Fanganronpa: The Ultimate Killing Game

Can You Keep A Secret?

     I went back to my room emptyhanded- metaphorically. I still had Byakuya's coffee cup. It seemed really funny at the time to take it, but now I just kinda had it? I'll put it in the kitchen sink later or something. Anyway, what do I do now? I think that was the worst part of Hope's Peak- you know, other than the whole murder game thing- the constant boredom. At least I have a locker room to train in now. Hey, maybe I should get a session in! I could use some strength training.

When I got there, I saw Mukuro using the pullup bar. She smiled when she saw me. "Hi, Hina. Since you're here, could you be my rep partner for today?"

"Sure! I'll let you go first."

The two of us got some good training in, and I actually got a new weight limit! "That's ten kilos higher than my highest, and I'm still good to go!"

"Wow, congratulations." Mukuro started to attack the punching bag, using techniques I realized were similar to Sakura's.

"I didn't know you knew martial arts!"

"I asked Sakura to teach me," she replied. "I thought since we were here, I might as well take the opportunity."

"Oh, that's a good idea. I wonder if you and Sakura fought, who would win?"

"It would take a long time, but I think Sakura would win. Most of my experience is with weapons, and my reflexes may be good, but I think Sakura's endurance is stronger. It would be a matter of wearing me down."

"Oh. You've thought about that, huh. Oh! Whose reflexes do you think are better, mine or yours?"

"Mine. You're trained for sportsplay, but my life was on the line on a daily basis in Fenrir. Yet I still managed to never get hit."

"Wait, really?" That's really impressive! Holy shit!

"It's true. The only mark I have is the Fenrir wolf and my freckles." She stopped punching. "Would you like a turn?"

"Oh, uh, I think I'll work my legs out instead." I got on the treadmill. "I guess it makes sense that the Ultimate Soldier wouldn't have any scars."

"Well, physically, yes. War doesn't leave anyone untouched, but I'm lucky enough to not have any physical traumas." Her eyes became unfocused as she picked up a pair of dumbbells. "I wake up there sometimes. The smell of gunpowder, the screaming, the sirens.... That sort of thing just doesn't go away."

"Oh...." I wasn't sure what to say. What could I say? Mukuro had seen horrors the rest of us couldn't imagine. That's why she seemed okay after Sayaka's execution- she'd never been okay in the first place. I wonder what she was like before she joined Fenrir.

"It's okay though. I wouldn't ever go back. I joined Fenrir because it was what I had to do, and I did my job well. Well enough to be reunited with my sister." She smiled sadly.

"That's still so sad though. Didn't you have to leave Junko to join Fenrir in the first place?"

She turned to face me again. Her eyes seemed clear again, at least. "Junko and I were forbidden from seeing each other when we were young. We were never supposed to meet each other in the first place."

"Wait, what? Why would something like that happen?"

"I wouldn't worry about it." Her voice seemed distant. "It was a long time ago. And besides, it's all over and done with now. We found each other again eventually, and that's what really matters." She slammed the dumbbells back down on the rack and picked up the next set, squatting up and down. "I try not to think about it."