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

In any case! Please enjoy!

As this is a chapter for exploring a new floor, it's longer than my usual fare (around 7000 words). I suggest sitting back on a comfortable sofa as you read!

Oh, man, I have had a blast writing this. Even if it's just an exploration chapter with a short FTE at the end, getting back into the groove of writing, editing, checking things over... it's like coming home to an old friend.

My exam results are back, I'm on holiday, and this insane year is finally drawing to a close, so here's the start of the next chapter!

Chapter Text

[OST: Re: Despair Syndrome]

[We fade into what at first glance appears to be the Courtroom, but on second glance is more ethereal. While the circle of stands is still present, the walls and floor are gone, replaced with a swirling darkness that occasionally flashes with lightning. As the camera hangs overhead, we see Minami behind her usual stand, confronted by four shadowed figures spread behind the stands.]

Minami: [Confused] W-what...? Where... is this...?

...It looks like the Courtroom, but...

...Who's on trial...? I only see me here...

???: There's a reason for that, Minami.

This is... your trial.

Minami: My...?

[Horrified] No. Oh, no. Oh, please, no.

???: Did you think that you could escape consequence, classmate Minami?

Minami: [Screaming] D-don't do this to me!

???: Y'all ain't about ter make us feel sorry for yer. Not after all y'all done.

Minami: [Hugging herself, sweating] P-please, I didn't...

Degawa: [Angry] Y'didn't what? Didn't wanna get yer fat ass up ter save me?

[Furious] I died in the hallway outside yer room. Y'all coulda come an' saved me. But yer too damn selfish.

Minami: [Horrified] Th-the rooms are soundproofed... There was no way for me to hear you die...!

[Hugging herself, sweating] I... I'm sorry, I...

Fujihara: [Nervous smile] Oh, did you hear that, everyone? She's sorry she killed us through inaction.

Minami: [Defensive, crying] N-no! Fujihara... You killed yourself when you committed murder!

Fujihara: [Hurt] And you exposed it. Sent me to my death.

I asked you to help me. Remember that? I begged for you to save me, before I died.

[Snarling] And you didn't. You only ever think of yourself, don't you?

Minami: [Horrified] I...

Akutagawa: [Teeth gritted] Indeed! Because of you, Tsutsuji is totally alone in the world!

Minami: [Defensive, crying] A-Akutagawa! Y-you wanted to die...!

Akutagawa: [Pointing passionately] That may be the case. But where were you, to comfort Tsutsuji?

Where were you, to tell her it would all be alright?

[Fists clenched, frowning] Retreating into yourself to hide like a coward!

Minami: [Hugging self, crying] I... I...

Matsuoka: [Accusatory] I trusted you, Hanako.

Minami: K-Kentaro...!

Matsuoka: [Weary smile] You know, for one brief and wonderful moment, I thought you could save me.

Stop me from going insane.

[Getting enraged] And you didn't even try to help.

Minami: [Clutching head, crying] P-please... I didn't m-mean to...

Degawa: [Spitting] Why're we even still liss'ning to this cow?

She ain't ever gonn care about anyone but her own cattle-russlin' lil' self!

Akutagawa: [Grimacing, flexing bicep] Yes, this is true! Classmate Minami, truly the worst of the worst!

Fujihara: [Smiling spitefully] Condemning everyone to a miserable death, and only ever thinking of herself...

That's the Minami way.

Matsuoka: [Accusatory] You betrayed us, Hanako. You betrayed all of us.

For those crimes...

[Cut to a closeup of Matsuoka, his face and left hand in full view on the dark and chaotic background. His left eye gleams a horrifying scarlet, and his lips have contorted into a frightening, snarling half-smile. Erupting from his fingers are a set of five vicious claws.]

[OST: Tropical Despair]

Matsuoka: Iiiiiiit's PUNISHMENT TIME!

Minami: No! Please, no! I'm sorry! I didn't want this! PLEASE GOD NO!

[There is a flash of hot pink. Cut instantly to Minami sitting up straight in bed, panting heavily, and with sweat dripping down her face. Her eyes are watering slightly with tears.]

[OST: None]

Minami: Agh!

...

...It was just a nightmare...

It seemed that all my dreams were turning out this way...

And I wasn't exactly hoping for any improvement.

Honestly, at that point...

...all I wanted to do was give up.

CHAPTER 3: HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING AND LOVE THE BEAR



ABNORMAL DAYS

[Cut to a darkened version of Minami's Room.]

...If the lights are low, I'm guessing I woke up early for once.

Screw it. I'm not letting that goddamn bear wake me up with that awful message. Not today.

I'll try and get to the Cafeteria early, and make some breakfast for everyone.

That'll show I care about everyone else... right?

[OST: Welcome to Despair Academy]

[Examine Bathroom Door]

Given how long I spent in that shower yesterday, I don't think I need one this morning...

[Move to Green Hallway]

...This place is definitely much scarier at nighttime...

[Move to Foyer]

Okazaki: [Neutral] Oh, hey, Minami! Like, you're up early!

Minami: I couldn't sleep at all. You?

Okazaki: [Sad] Oh, um... well, I had a few, like, nightmares...

...because of, like, yesterday...

[Excited] But, I'm up early, like, for something totally different!

Minami: Oh?

Okazaki: [Confident smile] Like, Matsuoka and Akutagawa were right! We gotta be strong and hopeful!

[Flashing peace sign] So, like, I'm gonna be extra nice to everyone today!

And then, like, no matter what that bear throws at us, it'll all be okay!

...Being extra nice? To fix a problem like this?

Kinda like using a band-aid to cover a battleaxe wound...

[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 brandy 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. Fade in to Foyer. The lights all flicker on.]

Okazaki: [Smiling] Ah, cool, we can, like, go in now!

If you need me, I'm, like, in the Kitchen!

Okazaki in the Kitchen... I should get a fire extinguisher ready.

...Goddamn it, I'm being such a bitch...

[Auto-move to Cafeteria]

Nobody's here, so I might as well wait around...

...

...That memorial in the corner is looking really appealing today...

[Examine Shrine]

[OST: Re: All All Apologies]

...Everyone, if you can hear me...

...I'm sorry.

All of your deaths... they were my fault.

I ignored you, or skimmed over you, selfishly...

...or I sent you to your deaths like a monster...

I... I don't even know what I'm talking about, but...

...Please forgive me...

[OST: None]

Hagino: [Concerned] I don't think you can be forgiven for something that isn't your fault, Minami.

Minami: H-Hagino! I...

Hagino: I can see your guilt, Minami. It's written on your face.

Please, don't forget that it was Monokuma who forced people to kill.

Not you.

Minami: ...Thank you.

Hagino: [Gentle smile] Ah, don't thank me just yet... I have something for you.

Let me put them on the shrine...

Huh...?

OST: Welcome to Despair Academy]

[We see the makeshift shrine. Sitting atop it, alongside the mementos of Degawa and Fujihara, are Matsuoka's reflective silver coat, and Akutagawa's whistle on a chain.]

...

Hagino: Minami? Are you feeling alright?

Minami: I... I'm fine...

...Sorry, I... I'm getting a little...

Hagino: I will add you to my prayers, Minami. They will know you are alright.

...Thank you, Hagino...

[Back to Cafeteria.]

[OST: Beautiful Ruin]

Tamura: [Toothy grin, excited] Yo, Shoko! I'm good ta go whenever ya want!

Hagino: [Gentle smile] Ah, good morning, Tamura.

Minami: Tamura, hi.

Tamura: [Speechless] Huh? Minami? You're up before noon! Somethin' fuck up your sleep cycle or whatever?

Minami: Yeah, something like that...

Hagino: [Neutral] Ah, Minami, would you mind giving us some space?

Tamura and I are about to begin prayer.

Minami: Oh! I... I didn't know you did that sort of thing, Tamura...

Tamura: [Flashing a thumbs-up] Most important part of the day, right?

Minami: Right, yeah... I'll go check on Okazaki in the Kitchen.

Tamura: [Grimacing] Okazaki's cookin'? Fuck, maybe I oughta pray for all our souls before we eat...

Hagino: [Frowning] Let's not be rude, Tamura...

I really didn't see Tamura as the religious type...

[Examine Kitchen Door]

Minami: Okazaki? I'm just checking up on you. Is everything...

...what in heaven's name...?

[OST: Miss Monomi's Practice Lesson]

[We see Okazaki wearing an apron, and covered in red and cream splotches of liquid, slaving away over a stove with a frypan. In the centre of the pan is a hopelessly-misshapen red pancake. Dirty pots, pans and utensils clutter the benchtop, where they have been used once and set down, and a positively gargantuan stack of pancakes sits atop a massive plate. Okazaki is surprised to see somebody entering the Kitchen.]

Okazaki: L-like, uh, Minami! Hi!

Minami: Okazaki...! What are you doing!?

Okazaki: Like, um... making strawberry pancakes...?

Minami: Strawberry pancakes...? The place looks like a crime scene!

Okazaki: H-hey, that's, like, a really bad comparison!

[Fade in to Kitchen.]

Okazaki: [Pouting] I mean, like, I'm just cooking! Is there, like, a rule against making pancakes?

Minami: What do you need all these pancakes for, anyway?

Okazaki: [Head tilted] Well, like, they're not for me!

They're for Washio!

Minami: For... Washio?

Okazaki: Like, I thought she might need something to cheer her up...

[Hopeful] ...so I've been here since, like, I dunno when, making her a big fat stack of pancakes!

[Excited] And, like, they're strawberry! The best kind!

Minami: Oh... okay, I get you...

I feel guilty for being mad at her now...

Okazaki: Like, here, you can be my tester! Try this piece!

Minami: Well, uh, okay, sure...

[OST: None]

...! Th-this is...

...the worst pancake I have ever tasted in my entire life...

Okazaki: [Hopeful] Like, she'll love it, right?

Minami: ...She'll appreciate the effort.

Okazaki: [Giggling] Yay! I, like, knew they'd be good!

If I was talking to anyone else in this tower, saying that wouldn't have worked...

Minami: Anyway... I think everyone is starting to arrive for the meeting now.

Do you wanna come out?

Okazaki: [Neutral] Like, sure! Gimme a sec!

[Auto-move to Cafeteria]

[OST: Beautiful Ruin]

By the time we left the Kitchen, everyone was indeed showing up.

Some were stoic...

Muramoto: [Hand on chin] T'is good to be out of bandages once more, though the circumstances which permit it be fraught with grief.

Urayama: [Contemplative] Hmm... I stayed up too late last night.

Some tried to force a smile...

Mai: [Cheerful] Let's make today super awesome, okay, everyone?

Chiba: [Furrowed brow, eyes shut] ...For Akutagawa, for Akutagawa...

[Smiling half-heartedly] ...Good morning, everyone. I'm good today...

And some still seemed troubled by yesterday.

Noguchi: [Shaken] ...

Takanashi: [Uncertain] Um... hello...

We were only waiting on two people.

One who we really wanted to see...

...and one we never wanted to see again.

The only one who arrived was the latter.

[OST: Re: Junk Food for a Dashing Youth]

Enoshima: [Beaming, left eye bruised and swollen] Ah, good morning, everyone! Or, perhaps that should be "good mourning".

Chiba: [Irritated] Even I thought that joke was in bad taste...

Hagino: [Angry, arms crossed] ...Get out.

Enoshima: [Chuckling softly] Hmm? None of you seem particularly happy to see me.

[Baring teeth] Is it because I lied to you all in the name of despair?

Or is it because you're angry you didn't find the truth sooner?

Urayama: [Running hand through hair] You know it's because of the former already, Junpei. Don't try to --

Enoshima: [Spiteful glare] Don't call me that! I already told you, I hate that name.

[Nostalgic daze] There's no power to it, no sense of might. No sense that the name-holder is important.

[Arms either side, grinning] Enoshima... that's the name I choose. The name that conveys the infinite power of despair.

Tamura: [Cracking knuckles] Ya want me ta make your eyes match, fuckface, you just keep talkin'.

Enoshima: [Chuckling softly] Oh, I'm so, very, deeply sorry. I promise, I'll be silent now.

[Looking away] After all, I wouldn't want to talk over my master, now, would I?

[OST: Mr. Monokuma's Lesson]

Monokuma: [Neutral] No you wouldn't! And that goes for all of you brats! I'm announcing something important!

Muramoto: [Hand on chin] Yet, not all of our band are present.

Monokuma: [Thinking] Eh? Who's missing?

Enoshima: [Cruel smile] The land whale isn't here.

Monokuma: [Chuckling] Oh, her! She was so unimportant that I totally forgot.

[Neutral] Oh well! She'll just have to miss the announcement. Now, then...

[Bashful] I'm beary proud of you all for continuing to thrive in these conditions!

I know it certainly can't be easy to live in a place while the fear of murder dangles over your heads!

Mai: [Mock anger] If you know, then let us out, you scary beary!

Monokuma: [Belly laugh] Why would I? I'm not forcing anyone to kill, you know!

You're the ones who impose this killing game on yourselves by wanting to go home!

[White side] Anyway... as a reward for your unmitigated success in yesterday's trial, I have opened up a new floor of the Mono-Tower for you.

[Neutral] The theme of this floor is "Study", which none of you lazy bastards do enough of.

[Both paws in the air] So go on, and explore the latest section of your home! I hope you like it! Upupupu!

[OST: None]

And he's gone.

...Another new part of the tower?

Urayama: [Running hand through hair] "Study"... interesting theme for a skyscraper such as this.

Takanashi: [Eyes shut, gripping brush tight] If we only get a new floor when someone dies... we really aren't ever going to see the bottom, are we...

Enoshima: [Enigmatic smile] Nonsense, Takanashi. All you have to do is murder someone, and you can go home.

Chiba: [Frowning] I'm leaving before I throw up from overexposure to Enoshima. See you all on the new floor.

Muramoto: [Leaving] T'is best for me to set off, as well.

Tamura: [Eyes burning, excited] Hey, ya think I'm lettin' ya get down there before me!? I'll race ya all!

Okazaki: [Smiling] Like, Minami, can you give me a hand with, like, the pancakes in a sec?

Minami: Uh... sure, no problem.

Okazaki: [Excited] Great! Like, I'll be in the kitchen!

It's not like I was planning to go explore the new floor or anything...

...Ugh. I'm thinking about myself again... damn it.

One by one, everyone left. Soon, the only person left in the Cafeteria was me...

Okazaki: [Holding stack of pancakes] Like, hey, Minami! Wanna, like, take the plate?

Minami: Sure, okay...

...Agh! It's heavy...

Not only did she make terrible pancakes, she made far too many...

[OST: Re: Beautiful Morning]

Okazaki: [Excited] Like, okay! To Washio's room!

[Move through: Foyer -> Blue Hallway]

[Examine Washio's Door]

Okazaki: [Hopeful] Washio? Like, you wanna come out for a bit...?

[We see Washio peering through the door with tear-stained eyes, cracked open a fraction.]

Washio: ...Okazaki...

...and, um, Minami, too...

What do you, uh... what do you want...?

[Back to Blue Hallway.]

Okazaki: [Smiling] So, like, I thought you were kinda, like, down...

So I, like, made you some pancakes! See?

Washio: [Reluctantly looking up] Pancakes...?

Okazaki: [Excited] Yup! They're, like, my own secret recipe!

A big stack of strawberry pancakes, and, like, they're all yours!

Washio: A big, um... a big stack...?

[Eyes averted] ...

[OST: Re: Despair-Syndrome]

Washio: [Wringing hands] You... you think I'm fat...!

Okazaki: [Confused] ...Huh?

Washio: You made so many, um... so many pancakes for me...

[On the verge of tears] You think I'm a... a land whale, don't you...?

Okazaki: [Shocked] No! I didn't mean that, like, at all!

Washio: [Crying softly] I... I could have been skinny...!

D-Daisuke would have, um... he would have helped me look better...

[Inconsolable] But... but now he... he isn't here...!

And you... you try and rub it in...!

Okazaki: [Desperate] W-Washio, I --

Washio: [Crying, angry] I... I hate you! I never want to see you again!

[The sound of a door slamming can be heard.]

[OST: None]

That... didn't go well at all...

Okazaki: [Sad] ...

Okazaki seems really hurt by this, too...

I should probably leave her to work things out for herself.

...

Ugh... I can't just let her be sad...

Minami: Hey... Okazaki? Do you wanna look around the new floor with me...?

Okazaki: ...Like, okay...

[Frowning, arms crossed] ...Leave the pancakes, like, outside...

She might want them later...

Minami: Oh, sure...

...Hey, listen, I'm sorry it didn't work out, Okazaki.

[OST: Beautiful Dead]

Okazaki: [Hopeful] ...Like, I'll just have to find another way to help someone!

And she's bounced right back.

At least she can recover from things quickly...

[Move to Stairwell]

The poison gas cloud's level has definitely dropped...

[The colour of the walls changes to a lime-green on the lowest accessible floor. A small sign hangs over the newly available door.]

Okazaki: [Excited] ...Well, like, better get going!

[Move down to Green Level]

[Examine Sign]

Minami: It's just as Monokuma told us...

The theme of this floor is "Study".

Okazaki: [Pouting] I've always been, like, super bad at study...

I hope, like, we get to do more this floor than just, like, look at boring books.

Minami: Agreed... but I can't think of what else could be there.

[Examine Door]

Well... here goes nothing.

[Fade to black.]

Okazaki: ...Oh, wow!

Minami: Not what I expected at all...!

[Fade in to a vibrant indoor garden, lit by artificial sun lamps, and filled with plants of all different kinds. A concrete path is flanked on both sides by a row of beautiful flowers, and a pristine grass lawn. Several vines and small trees line the outer walls of the room. In the corner, a large tree is situated, its leaves brushing against the roof of the room. A rope has been tied around the tree, from which several paper streamers hang. The other end of the path connects to a charcoal-grey door.]

[OST: Third Island Theme]

It's... beautiful! I never expected to see something so wonderful in here!

Okazaki: [Beaming] Whoooooooooa! This is, like, really pretty!

Whoever designed this place clearly wanted to give a good first impression...

[Examine Flowers]

These flowers are so fragrant...

Hmm? There're little plaques, identifying all the species...

Is this a Botanical Garden, then...?

[Examine Tree]

I've seen this sort of rope before...

Okazaki: [Head tilted] Hey, don't they, like, hang this sort of thing in, like, shrines, and stuff...?

Minami: Yeah... I wonder what it's doing in a place like this...

[Talk to Hagino]

Hagino: [Frowning] ...

Minami: ...Um, Hagino? Are you okay?

Hagino: This tree... it's been turned into a yorishiro. A place to enshrine a kami.

Okazaki: [Smiling] Oh! Like, cool!

Hagino: [Looking down, melancholy] No... not cool at all.

A yorishiro should be in a place of natural importance and wonder.

[Frowning] This garden may be impressive... but we're still inside, and surrounded by steel.

[Arms crossed, angry] This is... a perversion of what I believe in. I can't imagine what kind of person would set up a yorishiro here...

Minami: Oh... I see...

Somehow, I don't think Monokuma is the kind to establish a place of worship...

I wonder who put this here?

[Examine Door]

Okazaki: [Excited] Okay! Like, let's get ready to see the next room!

Ooh! What if it's, like, a super movie room or something?

I don't know why she's so excited. It's just gonna be a hallway...

[We see an expansive hallway, with cream-coloured walls, an off-white tiled floor and soft overhead lighting. On the left-hand side of the hallway, we see a row of three dark-grey doors, each with a small picture on it, and a sign overhead explaining its purpose. The first door shows a fish, the second a computer monitor, and the third a red cross. On the right-hand side, there are two similar doors before the hallway hooks around the corner to the right. The first door shows a book, but the second is blank.]

Okazaki: [Pouting] Oh, like... just a hallway.

[Hopeful] But, like, nice pictures!

Minami: Looks like the room we just left has a tree on the door...

I wonder what the other rooms could be?

To be honest, it's a little worrying that I'm getting used to how these floors are laid out...

How many times will we go through this same scenario?

[Examine Fish Door]

[We see a dimly-lit, long, rectangular room, coated ceiling to floor in matte-black paint. The room's main sources of illumination are the vibrant blue fish tanks which are arranged in a grid pattern going down the room. Sea creatures of all kinds fill the tanks, from tropical fish, to deep sea creatures, to even a small shark. The fish swim alertly in their tanks, eying off the new visitors to their private environment. Over each tank hangs a small descriptive sign. The back wall boasts a small console for controlling things like water temperature and food.]

Okazaki: [Beaming] Whoa! It's, like, an Aquarium!

Nothing gets past you, Okazaki...

Minami: If the theme of the floor is study, it must be for a marine biologist or something, huh?

Eugh... some of these fish are kinda creepy...

[Examine Shark Tank]

Okazaki: [Surprised] That's, like, a real shark!

Minami: It sure is... only a small one, though.

Sharks always kinda scared me...

Okazaki: [Head tilted] Really?

Hey, like, Minami...

[Winking] Duuuuuuun dun. Duuuuuuuun dun.

Minami: No! Stop that!

Okazaki: [Giggling] Heehee!

[Examine Console]

Okazaki: [Surprised] Like, look at all the buttons...

Minami: This seems way out of my area of expertise.

We better not touch it. Monokuma might call us killing a fish "murder"...

[Talk to Tamura]

Tamura: [Hand on chin in thought] Damn, but there's a shitton a fish in here.

Okazaki: Totally! Maybe this is, like, the room for studying fish?

Tamura: [Scratching back of neck] Yeah, somethin' like that. But I'm not gonna study 'em, or anything.

I always love goin' down to the beach... ya get ta look at the waves, y'know?

Calms ya down so ya can think ta yourself.

Minami: Is being surrounded by fish really the same...?

Tamura: [Frowning] Fuck if I know. But I like the lights in here, huh?

It's real dark an' quiet... ya can hide in here, know what I mean?

[Grimacing] Hide from fuckin' fuckheads like that shitstain Enoshima fuck...

[Dejected] Ugh. Fuck, now I'm pissed again. Ya mind givin' me some room ta calm down?

[Go to Cream Hallway]

[Examine Door with Book]

[We see a stately library, with polished mahogany desks and wonderfully comfortable-looking velvet-cushioned chairs at each. The walls are lined with bookshelves, with tomes of various kinds poking out of the bookcases underneath a verdant green ceiling. The black carpeted floor is clearly meant to absorb all noise, so as not to disturb those reading within. In the back right corner of the room, a rather bland grey door can be seen.]

Whoa, what a collection...

There must be all sorts of things written down in here.

Okazaki: [Surprised] Ooh... so many books...

[Examine Bookshelf]

Let's take a look at the fiction section...

...All murder mysteries.

How about non-fiction?

...All true crime stories?

Okazaki: [Pouting] Like, not much in terms of, like, genre, or anything...

I think Monokuma is trying to tell us something...

[Talk to Noguchi]

Noguchi: [Smirk] Minami and the airhead. And what, pray tell, are you two doing?

Okazaki: [Smiling] Um, looking around! Same as, like, you!

Noguchi: [Cold grin] The day that I am the same as you is the day I hang myself.

Minami: ...

Noguchi: [Looking away] ...

I apologise. That was tactless of me.

If you two will excuse me, I would like to get back to exploration.

Okazaki: [Confused] Hey, like, what gives? Did Noguchi just... apologise?

Minami: I... guess so...?

Hmm... maybe he's sick.

[Examine Grey Door]

[We see a small, fairly bare beige room, with papers scattered all over the floor. The back wall is stuffed with filing cabinets, all of which are positively fit to burst with data, records and statistics of all kind. A single light hangs limply over the room.]

Okazaki: [Pouting] ...This is, like, kinda boring...

Minami: I think these must be the building's Archives...

[Examine Filing Cabinets]

Minami: Think of all the information in there...

Okazaki: [Frowning, arms crossed] Like, yeah... I'm getting a headache already...

Minami: We... don't have to look at it.

Okazaki: [Neutral] Really? Oh, then, like, I'm okay.

Honestly, this girl sometimes...

[Talk to Mai]

Mai: [Cheerful] Hanni! And Kaeki! Hiiiiiiii!

Okazaki: [Head tilted] Mai? Like, what are you doing somewhere so, like, totally dingy?

Mai: [Mock anger] Studying! Duh!

Minami: I didn't see you as the studying type...

Mai: [Puffed-up cheeks] I always tell you guys, and you guys always forget, so I have to tell you again!

[Wagging finger] Just because I act all silly doesn't mean I'm not smart!

Okazaki: Like, right... I won't forget this time!

Mai: [Neutral] Oh, yeah, Hanni! There's a complete list of every Hope's Peak student, ever.

Minami: Really?

Mai: [Hands clasped, beaming] Yep! And and and! It includes the student's talent!

Minami: ...! The... talent...

Mai: [Excited] If I find you on it, I'll let you know!

Minami: I... thank you...!

I never learned what my talent was...

...or, maybe I did, and Monokuma took that memory away, the same way he took our memories of his involvement in the Tragedy.

If it's the latter... maybe my talent is something big.

I mean, for Monokuma to have intervened and taken my memory of it away, it must be... right?

No... I'm probably just getting egotistical again.

[Move through: Library -> Cream Hallway]

[Examine Door with Monitor]

[We see a rather drab, grey-walled room, with five rows of desks in the centre leading towards the room's rear. Every deck boasts six state-of-the-art computers, with high-tech monitors, ergonomic keyboards, and the sort of technical specifics that would make a computer expert weep tears of joy. Every computer screen is off. Conspicuously, one of the computers has a pair of professional-looking, dark-orange wireless headphones sitting in front of it.]

Minami: It's a Computer Room...

Okazaki: [Neutral] Yeah, it, like, definitely is.

I mean... I don't know what else I could have expected when I saw the sign...

[Examine Computer]

Minami: ...Damn.

Okazaki: [Confused] Huh?

Minami: There's no power. None of these computers are going to turn on any time soon...

Okazaki: [Head tilted] Really? Hmm... like, I wonder why.

Presumably because a certain bear doesn't want us sending messages for help...

[Examine Headphones]

[OST: None]

...

There's something about these headphones...

Okazaki: [Frowning, arms crossed] ...Uh, like, are you still there, Minami?

Minami: Hmm...

I wonder if...

[We see Minami wearing the headphones around her neck. They appear to be a perfect fit. Minami has a small smile on her face.]

Okazaki: Hey, like, those look good on you!

Minami: They... they feel good on me.

Something about these headphones just feels comforting...

Nobody will mind if I take them, right...?

[Back to Computer Room.]

[Move to Cream Hallway]

[Examine Blank Door]

Minami: Huh?

Okazaki: [Neutral] Like, what's up, Minami?

Minami: This door... it's locked?

Okazaki: [Confused] Locked?

[OST: Mr. Monokuma's Lesson]

Monokuma: [Thinking] Locked?

Minami: Yeah... it's -- Monokuma!

Monokuma: [Chuckling] That's my name! Don't wear it out!

Okazaki: [Frowning, arms crossed] Like, shouldn't this door, like, not be locked?

Monokuma: [Neutral] Correct, it shouldn't be locked. And it isn't!

Minami: ...Then why can't I open it?

Monokuma: [White side] It's a highly-sophisticated door-type device!

[Bashful] It can only be opened from the inside. You have to go around and through another room...

...to reach the room this door connects to!

[Neutral] Eh... of course, once you're inside said room, you can easily move back out into this hallway.

[Belly laugh] It's like one-way traffic! But with less cars, and less pedestrians to run over!

Okazaki: Sophisticated door-type device? Like, really?

Monokuma: Yep! Definitely not just locked from one side, and I lost the key!

Well, I'll leave you brats to it! Upupupu!

[OST: None]

...I'm locked in a tower, pressured to murder people, and my kidnapper is so incompetent that they lost the key to a room...

This is a new low in my short life.

[OST: Third Island Theme]

[As the students move towards the end of the Cream Hallway, we can see around the corner into a small lounge. A sturdy metal table, with several mugs sitting on top of it, and stylish black chairs around it, sits near the back wall. The large metal panels, with one situated behind the table, and the other to its left, clearly indicate that sunlight was meant to stream into the lounge, providing a vivid source of illumination. In the back left corner is a small wooden desk with a kettle and coffee pot. Slightly forward from the table, on the right wall, there is a dark-grey door with a small picture of a paintbrush on it, and a sign indicating its use above it. From our viewing position, the room with the picture of the red cross is directly behind us.]

[Examine Door with Red Cross]

[We see a somewhat small room with navy-blue walls and a polished checkered tile floor. Movement in the room is restricted by the two glass cabinets on either wall, forming a sort of corridor. The cabinets are stacked full of medicines of various kinds - from antiseptics, to antibiotics, to antipsychotics. At the rear of the room is a heavy-looking, cast-iron door, with the picture of a snowflake etched into it.]

Okazaki: [Frowning, arms crossed] Hey... isn't this, like, a medical lab? Don't we, like, already have one of those?

Minami: This doesn't look like a medical lab to me... more like a Pharmacy.

Okazaki: [Pouting] Still, this is, like, totally lazy of that bear... He should, like, add more variety to the rooms!

Well, if the Medical Bay is on the "living" floor, this must be for medical "study"...

[Examine Cabinets]

There must be a million types of medicine in here...

Okazaki: [Neutral] So, like, what should we do with all this stuff?

Minami: The Medical Bay doesn't have the best medicine in it at the moment.

It's good to know we can resupply, at least.

Though I would rather we didn't have to...

[Talk to Chiba]

Chiba: [Bored] Minami and Okazaki. Good to see you.

Okazaki: [Cheerful] Hi!

Minami: What are you doing here, Chiba?

Chiba: [Shrugging] Same as you, nosing around. I was actually looking for some sort of chemist-type place.

[Smiling half-heartedly] I suppose you could say my proboscis was sniffing out a prognosis.

Okazaki: [Pouting] ...I don't get it.

Minami: There's not much of a joke to get.

Chiba: [Frowning] Ouch... so the reviewers don't like my act...

Minami: Chiba... a word alone, please?

Chiba: [Shrugging] Sure.

Okazaki: [Neutral] Okay! I'll, like, be over here!

Minami: You're making jokes again, Chiba.

Does that mean you're feeling a little better?

Chiba: [Despondent] ...No. Not at all. In fact, I feel worse than ever before. But...

...Matsuoka and Akutagawa wanted us to persevere, right?

[Furrowed brow, eyes shut] So, even if I feel like shooting myself... I'm going to act normal...

Anything to deny Monokuma and that sick freak Enoshima the satisfaction of making me want to die.

That doesn't sound healthy at all...!

Minami: ...I think I know a way to help you.

Chiba: [Bored] I'll believe it when I see it...

Minami: Hey, Okazaki?

Okazaki: [Smiling] Yeah? Like, what's up?

Minami: Would you mind looking after Chiba for me?

Chiba: [Exasperated] ...What?

Minami: Just, you know... keep his spirits up.

Okazaki: [Cheerful] Like, sure! No problem, Minami!

Chiba: [Wicked smile] Getting a cabaret dancer to keep my "spirits" up? You're worse than I thought, Minami.

[Small smile] ...Thank you.

Okazaki: [Beaming] So, you're, like, a clown, right? Let's tell each other, like, the best joke we know!

Well... I hope this helps them both...

...Look at me, getting someone else to help Chiba out.

I'm so lazy I won't even help someone who needs it myself.

I really am selfish...

[Examine Door with Snowflake]

[OST: Re: Despair Syndrome]

[We see a dark, metal, oppressively-cramped room, with only the faintest light coming from the flickering bulb overhead. The walls of the room are frosted over with ice, and the floor looks dangerously slippery. A gurney, covered by a white cloth, sits in the back of the hellish, frozen room.]

It's freezing in here!

There must be one hell of a powerful cooler hooked up to this room...

And... what's under that sheet...?

What the hell...

[Examine Gurney]

...Nope! No, no, no no no no.

I have seen enough death and misery already, I am NOT looking under that sheet.

...God, what is this place...

[Talk to Enoshima]

Enoshima: [Enigmatic smile] Ah, dear Minami... Welcome to the Cold Storage room.

Minami: ...

Enoshima: [Smug smile] What's the matter? Has your tongue frozen to the roof of your mouth?

I expect a cold person like yourself must adore a room such as this.

Minami: ...

I can't let him know he's getting to me...

Just be quiet... don't say a word...

Enoshima: [Cruel smile] I wonder if this room is as cold as the shoulder you gave to Matsuoka.

He was so close to being back to his old self, too...

Minami: Shut. Up.

Enoshima: [Chuckling softly] Ah... there's the nerve.

Minami: The only nerve I see is yours! Where you say those... horrible things!

Enoshima: [Cruel smile] That's right, throw a tantrum like the little girl you are.

You really are... selfish, aren't you?

Minami: ...!

Enoshima: [Chuckling softly] I believe this is the part where you break down.

[Baring teeth] Maybe even take my life...

[Arms either side, grinning] Go on... you know you want to...

Give in to your despair.

[OST: None]

Minami: ...

...

[Auto-move to Pharmacy]

Chiba: [Frowning] ...Minami?

Minami: ...

Okazaki: [Head tilted] Hey, like, Minami, are you okay?

You look sort of, like... pale.

Can't let them know I feel bad. Can't worry them.

Deep breaths, Minami...

Minami: ...Yeah, I'm fine. I'm gonna go look around a bit more.

Chiba: [Smiling half-heartedly] No, please, don't leave me alone with a cabaret dancer. It'll be terrible.

Okazaki: [Pouting] Hey! Like, I heard that!

[OST: Third Island Theme]

[Move to Cream Hallway]

[Talk to Muramoto]

Muramoto: [Bowing head] Good morn, Miss Minami.

Minami: Morning, Muramoto... how's the head?

Muramoto: [Eyes closed] T'is bruised - but not so much as my own pride.

For all my endeavours to be of stalwart character, I have found myself the subject of injury twice over.

[Eyes averted] No more am I seen by my allies as reliable and powerful. I am... merely a figure of mockery, I presume.

Minami: No, that's not true! We don't think less of you for being attacked again!

I mean, you got stabbed in the arm...

...and even having experienced danger like that, you still wanted to help Kenta--

...Matsuoka.

In my book, that makes you brave.

Muramoto: [Bowing head] ...I am grateful for your reassurance, Miss Minami.

[Examine Table]

There's tea in these mugs...

Blech. Ice-cold. That's disappointing.

Still, someone must have been on this floor before... but how long ago?

The whole thing has been blanketed in toxic gas... right?

[Examine Door with Paintbrush]

[We see a large, somewhat eclectically-coloured room with several wooden work benches jutting out from the dirty walls. Each bench is positively blanketed in paint, pencils, wood-shavings, ink, and art supplies of all kinds and colours. Along the rainbow-coloured walls, several framed images hang, ranging from photographs to paintings to woodcuts, and even a gleaming katana. The back of the room is somewhat more open to make room for two marble sculptures, which flank a grey door.]

It's an art room, that's for sure.

Wow... some of this stuff is really top-quality...

[Examine Images]

I wonder who set up this little gallery?

Hmm... are these anime drawings?

Looks like they're of the same character.

"Official vs Fan: Ryouta Mitarai and Hifumi Yamada".

Neat, I guess... but anime isn't really my thing.



[Examine Katana]

Ow! This thing is really sharp!

Why would they have a weapon like this hanging on the wall?

"Decorative Katana: Sonosuke Izayoi".

I guess it's artistic... but did it really need to be sharp?

[Talk to Urayama]

Urayama: [Contemplative] ...

Minami: ...

Urayama: It's odd.

[Pointing] This is the same statue we saw on the first day. I remember finding it a masterpiece.

And yet... now that I see it here, it's somehow less impressive... less powerful.

[Running hand through hair] Perhaps it's the presentation.

Minami: ...

Urayama: [Dry stare] ...Are you going to talk, or glare at me all day?

You talk so much in the trials. Why don't you speak your mind without asking permission, like you always do?

Minami: What happened to you, Urayama?

Urayama: [Irritated, eyes narrowed] Excuse me?

Minami: When we were first getting to know each other, you were so nice.

Maybe a bit distracted... but nice.

Remember when I played the piano for you?

Urayama: [Frowning, concerned] ...I do.

Minami: Where's that Urayama?

Recently, you insult us, hide things from us...

It's like you're turning into Noguchi or something.

Urayama: [Looking down] ...

Minami: You admire honesty and the truth. So tell me.

What changed, Urayama?

Urayama: [Covering mouth, averting eyes] ...

...No, I... I can't say anything. Not yet.

[Sighing] I'm sorry, Minami, I...

...Goodbye.

...

You've alienated yet another person, Minami.

Add that to your long list of failures.

[Examine Blank Door]

[We see a small, cluttered room with deep-red walls. The cupboards and drawers which form a winding passage to the other side of the room are each filled to bursting with art supplies of various kinds. Everything from paint to crayons is stocked in the small room, overflowing onto the solid concrete floor. The grey door which connects back to the Cream Hallway can be seen on the opposite wall, next to a solid block of marble.]

Huh... so this is where they keep all the art supplies.

...If the supplies are all in here, why is the Art Room still so cluttered?

Maybe you have to be an artist to understand...

[Examine Marble Block]

It's... huge! Are all marble sculptures carved from blocks this big?

How did they even get this thing through the door?

[Talk to Takanashi]

Takanashi: [Hand covering mouth, surprised] Oh! Minami... I didn't think you would come in here.

Minami: Huh? Why?

Takanashi: [Smiling awkwardly] ...Because you're not an artist, and all.

[Uncertain] I mean... you might be...

[Biting brush] ...Sorry.

Minami: It's fine, really...

Takanashi: [Twiddling brush in hand] ...Don't you think this room is such a pigsty...?

It looks like a bomb went off in it...!

[Fixing glasses] My mother always said the best working environment was a clean one.

[Uncertain] ...But, then, maybe this doesn't count as a working environment...

Minami: Uh, Takanashi? You're kinda... rambling.

Takanashi: [Gasping] Ah! I... I'm sorry! I didn't mean to ramble...

[Biting brush] Please, ignore me...

Minami: Ignore you? I'm not gonna do that!

Takanashi: [Grateful] ...Thank you for not ignoring me, then...

Sometimes, I just don't know about this girl...

[Move to Cream Hallway]

[OST: None]

Okay... I think I've seen everything that's down here.

I'm getting kind of tired...

Maybe I should head back to my room for a bit.

[Fade to black.]

[OST: Welcome to Despair Academy]

[Fade in to Minami's Room.]

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

Maybe I ought to go talk to someone.

[Move to Green Hallway]

[OST: Beautiful Dead]

[Move through: Foyer -> Blue Hallway]

[Examine Pancakes]

Those pancakes Okazaki left outside Washio's room...

They haven't been touched.

Oh, Washio...

[Move through: Stairwell -> Botanical Garden]

[OST: Third Island Theme]

[Move through: Cream Hallway -> Sun Lounge]

[Talk to Noguchi]

Noguchi: [Arms crossed] I can imagine this being a good place to relax, without the steel plate.

At the very least, there's a pot for coffee.

[Looking away] ...

Minami: ...What's up?

Noguchi: [Serious] ...Would you care to join me... for some coffee?

...Uh huh.

Should I spend some time with Noguchi?

-> YES

NO

[Fade to black.]

Noguchi and I spent some time drinking coffee together in silence.

He seemed upset that I added sugar to mine...

...but other than that, he didn't say a word.

That is, until we had both finished our drinks.

[Fade in to Sun Lounge.]

Noguchi: [Sighing] ...You just did something exceedingly stupid.

Minami: ...Sorry?

Noguchi: [Smirk] Did you ever stop to think that I might have poisoned your drink?

Minami: W-what!?

Noguchi: [Cruel grin] I could have very easily slipped a toxic white powder into the sugar, and watched you drink it down.

Minami: N-Noguchi...!

Noguchi: [Tugging glove] I didn't, of course. It would leave too much of an evidence trail, given that I already indicated a propensity for poisons before to the others.

Minami: D-don't scare me like that!

Noguchi: [Dismissive] That action you took wasn't my fault at all.

You foolishly opened your heart to me. Felt sympathy for me.

And in doing so, I gained a perfect opportunity to cut you down.

[Smirk] This is a competition, after all.

Minami: ...You really like that word.

Noguchi: [Serious] All life is a competition in one way or another.

Minami: Is this about... that girl you liked?

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

Noguchi: [Looking away] ...I spent months training.

She truly loved the idea of falconry, and I was going to achieve my goal no matter what.

So I practiced, over and over, from dawn until dusk.

Minami: What about schoolwork?

Noguchi: [Dismissive] It didn't matter - I have a natural intelligence, and my family has a high enough status to stop any harm being done to my perfect record.

No ego here...

Noguchi: Finally, the day came where I could impress her. I gave the greatest demonstration I could, with my limited skills.

Do you know what she did?

Minami: What?

Noguchi: [Scowling] She laughed in my face... and walked off with someone else.

He was a falconer too. Worse than me, of course... but he was there first.

[Regaining composure] ...And that's when it hit me.

[Glare] I lost because I played by the rules. I expected the competition over her to be fair.

But in a competition... you cannot win by being nice.

Keep that in mind the next time you think you can get everyone to play together.

I... didn't realise he had taken that rejection so badly...

[OST: None]

Noguchi: [Smirk] I should be going. Enjoy your poisoned coffee.

Minami: Jerk...

I feel bad for him, but...

...did this one event really start his antisocial behaviour?

There has to be something else. Something I'm missing...

Monokuma: DING DONG DING DONG!

[We see Monokuma on a TV screen, lounging in a chair comfortably, as he sips a peach bellini 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 Sun Lounge.]

Nighttime already? I barely feel like I did anything...



...

Better head back to the room.

[Fade to black.]



[OST: Welcome to Despair Academy]

[Fade in to Minami's Room.]

...I don't want to go to sleep.



If I do... I'll end up having nightmares again, won't I?

...

...Ugh. I don't have a choice. I'm exhausted.

Please let me have good dreams tonight...

[Fade to black.]



MONOKUMA THEATRE

[OST: Mr. Monokuma's Lesson]

Monokuma: There's something beary wrong with the current state of literature, don't you think?

It's all "reference to" this and "based on" that!

Literature used to stand for something! It was original!

It wasn't just a derivative knockoff of whatever happened to be popular at the time!

Honestly, some of these "fanfic" things... they're so pointless.

...Hey, why are you all staring at me like that?