Where have I been? Where am I?

Oh, wait, I'm just writing Like I said, I'm Psychic.

Sayaka: Welcome back from the SYOCs.

Thanks, Sayaka.

Sayaka swallowed. Everyone was panicking. She could see it from the purple wisps in the air.

Not that I can blame them...Heck, even Mukuro is worried. Maybe she's worried about how well her plan's going?

Sayaka let out a silent, harsh laugh. Nobody noticed.

There was silence.

Then Kyoko broke it.

"So, what do you think we should do now? Should we just continue to scowl at each other forever?" Her words snapped everyone out of their fear enduced trance, and Sayaka subtly noticed the mood change from purple to a light shade, indicating that they were fading.

"That's right. Of course, you're right. In times of fear and anxiety, one must continue moving forward! How could I forget such a simple thing? I'm despicable. I'll never forgive myself! Anyone, please hit me! I deserve it! Please, anyone!" Taka pleaded. Sayaka was almost tempted to swing her fist and smack him herself for no good reason, but she didn't. That'd be stupid.

"If you have time to make so much noise, just do it yourself." Mondo grumbled.

Hifumi started sweating. "But, speaking concretely, what exactly is our mission...?"

"Are you an idiot? We should totally look for a way to escape!" Leon yelled.

"And while we're at it, we should find whoever is controlling that stuffed toy and give him a good beating." Mukuro declared. Sayaka was almost tempted to laugh. Almost, anyways.

"Before we do that, shouldn't we take a look at that Electronic Student ID card? Monokuma mentioned some rules, and it's probably best to check them before doing anything..." Chihiro added softly. Like a mouse.

It's hard to believe he's a male. Maybe I didn't read that thought correctly...

"It would be a bother if we go on acting without knowing the rules, and end up in an explosive situation like before." Celeste smiled cheerfully. Mondo just humphed.

She just made a pun.

"So, let's just get it over with and check what those rules are all about..." Mukuro said casually, ignoring Celeste's jab at Mondo. Sayaka tapped the button to turn on the Handbook and tapped the Rules section cautiously, half-expecting something to explode.

1. The students will live a communal lifestyle with no time limit inside the school walls.
2. The time between 10pm and 7am is called "Night Time". During Night Time there are places that are forbidden to enter, so please take care.
3. Sleeping is only permitted in the personal rooms prepared for you in the dormitory area. Anyone intentionally falling asleep elsewhere will be punished.
4. You may investigate the school as you please. There are no special restrictions on your actions.
5. No violence is permitted against the school's headmaster, Monokuma. Destruction of the surveillance cameras is forbidden.
6. A "culprit" who kills a fellow student will graduate the school. However, they must not let any other student know they are the culprit.
7. Additional rules may be added by the school at any time.

...That's...unpleasant, certainly. What does the 6th rule mean...? A culprit? Graduate? Not let others know they're the culprit? Mm... Perhaps Mukuro has an explanation. Yes, I'm certain. After all, she knows about this.

"I don't believe Junko changed anything. It's all okay."

Last time...I was so shocked by her talking about killing, I didn't quite notice...she said Junko. As in, Junko Enoshima. As in the girl Mukuro is pretending to be. Who is she, and what's going on? I really should approach her properly!

"What the fuck's going on with these rules? Do they really think they can control us this way?" Mondo yelled, irritated.

"If you think they can't, how about you try going around ignoring them? I'd really like to know what happens when someone breaks them, you see..." Celeste spoke calmly, an amused look on her pale face.

"But... if he tries anything, Mondo's number of remaining lives will drop to zero..." Hifumi panted.

Silence from Mondo.

"Ever since I was a little kid, I was taught discipline by my big brother. You must keep a "man's promise" even at the cost of your own life." Mondo grumbled.

What does that mean?

"...So?" Mukuro asked.

"There's still one promise I haven't made good. So there's no fucking way I'm dying in this place!" Mondo replied loudly, as a means of explanation.

"I can't say I really understand, but for now let's agree to follow the rules?" Celeste twirled her dark hair.

"...hm? Ah... I guess that's how it has to be..." Mondo said, rubbing the back of his neck. Sayaka could sense the impending awkward silence, so she decided to voice her question.

"Excuse me... Can I say something? This sixth rule... what do you think it means?" Sayaka curled up a fist and placed it by her chin nervously.

"Are you talking about the second part, about "not letting any other student know"?" Makoto asked.

"...it probably means if you want to graduate, you must kill without anyone finding out." Byakuya answered coldly.

"W...why? What's going on here?" Toko stammered nervously.

"You don't have to worry about it. Just make sure you keep the rules you were given. That's the only thing you all have to remember. You're all a bunch of losers who can't do anything that's not decided for you by someone else. So don't ask needless questions." Byakuya said, sounding quite condescending, his arms folded, his head held higher up."

If I didn't like him before, I REALLY don't like him now.

"...Such moving words." Toko blushed.

Wait. Does she...? Oh, no way.

"As in bowel movements, right?" Leon asked. Sayaka made a face, but dropped her expression after a second.

"...For the time being, let's just drop all this talk about killing. We all know the rules now, so let's go and search the school!" Hina got a determined expression on her face, fists at the ready.

"Where are we? Is there an emergency exit somewhere? What about food and essential goods? There is a mountain of things we must find us ahead of us!" Taka pointed in the air. Sayaka had to admit, their enthusiasm and loudness was kind of a relief from the cynical Byakuya and the condescending. if smart Celeste.

"Alright, everyone - let's go exploring!" Leon yelled.

"...I'm going alone." Byakuya said, scowling.

"Huh? Why? Isn't that really strange?" Mukuro inquired.

If anyone is strange here, it's you, Mukuro.

"I'm sure there's at least one of you who's already scheming about killing someone... Are you saying I should cooperate with someone like that?" His thoughts expressed the same words. This person said exactly what he thought. Believing he was too powerful to associate with anyone else...

Sayaka always detested this kind of person.

"Hey, wait a minute! You can't say that!" Sayaka yelled at him.

"Yes, I can. I'm Byakuya Togami."

And now his name is his own damn currency!

"You can't be certain I'm wrong, can you. And that's exactly why you all got so scared once you heard about the graduation rule. ...am I wrong?" A dark look went over his face, before he ended with a satisfied smirk.

"T...that is..." Sayaka stammered. He was right, though the message was delivered quite harshly.

I still don't like him.

"I'll let the rest of you do as you please." Byakuya said simply.

"You bastard... you think we'll just let you do whatever you want?" Mondo asked, fist at the ready for attack in his hand.

"Get out of my way, plankton." Byakuya snapped.

"Ahhh!? What do you mean by that!?" Mondo's expression was growing quite frightening, at least, to the Idol.

"A single plankton drifting in the ocean. It doesn't matter what you do, yours is a tiny existence that has no effect on the vast sea around you." Byakuya had that damn expression of mightiness on his face again.

"Are you trying to make me kill you?!" Mondo yelled.

"Oh dear..." Celeste mused in her head.

"H-he's so handsome, arguing like this...so much better..." Toko drooled as her thoughts swam in her head.

"H...hey, wait! We shouldn't fight!" Makoto voiced, concerned. A little frightened, as well.

"Eh? What the fuck? Are you trying to be all nice with us? I'm going to teach that kid a lesson. Are you going to stop me!?" Mondo was at screaming point by now.

D-Don't do anything rash, Mondo!

"N...no, that's not what I meant..." Makoto stammered nervously.

"Shut the fuck up!" Mondo screamed with rage.

POW!

Makoto!

Makoto had fallen unconscious. So, after Mondo had apologized repeatedly for nearly killing him (which had fallen on deaf ears) they had carted him to his dorm room.

And then they all split up and explored the school.

Sayaka went alone.

Ah, the cafeteria. Let's explore it a little...

There wasn't much to see, but Sayaka had explored he kitchen. It was stocked with abundance, full of food and drinks and so much. Sayaka could cook herself a meal fairly well with lots of food, but this...this was too much to take in.

"I wonder, will this food last all of us?" Sayaka voiced her thoughts aloud.

"Yeeep!"

"Augh!" Sayaka had stumbled backwards, Monokuma appearing right in front of the girl.

"This food will be stocked regularly! Don't worry about going hungry!" And then he disappeared, much to the girl's confusion.

Sayaka took some time to explore the dorms. More than once she thought of finding Mukuro, but her fellow classmate was nowhere to be seen.

Mukuro...who are you really? What did you do? You're involved in this...right?

Hope you enjoyed this update, because I'm probably gonna forget about this story again for another few months. Sorry there isn't much mind-reading, but there's so much going on, poor girl can't concentrate on her classmates' heads, you know?

Sorry the chapter's so short compared to the others, I just thought this was a good place to stop at.

-Skye