#also because i really wanted at some point for sakura to yell “I HAVE PAID HER BLOOD PRICE”

[brighteuphony]

I was curious and I don't know if you've said any where, but why do you call your civillian Sakura au Coven!sakura?

It was because I wanted Sakura to go for a more witchy/healer vibe as a counterpart to the canon doctor/medic- I mentioned in an earlier post that Saeko was once part of a mermaid coven (covens being almost pregenitors of clans as we know them), but since giving away her pearl, was outed from the coven and forced to wander the earth- so I eventually had her and Sakura become a coven together (first human matriarch in ages!!!), in which they become bound by blood and chakra as family.

Being in a coven is like being in a clan, but with extra benefits (and costs)

Also because Sakura's civilian status doesn't really describe the vibes of the AU as well as Coven does (in my head). Hope that answer that! It's very convoluted and silly!!

[excitedlysuffering]

Not sure how I feel about some of these. Probably cuz it’s 2 am. I should sleep... (disclaimer: I don’t own any characters from Naruto even if they own me!)

He Asks You Out

Naruto~

Three months had gone by and you and Naruto had quickly become best friends. He introduced and integrated you into his friend group and showed you around Konoha, and you kept him company and helped eat food other than ramen.

You spent a lot of your time at the blondes house, either just hanging out or making sure he didn’t starve or drink spoiled milk. Now was one of those times.

“Naruto, you had ramen for breakfast already! I’m not making any more!” He groaned, following you into the kitchen. “Then I’ll make it! It’ll only take five minutes!” You exhaled slowly. “Naru, you can’t live on ramen, it’s not healthy. I’m going to make you a balanced meal. You’ll love it okay?” He sighed. “Fineeee.”

You smiled. “Great! Would you make the tea real quick?” He gave you a mini salute already back to his chipper self. “So, what should do we do once dinner is ready?” Naruto asked you. A smirk appeared on your face. “Well, there’s this thing called face masks. They’re super relaxing and I just happen to have two on me!”

He gave you a sideways look. “What do they do?” You clapped gleefully. “It’s like a paste that you apply on your face, it feels really good. It also helps your skin!” He laughed. “Sasuke will be so jealous when my skin is better than his, believe it!” You laughed, agreeing.

Dinner was Yaki Udon, a simple meal with stir-fried noodles and beef, but it was one of your favorite things to make and you’d added a few things to it. “(Y/N), this is amazing! Almost as good as ramen, believe it!” Although it sounded like a backhanded compliment, you knew just how strongly Naruto felt about ramen. This was high praise.

“I’m glad you like it, Naruto! Now hurry so we can do face masks!” He pursed his lips, finishing his bowl. “What color are they?” You giggled at his skepticism. “They’re both pink.”

Naruto pouted the whole time. From the time you’d brought out the jar, to the first time it touched his face. “Oh, c’mon! Pink is a manly color, Naru!” He scowled. “I’ve never seen Sasuke wear it.” He muttered. I dawned a smug expression. “That just proves you’re manlier than him!” The blonde was silent, much to your confusion.

“What’s wrong?” Naruto flushed, sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck. “I was just thinking… how you always support me and take care of me. You keep me company even when I’m being an idiot… I really like you, (Y/N). C-can I take you out? Like on a date?”

Your hand fell away from his face. You had begun to catch feelings for your best friend, but you didn’t think he’d return them. You were practically on cloud nine!

“Naruto… that’d be amazing!” His expression was pure joy, no doubt reflecting yours. “But on one condition… you let me finish your mask!” “(Y/NN)!”

Sasuke~

You dodged a roundhouse kick to your temple by the skin of your teeth, grunting as you blocked a fist. You returned his attacks with a rapid flurry of punches, all being blocked, but that wasn’t your goal. You sent a spin kick towards him, but he caught your leg, tossing you away from him. You landed on your feet in a defensive position, panting slightly.

“Hn. You’re a bit slow today, are you okay, (Y/N)?” You scowled at Sasuke as he stood up from his stance. “I am not! I just didn’t get a lot of sleep last night.”

He gave you a look and put his kunai in his pocket. “You should’ve just said that. I wouldn’t have asked to spar.” Your face screamed indignation. “I’m fine! A little tiredness never killed anybody!” He gave you a questioning glance as he sat down on the grass. “Actually, I’m sure it has. Especially in battle.” You groaned, crossing your arms. “Smart alec.”

He smirked, tossing you a water bottle. “You want to spar that bad?” You shrugged. “Usually I’d go for more talented opponents but I guess you’ll do for now.” He chuckled. “So that’s why you could hardly keep up with me?” You threw the water bottle at him, scowling when he caught it. “Just fight me, Uchiha.”

You and Sasuke had meeting up for weeks now to train together and sometimes just hang out. Playful banter was a constant between you two but at the end of the day, you guys knew it was all in jest. You had caught your thoughts drifting back to your conversations with him to know that you were beginning to fall for him, but you kept it under wraps, there was no way you were going to turn into Sakura and Ino.

But you didn’t have time to dwell on your blossoming feelings, Sasuke was already charging you, kunai in hand. You pulled out your twin katanas and parried his every attack. It was almost like a dance between you two; both of you light on your feet and dodging every attempt while counterattacking. It went on for a while before those four fateful words left Sasuke’s mouth.

“Go out with me.” You didn’t know what to think. Was he serious? Did he even mean a date?! “We’re in the middle of a fight and that’s what you’re thinking of?” I saw his lips curve upwards as he blocked my swords. “Tch. I’m serious, (Y/N). You’re different from other girls… I like you.” Sasuke blushed, but you were sure your face was showing shades of red no one had ever witnessed before. “If we don’t accidentally kill ourselves because we’re distracted, I’d love to.”

“Would that mean it’s a bad time to tell me you kinda stabbed me in the side?”

Neji~

“Where are we going exactly, (Y/N)?” You smiled at Neji as you pulled him along behind you. “I went to this great little cafe and their tea is to die for! I had to take you!” He snorted, clearly amused. “The tea?” You laughed. “You’re always drinking tea, I thought you could use a little a variety!” He chuckled as you both walked through the door.

“I’m going to use the restroom real quick, will you be okay?” I nodded but pointed to the menu. “What do you want?” He handed you a few yen, that you didn’t plan on using. “Surprise me, this is supposed to be for variety right?” Then he was gone around the corner.

You shrugged to yourself as you walked up to the counter. “Hello, how can I help you today?” You smiled, pulling out your own money. “Hi, can I get a Berry Blend Açai Tea, please? Oh, and two dangos, as well!” In no time you had paid and received the sugary treats. They would bring you and Neji your tea.

“Well, well, well, what’s a pretty lady like you doing all on your own?” A man appeared in front of you, causing you to stop in your tracks. You looked behind you, unsure of who he was talking to. “Yes, you, sweet cheeks.” You scowled. “I’m not alone, now if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to sit down.” The man just laughed, not moving an inch. “Aw, don’t be like that. I don’t see anyone-”

You took a deep breath, but it didn’t work. You were still pissed. “Look, if you don’t move, I’ll be forced to move you.” He didn’t have a headband, so he wouldn’t be a challenge. He just stood there laughing at you. You set your dango on a nearby table, before kicking out his knee. When he bent down, yelling profanities, you grabbed his head and brought it down harshly onto your knee. He wouldn’t need his nose, right? “Why you little-!” You cut him off with a hand to his pressure point and he fell, unconscious before he hit the ground.

“(Y/N)?” By now you had a small audience, but you were only paying attention to Neji. “I was just coming over to tell him that I was with you… but it looks like you had everything under control. You laughed sheepishly. “Maybe we should get out things to go?”

Neji walked beside you, quietly sipping his tea, seemingly deep in thought. You knew it was best to let him think through whatever it was, so you ate your dango while you waited. “She really is perfect…” You heard him mumble to himself. You have him a strange look. “What?”

His cheeks were tinted pink, but he didn’t back down from your gaze. “I realized you were special from the moment I first met you, but… seeing you take that man down opened my eyes to how perfect you really are.”

Your heart fluttered at his words. Did Neji like you…? “I don’t want to lose you to anyone else, I was wondering if you’d like to… go out with me?” Your face broke out into a huge smile.

“Oh, Neji only you could see a girl fight someone twice her size and fall in love. Of course, I’ll go out with you.”

Shikamaru~

You and Shikamaru had agreed to meet up for lunch at a local sushi place for lunch at noon and you were so excited that you had ended up a little early. You didn’t mind though, you’d have a chance to survey the menu before you ordered.

However, you didn’t expect to see Shikamaru Lazy as Hell Nara already waiting on you. But what really shocked you was the cigarette dangling loosely from his lips. You walked up to him, hands in your pockets. “I didn’t know you smoked, Shika.” He took a long drag, a lazy smile playing at his lips.

“Do you want me to stop?” You shook your head as he blew out the smoke in the opposite direction of your face. “Nope. As you long as you know the dangers of smoking, I won’t mention it.” He smirked, throwing the topic of conversation down and squashing it with his heel. “No nagging?” I shook my head. “Doesn’t help. If you’re going to quit you need to do it for yourself, not cause someone bothered you about it.”

Shikamaru wrapped his arm around, in a rare show of affection, and led you inside. “You’re really something else, (Y/N).” You couldn’t help but eye the pack of cigarettes he clearly had in his pouch. You knew they were bad for you, but surely a few couldn’t hurt right?

“Tch, I’m not letting you smoke, so you can get rid of that idea.” Shika deadpanned. Your jaw dropped. “But I didn’t even say anything!” He just chuckled as you both took a seat at a booth back in the corner. “I know you, you were clearly staring at them and thinking about trying one.”

You groaned at how easy to read you were. Surely he was exaggerating and it was just a lucky guess. “Hello! I am to be your server today. What can I get you, sweetheart?” You gulped, more than a little uncomfortable with the way he was looking at you. “Oi! Are you serious? We’re clearly on a date! Stop eyeing her like a piece of meat and take our orders!” Shikamaru shouted, peeved. It was an unusual sight, you knew he was a laid back guy, he was more likely to brush things off.

“I apologize, I was ju-” Shikamaru held up a hand. “I’m not her keeper, apologize to her, she was clearly uncomfortable.” The waiter paled. “I’m really sorry, I don’t know what came over me.” You nodded once. “It’s okay…” Seemingly satisfied, Shikamaru grabbed your hand and dragged you out of the restaurant, obviously not caring for the service.

You couldn’t help but giggle at his annoyed expression. “So that was a date, Shika?” His face went from annoyed to embarrassed instantly, but he didn’t let that deter him. “I mean, it’d be a drag but I could ask you on a more official one.” You grinned, linking arms with him. “That’d be fabulous, but I’ll spare you the trouble, Mr. Lazy, and say that I’d be happy to go on a date with you.”

With a slight blush still adorning his cheeks, he moved his hand to wrap it around your waist. “Maybe you’re not as troublesome I thought.” You gave him a look. “Wanna bet?” He just sighed, but you didn’t miss his smile.

Kiba~

Shikamaru and Kiba had gone a few hours ago for a ‘boys night out’, leaving you alone with a plethora of movies and all the ice cream. Mr. and Mrs. Nara were already asleep and from their bedroom, you couldn’t hear the TV in Shika’s room. It was perfect.

You had decided on watching ‘The Boy In The Striped Pajamas’ after having heard it was good. It was a mistake. A huge mistake. You could handle movie horror, gore on missions, and real-life tragedy, but this was too much. The tale of two boys, oblivious to the horror show they lived in as they became friends, only to be killed in such a brutal fashion…

That’s how the boys found you, sobbing as you watched the kids enter the gas chamber. You felt like your heart was tearing apart. Maybe you shouldn’t have had so much coffee before. “Um… (Y/N), you okay there?” You turned to Kiba, sniffling. “No! They d-died!” Your wailing started back up again. Shikamaru groaned. “Troublesome woman, you know you’re not supposed to watch sad movies.” Kiba wrapped an arm around you. “Cut her some slack, Shikamaru. Everyone gets sad from time to time.”

Kiba gave you a small smile as he grabbed a tissue. “Here,” he gently wiped away your tears as he looked at the ice cream tub. “How much ice cream did you eat, (Y/N/N)?” You flushed. “More than I care to admit.” He laughed, throwing away the tissue. “Thank you, Kiba, I really appreciate you.” He gave you a grin and ruffled your hair.

“That’s what I’m here for. Now, let’s clean up the remainder of your sob fest.” You laughed tears forgotten, as you and Kiba cleaned up, while Shikamaru took out the movie from the DVD player. “Was the movie that bad?” Shikamaru asked skeptically.

“Yes. It was. You have to watch it sometime when I’m not around.” They both snickered. “We’ll have to just so we can see how dramatic you’re being.” I scoffed. “Sure, Kiba. But you’re going to eat your words when you start crying.” Shika sighed. “What a drag. You have a bad taste in movies.” I rolled my eyes. “Lies.”

Kiba crossed his arms. “If you let me take you out, I’d show you some good movies.” He mumbled under his breath. You did a double-take. “K-Kiba… what was that?” The rest of his cheeks matched his red stripes. “I said that if I could take you on a date, I’d show you a good movie.” A grin spread across your lips. “I think I’d like that… a lot.” Shikamaru looked between you two, alarmed.

“Wait, my two best friends?! I’ll always be a third wheel!”

Gaara~

You set down your book when you heard a soft rapping at your door. Puzzled at who it could be you walked to your door, opening it. You were pleasantly surprised to see Gaara standing on your front steps, a small smile adorning his face.

“Gaara! Come in, what are you doing here?” He stepped into your home, as you closed the door. “Well, I learned my first song and I wanted you to be the first to hear it.” You grinned following him to your piano.

“This is great! What is it?” He sat down beside you and flushed as he began. “The first thing I ever heard you play was the theme for Swan Lake, so I learned the finale to it…” His fingers danced as he played the song perfectly. It was the simplistic version, but you could tell he really practiced.

“Gaara, this is beautiful. You have a real talent for the piano.” His blush darkened as he finished. “Thank you. I couldn’t have done it without you. Truthfully, when I asked you to teach me, I just wanted to spend more time with you, but then I really did enjoy playing.” Your flush matched his. “R-really?” He nodded, uncharacteristically nervous. “Yes, but now I… want to see you outside of these lessons.”

You placed a hand over his, both of you wearing matching smiles. “Like a… date?” He nodded, shyly. “Yes, like a date.” You wrapped him in a hug. “That sounds amazing, Gaara.” He hugged you back, his head resting on your shoulder. Your door slammed open, scaring you both so bad you both fell off the piano bench.

“YES! We’ve been waiting for this moment!” Kankuro and Temari stood in your doorway fists raised in victory. You and Gaara just stared, too shocked to even be embarrassed. “Were you guys eavesdropping?” He asked, clearly not thrilled. He stood up before lending me a hand.

“We couldn’t help it!” The siblings whine simultaneously. “You guys are just too cute together! After all our planning, we just had to know what happened!” Temari cooed. You just covered your face, trying to hide your red face, but you were secretly flattered that Gaara had actually taken the time to plan. “Guys! This was supposed to be a private moment!” Gaara gave them a look.

“You heard her, bye guys, see you later!” With that, he shoved them out of your living room, slamming the door. “At least they’re happy for us?” You suggested, giggling.

Kakashi~

“Don’t be so stubborn, Kakashi-sensei! How hard could it be? You guys are so close, this next step is natural!” Your eyebrows furrowed as you saw Sakura and Ino talking to Kakashi. They were actually getting along?! You pushed down your shock, opting to listen to their conversation from your hidden spot in the tree.

“It’s not that simple, guys. (Y/N) and I haven’t been friends for that long, I’m pretty sure she would turn me down.” You perked up at hearing your name. What were they talking about? “Oh, c’mon! We see the way you look at each other, it’s clear you both like each other!” Ino exclaimed. Your face instantly heated up. Were you that obvious and oblivious? Did he actually like you? That would be a dream come true!

“I don’t know about that… I think it’d be best to wait a little longer before I do that.” Sakura rolled her eyes at his hesitance. “Sensei! There’s nothing to asking someone out, it’s so simple!” Ino complained impatiently. Kakashi crossed his arms. “Oh, is it? Then why hasn’t Sasuke gone out with either of you?” You covered your mouth at the utter brutality, trying not to laugh.

Sakura and Ino screamed incoherently at how that was a totally different story. “Look, Kakashi-sensei,” Sakura exhaled, “we’re just trying to help you. You of all people deserve to be happy and it’s obvious she makes you happy!” You smiled, seeing how she cared for her sensei.

“Sakura is right, said no one ever,” Ino whispered, “how do you know she doesn’t like you if you never ask? But, she’s my sensei! I see the way she smiles more when you’re around. She blushes like a schoolgirl for goodness sake!” Said blush was creeping up your neck as they ruthlessly exposed you.

“I know you girls are right, but how am I supposed to ask her?” Sakura gave him a dubious look. “You’re the one always reading those smutty romances, shouldn’t you know?” A small giggle slipped through your lips. You watched Kakashi smirk suddenly and you swooned. Swooned?! You mentally shook yourself, trying to control your emotions.

“I don’t think asking her will be a problem since she’s been listening to this whole conversation. Come on out, (Y/N).” You were pretty sure your heart dropped down to your feet. You gracefully jumped down from your tree, blushing about fifty shades of red.

“Um, h-hey guys! What’s up?” All three of them gave you flat, unamused looks “C’mon (Y/N)-sensei! What’s your answer?” Ino begged. Kakashi placed a hand on her head. “How about you let me ask her, hm?” Her cheeks went red. “O-oh, right!”

His focus turned back to you. “I know you heard everything, but I really do like you and I want to take you on a proper date.” Sakura rolled her eyes, snorting. “‘Proper’? Have to be on time for that.” Ino punched her, hissing at her to shut up.

You giggled at the pure chaos, but you knew you wouldn’t have it any other way. “I guess it’s good I really like you too. Let’s just hope it’ll just be the two of us!” Sakura and Ino laughed before realizing it wasn’t a joke. “Oh-oh…” Now it was you and Kakashi’s turn to laugh.

~Akatsuki~

Pein~

Even though Pein had seemed cruel and cold in the beginning, he had actually panned out to be a decent human being. Or God, in his not-so-humble opinion. It took six months for you to realize, but you had noticed. He made sure you had everything you needed, food, clothes, your own room… things you hadn’t had consistently in years. You couldn’t hide the fact that you had grown fond of him.

When he sent you on missions they were usually solo, seeing as no one had your stealth and sticky fingers. However, they were always manageable and you were always successful. You had just gotten back from your last mission, you had been sent to eavesdrop on Orochimaru’s meeting with some important what’s-his-name, and you were heading to his office to report back.

You knocked twice, knowing he didn’t like people just barging in. “Enter.” You opened the door, unsurprised to see the Akatsuki leader surrounded by paperwork. “Ah, you’re back sooner than I expected.” You handed him the scroll, filled with your findings. “It was a very to the point meeting, Leader-Sama.” He nodded, exchanging the scroll you gave him for another one.

Your eyebrows furrowed in question. “I know you just got back, but I have one last mission for you. It’s very simple, I have no doubt you’ll finish it before the night is over.” You sighed, at least it was quick.

“Yes, Leader-Sama.” Just as you turned, you heard the carrot head’s voice. “Oh, and (Y/N)? Tell no one of this mission, please. You leave in 30 minutes.” You nodded sharply. “Understood.”

~~~Time Skip Brought By You Stealing Kakuzu’s Money~~~

Your mission was almost too simple, in comparison to what you’d been tasked with before. All you had to do was make your way into a high-end restaurant Pein had gotten you a reservation for. Your goal was to find one of Orochimaru’s contacts and steal an important message he had.

You awkwardly smoothed out the red cocktail dress you had on and moved to look for the man the scroll had described. You didn’t see anyone, so you sat in a corner booth, content to wait. “Can I get you a drink to start you off?” Your attention snapped to the waiter, and you dawned a smile. “Um, I’ll just take a Sake, please.” He nodded, writing it down. “I’ll be right back with that.” He dashed away, revealing someone behind him.

You blinked rapidly trying to make sense of what you were seeing. “Leader-sama?!” You shout-whispered. “What’s going on?! Is something wrong?” He offered you a smile as he sat down across from you. “Not exactly. There was never a mission, I ju-” Anger surged within you.

“You mean to tell me, you brought me on a wild goose chase while I could’ve been sleeping?!”

The man had the nerve to sigh at you. “Just let me explain, okay?” You crossed your arms, waiting for him to explain.

“There is no mission because I wanted to take you out on a date.” You choked on absolutely nothing but your own disbelief. You had developed a soft spot for your leader, but… he wanted to take you on a date?

“Leader-sama-” “Pein,” He interrupted. You nodded slowly. “Pein… why didn’t you just ask me? Like a regular person.” He nodded at the waiter as he brought your drink. “Well, first, I’m a God, so I don’t do things like humans, and second, I didn’t know if you’d say yes.” You laughed a bit. “Well, Pein, that’s usually where asking the person comes in.”

His lips quirked upwards. “Well, we’re already here, aren’t we? We might as well enjoy the night.” You hid your grin (unsuccessfully).

“Yeah, yeah, I suppose. I am pretty hungry.”

Deidara~

Ever since your explosive art exhibit, you had been wondering what had happened to Deidara. It’d been a month since you’d seen him ad frankly, you missed him more than you’d care to admit. Maybe he hadn’t meant what he said?

You hadn’t been up to making ant new art lately and that wasn’t going to change any time soon. Instead, you resigning yourself to a self-pity nap. You’d been resorting to those a lot lately.

You heard your bed creak in the back of your mind, and because you were a light sleeper, you felt yourself begin to wake up. “Oh, sorry, I didn’t mean to wake up, (Y/N), un.” You blinked for a solid twenty seconds, your tired mind not being able to compute what you were seeing.

Deidara sat next to you, on top of your covers, a half-smile on his face. But what was possibly even more astonishing was the fact that he was wearing an Akatsuki cloak. “Dei…? W-what’re you doing here?” You sat up, rubbing the sleep out of your eyes.

He sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck. “I made you a promise, and I intended to keep it… even if it took me a little longer than I imagined, un.” You still couldn’t believe what you were seeing.

The sweet, charming artist you had come to love was a member of the Akatsuki. “Ah, I see you noticed my cloak, yeah. I figured it was wrong to keep it from you, un.” You just stared, totally stunned. His hand rested on your cheek, gently bringing your gaze up to meet his. “Please say something, (Y/N),” He whispered nervously. “I’m really glad you’re back, Deidara.” And it was the truth, him being an S-ranked criminal didn’t change that. You had no loyalties, no ties, and that gave you no reason to dislike his choices.

“You don’t hate me, un?” You placed your hand over the one that was still placed on your cheek. “The time we spent together, the person I got to know didn’t change in my eyes just because he has certain loyalties. You’re still the funny, wild, and charismatic Deidara I met a month ago.” His smile brightened up the whole room.

“Thank you for waiting for me, I didn’t have a chance to get away from our base, yeah.” You smiled. “It doesn’t matter why, you’re here with me now.” The two of you were silent for a moment before you both burst into laughter. “We sound so corny!” He snickered. You rested a hand on his shoulder to stay upright as your laughter shook your form. “I know right! But, I did mean everything I said, just pretend I phrased it cooler.” Deidara chuckled before his face turned serious.

“Me as well, especially when I say that I’m going to take you on the best date ever before I have to leave. I swear it, un.” You pulled him into a hug, resting your cheek in the crook of his neck. “How much longer do you have?”

His arms snaked around your torso. “Until the end of the night, yeah.” You pulled away, giving him a sly look. “Well, we’d better get going then, huh?”

[hetyra]

So I’ve been concocting a NG+/time travel P5 story idea where both Akira and Goro remember the original timeline in my head for like the past week, and since I’m terrible about finishing multi-chapter fics I’m just gonna ramble about it in a very long post instead lol

The reset doesn’t apply equally to them.

Akira goes to sleep one night weeks or months after the events of the game and wakes up after what feels like only minutes later on the train bound for Shibuya just like he does at the beginning of the game.

Goro on the other hand goes from exchanging bullets with the cognitive version of himself in Shido’s palace to waking up in bed in the blink of an eye. It takes a few minutes, but he realizes he’s 14 again and it’s the first day of his last year of middle school – which is also the day the meta-nav appeared on his phone.

He winds up not using the app at all. Nor does he approach Shido and offer his “services”. He’s extremely shaken up by all the memories or dreams or whatever the hell they are. He decides he doesn’t care, but he’d rather avoid becoming that kind of person and meeting that fate.

By pure happenstance, he eventually ends up meeting Wakaba. Feeling guilt for being the original cause of her death, Goro feels the want to help her this time around and ends up expressing an interest in cognitive psience (which isn’t a total lie) that results in them making a sort of confidant deal.

Through Wakaba he also meets and gets to know both Sojiro and Futaba.

Realizing that his lack of involvement with Shido could have potentially prevented Akira’s original arrest, Goro chooses to attend Shujin for high school; intent on forming the PTs himself if need be.

It’s right around this time that Sojiro suddenly offers to adopt him.

He starts attending high school as Sakura Goro, and everything is going great. Until it’s not.

Wakaba dies. In the same exact manner as when he had been the one behind it.

Up to this point in time, Goro occasionally had PTSD symptoms when things reminding him of his actions in the previous timeline came up. Wakaba’s death affects him terribly, and all his symptoms get worse from there on out.

Sojiro moves them out to Yongen and eventually gets custody of Futaba, and Goro not wanting to deal with or think about what’s going on or what happened before, instead focusses on preventing Futaba from developing a palace. He succeeds.

Around this time, Sojiro starts worrying a lot about Goro. He knows he’s been… off ever since Wakaba’s death. Even now it seems like her death is weighing heavier on him than it is Futaba.

Right about the time Futaba passes her entrance exams to get into Shujin, Sojiro is asked to take in Akira for his probation. Goro, who was helping out at Leblanc at the time of the conversation, practically bullies Sojiro into accepting.

Back to Akira now.

His arrival in Tokyo goes exactly as it did before. The next day goes much the same, up until they’re in the car on their way back to Leblanc. For the hell of it, Akira asks Sojiro again why he took him in. Sojiro’s answer is the same, except instead of saying “I was already paid for it too.” He says “My son was rather insistent I do, too.”

Akira in shock and confusion asks “Son?” to which Sojiro explains: “Oh right. I have two kids; adopted both of them and they happen to go to Shujin too. My son, Goro, is a 3rd year while my daughter, Futaba, is a 1st year. Hopefully they’ll be a good influence on you instead of the other way around.”

Cue Akira’s brain short-circuiting at the mention of Goro.

Upon arriving back at Leblanc, Futaba and Goro are there waiting for them. Futaba wastes no time commenting on how Akira doesn’t look all that tough while Goro is standing behind the counter making everyone coffee – and wearing jeans and a hoodie to Akira’s continued shock.

Sojiro doesn’t let them talk long after he feeds them, saying they should all go to bed since they have school in the morning. Futaba leaves fairly quickly but Sojiro stops Goro to ask if he’s alright, having noted the bags under his eyes. When Goro says it’s nothing to worry about and leaves, Sojiro sighs and mumbles just loud enough for Akira to hear “Is it because there was another subway accident?”

That night, Akira’s dreams put him in the velvet room. He’s happy to see Lavenza and the real Igor but surprised when he hears Goro in the cell next to his.

Lavenza explains who she and Igor are to Goro and that despite their collective freedom from Yaldabitch, he does in fact still exist in this timeline and must be dealt with. Akira helps fill in Goro on how they dealt with him before but that’s all they have time to discuss before they’re being woken up by their respective alarm clocks.

Futaba goes to school ahead of them with the excuse that she doesn’t want to be seen with her dorky older brother and the guy with a criminal record, giving the two of them time to talk.

Akira is quick to demand answers regarding the mental shutdowns and psychotic breakdowns, which elicits a rather desperate denial out of Goro. He insists it’s not him causing them and he doesn’t know who is, and Akira realizes quickly that Goro isn’t lying and is legitimately anxious about it.

The knowledge that someone else seems to have entered the “game” makes Akira uneasy, but assures Goro that things will be fine. They’ll stop whoever it is, Shido, and Yaldabitch. But first they need the Phantom Thieves.

This is when Goro admits he has yet to use the nav, despite having had it for 3 years at this point. Before Akira can comment on that, they exit the station to the rain and he instead opens the app and maneuvers them both so that they encounter Ann, Kamoshida, and Ryuji.

When they arrive at the castle instead of the school, Goro levels a look at him but simply sighs and goes with it when Akira tells him to trust him.

Everything goes the same as before, awakening and all, even with Goro there. That is up until Morgana just walks up to them. He’s not in a cell.

It turns out Morgana also remembers everything and it takes some improv acting on both Morgana and Goro’s parts to cover for Akira’s stupidity when Ryuji asks “Wait, you know this monster-cat?!”

 When they get home that night, Goro tries to take the blame for them being late but Sojiro doesn’t bite – turning to Akira and telling him that his son is a good kid and he won’t have Akira influencing him into bad behavior. Sojiro isn’t quite as angry a few minutes later when he comes upstairs to find Morgana chilling on Akira’s bed.

Goro asks Akira the next morning to text him when Ryuji asks to go back to the palace, to which Akira agrees with the full intention on not doing that.

The day of the volleyball rally, Akira is on his way to the next abuse victim he needs to question when he‘s suddenly yanked around a corner by a very miffed looking Goro. Akira apologizes and explains why he left him out, receives a grumpy “Ok, I forgive you” and continues on his mission.

Akira again does not tell Goro they’re going into the palace the day Ann follows them in and awakens to her own persona, despite Ryuji and Morgana both telling him he should.

It’s later when they’re exchanging their contact info with Ann that Goro appears looking very pissed off at certain someone. After that, the group chat is established with Goro in it so he will in fact know when they’re going to the palace.

Goro sticks to back up and surveillance due to still not having awakened to his persona yet, but throughout their infiltration he notes Joker’s watchful eye on him and the constant reminders to stay safe.

Come the gym-turned-church Goro decides he’s had enough of the other tricksters incessant worrying over him. The two of them start to argue, Akira never quite saying it’s because he doesn’t want to witness Goro die again, when the angel shadow appears and interrupts them. Akira quickly turns his attention to it and tells Goro to get to a safe distance, which cause the latter to yell back angrily.

Cue Loki’s voice and Goro ripping off a mask.

Goro’s has a new outfit, though it’s sort of a mix between his two previous outfits and Jokers

He discovers he still has Robin Hood as well.

And that’s about as far as I’ve figured out.

I haven’t decided whether the events of the new semester in Royal happened in the original timeline, but I really want to stick with the “from being shot to waking up in bed” thing so if they did I’m rolling with Goro’s memory of the events feeling disjointed and out of place.

There’s one scene I actually animated (because I was bored and in the mood to animate) that takes place later, when they go to the airsoft shop for the first time. Ryuji tells Akira about the shop over the phone, and Akira doesn’t tell Goro what they’re doing, only to meet up with them in Shibuya and that it was important. Akira thought it’d be funny if Ryuji were to ask Goro if he knew anything about guns with absolutely no context – and he does indeed finds Goro’s “overreaction” quite funny. At this point, Akira still isn’t aware that Goro actually has PTSD because of the events in the original timeline, and so thinks it’s just a funny inside joke. Goro’s anxiety meanwhile is through the fucking roof.

Here’s a link to the video of the scene.

[purpli-writes]

Danganronpa: Locked and Reloaded (Chapter 2: Problematic Workouts For The Aspiring)

Summary:

Stuck in Hope's Peak Academy in a cruel killing game, class 78 is forced to either kill or stay trapped forever.

Makoto Naegi, the Ultimate Lucky Student becomes friends with an unusual pair... of people?

Who would've thought discovering who murdered someone would get him two boyfriends.

Spoilers for Danganronpa Trigger Happy Havoc (somewhat)

You can read it on AO3 here

Makoto couldn’t shower. 

Physically, nothing was preventing him from showering, but seeing Leon’s dead body in his shower only a day prior still lingered in his mind.

True to his word, Monokuma had cleaned up any trace of Leon’s body. But you can’t erase memories.

Or at least Monokuma hadn’t.

After the execution of Sayaka, no one dared to say anything for a few minutes. It was all so painfully real.

Makoto remembered leaving the trial room and heading straight to his dorm. He felt so numb.

They had lost two people in one fell swoop. Both of them had died for nothing. 

But Makoto still kept the belief that all of them, well the rest of them, could get out of Hope’s Peak Academy. 

Even if it was useless, it was better than just accepting fate.

So Makoto slowly made his way to the cafeteria.

Unsurprisingly, everyone was there. Makoto couldn’t bother to care that he was late.

“Did that really happen…?” Aoi asked quietly as Makoto sat down at the table. He didn’t need to ask to know what she was talking about.

“Obviously,” Byakuya snapped back. “Why bother asking such stupid questions?”

“There’s no need to be cruel,” Kyoko responded, “it’s only natural someone would ask that question in a situation such as this.”

Byakuya frowned at Kyoko’s response but didn’t reply again. The tension was thick even as the morning discussion droned on.

“What did we gain from the deaths of Sayaka and Leon?” Makoto asked suddenly, causing everyone at the table to look at him.

“What do you mean, ‘what did we gain’ Mr. Naegi?” Hifumi asked, voicing the group’s confusion.

“I mean,” Makoto began, “when we were given our motives, we were told we would be given something in order to inspire us to kill. But none of us here committed murder, so do we gain anything from their deaths?” 

“That is a good question,” Kyoko muttered, putting her hand on her face. “I think it would be safe to assume that we’re getting something out of the deaths of the blackened and the victim.”

“What exactly could we gain from the deaths?” Celeste asked, “I mean, we did not fulfill the motive requirements, no?”

“Maybe it’s something different,” Sakura added, “something we can benefit from but the blackened wouldn’t.”

“What could we benefit from? We only want to escape, right?” Aoi asked.

“That’s superficial,” Kyoko responded. “We’re not only wanting to escape, as shown by Sayaka murdering Leon.”

“Yeah well, it’s not just fucking superficial,” Mondo said. “I want to leave this place as soon as fucking possible.” 

“Well, I think I see what Kyoko meant,” Makoto said. “There’s got to be something to keep us motivated or else we wouldn’t exactly be interesting to watch.”

“Ugh, I still can’t shake how odd it is to be constantly watched,” Junko added, crossing her arms.

“Y-you’re a m-model, don’t you l-like to be c-constantly watched?” Toko accused.

“I like getting paid to look pretty, I never signed up to be watched day and night without end,” Junko responded annoyed.

“W-well, you’re probably g-getting off to it!” Toko accused again, and Junko sighed before responding.

“ I’m getting off to it?! Are you sure you’re not the one fantasizing about it?!” Junko shot back, glaring at Toko.  

“Ugh, will you pigs shut up?!” Byakuya said, voice cutting through their fight.

“Who are you to tell me to shut up?!” Junko yelled, taking her anger out on Byakuya instead of Toko.

“I’m Byakuya Togami and I’m set to inherit the Togami corporation! Who are you-” Byakuya began before he was interrupted by Kiyotaka.

“Everyone! Such a fight is unacceptable in a school setting!” Kiyotaka yelled.

“Taka…” Makoto mumbled, "I don't think they care about what's welcome in a school environment."

“Well, they should! Just because we are trapped in this school doesn’t mean we can resort to becoming mindless animals!” Kiyotaka responded.

“Hey,” Mondo said, apparently annoyed from Kiyotaka’s comment, “school ain’t the most important in the world.”

“What?! How can there be something more important than your studies?!” Kiyotaka asked, completely floored.

“I dunno man, have you tried  living ?” Mondo responded.

“I have! What a completely pointless question!” Kiyotaka said, not getting Mondo’s sarcasm.

“I’ll show you a completely fuckin’ pointless question!” Mondo said, as he started to get up, presumably to punch Kiyotaka.

“Everyone, settle down,” Kyoko said, crossing her arms. “We still haven’t answered the question of whether or not we’re getting anything from the class trials.”

“I just don’t understand what else we could get, other than our lives…” Aoi said.

“I don’t think it’s important,” Byakuya muttered. “After all, you’ll all be dying for me, anyways.”

“Uh, I don’t think so…” Makoto said, earning a glare from Byakuya.

“Tch,” Byakuya said as he adjusted his glasses. “You’ve just made yourself a huge enemy, Makoto.” 

“Well! It looks like this breakfast has been very informative!” Monokuma yelled, appearing once again out of thin air.

“Ah!” Makoto screamed, falling out of his chair. 

“I’ve been hearing your theories about the class trials, and I’m very intrigued!” Monokuma said, starting to sweat.

“Are you going to answer our questions, or are you going to be a nuisance?” Celeste asked.

“If you ask nicely you might get the answers you so desire…” Monokuma replied, still sweating.

“I’m starting to think we don’t want the answers,” Junko muttered, staring at Monokuma in disgust.

“Aww! You kids are no fun!” Monokuma pouted. “I guess I’ll answer your burning questions anyways! Since I’m so nice, y’know?” 

“No,” Kyoko said. “You are not exactly ‘nice’, Monokuma.”

“Anyways! After each class trial, if the class remains, a new area of the school will open up!” Monokuma explained.

“Huh? A new area of the school?” Makoto asked.

“Yup! I hope you didn’t think that this school was only a couple of rooms! The stairs aren’t just for decoration!” 

“N-new areas, huh… I s-suppose that isn’t s-so bad…” Toko muttered.

“Mhm! I’m not so heartless, you all need to give me some credit!” Monokuma replied proudly.

“The only credit you’ll get from me is when you die,” Byakuya said plainly.

“Ouch! My heart! I can see the  brats don’t need me here!” Monokuma replied before disappearing.

“Well, I guess that answers that question,” Kyoko said, looking at the others. “I suppose we should all explore, try to see the new area we ‘unlocked’.”

“Oh! This is like a video game!” Hifumi added.

“Tch,” Byakuya said as he got up. “If this is a video game, I’m intent on winning.”

“I think we all are…” Makoto said, once again earning a glare from Byakuya.

“There’s no use in fighting,” Celeste said, getting up as well. “We might as all work together to achieve our similar goals, no?”

“Yeah!” Aoi added. “If we work together, we’ll all get out just fine!”

“I agree,” Sakura said. “The sooner we explore the new area the better.”

“Then let’s get to it!” Kiyotaka yelled. “Together we can accomplish anything!”

With that, the class dispersed. It didn’t take long for them to discover that the second floor was accessible. They all slowly made their way upstairs. 

“Woah!” Aoi said, suddenly.

“Huh? What’s up Hina?” Makoto asked, confused.

“Don’t you guys see it?! There’s a pool!” Aoi responded, excitedly.

“And what’re we supposed to do with that information?” Byakuya asked, crossing his arms.

“Ugh! Some of us like to have fun, jerk.” Aoi responded, crossing her arms.

“I think it is interesting,” Sakura added. “At least we have something to occupy ourselves with.”

“Hm, if you are inclined to that, I suppose so…” Celeste muttered. “Some of us would rather stay dry.”

“Still!” Makoto said, “at least we have something to do, right?”

“Huh,” Yasuhiro said. “I didn’t expect a pool!”

“T-that’s because y-you’re not a very good p-psychic…” Toko muttered.

“Hey!” Yasuhiro responded, clearly insulted. “I have a success rate of 30%!”

“Y-yeah well I’d guess that’d be good f-for a s-scammer..!” 

‘Well then let’s explore the pool a little bit.” Makoto said.

The other students and Makoto went into the pool area.

“Puhuhuhu! Welcome to Hope’s Peak Academy Pool.” Monokuma said, as he appeared.

“What’s up with the gun’s by the door…? Are they for hunting g-ghosts?!” Yasuhiro yelled.

“Nonsense! They’re probably for decoration!” Kiyotaka responded.

“Nope! The weapons are 100 percent genuine!” Monokuma said. ”If you try to be a pervert, well, you’ll get more holes in you than swiss cheese!”

“Also, if you try to scan your e-Handbook to open the door of the gender you are not, the door will not open!” Monokuma said.

“S-so what happens w-when two people e-exchange e-Handbooks? How w-would you stop that?” Toko asked.

“Easy! We have a rule against that now…” Monokuma said. “Exchanging your e-Handbook with someone is now illegal! Don’t break that rule if you don’t want to get punished!”

After saying that, Monokuma disappeared, and the bickering began once more.

“Break it up,” Junko said, annoyed. “We still have other rooms to explore.” 

“Couldn’t we check our e-Handbook maps for the other rooms on this floor…?” Chihiro asked, pulling hers out.

“Huh,” Mondo said. “I guess that is fuckin’ smart.”

“Tch,” Byakuya said. “I already thought of that.”

“Well then,” Celeste said, staring straight at Byakuya. “What exactly awaits us on this floor?”

“Hah, you think I would be stupid enough to share information with the likes of you?” Byakuya asked, looking away.

“Huh…?” Makoto asked, staring at Byakuya confused.

“We’re all enemies,” Byakuya explained. “Only one of us can leave this school alive, so what’s the point of sharing information?”

“Still,” Makoto responded, “wouldn’t it be wiser to work together and combine our knowledge? We’re less vulnerable in groups than we are separate.”

“I don’t depend on anyone, Makoto,” Byakuya snapped back, seemingly insulted. “I am a Togami, I need no one other than myself. You’re all a waste of space here.”

“You seemingly forget that we are trapped here together,” Celeste responded coolly. “If the Togamis were so powerful, they would’ve rescued you, no?”

“Ugh,” Byakuya said. “I don’t need rescuing, I’ll win this game myself.”

“Hm,” Kyoko responded, “so you are confessing to a murder you haven’t yet committed? I don’t think that’s a very wise move, Byakuya.”

“All of you…!” Byakuya said as he clenched his fist. “Get out of my sight…!” After saying that, Byakuya went into a room with twin doors.

“Maybe we should follow him…?” Makoto suggested.

“The room he is in is the library if the icon of books is to be believed....” Chihiro responded. “We might get information from the library, so it would be smart to go…”

“Then it is decided!” Kiyotaka yelled. “We shall head to the library!”

Soon, the students made their way into the library. Makoto wasn’t exactly impressed with the library, it certainly wasn’t the largest one he’d seen. And this one looked a little dusty, had it not been used in a long time?

“Why are you all here?” Byakuya asked, voice seething with anger.

“We’re exploring the second floor, remember?” Aoi responded, crossing her arms in a mocking fashion.

“Ugh, don’t waste my time, look around and just leave.”

“Hey… what’s that on the table…?” Chihiro asked, slowly walking to the front desk.

“Is that… a computer…?” Kyoko asked.

“Woah! Access to the outside world?! We’re saved!” Yasuhiro yelled.

“Um… bad news…” Chihiro muttered. “It’s not exactly working right now…”

“Awe, seriously…?!” Yasuhiro said. “Just when I thought we were saved.”

“Chihiro, aren’t you the Ultimate Programmer?” Makoto asked.

“Um… oh…! You’re asking if I could fix it…?” Chihiro asked, frown on her face.

“I mean, it’s in your fuckin’ title, yeah?” Mondo replied before Makoto could.

“In theory, yes… but we don’t know what damage has been done to it…” Chihiro said. “If we could power it on, that’d be a good sign…”

“Well, let us power it on, yes?” Celeste asked, staring at the computer indifferently.

After messing around with the computer, the class was successful in turning it on.

“Woah! Looks like we  are saved after all!” Yasuhiro said.

“Uh… I’m sorry… but that isn’t true…” Chihiro said, staring sadly at the computer.

“Explain yourself,” Byakuya replied, crossing his arms.

“There’s no internet connection… it seems the mastermind thought this through… I’m sorry!”

“It’s not your fault, right? You’re not the internet god, are you?” Junko replied, crossing her arms. “If anything, this can just serve as entertainment!”

“E-entertainment…? Y-you mean like porn…?” Toko asked.

“Ugh,” Junko responded, “you are so disgusting.”

“Anyways,” Kyoko said, ignoring Toko and Junko. “Maybe we can use the files on the computer. It is after all branded Hope’s Peak.”

“Oh…! You’re right, there does seem to be some files on here…” Chihiro said. “Although they seem to be corrupted…”

“Corrupted?! Wait… what does that mean…?” Aoi asked.

“They’re getting paid off?! The mastermind can pay off computer files?!” Yasuhiro yelled. “Oh no we’re doomed!”

“Not exactly,” Kyoko said. “How long do you figure it’ll take to uncorrupt these files?”

“I could make a program…” Chihiro muttered, mostly to herself. “But it could take a few days… I’m sorry…!”

“It’s fine,” Kyoko said. “Just try to get it done as soon as possible.”

“Alright…! I promise you I won’t let you down…!” Chihiro said, eyes filling with determination.

“We do not doubt your abilities, Ms. Fujisaki!” Hifumi said, trying to keep the light in Chihiro’s eyes.

“Oh… uhm, thank you…!” Chihiro said, smiling brightly at Hifumi.

“With a smile that cute, I might want to date you, but I’m only into 2D so…!” Hifumi said, puffing out his chest.

“Thanks for sharing,” Junko said. “Anything else you’d like to say, creep?”

“I’m sorry that you’re jealous that someone like me will never date someone like you!” Hifumi shouted.

“Ugh, you…!” Junko said, clenching her fist in annoyance.

“We do not need to fight in a library such as this!” Kiyotaka yelled, interrupting Junko and Hifumi’s soon to be war.

“Taka’s right,” Makoto added. “We need to work together, this computer could very well give us the answers we need!”

“Or it could just be nothing,” Byakuya added.

“It’s best to look at the positives, no?” Celeste responded. “Some of us do not have people constantly attending to our every need…”

“I agree! We should use this computer as a symbol! Something to look forward to!” Kiyotaka yelled.

“Look forward too? For all, we know this computer could just be fuckin’ porn!” Mondo said.

“I-in a school environment images of that nature wouldn’t be very appropriate…!” Kiyotaka replied, face turning a tomato shade of red.

“In a school environment murder isn’t exactly good either, but look where we fucking are!”

“There’s no use fighting over the computer,” Kyoko said. “But Taka is right. It’s better for us to view it as something hopeful than to think it is just junk.”

“I think it might be useful to us anyways,” Hifumi said. “For all we know a bunch of 2D girls could be there, just waiting for us…!” After saying that, Hifumi began drooling immensely.

“Or,” Junko said, “there could be a bunch of restraining orders all dedicated to you, creep!”

Before Hifumi could respond, Byakuya cleared his throat.

“Is there anything else all you plebeians need or can I have the library to myself now?”

“Well, actually…” Makoto muttered, “there is the other door in here.”

“Huh? What other door? Makoto, are you feeling alright?” Yasuhiro asked.

“You know, the door right near the monitor…?” Makoto responded, staring at Yasuhiro worriedly.

“Oh! That door…” Yasuhiro muttered, “Aha, I was just messing with you. Of course, I knew that door was there!”

“What could be in there…?” Aoi asked. “More books…?”

“Maybe that’s where they store the manga!” Hifumi added excitedly.

“M-manga…? Don’t be childish, t-this is a library, they only s-store real literature in here…” Toko stuttered out.

“‘Real’ literature…? I’ll have you-” Hifumi began but was interrupted by Byakuya.

“That’s the archive,” Byakuya explained tersely. “I don’t think I have to explain an archive to you plebeians.”

“An archive of what exactly?” Makoto asked.

“Anything really,” Byakuya answered. “I of course already know most of the things archived in there.”

“W-well, I d-don’t think we’ll get a-anything out of it…” Toko said.

“Maybe it has archived information about the school,” Sakura responded, “in that case, it would be in our best interest to look into it.”

“B-but, if B-byakuya has already looked into it, I-I’m sure t-there’s nothing of i-importance in there,” Toko said, looking at Byakuya longingly.

“The stuttering one is correct,” Byakuya responded. “I already looked under everything labeled Hope’s Peak, there wasn’t anything that stood out.”

“Well, maybe your eyes are broken!” Aoi shouted. “Because this whole killing game thing is not normal…!”

“Shut up,” Byakuya said. “Nothing in the files indicates that a killing game was the original plan.”

“Was there anything at all to suggest something malicious?” Celeste asked.

“There was one interesting thing,” Byakuya admitted. “But I don’t see why I have to share it with any of you.”

“It would be in your interest,” Kyoko said. “After all, having information others may want puts a target on your back.”

“Tch,” Byakuya replied, crossing his arms. “Like I have anything to fear from the likes of you.”

“Hm,” Kyoko responded. “Maybe so, but you cannot guard yourself against multiple individuals all seeking information.”

“Fine,” Byakuya said. “Here, it’s a notice.”

Byakuya handed the paper to Kyoko, who read it before passing it to the other members of the class.

“Notice of closure…?” Chihiro asked, staring at the paper.

“How come we never heard of that?” Makoto added.

“Maybe they were keeping it secret…?” Yasuhiro replied, scratching his head in confusion.

“That doesn’t make any sense…! Any respectable school should notify it’s incoming students about any closure!” Kiyotaka yelled.

“Fuck man, no need to take it personally,” Mondo said, crossing his arms.

“Hm,” Celeste said, “so something did happen, yes?”

“T-that seems to be the c-case…” Toko replied.

“What could cause a school like Hope’s Peak Academy to close…?” Aoi asked. “I mean, it’s a really big school, right?”

“The same thing that could cause a killing game,” Junko replied. “But we don’t know what the hell that even is…!”

“Something horrible,” Hifumi added. “Like canceling Princess Piggles…!”

“P-princess Piggles…? I-is that a k-kid’s show…?” Toko asked, crossing her arms.

“No…! It’s only the best anime in the world…!” Hifumi said, defending his prized TV show.

“Pretty sure that’s still a kids show.” Junko responded.

“Anyways,” Celeste said, crossing her arms, “until we can figure out what is on the computer, I suggest we shouldn’t entertain ourselves with mindless conjecture.”

“I suppose Celeste is right,” Kyoko said. “There is no use fighting between ourselves now that we finally have hope.”

“Finally have hope? This is just a fuckin’ computer!” Mondo complained.

“It’s not just a computer,” Kyoko countered cooly, “it’s our first piece of outside information. I don’t believe the mastermind is careless, but they want us to at least have a fair shot.”

“How can you be so sure of that?” Junko asked, staring at her nails.

“They’ve made the game fair, or at least as close as it could get. Class trials exist so the non-blackened at least have a shot of surviving another trial. Accomplices are useless, since there is no achievement for working together.”

“So, you’re saying… they’re trying to bring hope into us…?” Makoto asked, trying to figure out what Kyoko actually meant.

“Perhaps,” Kyoko replied dryly, “after all, you must have hope to succumb to despair.”

“D-despair…? W-where’d you get that from…?” Toko asked, staring at Kyoko as she started to bite her nails.

“When Monokuma first introduced himself, he claimed that he loved to see our faces full of despair. It is only a natural conclusion that he’d give us some sort of hope only to take it away.” Kyoko said, looking away from the computer.

“So,” Celeste said, “you are saying that we’re only given this computer so that it could only lead to our despair?”

“No,”  Kyoko said, looking Celeste in the eyes. “I believe the computer has information we need to inspire us, but the catch is that Chihiro would need to be alive in order to extract that information.”

“So you’re saying that the mastermind creates ‘holes’ in their plan, but only if certain people survive…?” Junko asked.

“Perhaps,” Kyoko said, closing her eyes. “This is all just a theory, afterall.”

“Seems like a pretty fleshed out theory,” Aoi added. “You must’ve thought this out a lot, huh…?”

“No,” Kyoko said. “It only seemed to be the natural conclusion, like I said.”

“Huh,” Makoto said dumbly. “I don’t think any of us could’ve put that together on our own! You’re a real genius Kyoko!”

“Huh…?” Kyoko asked, “what an odd thing to say.”

“Is it really…? I was only saying how I felt…” Makoto said. 

“He’s right, Kyoko! That was a genius conclusion!” Kiyotaka added.

“If you’re both so sure,” Kyoko responded, face coloring for only a short moment.

“If you’re all done here,” Byakuya cut in. “Can you please leave me and the library in peace…?!”

The class stared at Byakuya for a moment. His annoyance was quite clear as he clenched his fist.

“Ah, we should probably get out Byakuya’s hair…” Makoto laughed sheepishly, trying to ignore the murderous look on Byakuya’s face.

“Funny,” Byakuya responded. “That’s the first smart thing you’ve said all killing game.”

The class, excluding Byakuya, slowly shuffled out of the library. The air was thick with tension. 

Byakuya had a knack for ruining the mood.

“Huh,” Aoi said, crossing her arms.

“What’s wrong Hina?” Makoto asked.

“That guy, he thinks he can just walk all over us just because he’s Byakuya Togami or whatever…”

“I mean, it’s not really his fault…” Makoto added, crossing his arms.

“Huh? What do you mean Makoto?” Aoi asked, staring at Makoto intently. “Last time I checked no one was forcing him to do anything.”

“I mean, he’s had a different upbringing then the rest of us.” Makoto said, touching his face as he tried to think of a way to explain his thinking to Aoi. “He’s a different breed of people, and because of that he doesn’t know how to exactly interact with us…”

“Hm,” Aoi responded, “that may be true, but it doesn’t give him the right to boss us around like that!”

“Maybe,” Makoto agreed, “but I think everyone in this school is a little extra…”

“Hey! What’s that supposed to mean?!” Aoi yelled, suddenly insulted.

“I didn’t mean it as a bad thing…!” Makoto responded, caught completely off guard. “It’s just, you ultimates are a lot different than normal people.”

“You mean, we’re as bad as Byakuya…?” Aoi asked, confused.

“No,” Makoto responded quickly, “just a lot harder to understand than other ‘normal’ people.”

“Hm,” Aoi said, “I mean, I guess… but I don’t think we’re in a ‘normal’ situation, if that note in the library is true…”

Makoto nodded, he supposed that his classmates were under a very specific strain of stress. He had no way to discern their true personalities whilst they were trapped in the killing game.

“So… Makoto…” Aoi said suddenly.

“Yeah?”

“You wanna hang? I mean we’re done exploring, right…?” Aoi asked.

“Huh…? Sure!” Makoto responded excitedly.

“All this exploring has totally gotten me fired up, if you know what I mean!” Aoi said suddenly.

“Huh…? What do you mean, Hina?” Makoto asked, staring at Aoi confused.

“What do I mean?! It means I need to get all this pent up energy out!” Aoi yelled, causing Makoto to flinch slightly. “Let’s race, Makoto!”

“I don’t think I could win a race against you, Hina…” Makoto replied sheepishly. “I wouldn’t have much of a chance.”

“Huh… I guess you’re right…” Aoi admitted, “Well I’ll just run by myself and you can watch!”

“Wait!” Makoto yelled, “I mean... uh, you always seem so pumped up Hina…”

“Huh…?! Is that supposed to be an insult, Makoto?!”

“N-no of course not!” Makoto said, putting his hands in front of him as a defensive position. “I’m just impressed, that’s all.”

“Really?” Aoi asked, crossing her arms. “I mean I used to know this one guy, who was always telling me ‘Hina, you’re like, a super spaz!’” 

“A super spaz…? What did he mean by that…?”

“I dunno, like he’d always see me wearing shorts in the winter and he’d just say things like that…”

“You wore shorts in the winter?!” Makoto asked, shocked.

“Yeah, if you lose to the cold it just means you weren’t dedicated enough!”

“Wow, you did that without getting sick…?”

“Getting sick is for the weak! If you’re truly dedicated all winter outfits should be lighter than normal! It’s part of your training, y’know…?”

“T-training…?”

“Uh, you aren’t the type of guy who gets sick easily, are you…?”

“Actually, I am…”

“See! You need more training!”

“What do you mean…?”

“I’ve got the perfect remedy to keep you healthy no matter what the weather…!”

“Perfect remedy…?” Makoto echoed uselessly.

“I do this myself every morning! You just strip down to your waist, then take a dry towel and start rubbing down your bare skin…! I called it… um… uh…”

“Is it towel treatment or something similar?” Makoto offered.

“Oh my god! Makoto, that’s it!” Aoi said, happily. “I love going out on my apartment balcony, stripping down, just feeling the wind on my skin… I never miss a morning!”

“You do that on your balcony…?!”

“Yep! Makoto, you should give it a try! If you haven’t got your health, you haven’t got anything! I’d hate to see you catch a cold or something…”

“Thanks, Hina…” Makoto said.

“Huh… it’s been a while already, hasn’t it?” Aoi asked.

“I guess time flies when you’re having fun, right…?”

“Mhm! Well, we should get together sometime again. I’d like to see progress on your training, Makoto!”

“M-my training…? You’re going to become my personal trainer…?!”

“Uh, is that the word…? I mean, I guess…”

“B-but personal trainers are supposed to get paid…! I really can’t take up your time if I don’t have anything to offer you…!” Makoto said, trying to get out of training with Aoi.

“Hm, payment, right…?” Aoi said, putting her finger on her chin and closing her eyes. “Well, you can pay me with something…”

“H-huh…?!”

“You mentioned that the ‘ultimates’ don’t act normal… right…?”

“Well like I said, I didn’t mean it in a bad way…”

“Still, maybe you could teach me how to act normal in return for me training you.”

“Hina, I really didn’t-”

“It’s a deal, Makoto! Tomorrow we’ll meet up here and we’ll get you into tip-top shape in no time! I promise!”

“H-huh… Hina w-wait…!” Makoto yelled, but it was too late, Aoi was already walking away, not paying attention to Makoto’s refusals.

Makoto sighed, well at least he would become closer to Aoi if anything was to come out of this. 

Aoi was right, it was late. How long was their conversation? He had to get to the dinner hall before it closed, he didn’t want to starve after all.

Making his way downstairs to the cafeteria, he could already hear a commotion.

“Ugh, will you fuckin’ shut up about the damn school rules already?!” Mondo yelled, and as Makoto got closer he could see Mondo’s opponent in this fight was none other than Kiyotaka Ishimaru.

“The school rules are everything! If we have nothing else, then let it be our ability to be good students.”

“Good students?! Are you out of your fuckin’ mind or something? Did you forget about Sayaka killing Leon?! Or is that part of your ‘studently behavior’ or whatever…?!”

“I doubt you mind! You’re a delinquent, I’m sure you murder people all the time…!” Kiyotaka yelled, tears already springing in his eyes.

“Are you accusin’ me of fuckin’ murderer?! You’re a glorified hall monitor, what right do you have?!”

“Excuse you…! I’m the Ultimate Moral Compass, I’m sorry you can’t be held to the same standards as everyone else! Last time I checked, I’m not punching our classmates!”

“It was one fuckin’ time…! You can’t act like you're any better than us!”

“I don’t have to ‘act’ like I’m any better than you, you have no respect for the rules and therefore deserve no respect!”

“Will you two shut up?!” Byakuya interrupted, glaring at the two with murder in his eyes.

“What gives you the right to interrupt us?!” Both Mondo and Kiyotaka yelled at the same time.

“At least they agreed on something, no?” Celeste teased, taking a sip from her milk tea.

“I don’t think this fight is very school appropriate, now, is it?” Junko added, crossing her arms.

“Huh…?!” Kiyotaka yelled, as his face started to flush. “You’re right! I am very sorry, I shouldn’t be setting a negative example for the rest of you! I hope I can be forgiven for my transgressions!”

“Whipped.” Mondo snorted under his breath, which went unnoticed by Kiyotaka who was now yelling apologies.

“I think you can be forgiven, Taka…” Makoto said, “I mean, it wasn’t like you did anything  bad …”

“That’s where you’re wrong, Makoto…! I need to be the best example for the class, I will not let any of us fall to the fate of Sayaka and Leon!” Kiyotaka replied. Makoto flinched slightly at the mention of Sayaka and Leon. He still hadn’t exactly accepted it.

“I’m sure you will,” Makoto replied half heartedly. It still hurt to think about the two of them, what-ifs floated around in his head. He didn’t have the bravery of any of the other students. He couldn’t have stopped Sayaka because he believed in her too much.

And because of him, both Sayaka and Leon had died. Painfully.

“Makoto? Are you alright?” Aoi asked, scaring Makoto out of his train of thought.

“Huh…? Yeah, I’m alright. Just a little tired, I guess.”

“Did you not get enough sleep last night?” Aoi asked, worriedly.

“Makoto! Sleep is very important for growing boys like you!” Kiyotaka added loudly.

“I’m fine,” Makoto repeated, “and Taka, we’re the same age…”

“Well, as long as you’re saying you’re getting sleep, we’ll believe you.” Aoi said, smiling at Makoto. Makoto appreciated the gesture behind Aoi’s words, but smiling back at Aoi just hurt.

He could’ve saved Sayaka and Leon if he tried, he thought. Even if he couldn’t, he could at least delude himself into thinking it was a possibility. He resolved to try harder, even as he went back to his room and stared at Sayaka’s nameplate for longer than needed.

He tried to shower, before the night time announcement and barely made it to the door. He saw Leon’s dead eyes staring back at him, open unlike how they were closed before.

“Because of you,” Leon’s voice accuses, “I’m dead.” Before Leon’s ghost can say anything more, Makoto slammed the door. He leaned against the door of the bathroom and closed his eyes. 

He told himself he wasn’t crying.

But, in that case, he was just as much of a liar as Sayaka was.

When Makoto woke up, he was still on the floor. Monokuma’s grating morning announcement rang in his ears. He was exhausted, he knew this.

He needed to shower, he resented this.

As if on autopilot he grabbed clothing from his drawer and left his room. He made his way to Aoi’s door and knocked on it emotionlessly.

Aoi answered the door, confused.

“I need to use your shower,” Makoto said simply. Aoi stared at him for a moment, before moving slightly.

“Alright,” Aoi says, “just like, don’t tell Taka. He’ll make it weird, I think…”

Makoto nodded, his head felt heavy. 

Aoi’s shower was almost identical to his, all hers was lacking was the dead body. Makoto tried not to think about that.

He finished the shower quickly, he felt bad taking Aoi’s shower.

“Sorry,” he said, mustering all the emotion he could manage. He hoped he was coming off sheepishly, if he wasn’t, Aoi didn’t say anything.

“Huh…? Did you waste all my hot water or something?!” Aoi accused.

“N-no…! Of course not! I mean for coming to your room so early.”

“Huh, is that weird?”

“Of course it is…!”

“Well, then maybe you can’t teach me how to act normal then, huh…?”

“About that…” Makoto began but Aoi cut him off with a laugh.

“We can talk about my payment later, we have to get to the morning meeting. I don’t want to get yelled at by Taka.” Aoi said quickly before running out of her room, leaving Makoto standing dumbfounded.

“Alright…” he muttered to no one but himself, as he slowly followed Aoi to the cafeteria.

“Aoi, Makoto!” Kiyotaka yelled as Makoto entered the room. “Why are you two so late…?!”

“Sorry…” was all Makoto could muster.

“Makoto’s hot water broke, so he had to use my shower… no need to get all serious, Taka…” Aoi said, crossing her arms.

“You showered in her room?!” Kiyotaka yelled, scandalized.

“Hey! Don’t accuse either of us of being creeps! I didn’t watch or anything!” Aoi yelled, uncrossing her arms and putting them up near her jacket.

“Ugh… it’s just unwholesome…!”

“Taka, like Hina said, I just asked to use her shower. My hot water wasn’t working and I didn’t want to come to the morning meeting unclean, I feel like that would be worse…” Makoto added, staring at the food he had in front of him.

“Hm, very well! As long as you two keep it school appropriate and don’t make a habit of coming late, I do not mind!”

“Thanks…?” Makoto replied, confused.

“Anyways…! Let us commence with the morning meeting!” 

“It’s not like we have any new information to share,” Byakuya said looking away. “Honestly, why do I bother with this?” 

“If you don’t want to come, then don’t, no?” Celeste responded, once again sipping milk tea.

“It’s just useless, even idiots like you should be able to see that.” Byakuya said, crossing his arms.

“I disagree! As students-” Kiyotaka began but was interrupted by Mondo.

“It’s our duty or whatever, who the fuck cares, let’s just get this meeting over with.”

“Well, um, did we discover anything?” Aoi asked.

“Not since the library, no,” Kyoko said simply, looking at her food, bored.

“Speaking of the library,” Sakura interjected, “Chihiro have you gotten any information out of the computer?”

“N-no…! I’m sorry, the computer is probably gonna take another day or so…” Chihiro responded quickly.

“Hm,” Junko said, “as long as you’re not using it to look up porn, we can wait.”

“U-um…”

“Miss Fujisaki would never do anything like that!” Hifumi said, defending Chihiro before she could get a word in edgewise.

“Is there anything else we can talk about?” Aoi asked, “I mean, some of us have things we want to do.”

“Like what? You’re not planning on killing anyone are you, Hina?!” Yasuhiro accused.

“No…! I’m just gonna hang out with Makoto, that’s all.”

“Hina, you are hanging out with Makoto again?!” Kiyotaka yelled, switching between staring at Aoi and Makoto, completely scandalized.

“Huh, yeah…? Is there something wrong with that?” Aoi asked, tilting her head in confusion.

“If you’re in a relationship it’s best for you two to just state it now!” Kiyotaka said, eyes filling with tears.

“Uh, it’s not like that, Taka…” Makoto mumbled, “we’re just going to train together.”

“Oh! Ahaha, of course…!” Kiyotaka replied, “neither of you would ever do something so unwholesome...”

“Anyways…” Junko said, flipping her hair out of her eyes, “I think that’s all the information we’ve got, huh?”

“But we didn’t say anything new…?” Yasuhiro asked.

“That’s the point idiot. We don’t have any new information.”

“I’m assuming these meetings will be pointless until next murder, correct?” Byakuya cut in.

“In all likelihood, yes.” Kyoko answered before Kiyotaka could.

“In that case, there is no need for me to continue to come.” Byakuya said plainly.

“But the bonding! You cannot just-” Kiyotaka began to interject.

“I don’t care,” Byakuya said as he got up to walk away. “There is no point in conversing with people who are soon to be dead, anyway.”

“Did he just leave?!” Aoi yelled, crossing her arms.

“Hm,” Kyoko said, “I suppose there is no use in talking to him, then.”

“Perhaps he knows something we do not,” Celeste said. “We do not know what he has read in that library. Has he found something that would give him an advantage?”

“I doubt it,” Makoto replied. “If anything, I think he would taunt us about it.”

“Y-you think he would w-waste his time t-taunting the likes of you?” Toko asked, suddenly insulted.

“Well yeah…” Makoto replied. “He hasn’t shown any reason for us not to believe that, if we’re being honest…”

“Y-you would be so lucky if that w-were to happen…!” Toko said, looking away.

“Huh? Why would he be lucky…?” Aoi asked, tilting her head slightly.

“B-Byakuya would never waste his t-time on the l-likes of y-you all…” Toko sniffled, looking away from the group as if disgusted.

“Hey! Is that supposed to be an insult?!” Aoi yelled, “It’s not like you’re anything different from us anyways!”

“Why is Toko’s comment bothering you so much, Hina?” Celeste asked, taking a sip of her tea.

“Huh…? You mean you aren’t bothered at all?”

“I don’t feel the need to be, if they don’t want to survive with us, it is important for us to not care about them…” Celeste said, looking away with a sigh. “It is best not to get attached to them, because surely they will die at the rates they are going.”

“H-huh, d-die…?!” Toko said, looking back at the group. “Y-you think s-someone as w-wonderful as B-Byakuya could just d-die…?!”

“It seems to be an eventuality at this point,” Celeste said, smiling morbidly. “After all, this game is based on alliances, no? Surely, making an enemy out of everyone isn’t the smartest thing to do.”

“B-but…!” Toko replied, preparing to go on a tangent before Kyoko cut her off.

“It doesn’t matter,” Kyoko said. “As long as we agree not to hurt anyone, Byakuya shouldn’t come to any harm.”

“Yeah, Kyoko’s right! Let’s all agree to get out of this killing game alive and well!” Aoi yelled, putting both her fists in the air.

“With that attitude…” Junko began, “fuck yeah, let’s do that!”

“I usually don’t agree with cursing but… if we can all agree to following the school rules, I agree with Hina’s sentiment!” Kiyotaka said.

With that the group’s mood brightened, even after Byakuya’s sour department.

After the meeting ended Aoi walked up to Makoto.

“So, you wanna hang now?” Aoi asked, smiling widely.

“Uh, about that… I’m not so sure I want to train with you…” Makoto answered sheepishly.

“Hey! Are you letting Taka’s comments about us get to your head?” Aoi accused, glaring at Makoto.

“No, it’s not that…! I’ve just been feeling down lately, so I don’t know if I’d be that good to train.” Makoto explained.

“Hm, well then we could just hang out?” Aoi offered. “I mean, that’s all I really wanted to do anyways.”

“Huh…? You just wanted to hang out?” Makoto asked.

“Yeah! Is that so surprising?!” Aoi puffed out.

“No, I guess not.. I’ve just not been feeling like myself, after Sayaka and Leon…”

“So, do y’wanna talk about it?” Aoi asked.

“Yeah, but can we take it somewhere a bit more private?”

“Oh yeah, sure!” Aoi said, leading Makoto upstairs.

The two split off to go into the changing rooms before meeting back up in the pool.

“So, do you want to talk about it or…?”

“I don’t know where to begin,” Makoto admitted. “I trusted Sayaka, I mean who wouldn’t…?”

“Isn’t it kinda scary…? I mean who would’ve seen it coming?!” Aoi added. “She had us all fooled I guess…”

“Maybe,” Makoto admitted, “but I refuse to believe it could be just that… it just didn’t seem like the Sayaka I knew…”

“Huh…? You knew Sayaka…?”

“Kinda, haha… we knew each other from middle school.” Makoto explained. “I always had a crush on her, so I was really excited to see her again.”

“Could you have been blinded by love…? That’s a thing that happens, right?”

“I don’t think so,” Makoto said, “or at least I hope not…?”

“Well then spill!” Aoi said, trying to egg him on.

“When she got her motive video… I think it changed her.” Makoto said, remembering Sayaka’s vacant expression. “It was like something inside of her snapped, and not for the better.”

“Well,” Aoi said, “it’s not like you could’ve done anything to stop her.”

“Maybe if I noticed… maybe I would’ve been able to save Sayaka and Leon…” 

“You can’t blame yourself for the actions of other people!” Aoi scolded. “You’re not the Ultimate Clairvoyant like Hiro is! And the fact that you feel bad is a good thing!”

“Huh… what do you mean Hina?”

“You really cared about them, despite the fact that you don’t need to. I think that might be a good thing…”

“Is that really such an odd thing…?”

“Yep! And they said I was the super spaz! Well I’m glad to tell you Makoto, that title is yours now!”

“Hey!” 

After talking for a few more minutes, Aoi decided to do some laps in the pool. Makoto watched wordlessly, becoming nauseous at how fast Aoi was going.

“You… definitely earned your title…” Makoto commented, face a bit too green.

“Yep! Hey… wait… Makoto, your face is looking a bit-”

“I’ll be fine, just remind me never to watch that again, alright…?”

“Huh… why?”

“I just have a weak stomach, that’s all.”

“Hm, alright then!”

After getting changed into their regular clothes Makoto and Aoi parted ways, promising to meet up again later.

“Hm,” Makoto remarked mostly to himself, “I wonder what I can do now....”

“Makoto, are you busy?” A voice yelled from behind him, Makoto turned around and saw none other than Kiyotaka Ishimaru.

“Huh…? No I’m not really busy. Why, do you want to hang out?” Makoto asked.

“Haha, of course!” Kiyotaka answered. “That’s what friends do, right?”

“Yeah, let’s just hang out, then,” Makoto said. 

“So Makoto! As long as we’re talking, let’s REALLY talk.”

“Huh…? Yeah sure, that’s fine.” Makoto answered.

“Excellent!” Kiyotaka said. “Then let’s get down to where we stand on the important issues! Where are we starting, politics, the economy or international affairs?!”

“Wait… you’re not serious are you…?” Makoto asked.

“Of course I am! This isn’t a joking matter!”

“Can’t we just have a regular conversation…? That’s the best way to learn about people, I think.”

“‘Normal conversation’...? What do you mean?”

“Well, what do you do in your free time?” 

“Study, of course! I’m a student, afterall.” Kiyotaka began. “A student must be a studying professional!”

“Do you do anything other than study…?”

“Of course!” Kiyotaka answered. “My duties as the chairperson of the morals committee keep me quite busy!”

“Um…” Makoto said, trailing off. “What do you do when you have free time…?”

“If I have time to kill, I study!”

“Oh…. I see…?”

“Haha! This is fun!” Kiyotaka said, suddenly. “Alright my turn! Makoto, what do you like to do in your free time?

“Well, normal things…” Makoto said. “You know, watch TV, play video games…”

“Huh?!” Kiyotaka yelled, “And this is helping you study…?”

“N-no...?” Makoto said. “It’s not about studying, it’s more about having fun.”

“But doing things ‘just for fun’ serves no purpose!” Kiyotaka yelled. “There’s got to be more merit in it!”

“You’re right!” Makoto quickly exclaimed, surprised at his own volume. “Having fun helps give you something to talk about to other people!”

“Something to talk about…?”

“Like when you see something awesome on TV, or some awesome game, and you want to share it with someone.” Makoto explained. “You’ll find other people who feel the same and that’s how you make friends!”

“Wh…?” Kiyotaka began. “Wh-Wh-Wh-Wh-Wh—!?”

“Taka…?” Makoto asked. “Are you okay…?”

“I was blind, but now I see!”

“H-huh…? What the heck?!”

“That kind of thing has plagued me for years,” Kiyotaka began to explain while crying. “I’ve tried making friends, but it would die out once I attempted to make conversation… But now I finally have my answer!”

“Your answer…?”

“I need to study more games! More TV shows!”

“N-no, you don’t exactly ‘study’ them...” Makoto attempted to explain but it fell on deaf ears.

“I’m so ashamed of myself! If there was a hole around here, I’d totally go and hide in it! I never realized the blind spot of my studies…!”

“Taka it’s-”

“I’m a complete embarrassment! I’m not qualified to be on the morals committee, let alone lead it!”

“I don’t think it’s really that big of a deal, Taka.”

“Thank you, Professor Makoto!”

“Huh…?! P-professor?!”

“You’ve taught me a most valuable lesson! You’ve earned my respect and the title of professor!”

“Taka, this is making things super awkward…!”

“Haha! There’s no need to be modest, Professor!” Kiyotaka said, smiling. “I can’t wait for your next lesson!”

“I don’t think you need-”

“Until then, I will strive to learn as much as I can on my own!” Kiyotaka continued, giving Makoto no time to interrupt. “Well then, Professor, I’ll see you soon!”

Kiyotaka ran off before Makoto could attempt to speak again. 

“Well, I guess the title of professor isn’t too bad…” Makoto said to himself.

Makoto decided it was time to get some dinner before the cafeteria closed, he didn’t want to go to sleep on an empty stomach.

Makoto heard Mondo and Kiyotaka before he saw them, they were fighting, once again.

They noticed Makoto, and Mondo was the first one to speak.

“C’mon, Makoto. You’ve got to be our witness!” Mondo said, glaring at Makoto.

“Huh.. your ‘witness’...? What does that mean?”

“This guy’s been talkin’ shit about me since we first got here. Callin’ me a coward and other shit.” Mondo said, as if that helped explain at all.

“You are a coward!” Kiyotaka interrupted. “You turn to violence to solve your problems, making you a coward!” 

“Wha-?!” Mondo yelled, but Kiyotaka was beginning a tirade.

“You can’t do what society asks of you!” Kiyotaka yelled, pointing at Mondo. “That’s why you walk around dressed like that!”

“The fuck did you just say?” Mondo asked. “You dunno shit about me.”

“You’ve already lost to yourself, but you’re such a coward you can’t even realize it!”

“So you’re sayin’ you’re not a coward?” Mondo asked. “You think you’re tougher than me? Is that it?!”

“I know that I am a coward!” Kiyotaka admitted, loudly. “At least I can admit that, unlike you.”

“Okay, then let’s throw down!” Mondo said, balling his hands into fists. “Prove that you’ve got somethin’ that I don’t got!”

“I accept your challenge!” Kiyotaka declared.

“So Makoto, that’s what’s goin’ down.” Mondo said. “You’ve got to be our witness!”

“You’re gonna… ‘throw down’...?” Makoto asked, worriedly. “You’re not going to like, start punching each other, right…?”

“There’s a bathhouse on the 1st floor of the dorm, right?” Mondo asked.

“Yeah…?” Makoto replied, not really getting Mondo’s point.

“It has a sauna inside? Right?” Mondo asked, once again.

“Ah, so I see.” Kiyotaka said. “You want to have a simple endurance contest?”

“An ‘endurance contest’... in the sauna…?” Makoto asked.

“We’re going to see who can stay in the sauna the longest, right?!” Kiyotaka yelled, ignoring Makoto.

“Goddamn straight!” Mondo yelled.

“Are you sure that’s safe…?” Makoto asked, staring at his two classmates as if they had gone insane.

“Of course!” Kiyotaka replied. “This coward will back out before it gets too dangerous for us!”

“You think I’m going to back out first?! Are you fuckin’ insane?!” Mondo yelled.

“Hey… guys, let’s get to the sauna first, alright?” Makoto said, trying to calm the feud. 

Makoto led Mondo and Kiyotaka into the sauna where they started going at each other again.

“Are you guys really going to go through with this…?” Makoto asked.

“Of course!” Kiyotaka yelled. “I have to show this coward his place.”

“As if,” Mondo replied. “I’m gonna show you that I’m fuckin’ better!”

“People like you are all talk!”

“Like you’re any better…!”

Kiyotaka began to undress but Mondo stayed in his outfit.

“Aren’t you going to undress…?” Makoto asked.

“Nah,” Mondo said. “I don’t need to.”

“Th-that’s idiotic!” Kiyotaka yelled out.

“Just shut up already, let’s get this fuckin’ over with!” Mondo yelled.

The two clamored into the sauna, they both held determined expressions on their faces.

“You know,” Kiyotaka said. “You can take off your clothes.”

“Unlike you, I don’t need to do that.”

A short pause before Mondo decided to say something to Kiyotaka.

“Y’know, your face is lookin’ pretty red,” Mondo said. “Are you sure you don’t want to give up?”

“It just so happens...I was born with a red face…!”

Makoto waited outside, mostly bored, as the two held steadfast against each other.

After hearing the night time announcement Makoto decided that he was done “witnessing” their contest. He didn’t even get his chance to eat, he might as well sleep until morning.

Makoto awoke drearily to Monokuma’s Morning announcement. His stomach ached with the promise of eating, but Makoto wanted to shower to first.

Makoto took one look at his bathroom door, the room seemed daunting, but Makoto was determined to shower quickly and eat.

He slowly opened his bathroom door, half expecting to see Leon’s body staring right back at him.

There was nothing dead in Makoto’s bathroom, thankfully.

Makoto made his way to the cafeteria in relatively good spirits.

“Hey Makoto,” Aoi said, stopping Makoto before he could go into the cafeteria.

“Huh…?” Makoto asked.

“I wouldn’t recommend going in there right now,” Aoi said. “Taka and Mondo are acting pretty weird in there.”

“Acting weird…?”

“Yeah! All buddy-buddy!” Aoi explained. “One moment they hate each other and the next moment they’re besties!”

“Is that a bad thing…?” Makoto asked.

“No,” Aoi admitted. “But I just find it really weird, y’know…?”

“I wonder if it has something to do with last night…” Makoto said, 

“Huh, last night…?”

“Are you two just going to just stand in front of the cafeteria or are you going to go in?” Junko interrupted. “I mean I approve of gossip and whatever, but some of us want to eat.”

Makoto and Aoi moved out of the way and Junko smiled at them before going in.

“I guess we should eat now, huh…?” Makoto said.

“Yeah, but let’s keep our guard up,” Aoi said. “We have no clue what happened to them!”

Makoto and Aoi went into the cafeteria, and Makoto saw that Aoi wasn’t wrong at all.

“Hahaha! Bro, you’re so right!” Kiyotaka yelled.

“Ah, you don’t really mean that…” Mondo replied, sounding bashful.

Aoi was right  , Makoto thought to himself.  What had happened to Taka and Mondo…?

“Makoto!” Kiyotaka yelled suddenly. “Where did you go last night?!”

“Huh…?” Makoto began. “Oh, I heard the night time announcement and didn’t want to stay up too late…”

“Well, thanks for being our witness anyway.” Mondo responded.

“Ugh,” Junko said. “Kinda wish I didn’t come here at all.”

“What?!” Mondo yelled. “Do you have a fuckin’ problem with our friendship?!”

“Yeah,” Aoi said, speaking for Junko. “It feels gross.”

“Feels  gross ?! Hell no, it feels great!”

“Forget them, bro. Girls like them just wouldn’t get our manly bond!”

“M-manly b-bond…?” Toko asked. “S-seems like another w-way to say r-relationship… You a-aren’t l-lovers, are you?!”

“No…!” Kiyotaka yelled. “Friendship between men is stronger than blood! A woman could never understand!” 

“Bro,” Mondo said. “What you said was cool as shit!”

“I’m glad you think so, bro!”

As the rest of the class came into the cafeteria except for Byakuya, it was quite clear that Mondo and Kiyotaka’s friendship wasn’t going to get any less public.

As Makoto went to leave the cafeteria he was stopped by Junko.

“Hey, Makoto,” Junko began. “Do y’wanna hang?”

“Yeah,” Makoto said. “As long as we can keep away from Mondo and Taka…”

“Yeah sure,” Junko said. “But why, are you jealous of them or something…?”

“No!” Makoto said quickly. “But I have to agree with Aoi, their friendship just feels a bit  wrong …”

“‘Wrong’...?” Junko echoed. “Oh my god, Makoto, I think you’re totally jealous!”

“Huh…?!”

“But listen, just because I’m offering you an out of your jealousy doesn’t mean I want you to get the wrong idea about any of this.”

“Wrong idea…? Now I’m sure I’ve got no clue what you mean…”

“I mean I hope you’re not expecting anything from me,” Junko explained. “Gotta keep my virtue safe, ya get?”

“Wait…!” Makoto yelled. “N-no way am I expecting anything like that!”

“I figured. You’re totally not that kind of guy, right?” Junko said. “Yeah, you’ve got that total ‘omega male’ vibe going on.”

“Huh…? ‘Omega male’ vibe…?”

“Yeah, but still, y’know I gotta keep my guard up,” Junko said. “The tamest guy can turn into a wild animal or so they say.”

“Don’t ask me why,” Junko said. “But I just seem to attract guys like that.”

“Um… it might have something to do with the way you dress.”

“Yeah, but even still! They have no respect!” Junko complained. “They call me up super super super late and are all like ‘Hey, let’s hang!’. Like I don’t know what that’s supposed to mean!”

“Oh! You just meant hanging out.” Makoto said.

“Huh? Did you just come to a decision or something…?”

“Oh, haha… no, just uh forget it.”

“Anyways, so we all get together, but they’re all fucking dumbasses!” Junko said. “Keeping creepos like that away is like a full-time job, ya know?”

“Yeah, must be really tough.” Makoto replied. “I mean, you’re a model, so you must be really popular.”

“Wow, Makoto. You… actually get it.” Junko said. “You do get it, right? You totally get me!”

“Huh… I do…?”

“So listen, about your Taka problem, I can introduce you to some of my friends sometime!”

“My Taka… problem…?”

“So judging by you picking Taka you’re into someone aggressive…” Junko said, thinking for a moment. “Yeah, I think I know someone who’s perfect for you!”

“N-no really it’s-”

“I’ll set you up with the perfect girl as soon as we get outta here!” Junko said with a smile. “Ehehe! I hope you’re as excited as I am!”

After saying that, Junko skipped off as Makoto could only watch in confusion.

Huh, guess there’s more to look forward to once we get out . Makoto thought to himself.

Makoto decided to head to his room, but before he could unlock the door he could hear Monokuma’s loud ahem.

“Attention students! I have a surprise waiting for you all in the gym!” Monokuma said. “I hope you all will find this surprise enlightening!”

A surprise  , Makoto thought to himself.  This isn’t going to be good, is it…?

Makoto went to the gym, like usual he was later than all his other classmates.

“Puhuhuhu!” Monokuma began. “Now that Makoto has arrived, we can finally begin!”

“You haven’t explained anything at all!” Aoi said, glaring at the bear. “What are we supposed to be ‘beginning’...?”

“Well… we can’t have a murder without motive, right?” Monokuma said. “Luckily your headmaster is very thoughtful and thought long and hard about this…”

“Here you go everyone!” Monokuma yelled, as he threw mirrors at everyone.

“Huh?!” Yasuhiro yelled out, barely catching his. “A-are these mirrors filled with g-ghosts or something?!”

“Yeah!” Mondo yelled out. “What’s the fuckin’ deal with these things…?”

“Mirrors reveal appearances, correct?” Monokuma said, starting to explain. “Thus, these mirrors reveal the one thing you don’t want to see about yourself.”

“Bear,” Byakuya said. “What exactly do you mean?”

“These mirrors are tailor made for their owner!” Monokuma explained. “They show you exactly what you try to hide from the world.”

“Is that even possible…?” Aoi asked.

“Look for yourself!” Monokuma responded.

Makoto checked his mirror and was surprised when the image changed to a younger Makoto and a wet bed. 

So that’s what I hide from the world…? The fact that I wet the bed up until 5th grade...?

Makoto stared blankly at the mirror before realization hit him.

Wait… if what I’m hiding isn’t serious, I can assume the other’s secrets aren’t that bad as well, right…?

“Puhuhu! There’s something else I should mention before I forget…” Monokuma began.

“Well, get on with it,” Byakuya said. “Some of us don’t have all day.”

“Before going to bed at night each student is supposed to put their mirror in the holder located in classroom 1-A!” Monokuma explained.

“Is there anything else?” Sakura asked.

“Awe, am I being pushed out so soon…?” Monokuma said, fake pouting.

“N-no one l-likes you h-here,” Toko sneers.

“Alright!” Monokuma said. “Have fun kids!”

“Hm,” Kyoko said. “This is an interesting motive.”

“Maybe we should share our motives!” Kiyotaka yelled. “It won’t work against us if we all come out now…!”

“About that bro…” Mondo said. “I don’t really feel comfortable airin’ all my secrets, you know?”

The class hummed in agreement, leaving Kiyotaka no choice.

“Well if my bro says so…” Kiyotaka said. “Then we’ll keep them to ourselves.”

“Well, there’s no point in staying here, no?” Celeste asked.

“Exactly,” Byakuya said. “Don’t expect me to share my ‘secret’ with the likes of you.”

“Um… no one is expecting that from you…?” Aoi added.

“Shut up.” Byakuya said, before turning and leaving.

Toko followed quickly after Byakuya.

“So uh, Makoto,” Junko said, walking up to Makoto. “You gonna talk to Taka before Mondo steals him away?”

“H-huh…?” Makoto asked. “I already told you, it’s not like that…!”

“You sure?” Junko asked, tilting her head. “If you wait too long, Mondo’s gonna sweep him off his feet like some weird rendition of a fairytale.”

“What do you mean?”

“You heard how they were like this morning,” Junko explained. “‘Bro’ this and ‘bro’ that, they should just get a fuckin’ room at this point.”

“Y-you really think that they’re going to get into a relationship…?” Makoto asked, not understanding his sudden curiosity.

“Makoto, it’s only a matter of time,” Junko said, flipping her hair. “Don’t be an uber omega, just at least feel the situation out, y’know?”

“I’ll at least talk to him,” Makoto said. “B-but not because I like him, just because I’m worried for him… as a friend…!”

“Yeah sure,” Junko said, laughing as she walked off.

Makoto gathered his courage, surprisingly Kiyotaka was without his ‘bro’ Mondo.

“Hey, um, Taka, do you think we could talk…?” Makoto stuttered out.

“Huh… oh sure!” Kiyotaka said.

“So, are you worried about the motive?” Makoto asked. “I mean they are pretty personal right…?”

“Makoto! Are you trying to hide something unwholesome…?!” Kiyotaka yelled.

“N-no…! I’m just saying, if Mondo and the others were refusing to share the images they saw in their mirrors... “

“My bro would never do something like murder!” Kiyotaka yelled, suddenly offended.

“I wasn’t implying anyone would!” Makoto said back, defensively. “I’m just worried about having to do another class trial.”

Kiyotaka’s eyes softened, “That’s very honorable of you Makoto!”

“Huh…? Not really,” Makoto said. “The situation wasn’t very pleasant for anyone involved.” 

Sayaka’s screeches of betrayal, Leon’s dead body in his bathroom. So many things had gone wrong in their first few days here. Was it so odd Makoto wouldn’t want to go through that again?

“I assure you, my bro and I will do our best to keep everyone safe!” Kiyotaka yelled.

Junko really wasn’t kidding when she said that all Taka would talk about is his ‘bro’...  Makoto thought.  Hey… why am I thinking so hard about this… I’m not jealous, right…?!

“Anyways Makoto, I’d love to stay and chat more but I promised my bro I’d hang out later!”

“Y-yeah, okay, I’ll talk to you later,” Makoto mumbled.

Ugh, this motive must just be messing with my head… I might as well just put away my mirror and head to sleep now.

Makoto went to classroom 1-A and deposited his mirror. He realized he was the first person, which made sense because it was way before the night time announcement.

“Hey,” Kyoko said, intercepting him as he left. “Are you going to sleep early?”

“Yeah,” Makoto said. “I haven’t been feeling too well and I don’t really want to break any rules…”

“Feel better,” Kyoko said, before walking into the classroom.

Makoto made his way to his room without any further interruptions. Throwing himself onto the bed without a glance towards his bathroom he fell into a dreamless sleep.

Makoto awoke to the annoying noise of Monokuma’s Morning announcement. Getting up, he opened his bathroom door in annoyance. 

If Leon was there for a sickening second Makoto acted otherwise.

Making his way into the cafeteria Makoto noticed he was second for once, the first person being there was Kyoko.

“Ah Makoto,” Kyoko said. “You’re here early.”

“Same to you, Kyoko,” Makoto said. “Did I miss something or is everyone oversleeping…?”

“Not that I know of,” Kyoko said. “It seems everyone might’ve stayed up later than usual.”

“Ah…” Makoto said, getting what Kyoko was implying.

“Just be careful, okay?” Kyoko said. “We should expect everyone to be on edge.”

As more people gathered into the cafeteria, Makoto noticed Aoi and Chihiro were missing.

“Perhaps they’re skipping the meal?” Celeste offered. “I don’t understand why but that’s a reason, no?”

“Aoi skipping a meal?” Sakura asked. “That’s very unlikely…”

“Miss Fujisaki missing a meal as well?!” Hifumi yelled out. “This is extremely worrying!”

Makoto’s stomach filled with dread, he had a feeling he already knew where this was heading.

“We should investigate immediately!” Kiyotaka yelled. “We should assure the safety of our classmates!”

“Shouldn’t we warn Byakuya as well?” Kyoko asked. “This information might interest him.”

“There’s no need,” Byakuya interjected coldly. “I already know where you’ll find one of them.”

“W-what do you mean…?” Makoto asked.

“That swimmer girl,” Byakuya said. “She’s doing the dead man’s float in the school’s pool.”

Sakura got up immediately. “Show us, now.”

Byakuya led the group to the second floor. Makoto could immediately notice scratch marks on the pool’s first door.

“Signs of a struggle,” Kyoko commented quietly.

Each person scanned their Monopads to get into the changing rooms. Quickly exiting to find that Byakuya wasn’t wrong in his original assessment.

Monokuma’s body discovery announcement rang and Aoi’s cruel fate was revealed.

Makoto was sure he was going to be sick when they discovered Aoi’s body, but he underestimated how sick he was going to feel.

“Makoto,” Kyoko said, kneeling down to where he had fallen onto his knees. “You need to get up.”

Makoto nodded, numbly.

“Hm, we must assume the worst has happened to Chihiro as well, no?” Celeste asked.

“Miss Fujisaki… dead…?” Hifumi asked, heartbroken.

“It seems likely,” Kyoko said. “The fact that Chihiro hasn’t been seen and we discovered one body…”

“Maybe he’s hidin’ because she’s the fuckin’ murderer of Hina!” Mondo yelled out.

“Bro…? You might be right…” Kiyotaka said.

“... Is it really possible for someone like Chihiro to do this much damage to Hina?” Sakura asked, voice low.

“Comparing their statures,” Byakuya said. “It seems unlikely.”

“Then we must find Chihiro,” Kyoko said.

“We still need two people to stay here and guard the body…” Makoto mumbled.

“I’ll stay with Hina,” Sakura said. “At least until Chihiro is found…”

“I’ll stay as well,” Mondo said. “It’s not like I’ll be useful anywhere else.”

“Then let’s split up into groups and look for Chihiro.” Kyoko said.

Before leaving, Makoto and Kyoko were stopped by Celeste.

“Hm, sticking with you two might be the best bet, no?”

“H-huh…? What do you mean, Celeste…?” Makoto asked.

“Are you really not aware of how you acted last class trial?” Celeste asked.

“So you’re sticking with us for a better chance in the class trial?” Kyoko asked.

“That as well as safety in numbers,” Celeste said. “The situation we’re in isn’t the most comforting, no?”

“No,” Makoto said. “This is the farthest thing from comforting.”

“Well, we should work under the assumption that Chihiro is at least unable to leave her current location.” Kyoko said.

“Hm,” Celeste said, tilting her head slightly. “Perhaps we should check her room, maybe she overslept?”

Makoto and Kyoko nodded in agreement, and the three made their way to Chihiro’s dorm.

“It’s closed,” Makoto noted. “But where else could she be…?”

“Are we sure it’s locked?” Kyoko asked. “The door looks a little, off…”

Kyoko tried the door, and to the surprise of Celeste and Makoto it opened with ease.

The air felt heavy and Makoto could only hear static in his ears. Chihiro was staring lifelessly ahead, hanging from her neck on the light in her room.

Monokuma’s body discovery announcement played again, mockingly. 

Makoto shook himself out of his stupor.

“W-we need to tell the others,” Makoto stuttered out. “This… this is different.”

“I’ll get them,” Celeste said. “I suppose it was best to assume the worst.”

“Once the others come,” Kyoko began. “We’ll need to get her down to examine her body.”

“Isn’t it obvious how she died…?” Makoto swallowed out, trying to block out the dread that was quickly morphing into panic.

“Maybe,” Kyoko admitted. “But we won’t know if it’s a murder or suicide until we can see the neck wound.”

“There would be a difference…?” Makoto asked.

“Yes,” Kyoko said. “It would be quite obvious, actually.”

After a few minutes Mondo, Hifumi, Byakuya and Celeste entered the room.

“So,” Byakuya said. “That solves that mystery, doesn’t it?”

“It’s pretty obvious about what happened here, right?” Mondo asked. “It’s pretty obvious Chihrio fuckin’ hung herself, right?”

“Miss Fujisaki was murdered!” Hifumi yelled out. “There’s no way she would’ve willingly done this to herself.”

“You didn’t know Chihiro as well as you think, then.” Mondo replied.

“Now that everyone is here,” Kyoko began. “I think it’s in our best bet to examine the body thoroughly.”

“Do you need any help?” Makoto asked.

“No,” Kyoko said. “I’ll be fine.”

Kyoko stood on Chihiro’s table and untied the white wire connecting her neck to the light. Afterwards, Kyoko moved Chihiro’s body to the floor.

“First thing we need to do is remove this wire…” Kyoko said, slowly untying the wire.

“That’s odd,” Byakuya said.

“W-what is…?” Makoto asked.

“Nevermind,” Byakuya replied. “If you can’t notice it that’s your own fault, not mine.”

“Could you all turn away for a minute?” Kyoko asked. “I want to see if Chihiro has any more wounds on her body…”

Everyone turned away, and Kyoko gasped in surprise.

“Huh,” Kyoko said. “That’s unexpected.”

“You can all look now,” Kyoko said. “It seems that Chihiro’s big secret… nevermind.”

“I doubt this is the actual crime scene,” Kyoko said. “It looks too clean for a murder to have happened here.”

“That’s because he hung herself, remember?!” Mondo said. “I wouldn’t count suicide as fuckin’ murder, would you?”

“Then there’s nothing of note here, then,” Byakuya said before walking off.

“Makoto,” Kyoko said. “Perhaps it’s best if we leave here and examine Hina’s body.”

“W-wait… shouldn’t there be-” Makoto began, but was quickly cut off by Kyoko.

“I’m assuming you two will be keeping an eye on the corpse?” Kyoko asked, staring at Hifumi and Mondo.

“You can count on me!” Hifumi yelled. “I’ll make sure no one bothers Miss Fujisaki!”

“Might as fuckin’ well,” Mondo said. “But no one is going to touch the corpse of a murderer.” 

Kyoko led Makoto out of Chihiro’s room, leading him to the hallway before stopping again.

“Chihiro was murdered,” Kyoko said plainly. “The wound on Chihiro’s neck proves that.”

“The wound on her neck…?” Makoto asked.

“When someone hangs themself their neck is broken, if not completely at least in some parts,” Kyoko explained. “Also the marking on Chihiro’s neck is horizontal, if a person is to hang themself, it’ll be more ‘V’ shaped.”

“So you mean whoever killed Hina also killed Chihiro…?” Makoto asked.

“Yes,” Kyoko said. “And I believe it ties in directly with the motives that we were given yesterday.

“It ties in with our motives…?”

“Last night, twenty minutes after the night time announcement I checked who returned their mirrors,” Kyoko said. “There were three mirrors missing, Chihiro, Aoi and Mondo.” 

“H-huh…?!”

“Of course,” Kyoko continued. “Until we get the Monokuma Files, that information could just be a coincidence.”

“Puhuhuhu! Lucky for the both of you, your headmaster pays attention to everything that happens in this school!”

“W-where did you come from?!” Makoto yelled.

“I don’t think you want to know that, Makoto!” Monokuma said, cheerfully. “Anyways… you two are the only students missing their Monokuma File!”

“I suppose you’re here to give them to us,” Kyoko responded.

“You  bear -ly needed to ask!” Monokuma said, before handing the both of them a Monokuma File...

“You kids should be  bear -y grateful that you have me to help you!” Monokuma laughed before disappearing.

“Hm,” Kyoko said. “This is where we part ways, for now.”

“W-wait…! When you said you looked at the mirrors did you mean you-”

“If it makes you feel better, my mirror also showed something embarrassing.” Kyoko responded before turning away.

“Wow Makoto, ditched again, huh?” Junko asked.

“H-huh… when did you get here?!” Makoto screeched.

“Jeez, you’re easy to scare huh?” Junko asked. “Anyways, I figured it would be easier if we investigated together. Y’know pack mentality or whatever they say.”

“Huh… yeah, I guess you’re right.” Makoto responded.

“So,” Junko said, “have you examined Hina’s body yet? Everyone’s crowding over there, but I’ve heard there’s nothing interesting with Chihiro.”

“Yeah,” Makoto agreed. “Chihiro’s room is pretty normal other than her body being there. Kyoko believes it was moved.”

“Do you believe that Chihiro was moved?” Junko asked.

I don’t want to believe that someone could murder Chihiro,  Makoto thought to himself.  But I don’t want to believe that Chihiro would kill herself either.

“I think she was moved, yeah,” Makoto said. “I’d like to believe Kyoko on this anyways.”

“Well, then we should probably go to Hina’s corpse,” Junko said. “Hopefully the vultures have cleared out.”

“V-vultures…?!” Makoto asked. “How are there-”

“Makoto, dude, I was joking.”

“Haha…  sorry, I’m just a bit on edge…” Makoto admitted.

“It’s fine,” Junko said. “It’s not everyday you find two dead bodies, huh?”

Makoto nodded, both Junko and Makoto went upstairs to the second floor.

“Hey, Makoto,” Junko said. “Do ya notice anything weird about this door?”

“Huh…? Oh yeah, there’s scratches on it...” Makoto said.

“I suppose that means that someone was struggling,” Junko said. “Maybe it’s time that the Monokuma File is actually useful.”

Makoto checked his Monokuma File, Chihiro’s autopsy stated that besides the injury of the neck there were no other things of note. It placed the time of death at around 1 AM. Aoi’s autopsy report was a bit different, the cause of death was noted as drowning, but it did note a head injury. The file also noted that her nails on both hands were broken and bloody. Her death was placed at around 1:30 AM.

“Well, let’s get to seeing Hina’s body,” Junko said.

Makoto and Junko went into the pool area and the separate changing areas, they met up again at the pool.

“Makoto!” Yasuhiro yelled, “It’s terrible!”

“Huh… what is?”

“Hina’s body…! It’s all bloated, I think she was possessed by a g-ghost!”

“Where is Hina anyways?” Junko asked. “She’s no longer in the pool, right?”

“She’s over by Sakura… Kyoko wanted to examine her or something.” Yasuhiro answered. “I think she might be checking for ghosts.”

“You can’t be that stupid, can you?” Junko asked.

“Maybe we should leave Kyoko and Sakura alone,” Makoto said. “At least until we can examine the area.”

“Smart idea, Makoto,” Junko said. “Let’s see if anything catches our attention.” 

“That dumbbell near the pool,” Makoto said, as he walked towards the dumbbell. “The Monokuma File said that Hina had a head injury right?”

“Yeah and this thing has blood on it,” Junko noted. “It’s small enough where I don’t think it would kill someone but it would definitely knock someone out.”

“So, do you think the blackened attacked Hina here?”

“Yeah, that’d make the most sense,” Junko said. “I mean, no need to bring the murder weapon with you.”

“I think we should check the changing rooms,” Makoto said. “We need to find out where this dumbbell was taken from.”

“Alright, make sure not to perv out in the boy’s one or anything, alright?” Junko said.

“H-huh…?!”

“Just kidding, you’re not that type of guy.”

Makoto went into the boy’s changing room, to his dismay he noticed that a smaller dumbbell was missing.

The blackened has to be a guy then,  Makoto thought to himself.  The mastermind is very strict on not letting the opposite gender get into the other gender’s changing room.

As Makoto went back to the pool, he was surprised to see Junko hadn’t come out yet.

“Hey uh, Makoto,” Junko said as she got out of the changing room. “The girl’s changing room is a total mess, almost looks like a guy’s room.”

“What do you mean it’s a total mess?” Makoto asked.

“I didn’t really notice before, with Sakura pushing all us girls and whatever but that place got trashed pretty bad.”

“So you mean the blackened and Hina probably fought in there?” Makoto asked.

“I dunno, but whatever happened was pretty rough.” Junko said. “Anyways, looks like Kyoko’s done ogling up Hina or whatevs.”

“I’m not so sure that’s what she was doing…” Makoto muttered.

“Eh, probably,” Junko said. “You gotta admit though, her body obsession is pretty weird.”

Makoto and Junko walked up to Hina’s body.

“Hina drowned,” Kyoko said. “That we can truly ascertain.”

“So the Monokuma File isn’t wrong about that then…” Sakura said.

“Is there anything odd about her body?” Junko asked. “Any other injuries that weren’t mentioned in the Monokuma File?”

“No,” Kyoko said. “The head injury is her only other injury.”

“What was the point of the head injury? Why hit her if you’re going to throw her in the pool…?” Makoto asked.

“It could be for various reasons,” Kyoko said. “The reasoning though is likely clear if you examine the other places the victim was at.”

Sakura hummed silently.

“I don’t think we’re going to find anything more useful here,” Junko whispered to Makoto. “I think it’s best we just explore somewhere else.”

“Yeah,” Makoto whispered back. “There’s something that’s been bothering me about Chihiro’s body.”

“Oh?”

Makoto and Junko left the pool and the changing rooms.

“You mentioned something weird about Chihiro’s body,” Junko said. “Now I’m curious.”

“The thing that was hanging around Chihiro’s neck, I think I’ve seen it before.” Makoto said.

“Oh yeah, that wire, right?” Junko asked. “I wonder where we’ve seen wires like that before.”

“Maybe the library?” Makoto said. “That’s the only place we’ve seen any technology.”

“Well we’ve got no other leads, so let’s go!” Junko said.

The two made their way to the library, Junko looked around at the books and Makoto noticed a desk lamp.

“Hey… shouldn’t this lamp be connected to something?” Makoto asked as Junko came over.

“Maybe it’s battery powered?” Junko offered.

“I don’t think so… it has an opening which you could probably plug something in to…” Makoto said.

“That might be the murder weapon for Chihiro’s murder,” Junko said. “I mean we can assume that since this wire is missing it’s at least related.

“Yeah…” Makoto said. “There’s something else that has been bothering me, but I don’t know if there’s anything I can do to clear it up before the class trial…”

“Huh?” Junko said. “Tell me and then we’ll investigate!”

“Wow, I sounded cool for a second there, didn’t I, Makoto?” Junko asked.

“Haha… yeah,” Makoto said. “The dumbbell was from the boy’s changing room but the girl’s room was a mess… Is there a way to get into both?”

“Huh,” Junko said. “Yeah, if you scan in someone’s ID you can get into both…”

“How would you get someone’s ID?” Makoto asked. “Isn’t it against the rules to trade your e-Handbook with someone else?”

“Yeah, it’s one of the newer rules,” Junko said. “But there’s probably a loophole somewhere.”

“Maybe,” Makoto said. “But is there anything we can do to prove that?”

“I dunno,” Junko admitted. “But I do have an idea on where we can check.”

“Huh…?” 

“For once Makoto, let me lead the way!” Junko said. “And damn, I sounded cool as hell again!”

Junko led Makoto to the main hall, where e-Handbooks of the deceased students lay in a mailbox.

“Here’s where our handbooks go to die, after us of course,” Junko said. “So let’s check ‘em and make sure that it’s only Sayaka’s and Leon’s.”

Makoto attempted to power on a handbook only to have it not respond.

“Hey, Junko?” Makoto asked.

“Yeah?”

“Did your e-handbook power on?” Makoto asked.

“Yeah, Sayaka’s handbook is up and running,” Junko said.

“Huh,” Makoto said. “This one is refusing to turn on at all…”

“Leon’s probably broke when he was getting murdered, then,” Junko said.

“Hey! You can’t just call my handbooks weak and get away with it!” Monokuma yelled, as he appeared.

“Well they are pretty weak,” Junko said. “This one is obviously broken.”

“Well if it is, it didn’t break during a murder!” Monokuma said.

“What do you mean it didn’t break during a murder?” Makoto asked.

“They only have one design flaw!” Monokuma said. “And don’t ask! Because I’m not going to tell you!”

“But you’re telling us it couldn’t have broke during the murder?” Junko asked.

“Yep!” Monokuma said before disappearing. 

“Hm,” Junko said. “That lead us nowhere, which is fuckin’ lame.”

“I don’t think so…” Makoto said. “We learned that the e-Handbooks broke, but we know it broke by a student…”

“Yeah…” Junko said.

“Hey… wait a second…” Makoto said. “Is there another handbook in there?”

“Huh…? Holy shit… You’re right…” Junko said.

Makoto reached into the slot and pulled out a handbook. It turned on quickly. It was Aoi Asahina’s handbook.

“So the blackened must’ve known about this then…” Makoto mumbled.

If Junko was going to respond she never got the chance because suddenly Monokuma’s voice started announcing it was time for the class trial.

“I think we can do this!” Junko said, smiling.

Probably  , Makoto thought to himself.  But do I really want to do this all over again?

As Makoto made his way to the elevator, he hoped that no one else would die. But he already knew that death was in the cards for at least one of his classmates.

“Puhuhuhu! I’m glad to see everyone is here!” Monokuma said.

“It’s not like you give us any other choice.” Byakuya responded, coldly.

“There’s something I would like to ask before we start the trial,” Kyoko began. “Is there a limit on how many people are killed per murder-session or is someone free to kill all of us?”

“I’m glad you asked!” Monokuma said. “Committing more than two murders is a punishable offense!”

“So,” Kyoko said. “We won’t ever experience any more than two dead bodies in an investigation?”

“I never said that, did I…?”

“Well then! Let the class trial begin!” Monokuma yelled.

“Let’s begin with what we know,” Kyoko said. “The two victims of this case were Aoi Asahina and Chihiro Fujisaki.”

“That swimmer girl was the first body we found.” Byakuya said. “Chihiro’s body was hidden in her room, disguised as a suicide.”

“How do we know it wasn’t a suicide?!” Mondo asked. “I bet that guy fuckin’ killed her and just couldn’t live with the guilt!”

“No, that’s wrong!” Makoto yelled. “Chihiro’s neck wounds don’t fit in with hanging! According to Kyoko’s examination of her body the neck wound on Chihiro should be ‘V’ shaped but instead it’s horizontal!”

“So?! What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” Mondo yelled.

“It means that Chihiro didn’t hang herself and that she was strangled!” Makoto explained.

“The worst sort of criminal.” Hifumi muttered. “Attacking an innocent and defenseless girl…”

“So now that we’re all on the same page on Chihiro,” Junko said. “Where are we supposed to go from here?”

“Someone who would murder two girls…” Celeste said. “They do seem very dangerous, no?”

“Two girls…” Kyoko said. “Are we sure the reasoning is just that…?”

“Maybe they killed Chihiro after throwing Hina in the pool!” Yasuhiro yelled. “You know, to get rid of witnesses! That makes sense… right?”

“No that’s wrong!” Makoto yelled. “According to the Monokuma Report, Chihiro was the first death and Hina was second.” 

“Huh…? But we found Hina’s body first, so obviously she died first, right?!” Yasuhiro responded.

“No,” Sakura said. “If anyone witnessed a murder, it was probably Hina…”

“Huh…? Hina witnessed the murder, that doesn’t make sense!” Yasuhiro yelled.

“No, I agree with Sakura as well,” Kyoko said. “But I don’t think it matters who died first, at least it didn’t matter to the blackened.”

“H-huh…?” Toko muttered. “W-what do you m-mean the o-order d-didn’t matter to the b-blackened…?”

“That’s exactly what I mean,” Kyoko said. “To the blackened it didn’t matter  who died, the blackened just wanted people to die.”

“Now that doesn’t make any sense at all,” Byakuya spat. “Of course the order matters, if one of them witnessed the crime they had to go as well.”

“Yeah yeah, that’s great and all but arguing about the blackend’s motive isn’t going to get us any closer to discovering the blackened themself…” Junko said.

“Well, I think I might have a few hints on who the blackened might be…” Makoto said.

“Well Makoto it’s your duty to share this information with the class!” Kiyotaka yelled.

“Well, we know that the dumbbell that injured Hina was from the boy’s changing room, right?” Makoto asked.

“S-so you’re implying that o-one of the g-guys did i-it right?” Toko asked. “W-well M-makoto usually you’d be my f-first bet but you’re all t-too scrawny.”

Thanks for that, I guess. Makoto thought.

“No man would ever harm a girl, right bro?!” Kiyotaka yelled.

“H-huh…? Oh y-yeah.” Mondo said.

“But are we so sure that both victims were females?” Kyoko asked. “We’ve been running based off that assumption but, is everyone here really so sure?”

“Huh… why would we assume anything else?” Makoto asked.

“Are you implying that Miss Fujisaki was not a girl?!” Hifumi yelled.

“I’m just saying we should be prepared for the possibility,” Kyoko said. “But that’s not a pressing issue. What is, is the motive…”

“The m-motive…?” Toko asked. “W-what would that have t-to do with a-anything right now?”

“Everyone’s motives were interesting,” Kyoko admitted. “But there are some I have yet to discover…”

“You saw our motives?!” Byakuya said, enraged.

“Hey! Haven’t you heard of privacy?!” Yasuhiro complained.

“Please don’t get the wrong idea about me from it!” Kiyotaka yelled.

“Interesting the lies the mastermind would create, no?” Celeste asked.

“What do you find so interesting about the motives, Kyoko?” Sakura asked.

“The motives themselves all fit the theme,” Kyoko said. “Or that’s what I would say if I saw all of the motives…”

“What?!” Kiyotaka yelled. “Was someone breaking the rules?!”

“No that’s wrong!” Makoto yelled, “I think I know what Kyoko’s talking about…”

“Huh…?! How could she not see all the motives if someone was not breaking the rules?!”

“Kyoko told me that twenty minutes after the night time announcement she checked the mirrors. Apparently, Mondo, Chihiro and Aoi’s mirrors were all missing…” Makoto explained.

“That’s interesting, is it not?” Celeste asked. “We know Chihiro and Hina never got the chance to put away their mirrors, but what is your excuse Mondo?”

“Isn’t it obvious? I couldn’t fuckin’ sleep.” Mondo said. “The motive thing might’ve been total bullshit but it still bothered me.”

“Hey, wait a second… if you attempted to sleep, wouldn’t you still have to put your mirror back?” Yasuhiro asked.

“I-ignoring the i-idiot, can we discuss something e-else?” Toko said.

“Aw, and I thought I was onto something!” Yasuhiro complained.

“Hm, we’ve been discussing Hina so much but I think we should go back to Chihiro.” Junko said. “There’s something that’s not sitting right with me and that chick.”

“Other than the false suicide?” Byakuya asked.

“That ‘rope’ for example, what kind of wire was that?” Junko asked.

“It was probably the library desk lamp’s extension cord,” Makoto said. “When Junko and I went to the library we noticed the desk lamp missing its extension cord.”

“Surprisingly, you’re correct, Makoto.” Byakuya said. “Chihiro was hanging from the extension cord.”

“There’s something else that’s uber important,” Junko said. “How did the killer get into both the boy’s and the girl's changing rooms. Unless they’re dual wielding, that should be impossible, right?”

“H-huh…? T-the killer g-got into both c-changing rooms?” Toko asked.

“Yep! The girls changing room was totally trashed and the boy’s changing room is missing a dumbbell.” Junko said.

“Y-you’re such a w-whore…! H-how else would you k-know that the d-dumbbell is missing f-from the boy’s c-changing room…?!”

“I’m the whore? Makoto just told me that it was missing!” Junko yelled.

“W-well I-I’m sure y-you two w-were enjoying y-your private t-time together,” Toko said. “W-were you g-giving him your m-model special?”

“Hey! You don’t really think Junko and Makoto would do that... do you?” Kiyotaka asked.

“Huh…?!” Makoto yelled. “This has nothing to do with the case at hand!”

“But it does bring up an interesting point,” Kyoko said. “How did the blackened get into both changing rooms?”

“It has something to do with our e-Handbooks,” Hifumi said. “Miss Fujisaki was quite handy with hers, maybe they modified the blackened’s e-Handbook!”

“Unlikely,” Junko said. “Wasn’t she like super busy with that project we assigned to her or whatever?”

“But perhaps it does have something to do with the e-Handbooks.” Kyoko added. “Has anyone seen anything weird with them as of late?”

“Yeah, actually, I have,” Makoto said. “Monokuma says that all of his e-Handbooks are unbreakable except for one flaw…”

“Yet?” Kyoko asked.

“Yet, in the mailbox where all the dead student’s e-Handbooks are stored one of them was broken…”

“S-since we’re b-bringing up our e-experiences with broken e-Handbooks I m-might as well j-join in…” Toko said. “I-in the s-sauna I f-found another broken e-Handbook…”

“You actually went into the sauna?” Byakuya asked. “Surprising, but you already mentioned that.”

“You weren’t going to share that information with us?” Kyoko asked.

“I feel no need to better the rate of your survival.” 

“Your survival relies on us, dude.” Junko said.

“Inconquestential.”

“Wait, you found the broken e-Handbook in the sauna?” Makoto asked.

“Y-yep, is t-that so s-surprising?” Toko asked.

“Then wait,” Makoto said. “Monokuma, is the e-Handbook’s weakness heat?”

“Aw… you guessed it!” Monokuma said. “Now that you know you better not make a hobby out of destroying them! Because I’m not going to replace them!”

“I don’t think you have to worry about that, Monokuma.” Celestesaid. “We value being able to access the pool.”

“Alright, so we’ve discovered the e-Handbooks weakness but why was there such a mess on the door of the pool?” Yasuhiro asked. “Did the ghosts do it?!”

“Someone like Hina probably didn’t want to die.” Sakura said. “Since we know she died after, we can assume she tried to fight the blackened.”

“Maybe it was Miss Fujisaki!” Hifumi added. “Someone like her wouldn’t go down without a fight either.”

“From the evidence,” Kyoko said. “It was likely that Hina was the one fought back.”

“What makes you so sure?!” Hifumi yelled.

“She’s probably talking about Hina’s finger nails being broken.” Makoto explained. “If she was scratching against the door it probably would’ve broken her nails.”

“I suppose I must concede to that point,” Hifumi said. “But I’ll fight for Miss Fujisaki’s honor with my life!”

“Dude, she’s not here to thank you.” Junko said.

“I think it’s honorable, just like my relationship with bro!” Kiyotaka added.

“Yeah, our bond is fuckin’ powerful.” Mondo said.

“I think Chihiro’s and Hifumi’s bond emulates Taka’s and Mondo’s relationship more than what was originally expected.” Kyoko said.

“H-huh… what do you mean by that?!” Mondo asked.

“Chihiro Fujisaki was not in fact a girl, but actually a guy.” Kyoko said.

“What?!” Hifumi yelled. “You’re lying, Miss Kirigiri, I refuse to believe you!”

“In fact,” Kyoko said. “If we checked Chihiro’s body we’d find more male features than female.”

“That would explain how he never wanted to hang out with Hina and I despite wanting to train.” Sakura said. 

“Miss Fujisaki is a Mr. …? I can’t live like this!” Hifumi yelled.

“Suck it up, buttercup,” Junko said.

“If we’re assuming that our blackened knew Chihiro’s true gender, then I think it’s pretty clear who the blackened is, isn’t it?” Kyoko asked.

“No…! Not at all!” Yasuhiro yelled.

“You’re talking about the mistake in pronouns, aren’t you?” Byakuya asked.

“Exactly,” Kyoko said.

“Mistake in pronouns…?” Makoto asked. “What do you two mean?”

“The blackened already knew Chihiro’s true gender, and because of that they’ve been switching pronouns in order to keep the secret,” Kyoko explained. “I think that’s pretty obvious.”

“Huh…?” Junko said. “Are we supposed to be paying attention to everyone’s little mistakes?!”

“Yes.” Kyoko said.

“Wait…” Makoto said. “I think I know who you’re talking about.” 

“Really? You were able to piece that out with the nothing she gave us?!” Yasuhiro asked.

“Mondo, you’ve been acting really weird this whole trial.” Makoto said. 

“Huh, what the hell are you talking about?!” Mondo yelled.

“I think this whole mystery could be solved if each of us just showed our e-Handbooks.” Makoto explained.

“What use would they have in this situation?” Celeste asked.

“The blackened knew about the way the e-Handbooks could break. Therefore, they had probably broken theirs in the sauna.”

“That would make sense, but why specifically Mondo?” Celeste asked.

“Mondo and Taka had an endurance contest in the sauna. From what I can remember Mondo didn’t take off his clothes…” Makoto began to explain. “Mondo probably kept his e-Handbook on him, and when he left the sauna he discovered that it was broken.”

“So that e-Handbook we found probably wasn’t Leon’s but Mondo’s…?” Junko asked.

“Maybe,” Makoto said. “This can all be cleared up if we just show each other our handbooks.”

“There’s no need!” Kiyotaka yelled. “I already know bro is innocent! Bro would never kill someone!”

“Give it up already,” Mondo said. “There’s no point in trying when you’ve already lost.”

“Bro?! What are you talking about?” Kiyotaka yelled. “If you just show Makoto you’re innocent he’ll stop accusing you, I promise!”

“But he’s not wrong.” Mondo said. “And it’s time I owned up to it, as well.”

“No! You’re lying!” Kiyotaka yelled. “I refuse to believe it!”

“Makoto,” Kyoko said. “How about you explain it in full detail so that everyone might get it.”

“It all started when we got our motives,” Makoto began. “Mondo like everyone else was hesitant to share his motive.” 

“After the night time announcement Mondo still hadn’t went to bed, I think we can all safely assume that Mondo wasn’t planning on sleeping without committing a murder.” Makoto said. “I think he encountered Chihiro working out in the pool area and went and got the extension cord from the library.”

“After getting the cord, Mondo strangled Chihiro to death but unluckily for him Hina had decided to go to the pool at the same time.” Makoto said. “Hina tried to get away but Mondo caught her just as she made her way to the door.”

“She probably wasn’t easy to contain. She was fighting him every inch of the way there, but when he saw Chihiro’s dumbbell he knew what he could do to stop her.” Makoto said. “He hit her once, knocking her out before throwing her into the pool.”

“But he wasn’t done yet, he still had to move Chihiro’s body,” Makoto said. “Luckily for him, everyone was asleep at the time.”

“He hung Chihiro’s body up and left the door unlocked, leaving Chihiro to be discovered. But now he had two e-Handbooks that he didn’t have any use for,” Makoto said. “He threw Chihiro’s into the sauna so his true gender wouldn’t be discovered, and he put Hina’s handbook in the mailbox where he found Leon’s and Sayaka’s.”

“That’s what happened, right Mondo?” Makoto said.

“Y’know those two were braver than I was,” Mondo said. “Chihiro was trying to get stronger to accept himself and Hina was trying to improve her craft.”

“Yet I couldn’t accept what I saw in the mirror, I thought getting’ out of here would be the easiest way to move on.” Mondo said. “But it seems that I’ve just taken two more lives with me.”

“Bro! Don’t accept it! You just have to prove him wrong!” Kiyotaka yelled.

“There’s no point,” Mondo said. “He wasn’t wrong.”

“Well well well, it seems the facade of Mondo Owada has finally come to an end.” Monokuma said. “He couldn’t face what he saw in the mirror and took it out on others instead.”

“Why?” Sakura asked. “What was so worth it that you had to kill them to run away?”

“Let me tell you a story,” Monokuma said. “And pay attention because it’s  bear -y important!”

“Long ago there were two brothers, and they were happy for a time.” Monokuma said. “But the younger brother lived in the shadow of his older brother. And oh did I mention this was about the Owadas?”

“Anyways, Mondo’s brother led the Crazy Diamond’s biker gang and Mondo was his right hand man,” Monokuma said. “But Mondo wasn’t content in living in his brother’s shadow, so he challenged him to a race!”

“It was going pretty badly for Mondo and he had to stoop to desperate methods to win the race,” Monokuma said. “But oh no! Mondo ends up in front of a truck coming straight at him! What will he do…?!”

“The answer is, nothing. Mondo’s brother hits him out of the way and takes the truck head on instead.” Monokuma said. “Does Mondo’s brother survive this incident? No. Does Mondo live with the guilt forever? Yes.”

“You know what’s even worse?” Monokuma asked. “He died on the day of his retirement! Well I guess that’s one way to make it more permanent…”

“Now here’s a sadder story about a young man named Chihiro Fujisaki…” Monokuma began. “Chihiro Fujisaki was a boy with a feminine frame, and like any boy with a feminine frame he was bullied relentlessly for it.”

“Now instead of standing up to his bullies like his murderer could, Chihiro folded like a stack of cards!” Monokuma said. “He decided to ‘embrace’ aka hide behind his femininity even if it made his skin crawl!”

“He wanted to become a stronger person, so he decided to work out.” Monokuma said. “Unluckily for him he picked a very bad time to improve on himself!” 

“Mondo decided that if he couldn’t be happy, no one could be happy!” Monokuma said. “So he took Chihiro’s strength away from him, permanently!”

“And finally our witness Aoi Asahina.” Monokuma said. “Talk about a comedy of errors!”

“First, Aoi looks into her mirror and sees that she’s not feminine enough,” Monokuma said. “‘Fine’, she thinks to herself, ‘I’ll just go swim that’ll make me feel better!’. Oh how wrong she could be.”

“So she heads to the pool and what does she see?” Monokuma asked. “Oh you know, Chihiro being strangled to death by one Mondo Owada.”

“Of course she tries to run away but Mondo is gaining on her quick.” Monokuma said. “She almost makes it to the exit, barely opens the door before Mondo’s grabbing her like there’s no tomorrow!”

“She scratches, she kicks, she breaks things, but it’s no use, she’s back at the pool in no time.” Monokuma said. “She’s causing too much trouble so Mondo hits her! Wham! And then she’s in the pool like nothing ever happened.”

“You’re lying you son of a bitch!” Kiyotaka yelled. “Shut the hell up!”

“I promise you that as your headmaster I would never lie unless it helps me!” Monokuma responded.

“Well,” Mondo said. “I guess you should get it over with then.”

“Don’t you feel sorry? Don’t you feel any remorse at all?” Sakura asked.

“Of course I do,” Mondo said. “But that doesn’t change anything.”

“You can’t bring back the dead with your apologies,” Makoto said. “You can’t bring back anything at all.”

“I hated my reflection in that damn mirror, but I guess Taka wasn’t wrong when he called me a coward,” Mondo said.

“No bro you’re not a coward-” 

“It’s over,” Mondo said. “I think it might even be for the best this way, even if it doesn’t seem like it yet.”

“Enough with the sentimentality, it’s punishment time!” Monokuma said.

“Wait no, stop you son of a bitch, stop!” Kiyotaka yelled out.

It was too late of course, Mondo was already being led away to his execution. 

Mondo’s shows up tied up to a pink motorcycle, it’s being driven by Monokuma. Around them is a circus with two cardboard tigers surrounding a metal ball cage. Monokuma starts up the motorcycle and jumps out just as they land in the ball cage. Mondo is left spinning when the cage closes as the cage starts to electrify. 

In front of the ball cage is another Monokuma hula hooping as the volts grow brighter the hula hooping gets faster

After the volts clear up, the motorcycle is still spinning sans Mondo. The hula hooper is sitting down exhausted. A machine makes a beeping noise and out comes a tub branded “Mondo Butter”.

“W-what did w-we just witness?” Toko asked.

“Jesus christ, did he just get turned into fucking butter?!” Junko cried.

“It’s what he deserved,” Sakura said.

Kiyotaka stared, silently, eyes showing only resignation.

Makoto gulped, he didn’t want to do this again. More ghosts weighing heavily on him. He had lost his good friends Aoi and Chihiro and he didn’t want to lose Mondo as well.

It always has to end like this,  Makoto thought.  It’s us before them, but how can they put their lives before others…? Am I supposed to do the same? 

[neoangelz]

cafe prince | jung jaehyun

college student!reader, barista!jaehyun, fluff, lots of nonsense that I tried to edit and fix pffffffft

overview: jaehyun has been nicknamed the cafe prince by the locals because of his handsome looks and charming personality. what they don’t know is that he’s really just a dork with stupid pickup lines that somehow manage to woo you.

word count: 2k+

The cafe seemed busier than usual. Students at this place wasn’t a surprise; they came here to study, gossip after school, grab a sweet treat, take pictures for social media to look cool, etc. Today, however, an unruly amount of teenage girls were packed inside the small building, giggling and trying to sneakily take pictures of someone working behind the counter. You peeked over the large line to see who attracted such a large crowd.

Suddenly you understood.

Behind the counter, carefully adding whipped cream and chocolate to a girl’s frappuccino, was a very good looking barista. Wisps of brown hair fanned in front of his lashes. He finished making the drink and handed it to the girl, flashing her a bright smile. You could feel the entire line of girls, and yourself, swoon. Then you shook your head, embarrassed at being seen acting like a fool. You’re a university student, not a blushing teen in love.

After waiting for what seemed like forever, it was finally your turn to order. The handsome barista returned to the cash register and rested his hands on the counter. He gave you a warm smile. “What can I get you?”

At that moment, you realized you didn’t even think about what you wanted, so to avoid embarrassing yourself further you said the quickest thing that came to mind. “The 127 latte.” You weren’t too fond of the 127 latte, but you panicked. There’s no turning back now.

“Hey that’s my favorite drink, good choice.” The barista winked at you. You fought the bubbly feeling that was making you a bit spacey and handed the money to him. As he was getting your change, you glanced at his name tag.

Jaehyun huh?

You noticed he was wearing an IU sweater under his apron. “Hey, I like IU. Her latest song with G-Dragon is good,” you said casually. Jaehyun looked up at you in surprise.

“How did you?-”

You pointed at his shirt and he looked down for a moment before he started giggling. A shy blush was evident on his cheeks. “Ah, I didn’t realize what shirt I had put on this morning. Yeah I’m kind of a big fan. I went to one of her fan signs and she autographed my album.”

“Did you get flustered?” Jaehyun snorted and got to work on finishing your latte, shy smirk on his face. You noticed deep dimples appearing.

“Maybe I did, maybe I didn’t,” Jaehyun chuckled, sticking his tongue out at you. He handed you your latte and a napkin. You thanked him and went to find a place to sit. Some of the girls around you, mentioned you a few times in their conversation and you wondered what exactly they were saying about you. Sitting down at one of the booths in the back of the cafe, ready to study for your first exam, you noticed that Jaehyun scribbled something on your napkin.

Are you from France? Because madamn

You almost choked on your spit. You bit down hard on your lower lip so that you wouldn’t burst out laughing. What kind of lame pick up line- and to steal it from th internet no doubt. You couldn’t fight back the smile that stretched itself across your face as you took a sip of your latte.

For some reason, it tasted better than you remembered.

Months had passed since that day, and Jaehyun had earned himself a nickname from the locals. They referred to him as the Cafe Prince for his good looks and charming personality. Sure that was true, but you personally knew that he was also a giant dork with poor pick up lines that somehow managed to woo you.

Every time you came into the cafe, he greeted you with a wink. “What will it be today milady?” Which had you rolling your eyes, but smiling nonetheless. You knew each other’s names by now, and had this weird relationship going on. You started ordering the 127 late more frequently, mostly because it was a drink that took a while to make, which gave you time to converse with him. Within the time span of two to three minutes, you two talked about music, what you did outside of the cafe, where you go to school, etc. Of course only if there wasn’t a long line waiting behind you, then you only got a few words.

Today, however, you wanted something different.

“The Cherry Bomb tea sounds good to me.”

“Hey, that’s my favorite drink!” Jae laughed.

“Really? Because I thought the 127 latte was?” You raised your brow.

Jaehyun motioned for you to come closer. You leaned forward, and it was when you could feel his breath on your ear your realized exactly how close you were to him. Your heart sped up and mentally you told yourself to calm down.

“See, I’m not exactly a coffee person. I prefer tea,” he confessed. You pulled away with a dramatic gasp, covering your mouth to be even more so. Jaehyun laughed.

“You heathen!” You joked. You both laughed it off before he yelled your order over to his coworker, Taeyong, whom you had also became quite acquainted with. He then turned back to you.

“So how did your exams go? From what you told me last week, they sounded brutal,” he inquired. You groaned and started going on and on about how your professor kept adding unnecessary info in your study guides, causing extra stress. When you spoke, Jaehyun always paid close attention, his focus entirely on you when he wasn’t making a drink.

You heaved a sigh. “I think I did okay, but it was a stressful experience.”

Jaehyun patted your shoulder in sympathy. Today he was wearing a fitted black long sleeve shirt and jeans. A pair of rounded glasses rested perfectly on his nose. He always looked so incredibly good, it wasn’t fair. You couldn’t help but notice the way his muscles flexed when he worked, the tight material of his shirt only allowing you to see them even more. He could make even the slightest gestures look unbelievably hot, and the already attractive gestures become knockouts. For example: when he wears dress shirts and rolls the sleeves up.

The whole plan of you not becoming attracted and falling in love wasn’t working so well.

“I hate when professors do that, luckily I haven’t had anyone like that this semester,” Jaehyun said, adding a tiny bit of sakura syrup to your drink. He finished his work and handed you your drink. He leaned forward again and motioned towards Taeyong. “Hey look, this drink almost matches perfectly with Teayong over there.”

You placed your hand over your mouth to stifle your incoming laugh knowing very well that if Taeyong heard you, both you and Jae would get a slap upside the head. Taeyong had earned a nickname from the locals as Sakura Teayong because of his bright pink hair.

Taeyong placed his metal pitcher of steamed milk down and turned towards you two. “Are you guys making fun of me?” He leaned on his elbow and raised an eyebrow.

Both you and Jaehyun gulped and returned to your previous position and giggled.

You cleared your throat. “Aside from pinky over there, have you seen the others recently?”

There were also times where some of Jaehyun’s friends would come into the cafe and whole place always got ten times louder whenever they were around. It disrupted your study sessions. One time, you watched as a really tall boy ruffled Jaehyun’s hair while speaking in a cooing voice, causing Jae to laugh so hard he almost knocked over a pot of coffee. Then Taeyong came over and told them to quiet down or leave. For someone who appears as soft and gentle as he does, he sure wasnt someone to mess with.

“Nah I haven’t. But I overheard some girls talking about some really weird coffee that we don’t sell. What did they say? Lulu coffee?” His nose scrunched up as he tried to remember. He looked like a cute, confused puppy.

“Foofoo coffee?” You asked.

Jaehyun looked at you, even more confused. “Foofoo coffee?”

“Yeah, it’s what people call coffee with lots of syrups, sugar and whipped cream,” you explained. Jaehyun nodded before a dumb smile appeared on his face.

“Heh. Foofoo coffee.” Then he burst into a fit of giggles. He turned towards Taeyong. “Hey Ty?”

Taeyong turned around again. “What?”

Jaehyun could barely get the words out without snickering. “Foofoo.” Then he threw his head back and laughed so hard he had to brace himself on the counter as he slowly sunk down to the floor.

Taeyong sighed before pushing Jaehyun to the back. “This is why people don’t come here often, you’re too obnoxious and disrupt the peace I try so hard to preserve” he muttered under his breath. Jaehyun was still laughing in the background.

It had been almost eight months since you first met Jaehyun. Summer came and left, and now you were starting a new semester at college. Fall colors were everywhere and you were so happy to start wearing sweaters and sweatpants again. You and Jae had become so close, people at the cafe were wondering if you two were dating. You laughed at the thought.

“You’re the first person today to not ask for a pumpkin spice latte, it’s kind of refreshing,” Jaehyun sighed as he handed you your caramel iced latte, also known as the Yestoday Latte. You laughed and paid Jaehyun for the drink and went to your usual spot in the back. This time, you were upset to see that he hadn’t included a napkin with a terrible pick up line. You sighed, you were really looking forward to it, as much as you hated to admit it.

You can’t date the cute barista Y/N, you never engage in activity outside of the cafe. Just stop thinking about it.

As much as you tried to push down your silly feelings, they just resurfaced, growing each time. You couldn’t even focus on your homework because your thoughts kept distracting you. You let out a groan of frustration, slammed your textbook shut and gathered your things. Jaehyun watched as you leaved the cafe in a storm.

“Hey! Y/N, are you alright?” He called out.

He got no response as you hastily left the cafe and made your way home. Upon reaching home, you stormed up the stairs and into your room. You flopped onto your bed and let out the loudest and longest groan possible. You can’t keep hanging around the cafe, Jaehyun was too big of a distraction.

Since then, you ordered your drinks to go and left as soon as they were finished. Jaehyun was sad that you didn’t stick around, your presence always put him in a better mood. At first he wondered if you stopped hanging around because he forgot to write a pickup line for you on a napkin. It wasn’t that he forgot, he just couldn’t think of anything at the moment. Did you suddenly lose interest in him?

Days turned into weeks, which turned into a month. He only saw you when you ordered a drink and then left.

You thought that your life would get easier by not hanging around much, but you were wrong. You missed Jaehyun and his silly pick up lines. You missed watching him work from afar and engaging with his friends. You missed watching him getting smacked by Taeyong whenever Jae made fun of him, you missed his deep dimples and catching him looking at you or vice versa. You missed your conversations over your common interests and your lives at university.

Congratulations Y/N. You really like this dork.

You couldn’t deny that fact anymore. Looking over at your calendar, you decided to go to the cafe on Saturday. You had to talk with him.

Saturday morning, you woke up earlier than you wanted. Your body seemed to be anxious. You took a shower and put on a casual yet nice looking outfit of jeans and a sweater. Standing in front of your bathroom mirror, you desperately tried to hype yourself up and at the same time tried to calm your nerves.

You can do this, just casually invite him to go see that new movie you both were talking about. Not that hard.

If only it were that easy. The moment you stepped into the cafe, you were shocked to see that Jaehyun wasn’t there at the cash register. Taeyong was there instead. Did his work schedule change? You walked up, trying to not to look surprised or upset. However Taeyong could read you like an open book and gave a soft laugh when you walked up to the cash register.

“Jae isn’t here today, it’s his day off.”

You nodded and all hope flew out the window. I guess you would have to do it another time. You thought about going back home, but you didn’t want Taeyong getting suspicious, even though you’re sure he’s been onto you since day one. “What makes you think I’m here to see him? I just want a 127 latte please,” you huffed, crossing your arms.

Taeyong snorted. “Right away your highness,” he teased.

You rolled your eyes and waited for your drink. Taeyong made it faster than Jaehyun did. You unzipped your purse and got out your wallet to pay, but Taeyong stopped you. “It’s already taken care off,” he said, giving you a smile. Your eyes widened but you didn’t say anything. You were about to leave the cafe when Taeyong called out. “Hey what are you doing? You can’t leave with that cup!”

You looked down and realized he made your drink in one of the cafe cups, meaning you had to stay inside to drink it. To be fair, you never said to make it to go. Giving him a suspicious look, he just shrugged before winking at you. Before you could say something back, two costumers walked in. You went and sat at your usual spot in the back. The table had a bunch of napkins on it, the previous customers must’ve grabbed more than they needed. You reached for one and just stared at it, before you reached into your purse and pulled out a pen.

The napkins made you think of Jaehyun and his pick up lines.

Jaehyun.

Your hand moved before you even processed what you were doing. Two minutes later, the napkin was covered in doodles and Jaehyun’s name written in different ways. Soon you had gone through five napkins, each covered in doodles and Jaehyun’s name. You were busy working on the sixth one, forgetting all about your latte.

“Wow, you write my name nicer than I do.”

You shot up in surprise, the pen flying out of your hands. Jaehyun was leaning on the table, a mischievous smile on his face. Your heart did triple flips. “H-how long were you standing there?” You stuttered before words started to form properly. You made a move to scrunch up all the napkins you doodled on before he could see any more, cheeks flushed.

“Not long. Can I sit?” Jaehyun pointed to the spot across from you. You nodded and he slid in.

“So, I haven’t seen a whole lot of you. What’s up?”

This is it. This is your chance, right here, right now. “I’ve been kinda busy, I really want to do well in my classes. I’ve been studying more at home because I felt kind of distracted here.”

Jaehyun nodded. “I see. What was so distracting?”

You gulped. Was he on to you? Did he figure it out? Were you that obvious about your crush on him? Jaehyun was staring at you, his lips twitching into a smile. Jerk, he was totally doing this on purpose. You justed want to crawl into a hole and hide.

“Hey,” he said softly. You looked at him and tried to stay focused, but it was really hard to do that when he was looking at you so endearingly. This was so unfair.

“Hmm? Anyways, I uh was wondering if you’d like to- well it’s because we talked about it and you seemed really interested in it so I kinda figured-”

“Y/N?”

You stopped babbling. Jaehyun had leaned in super close to you, resting his chin on his hand. “Yes?” You held in your breath.

“Would you like to go out sometime?”

Was it your heart that exploded? You felt like you could rocket out of the building in excitement and yet your body relaxed, your nerves calmed down and you felt yourself melting under his gaze. You exhaled and rubbed your temples, cheeks flushed. “I thought you’d never ask.”

Jaehyun’s dimples never looked deeper as he gave you a big smile. The two of you sat there, just looking at each other until Jaehyun gently took hold of your hand and softly rubbed the back of it with his thumb. Your heart flip flopped at the gesture. You were so tempted to close the gap between the both of you, his lips looked so soft and inviting.

Jaehyun seemed to know what you were thinking, because he started to slowly move in. Then a hand shot between your faces and you both jumped away in shock.

“Ew, not in public please. I have a pda-free, friendly atmosphere to preserve,” Taeyong huffed.

You laughed but Jaehyun was glaring at Taeyong. You poked his cheek to get his attention. “Weren’t you going to take me out anyways, Cafe Prince?” You teased. Jaehyun grinned and took hold of your hand.

“Of course.”

[crazyclouds5281]

Unnamed Naruto fic part 1

“Alright everybody, listen up!” Umino Iruka called, cutting through the chatter of his students. “First things first, congratulations to all of you for passing the final exam!” The majority of the students cheered. Iruka gave them a moment to bask in their success, smiling gently, before he raised a hand to quiet them down. “Today, I’ll be announcing team assignments! Please listen carefully!”

Uchiha Sasuke scowled. He did not want to be here, and he most definitely did not want to be put on a team with any of these incompetents. He steepled his hands in front of his chin, fingers covering the intense frown the tugged on his lips. Those two fools Yamanaka and Haruno were quietly fighting over who would get to sit on his right side, since on his left was the window. Iruka might not have noticed them, but Sasuke had no choice but to listen to these idiots. Inuzuka’s mutt was yipping excitedly, Nara yawned loudly every five seconds, and Akimichi was crunching on chips at the speed of light, the plastic packaging crinkling between his sausage fingers. All of it served to put Sasuke in an even worse mood than he was usually in.

“Team Seven will consist of Uchiha Sasuke,” Sasuke eyes flicked to the Chunin upon hearing his name, “Haruno Sakura,” cue the screeching and bickering, “And Uzumaki Naruto.” Suddenly, the classroom fell silent. “Your Jounin sensei will be Hatake Kakashi.” Yamanaka was the one to ask the question on everyone’s mind.

“Sensei, who’s Uzumaki Naruto?” she asked. Surprisingly, it was Inuzuka who answered.

“Wait, wasn’t he that annoying bastard who wore orange back in the first year of the Academy? What the hell happened to him?”

Iruka’s smile was a little strained. “Don’t worry about it,” he said simply, then continued what he was doing. “Team Eight will be…”

--------------------------

Two hours. That’s how long Sasuke waited in that room with that damned banshee Haruno, who kept endlessly asking him on dates and trying to talk to him. He completely ignored her, his furious gaze burning a hole into the chalkboard at the front of the room, yet she would not take the hint! If he remained silent for a solid 120 minutes, why did she think he would agree to go on a date with her after the two hour mark? This was supposed to be the smartest kunoichi in their class? Pathetic.

Sasuke was saved from his personal hell when the door opened, and a tall man walked in. He had spiky white hair, his hitai-ate covered his left eye, and a mask covered the rest of his face, save for his right eye. He had an orange book open in one hand, and was dressed in the usual uniform of a Konoha Jounin. The man only glanced up from his book once, eye flickering over him and Haruno at lightning speeds, so fast Sasuke wasn’t sure if he’d actually seen it.

“I’m your sensei, Hatake Kakashi,” the man droned. “Hmm… My first impression of you is… You’re boring. Meet me on the roof.” The man vanished in a blur, an instant before Haruno began yelling at him. Sasuke’s scowl deepened to the point where his facial muscles started to hurt, and he got up out of his seat.

“Sasuke-kun, I don’t think you’re boring,” Haruno said reassuringly, batting her eyelashes in a failed attempt to look pretty. The only reason Sasuke paid her any attention was because she was standing in his way.

“Move,” he commanded, then shoved past her before she could even comprehend his words. He had no patience for her. After these last few hours, spent in only her company, he doubted he ever would. He completely ignored her gasp as she rubbed at the shoulder he’d bumped into, a wide grin on her face. He had more important things to worry about.

--------------------------

There was a boy sitting on the bench when Sasuke and Haruno finally arrived at the roof. He was dressed in beige cargo pants and a gray t-shirt with Konoha’s leaf symbol. He had blond hair, and whisker-like marks on his cheeks. Sasuke scoffed; was this kid a civilian? He didn’t even have a shuriken pouch! Looks like he was in for a rough ride. Hopefully, he’d be promoted to Chunin soon, and be able to leave behind these worthless tools. He plopped himself down across from the blond.

“Um, are you Uzumaki Naruto?” Haruno asked hesitantly, sitting right next to Sasuke, much to chagrin. The boy stared at them with big blue eyes for a moment, before nodding. “Well, I’m Haruno Sakura! We’re gonna be on a team together, so I hope we can become friends!” she said brightly. Uzumaki just stared, as if he didn’t understand what she was saying. Thankfully, before the kunoichi could go on a rampage about him being rude, their Jounin sensei appeared, sitting right in the middle of his students.

“You two sure took your time,” Kakashi said to Sasuke and Haruno. It might’ve been a reprimand, but his bland tone made it sound like he didn’t even care. Sasuke bristled; this man had no right to talk, not after showing up two hours late. Of course, he wouldn’t say anything. Respect for his superiors had been drilled into Sasuke’s head by his father.

Haruno had no such inhibitions. “Us!?” she bellowed, standing up and raising a clenched fist. “You’re the one that’s two hours late!”

Kakashi just waved her off. “I guess the four of us are going to be a team, so we may as well introduce ourselves. Pinkie, you can go first.”

Haruno tilted her head. “What information should I include?” she asked, which was a dumb question. Information was valuable; you only parted with things that were inconsequential, and not even that, if you could help it.

“Oh, you know, your name, what you like, what you dislike, your dream. Simple stuff like that.” Haruno hesitated, and Sasuke wanted to rip his hair out. What part of this was so difficult!?

“Do you think you could go first, Sensei? I’d like an example.”

Kakashi heaved a put-upon sigh, and Sasuke could totally relate. “I suppose. I’m Hatake Kakashi. I like… Things that you aren’t old enough to understand yet. My dislikes… There are a few of those. My hobbies… You kids are still too young for that. My dream… Hm. Anyways, your turn, Pinkie.”

“That hardly told us anything at all!” Haruno screeched. When all three males silently stared at her for a solid five seconds, she deflated. “My name is Haruno Sakura! I like…” She glanced at Sasuke. “My hobbies are…” She glanced at Sasuke. “And my dream is…” This time, she stared at him for a few moments, stars in her eyes and a blush on her cheeks. Sasuke actually wanted to vomit, and had to force himself not to inch away from the pink-haired girl- there just wasn’t enough bench for him to scoot onto. “Oh! And I dislike Ino-pig!” she roared.

A judgmental silence fell upon the group, before Kakashi turned to Sasuke. “Well, I suppose it’s your turn.” Sasuke nodded.

“My name is Uchiha Sasuke.” That was common knowledge, so it was safe to divulge. There wasn’t even a point in trying to keep it secret in this village. “I dislike a lot of things, and I don’t particularly like anything.” Lie. He liked tomatoes, and enjoyed spending time with his mother. “My hobby is training.” A safe answer, one which was common amongst shinobi, and wouldn’t be seen as anything out of the ordinary. It also had the advantage of being true. “My dream…” Sasuke trailed off. There was no point telling these people. His so-called teammates had no right to that knowledge.

Kakashi nodded, and turned to Uzumaki. “Your turn.”

“Uzumaki Naruto. My hobby is training. I like ramen, and I don’t really dislike anything. My dream is to become a skilled shinobi.”

Kakashi nodded. “Right, good talk. Tomorrow, I want you three to meet me on Training Ground Three… Around eight should be good. We’ll be doing a little survival exercise, but I plan on putting you through your paces, so if you don’t wanna throw up, you probably shouldn’t eat breakfast. See you tomorrow!” With a cheerful wave, the Jounin disappeared in a blur of motion, and the three newly-appointed Genin were left alone.

Actually, make that two. Uzumaki had vanished as well.

--------------------------

0800 sharp. Sasuke ambled onto Training Ground Three, which was pretty standard for a Konoha training ground. A clearing with some log posts, surrounded by a forest. Sasuke took a seat at the base of one of the posts, wondering if his sensei would be late today, as well. Perhaps he’d only done that yesterday as a sort of test, to see just how patient his new students could be. After all, infiltration and stealth missions often required laying in wait, sometimes for hours on end, not moving a muscle or even breathing too loudly. Or so Sasuke had been told. A leaf fluttered by on the gentle wind, and Sasuke snatched it out of the air. Might as well occupy himself somehow. He placed the leaf on the back of his hand, using his chakra to make it stick. This was the chakra control exercise he’d learned in the Academy.

For five minutes, Sasuke entertained himself by making the leaf flow across his skin in intricate patterns, until a call shattered his concentration.

“Sasuke-kun~!”

Great.

“Looks like it’s just the two of us, Sasuke-kun,” Haruno said in an attempt to be seductive. “Hey, after this survival exercise is over, do you wanna go on a date-?” And that was when he stopped listening.

--------------------------

Two hours. Again. Sasuke really hoped this wasn’t a habit. Kakashi wandered towards his two students with the speed of a snail, orange book in one hand, and a plastic bag in the other. When he finally came to a stop in front of him and Haruno, the man only glanced up for the barest of moments before returning to his reading.

“Where’s Naruto?” he asked.

“He’s right behind you, Sensei,” Haruno answered, pointing behind the Jounin. Single eye narrowed, the Jounin whirled around, and true to word, there was Uzumaki. He stared up at Kakashi blankly. The blond was wearing clothes similar to yesterday, only with different colors. His shirt was a forest green, and his shorts navy blue. Again, he didn’t have any equipment pouches, or even his hitai-ate.

Kakashi took a step back, looking at the boy warily. “O-kay then,” he muttered. “Well, now that we’re all here, I’ll explain what’s going to happen. Today, you three are going to be taking your Genin Exam!”

Thankfully, Shisui had warned him, and Sasuke knew this was coming, though his cousin had been rather tight-lipped on what he’d be doing for this secondary test. Uzumaki remained silent as ever, but there was no surprise on his face. Someone must’ve tipped him off as well. Obviously, Haruno hadn’t gotten the memo.

“What!? But, we already passed the Academy Exam!” she wailed, trembling at the thought of an exam she hadn’t studied for rigorously.

“Exactly,” Kakashi agreed genially, “The Academy Exam. That was only to prove you weren’t completely worthless. The Genin Exam is different; it’s to determine whether or not you’re ready for the real world. Fail, and you’ll be going back to the Academy for another year. If you fail your second Genin Exam after that, then you’ll be blacklisted, unable to ever become a shinobi within the bounds of Konohagakure. Get it?” Stunned, Haruno could only nod. “Wonderful! So, for your exam, you three will have to get one of these bells.” The man pulled a pair of silver bells from his pouch, jangling them lightly. “You’ll have until noon to do it.” He pulled out an alarm clock now, setting it on top of a rock behind the log posts. He placed his plastic bag down next to it.

“But, Sensei, there’s only two bells, and three of us!” Haruno cried.

“Well spotted, Sakura!” Kakashi complimented. “And the reason for that is simple; only two of you can pass!”

Sasuke narrowed his eyes. This was another part Shisui hadn’t told him about. Sasuke had only ever seen Genin teams with three members, not counting their Jounin sensei. Then again, it wasn’t like he’d seen every single Genin team in Konoha, so he couldn’t say for certain whether Kakashi was lying or not. Actually, Sasuke kinda hoped he wasn’t; at least that way, he’d be sure to be rid of Haruno.

“Ah, maybe I should be a bit more clear,” Kakashi said, seemingly giving hope to the despairing Haruno. “You can only pass if you get a bell. Which means, if none of you get a bell, then none of you pass. If one of you gets a bell, then only they pass. It’s just that only a maximum of two of you can pass. Got it?”

“But, that’s not fair, Kakashi-sensei!” Haruno yelled. “We already graduated from the Academy! Why should we have to do another test!?” Kakashi blinked, as if astounded by her stupidity, before raising an eyebrow.

“It’s not fair?” he asked softly, his tone setting off alarm bells in Sasuke’s head. Haruno, completely oblivious to the rising danger, nodded emphatically.

“Right, it’s not!”

Kakashi closed his orange book, tucking it away. “So, is it fair when the Hokage orders a suicide mission?”

“What?”

He took a step forward, closing half the distance between him and Haruno. “Is it fair when the client gives bad intel, and you find yourself surrounded by A-rank nuke-nin when you were only supposed to take out some lowly bandits?”

“Uh-”

He took another step, looming over the diminutive girl, a menacing aura surrounding him. “Is it fair, when your teammate, the person you thought you could trust with your life, stabs you in the back and leaves you for dead?”

“N-no…” Haruno whispered, thoroughly cowed. The tension blanketing the clearing dispersed, and Kakashi was right back where he was a moment ago, book back in his hand as if nothing had happened.

“I wonder if I should just fail you three right now?” he asked nobody in particular, making Sasuke tense up. If he failed because Haruno was a naive idiot… “Unfortunately for me, I have to follow protocol, or I’ll get written up for sabotaging your careers. How troublesome.”

“Shikaku-san won’t appreciate you using his line,” Uzumaki muttered, the first words he’d ever spoken in Sasuke’s presence. His voice was incredibly soft, so much so that Sasuke nearly had to strain to hear it. Kakashi held up his free hand in half of the traditional pleading gesture.

“Aha, let’s just keep that between us, shall we?” he asked with a nervous chuckle. Uzumaki didn’t respond. “Anyways, I think I’ve wasted enough of your time. Remember, you have ‘till noon- no bell, no pass, and if you don’t come at me with the intent to kill, you will fail. Ready? Start!”

Sasuke rushed into the forest to find a hiding spot, not paying any attention to what his teammates did. They were on their own.

--------------------------

On the one hand, Kakashi just wanted this over with. He didn’t want to be saddled with some stupid, fresh out the Academy Genin. He was actually quite proud of how he’d managed to avoid being stuck as a Jounin sensei for so many years. The Nidaime’s Bell Test was ingenious, since most of these kids were too arrogant, too assured in their skills to even think about working together. The fact that they honestly thought they could take on a Jounin by themself was laughable, and Kakashi always felt a sort of dark glee when he sent those cocky little clowns back to the Academy.

On the other hand, the Sandaime had declared it was time for Naruto to be put on a Genin team with shinobi his age, and so here he was. Speaking of Naruto...

“Aren’t you going to hide?” he asked Naruto. The blond was still standing next to him. Rather than respond, Naruto just held up a red string, which was attached to…

“Eh?” Kakashi looked down at his waist, and found that only one bell was now tied to his hip. He glanced at the bell in Naruto’s hand, then back at his waist, then back at Naruto. “Eh!?”

“...I’m leaving,” Naruto said, turning around and walking off the training ground. Kakashi could only watch, stunned.

“Wait, my bell!”

[eilowyn]

Oh shit, writing prompts hell YES. Okay, get this-- Lifeguard/bay watch type thing for Madasaku. I'm just really digging this prompt/idea. Have an awesome day, fam.

Windows to the Soul - MadaSaku lifeguard AU

One-shot AU where the village of Konoha is near a beach, and Sakura is a part-time lifeguard as extra pay alongside being a regular medic-nin. Also, same-generation, slight age-gap, and possibly OOC content.

Sakura Haruno gazed out at the horizon, letting out a deep breath before blinking to readjust her vision and focus back on the villagers who had picked today to come to the ocean side.

It was a sunny summer day at the beach where many of the citizens of Konoha, and their families, had decided to take the day off from normal responsibilities and have some fun. But of course, with the particularly younger kids (especially the boys), the true definition of��“fun” was rough-housing and pushing each other around almost to the point of danger. The lifeguard in the vicinity, Sakura, kept a particularly close eye on them on the occasion, but not without paying attention to all the others who picked the same time to go for a dip. It did not go unnoticed to her that a lot of the men in the area paid just as much attention to her as she did them, if not more. She knew she was attractive, but the extent of it annoyed her to no end.

Letting out another sigh, she ran a hand through her hair to both momentarily shield her eyes from the sun’s glare, as well as distract herself from the few blatant leers of a few men not too far away from where she sat. 

Just for a little longer, until before the sun starts to set, then I can go home.

                                                    [ m x s ]

“Hey, Madara, pass it here!” Hashirama Senju yelled, raising his arms to catch the inflated football which was just about to be thrown at him. Madara Uchiha smirked his way, cocking his elbow back then letting loose a wide throw, grinning at the soft “oof” that came from the other man due to his strength. 

“Nice catch, Hashi. Maybe next time you’ll do without the wussy squeak,” he laughed, nearly doubling over at the rising color in the brown-haired man’s cheeks.

The Uchiha and the Senju families were those among the residents that came to the beach that day, deciding they needed just as much of a break as everyone else - not just because of how prominent both families were when it came to the function and stability of the village, of course. It was Madara, his younger brother Izuna, and their cousins Itachi, Shisui, and Sasuke. Only Hashirama and his younger brother Tobirama were in place of the Senju. Madara was currently the head of the Uchiha house, and Izuna was his second-in-command. Their cousins ran day-to-day tasks, but still held a bit of that authority given their reputations as fearsome, powerful shinobi. No average joe-nin dared to mess with them, even at the beach, where everyone enjoyed themselves as equals, fooling around and filling the masses with laughter.

A sudden, shrill whistle pierced the air, which made the men wince before they turned their heads to inspect what had happened for the warning to have needed to been given. The pink-haired lifeguard was bounding out of her seat, running towards the shoreline then jumping in. A few seconds passed by before she burst back up to the surface with a young boy who had decided to be brave and swim too far off. 

Madara stared as she pulled him out of the water, patting his back while he coughed out some water and then bopping him on the head, chastising him for his recklessness. He couldn’t see her eyes because of her sunglasses, but the lines forming on her face gave him the idea that she was definitely annoyed. He had to swallow a slight lump in his throat when she turned and walked back to her station to climb up the ladder, the tight wetsuit clinging rather snugly to some parts of her body.

“Man, she’s such a party pooper. The kid was just trying to show off to some chicks!” Izuna exclaimed from behind him, and a few faint, adolescent-female giggles confirmed it, but Madara barely heard him. He was too busy continuing to stare at that.. interesting lifeguard. Her flushed pale skin, supple curves, and legs which seemed never-ending had him hooked, and he so badly wanted to approach. He suspected she was young, but old enough for his tastes. And that hair... it reminded him of cotton candy. He wondered what color her eyes could possibly be if her hair was pink, of all things, and with a clearing of his throat, he decided.

Madara Uchiha was a man of ambition. If he wanted something, he’d get it. And today was no exception.

“Izuna, quick,” he said with a start, grabbing his younger brother by the shoulder to get his attention. He leaned in and cupped a hand to his ear, quickly whispering his plan.

                                                    [ m x s ]

The nerve of that kid, going so far off shore just to impress a few girls. He could have gotten seriously hurt, or worse! Where were his parents? Sakura huffed in irritation, grabbing the bottle of sunscreen next to her to slather on a new layer. For the next minute or two, she continued to grumble mentally before the sound of particularly forced splashing and a male voice rang out:

“Help!”

Her head snapped up and she immediately found the source, a grown man, with rather long, obsidian hair, even more dangerously close to being swept away by the waves struggling to stay above the surface. The pinkette’s eyes widened minutely, her mind running through several reasons as to why a person so seemingly fit and capable of swimming could be struggling, but immediately blanked so as to go into auto-pilot and grabbing the rescue can hooked underneath her seat. She ran as fast as she could, her feet pounding against the sand until she felt the familiar shock of the cold water hit her skin, and her vision blurred. She saw the man’s figure sink beneath the surface and she pushed herself to swim faster, grabbing him by the shoulders and repeating the same routine she had done with the boy until he was well away from the water and laying on the sand with his head elevated.

Not bothering to even catch her breath, Sakura went to work. “One, two, three, breathe!” she cried, pushing both fists against his chest in a steady rhythm to coax the water from his throat to escape. After several moments of seemingly nothing, she pinched his nose and leaned down, capturing his lips with hers and breathing as much air as she had stored into lungs into his mouth. A slight jerk, followed by a struggle to cough caught her attention and she leaned back, allowing him to turn his head and clear his throat. While he did so, she finally relaxed, her shoulders losing their tension. She got a good look at the man, then, observing his muscular physique and absurdly long locks of hair. He had rather prominent bags underneath his eyes, and the curious thought crossed her mind of what could possibly make him so tired to create them.

He then turned his head back around and slowly cracked both eyes open at the sensation of gentle fingers smoothing said hair back from his forehead, and what he saw nearly took his breath away once again. He blinked a few times, then croaked out, “Wow...”

Curtains of pink shielded him from the glare of the sun, and eyes the brightest of green stared down at him, with pink lips parted in preparation to speak. 

Those eyes... they had such a story to them, he knew.

“Sir... Can you hear me?” the girl asked, her fingers nearly sinking into the hair at the top of his head, seemingly entranced in her inquiry about his current state. “Do you feel dizzy? Nauseous? What is your name? And do you have anyone I could possibly contact?”

Seemingly delirious, the man shook his head then started to sit up with a grunt. “No.. I’m fine, it’s just..” He looked at her again, then, studying her face for a moment. A smirk tugged at his lips and he offered, “Do you have any plans tonight?”

                                                     [ m x s ]

“And that’s the story of how we started dating,” Madara finished, leaning against the ladder of the lifeguard station while sipping at his pink lemonade, Ino and Tenten staring at him with their mouths hanging open.

“As if!” Sakura cried, kicking lightly at his head from her seat up on the station. “I totally rejected you the first time, I was so angry. You faked drowning to get my attention, you jerk!” 

“Hey, it worked!” the Uchiha retorted with a laugh, patting her calf which evoked another attempt at violence. “You were on duty, there was no way I could just walk over and strike up a conversation. I had to get creative, sue me.”

Recovering from their shock, both Ino and Tenten began raining down a mass of questions all at once, turning both to Sakura and each other with excited, gushy squeals of how romantic it all seemed. Sakura stuck her tongue out in mock-disdain and turned her head to focus on the east side of the beach, where something caught her attention.

“Hey babe, duty calls,” she called to Madara, climbing down the ladder then quickly going up on her tiptoes to give her boyfriend a peck on the lips. “I’ll catch you later.” And with that, she turned her back ran towards the scene that had piqued her interest, Madara staring at her the whole way there with a wry smile on his face.

“Mm, mm. Never gets old.”

Okay, wow. Didn’t expect it to get this long but, inspiration always strikes for my other OTP as well, I guess. Thank you for the prompt!

[kuriquinn]

Why Sasuke Uchiha Will Never Drink Again [One-Shot]

Masterlist & Disclaimer

Summary: One of Konoha’s best kept secrets is no longer a secret.

Disclaimer: This story utilises characters, situations and premises that are copyright Masashi Kishimoto, Shueisha, Shonen Jump and Viz media. No infringement on their respective copyrights pertaining to episodes, novelisations, comics or short stories is intended by KuriQuinn in any way, shape or form. This fan-oriented story is written solely for the author's own amusement and the entertainment of the readers. It is not for profit. Any resemblance to real organizations, institutions, products or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

All plot and Original Characters except for those introduced in the canon books, manga, video games, novelizations and anime, are the sole creation of KuriQuinn. (© KuriQuinn 2016- )

Rating: T

Warning: Mild OOC? They’re characters that grew up differently than the canon, so a little bit of change in personality. Mentions of OCs (Manako Inuzuka)

Canon/Fanon Compliance: AU ‘verse. Sasuke left Konoha, but he came back right away or right after training or something. Team 7 went on to become ANBU

"This," Sasuke says, "is ridiculous."

"No, this is genius," Naruto retorts. "And long overdue. You're back for the first time in two years—with a secret baby you didn't tell anyone about—"

"Because you wouldn't have overreacted about it at all," Sai interjects.

"—and I finally have a night off from learning all the most boring Hokage crap—"

"Ahem," Kakashi cough as he carefully pours several shot glasses full of the strongest nihonshu that Tsunade ever hid in the Hokage's office. He still keeps it around for days when his choices are between getting blind drunk or committing homicide.

Usually because of the three other men in the room with him and their female teammate.

"—and our lovely wives are catching Sakura up on two years of gossip—"

Sasuke rolls his eyes. "It wasn't two years, idiot."

"—so we are going to spend the night doing manly bonding stuff," Naruto concludes.

"Which apparently involves copious amounts of alcohol."

"Damn straight."

"Why am I here?" Sai asks. "I'm secure enough in my masculinity that I don't need 'manly bonding stuff'."

Kakashi raises an eyebrow at him. "Did you just use air quotes?"

"Did I not do it properly?"

"No, you did. It's just…weird."

"Noted."

"I'm going home," Sasuke sighs and heads toward the door. "Kakashi, I'll be back to give you my report tomorrow, when you're not surrounded by morons."

"Hm, it appears what Sakura told Ino was true," Sai remarks innocently.

"Huh. Looks like," Naruto agrees, also affecting a casual tone of voice.

"I never would have believed it," Kakashi concludes, and Sasuke can practically hear him shaking his head.

He stops, mid-step, and his eyes drift closed in resignation. Every brain cell he was ever given tells him to ignore it. People have goaded him with worse in the past and he has learned not to rise to the bait.

However—

It's Naruto. And an insinuation by Naruto does not go unanswered, for any reason.

"What has my wife been saying?" Sasuke asks, not turning around and trying to keep his tone carefully measured.

"Only that your alcohol tolerance is worse than Lee's," his oldest friend concludes happily. "And here I was going to give you a chance to prove that was just a lie…"

Sasuke's jaw clenches, hearing the challenge in Naruto's voice, and he really should just keep going.

Of course, that's not what he does.

Whirling around he marches towards the filled shot glasses and reaches for one, intending to throw it down his throat just to prove he isn't worried about it.

Naruto stops him.

"Hey-hey, hold on, you're not just gonna chug them!" he protests. "Where's the fun in that?"

"Ah, is this where the 'manly bonding stuff' comes in?" Sai inquires. "I assume you have some kind of drinking game in mind, then?"

"Not happening," Sasuke declares, although he doesn't return on his path to the door.

"Kiba showed it to me," Naruto says cheerfully. "It's called ‘Never Have I Ever’."

"Oh, this is going to go well," Kakashi gives a resigned sigh.

"The rules are easy! Someone confesses something they have never done, and the other people who have done that thing all have to take a shot," Naruto explains.

"And the point of this is…?" Sasuke asks.

"To see who passes out drunk first," Sai says.

"And manly bonding," Naruto adds.

"I'm going home," Sasuke says.

"I can assign you cat retrieval missions from now until Sarada enters the Academy," Kakashi points out innocently.

Sasuke glares and takes a seat in front of the desk where several shot glasses are just waiting to be consumed.

"Very well, I will go first," Sai declares, considering for a moment. Then he beams. "I have never sung karaoke."

Naruto throws back a shot, and Kakashi sighs before doing the same.

"Really?" Sai asks.

"It was one of Gai's tamer challenges," Kakashi says, which explains it all. He side-eyes his former students. "Never have I ever snuck into a movie."

Naruto and Sasuke exchange glances and down their drinks.

"Why would you bother doing that?" Sai wants to know.

"We were thirteen," Naruto explains. "And technically we paid. But sitting on the ceiling wasn't exactly allowed, so we had to sneak in."

"But…why?"

"Training," Sasuke answers shortly, and then smirks at Naruto. He nods at one of the shots in front of him. "I have never accidentally set myself on fire."

Naruto glares, but reaches for the drink nonetheless. "That was once."

"It still happened."

"Yeah, well I never set someone on fire on purpose."

Sasuke snorts but reaches for his drink without outward complaint. Kakashi takes a drink as well.

Through that damned mask, as usual. I guess it's a good thing you're not supposed to taste the alcohol anyhow…

Sasuke's eye twitches as the liquor burns its way down his throat, and he wonders if it's possible to learn to speed up one's metabolism in a matter of minutes. He knows kunoichi are taught that trick in the Academy and makes a mental note to ask Sakura about it later.

As for now, he is going to have to play this ridiculous game in a manner that gets his friends inebriated before he hits his limit.

Sakura is going to pay for mentioning this…

"Never have I ever…" Sai begins, and then says brightly, "urinated in the shower."

Kakashi groans in disgust and Sasuke casually tells him, "There is something deeply wrong with you." When Naruto turns red and takes a shot, he adds, "And in your case, that goes without saying."

"I blame dealing with your bullshit," Naruto shoots back.

"Now, now, let's think of happier things," Kakashi lectures in a mocking tone. "For example, the fact that I have never been beaten up by an ostrich."

Sai sniggers as Naruto and Sasuke adopt identical beleaguered expressions and throw back their respective shots.

"Why are you guys picking on me?" Naruto complains, wiping his mouth.

"It's not our fault you've done pretty much every idiotic thing under the sun," Sasuke retorts, having to concentrate on enunciating his words. His cheeks feel a little warmer than usual, too. "Unlike you, I've never graffitied public property."

Naruto reaches for the next shot and sneers at Sasuke, "Yeah, but at least I've never been to prison. That's pretty idiotic."

Sasuke chooses not to reply to that, mostly because he still retains enough of his (ever-lessening) judgement to know that picking a fight while under the influence of alcohol would be a bad idea.

Also, he's pretty sure that Sakura would kill him. And Hinata would give him that disappointed look, the one that always makes him feel like he's kicked a puppy.

In deference of a wife with super-strength and not facing any kicked-puppy expressions from the mouse of a woman that could conceivably kill him with two fingers if she felt the inclination, Sasuke lets it go.

This time.

"My turn," Sai pipes up. "I have never streaked naked through the village."

Sasuke glances at Naruto, half-expecting him to take a drink, but the blond man simply looks amused at the idea. To everyone's surprise, Kakashi takes a drink.

Naruto guffaws and Sasuke raises an eyebrow at him. "Another of Gai's contests?"

"Yes."

"Clearly Naruto isn't the only one with tendencies toward poor judgement," Sai determines.

"Oh, I wouldn't call it poor," Kakashi muses, "it was actually quite liberating. You'd be surprised how good it feels to have a breeze between your—"

"Nope! Uh-uh, don’t want to know! Stop talking!" Naruto yells, while Sasuke's eye begins to twitch again. "It's your turn anyhow, Kakashi-sensei."

The white-haired man sighs. "Are you guys ever going to stop calling me sensei? I haven't been your squad leader since you were kids."

"If it helps, I never called you sensei," Sasuke points out. Then he frowns, because that was a little more candid than usual. His head is beginning to feel like it's being buoyed up by cotton. Why did he think this was a good idea again?

Kakashi regards him with an amused look in his eyes, and shakes his head. Then he juts his neck toward Sai, "Never have I have crossed-dressed.

Sai blinks. "How did you know about that?"

"Manako saw you. She says you're surprisingly adept at walking in high heels."

"Ino makes me practice," Sai shrugs, throwing his drink down his throat.

"Why?" Naruto demands, looking scandalised.

Sai smirks. "Now, that would be telling, wouldn't it?"

"At least he's finally had something to drink," Sasuke mutters.

"Why, are you worried you'll be the only one inebriated here, Coward?"

Sasuke narrows his eyes. "Never have I ever been part of a secret black ops organization."

Sai frowns and takes a shot; Kakashi does as well.

"Can we perhaps stay away from the darker topics?" he suggests.

"Good idea," Naruto says. He pauses to think, and frowns as if he can't think up anything good. In the end he settles on, "I have never sung in the shower."

Kakashi and Sai both drink.

"Did you even know what a shower was before marrying Hinata?" Sasuke challenges.

"At least I knew what a naked woman looked like before I got married."

"Oh, have we moved on to nudity then?" Sai speaks up, interrupting Sasuke's inner argument about whether to throw a fireball at his friend or electrocute him. "I have never engaged in naked pursuits with a woman that is not my wife."

"'Naked pursuits'?" Naruto asks.

"Sex, you moron," Sasuke rolls his eyes.

"Oh. Oh."

Kakashi reaches for a shot. When he notices Naruto and Sasuke's somewhat judgemental expressions he snorts.

"I wasn't a monk before I met you guys, you know. Not all of us can have some great, epic love story that spans years and continents, or ruins lives and sheds blood. Sometimes a good relationship starts out just as sex," he takes a drink, and then looks around as if he hasn't just imparted some oddly deep philosophy. "My turn, right? Alright—my first kiss wasn't with a man."

Naruto and Sasuke make identical noises of choked outrage and grudgingly down their shots.

"I heard about that," Sai sniggers. "Ino says it nearly caused a riot and that Naruto is lucky to have lived through puberty."

"Damn right he is," Sasuke mutters.

"Your turn, my adorable student," Kakashi points out.

"I'm thinking…"

"Oh, wow, only five shots and you already have to think?" Naruto jeers.

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't counting drinks invalidate things somehow?" Sai wonders. "Or does that just mean you haven't had enough?"

"Shut up. I have one," Sasuke interrupts, an idea coming to him before he can think too clearly about what his former teacher just said. "I have never read porn."

"There's a difference between porn and erotica," Kakashi grumbles, although he takes a shot; Naruto and Sai do as well.

"Semantics. It's still something closet perverts like you three do."

"That was research—and it paid off!" Naruto points out. "Remember the time my Reverse Harem Jutsu almost saved the world?"

"And how many naked men did you have to look at to get that one right?" Sai wonders. "At least when I've watched porn, it's been women."

"Your wife lets you watch porn?" Sasuke asks, squinting at the other man. For some reason that doesn't jive with what he knows of Ino.

"Hey! I've got the next one!" Naruto shouts as he refills their shot glasses. "Never have I ever watched porn with someone else!"

Sasuke shudders at the idea of that brand of awkwardness, and to his utter lack of surprise, both Kakashi and Sai drink.

"It was for educational purposes," Sai says unabashedly, while Kakashi shrugs, "It's really not a big deal."

"Please tell me this was with your wives and not some random dude you decided to watch porn with," Naruto groans.

"No," Sasuke interrupts. "Don't. Don't tell us anything. Ever. Just…take your damn turn and move on."

I'm going home. As soon as my feet don't feel like bubbles, I am leaving…

"I have never had sex with more than one person at a time," Sai declares.

Sasuke groans inwardly; he should have known they weren't going to leave the topic of sex alone once it had been broached.

This is about to take a turn for the awkward.

Again, Kakashi takes a drink.

"Really?" Naruto looks scandalised and fascinated. "Was it with two girls, or a guy and a girl?"

"Gentlemen don't kiss and tell," Kakashi says mysteriously.

"Gentlemen don't play stupid drinking games," Sasuke points out.

Kakashi raises an eyebrow at this, and then says innocently, "I've never had sex outdoors.”

Sasuke rolls his eyes.

The other two watch him in expectation, as if waiting for him to outright lie. It occurs to Sasuke that playing this game with a bunch of shinobi wasn't a good idea. Even if he wanted to lie about something, they'd be able to tell.

Aware of the warmth in his cheeks, he reaches for his drink, pointing out as he does, "That's common knowledge."

"It still counts."

"Fine. I've never had my child walk in during."

Mostly because Sarada is a long time away from walking, but it's something he figures must have happened to his sensei at some point. He's got three kids past the toddling age.

As expected, Kakashi has to take a drink, and Sasuke basks in a momentary sense of victory.

Until Naruto laughingly shouts, "Oh, hey, I got one! I got one! Never have I ever…done butt stuff during sex!"

And Sasuke promptly chokes on his own spit.

Because no, no, no, that is not something he ever expected to be brought up here.

Naruto is smirking a challenge at Kakashi, like he figures learning one or two perverted things about his former teacher have given him total insight into how to get his sensei drunk.

Kakashi takes a drink, and then crosses his arms (his attempt to look unbothered is tempered by his pink cheeks). "I'm not ashamed. My sex life is amazing."

Naruto gapes. "No way! That was totally a joke, I didn't think—" He is interrupted as Sai cheerfully takes a shot as well. "Ehhhh?! You too?"

"Don't knock it until you try it," Sai says. "It's actually an interesting sensation when experienced in conjunction with—"

And that's my cue—

Sasuke wobbles to his feet. "I don't need to know any of this. I'm leaving."

"After all that ridiculousness, this is your limit?" Kakashi challenges, a knowing tone in his voice. Sasuke continues making a dogged beeline to the door. "Huh. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you're trying to avoid another shot, Sasuke."

"Hahaha!" Naruto sniggers. "No way."

Just a few more steps…

"Sasuke would never be into that sort of thing, he's way too boring," Naruto continues. "Remember, we had to practically tell him what sex was before he got married…"

Almost there…

"As I recall, he had a very interesting reaction to certain topics that night," Sai points out. "Particularly when we asked him the sort of things he had done with Sakura already. His neck used to get very red. A bit like what's happening right now."

Just reach out and grab the door –

"No way," Naruto murmurs blandly. "No fucking way."

"I did not see that coming," Kakashi says, sounding too surprised to be teasing.

"You mean Sasuke Uchiha took it up the ass?!" Naruto shouts.

Sasuke turns around, glaring daggers at this friend. "Shout it a little louder, you utter moron!"

There is silence.

Naruto's jaw drops, and the other two are blinking in surprise. The tableau would be funny if it weren't for the fact that Sasuke has realised his usual perfect control over his emotions have just caused him to confirm the one thing he did not want to confirm.

Shit.

"But wait…if you've never been with anyone you weren't married to, that would mean…" Sai begins.

"Don't finish that sentence," Sasuke warns.

"Sakura," Sai concludes.

"So she used a…?" Kakashi makes a lewd gesture.

"I did not need to know that about Sakura," Naruto murmurs, shuddering. "Oh, gods, I just got a mental image—oh my god, somebody scramble my brains, please!"

"That can be arranged," Sasuke growls, feeling electricity beginning to crackle in his palm.

"Aaaaand I'm calling an executive order to end tonight," Kakashi says, staggering to his feet. "By order of the Hokage, blah blah blah, you are all to go home and sober up. And no murders while in the Konoha environs."

"Seriously?!" Naruto squeaks at Sasuke, still apparently struggling with the concept.

"If you breathe a word of this to anyone, I'm taking off an arm," Sasuke hisses, taking a menacing step forward. "Or a leg. Probably a leg. Think how ridiculous you'll look, hopping around on one leg. Then you'll never be Hokage."

"And that's how we know Sasuke is drunk, gentlemen," Kakashi says. "Rambling death threats. I think we can call tonight a success, don't you?"

"We should do it again some time," Sai agrees.

"I'm leaving," Sasuke grumbles. "I'm taking a mission to the middle of fucking nowhere and never coming back. And I'm telling my wife it's your fault, and she's going to kill you all for me. I won't even have to get my hands dirty."

Kakashi chuckles. "I suppose I should make sure you get home alright and don't end up walking into a tree."

"Tch."

He stalks off, wobbling and angry and wondering if it's worth the headache to use a portal to get home.

"So, is this butt-sex thing something I'm missing out on?" he hears Naruto asks Sai, and then he sees red.

With a snarl of rage, Sasuke whirls around and makes a dive for Naruto's neck.

終わり

Comments and constructive criticism are always welcome, but if you feel like keeping me caffeinated out of the goodness of your heart, it certainly would be appreciated! I’m also starting to post original works to my patreon.

I’m only able to keep writing as I do thanks to the support of readers like you, so every bit helps!

栗

[aleatoryalarmalligator]

My life story - part 14

7th GRADE - beginning of

A few weeks before 7th grade started for me, my mother moved out of the Welfare Apartments – as my father called them, and into Roxanne's father's upstairs. Roxanne moved into the basement. It was the same home he had always lived in. The same home she had married him in nearly 20 years before. So I imagine it was strange. He was getting sicker. I am not sure what he had. Cancer I think. His feet were always swelling up. Because he was a dying drunk nobody came around. He had at one time many drinking friends, but this is generally always what happens to drunks when they die. Everyone disappears, all the fair weather friends – unless they are family and they are looking for money. I think my mom was probably considering this situation as having potential for her own self.

I had always been afraid of Roxanne's father and I tried to stay away from him. The house was creepy as fuck, by the way. I have talked about ghosts off and on in this story of mine so far. I have more ghosts stories yet to unfold. But I will tell you one thing. This house had something very wrong in it. You just felt sick energy in this place. I mostly hung out in the upstairs room, and I started drawing. I had pretty much conquered the Alien Girls by this time. I had created a legendary fantasy map of their entire continent. We made all the places where our millions of girls could live. Fire people lived in the fire area. Tree people lived in the Forest Realm – ecetera ecetera. I ended up finding this big box of bad 70's porn in the closet. I remember finding this magazine that had a closeup of a vagina. I stared at it forever, trying for the life of me to figure out what I was looking at. It was like the eye of a disturbing space alien from an 80's television show, at least I thought so – until it dawned on me. The box of magazines disturbed me more than it made me curious, and I put the magazine away.

There was another room upstairs that was entirely dedicated to Dick's love for pornography I was told later from Roxanne. I never went in there. After a few weeks of this, I told my mom I didn't really want to be there anymore and I was given permission to just stay at my father's during the weekend until she figured out another place to stay. It was at the edge of town – closer to this wheat field area called Tammany. You always felt like something was angry and glaring at you. It just felt weird to be in this dying man's home with evil spirits.

It was my birthday on the 25th of August. I have always resented the date of my birth, because in my part of the world it's hot and dry and awful. And school starts generally if not on that very day – then a few days before or after. This means that most of my birthday presents are actually school supplies. I don't know how many pencil holders I have unwrapped. How many rulers, eraser sets. It's a little disappointing, especially when you get older and you become privy to the shtick.

On the 25 of August, 2001, in a rare turn of events, I was invited to Samantha's home for a sleepover. This did not happen often. Sam didn't really like me, so I didn't get invited over that often. Also, her father just didn't give Sam any breaks at all. He was an alcoholic lawyer (strangely, Dick whom I mentioned above had also been an alcoholic lawyer), and her life was micromanaged. Her grandma lived in another part of the trailer court, and she had nothing better to do than to call Sam from across the way every thirty minutes to make sure Sam was NEVER wasting time. Her father made her work in the garden – they had a rather large garden you could see from the highway, and with that money what he didn't pocket he put in her college savings. Samantha, as the only girl in the house was everyone's maid. She was to keep her room absolutely spotless. Her father's room and her brother's room as well. Her grades had to be 95% or higher or she was grounded. Almost everything she did would cause her to be grounded. There were times when she was staying the night at Sarah's and her father would randomly call and be yelling at her over the phone and make her come home. Her life was so unfair. I know my dad was abusive towards me at times. But honestly, I probably suffered from a lack of structure more than I did an overabundance of authoritarian rigidity.

So it was unusual that I was invited for several reasons, but I was. And it was my birthday so I thought, 'why not?' I was warned that Samantha's fourth cousin – Katie was visiting. Katie, as I was told, was actually in the class above me, but I had never paid great attention to the kids in the class above. I was warned that Katie would be rough with me. And she was. As soon as I got there, she said things like “Who the fuck are you?”. She was very tomboyish. She didn't say things in the valley girl snotty way you might imagine, but more like a trucker who you had pissed off in some dive bar somewhere between here and South Dakota. When we were playing Pokemon Stadium 2, and I was winning at Chansey Egg Catching – or whathaveyou (of course I would win because I had dedicated the previous two years to Pokemon), she called me a bitch and threw the controller at me. I didn't take this all that personal. I was told that this was just the way that Katie was towards new people. But once she liked me, she would be a loyal friend. I shrugged the whole thing off. I wasn't particularly interested in a friend like that.

Sarah-Mae really wanted me to make a good 'cool' impression of myself in our new positions as 7th graders. 7th graders are always given kind of an unfair time. I imagine this is just as true in the 40's as it is today. Everyone scoffs at them. But I mean, at some point everyone has to be a 7th grader, and there has to be a bottom to the school. Not everyone can be a senior. I probably made a terrible impression though, because my mom had these hippie tunics with wild hippie designs on them. I really liked them. I remember being so excited when my mom was packing and she gave them to me. I had always looked at them in her clothing drawer, and always thought they were really cool. They were comfortable, and they actually fit me. And they had all those colors. The rest of the school made a big deal about them though. I guess they bordered on absurd, and each day I wore them Sarah and Samantha made sure I knew that I looked really bad. Peer pressure finally had the best of me, and I put them away for good after a few months.

At the peak of drawing Alien Girls, Sarah and I decided as a group to stop drawing them. The thing was, their eyes were so large and on the side of their heads. You got the very good impression that their eyes swooped around the other side of their skulls, in behind their hair. There was no clear indication that they had a real nose and their mouths were super low. They had no cheekbones. They were designed from the imagination of an eight year old girl, and it would be hard to improve as an artist if I carried on with them. On one angle, they were drawable. But you could never make them look reasonably okay from the side, or at any other angle. Their anatomy left more questions than answers.

So, Sarah had been watching Card Captures Sakura, and I got really intrigued by anime, so we started drawing that instead. My first comic idea was pretty lousy. It was the typical three school girl deal – based on me Sarah and Samantha kind of, where they all get swept into a magic place after school and had to fight evil monsters. I was extremely jealous of Sarah's comic. On one hand, I had always been very good at designing clothes and pretty faces. My first story was no good, but overall, my story lines were more compelling and my character profiles were better developed. But Sarah had a much better concept of drawing movement and facial expressions. She could draw wings, and she could do interesting shadowing. There was something about her art itself that gave it more life than my art did. I grew pretty jealous of her art actually, and this feeling of inferiority set me back quite a few years in the long run. We kept drawing together though.

Sarah's mom moved into a new bigger home. It was an old home, not as old as mine was, but pretty old. It was at the top of the hill that I lived at the bottom of. It was next door to where that old man, Bucky used to live. The back patio looked down over a steep ledge that led one hundred feet more or less straight down  to the main road towards the end of town. You could also see the Junior/Senior high school from there (they were one in the same since the community was small). There were rumors that a native American girl had fallen to her death on that ledge in the 20's, and when I looked out the window and really thought about it, I worried that something might erode under the house and cause the building to topple down the cliff.

The house had been the Browns house, so it was a bit gross at first and had to be cleaned up a fair amount. Carol had always been good at renovating places though, so she got it cleaned up quite nicely. My niece, Sagen's uncle on her father's side had killed himself in the front yard we were told back in the 80's. So the place carried with it a sense of disaster. Most of the time it was peaceful, but there were some strange things that happened later on that I will get to at a later time.

Sarah's mom also got a new steady boyfriend. His name was Jim. He was this quiet nervous little man with a round face and a Santaesque beard. Like Carol, he was really into old antiques. He lived in this little hut thing that was part of a brick building in the back streets of Kendrick. He fixed cars to get by in a garage next to his hut. He also did some kind of work out in the woods, but I was never sure what that was. His dream was to someday go prospecting and find a rare precious Idaho gem that would set him up for life. He collected lots of old stuff. He was borderline a hoarder. There was old things all over the outside and inside of his little building. His claim to fame was that he had at one time owned one of the very first Indian motorcycles, and he had sold it to Jay Leno. So Jay Leno had come to our little town. He moved in with Carol when they got together, but he still kept his little hut.

My dad around this time started worrying that I was spending too much time around a 'liberal' adult. My father being a republican, was not too pleased with the fact that Carol was a liberal. In his mind, he seemed to think that she actually had the will and want to indoctrinate me to her political beliefs. My dad listened to conservative talk radio all day. I think in his mind, the world was getting very black and white. In all reality, Carol really wasn't the kind of person to even consider it important. And if she had any will or want to indoctrinate me with anything, I believe she would have indoctrinated me with the common sense not to stomp and speak loudly after she went to bed around 7:00 pm – insanely early, or to wipe my feet before I came into the house. Or perhaps to put my dishes away.

It was the fall of 2001 that my dad got our first computer. Up to that point, I hadn't really known what the internet was. I had heard that it existed, but given that what interested me was mostly doing things in the real world, what I could put on paper or read off one, I didn't see the point in it. My father was given a used computer from my Uncle Bob, who, given his position as a regional super attendant's super attendant, was well familiar with computers and wanted to be able to communicate with our family more. So he gave us his old Window's 98.

My dad actually went to these really corny classes, with the corniest how-to manuals on how to use the computer in the most basic of ways. We went to a local woman's house who facilitated the classes. We actually had to be told that the thing that we used to move the cursor on the screen was called a 'Mouse'. I remember as they told us this, I looked out the window, and there was a cat in their drive way torturing and slowly eating a you guessed it – a mouse. So from then on, I have always associated the computer mouse with that tortured mouse I saw that fall evening of 2001. I had used computers and all, I just hadn't known that the computer mouse was called that.

At first all I really understood was my father's email address. So I figured that you sent letters to someone every single day – that must be something you should do. I started writing my Aunt Sylvia. I didn't really know her at all. I decided to make up this fantasy tale about these brothers and sisters who all had these magic powers and had to get back their places as princes and princesses. She really liked it, and I think this was probably because, though I didn't know it at the time, my aunt Sylvia was obsessed with fairies. Her job was to design those kind of corny fairies that sparkle that people used to put on their websites or personal pages. I also looked at every single Pokemon site I could find. I distinctly remember this website with terrible graphics. You basically just put Pokemon on a frying pan and fried them up. It wasn't really graphic, and it looked more like colors smooshing together. I also found every cheat for my gameboy, and I essentially ruined the game for myself by having too much power.

Samantha had started going to chat rooms to talk to boys. I didn't see the appeal to this at all, but since Samantha was doing it, and Sarah had done it a few times, I decided to do it too. I was the absolute worst. I went into these chat rooms, and I didn't want to tell them I was a twelve year old, so I lied about my age. When they asked me questions, I told them really dumb stupid things. I generally didn't do anything productive or say anything meaningful. I more often than not, would go into a chatroom and do something like say the same stupid word over and over again till everyone in the chatroom was gone. I don't know why I did this really. Once again, power trip I guess.

When I witnessed the first pop-up telling me that we had won a million dollars, I believed it. I remember feeling shocked and almost frightened. I got up and told my father the news. He laughed and let me know that it was just an ad. Again, I also believed the Nigerian Queen who needed to funnel money into the US or something like that. I wholeheartedly believed that queen was in need of help and we would be rewarded handsomely for our troubles. I think my father wanted to believe it, but in the end knew better. I also immediately took to MS Paint. I started drawing pictures to explain my entire day. Usually just three or four moments of the day that really stood out. Like, I forgot to do my homework, or I tripped and fell. I eventually had hundreds of pictures illustrating my life. When we had gotten our first virus, my father deleted all my pictures, foolishly believing that having too many paint pictures saved was somehow the cause of it.

One of the problems I sort of caused with these pictures was – I think I must have had a lot of pent up anger and resentments for Sarah and Samantha by this time. For years, they had told me I was ugly, stupid, annoying. I had been told to shut up I don't know how many times. I felt embarrassed by my very existence. I always felt there was something wrong with me. I distinctly remember Sarah telling someone else that I was more of her dog than someone she would consider a friend. I just carried this ball of self loathing and anger with me at all times. When I was given the power over the computer, I used it to draw ugly versions of both of them. I drew Sarah with a point banana nose and tiny little slanted eyes. I highlighted the fact that she had zits like me, only her's were tiny and colorless, but I made sure that the illustration I did of her came with a magnifying glass to highlight this underlooked fact. With Samantha, I made her eyes bulgy and boyish. I made it so her brain only thought of math. Her face was spotted like a pizza. I drew one of myself – ugly as well, with chubby cheeks, frizzy hair, double chin, stupid big lips and zits as well. These pictures were mean, but I took strange joy in making them. I showed them to Sarah and Samantha. They were upset. I think Sarah almost cried. I think these pictures probably reflected a certain resentment that I wasn't even conscious of at the time. I didn't understand why they were upset. I had gotten very used to their insults. It seemed strange to me that when I found my own way of doing it back to them. I didn't have to say mean things. I could just draw it instead.

My very favorite thing to do though, was to look at anime pictures on a website that doesn't exist anymore. I can't really imagine it now, though I am on tumblr all day sometimes so I should probably not be that shocked with myself, but I honestly loved nothing better than to stare at the same twenty or so anime pictures all day. I somehow didn't tire of this at all. I remember also that I fell in love with the first – and aside from Jack the Skeleton when I was very young- only complete and total cartoon character. It was the main male protagonist on a show called Escaflowne. I never watched the show till I was way older, and I was disappointed and annoyed at the animation when I finally did see it – couldn't even finish the first episode, but for some reason just from seeing some fanart I was totally into this dude – don't know his name now and don't care to look it up. Now, as an adult, and as someone who can draw anime a little bit but doesn't want to anymore, I try very hard not to judge all the young nerdy teenagers who are in love with anime characters and go about drawing them in romantic settings all the time. I try very hard not to judge, but I generally fail and I judge them anyway. However, I have had a few times in my life when I got really interested in anime. I think those spells are over for me now – we'll see. I loved these anime pictures so much that I sometimes would check out and go home early on days when my father wasn't home just so I could have extra time to look at these pictures.

In the eyes of some, this was the beginning of the end for me. I have been addicted to the internet ever since. I found an escape ladder out of reality, into a world with unlimited information and inspiration, where the painful biting reality had lost it's edge, and I was heightened somehow into an ethereal version of the world that I could make for myself. A place where I could express myself freely, or find just about anything I needed, and somewhere that I could avoid feeling anxious. I could be a new person, or a better version of myself. I would go on and off with having access to the internet throughout my young life, but ultimately, I became an addict the second I figured this all out.

A week before our classes started at the new big school, we went to this orientation. We had this freakish man at the time as our principal. I am not the only person who thought he bore a striking resemblance to Hitler. It was hard at the time for most people not to see the comparisons. He had the same mustache. He was twitchy and tried very hard to be commanding, though it came off weak and stiff. He would follow up with nervous laughter. Much thinner than Hitler, and less angry. He wasn't Hitler. That isn't a fair analogy. It is almost never fair to compare someone to Hitler. His name was Mr. Hendrickson. Naturally, he didn't grow too fond of me over the years.

I had to give up band. I really loved playing the bass drum. Was I great? No. I was okay. I had played the instrument for two or three years. Samantha was the snare drummer, and she actually was very talented. And it was the one thing that Samantha and I had in common. She ordinarily didn't like me, but when we played drums in the back of our band practices every other day, we were basically friends just as we had been as kindergartners. I had wanted to stay in high school band, but there was already a bass drummer and he had seniority over me. Plus, he actually was talented. I was not particularly talented. Samantha was accepted as a drummer, and Sarah – who had always played the clarinet stayed in band. They tried to put me in choir – but I protested, which was understandable since the very thought of singing in a group was horrendously embarrassing to me. The eventually put me in a Study Skills class.

Study Skills was run by a very tall square headed, plain looking man who had this threatening vibe, but was probably the calmest and most boring fellow who ever worked in that school. Mr. Forestman. The only thing that seemed to get his goat was when you called him Mr. Foreskin. He was actually just the basketball coach. He just overlooked the Study Skills class as an extra detail. We were given planners. All we had to do was demonstrate that we used our daily planners and the rest of the time we could use to do homework or to chat. It was in this class that I got to learn the more juicier details of my classmate's lives, and the lives of different kids in the school in general. There was a group of boys, and a group of girls. I sat alone at the weird person table in the corner by myself and drew. He didn't like it when I drew, and would tell me to stop sometimes. I am pretty sure I didn't use any of this time wisely. I would mostly listen to them gossip. I had no idea my classmates were having so much drama. I had been caught so deep in my own Alien Girl – anime girl land that I didn't realize.

One day this crazy fellow walked into the Study Skills class. I had heard him being talked about for years of my life. Everyone said he was crazy. And yet, I had never actually taken a look at him before – at least not consciously. I wasn't even sure if he was a student or not at first. His name as people called him was Double D. His real name was Daniel. But almost nobody but a few of the more sensitive teachers called him by his real name. He had facial expressions that were always shocking. His mouth stretched across the entirety of his face. His eyes were giant and bulged and black. He never seemed to blink. He spoke in a loud overly pronouncing voice. It was the voice that someone would make if they were to imitate a geek, only more extreme. He used phrases you might hear an elderly person make. Like, you knew the phrase, but nobody in high school would ever describe something in that way. Every single thing about this guy was weird. His movements seemed unnatural. He also wore women's matching sweaters and sweater pants. And he had a cape. He wore a cape half the time he came to school. He also had one of those small cd holders you put on the mirror holder thing in your car. He wore it on his hand like a super hero. And when he went through the hall way between classes, it was really something else.

He came in this one day, and I could barely believe this guy existed. He claimed that he was psychic, and had telekinetic powers. He told people this daily. He also said he was a karate master. And he was a super saiyan. He really believed these things were true. It was weird seeing this guy. Of course I judged him, but he was alarming and I didn't feel the need to give him problems. There were plenty of people in the school and in the town who liked to pick on him. It was strange because up to that point I had been somewhat certain that I was the biggest freak. Apparently, compared to some I was normal, painfully. Double D came in when the teacher wasn't there this early evening. He challenged a boy in my class, Corey to 'BE A MAN' and to fight him to the death. Double D warned him in all loud seriousness with not a tinge of humor in his facial expression that he could explode Corey's mind. I remember Double D went on to do some kind of strange air kick. It was truly a sight to behold. Corey ducked Double D's strange movements laughing boyishly and hysterically. All the boys were laughing. The cheerleader girls in the other corner laughed nervously. I just stared on in disbelief. This was my first, and not last introduction to Double D in the years as a high school student. So this guy was the school freak. I would always be one of the weird ones for sure, but this guy would always outdo me.

I didn't really know how to feel about high school. Technically it was still junior high. And we were still taking a few classes at the elementary school for some reason. But since the junior and senior high schools were one in the same, it was strange to be in this new atmosphere. The teachers seemed a little more lenient. Teachers in the elementary school were a bit caught up in their positions. You got the feeling that they didn't trust you to be able to tie your own shoes. They were very controlling. If they had to deal with the older kids in this climate, they would have lost their minds. Between classes was pure chaos. There was one hallway and everyone's lockers were on it. For someone with the anxiety that I had, it was hard for me to even think straight. It was basically like being dunked into freezing water every forty-five minutes. I was always in a state of shock. The fear I felt when I at first could not find my locker was unbearable. It was hard to believe that I had made it this far. Roxanne and Maria had gone to school here. But it always had seemed to me that I would always be a child, and the day where I too was to do my time as a high school student would never come. Strange too, the seniors were all enormous to me still. The hallway smelled like football player sweat – quite unpleasant, random smells of perfume, books, the smell from the lunch room of the cheapest food imaginable, generally something brown in a big vat with gravy on it. And underneath that, for me at least, I could smell anticipation, fear, sex, chaos, the thoughts of thousands of people who had come before – not just the students that were there then. I was overwhelmed. It was all too much. Too many people. I figured it out somehow, almost.

The one thing I did like about this new high school thing was after school every Thursday, from 3:15 when the school bell rang till somewhere between five and seven – we got to go to Art Club. Art Club was ran by a woman named Ms. Fiske. She never really liked me all that much, but she seemed okay with me. She really enjoyed Sarah more. This didn't actually bother me, despite my inferiority issues at the time. Mrs. Fiske was extremely unstable. You could tell by the way she laughed. Her moods were up or down. She would get mad and she would frantically begin talking in a way that nobody could understand. Once a month she would scream and cry at us when we took art class. But Art Club was totally worth it. You could never really hate Ms. Fiske because she had set up a place where I sort of belonged. She was more than generous with her supplies as well. We never had to pay for anything. She brought cookies and soda, and we would listen to music and make art. The canvases were free, the paint was free, the freaking clay was free, and there was a kiln we could use and that was also free. Sarah and I would go every Thursday. Usually it would be about five to ten other students. Generally they were either older art nerds, or maybe even a football player or a girl's basketball girl who had a secret artsy side.

It was one thing I really did enjoy. Several times in my years at that school, the principals and teachers tried to ban me from being able to go to Art Club, but they never succeeded. For this, I really didn't care if Ms. Fiske secretly didn't like me or get my art. I mean, I think it bothered me later on a little. But it was never that bad because she made Art Club happen.

To be continued. And if you are interested in this and want to catch up, here are the other parts i have written thus far.

PART 13 - http://tinyurl.com/yalanq9s

PART 12 - http://tinyurl.com/yc79mw94

PART 11 - http://tinyurl.com/yc9qhj84

PART 10 - http://tinyurl.com/yb734w24

PART 9 - http://tinyurl.com/yc2t6vfw  

PART 8 - http://tinyurl.com/ybl37utq

PART 7 - http://tinyurl.com/ybvo283g

PART 6 - http://tinyurl.com/kbc9dwu

PART 5 - http://tinyurl.com/msnz4am

PART 4 - http://tinyurl.com/k9x8esg

PART 3 - http://tinyurl.com/mwp9atx

PART 2 - http://tinyurl.com/lbt6xq2

PART 1 - http://tinyurl.com/l8xbvg8