Danganronpa: Boiling Point

Chapter 16: Security Breach?

I slowly turned around, and Monorakun was hunched down, teeth bared, like he was ready to pounce on me. Toko bolted out of the room, leaving me to my fate.

Monorakun repeated himself. "What did you just do?"

I took a deep breath, then answered. "I saw an interesting book, so I tried to pull it from the shelf. However, it only came halfway out, before snapping back into place and opening up." I looked over my shoulder, at the dark corridor beyond.

Monorakun took several steps to the left, looking past me down the corridor, then sat down on his haunches. "Can you close it?" It was as much a statement as a question.

I pulled on the "Sora no Heya" book again, as the bookcase was still visible within the recession in the wall. To my mild surprise, the door started shutting again, sliding back into its proper place.

Monorakun looked over the bookshelf, then started climbing up it. However, he was unable to position himself in a way to pull the book out properly, rendering himself unable to open the passageway himself.

Grumbling to himself, he climbed down from the bookshelf, landing on all fours on the floor, and then asked me to open it again. I pulled the "Sora no Heya" book, and just like last time, the book came halfway out, then snapped back into place before the passageway opened again.

Monorakun was absolutely seething, but strangely, his anger did not appear to be directed at me. Rather, this secret hallway seemed to have enraged him to no end, but why?

Against my better judgement, I decided to ask a question of Monorakun. "What, exactly, has you so upset?"

Monorakun turned his head and looked up at me. "When we bought this property from Izuru Kamukura, he made no mention of this. I didn't know this even existed until Toko, and later you, opened the door. I was hoping I would have time to scope this area out and install security cameras, since, let's be honest, no one here likes Toko anyway. However, when YOU opened the door, that idea went out the window! Now, what to do..."

Monorakun's red eye started glowing, but then went out after a few seconds. He then shook his head, lowering it. "Nah, I can't do that. You haven't broken any rules."

I tilted my head, confused. "Cannot do what?"

Monorakun looked up at me. "You won't survive that answer."

A shiver went through me, but I maintained my composure.

Monorakun spoke up again. "Tell ya what. We're gonna explore this area together. You and I. As your headmaster, it's my responsibility to know every square inch of this place, and to ensure this area is safe and secure. Can't have unauthorized personnel trespassing in here, threatening my students."

I debated asking a question, and decided to anyway. "What if there's a way out here?"

Monorakun went silent for a while, as he scratched his chin with his left front paw. Eventually, he nodded to himself. "That's a risk I'm willing to take. If we end up finding an escape route, you can leave, by yourself, no strings attached. However, you would have to leave NOW. No going back for anything or anyone. You lose sight of that exit, I will seal that exit shut, anyway I can. Understood?"

I nodded in agreement.

Monorakun continued. "Also, I agree not to kill you back there, as long as you do not break any rules listed in the E-Handbook. I need 3 sets of eyes to start a Class Trial, and a death with no Class Trial is a waste of my time. Not to mention, I'd prefer to have a witness back up my words, so no one can claim I'm lying, or doctoring any video recordings. The others would seem to trust you, at least in that regard."