Prologue (Part Two)
A stunned silence falls over all of us for a second.
Kill..... someone? Kill someone here?
I look around at everyone's faces. They're all so animated, so full of emotion, I can't picture them lifeless.
That's a lie.
The images of their eyes staring blankly into nothingness, their skin ashen, floods my mind all too easily.
Daiki Miura, that perfect face marred by a look of agonising terror
"What the.... isn't this, like- you can't force us into this! I'll find a beach and swim for help if I have to!"
Ikuye Sasaki, her happy go lucky act shattered as she heaves out gasps, her eyes wide and fearful
"I.... I don't understand..... There's some other solution to this, surely?!"
Riku Takeshi, screaming to the heavens, cursing at the sky for answers
"Fucking shut up! Or I'll ram my hammer into your vocal cords! Then you'll be quiet!"
Satou Atsuo, a haunted look on her face, dark circles around her eyelids
"Ri-Ri, calm down, I won't let anyone hurt you, so don't- don't worry......"
Kiyoshi Takahashi, hand wrapped around his crucifix like a lifeline, calling out to a god that probably doesn't exist, and definitely doesn't care
"This is insane..... A joke, right.....? Please Lord, let this be a joke....... Oh, I knew I shouldn't have joined this club...."
Kinuye Kaneko, her expression falling in bitter shock and despair, a tear falling from her eye as the light in them drains away
"Surely there must be some mistake, this is clearly a violation of.... well, everything!"
Haruko Akiyama, knuckles white, a bead of sweat running down his forehead as he fights to keep composed
"Hey, 'Nuye...... I'm sure it's just..... some kind of practical joke! A-And if it isn't we'll run away into the forest together and live off berries, and- and build a house to live in. Yeah, that!"
Chouko Hayashi, hysterically sobbing, a layer of salt coating her glasses, pure terror on her face
"I- I- What?! Why would- Why would anyone want- I don't understand!"
Ryo Shimizu, their face blank, tears streaming down their face, their gaze fixed on a single point
"I mean..... This has gotta be bullshit. You're bullshitting me, yeah? Christ on a bike....... I can't...."
Mei Mitsuki, unable to get so much as a word out as she dissolves into sobs
"I- You- I...... Oh- Oh god, am I- Am I going to die here?"
Chi Yeuri, her features contorted in an anger and desperation I had never seen before
"Kill- Kill each other?! What is this, some second-rate, low budget slasher?!"
June Yōsei, her hands shaking, sniffling as she fought to push down a scream
"I..... How ridiculous! Completely, utterly ridiculous......."
Dai Azami, an expression of raw, primal terror on their face, their eyes burning with fear
"Guys, let's all just...... calm down. I'm sure there's a rational explanation."
Kiko Abe, heaving out silent sobs into their arms, hiding their face so none of us could see their tears
"Hah."
What?
"Pfft, I mean, I knew there might be a comedy act on this trip, but you're really pulling out all the stops, mate! Oh, I haven't laughed this hard in ages!"
Oh, that riled up the little shit. "Hey, ya little twerp, I wasn't joking!"
I'm not entirely sure what Kiko is trying to do, but I figure maybe they should stop? Pissing off the murder bear seems like a really bad idea right now.
"Alright, y'tosser, let's say you're being serious. What makes you think any of us are gonna just go like, 'Ah, a bloody build-a-bear reject told me to murder...... Guess I'll murder?' Come on. I might not like everyone here," Kiko glances not so subtly at Kiyoshi, "and I sure don't plan on interacting much, but I trust 'em enough not to commit an actual murder. Because that's dumb."
"Much as it pains me to agree with... her," Kiyoshi sighs, moving a button on his cardigan to either side of the buttonhole, "I sincerely doubt any of us are stupid enough to commit that kind of....... that kind of sin."
"Right?" Daiki agrees, "Besides, where's the motive? Geez, you didn't think this through at all, did you?"
Monokuma seems to be growing increasingly annoyed. "Shut up, the lotta ya! Do you have any idea how hard it is to organise an entire village?! I only just finished furnishing your cabins in time! I'm real tired, so you ungrateful little shits are just gonna have to wait until tomorrow for me to come up with something." The bear's grin looks like it's widening, but that's probably just me. "Or you could just off someone tonight, and spare me the trouble! 'Course, you'd have to worry about getting caught, so ya probably want to hold of on the hammer....."
Riku huffs, "Hey, what's wrong with my hammer?!"
"Nothin'!" Monokuma laughs, "It's just reeeeaaal distinctive, is all! But seriously, nothing's off the table! Stabbing, shooting, suffocation...... Maybe even some strangulation, if you're feelin' frisky!"
Kinuye's nose wrinkles in distaste. "Eugh."
"Hey now, princess, don't kinkshame!" Monokuma laughs, continuing. "Oh, couple admin things. As mayor, gotta sort it all out, y'know?" It begins passing around some kind of tablet thing, black and white (really?) but the screen seems pretty good quality, though for a solid opinion I'll have to ask Kiko. ......Actually, maybe I don't need to ask. They're swearing about it loud enough. I think they're pissed because the murder bear can actually afford quality, but I'm not sure. I've never actually heard the word "plonker" used to describe anything before, and I'm finding it a little difficult to interpret.
June seems to be examining something on her monopad. "Hey, um, everyone..... There's a map on here. I think it's of this village. Look. Crash site..... I'm guessing that's where we are now?"
Chouko chimes in. "Oh, so there's also cabins, a marketplace, and an aquarium! And a lot of forest. Like, a lot a lot. Wow."
Mei looks at Chouko with a smile. "Oh, there really- there really is. That should be good for some of your spells, you prefer to do them in the woods, right?"
Chouko grins, "Absolutely! Hey, I've been thinking, Mei Mei, you still want to find someone? Because I found-"
"Um, no- no thanks, Chou. I'm..... having a break from dating? Um....."
I watch briefly as Chouko wraps an arm around Mei's shoulder, saying something about how that isn't a problem. Then I sort of tune out, this isn't my business. Weirdly, though, their positivity does make me feel a little better. Maybe if they're not bothered by everyone's impending doom, I really shouldn't be either. ......Man, that's some superhero comic level bullshit right there. Still, maybe I should try to relax. Can't let nightmares and imaginings get the better of me. Clearly, I have been writing too many horror stories.
I fiddle with the monopad a while longer, landing on a page titled "Rules". It seems fairly simply typed, no fancy fonts, which was a relief, but not what I was expecting of the bear. Well, let's see what these "rules" are, then.