(See the end of the chapter for more notes .)

Place your last bets, I suppose. Who bites the bullet?

Sorry I took a little time on this. It's a little longer, there's not really Free Time as normal, and I wanted to make it as good as possible.

Chapter Text

Monokuma: DING DONG DING DONG!

[We see Monokuma on a TV screen, lounging in a chair comfortably, as he sips a glass of red wine through a silly straw.]

Monokuma: Good morning, class!

This is your amazing principal Monokuma letting you know it's 7 o'clock! Nighttime's over!

Which means it's time to get out of bed and stop being a lazy bastard!

[The screen blinks off. We see Minami's Room.]

OK... I'm awake...

And I need to figure out how I'm going to kill someone today...

...

I'll take a knife from the kitchen. Then I just catch someone alone and...

...

Oh, God... I'm actually planning to kill someone...

[There is a loud knocking at the door.]

What? Who... could that be?

[Examine Door]

[OST: Beautiful Ruin]

Chiba: [Bored] Good morning, Minami. Sleep well?

Minami: Oh... Chiba. No, I... I didn't get much sleep...

How could I when my brother's life is on the line?

Chiba: [Scratching head] Me neither. I've been up for about two days at this point...

I might end up sleeping in tomorrow.

I'd be surprised if you didn't...

Minami: So, why are you here, anyway?

Chiba: [Shrugging] Hagino's orders. I have to get you to the meeting on time.

Oh... I forgot all about that...

I kinda thought that all went out the window with Monokuma's "incentive"...

Chiba: Don't want to keep her waiting, Minami. Come on.

Minami: ...Right. Let's go.

[Auto-move to Green Hallway]

[Move to Foyer]

[Move to Cafeteria]

Hagino: [Gentle smile] Hm. Good to see you here on time today, Minami.

Minami: ...Yeah...

Mai: [Concerned] Are you feeling OK, Hanni?

Minami: What do YOU think, Mai?

Mai: [Hurt] ...Wow, OK...

Muramoto: [Eyes downwards] 'Tis fine, Miss Minami...

I assure you not one of us is untouched by Monokuma's monstrous motive.

[Neutral] But for now, 'tis all but necessary to push against him regardless.

Matsuoka: [Serious] Which brings me to the plan for today.

Fujihara: [Surprised] We're going over the plan already? Hang on...

[Camera out] ...OK, go!

Matsuoka: Obviously, we can't all just split off and do our own thing like usual.

Urayama: [Arms crossed] I think we're all in agreement there.

Matsuoka: [Explaining] So I think we ought to gather into groups and come up with individual strategies.

If we work together, we might just be able to come up with a way to save them.

Noguchi: [Smirk] We all know the way to save them already. It's just a question of who kills first.

Okazaki: [Frowning] But, like, nobody's gonna do that... right?

Akutagawa: [Pointing] So! These groups! Are you going to tell us what they are, classmate Matsuoka?

Matsuoka: [Thinking] Well... why not do it in the laundry groups we came up with?

Takanashi: [Eyes closed in thought] So... that was...

Akutagawa, Washio, Muramoto and Minami...

Okazaki, Noguchi, Mai and Fujihara...

Matsuoka, Junpei, myself and Degawa...

...and Urayama, Tamura, Chiba and Hagino, right?

Chiba: [Exasperated] How do you remember all that?

Takanashi: [Smiling] I have a good memory.

...

[Biting brush] Um... that's all I have to say...

Noguchi: [Scoffing] Hmph! You rabble might enjoy your little buddy system...

But I work best by myself.

And I'm the only one using the right strategy, too.

[Leaving] I hope to not see you again today.

Matsuoka: [Glaring] ...Anyway...

[Determined smile] Split up into laundry groups, people. Let's do this together.

Akutagawa: [Pointing] Washio! Muramoto! Minami! With me! Now!

We shall relocate to the School Shop and commence planning!

Washio: [Reluctantly looking up] Um... OK... If we have to, I mean...

Muramoto: [Neutral] As you wish.

Minami: Fine, let's get this done quickly...

Washio: [Concerned] ...

[Fade to black.]

[OST: When You Wish For Execution]

[Fade in to School Shop.]

Akutagawa: [Pointing] So! Does anyone have anything they wish to contribute?

Washio: [Reluctantly looking up] So, um... maybe...

We could... um... we could all gang up... I guess...

On, uh... On Monokuma, I mean...

Muramoto: [Stroking chin] A noble aim, to be sure. Yet there exists a flaw.

The bear prohibits any violence directed against him. We would surely be killed.

Akutagawa: [Pointing] Do not be distressed, Washio!

If it weren't for the fact that it doesn't work, it would be a brilliant plan!

Minami: What kind of stupid thing is that to say?

[OST: When You Wish For Execution]

Washio: [Surprised] Huh? Um... Minami, are you, uh... OK?

Minami: No! I'm not OK! And I have no idea why you're all so cheerful!

Akutagawa: [Pointing] We must remain upbeat in the face of peril!

Minami: That's ridiculous! We need to treat this seriously! My goddamn brother's been kidnapped!

No stopping now... I'm on the warpath...

Muramoto: [Arms crossed] Minami, calm yourself.

Minami: What good will being calm do? What good will talking it out do?

There's only one way to save them. We all know that.

[OST: Mr. Monokuma's Lesson]

Monokuma: Well, we know who the braintrust of the group is! That's one hundred per cent correct, Minami!

[Sighing] You're sounding more like me every day!

Minami: ...

Akutagawa: [Pointing] Bear! Explain yourself, now! Why are you visiting us?

Monokuma: [Black side] First of all, I'm the principal. I do whatever I feel like. And second of all...

[Sad] I just wanted to make sure all my favourite students were doing alright...

This is the thanks I get...

Washio: [Looking down] So, um... why are you, ah... really here?

Monokuma: [Chuckling] Oh no! After that display of overpowering confidence, I have no choice but to tell you!

[Neutral] It's very simple! I'm just giving you an update regarding your loved ones!

Oh God! Please be OK!

Minami: Tooru! He's alright, right? Tell me he's alright!

Muramoto: [Hand on chin] ...

Monokuma: [Annoyed] Relax! Your brother's fine!

Just like EVERYONE ELSE'S LOVED ONES, who are in the EXACT SAME SITUATION!

Wow, you're selfish!

Minami: ...

Monokuma: [Neutral] Well, that's it from me! Live long and kill each other!

[OST: None]

He's gone...

Akutagawa: [Posing confidently] This is good news! There's still hope to save them!

Muramoto: Correct. We must focus our efforts.

Minami: Hey, do you guys mind if I go get a drink? I'll be back soon.

Muramoto: Of course. I see no sense in continuing while dehydration looms overhead.

We shall start without you, however.

Minami: Not a problem. Back soon.

[Auto-move to Blue Hallway]

...I'm going nuts, aren't I?

But... I still don't have a choice... I can't take any risks.

For Tooru... I have to do it.

Time to go get that knife...

[OST: Beautiful Morning]

[Move to Foyer]

[Move to Cafeteria]

Fujihara: [Smiling] Ah, Minami! Shouldn't you be with your group?

Okazaki: [Arms crossed] Yeah, like, what gives?

Minami: Oh, I just... I felt like getting a drink, is all. I'll only be a minute.

Mai: [Cheerful] OK! That's cool! Like, super cool! Cool city!

Minami: ...Made much progress?

Fujihara: [Sighing] Not exactly...

Mai: [Exaggerated frown] Yeah. The only thing we can come up with is a raffle. To decide who gets killed, you know.

[Hugging herself] But that got super creepy! So we dropped it!

I can see why they decided not to pursue that further...

Okazaki: [Head tilted] Like, while you're there, can you get me a lemonade?

Minami: Sure. No problem.

Alright, talk to you later.

Fujihara: [Smiling] See you soon, Minami.

[Auto-move to Kitchen]

[OST: Welcome to Despair Academy]

That was way too close... I can feel myself sweating...

Now...

Knives... where are the knives?

[Examine Knife Rack]

I need something sharp, I guess. Something that can stab...

[OST: Despair-Syndrome]

Noguchi: [Smirk] Need a hand?

Minami: Gah! No! Go away!

What the hell is HE doing here?

Noguchi: I'm glad that you're seeing things MY way at last.

[Explaining] These friends and allies... they all turn to dust with Monokuma's motive, don't they?

[Smirk] Tell me... who's worth killing for in your life?

Minami: ...My brother.

Noguchi: Of course. If I had siblings, I'd do the same for them.

But you're not the first to come up with a murder plot here, you know.

Minami: I know. You've been planning something from day one.

Noguchi: One more person, actually.

Huh? Someone else is planning murder?

Minami: ...Who?

Noguchi: No idea. But I've been taking meticulous inventories of all possible weapons.

[Explaining] There was a claw hammer in the Incinerator Room. It's gone now, which means someone took it.

So aside from me, someone else is planning to commit murder?

This makes things a lot harder...

Noguchi: [Smirk] Don't worry. I won't tell anyone you took the knife.

If I did, it'd spoil the looks on everyone's faces. And I'd miss out on my fun.

Minami: You utter scumbag...

Noguchi: Which one of us is planning murder here?

Both of us!

Noguchi: Before I go... you should probably ask yourself how you're getting that knife past the others outside.

...Damn it, he has a point!

Noguchi: [Leaving] Until next time.

[OST: None]

So... how do I get this knife past them?

There must be something here that can help...

And I have to get Okazaki her lemonade, too. So that everything looks fine...

[OST: Welcome to Despair Academy]

[Examine Fridge]

Lemonade... lemonade... there it is!

OK, one down... Now how do I hide the knife?

[Examine Cupboard]

Is there anything in here?

...This bag of chips...

If I open it, and put the knife in like so... There! Knife successfully hidden!

...I shouldn't be so proud of that...

I better go before anyone gets suspicious.

[Move to Cafeteria]

[OST: Beautiful Morning]

Minami: Hey, Okazaki. Here's your lemonade.

Okazaki: [Cheerful] Like, thanks! I owe you one. I'm really parched!

Fujihara: [Smiling] Hey, Minami, can I have a chip?

...Damn.

Minami: Uh... sorry, Fujihara... My group only.

Mai: [Crocodile tears] Aww... but I really want chips...

Doing this makes me feel so mean...

Minami: Anyway, I gotta go. See you later.

[Auto-move to Foyer]

Now I just have to get back to my room, hide the knife, and we're good!

Well... not good, but...

[Move to Green Hallway]

[Move to Minami's Room]

[OST: Welcome to Despair Academy]

Right... I need to stash this knife somewhere...

[Examine Cabinet]

It should be fine in here...

...

OK. Hidden. Now then...

Maybe I should quickly check in on Tooru...

[There is a beeping noise as the TV turns on.]

[OST: Mr. Monokuma's Extracurricular Lesson]

[We see Tooru chained to a chair in an empty glass tank. He is utterly and completely terrified beyond belief, and is bruised and bloody. Monokuma is doing a voiceover.]

Tooru: Minami... please be OK...

Minami: I am, bro... I'm OK... And you will be too, soon...

Tooru: Please... don't kill anyone, Minami...

Minami: What? How could you possibly know!? Monokuma said you couldn't see or hear me!

Monokuma: Upupupu... I told him, of course!

Minami: You... you what!?

Monokuma: I thought he should know how terrible a human being his sister is!

I'm such a good bear! Always doing the right thing!l

Tooru: Please, Minami... I'm not worth it...

Minami: Shut up! Yes, you are!

Monokuma: So what will it be, Minami? Your brother... or some bastard you've known for less than a week?

I look forward to your decision! Upupupu...

Gyahahahahahaha!

[The screen goes blank. Fade to black.]

[OST: Welcome to Despair Academy]

[Fade in to Minami's Room.]

I... I...

What do I do...? Tooru...

I'm... I'm sorry...

I can't do it... I can't kill anyone...

[OST: None]

[There is a loud knocking at the door.]

Huh?

...Oh. It's just the door.

Who's looking for me, I wonder...

[Examine Door]

Fujihara: [Surprised] Minami! You're alright!

Minami: So? Is that such a big deal?

Fujihara: [Explaining] Washio came to our group. She said you'd gone missing after you went to get water.

[Sighing] We thought something serious had happened to you...

Minami: ...Well, I'm alright now.

Fujihara: Are you sure?

Minami: I wasn't before. But... I'm OK now.

Fujihara: [Smiling] Alright. But you know you can talk to us at any time, OK?

I really am lucky... that everyone's so nice.

[OST: Beautiful Dead]

Fujihara: Come on. Hagino wants everyone to meet up in the Cafeteria and discuss ideas.

Minami: ...Yeah. OK, let's go then.

[Auto-move to Green Hallway]

[Move to Foyer]

[Move to Cafeteria]

[We see the students gathered around a table.]

Matsuoka: OK! Does anyone have any ideas?

[Back to Cafeteria]

Junpei: [Biting thumbnail] W-well... Our group went looking for them. You know... t-try and see if they were anywhere in the building.

Degawa: [Irritated] Waste a goddamn time if ever I saw one. The bear ain't stupid enough to give us a gift-wrapped chance like that.

Takanashi: [Smiling] At the time, it looked like a good idea, though.

...

[Biting brush] That's it...

Matsuoka: [Sighing] So our group's plan was a bit of a bust. Anyone else want to say something?

Mai: [Cheerful] Pick me! Pick me!

Hagino: [Gentle smile] Mai?

Mai: [Tilted head] Weeeeeeeeeeell...

[Cheerful] WeweregonnahavealotterytodecidewhohastomurderwhobutitwassupercreepyintheendandIdidn'tlikeitsowestopped!

Chiba: [Exasperated] Mind saying that again in slow motion?

Fujihara: Basically, we were thinking we could pull a name out of a hat to see who should be killed...

[Nervous smile] But as you can guess, it got a bit morbid, so we decided against it.

Okazaki: [Frowning] So, like, nothing from us, either.

Hagino: [Serious] Ah well. It can't be helped.

[Explaining] My group tried to think of ways the prisoners could escape.

Urayama: [Arms folded] Unfortunately for us, it failed on two accounts.

Noguchi: [Smirk] Not surprising, given who made the plan. How did it fail?

Tamura: [Cracking knuckles] First off, ya can't say things like that when ya been doin' jack shit ta help us, OK?

[Looking away] Anyway... first problem was that Mono's got 'em tied up real tight. Chains an' everythin'.

Chiba: [Bored] The other problem was that they can't see or hear us. So even if we did figure out a way to escape...

[Shrugging] ...there's no way to show them.

Hagino: That leaves one group.

[Gentle smile] Akutagawa? How did your team fare?

Akutagawa: [Grinning confidentally] Our initial plan was to rush Monokuma, and overthrow him!

Muramoto: T'was hampered by the bear's insidious law, however.

Matsuoka: Anything else?

Washio: [Looking away] Well, um... we would have...

But... Minami left us behind, so, um, yeah...

Hagino: [Irritated] ...Minami?

Here we go. Time to think up a good lie...

Minami: I'm sorry, I... I had to check Mono-TV. I was worried that my brother...

Hagino: ...

[Gentle smile] Well... I suppose that's alright, then.

You didn't have to hide it, you know.

Minami: I know... I'm sorry, guys.

Muramoto: T'is no matter.

[OST: None]

Monokuma: DING DONG DING DONG!

[We see Monokuma on a TV screen, lounging in a chair comfortably, as he sips a banana daiquiri through a silly straw.]

Monokuma: Attention all students! It's 10 o'clock, which means Nighttime has officially started!

All water systems will be turned off, and the cafeteria will be locked.

Good night, sleep tight! Don't let the murderer bite!

[The screen blinks off. We see the Cafeteria.]

Matsuoka: [Eyes shut] ...

We haven't thought of anything yet.

...

Everyone's so quiet...

I mean, I'm not surprised, but still...

Matsuoka: We have until around midday tomorrow, I think...

Try and think of something tonight, OK, everyone?

Washio: [Leaving] ...Um, good night...

Fujihara: [Leaving] ...Yeah, see you all tomorrow...

Chiba: [Leaving] ...Maybe I'll sleep in a little...

...We couldn't think of anything...

I... I don't know what to do now...

...I need to sleep...

[Auto-move to Foyer]

[Move to Green Hallway]

[Move to Minami's Room]

[Examine Bed]

Tooru... I'm so sorry I couldn't do it...

I'm sorry I couldn't... save you...

[Fade to black.]

MONOKUMA THEATRE

[OST: Mr. Monokuma's Lesson]

Monokuma: You know what I've always loved? Bottled water!

It's so silly when you think about it.

When you buy a bottle, you're giving away imaginary numbers on a piece of paper for something you need to survive?

It really doesn't make any sense!

Maybe I should start selling bottled despair. After all, you bastards clearly can't just abandon your despair. You're always miserable!

If I do that, though, I have to charge a fee. And that fee makes you more despairing. So I have to charge a fee again.

Economics is confusing!

[OST: None]

Monokuma: DING DONG DING DONG!

[We see Monokuma on a TV screen, lounging in a chair comfortably, as he sips a glass of red wine through a silly straw.]

Monokuma: Good morning, class!

This is your amazing principal Monokuma letting you know it's 7 o'clock! Nighttime's over!

Which means it's time to get out of bed and stop being a lazy bastard!

[The screen blinks off. We see Minami's Room.]

Ugh... I didn't get a wink of sleep...

I should probably check Mono-TV...

[There is a beeping noise as the TV turns on.]

[We see an empty chair. Resting on it is a sign reading, "That's All Folks!", with an image of a grinning Monokuma.]

Huh? Where's Tooru?

[The screen goes black. Fade into Minami's Room.]

So... does that mean...?

...No. It hasn't been forty-eight hours yet...

[There is a loud knocking at the door.]

Ugh... Hagino's sent someone already, I see...

[Examine Door]

Fujihara: [Smiling] Good morning, Minami!

Minami: Hey, Fujihara.

Fujihara: [Stroking chin] I was told to get you to the meeting a little early. Come on.

Minami: Right, right...

[Auto-move to Green Hallway]

[Auto-move to Foyer]

[Auto-move to Cafeteria]

[OST: Beautiful Dead]

Hagino: [Gentle smile] Ah, Minami. Good to see you.

Matsuoka: Not everyone's here yet, so feel free to relax a little.

Minami: Right...

I'm guessing they're waiting until everyone's here before they talk about the hostages disappearing...

One by one, people began to file in.

Urayama: [Rubbing eyes] Good morning, all.

Mai: [Cheerful] Hiiiiiii everyone!

Tamura: [Grinning] What's happenin', guys?

Everyone seems a bit more upbeat...

I suppose they're happy that their loved ones aren't trapped.

Akutagawa: [Striking pose] Hello, team!

Muramoto: Good morrow.

I wonder... why did Monokuma let everyone go?

Noguchi: [Serious] ...Morning.

Takanashi: Is everyone doing OK?

[OST: None]

???: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

Matsuoka: [Deadly serious] ...What was that?

Tamura: [Nervous] It sounded like someone screamin'...

Just then, Chiba burst into the cafeteria.

He was pale, clammy... He looked like he'd seen a ghost...

Or worse...

Hagino: [Serious] Chiba? What's wrong?

Chiba: [Sweating] In... In the hallway... S-so much...

[OST: Tropical Despair]

Chiba: [Panicking] There's blood everywhere!

Fujihara: [Surprised] What? You mean... in the Green Hallway!?

Akutagawa: [Tense] This cannot be!

Tamura: [Angry] Fuck! We need ta get over there now!

Matsuoka: [Commanding] Minami! Fujihara! Tamura! With me! The rest of you stay here!

Chiba! Where did you say this blood was?

Chiba: [Sweating] F-follow me!

[Auto-move to Foyer]

[Auto-move to Green Hallway]

[Before, we could only see a brief section of the hallway. With the new perspective, we see what has happened. Blood is spattered over the door to the Medical Room, slightly ajar, which is past all the students' rooms. A trail leads from the Medical Room to Degawa's room, which is the furthest door from the Foyer.]

Tamura: [Shaken] Motherfucker!

Fujihara: [Surprised] O-oh my God! What the hell happened here!?

Minami: We have to do something!

Matsuoka: [Pointing] The Medical Room! Now!

[Fade to black.]

[OST: None]

As we all rushed to that bloodstained door, I still had the faintest twinge of hope.

A tiny voice that was desperately trying to say everything would be alright.

"Maybe it's just a blood nose! Maybe someone has a bad cold and is resting in the Medical Room!"

...

When we finally broke open the door, that voice of hope disappeared.

[OST: Despair Pollution Noise Music]

[We see the Ultimate Agriculturalist, Yuina Degawa, collapsed and contorted on the bed, with blood staining her hair and face. Several first-aid kits have been opened, and the contents scattered all over the place. Degawa has a pained expression frozen on her pale face.]

[Fade to black.]

I don't know why I ever expected anything else to happen.