Chapter Text
The Tempest Emerges
Metallic and tangy. It's the first thing you smell. It forces its way up your nose, invading your senses with the smell of death and decay. It makes your head spin.
The door is right infront of you, its wooden oak frame the only thing in the entire room untarnished. You raise your right hand to it, intent to escape the horrors of this box room you are in.
Something grabs your legs just as you touch the handle. You shriek as it pulls you back with impeccable force, knocking you to the ground. You know it will be the end of you should you let it pull you back, the fear evident in every pore in your face. With limited strength, you lash out, kicking and thumping the person who has enraptured you. Curses spill out of your mouth as your efforts are rendered futile. You grapple the floor for purchase as you’re steadily pulled further back further into the depths of the room.
The scene ends unceremoniously, so sudden it feels as if you’ve undergone whiplash. Seconds ago, you were fighting for your life, the next you're sitting on the wooden floor of what looks like a classroom.
Was it a dream? You question yourself as you move to stand, using the legs of a nearby desk to stabilise yourself. You severely doubt the notion; what you felt earlier felt irrevocably real- but what other explanation is there? Disregarding the thought for now, you move onto your current predicament. Where the hell are you?
Observing the room, the first thing that catches your eye is the kanji and hiragana that decorates the border of the chalkboard. Why Japanese? Was this a Japanese classroom? The high school you go to doesn't teach Japanese; this you know. Nor does it look like a place from your hometown. Strange. Apart from that, the place looked like your average classroom. Sixteen desks in total bar the teachers, a projector, the aforementioned chalkboard and a bunch of educational posters plastered on pastel pink wallpaper. It goes without saying you don’t recognise any of it.
Sighing in disappointment you go to exit the room. The lock rattles as you turn the knob. Oh god you think. Don’t tell me I'm trapped in here.
You apply more force onto the door, hearing its hinges slightly creak. It doesn't budge. Naturally the next course of action in your mind is to run and slam your bodyweight into it. And naturally, as anyone could guess it’s a stupid thing to do.
The door flies open as if it wasn’t locked in the first place. Sunlight blinds your eyes and your feet trip over sand, landing you face first into it. A girl shrieks as you sit up, spitting sand out of your mouth. You pay whoever screamed no attention as you look back the way you came from only to see that the door is nowhere to be found. Instead, you are met with a calm blue sky paired with a gentle sea lapping at the shore. You can’t help an audible “what the fuck” as you try to comprehend how a physical room you were in a matter of seconds ago has disappeared as if by magic. None of the last ten minutes since you ‘woke up’ makes any sense.
As you’re sitting there royally confused out of your mind, someone crouches down to your level. Your eyes travel their form until you meet their azure ones framed by white glasses.
“you’re another Hop’s Peak student, yes?” he asks in an articulated manner, his Japanese impeccable. Your immediate reaction is to tell him no, that you’d never dream of going to such a pompous school; but just like a tidal wave, the memories come to you. You had been accepted there, hadn't you? And despite your initial reluctance, had decided to attend. How the hell did you forget that?
You nod, finding no reason to lie. “Yeah, I guess so”
He doesn't say anything in response, seemingly stewing over your answer before offering you a hand. You accept it gratefully and are hoisted up with a surprising amount of strength.
Behind him you see more people surrounded by some pink bunny thing? In a skirt? Yay. A crowd you think.Despite the situation, you still don’t like them. Then it coughs, locking eyes with you with, what you think is a distraught expression before flitting its eyes away.
“A-as I was saying, there's nothing dangerous on this island!” it says in a comically cutesy voice.
“Well, what about them?” A guy with pink hair and a mustard jumpsuit pipes up, pointing towards you. You cut him off with a wave of your hand unwilling to deal with the obvious accusations that could be assumed from popping out of literally nowhere.
“Look dude, I don’t know what on earths going on either” you state in a cool unassuming tone. “Or what this is about”
“It’s a stress-free school trip!” the bunny thing butts in. It continues its explanation of the ‘school trip’ as if it wasn’t interrupted in the first place, identifying you as just a latecomer. While it does nothing to ease the suspicious glances pinkie pie is giving your way, it does cause the group to ease a bit to your impromptu arrival. Apparently, you're on an island. An uninhabited one. And apparently (if the bunny is to be believed) Hope’s Peak has suddenly started to shove its first-year students on a spontaneous school trip to ensure they get along. On the first day. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realise a lot of that doesn't really add up. Or sound believable. It doesn't seem you are alone in your hypothesis as the guy with white hair decides to speak up. He’s standing a few feet away from you, but you can still make out his troubled expression.
“Wait... did you bring us all here to make us kill each other...!?” he says. The bunny jumps as if attacked and profusely denies the notion. Why would he jump to that conclusion? You think its suspicious too, but why on earth would someone abduct seventeen high school students from a prodigious school just to kill them? You made a mental note to ask him later.
“Then what is this ‘school trip’ you mentioned really about? What are your intentions?” Mr Impeccable next to you says, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Yeah. If it's not that then what is it” you tack on.
“it's like I said, I want you all to spend these days relaxing and nourishing hope free from pain and suffering” the bunny pauses, rubbing its hand on its chin before announcing “this is everyone's homework for the trip!”
There are a few murmurs in the group as you all processed this information. As for you, you didn’t quite know what to do with it.
“With that let the heart-throbbing school trip begin!”
Whatever that meant. And just like that, the boy with the most prominent ahoge you’d seen until now, collapsed and the school trip was underway.
**
Snow white or as he introduces himself as, Komaeda, insists the rest of the group explore the island barring him, stating that he would stay behind to keep an eye on sleeping beauty. The girl who initially screamed earlier seemed apprehensive to leave, expression twisted in hesitation before she reluctantly trails after you.
She introduces herself as Tsumiki Mikan as you wander the island, apologising profusely the entire time- from her initial scream of surprise to accidently tripping over a rock. You took all her apologise in stride the best you could, reminding her that there was nothing to be sorry for, but it just made the situation worse. In the end you just accept them even when they were unnecessary.
Not too long into your exploring did you come across a supermarket, It’s sign blazes ‘Rocketpunch Supermarket’ in red. When you walk in, the soft breeze of air con greets you both, refreshing after being exposed to the sun’s harsh rays. Another girl is already inside, peaking at the isles. Her pink eyes widen at a packet before she plucks it up, brandishing it like it was the lost sword of Excalibur.
Tsumiki wanders closer to the self-care isle. She glances at you, as if asking for permission to explore to which you nod. Without further hesitation she delves further into the isle while you survey your surroundings. Right Infront of you is a soda isle with the biggest bottles of Koca kola you’ve ever seen. Directly left of it is what looks like a military equipment display. Night vision goggles and survival knives dot the table’s surface while a bust mannequin decked out in gear is placed squarely in the middle.
“Hey! Heyyy!” a voice calls out. And from the proximity you can only guess she means you. You turn around in the direction of her voice to see her standing right behind you. “Ahh!” you say in surprise, stumbling into the military display. The short table digs into the back of your knees. Ow. “Oh... sorry”
“it’s” you pause debating whether going off at someone you don’t know for scaring the living daylight out of you is a good idea. “it’s fine. But don’t do that again”
“Yeah, Ibuki’s bad” she says twiddling with a lock of her hair “I don’t know if you heard me earlier at the beach but I’m Ibuki! Mi-o-da Ib-u-ki!”
“Yes, I heard” you say moving to stand closer to the soda isle. “Ultimate Musician, you said?”
“yeeep~” Mioda’s eyes light up at your acknowledgment. The chip packet in her left hand crinkles as she moves it. “Ibuki isn’t sure what yours's though”
“It’s nothing special” you dismiss. You don’t care for the silly titles this academy assigns its students. You only mentioned hers as a conversation starter. Instead of explaining this you simply say “I don’t really like talking about it”
“Ooh. Well, okay” she all but whines but then perks up, as if she remembered something “oh yeah, have you seen this? I can’t believe they actually have this flavour! I’m sure the brand discontinued it” she holds aloft the chip packet to your face, the kanji for tomato and basil printed in bubble-gum pink nearly blinding you.
“Maybe this store brought the last few shipments of it then” you offer as an explanation.
“Maybe... but Ibuki is sure it was a good few years ago. Oh! Have you tried them yet? You should they’re the best!” she says before ripping open the packet, popping a few into her mouth and offering you the bag. Hesitatingly, you reach into the bag and put one into your own mouth. The flavour reminds you of something you’ve had before, almost nostalgic-like but you can’t place it. Either way, you are surprised on how well the flavour complements the chip.
“Told you they were good” Mioda says after swallowing her latest mouthful.
“Better than I expected, I’ll give you that” you reply, conceding when she offers you some more. She was right. They are good.
As you talk a little more, the store counter catches your eye. There's nothing out of the ordinary per say, but you just can’t help wondering if this store has any alcohol. It's not like your particularly fond of the stuff, even if you are allowed a little every now and then, but didn’t that rabbit robot thing say the island was prepared just for the seventeen of you?
Mioda’s on your tail as you stalk towards it. “whatcha doing?” she asks over your shoulder. “Looking for alcohol” you say as you crouch down behind the counter and sifting through the draws. Wait. Sometimes these sorts of places have a whole isle dedicated to it at the back of the shop. “Mioda-san? Could you check the back of the store, see if they have any there?”
“Why? Wait don’t tell me you're an alcoholic!?”
“Haha nah. I’ll tell you why afterwards”
At that she jumps of the counter, her skirt swishing with the motion as she skips down to the opposite end of the store. Letting out an involuntary sigh (the days just started but you’re already sick of it) you continue your rifling, pulling out cupboards looking for the damn bar cabinet key. It is during your frenzy you hear the stores sliding doors open. Finally, you find it hiding in the wastepaper bin at the bottom of the counter that you just half-heartedly checked. Seriously whoever manned this counter last was extremely careless.
“Ah ha!” you exclaim as you pull it from the bin, straightening up from your hunched position. This apparently surprises someone nearby judging from their sharp intake of breath. “Jesus” they say as you turn around. It’s the guy who passed out on the beach. He looks a little worse for wear if you're being honest.
“Sorry” you offer as you fiddle with the cabinets lock. “Feel any better?”
“A bit” he says tilting his head to better observe his surroundings. “Komaeda told me what happened. Since I missed everyone's introductions, I'm going around doing mine now”
You hum in response, finally undoing the latch and opening the cabinet. you reach a hand in and fish around, unsurprised you come up empty. Or so you thought. At the last second your hand collides with a glass bottle. You grab the neck and pull it out, plopping it on the counter with a sharp ting. The ahoge guy is still standing around the front, a hand cradling his neck slightly. His eyes zero in in the bottle before asking “Is that Sapporo?”
Despite expecting it, it still left you feeling a bit disappointed. “No, just an imitation unfortunately” you say before grabbing the can opener you saw tucked in the drawer earlier and opening the lid. You take a sip before commenting, more to yourself than him “hmm tastes like regret”
It's at this moment Komaeda decides to make his appearance, after what you think was snooping in the magazine isle he emerges from.
“Ah Hinata. You found Ivory, I take it” he says gesturing to you. Hinata turns his head back to you. “Ivory?”
“Uh-huh. That’s what I go by. You?” you hum, looking at him expectantly.
“Ah I’m Hinata Haj-”
“Iiivooryyy-chaaan!” Mioda's loud voice cute through the air, startling both Komaeda and Hinata. She plonks herself back onto the counter and twirls her legs over it to face you, a timid Tsumiki behind her. “It’s a complete ghost town down that isle, practically nothing there. The only alcohol related things over there are whatever they use for cuts and stuff”
“Thought so” you sigh, tilting your head up to the ceiling. So, the rabbit thing was telling the truth after all. No people and an interconnected island. A part of you wonders what kind of school has the money to rent out an entire resort for the foreseeable future and empty out the supermarkets drink supply. Though you are confused why that isn’t apparently allowed but military grade knives are. Japanese schools really have weird priorities.
“Um what did you want w-with the... er alcohol?” Tsumiki askes you. She has a few items lining her uniform's pockets and her knee is covered with a fresh bandage from the tumble she had earlier. You think for a few seconds before responding.
“Well, think about it. This place looks to be some holiday resort, right? It would be normal to find cigarettes or drinks in the supermarket, hell some people go specifically to places like this to get drunk, yet we’ve found none. “
There is a slight pause before Komaeda speaks up, his eyes meeting yours ever so slightly. “Were you verifying what Usami said?”
“Usami?”
“The pink bunny robot” Hinata clarifies.
Your expression shifts to recognition. “Oh. Yeah. Everything we’ve been told so far just seemed a bit of a stretch. I checked on the off chance.”
“If ya think about it, hope’s peak must have some serious moola to pull all this off” Mioda says aloud, tossing the chip packet from earlier into the desk bin.
Komaeda’s eyes visibly light up at the mention of Hope’s Peak, turning his full attention on her. “Of course they do. A place fitting for Ultimate Students would absolutely be able to do something like this... though I’m not sure why there’d be a trip on the first day”
“Speaking of Ultimates, Ivory wouldn’t tell me theirs” Mioda whines giving you a kicked puppy expression before homing in on Hinata. “Ibuki wants to know yours!”
“Ah well. I can’t remember mine” he says looking sheepish, avoiding direct eye contact. You lean your forearms on the counter, moving the glass bottle to the side.
Tsumiki looks alarmed. She steps forward slightly, inserting herself more into the group. “Um amnesia after hitting your head can be a sign of a concussion. If-if you want, I could have a look for you?”
“Oh, I uh couldn’t remember before I passed out... I think. I’m fine”
“Still” Komaeda objects “It wouldn’t hurt to let Tsumiki check it out. Someone as lowly as me might have missed something”
Lowly? You think. Does he have low self-esteem? Just as your about to agree with Komaeda’s point (Letting Tsumiki look at Hinata- not his self-depredation) a sharp school bell rings.
Ding dong, Bing bong.
“Look, the monitor” Komaeda points out. All five of you turn to it. Usami is dead center on the screen. She's sitting on a plush red armchair; a cutesy dresser peeks out from the right of the screen.
“Congratulations everyone! It appears everyone has finished collecting the Hope Fragments! I’m...” She sniffs as if she’s about to cry “I’m so happy! Sooo I’ve prepared a present for everyone that’ll make you all veeeeery happy! I apologise for the trouble, but please gather at the beach!”
After the screen muted you promptly look at the rest of your small group. Hope fragments? Didn't she mention something like that earlier? You voice your uncertainty to the group.
“Check your pockets” Komaeda says “it's in the handbook we were given” you oblige and embarrassingly enough, there is one in your jackets left pocket. Honestly you felt a bit like an idiot right about now.
After that, your small group heads to the beach. Hinata looks apprehensive the whole journey there, and to be honest you don’t blame him. At a time like this, it would be foolish to disregard any worries about the situation.
When you arrive, everyone else is already there. Togami, in a rather annoyed manner informs you that your group is the last to show up.
“Now that we’re all here it gives us a chance to talk before the rabbit shows up” He says “So let me hear your initial impressions of this island”
“I happened to notice multiple blocked off bridges on the central island” Pekoyama speaks up first, crossing her hands over her chest slightly.
“Oh, those are to stop everyone from getting lost!” Mioda adds on waving her hand in the air as if she was answering a question in class. “I tried crossing one and that rabbit showed up and told me so I’m telling the truth”
“So, we don’t get lost? Is the island really that big?” Pekoyama mumbles to herself.
“Well, it's still an Island with a resort and all... not that I’ve ever been to one before” Soda says to quell a bit of the tension gathering up. Unfortunately, your about to ruin it.
“Not exactly. There's a supermarket on the first Island” you say as you shrug of your jacket, tying it around your waist. “It has military grade knives and survival kits but no alcohol or cigarettes”
“What’s weird about that?” Koizumi asks. Before you can tell her Nevermind interjects.
“It implies that this Island has indeed been prepared specifically for us, but I have no idea what the military gear suggests”
Koizumi’s mouth forms an ‘o’ shape before nodding once in understanding.
“The supermarket does stock everything else you’d normally find” Tsumiki adds, her voice still hesitant as if she will be yelled at for even breathing.
“There's also a biiiig ranch” Saionji says, hand on hip with a semi smug expression.
“The Hotel was really nice too. It'd be great if we could stay there” Koizumi reports wistfully.
“The restaurant inside the hotel was also very nice though it seems to cater to a more plebian taste” Sonia tacks on to Koizumi’s statement. You can’t help but think it was a clever roundabout way to remind everyone that she is upper class.
“Hey! Can you guys listen to what I have to say? It's very important” Hanamura’s voice shouts. He honestly didn’t have to because no one was talking over him in the first place. Togami gives him a slight nod, and everyone looks towards him. He takes a deep breath before announcing.
“Girls! Very cute girls! Aha! All over the place!”
There is a collective groan throughout the group. ‘ Well, that teaches me for getting excited’ you think. You can’t say you disagree with Hanamura, but there is a time and a place for that, and this is decidedly not it.
“All of you are fools... I can’t believe nobody has mentioned the most serious truth” Togami remarks with a pretentious flair. Your eyes narrow a tad, gaze sharp.
“Most serious truth?” Nanami asks directly behind you, making you jump ever so slightly. You forgot she was there in all honestly.
“If you haven’t realised it, then you’re all bigger fools than I thought”
“Quit the yabbering and just tell us already!”
“What’d you just say, you fat bastard?”
Owari and Kuzuryu snap at nearly the exact same time. Togami rolls his cerulean eyes at them, which does a grand job of pissing them off even more. While it wasn’t necessarily directed at you, you still feel agitated by Togami’s behaviour. it's better than fake pleasantry you suppose.
“Hey, what's the most serious truth? Did you find something, Togami?” Hinata tentatively asks.
Togami sighs before saying “Have you been to the park across the bridge?”
“The one with the that weird bronze statue and creepy animals, right?”
“When I saw it, I remembered a story I heard before. There's an island in the Pacific Ocean, a beautiful island paradise where summer never ends. It consists of five different islands. It's also said that five different islands symbolise each surrounding island.”
“Eh?”
“That Island’s name is Jabberwock Island.”
“Hold on” Komaeda says, realisation dawning on him like a bright blue sky on a summer day. “Could this island be Jabberwock Island?”
“Still, there's something else on my mind. According to what I’ve heard Jabberwock is already... Never mind”
Okay now that’s just made you curious. You’ve never heard of Jabberwock. Surprisingly, nothing like that has ever came up in your line of work. Either way Togami looks to be withholding information. What does he mean by ‘already’?
Nidai seems to think on the same lines as you, pressing Togami for an answer. He placates him and consequentially the rest of you by promising to elaborate later.
The group then descends to chattering amongst themselves, most feeling at ease knowing that basic necessities are still available. While you feel a bit better now that you know the layout of the land, something inside of you is on high alert, almost waiting for something inevitable to go really wrong. It’s the same feeling you get when your down to one bar of health in a boss battle or when a family member has been out of the house for way longer than they should be with no text telling you they’d be late.
Usami snaps you back to the present with an undignified shout. Something about cutting trees and no rafts, you weren't really listening. There’s some commotion about gathering the hope fragments and Hinata’s scepticism to the whole thing, again you're not really listening- too focused on quelling your mind from its insistent hunch.
“Anyway, what’s this present you said in the announcement, Usami?” Mioda asks the rabbit, who brightens at the question.
“Ah! Yes! Well, of course I didn’t forget... Love! Love! This is it!” Usami produces a small keychain from her hands in the shape of, well, her. You had to admit it was a little cute.
“...”
“...What?”
“What a waste of time”
“Man, I got my hopes up too”
Yeah, you don’t think anyone is impressed. Pretty much after everyone received one, they immediately tossed them onto the beach. Usami reminds them to not litter before picking them up with sad dejected eyes. Only you and Nanami keep them, stashing yours in your trouser pocket. You're not that rude, okay?
“I even prepared a second present, but I don’t even want to give it to you bad kids” Usami says with the same sad expression.
“Oh? You have something else?” you ask for the group.
“It’s not that big of a deal. It's just a motive for you guys to get along” she responds.
Talk begins over what everyone thinks it could be. Owari is thinking a party while Nevermind favours a miniature shrine. Hanamura insists on being obscene which prompts Komaeda and you to tell him to knock it off. You both end up smiling slightly at each other for that, having said it at almost the same time.
“Everyone has different ideas but if we’re going to be at the beach what about... this!” Usami brings over two types of swimsuit bags, one red the other blue.
“Swimming bags?”
“Whoa does that mean?”
“Yep! I have swimsuits. School swimsuits, actually. Enough for everyone!”
Hinata gets vexed by this, demanding why she wants you all to go swimming in a time like this. Usami reiterates that she’s not forcing anyone to swim, just giving the option. You come up behind him, hand on his shoulder as the others walk off to get changed.
“Look. I get where you’re coming from, I really do. No-ones denying it’s a weird situation but look at it logically. In the entire time we’ve been here Usami hasn’t lied to us- I checked remember? I think it's okay for some of them to let their hair down for a bit. There's no current danger, Is there?” (In all honesty it felt like you were trying to convince yourself as well as him.)
“Well, no” Hinata begins. He's starting to look a bit conflicted. “But who’s to say it’s gonna stay like that?”
“Nothing really” you concede. “It’s all hypotheticals in the end”
A shout is heard as the changing crew arrive back. Mioda immediately goes to splash Soda, who laughs and splashes her back. Hinata is side eying them, looking from you to them. Suddenly, he lets out a sigh (that you can’t tell is positive or negative) and tells Usami to give him a swimsuit, running to change. Satisfied you untie your jacket and lay it next to the palm try Nanami is leaning on, sitting back on your haunches.
Nanami has a Gamegirl pulled out. It’s a pastel pink colour and looks to be well worn but loved. She’s playing some fighter game from the sounds of it. She starts rapidly pushing buttons and the games sound effects go off congratulating her win. Out of curiosity you ask.
“What game are you playing?” you recognise some of the music, but you are unable to place it.
“Trip World” she answers, never taking her eyes off the screen. Oh! You knew that one. “The bosses are a bit tricky, but you get used to it after a while”
“I’ve never seen anyone beat one so quickly” you say, genuinely impressed. “It took me at least thirteen tries to beat the second one”
Nanami eyes look to have gained stars from saying that, even going as far to look at you directly for a split second. “You play games too!?”
“Occasionally” you tell her. “Though I’m more into physical games to be honest. I do like casual games and rpg’s”
“Oh. Is there any you like the most? I’m a fan of most genre’s so I don’t have much of a preference on what I play”
“Even crappy ones?”
“Especially crappy ones”
You end up talking to Nanami for a good while. It was a good distraction from the heat and allowed your own mind to take a piece of your own advice you gave Hinata. You tell her your favourites while she comments on the mechanics or storyline of each one you bring up. You both apparently are pretty bad at dating games, though that could be because you are quite dense to the topic in general.
As your about to ask her opinion on Harvest Moon, the sky darkens to a storm. The clouds, once peaceful and spars, now swirl above angry and agitated. The feeling you had earlier comes back in full force, blaring at the top of its lungs as if to say, ‘this is it.’
You turn your attention to everyone around you, reading their reactions to the unnatural sky. Hinata has only just got back, his eyes gazing at the sky before his expression twists into regret. You kind of feel a bit guilty for that, as it was you who finally convinced him to let go.
Usami’s horrified, if the widening of her eyes and scrunched up button nose is to go by. Hinata and a few others (namely the short mafia boss) give her a scandalising look. For some reason you don’t think she is to blame, then you chastise yourself for such a stupid thought. You don’t know anyone here. Not really, and any one of them could be setting you up for disaster- including the rabbit.
The monitor suddenly blares to life, filling the area with the sound of unbridled static. A voice floats out of the speaker, nasally and grating to the ears. “Mike check, mike check! Can you hear me?”
“It’s time for the main attraction! You guys' better hustle your way down to Jabberwock Park.”
The monitor clicks off as sudden as it came on, leaving nothing but the silence of the sea.
An image is stirred up in your brain. One of fifteen people in a gymnasium wearing somber expressions you don’t recognise. It's gone in a blur before you can really think, returned to your subconscious.
Usami’s disposition hasn’t changed, her face caved in worry. She mutters something to herself before her eyes harden (How a stuffed animal is capable of such varying degrees of emotion you don’t know) and disappears promptly.
You don’t care to listen to the group and swiftly get up, picking up your jacket and shrugging it on. Not much sand had gotten on it thank God. You think you hear Hinata shout for you but your long gone by then, taking the road directly to the park.
Once you got there you saw Usami with her magic stick out, waving it in the air. You in turn, survey the area. Togami was right for starters. You hadn’t been to the park until now, and the statue stood tall and imposing dead centre of it. Fuchsias and sunflowers in little pots dot each side of the pathways while oak trees and their saplings stood tall and proud. An odd combination for what is supposed to be a tropical resort.
“Ooh someone is eager!” the voice from the monitor calls out. You whip your head to the side to discern where its coming from but see nothing to point out the sound.
“You must be, to come here voluntarily.” What did they mean here? The park or something else entirely?
“Don’t listen to him” Usami tells you. “He’s just trying to mess with you!”
“Upupupu...”
You narrow your eyes. You don’t get what is going on at all and it shows. You're tired of all the bullshit today has piled onto you.
You hear a multitude of footsteps and know you won’t be alone for much longer. As they rush in you take in their appearances. Togami is the first to arrive, easily outpacing everyone else by a mile. You would say it surprises you, but you also felt his strength earlier. Next up is Owari, Nidai and Nevermind, clothes askew from changing so quickly. Everyone else is next with Komaeda and Nanami trailing after them, the former panting and wiping his brow from the brief sprint.
Usami calls out to the interloper (That’s what you assume anyway) before ‘he’ makes his reveal, catapulting out from behind the statue to sit at its base. It's another stuffed animal, a bear this time with a black and white patten that brings a weird sense of Déjà vu. It's partial grin creeps you out more than the statue he sits behind.
“Why Hello there! Thank you for waiting!” He says in a grandiose manner, little paws stretched wide. “Long time, no see. I am Monokuma!!! The headmaster of this academy.”
‘Unless Hope’s Peak has somehow become a specialised school for puppeteers and ventriloquism, I’m not buying it’.
“ Now that I’m here I must say... this is lame! L. A. M. E. whoever came up with this idea needs to be shot! Preferably with ten thousand baseballs! Ugh!”
“Just as I thought. It is you!!!” Usami exclaims in about much anger her cutesy voice can handle. She grips her magic stick fiercely. “But... how!?”
“UGH SHADDUP” Monokuma speaks over her effectively drowning her out. “I’ve just about had enough of you and your disgusting lukewarm attitude. What's up with this stupid heart-throbbing school trip crap? It's so boring. No one wants to see high schoolers live peaceful mundane lives, they want action! Misery! Despair!”
“What is this fuckers deal!? He's not makin’ a lick of sense” Kuzuryu says on the verge of either a breakdown or an outburst.
“What the...?” Togami mutters. It’s the first time you’ve seen him genuinely thrown off (Granted you haven't known him long, but he always gave the impression he was easily taken off guard”
Usami stands Infront of you all, her stick is raised yet again as if to shield you.
“I’ll take care of this!” She says valiantly. “As long as I have my magic-”
“ Hiya!”
Monokuma dives at Usami breaking her stick into two clean halves, kicking her in the face as he does.
“NOOO! My magic Stick!”
“Another Flawless Victory! Upupupu!"
Monokuma looks down at Usami in thought, a paw to his chin. “What to do with you. Hmmm... This will do it!”
In a flash Usami was transformed before your eyes. It would be mesmerising if Monokuma wasn’t humiliating her. Her fluffy pastel skirt is traded for a white oversized diaper, her face now baring a split pink and white design reminiscent of her tormenter. You felt marginally sorry for her.
Monokuma designates her as his little sister, changing her name to Monomi. She protests to this, but it falls on death ears, if only earning her another kick in the face. You don’t know if it's wise to stand around and let this happen. Yes, she is technically a stuffed animal who is probably operated by someone who abducted you all, but bullying is bullying and you're letting it happen. It tastes bitter that you stay out of it for your own self-preservation.
“Now that that’s all settled, I shall make the formal announcement!” He pauses as if his audience is waiting on bated breath. You decidedly, are not.
“You are all going to kill each other!!!”
ꜱᴛᴜᴅᴇɴᴛꜱ ʀᴇᴍᴀɪɴɪɴɢ: 17