Chapter Text
???: Finally, finally!
???: I got the job! I got the assignment!
???: Wait...
???: You really don't know me, do you?
???: ... well, I never introduced myself! Haha, I really am an idiot, huh?
???: My name is Chieko Kimoto!
Chieko: I work for a small organization made by the survivors of the killing game that targeted the class of 20XX in Hope's Peak.
Chieko: My brother was a victim to the game, but I'm tooootally over it now!
Chieko: Um, aaaanyway... I have to go meet up with Serina now. Goodbye!
[...]
Chieko: Seriiiiina!
???: Ah-! Please try to keep it down...
Chieko: Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry. I forgot again.
???: No problem...
Chieko: ( Serina Nakahara... my best friend. Since this year. She's so nice, but shy! )
Serina: What's up?
Chieko: Guess what! Guess what!
Serina: ...hmm. What?
Chieko: I got assigned! The case!
Serina: The case about stabilizing Hope's Pe–
Chieko: YEP! Hope's Peak!
Serina: ...
Serina: I'm... glad. I'm happy for you.
Chieko: ( I pretended to be angry for a moment. )
Serina: ...wh-what?
Chieko: You're not going?
Serina: Are you allowed to bring me?
Chieko: They encouraged bringing a partner!
Serina: Oh...!
Serina: That sounds great... I wanted to go.
Chieko: Yaaaay! Chieko and Serina are on the case!
Serina: Aren't we just calming down tensions in the staffing...?
Chieko: ... hm... yes. I guess so.
Chieko: Let's pack, then! C'mon!
Serina: W-wait, when are we supposed to go...?
Chieko: Umm... Miss Lorde said today...
Serina: Ch-Chieko!
Chieko: ... hehe...
[...]
Chieko: We flew over to Hope's Peak North America and everything went smoothly.
Chieko: When we arrived at the gate, there was an odd sensation, then–
---
Chieko: ...
Chieko: I'm in a Hope's Peak classroom?
Chieko: Where's Serina?
Chieko: SERIIINAAA!
Chieko: Is this a joke..?
Chieko: It isn't funny. Please come out.
Chieko: ( Suddenly, the door flung open. )
Chieko: Seri–
Chieko: ( That's... definitely not Serina. )
???: Ah. You're in the same situation as all of us...
???: Except I don't know you.
???: Who are you?
Chieko: I'm Chieko Kimoto, she/her pronouns, I was sent here to fix something about a disruption?
???: A disruption? This may be it, then. Guess you were too late.
???: Hopefully it isn't too serious.
Chieko: Yeah, you're right... ehm?
???: O-Oh, it's Mami Rodgers. Any pronouns.
Mami: I’m the Ultimate Makeup Artist.
Chieko: I can tell, you look really neat!
Mami: Thanks. What’s your talent?
Chieko: I don’t have one.
Mami: Hmm… that’s odd. I thought I saw you on the Hope’s Peak JP roster.
Chieko: Ah, my brother was over there a year ago.
Chieko: Okay, Mami... where is everyone else? Like, your class?
Mami: The gym, I think.
Chieko: Cool!
Chieko: ... where's the gym? Hehe...
Mami: I'll take you.
Chieko: ( Mami took me to the gym. He muttered about how the school was built differently... )
Chieko: Serinaaaaa!
Serina: Chieko...!
???: Who're these two chicks...?
???: I don't know. Perhaps they're the ones who knocked us out.
???: Maybe not! They look nice!
???: I thought you're the one who told me not to judge people based on appearance.
Chieko: Umm...
Serina: If it's okay, we can go around introducing ourselves...
Chieko: Okay!
Chieko: ... hmm.
Chieko: Hello!
???: Hi! Hi! I'm Dolly!
Chieko: ... don't you have a last name?
Dolly: I dropped it 'cuz I ran away from my blood family.
Serina: Pardon me asking, but what are your pronouns?
Dolly: Oh! Oh! I can answer that one!
Dolly: They and toy!
Dolly: Anyways, what's you guyses names?
Chieko: I'm Chieko Kimoto, and–
Serina: I'm Serina Nakahara. She/her.
Chieko: Also she/her.
Dolly: Cool! Noted!
Dolly: I'll go tell Mari that you're nice! Lemme introduce you!
( Dolly skipped over to the person with marigolds on them. )
Dolly: This is–
???: I can tell them myself, Dolly.
???: *sigh* I'm Mari Gold. They and she pronouns, please.
Chieko: Hmm... what's your Ultimate Talent?
Mari: Baker. Why do you ask?
Chieko: Well, you kiiinda look like the Ultimate Florist.
Mari: He's over there.
Chieko: ( Mari gestured to a group of people in the corner. I couldn't figure out the real Ultimate Florist, so I just nodded. )
Mari: What's your names?
Serina: U-Um, I'm Serina Nakahara, and th-this is... Chieko Kimoto.
Mari: Oh, dear, I heard about you... I'm terribly sorry for your loss. That must be horrible.
Chieko: Huh? What? Let's talk to this person now! Nice to meet you, Mari! Buh-byeeee!
Mari: ...?
Serina: No, Chieko… you can't just leave…
Mari: Sorry for bringing it up! I didn't think…
Mari: Well… I should've known.
Chieko: It's okay! It doesn't bother me!
Mari: But you just tried to leave…
Dolly: Yep, yep! You tried to run away when they mentioned him!
Mari: I'm sorry, Dolly, but could you please stop butting in our conversation?
Dolly: Aw…
Chieko: Wellll… hmm… how are you the Ultimate Baker?
Mari: I live in the forest. I like making cake.
Mari: I don't know what you want to hear…
Chieko: No, it's my fault, silly!
Mari: “Silly”?!
Chieko: Ah, it's okay if I call you that, right?
Mari: I… guess?
Chieko: Yaay!
Mari: (These people are very immature for agents…)
Chieko: Huh?
Mari: Sorry! I didn't mean it!
Serina: ...
Serina: I want to talk to someone else…
Mari: Sorry!
Serina: No, me…! It was rude of me to say that…!
Mari: It's no problem… there's a lot of people here.
Serina: ...
Serina: Chieko, you can't just ignore it...
Chieko: Ignore what?
Chieko: Hellooo!
???: Oh, hey.
Chieko: I'm Chieko! She/her!
Serina: Umm... I'm Serina Nakahara... also she/her.
???: So I heard. I'm Ricardo Desoto, he and they pronouns.
Ricardo: Funny how you talked with my two best friends first. I'm the Ultimate Toymaker, so you know me and Dolly clicked. Mari was always Dolly's friend.
Serina: How sweet...
Ricardo: Yeah, I guess.
Chieko: ...
Ricardo: Something wrong?
Chieko: No, sir.
Ricardo: “Sir”. Haha, that's… neat!
Serina: You are our superior, right…?
Ricardo: I dunno. I'm 19.
Ricardo: ...you look anxious. Are you feeling okay?
Serina: Y-Yes! I'm okay!
Ricardo: Okay. Here, take this.
Chieko: ( It was a stuffed cat. )
Serina: Wa-wa! Cats are my favorite, how did you know?!
Ricardo: I'm good at guessing this sort of thing, heh.
Chieko: Oh, yeah? What would I like?
Ricardo: Hmm…
Ricardo: Some kind of bear. A big one.
Chieko: Jeeez… you're good. And I thought I was hard to read.
Ricardo: You're an open book, miss.
Chieko: E-Eh?!
Ricardo: Hmm… are you feeling okay?
Chieko: I'm perfectly okay! I have noooo clue what could be up!
Ricardo: …
Ricardo: Um…
Ricardo: Never mind.
Serina: Oh…
Chieko: Leave me alone! Jerks!
Chieko: I'll be on my merry way now!
Serina: H-Huh? We just met him, aren't you going to say something more?
Chieko: You can if you'd like! I'm going!
Serina: O-Oh...
Chieko: Hellooo, mx...?
???: Who are you?
Chieko: I'm Chieko!
???: Last name?
Chieko: Err... Kimoto.
???: So you're the sister of Kimoto Chōya?
Chieko: Yes...?
???: He was killed in the train killings...
???: Were you behind them?
Chieko: Wh-what?! How dare you suggest I'd do that!
Serina: W-we didn't do anything...! We were sent here to help with something...!
???: And what is that?
Serina: Stabilizing Hope's Peak NA...
???: ... okay, I suppose you can get my name...
???: My name is Taylor Jones. She and they pronouns.
Taylor: I am called the Ultimate Lawyer.
Chieko: You haven't made a good impression.
Taylor: Sue me for interrogating you, a new and suspicious person, in a potentially dangerous situation.
Chieko: I'm leaving!
Serina: Sorry about her... she's still upset about the murders.
Taylor: Adachi Tsukisae wasn't very justified in her actions, if it helps–
Chieko: I know that, and it doesn't.
Chieko: Questioning me about that is really mean.
Chieko: You're making a terrible impression.
Taylor: …
Taylor: Right. I'm not letting a potential mass kidnapper have a good impression on me. I'm obviously older than you.
Serina: How does that matter…?
Taylor: I could take you in a fight.
Chieko: Good luck with that! I'm a victim here, too!
Chieko: Goodbye!
Chieko: ...
Serina: Chieko, I know it's hard... if you need a break, it's alright...
Chieko: Nooope! We still have a bunch of other people to meet!
Serina: I'm overwhelmed... I'll go at my own pace, now.
Chieko: Okay, Serina! See you in a minute!
Chieko: ( ... who to talk to? )
Chieko: ...
???: Hey, come over here if you're lost.
Chieko: Oh! Hello!
???: Yumi is called Yumi Sakai. Yumi's the Ultimate Basketball Player, and Yumi hopes you don't mess up my title.
Yumi: I worked hard for it.
Chieko: What're your pronouns, Yumi?
Yumi: Yumi doesn't have any besides Yumi!
Yumi: What's yours?
Chieko: She/her, thanks!
Chieko: I'll be goi–
Yumi: You already talked to Taylor, right? Yumi saw you.
Chieko: I guess so...
Yumi: Well, Yumi'd like to warn you that Taylor is a bit prissy at first, but she gets better.
Yumi: But Yumi guesses that Yumi has known her for 2 years, so...
Chieko: Oh, right. Thanks, Yumi.
Yumi: No problem.
Yumi: And… don't mess up Yumi’s title.
Yumi: Yumi’s worked for years just to be the best basketball player.
Chieko: ( Someone working that hard just to be the best…? I've heard of that, but at this scale… )
Yumi: Yumi is now working to be the best in the world!
Chieko: Be sure not to push yourself too far, Yumi.
Yumi: That's how you get better, right?
Yumi: That's what Yumi lives by!
Chieko: Oh. Okay. It's not very healthy, Yumi.
Yumi: Yumi is sure it's healthy! Yumi turned out fine.
Chieko: ( Obviously not… )
???-A: Let us take her from you, Yumi.
Yumi: Okay?
???-B: We just got through talkin' with that Serina chick, and she said to talk to you.
???-A: She was real shy, but she said you're better than that.
Chieko: You're saying Serina is bad for being shy?
???-A: No no no, I just don't like shy girls.
???-B: Yeah.
Chieko: Shut up.
???-A: We don't mean, like, attracted to her. Just... if she was a bit more confident...
???-B: Yeah.
Chieko: You're digging yourselves in a deeper and deeper hole.
???-A: Sorry. I'll just introduce myself and go.
???-A: The name's Shawn Meyers.
???-B: And I guess I'm Braeden Mooney.
Chieko: Great. Now I know your names so I can politely ask to leave.
Braeden: Hold on, dude.
Chieko: Nooo! Goodbye!
Braeden: Hold on!
Chieko: ( He grabbed my wrist. )
Chieko: H-HEY!
Shawn: Quiet down. You're acting irrational.
Chieko: What do you want?
Braeden: What's your Ultimate?
Shawn: What he said.
Chieko: I don't have one.
Braeden: This chick’s talentless, too.
Shawn: Man… I thought we were getting lucky this time.
Braeden: Idiot, there isn't a Lucky Student this time.
Shawn: I know that-!
Chieko: ( I took the opportunity to run away. )
Chieko: ...
Chieko: ( Ultimates are weird... Miss Lorde, Miss Daidai, Miss Joan and Dr Ichidou were the least weird of the Ultimates, I guess. )
Chieko: ... this guy is probably the least weird, since he wasted so much time on appearance.
Chieko: Hello?
???: ...
Chieko: Ah, I get it. You're a mime.
???: I am, but I don't trust you that much.
Chieko: Ohhhh! Well, I'm Chieko Kimoto, she/her pronouns.
???: Uh huh. This doesn't sway my opinion.
Chieko: I get how it looks, but I was sent here to stabilize a problem here.
???: By an agency? What agency?
Chieko: Umm... we don't have a name yet.
???: *sigh* I'll see if you're good or not later, I guess.
???: I'm Kain Menza, he/they/boo pronouns.
Chieko: Wellll... nice to meet you!
Kain: …
Chieko: You're being rude.
Kain: I don't owe you kindness. I think you're the person who kidnapped me.
Chieko: Well, maybe *you’re* the person who kidnapped *me*!
Kain: ...
Chieko: ( Rude. )
???: Don't worry about them. Boo's annoying sometimes.
Chieko: Wagh-!
???: Sorry. Did I scare you?
Chieko: Yes!
???: Apologies.
???: As an apology, here's the map of the school from before it was mysteriously remodeled.
Chieko: No thanks, umm...
Chieko: What's your name?
???: Noah Greene.
Chieko: Yes, no thank you, Noah.
Chieko: What're your pronouns?
Noah: Any of them. Neopronouns are included.
Chieko: Thanks. So sir or ma'am is okay?
Noah: Yes. What are your pronouns?
Chieko: Well, ma'am, I use she/her. And prefer ma'am.
Noah: Of course.
Noah: Well, Miss Chieko, I shall be moving on. I haven't drawn up a map of this new remodel.
Chieko: Wait, so you're, like, the Ultimate Cartographer? And how do you know my name?
Noah: Yes, and I heard you talking.
Chieko: What’re those scars from?
Noah: I hurt myself frequently when making maps.
Chieko: Are you okay?
Noah: Yeah, I'm alright. None are too recent… which is odd…
Chieko: …?
Chieko: Do you use rulers?
Noah: No. I learned how to draw lines straight after a while. And besides, lines aren't very frequent in maps.
Chieko: Neat-o! Welllp, I still have to meet new people!
Noah: Carry on, then. Apologies again for scaring you.
Chieko: ( Okay, there's only a few people left. Let's see... )
Chieko: Hi!
???: Agh! My spell didn't work.
Chieko: Erm...?
???: I'm a witch. A boy witch.
Chieko: I thought the word for that was wizard?
???: That dumb author woman was the one who messed it up for me and other boy witches.
???: Witch isn't and never was a gendered term until that stupid girl messed it up for us.
Chieko: Okay! In that case, that sounds neat! I wanna see some of your witchcraft later!
???: Oh, thanks!
???: I'm Anthony Rosales, by the way. He/him.
Chieko: I'm Chieko, she/her.
Chieko: Wait, are you the Ultimate Florist Mari told me about?
Anthony: Yes. I usually grow flowers and plants for my witchcraft, but my ultimate goal is to make an observatory for myself full of flowers.
Chieko: Aww! That sounds so cool!
Anthony: I know, right?
Anthony: By the way, you and your friend seem too nice to be the ones who put us here... she told me all about why you're here.
Anthony: I totally believe you and her.
Chieko: Thanks... some people don't.
Anthony: Ah, like Taylor? She can be a bit rough at first.
Chieko: I know. Yumi told me.
Anthony: Mmm... well, I won't keep you! I have to keep looking for my moon water. I didn't have much to begin with, now the whole school is built differently...
Anthony: Agh, the pains a boywitch must face. Bye!
Chieko: Buh-bye!
???: Hey, Chieko!
Chieko: Ohhh my gosh! Jared!
???: Hi, Chi! I got my ears pierced, haha.
Chieko: Riiiight! You're, like, the Ultimate Paleontologist now!
Chieko: And your earrings are super cool! I got my ears pierced, too!
Jared: Yeah! It's a huge honor, or something… to be the Ultimate Paleontologist.
Chieko: Get any cool new gigs or whatever you guys do?
Jared: No, but I did learn what types of eyeliner are actually waterproof and which are just lying.
Jared: M*********e is lying. Also, don’t get their products. I’m pretty sure they exploit something out there.
Chieko: I don’t wear much makeup, anyways… I’m too much of a klutz with art.
Chieko: So, did you find anything worth keeping?
Jared: Just the usual. Plant fossils. Occasionally rats.
Chieko: Whole rats?!
Jared: Now, don’t mess up my image… not whole rats, just, like, skulls.
Chieko: Can I have one?
Jared: I thought you were disgusted…?
Chieko: I changed my mind.
Jared: Haha, same old Chieko.
Chieko: Same old man Jared.
Jared: Stop calling me old man Jared!
Chieko: Chouya called you that, and you were fine with it.
Jared: Man… you got me.
Chieko: (Me and Jared caught up for a while longer before Serina reminded me I still had people to meet. )
Chieko: ( Now who's last...? )
???: Hey.
Chieko: Oh, hey!
???: Don't worry, I know what's going on with you two. You're okay.
Chieko: Oh, thank goodness...
???: I know who you are, but you don't know who I am, I'm guessing?
Chieko: ( I nodded. )
???: I'm Anne Johnson. I go by A.J..
A.J.: I'm the Ultimate Race Car Driver.
Chieko: That's so cool!
Chieko: I'm pretty sure my dad talks about you sometimes!
A.J.: Oh, your dad is into American sports?
Chieko: Is race car stuff a sport?
A.J.: Probably not.
A.J.: It doesn't matter, I guess!
Chieko: Right! You're just cool, is all.
A.J.: Oh, really? I don't get that often. My stuff is dismissed as being just driving a car... but it's deeper than that. Maintaining a car that fast is a job in of itself!
Chieko: Neat-o! I don't have a talent, so I wouldn't know!
A.J.: Well, you should definitely look into it! You could enlighten your dad.
Chieko: Hehe, yeah.
AJ: If you want to start out, please be careful. I've had two concussions before and they take a while to recover from.
AJ: No brain damage, thank God, but there's the chance every time.
Chieko: Wa- Wouldn't the number be higher?
AJ: I'm good at avoiding crashes.
AJ: I'm the Ultimate Race Car Driver for a reason!
Chieko: Oh, right!
Chieko: Well, it was nice to meet you!
Chieko: Hmm... that's everyone!
Serina: Ah... you finished, too.
Chieko: Yep! Mostly everyone seems so nice!
Serina: Braeden and Shawn scare me, can you keep them away...?
Chieko: I'll beat em up for you!
Serina: They're probably 19, Chieko... you're 17. And I don't want to be rude... but they're strong looking...
Chieko: You're right, haha!
???: Attention! Attention!
???: I'm glad mostly everyone is in the gym! Everyone outside of it, please return!
Chieko: ( Anthony and Noah both came back after a couple of minutes. )
???: Great! Allow me to introduce myself!
Chieko: ( A hologram of a TV headed thing appeared. )
Dolly: Woah! A thing!
???: Hello~! I'm Engine!
Chieko: ...?
Engine: I'm the new headmaster of this school!
Noah: I do not think holograms can be principals.
Engine: Shushy!
Engine: Anyways~! Welcome to your new permanent school life!
Mari: Permanent?
Chieko: Heeey, Engine?
Engine: Yes~!
Chieko: Me and Serina don't go here. Can we leave?
Engine: No~!
Chieko: ...
Engine: Like I was saying!
Engine: Your school life will go on forever, now!
Engine: There are also rules! If you break them, you get punished!
Anthony: But...! I don't want to stay here forever!
Engine: Luckily for you, you don't have to~!
Anthony: Oh thank God...
Engine: To get out! ...you really want to know?
Anthony: Yes!
Engine: You have to kill someone!
Dolly: That's not funny.
Engine: I wasn't joking...
Dolly: Oh.
Dolly: Wait, that's scary-!
Engine: Hehe~! That's the point!
Mari: Stop. Stop scaring us.
Engine: Well... that's my job, silly~!
Engine: After all, I'm just an AI built using the mastermind and the sidekick's skills!
Mami: Mastermind?
Engine: Yes~! I don't have any free will~!
Mami: Yikes.
Yumi: It's not like you can do anything to us! If you try to hurt anyone, Yumi will kill you!
A.J.: Yeah! I have some muscle from working on the car, you know!
Braeden: Yeah, what they said.
Shawn: Yeah!
Engine: So you want to get killed?
Yumi: Good luck! Yumi's tough!
Engine: Hehe~!
Serina: L-LOOK OUT! YUMI!
Chieko: ( Yumi dove away just in time before bullets rained down on where Yumi was. )
Serina: O-Oh... Yumi's okay...
Yumi: Wh-what?!
Engine: I guess you've been warned~!
Engine: Anyway... lemme explain trials!
Taylor: No need. I already–
Engine: Shushy!
Engine: A class trial occurs when a murder happens!
Engine: You will be given a while to investigate!
Engine: Then, you'll be put in a room, and you gotta figure out who did it! Whodunnit, if you will, hehe~!
Engine: If you get it wrong, you all die! If you get it right, only the killer dies!
Engine: I'll judge it!
Taylor: Doesn't the killer die either way?
Engine: Oopsy daisies, worded it wrong!
Engine: The killer leaves if you lose!
Taylor: Okay...
Taylor: This sounds fair for what it is.
Engine: Hehe~! Good to see you understand!
Engine: You all have rooms, and it's nighttime, so... go to sleep!
Engine: Please make sure you get your eHandbook and look over the rules before you go to sleep for realsies, though.
Chieko: W...
Engine: Bye~!
Serina: ...
Chieko: ...
Chieko: *sniff* Why was I put in this situation? *sob*
Taylor: I thought you two were agents. Why are you crying in the face of danger?
Serina: W-We're s-s-seventeen.
Yumi: 17?!
Kain: They're probably lying. Which one's the mastermind, and which the sidekick?
Mami: I bet that Serina girl is the mastermind. Never trust the quiet ones.
Chieko: Why're you accusing me of making this?!
Serina: N-No... they're accus-s-sing me.
Chieko: You all know about my brother! You- you-!
Mari: Oh, dear, yes...
Dolly: Umm... what happened to her brother...? And why is it relevant when we're in a murder game?
Ricardo: Her brother was killed in this exact situation.
Dolly: Ohh!
Chieko: *sniff* Leave us alone.
Noah: Wait! Miss!
Chieko: What?
Noah: I made and photocopied a lot of maps... I thought you may want it.
Chieko: Thanks.
Chieko: Serina, are you staying?
Serina: I'll go with you...
Chieko: Okay.
( We went to the room hall marked on the map. There really was a room for everyone. )
Serina: L-Listen... I r-really don't think anyone would kill their friends.
Chieko: But...
Serina: Look... I kn-know we look bad in this situation...
Chieko: Serina! They could kill us!
Serina: None of them would.
Chieko: ( Serina sounded so oddly confident right then. )
Chieko: ( I had to believe her. )
Chieko: Thanks.
Serina: Of course...
Serina: I'll go to my room...
Chieko: Okay, you go ahead! I need some time alone.
Chieko: ( ... )
Chieko: ( I didn't know what to do. )
Chieko: ( I picked up the e-Handbook with my name on it, scanned the rules, and put it back down. )
Chieko: ( Why is there one for me if I’m new here? )
Chieko: ( And… )
Chieko: ( Serina seems so oddly calm... )
Chieko: ( I... want to go home. )
Chieko: ( I didn't ask for this... )
Chieko: ( ...and more importantly... )
Chieko: ( Is this what happened to Chouya? )
Chieko: ( ... )
Chieko: ( I'm... I'm going to bed. )