MEMENTO MORI

Tsukasa didn't think much as Usami had gathered everyone around, bouncing happily in place by the balls of her feet; her head bobbing up and down sometimes just to peek above the crowd. Surprisingly, the bear wasn't the weirdest thing she ever saw, and took it in stride (then again, she is a proclaimed paranormal investigator).

"Awww, what a cute bear--"

Tsukasa was suddenly cut off as she noticed Usami's outburst, the tense and defensive stance she took as the bear started to talk. Her look turned into a prideful one, with her chin up and looking dismissively at the bear. Then, the worst was about to come.

It was too fast for Tsukasa to properly register what had happened, it was like the choppy frames of an unfinished movie. The remote, Usami's disappearance and re-appearance, the roller coaster...

A crash, then a sickening crunch.

Tsukasa felt her whole body tense up, her neon green eyes scanning for that familiar mop of pink hair to move, to appear, to just be there; to confirm that this wasn't real and that maybe Tsukasa was just daydreaming or sleeping or anything besides the reality--

"U...USAMI-SENSEI!!"

Tsukasa fell to her knees, her hands covering her mouth as she stared at the last spot where their ex-teacher was just not too long ago in horror. Her green eyes that were usually so bright and jubilant had dulled and were wide with shock. The next words that the bear had said she couldn't even begin to register. It was only a couple of seconds did it sink in as she croaked out.

"K...Kill...?"

Tsukasa's throat felt dry as her eyes welled up with tears. This couldn't be happening, everything felt blurry around her as she felt her breathing rapidly pick up and her heart beating like a drum in an almost impossible to match tempo. A cold and prickly feeling creep up her spine, making her clutch her head as she tried steadying her breathing, but it only seemed to make things worse.

"No...no, no, no, no..."

"...But that's not fair...Unbelievable..."

Manami bit her lip as she looked down at the ground. Her words were quiet, almost whispered. Although she was stood still and quiet though, she was absolutely bristling on the inside. How utterly unbelievable this was! Some big, cruel and mean joke!

"Why couldn't this have happened when I actually wanted to kill someone? Where was all the encouragement then? I don't even want to murder anyone now..."

She crossed her arms and stared at the mess of pink on the wall. The sight filled her with such a strong feeling, it almost felt like it would burst out of her any second. Not to mention the words, those awful words, like a stab through the heart. The pressure inside was building, like her guts might burst and her head might turn to flames. This was no good, no good at all...All these icky feelings were rising that she tried so hard to avoid. 

Fix it, Manami Nemoto, control yourself. 

She took her place at the back of the crowd. Hitomi wasn't looking too excited to hear what Usami had to say, and when this new bear character showed up, Hitomi’s interest was barely piqued. That was, however, until the remote came out, and everything came crashing down.

It was all moving too fast for her to even realize the severity of the situation. Without even wanting to, Hitomi just stood there, arms crossed, but mouth gaping open in utter shock.

The bear’s words almost didn't register in her mind.

Kill? Murder?

It didn't seem real.

She closed her mouth, jumping slightly at the more verbal reactions of those around her. Was it really worth even believing this bear’s words for even a second? It had to have been all a joke.

It had to be.

Nozara was rather overwhelmed and confused by the events that were now occurring. In most part it was still because she was trying to hold it in here mind that her entrapment here was still some sort of wild prank, Then the bear entered and that made it more confusing.

Ehehehe...this is still part of the joke right?

She really hoped so, that this was all a big ole laugh and fun time. Nothing bad or wrong but of course her hopes were crushed, crushed by the power that was despair. As Usami was snatched away, Nozara watched with horror as the sick....punishment...played out.

Just...a...joke...

And and at last, with the death of the bunny lady and the reveal of this deadly killing game, this awful trap that Nozara was stuck in.

"What the hell?!"

This was a bit too much for him to wrap his brain around. They killed—murdered that girl who had dressed like a rabbit. As much as she was annoying, she didn't deserve death! Not even a death like that!

"H-Hold on... hooooold on...."

He didn't even know what to say. Once the bear uttered those dreaded words, it was as if any words he had prepared were yanked from his throat. Nothing witty, nothing crude, just nothing.

Tori tried his best to process it all, just standing there practically gawking at the scene. They had to kill someone in the next 48 hours... or they'd all be dead?

This was sickening.

"We must... murder an innocent person or all of us will... Jesus H. Christ..."

“Alright, you little shits! Let’s get this over with.”

“This? This is the carnival game. Planned it all myself. Little sister just gathered you all up, upupu!”

How could such a little bear be so menacing?

It’s nothing. Usami doesn’t want to look Monokuma in the eyes, or even give him the honor of hearing her speak, so she stands still with her chin in the air. Condescending, if you will.

Monokuma doesn’t like that.

He pulls a remote from his pocket, pressing the sole red button towards the front without batting an eyelash. Usami conversely scowls, gritting her teeth. She knows what’s coming, but by God will she fight it with every ounce of her being.

Usami can feel her arms being restrained, but she doesn’t fight it, no. Instead, should the students be focusing particularly well on their exchange, they’d see a glob of spit go from Usami’s lips to Monokuma’s shoes.

And then she’s gone. Shot backwards into a roller coaster nobody had even noticed, before. Wings hanging off her shoulders, her brows knitted together with a kind of determination that seemed new for the peppy, pink teacher.

The roller coaster speeds up, faster and faster, tears beading at the corner of her eyes. She doesn’t scream, lips sealed shut as her hair whips back, forth, all around.

Faster and faster. The force of gravity pulls her head back. The roller coaster tracks are squealing and screaming from the pressure applied, and it felt as if all the air was ripped from Usami’s lungs.

Just like that, Usami was sling-shotted from the park in a rapid pink blur. She soared, arching higher and higher, and just as it seems she’s going to leave the boundaries of the park...

CRASH!

She collides with the wall. There’s not a specific wall there, per say, but she collides and she collides HARD. A mop of pink hair and sparkles falls from the highest height, higher than all the rides one could imagine in such a grandiose carnival.

A scowl grows on Usami’s face as a figure approaches her. It’s too shadowy to make out, but she seems tense.

“Y... you...!”

She reaches for her staff, her other arm held out defensively as the figure drew nearer and nearer.

“I thought I towd you to nevew show youw face hewe... again!”

It only takes a second for the figure to enter a visible area.

“What’s wroooooong, KIDDO? Mad ‘cuz your toy can’t help you no more?”

A week has passed. Just as Usami said, the group has reconvened so to check up on everything.

“Fouwteen, fifteen...”

She counts out each and every student. Yes, they’re all there! The teacher offers a warm smile.

“Gweat! That’s evewyone. Are we enjoying it hewe?”

She’s not exactly going to wait for a response, instead flinching at the sound of rumbling and cracking rocks.

Kikai was walking around the carnival, still somewhat in disbelief about the whole “being trapped there forever cause the outside world has gone to shit” deal. Like, how was that possible, how could an organized society just crumble like that, in a way that would make it necessary for a carnival to be used as a safety shed? And for that matter, why couldn’t he remember a damn thing, nor about how he got there, nor about said gigantic disaster outside?

And what was more, what would have happened to their families? What would have been of those they held dear? He didn’t care about his father- he actually wished he would just rot in the afterlife- but his mother… He didn’t want anything else to happen to her. To distract himself from these thoughts (he needed to stay strong, dammit), he decided to have some social interaction- and the person who was to be on the receiving end was none other than Ryan Keeswood.

He waved at him, holding out a hand for a handshake

Floral Notebook: This light blue notebook has elegant floral patterns on the cover, though is otherwise no different from a standard notebook. 

Piercing Aftercare Solution: As cool of an edgelord you look with them, it’s always important to clean your piercings as regularly as possible with a soothing solution like this!

Angela couldn’t help but get excited at how diverse and amazing her peers seemed to be. So many strange yet fantastic talents surrounded her. It went from something as mundane as a fisher to something as original as a….dog! In fact, she seemed to zone in on the canine, wondering what was the deal. He had to be one smart dog, and so, she decided to investigate. Sitting down right next to Tora, Angela smiled sweetly at him.

This carnival gave Angela goose bumps. 

She walked around, her high heels clicking against the ground, echoing throughout this vacant, creepy place. Her hands were nervous tied together, her fingers threading in and out within each other as she peered around. It was only fate that she stumbled upon another classmate.

Desperate for company, Angela walked towards the smaller woman and smiled kindly, hoping she could accompany Kumi with whatever she had been doing.

Blue Nail Polish: Blue nail polish that’s quite glittery and has little stars in it.

The Z-Files DVD Box Set: 10 Seasons of investigators chasing ghosts and other paranormal phenomenons. It even has exclusive content to the box set so it’s perfect for binge-watching.

Ai Dakimakura: A dakimakura of your classmate, Ai Kisume, sprawled out on white sheets.

Hitomi had enough of just sitting around doing nothing. As much as the carnival setting didn’t excite her, she knew that if they were going to be here for a while, she better make some use of her time.

It was almost as if she was avoiding the crowds, but really, she was just looking for something interesting to do. She noticed a bunch of people around the claw machine earlier, but why wait around and risk standing there for who knows how long just to get an item when you could do it later? It just made sense.

Kunimasu: A live, flailing, Kunimasu. Did you know this fish was once thought to be extinct? You aren’t gonna help that either, if you don’t get it some water. 

Aloe Vera Plant: A small aloe vera plant in a red pot. Can be used to help heal your burns, but also very good decoration. 

Photo Album: A scrapbook that looks fairly new. Only the first few pages have photos, the rest of the album being entirely blank. In the photos that are there, you’re able to recognize Manami with other people that look like they could be family.