Hetaronpa (Danganronpa/Hetalia)

Chapter Eight

| CHAPTER EIGHT

When Francis called everyone to the gym for a group meeting, I was not expecting him to force us into a circle, sitting cross-legged on the floor.

"We should do something today!" he exclaims cheerily, looking at each of us in turn. "I think it would be fun to bond a bit."

"Why? That'll just make it harder for us when the next person dies," Vladimir responds sullenly.

"Vladimir, take that back," Elizabeta says in a steely voice. "As long as we're smart, no one is going to die anymore. I think we all know the effect this sick game has had on us."

"Why should I take it back, when it's obviously true? The stakes are pretty high. And Monokuma was quite clear with the rules."

Elizabeta glares at him so coldly that I feel tempted to stand and run away. I, for one, have no interest in bonding with anyone. I just want to leave this place alive.

"I did not bring everyone here to fight and be rude," Francis breaks in hastily, his expression pained. "Can we get along?"

"I agree. We should do something to take our minds off of this place." Roderich pauses. "Any ideas?"

Milen starts, "We could look at that weird dia--"

"Shh!" Mathias interrupts him. "What if Monokuma hears?"

"Hears what?" asks Monokuma, peering over Lukas's shoulder at us.

I hate to admit it, but I yelp in surprise, many others doing the same. Gilbert utters a particularly nasty curse, and I almost agree with it.

Our principal just laughs, as usual.

"Nothing," Kiku says, collecting himself.

"Fine, keep your secrets! I have good news."

This sparks my interest, it probably isn't actually good news for us, but it will be a development, at least.

"Okay, there may also be bad news," he amends, hopping into the centre of our circle.

"Great! Spit it out," Gilbert says, looking annoyed. Monokuma gives him a strange look before launching into his explanation.

"As a reward for the outstanding trial yesterday, I'm letting you access the third floor. It's pretty cool. There are things like the Art Room, Game Room, and Science Lab. Have fun with those; I don't want the budget to go to waste," he pouts.

"Okay. The bad news?" Roderich prompts.

I imagine the principal grinning sickly. "A new deadline. If someone isn't dead within 24 hours, the price to pay is not pretty. Because I'm feeling generous, I'll throw in a curveball."

Seemingly oblivious to our now-horrified faces, he continues.

"If the killer can get away with their murder, they will be allowed to talk to their family on the phone for five minutes."

Silence.

"Explore, guys!" says the bear airily before a hatch under him opens and swallows him up.

"Holy shit," Gilbert mutters. I definitely agree with that.

~~~~

"This new floor is pretty cool," Gilbert admits after we've finished scoping out the new rooms. Heracles hmms in agreement.

"The Game Room is a perfect place for us to hang out today," Francis says happily. I frown slightly at his cheerfulness. Is it normal to be like this right after you've been instructed to kill a classmate within a certain time period?