#development event

As I rounded another corner, I couldn't help but think I was just going to have to be stuck here for the time being.

Getting used to this place will take a while, but... It’s necessary to survive.

That is, until I saw a door with a big blue EXIT sign looming over it.

“O-Oh! An exit! Finally I can get out of here!“

I practically sprinted towards it, fumbling with the door more than I care to admit.

It didn't work at first, so I used my E-Handbook to unlock it before putting the tablet away again.

“See you, weirdos! Can’t keep a Warrior of Hope contained like some zoo animal!“

“Oh, I’m taking your stupid handbook too!“

I burst through the door, the sun blinding me momentarily and the warmth almost overwhelming.

But it was a very good feeling, as I was finally...

Finally...

...final....ly...

“...w...w-what...?“

LOCATION: DORMITORY

KOTOKO UTSUGI

I entered the new building using my E-Handbook.

“Let’s see...“

The first thing I noticed were the unfamiliar pixelated forms of people above each of the rooms.

“Huh? Who’re these people?“

“Are they who the dorms are meant for?“

Counting them, there were 16 rooms in total.

Likely the number of students this “academy“ was meant to accompany.

The boys and girls each had their rooms stacked up to 2 floors, and occupied the right and left side of the building respectively.

Looking at each one, they didn’t display names, but I was certain none were for me.

“Well, that crosses me off as an intentional student of this place.“

“Not that I thought I was, anyway.“

I chose a dorm at random- belonging to a blonde girl with a pink getup- and used my E-Handbook to unlock it.

“Huh. I didn't expect that to work. Oh well.“

I slowly opened the door in case anyone was inside, peeking through the crack before entering.

“Good, nobody’s inside. That would've been awkward...“

“So these can be my quarters... I can deal with this.“

“The red and black isn't adorbs, but who am I to complain at this point?“

“Besides, the bed looks super comfy!“

I then looked to the side, noticing the TV as well as an odd screen perched from the wall close to the ceiling.

“That’s weird. Why have two TVs? And why does that one look funny?“

“So many speakers... is that meant to be an intercom more than anything? Then why a screen?“

“I have so many questions... but that’s a later me problem.“

“I have a place to sleep, and that’s good.“

“The people keeping me here arent TOTAL psychopaths.“

“I can probably use the other dorms for like, storage or something.“

“Nobody’s using them, so I don’t care!“

5 unknown voices can be heard...

W-What?!

Miu... D-Dead?! Where?!

Let me check the security cameras...

Alter Ego attempted logging into the camera system, but...

T-That’s odd... Her communications are disabled...

Disabled? Like... They’re completely offline?

E-Everyone...! M-Me and Sayaka-! Miu-!

(I-Is she actually...? No, that’s simply not true. She... She can't be. The games are over. They have been over.)

L-Lead the way!

Th- We all ran behind Tenko, down into the basement. We all knew what we wanted to see. What we wanted to know. But like all hope eventually does...

It must be broken eventually. For nothing good ever lasts.

Miu-! Gh-

...

Silence. An eerie silence.

Unexplainable, sudden silence.

Only the sound of soft breaths, muffled by... something.

And the faint humming of lights.

TIME: ???

LOCATION: ???

???

It was hard to breathe, now that I noticed...

And smelled of metals...

And was very, very cramped.

“H-Hey, what... Where am I...?“

I struggled, feeling the frame of whatever door was holding me in bend.

“Mmgh... I must... break... free!“

I kicked, the door rattling with a resounding BANG.

I kicked and kicked, feeling it give way slowly but surely.

I didn’t know when it would-

*CRASH*

“W-Whoa-!“

My foot broke the door open, and I unceremoniously tumbled out of whatever box I was locked in.

It was... a locker, now that I thought about it.

“Ough... my everything...“

I stood, looking at myself.

A familiar yet unfamiliar visage. Who...?

...right. I couldn't have possibly forgotten who I was. That’d be stupid.

I am...

KOTOKO UTSUGI

Me. I’m... Kotoko Utsugi.

“Where the hell...?“

I looked around, taking in my surroundings.

It was... odd. I was seemingly in an abandoned classroom. Entirely vacant and overgrown.

The locker I escaped from’s door fell off and clattered to the floor.

“...oops. That’s what you get for locking me up, though.“

“*Sigh*... whatever. I’m out, so... I should take a look around to see if anything else is in here.“

“Or anyone else, for that matter.“

NAGITO KOMAEDA

Hmm... and what ground does an anon have to stand on to say all of this?

Even lower than someone like me. No face, no talent, nothing.

Even I’m worth something. Even if that is being a stepping stone for others to surpass-

???

Alright, alright. Cool your jets, Nagito.

I think they get the point.

NAGITO KOMAEDA

...heh. I guess.

Who am I to resist an order from an Ultimate?

Especially one such as yourself...

???

I’m nobody special. Not that I want to be, anyways.

But still, lay off the anons... and these two. You cause too much trouble.

Ryoma Hoshi

The Ultimate Tennis Pro

SHUICHI SAIHARA

HIMIKO YUMENO

R-Ryoma?!!

RYOMA HOSHI

Long time, no see.

SHUICHI SAIHARA

It’s still so strange... how is Chiaki here?

And why behind a wall? One that required an explosive to breach, no less.

HIMIKO YUMENO

And that comment of there being more of them...

Just how many are there?

SHUICHI SAIHARA

At least there’s no hostility here, from what it seems.

HIMIKO YUMENO

Yea... But that doesn't stop this place from being creepy.

And I couldn't even recharge my mana last night...

SHUICHI SAIHARA

It’s alright... You’re not alone.

I’m here, as well as everyone else. No matter who or what pops out of that darkness, we’ll get through it.

HIMIKO YUMENO

...Shuichi...

???

The hope to carry on despite facing horrors once again... Astounding!

HIMIKO YUMENO

N-Nyeh?! Who’s there?

SHUICHI SAIHARA

Show yourself!

???

Such a warm welcome from fellow Ultimates!

But it’s fine. Being on edge is natural... around someone like me, at least.

Nagito Komaeda

The Ultimate Lucky Student

KOTOKO UTSUGI

i dunno... but let’s find out. If it’ll even open.

I tried the knob, involuntarily gasping a little when it actually turned.

TSUMUGI SHIROGANE

I’ll go with her. Everyone else, stay put while we comb over this room.

With Tsumugi in tow, I carefully opened the door...

KOTOKO UTSUGI

Huh? Is this an office of some kind?

TSUMUGI SHIROGANE

Appears so... Neatly put together too.

...wait.

Do you hear something?

I shut up, focusing on the noises in the room.

There were quiet, almost video game esque noises coming from...

KOTOKO UTSUGI

The couch... someone’s there.

Be quiet, we can sneak up on them...

Tsumugi and I crept towards the edge of the couch, crouching behind it.

The noises were undoubtedly digital, almost like one of those classic games with like, 8 pixels.

TSUMUGI SHIROGANE

I’m taking a look...

Tsumugi slowly stood, peering over the side. Her eyes widened slightly, and she fully stood, blowing our cover entirely.

Wait, I know you! You’re...!

I stood up too, getting a good look at what she’s looking at.

Or rather, WHO she was looking at.

KOTOKO UTSUGI

What the..?

???

...hey. Sorry, I must have gotten distracted...

You found the way in, I see... that’s good.

We were starting to worry about you.

Chiaki Nanami

The Ultimate Gamer