Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc [The American Exchange Program!]

Chaos Central!

It had been a few hours since the beginning of the party, and it looked like everyone had been having a good time. Almost like regular high schoolers, really; it was a good excuse to forget about the killing game they were all trapped in.

Emily had decided, for the past three hours or so, to hang out with a small group of girls who weren't interested in getting drunk. She, Sakura, Aoi, and a begrudging Toko had sat together, chatting; as of late, Emily had convinced Toko to talk about the plot of one of her famous romance novels.

"...a-and that's when she finds o-out h-he was actually a billionaire. But by that time, he's already g-gone." Toko wrung her hands together, wholly convinced of her own weirdness.

"You have some of your works in your personal library, right? Do you think you could lend me one? I think I'll love your book, from the sound of it," Emily said enthusiastically.

"I'd have to agree," Sakura smiled warmly. "I enjoy a good book now and then, and it sounds like yours are of the best variety."

Toko looked shocked. Pointing a finger at Emily, she said, "I-I'll give you a copy! But d-don't get the wrong idea," she stuttered. She was pleased, but true to her nature, she didn't let that on easily.

Sakura's warm aura didn't dissipate. "Of course, of course," she said.

Aoi, who had been a little distracted, noticed Teruteru putting out plates of sweets on the table nearby.

"Look!" She directed the group's attention. "I'm still so hungry. Let's grab some of those donuts—ah, and of course, everything else, before the other Ultimates get to it."

The three, led by their stomachs and noses, made their way over, where some other students began to congregate. As Emily grabbed a plate, she noticed Kuiper and Siena on the other side of the dessert table, faces both flush. They're probably drunk, Emily sighed internally. As she listened in to their conversation, this was only further confirmed.

"...and that's how I streaked through a street fair," Kuiper said to Siena, leaning on the wall for support.

"I can't believe you. Shut up and sit down with me," said Siena, wobbling a bit as she slid down into a pretzel seat. Kuiper, not much more graceful, practically fell on his bottom. He leaned on Siena, closed his eyes, and babbled again.

"You do know that tax evasion can be lucrative if you do it right..." he started, clearly dazed.

"Well, how else would the Togami family get so rich?" Siena replied. "Tax evasion. For sure."

Emily rolled her eyes and moved on to grab some of the cinnamon rolls. Before she could really dive in, however, she was pulled aside by a tipsy Sonia.

"It is good to see you, Emily!" she said. "I am sorry to interrupt, but I think you should save those for later. A game of spin the bottle is about to begin! I want an American with me while we learn about this American tradition," she said, her eyes alight. "AJ the Contortionist says this occurs at every party!"

Emily, still winded from being yanked away from the cinnamon rolls, had no time to be nervous as she was dragged into the circle and plopped down between Teruteru and Sonia.

The circle was still being put together, so to speak, but Emily took a moment to scan and see who was in it. She didn't know everyone's names, so she identified some people by their Ultimates. There were two drunk Baysiders, the Ultimate Lawyer and the Ultimate Public Speaker. There was AJ and Kazuichi, whom she'd recognized. There was the Ultimate Gymnast, Hiyoko the pigtailed girl from earlier, as well as the Ultimate Clairvoyant. Just outside the circle, directly across from her, Emily noticed Mondo. She tried to catch his eye, but he didn't seem to notice; he was talking to an angry-looking boy with a clean uniform on; that must be the Ultimate Prefect kid. Her attention was brought back to the circle, where the last arrival was a very sober and nervous-looking Makoto. Emily recognized him as one of the Ultimate Lucky Students.

"Looks like everyone's here," AJ began. "Rules are simple. You spin the bottle, and whoever it lands on, you have to kiss them."

"I'm not kissing that dirty fortune-teller," Hiyoko complained. "He probably has lice."

"Huh? I don't have lice!" He balked. "And I can't kiss you, you look like you're five!"

"Guys. Shut up. It's 9:45, we don't have much time. Let's start," AJ said, spinning it. "I'll use this as a test round. I'll show you guys how it's done," he said confidently. Conveniently enough, the bottle landed on Souda.

"Ooooh, you two," Emily teased.

Teruteru, who was next to her, had spent the last few minutes eyeing the instrumentalist up; she'd been too oblivious to notice.

"I'd never taken you for one who likes that," Teruteru half-said, half-muttered.

She glanced to her right at the pudgy cook. "Um, what'd you just say?"

Teruteru assumed a look of false innocence. "Oh, nothin'."

She turned back, where AJ had Souda by the collar, and the two looked to be enjoying a kiss. Souda was blushing fiercely.

AJ released Souda, who stumbled backward, face red, caught by the Ultimate Gymnast girl.

"That's how it's done," AJ said. "No questions? Good." He slid the bottle left towards the Ultimate Lawyer, Ibuki's wild guitar raging in the background. "You're up."

The Ultimate Lawyer smirked, and the bottle spun. Emily never really got to see who it landed on; Teruteru began acting like a creep once more.

"We should play this game in my room," he purred at her. "I'm quite good at this, you know."

"Uh...no thanks."

"Why? Are you scared? Darlin', I could just eat you up..." he said, his expression darkening a bit. By this point, Emily was very uncomfortable. She didn't want to play anymore; everything in her was screaming to flee. Her nerves sang the word 'run' over and over, a chorus of fear in her mind. Most of the others were too drunk to notice; but unbeknownst to her, Mondo had taken a very keen eye to her situation. And he did not like what he was seeing.

"Why, lemme, just..." Teruteru reached for her, and Emily immediately jumped up and out of the circle.

"Don't touch me!" She yelled, startling a few inside the circle. Sonia had been about to kiss the Clairvoyant boy, and despite their tipsy states, they looked up to the sudden shout.

"Don't be like that, darling, I was just—" Teruteru began, but he was cut off when he was grabbed unexpectedly from behind and hoisted into the air.

"What the hell are you doin'?!" Mondo yelled at the chef, bringing him up to his eye level.

"Holy cannoli! Ah—I don't know what you're talking about," Teruteru stuttered, sweating like a pig.

"Don't ya know not to touch girls if they're uncomfortable?! What the hell's wrong with you," Mondo spat, plopping the clearly shaking Teruteru on the ground. It wasn't over, though; a strange look had come into Mondo's eyes, and he cracked his knuckles. Blind fury surged through him like never before.

"I'm gonna teach you a lesson," rumbled Mondo, clenching his jaw.

There wasn't even time for Teruteru to object. With only one very chiseled arm, Mondo yanked the whimpering Teruteru by the the apron and dragged him in the direction of the kitchen. Everyone at the circle was stunned into silence. Drunk as everyone was, people had seen the commotion. Even Ibuki had stopped, mid-song. The party atmosphere had broken; fear, which had lingered around the edges of everyone's perception, slunk back into center stage, taking the spotlight once more.

It all happened quickly, really. Soon after, at 9:55, the party disbanded. The evening announcement reminded everyone that the dining hall wouldn't be open forever; the students had about forty minutes to leave, but it was agreed that cleanup would occur the next morning.