Entry tags:

07/21

There's a crash from downstairs, the sound of metal on metal as elevator doors are wrenched open on the ground floor and somebody steps out through them, barging out the door and leaving footprints of bright, wet red in their wake. They make their way past the lockers, past the remains of a laptop with its shattered screen and scattered keys, and grip the handles to the front doors.

The doors do not open. The handles will sooner snap off than budge— and snap off they do, tossed aside and sent clattering across the floor.

OOC

✽ Use the toplevel below for investigation. For this mini-event, it will be brief and the mod will note when there is nothing left to find.
✽ Please allow Shiny to respond first for interactions with Legion, and note in the subject line or brackets whether you are okay with character injury and to what extent.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Hey, some people use the elevator! The dorms probably could've been finished a long time ago if I hadn't promised Alice an elevator.

Anyways, it looks like the button that's smeared the most is... the one for the ground floor! As if the elevator were somewhere else, things got bloody, and then they went to the ground floor.

Crying nms is uh. Having some keyboard issues, she'll be back.

Can we assume the tracks look like someone walked in while blood-covered, pushed the ground floor button, then walked back out? (Is there blood on the doors too since they were forced open by presumably the same hands...)

If yes, they'll check the normal floors first to see if the trail continues on any of them -- and on that note, if any of the extra buttons/floors that weren't working before suddenly... decided to be available.

Yes, that's what it looks like! There is blood on the doors too and uh we'll say there's blood on Legion's hands that they may or may not have noticed since their hands are dark and hard to see.

The two of them go up each floor and see that there isn't any blood outside when the door opens, and no new buttons have started working either. There is... one last button... that doesn't go to a normal floor (:

ashgjk no listen maybe they pushed the button with their foot, I wouldn't stop them.

But that's what we thought... If nothing new works and the blood isn't on any normal floors, this must've happened in the red button somehow. Which can't really be checked, but they'll hit it just in case......

Also, is there anything else in the elevator that looking around while waiting in-between floors might reveal?

The elevator plummets.

In their minute of freefall, they will find a hairclip in the back corner of the of the elevator, clean and undamaged, but nothing else of note in the elevator until the minute is up and the doors slide open...

The way I broke my laptop's s key, sighs, you never realize how many s's we use in a day.

As the elevator descends, they both manage to catch sight of the hairclip that they recognize... and Komaeda's going to stare blankly at first. Rina was like Saihara would turn away to face the door so he could Komaeda a moment, and I thought that was so cute so here we go. When he's sure that the other isn't looking towards the hair accessory, his lips purse into a straight line... How should he feel about that, well, he doesn't know at the moment, and instead he migrates over to the back corner where he squats down to stare at the item.

...

...

He'll pick it up when the elevator doors fly open so that Saihara can see what's happening out there, and Komaeda remains oblivious. What is waiting for him? :)

hello! :)

The elevator opens out into a place that Komaeda should recognize ~~minus Twogami, mores the pity~~. The elevator doors do not replace the entrance, but rather is embedded into the side of the wall so that the entrance will be on their right (something along the lines of this). Leading out from the elevator is a significantly-sized trail of blood, that grows ever bigger as it reaches the corner and curves to Komaeda and Saihara's left.

What would they like to explore first?

Concerning...

Saihara steps out first since Komaeda was preoccupied, which means they're doing the sensible thing for once and following the obvious trail of blood before anything else -- though they'll keep an eye out for details that might seem out of place along the way (i.e. any open doors or traces/objects left on the walls and floor), if there are any.

After turning left, where does it go...?

If they follow the blood trail left, they'll find that it brings them around the corner. There won't be anything notable on the path aside from wood splinters and even more blood. The doors of the office and the restroom are both closed.

The blood leads to the main hall. The wood is gouged and splintered around the doorway, the wallpaper ripped as if by something that had three claws or fingers. One of the doors is slightly off its hinges, but not enough to reveal what's inside.

Concerning...

Komaeda has already pocketed the hairpin and follows after Saihara accordingly, and once they make it to the main hall way — since there's three doors along this stretch, which one is off the hinges? Do the other two doors have any noticeable damages? With that, he's going to tell aihara huichi to take a few steps back away from him because (he don't want his luck to cause him any harm) his arm fucked up... :(

So, Komaeda's going to grab the handle to pull it towards himself and peek inside... peek-a-boo! Anyone behind the door?

Edited 2021-07-29 08:11 (UTC)

There is, indeed, someone waiting for him inside.

The first thing that's immediately apparent is the amount of utter destruction that's taken place inside of here - it's not the dining hall that Komaeda remembers, not even after everything that was stirred up by Togami's murder. The tables are little more than shards and splinters, tablecloths torn to shreds and broken porcelain scattered about. There are white and red party ribbons lying in blood, the lighter color dyed in spots anywhere from pink to a matching red.

The blood trail leads all the way to the table at the back. It is split in half, its tablecloth sliding off to the ground as if it had been pulled down. The cloth is wrapped around the hand of a boy, laying in a pool of his own blood. Even from a slight distance, both of the investigators will probably know him far too well to not recognize that it is Hinata Hajime.

Whether this realization is made immediately or in the next few moments, something will happen after Komaeda opens the door. The monitor mounted high up on the wall will flicker to life, crackling with static, black and white fizzing up and down the screen. A voice that is familiar to both parties will echo throughout the hall.

"Upupupupu... Well well well, whatever do we have here? We're just having all kinds of fun things happen today, aren't we? Although I hate to say, our wannabe protagonists are pretty late for saving our damsel..."

The static clears, revealing Monokuma, reclining in a plush chair as if he has all the time in the world.

"You missed the whole party and everything! All the murders, the explosions, the drama and the intrigue... You kids really need to learn better timing, you know. And to know your place. Because you, dear Komaeda-kun..."

In a swift, unnerving movement, Monokuma sweeps out of the chair and straight against whatever is recording him, his face cast in eerie shadows.

"Don't you think you should be dead by now?"

The Monokuma reveal... finds Saihara partway through the room, because he was focused on where the blood leads and as soon as he catches sight of Hinata on the floor he calls out his name in a panic and bolts past Komaeda. The monitor and everything gives him pause though, of course, his worried glances switching from the body on the ground to the talking plushie on screen, and back, and repeat, while the world feels like it's spinning for a second.

Are they... back in the killing game? Just like this? Was Monokuma gone all this time only to reappear out of nowhere down here?

With that and other questions, it's... confusing for a bit, but hold on. Something's... missing, and it's something pretty important. Despite the cold sweat he can feel down his back and in his palms, Saihara gives the monitor another long stare, and then finds his words in a low, tired and quiet, but still firm voice:

"...Shut up. We don't care how you feel."

His knees are kind of weak, it's like he poured all his courage and strength of will into that answer already, but he staggers over regardless. Because he really does have something more important than Monokuma to check -- the thing that was missing... the body discovery announcement that should have played, even ironically, as long as the only people here discovered a dead body. A new one at least -- sure, there's a chance somebody's found it before already or they don't meet the number requirement and that's the only reason it isn't playing, but...

As long as there's a chance...

Komaeda can talk to the bear if he wants, Saihara's going to step through the blood and crouch down by Hinata to check him for breathing or pulse. How is he lying down? Is he on his back or on his stomach? His side? Are there injuries on him that seem immediately apparent? He's refusing to just accept Hinata's dead without proof.

Hinata's status is not particularly great. He lies on his back, limbs slightly twisted as if he's fallen, or perhaps... been thrown, even, and either way was trying to grab onto the table to break his fall. His injuries are a little difficult to see past the blood, but there are two major ones that immediately stand out - one wound pierced through his shoulder and the other from a place on his side that's less discernible unless Saihara tries to remove his shirt. Both are the main sources of blood, and both (if Saihara should investigate the side injury) appear to be wounds as if something tore through his flesh with great force. There are less critical injuries apparent as well: a blow to his temple that has just a bit of blood, and scratches all across his body (if the exact inventory is needed: the worst are on his arms, with a few on his face and legs).

But in spite of it all, there's hope. There's still a chance, because if Saihara listens for Hinata's breath and pulse, he will find both. Weak, but still fighting.

When Saihara touches him, Hinata makes a soft, weak noise in the back of his throat, tilting his head to the side. His eyes flutter but don't open, and if Saihara's listening closely (or if there happens to be no other sound at the time), he'll be able to hear Hinata faintly murmur, "Komaeda..."

In the meantime, as Saihara is checking Hinata, Monokuma will be leaning back from the screen finally and holding his stomach as he cracks up, laughing like he's just been told the best joke he's heard in years. "Wow, look at the mouth on that one! He seemed like such a meek little thing when he came through the elevator, but it looks like he's got a spine after all! Keep that up and you'll make my heart race!"

He takes a seat back in his chair, kicking his feet out like a small child excited for birthday presents.

"In any case, if you've got the time to talk back, you have time to save Hinata-kun, don't you? Although by all means, feel free to leave him bleeding out on the floor. Even if we're all done with the Killing Game now, I'd love to throw a body announcement out there for old times' sake!"

What was he supposed to expect when pushing open that door, it would have been too hopeful for it to be the pleasant party behind them — it was far too quiet, and that'd be just their luck. What lies behind the door, shoes hitting against the wooden floor in quick succession which some steps sound creakier than others. He's unable to give him advice to watch his step, but there's no time for it, and there's there's uncomfortable feeling that washes over Komaeda at the sight. Saihara speaks for them, his acknowledgement should be more than enough so hopefully Monokuma doesn't act out for attention.

Komaeda has never seen Hinata in this state before. The ghost-pale expression from hearing they had to murder one another is one thing, and the look he wore at the reveal of him being a talentless individual is another. In the end, that wasn't the case, he's more than just a simple reserve course — he's...

Spoken low, confirming to himself who that is, "Hinata-kun."

He's descended down the elevator with Ishimaru once, and he wasn't met with just one Monokuma, but many that the other was terrified to see around a decapitated Hope's Peak. His adventure with Noah proved to show the same concerns, a destroyed world followed by loss — so why is this what Komaeda is seeing? If he had a world that would make him distraught... it'd be one that lacks hope.

...
...
...

Sickly green that watches the two is quick to look towards Monokuma, a violent crimson while glaring — he blinks once, and his eyes instantly return to normal. He hadn't realized it, but his mechanical arm had already balled into a tight fist, once he does, he'll cross his arms. Taking one step, and then another to close in on Saihara checking over Hinata's wounds so that he's in earshot of the verdict... "That's enough, Monokuma... Aren't you ashamed of yourself?" Komaeda won't accept it, nor will he believe it. "This... is pretty embarrassing, going after someone with that amount of hope."

All that blinding hope that belongs to him, an extraordinary person who is locked away in a talentless shell for now, does Monokuma really think he stands a chance against him? It's a waste of time because Hinata already said so himself that he wouldn't die here, that he would live. As Komaeda closes the distance between himself and the two, "Saihara-kun." he kneels down, looking at the other with furrowed brow before his eyes drop down to fully take in Hinata's appearance. "You... have to get him out of here."

Thankfully, Saihara's devoid of Komaeda's concerns for now. He doesn't recognize anything about this place and to him it's just the obvious crime scene for whatever evidence they followed from the elevator -- they can figure out why exactly the button worked the way it did... later.

"I know that. But there's no way I can carry him by myself..."

So help him? He's already on it, in the process of taking off his uniform jacket (a little bumpy because this is the 21st so while his arm is mostly healed, it's still... not in peak condition) to press it down and try to stem the blood he can see from Hinata's shoulder injury. ...They match now, although he'd really rather they didn't. They don't have time to strip Hinata, so unfortunately the side injury will have to go mostly unnoticed for now... rip.

Sorry about the rough treatment, but as soon as the bleeding's a little more under control... Saihara leaves the jacket trapped there as a cushion, and then pulls Hinata up to the best of his ability, slinging his arm around his own shoulders. The idea is that Komaeda will do the same with the other arm and together they can start to pull him out of the room but... will he? Only Komaeda knows.

In the meantime, he'll use his limited time to look around the scene, in case they missed anything visible and important. Did they...? And one of those glances goes to Monokuma, too.

"What do you mean, we're done with the Killing Game?"

It just... seems smart to understand at least a basic picture of what happened here.

Is it the contact, or hearing the voice of the one he'd been searching for? It's hard to really say, but as soon as Hinata's lifted up he'll start to stir. It takes a great deal of effort, but Hinata's will is strong, and he manages to force his eyes open. It's not the person on his side that he sees first, nor does he notice the different hand of the one he does see or the blood that soaks his own clothes. The moment he takes in the sight of Komaeda, agonized relief stretches out across his face.

"Komaeda, you... You're okay." Hinata's voice shakes, one part emotion and one part exhaustion from the way he's pushing his body's limits. "I looked through the whole lodge and couldn't find you, I thought- I thought I was already too late, but... You're okay..."

Almost unconsciously, limbs starting to tremble with the effort of holding himself out of the hold he'd been in, Hinata slumps back and leans into Saihara's arm. The fact that he doesn't fall flat on his back is what seems to catch his attention, and for the first time Hinata looks over at the one beside him-

If possible, his already-pale face goes even paler.

"It's... you." His voice trembles and breaks. "The one from the clock tower, from the- the stairs. I know you." Almost like it's reflexive, like the same day a very different Hinata found Saihara again, his eyes well up instantly. "Oh God, you- both of you, you can't-" He looks back at Komaeda as well, the tears spilling over more from the motion than anything. "You can't stay here, it's not safe! It might come back-"

A cackle breaks out from the screen above them.

"Oh, oh my sides! Oh, this is too much! You two barging in here and acting like you're such hot stuff, and Hinata-kun's poor little maiden heart! Give it a rest already, you're gonna make me explode!" After taking a moment to wipe away a non-existent tear, Monokuma rests a paw over his belly, giving it a self-satisfied pat. "Well, I do enjoy watching you bastards run around like chickens with their heads and wings cut off, but it'd probably be pretty boring if I let you continue believing some of these preconceived notions you seem to have. So as a little gift to you, I'll clear up a thing or fewer!"

In the time that Monokuma's been speaking, Saihara may notice that Hinata's entire body has gone rigid, his teeth clenched and expression full of panicked distress.

"You seem to think I have a hand in poor Hinata-kun's sorry state right now. You'd hurt my feelings if I had any, but fortunately I'm just a bear! Let this be your lesson not to judge others based on their appearance, because I'm not even the one who did it!" He tilts his head to the side, humming. "What was it, I wonder? A demon? A beast? A cyborg straight out of an anime? Who really knows! But it came through and wrecked my island after I'd already made such a beautiful disaster of it! Really though, if my beloved Blackened didn't want to get caught up in such a nasty thing, he shouldn't have come back after winning so spectacularly!"

He wants to leave it in Saihara's hands, arms, haha, whatever pun is useable here, there's too much riding on this, and wouldn't it just be his luck if something bad happened. Wanting things for people like survival would cause ruin to everything, and it's already enough that Saihara's injured, and probably will have to carry someone back alone. An Ultimate is important, a piece needed for survival in his delusional mind, so despite it's not an order given to him, he can take a hint when he wants to. Because it's Saihara who is here with Hinata, this is also Hinata who doesn't deserve a hopeless death, no matter how many times Komaeda can try to construct it as a stepping stone for a few people... it'll contradict everything Hinata has said to him if they let him die.

Quickly, he'll get to his feet to make his way near them, slipping Hinata's arm over his shoulder as he stares at the other boy — while Saihara speaks to Monokuma instead to figure out the meaning behind this, Komaeda's voice is low, talking to Hinata while he's slightly out of it or so he thinks, "Hey... Can you hear me...? Are you okay?" Well luckily(?) for them, he is, because whatever caused him to fully wake up is met with... relief on Hinata's end, but the confusion on Komaeda's says differently. It doesn't stay though when Hinata speaks, words that make it hard to stay where he is — looking for him? For what reason? They have an odd relationship sure, but... saying that paints a picture as if Komaeda's the one who put him through this. Even his immediate switch to Saihara makes things even more odd, it's the "I know you," for him, and of course he would? Right? ...

His eyes dart towards Monokuma, that little satisfied pat he does, "Hmm... Monokuma, we've always been the best of friends." Term used loosely, besides, he said something about how Komaeda should already be dead, he's calling Hinata the blackened, he hasn't said Saihara's name either. It's that sort of thing that makes Komaeda hum thoughtfully, "So you can tell me, if it wasn't one of your monobeasts... where did it come from and where did it go?" He shouldn't care about something that doesn't belong to him, and not having a name for it or any control is odd for Monokuma. There's only a few outside forces that fit the description, especially if it all points towards the elevator.

With a quick look towards Saihara, he'll try and properly lead them both since someone has to be wary of the flimsy floorboards.

Saihara's just going to "..." and probably freeze for a while, because there's a lot going on. It's that kind of thing where he's standing in one place because his mind is running instead and he doesn't have the focus for both at once, but given the situation he'll snap out of it.

He wants to say he knows it's not Monokuma who did this -- because it's pretty obvious... who probably did from the evidence left behind, and so is where they went after that. Hello blood trail leading out of the elevator and into the school's main hall. Though the better question on that front is "why" (because there shouldn't be a motive??) so he lets Komaeda ask his questions anyway. Saihara's more worried about the "blackened" part and also about how Hinata's speaking to him, which is way too similar to some other time in the music club room in Yogen above.

"...It's not going to come back. We know where it went, so it's alright."

He only says it softly for Hinata's benefit, judging that the best course of action for now; all the inconsistencies can wait... until, you know, Hinata's not dying. So come on -- he'll try to help lead Hinata away and out of the room with Komaeda. They need to go back to the elevator and then the school so they can get him medical help.

It's fortunate Komaeda is down here with Saihara; the only one at Yogen who could navigate this nearly as well is Tanaka. As it is, due to the wear and tear that the lodge has undergone since the last time he was here, a few of the floorboards creak ominously as they start to cross. So far, however, they are fortunate as none of them break as they navigate back towards the doors.

At Saihara's words, the miserable expression doesn't leave Hinata's face, but the tension unwinds in his body enough that he slumps a little bit between his and Komaeda's hold. "You say that, but... I saw what it did... I thought it'd kill me for sure. If it got to you or Komaeda, I'd-"

He breaks off with a choked noise, stumbling onto one of those creaky floorboards that swallow up the sound. Hinata doesn't notice the way he feels a little dizzy as they keep walking, too caught up in worrying over whether he can keep Saihara and Komaeda safe.

However, that sound, too, is soon smothered under a greater cacophony. Monokuma all but explodes with noise as he answers Komaeda.

"The elevator! It's that damn elevator! Who installed that thing in my lethal tropical resort?! It's an eyesore! An actual eyesore!" Monokuma lets out several puffs of angry breaths before reigning himself in. "...Oh, hm, you asked me a question, didn't you. Right, the elevator, somebody put that in my poor old lodge right under my snout."

It does appear that he is not, in fact, in control of everything. He doesn't sound particularly pleased about it either.

"I don't really know why Hinata-kun decided to come back after he'd already Graduated, maybe he just missed his bear-loved headmaster? But he rode that monstrosity down here, and out of its ugly doors tumbled Hinata-kun and the mecha-beast! They had quite the tussle on the rest of the island before they came back here again, I wonder if you've earned the privilege of hearing all the plot clues yet?" This is followed by an "Upupupu!" When will the fourth wall be left alone, I hate it here. "In any case, it's as Spine-kun said - it's not here anymore! Gone, vanished, up up up the elevator before the heroic duo showed up! Bad riddance to bad rubbish."

Oh, he looks at Hinata with a smile.

"What do you mean "if" it got me, I'm already dead, apparently... Don't worry, you and Saihara-kun will make it."

Komaeda's the navigator as he walks them along the floor, eyes glancing here and there to remember how far the carpet went in his memory — he thought it'd be bad if someone tripped in the middle of the party. Sadly, with the tussle that happened within this room, the length of it now only makes him wary. Looking around towards the A/C, and where he recalls the Ultimate "Affluent Progeny"'s suitcase to be during his own time here, is there anything off around them here? Just checking in case.

Once he does that, he looks towards Saihara to see how he's holding up, and he doesn't need to be in pain or fine for Komaeda to think that maybe he should carry as much weight as he can. The other is still wounded, so he'll keep Hinata's arm on his shoulder, and slide his own hand down along his waist to try and get a better hold of him. Not the fourth wall, not the plot clues...

"You hear that... it's like a bonus from all the activity we've done together, I wonder if he'd tell us anything good..." He faces towards the youth again as he expresses his thoughts, but looking over his countenance more than anything to see if he looks paler. Isn't situations like these you're supposed to keep someone talking so they don't pass out... Komaeda's sick, and he's kind of jealous he's not the one almost dying here... he's got to step up his game.

There's not much in the way of visual differences that Komaeda will be able to find. The carpet is bunched up or ripped in places, but he will probably have to rely on memory and hearing more than anything. Should he look for that suitcase, he will find it mysteriously absent.

But Komaeda may have other things to be more concerned about. The moment he hears those words, Hinata draws to a halt; if Komaeda and Saihara are still moving, they may be stumble a bit from how his previously weak body is displaying a show of strength once again, heels digging in to keep both of them still.

"Why... don't say something like that! Don't listen to what Monokuma says, he's lying, I didn't kill anybody!" Hinata grows visibly more distressed as he speaks, breaths coming faster. Any more and he'll be hyperventilating. "I don't know what's going on, why that thing came after me, but I- I didn't do anything to Pekoyama or Kuzuryuu, I don't know why-" He breaks off with a wounded sound, shakes his head. "It doesn't matter! It doesn't matter, because... Komaeda, you were here, in the lodge. Just like I thought you'd be, even if I couldn't find you before it got to me. So... Don't joke around about being dea- Ngh!"

Hinata breaks off at the feeling of the hand at his side, excruciating pain blossoming out from the whole area. What Komaeda may quickly notice is that his side is drenched in blood, significantly more than what the shoulder injury had been when Saihara first got to him. Reflexively, he jerks away at the touch and knocks into Saihara slightly. And should anybody look behind them, they'll notice that there's been a fresh trail of blood leading from where Komaeda and Saihara have brought Hinata up to this point.

When Hinata's voice raises, his feet had already shifted, but they do so even more when he moves away from the touch causing him pain - and the floor creaks underneath them. Proceed with caution.

Edited (I FORGOT ONE THING I'M SORRY this is why we don't rush before work) 2021-07-31 22:59 (UTC)

So the "blackened" Monokuma was referring to... is Hinata. Komaeda seemed to think it was himself for some reason, but Saihara kind of had a feeling it was this -- they pressed the red button in the elevator after all, so he's keeping that in mind. For the few seconds he gets at least, before jumping and rushing to support Hinata the best he can -- which is to say, they stumble around a few steps, and the floorboards start creaking.

"H-Hinata-kun? Are you alright...!? I don't know if the floor will hold... we should try to get closer to the wall."

Because thinking logically, there's probably a higher chance of the floorboards being safer there -- whatever objects had gotten thrown around would have been more likely to bounce off the wall, or at least break their impact there. And there's also the issue of Hinata's side being injured too, obvious now from what just happened. So he looks at Komaeda.

"Th... The table cloth. I'll go back to get it, alright? If we wrap it around him, it should slow the bleeding."

So he's going to very, very gently extract himself, making certain Hinata can lean on Komaeda before he goes (yes, he's leaving Hinata in Komaeda's arms, you're welcome). They can head on to the safer area, Saihara's gonna risk the rest of the floor by himself for them so he can go grab the cloth. And as he does so... he calls out quietly.

"...Monokuma. Tell us what you know."

He spares the monitor a single look, then glances away for the briefest second -- like there's some sort of guilt involved. Hmmm. I wonder why. But anyway, he's careful to pick his way, testing the boards first before he steps on them. So he has time to talk, and I guess one very specific bgm is playing now because, yeah, you guessed it, we're about to lie.

"You have no idea where the elevator came from... or what the thing that destroyed your place was. But we do. I know exactly who that was, and I know where the elevator goes, too. If you don't talk, I'll bring it back."

He can't because the elevator wouldn't even come here without Hinata or Komaeda, and anyway if they all leave the "instance" would probably change for next time, to something else. This bit isn't likely to be accessible again even if Saihara could bring Legion back. But that's not the point... the point is, does Monokuma know that? :)

If he makes it back to the table, he'll pick up the table cloth, bundle it into a ball, and throw it towards the other two so Komaeda can start to tie it around Hinata. Assuming they did get safely to the wall.

With Hinata and Komaeda...

Hinata doesn't quite realize that Saihara is gone until he recovers from the pain enough to open his eyes again. When he hears him speak to Monokuma, he tries to call Saihara's name - and only lets out a distressed noise, frustrated tears building in his eyes, because he doesn't know it. Anymore, even if Hinata isn't exactly aware of that part.

When he reaches for Saihara, he steps on the board that he'd been moving around frantically on before - and it cracks. But fortunately, the sound of it startles Hinata, and he falls back into Komaeda before he pitches forward too much. Below, the board echoes as it connects with the ground a short distance underneath them.

Do they move to the wall after that? The rest of that part is in ~~Nimise's~~ God's hands.

Meanwhile with Monokuma...

Why are you looking away from the screen guiltily, Saihara!!!! Anyway, this bear is not happy. He shows one of his claws, glinting in the light. There's something just as dangerous in his tone when he speaks, as well.

"...I really did underestimate you. I looked at you when you came in here, and never for a second did I think you'd have the audacity to challenge me like this. Komaeda-kun went to the afterlife and brought a rotten boy from hell back with him, is that it?" As threatening as he sounds, there's a blankness to his voice that's almost as unnerving as the the danger. He sounds like he's on the verge of something, but not anything good. "I really want to grill you about that elevator, but I don't feel like having that thing barrel through here again either. Two of my poor decorations are already in such disarray, you know? I guess it doesn't hurt anything to tell you, not when the Game's already over..." His claw drops, and some cheer finally returns to his tone. "...especially if I get to see that despairing look on Hinata-kun's face again! It's really priceless!"

Somewhere in the room, Hinata grips Komaeda's sleeve deathly tight.

"As you must already know by now, this was the stage of our lovely tropical Killing Game, our sea salt Despair! After I made that announcement, the Hope's Peaks students were all in a tizzy, not sure what to do with themselves... And then, like a beacon of hope, Togami Byakuya appeared with his party that would bring everyone together with the power of friendship. It was gross!

"As preparations went underway, Hanamura-kun and Komaeda-kun holed up here to cook and clean respectively. What good househusbands! But Komaeda-kun... Well. I don't need to tell him about his own plans, do I?" Monokuma chuckles like it's their own secret. "And Hanamura-kun, of course, was terrified by what he was up to." There's a pause here, as Monokuma hums thoughtfully. "You know, you kids are really full of surprises, I guess. I wouldn't have thought Hanamura-kun had that in him either, you know? But he charged at Komaeda, attempting to get the knife away from him... But it must've been fate, because that was when Hinata-kun came through the door. You decided you were going to help out, right?"

"I'm telling you... It didn't happen like this..." These are Hinata's only words. Weak, like he's protested several times by now.

"Yes, yes, your amnesia acting up again or not, I'm aware." Monokuma waves a paw like it's unimportant. "Anyway, Hinata-kun came through the hall doors - and all he could see was Hanamura-kun about to stab his dear, precious friend! So he dived for Hanamura-kun, too... But Hinata-kun is a lot stronger than he thinks, you know? When Hanamura-kun tried to push the knife into his shoulder, Hinata-kun pushed down so, so hard - right through his heart! I was so proud!

"There's no mystery in going through all the investigation and the trial when we already know the answers, right? I can skip that part, right?" He barrels on, not waiting for an answer. "Komaeda-kun tampered with the evidence to make himself appear to be the culprit. Hinata-kun was too in shock and too afraid of dying to steer his class in the right direction, and they voted for the wrong person. Hinata-kun was the victor of the Killing Game, and Komaeda-kun got to... huh, what did he say again? Oh, that was it! I executed him, and he got to die for the sake of the hope inside of Hinata-kun that he loves, that sounds about right. So sappy, so gross. Hinata-kun crying was the only good thing out of it. I'm glad he's dead, except I can still hear his voice."

Memeing aside, there's clear displeasure there - because Komaeda appears to be very much alive.

"In any case, after I executed everyone else afterwards, I decorated Jabberwock Island and sent Hinata-kun home... But now he came back again, with that eyesore elevator and hell robot! It chased him down through a bunch of the island, before they ended up back here... I was so excited, my heart was racing at the thought that I'd get to have a reprisal of my body discovery announcement. But then you two decided to show up, and I guess that's on hold for now... How unfortunate."

Leaving Hinata's life in my hands... Not like this Saihara-kun, please.

As Saihara migrates to the other side, Komaeda keeps his eyes on him as his hands reach out to steady Hinata because he's not allowed to fall, and part of him wonders why he's even doing this. Hinata DID lay his ass out — fundraiser dementia aside — so would Hinata even want this, but it seems like the answer to that feels like it'd be different. Between what he does and what he says, he's off, but that's because... Komaeda knows Hinata.

He doesn't worry about Saihara, he's an Ultimate, this is practically beneath him, and his familiarity with Monokuma makes this a sight to watch — he knows he can't marvel him for long or his easy use of Legion as a threat, which Komaeda says nothing on at the moment to leave Monokuma confused and bruised by the thought. Instead, he's trying to grab the cloth that's thrown their way...

Buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut there's that crack within the floorboard, and Komaeda clingy enough to pull Hinata against him (with the other's help because that's what he was doing already) so that nothing too bad happens... anyway, the cloth drops right into the hole before them like a reminder, and as Komaeda guides Hinata forward somewhat — he'll let go once he thinks the other is safe to lean down and grab the cloth. The moment he touches it, he hears his name leave from Monokuma's snout, but he doesn't acknowledge whether his comment is true or not, but in a way, how he phrased it... he kinda right. Though, they really don't need to discuss his plans, or even him at all!

It's hilarious, this portrayal of Hinata being the blackened, and Komaeda has to do his best not to laugh. Despite the other's inner struggle, it doesn't feel real, especially with Saihara here in chapter one? But what is... is that Legion brought Hinata here, and is the reason the other is like this. He hums in thought after, wrapping the cloth around Hinata tightly to make sure his would covered properly, and to slow some bleeding. He pulls with his mechanical hand to make sure it'll stay in place, and once satisfied with his work, "Come now, Blackened-kun... let's move, we don't want to stay right here if..." He hesitates, taking a breath because we all know he's dying, "He... brings it back. A clash between hope and despair is a beautiful thing... a shame we won't see it..."

Anyways, as they make it to the wall, he's going to let the other use it to support himself on one side while Komaeda remains on the other. His intentions seem to be guiding Hinata to the door... one pat, two pat at his uhmmmm back, go that way.

Hinata winces when the cloth is wrapped around him, but it's nothing compared to the expression he makes at what Komaeda says.

"Please-" His voice is wounded, tortured, raw like Komaeda put one of those wounds on Hinata himself. "Please... don't call me that..."

Komaeda's bandaging is somewhat successful - not a permanent solution by any means, but it's tight enough that it slows the bleeding considerably. Hinata's so distracted that he'll even move with Komaeda a little bit as he pushes at him.

"He keeps- saying that, that I did these things, but it's wrong! He's wrong, because I'd never..." His voice starts to shake. "I'd never... kill anyone, not even by accident, and I remember thinking that I wasn't going to come here so I wouldn't bother you." Hinata shakes his head hard, as if he's trying to clear the thoughts that are there. "I don't know what happened to Pekoyama and Kuzuryuu, but- You were here, I found you, and Hanamura must be, too. Monokuma keeps lying, about me, about you... But you're fine, and everyone else-"

Hinata breaks off, like it's just occurring to him again at the thought of "everyone". He tries to stop, turn around and go back, but he's weak enough that Komaeda would be able to stop him easily if he pushed hard enough.

"Wait, we- We can't leave without-" He makes a helpless, angry noise at the thing that's denied him once again. "I can't even... say his name, whenever I try it's gone, but-" His voice drops into an agonized whisper. "He's important. He's one of the most important friends I'll ever have. And I can't leave him here with Monokuma and his lies... after I finally found him again...!"

July mini-event

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07/21

OOC

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just in case... spoilers for chapter 1

uh-oh

everything will probably be fine

stop... the supupupuper heros are here :/

no thanks, u can keep that name for urself

I saw the subject in my email and I shut my eyes

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