title: Waking up tags: colorID: 0 position: -1544,-923 --- <> <> <> <> >.< >…< >…< >I woke up to a pulsating pain in my head.< >It hurts.< >It hurts a lot.< >It was like someone was hammering an ice pick right into my head and chiselling my brain into multiple chunks at once.< >I tried to reach my head in an attempt to cradle it, hoping I could just slump into a fetal position and wait for the pain to go away.< >But I couldn’t move my arms.< >Something was keeping them in place.< >Something cold and really sturdy.< >Then the implications of that set in.< >And I shot my eyes wide open.< >But all I could see was [p;pink].< >So much [p;pink].< >And a figure sitting in front of me.< //<> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> >Ah… that’s just me. Dang, I almost got startled by my own reflection.< >Why is there a mirror in front of me anyway?< >I looked down at my reflection’s hands.< >Yeah, I was definitely tied up alright. Fun.< >I tried to yank my arm out of the handcuffs in hopes of a poor job done by whoever had gotten me in this situation.< >After a few pulling attempts all I got was a bruised wrist. It was a long shot anyways.< >Okay… What can I do in this situation?< >I looked around me.< >This looks like a welcome party or something… Except for all those chairs straight from an old timey asylum.< >The chairs looked pretty much like mine, meaning-< ???: Ugh… >The sound came from behind me.< >I tried to crane my neck to look at the source of the voice but a dull thud accompanied by the feeling of my helmet bouncing against something stopped me.< ???: Ow! >A long string of surprisingly mild but creative curses echoed in the room.< ???: Was that really necessary? >I couldn’t see much from the angle I was in but from the voice I figured a man around my age was sitting with his back against mine.< >The mirror wasn’t much help either. All I could see was a little bit of dark auburn hair.< >It seems like I didn’t learn from the first attempt and tried to turn my head again to see the source of the voice.< ???: OW! Christ! Please stop hitting your head against mine! Kiwa: Oh, my bad? ???: Who wears a helmet inside? Kiwa: Precautions? Kiwa: I mean, my head doesn’t have a bump right now, so I guess that’s a testimony to it. ???: And mine was hurting enough as it was. Kiwa: Uh? <> <> ???: What’s happening? I can’t see from this position. Kiwa: A… a countdown? Kiwa: What does this mean? >I had a bad feeling. A feeling that solidified into a webbed dark lump inside my chest.< >My mind was screaming at me to run away as the countdown neared zero.< -PAIR 8, STARTING PREPARATIONS- Kiwa: Starting... Wha- -Click- ???: The restraints! >We scrambled off the chairs as quickly as humanly possible.< <> ???: ... Kiwa: Wait, I’d be amazed if that door is open by any chance. -Click Click- ???: It really is locked. ???: I figured I had nothing to lose by trying. Kiwa: We’ll just have to wait then. What is this room anyway? ???: All I can say is this looks rather dubious. Kiwa: Hmm. -Welcome esteemed guests! The game you have been dying to participate in has begun!- -But first, let us get you familiar with the control scheme- -I know this can get quite tedious to a brilliant mind such as yours truly, but some of the controls and mechanics may vary from the original games.- -By pressing [p;Shift], you can see circles around objects or characters that indicate there’s dialogue to be explored. [b;Blue circles] are optional dialogue while [y; yellow circles] will progress the plot.- -If a scene has multiple [y;yellow circles], you need to exhaust all yellow dialogue options before you can progress with the plot.- -[p;Ctrl] opens and closes the transcript in case you need to review previous dialogue.- -Now then, explore your first area to your heart’s content, participant.- <> <> === title: The Revolver tags: colorID: 0 position: -1892,-1013 --- <> <> Masami: Gina, this way! Gina: Patience! I’m coming. >Still, she didn’t pick up her pace and kept hesitantly looking around.< Masami: Everything should be fine, let’s just go. We won. Masami: Unless you are planning on backstabbing me at the finish line, that is. Gina: How funny. You are not that special. Masami: Har har. Now start walking or I’ll carry you out the front door. Masami: I don’t want to give Monokuma the time to come up with a new death game for two while we are trying to get through the exit. Gina: … <> Masami: Wait, the vault door… It’s not open. Gina: So it seems. Masami: But that doesn’t make sense! So far we have opened one lock per two deceased. All seven locks should be open by now. >In desperation I tried the vault handle. I wasn’t exceptionally strong, but I doubted even a weightlifter could open this door whether it was held shut by one or dozen locks.< Gina: Rather than using your energy by tearing at the 700kg door- Masami: I wasn’t trying to brute force it. Gina: Anyway, I would suggest you spare a glance at the reception desk. It appears the staff has given us one last gift. Masami: The reception desk? <> Masami: A paper and… Masami: … That’s a gun. Gina: A revolver, in fact. Such an old fashioned choice of firearm. Though, I appreciate the aesthetic. How pretty. Masami: I don’t like this. Why is it here? >I took the paper from the table and briskly unfolded it.< - Congratulations on reaching the final part of the game!- - Unfortunately, no one remembers a silver medalist.- - Let’s round up the game with a match of our favorite luck game! Russian roulette should be simple enough.- - Now then, ladies first!- -Staff- Masami: Russian roulette… Are you kidding me? Masami: This can’t be part of the game. This wasn’t in the rules! Masami: I know the winning condition hasn’t been met but- Gina: It’s rigged. Masami: What? >Gina had picked up the revolver from the table and without better judgement, opened the cylinder for inspection.< Gina: It’s rigged. Masami: ... “Ladies first.” Masami: The cylinder is full, isn't it? >Gina let out a tired sigh. Her shoulders slumping heavily from disappointment.< Gina: I got so far. Gina: I don’t know what led me to believe the outcome would be any different. Gina: This is such a waste of resources as well. Masami: Gina, put the revolver down. If the game is rigged, you don’t have to play. The rules won’t matter then. Gina: Let it rest. Gina: Like any of it matters. Masami: What do you mean? >She didn’t answer.< >Instead, she absentmindedly fiddled with the cylinder before locking it in place.< >Then she spun the cylinder for the hell of it before raising the revolver’s barrel against her very own temple.< >She looked resigned. Though I couldn’t help but notice the slight glint of fear in her eyes.< >None of us wanted to die.< Masami: Gina, please. Gina: Congratulations. Masami: Gina! <> <> [[Waking up]] === title: Screen tags: colorID: 0 position: -1170,-560 --- <> ???: Pair 8? Kiwa: Us, probably. ???: What are they preparing us for exactly? Kiwa: I don’t think I want to find out. Kiwa: The countdown already made me nervous. === title: Chairs tags: colorID: 0 position: -874,-551 --- <> Kiwa: That’s a lot of chairs. ???: 16 of them… Kiwa: Were we the last to wake up? ???: My question is where are the other 14 people? ???: What happened to them? === title: Decorations tags: colorID: 0 position: -593,-554 --- <> Kiwa: That’s… a lot of hearts. ???: My eyes hurt just from looking at all of this. It feels like a crime to have this many shades of pink together at once. Kiwa: It’s definitely ugly. === title: Vent tags: colorID: 0 position: -338,-536 --- <> Kiwa: Do you think we could get out through that vent? ???: I don’t even know how we could reach it. Let alone open it. Kiwa: Yeah, the chairs look like they have been bolted to the floor. Kiwa: Also, what’s with this smell? It’s really sweet. Like someone dumped a bag of sugar into an air filter. ???: You are right. It’s quite overpowering. I hope it won’t make me sick. === title: Mirror tags: colorID: 0 position: -1438,-573 --- <> >I look like I always look. A disheveled hobo skater who got severely dunked on recently.< ???: Admiring yourself in the mirror? Kiwa: Not really. ???: I wonder why there are so many mirrors in this room. It feels like an interactive exhibit of a contemporary art gallery or something along those lines. Kiwa: Or a fun house without those wobbly mirrors. ???: Or that... === title: Ending tags: colorID: 0 position: -139,-184 --- <> <> -You are a hopeless cause.- <> ???: ... Kiwa: He's looking around the room. Maybe I should do the same. Access my surroundings and all that... - ...Hmm. Like I previously established, please take a look at your surroundings.- -By pressing [p;Shift], you can see circles around objects or characters that indicate there’s dialogue to be explored. [b;Blue circles] are optional dialogue while [y; yellow circles] will progress the plot.- -If a scene has multiple [y;yellow circles], you need to exhaust all yellow dialogue options before you can progress with the plot.- -[p;Ctrl] opens and closes the transcript in case you need to review previous dialogue.- -You can move around the room with the [p;A] and [p;D] keys.- -Do not make me repeat myself again.- <> <> >Well, there isn’t much else to look at. Maybe I should try to talk to him more. He might know something.< >I guess I’ll try to make light of the situation. That works with lowering stressful atmosphere, right?< Kiwa: Uh, so… Do you come around here often? ???: Seriously? In this situation? Kiwa: It was just a joke? I think? ???: You are taking this very nonchalantly. ???: And by this, I mean the obvious kidnapping for… for… ???: I don’t know. Hopefully just hostage money. Kiwa: Maybe we’ll get sold for the black market. ???: Oh god. Hopefully not. Kiwa: Anyway, what sort of torture chamber is covered in pink hearts? ???: I don’t even want to entertain the implications. ???: Let’s just say the uncomfortable kind. >He suddenly perked up and started to pat down his pant pockets before his stature deflated again.< ???: Of course they would empty our pockets. What’s left of my belongings is some spare change and pocket lint. Kiwa: Oh. >I quickly checked my own pockets.< Kiwa: You are right. No phone, or keys... or wallet. Kiwa: They only left me with my lighter but no cigarettes. Why would they take those away but not the lighter? ???: So arson is fine but they draw the line at lung abuse? Kiwa: This is going to be a problem… mainly for me. Kiwa: Well, if it comes to it, I can at least set this room on fire. ???: Please don’t. I don’t want to get grouped in with your lawsuit. >That’s the part you are worried about?< ???: Are you some sort of criminal? Kiwa: Something along those lines, sure. ???: I’m assuming a petty one at that then. Kiwa: Yeah. Kiwa: Sorry, I guess introductions weren’t the first thing on my mind. Kiwa: I’m Kiwa Fukuda, the former ultimate scapegoat. ???: What a title. And you were an ultimate to boot. ???: How come I have never heard of you? Kiwa: I try to keep a low profile. That works best with what I do. ???: What exactly does a scapegoat do for a living? Kiwa: I’m really good at pointing fingers at people. ???: Meaning? Kiwa: If you have a problem and you don’t want to deal with it like a respectable member of society, you come to me. I will either make it look like I fucked up the whole situation or I make someone else who is more suited for the situation look like they were at fault. ???: How do you find out you have such a talent in the first place? Kiwa: With a lot of stupid actions, a lot of accidents, and a lot of dumb luck. Kiwa: It can get very messy sometimes but it pays my rent three times over. Kiwa: There are a lot of people who would like to have my head for less than one yen, so I wouldn’t be surprised if this whole kidnapping thing was my fault. Kiwa: Though I don’t get why you would be in the same situation then? I have never seen you in my life. Kiwa: Who are you? ???: …Right. Masami: My name is Masami Kiyokane, the former ultimate croupier. Kiwa: A croupier? Masami: Basically, I am a card dealer at a casino. The Valentine’s Hand Casino to be exact. You may have heard of it. Kiwa: Ah, yeah. That one is really highly praised. One of the best in the country, right? Never been there myself. I don’t travel much. Masami: Well, I work there nowadays. Masami: My work includes taking bets, distributing cards to the players, and making sure those players don’t cheat among other things. Kiwa: Cool. So, you are a former ultimate yourself? Masami: That’s what that would imply, yes. Kiwa: I really don’t remember you. What class were you in? I didn’t interact much with upper or underclassmen during my time in Hope’s Peak. Masami: 72nd, Class A. Kiwa: Ah, I’m from 71st B. I guess we both didn’t lose our titles that long ago. Masami: Still, like you said. If we don’t even know each other, how are we in this situation? Masami: To be honest, I thought the kidnapping was my fault at the start. But now that I have someone here who runs into legal problems constantly… Kiwa: Why would you think this is your fault? Masami: Well- ???: Good afternoon. Masami: What... is that? Kiwa: A bird? ???: You have successfully woken up. Good. ???: You are expected at the trial grounds. Follow me. >The strange bird turned it’s back to us and started to leave through the open door.< >Figuring out I didn’t exactly have anywhere else to go I started following it. Or tried to, at least.< >A hand grabbed my wrist and forcefully yanked me to run into another direction.< <> <> ===