Written on June 21st of 2023.
Revisited on July 16th of 2024.
A whole fucking year for this…
"I hate myself…" – Rys-and-Clash (4Rys in AO3).
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Inspired after Fire Slash's Soldier of Hope.
I do not own anything that is not mine, Even if I desperately wanted to.
Thank you Fire Slash for being the main inspiration for this. I can't wait to see what the future holds for us.
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Hope's Peak Academy.
The school looks like it stands at the center of the entire world.
Which, it technically could, depending on who you ask.
Bringing top students from every field imaginable. A government-funded school of privilege.
People say that if you come here and manage to graduate, you'll be set for the rest of your life.
Hundreds of years of tradition, recruiting the best of the best every year, exponentially improving them.
Built to raise hope in the nation's future. Making 'Hope's Peak' a pretty fitting name.
You need two things to attend to this school.
One: you have to already be attending high school.
And two: you must be the absolute best at what you do.
And standing right at the entrance of this school of privilege, filled with ultimate students…Was me.
My name is Makoto Naegi, and to everyone who you could ask. I'm no one but your average everyday high-school student. Average in and out.
Grades, hobbies, likes. Even personality. I'm usually nothing more than an average teenager
Usually being the operative word, sadly.
Because contrary to what my appearance suggests, I do have a talent. Something they scouted me here for.
I scratched my right hand seeing the entrance of the school.
I still had my doubts about this… coming to this school.
It was kind of silly how imposing the gates looked to me.
But could you blame me? This was the Hope's Peak Academy.
'Someone like me doesn't deserve to be in a place like this.'
I squeezed my right hand with the other.
I had to shake my head to put those thoughts away.
It was then when I fell back gazing into the entrance once more.
"This is silly… I can't just stand here in front of the gates forever…" I murmured to no one really, I was just gathering up the courage needed to take the first steps towards the academy.
"There is a scheduled meeting at 8 a.m. in the main hall. It's a tad bit soon but…"
…
…
"I probably should just go inside…"
…
…
'Really, who was I talking to?'
"Yeah… alright… let's do this!".
I gathered all of my determination to cross those gates.
'A little jump for me, and a huge leap for my future!'.
I took my first step crossing the gates.
…
…
…
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Naïve.
I think that word describes me very well.
As a kid, it's normal wanting to see only the best out of everybody and everything.
It's very easy to admire something or someone as a kid.
For most, their parents are big inspirations in life.
For others, they look up to a cartoon or superhero, a fictional character that resembles the best qualities out of people.
My inspirations fell in the latter category, but not in the same way most did.
I always had a strange fascination with action movies.
Especially if they were war related.
Something that the west excelled at.
Despite most depictions pictured Japan as the villainous side of the story during world war II, I couldn't help but be fascinated by the sheer loyalty some of these movie characters showed.
Be it American, European or the supposed evil German and Japanese. At that time I found marvelous the idea to fight for one's country.
Should I mention how jarring it was for my parents to see their kid show such fascination with these 'seemingly crude' topics.
I say 'seemingly crude' because at the time, I wasn't aware of the true meaning behind most of these works of fiction.
After all, I was just a kid. I did nothing but absorb everything I could get.
I even tried my best to learn english by myself just to understand the plot of a videogame that its title resembled what I looked up the most.
A call for duty. To serve my country, the "highest honor one could achieve."
However, these concepts, these ideals, they were just a phase, right? After all, most children do get obsessed over a certain topic, only for them to quickly move on from it.
Most kids do… but I just couldn't get over it, could I?
After all, I was so gone over my head I wouldn't stop until I proved myself that I could be "just like them".
Just like the video game or movie characters.
Truly… 'Naïve' fell short.
I was plain stupid.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
"Ugh…" I felt numb as I opened my eyes. "What a weird dream…"
As I fully opened my eyes and saw the unrecognized room I was now in, I quickly stood up, as a rapidly growing migraine took over me.
I winced at it and did my best to fight it out internally, if that made sense.
Once the pain soothed away, I thoroughly scanned my surroundings.
This looked like a school's classroom filled with desks. There was a note in the nearest one next to mine, however I didn't immediately grab it as I took notice of the windows the classroom had.
They were completely blocked by metal beams and screwed with giant… screws.
I frowned at that.
Wherever I was, this could not mean well.
The surveillance camera on the corner of the room was proof enough for me.
Without much else to look and… to do really, I grabbed the piece of paper that was left on that desk.
It read "Welcome to Hope's Peak Academy. Please gather in the main hall for orientation. If you have plans of graduating, that is".
'I don't like this one bit…'
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
I spent the next couple of minutes wandering around this place. That room didn't look like a classroom, but rather straight up was a classroom.
I believed that as I left the room and saw the hallway outside.
More cameras. More locked windows, and there were even some doors and stairs locked by metal bars, as if we were in a prison of some sorts.
By the time I got to the main hall, everyone else was already gathered.
Everyone else you ask?
My classmates, I supposed.
"Whoa, hey! Another new kid?"
"Huh? Then you guys are…"
"Yeah… we're all new here. Today's supposed to be our first day of class."
"So, counting him, that makes fifteen of us. I wonder if this Is everyone though…"
Every single Ultimate Student was gathered in this room, everyone hand-picked by the school.
…
Silence quickly took over the room, so I tried to break the ice. "So… how's it going? My name's Makoto Naegi. I'm sorry I was late. A bunch of stuff happened, and then I was just… asleep."
"Whoa, you too?" a man with comically large brown and spiked hair replied.
"Things just keep getting curiouser and curiouser…" a woman with white pale skin and a black dress added.
"So, uh… what's going on?"
"Just a moment! There's something of vital importance we must address!" a young teen with a white uniform said.
"Makoto! Your tardiness is unacceptable! Surely you were aware that the meeting was to start at 8 a.m. sharp! Being late on your first day is unspeakable! I must report you and you must accept your due punishment!"
"E-Er…"
I honestly didn't know how to react at that…
"And what's your problem!?" A girl with long strawberry blonde hair and a bow on it interrupted, standing in front of me. "It's not like he wanted to be late, he simply didn't have any control over it."
"I-I uh…" I stammered, however my voice fell on deaf ears…
It was then that I decided to just stay silent. If I didn't have anything to bring up, I wasn't going to be useful anyways.
"Everyone just calm down! Listen, why don't we all go around and introduce ourselves?"
"Well. I-" A girl with brown hair and a red jacket spoke, before she got interrupted by-
"The hell!? Now's no time for freaking introductions!" a tall man with a gang member hairstyle spoke. He certainly wore the robes of a gangster.
"That may be perhaps, but it may be good to at least find out who we all are before we dig into the bigger problems here" the white paled skin woman spoke, "I mean, how are we supposed to talk to each other when we don't even know our names?"
"That's a good point…" a petite girl said.
"Okay, so let's get rid of the introductions so we can move on to whatever else? Sound good?" a blue-haired girl commented.
And as everyone started to introduce themselves, Makoto couldn't stop himself from looking towards the girl with blue hair.
'Sayaka Maizono…'
I know that name very well.
The Ultimate Pop Sensation, a nationwide celebrity.
My sister Komaru is a very big fan of hers. A true 'sayaker'. She would have said it herself if she was here.
And she was also my classmate at one time.
I'm not speaking about now, but rather a couple of years ago. We went to the same middle school.
We never exchanged words and I only got to see her for one year.
There was no way a nobody like me would get a chance to speak with her.
But how twisted is it to see her in person once more after so long.
Especially considering the circumstances.
"Hiii!" I immediately turned to the voice I heard on my side.
It was the same blonde that 'defended' me just now. "Charmed to meet you! I'm-"
I got the full glimpse of her face. I recognized this girl! "J-Junko Enoshima!?"
"Oh, you know about me?"
"O-Of course that I know you! Anybody would recognize you, you're the Ultimate Fashionista, you've got more charm and presence than any high school girl in the entire country!"
"Aw, gee… You're a real flatterer, I'm gonna get embarrassed!"
Shoot, I spoke without thinking "A-Ah, S-Sorry!" I turned my face away as I felt some heat get to my face.
"Makoto, right?" The girl asked.
"Y-Yeah… Makoto Naegi, nice to meet you" I stretched my left hand to her, who received it back.
It was then that I looked even closer to her face that I noticed something…
'Did Junko always have freckles?'
"Weird…"
"Hmm? Are you talking about my photos and stuff?"
"I did it again?" I facepalmed and let out a sigh... "Sorry…"
'Have I really gotten this bad socially?'
"Don't be! They're just photoshopped and that"
"Photoshopped?"
"Yeah, like edited to hell and back."
"Y-Yeah, I'm aware…"
I pondered at that. "So those pictures aren't real huh…"
"Oh, come on, don't be like that! You're gonna make me all depressed now, making me feel like I'm not pretty…" Junko pouted 'sadly'.
"N-N-N-No! I didn't say that you weren't pretty!"
"Gotcha" Junko smiled and winked at me. She was faking her sadness.
I don't know how red my face could get, but I've never been this embarrassed in my life. "Argh… I-I…".
Just take me away from this already. It's been far too long since I've been around this many people.
And I'm struggling to talk to one!
Junko kept smiling after teasing me, however, she quickly changed the topic "But yeah, nowadays photoshop is used the hell out on everything. But if you are surprised with just that, then you'd be totally blown away with a certain mischievous diva of ours…"
"Ah… right…" I… don't quite follow what she means…
"Anyways, I hope that you're okay, that goodie two shoes seemed like a very stiffed prick."
"Y-You don't have to worry about me…"
"But still, don't push yourself too hard, you don't seem to be the strong kind, you know?" Junko said with a tone mixed with tease and worry.
"Hey, I…"
…Never got to finish that line, as Junko walked away, seemingly out of earshot, I was forced to keep my words to myself.
From then and on, I quickly introduced myself to every other student.
KIyotaka Ishimaru, The Ultimate Moral Compass.
Toko Fukawa, The Ultimate Writing Prodigy.
Leon Kuwata, The Ultimate Baseball Player.
Mondo Owada, The Ultimate Biker Gang Leader.
Chihiro Fujisaki, The Ultimate Programmer.
Byakuya Togami, The Ultimate Affluent Prodigy.
Yasuhiro Hagakure, The Ultimate Clairvoyant.
Aoi Asahina, The Ultimate Swimmer.
Hifumi Yamada, The Ultimate Fanfic Writer.
Celi-, Ceres-, Celestia Ludenberg, The Ultimate Gambler.
Kyoko Kirigiri, The Ultimate…. erm… something….
She wasn't that friendly to speak with…
Or open to begin with…
And after her, of course.
"Hi, I'm Sayaka Maizono. I'm looking forward to getting to know all of you!".
"Makoto Naegi. Nice to meet you, Maizono-san."
'She's as beautiful as a doll. It's truly impressive.'
"I'm not a doll, silly."
It took me a long microsecond to process that. "Am I blurting things out again?"
'I'm even worse than I thought…'
"N-No, No! It wasn't you."
"Huh?"
"I'm psychic."
I blinked at that.
I correct myself, I blinked confused at that.
"HUH?!"
"Kidding! I just have great intuition."
"I… see…?"
I… really didn't… Would have never taken Maizono-san to be the prankster type…
"Hey, I know we just met, but… I have to ask you something. I've been wondering about this just now."
I was intrigued by that, what could THE Maizono Sayaka want to know about me?
I gave her a friendly smile. "Shoot, ask away."
"Are you perhaps from-"
"Hey!" Ishimaru interrupted her, in a rather rudely manner... "This is time for introductions. We don't have time to spare with unnecessary banter."
"S-Sorry." Sayaka apologized, she turned to me. "We'll talk later, Naegi-san." She said as she started to walk away.
"Sure… thing?"
'No one is waiting for me to reply to them today…'
'However, I do wonder what she was going to ask me.'
'Maybe she recognised me from blackroot?
I shook my head, and even chuckled a little. 'Impossible. The Sayaka Maizono wouldn't spare a glance at me.'
'Not now, and certainly not back then…'
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
And. last, but not least, I would now introduce myself to my last classmate.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Makoto Naegi."
"Sakura Ogami, The Ultimate Martial Artist."
"I look forward to getting to know you, Ogami-san." I smiled at her.
'Ogami-san sure looks intimidating enough. I guess she's not 'the strongest warrior alive' for nothing'.
"Hmm" Ogami-san unexpectedly hummed to herself.
"Yes Ogami-san?"
Time seemed to slow down as I saw Ogami-san's hand move down.
Her hand was directed at me.
And I was locked, frozen towards it.
I couldn't break my gaze off of it, as it slowly got closer to me.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Dad always mentioned how much he used to travel to europe with grandma
Mom always wanted to visit the rest of the world.
And Komaru's excitement was only second to mine.
We'd be doing a tour throughout europe!
We would visit so many countries.
France, Germany, Italy, Spain.
Sweden…
Little did we know that would be the last time we'd be together for a while.
And little did I know that I would commit the worst mistake of my life.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Ogami-san had reached her hand to me, and out of reflex, I ended up grabbing it by her wrist.
"Ahh…" a mere whisper left Ogami's mouth.
"...I-I:m sorry Ogami-san! Y-You scared me all of a sudden."
Once I regained my focus I quickly opened my left hand and freed her. I immediately bowed in apology.
Ogami-san clutched her hand. She didn't seem to be hurt thankfully. "No worries, I should apologize instead. I wanted to know if you would be a fitting training partner for me."
"Ahhh… " I stood back again. "I-I'm sorry… but I don't think i'd be fit to be your partner…"
"I understand."
I bowed once more "I'm truly sorry for that, Ogami-san." These were my last words before I turned to the rest of the class.
"Hmm…." Ogami hummed to herself once more.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
I stood in silence as there was no one else I could introduce myself to any longer.
And the same seemed to apply to the rest of the class, as everyone got quiet.
I tried breaking the awkward silence once more. "So, uhh… what were you guys doing before I got here?"
"Well, you see..." Maizono-san started "Makoto, you said a bunch of stuff happened and then you were "just asleep" right?"
I nodded. "Well, the same is true for all of us."
"Wait, really?"
Leon Kuwata spoke up this time "Just after each of us got to the main hall, we lost consciousness. And when we came to, we were somewhere here in the school! That's what happened to you right?"
"But that's just...weird… Was it the same for every one of us?"
"Yeah! Exactly!" Mondo Owada exclaimed "That's why we're all freakin' out!"
"And that's not the only thing. All the windows in the classes and hallways were blocked right? Junko spoke.
"Yeah." I confirmed. "Instead of normal glass windows, they were blocked by a bunch of big metal plates."
"What's all that about!? Plus, all my stuff's missing! Even my phone..." The fashionista groaned.
"And then there's the main hall here. The front exit is completely blocked by some giant metal hatch. But there wasn't anything like that when I first got here...!" Taka reported.
"Maybe we got caught up in some kinda, like, you know...crime or something?"
"What, like...a kidnapping? You think maybe someone grabbed us and hauled us off and we're not actually at school?" Leon's face lost some color.
"Come on, don't think like that. Cheer up! I bet this is all just part of the school's orientation procedure. Yeah, I'm sure that's it! So I'm just gonna take it easy for a little bit." Hiro spoke, dense enough to deny any possibility of threatening danger.
"Oh... So you think they wanted to do something to surprise us?" The petite girl, Chihiro softly spoke
"Huh. Well if that's all it is, it's nap time for me. I was up way too late last night, so I could use a little shuteye." Leon shortly added
I wanted to believe that we were going to be just fine. Like Hiro said, all this would be part of our orientation.
But deep down… I was preparing myself for something to happen.
And it did.
Ding Dong, Bing Bong
"Ahem! Ahem! Testing, testing! Mic check, one two! This is a test of the school broadcast system! Am I on? Can everyone hear me? Okay, well then...! "
A voice came out of the speakers, it sounded joyful, unnerved and completely out of place.
'This… voice…'
"To all incoming students! I would like to begin the entrance ceremony at...right now! Please make your way to the gymnasium at your earliest convenience. ...That's all. I'll be waiting!"
The voice cutted off, their speech had seemingly ended.
"So… Like… What the hell was that?" Junko spoke with a tone of confusion in her voice.
"Hm…" Togami simply walked off the room, seemingly to get to the gymnasium.
"H-Hey! So you're just gonna dip like that?!" Junko barked, however she didn't get an answer from the Togami heir.
"Ohh, now I get it! This whole thing was just to get us all pumped for the entrance ceremony! Man, thank God it was all a joke. I'd be totally freaked if this was real! Alright, guess I'll head out too. Wonder what they got planned for us next, maybe they'll..." Hiro then left as he rambled.
Junko didn't even bother at this point, it seemed as if everyone had agreed to head towards the gymnasium. Most peers had left the room and only a couple were still lingering in said room.
"So, like, am I the only one that thinks that announcement was very weird?" Junko added up.
"No, I agree with you Enoshima-san. Something's definitely… off."
"Maybe, but just staying put doesn't mean we'll be safe. Besides, aren't you guys just a little bit curious to find out what's going on around here?" Kirigiri decided to speak up, her cold tone present.
"Not really" Junko muttered under her breath, Aoi who was next to her awkwardly smiled in agreement.
"If we do not move forward, we learn nothing. The only choice is to push ahead." Ogami spoke, filled with determination.
"I guess you're right though…" I complied.
'To the gym it is…'
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
When we entered the gym, we were greeted by… a completely normal gymnasium. It was seemingly decorated for our welcoming with a stage.
"Huh… It really does look like an entrance ceremony…"
"See? Told ya! It's totally normal entrance ceremony stuff." One Yasuhiro scratched his nose.
I was opening my mouth to answer back to Hiro's claim. I even felt that I was not going to be the only one to do that, but a voice bested me at speaking out loud before me.
"Hey there, howdy, hello! Is everyone here? Good! Then let's get things rolling!"
All of us heard that voice.
Every single one of us turned towards the stage, It was where that voice had come from. And surging from it, we saw how a… monochrome teddy bear plopped from beneath the speaking desk? Laying on top of it, as if he had the word on the stage, sitting perfectly comfortable there.
I subconsciously left out the words in my mind. "...What the he-"
"Huh? A... teddy bear?" I heard someone say behind me, but I didn't try to recognize who it was though.
"I'm not a teddy bear!" The… teddy bear speaked…
Hold- Hold on! The Teddy bear speaked!
"W-What the-"
"It speaks?!" I'm on a roll for sure today…
"I... am... Monokuma!" The teddy bear screamed out loud proudly "And I am this school's headmaster!"
It was the strangest thing I'd ever seen.
Right before my eyes, it was...
What I was seeing was... It was... utterly incomprehensible.
Such a bright voice and carefree attitude was completely out of place on that miniature body.
And all the anxiety I'd been carrying with me boiled completely to this point.
Something is not right.
Many of my recently acquaintanced classmates had started reacting to the fact that a Teddy Bear was alive, speaking to us.
"Everyone! Calm Down! There must be a perfectly reasonable explanation for this." Ishimaru voiced out loud, trying to steer everyone in control.
"Everyone, stand at attention and bow! And... good morning!" The Teddy Bear bowed…
"Good morning!" And Ishimaru's manners were… impeccable to say the least.
"Y-You don't have to s-say it back…" Toko winced at Ishimaru's compliance.
"Now then, let us commence with a most noteworthy and memorable entrance ceremony!" The bear said with glee and excitement… "First, let's talk a bit about what your school life here will be like."
That doesn't sound right one bit.
"Now, ah, make no mistake, you few students, so full of potential, represent the hope of the world… And to protect such splendid hope...you will all live a communal life together solely within the confines of this school."
"And with that, you mean…"
"Everyone will live in harmony together, and adhere to the rules and regulations of the school."
A couple of confused noises were made "Huh...?"
"Ah, now then... regarding the end date for this communal life… There isn't one!"
"...HUH?!" Even more confused noises were made.
"In other words, you'll all be here until the day you die! Such is the school life you've been assigned."
Many students were starting to panic now. "U-Until the day we… d-die?"
"Oh! But fear not! We have quite an abundant budget, so you won't lack for all the common conveniences."
"That's the least of our worries right now!"
"Yeah, what the hell? You're saying…"
I stopped paying attention to what Junko was saying as I processed everything that we were being told.
We would be living here "until the day we die", and yet we won't have to worry about our supplies?
And on top of that the bear mentions that we'll be cut off communications with the outside?
What's going on here…
I don't know if anyone realizes it yet but… we've become hostages to this… living teddy bear…
"Screw you! I did not ask to be trapped in here." The bike gang leader's patience had started to run out.
"Hey, All of you decided of your own free will to attend Hope's Peak Academy, didn't you? And now, before the entrance ceremony is even finished, you've already decided you want to leave?"
Monokuma then raised one of its paws in realization "Oh, but you know…I guess I did forget to mention one thing. There *is* one way for you to leave the school…
…
…I feel this is a trap…
"As headmaster, I've crafted a special clause for those of you who would like to leave! I call it... the Graduation Clause! Now, let me tell you about this fun little rule, as I mentioned, in order to maintain an environment of harmony here, we rely on a communal lifestyle, and if someone were to disrupt that harmony, they and they alone would be allowed to leave the school. That, my dear students, is the Graduation Clause!
Then… I dared to ask. "And… by "Disrupting the harmony…" What do you mean?
Monokuma laughed at my question. "Puhuhu... Well, you know...If one person were to murder another."
"M-Murder!?"
"Stabbing, strangling, bludgeoning, crushing, hacking, drowning, igniting, how you do it doesn't matter, you must kill someone if you want to leave. It's as simple as that."
A chill shot down my spine...
"You must kill someone if you want to leave". As soon as I heard those words, my blood went cold. What is this? some sort of twisted turn of destiny?
Why?
Why is this…?
"The rest is up to you. Give it your all to achieve the best outcome in the worst way possible." The 'headmaster' concluded his… talk…
The room went silent after that, I mean, can you blame us? At least I couldn't…
Until a voice broke in. "Alright, Alright, come on... How long are you gonna keep this up?" One Yasuhiro Hagakure scratched his head.
The bear tilted its head in confusion "Eh?"
"You got us, okay? You scared the hell out of us. So you can go ahead and reveal the trick now."
"Reveal the trick...?"
"Yeah, cuz I mean... Y'know, this is all some kinda trick and all, right? So uh, like-"
"Shut the fuck up and get out of my way." Mondo shoved Hiro aside, in order to stand right in front of Monokuma's stand.
"Listen up, asshole! This shit's gone way too far! What the hell kinda joke IS this!?"
The bear brought a paw to its 'mouth' at that. "Joke? What, you mean like your hair?"
"YOU FFFUCKEN-!" Mondo roared out, and before everyone else could know it, He gripped Monokuma.
Picking up the monochrome bear, Mondo held Monokuma as he flailed wildly in the air.
"Gotcha, you little piece of shit! I dunno if you're a toy or a stuffed animal or whatever the hell! Either way, I'm gonna rip you to fuckin' shreds!"
Monokuma seemingly couldn't escape from Mondo's grasp. "Waah! Violence against the headmaster is in violation of school regulations!"
"Shut the fuck up! Let me outta here, or I swear to Christ…"
"..."
The bear gave no reply.
"What, no smartass comeback this time!?"
The Teddy bear had gone completely stiff then…
*beep* *beep* *beep*
And a beeping started to sound off of the bear.
I… I recognise that sound very well.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Our tour through Europe was truly amazing.
I saw views that I never thought I could ever witness. I was in places I never thought I could ever be in.
And while all that was amazing alone… It just wasn't enough for me.
I look back, and I really want to slap myself…
It was during our time in Sweden where everything would change.
We were visiting the museums, nothing out of the norm, and while it was a little boring for me, It was fun visiting the world with my family.
And then I found something that would catch my interest.
A single promotional picture.
It had a cool man-wolf wielding an M16.
"Fenrir mercenary group, For Honor and Glory, we want you. Join."
I began to make an imaginary world where I would find the glory I was seeking. That I would become a war hero of some sorts.
I never questioned why that promotional picture was written in perfect Japanese… in Sweden.
I never questioned why there was a mercenary group being publicized to begin with.
But I did notice that it had an address on it. And Mom and Dad had taught me the names of the blocks near us during our stay, not only for Sweden, but for every country we stayed in.
They didn't want their children to get lost in an exterior country, like any reasonable parent would want.
…And only I am to blame for doing exactly what they were avoiding…
I no longer even remember the details of how I ended up on a freaking helicopter.
But as quick as a flash, my whole world changed.
And reality hitted me hard like a bucket of cold water.
Reaching to me at my most crucial point yet.
*beep* *beep*
*beep*
*beep*
I was locked staring at a live bomb right there and then.
I was what? twelve?
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING BOY?" one of my "comrade in arms" shouted at the top of his lungs…
And I didn't know what he was saying.
Remember when I said I tried my best to learn english? I greatly overestimated myself, as I could barely understand what my peers were saying.
My accent, a broken one at that, I struggled to make the words leave my throat whenever I speaked.
And I just couldn't remember for the life of me what our superior had taught us on how to disarm a bomb.
I was locked in place, right there, staring at the cables… It took me a long, very long time to realize.
But right then, when I saw that man heading towards me, and I saw how his head popped off as if we were speaking of a water balloon, which water ended up falling right on my mouth, allowing me to taste what blood was, locked in place staring at the now bloodied red and blue cables on the live device that would literally blow me up in millions of pieces…
*beep* *beep* *beep*
…It was right then when I realized that I had made a terrible mistake.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
*beep*
"Stop that goddamn beeping and SAY SOMETHING!"
I shook my head as I took a hold of myself.
"Throw it!" I screamed at the top of my lungs.
"Huh?"
Kirigiri tagged in after me. "Hurry up and throw-!"
She wouldn't get to finish her sentence as I quickly ran next to Mondo and clutched the Teddy bear myself.
"Oi!"
I didn't pay any mind to Mondo's words after I shoved him away in order to throw the Monochrome bear as far into the sky as I could.
…And with sky I meant the ceiling above us.
As it went up, slowly floating on the sky, nothing happened.
"What the fuck was that for, midget?!" Mondo exclaimed after he got up.
I turned to him as I saw him walking towards me.
"Do you have a death wish or somethi-"
*BOOM*
The teddy bear above us blew up in a big explosion and, even with the height difference, we could feel the force emanating from it.
I had my back turned towards it when Mondo screamed at me. Now I stared at the mixup of colors that said explosion had.
It felt like an eternity.
An eternity where I would realize the kind of place I had been trapped in.
The supposed school of hope, had become a place of despair.
And we were all trapped in it.
A cage for despair.
A school in despair.
This was what we were forced upon.
A new life of despair.