Inescapable Despair (Song of Despair AU)

Chapter 3: Exploration

A day had passed since the class trial, and now Akio was exploring the new area with his group of friends, consisting of Ichiro, Mai, and Willow. The four of them walked into the new street, and first came across the fast food place and dollar store. Those were irrelevant though, so they left them alone.

"Hey Mai, wanna run off together?" Ichiro whispered to Mai, but he was terrible at whispering.

Mai gave him a sheepish smile. "It'd be smarter to stay with the group."

Akio had to hold back a sigh. Ichiro was a good friend of his, but he didn't know how the redhead could be so oblivious to Mai's disinterest in him. Though it was a little strange, she used to just go along with what he said.

Soon they came across an old school, and went inside. The dark, empty hallways were creepy to say the least.

Willow's snake let out a low hiss, and she stroked his scales. "Algernon doesn't like it here..."

"Well it is kinda cold." Mai pointed out. "And spooky. I don't like it either."

"We'll wait outside then..." Willow gently grabbed hold of Mai's hand, and both went back out, leaving Akio and Ichiro alone.

Ichiro stared dreamily after Mai as she walked away, and Akio felt a little bad for him. He couldn't bring himself to point out the obvious fact that Mai and Willow were definitely a thing.

"C'mon Ichiro, let's finish checking this place out." Akio said.

Ichiro turned his attention back to his friend. "Mhm, but let's be quick so I can get back to my princess~."

"Whatever you say..." Akio sighed.

~*~

The four had returned to the hotel, and everyone was meeting in the kitchen, discussing their options. Akio was getting pretty fed up with being stuck here, so he hoped they could figure something out.

"I could always build a bomb." Tomi suggested. "We'd blow a hole in the electric fence, and you could all leave me here to die." He said with a smile.

"You're being so... selfless." Ichiro pointed out, looking uncomfortable. "This is weird... please stop."

"How come?" Tomi tilted his head. "I'm fine with dying, may as well get everyone else out in the process."

"No one's dying, and no one's getting left behind!" Satchiko exclaimed. "We gotta think of something that'll save everyone!"

"You're right..." Kaiya spoke softly, petting the grey kitten in her lap that she had found earlier that day. "We don't need any more corpses..."

Willow's snake rested his head on top of hers. "Algernon agrees..." She muttered.

"We'll find a way to get out... together. We have to..." Jirou said, leaning against his boyfriend. Haru ran a hand through his silver hair in a comforting manner.

Monokuma came into the room laughing. "Upupu~ silly kids, thinking this'll all be okay. Well, it won't be! Maybe a bit though, after the motive I give ya."

"What is it?" Mai tilted her head.

"A little blonde friend of mine gave me the idea! Letting you take one person with you when you leave!" Monokuma exclaimed. "Idiot suggested a bunch more stupid ideas that would completely ruin this game, but there was one good one."

"Getting to take someone with us..." Kazuki muttered thoughtfully. "Someone might actually do it for that...."

"Exactly!" Monokuma laughed again. "Well then, have fun killing!"