Dangan Ronpa:return to Despair Academy

First Class Trial

Everyone was gathered in a small room,with a set of double doors opposite to the one I went through.Each and every one of them had a grim look on their face,and we're keeping some distance,save for Yoichi.

"Ah,Shizuko you've arrived!"

That sickeningly sweet voice emanated from behind me.I turned and Monokuma was standing where I was just moments ago.

'How does he manage to move so fast?'I wondered.

"You were the last one!That elevator"Monokuma gestured toward the double doors,"will take you right down to the courtroom!See ya there!!!"And with a skip in his step,Monokuma ran out of the room.

"Masaru,please listen to reason!"Kimiko walked towards Masaru,only to have him back up further."I didn't kill Yoshie!"

"Save it!We saw you with the murder weapon,you have the victims blood on your shoes,and you were the only one outside your room!"Masaru screeched,backing into a wall.

"Dude calm down!Kimiko wouldn't kill anyone!She's been the one trying to keep us together!"Yoichi yelled back,looking,for the first time since he had gotten to Hopes Peak Academy,angry.

"This can all be settled in the class trial."Akihiro murmured.

Just then,the double doors slid open,revealing a very old-looking elevator.

Masaru said nothing as he marched in the elevator first.We all took his lead and followed in...

I had always had a fear of elevators.I had watched movies and anime where characters would be crushed in elevators that broke down.It didn't even need to be in works of fiction!There have been actual news reports where people were inside an elevator,and it just started falling,and the people inside would be killed!It was a fear I had harbored for years.In the moments I was walking into that elevator I saw how it bounced a little with my added weight.I gripped the handrail until my knuckles were white,and we descended...

It had occurred to me that my being afraid of the elevator was stupid,especially in my moments proceeding a class trial.If we failed,we would all die!But the expectant fear of the trial did not eliminate my fear of being crushed,no...it only made my fear grow.It intensified,so that it felt like a black hole was sucking me from the inside out.And every time the elevator bumped on its way down,I felt my heart stop,as if it was expecting death and was anticipating its own demise.

But finally the elevator DID stop,and when it did the doors opened to the first class trial.

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The trial grounds were not what I was expecting them to be.I had imagined an actual court room,only with a few twisted features to fit Monokuma's personality.

But the trial grounds were like a waste land.The walls were blank sheets of metal and were rusting over in a few spots.The ground consisted of wooden boards,but they were very faded ,with a few hole here and there across the entirety of the room.

The very least I was expecting was the place to be well kept.But it appeared as if the place was ignored for years.

The only things in the room that looked like they recieved some maintenance,was a series of podiums that were lined in a circle.There was a single chair at the head of the circle,where I assumed Monokuma would be sitting.

Monokuma was standing before the door with an expectant gaze,

"Well?!"he asked."Isn't this place fantastic?!I made sure to make this place extra special for you!"

We met his excitement with a cold resistance.He deflated like a balloon.In a monotone voice,he said"Please find the seat with your name and prepare for the class trial."