"I don't liiike this weird color! Change me back to normal, pleeease!"
"Ara ara... talking back to your big brother's sense of style...? Does that make Monomi a delinquent?"
"Huh...? Big brother...? Monomi...?"
I could hear the comedy routine between Usami, who had now been turned into Monomi, and Monokuma, but none of it was really reaching me.
I knew the story was going to twist off course, but I never imagined Usami would get turned into Monomi without even putting up a fight. I stared at Monomi in a daze, too dumbfounded to react, and then she looked at me and spoke in a sorrowful voice.
"K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K... K, I... I never saw this coming... I'm so sorry..."
"Uh... yeah...?"
"Upupupu... even if she begs K for help... the administrator privileges have already been transferred to me! Well, some damn programmer locked the security down so tight I can't kill everyone right this second... but I'll find a way...!"
"B-but... if you use the Future Foundation-exclusive escape code... even you can get out, K...!"
An escape code...? What was she talking about...? Even I, a rabid fan of the series, had never heard of that. Don't tell me... was that something I'd prepared before I lost my memories...?
"Just as expected of K...! You foresaw even a situation like this in advance...! Hurry and use the escape code, get out, and call for backup..."
"Upupupu... upupupupu... upupupupupupupupu!!"
"W-why are you laughing like that!? It's disgusting!"
"Upupupupupu!! Ohhh, what a shame! I figured something like that might happen, so I erased the memories of the three Future Foundation members!"
"W-what are you talking about!?"
"Shhh... sadly, that's all the adorable reactions from K I have time for! The kids should be arriving any second now! So pipe down, little sister...!"
"What in the world does that me—mmph...! Mmph...!"
Figures. I had a feeling things were going too smoothly. There was no way Enoshima's Alter Ego wouldn't anticipate something as basic as an escape code. I could roughly piece together what had happened, but there were still questions gnawing at me.
Why did Kyoko Kirigiri and I still remember the killing game? If the plan was to erase memories anyway, wouldn't it have been far better for the Alter Ego to wipe those memories too?
As I kept grinding that insoluble contradiction through my head, the students began gathering in the distance.
"W-what are those stuffed animals...?"
"I'm not a stuffed animal, I'm Monokuma! The headmaster of Hope's Peak Academy!"
"Mono... kuma...?"
"Why did you call us here...?"
"I definitely remember... stepping into the academy entrance on the day of the entrance ceremony... and then..."
"D-don't tell me... we were kidnapped or something...?"
The students broke into anxious murmurs, and Monokuma cleared his throat before addressing them all.
"Alrighty then, looks like everyone's here... so as your headmaster, I've got an announcement to make right here and now...!"
Then Monokuma dropped his bombshell, and every face in the crowd went deathly pale.
"From this moment on... your [Killing School Trip] begins...!"
The students immediately started demanding answers, and Monomi tried to stand up to Monokuma, only to get blasted away by a jet kick in a farcical, horrifying little spectacle.
"...Anyway, if you want to leave this island, all you have to do is kill someone and survive the [Class Trial]...!"
"...[Class Trial]?"
Chiaki Nanami glared at Monokuma as she asked, and Monokuma cheerfully explained the rules of the Class Trial. I already knew them all, so hearing the same rules spelled out again and again was enough to make me yawn.
"...Okaaay, that should cover the explanation, right? So then... from here on out, kill each other...!"
When Monokuma finished speaking, silence fell over the students for a brief, suffocating moment. Then all at once, they erupted in protest.
"Why the hell should we have to kill each other...? This is all nonsense!"
"You've been running your mouth this whole time... I don't care for direct violence, but if what you're saying is true... then I, Nidai, won't just sit back and take it...!"
"What is this, some battle manga...? If it's just a dumb brawl, I can handle that too... so all we gotta do is smash that bear, right...?"
"As if I would ever commit slaughter... if you wish to force such a thing upon me, you must first break my sword..."
"If you keep fooling around, the sports world won't forgive you!"
The students pushed back with mounting fury, and Monokuma muttered in a dejected tone like he'd expected this all along. Then he thrust both arms toward the sky and shouted.
"Come forth, Monobeasts!!!"
The stone statues began to move, and when the gigantic robots emerged, the students plunged into full-blown panic.
"I-I'll protect everyone somehow..."
"Upu... upu... upupupu...! You've lost your fear, Monomi...! Fine then, you'll be the example!"
And just like that, Monomi was reduced to a mangled mess by Monokuma's slaughter machine. The students saw that grotesque sight and lost every last shred of will to resist.
"Well then, please enjoy your fun killing life on this open, cruel, and tragic tropical island...!"
Monokuma handed the terrified students their E-Handbooks, left them with that parting line, and vanished.
"....."
For a while, silence reigned. Then Komaeda was the one who finally broke it.
"Um... hey... I know everyone's confused, but... maybe we should at least introduce ourselves first...? No matter what happens, we're going to be living together from now on..."
"That makes sense, but... first... don't you think everyone needs a little time to think...? I mean... something pretty overwhelming just happened... I'm sure everyone's still confused..."
Apparently convinced by Chiaki Nanami's reasoning, the students decided to take some time to gather themselves and dispersed in all directions.
"...K, so what are we doing now?"
"Hmm... first... let's catch our breath. Then we should go around and introduce ourselves to everyone. If we're going to stop the murders before they start, we need to make a good impression."
We also needed to get acquainted with everyone, and Kyoko Kirigiri didn't know the students of Class 77, so after a short break, we decided to go around introducing ourselves and sharing information.
"Damn... all the engine parts are missing. Whoever did this was thorough as hell... Hm...? Who're you guys...?"
"Uh... we came to introduce ourselves. I'm K, the [Ultimate Counselor]..."
"Kyoko Kirigiri. [Ultimate Detective]."
"...A counselor and a detective? Weird combo. Anyway, guess I should introduce myself too. I'm Souda Kazuichi, the [Ultimate Mechanic]!"
Souda was a master of anything machine-related. Sure, in places like the Class Trial he was closer to comic relief than a major contributor, but when it came to mechanics, his skill was the real deal. For the sake of my future plans, he was someone I absolutely needed to get close to.
"Gwahahahahahaha! I can see the aura of fate rising from the two of you!! Excellent! I, Tanaka Gundham, shall remember you! Let us see where your destinies lead, and I myself shall..."
"Uh... yeah... sure..."
"...Sigh."
Tanaka Gundham, the [Ultimate Breeder], was even deeper into his chuunibyo nonsense than Hifumi Yamada from Class 78. Every conversation with him came out like an encrypted curse. Still, his ability to understand and handle animals was unquestionably worthy of the title Ultimate.
He might have been the culprit of Chapter 4 in the original story, but that murder had been driven by a coercive motive, and at heart he was a good person. I probably didn't need to be too wary of him.
"But tell me, maiden... the familiar with whom you have forged your contract... could it be that boy standing beside you...?"
"...What?"
"Ahahahahaha! I knew something felt strange...! To think you've completed a perfect master-servant pact... what tremendous magical power! Truly, this world is overflowing with gifted indivi—"
".....Let's go."
"Huh...? O-okay..."
Leaving behind Tanaka and his incomprehensible rambling, I was abruptly dragged out of the airport by Kyoko Kirigiri, who for some reason had seized my hand in a hurry.
"Waaaaahhh... wh-what... what is happening to us...? I'm so... so scared..."
"The way you're crying reminds me of someone I know."
"....."
The girl sobbing miserably in the supermarket was Mikan Tsumiki, the [Ultimate Neurologist]. She had an extremely unstable mental state thanks to relentless bullying and abuse. Honestly, she reminded me a little too much of what I might've been like during my own school days in the real world.
"There, there. No more tears. Blow your nose... good girl. That's it."
"Snf... hic... sob... th-thank youuu..."
For some reason, Kyoko Kirigiri was astonishingly good at calming Tsumiki down. She looked timid and fragile, but her medical knowledge would be incredibly useful going forward.
Of course, we'd have to stop her from ever coming down with the Despair Disease somehow.
"Sneak... sneak..."
"...Hm?"
"Waaah!!"
"Gah!! You scared me!!"
"Haha...! Gotcha, didn't I? You looked so gloomy, I just had to startle you! Even if the situation sucks, they say smiling brings good luck, right?"
The girl greeting us with easygoing cheer was Mioda Ibuki, the [Ultimate Musician]. With her perfect pitch, she was basically the mood-maker of Class 77, a bright, breezy force of chaos. If we wanted to keep morale from collapsing, she was absolutely indispensable.
"Hey... but you two have been together this whole time... so what exactly is your relationship...? D-don't tell me...?"
Leaving Mioda's teasing question behind us, we exited the supermarket.
"Heave-ho...! Heave-ho...!"
"U-um... hi...? We wanted to introduce ourselves..."
".....What do you want, creeping around with that shady face of yours...?"
"Uh... shady...?"
This rude little brat was Saionji Hiyoko, the [Ultimate Traditional Dancer]. Her defining trait was simple: she was unbelievably nasty. Sure, I looked a little gloomy, but shady? Seriously?
"Hey, could you stop staring at me with that creepy look on your face?"
"Ah, uh... okay..."
"Ugh, I already feel gross because of what happened earlier... whatever. I'll just go back to stomping ants... Huh? Wh-what do you want?"
Suddenly, Kyoko Kirigiri stepped toward Saionji and whispered something in her ear. Saionji's face instantly turned paper-white, and then she bolted out of the ranch in a panic.
"W-what did you even say to her...?"
"...I just told her something smelled bad."
Watching Kyoko Kirigiri stand there with that glacial expression sent a chill down my spine.
"Hey, you two over there! Going around introducing yourselves? Nice to meet ya! I'm Owari Akane!"
Owari Akane, the [Ultimate Gymnast], was pretty dense, but she possessed absurd physical ability. Even counting Class 78, her combat power would rank near the top.
That said, in the game her sheer stupidity had a habit of causing accidental disasters, so she'd probably need some careful handling.
"[Ultimate Counselor], huh? That's a great talent! Hey, if I hit a wall while training... can I come ask you for advice!?"
"Uh... I think there are probably people better suited for that than me..."
"Aww, don't be like that! Just once, c'mon~ okay?"
".....!"
Owari Akane suddenly wrapped me in a hug and started whining. Come to think of it, with the kind of upbringing she'd had, she was probably completely oblivious in this area. Though... the sensation was admittedly pre—
"...K."
In that instant, I felt killing intent. I shoved Owari away in a panic, muttered that I'd think about it, and fled the ranch like my life depended on it.
The whole walk to our next destination, I could feel murderous pressure radiating from beside me. It felt like my lifespan was dropping by ten years per step.
On the way there, we ran into Togami... no, not Togami. Pigami.
"...Togami?"
"....Byakuya Togami. That explanation should suffice. There isn't anyone who doesn't know me."
For once, even Kyoko Kirigiri looked rattled as she turned to me. I leaned in and whispered quietly.
"I don't think that's the real Togami..."
"...It certainly doesn't seem like it."
"What are you whispering about...?"
"Ah... n-nothing... We were just introducing oursel—"
"I overheard you earlier. K, the [Ultimate Counselor]. Kyoko Kirigiri, the [Ultimate Detective]."
"R-right...! Nice to meet you..."
"If you're done, then get lost."
He really did feel uncannily similar to Togami. If his build had been even remotely close, I might've been fooled completely. Leaving Pigami behind, we headed for our next destination: the hotel.
"I still haven't heard your names... My name is Nidai Nekomaru. A pleasure."
"Oh, hi, we're—"
Nidai Nekomaru was the [Ultimate Team Manager]. He'd even worked as Leon Kuwata's manager before, and his ability in that field was extraordinary.
And his combat ability was nearly as impressive as his managerial skill. Among Class 77, he ranked near the very top. Even compared to Class 78, I figured he could probably fight on almost equal footing with most of the combat-oriented members, excluding Sakura Oogami.
"...You there, you look terribly frail. A man ought to be sturdy and muscular! Excellent!! I, Nidai Nekomaru, shall train you from this day forward!"
"W-what!?"
The declaration hit me like a bolt from the blue. I immediately turned to Kyoko Kirigiri with a desperate plea in my eyes, and she quietly spoke to Nidai.
"Thank you for the offer, but K is frail because of a congenital illness. Overexertion could be dangerous for him. We'll gratefully accept the sentiment alone."
"...I see. If that's the case, then it can't be helped. But if you ever change your mind, come find me."
"O-okay! Thanks...!"
I looked at Kyoko Kirigiri with open gratitude for saving me, and she looked back like she was relieved before taking my hand and pulling me toward the next destination. It felt like there was another reason mixed in there besides concern for me, but for now, I let it slide.
"A boy letting himself get dragged around by a girl like that... aren't you embarrassed...?"
".....?"
At the sudden voice, Kyoko Kirigiri reflexively glanced to the side and flinched.
Well, that was understandable. A girl who looked like Mukuro Ikusaba with red-dyed hair was glaring at us through a camera.
"My name is Koizumi Mahiru... the [Ultimate Photographer]."
Koizumi was a little prickly, but she still fell within the bounds of common sense. Her main trait was that she was extremely strict with boys, and whenever she saw one acting unreliable, she'd start lecturing him.
"Hey, you. A man should be protecting a woman, not acting all pathetic like—"
"....."
"...Ah, n-never mind! I think I got the wrong idea! I'll be going now...!"
Kyoko Kirigiri casually stepped forward and looked at Koizumi, and Koizumi instantly went pale, trailed off, and disappeared somewhere in a hurry.
"...I don't like her. She looks too much like that unpleasant woman."
...At this point, honestly, she was terrifying.
"What do you want, bastard? Can't you see we're in the middle of a conversation? Get lost."
"Do you have some kind of hobby where you eavesdrop on other people's conversations?"
"...No, we just wanted to say hello..."
"Didn't you hear me!? I said get lost...!"
The one glaring at us with naked hostility was Kuzuryu Fuyuhiko, the [Ultimate Yakuza], and beside him was Pekoyama Peko, the [Ultimate Swordswoman]. The two already knew each other.
Pekoyama had been raised by the Kuzuryu family as a tool meant to protect Kuzuryu, and the two of them cared deeply for each other.
After getting used to Mondo Owada's sheer force of personality, threats from someone even smaller than me like Kuzuryu didn't scare me much. But Pekoyama, who'd been staring me down this whole time? Yeah. She was honestly terrifying.
Her swordsmanship-based combat power was monstrous. She was supposedly strong enough to put up a real fight against that human weapon Mukuro Ikusaba, even if she'd be at a disadvantage. That should tell you everything.
Kyoko Kirigiri read the atmosphere between the two for a moment, muttered that there were now fewer people we needed to worry about, and headed for the dining hall. Inside, we found two people talking.
"S-Sonia...! M-my lower half has been poisoned...!"
"H-Hanamura? Wh-what should I do!?"
"To draw out the poison... you'll have to suck it out with your mouth... ngh...!"
"...So I just need to suck it out with my mouth? Understood! Leave it to—"
Before things could get any worse, Kyoko Kirigiri and I stepped in with matching icy expressions and subdued Hanamura.
"Ah, what a shame... but I won't give up...! Next time, what kind of strategy should I use...? Ehehehe..."
Hanamura Teruteru was the [Ultimate Cook], and a spectacular pervert on top of that. He was also the culprit of Chapter 1, which made him a very dangerous person at this stage.
"...I don't really understand what happened, but I'm glad you seem all better now! Nice to meet you, I'm Sonia Nevermind!"
Sonia, the [Ultimate Princess], was the princess of the Novoselic Kingdom. She carried herself with elegance, but she also had an oddball side, like her love of anime and other subculture media. Maybe that was because she was still so untouched by the world.
"So, are there still any students left we haven't introduced ourselves to?"
"Two. The girl we tried talking to earlier before coming up to the dining hall, who was too absorbed in her game to respond at all, and the boy who was unconscious on the same beach as us."
As we said that and headed down from the dining hall, we found Chiaki Nanami and Hajime Hinata talking.
"...I see. So you too... Ah, you two are...?"
"Hm...? Oh... first time meeting you, right? Hi, I'm Hajime Hinata. Um... this might be hard to believe, but I've forgotten what my Ultimate talent is right now... so I can't tell you what it is. If I remember, I'll definitely let you know..."
The boy introducing himself in a gloomy voice was Hajime Hinata, the protagonist of the original Danganronpa 2. He'd be playing a major role in this killing game in all kinds of ways, so I definitely needed to build a connection with him somehow.
"Well then... I think I'll head back up to the dining hall. Nice meeting you."
With that, Hajime Hinata went upstairs, and Chiaki Nanami looked at us before beginning her own introduction.
"Hi... I'm Chiaki Nanami. I got into the academy as the [Ultimate Gamer]."
Chiaki Nanami... Hajime Hinata's main heroine, and another student who'd play a huge role in this killing game. More importantly, in the original game, Chiaki Nanami appeared as a Future Foundation AI. If so, maybe she'd know something about the Future Foundation escape code?
Tempted, I was just about to quietly slip the question to her when Chiaki Nanami started murmuring to herself.
"Still, it's weird that Hajime's memories cut off there too... It sounds like something straight out of a video game..."
"Wait, what do you mean by that?"
Sensing something off, I asked, and Chiaki Nanami answered with a troubled expression.
"Yeah... we were trying to trace back our memories from before we came here... and both Hajime and I seem to have no memories after stepping into the academy entrance... Are you two the same...?"
"Y-yeah... w-we are..."
"Sigh... I thought so. Waking up on a remote island like this... it's totally like a game scenario."
I felt a strange dissonance coming from Chiaki Nanami, and a moment later, her next words let me identify exactly what it was.
"The new game □□□□ should've come out by now... I wonder if my mom picked up the preorder delivery for me...? I really wanted to play it..."
"H-hey... do you, by any chance... know what Future Foundation is?"
"Hm? Future Foundation? What's that...? A game title? If it's a game even I don't know, now I really want to try it..."
Chiaki Nanami... wasn't an AI!?