Chapter Text
There isn’t anyone in Japan-- maybe even in the world-- who doesn’t know the name Hope’s Peak Academy. The school is illustrious. People from far and wide dream to get into this school, a school that recognizes only the most talented of young people.
These young people, dubbed Ultimates, are the best in their field of work. Their skill is unmatched, or at least… that’s what the Academy thinks.
So, yes. I am your narrator, and I one of those ‘Ultimate Students.’ I stand there, before the gates of Hope’s Peak Academy. Today is supposed to be my first day of classes.
I wish I could say I was more excited-- I really do. But I suppose that it’s hard to get excited when the school basically accepted me for a talent I don’t really care for.
My name is Sumire Sarutobi . The school accepted me as the Ultimate Kunoichi , and as you can probably guess, I’m less than thrilled that it’s my talent. Being a kunoichi is something that I’ve never really wanted. However, I’m my family’s only successor, and it’s always something that’s just… kind of been forced onto me, whether I like it or not. I’m Hope’s Peak Academy’s first Ultimate Kunoichi, actually, so you think I’d wear the title with more pride.
I suppose I must be good at what I do, if Hope’s Peak Academy was willing to accept me for it, though. Yes, that’s right. I’m here now, and that’s what matters.
I stand face-to-face with the school, the gentle breeze blowing my hair in the wind. I take a step forward, and another, and then… I freeze.
My world shakes.
I feel my body grow weak, and I sink to the ground, my nails digging into the pavement.
Suddenly, my head is just pounding . So many thoughts and questions fill my head. What’s going on? Why am I suddenly in so much pain? I had just been absolutely fine moments ago, and yet…
My eyelids get heavier, and suddenly, my body grows limp.
And then, I feel everything fade to black.
Was that it? Just about to begin life at a new school, only to meet my grizzly fate on my first day?
…
My eyelids flutter open, and the world shakes again. I sit up carefully, but my head still spinning. It takes a moment for me to register everything, but I realize that I am not at Hope’s Peak Academy. I am not even at the front gates anymore.
I’m on a sofa. There’s a coffee table next to me, and another sofa opposite to the one I’m on. I turn my head. There’s a fake fireplace with a fake fire. I turn my head the other way. There’s a reception desk.
I hold my head, and wonder what’s happening. I really don’t know how I got from Hope’s Peak to this… hotel? This is a hotel, right? I stand up, feeling wobbly as I stand. I grab the arm of the sofa for balance, and everything feels less spinny.
Alright Sumire, let’s think about this. I was just about to walk into Hope’s Peak Academy, but I started feeling really sick for no reason , despite the fact that I was feeling fine just a few seconds before. When I woke up, I was here.
...Well, even after thinking about it, I don’t understand it at all. How did I end up here?
I look around at the rest of the room. Behind the sofa I woke up on, there’s an automatic door, with large glass windows surrounding it. Behind the other sofa, there’s more large glass windows. I can see that there’s an indoor pool through them. There’s no one in it right now, though. Interesting.
I decide the best course of action is to look at the automatic doors first. I walk over to them, but they don’t open. I try and push them. They won’t open. I frown. Of course they don’t.
I look at the large windows that surround the door. Strangely, I don’t see anything outside, though. Everything is just… an eerie light green color outside. I don’t see any surrounding buildings or roads… or anything, really. It’s entirely green. Green that goes on forever. I don’t know how I should feel about this.
I really don’t want to damage any property, but I wonder silently if the windows can be broken. I shake my head. I don’t want to try that yet. That’s a last resort. Things aren’t looking too good, though. I guess if we need to, we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.
I decide to look at the desk. It doesn’t look like there’s anyone working behind it, or anything on the desk for that manner. It looks new and untouched. Weird. I’m starting to get a little worried now, since I haven’t actually seen anyone else in the short time I’ve been here.
It must be fate that I look behind the desk and see that there’s a girl sleeping behind it. On the ground. I thought that sofa was uncomfortable, but sleeping on a tile floor is a whole new level of uncomfortable that I never could have imagined. Before I can do anything else, the person yawns audibly, and wakes up with her arms outstretched upwards.
She looks at me with cat-like eyes, and smiles some kind of cat-faced smile. Her hair has cat ears that perk up when she sees me. She’s an… interesting fashion statement, to say the least.
Cat-like girl: Nya?
Sumire: N-Nya?
Cat-like girl: Mrrrow… do I know you from somewhere?
Do I know her? No. I definitely would have remembered meeting someone like her, I think. I’ve never met a cat girl in my entire life.
Sumire: No, I don’t think so, I don’t recognize you.
The girl stands up and shrugs, and the bells on her outfit jingle as she moves. I feel mesmerized by her eyes… she looks just like a cat, and it’s kind of scaring me.
Cat-like girl: Really, nyan?
She’s quiet for a second, before I see her eyes wide. I’m guessing she’s only now realizing where she is.
Cat-like girl: W-W-Whuh? What am I doing here? What’s going on right meow ?
Sumire: I just found you here. On the floor.
Cat-like girl: Nyooooo! This is a cat astrophe! Waah… I was supposed to be going to Hope’s Peak Academy today!
?!
My eyes widen. Hope’s Peak? She was going to school too? I don’t think that’s a coincidence that we were going to the same place, is it?
Sumire: I was going to Hope’s Peak too, actually. Now I’m here.
Cat-like girl: Nyo way! This means we were catnapped , then!
Sumire: …Kidnapped?
Doremi: Yeah! That’s what I said, nyan! Cat… napped! But this means that you’re an Ultimate Student too, right? It’s gotta! My name is Doremi Koide , Ultimate Cat Trainer ! It’s nice to meet nya !
Ah, I see now. Cat trainer makes sense, then… with the cat… everything and all.
She extends her hand, which is hidden under the sleeves of her outfit, and I take it. Koide shakes my hand excitedly.
Sumire: I’m Sumire Sarutobi, Ultimate Kunoichi.
Doremi: Woah! Woah! Woah! Wrow, a real life kunoichi?! That’s so cool!
Sumire: Y-You think so?
Doremi: Uh-huh! And with that, I’ve decided! I’m gonna stick with you from now on, Sarutobi-chan! Two cats are better than one, after all.
I’m pretty sure that’s not a real saying, but I think Koide-san seems nice enough. It would probably be best to go into the depths of this hotel with someone else, too. Not to mention the fact that we’re both in the same situation. There has to be a reason behind that, or is it just fate?
Sumire: Okay then. Let’s do some looking around then, Koide-san. Together.
She extends her hand (sleeve?) out to me again.
Doremi: Let’s hold paws, Sarutobi-chan! So we don’t get separated!
Well… I don’t have a reason to say no, so I take her hand (paw? sleeve?).
Doremi: Nyahaha! Yay! Let’s get going!
We walk over towards the windows that face the pool. It’s a bright blue color. It doesn’t look like anyone’s inside, as I mentioned before, but there sure are plenty of chairs and towels… there’s also a sign that reads “NO LIFEGUARD ON DUTY”. That’s all that’s in there.
From the windows, the hotel splits off into two sections, however, it looks like the right side has been fenced off… I guess we’re going the other way.
As we walk down the left corridor, we end up at the entrance to the pool. There are a couple tables outside the door, and two restrooms facing opposite. That isn’t the only thing there, though, there’s a girl sitting at one of the tables. Her arms are folded, and she’s staring at the entrance to the pool. She seems unfazed by the fact that we’ve just arrived, paying no attention to us whatsoever.
Koide-san lets go of my hand the moment we see her, and dashes up to the other girl. She raises her hands excitedly, and leans over on the table towards the other, who still isn’t paying her any attention.
Doremi: Hiiii! We found you! Did you wake up here too, nyan?
The other girl turns to Koide slowly. Her face shows no emotion… or at least, not one that I can figure out.
Blonde girl: ...I guess.
Um, maybe Koide’s coming on too strong? I approach the two of them.
Sumire: Hi, Koide-san and I just woke up in the lobby, and we’re a little… lost. Do you know what’s going on? We found out we were both going to Hope’s Peak Academy, when we suddenly found ourselves here.
Her face is still blank, but I see her think about what I said for a second. She nods her head once.
Blonde girl: Yeah. I was going to Hope’s Peak Academy too, actually.
It’s at this moment that I realize that this isn’t a coincidence that we’re all in the same situation. Unless it is a very, very weird coincidence. But I doubt that.
Doremi: Meow-wow! Does that mean you’re an Ultimate Student too?!
Blonde girl: Yes.
Sumire: Could you tell us what your talent is, maybe?
Blonde girl: No.
Ah.
Sora: My name is Sora Watanabe , though. And look, my talent isn’t too important, so I don’t really see any reason to tell you it. It’s irrelevant, and that’s all you need to know, so no need to learn what it is. Tch.
She turns back in the direction she was looking, and I see Koide-san deflate like a balloon next to her. I guess Watanabe-san doesn’t really want to talk right now. We should probably just leave her.
Sumire: Bye, Watanabe-san.
Sora: Bye.
Only a few steps away is another seating area, but this one has a cafe! No one seems to be working behind the register, though. There are a few people sitting at a table outside of it, though.
At the table, there’s a boy with red hair sitting upright, and another boy with a medical mask leaned over the table on a smartphone. They don’t seem to actually be interacting with one another, so I approach them. Koide-san is still following me.
Sumire: Hello. So, well, uh, I’ve been talking to some people here, and I’m guessing that you’re also Hope’s Peak Academy students? I guess that’s kind of weird first thing to ask, but…
Red-haired boy: Ah, actually, we are. I’m guessing you must have just woken up in the lobby, then?
I nod my head. I figure this means that everyone here must have woken up there at some point.
Kazuyoshi: I’m Kazuyoshi Chida , the Ultimate Film Producer. Nice to meet you. I work as the producer for a company called Funiki Inc., you might have heard of it, perhaps.
I actually haven’t, I don’t get to watch a lot of television or movies… oops.
Doremi: Nyahaha, oh my GOOOSH! I pawsitively adore Funiki movies, that’s so cool, Chida-chan! You’re like a real celebrity… nyan…
She says that so dreamily, and I see Chida-san smile kind of sadly at her words.
Kazuyoshi: Really? W-Well, I’m glad you appreciate them… (Trying to think of a name.) Uhhh, what’s your name?
Doremi: OH! OH! I’m! Doremi! Koide! Ultimate! Cat! Trainer!
I see the other masked boy-- who hasn’t said anything yet-- flinch a little at her loud words, and then sigh. He sets his phone down, and sits upright. As I see his phone, I have a realization. I wonder if he’s able to make calls…?
Sumire: Hey, does your phone work?
The masked boy shakes his head.
Sumire: Oh, that’s too bad… I was hoping that you could try and call someone, maybe. You’re from Hope’s Peak also, though?
Fai: Yeah. My name’s Fai Sung , Ultimate Rhythm Gamer.
Ah, another subject I don’t really know too much about.
Doremi: Do you play idol games, Sung-chan? O-M-G!!! Because I love idol games! I play, like, all of them! My fav fur ite idols are the kitty cat themed ones, especially!
Sung-san just nods his head understandingly, and holds his phone up to show Koide-san the games on his phone. Her eyes light up, and he opens a game on his phone and starts playing it, while Koide-san watches over his shoulder. I guess he’s not really one for talking, either.
Kazuyoshi: It is very strange that phones aren’t working here, though. Mine, for instance, has full service bars, but still can’t send messages or make calls.
Sumire: Oh, that is very strange… it sounds like that doesn’t make a lot of sense…
Kazuyoshi: It really doesn’t.
There’s a silence.
Sumire: Well, we should be on our way. There are more people here?
Kazuyoshi: Yeah. Everyone woke up in the lobby earlier, so I’m guessing you two probably just woke up last.
Sumire: I see. I’m Sumire Sarutobi, by the way, I’m a kunoichi.
I look over at Sung-san and Koide-san again. Doremi watches him play with his phone like a cat and a laser pointer. Sung-san doesn’t seem to bothered that she’s watching.
Sumire: Um, Koide-san? (No response.) ...Koide-san?
Doremi: Nyuh?
Sumire: Do you want to stay here, or keep exploring with me?
Doremi: Ooh, um… I’ll go with you, nyan! Bye, Sung-chan! You’re sooooo good at games! Let’s play together sometime~!
He just gives her a wordless thumbs up, his eyes never leaving his phone screen.
I wave goodbye to Chida-san and Sung-san, and we go to look at the cafe. It’s… fully stocked with food. There’s a refrigerated food section, a coffee machine, a toaster, a soda machine, and an oven… Everything looks new and untouched. How strange.
Standing by the coffee machine, there’s a tan girl in a suit and glasses. Her arms are folded. She looks like she’s foreign. There’s another girl looking at the refrigerated food. She has a strangely extravagant outfit and icy blue hair. It’s not an outfit I’d imagine seeing anyone wearing on a regular basis…
The two of them look at Koide-san and I as we walk in. The girl with the icy hair smiles and waves her hand, before going back to looking at the food selection.
Glasses girl: Hello.
Sumire: Hello. Can I ask for your name and Ultimate title…?
I feel weird asking for people’s Ultimate titles all of a sudden… but if we’re all Ultimates here, maybe it’s not too weird. The girl pushes up the rim of her glasses with her hand, and nods.
Mia: Of course. My name is Mia Alegria . My title is the Ultimate Entrepreneur.
Sumire: Ah, nice to meet you. My name is Sumire Sarutobi, I’m the Ultimate Kunoichi and this is--
Koide-san cuts me off to introduce herself.
Doremi: I’m Doremi Koide, nya! Ultimate Cat Trainer! I like your suit, Alegria-chan! You look soooo business-y and professional! Wrow!
Alegeria-san smiles slightly.
Mia: Well, It’s nice to meet you both. I look forward to working with the two of you from here on out.
Sumire: Yes, well, the two of us just woke up, so now we’re going around to meet everyone. I’m guessing that you don’t know what’s going on either?
Koide-san has moved onto hanging out with the other girl in the room. They seem to be conversing, but I don’t want to leave Alegria-chan in the middle of our conversation…
Mia: (Shrugging.) I really don’t. Apologies. Oh… right. It does appear that we’re currently at a hotel called the Pleasant Misery Luxury Hotel & Suites, though. Unfortunately, it’s not a hotel I’ve ever heard of… I feel like I would remember a hotel with the word ‘misery’ in its name.
Sumire: How did you know that?
In a blink, she presents a poorly-made pamphlet to me, and I flip through it. It’s made from plain printer paper and everything is drawn in crayon…? There are ‘pictures’, if you can call them that, of the hotel and its surroundings. Apparently, there’s even a golf course on the premises.
Mia: I found this behind the front desk earlier. (Shaking head.) It’s so strange… I don’t really know what to make of this pamphlet. It looks like it was made by an actual child . It says this is a chain of luxury hotels too, but I’ve never even heard of any of these names-- Motel 666? Discomfort Inn? Worst Eastern?
She sighs and holds her hand to her face irritatedly as I hand the piece of paper back to her. This is really odd. I haven’t heard of any ‘Pleasant Misery’ hotel… or really, any of those hotel names for that matter.
Sumire: At least I know something about this place now. It’s better than nothing, after all.
Mia: I suppose it is. Though, I still have no idea why exactly we’re here.
Sumire: You’re right. (Pause.) …I’m going to head out now, so that I can look around the hotel a little more. If I learn anything else, I’ll make sure to tell you, Alegria-san.
She turns back to the coffee machine, and I turn around to see that Koide-san and the other girl are talking. Koide-san is clearly much more animated than the other. The other girl greets me. Her stare is very… soft?
Icy girl: Hello, you’re ‘Sarutobi-chan,’ right? Koide-san was just telling me about you. You’re a ‘very cool ninja girl,’ she tells me.
Sumire: H-Huh? I wouldn’t very I’m very cool , or anything. It’s just… something… my family does.
FROST: You must be good, if that’s what Hope’s Peak Academy wanted you for. Being a kunoichi must be so interesting. I wonder if I could ever learn about becoming one…? (Smiling.) Anyways, I should introduce myself before I continue talking. My name is FROST . I’m the Ultimate Visual Kei Artist.
Doremi: Yeah! Yeah! FURROST-chan is so cool! She sings, and has A BUNCH of albums!! Soooo talented, nyan!
FROST: Ah, thank you, Koide-san. You’re much too kind. I’m glad you think so.
The way she deals with Koide-san is so relaxed. FROST-san does give off a calming kind of aura, though.
Sumire: It’s nice to meet you, FROST-san.
FROST: Alegria-san told you about her find, right?
I nod my head.
FROST: Right. I’m quite curious myself… as to what this place is… or where it is, even. The windows don’t show any of its surroundings, as you might have seen. I don’t see the alleged ‘golf course’ this map states is here.
Sumire: I’m not sure what it means, and no one I’ve asked seems to know, either. There must be some reason we’re here and not at Hope’s Peak Academy.
Sumire: I think we’re going to do some more asking around. It was nice to meet you, FROST-san.
FROST-san bows her head.
FROST: Of course. Let’s talk another time, Sarutobi-san. Good luck in your quest for information.
Doremi: Bye-bye FURROST-chan! Can you make a guest purrformance on my show sometime? Do you know any songs about cats?
FROST: Oh? Cats… hm… (Thinking.) I’ll get back to you on that one.
Beyond the cafe and seating area, the hotel splits off again. Towards the left is a sign that reads ‘BALLROOM’, and to the right is a sign that reads ‘HOTEL ROOMS’.
Doremi: Let’s go to the ballroom, nyan~!
Before I can say anything, Koide-san takes my hand, and we walk down the corridor to the ballroom. Inside, the room is relatively empty. There are a few tables and stacked chairs inside. I suppose if there were going to be any events like weddings held at this hotel, they’d be here.
There are three people in this room, one person sitting at a table with a book, and two other people standing next to each other conversing. The shorter of the two is a person with green hair and spiral glasses, and the taller is a boy with white hair and a sports jersey. The shorter person looks to be showing him some… um, what are they called… yo-yos? Those are yo-yos, I think…
White-haired boy: Woah, you’re really good at that, Takamagahara-san. I didn’t know yo-yos had so much… uh, potential.
Takamagahara?: Huhu! Thanks! I am the Ultimate Yo-yo Pro for a reason, you know!
White-haired boy: I guess you’re right.
Takamagahara?: (Noticing Sumire and Doremi.) Hello! Did you come to see my mad skills?
Sumire: ‘Mad skills?’
Takamagahara?: Yeah! Yeah! Don’t know you know who I am? I’m Yuu Takamagahara , the Ultimate Yo-yo Pro! BLAM!
Takamagahara-san flips up one of their yo-yos to show us, but they end up hitting their taller companion with it by accident instead. He doesn’t seem too bothered, though.
Yuu: Oh jeez! I’m so, so, sorry! Sometimes when I’m flipping my yo-yos all over the place, I’ll go ZOW (Swings a yo-yo around.) and hit someone!
White-haired boy: N-No, don’t worry! It’s nothing, really. I was in your way, actually, so that’s why you hit me… I’m fine, really!
Doremi: Wrow! I’ve never met a yo-yo pro… Takanyahara-chan! You’ve gotta show me your skills!
Yuu: You wanna see my skills? Of course ! Of course I’ll show ‘em to you then!
While Takamagahara-san prepares to do some yo-yo tricks, I step over to the taller boy and introduce myself.
Sumire: I’m Sumire Sarutobi, nice to meet you. I’m the Ultimate Kunoichi.
Kinya: Oh! Hello, I’m Kinya Tsukuda … I’m the Ultimate Basketball Star. Don’t get me wrong though, I-I’m not that good at basketball, really. I think someone else from my team would probably be more suited to be an Ultimate than me… haha…
Sumire: Really? I find that pretty hard to believe. If you ended up at Hope’s Peak, I can’t imagine you not being talented, Tsukuda-san.
Kinya: I don’t know…
Doremi: Takanyahara-chan! (Pretending to cry.) That was some of the most amazing yo-yoing I’ve ever seen! I can’t believe it… I’m in the presence of a real yo-yo master…
Doremi: Please! You have to teach me your ways! I knyow I’ll nyever compare to you, but I want to learn your ways, so that I can at least have a fraction of what you have, nyan! (Bowing.)
Yuu: (Thinking.) Of course I will, Koide-chan! You show great promise, and you’re a pretty cool kitty cat… perhaps one day, you can even master the art of the yo-yo!
Doremi: Y-You mean it?
Yuu: Certainly! Irrefutably!
Doremi: (Cat ears perk up. Sniffing.) This is the happiest day of my life…! Imagine: a show about cats doing yo-yo tricks!
They seem to be getting along… Koide-san doesn’t know much about yo-yoing, I guess. She can’t really get it to do what Takamagahara-san’s is doing. Not that I know anything myself.
If Koide-san’s going to be learning how to yo-yo, she won’t be accompanying me anymore, though. That’s kind of unfortunate, but what can you do? …Cats like things that dangle, don’t they?
Sumire: I’m going to do some more looking around. See you around, Tsukuda-san.
Kinya: Oh! Later, Sarutobi-san.
I approach the other person in the room, the one reading the book, next. They don’t seem to look up from it as I walk closer though. Are they… lost in their book?
Ren: Ren Lubell. I’m the Ultimate Mathematician.
Sumire: E-Eh?
I haven’t even said anything yet! He hasn’t looked up from the book at all this entire time, either!
Ren: I overheard you talking with the others over there. Sumire Sarutobi-san, right?
Sumire: Yes.
Ren: …
Sumire: …
Sumire: So, what are you reading?
Ren: A book.
This is getting kind of awkward.
Ren: Well? (Looking up from book.) That’s all you needed, right?
Sumire: Oh…! Um, right.
Ren: (Going back to book.) Okay then. Goodbye.
Sumire: Bye?
I really don’t know what just happened, but I’ve met with Lubell-san now. I feel… a little discouraged that it didn’t go too well. Alright, I’ll be moving on, then.
Down the hall from the ballroom is an arcade, and even further down, there’s a restaurant. It’s different from the cafe, as it has a stand for a host -- even though there isn’t one in sight -- and a stage (for performers, I assume) and kitchen in the back. From the restaurant, the rest of the corridor is closed off. It looks like this is as far as it goes.
Inside the restaurant area, there are three more people. A person with short brown hair and a floral jacket, a larger, foreign-looking boy with sunglasses, and another foreign-looking girl with a bag.
Girl with bag: C’mon, Sal! Play us some tunes! Us country folk love hearin’ the sweet sound of a harmonica!
For a foreigner, she sure has a… thick country accent.
Floral jacket person: Oh… yeah, if you want to… I’m sure you’re good…
Sal?: Alright, I’ll play you guys a quick song, then! Hmmm, what should I play…
I’m still standing in the entrance to the restaurant when the girl with the bag notices me. She waves her hands above her head to greet me.
Girl with bag: Howdy!
Sumire: H...owdy.
Girl with bag: Did’ja come to watch Sal perform? He’s the Ultimate Busker , isn’t that neat?
Busker …? What’s that? I just nod my head, as if I know what she’s talking about.
Sumire: Y-Yeah!! Super neat… my name is Sumire Sarutobi, by the way. Ultimate Kunoichi.
Girl with bag: Hoho! A kunoichi!
Girl with bag: …I have no idea what that is! Sorry ‘bout that. I don’t mean to be rude or nothin’. I jus’ never heard of somethin’ fancy like that, livin’ in the country all my life.
Sumire: Oh, it’s like, a ninja. I mean. It is a ninja. I practice ninjutsu. My family does, at least.
Penny: Ooooh! I sure do see that now. Yuh-huh! I’m Penelope Wolfe, but if you want, you can call me Penny! (Coughs, and starts talking without an accent.) I’m not actually from the country, sorry to disappoint you. I’m the Ultimate Actress, so I like to practice my acting exercises now and again by taking on different roles. Today… I pulled the role of a country bumpkin from my bag!
I’m sure practicing all the time must be pretty helpful for her. I wouldn’t really know, myself, but practicing a lot probably helps you out in the long run. I wonder what kind of acting she does…? Television?
The boy with the sunglasses waves.
Sal: Hey, I’m Salamander Murphy , nice to meet you, Sarutobi! You can call me Sal, if you want, though. Like Penny said, I’m the Ultimate Busker! If you ever need someone to play you some music, I’m your guy!
I still don’t know what a busker is, but I really want to know now. It probably has something to do with the harmonica, right? Also… isn’t a salamander a kind of lizard? Huh. Is naming your kids after lizards the new rage? I didn’t know this was a thing until now. See, I’m not too keen on these new foreign trends.
The person with the floral jacket raises his hand to hand to wave at me next.
Yuki: Um, I’m… Yuki Tsukino … nice to meet you… I do running… and things like that… mostly sprints… because I’m the Ultimate Sprinter …
Sumire: It’s nice to meet all of you. It seems you’re making the best of a bad situation.
Penny: Now who said this is a bad situation, missy? We don’t know nothin’ yet about what’s going on!
Sumire: I don’t know about that…
Sal: I mean, nothing bad’s happened yet! I’m pretty sure we just… um, won a trip to a luxury hotel?
Yuki: Maybe…
Penny: Yessiree! I reckon that could most certainly be the case.
Sumire: I guess it’s always a… possibility.
I wouldn’t mind winning a trip to a luxury hotel, but at this point, I don’t believe that’s what happened. We were all headed to Hope’s Peak Academy, weren’t we?
I can’t know for sure, but I’m going to keep my guard up.
Sumire: I think I’m going to look around some more, but I’d definitely like to see you play the harmonica, Murphy-san.
I decide to head back to the arcade. It’s a small room, but it has a variety of games. These are called ‘arcade cabinets’... if I remember correctly. There’s also a claw machine and a strange gachapon-like machine in the back.
Right when I enter, I notice a boy standing by one of the claw machines with his arms folded. He’s wearing a hoodie and ripped jeans… he kind of looks like a delinquent, if I’m being honest.
Sumire: Hello.
Hoodie boy: Oh, hey.
Sumire: Are you going to play that game?
Hoodie boy: Yeah, I was gonna, but… these machines are so fuckin’ hopeless! They don’t take real money, they take a weird currency called ‘Monocoins’.
Sumire: …Monocoins?
Hoodie boy: Yeah, I guess it’s some weird cryptocurrency. Bitcoin, or whatever.
This sounds like something I don’t want to delve into right now.
Sumire: Well, um, my name is Sumire Sarutobi, nice to meet you! I’m a kunoichi.
Hayato: Ohhh, nice. I was wondering and all, since you’re dressed all fancy and stuff. The name’s Hayato Kikuchi , I’m the Ultimate Parkourist.
Sumire: I see! That’s interesting.
What’s a parkourist?
Hayato: Yeah, things are looking pretty hopeless, Sarutobi-shi. If I was gonna guess, we’re probably gonna die in this hotel.
Sumire: Oh…
???: Now, don’t say that!
I turn around to see another boy approach us. He has short black hair and glasses.
Glasses boy: We haven’t learned anything about this place yet, Mr. Kikuchi. Therefore, we don’t know if anything bad is going to happen.
Hayato: Pff. I guess. Whatever, I was just kidding around.
The boy with the glasses turns to me.
Hatori: I’m Hatori Ishida , the Ultimate Psychotherapist. It’s nice to meet you, Ms. Sarutobi.
Oh…! The way he speaks feels so… genuine? If that’s how I could describe it. I wonder if that’s because he’s a therapist.
Sumire: It’s nice to meet you too. I can’t believe someone my age works as a therapist, that’s incredible!
Hatori: (Adjusting glasses.) I actually just worked as an intern for another doctor, you see. That’s where I learned everything that I know now. Of course, I would like to go into the field eventually.
Sumire: Wow, that’s so cool…
Hayato: Yeah, yeah. It’s cool and stuff.
Hatori: I am hoping we get some explanation soon. I wouldn’t want to be left in the dark about something like this.
Could this really just be a luxury hotel visit that I won and forgot about? I’ve had doubts since the beginning, but learning that everyone here is a Hope’s Peak Academy student has really been troubling me. This is not a coincidence. Not at all.
Sumire: Me too. I want to know what’s going on before anything else happens.
Sumire: There’s a lot more to this hotel that I haven’t seen, so I’m going to go look around.
Hayato: I was looking around earlier, and actually, it’s kind of tiny. Most of the stuff is fenced off, which is real annoying.
Those two areas I saw before were blocked by a gate…
Hatori: Perhaps you’ll find something in your search, Ms. Sumire. This hotel seems to be filled with secrets.
Sumire: Right. I’ll see you two around. Goodbye.
I exit the arcade. Monocoins, huh? How strange.
The next place I decide to head is to the section that was labeled ‘HOTEL ROOMS’. Hotel rooms are essential to a hotel, aren’t they?
On my way there, though, I end up bumping into a taller person… literally. As I step back, I make the realization that this boy is REALLY TALL. My head only goes up to his shoulders! How do people get this tall? I feel like this should be illegal.
Sumire: Oh! Oh no, I’m really sorry.
Tall boy: No, no! I should have been watching where I was walking. C'est pas grave, really.
Was that French? I have no idea what he just said. I guess he can sense my confusion.
Tall boy: Oh, I just said that it’s no big deal. No need to worry. Say, we haven’t met yet, have we?
Sumire: No, I… I think I would have remembered meeting you.
Sadamu: My name is Sadamu Yasuhiro , it’s nice to meet you. I have the title of Ultimate Beekeeper.
Yasuhiro-san extends his hand to me. I think he wants to shake hands, so I take his hand and shake it.
Sumire: Bees?
Sadamu: Yes. I’ve been raising bee colonies since I was eight-years-old.
That’s pretty impressive! Bees are kind of scary… I know they help the environment and all, but they can also sting! I’m glad the world has people like Yasuhiro-san who enjoy taking care of bees.
Sumire: That’s wonderful! My name is Sumire Sarutobi, Ultimate Kunoichi.
Sadamu: A pleasure to meet you, Sarutobi-san. A kunoichi is quite a charmant talent, I think.
I’m going to assume that’s something good.
Sumire: Thank you, you have a very, uh, charmant talent, as well.
Sadamu: It means lovely! I’m glad you think so.
Before I can say anything in response, though, I’m cut off by a voice that rings throughout the hotel. It’s a strange voice, one I’ve never heard anything quite like before. It’s squeaky and frankly, rather annoying.
???: AHEM! AHEM!!!
???: Oh, goodie! I got the loudspeaker to work, finally!
???: Hello, guests! This is a message from the front desk. Please meet in the lobby as soon as possible.
???: I’m sure you’ve all got questions, and let me tell you-- do I have the answers!
???: Come to the lobby immediately!! If you don’t, there’ll be some beary dire consequences! Upupu!
???: As always, thank you for choosing to stay at the Pleasant Misery Luxury Hotel & Suites! Our motto is that our service is to die for, after all!
The voice leaves as soon as it came, and I’m left in a bit of a daze. What was that? More importantly, who was that?
I look at Yasuhiro-san.
Sadamu: It looks like we should head to the lobby. I… don’t really want to know what these ‘beary dire consequences’ are.
Sumire: Neither do I.
And so, I walk to the lobby. I see everyone I met earlier making their way there, too.
All of our questions were soon to be answered, but I don’t think the answer was the one we were expecting and hoping for.
Prologue (Part 1): END
16/16 Students Remaining