scream until your ragged throat knows nothing more

Chapter 01 End - Chapter 02 Start. Pleasant Dreams Feat. Flynn Rivaille, Hideki Takahiro and Minami Mukashi.

Kazia looked up at the girl who addressed her, it was that girl she’d talked to a couple of days before, wearing a massive grin ” What are you so happy about ? You know that three people just died ? Or were you just moping in your room doing nothing ? And you were right, my name is Kazia.” Ugh, she was the one that Kazia had talked to when she was doing her stupid facade thing, long given up, but someone else could just as easily try that shit. It probably wasn’t this girl though, Kazia expected that she was genuinely trying to be nice, probably just a very good actress, nobody in their right minds would be nice to Kazia, and they definitely accepted Actresses if they allowed people with minimal talent into this school, such as herself and Hideki. The only talent he seemed to have was being an insufferable prick. She was more upset about his death than one would imagine, albiet very slightly, it was probably only because of alligators, definitely the alligators. The girl before her was probably gonna manipulate her in some way, there was nobody she could trust in that school of mutual killing. And the only ones she could trust had probably already forgotton about her. That girl was wasting her time trying to befriend her. She turned her attention towards Megumi.

Megumi blinked. The sudden outburst from the tomboyish girl in front of her was quite a parallel to the reception she had received from her a few days prior.

"Happy? About three people dying all in different, brutal manners? You must mistake me for some sadist, Miss Kazia. I am upset as everyone else is. But do you think those who have fallen would wish for us to mope, or continue our attempts to live the fullest lives we can in this prison." The tiny furrow on her brow disappeared when noticed, and she continued. "And have you not considered that if alliances are not made, even more will die?" She smiled sweetly, and brushed her fringe out of her eyes.

Chapter 01 End - Chapter 02 Start. Pleasant Dreams Feat. Flynn Rivaille, Hideki Takahiro and Minami Mukashi.

Kazia barely slept that night, Minami Mukashi’s execution lurked in her mind. And she was the one who had sentenced Mukashi to her death. But if she hadn’t, they would have all faced the same fate whilst Mukashi left this horrible place. She probably wouldn’t though, knowing Monobear, or the person behind him. Mukashi was a bitch, probably even more than Kazia herself, but she didn’t deserve that brutal a death, nobody did. Mukashi’s body being ripped apart by those things haunted her dreams, accompanied by screaming, every little horrible detail of the day before was relived in an even more horrible fashion than she remembered, she saw Hideki plummeting to his doom, being ripped to pieces by the alligators who waited below, Mukashi luring Flynn to the restrooms and cutting a deep gash through his throat. Among other things that nobody would want to dwell on.

The morning announcement blared through the school at it’s regular time, Kazia only got out of bed because she was hungry, she wanted to eat all of the food in the kitchen, and probably more even, she didn’t bother to get dressed or even tie up her hair, which would look fairly comical if not for the current situation. Kazia was going to turn into one of those people who went to the supermarket at four in the afternoon wearing pajama bottoms and slippers, the kitchen was the metaphorical supermarket of Hopes Peak Academy, and she was the person going there in her pajamas, perhaps even wearing a dressing gown; But Kazia did not have a dressing gown, real or metaphorical, she was going to be cold and wet coming home from the supermarket because it had started raining when she was halfway home and she couldn’t be bothered to run there, even though it was only like, three blocks away.

She emerged from the room looking like Cousin Itt, she made her way to the kitchen, taking a large amount of junk food out of the fridge and walking over to a table with nobody at it.

There was nothing better to do but to eat.

Megumi barely noted the girl in the red sweater enter the cafeteria. All she really did was stare at her hands, folded over one another in her lap.

I hate this so much.

She sighed.

I need to pick up the goddamn pace if I don't want to get killed. People won't kill a friend.... right?

Gears whirring in her mind, she plastered an extremely convincing smile on her face, and picked up the tray she had placed in front of herself, moving over to Kazia.

"Good day to you, Miss... Kazia, correct?"

Megumi could only stare at the wooden panels of the courtroom around her.

Death... it has never seemed quite so permanent as it has now, when those lives are simply...

Thrown away.

Oh, how she wished she could cry.

These thoughts hounding her, she left the courtroom silently, heels clacking silently as she tried to release the despair that dogged each step. Arriving on the main floor, she slowly retreated to the cafeteria, just... staring all the while.

Go!

"A body has been found."

Megumi was sitting on her bed, restringing her guitar when the awful squeakiness of that awful bear's voice rang through her room. Her eyes widened ever so slightly, and she slowly put down her guitar, drawing her knees up close and hugging them.

No.

Megumi desperately tried to panic, scream, anything, but the shrill ringing between her ears stayed very put. Her unshaking hands pushed her off the bed gently, and she left her room quickly, exiting and closing the door in one fluid swing, hurrying to the bathroom as her platformed shoes banged the floor below her.

Upon arrival, she simply stared at the pool of blood and the boy lying in it. No disgust, no horror, nothing crossed her face. She simply stared.

Boater hats and seifukus

hotakagoto

Hotaka made a move to help the girl up, but she was on her feet again before he could do anything. “Oh, geez, didn’t mean to surprise you, kid. Actually, I was tryin’ to prevent one of us from fallin’ down, but I guess it didn’t work out so well."

"Sure, if I see the guy who can fix whatever problem you’re havin’, I’ll make sure to find you again, and— hey, hold up a sec!" he called towards the girl as she began to walk away. “Did you say somethin’ about a hairdresser? If you did, I think I could direct you to that guy pretty quick!"

Megumi laughed and waved her hand, calling beind her

"Please don't worry yourself! I'm sound as a bell! My apologies for being so hasty!"

Continuing onwards, she stopped and whirled around when she heard his offer. Turning up the full charm, she turned around and walked over quickly, but at a polite pace. Smiling widely, she clasped her hands and said

"I believe I did - thank you ever so much! I'd be eternally grateful if you did, Mr....?

Boater hats and seifukus

hotakagoto

When he heard someone approaching him, Hotaka whirled around. “Ha! Not this time, Ra— Oh, you ain’t Rayne." The determined footsteps he had heard in the hallway weren’t a distracted graffiti artist ready to plow into him once again, but some girl he vaguely recognized from when all the students were gathered together.

"Uh, sorry about that. Mistook your walkin’ for someone else’s, I guess. Speakin of which, where’re you off to in such a hurry? Monobear didn’t call us or anything, right?"

Megumi tripped over her own quick steps as the "Ha!" assaulted her. From the ground, she looked up to see the barbershop boy. Realising that her current position was perhaps not advantageous in making a good first impression, she hastily stood up again.

"Pardon me for my hastiness! It is not because of a summons, but rather my current predicament. I'm searching for someone who can fix something for me urgently." I'm wasting time. As much as I'd love to talk to a fellow musician, I need to fix this... Peculiar. He doesn't have much of a musician's voice, from what I can tell. Huh.

Megumi smiled brightly, and waved as she made her way onwards through the school. "If you happen to meet the hairdresser, I would be ever so grateful if you could refer him to me!"

Boater hats and seifukus

Megumi frowned.

She leaned over the mirror a little more, and fingered the ends of her hair.

This is unacceptable.

Looking herself over again, she sighed. This would never do. Sloppy appearances make for sloppy impressions. You know this. Mater Kurosawa would be disappointed.

Her hair was a mess. The tips of her once razor-sharp hime cut were fluffy and uneven, and her usually perfect bangs were looking sloppy. The whole look was a waste of her usual good looks, and the thick, normally sleek hair that she had. Twirling away from the mirror, she hummed in a worried manner, closing her bathroom door behind her.

Wait. There's... a hairdresser here.. right?

As she thought those words, she was already out the door, with a purposeful look on her face and in her stride. Rounding the corner, she saw a boy in a striped jacket, and thought to herself.

I didn't know there was a SHSL Barbershop Quartet member!

#looking atchu #hotaka

Chapter 01: Task 04: Day 02: Daytime: Part 03: Socialisation.

There weren’t many people in this room that she could speak with, but definitely a couple of people who would make small talk with her, since she seemed to be the only person who was annoyed by it, apart from the guy from the hall, but he just seemed anxious to get away from her.

Using her usuall approach angle, Kazia walked up behind the nearest person to her “Hey, you, hi I’m Kazia ! How are you faring in our current situation ?." With a grin that wouldn’t fool anyone, that was literally her best shot at being a friendly social person, well who the fuck cares anyway ? Some people are stupid.

Next on Kazia Tries To Be Nice: Kazia Fails Epically.

The voice slammed into Megumi from behind as she adjusted her skirt. Female. Fairly low, with a fairly nice harmonic quality. Not musical, or in a job that involves much speaking. Not an unpleasant voice, though.

Recomposing herself, Megumi quickly wondered to herself. Not the most conventional greeting, perhaps. This will be... interesting to navigate. She smiled, and said in her usual quiet voice

"Good afternoon, Miss... Kazia! My name would be Megumi Reiko Arakaki. Pleasure to meet you." Proffering her hand, she continued. "I'm faring fairly well, thank you, despite my dreadful tardiness in acquainting myself with the campus and my classmates... if you could call us that. Regardless, I could be worse. And you, Miss Kazia? How has Hope's Peak Academy treated you?"

Chapter 04 - Turnabout Dreaming

"I haven’t been a lawyer long, but I’ve done a lot of good in the time I’ve had." He felt proud being able to say that. “And maybe you should perform for all of us. It might help ease the tension a bit."

"That's wonderful to be able to say such a thing! And for everyone? Goodness, that would be fun, but I should perhaps get to know everyone beforehand. I believe you're the first person I've talked to here!"

Chapter 04 - Turnabout Dreaming

Kazuhiko was impressed by this girl’s knowledge of the legal system. “Well, I am more out in court in my job, where I’ll fight for my client. It’s not easy, but it’s what I love to do."

He thought about what the girl said related to her music. “I’m not sure there’s a band with a name like that. But either way, I’m sure you’re a great musician."

"That's very admirable of you! How long have you been in the system for?"

"Oh, I can assure you that they exist! I heard about them from the academy I went to, and I've been a fan from then on." Megumi laughed cheerily. "And thank you ever so much! I hope I can perform for you someday."

Chapter 04 - Turnabout Dreaming

"Of course! I’d be honored to attend." He had already promised to attend for Emma if she ever did a recital here in the school. He was sure he would have time to attend Megumi’s performance as well. It’s not like he had classes to attend, anyway.

"So," he asked, “what kind of music do you perform?"

"How kind of you!" Megumi beamed and smiled brightly. "My music? It's got a bit of a rock-y vibe, and it's always played live - no electronics, no lip-sync! I'd say it's unique - my inspiration is ExtremelyObsceneScreamoBandWithAMisleadingName!"

"So, Mr Shori. Are you up in the bar when you're in court, or do you do more soliciting?"

Chapter 04 - Turnabout Dreaming

"Oh, a musician!" He’d already met Emma, the ballerina. Perhaps these two would get along. “I’d love to hear you perform sometime, but…well, I don’t think there’s a guitar in the school."

Megumi waved her hand and smiled. "Although I didn't quite expect this situation, I didn't want to come unprepared to Hope's Peak. My stratocaster is in my room, I believe!" She nodded. "If I perform at any time during our stay here, I would be honoured to have you attend!"

Chapter 04 - Turnabout Dreaming

"Well, if you must know, I’m a lawyer. I help protect people who are being misrepresented." He then asked her. “What about yourself? What is your talent?"

That would explain it. "Law? How wonderful! I have friends who are attending law school as we speak, and they all say how exhausting it is! Thats very impressive, Mr Shaori." She smiled. "Myself? I'm the vocalist and lead guitarist for my band, Remembering Wednesday."

Chapter 04 - Turnabout Dreaming

"Oh, excuse me!" He apologized to the girl he bumped into. She seemed like a very proper girl, quietly telling him her name. Megumi…he hadn’t met her thus far. Who else hadn’t he met?

"Well, my name’s Kazuhiko Shori. Nice to meet you, Ms. Arakaki." He extended his hand in greeting.

Hmm. Regular intonation, no musical qualities. Signs of strong vocal chords - whatever profession he specialises in, it seems to require a deal of yelling and vocality. But with no detectable musicality... Peculiar. After shaking Kazuhiko's hand, she dropped into a curtsy, then folded her hands, and spoke quietly yet clearly. "So, Mr Shaori. What abilities have brought you to this dreadful institution?"

Chapter 04 - Turnabout Dreaming

Kazuhiko had to leave his breakfast early before he could finish, which was just upsetting. What could this toy possibly have in stock this time? He walked into the cafeteria, and scanned the room to check for anything out of the ordinary. He didn’t see anything unusual, but then again, he hadn’t seen anything wrong last time. Regardless, he kept his eyes on the ceiling.

Then the bear spoke about motives, and an envelope with a DVD in it. As he walked over to the table, he was unsure about what he would find inside his envelope. Sure enough, there it was, a very nice looking envelope with the words Kazuhiko Shori were written very neatly across the top, albeit in crayon.He decided to take his disc to his room, and watch it alone.

He was never a dreamer, and his only goal in life had been to protect others. He rarely thought of himself. So what could be in this envelope that this bear thinks will turn him into a killer? He found the monitor where he chatted with Alice and Victor, and saw a module on the side with a thin hole for the DVD. He sat in the chair, and inserted the disc, pressing Play on the module…

———————————————————————————————————

By the time the movie finished playing, Kazuhiko was…shocked, to say the least. He had to take a moment to compose himself, and assess the facts. He didn’t know how the headmaster could promise him something like that, or how it would even be accomplished. There would be a serious backlash from many people if he took the offer, and he hated letting people down. But… Looking at the disc again, he realized that this could be his only chance of release. He looked back at all the work he’d done over the years, all the time he’d spent, all his toil…

Kazuhiko stepped out of his room, and decided to go to the cafeteria, hoping to clear his mind a bit. It was around lunchtime, he guessed, and assumed food would help.