Humming the Despair (Project Sekai x Danganronpa fic)

-|:|-Prologue|:|Ready Steady ⚡🛹☕|:| Part four -|:|-

Me, Saki and Honami were walking through the school once more, as the two were chatting, I stayed behind them, thinking.

"Oh Saki, now that you mention it, I saw Shiho earlier"

When Honami said this a few moments ago, the atmosphere just fell silent, before embrasing in questions from me and Saki. From what we learnt, Honami saw Shiho walking through the allways a bit earlier. None of them apparently said anything, Shiho didn't even aknowledged Honami's presence, but after this, I felt a spark of hope in my chest. At least we were trapped together.

We headed down a pair of stairs, going in what seemed to be the basement of this school. I was way more gloomy than the rest, and looked way smaller as well. At the bottom of the stairs, there was a sign indicating a library at the right, surely where Yoisaki and Asahina woke up, and a gaming room? What was this doing in a school. And a storage.

"Oh! A gaming room! Sound nice! Ichi! Hona! What do you think there will be inside?!
-Surely some child friendly stuff I suppose... Ms.Yoisaki once told me about a few game she played that had not any music in it...!"

Well, they seemed to be enjoying the idea... wait...!

"Wait Honami- you know Yoisaki?
-Wha-?! Ah-! Ye-yes! I actually work at her house- to... clean up and cook... and stuff like that-! You met her?"

I nodded. So Honami knew Yoisaki... Earlier, Tenma and Saki mentionned a "Toya", and Tenma also mentionned a Shizuku... I know Saki, Honami and Shiho, And Shiraishi seemed to know Kiritani personally... Do this mean we're trapped with people we know? 

"I see... I'll hope she's alright then...
-Hmm! Kanade seemed super calm about the situation we're in! She even calmed us down when we thought about the fact that we may have been kidnapped!
-That's sound like her..."

I looked again at the basement in front of us, it seemed rather small comparated to the rest of the building. Only three rooms.

"So! What are we going to check first girls?
-Ah-! What about the gaming room-? You both seemed interested.
-Let's check it out then-!"

Saki led the way to what seemed to be the smallest room in the place we were and opened the door. Honami stepped in and I followed.
The walls were painted with all sorts of graffitis and colors, there were neon flashing in the corners of the room, and most importantly, arcades were standing in three ranges in the room. There also were two lockers standing next to one of the wall.

Saki cheerfully walked through the arcades, checking up the games, while Honami walked behind her, looking around, a bit deconcerted. None of the bornes'screen semmed lightened up.

"Ichi look! They even have claw machines! There are tonnnns of cutes plushies inside! Even a Miku one!
-A Miku one? Let me see."

I approached the machine. Indeed, there were a few plushies feeturing the iconic virtual idol and her turquoise twintales. I always thought I should said turquoise, some says green, other says blue, but I do want to have a middle ground regarding her. There are even some of her so-

"Hey! Ichi wake up! You've been gazing at the plushies for a moment now, what are you even thinking about?
-Oh- sorry."

I blinked and stood back, gazing at other parts of the arcade. It didn't seem like anybody would show up here.

"Um- There's no one here and none of the screens are lighten up. Should we move to another room?
-Yup! I agree with Hona! Let's check the other rooms!
-Alright."

We went together through the door right after. So we had to check the library and the storage now. I sighed: I was getting tired of walking and meeting people by now. I kind of wanted to rest, or at least fast forward to the next step. Welp, I can't fasten up time.

We opened the door to the library. It was way bigger than the gaming room, and even with the bookshelf, it still had more free space than in any of the classrooms.
I coughed a bit, space would just make it even more dusty. I was still more worried for Saki, even if she was in full health, it didn't meant she couldn't still be a bit sensible.
There also were lockers here, two of them. There also were two persons, boys.
The first one had orange hairs with a yellow streak, a black sweater on top of a yellow one, an orange one at his hips, a black jogging and green eyes and seemed to be inspecting the room.
The second one looked more passive and was just following his partner. He had light blue hairs on one side, drak blue hairs on the others, as well as a gray sweater and black jeans.
Before I could even connect his description with what Otori said earlier, Saki ran toward him happily.

"Toya! You're here as well!"

Toya blinked a few seconds in surprise, seeing his apparently childhood friend.

"Ms.Saki? You're here as well-?
-Hehehe! Yup dup! Emu told us there was a boy with light blue hairs on one side and dark blue hairs the other! Look like we found you Toya!
-Ms.Otori told you that? So you've seen her with Tsukasa earlier?
-Yup! Ichi and me saw him first in this weird school, and then we met a ton of others! I have to tell you everything!"

Both engaged in a big conversation as Honami gazed at them kindly and worried at the same time. The orange haired guy just stood back, as well as me, not really knowing what to do.

"Both of you are just going to stay back without introducing yourself?
-Ah- sorry- we didn't mean to sound rude at all-!
-No that's fine. The name's Akito Shinonome here, the Ultimate Beatboxer. Nice to meet'cha.
-Nice to meet you Shinonome. I'm Ichika Hoshino, the Ultimate Guitarist and-
-I'm Honami Mochizuki! The Ultimate Drummer! Likewise!"

I'm definitly getting used to introduce myself to strangers by now. Honami seemed way more stressed thought.

"The- The girl with twintails over here is Tenma Saki, the Ultimate Pianist, and our friend as well.
-You're friend with someone you just met?
-Ah-! No-! No that's not it! She's a childhood friend of ours! Don't worry!
-Alright then."

The conversation paused akwardly.

"And- you know the other guy?
-Toya? Yeah of course I know him, we're singing partners.... Ah- yeah, his full name is Aoyagi Toya, the Ultimate Classical Prodigy even if he clearly doesn't like his title. I doubt you'Ill talk to him since he and- Tenma? Is already in full conversation with him. Is she the little sister of this Tenma Tsukasa guy?
-Oh- Yeah she is.
-Well I hoped she isn't as huninged as he is"

He sighed. I see this conversation isn't going to go anywhere. He seemed to be type to not try to know people more than this. Honami was to shy to speak up, and I was either not confidant enough to talk, neither I had any subjects to talk about.

"Sorry to have kept you waiting you two. My name is Aoyagi Toya, the Ult-
-I already told them that
-Oh? you did? Pardon me then."

It couldn't be more akward, except for Saki that couldn't read the room.

"I- guess we'Ill be going now.
-Aww? Already Ichi? But we just met them!
-No that's fine. We also have the school to explore. Go on."

Saki's mood shifted into a disapointed one, and she waved a bye to Aoyagi. Well maybe we would know them better in the future. For know the conversation didn't really started well.

I then followed Saki, Honami on my heels and headed for the storage. Saki still looked disapointed and Honami looked at the ground with some sorts of remorses. We just opened the storage room.

It was even bigger than the library, with shelfs going up to the roof of the room, with stuff all over them. One looked like it was carrying stuff similar to food, another one was supporting gigantic boxes. It was dark as well, but way less dusty and old than the rest. 
Saki stood in amazement, gazing at the top of the shelfs.  Honami took something from one of the shelf and looked at it before putting it back. Meanwhile I walked in the storage, looking around.
I guess it was prolonging on the rest of the "under"floor. Anybody trapped here could survive for at least a month here. As I reach the end of the room I saw two doors. I noticed one had a sign saying "locked".

Even by reading I tried to open it. It was indeed locked, it was stupid of me to try and open it. So I tried to open the other one. It revealed the basement's corridors. Gazing through  the door, I could even see the library entrance. So it was not that big actually.

I closed the door and joined Honami and Saki.

"We're going up?
-Already? But we've just arrived! Just like with Toya and Akito!
-Well- I saw what I had to see...
-Same.
-Pff... Alright then."

We got out. I felt a sort of pain in my chest, letting Saki not having fun around, but I honestly wanted this school exploration to end, it was just tiring me out, and we did not have much left to explore. I hope anyways...

Since we saw everything downstairs, we just went up the stairs, back to where we came from. I did not notice earlier, but there was a sign indicating classrooms, a cafeteria, a theater and dorms.
My subconscious just walked inconsciously towards the direction the cafeteria was indicated at.

"Hey! Ichi wait for us!
-Wha- Ah- Yes- sorry Saki... And Honami."

They both ran to me, Honami looked exausthed as well, and Saki looked a bit moody. We then walked silently toward the cafeteria. I felt my leg ache, I really hoped it wouldn't be to far away.
At least, the dorms were in the same direction, we could just go there right after to rest. 

We finally got there. The door was already opened, and it let out on a big yellowish room with a lot of light emerging from the roof. There were multiple tables and redish chairs around them. For once, the room was extremly clean and looked like we could rest in for days.

I just headed straight for a chair, sat down and rested my head against the table, crossing my arms beetween as a pillow.

"Wah-! Ichi are you alright?!
-Y-Yeah... Just tired from walking.
-Well your friend definitly seem exhausted-."

I raised my head a little. Again, new people. One with fluffy long pink hairs and two little pigtails on the sides, bright pink eyes, a big cute smile. She was wearing a withe knitted sweater and and brown miniskirt. She looked rather small comparated to the girl next to her.
The other one was way taller, had light blue hairs, a mole on her cheek. She had piercing ice blue eyes and was wearing a white top that left her shoulders exposed, and was wearing a really long  blue dress. She looked a bit more scared and worried comparated to the pink haired girl. Looking at her a second time, I noticed it was the leader of Cheerful*Days, an Idol group, Shizuku Hinomori, that was also Shiho's sister.

"Ichika-! Long time no see! How are you doing since middle school? I didn't had much news from you."
Well she instantly remarked me at least. I did not had to introduce myself.

"Ah! Saki and Honami as well! Hehe~ Looks like the whole group is here. Have any of you seen Shii~? I looked everywhere for her but neither Airi or myself saw her!
-Ah- Shizuku- I think we should at least breath a bit before showering them with questions."

I breathed a few seconds before looking back at them. Honami was already talking with Hinomori, as well as Saki that was hugging her at the same time.

"Alright, I'm ready to answer any questions you have to ask us.
-Alright then, we should at least all reintroduce ourselves one more time before! The name's Airi Momoi! The- ...Ultimate TV Show actress... Nice to meet y'all! I'm also an idol in the group QT!
-And even if you already know me, I'm Shizuku Hinomori~! The Ultimate Model! As well as Shiho big sister!
-I'm Saki Tenma! The Ultimate Pianist! As well as Shiho's childhood friend! Ah! By the way Airi I'm a super big fan! Can I have an autograph? Pleasseeeee!
-A-Alright, later! As I soon have a paper- dang-!
-Hehe- My name is Ichika Hoshino, the Ultimate Guitarist. I'm a big Miku fan as well as Shiho's and Saki friend. Nice to meet you.
-And- I'm Honami Mochizuki! The Ultimate Drummer, and their friend as well... Pleased to meet you."

We all gave a smile, weither it was a nervous one or a happy one. At least it felt nice to actually see someone we knew after a while.

"So, did any of one saw Shii?
-Nope! Super sorry Shizuku! We were looking for her but she's nowhere to be seen! That's starting to be super exhausting!
-Ah! Me- Me I saw her but- I- I couldn't talk to her...
-Oh... I see... And Saki! By the way, are you better since- it wasn't too lonely?
-Ah! Nope! Nope! Not at all! I'm in full health now! Don't worry..."

I could clearly see it was a lie, we left her all alone for an eternity, there's no way it was "alright".
Shizuku was as good as Saki to read the room though.

"Hehe~ I'm happy to hear that then~ You should go look for her! We're going to check the other way! Airi let's go! To the right we go! Bye bye girls!
-Yeah bye you three- AH WAIT SHIZUKU! YOU'RE GOING TO THE LEFT!
-Hehehe~"

Saki waved an energitic bye, Honami a more shy one, and me a little one. They went away as soon as we saw them. Well at least the introductions were getting quicker. With hope we would be over the list soon.
I looked at the Monopad. Before checking the list, I tried to look for any information the place, but nothing... I then looked at the list:

*15 persons on 20 registered in the Monopad Number 001:
-Ichika Hoshino, Ultimate Guitarist, Student number 001
-Saki Tenma, Ultimate Pianist, Student number 002
-Honami Mochizuki, Ultimate Drummer, Student number 003
-Minori Hanasato, Ultimate Unlucky Student number 005
-Haruka Kiritani, Ultimate Idol, Student number 006
-Airi Momoi, Ultimate TV Show Actress, Student number 007
-Shizuku Hinomori, Ultimate Model, Student number 008
-Kohane Azusawa, Ultimate Photographer, Student number 009
-An Shiraishi, Ultimate Waitress, Student number 010
-Akito Shinonome, Ultimate Beatboxer, Student number 011
-Toya Aoyagi, Ultimate Classical Prodigy, Student number 012
-Tsukasa Tenma, Ultimate Star, Student number 013
-Emu Otori, Ultimate Smile Seeker, Student number 014
-Kanade Yoisaki, Ultimate Composer, Student number 017
-Mafuyu Asahina, Ultimate Lyricist, Student number 018*

Looking at it back and forth, I felt a rush of determination. Shiho was definitly the fourth member of this list, we were going to find her, and we were going to understand why we were here.

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AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH I'm exhausteddddd, this chapter was way longer than the others. Phew- I'm feeling kind of sad I couldn't introduce Toya and Akito that much, but I really had no idea on how to write their introduction. 
Next chapter will be the last introducing the humans, so we're approaching the end of the prologue :D.
See ya next chapter!

(~2511 words)