(See the end of the chapter for more notes .)

By the way, I'll be starting the mutliple choice FTE stuff this chapter, so get ready to do some thinking/Googling!

Free Time winners this time were Degawa, Matsuoka and Tamura.

Free Time votes were very unusual. While there were two standout winners, there was one vote each for pretty much every other character. In the end I used the good ol' RNG to figure out the last spot.

Chapter Text

Monokuma: DING DONG DING DONG!

[We see Monokuma on a TV screen, lounging in a chair comfortably, as he sips a glass of red wine through a silly straw.]

Monokuma: Good morning, class!

This is your amazing principal Monokuma letting you know it's 7 o'clock! Nighttime's over!

Which means it's time to get out of bed and stop being a lazy bastard!

[The screen blinks off. We see Minami's room.]

Ugh... that voice is really starting to grate on me...

OK, I was late yesterday, so I should probably make an effort to be more on-time today.

[OST: Welcome to Despair Academy]

[Move to Minami's Bathroom]

[Examine Shower]

OK, just remember, Minami...

Don't take too long...

[Fade to black. We hear the sound of running water.]

...I have a sneaking feeling I've been in here too long again...

[The water stops. Fade into Minami's Bathroom.]

[Move to Minami's Room]

If there was a clock in here, maybe I'd be on time for once.

But that stupid bear just has to mess around with our inner clocks, doesn't he?

[OST: None]

[A rapid knocking sound is heard at the door.]

Huh? Who could that be?

...And with such an impatient knock, too!

[Examine Door]

Minami: OK, I'm here, hold on...

[OST: Beautiful Morning]

Fujihara: [Surprised] Minami! Good, you're still with us!

Minami: Don't tell me... late again?

Fujihara: [Sighing] You don't know the half of it. Hagino's really annoyed.

[Nervous smile] Why don't we get over there before she kills you?

Minami: ...

Fujihara: [Neutral] I didn't mean that literally.

[Smiling] Let's go.

[Auto-move to Green Hallway]

Fujihara: We've all been waiting for you before we start.

Minami: Waiting? For me? Seriously?

Fujihara: [Smiling] Seriously. Matsuoka and Hagino wanted to start, but Degawa insisted you were there beforehand.

Degawa? Oh God... She's going to explode at me, isn't she?

Fujihara: [Grinning] Come on! Pick up the pace!

Minami: Alright! I'm coming!

[Auto-move to Foyer]

[Auto-move to Cafeteria]

Hagino: [Frowning] Minami. You're late. Again. I specifically told you yesterday...

[Irritated] Why can't you be more like Chiba? He's here early every day.

"More like Chiba"? What is this, kindergarten?

Hagino: [Serious] No, it's not kindergarten. It's important you are on time.

...Goddamnit, every time she does that mind-reading thing...

Matsuoka: [Stern] This is getting out of hand, Minami. Even we could hear Fujihara yelling from here.

Minami: Huh? Yelling?

Fujihara: [Nervous smile] It was starting to hurt my throat, you know...

Minami: But I didn't hear a thing until he knocked on my door.

Urayama: [Arms crossed] I can explain that. The rooms are all heavily soundproofed.

[Explaining] Okazaki and I did a test yesterday.

Okazaki: [Grinning] Right! Urayama's room is, like, right next to mine.

[Thinking] But no matter how loudly I screamed, he couldn't hear a thing until I knocked on his door! Not even if I was right outside the room!

Noguchi: [Smirk] A way to stop people from discovering the murders while they're still in progress, no doubt...

Tamura: [Irritated] Is it all murders with ya? Can't ya change the freakin' channel?

Takanashi: [Thinking] In any case... we know that unless you knock on the door, the person inside can't hear you.

...

[Biting brush] That's all I wanted to say.

Fujihara: [Camera out] OK, everyone, I'm starting filming... ACTION!

Matsuoka: [Serious] Day Two... and we still haven't found an exit.

Washio: [Eyes averted] B-but... at least no one's... you know...

Um... that's good, right?

Hagino: [Gentle smile] Yes, Washio. It's very good.

Junpei: [Biting thumbnail] I-if we can't find a way out, m-maybe we should start trying to prevent murders instead.

Muramoto: [Hand on chin] A valid point. T'would seem prudent to restrain our own hands before we stray too far in our search for escape.

Tamura: [Scratching head] Anytime ya wanna start speakin' normal, lemme know...

Akutagawa: [Arms crossed] Classmate Enoshima is saying that we should set some rules to prevent anyone killing!

Matsuoka: [Smiling] Not a bad idea. Does anyone have any ideas?

Mai: [Excited] Ooh! I got one! I got one! Pick me! Pick me!

Hagino: [Gentle smile] Mai?

Mai: [Cheerful] Yeah! Mai's Super Cool Rule is also super simple!

[Pointing] We do laundry in groups! One person from each hallway!

That way, we don't ever have one person vulnerable to being attacked in the laundry room!

Noguchi: [Arms crossed] That's... surprisingly astute, coming from you.

Mai: [Wagging finger] Hey, just 'cause I act all cutesy doesn't mean I'm not smart, too!

Junpei: [Biting thumbnail] But... why one person from each hallway?

Mai: [Cheerful] So we can all hang out together, of course!

Noguchi: [Smirk] And now she's back to stupid again.

Chiba: [Thinking] Actually... one from each hallway is a good idea.

[Explaining] Think about it. If there ARE some deaths, chances are one person's going to be left alone in their hallway.

Splitting it up like that still ensures that nobody is too vulnerable.

Mai: [Sticking her tongue out] Hear that, Noguchi? I AM smart! So nyeh!

Matsuoka: [Smile] I'll pick the groups now, if there are no other objections.

[Thinking] Hmm... Akutagawa, Washio, Muramoto and Minami will be in Laundry Group One.

Laundry Group Two will be... Okazaki, Noguchi, Mai and Fujihara.

Laundry Group Three... I'll be in that one, along with Junpei, Takanashi and Degawa.

Which of course leaves Urayama, Tamura, Chiba and Hagino as Laundry Group Four.

[Pointing] Nobody forget which group you're in, OK?

Hagino: [Gentle smile] I believe that's it for announcements. You may go.

Degawa: [Agitated] No, wait! Hold on!

Here we go.

Degawa: [Sheepish] I need t'apologise to y'all.

I ain't really been nice this whole time, an' I didn't want yer ta think that I was jus' some mean bitch.

So I'm sorry, OK?

...That was... unexpected.

Matsuoka: [Smile] Thank you, Degawa. If there's nothing anyone else wants to say...

You can all do your own thing for a while. See you all later.

Fujihara: [Leaving] OK, see you later, guys...

Takanashi: [Leaving] I think I might do some calligraphy...

Everyone's going...

Maybe I should go back to my room.

[Fade to black.]

[OST: Welcome to Despair Academy]

[Fade in to Minami's Room.]

Well, I can't hang around here all day...

Maybe I should go spend some time with someone.

[Move to Green Hallway]

[OST: Beautiful Ruin]

[Move to Foyer]

[Move to Cafeteria]

[Move to Kitchen]

[Talk to Degawa]

Minami: Hey, Degawa.

Degawa: [Suspicious] ...

Minami: ...Uh... is something wrong?

Degawa: I thought yer didn't like me, an' alluva sudden, yer wanna talk wit' me...

[Angry] Yer here ta make fun o' me again, ain'tcha!?

Minami: No, no! I just wanted to talk! As friends!

Degawa: [Sad] ...Really? Yer wanna talk wit' me as friends?

Do I want to hang out with Degawa?

-> YES

NO

Minami: Of course I do, Degawa. We're all in this together.

Degawa: ...OK... If yer really say so...

Minami: So, why are you always here, anyway?

Degawa: [Looking away] Most a this produce came from my farms. I like bein' around the things I made myself.

Minami: Are you saying you grew all this?

Degawa: [Neutral] Well, not the fish... but everything else came from one a my properties.

[Gesturing] Take these here tomatoes. Grown down near Tokyo, if I'm rememberin' correct.

Hold up...

I thought she said she hated the city...

But now she has a property near it?

Degawa: While we're on the topic... how much do yer know 'bout tomatoes?

Minami: ...It's not exactly my field of expertise...

Degawa: [Irritated] Thought not. Guess a city bitch like y'all are can't even tell me the scientific name!

Hey! What gives? I can't answer one question and now she hates me again?

...Actually... I might know the answer to this one...

A tomato's scientific name... Isn't it...

A: Solanum lycopersicum

B: Lycum solanopersicum

C: Solanum persicolycum

Answer: A

Minami: It's... Solanum lycopersicum, right?

Degawa: [Shocked] ...Well, I'll be. Looks like y'all ain't as stupid as yer look.

[Small smile] Maybe I got someone ta talk to after all...

Minami: I'm always here to talk if you want to, Degawa.

[OST: When You Wish For Execution...]

Degawa: [Suspicious] ...

[Sighing] Not many people like talkin' wit' me, ya know...

Can't imagine why...

Minami: Really? I, uh... can't imagine why.

Degawa: ...I can.

Every time I jus' wanna have a friendly conversation...

[Sad] I always end up flippin' my lid...

Minami: ...I get like that too sometimes, you know.

Sometimes you just get mad at the smallest things.

Degawa: [Irritated] But y'all don't get it! For me, it's everything! Everything makes me pissed off!

Only reason I started agriculture in the first place is cuz my doctor said it might help calm me down!

Clearly a rousing success...

Degawa: [Sad] But it didn't work...

Nothing works...

And now I feel bad...

I should probably do something to cheer her up.

Minami: Hey... Degawa...

[OST: None]

Degawa: [Angry] Shut up! Ya stupid bitch! Yer not helping me out here! So fuck off!

Minami: ...

Degawa: [Shocked] ...

[Tearing up] I... I didn't mean that...

[Leaving] I'm sorry!

...Where the hell did that come from?

She's like a powder keg...

...and I'm stuck in a building with her. Fun.

When she's calmed down a bit, I should probably talk to her again...

For now though, I need a rest.

[Fade to black.]

[OST: Welcome to Despair Academy]

[Fade in to Minami's Room.]

Hmm... there's still a bit of time left in the day.

Maybe I ought to go hang out with somebody else.

[Move to Green Hallway]

[OST: Beautiful Ruin]

[Move to Foyer]

[Talk to Matsuoka]

Minami: Hey, Matsuoka!

Matsuoka: [Smiling] Oh, hey, Minami. How are you?

Minami: Pretty good! You?

Matsuoka: Likewise. I was just going back to my room...

[Smiling] ...but I felt compelled to stay out here for a while longer. I couldn't figure out the reason at all.

[Winking] Tell me... are you that reason?

So... a really cute guy wants to hang out with me...

Shoud I go for it?

-> YES

NO

OK, Minami... just act like this kind of thing happens all the time.

Minami: Hell yeah, I'm the reason!

Matsuoka: [Coy smile] ...Right.

Kill me now, please.

Matsuoka: [Smiling] As long as you're here, do you mind if I take a look at your necklace again?

Minami: Huh? Oh... sure! It's one from your product line.

Matsuoka: [Staring] That's right. The "Fire in Ice" range.

It's based on the concept of imprisoning one gemstone inside another - in this case, a ruby within a sapphire.

Minami: ...So it's artificial?

Matsuoka: [Smiling] Of course. There's no way something like that could happen in nature. Both of those stones are synthetic.

So the lady in the jewellery shop lied to me... Damn it.

Matsuoka: [Contemplative] It's possible because both rubies and sapphires are crystals of the same mineral.

That's right... I remember hearing about this in middle school science...

If I tell him, he might be impressed!

Um... what was that mineral again?

A: Conundrum

B: Kuruvidam

C: Corundum

Answer: C

Minami: ...Corundum, right?

Matsuoka: [Smiling] Not bad. Yes, it's the mineral corundum.

[Explaining] When corundum gemstones are red, they're called rubies, and if they're anywhere between pink and orange, they're called padparadscha.

Otherwise, they're just called sapphires.

Minami: So, how do you get the ruby inside the sapphire?

Matsuoka: [Coy smile] Trade secret, sorry. "Fire in Ice" is my best-selling range. I can't tell anyone how I make them.

...Hmph. Spoilsport.

[OST: Despair Syndrome]

Matsuoka: [Smiling] I can't wait to get out, though. I can tell you that.

Minami: I know what you mean...

Only problem is, some of us might be willing to kill to get out faster...

Matsuoka: [Passionate smile] Jewellery isn't just my occupation, or my talent, you know: it's my life.

[Sighing] Stuck in here... I don't see myself ever making another pendant or ring again.

Minami: The question is... how far would you go to do what you love?

Matsuoka: [Serious] ...

[OST: None]

Matsuoka: I'd rather not answer that, if you don't mind.

Minami: Huh?

Matsuoka: [Smiling] This was a good talk, Minami.

[Coy smile] I've certainly had worse first dates.

Minami: H-hey!

Matsuoka: You're blushing again.

[Leaving] Anyway, take care.

...He's cute, that's for sure...

But what was with that at the end?

Maybe I should be a bit more careful around him than I have been...

...

Nothing much else to do. Might as well head back to the room.

[Fade to black.]

[OST: Welcome to Despair Academy]

[Fade in to Minami's Room.]

...There's nothing to do here.

Maybe I should go and hang out with someone.

[Move to Green Hallway]

[OST: Beautiful Morning]

Hagino: [Gentle smile] Ah, Minami. There you are.

Minami: Oh, hey, Hagino. What's up?

Hagino: I've been looking for you. We need to talk about your tardiness to the morning meetings.

Oh, great... Is this really necessary?

Hagino: [Frowning] I can tell you think this is unnecessary, but you must understand why it's important.

The morning meeting is the only way we can determine whether someone has committed murder during the night.

Minami: I know, I know...

Hagino: [Irritated] Please don't talk to me like that. It's very rude.

My point is, if you are late to tomorrow's meeting as well, I shall assign someone to get you to the morning meetings on time.

Minami: What? I'm not six, Hagino! I can turn up to the meetings when I feel like it!

[OST: None]

Hagino: [Serious] Enough, Minami. There is no debate. You will be on time tomorrow. No excuses.

...

[Gentle smile] So please be on time for tomorrow's meeting, OK?

Minami: ...Uh... sure...

Well, that was terrifying...

Hagino: [Thinking] Hmm... you seem nervous.

[Leaving] Anyway, see you tomorrow...

...Damn, she's scary when she needs to be...

Note to self: don't get on Hagino's bad side.

Now... I was going to go hang out with someone, wasn't I?

[OST: Beautiful Ruin (Summer Salt)]

[Move to Foyer]

[Move to Blue Hallway]

[Move to School Shop]

[Talk to Tamura]

Tamura: [Grinning] Yo, Minami! What's happenin', girl?

Minami: Not much. Just felt like wandering around, I guess.

Tamura: [Smiling] Well, long as you're here, ya wanna hang out for a bit?

I mean... if you're not busy or anythin'...

Should I hang out with Tamura?

-> YES

NO

Minami: I'm more than happy to chat.

Tamura: [Grinning] Awright! I been waitin' ta hear that!

[Scratching head] I mean, I hate ta say it when we're supposed ta be killin' each other, but this place is kinda borin', ya know?

Minami: I... guess?

Tamura: [Grinning] So tell me 'bout yourself! Whaddaya do for fun, as a starter?

Minami: I listen to music. Mostly pop stuff, but I don't mind a bit of rock every now and again. You?

Tamura: Nah, I don't really like doin' that kinda thing.

[Smiling] Me? I go ta the gym an' work out.

I don't really know what else I was expecting.

Minami: What kind of workouts?

Tamura: [Thinking] Strength, cardio, that sorta thing. I have ta train for everythin', ya know?

Mainly upper-body stuff though, for the throwin' events.

Minami: The throwing events?

Tamura: [Grinning] Don't tell me ya don't know what they are! Shotput, discus, javelin an' hammer toss.

[Smiling] Outta alla those, there's only one where ya have ta throw it a certain way, ya know.

Minami: Really?

Tamura: Yeah. Can ya guess what it is?

...Probably not, but I'll give it a shot...

Tamura: [Grinning] Ya look a little lost. Lemme give ya a hint: it's not hammer toss. So what is it?

The throwing event with regulation on the throw...

Let me think about this...

I guess it's...

A: Discus

B: Javelin

C: Shotput

Answer: B

Minami: ...It's the javelin, right?

Tamura: [Laughing] Bingo! Ya have ta throw it overarm. It's the rules.

[Explaining] The other ones don't really have set rules, it just makes sense ta do it one way over another.

Minami: ...Interesting.

I'll never need to remember that fact again, will I?

[OST: When You Wish For Execution...]

Tamura: [Stretching] Ya think this place has a gym or anythin'?

I need ta get movin' again, but everywhere's so damn cramped!

Minami: It's definitely very claustrophobic.

Tamura: [Scratching head] An' I'm guessin' that's parta the bear's plan, right?

[Explaining] Ya know... make us feel all cooped up so that we go nuts.

Minami: ...Are you worried about that?

Tamura: [Sweating] Course I am! Ya gotta be a maniac ta not be scared a that!

Minami: I know what you mean. I'm scared of being killed too...

Tamura: [Confused] Huh? Bein' killed? Nah, I'm not worryin' 'bout that.

[Serious] I'm worried 'bout goin' crazy. Far as I can tell, me, Akutagawa an' Muramoto are the strongest here.

[Scratching head] Maybe ya oughta lock us up or somethin'...

Minami: No! We won't do anything like that! We trust you, Tamura!

Tamura: [Surprised] Really? But ya only known me for about three days!

Minami: Well... you seem nice. So far, I mean.

Tamura: [Smiling] ...Thanks for the reassurin', Minami. I'm feelin' a bit better now.

Minami: I'll help you out anytime.

I don't have much choice otherwise...

She's right. She really is strong.

Tamura: [Rubbing stomach] Damn, I'm hungry! I forgot how late it was.

[Smiling] I'm gonna go get some dinner before the bear locks up.

[Leaving] See ya 'round, Minami! Keep doin' whatcha do best!

[OST: None]

Minami: See you later!

Hmm... she's definitely friendly...

But she does have a point about the physically strong students being dangerous...

I should keep an eye on her.

Monokuma: DING DONG DING DONG!

[We see Monokuma on a TV screen, lounging in a chair comfortably, as he sips a banana daiquiri through a silly straw.]

Monokuma: Attention all students! It's 10 o'clock, which means Nighttime has officially started!

All water systems will be turned off, and the cafeteria will be locked.

Good night, sleep tight! Don't let the murderer bite!

[The screen blinks off. We see the School Shop.]

Is it that late already? My body clock's been screwed up ever since I got here...

Any case, I should probably go back to my room now.

[OST: Beautiful Ruin]

[Move to Blue Hallway]

[Move to Foyer]

[Move to Green Hallway]

Fujihara: [Smiling] Evening, Minami. Good to see you.

Minami: Yeah... likewise.

Chiba: [Sighing] Day Two down... I wonder how many we have left...

Fujihara: [Thinking] Good question...

[Smiling nervously] Maybe we'll be rescued?

Degawa: [Irritated] Y'all really think the bear ain't thought a that yet?

We're not getting rescued. I know that much fer sure.

Minami: It doesn't matter, guys. Let's just sleep on it.

Fujihara: [Thinking] It's probably for the best...

[Leaving] See you all tomorrow morning.

Degawa: [Leaving] I'm tireder than a half-fed horse... G'night...

Chiba: [Leaving] See you tomorrow morning, right?

...

Nothing much to say now...

[Auto-move to Minami's Room]

[OST: Welcome to Despair Academy]

[Examine Bed]

Once again, I feel a lot more tired than I probably should...

Here's hoping everyone stays safe tonight...

...

[Fade to black.]

MONOKUMA THEATRE

[OST: Mr. Monokuma's Lesson]

Monokuma: Do you know what the most dangerous animal in the world is? It's the human, of course!

Statistically speaking, humans have killed more humans than any other animal.

Today, I think that I finally figured out the reason!

Other animals all let you know they're dangerous - a bear has big claws, and a snake hisses at you.

But a human doesn't let you know they're dangerous until the last minute, when it's too late to escape.

What I'm saying is, you should stay away from humans! They're very dangerous creatures!