Chapter 1 - Part 9
This is an announcement from Hope’s Peak Academy’s Field Trip Executive Committee...
It is now 10pm.
Please rest peacefully, along with the soothing sound of the waves.
Well then, pleasant dreams. Goodnight...
...
Right... So I’m supposed to be going to the old building, aren’t I?
The moments before a party are arguably the most exciting, anticipation being greater than the event and all...
Tonight, however, felt more like the wait before an extremely important exam.
But Byakuya’s expecting a full house. I might cause concern if I don’t go...
I’m sure it’ll be okay... It’s just a party.
Oh? Why’s Mahiru sleuthing around in the dark?
Um... I’m on my way to the old building?
What a coincidence, I am too!
Hey, do you wanna race each other there?
Race each other...?
Yuh huh! It’s gonna be the ultimate showdown!
First one to the old building gets my left sock! People always get encouraged by socks!
I don’t like the sound of that... I’m definitely not going to race her...
The party is going to be starting soon... I’m really looking forward to it...
Yeah, I am too.
Ah, but...
I...I'll try my best not to get in the way... that way everyone can enjoy themselves...
...You don’t need to do that. Just try to relax and have fun, okay?
A-Alright... Alright, I will! [Leaves]
Sigh...
...I let Fuyuhiko know about the party, but...he didn't look too pleased about it...
No surprise there...
I assume you are relieved?
...Huh?
Your face does not hide it. You’re glad Fuyuhiko isn’t coming.
Could it be because of what happened yesterday?
Ah...
I’d suggest you not linger on the subject. It is easy to become obsessed.
Fuyuhiko seems to be a man rooted in his ways, so there’s no point trying to reason with him.
Thank you, Peko... You’re very wise.
I’ve had to experience many people like Fuyuhiko growing up... It’s old news to me. [leaves]
Old news? What kind of life has she lived?
You came...
Now then, stand up straight and raise your arms.
...What? Why should I do that?
Because I need to do a body check.
A body check!?
No way! I’m not letting some guy touch me!
Since I'm the one hosting the party, it's necessary for me to take all possible security measures.
I already promised that I would not allow even one person to become a victim...!
........
Fine, but... make it quick, okay?
I reluctantly held out my arms and stood still.
Byakuya proceeded to carefully search me, top to bottom...
...It appears you haven't brought anything dangerous.
Well, of course I haven’t.
...In that case, you’re free to enter.
...
...Huh? What’s this?
Sitting near Byakuya’s feet was a strange item I hadn’t noticed before.
Um... Duralumin cases?
I found them at the supermarket.
This one is used to store any dangerous items I find during body checks.
The other one... well, let's just say it's for emergencies only.
That sounds ominous...
...Don't worry about it.
The others are already here. You can find them gathered at the dining hall in the back.
After saying that, Byakuya turned his back to me.
I’d press him for an answer, but he’ll probably just wave me off.
Still, this behaviour... it’s way too much.
A body check? What could warrant doing something extreme like that?
I entered the hall to find a few people already there.
...Oh!
This setup... was this all Nagito’s doing?
It’s way too nice to have been an original part of the lodge.
Mahiru! How are you?
I’m good... Did you set this all up yourself?
Of course! I decorated the whole dining hall for the party. I even laid out the carpet, too.
Wait, you brought in the carpet?
Yep, I brought it from the supermarket.
I actually wanted to cover the whole floor, but I guess the carpet wasn't big enough.
There was a lot of dust and cobwebs all over the place, too. It took me all day to clean the dining hall just because of that.
Cleaning for an entire day... I’ve done my fair share of chores, but there’s no way I could have managed something like that all on my own.
You... did an amazing job, Nagito.
...Yeah, thanks.
But, I imagine you must be tired now...
A little sure... but it’s not so bad. I think I can manage.
...At least rest a little during the party.
I’ll try my best.
Man, this building really is crappy.
I get there’s a limit to how much Nagito could have cleaned the place up, but...
Check out the floor... the wood’s basically rotten and shrunk down.
Hm, you’re right... There’s a lot of gaps there, it’d be dangerous to walk on.
Well, since most of the floor is covered with a carpet, it’s not really a problem, is it?
I think we should warn Mikan to be careful, though.
Huh? Why?
Ah... well... you weren’t there, but...
Yesterday, before you and Kazuichi came to the meeting, we all had breakfast...
That’s right... my stomach wasn’t very happy about that.
When that was happening, Mikan happened to... uh... trip over and show us something... well...
...Ah!
You did help her up, right?
O-Of course I did!
Yeah, I hope you weren’t staring like some kind of pervert!
What? No! Why would you even think that!?
Anyway, let’s hope something like that doesn’t happen again.
Poor Mikan...
............
...
...I'm worried about Monokuma showing up.
Same... I doubt he’d leave us alone if he heard we’re having a party...
We gotta do something about it.
We should...
I wonder if someone can do something about it.
I suppose I could try and talk to someone.
Hm...
...
...Well? Should I or shouldn’t I?
Nyeeeh, Mahiru!
I-Is something wrong?
That creep Byakuya... he rubbed his ham-hands all over me and called it a body check!
More like sexual harassment!
It was pretty annoying, I can tell you that...
But, I don’t think it’s harassment. I’m pretty sure he did the same to everyone else.
...Eh?
No, I’m serious! That guy was totally trying to get frisky with me!
When he returns, you should punch him really hard in the face.
If you were being serious, you wouldn’t be looking so happy right now...
Even though that man is a lowly worm, it appears his cooking skills are most impressive, indeed...
Nevertheless, even his food cannot stand against the gourmet cuisine of the multiverse...
...Alright.
Man, that was so uncomfortable...
Getting groped so thoroughly by a man, that was my worst nightmare...
You’re talking about Byakuya’s body check, right?
Yeah. And that’s not all. He noticed I had a wrench with me - I keep it in my pocket - and he went mental. His face was like a demon’s.
Seriously... How friggin' annoying...
It was pretty stupid to have a wrench in the first place. Why bring something like that to a party?
Hey, I just... I happened to find it at the airport. Carrying it around calms me down...
But...Byakuya put it in that duralumin case of his.
Sigh... Woe is me.
I couldn’t care less! You brought this upon yourself!
Aaaaaaaa...
Akane was staring directly at the food on the tables.
Um, Akane? You’re drooling...
Aaaaaaaa...
She’s completely entranced... There probably isn’t much point trying to hold a conversation.
It seems you are intrigued...
But, things aren’t all that they seem.
...What?
One of my Four Devas, Supernova Silver Fox San-D, has seen what lies shrouded amidst the darkness...!
Though that iron plate appears to be bolted to the wall, it's actually bolted over what's known as a "window".
What makes you so sure about that...?
There are no windows in this dining hall at all. I assume those iron plates are covering them.
I guess that’s fair... but why would the windows be covered in the first place?
San-D, why does your fur stand up?
You know as well as I that the altered consciousness is an enigmatic place... We cannot draw conclusions so quickly...
Hey, are you listening to me?
It was a lovely day... a lovely sight... Guided by the voice of the divine, he escaped his own nightmare...
He already seems bored of the subject... Is his attention span seriously that short?
Regardless, seeing the windows boarded up this way is more than a little unsettling. It’s like something from a zombie film...