The speakers throughout the premises of the university grounds crackle to life after days of being silent. Nobody has seen hide nor hair of that pesky bi-coloured alpaca, and nobody has particularly wanted to, either. Her voice was grating, her countenance disturbing, and despite her cheerful colours, she reminded them of the inevitability of death. The ticking clock of the death of every man, woman, and child in Tokyo shone in her eyes as she spoke to you, and it made no one feel comfortable.
Still, days had gone by without a murder. Everyone seemed to be existing fairly harmlessly. Sure, they were bickering, and some small tiffs had broken out in the duration, but primarily...all was silent. All was well. They were proving that even under the most strain, they were above the base act of murder.
And yet the speakers crackled.
A voice was to tell them that, no, they had not passed the test. They had failed.
"I...I can't believe I'm saying this..." rang out Fuwa's voice, distilled by the tin of the speakers. "One of your classmates has committed a murder. The most dreadful act one could imagine, and one of you has done it."
There was a pause, as if she could hardly believe what she was saying.
"You are tasked with investigating the crime. Find out which of you is so cruel, so basic, as to have killed one of your friends. A trial will be held when enough evidence has been gathered. Investigation: Commenced."
Oh, oh my...I have dreadful news for you, my beloved students. The worst! It seems...it seems that s-someone doesn’t want you to stay here and play with me for the rest of your lives. My lessons just...they aren’t good enough for someone out there.
There is currently a rocket pointed directly at Tokyo City, I’m so...so sad to inform you. And someone, the person behind all this, behind me, too, I suppose...is going to shoot it off and kill every last person in Tokyo City unless one of you k-kills another…
An entire city’s population...is it worth defiling yourself in such a way? I...I could not say...I am just too sad to speak of it…
After everyone at the fountain had dispersed, Hanako searched her dorm room up and down—of all the areas that seemed to be accessible, it seemed to be the one most likely to have what she was looking for. Despite an unused phone jack by her bedside table that seemed to suggest communication with the outside was possible at one point, though, she couldn’t find any other trace of a phone.
She left the dorms in a bit of a huff, as searching her room up and down for thirty minutes had left her without any means at all of contacting the outside world. What kind of residential building wouldn’t at least have some sort of communal phone in it?
Of course, Hanako knew the answer to that—the type on a campus its inhabitants weren’t supposed to leave. But slight indignancy was easier to suffer through than seriously dealing with the issue at hand, or, even worse, being afraid.
As she exited the building and prepared to look elsewhere for a phone, she heard a bit of noise a few meters away. Near the back of the building…
Oh, she’d met this boy before.
”Kotaro-chan, is that you? What are you looking for back here?” Hanako thought back to what he’d told her when they first met. “…And did you happen to find any news about your truck?”
Hanako wound up catching Kotaro in a bit of an awkward situation, right in the middle of hopping up and down as if to gauge how far it was from the ground to the nearest visible window. He spun to face her, and hid any embarrassment from the situation behind a tactical adjustment of his cap.
"…I dunno, Amasan," He replied gruffly, "I’ll tell you when I find it." Then he added as an excuse: "I didn’t want to explore anywhere else someone else might have covered already. And about my truck, nothing yet… I tried to raise someone on my radio, but…"
Kotaro reached over and turned the dial of the device clipped to his shirt. Nothing. ”…No batteries.” He assumed someone had run the thing out during his going-away party and he’d used the last of it getting to Hope’s Peak. Normally changing them wouldn’t be such a big deal, but with the mess they found themselves in…
"…I put looking on hold for now," He concluded as a way to set aside he really had no clue, "We have bigger worries. What about you?"
“I’ve been looking around here for a phone,” Hanako sighed, “But I haven’t had a bit of luck, yet. I practically tore my room apart, and there wasn’t a single sign of one.”
Her hopes shot up then fell down when she heard about the radio. She had wanted nothing more than to find some way to communicate with the outside, and the radio would have worked so well, too. “Well, I suppose that’s just the way things are, then… but I’ll put batteries on my to-do list with your truck, okay? I can’t imagine anyone taking my garden away from me, so I won’t stop until I can help you with this, too!”
-
She decided it would be best to check one of the other few places she was allowed to enter scattered around the campus. As she slowly strolled down the tree-lined path from the dormitories (mostly to gather her thoughts, though she did make sure to take a few moments to appreciate the well-kept junipers), Hanako considered her options. She could see all sorts of buildings through the trees, none of them looking especially promising.
Except for one, on the end… was that a running track? It was, with vaults and numerous other pieces of sports equipment lying around, and a fieldhouse right next to it! If that was the case, there would certainly be a phone inside, wouldn’t there? After all, it was important to be able to call for help when an athlete was injured!
Even she had to admit that was a bit of a stretch, but it was the only lead she had.
Cutting between the trees and walking across the (very neatly trimmed and watered) grass, Hanako made her way to the large building. She tested the door, pleased to find it wasn’t locked, and pushed it open.
…she would definitely start looking for a phone. After, that is, she checked out the incredibly fun-looking rock climbing wall.
"Hanako-chan!" He called, and stood next to her. "Do you need any help?"
Having not heard the door open, Hanako whirled around, startled, and trying to find the source of the voice.
“Oh, Satoru-chan! I was just… uh… examining this rock wall to make sure it was safe, in case anyone ends up wanting to use it! Not that I would, I mean, I’m too busy trying to look around…” She made an exaggerated tug at one of the colorful handholds, and found it didn’t budge an inch. “N-nope! It seems alright!”
"But maybe if you wanted to help me help me check to make sure the rest of it is safe? I was looking for a phone, but it would be a good idea to make sure nobody accidentally gets hurt, wouldn’t it?"
That was it. She did want to make sure nobody got hurt, didn’t she? It wouldn’t be her fault if a teensy little bit of super-fun rock climbing was involved.
"O-oh, um..!" He stared up at the wall. Impressive as it may be, climbing something that high with only a wire to keep from falling to a horrid death, or at least a broken leg, wasn’t something that he really wanted to do. Still, he walked over to nudge one of the handholds and knock on the backboard a few times before nodding. "Eh, sure seems safe. So long as someone is extra careful and doesn’t climb without the proper equipment.."
He wanted to be seen as a brave man, but being faced by a precarious wall with flimsy wires is where he drew the line.
"A phone! Oh, there has to be one here, shouldn’t there? If someone were to take a harsh fall they’d have to contact someone..How’s about I search for the phone, and you can check if this rock wall is fully safe!”
He scurried from the wall as if it could fall on them at any moment, and started examining the regular, perfectly safe walls.
-
The next to enter was a boy she’d never met before.
"Oh? Looks like someone’s already here…" Takayuki called out, poking his head in through the door.
Folding the map and sticking it into his back pockets, he made his way over to the one who seemed to be taking a good look at the rock climbing wall. What caught his eye first was the girl’s height, and although being pretty tall himself, it wasn’t often a lady his age measured up to him this well.
"What’s this? Rock climbing? I had no idea they had these things on a campus. Guess I’ll have to include them if I ever decide to make a movie set in a place like this."
"Ah, I don’t believe we’ve talked before but, are you planning on scaling the wall? Looks to me like you’re interested in it! I wouldn’t mind watching!"
Hanako was almost certain she had seen that boy somewhere before— a few hours ago at the fountain, of course, but somewhere else, too, long before this whole mess had started. But she tried to keep that at at the back of her mind while she tried to think of some kind of excuse as to why she was doing something that could only be described as completely unproductive.
"Well, I’m not planning to scale it, exactly. You see, I’m just trying to find a telephone somewhere, and I thought that while I was here, I might check to make sure this climbing wall was safe enough to make sure anyone who did want to use it—
Wait, did you say something about movies?”
As suddenly as she had felt the urge to try the rock climbing wall, Hanako remembered why the stranger in front of her was not-so-strange looking.
"Oh… oh my goodness, I recognize you!" She couldn’t remember his name, exactly, but her minutes of research did tell her that he was responsible for movies that grossed more money than kernels in a cornfield.
“You’re some sort of famous movie maker, aren’t you? If that’s the case—actually, even if that wasn’t the case— there’s no way I’m going to try climbing that wall,” she told him, smiling slightly. “The only thing you’ll be watching is me falling flat on my face.”
He shrugged, with an amiable smile on his face.
“I’m not one to judge, but it’s okay...if a little boring.” He moved away from her then, going to chat up Satoru, who apparently had more of a story to tell than Hanako.
-
It took Hanako a second to notice the other girl, almost a foot shorter than her and maybe half as loud, but she certainly did remember the girl.
"We didn’t talk much, but I only just met you a few hours ago, Chie-chan," Hanako said, trying and failing to casually lean on one of the rock wall’s colorful protrusions. "Besides, the way you clip your hair back like that reminds me of my sister, so I don’t think it would be very easy for me to forget you at all."
"And if you were interested in helping out, then…" Hanako stared up at the wall. "Well, I was looking for some sort of telephone, but now I want to make sure this rock wall is safe, in case anyone else tries to climb it." Yep, that was it. No ulterior motive at all, whatsoever. "And it certainly is a large wall, don’t you think? I could get the job done a little bit faster with some assistance, if you were interested!"
Chie smiled, though her smile was quite obviously strained, at Hanako’s first statements. One would be surprised to know how easily Chie was forgotten, truth be told.
But at her proposal to ‘explore’ the wall, her face lit up again for a full fifteen seconds, with the most radiant smile she could deliver from such a small face. A game! Not a game she’d be particularly good at, but a game, nonetheless!
When she tried to maintain a more serious expression, professional-like, and all, she was still glowing from the pleasure of the idea of a game. No killing would happen, after all, if Hanako was representative of the group as a whole! Surely she was, right? No need to be nervous?
"Well," she said, hesitating slightly. She did want to appear formal but…what was a game to hurt things? She was stressed! "As long as we do it with official purposes, it should be okay, yes?"
Before either of them actually had a chance to begin figuring out the straps and harnesses that went into rock climbing safely, an announcement came on over the intercom that neither of them had been entirely aware of. Takayuki and Satoru looked up just as Chie and Hanako did, astonished and some small part alarmed. The voice filtering in through the speakers was clear, but clearly very upset about something.
“I...I have forgotten to tell you something...p-please gather near the fountain again…” The voice was Fuwa-Chan’s, and filled them with a sense of deep foreboding.
Super talented students poured in from all over the grounds, some going as far as to hop on the tram (which was fully operational, though seemed to operate by sensors--sketchy at best) to come in from their far off locations. All of them had heard the announcement. Chie, Satoru, and Hanako walked together, as did other groups from other destinations. A dark haired girl and a white haired boy emerged from the Cafe, looking disgruntled, with Chou the beekeeper trailing sleepily behind them. A strangely muscular young man, accompanied by a slender and angry youth and a girl with a small top hat and cane were already there at the fountain by the time Hanako arrived, presumably fresh from having explored the dormitory. The last stragglers, who had been elsewhere on campus, including the boy who cared so much about Fuwa-chan’s voice bank, Kuroda, and Natsu arrived before Fuwa-chan’s speech began.
What was she here to tell them? They were not entirely certain that they wanted to know.
[[A note for the reader: The mascot will speak in three voices, Italics is a high pitched, obviously feminine voice. Bold is a deeper, obviously masculine voice. Normal text is a more androgynous, middle-of-the-road voice.]]
???: Hello children, did you have a good nap~? Hmmmm? Oh I’m sure you have questions! Where are you, you might be wondering! What on Gosh’s Green Earth are you doing on this lovely afternoon? Where is your beloved school? Who are these beautiful and bright faced companions you have surrounding you?!
???: Feh, that’s quite a lot of questions!!
???: [looks vaguely concerned]
???: Should I answer them all at once?
???: An introduction is in order, yes, yes! I am Fuwa-chan, your headmistress, mentor, catalyst, and guide through your journey of self discovery I have kindly set you upon!
Chou Arakaki: ...A...stuffed toy...?
Fumiya Jirou: ...It looks like one of my figurines…
Aichi Karada: NO, you idiots...It’s a robot...er...not my robot.
Kuroda Kotaro: ...Of… of course it’s a robot! Really, since when could sheep talk…?
Teruo Ezura: What...are you simple-minded mortal children even...
Fuwa-chan: You may have noticed the buildings that you woke up in were familiar! If they aren’t then...tch, tch, you haven’t been doing your expected university visits! You are at a university in an undisclosed location, where I have decided to stage this instructive opportunity. You’re here at my choosing, because I have a special task for you~!
Fuwa-chan: Don’t you want to know what it is?? Tuhuhuuuu I’d love to tell you!!
Teruo Ezura: I’m rather certain that won’t be entirely necessary, but from my experiences with enigmatic, allegedly sentient hallucinations, your voice will carry on regardless.
Aichi Karada: Is this a game show?...
Natsu Hashimoto: What are you even talking about?
Fuwa-chan: You are tasked with staying here, with me, as my loyal and perceptive students, for all of eternity! All of your idiocy, ignorance, and putrescence will be cured of you by the end of eternity, one must only hope~ Tuhuhuhuuu~
Fumiya Jirou: Wait...what are you saying…?
Chie Ishihara: What??
Yoku Yoshida: I’m not an idiot, and I’m almost never putrid! [quieter] There was that one time, but I had was being dunked in the dunk take so that’s excusable.
Chou Arakaki: [to yoku] That’s what you’re worried about…?
Yoku Yoshia: [to Chou]: Why shouldn’t I be worried about being judged incorrectly?
Takayuki Shigeo: Students for eternity with an... alpaca as our teacher... That's certainly new...
Fumiya Jirou: Eh, I don’t think….I can stay here forever…?
Kuroda Kuroda: No can do, Alpakkun. Kuroda trucking doesn’t take extended holidays, you know…
Yuriko Mitsushita: Some of us have jobs, you know! Immensely important jobs! I’m supposed to release a translation next week…
Fuwa-chan: Do you...do you not like this plan? You d-don’t want to stay with me? Why wouldn’t you? :((((
Natsu Hashimoto: We can’t stay here forever we’d run out of food, people would come looking for us. This whole entire situation is absolutely ridiculous!
Fuwa-chan: Fine, there is a way out, but only for the most abhorrent of creatures. You must kill. Fft, quiet now! I have more to say, darling children! You must kill in cold blood one of your peers in order to leave our happy society! Of course, if you are caught, then we will have to persecute you...but I suppose if you are sneaky in addition to being evil, you must be expunged from our midst…
Chou Arakaki: ….Wha…?
Takayuki Shigeo: Um… Did I hear you right…? Are you reading your lines wrong? You must have not gotten enough time to practice them...
Natsu Hashimoto: [scowling] What do you mean kill someone?! There’s no way in hell anyone here would do that!
Fuwa-chan: No way? Uhhh more like yes way! I only speak the truth!!
Aichi Karada: K..ill? Whoa whoa whoa, that escalated way too quickly. [sweats]
Satoru Kato: What?! There’s no way I would resort to killing anyone for any such reason. Eh, this must be some sort of joke.
Hiro Morikawa: I don’t see why everyone is so surprised. [glares around the room and crosses his arms] Places like this are the metaphorical killers of society, it was only a matter of time before it started showing on the outside.
Yuriko Mitsushita : [mumbled]... what kind of crime novel is this?
Teruo Ezura: A horribly written one. I’m absolutely appalled.
Yoku Yoshida: Isn’t killing to leave a place where everyone else is going to get help being less horrible a little stupid?
Fumiya Jirou: [frowns] Now, now, Fuwa-chan. Let’s not be hasty. No one’s gonna fuckin’ kill just because they want to leave… [is visibly agitated]
Fuwa-chan: [to Fumiya] Good, then you can live out your short, disgusting, meaningless life with meeee~!! Just as planned, tuhuhuhu~~
Fumiya Jirou: Fuck you. [sneers] You may look cute, but you’re fucking disgusting me.
Aichi Karada: Then can I at least rewire you? And upgrade your voicebank because really…
Yoku Yoshida: I like, uh, his, I mean, her...it’s voice.
Fuwa-chan: [is completely unfazed by the conversation going on around her, staring blankly and silently at any criticism facing her, much like an inanimate object]
Chou Arakaki: Why..? Is this a joke..?
Fuwa-chan: [to Chou] Because I take education seriously, my lovely pupils! If I were to leave you in the hands of that dreadful school, I would be remiss in your learning schedule!
Takayuki Shigeo: Dreadful school, you say? Does this mean we aren’t anywhere near Hope’s Peak Academy at all? I can’t say I understand… Your pacing isn’t very good.
Chou Arakaki: [mumbled] This...has to be a prank, right?
Kuroda Kotaro: It’s… gotta be. I mean, nobody believes this… do you…?
Natsu Hashimoto: So this is Hope’s Peak? What happened to the real headmaster then? I don’t think they’d let something like this go on, unless it is some crazy simulation…There’s no way this is real.
Fuwa-chan: No way? Uhhh more like yes way! I only speak the truth!!
Yoku Yoshida: [in a dazed tone]: You look just like a stuffed animal at my carnival, but those didn’t tell us to kill each other.
Fumiya Jirou: [steps forward] What if I were to kill you, huh? What then…? [at fuwa]
Fuwa-chan: Aaaah nooo! Don’t hurt me! That’s it, I have to lay down the laws about this place!!!
Fuwa-chan: Rules and Regulations!
1. No no no NO violence on the headmistress! There will be serious, by which I mean deadly repercussions!!
2. At night, the Rec Hall and Cafe will be closed after 10 PM, because you little darlings need sleep! Sleep deprived children are MEAN children!
3. Have fun and be yourself~~
Hiro: Tch! Of course there would be rules.
Natsu Hashimoto: [mutters] But I run on sleep deprivation…I think I’m still pretty nice…
Aichi Karada: Wait...so...does she really mean it...about the killing…
Takayuk Shigeo: Who knows! I’m intrigued, though!
Aichi Karada: [to Takayuki] Intrigued?! Some fuckin’ psycho wants us to kill each other!
Takayuki Shigeo [to Aichi]: That’s what makes it interesting, isn’t it? Even if it is a prank, wouldn’t it be something if someone were to actually do it? Oh, I take it that you aren’t into the horror or mystery genre then.
Yoku Yoshida: It does sound very interesting, I doubt anyone would actually kill.
Fuwa-chan: Good, then you can live out your short, disgusting, meaningless life with meeee~!! Just as planned, tuhuhuhu~~
Chou Arakaki: E-even if this was a joke…why don’t we try calling for help? What about the p-police…?
Fuwa-chan: [giggles] You are cute.
Yuriko Mitsushita: Haven’t you read any good crime novels? That’s not how it works! [giggles]
Teruo Ezura: (looking somewhere in Yuriko’s general direction) Frankly, my fears lie more in the knowledge that I’m standing near you than the fact that the lot of us are supposedly trapped somewhere. My deepest apologies, but please make yourself scarce immediately.
Fumiya Jirou: [rubs his forehead] I can’t fuckin’ believe it. You are fucking insane. [to fuwa-chan]
Chie Ishihara: W-we will not have to kill! We just co-exist peacefully until the police come, right?
Aichi Karada: Tch. I’m sure this just another stupid training exercise by the school...or if it isn’t they’ll explain it off as one. [shudders] In that case I doubt the police would find out before it was too late [mutters] oh fuck oh fuck oh fuck…
Natsu Hashimoto: Everyone just calm down! There’s no way anyone here would actually stoop down to killing someone to get out. If we just wait it out and keep looking I’m sure we can find a safe, non-homicidal related, way out.
Chie Ishihara: Only a monster would kill their peers!
Fuwa-chan: Monster?! Where! Aaaah!! [trembles]
Chie Ishihara: [mumbling] You really must be kidding.
Takayuki Shigeo: What an unusual character...
Hiro Morikawa: If by unusual you mean bothersome, then I agree.
Kuroda Kotaro: ...Hey, whatever she wants us to do, it isn’t to stand here… we should double-check outside this campus to see what the hell is supposed to be going on…
Fuwa-chan: I’m afraid you cannot leave quite so easily! I want you here forever, remember? The only way you’ll be breaking out is by doing something so dreadful I can b-barely imagine it! [shivers] Luckily, that will not happen, right?
Satoru Kato: Is there at least a library we can visit on campus?
Aichi Karada: [quietly] Will the labs still be open?
Fuwa-chan: [yawning] You all have done...very well today...make sure you sign your syllabus and…[pointing at Chou] Get lots of rest for when I see you next! [gesturing wildly at everyone] I need to...go now…[curls up on the edge of the fountain and begins snoring loudly]
Chou Arakaki: Wh-Wha…?
Satoru Kato: It’s just going to fall asleep right there?? Can robot dolls even sleep in the first place?
Aichi Karada: [to Satoru] Well, it is advisable to program in a “Sleep Mode” so they can charge and still perform basic functions such as clock alarm, temperature reading, et cetera. [whispers] Fuck, I don’t have my pocketknife on me...if only I could open that thing up…
Teruo Ezura: I suggest one of you more able than I exterminate the creatures while their guards are down.
Yoku Yoshida: Does waking someone up rudely count as violence?
Chie Ishihara: I think...even if we may not escape by an obvious route, perhaps there is a way to get out without Fuwa-chan’s knowledge. We should explore.
Takayuki Shigeo: Hm... I guess that would make for an interesting story as well. An escape from the grasp of the homicidal multicoloured alpaca, yes! I'm already engaged! Explore, we should!
Natsu Hashimoto: Let’s just all work together and find a way out. There has to be some way out, we got in here so we have to be able to get out too…
Hiro Morikawa: Exploring is fine, but working together? I would rather not spend any time with you guys that I could be spending on my own. We should just split up.
Hanako Hayashi: I think you’re all correct. Even if we can’t find an escape route, it would be a good idea to look around and see if we can find anything to stop this from going any further. Personally, I’m going to try to find a phone… this is a large campus, so there must be one around here somewhere, yes? If we can’t directly talk to someone outside the campus, I think we should try to find some other way to contact them.
That was half of the truth. Really, there were about three people Hanako felt like talking to at that moment, but they were young, hundreds of miles away, and utterly unable to help. Still, though, she resolved in her mind as she walked towards one of the buildings: when she found a phone, she certainly would have more than one call to make.
…And make sure you always wear your flower because it will give you good luck forever and ever!!
Another “and ever” was scribbled onto the end of the sentence with pink colored pencil―that was her youngest sister, Hanako figured, she’d always liked pink the best. Smiling at the thought of all three of them standing at the gates of the airport, begging their parents to give her one last hug, Hanako folded up the stationary and put it in her left pocket for what must have been the tenth time that day.
Since she'd first boarded the plane without her family, she had been pulling the note out periodically, reading and rereading all two-and-three-quarters pages of the letter her family had written for her the night before she left for this Hope's Peak.
And now, as she stood at the gates of the huge school, she clutched it to keep herself grounded.
Of course, it wasn't just the physical size that intimidated Hanako―the school's reputation was twice as large as the campus itself. Years and years of amazingly talented teenagers had traveled in and out of the gates and gone on to become even more well-renowned than they already were.
And her own class was just as incredible. The few minutes she had spent on a search engine after finally getting her computer brought up the names of teenagers she had heard of many times-- the famed genius behind many of the decade’s hit movies, a prodigal rapper whose most popular songs her second-youngest sister had played on repeat for three days before her parents had threatened to bury the radio in the garden, even the director of an incredibly fun (if not incredibly unhealthy) carnival she’d once visited-- and who apparently directed many more than just that single one!
Was she even remotely ready to go to school with those kinds of kids? It had shocked Hanako to the point of nearly collapsing when she first received her admission letter, and she was feeling the same now. Slightly dizzy, vision wet and blurry, legs growing weaker…
Hanako shut her eyes, and when she opened them again, she was in a different place entirely.
Hanako was lying on some sort of plastic upholstery, the kind found on restaurant chairs and trains-- and as far as she could tell, the latter was where she was lying right now. Pushing herself up to a sitting position, she looked out of the wide windows of the car, and watched as the scenery moved slowly around her.
How on Earth had she gotten here? And for that matter, where on Earth was here?
She didn’t have much time to ponder, for as she turned and settled back into a more comfortable seated position, the car stopped suddenly, and the doors a few steps away from her slid open.
What was she supposed to do now? She was in an utterly unfamiliar place-- this was not at all what the brochure for Hope’s Peak had made it out to look like-- but the tram car was entirely empty. If she was going to find any answers about her situation, they weren’t going to be in there.
Taking a deep breath, she stood up and walked outside of the car.
The area was beautiful, but bizarrely empty, just as the tram had been. She couldn’t see a single person walking around or milling about, staff member or student or--
She squinted into the distance. Something-- someone, was standing a few hundred meters away.
Perhaps they would have the answers to her questions.
--
"Excuse me, may I speak to you for a moment? I'm a little bit lost right now. Do you have any idea of where this place is? If... If you could direct me to a staff member or someone like that, I'd be very grateful!"
The small, pink haired girl looked up, eyebrows knitted together in confusion.
"Staff?" she repeated, tremulously. "N-no, I have not seen any staff."
Although the day was warm, she shivered slightly, and rubbed at her arms. She peered around, looking sharply at Hanako's face with trepidation, and trying to take in as much as she could from her surroundings without turning into a complete mess.
"I woke up in a hallway, in what seemed like a dorm," she explained. "I have been wandering around since then. Who are you? Do you have any explanations?"
"Ahh, I see... I'm not entirely sure what's happening, but I think we may be in the same sort of situation. I woke up somewhere strange-- some kind of tram car-- and now I'm just really confused, too."
She tried her best to smile reassuringly at the girl.
"I'm sure everything will be alright, though. My name is Hanako Hayashi. What's yours?"
The girl nodded, and bowed hurriedly, clearly not out of planned respect but as an automatic reaction.
"I am Chie Ishihara. A literary editor by trade and by title. It is a pleasure to meet you, Hayashi-senpai. Have you met any others here, yet?"
"I'm afraid not. Actually, you're the first person I've even SEEN here, Chie-chan. I certainly hope we're not the only ones here, but so far, that seems to be the case-- Oh, over there!"
Hanako could make out, vaguely, the shape of a few other people walking towards them. Maybe THEY had answers. Or maybe they were just as clueless as her and Chie, but even knowing there were other friendly-seeming faces about would be a comfort.
"I'm going to try to talk to some of them, and see if they know anything about what's going on here," Hanako told the smaller girl. "I'll be right around here, but if you find something or need me, just call me, okay?"
Chie nodded, though balked at first by hesitance, and offered a smile that was surely meant to be reassuring.
"I might be able to find someone who can help. Splitting up is best. Thank you, Hayashi-senpai," she said in parting as she stepped away in something of a daze.
--
Even if Chie had no idea what was going on, and the gaggle of approaching people seemed just as misinformed, and, well, young, Hanako thought
"Excuse me! I'm sorry if I'm bothering you, but, um... do you have any idea what's happening here? I just woke up on some tram, here, and nobody seems to know what's happening. The same thing didn't happen to you, did it?"
The long haired boy looked confused, as if his head hurt, and as though he were trying to find someone who knew what was going on. Though of course, with his luck, the person he found doesn't seem to know either.
"A-apologies. I've no idea what happened, and..yes. Same thing happened to me. I haven't the foggiest what's happening.”
"Oh... I see." It would have been frustrating, talking to so many people and getting the same answer, but everyone seemed too confused and scared to feel anything but worried.
"In any case, where DID you end up waking up? I'm not sure if it matters too much, but the fact that Chie and myself woke up in different parts of this place may mean something. Oh, and I'm Hanako Hayashi, by the way. If you need anything, I'll try to help you however I can!"
"I woke up on a couch in what I guess in a rec room. Eh, Very strange place to sleep..Oh! I'm Satoru Kato. A pleasure to meet you."
He smiled and it was very charming. "So long as no one is dead, I suppose the situation isn't so dire, however strange…”
"Ahh, that is an... optimistic way of looking at it, I think." Satoru was right, though-- even if they were confused, they were alive.
"It's very nice to meet you too. I'm going to go talk to some of the others and see if they have any idea of what's going on, but like I said, Satoru-chan, please don't be afraid to ask me if you need anything, all right?"
"Well, what would be the point in being a complete downer?" He giggled a bit at himself. "Good luck finding anything out, Hanako-san!”
--
The small blonde looked over her shoulder at the new girl, her expression one of pure confusion. She blinked heavily at Hanako, trying to process her question.
"Ahh, sorry...I don't exactly know what's going on..." The girl yawned and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. "I just woke up on the edge of the fountain over there..." She motioned vaguely in the direction of the stone structure.
"Oh, that's alright. To be honest, actually, I'm not sure anybody else has much of an idea about what's going on either, so don't feel bad about it, all right?"
And though she hated to admit it, it was probably for the better that they were all in this situation together, too. At the very least, it gave them something in common. "I'm Hanako Hayashi, by the way. I'll be sure to tell you if I figure anything out, but until then, if you need anything, please come and tell me, alright?"
The girl nodded. "My name's Chou Arakaki. Just Chou is fine, though..."
Making straight-on eye contact with the girl before giving a slight bow, the girl continued. "Thank you, I'll be sure to. If I can help with anything, I will." She yawned again. "Just let me know"
"Alright, Chou-chan. Just... make sure that you take care of yourself, yes? I know you just woke up, but maybe a little bit more sleep would be good after we settle this, yes?"
--
At this point, Hanako wasn't sure if ANYONE knew what was going on. Still, though, she'd might as well ask. Every small bit of information could help them piece the situation a little better, couldn't it?
"Excuse me! I'm sorry if I'm bothering you, but, um... do you have any idea what's happening here? I just woke up on some tram, here, and nobody seems to know what's happening. The same thing didn't happen to you, did it?"
The male student turned around and cast a sidelong glance at Hanako, adjusting his cap. "Yeah, sorry, It pretty much did. I don't know how I got here..." But then, he smiled, "...But I've still got my keys, so not all hope is lost. Now I've just gotta find my truck."
"You didn't happen to see one around here, did you?"
"A... truck? You... you mean one you drive, yes?" Hanako wasn't entirely certain how one went about misplacing an entire truck, but having never owned one herself, didn't feel like she was exactly in the position to judge the boy. "I haven't seen one anywhere around here, sorry."
"I'd try to help you find it, but I think everyone's a little too disoriented to form together and make some kind of organized search effort. I'm Hanako Hayashi, by the way-- When this is all settled, I'll gladly help you find it!"
"Sure do!" He grinned. "You're talking to Kotaro Kuroda, one of the best in the business!"
"Good to meet you all the same, Hayashi-san." The news she hadn't seen his truck seemed to dampen his spirits... but not by a whole lot. He gave the green-haired Hanako a thumbs-up. "I like your attitude. Spread the word, would ya? If you find anything, I'll be right here."
"I will, Kotaru-chan! If anything develops, you'll be the first one to know." Well, they were all in the same area, so maybe not the first, but one of them, at least. "I'm sure we'll find it soon, so try not to worry about it too much, alright?"
--
The white haired boy, moreso than anyone else, was thrown off by their sudden change in location. Reaching for a wall, the floor, any sort of solid ground he could get his bearings on, the boy sucked air in through gritted teeth and strained his senses in search of some clue as to their whereabouts.
What he found was not much help. "Hmm...my thoughts precisely, actually. Of course, enlightenment has shown me the way to prosperity and glory...but, unfortunately, it would appear this area is rather...dark. A pity, that. And you are?"
"I. I, um... I see. Well, I'm sorry the... enlightenment couldn't help you out this time, but that's alright. I don't think anyone else really has any idea of what's going on here, so, um, don't worry too much about it." She said, hoping she hadn't just offended a deep-rooted system of beliefs.
"I'm Hanako Hayashi, and I know I sure don't have a clue about what's going on here, either."
The photographer sniffed in disdain, brushing her comment off with a flick of his wrist and a practiced hand run through his long, white-blond ponytail. "No matter. True vision comes to those who seek and deserve it, and I more than anyone fit the criterion."
Replacing his neutral expression with a practiced smile, Teruo gestured with his hand in the general area he assumed her to be standing, hoping his intention of a handshake would be conveyed. In the meantime, he spoke clearly and concisely. "Well, Hayashi-san, as they say, birds of a feather simply must stick together. My name is Teruo Ezura."
"I... Alright." It honestly hadn't been anywhere near the most unbelievable thing to happen to her all day. "I'm sure the true vision will come to you soon."
Hanako stepped to the right a bit so she could properly shake his hand. "You're right about that, Teruo-chan. If we want to get any answers, we'll have to work together. So if you need anything, just tell me, okay? I'll do my best to help you!"
--
Natsu looked confused noticing someone else had finally come to and woken up. Waving at the taller girl to get her attention, Natsu called out, "Good morning!"
Trotting over to stand in front of the other girl, the androgynous teen tilted her head to the side, eyebrows knitting together in confusion, "Do you have any clue where we are, or better yet what's going on? I doubt you know anything, but doesn't hurt to ask. All I know is I woke up with a killer headache and everything just seems blurry and everyone else seems to be the same way too. "
"Oh, someone else is awake! I-- Wait. I've... I've seen you somewhere else, haven't I? You look really, REALLY familiar, I think." Hanako thought for a few moments. "But anyways, no, I don't think anyone knows exactly what's going on... and they all seem to have the same story as you, too."
"I'm Hanako Hayashi, by the way, and-- I'm so sorry, but I swear I've seen you before somewhere! Did I meet you at some sort of flower-arranging convention, or something?"
Natsu practically sparkled at the fact that Hanako might recognize her. Not a beloved fan but still someone who knew who she was was better then nothing, "I'm sure you've seen my beautiful mug all over the TV and magazines" She bowed at a ridiculous perfect ninety degree angle one arm tucked be hide her back the other across her chest before bouncing back up straight and offering a hand to the taller girl, "I'm Natsu Hashimoto, the one and only super high school level rapper! It's an absolute pleasure to meet you, Hanako! I hope we can work together to figure out what exactly is going on."
"Natsu Hashi-- Oh, you're the one who sung that one song that was popular a few months back! The one that Kiku played for a few weeks straight..." Hanako had liked it the first few dozen times she heard it, but after that... "A-anyways, my sister's a huge fan of all of your work, not just that one song! And I am too, I mean!"
Geez, starstruck was putting it mildly.
"B-but anyways," she continued, trying to change the subject. "It's nice to meet you too, Natsu-chan. I'm sure we'll figure out whatever is happening here soon. And in the meantime, if you need anything, don't be afraid to ask, okay? I want to make sure everyone is alright..."
Natsu bounced on the heels of her feet happily at the statement. "It's so wonderful to hear you and your friend, or is it siblings I'm sorry I'm not sure, are fans of mine. Thank you so much for supporting me, if you really do need any help ever I'll be glad to support you too." She laughed a little and scratched the back of her head sheepishly, "I really do hope my songs have been playing more then just a few months back. I've released and have been working on more then enough material to keep people happy..."
"Just call me Natsu, we're going to be friend right? No reason to be so formal of we're going to become friends," Natsu insisted her cheeks flushing a bit pink at the formality. "I promise I'll be fine, I've been in enough fights to be able to handle myself. If you ever need anything ever, feel free to ask. I'd be very happy to help a cute girl like yourself!"
"O-oh, o-of course, of course! I didn't mean anything like that!" Hanako stuttered. "I don't listen to a lot of music, b-but I'm sure all of yours is really is popular!"
She felt herself blushing even redder than the rapper at her next comment. "A-and... of course for that, too. Natsu-cha-- Natsu... I'll make sure to ask for your help if I need it, too." She looked away, nervously. "B-but for now, I'm going to check on everyone else, okay? I'll see you again soon!"
"Of course I wouldn't want to hog you all to myself, but I do want to see more of you later. Good luck figuring out what's happened though, I'll work on finding out some stuff too!" Natsu beamed at her, before casually shoving her hands her he pockets and slipping right past Hanako to talk to the other students.
--
If these people really are going to be my classmates… well, it’ll be an interesting year, to say the least.
Either way, Hanako thought, they all seemed relatively… nice?
She was going to stick with nice.
The group had conglomerated by a large, stone fountain. Some chatting amongst themselves, some walking quietly, some… Hanako wasn’t entirely sure what they were doing, and wasn’t entirely sure if she wanted to find out. She herself tried to stick in the middle of the crowd as much as possible, but couldn’t bring herself to talk to any of the others-- her mind was preoccupied with a million and one questions and even more concerns, so much so that she didn’t notice when she nearly bumped into the student who had suddenly moved in front of her.
She would have apologized, profusely, had she not seen what caught their attention originally.
What WAS that thing?
