Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

…

Years ago, wasn’t it?

The last killing game.

Terrible, wasn’t it? No wonder she doesn’t remember anything.

It’s not as if she was participating in it, but… knowing she helped the mastermind was terrible enough.

What a terrible excuse for a human…

…

???: Huh?

???: Where am I…?

A teenage girl woke up, disoriented, with an orange-haired man in a trenchcoat standing over her.

She didn’t recognize him, of course. She didn’t remember anything, except her name and Ultimate.. Maybe he was in the same predicament?

Orange-haired man: Where’s my hat…?!

Orange-haired man: Oh, hey… You’re awake.

???: Eh…? T-The hell’s going on?!

Orange-haired man: Good question, none of us know either.

???: Us…?

Orange-haired man: Yeah, there’s a lot of us here… Who are you?

???: I’m… Akita Neru, the… Ultimate Troll…

Orange-haired man: …Ultimate Troll?

Neru: I-I know it’s a dumb talent! Shut up!!

Orange-haired man: Ultimate…?

Neru: Yeah…? My Ultimate talent? Do you not have- Oh!

Neru paused in realization.

Neru: I just assumed the Ultimate talents would be important- I-I mean, this whole thing is really suspicious, I just assumed-

The orange-haired man interrupted.

Orange-haired man: Ultimate Talent… I’m sure I have one of those, but I can’t remember…

Neru: Huh… Are you from Annoyance School too…?

Orange-haired man: Oh, yeah… That prestigious school? Wonder if it’s related to wherever we are now…

Neru: W-Who are you, anyways??

Orange-haired man: Sure, I’ll introduce myself, I guess…

Orange-haired man: My name is Chuuya Nakahara.

Neru: I see… I’ll try to remember that, I guess.

Chuuya: You’ll…?

Neru: I don’t really remember anything, right now, so…

Chuuya: I can’t remember much either. I’m sure it’ll come back to you.

Neru: Y-Yeah, you’re probably right…

Neru: I remember my name and ultimate, but… literally nothing else…

Chuuya: I remember some things about my life, but, you know, not my Ultimate…

Chuuya: We should probably meet the others now.

Neru: Yeah… Maybe we can get a better idea of the situation we’re in…

Chuuya: Think we’re in danger?

Neru: O-Of course we are…!! We just woke up with no memories and we don’t know where the hell we are!!

Neru took a look at her surroundings, realizing she was on a tropical island of some sort. She looked behind her, and saw some sort of hotel resort.

Neru and Chuuya walked into the hotel lobby, being greeted by two girls who looked to be around Neru’s age, one with coral pink hair and the other with strawberry blonde hair.

Pink-haired girl: Heya! How’s it going?

Neru: Uhh… Not good?

Strawberry blonde girl: Yeah, I wouldn’t have thought so…

Chuuya: Let me guess, you two don’t know what’s going on either, huh?

Pink-haired girl: Not exactly… Um, but we can start by introducing ourselves!

Pink-haired girl: I’ll go first! I’m Sayori, the Ultimate Poet!

Neru: Ultimate Poet, huh…?

Sayori: Yeah! Well, I’m not really famous or anything… But I love writing poems with my friends at the literature club!

Neru: Literature club, huh…

Sayori: Yeah, I’m the vice president of my school’s literature club! Or, I guess, last school, since I got accepted to Annoyance School a week ago.

Neru: (I guess Annoyance School does have some significance. I’ll try to keep that in mind…)

Sayori: Anyways, who’re you?

Neru: I’m Neru, the Ultimate Troll.

The strawberry blonde girl made a sour expression.

Chuuya: Something wrong?

Strawberry blonde girl: Oh, sorry… I just really hate trolls.

Strawberry blonde girl: I’m Chiaki Nanami, the supe- I mean, Ultimate Gamer.

Neru: (Ultimate Gamer… that’s gonna be awkward…)

Chiaki: Oh, um, regardless of your… talent, I’m sure we can still be friends!

Neru: Y-You better not be an otaku or anything…

Sayori: Oh yeah, who are you?

Chuuya: I’m Chuuya Nakahara, I don’t remember my Ultimate talent.

Sayori looked dumbfounded.

Sayori: YOU’RE Chuuya Nakahara?! Like, the writer?!

Chiaki: The writer’s dead, Sayori… It’s probably just a coincidence.

Chuuya: Yeah, I don’t really know what you’re talking about.

Sayori: Oh, yeah… I just don’t know who’d name their kid that- No offence or anything!

Chiaki: I know at least 3 people who’d do that… I think.

Neru: Well, we’re gonna go meet everyone else… Hopefully we find someone who knows what’s going on?

Chiaki: Sorry… we already talked to everyone else, they have no idea either… Just that everyone seems to have been accepted to Annoyance School about a week ago.

Neru: Still, introducing ourselves is a good start, right?

Sayori: Yeah, of course! If we all get to know each other, maybe we can all figure out what’s going on and get through it together!

Neru and Chuuya walked down the hall to find a green-haired girl, also around Neru’s age, dressed sort of like a police officer, and two men dressed as soldiers.

Neru: Gah-!

Neru was startled and a little scared at the sight of the soldiers.

Green-haired girl: Oh, don’t worry about them. They’re in the same boat as the rest of us.

Bearded soldier: Hey, I’m Gaz. Ultimate Special Forces Soldier.

Green-haired girl: That guy over there is Gary Sanderson, or Roach. Ultimate Soldier. He doesn’t talk much, apparently.

Neru: Two soldiers, huh… I-I won’t pretend I’m not a little nervous… I mean-!

Neru: Sorry, um…

Neru: I’m Akita Neru, Ultimate Troll… And that’s Chuuya, he doesn’t remember his talent.

Chuuya: I could’ve introduced myself…

Neru: What about you?

Green-haired girl: Oh, me? I’m Saori Sato, Ultimate School Supervisor.

Neru: A school supervisor? At your age?

Gaz: Yeah. She supervises her own school, apparently. Or the one she went to before we all got accepted to Annoyance School… Sayama Girls’ School, was it?

Chuuya: So we’ve got Sayori and Saori… I’m sure that won’t get confusing.

Neru: How about we call the pink girl Sayori and the green one Sato?

Sato: Sounds good to me.

Gaz: Any chance you guys know what’s going on?

Chuuya: Nope. Probably less than you do, to be honest.

Sato: Nobody does…

Neru: We’re just introducing ourselves to everyone before we try to figure it out.

Sato: We’ll see you later then.

Neru and Chuuya walked further down the hallway, coming to a kitchen of sorts. They saw a couple different people there, focusing on a red-haired boy, you guessed it, around Neru’s age, and a black-haired boy who looked a little younger.

Red-haired boy: I wanna go home…

Black-haired boy: This sucks! No one even knows where we are!!

Neru: Hey, um… So…

Neru honestly had no idea how to start a conversation with them.

Black-haired boy: Eh?! Do either of you two have any idea of what’s going on?

Neru: No… And I’m assuming you don’t either.

Red-haired boy: Yeah, looks like we’re in the same boat then… everyone is.

Chuuya: We’re just introducing ourselves first. I’m Chuuya Nakahara, and that’s Ultimate Troll Akita Neru.

Neru: (Right, guess that’s karma…)

Red-haired boy: I’m Reki Kyan, Ultimate Woodworker! I wanted to be the Ultimate Skater, but…

Black-haired boy: Me and Reki know each other, but no one else here. A few people seem to recognize each other, but most of us don’t.

Black-haired boy: …Oh yeah. I’m Miya Chinen, the Ultimate Animal Caretaker.

Neru: Oh, you two know each other…?

Reki: Yep! Miya and I are good friends!

Miya: Yeah, yeah… That clown and flying girl over there know each other too, and we saw a prison guard with some guy earlier.

Chuuya: I see…

Neru and Chuuya turned around and saw a seemingly teenage yogurt pink-haired girl with a jet pack, and a young bright pink-haired man wearing a clown suit.

Chuuya: We can talk to them next, then.

Neru: So… How do you two know each other?

Reki: Oh, we, uh, skate together…

Neru: Skate together?

Miya: That’s how we met, I guess.

Chuuya raised an eyebrow.

Chuuya: And neither of you are the Ultimate Skater?

Reki: Yeah, I dunno why…

Reki looked down, a little dejected. Neru and Chuuya went over to the two people from earlier who apparently knew each other.

Jet pack girl: Yeah, it was-

Clown: Oh, hey!

Neru: Um, hey… Nice to meet you two…?

Clown: Nice to meet you two too! I’m Chester, the Ultimate Clown.

Jet pack girl: Hey, I’m Janet, the Ultimate Flier.

Neru: Flier…? Like those things they hand out on the street?

Janet: No, like my talent is flying.

Neru: …Okay then.

Chester: Yup, her talent is pretty useful in battle!

Chuuya: Battle?

Janet: Yeah, we’re brawlers… We fight and stuff.

Neru: Oh… interesting, I guess…

Chuuya: I’m Chuuya Nakahara, forgot my Ultimate talent.

Neru: I’m Akita Neru, the Ultimate Troll… Oh, me and Chuuya don’t know each other, by the way.

Janet: I guess me and Chester kinda do, but we’re not super close or anything. We’ve only fought together a few times.

Neru: I’ll keep that in mind… If I remember it, haha.

Neru laughed at her own joke, because she was the only one who understood it.

Neru and Chuuya walked into the back of the kitchen, where they saw 4 people: 3 late teens, and a bald man who seemed to be about 30.

The bald man seemed to be arguing with a young man wearing a striped shirt, while a red-haired man was ranting to a purple-haired boy.

Bald man: I already know you must be responsible for this!

Man in stripes: Calm down! I don’t know what’s going on either!

Red-haired man: This is so damn stupid…! 

Purple-haired boy: Calm down.

Red-haired man: Calm my ass! You’re tellin’ me NOBODY has any idea where the hell we are?!

The man in the striped shirt seemed to stop  arguing with the other man.

Man in stripes: He’s got a point. We could be kidnapped, y’know.

Bald man: There is no way people such as us have been kidnapped.

Purple-haired boy: What does that even mean? And how else would you explain our situation?

Neru: Uh, I think he’s right…

Red-haired man: Who the hell’re you?

Purple-haired boy: Oh, I think I recognize you. Akita Neru, right? The virtual singers have talked about you a bit.

Neru: (Virtual singers…? I don’t have any memory of that… Or anything, I guess.)

Neru: Yeah, that’s me… Ultimate Troll.

Man in stripes: And that guy?

Chuuya: My name is Chuuya Nakahara. I forgot my Ultimate talent… or I may not have one.

Red-haired man: Weird ass talent but okay. Name’s Taiga Hoshibami, Ultimate Lucky Student.

Neru: Ultimate… Lucky Student?

Taiga: Yeah, my talent’s bein’ lucky and stuff. I’m a gambler, but that guy over there’s…

Man in stripes: Uno, Ultimate Gambler.

Bald man: Unfortunately.

Bald man: I am Hajime Sugoroku, the Ultimate Prison Guard.

Neru: (Those talents can’t be a good combination…)

Purple-haired boy: My name is Rui Kamishiro, Ultimate Inventor. Pleased to meet you.

Neru: Ultimate Inventor…? That’s… a cool talent, I guess.

Rui: Yes… I’m quite good at robotics. I do technical work for my group, Wonderlands X Showtime.

Neru: So I’m assuming you all know each other?

Taiga: Nah. Never seen these guys before in my life.

Rui: Same here, I only vaguely recognize you, Neru.

Neru: The feeling isn’t mutual…

Uno: Actually, we kinda do. Hajime’s a guard at Nanba Prison, which is where I was before… y’know. We definitely don’t get along, bu-

Neru: Y-You’re a prisoner?!

Chuuya: He’s the Ultimate Gambler, come on.

Before everyone could finish their conversation, an announcement played with a vaguely familiar voice.

Announcer: Hiya!~ Since everyone’s awake, please come down to the park for a very despairful announcement!~

Hajime: I do not like how this sounds.

Rui: I recognize that voice…

The six of them made their way to the park, which had a sign labeled “Annoyance Park!”, basically confirming its affiliation with Annoyance School. Everyone else they had met was there, making about 15 of them in total, which Neru made a mental note of.

Suddenly, a blue-haired girl appeared on top of the fountain-

Rui: Hatsune Miku?!

Miku: Yup, that’s right!~ The Ultimate Despair!

Rui: What? Ultimate… Despair?

A small, white, anthropomorphic mouthless cat jumped out of seemingly nowhere onto the fountain.

Cat: Hey, don’t forget me!

Miku: Oops, I’m sorry!~

Cat: Anyways, I’m Kitty White, but most people call me Hello Kitty, because people say hi to me so often, because I have so many friends because I’m so amazing becau-

Miku: Kitty. That’s enough.

Hello Kitty: Hmph…

Taiga: Cut to the damn chase. Why the hell’d you kidnap us?!

Miku: Nice to see someone here’s got a brain!~ I’m sure you alllll remember Annoyance School, right?

Neru: It sounds familiar, but…

Reki: That prestigious school we got accepted to?

Miku: That’s right!~ This is your graduation trip! Congrats! Though I doubt a lot of you will be graduating…

Sayori: Huh? We just enrolled? Wha-

Chuuya: More importantly, what do you mean you doubt a lot of us’ll be graduating?

Miku: See, that’s the fun part!~ 

Miku: The only way to graduate… Is to kill someone! Surpriiiiise!~

Nearly everyone looked shocked and angry, except for Sato, who looked skeptical, and Taiga, who looked almost… excited?

Hajime: …What?

Taiga: Oh hell yeah!

Chuuya: What the hell?!

Sato: I beg your pardon?

Miku: Yup! If you kill someone, you can get off this island free of charge!~

Hello Kitty: You have to win your trial, though. Sooooo… if- WHEN someone kills, the rest of you’ve gotta figure out who does it, or else you all die!

Hello Kitty: Buuuuut if you all get it right, then the killer gets an eye-for-an-eye punishment! Fun, right?

Miku: Awww, you weren’t supposed to tell them that! Now they won’t wanna kill!~

Sato now looked very concerned, and everyone looked even more shocked, except for Taiga, who looked almost… disappointed?

Neru: (Okay, so Taiga’s already our main suspect, and a murder hasn’t even happened yet… I-I mean, no! A murder isn’t gonna happen! Nobody’s gonna kill, and that’s final!!)

Neru: (B-But… I don’t know anyone here… And I certainly can’t trust all of them, but-)

Neru’s thoughts were interrupted by Kitty’s agitating voice.

Hello Kitty: If you don’t wanna kill, I hope you all have fun rotting away on this island forever!~

Chuuya: We’re so screwed…

Hello Kitty: And if ya do… Happy graduation!~

She got it now.

Despair.

That was all that awaited her. No, not just her, all 15 of them.

Cold, unrelenting *despair*.

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

Neru hated getting up early.

Sato and Hajime did not, apparently.

Hajime: Everybody wake up!

Sato: Get to the cafeteria ASAP.

Neru: Uuuughhhh… This is despair.

Chiaki: *yawn* You too, huh?

Everyone met up in the cafeteria that morning. The students were eating breakfast, Neru had waffles, and she sat in between Chuuya and Sayori.

Sato: So, Hajime and I have decided that we are going to be the leaders of this “class” while we’re trying to escape.

Taiga: Wait, what?! Who decided that?

Sato: Me and Hajime. I just said that.

Reki: Shouldn’t we decide by majority vote?

Chiaki: Yeah, I think that’d be-

Hajime: No.

Reki: Okay.

Uno: Damn, you can’t be serious…

Neru: Just don’t nag me or anything.

Sato: Neru-

Neru: No.

Sato: I was just wondering if you wanted to hang out later?

Neru: Uhhh… sure, I guess.

Sayori: Oh.. Have fun!

Neru: Yeah, whatever.

Hajime: So how do you all suppose we’ll escape this killing game?

Gaz: We could, uh, try to swim away?

Chiaki: Sato’s good at that, right?

Sato: I’m not that good, plus we don’t know exactly where we are.

Chuuya: What if we killed Miku?

Janet: Do you really think she’d let us get away with that? Yeah, I doubt it.

The rest of the meeting consisted of everyone trying to brainstorm ideas to escape, though none of them really seemed to work. Not even Hajime and Sato got along the whole time.

Neru was walking back to her room when Sato stopped her.

Sato: Neru, come to the gym with me.

Neru: Okay?

Sato led Neru to the gym, where they saw Gaz training with Hajime and Roach.

Neru: (Oh god, what did I walk into?)

Sato: You wanna train with us?

Roach suddenly stood up to look at Neru as she walked in, and he seemed to be holding a picture.

Neru: Huh? What’s that?

Gaz: I think that’s his boyfriend or something.

Sato: That’s not super weird, I have pictures of my girlfriend in my wallet.

Neru: (She looks like me…)

Neru: Wait a minute… How do you have your wallet here?

Sato: Huh? I don’t know. I had it on me when I woke up here.

Gaz: I mean, that Sayori girl has her notebook and pen, Reki’s got his skateboard, and Roach has a journal, too.

Neru: And yet Chuuya doesn’t have his hat…

Hajime: Isn’t that suspicious?

Gaz: Maybe we should ask them about it.

Neru: Roach doesn’t talk, though?

Sato: I think he has selective mutism.

Gaz: Why are we talking about him like he isn’t standing right there?

Roach gave them a look, but he didn’t look too bothered.

Hajime: Hm… Everyone here has their swimsuit as well, correct?

Gaz: True.

Sato: I know it’s probably our old swimsuits, because I’ve had mine since…

Sato: …

Neru: I mean, I wouldn’t know, amnesia and stuff.

Hajime: Neru’s unexplained amnesia is also suspicious.

Hajime: She could also be faking it to hide the fact that she’s secretly working with whoever put us in here.

Neru: Alright mister Ultimate Conspiracy Theorist, and how about Chuuya’s amnesia?

Gaz: So you’re just gonna throw accusations around, huh?

Sato: We’re never going to get anywhere by fighting.

Neru: What else am I supposed to do about this idiot?!

Hajime: You can’t argue she’s suspicious.

Gaz: Well, Neru and Miku look and sound alike too…

Sato: Gaz, come on…

Neru: I can’t believe all of you!

Roach was staring at Gaz and Hajime with an “are you actually serious right now” look.

Neru: See, he agrees with me!

Sato: You have to stop being suspicious of everyone, it’s never gonna work.

Hajime: In a situation like this, it’s our best option.

Neru: Some people just get amnesia, what if I got hit in the head or something?

Hajime: That seems awfully convenient.

Neru: So does randomly declaring yourself the leader! Isn’t that also suspicious, huh?!

Hajime: I have a good reason to be the leader, you-

Neru: I’m leaving, you’re crazy!!

Sato: I don’t blame you.

Hajime: What?

Sato: Nothing.

Neru decided to take a walk outside to get some peace and quiet. Well, apparently not, because Reki and Miya were skating there. Wait, where did Miya get a skateboard?

Reki: Hey Neru! Wanna join us?

Neru: I’ve never skated before in my life.

Miya: How would you know that? What happened to you having amnesia?

Neru: I can’t have this argument again.

Reki: You can just watch us, if you want!

Neru: Sure, whatever… Not like I have anything better to do.

Neru took off her jacket and sleeves due to the heat.

Miya: I’m still worried. Aren’t we basically waiting for a murder to happen?

Reki: Miya, come on… We don’t have to worry about a murder happening, right? At least not yet..

Miya: Do you know something we don’t?!

Neru: Quit being paranoid!

Reki: Sorry, guess that did sound kinda suspicious…

Neru: Doesn’t matter, Miku’s obviously a moron if she thinks we’re just gonna kill each other like this.

Miya: No, you’re the stupid one if you think nobody’s even gonna try.

Neru: Doesn’t this killing game rely on everyone’s participation?

Miya: It relies on how much despair is caused, and I dunno, I sure feel pretty hopeless right now.

Reki: Come on guys, let’s focus on something else right now.

Reki: Oh yeah, Rui’s gonna join us in a bit!

Neru: Are you guys, like, friends?

Miya: Uh… I guess, yeah.

Reki: He made the skateboard Miya’s using right now in just a day! Impressive, right?

Neru: (Oh, that explains it.)

Neru: Hey, Reki, where’d your skateboard come from? Like the one you’re using right now?

Reki: Eh? What do you mean?

Neru: Like… how’d you get it in the killing game??

Reki: Oh, I just had it when I woke up here for some reason. Miya didn’t though, which is kinda weird. Why?

Neru: It’s just weird… Some people just had stuff on them when they woke up here.

Neru: Sato had her wallet, Sayori had a notebook and pen, and Roach had a journal and a picture of someone.

Neru: Oh yeah, and everyone somehow had their old swimsuits?

Reki: Yeah, I had mine too. That’s super weird…

Rui suddenly walked out from the hotel, walking towards the trio.

Rui: It’s hot out, isn’t it?

Miya: Oh, hey Rui!

Rui: Ah, Neru? I wasn’t expecting to see you here.

Neru: Um, yeah… It’s not like I wanna be friends with them or anything!

Miya: So, Rui, you knew Miku before this killing game, right?

Neru: (Oh, here we go.)

Rui: Well, yes, but… This isn’t something she would do.

Rui: I have reason to believe this is a different version of Miku.

Reki: There’s different versions of Miku?!

Rui: Well, from what I know… yes.

Rui: I also believe we might be in a SEKAI.

Neru: A… SEKAI?

Miya: What’s a SEKAI??

Rui: You may not believe me, but a SEKAI is another world made of people’s feelings. 

Rui: Most of them have virtual singers in them, and many have some version of Miku.

Reki: Virtual singers??

Rui: Yes, that’s what Miku is. I believe Neru is one too.

Neru: What?? I’m definitely human, aren’t I?

Miya: I knew Neru had something to do with this!

Neru: Wha- Why is everyone suspecting me today?!

Reki: Miya is just being paranoid, I mean, I can’t really blame him…

Miya: Rui, other than Neru having ties to Miku, you’re right, I don’t believe you at all.

Miya: What the hell are you talking about?? Another world? You sound like you’re 6.

Rui: Well, this is just a theory. I’m just not sure how Miku could exist in the physical world.

Neru: She could be a robot?

Rui: Well, she’d certainly be a realistic one.

Reki: Can we please focus on something other than the killing game right now?

Rui: You’re right, that would be a better idea.

Rui: It’s a nice day out, isn’t it?

Reki: It is! Great day for skating!

Neru: Rui, weren’t you just complaining about how hot it is?

Miya: You didn’t even take your jacket off…

Rui: I wish this island was a little bigger.

Miya: Are you serious?!

Neru: We’re literally in a killing game, how do you care about the size of the island?!

Rui: If we’re likely going to die anyway, it would be nice. That’s all I’m saying.

Reki: I just wanna forget about the killing game…

Rui: Oh, I almost forgot… Would you all mind giving me your student handbooks? I’ve been adding a texting feature to them.

Neru: Oh, really? Nice.

Miya: No way I’m giving you my student handbook! You’re probably planning something!!

Reki: Miya, c’mon, not everyone’s gonna try to kill you!

Miya: But you can’t be sure! I can only trust you…

Rui: It’s simply my passion. What would I even do with your student handbook?

Miya: Good point…

Neru and Reki handed their student handbooks over to Rui, then Miya reluctantly did the same.

Rui: Alright, I’m going to work on this now. I will see you when I’m done.

Reki: Okay! Good luck!

Neru: I’m going back to bed…

Miya: I’ll be at the gym.

…

Masked soldier: So, you’re sure they’re in a killing game?

Blue-haired boy: Yes. I’m sure. A whole class from Annoyance School goes mysteriously missing? This has happened twice before.

Emo guy: I wouldn’t want to think that he’s in danger, though…

Masked soldier: That’s right, there’s someone I wanna protect, too.

Blue-haired boy: Me too, but… The prototype killing game… then the first killing game…

Blue-haired boy: These people will stop at nothing, don’t you get it?

Blue-haired boy: The killing games will never stop. The despair will never end.

Blue-haired boy: And how can we trust the organization, and the three people who recruited us? How do we know they’re not trying to put us into a new killing game?

Emo guy: I thought you knew two of the people from the organization? Don’t you trust them?

Blue-haired boy: …

Emo guy: Wait a minute! Is that… Miku?!

Masked soldier: You know her?

Emo guy: Know her?! She’s my-

Masked soldier: Wait, the recruiters are calling us again.

Chapter Text

Neru just wanted some peace and quiet away from all of the annoyances, but unfortunately, it was clear that she wasn’t going to get that.

She could hear Chuuya and Sayori screaming, (or talking very loudly? She could never tell with these people) so she decided to go into the hallway and see what was going on.

Chuuya: Where is it?!

Sayori: I have no idea!!

Neru: Okay, what’s going on here?

Sayori: Chuuya still can’t find his hat and we’re getting seriously worried…

Neru: It’s just a hat. What’s the big deal?

Sayori and Chuuya looked at Neru like she was stupid.

Chuuya: You don’t understand!

Neru: Clearly I don’t.

Neru: Just steal Sato’s or something.

Sayori: This hat is really important to him…

Sayori: Also why would you want to steal from Sato?

Neru: I dunno, it’d be funny.

Chuuya: See, Neru? This is why nobody trusts you.

Sayori: I trust you, Neru!

Neru: (Oh, Sayori… I really shouldn’t have underestimated your stupidity.)

Neru: Uh, thanks, I guess.

Neru: You guys wanna take a break from looking? Cause I really don’t think you’re gonna find it anytime soon.

Sayori: Sure!

Chuuya: It might be good to take a break.

Sayori: We’ve been looking for his hat all day, I’m pretty sure we aren’t gonna find it.

Chuuya: Don’t say that!

Neru: Dude, just give up. Spare yourself the embarrassment.

Neru: That’s what I always do… I think so, anyway. Memory loss. I just seem like that kind of person to be honest.

Chuuya: Sounds about right.

Neru: Heeey!

Sayori: I’m just glad that everyone’s doing okay!

Chuuya: I’m not, what about my hat?

Neru: You’ll recover.

Chuuya: But my hat won’t…

Neru: Right. Probably makes you look taller, right?

Chuuya: Hey- I’m taller than you!!

Sayori: To be fair, Neru, you’re one of the shortest friends I’ve ever had.

Neru: Wha- Hey!!

Sayori: Hehe! Sorry!

Neru: Ugh… anyways…

Chuuya: I heard Hello Kitty and Miku are making an announcement soon.

Neru: What if we just don’t show up?

Sayori: Umm… I think we’ll probably die?

Neru: They can’t get all of us!

Chuuya: Trust me, they can. They got my hat.

Neru: Ughhh… Shut up about your hat for once.

Chuuya: How dare you! I’ll-

Sayori: Hey, we shouldn’t be fighting, guys!

Neru: Yeah, you’re right.

Chuuya began to walk away.

Chuuya: Break’s over. It’s time to find my hat.

Sayori: Already?

Chuuya: I’m already done dealing with you two.

Neru: Well go somewhere else, we’re staying here.

Chuuya: Fine, I don’t think it’s here anyway.

Sayori: That’s too bad… Do you wanna hang out, Neru?

Neru: Ehh… sure.

FREE TIME EVENT — START!

Neru: Sooo, you’re the Ultimate Poet… you.. like.. writing?

Sayori: Mhm! I think I’ve already told you this, but me and my friends had a literature club at our old school!

Neru: Oh, that’s cool… I like writing too- or, I guess just the idea of it, memory loss or whatever.

Sayori: Hey, you can just say you like something, right? You can rebuild your identity if you don’t remember anything!

Neru: That’s… kinda comforting. Thanks, I guess…

Neru: Anyways, I thought me being a writer would make sense, since I’m the Ultimate Troll and all, even if my talent’s just bullying people online or whatever.

Sayori: Maybe your talent isn’t like that? You don’t seem like a malicious person, you just like joking around with people.

Neru: Yeah, probably. Hey, how’d you find out you were the Ultimate Poet?

Sayori: Eh? Well, everyone should’ve gotten it on their acceptance letter to Annoyance School.

Neru: Hmm… Yeah, the school’s definitely suspicious in all this. The one common denominator.

Sayori: Maybe… Neru, do you think Chuuya is suspicious?

Sayori: I mean, I don’t want to suspect our friend or anything!! It’s just, he’s the only one who doesn’t remember his Ultimate talent, which seems to be the only thing we all have in common-

Neru: Sayori, don’t start on this. I mean, come on. It’s so annoying, I have amnesia and suddenly EVERYONE thinks I’m involved in this!

Sayori: Yeah, you’re right, that’s fair…

Neru: Sorry, I guess I got a little carried away there… uhh, um, how’s the song coming along?

Sayori: It’s going pretty well, I have part of the lyrics here if you wanna look at it.

Sayori took a piece of paper out of her pocket, unfolded it and handed it to Neru.

Neru: Ohhh okay, so you want me to sing this part, Janet to sing this part and Rui to sing that part… I can do that for sure.

Sayori: Yay! I hope you like it!

Neru: I’m just hoping this’ll take everyone’s minds off things, to be honest. I’m thinking about messing with people a bit to distract them.

Sayori: I guess that could work. Don’t go overboard, though.

Neru: Yeah, yeah, just casual pranks and stuff. Wonder if Chester’d wanna help me…

Sayori: Oh, I dunno if Sato would let you get away with that, though.

Neru: That makes it better.

Neru: Ehhh… speaking of Sato. D’you think her and Hajime can really stop a murder from happening?

Sayori: …Well, I don’t want to think that one would, but…

Sayori: I’m worried about Uno and Taiga.

Neru: That’s fair. I mean, they’re fighting so hard you’d think I gave one of them advice.

Sayori: T-That’s kind of a concerning thing to say, don’t you think..?

Neru: Yeah, I guess. Crap, I’m running out of things to talk about.

Sayori: It’s okay! We can end it here, if you want!

Neru: Yeah, I’ll see you later. I’m getting bored here, anyway.

Neru walked off to her room to get some rest.

Neru: God, I’m so tired…

Neru lied down on her bed, intending to just rest for a few minutes, but ended up drifting off to sleep.

...

???: How did you mess up this badly?! Seriously, why did you even agree to this if you're just gonna mess it up?

Neru?: ...Why did I agree to this..?

???: Just shut up. It's too late for you to go back now, so deal with it.

Neru?: ...*sniff*

...

Neru woke up, sweaty, still in her normal clothes, to the sound of knocking on her door.

Neru: The hell was that?!

She gently opened the door.

Of course it was Sayori.

Sayori: Hiya, Neru! So, I decided to start our own literature club right here! I already got Chuuya to join, and you mentioned that you liked writing, so I thought I should ask you to join too!

Neru: Uuuggghhh... Do I HAVE to?

Neru whined, like a young child being forced to go to a school event.

Sayori: Awwww, but... pleeeeaaaaseeee??

Neru: Ugh, fine. Let's go, I guess.

Sayori led Neru to the General Hangout Room, where Chuuya was already waiting.

Chuuya: Hey.

Neru: No luck finding your hat, eh?

Chuuya: Oh shut up, you piss-haired troll!

Neru glared at Sayori, who was trying not to crack a smile.

Neru: Anyways, ignoring this soulless, hatless, stupid, talentless ginger, what are we gonna be doing today?

Sayori: Writing poems, of course! My favourite type of literature!

Neru: Poems? Seriously? Not really my thing.

Sayori: Just give it a shot! It's a great way to express your feelings!

Neru: I can't express feelings I don't remember, can I?

Chuuya: And how do you feel about that?

Neru: Okay, that's really clever. I don't really know- or, maybe, remember- how to write poems, though.

Sayori: Hmm... Just start by writing down your feelings! You can make it look good later.

Neru: Thanks, I guess I'll try it.

Taking the other two's advice, Neru wrote a short poem about her memory loss.

Neru: (This sucks ass...)

Sayori: Alright! I think everyone's done, so we should share our poems now!

Neru: I'll go first, I guess.

"Nothing.

I closed my eyes trying to see something.

Nothing's there.

There's nothing in my heart.

I've got no past.

I am nothing.

I can't remember why I exist.

It's all meaningless now."

Chuuya: I mean, I can tell you've got nothing in your brain.

Neru: Shut up for once!

Sayori: Hey, this is really good! Even if you don't remember how to write, it's really impressive!

Sayori: It's short, but pretty detailed.

Neru: Thanks, I'm just... really damn frustrated about my memory, I guess.

Sayori: Anyways, Chuuya, do you wanna go next?

Chuuya: Alright.

"There is a cat that lurks in the night.
The cat searches for its next victim.
I, out of ignorance, had taken the cat in.
It is my secret.
My heart racing, I am staring at my family in front of me.
I could not tell them about the cat.
The cat still scratches.
By taking it in, I am helping it.
I am helping it harm my family.
If I were to let it go, it would attack me too.
But it is harming me worse.
It is my secret.
And I will take it to the grave."

Neru: Ohh, I wasn't expecting this from you!

Chuuya: What's that supposed to mean?

Neru: Maaaybe you're smarter than I thought.

Neru spoke in a smug tone.

Sayori: Ooh, I get it! It's about keeping a secret to save someone's feelings, right?

Chuuya: That's right.

Sayori: I think that's something a lot of people can relate to. It's so well-written!

Neru: Can we see your poem, Sayori?

Sayori: Oh, sure!

"It's cold outside.
I can see you shivering out in the cold.
You're freezing outside by yourself.

If you feel your hands going numb, I'll warm them up.
If you get stuck in the snow, I'll melt it for you.
If it's too cold for you alone, I'll warm you up.

I'll be your sun, and I'll stay by your side.
I'll make sure you're never cold again.
I will be your warmth."

Neru: This is a lot more light-hearted than ours.

Sayori: Ehehe!~ I just felt like writing something happy today.

Chuuya: Not bad.

Neru: Short but sweet.

Sayori: Thank you!~

Neru: You're a pretty good writer, Sayori. I really shouldn't have underestimated your Ultimate Poet talent.

Chuuya: Hopefully this teaches you not to underestimate people at all.

Neru: Not to underestimate *ultimates*, which doesn't apply to you.

Chuuya: Wha- Hey, I'm figuring it out!

Sayori: Whaaaa!! Guys, stop! You fight so much!!

Neru: Our bad.

Sayori: Seriously, you guys are like siblings and it's only been a couple days!

Chuuya: I wonder if people bond faster in a situation like this...

Sayori: That might be true, maybe someone should look into it.

Neru: Not you?

Sayori: I'd get bored too fast, ehehe...

Neru: That's fair, I think I would too.

Sayori: Oh shoot!! I have to go, I'm so sorry! I totally forgot I promised to hang out with Chiaki today!

Neru: Oh, right, that gamer girl...

Neru spoke with distaste, which caused Chuuya to raise an eyebrow although he didn't say anything.

Sayori then ran off, leaving Chuuya and Neru in the room.
*Neru and Chuuya sitting together*

Chuuya: Hey, Neru.

Neru: Yeah? What's up?

Chuuya: Do you think Miku and Kitty know what my ultimate talent is? Or that I even have one at all?

Neru: I mean... Yeah, probably? There's no reason you'd be here if you weren't an Ultimate.

Neru: They'd at least let you know if you didn't have a talent, yeah?

Chuuya: That's fair. Geez, amnesia sucks.

Neru: Sure does, yup.

Neru: At least we're in this together.

Chuuya: That's weirdly optimistic for someone like you.

Neru: Oh shut the hell up.

...

Girl A: Whaaaat?! Did we seriously just get recruited for Annoyance School?! I can't believe it!!

Girl B: Me neither. I really do hope everything goes well, though.

Girl C: Don't sound so ominous! You're gonna jinx it!!

Girl A: She's probably nervous, but I'm super excited!!

Girl C: Yeah, me too. I'm surprised they chose us out of everyone.

Girl A: Eh!?

Chapter Text

Hello everyone!

As the title of this chapter suggests, this fic will be going on hiatus.

No, this is not going to be one of those hiatuses where the author just never returns. (...at least I hope not??)

The reason this fic is going on hiatus is because I've decided to actually familiarize myself with the source medias of the characters suggested by my friends, to understand the characters and avoid writing anyone out of character.

Yeah... not sure why I didn't decide to do that BEFORE writing the fic.

Also, the reason this fic hasn't been updated in a while is because I have no ideas. (like what is AR:PMW chapter 1 even about bro)

I will return shortly with much better character writing.