring her along too! I'm sure she'll start whoopin' for joy the second she gets up to speed!"
"Absolutely not! That sounds so dreadful I'd rather chop my own legs off!" the gambler exclaimed, looking angry. She recomposed herself, a grin on her face. "Apologies, darling. But motorcycles are just not for me."
"You know, some of the boys hold drag racing bets. I'm sure that'd interest you." Mondo said, making her go wide-eyed, her lips curving into a smile.
"I see… Well, it seems you've caught my interest."
"Drag racing isn't safe, you know," Mikan said, looking worried.
"Don't worry, my boys aren't that idiotic. They do shit legally, go to a track and get geared up, they ain't in danger." the biker said with a shrug. "Can't be the biggest biker gang in Japan if your riders are dead."
"Alright everyone, we're back," Sonia announced, as she and Hajime returned, with an empty cart. The tall boy was holding a thermos in his hands, a dejected look on his face. "Byakuya is still being stubborn, even when his life is at serious risk, he doesn't want to accept anything."
"Forget about him, he's clearly shaken up by this particular motive. His previous anger seemed fueled by arrogance but today was different. He seemed genuinely furious." Akira said, finishing the last of his chocolate. "Makes you wonder who it was that was being held hostage."
"This is an awful motive all around. The last thing we need is for someone to fall victim to it, especially now." Hajime said, sighing. "But we can't really force him. The others were very appreciative. I do hope they leave their dorms soon, making a blanket burrito might seem fun, but you can't stay in bed forever."
"What other options do we really have? There are only so many ways we can stay warm." Chihiro said, frowning. "I wish we had a movie or something to watch. Something that would invoke warmth."
"Dante's Peak?" Akira asked, earning looks of confusion from his friends. "It's uh… a movie about a volcano erupting."
"I… don't think that's the kind of warmth Chihiro was picturing in her mind," Sayaka said, holding back a laugh. "Still, I have to agree with Chihiro. There has to be something we can do to keep ourselves distracted."
"A hearty run around the gym will get the adrenaline pumping! It'll be enough to keep warm!" Kiyotaka announced.
"Forgive me, but exercise is something I am not too interested in. Personally, I wouldn't mind curling up next to a fire with a good book. Of course, there is no fire but books are readily available. Perhaps I shall visit the Library and see if I can find something."
"Would you like some company? Me and Hajime were talking about my homeland and were wondering if there were any Novoselician History Books here." Sonia said. The Ultimate Gambler smiled at her.
"That would be wonderful, darling. I've wanted to learn more about Novoselician Culture, it would be an honor to join you two," she said.
"M-may I come too? I want to s-see if I can find some programming books." Chihiro asked, a hopeful look on her face.
"Ah! Me too! I'd like to find some medical books if possible. I know a lot of the survival ones are gone, but the Anatomy and Biology books might still be here."
"God, what is this? Reading Rainbow? Is everyone gonna go find a damn book to read?" Mondo asked, sounding annoyed.
"Reading is a wonderful pastime! Perhaps you should accompany them, Classmate Mondo! You might find books on motorcycles!" Kiyotaka said.
"Tch… nah, I'm good with that, I'm no egghead. I'm just gonna go kick the door again."
Ever so slowly, everyone present started leaving the Dining Hall, leaving only the Ultimate Lucky Student and Ultimate Pop-Sensation behind. Akira couldn't help but flush a bit, wondering why they were always left alone together.
"Well… Now what?" Akira asked, glancing at his friend, who just gave him a shrug.
"I'm not really in the mood for reading, and I don't want to head back to the dorm either. My hands are too cold to make paper stars or play games," she admitted, sighing. "This sucks."
"It really does," he replied, reaching into his pocket. He pulled out the gloves he had found in the warehouse, handing them to her. "Here, they might be a bit big for you, but they're better than nothing."
"Thank you. Do you want to go to the Arcade? Maybe video games will distract us."
"Well, it is better than sitting around here," he said, rising to his feet. She followed after him, slipping her hands into the gloves he had given her. "You know, sometimes I wonder why the Mastermind is doing what he's doing. He mentioned us committing some sort of sin, but for the life of me, I don't know what that could even be."
"Trying to understand psychopaths is like talking to a brick wall. There's no point in doing that. After all, he's probably just saying things to rile us up."
"You have a point." the boy replied, shivering slightly. "I just hope they're treating those hostages with respect."
"Yeah, I hope so too."
xxx
"Kazuichi, think we can talk, real quick?" Hajime asked, grabbing the mechanic's attention. The pair had been wearing thick sweaters, though they were hardly doing anything with the rapidly cooling air.
"What do you wanna talk about, man? You wanna play some games at the arcade or-"
"It's about Sonia."
He was taken completely by surprise. "You wanna talk about Miss Sonia? I guess we could, there's a lot of good things about her to talk about. How intelligent she is, how gifted and poised she is, oh! And how pretty she is."
"That's not what I want to talk about," he replied, voice being serious. "You made her uncomfortable. She didn't want to go to the pool, but you kept pressuring her into going. Not only that, you openly mentioned wanting to see her in a swimsuit when she didn't want to wear one. That's not cool man."
"I didn't know I was making her feel weird," he said, shaking his head. "It's probably a misunderstanding. I mean, if I did anything that'd make her feel that way, she'd probably just tell me to stop."
"That's the thing, Sonia is a very kindhearted person. Even if someone is talking about something she doesn't like, she isn't gonna tell them to stop. She doesn't like people ogling her and she doesn't like people talking about her body."
"I wasn't ogling her!"
"You kept staring at her breasts the entire time we were at the pool. She was nodding and smiling but you could tell by the look in her eye she wanted to go somewhere else. Why do you think I approached the two of you when I and Ibuki were in the pool?" Hajime said, shaking his head. "Kazuichi, look, I get it, man, you are smitten by her, but there are ways to go about these things. Sonia is clearly not interested, so don't go saying things that will make her feel bad."
"It isn't like that at all, Hajime. Truly, I just want to get to know her! I have no romantic feelings whatsoever!"
"Right… then why do you keep staring at her ass? Or her breasts? Hm?"
"I-I mean… I can't help it, she's pretty."
"I think so too, I think she's among the most beautiful girls I've met in my life. But I don't look at her body because she's attractive. I keep eye contact. I've gotten to know her and talk about our likes and dislikes. Do you even know what her favorite food is?"
"Umeboshi?"
"She fucking hates umeboshi." Hajime deadpanned, shaking his head. "This is the problem… take it from me. If you want a woman to show interest, you have to show interest in her. And I mean her. Not her looks, not her tits or ass, her."
"I guess you're right… I made an ass of myself, didn't I?"
"You're just excited. But uh… seriously, give her some space, ask her about herself, and don't treat her like a princess. She's just Sonia. Got it?"
"Mhmm… I gotcha Chief! I won't make her feel uncomfortable ever again!"
"Glad to hear it," Hajime said, a genuine smile on his face. He hoped Kazuichi got the message.
xxx
It was quiet in the Arcade, aside from the sounds of the cabinets. Much like the rest of the school, this place was freezing. But Akira and Sayaka were trying not to let that bother them. The boy had suggested a game of billiards, but their constant shivering had made it impossible. They had played Mario Party for a while, but even that became an ordeal. The other cabinets took MonoMono Coins, which neither of them had, so they had few options. Even the prospect of hot pizza had been spoiled by the fact it became cold too fast before they ate it.
It was a miserable experience, and what was worse was how slow time seemed to be moving. It was already five in the afternoon, and it felt like torture. Akira dearly missed hanging out with everyone else, and thought fondly about the billiards game he had played with Celeste. For him, it felt as if it had been years despite it happening the previous day. That's how much the cold was messing with him.
Even swimming in the pool had felt like it had happened weeks ago, even though it had happened only mere hours ago. He tried to keep calm, but he had too many thoughts in his mind. Even then, thinking was just too much for him, and it was making him even more tired and annoyed. He loved the cold weather, but when it was forced onto him, he loathed it.
Sayaka set her Wii-mote down, stretching her arms above her head, taking the time to readjust her hat. She looked at him, frowning. "You look terrible, Akira."
"Do I?"
"You stopped paying attention to the game ten minutes ago and generally seem in a bad mood. I don't blame you though. It's hard to focus with a damn vent blowing in your face." she said, glancing up at the metal grate. "You know, if I was thin enough, I bet I'd be able to squeeze in there."
"Taking the grate off is destroying school property though. You'd get caught easily," he said, pointing to the camera at the other end of the room. The Arcade was like the Gymnasium, having four cameras all sweeping the entire room. Every spot was covered.
"You're right… If it were that easy, I'm sure we would have already gotten out of here," she said, laying back down on the floor, staring at the ceiling. "We've been hanging out for a while but I've never asked, aside from schoolwork, what do you do for fun?"
"Fun?" he asked. He took a deep breath, slowly exhaling as he gathered his thoughts. "Aside from video games, not much. I was focused on my job."
"Oh? You have a job? Where at?"
"I'm not allowed to say what it is or what I do. It was a strict company policy," he replied, quickly changing the subject. "I've always been interested in space, though."
"You mentioned that before, I couldn't stop thinking about what you said," she said, smiling. "I was inspired to write a few space-themed songs, but they're all kinda bad."
"Nah, I bet not! You are the Ultimate Pop-Sensation, I'm sure whatever you write will be good."
"Yeah but…" she sat up, glancing around for a moment before turning to him, leaning in a bit closer than he expected. "Between you and me… I don't write most of my own songs."
He let out a faux gasp, placing a hand over his heart. "Oh my… how scandalous! I-I've been lied to! My favorite idol doesn't write her own songs?!"
"Shhhh, don't say it like that, someone else could hear!" she replied, slapping his arm. He merely laughed.
"I couldn't help myself. I figured someone would have written some of your songs. It's not such a bad thing, as long as the message fits what you are going for. You have this whole cute idol persona going on so it makes sense your agency would write stuff for you."
"Mhmm… you understand then. Satomi and Ayaka get so mad whenever our manager hands us new songs. We're a big idol group and each one of us has a personal song, but I can tell they're jealous that I get all the sappy love ones." she admitted, tucking her legs closely to her body. "I tried branching out a bit, writing different styles of music but my manager said it'd ruin my image. Honestly? I was happy about coming to Hope's Peak. I love being an idol, but it was so choking at the same time."
"I can only imagine. The Idol industry is rough, so many girls have to go through strict diets, hundreds of hours of choreography, meet and greets, skin and hair routines, outfits, tours. How do you manage to do it all?" he asked.
"Perseverance, and… well I just love seeing everyone's smiles," Sayaka said, her smile growing brighter. "I grew up admiring all of those idols, they looked so happy when they sang and danced on stage. I wanted to be like them. In a way, I considered them friends, much more than I did role models."
"That's surprisingly wholesome. You aren't like other artists, who stereotypically say they're doing it for the money or for attention. You truly care, not just about the quality of your music, but the happiness of your fans. You're a real one, Sayaka."
"Glad to hear it." she smiled.
They settled into a comfortable silence, just staring at the flat screen in front of them. After a while, the idol broke the silence, staring at her friend. "Now what?"
"I dunno, I thought you had an idea."
"I'm just kind of winging it, if I'm being honest." the girl said, looking around for a moment. Her eyes locked on a single machine that no one had paid attention to, her smile growing. "What about Karaoke?"
"Ehhhh… I'm not that good of a singer."
"Oh don't say that! I'm pretty sure you'll do just fine! I've kept up with my vocal exercises so I'm still in top shape. But I'll at least give you a shot." she winked, making him frown.
"That makes me so much more confident." he returned, rising to his feet. He tugged on his coat, adjusting it a bit. "At least we'll be away from the damn vent."
Sayaka was already fiddling with the machine, pouring through the song list, seeing a lot of songs she didn't even recognize. She pursed her lips, humming a slight tune. "So many choices… We even have anime openings on here. Interesting, someone must have dumped four years of tracks onto this thing."
"That's a good thing, right?"
"Yep, it means we have options! Oh wow, they put Idol on here! You wanna sing that?"
"No, I don't wanna make a fool out of myself. Besides, I like your cover, I'd probably butcher it."
"Muu… you're no fun," she said, blowing a raspberry at him. He rolled his eyes, looking at the track list himself.
"Ooo, they have my favorite American band, nice!" he said, sifting through the available songs. He picked the song, hitting accept. "Alright then, I hope you like my selection."
"I'm sure I will, give it your all~" she cheered, giving him a wink. He blushed a bit, shifting his eyes back to the screen. It wasn't long before the music came out of the speakers, causing him to tighten his grip on the microphone, ignoring the numb feeling in his fingers. He licked his lips, taking a deep breath as his cue to sing began.
"Don't, panic, no not yet~
I know I'm the one you want to forget-et
Cue all the love, to leave my heart
It's time for me to fall apart
Now you're gone but I'll be okay
Your hot whiskey eyes, that fanned the flames
Maybe I'll burn a little brighter tonight
Let fire breathe me back to life~
Baby, you were my picket fence
I miss missing you now and then
Chlorine kissed, summer skin
I miss missing you now and then
Sometimes before it gets better
The darkness gets bigger
The person that you'd take a bullet for
Is behind the trigger~
Oho!
We're fading fast, I miss missing you
Now and theeeeeennnn~
Making eyes at this husk
Around my heart
I see through you and we're sitting in the dark
Give me your filth, make it rough
Let me let me trash your love
I will sing to you every day
If it will take, away the pain
Oh and I've heard you got it, got it so bad
Cuz I am the best you'll never have~
Baby you are were picket fence
I miss missing you now and then
Chlorine kissed, summer skin~
I miss missing you now and then
Sometimes before it gets better
The darkness gets bigger
The person that you'd take a bullet for
Is behind the trigger, Oho~
We're fading fast
I miss missing you
Now and theeeeeeennnn~
Now and theeeeeennnn~
Baby, you were my picket fence
I miss missing you now and then~"
The final notes of the song played out, and the Ultimate Lucky Student took a bow, earning a thunderous applause from Sayaka, who had a bright grin on her face. "That was wonderful, Akira! It was on key and everything!"
"Was it?"
"Yes, I wouldn't lie to you about that. Are you sure you have no formal vocal training? Because you're a natural at it!" she said cheerfully. He tilted his head a bit, scratching his cheek in embarrassment.
"I swear, I've never sung a day in my life… I guess I just got lucky?"
"Pfft, sure," she said, brushing him off. "Trust me, when it comes to these things, I just know I'm right! I got good intuition after all. But now it's my turn~"
She turned back to the screen, becoming almost a different person the second the music started pouring out of the speakers. "A na ta no aidoru, Sain wa B (chu)~"
Location: Dormitory, Hotel Despair
Day: 9
Time: 6:50 PM
"God, this is insane," Fuyuhiko mumbled, hugging himself tightly as he sipped his hot chocolate. He had been savoring it, not wanting to drink it all in one sitting. He was thankful for the thermos Hajime and Sonia had handed him, as it had kept it piping hot.
"It is, but we shall overcome even this. We have overcome much harsher conditions." Peko said from across the room. She was in a meditative pose, her eyes closed as she steadied her breathing. While Fuyuhiko was bundled in blankets, she wasn't.
"How the fuck can you sit there and not be cold? I'm dying over here."
"It is all about the mind, Young Master. You must empty it of all thoughts and emotions, with it, all other thoughts and feelings shall also vacate. This is how you control your body and its delicate movements."
"Sounds like a load of shit to me."
She cracked open a single eye, noticing how bundled he was. She couldn't help but find herself smiling. "This reminds me of when we were children. Remember? When we got lost in the mountains."
"Tch… I try not to. That was a terrible night, one that I try not to remember."
"Really? I recall it rather fondly. Despite your fear, you listened to my instructions to the letter, and we were able to build a roaring fire." she said, bowing her head slightly. "I must admit, I was quite nervous about everything, but knowing I wasn't alone helped me calm down."
"I have no idea why you think so fondly of that trip. I was a blubbering mess, a total fuckin pussy." he said, capping his thermos. He blew into his hands, rubbing them together before pulling the blankets tightly around himself.
"But it was also a growing experience. I think everyone needs something like that in their lives. It helps them realize their mortality, and brings out a sense of survival. That is what we are going through in this terrible game." she noted, taking a deep breath. "What decisions shall we make? What actions shall we take? How will we make peace with our losses? Will we ever be free? It all depends on everyone around us."
"You actually have faith in these people? They're all fuckin idiots!"
"Not all of them. Kyoko has a good head on her shoulders. I have an inkling she knows more than she's letting on. Hajime as well… I don't know what it is about him but something lies within him… some sort of potential I can't sense. Byakuya is too hard-headed, but he speaks the blunt truth, Sonia has excellent leadership skills, but her voice alone won't be enough to convey her emotions to everyone. After all, she hasn't had the time to open up and shine."
"Interesting… When did you get so good at reading people?"
"I've always been like this, Young Master. I have to be to gauge which person near us is going to be a potential threat. After all, I was tasked by your Mother and Father with protecting your life. A mission I will complete to the utmost of my ability. You shall not fall here, not while I am alive."
"I can take care of myself, Peko."
"Yes, I know. But I can't help but worry, you are the only one here I can truly trust," she said, finally opening her eyes. "Things will be better, we must have faith in our fellow classmates."
"Faith… right," he muttered dryly. He looked up after a moment, locking eyes with her. "I gotta ask, that envelope you handed to Akira during the trial, why did you hold onto it for so long?"
"I was gauging the flow of the trial. It was an unknown set of circumstances, I didn't know if I could trust anyone with it. Give it to the wrong person and it might have been detrimental. But there's something about Akira that changed all of that. His voice cut through the others, he managed to put things together. I don't know if it was pure luck or if he was just good at it, but I figured I could trust him above anyone else."
"Tch… you like him or something?"
"No, that isn't it. But there is something about him that did catch my interest. He's.. pretending."
Fuyuhiko looked at her in confusion. "Pretending? Now you've lost me."
"It's quite hard to explain, but the person Akira projects himself as isn't who he is. It's almost as if he's acting, to hide his true intentions. I've noticed him watching everyone and everything, like a hawk. It's subtle, but he's constantly doing it."
"Maybe he's just overly cautious?"
"I doubt it. If he was, then he'd separate himself like Kyoko and Byakuya. Yet despite that, he's outgoing, helps his friends, and generally tries to get to know them. It's as if he's collecting information on them. Subtleties, things people wouldn't notice, emotions, expressions, off-handed topics, things you wouldn't think are important. It's rather intriguing."
"Goddamn… I certainly didn't notice."
"No, you wouldn't have unless you knew what to look for. Only someone like me would pick up on it. It's almost as if he's doing it subconsciously, just collecting bits and pieces for himself. I doubt he's doing it intentionally and if he is, he does a great job at hiding it." Peko said, narrowing her eyes in thought. "Hm… I think Kyoko might be the only other person who's noticed this. She's been keeping a close eye on him at least."
"Do you think he's planning something?" the gangster asked. She shook her head.
"No. He genuinely seems like a good person, however, if driven over the edge, or if someone important to him is threatened… I fear he might change. His sister is the one being held hostage. I happened to catch a glance at the picture and it's someone you and I have met before." she said.
"Really?"
"Mhmm… The Black Devil."
Fuyuhiko coughed, eyes widening in shock. "There's no way… there's absolutely no way he's related to her."
"He's not. According to him, he's an orphan, but was likely raised in the same orphanage as her. She did like taking care of wayward children, even at a young age." the silver-haired woman said. "Ultimately, we do not know what his intentions may be, but currently, he is not a threat. If anything, he's just as worried as the rest of us."
He opened his mouth to say something, but instead let out a shiver, rubbing his arms. Peko stood from her spot, grabbing the extra blanket off of her bed, shaking it off for a moment. She sat down by Fuyuhiko's side, throwing the thick blanket around them. The boy looked away in embarrassment as she wrapped her arms around his body.
"Don't worry, we'll be fine. It isn't the first time we've had to do this. Remember? When we were lost in the mountains, I held you just like this."
"I'm trying not to remember it!" he said, glancing away from her. "You weren't… mature then."
She glanced down at her chest for a moment, flushing brightly. She looked away, clearing her throat. "My apologies, Young Master, I cannot help it."
"Dammit, I told you to stop calling me that, Peko."
"Just focus on staying warm. I'm sure we'll get through this soon," she said, trying to remain hopeful. He didn't say anything.
"Right… the only way this ends is if someone dies. What the hell did I do to deserve this?" he thought to himself.
Location: Kitchen, Hotel Despair
Day: 9
Time: 7:00 PM
"This is absolute insanity. I wasn't expecting the Mastermind's network to be so vast. Still, to think that they'd capture Alosyius. What happened to the rest of the Togami? We're they beneath his gaze?" the Affluent Progeny asked himself, as he tried to focus on his cooking.
He had been struggling to make anything, mostly because of the cold. He was to proud to admit he wasn't doing well. But despite that, he was still looking his best. He had thrown a thick coat over himself and that had been that. He had done his best to avoid any of the others, not wanting to attract attention to himself. He was beginning to regret not accepting Sonia's tea and chocolate, that would certainly have warmed him up.
But he wasn't going to go back on his word. It was far too much of a risk to take, the last thing he needed was to die because he was poisoned. He held his hands over the burner for a moment, moving his fingers around before continuing what he was doing.
"Where did I put that blasted knife?" he thought to himself, looking around his cooking area, only to find the knife on the other end of the counter. He grabbed it, biting back a shiver as the cold handle touched his skin.
"Are you alright, Byakuya?"
He looked up, surprised to see the Ultimate Swimmer in the kitchen. He had expected her to dress warmly, but she was still wearing her usual outfit. He was completely baffled by this, his brows burrowing in confusion. "How the bloody hell are you not cold?"
"Hm? Oh, that's because I do a lot of endurance training. I taught myself to deal with colder temperatures. Even during the winter when it's snowing, I exercise in shorts. The cold is actually a lot healthier for you than the heat. That's why people take ice baths."
"I thought they did that for foolish reasons or because they had a death wish."
"No, there's actual benefits. For instance, the cold can help with swelling and bruising. You don't put a hot steak on your black eye, do you?" she giggled, stepping closer to the counter, seeing what he was making. "Oh… foie gras? I've never tried it, but I heard it wasn't very good."
"Clearly, you do not possess a refined palate. What, with you eating donuts all the time? How you can survive on that alone baffles me."
"Muuu… Donuts aren't the only things I eat, you know. I actually have a healthy and balanced diet. I make sure to eat things that are high in protein and low in calories. And if I do eat calories, I make sure to burn them off as quickly as possible. Swimming is a great exercise for that. And because of my cold water training, I don't really feel the need to dress up warmly." she said, grinning. "That's something you could afford to learn Mr. Affluent Progeny."
"Tch… whatever, you are distracting me, do go away, would you?"
"Sorry but that ain't happening, I don't see your name in this kitchen. I won't be long, I'm just here for some tea. Sonia and Hajime made lots of extras just in case we drank them all." she said, looking around for a moment, spotting the cart filled to the brim with thermoses. "You should have some, it might melt that icy heart of yours."
"No thanks, I'd rather not get poisoned."
"Jackass, if these were poisoned, one of us would be dead by now, yet no one has died," she said, hands on her hips. "You need to be more trusting, you know? How are you going to make friends if you don't open up?"
He pushed his glasses up his nose, glaring at her. "What part of my speech yesterday led you to believe I came here to make friends? I made it abundantly clear, I am not going to work with any of you. It is far, far too risky to put trust in your simpletons."
"And despite that, you needed all of us to save your ass during the Class Trial. Face it, Byakuya, you aren't going to get far in this little game if you don't cooperate with the others." she venomously spat. She hated using the term game to refer to their entrapment, but there was no better term. "All of us are worried, you know… The Mastermind… He's got my kid brother."
His ear perked up a bit, as he started to listen to her. She took a sip from her thermos, letting the tea warm her up a bit. "He's a couple years younger than I am, my spitting image, hehe. He loves swimming and sports and trains super hard. He always says I'm the faster of the two, but when he tries, he can even beat me. He's totally more worthy of the title of Ultimate Swimmer."
She looked at the floor, squeezing her thermos. "I'm so scared… The last thing I want is for my little brother to suffer because of me. I don't know how Monokuma managed to find him, but if he's capable of doing that, and all of this…? What else is capable of?"
"I ask myself that every day. If this game is being funded by the government, that means his capabilities truly are limitless. After all, with full governmental backing, they'll be able to do whatever they wish. Evidently so." he said, gesturing around the kitchen. "But that would certainly be far too simple."
"I don't think the government would do something like that. What about the people? Would the Prime Minister be okay with it? Wouldn't it go against the Geneva Convention?"
Byakuya found himself smirking at her words. "My, I had thought your head was only full of nothing but sports. I didn't think you knew what the Geneva Convention even was."
He adjusted his suit for a moment, shifting back to what he was cooking. "Alas, you would be incorrect. The Geneva Convention, in simple terms, is a rule of international law that protects the humane rights of those involved in war. The last time I checked, Japan wasn't at war with anyone, so that wouldn't count. However, Cruel and Unusual Punishment is a Human Rights Violation as is unlawful experimentation on unwilling subjects. It's quite possible Hope's Peak Academy is breaking several of those laws."
"Oh, I see… yeah that makes sense. Still, if something like that is happening, why aren't the police involved?"
"Why? Well, have you considered that perhaps maybe, law-enforcement is also involved?" the man asked, reaching for a plate. "After all, 23 Ultimate Students go missing, and Hope's Peak Academy, formerly shutdown, becomes operational once more, running this sick little game. If the government wants to keep it a secret, obviously, they'd need someone to keep prying eyes away."
Her eyes grew wide, a shocked expression on her face. "That means… the Cops are involved too?"
"Precisely. We have to assume everyone in law-enforcement is aware of this and actively against us. We must also assume the government is aware of what is going on and approves of it. Finally, we must also assume that the world at large, is completely unaware of what is happening here. Bigger nations like the United States and the European Union, would put an end to whatever is going on unless an agreement was reached with them as well." he said, shutting off the stove. "We are on our own here, so do not expect someone to come gallivanting in like Hercules on a White Steed. If we wish to get out, we'll have to claw our way out."
"Which is why we have to work together! Don't you see? How are we meant to go up against so many impossible things on our own? Wouldn't you agree that it's better to join forces? Come on, Byakuya! If sports teams can work together, then we can do the same!"
"I made it obvious already, Asahina. I am not going to be working together with anyone. I cannot risk someone betraying me and potentially ending my life. I didn't fight as hard as I did and I didn't get as far as I did to die in some academy. I am the chosen among the chosen, and I will walk out of this academy alive, with my own two legs."
Hina remained silent, uttering a sigh. "Fine, I won't bother you again. But please… Will you at least show up to the morning meetings? For our peace of mind? You don't have to stick around, just walking in and out will do. None of us want to see you get hurt or worse."
He pursed his lips, nodding. "Fine. I can agree to that, at least."
She found herself smiling. As he finished plating his dinner, he grabbed a bundle of silverware, stuffing it into his pocket. He paused for a moment, staring at the thermoses on the cart. He grabbed one of them, tucking it under his arm, heading toward the doors. He paused for a moment, glancing over his shoulder.
"I'm sorry they have your brother. If he's as resilient and as persistent as you, I'm certain he'll be fine."
"I… Thank you, Byakuya. I appreciate it. What about you? Who'd they get? Your parents? Siblings?"
He shook his head. "A close friend, the only one in my life I can trust."
Just like that, the Ultimate Affluent Progeny left, leaving Hina with more questions than she had been expecting.
A/N: The song used in this Chapter is Miss Missing You by Fallout Boy. I am a Fallout Boy scrub and I love their music a lot. Give it a listen if you haven't. Actually, Go watch The Youngblood Chronicles if you haven't. It's fucking awesome! For now, it is getting quite cold. Things will freeze over soon, hehe~