Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

A sharp, ringing sound pierced the silence, dragging the young lady into a suffocating fever dream she now found herself in.

She found herself standing in a vast, darkened room, the floor covered in an endless sea of... What looked like red velvet carpets. She could barely make out the silhouette of a massive iron door, looming in front of her, its cold surface glistening under the dim, unnatural light. It felt familiar yet distant, as if she had seen it before but couldn’t place where or when. Her head throbbed.

The sound of a clock ticking echoed in the distance. Each tick seemed louder than the last, almost as if it were growing closer to her, until she could practically feel the vibration in her chest. Something inside her stirred, a faint flicker of terror and confusion.

Then, she heard it—a voice. It was soft and distorted, like a radio struggling to pick up a signal, yet the words soon became crystal clear:

"I got to get out... I have to get out... I HAVE TO GET OUT. I HAVE TO GET OUT."

Vision blurred, her legs felt weak, and the world tilted. She clutched her head in agony as fragments of memories—not her own, or were they?—flashed before her eyes: figures dressed in strange colors, blood splattering against white walls, a silhouette of a girl laughing hysterically, and the massive pool of blood growing in the middle of it all, shoes soaked in crimson.

The ticking of a clock grew louder, unbearably loud.

Her head throbbed harder until—

Thud!

Yukari gasped for air as she suddenly jolted awake, the echo of the dream still rattling her nerves. Her eyes flew open, only to be greeted by a sterile ceiling, harsh fluorescent lights flickering faintly overhead. She tried to focus, but her mind was still foggy. Where… where was she?

She sat up too quickly, her body protesting the sudden movement. The room she was in was plain, almost clinical. It resembled a dorm room—a bed, a desk, a closet. Her uniform, the brown blazer she vaguely remembered, was disheveled, as if she'd been unconscious for hours. A gray book bag rested next to her.

How did I get here?

Before she could piece together any coherent thoughts, the door creaked open. Standing there, nervously glancing around, was a tall, thin boy wearing a black coat with gray fur lining around the neck. His ruffled silver-gray hair and yellow eyes stood out as he cautiously entered the room.

"Oh! You’re awake," he said, relief washing over his face as he stepped inside. "I was starting to get worried."

Yukari blinked at him, her head pounding. "Who... who are you?"

Before he could say anything, Yukari started brandishing a letter opener from her bag like a knife.

"STAY BACK! YOU BETTER LET ME GO, OR I'LL-"

The boy started panicking and yelped, closing the door behind himself.

The girl began to breathe in and out... Calming herself... Alright, her first instinct is that she was kidnapped.

But, that didn't make sense now, did it? She wasn't restrained or anything, the door was unlocked, and the fellow who just came in and ran out had no weapon nor seemed to pose a threat... But she was still wary of him.

Yukari opened the door to see the boy in the hall, and when he spotted her, he cringed, almost looking as though he was ready to run as fast as he could.

"Relax, relax..." Yukari sighed in annoyance. "I'm not going to hurt you. Logically, you seem trustworthy, and I still have the letter opener, so if you try anything funny..." She let the words hang in the air, to get the point across.

The boy nervously saluted. "A-alright! I promise I won't do anything fishy!" He let out a nervous chuckle at that... Jeez, this guy was awkward, and it was barely even two minutes interacting with him.

Yukari shook her head, the fragments of her suspicion still lingering in the back of her mind. "Yukari Yamauchi." She looked at him with confusion. "Ultimate Scholar… but I don’t even know what that means."

YUKARI YAMAUCHI. ULTIMATE SCHOLAR

The boy gave an awkward smile, rubbing the back of his neck. "Oh! Okay! I was worried you were gonna stab me anyway..." He let out a sigh of relief. "I'm Aone. Aone Ooaki. The... Ultimate Co-Pilot, at your service!" He glanced down, his expression turning a bit sheepish. "Though I’m not exactly good at that either... Hehe!"

AONE OKA. ULTIMATE CO-PILOT

He certainly doesn't seem too threatening, now that I look at him... He looks more like the guy to BE threatened... Also, the hat makes sense now with the whole 'co-pilot' talent... And that nervous chuckle... And his voice... I don't know why, but his voice just sounds so... Friendly? Weird.

A wave of dizziness hit Yukari, and she groaned, clutching her head. Aone noticed and quickly moved to help her stand, supporting her gently.

"Hey, take it easy," he said softly. "I just woke up not too long ago too. You... don’t remember anything too recent before waking up here, do you?"

Yukari, sensing he was going to say something important, let him continue. "No, I don't...?"

Aone nodded. "Same here. I woke up in that room like that one. There was no one around, no explanation, just… this." He gestured to the room as if that would clarify anything. "I wandered for a bit and found you, and I got nervous, so I figured that I would wait until you woke up."

Yukari’s heart began to race. "What is this place? Why are we here?"

Aone sighed and glanced toward the window. "I don’t know. I tried looking around, but… we’re surrounded by walls. High, solid walls. It’s like we’re trapped inside some kind of compound." He paused, his gaze lowering. "There’s no way out."

"I have got to get out…"

Those words struck Yukari like a cold wave. The last remnants of her fever dream crept back into her thoughts.

Life was imitating art, it seemed.

Panic swelled in her chest, but before she could lose herself to the fear, Aone's nervous voice broke through.

"Hey, we’ll figure this out, okay?" He forced a reassuring smile, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. He even gave her a nice little hug... Those things were rare for her.

Yukari took a deep breath, nodding slightly. Aone was right. Panic would not solve anything. But still, the uncertainty gnawed at her insides. Who had brought them here? Why? And more importantly, was there really no escape?

"Come on," Aone said, offering his hand to her. "Let’s go find the others. Maybe we can figure out what’s going on!"

Yukari hesitated but took his hand. As she stood, her legs felt weak beneath her, but Aone’s grip was steady. Together, they walked out of the room and into the unknown.

The hallway outside was eerily silent, lined with identical doors on either side. Each door had a small plaque with a pixelated face etched into it. A sinking feeling filled Yukari’s stomach as they walked.

The place was too clean, too orderly. It was almost like a prison disguised as a dormitory.

"Do you remember anything else?" Yukari asked softly as they turned a corner. "Anything about how we got here?"

Aone frowned, shaking his head. "No. It’s all… blank. I don’t even know how long I’ve been here." Aone started panicking. "Wait, what if we hit our heads and we got amnesia or something!?"

Yukari promptly took Aone's hat off and started roughly going through his hair.

"OW! Hey! What are you doing!?"

Aone had his hat lazily put back on his head as Yukari explained. "I was feeling for any injuries or bumps that may have transpired from an injury to the head that would cause brain damage like that. Nothing."

Aone straightened his hat, and looked back down at Yukari. "You didn't have to do that! I could've checked myself..."

Yukari started going down the hall, looking for anything else.

"Seems there is 17 rooms, if the pixelated icons represent people." Yukari pointed at all the different pixelated faces on each dorm, looking like out of some sort of old gacha game. "I assume since there are two of us, that might mean the others are meant to be other captives here?"

Aone couldn't argue with the logic, and simply nodded. He did feel somewhat comfortable that his and this strange girl had neighboring dorms.

Yukari then decides to go off and look for these other people, Aone following behind because... What else could he do?

They left the room.

Chapter Text

Eventually, they arrived at a spacious room that looked like a cafeteria. The scent of food lingered in the air, though the room was eerily empty. Long tables with attached benches were arranged neatly, and a serving counter stretched along one wall.

As they stepped inside, they noticed two figures seated at one of the tables. A girl in dark teal kunoichi attire and square-rim glasses sat cross-legged, lazily spinning a shuriken on her finger.

Across from her, a grumpy-looking young man with frizzy ginger hair slouched in his seat, absently tapping a mop handle against the floor.

The ninja was the first to notice them. She perked up, her sharp teal eyes narrowing behind her glasses. "Oh, look, more people. You guys lost too?"

"Uh, yeah," Aone replied hesitantly. "We just woke up."

"Same here," the janitor grumbled. He had an accent that was thick, Italian, sounds like... His expression was one of perpetual annoyance. "Name’s Ritsu Ito. Ultimate Janitor. I'm not sure what I did to deserve being here, but at least it's clean."

RITSU ITO, ULTIMATE JANITOR

That accent... He looks Japanese, so maybe he's Italian-Japanese? He also looks pretty annoyed, so maybe talking to people isn't something he likes... I can relate.

"And I’m Mei Enomoto!" the ninja chimed in, twirling her shuriken before slipping it back into a holster on her thigh. "The great, the mighty, the stealthy, Ultimate Ninja!"

MEI ENOMOTO, ULTIMATE NINJA

...I refuse to believe this is an acceptable Ultimate talent. "Ultimate Ninja"? What'd she do to get that title?? Actually, now that I think about it... Perhaps I better not ask...

Yukari stepped forward, forcing a polite smile. "I’m Yukari Yamauchi, the… Ultimate Scholar. And this is Aone Ooaki, the Ultimate Co-Pilot."

"Co-Pilot, huh?" Ritsu raised an eyebrow. "You sure you’re not the Ultimate Lost Puppy? You look like you’re about to cry."

Mei snorted, but her expression softened. "Cut him some slack, massively mean mop man. We’re all freaked out, okay?"

Aone ignored the bickering and scanned the room. "Have you found anything useful? Any clues about where we are or who brought us here?"

Mei shook her head. "Nada. Just this cafeteria full of food and zero instructions. Whoever set this up really likes keeping us in the dark."

Ritsu sighed, leaning on his mop. "If you’re expecting answers, good luck. I’d rather be cleaning floors than playing detective... Heck, hope one of us is an Ultimate Detective or something, wouldn't that be nice?"

Yukari looked around, the cafeteria looked was very large, but interestingly enough, there was a door to the side that was locked shut.

"What's with this?" Yukari asked, pointing towards the door.

"That seems to be the door to the kitchen. It's locked right now, so we can't get inside, and I tried kicking it open, but it won't break... My super Enomoto legacy kick cannot bust it open either! It's too powerful!!" Mei made exaggerated gestures as she went on about how the door must be magic or something... Yukari kinda tuned out after "super Enomoto legacy kick".

"...But the food seems to be served on the little trays you see right there." Ritsu pointed out a small conveyor belt of random trays. The conveyor wasn't moving, and each tray had a name on it. Yukari looked and saw her name plastered on one of them.

"Well, at least we know they don't plan to starve us or anything." Aone said, trying to lighten the situation up.

Despite the tension, Yukari felt a small flicker of relief at meeting others that had no ill will. "Maybe we can figure things out if we pool our info together," she suggested tentatively.

"Maybe," Mei said, though her tone was uncertain. "For now, we should probably keep looking around. See what else this place has to offer."

The group exchanged nods before splitting up again, each pair heading in a different direction. As Yukari and Aone exited the cafeteria, the unease in Yukari’s chest only deepened.

As Yukari and Aone continued exploring the labyrinthine halls of the facility, the sound of a heated argument drew their attention. The muffled voices echoed down the corridor, growing louder as they approached a set of double doors marked with the words "Auditorium" in bold, cursive letters.

Pushing the doors open, they stepped into a vast, dimly lit room. The space was lined with rows of seats that descended toward a central stage. On that stage stood two individuals, locked in what appeared to be a one-sided shouting match.

One of them was a girl with medium-length purple hair that curled outward slightly. She wore a black hoodie adorned with a skull-and-crossbones design, paired with a purple miniskirt and striped socks. A black beanie with a glittery bobble perched atop her head, and a massive railgun—quite large for anyone's size—was strapped to her back. Her sharp purple eyes glinted with frustration as she gestured angrily at the other person.

The recipient of her tirade was a stoic young man with a pale, emotionless face with a faint mustache. His curly dark brown hair flowing down to the bottom of his neck, and he wore a pristine white lab coat over a plain black shirt. His brown eyes were devoid of any discernible emotion, and his arms were crossed as he endured the girl’s rant with an air of complete indifference.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!" the girl snapped, her voice reverberating in the empty auditorium. "Do you even care that we’re trapped here? That some psycho kidnapped us?!"

The boy shrugged lightly, his tone flat. "Of course I care. But freaking out won’t solve anything. Unlike you, I prefer to conserve my energy for something productive."

The girl’s eyes narrowed, her hands curling into fists. "Oh, I’m the problem here? Sorry if I don’t find your cold, lifeless attitude helpful when we’re in a literal death trap!"

"Your aggression isn’t helping either," the boy replied without missing a beat, his voice eerily calm. "I’d advise you to focus your energy on something useful instead of throwing a tantrum like a child."

The girl looked as though she might explode, but before she could respond, Yukari cautiously stepped forward. "Um… excuse me?"

Both heads snapped toward the newcomers. The boy raised a single brow in curiosity, while the girl scowled, her grip on the railgun strap tightening.

"Who the hell are you two?" the girl demanded, her tone sharp.

“I’m Yukari Yamauchi,” she began nervously, offering a small wave. "Ultimate Scholar. And this is Aone Oka, the Ultimate Co-Pilot. We woke up here like you and are trying to figure out what’s going on."

The girl studied them for a moment before snorting. "Great. More lost sheep." She gestured to herself with a thumb. "My name is Kagami Fujii. My whole shtick is as the Ultimate Gunsmith. There, happy? Now go piss off."

KAGAMI FUJII, ULTIMATE GUNSMITH

An Ultimate student who works with guns... That sounds a bit bad now that I think about it. She's also got a temper, definitely trigger happy... I don't want to know what havoc she could cause.

Kagami rolled her eyes. "Anyways, Captain Emotionless here thinks it’s fine to act like this is just another Tuesday. Meanwhile, the rest of us are trying not to lose our damn minds!"

The curly-haired fellow offered a faint nod. "Benjiro Koyama, the Ultimate Anatomist. Pleasure, I suppose."

BENJIRO KOYAMA, ULTIMATE ANATOMIST

While Kagami is getting upset over a small thing... I can agree with her that his very deadpan reactions and demeanor are off-putting. That paired with a talent themed around dissecting bodies... Someone here is going to have the thought process that he is a serial killer or something.

Benjiro adjusted the sleeve of his lab coat with practiced calm. "There’s no point in panicking. This situation will either resolve itself, or it won’t. In the meantime, I suggest we focus on gathering information and determining a way to survive."

"Gee, thanks for the inspiring words of wisdom," Kagami shot back, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Yukari shifted uncomfortably, feeling the tension in the room like a weight on her chest. "Um, maybe we can help?" she offered hesitantly.

Aone nodded in agreement. "We don’t know much yet, but we’ve found a cafeteria and dorm rooms. Maybe we can pool our information later and figure something out together!"

Kagami crossed her arms, looking them up and down. "Fine. But if he starts spewing more of his pessimistic crap, I’m out."

Benjiro gave an almost imperceptible shrug. "Suit yourself."

The group stood in awkward silence for a moment before Yukari sighed. "Alright, let’s get moving Aone. Sitting around here is getting us nowhere."

As Yukari and Aone left the auditorium, Yukari couldn’t help but glance nervously at the massive railgun strapped to Kagami’s back. A small voice in her mind whispered that this group she was stuck with was going to be anything but ordinary...

Chapter Text

After parting ways with Kagami and Benjiro, Yukari and Aone found themselves wandering deeper into the facility, their footsteps echoing through the seemingly endless hallways. The eerie silence was broken only by the faint hum of fluorescent lights overhead.

Eventually, they reached a door labeled Data Nexus in sleek, glowing letters. The room beyond was a strange fusion of a computer lab and a library. Rows of monitors lined the walls, their screens flickering with lines of code, while bookshelves filled with old, weathered tomes occupied the center of the room. The air smelled faintly of dust and plastic.

Inside, two individuals were already present.

The first was a small girl hunched over a monitor, her fingers flying across the keyboard at an almost inhuman speed. She wore a gray sweater and a black skirt adorned with intricate purple circuitry patterns, the LEDs in the soles of her black heelys glowing faintly as she shifted her weight from foot to foot. Her straight black hair framed her pale face, her gray-purple eyes glinting mischievously as she typed. Strange, cone-like decorations resembling horns poked out from her hair, adding to her strange appearance.

The other was a tall, imposing man standing near the bookshelves. His bright orange hair was wild, with two distinct cowlicks forming loops that resembled an infinity symbol. He wore a gray bulletproof vest and a gas mask that covered the lower half of his face. His muscular arms were crossed over his chest, and a belt of literal grenades... Hopefully inactive... Hung around his waist. He radiated an intimidating aura, his piercing blue eyes scanning the room with a mixture of suspicion and disdain.

Yukari and Aone hesitated in the doorway. The girl at the computer was the first to notice them, her gaze snapping to them like a horror movie monster.

“Oooooh!” she said, her voice high-pitched and sing-song. She leaned back in her chair, swiveling to face them. "New people! New people!"

Yukari offered a cautious smile. "Hi, I’m Yukari Yamauchi, the Ultimate Scholar, and this is Aone Oka, the Ultimate Co-Pilot. We’re trying to figure out—"

Before she could finish, the girl cut her off with a loud, exaggerated gasp. "Oh my god, a pilot? That’s so cute! Do you, like, play airplane with your little buddies? Zoom, zoom!" She mimed flying a plane with her hands, her grin wide and unnerving.

Aone bristled, his hands clenching into fists. "That’s not—"

"Relax, flyboy," the girl said with a giggle, leaning forward and resting her chin on her hands. "I’m Ai Watanabe, Ultimate Hacker. And don’t worry, I totally won’t steal your precious little plane and crash it into a skyscraper. I mean, unless I get bored, but I'll just plead "Oopsie Daisy!"."

AI WATANABE, ULTIMATE HACKER

She's really short, and really annoying... Not entirely sure what her deal is, and she certainly seems eccentric. 

Yukari felt a chill run down her spine. Ai’s tone was playful, but there was a sharp edge to her words that made it impossible to tell if she was joking.

Aone cleared his throat as her nervously spoke. "I don't own a plane."

Ai started pouting. "Aww, what kind of pilot doesn't have a plane?"

Aone frowned. "I said "Co-Pilot", not "Pilot", there's a difference!"

"Anyway," Ai continued, spinning back to her monitor, "you two better make yourselves useful. Otherwise, you’re just wasting air. And trust me, I know all about waste, like all the security for corporations being a waste of effort." She cackled softly, her laughter echoing through the room.

Before Yukari could respond, the orange-haired man by the bookshelves turned toward them, his blue eyes narrowing.

"You two don’t look like you’d last a day in a real crisis," he said, his voice low and gruff. He stalked toward them, his boots thudding heavily against the floor. "Let me guess. Scholar here spends all her time buried in books, and Flyboy doesn’t even know how to stab someone."

Aone stiffened, his yellow eyes wide. "I—what?!"

The man stopped in front of them, towering over Aone. "Yeah, that’s what I thought," he said with a snort, shaking his head. "You’d probably faint at the sight of blood, wouldn’t you, twig?"

"Hey!" Yukari snapped, stepping forward to defend her companion. "There’s no need to be rude! We’re all in this together, and insulting people isn’t going to help!"

The man tilted his head, as though considering her words, before letting out a low chuckle. "Feisty. I like that. Tells me you'd do well surviving an apocalypse." He gestured to himself. "The man you are talking to is I, Asahi Sasaki, the Ultimate Doomsday Preparer. And if you want to survive whatever hell this is, you’d better toughen up."

ASAHI SASAKI, ULTIMATE DOOMSDAY PREPARER

...Doomsday Preparer... Makes the 'apocalypse' talk there make sense, but it doesn't make him any less a jerk. Just because someone doesn't look 'strong' enough to survive a hypothetical apocalypse doesn't mean you can treat them like dirt.

Ai glanced over her shoulder, smirking. "Oh, don’t mind Asahi. He’s just mad because his bunker buddies didn’t invite him to their apocalypse party."

Asahi shot her a glare, but Ai only laughed, spinning back to her monitor.

Yukari sighed, already feeling drained by the chaotic energy of these two. "Well, it’s… nice to meet you both. I guess."

Asahi grunted in response, while Ai gave a mocking salute.

"Good luck, lovebirds,” Ai said, her grin widening. “You’re gonna need it!"

Yukari fought the urge to turn back and smack that little gremlin across the face for that line.

Yukari and Aone left the hybrid library-computer lab behind, their interactions with Ai and Asahi still lingering uncomfortably in their minds. As they wandered further down the maze of hallways, they eventually came upon another room. The door bore a golden placard that read Stageworks in elegant script.

Inside, the room was an odd blend of a stage and a workshop. A grand piano stood in one corner, its polished surface gleaming under the spotlight. Nearby, a half-completed mechanical contraption of some kind rested on a workbench cluttered with tools and blueprints.

Two individuals occupied the room.

The first was a young man leaning casually against the piano, his posture relaxed and confident. His slicked-back brown hair glinted faintly under the lights, and his fancy silver suit shimmered as he adjusted the cuffs. Dark sunglasses concealed his eyes, but his smirk was plain as day.

The other was a portly young woman hunched over the workbench, furiously scribbling notes onto a blueprint. Her pink hair was styled into high pigtails, and her pink eyes darted back and forth between her notes and the mechanical parts in front of her. She wore an orange shirt with reflective yellow tape across it, a blue skirt, and a brown tool belt laden with tools that clinked softly whenever she moved.

"Ah, new faces!" the man at the piano said, straightening up with a dramatic flair. He extended his arms as though greeting an adoring crowd. "Welcome, welcome! I’m Johnny Tenma, the Ultimate Showbiz. Surely you’ve heard of me!"

JOHNNY TENMA, ULTIMATE SHOWBIZ

Yukari blinked. "Uh… sorry, but I don’t think—"

"Oh, don’t worry," Johnny said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "I get it. You must be one of those intellectual types, always buried in books and missing out on pop culture. But let me tell you, I’ve starred in some iconic films. In fact…" He leaned in slightly, his grin widening. "I was in a movie with a setup eerily similar to this. A group of strangers trapped in an unfamiliar place, forced to confront their secrets and fight for survival. Creepy coincidence, huh?"

"Y-yeah, creepy," Aone muttered, glancing nervously at Yukari.

Johnny nodded sagely, as though imparting great wisdom. "Don’t worry, folks. If this turns into some kind of murder mystery scenario, I’ve got plenty of experience playing the lead role. I’ll keep us all alive." He struck a heroic pose, his sunglasses catching the light perfectly.

This guy is full of himself... Heck, overflowing at this point. I doubt he actually has the guts to back up those claims.

Before Yukari could respond, the woman at the workbench slammed her pencil down and turned to face them, her expression one of pure irritation.

"Unbelievable," she muttered, crossing her arms. "You don’t know me either, do you?"

Yukari and Aone exchanged a glance.

"I’m Nanami Tokunaga, the Ultimate Engineer," the woman said, her voice dripping with disdain. "You’d think people would recognize the person who’s revolutionized modern engineering, but nooo, everyone’s too busy fawning over people like him." She gestured sharply at Johnny, who raised his hands in mock innocence.

NANAMI TOKUNAGA, ULTIMATE ENGINEER

"I didn’t do anything," Johnny said, frowning.

Nanami ignored him, turning her sharp gaze back to Yukari and Aone. "Let me guess. You’ve met Kagami and Benjiro already, haven’t you? Ugh. Kagami’s a walking temper tantrum with a railgun, and Benjiro’s just… creepy. Then there’s that wannabe survivalist Asahi—probably compensating for something with all those muscles—and that hacker girl Ai, who’s one insult away from a slap... That Italian bugger Ritsu with that mop... And that showboat ninja girl Mei..."

She really seems focused on everyone's negative traits... Sure, nobody's perfect, but she has nothing nice to say about anyone...

Yukari opened her mouth to respond, mostly about how she was ready to do just that to Ai, but Nanami plowed on. "And now I have to deal with a bunch of clueless nobodies stumbling into my workspace. Don’t touch anything, or so help me—"

"Relax, Nana," Johnny said smoothly, stepping between them. “No need to scare these guys."

Nanami bristled. "Don’t call me Nana!"

"Whatever you say, Nana," Johnny replied, his grin widening.

Yukari found these two very annoying. It's probably better to just leave them alone...

Chapter Text

Yukari and Aone cautiously stepped into a massive warehouse-like area. The cavernous space was dimly lit by a handful of flickering overhead lights, casting long, eerie shadows across rows of shelves stocked with strange, unidentifiable items. The faint smell of metal and old wood filled the air, and their footsteps echoed loudly as they ventured deeper inside.

"This place is giving me bad vibes," Aone muttered, glancing nervously at the towering shelves.

Yukari nodded, keeping her eyes peeled for any movement. "Yeah. Let’s not linger here too long."

As they rounded a corner, the faint sound of something slicing through flesh echoed through the air, making them both freeze. Slowly, they crept forward and peered around a stack of crates.

A woman stood in the middle of the open space, her back to them. She wore a black-and-white plaid shirt and a matching plaid skirt under a white apron, stained with crimson. Her short white bob cut swayed slightly as she worked, and her bangs completely obscured her eyes. In her hand, she held a large butcher’s knife, glinting ominously under the light.

"Uh… hello?" Yukari called out cautiously.

The woman froze, her head tilting slightly as if she hadn’t realized they were there. Then, slowly, she turned to face them, revealing her pale complexion and an unsettlingly blank smile.

"Oh, hi there," she said in a calm, almost cheerful tone. She glanced at the knife in her hand before casually wiping it clean with a blood-stained rag. "Didn’t hear you come in. You lost?"

Yukari and Aone exchanged uneasy glances. "We’re… exploring," Yukari said carefully. "Who are you?"

The young woman tilted her head, her bangs shifting slightly but still concealing her eyes. "I’m Uran Kondō. Ultimate Butcher. If you need anything cut up, I’m your gal!" She gestured at the knife, her tone almost unnervingly casual.

URAN KONDŌ, ULTIMATE BUTCHER

...Does she not realize how creepy she comes off as? That's the only way her behavior makes sense...

Aone swallowed hard, stepping back slightly. "Uh… no, we’re good, thanks."

Uran’s smile faltered slightly as she noticed his reaction. "What? Did I say something weird?"

Yukari hesitated. “No, it’s just… the way you’re holding that knife is a little…”

"Oh." Uran looked down at the knife in her hand, frowning slightly. "I guess this does look kinda bad, huh?" She shrugged, tossing the knife into a nearby crate with a loud clatter. "There, better? I was just chopping up some steak!" She held up a large cut of raw meat, which had been on a wooden cutting board behind her, explaining the loud 'flesh' slicing sound.

"Y-yeah, better..." Aone muttered, though he still looked uneasy.

Uran tilted her head again, her smile returning. "You two are kinda jumpy, huh? Relax. I’m not gonna hurt you or anything. I mean, why would I?"

Before either of them could respond, a voice came from the far side of the warehouse.

"Would you all leave already?"

Yukari and Aone turned to see another figure sitting on top of a large wooden crate, arms crossed and an irritated expression on her face. The girl had long, curly dark brown hair that reached all the way to her knees, her brown eyes glaring at them with barely concealed annoyance. She wore a beige winter coat over a white dress shirt and a brown skirt, paired with black winter boots and white socks.

"Uh… sorry," Yukari said hesitantly. "We didn’t mean to bother you."

"Then don’t," the girl snapped. She waved a hand dismissively. "There’s nothing here for you, so just go."

Aone frowned. "We’re all trapped in the same place. You don’t have to be so hostile."

The girl rolled her eyes. "Hostile? I’m not being hostile. I’m being honest. You’re wasting your time here. Go bother someone else."

Uran, seemingly unfazed by the tension, glanced between Yukari and the other girl. "Don’t mind her. She was like this with me."

The girl shot her a glare. "Maybe I wouldn’t be like this if people actually left me alone."

Yukari sighed, rubbing her temples. "Okay, look, we didn’t come here to pick a fight. We’re just trying to figure out what’s going on, same as you."

"Good luck with that," Tomoka muttered, hopping off the crate. "I'm Tomoka Inoue, The Ultimate Ice Sculptor. Let me know how it goes—actually, don’t. I don’t care." She turned and began walking toward another section of the warehouse, her long hair trailing behind her.

TOMOKA INOUE, ULTIMATE ICE SCULPTOR

"Don’t take it personally," Uran said with a shrug. "Like I said already, she was like that with me, too. Anyway, if you need anything butchered, you know where to find me."

Yukari and Aone quickly excused themselves, both eager to put some distance between themselves and the unsettling duo. As they left the warehouse, Aone let out a shaky breath.

"I thought the last few people we met were weird," he said.

"Let’s just hope the next room is… less intense," Yukari muttered, though she wasn’t entirely optimistic.

Chapter Text

Yukari and Aone stepped back into the hall, and later into another room... A large greenhouse, a stark contrast to the grim warehouse they had just left. Sunlight streamed through the glass panels above, illuminating a lush, vibrant environment filled with an assortment of plants, flowers, and vines. The air smelled fresh, almost calming, but the occasional rustle of leaves hinted that they weren’t alone.

"Wow," Aone said, marveling at the tranquil surroundings. "This place is actually… kinda nice."

"Yeah, almost feels out of place with how futuristic the Data Nexus was and how old-fashioned the Stageworks were," Yukari replied. She was about to take another step when a voice called out.

"Oh, hey there!"

They turned to see a girl waving at them from near a cluster of tropical flowers. She had tanned skin and sunny yellow hair tied back in a ponytail, her light blue bikini and floral button-up shirt making her look like she had just come off a beach. Her flip-flops slapped lightly against the ground as she walked toward them, her olive-green eyes sparkling with warmth.

"Didn’t think I’d run into anyone else here," she said with a friendly smile. "My name is Mika Saito. And my Ultimate title is being the Ultimate Surfer!"

MIKA SAITO, ULTIMATE SURFER

Yukari smiled back, a little relieved by her easygoing demeanor. "I’m Yukari Yamauchi, and this is Aone Oka. We’ve been, uh, meeting a lot of people lately."

"Well, you’ve met the chillest one now," Mika joked, laughing lightly. "Man, this whole thing is pretty crazy, huh? A greenhouse in a situation like this. Feels like a weird dream."

"Yeah," Aone said, scratching the back of his neck. "You seem to be handling it well, though."

Mika’s smile faltered for a brief second—so brief that Yukari almost missed it. "Gotta stay positive, you know? No use freaking out. Besides, this place isn’t so bad if you focus on the good stuff."

Yukari tilted her head slightly, watching Mika carefully. There was something about her upbeat attitude that didn’t quite add up, but Mika quickly shifted the conversation.

"So, how about you? Have you figured anything out yet?" Yukari asked, crossing her arms.

"Not really," Mika admitted. "Just trying to piece things together as I go."

Upon conversation ending upon learning that Mika didn't know anything either and only remembers waking up in this place, they left her to her own devices.

There's something off about her. Her kindness is genuine, but that positivity seems forced.

Yukari and Aone followed the path of the greenhouse, almost like they were on tour without a guide, eventually spotting a guy wearing a black skeleton hoodie, his dirty blonde hair unkempt and streaked with dark brown. He was sitting cross-legged on the floor, muttering to himself and fidgeting with a small object in his hands.

“Hey,” Aone called out cautiously.

The boy looked up, his dark blue-purple eyes filled with a mixture of paranoia and weariness. “What do you want?” he asked bluntly.

“We’re just trying to meet everyone,” Yukari said. “What’s your name?”

“Osuke Tenma-Matsushita,” he said, his voice flat. “And I am the Ultimate Unlucky Student. Or, as I like to call it, Ultimate Disaster. It fits better, wouldn’t you think?”

OSUKE TENMA-MATSUSHITA, ULTIMATE UNLUCKY STUDENT (ULTIMATE DISASTER?)

Yukari just stared. "...I'm sorry. What?"

Osuke stared at her with those haunted eyes of his. "You didn't hear me the first time?! Are you deaf!?"

Yukari was annoyed with this guy already. "No. I heard you, I just don't believe "Ultimate Unlucky Student" is an actual talent."

Osuke just stared to the side, not meeting her eyes. "It's a talent I have, why would I hide what talent I have?"

Aone pointed out. "You could have a dangerous talent! Like Ultimate Assassin or Ultimate Mobster or something!"

Osuke scoffed. "You've been playing too many video games."

Yukari spoke up. "What do video games have to do with anything? He does bring up a somewhat valid point. You could be hiding your real talent."

Osuke sighed and spoke again. "You'll just have to trust me. I don't have the certificate or anything, so I have no proof other than my own word. Besides, if you lived by that logic, everyone is lying about their talent."

That shut Yukari up. In fact, now that she thought about it... Anyone could've easily lied about their talent since there is no physical proof, and she would just have to take their word at face value...

Aone blinked, tilting his head. "Wait, I just thought about this… Tenma? Are you related to Johnny Tenma, by any chance? We met him earlier."

Osuke’s expression darkened. "Unfortunately. Half-brothers. He’s the ‘golden child,’ the shining star, the one who always gets what he wants. Meanwhile, I’m just…" He trailed off, glaring at the object in his hand—a coin that landed on tails.

Yukari frowned. "Are you okay?"

“No,” Osuke said bluntly. "I’m cursed. Everything I touch turns to disaster. And before you ask—no, I’m not exaggerating. It’s real. Bad luck follows me like a shadow." He flipped the coin in the air, catching it deftly. "And I wouldn’t get too close if I were you. The curse might rub off."

"That’s not how curses work," Yukari muttered.

Osuke snorted. "You’d be surprised. Go ahead, test it out. Shake my hand, see what happens."

Yukari and Aone exchanged uneasy glances but didn’t take him up on the offer.

"Okay, well, uh, thanks for the warning," Yukari said awkwardly.

Osuke shrugged, leaning back against the bench. "Whatever. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you when something goes horribly wrong."

Yukari forced a smile. "Well, it was nice meeting you both. We’ll, uh, let you get back to… whatever you were doing."

As they left the greenhouse, Aone sighed. "I thought the greenhouse would be relaxing. Turns out, even here, we can’t catch a break... Better than being hostile, though," Aone pointed out.

"Maybe," Yukari said, but she couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling growing in the pit of her stomach. "I do see a pattern developing. Where are we? Why is everyone we've met an Ultimate student? What kind of kidnappers would have these resources?"

Aone just looked at her with a worried facial expression. "I mean, I wouldn't know..."

Yukari stared him dead in the eyes. "Yea, no shit Sherlock."

Chapter Text

Yukari and Aone entered the grand art gallery, their footsteps echoing softly against the polished marble floor. Large, ornate paintings and abstract sculptures lined the walls and halls, bathed in the soft glow of spotlights. The atmosphere was almost unnerving in its silence, much like other rooms.

“Didn’t expect a place like this here... But by this point, I guess" Aone muttered, glancing around.

Yukari nodded. "Makes me wonder what kind of people would design a building as strangely as this. It feels like a hospital, an academy, and a museum all in one... It doesn't make any sense."

Almost as if on cue, a voice rang out from the far end of the room.

"Well, ain’t this somethin’."

They turned to see a girl leaning against the base of a grand statue, adjusting the brim of her brown cowboy hat. She had ruffled brown hair and chestnut-brown eyes, her outfit a mix of rugged and casual—green and white plaid crop top, blue jean shorts, and well-worn cowboy boots. Despite her laid-back posture, there was a certain sharpness in her gaze, like someone constantly on edge.

She smirked, standing up straight. “Didn’t reckon I’d be meetin’ more folks so soon. Y’all got names, or do I gotta start callin’ ya ‘strangers’?”

Yukari hesitated before answering. "I’m Yukari Yamauchi. This is Aone Oka."

"Well, pleasure’s mine," the girl said, tipping her hat slightly. "The name’s Hatsuki Fukuda. Ultimate Outlaw."

HATSUKI FUKUDA, ULTIMATE OUTLAW

Aone blinked. "Ultimate… Outlaw?"

Hatsuki chuckled. "Yeah, yeah, I know how it sounds. Ain’t like I’m runnin’ ‘round robbin’ banks or gunnin’ people down. But let’s just say, I got some folks out there who’d love to see me behind bars. Kinda makes things excitin’, don’t it?"

Yukari raised an eyebrow. "So, you’re a criminal?"

Hatsuki’s smile didn’t waver. "Maybe by technicality, but I got my own code. No killin’, no harmin’ folks that don’t deserve it. But lawmen and bounty hunters? Yeah, they ain’t too fond of me."

Aone, by this point, was standing behind Yukari. "That’s... hehe... a lot to take in! Hehe!" He then whispered nervously in Yukari's ear, "Are you sure she isn't gonna shoot us?"

"Yeah, well, life’s funny like that," Hatsuki said, rocking back on her heels. "What about y’all? How’re ya holdin’ up in this mess?"

Yukari sighed. "Just trying to figure out what’s going on."

"Fair enough," Hatsuki said, then glanced over her shoulder. "Anyway, if y’all wanna chat more, I’ll be ‘round. But if you see a bounty hunter lookin’ for me, do me a favor and tell ‘em to piss off."

Yukari and Aone exchanged glances before deciding to move on, continuing deeper into the gallery. As they rounded a corner, they spotted another, more stubby figure standing before a large painting, hands on his hips, nodding in approval.

“Now this is art,” the man said to himself.

He had a distinctive look—gray-blue hair styled into a mullet, a red mushroom-patterned jacket over a gray shirt, and blue pants. His blue eyes sparkled with an almost childlike enthusiasm as he examined the painting in front of him.

Noticing Yukari and Aone approaching, he turned to them with a wide grin. "Well, hey there! You two admiring the arts?"

Yukari blinked. "Uh, I guess?"

He let out a hearty chuckle. "Ah, no need to be shy about it! Art’s got a way of making ya think, even if you don’t fully get it. Oh, where are my manners? Takeshi Ogawa, Ultimate Mycologist. And you are?"

TAKESHI OGAWA, ULTIMATE MYCOLOGIST

Yukari introduced herself and Aone, watching as Takeshi’s grin remained steady.

"Mycologist?" Yukari repeated. "So, mushrooms?"

Takeshi gave her finger guns. “Bingo! Studied ‘em my whole life. Grew up in a sickly family, so I figured, ‘Hey, nature’s got all these lil’ miracles growin’ right under our noses, why not learn a thing or two?’ Turns out, mushrooms can do some pretty crazy stuff! Cures, poisons, even glowy ones! Nature’s got it all.”

Yukari tilted her head. "So you became an Ultimate for it?"

Takeshi chuckled. "Guess so! Not a whole lotta folks take the time to really understand mushrooms, so I just… made it my thing. And now here I am!"

Aone nodded slowly. "You seem pretty relaxed, considering… well, this."

Takeshi shrugged. "Ain’t much use panicking. If I did, that wouldn’t change a damn thing, now would it? So, might as well roll with the punches, try to keep folks smiling."

Yukari found herself almost appreciating his optimism, but something about his overly relaxed demeanor felt… strange. Like he was used to dealing with situations worse than this.

"Well," Takeshi said, stretching, "if you all ever wanna talk shrooms, or just chat in general, I’m your guy. But if you start seeing weird colors or feelin’ dizzy, don’t eat anything off the ground, alright?" He winked.

Yukari forced a smile. "Duly noted."

As they left Takeshi behind, Aone let out a breath. "You know… I don’t even know what to think about these people anymore."

Yukari nodded. "Same here."

One thing was clear, though—each new person they met only made this situation feel more bizarre.

Chapter Text

Yukari and Aone stepped into one of the many classrooms, the air inside oddly still. The desks were arranged neatly, yet the space felt abandoned, like a relic of a time before whatever nightmare they had found themselves in.

At the far end of the room, standing near the whiteboard, was a lone figure. He leaned against the teacher’s desk, arms crossed, staring at the ceiling as if lost in thought.

He had a striking appearance—a red mohawk standing tall against his tanned skin, green eyes sharp despite his otherwise detached expression. His black shirt had red splotches scattered across it, and a patch sewn onto the fabric displayed several flag pins—Japan, USA, Italy, Russia, and China. His shorts were black, his red sneakers tattered and worn from use.

At the sound of their footsteps, he looked up, his gaze flicking between the two of them before he sighed. "Well. Guess it was only a matter of time before someone else showed up."

Yukari took the lead. "I’m Yukari Yamauchi. This is Aone Ooaki. And you?"

He adjusted his stance, straightening up a little. "Jiryu Arakawa. Ultimate Vexillologist."

JIRYU ARAKAWA, ULTIMATE VEXILLOLOGIST

Aone blinked. "Vexillo… what?"

Jiryu sighed. "Vexillologist. I study flags. History, design, symbolism. All that stuff."

Yukari tilted her head. "I mean, I guess that makes sense as an Ultimate, but… you don’t seem all that enthusiastic about it."

Jiryu let out a short, dry laugh. "Yeah, well. It wasn’t exactly my dream job. More like… a necessity."

Aone hesitated. "Necessity?"

Jiryu rolled his shoulders, looking away. "Long story. Let’s just say I didn’t have much of a choice. Needed to prove something. And I did. End of story." His tone made it clear he wasn’t looking to elaborate further.

An awkward silence settled between them before Jiryu finally shook his head. "Anyway, what do you want? You just going around meeting people or what?"

“Basically,” Yukari admitted. "We’re trying to get a feel for everyone here."

Jiryu frowned slightly. "Good luck with that. Some of these people are weird."

Yukari let out a small, exhausted sigh. "Yeah. We’ve noticed."

Jiryu studied them for a moment before shrugging. "Well, if you need anything, I’m here. Just don’t expect me to get all buddy-buddy. I’ve got better things to do than play the ‘new best friend’ game."

Yukari nodded. "Noted."

By this point, Yukari and Aone had met all the other people here, and now had taken to exploring the facility.

Both of them entered the stairwell to see if they could access the second floor... And what they saw shocked them.

The stairwell, destroyed beyond usage. It looked as though a wrecking ball had been taken to it, the destruction was that significant.

"W-What the-!?" Aone was the first of them to speak. "What happened to the stairs!?"

"Relax," Yukari spoke, calming Aone down. "We can try the elevator, I saw one a while back..."

Yukari led the way, Aone following close behind. When they made it to the elevator, Yukari realized her mistake.

"Damn it... I forgot it was locked."

"Wait, can you even lock an elevator?"

"Can you see the gate in front of the elevator, Aone?"

"...Yea?"

"That's your answer. They can."

Yukari was left to her thoughts for a moment, and started speaking her thoughts aloud. "Assuming we were kidnapped, I assume our kidnappers must not want us to access the second floor. I assume escape would be possible if we reached that floor?"

"...Either way, no use staying here." Yukari walks away, leaving Aone to follow her.

As Yukari and Aone made their way through the dimly lit hallway, the speakers overhead crackled to life with a burst of static.

"Testing, testing! Mic check! One, two, three~!"

A voice—high-pitched, cheery, almost too enthusiastic—rang out from the intercoms, echoing through the facility. At the same time, the television mounted on the wall flickered, shifting from dull static to an eerie silhouette. A shadowy figure, completely unidentifiable, stood in the center of the screen. Their features were obscured, but their body language practically oozed excitement.

“Puhuhu~! Alrighty, now that we’ve got everyone’s attention… why don’t you all do me a favor and get your asses to the gym? I promise it’ll be worth your time! Oh-ho-ho, you don’t wanna keep me waiting! That’d be very rude~!"

The screen cut back to static, and the voice faded, leaving behind an unsettling silence.

Yukari and Aone exchanged looks, a sinking feeling settling in their stomachs.

"...Yeah, that’s not ominous at all," Aone muttered.

Yukari frowned. "We should go."

"Obviously," Aone sighed. "I just hope this isn’t about to turn into something really bad."

Neither of them said it, but they both knew—this was the beginning of something. And whatever it was, it probably wasn’t good.

With heavy steps, they made their way toward the gym, tension thick in the air.

Chapter Text

The gymnasium doors loomed before them, heavy and foreboding. As Yukari, Aone, and the others stepped inside, they were met with a strange sight—a stage at the front of the room, curtains drawn, a single spotlight shining onto an empty podium. The air was tense, thick with anticipation and unease.

Whispers and mutters filled the space as the gathered students exchanged glances, each wondering the same thing.

"What the hell is this…?" Mei murmured, arms crossed.

"Well, dumbass, we're in the gym of this place, which looks lackluster as hell, if I say so myself!" Nanami was the one who said that.

"There was a display on the TV's across this place telling us to come here." Benjiro said. "Are we sure this is not some trap set up by our kidnappers?"

"I sure hope not, besides, why kidnap us only to kill us? Why trap us in this strange place? Why all the extra effort?" Yukari put in her two cents on the matter.

Before anyone could offer a theory, the static crackled through the speakers once more.

“Alrighty, kiddos! Time for the moment you’ve all been waiting for!”

The curtains snapped open with a dramatic and somewhat cartoony whoosh, revealing a… thing.

A small, stuffed bear sat atop the podium, its body split into two distinct halves. One side was pure white, cutesy and plush-like, with a beady black eye and an innocent smile. The other half was jet black, its jagged red eye gleaming menacingly, its grin twisted into something cartoonishly evil.

The bear let out a shrill, mischievous giggle.

"Puhuhuhu~! Welcome, welcome, my dear students, to the Ultimate Talent Training Facility! I’ll be your headmaster, your host, your idol, and maybe even your worst nightmare—Monokuma!"

Silence.

Then—

"You’ve got to be joking." Hatsuki narrowed her eyes, arms crossed. "We get dragged into this shady place and some—some freakin’ teddy bear starts talkin’ at us?"

“First of all, how dare you! I am not a teddy bear! I am Monokuma, the one and only!” The bear flailed its stubby arms dramatically. “And second of all, I would recommend you take this very seriously! Because, my adorable little students, you’re all stuck here!”

That got their attention.

Yukari stiffened. "Stuck…?"

"As in, trapped," Monokuma clarified, spinning in place. "Oh, but don’t worry! This is the perfect place to hone your Ultimate talents! Why would you ever wanna leave?"

"Because this is insane," Ritsu snapped, his grip tightening on his mop. "You can’t just kidnap people and expect them to play along with... whatever the hell this is."

Osuke sputtered. "B-b-but... We have lives outside of this place! Families, friends, jobs! None of us agreed to this!"

Nanami quietly muttered. "Are we all just going to ignore the fact a talking teddy bear is telling us this...?"

"Puhuhu~ But that’s the fun part!" Monokuma’s red eye glowed ominously. "You can leave… if you graduate!"

"What, we just do a few tests, maybe an exam, and we're outta here? That easy?" Ai asked aloud.

"Pfft! As if! Tests and exams are boring! That boring muscle memory crap doesn't work as good these days! Besides, there's a different way to graduate from this here training school..."

The bear paused for dramatic effect.

“By killing someone.”

The words hit like a bomb.

The entire gym fell deathly silent.

"...What?" Mika’s usual chill demeanor cracked, her body tensing.

"Did I stutter? Murder!" Monokuma chirped. "One little teeny-tiny murder, and you can walk right out of here!"

Monokuma paused, then let out a sinister giggle.

"Of course, you can all just stay here and live a completely normal communal life, honing your talents and living life peacefully here, but if you kill someone in this here Killing Game, then you can leave! Easy peasy lemon squeezy!"

Chaos erupted.

"This—This has to be some kind of joke—!" Tomoka’s usually stoic face twisted in disbelief.

"There’s no way—No way they’d actually—" Takeshi’s voice shook.

"You sick little fuck!" Asahi roared, fists clenched. "You think we’re just gonna start killing each other for your twisted entertainment?! This isn't a TV show!"

Monokuma wagged a paw. "Ohhh, you say that now~! But let’s be real… how long do you think that whole unity thing will last when survival is on the line?"

Everyone felt the weight of those words.

Yukari’s heart pounded in her chest. This couldn’t be real. It shouldn’t be real.

And yet… deep down, something told her—

It was.

"Hold on, should we even trust this bear?" Kagami spoke up, "He says there's no escape, but what if there is and he's trying to gaslight us into thinking there isn't?"

"I mean, it's very convincing..." Aone answered, "There doesn't seem to be any escape from this place, no exits or entrances, no nothing!"

"Hey, fallout weirdo!" Nanami yelled at Asahi. "You got those grenades on your belt, right? Toss them at the wall and we're done with it!"

Asahi pulled a grenade off the belt and pulled the pin.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

A shrill girly scream came from, of all people, Aone.

"...Nothing, see? Disabled and useless." Asahi dropped the dud grenade down.

"Well, that's just one! Why not try the others!?" Johnny desperately pointed out.

"Nope! Those ain't gonna work, I made sure of it!" Monokuma cheerily said, something telling Yukari that his smug tone meant he was proud of it.

"Still confused on why the guy has grenades in the first place..." Osuke muttered to himself.

A resounding click was heard throughout the gym as it silenced so people could hear it, a few more frantic clicks ensued.

"What the hell!?" Kagami started flipping the safety on her railgun on and off, and repeatedly pulling the trigger, checking the ammo... Nothing seemed wrong with it, it just wouldn't shoot.

"Yep! Any weapons you might've used to escape this place have been toned down! You bastards aren't getting outta here that easy!" Monokuma's smug attitude was infuriating to most.

"Even if we are to participate in this "Killing Game" as you call it..." Benjiro started, "...How can we take your word for it? For all we know, you could be lying about letting us free if we kill, and that's assuming anyone actually attempts murder."

"Oh, trust me! One of you bastards is bound to start some bloodshed, and I've got some motivation for you if the need arises... And about me lying, I'm an honest bear! I'd never lie about letting you free!"

"How can we be let free though? There are no exits from what we've seen, so if someone killed, how would that even work?" Johnny had to let the question arise.

"I have my ways!" Monokuma let the question float in the air, saying nothing much to explain it.

"While on the topic of this Killing Game..." Benjiro continued, "What about accidental deaths, deaths by natural causes, or... Ahem... Suicide. What about those?"

"Oh, considering a sacrifice for all your new friends? Too bad! Any deaths caused by non-murders will not let anyone free!"

As the gathered students stared in tense silence, the bear standing before them let out a gleeful, mechanical cackle.

"Wowie-zowie, it's finally time for the main event!" Monokuma spun around on one foot before stopping abruptly. His glowing red eye flickered ominously as he produced a stack of sleek, futuristic devices from somewhere.

"Listen up, kiddos! These bad boys right here are your shiny, state-of-the-art, can't-live-without-'em E-Handbooks! Your lifelines, your guides, and more!"

Monokuma clapped his paws together. "Now, now! Before you get any funny ideas, let’s go over the rules of our lovely little communal life! These rules are the bread and butter of our super exciting Killing School Exams! Break ‘em, and you’ll have a one-way trip to punishment city!"

Killing Game Rules:

1: Everyone will stay on the grounds of the killing game to live a communal life. Escape is impossible.
2: From 8:00 PM to 5:00 AM, it will be officially “Nighttime”, with the gym. cafeteria and auditorium being locked and all water being shut off until daytime.
3: Sleeping anywhere outside a dorm room at nighttime will be seen as sleeping in class and punished accordingly.
4: Violence against Headmaster Monokuma is not allowed, and will result in punishment (execution).
5: Destruction of school property is forbidden, this also includes security cameras, speakers, etc.
6: Entering areas not yet authorized by the Headmaster is forbidden and will result in punishment (execution).
7: If someone kills someone else, they will become the “Blackened” and the murder will be investigated within a time limit, in which a “Class Trial” will be held to discuss.
8: If the Blackened is voted correctly, the Blackened alone will receive punishment, and the killing game will continue. If everyone else votes incorrectly or cannot come to a conclusion, everyone besides the Blackened will receive punishment, with the Blackened winning the killing game and going free.
9: A male entering a female restroom is prohibited, and a female entering a male restroom is also prohibited.
10: More rules can be added to the rulebook at any time.

He gave a wide, toothy grin. "So, whaddaya say? Who’s gonna be the first to take a stab at escaping this place?"

A heavy silence hung in the air.

No one spoke.

No one moved.

But deep in the pit of Yukari's stomach, a cold, gnawing dread settled in.

They were trapped.

And the killing game had begun.

PROLOGUE: "HER NAME WAS DESPAIR: COMPLETE"

SURVIVING STUDENTS: 17

Chapter Text

                                                                                                          CHAPTER 1: 'SILHOUETTES OF UNCLAIMED HOPE'

                                                                                                                                  DAILY LIFE: START

The student walked throughout the halls of the academy.

This place was their lifeline, their new start, a new leaf to turn over.

A class full of people just like them, people whose talents were strong, honed, powerful enough to be considered "Ultimate".

The binders fell from their hands, the papers spilling out from having ripped out from the rings in the binders already.

...Well, better to be nervous than be late.

Picking their stuff up, they walked inside the classroom.

And a colorful cast of individuals stood before them.

"Woah, new person!"

"Counting them, that makes 16. A full class."

"Who're you, new #####?  You look pretty cool."

The student was so entranced by all of their appearances, their talents on full display solely through their appearance...

"OH! I'm so sorry! My name is ###### ######!"

"So sorry, your name is what?"

"I didn't speak loudly, my fault entirely. I said my name was-"

Yukari woke up again.

Strange dream, but she can't remember all the details anymore...

She does remember reading somewhere that you should write your dreams down before you forget them to remember them.

However... The dream is unimportant to her right now.

Her new 'dorm' as it was put, was very comfortable. It contained a very nice bed, a table and chair, and a bathroom with a toilet, sink and shower.

It was the bare essentials needed for a dorm, and it did feel nice, but Yukari had to remind herself that someone was doing this to get them to kill each other.

Yukari had at first hoped this was some vivid hallucination, or some kind of realistic dream, but it had not been.

Why can't it be a dream? It's too crazy to be real...

Alas, it was real, and Yukari got out of bed, put on her clothes, and gets ready to go out and interact with all these weirdos again.

Admittedly... Most of them seem trustworthy, others seem threatening and others... Confusing. But I'm quite sure all of us have the same goal of wanting to get out of this place. No human being should have to go through this 'killing game' as that bear put it.

Yukari stepped out of the dorm, right back out into the hallway.

Yukari suddenly felt a vibration down near her thigh, and looked down.

Her bookbag was vibrating, she dug inside and found the E-handbook that the yin-yang teddy bear had given her and the others.

Yukari turned it on to see a notification symbol on it.

Yukari looked and saw a chat sequence, texts from Aone, in fact. Judging by the little pixel sprite of him next to the texts.

Aone: Hey, Yukari! Check out this text function! We can always communicate through this! :D

Ai: why is this loser using ":D" as a guy lmao

Kagami: I think it's alright to use :D no matter if ur a guy or a girl.

Yukari: Why did this turn into a conversation arguing over the gender qualifications of using an emoticon?

Ritsu: idk but its funny lmao

Aone: Come on! It's fun! :D

Johnny: Ngl it's kinda weird, but whatever floats your boat man

Osuke: NNFWEHJBFEKJBFWEKJBFJKBHWJKHBSFEJKBEKJHWFBS

Ritsu: wtf going on with bro

Osuke: sry I dropped my E-handbook and it must've sent that text

Mei: Guys, he's the ultimate UNLUCKY student, ofc that's going to happen to him!

Mika: Everyone meet up at the cafeteria! We gotta regroup and talk stuff over!

After that irritating chat message fiasco, Yukari had the new goal to head to the cafeteria.

Once she finally made it, she saw everyone else had gathered there already.

"About damn time, would've assumed you either offed yourself or somebody offed you already." Asahi was very blunt about his wording.

"Jeez, not the right scenario to say stuff like that, dude!" Johnny was probably glaring at him from under his sunglasses.

"Anyways, it's time we told you guys our plans!" Mika was speaking loud enough so everyone could hear.

"Who's 'we'?" Uran asked.

"...Uh... Well, it'll be a 'we' soon!" Mika foolishly said. "From now on, we'll have a meet-up every morning here in the cafeteria for breakfast! That way if anyone is missing, we'll know for sure!"

"Well, what if there's a murder after the roll call? How will we know anyone is missing? We'll have to wait until the next role call until we notice there might be a body rotting somewhere!?" Nanami pointed out.

"Again, that is assuming anyone murders at all." Benjiro adds. "We still shouldn't trust that bear. I assume mind games would be its specialty here."

"Why shouldn't we trust the bear?! There's no escape, and it's offering us some!" Tomoka exclaimed.

Ritsu raised an eyebrow at her. "Do I hear a possible killer in our midst?"

Everyone went quiet and turned to Tomoka. The ice sculptor suddenly got very flustered and upset.

"W-What!? I didn't say anything like that!!" Tomoka cried out.

"It certainly sounded like you insinuated it." Kagami deadpanned.

"But- I- You don't-"

"Of course, snow queen here can't help but want to shed first blood!" Ai giggled like a maniac. "What were you gonna do!? Stab someone with an ice pick!?"

"NO! LEAVE ME ALONE!" Tomoka looked on the brink of tears.

"Stop." Benjiro held his hand up to shush everyone. "While her words may arouse suspicion, excluding someone from the main group for simple choice of words is not reason to assume them to attempt murder."

Yukari butted in. "He's right, calling someone out to be a killer won't help anyone, especially if a murder hasn't happened yet."

"This is the first role call, and yet things are already going awful..." Osuke sighed.

"Alright, let's just start discussing stuff..." Uran started thinking. "Well, they've got really comfy beds!"

"Yea, top-quality stuff, and trust me, I've slept in lots of beds in my time, these ones were top-notch." Johnny bragged.

"This tells us our captors must have lots of money and resources, if they can afford all of this." Yukari said, thinking logically.

"What does that mean?" Aone asked.

"It must mean our captors must be in positions of power, wealth and authority." Yukari said. "I also doubt this was the work of a single person. Too much evidence showing that multiple people would've had to have helped on this. One person doing all of this doesn't seem possible."

"We also know this person must own this location, as I doubt this place is abandoned with its current state, even with the stairwell in such disrepair that one might assume that. We also must assume that the person holding us hostage is using that bear to communicate with us, assuming that the bear isn't run off of AI or something like that."

"Again, following the captors having power and wealth, that is the way 17 Ultimate students can be kidnapped and thrown in one place simultaneously."

Everyone was silent after Yukari's whole speech.

"You, uh... Really figured stuff out, huh?" Takeshi was amazed by Yukari's display of logic.

"Ultimate Scholar is a much more interesting talent than can be perceived." Yukari said with a smug smile.

"Still think studying math is loser behavior." Ai had to get her quote in.

"I still think something like you existing is a mistake on the universe's part." Nanami mumbled.

"Anyways... Let's just have breakfast, alright?" Uran asked.

Everyone took trays from the small conveyor belt near the side, and ate the food provided.

"Let's just hope this isn't poisoned or anything..." Mei crossed her fingers, taking a bite.

"Wouldn't make sense if they want us to kill each other." Yukari added.

Once everyone finished their breakfast, Yukari spoke up again.

"I also find it strange how the "Ultimate Talent Training Facility" does not have rooms or facilities for all of us."

Everyone stopped and started thinking, and things started making sense.

"Yea..." Uran spoke. "I'm the Ultimate Butcher, yet there's no kitchen for me to butcher stuff!"

"As the Ultimate Doomsday Preparer, nothing to hone my skills." Asahi mentioned gruffly.

"Ultimate Unlucky Student, and nothing to train my talent... Maybe I should be grateful for that though." Osuke said.

"Well, the Stageworks fit Johnny, Nanami and Kagami's talents. The Data Nexus fits Ai and maybe my own. The greenhouse fits Takeshi. The gallery fits Tomoka's. The infirmary fits Benjiro's somewhat. I guess everywhere fits Ritsu's... But that leaves Uran, Asahi, Osuke, Mika, Mei, Aone, Hatsuki and Jiryu without areas to hone their talents." Yukari said, fitting her knowledge with everyone.

"Hoo-Wee! You surely got that all nailed down, smartass!"

Everyone turned to see that dreaded monochrome bear appear from almost nowhere.

"CARO DIO! Where the hell did it come from!?" Ritsu yelled.

"Where I came from doesn't matter, but that question you asked about some people not having areas dedicated to their talents? That's because you've got to MURDER someone to earn those rewards! I'm already giving you a privilege giving you so much already!" Monokuma said, as if he wasn't being a jerk.

"We told you already, we ain't gonna murder someone just fer yer entertainment!" Hatsuki yelled at him.

"You say that now, but will it really hold up? It may not be for the entertainment of yours truly, but it'll still be funny as hell to watch you bastards scream and cry when the bodies start dropping!"  Monokuma did that "Puhuhu" laugh after that.

"Well, we surely won't kill over not having locations to hone our talents." Benjiro said.

"You never know! Some people have killed for far less, and I sure as hell know!" Monokuma said.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Yukari asked with suspicion lacing her voice.

"It means what it means! And it means something that's none of your damn beeswax!" Monokuma howled at her. "Anyways, I've gots to go, so toodaloo! So long!"

The bear disappeared almost as fast as it had appeared.

"That bear is a master of disappearing! Is it magic!? Technology?! A super-duper ultra mega cool ninja in disguise!?!?" Mei was practically freaking out.

"Calm down, girlie. Don't need someone dying of a heart attack from excitement." Nanami sat Mei back down.

"Well, I say we go explore this place. There's nothing else to do with this 'role call' as of now. And I'd like to inspect the infirmary." Benjiro said, standing up and leaving the cafeteria.

"I'm going myself. Gotta see what amazing little guys I can see in the greenhouse." Takeshi got up and went out too.

"Well, since everyone's going..." Osuke got up and left.

Soon everyone had left, and all that was left was Yukari.

I guess... If everyone is leaving, I should too. But...

...Bonding, that's what Mika wants us to do.

If that can prevent a murder... Than maybe I should do it? I'm not used to social interaction...

...Maybe... I'll try it.

Just this once?

FREE TIME EVENTS: START

Chapter Text

Yukari was entranced by how detailed the map was in the E-handbook. It showed quite a few more rooms that she and Aone hadn't found earlier.

The first one she entered was a strange gift shop type area. It was very interesting.

There was some items Yukari was very confused about. Particularly finding a small stack of coins with the insignia of a certain bear...

Yukari looked at them, and noticed a small note near them.

"Heya! I'm tired of explaining what these things are, so here's this handy dandy note right here! These things are called Monocoins! You can use them as currency to spend on that good ol' Monomachine! Just put it in and you can keep them for yourself, or be a weirdo and give people random gifts! Have fun!

P.S. I also hid them around in the facility! Have fun hunting for coins!

- Monokuma"

That blasted bear is vain enough to make coins in its image? Well, Yukari was pretty sure that the thing was controlled by someone, but she wasn't sure immediately who it could be.

Yukari did put the coins in the slot, and about five random capsules came out with random objects in them:

NEW ITEM GET!

Teabag

"This thing looks old, can a teabag even look old? Smells nice, too."

Worn Trophy

"The plaque has been worn off, and some of the metal has scratches in it, but at least you can use your imagination for how you deserved this!"

Old Western Film

"This film only sold ten copies before going out of production due to extreme lack of sales."

The History of the World

"Guidebook to the history of the world. Your expertise in many fields already tells you from the cover alone that you could write a way better version of this book."

Juicebox

"One of those juicebox's kids in elementary school get a straw and drink from. The flavor of this one is fruit punch."

Yukari didn't know how to socialize with people too well, so she decided to follow through with what that note said... Gift them away to people.

Surely people will like her then, right?

It didn't take too long to find Aone, as he was around the cafeteria.

Yukari approached him and said an awkward 'Hi..."

"Oh! Hello! Nice of you to come back! Figured since there was other people, you'd go to say Hi to them... Y'know, cuz most of them are... More cool than me...!"

What item do you want to gift to Aone?

Juicebox

"Huh? Oh! I love these things! They're super tasty!"

Aone started drinking it, and it was clear that he liked it a lot. Yukari even found that he looked sorta... Cute, doing it?

Once he was finished, he just put it in his pocket, presumably to put it in the trash later.

"So, uh... What brought that? Y'know, I thought you sort of saw me as annoying..."

"Oh, you somewhat were."

"..."

Yukari started to realize she needed to shut her mouth more. "...Sorry, I wasn't thinking before I was speaking."

"It's alright, it's just... You were probably just taking your stress out on me, about this whole killing game thing, right?"

"...Yea, sorta."

"It's alright! I'm used to being yelled at a bunch, so I'm not too fazed!"

Yukari did a bit of a double take hearing that. "You're used to being yelled at? Isn't that kind of... Sad?"

Aone just chuckled again, "Ahahaha... Yea... But, if someone needs someone to dump their trauma onto, I'm your fellow! But, uh, enough about me... What about you?"

"Um... I worked a lot, studied a lot, generally normal stuff for an Ultimate Scholar you can guess. I've studied most mathematics to be considered a mathematician, I've gone through most fields of science and still going through more, I've learned multiple languages, and a lot more."

"Woah...! Could you tell me more!?"

"Wait... Someone that wants to hear all of the stuff I've learned?"

"Yea! Why, is it not something you're comfortable with talking about?"

"No, it just... Makes me feel kind of nice. Thanks."

I think I grew a little closer to Aone today.