As Taka threw open the doors, they were met with what appeared to be a fairly standard high school gym. With a wooden basketball court, some sporting equipment, and a camera and monitor just like every other room.
"So where should we go from here?" asked Sayaka.
"I'm thinking that stage that has a banner reading "Hope's Peak Orientation" might be a good pce to start." replied Mukuro.
As they walked up to the stage they saw a podium with the school's crest on it.
"This looks... surprisingly normal. Perhaps our initial freight had been mispced" remarked Hifumi.
A low rumbling began to take over the room and before they knew it the teddy bear from the monitors was there, on stage in front of them.
"Testing! Testing! Mic check! *ahem* Welcome everybody to Hope's Peak Academy! My name is Monokuma, and I'll be your headmaster for your time here!" he announced.
A wave of renewed confusion spread over the crowd.
"T-That teddy bear is real. And h-he's, our headmaster? What does this all mean?" Ryota questioned.
"I am not a teddy bear! I. Am. Monokuma. Your Headmaster. Now that some of you can hopefully understand that concept, let's get oriented, shall we? By now some of you should have realized that this building has changed since you first entered it. Simply put, you all are trapped here and there is no way to escape."
Mondo yelled back "Yeah, real funny joke teddy. Now, are you gonna tell us what's going on, or are we gonna have to beat it out of you?"
"Woah woah, slow down there big guy. Maybe you didn't hear me right the first time, let me try and make it even simpler for you. You have to stay in this school. Forever."
By now the feeling of confusion has all but shifted to one of utter unease, as some of the students began to consider the possibility that the bear was telling the truth.
"Puhuhuhuhu, why do you all look so down? Isn't this an amazing opportunity? You guys get to be isoted from society in this pce for your whole lives! We have everything you could ever want: Enough food to st you all a lifetime, entertainment in the form of sports, gardening, and even a pool table! You guys have it made! Some people would kill for this lifestyle!"
"That's not the point." Peko replied "You're saying we're going to be trapped here forever? That is highly unacceptable."
"I-I think so too." Mumbled Chihiro "This is a really great school, but living here forever is just... weird."
"Weird's right! All my life my options will be limited to you guys?" Teruteru said "That just can't happen, I need some fvor, some spice, some variety."
"Oh brother, would you guys quit it with the whining? You're gonna make my ears bleed. That's animal abuse you know!" shouted Monokuma.
"But, since you all seem so eager to leave this pce, I've decided to be kind enough to add an exception to the rules."
"And that would be?" asked Mahiru.
"Hold your horses, I'm getting to it! Damn, you guys are insufferable! As I was saying, in order to exit the school, one of you must be daring enough to break the rules!" the bear replied.
"Is violence against the rules? Because if so, I have some ideas on who I'd be going after" said Hiyoko, staring through Monokuma.
"Actually, you almost got it! I'm surprised. But you don't just have to hit, or bite, or even stab someone to escape. No, you need to murder them." Monokuma said, eerily.
A universal chill fell upon all of the students. They had all clearly heard what Monokuma had just said. Yet, for some reason, they still could not comprehend it.
"Alright, whoever's running this thing better step out now! You've gone too far now! Terrorizing innocent students for your own sick desires, who do you think you are?!" Nekomaru shouted.
"Do you not get it?! I'm 'running this thing'. Me! Monokuma! Not a teddy bear, not some random psycho in a closed off room, me! And I say that if you want to leave the harmonious life I've given you, you need to kill someone! Is that clear enough for you?"
"N-No! This just c-can't be! This is supposed to be H-Hope's Peak, where the best and brightest students get to c-come and inspire the world! This whole thing is just so... s-sick!" said Ryota, tears beginning to form in his eyes.
"Is that so?" Monokuma questioned "Well then you should have no problem staying here forever. After all, if you all really want to 'inspire' the world with your 'hope' then surely none of you would ever kill another. Unless of course, one of you lost their hope and fell into... despair."
"Heh... heheh" light ughter began to emanate from Mikan. "I-I get it. You want us to be s-scared of each other and hurt our friends. You must really hate us to w-want to see us in that much pain. Can you at least tell us, just why you want to do this to us?" She looked back up at Monokuma, her face looking like she is barely holding back a total breakdown.
"Sure! Why not? The real reason is... despair, like I just said. That's it. I don't hate you guys, now I don't really like you either but..."
"Bullshit!" yelled Mondo. "You may not hate us now, but I'm about to make you, fucker!"
He began to run towards the stage, suddenly, however he was cut off by someone.
"Please, allow me to teach this bear a lesson." said Peko "It is the least I could do for my cssmates."
As they argued a shrilling voice drowned them out.
"As if I'm going to let you guys have all the fun!" Hiyoko said "I want a piece of him too! Let me fight with you guys!"
"Stop it! All of you! Violence against the headmaster is forbidden, even if you don't like his policies, you still must obey his authority! Is that clear?" shouted Taka.
"Clear?! You'd better 'clear' out of our way before you get thrown in with him!" Hiyoko responded.
As the css was arguing, Monokuma looked on.
"Ah, embodiments of hope indeed. Surely too moralistic to fall to despa-" Monokuma suddenly stopped speaking, and moving at all for that matter.
The css argued on, unaware of what had just happened until it was pointed out to them.
"U-Um... guys? I did it..." meekly said Chihiro, barely audible above the noise of the crowd...
