Hopeful Blacksmith (Danganronpa 1 x OC)

Chapter 15: Money Brings Together, But Also Distances...

After all the girls finished with their bath, they came back to the dining hall with refreshed looks on their faces.

"Ahh, man what a nice bath!", Hina sighed.

"Getting a chance to stretch out relax after all this time was a true pleasure.", Celeste nodded with a pleased look.

"Indeed.", Kyoko simply stated with a small smile.

"Normally, after a long bath I like to make myself a nice protein coffee, but...", just as Sakura said that, Monokuma popped out from the kitchen door with a grin.

"Sorry, no time for that!", Monokuma stated.

"That's what I figured...", Sakura stated.

"...Huh?", Monokuma quirked his head to the side in curiosity.

"We were just saying in the bath how it was about time for you to get up to something.", Celeste sighed.

"After seeing how happy we were, an evil little monster like you would never let that last for long.", Kyoko nodded.

"Sounds about right...", I grumbled.

"Y-You're all so terrible to me... *Sniffle sniffle* Everyone's so cold and mean! Even after I got presents for you all!", Monokuma sniffled, but we didn't mind that; what we were curious about were the presents.

"...Presents!?", Makoto gasped.

"Hmmm? Oh, have I got your attention? Puhuhu. Then let's head to the gym, where your presents await! No questions, no dilly-dallying! Get a move on, and everything will become clear!", Monokuma ran out the cafeteria after his announcement.

"Wh-What is it...? What are you scheming this time!?", Hifumi called after the bear, but to no avail.

"He's probably going to repeat the same thing again. Providing us with a motive to get things moving...", Kyoko revealed, a tense air settling in the room.

"... Again? I don't want to... I don't want to do this anymore...", Hina mumbled.

"Me either. I'm, like, totally traumatized...", Hiro shuddered.

"It's okay. We have Alter Ego. I'm sure he'll find something that'll help us. So, for now... we have to just endure it, come what may.", Kyoko advised. We all agreed silently and left for the gym. When we got there, we found Byakuya and Toko there before us. Byakuya turned to us and snarled.

"To be kept waiting by the likes of you. Rest assured, if we had access to firearms, you'd all be dead."

"Hello to you too, Byakuya.", I sighed.

"Did you get here early?", Makoto asked.

"Did you forget how to walk? Is that why you're late? It's simple—right foot, left foot. Right foot...", Byakuya taunted, but Makoto seemed to be used to it by now.

"Hmhmhm. The same as always, I see. Her, on the other hand...", Celeste giggled as she pointed to Toko, who was silent up until now.

"Oh, she's back to her Debbie Downer self, huh?", Hiro confirmed.

"I heard what sounded like a sneeze, and she was back to her old self.", Byakuya explained.

"So now she goes from manic to depressive whenever she sneezes? Seems kinda late to add that into the mix...", Hifumi muttered.

"Why does e-everyone keep making fun of me...? I hope you all win the l-lottery and get hit by a b-bus...", Toko sneered.

"So when you wanna say something mean, *then* you can talk, huh?", Hina tsked.