//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: (Ab)Normal Days Part 1 // Story: Super Dangan RonPonya: Set Sail for Despair Isles // by Serenade-Stereo //------------------------------// Chapter 2: Deception, Disguises and Discord. Day 1 Everyone was sitting in the restaurant in their small groups they had made, Bud had moved over to join Memory, Clover, Techno and Rip. They all sat in silence, staring at the ground or at the chairs the now deceased Boom and Smile would sit in. Execution still fresh in their minds, they found it hard to speak at all, even Bright and Aqua couldn't start a conversation amongst the group. I still can't believe that happened...Smile ended up dead...and then Boom got brutally executed for it... "It's horrible..." Paint broke the silence, her monotone voice catching everyone by surprise. "Unfortunately...what's done is done...even if we don't want to accept that, we have to face reality...what we saw last night was a real dead body and a real execution..." "How can you expect us to just accept it like that?" Toxic asked. "We're just middle school students...we shouldn't be in this situation..." "B-being forced to watch Boom getting killed...I can hardly take this..." Rip said in a quivering voice. "It's our fault, y'know..." Clover whimpered. "We...we sent Boom to his death...we killed him..." "Oh, contraire..." Paint objected. "The person controlling Monokuma sent him to his death...we didn't do anything wrong..." "She's right..." Memory agreed. "Boom didn't have to be executed...the punishment was of Monokuma's choice...but what pisses me off is that he made a show about it!" He gritted his teeth. "He treated Boom like some pawn and just...killed him...like he didn't mean anything to anyone..." "He only did it because he wanted to know if his sister was still okay...didn't he...?" Rip asked. "That's what he said." Toxic tapped the table with his finger. "We don't know the truth though...he could have killed Smile for the hell of it...it's not outside the realm of possibility..." "Hey, why don't you just shut up!" Pure yelled at him. "Do you even realise how disrespectful that is to say?!" "How in any way is it disrespectful...when I'm just theorizing...? All we have are his words...granted they may have been his last ones and he had no reason to lie but he have just wanted a reason for us to pity him..." "As much as none of you would want to say it, he's right..." Aqua agreed. "Also, I've noticed something..." She sat up and looked at Pure. "What is with you getting angry at Toxic all the time...?" "That's none of your business..." Toxic folded his arms and leaned back. "Honestly...sometimes it's better you don't know things..." "Yeah..." Pure simply said. "It's better you guys don't know..." "Anyway..." Clip diverted the conversation. "What are we supposed to do now...? Wait until Monokuma gives us another motive?" "Well..." Bright fixed her glasses. "If my theory is correct...something will come up in three...two...on-" "Hello!" Monomi sprung up from nowhere. "Gah?!" Quick yelped. "What the hell so you want?!" Aqua yelled. "I've come with great new for everyone!" She shrugged off Aqua's attitude. "I beat one of the Monobeasts and now the gate to Second Island is opened up!" "What? Are you serious?!" Memory's eyes widened. "You took down one of those Monobeasts?" "Of course, if not. What kind of a teacher would I be?" "This is great!" Laser sprung up. "Now we can look for a way off of here!" Monomi gave a worried look. "What? There's gotta be a way off the island somewhere, right, Bright?" "Maybe..." The Pegasus fixed her glasses. "It's most likely one that's hidden though...whoever put us here wouldn't want us to leave so easily..." "Monomi is the one that stole out memories, right?" Aqua stood up. "What the hell do you know about who put us here you fucking rabbit?!" "I...I..." Monomi stalled. "Gotta go! Have fun!" She disappeared. "Coward!" Quick yelled. "Sweet Celestia...so...what do we do now...?" "Obviously, we gotta search the island!" Swift smirks. "Even is it'll be a challenge, a way out has gotta exist!" "Well...we'll never know if we don't try, I suppose..." Clover shrugged. "But...I say we split up into groups and investigate..." "Why's that...?" Clip asked. "Y-you know...just in case..." Everyone looked at each other. The sense of distrust was still in the air. "Well...how about this...?" Pure's horn glowed as fourteen sticks appeared. "Alright. There are seven colours, red, blue, yellow, green, purple, orange and brown. And if you didn't guess already - blue goes blue and so on..." Everyone took their stick and looked at the colour. Techno had gotten orange. "Umm...who has...orange...?" He asked. "Oh! Me!" Laser cheered. Aw crap... "Dammit!" Clip yelled. "Now I want orange! I got blue though..." "Hey, I'll take offence to that!" Quick grumbled. "Looks like Toxic and I got yellow..." Bud smiled as she stood next to the chemist. "Rip and I got red..." Bright fixed her glasses. "Swift and I have brown...." Pure smiled. "Umm...Aqua and I have green..." Clover stood next to the earth pony. "So that leaves Memory and I with purple..." Paint said, suddenly back to her sketch. "Well...let's head out in our pairs..." Laser and Techno arrived at Central Island, Techno being slightly uncomfortable around the auburn unicorn. "C'mon, Techno! An adventure awaits us!" She had linked arms with him and been dragged him around like that since they had left the hotel. "Can you at least let me go...?" Techno asked. "I could..." Laser smiled. "But where's the fun in doing that? Therefore, we'll continue like this until we go back to the hotel!" "I'd like to go back now..." Techno grumbled. Laser looked back at him with a small grin. "You know...there's a reason that Hope's Peak were also thinking of calling me the 'Super Middle School Level Prankster'...so I would be careful with what you say..." I-is she threatening me?! Techno stopped his complaining as he was dragged over to the bridge with the number 2 stamped on the arch. The Monobeast that had previously been there had disappeared. "Wow!" Laser jumped up in excitement. "Could you have imagined the battle? The giant mechanical animal up against the pink rabbit that wishes to seek revenge! Monobeast Vs Monomi! Coming to a theatre near you soon!" "...right..." There was no other way to really respond to something like that. "We should hurry up, everyone is already on the other island..." "Well, duh!" She gave a mock smile. "I knew that, silly! Now! No delay, let's go!" Still with Techno in her grip, she charged off across the bridge. "S-slow down!" Techno yelled. "No way! I wanna see how fast we can get there!" She smirked as she started to speed up, almost tripping Techno. She sprinted across the bridge before eventually coming to a halt. "Look at that view!" She pointed. Techno re-adjusted his glasses before looking at what Laser seemed so excited about. The view of the second island was something to behold. It seemed to have an ancient building in the distance, a huge white building, closer to them was a small diner and a tunnel that seemed to lead off to a secret area. There was also a rather large mansion like building further up the pathway. This place...it's atmosphere is a lot of different than the First Island... Techno and Laser stood in silence for a few seconds. "So, uh...where should we check first...?" "Hmm..." Laser released Techno from her grasp and tapped her chin. "Let's...go to...the diner!" She pointed to the small building. "I'm pretty hungry, y'know?" True...we didn't have breakfast before coming over here.... As if on command there was a low growl emanating from Laser. "Hehe..." She blushed slightly. "See what I mean...? Now...come on! Let's go and get some grub already!" Once again, she linked her arm with Techno's and sped off to the diner, almost knocking Techno off his feet once again. They approached the small diner, it was just like any kind of roadside diner you could see whilst travelling, it didn't look that special at all. "Do you think they'll have something to eat inside?" Techno asked as he was dragged into the diner. "Probably!" Laser smiled. Upon entered, the two noticed the other pair that were witting at one of the booths, relaxing in the sunlight that was beaming through the glass. It was Rip and Bright. "Oh, hi you two!" Rip greeted with a sweet smile. "Hello..." Bright simply said, only giving the two an almost glance. "You two came here looking for food, I suppose?" "Uh, yeah...how did yo-" "Super Middle School Level Theorist, Techno!" Laser reminded him. "And for that, every time you make a mistake or say something stupid, I get to give you a dead arm!" "What?! No!" Techno yelled. "There's no stopping me now!" Laser smiled. "Oh...my..." Rip frowned. "I guess you'll just have to pick your words carefully..." Oh why did I have to get orange...? Techno sighed. "So, you guys find any grub in here? Since nobody had breakfast before we came here, it would be awesome to fill up!" Laser asked the two. "Well...yeah, we found food..." Rip started. "But...it's all things that need to be microwaved and this diner doesn't have one..." "Everything needs to be microwaved? For real?!" Laser gasped. "Aw...I wanted to eat though..." She gave a crestfallen look. "Well, we can get food when we back..." Bright said. "You don't need to whine about it." "B-but Bright! I need food in my stomach or I'll die!" Laser complained. "You won't die..." Bright fixed her glasses. "Not in a few hours of not having food...unless you are incredibly weak..." "Uuuu....I'm so hungry though..." "The sooner you finish the investigation of the island. The sooner you can eat..." Laser's eyes lit up. "Really?!" She jumped. "Alright then! Techno, to the other buildings!" "Wait, why are you two here then?" Techno asked. "Oh, Bright said she wanted to rest for a little bit." Rip informed them. "Apparently her theory is that if we wait here for another three minutes, we can stumble across more information...I'm in no position to go against what she says and we were put into pairs so I guess I'll be here for a little bit as well!" "What...kind of logic is that anyway?" Techno looked at the grey Pegasus. "Hmph..." Bright fixed her glasses. "Do you have any way to refute it...?" She smirked. "If not then it's pointless to question my theory..." "But...if you looked now then wouldn't yo-" "You think that if we go now we'd have more time to investigate, am I correct?" Bright guessed. Techno didn't get the chance to answer before she said. "I thought so..." She sighed before placing her book on the table. "Do you want to know what this book contains?" The other three exchanged glances before she started to explain. "It's where I keep all my methods of deductions. I use it when I theorise if I want to review something, the methods in this leads me to the conclusion that three minutes is all we need to wait to get the most information out of this island." "See? This is why Bright is the Super Middle School Level Theorist!" Rip smiled. "Or...something like that..." "My methods are only part of the reason..." Bright said cryptically. "But that is for another time..." She picked her book again and held it at her chest. "Um...right..." Techno simply said, still curious about the story behind her talent. "Well...I guess we should go then, right, Laser?" "Oh! Yeah!" The auburn unicorn cheered before dragging Techno out of the diner. "So where to next? Oh, let's go through that tunnel!" Laser pointed to the huge black tunnel that was near the diner. "Please, please, please?" She begged. "Well...we need to investigate as much as we can so I guess we should have a look..." Laser beamed as the two ventured down through the tunnel to a small beach with a beach house by the tunnel. "Oh, wow!" Laser whistled as the two walked around the beach house. "This is a really nice place, don't you think? It's got sunbeds, some surfboards, Pure and Swift duking it out, glorious sea-" "What was that last one...?" Techno looked at her. "I said, glorious sea-" "No, before that." Techno muttered something under his breath at the old joke. "Oh, that." Laser pointed to the two that were on the beach, clearly angered with one another. The prosecutor and attorney, both now stood at a standstill. Techno and Laser watched from a distance as Swift took a step forward. "I still can't believe you would even consider telling them about that!" He yelled at Pure. "Urgh! I'm just trying to help you! You are so ungrateful, I swear, sometimes I wonder why we ever even decided to let bygones by bygones and become 'friends'." She yelled back. "Well it's not my fault that all prosecutors are halfwits!" "Excuse me?" Pure took a step forward. "Prosecutors are halfwits? Do you really want to try insulting someone that could kick your ass in court and out of it any time any day?!" "Is that a freaking challenge I hear because if so I am ready whenever you are!" The two charged at each other immediately, Pure throwing a punch and nailing Swift in the gut. He stammered back before Laser's horn started to glow, stopping the two from moving. "W-what the hell...?" Pure glared at Techno and Laser. "What the hell is going on here?" Techno asked, running over to the two. "Why are you guys fighting?" "Well, Swift here was getting pissed off at me because I wanted to help him by letting everyone know that-" "I said shut up!" Swift cut her off. "I don't want people knowing about that! I trusted you with that after all!" "Ooooh..." Laser grinned. "What is it...? Is it something big? Like where Swift hides his porn?" "Where did that come from?!" Swift yelled. "I didn't hear no~" "I didn't say a yes either! Either way...I can't talk about it to everyone yet..." "So, what now?" Techno asked the two. "It's clear that you two aren't going to be getting along any time soon and with you guys acting like that, it could hinder your investigation..." "Why don't we swap members? I'll take Techno, Swift gets Laser?" Pure suggested. "Oh! I'm all of it!" Laser cheered. "Hmm...and, Laser? If he slacks off at any point during your investigation, feel free to do as you please..." Pure smirked. "W-wait, don't I get a say in this?!" Swift yelled. "Yay! C'mon Swift, don't slack off now! We have a lot of investigating to do!" Laser grabbed Swift's arm and dragged him off into the distance. Techno turned to Pure who seemed to be focused on something else, most likely what she and Swift were arguing about. "What...did Swift say to you anyway...?" Techno asked. "I guess I shouldn't tell you...he was right. I should be able to be trusted with his secret but...I just help and he got mad..." Pure's ears drooped. "Hey, you guys are still friends, I'm sure this'll all blow over soon...it's not like you actually told me, is it?" "Well...yeah, that's true...but Swift has this habit of distancing himself from others if they insult him...or at least, that's what he told me..." "Well. You shouldn't worry. Since I've already checked the diner I guess the next stop would be that huge white building." "Oh, I think that it might be like a pharmacy or something." Pure guessed. "But, that's just my gut feeling..." "Well, let's head over and find out." Techno smiled as the two walked back through the tunnel and to the white building. It has automatic double doors that revealed it's same white walls on the inside of the building. There were a few doors here and there but it was practically empty. "This...doesn't look like a pharmacy..." Pure pointed out the obvious. "What is this place? It's creeping me out..." "I'm not sure..." Techno frowned slightly, the place did give a rather eerie vibe. What is this place...? If not a pharmacy then...what...? It doesn't look like a hospital... "Could it be...? I've only ever seen one once before but..." Pure muttered. "It...could be a mental institute..." She suggested, surprising Techno. "M-mental institute...?" He repeated getting a sudden uncomfortable feeling in his stomach. "Well...it could also double as a police station, this island does need some kind of law enforcement, even if it once was a tourist spot...crime can take place anywhere as we've seen..." She explained. "I guess you're right, but still...a mental institute...? Here of all places...? Next to a diner no less." "This has me concerned though. What did this island have that required a place like this?" Pure bit the inside of her cheek as she thought about it. "Hmm...who know...?" "I...I want to leave right now..." Techno said meekly. "Don't blame you. These places are seriously messed up. I had to talk to a suspect that was being confined in one of these places through one of those sliders in the doors of a padded room. That guys was insane as hell..." "C-can you not?" Techno pleaded. "Oh, sorry. Got carried away..." She smiled sheepishly. "It's a habit, I'll start talking about some random case I've worked on before..." "It's fine, just try to tone it down a little..." "I'll try my best." Pure smiled. "Now, I guess that if we're done here. Next, let's head over to the next building. I feel like something is gonna jump out at us in here...like some animatronic thingy..." Where does an idea like that even come from...? The two quickly left the building, still slightly disturbed by the idea that Pure had come up with. The next building along was the huge mansion-like structure. The entrance to the building were two huge doors that were at least three times the size of both Pure and Techno. The two gave each other a glance before venturing inside. Their vision darkened from the lack of light inside for a few seconds. Pure used her horn to illuminate the area, revealing a huge book covered area. "Well...this is rather unexpected..." Pure's eyes widened. "Who would have guessed that this place was a huge library?" "I know, I was expecting it to look like a mansion on the inside as well." Techno murmured slightly unsatisfied. As the two walked along, they noticed a white glow coming from around one of the corners. Looking around, they found Aqua looking around the shelves with Clover using her horn to light up their area. "Oh, hey guys. Looking for something...?" Pure asks, catching the two off guard slightly. "Hey you two." Clover smiled. "Aqua said she wanted to search a little bit more and since we can't find a light switch, I've been using my magic to light up the place so she can look." "It's good you're a unicorn, otherwise you would have been completely useless to me." Aqua remarked. "I...I know..." Clover frowned. "I can be a real screw up at times..." Well her mood suddenly got really sad... Techno looked at where Aqua was rummaging through on the shelves. "What are you looking for?" "Records." She simply stated. "Records?" Pure repeated. "Records of what?" "None of your business." She replied in an annoyed tone. "Now...fuck off." "Ur...no need to be so rude..." Pure grumbles. "Well...alright, I guess we'll go search elsewhere..." "Please do..." "Um, Aqua...? Y'know, maybe they could help if you just-" "Did anyone ask for your opinion, flower girl?!" Aqua snapped. "O-oh...I guess not..." Clover rubbed her arm. "Sorry..." She muttered to Pure and Techno. "She's being more bitter than a horehound right now..." The two raised an eyebrow. "It's a herb..." "Clover!" Aqua yelled. "I need you to move with me, so get your ass over here!" "Sorry! Be right there, gotta go guys. Talk to you later." Clover smiled before running off to Aqua. "So, do you want to have a look around...?" Pure asked. "This place might have some information on why we were put here..." "Maybe..." Techno folded his arms. "But I don't think we'd find anything like that..." "Why not?" Pure asked. "Well. Whoever did this wouldn't want us to find out so easily. If this was like some government project that was happening with Hope's Peak Academy students, do you really think they'd leave the document of that just waiting to be found...?" "But this place is huge! What are the chances of someone actually finding it?" "A one in a million chances...but even with that number, they wouldn't take the chance..." "I...suppose you could be right about that..." Pure conceded. At that moment the front doors to the library opened, revealing, in the light from outside. Paint and Memory stood looking inside. "Hey, guys!" Memory waved. "It's good we found you two here, Paint thinks we made a big discovery over at those ruins, we're gathering everyone there so you better hurry up!" "What's going on?" Aqua asked, appearing from the shadows with Clover. "Just meet at the ruins..." Paint told her. "I'll explain everything there..." "See you there!" Memory gave a final goodbye before heading off with Paint by his side. The four exchanged looks before heading off in a group to the ruins as instructed. The walk was a silent one, mostly because if anyone said anything, Aqua would most likely be able to find an insult to throw at them. The ruins in the distance were very clear, a huge moss covered structure that towered above anything else they had seen on any of the islands. It gave off a mysterious feeling of disharmony and fear. The closer they got, the stronger the feelings. Eventually they reached the front of the ruins where most students had already arrived at, the only ones not present were Laser, Swift, Memory and Paint. "Ah! That's almost everyone now!" Bud smiles. "Shut up." Aqua grumbles instantly. "You're to cheery..." "Oh, sorry! I'll try to be less happy!" "Ugh, then you'll just be a depressing little whore." "W-what do you expect from me?!" Bud whined. A few of the others rolled their eyes at this, Bud was now acting desperately to become Aqua's friend. Unfortunately, it seemed to be having the exact opposite effect. It wasn't long after that Memory and his group turned up. "Alright, now that everyone is here...what was it you wanted to talk to us all about...?" Bright asked immediately after their arrival. Paint gave a blank stare before saying. "Oh...you were talking to me..." Paint mumbles something. "What was it again...?" D-did she seriously forget?! "Oh...the building. Well. I want everyone to have a good look at the structure. Doesn't it's shape seem similar?" They all turned and gazed up at the moss covered building. "To me...it just seems to much like Hope's Peak. Does anyone else agree...?" "Now...that you mention it..." Clip starts. "I think I can kinda see it, hon..." Paint was silent. "Oh...still talking to me...? You should really develop use people's names when speaking, or at least a nickname..." "Ur..." Clip seemed slightly caught off guard by the statement. "Right..." "Anyway." Paint continued. "I have to wonder why this is here, don't you all think so to? I mean, this is clearly strange to find..." "Maybe Jabberwock Island was where Hope's Peak started...and it eventually moved into Canterlot but this building was never torn down...?" Pure suggests. "Impossible." Bright fixed her glasses. "You see, the first problem with that is the entrance. Look at it." Everyone got closer to the building and saw an old-looking round door with a small keypad to the side of it and a huge Gatling Gun hanging above it. "This is clearly not any kind of school door." "But look at these markings..." Clover walks up to it. "It looks like it's...Neighponese..." "Oh, I can translate!" Rip smiled. "I learned a lot about the language during a surfing tournament so I think this'll be simple enough." Everyone moved out the way as Rip examined the markings on the stone wall. It took a minute or two before she stepped away, turning to everyone else. "It says 'Kibō' which translates to 'hope' in English." Everyone gave confused or intrigued looks at that information. "Hope...?" Swift muttered. "Why would it say hope...?" "Well...it could be evidence to say that it's Hope's Peak Academy..." Clover suggested. "Possibly. But I think this may hold a deeper meaning than that..." Bright theorised. "But I am not quite sure what it would be yet..." "Oh great, so we just wasted precious time for nothing?!" Aqua yelled. "Jeez, thanks for that!" "...who, me...?" Paint asked. "Put down the fucking portrait for once!" "I have in the past." She recalled. "Investigation, class trials. Important times are when I'll stop focusing on this...but talking to you isn't important enough to me..." Everyone stood shocked by that statement. Aqua growled as she stepped closer to the artist. "Say that again..." Paint paused. "Talking to a self-centred, controlling, deceiving, heartless, heinous, two-face bitch is not worth my time to put my sketch down." "Slayed!" Laser laughed. Why was that so satisfying to hear...? Oh right, nobody like Aqua... "Well." Bright tapped her chin with her book. "I suppose whilst we're here, we could talk about the results of our investigation...anybody want to volunteer to start...?" "Well..." Clover said with a slightly timid tone. "There's a huge library that's got more books than you could imagine. It's got something for everyone." "There were even some case files there when I checked it out." Toxic recalled. "It seems that the place has literally everything. There was even a list of cases revolving around a serial killer..." "A serial killer...?" Pure inquired. "Which one...?" "One that goes by the name of 'Black Viper'. Named that because each victim is found with puncture wounds that resemble snake bites...pretty nasty, eh?" "Hmm..." Swift tapped his foot on the ground. "I don't think there would be a reason for those files to be here of all places." "Something else." Aqua adds. "Despite having such obscure files, they don't seem to have our student records..." "Well, those are school records." Clip points out. "Wouldn't it be a little bit weird for those kind of files to be on some random island?" "This isn't exactly 'some random island' though." Toxic put his hands in his pockets. "I mean, after all we've seen we can't call it just another island, can we?" "There's defiantly something fishy about this place. Problem is, we don't what it is..." Quick frowns. "Oh, also. It's a miracle I heard that. My hearing aid broke during the investigation..." "What happened?" Clover asked slightly louder than needed. "I think it might just be the battery or something. I'll need to check the market later...but at least I managed to pick up the things about the building looking like Hope's Peak and those files." He smiled proudly. "Pretty good for someone that's half-deaf, eh?" "Yeah, yeah, quit boasting." Aqua told him. "Roasting?" Quick raised an eyebrow. "It's not hot out here..." "Boast. BOAST!" Aqua snapped. "I don't boast..." Quick grumbled. "Anyway. Maybe Monomi knows something about the building and the files." Rip suggests. "Though...due to her vagueness earlier. I doubt she could be much help..." "I swear, that rabbit has got to have something to do with all this!" Aqua hissed. "I have to agree." Clip said. "I mean, it's kinda obvious, right? She has to be the main cause of all this since she was the one that took us here." "I may seem like that..." Bright began. "...but, Monokuma and Monomi's rivalry seem to overshadow any possibility of them working together. Does it not?" "We should to talking about this island." Toxic changed the topic. "Did anyone investigate that white building?" "Uh. Techno and I did." Pure said. "I'm not exactly sure what it should be but my initial impressions said that it was a mental institution." "Mental institution?" Memory's eyes widened. "Plain white walls are a common feature inside them. They stop those inside from feeling uncomfortable. We only checked the lobby area though but if there are padded rooms in there. Then it would have to be a mental institute, without a doubt." "Ooo~" Laser smiled. "How creepy! I love it, now I'm hoping that some crazy people are still in there!" "D-don't say things like that!" Clover whimpered. "I hate anything that's horror-related..." "That explains why you couldn't be around the crime scene during the investigation." Toxic commented. "Makes me wonder hoe you intend to survive..." Clover's ears drooped at that. "Survive...I'll probably be next to go..." She sulked. "Aw." Bud frowned. "Don't say that. We can't just say we'll keep killing each other. We're-" "Friends?" Aqua guessed mockingly. "Is that what you were going to say?" "W-well...yes-" "You think that friends are going to save you from death I can say you won't last very long." She growled. "Geez. No victims from your attitude either." Toxic remarked. "Oh shut up, you! What's a chemist gonna do?! Poison me?! Fuck off you piece of trash!" "You use insults to make yourself feel better. Don't you?" Paint spoke up. "...excuse me...?" Aqua raised an eyebrow. "To make yourself feel like you have some worth in this world. You've been insulting others, pointing out flaws and distancing yourself so we won't see yours." "That is so not true you bitch!" "Both of you just stop it!" Techno snapped. "Can we just not fight for once? Most of us are still trying to work together to get out of here but you guys being at each others throats all the time is making that really difficult." "I don't intend to get out of here. Linked arms with everyone, anyway." Aqua told him. "Why do we even try? There's not going to be a way off this island other than killing someone so you may as well just let things happen and kill or die when it's your turn." Everyone went silent at her words. "So, let me get this straight." Toxic started, his teeth starting to grind. "You think that everyone is just gonna die and you're gonna live through this. You think it'll be that easy?!" "Let her think what she wants to think!" Pure yelled. "Alright, what she thinks shouldn't matter to you and it's her own thoughts. You can't just say that's she's wrong for thinking like that!" "But that covers everything aside from the diner and the beachside house. Nothing is noteworthy about either of them though." Swift said. "Really? Nothing? That's rather weird when we compare it to everything else on this island." Clip says. "I wonder if they have like some kinda dark secret?" "Or maybe they're just normal places? Why are you suspicious of everything?" Paint asked. "I'm not. Just pointing out, that's all, hun." "Again with the 'hun'..." Paint muttered so Clip wouldn't hear it. "But, other than that, it seems that this is all the island has to offer...does everyone else agree?" Some nodded in response. "Then...I guess that would have to end it for today, we'll disband for the day. Adios!" She waved before walking off. Day 2 Techno was laid down on his bed. Not sure what to do for the day, nothing important had came up at the group's daily meeting and it's not like there was anything that he was particularly interested in looking into. "...So what am I supposed to do...?" He sat up. "Hmm...some of the others went off to investigate some more...the only ones left here are Aqua, Bright, Toxic, Clip and Paint...I don't want to bother any of them...." Techno sighed. "Just like before...I'm alone again." *Ding dong, bing bong!* "Ahem! Can I have everyone's attention? I would like everyone to make their way to Jabberwock Park. I have a very special surprise for you all!" Monokuma's voice emanated throughout the room. 'Surprise' most likely meaning a motive... Techno stood and headed off to Jabberwock Park. Trying to prepare himself for another one of these incentives that Monokuma had planned for everyone. Before even leaving the hotel, someone had ended up barging into him from behind. "T-Techno!" That was Clover's voice. It was easy to recognise. Techno stood up and turned to the white unicorn. "Sorry about that. I just didn't want to last to the island." "It's probably better if you take your time, y'know? The longer we prevent murders, the better..." Clover nodded. "Hey, why don't we head over together...?" "Wha-?" Clover's eyes widened. "Oh...s-sure..." "Is something wrong?" Clover shook her head. "No, it's just...nobody really asks to spend time with me...so this means something..." "Oh. Well, we should head over, right?" Clover smiled and nodded as the two continued to the central island. "By the way...weren't you investigating with Memory and Rip today?" "I was going to...but I started to feel a little sick so I just stayed in my cottage...why didn't you go?" "I didn't want to get in the way. I usually end up doing that whenever I'm around others..." He sighed. "At most times, when I try to be helpful I just screw things up..." "I know how you feel..." Clover murmured. "I tend to mess things up as well. Being in the garden is the only place where I feel at home. It's a great time..." "Why gardening?" "Hmm?" Clover gave a confused expression. "Why do you like gardening...?" "...it's hard to explain. If we had more time, I would probably tell you..." After that statement though. Neither of them said another word. Clover and Techno turned up to Jabberwock Park last. All the other students waiting with an anxious expression or no expression at all. "Well." Bright tapped her book. "It seems everyone is here...so that means that Monokuma will make his appearance soon..." "You know me so well!" Monokuma's voice echoed. Everyone turned their attention to the statue and a few seconds after the voice was heard, Monokuma sprang out from behind the statue. "Why hello everyone!" He greeted. "I'm sure you're all wondering why I've decided to call you all here!" "What'd he say?" Quick asked. "Shut up." Aqua covered his mouth. "You obviously brought us here for a new motive. What else would it be?" "Actually it isn't a motive! It's an incentive..." "That's the same thing!" Aqua snapped. "Anyway~" Monokuma ignored her. "Now. Surely you all saw the white building on Second Island, right? And I overheard you all wondering what exactly it was for. Then the idea of a mental institution came up...and guess what! Pure was absolutely correct!" "That place is seriously a real mental institution?!" Swift yelled. "You gotta be kidding me!" "Nope! That place is really a mental institute. Now, you may be wondering what was the point in telling you that...well, it's because of what kind of crazy people were left there. Any guesses...?" There was a silence. "I'll tell you then...Changelings..." That made everyone freeze. "A C-Changeling mental institute...?" Clover shuddered at the thought. "But what does this have to do with motive to murder?" Bright inquired. "Because...among you fourteen...guess what...? There's a Changeling among all of you..."