Forum Thread

Hisoka Yamanaku

You're lying.

Hisoka was staring at Kowai.

His hands clenched by his sides.

You lied. Why?

He knew why. And he also knew why he couldn't say it out loud.

"Interesting," he said brusquely, turning away. "I suppose Femi has a point, however. Most of us will likely lie about our secrets from now on." He cast a glare back at Kowai, then turned away. "Whatever." He paused. That... was wrong. He shouldn't say that.

But at this point, he couldn't bring himself to care.

"Let's prepare for that monster's games. Alone, preferably." He whipped on his heel.

"What's your secret, Hisoka?" The purple-haired brat.

Hisoka went rigid.

Secret.

Fear, in the dead of night. Couldn't breathe. Couldn't see. Hands clawing for a throat, blood digging under fingernails-

"Yamanakus don't have secrets," he replied coolly. They also didn't brag about being Yamanakus. But now, who cared? Really... He started off. Niwa didn't call him back. But he didn't feel anyone's eyes on his back.

They had more on their plate than to deal with him.

---

Niwa Atsushi

Niwa could barely see anything besides Keiki. A dim, glowing golden light, singing for him, calling for his arms to wrap around, promising safety and peace and security. Niwa was safe.

He exhaled.

"This... This is awful," he said softly. "I can't believe we're trapped here. Forever."

---

Suko Nobu

"Eh?" Suko cocked their head to the side, befuddled. What's that supposed to mean? None of us wanna say it. What makes her special? But before they could formulate an answer, Suzume was sweeping in, scooping up the girl.

They gave a hiss at her, but she wasn't listening.

"Oi! I had her, you jerk!"

---

Amano Tetsuo

We're not gonna drown, we're not gonna drown, we're not gonna-

The water was climbing over his head.

"The play," he repeated. "The play. We're going to see the play. We'll be safe there until tomorrow."

He could vaguely hear Niwa saying something. We won't be staying there until morning. But Amano didn't care. There was no morning, no time, no tomorrow in the waves. Just the life raft thrown by the bear who had promised who had promised who would save them, who Nakata would-

"Nakata," he whispered. "Nakata."

---

Kōun no Megami
I looked up and saw Suzy patting my head. I stilled my breathing and slowly stabilized myself. "Th-thank you."

---

Buraddo Jemu

---

Majikaruman Dōseiai-shadearimasu

Suzume Fujimori's POV

"Ah- you're... welcome." Slowly and awkwardly, she put Megami down. On the floor. No, she didn't put her down like that. She didn't kill her. But... uh... wow. She really shouldn't have done that without asking her first.

That was... strange. How many years had it been? Since she'd touched someone? She shook the thought away. I guess she considered Megami a friend. Nononono, she- definitely just wanted to know her secret, right?

Drat. How truly puzzling...

She heard the green-haired eccentric person say something. "Oi! I had her!" "...I- are you claiming that you own another person? I was just comforting her, unlike what you were doing. How... truly deranged." Was... that a bit cold? Whoops.

Suzume bit her tongue and frowned. Was... she willing to share her own secret? Could she really blame Megami for reacting this way? Or Femi? Or Hisoka? Or... almost everyone else? No. Everyone would look down upon her. No one would ever...

Suzume inhaled. "Those who... don't want to reveal their secrets. Well." She adjusted her glasses thoughtfully. "I think those who don't want to reveal their secrets... shouldn't. After all, if they're forced to reveal their secrets, they might do something like kill themselves or kill others. People can react very brutally when there's something they don't want everyone to know."

Kowai Kurai's POV

Kowai sniffled, and "forced" herself to her feet. She could feel Hisoka's burning judgment, somehow. She knew he knew she lied... but no one else needed to know that. "I-Is... anyone else willing to share their secrets?" she asked. It seemed that most weren't. Were their secrets even worse than the one she pretended was hers?

To them, of course it was.

It was fascinating, to see. To see how they all responded, in a situation like this. Kowai was mostly not shaken, but a major reason she'd told them her "secret" was...

...

"We-we're not trapped here," Kowai told Niwa. "There might be some way out! We just have to find it... and, it might be important, that we all share... the true natures of our secrets. I think..."

I need to know what I'm dealing with.

Femi Davis's POV

Femi Davis shook his head rapidly. "I- I'm sorry. I really- can't share it. I don't even know you people... or what you might do. If you found out..." He'd said too much. "I- can't take this. I'm sorry." Shakily, he began to make his way to his dorm. He'd board it up... let no one come inside... he couldn't work with these people. He couldn't trust them!! Not... any of them.

He forced himself to run away.

---

Kōun no Megami
I smiled and fully sat up.

---

Buraddo Jemu

---

Majikaruman Dōseiai-shadearimasu
"I supposed I should share mine. Technically it's two, but still. The first one is fairly simple, and you've likely figured it out already. I'm famous magician The Pheonix. The second one is slightly more complicated. My first gig was a scam, and I was forced into a pyramid scheme. I managed to charm my way to the top and made a profit before demolishing the whole thing."

First Person (Keiki Meyumi.).

The voices surrounding me were muffled. I couldn't hear. I couldn't think nor feel anything but the sickening panic that started to blossom in my mind, spreading its increased terror throughout my shaking body. I felt cold, hot, boiling, freezing. My palms were stiff, my limbs felt like lead. I tried to wipe off the sweat that dripped off my palms, the tears that my skin shed, whilst my terrors grew and my emotions overwhelmed me. The voices, the ones in my head, the ones surrounding me. I couldn't distinguish them. It felt all too surreal. My secret was out. I'm not quite sure why this affects me so much, it wasn't as serious as it could've been, but still. It was my secret. A secret. Mine. I felt...bare. Naked. This secret-.... No one was supposed to know, and the fact that now people could know just...scared me. I didn't want anyone to be suspicious of me, not now. I tried so hard to make 'friends' for people to 'trust me'. And now that they know I have a secret, they'll ask me. Ask me to tell them. But I can't can I-? They won't look at me the same. Scrutinise my every move to check, to make sure that it's genuine. That I'm not fooling them with my quick tongue and sharp mind.... This makes me feel sick. My eyes sting. I feel so, so strange. My senses are dulled with this newfound horror, realisation of what could happen. What is going to happen. So very, very soon. I can't be the funny, seemingly carefree Keiki- manipulating people with my...flirting skills. Oh god. Who am I-? What am I-? Shoot, shoot, shoot. I squeezed my eyes shut, blocking out the world.

My limbs turned to jelly. I started to sink. Was the ground swallowing me up-? Has Gaia taken pity on me, undeserved pity, and is going to end this nightmare-? Hell would be better than this. I'm in literal torture right now, stuck with some potential murderers and some psychopathic bear. I thought about this for a moment, a moment that seemed like eternity. I gulped nervously, blinking back the yellow spots that danced in my vision. Slowly, but surely, I began to gain some sense back. I was sane-...ish. My dry, parched throat burned. I couldn't swallow.
Cat got your tongue, eh-?
My legs wobbled again, fiercer this time. I was sinking, much to my...relief-? Happiness-? I couldn't tell, not anymore. My increasing panic had taken over everything at this point. I couldn't regain control of my limbs. They had their own minds now, not under the control of the manipulative amazing lying Keiki. My knees met the floor, the cold, marble floor kissing my bare legs, embracing my skin in an icy grip. I had sunk down onto my knees now, slowly, so very slowly. Buzzing. The buzzing. The roar of the bees. IT WAS SO LOUD MAKE IT STOP MAKE IT STOP MAKE IT STOP Increasing. So very loud. The roar of the bees.

Filled the room. Bees. Buzzing. I clapped my hands over my ears, and waited for it to cease. It did, eventually, eventually feeling like an eternity. Everything felt like ages now. There was no concept of time in Keiki's brain. In my- hell-hole of a mind. So dark and twisted. It screamed manipulative. I scream manipulative. I SCREAM MANIPULATIVE I SCREAM MANIPULATIVE My actions, my very words. Everything. Manipulative. Me.

"I- I- I guess... we- could- share our secrets."

No. Of course not. WHAT A STUPID STUPID STUPID THING TO SUGGE- I shook my head. No. Never. I listened closely to the (still muffled) voices of those future murderers fellow students discussing their secret phrases, if they are going to say them, or not. I didn't care. I don't care. I'll never care.

We'll all be dead soon anyway!

Hah...


hah...

oh god. help

Hisoka Yamanaku

Hisoka stormed through the halls, not seeing anything. Just hearing the horrible echoes in his brain. What's your secret? What's your secret, huh, Hisoka Yamanaku?

Shut up! he thought fiercely. Shut up!

He was by the stairwell. The horrible, terrifying sight broke him out of his thoughts.

The bars were gone. The ones stopping them from climbing those steps. Theoretically, he'd known that. The horrid bear had sworn that, hadn't he? The bear had said that they could go to the Second Floor. A completely unexplored floor.

He could be the first one to climb these steps. Alone.

A sense of unease washed over him. What waited up there? A monster? The mastermind? A killer who'd snuck from the group, just waiting for Hisoka to come up to them?

No, he reprimanded himself. That's not going to happen.

And yet...

Something jarred his shoulder. Hisoka gave a cry of fury, and whipped on his killer-

It was Suko, face flushed red with anger, entire body shaking in between furious pants.

The two of them stared at each other. Disgust dripped down like stale water around them. Like the kind one might expect in a prison cell.

Was this school any better?

Hisoka's fists clenched. "What?" he spat.

"Suzume-brat," Suko grumbled. They swept by him, starting up the stairs. Hisoka's fear slipped away. He was going to be with someone- and not the first one up.

Hisoka followed after them. "I didn't think you'd know anyone's name but your own."

"You don't know me," Suko retorted, not looking back.

"That I don't."

The two continued up in silence.

"Where's the Drama Hall?" Suko asked.

"Hell if I know." He hadn't meant to swear.

But Suko didn't reply. They'd reached the top of the stairwell.

"We can split up," Suko suggested now. Neither of them moved. "I'll head right, you can-"

A feeling twisted itself into a tight ball in Hisoka's chest. "No. We'll stick together. That way, neither of us will have the chance to..." He trailed off, purposefully. Suko snorted, but they seemed to have gotten the jist.

"Fine. We head together." There was definitely a hostile note in their tone. Hisoka followed after them as they made a right turn. Soon enough, the Drama Hall came into sight.

Still 15 minutes left.

Still 15 minutes left where Hisoka had to trust a stranger.

The feeling bound itself tighter into his chest.

---

Niwa Atsushi

They're all falling apart.

Niwa couldn't believe it. Where were the hostile people from before? Where was Hisoka's snark-? Keiki's teasing? Femi was fleeing, not a drop of nervousness left in him?

I can't lead these people. I can't even-

He stumbled back, bracing himself on Keiki's arm. But it flopped limply in his grip. He went rigid.

Slowly, he looked up. Keiki's gaze was dim.

All of a sudden, he was seized by a strange fear.

"Keiki!" he cried, shaking them by the shoulder. "Keiki! Keiki! Keikikeikikei... KEIKI! Wake up! Please! I need you to wake up! Keiki!"

---

Keiki Meyumi.

....

"...mph.." Keiki didn't move.

"n-no...i- mph. sleepy. not good."

Keiki groaned.

"arm- off. you're hurting...arm. mphh..."



....

......

Keiki groaned. "I don't...don't want to.-" They muttered sleepily. "...for you- fine. Hmph. I'll do it for you then."

“Are we finally gonna go to the creepy play?” She asked, “I’ll help look for it, I’m sure I’ll find it!” She claimed. It only made logical sense, she would be their savior after all.

Third Person POV

"Staying with Nakata," Amano piped up. He inched closer to her. Despite his towering height, he appeared as small as a mouse- Tiny and frightened, herded into a corner by the cat. "No more death if we stay with Nakata."

"I... really doubt that," Niwa said softly. His arm trembled in Keiki's grip. He gulped back tears. "T...Thank you. I..." He pressed closer to Keiki, breathing deeply in and out.

---

Keiki Meyumi.

..

"Thank- thank you swee-Niwa."

Keiki whispered.

"Thank you."

They half-hugged Niwa awkwardly.

"L-lets go to the drama...play...thing, I guess."

Third Person POV

"You can call me sweetie, y'know... if you want..." But Niwa sounded like he didn't want to press the issue. "Let's go... First date thing..." He tugged a little on the ends of his hair, flushing deeply. "To the play..."

Amano nudged Nakata a little, asking her.

---

Keiki Meyumi.

Keiki winked at him. "Alright-..sweetie." They said hesitantly.

"L-let's just go n-now." They stammered, flushing a little. Keiki turned away, and began to walk off in the direction Suko went off in earlier. "I- I'm going to the theatre whatever place-!" They said awkwardly.

Where is this stupid place-?

Niwa Atsushi

Niwa gave a yelp. His clutch on their arm grew downright biting as he followed. His other hand fell loosely from his hair. "H-Hold on! Coming!" He hurried to their side, fixing their grip. He hoped they couldn't see his flushing face.

You're such an idiot- you just met this person like, today! What are you trying to do?

He nearly jumped as the door slammed behind them. "Uh- we should probably find the stairwell, right? The second floor is where the new rooms are located."

I think Monokuma said that. Right? Right???

Suddenly, a bang echoed behind the door. Niwa didn't even have time to jump before Amano was storming through, rushing past them, nearly sending him sprawling to the floor.

But he held his balance, and watched as Amano disappeared down the hall, presumably heading for the play.

---

“Let’s go!” Nakata announced, looking around for a place to look for the Drama room, or hall, or whatever it was. Nakata was tired she didn’t know… But she still had to become their hero! Soon they’d see it, Amano already had.

“Hmm, where should we go?” She wondered.

Keiki Meyumi.

"...your face is bright red. I should call you tomato- shouldn't I-?" Keiki laughed. "Tomato~tomato~tomato~" They sang.

"Where too, tomato~?" Keiki grinned. "Hmmm....niwatomato..no. Tomaniwa. Nope. Hmm- niwato. Nope, nope, nope." They smiled. "It guess it's just tomato then. Haha."

"Alright. Theatre- place, thing. Where to- chief-?" "Point the way-!"

Third Person POV

Niwa was sputtering.

"N-Niwato? What on earth are you- what are you saying-? What- Aaghhh..." He buried his face in his sleeve. His voice came back muffled. "Probably after him... I really... really don't wanna look up right now." His exposed ears were bright red.

---

Keiki Meyumi.

"Ohhh no Niwato- you're coming with me, tomato." Keiki grabbed their sleeve and began to drag them to the theatre area. "You're not leaving me in this time of need." Keiki glared at him. "You're coming with me, whether you like it or not Niwato. And yes, you will look up. There's no point in covering your face, I can clearly see your ears are red as well. Tomato ears, haha-!"

Third Person POV

Somehow, he got redder.

"Ah- um- I mean, you don't gotta- oh gosh, you sound like you-" He rubbed his face on his sleeve, and finally pulled back. His bottom lip was curled in an angry pout, cheeks flaming a bright colour. "I'll have revenge, you know. You won't get away with this forever. My vengeful endeavors can be.... unique."

The stairwell was in front of them. Made of dark oak with engraved vines as serpentine and unpredictable as ivy dug in, curling up the circular staircase, climbing to the second floor. One couldn't have seen the top, even were it straight- they appeared to tower on forever. Did it lead to the second, or fifteenth floor????

"Ah- I suppose we should climb up, then," Niwa said. But he was staring at the stairs with an odd look. "I... It really is like a Agatha Christie book.... eh? This entire school. Secret passageways... Victorian stairs... It's like a castle." His hand lightly brushed the pillars at the base, but he flinched, pulling it back to his side like he'd been burned. "You want to go first?" he asked, turning to Keiki.

---

Keiki Meyumi.

"Unique- eh-? I'll be the judge of that Niwaextremelytomato. Your face has reached peak levels of redness, I didn't even know this was possible-!" Keiki laughed.

They marched in front, hands on hips. "I shall be the brave one who goes ahead. I, Keiki Meyumi the Great, shall be the one to conquer fearsome and deadly beast that is....the stairs." Keiki shuddered. "What horrors await us, my fellow sidekick Niwa the tomato-? We'll see.."

"Onwards-!"

Third Person POV

Niwa moaned. "Is that just going to be my title from now on...?" But he followed after them, staring at the floor in a painfully obvious attempt to conceal his painfully red face.

The two began to mount the stairs. It appeared as if they were moving past several floors. Every ten steps there'd be a ridge running along the cream walls, signalling they'd reached a new one. But no doors or hallways opened up. They were still on the stairwell.

Niwa didn't seem to notice. He was muttering something under his breath. At last, the two of them reached a floor where it opened up, intrinsically curved podiums signalling the end of the staircase. At the end of the hall, there was a clamour of noise.

Niwa finally looked up, face successfully olive once more. "I guess we're here."

---