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

Oh, and one more quick thing, for those of you reading along with the soundtrack. In the OST, there are two songs called "Despair-Syndrome" and "Despair Syndrome". The hyphenated one is the one with drums, the one with the space is the creepy violin song.

Speaking of Free Time, I need to explain something about it quickly at the end of the chapter.

The winners for Free Time this chapter were Junpei, Washio, and Noguchi.

Sorry for the delay. I'm kind of juggling a lot of things in my life right now, so don't expect a regular release schedule.

Chapter Text

CHAPTER ONE: DANGER, DESTRUCTION AND LIBERATION

ABNORMAL DAYS

[Black screen]

I know the standard cliche is for people to say, "I slept restlessly that night..." in a situation like this...

But the truth is...

I slept like a log.

After everything that had happened the day before, all that chaos, I just collapsed.

I could have slept for years if I was given the chance.

Unfortunately, though... I wasn't.

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... Could that bear have picked a more obnoxious alarm call?

...So... It wasn't a bad dream... I'm really here.

...That's right. Last night, we agreed to all meet up at 7:30, didn't we?

That is, if we're all still here...

...

If it's at 7:30... then that gives me time for a shower, at least...

[OST: Welcome to Despair Academy]

[Move to Minami's Bathroom]

[Examine Shower]

Maybe after a shower I'll feel a bit more active...

[Fade to black. We hear the sound of running water.]

...

I wonder...

How long have I been in here?

Maybe I should get out...

[Fade-in to Minami's Bathroom. The sound of running water stops.]

[Move to Minami's Room]

[Move to Green Hallway]

[OST: Beautiful Morning]

Fujihara: [Startled] Minami!

[Sighing] Oh, thank God, you're OK.

Minami: Huh? What do you mean?

Fujihara: [Exasperated] It's quarter to eight! We thought you might be... you know...

Minami: Dead?

Fujihara: [Sighing] Yeah... dead. But enough about that...

[Smiling] Your breakfast's getting cold. Let's hurry back.

Minami: Breakfast?

Fujihara: [Scratching chin] Yeah, Degawa cooked fish for everyone.

[Smiling] Honestly, it was really nice, so we really ought to get back quickly. Unless you want it to go cold, that is.

She cooked for everyone, huh?

From what I've seen of her so far...

I'm a little surprised, to be honest...

Minami: ...Yeah, you're right. Let's go.

Fujihara: Lead the way, boss.

[Move to Foyer]

[The foyer has been repainted. The side with the double white doors has been given a black coat of paint, on every surface other than said doors. Where the statue of Jin Kirigiri stood before, there is now a sculpture of Monokuma, performing the same pose.]

Minami: Huh? What the hell happened here?

Fujihara: [Sighing] Monokuma... redecorated. Or, at least, that's what he said before...

Minami: Before?

Fujihara: Yeah, while we were all waiting for you.

[Chuckling] You should have heard Urayama ranting.

[Angry] "How dare you! This statue is an affront to sculpture, art and reality itself!"

[Neutral] Good stuff.

...Maybe I shouldn't be late in the future...

I might miss important things like this.

Fujihara: [Smiling] Never mind that now. Let's show the others you're OK.

Minami: Right.

[Auto-move to Cafeteria]

Matsuoka: [Smiling] Ah, Minami! Good morning.

Minami: Morning, Matsuoka.

Mai: [Cutesy pose] Looks like SOMEONE'S a bit of a sleepyhead!

Hagino: [Gentle smile] In all seriousness, you had us worried for a while there.

[Serious] In future, do not be late.

Minami: O...OK...

That was surprisingly stern...

Hagino: [Frowning] "Stern", hm?

Eep!

Fujihara: [Serious] OK, now that we're all here... I wanted to make an announcement.

[Camera out] I think we should keep a record of events.

Urayama: [Contemplative] Not a bad idea, to be honest...

Okazaki: [Winking] As long as you get my good side!

Muramoto: Indeed, t'will be good to see how our tale unfolds...

Fujihara: [Looking through camera] OK, everyone... Action!

This is Day One of staying in Mono-Tower!

Akutagawa: [Pointing] First order of business! I am happy to note that none of us were murdered in the middle of the night!

Chiba: [Exasperated] ...That's not a sentence you hear everyday.

Takanashi: [Smiling] But it's a good thing to hear nevertheless.

I mean... it means none of us took Monokuma's offer, right?

Noguchi: [Smirk] Please. The only reason there hasn't been a murder is that no one's come up with a plan to get away with it yet.

Stop being so naive, and accept that the deaths of your so-called friends are inevitable.

Washio: [In tears] You... you can't mean that...

Tamura: [Cracking knuckles] 'At's it, I'm givin' bird boy a broken jaw.

Muramoto: Tamura, calm yourself. The fiend is trying to worm under your skin. Deny him the pleasure of a reaction.

Tamura: [Angry] ...

[Looking away] Hmph! Ya got lucky this time, ya bastard...

Degawa: [Off-screen] Hey, has Minami shown up yet?

Minami: Huh? Degawa? Yeah, I'm here. What's up?

Degawa: [Annoyed] Y'all took yer sweet everlovin' time, didn't you? Yer fish went so cold, I was scared it'd try an' swim away again!

[Looking away] I went 'head an' re-heated it fer ya, but don't y'all 'xpect me to do anythin' like that again, OK?

Minami: Oh! Uh... thanks, Degawa.

Should I eat it? It could be poisoned...

Degawa: [Irritated] Huh? After all that, ya ain't gonna eat it? City bitch...

Minami: Hey! I just want to be safe!

Degawa: [Angry] Aw, fer the love of... It ain't poisoned! Everyone else had a piece, even that chicken-shit Enoshima!

Junpei: [Biting thumbnail] ...I asked you guys to call me Junpei...

Um... I guess I should try it...

...

Minami: Hey... This isn't half-bad!

Degawa: [Irritated] Course it ain't half-bad! That there's country-style fish, done by a real country cook!

Parta bein' a farmer is knowin' how to cook yer crops the right way!

Matsuoka: [Smiling] Which neatly leads into something I wanted to mention.

Minami, you remember Degawa and I talked last night?

Well, she's agreed to be the 'team chef', so to speak.

Mai: [Cheerful] Which is good, 'cause her food is DEEEEEEEE-LICIOUS!

[Waving] Thanks for breakfast, Yuiwa!

Matsuoka: [Serious] In any case, you're all free to go do whatever.

[Leaving] See you all tomorrow morning...

Degawa: [Leaving] I'm takin' a lie-down fer a bit... see y'all tomorrow...

Urayama: [Leaving] Not much point in hanging around here, I suppose...

[OST: None]

Everyone's heading off...

Maybe I should hang out with someone. If nothing else...

They'll be less likely to want to kill me...

...No! I can't think like that! Everything's gonna be great! There won't be any murders!

...I hope...

[OST: Beautiful Days (Piano Arrange)]

[Move to Foyer]

[Move to Yellow Hallway]

[Move to Laundry Room]

[Talk to Junpei]

Junpei: [Smiling] Oh, Minami, it's you. Good to see you.

[Thinking] I'm just trying to figure out this stupid washing machine...

Minami: Don't you just tap your ElectroID?

Junpei: [Surprised] Huh? Oh, yeah, that's right... I forgot...

[A small beep is heard.]

Junpei: [Sighing] ...And now I gotta wait for this to finish. Fun.

[Smiling] Hey, since I got nothing else to do... do you wanna talk or anything?

[Biting thumbnail] I mean, I know I'm not that interesting...

Should I hang out with Junpei?

-> YES

NO

Minami: Sure, I can talk right now.

Junpei: [Cheerful] You will? Really? Great!

Minami: What did you want to talk about?

Junpei: [Biting thumbnail] Well... Uh... I think my Ultimate Talent is wrong. I'm the most unlucky guy in the universe.

Minami: Huh? In what way?

Junpei: [Thinking] Well... let me tell you a story to help you understand.

[Neutral] This one time, I wanted to catch the train to a friend's house, right? But it was peak hour.

[Explaining] So I got in line for the ticket machine and waited about ten minutes.

[Biting thumbnail] Problem is, when I got to the front, I realised I didn't have the right amount of money.

So I had to go to the kiosk...

[Sighing] ...buy something to get the right amount of change...

...and wait in line again. And after all that...

[Exasperated] ...the machine ate my money! Can you believe that?

Minami: You really didn't have the best luck in that situation, did you?

Junpei: [Neutral] I don't have the best luck in general, Minami.

As a matter of fact, last year, when I did the History exam...

The school lost my exam, and I had to resit it.

Minami: That doesn't sound TOO bad...

Junpei: [Sighing] Then when I turned in the new one, they lost that one too. And the one after that.

I had to do the same exam six times.

Minami: Well...

Junpei: [Exasperated] And that was the third year in a row they lost my History exam...

...OK, I'm starting to see what he means by unlucky...

[OST: When You Wish For Execution...]

Junpei: [Looking away] I mean... even now, right? I'm still unlucky.

Even when I was supposed to be at my luckiest...

Getting into Hope's Peak Academy by sheer luck-of-the-draw...

I'm dragged into this mess...

...

Minami: Is something up, Junpei? You're really quiet all of a sudden.

Junpei: [Startled] Huh? Oh... I mean...

[Biting thumbnail] Why me, you know? I just don't get it.

I'm not talented, I'm not interesting, I'm not even a little quirky or anything.

That last one's a little debatable, but never mind...

Junpei: I mean... it can't JUST be bad luck, can it? There has to be something else going on...

Fate or something, you know...

Minami: ...

Maybe your last name has something to do with it?

Junpei: [Startled] Huh? N-no way!

[Angry] I told you! I'm not from that Enoshima family! I-I even asked the others not to call me Enoshima! But they still do!

Minami: OK, OK! I didn't mean it like that, Junpei! I was just guessing!

Junpei: ...

[Biting thumbnail] Y-yeah... I guess... I just... I'm not like she was at all...

Wait...

...what did he say just now?

[A beeping noise is heard.]

Junpei: [Startled] Ah! What was that!?

[Sighing] Oh... just the washing machine. Looks like I'm done here.

[Smiling] Well, see you around, I guess...

And thanks for not calling me Enoshima. It means a lot to me.

Minami: Uh... sure. No problem.

Junpei: [Leaving] OK, bye...

[OST: None]

And he's gone.

Damn... I really touched a nerve back there...

Next time I see him, I better apologise...

...

This laundry room is still really boring. I'm gonna go rest for a bit.

[Fade to black.]

[OST: Welcome to Despair Academy]

[Fade in to Minami's Room.]

Hmm... There's still a lot of time left in the day...

Maybe I ought to go hang out with someone else.

[Move to Green Hallway]

[OST: Beautiful Ruin]

[Move to Foyer]

[Move to Cafeteria]

[Talk to Washio]

Minami: Hey, Washio.

Washio: [Eyes averted] ...O-oh. It's... you, Minami...

So, um... Why is someone like you... talking to, um... someone like me? I mean...

Minami: You looked lonely. I thought you wanted some company.

Washio: [Reluctantly looking up] ...Really? I mean...

You want to... talk... with me?

Should I talk with Washio?

-> YES

NO

Minami: Of course I do, Washio. You're a nice person.

Washio: [Eyes averted] Um... alright... If you say so, I guess...

Um... so... what do you want to talk about?

Minami: Hmm... What's it like being a radio host?

Washio: [Reluctantly looking up] Well... uh... It's pretty good...

I mean... I can talk to people a lot better... when I'm on air... compared to face-to-face...

Minami: Really? It doesn't throw you off at all that everyone can hear you?

Washio: [Eyes averted] Well... um... I just don't like people, uh... looking at me, you know?

When I'm on air... I don't have to worry...

Minami: ...Pretend I'm not here for a second, and try talking.

Washio: [Surprised] Huh? You mean... talk like you aren't looking at me?

[Looking away] But... um... you're throwing me off a bit...

Minami: Just give it a shot! You can do it!

Washio: [Looking away] Um... what should I say, then?

Minami: Just do your normal intro to your show. I hear it all the time. Let's go!

Washio: [Reluctantly looking up] Well, um, OK...

[Eyes closed] ...

[OST: Miss Monomi's Practice Lesson]

Washio: [Smiling confidently] Hey, all you music lovers out there! This is Pop Star, 93.5 FM, bringing you the Washio Show!

I'm Tsutsuji Washio, and I'll be your host for the next hour! So I hope you're all ready for some kickass tunes!

[Pointing] And don't forget our weekly phone quiz! Answer seven questions correctly, and you can win 100,000 yen! Stay tuned for more details!

Minami: Washio... That was incredible! Just like on the radio!

Washio: [Blushing slightly, smiling] You... really think it sounded OK?

Minami: Better than OK, Washio! That was seriously cool!

Washio: ...Thanks, Minami...

[OST: Despair Syndrome]

Washio: [Looking away] But, um... you don't have to lie...

...I know it wasn't that good...

Minami: Huh? What are you talking about, Washio? That was genuinely good!

Washio: [Eyes averted] ...I spent too long on the quiz section... I should have spent more time on the songs...

Minami: ...Washio, no one would ever notice something like that.

Washio: [Reluctantly looking up] ...I would... and, um... besides that...

...people are, uh... more aware than... than you might think...

Huh? What does she mean?

Minami: ...Hey, are you feeling OK? Everything alright?

Washio: [Eyes averted] ...Um... I mean...

...

Yeah, I'm OK... uh...

I'm gonna go now... I'm tired... OK, Minami?

Minami: Huh? Sure. Yeah, that's fine.

Washio: [Eyes averted] Just, um... thanks for, uh... talking to me...

[Leaving] So, bye, I guess...

[OST: None]

...I should keep an eye on her. She seems really down about something...

...What did she mean by "more aware than you think"?

Anyway, not much point in hanging around here anymore...

I'll go take a catnap, I guess...

[Fade to black.]

[OST: Welcome to Despair Academy]

[Fade in to Minami's Room.]

Well... there's still a bit of time left in the day...

Maybe I should hang out with someone for a bit...

[Move to Green Hallway]

[OST: Beautiful Ruin [Summer Salt])

[Move to Medical Room]

[Talk to Noguchi]

Minami: Hey, Noguchi. What are you doing over here?

Noguchi: [Irritated] ...

Minami: I said, what are you doing?

Noguchi: ...

Minami: ...

Noguchi: [Sighing] You're not going to leave until I say something, are you?

Minami: Nope.

Noguchi: [Looking away] I despise you so much.

[Neutral] If you must know, I'm looking for poisons.

I spotted some before when we found you unconscious here, and I thought they could be useful to me.

Minami: ...You're going to try and kill someone, aren't you?

Noguchi: For a chance to go free? Of course I am. After all...

[Smirk] ...it isn't as though I have anything to lose, is it?

[Irritated] There, you have your answer. Now will you leave?

Hmm... if he's planning a murder, maybe I ought to keep an eye on him...

Should I stay here and ruin Noguchi's day?

-> YES

NO

Minami: Actually, I feel like hanging out here for a while. Let's have a nice conversation.

Noguchi: [Glaring] Insufferable girl...

Minami: Tell me about falconry.

Noguchi: [Irritated] Why should I tell you anything?

Minami: Because otherwise, I'll let everyone know that you're going to poison someone.

And I have a feeling they won't be happy about it. In fact...

I think someone might just want to get you first...

This is a pretty big bluff.

He better fall for it...

Noguchi: [Shaken] ...

[OST: When You Wish For Execution...]

Noguchi: [Irritated] Fine. You want to talk, we'll talk.

Whew... That was close...

Minami: So, you would have a pet bird, right?

Noguchi: [Irritated] A pet bird? Don't deride Hayabusa like that.

Minami: Hayabusa?

Noguchi: [Smirk] My peregrine falcon. I hand-reared him to be the best at every form of competition.

Minami: ...And how long did that take?

Noguchi: [Serious] Two years. And it was worth every second.

Hayabusa is the fastest and most agile bird in Japan. And that's the way it should be.

[Smirk] He is, after all, my companion.

Wow... I didn't expect someone like Noguchi to care so much about his animals...

Minami: So... how many birds have you had?

Noguchi: [Serious] In all? Around five. Hayabusa is my most successful - I have won the most competitions with him.

[Disgusted] But my first bird? Aki? An utter disgrace by my standards. I can't believe I ever accepted such a talentless creature.

Minami: Huh? But he was your bird, right?

Noguchi: He was my pet. Not my bird. "Bird" implies a modicum of dignity, whereas Aki had none.

If I was ever forced to compete with Aki in the calibre of competitions I do these days...

[Smirk] ...I would cover the bait in rat poison first. Spare him the crushing defeat.

My only regret would be that he didn't die more painfully.

OK, clearly I was wrong. He really is that big a bastard.

Minami: How... how could you say something so utterly heartless?

Noguchi: [Smirk] I think the more important question is, why do you care so much?

He wasn't your pet.

Minami: You... sicken me.

Noguchi: [Serious] And you bore me. Clearly we are in mutual disrespect.

If you're not going to leave me alone, then I'll just leave you alone instead.

Minami: You're an utter scumbag, you know that?

Noguchi: [Leaving] I hope someone kills you, you insufferable girl...

[OST: None]

Minami: Keep walking, prick!

I think... he's the only person here I wouldn't mind seeing dead...

...

No! I can't think like that!

...Can I?

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 Medical Room.]

10 o'clock already? I completely lost track of time...

I should probably go to bed now...

[Auto-move to Green Hallway]

[OST: Junk Food for a Dashing Youth]

Degawa: [Angry] I thought I told y'all not ta make fun a my accent!

Chiba: [Angry] It was a joke! Lighten up!

Fujihara: [Nervous smile] Now, now, guys, let's not get too ahead of ourselves...

Degawa: [Pointing] Shut the fuck up, camera boy! Y'all ain't gonna step inta this'n!

Chiba: [Angry] Why don't you take some anger management classes, cowgirl?

What the hell's going on here?

Fujihara: [Nervous] Minami! Help me out here!

Minami: What the hell happened?

Degawa: [Angry] S'if YOU care, city bitch!

Chiba: [Pointing] Don't call her a bitch, you bitch!

Degawa: [Angry] Ya wanna fight me!?

Mai: [Shouting] EVERYONE STOP SHOUTING RIGHT NOOOOW!

[OST: None]

Degawa: [Surprised] ...

Chiba: [Exasperated] ...

Fujihara: [Shocked] ...

Minami: ...

Mai: [Serious] ...

[Cheerful] Kay, thanks! We could hear you aaaaaaaall the way over in the yellow hallway!

That's great, Mai, but after that scream, I don't think any of us can ever hear anything again...

Fujihara: [Sighing] Why were you guys even fighting to begin with?

Chiba: [Looking away] ...It's my fault. I made a joke that was in pretty bad taste.

[Shrugging] Sorry, Degawa.

Degawa: [Irritated] Hmph! Yer lucky I don't wanna fight no more, or you'd be deader'n a doornail...

[OST: Mr. Monokuma's Lesson]

Monokuma: [Chuckling] Man! Tensions sure are high, aren't they?

I wonder what'll happen first... Will Chiba kill Degawa, or vice versa?

Mai: [Mock anger] Neither, you creepy bear! Nobody's getting hurt!

Fujihara: [Nervous smile] Exactly! We're all gonna be fine!

Monokuma: [Belly laugh] Gyahahahahahahaha! That was so funny I didn't even "upupu" before I "gyahaha"-ed!

...Could he have phrased that any worse?

Monokuma: [White side] As your principal, let me inform you that I've trapped countless other classes in a School Life of Mutual Killing.

[Black side] There has never ever been a class with no murders. Never. Ever.

And we're talking classes far better than you bastards will ever be!

[Neutral] Trust me on this, I'm always right about despair.

Minami: ...Then we'll just have to prove you wrong, won't we?

Monokuma: ...

[OST: Despair-Syndrome]

Monokuma: I like you...

Minami: Huh?

Monokuma: People like you who have so much determination and resilience...

Who think they can stand against the never-ending tide of despair...

Real protagonistic people, I mean...

[OST: Mr. Monokuma's Lesson]

Monokuma: [Laughing] You're always the most fun to break! Upupupu...

[Belly laugh] Gyahahahahahaha!

Degawa: [Angry] Just fuck off already!

Monokuma: [Sweating] Ah! No! Don't let the farmer's daughter hurt me!

Degawa: [Angry] What'd ya just call me!?

Monokuma: Gotta go!

[OST: None]

...

Why does he always pull that disappearing act?

Fujihara: [Thinking] ...

[Smiling] Maybe we should all get some sleep.

Chiba: [Sighing] Yeah... That's probably a good idea...

Degawa: [Sad] ...

[Leaving] See y'all tomorrow, then...

Mai: [Nervous] Don't do anything scary like that again, OK?

[Leaving] ...Kay! See you all tomorrow! It's gonna be great!

Minami: Yeah, I gotta go too...

Good night, everyone...

[Auto-move to Minami's Room]

[OST: Welcome to Despair Academy]

[Examine Bed]

...I'm more tired than I thought...

...

Maybe things will be better tomorrow...

...

Somehow, I doubt it...

[Fade to black.]

MONOKUMA THEATRE

[OST: Mr. Monokuma's Lesson]

Monokuma: You know the one thing I never understood about humans?

It's all the excuses you bastards make!

You know, like, "I had a test for another subject, so I didn't do the homework!"

Or, "I've been on holiday, so I put on a bit of weight!"

Or my personal favourite, "He bullied me and made fun of me, so I murdered him!"

Wouldn't it be so much easier just to admit you're a waste of oxygen and move on?