Dragonronpa (Danganronpa x WoF) 1

## **Intro (& Main Cast)**

\*Currently Playing- "Heartless Journey" (New Danganronpa V3 Soundtrack)\*

**`((Possible)MATURE CONTENT WARNING)`**

(I say possible because there's a chance it's not as bad as I think- but I think I'm imagining it. Well, best be careful either way.)

This story is based off the events of the game *Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc*. This is meant to be a retelling of the story, with my OCs replacing the various characters within the story. For more context, this story will take place within a more... modernized Pyrrhia. (Where exactly this story takes place is likely Rainforest kingdom.) I will also be leaving various "Author's notes" at points I feel are appropriate, or may need further clarification. Oh, and one more thing for now- Anyone and everyone has permission and is encouraged to make edits to this article- however, if I specifically undo said changes, I ask you not to overwrite them.

###### --CAST--

> **Arid** as **Makoto Naegi** (Super High School Level Good Luck)
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> **Dragonflame** as **Sayaka Maizono** (Super High School Level Pop Sensation)
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> **Freeze** as **Byakuya Togami** (Super High School Level Heir)
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> **Darkbreaker** as **Junko Enoshima** (Super High School Level ~~Fashionista~~ Stealth)
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> **Nightseeker** as **Chihiro Fujisaki** (Super High School Level Programmer)
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> **Aero** as **Mondo Owata** (Super High School Level Gang Leader)
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> **Terra** as **Kiyotaka Ishimaru** (Super High School Level Moral Compass)
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> **Darksight** as **Kyoko Kirigiri** (Super High School Level ?????????)
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> **Ventus** as **Leon Kuwata** (Super High School Level Baseball)
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> **Aqua** as **Aoi Asahina** (Super High School Level Swimmer)
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> **Quicksight** as **Toko Fukawa** (Super High School Level Writer)
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> **Crimson** as **Sakura Ogami** (Super High School Level Martial Artist)
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> **"Valori"** as **Celestia Ludenberg** (Super High School Level Gambler)
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> **Oblivion** as **Hifumi Yamada** (Super High School Level Dojin Artist)
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> **Moonless** as **Yasuhiro Hagakure** (Super High School Level Clairvoyant)
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> **Fatebreaker** as **?????? ???????** (???????????????????????????????)
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> **Darksand** as **????????? ???** (????????????????????????????????)
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> **Despairseeker** as **Monokuma** ("Headmaster")
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> **Fateseer** as **??? ????????** (Headmaster)
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###### --INTRO--

A cartoonish-looking Nightwing figure- A robotic one at that- sits in a classroom. A button stands before him, and across from him, another Nightwing sits, bound to a chair, trying to scream, but no sounds emerge. Said bound Nightwing seems to be within some sort of capsule, but one of the sides are open. The nightwing-resembling figure pushes the button, and the capsule closes, dragon still within. As the device powers on, it becomes clear what the capsule was- a makeship rocket ship of sorts. It blasts off into space, echoing through the floors above the class they were once in, before reaching its peak and beginning to fall once more. As quickly at it had set off, it fell once more- landing with a crashing impact. As the doors slowly open to reveal its contents, the Nightwing who was last seen within was gone... replaced by a skeleton of a dragon, marking his death. The cartoonish figure chuckled to himself, seemingly finding this amusing- as if it was a joke no one else would likely understand.

## **Prologue (Daily life)**

A Sandwing stood nervously, looking towards the sight before him. He began to think to himself... *So this is it... It seems to tower over every other building here. Fitting, for what I'd expect from Hope's Peak- it is meant to serve as a hosting ground for talent of all kinds, I suppose. So why am I here, then? I guess I won out of luck, but that just makes me wonder why luck is even a factor... How could having "good luck" be considered an "ultimate", by any stretch of the imagination?... I feel like I almost shouldn't be here. Well, I suppose there's no time for this, even if I am seemingly a bit early... For now, all I have to do is take the first step, right?* He nodded, confirming his own thoughts to himself, and stepped forwards... before his vision began to fade... all before cutting entirely to black.

-Some time later-

He raised his head, clearly having been sleeping on a desk prior, but he was not sure entirely why... "Nngh..." He guessed that he must've passed out at the gate, and another student took him in- how else would he find himself in a classroom, alone, then? *How embarrassing...* He got up to leave, but not before looking around, even if only for a bit. The first thing he did was look to the window to try to judge what time it was, but that was stopped by, arguably, the most noticeable addition to the room- every window had been barred on with various oddly placed metal sheets. "What the-" He was too surprised to realise he was talking aloud. *Why are they covering the windows? That's odd...* Nothing else in the room seemed to catch his attention, for the most part- Security camera, Odd-looking television at the back, Clock- that was, except for the note on his desk. *What's this?...* He opened it, curiosity taking hold. It read, 'Well Arid, kid, you've been accepted to Hope's Peak Academy, the most prestigious academy in the world- I have to congratulate you for that! Hope you enjoy your stay, because you'll be spending the rest of your life in here! Heheheheh!' Upon reading this, Arid was confused. "Whose idea of a sick joke is this?...." *Well, there's not much I'll get just standing about- I should get going.* He walked over to the door, opening it and stepping out into the hallway, the same sense of unease always behind him. As he stepped into the hallway, an expansive place opened up before him- merely limited by the fact nearly every door he found was locked- or, at the very least, unneeded at the moment. He quickly found his way into the main hall, finding 14 dragons before him- most certainly, the "Ultimates" he was to be classmates with.

As he stepped into the main hall, they all seemed to turn to him at once.

???: "Another new kid, huh?"

**Arid:** **"**Y-yeah... so you all are...?**"**

???: "Indeed. We are all new here, and this is our first day... or it was supposed to be."

???: "Counting him, it seems there are 15 of us... a reasonable cutoff point."

*So this was our class... A decently varied ensemble, I must say.*

**Arid:** **"**My name is Arid... sorry, I didn't realise how late I would be- I just remember stepping onto school grounds, but I couldn't remember anything after that... I think I blacked out, and after that, I woke up in here.**"**

???: "You too, huh?"

???: "This is getting more confusing by the minute..."

???: "Strange indeed.... there should be absolutely no doubt about that!"

**Arid:** **"**W-what do you all mean...?**"** *I must've missed something before arriving...*

???: "One moment, Arid! There's something else I must address with you! How could you arrive so late without so much as caring?"

???: "Why do you care? He didn't want to be late, you know."

???: "Hey, calm down... why don't we just introduce ourselves instead?"

???: "The heck? This isn't the time for a peaceful introduction, you know!!"

???: "I don't know, it's probably better we know who we're talking to... or at least each other's names."

???: "I suppose you're right..."

???: "So, that's settled... We'll all introduce ourselves, then get down to solving the bigger problems. Right?"

*I can't say I understand what's going on right now... maybe talking to a few other dragons would give me a better idea of what's happening.* Arid first turned to one of the only two other Sandwings here, who seemed to already have their eye on him.

???: "My name is Terra. I believe simplicity is overlooked most often, so I'd rather we just get this done."

**Student name: Terra | Ultimate: Moral compass**

*So this is Terra. I've heard a decent bit about him... apparently, he's supposed to be the shining example of what a "model student" should be. I can see that about him...*

**Terra:** "I believe you claimed your name was Arid, correct? A solid name, indeed. Don't let that name lose its value, alright? Life is the kind of thing you should put your effort into!"

*I can also see him getting a bit ear-grating, but I'm sure we can get along.*

Arid turned to the dragon next to him, a Nightwing... perhaps with a bit of Sandwing ancestry.

???: "Whether you remember my name or not isn't important, but... my name is Quicksight."

**Student name: Quicksight | Ultimate: Writing prodigy**

*Yeah, Quicksight... starting her literary career at a surprisingly young age, she put out her best work- her Magnum Opus- about a year ago, winning top romance novel with a scroll named "So lingers the Ocean"... You know, for someone so great at romance novels, you wouldn't expect her to be so shy.*

**Quicksight:** "It's rude to stare, you know."

**Arid:** "Ah, I'm sorry, I-"

**Quicksight:** "Don't worry, it's fine. I'm just letting you know so it doesn't happen again. It was probably my mistake anyways..."

*Oddly, a bit self-doubting too... She's rather peculiar.* After that, Arid turned to the next dragon he saw- the only other Sandwing here,

???: "Hi! I'm Dragonflame. I look forward to get to know you better!"

**Student name: Dragonflame | Ultimate: Pop sensation**

*Dragonflame... a name I was honestly surprised to see expected as a student, but the more I think about it, the more I can understand it. She was one of the few who could rise along with the increasing popularity of music... and the youngest, by far. Most agree she pushed her group to stardom, and having her right here... before me... it almost doesn't feel real.*

**Dragonflame:** "I'm real, you know... After all, I'm right here."

**Arid: "**How did you..."

**Dragonflame:** "I'm psychic."

**Arid:** "W-what? Really?"

**Dragonflame:** "No, I just have good intuition! REALLY good intuition."

She seemed amused at this. *Well, no kidding...*

**Dragonflame:** "Actually, Arid, I-"

**Terra:** "Oh, mind cutting it out? You're being a bit louder than needed! This is supposed to be an introduction, not a "get-to-know-my-life-story"!"

*Yeah, he's crossed back into annoying territory.* They nodded, stepping away from each other. *Whatever it was she wanted to say... I'm sure it can wait, actually.* Arid turned to the next dragon- an orange-yellow Skywing.

???: "Hey, what's up? The name's Ventus. Nice to meet ya!"

**Student name: Ventus | Ultimate: Baseball**

*So this is the super high school level baseballer... like Dragonflame, he gained popularity being the youngest to jump on the idea of an upcoming trend- in this case, a sport named baseball. Oddly enough, he doesn't seem like he fits the concept of "Baseball"...*

**Ventus:** "Hey, something bothering you?"

**Arid:** "Sorry, you just don't seem all that similar to how the descriptory articles... well, describe you."

**Ventus:** "Hey, I really don't appreciate your attitude! Whatever you found was probably wrong anyways- I've been like this for awhile now, y'know!"

*Okay, message received. Your aggression is exactly as advertised though, So you probably don't need to repeat yourself anymore...* As if she could sense the tension, Dragonflame interrupted.

**Dragonflame:** "Hey, Lion, calm down, will you?"

They were both left confused by this- it seemed to amuse her, too, as she chuckled to herself, turning away. Ventus seemed to mutter something to himself.

**Ventus:** "*Lion... is that her nickname for me or something?*" (Author's note: If you know why, you know why. Feel free to guess, or to not.)

**Arid:** "S-sorry about that... it was just a misunderstanding, that's all."

**Ventus:** "No, it's fine... actually, I wasn't entirely honest to you back there..."

**Arid:** "R-really? How so?"

**Ventus:** "Well, I have kind of changed... but really only in terms of goals, you know?"

**Arid:** "No, I... can't say I do..."

**Ventus:** \*sigh\* "Honestly, I'm... thinking of moving away from baseball."

**Arid:** "Really? Why?"

**Ventus:** "A couple things... For one, popularity about it is kind of dwindling. Not just that, but... honestly, my passion is too. I'd much rather get into music... I figure, if I go here, I can find a few other ultimates to... I don't know, back me up?"

**Arid:** "Oh... I see."

*Not what I'd expect from him... not even quite dedicated enough to his signature passion, either.* Arid turned to the next dragon there, a Nightwing wearing glasses who seemed to be eyeing him already.

???: "My name... is Oblivion. It is a pleasure to meet you."

**Student name: Oblivion | Ultimate: Manga creator**

*Oblivion, huh... name seems familiar, but I'm not sure where. I'm pretty sure it was more about his modest success, less so compared to the... lack of broadness his area of expertise has.*

**Oblivion:** "I look forward to getting to know you... however, I'd... prefer to also get to know everyone before getting to know one dragon in particular. You understand, right?"

Arid gave a hesitant nod, looking over at another small group of dragons talking to one another. The only Seawing of them all turned to him as he made his way over.

???: "Nice to meet you! My name's Aqua, if you didn't know. Hi!"

**Student name: Aqua | Ultimate: Swimming**

*Aqua, right... famed for taking an impressive amount of wins at swimming tournaments, at a surprisingly young age, too. Makes sense, since she IS a seawing, of course...*

**Aqua:** "Hey, sorry if this sounds bad, but what was your name again? Sorry, I forget easily..."

**Arid:** "No, it's fine... my name's Arid."

**Aqua:** "Okay, thanks! I'll try not to forget it this time!"

She laughed about it a bit, after which Arid turned to a relatively short Nightwing.

???: "Um, h-hello... M-my name's Nightseeker... Nice to meet you."

**Student name: Nightseeker | Ultimate: Programming**

**Nightseeker:** "I should hope we can get to know each other better while we're here."

He nodded. *Nightseeker, right... I think she's well-known mostly from her cutting-edge programs... and her personality.*

**Arid:** "Yeah... nice to meet you."

Nightseeker seemed to whisper something to herself about this feeling familiar. *What is she talking about...?* He looked away, trying hard to ignore the guns strapped to the security cameras and focus more so on meeting the other half of the students. The next dragon he noticed was a Nightwing, somehow both lost in thought and observing him passively. He looked back at her, a passive silence being maintained. After a bit, he spoke up.

**Arid:** "U-um... who are you?"

???: "Since you asked, my name is Darksight."

**Student name: Darksight | Ultimate: ?????????**

**Arid:** "C-can I ask what your ultimate is?"

**Darksight:** "Why should I? I have no obligation to, and should therefore not need to tell you."

He nodded, a bit surprised. *She's a bit cold... I practically have chills hearing her speak. She's not friendly, but she's not exactly intentionally so... maybe I should talk to her again later.* He turned to another Skywing, clearly identifiable by their cape-covered wings and scarf around the neck. They were seemingly not paying attention. Their eyes locked shortly after, at which point they began talking.

???: "Hello. I'm Darkbreaker, SHSL Stealth. Nice to meet you!"

**Student Name: Darkbreaker | Ultimate: Stealth**

*Yeah, they seem nice. I suppose that's not what I expected, though... Maybe it's just me- or I suppose it's because their entire point is to be surprising.*

**Arid:** "It's nice to meet you too."

An odd smile stood on their face.

**Darkbreaker:** "Well, I think I'd like to know you more some time."

He nodded back at them, turning to the last dragon in the group- a tall Skywing, practically towering over the rest of them. Arid looked nervously to them, who was seemingly prepared to greet him.

???: "Hey. Name's Aero. Nice to friggin' meet you, I guess."

**Student name: Aero | Ultimate: Gang leader**

*So this is Aero... He's the leader of one of the most prolific gangs, if not the most prolific, known as Shining diamond... wonder why he's here. Odd selection, isn't it...?*

**Arid:** "N-nice to meet you."

**Aero:** "Yeah."

*He seems a bit dangerous... I wouldn't want to get on his bad side.* He turned away. *Well, guess there's only the other 4...* He turned to the other students- 2 Nightwings, a Skywing, and an Icewing. He turned first to the other Skywing.

???: "Hello. My name is Crimson."

**Student Name: Crimson | Ultimate: Martial artist**

*Wow... so this is Crimson. Famed for taking home a victory in a fighting tournament- non-lethal, thankfully. Apparently her record is 400-0, absolutely no losses... impressive to be sure.*

**Arid:** "It's an honour to meet you."

Crimson simply watched Arid as he backed away, the conversation over before it truly began. He turned next to the Icewing, who was casting a cold glare across the room.

???: "What do you want? No, wait- let me guess, you wanted to know my name? It's Freeze, and use it sparingly- I'm not here to have it tainted from overuse."

**Student name: Freeze | Ultimate: Heir**

**Arid:** "Nice to meet you."

**Freeze:** .....

He was silent. He clearly had no intent to talk anymore. *Not exactly welcoming... Although, he is the pinnacle of what an Icewing would seem like. Really only chosen out of almost obligation... what obligation, however, I am unsure. Heir still doesn't seem like a valid "talent", though... does it?* His thoughts were interrupted by him.

**Freeze:** "Come on then, why are you just standing there? Isn't this introduction over already? Go away."

Arid backed away hurriedly. *I thought Darksight was cold, but she at least didn't seem all that maliciously- intending about it... His arrogance radiates intent, just as he radiates arrogance...* Arid then turned to one of the last two students- the only of two, it seemed.

???: "Hello. My name's Moonless- sorry if it's a bit long, though. It's nice to meet you."

**Student Name: Moonless | Ultimate: Clairvoyance**

*Moonless... this is him. He's apparently got lots of praise from there... I don't understand it enough to care all that much, though... as interesting as it might be.* He looked to be almost intently staring off into space... *Maybe he's trying to tell the future? No, probably not.*

**Moonless:** "Huh, that's odd..."

**Arid:** "What is?"

**Moonless:** "I think we're going to see the headmaster in the gym after this... I don't know why, but it feels strange to me. Probably not even correct, anyways. I mean, a 3 in 10 isn't a great chance..."

He nodded encouragingly. *Yeah, it's probably nothing. 30% isn't very high accuracy as is...* He turned to the last student, an elegant Nightwing.

???: "I do not believe we have been introduced. My name is Valori."

**Student Name: Valori | Ultimate: Gambling**

**Arid:** "Valori... A rather unique name."

**Valori:** "Indeed. I would not disagree to call it fitting- but it's not entirely fitting, I suppose."

*She's surprisingly polite... I don't know why I expected something different, though. Maybe all the rumours made her out as different... Or perhaps it was simply her reputation as the "Gambler who's never lost a bet". Perhaps her reputation precedes her... With all the arrogance from various tall tales and all.*

**Valori:** "I look forward to getting to know you better."

She laughed slightly, managing to keep the thin air of mystery around her intact. He stepped back, remembering that she was the last of the 14 students he was classmates with. *Overall reception... I'd say they'd stand out in a crowd, but I can't say I know them that well. So... what now, then?*

**Freeze:** "We should probably discuss the bigger issue, now... for example, if Arid's story is to be believed, and he truly simply "Blacked out and woke up in here", we'll need to understand why that seems to be the case for the rest of us, as well."

**Arid:** "Wait, really? How would that happen?"

**Aero:** "Like WE know! Otherwise, we wouldn't be fricking PANICKING!"

**Arid:** "No need to shout... what, are we not even at the school?"

**Terra:** "It would explain the newfound presence of this large vault door blocking the exit... I assure you, it was not there when I came here!"

**Ventus:** "What do you mean, that we were kidnapped? No, that's not okay- Nah, I'll just go sleep it off. You all have fun."

**Darkbreaker:** "It's not like there's much of another option... I mean, where else would all of my stuff gone?"

**Nightseeker:** "M-mine too... it's all gone."

With it seeming that there was tension rising among them, it hit a fever pitch when the monitor- one none of them had seemed to notice- suddenly turned on, and a voice spoke from them.

???: "Mike check, Mike check... 1, 2, 1, 2... Okay! School broadcast system is working! Now then, let's see..."

The voice was out of place with the atmosphere- it was happy, in a perfectly natural way- one clear of panic, stress, simply having a good time- to the apparent dismay of his supposed captors. A shadow had appeared on the monitor, clearly draconic in nature, but it was too distorted to make out.

???: "Dear new students of Hope's Peak Academy! The entrance ceremony will be beginning shortly. Please make your way to the gymnasium at your earliest convenience! That is all."

The voice cut, leaving the students in confusion over the events which had just transpired.

**Darkbreaker:** "What the heck was that?"

**Freeze:** "I should be going..."

He left the room, a few other dragons following- clearly not as concerned as they should've been. Arid, however, stayed, the worry he felt not suddenly having left- It seemed, judging by the room's lack of emptiness, that he was not the only one with suspicions.

**Dragonflame:** "This feels wrong..."

**Darkbreaker:** "Yeah, something about this feels off..."

**Darksight:** "Maybe so, but we don't have much of a choice. We also need to find out what's going on here."

**Crimson:** "If we do not move forward, we learn nothing. Let's go."

Arid nodded in agreement, turning to them all before stepping out into the hall.

### **Prologue: Daily Life (INTERMISSION/CHECKPOINT)**

They all made their way to the gym's entrance room, packed almost to the brim with various trophies.

**Terra:** "Something about this still feels off, I just don't know what..."

**Aero:** "Hey, here's an idea, how about EVERYTHING."

**Dragonflame:** "Yeah, I didn't even see anyone else..."

**Crimson:** "If it's a creepy atmosphere they're trying to sell, the boarded windows work wonders for that."

**Arid:** "I'm sure it'll be fine- it's probably just something with the entrance ceremony."

**Darkbreaker:** "Sure, sounds more plausible than kidnapping."

The way they said it sounded like it was meant to be a joke, but that was clearly not the intent or the result, leaving them in silence as they stepped in to join the rest of their classmates. Once they stepped in, it looked like a normal entrance ceremony.

**Moonless:** "I don't know, something still feels off..."

The voice from before spoke up again, no longer distorted by the speakers, being both clearly audible and directly in front of them.

???: "Okay, okay...14, 15... Yep, that's all of you! Let's get this started!"

A small dragon-like being, about two thirds of the students' average height, jumped up onto the stage's podium, its left half seemingly being a nightwing, while the right half looked to be a skywing.

**Arid:** "What the- what are you?"

???: "Don't you "what the" me! I am Despairseeker, but you can call me Despair, and I will be your headmaster for your stay!"

What had appeared before them was incomprehensible to all of them, leaving them in silence for it to speak up again.

**Despair:** "Nice to finally get to meet you all!"

**Oblivion:** "So this thing's our headmaster? What even is it?"

**Aero:** "Calm down- it's probably just some dumb robot."

**Despair:** "Ooh- that was just unneeded! I'm not any old robot- I'm your headmaster! Get that through your head! Now, if we're all done insulting me, we need to get started. Good morning!"

**Terra:** "Good morning!"

**Darkbreaker:** "You don't need to say it back."

**Despair:** "Now then, let us begin the entrance ceremony proper. To start, school life. You all, with your unique and powerful talents, represent the hope of the world. In order to protect this hope... you will be maintained within this school's confines. Now, as for the end date... There is none. Your stay will be indefinite!"

A smile grew on its face as the panic set into the students.

**Quicksight:** "So we're stuck here until we die? Is that what you're saying??"

**Despair:** "Don't worry, though- our budget is large enough to keep you nice and healthy for years!"

**Dragonflame:** "That's hardly a valid concern!"

**Darkbreaker:** "You're saying we're living here forever? For both our sakes, I hope you're joking."

**Despair:** "Nope, it's true. You're stuck here, with no way to leave! No worries about the outside."

**Arid:** "So all the metal plates on the window.... are to keep us trapped here?"

**Despair:** "Exactly! Bingo! Right on! Their point is to keep you here. Don't let that stop you from living life to the fullest, though!"

**Ventus:** "What the hell is this? This isn't funny anymore."

**Aero:** "Yeah, cut it out!"

**Despair:** "Stop being so skeptical, will you? Then again, I suppose this is only a bit after the age where everyone was taught to doubt everyone... Well, go ahead and doubt all you want- it won't last long anyways."

**Valori:** "This could be a problem, living here forever..."

**Despair:** "What's the matter? I thought you wanted to attend Hope's peak! You did come here of your own free will, right? So why the sudden change of heart? We aren't even done the entrance ceremony... Although, I suppose there is something I should tell you. The one and only way to leave Hope's peak... It's a special clause if you want to leave- a real simple one, too."

It seemed the students were all excited to hear what this so-called rule was- clearly intentional by its plan, to make the fall that much farther.

**Despair:** "Basically... my goal here is to create a communal lifestyle- a sense of community. Now, if someone were to disrupt this harmony... they'd be allowed to leave. See? Real simple!"

**Freeze:** "Explain what you mean by "*disrupt the harmony*"."

**Despair:** "Don't worry- that part's simple, too! All they have to do... is murder another classmate!"

A silence broke out across the room.

**Arid:** "Murder?"

**Despair:** "Yep! Any method works- poison, strangling, stabbing, crushing, blunt force trauma- anything that you can think up will work! Just kill someone and you get to leave- as simple as that! I won't tell you anything you don't already know about it, though."

The more time passed, the more it seemed to set in that it wasn't joking. *It's out of its mind...* A similar sentiment seemed to pass through everyone else.

**Despair:** "Ah, there we go! That's the reaction I was waiting for! You lot may be the hope of this world... but watching it die turns it into the excitement of despair. That's the goal of this thing!"

**Ventus:** "That- Killing each other? It's-"

**Despair:** "it's to kill each other. I don't what your problem is, but I can get you a dictionary if you need it."

**Aqua:** "The problem is that we need to kill each other! Why do we have to do that?"

**Oblivion:** "Yeah, just shut your blabbering snout and let us go already!"

**Despair:** \*Sigh\* "You lot just don't get it, do you... How many times do I need to tell you? That's not gonna happen! Just kill each other, and then you can leave!"

**Moonless:** "Just let it go, alright? Go on, you got what you wanted- now just leave us alone. You can leave the trick alone."

**Despair:** "Trick, huh? Oh, this isn't one of THOSE...."

**Aero:** "Shut up, you both- just let me through!"

Aero stormed past Moonless, stepping up to Despair.

**Aero:** "Listen up! You better cut this whole thing out, because it's not. Funny!"

**Despair:** "Funny? Why would it be funny? If you're looking for a laugh, the bathrooms have mirrors in them."

**Aero:** "YOU SON OF A-!"

He grabbed Despair, holding it up in order to be at eye level with it.

**Aero:** "Listen here, punk! I don't care what you think you're doing... but it's not gonna work, because i'm about to rip you to shreds!"

**Despair:** "Oh, we can't have this... After all, violence against the headmaster violates the school regulations!"

**Aero:** "Shut your stupid face, and let me out! Or I swear..."

A beeping sound began to emit from Despair as it grew silent.

**Aero:** "What's wrong, no smart-ass comeback?"

It began to grow faster. and faster.

**Aero:** "Shut the hell up and answer me!"

**Darksight:** "Get rid of it!"

He was surprised at her sudden remark.

**Darksight:** "Throw it or something!"

Seemingly shocked, he threw it away, and just as he did... It exploded, a deafening roar permeating through the gym.

**Aero:** "The hell WAS that?"

It was an actual explosion that had gone off- the gunpowder scent still lingering made that much clear.

**Nightseeker:** "Well, now that it's gone..."

She was interrupted by a familiar voice.

**Despair:** "What do you mean, gone?"

It was back- as if it had never even left, simply waiting for them to stop talking.

**Aero:** "Hey, the hell was that for? That could've killed me, you know!"

**Despair:** "I know. That's kind of the point. Just be glad it didn't work, or next time you violate school rules... I'll be much more thorough."

**Darkbreaker:** "So what, are there just a limitless supply of you hiding somewhere?"

**Despair:** "More or less, Yeah. Even without them, I can still watch you through the security cameras. So don't think you're safe to break any of them, no matter what!" \*Ahem\* "Now, where was I? Ah yes- I have something to give all of you! THIS-" It presented a flat, tablet-like device. "Is an official school handbook! We'll call it the e-handbook, for the sake of simplicity. Make sure you don't lose yours, then! Oh, and don't catch yourself having the wrong one or it'll be real awkward later- The name is displayed upon bootup. Aside from that... It's completely waterproof, and can withstand plenty of force... It even contains the school rules, so not knowing what they were is no longer a valid excuse! With that, it seems that's all the time we've got- Goodbye for now!"

As suddenly as it had reappeared, it vanished yet again, leaving them in chaotic dismay, dark thoughts surfacing about escape... an ominous threat looming over them, the prospect... of a betrayal.

h-t-t-p-s-:-/-/-d-o-c-s-.-g-o-o-g-l

## **CHAPTER 1: What it takes**

"You must kill someone if you want to leave." The words haunted their minds, making them hesitant to trust one another... until someone spoke up.

**Darksight:** "So, now what? Are you all just going to sit around glaring at each other?"

**Terra:** "Y-you're right... We have to move forward, regardless of fear! Let's look for a way out!"

**Ventus:** "Yeah- He can't have been that thorough, right?"

**Darkbreaker:** "Sure- and once we find the one responsible, we beat the hell out of them."

**Nightseeker:** "Let's read the rules first- I mean, how can we know what we're not supposed to do otherwise?"

**Darkbreaker:** "I guess you're right..."

They all picked up their respective eHandbooks, opening it and navigating to the rules. Arid began to read through the 7 that were there, curious as to what they were.

**RULE 1: Students may reside only within the school. Leaving campus is unacceptable.**

**RULE 2: "Nighttime" is from 10 pm to 7 am. Some areas are off-limits at night, so please exercise caution.**

**RULE 3: Sleeping anywhere other than the dormitory will be seen as sleeping in class and punished accordingly.**

**RULE 4: With minimal restrictions, you are free to explore Hope's Peak at your discretion.**

**RULE 5: Violence against your current Headmaster and the destruction of surveillance cameras are strictly prohibited.**

**RULE 6: Anyone who kills a fellow student and becomes "Blackened" will graduate, unless they are discovered.**

**RULE 7: Additional school regulations may be added as necessary.**

Arid looked up, seeing a familiarly tired face on all the other students.

**Aero:** "This ain't fair. I am not getting controlled by them!"

**Valori:** "Then go ahead and break one. I, for one, would love to see the results."

**Aero:** "I've made too many unfulfilled promises to die here."

**Valori:** "So what you're saying is you weren't being serious?"

**Aero:** "Yeah, not really."

**Dragonflame:** "Actually, I have a question... what do you think rule 6 meant? About being discovered, I mean."

**Arid:** "That's a good question, actually. I was wondering too..."

**Freeze:** "It's saying you must kill someone without anyone else figuring out it was you who killed them. What's so hard to understand about that?"

**Aqua:** "Not much, really... Now, let's get back to what we were doing, you know? Finding ourselves an exit."

**Terra:** "Yes. We need to find out where we really are, any possible exits, and areas for obtaining food and other supplies. I assume there are other questions to answer as well, which we will find answers to!"

**Ventus:** "That's it! Let's get to looking!"

**Freeze:** "I'll be going alone."

**Darkbreaker:** "Why? Don't you know how bad an idea that is?"

**Freeze:** "I'd rather not be here for when one of you murder another of each other. Feel free to make it easier for them if you have a deathwish."

**Dragonflame:** "You can't be saying..."

**Freeze:** "Yes, I am. I don't know who, but sooner or later, someone will get murdered. You should know that by now."

**Dragonflame:** "But... I...."

**Freeze:** "I see you understand the threat now. Good. I'll be leaving, then."

**Aero:** "Don't expect to get away with that pompous attitude!"

Aero stood in Freeze's way, blocking the only way out of the gym.

**Freeze:** "Out. of. my. way."

**Aero:** "Like hell I will!"

**Freeze:** "So you expect someone as insignificant as you to pose a threat? Don't make me laugh."

**Aero:** "Oh, your ass is MINE!"

**Arid:** "No, stop!"

Arid stepped between them- a terrible decision.

**Aero:** "Don't act like you're any better off!"

He had already readied his claw, seemingly about to slash.

**Arid:** "No, I-"

It was too late to make his case- He felt the impact throughout him, as he was thrown back. He felt the impact, and the last thing he saw was coughing up blood, before his vision... faded into black.

-Some time later-

Arid awoke in an unrecognised room, looking like a place a dragon would stay. *Ungh- where am I? I guess I should look around...* He looked at the table, which had a key on it. *This must be the room key... My name's written on it. This is probably mine, then. I guess I'll take it.* He slipped it into his bag. *I have to hold onto this.* He then tried to open the bathroom. \*rattle rattle\* *It's not opening...* *Must be locked.* He stepped back, walking over to the door. *Locked... makes sense.* He then stepped towards the bed, finding a few other strange things in the room... Such as a notepad, a toolkit, a camera, a monitor, a few metal plates blocking windows, and a note telling him that he should make sure not to lose his key. *I'll keep that in mind...* It also read that the water was turned off at nighttime, The girls' bathrooms had locks, and it seemed that all the other boys' rooms had toolkits, like the one he found- whereas the girls' had sewing kits. Looking closer, they were supposed to be used for murder purposes. He sighed, getting sick of this, and burnt the paper to a crisp. *So this is my dormitory... someone must have carried me here after I fell unconscious.* He felt himself. *And patched up my injuries, too... I wonder why. Well, I guess I should look around... I should leave first.* He turned to the door- the key successfully unlocked the door, and he stepped out into the hallway.

As Arid stepped into the hall, he almost immediately ran into Dragonflame.

**Dragonflame:** "Agh-"

**Arid:** "Ungh- ...Dragonflame? I'm sorry! Are you okay?"

**Dragonflame:** "Y-yeah, I'm fine- I've been through worse. Really, I should be sorry..."

**Arid:** "Y-you're sure you're okay, right?"

**Dragonflame:** "Heh... you make it sound like it's worse than it is- I'm fine, I'm telling you."

**Arid:** "That's good..."

**Dragonflame:** "Are you okay, though? That hit looked pretty bad..."

**Arid:** "Yeah, I'm fine."

**Dragonflame:** "Good. I was kind of worried..."

**Arid:** "Thanks... Actually, what were you doing here?"

**Dragonflame:** "I came to get you. After you got knocked out, everyone split up to investigate... We planned to meet up sometime later to discuss."

**Arid:** "So it's almost time to do exactly that, then? Because I'll go if that's the case."

**Dragonflame:** "Good- I'll see you there!"

She ran off, leaving Arid behind. He checked the map to make sure he was going the right way, and entered the dining hall. No one else aside from him and Dragonflame seemed to be there yet. *I guess we should just wait...*

**Dragonflame:** "Yeah, let's just wait."

**Arid:** "You heard that?"

**Dragonflame:** "Like I said, I'm psychic."

She laughed, clearly teasing him. *Yeah... great intuition. I forgot.*

**Dragonflame:** "Actually, Arid... I wanted to ask you something."

**Arid:** "Really? What is it?"

**Dragonflame:** "Arid... you went to Jade Mountain, right? Quartz winglet?"

**Arid:** "Yeah, actually."

**Dragonflame:** "I knew it! I went there too- Copper winglet. Do you remember me from there?"

**Arid:** "Do I...?" *She was always memorable enough, and besides... she still had a decent amount of fame there. How would I even forget? I'm kind of surprised she remembered me, honestly... But I guess that's how she knew who I was earlier.*

**Dragonflame:** "Hey, are you okay?"

**Arid:** "Yeah... I'm just surprised you remembered me."

**Dragonflame:** "Why wouldn't I? We were there together for a couple years, you know."

**Arid:** "I guess, but... You know there were lot of students in our grade- and a lot of them were arguably more unique. I'm perfectly average among dragons, so... why did you remember me out of all of them?"

**Dragonflame:** "What are you talking about? You're peculiar enough to stand out."

*Peculiar, huh...? I don't know if that's good or bad...* She laughed slightly to herself again, smiling.

**Dragonflame:** "I'm still glad there's someone here I know... Talking to you has made me feel a lot better about this. You know, you're special... in your own way."

**Arid:** "Not as much as you guys, though... You were all chosen for talent. I was chosen by luck of the draw."

**Dragonflame:** "Don't beat yourself up over that! How about I help you out as much as I can? Would that make you feel better?"

**Arid:** "Yeah... I guess it would. Thanks." *I guess I should find what time it is...*

He looked up at the clock nearby, surprised by what he saw.

**Arid:** "What? 7 pm?"

**Dragonflame:** "Yeah... you were out for a long time."

*Yeah... that makes sense. I guess not looking out windows has also messed up my sense of time.*

**Dragonflame:** "They should show up soon... at least, I hope so."

Right after she said that, Terra stepped into the room.

**Terra:** "Arid! Dragonflame! You were already here, I see. I thought I'd be the first one here, honestly. I assume you picked him up from his room?"

**Dragonflame:** "More or less, yeah... so, I assume the others are coming here soon?"

After that, everyone else came in one after another. Before long, all of them were gathered in the dining hall. Everyone except Freeze and Quicksight sat at the main table.

**Terra:** "So, what did you all find?"

**Darkbreaker:** "Actually, one thing first- Where's Darksight? She's not here yet."

He was right- she was not there yet.

**Aqua:** "I wonder where she went. Does anyone know?"

Everyone shook their heads in denial.

**Nightseeker:** "So no one's seen her?"

*Please don't tell me... could she have been murdered? No, surely not.*

**Terra:** "I guess she's late. Not exactly impressive... I guess we'll just start without her."

Dragonflame quickly told Arid what had happened. Everyone apparently searched different parts of Hope's Peak, with Freeze, Terra, and Darksight going off on their own- Freeze's goal was to find clues about the mastermind, but he was unsuccessful. Terra investigated the dorm rooms, but didn't find anything of actual use. A few others, however, gathered a few smaller bits of info about them- such as the rooms being soundproof, and only the girls' dorms having locks on the bathrooms. Arid found this odd, but he wasn't sure why quite yet. Meanwhile, Ventus, Darkbreaker, Moonless, and Nightseeker all went and double-checked every window in the building to see if any of the metal plates could be removed from the windows- no luck there, meaning this school was truly cut off from the outside. With similar results for Aero, Crimson, and Aqua, the chance of escape became thinner with each passing second. It was also noted that stairs leading to the second floor were spotted, albeit blocked off. Dragonflame also found an incredibly well-stocked source of food in the kitchen, just through the dining hall- meaning starvation was not a concern, at least, for now. As some of them began to argue with each other, a voice cut in from nearby.

**Darksight:** "Why are you all fooling around like this? I thought we were supposed to be investigating, not fighting."

**Terra:** "Where have you been?"

**Darksight:** "That doesn't matter. What I have found out is- and what I have found out is that this is indeed the same layout as Hope's Peak, although with a few new... renovations."

**Nightseeker:** "So... this IS Hope's Peak?"

**Aero:** "This is too stupid to believe."

**Aqua:** "If this IS Hope's Peak, then... where is everyone else?"

**Quicksight:** "I don't know... there aren't any signs of life, as far as I'm aware, except for ourselves. How do we even know what's really going on...?"

**Valori:** "It's fairly obvious what's "going on". We are imprisoned within a secret location, with no way out."

**Quicksight:** "So we really ARE trapped here...?"

**Freeze:** "Were you listening or not? All we have to do is kill-"

**Darkbreaker:** "Shut UP! Don't even joke about it! This could be serious, you know."

**Dragonflame:** "Let's just calm down... We need to figure out what we're going to do from here."

**Ventus:** "Yeah, there has to be something we can do..."

**Valori:** "All we can really do is adapt. Adapt to living here, in this new situation. In vain of that, I suggest we add a new rule of our own, not officially, but still... "**Going out at nighttime is prohibited altogether.**" Basically, if we do not have to worry about killer stalking from outside... Then we will be able to sleep soundly. I place this unofficially so that no one is forced to comply, merely requested.

Slowly, some more reluctant than others, they all agreed to this "new rule". With that, most students began to depart as nighttime was nearly upon them.

**Dragonflame:** "So, we're calling it a day?"

**Arid:** "I guess so- I mean, I don't want to be the only ones still around."

They left to their respective rooms, and Arid sat on his bed, thinking. *Before I sleep, I should probably check the door about my theory...* He checked his door. "Yep. Locked." A voice interrupted his thoughts from behind him.

**Despair:** "It's not locked!"

**Arid:** "What are you doing here?"

**Despair:** "I have my ways. Anyways, it's not locked."

**Arid:** "It's not? Then why won't it open?"

**Despair:** "Simple. A problem with the doorframe: It doesn't fit quite right. Temporary fix, though: Pull before you push, it'll open just fine!"

Arid tried it. "It works."

**Despair:** "Don't worry, though- I should be able to get a replacement soon enough!"

With that, it left, leaving Arid alone. A notice rang out about it being night. With nothing better to do, Arid tried to fall asleep, hoping he'd feel better tomorrow.

#### **Chapter 1 (Daily Life)**

Arid woke up a few hours later, feeling much better. He got up and out of his room, thinking to look for Dragonflame in her room. Finding her room by the nameplate on the door, he rung the doorbell to her room. Once he did, she responded almost immediately**.**

**Dragonflame:** "Arid! There you are! I was about to look for you actually."

**Arid:** "Really? Why?"

**Dragonflame:** "I had a favor to ask... I was heading out, do you think you could come with me?"

**Arid:** "Sure." *It's not like I have anything better to do...* "Where are you going?"

**Dragonflame:** "I was... hoping to get something for self-defence. I don't want to be caught without any way to defend myself, you know..."

**Arid:** "Yeah, I understand..." *We could probably get something from the gym...*

**Dragonflame:** "The gym, huh? Sounds good!"

*Again, huh... she's good at this. Amazing intuition indeed...* With that, they headed to the gym entryway together. After looking through the display, all they found was a displayed sword.

**Arid:** "This could work..." He held it up. "The gold coating comes off a little easy, though."

**Dragonflame:** "M-maybe you should take it... it might liven up your room."

**Arid:** "Yeah, but... what'll you take? For self-defence, I mean?"

**Dragonflame:** "It'll be fine- I can probably manage myself."

**Arid:** "Yeah... and, if the time comes... I'll protect you. I promise."

**Dragonflame:** "R-really? Thank you... I feel much better now."

**Arid:** "No problem... Let's head back now."

**Dragonflame:** "Sure. Actually, Arid, I wanted to ask you something... did you ever have a dream?"

**Arid:** "No, not really... how about you?"

**Dragonflame:** "Well, I mean, I've always wanted to be known for something... I guess I got that. The problem is, I... always feel like my success is fleeting. And I don't want that to happen... You know, my group means the world to me. I don't want us all to simply be forgotten... and That's why I have to leave."

Her tone was suddenly serious. It was almost frightening.

**Dragonflame:** "....listen, I'm sorry for bringing the mood down..."

**Arid:** "No, it's fine... Actually, are you hungry? I was hoping to get some food before we head back. Sound good?"

She nodded silently, and with that, they made their way back to the kitchen, and after eating, headed back to their respective rooms. Arid set down the sword in his room... a bit sad that it was his only decoration. *You know, there's still time in the day... I should check on her again.* He walked over to her door again, and knocked. She answered, of course.

**Dragonflame:** "Who is- Oh, Arid! Do you want to talk again?"

**Arid:** "Yeah... Mind if I come in?"

**Dragonflame:** "No, go ahead."

She held the door open for him, and they talked for a bit.

**Dragonflame:** "You know, Arid... Having you by my side makes me feel a lot better. I'm sorry this is where we had to meet again, but... I'm glad to see you again."

**Arid:** "D-dragonflame... I know how you feel, honestly."

**Dragonflame:** "Yeah... I never thought I'd get a chance to talk to you like this. We never really talked. Or even interacted whatsoever- you never even looked at me."

**Arid:** "Well, I can't just go around staring at celebrities, can I?.... Wait, how did you know I never looked at you?"

**Dragonflame:** "Because, Um... I was actually always looking at you. An opportunity to talk to you."

**Arid:** "R-really? Why?"

**Dragonflame:** "Well... do you remember, in our first year there... a fire broke out in the library?"

**Arid:** "Yeah... what about it?"

**Dragonflame:** "Well... there was a student still in there. The one that saved him... was you." (**AN**: Never mind I forgot about UDG I don't know who this is)

**Arid:** "Y-yeah... I remember that too." *I don't remember why, honestly... I guess I just felt like I needed to do something.*

**Dragonflame:** "I was impressed by you that day- call it a spark of motivation. I don't know why, I just... wanted to thank you for that, just once... I never got to, though, so... is it okay if I do that now?"

**Arid:** "Yeah... I think you've done that already, though." *An odd place to meet again, too...*

**Dragonflame:** "Maybe, but... I know I can trust you, right? You'll find a way out... for all of us, I know it. It may be intuition, but I still think it's true."

**Arid:** "Of course. I'll try, I promise." *That's a lot of pressure, though...*

**Dragonflame:** "Yeah." She looked at the clock. "It's getting late... you should probably go."

He nodded, stepping into his room and laying down to sleep. *She's really nice... I hope to get to know her better.* He fell asleep shortly after, this one being more relaxed than that of last night's. He woke up the next morning, and stepped out into the halls, nearly running into Dragonflame.

**Arid:** "Oh- Dragonflame?"

**Dragonflame:** "Hey, Arid. How are you?"

**Arid:** "I'm good... can I ask what you were doing outside my room?"

**Dragonflame:** "Well, I just wanted to get to know you better... you understand, right?"

**Arid:** "Yeah... so, any questions you want to ask?"

**Dragonflame:** "A couple, yeah... Do you have any siblings?"

**Arid:** "Yeah, a brother... slightly younger than me, actually."

**Dragonflame:** "Have you had any girlfriends?"

**Arid:** "N-no... These..."

**Dragonflame:** "Have you at least had any crushes~?"

**Arid:** "These are all oddly personal questions, you know..."

**Dragonflame:** "I wanted to get to know you better, remember? Besides... we're classmates, we should know each other well."

**Arid:** "Yeah, we are."

**Dragonflame:** "Actually, I guess we're more than classmates... we're also friends."

**Arid:** "O-of course!" *We're just friends... of course.* "Actually... it wouldn't surprise me if you did, but... do you have a boyfriend?"

**Dragonflame:** "Believe it or not... no. I don't. I do have a crush, though..." She blushed slightly as she looked subtly towards Arid.

**Arid:** "G-good for you."

**Dragonflame:** "I have one thing to ask of you, though... Promise me you won't turn your back on me. Alright?"

**Arid:** "I won't... I promise, we'll all get out of here together!"

These words of encouragement seemed to a work, as a smile spread across her face.

**Dragonflame:** "Thank you, Arid... but I should probably go now."

With that, the two parted ways for the day. Dragonflame left for her dorm room, as Arid left to the dining hall in order to get something to eat, which Dragonflame had apparently already done. On his way back, he found Darksight pacing the halls, as if investigating something.

**Arid:** "Um, Hello?"

**Darksight:** "Oh, Arid."

**Arid:** "Yes... Darksight, what are you doing?"

**Darksight:** "Investigating. What does it look like?"

**Arid:** "Oh... well, can I help you with that?"

**Darksight:** "Go ahead... just try not to slow me down."

He nodded nervously, beginning to help her with looking around for some kind of clue they were missing. Halfway through, Darksight asked him a question.

**Darksight:** "...Are you scared, Arid? Being trapped in a place like this?"

**Arid:** "Yeah... I guess so. Who wouldn't be?"

**Darksight:** "Good... that proves your senses are still at least remotely sharp."

**Arid:** "How about you? You seem awfully calm right about now..."

**Darksight:** "I'm simply not as foolishly open about it as you... Besides, I'm afraid for a different reason."

**Arid:** "Really? What do you mean?"

**Darksight:** "You're afraid of what you might lose... I'm afraid of what I've already lost."

**Arid:** "Okay..." *What does she mean?*

**Darksight:** "Let's just keep looking around- we don't have time for this."

He nodded, hesitantly returning to their investigation. After a while, they had inspected nearly the entire floor... and found nothing. They parted for the evening, a sense of doubt lingering with Arid as he slept. (**AN**: If you couldn't tell, all Monokuma theatres will be skipped as they feel like filler to me. Also, I don't care about them.) Once he woke up, there was a sharp and repeated knock at his door. When he opened it, he was greeted by Terra, waiting for him.

**Terra:** "Ah, Arid! There you are! We're to be gathering in the eating hall for the next few days, as we've decided."

**Arid:** "Um, okay... Why, though?"

**Terra:** "Simple: To build a sense of camaraderie between us!"

**Arid:** "That's fair. I take it everyone else should be there?"

**Terra:** "Correct! So, shall we head over?"

Arid nodded in agreement, and Terra brought him to the dining hall, where everyone else was, in fact, already there. Conflicted expressions were over most, if not all, of their faces.

**Terra:** "Good, we're all here... So, I must thank you for taking time from your day to meet here!"

**Ventus:** "We didn't have anything to do. Why are you even thanking us?"

**Terra:** "Now then, we should get started- at least before too long. I'll get us some food!"

Everyone sat at one of the other 14 seats, all around the centre table, turning to Terra upon his return with various levels of attention. He laid out a few different kinds of food on the table- accommodating for any and all kinds of diets, it seemed.

**Darkbreaker:** "So, anyone find anything else?"

Silence broke out across the room. *No one else found anything? That's concerning...*

**Darkbreaker:** "Really? Nothing? Disappointing..."

Before long, though, the conversation shifted towards theories about who was responsible- the oddest one being about some random Sandwing serial killer. Before long, however, their conversations were interrupted yet again.

**Depsair:** "Well hey! What are YOU all talking very suspiciously about, hmmmm?"

**Moonless:** "Agh! What do you want?"

**Despair:** "Oh, I'm just checking in on, you know, my students!"

**Crimson:** "No... I know there's something else you want."

**Valori:** "Agreed... I suggest you speak up if you want to tell us something."

**Despair:** "Oh, Fine... Well, it's been REALLY disappointing that none of you have killed anyone... And BO-RING. So, I have a solution: Motive!"

**Arid:** "M-motive?"

**Despair:** "Yup! And Free jackets, too! Aren't I so generous?"

**Freeze:** "Whatever tricks you may have... we won't fall for them."

**Quicksight:** "Y-yeah! None of your "motives" will convince us!"

**Freeze:** "Quiet, you."

**Despair:** "Not gonna work, huh? Oh, just you wait... They're in the Media room, you should know! Heheheheh~!"

Just like that, he walked away, chuckling to himself, leaving them with conflicted feelings about what the truth might contain.

**Freeze:** "Arid, I say you should go."

**Arid:** "What? Why me?"

**Freeze:** "Think of this as paying back for missing the first investigation."

*Guess I don't have a choice... I'd like to know what he meant anyways.* Arid nodded reluctantly, navigating to the media room. In there, he found a cardboard box containing various jackets, one for each of them. He tried on his own. *It fits well... perfectly, even. That's awfully nice for a dragon trying to get us to murder each other...* He felt around, noticing something in his pocket- a disc, also with his name on it. *This... why is this here?* Turning to the room proper, he sat down at one of the desks, popping on the headphones and hesitantly inputting the disc. The video started playing. Once it had, he figured out what it was before long. It first showed his family- his parents and his brother, seemingly congratulating him for being accepted to Hope's peak. He couldn't help but feel happy to see them again- even if it had barely been a day since they last saw each other. After, though, the video cut to black- before showing the same place- except now, everything was different. It was disorganised, scratched- as if chaos itself had broken out within there. He remained silent, as Despairseeker's voice intercepted the video.

**Despair:** "Oh, Arid~... it's a real shame about what happened to your family... What is it, you ask? THAT'S for YOU to find... once you graduate! Heheheheh..."

*S-so this is the motive he was talking about... D-damn you to hell, Despair!* He stood up, still clearly shaken, as the rest of them seemed to walk in at once- lead by Dragonflame.

**Dragonflame:** "Oh, Arid!" She didn't seem to notice his scared expression. "Did you find out what he meant about motive? It wasn't a trap, right?"

**Freeze:** "Of course not. If it was, he wouldn't be here."

Arid ignored this comment, raising his talon hesitantly to point towards the boxes containing the "motives". Once everyone got their own, it didn't take long for them to find the motives- and it didn't take much longer for everyone else to realise why Arid had looked so shaken- as a similar expression crossed the faces of most of the others- aside from Darksight, that is.

**Darksight:** "I see... so this is what Despair had in mind when he said "motive"."

Dragonflame looked more shaken than any of the rest of them, which concerned Arid. He walked over to her.

**Arid:** "Dragonflame, are you okay...?"

**Dragonflame:** "No... how could I be?" She was clearly growing angry- or perhaps simply fearful. *What did she see... in there?*

**Arid:** "Please, t-try to calm down..."

**Dragonflame:** "Get out of my WAY!" She shouted, shoving Arid aside- and into the wall, as she raced off and out of the room. He got up, shaken. *What... did she see? It must've been terrible...*

**Arid:** "I'll go get her..."

**Ventus:** "Let me come with you."

He nodded, leaving the rest of the students with one another, an unfortunate new motive pushing them further towards the edge... where all they could do is hope that they could trust one another, with said thin layer of trust growing thinner and thinner by the second. They found their way over to Dragonflame's room, knocking on the door to see if she was there. There was no response, though. After a bit more searching, he found her in a classroom- ironically enough, shivering in a corner, despite Sandwings being one of the warmest dragon tribes. She noticed them approaching, standing up in alarm.

**Dragonflame:** "W-what do you... want?"

**Ventus:** "We just wanted to make sure you were okay..."

**Arid:** "Yeah, you worried us back there... You looked pretty shaken."

**Dragonflame:** "I-I'm fine..."

**Arid:** "Are you sure?"

**Dragonflame:** "Y.......N-no, I guess not. I... it was about what I saw in the video."

Arid wondered what it was, but now was not the time to ask...

**Ventus:** "Don't worry... I'll protect you. You... trust me, right?"

**Dragonflame:** "Yeah... I do, Lion~."

**Arid:** "I'll protect you too... don't worry. I'll get us all out of here... I promise!" *That came off stronger than I intended...*

**Dragonflame:** "Y-you mean it?"

**Arid;** "Yeah... I'll do what I can to get us all out of here."

**Dragonflame:** "Thank you... that's really encouraging." She smiled at him, and he couldn't help but smile back. Despair, of course, didn't take that long to interrupt the situation.

**Despair:** "Oh, don't tell me... is this one of those "love triangle" things?"

**Arid:** "What do you want?"

**Ventus:** "Just shut the hell up, man! We're in the middle of something, you know."

**Despair:** "So RUDE, and to your HEADMASTER, no less!"

**Ventus:** "I said to get the heck out- we're talking! Privately!" (**AN:** Idk why DF x V was invented for this and this only tbh)

**Despair:** "Oh, you... You're lucky emotional damage doesn't count as pain!"

With that, he turned and left, clearly frustrated at Ventus. *He's brave... a bit reckless, though.*

**Arid:** "I'm going back to everyone else... to tell them you're... 'okay.'"

They nodded, and he left, feeling awkward about it. He did indeed tell them about how they had met her, and that Ventus was staying with her for a bit longer. He still found it hard to focus, with the motive video on his mind. Before long, though, they all returned to their rooms for the night. Later, Arid lay in bed... but he couldn't help but think about what happened, about the truth within that video... *I can't decide what our true enemy is here... is it... Despair? No, it's... it's probably us. We can only hope that we can trust each other about not killing each other... THIS is true despair.* He glanced at the clock. *10PM already... It's probably my thoughts keeping me up. That, or the knocking at the door.* He sat up, tired. *Wait- knocking?* He got out of bed, walking over to the door and opening it- to find a somewhat scared-looking Dragonflame.

**Arid:** "*Dragonflame? What are you doing here?*"

**Dragonflame:** "*A-a-arid, it's... actually, can I... talk to you inside?*"

He nodded, slightly hesitant. He let her enter, before checking the hall to make sure no one saw them, before closing the door behind them both. He let her sit on the bed, sitting on a chair across from it instead.

**Arid:** "W-what is it? What's wrong?" *Why is she visiting me so late...?*

**Dragonflame:** "Well, I... need to tell you something."

**Arid:** "Really? What is it?"

**Dragonflame:** "Well, something happened... in my room, just now... something weird."

**Arid:** "Something weird? What was it?"

**Dragonflame:** "Well... there was a rattling at my door... it was like they wanted to force their way in, and- I didn't open it, but eventually it stopped... I just fear they'll make their way in if I go back... Maybe I'm just overreacting, but... what should I do?"

**Arid:** "If it was only your room, you could probably stay here in mine..."

**Dragonflame:** "S-sorry, but I don't think I'd be... comfortable staying together in your room..."

**Arid:** *Yeah, and it could be easily misinterpreted...* "T-then I'll stay in yours."

**Dragonflame:** "Really? A-are you sure that... that's okay with you?"

**Arid:** "Yeah... I'll be fine. Right?"

**Dragonflame:** "Thank you, Arid." She smiled, clearly happy to hear this... it was clear something was odd about this, though. "W-we should probably swap room keys, too..."

**Arid:** "Yeah." He nodded, passing her his key and taking hers from her. "One more thing- I should probably tell you, it's a bit finicky to get the door to open- Despair advised me to "pull before pushing", so you should probably keep that in mind... at least, for tonight."

**Dragonflame:** "Yeah... I'll keep that in mind."

**Arid:** "Oh, and... please don't open the door for anyone tonight. Even if you're sure it's me, please don't... please don't open the door."

**Dragonflame:** "Don't worry, I won't- I'll just keep the door locked all night."

He nodded, glad to hear she would be safe, and left to her room. He locked the door behind him after entering and sat down on her bed. For some reason, he found it much easier to feel relaxed that night... and quickly fell asleep. He woke up the next morning, feeling better rested than he had any prior night. He made his way to the dining hall, where a few dragons were already waiting for him- and all their classmates, it seemed.

**Terra:** "Salutations, Arid! A fine morning, is it not?"

**Nightseeker:** "G-good morning."

**Aqua:** "Good morning!"

**Crimson:** "It seems I'm early, then."

A few more dragons arrived shortly after.

**Aero:** "Guess I'm not the last one..."

**Darkbreaker:** "I apologise for being late... I was having difficulties getting the jacket to fit."

**Oblivion:** "I was too, unfortunately... Perhaps they were not customised entirely to us."

After a while, most of the rest of them joined the 8 that were already there.

**Darksight:** "It seems I'm late."

**Valori:** "Good morning, everyone."

**Ventus:** "Sorry for taking a while- must've stayed up a while..."

**Quicksight:** "S-sorry I'm late!..."

**Moonless:** "Sorry, I guess I got lost... hope that's okay."

That left only Dragonflame and Freeze that had yet to join them, leaving a slight sense of dread with Arid. This was only worsened when Freeze joined them.

**Freeze:** "I'm surprised to see you all here."

**Arid:** *No... not all of us.* "I-I need to go."

He excused himself, hurriedly stepping out of the hall and heading to what was his room. He opened the room- *why is it unlocked?* and stepped in, not entirely prepared for what he saw... He stepped in, taking a look at the room- which was now covered in violent scratches. *What the-* However, Dragonflame herself was not there yet. *I have to find her...* He would come to regret this wish, as he slowly reopened the now ajar bathroom door. What he saw, though... was the culmination of the mounting fear he had felt the past few minutes. The bloodied corpse of Dragonflame lay against the shower wall, a knife in her chest and blood covering the wall her corpse leaned lifelessly against. Arid let out a scream, backing up slightly... before blacking out.

### **Chapter 1 (Deadly life)**

He opened his eyes slowly, blinking to make sure he was awake. He could see the gym roof, as he was looking directly up. He sat up, quickly noticing the dragons gathered around him.

**Aqua:** "Oh good, you're awake!"

**Moonless:** "You had us worried... you were out for a while, you know!"

**Crimson:** "It's only fair, considering what happened... What you saw."

*What I... saw?* He took no time at all to remember what it was- maybe because of how striking an image it was. He started crying slightly to himself. *I... I can't believe she's dead, and I... I promised I'd protect her... I let her down. This is... all my fault.*

**Arid:** "So... why are we here?"

**Freeze:** "Why do you think?"

**Darksight:** "Despair asked us to gather here. Naturally, we had no choice but to oblige."

**Arid:** "D-did he tell you *why* we're here?"

**Quicksight:** "If it had, we would've told you already."

**Arid:** "Why...*why did he kill her?*"

**Despair:** "No, that's wrong!"

Despair popped up- seemingly from nothing.

**Ventus:** "Ah, you! What are *you* doing here?"

**Despair:** "You know, unless someone violated a school rule... I wouldn't do anything like that! That's the whole point of this shindig."

**Nightseeker:** "So then... if it wasn't you, who... who was it?"

**Despair:** "Isn't it obvious? It's one of YOU!"

A silence grew across the room when he said that. *It was... one of us? No, it... it couldn't be... right?*

**Despair:** "What's the matter? Trying to deny the truth? You remember what I told you at the beginning, right? One of *you* killed Dragonflame... so they could graduate! Nothing quite so wrong about following the game's rules, is there now?"

**Oblivion:** "Y-you're lying, right? You have to be..."

**Despair:** "Man, you sure are slow! I'm telling you, one of you 14 killed her- and if they wanted, they could always confirm."

**Terra:** "W-what is this madness...?"

**Nightseeker:** "Someone... really killed someone?"

**Aero:** "This is just another one of his lies... right?"

**Freeze:** "Shut up, you lot. Despairseeker, I have a question for you."

**Despair:** "Yes? What is it?"

**Freeze:** "If one of us killed her... the murderer would be able to graduate from the school by now, right?"

Despair broke out into a long, extended laugh.

**Ventus:** "What's so funny?"

**Despair:** "Man, you really ARE naive... It's not THAT easy, just walk in, kill someone, and walk out! No, there's just one more step before *that...*"

**Arid:** "One more step?"

**Despair:** "Guess I have to explain it... well, here I go! Once you kill someone in order to leave... there's one more hurdle before you go free. If you hadn't guessed already, it's about being discovered- and it's pretty self-explanatory! You have to partake in a Class Trial! It'll start a... few hours, give or take, after the murder. Everyone will gather together... and engage in one big, good ol' debate! During the debate, you must come to an agreement on who the murderer was... or, as we'll call them, the Blackened. Once the Trial comes to a close, everyone will vote... on who the blackened is! If your commonly agreed on answer is correct... decided by popular vote, of course, then only the blackened will be punished and the rest of the students will live another day. But, otherwise... only the blackened will survive, and everyone ELSE will be punished! Aaaand... That's about it for now."

**Oblivion:** "What do you mean, "punished"?"

**Despair:** "That's even simpler! An especially styled, extra-gory, brand-appropriate EX-E-CU-TI-ON!"

**Terra:** "So, if we don't get the murderer's identity correct... everyone except the- "blackened"- will be executed!?"

**Despair:** "That's all there is to it! Actually... I think I'll add that to the rules, just so you don't forget!"

**Rule 8: If the guilty party is exposed during the class trial, they and they alone will be executed.**

**Darkbreaker:** "You're insane. That's what you are. Forcing us to kill each other was bad enough, but... I can't forgive you, for any of this!"

**Despair:** "Well, what do you think you're gonna do abou- grk!"

In the blink of an eye, he was already behind him and pinning Despair to the floor with a single talon.

**Darkbreaker:** "Don't bother resisting. I've got you pinned down."

**Despair:** "You remember the rules, right? Violence against your current headmaster is NOT allowed. You're violating a school rule. I might just imprison you for this..."

**Darkbreaker:** "Do I look like I care right now?"

**Despair:** "Believe me, you will... Ira's spears, unleash your namesake!"

Out of nowhere, 6- no, 7 spears shot out from the floor towards Darkbreaker. As if this had been planned for so long, then pierced him through all his vital organs... causing him to bleed incredibly heavily.

**Darkbreaker:** "...Wh- No... this... wasn't... supp...osed... to...w-why...?"

Those were his last words, at which point his eyes closed lifelessly, and the spears from the floor retracted- leaving him to fall and bleed out on the floor, perhaps already dead... Almost certainly, in fact.

**Aqua:** "W-wha...?"

**Nightseeker:** "I...I..."

**Ventus:** "This... c-can't be real..."

**Oblivion:** "N-no way... No way!"

**Despair:** "Yeesh... how ANN-OY-ING! At least he's a good example for what happens when you Break the rules... So now you know me exploding? That wasn't any ol' one time thing!"

A simple horrified look was all that was left on most of their faces- this was almost certainly the first time most of them had seen a life extinguished before their eyes. Quicksight couldn't even bring herself look anywhere near his corpse.

**Despair:** "Well, it had to happen sooner or later... not that shocking, is it? and don't think there's some plot twist where he didn't *really* die, like the trope goes ever-too-freqently... it's one life he had, and what else did he do but go and waste it!"

**Darksight:** "So, when you claimed you wanted to imprision him... that was nothing but a lie?"

**Despair:** "It was only subversion of expectations! Nothing more than a death. Or two. Or three. Or 14, if you get it wrong! Now... it's time you get your asses in gear and start investigating!" He held out something for them, looking similar to their student handbooks.

**Arid:** "What's this?"

**Despair:** "The "Despair file", of course! Before you ask what it is, it's basically just the autopsy report for the corpse- Dragonflame's, in this case. Go ahead, and give it a look through! I'll take it back when you're all done, though."

Arid nodded, taking it and booting it up. It read: **"Victim: Dragonflame. Time of Death: ~1:30 am. Place of discovery (and death): Arid's dorm room, in the bathroom. Cause of death: Stab wound to abdomen. Other injuries: Right wrist is fractured." \*Truth Discovered! (Despair file I)\*** It made him curious. *Who could have done it...? I have to find out who killed Dragonflame. For her... and everyone else!* Arid passed it off to someone else, walking over to Darkbreaker's corpse, checking the wrist for a heartbeat- finding none, obviously. He looked back, walking to the gym door- as he saw Freeze pass it off to someone else, everyone who saw the file clearly suspected him.

**Freeze:** "Hold it. What do you think you're doing?"

**Arid:** "Investigating... the scene?"

**Freeze:** "Without supervision? Then how should I trust you to not destroy evidence?"

**Aero:** "Fine, I'll go watch the frickin' crime scene... Not that I'd have much else to do."

**Crimson:** "I suppose I'll go too. That way, no one will be able to alter the crime scene from how it was found."

He hesitantly followed them both to the scene of the crime. As they entered the room, he quickly got to investigating. He didn't know how long he had, but he assumed it wasn't much time at all. He quickly noticed that the golden sword he had picked up was now discarded on the floor. *It's not in its sheath anymore... was it taken out for the murder? Yeah... some of the gold coating has come off. So someone- or something- probably touched it, then.* **\*Truth Discovered! (Golden sword replica)\*** Nearby, also on the ground, Arid found his room's key. *It has my name on it- that's proof enough it was mine. But then, if the door was locked... how did the killer get in? She couldn't have forgotten to lock the door- she was too scared. Besides, she promised she wouldn't for anyone, much less me... So how did the killer get in?* **\*Truth Discovered! (Switching rooms)\*** A bit further from the key and the sword itself lay the sword's sheath- oddly enough, sporting a few scratches. *This is the sword's sheath... Why is it so scratched up? By something fairly large, too... I can't see it being very useful in a fight... in other opportunities, such as escape or defence, maybe, but still... something's odd about this.* **\*Truth Discovered! (Golden sword sheath)\*** He turned to look at the state of the room itself. *Yep, still a mess...I guess that's what alerted me to something being wrong. There was probably some big fight between Dragonflame and the killer...* **\*Truth Discovered! (Evidence of a struggle)\*** He checked the drawer. *Yep, the toolkit's still there... looks like it wasn't used by anyone. Maybe I should keep that in mind...* **\*Truth Discovered! (Toolkit)\*** Arid looked to the bathroom door. *That's where... Dragonflame is... No, I can't hesitate now.* He stepped through into the room where Dragonflame's corpse was- it looked as it had when he first found it- he almost immediately felt sick to his stomach. He tried to ignore that, and simply examine the body. *Let's see... according to the Despair file, she was killed with a sharp object.* He quickly glanced at the corpse. *Yeah, I see it... a knife. I should try to find where it came from later... Hang on, what's this?* He noticed something about her talons. *Her right talon's wrist is broken, with a bit of gold on there... Her left index talon has a bit of blood on it, too, curiously.* **\*Truth Discovered! (Dragonflame's Talons)\*** Arid got up to leave, but noticed something behind her. Upon closer inspection, it looked like a set of numbers. *11017... What does that mean?* He stepped out, noticing Darksight right outside- seemingly having come in while he looked in the bathroom.

**Darksight:** "Ah. Arid. There you are. I take it you saw the numbers written in blood?"

**Arid:** "Yes... was that supposed to be her dying message or something?"

**Darksight:** "Most likely, yes... there's almost certainly proof she wrote it."

**Arid:** "I only wish her dying message could've been a bit more helpful..."

**Darksight:** "I'm sure there's more to it than it seems."

**\*Truth Discovered! (Dying message)\***

**Darksight:** "Actually, there's something else I'd like to confirm with you. Do you know why your bathroom door is broken?"

**Arid:** "Oh, that? It gets stuck rather easily... Only Dragonflame, Despair, and I know the trick to open it."

**\*Truth Discovered! (Bathroom doorframe)\***

**Darksight:** "Interesting... However, that isn't what I was talking about. I was referring to the doorknob, if you'll please take a look."

Arid glanced quickly at it- it was not hard to see what she meant.

**Arid:** "It looks like it's about to come clean off! Why is it like this...?" *What could've happened?*

**\*Truth Discovered! (Bathroom doorknob)\***

**Darksight:** "I know no more than you, it seems... perhaps the truth will come to light during the trial."

With that, she left. *Well, I think that's all I can find here.* He stepped out into the hall, but noticed something odd about the door. *Hang on... this is my room, so why does the nameplate say... Dragonflame?* He checked her room's nameplate as well. *This one says Arid... which means someone swapped them. But who... and why?* **\*Truth Discovered! (Dorm Nameplates)\*** He quickly checked her room, unable to find anything special. Aside from one... checking the trash bin, he found what was certainly her motive video. Looking around to make sure no one was watching, he snuck it into his pocket for later viewing- not like he could exactly ask her for permission. He stepped out, thinking next to look for where the knife came from. He entered the kitchen through the dining hall, and sure enough- one of the knives on the wall was missing. *Likely... the one that killed Dragonflame.* **\*Truth Discovered! (Kitchen Knife set)\*** Arid stepped out into the kitchen, nearly running into Aqua.

**Aqua:** "Oh, Arid! There you are!"

**Arid:** "Hey, Aqua. Are you investigating too?"

**Aqua:** "Yeah- I thought I'd look for more evidence in the kitchen."

**Arid:** "Looks like we had the same idea- the knife that killed her, it... definitely came from the kitchen."

**Aqua:** "Yeah, I know... me and Crimson were here in the dining hall last night, and... it vanished while we were out here."

**Arid:** "And you know because you saw it earlier?"

**Aqua:** "Of course! The only reason I'm telling you this is that you couldn't have taken the knife to kill her with, because I- obviously- didn't see you."

**Arid:** "Thanks. I honestly thought everyone would think I did it..." *But now I have an alibi.*

**\*Truth Discovered! (Aqua's account)\***

**Aqua:** "I mean, to be fair... there's more evidence against you than not. But still... I don't think it could've been you."

**Arid:** "Thanks... I should get going, though. My investigation isn't done yet..."

She nodded, seeming to understand. He walked past her, stepping next into the trash room, down the hall from their dorms. However, most of the room was blocked off by a large shutter. *Locked...* Of course, Despair came in to check on him almost right after.

**Despair:** "Yep! Locked! But don't worry, it's not always like this!"

**Arid:** "What do you mean?" *Why does he always show up at either the most or least convenient of times?*

**Despair:** "Well, one of the students... has been assigned "cleaning duty". That one... has the key to this room!"

**Arid:** "Oh. Thanks... Say, do you know which one it is?"

But by the time he could ask, though, Despair had already left. *Okay... I'll have to find whoever it is myself.* **\*Truth Discovered! (Cleaning duty)\*** He exited the room into the hallway, quickly running into Oblivion, pacing the halls.

**Arid:** "Hello..."

**Oblivion:** "Ah, Arid. I can tell there's something you want to know. What is it?"

**Arid:** "I was looking for whoever was on cleaning duty... do you know who that is?"

**Oblivion:** "That would be...me. Why do you ask?"

**Arid:** "I was hoping to take a look through... investigating, of course. By the way, do you know why it's locked off?"

**Oblivion:** "That I can do... so long as you let me keep an eye on you. I believe it's locked off so that no one uses the incinerator to burn anything."

(AN: Yes I KNOW most of them have an alternative method but A. Most and B. Stop you're overthinking this)

**Arid:** "Thanks... Yeah, that's probably right."

Arid walked back, now with Oblivion walking behind him. Once they entered, he allowed Oblivion to unlock the heavy metal shutter, at which point it retreated to its higher resting point. Oblivion seemed startled at what he realised, having now seen it unobstructed... as the incinerator was on.

**Oblivion:** "Why is it on? I swear, it wasn't on when I was last here..."

**Arid:** "Could someone have turned it on?"

**Oblivion:** "Impossible! The distance is roughly 9.15 metres- how would anyone press the switch, let alone dispose of anything, from such a distance?"

**Arid:** "Good question... but that doesn't tell us how this was turned on in the first place."

**Oblivion:** "Perhaps we'll find out another time... later."

**\*Truth Discovered! (Incinerator)\***

**Arid:** "Yeah... Hopefully sooner rather than later."

**Oblivion:** "Perhaps... I still hope you can understand my suspicions of you."

**Arid:** "I understand..." *But I'll prove them all wrong- in the trial.*

Not far from there, he quickly spotted a few crystal pieces- of what exactly, Arid was unsure. He quickly picked them up, hoping to ask someone about them later- if possible. *These look kind of familiar, but I don't know why...* **\*Truth Discovered! (Shattered crystal)\*** Oblivion had already left by this point, but Arid noticed something else about the room- right beneath the incinerator, lay what appeared to be a burnt sleeve- more specifically, from the kind Despair had given them alongside the motive. *Is this what the incinerator was used for?* **\*Truth Discovered! (Burnt jacket sleeve)\*** Arid stepped out of the trash room- Oblivion was nowhere to be seen. *Guess he had some investigating of his own to do... well, so do I, actually.* He walked over to Moonless' room, ringing the doorbell. He answered, albeit seeming to be a bit shaken.

**Moonless:** "A-arid... what is it?"

**Arid:** "Moonless... you're the ultimate clairvoyant, right?"

**Moonless:** "Y-yeah, but... why does that matter?"

**Arid:** "Do you know where this might have come from?" He pulled out the crystal pieces from his jacket pocket. "I had a feeling you'd recognise them..."

**Moonless:** "Y-yeah, that was mine... I think I lost it recently. Where did you find it? What happened to it?"

**Arid:** "Well... we- meaning me and Oblivion- found it broken in the trash room, next to the incinerator."

**Moonless:** "Oh... sorry, I don't know how it got there. There's a chance I accidentally left it somewhere in the trash room, but not that far back..."

**Arid:** "Good to know. Thanks for the help." **\*Truth ReDiscovered! (Broken crystal ball)\***

*Well...* Arid thought to himself as he walked away. *There's only really one other thing left to investigate... Dragonflame's motive video.* He pulled it out of his pocket, walking to the room they had first found them- and where he could see hers. *Sorry if you didn't want me seeing this...* He sat down at one of the now plentiful open screens, hesitantly inserting the disc and waiting for it to play. He put on the headphones once the video had started, watching the screen, feeling a slight sense of dread. The video started, beginning with a clip of Dragonflame on stage with her backup singers- her friends. The scene slowly faded to a similar scene, now without Dragonflame to take center stage- before fading to one of the dragons from before, now all collapsed on the ground, unconscious- before, just as before, Despair cut in with his monologue in tow.

**Despair:** "Dragonflame, S.H.S.L. Pop sensation... lead singer to one of the groups that benefited most from the recent introduction of a new music genre- more specifically, pop. The warmth of the spotlight encouraged them to do better, to be better, until... the light faded, and their curtain closed... on this act, at least. They would never see the spotlight again... but what happened, you ask? Why that's for you to find out yourself.... once you graduate! Heheheheh...."

With that, the screen went black once more. *What's going on here? I have to find an answer... in the trial.* As if it was timed intentionally, an announcement played from the monitor.

**Despair:** "Ahem... Dear students! The trial for the murder of Dragonflame will begin shortly! Gather in the elevator beyond the first floor's red door and we will commence!"

Hesitantly obeying the instructions, he entered the elevator- slowly, the other 12 students slowly joined him. Once they were all in, sitting in the silence and tension of what had brought them here... the doors closed behind them, and the elevator began to descend over a few-minute long period. Then, once they were finished waiting, the front doors opened to reveal a rounded-style courtroom, 16 seats in total, with one more at the head... which Despair was already seated upon.

**Despair:** "Oh, there you are! C'mon, get in your spots already, will you? We've waited long enough for this... just give me this one thing, won't you?"

They all went to their assigned positions- the podiums were designed so that everyone could see everyone else, while also giving them equal positioning.

**Despair:** "Well, now that everyone's here.... let the debate commence!"

### **Chapter 1: What it takes (Debating life)**

(**AN:** It'll be mostly dialogue from this point out- at least, until the trial's end.)

**Despair:** "Now, before we begin... a basic re-explanation of the class trial! Your votes will determine the results. If you can figure out the murderer and unmask them... then only they will receive punishment. But if you vote wrong... then everyone besides the blackened will be punished, and the blackened would be free to go!"

**Arid:** "So... one of us really *is* the killer?"

**Despair:** "Of course! We wouldn't be here otherwise!"

**Darksight:** "I have a question to ask first."

She looked around at the filled podiums- including two instead populated by portraits of their now-deceased classmates- Darkbreaker and Dragonflame, which were even matching to the right height.

**Darksight:** "What's with these portraits?"

**Despair:** "Well, I couldn't let your friends miss out just because they died, could I now? I'm nicer than that."

**Freeze:** "Awfully presumptuous of you to call them our friends..."

**Valori:** "Actually, that gives me a new question... Counting those of us who are dead as well, there are 15 of us." She pointed to the chair beneath Despair's. "And yet, there is an extra seat, gone completely empty, despite the fact that all of us are here. So why are there 16 seats? Did you plan on joining us?" She asked Despair accusingly.

**Despair:** "Oh, not that... it's just that this room was designed to house 16 dragons, maximum. Now then... any more questions?" No one spoke up in Despair's silence. "Okay... well then, let the class trial.... BEGIN!"

*I have to find the on responsible... but who could it be? It could be any one of us... you, me, maybe even- No, it wasn't me... and I have to prove that, once and for all... in this trial, as everyone's lives... are on the line.*

**Terra:** "Let's get the facts straight, shall we?"

**Moonless:** "Sure... so, the victim was Dragonflame."

**Freeze:** "The murder took place in Arid's room."

**Aqua:** "Yeah, in the bathroom..."

**Nightseeker:** "So, it seems likely that... | Dragonflame was caught by surprise in the bathroom. | She probably **didn't even have a chance to resist**..."

**Arid:** "**That's not quite right!**" His exclaim seemed to startle both Nightseeker and Arid himself. "Nightseeker... try to remember how my room looked. By the way it was damaged... you can probably assume that there was a struggle... between Dragonflame and her killer."

**Valori:** "So they were most likely struck first in the main room, and when she retreated to the bathroom... The killer followed her in and finished the job."

**Freeze:** "I'm ashamed of you that that needed an explanation."

**Crimson:** "Next is the matter of the murder weapon. That should be simple... right?"

*Yeah... it should be.*

**Crimson:** "So, what was used to kill her?"

**Terra:** "Something sharp was lodged into her stomach... | Without a doubt, that HAS to be the murder weapon!"

**Aero:** "What, so the killer **used some random knife** they had on them? | Don't let them think they're getting away with this!"

**Arid:** "**That's not quite right!**" "You're right about it being a knife- but, it wasn't any random knife. It was a kitchen knife."

**Aero:** "A kitchen knife? The hell do you mean? How do you know?"

**Arid:** "Well... After the murder, we found that one of the kitchen knives... was missing. That has to be the murder weapon!"

**Crimson:** "Not just that... you can also tell by looking at the shape of its hilt."

**Aero:** "Yeah... I can see that being a kitchen knife."

**Ventus:** "Sure, sure. But where exactly does that get us? I mean, it's obvious Arid did it, right?"

**Quicksight:** "Y-yeah... his room was the scene of the crime, after all. What more proof do you need?"

**Arid:** "J-just hang on a second!"

**Darksight:** "Let's present our arguments *before* we draw any conclusions. Otherwise, it wouldn't be very fair."

**Ventus:** "Sure, go ahead and whatever, but... It probably won't change anything."

**Darksight:** "I don't believe that's quite right."

**Moonless:** "Mind... clarifying about that?"

**Darksight:** "...It should be obvious."

*She's right... there has to be something else! And I'll show what exactly that contradiction is!*

**Ventus:** "So we know the kitchen knife was the murder weapon... | But where does that get us?"

**Quicksight:** "Arid probably stole it from the kitchen... | It must've been **when no one was in the dining hall...** | Then he went and killed Dragonflame with it!"

**Ventus:** "Yeah, that's how it went down! | Which could only mean he did it!"

**Oblivion:** "It seems you are correct..."

**Arid:** "**I wouldn't Believe that so easily!**" "I didn't take the knife from the kitchen."

**Quicksight:** "R-really? Then where's your evidence?"

**Arid:** "Actually... I have a witness. Isn't that right... Aqua?"

**Aqua:** "What do you mean?"

**Arid:** "Remember what you told me? In the dining hall, earlier? You said you were in the dining hall... and that the knife vanished from the kitchen while you were out in the dining hall. That meant you saw it before it was gone, right?"

**Aqua:** "Yeah, that's... how it went." She nodded in agreement.

**Arid:** "Did you see me while you were there? Did you see me in the dining hall at any point?"

**Aqua:** "No... I'm almost certain I didn't."

**Arid:** "So the murder weapon was taken from the dining hall... where I was, in fact, not seen. That means there's no way I could've taken the knife!"

**Quicksight:** "Sure, but... how do we know you're not working together on this?"

**Aqua:** "Why would I involve myself in something like this?"

**Freeze:** "Actually, this provides me with a reason to ask... Despair, if there is an accomplice, do they also become blackened?"

**Despair:** "Why, of course not! Only the murderer becomes blackened... so having an accomplice would be worthless."

**Aero:** "So no one would have a reason to be an accomplice."

**Nightseeker:** "But... is it not possible they didn't know about this rule then?"

**Despair:** "Before you think too hard, I'll tell ya: there are NO accomplices to this murder!"

**Arid:** "Which proves I couldn't have taken the knife, as I wasn't seen in the dining hall."

**Nightseeker:** "But then... who did take the knife?"

**Valori:** "Aqua seems like a likely candidate, does she not? After all, she was alone in the dining hall..."

**Aqua:** "No, that wasn't true!"

**Oblivion:** "Then can you prove it?"

**Aqua:** "Yeah... Crimson was with me the entire time."

**Crimson:** "Correct... I can confirm I was indeed with Aqua."

**Valori:** "Alright... but then, if not either of you... then who could it have been?"

**Aqua:** "Actually... There was someone else who passed through.

**Terra:** "What? Why didn't you say for in the first place?"

**Aqua:** "Well, because.... they're not here anymore."

**Arid:** "Wait, so you mean..." *Someone who isn't here anymore? Who could that be?* "...Dragonflame?"

**Aqua:** "Yeah... we saw her in the dining hall while we were there."

**Crimson:** "Logically, we can conclude she took the knife."

**Aqua:** "She even acted unusually... She ignored us completely when she passed through the dining hall. She claimed she just wanted a glass of water."

**Arid:** "I'm sure it was just meant for self-defense..."

**Freeze:** "Either way, that doesn't prove he couldn't have done it. Arid is still under suspicion."

**Arid:** "H-hold on!"

**Darksight:** "We may have that evidence, believe it or not. One that could prove his innocence."

**Valori:** "I doubt that, but please, continue."

**Darksight:** "There's evidence that the killer struggled to enter Arid's bathroom."

**Terra:** "You mean the broken doorknob, correct? What would that have to do with anything?"

**Aero:** "Well, we know the killer chased her into the bathroom, right?"

**Nightseeker:** "Yes, and the killer busted down the door... because?"

**Ventus:** "Isn't it obvious? Arid had to have **locked the bathroom door.**"

**Arid:** "**That's not why! It can't be!**" "The reason the door didn't open... *wasn't* because the door was locked. She couldn't have done that if she wanted to anyways- the boys' bathroom doors *didn't have locks.*"

**Quicksight:** "Then... why didn't it open?"

**Arid:** "Because the door was stuck. The door didn't fit the frame quite right."

**Despair:** "He's not lying about *that*!"

**Arid:** "But, the killer didn't know that. They thought the door was *locked.*"

**Darksight:** "That's why they tore down the door to get in."

**Oblivion:** "Then, allow me to ask... why would they think the door was locked in the first place?"

**Crimson:** "The killer was likely missing something... but what?"

**Arid:** "Simple- they didn't know the crime took place in my room, rather than Dragonflame's."

**Moonless:** "Then, they... thought the door was locked, because they assumed it was a girl's dorm."

**Terra:** "Before we get any farther, I pose a question to you all. How on Pyrrhia could the killer have accessed Arid's room, where Dragonflame was?"

**Ventus:** "That's a good question... they probably couldn't have picked it up off the ground outside, because it was in her room."

**Nightseeker:** "And Despairseeker made sure the locks couldn't be picked..."

**Oblivion:** "Then the only remaining option is that... the killer was allowed in by Dragonflame herself."

**Arid:** "No, that can't be right... She sounded too scared to have willingly let anyone in. That's why we switched rooms in the first place... and, to top it off, she promised not to open the door for anyone- even me."

**Aero:** "Then what if she lied?"

**Arid:** "T-that can't be right..."

**Valori:** "I wouldn't bet on it."

**Darksight:** "You can't deny the possibility yet... especially when you consider this." She pulled a note out of her jacket. It read as follows:

**There's something I want to talk to you about. Alone. Come to my room in 5 minutes. Check the nameplate for the right one. And make sure you don't get the wrong room! -Dragonflame**

**Darksight:** "If that wasn't enough, I found it in Arid's room. Perhaps it was planned to be disposed of later..."

**Freeze:** "That means only either Dragonflame or Arid himself could have written this. No other possibilities are remotely likely."

**Quicksight:** "Actually, almost certainly it was Dragonflame... If she had seen it, she would've gotten rid of it before." This remark earned her a glare from Freeze.

**Moonless:** "Then Dragonflame invited the killer in... likely not knowing that they were going to end up killing her."

**Valori:** "Actually, I have a problem with that. How exactly would they arrive at their correct destination that way?"

**Terra:** "Indeed... **they would have arrived instead at Dragonflame's room proper...** The room Arid was staying in."

**Arid:** "**There's something you've forgotten!**" "Well, actually... the nameplates on our rooms got switched sometime that night."

**Darksight:** "Alongside the dragons within."

**Oblivion:** "So... The killer would have been going to Arid's room, but they would not have known- considering the swapped nameplates and swapped owners."

**Aqua:** "And... who could've swapped the nameplates, though?"

**Arid:** "That... is Dragonflame herself. She's the only one who could have. She had to have written the note... and she was the only other dragon who knew about the switched rooms."

**Nightseeker:** "She also said in the note... specifically to check the nameplate, right?"

**Ventus:** "Yeah... so they'd go to the room Dragonflame was staying in."

**Aero:** "Then she did it to hide the fact that it was actually Arid's room?"

**Oblivion:** "Yes... naturally, to cast suspicion on Arid himself."

**Valori:** "I am correct in assuming whoever was invited over was the culprit, correct?"

**Terra:** "Then we must find out whoever was invited over!"

**Crimson:** "Actually, I have a question. The replica sword- could it possibly be related?"

**Quicksight:** "G-good point... I-it might have been used in the fight."

**Arid:** "Well. Dragonflame suggested I take it for self-defense. I'm sure the killer broke her wrist with it, too..."

**Ventus:** "Aaaaand how do you know that?"

**Arid:** "Simple. Because, well... the gold coating from the sword- it comes off easily, and it came off... near the point of impact on her wrist."

**Freeze:** "We could've figured that out ourselves."

**Terra:** "I understand... She must have **hit her with the sword before she knew what had happened!**"

**Arid:** "**No, that couldn't be it!**" "That can't be right. I don't think that's what happened first!"

**Moonless:** "Well, why exactly?"

**Darksight:** "Two reasons. 1: Dragonflame should've known that the killer had arrived."

**Arid:** "And 2: The sword was first used for defense."

**Valori:** "How exactly is that proved?"

**Aqua:** "Does it have something to do with the sheath?"

**Arid:** "Yes, actually- to be specific, the scratch marks. Which would imply..."

**Quicksight:** "That someone attacked the wielder, which they used the sheath to protect themselves from, right?"

**Freeze:** "Of course. Why did you even need to ask?"

**Arid:** *Ignoring Freeze's comment...* "Yes, that's exactly it- specifically, Dragonflame first tried to attack the killer."

**Darksight:** “The reason the sheath specifically was attacked was that the killer likely wouldn’t have enough time to unsheathe it.”

**Aero:** “Isn’t there a chance Dragonflame defended herself from the attack instead?”

**Arid:** “Not exactly… After all, her palms didn’t have any trace of gold on them. If the gold coating comes off easily enough to detach with a single impact… surely holding it would be much the same?”

**Crimson:** “And she couldn’t have simply washed off the gold… because the water was off, correct?”

**Oblivion:** “Indeed… The killer had to have been the one to use the sword.”

**Ventus:** “And that would mean Dragonflame was the one attacking with the knife.”

**Nightseeker:** “That wouldn’t make her as innocent as I’d like to believe…”

**Freeze:** “Indeed. These actions seem to instead frame her as the intended culprit.”

**Valori:** “Dragonflame had even suggested the two switch rooms, correct? Or at least, guided Arid towards it. This confirms the blame was meant to land firmly on Arid when all was said and done.”

**Arid:** “No, t-that can’t be right!” Can it…?

**Valori:** “Think about it. She switched the nameplates… because, if the killer knew the rooms were swapped, would they not be suspicious?”

**Aero:** “And I’m going to be honest, I probably wouldn’t believe just Arid about him and Dragonflame having switched rooms.”

**Quicksight:** “If she was willing to throw him under the bus like that, she was no doubt also taking that into account.”

**Despair:** “Aw man, you lot are BO-RING! Can’t you all just decide whodunnit and be off with it?”

**Ventus:** “And HOW exactly should we do that?”

**Darksight:** “The same way as usual, I suppose. Arid, I suppose you have something in mind, correct?”

**Ventus:** “The heck do you mean? **There are no clues left.** What, do you expect us to pull a clue out of thin air?”

**Arid:** “**That won’t be needed!**” “You see… There's one last clue Dragonflame had left us. Her *dying message.*”

**Aqua:** “Huh? Those random numbers? 11037, was it? I have a couple problems with that, honestly…”

**Moonless:** “Me too… for one, how do we know that Dragonflame herself even wrote it?”

**Darksight:** “Well, one of her left talons was covered in blood- since the right talon’s wrist was broken, she no doubt was forced to use her left talon.”

**Crimson**: “Then, where do we go from here? What exactly does this message show?”

**Oblivion**: “If I may interject first… am I the only one to think the two ones look as if they were meant to form an “N”?”

(**AN**: Important to restate that the 11017 looks similar to how it would look on an analog calculator- I can’t share the og/unedited image as an example bc it might give away too much but you’ll know it when you see it)

**Terra**: “I believe you’re right! Unfortunately, I don’t believe that gets us very far.”

**Arid**: *Does it, though?* “I… think I know who the killer is now, actually.”

**Nightseeker**: “R-really? Already?”

**Arid**: “Yes… I’m certain I know who it is.”

**Freeze**: “Obviously, I have figured this out as well- but go on, Arid.”

**Arid**: *Sure, tell yourself that.* “Well, it could only have been… You, Ventus!”

**Ventus:** “What? I-if this is your idea of a joke, then I assure you I’m not laughing.”

**Arid:** “I’m not joking… I’m certain it’s you. The proof lies in her message.”

**Valori:** “What, the “N017”? What exactly does that prove?”

**Arid:** “That you’re reading it wrong. Look at it upside down, the way she was writing it, and it becomes ‘Lion.’ ”

**Quicksight:** “I appreciate you trying and what not, but that doesn’t get us any closer.”

**Arid:** “Actually… do you remember Dragonflame’s nickname for Ventus? I wouldn’t blame you if you didn’t know of course.”

**Aqua:** “Yeah, it was Lion, but what does that pro-” She paused. “You really think so?”

**Arid:** “There’s no other meaning possible from that message… aside from pointing out her killer.”

**Ventus:** “That’s a pretty insane claim… without much more proof to back it up, either. Like, why would she write it that way? If we’re assuming that’s even meant to be my name.”

**Darksight:** “Well, judging by where Dragonflame’s body was… her back was against the bathroom wall, to the right of her message. If you’ll recreate that, you’ll find the only talon that could’ve written it would be your left. Now, if you were to write something there, then look at it normally, it would look as if it was flipped exactly 180 degrees.”

**Arid:** “Furthermore, you tried to get rid of a certain piece of evidence- your bloodstained jacket. It was the only part you could get rid of at the time- the water was off, and even if it was on, you wouldn’t be able to wash off the blood. You planned to wear one of the spares in the morning, after you washed off the stains that were on your own scales.”

**Nightseeker:** “So then… he must not have noticed the piece that fell from the incinerator, or he would have tried to eliminate it as well.”

**Crimson:** “Unfortunately, I’m not sure I believe you yet either. After all, the burnt sleeve alone isn’t damning him and him alone.”

**Ventus:** “Yeah! See? It could’ve been anyone else here, either! Hell, there isn’t even a method of distinguishing the killer’s gender!”

**Arid:** “Maybe not… but something else leads me to believe it had to have been you.”

**Moonless:** “And… what exactly is that?”

**Arid:** “That would be exactly how it was disposed of.”

**Ventus:** “Yeah! I mean, the only way to put it in the incinerator… was to get close to it, right? You could’ve only done that so late if you had the key to the trash room!”

**Valori:** “Just to clarify… That would be Oblivion, correct?”

**Oblivion:** “Y-yes, that would be me… however, I swear I had nothing to do with this!”

**Arid:** *I believe him… and I have to prove that this is the truth.*

**Oblivion:** “Please wait, I assure you there’s an explanation… | You all have to believe me!”

**Arid:** “**I’m not going to be fooled by your lies!**” “There’s a chance… you didn’t need to enter the trash room to hit the switch.”

**Aero:** “Huh? Then why the hell was it on? Did he leave it overnight or somethin’?”

**Arid:** “No, I’m sure that wasn’t it…”

**Terra:** “Then what was it? Did he leave something behind to prove his methods?”

**Arid:** “He did, in fact… The crystal shards. The crystal shards proved how he disposed of the evidence!”

**Moonless:** “The shards from my crystal ball? What does that have to do with anything?”

**Freeze:** “I thought you had lost it already.”

**Arid:** “I have reason to believe he did… but the killer found it, and used it to dispose of evidence.”

**Quicksight**: “R-really? Then what exactly did they use it for?”

**Arid**: “Simple… *They threw it.*”

**Quicksight:** “Threw it? And what, they hit the button with it and activated it?”

**Arid:** “Yes, that’s exactly the idea.”

**Freeze:** “It seems you’ve caught up to my understanding.”

**Ventus:** “Hey, come on, you realize how insane this… well, this whole thing sounds, right? Th-this whole thing… I can see plenty of flaws in it! For one, how on pyrrhia would I throw strong enough to hit the button from wherever-the-hell?”

**Arid:** “It’s pretty simple for you, honestly.”

**Crimson:** “Hm? And how exactly would that be?”

**Arid:** “Well… Ventus. Your ultimate… is that of baseball, is it not? If you truly excel in the way you are portrayed to… then it would be the most simple thing in the world!”

**Ventus:** “Y-you… I… You damned idiot! That’s not what’s happening here!”

**Nightseeker:** “H-he’s not convinced, no matter how much evidence is thrown in his face…”

**Darksight:** “Then it’s time we show him the truth. Arid, would you do the honors?”

**Arid:** “My pleasure.” *I have to find closure for this story here, or we might as well have all forfeited our lives!* “This is how your crime went down!”

**CLOSING ARGUMENT**

“Last night, the killer went to the room Dragonflame was in- that would be my room. Dragonflame planned to kill them, which was why she invited them. She attacked them with the knife she had, but that’s when the killer grabbed the decorative sword…. And used it to defend themselves from her attack. Afterwards, they unsheathed it and struck her, breaking her wrist. She then retreated to the bathroom, unlocking it thanks to me telling her the trick to get it open. The killer forced the door open to get in, after which the stabbed Dragonflame. However, by then, she had managed to write out a clue- albeit not quite detailed enough- but regardless, she gave us one last message before she died, which managed to bypass the killer’s detection. Once they were done killing her, all they could do was remove the one piece of evidence they actually could- their jacket. They probably didn’t think to use their own fire for it… maybe in the panic, they forgot. So, they instead turned to the incinerator. Unfortunately, it was locked away at the time- but that wasn’t needed for them, since Moonless’ crystal ball was also in the trash room, in front of the shutter. The killer took aim and threw it at the switch, causing it to shatter on impact- albeit, only after it hit the target. They then threw their jacket into the incinerator, and left, unable to turn it off again. However, that was their mistake- as if they had stayed, they would likely have noticed the burnt sleeve that fell out of the incinerator. Because they had… they left behind their final piece of evidence!”

**Arid:** "Isn't that right... Ventus?!"

**Ventus:** “H-hang on now! As accurate as that might sound… you’re leaving out the fact that everything here is purely circumstantial. Like, she could’ve tried to frame me the same way she tried framing you! And, without that- You don’t have any evidence to show me!”

**Arid:** “That’s where you’re wrong!” “You see… the killer had to get into the bathroom, and they did so by unscrewing the doorknob. The one thing that stuck out to me about that… is how they unscrewed it.”

**Ventus:** “What’s so strange about that? They probably just used yours. It was your room, after all.”

**Arid:** “That’s the thing, though… the killer didn’t know that. If you’ll recall, it was meant to be mistaken as Dragonflame’s room… and only boy’s rooms have toolkits. I checked myself- my toolkit is still unopened.”

**Ventus:** “Okay, I get it, but… what’s your point?”

**Arid:** “It means the killer had to have used their own toolkit. There’s no other way. So, Ventus… if you really didn’t kill Dragonflame, then show us your ‘unopened’ toolkit!”

**Ventus**: “.............Huh. Pretty good.”

**Valori:** “So you admit it?”

**Ventus:** “Yeah. I do. He figured the whole thing out… pretty impressive.”

**Despair:** “Let me cut you off before you get too likable- after all, the trial’s over, and it’s high time we get you your punishment!”

**Ventus:** “Alright, fine- let’s get this over with.”

#### Chapter 1 (Verdict)

Once everyone had voted, Despairseeker inputted something into a computer, most likely the votes. It displayed the result of the votes on a screen nearby:

**Ventus: with 13 Votes**

Everyone looked at the results with various expressions, from shock to understanding.

**Despair:** “Oh wow! Guess this means the vote’s unanimous! Well, nice job, for your first time- you got it right, without so much as a sweat! Well, don’t worry- the 12 of you get to live another day! As for you, Mr. Ventus…”

A metal clamp shot out of the dark hallway opposite their point of entry.

**Despair:** “...We need to have a little talk after class.”

The claw tightly clamped around Ventus’ neck, quickly dragging him into the darkness of the hallway. Despair climbed back up onto his perch, grabbing his remote from within and turning the screen above them on.

**Despair:** “If I may have your attention, students! It’s the moment everyone’s been waiting for!”

*"GAME OVER | VENTUS HAS BEEN FOUND GUILTY. TIME FOR THE PUNISHMENT!"* Was displayed onscreen, before cutting away to Ventus himself.

(AN: Hey! Popping in to announce a new tradition of skipping over half of the executions in the series (10/18-23), this being one. Why? Well, I have two reasons for skipping a given execution. 1. Not important/impactful in any way, or 2, I don’t know how to explain it. Sooner or later, I might come back and alter this, but until then- just know any and all executions for chapters 1, 2, and 3 will be skipped, but feel free to watch them elsewhere instead- in fact, I encourage it. Oh, but something I should note because it’s important in chapter next: basically, ventus was bludgeoned to death by baseballs.)

Everyone stood in silent shock in what they had seen.

**Aero:** “The hell is this?”

**Aqua:** “W-what the… why are you doing this?”

**Despair:** “Didn’t I already tell you? It’s to show you the truth of despair! If you don’t want it to happen again… then just accept your life and live in this school for every last one of your remaining days!”

This statement rung truer than ever in the ears of the fast-dwindling survivors.

**Despair:** “Well, if you’ll excuse me, that’s all the time I’ve got. The elevator should be here shortly.”

With that, he left. For the most part, the 10 of them seemed to be silent, aside from the occasional conversation between two of them. Darksight approached Arid, a familiar neutral look on her face.

**Arid:** “You want to talk about Dragonflame, right?”

She flared her bandaged wing slightly. *I should ask about that later…*

**Darksight:** “Correct. So… do you think either of them were in the right?”

**Arid:** “I don’t know… She planned to commit a murder and pin it on me, but he actually went through with it…”

**Darksight:** “Perhaps… but, I don’t think either of them were necessarily in the wrong, either. After all… they both had reasonable motives. Dragonflame was scared by the motive video, enough to kill. Ventus wasn’t tipped over by the video, at least not entirely, but rather the anger of Dragonflame’s betrayal after how close they had gotten.”

**Arid:** “...I suppose you’re right. I just… hadn’t thought of it that way.”

**Darksight:** “But, in the end… I suppose they both accepted their mistakes. She wanted to make sure you weren’t wrongfully convicted in the end, or she wouldn’t have written that message… and its contents were something she was almost certain only you would actually recognize. Ventus only didn’t admit because he didn’t want to be known only as Dragonflame’s killer.”

**Arid:** “...Yeah. Once we cornered him, he gave up. He knew struggling would only make the reveal all the more crushing. But either way… I have to move forward. We all do.”

**Darksight:** “My point exactly. By the way… How did you know I wanted to talk about her?”

**Arid:** “Intuition, I suppose.”

Their conversation was cut short by the elevator’s arrival at the trial grounds. They all stepped in, continuing to stay silent, and the doors closed behind them, now one fewer, and they could only wait until they would next descend to the trial grounds again, hoping that they would never need to again.

**CHAPTER 1 END**

e-.-c-o-m-/-d-o-c-u-m-e-n

## **Chapter 2: Live A Lie**

Arid sat alone in his room again, the night after the trial had concluded. He already checked the bathroom, somehow still surprised- although very slightly- by the corpse’s removal. *As if she had never been there, her body was gone… I wasn’t given enough time to mourn anyone here who died… Not Dragonflame, not Darkbreaker, Not even Ventus… not before another day dawned, and sooner or later, someone else will die… again.* He lay down on his bed, hoping to get some rest for tomorrow morning.

When he woke up the next morning, he didn't feel any better than he had last night. He got up, still tired, and walked over to the door. He... didn't see anyone, so instead decided to head to the dining hall... Everyone else was already there.

**Terra:** "About time you showed up! I'd drag you the whole way here if you stayed in there any longer." Arid didn't respond, instead taking his seat from the days before. "I take it the corpse was gone?"

**Arid:** He nodded. "Like they were never there..."

**Aero:** "From a sanitary perspective, it makes sense, but that's still effed up..."

**Aqua:** "Come on! We can't be acting all down at a time like this! Now is the time we need to band together most! We have to trust each other more than anything else!"

**Freeze:** "Ah yes, because we clearly got this far trusting each other, relying on each other, and being friends."

**Aqua:** "Sure, but that was then, and this is now! We can band together and stop the mastermind, before any other killings happen!"

**Freeze:** "You have fun with that. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a reason to stick with the real world instead. Good day to none of you." He walked out after that surprisingly good line.

**Valori:** "Given the mastermind's power, that would undoubtedly be a tricky matter... It shouldn't be hard to understand that, now should it? I suppose our only remaining choice is to continue this game of deceit."

**Nightseeker:** "N-no... I don't want to live if I need to kill someone for it. I... I refuse to do that! I don't want anyone dying for us again! With how we voted for Ventus like that, we might as well have killed him ourselves!"

**Arid:** "No, you're not the one at fault... the one at fault here should be the mastermind. They're the one who set this whole thing up!"

**Valori:** "Oh, really now? Then why did Ventus kill Dragonflame when he could've perfectly turned around and walked back to my room? Passing guilt to someone irrelevant helps no one, in the end of the day."

Nightseeker crumpled to the ground, the guilt clearly weighing on her shoulders.