Danganronpa: Digital Daze

After the remainder of us students recovered from Angie's execution, we ended up returning to the Dining Hall to process what just happened. Angie had helped Yasuhiro get paint off his face, using turpentine, and encouraged him to go to the Boy's Restroom to finish the job... and himself off.

This, to Monorakun, amounted to assisted murder and Angie's subsequent execution.

While we wrapped our heads around it, we ate dinner together. None of us particularly had an appetite, but we knew we couldn't skip dinner either. I made myself a chicken sandwich with tartar sauce on top, and finished about two thirds of it before discarding the rest. I took my root beer with me as I left the Dining Hall.

As I drank my root beer and listened to music on my E-Handbook, I started sketching out ideas for Chihiro. I wanted to make him some outfits that would help him feel more masculine, but not too uncomfortable either. I would have to run some ideas by him, as well, but I wanted to get some rough sketches done. I created an outfit with a T-shirt and shorts; another with a T-shirt and denim pants; a third with a T-shirt and some light, breathable sweatpants. I liked how Chihiro would look in a T-shirt, and thought that would fit him well.

After several hours of sketching in the notebook provided to me, I decided to get some rest. The 10pm alert had gone off a while ago, but I was too busy to care.

I eventually fell asleep after a while, and dreams of my past haunted me.

We had been home from my surgery for maybe a month or two, and my father was... well, being my father again. No nicer way to put it.

"Just because I took us to San Francisco to turn that tomboy into a pseudo-boy, doesn't mean that I have to actually accept him as a boy now," Henkutsuna sneered at my mom.

"What do you mean? How could you not support our own child?" My mom, Shitateya asked back.

"The hell do you think I mean? We used to have a girl. Now we have... that thing!"

"That 'thing' is our son, our own child! How dare you!" My mom was getting angry.

"I did the surgery, the therapy, all of it, just to get Akage off my -"

"His name is Bera!" My mom corrected my father.

"Whatever!" My father shouted back.

Fourteen-year old me, meanwhile, just sat on my bed, my head on my knees. I didn't understand why they fought so much, even after my father approved everything.

"Why are you so mean to him," my mom finally asked.

"Because... because Bera is an embarrassment to this family! She whined, she begged, she pleaded to be a boy. It was between giving her what she wanted, and listen to this for another four or so years, and I was DONE WITH IT!!"

It felt like someone had punched me in my gut. My father never approved of me? He disliked me as a girl, but now he hates me even more as a boy?

But why? I never did anything wrong. I never really got into trouble or anything. I kept my grades up, as best I could. I never talked back to my parents. Even my mom supported me after I went from being Akage the girl, to Bera the boy.

Why did my own father hate me so much? I started crying softly, not wanting him to hear me weep.

"Wake up, everyone! It's 7am, and Nighttime is now over! Time to enjoy another fun-filled day at The Ultimate Talent Enhancement Center!"

Monorakun's 7am alert woke me up. Stretching, I got up and got dressed. It was now November 2nd, a full seven days since I was first trapped in here. I would have to get laundry done soon, and decided I would do it later this afternoon.

I meet the others for breakfast, where they are discussing who is going with who to explore the newly unlocked Third Floor.

Sayaka, Makoto, and Mukuro teamed up together.

Theo, Chihiro, and Chiaki formed a trio.

Celeste, Kenchikka, and Kaito joined up.

That left me with Kaede and Leon.

"Yo, Kaede! Let's head upstairs together!" Leon called out, as Kaede looked at me.

"Hey, Bera? Want to join us?" Kaede asked.

"Sure!" I responded, to Leon's disappointment, but I pretended not to notice it.

Together, we walked up the stairs to the Second Floor, with me and Kaede in the front, and Leon a few steps behind us.

As we walked, Kaede looked over at me. "You've never talked much about your school. What was it like?"

I gulp nervously. "You mean as..."

"As you are now, of course. Bera Haikiko, the Ultimate Tailor boy."

I sigh. "Well, most of the girls ignored me, and the boys thought I had a girly-looking face, so they didn't care much for me either. I never really had many friends growing up, and even my own father hated me."

I look at Kaede sorrowfully. "I think the only true friend I've had in my life is my mom."

Leon spoke up from behind. "Really? That sucks, man. I've had friends from all over!"

Kaede nodded in agreement. "Yeah, really! People would flock from all around to hear my piano playing!"

I shrug, unable to relate to having people wanting to be around me.

"So, do you ever make clothing for other people? Or do you just mend?" Kaede asked, curiosity in her eyes.

I think for a moment, standing at the top of the Second Floor stairs. "I've only had Chihiro ask me to make him anything before. Before that, I only made clothes for myself."

Kaede nodded to herself. "Interesting."

Leon, meanwhile, changed the subject. "Hey, I wonder what's up on this Third Floor! Think there's anything useful to get out of here?"

I shrug, having my doubts but not wanting to bring anyone down.

As we ascend the newly-unlocked Third Floor Stairs, we walked a short distance before reaching a T-intersection. Ahead of us were windows to the Courtyard, on our left, and another corner, so we turned left and headed towards a room marked "Dance Room."

Inside the Dance Room were mirrors along one side of the wall, presumably so the instructor could keep tabs on everyone. The floor was made of hardwood, likely maple, and looked freshly polished as well. 

There were also a few moveable horizontal poles, almost like long hurdles, lined up against a wall. I remembered seeing ballet dancers use these for balance while attempting various poses. I forgot what they were called, though.

Also inside was a sound system, with speakers on all four corners of the room. A stereo was near one corner, likely with pre-programmed dance music installed on it.

Sayaka, Mukuro, amd Makoto were in here, looking around. Sayaka looked excited, while Makoto and Mukuro looked only casually interested.

"Sick stereo system," Leon commented. "The rest of this looks boring, though."

"Boring?" Sayaka asked. "It's not boring in here at all! Dancing is great exercise, plus I could work on some new dance moves for future performances once I get out of here."

"There's no place to hook up a piano in here," Kaede lamented. "A real shame; I could play some classical music for ballet, or something jazzy for tap dancing."

Makoto and Mukuro just glanced at each other, with Makoto moving closer to Mukuro.

Shrugging, we moved on to the next nearby room, labeled "Shop Room." Within was a variety of large machinery: band saws, table saws, sanders, and other items. There was also machinery along one wall for cloth materials: a large sewing machine, a seam sealing machine, a bonding machine, and an ironing machine.

There were metal materials on one side, and inside a cabinet, there were cloth materials: Sheets of denim, silk, lace, cotton, polyester, leather, and other materials as well.

This would be ideal for making Chihiro a new outfit that he could truly call his own! My eyes went wide as I gazed around the room.

Chihiro, Chiaki, and Theo came in behind us. As the six of us looked around, Chihiro noticed the sewing machines and fabrics.

"Yo! This room looks right up your alley, huh?" Leon commented, noticing my excitement.

I nodded eagerly. "Yeah! I could do so much in here!"

Chihiro looked up at me, hope in his eyes. "Think you could even make something new for me in here?"

I considered the equipment in here, then nodded. "Yeah, I think with some time, I could do it. We can talk about that later, get some ideas."

"Oh wow! Thanks!" Chihiro looked really happy.

Kaede, meanwhile, had already left the room, so we moved on to the next room, which had a sign labeled "Track Room." Checking it out, there was a large track taking up the entire room, with banked corners so you can maintain your speed as you run.

Leon looked a little interested in this room, but neither Kaede nor I did, so we kept walking.

We reached another intersection, where there was a Chemistry Room to our right, and a Dojo straight ahead.

"Let's check out the Chemistry Room," Kaede suggested.

Leon and I both agreed, so I followed them both into the Chemistry Room.

Within was a variety of science beakers, tubes, hoses, and other chemistry equipment. Also, there were closed racks of various chemicals, vitamins, minerals, and...

Poisons. Lots of poisons.

"Oh, shit." Leon looked nervous upon seeing this room.

Celeste, closing a cabinet door, glances over at us. "Indeed. This room could present problems for some."

She then thinks for a few moments, then resumes. "For others, an opportunity?"

I looked at Celeste nervously. What did she mean by that?

Kaede looked uneasy as well, glancing around the room.

"Celeste, dammit, I told you not to start with that shit again!" Kaito reprimanded Celeste.

"No time for bickering. Search room, share discoveries. Fight later." Kenchikka barked at the both of them.

Wanting no further part of this room, we made a hasty exit from the Chemistry Room and went to check out the Dojo instead.

Within was a sparring area, along with punching bags, speed bags, punching mitts, a few training dummies, and punching bags and foot gear for sparring with live opponents.

"Sure wish I could drag Monorakun in here and beat the crap outta him!" Leon stated.

"Violence against Monorakun violates the rules," a familiar voice warned from behind us.

Turning around, Monorakun was standing there.

Leon wisely decided to shut up for once.

"So, this is the Third Floor," Monorakun continued. "Enjoy the facilities, and worry not, Bera. I replenish the supplies daily, so use what you need in the Shop Room."

Well, that was a relief. If I needed more materials, I just had to come back tomorrow.

My E-Handbook went off. Taking a look, there was a message from Chihiro. While Kaede had Monorakun's attention, I read the message.

"Where were you last night? I need to talk to you about the question last night."

I wasn't sure what he was talking about. What question? What did he...

My eyes went wide open, as I suddenly realized what Chihiro meant.

I needed to speak with him at once!